Fallout: Equestria - Long Haul

by Gamma Deekay

Rating: mature
Tags: Alternate Universe, Other, Original Character, Adventure, Crossover, Fallout, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark
Length: 1288312

When his home in the clouds is destroyed, and the day of Sunshine and Rainbows disbands the Enclave, a teenage pegasus must join a convoy of traveling wastelanders in search of a place he can call home.

Night Flight never had a plan for his life. However, sometimes you don't get a choice in what part you get to play in the grand scheme of things. An accident in his settlement forces the seventeen year old stallion below the clouds, and into a wasteland full of oddities and dangers he'd always been told had been impossible to exist on the ground. If that wasn't bad enough, some 'lightbringer' went and took away all the clouds, disbanding what was left of the Enclave Government he'd once believed in. In order to survive, he's going to need a lot of courage, strength, and luck to get through the trials he'll face. Oh, and an odd assortment of friends might just help keep him alive along the way to finding a new place he can call home.

Fantastic cover done up by Thefurryrailfan!

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Cast Picture

Published 2016-01-08 15:40:03 UTC
Last updated 2023-01-20 18:53:17 UTC

Chapter 2 - Feeling Things Out

Whenever you set out to do something, something else must be done first.

The hallways of the old ship groaned as I slowly made my way down the stairs back to E deck. Between the flaking paint, the buzzing of the lights, and the chill in the air, I’d begun to seriously feel like I was going to be trapped inside here forever. On top of that, the stench of oil and rust was so thick that I could almost feel it sticking and running through my coat and mane. It was a feeling that crept up more and more around me, and I didn’t know how to shake it. I’d never felt this way before back home… in the clouds… with my parents.

I stopped walking and let out a sigh. Even though it didn’t really feel like it was home, I missed the stupid little house that Dad and I had. Part of me wondered what I’d find when I get back there. Would I find anypony else from the Enclave there? Doubtful. If the clouds disappeared like that doctor had said, then that meant that most likely communications would have been cut too. How would they even have known what happened there?

With a firm nod, I decided for myself that it was something I needed to do. It was my responsibility to tell them what happened there. Maybe then somepony could tell me why it had to happen. Maybe then somepony could know that my father died doing his goddess damned job for that shitty government that’s done nothing but ruin my life. They took my mother away forever, and then stuck Dad and I in that stupid town where he died. Pausing at that thought, I stiffened up.

After only a few hours down here, I’m already starting to sound like one of those traitor Dashites.

The quick buzzing of wings filled the air from the stairwell behind me. The sound, as sudden as it was, dissipated almost instantly, and I’d wondered just how many other pegasi they had on this ship.

What fluttered around the corner ahead however, was not a pegasus.

The young griffin looked around quickly before setting her bright blue eyes on me. Even from where she was at the end of the hall, I could see she wore some sort of leather cap over her grey head feathers. Along with the cap, there were a pair of flight goggles strapped on tightly just above her brow. Her muted olive green body contrasted oddly against the rusting red walls, and it may have just been me, but she seemed… small, for a griffin that is. Then again, I’ve only seen the hoof-full who’d happened to live in Neighvarro City. A wide smile pulled itself across her beak before she zipped through the air right up to me.

“Heya!” She squeaked excitedly, “I’m looking for my dad! Have you seen him? He’s mean looking, and awesome, and super angry all the time!” The speed at which she spoke was hard to grasp, and barely left me any time to get a word in even if I knew how to answer her. “But you look super pretty, so that means you’re probably not a very smart mare. That or you’re owned by somepony with a lot of caps. My guess is dumb though.” She flittered side to side as she contemplated things I could only guess that sped through her mind. “Well, I guess you could be from up above too. If so, then you certainly are dumb, but good luck to you out in the wastes!”

“Uh… owned?” My brain was still playing catch up, but it was still overloaded from comprehending waking up in this place at all. “What?”

“Awww, you must be new below the clouds then! Don’t be sad, dum dum!” She said as she zipped up in front of me. From this close, I got a look at something buried in the feathers of her neck. Attached to an old piece of string, was the rusted shape of what looked to be a broken compass. I couldn’t get a good look at it because without even asking, she grabbed at my cheeks with her talons and stretched my muzzle out into a forced smile. “You’ll probably last more than a week so long as your friend there isn’t as dumb as you are!”

“Thanks?” I muttered through pinched cheeks. Reaching my forehoof up, I pushed away one of her talons. As I did, she gave a giggle and zipped around me through the air.

“Who knows! Maybe I’ll see you again someday! Then again, there’s a lot of ponies on this ship who didn’t like what you did to that poor hellhound.” She called out as she raced off down the hallway she came from. At the other end, she flared her wings and turned herself around. “Who knows, maybe they’ll put out a contract for me to kill you!” She gasped and went wide eyed. “That would be so cool, and I’d make dad so proud!”

“Contract? What? Who… are you?” I asked slowly. Come on, brain, pull yourself together! The captain was right. I hadn’t been down here long, and I’d already made enemies…

“Oh, me?” She puffed up her feathers and looked confused at the question. “I”m Hispano!” She put her claw across her chest proudly. “I’m a talon in training! But I already told you that, right?” She grumbled and hovered for a moment before giving a shrug and pulling her goggles down again. “Eh, doesn’t matter. Kill ya’ later, dum dum!” With that, she zipped away around the corner she’d come from and disappeared.

Tearing me from my all too confusing thoughts, the quick clop of hooves across the floor pulled my gaze to the opposite corner that the griffin went around. The bland gray coat and frizzy mane of Delilah came into view, as well as the same annoyed look she’d had from before. She stopped where she was, simply tapping her forehoof on the ground as I walked closer.

“It’s about damn time you found him.” She spoke with a roll of her eyes. Was it just me, or did she always seem to look tired and annoyed at everything? Maybe that’s just how all donkeys looked?

“Ugh.” The red coated mule I had across my back groaned out before stretching himself. “Why is everything so… loud.” The second I was close enough, Delilah lashed out with her forehoof and gave the stallion a hard smack across the head. “Ah! Don’t hit me, Mama.” He whined and pulled his hooves weakly over his head.

“I won’t hit you when you actually take some responsibility for once in your life.” She snorted and waved her forehoof for me to follow her. “Come on, the others are waiting in the bunk room for some good news. Please tell me you at least talked to the Captain about that?”

Oh, right, I could tell her what I’d heard. “I talked to her, Ma’am.” I spoke up as I followed her down the hallway. “The Captain talked on the radio to somepony else and said that they would be here soon?”

“Well,” She sighed as we approached yet another set of stairs that lead downward. “at least you’re pulling your weight around here, kid.” She showed the hint of a smile across her muzzle as she turned and headed down the stairway. “Keep it up and who knows? You might just fit in well enough around here.” I turned around the stairwell and did my best to follow her, but the weight of the stallion on my back was pinching my wings against my ribs and forced me to slow down. “C’mon. You should meet the rest of the crew you’ll be traveling with until we get back to where your home was.”

With the odd collection of… species as I’d met so far, I could only wonder just what I had in store for me ahead.

The large bunk room was similar to the bunk room I’d seen on my school tour of the raptor. A few rows of double high bunkbeds sat lining the walls, with only enough space between them for a single pony to walk in between. From what I could tell, most of F-Deck was made up of these style of rooms, and each one was nearly full of other ponies going about their own lives. This one was different, though. More bland than the other rooms, the bright white words of ‘Visitor’s Cabin’ were emblazoned across the open steel door.

For the first time since waking up down on the ground, I was surprised to know I hadn’t been wrong about something.

“Alright, gang.” Delilah said as she deftly hopped through the bulkhead doorway and into the middle of the room. “I’ve got some news for you.”

“Finally.” The long purple horn of a unicorn poked over the top bunk nearest the door, the yellow maned stallion yawning as he spoke. “Been waiting for what feels like days, boss.”

“It has been days.” A deep voice spoke out behind the largest bean bag chair I’d ever seen. The chair itself shifted, and I blinked a few times as the enormous form pushed itself to its hooves and turned around. The large and flat head that stuck out from the bulk looked over at Delilah with a grunt, the pair of small horns that jutted from its head gleaming softly in the rooms meager light. After only a moment, the… thing looked over at me. “Hey kid.” He barely even acknowledged me before turning his gaze back across the room.

“Night, pay attention for a moment.” Delilah called out in the way my teacher would get the class’s attention. Instinctively, I did just that and sat down without thinking. The stallion on my back slid off me onto the floor with a soft thud. He groaned for a moment before seeming to pass out, snoring lightly.

“You’ve already met my son, Happy Trails.” She grumbled angrily before raising her hoof and pointing it up to the bunk with the unicorn. “This is Hard Case, our munitions specialist.”

“Howdy!” He smiled and waved his hoof excitedly.

Delilah shifted and swung her hoof over to the massive… thing on the bunk across from Hard Case. “That lump over there is Howitzer. He works the main gun on Bessy, our lead vehicle. He’s a buffalo, if you didn’t already know that.” Her words brought nothing more than a grunt from him before he turned and laid back down on his bed. “His younger sister, Boiler, is our mechanic and is currently over at the Empirica working on getting Bertha ready to roll.”

I stood just outside the doorway and looked in at the odd sight before me, not sure what to say.

Delilah pushed herself onto the tips of her hooves and tried to see up onto the top bunks. “Lucky, you still with us?” She spoke up in a demanding tone.

“Yes.” The soft voice of yet another stallion came from the corner of the farthest top bunk. With a whine, the stallion scooted himself closer to the edge of his bunk. With a heavy clack, a wooden dowel with a rubber stop on the bottom of it sat opposite of a black and white striped hoof as it curled over the edge.

“You have a… zebra working for you?” I spat. Fucking no good stripes.

The tired blue eyes of the zebra stallion looked over to me as he sighed and rolled his eyes. “Nice to meet you too.” The wooden dowel that sat on his left ran up and into a metallic cup that sat strapped on where his foreleg ended. The pink scars that ran up the rest of the way from his crude prosthetic up towards his shoulder gave me pause, but it was the deep and dark scar that ran around his neck that made me look away.

“I don’t know what they taught you up there, kid.” Delilah sighed. “But no pony down here cares what race you are anymore. We’re all stuck in the same shitty boat.” She shook her head and turned around with a soft smile towards the zebra. “Lucky and his brother spent years as slaves before they came into my town. I bought them from their previous owner and let them work for their freedom,” She paused and turned to me with a glare. “Which they rightly earned. Understand?”

“S-slaves?” I stammered. “I…” Why would anypony do such a horrible thing?

“Kid, the wasteland isn’t a nice place.” Delilah sighed. “Start getting used to that.”

“That’s the understatement of the century…” Hard Case grumbled before Delilah merely glanced at him, forcing him to scrunch his muzzle shut.

“I don’t care who you are. If you work for me? We’re a family, and we treat each other as such.” Delilah walked forward and put her hoof on my shoulder. “Even if you are only with us until we reach Fort Mac, I expect you to behave accordingly, do you understand?”

I nodded softly.

“Good.” She said before using her hoof to forcefully spin me toward the hallway. “Now, come on.” She pushed me forward as she spoke, stepping over her son as she left the bunkroom. “We need to go check in on how the others are doing, as well as make sure we’re ready for the package to arrive.”

“Wha…” I said as she pushed me along the floor forcefully. “Others?” Looking back between the three I’d just met, I wasn’t sure what she meant. “Wasn’t this all of them?”

“This is only half of my crew.” She snorted. “Now get off your flank and get walking. We need to find you a place in Bertha to get yourself settled in anyway.”

Relenting, I pushed myself to my hooves and stepped aside. Mrs. Delilah sure was a pushy mare, but part of me didn’t mind that. With as confusing as this has all been, it’s a small comfort for somepony else to have an idea of what to do. Left on my own, I’d simply be lost.

“Thank you.” I spoke up as I trotted behind her. “For everything.”

“Don’t thank me yet, kid.” She said as she nudged her old glasses up her muzzle. “I’m not going to lie, but this is about as easy as life gets on the ground.” Twisting towards yet another set of stairs leading down, she didn’t hesitate before heading down them. “Honestly, I saved you because I thought that maybe you could be useful to me. Up until the day we found you, Pegasi were so few and far between that you were lucky to find one for hire.”

Well, that made sense. “It probably had something to do with the fact that we were all told that the ground was uninhabitable.” I grumbled as I pushed myself down the stairs.

“Hah.” She forced out as she quickly turned towards a sealed bulkhead. “The enclave has been down here for years messing up our lives.” She grunted as she pulled at the wheel mechanism that sealed the doorway shut. “Hell, just a few weeks ago most of them came down to wipe the wastes clean of us ground folk altogether.” She sighed and stopped pulling on the wheel. “Care to give me a hoof with this?”

“They tried to kill everypony?” I spoke softly. That doesn’t sound like something the Enclave would do. Sure, they may have lied to us about the ground, but try to wipe it out? Looking up, Delilah simply stared at me with an annoyed expression, her eyes darting between the door and me. “Oh, yeah, let me help you.” Stepping up toward the door, I hooked my forehooves around it and pushed as she pulled.

“Yeah,” She grunted, pausing as the doorway gave a groan and the wheel jerked around, finally moving the mechanism with a squeal. “Some mare on the east coast fought them off and got inside the tower that controls all the weather. Pretty much forced the Enclave to surrender and opened up the skies for everyone.”

Delilah pushed the door next to us open, and immediately a wave of hot air blasted me in the face. The sound of running machinery filled the air, and the smell of oil and grease hung even heavier than the air at the skydock ever had. The curious notions of what Delilah had been saying left my mind as I followed her forward onto the catwalk of a cavernous room.

A dozen or so multicolored pipes ran along the walls, branching off at several points to work their way down to one of the two large silver machines in the center of the room. The bulbous metal caps that sat over the two large drums hummed audibly in the air, as well as through the metal under our hooves. Two dozen or so ponies and ‘Snow dogs’ went about the machines, making tweaks and looking over various terminal screens spread about.

“Hey!” The sharp voice of a mare called out from below. No, not a mare. I recognized the voice, and it made my the mane on my neck stand on end. “Hold up for a moment!”

The large snow dog gave a heavy grunt as she jumped into the air from the work floor below us. With a heavy slam, the walkway groaned as she used her massive forepaws to grip onto the railing. With an ease only afforded by her impressive arms, she pulled herself up and over the edge. A silver glint on her muzzle caught my eye, and the metal plate that ran under her chin was accompanied by more than a few fresh scars.

“H-hi.” I felt my tail tuck under me, and my wings pulled tight as she loomed over me. “I’m… I’m…” I stammered. Come on, Night! If you don’t apologize, she’s going to kill you! Without saying anything before hoof, she gave out a hearty laugh before using one of her huge arms to scoop me up and cuddle me close against her chest.

“Oh, you little bastard of a pegasus!” She chuckled as I squirmed against her. “I haven’t been caught off guard like that in a fight in a long time!” Her other paw raised up and ruffled at my mane as I gave into just staying in her grasp. Okay, maybe she wasn’t going to kill me.

“You aren’t mad?” I asked, doing my best to look up at the very imposing dog.

“Hell no I ain’t mad!” She shook her head with a smile. Letting go of me, she dropped me straight onto my flank. Quickly, I pulled myself to my hooves and took a step back from her. She raised her paw and rubbed at the metal plate on her chin with a sigh. “Truthfully, I’m glad you broke my jaw. It’s been so long since anypony laid a hoof on me in there that I’d forgotten the exhilaration and rush of pain in the arena.”

“Night?” Delilah asked with the harshness of a disappointed mother. “What is she talking about?”

“Well, uhm…” I didn’t exactly want to tell the mare who I owed everything to so far that it was her fault that she’d left me without better directions. “I kinda… got lost?”

“Yeah, wandered into the arena in place of the mare I was actually supposed to fight.” Rosey said, saving me most of the embarrassment of continuing. With another wide scoop, she picked me up and raised me into the air. “They probably let him in because he looks more like a mare than half the mares on this damn ship. Still, this little guy’s got some spunk when pushed to act.” She moved her jaw widely as she spoke. “At the very least, one hell of a strong buck.”

“I see.” Delilah pushed her glasses further up her muzzle and looked over to Rosey. “As nice as this little impromptu meeting has been, we must be on our way.”

“You two on your way to the Empirica?” Rosey snorted, setting me down a touch more gently this time around. “I was about to take one of the motor sleds over to collect some more scrap. I could squeeze you two in so you don’t have to press on through that storm out there.”

“I guess.” Delilah sighed. “If it isn’t too much trouble, I can’t refuse an offer like that.”

“Yeah, it’s no problem at all.” Rosey smiled brightly again at Deliliah before reaching her paw out and grabbing the railing again. “Meet me down at the cargo door and we’ll get going.” With a quick jump, she threw herself over the railing. She used her strong paws to hold onto them as she hung over the edge, dropping down the fifteen or so feet below as easily as if it were second nature to her.

“You and me, however,” Delilah spoke again as she tensed up. “Are going to have a bit of a discussion later about getting into trouble. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I nodded, pushing my legs to trot up next to her.

“At least you’re more attentive than my good for nothing son.” She sighed. “Now come on, we’ve still got plenty to do today.”

The pair of pink fuzzy dice that hung in front of me from the center mirror jiggled as the tracked vehicle made its way through the blistering storm outside. Since I was the smallest of our group, I’d been relegated to sitting in the middle of the small cab’s bench seat. While I was glad to be somewhere protected from the storm, being so close to the two others made me more than just a little uncomfortable. I tried to keep from fidgeting my wings too much as we bounced around lightly, and attempted to keep myself distracted by looking out ahead into the white nothingness.

The blinding white had obscured any trace of the ship we’d left behind in the ice behind us, and I could only reserve myself to the thought that Rosey knew where she was going out here. The howling wind pressed against the side of the rumbling vehicle relentlessly, and each battering gust made me cringe. Delilah however, didn’t even flinch.

“You know, I never did ask.” Rosey broke the tense silence that filled the air. “Was there any reason that you needed that specific piece of ice?”

“Yes.” Delilah remarked quickly. She sounded annoyed at the question itself, and how she shifted on her hooves uneasily couldn’t do anything but reinforce the idea that it was a topic she probably wanted to avoid. Anypony could have guessed that from such a short answer.

“Well, care to share why?” Rosey however either wasn’t that smart, or she just didn’t care. “You know the cutting team had to saw through part of an old shipwreck to get it, right?”

Delilah closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Yes, I’m well aware of what they needed to do.” I watched as she tilted her head down and let her old glasses slide down to the end of her muzzle. “I’m also under the assumption that you don’t like it when ponies pry into how you conduct your maintenance?”

The tension in the air was growing, and I couldn’t help but feel that I was trapped inside a small box with two of the only grounders that I didn’t want to see pissed off. While the Snow Dog’s I’d seen so far could probably rip me in half with their paws, I was really afraid of what Delilah would do if I made her angry. She could dump me out in the middle of nowhere if she wanted for Luna’s sake!

Rosey tightened her grip around the steering wheel and clenched her jaw. “Jeez, lady. I was just trying to make small talk.”

“I don’t mean to be rude. However, I don’t discuss my business with anyone outside of my crew.” Delilah responded with a firm resolve, pushing her glasses up on her muzzle again. “How much longer will this trip take, if I may inquire?”

“Another couple minutes.” Rosey grunted, losing the energy she’d had in her voice from before. “Storm’s keeping our progress slow, but we’ll get there.”

It generally amazed me that anypony could have survived for two centuries out here like this. Funny thing was, just as I thought that, a distinct brightness grew in the blinding storm. Different from the white around it, the glow was bigger, and grew as we crawled forward.

From through the storm, dark multicolored shapes began to form around us. Rectangular boxes with strings of lights on them littered the snows all around us. Old world cargo containers were placed in multiple small groups, each one with a different number painted on the side of them. It was much like the setup I had seen from the Captain’s room on the Inuvik, but on an entirely different scale. There had to be hundreds of containers, or if one the numbers on one of the containers we passed would have me believe, at least five hundred and fifty six of them.

“How is this even possible?” The words slipped out of my gaping muzzle without me having to even think about it. “How are there so many here?” Outside of Neighvarro city, I’d never seen a non-military servicing settlement with near as many ponies as this one claimed to have.

“Get used to that, kid,” Delilah snorted. “The Enclave lied to you about the ground.” As she spoke, she wore a sad look on her face. “The ground has always been habitable, they just chose to ignore us anyway.” At the end of that, an angry expression grew across her face. “They could have helped so many if they wouldn’t have been a whole nation of cowards.”

“No.” I spoke up reflexively. Immediately, I clamped my hooves over my muzzle to shut myself up.

The elder donkey cocked an eyebrow and glanced down at me from over her glasses. “Go on.” She gave a sharp nod as she glared at me. “Finish what you were going to say.”

Lowering my hooves, I did as she asked. “I…” Well, I tried to finish as she asked, but just like being called on in class, I found myself stammering. “T-there are p-plenty of g-good ponies up there.” The shame I felt in trying to justify why we hadn’t come down to help after seeing all this forced me to look down at the floor. “We just… didn’t know you were still down here. The Enclave always reinforced that in our minds.”

“Good answer.” Delilah grumbled. “At least now you understand that things aren’t so cut and dry down here.” Shifting in her seat, I looked up as she turned her gaze out to the container city around us. “Never let go of the idea that what you’re being fed could be wrong, even if it seems too implausible to believe. Never abandon your reasons for acting as well, especially if you believe it will help somepony. Do you understand?”

“What do you mean?” I asked her, finding her words hard to understand.

“In my time, I’ve seen so many things I can’t explain to others.” She sighed and closed her eyes. As she did, just the hint of a smile tugged at the sagging ends of her discolored muzzle. “And I’ve done just as many, if not more, unexplainable things from their points of view. The point is…” Raising her hoof, she reached over to me and pressed it against my chest. “You need to listen to your heart. Do that over what anypony else you’ll meet out here tells you to do, no matter what.”

Rosey gave a quick laugh at that. “Really? Follow your heart?” She shook her head and looked over at Delilah, whose expression had fallen back to the agitated one she’s worn for most of the time I’d known her so far. “That advice will get him killed down south.”

“No, it won’t.” Delilah retorted with a school teacher’s firmness to her tone. “Not if he sticks to his principles and the friends he makes. That will make him strong enough to overcome any obstacle in his way.”

Rosey rolled her eyes and gave a shrug of her meaty shoulders. “Whatever.” As she spoke, she pulled her hindpaw back from the accelerator pedal on the floor. The machine shuddered as we slowed to a trundling pace. “Well, we’re here.”

I turned my gaze forward again, and watched as a massive shape grew out of the white storm. To say that it was absolutely massive was an understatement. The enclave’s raptor would have been envious of the Inuvik, but this? This was insane.

Towering almost twice as tall as the Inuvik had been, and stretched on long enough across the ice that I couldn’t see either end from here in the storm. All across the top of it, more multicolored cargo containers sat stacked on it’s upper deck. It’s rusting black hull was caked in sheets of clear ice and snowy outcroppings that almost covered the large gold words that painted her name across it. If it weren’t for the lighting that shone through the enormous, rough cut door in the side of the boat, I couldn’t have been sure that the Emprica hadn’t been a solid mountain before us.

As we slowed to a complete stop, Rosey grasped a small radio receiver from the dashboard and brought it to her muzzle. “This is the crawler. We’re outside, open up.”

With a jolt, the door shuddered and started to pivot down towards us. That is, right until the moment it stopped with a jostle. Rosey sighed as the door rose again slightly before reversing and stopping again. A crackling voice came over the radio as the door again pulled itself back towards the ship.

“Sorry crawler, looks like the hinges are frozen again.” The voice of an annoyed stallion only made Rosey grip the wheel and radio set tighter. Tight enough that they creaked from the strain. “One second and we’ll have that fixed.”

Within moment, bright orange flames burst from around the bottom of one side of the door. Pressing back into my seat, I wasn’t sure what was happening. The flickering flames died down on the one side before bursting brightly from the other. The glow that the edge of the door gave was almost as distressing as the steam that was being sent up from the odd display.

The large metal door shifted once again, rotating downwards towards us. The bright ribbed interior of the massive ship seemed more impossible with each few degrees that the door descended. The cargo containers that were so numerous on top of the ship, were nowhere to be seen inside the interior, and instead, bright lights along the cavernous ceiling easily illuminated the flaking white paint that desperately clung to the old hull.

As the door flattened down, the heavy anchor chains that had been welded to it slackened, looking more akin to the old castle drawbridges from a millenia ago. Starkly out of place on the door, the makeshift metal ramp at the end of it dug into the snow and ice before us. All the way at the door’s hinge, an orange mare stood wearing what looked like an old school battle saddle with a heavy flamer hanging off of it.

“Good to see Brushfire has made herself useful.” Delilah muttered as she shifted uneasily in her seat. “Sad to see her go however. She’s been a good crewmember,” Delilah paused, almost in thought. “for an ex-raider, that is.”

“Well, with her skills with a flamer, she’ll be quite welcome around here.” Rosey answered.

With a rumble, we crawled forward again. The tracks of the crawler slipped on the icy metal ramp for a moment before they caught, jarring us forward and pulling us onto the huge door. I sat in awe of the sights that met my eyes inside. On one side, dozens of ponies worked on cutting down, fixing, or organizing numerous metal bits from a mountain of rusting parts that ringed this entire interior section of the ship. The scrap had been piled up high enough that it almost obscured the large letter H on the walls. I’d almost wondered where they could have found so much metal, but between the various odd rusting pieces, sat large cut up portions of cargo containers. This ship must have had an incredible amount of them for the settlement to have lasted this long, and I’m beginning to understand how hard they must have had it all these years.

On the other, sat a line of assorted vehicles of all sizes and types. A rainbow striped tank sat next to another bright red painted ice crawler. Next to that, looked to be some form of armored half track like I’d seen in some of the old war footage at the Neighvarro Cinema.

Towards the closer end of the line, sat an odd four wheeled vehicle. It stuck out from the others around it in two respects. The first, was the bright yellow painted plow that sat bolted onto it’s front. The near neon red letters painted across its blade that read Free Friendship Here, looked a lot less welcoming than the message implied. The second part that stood out, was the large, rusty round shaped machine bolted onto the bed of the vehicle. I’d become quite familiar to the old machine’s function in preparation for taking the physical half of the Enclave entrance exam.

Even up in the clouds, I’d hated the dizzitron. Even if it was one of the only things that could ever get me airborn fast, it made me sick to my stomach, and half the time I ended up plowing straight down into the clouds. The one sitting on the back of this vehicle was in far worse shape than even the original production one I’d used in flight camp, and I cringed at the thought of having to ever use one again at all.

Sitting parked in the middle of the line of vehicles, was a silver aircraft. It was a far cry from the Vertibucks that swarmed Neighvarro City’s skies during the parades, it was more… primitive looking. The black letters on it’s front spelled out Seaddler in what must have been a fresh coat of paint, as it was too well defined to have been sitting on there for two centuries. Two engine hubs sat fixed into the patchwork gull wings that rose from the fuselage, each engine having what looked to be a set of propellers at the front and the back. Also, oddly absent, was any semblance of landing gear. The whole thing had very obviously been patched up over the years, and one of the propeller sections looked like it had been scrapped together with odds and ends altogether. It was the last thing I’d expected to find inside this ship, even among all the odd things I’d seen so far.

“Enough gawking.” Delilah’s annoyed tone ripped me back to the fact that we’d stopped moving. As she pushed open her door, she looked back over her shoulder to me. “Night, I need you to go find our other zebra crewmate, Gearbox, and inform him that he’ll need to prepare Bertha to receive our package.”

“Okay.” I nodded, pulling myself out the door after her. The intense cold from the outside immediately bit at my coat, and I let out a hardy shiver. “Where can I find him, and who’s Bertha?” Dropping out of the cab, my hooves connected to the near freezing metal floor, and almost immediately, I spread my wings and pushed myself into a hover. Thanks to the thicker air down here below the clouds, I didn’t have to flap nearly as hard as before to maintain flight, but I could still feel it put quite the strain on my stubby flight feathers.

“Over in the agriculture bay, or Bay D if you think you’ll miss it.” She pointed out to a small parted section of the scrap heap. It was hard to see at first, but a small section of scrap up against the wall had been parted, and a makeshift metal tunnel ran into the section wall, disappearing into the other side. “Bertha is our ride, and once you two get back to it, have him show you the ropes of getting around on her and he’ll help you get settled in for the trip.”

“I’m not quite sure I understand…” I spoke up slowly, making Delilah close her eyes yet again in a show of annoyance. She certainly didn’t like being bothered about things, that much was plainly obvious. “How…?”

“Too many questions, kid. Just go.” She shook her hoof toward the door. “Gearbox will fill you in. I need to talk to Brushfire again before we leave.”

Instead of asking any more questions, I simply nodded and flapped my way towards the door. As I floated my way past the various vehicles, I couldn’t help but think that I needed to just do what I was told for now. Mrs. Delilah had been nothing but accommodating so far, and I had no reason to mistrust her yet. Still, I was so lost down here that I didn’t want to make any more mistakes than I already had. At least, not until I got back home or told somepony in the Enclave what happened. After that, I wouldn’t really have any reason to stick around there. I’ll be my own pony, and that’s something I needed to get ready to deal with.

Turning my wings slightly, I maneuvered myself into the small metal tube that ran between the enormous wall. The noise and chill of the scrap yard disappeared as I traveled down the arched hallway. A wave of hot air blasted at me, and forced me to shut my wings and drop to the floor. The bright light coming from around the patchwork canvas draped over the other end of the tube accompanied the sweet smell of cooking vegetables in the warm air. As I got up to a trot, the murmuring sound of many voices grew into a dull roar before I used my hoof to push the old cloth aside.

The hustle and bustle of the hundreds of others in front of me was dizzying. There were more ponies moving around in this enclosed cargo bay than had even lived in Four Peaks! The large container homes that I’d seen scattered around outside had been pushed back to the walls in great raking rows, giving way to a large open center where many booths, shops, and stages were set out. Great waves of ponies, zebra, giant dog things, and numerous other species I couldn’t make out moved from stall to stall shouting and working on various crafts.

“Hey! In er’ out!” The angry voice of a stallion yelled from beside me. He was almost beat out by the clamor of the crowd, but as I turned to look, I found he was actually only a few feet from me. His eyes went wide as he stared at me, and he reached over to a unicorn stallion who had been seated next to him. “You’re that mare who cost me my meal tickets!” He said as his friend turned around to look at me as well. “You’re going to pay for that…” The two of them took a single step forward before my body caught up with what was about to happen and acted for me.

With a heavy kick off the ground, I spread my wings and flapped hard. Even with the thicker air, my wings protested to lift me as quickly as they needed too. I felt a fetlock wrap around my rear hoof and I instinctively kicked out. My rear hoof connected with the stallion’s face, drawing a plethora of muffled insults as I pushed myself to get up higher.

Absurdly, I found a smirk drawing across my muzzle as I pushed myself higher into the air. I don’t see how meal tickets were worth injuring me so much, but I was safe up here. Looking back, I almost wanted to flaunt the fact that I was untouchable. However, the array of silverware following me in the unicorn’s magic begged to differ…

“Shit!” I whined out as I immediately tucked my wings in. The move changed my airspeed, and I sank down under the the glinting cutlery as it whisked just past my mane. Throwing my wings open, I pushed my forelegs out for the fine control they offered during my flight, and shifted my posture. The air caught under me, and I found myself in a shallow dive and picking up speed quickly. I just needed to get away from these ponies!

I dipped down low over the masses of shifting ponies under me. As I’d hoped, I’d gained quite a bit of speed in the dive. Straightening out, I was moving at a fairly good clip. More than a few of them gasped and shouted as I passed overhead, and I was constantly shifting myself and throwing myself left and right to miss a set of sharp horns sticking out, or the errant piece of metal that somepony was hauling around the market.

I will say this. Past my heart thumping wildly in my chest, and the adrenaline pumping through my veins, I felt good to be flying. In fact, I’d never felt so free in my entire life! Whisking over a table full of ponies eating the soup that I’d enjoyed smelling, I breathed deep and relaxed. Looking back, I was still ahead of the chasing silverware. In the exact same way as I should have been in the forest, I should have payed attention to where I was going.

My dangling forehoof caught on the canvas cover of a merchant’s stall, and I was pulled downward. With a tremendous clatter, I plunged straight through an entire display of what felt and sounded like what used to be intact ceramic dishes.

“Shit!” I whined as I tumbled down onto the steel floor plates, still half wrapped in the old cloth. The crowd of ponies around me erupted in gasps and whispered chattering as I did my best to recover. From behind me, the zebra merchant began yelling angrily at me in a language I couldn’t comprehend, but even over her voice, I could hear the angry yells of the two stallions who’d started this all. “I’m sorry! I’ll make it up to you!” I said quickly as I finally freed myself from the rest of the canvas.

With the crowd around me having taken a step back, I could barely make out another one of the connecting tunnels set ahead into the massive wall section. Spreading my wings again, I bust forward into a gallop and pushed myself back into the air. I climbed just high enough that I cleared the few ponies standing between me and the tunnel. With a quick look back, I found now that the two angry stallions had multiplied, and there were at least six of them pushing after me.

Dipping down, I pushed in through the mostly shredded cover of the tunnel. This tunnel was darker than the previous one, but again, bright light at the other end gave me hope that maybe I could find someway to get away from them. I flapped my wings hard, the muscles in them aching from the sheer effort it was taking to keep me moving at this speed. However, I was at the very least lucky that there wasn’t a single pony in this tunnel ahead of me. A quick thought shot through me, reminding me that if there was anypony on the other side however, I’d rather not risk slamming into them and ruining both of our days. So, putting my head down, I let out a yell as I drove the last twenty or so feet towards the flap.

I slapped against the thick cloth, finding what little speed I had drained away as I was forced to the ground. Rather than risking landing on my hooves wrong, I tucked myself as tightly as I could and just tried my best to roll whatever way my momentum carried me. I slapped painfully against the cold metal floor, skidding across it until I plowed into something soft that crumpled when I hit it.

The tower of cardboard boxes collapsed on top of me as my mind tried to reorient itself. I shook my head and blinked a few times, waiting for the stars in my vision to dissipate before looking around. The darkness around me was accompanied by the heavy smell of mold, and the whole mass that covered me shifted as I looked around. Even with my senses still off, this whole new section was deathly quiet. A few odd bangs and creaks, but nowhere near as loud as either the scrapyard had been, or that marketplace. Pushing myself up to my hooves, my muzzle lifted one of the cardboard boxes I was under off of me, and I looked around to see where I was.

This section of this ship was organized in a repeating pattern. Neat rows of cargo containers were stacked up almost nearly to the ceiling, towering like the apartment buildings that dotted the Neighvarro skyline. Each one was set up like it’s own block, separated almost completely from the next set by maybe a width of two containers. The stacks were layered so that each set of ‘houses’ was connected to a central walkway which wrapped itself in alternating rises around each mountain. Each ascending level connecting via what seemed to be cable and rope bridges to the similarly place junction of it’s neighboring rise.

The angry shouting of the stallions after me drifted down the section connection tube and forced my mind back to the task at hoof. Tearing out from the collection of old boxes, I spread my wings and pushed off the ground. I flapped hard again, trying my best to climb up to the top level of the closest rise to me. I needed to get up there before they saw where I went. If I was lucky, I might be able to skirt the back wall above where they could get to and wait this all out. These guys had to get bored and leave eventually, right?

The higher I pushed, the colder the air felt. I strained and tried my damnedest to ignore both that, and the strange looks I was getting from a few of the ponies on the higher levels around me. My muscles burned as the air even felt like it thinned out, my wings feeling like they were beating almost as fast as my heart was. I stretched my forehooves out, straining as they grasped at the edge of the topmost container. The darkness up here would be more than enough to hide me, I just had to reach it!

Using what little strength I had left, I hooked my forehooves onto the edge and pulled myself up and over it. With a heavy heave, I flopped down onto the cold metal roof of the container home, hoping that if there were any occupants below me, they’d keep quiet long enough for me to at least stay hidden. Panting heavily, I rolled over onto my stomach, and let my sore wings flop down beside me.

Closing my eyes, I perked my ears and listened. The angry voices below sounded agitated, and even though I couldn’t quite make out what they were saying, I knew that they had no idea where I’d gone to. My heart finally started to calm, and I felt a smirk crawl across my muzzle as I was at last, safe and sound up here.

“Heya, Dum Dum!” The shrill voice sounded like a horn blaring right in my ear. I let out a scream from my muzzle that would have put the mares in my class to shame, and scrambled to get to my hooves. Unfortunately, I tripped over them and ended up rolling another foot or so across the metal roof and smacking against the sheet metal side of a large air duct that ran along the back wall.

“Ahhh!” Hispano squawked loudly in response before chuckling. “What the hell kind of scream was that?” The small griffon from the other ship rapped her claws against the cold metal roof as if waiting for me to actually answer a question like that. My ear’s perked as I heard the stallions below call out to each other again. Shit, I should have kept my muzzle shut!

“Shhh!” I snapped in a harsh whisper. “I need you to be quiet so those stallions don’t find me!”

“What?” Hispano sat up stiffly, spinning around and popping her head over the edge of the containers. “You mean those jokers?” She looked back with a cocked eyebrow at me. “You’re hiding from chumps like them? Why?” As she turned back around, she used her talons to adjust the strap to a duffle bag she carried on her back that was pretty much as big as her.

“Because they want to hurt me!” I snapped back at her, finally finding the coordination to get my hooves under me. Unfortunately, my wings still hung limply at my sides, and any attempt to even pull them against hurt bad enough that they me made me wince.

“Oooo!” Hispano smiled and clasped her talons together. “Maybe they’ll pay me to kill you for them!”

“No!” I couldn’t even fathom how she could sound so cheerful about killing anypony, let alone me! Then again, she did say she was some sort of mercenary, right? “What if I pay you to help me instead?” Yes, me, this is a great idea! Let’s get ourselves in debt to a killer as our first move in our new life on the ground. Brilliant.

“Huh, I dunno…” She turned around from the edge of the container, folding her talons across her chest. “Dad always said that you shouldn’t take contracts from desperate ponies. They always make rash decisions and are likely to die before they pay you.” Squinting, she looked me over.

“You said it yourself! I… I have friends, presumably they have money!” Stammering, I pressed myself back against the air duct as I heard the quick clop of hooves climbing the walkways around the containers below. “Yes, it’s true that I’m desperate, but please, you know that I need the help and you gain nothing if they kill me anyway.”

She seemed to think about it for a moment, rubbing at her beak with her talon as the sounds of angry stallions only grew closer and closer. My heart beat heavily again in my chest, probably just as willing to finally give up on everything as I was. I looked around as my mind told me to get up and go, to run no matter what, even if it was straight off the edge where my wings couldn’t carry my weight.

“Fine.” Hispano broke her silence, quickly throwing her shoulder forward and dumping her duffle bag onto the metal roof in front of her. Stepping close to it, she flicked her goggles down from the leather cap she wore. With a flick of her talon, she quickly ran a zipper around the edges of her bag and reached inside. “But you owe me, big time. And not something as simple as a few caps, you owe me a personal favor, anything I want.”

“Whatever you want, sure.” I nodded and sat down. “Now, how are we…” I began to say, my words dying in my throat as Hispano pulled out the large receiver to what looked to be one of the anti-griffon cannons they mounted for defence on the sides of raptors. “What is that?”

“This?” She grunted as she hefted the huge weapon against herself, digging around in the bag before pulling out the rectangular magazine for the enormous weapon. “This is my sister, Suiza. She’ll make sure those stallions never bother you again.” The weapon was literally as big as she was, and honestly, I felt more than just a little bit intimidated by that.

“Wha… you’re going to kill them!?” I gasped. “This is not what I had in mind!”

“Well, tough luck.” She snorted as she rammed the magazine into it’s slot and wracked the heavy charging bolt, letting it slam back into position with a heavy clack. “Twenty millimeters of fuck-you is the universal ‘leave me alone’ message of the wasteland.” With a whine, she pulled the gun up into her talons and pushed the butt of it under her arm. She looked back at me with an annoyed look and rolled her eyes. “Look, you have reservations against killing because you’re new down here, I get it.” With a step forward, she pointed the gun over the edge of the container, bracing the barrel against the metal to help steady her shot. “You’ll get over it.”

The air split with a deafening crack. My vision disappeared with the bright flash, the sudden change in my vision pairing perfectly with the sharp ringing in my ears. Even from as far back from her as I was, a wave of hot gas hit me like a slap in the muzzle. I forced myself to blink a few times, trying to force my vision past the afterimage of the small griffon firing her enormous gun. A gunpowder firearm was much different it seems than the magical energy weapons the Enclave showed off during the parades and exercises they displayed on holidays...

I felt the sharp edges of a talon grip my shoulder. Along with it, I could hear Hispano’s voice beat back the white noise running through my head.

“Come on, we’ve got to move.” She forced me to spin to the side, and she nearly dragged me forward with her. “Ship security will be looking for us, we’ve got to lay low for a while.”

“What?” I said for what was the umpteenth time I’d used it today. I was beginning to realize that it was probably going to be the most utilized word in my vocabulary for the foreseeable future. “Where are we going?” Getting my hooves under me, I started to follow her.

As my vision regained its normal clarity, she lead me along the back of the container. At the other end of the container that connected with the one we’d been on, I noticed something ahead that didn’t fit along the smooth sheet metal duct we were following. Letting go of my shoulder, Hispano quickly walked ahead of me and clasped her talons around the edges of the old duct vent. With a few tugs, she removed the slatted panel and raised it above her head.

“Get in.” She nodded towards the dark interior. “I’ve got a place where we can stay for a while.”

“Okay.” I nodded, really hoping that I wasn’t walking myself into even more trouble than I was already in. Stepping into the vent, I found that even though I was a bit smaller than the average stallion, I almost didn’t fit in here. Score one for having the figure of a mare, I guess.

Stopping once I was inside, I let out a sigh of relief. With Hispano leading me, I was finally safe for now. She was right, I had a lot to learn about my new way of life. Looking back, I watched as she stepped in after me, flipping the large bag off from her back and onto the vent floor. With a quick spin, she turned the slatted panel in her talons and pulled it snuggly back into place against the vent wall, sealing us inside.

“Come on, Dum Dum.” She sighed, reaching down and picking up her large duffle bag again, the heavy gun inside shifting as she adjusted the strap.

“My name is Night.” I said, holding my hoof out in thanks.

“No, it’s not. You’re an idiot, so I get to call you by what you are.” She huffed, brushing my hoof away before pushing past me. “This way, Dum Dum. We got a ways to go before we’re at my secret hang out.”

As we started to walk down the dark vent, all I could think to myself was what have I gotten myself into?

Author's Note

Many MANY Thanks to Dice Warwick on giving me early development feedback on the story, and to Sawyer for editing this chapter. Even more thanks to Kkat for developing Fallout: Equestria in the first place, as well as letting others use the setting!

Chapter 3 - What's in a name?

No degree of acceptance can ever change the facts.

“The secondary bridge of this ship was abandoned over a century ago. Mostly because the heat doesn’t vent up here anymore, and all the ground ponies can’t handle the cold like we fliers can.” My very chatty new friend informed me as she lead the two of us out of the vents and into a very rusty stairwell. “In the time that I’ve been waiting here with my father, I figured it’d be a nice place to be alone every once in awhile.”

“How long have you two been here?” I asked as the stairwell around us gave a distinctly worrying groan.

“About four months.” Hispano remarked almost casually as she climbed up the stairs. She must have known how my wings were feeling, because she hadn’t used hers once since we’d been in the vents. Looking back over my drooping wings, I grimaced. Then again, it wouldn’t be that hard to figure out I was in no shape to fly.

“Where did you live before here?” I asked with a sigh. Hanging my head, I tried to force the memories of dad and home back out of my mind. Mom and Dad taught me to be adaptable, to be comfortable with change because life was unpredictable. This was my life now, and I couldn’t spend the rest of my days lost in the pain of the past. I’d only taken my eyes off where we were going for a moment, but it only took that moment for me to end up bumping into Hispano’s duffle bag with my muzzle.

“We’re here.” She grumbled as she put her talons on one of the bulkhead doors. With a grunt and a stiff shove, she swung the heavy door open. Oddly enough, unlike all the other ones on these two ships, this door made no noise whatsoever as it moved on it’s hinges. “Why do you care where I lived? I’m here now, end of story.”

The bridge up here was nearly the same size as the one on the Inuvik, but felt distinctly more creepy from it’s state of decay. The large windows that looked out into the icy expanse were mostly covered, the fading light of day barely getting around the edges of the hastily welded on pieces of steel that had been put up over them. Old foggy gauges sat cracked and unused on the various instrument paneling, and several tables with yellowed maps and charts sat upturned and covered in cobwebs. Oddly enough, there were a few coffee cups still set on some of the helm positions, and they looked to be as clean as any above the clouds.

All the way at the other end of the bridge however, was an interesting sight. Old blankets had been pitched out between a few of the consoles like the canopy of an expansive tent. A pair of old mattresses and a few pillows had been spread out across the floor under it, looking well worn with age. On the other side of the tented area, sat an old rusty tool chest that was absolutely covered in old books, newspapers, and magazines. The softly glowing lantern next to them flickered as a whistling gust came through the doorway into the stairwell.

“Ugh. Do I have to do everything?” Hispano groaned and dumped her bag onto the floor. With a huff, she shoved me aside from the door and wrapped her talons around it again. With a metallic clang, she closed and sealed it.

“Sorry.” I whined. “Still getting used to the way things are down here.”

“Look, you want some free advice?” The tiny griffon walked past me, easily scooping her gun bag back onto her back before heading over to the tented area. “Living down here is easier when you make sure others know you’re good at something. Work hard at what you’re good at and others suddenly stop giving you so much shit about everything.”

“But…” I sighed, twisting myself and looking back at my flank. My blue coat was a little roughed up from the week away from things like showers, but it was just as glaringly blank as it had always been. “I don’t even know what I’m good at.”

Seventeen years. In that much time, I’d never discovered what I was good at. Back in Neighvarro city, it wasn’t so much of an uncommon sight for a pony my age to be cutie markless. There were plenty of us ‘late bloomers’ as the others called us. It was normal for a pony up there to go their entire colt or fillyhood cutie markless up until enclave training. It was expected that if you didn’t have your cutie mark by that point, it would have meant you were probably destined to be an expert in some sort of military capacity.

“Well, you’ve got your looks going for you at the very least.” The tiny griffon sighed as she basically threw herself down onto the mattresses, sprawling out with a soft mewl. “Most stallions don’t mind pampering a pretty mare so long as she puts out in the bedroom.”

“Wh...what?” I stammered. “I’m… I’m not a mare! I’m a stallion.”

“What?” Hispano answered sharply, quickly shooting a look back to me. “Bullshit. I know ponies are hard to tell apart sometimes at a distance, but I would have noticed that.” With a quick flutter, she pushed herself up and into the air, zipping out of her tent and landing with a soft flap next to me. I froze up as she practically buried her beak under my belly and took a good look at my goods. “Huh… so you are.”

The whole exchange drew a bright blush across my face, and I quickly took a step back from her. Sure, I’d been confused with being a mare at first glance, but even Delilah had noticed. Though… she had an entire week to do so. Or the Doctor could have informed her. I could see this becoming a big problem in regards to having a lot of unwanted attention in the future.

“This could become a really big advantage in the future for you.” Hispano chuckled as she looked over me intently. “You know how many ponies you could kill with looks like that?”

“What!?” I gasped. “I… I’m not a killer!”

“Calm down, not every job would need you to kill somepony.” She cooed. “Bounty hunting is a legitimate trade here on the ground. Good money in it too if you’re good at it.” She sat on her haunches and folded her talons across her chest. With a canted head, she squinted and smiled. “Yeah, it would be real easy for you to get close to somepony, make them comfortable right before wham! You clock them right over the head with a power hoof, and it’s lights out for them.”

“I’m… not sure I could live with myself if I ever killed anypony…” I sat down, wincing as my flank pressed against the cold steel flooring.

“You’ll have to one of these days.” Hispano shrugged and spread her wings. With another quick flap, she zipped herself back over to her tent and landed on the mattresses inside. “Everypony who grew up safe from the wastes pops their murder-cherry the first time they venture out in it. It’s only a matter of time.”

That was absurd! Pushing myself to my hooves, I puffed up my chest and strode over to Hispano. “Now, you listen here. I will never kill anypony, either willingly or if I’m told to.” My scathing words were probably a little more than I should have used toward the griffon who’d saved me earlier, but I was going to stand by my morals.

Instead of anger at my words, Hispano only giggled. “You’re as naive as one of those stable dwellers, you know that?” Her giggling only intensified as she continued. “I mean, you just had me kill somepony to save you not ten minutes ago!” My mind went blank at that, and I felt my ears press down against the side of my head. She was right. While I didn’t kill them with my own hooves, that pony was dead now because I wanted him to be. Hispano however didn’t seem to care, starting to roll around as she laughed out of control. “You’re too good! ‘I’ll never kill anypony!’ Ha! What a riot you are.” She mocked me with her words, and it stung.

“Hey, would you look at that?” Looking up at my rear, her eyes went wide. Her talon pointed at my flank as she gasped. “A raider cutie mark!” I went wide eyed and looked back at my flank in horror, only to find that it was mercifully still blank. “Baaha!” She giggled again and rolled over into her pillow. “Too good!”

I was a monster.

Stumbling back, my rear hooves gave out and dumped me onto the cold floor. As I flopped down, the thoughts of Mom and Dad were back. What would they have thought of me? Their son, the murderer. What if that pony had a family? What in Celestia’s name have I done? I let out a whimper and pulled myself into as tight of a ball as I could. I… I had to turn myself in. I had to pay for the life I’d stolen and do whatever I could to make things right.

“Woah, Dum Dum.” Hispano gasped between her giggles as they trailed off. “Take it easy. It was just a joke.”

“No… I got some pony killed.” Twisting my head up, I looked up to her. “That’s not who I am! I can’t be a murderer.” I sniffled as my eyes watered up. The look on her face was at the very least one of understanding.

“Yeah, they’re dead because of you, but you’re not a murderer.” Reaching up, she pulled off the leather cap and goggles from her head. Her head feathers now free of the confining headgear, they puffed up and darted every which way messily. “I shot that stallion because if I didn’t, he would have killed you.”

“You don’t know that!” I snapped at her. “He could have just beaten me until he got bored, or maybe…” I sighed. Who was I kidding? He and his buddies attacked me with silverware. Silverware for Celestia’s sake! They wanted to kill me, and I panicked by asking Hispano to kill them first.

“Trust me when I say that it was self defence.” She nodded, giving me an uneasy smile. “So please, don’t tear your pretty little mane out because of this.” Uneasily, she turned and pulled the gun duffle bag over to her and unzipped it. Almost reverently, she removed the large gun from the bag and pulled it close to her. Wrapping her talons around it, she pulled it close and nuzzled the barrel. The flickering lantern light drew my attention to the ornate silver embossed lettering that sat on the lower block of the gun’s receiver.

A thought kicked itself into my mind, and I hastily grabbed on to it over the thoughts of the stallion who was no longer alive because of me. “You said that the gun was named after your sister.” I spoke softly, rubbing my watery eyes. “Why?”

“No, she’s not named after my sister. Suiza is my sister. She was one of the best talon mercs who’d ever lived. Well, to me anyway...” A soft but sad smile sat across her beak as she reached down and ran her talon over the embossed name. “But the wasteland is a cruel place, where even the things that the one’s who love you say, can end up getting you killed.” With a heavy sigh, she squeezed the gun tight to herself.

“I don’t understand.” She was speaking oddly, almost avoiding the topic. I could see that it was making her uncomfortable, and it was probably best to drop it.

“My father,” She huffed with a resentful tone to her voice. “He always remarked that Suiza loved her cannon more than she loved him.” Her eyes wavered as she spoke, tearing up. “She always said she loved me more than that stupid gun, but I joked along with dad. ‘Maybe she should just marry it’.”

I sat and watched as the last of the daylight outside the covered windows dimmed, and only the flickering lantern next to Hispano illuminated the tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Six months ago, she was out on a mission when she was shot down saving her idiot wingmate’s life.” Hispano carefully pushed the gun off of her, setting it down on the mattress next to her. “She fell into a patch of killing joke, and…” She paused, slowly putting her talon on the gun’s receiver. “Her wingmate said that this is what became of her. Her gun and her, finally one and the same, together forever.”

“I still don’t understand.” I blurted out. Reflexively, I found my hooves shoot up to my muzzle, but the damage had been done.

“Killing joke changes you.” She snapped at me. “It takes your body and magicly fucks it over until you’re something you’re not supposed to be. My sister was lucky and probably didn’t even feel a thing. I’ve heard of others lasting minutes or days in agonizing pain before dying from it’s stupid fucking jokes. That’s all you need to know about it, and you better hope that you never fucking see a patch of it in your life...”

“I… I’m sorry.” I whispered. “It wasn’t my intention to bring something so painfull up.”

“Yeah, well you fucking did.” She sniffled and turned herself around with a huff. She flopped down again, shoving her face into her pillow. “Fucking seriously, Dum Dum.” Her muffled words made me wince again, but I deserved it.

“My name is Night Flight.” I whispered, laying myself down onto the cold floor again. Closing my eyes, I listened as the wind whipped against the ship outside, the low drone of it almost drowning out the soft sobs that Hispano cried into her pillow. Part of me wanted to go, to leave her to her sorrows and get back to going where I was supposed to be. I couldn’t convince myself to move though. I wanted to say it was because she’d said we needed to lay low for a while, but that wasn’t it. For as fucked up as the little griffon was, I owed her.

With a soft sigh, I curled myself up, and waited to drift off into what would hopefully be a short nap before we got moving again. If anything, she’d know to wake me up when it was time to go. And when it was finally time, hopefully I wouldn’t need to have her murder anypony else.

Waking with a yawn, I felt surprisingly warm. Uncurling myself slightly on the floor, a glorious amount of heat poured down from above me. It felt good to have actually gotten a simple nap in. No horrible wasteland hanging in my mind, no horrible wasteland dwellers coming to kill me.

Then again as I was learning, the wasteland was unpredictable.

“You.” The seething hatred that came from a voice just above me prompted my eyes to shoot open. I looked up just in time to see a large white griffon reach down and grip around my neck with his talons. “You stay away from my daughter and go do your whoring someplace else.” The sharp and nearly serrated beak of the imposing griffon was almost as troublesome as his tight grip around my neck. He was covered in more scars than I cared to count, and the top of his head was twisted, burned, and featherless from what looked like a hit from a magical energy weapon. His piercing red eyes bore into me like hot coals as he used his tremendous strength to pick me straight up off the floor.

“Hnrgth!” I tried to speak, but his grip was cutting off my breathing. Panic set in, and I tried to flail as best I could against him.

“Dad?” Hispano’s weary voice came from behind before she gasped loudly. Like a bullet she was on his arm, trying to break his hold. “Dad, stop! You’re hurting him!”

“What have I told you about stallions?” He snapped at her, only tightening his grip around my throat. Darkness began to claw at the edges of my vision, and my head pounded to remind me that more trauma wasn’t what it needed! “They are greedy sons of bitches who aren’t to be trusted.”

“He hired me!” She snapped back at him, still tugging at his arm. Those words seemed to do the trick, as he released me. I felt to the floor in a gasping heap, the world full of spinning stars for a few moments. “What the hell are you doing making assumptions like that when you keep telling me never to do the same damn thing!”

“You are too young to be hosting your own contracts.” He grumbled angrily. “After last time…” he was cut of with a small smack.

“Last time was because of Suiza, and because you weren’t fucking there for me.” Hispano’s voice was harsh, but from what I could gather about what she’d said happened, I could tell that the whole event had strained their relationship. With a flutter, Hispano dropped down beside me and wrapped her talon around my neck. Not to strangle me, but instead to help me up. “Night here hired me to take care of some stallions who were out to kill him. I was forced to shoot one, and we came here to lay low for a while.”

That sent a pang of guilt through me. We weren’t forced to kill them! She did it happily and without a second thought!

“I should have known it was you.” Her father groaned, running a talon down his face with a sigh. “However, seeing that your little ‘job’ is finished, it’s time for him to go.” Stepping forward again, he reached out and grabbed around Hispano’s arm, pulling her off of me as I got my hooves under me again. “Solomon was apparently delayed the last few days by a landslide in Sparrow’s pass, but have been back on the road here. The detour means they will arrive a few days from now, so don’t wander off again.”

“Yes, dad.” She sighed before looking over at me. “You alright to find your way back, Dum Dum?”

Ugh, that name infuriated me. “Yes.” I grumbled in frustration as I turned myself back towards the door off the bridge. With much less effort than before, I managed to pull my wings up tight against me. The rest did wonders for them, and they were only mildly sore now. Probably not enough to fly me up any more stacks of containers, but I hoped I wouldn’t need to do that anywhere in the near future. Looking back over my shoulder at her, I found her expression had dropped from the happy one she’d mostly been wearing since I met her, to a defeated and depressed look. “Thank you again.” I spoke up making her look up at me sadly. “I hope you’ll come find me again sometime.” I offered a smile to her, immediately not knowing why I’d chosen to say something so stupid. However, it did happen to draw out her happy expression again. “You know, for…”

“I know.” She snapped nervously, cutting me off as she shoo’d me off with her talon. “Now get going and stay out of trouble.”

“I’ll try.” I sighed, turning around and heading past the old conning stations on the bridge and out through the bulkhead. Once back into the old, dark stairwell, I looked down into the dark abyss below me. Again I was on my own without any idea where I was supposed to go to get back. Then again, so long as I avoid any more doors with pegasus bouncers standing at them, what could go wrong? I was on a ship in the middle of the arctic so really, how hard could it be to find my way back?

The symphony of groaning metal and odd clangs and ticks that ran through the numerous pipes around me kept me on edge. Of course, the rickety stairwell didn’t help, giving more groans of protest as I went down than it had on the way up. Still, I’d descended so many stairwells on hoof that I was starting to become dizzy from the constant spinning around the railings headed down. The repetition was so boring to my mind that I’d almost missed the two sets of vent grating that sat almost invisible on the stairwell walls. A bothersome thought cropped up in my mind and grew like a bad itch.

“Shit… which one did we come out of?” I spoke to myself. I paused as my voice echoed in the darkness around me, sending a shiver up my spine. The world below the clouds was dark and full of terrors, and who knew what lurked in the shadows. Even on a ship this big, there were bound to be places no pony had been for years, and I didn’t want to even think about what horrors might be found in them.

“Okay then, think.” I sat myself down, raising a wing to brush my mane back as part of my bangs fell against my muzzle. “It was mostly a straight walk to one of the junctions that met up here, so it might not matter which one I choose…” I let my voice drift off as a low drone came through the vents closest to me. I took a deep breath, holding it as if I didn’t, some enormous monster would hear me breathing and come snatch me up. However, as I breathed in, a sweet scent hit my nose from the air coming through the vent. I smiled as I realized what it most likely had been from. “Oh, the market must have been this way then!” Reaching up, I wrapped my hooves around the vent cover and pulled.

It didn’t budge.

“Stupid.” I snorted, reaching forward with my wings and slotting them through some of the wide slats. With a grunt I pulled again, hearing the vent cover groan slightly but still refuse to budge. With a sigh, I relaxed a bit, adjusting my grip again. “Dammit. How did she make it seem so easy?”

Crouching down and nearly hanging off the vent cover, I took a few deep breaths. Then, I tensed up and gave the vent all I had. With a squelch from the cover and a yelp from me, the metal vent cover dislodged and flopped down on top of me as I fell back onto the walkway. The walkway in turn gave it’s own groan, followed by a sharp snap as part of the railing sheared away.

Pushing the vent cover off of me, I scrambled to get back to my hooves. Another snap resounded as I did, and the whole rusted floor under me shuddered before bending under my weight. Pushing off, I nearly threw myself into the vent, flopping into it with a whine. The whole section of rusted stairway gave one last shudder before it folded down and dropped down on to the floor below it. With a sigh, I pushed myself up and sat myself back against the vent wall.

Seriously, was this going to be my life from now on? Was it going to be danger at every turn, ponies out to kill me in every room I find myself entering? How could anypony have adapted to life down here if that was the case? Everypony who’s been helping me has seemed so together, so sure of how they need to be to survive. I didn’t want to be destined to need somepony to hold my hoof through everything everyday.

“I won’t be, damnit.” I grunted as I shoved myself back to my hooves. My parents raised me to be a strong, independent stallion! True, they were gone, it hurt, and I couldn’t bring them back. But I needed to go on living for them. I still need to be a pony they’d have been proud of calling their son.

Pushing myself forward, one hoofstep at a time, I started to move forward into the dark vent. The air ahead felt thicker, and the sweet scent wafted through the air thicker with every step. Along with the smell, I could feel the air growing warmer, heavier with water the further I went. It was as if somepony had simply filled the vents somewhere ahead with a tropical raincloud and was slowly letting it seep throughout the whole ship. Underhoof I felt a creak, and I immediately stopped and looked down. It was hard to see in the near darkness, but it was another vent grate like the one’s everywhere else in the ducts before. However, unlike the others, this one gleamed with wetness. I was amazed that for some reason, it didn’t seem to be nearly as rusted or corroded as the vents before had been.

As if just to spite me, the grating under my hooves gave out, dropping me down into the slanted shaft below.

I gave out a yelp as I slammed down onto my side in the vent, struggling to get my hooves to grip on anything, but the old metal was slick with liquid. The sweet smell changed and was replaced with a pungent smell that filled the air. It was only getting thicker as I slid down, and the air itself felt even more humid as I began to panic again.

I felt myself go weightless as the slanted shaft dropped out from under me again. With another slam, I dropped into another slanted shaft. Quickly I flailed my wings, trying to find some angle to get them open to stop myself from sliding. As I slid, I finally found an angle to get them open almost enough. Then once again, the bottom gave out from under me.

With another slam and whimper, I dropped into yet another slanted shaft. Only this time, at the bottom, I could see light coming up through another old grating. Still sliding too fast, I used both my hooves and my wings to try to slow myself. The sticky fluid under me was yellow and had the consistency of wet baking powder. Along with it, the smell of vegetation felt like it was ripping its way through my nose and sinuses. It was so heavy that I wished that I could physically grab on to it to stop me. With a thump, I dropped onto the old metal grating, sighing as finally my wild ride was over. I took a moment to collect myself, and as I did, I looked down through the grate.

Down below me, there was nothing but green. Plants, trees, and vines covered the entirety of the area below me, and for a moment I had to remind myself I was still on a ship in the arctic. The green was more striking than the forest's I'd flown over when I'd left the clouds, feeling more constricting even from here. I felt like if I went down there, it'd swallow me up and I'd never find my way out.

With a sickening groan, the bolts holding the grate sheared off, and I was plunged into the canopy below.

Almost as soon as I’d cleared the edges of the vent, I thrust my wings out. I didn’t even have to think about it like when I was back home. This time, it was pure reflex. My wings caught the warm, dense air and converted my fall into a gliding flight. Something I noticed right away, was that small changes in the way I twisted my wings, subtle shifts in the way I held my legs, dramatically changed the way I flew down here. Drifting forward through this thick, almost jungle like section of the ship, for the first time since I’d left home, I could feel myself smiling.

I was flying. Not fast, not like all the other pegasus I’d ever known, but this was all that I’d even ever wanted.

Carefully, I lowered my forelegs away from my body, using them to torque myself ever so gently. My style of flight might have been uncharacteristic for ‘normal’ pegasi, but much like when I’d glide back home, I’d found it easier to maneuver like this. I found myself easily pitching below branches, rolling to fit between large tree trunks, and yawing myself toward a bright opening that tore it’s way through the thick canopy foliage.

Nothing mattered up here. Not what happened in Four Peaks. Nor the fact that I was somewhere far outside the only world I’d thought existed. For the moment, I was happy.

I punched through the leafy hole and found myself flying over an open field. Rows and rows of crops sat in neat lines twenty or so feet below me. All sorts of ponies worked around the various vegetables that I’d thought long extinct on the ground. Corn, lettuce, tomatoes, and even watermelons were being harvested and cared for.

“Hey!” The soft voice of a filly from down below called up at me. Looking down to where she was, I found the happiest looking yellow coated filly excitedly waving her hoof at me as I flew over her. Mirroring her bright smile, I waved back.

Unfortunately, waving changed my flight path and I started to oscillate with the waves. Realizing that I should probably concentrate on staying airborne rather than waving, I lowered my hoof and tried to tweak my wings to stop me from losing control. As I did, I turned my gaze ahead of me just in time to see the uppermost story of an old, wooden farmhouse encompass my entire view.

“Oh no...” Was all I had time to blurt out before I put my hooves up and rammed into the side of the old structure. Thankfully, the old wooden wall wasn’t constructed to take a hit from something my size and the musty wood planks snapped as I barreled through them and into a dark attic. I let out a yelp as I pulled my wings closed as tightly as I could and did my best to roll and flop along the dusty old floor. Without having been going too fast at all, I slid to a stop in no time, not in nearly as much pain as I’d thought I’d be in from a crash like that.

I blinked a few times as I laid there on the floor, wondering why I seemed to have gained the tendency to run into things since I’ve come down here.

“I was never nearly this clumsy back home.” I muttered as I lifted my head and looked at the splintered hole I’d made in the wall. Then again, maybe I just never really worried about it, as clouds were fairly strong and elastic. With a groan, I picked myself up off the floor and brushed the dust off myself with my forehooves and wings. “Still, I really need to stop running into things.” Flaring out my wings a bit, I hooved at them, finding all sorts of wood splinters and the like caught up all in my feathers.

“Hello?” The panicked voice of a mare called through the floor below as the quick hoofsteps below me reverberated through the entire house. “Are you alright up there?”

“Yeah.” I called out as the realization of what happened hit me. Shit, I just broke somepony’s house, didn’t I? How was I going to pay for this!? What if they wanted to kill me? Why couldn’t I go a single day without making somepony an enemy?

“That is a relief.” The quickly approaching hoofsteps culminated in the squeaking of boards at the other end of the attic. From the stairway down, bright lavender eyes appeared under a tall spiked black and white mohawk. “Though, I must inquire as to how…” The elderly zebra mare paused as she saw my wings. “Ah, now it makes sense.”

“I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean it.” I whined as I got to my hooves and took a step back. Great, I pissed off a zebra of all things! I know Mrs. Delilah said that I’m not supposed to hate them, but that doesn’t mean this one won’t curse me for something like this! “I’m sorry I broke your house.” Oh what have I done to deserve this?

Instead of anger, she laughed at me.

“So long as you are not injured, that is all that matters to me.” She smiled in a way that my instincts told me was genuine, but my mind told me was only a rouse. “It is hardly ever that I have interesting guests over, and it seems that today I am blessed with two in the same hour.” She waved her forehoof for me to follow before turning and disappearing back down the rickety stairs. “Come come! You must join us before the brew I have made grows too cold to enjoy!” She shouted as I still stood there lost in confusion.

So, let me see if I can get this straight. I fell from the vent and was flying. Check. Flew over a farm that’s inside this enormous ship. Check. Smashed through a farmhouse wall, and the owner doesn’t hate me? On top of that, she’s a zebra who doesn’t want to curse me for that?

Check...

“Fuck it, I give up.” I sighed and hung my head. “The way everyone acts down here on the ground hurts my brain.” Giving my wings a few good shakes, a few more splinters of wood and dust came out from them. That’d have to do for now. I didn’t have time to clean them thoroughly, let alone share whatever drink that this Zebra mare was talking about. I was supposed to meet Mrs. Delilah already, and I don’t know what she’ll do if I’m late. I really don’t want to be stuck here forever…

Putting one hoof in front of the other, I slowly headed for the stairs.

Walking down the creaky old wood, I passed old picture frames that hung on the walls. They were all filled with numerous pictures of ponies, zebras, and the like. Stopping at the bottom of the stairwell, I had to do a doubletake when I saw that there were a few prominent pegasi standing in the old photo. They wouldn’t have seemed so out of place to me, if I hadn’t spotted the dark brands that sat where their cutie marks would have been.

Every part of me wanted to call them traitors. To hate them on the principle of all they stood for. But really, how could I? The Enclave lied to us all. The ground has been safe, and these ponies could have been helped. Hell, we could have used their help. With a heavy sigh, I sat down and tried to figure out just where everything went so wrong.

“You really bought into it.” The sharp voice of a mare from behind me made my mane stand on end. Before I could move, a pair of hooves on my shoulders kept me from jumping through the ceiling in shock. “Easy there, didn’t mean to startle you.”

“What?” I said as I spun around. “I bought into…” My words died in my throat as I found myself standing in front of another pegasus. The vibrant purple and black stripes in her swept mane caught my eye only a moment before the glaring magenta of her eyes.

“I gave them 12 years of loyalty.” The mare spoke, pushing past me as she walked toward the old picture. I couldn’t help but admire her velvety blue coat. A darker shade of my own colors, but it was a nice fit on her. That is, until I saw what adorned her flank. “Then what did they give me?” She lifted her wing and slapped the dark brand that sat where her cutie mark was. “A hot iron on the flank and a boot to below the clouds.”

“Did you deserve it?” I found myself saying before I could clamp my muzzle shut. The mare only cocked an eyebrow at me as she turned around.

“Did I deserve it?” She sounded insulted, which might have something to do with the fact that I’d just said the stupidest thing possible to her. “Look, I was one of the ones who voted to bring you along with us, kid.” She rolled her eyes and walked past me again towards another set of stairs heading downward. “Don’t make me regret it.”

“You work with Mrs. Delilah?” I asked, this time making sure in my mind beforehoof that there wasn’t anything about that question that would piss her off. Well, probably nothing that would…

“Yeah, and when you didn’t show up here three hours ago, I was sent to find you. Said you might have gotten lost or something.” She tossed her head toward the stairs for me to follow her. “Saw your fight in the arena, figured you couldn’t have gotten into too much trouble since then.” Swiftly finding my hooves under me, I got up and followed. “Come on. It’s almost time to go.” With a swift jump, she bypassed the stairs altogether and landed straight on the floor at the bottom. Without hesitation, she started up at a trot and disappeared from sight.

“Go where?” I called out as I quickly followed. My hooves fell upon the old stairs in quick succession. The old wood protested to my quick movements, and before I knew it, I was on the ground floor of the old house. The smiling face of the old zebra mare who’d checked on me before poked out from the kitchen as the pegasus trotted right past her.

“Oh, leaving already?” The elderly zebra pouted as she turned to me. “I was all set for more tea and biscuits.”

“No thanks, Mrs. Spring Leaf.” The Pegasus sighed. “We’ve got a schedule to keep, and it’s time for us to go.” Stopping, she turned and pointed to me. “However, I’m sure that Bombay here would love to have some for the road.” The words couldn’t have made the Zebra smile any brighter, and I immediately got a feeling in my gut like this wasn’t particularly a good thing.

“That’s not my… um…” I stammered as I began to trot after the Pegasus mare. “It’s very kind and all, but I don’t want to impose…” As I tried to get past her, I found a very strong grip hook around my neck and tug me right into the kitchen.

“Oh nonsense!” Mrs. Leaf spoke as she pulled me in and sat me down on a stool all in one go. Without slowing down, she spun and opened a cupboard near her, hoofing out a couple of hazy glass jars. “A growing mare such as yourself needs to be well taken care of!” She looked like a mare on a mission, digging through parts of her pantry and filling up various little tins without even slowing down. “I mean look at how thin you are! One could think you had hardly eaten anything at all in the last year! Not good for you if you are looking to have foals down the road, dear.”

“That’s very kind…” I spoke up softly, pushing myself to get up. The moment my flank rose from the seat however, I found a pair of striped forehooves quickly push me back down on it. I will say this, she was quite strong for the age she looked to be. “However, I’m not a mare. I’m a stallion.”

“Whaa?” That however made her slow down, but only just. She eyed me over before shrugging and going back through seemingly tearing her kitchen apart. “Then what I said sticks, doubly so!” With a firm shake, she pulled out an old cloth sack and opened it before pausing. “No, this will never last.” In a flash, she trotted out of the kitchen and up the stairs to the second floor.

I caught a glance of the pegasus mare as she eyed around the corner at me, watching in elation as I sat here helpless to move. Honestly, I’d earned this for opening my muzzle like that upstairs. Still, I had so many questions I wanted to ask her. How did she adapt when she was kicked out? What about her family? Did they know what happened? A thought struck me like a bolt of lightning.

What if that’s what happened to my mom?

“Here we are!” The voice of Mrs. Leaf ripped me from that thought as she trotted back in with a pair of old tan saddlebags. They had seen better days, but curiously had a very interesting symbol sewn into the fabric, some sort of plant. “I am sure Mr. Leaf would not mind me giving his old saddlebags to a strapping young stallion such as yourself, gods rest his poor soul.”

“These were your husband’s?” I said, feeling more than a bit awkward in taking something like this from her. More so as she shoveled a whole assortment of filled tins, jars, and cans into the bags. “I… I can’t accept these.”

“Oh hush now.” Mrs. Leaf shot me a motherly glare before taking the bags in her muzzle. With a swing of her neck as she walked over, she tossed the filled bags right onto my back. The sudden weight made my legs wobble for a moment before I managed to adjust. “It is nearly harvest season, and it was about time that I cleared out the cupboards anyway.” She smiled as she walked back around to the front of me. Holding out her hoof to me, I couldn’t help but smile back. Taking her hoof, I found myself yanked from my seat and into a warm hug. “Just promise me you will share some of the goodies with your friends.”

“Okay.” I nodded and blinked as my brain caught up with what was happening. “I… I don’t know how to thank you.”

“Well, maybe sometime in the future, you could come visit an old mare for some tea.” She smiled for a moment before grabbing me again and shoving me out of the kitchen. “Well, best be going now! You do not want to be late for your journey!” With the strength of what should have been ten mares, I quickly found myself pushed through the old living room, and out onto the front porch. Trotting out after me, the pegasus mare gave a light giggle as she passed by. “You two have a good trip now, you hear?” Mrs. Leaf said as she quickly spun and trotted back into her home.

“Take care, Mrs. Leaf.” The pegasus mare called out before giving her wings a stretch. “Alright, Bombay, care to fly?”

“My name isn’t Bombay.” I grumbled. “And I… can’t fly. Not well, anyway.”

“Well, that’s obvious from the hole you left in Mrs. Leaf’s attic, along with the fact that you slammed into the side of Bertha.” She snorted. “And what do you mean that’s not your name? The announcer said it when you were in the arena.”

“I wasn’t even supposed to be there!” I sighed. Now that I wasn’t barred by social obligation, I didn’t have to sit and wait anymore. Walking forward across the moist dirt that lined the floor of this section of the ship, I looked up to find the old rusting hull all around us. However, like the other sections, off to one side jutted out a dark hallway. “I stumbled in there by accident. I was just trying to find Mrs. Delilah’s son.”

“Ah, I see.” She said as she kicked off behind me. With a great flap of her wings, she soared over me and dropped down just in front of my path. “So, I think we got started off on the wrong hoof.” She said, holding her hoof out to me. “My name is Violet Pulse. Nice to meet you.”

“Thanks. I’m Night Flight.” The heavy saddlebags felt awkward on me, and I didn’t really want to reach out and take her hoof in case they slipped off. So instead, I extended out my wing toward her. Surprisingly, she took mine with her own and gave a good shake.

“Come on.” She nodded over toward the door. “Coming back with that many goodies is going to make you very popular with the others. Best get settled in fast so you can stash some of it away before the others break into your room and snatch it all.”

“Delilah also told me I’d need to get ‘settled in’.” If there was one thing I’d noticed in the past day, is that ponies down here said a lot of things I think they expected me to pick up on. “What did she mean by that? Are we traveling in another boat or something?”

“Well…” That brought a smirk to Violet’s face as we approached the flap to the next section. The moment she did, a heavy banging and thumping filled the air down the hall. “Kind of, but not exactly.” Lifting the flap up, she waved me to go ahead of her. “Once we’re through the engine room, well, you’ll see for yourself.”

Stepping into the odd airlock type room, the door behind us shut and ratcheted closed. For the first time in ten minutes I finally felt like I could breathe. Well, at least breathe without killing my lungs with air saturated with magical radiation.

From how I felt like one of those old packaged dinners we’d have back home, I’m sure that the engine room wasn’t supposed to be nearly that warm. Then again, I’m fairly positive that four arcane reactors aren’t supposed to be running at full capacity after two centuries. From what dad had talked about, the reactor for the raptor at four peaks had everything in it’s reactor replaced at least twice in that time span. With a whimper, I slumped forward slightly.

Damn it. Why’d I have to go and remember. I wish more than anything that I could have them back, I don’t care how boring my life would have to be. I just wanted mom and dad to be there for me.

“Hey, don’t worry.” Violet chimed in as a small bell rang above us. “We’re out of the oven now.” With a sigh, she walked forward to the door and put her hooves on the handles that sealed it shut. “In fact, I’m positive that once we get on the road? You’ll want to run straight back into there.”

With a heavy grunt and a tortured squeal, Violet unlocked the seal on the door. With a metallic groan, the door swung open slowly, and a sharp cold ran into the small room. Immediately, I began to shiver from it. Goddesses, I was sure hoping she was wrong about how this was going to be the normal temperature when we left. Things were never nearly this cold back in Four Peaks. Must have something to do with the thicker air down here or something.

“You know,” Violet spoke up as she stepped through the door. I quickly got to my hooves to follow her. “With Brushfire leaving, you can probably just take her container for your own.” Stepping through the doorway after her, I found myself slowing to a stop as I looked up.

This room was much like the one I’d seen on the other end of the ship. Large and spacious, it held all sorts of metalworking stations with scrap piles neatly arranged around them. However, along with them, a dozen or so different scaffolds stood clinging to the walls, raising up to a set of catwalks that ran above a loading crane. The large, yellow painted crane ran along a set of gantry tracks that ran the width of the ship, from the large loading door on one side to the other. However, none of these things were the reason I’d stopped.

Sitting in the center of the bay, was something I was having a hard time wrapping my head around. It was a large boxy vehicle, painted bright yellow and blue with a near completely faded Stable-Tec symbol painted on the side of it. It sat propped up on six enormous tires, each one at least ten feet high. The front of it held a platform with an armored cab on it, and just behind it sat the pipework to what looked like a full sized arcane spark reactor. Above it, looked to be a large bed, something akin to some of the earthmoving trucks I’d seen pictures of when my schooling went over the industrialization of pre-war Equestria. Except, this thing looks to have been taken to extreme levels compared to the simple ‘dump trucks’ of back then.

“Woah.” Was all I could say as I looked over the monstrous vehicle. On the top and in the ‘bed’ of the thing’s enormous back end, several cargo containers had been stacked up and fixed on. A loose canvas had been draped over the top of them, and I could see a few lighting fixtures illuminating the interior. Even from where I stood, something on the side of one of the containers caught my eye. The familiar words ‘Shipping’ sat emblazoned on one of the upper blue boxes.

“Eeyup.” The voice of an older mare spoke up from beside me. “She’s a bit of a beast, ain’t she?” The mare laughed and smacked me on the shoulder. Looking over, I found a fairly large brown buffalo standing beside me. She snorted and gave a chuckle as she pointed up to the blue container I’d been staring at. “I think I can still see the dent you made in Zoomer’s room.” Shifting her hoof, she pointed to Violet.

“Zoomer?” I asked, looking over to the mare who now looked a bit uneasy for being put on the spot.

“We mostly run by nicknames on the crew when on the road. Not everypony has time to call out a full name in a tense situation.” She shrugged, trotting forward towards the massive vehicle. “It’s why I think I’ll just stick to calling you Bombay.”

“Well nice to meet you, Bombay!” The large buffalo smiled as she all but ripped my forehoof off the ground before vigorously shaking it. “Name’s Leaf Spring, but you can just call me Boiler.”

“Leaf Spring?” I asked, turning and looking back toward the door behind me. Before I could continue, ‘Boiler’ as it were, cut me off.

“Yeah, no relation to the nice old mare in there.” She chuckled and pulled me back around by my hoof. In fact, she spun me so fast I was pulled right into her warm chest fluff. “Oooh, let me see what goodies you’ve brought from her!” As she started to riffle through the contents of my saddlebag, I couldn’t help but think that the warmth she gave off while a bit awkward, was better than the biting cold from moments ago.

“Boiler.” The stern and flat voice of Mrs. Delilah came from behind the warm mountain that was Boiler. For just a moment, I thought I could feel Boiler’s blood freeze like mine did with the tone of just that one word.

“Yes, Mrs. Delilah. The ice block has already been loaded and refrigeration is already running at optimal temperature!” Boiler spouted off as I was pushed back sharply. The enormous mare, or whatever you call female buffalo, stood sharply at attention as Delilah crept forward from the shadow of a scaffolding behind her. “Bertha’s reactor is running at eighty-eight percent efficiency, and I dare say we’re right on schedule!” If I were to say something, I’d say Boiler was almost intimidated by the mare.

“Good.” Delilah’s response was simple and precise. I was beginning to wonder just who I’d signed up to work for. Almost as I’d thought that, she turned her sharp gaze to me. The way she looked at me through her cat eye glasses made me feel like I was being held at the end of a very fine blade. “Boiler, I want you to make sure Bessy is prepared to roll out before you get your husband behind the wheel of Bertha.”

“Yes, Ma’am. He’s probably still coming down from his high anyway. Might want to give him a bit more time anyway!” Boiler nodded and took off across the open bay at a fair clip.

“Night, I will ask you this once and only once.” Delilah’s tone snapped me to attention, commanding me to listen almost completely to her. Hell, for a moment as she spoke, I couldn’t be sure that there was anything else even going on around me.

“If you agree to travel with us, there will be no hesitation when I ask you to do something. You will be part of my crew, our family for however long it is that you are with us.” As she spoke, I had to think about anything she might ask me to do. Why would she be telling me this if she wasn’t planning on asking me to do something I might object to? What if she wanted me to kill somepony? “I know it must be a fairly rude shock to be thrown down into this sort of life so suddenly, and without any sort of time to transition into it. However, I can see something in you, Night. Something that says to me that left here, you would waste any and all potential to do good, and I could see a lot of that in you from the moment we brought you with us.”

“You can stay here if you like, or simply ride with us only to see what is left of the place you once called home before returning here.” She rose her muzzle as she spoke ever so slightly louder, looking down through her glasses at me. “Or, you can work for me.” She paused for a moment, letting a softer expression fall across her muzzle. “I promise that with either choice, my crew and I will do our part to help you find out what happened to your home. However, should you choose to stay on with us right here and now, I need your unquestionable loyalty and faith. You will be brought on under the same contract pay terms as anypony else, and once we reach our destination, will be provided housing and steady pay for any further work you do.” With that, she seemed to pause to gauge my response.

“But… why?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking. “Why would you want me? I don’t even know what I’m doing down here.” I sat and watched as with a sigh, she closed her eyes and carefully removed her glasses.

“Because I need every good pony I can get.” She said, seeming to drop every ounce of her hardened expression that she’d had only moments before. “The place where I come from far far in the south? It’s dying.” She said, pointing her hoof over to the massive vehicle. “This expedition? If this doesn’t work, the town my family built, the one that’s been my heritage will cease to be.”

“I don’t understand.” How could coming up this far north do anything to save one town? More so, how the hell could I help it!?

“It’s a yes or no type of deal, Night.” She sighed, using her hoof to put her glasses back on carefully. The rigid tone she’d had at the start was back, and I could tell that this wasn’t a time for me to ask any more questions. “Will you return here and try to make your own life? Or will you join us, and just maybe, help save my town from its current fate?”

How could I make such a rash decision like this? How could anypony expect me to do it in the first place!? To me, two days ago was a normal life, yesterday was a nightmare, and today is… confusing. Everything I’ve ever known was sealed up above the clouds, and now, that place will never exist again.

So far, my life on the ground has been frightening. Between the extreme danger that I keep finding myself in, and the kindness of those around me, a life down on the ground isn’t going to be easy, nor safe. But that’s something I don’t see myself having no matter what, even in this place.

A life. Without even knowing what my talent was as a pony, how could I say I’d be content to live in a place like this? Confined between the steel walls, it’s still just as much of a structured life as back home, which in retrospect would be nice, but would I still want it a month from now? How about a year? Even so, was I willing to risk everything I knew to be stable here, on the unknown journey ahead? That’s exactly what Mrs. Delilah was offering down the road for me, right? A life? A home? Even a family?

“I…” I felt myself stammer and stutter, slowly lifting my forehoof off the ground. This was the point of no return. Either I could stay and wonder what could have been, or I could go and bet everything on this one moment. All I have to really ask myself I guess, was other than my life, what do I have left to lose? No family, no friends, no hope, all pitted against the prospect of having just any of those things somewhere down the road...

“I’ll join you.” Holding out my forehoof to her, I watched as a soft smile grew across the donkey’s muzzle. Firmly she took my hoof in hers and gave it a strong shake.

“Welcome aboard, Night. Or should I say, Bombay.” She nodded as she gave a small laugh. “I knew you’d be in it for the long haul. Now, let’s get moving. We’ve got quite the journey ahead of us.”

Chapter 4 - The Convoy

Cheer up, the worst is yet to come...

To sum up my experiences on the ground, I could only say that one word just about covers anything and everything so far. Suprise. For example, much like the ships I’d spent the last day constantly lost on, Bertha, or the ‘hauler’ as the crew called it, had multiple decks of it’s own. Delilah had disappeared onto the hulking machine before Boiler had come back from whatever she’d been told to do. Now supposedly she was supposed to give me a tour.

“This here is the drive, engine, and storage deck.” Boiler spoke out proudly as I finished dragging myself up the steep steps that I had to hop onto from the ground to even get on. “This is where you’ll find me working most of the time.” Looking around, I found that the deck was quite spacious, if a bit… closed off. Large steel slabs had been fixed to most of the outer edges of the entire area under the overhanging rear bed. The large hydraulic pistons that used to lift the enormous dumping bed had long since been removed, and the whole bed was heavily welded straight onto to the frame. In some places, the steel looked to be over an inch thick, and the cramped enclosed driving cab had some that was even three inches welded around it.

“W-why do you need so much metal?” I hesitantly asked before looking across the deck to the large arcane reactor that sat half buried through the floor plates. No wonder this thing needed to be so far off the ground! That spark reactor looked big enough to power a whole cloud building! The flaking yellow paint of the monstrous energy generator glowed in the light of a few yellow and green lights that I was hoping indicated that the thing wasn’t going to explode anytime soon.

“Well, something so big is kinda hard to miss, so we need lots of protection.” Boiler dismissed the whole question with a wave of her hoof before she waved me over into the caged enclosure that filled pretty much the whole area between the cab and the reactor. “In here is where we store all the good stuff. Ammunition, high explosives, spare parts, tow cables.” She threw a crudely built switch that gave off a spark as it completed its circuit, making a pair of yellowing fluorescent lights flicker to life.

“Uh…” I felt my words drift off as I looked upon the arsenal before me. Racks of large looking cannon shells sat enclosed in what looked like a makeshift armored shelf. Boxes upon boxes of standard issue military ammo cans sat neatly stacked along the back wall, as well as a crate filled with what looked like fragmentation grenades and mines. Past that, a heavy spool of thick gauge cable sat on it’s side, while assorted lengths of pipes, sheet metal, and other odd materials sat bundled in the corner. “Are we… going to war with somepony?” I asked with as much of a joking tone as I could throw into my voice. I certainly hoped there was a reason for all these to be stored up other than they were used on a normal basis.

“Well, you know what they say about being prepared!” Boiler spoke up happily as she turned around and fiddled with a few controls on the large control board that sat next to the reactor. “Well, I guess you wouldn’t… falling from the sky unprepared and all.” She added before she flicked a few switches and gave the side of the machine a few taps.

“Hey there, Bombay.” Violet’s voice was oddly nice to hear again coming from the stairs. “Why don’t you come up with me? I’ll help you get settled in your room.” The way she said that was just… odd. I’d had a room with my parents, and it felt like one. It had a bed, a closet with some old clothes in it, and my desk for schoolwork. But a room on the top of a moving vehicle? I wasn’t sure what to expect. “Hello? Equis to Bombay.” She waved her hoof.

“Oh, sorry.” I shook off the distracting thoughts and turned to her. “Sure, I’ll follow you.”

“Yeah, make sure you two are settled in quick.” Boiler said, making Violet hesitate for a moment. “Delilah wants us out of here as soon as possible.” Flicking a few more toggles and hitting some buttons, the large reactor ticked up the faint hum it’d had into a louder, steady thrumming. “With Bertha here warming up, I just gotta start up Bessy’s reactor and then we’re out of here and back into the frozen wastes.”

“Good.” Violet chuckled and rolled her eyes. “As nice as it’s been here, I feel we’ve outstayed our welcome.” Looking back over to me, she waved her hoof for me to follow. “Alright, let’s find you a place you can call your own.”

Trotting back towards the stairs down, I stopped as Violet turned and followed the side where the lifting arms used to sit. To my surprise, part of the huge bucket had been cut in the shape of a doorway, and a pair of hinges almost blended into the bed’s shell. Violet gripped onto a curved piece of rebar that had been welded on as a makeshift handle and pulled it. With a squeal, the crude door swung open, and she disappeared inside.

Approaching the inside, I felt an odd chill coming from the dark room inside. Stepping in, Violet flicked a switch, and a single hanging bulb illuminated the room. Here, inside the lower half of the old dump bed, was a block of ice. Not just any block of ice, but one so blue, so large that it would’ve put any of the extravagant holiday ice sculptures in Neighvarro city to shame. Nearly two ponies high, maybe twenty five feet long, and almost twenty feet wide I’d say. It just fit inside here, maybe giving a few feet on each side to spare.

“Bombay, meet the cargo.” Violet said, barely hiding a bright smile. “She was a bitch to get dragged back here, but I’m still surprised I could find it in the first place.”

“It’s...“ I started to say before my thoughts hit a snag on her words. “Wait, what do you mean you ‘found’ it? There’s ice everywhere.” Walking forward, I looked toward the interior of the ice. It was dark, and I wasn’t sure if it was because it was just thick ice, or if something was in there…

“Mrs. Delilah can fill you in on the details, but this piece of Ice is special.” Violet’s smirk dropped a bit as she talked. “Just, close the door behind you and come on.” Waving me over again, I did as she asked and hoofed the makeshift door behind me shut. Trotting past the enigmatic ice block to the back of the room, I found myself staring at Violet’s flank halfway up another stairwell. Feeling my face flush, I immediately turned around and did my best to only glance up above her with the corner of my eye. “Damn thing always gets…” She paused before ramming her head up against the ceiling. With a sharp squeal, the hatch above gave way. “...stuck.”

With quick hoofsteps, she trotted up the stairs, and I turned to follow her. The heavy pack on my back gave me a few more pains as it shifted with each step. However, that soon dropped from my mind as I stepped onto the upper deck. Looking to my right, I looked out over the many ponies running around in this bay of the Emperica, as well as the large, similarly built loading door cut into the side of the hull of this end of the ship. Down on the workshop floor behind us, sat a multi wheeled striped armored vehicle with Boiler now working on the side of it. A squat turret sat on what I assumed to be ‘Bessy’, and a fairly large bore cannon sat pointed upward toward us. Through one of the open hatches in the back, I could see Howitzer’s large fuzzy form moving around inside tinkering with things. It didn’t look like the tanks I’d seen in the history books, or like the one I’d seen at the other end of the ship. It looked closer to a sort of… wheeled enclave skytank with zebra stripes.

“Good, you’re up here.” Delilah’s tone of voice was back to it’s harsh ‘straight to the point’ sort of feeling. “Both of you, get inside.” Before I even had a chance to turn around, I felt myself tugged hard and yanked through another makeshift doorway. This one was cut into the side of one of the shipping containers, but inside I found it had been converted into a somewhat homely room. An old oak desk with a radio on it sat next to a rusty framed, large sized bed. A dresser and a few plain storage crates filled most of the rest of the room, and a buzzing fluorescent light flickered softly as the door was shut behind me.

“Is something wrong?” Violet cocked an eyebrow, dropping the somewhat upbeat, happy tone she’d had so far. “Is it Solomon?”

Confused, I sat down and kept my muzzle shut. Whatever had just killed the mood in this room had to be serious. I’d screwed up everything I’ve been told to do so far on my own, but one thing I knew was when to sit down and wait.

“Night. I need your word that nothing we say leaves this room.” Delilah spoke as she took her place behind her desk. Carefully, she set her glasses down before glaring at me. “Is that clear?” I nodded, beginning to wonder just what the hell I’d gotten myself into by agreeing to go with her.

With a sigh, she rubbed at her forehead and closed her eyes. “Night, I know this has been a lot on you. I’m glad you’ve decided to travel with us, and so it’s only fair that I explain to you what to expect.” She put on her glasses again and sat down. “Not everypony wants to see us save my town. In fact, I’m fairly certain that I have more enemies than friends right now. The biggest and oldest of them being a Saddle Arabian prince named Solomon Roan.”

“Saddle Arabia surv…?” I began to say, but stopped myself before I got us off track. This was important, so I had to listen. “Sorry, go on.” Still, that name sounded familiar for some reason.

Delilah nodded and continued. “His family was a rival of mine back during the war. Two transport empires trying to best each other.” She hoofed open a drawer and pulled out an old wooden picture frame. Setting it on the desk, she pushed it towards me. The black and white photo was near pristine under the protective glass. The picture showed a smiling young donkey, and a large, smug looking Saddle Arabian. Funny, this stallion looked bigger than the pictures in my text books… “Near the end of the war, my great great grandfather and Solomon’s decided to put an end to the feud and put forward their own money to fund a… ‘unique’ joint project.” Delilah spoke.

“It was called the Ark.” Violet spoke up, drawing my attention to her. “The largest ship ever built by anyone, and filled to the brim with a cargo of enough riches that it could ensure the prosperity of not only both families, but their entire corporate staff for generations should the war take a turn for the worst.”

“But,” Delilah cut in with more than a little twinge of annoyance, “once it was completed, it was stolen and taken out to sea. It was never seen again.” Pulling back the picture, she tucked it away in her desk again. “Each family accused the other of the theft, and using their political influence, Solomon’s family barred us from ever sending another ship to any of their ports ever again.”

“How do you lose a ship that size?” I asked, not really comprehending ever losing something the size of the Emperica, let alone something even bigger.

“Nopony knows how it was really possible, but the fact remained that it happened.” Delilah sighed again, shifting on her hooves uneasily. “Without a clear party to blame, insurance wouldn’t cover their investment. That destroyed any chance for our families to cooperate on anything ever again.” With a chuckle that felt out of place, Delilah turned and walked towards her dresser. “The loss of that ship nearly bankrupted my family, but it was worse for Solomon’s family. Money was a show of power back then for the Saddle Arabians, and losing that much? Well, let’s just say that it’s taken almost two centuries for his family to recover from it.”

“So, this ‘Solomon’ character hates you for something that happened two hundred years ago?” I felt kind of dumbfounded that somepony could hold a grudge for that long.

“Yes, and he’s stepping up his game.” Delilah nodded as she opened a drawer on her dresser. “He’s hired a couple mercenaries to keep tabs on us for him. He plans on making it as hard on us as possible to get back home with our package.” Leaning forward, she bit down on a set of leather straps and pulled them out of the drawer. Hanging off them, was a leather holster that held a large pistol in it. With a flick of her head, she tossed it onto the bed. “So, as soon as we get to Fort Mac, I’m going to get you fitted for some armored barding and find you a suitable weapon.”

“You mean they’re going to try to kill us!?” I gasped.

“Yes, though I assume not directly. If he destroys one tire, one axle of Bertha, we’re done for. There are no replacements for those, not anymore. So he’s going to come at us again and again until we either get home, or he stops us cold.” Delilah nodded, looking over to me with her sharp glare. “And if he hits us hard, I expect you to do the same right back to that no good lowlife and his cronies. Am I understood?”

I wasn’t sure I could follow that order. “I… I don’t even know how to use a gun!” I stammered. Yes, she couldn’t ask me to go into combat without knowing what I was doing!

“Violet will teach you.” Delilah bluntly got out before turning toward her bed.

“What!?” Both Violet and I exclaimed at the same time. She looked at me and looked over me.

“Sorry, Ma’am, but don’t you think Howitzer would be better suited to that?” She asked in a way that sounded more like she was trying to get out of it than that she couldn’t do it. Seriously, I’ve heard plenty of other colts and mares make excuses to get out of things above the clouds. “Here, let me help you with that.”

“We will be spending most of the day at Fort Mac. After I get him set up, you will train him.” Delilah fired back, raising her voice as she did her best to work on the leather pistol harness. Stepping over, Violet used both forehooves to help get the harness slid up over Delilah’s back and secured with a metal clasp. “He takes to you because you are familiar to him. Besides,” She sighed, shifting her shoulders a bit to get the harness comfortable. “Howitzer is a bit too rough a teacher. I want him ready for a fight with Solomon, not a recovering liability when we get into one. Once he knows the basics, he’s with you for the rest of the trip.”

“Yes ma’am.” Violet sighed, sounding dejected.

“You hear that, Night?” Delilah called back. “Starting after we leave Fort Mac, you are to ride with Violet here in the Runner. She’ll make sure you’re ready, and riding with her, she’ll be right there help you out when we get in a fight.” Turning around, Delilah reached down with her muzzle and drew the copper colored pistol from it’s holster, using her tongue to hit a button on the side of the grip. With a sharp click, the safety popped into place and she returned the gun to it’s holster. “Alright. We’re going to be on the move soon, so get settled in and get some rest. We’ve got a lot of Ice to cover.”

Both Violet and I nodded and turned back to the door. For better or worse, I’d made my bed by agreeing to come with Delilah. I may not like what we find down the road, but my parents raised me to stick to my word. I would see this through to the end, even it was to my end. Stepping out of Delilah’s container, I did my best to clear my mind of it for now and focus on getting settled in. I have everything to owe Delilah for rescuing me out there, so, I have to at least try to pay that back in some small way.

The top deck of ‘Bertha’ consisted of five, twenty foot long shipping containers covered with a thick, heavily patched up canvas tarp. Two containers ran longwise on each side of the massive deck, and one ran across the front end. The space left in the middle was converted into a sort of common living area and kitchen, complete with gas stove, picnic bench, and a couple couches for relaxing on, set ontop of a fairly fancy looking rug. All in all, it was more spacious than I’d expected, but with everyone on the crew, I feared it’d be a bit crowded.

“The blue container over there is where you’ll be. Brushfire should have already moved her stuff out of her half, so feel free to get comfy.” Violet said as she gave a gentle flap of her wings. She hovered herself over the couches, and to the container toward the front along the left side. “I’m right across from you, I share the other blue box with Hardcase. Meanwhile, Boiler and Gearbox are at the front in the yellow container. Remember to always knock before entering there if we’re not on the move. Sometimes they’re really going at it and it’s not something you want to see unless you’re into that sort of thing.”

Shifting over her gaze, she looked behind us. “Of course, you now know Delilah is in the red box next to the stairs. The other red box across from it however...” Sighing, and shifting her hoof to the container behind my own. “That’s Happy and Lucky’s room. Again, don’t enter without knocking, but only because if ego and self loathing were a fuel source, they could have solved the energy crisis two centuries ago. Sometimes I don’t know how those two even stand living together.”

“So… is Howitzer my roommate?” I spoke up, readjusting the heavy bags across my back again. Seriously, I needed to set these down somewhere soon. “Everypony else has a roommate, and he’s the only other crew member, right?”

“Howitzer…” Violet scrunched up her muzzle and shook her head. “He normally sleeps in Bessy down there. He prefers to be alone at night.” Turning to look at me, a smile grew across her muzzle. “But no, you aren’t the only new crew we’ve taken on here.” Flapping her wings again, she propelled herself toward the makeshift door on the container that was supposed to be my room. With a light rapping, she knocked on the side of the container. “Hey Doc, you in?”

The blue container door squeaked as it opened, and a pointy black and white muzzle poked out. “Oh, hello there!” The Snow Dog doctor from before smiled for a moment before looking over to me. Even though I’d gotten used to the idea of Rosey, the doctor still had foot long razor claws on his forepaws that made my mane almost stand on end. “You must be my roommate then! How splendid! It will be much easier to check up on you this way!”

“Oh, you two have met then already? Didn’t know it was you taking care of our head-case, Doc!” Violet smiled and looked over to me. “We’ll, I’ll leave you two to get settled in! Just make sure to keep your things secure. Sometimes the ride can be a bit bumpy.” Just as she finished, the low thrumming that had been in the background from the reactor grew louder. The whole floor felt like it shuddered under me before we started to move. “See you boys later!” Violet said as she kicked off and flapped hard with her wings, basically shooting out the open rear of the vehicle and into the increasingly cold air.

The further we rolled, the colder it got. Without much warning, we passed outside the large loading door of the Emperica, and the battering winds hammered at the Hauler. At a slow crawl, I watched as the other striped vehicle started after us, following us into what I’d quickly assumed to be a heavy snowstorm. Visibility dropped off, and I felt myself give a deep shiver. Even pegasus coats weren’t meant for a cold like this.

“Come on inside before you catch a cold!” The doctor called before he himself disappeared inside. Even though his appearance was still… unsettling to me, I didn’t want to freeze to death. The moaning of the harsh winds, and the quickly disappearing lights of the Empirica pushed me to move my hooves. Walking across the plush rug that covered most of the living area, I headed for the door to my new home.

Home. I’d had a home what felt like ages ago now, but it’s been on my mind so often now that it didn’t even sound like a real word to me anymore. Stepping into the container, I found an old moldy mattress greet me. It was covered with a hole filled yellow sheet, whether it was yellow from age or ‘other reasons’, I didn’t even want to speculate at. The rusty iron frame that the mattress sat on was affixed to the floor with large bolts, and that at least gave me an odd comfort. After living in the clouds so much, a bed that was physically attached to something just felt safer than something that could slide around.

Using my rear hoof, I hooked around the door and swung it shut. The wailing winds died down to a low drone that permeated the walls, and the heavy thruming of the reactor became a steady hum to my ears. Shucking the overloaded saddlebags off me, I slid them under my bed frame for safekeeping.

Without the weight of them on me, my back stopped screaming at me so damn much. Reflexively, I pushed my wings out and stretched them. They didn’t so much hurt, as they still had a bit of soreness too them, but I didn’t mind that. Turning around, I found a metal hook on a ring at the edge of the door. Quickly working out that it was to keep the door locked, I turned around and swiftly flicked it up and into the matching ring on the container.

“So!” The Doctor’s voice startled me with its suddenness. I’d been so lost in my own thoughts I’d missed him still being in here with me. “Oh, sorry. Was I too loud?” He gave off a light chuckle as I looked over at him.

His side of the room was more… furnished than mine. Set on the floor under his bed, was a large duffle bag with a large red cross painted on it. Along with his bed, he had a cabinet that he’d somehow attached to the wall above it. Instead of an area to walk next to his bed like mine, he’d secured a large metal desk. On it were quite a few dangerous looking medical tools, instruments, and a still working old world terminal. Lastly, chained to the desk, was a medical stand for holding IV’s and other various things I couldn’t begin to even understand.

“No.” I finally answered him, turning back to my simple bed. “Just… a lot on my mind is all.” With a great sigh, I walked over and flopped onto the bed. With a muffled grunt, I was surprised when the plushness of it felt like it hugged me tightly.

“Well, since we haven’t had a formal chance to greet one another,” He spoke up again. In the back of my mind I screamed for him to just shut up. I didn’t want to talk to him. “My name is Buck.” His words ripped my attention back to him as a peculiar itch of curiosity formed in my mind, wanting to be scratched.

“What kind of name is that for a Snow Dog?” I found myself asking, not even stopping to realize that outside of Rosey and him, I had no idea what ‘normal’ Snow Dog naming conventions were. Still, that sounded more like a name for a stallion to have than any monster from down here. Scrunching my muzzle, my train of thought derailed. I really shouldn’t call him a monster, not when he’s been nothing but helpful to me.

“Well, it’s actually a long running name in my family.” Oddly, ‘Buck’ didn’t sound insulted by my question in the slightest. “I haven’t quite been able to track down it’s origin due to the Inuvik lacking the required historical texts, but it’s the same name my grandfather bore, and his grandfather before him as I was told.” Rolling over, I got my hooves under me and turned myself around to face him.

“Every other generation?” Laying back down, I got comfy and looked him over again. He shifted himself toward his desk as I looked over him. To me, he seemed to shy away from my looks, and I started to get the feeling that he wasn’t too happy with somepony sizing him up.

“Well, as far as I’ve been told, the largest of each litter is given a traditional name.” He spoke before turning towards his terminal and raising one of his massive paws. With as ginger as a touch as I’ve ever seen, he began clicking down keys using just the tips of his claws. “My mother was the largest of her litter, and her grandmother before her. I don’t have a complete set of records to support my hypothesis, but I assume that it’s a recessive gene from the one of the original Hellhounds to immigrate to the Inuvik and Emperica.”

“Immigrate?” I asked somewhat starkly and out of turn. “Sorry, but what do you mean? There weren’t Diamond Dogs originally on the Inuvik or the Emperica?”

“A few Diamond dogs existed on the Empirica when she got stuck in the ice, however the shelter of such a large ship kept them from the harmful effects of the balefire radiation when it came.” He sat back from his terminal, holding out his paws in front of him with a dejected sigh. “No, my family came from the edges of the Crystal Empire. When it was obliterated on the final day of the war, my people fled to the north.” Leaning back, he flopped onto his bed and stared up at the ceiling. The pain in his eyes was something I’d only seen on my father’s face before today. “We were not spared from the radiation, and only a portion of our kind survived the mutations to adapt to the radiation. Once we’d settled in here, eventually our population intermingled with the surviving pure Diamond Dogs. Not Hellhounds, nor Diamond Dog, we settled on calling our new breed a ‘Snow Dog’.”

“I’m sorry.” I sighed, feeling the stinging regret like I had when I confronted dad about hitting Shimmer. “I… I didn’t meant to bring it up.”

“It’s fine.” Buck looked over to me, his muzzle spreading into a sort of jagged smile. “It’s been awhile since I’ve had to tell anyone anything about my family. We’ve been such a tight knit community for so long, it’s good to finally talk to someone who is clueless about things.” He paused as he realized what he’d just said. “Not to say that you being clueless is a good thing… or…” If I didn’t know better, I was witnessing what it looked like when a Snow Dog blushed. “What about you?”

“What about me?” I snorted. Talking with him was already something I’d wanted to avoid, but stupidly I started on a touchy subject. And while I didn’t know any better, he at least know’s what fucking happened yesterday… last week…

With a sigh, I flopped on my side and closed my eyes. I just want today to be over.

“Just…” He paused awkwardly, letting a pregnant pause fill the room with so much silence it was deafening. “Nevermind.” The way he said it with such disappointment plucked at something inside me. I felt guilty for that. “I know you’ve been through alot, and you probably just want to get back to your home.”

“I do.” I said. “But I know what I’ll find there isn’t what I want.” No use in denying it. This is my life now, and the hopes of finding my family have no place anymore. “My life is out there now, in the wasteland somewhere. I don’t know where I’ll end up, but I’m going to do my best to make a life wherever I go.”

“Then that makes two of us.” Buck said, losing a bit of his somber tone. “I know we aren’t well acquainted yet, but I do hope that in time, we could be friends.” Opening my eyes, I looked over to him in confusion. The hope from his words were reflected in his eyes. “I don’t plan on going back home. I’d like to make friends, join a different community, make a difference out there by helping as many as I can.” With a sharp yawn that gave me a good look at jagged jaws on Buck, he stretched out only for a moment before curling himself up on his bed. “Actually, what I really want is to get a good night’s sleep.”

“Yeah, go for it.” I said as I wriggled myself into my bed again. I didn’t exactly feel tired, but then again, I wasn’t sure what else I could really be doing. It was too cold to go outside. On top of that, if my track record is the norm, I’d probably get myself lost again. I’m not going to be an inconvenience, I owe Delilah that much. So, I’ll just sit here, relax, and try to not think about all the horrors in my life that either lay in the past, or still ahead.

It’s probably something I never really thought about before today, but trying to rest on something that’s constantly jostling, rumbling, and just about freezing around you is damn near impossible. While the Inuvik probably wouldn’t have been warm, I’m betting that at least it didn’t threaten to throw you off your bed. Still, having a bed means I shouldn’t complain, because I was lucky to get it at all.

Luck was a confusing thing to me. I’d always counted myself lucky when we lived in Neighvarro City. I’d hated having to move out to Four Peaks, and Dad had said that we were lucky to get that opportunity. Then the whole place goes up, and I’m lucky to survive that. Sent off into the unknown by Salt, I was lucky to be saved at all by Delilah. If luck is supposed to be a good thing, why does it always seem to lead to something bad happening? And if I’m lucky to have this bed, what imminent disaster awaits me down the road?

Hoofing my mother’s dog tags up, I looked over them, wishing more than anything she could just tell me what to do next.

Holding my head with my hooves, I let out a soft whine. I needed to stop thinking today before I broke down and became an even bigger lump of uselessness than I’ve already been. My stomach came to the rescue, and gave out a heavy gurgling. It wasn’t until I heard it, did I truly realize how hungry I was. Luckily, I had a pair of saddle bags stuffed full of goodies!

Scrunching my muzzle up, I pushed the thoughts of luck-related food poisoning out of my mind. I don’t care, I’m hungry enough that I’d eat ice right about now if I had to. Pushing myself around with my hooves, I scootched myself to the end of my bed and reached under it. The old tan saddlebags felt even heavier than before in my forehooves, but with a bit of a grunt and a tug, I hoisted them up onto my bed. As I did, a few half rusted food tins spilled out onto the floor with a clamor.

I froze with the rattling that felt amplified by the cramped container. Looking over at Buck’s curled form, I watched and waited for him to stir awake. Funny enough, he just sat there, seemingly still asleep. With a light sigh, I set the saddlebags aside and leaned back over the edge of my bed. Reaching down for the tin, I cupped my forehooves around it and picked it up. As I did, the lid on it fell off, and most of its contents scattered across the floor. With a snorting and sniffling, Buck this time roused from his sleep.

“Oh yeah. That was a good rest.” He whined as he stretched himself out across his bed. With another wide yawn, he shuddered and shook himself a bit. Interestingly enough, his shake went from his head, down his body, seeming to grow more pronounced as it reached his curved spiked tail. “Do I smell breakfast?”

“Sorry, I accidently spilled some of the food I had in my bags.” I sighed, trying my best to pick up the odd caramel colored squares that now littered the floor. Scooping what I could back into the tin, I stopped as Buck went back to sniffing at the air again.

“Are those… candies from Spring Leaf?” A wide smile split his jagged jaw as he looked down at the floor. With more precision than I would think would be afforded by his massive claws, he reached down and picked up one from the floor. Pulling it up to his muzzle, he popped it in and chomped down on it noisily. After a moment, his eyes went wide, and he gave a stiff nod. “Yes. Yes they are.” Looking over at me, he swung his arm back down and pointed to another cube. “Do you mind? I haven’t had her candies since I was just a pup.”

“Go for it…?” I spoke hesitantly. While I didn’t particularly get his enthusiasm over candy, my stomach gave another gurgle of protest. Looking back over to my bags, I saw a small rectangular box with a faded apple picture on it. Figuring that it would be a good place to start, I finished putting the ones I’d scooped up back into the tin. I held the box in my hooves out to Buck, stopping and blinking in confusion when he looked back at me. He already had gathered most of the candies, and currently wore a cube impaled on the end of each of his claws. With wide eyes, he looked at the box in my hooves. “Here, take them if you want.” I generally didn’t have any interest in giving myself sugar shock, but that didn’t mean I’d let them go to waste.

“Rereh?” He spoke, revealing that he’d already stuffed a bunch of the ones from the floor in his muzzle.

“Yeah.” I nodded. I’m not going to lie, as he reached out for the box, I cringed and held it out as far from me as possible. Taking the tin between his claws, he pulled it away and carefully set it down onto his desk. Turning around, I reached out and hoofed the rectangular apple box out. It was labeled ‘apple pie’, but not sure if it was accurate, I put it up to my muzzle and gave it a sniff. “Ugh!” I recoiled and held the box out as the stench of old glue stung at my nose. I hoped to Celestia that the food inside didn’t taste like the box...

“Oh, here.” Buck spoke up, half swallowing what he had in his muzzle. Reaching up, he flicked one of his claws through the air before I even knew what he was doing. The top of the old cardboard box flittered through the air and down to the floor, leaving me to stare at it as it settled down. I tipped the box back toward me, finding that the apple scent of the inside streamed thickly into the air. Noisily, Buck went back to chewing on his candies, while I slid the rectangular apple pie out of the box and into my hoof.

Taking just the smallest bite, I scrunched up my muzzle as even the smallest bit tasted like a slice of apple fresher than I’ve ever had. Taking another bite, I couldn’t help myself from giggling as it was about the best thing I’d ever tasted in my life. Not caring anymore about eating normally, I greedily devoured the rest of it. The experience was both overwhelming, and over faster than I’d wanted it to be, but there was one thing I knew now. I wanted more.

Turning around, I dug my hooves through my bags, pulling out another of the yellowing rectangular boxes. This one had what looked to have a blueberry on it, and I hastily fumbled at the edge of the box with my hooves. I needed the deliciousness that lay inside! Turning around to see if Buck would help me once again, I was dismayed to see that he’d exhausted the floor candy, and had his muzzle stuck inside the candy tin. I gripped the box with one fetlock, and pinched my nose shut with the other. Biting down, I tore the cardboard box asunder, and slid my prize out into my hooves.

Where it sat for all of a second before I stuffed it into my muzzle.

I’d never been able to choose when to eat, or what to eat in my life. Food was scarce enough in the Enclave, and even scarcer in Four Peaks. So much so that we were happy to get what little we did. But if this was how the ponies on the ground eat, I never want to go back! Licking the juicy sweet pie bits from my lips, I felt my stomach gurgle again. However, this one was not one of protest, but of satisfaction. With a delighted sigh, I flopped back onto my bed with a smile. Only about a minute afterwards, I heard Buck do the same. As he did, I listened as the tin once again fell to the floor. Only this time, I knew it was empty.

“Oh how I’m going to miss her cooking…” Buck sighed, sounding more than contented with the fact that he ate the whole tin’s worth of candy. Looking over at him, I watched as he let his tongue loll out the side of his muzzle. With a glance over to me, he gave a short laugh. “You look like you murdered a fruit tree with your muzzle.”

Holding my forehooves up lazily. “Guilty as charged. Take me in, officer.” How I wished I could keep going, keep eating those pies. But, they would need to last me for now. I had no idea how long this journey was supposed to take, or if I’d even get a chance to have this much food again. “Hey, Buck?” I asked, catching his glance again. “How far south is Mrs. Delilah going?” At that, he cocked an eyebrow. “I mean, where is her town?”

He looked up at the roof in contemplation. “Well, I don’t know exactly how far it is, but I know that it is supposedly a few days south of Los Pegasus.

“What!?” I sat up too fast at that, and my full stomach pined at me not to do that again. “But… that’s almost three thousand miles away!”

“More than that, I presume.” Buck looked back at me. “We’re much further north than where they said they picked you up. Or do you not remember that from when you woke up?” Quickly, he tapped along his muzzle with his claws. “Your short term memory might have been affected by your head trauma.” Eyeing over me, he scrunched his jagged muzzle up a bit. “Maybe I should have another look at you.”

“No, I remember it being said.” I sighed. “Just… further than I’d expected.” I couldn’t imagine how long it will take to go that far, or why exactly Mrs. Delilah needed to go this far north in order to save her town. “Do… you know how long it’s supposed to take?”

“Not in the slightest.” Buck sighed before pushing himself back up to a sitting position. “Then again, I was never on this trip with an idea I needed to get anywhere fast. I just want to do what I can to help out down there.”

Before I could ask him what he meant, I was interrupted by several loud pops that reflexively shot me up to my hooves. Those were quickly followed by a few horrendous metallic squeaks and bangs. Then oddly, the sound of the outside wind picked up, and the heat drained from the room at an incredible rate. With a grunt, Buck reached around with his claws and combed them through his fur. A few silvery metal disks shook out of his coat and onto his bed. Behind him, sat a pair of holes punched through the side of our container.

“It appears we are being attacked.” He grumbled, scooting the bullets that he’d been hit with off his bed. “With fairly poor weaponry as well. Must be Yaks.” Honestly, I couldn’t quite grasp how he could just shrug off the bullets in the first place, but skin that thick was something I didn’t have the luxury of wearing! “Best to just wait out the assault until the Yaks give up or, knowing Delilah’s group, get killed.”

My mane stood on end. “Attacked? What do they want!?” Another few pops made me whimper, though this time none of them came through our wall. I felt my heart rate jump up through the roof, and I did my best to hunker down on my bed. Even though I didn’t want to lose them, I put my stuffed saddlebags between me and the wall.

“Probably what all the Yak raiders want. Simply to fight.” He sighed, sitting himself down at his desk terminal. “Best to let the others deal with them. Shouldn’t take-” He was cut off as the resounding blast of a cannon shook the air. I didn’t know if it was because the air was thicker, or if the container amplified it, but the distinct ringing in my ears decided it was going to stay with me for a bit. “And there’s ‘Howitzer’ for you.” He shook his head softly as he did his best to continue typing on his terminal. “Even just having met a buffalo such as him, I could tell he’s much more eager for a fight than his sister. Still, Delilah is so protective of this convoy, she’s not even attempting to negotiate. Which I’ll have you know, is a mistake.”

“They’re trying to kill us!” I whined. “Why are you defending them!?” At the very least, Hispano had the luxury of not being hunted, so she could take sides… I paused at that, thinking back to what Mrs. Delilah had said. Hispano said I’d hired her, meaning she was a mercenary, and Mrs. Delilah said that this Solomon stallion had hired mercenaries. Shit, her dad had even said something about Solomon, didn’t he?! Goddesses, what was it he’d said!?

Another pair of holes opened up above me, followed by more cold air filling the room. Startled by it, I gave out a whimper and flopped down onto the extremely cold floor. Another resounding boom filled the air, followed by a delayed blast that filtered past the whistling outside air. The cracking of ice boomed the loudest in the air, and I felt a chill run down my spine colder than anything the arctic wind could provide.

Now was not the time to be trying to remember things. Now was the time that I needed to be seeking someplace safer than this to hide! Looking toward the door, I jumped to my hooves. Reaching out with my wing, I flipped the hook that held our door shut from its ring.

“Wait, where are you going!?” Buck called as I threw the door open.

I balked at the blast of cold wind that pushed in, draining me of what little warmth I had left in me. Pushing myself out, I turned and headed for the stairs down into the ice hold. The sound of more gunfire erupting was joined with a new sound. The loud rumblings of another engine, this time from behind Bertha. Looking out back, I saw the four wheeled motorwagen I’d seen sitting in the Emperica. Except, it was moving around behind us. In fact, I hadn’t even registered that this entire time, we hadn’t stopped moving at all!

Cursing the sight of the Dizzitron again on the back of the motorwagen, I noticed that it was infact, spinning. The Enclave training machine added a high pitched whining sound to the air as it spun up. Faster and faster it spun, its torque actually causing the suspension of the motorwagen to list to one side. With a mechanical shutter that snapped the vehicle to the other side of it’s suspension, the flight restraint released, and a Violet bolt screamed out into the air. I’d never seen a pegasus move so fast as she took off into the blue. With a snap roll, she corrected her spin and inverted herself, diving down just out of view from me. Furious exchanges of gunfire filled the air, and a round sparked off the back of Mrs. Delilah’s container, forcing me back from the edge.

I was caught off guard by a rapid chatter of fire from above the tarp. What sounded like multiple heavy guns rattled away in short bursts. Though I was curious to see what was going on, I misstepped and fell into the open hatch for the stairway. Painfully, I dropped down into the ice hold. The flickering light inside here clashed oddly with the holes in the walls, but that wasn’t the only thing odd down here.

“Ow.” I whined, picking myself back up.

“Hey, kid!” Delilah’s son spoke up from just behind me. Turning, I found him on the other side of the stairs, looking quite puzzled at my appearance. “Why aren’t you out there helping?”

“What? I don’t know how to fight!” I scoffed as I got up, cringing as another volley of fire went out from each side. “What are you doing down here?”

“I’m a lover, not a fighter, ya dig?” The stallion chuffed as he turned and headed back behind the block of ice. After not even a second, he popped his head out again with a smile. “Then again, a fine looking mare such as yourself could always come around and take cover with me.” He cocked his eyebrow seductively.

I was about to tell him no, but another blast from the cannon made me jump and gallop around the ice for cover. Pressing up against the wall in the freezing cold gap on the other side, I let out a small sigh. Looking over, I nearly ran smack dab into Delilah’s son’s muzzle. Pulling back sharply, he looked slightly annoyed.

“What’s the matter, baby? I’ll keep you safe” He smirked and ran his forehoof through his mane, acting swave. It almost made me want to gag. Stallions as stuck up as him always put me off back above the clouds. I could never wrap my head around how any mare ever fell for this sort of thing.

“I’m fine where I am, thank you.” I huffed, slumping against the wall.

“Oh come on, don’t be like that.” He rolled his eyes, keeping his distance, but still doing his best to be obnoxious. “You’re new here, I get it, but I’m pretty much the best you’re going to get.” Straightening out the Flower printed red button up shirt he wore, he pointed to himself with an egotistical tone. “Trust me, if you wanna have a little fun on this trip, Happy Trails is the guy you’re going to want to hang with.”

“I don’t want to have fun. I don’t want to hang.” I snapped at him. “I just want…” My words died in my throat. What was I going to tell him? That I wanted my own home? My own life? Looking down at the silver metal tags still snuggly around my neck I realized that wanting anything has gotten me nowhere since I left home. No, I needed to listen to what Delilah and Hispano said about surviving down here. “I just want to help.” I whispered.

I couldn’t spend the rest of my life hiding from bullets. Misfortune was on a warpath for me recently, so I might as well meet it head on, right? I need to make myself useful. To prove myself as somepony who doesn’t need to be protected!

Spinning around, I didn’t even catch what Happy yelled as I made my way back around the ice. Heading right for the door, I put my hoof up to the latch that held it shut, and took a deep breath. Opening the door, I was met with more frigid wind pouring in. The heavy boom that came from the cannon met me with full force, and again my ears were ringing. A few bright sparks shot upward across the exposed side of the hauler ahead of me. A pained scream filled my recovering ears. From above, Hardcase dropped onto the walkway streaming blood from a pair of wounds in his side. Looking back up at me, he reached out his hoof. Quickly, I took his hoof, and with all my strength, pulled him into the ice room.

“Oh, goddesses.” He whimpered, slumping against me. “They’re really… sticking to it this time.” Between groans, he managed to shift himself against the ice.

“I want to help.” I spoke up quickly. That got a weak chuckle from him before he groaned and pressed his forehooves against the wounds. “I’m serious. What do I do?”

“Kid, you want to be useful?” He looked at me with eyes unburdened with worry. “Leave it to the others. Stay out of their way and they’ll finish it.” Giving out a few hacking coughs, he torqued his head around the edge of the ice. “Happy, would you be so kind in retrieving the doctor for me?”

In that moment, most of me wanted to take that as the best excuse to shut the door and sit behind the ice again. However, I didn’t want to sit and be useless anymore. Looking back out the open door, I tensed myself up, and pushed myself to my hooves. Not giving myself time to change my mind, I whined and galloped out into the cold.

With my hooves hammering down on the walkway as I ran, I quickly passed the nook where Boiler was huddled next to the reactor controls. Skidding to a stop next to the armored driving compartment, I tucked myself between it and the armaments cage. With my heart already thudding against my chest, I found myself smiling as I realized that I’d actually made it over here! Sure, it was a ten foot sprint, but I didn’t die!

“Kid, what the hell are you doing!?” Boiler snapped at me, easily beating out the reactor’s various noises behind her. A thunderous rumbling came through the cold wind, growing louder before another few shots sparked along the side of the hauler. One of them pinged loudly off the armored walls around the reactor. A hiss and a loud buzzing alarm came from Boilers hole, and she cursed as a jet of steam shot out of the top of the compartment.

Peeking my head around the driver’s compartment and out into the open icy expanse, a befuddling sight met my eyes. Creatures that looked much like Boiler and Howitzer were racing along the ice around us, riding very loud and unsafe looking two wheeled machinations covered in makeshift spikes. I say they look like Boiler only in the fact that they were much fuzzier, and their horns were much larger and adorned with skulls affixed to their tips. Large gouts of flames and black smoke poured from rusty pipes that stuck sharply up behind where they sat, and what looked to me a myriad of weaponry was cobbled onto their vehicles.

A bright explosion between the riders followed another shot from Howitzer’s cannon somewhere ahead of us. The blast did little to deter them, and they barely seemed to be fazed by it. One of them yelled and fired a burst of gunshots, but it wasn’t aimed at us this time. In return, a line of shots trailed along the ground from the air. Violet dove in, strafing the riders with her own guns. One of the Yaks swerved, tipped over, and violently rolled along the ground as she pulled up into the sky again.

Watching how she just did that, it made something click in my mind. The Yaks couldn’t fly, and their guns had limited firing arcs. High diving attacks were not only a safe way to deal with them, but the most efficient!

“Kid, I know you’re not a fighter, but I need you to go help my brother.” Boiler’s voice pulled me back into the now. With a lowering hiss, the steam from the reactor compartment drained off, and the buzzing ceased. At a relaxed trot, she came out of the reactor room and went right into the armaments cage. “With how he’s blowing through his cannon rounds, he’s going to need a resupply.” With a grunt, she hooked a forehoof around one of the large cannon shells and set it on the ground. “And without being able to stop, somepony is going to have to get more one-o-five to him.”

I sat and watched as she grabbed an odd crooked wrench and hooked it around the tip of the shell. With a yank, it twisted and emitted an audible click. Looking up to me, she waved me over and pointed to a leather binding on the cage’s wall.

“Normally, I’d call over Zoomer,” With an annoyed look, she waited for me to hoof the binding from the cage over to her. As I did, another burst of shots sparked around the armored room. I cringed, but didn’t panic. “But, as you can tell, she’s just a bit busy keeping them from completely rittling us full of holes.” Quickly, she slipped the shell between a few curved sections of the leather and secured a latch fastener to it that tightened the straps and held the shell in place. As she did, I realized just how one was supposed to wear this thing.

“So, you’re going to need to do it. Alright?” She looked up to me with a nervous smile, holding the end of the leather straps out to me. Taking the shell sling, I quickly hoofed it around myself. “Now be carefull. I just primed it, so do not hit it against anything.” She held a hoof out against my chest. “Seriously, be carefull. I don’t want to lose anyone today, okay?” I nodded. With that, she seemed to relax and moved her hoof from my chest. “Go. I’ll have the next shell ready for you by the time you get back.”

Turning back towards the opening alongside the hauler, the heavy shell settled underneath me in it’s sling. It felt heavy, and I wasn’t too happy to have this much high explosives strapped right to me, but I needed to be useful. Before I left, I stopped and looked out again. Violet screamed down out of the sky again, trailing another line of shots around the lead rider. The shots went wide, and failed to hit their marks. Zipping up into the air, she did however rouse angry screams from the head rider, who I now realized was riding a bigger looking machine than the others. My best guess was that he must be the leader.

With an armed shell under me, and a plan for attack that was technically the safest that I could be in this fight, I made a judgement call. Galloping forward, I spread my wings wide. The frigid wind whipped at me as I ran straight for the open edge of the walkway, tugging powerfully at my open wings. With as much effort as I could put behind my legs, I pushed off and jumped into the air.

The arctic air whipped at me as I took flight, and even with my stunted feathers, grabbed onto my wings and shot me up into the sky like a rocket. Within only a few seconds, I found myself up much higher than I’d ever thought I could get in that short of a time. The stronger winds died down quickly up here, and I torqued my wings to pull me back into level flight. When I did, I noticed something.

It was quiet.

Well, relatively quiet, as the vehicles and gunfire below still existed but… this was something far more serene. It was an emptiness that had been missing since I left home. The thicker air made things so much more noisy down there, and I’d just now remembered how much I enjoyed just… being in the air. However, as I simply flew there, another resounding shot from Howitzer’s gun tore me from my enjoyment.

“What are you doing!?” Voilet’s voice came from above. She did her best to circle me and not lose any of her speed. “If you’re going to be out here in the middle of a fight, get that shell to Howitzer!” With a snap roll, she flipped over and dove down towards the pursuing Yaks. I watched as she kept up an amazing speed as she did so, dipping and arcing back up to well above me in a matter of moments.

Lowering my forelegs to steady myself, I pushed my head forward and took a deep breath. This was my moment to prove that I could be useful on this trip. Dear Celestia, don’t let me fuck this up! Tipping forward, I dipped myself into a dive.

The strong wind that had helped me get up into the air met me on my way down. A battering crosswinds pulled at me, steering me back towards the large yellow and blue hauler that I’d come from. With my speed hampered, and my aim off, I twisted my wings and turned myself off my path. As I did, the strong winds hefted me up into the air again.

“Damnit.” I muttered under my breath.

“Seriously, what are you doing?” Violet grunted as she zipped up to me again. This time, she slowed herself and flew in a more controlled pattern around me.

“The wind is too strong! I can’t dive!” I cried out. As if to prove my point, another strong crosswind shot into the air and pushed me away from her.

“Just invert and fold your wings a bit.” She called out. “You don’t need to be strong, just take away the wind’s strength and you will be fine.” With that, she did as she said, and went into a near vertical dive. Shooting straight down, she took out one of the trailing yaks, leaving the remaining four to huddle up closer. Flaring her wings, she twisted herself back around and arched herself. With a longer, softer curve, she arced back up into the air. Keeping up her speed, she zipped high into the sky again and disappeared into the bright sunlight.

“I don’t have to stop, just… avoid hitting the ground.” I spoke as I felt myself gain speed quickly. However, if the last few days were any indication, I really needed to not pancake into the ice... “I can do this!” I reassured myself without a single ounce of confidence in my voice.

Looking down, I lowered my forelegs for stability again. Closing my eyes, I twisted my wings to roll me over, slightly tucking them as I felt myself slip into a steep dive. Okay, so all I have to do is flare my wings to turn, and pull up again. Opening my eyes, I torqued my wings again and spun upright. Raising my forehoof to unlatch the bomb, I again became unbalanced and my trajectory changed. Panicking, I flipped the latch and flared my wings out completely. In a desperate bid to arc up, I pointed my head up to the sky and prayed that my body followed in line!

With a cacophonous blast, the shell exploded. Whether it was below me or behind me, I couldn’t tell. But I felt the heat of the blast, and then an extreme pain in my legs. It was more pain than I’d ever felt before in my life. With a scream, I turned myself straight up into the air. Bleeding my speed off, the wind took over again. With a hefty gust, it tore at me from my left and spun me over again. With a painful smack, I slammed against the snowy ice and tumbled.

The world blacked out as I rolled and slid, coming back to me slowly. As I came to a rest on my back, the view of the high altitude clouds in the bright blue sky filled my vision. A single, fluffy white cloud lay overhead with the sunlight behind it, and the thrum of an engine approaching rang in my ears right along side the ringing left from the blast. My everything on me hurt, and I let out a whine as the numbness granted by the ice started to help.

“Hey!” A voice clawed it’s way through the noises around me. Circling above and coming closer, was Violet. She wore a worried look on her face, flaring her wings hard to land standing over me. “Just keep still until we can get you to Bertha, alright?” Her voice was muffled, sounding farther away than the ringing was in my ears. Violet looked up and stepped back.

As she did, Delilah came into sight above me. Her annoyed expression wasn’t exactly what I’d wanted to see above me, but the needle she held in her hoof took the pain away. With a sharp prick, whatever she injected brought a calm warmth back into me. Right along side it, came the darkness again in my vision, and slowly I slipped away into it.

Chapter 5 - Going Places

Whatever you want, you can't have. What you can have, you don't want.

“Remember how I told you we’d have a discussion about you getting into trouble at some point?” Delilah’s voice waivered somewhere between anger and agitation. When the only one left in your life who seems to care enough to take you along sounds like this? “Well it’s been moved up to right now.” It’s probably not a good thing to test their patience...

Opening my eyes, the fluorescent lighting of what looked like Delilah’s room was blinding. However, in attempting to shield myself from it, I accidentally hit myself in the face with my own hoof. With the exception of the feeling of pins and needles in my rear legs, I was more than comfortably numb. I was also, for some reason, lying in Mrs. Delilah’s bed. The scent of her flowered perfume was almost chokingly thick, bit it was a bit dulled by the fact that her bed was a lot more comfortable than mine.

“What’s going on?” I groaned, smacking my tongue as it too felt quite numb. “What happened?” Besides the slight ringing in my ears, I could hear the cold wind still attempting to batter Bertha into submission. Okay, so we were still somewhere in the frozen wastes at least.

Poking her very unhappy looking muzzle into my vision, Delilah sighed like my mother used to when I’d disappointed her.

“With zero combat experience, you left the relative safety of your room.” She grumbled, tensing up as she continued. “You then pulled Hardcase out of the fight because of his injuries, only to ignore his suggestion to just sit it out.” With an angry flick of her hoof, she tore her glasses from her muzzle and pointed them at me. “Then you proceeded to agree to help in resupplying Howitzer’s cannon, which you then abandoned that plan for what reason, may I ask!?”

“I… I…” Should I tell her the truth? Should I lie and tell her it was just an accident!? No, she’s been the only one down here who’s been honest with me, and she deserves that more than anypony. Besides, I’ve already made enough enemies on the ground as it is. “I saw that the Yaks couldn’t shoot upwards, and I thought… maybe…” My words drifted off as Delilah started shaking. Really, I wasn't quite sure if she was going to explode, or if she was going to lash out and hit me.

“That what!?” Delilah spat at me, making me cringe. The leather holster she still wore strapped around her chest creaked as she strained herself. “That you could throw yourself at them like that? To get yourself killed? Cause between the shit you pulled back in Inuvik and this stunt, that’s just what you’re going to do!”

“I just wanted to fucking help!” I couldn’t help it. I simply lost control of my voice because I wasn’t in the wrong here. For once I got past my fears and acted, so of course I’m in the wrong, right? “You were the one who thought I might be useful! Have you seen my room? Buck might be able to shrug off bullets bursting through the walls, but I can’t!” Delilah’s face as I yelled right back at her flushed bright red. “I can be more than just a scared pony to you! I knew that I needed to help you, and at the very least, I tried.”

Somewhere out there in the afterlife, I was hoping that my Mom and Dad weren’t shaking their heads at me in disappointment.

“You listen to me, Night, and you listen well.” Delilah’s tone dropped to one of cold, unfeeling hatred. “If you want to help, then you let us help you get on your hooves out here first.” Jabbing her hoof at me, I didn’t even feel as she prodded at my chest. “Those Yak’s were pushovers. Out there? Where we’re heading? Recklessness like that will get you and others killed. Because while you got damn lucky this time, you’re never going to pull that shit again unless I give you an order directly.” With a snort, she gave me a glare that burned hotter than molten metal. “Do I make myself clear?”

Even though I still had about a million words I wanted to say, in the end I wasn’t doing myself any favors by fighting her. I might not know what I’m doing, but at the very least I fucking did something useful. With a small nod to her, I could at least hold onto that fact.

“I want you to say you understand. I want to know that these words aren’t going to be forgotten by you the moment you walk out of this room.” She sneered, flicking her forehoof. In it, the folded sections of her glasses popped back into place, and she slowly put them back onto her muzzle.

“I understand.” I reluctantly muttered back to her.

“Good.” She grunted. “Now get out.” With a sharp nod at the door, she glared at me. “You aren’t the only one I need to have a word with today.”

I’d be lying if I didn’t think it a small comfort that I wasn’t the only one to piss her off today. Then again, I really shouldn’t be pissing her off in the first place. I wasn’t on this ride for fun after all. For now, this was a job which for some reason just clicked over in my head.

Huh, whenever I’d thought about my first job while in school, never in a million years did I think it would be this…

“Night?” Delilah grumbled. “Get off your flank, and out of my room.” She glared at me. “Now.”

Rolling onto my side, I stopped for only a moment to look at my legs. All four of them were wrapped in thick gauze bandages all the way up to my shoulders and my flank. Various dabs of red dotted the tightly bound wraps, but I still only felt the pins and needles. Figuring that I shouldn’t have her tell me the same thing a third time, I got my hooves moving and walked toward the door. Without much feeling in most of my body, I wobbled a few times, but managed to reach the door after a few steps. Reaching out to open it, I heard movement from just on the other side.

“Okay,” Boiler spoke as she opened the door. I barely managed to hop myself back out of the way as she swung it open with a sigh. Her fur was matted down with a mix of sweat, grease, and other odd fluids I assume came with working on machinery. She gave me only a cursory glance as she stood in the doorway before continuing. “So, the Thermo-cycler is shot. Must have taken one hell of an unlucky hit during the fight, and until I can find a suitable work around, it’s going to be a problem.”

“How much of a problem?” Delilah grunted even heavier than before.

“Well I can regulate most of the heat dissipation manually, but it's going to build up over time.” Boiler’s tone sank to one that really didn’t sound hopeful. If she sounds this bad off and she’s the mechanic? How bad is it really for this whole trip? “We can run for about eighteen hours or so safely I reckon. But after that she'll have to be shut down unless we all want to see what Bertha’s reactor looks like turned inside out.” With a thoughtful look, she shifted on her hooves. “I’d say twelve hours in full shutdown, give or take another hour to let good ol thermodynamics cool it down.”

“What!?” Violet chimed in from behind her. “What about the ice? How are we supposed to keep it from melting without any power?”

“The refrigeration unit has a battery backup that’ll last for eight.” Hardcase spoke up as well from behind Boiler. I think it was about now that I could truely appreciate just how big a buffalo was, seeing as Boiler took up the entire makeshift doorway…

“I thought ahead, Violet.” Delilah added before turning and walking behind her desk. With another deep sigh, she sat down behind it and cupped her forehooves in front of her. “We’ll lose some ice, but it’ll be at a manageable rate.” Looking over to Boiler, she gave her a short nod. “To anyone of you going into the Fort when we get there, see what you can do to find a replacement when you’re in there. Who know’s, maybe we’ll get lucky, and if it keeps us on the road, I’m willing to shell out quite a bit for it.”

“Don’t worry, Ma’am. I’ll keep her running until then.” Boiler said with a short salute. Looking over to me, she smiled. “Now, what say we take a bit to relax? Gotta celebrate you popping your murder cherry!” I really wish she hadn’t phrased it exactly like how Hispano had said it. Not only that, but the fact that she just reminded me that I’d actually taken several lives now made my heart sink. “Aww, don’t look so down!” Her still cheery voice was accompanied with a strong hoof curling around my neck. “Come on, hang out with us and live a little!”

With a firm tug, she pulled me out of Delilah’s room and out into the open common area. Hardcase’s horn flashed as he sat on one of the couches, and the door to Delilah’s room swung shut. It seemed everyone else was here with the exception of Howitzer, Boiler’s brother. They were all gathered around a group of taped together toasters that gave off a healthy glow from atop the rug between the couches.

“Here. It’ll help with all the heat you just took from Delilah.” Violet caught me off guard as she stepped up beside me. Pinched in her outstretched wing was a still sealed old brown bottle. I’d only seen dad ever drink from a bottle like this on his birthday. Because of my age, I’d never gotten to taste alcohol, and dad said that beer was something rare enough that you had to enjoy it sparingly or drink yourself homeless. “You’ve earned it for helping to save all our asses out there.” Her smile was genuine, and it would be rude to refuse.

The bottle was heavier than it looked, and as she let go of it, my wing couldn’t grasp it. I stood in horror as the bottle slipped and dropped toward the floor. A green aura of magic enveloped it, slowing it before it hit.

“Don’t worry, I got it.” Hardcase chuckled. “First time even holding a beer I bet and she’s already acting drunk.” I almost blushed from embarrassment as he held it out for me to grab. Thankfully, Violet had my back.

“Oh come on. Bombay did twice the amount of work you did in that fight.” She rolled her eyes, smiling at me as she grabbed my forehoof and lifted it up. “Go easy on the first timer.” Guiding my fetlock around the bottle, I grabbed onto it tighter than before. When Hardcase’s magic released it and popped the cap off for me, I was more than ready for the awkward weight. “Don’t worry, you’ll learn fast.” She commented as she let go of my hoof.

I didn’t really get why she was so nice to me. I’d outright called her a traitor back in the ship, and she just brushed it off. Though, I guess it could be that living down here has made her numb to insults. Or maybe she’d just always been that way. Still, she had no reason to defend me, yet she and Delilah had shown me more kindness than anypony outside of my parents.

“Yeah, maybe she can learn wasteland livin’ right along side Howitzer!” Boiler laughed, sitting down and reaching over to an unamused looking Lucky. With a roll of his eyes, he reached over to a cooler on the other end of the couch from us and hooved out another brown bottle with his one good foreleg. “Seein’ as with today's performance, you’d think he’d forgotten how to aim!”

I was going to correct Boiler on my gender, but stopped myself from doing it. Hispano had been mostly right about life out here. I’d made myself useful, and even though it pissed off Delilah, the others didn’t harass me. I still don’t like the fact that just past leaving the Empirica I’d killed somepony, but it was in self defence. If Hispano had been right about all of that, then maybe what she’d said about my looks stood up as well. Maybe it would be better if I just acted like the mare they all thought me to be...

“Well don’t be shy, girl!” Boiler snorted with a smile, reaching under my bottle and pushing it up to my lips. “Get your drink on!” Pushing it up, I nearly choked as the bitter tasting liquid flooded my muzzle. Not going as far as calling the drink vile, but damn if it wasn’t close to it. Giving a sputtering cough, I fought the urge to both drop the bottle and throw up. How did Dad ever stand this stuff?

“Go easy on her.” Lucky spoke up from the couch. He cradled his prosthetic leg as he pressed himself forward into the warmth of the glowing toasters. “She could get sick should she have too much.”

The door to the room I was given opened up, and Buck’s angry muzzle swung about the room until it fell upon me.

“Put the damn drink down, you’re on painkillers.” He snapped with the same intensity as Delilah had had with me. “I don’t need you thinning out your blood and bleeding to death after I went through all the work to pull out all that shrapnel.” With a snarling growl, he turned and walked back into our room. With that, I looked down to the bottle in my hooves and had only one thought cross my mind.

What the hell was I doing?

Between all the excitement around here, the anger I’d fostered in Buck and Delilah, and nearly getting blown up, I think I’d started to realize just how tired I’d begun to feel. Dad said that a beer was to be savored, even if it was horrible tasting. But really, how could I? Everypony I’ve ever known is dead, and today I nearly joined them. Delilah was right. Even if I was usefull, I got lucky. Maybe the smarter thing for me to do, was to sit back and think over just what I’m willing to compromise to survive out here.

“You know what?” I sighed, hoofing the drink over to Violet. “Thank you for the offer, but I think I just want to get some sleep.” Thankfully, she took the drink in her wing again and nodded. “Thank you all, really.” I said, looking over everypony. Now that I thought about it, Delilah’s son wasn’t up here. Hopefully he was still down in the ice hold and not plotting to sneak into my room at night or some other creepy shit. “Thanks for letting me ride with you, and I hope we can all get to know each other soon.”

Trotting around the warm toasters, I quickly made my way into my container and shut the door behind me. Using my wing to latch it closed, I looked over to Buck. He didn’t seem to care that I’d come in, instead, he blatantly ignored me. That’s fine I guess, just another thing I’d have to worry about later. At the very least, he wasn’t trying to kill me with silverware…

With a sigh, I looked at the holes in the walls. They’d been patched with some old duct tape stretched across a few thin pieces of scrap metal. Happy that they were at least somewhat sealed, I flopped forward onto my cold, hard bed. Crawling into the center of it, I gave off a deep sigh and tried to get comfortable. At least right now I didn’t have to deal with the constant vibrations and noise from the large vehicle moving. Maybe because of that, I could actually get some sleep.

With a long yawn, I nodded to myself. Yes, sleep would fix this. Not just a nap, just one long, deep sleep. I did my best to curl up before drifting off to sleep, and as I did, I prayed to the goddesses. With my last sliver of hope I prayed that maybe, just maybe, this could all still just be a nightmare I could wake up from. That maybe, that I’d still have Mom and Dad here with me too...

I awoke to a knocking noise around me. The warmth around my body felt like it weighed a million tons, keeping me contented in staying curled up in bed. However, the rumbling and shaking around me began to register in my mind, and kicked the idea of staying awake into it. I was a bit confused as to where I was as I let out a sharp yawn, but the heavy steps of Buck beside me heading towards the door reminded me that I was still inside the old shipping container I called home for now.

With a squeak, the door behind me was unlatched, and I heard somepony step inside before it closed again.

“Hey doc.” It was Hardcase if I remembered his voice correctly.

“Oh, hello again. Is there something wrong?” Buck’s tone felt soft again, like back when we were talking. “Are your injuries troubling you?”

“Oh no, Doc, I’m fine.” Hardcase gave a soft chuckle. “I just wanted to talk with Bombay for a moment, if that’s okay?”

“It’s quite alright. And please, call me Buck.” Buck spoke shortly before a soft jab at my wings roused my full attention. “Anyway, our accident prone friend here is just waking up I think.”

“Is there something you need?” I managed to get out around yet another yawn. I tried to turn myself over, but found my hooves tangled in a blanket that had been draped over me. It was odd, because I didn’t have one before I fell asleep. “How long was I out?”

“Just over five hours or so. It’s mid afternoon now.” Buck sighed, pulling his blanket off of me and putting it back on his bed. “I’d turn any guests away, but it’s best with your still healing head injuries that you don’t stay asleep for too long outside of a full night's rest anyway. I should have really woken you up an hour ago.” As I turned over, I found a softer gaze meet me than the scowl I’d last seen him wearing. “Though please, don’t take that as a reason to get back out there right away.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not here to ask him to head out into the sky or anything, Doc.” Hardcase smiled as I looked over at him. “Just wanted to talk for a moment.” It was funny both how little and how much different he looked to anypony I’d seen above the clouds. I’d only seen one unicorn during my time in Neighvarro city, but even so, Hardcase’s horn might as well have stuck out a mile to me. At the same time, without it, he would have looked just like any other pony I’d have ever seen. Well, minus the wings I guess.

“Did I do something wrong?” I asked, assuming that he was here because I’d fucked up somehow again. However, the laugh that Hardcase gave in response to my question did manage to relieve a little bit of my worry.

“No, the opposite in fact. I came to thank you.” Leaning back against the door on his haunches, he lifted himself off his forehooves and let me see the copious bandages wrapped around his torso. Wincing through his smile he pointed to his side. “If you hadn’t pulled me off the walkway there, I’m fairly certain I’d be full of a lot more holes than these two.” Lowering himself back down with a whine, he kept his smile up as much as he could. “I owe you for that.”

“No, no. It’s fine.” I offered my own nervous smile, not really sure what to say. “I just… did what anypony else would have done.”

“That’s true.” Hardcase nodded, cupping his chin with his hoof. “However, Gearbox was driving, Boiler was working the reactor, Zoomer was fighting. And Happy...?” His expression drooped with his own mention of Delilah’s son. “Well, he’s fucking useless.” Brightening up a bit, he held out his hoof to me. “So, even if the others would have helped, you were the one to do it, and I want thank you for that by showing you something not everypony on this ride gets to see.”

Reaching out my own hoof, I hooked it around his and gave a firm shake. I bit back a whine from the pain that shot through my bandage forehoof, but he seemed to get the idea and dropped the shake before it got too unbearable.

“Can he walk?” He asked, canting his head before looking over to Buck. “Not far, just wanted to take him over to my trailer.” An answer which seemed acceptable to Buck as he just nodded in response. “Come on, I got something to show you, but we only have a minute or so to do it for you to really feel it.”

Groaning as I tried to pull myself to the edge of my bed, I was both excited and curious to see what he was talking about. However, I began to realize that whatever painkillers I’d been taking before must have worn off, and without them my hooves felt like they had a thousand little cuts on them. With my curiousity pulling me onward more than the pain was pushing me back into bed, I managed to wiggle myself to the edge and nodded up to him.

Using his magic, he unlocked the door and opened it. Trotting directly across the rec area between the containers, he immediately opened up his door before I could even get my hooves on the ground. As he did, I found myself staring at his well sculpted, purple coated backside, and telling myself that I was not going into his room for anything like what I fantasized about in my own at night.

“You coming?” He asked, both getting me to move and encouraging the perverted side of my head. The pins and needles of walking before were more like nails and spikes now, but when a stallion like him asked me into his room, I was damn sure not going to waste an opportunity if I had one presented! No brain, not that kind of presenting...

“Yeah.” I wheezed, biting my tongue in a horrid attempt to control the pain. Walking as gingerly as I could on all four hooves, what I wouldn’t have given to just hover around like every other pegasus I’d known. Still, at the very least the air was still cold enough that almost immediately I was shivering as I walked across the floor. Through the air however, was an odd, whining sound. It struck me as similar to the way that the Enclave’s Vertibuck’s sounded when they pulled maneuvers for parades and such, but it sounded much more intense. Following Hardcase into his and Violet’s room, the sound disappeared as he shut the door behind me and I shrugged it off.

“Just, one moment.” Hardcase groaned as he looked up. Pinned up against the ceiling of the container, was an old looking ladder. With a flash of his horn, he unhooked it from its bindings and dropped it downward. Where the top of the ladder met the ceiling, a small hatch sat, which Hardcase flipped open with is magic. “Up here.” He smirked before hooking his hooves on the rungs and starting his climb up.

I blushed as He climbed up above me, accidentally brushing my muzzle with his golden yellow tail as I fought my urge to look up at him. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I had nothing left to lose, or with the fact that it was one of the only things I had left to hold onto, but I couldn’t afford to piss anypony off for taking peeks at every stallions rump. With a sigh, I bit my lip and told myself that it wasn’t worth it. Why oh why did I have to like stallions so much?

Waiting until I knew he was up top, I sighed and put my own forehooves on the rungs. The concentrated pressure as I lifted myself up felt worse than just standing on my hooves, but as I pulled myself up the first rung, I paused. The whining sound was back, and it was louder. It was definitely something like a Vertibuck, and that piqued my curiosity. More than that, if it was something that belonged to the Enclave, maybe, just maybe I’d be able to report what had happened at Four Peaks.

Straining and struggling with each rung, I pushed myself upwards. Come on, Night. Fight through the pain! I knew I was tougher than a little bit of pain. Okay, maybe it was a lot more pain than I’d really ever been in, but still! This would be worth it, I was sure of it.

Hooking my bandaged forehooves over the edge of the opening, I lifted my wings and stuck them out as well. Using them like another pair of weak legs, I managed to climb up and onto the top of the slightly snowy cargo container. In taking a moment to catch my breath, I closed my eyes and listened as all the sounds of outside became sharp.

The hum of the reactor below us sounded much the same as it did from inside my container, however the crunching of the snow below the six massive tires of the Hauler nearly made me shiver. The wind as it battered me made the whining tone I’d heard oscillate and drone lower than I’d thought it’d been.

“Not everypony get’s to see things like I do from up here.” Hardcase chuckled, throwing a warm hoof around me and pulling me close.

Opening my eyes, I had to blink a few times to understand what I was seeing. Unlike the white sheet of ice I’d been left with before, the sheet quickly became a mix of mud, dirt, rocks and trees only another few hundred feet out ahead of us. Majestic, rocky mountains tore into the thick, freerange grey clouds that straddled them, and the sight of wild snowfalls from them at the higher elevations brought a smile to my muzzle.

“Count yourself lucky on two account’s, Bombay!” His tone changed to one more of surprise. “Cause I think whatever they were working on at the base when we drove up here is actually going to fly today.” Raising his free hoof across my chest, he pointed off along the ice-ground boundary towards a wide open area.

With the snow on most of the uneven ground looking a lot like clouds, I almost could have bet I was looking at was a military base. While there were almost a dozen more sheet metal shacks all over the place, as well as assorted tents, things like curved barracks, a control tower, maintenance hangars, and the like gave it away. However, two very large concrete domes at the far, earthen side of the complex perplexed me, as well as the rusty chain link fencing that ran around the whole place. It was so lightly defended for a military base that I wasn’t sure how it hadn’t fallen prey to ‘bad guys’ like those yaks. Maybe Delilah was overstating the threats down here?

“Oh, would you look at that?” Hardcase chuckled and smacked me in the chest. “Something’s coming out of the hanger!”

He was definitely correct. As he spoke, the large silver metal door to one of the hangers shuttered and began to retract. The whine from before was far louder once the doors had opened. Literally on the tips of my sore hooves, I watched with great anticipation to see what would come out. However, when the doors had finally retracted, I was left puzzled as nothing was there. Yet… the noise was moving. Then as if somepony tore a sheet off of it, with a shimmer, a large vehicle seemed to warp into sight.

“Wow!” Hardcase giggled giddily. “Who knew you could stealthbuck something that big!?”

Before even considering just what in the heck a ‘stealthbuck’ was, my mind tried to wrap itself around the alien shape of the craft before us. A bulbous, egg like nose nearly the size of two Vertibucks sat affixed to a huge pair of wings and an enormous set of landing gear. Off of each side of the egg, a pilon extended backwards before raising up as a pair of large rudders. Even odder than it’s general shape, was what bridged the upper ends of the two tail pieces. What looked like an old world jet aircraft sat almost bolted onto the whole thing. Odd to see something so outdated as a non cloud system aircraft still intact. Then again, the Empirica had a fixed wing plane in it as well, didn’t it?

It was about then that my brain had finally had enough, and I blinked a few times to unjam my thoughts.

“What the hell is it?” I simply asked. “And what is this place?”

“Here? This is Fort Mac.” Hardcase waved his hoof about pointing to things. “The last bastion of civilization on the northern Equestrian continent, the northern most airbase for the old equestrian military, and our first stop on the way back south.” Tapping me in the side, he turned himself back toward the hatch. “That big machine thing? Not a fucking clue.” Stopping just at the hatch, he waited for me to turn and look at him. “Want to go find out?”

“Uhm… are we supposed to?” Not that I wasn’t curious, but I’d probably just find myself in more trouble if I poked my nose into anything I wasn’t supposed to. “I was pretty sure I was supposed to go get geared up or something. You go on ahead without me.” Being chased after by silverware is something I only intend to happen once to me in my lifetime, thank you very much!

With a flap of her flared wings, Violet slowed to a stop as she came down from the sky. “You ready to go, Bombay?” Her smile was almost out of place as the odd metal box she held in her hooves. “Delilah told me to get you geared up however you want.”

“Yeah, he was just saying that.” Hardcase, smiled up to Violet before looking back to me. “You and Zoomer come find me when you’re done. I’ll see about finding us something other than three month old beer to drink with whatever food I can scrounge up.”

Before I could reply, the whining noise that the large machine was making picked up. Large jets of flame burned out of the back of the egg shaped bulb at the front, and the machine began to push itself forward. At first, I wasn’t sure what it was doing as it rolled onto the long strip of polished, flat ice on the northern side of the base. With a bouncing shift of its landing gear, it turned and pointed right towards us. From this orientation, it looked more like some monstrous winged beast prowling around than any machine I’d ever seen.

The whining picked up into a constant roar as it picked up speed, and I worried momentarily that it would flatten the simple fence between us and slam into the side of the hauler. Instead, I watched in awe as something so large tipped upward and pulled away from the ground. With a sound like rolling thunder, the mammoth aircraft tore through the air and into the skies above us. I was forced to cover my ears with my hooves from the deafening noise, but even the uncomfortably loud sound couldn’t dampen the smile I wore across my muzzle.

After another minute, the silver airplane punched up through the freerange mountain clouds, and even it’s booming engines drained away with the wind. I wasn’t quite sure what that thing was, but the ground was certainly full of surprises. For once, I was actually looking forward to seeing what else lay in wait at the base, because who knows? While everything down here certainly was weird, maybe it wouldn’t be so scary afterall!

Instead of heading right out, Violet had suggested that I grab the saddlebags that Spring Leaf had given me. She pointed out that because I lacked money down here, what specialty goods I had in the bags might be worth something if something caught my eye down here. She only said this because she wanted me to understand just how important it was to indulge oneself in the little things. Stress was always something I felt at school but just kinda dealt with, and for somepony to say ‘just give in’? It felt so freeing, yet… still so wrong.

“Might I suggest something?” Buck spoke up as I adjusted straps to the full bags across my back. Looking over at him, he wore what seemed like a worried look. “Try to stay out of the way of anypony who looks like they’re going to send you right back here with another injury.”

“Sure thing…” I wasn’t sure what I should say about that. On the one hoof, of course I wouldn’t go looking for trouble. I just wanted to go about our business without interruption. On the other hoof, I wasn’t exactly having a spectacular week with staying safe.

“It’s just… I feel responsible for what happened with Rosie. I should have showed you the way instead of let you wander off like I did.” Sighing, he stood up from his computer. You know, when sitting, he’s quite a sight. But standing up at full height? He looked like a force to be reckoned with, and didn’t my quickening heartbeat know it. Sharp features paired with sharp claws, he was a hell of a sight. Really though, I’m glad he’s on our side. “You know what?” He sighed. “I should just go with you.”

“What? No, that’s totally not necessary...” I didn’t want to admit it, but having him along could go a long way toward keeping me safe. “I mean, I don’t want to keep you from your…” Pointing my hoof lazily at his terminal, I couldn’t remember what he said he was doing on it. Which actually helped, because now I didn’t really want to talk him out of it. “...things.” Thank the goddesses that I’m pathetic at everything!

Rolling his eyes, he raised his massive forearm and pointed to the door. “I’m going with you. End of story.” Well, at least that worked out. Turning around, I reached up and flipped the latch off of our container door. Impatiently tapping his hoof on the other side, was Happy Trails. The moment the door swung open enough for him to see me, a bright, perverted smile pulled across his muzzle. The exact moment after when he saw Buck behind me, that smile died a well deserved death.

“Oh come on now, sugar. Why you gotta bring the lug with us?” Happy nickered and reached into the pocket of a sleek looking black leather coat. Pulling out a comb, he pushed it through his styled pompadour so hard that I thought that whatever grease he’d used to oil it up would catch fire. Really, I was kinda disappointed when it didn’t.

“Night Flight here has a tendency to get into trouble.” Buck answered before I could. While it wasn’t the softest way he could have put it, I couldn’t argue with him on it. “I’m coming to make sure it doesn’t happen.”

In an instant, the perv was back at it. “Oh, a bad girl?” He cocked an eyebrow and smirked at me. “Listen, pretty mama…”

Buck gave a guttural growl that made my mane stand on end.

“Back off, Happy.” Buck snarled. Oh, is that my legs telling me that I should run right now? Yes, yes it is. “I watched you pull your moves back on the Inuvik. Hell, half of who you slept with on there had barely been mares for a few months, yet you deflowered them with no regard to even know their names. You sicken me.”

Happy snorted and tossed his head in dismissal. “Hell of a guard dog you got there, sugar.” Turning around, he shoved his comb back in his pocket and walked towards his room. “I didn’t want to hang with no squares anyhow.” With a kick, he opened his door and walked in, slamming it shut behind him with a bang.

Delilah’s door opened up and the old mare glared across toward Happy’s container before shifting her gaze to us. “Night.” She spoke sharply. “Violet is to take you to get geared up for the trip. But before you two head into the base, Howitzer has a piece of equipment you’ll need to take in with you, so see him first.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” I nodded before walking out of the container. Looking at her as I headed for the stairway down into the ice hold, I caught her smiling at me. Not a bright smile, or even a smirk. One where the ends of her muzzle were ever so raised, like she was trying her best to fight against the sagging skin, only losing.

“At least somepony around here knows how to show some respect.” She muttered as I trotted past. As I reached down and opened the hold, I heard Buck come to an abrupt stop behind me. Looking back, Mrs. Delilah’s hoof was on his waist. “You keep him out of trouble, you hear me?” Buck simply nodded before looking over to me. “Now just because we’ll be here all day doesn’t mean waste time. There are things to do,” She spoke as I started down the stairs. The groaning of the metal obscured what she continued with, but I wasn’t sure if I heard her right. “...ponies to keep watch for.”

Shrugging the comment off, I figured that there would be time to talk to her later about it. Shit! I still needed to tell her what Hispano’s dad had said! Ah, well, like I said, we’ve got time.

“Heya there, Bombay!” Boiler chimed from her control room, waving her oily wrench to get my attention as I trotted to the stairs. “If you’re going out, mind picking me up a Sparkle Cola if ya get the chance?” Her bright smile was somewhat dulled by the dark grease stains across her muzzle which were probably from the wrench. At least, I hoped they were? I don’t think sticking your face in a spark reactor’s inner workings was healthy. I mean, Dad never came home looking like that...

“Geeze.” Violet brought my attention to her as I climbed down the stairway leading down from the reactor area of the Hauler. Thankfully, she had saved me from following that train of thought to somewhere I probably wouldn’t want to crawl back out from. “Taken any longer and I might have just had enough time to get back home by myself already.”

“Sorry!” Buck called out as he descended behind me. “I decided that I could use a little fresh air for the time being.” Sure, tell the creep that I’m accident prone, but don’t tell Violet that. Buck certainly was… odd.

Dropping down onto the wet, squishy ground under the hauler, I inadvertently splashed my legs and underside with mud. I went ridged from the feeling of cold, muddy water seeping into my coat and bandages. Good thing that whatever painkiller I still had left in me was good enough to dull the stinging pain in my wounds. Well, I guess that’s one thing true they always said about the ground. It sure is dirty….

“You okay there?” Violet chuckled to herself. “Oh, right. This is the first time you’ve been on dirt, right?” I simply nodded to that, sure that if I opened my muzzle, I would have let out a whimper. “And how does it feel?”

Damnit. “It’s…” I paused. “squishy.” I sighed, taking one squishy hoofstep after another. So it wasn’t the most poetic of descriptions, who cares. I’ve been in it for all of ten seconds and I already hate mud. “Delilah said that we needed to see Howitzer first.”

“Already done!” Violet used her wing to hoist up a foreleg sized green box with cables sticking out of it. “Overheard her talk about it yesterday. Anyway, let’s get on in there already and do some tradein’!” She let a squee escaped her smiling muzzle before she hopped forward and came down hard in a large mud puddle. I closed my eyes in time to shield them, but I’m pretty sure that they were the only part of me not soaked now. “Oops, got excited.” She giggle gasped as I shook myself.

“It’s fine.” Buck sighed, stepping up past me. “But do refrain from soaking us again in the future. It would be quite unfortunate if the doctor you brought along caught a cold.”

Opening my eyes and looking over, I couldn’t help myself. A snort escaped my muzzle as I found buck about half the size he was before. The muddy water had matted down his black and white fur. He looked more like a wet rug than an enormous scary beast, and the exasperated look across his face said it all.

“Oh, hold on you wet blankets, I got somethin for ya!” Boiler called out somewhat awkwardly from back above. It was about then I noticed that Buck and I were stopped just next to what looked like a large vent on the Hauler. Closing my eyes, I was pretty sure what was about to happen.

“No, don’t...!” Buck whined before a long blast of extremely soothing hot air trailed over us. The piercing hiss as it drained through the vent left a momentary ringing in my ears, but other than that, we escaped with warm, mud caked dry fur.

Well, I did at least.

“Oh goddesses, that’s fantastic!” Violet burst into uncontrollable laughter and flopped into the mud.

In the world's quickest turnaround, Buck was closer to his original size now just… a lot fluffier. He looked like a black and white cloud fused with an angry looking dog’s head. Even the floof down his massive forepaws blended into the chest fluff he had to make him look like a big round ball of fur.

“You look like a big, angry dandelion!” Violet screamed as she rolled across the ground. “Oh, goddesses save me it hurts…”

“You’re welcome for the blow dry!” Boiler called down from above. “Now bring me a damn sparkle cola!”

“I hate you all.” Buck sighed with his own smirk pulling at the end of his muzzle like Delilah’s had. Yeah, I take it back again. He’s not so scary after all. “Can we just go now? Please?” Buck, while he looked intimidating, just didn’t put out a vibe like he wanted to hurt anypony at all. Well, besides Happy Trails a minute ago, but I could forgive that a bit.

After a long sigh of delight, Violet picked herself back up and did her best to shake herself off. “I can already tell you are going to make this trip back home just a little less dull the second time around.” Stretching out her dripping wings, she flicked them to get the mud out.

“Second time around?” I wasn’t quite sure what she meant.

“Yeah.” She nodded for me to follow her, turning around to head toward the massive metal gate that blocked the muddy road in. “Lucky, Hardcase and I made the journey up here once before in the runner. Delilah wanted to make sure that the package was still intact before gathering the resources for the expedition.”

“Yes.” Buck added as he plodded up next to us. “They were quite the celebrities when they arrived last year. We’d never had ponies from so far south make it up here for over a century. Farthest south we’ve had recently was a decade ago when a ghoul arrived from a place called Maple Station just north of Vanhoover. Drove a tank all the way up this far north for ‘vacation’.”

“Last year?” I gasped. I sincerely hope that it wasn’t going to take that long to get down south…

“Well, a couple months each way,” Violet shrugged. “Plus a good six to get everything together and the convoy ready for the trip back up here. We left only a few months back to get up here, so yeah. I guess it has been a year.” She smiled and looked back over at me. “Don’t worry, I’m sure the trip will go by in a flash.” Folding her wing out and over me, she pulled me against her. “Yes. In no time, you’ll be back in Brahman Beach, enjoying the now unclouded sunsets, and assuming we get this ice back home, all the tasty veggies you could ever want.”

“Brahman Beach?” I seriously had to cool it with the questions, but there was just so much to learn! “I’ve never heard of that city before.” Just ahead of us, two mean looking earth ponies lined up with a large square beam in the gate and began pushing it. With a grinding squelch, the gate before us opened, and we walked past the pair of ponies in uniforms with rifles slung around their sides.

She chuckled at my words, pulling my attention back to her. “It’s probably because it’s no city. Brahman Beach was a winery and quiet vacation spot back before the war. Delilah’s family bought it once the war got going and they turned the rocky eastern deserts of it into the largest quarry in southwestern equestria. The rocks there were used to provide most of the concrete for the military and stable-tec’s various projects. The town was mainly where the employees stayed, and some of its farm lands were the most fertile around. That is, until a few years ago when the ground just stopped growing anything.” Sighing she hung her head. “But that’s why we’re here. We needed a way to save the town, and the ice we’re hauling is how we do it.”

“While I am not one to question methods,” Buck spoke up again. “I would think that there would be better ways than arctic ice to solve your problem.”

“That was not my call to make.” Violet’s reaction seemed a little more reserved than I would have thought. “Delilah owns the town, and I’ve quite enjoyed living there. She could have told me to dig the ice out of the ruins of the zebra capitol and I would have done it without question.” Glaring across my muzzle to Buck, the question if he’d hit a nerve with that comment was as plain as day. “So if you don’t want to walk south, I say don’t question her. Got it?”

“Sure thing…” Buck muttered and shook his head. “So, where are we going in here anyway?” Oh right, I’d forgotten we were actually supposed to be going somewhere. “Some sort of trading outpost I suppose?”

We’d been walking towards a large open space between a line of sheet metal shacks and very worn, snow dashed tents on either side of us. Most of them had looked better off from on top of the Hauler. Sporting many patches, holes, and rusty supports that looked like they could give out at any moment, they seemed barely suitable for living. The only pony around them sat close to one of the middle shacks. He was an old, feeble looking earth pony. Wrinkled green skin sagged almost completely over his eyes, and the one, curly white hair still sticking out of where his mane once was seemed out of place on his head. As we trotted by, he gave off a loud snoring sound.

“We’re headed for the armory.” Violet spoke softly as we passed by the slumbering stallion. She used her hoof to point ahead toward one of the curved concrete domes ahead. “That’s where I’ve got to return this metal detector doohickey for Delilah.” Reaching back over her red saddlebags with her wing, she gave it a pat. “Supposedly, it’ll be enough to get Bombay here some equipment.” Giving an awkward glance to me, she tensed up. “Speaking of… I wanted to ask you about something.”

“What... about?” The way she’d asked made me uncomfortable, and in the back of my mind, I knew where this was going.

“Well,” She shifted on her hooves. “for starters, I wanted to talk about what you did out there with the Yak raiders.” Her expression only shifted to being more nervous. “Back on the Empirica before we left, when you said you couldn’t fly very well…” Yup, here it comes. I knew because she was looking at me with the same look of pity that I’d always hated. Even my parents didn’t spare me. “You have flat feathers, and you don’t know how to deal with them. Am I right?”

“Yeah, I do. Now get out all of your ‘I’m sorry’s’ and whatever. I can manage my ‘disability’, but I’m tired of hearing it all the...” Looking over at her, I found a look I didn’t quite expect.

“Whoever told you it was a disability obviously was an idiot.” She muttered with a shrug. “There were plenty of soldiers in the Enclave that had flat feathers. Even had two of them in the same squad I was in.”

“What?” Now that I really wasn’t expecting. “How did…?”

She rolled her eyes and waved her hoof dismissively. “I knew from the moment I saw you dive that you had them.” Looking back over my wings, She grabbed my left one with her own and pulled on it until I flared it fully for her. “Look, you know your wings don’t bite the air like a normal pegasus, but it’s not a disability. Not like those feather headed civies would make you believe it is above the clouds.”

In flaring her own wings, I could see that her plumage was much thicker and puffier compared to my own. There was so much substance to her wings, that when I looked over at mine, I could have confused it with a piece of colored cardboard taped onto me.

“Your wings may not have as much ‘umph’ as mine,” She said proudly with her lips pulling into a tight smile. “But oh if you don’t trade that out for something much better. Speed.”

“A lot of good that did him out there.” Buck mumbled and drawing a momentary glare from Violet.

“Well, it kept him from being caught in the blast of that cannon shell.” She offered in a guttural tone. With a deep breathe, she seemed to relax again. “Your wings don’t have bite to them because they present less drag. Sure, you can’t fly straight for long, but in a dive you’ve got more speed than anypony in the skies.” Smiling at me, she let go of my wing and tucked hers back into her side. Giving a nod to my flank, she said something else I didn’t expect. “I bet you twenty caps that you haven’t found your cutie mark because you haven’t been able to really fly or fight like you should.”

“And that’s what? Bombing Yaks?” Buck spit out. “Why is it that no pony can ever have some sort of non-violent talent these days? Would that really be so bad?”

“You know, Doc. Must have been real tough growing up in such a violent environment behind the steel hull of the Inuvik.” Violet’s sarcasm felt like that silverware that was chasing after me on the Empirica, only this time it was aimed at Buck. “You got all of what, two Yak attacks a month up there? If that?” With a huff, I could almost hear Bucks blood coming to a boil on the other side of me. “You have no idea what the wasteland is really like.”

Just like on the ride with Delilah and Rosey, I was suddenly the middle of an anger sandwich. I don’t know what prompted me to speak up, but I felt that I needed to say something. I’d spoken up against Delilah and that only made me fear death by glaring a little!

Raising my voice over theirs, I went for broke. “Mrs. Delilah said I needed to stay out of trouble, and unless you two want me to tell her that you’re the ones getting me into it, I suggest the both of you cool off!” With a stomp on the muddy ground that caked my forehoof completely, I noticed that the two next to me had actually fell silent. “This was supposed to be simple. I really don’t want this to turn into another incident where I disappoint Mrs. Delilah. Not after she’s been nothing but helpful and kind to me.”

I have to say, that actually felt kinda good to say. And from what it seems, it actually worked. Now I just have to see if I’ll be painfully murdered by either of them in anger in the next three seconds or not...

“I… I’m sorry.” Glancing up to Buck, I found him with quite the surprised look on his muzzle. Alright, that’s one of them not murdering me for my outburst. “I didn’t mean to make things more tense than they should have been.”

“Not like it matters,” Violet grunted. “We’re here.” At the very least, she wasn’t going to murder me just yet either. I say that’s a win then!

Turning my attentions ahead, before us was the large concrete dome. Besides the obvious old grime and cracks formed over the last two centuries, the dome was featureless with the exception of a set of rusty double doors built at the base. As we approached, one of them swung open and a uniformed unicorn carrying a fancy looking assault rifle trotted out and past us looking contented. Slipping in before the door shut again, I nearly gagged at the smell.

The dark and cavernous interior was smoky, and a choking thick stench of oil felt like it greased my coat and mane just by standing in it. Along with the smell, the sound of bangs and clangs resonated through the room every few moments. A great furnace burned behind another large military tent that sat in the center of the large dome. The words Galvin and Yar’s Armory & Blacksmith sat painted in bold white letters across the fabric.

“Ugh.” Buck recoiled at the door and backed up. Pinching his nose between his massive claws, he waved us off with his other paw. “On second thought, I think I’ll wait outside.” Giving a few sniffs of the air myself, it was odd, as I didn’t smell anything too off...

“Suit yourself.” Violet called out before trotting into the tent ahead of me. Not wanting to somehow get myself lost in this place, I decided to follow her through the tent flap. As we entered, a small chime hung on it rang. Instantly my vision was cluttered with more metal and cloth than I’d ever seen in one place back home. Shelves of guns, blades, and tools lined the edges of the tent. Racks of uniforms, leather barding, even near pristine dresses sat spread around. Shelves of various bits of assorted things sat next to bins full of assorted mechanical parts. Boxes and crates of ammo sat displayed almost haphazardly about the place, looking more like a fire hazard than anything.

Even the hanging fluorescent lights held metal hangers that displayed things meant for pegasi like me. Off the center light even hung a nearly pristine Shadowbolts uniform, complete with an officer cap and fuzzy brown leather flight coat! I’d only ever seen one of the old war uniforms back in the Enclave Military history museum for the Arms Day Parade back in Neighvarro City. Not only was it Wonderbolt’s legend and Shadow Bolt veteran Lightning Dust’s dress uniform, they only brought it out of the archives for viewing on that holiday every five years!

Instantly, I knew that what Violet said early about impulse spending was true, because that was something I wanted. It was Pegasus history that I had a chance to own. I don’t care if it was just some random enlisted soldiers old uniform, wearing it would be so much better than just looking at it behind sealed glass!

“Greetings!” A booming great voice called out. Looking up, I found myself looking at what could only be a Minotaur, or at least, from how my schoolbooks had described them. A large, bipedal light blue coated bull looking creature, with strong hands and a pension to intimidate their opponents. Well, I at least hoped that last part was only back during the war. “What can I, Galvin, do for you fine folks?” Leaning his massive weight onto the counter he stood behind, I noticed that he had a bit of a gut to him. So much so that it nearly stuck out onto the counter as he leaned down onto it.

“I’m here to return this unit.” Violet carefully winged the device she’d gotten onto the counter. “Bought it here almost a year ago for four hundred caps, it’s hardly been used.”

“Hmmm.” Galvin grabbed the device off the counter with his hands and brought it up to his enormous square muzzle. With a snort and delicate use of his digits, he turned it on. The machine whined to life and gave out ticks as he waved it around a bit. “Seems well enough in working order.” Satisfied, he set it down. “I’ll give to two hundred and fifty caps for it.”

“What?” Violet scoffed. “It’s hardly used, and like I said, I bought it for four hundred. From you no less!”

“I can’t rightly recall the sale, being of a year ago and all.” Galvin scratched at his chin a bit as he looked at the device on the counter. “Not much demand for X-ray spectroscopes up here, but I think I could find a pony willing to buy it. I could do two sixty, maybe.”

“You know what? I had a lot to get today and I think I’ll just take my business elsewhere.” Reaching out with her wing, I had to say I was kinda disappointed in the turn that this took.

“Well…” Galvin spoke up just as she put her wing on the device, causing her to hold it in place. “If you are looking for supplies, we’re the best place around. I’m sure that if you find something you want here, I could possibly give you a bit of a discount on whatever else you need. Let’s say five percent.” His offer made Violet relax slight. “But you’ll take two fifty for the spectroscope if you want that five percent.”

Not going to lie, this was all a mystery to me, and looked more like an exchange between two actors on the movie screens than anything like shopping was. This seemed so much more complex than shopping had been up above the clouds. Mom and Dad never argued about the price of anything, only if we actually needed it or not. The casualness about how this was going however told me that this was how things normally went down here. If so, then I have a lot to learn about it.

“Deal.” Violet nodded and removed her wing off the device as she turned to me. “Alright Bombay, let’s find you some gear.” She smiled as she pointed over to a rack that held bardings made of metal and leather straps. “First, let’s check out the battle saddles, see what fits you.”

“What about that?” I pointed to the Shadow Bolt outfit. Turning back towards Gavin, I gave him a smile. “How much?”

“Oh, just about two hundred caps if you want the whole lot.” He grunted and raised an eyebrow. “A hundred if you just wanted the jacket and hat. The flight suit however is armored, so I couldn’t let it go for less than one thirty on it’s own.” Ouch, that wasn’t at all within my price range at the moment.

With a longing look over to the hanging display, I turned back to Violet and followed. I should probably look into defending myself before going off and buying things that look good. Besides, if one of these saddle things weren’t all that expensive, maybe I could get the jacket with it?

“So, do you know what I’ll need?” I asked as she reached out and started to rifle between the different hanging groups of saddles.

“I was thinking something that would compliment your speed…” She let her words drift off as she looked over one saddle after another quite intently. “Hmm… maybe a plasma saddle?” She muttered under her breath as she hoofed at one of the oddly shaped plates on one saddle. Each saddle had the same set up, but each side plate attached to it was a different shape. I recognized the flat square shape for standard Enclave magical energy weapons, but there were many more shapes than I’d even care to guess at.

“Aha!” Violet gasped before hoofing one of the hanging rigs off the display. This one was one that I didn’t recognize the plates on, having the wearers left side with three sets of prongs set into leather, and the right side holding a long, thin rectangular plate. However, the way the whole outfit’s side straps had loops in it, I was betting it had originally been designed with a pegasus in mind. “Well fuck.” She sighed as she pulled it free of the others. Turning back toward Gavin, she held it up to him. “Do you have a bridle and trigger assembly for this Grenadier model saddle?”

“Sorry, what you see is what you get.” Gavin shook his head. Raising his arm almost like he was flexing, he used his massive hand to point behind him. “However, my wife would be able to smith one up for you fairly quickly. So long as you don’t have to be anywhere in a few hours.”

“We’ll be here all day.” Violet nodded. “What’s the price for the whole rig?”

With a toss of his head, he held out his hand and wavered it. “I’d say about three hundred.” And that’s the last hope of getting that jacket falling away like raindrops in an afternoon thunderstorm. “Subgun and grenades not included of course.”

“Of course.” Violet sighed and turned to me. “Look, it’s going to be your call. I was only supposed to get you geared up, but Delilah wanted me to make sure you were the one to get your equipment and weapons.” She looked back over to the Shadow Bolt display. “Now, I can only make suggestions, but either way you go Delilah will cover the extra expenses of guns, ammo, and other things needing to be tacked on.”

“Well, I brought my stuff like you said. That’s got to help a little, right?” I offered her a nervous smile, not finding a hint of one in return. “I just have to choose then…” Getting a nod out of her, I looked down between the saddle she held in her hoof, and back over to the snazzy looking display of actual Shadow Bolt memorabilia I could own. “Right… choose.” And here I thought shopping was going to be something simple.

This was going to be harder than I thought....

Chapter 6 - Surprises and Sacrifices

The customer is always unhappy about your product and service.

Fidgeting under the snug straps of my new grenadier battle saddle, I was hoping I’d get used to the horrid feeling of it chafing against my wings and inner thighs. Other than the odd feeling of being strapped up, my mind was still stuck on the fact that when they spoke about ‘caps’ as money, they actually meant it as bottle caps. Seems like an odd and flawed monetary system, but seeing as bits got you so little in the Enclave, I was hardly an expert at debating a good choice of worthwhile money.

We were supposed to return in a while when the bridal and trigger bit were finished being forged to pick up the weapon that’s supposed to go on my right, and stock the drop rigging on my left side with grenades. Still, I think thought this was the better choice, I just couldn’t help but think that I’ll never see a uniform like that for sale again. Like, ever. Such a shame.

“Alright then.” Violet sighed as she pushed open the door and trotted back into the muddy and surprisingly cold outside. With a whole metal forge going indoors, it turned out to be quite hot in there. “We’ve got some time to kill, so what say we go find something good to eat over at Hangar One?” Turning towards the long ice runway, she trotted out of sight momentarily.

Following her out, I found Buck leaning back against the wall of the dome. With a forward swing of his large forearms, he stood up and gave a long sigh. Smiling up at him, I’d hoped that he’d feel more like talking like we did before. In all this confusion of being on the ground, he was the most relatable to me out of the entire crew. Sure, he knew what was what down here, but like Violet said, he hasn’t been out there. With that, I decided to take another step towards opening up a friendship with him.

“What do you normally eat, Buck?” I asked, finding his gaze shift from a tired, undetermined look, to one of quizzical intrigue.

“Well, back on the Inuvik, I normally had whatever the daily catch was.” He shrugged before looking over to me. Oh, right. Non-ponies probably eat non-pony food. “If there are any proficient ice-fisher ponies around here, I’d love to see what they have to offer.” Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s something I’ll try to avoid.

“Goddesses I hope so.” Violet groaned and looked over to Buck with a smirk. “You know what I’d give for some grilled Salmon seasoned with some maple syrup and mint?”

I stopped in my tracks.

“You do know that we’re not supposed to eat fish, right?” I chuckled. Maybe it was just a joke and I missed the cue for the sarcasm. Trotting to catch up again, I didn’t get the response I’d thought I would.

Violet instead looked confused to high hell. “What? Are you serious?” As soon as she said that, she went wide eyed. “Oh, right! I keep forgetting that you’ve never had meat before!”

“Ponies are technically omnivores.” Buck spoke up. “While not the best substitute for food on your bodies, you can adapt to meats and fish quite well over a period of years.” Curling his paw up under his chin as we walked. “What was your normal diet above the clouds, Night?”

“Well…” I paused trying to think of every dinner I’ve ever had in Neighvarro City all at once. Only a few things came to mind. “We used to have vegetable casserole every now and again. Lasagna a few nights, quiche for others. Then when Mom died and Dad moved us to Four Peaks, we had to cut back like everypony outside the big cities.” Sighing, I still couldn’t really believe that they were both gone. “We only had the reprocessed nutrient packs that were given to us.”

“Wait,” Violet looked over in surprise. “Nutrient packs were only supposed to be for prisoners, emergencies, and field operations. They weren’t supposed to be for public distribution.” Looking to me with a softer gaze, she shook her head. “I had no idea that the cloud farming had gotten that bad in the last few years that they would resort to that.” Looking ahead, she gave a forced laugh. “I couldn’t imagine living on those everyday.”

“Every other day most days.” I sighed. “Would have been more if Dad ever had his shifts cut.”

“What?” Buck seethed. “How barbaric was this government to only feed you every other day rather than ask for help from below?”

“The Pegasi are a proud race, Doc. Too proud on most days, actually. We never asked or got help for anything unless it was spoonfed and shoved down our throats.” Violet grunted. “Which the radio says thanks to this ‘Lightbringer’ pony, actually fucking did that job for good. Must have been a hell of a spoon she used.” Letting out an agitated whine, Violet shook her head angrily. “You know what, Bombay? I’m buying you lunch today. We’re going to find the biggest, tastiest fucking steak you’ve never seen before and you’re going to eat some goddess damned good food for once.”

“As the crew doctor, I wholeheartedly agree.” Buck studiously nodded with a smile across his jagged maw. “Trust me, eating meat may seem odd to you at first. But I promise that even if you don’t feel like it today, you’ll grow to enjoy it.” Pointing to the Hangar that was looming closer with each step, I had a very familiar thought cross my mind...

Dear Celestia, what have I gotten into now?

“We’re going to have the best ‘fuck the Enclave’ lunch you’ve ever had!” Violet laughed and wrapped her wing around me tightly again.

I instinctively cringed at that. Neighsayers back above the clouds were ostracized and treated as social pariahs. Anypony saying it as loud as her was as risk of a public flogging even! But, that was my old life, and I needed to kick these thoughts out of my head. Groaning and looking up into the partly clouded skies, a single, fluffy white cloud in particular caught my eye. I don’t know why, but I got the odd sense of deja vu looking at it…

However, I was distracted as Buck started to pat himself down.

“You know what, I was in such a rush to leave that I now realize that I’ve forgotten my bag!” He chuckled and looked over to the two of us. “I’m just going to hop off and go grab it real quick if you don’t mind.”

“Oh don’t worry about it, Doc!” Violet rolled her eyes at him. “I’ll cover you if you need a few caps.”

“While that is most kind of you, I’d much rather have my bag…” Stepping away from us as both Violet and I stopped walking. “Just, I’ll catch up in but a moment!” Turning back, he started back at a quick pace.

“And I thought pegasi were too proud…” Violet muttered before throwing her wing back over me. “No matter! I promised you lunch, and that’s just what you’re going to get, mister!”

“Ma’am.” I muttered back to her.

“What?” Violet seemed startled by my response.

“Or miss.” I sighed. With all the trouble I’ve found myself in down here, Hispano was right. “Just please, don’t tell anypony I’m a stallion.” Looking up at her, I felt ashamed at what I was asking, even though I shouldn’t be. “If... ponies thinking I’m a mare does anything to give me an advantage, then I want them to keep thinking that I am one.” I needed all the help I could get on the ground.

“Oh, I see.” Violet nodded and offered a forced smile. I could tell that the proposition made her uncomfortable. Looking up at me with a look of concern, it was her turn to ask me an uncomfortable question. “Where did you ever get that idea? Was it Happy? If he makes you uncomfortable, just say the word and I’ll beat his mule muzzle in for you.”

“No, no…” I sighed and pushed myself to move forward. “It’s just… back on the Empirica…” Looking back at her to find that she simply sat with a look of disappointment on her muzzle. “Look, I trust the one who told me that I should embrace it. The ground… it’s big and dangerous, more so than I ever could have thought.” At that, her look of disappointment shifted to one more akin to understanding and she gave a soft nod.

“The way to survive down here isn’t to compromise, Bombay.” She got to her hooves and got back up to a trot, prompting me to follow along with her. “But if you don’t want me to tell anypony the truth, then I promise I won’t.” Nudging me with her wing, she offed a smirk. “Because us pegasi, we’re nothing, if not loyal. Right?”

Hearing that from a dashite was odd to me. No, that’s not true. It wasn’t, not anymore. Hispano and Violet were pretty much what I could say were my first ‘friends’ on the ground, which meant I couldn’t think about here like the Enclave wanted me too. Looking ahead to the doors that lead into the Hanger, I decided that as soon as I stepped through those doors, my old life needed to be left outside to rot.

Reaching out for the door however, I found it swing open quickly. Violet had better reaction time than I did, and quickly dashed herself upward out of the way. Me? Well, I took a rusty door to the muzzle and flopped over with a squeak. Given recent events, seeing stars fill my vision was better than the immediate darkness of unconsciousness, but I could feel the blood start to trickle down my sore nose.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t…!” The voice of a stallion rang in my eyes before he cut himself off. Getting my thoughts back in line, I shook myself off from the hit and realized that the stallion's voice was one I recognized. Looking up as the stars faded, I’m sure I turned pale.

“Salt Breeze!?” I squeaked. How… how could he have gotten out of that cave? A smile creeping across my muzzle, I couldn’t believe how lucky I was! “Oh thank goodness you’re alive!”

“Night?” From head to hocks, it really was the stallion I’d crushed on. Same black speckled white mane, same white-ish freckled grey coat. Same vibrant, bright blue eyes. “Shit.” Was all he said before turning tail and ducking around the side of the building.

“Wait!” I called out as Violet dropped down next to me. She helped me up, but the moment I had my hooves under me, I took off on hoof after him.

“Somepony you know?” Violet asked, easily catching and keeping up with me in her casual fight. I hardly heard her word as I was too focused on charging forward. Turning around the far end of the hanger, I lost sight of him momentarily. Damn he was fast on hoof for a pegasus! “The somepony from the Empirica you’d just mentioned?” She asked with a tone that I didn’t approve of.

“No.” I simply said between pants. “From Four Peaks.” My hooves beat down against the muddied ground, flinging all sorts of mud and filth up on me. The injuries under the soaked bandages stabbed at me, and I pushed all of the pain to the back of my mind. I wanted to catch up, ask him how he was here, why he knew where here even was in the first place! He said he knew about below the clouds, and I had to find out how.

“Oh... I thought they were all dead?” Violet muttered as we turned the corner around the hanger. Slowing myself slightly, my hooves bit hard into the dirt as I pushed myself to dart around the corner. Unfortunately, I slammed right into a very startled pink earth pony mare. The two of us went down hard into the muddy ground, both giving off our own pained whines and squeaks as we rolled to a stop.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” The mare angrily shouted as she quickly pulled herself out of the mud. I was slower to recover, and my the time I did, she was basically on top of me. “Why don’t you watch where you’re going?”

“Alright, alright. Enough.” Violet shouted as she descended from the sky and forcefully dragged the mare back from me. The mare resisted, but Violet’s strength kept her locked. “I said that’s enough!” The mare took a deep breath and glared at me. “It was an accident, okay?”

“Just watch it next time.” The mare seethed, not taking her eyes off of me. In that gaze, I felt more than just anger. Part of me wanted to look away, but I just couldn’t pull myself away. The mare’s bright blue eyes were so similar to his, so… exact. Without warning, the mare bucked back against Violet’s leg and snapped the bone with an audible crack. Violet screamed out as the mare shoved her down into the mud. The mare turned to me with angry eyes that almost glowed and pointed her hoof at me. “Leave me alone, Night.” No… her eyes weren’t just like Salt’s...

The mare was Salt somehow.

With Violet on the ground writhing in pain, and my mind reeling to figure out just what the hell was going on, now mare-Salt galloped off toward the tall, barbed wire perimeter fence. With a leap that was far outside the bounds of something and earth pony could do, she effortlessly made her way over the fence and into the forest beyond.

Turning towards it, I forced myself to move.

“Wait!” Violet screamed out at me between whines. “Night, it’s too dangerous. Don’t go after her alone!”

Even if Violet was one of the first friends I made on the ground, unfortunately, the drive to follow the mare overrode her wishes. Pushing off, I galloped towards the fence, pushing out my wings and flapping them hard. With as much of a kickoff as I could give off of the muddy ground, I took to the air and sailed just far enough over the barbed wire fence to clear it. Dropping back down onto the forest floor outside of the base, the wet soil was both less messy than mod, and full of foliage.

Perking my ears, I did my best to tune out Violet’s cries for me to stop and focused on what lay ahead. The sound of cracking sticks and brushed foliage ahead was my cue to continue. Putting hooves to dirt, I galloped onward.

If it had been the quiet afternoon it was supposed to be, I might have felt overwhelmed by the amount of green in here. I might have been awed by the different plants and trees that still flourished this far north, compared to the hellscape that most of Equestria supposedly was. Hell, unlike natural histories class, I might have even been interested in somepony telling me about it! But no, all I needed to do was focus on the sound of Salt ahead of me.

In a forest full of twisting branches, enormous trees, thick underbrush, and gnarled roots, it really shouldn’t have surprised me when my hoof caught on something and I tumbled along the ground. Yelping as I rolled through the foliage, I game to a hard stop when I rolled upside down into the base of an old tree. Opening my eyes, my vision was still spinning from the disorienting end to the chase. The sounds of hoofsteps anywhere around me were gone, but what wasn’t gone, was that same fluffy cloud I keep seeing in the sky.

“Hi!” Hispano’s leather flight capped head poked into my vision just above me so fast that it made me scream. “Geez, you don’t have to scream every time we meet up.” Flailing myself, I flopped onto the ground before realizing that I had nothing to fear from her.

“Wait!” I just realized that all hope might not be lost! “Did you see a mare running through ahead of me just now?”

“Mhmm.” She nodded with a smile, and pointing to her left. “She went that way.” Scrambling to my hooves, I tried to get going again. “Woah there, Mrs. Nelly. Take it easy.” Grabbing around my harness, she kicked up into the air and used the momentum to stop me from going anywhere. “Listen Night, have a seat. We have to talk.”

“Not now, Hispano.” I grunted and tried to go again. Again, she used her wings to gain the advantage and stopped me.

“I know what she is.” She spoke in a flat tone that made it very clear to me she didn’t want to have to tell me to sit down again. So I did so. Lazily hovering around me, she looked over me curiously. “But first, I wanted to congratulate you.”

“What?” I didn’t have time for this!

“You know, most ponies down here are so used to the clouds that they hardly look up anymore.” She laughed and pointed up to the small fluffy cloud above us. “What’s so special about one cloud when they all look the same, right?” Reaching over, she put a talon under my chin and tapped on it. “But you noticed us following, didn’t you?”

So, that cloud was the same one I’d seen at the end of the fight with the yaks. “Yes.” I nodded. “You work for Solomon, don’t you?”

She nodded and smirked. “Technically, only my dad does. But you... you work for Delilah.” To that, I wanted to open up my muzzle to explain, but she pressed a tallon to my lips. “No, no. Don’t speak.” Her gaze fell to a cold, uncaring one very out of place on someone as young as she was. “Now Dum Dum, I need you to give me an answer for me, simple ‘yes or no’ type deal. Understand?” I nodded and watched as she smiled slightly. “Now, you wouldn’t have happened to do something as stupid as to tell your employer what either my father or I look like, or that we’re following you all?” Dropping the smile, she went back to the cold glare. “Did you?”

Really, I had been meaning to bring it up I'd met them, but I couldn’t exactly tell Hispano I had been planning on telling Delilah in the first place. Instead, I simply shook my head.

“Whew. Oh, good.” She let out a sigh of relief and ran her talons across her forehead. “It would have been a shame to have to kill you over something as stupid as that.” Looking back over at me now, the cheery, excitable young griffin was back in charge over the serious one I’d just seen her as. “So! How you been? Enjoying the trip so far?” She giggled as I simply sat there. “Really neat trick you pulled back there with the Yaks!”

“What is Salt?” I asked flatly. Truthfully, I didn’t know how to be mean, so I tried my best to imitate her. When she nearly busted up laughing, I knew that it probably wasn’t something I could ever rely on trying to replicate again.

“What is he?” Hispano did her best to imitate a deep voiced stallion as she puffed up her chest. “Please don’t ever change, Dum Dum.” With a sigh she dropped from her effortless hover down onto the ground. “But since you haven’t told Delilah about us…” Looking at me with a giddy look in her eyes, she seemed as energetic as when I first met her. “which of course if you ever do, my father and I will just have to murder you without a second thought...”

“Get on with it.” I grunted. There was no hope in finding Salt again out here, but any information might help do something to explain just what the hell was going on around here.

“He’s a changeling.” She grunted and folded her talons across her chest.

I… didn’t know what to make of that. “A wha…?” I couldn’t even really formulate a question to ask to her. I mean, where does somepony even begin?

“A shapeshifter?” Hispano snorted and looked over to me with a raised eyebrow. “You know, he can copy the appearance of anypony he’s seen? Same as the old world infiltrators… ring any bells?” She was obviously expecting me to catch on, but I’d never once heard of monsters like those. “Some of them tried to take over Canterlot before the war? The Ministry of Awesome used them sometimes as infiltrators, same as the Zebras? Any of this ringing any bells up there in that head of yours?”

“Not a clue…” I offered as my only real answer, not sure why we wouldn’t have ever learned about them in school. Then again, Mrs. Chalk did say that they’d changed the textbooks before.

“Night!?” Buck’s voice drifted through the forest back the way I’d come, drawing both Hispano and my gaze over in that direction.

“Well, it’s been fun, Dum Dum!” Hispano smiled and hopped into the air. As she did, she flew forward and gave me a surprising hug before popping off of me just as fast. “Remember…” She said as she put a talon up to her beak. “Not a word about us.”

I nodded before getting back to my hooves. Quicker than I’d ever seen her move, Hispano put all that bubbly energy into flying straight up. Disappearing into the cloud above, I watched as she poked her head out and gave another smile and wave to me. Deep down, I felt it was a bit of a wrong move to hold back on Delilah with the info that they were following us. Still, if they were only observing, I didn’t really see a problem. So long as they didn’t actively try to hurt anyone on Delilah’s crew, and none of the crew found out about them, what was the harm of just letting them follow us?

“Night?” Buck’s voice was louder than before. “Oh please don’t have hurt yourself…” He spoke to himself in a worried tone.

“Over here.” I called out.

After a few frantic sounding steps through the forest, Buck pushed his way past the foliage and into sight. “What on Equis possessed you to chase after somepony all the way into the woods?” He sounded disappointed and relieved at the same time, but I knew he’d be. “Not to mention you left Violet all alone back there with a broken leg.”

“Sorry.” I simply sighed and hung my head. “I’ll… I’ll explain when we get back.”

“You’re damn right you will.” Buck grumbled. Without warning, his massive paws scooped up under me and curled around me. “And I’m going to make sure you don’t get into any more trouble, alright? You will not leave my sight. Understand?”

Nodding in his hold, I couldn’t really argue. Again, I’d gone off and fucked up.

“Okay, then we’re going to have to head back and get Violet to the Hauler.” Buck spoke as he picked me right up off the ground. Still holding me tight in one paw, he curled me under his arm and carried me as he walked. “I think I grabbed a bottle of Mrs. Spring Leaf’s bone mender brew before we left. Violet’s going to need it to get back in action.” Using his other paw to simply hack the foliage, branches, and really anything, away. I cringed as one of his swipes actually cut through a sapling as thick as my foreleg without an ounce of effort on his part.

“Hey, Buck?” I knew it wasn’t going to make up for anything, but my parents raised me right, so I at least had to try to apologize for everything that I’ve done wrong. “I’m sorry. For everything.”

“Why?” He stopped walking, but didn’t look down at me. He simply stared at the foliage ahead. “You don’t know how things down here work, so you make mistakes.”

“No… yes?” With a sigh, I tried to wrap my head around thoughts that I didn’t even really comprehend yet. “I want to succeed. I want to do well down here, but I just keep screwing up.” Looking up at him, he finally broke his stare and gave me a worried gaze. “I just don’t want any of you to hate me because I’m weak and stupid.”

“Night, you may be clueless, but you’re far from stupid.” I knew he was only trying to make me feel better, but I could appreciate him for it. “The one thing you need to learn about how to live down here is the one thing you haven’t had access to.” With a look ahead he swung his claws again and cleaved through more foliage. “Time.”

Slumping in his hold, I hoped that I’d even have a chance to get better at anything. With how everything tended to explode around me now, all it was going to take was one mistake, one missed step and I was going to regret it more than anything I ever have in my life.

“Besides.” Buck’s voice pulled me back out of my thoughts. “I don’t think anypony on the convoy hates you. In fact, I think they like you. Well, they’re starting to, at least.” With a shrug that bobbed me up and down in his paw, he smiled at me. “Hell, even for all the trouble you make, I like you. Even if you screw up, don’t be so worried that anypony is going to hate you right off the bat.”

Looking back into the forest behind me, I thought of Salt and knew for a fact that for some reason unknown to me, he’d come to hate me. But as much as I’d like to have gotten an answer out of him, it didn’t change what I’d be finding when we got back to Four Peaks. I guess I’ll never know how he survived, or why he ran.

“Hey, Buck?” I looked up at him again and and wondered something. “I wanted to say thank you.” I wondered why I should even care about Salt anymore. I had a place to be now, ponies who wanted me to have a place with them. “For helping patch me up in the Inuvik. For looking after me now.” Watching his vibrant blue eyes shift to one of understanding felt like it lifted a weight off of me.

“All I want to do is help, Night.” With another swing, he cleared out more foliage ahead as he walked. As the plants and saplings cleared away, I could see the large fence ahead. A Buck sized hole had been rended through it, and a few perplexed looking security ponies turned their annoyed gazes towards us. “Even if sometimes it’s a lot of effort to deal with in the end…”

“Fuuuuuuck!” Violet screamed out on top of my bed as Buck tweaked at her broken rear leg. The fleshy squelch as the broken bone slid back into it’s approximately correct orientation nearly made me gag and turn away, but Buck told me to not look away. “Goddesses, can’t you give me some fucking Med-X or anything?” She whined through heavy pants as she writhed herself deeper into my mattress.

“Not with the damage inside your leg.” Buck responded. “Now then, one more shift. Deep breath. Aaaand...” He hung as he twisted her leg and pushed it up toward her flank. The squelch this one made was almost masked by Violets pained scream. “There, we’re done moving it.”

Without warning, I found Violets forehoof grab me around my neck and pull me close to her angry, sweating face.

“I swear if you ever do that to me again, I’ll fucking gut you myself, Bombay.” She seethed before shoving me back against the sheet metal door. “I’m sorry, but I don’t like being left alone like that.”

“I’m sorry.” I know I’d apologize to Buck, but she deserved more than just a simple apology. “I should have listened to you.”

“Who the hell was that mare anyway?” Violet grumbled as she flopped back and rested. Buck held out a coffee mug full of black tar looking goop between his claws for her. Quite greedily, she took it in her hooves and guzzled it down. Nearly choking on it, she let out a fit of coughs before hoofing the cup back. “Wow, that tastes like shit wrapped in mold.”

“It was Salt.” I spoke up. “The stallion from my settlement.”

“Okay, that mare wasn’t like you in simply looking like another gender.” Violet cleared her throat out and coughed a few more times. “I know that the stallion you ran into and that mare were different ponies.”

“Not necessarily.” Buck spoke up as he rummaged around in the medical duffle bag on his lap. Carefully clasped between two claws, he lifted out a flat, square cloth with metal strips inset along it beneath thick leather straps. “While I am unsure of how they’ve fared after the war, Changelings could still exist and be disguised among us.” Looking over at Buck, a flicker of hope lit in my heart. While in all probability I won’t see Salt again, maybe I could find out what he was in more detail through Buck. “Though, you said it was the pony from your settlement, Night?”

I nodded. “I know for sure it was him. He said my name, so he has to remember me.”

“Bullshit. None of the history books mention anything like shapeshifting ponies actually existing.” Violet looked between us like we were crazy. “Changelings were a spook story. A myth concocted by the Ministry of Awesome and Ministry of Image back during the war to keep the stripes busy second guessing every piece of intel they got.”

“Like, that’s just your opinion, man.” A relaxed voice spoke up from the other side of the door. Turning around and opening it, I was met by Lucky’s relaxed face. His eyes were bloodshot, and he had a tie dye bandana holding back his long, dreadlocked mane. Also, he looked a bit… darker than normal. Well, darker for a zebra. “I’ve met a changeling. He was a really cool dude.”

Violet groaned at that. “You probably just hallucinated it, Gearbox.” Wait, Gearbox? “By the way, this is the new crew member, Bombay.” Violet hoofed at my back. “Bombay, meet Gearbox. He’s Boilers husband and the driver of this beast.”

“Hey, nice to meet you, man.” Gearbox grinned and limply held out his non wooden dowel foreleg for me to shake.

“But…” I looked back and forth between Violet and Lucky… er, Gearbox? “I’m confused.”

“Don’t sweat it, man.” Gearbox chuckled. Why did he keep calling me that? Was it zebra slander or something? No, that would be racist. Delilah told me not to be racist. “Lots of folks get us mixed up.”

“They’re twins.” Buck spoke up, finally giving me some semblance of an answer.

Looking over at him again, I just couldn’t get over how similar they really looked. Outside the fact that maybe Gearbox was black with white stripes and Lucky was white with black stripes, the two nearly matched down to their prosthetic. Speaking of which, the scaring on Gearbox’s missing leg went up quite a lot farther than Lucky’s did.

“Checking out my leg?” Gearbox laughed again, relaxing even more than before. “Everypony always asks about it, so I don’t blame you.” Giving his leg a shake, his prosthetic slipped off his leg and clattered to the floor. The ugly scarred stump looked lumpy and painful, sticking the meaty squelchy sounds back into my mind. “The universe took my leg when I was fourteen as karmic punishment for stealing a loaf of bread. Doctor said that I was lucky that the landmine didn’t kill me, but I knew what was really going on.” He tapped at his chest with his stump. “Karma. That’s what’s really going on.”

“Ugh. Enough with the Karma bullshit.” Violet moaned out on the bed. “You and Lucky have been going on about it for years, so can you two please give it a break?”

“If it’s not too personal,” Buck spoke up as he maneuvered the object he pulled out of his bag under Violet’s leg. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Go for it." Gearbox laughed again and waved his stump dismissively.

“How did your brother lose his leg?” Buck asked as he pulled the square up and around Violet’s leg. It took me a second to realize that the object he had was a splint of sorts. With ginger movements, he folded the straps through the buckles in the brace and secured them.

“Yeah!” Gearbox responded with just a little too much enthusiasm in his voice for a topic like limb removal. “Like, he lopped it off himself the same afternoon that I lost my leg. It was totally gnarly.”

Okay, that broke my brain a little. From as quiet as the room got, I’m pretty sure it broke Buck’s brain a bit as well. The next sound I heard was Violet facehoofing herself.

“You are both morons, you know that?” She grumbled.

“Like I said, that’s just your opinion.” Gearbox shook his head slowly. “But my bro and I? We’ve got a bond between us, a balance. An eye for an eye, hoof for a hoof. That’s how we’ve always been.” And obviously insanity is something they share as well. Honestly, if he hadn’t been supposedly married to Boiler, I’d have assumed he literally loved his brother…

After another moment of waiting for that revelation to come up, I gave a small, internal sigh of relief that it didn’t.

“Anyway, what did I come in here for?” Gearbox squinted and rubbed at his chin with his stump. “Oh yeah, man. Changelings are totally real.” Leaning down, with a little effort, he wiggled his stump into his prosthetic and stood back up. “Anyway, I heard you got hurt and wanted to say that if you ever needed any natural herbal remedies for pain,” As he spoke, he grew a big dopey grin. “I’ve got you covered, man.”

“No thanks.” Violet glared. “I’ll be fine without whatever herbal concoction you’ve got to offer me.” Pointing her hoof over to Buck, she smirked. “Got myself a modern medicine miracle worker right here.”

“Says the mare who just drank down a zebra bone mending brew.” Buck chuckled and leaned closer to Gearbox. “But seriously, you should tone it down with whatever drug you’re using.” Reaching up, he gingerly forced Gearbox’s eyelids open. Either he was that relaxed around Snow Dogs, or that drugged out of his mind, because he didn’t even flinch with the claws that close to him, let alone his eyes. “The long term effects could be incredibly severe if they go unchecked.”

“Nah, it’s all good, Doc.” Gearbox simply reached up and pushed the claws away from his tired looking eyes. “They’re all natural, so I’m not worried.”

“Yeah, cancer is all natural too.” Violet grumbled again. Why was it that I always got caught in a bunch of awkward situations. Then again, I’m the entire reason I keep getting into them because I’m the one who keeps causing all these problems…

Maybe Karma is a thing after all?

Looking at Violet, Gearbox shrugged. “I can tell that you’re aura is feeling pretty antagonized right now, so I’m going to let you chill and balance it out.” He closed his eyes and nodded over to Buck and I. “But it was really nice meeting you, Dude. Hope you and the Doc feel right at home together.”

“Yes, thank you.” Buck spoke up, reaching over and putting a paw on my back. “Say, Night. We should probably head on back to the Hanger and get you something to eat. Still have a bit of time before the bit for your saddle is forged.”

“Well, alright. You two dudes have fun.” Gearbox smiled as he got up. “You know, if you could, could you bring me a sparkle cola?” Him too? “I know my wife asked you for one already, but I’ve got a plan to surprise her with it later. It’d be really cool of you to get me a second one. I’d totes pay you back and everything.”

“You don’t have any money, Gearbox.” Violet sighed. “You spent it all on your drugs, remember?”

“Oh, yeah!” He laughed to himself. “Well, I got this really cool rug to trade if you dudes want it. It’s not much but... ” He paused, seeming to almost to forget he was talking in the first place. With a shrug, he just seemed to dismiss where he was going with it. “It’s just a really cool rug, you know what I’m saying, man?”

“I’ll… keep an eye open.” I nervously offered. With that, Gearbox turned around and headed back towards his own room. Not sure what good a rug would do, but it’s something I guess. Still, the more I can do for the crew now, the less they’ll hate me when I screw up again. Plus, it’s gotta be good for Karma or whatever, right? Looking over to Violet, she gave me an annoyed glare. Grabbing my saddlebags, I shucked them on over my battle saddle and looked back to Buck.

“Ready to go, big guy?” I smiled, more wanting to get out of this awkward situation.

With an effortless toss, Buck slung his medical bag around himself and gave me a nod. “Yes, however,” Turning to Violet, he pointed to her leg. “You need to stay put for at least another few hours. Any pressure on that leg is going to rebreak the bone before the brew can work on it.”

“Fine.” Violet crossed her hooves and looked at the wall. “I’ll just hover around here until you get back.”

“No, no.” Buck waggled his claw. “You have to keep it right there. No pressure means no negative pressure either. That is unless you want the Bone sliding back down your leg due to gravity.”

“Gah, fine!” Violet growled and harrumphed. “I’ll just sit here and do nothing then.”

“It’s just for overnight, and when I get back, I’ll move you into your own room. It’s not the end of the world.” Buck sighed before tapping me on the back. “Alright, let’s head out.”

It was about right then when I actually wished I could have turned around and told Buck that I changed my mind, that I’d rather stay with Violet for now. Because even if I knew she was disappointed in me, I felt she deserved to be kept company rather than go out of her mind in boredom. But instead, I found myself walking forward out of my room without a word. Sure, part of me wanted to stay, but even more of me wanted to get back out there.

Trotting across the shared middle space of the top deck, I glanced over to Delilah’s room. The temptation to tell her about Hispano and her father bubbled up inside of me. Turning my gaze back towards the sky above Fort Mac, I took me all of a half second to find that same, fluffy cloud sitting up there in the late afternoon sky. Sure, Delilah made them sound like anypony working for Solomon were our enemies, but that’s not how I felt about Hispano. A little brash, and lacking a sense of personal space, sure, but more than that, she felt like someone who was looking out for me. Not someone I could call a true ‘friend’ yet, but close enough that I thought there was at least room to grow.

Trotting down the stairs into the ice hold, I looked back up to Buck as I reached the bottom. He smiled as he looked down at me, and I returned it. On the subject of ‘friends’, I had a lot of growing to do down here on the ground, but I think I’d started to make inroads in ponies like Violet and Hardcase. Buck however, I couldn’t tell if it was because he’d felt an obligation to look out for me because he’d been my doctor, or if he’d actually had an interest to get to know me. Heading out with him though, might be the best chance I had to find out.

Walking back up to the hanger door with Buck, a slight breeze whipped at my coat and sent a shiver down my spine. The thought that Salt could walk right back out of that door again and I might not even know it honestly made me sad. I don’t know what happened back there, or why he’d suddenly felt like a whole different stallion to me. Maybe it was just the want to have some answers for once, or maybe it was more about what he’d said the last time I spoke to him. Could I just be stuck on the fact that he’d teased me into thinking that he actually felt the same way about me?

But like everything else, it just wasn’t my luck to actually get any answers at all.

“Night?” Buck spoke up. “You feeling alright?” Looking up at him, he wore a concerned look as he gazed down at me. “You’ve been quiet the whole way over here. Is there something on your mind?”

“Yes… no.” I sighed. Why couldn’t I just phrase things like I should? “Just still getting used to all this I guess.” While not untrue, at the very least with this explanation, he shouldn’t be worried about me. Why couldn’t everypony just let this go? Why couldn’t I?

Putting my head down, I pushed myself to walk forward. I didn’t care to look at the door, let alone think about anything that happened earlier. All I wanted to do was get some food and then go get the stuff for my saddle. On top of that, I was still supposed to meet up with Hardcase in the other hanger. Hooking my hoof around the handle and pulling open the door, I trotted into the enormously cavernous building.

The interior was well lit by both numerous large lights and large windows that ran all the way along both sides of the building. The huge interior was less surprising than I expected it to be though. Much like the market area of the Empirica, most of the floorspace to the hanger was taken up by shop stations, tents peddleing wares, and large cookstations that were full of sizzling food. Thankfully, there were less ponies around then on the Empirica, including the absence of somepony chasing me with silverware.

Hanging above along all the walls, were large round tubes that looked like they belonged on wartime aircraft. Hell, even a few rusty virtibuck hulls sat hanging from the ceiling. Shoddy looking cable and rope bridges criss crossed the whole upper part of the hanger, and dozens of ponies hung out, walked, or carried on with their daily lives above the hustle and bustle below. Looking around, I was surprised to see a purple coated unicorn up on one of the lower walkways waving down at us.

“Looks like we found Hardcase.” Buck spoke as he moved up behind me. As I waved up to Hardcase, Buck leaned in closer to me and whispered into my ear. “I know you don’t want to talk about what’s on your mind, but I ask you to please reconsider when we get back on the hauler.”

Ignoring his insinuations, I trotted forward towards one of the rope bridges that connected the hanging living areas to the floor. As I did, Hardcase trotted down it, causing the ropes to sway with each step. With a smile, he pointed toward one of the corner food stalls with his hoof.

“Hungry?” He asked, to which I eagerly nodded. “Figured as much. The first time I was here, I tried this Gal’s cabbage stew and it was the best thing I’d eaten in weeks. You have to try it!”

Looking back to Buck, the enormous Snow Dog simply smiled and nodded at me. “It’s all good. I’ll grab some fish and meet you two back here.” As he turned around, I caught his sad glance to me before he headed off. It sent a pulse of regret through me, like I’d just done something awful, but I couldn’t place it. I don’t know why he was so nice, I’d done exactly nothing to deserve it. I know he’d said he’d wanted to help me, but… I just couldn’t comprehend why he made such a big deal out of it.

As we walked, most of what was on my mind wafted away when the smell of cooking vegetables hit me hard. What sat before Hardcase and I was the largest cooking pot I’d ever seen in my life. As big as I was from muzzle to tail, it was nearly filled to the brim with boiling hot water. Chunks of chopped radish, carrot, and beets floated around in the murky water. A green unicorn standing at a counter full of vegetables made quick work of an entire cabbage with her two knives, reducing the large leafy vegetable to coleslaw consistency in mere moments. Turning around, she unceremoniously dumped the bits into the boiling pot before noticing the two of us.

“Howdy there, fella’s!” She smiled, wiping her brow with a forehoof. “You two lookin ta get a bowl-a-soup?”

“Yes, ma’am!” Hardcase smiled and nodded. “Tell me,” Hardcase lowered his voice and leaned in, forcing the cook to lean in as well. “Just how do you get it to taste so darn good?”

“Well, my husband grows a mean cabbage…” The mare whispered back before waggling her eyebrows. “But just between you and I, I add just a dash-o-love in with each batch I cook.” As the mare laughed at her own answer, I wanted to facehoof from just how corny that sounded. “But in all seriousness, Boxer has a green hoof.” Wait. I know it’s been happening a lot, but why did that name sound familiar? “Though, lately he’s been feeling a little off. I hope he hasn’t come down with some sort of bug.”

Shrugging off what was probably something I should actually care to remember, I found a large ceramic bowl shoved in my face by Hardcase’s magic.

“Well, don’t just stand there!” Hardcase chuckled. “Grab some soup while it’s hot!” Looking over to him, I watched as he floated some caps over to the nice cook mare and got some soup in return. “I’ll cover you this time, but you can just pay me back for it down the road.”

Taking the bowl in my hooves, I nodded and looked over to the mare. Once the caps Hardcase gave her had been levitated into a jar, she used her large ladle to scoop some of the boiling soup up and into my bowl. A few large chunks of what looked like carrot and… something white bobbed to the top. Before I could say thank you, Hardcase pulled the bowl from my hooves with his magic and lead me away with him.

Shortly, we returned to where Buck was seated. I’d expected to see a plate with cooked food in his paws, but instead I found them empty. He offered me a nervous smile as we trotted back to him, which I wanted to return, but found myself cut off when Hardcase spoke up.

“I thought you were getting something to eat as well, Doc?” He chuckled before taking a seat. As he did, he looked back at me and carefully levitated my bowl back to me. Taking it in my hooves again, the scent of it hit my nose and I nearly melted in ecstasy from it.

“Oh, yes. I did get something.” Buck smiled and rubbed at his headfur with his claws. “The ice fishers caught some very nice salmon this morning, and I couldn’t quite help myself.”

“Just scarfed the whole thing down, didn’t you?” Hardcase laughed before slurping noisily at his soup. “Atta’ boy.”

Pulling the bowl up to my muzzle, I gave the broth a small sip. For some reason, I’d forgotten it was still nearly boiling hot, and quickly gasped. “Goddesses that’s hot…” I whined, pulling a concerned look from Buck, and one of amusement from Hardcase who was eyeing me over the edge of his own bowl. “How can you drink this when it’s boiling hot?”

He gave his belly a rub with his hoof and finally came up for air from his stew. “Gut of iron, let me tell you.” Wiping his soupy muzzle off with his fetlock, he couldn’t hide the smirk he wore. “You’ll get used to it.”

Softly blowing on my soup, I hoped to Celestia that was true. Maybe I’d been spoiled by the apple pie bar thing I’d had earlier in the day, but I was starting to think that not everything was as tasty as that down here. Taking another sip, I nibbled onto one of the pieces of carrot in the broth and immediately was hit with more flavor than any Sparkle Cola I’d ever had back above the clouds. I couldn’t believe that any vegetable could taste this good, even when we had them in my mother’s cooking back in Neighvarro city!

“Told you it was that good, didn’t I?” Hardcase chuckled. I looked at him, puzzled as to what he meant by that. “You were moaning as you ate.” With the brightness of the blush that flashed across my cheeks, I’m sure everypony in the hanger could see it. “No no, it’s cool. I thought it was that damn good the first time I tried it too.”

Nodding, I wanted to talk, but instead I slurped at more of my soup. Every different vegetable that I happened to slurp up was a new and intense experience. Hardcase helpfully pointed out what each one was as I went. Cabbage of course, yams, celery, broccoli, a bit of cucumber, and last but not least, a potato. Which was odd, because this one was large and white with brown skin mixed in it when all of the ones I’d ever had above the clouds were tiny purple ones not even a quarter this size. And then like all good things, it was gone. I slurped up the last of the hot broth and sat back, contented.

“So, did you find out what that big thing earlier was?” I asked, looking over to Hardcase.

“Yeah!” He smiled brightly at that. “It was some sort of wartime spycraft. A spark reactor powered long endurance high altitude surveillance and reconnaissance stealth jet.”

“That’s a muzzle full.” Buck added.

“Well, it was called a ‘beholder’ or whatever by the crew in the flight hanger. With the rumors on the radio of a government reforming out in the southeast, they’ve decided to fly down to attempt to re-establish themselves with them. This was a military outpost after all.” Turning to me he tapped me on the chest. “Speaking of outposts, it turns out that we missed a couple Enclave Vertibucks this morning by a few hours.” Wait, actual Enclave vertibucks? “One of the flight crew said they were heading south to a newly established Enclave outpost outside of Cantercross.”

“We have to stop by then!” I smiled. “If I could talk to them, maybe I could tell them what happened at Four Peaks.” It… still didn’t change the fact that dad was gone, but he would have deserved to know why he lost his life. I deserved to know why.

“I’ll talk to Delilah about it. It’s an hour’s detour off the tracks we’ll be following at that point, but she might be up for swinging it.” He shrugged again and gave me a hopeful glance. “You know, seeing as this place sadly didn’t actually have that replacement part for the reactor. And trust me, I looked for it.” With a bit of a yawn, he stretched his forelegs out. “But, it’s about time I head back to hit the hay. Gotta be up bright and early tomorrow morning.”

“Well then, not to delay you, but if you don’t have anywhere else to be right away...” Buck grunted as he stretched himself a bit as well. “Night here has to go pick up the bit for his saddle there. He’ll need company, and I can’t go inside.” Buck looked over to Hardcase who looked perplexed. “Sensitive nose. Can’t handle all the chemicals in there.”

“Ah, right.” Hardcase nodded and smiled as he turned to me. “Well then, looks like you’re stuck with my ass for a bit longer than!” Why did he have to say that? Now my brain shifted over to remembering him as he lead me to his room. “You’re thinking about my ass, aren’t you?” How did he know!?

“I… uh…” I whined, blushing again. Goddesses damnit why! “Yes?”

“Good.” He nodded and pushed himself to his hooves. As he did, he floated our bowls towards a large cart full of other dirty dishes. “I think my flank is very nice. I worked very hard to get it to look this way, and I’m glad you admire it so.” He gave me a wink and nodded toward the door. “Now, let’s get going then.”

Looking over at Buck, who simply offered a shrug, I pulled myself up. Heading out towards the door, I quickly caught up to Hardcase’s behind. I mean, I was behind Hardcase. Averting my eyes to the mud and dirt as we transitioned to outside, I felt a tingling sensation on my chin that pressed my gaze back up.

“You aren’t actively avoiding looking, are you?” Hardcase laughed. “Look, I’m not bothered by it in the slightest.” He canted his head as he paused for a moment. “But, that’s so long as you understand that I’m not really into other ponies, got it?” With a simple nod, his magic released my chin. “Good.”

“So, when you say ‘not other ponies’…?” Buck spoke up as he stepped up beside me. “Does that mean you have an interest in another race?” Looking up to Buck, he seemed to fumble over his words. “I mean, if I’m going to be the doctor for you all, I’d like to understand what to expect down the road in terms of sexual health and whatnot.”

“Lack thereof for me, really.” Hardcase sighed, but didn’t lose his upbeat tone when he said that. “Can’t really explain it. Just never felt the need for a physical relationship.” Changing his gait, he stepped higher on his hooves and walked proudly. “Eeyup, only great friends and hard work satisfy this stallion!” Well, while the eye candy was nice, it was kind of a shame that it was untouchable. “Besides, Delilah frowns on those sort of things while we’re actively on the road. We stop into a town for a few days, sure, and she wants you relaxed and de-stressed for the next leg? She encourages it then.”

“Well, good to see her son took that bit to heart.” Buck grumbled.

“While Happy might be a bit of a creep, pain in the ass somedays, no pun intended, and a major horndog…” Hardcase cringed and looked back to the literal giant dog next to us. “No offence to dogs.” With a shrug from Buck, he continued. “He’s a good enough guy all around. I say don’t hate him until you get to know him.”

Can’t say I’d ever let him stay in the same room as me, let alone spend any time with that jerk enough to get to know him. The prospect itself was giving me a headache. Thankfully, after another minute or so, we were quickly approaching the large domes that housed the armory.

“Well, you two head on in.” Buck called out as he started to shift his own course. “I’ll head back to the Hauler and go check on Violet.” Looking at me, he glared. “When you get back, we talk.”

“Violet?” Hardcase asked, spinning his confused gaze to me. “Did something happen?”

Cringing, I really didn’t want to answer that. “Yeah, some… crazy mare broke her leg.” I gave a forced laugh before nearly diving for the doors to the armory. “She’s fine.” I offered, pulling the door open and holding it for Hardcase.

He offered only a shrug of indifference as he trotted inside. Walking back into the tent, the small chime that rang before sounded. Yet, the two of us sat there for a few moments, waiting for a response. The loud clangs of the forge that set a studious tone before, were also oddly absent. After another awkward silent seconds, the quick and heave hoofsteps of someone outside the back of the tent met our ears.

“Yes, just a moment!” The more hurried sounding voice of Galvin the minotaur chimed before he burst in. “Oh, right. You’re back for the custom bit!” Galvin nodded with a smile. It wasn’t his oddly upbeat demeanor that threw everything off, it was more about the pair of damp pink towels both around his waist and around his horned head. “The misses just finished them up about ten minutes ago.” Turning around, he quickly dipped back out from the back of the shop. If I hadn’t known better, I’d say he just stepped out of the shower.

Hardcase leaned close to me with a smile wide across his muzzle. “Oh, he’s totally getting some right now.” He spoke at only a whisper, so much so that I had to lean in to hear him. When I did, an odd, tire-like round shape on the bottom of one of the closest shelves caught my attention. Walking over to it, I noticed the bright red medical cross on it, and hoofed it out from under the pile of camouflaged rags it had been mostly hidden under.

“Huh. What have you found?” Hardcase offered as he walked over. Using his horn, he pulled the large wooden yoke out of my hooves. “Oh, I’ve seen one of these before!” The big black ring looked sturdy, and had reinforcing studs all around the outside, as well as a large steel ring on the back that still looked polished. “It’s a medical yoke from the time of the war. They used to stick these on big ol’ bastards to pull medical and casualty carts.”

That actually sounded neat, if a bit depressing. Not only that, but I think I just got the perfect idea for how to thank Buck for all he’s done for me. Reaching up and hooking a hoof through it, I pulled it out of Hardcase’s grasp and walked up to the counter with it. As I set it down, Galvin’s heavy hoofsteps returned.

“Alright, now I’m assuming that your other pony friend can show you how to hook all this up.” Galvin spoke, dipping back into the tent and setting the bit down on the counter. Along with those, were the few dummy grenades that Violet had wanted me to practice with, and the weird submachine gun she’d chosen for me as well. With a frown, he looked at the medical yoke I’d wanted to get. “Unfortunately, you only paid for what was agreed upon before. That will have to be a separate purchase.”

“How much is it?” I asked, turning and rummaging around in my saddlebags.

“Thirty five caps.” Galvin grunted. As he did, he nearly bobbed up and down on his hooves. “Think we can speed this up? The misses is waiting.” With a long sniff at the air, he leaned down. “If that’s all from Inuvik, there’s only one thing you have that I’d even take.” With a smile, he scratched at his horn. “Got any… prunes?”

“Prunes?” Hardcase laughed. “Why would you want those god awful things?”

“Awful!?” Galvin shouted. “They’re the warrior’s fruit!” He pointed his enormously well muscled arm at Hardcase with a glare. “Just because you aren’t tough enough to enjoy them doesn’t mean you should demean them!”

Rummaging around, I managed to find two well sealed bottles of scrunchy purple fruit. The moment I pulled them out of the bag to look at what was scrawled on them, they were out of my hooves and in Galvin’s hands.

“Normally I only buy them for fifteen caps a piece, but I’m feeling nice today. Five caps off the Yoke.” He smiled and held the two bottles up in the light to inspect them. “Now that our business is done, would you kindly get the hell out of my shop?”

“Yes sir!” Hardcase answered with a stiff salute. “Get back to makin’ the missus happy!” Grabbing all of my gear in his levitation, I quickly grabbed the yoke in my hooves and turned back towards him. He looked down to the yoke and then back up to me with a smirk. “I’m sure he’ll love it.”

Fighting the blush creeping onto my muzzle yet again today, I pushed myself toward the doors out. “It’s just a thank you gift.” I mean, I’m just trying to be nice here! He didn’t need to deal with me when Delilah rescued me, and I just wanted to show him that I’m glad he’s been there for me.

“Well then, if that’s true…” Hardcase called out with a brighter smile as he trotted up beside me. “Then where’s my thank you gift?”

I chuckled and looked over to him. “I saved your life?” I was screaming in my head right about then. Shit! What if everypony sees this and thinks it’s not fair? How could I think about giving Buck a gift for his work, but none of the others?

Double shit. I forgot the sparkle colas.

Leaving the armory’s dome, I slowed myself down and turned to Hardcase. “Uh… can you wait for a minute or two? I kinda forgot to get something back at the Hanger.”

“Okay, but make it quick.” He nodded and pointed to the hanger. “Oh, and try not to get into too much trouble. Alright?”

Goddesses, I really hope that I didn’t...

Chapter 7 - Misfires and Mistakes

The key to happiness is to be O.K. with not being O.K.

I don’t know if it was luck or not, but the quick trip to get the two sparkle colas went without a hitch. I had to trade away the last of my blueberry pies for them, but a two for two trade didn’t seem like that bad of deal to me. In another stroke of luck, when I came back up to the Hauler’s top deck, Buck was helping Violet get settled into her own container. Using this opportunity, I snuck into our room and plopped the Medical yoke down onto the back corner of my bed and piled my saddlebags onto it.

Taking a moment to fish the two cola’s out of my bag, I tucked them under my wing and trotted up to Boiler and Gearbox’s container. Boiler was still down working on the reactor, so engulfed in her work that she didn’t even notice Hardcase and I return. Which meant I knew she wouldn’t be in here. And considering we weren’t moving, I assumed that Gearbox would be free to answer. Giving the door a stiff knock, I watched as Buck poked his head out of Violet’s container with a smile.

“You’re back!” He said more cheerfully than the tone he’d left me with before.

“What’s up, man?” Gearbox spoke lazily as he opened the door. A thin plume of rank smelling smoke escaped when he did, making me pull back from the doorway. “Oh, cool. You’re the new dude, right?” He let out another slow laugh. “Been meaning to meet you.” Okay, now this was just confusing...

“We met earlier?” I said slowly. Maybe Buck was right and whatever drugs he’d been doing was killing his brain. “You asked for the sparkle colas?”

He looked confused for a moment. “What?” Then it seemed to hit him. “Oh, right!” He nodded slowly, turning around and using his prosthetic to kick a rainbow ring pattern knitted blanket along the floor at me. “Here’s the rug I promised, cherish it like I have. Though, you might want to wash it out before you use it though. It’s got a weird aura about it.”

“Thanks…?” I didn’t quite know what else to say. Instead, I held the bottles out in my wings for him to grab, which he took so loosely in his fetlock that I was sure he’d drop them. Once they were out of my wings however, I used my hoof to drag the rug out of his room and over into mine. Funny enough, it didn’t even smell at all to me. Once the rug was out of his doorway, he gave a lazy wave goodbye and shut the door.

“Is that it?” Buck asked as he stepped out from Violet and Hardcase’s container. Grabbing it in his claws, I cringed and expected them to cut right through it. Amazingly, they didn’t. Instead, he brought it to his pointed muzzle and took in a deep whiff of it before looking quite puzzled. “Odd.”

“What? Does it smell bad?” I asked. Oh please don’t let this ruin his mood. I really want him to accept my gift without it feeling like another thing that is ruining his day.

“No, actually.” He shrugged and pulled it back from his nose. “It doesn’t smell at all is the weird thing. Must be whatever it’s made out of.” With a smile, he tossed it back to me. Everything went dark as it slumped over my head. “Come on, it’s going to be dark soon, and you still need to have those bandages off you.”

Looking down, I’d almost forgotten I was wearing them. “I don’t even feel any more pain.” Wiggling my hooves, I wasn’t quite sure why. They didn’t have the same magical sheen as magic bandages always had in the first aid kits back at home. Pulling the rug off me, the warmth it gave made me consider using it as a blanket instead of a rug.

“Good. Some of Inuvik’s best doctors made those way before my time.” He chuckled as he walked past and into our room. Turning to follow him, I watched as he stopped and stared at my saddlebags for only a moment before heading over to his side of the room. As he sat down onto his bed with a relaxed sigh, I stepped in and shut the door firmly behind me. “Alright, Night. I want you to strip and get on your back for me.”

That sent my brain to a screeching halt. “What!?” I asked, turning around to find him deadpanning at me.

“So I can remove the bandages?” He grumbled. “Can’t do it while you’re standing on them.” Which, while it was a valid point, he could have chosen to phrase it better. “I realize it’s been an exciting day for you, but don’t jump to conclusions for me, alright?”

“Yeah, sorry about that.” Turning around, I threw the blanket off of me and over my saddlebags. Next, I used my wings to unclasp the rear belt loops that clasped over my flank to keep the back of my battle saddle up. Next, I worked my wings to unhook the clasp around the back of my neck. With them both undone, the saddle rigging simply dropped off me onto the floor.

I think that Hardcase saying he wasn’t interested preemptively did a bit to damage my hope of ever finding a stallion I’d like. Actually, I’m pretty sure that the shit with Salt today did more than anything to kill that idea.

Still, I’d never even considered looking outside ponies as a species as an option. Buck had even brought it up, but it just felt like an odd idea to me. I mean, I just couldn’t imagine what it’d be like to be with someone like a buffalo like Howitzer, or a griffon like Hispano’s dad, or Luna forbid a minotaur like Galvin…

“So,” Buck said as he scooted himself over to me. “Tell me about it.” He spoke plainly as he pinched the bottom wrapping of my rear right hoof’s bandages. From the way he simply started to unravel them without another word, I wasn’t sure he was going to get any more specific.

“About what?” I tried to force it.

“About where you came from.” He gazed at me over my hooves for a moment before going back to unwrapping. “You said you’d explain it, and I’d like to know a bit more about you.”

Throwing my head back against my mattress with a grunt, I let out a deep sigh and closed my eyes. “What do you want to know? I lived in a cloud house. I went to school. My dad worked at the skydock.”

“Well, start with your parents. What were they like?” Buck asked. As he did, I felt the wrapping slid off my leg and get pulled away.

“Dad and Mom?” I smirked, thinking about how he used to be. “Well, Dad always joked about how Mom was the tough one in the family, but he was the hardest working stallion I’d ever seen. He worked as a Skycarrage mechanic when Mom was away on deployment. He always made time to help me with my homework, and he never let anything get to him.”

“Sounds like a great guy.” Buck said sadly. He shifted his claws and started to take of my rear left leg’s bandage. “How about your mom? You mentioned deployment, so she was a military mare?”

I nodded, closing my eyes even tighter than before. Dragging my forehoof up my chest, I pressed the cold dogtags I still wore against my chest. “She was my mom…” I felt my voice die out as I spoke. Even as hard as I tried, I could feel tears welling up. “She was like you. She only wanted to help everypony.” Letting a whimper escape my lips, I tried to hold back, but memories of her laughing, singing to me, her warm smile drove me over the edge.

As the other bandage fell off my leg, I too just let go. For the second time today, I was scooped up by Buck. However, it wasn’t to take me with him anywhere this time. Instead, he pulled me into the warmest, fuzziest hug I’d ever had in my life. I don’t know why he cared, or even if he could understand how I felt this way, but he didn’t shy away from me.

“I’m sorry.” He spoke softly as he let me sob into his chest. “I know that things have been hard for you, and that I can’t even begin to understand how hard it must be.” With deep, rhythmic breaths, he held me tightly. “But if you need somepony to talk to, about anything, even the hard stuff. Know that I’m here for you, alright?”

“Thank you.” I whined. Reaching my hooves around him, I squeezed him tightly. It helped immensely to hear him say that. Someone on the ground would just let me stop and deal with how I felt. “I just miss my family so much. I never even got to say goodbye.”

The next few minutes was spent by me simply crying into Buck’s chest, eventually just devolving into sobbing whimpers. Still, Buck sat there and held me without a complaint, even though his fur was matted with my tears and I was more of a wreck than I’d ever been in my life. I hated how weak I felt right now, but sitting in his arms, I felt a little less like it even mattered.

Finally regaining some semblance of my composure, I rubbed at my wet eyes and wicked away the remaining tears. It was about then when Buck set me back down onto my bed, and I noticed something peculiar about my hind legs.

“They’re… blue.” I spoke up with a loud sniffle.

“Well, you’ve always been blue.” Buck laughed for a moment before a spark of concern made his ears shoot up. “Or perhaps you’re colorblind and you didn’t know that...”

“No, I know I’m blue, it’s just that… I wasn’t that dark of a shade before.” Pointing at them with my forehooves, I traced them up. From just below my hocks, all the way down to the tips of my hooves, my light blue coat steadily darkened to a navy blue.

“Ah, yes.” Buck nodded and looked up at me with relief. “That is a side effect of the bandages I gave you.” He nodded, reaching forward and grabbing at my right forehoof with his claws. Carefully, he started to unwind the fabric. “See, a few of the old zebra’s on board knew that supplies might eventually dwindle, so they mixed a few alchemical ingredients into a small crop of cotton.” As he unraveled the bandage, I watched as my blue foreleg steadily darkened like the others had the further down it went. “In the end, they wove together these special bandages. They work much like the magical bandages here in Equestria, though they can be reused every so often.”

“How often?” I’d never heard of anything like them before.

“So long as they bathe under the light of the full moon, their magic can be regained and reused.” Buck nodded as he drew off the last of the wrapping on my right forehoof. With a smirk, he reached over and began to unwind the last bandaged hoof. “Good thing you all cleared the sky when you did. Still, do try not to get hurt for at least another couple of weeks.”

Nodding, I brought my forehoof close and looked it over. Under the darker blue coat, I could see many many tiny scars that sat along my skin. I hadn’t quite imagined just how hard it must have been to fix me before, and I should be much more thankful than I’ve been to him.

Oh, right!

“And there we go.” He said softly. With the last of the bandage on my left forehoof slipping free, I wiggled myself and rolled over. “Okay, I didn’t realize that was so uncomfortable for you.” He sounded annoyed. Say something before you offend him, idiot!

“No no, I was super comfortable!” I blurted out before scrunching my muzzle up. “Just, I remember, I bought you something. As a thank you, that is.”

“Ugh,” He groaned and flopped back onto his own bed. “Is that what you hid under your saddlebags that smells like that place?” Even though he wasn’t into it yet, I knew he’d like it once he saw it. Hopping up onto my bed, I reached forward. Hooking my forehoof around my saddlebags, I pulled them off the Medical Yoke.

“I saw this and thought of you.” Grabbing it, I pulled it up and held it out to him. “Thought it would be something you could wear.” With that, he perked his ears again and sat up. “You know, to show that you aren’t going to tear ponies to pieces.” His ears folded to the side and he went wide eyed with the most jagged smile I’d seen on him yet. “So, I take it that you like it?”

“I love it!” He gasped and reached out, easily taking the heavy wooden ring and plopping it down over his head. “Sure, it may smell, but once I clean it, it’s going to be a great way to show I’m only here to help!” Deep down inside myself, I knew that without a doubt, I’d finally done something right around here. “Oh thank you!” With a flash of his massive arms, he reached out and pulled me into an even tighter hug that before. Without any air in my lungs, I found it hard to protest against how hard he was squeezing me.

“Ahem.” A voice from behind me spoke up just as the darkness began to claw at my vision. Without warning, Buck let go of me and I dropped onto my back on the floor with a whimper. From my new vantage point, I could see Delilah smiling at me. No, wait. Again, she was frowning, I was just upside down again. “Violet told me all about the incident.”

“Delilah, I’m…” I hastily spoke as I scrambled to get back to my hooves. If I could at least explain myself, maybe she would be a bit understanding. Instead, she held her hoof up and silenced me.

“Nopony expected you to stop some crazy mare, Bombay. Don’t beat yourself up.” She spoke plainly, stopping my train of thought cold. “I’m glad to hear that you stayed with her as well. You understood my warning about knowing your limits and respected them. Thank you for that.” She nodded to me. Okay, all of this was making my brain hurt. Did Violet lie to Delilah? “Buck. Thank you for getting Violet patched up. When might she be able to regain use of her mobility?”

“Tomorrow.” Buck answered promptly. “Though she’ll only be able to hover around. I want her to stay off that leg for the time being. A week at most. That also means that she can’t use the Dizzitron to get into the air quickly.”

“Understood.” Delilah nodded firmly. “Last thing before we go. We’re leaving at dawn, so make sure you’ve got everything locked down and resupplied up here before we do. It’s a week’s distance to Klondike, and two days travel to get back to where we found you, so that will be our next stop.” With a sigh, she brushed at her curly red mane with her forehoof.

“Also,” She grunted in what sounded almost like annoyance. “Starting tomorrow as well, I will be driving Bessy. The road will actually have turns in it, so Howitzer won’t just be able to set it on cruise control and use the turret all alone in Bessy. If you want anything from me, you’ll have to use the radio to check in. I’ll have Hardcase secure it to the table out here in the rec area in the morning.” She started to turn around, only to stop and shoot a squinting glance over at Buck. “Medical Yoke?” She gave a short nod. “Looks good on you.”

With that, she shut the door behind her as she left.

“Well, I think that’s about enough excitement for one day. Don’t you think?” Buck whined out through a yawn. He flopped back onto his bed, pulling himself into the center and curling up on top of his blanket. “I think I’m going to get some sleep. You should probably look into doing the same.”

Nodding, I figured that he was probably right. Turning around, I hopped back up onto my bed and grabbed my saddlebags. With a heaving tug, I swung them over the edge and dropped them onto the floor. Hopping back down, I shoved them under my bed along with my battle saddle, where they’d be safe. Contented they were far enough back, I stood back and perked my ear. Buck gave out a soft snore, having already fallen asleep somehow. Maybe it was a Snow Dog thing, but how I wished I could do that.

Fumbleing back up onto the bed with my now overly blue hooves, I flopped down on my side and gave out a sigh. Today had been both good and bad. I’d nearly died multiple times, broken down, gotten hurt, made some friends, hurt one of them, and been rewarded with knowing that Buck was happy with my gift. I’d wondered just how my life would be down in the wasteland now. Really, if today was any example of how it went, then that prospect started to scare me.

Looking up, I reached up and grabbed the rainbow ringed ‘rug’ and pulled it over myself. It radiated warmth down onto me, the most relaxing I’d felt in quite some time. Closing my eyes and basking in it, I wondered just what tomorrow would bring. More danger? More Friends? Who knew. Like most things on this trip so far, I guess I’d just have to find out when I got there.

Yawning and giving a stretch that felt nearly as good as the warm rug over me, I rolled over and decided that it was time to get up for the day. Giving a contented sigh, I rubbed at my tired eyes with my forehooves and squinted up at the brightly shining fluorescent light tacked to the ceiling of the container. Then like most things had on the ground, something struck me as odd.

Sitting up, I found Buck absent from his end of the container. It left the room eerily silent and sent a shiver down my spine. Perking my ears, I noted that it wasn’t just the fact that he was missing that made this place quiet, there were no noises around at all. Not even the hum of the reactor powering Bertha, or the sound of this beast of a machine moving at all.

Pushing back my rug-blanket-thing, I scooted myself off my bed and onto the cold floor. For a moment, I had to do a double-take of my own hooves. I’d forgotten what the bandages had done to them last night, and while I was glad they didn’t hurt, I’d wondered if they would be the only part of me changing throughout the trip. With as many injuries as I’d had so far, I wouldn’t be surprised if I ended this trip just as striped as Lucky or Gearbox.

Not that that was a bad thing or anything…

Shaking the racism away from my mind again, I sighed as my mane flopped lazily over half of my face. Frizzy and unkempt, I’d really have to ask Violet how exactly a pony keeps their mane nice down here. I mean, I guess if it really came to it, I could get a mane cut. Reaching for the door latch, I frowned at the thought of losing most of my yellow and green striped locks. I flipped the latch up and over, using my wing to pull open the door.

Without warning, I was hit in the muzzle a few times by a purple forehoof.

“Oh, shit!” Hardcase gasped, pulling his hoof back. “Sorry, I meant to knock. Didn’t see that you’d already opened the door.” I rubbed at my muzzle with my forehoof, confused as to what just happened.

“Yeah, well maybe you should be paying attention to what you’re doing, not asking me all those questions then!” Boiler called out from the couch in the rec area. Looking out the door, I also found that it was indeed morning outside, and the we were still sitting in the same place outside Fort Mac that we were yesterday.

“Did you need something?” I asked, tweaking my nose a bit and giving a sniffle in the cold, arctic air. “Also, why aren’t we moving like Delilah said we’d be?”

“Why?” Boiler snorted. “Got somewhere to be?”

“I’m sure she was just curious.” Hardcase hopped in for my defence. “I’d just wondered if you’d like to help me out with something today, seeing as we’re stuck here for a bit longer.”

“Stuck?” There I go, asking questions again. I really just need to shut my muzzle sometimes…

“Yeah.” Boiler called out with a groan. With a noise that sounded like a knife against rusty metal, the large Buffalo pulled herself off the comfy couch she’d been sitting on. The relaxing springs she’d been on sounded like they’d been murdered and could finally rest in peace with her off them. “Tried to boot up the reactor this morning like normal, but the diagnostic terminal ran across an error and booted it back to safe mode. It’s most likely a false positive caused by yesterday's bypass I did, but I’m letting the system run through it’s checks again just to be on the safe side of things.”

“How long do you think it’ll take?” I asked. If it was long enough that I could still have some free time after doing what Hardcase wants, maybe Violet could help me in getting my saddle set up.

“Eh, another hour, normally…” Boiler trailed off and rolled her eyes. “Though, who knows, might be a few if it comes back showing anything I need to take a look at.” She flashed a nervous smile and rubbed at her neck. “Wouldn’t want to miss something important and overload the poor girl on the road, you know?”

“Yeah…” I nodded, the images of the flashback at four peaks looked before it was destroyed. Before I could get too lost in the memory, I felt a heavy hoof come down on my shoulder.

“Well, that’s something for you to worry about, Boiler.” Hardcase said, giving me a firm pat. “Bombay and I have a job to do!” Pulling back from me and turning around, he nodded for me to follow.

“Alright, you two have fun.” Boiler sighed as she went back over toward the couch. I’d been wrong about the sound before. The tortured screams that the springs gave as she sat down on them sounded much more like they were dieing now than before. With a sigh, she silenced the whining springs as she relaxed on them and closed her eyes. Trotting past her, I wondered just how she could be so relaxed when she had to maintain the one thing making sure this machine had to move. From what I understood of dad’s work, spark reactors were very complex devices, and needed round the clock watchfulness. Then again, I knew nothing about how they worked, so maybe the ones on Raptors were more complex than the ones found on the ground.

Trotting down through the Ice hold, I followed close behind Hardcase. I stopped behind him at the door down here, and perked my ears when I heard movement around the ice. Poking my head around the corner, I was met with Happy Trail’s smiling muzzle poking around the opposite end. Before he could even say anything, I turned and nearly forced Hardcase out through the door.

“Eager to get going I see!” Hardcase muttered with a smile as I pulled the door shut behind me with my wing. Looking back at him with a very blank expression, I didn’t even want to answer him. Really, it was because I knew that I had exactly nothing good to say about Happy at this time. What I did have for him, was a different question.

“So, where’s Buck?” Following Hardcase over to the stairwell to the ground, I found him seem to get lost in his thoughts for a moment before answering my question.

“I believe that there was an accident in the living Hanger this morning, a few ponies were injured when one of the cables holding up the old fuselages snapped. Anyway, he offered his help to the local clinic staff in dealing with the injured.” Nodding like it was a sufficient answer, Hardcase looked back up at me as he started down the staircase to the ground. “So, speaking of help, there’s a reason I need your help today.” With a hop that splashed some mud onto his legs, Hardcase jumped down the last few steps into the mud.

“Unless you want me to slam my head against something, or cause a problem somewhere by accident,” I offered the only two things I’d been good at since getting below the clouds. Gingerly stepping down the steps and into the mud, I cringed as I reached out and stepped down into it. The sheer chill I got from the squishy mud pressing into all the bits of my unbandaged hoof made me wish that I had some boots for this or something. “Then I’m not sure why you’d need my help.” Met by only silence, I looked up to see Hardcase giving me a very nervous looking grin.

“Well…” He said, darting his eyes about for a moment, “I need you because I kinda needed to cause a commotion. Preferably in a way that would make it look like an accident…”

“Why would I do that!?” I spat out. Stopping where I was in the freezing cold mud, I had half a mind to turn around and walk back up to my warm blanket and go back to bed for now. “The last thing I need to do is get into trouble again.”

“Well, it’s not what you think!” Hardcase waved his forehooves quickly. “No, it’ll be worth it, I swear.”

While I wanted to trust him, I had a different kind of image flash into my mind again. This time, it was Delilah’s very angry looking face focused on me. It wasn’t something I was very keen on seeing again so soon, so as much as I needed to shut up sometimes with my questions, I needed to speak up.

“I won’t help unless you tell me why you need me to do it.” I said, adding a firm stomp. I cringed as I felt the mud under my hoof squelch and splatter against my other forehoof.

“Look,” He lowered his voice, stepping closer and leaning in to me. “Yesterday, I didn’t go to Hangar Two just to ask about that giant plane in there. Delilah sent me to negotiate a trade with one of the ponies inside.”

“A trade?” I asked, making Hardcase go wide eyed. Reflexively, he wrapped his green aura of magic around my muzzle and shut it firmly.

“Yes, but keep it down.” He whispered to me. “That’s why the reactor had a ‘malfunction’ earlier. I need more time to acquire the item than yesterday. The bastard wanted to double the price, and I didn’t want to fork that much over.” Slowly, he dissipated the ring of magic around my muzzle, letting me speak again.

“So, there’s nothing wrong with the reactor.” I whispered, watching as he nodded promptly. “What is it that Delilah needed?”

“She wanted us to procure an acetylene tank from them, preferably a full one.” Hardcase whispered, nodding for me to once again follow him. Reluctantly, I followed after him. “She says it’s imperative that we get it, and I’m not leaving here without one.”

“Why? What does she want it for?” I asked, still keeping to a whisper as we trotted away from the Hauler and toward the front gate. This morning, there were quite a few less guards on duty than there had been yesterday. On top of that, it looked like there were all still just waking up as well, and one of the stallions had fallen asleep while standing, using his rifle to prop himself up as he snored.

“I can’t say more now, and you can’t tell anypony what’s going on except Delilah.” Hardcase whispered back, not taking his eyes off me. “Just trust her that we need it, and trust me that you’ll know what I need you to fly into when you see it, okay?”

“Okay…” I whispered back, straightening myself up when Hardcase did. We both flashed smiles to the sleepy guards, not even getting a look of acknowledgement in return. Trotting swiftly past them, I felt a pit in my stomach start to grow. This was all so sudden, and it felt… wrong. Still, most of the ground had felt wrong to me so far, and if I was ever going to become friends with ponies like Hardcase, then I just had to trust him a little, right?

Quickly and without anypony taking too much notice of us, we’d trotted past the Armory, made it around the front of the ‘living’ Hanger where I’d run into Salt yesterday at, and promptly stopped outside the opening of the ‘flight’ Hanger. It was then that Hardcase hooked his hoof around me and pulled me down the small gap between the hangers to get out of sight.

“Okay, look. You’re going in there alone because they’ll see me a mile away if I go in with you.” Hardcase spoke at a whisper again. “So once you walk through that door, go ahead and start the distraction at any point. But make sure you make it look like an accident, understand?” He eyed at me. I gave him a short nod, still unsure of how I felt about all this. “Just keep their attention for a bit, and I’ll do the rest.”

As he turned away from me, I reached up and grabbed around his neck with my hoof. “Wait!” I hissed. “What do I do after that?”

He shrugged and gave me a smirk. “Whatever you want for the next hour until the diagnostic finishes.” He reached over and gave me a pat on the shoulder. “I’ll see you back on the Hauler when it’s time to leave.”

Letting go of him, I watched as he turned and trotted down the gap between hangers. As much as this all sat wrong with me, I still felt that I needed to take this leap of faith with him. I don’t know how reliable anything that comes out of Hispano’s beak is, but so far her advice to make myself useful has proven to be fruitful. Well, fruitful enough with the exception of Delilah being angry about the Yaks, that is.

Turning around, I stood up straight and got trotting back to the door inside. Okay, Night, you can do this. You’ve had exactly zero problem so far getting into trouble without trying, so you’ve got to be able to find someway to do it applying any effort to it at all. Turning to face the door, I took a deep breath before reaching out for the handle. Gripping it in my fetlock, I yanked the door open and stepped inside the cavernous building.

I nearly misstepped as I went inside. A line of rusty Vertibucks sat lined against the back wall, each one had a few ponies in maintenance barding tinkering with them. Set up on a hydraulic lift closer to me, was the stripped hill of a skytank. From the ones I’d seen undergoing retrofits back at the sky docks in Four Peaks, they must have been doing a complete rebuild of this one.

There were all manner of odd aircraft stored and being worked on inside here, along with dozens of ponies running about and working on them. Among them were cloud based craft, jet turbine aircraft, and even a few propeller ones like the one on the Inuvik! Seeing all of it filled my head with a sense of awe. Along with it, came a deep regret that stabbed at my heart with the realization that Dad would have loved this place.

The resonating clang of somepony dropping a tool on the floor somewhere in the place pulled me back out of my thoughts and toward my objective. Sitting near the slightly open hangar door, was a vehicle sharply out of place with the aircraft stored inside here. A squat looking metal box on tracks sat before me. I’d seen a few examples in my history books of rudimentary early war Equestrian tanks, but only a few that shared a resemblance to this one. The squarish turret that sat perched toward the front of it was covered in metallic blisters, and a very stout cannon sat pointing out of the hanger and toward the horizon outside.

Without a doubt, that must have been what Hardcase was talking about.

Trotting over towards it, I wondered just what the hell I was supposed to do to cause a problem involving it. I couldn’t just fly into it and cause a commotion around here as it’s a tank for Celestia’s sake! Come on, Night, use your head! Or rather, don’t use your head.

“Oi! You there, missy!” The annoyed voice of a stallion came from behind me. “Stay away from me tank, ya hear?” Turning around to look at who’d called me out, my eyes stopped on the stallion around me who looked the angriest. Damn near as big as Boiler, this stallion was a musclehead of an earth pony. A dark brown coat ringed with a bright orange beard looked mean enough until they were paired with crimson red eyes set under a flannel flat cap that felt like they could murder me with just a glance. Yeah, this stallion wasn’t to be messed with.

Spreading my wings, I flashed him a nervous smile before looking back to his tank. Squatting down, I beat my wings hard and jumped up. With less effort than I’d assumed it would take, I hopped up onto the back of the tank and walked toward the turret. Oh goddesses, don’t let him kill me for this…

“Oi! Ya fuckin’ deaf, mate?” He shouted, stiffly starting to walk over to me.

Panicking, I looked around the top of the tank. Spotting the handle for the turret hatch, I quickly reached over with my forehoof and flipped it open. Momentarily gazing into the interior, I found it much more cramped than I would have assumed it would have been. Quickly scrambling to get in, I had only a moment to watch the angry stallion break into a gallop toward me before I closed the hatch. A sharp click behind me made the cabin inside the tank light up, and a small light buzzed to life from on the wall.

“Back already, Guinness?” Another stallion spoke sharply through a yawn behind me. It was so unexpected that I let out something between a squeak and a gasp as I turned around and pressed myself against the insides of the turret front. My odd noise must have tipped him off, because the slate coated stallion behind me sat up quickly with wide eyes.

If I’d thought the pony out there was large, then I had obviously been misinformed, even compared the the bruiser I’d just seen. The pony in here had to be just under twice the height of the stallion out there, even if he was far less muscled. His crystal clear blue eyes sat there looking over me as I too studied him. The scruffy black beard that ran around this stallion's longer than average muzzle was just as out of place as the odd white and red checkered cloth wrappings he kept around his head. That was about as much of an assessment I could make before a loud slam from outside ripped both of our attentions to the roof.

“Zibar, wake up ya bastard!” The muffled, still very angry sounding voice of the other stallion came through the thick armor. “Some stupid git is in our tank!”

I offered a nervous smile as the other stallion looked at me for a moment. Unsure where to go, I pressed myself further back against the turret front. Shit, I hadn’t thought this far ahead. The stallion growled and reached out for me, crawling his way from the rear of the tank into the turret. I panicked and flailed at him, but I wasn’t a strong pony. At least, not strong enough to fight somepony his size! Still, I did my best to kick and yell, and it wasn’t until I accidentally hooked my hoof around a handle in the front that he stopped, wide eyed in fear.

There was a click from behind me not unlike the lightswitch. However this time, the light that flashed on was much brighter. Oh, and it happened to be accompanied by a bang that sounded uncomfortably similar to the shell I’d dropped on the yaks. The whole tank shook, and part of the mechanical workings inside recoiled and threw a heavy brass shell against the chest of stallion assaulting me. He grasped his chest and went down in a heap, drawing in pained breaths from the floor. I stopped panicking when he did, the worried thought shooting through my mind that I might have just seriously injured this stallion.

Oh goddesses, I didn’t mean to kill him! I mean, I hope he didn’t die from what I did! It was an accident, I was just supposed to cause a distraction!

With my mind preoccupied on how to best explain why I probably just murdered this stallion, I hadn’t noticed that the hatch above me had been opened. A very strong and very tight forehoof wrapped around my neck and in one smooth motion, yanked me out of the tank and slammed me down on top of the tank next to the turret.

The angry bearded stallion was yelling at me furiously, and honestly I’d never been more afraid in my life. However the ringing in my ears and the pressure from his forehoof on my neck was quickly dulling the fear I felt from his yelling, and reminding me that air isn’t just something you need in order to fly…

As my vision began to darken from the lack of air, I flailed and kicked at the pony furiously. Though none of my pitifully weak flails managed to deter him, the numerous ponies who ripped him off of me were stronger than even he seemed to be able to handle. Though, it wasn’t for a lack of trying as he still tried to rip himself away from them as I gasped for breath.

A unicorn mare in round glasses wearing a ministry of peace labcoat quickly hopped up onto the tank and peeked into the turret. She barked some orders I still couldn’t hear before levitating up a stretcher. She pointed at me and then to somepony I couldn’t see before wrapping her magic around my head. Gently, she turned my head to face the turret of the tank, and I was suddenly hoisted up onto another stretcher. While I was looking at the turret, I noticed that it had an inscription recently painted on it. As the medical mare used her magic to bind a medical brace around my neck and order me carted off out of the hanger, I wondered just what ‘Remember El Alemane!’ even meant.

“I’m disappointed in you.” Buck’s words hurt as the medical mare finished using her healing magic on my ears. “I mean, what were you even thinking, Night?” He huffed, crossing his massive forearms across his chest. “Had he been any closer to the gun when it went off, and you could have killed that stallion.” I wanted to tell him that I had a reason for it, that Delilah and Hardcase wanted me to do that for them. However, I couldn’t. Hardcase said no one could be told, and that meant Buck as well. “I know it’s been hard for you, Night, but I’m starting to think you want to go looking for trouble when you’re out.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t…” I tried to say, but found my muzzle shut between Buck’s massive claws.

“Is that really necessary, Dr. Buck?” The medical mare sighed as she turned to a cabinet to pull an odd looking device out in her magic. Turning around to me, she quickly pressed the odd device into my ear and leaned in to look at it. “Besides, The Saddle Arabian hurt in the scuffle only had a cracked rib. Of the two of them, Night here had two blown eardrums and a bruised larynx. I’d say he was the one to walk away worse off.”

Removing his claws from me, Buck deadpanned at that. “While your medical opinion is valid, Dr. Fibre, Night here has had a propensity to find himself in trouble more often than not.” The way he looked at me when I said that made his words feel sharper than any knife. Reaching up, he adjusted the yoke around his neck that I’d given him, shifting his expression as he did. “Still, I see your point. Thank you for your help, Dr. Fibre.”

“No, thank you for the help earlier, Dr. Buck. It means a lot to have an extra set of hooves… er, claws, around here.” She smiled and glanced over to me. “Okay then, you’re good to go. Though, try not to stand right next to any more cannon shots for the next few days, alright?” Nodding, she used her magic to replace the tool she’d had into the cabinet it came from and walked out.

Again, the room I was in was left in silence. Only this time, Buck was still here, and the disappointed look he gave me spoke volumes about what he thought of me now. I’d screwed up in his eyes, no matter how justified I assumed that Delilah and Hardcase were in all this. Though, maybe when I talked to Delilah I could ask her to at least convince Buck somehow that he shouldn’t hate me for this.

Putting his forepaw to his head, he cupped his claws around it and gave out a sigh. “I don’t hate you, you know.”

For a moment, I searched for the right words to say, but they weren’t there. I’d screwed up, and somehow was going to have to make up for it again. And something tells me it was going to take more than a simple trinket at a market to do so. Lost in my thoughts, the silence that had fallen between Buck and I hit me hard.

You know, there's an old saying among the pegasus that exists from the time before we'd reigned in most of the wild weather in the old world. They’d said that you'll see the storm coming far before it reaches the horizon, only when you notice the calming of the air around you. A knock on the door to the room preempted both Delilah and Hardcase entering the room. The look on Delilah's muzzle when it came through the door? It was the meanest damn storm I'd ever seen in my life.

Trotting forward the bed, I could tell this wasn’t going to be fun. “Okay, Night. First off, I want to thank you.” Delilah’s tone was colder than the outside air, and sharper than any knife.

“I…” I moved to speak, but Delilah quickly and erratically waved her forehoof at me.

“No no no.” She scolded. I could see the burning fires of rage twisting inside of her. She was like a thunderstorm, growing, brooding and waiting for the perfect moment to let lose everything it was all at once. "I wanted to thank you for reminding me just how wrong I could be by putting my faith in somepony who doesn't understand the meaning of their actions. Because you see, I had the audacity to presume that you could learn from your mistakes.”

Hot off the hooves of the medical mare who scolded him for being hard on me, buck stiffened up. He raised a claw to call Delilah's attention, but only drew her fury.

"Don't even get me started on you covering for him on what happened with Violet. I’m not stupid. I chose to ignore it for the time being." She snarled and stamped her forehoof so hard that I thought that either the tile under her would crack, or her hoof would. "The only reason I agreed for you to come along was because we are in sore need of a medical expert on this journey, because by Celestia above as my witness, I know we'll need one." Turning her furious gaze back to me, I stiffened up and hoped more than anything I could just turn invisible right now. "By the goddesses, you don't even have the slightest clue what you've done, have you? The ponies in that tank, the ponies I explicitly instructed Hardcase to stay away from? They're one of the Merc bands that Solomon has hired.”

“I didn’t…” Instinctively I spoke up. Again, it was met with a furious waving of Delilah’s forehoof.

“And that’s just your problem, isn’t it, Night? You don’t think. You don’t know.” Delilah looked like a spring that just kept winding tighter and tighter. All I could do was cringe and wait for the sickening snap not if, but when it came. “I’ll spare you the ‘I could have left you behind’ speech and cut right to the heart of this little offence. The next time you have a single thought in that head of yours, I want it to be these words resurfacing and scaring you shitless.” Drawing in a deep breath, I waiting for what was going to be the hardest thing in my life to listen to. Deep in my heart, I already knew what she was going to say. “If you screw up again? If you so much as step one hoof out of line from where I want you, I swear to Celestia, I will drop you on your flank out in the middle of nowhere without a second thought.”

Shutting her muzzle, a long pause filled the air. It took me a moment, but I realized that she was waiting for some sort of response from me.

“I understand…” I forced myself to speak, but it only came out at a whisper.

“You understand.” Delilah shook her head and scoffed. “That’s another problem with you though, isn’t it, Night? You say the words, but you don’t understand the meaning of them.” Closing her eyes, she pressed a forehoof to her forehead and grunted like she was trying to physically force out the migraine she probably had gained due to our actions. “Whether or not Hardcase told you that was one of Solomon’s group, I don’t care.” Reaching out, she prodded me on the chest sharply and drawing a whimper from me as I pulled away. “We don’t ever stoop to his game. We don’t ever fire the first shot. Because all he’ll need to get what he wants is one excuse, one damn good reason to call this a war. If that happens, we’re all dead, because there is nothing we could do to stop the army he could afford to hire.” With the fury in her eyes having mostly expended itself, her tired, stern eyes locked onto mine and held their attention.

“That’s what’s at stake here,” She lowered her tone as she spoke, seeming to decompress all at once as she spoke. “So I expect that the next time you do anything outside of your own damn bed, that you will wait for me to tell you exactly what you are going to be doing.” With a final sigh, she looked between all of us. “I expected more from the three of you. As such, you all just volunteered your time for our stay at Klondike.” Delilah snorted and turned away from us. She’d mentioned that place before as the next place we’d be going, but I had no idea just what she was talking about.

“What!?” Hardcase objected with wide eyes. “I got what you asked for, didn’t I?” He pointed his hoof over to me. “I get Buck didn’t speak up about Violet, and even my own sentence, but why do you have to drag him down with me when it was my mistake?” Okay, if Hardcase didn’t like it, the punishment wasn’t something I should just shrug off then. I guess I’d have to ask him about it later.

Eyeing me from over her shoulder, the frown on her sagging muzzle seemed to hang lower than normal. “To teach Night just what happens when you screw up down here on the ground. Others always end up paying for your mistakes.” Turning her gaze back to the door, she walked forward. “I expect the three of you back on the hauler in ten minutes, secured and ready to move.”

As Delilah turned and left, the silence between the three of us in the room was deafening. All three of us were lost in our own thoughts, either of regret, disappointment, or outright shame. Mostly for me, I felt sorry for what I’d done to those who had shone me nothing but kindness so far down here. Again, I was reminded of another saying that came from us Pegasi. It wasn’t some age old proverb, or a thousand year old metaphor. It was from one of our greatest heroes lost with the old world at the end of the war. She was the Ministry mare for the Ministry of Peace, and their motto was something I should really have learned to take to heart.

I must do better.

For about an hour, curled under the rainbow rug on my bed, I lay in silent compilation of the events of today so far. The vibrating hum that Bertha’s reactor gave off bled into the constant shifts and bumps that rocked the vehicle as it rolled down the old muddy road away from Fort Mac. With my eyes locked on the door to the container, I wished that more than anything, it would open and I’d see the most disappointed look on my father’s face I’d ever seen in my life. And I’d be perfectly fine with that, really. Curling my hoof up against my chest, I hoofed at the cold metal tags that still hung around my neck.

Buck shifted uneasily over at his desk, stretching out slightly as he got up from it. “I’m going to go check on Violet. Stay put.” He muttered with such a noncommittal grunt that I couldn’t tell if he was angry at me, or just everything in general. Stepping across the room, he unlatched the hook on the door and stepped outside. I was left to my own yet again.

Part of me wanted to follow Buck over there, even though I was pretty sure he didn’t want me around. I couldn’t help but think that every single time I’ve been left alone, something bad has happened. It’s like I’m jinxed. Doomed to fail at everything and find trouble no matter what I do. The worst thing about it is that I keep dragging down everypony else with me.

As if to mock me, the door to the container opened up without warning, and Happy Trails stepped inside.

“Hey.” Was all he said as he shut the door behind him. Unlike the last few times I’d seen him, I noticed right off the bat that he was acting differently. He wore the same red and white flower print, button down shirt that he had down in the ice hold, even though it seemed far too light for the cold weather we’d been in. The other feature to him that caught my eye, was that his mane was a little more disheveled than it was when I last saw him.

“What do you want?” I grumbled. Seriously, if he hits on me again…

“I wanted to apologize.” He spoke up. “Violet told me that maybe I was being a bit too forward with you.” Leaning back against the door, he reached into the pocket on his shirt and fished out his comb. Pushing it through his mane, he fashioned it into the poofy pompadour he’d had before effortlessly. “I also wanted to apologize for what mama said to you.”

I sat, confused at just who was standing before me. The last few times I’d seen him, he was either drunk, a creep, or just down right annoying. I get that Hardcase said to give him a chance, but this is the first normal thing I’d seen Happy do since getting on this trip. Granted it’s only been a day… or two. Really, I couldn’t remember after everything that’s gone on in my life since I came below the clouds. Still, Happy wasn’t speaking with the same accent he’d had, he used normal words, and seemed generally like any other pony I’d seen so far. It was… odd. Like there was a whole ‘other’ Happy that I hadn’t seen walking around here yet.

“Look, we got off on the wrong hoof.” Happy shrugged and put his comb away in his pocket again. Holding his hoof out to me, he gave me a sincere smile, staring at me with his purple eyes.

Rolling my eyes, I turned myself over. I didn’t want to deal with him, even if he’d come to say he was wrong.

“I know I haven’t made the best impression on you, but it’s the only way I know to keep safe in the wastes. I’m sorry if that made you feel uncomfortable.” He spoke up, his voice annoyingly reverberating in the container. “I also know that mama can be harsh sometimes.” His tone took a different, more somber turn, and it made me twist my ears back to listen. “But she means well, really, she does. You’ll never find a more honest and upstanding jenny than her. Why? Because she knows what’s right, and she’ll fight for it.”

“Jenny?” I asked, turning back over.

“Female donkey.” Happy chuckled lightly, seeming to relax a bit. “Like the word mare for ponies.”

“Oh, I see.” Shifting my gaze up to him, something that Buck pulled to make me open up struck me, and I couldn’t imagine a better time for it. “Tell me about her.”

“About mama?” Happy nearly recoiled in confusion. “Why?”

“Because I know hardly anything about her, even though she’s gone out of her way to take care of me.” Like most of the rest of the world, there was so much that I needed to know about things. Understanding how Mrs. Delilah thought, where she was coming from on things, could better help me not to screw up this badly again.

“Look,” Happy shifted on his hooves, darting his eyes around anywhere but me. I don’t know why, but the thought about talking about his mother made him really uneasy. “I don’t know what she’s told you so far, so I’d rather not make things confusing for you.”

“What? Why would I be confused?” That wasn’t at all what I’d expected…

“I’ll just leave that to her to explain.” Happy gave me a nervous smirk that died almost as soon as he’d had it. “Let’s just say that it would be best for you to leave mama’s past out of your mind for now. She isn’t too happy with you at the moment, and I wouldn’t push her.” With a shrug, he eyed me again. “And trust me when I say that mama isn’t someone you should push.” Pulling down the collar to his shirt, he showed me a deep and jagged scar that ran from his barrel to his shoulder.

“Mrs. Delilah did that to you?” I asked, wide eyed. While she seemed to exude anger and annoyance, she didn’t strike me as someone who would hurt her own foal…

“Nah.” Happy said while he got his shirt buttoned up. “My father though was a mean drunk after I was born.” Shaking his head, he looked down at the floor like he could see into the past through it. “He pushed her a bit too far on one of his benders doing this to me. That night was the last time I’d ever see my father again.”

“She kicked him out?” I had a feeling that maybe that was why I was such a big deal to Delilah. It may have been a leap, but maybe I was somepony who reminded her of her husband, and she wanted to keep me from making the same mistakes?

“Nope.” Happy shook his head with a smirk, looking back up to me with eyes that hid more sadness than I could comprehend. “She shot him dead.” Well, that absolutely destroyed my theory. “Bastard deserved it too.”

“And… you’re alright with that?” Losing mom and dad? That hurt. But having one of my parents kill the other? Or hell, me having to kill one of them? That’s… no, just no. I’d be broken beyond fixing if that had happened.

“Yeah.” He nodded. “If she hadn’t, if he kept going on benders like that? He’d have ended up killing either me or her. She did the whole town a favor that day.” Giving a sigh and sitting back on his haunches, he pointed to me. “Enough about me, I want to know a bit about you.”

Well, so far this chat hadn’t drifted anywhere I didn’t want it to go, so what could possibly go wrong in telling him about myself? Stiffening up, I knew I shouldn’t think that way. No, Night. Give him a chance like Hardcase asked. “Like what?”

He didn’t get a chance to answer before the door behind him was shoved open. Without warning, Happy was thrown against my bed as Buck pushed through the doorway. I gave out a surprised squeak as Happy was basically shoved on top of me. It was obvious from the yelp that he gave, he wasn’t quite expecting it either.

“What’s going on…” Buck began, cutting himself off as he looked over to find Happy ontop of me. His eye twitched, and a low, guttural growl bubbled up from inside the enormous Snow Dog. “Really. I told you to stay away from him.” Reaching over, he grabbed around Happy tightly and pulled him up into the air.

“Buck, wait!” I called out, throwing my rainbow rug to the floor. “You pushed him onto me when you came in!”

“I… what?” The explanation seemed to snap Buck out of his anger. Now, on his face, was the expression of profound confusion. Funny enough, it matched the one on Happy now. Dropping the mule to the floor, Buck stammered and tried to get his thoughts in order. “I didn’t realize… I’m sorry.” Looking down at Happy, he quickly moved to help him back onto his hooves.

“Wait, you’re a guy?” He spat as he got up.

“Does it make a difference?” Buck asked, crossing his massive forepaws and giving Happy a judgemental look. “What were you even doing in here?”

“He came to apologize.” I spoke up in Happy’s defence. It was odd to do, seeing as how he’d treated me before. But if doing this now made the rest of the trip easier, than I was something I needed to do. Turning my gaze to happy, I gave him a short nod. “Yes, I’m a stallion. Always have been, just… I look a bit like a mare is all.”

“Eh, it’s cool, daddy-o.” In an instant, the ‘other’ Happy was back. “I ain’t got a problem with it. Just that this guy?” He pointed to himself proudly. “He only digs the chicks. Got it?”

“Sure.” Buck rolled his eyes and sat down on his bed. “I only ask that you go do that anywhere but here.

With a wink, Happy pushed his hoof across his pompadour lightly. “I hear ya, big guy.” Turning to me, he shot me a sly look. “Good talk. See ya round, Bombay.” Opening the door, he paused halfway through it. Looking back to me, he still wore the mask of his ‘other’ self, but I could see the real him in his eyes. “Remember, don’t push mama. Just lay low if ya have to and everything will jive eventually.”

Nodding to him, he gave a waggle of his eyebrows and shut the door. I don’t really know what made him act that way, but the shift in his personality was jarring. Still, his advice about Mrs. Delilah was probably the best I’d get, and I needed to listen. I’d been so caught up in what I should be doing to fit in, that I hadn’t considered simply observing first.

Having the knowledge that Delilah wouldn’t stand for being pushed around was actually a bit comforting to know. No is still a word in my vocabulary, and if anypony got angry I didn’t do something they wanted me to, they could take it up with her.

I was wrong in how I’d been going about things, and oddly thanks to Happy, I had just one more piece of the puzzle in place now.

Chapter 8 - Perspective

Anything you do can get you killed, including nothing.

For everything that had changed for me in the last week of my life, not all of it was bad. Sure, my home exploded, dad was gone, and my entire way of life had been dissolved with the clouds. But sitting on the back of the Hauler as we trundled along the old highway heading into the mountains, I couldn’t deny one thing.

This place was breathtaking.

The rays of light that pierced the wild clouds that lazily wandered between the mountains made their snow capped peaks glisten and sparkle like enormous, dark crystals. The lush, green forests that climbed along their sides shifted in the errant winds that rushed through the deep valleys, the wind itself bringing a thick fragrance of foliage with them. Even the largest of the peaks off to our side, though masked in thick, thundering storm clouds, seemed oddly at peace all the way out here in the frozen north. It was all so serene that really it didn’t feel genuine or real.

“You know,” Violet spoke up as she hobbled up next to me. She favored her still healing and splinted leg, but I was glad to see that it wasn’t giving her as hard a time as it was yesterday. “Living above the clouds, I never knew how much I loved the sun.”

“Yeah.” I nodded, remembering the warm summer picnic I had with Mom and Dad last year for my birthday. I should have worn something out to it, as I came back home with a fairly painful sunburn. Which actually reminded me... with everything going on, my birthday was coming up in a couple of weeks. Not that it really matters now anyway...

“Then I came down here.” Violet smirked as she carefully took a seat next to me. Putting her chin up on the thin metal railing that was sturdily welded to the back of the hauler, she gave out a longing sigh. “Back in those first days, I never thought I’d see it again.”

“I think it’s overrated.” Hardcase spoke up from the picnic table in the rec area. Setting down the various tools he’d held in his magic, he took a moment to stop working on getting the radio set up out here to pop his head over it and smile at us. “Then again, I don’t know it quite as intimately as you two would.” Pointing out toward the vast, mountainous hills behind us, he smiled even brighter. “And I’ll say this, you can’t beat the view nowadays.”

“While I’m glad to have it back,” Violet eyed over to me with a guilty look. “I didn’t think I’d ever see the day that the Enclave would be completely dissolved.”

“Well, not completely.” Hardcase chimed from his table before he sat down again. Both Violet and I turned to look at him, making him look around the edge of the old radio nervously. “I mean, it was only most of the non-livable cloud cover that was removed. There’s supposedly still quite a few settlements left untouched, and even reports of a whole city to the south west going rogue and pushing itself out over the ocean to maintain the Enclave.”

“Why did it even happen?” I asked. “I still haven’t gotten a real answer about it, only bits and pieces from you all about some mare taking over the SPP tower in the Neighvarro airbase.”

“Well, only bits and pieces have made it this far over the radio. Doubt anypony will ever have the whole story...” Hardcase said as he adjusted himself and got back to work on the radio. “But supposedly some stable mare came out of an unopened stable and started a series of events that destabilized basically the whole east coast.”

One mare? Out of a Stable that lasted this long? The Enclave had always maintained that the Stable-Tec projects on the ground had failed, so I guess I didn’t think much about it. Then again, I was sitting on top of one of Stable-Tec’s still working enormous machines right now.

Giving a grunt as he worked, Hardcase continued. “She overthrew an entire army, reunified the east coast Steel Rangers, and then killed ‘the goddess’ with a damn megaspell.” Setting aside whoever ‘the goddess’ was, now I was beginning to think that this had to be some elaborate story invented by somepony. No pony could do anything like that. “And if that weren’t enough,” He chuckled, “After the Enclave came down, she killed some Colonel and got a dragon to help break into Enclave military headquarters and poof all the clouds away.”

Now I positively knew he had to be kidding.

“From what I heard, after what Colonel Autumn did to the wastes over there after High Council Pony Harbinger was killed,” Violet snorted, “than I’m almost happy she killed him. He was a horrible commander.” The amount of disdain she held for the Enclave was clear in her voice, but that wasn’t what sent a chill down my spine.

“Council pony Harbinger?” I asked, immediately pulling Violet’s attention to me. “My mom used to work on a Thunderhead that he was supposed to visit. She made a big deal about being nervous about running exercises with the Council looking over her shoulder all day.” Resting my own chin on the railing, I grasped tightly at her dog tags with my fetlock. Holding the necklace, I let out a sigh as I watched the clouds above float on by. “Well, that was the week she died, anyway...”

An uncomfortable silence took over between the three of us. Only the sound of Lucky’s four wheel vehicle following on the road behind us, Bertha’s humming reactor, and the wind filled the air. The breeze that flowed through the valley around us whistled through the trees, making them sway as if they were dancing. Even as I felt the mom shaped hole in my heart hurt more than ever, I let a small smile break across my muzzle at the calming sight before me.

A warm wing wrapped itself around me, pulling taught and scooting Violet closer to me. Without even saying a thing, I found her wrap her hooves around me in an unexpected hug. In her eyes, I could see that she felt as somber as I was. Thing is, I couldn’t really figure out why.

“I’m so sorry, Night.” She whispered, slipping her hooves around my side and holding me in a way that reminded me of mom’s hugs.

“What? I don’t understand.” I said, turning toward her and returning the gesture. “Why are you sorry?”

“We’re both sorry.” Hardcase set down his tools and got up, confusing me even more. I felt like there was something I was missing here that I should be seeing. With the look that I normally saw on ponies who learned of my Flat Feathers, he took a deep breath before speaking up again. “Council Pony Harbinger was killed by the mare the radio talks about. The Lightbringer. The radio mentioned that megaspell that she used to kill the goddess killed him as well and destroyed an entire Enclave Thunderhead. Only a few survivors made it away unharmed. That’s all we’ve been told.” I went stiff, and the blood in my veins ran cold. “I’m… I’m sorry you had to find out like this.”

“I…” my words died in my throat, and all I could once again ask, was why? “It’s…” I wanted to react like I know I should to the news. To flail and cry and scream until my voice gave out. But I just… couldn’t bring myself to do anything at all. Maybe it was because I had already known that she was gone. Still, it didn’t really hit me like the news should have. “Thank you.” The words forced their way past my lips as I simply sat there in Violet’s hold.

“Thank us?” Violet sniffled and pushed herself away. “We just told you your mom died, and that’s how you react?”

“I already knew she was gone. The Enclave told me that much.” I said, looking at Violet’s kind, wavering eyes. “But at least now I know how she died.” Leaning forward, I hugged my hooves tightly around Violet this time, returning the warm embrace she’d shared with me. “And that’s worth my thanks.”

The next few minutes were again spent by all of us in silence. While the sheer beauty of this place was something positive I had gained, the reminders of what I once had would haunt me forever. This time, while the quiet was less awkward to sit in, it didn’t help me feel any less conflicted inside. The sorrow and regret in my heart over the loss of my mother clashed with the anger, fury, and hatred churning in my mind. While Hardcase and Violet had helped to give me some well deserved answers, they had also pointed a hoof to the one who murdered my mother.

“I’ll kill her.” I whispered softly under my breath.

“What was that?” Violet spoke up softly as well, letting me go.

“If I ever see her. This ‘lightbringer’,” I had no idea if I’d even make it down south as part of Delilah’s crew, but at some point in my life, I was going to find this mare, and make her pay for what she took. “I’ll kill her.”

“You’re being shortsighted.” Buck’s voice came from the door to our container. “There is nothing to be gained in vengeance. It serves no one in the end. To kill anyone over the loss of another only incites more violence and perpetuates a cycle of killing.”

“If she killed your mother, you’d just let it go?” I snorted and pulled myself to my hooves. Really, I’d known Buck for all of two days and already the fact that sometimes he acted like he knew best was starting to claw at my nerves. I was beginning to see why Violet got so pissy with him yesterday.

“No, I’m not saying that. Just that I wouldn’t kill her.” Buck closed his eyes and nodded proudly. “I would seek justice through lawful means.”

“Hah.” Violet chimed in. “Again, that might be how things worked on the Inuvik, but it’s not how the wasteland works, Doc.”

“Say what you want,” He shrugged and stepped out from our container, “But I will never harm another being unless it is absolutely necessary.”

“So, you’re not going to help us if we get into a fight?” Hardcase said, flicking the end of his screwdriver at Buck judgmentally. “Not going to be doing yourself any favors with the crew if you’re only patching them up from wounds you could have helped prevent.”

“I believe in my physician's oath and apply it to more than just medicine.” It was hard to tell if Buck was speaking from what he thought, or if he was legitimately just trying to sound like a pompous ass that was better than anypony else. Holding a paw out to us, he spread his claws menacingly. “I’m a pacifist who is gifted with the ability to both harm and heal. I will not fight unless it is dire that I do.” Grimacing at his own claws, he quickly put his paw down, hiding it behind his back. “It’s a responsibility that my claws require me to uphold every day.”

“I can respect that. Trust me, I can.” Violet nodded as she got up. “But there will come a day sooner than later where you might just regret hesitating, Doc.” Looking up at him, she met his steely gaze with one of her own. “I just hope for our sake that it’s not before we finish this trip.”

With a nod that either showed him to be understanding or politely dismissive, Buck turned and rummaged through the small kitchen for a few moments. Finding a bottle of dirty looking water, he used his claw to nip off the top and drank down the contents rather quickly. Then, without another word, he turned and retreated back into our container, shutting the door behind him again.

Turning back to the railing, I hung my forehooves over it and looked out into the crisp, blue sky again. Like it had been since we left the Empirica, the small fluffy cloud that concealed Hispano and her Father still trailed lazily behind us.

I couldn’t help but frown as I looked up at it. The thought about what I’d said earlier still sat firmly etched in stone in my head. I did want revenge. But now, looking up at Hispano’s cloud, I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe my opinion was a bit skewed. Hispano, Violet, and the others, they all knew that to survive down here, you needed to kill. Buck’s viewpoint was a bit strict, but deep down, I knew he was right. I shouldn’t want to kill.

Should I feel guilty for killing those yaks, or the stallion I hired Hispano to kill on the Empirica? No, they wanted me dead. It was different with this ‘lightbringer’ mare though, and as much as I wanted her to die for what she did, Buck’s words had put a crack in the stone that thought was chiseled in.

Looking over and watching as Violet also took her place against the railing again, I didn’t really think any of that mattered at the moment. The mare from the radio was all the way across the wastes from here, and we were alone in the mountains. I should simply be glad for the moment that I had ponies around here who accepted me and didn’t want to murder me with silverware.

Violet’s ears perked up, and after a moment, I did the same. An odd whine came over the hills from ahead of the direction we traveled in. And oddly enough, it was getting louder. Hardcase dropped his screwdriver onto the floor as he pushed himself up and ran into his room. Both Violet and I got to our hooves as the whine changed pitch, oscillating a bit before a very familiar feature of it met my ears faster than I’d expected it to.

A few hundred feet overhead, the bulbous, buglike shape of a first generation Vertibuck passed through the open skies. It’s twin propeller blade engines were nearly horizontal in their flight mode configuration, pulling it through the sky at high speed. The shrill sound of it’s engines bounced through the valley around us in a disorienting fashion, and it took me a good few seconds for my brain to process it.

“That’s a Vertibuck.” I spoke up, stating the obvious in my stunning laps of brainpower at the moment. “It could be the Enclave!”

“Cool your jets there, kiddo.” Violet spoke up sharply, slapping her wing out against my chest to stop my brain from doing something stupid. “Close your wings and sit down.”

“But my wings…” I said, looking back to find them open and ready to take me to the skies. Really, I guess I actually had been about to do something stupid. Sitting down and folding my wings tightly to myself, I really had to find a way to keep myself in check.

“See the blue and yellow tail stripes?” Violet said, pointing her hoof toward the Vertibuck as it quickly sped off away from us. Honestly, I couldn’t quite make out anything as it sped away, but I guess I just had to trust her. “It's a Cerberus Vertibuck.”

“Cerberus?” I knew I still had a lot to learn down here, but I didn’t think anypony else had access to vertibucks at all! Then again, there I go thinking that all the while forgetting that I’d just seen a few in Fort Mac’s hanger this morning.

“It’s an independent government that sprung up out of the old Las Pegasus and Applewood ruins a few years back.” Hardcase answered my question from on top of the containers. He’d probably gone for the gun turret up there, but seeing as whoever there were had little interest in us, I think he assumed we were safe. “They tried to move in on Delilah's town and offer their 'protection'. They also offered to provide farming gear in return for a percentage yield of crops.”

“I thought that Mrs. Delilah said that nothing could grow?” I wasn’t quite sure what to think about some ground based government anymore, seeing as the Enclave was obviously full of lies and the last ground government ended up creating the wasteland in the first place.

“It can't.” Violet sighed and laid her head on the railing with a thunk. “It's why Delilah's been so keen to make this trip. With their help, she might be able to save her town. Which has been my home for a few years now, so I’m right there with her on that.” Looking over to me while keeping her head against the bar, she offered a sincere glance. “It's your home too now, you know.”

“You know, it’s odd though.” Hardcase said, walking over to us and leaning against the railing as he watched the Vertibuck pull up and disappear over the top of a far off valley ridge. “I've hardly heard of Cerberus reaching out this far north. Outside of some trading, Vanhoover is even out of their range, normally.”

“Well, you said that big thing at Fort Mac flew out because they wanted to reach out to the new government that was forming on the eastern coast of the wastes.” With a shrug, I too rested my head against the railing. “Maybe that's what Cerberus is doing. Reaching out?”

“Yeah, maybe.” Violet said as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Times are changing down here on the ground, fast. I just hope that as fast as they are changing, things don't fall apart again. I’ve kind of gotten used to this feeling over the last few weeks.”

“Oh?” Hardcase added, sitting down next to us. “What feeling is that?”

“Funny enough?” Violet smiled with her eyes still closed. “Hope.” Her words drew a short laugh from Hardcase, which in turn made her give a giggle as well.

Leaning back, hanging off my hooves as I hooked them around the cold metal railing, I couldn’t say I felt the same. Still, if they were certain that this was a good thing, than all I could do was trust them on this and assume that things would turn out for the best.

The radio in front of Hardcase crackled to life. With a gasp, he flicked at a few switches and hoofed at the connected receiver.

“Hello, hello?” He spoke into the mouthpiece, twisting and tweaking with things on the radio itself. “This is Bertha calling Bessy. Do you read?”

After a few moments of static, a more than annoyed voice came over the speaker. “Yeah, yeah. Congrats on getting the radio working, Hardcase.” Delilah didn’t sound nearly as angry as she was earlier, even if she still sounded fairly annoyed. “We’re coming up on Cannon City soon enough here. Tell Violet that she’s got the go ahead to instruct Lucky to divert with the Runner and hang back there with Bombay.”

“She can hear you, ma’am.” Hardcase nodded over to Violet, who gave back her own nod. “She’ll be ready to head out in five.”

“Good.” Delilah spoke with a note of hesitation to her voice. “Make sure that they know that they have one hour to practice out there. Then it’s back on the road to catch up with the convoy.” Hardcase looked at me with a roll of his eyes. “And that Violet better not take her eyes off of Bombay. I don’t want any more trouble the rest of this goddess damn trip.” Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ma’am.

What was I thinking? I deserved every bit of that accusation.

“Oh, and Bombay?” Her voice came in with an extra bit of static this time. I looked up to Hardcase, who quickly depressed the talk button on the receiver.

“He’s listening, Ma’am.” Hardcase said, staring at me warily.

“Remember what I said.” Lowering her tone, I felt a very distinct shiver run up my spine. “Don’t screw this up.”

Nodding to the air, I didn’t care that she didn’t know I was nodding at all. I didn’t want to screw up things before, but more than ever, I didn’t want to do it again. I needed their help, at least in getting back to Four Peaks. If I was dumped there, at least I might be able to find my way back up to Fort Mac.

Violet’s hoof firmly pat me on the shoulder. “Come on, let’s get you geared up.” She offered me a small but genuine smile as she helped me get back to my hooves. “I’ve got a good idea of what we’re going to work on today.”

If the chafing of the grenadier saddle’s straps hadn’t been bad enough before, it was even worse when all my gear had been hooked up on it. Even though I knew it was nowhere near that much gear overall, I felt like I weighed another fifty pounds heavier. To make things all the more annoying, the small four wheeled vehicle that Lucky drove, or 'the Runner’ as it was referred to, didn’t ride as smoothly across the degraded old highways as Bertha had.

Sitting up on the front bench seat with Lucky was awkward to say the least. Not only was I afraid to distract Lucky from his duties as driver…

“Fucking piece of…” He muttered as he angrily used his foreleg to hammer at the long metal rod sticking out of the floor that helped him drive. A grinding that sounded like hooves on chalkboard emit from the vehicle before it shuttered and picked up speed.

Yeah, I felt it was best that I didn’t even speak at all up here.

“Doing okay there, Lucky?” Violet said as she dipped her head in from the roof over his window. “If you want, I could always get out and push.”

“Zoomer, I swear to the gods above…” He growled, eyeing her for a moment before putting his forehoof and prosthetic back onto the steering wheel. “Can you please just keep an eye out for the exit we are supposed to take?”

“Yeah, yeah.” Violet rolled her eyes. “It’s coming up on your left in a quarter mile. Should put us right on Mane street.” Without waiting for a response, she pulled her head back out of his window. A few heavy hoofsteps on the roof above made me look up and track them over to my own side window. Again, she popped her head down through the window on my side. “So, once we get there, I was thinking that before we move onto shooting, we should deal with how you’ll be taking off.”

I simply sat and stared at her, blinking a few times not quite processing what she was insinuating. I mean, she knows I can’t really fly that well. Unless she’s got some way to get me into the air quickly…

My brain screamed to a halt, putting everything together every piece of that particular puzzle nice and neat. I turned to look out the back window at the old flight camp relic bolted onto the back of this vehicle and pouted.

“No no, I…” I stammered, looking back at her. “I can’t use the Dizitron!” I spat out and pressed my wings hard against my sides reflexively. Shaking my head at her, I was only met with an all too sadistic grin. “When they made me use it during military day back at school, I spent the next twenty four hours throwing up and barely being able to stand!”

“Hey!” Lucky snapped from the other side of the Runner. “You will not throw up inside here. Do you understand?” He glared at me before going back to looking at the road. “I do not want three thousand miles of sick stench to be clogging my nose when I’m driving.”

“Calm down, Lucky.” Violet waved her hoof in dismissal. “Bombay here will be fine.” Looking back over at me, I still hadn’t stopped shaking my head no. There were just no words I could use to express the misery that I’d been through with this thing before. “Sickness happens to everypony the first few times when you’re young, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. After a few runs, you’ll get used to the feeling and it won’t even seem like a big deal.”

For some reason, I didn’t believe her. Remembering how she shot out of it during the yak fight, and how violently the machine seemed to move back then, I had my doubts that anypony could ever get used to doing that at all.

Cringing as the whole vehicle tilted, I watched as we turned off the main highway and rolled up a quarter mile long, lightly inclined road. A few rusting hulks lay scattered along one side, all facing towards us as if to warn us that we were going the wrong way. It was about then that a sinking feeling set into every fiber of me being. From the way that both Violet and Lucky seemed to tense up as well, I was fairly sure that for once, it wasn’t just my unfamiliarity with the ground putting me on edge.

“I’m going to get up there and do a few aerial passes.” Violet called across the cab to Lucky.

“Alright.” He nodded, slowing us down. Reaching out, he grabbed onto the center stick again and yanked it. This time, it didn’t grind as much, and I could feel as we started to decelerate much faster. “We will take it slow.” Looking past me, Lucky didn’t exactly look happy about this. “If anything looks out of place…”

“I’ll come running right back.” Violet nodded before pushing herself back up onto the roof. With a hard thump, she jumped into the air and took off in front of us. I watched as she gracefully arced her way higher into the air, her wide wings carrying her almost effortlessly into the sky. Lucky followed my example, leaning closer to the steering wheel as he watched her leave as well.

“I thought you’d already made this trip before.” I was slow to speak the words, but to be honest, it was mostly to avoid any unnecessary silence. This place was starting to give me a creepy vibe, and we hadn’t even made it into town yet. “Why do I get the feeling you don’t know what’s ahead?”

“Yes, we have been up this stretch of highway.” Lucky nodded, slowing us a bit further as we reached the top of the long road. “There was no reason to stop here though. I doubt anypony outside of a few brave souls from the Fort have been here in decades.”

Four tall metal posts stood twisted and sad looking at the four corners of the roadway intersection. Black and charred, they must have melted from when the end hit. Rusting wires, and a few light boxes like the ones I’d once seen in the streets of Neighvarro City sat just as decrepit as the poles, half buried over with old branches and refuse from the old world. With a steady hoof, Lucky guided us past the first pair of poles, and turned us down the perpendicular road that lead into town. Only then did he allow us to come to a complete stop, at which he shut off the engine for us to just sit there.

“Gods…” The words felt like they just dropped out of his muzzle, and for good reason. With the thick vegetation alongside the road, and the fact that the highway was in between two large hills, it was easy to understand how we’d missed what sat before us. A blackened, half burned sign still stood just up the road to our right, still barely declaring ‘Welcome to Cannon City!’ to those heading toward the town behind it. Or, more accurately, only part of the town.

A small, time worn maintenance garage for spark powered vehicles sat just past the sign, parked right next to the vine covered ruins of an old world shopping mart. Across the street sat what looked like an old firehouse, as well as a three story business building just next to it. Several crumbled and burned out business buildings sat lining the street the further down you went. Well, until you reached a couple of buildings that stood half as big as they once were.

They weren’t half their height, but rather were still standing as if somepony cut them from top to bottom down the middle with a large knife. The sparkling, oddly fluorescent green waters that filled in most of the nearly half mile wide crater past the half-buildings, shimmered in the midday’s light. The lake was almost perfectly round, even up to the concave cliff face that sat carved into the side of the mountain’s base we sat on. The charred and twisted trunks of old trees that sat immediately around the crater quickly tapered off to reveal less and less charred trees, leaving most of the surrounding wilderness completely untouched.

“What… what happened here?” I asked more for the sake of just saying something about the sight before me.

“Same as everywhere else, probably.” Lucky said with a sigh, relaxing a bit and taking his hooves off the steering wheel. “The end of the world.” Still, like him, I found my attention glued to both the horrificness and serenity of the scene before us.

Four velvety blue hooves slammed down on the hood of the Runner with a bang, making both Lucky and I jump in our seats.

“It’s clear.” Violet called as she leaned down and looked through the windshield with a bright smile. “What? You two are so pale that you look like you’ve seen a ghost or something.” Looking over to Lucky with a chuckle, she cocked her eyebrow at him. “And trust me, it’s hard to tell with you, Lucky.”

“Zoomer...” He grumbled before leaning against his door and nearly throwing it open. “I am going to look around. You have forty five minutes to practice.” Hopping out of the Runner, Lucky stormed off with heavy hoofsteps on the cracked and dusty old road.

“Oh, come on!” Violet called out to him. “Hey, if you’re going scaving, see if you can find me something good!” Both of us stared and watched as Lucky simply yelled something back over his shoulder in what must have been Zebra-speak, because it didn’t sound like any sort of word I’ve ever heard before. “Eh, he’ll find us something good. Always seems to come back with something good from the old world whenever he’s scavenging.”

Staring ahead, I watched as Lucky headed for the old maintenance garage. It was… odd to me to think that he was just going to walk in there and start taking things. I understand that these were the ruins of the old world, and that no pony had been here in quite some time, but still. Was it not better to let the dead and their belongings lie undisturbed?

“Is… this really how the whole world is now?” I spoke, again, letting my eyes wander over the ruins of the city.

“Yes. No.” Violet sighed as she hopped off the hood and quickly hoofed open my door. “It’s complicated.” She shrugged, holding her hoof out to me. Taking it, I hopped out of the cab, and onto the gritty old road. The air here was cool, but not cold, even though we were still this far north and at a high elevation. Really, it was quite nice compared to the chilly winds I’d had to endure so far, even if I didn’t quite know why it was like this here.

As I stood there in the road, Violet didn’t even allow me a single moment before she started to tug and rearrange my saddle. With a few clicks and nudges, the few wires that interconnected across my saddle were secured around my hooves and to both the heavy submachine gun hanging off my right, and the three bright yellow grenades sitting in my saddle to the left.

“Alright,” Violet spoke up, moving to right in front of me, “open up and say ‘ahh’...” She said while fiddling with the saddle’s bit that still hung on it’s mounting at my chest. With a squeak, she swung it up and maneuvered it right against my muzzle. Opening my mouth, she quickly fit it in and used her forehooves for me to clamp right around it.

Not going to lie, it tasted absolutely horrible. It was like licking the dust off of a piece of silverware you weren’t allowed to take out of your muzzle, all while tasting like burned metal. Still, at least it didn’t feel sharp or that uncomfortable. More out of place than anything, really.

“How’s that fit?” She asked, taking a step back and canting her head.

“Tachlechet” I tried to speak through the bit, fumbling my words all over the damn thing. Okay, that’s something I don’t like at all. Pushing on it with my tongue, I found it was like wrestling with a pen for the first time, and I was quickly finding myself on the losing side once again...

“No no, don’t spit it out. Not yet at least.” She uttered, waving her hoof. “Just, at least first use your tongue to make sure the mechanisms work.” She raised her wing out to my left. “The left bit will activate the drop rig. Try it now.”

Fumbling around the bit with my tongue, I cringed as I licked what felt like half a fire’s worth of ashes off of the thing before i found the curved trigger on it. Pulling it, I felt the wire on my left side pull taught until with a crisp snap, one of the yellow dummy grenades dropped out of it’s rigging.

“Good.” Lowering her wing, she put up the other one. “The right trigger bit will fire your Bison submachine gun.” Turning her wing, she pointed it toward the odd looking black firearm. “It’s fully auto and has a fifty round helical magazine. I realize those are just words to you right now, but it just means you’ll be able to fire in bursts for quite a while before you reload. Of which, you only get one other magazine to swap to by the way. This means that you need to fire in short, controlled bursts.”

Wiggling my tongue around to the other side of the bit, I found another trigger waiting for me. This one however, felt a little bit different, having two compressible prongs rather than the single one on the other side. Depressing the outer one first, the wire on my right tightened and with a snap as crisp as the grenades, the submachine gun shuddered.

“That first trigger closed the bolt. Something you’ll need to do every time a fight starts, or after you kick the reload lever on your right rear leg.” Violet nodded, pointing along the wire that ran to the lever on my right hind leg. “Okay, try the second trigger now.”

Pulling on the first trigger until I felt it press into the other one, I noticed that there was more resistance to it. It was so stiff and hard to pull back, that I was almost afraid I wouldn’t be able to do this at all, let alone in combat. But then something gave, and the gun gave off a very loud clack.

“Good. Trigger mechanism seems good.” She nodded with a smirk. “Seems a bit tight, doesn’t it?” Looking at me, her smirk formed into a smile when I nodded. “Don’t worry. When the adrenalin starts flowing in a fight, that break weight will feel lighter than a feather.” I seriously doubted that, but then again, part of me hoped that would be true. The last thing I wanted to do was to be useless when I could have done something to help. “Alright, you can spit your bit.”

Pushing it out of my muzzle, I basically gasped and lolled my tongue out. “Goddesses that tastes horrible.” I whined, sitting down to fight the urge to lick my own foreleg to get the taste out of my muzzle. “Isn’t there any other way you could set this up to work?”

“It may feel uncomfortable, but you’ll get used to it.” Violet shrugged. “I don’t even know how else we could set it up…” Pausing in thought, she ran her forehoof under her muzzle. “You know, I could always see if Boiler could hook up some sort of forehoof release for the grenades, given the way you fly...” Looking back at me, again she shrugged. “But the gun’s still only going to be useable with the bit.”

“I don’t know…” I sighed, looking down at the forged bit hanging in front of my muzzle. “Do I really need the machine gun?”

“Submachinegun. And well, it’s better to be safe than sorry.” Violet reached out and ruffled at my mane with her hoof. My green and yellow locks fluffed and fell into my vision for a moment before she nudged them away with a giggle. “Three grenades is more than enough to end a fight anyway.” Stepping up beside me, she reached down with her wing and scooped up the training grenade that I’d dislodged. With a grunt, she used her wing to shove it back into it’s mount and hook up the release line again. “Besides, if you get lucky, one grenade will be all it’ll take to end the fight before it begins.”

“What!?” I nearly jumped back from her. A different kind of shiver ran down my spine this time, accompanied by a peculiar painful sensation in my legs. “You want me to start fights by using the grenades?” Flashing in my mind were the memories of the fight with the Yaks. I really didn’t want to repeat that disaster again, even if we won.

“Yeah, what’s wrong with that?” Violet seemed confused by my question.

“Shouldn’t we try something more relaxed, like, I don’t know,” I spat out quicker than I probably should have. “We could try talking or negotiating with them.” I really needed to learn to think before I spoke more often.

“Hey, I know that what Buck said might have wormed it’s way into your head, but we are not bloodthirsty.” Violet snapped back at me. She seemed to puff up when she was angry, holding her wings out at half length and prodded me sharply with her foreleg. “When I suggest you use the grenades first in a fight, I’m only saying that with the context that there is no avoiding the fight in the first place.”

She sighed and facehooved like Delilah had this morning. “Look, grenades may be a bit much for your average fight, but there are no rules in the wasteland. Raiders, tribals, robots, they aren't going to hold back. Back in basic when I joined the Air Corps, they taught me that during the war, a soldier's chances of living in a firefight halved every six seconds the fight actively carried on.” Putting both her forehooves firmly on my shoulders, she stared directly at me, making sure I was paying attention. “There are no trenches for us, no defensive lines here in the wastes. This isn’t the old world, and every six seconds you fight is six seconds too long because we don’t get reinforcements or support, Bombay. So if it's going to come to it, you hit them hard first. Understand this; excessiveness is decisiveness, because it doesn't have to be a fight when you can end it with one action.”

“I understand.” I nodded vigorously. “I just… I was afraid that what happened last time…”

“Bombay,” Violet said, patting me on the shoulders with a snirk. “That was a cannon shell.” Pointing at the grenades on my side. “These are far less potent, so you shouldn’t have a problem with shrapnel so long as you keep your speed up. Understand?” I think finally, I did. “Good. Now, on to why we’re here.” Pointing her hoof toward the back of the Runner, I almost didn’t want to turn to look. “I know you aren’t fond of the idea, but trust me, in time this will be like second nature to you.”

Looking back, I gave in. I keep bouncing back and forth in my head between being too scared to do anything, and just bucking up and getting it done. There wasn’t any avoiding this today, so I was just going to have to buck up this time.

Stepping around the back of the four wheeled runner, I looked up at the large motorized wheel that still barely bore the faded colors of the shadowbolts of old. The enormous cogged harness around the side was just about the rustiest thing I’d ever seen so far in the wasteland, and I felt like it was giving me tetanus just looking at it. Other than that, I wasn’t sure the enclave would have ever let something in this condition even be touched before heavy maintenance. All the ones I’d seen, and the one I’d been forced to use, had basically been factory new!

“Go ahead and hop in while I get her powered up.” Violet gave me a tap on the shoulder with her hoof before turning and trotting back around to the driver's side of the cab. “Don’t worry, I’ll start it out on it’s lowest setting. Once you feel comfortable, then we can try something faster.”

Giving a dry gulp, I opened my wings and flapped hard. The thicker air down near the ground here helped a little when it came to flying, but without the wind like on the open tundra, even the four hop to get into the Runner’s rear bed felt like a struggle. Looking up at the harness, I held my wings out again and jumped this time. The extra force of the jump did help a little, but as soon as I’d hooked my forehooves over the edge of the harness, I pulled my wings against me again. If I was just about to be thrown a few hundred feet into the air, I’d really like my wings to not be too tired to glide me to the ground. Slipping myself into the arched harness, I couldn’t help but pray for a moment to the goddesses for this to be over as quickly and painlessly as possible. With a snap and a whine, the motor on the back of the disk buzzed to life, and the spring loaded harness clamped around me.

“Okay, so, she’s on power setting one.” Violet called back out of the cab. As she did, the Dizzitron gave a shudder before the harness cog began to slowly rotate with me on it. The main wheel itself also began to move, and the whole world turned itself upside down. “Now, I just hope that Lucky remembered to calibrate the release timer to face the sky, rather than the ground…”

“What!?” I cried out, instantly regretting everything about this whole afternoon. Unfortunately, the whine in the motor picked up before I could get my hooves to pull me from the harness, and I was pulled slightly to the outside of the spooling gyro.

“I’m joking!” Violet yelled out to me. “Now hold on!”

Faster and faster I spun. The thicker air down here may have helped a little with my wings before, but as I whipped around and around, the air battered against me like a storm. I forced my eyes shut as the world became nothing but a spinning mass of colors, and the whine was all that I could hear. With a metallic clank, the harness around me slipped away, and the whining of the Dizzitron drifted away, replaced with the whistling of the wind around me.

I was still spinning, I knew that much. I fought against centrifugal force, trying my best to keep as curled up as I could be for the time being. Thankfully though, I could tell I was reaching the maximum height of my ark. My spin slowed, and I opened my eyes to correct myself.

Same as it had been the first time I’d ever used a Dizzitron, while I had stopped physically spinning, the world hadn’t. My vision still wobbled and turned as I stretched out and fought back the memories of trying to find the cloudlayer again. This time however, thankfully, I wasn’t a younger colt and I didn’t need to quickly land. Stretching out my wings stiffly, I felt as the air under them caught, and I pulled into a glide. Adjusting my forelegs, I let them hang in front of me like I always did, letting them help to correct my balance. However, something was still wrong, and I was still tilting to the side.

“Hey!” With quick flutters, I heard as Violet joined me up in the air. After a moment, she pulled herself up along side me, matching my odd, listing glideslope. “Remember to correct for the weight of your gear. It’s throwing you off course.”

Shit, right. “Okay!” I nodded and adjusted the pitch angle of my right wing. I couldn’t help but smile as both the world finally stopped spinning, and I pulled onto a level course.

“See, that wasn’t so bad?” Violet couldn’t hide her smile as she spoke, rolling slightly and giving me a soft nudge. “Not nearly as disorienting as you remember, is it?”

“No.” I shook my head, matching her smile. Rolling to the right again, I turned us over toward the large green lake in town. The whole thing glinted and shimmered under the midday sunlight. I could feel the warm thermals that came off of it’s near mirrored surface, and they felt amazing. “Still just as terrifying though.”

“Eh,” Violet shrugged as she kept pace with me. “You’ll get used to it.” Goddesses I’d hoped so. Still, she was right. It wasn’t so bad. “Now, turn back toward the runner and come in for a landing.” Pulling up, she rolled over and flew along with me while she was inverted. “I’ll go and make sure it’s reset for another spool up.”

“Alright.” I nodded, fully knowing that I wasn’t actually afraid to try it again. I couldn’t help but feel proud of myself for actually bucking up and doing this. I mean, Mom and Dad would be…

Mom and Dad weren’t here anymore.

With a sigh, I rolled myself again, banking back toward Mane street. As I did, a small white cloud caught my eye just over the trees on the far side of the lake. It wasn’t the same cloud I’d seen following Bertha before, but it was just as out of place. Smaller in size as well, I had the odd inkling that Hispano was still stalking me.

Quickly descending, I was happy to find that with the combination of the drag from my gear, as well as more of an understanding of the thicker air here, I could flare and dip to keep my speed low enough to land. In just another few moments, I touched down at a respectable cantering speed and slowed myself down to a trot.

“Not bad for a first time. Well, second, technically.” She smiled genuinely and ran her hoof through her striped mane in a very suave manor. “Still not as good as my first time, but decent.”

That actually kicked a question into my head. “What was your time in the service like?” I was curious. Mom always told me that it was the most rewarding job she’d ever had, even if it was hectic and frustrating at times. Still, the way that Violet grimaced at the question let me know that it probably wasn’t the most comfortable of topics for her. With a sigh, she looked back out over to the crater lake.

“I…” She paused, hesitating before looking back at me. “It’s… it’s not that I don’t want to talk about it.” Offering something between a nervous smile and a dismissive look, she turned herself back toward the Runner’s cab as she spoke. “If you really want to know, we can chit chat about it while I show you the ropes on shooting your firearm.”

“That’s fine.” I nodded, trotting back towards the Dizzitron. Even though I didn’t understand most of the things here on the ground, I knew how to read when a pony was uncomfortable. I’d seen it in the mirror more than enough times to know what it looked like. Still, maybe when she’s showing me how to shoot, instead, I could tell her about some things Mom had once told me about the Enclave. Maybe that would help her open up.

Flapping hard again, I pulled myself back onto the bed of the Runner. Standing there for a moment, I heard as Violet gave off a sigh that I’m sure was because of me. I wanted to speak up, but stopped myself. Before I had a chance to say something stupid and ruin her day, I needed to focus on what we came here to do. Climbing up into the harness again, I wiggled myself back against the harness cog.

“Alright, I’m ready!” I called out to her. With another unceremonious jolt and whine, the Dizzitron once again began to spin.

“Night?” Violet called out as I started to spin. I closed my eyes early this time in an attempt to mitigate some of the dizzying aftereffects once I was airborne. “You seemed to handle the low powered setting fairly well, so I’ve stepped up the speed for you this time. I’m going to push your limits to see how well you can handle it.”

Almost as soon as she’d said that, the motor behind me gave out a grinding whine. I found myself pulled the to side even harder than before, and I could feel myself already having to fight against the centrifugal force pulling me outward. Even my eyelids were having a hard time staying shut as the storm like winds felt more and more solid the faster I spun.

As the world became more and more of a blur to me, I felt like my head became heavier. The color in the world bled out, and I felt like at any moment I was just going to pass out from the strain of just trying to brace for the moment of release.

As unceremoniously as it had begun, the harness that held me slipped off with a muffled clack, and I began to tumble up into the air. This time, it was useless to try to hold my legs or wings in. In what must have looked the world's most awkward airborne cartwheel, I was helpless to move. In fact, for a moment, everything went dark. The world felt like a clipshow made of melting wax and muffled sounds.

“Night!” Violet’s voice sounded so far away and muffled. So hard to pay attention to. It was hard, but I focused as best I could on it. “Flare, flare!”

Feeling a burst of panic, my brain forced me to move even before I’d realized what I’d needed to do. My wings shot out at my sides, biting into the air as I forced my eyes open. Quickly correcting for the off balanced weight of my harness, I shoved my forelegs out for stability. With the wind whipping at my mane and muzzle, I skimmed just feet above the bright green lake.

To my surprise, I was moving quite fast still, and the forested edge of the lake was approaching fast. Had my wings been those of a normal pegasi, I could probably pull up fast enough to climb up above the trees. However, being how I was with my stupid wings, I couldn’t. Thinking fast, I rolled to the side and turned as hard as I could. As I changed course, I slowed marginally, but still not fast enough to realize I’d made a mistake in turning this way.

With a shrill eep, I slammed right into the small cloud I’d spotted before. The soft fluff of it offered some resistance, but this was not a cloud built very solidly. Instead, I punched right into it, and slammed right into the very surprised griffin sitting inside of it’s hollowed out center.

The two of us tumbled through the air and down onto the muddy bank of the lake. Thank Celestia for thick mud that practically acted like a cushion. Sure, we rolled and in moments were absolutely covered in mud, but we both flopped to a stop without very much pain.

“Ow…” Hispano whined from beside me. “Why’d you have to do that, Dum Dum?”

“Sorry.” I whined before I sat up in the mud.

“Night…” Violet called out as she swooped down low. I looked up at her in time to see the look of panic sweep across her face. “Night, get away from that thing right now!”

“I’m not a thing.” Hispano seethed as she pushed herself up out of the mud. “I have a name, thank you.”

“Violet, it’s okay. I know her.” I said as I pulled myself to my hooves. The cold mud sloughed down on me as I did, dripping like a thick glue. Looking over at the green water, part of me wanted to just jump in and wash off, but the other half of me cringed at just what was even in the water to turn it green in the first place…

“What?” Violet grunted in annoyance. “What do you mean you know her?”

“She’s the one I mentioned having met on the Empirica?” I said, eyeing over at Hispano. Looking at her, I could almost see the steam drying her muddied head feathers from the anger she held in her eyes. “She told me I should embrace being a mare, though I’m puzzled as to why she’s out here.” It was probably best that I feigned knowing anything else about her for the moment, as it would both keep Violet from second guessing anything, and Hispano from thinking I told the others about Her following us.

“I was… scouting out something for a scaving job.” Hispano offered in a guttural tone, turning and looking up at Violet with her angry eyes. “A ruin, right through those trees.” Without looking, Hispano raised her talon and pointed into the brush. Following it, I traced further back into the brush to find that indeed, there was some sort of overgrown concrete structure sitting a ways into the forest. “Thanks to you, you might have just blown any sort of advantage in case it’s occupied.”

“Oh, um… I see.” Violet looked up to the sky nervously and chuckled. “Well, I’m sorry for all this then. We didn’t mean to intrude.”

“It’s fine.” Hispano grumbled, slogging across the thick mud toward the water. With a painful sounding flop, she tripped and landed face first in the shallow water. For a moment, she just lay there, bubbles popping up from the side of her head. “Ugh.” She said as she pushed herself free again. “I just want to get clean and get out of here. That’s all.” Trodding a bit further, she waded into the green lake and dipped down into it. Well, if she’d sure it’s healthy enough, I might as well do the same.

Stamping through the muck, I made my way into the water as well. It was murkier than I’d thought, not even changing consistency in it’s color as I dipped down into it. Giving myself a vigorous shake while under the surface. The ‘water’ was odd as I did, feeling more abrasive than water should. Still, that actually proved to be a good thing. Surfacing and walking back to shore, I found the mud on me was actually completely gone, and I felt cleaner than I think I’d ever felt in my life.

“Wow, is this yours?” Violet’s voice carried over from where Hispano and I were coming out of the lake. Both of us looked over to see that Violet was rooting around the now half a cloud that was still floating at the treeline. She emerged fully again with Hispano’s overly large gun held in her hooves. “How do you even use something this big?”

“Put. Her. Down.” Hispano growled as her wings snapped out fully. I only had a moment to act, and I did the stupidest thing I could. I wrapped my hoof around Hispano’s side and pulled her back down into the mud. “Arg. WHY!?” Hispano roared and flailed at me. I tried to hold her down, but somehow I ended up on the bottom and she used her position to roll me onto my back and pin me down into the mud. “Stay out of this, Night.” She seethed, sending my mind reeling back to yesterday’s encounter with Salt.

“Hey, hey.” Violet called over. “I put it down, just… step back.” Her voice was calm, collected. She was treading carefully, and I think it gave Hispano some pause.

“You.” Hispano pointed up at Violet. “Don’t touch my stuff.” Looking down at me, she wore an annoyed frown across her beak. “Now, unless you need me to save your flank again, how about we just go our separate ways?” I nodded, offering a nervous smile. Rolling her eyes, her beak twisted into a smile. “See, I like you. You at least make things easy.” Stepping off of me, she walked back over to the water again.

Sitting back up, I gave out a sigh as I looked back at the me shaped depression in the muck. Most of my backside was coated again, so I’d have to get back in the water as well.

“Well, if she’s busy scouting for a job, we might as well skip shooting today.” Violet sighed and hovered herself in the air above me. “Eh, we’ll get to it soon enough.”

Like she’d been pushed up forcefully, Hispano nearly shot out of the water. “Is Dum Dum learning to shoot?” She looked over between Violet and I with a smile. “I’d love to help out, actually! Any excuse to get some practice in, seeing as I hardly get to use Suiza as is.” Wading her way back out of the water, she flared her wings and quickly zipped up toward her cloud. By the time I was back on my hooves, she’d grabbed her gun in her talons and flown back to us.

“It's easy. You just need to practice.” She was nearly beaming in giddiness as she propped it against herself and racked the charging bolt. Pointing her talon back toward the forest, she landed back at the edge of the water on her hind legs. “See that big mossy rock over there? The one next to the main overgrown structure?” Looking, I did see a sort of large boulder sitting in front of the ruins.

“Uhm…” Violet chimed in. “I thought you were just scouting. What if somepony is in there?”

“Ignore her, Night.” She huffed as she shouldered the massive weapon in her talons. “Besides, if anypony IS still over there, what are they going to do from inside? Shout at us?” With a chuckle, she angled her head to look down the sights. “We’ll just fly away if they come at us. Easy peasy.”

Taking a moment to steady the huge cannon in her talons, she tensed up around it before she pulled the trigger. With a tremendous crack, the shot zipped out into the forest. It struck the rock with a spark and a flash, before zipping up with a fizzing noise into the open blue skies. The metallic clang of the impact resonated between the echoing reports drifting across the hillside, and a look of confusion crawled across Hispano's face.

“That's a weird sound.” She craned her neck and scrunched at the same time, seeming genuinely appalled at it. “That sounded like a ricochet from hitting metal.”

The low growl of an archanotech engine resounded through the calm forest air, and the rock itself started to move, slowly rotating. As it did, the moss on top of it slid off, revealing the semi-rusted and battered shape of a very large tank turret. No, that wasn't moss, it was old world camo netting! The near pyramid metal turret was massive, and could have been very easily identified as such had the camouflage not been on it. However, we had not gotten so lucky.

All three of us were so caught off guard, that we couldn’t help and stare. The large bore cylinder that swung around toward us didn’t look like a cannon in the traditional sense. It was heavily rusted, and seemed to be slightly bent at a downward angle. At the end of it, instead of a gaping hole like a cannon had, instead it had a opaque crystalline lense with an aperture stuck at the back of it, making it almost look like the front of an old world camera.

“Night?” Violet spoke as she floated down and quickly tapped on my shoulder. Looking up, she looked absolutely terrified. “We should…”

A blinding flash of light filled the air all around us, and just like that, the world disappeared completely.

Chapter 9 - Turnabout

No matter which way you have to march, its always uphill.

As I stared up into the bright, open, ambering skies above me, I’d wondered just how I’d come to be here.

The glinting snow on the rough mountain peaks shimmered in the failing daylight. The mountains themselves stood like imposing monuments that wore fragile white caps on them. The cold breeze that swung down from them through the lush pine trees chilled my exposed skin, as well as made the tall grass I laid in dance like the feathers of a great, living beast. Still, the warmth embrace of what little light there was left as the sun began to set behind the south western mountains. Even with the darkness of night soon to hit, the sight made the most serene feeling flowing through my body. Still one thing felt off, and it was repeating itself in my head over and over, keeping me from completely feeling one hundred percent relaxed.

How the hell did I get here?

In one of the most perverse feelings of Deja Vu ever, I sat up slowly and looked around to just where the hell I was waking up at. The bright, green lake in the center of where Cannon City used to stand had turned to a dark forest green without the bright afternoon sunlight shining down onto it. The muddy shoreline sat only a few hoofsteps away from me through the reeds and tall grass the lined the small lake. In looking around, I’d caught the glimpse of something only a few hoofsteps away to my side. Laying on her side facing away from me, was the resting form of Violet.

Pulling myself to my hooves, I straightened out my still chafing battle saddle and walked over to her. She looked to just be curled up and asleep, which was odd, because I couldn’t really be certain of why she would be sleeping right now. Or even why I had been asleep for that matter. The last thing I could remember, was that it had been mid afternoon when we were practicing with the Dizzitron, and…

“I must have passed out mid flight…” I muttered to myself, thinking about the second launch attempt. I remember everything going black and white, and her calling out for me, but… past that, there’s nothing. Without an answer, I reached out to her in hopes that she would know anything more than I happened to. Putting my hoof on her, I shook her softly.

“Ugh.” Violet moaned as I shook her. “It’s too early to wake up…” Rolling over toward me, she winced at a large gash that I’d just noticed sat above her right eye. “I’ve got just the worst splitting headache.” The gash looked like it was recent, and had bruised up quite a lot. And while it wasn’t currently bleeding, it had bled down over half her face. “Fuck… what time is it?”

I forced myself to close my eyes out of the fear I’d get sick. I’d never thought normally that I’d be the least bit squeamish, but… seeing her like that reminded me of how Rogue looked after the cave entrance had come down on him. Really, I never wanted to picture that moment in my head ever again.

“Sunset…?” I spoke slowly, turning away from the grizzly wound. Looking back over toward the darkening amber skies over the mountains, they transitioned the skies about to a deeper darker color. They dimmed as I watched, not fast, but slowly enough that I knew that we were heading for the velvety blue of night. “Are you alright?”

“Shit.” Violet grumbled. “Delilah is going to kill me.” Shuffling to get up, she walked up through the grass to my side. Thankfully, she’d chosen to put me on her good side as she rubbed at her neck. Now that she did it, mine felt oddly matted down as well. “What the hell were we doing?”

“I... can’t remember?” I said slowly. So, if I couldn’t remember, and she couldn’t… something weird must have gone down.

“I can.” The squawky, heavily accented voice of somepony came from above. Looking up into the nearest tree, I saw the outline of a large griffon sitting among the branches, staring at us with a single, sharp yellow eye visible to us. She looked a lot bigger than either Hispano or her Dad had been, and from her sheer bulk, a whole lot meaner. In her midnight blue talons, she held a very large, very mean looking gun with a drum magazine near the back. “You two kindly fell asleep down here so I could come and escort you back to Mr. Solomon.” I couldn’t quite place the accent, but it sounded just like some of the pegasi who’d visit from the cloud city around the ruins of where Stalliongrad used to be.

“Galina.” Violet gave a low growl as she spun around. “Still Solomon’s lapdog?”

“Do you two know each other?” I asked as I nervously stepped closer to Violet’s side. I guess I wasn’t the only one who knew a griffon who worked for Solomon…

“Dah.” Galina shrugged. “Better than being Delilah’s bitch.” She grunted, flaring her impressively wide wings and dropping out of the tree. Even for a griffon, her wings were massive compared to anything I’d ever seen on another pegasus. Then again, everything about her was huge. Hell, when she hit the ground, I could feel the tremors of it under my hooves.

Even for the split second when she was on all fours, she basically towered over Violet and I. Her snow white rear coat was covered in oddly spaced midnight blue spots, and the crimson plumage that hung down covering one of her unfriendly eyes was streaked with darker red accents that almost pointed right to her blue, eagle-like beak. If that weren’t enough, she was like Hispano’s father and covered in numerous scars. However, the ones that scoured wildly across Galina’s body ran in deep, parallel sets across her torso and neck. If I had to guess, they probably ran all over under the solid grey heavy combat armor she wore as well. All I could think in looking at the marks, was that must be what it looked like when someone like Buck got into a fight...

“How did you find us?” Like trying to stand tall against what might as well have been a mountain, Violet did her best to look imposing. Though, I’d think that mountains could hardly be impressed by anything that wasn’t as steadfast or as large as them.

“How you say…” She smirked, clicking her sharply hooked beak together a few times as she pointed her large gun at us. “A little bird told me.” With a snarl, she used her gun to point back toward the ruins of Cannon City. “Solomon has eyes on at all times.” Pointing her talons up to her piercing yellow eye, she squinted at us. “You should know, we always have advantage.” Shaking her gun again a bit more aggressively than before, she grunted brutishly. “Now, move back toward city. Slowly.”

The both of us sighed and turned around as asked. When I did, I accidentally bumped against Violet’s side. Stepping aside, I looked down and back to make sure I didn’t accidentally hurt her still braced and healing rear leg.

“Sorry.” I muttered, only to find my head grabbed between both her forehooves. She used them to shove my head downward and comb through my mane as if it contained the secrets of the wasteland.

“You’re missing a patch of your mane…” She said, pulling my head around before shoving it down again. This time, it was far enough that my muzzle was forced into a patch of old, dead grass. “Did you always have that scar there?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I mumbled out from around the grass stalks. “Can I have my head back?”

“Dah. Give the mare her tiny head so I don’t have to shoot either of you for wasting time.” Galina grunted, sounding like mom did whenever I asked her to buy my something that I didn’t really need. Wow, wasn’t she just a barrel of fun. If the two tank stallions and this griffon were any indication of the rest of Solomon’s party, I could do with never meeting them. Ever.

And hey, my head isn’t that tiny!

Looking back to retort, I stopped myself when I noticed that the big gun in her talons was still frighteningly pointed at me. Deciding that discretion was the better choice of actions, I shut my muzzle tightly, turned around, and began to walk again.

We were escorted around the edge of the lake back towards the ruins of the city. I couldn’t exactly be sure, but the closer we got, the more I’d wondered if Violet shared my concern for just might have happened to Lucky. Had he been waiting here for the whole afternoon? Why hadn’t he come and found us? My mind lined up a relatively solid theory for that. Maybe was he captured first by Solomon, and our lack of memories had to do something with Solomon overall?

The flickering lights of a fire danced across all the dark facets of the ruined town ahead of us, ushering away the long shadows formed by the setting sun. The firelight came from up around the corner of the half-building at the lakes edge of the ruins, along with the thick scent of burning wood. It was not at all an unpleasant aroma, unlike the forge fire in Fort Mac, but it was still something that felt like it assaulted my senses with its sheer thickness. Rolling my tongue around in my shut muzzle, I could almost taste the gritty tasting fire ash collecting on it.

Trotting closer to Violet as we rounded the backside to one of the ruined buildings at this end of the crater lake, we moved into a cramped, trash filled alleyway. Kicking through the two century old refuse that had sat abandoned in the tight space for two centuries, the edge of a large bonfire came into sight from ahead. It’s wild, shifting flames licked up at the darkening skies, throwing off bright embers that matched the fiery wild clouds that drifted slowly the far off mountain peaks. Even from just gaining line of sight to it, the intense heat that the blaze gave off felt good compared to the relatively cool of the evening air.

“Hey, Landslide.” Galina called out with a shrill squawk, “We’re coming into camp.”

“About damn time.” The annoyed grunt of a gruff sounding mare mirrored the frustrated tone of Galina. We were greeted by the voice again as we headed around the corner. “Woah there, what the hell did you do to them?” The voice hadn’t come from a mare at all, rather, a quite tall female Minotaur with an all black coat. While Galina had been large, she didn’t have glistening mounds of muscles like this minotaur did. My attention was broken when she belted out a heavy laugh as soon as she caught sight of Violet.

“I did nothing.” Galina huffed as she pushed up behind me. I found the barrel of her gun jammed uncomfortably hard against my neck and maneline. “They were found this way, yes. Now I must take them to Solomon.”

“Laugh it up, Jess.” Violet grumbled as she prodded at the minotaur’s overly toned, muscular waistline. Faster than I could have thought, the Minotaur’s massive arm swung downward. I recoiled further into the gun against me as Violet’s forehoof was grabbed, and she was yanked a few feet into the air.

“I will laugh all I want.” With a sadistic smile that seemed out of place on her large, square muzzle, she raised Violet up to eye level before continuing. “Because for you, there’s no level of abuse against you that I won’t enjoy.”

“But… babe… why?“ Violet pouted with a snideness that I knew would only get a pony deeper into any trouble they were in. “I love you, Jess.”

I was confused as to just what the hell was going on, but when hadn’t that been the case so far? But it didn’t really matter, seeing as this ‘Jess’ reach and grabbed onto Violet’s still bound and healing rear leg. Violet’s fake pouting turned into real pain as the enormous fingers wrapped around her squeezed at the braced leg. She whimpered as the sound of fabric tightening forced the thought into my head that the next sound I would hear from her leg was another snap.

“Yeah, feels good, right? Almost like what I felt like when you left, traitor.” Jess muttered and leaned close. “Don’t you ever mock me again. Scratch that, you don’t ever speak to me again. Got that?” With a snort strong enough that it fluttered even my mane from the ground below her, Violet whimpered and nodded. “Good.”

With what seemed like an effortless action on her part, Jess casually tossed Violet to the side. I watched Violet collapse onto the ground, whining and holding her leg which I hoped wasn’t actually broken again. With another sharp snort, she brought her stern and judgemental gaze down to me, waiting for me to act or say something. I kept my muzzle shut tightly and leaned away from her as much as I could. As she stepped back toward the building she’d been leaning against before we arrived, I felt like I could finally breath a small sigh of relief. Looking over to Violet however, I found her burning glare locked onto Jess before she winced and held her leg tightly.

“Would you two idiots stop breaking my concentration?” The high pitched and nasally voice that filled the air was just about hooves on chalkboard irritating. It forced my ears down flat against my head, and was coming from the open face second floor of the building of what had once been this town’s fire station. “Cora said that there were a bunch of loony tribals running around in these woods, and I can’t get these turrets set up with your constant pointless yammering.”

“Hah. Tiny Floof needs quiet? I do not think she knows what loud is.” Galina spoke up sternly. It was a great feeling to have the barrel of her gun removed from the back of my head. It was another, not so great feeling when she shot it up into the air however. I didn’t even have time to jump on my hooves before my hearing had turned into a dull ringing whine. Thankfully, it the ringing bled off quickly, and the obnoxious smell of cordite hanging in the air sank into my nose. One annoyance traded for another I supposed.

“You stupid featherbrain!” The shrill voice beat out the dimming ringing in my ears, and I looked up to see a small, fluffy head pop out from the floor above. I’d only seen a picture of a sheep in my textbook before, but this new person looked close enough that I guessed that’s what she had to be. The small, white woolen head sported a flipped up welder’s mask that barely contained the fluffy and oil spotted wool coat it sat on top of, and her vibrant orange eyes burned like rings of forged iron pulled fresh from the furnace. “You think being reckless is funny!? You could have killed me with that shot!”

Galina simply gave out a throaty, squawking laugh that echoed among the dark ruined town around us. Jess the Minotaur on the other hoof, simply sighed and dragged her enormous hand down across her face in exasperated annoyance.

“Quit your laughing you incompetent moron!” The small sheep growled and pulled her head back over the edge. “Don’t make me come down there and…”

“And what?” Galina interrupted her with another laugh, “fluff me to death?”

The furious sheep disappeared from view before the grinding of a few metal bits from the building above turned into a soft, constant sputtering. From over the edge, the sheep’s head came back over, holding something long and thin in her muzzle. As she bit down on whatever control bit the object had, the small puttering motor that sat just past the side of her muzzle revved up. With a whine almost as shrill as the sheep’s voice, the motor spun the wicked chain of blades strung around the weapons to a speed where only a line of glittering silver metal greeted us. My legs almost gave out at the sight of the motorized chain blade, and even Galina went silent at the obnoxiously uncomfortable noise it made.

There was a small flash from the room above that caught my eye. It must have caught the sheep’s as well, because she backed off the bit of the weapon, letting the small sputtering engine drag the chain to a complete stop. She disappeared from sight again, and the sound of the engine died altogether.

“If I may interrupt but a moment, Miss Lamia.” Another voice cropped up, but this time it was of a stallion’s in tone and demeanor. “Mr. Solomon is very grateful for the excellent work you have been provided.” The way he spoke wasn’t as loose as the others, feeling more structured and proper. To me, it sounded a lot like the high society jerks who came from canterlot in all the old movies I’d seen back in Neighvarro city. “If it would be acceptable, I will take the prisoners from your work area to meet him as requested.”

“Yeah yeah, take them.” The small sheep replied quickly. “How about those two useless lugs? Going to take them as well before they call down those tribals on us, or am I going to have to give them a shearing they’ll remember?”

“Well, with no prisoners around, I see no reason for them to stay.” The proper sounding stallion said before clearing his throat. “Though, I supposed if they do stay, Mr. Solomon wouldn’t be against having to spread the shares amongst one less breathing party member.”

“Calm down, was only joke. Besides, we have been here for hour already.” Galina grumbled, shifting herself around behind me. I found myself fumbling with my hoofing as I was forcefully shoved out of the way by the enormous griffon. Raising her gun in the air, she shouted out into the evening air. “Besides, there are no tribals!”

I, along with all of the others, fell into a long and silent pause. Even Violet and I craned our ears to listen for any response from the wilds. I don’t know why, but I felt like Irony really missed a chance to strike her down for showing such hubris. Sadly. That would have required me to have had any sort of luck in my life these past few days.

“What is all this noise!?” The rage filled voice of yet another stallion echoed out from the open door on the old mechanic shop up the street that Lucky had entered earlier this afternoon. Looking up the street to where the Runner had once say, I had to wonder if he hadn’t driven it into the garage to wait, only to be captured as well. “If that’s you again, Galina, I would be very unhappy you were wasting time instead of patrolling like I hired you for.” Wait, something was off with this. “Rook, if you are done relaxing, I would suggest you escort my guests into the trailer.”

His trailer? Galina had been hired by him? Not going to lie, but the pit in my stomach grew about three sizes with the realization that the voice I’d just heard was Delilah’s rival, Solomon. I already knew we were going to meet him, it had been inevitable. But it’s one thing to know you will, and another to feel like you’re literally about to step into a world of overwhelming unknowns.

With an arcane pop and flash, I found a proper looking unicorn stallion standing right beside me. Other than the slightly worn, but well pressed three piece suit he wore, his off white coat was spotless. His jet black mane and mustache were impeccably trimmed to be both short and sharp. The bored look in his turquoise eyes was just as plain as the simple black bastion shaped cutie mark on his lithe flanks. However, the one thing about him that really stuck out, was the cybernetic limb that replaced his right foreleg at the shoulder. I’d seen some simple prosthetics that the enclave offered their veterans, but this one looked to be solidly built out of numerous brass and copper tubes, but still simply latched together in places with a few linch pins.

The unicorn stallion’s horn glowed softly for a moment before engulfing me in light. With an odd squeezing sensation and a disorienting flash, I found myself standing on the plush orange rug of a quite long, tubular shaped room. After a few moments, another pair of arcane flashes apparated both the unicorn and Violet to my side.

We stood in what was probably the cleanest room I’d ever stood in. Stark white walls with long oval, inset windows shone with an impossible luster under the opulent white lighting strips that seemed almost molded across the arched ceiling. A muted orange shag carpeting ran across the floor and around the various furniture that, like the lighting, felt almost molded right into the walls. A semi-circular seating booth with a plump red leather bench surrounded a marble white table off to our left, and a pair of plush looking chairs sat to our right. Past the two quickly narrowed down to what must have been the front of this… vehicle? A steering wheel and glowing control console sat behind a large, open and spotless windshield that stared out of the dark interior of the repair shop’s garage. On the control console near the steering wheel, was what looked like a set of letters and numbers. I almost missed them as I took everything in, but the orange stylized lettering that spelled out EM-50 was embossed under the various dials and gauges for the vehicle.

“What the hell is this thing?” I found myself asking. Really, I need to get a better handle on speaking my mind out loud…

“This would be Solomon’s private living quarters.” The proper stallion spoke up again, almost sound as if the act of telling us bored him greatly. “You would do best to not make it filthy during your… limited stay.” With another flash, he was gone into thin air, leaving Violet and I alone in this strange place.

“Yeah, well I’m going to get comfortable.” Violet spoke up with a hearty smile to me before trotting across the fuzzy floor. Without hesitation, she trotted into the well stocked kitchenette that wrapped almost all the way around the back side of the trailer, only opening to a doorway the hid a large bed and bedroom beyond. Violet opened up the chromed refrigerator that sat next to the doorway. Even from where I stood in the relative middle of this trailer, I could feel the blast of cool air hit me when she opened it. Looking back at me, she nodded her head inside. “Want a sparkle cola?”

I shrugged and pondered over the wound still open above Violet’s eye. Every part of me wanted to recoil, but my brain was too preoccupied trying to figure out just how she’d gotten it. It had to do with why we can’t remember anything, I could just feel that they were connected. It was… frustrating, because I knew I should remember!

The sharp clicking of a locking mechanism from the side of the trailer next to me was followed by a soft hiss. The sealed door that lead to the carpeted steps trailing down from next to where I stood opened, and before me was who I assumed was Solomon himself.

“Oh, hello there.” Solomon smiled as he stepped up the stairs.

Like the interior of this place, his coat and mane were of a sparkling and flawlessly white luster, though his mane was cut short and rigidly ran from his his head down his neck. The only things that weren’t immaculately bright on him, were the black, crescent shaped marking directly in the center of his broad forehead, and his deep purple eyes. He was just… too clean, too perfect looking for what I’d seen of the wasteland so far. Climbing the stairs with a long stride, he came up to the interior and stood over me imposingly.

He wasn’t more than an extra foot higher than me, but I think I could finally appreciate just how different Saddle Arabians were from us ponies. His long, thin legs were moderately muscled compared to the Saddle Arabian I’d nearly killed the other day in the tank. His muzzle was only slightly longer than that of a pony’s, but held a decidedly more gentle shape to it than the relatively solid and blocky feel a pony stallion’s had.

“Allow me to introduce myself.” He began to say with a relaxed look about himself.

However, Violet had other plans.

“Bombay, meet the douchebag who wants to destroy Delilah’s town.” She spoke with such disdain that it nearly visibly radiated off of her. As she closed the refrigerator, she walked back over to my side and unfurled her closed wing toward me. Held inside of it tightly, was an unopened bottle of Sparkle cola that held beads of condensation along its length. Holding my own wing out, I took it from her and passed the chilled beverage into my forehooves.

“Yes, well,” Solomon grunted before he pointed over to the table booth towards the front of the vehicle. “That’s certainly not what I intend to do. Allow me to explain.” Violet thought it was apt to take him up on the offer for seating, and so without knowing what we’d gotten into, I followed her.

The seating for the booth was extremely plush. Almost to the point that I wondered if there were actually well made clouds under the fabric. Scooting around on it, I managed to make myself comfortable, while Violet took a seat on the other side of the table from me. Placing her cola against the lip of the table with her hoof, she gave it a few taps with her wing until it opened up with a popping fizz. Doing the same, I found that the cap readily came off and scattered across the marble table and over to Violet’s side.

Solomon walked over to one of the plush chairs across from the table. I don’t really know what it was, but the way he walked just exuded authority. Maybe it was the way he held his head high, or the way his long legs had a sort of strength to them. Maybe it was the way he swished his tail around that bold, firm, and round flank…

I eeped as I was kicked from under the table. “Bombay.” Violet grunted with a judgemental glare. I swear I hadn’t meant to oogle at him! I don’t know what’s gotten into me lately.

“So, now that I have you two comfortable,” Solomon spoke up as he climbed up into the chair. I was assuming that the chair had been built for ponies, because even if he wasn’t too much bigger than a pony, he still barely managed to squeeze his flank into it at all. “I was hoping we could be civil with our discussion.”

“What’s this about?” I asked before bringing my cold sparkle cola up to my muzzle. Taking in a deep sniff, I could practically taste the carroty flavor of the sugary drink just through its aroma. I don’t know why, but something about being cold always made the flavor of Sparkle cola really pop.

“What is this about?” Solomon nearly snorted in surprise. It caught me off guard, and from the way he was giggling, I feared that I’d missed some context. “You signed onto Delilah’s side without knowing what you were even fighting for? I’m not quite sure if that’s the boldest decision I’ve ever seen made, or the most daft.”

“Well, I didn't really think there would be any fighting…” I muttered softly. Seriously. If I’d had known two days ago what I do now? I don’t think I’d ever have even left the Inuvik.

“No fighting?” Solomon laughed again, however, this time it felt a bit more forced than a second ago. “How delightfully naive.” Looking me over, he eyed at my wings and cupped his chin delicately with his forehoof. “Let me guess, you are one of those who only recently came to the wasteland from the clouds.” I nodded, which only drew a smile across his muzzle. “How wonderful.”

“Can we skip past all this bullshit, please?” Violet spoke up before taking a quick draw off of her cola. “Why are we here?”

“Such hastyness, Miss Violet. While it certainly fits most cloud herders, it doesn’t suit you.” Solomon shook his head and looked over at her. “It has been quite a while since we’ve had a chat as friends. Do you ever miss it as much as I do?”

“Sure. But what I don’t miss, is how you still seem to think that you’re entitled to things that don’t exist. How you’re inclined to kill without reserve to take what you want.” Violet grumbled before chugging down the rest of her soda. With her soda having disappeared down her throat, she quickly sat up straight. She screwed up her face for a moment before releasing a loud belch right toward Solomon. “You've been to Brahman Beach. You know she's not sitting on a shipload of goods to sell. If she were, we wouldn't even be up here in the first place. Stop bothering Delilah and just go home.”

“Oh, I'm not so sure that's quite true.” He let out a heavily forced laugh as he shifted uneasily in his chair. Leaning forward, he narrowed his eyes and pointed out the front windshield. “I know that Delilah is hiding the ARK’s location from me, and I will find it out one way or another. I promise you that.”

“That’s what this is about?” I spoke up, suddenly finding all eyes on me. Shrinking back into my seat, I offered a nervous smile. “Continue?”

Violet laughed before Solomon could speak up. “You know why she’s up here.” Violet pressed against me to allow her to angrily jab her forehoof toward Solomon. “She’s trying to save her home. My home. Why can’t you just leave us be?”

“Yes yes, water from ‘special ice’ and all that.” Solomon grunted. “How many times must we recite these lies?” Rolling his eyes, he looked away from Violet and over to me. “How about your friend here? Has she bought into Delilah’s stories as well?” Something about the way he asked unnerved me. I don’t know if it was the direct tone he’d taken, or just how he was smirking at me, but I was beginning to regret ever oogleing his flank. Why did I have to even be brought into all this?

I sat there for a moment staring at him oddly before I realized that he was waiting for me to answer the question.

“I… uhm…” I stammered, not liking this one bit. “She told me that the boat was stolen before the war. Why would she…”

“Disappointing.” Solomon spoke over me and sat back in his chair. With a sigh and an uncaring wave of his forehoof, he turned his gaze away from me. “I was really hoping to finally bring an end to all this running about.”

“Well, no pony’s making you follow us.” Violet grumbled and rolled her eyes, crossing her forehooves as she adjusted herself in her seat. “Feel free to go home at any time.”

A sharp knock on the door to outside pulled all our attentions. From the stairwell, the proper looking unicorn from before walked up the stairs and looked over to us.

“I apologize for the interruption, sir. But it appears that Miss Galina has escorted an envoy of the local tribe to you.” He spoke boredly, his expression hardly changing from a mix of ‘I’m still waking up’ tired, and ‘oh goddesses, this day will never end’ apathy. “He requests an audience with you to discuss the terms of our eviction.”

“One moment, Rook.” Solomon offered with a sincere softness that took me by surprise for as bold as he’d been so far. Turning to us he offered a courteous nod as he propped his forehoof against his chest. “I’m sorry, but you simply must excuse me. Business before pleasure, I always say!”

Climbing out of his chair, he quickly looked his immaculate form over. With a few pats along himself, and a quick run through of his forehoof through his mane, he gave a sigh of relief and walked to the stairs. He straightened himself up, and formed a wide, kind smile across his muzzle that felt entirely forced to me. Stepping down, he followed the proper stallion outside.

Both Violet and I looked at each other for a moment before clambering out of our seat. The two of us moved over toward the other side of the vehicle, basically standing on the plush chairs just to look out the window behind them.

Galina hovered in the air with her gun resting over her shoulder. She was looking over three odd looking ponies as they walked across the old, empty maintenance garage floor. With the failing light outside making it hard to see, both Violet and I had to rely on the flickering firelight from the bonfire to make out what was going on.

“Deer.” Violet whispered to me.

“What?” I whispered back, leaning closer to her. I wasn’t sure why we were whispering, but I figured that I should get used to just following what she does.

“Those three down there are deer. From a primitive village by the looks of it.” She said, using her hoof to point at them. Looking through the glass at them, I could kind of see just how non-pony like they looked. Sure, they stood about pony height and on four legs, but that’s where the similarities ended. They all had tannish white coats, with a black stripe running down their spine and up their short, bristling tails that jutted out from their flanks. Most obviously different, were the racks of white horns they had growing out of their heads. The deer in the center had all sorts of bits and bobs hanging like decorations from the multiple branching tips.

“As prince Salal, son of Lord Rubus, I demand that you leave.” The deer in the middle spoke up at a near yell. The way he stood up as he spoke mirrored the way that Solomon did, and the angry look he carried made me wonder if that’s what Solomon looked like as well. “You walk upon the hallowed place of my people’s ancestors.” As he spoke, the two other deer next to him swung the makeshift spears they held in their muzzles to point at Solomon. “We do not forgive transgressions such as these so lightly, so consider you and your party lucky.”

“Now now, I do not have any weapons trained on you, and I had no idea my crew and I were trespassing. We only sought shelter here for the night.” Solomon’s speech was calmer and more level headed than he’d been with us. It felt… wrong. “Now, why don't your guards lower their weapons, so we can talk about this as civil beings should?”

“Guards.” The prince spoke, looking at those who came with him. “Lower your weapons, but do not let them relieve you of them.” The two next to him did as his asked, spitting out their crudely build spears into their forelegs and holding them upright. Turning back toward Solomon, he offered a small bow. “Is that acceptable for a discussion?”

“Quite.” Solomon smiled to the prince before looking up. “Galina, if you would.”

A pair of roaring blasts emit from Galina’s enormous gun, making both Violet and I nearly jump to the ceiling. Half of one of the guard’s chest exploded down onto the floor, while the other guard turned around just in time to get everything above his jawline eviscerated into a fine red mist. I’m guessing that the prince was frozen in just as much shock as we were at what had just gone down, because past watching his former bodyguards slump to the floor in bloody heaps, he didn’t move an inch. Not even when Galina landed next to him and rammed her gun barrel against the back of his neck.

“You... you said we would be civil!” The prince stammered, shaking either out of fear, or out of rage. Either would have an appropriate place right now, because both were things I was starting to feel.

“Hah.” Solomon laughed as he strutted up to the prince, standing even prouder than before if that was even possible. “A primitive such as yourself could never be civil.” Looking to Galina, he nodded at the prince. “Hold him still.”

“What?” The prince gasped. To his credit, he tried to fight against the sharp talons that grabbed around the base of his neck. “Unhoof me!” He choked out as Galina’s claws pressed inward hard enough that I could see thin lines of blood drip down along his coat. His struggling was admirable, but against a griffon built like Galina, he was only going to tire himself out.

“I'm the civil one here, you would do well to remember that.” Solomon spoke as he sat down just in front of the struggling Prince. Reaching his forehooves up, he wrapped his fetlocks around one of the two horns on the Prince’s head. “As the civil one, I will permit a savage such as yourself to live. However, I will take this antler from you so that you will always be reminded of your place.”

The prince whimpered and struggled as Solomon twisted and pulled at his prized horn. “No, please!” He whined, crying out with each sharp jerk that Solomon gave. “Mercy, I beg of you!”

“If I may, sir.” Rook spoke up calmly from behind Solomon, immediately pulling his attention to the proper stallion. “You might try using a saw. Perhaps the one that Lamia owns.”

“No, no.” Solomon grunted with a wide smile across his muzzle. Each tug he gave was more rough than the last, jerking the prince’s pained face around erratically. “Just need to… apply some… leverage!” He growled before adjusting his hooves on the horns and tugging downward.

Even from twenty feet away and behind the glass of the vehicle, Violet and I winced at the loud snap that filled the air. The prince’s body went ridged and fell to the floor, twitching while his still antlered head and neck sat oddly angled in Solomon’s hooves. Even from here, I could hear the sickening gurgling that the prince gave as his body desperately clung to what little life there was left in it.

“Huh.” Solomon spoke up though light pants. Unceremoniously, he dropped the prince’s still antlered head to the floor and took a step back. “I guess you were right about needing the saw. Those antlers are really stuck in there.”

“Indubitably, sir.” Rook said with as much enthusiasm as he’d held this whole time.

“Galina?” Solomon said as he stood back up and wiped his hooves across the old cement flooring a few times. “Put that thing out of it's misery quietly and then clean up the others.” Pointing to the twitching and gurgling form of the prince, he shooed it away with his hoof. “Make sure all three of the bodies are visible for any onlookers out there. They shall think twice before sending another party out.

“Would be my pleasure.” Galina nodded and slung her gun around herself.

“And Rook, my friend.” Solomon turned to the proper stallion with a soft smile. “Go make sure that Lamia and Jess know what has happened. I want them ready for if the rest of the tribe feels like committing mass suicide, to happily obliged their wishes. Help them with any preparations they might have if they require any.”

“Yes, sir.” Rook gave a formal bow. “As you wish.” With a bright flash, he teleported away.

With Solomon turning and trotting back up towards where Violet and I were, we both scrambled back over to the booth.

“We have to get out of here!” I pleaded with her, still whispering. I really don’t want my neck snapped today…

“Well do you have any fucking ideas!?” She snapped back with her own harsh whisper.

The confident hoofsteps of Solomon fell steadily against the carpeted stairs. With a refreshed look about him, he strode inside as proud as ever, and shared a wide smile with us.

“Sorry you both had to see that dreadful affair.” He sighed, pointing back to the booth beside Violet and I. This time, neither of us were very keen on taking up our seats again.

“You're every bit the monster I remember you being.” Violet snorted and offered nothing short of a glare that would have sent me running were it turned on me.

“Nonsense.” He laughed and dismissed the comment. “I am merely preemptively protecting those I've hired. Those primitives have no business in telling me where I can and cannot be. They're lives mean nothing to me.” Cocking his eyebrow, his smile fell away to reveal a more disdainful expression. “Even your life, the life of Delilah's prized pegasus, are worth more than the lot of them.”

“Why? You're just going to kill us as well, aren't you?” Fucking shut your muzzle, Night! Before you get yourself killed for being stupid!

With a snorting laugh, Solomon nearly doubled over in laughter. “Oh no, my dear girl.” He giggled, falling onto his flank and covering his muzzle as he laughed. “I wouldn't kill you. That’s not how any of this works! There are rules to all of this, my dear.” Composing himself a bit, he gave a few final chortles before sitting up straight. “Maim you however? Only if you make me very very angry.”

“What?” I asked flatly. “Rules? What’s the difference between us and that deer out there!?”

“It’s just like Delilah told you, Bombay.” Violet grumbled. “He can't break the peace first. Neither can we.”

“Your marefriend there is correct. Business is not like war. There are rules to it, to keep it from being one big messy brawl down to the last pony.” With a sigh, Solomon stood up tall again and brushed past me, walking back toward his chair. “Everypony in my crew signed on with the knowledge that we will not fire the first shot. We will not instigate a fight, Miss Bombay.” Sitting back down with a squelch in the chair, he seemed to take a moment to get comfortable before offering an annoyed glance toward me. “That however, as I hear it, does not seem to be above your ideals.”

“I didn’t…” I stammered. “it was an accident!” He had to understand that I didn’t know those two with the tank worked for him!

“It was sabotage.” He offered back sharply, glaring at me and prodding at my chest with his hoof. “Your ‘accident’ will cost me five hundred caps from what you did in Fort Mac. Five hundred caps just to bail out my mercenaries.” With a twitch across his eyebrow, his expression seemed to fall to a more calm one, like somepony had just let all the pressure of the anger he held out of his face. “However, it is something that can be forgiven, for a price…”

“Bombay's loyalty is not for sale, so drop it.” Violet chimed in, stepping both forward and against me. Raising her wing, she clasped it around me. Even through my battle saddle, I could feel her warmth pressing into me. “Now I suggest you let us go.”

Solomon smirked at that, leaning forward towards me. “Everypony has a price.” His eyes peered deep into mine, and I almost found myself lost in the lavender flecks that sparsely lined his deep purple eyes. “What do you want? Caps? Slaves? Power? I can grant you anything you desire. You just have to agree to join me in this endeavor.”

“I said drop…” Violet stomped in furious retaliation. However, she only made it that far before Solomon reared up in his seat and landed a backhoofed strike across her cheek. The hit sent Violet sprawling from my side and down onto the carpeted floor, a thin line of blood dribbling out of her nose.

“Shut your muzzle unless spoken to, lowly cur.” Solomon bellowed out.

Something inside me snapped. Maybe it was the fear of being killed at any moment, or the shock of seeing Violet get struck down like that. For one reason or another, I’d finally had it and decided enough was enough. It was time to make another stupid decision on my part.

“Fuck you.” I grunted. The response must have caught Solomon off guard, because he didn’t budge other than to look at me like a confused foal. I reared up as well, yelling out as I swung my own forehoof up at him. The strike I lashed out with landed squarely under his chiseled, long jawline with a meaty thump. The strike hurt. A lot. I don’t think I’ve ever hit anypony as hard as I’d just swung. However, I knew Solomon was hurting more when the second loud crack of a bone today met my ears.

Solomon’s head snapped upwards, and he went rigid in his seat. As my heart beat out of my chest, my mind was screaming at me to keep going. Just jump on him and strangle out whatever life is in him until he’s a cold corpse. However, the soft moan from Violet ripped my mind away from those thoughts.

“Shit…” Violet moaned as she slowly picked herself up off the floor. She wobbled a bit as she did, and without thinking, I reached out to steady her. It wasn’t until she looked over at Solomon before I think she realized just what had happened. “Did…? I think you knocked him out cold!” She giggled giddily. “Oh, he’s going to flip out about this when he wakes up again.”

Yes. When he wakes up, he’ll be properly angry to at the very least maim us now that you just broke his jaw. Smart move yet again, Night!

“We should go.” I spoke up, looking over to Violet in panic. “Right now.”

I think that as slow as it was to come back to her, reality set in and she realized what she’d said. “Yeah, come on!” She said, roughly pushing past me and heading down the stairs. “Keep your voice down out here.” She waved for me to follow. As I did, she stopped at the doorway and looked around. “We'll backtrack to the lake and take off from there. Hope you’re not too tired to fly, because we're going to wing it straight back to the convoy.”

Nodding, I could only hope that I could even get off the ground wearing my battle saddle. Trotting as silently as we could around the large, tubular vehicle we’d been in, Violet and I made our way to the back door of the garage. Slowly pushing open the door, we both cringed again as it gave a metallic squelch as it opened. Poking her head out and looking around, she looked back to me and nodded before slipping out.

Following her, I noticed that the sun had completely fallen, and the thousands of stars above us twinkled silently in the night sky. A few low clouds lazily drifted about the skies above, and I’m sure Violet was thinking the same thing as me in looking at them. So long as we could get up there and in one piece, we’d be home free. However, even if things didn’t go smoothly, and we had to make it back to the Convoy on hoof through the dark and creepy forest? It was still the preferable option considering what would await me here when Solomon woke up.

“Please, just let this work…” I muttered to myself, following Violet out into the dark shadows behind the ruins of Cannon City. I didn’t do much praying to the goddesses before I came down here, but seeing as we could use all the help we could get? I was really hoping for a miracle here.

A loud shouting came from outside of town toward the highway. What must have been hundreds of bellowing voices filled the night as Both Violet and I ducked down into some nearby bushes. Turns out, they were bramble bushes, but any cover, even painful cover, is still advisable to being found.

We listened as the shouting was drowned out by the rapid reports of gunfire filling the night. Muzzle flashes lit up the old ruins around us like an old world slide projector as Solomon’s defences started to take effect. Violet tapped on my side and helped me out of the bramble. This was our chance, our miracle to get is out of here. As I thanked the goddesses for listening to us as we ran, I still couldn’t help but feel sorry for all those who Solomon would murder tonight.

And I could only hope that after he woke up, he’d show me more mercy for what I’d done to him than he gave to the prince back there...

You know that tired old pegasus joke that goes ‘oh boy, I just flew in from where ever and boy are my wings tired!’? Yeah, I wish it was only a joke right now. Beating my tired wings furiously, I regained a bit of my altitude. Seriously, I was fairly certain that when I managed to get back to the convoy, my wings would probably just fall off from overuse. Still, at least the frigid night air here between the mountains kept most of me numb enough to keep going.

We’d been flying for nearly an hour in silence, though, not by choice. Once we’d gotten a few minutes out from the one sided battle that engulfed Solomon’s camp, we’d attempted to strike up a conversation. Before we could even get into anything, however, Violet spotted a whole flock of those crazy bat things that I’d seen my first day below the clouds.

“Seriously, Bombay. We have to be near the convoy, I promise.” Violet spoke up, though honestly, I could hardly hear her over the pounding of my own heart. Looking over at her, I offered what little of a nod I could without changing my course too much. Even for somepony who was good at flying, she seemed to be feeling the strain of the flight as well. “Here, let’s grab a small breather.” She pointed down toward the old highway.

Spiralling down slowly, the both of us opted to land off the side of the road toward the bushes. The soft ground there offered a less noisy landing than on the cracked pavement, and an easy enough escape if we had to either take flight again, or dive into the plants for cover. Once I hit the ground though, my wobbly legs gave me just enough strength to lower myself into a laying position.

“I want... to die…” I gasped out, letting my wings limply hang at my sides. At the very least, the night air was crisp and cold. Actually, the one thing I was glad for more than anything, was that it wasn’t snowing. Looking up into the dark night sky, the waxing crescent of the moon was just climbing above the distant mountain peaks. A bright dot moved across the sky quickly, and for a moment I focused on it’s oddness. Shooting stars normally left a trail behind them, didn’t they?

“Yeah…” Violet panted lightly as well, raising a forehoof to wipe the sweat from her forehead. “Damn this altitude is killer…”

“Huh?” I asked, barely having the strength to look over at her. Still, I didn’t care what her answer was, really. I was on the ground now, and nothing was going to get me to move again before I was ready.

“Nevermind.” She waved her hoof as she sat down. “You’re used to all the… thin air up here.” As she finished, she let out a long sigh and a groan as she lowered herself to the pavement like I had. “Goddesses that feels good.” Letting her wings lay as well, she softly smiled. “For somepony who was convinced he couldn’t fly very well, you’re certainly going better than expected.”

“Thanks…” I nodded and flopped my face down against the pavement. The smack against the rough surface stung slightly, but the freezing cold of it against my face felt divine. “I’m just glad… we’re away from… there.” Slowly but surely, my racing heart was beginning to slow in my chest. Thank fucking Celestia for that.

“Yeah.” She nodded and lowered her own face to the pavement. “If I never saw Solomon and his crew again, it would still be too soon.”

Solomon. He certainly lived up to being someone nearly as intimidating and straight up ruthless as Delilah made him out to be. Though, the others seemed to be an odd assortment with him. Most of them I could see as probably being nicer folk had they not been working for him. Which, on that note…

“So…” I groaned out as I strained to lift my head. Endurance flying really does a number on all a pony’s joints, doesn’t it? “What’s the history between you and Jess?”

“Landslide, er… Jess and I?” Violet groaned, keeping her face planted as well. “Back when I first got exiled to the wasteland, I tried to reinvent myself. To be as far from who I was above the clouds as possible.” She sighed before shifting her head to the side. Using her hooves, she shoved herself ever so slightly and flopped over on the pavement. “I found myself in this little failing dump of a town named Bridleshade, a place a bit east of Vanhoover. Folks there were nice enough to me, but the only one there who actually seemed like they gave a crap? That was Jess.”

“Jess.” I said, finally in control over my lungs again. “The giant, angry minotaur.”

“One and the same.” She sighed. “Things were nice, we had some fun times. Along with the comforts of having somepony around who didn’t hate me, she helped to me get back on my hooves out here more than anything.”

“So, what happened?” Seriously, though I’m glad she’s not on Solomon’s side, one had to wonder how Jess had come to hate her so much.

“I didn’t like her friends.” She moaned, slowly forcing herself to roll back over. “Back then, I wish I’d have shot Solomon right between the eyes.”

“So, you stopped seeing her because you didn’t want to be friends with Solomon?” Well, at least she’s an impeccable judge of character to have known Solomon was a bad deal from the start. Makes me a little more glad that she believes in me, even though I’ve been nothing but a fuckup.

“Not… exactly.” She spoke slowly. It was an odd enough break in her voice that I forced myself to look over to her, even though my neck objected to being moved at all. I found her offering a nervous smile. “Let’s just say that… I got a job offer shortly after. A job far down south working for a certain Donkey…”

“That explains why she called you a traitor.” I sighed.

All I could really hope is that at some point down the road, I didn’t make an enemy like Jess. The idea of being alone down in the wasteland scared me. And not the type of alone where friends could help, but the sort of feeling that you’re a single soul just watching the world around you move on without you. I don’t know why, but something in how she said that just brought to light a fear I never knew I had. I didn’t want to be alone in my life.

“So then, did you ever find somepony else?” I asked, not sure if I was pushing my luck in drudging up the past.

“I… uhm…” Even in the darkness, I could tell that she was blushing. Sure, it was more due to her stammering, but it still made me smile for the moment. “I did. I have a husband, back in Brahman Beach.” Looking over to me, she gave me a very sincere look. “Sorry… if that’s disappointing to you… or is it not?”

“I’m… only really into stallions. Mare’s just don’t interest me.” I squeaked. It had been my turn to blush now. It felt weird, being so open down here. Well, unless I’d just massively insulted her by insinuating I couldn’t possibly be into her. “Not to say that I totally wouldn’t be into you if I were interested!” Smooth, Night. It was also nice, not having to hide yourself from somepony down here, even if you were going to make a complete fool of yourself being, well, you.

“I’d thought you’d might be that way.” She giggled softly.

“What?” I asked before immediately facehoofing. “Solomon.”

“Mhmm.” Violet nodded. “Plus, Hardcase told me about how you were staring at his ass the the other day.”

With a groan, I flopped onto my side. “I didn’t ask to be attracted to anypony at all, I swear.”

“You’ll find someone who will feel the same down here, Bombay. So long as you keep your eye out for them.” Violet gave a whimper as she stood back up onto her hooves. Even though her wings were still held limp, she stretched out her legs a bit. “You’ll just know it when you feel it in your heart.”

Well, if that wasn’t the cheesiest thing I’d heard in awhile. Still, I could trust her on this. She had vastly greater experience down here than I did, and if she said it would happen, I had to hold out on hope. Right? I just needed to stop thinking about this, right now, before I got myself confused about things that aren’t important right now.

“So, what do you think happened to us?” I started, quickly remembering that a change of subject normally requires some sort of context. “This afternoon, I mean.”

“I think… you passed out because I set the Dizzitron too high.” She gave an apologetic sigh and shook her head. “Then I must have grabbed you and couldn't stop or something. Then, I don’t know, hit a tree or something to cut open my eyelid like this.” Touching the wound above her eye, she winced again.

“But... we were both asleep all afternoon…” I said slowly. Goddesses, the more I thought about this, the more I felt a sharp pain forming in my mind. I was going to give myself quite the headache if I didn’t figure this out soon. “Lucky was just in the ruins. Why didn't Lucky wake us? Why would he leave?”

“We'll have to ask him when we get back. Now come on.” She spoke up, slowly walking herself to the road. “We’re going to walk for a bit, give our wings a bit longer to rest.”

“I think all of me wants a bit longer to rest.” I groaned, trying to get myself ready to get up.

“Yeah, I know.” She said, walking over to me. Without asking, I found her hoof wriggle under the back strap to my battle saddle and yank. Using her help, I managed to get my shaky legs underneath me. “But there will be plenty of time for rest when we get back to the others.” Turning down the road, she started to walk along the soft grass, keeping her hooves off the pavement. Looking back, she tossed her head for me to follow. I wanted to go, really I did. It’s just, when all of you is hurting, it’s hard to find the motivation. “Come on, Bombay, keep up. Unless you want to miss the look on Delilah’s face when I tell her you knocked Solomon the fuck out.”

Well, I guess if there ever was a good enough motivation to move, that’d be it. Setting off after her, I knew that this would be a long and uncomfortable walk…

Chapter 10 - Descendants of the skies

You might forget your past, but your past will never forget you.

Another half hour of walking in relative silence took us to the point where we thought it was worth the gamble to get back into the air again. Our rest stop must have had Violet thinking that Galina might be in pursuit of us, because every minute or so, she’d look back over her shoulder into the deep dark blackness of night behind us. Struggling enough with focusing on keeping myself in the air at all, I tried to ignore her constant worried looks. I mean, if Galina was coming up behind us, I’m pretty sure Violet wouldn’t see her in the dead of night.

However, her worried checking was all for naught, when true to her original estimate, we spotted the soft lights pouring out from under the Hauler’s canvas covered living area. The striped armored lead vehicle and the runner were both parked nearby down the road from where we were, and I finally felt like I could relax a bit. Thank the goddesses as well, because my eyelids felt like brick walls ready to collapse as soon as I so much as thought about getting some sleep. That’s also not mentioning how my sore wings felt like with each forceful beat, would close against me on their own, and drop me just short of sweet, sweet relief. Really, I’d be surprised if I’d be able to lift them at all in the next few days.

Putting ourselves into a shallow dive, we aimed for the heart of home. Again, thanks to the weight of the gear still tightly strapped to me, and the thicker air toward the ground, I was able to control my descent. Violet lifted her forehoof to her muzzle oddly, blowing on it’s edge to create a shrill, whistling noise that echoed across the mountains and valleys around us. Honestly, as I flicked my ears to try to get the ringing they now had out of it, I wished I’d had some sort of warning before hoof. Still, not thirty seconds later as we made our final approach, both Hardcase and Buck peeked out of their respective containers.

Coming down under the lofty canvas covering of the inviting rec area, I misjudged my trajectory and clipped the arm of the old couch with my legs. I tried to brace myself for impact against Buck, but instead found myself quickly grabbed from the air by Buck’s enormous claws. Falling limp in his grasp, I panted softly and looked up in silent gratitude toward him. I was just glad to be back with the Convoy.

“I was so worried about you.” Hardcase sniffled as Violet came down and trotted straight into his embrace. I fought against the exhaustion to turn my head, watching the two hug each other as an odd sense of happiness overwhelmed me at the sight. Not only sadness, but a deep regret filled the back of my mind that I couldn’t quite place. I wasn’t sure why I felt this way, but really, I didn’t care about the why. I was back at the closest thing to home, around those who were the closest thing to family, and above all, I was finally safe.

“What the hell is going on out here?” Delilah’s cranky voice was hoarse and soft. We must have woken her up. Glaring at us without her glasses across her muzzle, I couldn’t be sure if she was doing it out of anger, or just to see us to some degree at all. “You two disappeared this afternoon without informing anypony, and left Lucky wondering just where you’d gone.” Looking between Violet and I, Delilah’s angry eyes hung on me just that single moment longer than Violet every time. “Now you come back in the dead of night. Explain yourselves.”

“I can explain.” Violet started, pulling off of Hardcase and turning around. “Well, at least partly.” Even exhausted, I knew that I couldn’t quite pass out yet.

Delilah simply raised an eyebrow at us. “Go ahead.”

“Well, you see…” Violet looked over to me, nervously shifting her weight from one tired hoof to another. I didn’t envy her at all. Having to explain what we’d been through would have been stressful enough, let alone doing it after we flew however long to even get back. “Bombay and I can’t quite remember this afternoon. At all.” I nodded as she spoke, keeping my own muzzle shut but at least conferring enough to Delilah. Not that I could really say anything to screw Violet’s story up in the first place. How do you screw up a memory you don’t have? “We were unconscious for some reason, but I think Solomon had something to do with it.”

“Solomon.” Delilah sighed and brought her forehoof up to her muzzle. She rubbed between her eyes with another sigh. “What makes you blame him?”

“Well, when Bombay and I woke up, Galina was there to escort us over to him.” Violet sat down and let her tired wings flop to her sides. “She brought us to talk to Solomon.”

“Really? About what?” Hardcase jumped in, immediately freezing up as Delilah shifted her burning glare to him.

“He’s still convinced you know the location of the Ark, Ma’am.” Violet continued. “If I had to guess, he was probably going to hold us hostage until you gave up the location.” Looking back over to me, she smiled softly. “If it weren’t for Bombay, than we wouldn’t have made it out of there.”

“What happened?” Buck this time interjected. As he did, he maneuvered me over the old, squeaky spring couch that Boiler had been using before, and gently set me down on it’s soft padding. Even as cold as the night air was, the comfort it gave was enough to send my mind reeling towards sleep for a moment before I refocused myself. Getting myself into a sitting position, I fidgeted against my sweaty and abrasive battle saddle. I couldn’t wait to get this thing off me and climb into bed.

“An impending tribal attack on his camp left us alone with him.” Looking back to Delilah, Violet sat up straight as she recounted the events. “He tried to bait Bombay into joining his crew, but Bombay wasn’t having it. I spoke up and got struck down for it.” Delilah’s eyes uneasily shifted to me, full of her doubtfulness of Violet’s words. “Bombay seized the opportunity and struck out against the bastard.” Violet snorted as a smile crept across her face. “With a single hit, Solomon went down for the count. Pretty sure the hit broke his jaw as well.”

“What?” Hardcase laughed, “Really?”

“Hah, nice!” The muffled voice of Happy Trails came through the door from inside his cargo container.

“We should change her nickname to jawbreaker!” Boiler’s muffled voice came cheerfully from behind me in her container. Really, it was nice to be praised for something other than blowing up yaks on a fluke, but it was… odd how everypony on this crew listened in through the walls. I’d have to remember that for down the road in the future...

“Settle down, everypony.” Delilah spoke up in sharp annoyance. “While this may seem like a victory, it’s a pyrrhic victory at best.” Looking at us all, she shook her head. When Violet joked about missing Delilah’s face at what we’d done to solomon, I expected something with more… emotion. Well, an emotion other than silent, fuming annoyance that is. “Despite the setbacks I’ve arranged, Solomon is catching up with us.” Setbacks? Again, why did that sound familiar? “If he’s willing to capture us when we’re separated, than nopony leaves the convoy alone anymore. Is that understood?”

All manners of mumbled affirmations came from the containers around us, as well as from Violet and Hardcase. Though, like me, I think Buck wasn’t quite sure what to say to this, so the two of us ended up simply nodding to Delilah.

“Good. With Solomon and his team closer than expected, I want you all up an hour early in the morning.” Delilah called out. Her new timetable elicited groans from everypony in the containers. Looking over to me, she kept her gaze just as sharp as when she’d scolded me. “While not selling out to Solomon merits some sort of reward, you’re still on probation for the crew. Not only that, but this time crunch means we have to make sacrifices.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, feeling another pit in my stomach forming.

“If your story about where you came from is true, tomorrow night we will be nearby where we picked you up, and your town would be only another hour away by air. The plan was for us to camp out overnight and for you to head out the next morning to find what was left of your settlement, where as by the time you were done, we’d have caught up and be nearby enough for you to join us again.” A look of immense guilt took ahold of Delilah, and she took a step back. “I’m sorry, but with Solomon so close, we can no longer afford to await your return if you decide to leave.”

“But… you said that no matter if I chose to join your crew or not, you would still take me there!” I… I couldn’t believe that she would do this to me! I realized that I owed her much more than I could ever repay, but… a promise was a promise. Either from shock of fatigue, my forelegs gave out from under me and plopped me down onto the squeaky couch cushions.

“I’m sorry, Night.” Delilah sighed, turning around and heading back into her container. Looking out, she looked over to Buck. “Doc, I want you to give Zoomer and Bombay a once-over in the morning. But for now, it would be smart if we all got some sleep.” Closing her door behind her, I simply sat in silence.

A nagging thought picked at me as all of us seemed to sit in silence. This was how my world worked now. I tried to do good, tried my best at something, or maybe for a moment felt a little bit of hope. Then the second I did? It evaporated before my very eyes. I hadn’t known what I would find in going back home. But, at the very least, found closure among the ruins. I could have said my peace and started to move on with my new life in the wasteland. Without warning or permission, I found Buck’s large claws wrap around me again and pick me up off the couch.

“I’m sure she’ll reconsider, Night.” Buck said softly as he turned us around. Gently, he carried me back into our container and set me down on my bed. Curling up on it, I reached out with my hoof and grabbed the rainbow rug. “Just get some rest for now, and we’ll deal with talking to Delilah in the morning. Okay?” Reaching over, Buck helped slide the rug over me. Looking at me with guilty eyes of his own, he offered me a small smile. “I’m just glad you came back at all.”

Closing my eyes, I waited for myself to fall asleep. I didn’t care anymore about today. I couldn’t care less about Solomon, or Delilah, or any stupid fucking two century old ship. All I wanted to do was drift off into the emotionless void of sleep.

And either by divine grace, or sheer force of will, I managed to do just that.

Tick. Tick. Tack. Tick. Tick-Tack. Clack. Tick-click.

The odd noises in the room around me roused me from what had felt like only a moment’s rest. I hardly remembered curling up on the bed to sleep, but it felt like only moments ago that I did. Giving a short yawn, I flared my wings out, finding that while a bit sore, they didn’t actually feel all that bad. The rest of me didn’t feel too sore either, and I was oddly not feeling as parched as I would have expected.

Still wrapping my mind around the senses just coming back to me, I splayed myself out underneath the luxuriously warm rainbow rug. My mind fought a losing battle for consciousness against my body, who’s only goal seemed to be in dragging me back into the darkness of rest.

Then an obnoxiously large bump in the road tossed me almost a foot into the air.

My mind snapped awake. I reached out, grabbing onto the side of my bed tightly as I looked frantically about without aim. The lack of gunshots or screaming, and the sound of Bertha’s reactor humming along like it normally did kicked my mind out of it’s panic. Looking over across the container, I found Buck sitting at his terminal typing something up on it. He sat focused intensely on whatever was on the old green and black terminal screen. His claws ticked and clacked against the terminal keys at a good pace. Though I had no right to know, part of me was wondering just what he was typing up so diligently.

“Good morning.” He said with a sigh, looking over to me slowly. His ice blue, tired looking eyes softened as he did. The weary smile he wore felt to me like it was instead him who was about to collapse from exhaustion, rather than me. “Feeling better today?”

“Yeah.” I nodded before my stomach gurgled louder than the sound of Bertha in the background. “Just hungry.” Stretching my forelegs a bit again, I realized that I was finally out of that damn battle saddle. The spots it had chafed felt good exposed against the cool air, finally free of any constrictions. Really, I was just glad to have that obnoxious gun no longer hanging off my side. It may not feel like much at first, but over time it felt like it was slowly turning from a steel weapon to a lead brick.

“Heh, I bet.” Buck nodded, leaning back as a particularly long yawn took hold of him. As he stretched out, I watched him roll his shoulders a few times and crane his neck from side to side. “I could use some breakfast as well.” Looking over to me, he pointed down under my bed. “Why don’t you see what looks good to you in your bag, while I go and see if Zoomer has made any coffee yet today.”

“Violet’s already up?” I asked, scooting myself over to the edge of my bed. Grabbing the old, well worn saddlebags that I’d gotten from Mrs. Leaf, I slid them out and dragged them up to me. Honestly though, I shouldn’t have been surprised that Violet was up already. She’s a whole lot tougher than I am, and she seemed to have an incredible strength of will about her. Really, she reminded me a lot of mom, and it’s probably why I feel fairly comfortable around her.

“Yeah,” Buck nodded as he stood himself up as tall as he could, arching his black and white furred back this time. A stiff shiver worked its way down from his neck, culminating in the quick wiggle of his fluffy spiked tail. “Came in early yesterday as well to look over you. She was concerned about that new scar on your head.” Yesterday? “But as it turns out during her examination, I found a similar one in an identical location on her scalp.”

“Wait, yesterday?” Sitting up, I set the saddlebags aside and watched as Buck stopped just short of the door. “I’ve been asleep this whole time!?”

“Yes, but that’s fairly normal for somepony who was dehydrated and suffering from exhaustion. I gave you an IV for a while yesterday to remedy it, as well as got you conscious enough to get down some potato soup, but I’m not all that surprised you don’t remember that. But, I think barring the scar on your head, you’ll be just fine.” Buck smiled, leaning forward and resting his enormously warm paw on my shoulder. “On that scar however, I can’t be sure how exactly, but I think somepony might have done something to both of you and Violet’s memories. That it’s most likely why you both couldn’t recall what happened that afternoon.”

“Can… you fix it?” I must have sounded like an idiot asking that. No, scratch that, I was an idiot. Of course he couldn’t fix it! Whatever can alter memories is magical in nature. He can’t just doctor it away without even knowing what it is or how it works.

Before he could answer, the whole container shifted forward as it felt like the hauler tried to buck us right off the back of itself with a metallic squeal that drilled into my ears. Buck easily pressed his massive paw up onto the ceiling to brace himself, while I nearly slid right off the end of my bed from the sudden movement. Holding onto my saddlebags like it were an anchor, the force subsided quickly, and a huge hiss of pressurized air sounded from deep underneath us.

Both Buck and I looked at each other before turning to the container door. Swinging it open, the quick hoofsteps of Hardcase could be heard through the walls of his container across the way. Throwing the door open, he looked at Buck and I with wide, worried eyes.

“Bombay… you need to come up here.” Speaking quickly, he didn’t even wait for a response before turning around and hastily running back to the ladder in his container.

Scrambling to my hooves, I hopped off my bed and practically flew across the unpopulated rec area and through the open door of Hardcase’s container. Inside, I didn’t find Violet resting like she probably should have been, rather, only the open hatch to the outside. My legs, while sore, carried me steadily to and up the old makeshift ladder. The bright sun reflected off the side of a nearby mountain, nearly blinding me as I climbed up and onto the top of the container. It was far too bright up here to be normal, and actually felt like all the light of the sun was focused down solely onto me. I lifted my hoof, trying to shield myself from it’s brilliance until I found Hardcase plop a pair of old, scratched up sunglasses down on my muzzle.

“I guess we wouldn’t have needed stop long for you anyway…” He spoke in a reverent tone as I blinked in confusion and horror at the sight of what lay before me. The heavily tinted glasses muted the bright morning sun just enough to etch the brutal scene into my mind forever.

It wasn’t the sun that was brightening this area, but a reflection of it off the concave, glass baked surface of the megaspell scarred mountain where the skydock had once sat. The blackened and twisted remains of the raptor had since cooled to a ashen black from the last time I’d seen it. Even from here along the road, it was still visible, towering over the charred husks of the blasted trees that lay flat all across the disfigured mountain. Scattered among the broken trees, a fair distance from the raptor’s wreckage, lay the outlines of furniture, equipment, and other bits and pieces of non-cloud furnishings from Four Peaks that had survived the blast only to plummet to the ash covered ground.

“Wait… what is that?” Hardcase asked, pointing his forehoof to what little was left of the town of Four Peaks.

“Ghouls.” Buck spoke up from behind me, almost startling me from his sudden presence. Turning to look at him, he was squinting as hard as he could and holding his massive paw up over his eyes to help. “Could be survivors who changed in the blast.” That word made my heart nearly skip a beat. “Could be ferals attracted by the radiation.” If… if my father had ‘changed’, then maybe he was still out there.

Turning back, I squinted and looked as hard as I could. They were hard to make out, but I could see… things moving about slowly around among the twisted rubble. Spreading my wings out instinctively, I felt Hardcase quickly swing his forehoof over against my chest.

“Woah there, remember what Delilah said. We go in pairs.” He spoke in a calm tone. Looking at him, I paused in confusion as glowing green flecks in his blue eyes shimmered in the tinted, bright light from the mountain. Before I could reflect on their oddness any further, I found the sunglasses stripped from me by his magic. “Come on, Delilah’s sure to give you a half hour or so with it being so close.” It was bright enough again without the glasses, that I could barely see him reaching out to give me a pat on the shoulder. “Let’s go find Zoomer.”

Turning around, I returned to the ladder. Buck stood down at the bottom, looking up at me with a solemn look about him. He couldn’t know what it was going to be like for me to go out there, yet he felt sorry all the same. It was Buck to me that seemed the most like a friend out here so far. He’d watched over me every time I’d been hurt, and even when I’d screwed up, he still did what he could to help me.

Stepping down the ladder, I had to wonder to myself just why Violet didn’t feel the same to me anymore. She’d shown me nothing but the will to help me learn. Yet, some part of me wanted to say that she was disappointed in me, angry at me even. It was an… odd feeling that I did my best to shake off. But still, it hung around in the back of my mind like my mother’s tags did around my neck. They were there as a reminder to me that nothing is ever going to be the same, and things will only get worse.

Stepping back down onto the floor of his Container, I waited for Hardcase to come down as well. Giving Buck a small smile of my own, I found his gaze still locked up and out of the container hatch. Stepping back, I cast my gaze up towards Hardcase as well, and went ridged as he turned around to descend.

“Hey, don’t think you need to look away.” He muttered as he climbed down. Though, funny enough, I almost didn’t hear his words as my mind was busy keeping my eyes focused on the perfection that was his flank. Sadly, the sight disappeared when he stepped onto the floor and turned around with a bright smile. “Okay, I think she’ll be down with Boiler getting things ready in the armory.” Stepping past me, I watched his flank walk out the door… him. I watched him walk out the door…

I found myself shoved by one of Buck’s enormous paws as he gave out a soft laugh.

“Better get going before he leaves you behind.” Buck said, pointing out the door. “Oh, and Night? Please be careful out there. I’ve been on this crew as long as you, and already I’ve spent more than half my time patching you up.”

“I’ll… I’ll try.” Nodding to him, I turned and left. I wasn’t so much sure if anything out there was going to try to kill me, but the one thing I did know I could never be protected from? How much seeing up close was going to hurt me inside. It wasn’t until Dad gave me Mom’s tags that it really became real. This was going to be the same thing. Only this time? I probably wouldn’t have anything left to hold at all.

Heading down with Hardcase, we passed through the Ice hold. Inside, as usual, was Happy Trails. He sat in his normal place on the other side of the Ice. Sometime, I’d have to ask him just what it was he always did down here. However, as Hardcase cranked open the door to the other side, I pushed that idea from my mind. Crossing the short catwalk with him, we indeed found Violet inside the cage helping Boiler get our gear together.

“Bombay. Delilah’s given us a half hour to look around.” Looking up to me, she used her wing to hook around my hanging harness on the armory wall and toss it my way before going back to loading bullets into a magazine. I grabbed it with my forehoof, before having my attention snatched away again by her. “Hardcase, what did you see out there?”

“Ghouls in the rubble. Dunno if they’re feral or even how many there are.” He said, shifting uneasily on his hooves. “The glare off the mountain is too bright to see anything useful with optics, and there’s a surprising amount of rubble for having been a cloud settlement hit by a megaspell.”

“Oh, that wasn’t a megaspell. At least, not like the ones two centuries ago.” Boiler spoke up, both spitting a screwdriver from her muzzle, as well as gaining my full attention. She set the gun for my saddle down next to her at what seemed like an agonizingly slow pace before continuing. “A regular megaspell doesn’t create enough heat to vaporize rock and bake it into glass. No, they spread their magical energy out over a wide area, that’s kind of their point. If what Delilah said about Bombay here’s story, this wasn’t a random spark reactor meltdown either. And honestly, I’m kinda surprised there was even anything of that ship left that survived.”

“So… what happened then?” I asked, letting the harness in my hoof drop to the floor. Maybe it wasn’t an accident then. Maybe there’s somepony to blame for everything.

“See, a regular reactor like Bertha here?” Boiler said, nodding back to the enormous machine built into the walls behind her. “Worse thing you’ll get is a steam explosion if you screw something up. You might have a radioactive gas cloud on your hooves then, but not an explosion like that out there.” Leaning down, she picked up my gun again in one hoof, and a rag in the other. “But, if you were to somehow overcharge some sort of capacitor and then dump all that stored energy all at once into the conduit for the spell generation chamber?” Using her rag to point past Hardcase and I, she shrugged. “Theoretically, you’d get a self starting plasma burst that would superheat the air around it and well, potentially cause something like all that out there until it cooled enough to dissipate.”

“Noted.” Violet nodded and looked at me expectantly. “Well, get suited up.”

“Hold up.” I said to Violet before taking a step toward Boiler. “Could something like that have been an accident?”

“Sure, if you gave a deaf, dumb, and blind pony access to the complete power grid of a skyship like that.” She shrugged before wiping down my weapon a few times and hoofing it out to me. “But from what I’ve heard of the Enclave, they may have been selfish assholes in keeping the sky to themselves, but hardly ever that idiotic.”

“Perhaps,” Violet sighed, giving me an annoyed glare. “Maybe we’ll find out if we actually get out there.” Sighing, she set down a magazine she’d filled with bullets and turned around to grab her own harness. “Now, are you going to get suited up or continue to waste the little time we have?”

“Do we really need these?” Looking down at the harness, I really didn’t want to have to put this thing on again.

Violet sighed. “You don’t need the grenades, as they probably wouldn’t help against ferals running around out in the open. The shrapnel barely affects them unless they get hit in the head with it.” Shimmying and twisting herself, she pulled her own harness on surprisingly fast. “However, you’ll need your submachine gun for this, just as a precaution.”

My own harness glowed for a moment before stretching out on it’s own.

“Don’t worry, Bombay!” Hardcase tapped me on the shoulder with a smile brighter than the crater out there. His horn glowed as he all but forced the harness up and around my legs. “I’m sure everything will be fine out there.”

My wings strained to carry me through the air. Though the day off I’d given them had done a lot to help, they were still pretty damn sore overall. The harness had at least dried of my sweat as well, and the gun strapped to my side didn’t bother me as much this time around. Mom had always told me that I was a fast learner… makes me wonder what she would have thought about all my mistakes so far down here.

As ‘Zoomer’ and I flew over what once was a vibrant forest, now ashen and burned, we kept our eyes open for signs of life. Passing over what looked to be the front end of the skydocked raptor, I cringed at the jagged and curled metal, finding what almost looked like charred blisters scattered both all over the hull, as well as inside the various torn open sections of the ship.

“Poor bastards.” Violet said softly. “At least their deaths were quick and painless. Still, I’d hate to die and end up as a splotch on some rusting piece of metal.”

With a sigh, I couldn’t do anything that hope that she was right, and pray that my Dad is somewhere better now.

“Hey,” Violet called out as she rolled over the top of me. It was amazing how agile she was in the air, even in the bulky battle saddle she wore which was almost completely covered in different pouches. But now wasn’t the time to focus on her flying prowess. “Four-o-clock up ahead.” She said, pointing her hoof toward an odd arrangement of rubble that lay among the blackened and ash covered ground.

Changing course, we turned ourselves toward what looked like a neatly set up area at the far edge of town. On our way to it, we passed over what I assumed was left of the main warehouse building for the shipyard. The snarls and growls of ponies burned and trapped in the rubble perked my ears. Shifting my weight, I slid myself into a shallow dive to go investigate. I hadn’t made it far before I found a hoof hooked through the back of my saddle harness.

“Woah there.” Violet spoke, lowering her voice a bit. “Do you see that?” She used her better wings to pull me almost to a dead stop in the air. Pointing down below us, I followed her forehoof to a collapsed section of blackened steel trussing. It was heavily melted from the heat, and had broken along its structural supports. But at the bottom of it, pinned underneath, was an all black and red pony. Or, half of one to be more specific.

It stared up at us, eyes glowing brighter than the end of a magical energy weapon. It growled at us, snapping its jaw in the air and scraping it’s forehooves across the ground to pull itself free.

“We have to help…” I began to say, only to find Violet’s forehoof quickly shoved against my muzzle.

“It’s not a pony anymore.” She whispered to me. “That’s a feral ghoul. They may look like ponies, but I will tell you…” As she spoke softly, I watched in silent horror as the glowing inside the pony grew brighter the harder it struggled to pull itself. Hoarsely, it growled and twisted itself, a red line splitting along it’s back before with one great wrenching tug, it tore itself in half. “They’re just mindless monsters now. Waiting to be put down.”

The feral ghoul didn’t seem to mind in the slightest that it was now half of itself. I watched as its entrails streamed out behind it, and black ooze crept out among the ash around both halves.

With my own great heave, I promptly threw up.

With a straining pull, Violet hoisted me up a bit and flew against my side. “It’s okay. It’s a perfectly normal response.” Patting me on the back, I wanted to thank her for comforting me, but instead I doubled over and threw up again.

As I should have expected, throwing up left me little control over my wings, and the second go at it forced them closed as I heaved. I started to drop like a rock. However, let me tell you, nothing gets rid of sickness as fast as starting to fall to your death. Straightening myself out, I groaned and turned myself toward where we’d seen the odd rubble. As I passed over the last of the warehouse debris, I was just glad that I was away from that… that, thing.

“Thank you.” I muttered as Violet pulled up beside me. I could feel the sick dripping down my chin, but I’d have to worry about that later. She offered a comforting look before refocusing ahead.

Trailing over what must have been the residential section of town, most of the debris looked like they had fallen to the ground in roughly the same locations of the houses that once sat above. I forced myself to look away from a few of them. The charred and blackened bodies of those who were at home when the raptor exploded still lay broken among their burned possessions, and I didn’t want to see them anymore. Not because I might throw up again, but more out of the fear that maybe, just maybe, I’d recognize one of them.

Looking around, I kept my eye out for where our house had once sat. It didn’t take me long, Four Peaks having been small town after all, but I still wasn’t too impressed with what I’d found. Dad’s dresser sat mostly unharmed, just sort of crunched in on one side. Mom’s old footlocker was burned down, and the numerous things that had once at inside were all destroyed. Most of the furniture had gone in the blast, but appliances like the refrigerator had survived.

“Wait.” I called out, spotting something odd on top of the now prone facing refrigerator. Adjusting my course once again, I turned toward it and brought myself down toward the ashen ground with a soft glide slope. Touching down across the gritty, burned dirt, I trotted through where our front door once sat, and over into where the kitchen had been. There, sitting on top of the refrigerator, was the slightly charred and broken picture frame I’d seen dad holding the last time I saw him…

Walking over, I reached out and picked it up. My legs gave out as tears clouded my vision, and I couldn’t hold back anymore. Looking down at the still intact picture, I cried softly and pulled it against my chest. The broken glass of the frame jabbed at me, and the splintered frame pricked at my hooves. Still, I squeezed it against me, praying that somehow if I pressed hard enough, it would bring them both back to me. That I could go back to being the smiling, carefree young stallion in the picture, and that my parents would still be here by my side to tell me that although everything had changed, that I’d be alright.

Warmly, I found Violet wrap her hooves around me in a hug. She didn’t say anything, I think she knew she couldn’t. Still, she stayed with me for a few minutes as I clung onto the last memory I had left of my dad, and the only one that showed that I’d once had a family at all. After my sobs had quieted, Violet patted me on the back.

“I’ll take care of it until we get back, okay?” She spoke softly. She held her hoof out to me. I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to let go of this picture for risk of never seeing it again. It was all I had left, and I intended on protecting it for the rest of my days. Still, I pulled it away from my chest, and carefully hoofed it over to her. She had done nothing but believe in me, and try to protect me down here, and in short, I trusted her enough to keep it safe. Even past the nagging thoughts in my head saying I was wrong.

Taking the frame from my hooves, she turned it over in her hooves. She made quick work of the fasteners holding the frame together, stripping the whole thing down in a matter of seconds. Gingerly, she pulled the photo out from it, and slid it into one of her numerous pouches.

“Are you okay?” She asked as she fastened the pouch shut.

“Yeah.” I replied as simply as I could. I wasn’t alright, but only because of the pain inside from all this. My life wasn’t here anymore, and I had to endure this so that I could move on. That’s all. “Let’s go.” Spreading my sore wings, I stood up and beat them against the air. With great effort, I took flight again.

It didn’t take long to figure out what the odd arrangement of rubble a ways off was. I’d made that walk a few times since I’d moved, and the schoolhouse was never a welcomed sight. However, seeing it as it was now sent a shiver down my spine. All the desks had been set up among the ashen dirt and fallen trees. A few blackened and charred foals sat at their desks still. Some of them sat face down and unmoving, while a pair of them still writhed in their chairs. Astonishingly, still sitting behind her desk at the front of the class, was Mrs. Chalk.

“Oh my word!” She gasped as both Violet and I came down out of the air. “Night Flight, how nice to see you again!” Her skin was just as charred and blackened as all the other ghouls we’d seen. However, thick red gashes across her were filled with shimmering shards of glass that almost seemed melted against her glowing skin. The dim red glow to her eyes seemed to ebb and pulse as she looked around, and overall it made me feel uneasy about all of this. “Please, Mr. Night.” She said sternly, pointing among the ‘room’ to where my desk would be. “Remove your weapon and take your seat so we may begin today’s lesson.”

“Mrs. Chalk…” My brain was still trying to comprehend the fact that she wanted me to sit and learn. Even though everything was gone. Still, just by the fact of speaking up, the ghoul foal closest to me turned around, snapping her jaw and growing at me. I froze in horror at just who the ghoul was. “Shimmer...”

Once the bane of my existence in this crappy little town, the small bully had been reduced to a mindless and aggressive state. Her bright red coat still sat untouched here and there on her, but it was only small spots among a sea of burned and twisted black skin. She torqued and pulled at her seat at her desk, violently lurching about, yet going nowhere. It was only then that I noticed the pieces of steel tubing pinning her down to her chair through her haunches, as well as the cable tieing her forehooves to her desk so tightly that it had ground right down to her leg bones. If I’d had anything left in my body to throw up, I might have. However, already having seen enough today, I simply closed my eyes and turned away.

“Night, I told you to take your seat.” Mrs. Chalk spoke up again, her voice cracking with the low tone she took. “Dismiss your guest, and sit down so we may begin today’s lesson.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” Violet spoke up, shifting her weight and hoofing at the bit to her own battle saddle. With a crisp click, the bit flipped up off the rigging and popped into her muzzle.

“This is a place of learning!” Mrs. Chalk rose her voice, slamming her forehooves down onto her desk. The cracking sound I heard forced my eyes open. The force of her own slam had split Mrs. Chalk’s forehooves, cracking them in various places where a deep black blood seeped out like the sap of a sickly tree. She smiled with a glowing grin as she slowly spread her wings out, each one absolutely shredded and coated with the same shards of glass all over her body. “If you do not leave, I will be forced to remove you mysel…”

That’s as far as she got before Violet used her rifle to put a bullet between her eyes.

Mrs. Chalk dropped down onto her desk, dead. The back of her head splayed out and dripping more of the dark ichor down onto it. Shimmer and the other feral foal went nuts at the sound, fighting now to rip themselves from their bindings even more than they had before.

“She was gone, Night. Just a matter of days before she went full feral.” Violet said quickly as she trotted over to me. “You said a name a minute ago. Do you know this filly?” Pointing to Shimmer, I instinctively looked at her. Shielding my eyes, I pressed against her and nodded. “No no, if you do, I need you to end her suffering.”

Shaking my head, I didn’t want anything to do with this. “You do it.”

“Night, we don’t have much time.” Violet spoke quickly, grabbing around my shoulders with a firm grasp. “The other ferals must have heard the shot and will be coming.” Sitting down, she flipped the bit to my saddle up. “Look, I know it’s tough, but… you came here looking for closure. That means cutting all your ties, no matter what.”

“I said no.” I stomped and pushed myself off of her. “What good will shooting anypony do!?” With tears in my eyes again, I looked at the ground. “None of them deserved this… not even Shimmer.”

“Then give her an merciful end.” Dropping the hushed tone to her words, Violet sighed. “You need to do this, Night. You may not see the need now, or think it possible to ever need to do something like this…” Pausing, she reached out and cupped my chin with her hoof. Pulling my vision back up, she moved and wiped the tears from my cheeks. “There may come a time in the future, when you have to shoot somepony to end their suffering. Somepony that even though you care for them, is beyond saving.” Pointing over to the now howling filly behind me, she shook her head. “That’s Shimmer now. She’s not in there anymore, and she needs you to end her body’s suffering.”

I didn’t want any part in this. I never wanted to come down to the fucking wasteland at all. Everything in my life was going to be simple and low key. Join the Enclave, get some low skill maintenance job or something. Not, shooting fillies and fighting psychotic ponies down here…

“Night.” Violet spoke up, getting back to her hooves. Over in the direction of the sky docks, more yips, howls, and screams of ferals grew louder. “You have to do this, Night.”

“Fine.” I sighed, pushing myself back around. “But not just her then.”

“That isn’t…” She started.

“We kill them all.” Glaring back to her, it was my turn to get mad at something. My turn to make a decision which none of Delilah’s crew could fucking berate me for. Popping the bit into my muzzle, I felt a coldness wash over me. All the pain in my heart, the conflicted thoughts in my head? All of those washed away with the simple numbness afforded to me by the bit in my muzzle.

Pointing the gun at Shimmers head, I offered a moment’s hesitation before pulling down on the first trigger. The gun shook as the bolt closed, and I took a deep breath. Wrapping my tongue around the second trigger, I pulled on it hard.

The gun on my side rattled off three shots. The reports of the rounds were less loud than I expected, but it still left a ringing in my ears. I don’t know if it was because they were actually loud, or if I just no longer cared. One of the three shots missed, but the other two found their marks. Shimmer’s head split in half from the first round, while the second blasted off her jaw. Her body slumped down onto her desk, twitching slightly as it leaked black brains and blood. Only a subtle shift of my aim lined me up on the other feral foal. With another trigger pull, they too ceased to exist.

Violet’s rifle opened up on the two dozen or so ferals who were running across the ashen hills and fallen trees towards us. I joined in, trying my best to place my shots to hit them in the head. I wasn’t doing too well, but that didn’t matter to me. Turning, the two of us kicked off into the air. The ferals, though pegasi themselves at one point, didn’t seem to know how to use their own wings anymore. Somewhere between the first new feral I downed, and the tenth, something in my head clicked.

This wasn’t anger, or coldness flowing through me. It was a sort of serenity. I didn’t feel sorrow for these creatures, because this was exactly what Violet said it was. Mercy. But somewhere in my mind, I felt like I’d known that all along and that I’d simply somehow forgotten it. Maybe it was the bleakness of the ash, the overwhelming feeling of death, or just the shock of it all. Hell, maybe shooting these things was therapeutic on some level.

Still, by the time the last ghoul in the group went down, I looked over to Violet with a genuine grin across my muzzle. The look she gave back was worrying. Probably thought I’d finally snapped out here. It didn’t matter to me. I knew what I’d find in coming here, and I’d done what I came back here to do. Mom, Dad, Mrs. Chalk, and even Shimmer. They would be remembered by me, and that? That was all that mattered now.

Finally, it was time that I actually moved on with my life.

Laying back on my bed, I was glad that the road underneath us had gone back to being somewhat still intact. The small shakes and shudders that rolled through the chassis of Bertha didn’t do much more than rock me softly. Buck seemed to be enjoying it as well as he too was laid out across his bed.

Staring at the picture in my hooves felt different this time. I’d seen this picture more than enough for it to mean something to me, but… it felt part of a different time now. My heart still ached for Mom and Dad, just not as much as it had been. I had my closure, and now I needed to decide where I went from here.

A quick knock at the door had perked my ears, wondering if it was just one of the bumps that had jostled it. After a moment, the door opened up enough for the latch to catch. Through the crack in the door, Violet’s feathers slipped through and flipped the latch up, opening the door.

“Hey, don’t mean to disturb you, but…” She offered a comforting but nervous smile. “Got a moment to talk?”

“Yeah, sure.” I said simply. Taking a moment to sit up, I’d wondered what she wanted. It was probably to talk about earlier. How I’d asked to kill all the ghouls rather than just Shimmer. Scooting myself over to one half of my bed, I patted the other half for her. “Have a seat.”

Uneasily, she crept up onto the mattress and sat next to me. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” Leaning back against the cold cargo container’s wall, I nodded. “For the first time in a while, yeah, I am.”

“I… understand that what I asked you to do out there...” She paused, looking down at her hooves. They were clean from the ashes we’d stood in earlier, but how she looked at them, you might think she still saw it on them.

“Look, you pushed me to do exactly what needed to be done.” Shaking my head, I looked down at the picture in my hoof again. “Ever since I woke up down here, it hasn’t really felt real to me.”

“But what I asked of you…” She began to speak.

“Just stop.” I cut her off, carefully hoofing the picture over to her. “I think that right then, acting like you told me too? That it was the right call to make.” I could see it in her eyes as she didn’t believe me. “I think it finally broke that illusion of thinking things could be normal again, and everything just fell into place. This is my life now. That it was what needed to be done for me to move on.”

“And you're okay with that?” She nearly spat. The disdain again wasn’t toward me, rather inward onto herself.

“Why wouldn't I be?” I laughed lightly while I wore a genuine smile. “I think now I can finally get myself together. Stop being afraid of what's down here, even if I don't understand it. You know?”

I watch as her muzzle curled into a small smile as well. “Yeah. I sure wish that I'd come to that conclusion as fast when I first got down here.” Shifting her weight, she gingerly hoofed the picture back to me. “But if you say you're okay, then I'm pretty sure you are. I think that even though you've had a rough start, you'll be fine down here.”

“Ahem.” Buck grunted as he too sat up. “Does this mean that I’ll have to patch him up less often?” A toothy grin across his muzzle was the nail in the coffin for Violet’s somber mood.

“Wouldn’t bet on it, Doc.” Rolling herself off my bed, she stretched herself a bit. “However, one can always hope for the best, Doc.”

“Indeed we can.” He nodded.

The sudden change in mood had me feeling warm again. Not in the physical sense, but… like I was welcome again. None of my mistakes, none of the issues that had come with me adjusting to the wasteland felt like they existed anymore. Only the warmth of those who genuinely seemed the share my thoughts on things, and who generally cared about my well being. Watching as Violet turned and walked out the doorway, I reached out.

“Hey, Violet?” I called out, stopping her in her steps. With a relaxed look back, she canted her head to me. “Thanks. For all you've done for me.”

“Don’t sweat it.” She nodded and turned around again. Her tail flicked up and curled around the container door behind her. With a fluid motion, she pulled it closed behind her. It didn’t slam shut, however the force was enough that it flipped the latch up and into the eyebolt that secured the door.

With a sigh, I readjusted myself on my bed. Laying back down, I pulled up the picture of Mom, Dad, and I again. Staring at it, I wondered just how long it would last down here. How long I would last. A photo was such a fragile thing, that I wanted to memorize it, so that the day where I forgot what my parents looked like would never come.

Buck shifted on his bed beyond my view of the photo. I pulled it down to my chest, looking over to the black and white frown that sat across his muzzle as he stared down into his open paws. I couldn’t even take a guess as to what was running around in his mind. As much as I felt he was a friend, I hardly knew anything about him.

“Hey, Buck?” I asked, perking his ears to me. He looked up with almost a sad expression. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.” He nodded, trying his best to erase the look he’d just wore. Unfortunately for him, it stuck even through the forced smile he gave. “Yes, of course you can.”

“What’s your family like.” There. That’s a good solid starting topic that hopefully won’t bring up any bad memories like it did with Violet.

“My family?” The sad expression finally fell away, replaced by a look of befuddlement. “Just a query, but where's this line of thought coming from?”

“Just that the other night, you asked about mine.” I said, holding my darker than normal forehoof out to him as a reminder. “I was just curious. I feel like I don’t know much about you, even though you know so much about me.”

Looking alarmed, he stuttered. “I… I didn’t mean to offend if one of my questions was a bit much for you to answer. Or if you feel somewhat embarrassed that I wish to know certain things about you.”

“No! Not at all!” I replied, shaking my forehoof in dismissal. “It’s just…” Goddesses, why did I have to be so bad with words? “We’re friends, and I feel like in order to become better friends, I should probably get to know you more.” See, how hard was that to say?

“Friends?” He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before laughing. I wasn’t sure why he was, and frankly it felt more to me like he’d just thrown the notion of being friends back in my face. “Oh, is that all?” He shook his head, relaxing as he leaned back against his end of the container. “Friends… geeze.”

“I… I didn’t know you didn’t want…” I started. However, like Violet, interruption can be a great tool when used to correct the mood.

“No, that’s not it at all!” He gasped, sitting up stiffly. He folded his ears back and looked down at his paws again. “I’ve been trying to be friendly, trying to engage with the crew I signed on with. My hopes were that maybe at one point, I’d be considered approachable enough to be more than just ‘the Doc’.” Looking up to me, his ice blue eyes wavered when he smiled. “I didn’t expect you to say that was all.” Raising his arms, he dangled his claws down. “Nopony ever looks past these things. Nopony sees me as someone who they can trust.”

“I do.” With how long I was there, I couldn’t understand what things were like for him back on the Inuvik. But still, struggling with being the outsider? With having a part of you that you hated having attached to you because nopony would ever see past it? Flaring my wings for him, I watched as the idea must have struck him. “Among the clouds, who would want to be friends with a pegasi who can’t really fly?”

“You… must have had some friends.” Buck spoke up softly.

“A few, yes.” My thoughts jumped to some friends I knew back in Neighvarro city. Cider Rains, Misty Flare, Starstreak. Then my mind jumped to Rogue Winds. “But I never really knew them.” I answered, half tailoring that answer to the fact that I’d barely gotten to know Rogue in my time at Four Peaks. Still, even among my friends in Neighvarro, I’d fallen out with most of them as we grew older. Looking back to Buck, I had to assume the question was true for him as well. “Didn’t you have any?”

He sighed and shook his head. “A few over the years here and there. One that I really cared about, but…” He paused and slumped against the metal wall like a great weight had come down onto him. “It didn’t end well.” Even from under all that weight though, he smiled again. “Goddesses, my sister was right.”

“About what?” I asked, scooting myself over to the edge of my bed. I set my photo down next to me carefully before turning to find Buck looking up at the roof with a smile.

“I’m so worried about what others might think that I’m missing what’s actually going on around me.” He sighed and sat back up. “I’ve only been gone a few days and I’m already sabotaging myself.” Pressing his massive paw against his face, he drug it down across his muzzle slowly. “Not to mention, I’m already feeling homesick.” A frown threatened to pull his smile back down for a moment, and I knew what I needed to do.

“Tell me about your sister.” I asked, pushing myself up off my bed. With a couple steps, I pivoted and sat myself down onto the edge of his bed. “I… don’t have any siblings, so I’m curious what it’s like to have one.”

“Oh, well that’s a mistake.” Buck laughed, sitting up straight again. “Asking a Snow Dog about their family? Goddesses, we’ll be here all night.” He must have sense that I didn’t quite get what he meant by the fact that I didn’t really say anything to that. Clearing his throat, he rolled his eyes. “Well, my family consists of Momma, Dad, Cheyenne, which is the sister I’d mentioned. Then there’s Bruno, Sadie, Sarah, Chipper, and Cotter, which were all part of my litter...”

“Litter?” It was beginning to dawn on me that this was going to be a whole lot more complex than I’d expected.

“Yes, well Snow Dogs birth in litters of two to six on average.” He shrugged with his toothy grin and looked at me like having an army of siblings was as normal as anything else I’d seen down here. Well, granted a lot of stuff was ‘normal’ down here, but that wasn’t the point! “My litter was my mother’s first, obviously a bit bigger than average at seven pups, but she made it work for us. Funny, she’s had two more litters since I was born as well. I don’t know how she does it.”

I tried to comprehend that, but again my muzzle spoke before my brain could finish. “So… you have like, fifteen brothers and sisters!?” Actually, I’m glad I got that out there. Imagining what it would have been like to have that many brothers and sisters in the Enclave? I’m not sure I’d last a day like that!

“Twelve, actually.” He shrugged again, looking at me. “It’s not as crazy as it sounds. And really, I love each one just the same as the next.” With a deep breath, he nearly deflated. However, it wasn’t out of sadness, but out of fondness for them. “Still, I can’t imagine how much they must miss me now as well, now that I’m gone.”

“Yeah.” I sighed, looking down at my mother’s dog tags. “But all we can do is remember the time we had with them.”

Quick hoofsteps up above us startled me, making me jump up. My wings unfolded for flight, but I was so stunned I didn’t flap. Instead, I flopped right onto Buck’s fuzzy chest. We both listened in the awkward position as the frantic hoofsteps shifted to across the hall before arriving at our door.

“Hardcase calling all vehicles. Everypony, stop the convoy!” Hardcase’s muffled voice reverberated through the corrugated walls with a panicked tone. “I repeat, stop the convoy!”

Buck and I hardly had time to register that before the whole of the Hauler repeated the same hard braking that it had earlier in the morning. At least this time, I was forced up against something that didn’t let me slide around! As soon as we’d heard the same hiss of compressed air as earlier, both Buck and I scrambled to the door.

Throwing it open, I nearly ran into Violet as she too trotted out of her room. The three of us looked to the back of the Hauler, finding Hardcase leaning up against the back railing to the hauler. His eyes were glued up to the sky, his focused and unwavering gaze joined with a stern expression of concern.

Violet, Buck, and I made our way forward, joining him at the rear. The three of us looked up into the bright blue sky, seeking just what had his attention. It only took me a moment to identify Hispano’s cloud among the others lazily floating about. A wave of panic flowed through me as I worried that Hardcase might have caught on to them.

The loud slam of the door down to the Ice hold made us all momentarily shift our attention down to Happy. “Just what the hell is going on up here?” He shouted, glaring at us before turning and looking to the sky behind us. A look of mortifying confusion washed over him as he did. “What in Celestia’s name is that!?”

“At first, I thought it was a star, but it's moving and getting brighter.” Hardcase spoke as we all turned our gazes outward again.

I saw it. A burning yellow fireball that moved through the sky faster than any pegasi I’d ever seen. I realized that when I’d looked before, like Hardcase, I must have confused it with a star, or something else in the sky. But at the rate it’s grown in brightness, the speed it’s moving at, it was impossible.

“Shooting star, then?” Violet asked, loosening up her wings. What, was she going to try to catch it? It was just some space rock, nothing big.

“Nah. Would have burned up by now…” He replied, his words drifting off as he squinted. “wait…”

Shockwaves pushed through the air, slamming back the nearby clouds as the yellow object dimmed to an orange. The sky sound like it split open as the supersonic shock cone visible around the object swung out and reached us. It seemed like it was slowing down the further that it arced over our heads. The flames around it dimmed and flickered out, leaving a blackened, tapered cylindrical object shooting through the air like a cannonball.

“That's some sort of machine…” Violet said before she grabbed both sides of my face in her forehooves. “Get geared up. We're going on a salvage run!” She flared her wings with a bright smile before jumping and pirouetting in the air.

“If it's a vehicle, what about survivors?” Buck added with a note of concern.

“Survivors? Are you kidding me?” Violet laughed as she hovered in the air, seemingly in a better mood than I’d ever seen her in. “That thing probably came from space! Maybe it’s some wartime satellite or something! If it is, I bet it’s got tons of rare salvage in it!”

“Don’t worry, Doc.” Hardcase smiled as he looked back at Buck. “If there are any survivors, either Bombay or Zoomer could come back and lead us to the two centuries old mummified remains.”

“Exactly. I'm going to talk with Delilah and get permission to go.” Violet giggled like a school filly who’d just gotten asked out for the first time. Turning to me, she was so excited that she was nearly shaking. “Get geared up. Grenades and all, because who knows if anypony else out here is going for it as well.”

Nodding, I flared out my wings. “Alright, got it.” Jumping into the air, I let the wind catch me as I dipped into a shallow glide. I arched myself so that I’d bank around the side of the Hauler and be lined up to drop right into the Armory.

“Night?” Buck called out as I banked around. Looking back, I found his concerned look locked onto me. “Be careful out there…”

Nodding, I could only hope that salvage or not, I didn’t find a way to screw this up. I finally had my chance to move forward and show the others that I could do something right for once. And because I had a chance, there was no way in hell that I was going to let it slip out of my hooves.

Chapter 11 - Experiences, New and Old

Professional's are predictable. The world is full of dangerous amateurs.

The cool headwind that drifted above the treetops felt exhilarating over my wings. The lush green of the thick forests that ran along nearly every mountain as far as the eye could see, were a far cry from the ashen black remains of Four Peaks. Being out in the air like this was more than relaxing. No running from anything out to hurt me, just unrestricted gliding. It felt better than anything to me. Not only that, but every now and again, I’d hit a thermal and get an updraft that would help to keep me airborn without much effort at all. Now, if only there was something I could do about the chafing of my battle saddle against my inner thighs…

“Up ahead, I see it.” Violet called out, dropping down from above and leveling out at my side. Instead of her rifle strapped onto her saddle, she had a large, rectangular yellow box secured to it. At nearly half her size, my guess was it was some sort of energy weapon, but that was mostly based on the big Caution: Laser Radiation sticker still plastered on its side. Looking ahead of us however, I could see odd red and white fabric tangled among the numerous treetops up almost a mile ahead.

“What’s that thing on your side?” I asked, deciding that looking stupid was worth learning about it. You know, for if I might need to know the information in the future.

“Lidar system.” She smirked. Reaching over, she gave the metallic box a few good taps. “If we have to leave most of the salvage behind, I can use this to get its location marked on a map by bouncing some lasers off the nearby mountain peaks. Traders and the like will pay good caps for the location of some salvage.” Oh, that made sense. It’s not a weapon then, just a larger version of the construction surveyors that city services used back in Neighvarro. “Yup. Definitely isn’t a random satellite if it had parachutes.” She scrunched up her muzzle, narrowing her eyes as she looked ahead with a determined look. “Still. This doesn’t really make sense then.”

“Why?” I asked, beating my wings a few times to keep up my altitude. I’d hardly learned anything about Equestria’s space program back in school. A bit about the moon program where we beat the stripes to get hooves on the moon first, and a bit about satellites and such as well. But like most things in that section of the text book, it was mostly glossed over.

“Gravity. Anything in orbit needs fuel to stay up, or it falls back down.” She answered while we lowered ourselves and skimmed quickly over the tops of the trees at a good clip. “Fuel that would have been used up far too long ago to re-enter now.” As she spoke, a long black snake cut through the treeline off to our right. I hadn’t noticed it before, but the old highway we’d been traveling on wound it’s way right around this area. “Alright, looks like it’s going to end up being be about a quarter mile off the road, which means I dragged the Lidar out here for nothing.” She smirked again with a shrug, flaring her wings slightly. I did the same as the fluttering parachutes grew closer. “Going to be tough using the winch on the Runner to retrieve it, but I don’t doubt that Lucky could get to it.”

With a gentle glide, we crossed over the top of the first parachute. To say it was expansive wasn’t really the right word, as each parachute looked to be maybe sixty feet across. The three all together however, covered a large amount of the surrounding treetops, and created an artificial canopy over the craft laying down below. Among the fluttering fabric, I heard something peculiar coming from down below.

“Quiet…” I said, holding my hoof out and perking my ears. Circling over the top of the parachutes, I tilted my ear toward the grown to hear a bit better. “Listen.”

“Flight terminated.” The voice was faint, but it was definitely coming from below. “Life support malfunction. E.B.B. activated. Flight terminated. Life support malfunction. E.B.B. activated.” The artificial sounding mare repeated itself, looping again and again as both Violet and I listened in.

“Come on, let’s check it out.” Violet nodded downward, torquing her wings enough to start a soft glide. “Just keep an eye out.”

Nodding, I pushed myself into a shallow rotating dive as well, and dipped between the edges of the three tangled parachutes. Dropping under them proved to be a shock. The world dimmed from the sheer amount of sunlight that the three chutes blocked, and it took my eyes a moment to adjust. Below however, was the dark object I’d seen cannonballing itself through the sky. Sort of a blocky pear shape, it bore scorch marks all over its wide bottom. Out of its sides and from what I assumed was its top, three clusters of cabled wires sprouted like tentacles that stretched upward, reaching to hold onto the parachutes. In that moment, I felt my wing barely clip one of these numerous cables, just the slight hit made the wire undulate slightly and give off a worrying groan.

“Watch yourself. Who knows how well these cables will hold up after all that time in space.” Violet said as she weaved her way down. This place was like a vertical minefield. The sharp looking taut cables groaned under the strain of the odd object below weighing them down. Some of the cables already looked to have cut through some of the surrounding tree branches around here, and I didn’t want to know just what would happen if one were to snap while we were next to it. “Just what the hell is this thing?”

After a few more moments of ducking and weaving between the wires, I managed to glide myself to an open area between two of the chutes. From there, it was an easy drop to the relatively clear forest floor next to the alien like object. Landing among a large patch of moss, I found that the craft next to me was pretty damn big!

About ten feet long, the whole thing was less curvy than it looked barreling through the air. Instead, it held more of a conical bell shape to it rather than that of a pear. The top end of the bell was a foot and a half, which seemed to mostly be maneuvering thrusters and the like. The rear was about six feet diameter, and seemed mostly built to resist the extreme heat of reentry. Honestly, it looked like an old space capsule like the one they sent to the moon during the war. I may not have learned much about the space program, but I remember the pictures of something like this in my book.

Violet landed across on the other side of the odd spacecraft. The both of us took a moment to look over just what we’d found, trying to decipher just where it’d come from. Leaning in, I could just barely make out a bit of white lettering underneath the dark scorch marks along its hull.

“GLV-3KA LEO II…?” I called out over to Violet. “That mean anything to you?”

“A Leo II capsule?” She gasped as she basically lept into the air. “I remember them from history class! This is a midwar piece then! Is there a pilot listing under that?” Like a purple bolt, she flew across the hull of what I could now assume was some sort of piloted spacecraft.

It was odd for her to ask if it was piloted, as there were no windows or doors on it that I could make out. Before I could answer her at all, she’d dropped down next to me, furiously rubbing her forehoof at the scorched hull plates. To my surprise, with a little effort, the blackness lightened slightly, just enough to reveal some not quite burned away words underneath. Though, I didn’t actually get to read them, as the overexcited Violet leaned up close to them to get a better look.

“Ohmygosh!” She squeed quite happily before spinning around and pinching my cheeks between her forehooves again. “Stay here for a few while I go get the others! This is major historical salvage!”

“But…” I didn’t even manage to get anything more out before Violet bolted off into the sky. Really, it was a pleasure to watch her fly with such ease, just not away from me. However, it both hurt that she’d left me all alone down here, and that I’d never be able to fly like that. Still, for somepony who complained about being left behind at Fort Mac, she sure seemed eager to abandon me now.

"Flight terminated. Life support malfunction. E.B.B. activated." The computerized mare’s voice continued to repeat.

“Won’t it shut up?” A voice from behind me spoke almost into my ear. In an instant, my mane and tail stood on end as I squeaked my surprise and nearly jumped high enough into the air to tangle myself among the wires. Turning around, I was met with Hispano’s smugly smiling beak. She had her flight goggles down over her eyes instead of on her cap, and oddly missing being strapped around her was her large cannon. Er… her sister.

“Celestia, Hispano!” I snapped at her. “You don’t have to always sneak up on me!”

“Hey, I don’t want to hear it when last time you literally ran into me.” She squawked and crossed her talons as she came in to land on her hind legs. Her words were confusing, but my brain and heart were still too busy trying to calm down from the scare that I couldn’t even respond.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, finally managing to say something at all again. Goddesses, so far half the times I’d seen her, she’d made me so damn angry. Which, was swiftly becoming the case again as she ignored me and instead turned her attention to the capsule behind me.

“I’ve been thinking, Dum Dum.” She said as she strode around my side. I facehooved at her blatant, but expected act of ignoring me, and turned around to at least see if she had anything constructive to say. “About what we talked about down in that bunker.” She spoke with more of an exactness to her words, like she had been practicing saying this.

“Bunker…?” Again with the baffling remarks. “What in Celestia’s name are you fucking talking about?”

More than anything I’d said to her since meeting her on the Inuvik, that got her attention. She spun around with her beak open, seeming to hang for a moment as her wide eyes looked at me in shock. I had no idea what had gotten into her. Really, I just had to assume that it was because so long as I’d seen her, she’d change how she felt about something from almost moment to moment. She definitely had the most eccentric personality I’d ever seen, to say the least.

“You really don’t remember then, do you?” She asked almost taking a step back in surprise. While she still didn’t make sense, I felt like this was distinctly not the way she’d seen this going. “But… why?”

Her words sent jolts of pain through my head. Not sharp or stabbing, but an ebbing pain that felt like it squeezed at me. It was the worst headache I’d ever had, coming on in a single instant. Part of me was beginning to understand that maybe she wasn’t talking crazy at all. Maybe she was talking about what I couldn’t remember. Reaching for my head, I groaned as the pain subsided slowly, and my vision blurred for a moment.

“Night, are you…?” She began.

"Emergency hatch release engauged." The soft voice of the computer mare spoke up from the capsule. "Please stand clear."

“Shit!” Hispano said, flaring her wings and pushing off. She barreled forward into me, sending the both of us tumbling to the mossy dirt a few feet back from where I’d been standing. Rolling over, I looked back to the capsule as the edges of one of the hull plates toward the back glowed red hot.

There was a sharp bang, and the glowing hull plate shot off through the air like a hot knife. It sliced through a few of the parachute cables at the top of the craft as it shot out, striking a tree across from us and sticking into it like a glowing axe. The already tense lines snapped with numerous, reverberating twangs as they whipped and scoured the dirt under them. Thankfully, none of them whipped over at us.

The computerized voice had disappeared just as quickly as the hull plate did, and it left both Hispano and I in an odd silence. Steam wafted out of the dark square hole now opened in the side of the black metal capsule. Both Hispano and I looked over to each other with what I was sure had been matching gawking expressions. Simultaneously, we both pulled ourselves back up, watching and waiting for something else to happen. It didn’t take long before something inside the craft moved toward the dark opening.

“Po krayney mere etot chertov kusok der'ma ne sgorit.” Slightly muffled, a squeaky voice emanated angrily from the inside of the capsule. Though I couldn’t understand the language it spoke, it wasn’t hard to tell when somepony was venting their frustrations. A sharp set of bangs came from inside the capsule, making me cringe slightly with each one. I was about to whisper to Hispano that we should probably hide, when a rage filled yell preceded a rectangular orange box flying out of the metallic ship. The foreleg sized box spun through the air as it flew a good few feet. With a clattering few bounces along the forest floor, the box split open, spilling its contents of silver metal tools across the mossy patch at my hooves. “Chertov neispravnost' korabl'! Bespoleznyy lodka!”

“Keep your muzzle shut, Dum Dum.” Hispano whispered as she leaned over and gave me a pat on the side with her talon. Looking over in confusion, I watched as Hispano cleared her throat. “Privet!” She called out so loud that I cringed. Was she fucking crazy!? “Vam nuzhna pomoshch'?” What even language was that anyway!?

From inside the capsule, a small, shiny glass sphere popped out of the hole. Inside that small sphere, was a pair of bright yellow eyes. They were attached to a head of course, one covered in brown fur, with a pair of triangular floppy ears and a thick white stripe cutting up the middle of her jagged muzzle. She looked almost like a Snow Dog, but… much smaller.

“Poisk i spaseniye?” The small dog said with a smile before pulling herself out of the capsule. Along with the odd glass bubble helmet, she wore a puffy looking bright blue jumpsuit that proudly displayed the logo for the old wartime Ministry of Arcane Sciences. Upon a second look, the suit was actually more bulky than puffy, and had numerous tubes and valves running all across it in odd places. Even the odd spiked tail of the Snow Dogs was fully enclosed, having at least one valve somewhere on the rubbery blue material. Along with the suit, she wore a pair of bulbous gunmetal grey tanks on her back. And oddly enough, a sort of large three barreled pistol was clasped onto her side, nearly half as large as she was. “Tol'ko dvoye iz vas?”

All over, I was confused. Again. Me, confused in the wasteland? What a fucking surprise.

“Do you speak standard Equestrian?” Hispano called out.

“Dah. Of course.” The dog said before stiffly saluting. As she did, her diminutive stature hit me. Goddesses, she must have been half my height even when standing on her rear legs! “Commander Laika, of the M.A.S. Cosmosphere division.” Reaching up, she used her gloved digits to fumble at a few of the latches on her bubble helmet. It unsealed with a hiss, and she pulled it off with a heavy sigh. “How long until the recovery crew arrives?”

A moment was spent in silence before I realized that Hispano was looking at me.

“O...oh!” I stammered, “They’re on their way and should be here soon.” I was fairly certain that it wasn’t part of the plan Violet had in mind, but hey, at least Buck will be happy to know that there indeed was somepony on this weird spaceship! Which reminds me. “So… what were you doing in that thing?”

“What?” Laika gave me a confused gaze, looking almost insulted. “Didn’t the M.A.S. brief you?”

“We weren’t told much of anything.” Hispano answered for me. Looking over to her, I almost couldn’t believe she would lie like that. Well, it wasn’t really a lie, as we hadn’t been told anything at all about this by the M.A.S. on account of them not existing anymore. Then again, Hispano seemed as resourceful as she was unpredictable. “Why don’t you fill us in on how you survived.” And really? I trusted Hispano’s instincts. Keeping my muzzle shut, I figured I’d see how this played out.

“Well.” Commander Laika rolled her eyes and shifted herself uneasily on her legs. “Most of it is going to go over your heads. But in all likelihood, this was probably most of what they put out at the press briefing anyway.” Press briefing? This dog was making less sense than Hispano did just a minute ago. “The malfunction I experienced passing up through the exosphere blew most of my electronics, my life support, and refused to kill the second stage engine. I was forced to use manual controls to vent the propellent in the maneuvering system to attempt to guide myself onto a decaying elliptical orbit. I thought I had enough delta-v to get a gravity assist off the moon, but with minutes of auxiliary life support left I had to round a few of the numbers and hope for the best before activating the onboard cryo-stasis systems. About the only thing onboard this piece of junk that actually worked right, even if it was just one of Ratchet's prototypes.”

“Cryo-stasis?” I nearly flailed wildly from my confusion. “You’ve been frozen in space!?” That would mean that she’s not a Snow Dog like I’d assumed at all! She was a Diamond Dog from back during the war! No wonder she thought the M.A.S. still existed!

“What’s his problem? The M.A.S. invents things like that every day. I’m sure they’ve invented plenty of crazy shit since my mission.” Laika smirked and crossed her arms before pointing at me. All of this new information felt like it was jamming up my brain, and honestly, I just wanted the others to get back here already. “Anyway, how goes the war?”

Laika’s question snapped all the other thoughts out of my mind. An odd tickle built up in my throat, and without any indication of why to the others, I began to laugh. It wasn’t something soft, but came full bore through my lungs.

“Quiet down, Dum Dum.” Hispano cooed coldly.

I just couldn’t help myself. After all the trouble I’d gone through, after everything in my life had collapsed, here was someone else who was worse off. Finally, I got to see what utter confusion and ignorance looked like from the other side. For some reason, deep down, I found that unbearably funny.

“The… the war?” I spat at between gasping laughs. “Quick, Hispano…” Looking over, I found Hispano’s angry eyes glaring at me as if to wish to murder me alive. “Tell her how…” The world spun end over end and my head burst into pain. I groaned with a muzzle full of mossy dirt as I found myself on the forest floor without much of a good explanation as to how I’d gotten there.

“This isn’t funny, Night.” Hispano stood over me with her talon clenched tight. She was seething in rage, but that much was prevalent in her voice alone. “I know you may find irony in the situation, but it is not something you want going the wrong way.” The wrong way? With a sigh from her, Hispano leaned down to my side and tugged at my gun on my battle saddle. “You think you’ve had it bad adjusting? Think what telling her out here would have been like if you were in her place.” With a sharp click, I felt the attached gun leave my side. Racking the bolt as I looked up, I watched as Hispano held Commander Laika at gunpoint with my own gun. “Commander, I’m going to need to relieve you of your sidearm.”

“I’ve been more than accommodating already. Now I’m asking...” Laika said, slowly moving her paw back and wrapping it around the grip of her gun. Leaving it holstered for the moment, the look across the wartime Diamond Dog’s face was stone solid. “Eto vy dolzhny razoruzhit'sya.” She said, using her free paw to point at the gun in Hispano’s grip.

Hispano shook her head to that and didn’t budge. “You wanted news? How about news from your home?” Hispano’s voice was cold, colder than I’d ever heard it. Something about the way she spoke must have gotten to Laika, because she froze up hearing that. “But first I need to know you won’t act rashly. Please…” Hispano lowered my gun slightly. “Throw down your weapon.”

Laika carefully unholstered her weapon. She let it hang loosely in her paw, pinching its wooden grip between two of her paw digits. With a rocking motion, she swung it back and forth before letting go of it, tossing it lightly through the air. With a heavy thump, it dropped onto the mossy ground between the various tools that were scattered about from earlier. For a moment, none of us moved, and the world around us became unnervingly quiet. Ever so faintly however, I could hear the sounds of the convoy steaming along up the road.

“Tell me…” Laika’s voice was softer now, and she nearly shivered as she spoke. “What news is there of Stalliongrad? Has something happened there? Did the stripes finally push past the northern front lines into the city?”

Lowering my gun again, Hispano sighed. Turning to me, she made short work of reattaching it on it’s rigging. As she did, Laika waited patiently for an answer, though her wavering eyes darted back and forth to her discarded pistol a few times. I almost wanted to go for it, but I’m sure I’d have lost that race. That, and there was no need to cause a panic when things seemed to be calm for the moment.

“Look, before I leave this in Dum Dum here’s hooves, let me ask you one question.” Hispano said with a proud smirk across her beak. “Just how long do you think you were frozen in that thing?” Flaring her wings, She mirrored Violet in her take off. It was odd how she could do that, like she used all that energy from her personality to fuel her flight. Again, I was envious of someone who would always fly better than I ever would.

Looking back to Laika however, she didn’t look as impressed. Sighing, she pressed her paw against her face and sat down on the mossy forest floor, hard.

“What did she mean by that? I just want to know that my family is safe...” She almost whimpered. “Is that too much to ask?” I watched as she started to shiver and sniffle, holding her head in her paws. I didn’t know if it was because she had feared the worst before she left, or knew something was innately wrong because we hadn’t answered her. I wanted more than anything to help her through this, because I knew firsthoof how much having help makes a difference.

“I’m sure they…” I paused, nearly biting on my own tongue in an attempt to shut my muzzle. Before you say anything you or her might regret, why don’t we just let somepony else break the news to her? The droning noise of the convoy getting closer gave me the perfect opportunity to distract her for the time being. Looking back over my shoulder, I pointed back into the forest. “Sounds like the recovery team is almost here.”

I waited silently for the next few minutes as the ‘recovery’ team approached us. Every now and again, I’d turned back to make sure that Laika was okay. She’d slumped over onto her side, but was still shivering softly. I’d wanted to go over and comfort her, but stopped myself before I had the chance to screw things up. Thankfully, the crashing of branches nearby brought up a friendly face.

“Bombay?” Buck called out as he swiped effortlessly through the thick foliage on the way to the landing site. They were coming from slightly below me. Buck was down a small slope just past the outskirts of the parachute canopy, and only a couple hundred meters out from where I was. Behind him, I could make out Lucky and the Runner moving slowly forward over the now foliage clear path Buck created. What stumps that Buck left in the way, the heavy metal plow on the front of the four wheeled vehicle pushed right out of its way.

“Up here!” I waved over to Buck. “There’s someone up here as well! A survivor!”

That must have lit a fire under his tail, because his ears perked and he worked even harder to move forward. His long claws easily rended through everything around him as he worked in the swinging of his arms to his movement, helping him almost run forward through the forest while clearing it. In around thirty seconds, he’d cleared his way right up to me, leaving Lucky to slowly creep over the new path on his own. Buck smiled to me as he crested the hill, and I returned it, genuinely happy to have someone else I knew here.

His smile however, dropped when he saw the shivering body behind me. “She’s having a seizure. How long has she been like this?” He asked, rushing past me over to her. Tilting her further onto her side, I could hear as the small dog choked and coughed. He could tell she was in trouble just be looking at her? He looked up to me with a panicked expression as he held her. “What was she doing before you found her?”

“She said she was frozen...” I said, suddenly realizing that I’d made a mistake. “I… I thought she was just crying or something. She’s only been like that a few minutes, not long.” Had I known something was wrong, I would have flown her back myself! “I… I’m sorry, I didn’t…”

“It’s fine.” Buck said as he quickly scooped the small dog into his paw. “Come on, I’m going to need your help with her when we get back at the Hauler.”

“So will she get better?” Violet sighed.

The three of us stood over Buck’s bed, watching as Buck stuck an IV through a small hole he’d cut in her spacesuit. I still felt horrible in having left her there like that. Apparently her seizure had something to do with the fact that she’d been frozen. A sort of ‘revival sickness’ that Buck had only read a theory about in a book once.

“Yes.” Buck nodded, groaning as he stepped back and took a seat in his desk chair. “Though, she may have more seizures before she regains consciousness, which might not be for some time” Looking to me, he spoke sternly. “If that happens, Night, I’ll need you to keep her on her side while I tend to her, alright?” Sighing, he sat back in his chair and rested his head against the container wall. “I’ll try to find something that can be used to help keep her propped on her side in the meantime.”

“Okay.” I nodded. He was the expert here, and I wanted to do anything I could to make up for my lack of action earlier.

“So then,” Buck looked back to Laika. “She has no idea what’s happened? Of all the time that’s passed?”

“No.” I shook my head. “Hispano suggested that we be carefull…” I gasped and clamped my muzzle shut. Oh goddesses, it just slipped out! I didn’t mean to say her name!

“Hispano?” Violet asked, stepping forward next to me. “You mean there was somepony else out at the crash site?”

Shit, shit, shit! Think of something, Night, before you screw this up and Hispano kills you for slipping up!

“Uhhh… yes.” I nodded. Who would be somepony who could just happen to be flying by? “They were… a courier.” Couriers flew between all the Enclave outposts up above the clouds, they had to have something similar down here, right?

“A courier.” Violet deadpanned at me as if the words out of my muzzle had come straight out of a foal's fairytale. “In the middle of nowhere?”

“She uh…” Fucking get yourself together! “She was going up to make a delivery at Fort Mac when she saw the crash in the distance.” Goddesses, please tell me she’ll at the very least believe me!

“Night…” She facehooved hard. Here it comes, the point at which everything breaks down! “You can’t just talk to random strangers. Ponies are dangerous out in the wastes! I’d thought you of all ponies had learned that by now!” That… went better than expected.

“She was unarmed!” I managed to retort. Just because I lied didn’t mean I couldn’t defend myself. “Besides, I had something a little more pressing to worry about!” Pointing over to Laika, Violet gave in and hung her head.

“Just, be more careful next time.” She turned herself around and headed out the open door. “I’m going to see how recovery is going with that capsule.” With a flutter of her wings, she took off and zipped out from the back of the Hauler.

Huffing behind me, Buck shifted on his chair again. “So. Yet another unwitting soul comes to the wasteland from the sky.” Turning around, I watched as he leaned back with a smile. “A Diamond Dog hero, none the less.”

“A hero?” I asked, turning and sitting down on the edge of my own bed. “What do you mean?”

“I read about Commander Laika when I was studying in the Inuvik’s digitized library. Not only that, but all the dogs know her tale.” Buck smirked as her looked over at me with a soft gaze. Slowly, he turned his eyes to the resting Diamond Dog on his bed. A smile slowly stretched across his jagged muzzle. “She’s a legend to our race, but her story was a cautionary tale.” His smirk dropped, and her seemed to hang on that thought.

“Back during the war, Equestria wanted to prove their scientific might to the Zebra empire. They had several programs going at once to try to provide some sort of breakthrough before the Zebra’s could do the same. They were mostly aiming to get the title of ‘world’s first’ for pretty much anything to pad morale for the war.” Buck crossed his massive claws across his chest, and closed his eyes. “However, this came at a time when they were turning against the other races who they thought might be persuaded to join the zebra’s cause. Turning against and evicting the races who thought that ponies were their friends, even if they didn’t always keep up the best relations.”

“But… the Diamond Dogs were our allies…” I spoke up. “The history books didn’t mention any fighting for the zebra’s, or any evictions for that matter. Only how your kind helped to rebuild Hoofington after it was burned, or helped to build the transportation networks across Equestria.”

Buck let out a forced laugh. “The history books you’ve read won’t tell you anything about how the pony government forced us Diamond Dogs from our homes. Clearing us out of our own tunnels and caverns just to give them to Stable-Tec and the Ministries to be filled with concrete and steel for use of their stable projects and research facilities. Sure, they hired us to dig their tunnels for their trains, or construct their subways. But once that was done, we were always cast aside again.” Opening his eyes, he looked over to Laika. “Still, among all of our outrage, a runt from Stalliongrad stood up to make our voice heard.”

“Why would they listen to her?” I asked. I had no idea that was how Buck’s people had been treated in the past. How it would feel to be kicked out from your home by those who you thought were your friends. It was something I feared Delilah wouldn’t hesitate to do if I screwed up again.

“Laika was… is a prodigy.” Buck shook his head. “By age four, she’d mastered Equestria’s standard education. She’d graduated from college with a doctorate in theoretical physics by age eight. All this in a time where most Diamond Dogs struggled to get a grip on the common Equestrian language at all.” I felt my jaw almost drop to the floor, hanging there as Buck looked over to me. His mood picked up as he looked at me, smiling as he continued. “Diamond Dogs mature at a much faster rate than ponies. But still, she was such a sensation to the pony world. Her intellect even caught the eye of Twilight Sparkle. At the time, Miss Sparkle was just getting her Ministry of Arcane Sciences up and running.”

“The Twilight Sparkle?” I shook my head. “But, Diamond Dogs can’t do magic. Why would she have been interested in Laika?”

“Like medicine in my case, you don’t need magic to be good at certain things.” Buck groaned as he picked himself up off his chair. “Science is the same, and some of Laika’s ideas were, as Twilight Sparkle put it, so incredibly fantastical that they might one day change the world.” Reaching out, Buck curled his paw around the IV bag hanging off the sturdy medical stand he had bolted to his desk. Pulling himself closer to it, he inspected it as he continued. “Her ‘necessity’ to Equestrian science allowed her to influence the Equestrian government to change their position on how Diamond Dogs were treated.”

“So, she used the opportunity her unique position afforded her to change the state of current affairs?” I asked, pausing as I finished to reflect how even if everything in my life had changed, right now? It still felt like I was in school. Only this time, I was hearing about actual history, instead of something cut, tailored, and fed to me by the Enclave.

“That is correct.” Buck nodded at that. “She got the government to provide us with new homes on reserved plots of land. Protection against unfair treatment when it came to the jobs we took up in the wartime economy.” With a look back behind him, he sat back down and eyed over Laika. “But, when Laika went up on that first rocket to the stars? Everything changed.”

“What happened?” I felt like a young colt again at bedtime, eagerly waiting for what happened next in the story being told to me.

“Something went wrong with the rocket launch. It went up... but never came back.” He snorted and looked to me with a look of heavy annoyance. “My people claimed sabotage, but it was already too late. Almost overnight, things went back to the way they were before Laika. Some of us left the cities, and some even left the reservations we’d been given, refusing to work for or around ponies any longer. They just wanted to burrow away from the world and it’s pointless war. Turned out that even for them, it wasn’t far enough by the time the end of the war happened.”

“I… I see.” I couldn’t believe that we could have done that to them.

No, that’s not true. I knew that it was exactly what we could have done. Hell, even my race had closed up the sky on the last day. Even if our intentions were to shield Equestria from the Zebra’s missiles, I can’t deny that part of it was that we only cared about ourselves. All of our loyalty to Equestria, was gone in that moment. Honestly, with all that I know now about the wasteland, I can’t believe that I’d ever thought that there was any loyalty in keeping ourselves locked away for so long.

“It was a long time ago, Night.” Buck smiled and looked up to me. “Don’t let history cloud your mind into thinking that things aren’t better now. Everypony is equal down here in the wasteland now.”

“Are they?” I asked, pointing to Buck’s claws. Instinctively, he curled his massive paws up and pulled them close. “You’re right, things are better than they were. Still doesn’t mean that ponies are any less selfish and horrible than they were back then.” Offering as comforting a smile as I could to him, I was happy to see him mirror it. “Change is hard, but I have to believe that if we can be friends, then there’s at least some amount of hope. Right?”

Buck nodded. “Yeah, I suppose that’s true. Thank you though. It means a lot to hear you say that.” Looking back over to Laika, he looked down to his paws. “I do hope she wakes up soon however.”

“Yeah.” I sighed, flopping back onto my bed with a sigh. “Besides, we’ve got a long trip ahead of us, and I’m sure you could use someone to talk to who isn’t as dumb as a brick like me.”

“I’m fairly certain that you’re smarter than you give yourself credit for, Night.” Buck spoke up as I closed my eyes. “But if all else fails, like Violet pointed out while you slept, at least you’ve got your looks to fall back on.” He chuckled to himself as a felt a warm blush on my cheeks.

Another day coming to an end. Another day that I hadn’t screwed up anything on this trip. Still, I couldn’t help but feel better about laying there in my bed. While I’d missed the fact that Laika needed help, I’d still done something to help her out at all. On top of that, maybe Buck will feel more comfortable with someone of his own race around. He’d already started to open up to me when I asked him about his family. Maybe now I’ll be able to see a whole different side of him. As I sat in thought, a sharp yawn found it’s way out of my muzzle.

Well, that was all a worry for another time. For a future me that isn’t so damn exhausted. Because right now, what I could use was a nice, long nap.

Much to my surprise, the next few days seemed to fly by. The endless cracked blacktop highway wound through the various forested mountain valleys, and over countless streams, rivers, and ravines. Everypony on the convoy went about their business without much discussion, and things seemed to stay relatively quiet.

Crew dinner time was one of the few times we all socialized, even though I didn’t really ever participate. Baring asking my opinion on a few things that seemed more like them trying to use me to settle old arguments than actually caring what I thought, they hardly said much to me at all. Though, it was nice to be included I supposed.

Yes, things during the day were slow. Hardcase sat on lookout, seeming happy when I joined him up top the few times I did. Violet spent most of her time in the air, scouting ahead of the convoy as she got back to the job Delilah had brought her along for, instead of foalsitting me. When she wasn’t scouting, she was too busy pretending to be an astropony sitting in Laika’s space capsule. Which of course, had actually been chained up onto the backside of the ice hold. Speaking of the ice hold, I avoided Happy for the time being, even though I still wasn’t sure what he did down in the ice hold all day. It was better to be bored and curious, than risk making things awkward again.

Boiler would end up talking my ear off about all the different things about her job she wished were easier, even though most of the things she spoke of were mechanical terms that flew way over her head. And the one time that I flew back out to Lucky, he ended up sitting there in an awkwardly tense silence for about fifteen minutes until I left. He didn’t seem to be very social at all, mostly brooding in silence I’d found. Guess I know who to visit if I ever need some quiet time around here.

At the opposite end, I didn’t visit Gearbox up in the driver's cab. It wasn’t because I didn’t find him interesting, more out of the fear that his already relaxed state meant that any distraction might cause him to forget he was driving and run us right off the road. As for Bessy, the wheeled zebra tank in the lead? I avoided hanging around there because distracting Delilah was liable to get me kicked off this crew, and distracting Howitzer would mean leaving Bessy defenceless. Not that Howitzer was much better than Lucky at being social anyway...

Yes, everypony went about their jobs as normal as could be while the hours came and went. However, starkly opposite to this, both Buck and I ended up mostly sitting around and doing nothing most of the time. Well, that’s not true. Buck spent most of his day monitoring Laika’s condition, with me helping him out when her seizures would return now and again. Still, after our talk about Diamond Dog history, I don’t think either of us quite knew how to strike up a conversation again. He’d engrossed himself in his terminal, and as I pointed out, I lounged about Bertha most of the time.

Today however started off different. While we’d hit the road early, Hardcase hadn’t yet gone up to his observation post at the mounted AA gun up top. Instead, he sat at the radio in the rec area, fiddling with it’s controls as he ate a bowl of stale sugar apple bombs cereal. I watched him from my bed, curious as to what he was doing messing with it. After a moment however, the speaker on the set gave a crackle. Perking my ears, I listened in intently.

“...oming from the south, I’ve got more of the news you can use on the latest happenins’ from that crazy town of Hoofington.”

“Sweet, we’re in range again.” Hardcase muttered through a muzzle full of sugary cereal, smiling as he turned the volume knob up on the radio. The deep voice of a stallion filled the air, and held my complete attention.

“Reports of all out war coming to the old jiving tech town seem to be pouring in as the factions around the ominously named ‘core’ are setting up to fight it out over who gets to be King of the Hoofington scrap heap. Or if what I’ve heard is correct, Queen, as word on the scene is that the hip cat heroine ‘Security’ and her band of merry misfits are poised to join the fight as well. Smart money’s on that mare, as she seems to know how to really jive among all those squares in the old city.”

The voice on the radio was entrancing. I’d never heard anypony with as deep or smooth of a voice as this stallion had, and I almost stopped breathing as I hung on his every word. Never mind the fact that the Enclave government radios were forcibly tuned to one station, the radio hosts never had any personality anyway. This pony… I could get lost in his voice.

“Anyway, that’s enough shop talk from this stallion for one hour. I know why you folks tune in up here, and it’s to hear the freshest tunes and jive jams that DJ PowerColt comes at you with every day. This is Factory Radio, with new music manufactured and broadcast to you northern wasters daily. Here’s a little something I cooked up after a fever dream I had a few moons ago. You cool cat’s enjoy, and remember to keep those dials tuned right here for more new music every hour.”

Some sort of oddly rhythmic music came out over the speakers. A relaxed beat that started with small bits of classical instruments, which was nothing special really. Shortly however, it grew into something entirely different. The music seemed to repeat a heavy bass tone mixed in with various electronic noises, all weaved together with the old wartime music I’d always listened to before. It was unlike anything I’d ever heard before. I watched as Hardcase bounced along in his seat to the rhythm, looking over to me with a smile before getting up and starting to outright dance to the music.

“What is all that noise?” Buck asked, getting up from his chair and walking over to our open door. Looking out, the two of us watched as Hardcase didn’t hold himself back, rocking to the electronic beat and seeming lost in his own world of dance.

“I don’t know…” I said, finding myself bouncing along on my bed to the beat as well. “But I kind of like it.” I’d never really been one to even having given dancing a thought at any point back in my old life, and yet, I felt like I needed to try. I had an opportunity to get up and experience something new for once, and I was going to try it! Springing to my hooves and out into the rec area, I tried to mimic the moves that Hardcase was doing. In all reality, I was making myself look like an idiot, but the laughing and continued dancing from Hardcase only encouraged me to try harder.

“It’s DJ PowerColt!” Hardcase said mid twirl on his hooves. “His station broadcasts all across the northern wastes. New music all the time.” He kept up his oddly rhythmic dancing, keeping my eyes so focused on his perfect undulating form, that I almost stopped hearing him. “Nopony knows how he can be so creative, but nopony really cares. All his shit’s too catchy to ignore!” Wildly smiling, he looked over to Buck without even breaking form with his dance. “Come on, Doc! Shake that tail!”

Before I knew it, I looked over and caught Buck’s large spiky tail swaying to the beat as well.

“I must admit,” Buck smiled and nodded in admission. “It is remarkably different than the standard wartime music I grew up with.” As he swayed to the beat, I danced my way over to him. Hoofing around his paw with a smile, I pulled him out of our room. He laughed as he relented, joining Hardcase and I in swinging to the beat. And in that moment, the boredom of the last few days fell away. I felt alive again, and nothing could take away this feeling as the three of us danced our cares away. After a couple minutes of carefree dancing, the music fuzzed out as the radio gave a sharp crackle.

“Hardcase, check in.” Delilah’s bored voice called over the headset.

Yes, nothing could take that good feeling we all felt away except for Delilah. Her voice could drain the optimism and enjoyment out of anything it seemed. Still, Hardcase straightened himself out and walked back to the receiver. Firmly, he picked up the mic in his magic and cleared his throat.

“Yes, Delilah, I’m reading you.” He said, his backside still slightly swaying to the sadly absent beat.

“Looks like we’ll be arriving at Klondike in a half hour.” She stated without any real enthusiasm to her words. “I need you to make sure Buck gets Laika ready to transfer over to the town clinic before he and Bombay report in for casting alongside you.”

Looking over to us with a nervous smile, that killed his subtle dancing completely. “I read you. I’ll let them know.” Sighing, he reached out to the radio and put a hoof on a few of the switches. “Hardcase, out.” Flipping the switches, the radio fuzzed and turned off, dropping us all into silence.

“What’s casting?” Buck asked, stepping back towards our container. With a relaxed sigh, he leaned up against it.

“So, neither of you have ever heard of Klondike?” Hardcase sighed, nodding for me to take a seat on the squeaky sofa that sat against the wall. I shook my head before doing as he asked and taking a seat on the old couch cushions.

“I’ve heard of it,” Buck spoke as he rubbed at his chin, “However, only by name. I know nothing of the town itself.”

“Well, back during the war, they flew out a whole bunch of movies studios from the Applewood hills and built an entire mock town in the secluded north.” Hardcase’s grubly annoyed tone as he began didn’t exactly make me excited for what he had to say about this place. “All the PSAs and propaganda films of the war were written, shot, and edited there by the Ministry of Image, who were fully funded by corporate backers like Stable-Tec, Solaris Inc, and Robronco.” Sighing, Hardcase sat back down in his radio chair and seemed to deflate. “The end of the war didn’t affect the film crews and stars who were filming up here.”

“What about the fallout from the Balefire bombs?” Buck asked. “The magical radiation fell across the whole world.”

“Yes, well, Stable-Tec being a founder of Klondike, meant that they built a full sized functioning stable up here for use in filming their own commercials and other productions.” Hardcase rolled his eyes. “The ‘fake’ stable 555 ended up saving almost a thousand ponies. However, they were at a loss with what to do with themselves when they re-emerged after a few years, pretty much once the short lived northern radstorms stopped. So, they simply picked up where they left off.”

“What do you mean? They just went back to filming things after the end of the world?” I asked, not sure what good it would do to just keep on going like that.

“Well, when faced with the end of society as you knew it and nowhere to return back to down south. What else would you do?” Hardcase shrugged. “Regardless, over the years, the elitist and egotistical actors became fed up with the ‘unoriginality’ of the writers and ‘bothersome’ other crew, kicking all six hundred of them out into the wastes. Hell, even a few actors that objected were ‘fired’ as well. The remaining actors all took up ‘characters’ in the town and continued to act things out through improv on their own. Even their foals nowadays have all grown up with two names, having to act everything out everyday as they carry on like nothing ever changed in their perfect fake town.”

Facehoofing, Hardcase didn’t sound too happy about it. “I mean, I know a thing or two about acting out a character. But it’s infuriating when you do something as simple as ask where a bathroom is, to then be told that you speak in an odd way and have them ask you if you come from out of town when they know you’re just passing through.” Yeah, so far, I wasn’t really liking the sound of this place. “They despise the fact that they don’t ever get a chance to show off their characters to anypony, and drag out any interaction to an infuriating level. They eventually end up going on and on and on with monologues and the like.”

That reminded me of something. “Delilah said we had to volunteer with casting? Are we going to help the town out with something for the actors?”

“Sort of. Originally, Delilah took a different rout on the way up to the Inuvik, missing this place and hoping to throw Solomon off our trail. Lucky, Violet and I however had to run back through here to set up a deal with them for this afternoon.” Hardcase groaned. “Delilah want’s to pull a few favors from the town to slow down Solomon again, so we have to join them for the day as characters. We’re going to casting once we arrive in order to be placed in roles the will ‘fit’ us.”

“I see.” Buck said, stroking his chin again with one of his large claws. “I assume then that we will be placed wherever our talents lie, to both help out the town and to fit our roles.” Which made sense. Though… that’s going to make things hard for me. What role do I play if I don’t even know what I’m good at?

“No.” Hardcase said flatly. “Like I said, they hardly get outsiders up this far north past random trade convoys.” He shook his head before slumping down against the radio table. “We’re going to be fought over and bid on for our roles like slaves.” Sighing he banged his head on the table a few times. “It’s the most demeaning and embarrassing thing to be bought like that.”

“You’ve had to do it?” I asked slowly.

He nodded. “The first time Lucky, Violet, and I came up through here? We stopped for the afternoon in Klondike. In order to stay at all, they forced us to spend the night. The price, was that one of us had to be characters. They chose Lucky to do it, but as he stood on that stage getting fought over like that… he broke down into tears from how much it reminded him of what his brother and him went through as slaves. I volunteered and took his place instead.”

“These ponies hardly sound civilized if they force this upon their guests.” Buck scoffed as he pushed himself off the wall. “Still, once we’ve got a roll, I guess all we have to do is last the night.”

“That’s harder than it sounds, Doc.” Hardcase said, sitting back up. “You might get placed as a night watch pony for the town gates if you’re lucky. However, you could also get to be the town mechanic who has to fix something before we leave.” Looking down, he took a deep breath. “And don’t think you can break character. Staying in character is the law around here, and unless you want to spend a week in the town jail, let’s just say you better hope you fix what needs fixing.”

“And we can’t just, you know, skip this place?” I was afraid that I already knew what the answer was going to be.

“No.” Hardcase shook his head as I knew he would. “Delilah needs this from us, and so we’ll do as we’re asked.” Looking between Buck and I, he shrugged. “Keeping Solomon delayed helps us in the long run, so we’ll do it with a smile, alright?” He forced a smile across his muzzle. “Now, get your things together and get ready to rub noses with some of the most obnoxious ponies who’ve ever graced the wasteland. And let’s hope that as characters, we don’t have to do that literally…”

“Welcome to Klondike!” An incredibly overdressed, dust colored stallion called out as Buck, Hardcase, and I made our way down the stairway to the ground from Bertha. The stallion himself was overweight, had what was obviously a combover underneath his smaller than average cartoonish top hat. If that were ridiculous looking enough, he wore a large white sash across his chest that boldly exclaimed MAYOR across it. “As Mayor, let me be the first to welcome you fine folks into our humble little town!”

Lined up and down the sidewalks of main street, were dozens of well dressed and… well, oddly dressed ponies. Wow, Hardcase wasn’t kidding about taking things seriously. Almost all of these ponies looked like they belonged in the pictures of the old days that I’d seen here and there. Matching polka dotted dresses that went almost down to the rear fetlocks on the mares who wore them, which seemed a bit excessively uniform to me. Then again, most of the stallions who weren't wearing some sort of tradespony outfit, wore identical pinstripe pants that were held up by trouser suspenders. All standing out as they were, even in their plain clothes, they almost looked like an army rather than townsponies. It was an eerie sight on it’s own, only made worse by the plastic looking forced smiles across all of their faces.

“Thank you for accommodating us, Mayor.” Delilah called out as she climbed down off the striped hulk of Bessy. “However, we picked up someone in need of medical care along the way. Do you mind if my Doctor sets her up in your clinic before he heads off to casting?”

“Sure thing, Ma’am.” The mayor belted out an obnoxiously loud laugh. “We here in this perfect little town of Klondike are always happy to help the good folk of Equestria. That is,” He paused, turning around to the lines of ponies along the sidewalks. “So long as we ask them what, folks?” He called out to all of them.

Everypony in unison turned and pointed down the street. It took me a moment to see the large faded billboard still propped up on the valley hills outside of town. It showed a cartoonish stallion and mare smiling with a foal next to them waving happily. The words across the top of it were more faded than the bold ones at the bottom, but still legible. 'Equestria has a new standard of community perfection to work towards, and we all need to pitch in!' Which simply oozed of Ministry of Image propaganda. However, as I read the bottom text, I was joined by the entire town shouting it at me.

“What would you do for Klondike?” The towns folk shouted as one before diverting into celebratory yips and shouts. Yeah… this place just went from Oddville to Creepytown in mere moments.

“Come on, folks!” The mayor shouted to the celebrating ponies. “Everypony head on down to the casting hall! We’ll begin casting auditions in ten minutes!” Turning back to us, the jubilant and rosey cheeked mayor deadpanned. “Alright, you have ten minutes to get your doctor’s patient set up at the clinic.” Eyeing at Delilah, a sly smirk crawled across his short muzzle. “So, is our agreement still in place?”

Delilah gave a stiff nod. “Yes, Mayor.” Turning to us, she held her hoof out. “We will be heading out from town in about an hour, but these three will be with you for the day.” Wait, they were leaving!? “We will be leaving our chase vehicle here along with it’s driver overnight as well. They will catch up with us tomorrow morning.”

“Splendid.” The mayor smiled and looked over to us. “Three new actors… how delightful.” He giggled at us before Delilah got his attention by tapping her hoof on the pavement a few times. “Right, as for your end of the bargain. The next convoy we see will be delayed due to… unforeseen mechanical issues. You have my word.”

“Then it seems that our business is concluded.” Delilah said, getting a nod from the Mayor before he turned and walked off. Turning towards us, Delilah’s eyes didn’t wander to anyone other than me as she spoke. “Alright, follow their rules. Don’t get into trouble, and Lucky should get you all back to us by tomorrow evening.” Narrowing her eyes, now I knew she was speaking to me. “Is that clear.”

Nodding sharply, I stood up as straight as I could. “You can count on me, Ma’am.”

“Good.” She said dismissively before finally looking over to Buck. “Get Laika set up as best you can. Their doctors should take care of her just fine until she recovers. She can decide what to do and where to go whenever she wakes up.” Looking over to Hardcase, she cocked her eyebrow and grew a smirk of her own across your muzzle. “Remember, it’s only a day, Hardcase. Now, you and Buck get things sorted and get going.”

“Yeah.” He nodded and offered a nervous smile of his own. “I’ll do my best to help Bombay adjust. Try to keep him out of trouble.” Turning around, he followed Buck back up the stairs of the hauler to get their things.

That brought Delilah’s gaze back onto me. “Remember, don’t screw this up and I’ll consider removing your probation.” Nodding again, she sighed and looked to relax. “Alright. One last thing, Night, and listen close.” She said, leaning in closer to me. “I’ve already told Hardcase this, but I don’t trust this place.” Gee, I wondered why that was. Maybe because the ponies here all seemed mildly insane. “Hardcase has mentioned before that they treat guests like slaves, so it wouldn’t surprise me if the Mayor tried to pull the same ‘mechanical’ issue on the Runner to keep you all here longer.” She eyed me over her cat-eye glasses, giving me a stone faced expression. “Keep an ear up for anything going on, and find a way to get to Hardcase or Lucky should something go wrong.”

“Okay.” I nodded as she took a step back.

“Good.” She went back to eyeing me as she turned her muzzle up at me. “You’ve been doing well these last few days. If you keep it together for your time here, you can expect to take over half of Violet’s recon shifts by the time you get back to the Hauler.” Reaching out, she prodded me sharply with her forehoof. “But that’s if you keep it together.” Swinging her hoof out, she huffed. “Now go. The sooner you start this acting fiasco, the faster it can be done and over with.”

Nodding, I turned and looked around. Down main street, a few of the well dressed towns ponies were still milling about as they slowly made their way towards one of the side streets. Deciding that it was as good a place as any to start, I pushed myself into a trot and walked across the open street toward them.

Looking around, I took in just how strikingly well kept this place was. The storefronts were all painted with bright colors, painstakingly ornate painted shop window borders depicted the general items that could be found inside. Bright red roses and yellow tulips for ‘Sunflower’s Floural Boutique!’, manedryers and curling irons for ‘Sassy’s Salon’. Across the street, nuts, bolts, and various tools decorated the windows of ‘Tiny Timber Building Supplies’, which was oddly chosen to sit next door to the ‘Dreamland Diner’. All of it felt so unreal with how… normal it all looked. Hardcase was right, nothing much changed for these ponies with the end of the world.

Looking further up the street, the blocky blue and white face of the Klondike Police Department had a single pony standing in front of it. Wearing impeccably well kept and pressed blue uniform, the grey coated mare standing at the door looked incredibly bored. Still, turning towards her, I figured that if anypony knew this town, it had to be somepony in law enforcement. Even if they were only acting like a police officer.

‘Excuse me, miss?” I called out as I trotted up to her. Turning her head slowly, she eyed me over before cocking her eyebrow slowly. “I’m new here and looking for where Casting is?”

The earth pony mare gave out a bored sigh, raising her hoof and pointing toward the street where all the milling ponies were walking down. Halfway down the street, past another few shop buildings, was the flashing lights of what looked to be an old theatre. I facehooved looking at it, feeling incredibly stupid for not guessing that acting ‘auditions’ would take place in an actual theatre.

“Thank you.” I sighed, going to turn around when I stopped myself. Looking back at the bored looking mare, I had an odd question come to mind. “Do… you like it here? I mean, no offence, but you don’t look quite as… enthusiastic as the other towns ponies.” I gave her a nervous smile, hoping that she didn’t mind the intrusive question too much. Instead, she simply shrugged, going back to looking out across the street with a thousand yard stare. “Well,” I said, looking down at the name badge on her breast pocket. “Officer Minty. Thanks for the help.”

Waving goodbye to her, I turned around and made my way across the street. As I did, I found myself joined by Hardcase, who saddled up against my side with a smile. I looked at him, confused at the odd turn of enthusiasm.

“That mare you were talking to? Officer Minty?” He whispered as we walked. “Oh, she’s a real hoot around here.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, keeping my voice down as we trotted past the mares I saw earlier. There were younger than me, the unicorns among them carrying schoolbooks in their magic. They giggled among themselves as we passed them by, Hardcase simply rolling his eyes at them.

“Ol’ Minty there is Ex-raider. Had her tongue cut out by her own clan, so she can’t speak.” Hardcase giggled. “It drives all these idiot actors nuts when she’s around, because they can’t play off her role at all. But she’s good at throwing out the riff raff, so they keep her around.” Tapping me on the side, he looked back at her with a smile. “Goddess I hope I get paired up with her. It would be the easiest twenty four hours to spend in this place.”

I didn’t want to open my muzzle, but… it always seemed to happen anyway. “And the worst?” I said slowly.

Approaching the Theatre, Hardcase stepped away a bit and smiled. “Just do your best to act friendly to those you want to be paired up with.” Waving to a few more blue uniformed police ponies up ahead who were milling in front of the theatre, he flashed a wide smile. “Just stand up straight and smile with confidence. Acting even before you get a part just might make the difference between a night of bliss…” Looking back to me, his grind twisted nervously. “And a night of hell that drags on forever…”

Approaching the double doors to the old world theatre, we found the doors opened for us. A pair of smiling, well dressed red and black ushur ponies greeted us and waved us in. The green coated ushur mare standing behind the concession stands to the right was about my age, and giggled as we trotted past her. Inside the well kept theatre lobby was another mare in usher clothing who greeted us. However her clothes were a solid matte black, matching her black coat almost completely in tone.

“I’m Radiant Podium, the Showcase Theatre’s manager. I assume you two are here for casting?” The well dressed unicorn spoke in such a soft, respectful voice that it caught me off guard. With a smile softer than velvet, she held her hoof out to her side as we nodded. “Excellent. Let me show the two of you backstage so we can get you ready for the show.” Nodding to ponies at the doors, they both turned and let them slowly swing shut behind us. “This way, if you would please follow me.”

The heavy wooden doors shut behind us with a solid thump, and in the back of my mind, I knew that we’d just crossed the threshold of no return.

Author's Note

Forgot to add this in when I posted it, but many thanks to PlagenShiki for all the great work he's done in the past for me. He's got his own story that he's been writing, Fallout Equestria: Icicle, that has to do with Miss Ratchet, the inventor of the cryogenics systems that have been appearing in all my stories, including this one. Anyway, go give his stuff a look!

And while I'm saying it, thanks to Kkat, Somber, Mimezinga, No One, and all the others who have done fantastic Fo:E stories that have done nothing but help inspire me to continue my own!

Chapter 12 - No business like show business

If you can't learn to do it well, you should learn to enjoy doing it poorly.

Normally, if it were my choice, I’d love something like this.

“Is this dress not something you’re willing to wear?” The manager, Radiant Podium, asked me as she held up an absolutely stunning emerald dress in her levitation. “I could find you another outfit perhaps?”

However, this was more demeaning than anything. Being paraded out on stage and auctioned off to the highest bidder. I could already tell why Lucky and Hardcase didn’t approve. Still, I was here, and there was no way to get out of it now.

Looking at the dress, I thought about all the ones I used to oogle in the stores with Mom. Or the few I wore at home. I don’t know what kind of material it was made out of, but it rippled in the softly circulating air inside the backstage dressing room. Still, as much as I didn’t mind wearing a dress for Mom, this… was different. I know that Hispano told me to embrace my looks and to use them to my advantage. But, actually doing that was different than just saying I should!

“It’s… not that.” I blushed brightly and rubbed at my forehoof. Looking at my own green and yellow mane as it drooped over my eye, I couldn’t help but freeze up at all this. “I…”

“Oh heavens me, you’re right.” Radiant Podium gasped, looking over me before looking at the dress. Tossing it aside, she scoffed. “Red would be a much more complimentary color to your pallet.” Smiling, she gave a soft wave of her hoof. “I’ll see if we have one in the closet. I’d hate to head all the way out to the props department in the stable for a dress.” Yes, because what I needed right now was this to take even longer than it had to. Like Buck had said, might as well get this over with.

“Give me the green one.” I sighed and held out my hoof to her. “I can make it work.”

“Are you sure?” She asked, wrapping the dress in her magic and folding it up neatly. “It wouldn’t be too much trouble…”

“I’m sure.” My cheeks felt like hot coals on my face, burning brighter than they probably ever had before in my life. She dropped the dress down over my hoof, and I felt the lightweight fabric flutter down onto me. It felt impossibly light for it’s thickness, and felt like it wasn’t actually touching me. Rather, it felt like it was hovering just above the top of my coat, letting air flow under it to keep me cool.

“Alright.” She nodded to the slatted door across the hall. “Go ahead and try it on in there while I go find you an accessory to match. Then with any luck, you’ll be ready for the red carpet!” Holding her hoof out, she gave me a soft pat on the back as I slung the dress around my neck and trotted over into the small fitting room.

It took me a few minutes to slip into the exquisite dress. It was clearly made for a mare with my figure, however… that mare probably wasn’t supposed to have wings. Just cramming my wings inside was hard enough, but it made the dress pull against my barrel uncomfortably tight. Looking back, I was struggling to figure out just how I was going to get the zipper all the way up when the slatted door behind me opened again.

“Let me help you with that.” Radiant Podium smiled and used her magic to slide the zipper up. I don’t know what this material was, but it was both strong and light. Just shifting on my hooves, I could also feel the air against my coat. Other than the tightness of it, I could see myself showing a dress like this off to mom… only, that will never happen. “Alright, and we’re in luck! I found you a pair of matching shoes in the closet.” Radiant Podium wiggled a pair of emerald green heels in her magic, giving a light giggle.

As I slipped them on my hind hooves, thunderous applause came from the other side of the dressing room wall. Before I could wonder just what had happened, Hardcase opened the door to the stage and strolled in with a wide smile. He wore a slimming black tux over his purple coat, and his yellow mane had been slicked back. Overall he looked sharp, and I cursed the fact that he looked so damn handsome despite being completely unavailable.

“Got the police gig!” He beamed to me as he shut the door. Pausing as he looked at me, he waggled his eyebrows a bit. “Wow, Bombay, you look stunning in that.” Again, another heated blush fell across my cheeks that I tried to hide with my mane. “Aww, don’t give me that.” He used his magic to lift my mane away as he looked at me. “You look amazing, and that isn’t something you should hide from.”

“I know I shouldn’t,” I said softly. “and thank you.”

“Now get out there and make the bastards pay for such stunning beauty.” He said, holding his hoof out toward the door.

“I agree, she is perfect.” Radiant Podium giggled as she stepped back, looking me over. “Good enough that even I might throw out a bid or two.”

“Really?” I asked softly. Working for her at the theatre here? That couldn’t be all bad! I mean hell, I’d rather get this place than that maintenance job Hardcase was talking about. I smiled at the well dressed mare as she nodded at me. I don’t know why, but it gave me a small amount of relief that maybe things wouldn’t be so bad tonight.

Applause roared from the other side of the wall again. This time, it was Buck who came through. He wasn’t wearing anything like Hardcase was, simply his medical yoke and white lab coat. Probably because the stallion’s fitting room didn’t have anything for his size more than anything.

“A dog.” He huffed, lumbering in with heavy steps. “I get to be an old lady’s dog for the night.” Sitting down in the middle of the floor, he looked like a cross between absolutely flabbergasted, and downright outraged. That is, until he looked over to me, and a heated blush of his own made his cheeks glow.

“Hey, there’s worse parts out there to play, Doc.” Hardcase answered with a smirk as he gave the large Snow Dog a pat on the back.

“It’s your turn, sugar.” Radiant Podium spoke as she reached out and gave me a pat on the back as well. “Get out there and show them what you’ve got. I’ll be right behind you.”

Nodding, I headed toward the door. Buck’s disappointed look at his placement had put a dent in the good feeling I’d had only a minute ago, and each step toward the door felt like my hooves weighed a million more pounds each. But I had to do this. I could do this. Just… do what your friends told you to, and make a good impression. The acting starts the second you walk out that door, Night. So just…

The door swung open with Radiant Podium’s magic. The stage just past the curtains ahead was bathed in bright lights. The mayor stood in the center of the stage in front of an old standing microphone. He smiled brightly as he saw me, lighting up like a proud father giving away his only daughter. Well, if he was giving her away to dozens of bidding strangers, maybe.

“Alrighty here folks!” He said as I made my way out onto the stage. “This fine young mare is a rare commodity indeed!” He laughed.

Walking out onto the stage, I fought with every step to keep from freezing up. My movement felt jerky, unnatural, and it felt like the dress around my barrel grew tighter just by being under the lights. Still, I smiled as brightly as I could and continued forward.

“Now, for a young mare such as herself, I would assume that there would be quite a few of you out there willing to pay good caps for a night with her.” The mayor snorted and gave a short laugh into the mic. Oh Celestia I wished he hadn’t phrased it that way. This night wasn’t going to end well if my ‘character’ had to take off this dress at any point. “And thusly, I’ll start the bidding at five hundred caps!” The crowd burst into gasps and hushed murmurs about the price. I simply stood there and did my best to look pretty. “Do I hear five hundred?”

“Construction has five hundred!” A stallion toward the back in a yellow hard hat called out.

“We have five hundred!” The mayor called back, his smile growing wider. “Do I hear five fifty?”

“Dreamland Diner has five fifty!” The hoarse voice of an overweight mare with frizzy green hair called out from my left.

“Gavin’s groceries has six hundred!” A griffon from the front row shouted.

“Eight hundred for the mare to be my wife for the evening!” A lone stallion in the back called out with a wide, yet oddly focused smile. A collective gasp ran through the crowd, most of them turning toward the back of the dark theatre. All the way in the back, in the darkness that ran along the far wall, a modest looking middle aged unicorn stepped forward.

His large square glasses across his equally square muzzle reflected the light from the stage. While his blonde, bowl cut mane hung in combination with his glasses, hiding most of his eyes from me. The red knit sweater he wore was clean and pressed, and overall he presented himself well. If not for the connotations of being his wife, he seemed like a pretty safe choice.

“I’m prepared to go up to a thousand for her!” He called out, more towards the others than to the mayor. The prospect of spending the night with a stallion wasn’t the part I didn’t like. I just like to think that a few dates are in order before moving to what I’m fairly certain he has planned for me.

“That’s up to a thousand caps for a night with this beautiful young mare!” The mayor shouted out, his grin a mile wide at this point. “Anypony else?” He asked. He looked over to me, holding his hoof up over the mic. “Give them a little spin, won’t you dear?” He said with a tone that instantly shot me back to how wrong this could all go. Doing as he asked, I spun around for the crowd. “A thousand going once.” Celestia please, no. “Going twice!” I don't’ want to spend the night with this guy…

“Two thousand caps!” Radiant Podium shouted out from behind me. In an instant, the crowd went wild.

“Now now, settle down everypony.” The mayor called out, reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out a handkerchief. Daintily, he dabbed it along his sweating forehead as he looked like he was about to collapse from the excitement of it all. “You sure do know how to amp up the drama, Mrs. Radiant. Well done.” He chuckled, getting a courteous bow from her. “Two thousand caps. Going once!” He said. “Going twice!”

I breathed a sigh of relief. That had been too close for comfort. Turning my gaze back out to the crowd, I managed to catch a peek of the outbid stallion pushing open the doors to the theatre and slipping out. Thank Celestia for that.

“Sold, to Mrs. Radiant Podium for the price of two thousand caps!” The mayor shouted, getting a standing ovation from the crowd. They stomped and yipped in celebration for the show they’d just watched, calling and whistling toward the stage ‘bravo’ and ‘encour!’.

“Meet me up in my office.” Mrs. Radiant spoke into my ear as she stepped up beside me. Pointing her hoof across the dark theatre room, she guided my vision up above the empty second floor seating, and over toward a small square window. Nodding to her, I turned and headed back into the dressing room.

For being auctioned off for the night, that actually went better than I expected.

The theatre was quiet, and everypony in town had gone back to their daily lives now that casting was over. As it turned out, this theatre wasn’t just for stage plays. The small room that worked as Radiant’s office, doubled as an old movie projection room as well. A large white canvas screen had been lowered from the ceiling over the stage I’d been on just minutes ago. As I sat on one of the comfortable loveseats that Mrs. Radiant Podium had against the back walls, I looked over the emerald dress I still wore. I was going to take it off, but honestly… even though it was a bit tight, I felt good in it. I looked good in it as well.

“Alrighty.” Mrs. Radiant said with a relieved sigh as she levitated a flat silver can alongside of her. “Attack of the fifty foot mare. A timeless classic.” She said, using her magic to split the can in two. Inside was a reel of film, which she quickly placed into the projector while feeding the first bit of the film into a mechanism on it. “Ever seen it?”

“Can’t say I have.” I replied, shifting on the comfortable seat. “So… what do I do now?”

“Well, I’ll give you a character to play, and you’ll do your best to follow along.” She smiled softly to herself as she used her magic to wind the film reel around the different rollers and locks of the projector. “Don’t worry about screwing up or doing a good job in this town, as you won’t be around for long anyway.” She sighed, hooking the film to the other end of the projector and flicking a switch. The projector gave a hum and advanced the reel along. “All these ponies, they don’t know what real acting is.”

“Why’s that?” Again, it just slipped out of my muzzle. That’s going to get you killed one day, Night…

“Because,” Mrs. Radiant laughed, looking back to me with her apple green eyes, “how many of them do you think have actually seen a movie in their lifetime?” Giving her a shrug, it pulled another chuffing laugh out of her. “Please. For them to come here and watch a movie would mean admitting that there was somepony out there who was better than them. All we ever see in here are random traders and travelers stopping in for a few hours at most for some relaxation and old world entertainment.” Rolling her eyes, she smiled off into the far corner of the room. “I’m the best actress this town has, and that’s not really saying much. Though…” She paused, seeming to think on something. “Unlike the others in this town, I’ve met a real actress. A goddess whose acting prowess knows no limits.”

She paused, smiling into one of the empty corners of the room. Looking between her and the corner, I kept waiting for something to happen. Slowly, Mrs. Radiant’s smile dimmed. Her expression swiftly changed to worry as she looked to me.

“Can you not see her?” She asked. It had been about now that I was beginning to think that maybe this wasn’t the best fit for me…

“Enough.” A voice spoke through the room. An authoritative mare’s voice, seasoned with experience and wisdom. Which was odd, because I couldn’t hear it in her voice; rather I felt it in her words. “It is not wise to reveal us to all who you employ.” The mare spoke again. Spinning around in the chair, I looked for the source of the voice, finding no one else other than Radiant and I in this room.

“But… she will not tell anypony of you. I guarantee it!” Mrs. Radiant pleaded to the voice. “I only ask that you do not make me appear foolish before our guest.”

“Alright, quit your groveling.” The mare spoke. With a shimmer, the air in the corner that Mrs. Radiant had been looking at moved. It parted, like a fabric curtain, revealing a pony as tall as Buck. Her coat was as soft of a blue as the night sky was. Large, full wings sat neatly tucked on her sides. Most frighteningly, a pair of slit yellow eyes sat under a long and sharp horn in the center of her head.

“Goddesses…” I gasped. It… it was the princess of the night!

“Nay. We are not who you assume.” The alicorn before me spoke without moving her muzzle at all. “We are an abomination. A monster created by mother, now returned to our rightful domain.”

“I… don’t understand.” Again, I was confused, but this was bigger than anything I’d seen before! An actual alicorn, right out of the history books, right here in the room with me!

“You sit in the presence of Lilac Lace. Queen of the silver screen!” Mrs. Radiant spoke the words as if she were speaking to the goddesses themselves. As she did, she lifted the split film tin to Attack of the fifty foot mare. Across the description section, my eyes immediately noticed the name printed on it. Lilac Lace.

“You… starred in this movie?” I asked, looking over to the alicorn. A toothy grin split her blue muzzle as she nodded.

“We… I starred in a great many movies before the end. I even did my own stunts, jumping through safety glass and all. You won’t find anypony who dares risk it themselves nowadays however. Here they don’t even understand how to truly be the characters they’ve been playing for years.” She narrowed her eyes and looked around at the various other film tins scattered about the room. “Not that there are any good movies nowadays. There would have been many more had I not been kicked out for standing up for the other crew.” Kicking her slender and long forehoof out, she held it above one of the tins before bringing it down hard enough to bend it around her hoof.

“Mother found me as I wandered, and as a fellow showpony, accepted me for my abilities to coerce and enthral all those who gazed upon my acting prowess.” Lifting her forehoof, she inspected it with a devilish smirk. “She gave me this body and it’s abilities for a purpose far greater than any screenwriter in Applewood could ever offer.” Kicking again, she sent the crumpled film can skittering across the floor. “Until that mare snatched her away from us all…”

“Yes, Miss Lace has had a rough time readjusting the last few weeks.” Mrs. Radiant’s smile shifted to a more nervous one. Eyeing over to me, she pointed up to the projector. “Would you like to see it? The perfection that is Miss Lace’s work?”

And get out of this awkward situation? Yes please.

Nodding, I offered my own forced smile to them. Looking over to the corner where Miss Lace sat, I found it inexplicably empty again. Though, for some reason, I still knew she was there. I could feel her gaze on me, piercing into my mind. Shrugging it off as best I could, I pushed myself up and off of the comfy loveseat.

“If you would follow me, Miss Penny.” Mrs. Radiant smiled. “I’ll show you the best seat in the house!”

“Miss Penny?” I asked, sort of knowing what to expect as a response.

She nodded with another giggle. “You’re going to be Miss Penny Thoughts for the rest of the day. Esteemed Applewood movie critic, and secretly Miss Lilac Lace’s biggest fan.” Using her magic, she grabbed at the door leading out of her office and opened it up. “Does that sound alright?”

Actually, that sounded great! My job would be to spend this afternoon and evening sitting back and watching old movies? Who wouldn’t take that job? Again, maybe this whole acting thing wasn’t going to be so bad after all!

Goddesses above, save me.

‘Attack of the fifty foot mare’ was actually not half bad. ‘Commando Colty and the radar mares from the moon’ was just as cheesy, but lacked in action. However, both ‘Plan Nine’ and ‘Zebra maidens from outer space’ were just terrible films. Who even watched this crap back in the day!?

“Pssst.” A sharp voice came from behind me. I covered my muzzle just in time to muffle my scream as I jumped right out of my seat. Hispano’s bright eyes were jubilantly locked onto me as she stuffed a talon full of old caramel popcorn into her beak. “Ya can relax, ya know.” She spoke up through her full beak.

“When did you get here?” I asked in a harsh whisper, looking around to see if anypony else had snuck in when I was being bored out of my mind by the last twenty minutes of exposition from ‘The terror of the space chicken!’.

“Bout an hour ago.” She said, stuffing her beak full again. She leaned back in the reclining theatre seat, putting her hind paws up on the back of my own chair as she chewed noisily. “Pretty sweet gig you lucked into.”

“Yeah, well…” I paused as the door to the back of the theatre opened up. Mrs. Radiant smiled and gave a short wave from the door before closing it again. “We’ll talk after the movie.” I whispered before turning around. Now that I got moving again, I felt the distinct urge that anypony would get after having to sit in the same place for hours on end. “Or, after I use the little filly’s room.”

Getting up, I straightened out my dress, which had a tendency to ride up on me in the seat. As I did, I drew a cat calling whistle from Hispano, who couldn’t seem to giggle enough at me as I stormed off in my fancy dress and heels. I bet she was just jealous that she couldn’t pull this off as well as I did.

Heading up the aisle, I pushed my way through the double doors and out into the lobby. Looking around, I saw a pair of doors across toward the entrance that looked like the restrooms and trotted over.

As I went in, I got to thinking about just what that alicorn-mare-thing had said. She obviously wasn’t always an alicorn. I mean, I watched her act in Attack of the fifty foot mare. Good actress, but she’d only been just a unicorn in the film. The weirdness of the wasteland was still an enigma to me, and probably always would be. Still, she was nice enough, and I could understand why she’d hide herself from public eyes like that. Maybe I could ask Buck about her later, or if there were anymore ponies like her out there.

Finishing up my business, I straightened out my dress again and walked over to the mirror. I checked my mane, reaching up and patting down a few loose strands that popped out of place. Satisfied that everything was alright, I turned and opened the door. Taking a few steps out, I found my hooves forcibly stopped and held down to the floor by a magical aura.

“Don’t move and you won’t get hurt.” The whisper soft voice of a stallion made me gasp. His warm breath against my ear and neck sent shivers down my spine, and the sharp blade that pressed against my side made my blood run cold. Turning to look back, I only saw the thick square frame of a pair of glasses before I was interrupted. “Don’t look at me.” He snapped. I nodded quickly and looked straight ahead. “Walk out the door at my side. You make a noise or call for help, and it’s goodnight forever for you. Got it?”

Nodding again, I found the knife press against me harder. That got my hooves to move. Doing as I was asked, I walked toward the exit. Opening it, I prayed to the goddesses that somepony would walk out of the other rooms here and see me. When the door opened, and both the stallion and I were outside, those hopes died. The sun had already set, and the blanket of stars across the sky were my only witnesses to what was happening.

“Alright, move. We’re going to my place.” The stallion muttered. “I was going to pay good caps for you, you know?” He breathed heavily down my neck. “But I ain’t going to let that bitch steal my perfect night away.” Walking forward, he used the knife to guide me down the sidewalk. “What’s your name, honey?”

“B-bombay…” I said softly. How could anypony even act this way? This was terrifying!

“No.” He snapped softly into my ear. “What’s your name.”

“Penny.” I whimpered, feeling as tears filled my eyes. Goddesses, I just wanted to run, I wanted to fly. But this stupid dress kept my wings all bound up. “It’s Penny....”

“That’s a sweet name.” He said, leaning in and breathing on my neck again. “My favorite name.”

“What do you want from me?” I asked, fighting to keep my voice down while also trying to stem the tide of tears marching down my cheeks.

“We’re going to have a nice dinner, just like I’d originally planned.” He whispered softly into my ear. I felt him reach out with his hoof, stroking along my back. I whined and shivered at his touch, still feeling the blade at my side. “Then we’re going to have some fun for the night. I promise, you’ll remember it forever.”

That I highly doubted. I’d take another six hours of those stupid movies over this. Hell, I’d stay another week here if somepony would just notice that something is wrong! But onwards we walked. Down entire streetlamp lit streets without even another pony so much as in sight. It wasn’t until we reached a cul de sac at the end of one of the roads that I knew we were close.

The large, two story house in the center of the street was the only one with its interior lights on. A sparsely decorated living room sat beyond a large bay window that overlooked the lush green front lawn. A semi-rusted sky chariot sat parked, but neglected in the wide concrete driveway.

“Home sweet home,” The stallion whispered into my ear again, “don’t you think, dear?” Nodding again, I found him tweak the knife at my side once more. “Go inside. Dinner is in the kitchen, ready for you to present when your hardworking husband returns from his tiring and thankless dayjob.” Jabbing me, I yelped and cried a bit again. “Understand?”

“Y-yes dear…” I nodded again.

He led us up a small path. That branched out from the driveway and up to the front door. With a click from a lock I couldn’t see, the door unlatched and opened. He forcefully shoved me through it onto the hardwood floor of the entrance. As I scrambled to keep my hoofing on the smooth surface, I looked back towards him.

Of course, it was the stallion from the auction. His proper red sweater, his blonde bowl cut mane. The same wide focused smile he wore when he bid on me. His glowing horn swung the door shut hard. I took the opportunity to reach and grasp for the handle. Maybe if I could barrel past him quickly enough, I could get away!

A loud click from a hidden locking mechanism in the door killed that idea. It took my mind a moment to catch up, but it hit me that unicorns wouldn’t need line of sight for locks. Cursing my luck, I turned and looked down the short hallway from the entrance toward the kitchen. Scrambling to get over there, I looked around the well lit and fully stocked kitchen.

The knife rack was empty. The pots and pan holders were empty as well! Moving over, I started to throw open every cabinet door along the sleek blue and white furnishing. This place had been built like a palace. Tile countertops, chrome appliances, an island in the middle with a stainless steel covering over it. In the pantry and cupboards? Baking ingredients, boxes of sweets, and canned food for years. Still, there wasn’t a single knife, fork, or spatula in this fucking place!

All that was even around here, was two plates on the mahogany dinner table, and a dish of still steaming casserole sitting between them.

The front door clicked again, and swung open with a slight squeak to its hinges. In hopes that it was somepony who followed me here, I ran around toward the entry hall again. Skidding to a stop, my heart froze as the stallion walked in, looking just the same as he did moments ago. Only now, I could see the large silver kitchen knife that he held in his levitation.

“Hey there, sugarbun. Dinner smells delicious.” His focused expression and wide smile felt plastic and static as he spoke. It scared the hell out of me, and I took a step back before getting my head together again.

“Y-yes, dear.” I nodded and forced my own smile among the tears on my cheeks. Come on, Night. All you need to do is either get away, or get a weapon. “You know, I think with all the work I put into this dinner, I’ve forgotten where we keep our silverware.”

Shutting the door behind him firmly, the stallion’s horn glowed as he locked it again. “Oh, that’s alright dear. We won’t need it.” He shook his head, stepping forward down the hall towards me. “I have something else planned. Something special.”

“W-what’s that?” I stammered, stepping back and moving to the other side of the table from him.

“All those other foals in town…” He muttered, narrowing his eyes at me. “They’ve forgotten what acting is all about!” He hung on that word for a moment. His horn flared brightly, and I ducked as the knife in his levitation jabbed through the air at me. “A good story needs drama! Not day in day out drivel! We’ll rewrite this humdrum soap opera and mold it into something more entertaining, more exciting!”

Putting my shoulder into it, I pushed forward and flipped the table over. The loud noise seemed to startle him. I used the opportunity to dash myself back over to the other side of the island in the kitchen. Reaching down, I took the stored cans of food into my hooves, gripping them tightly.

“We’ve been sitting, waiting for years for the perfect mare to come along.” He growled, swinging his knife again. I ducked behind the tile counter again, cringing as the flying blade pinged off the spotless tiles before returning to the stallion. “All to create the perfect plot twist the likes this town has never seen before! My wife, murdered in cold blood by me, the quiet husband that nopony thought could harm even a single fly!”

Spinning and standing back up, I threw the cans of food with all the force I could muster. I watched as his levitation easily maneuvered the knife to parry each can with the blade. I whimpered as my attack had no effect, and he seized the opportunity. He burst forward to get around the island. I moved around the opposite way. As he came around the other side after me, I passed one of the dining room chairs and kicked out with all my might.

He groaned as the chair slid against his legs. I heard as he went down hard onto the kitchen floor. Looking down the hall, I saw the front door again and decided to try something different. Galloping as best I could in these heels, I charged the door itself. With a disappointing thump, I all but bounced off of it and back onto the wooden floor. Gasping as I lay at the front door, I watched, eyes wide in horror as he rounded the corner with the kitchen knife twirling in his levitation.

“You should feel privileged, you know.” He laughed through his stupid smile from behind his stupid fucking glasses. “It’s your night to outshine every other actor and actress here!”

Pulling myself back up to my hooves, I pressed myself back against the door. He walked slowly, with purposeful and stiff steps. He was savoring each and every moment he could stretch this, and it scared me to death.

“Don't you see? Tonight, you are the masterful actress.” He laughed, making short jabs at me with the knife, but never really committing. Still, I flinched every time, fearing that it would be the last sight I’d ever see. “You will give me the performance of a lifetime, a perfectly accurate death scene to complete my perfectly planned plot twist!”

Looking around, I darted into the open living room. I couldn’t just keep running from him all night! My eyes jumped around every object in the room, fighting to find something to defend myself with. No lamps, no books. Just large stupid furniture! No no no! There has to be something! Pausing, my eyes fell upon the perfectly clean glass bay window that lead out to the front yard.

Wait! This is a town of actors, right? Lilac Lace scoffed at them, but… what's the chances that they used real glass in the construction of this place?

“Don’t you see? You can’t get away!” The stallion giggled, stepping into the living room. “I wrote perfection. No improv, only orchestrated genius. And the best part is, it’s just. For. You.”

“It needs a rewrite.” I said with a smirk.

Yelling, I charged at the window. Bounding off the floral print sofa, I threw my shoulder forward, tucking my head back as much as I could as I slammed into the glass pane. A dozen fonts of pain flared all along me as the very normal plate glass window shattered against my body. The knife like shards made ribbons out of my emerald dress, drawing deep gashes across me. I cried out in pain as a shards rained across my face and muzzle as I tumbled out onto the lawn. Gasping, I rolled onto my back as my whole body begged me not to move. Yeah, if I live through tonight, I'm never going to do that again.

"Penny!" Mrs. Radiant called out from down the street. Shaking off the few shards of glass on me, I got to my hooves with a pained whine. Finally, a fucking break for once!

“Help!" I cried out to her. I tried to work myself to a gallop, but screamed as my rear leg gave out. Looking back, I found a large piece of glass sticking all the way through it. If I'd eaten the dinner he'd made for me earlier, I might have thrown up at the sight. Then again, he’d have just killed me while I ate…

"Penny! Get back here!" The psychotic stallion shouted as he threw the front door to the house open. I looked back, panicking as he picked up his walk into a trot that quickly carried him across the glass coated lawn after me. I pushed myself to move, bleeding and hobbling as best as I could out into the street. Yes, if I could only get to Mrs. Radiant, we could deal with him! He wouldn’t be stupid and crazy enough to go against somepony from his own town! I hobbled towards her, crying and grunting through the pain all over.

"Penny, don't worry." She called out as she trotted in the street to me. I nearly dove into her hooves, crying out for her. “I’ve got you now.” She said, patting me on the back.

"He's trying to kill me." I whined, crying into her neck as she held me. “Please… make him stop.”

"I know he’s trying to kill you." She said, softly whispering into my ear. As she did, a sharp jab at my side made me gasp. "So am I."

The gunshot that tore into my side was deafening. My legs gave out as my mind tried to make sense of all the new sensations coming from my body. Pain exploded all over as I slumped down onto the pavement. My heart raced and my mind worked itself into a frenzy as I tried to breathe deep, ragged breaths of air.

"We did it, honey. The perfect double plot twist." She moved in to kiss him, dropping the smoking gun to her side as the two of them stood over me. Shit, she hadn’t lied about being the best actress here. I’d never seen it coming. I was going to die here... and everything I'd done, everypony I’d met, will have been for nothing…

An ear shattering crack filled the air. The sky flashed with what I thought was lightning, and rain splattered across me as I struggled to stay conscious. No, not rain. Blood. The two ponies above me slumped down next to me, unmoving. Ribboned stumps sat where both of their head's used to be, dribbling blood out onto the dark pavement.

"How's that for a plot twist." Hispano grunted, dropping out of the sky next to me. With wide eyes, she tossed her sister aside and nearly lept onto me. “Night! Stay with me!” She said as she stiffly pressed against my gunshot wound with her talons, leaning in close and starting to say something else. My hearing however wasn't cooperating anymore, and in another few moments, my vision started to blur.

Hardcase and Officer Minty came running up as well, hooking their hooves around me. As darkness grabbed ahold of me, I couldn’t help but focus on the blue light coming from Hardcase’s eyes. It was odd, softly glowing as everything faded to black. Maybe that’s the light everypony said you saw when you died. No matter I supposed, as the dark void consumed me, and I disappeared into nothingness.

“Dewdrop, dear?” Dad called out as I stood in front of him, soaking wet from the passing summer storm this afternoon. The perfect ending to the worst day of my life. He was ashamed of me, I could tell just by the way he kept from looking at me. “It’s Night, you’d better come see this.”

I’d tried to be myself today. Mom told me that everything would be fine if I just didn’t listen to what other ponies would say. I tried that. I did what she said and still, nothing changed.

With soft pads across our cloud apartment, Mom came out from their bedroom. Her blue coat was absolutely flawless today, and her bright yellow mane was done up in a twist above her head. She gasped in shock as she saw me standing at the door.

“Who did this to you?” She growled. Trotting up to me, she hoofed at the tattered dress that still barely clung to me. Reaching up, she grabbed at my chin, making me wince as she pressed on the fresh bruises, and looked over my black eye. “Ooooh, I’ll find each and every one of their mothers and…”

“Let’s not be rash, dear.” Dad said, trying to be supportive. But he knew as well as I did that once Mom was angry, there wasn’t much chance of getting through to her.

“Rash?” She glared at him. “You think that some schoolyard punks out there can just abuse our son because he looks like a mare and likes to wear dresses? You want to just let that slide?” Shuddering in rage, she talked through her clenched jaw. “He’s a patriot for his lifestyle, and you don’t think those foals should be locked up?”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying.” Dad shook his head. “Night has to learn to stand up for himself or they’re just going to keep trotting all over him!” Him raising his voice was a surprise. Dad didn’t often get angry, or stand up to Mom like this. “I just think that maybe he should avoid wearing mare’s clothing until he does!”

Stepping back, I pulled the door shut with a slam on my way out. With tears in my eyes, I galloped down the hallway away from our apartment. Ducking around the corner to the other side of the building, I nearly tripped on a bit of uneven cloud. Stumbling, I broke down. I sat there for the next ten minutes crying. Not because of what happened at school, or because Mom and Dad were fighting. It was because I didn’t know who I was. I was fourteen, and I didn’t understand all these feelings I had for stallions, and dresses, and why my stupid wings didn’t even work right.

“Bravo.” A mare’s voice spoke from all around me.

My vision rippled like water, and from out of thin air, the very princess of the night stepped out in front of me.

“Luna...” I gasped.

“We…” She began. “I am not, the late princess, Night. You are simply confused again.” The more she spoke, the more I remembered her voice.

“Lilac Lace?” I asked, wiping the tears from my eyes. As I did, I noticed that my forehooves were the same deep blue they’d been after Buck removed the bandages. However, I was still sitting down the hall from our cloud apartment in Neighvarro City, and I was still in my tattered pink dress from so long ago. “What’s going on?”

“We’re in your mindscape. I have been observing your memories since you first arrived. A parting gift that mother gave to some of her favorite daughters.” She spoke, using her muzzle this time to do so. “And I must say, you are a far better actor than any of the poor ponies in this relic of a town.” She groaned in exasperation as she spoke.

“How… why would you view my memories?” I asked, pulling myself up off the wall.

“Because from the moment you entered that room with Radiant, I could tell that even though she hadn’t given you a part yet, you were already acting.” Lilac narrowed her golden slit eyes at me, standing tall with a smirk. “A pity that her husband and her were driven mad by this place.” With a sultry laugh, she almost seemed to revel in her own thoughts. “Not so much a pity now that they’re dead.”

“So, where am I then?” I asked, looking around. It was hard to notice at first, but everything I focused on was just slightly off. The hallways had a bit of a skew to them, the doors were slightly too yellow to be normal faux wood. “Am I dead as well?”

“You are in the town clinic, recovering.” She smirked. “I am impressed at the lengths you’ve gone to in your life in order to act like you don’t know who you are. Like you don’t know what to do with yourself.” Reaching out into the cloud wall next to her, she swirled her hoof around, moulding and shaping the cloud. “You’re a far better actor than you give yourself credit for, even if it is unintentional on your part.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, taking a step back. Pausing, I held myself still. Why would I step back? I wasn’t afraid of her.

She narrowed her eyes again, grinning wide. “Good. You’ve begun to notice it. All the little things you do in order to keep up the subconscious lie.” Whipping her hoof around, she spun the cloud into a solid silver surface. “Take a look and see, just who you really are.”

The silver surface flashed to a mirror finish. Floating it slowly through the air, she lined it up so that it would reflect me. Squinting, I could only make out my basic shape and colors. No details, it was like all of me was... blurred.

“I don’t understand.” I said, looking over to her in confusion.

“You can’t see it yet,” She shook her head, laughing softly. “But in time, you will break down the walls you have built, see all the faults you’ve crafted for what they are, and realize that you’ve known who you were all along.” With a groan, she flipped the mirror away from me. The dream world I was in ebbed away, and I found myself standing in a very clean and orderly looking hospital room.

Lilac was sitting in the corner of the room, staring at me with her horn glowing brightly. However, next to her, stood a unicorn mare in a doctor’s outfit. She was doing paperwork on the counter, while Hardcase stood across from her, eyes locked across the room behind me. Turning around, I looked over toward the back of the room, and found… myself, laying in the hospital bed.

“Your other friend is coming, so I must break contact to stay hidden.” Lilac grumbled. “Come see me when you recover. We may talk then.” Her horn was enveloped in a layer of overglow, and the world around me grew darker again. “Now… wake up.” She whispered.

I gasped and sat up in my bed. Pain flashed through my chest, and I looked down as my body trembled. Layers of Bandages sat wrapped tightly around my barrel, even tighter than the now discarded dress had been. My insides almost instantly felt like they lit on fire, and I whined as Hardcase nearly jumped over to me from the other side of the room.

“Bombay!” He shouted. “Take it easy there.” Reaching out, he put his forehooves against my shoulders and helped me to lay back in the soft medical bed. As he did, the unicorn mare in the doctor’s outfit quickly used her magic to levitate a syringe over to the IV tubes that lead into my foreleg. Without hesitation, she pressed it in, and injected something into it.

Blinking a few times, my racing heartbeat slowed. The pain inside my chest drifted away, replaced by an odd tingling numbness. As I lay there and let whatever drug I’d been given go to work, the door to the small room we were in opened up. Wide eyed and worried, Buck walked in and came over to my bed.

“What’s the damage?” He asked with rushed words, turning to the doctor and reaching out for her clipboard. “Have there been any complications?”

“Mr. Flight is fine for the moment.” The doctor mare growled, levitating her clipboard out of Bucks eager and clumsy grasp. “I’ve treated his lacerations with a combination of a standard quarter dosage of restoration potion, some magical bandages for the gunshot wound, and now that he’s awake, a quarter dosage of painkiller. He should be fine given a day or so for the internal swelling to go down.”

“I hope things are going well in here.” The loud voice of the Mayor called out as he stepped through the open doorway and into my room. He wore a nervous smile, already sweating before all three of us offered nothing short of a disappointing glare to him. “I truly am sorry for what happened. Had we known about the scripts that Mrs. Radiant and Mr. King had written, I would have kicked them out of town long ago.”

“And you think that fixes anything?” Buck snapped at him. “Bombay nearly died because you couldn’t tell the difference between going crazy and acting crazy.” He chuffed as he spun around and looked me over. “We’re going to be leaving as soon as we can get ourselves together.”

“Now hold on just a minute!” The Mayor snorted, stamping his hoof on the floor in outrage. “That wasn’t the deal!” Swiping his small tophat off his balding head, he shook it at us like he was scolding a set of young foals. “If you still want our cooperation, than I suggest you hold up your end of the bargain.”

“I think not.” Hardcase answered him with a smirk. “How many visitors do you get a year, Mayor.” His question seemed to only enrage the Mayor further. “Now, we can let this whole issue slide the moment we leave town, and we will be leaving. Or, we can take what happened here with us up to Filly Crossing and spread the word of just how dangerous your little town is.” That made the dust coated Mayor change color to a pale white. “I’m willing to bet that not even traders would be willing to stop in.”

“You’d ruin us...” The Mayor seethed, curling his fetlock around his top hat and crushing it slightly. “I’d rather quit acting than let you hold such slander above us! Mrs. Radiant and Mr. King were acting alone! An isolated case!”

“They’ve already ruined themselves.” The voice of Lilac resonated in my head. “They deserve nothing less than to be ushered off the stage for such poor performances.”

Perking his ears, Buck sniffed lightly at the air. Turning around, he gazed over into the corner that Lilac had been sitting in when we’d spoken. He… he couldn’t really know she was there, could he?

An idea clicked in my mind. Hardcase pointed out in the morning that we weren’t cast where our talents lied. This whole system didn’t work because of the one fact that I think Lilac was trying to point out. While I knew it was a risk, maybe my idea would be able to solve everypony’s problems.

“A recasting.” I blurted out.

“What?” Nearly everypony in the room spoke up at once.

“Hear me out.” I said, holding my forehooves out to them. “The problem is that Buck’s right. None of you know who’s really acting anymore because none of you are playing off your own strengths as characters. None of you truly feel like you fit with who you’re supposed to be portraying, am I right?” Shifting my right hoof over to the corner, I lowered the left one down onto Buck’s paw. “I know somepony who can help you fix this town, Mayor.” Looking into the corner, I knew that I shouldn’t be putting her on the spot like this. “Isn’t that right, Lilac Lace?”

Everypony looked over into the corner. All but Buck wore a look on their face like I was crazy. Sure enough however, like she had before, she pulled back the curtains of invisibility around her and stepped up onto the stage. Well, metaphorical stage at least. Everypony gasped at her apparition into the room, all except me of course.

“It… it can’t be…” The mayor stammered, taking a step back and dropping his crumpled hat onto the floor. “Lilac Lace… was exiled in the casting purge forever ago!”

“I was taken, molded into this form, and used for a better purpose. Something we failed at.” Lilac’s voice boomed through our heads. “However, I returned weeks ago, and I have been watching what a joke you have all made out of this once proud town. I’ve been languishing in silence from how dull and predictable your acting has become. It’s pathetic to watch you ponies even entertain the notion that you could ever call yourselves actors.”

“But… we only know what we were taught!” The mayor said, standing firmly against her accusation.

“Then learn from her.” I spoke up again, pulling the mayor's gaze to me. “Let her take over, weed out those among you who could cause more trouble, and fit you where you should be in the cast of Klondike.”

“Yes.” The mayor nodded. “I can see it now… the truth in her words.” Looking between Buck, Hardcase, and I, he nodded furiously. “Yes yes, you can go as soon as you are ready. We will keep our end of the bargain.” Turning back to the towering alicorn in the room, he gave her a courteous bow. “Please, forgive us for tarnishing the trade. Perhaps an esteemed actress such as yourself could forgive our transgressions, and teach us how a true master performs!”

Lilac rolled her eyes at that, dropping them onto me with a smirk. “Thank you, Night.” She nodded. “Maybe with a little effort, I can make this place great once again.” Stepping past the mayor, she left without another word. The mayor and the doctor hastily followed her out the door, thankfully leaving us alone in the room. Finally, no more actors, only friends.

“Bombay…” Buck said softly, looking back to me with a warm smile, “That was a wonderful idea.” Leaning over to me, he wrapped his enormous paws around me and pulled me into a tight hug against his furry chest. I laughed as he squeezed me, hugging him back. “I’m glad you’re alright.”

“Me too.” I said, giving him a pat on the side. “But if it’s all the same to you,” My words prompted him to pull back. “I want to get the hell out of this place.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I can certainly understand that.” Pointing back toward the door, he smiled. “I’m going to go make sure that Laika is prepped to head out as well.”

“Hey,” Hardcase asked, stepping over. “I thought Delilah wanted her left here?” An idea to which, both Buck and I deadpanned at him for. He chuckled, growing a nervous smile as he rubbed at his neck. “Right. Probably not the best idea.”

“I’ll go and get her ready.” Buck said, standing back and prodding at Hardcase’s chest. “You? You help Night get to the Runner and then go wake up Lucky.” With a nod of confirmation from Hardcase, Buck gave him a pat on the side. “Alright. Thank you.” With that, he too walked out of the room.

“Alright, let’s get out of here.” I sighed softly, happy to know that we’ll be on the road in no time. Hardcase smirked as he stepped up beside me. I was going to ask why he was smiling, but with his help, figured that getting out of this bed would be a good first step. Doing my best to sit up, I winced as my insides felt like they were sandpaper on each other. “Goddesses… remind me never to get shot again.”

“Sure thing.” He laughed, hooking his forehoof around my backside. “Alright, slowly now.”

Carefully, I swung myself off the bed, and rolled myself over onto my stomach. Inching my way backward, my chest screamed at me from under the bandages. Come on, Night, it’ll be fine as soon as you get back on your hooves. A few more seconds of sliding backwards, and my hooves connected with the smooth tile flooring of the room. With a slow push back, I stepped away from the bed, and got my forehooves down as well. As soon as I had, I turned and was met with Hardcase’s smirking face again.

“So, Night.” He began, “Who was that griffon?”

Goddesses, why did he have to ask… “I… don’t know?” Again it was my turn to wear the nervous grin we’d all passed around tonight. “Must have been one of the actors?”

“Really…” He said flatly, not dropping his smirk at all. Instead, he reached up and gave me a soft pat on the side. I winced as he pat right on the healing wound. “Because she used your real name when she saw you lying there, dying.” He cocked his eyebrow at me. “I even had to give the doctor your real name. So, with that in mind, I want you to tell me something without lying this time. You like her, don’t you?”

“I… uhm…” I didn’t know what to say. I’d only dig myself deeper into a hole if I lied about her anymore. Somepony was bound to catch on if I did, and that would just make things worse. “No? She’s just a friend.” That wasn’t technically a lie!

“I’d be careful with her if I were you.” He smiled, keeping his eyes on me as he turned and walked away. “Talon mercs are dangerous enemies to have, and even more dangerous as allies.” Shit, did he know about her? How could he? Even I barely knew her! “Don’t get caught playing both sides, Night. It won’t end well.”

“I…” I stammered. “That’s not what’s going on!”

Shaking his head at me, his smile only grew. “Come on, let’s go get Lucky.” He tilted his head towards the door, winking at me. “Besides, I won’t tell Delilah about your little crush if you don’t.”

Crush… I…

You know what? Fuck it. It’s better than thinking up any other lie about her.

“Thanks.” I smiled, breathing out a mock sigh of relief. And just like that, I could see a little bit more about what Lilac meant about me acting. Here I was, putting on a mask to protect my friends, lying again to cover for Hispano. I don’t know what she’d wanted to talk about before at Laika’s crash site, but I knew now that we needed to have a talk about our arrangement.

Who knows, maybe she didn’t know what kind of stallion Solomon was. Maybe I could convince her to join up on Delilah’s side. Or, maybe, she’d just shoot me for failing to keep her a secret. Regardless of what happens, I can’t lie anymore, not to my friends. Good or bad, I’d have to bring my issues with her out into the open the next time I saw her.

The cold early morning air whipped at my coat as Lucky kept the Runner’s engine spooled up faster than I’d seen him drive it before. Laika and Hardcase took up the rest of the space in the front seat, and with Buck and I being naturally better equipped for extreme weather, we got to sit across from one another in the cramped back bed with the Dizzitron.

The lush green forests had given way to snow covered hills. Those also came to pass as we climbed up the winding roads that lead up the tallest mountain in this part of the North. Jagged rockfaces that stood in the face of the harsh winds rose up for hundreds of feet along the side of the ever rising road ahead. We were still a few hours away from getting to where the Hauler was supposed to be camped. To top it off, the rising sun was just now creeping up to the edge of the horizon.

Looking across the bed over to Buck, I watched as he stared off at the changing hues of the sky behind me. He looked lost in them, like he was immersed in the most serene moment of his life. I envied him for it. He could afford to look at things down here and appreciate their beauty. I’d seen thousands of sun rises and sunsets in my life. And now that any of them could be my last? I was jealous that he could see it for how amazing it really was.

“Night?” He called out over the wind. It broke my train of thought, and brought my eyes onto his. He still held his serene expression, but now it was pointed at me. “I wanted to thank you for what you did back there.” Smiling soft at me, I couldn’t help but smile back. “Most ponies down here would have called for blood after what happened. But you? Instead you gave them a way to make things better.”

“You were right about things, Buck.” I called back. “It hit me when I returned to Four Peaks. I can’t be somepony who’s stuck in the past.” The words almost made him glow, and his smile grew even wider. “But between going back home, dealing with Solomon, and now what happened back in Klondike. It’s made me realize that I can’t be weak out here as well. I’ll need to fight, but only when necessary.”

The rising sun behind us finally peaked its head over the far mountains. The sudden contrast was grating on my eyes, but it’s warmth against my back felt magnificent. Buck chuckled, staring at me before he began to laugh.

“Goddesses, finally.” He put his paw over his face and leaned back.

“What?” I asked, pausing and turning around. I squint and spun myself away from the blinding light. “It’s just the sunrise.”

“No, not that.” He moaned, basking in the warm morning sunlight as well. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to meet somepony who hasn’t let the wasteland break them.” Closing his eyes, he splayed himself out as much as he could in the cramped back of the Runner. “You really are something, you know that, Night?”

I smiled and leaned back. It felt like a weight I didn’t even realize was there had been lifted from my shoulders. Climbing the side of this cold, lonely mountain in the back of the Runner, or relaxing back on the hauler. It didn’t matter where I was. I had friends, and they did appreciate me. That simple fact made me feel warmer than a thousand sunrises among the cold winds.

With a screeching, the Runner skidded to a stop along the frozen highway pavement. From the sudden deceleration, I found my head dashed against the side of the Dizzitron. My insides, while a bit better, still shot pains through me as they were tossed around. Whimpering, I rubbed at my head as I sat up.

“What the hell is going on?” I grumbled, looking over to Buck. He looked to have gotten the same treatment as I had, rubbing his muzzle with a confused look.

“Sorry!” Hardcase called out as he kicked his door open. “Gonna have to take a small break!” He flashed his normal nervous smile to me as he hopped out. “Gonna need the doc too. Laika’s awake.”

“She threw up on my fucking seat!” Lucky shouted out. Oh, I could already tell this was going to be a fun morning.

Coughing, and dripping of sick, Laika crawled her way out from Hardcase’s open door. She dropped to the ice cold ground, staring at it a moment before splattering more of whatever she’d been fed in Klondike onto the road. It was about then that Buck pulled himself out of the Runner’s bed, and walked around toward her. The second Laika laid eyes on him, she turned white as the mountain snows and scrambled back onto her legs.

“K-kakogo cherta!” Laika said, moving over toward Hardcase. “The hell are you!?” She squeaked out.

Buck stopped in his tracks. “What?” He asked. I sat there and watched as his expression sank into one of embarrassment. He looked down at his massive claws for a moment before standing tall at her. “I’m a Snow Dog, and the physician who’s been looking after you. And I intend to make sure that you aren’t going to suffer any more seizures due to your extended time spent in suspended animation.”

“Khernya!” She spat, reaching down into the empty pistol holster on her side. Oh, right. Violet had kept the gun and her helmet in the pod. With a furious stomp on the ground, she glared among us. “I’ve been patient enough with all this for you to treat me in such a way. I demand to know just what the hell is going on! Why are we not back at a Ministry Hub already?”

“Laika?” I said, turning myself around so I could stand up in the bed of the Runner. “Remember what my friend asked you before she left?” That perked her ears. “Just how long do you think you’ve been gone?”

She growled. “I don’t understand the importance of that question.”

“Two centuries. Give or take half a decade based on when you went up in your rocket.” Buck spoke up, making her gasp. “Yeah, and things down here in Equestria? They didn’t end up going so well.”

“No… that…” Laika spoke softly. It started as a wobble in her knees, a shivering shaking. I thought she might be having another seizure, but Buck didn’t even flinch. Instead of shaking all over, she dropped onto her forepaws on the cold pavement, staring down at it. “I can’t have been gone so long. You’re lying.”

“Tell me.” Buck spoke up again, making her look up at him. Her eyes were pinpricks now, shaking from fear, confusion, and sorrow. “Can you identify this vehicle?” He raised his claws, pointing to the Runner itself.

She whimpered as she looked over at the rusting wartime machine. She’d been riding in it, stumbled out of it. Yet, she hadn’t really looked at it until he’d asked her to. She studied it for a moment before shaking her head.

“No.” She simply whimpered, hanging her head again. “That means nothing.”

“It means everything. It’s because this model was developed years after your accident.” Buck sighed. “Look, if you come with us, we can explain everything. For now, if you go with us or not, you just need to know that things are different.” Holding out his paw to her, Buck’s soft, caring smile returned. However, Laika didn’t move. Quietly, she sobbed as she sat there on the road. “It’s not that bad anymore.” He said, crouching low on his haunches.

“No, it’s…” She sniffled, crying as the rest of us looked on. “It’s my family. If it has really been over two centuries, then…”

“They’re all gone, yes.” Buck nodded. “I’m sorry.” Turning to me, he smiled as his eyes wavered. “Though, there are a few of us who have had similar experiences. We can help you through this.”

“Hah.” Laika sniffled, pulling herself off the ground. She wiped at her cheeks and brushed her bright blue spacesuit off. “I don’t know what to think. But since you all are the only hope I have of getting back to somewhere I can find out, I guess I’m forced to comply.”

“Then can we please get going!?” Lucky called out from in the car. “I’m freezing here!”

“Alright, now that this has been settled,” Hardcase spoke up, shivering slightly himself. “The sooner we get going, the faster we can catch up to the others.” Turning and looking up the road, he followed it until it passed into a rocky ravine a few thousand feet up. “By the time we do however, we might already be up at Filly Crossing anyway.”

“Filly Crossing?” I asked, getting a quick nod as Laika slowly pulled herself into the Runner again.

“Yeah. The next settlement Delilah’s stopping in.” He nodded to the back of the runner as he trotted over to the open door on this side. “They’re probably already moving by now, so we may just end up being right behind them as they pull into the settlement up there. Shouldn’t be more than another couple of hours anyway.”

“Alright.” I gave a firm nod to him before turning back to Buck. He however, was standing as outstretched as he could in the morning sunlight. “Come on, Buck.” I said softly.

“Yeah.” He sighed, turning around with his relaxed smile. “Let’s go.”

Chapter 13 - Negotiations

In a social situation, the most difficult thing to do, is usually the right thing to do.

It had been another few hours of driving before the summit of ‘The Last Bastard’ as Buck had called it, came into view. An odd choice for the name of a mountain if I had to say anything about it, but being the biggest in the north supposedly, I could see why it would need a name. From the sheer cliffs that hugged the side of the winding roads, a large plateau sat alongside the mountain’s peak. Funny, it looked like it might have been artificially made. The mountaintop was nearly split in two, with one part of the top being a sheer cliff upward, and a large flat top running off to a sheer drop straight down a few hundred feet. However, the wind up at this elevation whipped around us wilder than the winds on the arctic ice planes had. I dared not open my wings for fear of being carried away and dashed against the rocks below.

Sitting on the edges of that flat top, was a set of impressively large and intimidating walls. At around what I guessed was forty feet tall, they were a flat, bland grey color, and a few cracks ran up from the base around each section. Dozens of lighter spots denoted where it had probably been patched in the past as well. Though, the patched spots hanging over the cliffside portion of it, would think would be a nightmare to repair. Especially for a Pegasus in this wind.

The winding road made it’s way to a rather feeble looking, half wall sized scrap metal gate. Compared to the walls however, I’m not sure you could ever find any gate nearly as intimidating. A pair of rickety wooden guard towers sat behind the gate to each side, and a pair of ponies with guns sat watch in each post. We’d just spent hours driving up this grueling climb. I’m not sure why anypony would do that and then continue on to attack this place. Still, I’m sure there was a good reason for it. If there wasn’t, then I’m sure they wouldn’t be guarding this place so intensely.

Lucky pulled us up to the gate, stopping for only a moment as one of the tower ponies looked over us intently. The guards pony nodded and waved to a pony behind the wall. With a scratchy scraping that I wished I couldn’t hear over the wind, the scrap metal gate pulled back. Once it opened, my eyes immediately locked on to the sight of the parked Hauler on the other side of the sprawling mountaintop compound.

I gave out a heavy sigh, and slumped back against the bed of the Runner. Annoyingly, the tightly bound bandages around my chest stiffly refused to want to shift with me. I gave out a soft grunt as they pulled away from my fur a bit with a painful tug, and I could finally relax with a smile on my muzzle.

“Glad to be home?” Buck asked, wearing the same relaxed smile I was.

“Yeah.” I nodded, closing my eyes as Lucky pulled forward past the walls, and into Filly Crossing itself.

“Would you look at that?” Buck asked.

I opened my eyes again at his oddly timed question, and looked over to him. Following his gaze behind me as we drove in, my eyes went wide, and I felt my heart skip a beat. In the corner of the closest cliffside edge of the compound, sat a jet black Vertibuck. Not only that, but a great big white E sat plastered on its side surrounded by stars. An Enclave Vertibuck… up here? Not only that, but milling around inside the cockpit, I could see a pair of Enclave dressed ponies. Finally, I had found the Enclave again.

“Now now, Night.” Buck spoke up again in an odd way. His jarring tone pulled my attention back to him, only to find that he wore a worried look across his face. “We’ll probably be here for a couple of hours, so don’t go running off to them until after you talk to Delilah about what happened.”

“Okay.” I nodded, turning back around. Part of me wanted to head right over there, to jump on the opportunity to tell those soldiers what happened at four peaks. However, after everything I’ve been through, I could finally fight that urge. My chance would come in time, and rushing into things only caused me more problems than I could handle. For now however, I should just take in the scenery.

The center courtyard as I guess you could call it, was mostly empty and open. Carts of random supplies were parked around five hutts that stuck off to our right in the open. Each sheet metal hut was quite large, maybe about two stories tall, and each sporting a large metal smokestack that billowed black smoke from it. The one in the center was a bit different however, having an open front instead of being fully enclosed. Inside, several large earth ponies swung heavy hammers, clanging against bricks of red hot steel, while several unicorns used their magic to pump a pair of large bellows. In the center was a large forging fire that sat under the bottom to what I’d assumed to be a smokestack. Instead, I found that the nearly blue burning fire fed its exhaust into the open breech of a large artillery piece. Looking back, I was sure the other huts must have similar guns acting as their chimneys as well.

“Impressive, right?” Violet’s voice came down from above and startled me. I winced as I jumped, making my chest remind me that quick movements are probably not a good idea for the time being. “Wait, Bombay, are you hurt?” She gasped, dropping down as Lucky slowly pulled us up behind the Hauler.

“It’s a long story.” I grumbled as we came to a stop. “In fact, we’ve got to talk to Delilah about it.” Turning to Buck, I watched as he stretched himself out a bit before he stood up.

“I’m going to leave that up to you.” He said, carefully pulling himself out of the back of the Hauler. “I’m going to stay back and help Laika get oriented first.”

“Laika?” Violet zipped up into the air again. As she did, Hardcase opened his door and hopped out. Turning to him, she dropped through the air toward him and gave him a long, tight hug. “Hey. Glad you’re alright.”

“That’s my capsule!” Laika shouted angrily as she pulled herself out of the Runner. Dropping down, she angrily pointed up to the strung up craft dangling from the back of the Hauler. “It’s a ten million bit spacecraft, not some cheap pinata you can just hang around! It’s got tons of fragile experiments and equipment on board!” Heading over towards it, Laika stood on the ground under the Hauler, almost perplexed on how to get up there.

“Well, break’s over. Looks like that’s my cue to act.” Walking past me, Buck gave me a nervous grin. “Sorry, Night. Didn’t mean to phrase it like that.”

Offering him a genuine smile, I nodded and watched as he walked off after Laika. Still, I hoped that he could help her like he’d helped me so far. Laika needed someone there to explain things to her, and I’m pretty sure she’s smart enough to adapt far faster than I did.

“Why don’t you two go off and find Delilah?” Hardcase smiled as he broke off the hug between him and Violet. With a nervous smile of his own, he pointed back to the open side door of the Runner. “I’ve got some cleaning up to do, and Lucky needs to get some sleep.”

“Alright, I guess.” Violet shrugged and turned back to me. “Well, it sure seems like you had a hell of a time. Going to make for an interesting story I bet!” Reaching out to me, she walked over and gave me a tight wing hug. “And lucky for you, Delilah and Happy just went to go have lunch at the best restaurant in this settlement.” She said, pointing to the hut that was the farthest from where we’d come in. I looked at her as she smiled. “I’ll buy us lunch, and you can fill us all in on just what was going on.”

My stomach gave a gurgle of approval that made me blush again. “Yeah,” I nodded. “Sounds good.”

My mouth was salivating over my plate. The ‘artillery piece’ for this ‘restaurant’ was used as a sort of oven for cooking, and regardless of how odd that was, the food here smelled fantastic. They served all sorts of dishes that I’d never heard of before, and I’d defaulted to just getting whatever Violet had ordered as a safe bet for something edible and tasty. The tray of curried mixed veggies I’d received was probably lukewarm by now, but I hadn’t even been able to get a bite in. Having run through what happened in Klondike, I had been too busy answering questions that delved into more detail about things than I would have liked.

Still, Delilah seemed to shift to a better mood as I went about explaining things. Even Happy seemed to be in a good mood as well, which made for a really odd experience as they sat across from Violet and I. Violet however probably didn’t care, as she was too busy scarfing down her second helping of her own curried veggies to really comment.

“I’m not sure what worries me more.” Delilah spoke up as she finished her own plate of noodles and some sort of baked root vegetable. “The fact that you keep getting into trouble, or the fact that you have an uncanny ability to get out of it mostly intact.”

“I got shot.” I said flatly and pointed to the bandages bound against me tightly. “Right here, in the barrel.”

“I said mostly, didn’t I? It’s the wasteland. Everypony gets shot at some point. The point is, you’re still alive.” She smirked. “But you handled the incident without losing face, and salvaged the deal for us. You aren’t out of the woods just yet in regards to my warning to you, Bombay, but you’re getting there.” Pushing her glasses up, she looked at me with softer eyes than normal, and a smile that seemed out of place on her normally stern muzzle.

“For following your instructions, you’ve earned your spot on Recon duty with Zoomer here. I’m proud of you, Night.” Delilah seemed… happy. It felt odd, but good. Along with the oddly kind words, Violet gave me a playful nudge, her smirking muzzle still stuffed full of food. “And for keeping up our deal with Klondike, you’ve earned one hundred caps from me once we’re back on the road.”

“Thank you, Ma’am.” I said, looking down to the plate in front of me. It was technically the first money I’d ever made, and for some reason, part of me felt an immense pride in that. Still, the only reward I’d wanted right now was sitting just below my muzzle. Leaning forward, I dug into the delicious food like a madpony possessed. I think I must have almost finished the whole platter in ten seconds flat! Or at least, that’s what it felt like to me. The rich flavor of it hit me hard all at once, and I lost myself in it. So much in fact, that I almost missed Delilah getting up out of her seat at our table.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going down to the lower levels to see about going through Filly’s extensive ammo cache to make sure we’re fully stocked.” Eyeing over each of us, her face returned to it’s normal, stoic look. “We will be leaving Filly Crossing in a few hours. I suggest you use this time to relax or make any trades you need to before we head out again. We’ll be passing through a few odd settlements before we hit Carmacks in two days time, and Destruction Bay in another three. I don’t want to stop anywhere before we get to Carmacks, so get what you need while we’re here.”

“You got it, boss!” Violet gave a quick salute that made me chuckle. While she hadn’t spoken with her muzzle full, she still wore green curry sauce all over her mouth in thick splotches. It was even thick enough on some parts of her muzzle that it dripped back onto her second empty plate.

Shaking her head, Delilah turned around and headed out. As she did, a lime green pegasus in an Enclave officer uniform stepped through the doors into the restaurant. He carried himself well, wearing a properly pressed dress uniform and smart looking officer’s cap. I couldn’t help but smirk as I remembered every time that mom used to agonize over every detail. Guess it wasn’t just her who did that.

“Not you again.” An annoyed stallion called out from the back of the restaurant. The portly head-chef trotted up to meet the stallion, as nearly the whole restaurant went silent. “What good is coming back every day if my answer has always been the same?”

The pegasus stallion stopped, waiting for the chef to come closer before responding. “Look, we're just asking for some clean water.” He spoke calmly. “Only a few gallons, and we can stop bothering you.”

“And I'm telling you the same thing I did yesterday and the day before.” The pale blue coated chef who looked like he had had just about enough, was turning a deep red as he stomped his hoof angrily on the floor. “You'll have to pay for it like everypony else!”

“With what?” The Enclave officer retorted with a laugh, raising his hoof and tugging at his uniform lightly. “This gear isn't ours to give, and come on! You've got ice everywhere!”

“Ice tainted with magical radiation, sure.” The chef growled. “We have to drill deep enough to get uncontaminated ice, and drill bits are in short supply. On the other hoof, the chemicals needed to purify dirty water to the level you want would ruin my boiling vessels anyway!”

“Look, even if it's just basic bottled water, we don't care.” Taking his hat off, the Officer respectfully bowed to the chef. “I swear, once we report back and sort things out with our command, we'll come back and pay you more than in full for the trouble.”

“I'm sorry, but I find that a little hard to believe coming from the Enclave.” The chef spat with such disdain that you could almost feel the room around him recoil from it. Looking around, I saw more than a few other patrons nodding in support of the chef. It made my blood boil. “Why don't you try asking again in another two hundred years and see if we've forgiven you then. For now, I'm going to have to ask you to leave.”

The Officer hung his head as the Chef turned around and headed off to the back of the restaurant. Murmurs of conversation picked back up softly at first, and I simply sat back in my seat with a sigh. I couldn’t help but feel bad for the guy. Was a few gallons of water up here really so much to ask for?

“Can you believe that guy?” Violet chuckled as she looked over to Happy.

“Yeah, only an Enclave square like him could ever think anypony would be cool to just let something like that slide.” Happy straightened out his flower print tropical shirt as he leaned back. “On that note, I’m going to split from this jive joint.” Turning to me, he gave me a wink and a smirk. “Hey Bombay, hit me up when you get back onto Bertha. I’ve got a proposition for you.”

“A wha….” I asked, wondering just what he meant by that. However, he turned and left like he didn’t even hear me. He knew I was a stallion, so it couldn’t be that kind of proposition. Must be something else he had in mind...

“Don’t let him get into your head.” Violet rolled her eyes and put her forehooves on the table. Nodding over towards the door to this place, she smiled. “Want to go check the markets for anything neat?” Looking over to the door, she froze as yet another stallion walked in. This one had on a puffy, bright green vest, and really tacky looking silver sunglasses. His pink coat was obnoxiously bright, but what grabbed my attention, was the two folded wings on his back, and the matching Dashite branding on his flank to Violet’s.

“Dizzy?” Violet asked, getting the stallion’s attention.

“Violet? Violet Pulse, is that really you?” He called out, raising his forehoof and flicking his sunglasses down. His magenta eyes matched the color of his stiffly worn mohawk mane, while a wide smile spread across his muzzle. “It's been what, a year? How are you?” He asked, nearly galloping across the restaurant to get to us.

“Actually, pretty good.” Violet said before looking over at me. “Bombay, this is Dizzy…”

He cut her off. “Dizzy Rays.” He cocked an eyebrow at me, quickly reaching past Violet to sweep my forehoof up off the floor and bring it to his lips. “The pleasure is mine.”

“Quit showing off, Bombay’s not going to buy your product.” Violet rolled her eyes and playfully shoved at his side. “How have you been, Dizzy?”

Letting my hoof go quite suddenly, he stood back up with a prideful grin. “Oh you know, here and there, distributing sunshine and rainbows wherever I go.” He laughed in an odd way, giving wheezing gasps between the sharp cackles. “Just up here for about a week overseeing some distribution. Anyway, heard there was a convoy coming up the mountain this morning, but I never thought it would be yours!”

“Yeah, it's us.” Violet nodded, her genuine smile falling into a sort of oddly nervous one. “Actually, on that… you don't still offer that special service you used to advertise, do you?”

“For you, baby, I’d do anything.” He bit down softly on his lower lip and looked her over with a cocked eyebrow. I was getting a creepy vibe off him, and I was about to step in when he spoke up. “Depends on what sort of service you want, and if it's going to be a quick thing, or an all night sort of thing.” Yeah, I didn’t like where this was going.

“I'm talking about for somepony else.” Violet rolled her eyes, catching me off guard. Now that my mind had screamed to a halt, I was really hoping she wasn’t setting something up for me.

“Oh, well,” Dizzy laughed and shrugged. “I was sort of hoping you'd finally take me up on my offer, goddesses know how much I’d love to have you overnight. However, I can make due I guess.” With a sigh that sat between disappointed and happy, he smiled at her. “Who's the lucky pony?”

“I don't know yet.” Violet shook her head, shifting uneasily on her seat. “There's another convoy from up north, coming through in a few days to a week. We need them stalled for as long as possible.” Her smile returned as she flared out one of her wings. Ever so softly, she reached out and caressed under his chin with her flight feathers. He gave off a fluttering sigh and nearly fell over from it. “Just, find the cutest one to you and do your thing. But… avoid the griffon.”

“Oh,” He moaned, blinking a few times and seeming to recover from Violet’s touch. I’d have to remember that move for down the road! “You know, girl. It's going to cost you quite a bit for something like this...” He cocked an eyebrow and smirked as he reached up and brushed her wing out of his way.

Violet got to her hooves and walked closer to him. “Oh, I have payment already in mind…” She said, lowering her voice before she leaned in. She whispered something into his ears, and within moments, his eyes went wide.

With a sharp thrust, both of Dizzy’s wings flared up with a distinct pomf. “B-both?” He stuttered as a blush went across his muzzle. “Oh my, yes. That will most definitely be acceptable compensation.”

“Excuse me?” I spoke up, doing my best to interject and kill the awkwardness that was now quickly making me wish I was anywhere but here. “What’s going on?”

Violet blushed hard at that as well. “W-we’re just discussing an arrangement, Night.” She smiled and shifted uneasily on her hooves. She kept from looking at me directly, fidgeting her wings until her gaze fell upon the door to the outside. “Why don’t you go get me Hardcase and Gearbox? Gearbox is probably going to want to buy some Wave from Dizzy here, and I need to talk with Hardcase about something. Alright?”

“Wave?” I asked. Normally, I’d scold myself for speaking up like that again, but this whole conversation seemed annoyingly off in the first place. I’d have to ask Violet what ‘arrangement’ she was talking about later though. If I’d read this right, she was planning on having some ‘adult’ fun with this guy. Which was odd, because here I’d thought she’d said she was married…

“You ain’t heard of Wave!?” Dizzy spat in surprise. “You’ve been living under a rock or something?”

“Above the clouds, actually.” I answered, drawing an even more surprised look from him. “What is Wave?”

“It’s a new type of drug.” Violet answered for Dizzy this time. “Showed up a few years ago down south under the original name of ‘Chill’. Hardcore muscle relaxant and hallucinogen, really nasty drug, addictive as all hell too. Not an obvious addiction like Dash either, it really creeps up on you with repeated use. It’s hard hitting stuff to a new user, unless cut with other chems and diluted in water, which is what Wave is now.”

Dizzy laughed at that. “Yeah, but Wave is still the way to go, even if you don’t up your game to Chill. With Wave, it’s all the ups, none of the downs…” Flipping his sunglasses up his muzzle and over his eyes again with his hoof, he smiled like he was made out of a million bits. Yeah, I wasn’t even technically out of school, and even I knew that all drugs had side effects. “And best of all? It’s cheap. I got it for five caps a tab if you want it, just need a glass of water to go with it!” Cheap as well? Now I knew he had to be full of crap.

“Like I said, Bombay isn’t interested.” Violet nearly growled at him. While I agreed that I wasn’t interested in drugs, I was getting tired of being protected by her. She had good intentions, but I needed to fight my own battles. Even if I couldn’t do it well, I had to get better at standing up on my own in the wasteland at sometime or another. Something that Dad had tried to tell mom and I back on that day years ago...

“Alright, alright!” Dizzy put his hooves up. “I was just sayin’ for if the mare had any interested friends willing to give it a shot.” Cocking his eyebrow back up, his wings extended again as well. “Then again, I can offer her my other service as well…”

“Dizzy.” Violet glared at him before turning and looking at me. With a softened gaze she eyed the door and nodded towards me. “Go, before I have to beat Dizzy here for not knowing what he’s getting into.” Pointing outside, she offered a sincere smile. “Please, go tell Hardcase and Gearbox to meet us on level fourteen. They’ll know where to go.”

“Alright…” I didn’t know what I was agreeing to, but she was going to have to answer for it when she got back. Getting up out of my seat, I had a bad feeling about all of this. Still, I had no reason to freak out. Maybe I was just misunderstanding yet another aspect of wasteland life. Still speaking of propositions, as I trotted towards the exit, I remembered that while I was back there, I should stop by and see just what the hell Happy wanted with me.

Today was going to be an odd day.

“Just a moment!” Hardcase called out as I stood at his door. A flash of light flared around the edges of the door for a moment before I heard his hoofsteps approach. He quickly unlatched the door and poked his muzzle out, still keeping the door mostly closed around it. Looking around for a moment, he eyed me over as if I were a stranger. “What’s up?”

“Violet told me to get you and Gearbox,” I paused, having the odd ozone smell of a magical energy weapon hit my nose from inside his container. “Said for you two to meet her down on level fourteen?”

Looking confused and deep in thought for a moment, he nodded. “Noted.” Slipping back inside, he shut the door firmly. After only a moment, he peeked the door open again, sticking out his whole head this second time. “I’m sorry, did you say level fourteen?” As I nodded, a wide smile grew across his face. “Oh, right then! I’ll be out in just a moment!” With another jarring pull, he dipped back into his container and shut the door again.

“Just a question,” I spoke up, calling out through the door. “What’s ‘level fourteen’ anyway?”

“Level fourteen is the recreation floor.” He called back as he made odd noises from inside his container. It sounded like he was moving a lot of stuff around in there. Between the secrecy and the weird smells, now I was incredibly curious just to what he was up to inside. However, I wasn’t about to intrude on him, not without consulting Delilah about it first. Unless I had a probable reason to step inside...

“What do you mean, floor?” I asked, hoofing at the door. I was about to pull it open when instead, Hardcase nearly barreled through it.

“Oh, right.” He nodded as he squeezed past me. His magic shut the door quickly, and I could hear as the latch inside slid into place, locking it. “Filly Crossing was a military outpost during the early years of the war.” Wow, did he actually believe I didn’t know that by the giant fucking guns being used as chimneys around here? “Most of the base was built into the mountain. This place was the strategic arms reserve for most of the northwestern crystal range. They have more ammo stored here than half of the northern wastes combined. But, levels seven through nine are regulated to growing crops. One through five is residential, six is medical, while level ten is base command. And Fourteen is where the fun is. Everything else below is currently storage, for ammo or other things.” Walking around me, he headed to Gearbox and Boiler’s door. “Hey, Gearbox. Get yourself together and let’s go.”

“Where are we going?” Gearbox called out groggily through his container. He let out a few wheezing coughs as I could hear him get up from his bed inside.

“Level fourteen. So bring some shit to trade.” Hardcase called back before turning to me again. “Look after Bertha for me?” He offered a smile, but it wasn’t one that I had much confidence in. Why do I suddenly feel like I’m being deliberately left out of the loop. Reaching out, he pat me on the shoulder. “Oh, and before I forget! Pretty well convinced by the records on the Doc’s terminal, Laika went to confirm the date down in the command center of the bunker. The Doc seemed to think that the world ending meant that there’s no government for her to return to, so he suggested that she stay here at Filly Crossing. He went down to the command center on level ten with her to help see about if they could make up some permanent arrangements for her. So if you’re looking for him, he should be back up sometime soon.”

“Okay.” I nodded and turned my gaze back towards the container I shared with Buck. Still, it made me both a bit sad and a bit hopeful that Laika might choose to stay here. It’s not a bad place from what I’ve seen. Well, from up here at least, as well as past the asshole who wouldn’t give a pony in need any water. She could build a life here, maybe one day even make the trip up toward the Empirica. I’m sure the Snow Dogs up there would love to see their ancestral hero returned to them.

Hardcase and I looked over as Gearbox’s door opened. The relaxed smiling muzzle of the zebra met us with a laugh. His eyes were bloodshot, and his whole container smelled of sweat and various herbs.

“I’ll be back, dear.” He said, rousing a soft grunt from Boiler inside, before her snoring filled the air. Stepping out and shutting the container behind him, he trotted right past Hardcase and I. “Alright, let’s go buy some sunshine.”

“Don’t get into any trouble?” Hardcase smiled and pat me on the side yet again before trotting off to join the perma-fried zebra. The two of them quickly made their way down into the ice hold, leaving me up top all on my lonesome. Looking over, Delilah’s door was wide open, and the darkness inside meant that she was still off on her own errands. Finally, I could relax a bit.

“Pssst!” Happy’s whispering muzzle pressed out of the gap between his container and it’s door. “Are they gone?”

I nodded, pausing for a second as I realized he couldn’t hear that. “Yeah.” I spoke up, listening as he worked at unlatching his door. “What did you mean before that you had a proposition for me?”

“Yeah, just follow me.” He said, ducking out of his room and right over into the Ice hold. For the second time since I’d known him, he dropped the ridiculous way he spoke and talked normally for once. Only because of this, I reluctantly followed him. As he reached the bottom, he waited for me before continuing. “I was thinking, maybe we could help out that soldier looking fellow with his water problem.” Pointing over to the giant block of ice we were hauling, I nearly locked up at the top of the stairs. “I’ll split the profit with you, fifty-fifty.”

“You want to get the water from our ice!?” I gasped loudly. My voice made him cringe and shrink down.

“Keep your voice down!” He snapped at me in a harsh whisper. "Come down here and make sure the door is shut.” Waving his hoof quickly, he seemed on edge more than usual. Part of me was hesitant to even consider this, but that soldier did need help.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped down the rusting metal stairs. A few steps down, I turned and gripped at the hatch toward the top, swinging it shut overhead. Giving a few tugs on it to make sure it was shut, I felt contented that it was, and continued down. Looking around the Ice as I stepped down to the floor of the Ice hold, I’d noticed that Happy had already made his way around the back. As I trotted to the far side of the frigid blue-white block, the small ceiling light in the room flickered on above me.

“What the hell would Delilah…” I began to say as I walked around the light blue block. My words died as I came around the back side.

The backside of the whole thing had been curved inward. A great concave cavity had been burned into it by the acetylene torch that still sat secured up against it with duct tape. The cavity was at least a half a pony deep, and revealed something big frozen into the ice. As I stiffly stepped forward, the odd shape became recognizable under the small light above. It was the front of a large, wartime safe with a six pronged spinning handle. Written in fancy, faded gold lettering, were two lines of text.

H.M.S. Erebus
Burro Industries

“What the hell!?” I opened my muzzle, nearly shouting at the top of my lungs. Before I could say anymore, I found Happy’s forehoof nearly crammed down my throat.

"Hey! I said keep your voice down!" He growled. "Before you get your pony panties in a bind, my mother asked me to do this." He looked around nervously for a moment. "Yes, the safe is what we came for, not the ice, and you're going to keep your muzzle shut about it, got that?" I nodded, and he slowly pulled his hoof from my muzzle. "Look, she can tell you all about this later, but do not mention what we’re doing here right now. So long as I'm melting the ice anyway, I was thinking that I could sell some of it to those Enclave sods out there. I can melt away a bit more from where I cut it, the guy gets his good water, and my mother won’t even know it’s missing."

That… sounded alright, and it made sense from what the officer had asked for earlier.

“Because it’s pure…” Why go cut ice somewhere when we had some here. And if this safe actually was what Delilah was after, that really did mean that all of this would go to waste then. Another thought cropped up in my mind, one I didn’t much like remembering.

“How about your friend here? Has she bought into Delilah’s stories as well?”

Solomon… was right about all this. The ice was some sort of cover story, which was something Delilah hadn’t told anypony. Well, at least hadn’t told Buck or I. Violet could have straight up lied to Solomon, but honestly? The fact that this safe was even here at all scared me a little.

"Yes, exactly. But I need you to go talk to them." Looking around, he found his toolbox sitting at the far edge of the ice and hoofed it open. "They wouldn't talk to somepony like me without getting suspicious. You on the other hoof, are one of them." Smirking, he pulled out a solid looking hacksaw and cocked his eyebrow as he looked it over. "I'm betting that they wouldn't trade anything to Filly Crossing, but another Enclave citizen? That might make them think it’s worth it."

“Fine.” I grunted. It felt wrong to take advantage of them like this, and doubly so that he assumed that just because I came from up there they’d treat me any different. It was insulting, even if probably true. “But only because we’re the only ones who will even give them any help at all around here.”

Buck was right from what I’d seen. We needed all the help we could get, so we had to be friendly with ponies, not hostile. I’d been hurt enough to know that things would just be better off if I tried everything to stay out of a fight. But, I wanted to try to help these soldiers anyway. Not just because it was the right thing to do, but because I knew that Buck would be happy if I did. I want him to know that he’s right about the world, and about me. That we can make things better if we extend a helping hoof first.

"Yeah, yeah. Find out how much they actually need and get what you can out of them while I work on this here. The guy said a few gallons, so it gives me some idea at least for where to start." Putting the saw onto the bottom edge of the ice, he slowly ran it back and forth. "I should have a good amount cut by the time you get back." Standing there, I watched for a moment as he began to saw at the ice. Stopping after another moment, he looked up at me with an odd expression. “Well, get going!” He muttered, shooing me off.

His eagerness for me to go rip off these soldiers only made me grunt as I turned to leave. Really, is this what he wanted to do? Sure, it’s good to help these ponies, but to profit off of them like this? That’s just low, and I didn’t want to have any part in it. Too bad I couldn’t just make Delilah help…

Wait, that’s it!

He didn’t want Delilah to know about this little operation he’s got going. Better yet, he said he needed me to help him. I had him under my hoof here! All I needed to do was get the ice to the soldiers, and that was that. No payment needed at all! If Happy doesn’t like it, what is he going to do? Tell Delilah I wouldn’t help him? It’s sounds like something a young foal would pull, but I’d rather be seen as immature over being immoral.

Opening the door to the reactor deck, I left the Ice hold with my head held high, and a wide smile across my muzzle. As much as I’d hated acting, it was time for the show to begin.

Up until this moment, I’d been feeling good about myself. I’d survived what happened at Four Peaks. I’d traveled across the ice cap, down into the northernmost Crystal mountains. I’d dealt with saying goodbye to home, and even made a new one on Bertha. However, standing before the almost monolithic feeling vertibuck sitting on the landing pad here, I lost that. Again, I was reminded of the behemoth that the Enclave had once been, and how I had only been one of many who owed their lives to it.

“Can I help you?” The tired sounding voice I’d heard back in the restaurant called out to me. Turning around, I was met with a less than flattering view of the Officer from before. From a distance, the lime green pegasus had looked presentable. However, that was far from how he looked up close. Scruffy brown stubble along his chin matched a few matted and dirty spots on his coat, while his dress uniform both looked and smelled woefully worn out. “Look, you youngin’s can’t just keep coming up here from the levels below to hang around. This is a dangerous piece of machinery.”

“What?” I asked, blinking a few times before remembering why I was here in the first place. “No, I’m not from this place.” Turning for a moment, I pointed back towards the enormous, six wheeled yellow and blue machine that sat in the open yard up here. “I’m with the convoy that came up this morning.”

“Oh, well the same thing still goes for you and your friends.” The stallion grumbled and shook his head. “Beat it, kid. I don’t need some wastelander coming to oogle or shame my squad and I anymore, even if you’ve got wings.” Maybe it was all the shit I’d been through that made me act, but when he moved to turn around, I reached up and stopped him.

“Excuse me,” I snorted, watching as he slowly turned back toward me with a glare of angry disbelief. “I am an Enclave citizen, and I have access to the water you need.” Like a starving pony hearing the call out for meal tickets, his ears perked higher than they’d probably been in days. “So I expect some goddess damned respect from an officer asking for help. Got it?”

He stood frozen for a moment, confused by my outburst before chuckling.

“Sure thing, kid.” He shook his head before staring up into the blue sky above and giving a huge sigh of relief. “Sorry about the attitude. Ever since we were stranded when the clouds went down, it’s been hard to even get a single pony down here to listen to us.”

“Stranded? What do you mean?” That… didn’t seem right. Why would they have been left behind anywhere. Maybe the problem with their vertibuck kept them from getting back. Still, back to where? The Raptor in Four Peak’s skydock was the only one I knew about around here.

“I say fuck Captain Gondola.” The voice of a young yellow mare called out, poking her head out from inside the crew compartment of the sky vehicle. She gave a light wave and wink at me from her purple eyes, before running her hoof through her shortly cut neon blue mane.

“It’s unbefitting of a soldier to insult a commanding officer, Private Turbine.” The Officer in front of me cocked an eyebrow and looked back at her sharply. “But I’ll allow it, this time.”

Hopping out of the Vertibuck, the yellow mare strode over. She wore a bright orange maintainance jumpsuit that was absolutely adorned with all sorts of odd looking tools. She couldn’t have been more than a few years older than me, early twenties at most. Still, she looked just as tired and worn out as the Officer next to me did.

“You know, I don't care if that newbie captain was hoof picked out of the officer's academy. If Admiral Grand Cross was still in charge? She'd have never run the Dawn Strider off without waiting for us. Why take a raptor to chase after a rogue cloud city anyway!?” Turning towards the vertibuck, she reached up with her forehoof and gave it a loving pat. “Anyway, to get around to answering your question, kid. Issues with a leak in this ol’ gal’s cooling system caused us to set down on the clouds the last day of our long distance reconnaissance exercise. Almost didn’t get her started again when the clouds began to thin underneath us.”

“Yes, Ram. It was a very harrowing thirty seconds of you shouting obscenities and hitting sensitive mechanical equipment with a wrench.” The Officer rolled his eyes and sat down. “I would remember, considering you made all that racket right in my ear.”

“Well, I didn’t choose for you to sit next to the auxiliary coolant manifold, now did I?” She sassed at him before turning back to me. “Anyway. We barely managed to get the old girl down to some old ass northern airbase settlement. Ignoring the fact the cloud cover was just gone, we focused on getting back down south. And just like here, they refused to even help unless we paid them! I mean, we're all that's left of the fucking government! You'd think they'd be up for helping us out!”

“Northern Airbase?” I laughed. “You mean Fort Macaroni? I’d just missed you guys up there!” I smirked, finding both of them staring back at me with flat expressions. “I… you weren’t the only ones who were stranded when the cloud cover came down.” The two looked at each other and at least decided to give me a sympathetic look now in return. “Look, there's always gotta be an exchange. That's just how things run down here.” Shrugging, I pointed back to the Hauler again. “I've found it's best to adapt quickly. At least you have gear you could trade. I didn’t even have that.”

“Yeah, but... we can't just give away gear that the New Enclave government might need!” The officer sighed and pulled off his hat, revealing a very messy brown mane. “It's why we're just trying to get this Vertibuck down to them in the first place. All we need to do is get down south past some old world city named Cantercross to regroup with the other northern cloud regiments.”

“Well, I can see what I can do about your coolant problem.” I said, hanging on those last few words. I had a thought about Happy dragging me out of my container at the dead of night and beating me half to death for this. Though, I doubt with how Buck had been the last time he’d come in, that he’d be able to even get close. So buck it, I’m going to help. “You'd said in the restaurant that you'd only needed water without any contaminants, right?” Saying that brought hopeful smiles to both of the soldier’s muzzles.

“Yes! If you can get me water, great. But it can't have ANY odd contaminants in it. Most of all, no magical radiation. Period.” The mechanic mare nearly squealed in joy. The officer gave her a sharp look, forcing her to straighten herself up. In a slightly less excited voice, she continued, not deterred in the least from beaming her smile at me though. “I can deal with simple contaminants, common minerals, salt. That’s easy enough to clean out of it. Rare metals like gold, mercury, platinum, starmetal, or magical radiation however? If that shit gets in, it'll corrode the reactor lines. So it has to be free of those at least.”

“How about ice from the arctic sheet?” I smirked, getting another nod and squeal from the mare. “We're hauling a shipment of it, and depending on how much you want, I could get you what you need.”

The officer spoke up before the mare had a chance to become even more excited. “I need about six or seven gallons. Not much, just enough to get the coolant systems in the green for the rest of the trip south to the new Enclave HQ.” Putting his hoof to his chin, he rubbed at his stubble. “So in ice measurements... about a cubic foot of it? Maybe a bit extra just to be on the safe side.”

“Alright,” I nodded, thinking about what I had in mind to say next. “So about the payment…”

“Look, we don't have anything to pay you with.” The officer sighed, cutting me off and cupping his hooves together around his hat as he looked pleadingly at me. “We're even down to our last emergency ration packs today. If we don't leave soon, we might as well just trade in everything and call it quits.”

“I don't want anything from you.” I said, perking his ears up again. The expression on the mechanic mare shifted to one of complete disbelief. “But you need to carry a message to the new Enclave HQ for me.”

“Kid, if you can get me that water,” He said, hoofing his hat on before giving me a firm nod. “I'll take you all the way down there myself. I don’t know where the hell you came from, but I don’t care. By at least hearing us out, you’ve done more for my squad and I than anypony else down here. On behalf of the Enclave government, you have our thanks for that on it’s own.”

Smiling, another feeling replaced the awkwardness that I’d felt approaching here. This was the Enclave I’d been taught about. Pegasi who stood by each other and their morals, even in the toughest of times. That’s what my mom believed in, what my dad worked for every day. Even though it was all gone, it was good to see that the spirit and pride us pegasi held didn’t go away as easily as the clouds did. That’s what made what I had to say so much worse.

“Actually, it’s about where I came from that I need you to ask about.” I sighed, sitting down. “I came from a place called Four Peaks. You probably know it as Settlement 262...” The gasp from the mechanic mare that cut me off told me that they must have seen the wreckage on their way over here. “Some sort of accident with the raptor’s spark reactor wiped the whole town out. I was the only one to get out untouched. The mechanic of our convoy however, was convinced it couldn’t have been an accident. I need to know if that’s true, even if I’m the only one from there that lived.” That was a lie, but seeing as Salt was out of my life now, I didn’t care to bring it up. Looking up at the solemn face of the Officer, I nodded to him. “I was told that the convoy I’m with should be down in Cantercross at some point in the future. I can arrange to come find you when we arrive. Just please, find out what happened.”

“I’m sorry.” He shook his head. “I’m not sure what, if anything can be done to find out. But, when we get down there, I won’t rest until I get some sort of promise out of them to look into it.” I sighed at those words, feeling a bit like I’d finally done something good for Dad after all these years. “And get you some compensation for the family you lost.”

“Actually, there is another favor I’d like to ask.” I spoke softly as I’d thought of something else I’d like the government to answer for me. “My mother wasn’t in Four Peaks. She… died, a few weeks back. She was on a Thunderhead with Councilpony Harbinger when it was destroyed. I want to know why they couldn’t tell my father or I that when they presented her things.”

“Look, I’ll be honest.” The officer said, speaking respectfully, but not looking me in the eye. “Those records might not have survived the dissolution. But I promise to look into both things for you.” Rubbing at his chin again, he smirked. “I might have a few friends from Neighvarro command I could call on for an answer. If they made it down to the new HQ, that is.” Turning to me, he stuck his forehoof out. “But I’ll do my best for you, Miss…?”

“Night.” I took his forehoof firmly and shook it. “Night Flight.” Letting go, I gave a nod back to the Hauler. “Anyway, I’ll get right on securing that ice for you all. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

I got bright smiles in return for my words, and I couldn’t help but smile back at them. Turning around, I put on a straight face again. Happy would need to think that I’d had a bit of a back and forth with them, and I’d have to sell it that he’d have to trust me to get the payment. In fact, as I trotted back towards the hauler, I could see Happy gazing at me from over the back railing of the Rec area. He turned and headed down into the Ice hold as I approached.

“Hey!” A squeaky voice called out right into my ear. I jumped on my hooves, tripping over myself and sending my muzzle straight down to the frozen concrete. Funny how even as I’d recognized it as Hispano’s voice halfway to the ground, I still couldn’t stop myself.

“What.” I said flatly, grumbling and picking myself up off the pavement.

Zipping around in front of me, she flapped her wings hard to hover at this altitude. “I’ve figured out what I want from you.” She smiled wider than the Enclave soldiers had at the news of water. “Cause I was thinking about what we’d talked about before, and something in my head just clicked!” Fluttering around me in circles, she brought her talons up and removed the goggles from over her eyes, setting them up on her flight cap with a leathery slap of its straps. “You’re an oddity, Dum Dum. Somepony who isn’t jaded to the wastelands. At least, not yet that is.”

“Can this wait, Hispano?” I sighed, looking around her smiling face toward the hauler. Annoyingly, I found her tilt her head over and into my view again. Maybe I should just listen to her. I mean, she’s only been helpful to me so far on this trip. At the very least, I could be nicer in asking her to come back later. “Please?”

“No, because you still owe me.” She said before pausing in thought. “Actually, you owe me twice now. Once for saving your flank on the Empirica, and the other for killing those murderous freaks in Creepytown back there.” Gasping, she went wide eyed and cupped her talons around my cheeks. I simply deadpanned at her. “Ooooo, that means I get two things from you!”

“Can you just tell me so I can go?” I asked, crossing my forehooves with a heavily forced harumph. As helpful as she’s been, she deserved what she asked for. She’d been nice to me, but I didn’t want her to walk all over me. I had to put up more of an annoyed front for deterrence. I didn’t want to sound like I was pleading, out of the fear she’d count it as a third time she’d saved me from something. Even if that something was herself…

“I want you to take me out somewhere nice once you get to the next major settlement. Should be Carmacks, I think.” She said with a smile. “I’ve seen plenty of ponies go out somewhere with ponies they like. Get something to eat, watch some sort of entertainment, you know, that sort of thing!”

“Ummm…” I sat there for a moment, not quite sure what to do. This was… the oddest request I’d ever had in my life. “You mean a date?” I’d seen plenty of mares and stallions ask each other out back in Neighvarro City, but… I’d never been asked out before. I’d always approached other stallions for it. Never got a yes from any of them anyhow.

“Sure, that’s the word.” She said, cupping her beak as she thought about it. “At least I think it is...” Slowing her beating wings, she dropped down onto the pavement in front of me. “So yeah, I want to be taken out and treated to a night on the town by you!” Looking at me oddly, she wore a devilish smirk. “And I want you to wear something nice. Like that dress from Klondike!”

“About that,” Thinking about the last time I spent some time with Hispano, I’d woken up being strangled by her father. “What about your dad? Didn’t he tell you to stay away from stallions like me?” Really, I just wanted her to drop this before she got the wrong idea about all this.

“Yeah,” She shrugged before leaning closer to me. “but I’m thinking, after he see’s how much of a gentlecolt you are, he’ll lay off on you a bit.” Looking around, she blushed brightly across her cheeks. “Look, you’re… not like the other stallions I’ve seen in the wastes. You’re nice to me, even if you sometimes put up a front that makes you look annoyed.” Was I really that transparent to her? With what might have been the biggest admission she’d given to anypony, she looked up at me and said something I didn’t expect.

“You may find me odd and annoying, but you're the first pony who doesn’t see me as just some mercenary for hire.” She shook her head softly and looked at the ground. “I’d said it before, even though you don’t remember. We’re friends, and... I like you, Night.” Looking up at me, I could tell that this was as serious as anything else in the world to her.

“Hispano…” I was actually at a loss for words. Not that words mattered, because the second I said her name, she leaned forward and kissed me. My mind felt like it went dark for a moment, and I was overcome with a resounding sense of deja vu. I was so shocked that it took my brain a moment to reboot and pull away from her.

“Just… think it over.” She said softly. Before I could even say anything, she flared her wings and took off like a bolt.

So… a fourteen year old griffon, who I’ve had save my life twice now, was for some reason infatuated with me because I saw her as more than a tool of death. The ebbing pain from before when I talked to her outside Laika’s capsule returned to my head. I put my hooves against my head and squeezed at it, hoping that somehow that would help. Half the social customs in the wasteland made sense, but Hispano… why the hell would she do something like this?

Maybe this would be a good thing. A chance to sit down and really talk with her without all this running about. Maybe then I could explain to her just what Solomon was like, and hopefully get her to get away from his side. Not for Delilah's benefit, but because she didn’t deserve to be around a brute like Solomon.

“Hey!” Happy’s voice called down from off the back of the Hauler. When I looked up at him, he raised both his forehooves up above his head. “You coming up or what!?”

“Today just keeps getting better and better…” I grumbled, getting to my hooves. Still, if Hispano wanted to feel like a mare out on a date, that’s fine. I owed her a night out if that’s what she wanted from me. But at the end of it, I’d have to be straight with her, and tell her I wasn’t interested in her like she seemed to be with me.

Trying to push the absurdity of the last few moments from my mind, I trotted over to Bertha and climbed the stairs up. Seriously, all I had to do was get the ice delivered and I was home free for the afternoon. Pausing on the steps, I thought about something else that the Officer had said. They were running low on food, and with who the hell knows how far they have to go, I can’t let them go potentially knowing they’d starve.

“Hey, Bombay.” Boiler called out as I climbed onto the reactor deck. Looking up, I found her lazily yawn at me from over at the reactor controls. “Nice to see you made it back.” Canting her large head, she bonked one of her horns into the wall as she looked at me and pointed to the bandages around my side. “Did you get hurt or something?”

“Yeah, it’s nothing.” I smiled and gave a dismissive wave. Oh goddesses, why is she down here!? I can’t just grab a chunk of the Ice and get out of here without her seeing it. Unless… maybe I can shove it into one side of my saddlebags! “Anyway, I’ve gotta grab something from my room. Chat later about it?”

She shrugged and went back to doing her thing at the controls. Turning, I trotted over to the door to the ice hold and dipped inside quickly. Shutting it behind me, I leaned back against it and perked my ears. The Ice hold was dead quiet except for the electric hum of the small light illuminating the room.

Lowering my voice to a whisper, I called out. “Happy?” Pausing and waiting, I heard a subtle shift from back behind the ice. Slowly, he leaned around the corner, straightening out his floral print shirt as he looked at me quizzically. “A cubic foot, maybe a little bit more.”

“Well, I sawed out a bit more than that.” He shrugged before pointing to the door behind me. “Problem is, I'll need you to get Boiler to take a break away from the hauler for a bit so we can both sneak this over there."

Putting on my best straight face, I glared at him. “I’ll take it alone. They won’t trust you, remember?”

He looked insulted, shifting his weight back a bit. “That’s not how this is going to work.” He narrowed his eyes at me and jabbed his hoof toward me. “And by the way, what are they paying for it. You did get them to pay for it, right? Because I’m here to make caps, not friends with the enclave. And if you didn’t...”

“Hey,” I cut him off, "I'll deliver the ice, and then bring back your share." He moved to speak up again, but instead I spoke up even louder. "You need me to do the deal, so you do it my way, Happy." He did his best to wear the look that Delilah made when she was angry, but I didn't care. "I could always tell your mother..."

"Fine." He snapped with a huffing kick at the ice. "Just get Boiler to leave before you head out. So long as they pay, I couldn’t care how it goes down."

I huffed and stepped away from the door. “They’ll pay for it so long as you cut the right amount.” Trotting across the hold, I quickly made my way halfway up the stairs before stopping and looking over to Happy. “You know what? Since I’ve done the negotiation and will be the one doing the heavy lifting here, why don’t you go get Boiler to leave?”

I knew that I was effectively lying to him about the payment, but seriously. I can see why most of the other crew avoided Happy. Yeah, it sucked for what happened with his Dad, but you’d think he’d be less of a self centered asshole than he is because of it. If all he cares about is caps? Fine, I’ll deal with whatever he wants to try to do about me ripping him off later. Between having to do the job Delilah’s now assigned me to, and Hispano’s antics, I had enough to worry about for now.

Pushing up through the hatch to the top, I quickly made my way over to my container. Opening the door, I looked over into Buck’s half. Thankfully, he was still out for the moment. Trying to be quick about this, I lowered myself down and reached under my bed. Dumping out the two sides of my saddlebags onto my bed, I made sure that I’d divide the remaining food in them out into things that would probably not make it another few weeks at most, and things that would be viable for a while. Considering they were good at rationing, I could give them most of what was left of the perishables.

Stuffing everything that I was going to give them into one saddle bag, I scooped everything else I intended to save for myself onto the rainbow rug on my bed. Wrapping it up, I scooted it towards the back of my bed and swung the half-laden bags onto my back. Turning around, I found myself run right into a big furry object blocking the doorway.

“Woah there.” Buck laughed. “What have you got all that packed away for? Not leaving I’d hope.”

Looking up, I found a soft smile on Buck’s jagged muzzle. However, I could see a look of disappointment in his eyes. I’d figured it was probably over Laika’s choice to stay here, but honestly, I really hoped it wasn’t because of something I’d done to disappoint him.

“Just…” I looked up, about to tell him everything. Stopping short, I tailored my words again. “The Enclave soldiers at that parked vertibuck? They’ve run out of standard rations, and nopony is willing to help them. They’ll be leaving soon, but it’s going to be a long trip.” Shrugging, I watched his smile grow wider. “I figured that maybe for their trip, they could use some of the food I was given.”

“That’s a wonderful idea.” He nodded and reached out. Patting me on the head with his heavy paw, I laughed as he ruffled my mane. “However, I do have to ask…” He paused, his ice blue eyes darting over to my wrapped up food on my bed. “Did you perhaps have another tin of that candy?”

“Uh, yeah.” I said, thinking back to all of the food I’d just had spread out. I was pretty sure that I’d seen another rusted tin of it among the things I wrapped up in the rainbow rug. Shrugging I looked up to him. “Go ahead and have it if you want.”

“Oh, it’s not for me.” He said, turning and looking toward the back of the Hauler. It was then that I’d seen Laika standing on top of her pod, looking down into it curiously. “I was going to give them to her, as a housewarming gift of sorts.” He gave a sigh as he looked at her.

I couldn’t help but smile. “You like her, don’t you?” I chuckled and nudged him playfully.

He gave a bright blush through his coat. “O-only as a scientist!” He stammered, dropping his voice into a near whisper. Leaning down he spoke softly to me, and I could hear the uneasiness of his words. “She had a family before today from her perspective. It’s going to take her time to cope with the idea that the world she knew is gone, even if she’s already physically accepted that as a fact. I could never be so bold as to presume she’d ever be open to the idea of another dog in her life.” Looking down at his paws, he gave a sigh. He hadn’t said it, but I knew that in his head, he was making the point that she couldn’t love him specifically.

“Well, that’s her loss.” I shrugged and gave him a beaming smile. “You’re a great Snow Dog, Buck. Anyone would be lucky to have someone like you in their life. I know I am.”

And just like I’d thought it would be, there was his own beaming smile. Buck and I had the same problem in assuming that others would look at us for each other's faults. Really, all we needed was to know that we weren’t alone in this mindset, and that worry seemed to melt away. I don’t know if I’d ever view Hispano as anything more than a friend, but… I’m pretty sure I know what Buck would tell me if I ever asked him his thoughts on it. We both just needed to go for what we wanted in life, and that’s because we were both capable of so much more than we thought.

Trotting back toward the Ice hold, I stopped and looked over at Laika. She looked to have repaired the hole in her suit where Buck had put the IV in before, and she was again wearing her oddly large tri-barreled pistol. She looked confused as she stood over the open hatch to her pod, staring down into it like she could make it fly using only her mind. After a moment, she seemed to notice me staring.

“Hey,” I said, reaching my wing out and giving her a stiff salute with it. “I know it was brief, but I’m glad we could help you out.” At the very least, it looked like she’d handled the news of the end of the world better than expected.

That pulled a smile across her muzzle as well. “Dah. Thanks for what you and the others have done.” She gave me a stiff salute in return. “This isn’t an ideal solution, but it’ll do until I can get back to Stalliongrad. Or at the very least, get back to whatever they call a government these days.” Looking up and off into the blue sky, she gave a small sigh. “From what the leader of this settlement said, it’s now something new called the NCR.”

Shrugging, I laughed. “Well, they’re not the only government out there.” Pointing back across the courtyard, she followed my hoof as I continued. “The vertibuck we passed on the way in is going to be headed back down to what remains of the Enclave. Maybe they could give you a ride?”

“Enclave?” Laika asked slowly. “What is the Enclave?”

“Well…” I scrunched up my muzzle before I could throw my entire race under the proverbial skybus. I get that we may have gone overboard with the cloud cover, but, that’s no reason to outright condemn the Grand Pegasus Enclave overall. I can’t taint what she thinks of them with the wrong words, so I have to get back to what we had been formed from. “It’s what’s left of the Pegasus Air Command?”

“Oh, so the pegasus air force still exists?” Laika asked, rubbing at her chin. “I bet that if they have records pertaining to my time, I could prove my identity as part of the M.A.S. and the original Cloudsdale Aerospace Command. I could get them to take me back home!” Smiling she grabbed onto the raised ledge of the hauler and pulled herself off her pod and up into the Rec area with a single bound. “Besides, being from two centuries ago, I basically outrank all of them now!”

That is... sort of true? I mean, that’s not really how rank works, but she’s probably a whole lot smarter and more qualified than anypony running things these days. Still, past all the petty politics of rank and such, that Officer out back was probably still under her rank of Commander. On top of that, he did offer to give me a ride down with him. I’m pretty sure he’d settle for a wartime hero instead.

“Before we go, General Laika.” I said with a smirk, receiving one in kind from her. “I do have to go discuss something with the Officer anyway, it may be a few minutes before you can head out.” Pointing my hoof back toward my container, I smiled as I looked at Buck as he moved around inside it. “However, I believe that my friend in there wanted to talk to you before you left.”

“Alright.” She nodded, “I still need to gather some of my notes, logs, and experiments. After I get them together, I’ll talk to your Snow Dog friend in there.” Reaching her paw out to me, she stood proudly on her hind legs. “Again, thank you for all you’ve done.” Reaching out, I let her grab my leg and shake it. With a laugh, she looked up in thought again. “General Laika. Yeah, I could get used to being top dog around here.”

Well, general or not, I felt like Laika was going to be in good hooves with the Enclave. Still, I felt bad for Buck, and hoped that he’d step up and say something before she left. I couldn’t really worry about that now though, I had some ice to deliver, and Happy Trails to piss off! Goddesses I hoped this wouldn’t come back to bite me in the flank...

Chapter 14 - No more secrets

If you have to ask, you're not entitled to know.

“This will be more than enough.” Ram Turbine smiled as she took the large block of Ice from me. “I’ll get on melting it down right away.”

“You have no idea what this means to us.” The officer said softly, sitting down and taking off his cap. “Back when I joined the flight academy, I’d always thought I’d be the one to help others out.” Giving me a wary smile, he looked every bit as exhausted as Dad had after getting home from a long day of work. Holding his hoof out, he smiled at me. “Excuse me for not introducing myself before. I’m Commandant Tail End. My cadets and I owe you a debt of gratitude.”

Cadets? “All of you are just Enclave recruits?” Looking up at him, I knew I had to be wrong. He seemed far too seasoned to be just a recruit. The laugh he gave all but confirmed it.

“The others, yes.” He smiled, watching as Ram Turbine struggled to hobble back over towards the side of the Vertibuck with the heavy block of ice. “However I am the lead instructor aboard Raptor CVL-22 Dawn Strider. It is… was, my job to train those who would fly and maintain the various Vertibuck models that were used across the Enclave.” With a sigh, he probably felt the same way I did about all this. “They didn’t ask for this, you know? They’re just new recruits. They didn’t deserve to be left behind, not with an event like the government collapsing.” We couldn’t change what happened, only move forward from now.

“Well, I’m sure that you’ll all make it down there just fine.” I offered, taking his hoof and shaking it firmly. “I’ll make sure to look you up when I get down there as well, Commandant.” Looking back toward the Hauler, I saw the bright blue spacesuited form of Laika making her way down the stairs to the ground. “So, about that ride you offered?” I said, turning back towards him. “Mind if someone else takes my place?”

“Well, that depends.” He said, looking over with me. “I won’t put my cadets in a situation where they’re trapped in a barely flying box with a psychopath.”

“You ever hear of an old world Diamond Dog named Laika? Scientist from the M.A.S.?” I asked, looking up to him with a smile. He only cocked his eyebrow at me. “Well, let’s just say that the ice I gave you wasn’t the only frozen thing my convoy has run across recently.”

“So, wait.” He looked back toward the small form of Laika as she approached, and then back to me. “You expect me to believe that a two century old name only briefly mentioned in a history book, is still around? They aren’t one of those dead… things, are they?” He scoffed. As he did, I pointed to the burned up space capsule strung up against the back of Bertha. “Oh. Well then.”

“She’s looking for a ride back home. Maybe you can help her out by taking her with you.” I said, turning and watching as Laika made her way across the concrete courtyard towards us. Carried across her back, was a large purple M.A.S. duffle bag that seemed absolutely crammed with papers, electronics, and other bulky things that jutted out of the top. Seriously, the bag was as big as she was. “Look, she’s just as new to the wasteland as we are, so… be patient with her.”

“I’m sure we’ll be able to accommodate her.” Tail End sighed. “Well, at least she won’t take up more space than what she’s hauling with her.” Looking back to me, he smirked and reached his hoof over to his flank. With a click, he used his wing to open up a slim holster that was strapped to his side. Out of it, he pulled a small, black and gold plated energy pistol. I didn’t know the design from anything I’d seen before, but it couldn’t have been modern. “Look, I know we can’t really repay you for your help, but… I can at least give you this.” Hoofing the small pistol toward me, I looked at him in confusion. “It’s an antique pistol that has been passed down through my family since the war. It’s not Enclave owned, it’s mine, so I’m going to repay your kindness with it.”

“That’s… not needed.” I reached up and pushed the gun back. Reaching around, I hooked my hoof around my saddlebags and hooved them over to him. “Here, there’s not much in here, but it should last you all a few days.”

He took the bag and opened it, gasping. “Why…?” He looked over at me, dumbfounded. Shaking his head, he hooved his pistol at me again. “Now I really do have to insist.”

“YA budu torgovat' vam.” Laika called out as she came up to us. Grabbing at the enormous gun at her side, she tossed it toward me. Scrambling, I barely managed to pinch it between my forehooves before it hit the ground. “Blagodaryu!” She nodded before pulling the fancy pistol from a very confused Tail End’s hoof. “The TP-82 was too big for me, so I will take this one.” She smiled only momentarily at me. “So, tell me. This is what we are flying in?” Pointing to the Vertibuck sitting beside us, she didn’t seem very impressed. “You've been flying a Model xm-01a3? I'm surprised it's still able to fly after all this time.”

“Yes, the simplicity and ease of maintenance means these models make for good trainers.” Tail End replied, shaking his head and looking down at her. “Wait, you could tell what model it was just by looking at it?”

“Dah.” Laika nodded and pointed to the front of the craft. “Forward sensor bulge made room for secondary power transfer system.” Pointing up toward the wing joints. “Redesigned internal strutting made the wing less prone to failure during high speed maneuvering.” Looking up at Tail End, she gave him a very flat look. “I recognize it because I designed the modifications.” With a grunt, she reached up and pulled her hefty duffle bag off. Unceremoniously, she dumped it at his hooves. “Now before we get into the air, let me see if you screwed it up at all in the last two centuries. Or made improvements...”

“Sure…” Tail End said slowly as she walked off toward the old machine. Looking back to me, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Oh, this is going to be a long trip.”

“For you and me both. At least you don’t have to take the long way there.” I said, looking back up toward Bertha. I watched as Delilah trotted up the stairs onto the Hauler, and disappeared inside the Ice Hold. I think that before Happy got a chance to get angry about all this, I needed to have a talk with his mom about just what that safe was doing in the ice. Turning back to Tail End, I gave a stiff salute. “Safe travels, Commandant.”

He gave me a salute back and smiled again. “Same to you.” As I turned around, he reached out and grabbed my wing with his hoof. “Hey,” Looking back, he gave me a small nod. “I’ll find out what I can… about what you asked, that is. Just, try to get down south in one piece. I hear it’s rough on the ground now, so stay safe.”

“Will do.” I nodded and turned back. It might be something I couldn’t promise, but I’d be damned if I didn’t try to stay out of trouble. Hell, here’s hoping I could even last the afternoon without getting myself into a situation where I got myself shot. I really hoped that Happy didn’t own a gun...

“Is there something I can do for you, Night?” Delilah sighed as I shut the door to her container behind me. She was sitting at her desk, looking over a few scattered papers with her glasses precariously perched on the end of her muzzle. She didn’t even look up when I came in, though I should have expected that from somepony as cold and distant as she seemed to be.

Only when I walked right up to her desk without a word did she even move her focus to me.

“I want to know what’s in the safe.” I asked bluntly.

She didn’t even look shocked at my words. Really, I’d expected some sort of reaction out of her, but instead, I was met with nothing. She simply stared at me with the same stoic expression across her face that she’d carried with her most days. However, she did give out a light sigh as she picked her glasses off her muzzle and set them down on her desk.

“So, you found out then.” Her chair gave a few creaks as she leaned back in it, giving her seat more expression of character than she currently did. “Somepony was bound to find out sooner than later I guess.”

“You guess?” I couldn’t understand why she was being so calm about all this. “You lied about the ice, didn’t you? Solomon was right, you don’t want it for your settlement at all!” I cringed at that. Maybe that was a bit sharp of an accusation. Seriously, I’ve got to learn to watch what comes out of my muzzle. Whatever, I’m committed now, for better or worse.

“Night.” She spoke in the same volume as she had, but her tone dropped faster than a stone falling off a cliff. “You have no idea the importance of that safe, nor the right to infer that I have lied to you, or anypony else on my crew.” Leaning forward again, she placed her forehooves onto her desk firmly. Though she’d done it with care, I could tell that she was seething with rage inside. “So I implore you that if you are to continue to make accusations like that, then you might want to tread lightly with your words.”

“Tread Lightly? I have lost my family.” I snapped in a tone that I didn’t know I could even get to. “I’ve been shot, held captive, and lied to about everything in my life by the Enclave, who I thought I owed my safety to.” I knew that I was pushing my luck here, but I really hoped that I didn’t make a mistake in refusing to take that ride down south with Tail End. “I may not have secured my place among your crew by your standards, but that’s no reason to lie to them about what they’re risking their lives for. And I won’t stand for being lied to twice about what I’m living for.”

“They signed on knowing this trip was going to be dangerous, the same as you. That’s all any of you need to know.” The burning glare Delilah offered wasn’t one I’d wish on anypony. “If I ask you to fight, then you will fight. That’s what I pay you for, not running your muzzle off unchecked like you seem to do every chance you can get, Night.” She was nearly trembling with rage already, and that only made me more resolute to know just what she was hiding. “You’re candidness has already pushed the limits of my patience as is, and yet you think you are entitled to more?” Raising her hoof, she pointed sharply to the door. “If you’d like to keep argueing, then there’s the door. Go get comfy with the locals, because another argumentative word out of your muzzle, and you’ll be off this crew for good.”

Taking a step back from her, I felt my chest tighten up. She was willing to kick me out over this? Even after everything, she was willing to toss me aside to keep from telling the truth? That wasn’t just ruthless, that was the same feeling that Solomon had given me. The way she used ‘entitlement’ and a ‘payout’ as reinforcement for her argument? It made me realize that I’d made a mistake again. Even among all of those I’ve made down here, maybe the biggest one of all had been to think that Delilah couldn’t be as unscrupulous and underhooved as Solomon.

What do I do?

“I’m waiting for your answer.” She began slowly. “Either drop the subject and keep your muzzle shut, or...”

“I quit.” The words came so easily, yet, they hurt to say. Still, they had an effect on her. “You know, when I’d met him? I’d thought that Solomon was exactly the monster you’d made him out to be.” She’d paused in her place, hanging onto her own words like they were more precious than anything to her. Which was fine, I didn’t care about her words anymore. “But if you don’t tell the others what this is really about, you’ll end up becoming the exact same monster you wanted to protect them from.” If she couldn’t tell the others what this trip was about, then the trip wasn’t worth making.

I’d been down here for almost two weeks already, and this crew had become my closest friends. This place had been a home for me. Still, Buck was right about things, I felt that truth deep down inside me. Ponies needed to be nice to each other, needed to help each other out. I couldn’t stay knowing that Delilah didn’t have the best intentions for any of us on the crew. She made the others believe that they were doing this for her town, that this could save it. Worst of all, she made me believe it as well.

“I’ll say my goodbyes and get my things.” I sighed and headed for the door. “And don’t worry, I won’t tell them what I saw. Though, you’ll deserve every bit of hatred you get when they find out down the road, and they realize that they’ve gone so far for nothing more than a lie.” With every step, I hoped that she’d speak up. Opening the door, I prayed to the goddesses that she’d reconsider and do the right thing. But as I stepped out and shut the door behind me, I was met with exactly what I expected. Nothing.

Tearing up, the fact that I had lost everything again hit me hard. But hey, at least I was leaving with my integrity, right? Yeah, some consolation that was. Still, the tears rolling down my cheeks hit the floor outside her room, it took everything I had to just not turn around and beg her to forgive me. I’d learned to get over my past, to push forward into my new life in the wasteland. Just this morning, Buck had even said how it was nice that I hadn’t let the wasteland break me. Well, if this is how was going to be for the rest of my life, I didn’t think I could hold out much longer.

Looking across to the container I’d recently called home, I’d wondered just what I’d do now. No skills, no job, and no money. I shook my head and balked at the fact that I really had screwed up this time. Still, I had to go on. Mom and Dad raised me to always keep moving forward, to never give up or surrender.

The memory of that day outside of our apartment drifted into my head again. I hadn’t seen it then, the necessity of their words. I’d needed to stand up for myself, to fight my own battles. I couldn’t help but think that even though what just happened hurt me, it was the right thing to do. Reaching up with my hooves, I wiped the tears away from my eyes and straightened myself out. Right or not, I had to go.

Standing up, I walked over toward Violet and Hardcase’s container. Reaching my hoof up to knock on their door, I hesitated, wondering just what I’d say to them. When I did, I heard a soft giggle from inside from what sounded like Violet. Extending my wing, I slipped my feathers into the door like she’d done for my container, and flexed up. My wing caught on the latch inside and flipped it open.

“Woah!” Violet called out as I opened the door and stepped in. “Hold on there!” She called out. Looking over around the open door, I was met with a sight that made me blush. She was currently pinning Hardcase down on his bed, while riding on his… yeah, I should have knocked. A soft gasp from Hardcase however caught my attention.

“Night? What’s wrong?” He asked, looking up at me with concerned eyes from his place on the bed.

“Violet…” I hesitantly spoke. “I thought you said you were married…” Has… has everypony I’ve met so far just been lying to me this whole time? “Why would you lie to me like that?”

“It's not what you think!” She whined, pulling herself off Hardcase with a fleshy pop. I did my best to look away, while also trying to fight the urge to turn and go. This was a bad idea, and I should have just left without saying anything at all. “I am married, just... not to who I said I was.” Dropping her voice to a whisper, she continued, “This is the part you can’t tell anypony else. Even if Delilah asks, you didn’t know. Got it?”

Something about the way she said that resonated in my head, like a painful echo. This… has happened before. An ebbing pain roared through my head as the words bounced around in it. I tried to focus on why it felt so familiar through the pain, hoping it would pass.

“Hardcase...” Violet groaned as well. I looked over, seeing her cup her head in her hooves. “He isn't normally like this. He's... different than you might think.”

The words felt like they slammed into me from across the room. I swayed on my hooves as I started to feel dizzy. This wasn’t just familiar, this was something I couldn’t remember. If only I could focus on it…

“Violet, are you alright!?” Hardcase’s voice faded into the background as the noise in my head seemed to ramp up to unbelievable levels.

“I… lied to you, before.” Violet’s voice ran through my head like a gong.

“About what?” My own voice resonated in response. Each word sent a jolt of pain through my head, and I too cupped my hooves tightly against my skull as the pain went from a dull ebbing, to a forceful drumming.

“So that’s why he said he’s not interested in anypony else…” I repeated slowly, the words forcing their way out of my quivering muzzle as I tried to hold back whimpers of pain. I've said this before, this whole conversation. My vision blurred and I heard Violet grunt as well. That was it before everything dropped off into darkness.

Sounds were the first to return to me again. The rhythmic beeping of yet another medical machine next to me meant that at the very least I knew where I was. Again. At least the pounding that I’d had in my head was strangely absent. Still, my mind felt frazzled and murky. I couldn’t really hold on to a thought before it slipped away only a moment later. Opening my eyes, I winced and sat up slightly.

Looking around, everything was blurry. The warm blanket draped over me, the bright light above and clean walls definitely pointed toward this being a medical room. There were a few cabinets along the far wall to my left, as well as another bed. Another pony was laying in it, and in looking at the colors, I was pretty sure it was Violet.

“Afternoon, partner.” The gravely voice of a stallion spoke from the other side of the small room I was in. Blinking a few times and rubbing at my eyes, I forced away the blurriness that encompassed my vision. Sitting across the room from me, was Buck, dressed in a newer looking medical lab coat, and the polished looking medical yoke I’d gotten him. Next to him however, was a stallion I’d never seen before. He eyed me over before smiling. “Are yah Miss Bombay?” He asked.

The older, tan coated unicorn stallion sitting next to buck looked out of place. He wore a wide brimmed hat that looked ripped right out of an old western movie. Under it was a long, wiry white mane that wrapped around into a pair of sharply shaved chops along his chin. A large multicolored poncho sat over most of him, and over that was a bandolier with two guns strapped around his chest. The whole image he presented seemed flashy and tough. I got a feeling in my gut that I didn’t so much like the idea of him even knowing my nickname...

“Why do you ask?” I spoke horsely, trying to find my voice again as I sat up further. “What do you want?”

“Me?” The old stallion laughed. The crows feet around his weathered eyes gave me the impression that he was experienced in the hardship of the wastelands. However, the piercing gaze his green eyes gave, was as sharp as Solomon’s was. “I’m just a courier with a message ta deliver.” Pointing over to Buck, he gave a wheezing laugh. “Ol’ Doc here has been keepin’ me company while I wait for yah ta get up.” Buck gave an uneasy smile to the old stallion as he talked. “Funny, I’d never thought a beast such as him could commit ta somethin’ as strict as pacifism. I was afraid fer my life the moment I laid eyes on those claws, but I breathed a sigh of relief when he said he ain’t aimin ta ever use them fer’ harm. I wholeheartedly agree that we need less violence in the wastes.”

“Yes,” Buck nodded at that, giving a light chuckle as he did. “Says the stallion with two guns strapped to him.”

“Just because it’s what I think we need, ain’t make it a reality, Doc.” The stallion said before giving out a creaking stretch of one of his forelegs. “And the reality is it’s a dangerous world out there, full of dangerous ponies.” With a grunt, he pulled himself up off the bench he and Buck had been sitting on. “Anyway, the message I’m supposed ta convey is sort of confidential, so I’mma need ta know if yer actually Miss Bombay.”

“Yes, I am.” I nodded. As I spoke, I watched him smile brightly and raise his foreleg. A blocky object sat clamped over his leg, a glowing green screen flicked on as he looked at it. “What… is that?”

Buck stood up from his seat and walked over to the stallion. The stallion gave him an odd look before leaning away from him slightly. Buck seemed to take the hint and step back with an apologetic smile across his muzzle.

“This?” The stallion looked over at me oddly. “This is a gen-u-ine Stable-Tec Pipbuck.” He gave the old portable device a shake on his leg with a toothy grin. “A gift from a recent employer of mine.” Reaching up with his other hoof, he tapped a few keys on it. Odd, I’d assumed he could have done that with his horn. “If yah want, I can show yah a neat trick it can do.”

“Sure, but first,” I looked over to Buck for a moment finding him eyeing over the old stallion oddly. “Who sent you? I don’t think I know anypony who would have sent me a message like this.”

“A relative of yours, actually.” The courier smiled at me as he levitated a half used cigar up into his muzzle. The tarnished gold lighter next to it flicked a few times before it lit, and the stallion took a few stiff drags off the wartime smoke. Reaching up, he levitated the lighter down into the waiting hoof with his Pipbuck on it. “A prince Salal, actually.” Prince Salal? Wait, that’s the deer that Solomon killed! “He sends his regards.”

“Buck!” I cried out. By the time I had, the old stallion had drawn both his revolvers. However, at the same time, Buck had let out a growl unlike anything I’d ever heard in my life. A flash of Black and white split the air between the old stallion and I. A line of blood splattered the wall to my left, and the old stallions foreleg, pipbuck and all, tumbled to the floor in three separate segments.

“I don’t know who sent you.” Buck got out in a guttural low tone. “But put down your guns before…”

The old Stallion had probably been too shocked at his missing leg to hear Buck speak, but I don’t think he cared. In his magic, both revolvers turned on Buck and fired. I watched in horror as they went off again and again, the stallion not even looking where he was shooting. The shots were deafening in my ears, but Buck’s howl of pain beat them out.

Again, Buck moved with incredible speed, but this time he swung around over my legs. With a meaty thwack, Buck drove his claws right through the stallion’s neck and head. Bloody gurgling was all that escaped the old stallion’s neatly split muzzle as he died on Buck’s claws. His magic faded, and the guns dropped to the floor. He was gone, right in front of me. I just sat and stared at his corpse in silence, waiting for the gravity of what had just happened to hit me.

“Night?” Buck asked through heaving breaths. His voice snapped me out of my stare. Looking over, I found that Buck was hunched over, wincing with every breath. Several holes in his lab coat darkened as lines of his blood ran down them. “Are you okay?” He whined, lowering his claws to his bleeding chest.

I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He’d just saved me, and he was hurt. “Yeah… Buck, you’re hurt.” No shit, Night! Say something useful! “Help!” I called out as loudly as I could with my dry throat. “I need help in here!”

The door to the room burst open. “I heard gunshots, what is going on in…!” A turquoise coated unicorn yelled out before stopping cold. Her muzzle twitched, canting her thick glasses across it as she stared at the body on the floor. Shifting uneasily in her own medical lab coat, she turned her eyes to Buck and gasped. “Hold on, don’t move and let me get my tools.”

Her horn flared with magic, and the cabinets from Violet’s side of the room all flew open. Various tools and medical things quickly levitated across the room. They formed a tight ring around the doctor mare. Among the things, she floated an odd copper wrapped metal disk with circuits and batteries duct taped to it over towards Buck.

“Alright, deep breath. This is going to hurt.” She said before placing the odd thing against one of Buck’s bullet wounds. She paused, waiting for him to look at her. When he did, her magic pressed a small red button on the top of it. There was the thick snap of electricity, and a heavy whimper from Buck. Pulling the pad back, a lumpy gray mass was now attached to the pad itself. “Alright.” She said, using her magic to pick the mass off the pad before she moved it over to the next bullet wound. “Again.”

Another thick snap preceded a yelp from Buck. I whimpered along with him, feeling my stomach twist as he writhed. Again, she pulled the pad back and another metal lump sat on it. Wait… those weren’t lumps! She was pulling the bullets right out of him! She repeated the process until all five of his bleeding wounds had been dealt with.

“Alright.” She said, levitating over a thick looking metal jar. “Doctor Buck? I need to know if you’ve got the mutation to heal with magical radiation or not.” She waited, holding the jar out until he nodded. Wait, what!? Radiation didn’t hurt him? How was that even possible!? “Alright, then it will be just one moment.”

Unscrewing the cap off the metal jar, her magic pulled out a brightly glowing green gem. The brilliance it gave off was stunning, though from the way she pulled away from it as she moved it toward him, I knew I probably shouldn’t want to reach out and touch it so badly. As she moved it closer, Buck growled and swung up. I thought he was angry for a moment, until he brought his paw, and the glowing gem, down against his chest.

“Oh that’s so much better.” He sighed, seeming to relax a bit. I watched in amazement as lines of green traced through his massive forearms. They started to appear all over his body actually, pulsing like a heart beat pumping blood through veins. “Thank you, Doctor Show Globe. We had an intruder come in.” Looking over to me, he gave a sorrowful look. “I almost didn’t stop him before he attacked Mr. Night Flight here.”

“I see.” She looked over to me with a weary look. “Is that what happened?” She asked promptly. Did… did she not hear him? Or was it that she just didn’t trust what he said because he was a Snow Dog?

“Yes,” I stated, almost in outrage. “He passed himself off as a courier with a message before pulling his guns on me.”

“Okay then.” She nodded, looking over to Buck. Her horn flared, and she grabbed the glowing gem right out from his paws with her magic. “It’s not that I don’t believe you, Dr. Buck. However, as a doctor, you know how useful a second opinion can be at times.” She spoke flatly as she quickly placed the stone back in the metal container and sealed it tightly. Turning to him, she gave him a shrug before pulling a roll of gauze out of the rotating supplies around her. “No offence intended.”

“I understand.” Buck sighed as she wrapped the gauze around his chest lightly. “Besides, I am the one with blood all over my claws. I would have questioned me too.” He laughed lightly and looked over to me with a soft gaze. “Sorry that I didn’t see through his ruse sooner.”

“He had us both fooled.” I shrugged to him. “However…” I cocked my eye at him. “You are incredibly violent for a pacifist.”

“You misunderstand what it means to be passive.” He laughed as the doctor cut the gauze to length and started to finish up. “I look for no fights, nor do I participate in conflicts that are not my own. However, there is a difference between passivity and knowing how to defend oneself and others. To paraphrase a general who fought in the first years of the war, ‘If you want to live as a force of good in this world, then you foremost have to survive’.” With a raise of his bloody claws, he reached over and grabbed one of the clean towels stacked on the counter near my bed. Wiping his bloody claws off quite thoroughly, he continued. “By the nature of what my kind are, most ponies are not so unintelligent as to start a fight with us. Though there were some outliers these early days, most avoid us altogether. Even so, we are taught to kill only when necessary from the age of two. That is when our instincts..."

“From only two?” I interrupted him. I know I shouldn’t have, but I just couldn’t believe it! “Celestia, that's insane!”

That got him to laugh as the other Doctor levitated all her tools back into their drawers. “This is not a surprising reaction among those who learn of our ways. Our physiology and mentality matures much faster than that of ponies, as I’d said before about Laika.” Buck raised his eyebrow to me now, and smiled. “Though, to offset our growth, we do have far more limited lifespans than your kind because of this. To put it another way, how old do you perceive me to be?”

What a peculiar question. “I... don't know?” I gave him a nervous smile and shrugged. “You’re the only Snow Dog I’ve gotten to know well, so I can’t really say.”

Turning his gaze to the doctor, he held the bloody towel out to her. “What about you, Doctor Show Globe?” He smiled brightly as she deadpanned at him. “Care to take a guess?”

“Well, given how big you are, and as much as you know about medical procedures...” She paused, tapping at her chin. As she did, she stopped and pulled her hoof back, finding it coated with the blood of the stallion on the floor. Giving a grunt, she shook her head. “Maybe fourteen?”

Hah, she wasn’t even trying!

“Oh, that was a close one!” Buck laughed and looked back to me. “Last month, I celebrated my thirteenth birthday.”

“Fucking what!?” I shouted out, making both of them cringe. If I’d shouted any louder, I’m sure I probably would have woken Violet! “You’re younger than me!?”

“In chronological age, yes.” He nodded, taking a deep breath. “In our years, it makes me an equivalent of your twenty eight. I think...” Pausing, he seemed to lose himself in thought for a moment.

As he did, I came to a horrifying realization. “Um… Buck?” I asked, pulling his relaxed look back to me. “So then, how old will you be when you... you know?” He looked at me oddly, canting his head slightly. “Die?”

His ears folded back, and he looked a bit shocked at the question. “Well…” He started, looking around for a moment. “You mean if the horrors of the wasteland don't claim me first?” With a nervous chuckle, he looked up at me and answered. “I will live to be just about forty.”

Great! Or… was it? “Wait, in your years, or mine?” These odd year conversions were confusing…

“In our years.” Dr. Show Globe grunted and turned around toward the door. “Something you won’t live to unless somepony can figure out what that thing in both Mrs. Violet’s and your head is.” Right, the entire reason I passed out in the first place. I think. “From what the X-ray machine showed, it is definitely something of arcano-biotech origin.”

From the doorway, a manila folder floated inside in her magic’s grasp. She pulled a couple of dark sheets out of it, and held them up towards the ceiling lights. Now backlit, I could see the specific outline of a pair of pony skulls on the sheets. Each one had a bit of a different shape to it, but I couldn’t tell who was who. However, in an identical spot of both of our skulls, was an oddly square object with strange glowing symbols on it.

“They’re some sort of memory inhibiting talismans, or at least, that is my guess.” Buck spoke up, stroking his chin with a claw as he gazed at them. “They had both come back from being missing in action, to being held hostage that afternoon, and both had claimed as having had no recollection of the afternoon’s events in between.”

Looking up at the X-rays, I couldn’t help but wonder what had actually happened that afternoon. It’s harder to remember, as it was quite a few days ago now. Still, if there was only somepony who might have seen me that I could ask, or some way to get back there to remember just what the hell had gone on. Pausing, I knew that the answer had been staring me in the face just earlier today. Hell, the answer had kissed me out of nowhere!

“Night?” Buck’s voice ripped me out of my thoughts. “Is everything alright?”

“What?” I looked over to him and Dr. Show Globe. “Yeah, yeah.” I nodded enthusiastically. “So can you fix it, Doc?”

She sighed. “Look, I don’t know what we’re dealing with here, not well enough. Neurology isn’t something I’m well versed in, as I’m just a general medical practitioner around here.” Shaking her head, she looked over at Buck again. “Sorry, but I don’t think I can help. Honestly, I wouldn’t suggest messing with them until you could find somepony who knows something more about arcano-biotech like this than I do.” Turning to Buck, she offered a sincere expression to him. “Keep them monitored for future episodes like this, and maybe see if you can find the pattern for when it occurs. That might just be the key to whatever this is.”

“Alright.” Buck sighed, looking more than a little disappointed with her answer. But even so, he still wore his kind smile. “Thank you for your help, Doc.” Reaching up, he gingerly grabbed onto the dark X-ray slides suspended in her levitation. “Mind if I keep these? Only in case I find an expert down south.”

“Sure thing. Mr. Night and Mrs. Violet are free to leave at anytime.” She nodded before looking down to the dead stallion still sitting on her floor. “I’ll have sanitation come and clean this guy up in a few minutes.” The disgusted look on her face she gave as she looked at the body was something the both of us shared. “Best of luck, Dr. Buck. I hope things go well for you all down the road.”

“Thank you for your time, Dr. Show Globe.” Buck said, giving her a small wave as she left the room. With a heavy sigh, Buck collapsed onto his haunches. “Oh, what a day.”

“Tell me about it.” I rolled my eyes and flopped back into my hospital bed. Laying and looking at the ceiling, I knew, somewhere in my head, that Hispano was the key to this memory thing. For some reason, she’d expected me to remember things. She obviously hadn’t forgotten what happened, and come our ‘date’, I’d have to find out. The reality of today sank in as I remembered my talk with Delilah. Actually, I didn’t even know if I would even see Hispano again. Being off the convoy, I didn’t have the supplies or means to go anywhere now.

A warmth I wasn’t expecting enveloped my rear hoof. Looking up, I saw Buck smiling to me softly as he reached out and held my hoof warmly. I’d have to tell him I wasn’t going to be going with him soon. I know I’d momentarily thought with Violet that it would have been better to just leave without saying anything, but… I couldn’t do that to him. I just… didn’t want to ruin the time I had left right now with my friends. I’d tell Buck later, but for now, I didn’t want to even deal with it.

“So…” I started up, trying to push everything out of my mind for now. “You can absorb magical radiation?”

With a nervous smile, Buck rubbed at his neck. “Well, it’s not something all Snow Dogs can do. You see, only about half are born with the correct mutation, and...”

As he began to talk about himself, I found myself smiling. I know that getting hurt all the time had become too regular of a thing, but really, I enjoyed having Buck around. I’d really grown to enjoy his company in my time with the convoy so far. Sure things were rough, but he was someone I’d found I could rely on for help when I’d needed it. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to have a friend as caring as him.

That’s why it was going to hurt that much more when I told him I had to leave.

Once Hardcase had returned from informing Delilah what had happened in Violet and his container, Buck and I filled him in on what had happened with the stallion down here. The three of us pretty unanimously decided it was time to go, and I was beginning to think it was all these stops that were the most dangerous thing about this trip. Not that I’d be making any more of them that is.

Hardcase grabbed the still unconscious Violet, while Buck stayed at my side when we left. Heading back up toward Bertha, I’d found that the underground levels of Filly Crossing was much more active than it had appeared on the surface. The many halls and tunnels that criss crossed the different levels in the mountain were just as busy as the hallway on the Inuvik had been. All sorts of different races moved around down here with an energy and determination all their own. It was a good distraction for the many hundreds of thoughts that were running around in my mind right now.

Still, looking around, I was amazed to see that even two hundred years after the bombs, life seemed pretty good for these folks. There was an earth pony whistling as he carried a crate of empty jars down the hall. A griffon gleefully playing with her newborn cub in a room we passed by. There was even a Snow Dog drunkenly singing with a very... fluffy looking pony as they stumbled down the hallway. This place didn’t feel all that bad, but even so… it didn’t really feel like a home to me. I was really going to miss living with the others.

Climbing the many flights of stairs to get up to the open air again was no small feat. Buck and I both emerged into the warming midday light a little winded, but no worse for the wear. As the whistling wind whipped it’s way across the open courtyard, an odd sight caught my eye. Another convoy looked to have arrived while I was down there, having come from the way Delilah said we’d be heading.

A boxy looking vehicle that looked to be half truck and half tank sat offloading goods. In front of it, sat and olive green tank with a disproportionately large and square turret. It was smaller than the tank I’d seen at Fort Mac, however, it didn’t look as heavily armored as Bessy did either, and Bessy from what I was told, wasn’t that well armored. Two ghoul ponies looked to be doing maintenance on the odd looking light tank, while the third looked to be touching up some words that had been painted on the side of it’s turret. Like an Idiot, I read them out loud.

“BT-42 Cordite?” I asked, looking over to Buck. However, a shrug from him was the only answer I got, which was understandable. He’d said they never really got visitors up in Inuvik, so I shouldn’t have been surprised he didn’t know.

“Cordite is a Mercenary group from down south. BT-42 is probably the model of the tank if I had to guess.” Hardcase spoke up as he emerged from the bunker’s stairway entrance behind us. “Most of the northern settlements are way too far apart to travel on hoof safely or efficiently. It’s why you see more vehicles up here than you do anywhere south of Vanhoover or Seaddle.”

“Anyway, they’re a group who specializes in armored protection for trade convoys and the like. You’ll probably find one or two in every settlement up here waiting to be hired for a job.” Walking up beside me, he took a moment to look at Violet, who was still sleeping draped over his back. “They’re pricy, but you hire them if you don’t want to be bothered by raiders, slavers, or gangers, or if you haven’t got a tank of your own. Hell, just the sight of their logo printed on the sides of their tanks is what scares away most trouble out on the roads.”

“Yes, because who in their right mind would want to attack a tank with a gun like that.” I said, pointing to the very stout cannon on the tank. Pausing at that, I looked over to Hardcase. “That other tank, the one at Fort Mac. Are they part of that group?” I didn’t recall seeing that word painted on their tank, only whatever had been written on it’s turret that I couldn’t quite recall.

Hardcase shook his head. “No, that tank and it’s crew came over from Saddle Arabia with Solomon.” He grumbled as he spoke of them. “Though that’s part of the reason Delilah doesn’t want us to fight. Solomon could afford to hire a whole battalion of Cordite mercs if he wanted to.”

“Where did he even get the caps for what he’s got?” Buck asked as he started to move forward again. I guess breaktime was over.

“He sold his ship when he got here.” Hardcase replied with a grunt before getting moving again as well. I continued, keeping pace with Hardcase at my side. “To a wealthy gang leader down in Cantercross who’s still paying off Solomon for it. No idea what anypony down there would need a ship for anyway.”

Looking ahead, Bertha loomed over us. Casting my gaze to the far side of the courtyard, past the last metal cannon hut, I saw that the Vertibuck pad was empty. That would have been my only chance to get out of here easily, and it was gone. Still, I hoped that they would make it safely down south, even if I wasn’t going to make it down there now as I’d promised.

With a sigh, Buck reached out and ran his claws along the large armored front radiator of the Hauler as we walked past it.

“I’ll be happy when we’re on the road again.” He said, smiling as he looked down at me. “Things tend to be quiet on the move. It’s only when we stop that problems seem to crop up.” Huh, I guess he came to that conclusion as well.

“Yeah.” I forced a chuckle to him, looking down at the ground as we walked. Turning the corner, we headed toward the stairway to get up, and each step started to feel different. My hooves felt heavier, and my heart rate picked up. I didn’t want to keep going. But yet, I turned and climbed up onto Bertha with the others. Stepping up on to the reactor level, I turned and watched as Hardcase carried Violet up the steps. He looked up to me, and again, his expression turned to a concerned one. “Hey, guys?” I forced myself to speak. “I need to tell you something.”

“As do I.” Delilah’s stern voice came from the ice hold’s open door. Looking over at her, I found her face not as stoic as her voice had implied, rather, she kept her eyes averted from me. “I haven’t been perfectly honest with any of you, so I’d like you to join me inside, please.”

“Alright…?” Hardcase spoke up as he pulled himself and Violet onto the reactor deck. “Is everything alright, Ma’am?”

“It’s time they were all told, Hardcase.” She said with a stiff nod. Stepping back away from the door, she held a welcoming hoof out into the hold for us.

I… wasn’t sure what to think. On one hoof, I was glad that she’d changed her mind for the sake of the crew. On the other, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was something I’d said that made her change her mind. Still, as I stood and watched both Buck and Hardcase enter the hold, she finally turned and looked to me.

“You’re part of this crew as well, Night.” She nodded toward the inside. “Get in there.”

Trotting forward, I couldn’t fight the smile that appeared on my muzzle. It didn’t hurt any less inside to know that she was willing to lie to everypony to get what she wanted. However, the fact that she’d given in was something that at the very least gave me hope that she could change. Stepping inside, Delilah closed the door behind me.

Inside the hold, was everyone. They were all standing along the outer edge of the ice block, huddled together. Well, all except for Buck and Happy, who both seemed fine in the chilly air down here. Lucky was shivering heavily, eyeing his brother jealously as Gearbox pressed into Boiler’s warm looking fur. Howitzer however, seemed to have stolen Delilah’s stoic expression and just stood there like he was more bored than anything.

“I have to come clean about something.” Delilah spoke up. “However, while the truth may anger some of you, Hardcase and my son were under my direct instructions not to tell any of you.” She glared at everypony one at a time. However, before she reached me, she stopped. “So all of that anger is on me. Are we clear?”

“That’s great and all, but what the hell is even going on?” Boiler asked, reaching over so she could pull Gearbox tighter into her fuzzy coat.

“We didn’t come all the way up north for the ice you stand beside.” Delilah answered decisively. All the other’s looked shocked, and even Buck reached down and grabbed ahold of my shoulder. Looking up at him, he gazed down with a confused look across his muzzle. “There’s nothing special about this ice. No ‘special’ mineral in it that will save our town.”

“Then what the fuck are we doing here!?” Lucky snapped. He froze up, going wide eyed before quickly averting his gaze to the floor. “Sorry, Ma’am.”

“It’s… understandable that you might feel that way.” She said, hesitation starting to lead into her words. “However, as some of you know, we had to cut through a shipwreck to get the ice in the first place. This was not by coincidence.” Raising her hoof, she pointed to the shimmering blue block. “Inside that block, is the master safe from a ship my ancestors owned. That is why we came up north.”

“I don’t get it.” Howitzer spoke up, shaking his head. “What’s so important inside the safe? How does it help save Brahman Beach?”

“For those who know my home there, you know about the logbooks that my family has kept for years.” Delilah sat down, crossing her forehooves as she closed her eyes. “If you’d ever looked closely, one in particular has always been missing, even since before the great war came to an end. That logbook tracked and recorded a series of ships that my family owned, and was supposedly lost when one of the ships it belonged to, sank below the arctic seas.”

“You sank it on purpose, didn’t you.” Boiler asked, cocking her eyebrow. “I knew grandma’s suspicions were always true.”

“Yes,” She continued, “The sinking of the H.M.S. Erebus was no accident. She was scuttled and then sealed under the ice using unicorns that my family paid off. It was done to protect the log book that was kept inside its master safe.” She turned and looked at me, as if to make sure that I knew that she was talking only to me about this. “I’ve bet this whole trip, the town, my reputation, and everything I have in my life on only the chance that the missing logbook has survived two centuries under the ice.”

“What’s so important about this log book?” I asked. I had an idea for what this was all leading up to, but I wanted to hear it from her. She may have come clean, but I didn’t want any secrets. No holding back.

“The Ark.” Violet groaned from on Hardcase’s back, speaking up in Delilah’s place. “The book has its location, doesn’t it?” Slowly crawling off of Hardcase, she cupped her head as she stood back up onto her unsteady hooves. “I should have known.”

“Look,” Delilah spoke up, swinging her gaze across all of us. “I know I lied to you all about this, and I’m sorry. But if Solomon ever gets his hooves on that book?. If he can discern the location of the Ark before we can?” She paused, and a profound look of regret fell across her face. “Then we’ll have failed everypony back in Brahman Beach.” With a sigh that looked to lift a great weight from her, she pushed her glasses up on the bridge of her muzzle. “Anyway, that’s what I asked you all down here for.”

“Well losing our town isn’t going to happen.” Violet whined, hammering her hoof onto the floor. “Lying to us wasn’t the way you should have gone about things, but I’m not going to let some scumbag like Solomon get his hooves anywhere near that book.” Looking around at us, she stopped when she crossed over Buck and I. “And I know I’m not alone.”

“Shit, that was it?” Boiler laughed. “I thought you were going to fire us or something. This didn’t change a damn thing about my job here.” Squeezing Gearbox against her harder, he only laughed and nodded. “Now if you’ll excuse me, my hubby and I have some work to do before we get back on the road in a half hour. Come on.” She pulled him along with her as they headed out.

“If my sister isn’t going anywhere, and you’re still committed to saving Brahman Beach?” Howitzer spoke up slowly. “Then I see nothing wrong with doing anything to make sure that Solomon doesn’t get his hooves on that book.” Deadpanning at her, he grunted. “Though you shouldn’t have lied about all this in the first place.”

“Look, my brother and I? We owe you everything.” Lucky spoke up next with a kinder smile than he’d held the whole time I knew him. With a soft gaze at Delilah, he bowed his head slightly. “You know we will never leave your side.”

“Well,” Violet said, turning to Buck and I. “What’ll it be?”

“Special ice or no, I signed on for a trip down south.” Buck replied with his own toothy smile. Placing his forepaw over his chest, he nodded to Delilah. “I will do my best to help whenever I am needed.”

“And you, Bombay?” Hardcase asked, giving me the same sympathetic looked he’d given me before.

Again, I didn’t know how to feel about it. I knew that Delilah could still have plenty of things she hasn’t told us. Looking over at her however, and for the first time, she seemed to look more relaxed. Hopeful even. I stood up against her because I knew it was the right thing to do. With her standing here and laying it all out, I knew what my heart was telling me to do now.

“I’m with you.” Giving a nod to Delilah, the smallest of smiles crept onto her grey muzzle. “I’m with all of you.”

“If you would all kindly leave,” Delilah spoke up, dropping her voice and expression back to their normal boring tones. “I would like to have a word with Bombay here in private.”

The two of us watched and waited as the others nodded and moved to leave. Hardcase offered a weak smile as he and Violet moved upstairs. After whatever Delilah wanted to talk about, they were next on my list. Right behind them, Happy climbed up the stairs. The glare he shot me was one full of suspicion, and I had to assume that he knew by now that I didn’t get anything for the ice deal. Still, I’d deal with it when it came up. Lastly, Buck climbed the stairs. He didn’t even glance at me, probably lost in his own thoughts. I envied him most. He could help so many ponies down south with the skills he offered, even if he was ashamed of his own body.

“Night?” Delilah spoke up, knocking me from my thoughts. “I’m… sorry, about earlier.” Looking up at me she shook her head. “I was wrong about you. Criticizing you about how often you spoke your mind around here, without hearing the truth of your words.” Stepping over toward the ice, she reached out and ran her hoof along the frigid surface. “You’re an outsider, what could you know? At least, that’s what I’d thought.” She offered a fleeting smile as she looked over the ice. I don’t know why, but she looked… sad.

“We’ve come so far for this, sacrificed so much. Even so, I know we will be forced to give up even more down the road before this is done. And yet,” She said, looking over to me, “You’ve already lost more than any of us have realized. And you were willing to sacrifice everything again, just to show me how you felt.” Shaking her head, she slowly swung her cold hoof over, and placed it on my chest. “You spoke from here, and I should have seen that.”

“You didn’t have to pick me up out there, Delilah.” I said, pushing her hoof off my chest. “But I didn’t have to come with you. I could have stayed at Inuvik, or on the Empirica, or even left at Fort Mac. But…” With as much of a smile as I could, I reached out and grabbed at her hanging forehoof with both of my own. “I wanted to find a new home. I wanted to get to know your crew. Just… not if that meant that I’d have to do that knowing that the others wouldn’t know what was really going on.” She looked at me as if I were a stranger, unsure of what to make of my words. “They rally behind you, because like me, I believe in you as the head of this convoy. You came to save your town, but you can’t do that from behind secrecy or lies.”

She chuckled, which was something that caught me off guard.

“You’re right.” She shook her head. “I’m an old jenny, and each day more and more things slip by me. A few missed caps here, an overlooked tally mark there. I just don’t know how I missed becoming so much like the rival I’ve always hated.” As she sat down, she looked at me with a newfound focus in her eyes. “But that changes now. We do this the right way, and beat Solomon on our terms, not his.” Giving me a pat on the shoulder, she wore another smile across her wrinkled muzzle. “No more secrets.”

“No more secrets.” I nodded, leaning forward and wrapping my forehooves around her in a tight hug. She stiffened up in surprise, but quickly relaxed. With a soft touch, she patted me on my back and pulled me close. Sitting there in her hooves, I felt the warmth I’d felt a few times before here strike up inside me again. Stronger than before, I had a good idea what this feeling meant.

Right here, being together with the others, I was home.

Chapter 16 - Magnetism

If an experiment works, something has gone wrong.

It had felt like both five minutes, and an eternity at the same time. In reality, the last two hours of my life, were two of the greatest that I’d ever lived through. Ever. Splayed across Buck, I laid there incredibly exhausted from the experience. The both of us were panting lightly, covered in matted fur, and altogether spent. To be honest, my flank would probably hurt for a while, but like the hot chocolate, the pain had been totally worth the enjoyment. I wouldn’t have traded my time spent with Buck this morning for anything in the world.

That is, until there was a sharp set of knocks at the door.

“Bombay?” It was Hardcase’s voice. “Wake up, your recon duty starts in a half hour.”

“Okay.” I called out weakly, cringing as I hoped Hardcase didn’t decide to poke his head in. Thankfully, it didn’t seem like that was going to happen, as instead I heard him walk away and flick on the radio in the Rec area. As the rhythmic tunes of DJ PowerColt came through the walls, I gave out a sigh and shifted against Buck’s chest. “Oh what I wouldn’t give for a working shower right now…”

Buck’s warm face nuzzled against my cheek and neck as he ran his paws along my sides. “I wish you didn’t have to go at all.” He moaned softly as I felt a heated blush flare up across my cheeks. “But I agree, a shower does sound like a nice proposition.” After a moment, he leaned forward and gave my burning cheeks a gentle kiss before he tightened his paws around my sides and lifted me up. “However, I doubt you’d want to be soaking wet at the start of a four hour shift of recon duty in the frozen air outside.”

As he let out a groan and pulled himself up out of bed, he turned and set me down next to him. He gave out a series of whines as he stretched himself out a bit. Flaring my wings, I attempted to do the same, even though I was probably more relaxed and warmed up than I’d ever been in my life. Still, as I stretched, I watched him move. I couldn’t help but giggle to myself about how much I admired his form now. Hardcase was great to look at and all, but feeling the tone and strength of what Buck’s body had, had given me a new appreciation for just what was buried under all of his fur.

“What are you chuckling about?” He said with a smirk, turning and flopping back into the chair next to his glowing terminal screen. With a gentle sigh, he kept his ice blue eyes locked in a caring gaze onto my own. When I didn’t answer, he only shared a wide smile with me. “Ah, I see. Taking a moment to let everything sink in was something I’d done after my first time with Saxon as well.” Turning to his terminal, he reached up and gingerly used his claws to press a few keys.

That perked my ears. “Saxon?” I spoke as I reached up and patted at my mane. Wow, just a quick pat down and it felt like it’d gone every which way. “He was…” I forced myself to stop talking before I went any further. I’d just given myself completely to being with Buck. Why did I insist on bringing up his past right after I started to forge my own future with him?

“It’s alright, Night.” Buck answered as he kept his gaze on his terminal. “I don’t mind your curiosity. It’s only natural that you’d want to know more.” With a sigh, he glanced down at the keys on his terminal with a slightly dejected sigh. “But yeah, that was his name.” Picking himself up with a strong smile, he looked back over at me again. “Don’t worry about prying too deeply if you want to know something about me, Night. I want to be open with you, one hundred percent.”

“I know it’s hard.” I offered him as warm a smile as I could, and found him share it back. “Thank you, Buck, for feeling like you can trust me. Just know that I feel the same, and that if there’s anything you want to know...” Another set of sharp knocks on the door cut me off, and made me stiffen up as it gave me a bit of a startle.

“Come on, Bombay, rise and shine!” Hardcase called out over the radio in a sing-songy voice, “I even made some coffee if you need a pick me up.”

“Just… one minute!” I turned around and called back. Listening as Buck shifted in his seat, I turned around and ran right into his muzzle. I blushed as he pressed into a short kiss again, and worried that if he kept my cheeks this warm this often, Boiler might need to look for two new thermocyclers to keep Bertha from overheating constantly.

“There will be plenty of time for talking later.” Buck said as he pulled away from my muzzle with a quick lick across my snout. “For now however, a nice cup of coffee would be appreciated after expending all that energy with you.” Stepping past me, he reached up and flicked the metal door latch out of its ring, and swung the door open. The moment he did however, Hardcase’s unprepared form flopped through the doorway, and sprawled out onto our floor with a beaming, nervous smile.

“Oh, hey guys.” He almost couldn’t contain himself as he spoke under both Buck and I’s flat expressions. “Not to intrude too much, but I couldn’t help but feel that just possibly, maybe... you two are now a thing...?” His words drifted off as he softly clapped his forehooves together as he looked at us. “I mean, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but my post is pretty much above you two, and these container walls aren’t really that great at muffling sounds.” Giving a nervous giggle, his horn glowed as both Buck and I gave out sighs. Two steaming mugs levitated into the room in his magic, and he gave us a pleading look as he pushed them toward us. “Coffee?”

Unlike the amazing flavor of the hot chocolate I’d had earlier, I wished more than anything that the bitter after taste of the coffee Hardcase had made would hurry up and leave my muzzle. Sure, I felt like the cup I basicly slurped down without hesitation had given me an impressive boost of energy. However, I think that downing it all at once was probably something I’d hesitate to do in trying new things in the future. Geeze, what did Mom ever enjoy in that stuff anyway? In trying coffee, along with the beer I’d been able to try a while back, I was starting to question my parent’s choice in beverages.

A strong thermal pushed up from the glistening snowy hills underneath me, and helped to pull my mind back onto my appointed task. Delilah didn’t want me up here just to reflect on the oddness of recreational drinks. Tweaking my stiffly outstretched wings to best utilize the rush of warm air from below, I felt myself glide higher into the open skies…

...and right into the solitary cloud drifting above me.

“Hey!” The surprised and squeaky squawk that came from bumping it prompted me to cringe and try to pull myself away a bit. “Watch where you’re going, Dum Dum.” Hispano hissed from inside her fluffy white abode.

Looking up to the soft mass above me, I was still amazed that no one on the convoy had really noticed or cared about it. It was almost the size of a skybus, and keeping a mostly one to one pace with us. Still, the fact that I hadn’t even noticed it either until I bumped into it had to say something about it’s ability to hide in plain sight.

“Sorry.” I called back to her.

“Shhhh!” She hissed at me. “Don’t talk to me you idiot! Somepony might notice!” With a soft whump, I watched as a small, vaguely griffon shaped depression formed in the bottom of the cloud. “You’re supposed to ignore me.” Her more muffled voice came through the cloud as I was sure she was flopped beak down on it now.

I simply rolled my eyes and drifted a bit away from the fluffy cloud.

“Is that better?” I asked, keeping my eyes locked on the horizon ahead. Sure, somepony like Hardcase might look up at me and wonder why I was talking to myself, but come on. What’s the chances he’d know I was talking with a griffon who lived in the cloud next to me?

“Quiet!” Hispano hissed again, giving a frustrated grunt that brought a smirk to my muzzle. Plus, it was nice to annoy her for once. “You’re lucky my dad’s not here. He’d have shot you already for being so obnoxious.”

“Oh? I’m the obnoxious one now?” I cocked my eyebrow and felt as another thermal kicked up from below. Adjusting my wings again, I tried to keep myself from rising up too much. These rolling hills in this mountain valley really liked to give me a boost up! Still, I’d realized that other than on the Empirica, I hadn’t really seen her dad at all. “Where’s he been at anyway?”

A low groan emit from the cloud next to me again as Hispano finally got a taste of her own annoying medicine. “He’s already ahead in Carmacks. He’s been one step ahead of you this whole time.” As she spoke, her voice moved around a bit in the cloud. After a moment, I heard the soft clink and hiss of something inside that sounded like a… soda. “Solomon has him constantly running interference for you all in each settlement, just as you’ve been running against him.” After a surprisingly loud slurping noise, Hispano gave out a low belch. “Honestly, I’m surprised that you didn’t already figure that out.”

Wait.

“Did he hire somepony in the last settlement on Solomon’s behalf?” I asked her, beginning to wonder just how angry I should be with her right now. “Because I don’t really appreciate my friends and I getting shot at by some hired gunpony.”

Hispano did a spit take, and a bit of soda mist emit through the white wall of her cloud. “Wait, what!?” Hispano gasped as she both tried to keep quiet and keep herself from choking. “No! He’s been making sure that you can’t find a way to repair the part he sabotaged on your reactor! That’s all!”

“So you’re saying he hasn’t been trying to get me killed?” I asked, not sure what to think now. Her reaction did seem genuine, but that just means that she didn’t know what happened. He could have just not told her about it, given her obvious interest in me.

“No. That’s why my dad trained to become a medic…” She began to say, pausing for a moment before she sighed. “For being a talon, he enjoys the paycheck, but doesn’t really want to hurt or kill anyone. Something Solomon didn’t like when he hired him. But seeing as he was the only Merc in ‘Claw available, he was given the contract anyway.” She flopped against the cloud again, this time bulging out the side a bit. “The only reason he choked you was because he’s overprotective and afraid of me getting hurt.”

That made a lot of sense to me, but it still didn’t explain something. “Well then, if it wasn’t your Dad who set it up, who paid for that guy to try to murder me?” Folding my ears back, I didn’t even want to think about if we had somepony else shadowing us. Hispano and her Dad were fine, but while the others were oblivious to them anyway, what if I’d missed someone else who’d been following us?

“I... don’t know.” Hispano said softly. “Are you sure it wasn’t just some loony wastelander that attacked you?”

“Yeah, they wanted to make sure I know they’d been hired by Solomon before they attacked.” I said, looking around through the open skies. A few other wild clouds drifted around a little ways from us, but they hardly looked big or consistent enough to hide anyone sitting inside them. Hundreds of other clouds drifted more than a mile off to our position in every direction. I was beginning to feel like maybe I should be paying more attention to my job now than ever.

Looking ahead of the slowly moving convoy, I traced the road as it followed the contours of the various valleys. The steep snow covered forests and hills that ran between the slopes of the mountain range behind us felt much more diverse now that I looked at them. Thicker groups of trees obscured plenty of patches of the ground underneath them, while the dark shadows that various cliff faces projected over the ground had me squinting to see if anything hid in them.

“You alright there, Dum Dum?” Hispano asked, holding a different tone to her voice now. She sounded genuinely concerned for once. “You got all quiet on me.”

I smirked as I kept my eyes scanning the sections of forest just ahead of the convoy. “I thought quiet was what you wanted.” Another thermal from below pressed against the underside of my wings and carried me a few feet higher. As it did, a short burst of turbulent wind hit me in the face from ahead. With it, came an odd oscillating sound that made me perk my ears. “What’s that?” I asked more to myself than to Hispano.

“Sounds… like an engine.” Hispano replied before falling back into silence. Swiveling my ears around, I pitched myself to climb up again, hoping for another burst of wind to carry the sound to me again. After a few moments, another strong gust met me, and with it, came the louder sound of what definitely had to be an engine. “It’s a turbine engine. Possibly a rotary driven craft coming from the southeast. Maybe about ten o'clock from your heading.” She spoke up with a twinge of alarm in her voice. I’d heard that griffons were supposed to be unparalleled with the sharpness of their vision, but Hispano’s hearing had to be exceptional as well to pick that out even through her cloud walls.

Casting my glance to where she’d spoke, I squinted and looked on to the horizon. A pair of black dots traveled over the top of one of the jagged mountain peaks. It was only for a moment before I lost them among the tops of the far off trees, but they were definitely moving quickly in our direction.

“I’ll… be right back.” I said, pulling my legs back toward myself, and dropping into a sharp dive. Keeping my wings forced out, I snapped my tail in line as a rudder, and steered myself down towards the top of the Hauler. Gaining quite a bit of speed on the way down, I found Hardcase standing at his quad gun mount, his own ears perked up as he looked around.

“Hey!” I called out as I sped towards him. As I gave a slight bow to my wings, I pushed my legs forward and leveled myself out. Hardcase turned and looked up to me as I raced over Lucky’s Runner. “We’ve got incoming from the southeast!” I managed to get out before I zipped past overhead. Curving myself upwards again, I did my best to turn all the energy I’d built in the dive back into altitude. As I did, the oscillating engine sound became clearer the higher I climbed.

The closer they got, the easier it became to pick out just where the sound was coming from now. Not just from the obvious standpoint of closer is louder, but I watched as a trio of billowing black smoke trails skimmed across the snow capped trees that lined the closer valleys to us. From how the three smoke trails had a slight curve to them, it seemed like they were on an intersecting flight path that put them coming around right on our tails.

Looking down, I saw as Violet zipped out of the back of the Hauler, and dropped down into the bed of the Runner. Good, I wouldn’t be alone up here whenever these ponies arrived. Then again, having her take off and join me might present an aggressive posture toward them. Maybe these ponies were friendly like Commandant Tail End and his crew, and were just coming over to ask for some help from us!

The three craft were close enough that I could finally get a look at them, and what I saw didn’t so much make sense to me. The craft in the middle was what looked to be a Vertibuck. Well, if somepony stripped it down to little more than it’s frame and painted it rust red. large jets of fire poured out from the sides of each engine as the craft pulled itself through the air, roaring and running far louder than the normal arcano-spark engines should. To each side of the craft, sat single rotor craft that also looked to be running off the same sort of Vertibuck engine, but strapped to a scrap metal frame that held a single pony on it.

Looking over again, I watched as the single seater flying craft to the far right broke off and lined itself up ahead of the Hauler. With a high pitched shriek, a pair of bright red streaks shot hazy trails of smoke through the air from it’s sides. The two whistling rockets took wildly different courses from each other, one dipping down into the forest and exploding with a cocauginous roar. The other did a loop-de-loop before sputtering out in the air and exploding with a resounding crack!

Okay, not friendly!

The craft to the left changed it’s course and rose up higher into the sky. As it did, I went wide eyed as I realized that it had only corrected it’s course to aim for me. Shifting and rotating my wings, I tucked in my legs and rolled into a short dive. As I did my best to cut under the pony, quick bursts of automatic fire raked at the sky around me. With a snap roll back up, I leveled myself and cringed as the roaring mechanical flying machine soared past right above me. Shaking as my heart slammed against my chest in panic, I did my best to move my chattering teeth over my saddle’s bit.

Pulling back on the trigger bit to cock my sub machinegun, I pulled too hard and sent off a short burst into the clear air ahead of me. The loud reports of the burst made my ears ring for a moment. However, the roaring engine of the other craft overtook that as I looked back.

The dirty looking yellow earth pony riding on the open frame of the single seater craft that passed me had already swung around. A burst of fire to my right prompted me to strafe left. Immediately, a short burst to my left side made me rethink that. Looking back again, the psychotic grin plastered across his face as he squinted through his goggles at me told me that he was just toying with me. I didn’t have much time to lose this guy, so I had to do something.

Can’t go left, can’t go right. Only one way to go then. Rolling myself over, I snapped my wings closed and dipped into an almost vertical dive. The roaring engine of the machine behind me strained to pull the pony around as he overshot me. Flaring my wings, I rolled myself again and braced myself against the air rushing up over me. My wings bowed hard as they caught the air under me, doing their best to pull me out of the dive. As I pulled up however, the blaring noise of the pony’s craft above beat out the rushing of the wind again.

A set of thunderous cracks from below sent several whizzing rounds up past me, as Violet shot up into the air like a rocket all on her own. The craft behind me let out a crack and promptly exploded. The force of the blast battered at my wings as I was still struggling to climb out of my dive, and the white tips of the trees in the forest below were coming up mighty fast!

Snapping my tail in line, I strained myself to press down against the wind. My wing joints ached, and I whined as I felt like my legs would pop out of their sockets if I strained them anymore. However, the feeling of gravity pulling me downward lessened to nothing as my forehooves skimmed just barely over the tops of the snow covered trees. Breathing a sigh of relief, I cringed as the sounds of gunfire erupted from behind me.

Arcing my flight around and up from the forest, I curved back toward the Hauler. The Vertibuck-like craft had come down quite a bit, and a pony door gunner was firing down on Bessy. The quickly chattering rounds sent a line of sparks along the armor of the old zebra vehicle, but as it drew that line, it shredded the two rear tires on the left side. After a moment, the Vertibuck disappeared in a bright flash as Hardcase opened up on it’s side with his guns.

The brilliant multicolored explosion blasted the wreck of the craft into two halves, each one burning brightly as it tumbled down toward the ground. Beating my wings, I pushed myself to get back toward the convoy. The roaring engine of the last, now out numbered craft, left twisting trails of burning exhaust through the sky as Violet did her best to maneuver around it.

Eager to repay the help she’d given me, I lined myself up with it as I beat my wings, and let off a rattling set of rounds from my gun. I couldn’t quite tell where the rounds had gone, or if they’d done anything at all to the craft, but the pony piloting it certainly noticed that they were being attacked on both sides. The engine of their craft let out a thunderous roar as it took off in a straight line away from the convoy at an incredible speed. I’d first thought they were doing the smart thing and getting themselves out of here, but the craft slowly arced up into the air and came back around.

The craft itself glowed as it pulled itself straight through the air. Flames wider than any wings I’d laid eyes upon shot from it’s side exhaust ports like that of a giant phoenix. The craft tilted into a stiff dive, and aimed itself right for the heart of Bertha. I nearly froze up as I realized that I was too far to reach it quickly enough, and I had too poor of a shot with my gun to do anything. Violet however, dipped down into it’s path and flew directly towards it.

Her rifle barked shot after shot at it. Sparks erupted from the hull of the machine as it streaked towards the convoy. I watched as the pony pilot of the machine got up and bailed out of their seat, screaming as they dipped through the flaming exhaust on their way toward the ground. Still, Violet shot, moments away from being run down by the burning craft. Her rapid shots hammered the machine until it burst in a bright explosion, and the whole thing disintegrated in a black cloud of smoke and wreckage. I watched as Violet torqued herself around the speeding debris before she was obscured by the thick cloud.

Most of the wreckage came down with a metallic squelch behind the Runner, while some of the burning debris bounced off the cargo containers and space capsule still strapped onto the back of Bertha. I breathed a sigh of relief as for now the Convoy was finally safe. Catching the glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye, I watched as a fluttering off-white parachute drifted down into the treeline a ways behind the convoy.

Looking back over, I saw that Violet was slowly dropping herself down onto the deck of Bertha, and I decided to head back to tell her what I’d seen. The last thing we needed was whoever that was parachuting down to come back and jump us while we tried to recover from the attack. Flapping my sore wings, I pushed myself to gain some more altitude before dropping into a steady glide toward the convoy.

Approaching around the backside, I was a bit distressed to find that my landing zone in the rec area, now included a convenient dark line that led straight toward my container. I couldn’t quite be sure, but from the way it looked, I hoped that it wasn’t blood.

Flaring myself on approach, I dropped down just in time to see Hardcase throw open the door to his container, and dart across directly into mine. With my hooves coming down hard enough that I dropped right into a trot, I only mildly tried to stop myself. As I assumed I would, I smacked against Gearbox and Boiler’s container, finally coming to a staggering stop as I took a step back. Shaking off the rough landing, I turned and looked into my container.

“Tell me she’ll be alright.” Hardcase pleaded.

“I’m fine, I promise.” Violet groaned, giving a pained whimper as she writhed uncomfortably on my bed. Lines of blood pulsed out from where a large piece of rusted metal had embedded itself. “Doc here will patch me up,” She winced, holding at the jagged metal before looking over to him with a nervous smile. “Right?”

“Yes, she’ll be fine.” Buck spoke up as he held his paw out and shoved Hardcase out of my room, and straight into me. “But I need space and concentration for this. I’ll get you when I’m done in here.” He grunted, turning and swinging the door shut. As he did, I caught his glance over to me, and he gave me a short, affirmative nod before he closed it completely.

“Oh thank the goddesses.” Hardcase sighed, slumping back against me. I braced myself against his added weight on me before reaching up and giving him a pat on the side. “Skyraiders have always been a fear of mine with her.” He said as he pulled himself back onto his hooves. “Thank you for helping her out up there.”

“I didn’t do much.” I said, only receiving a firm shake of the head from him. “I mean, she helped me out there more than I helped her.”

“Still,” He said, leaping forward and wrapping his hooves around me in an abrupt and awkward hug. “You did more than I could. You’re lucky, to still be able to fly…” His words dropped off into a remorseful whisper. It puzzled me as to just why he’d said that, however, a crackle from the radio perked both our ears.

“Hardcase, come in.” Delilah’s voice chimed in over the radio. “Give me a status report.”

Walking over to the radio, he picked up the receiver in his magic with a smile. “Violet got a bit banged up in the fight, but the Doc’s fixing her up. Happy to report though that all Skyraiders have been taken care of, Ma’am.” He looked at me, and as I shook my head no, he froze up. “Actually, hold that thought…”

“No, that’s not true.” I spoke up, prompting a fearful look from Hardcase. “I saw the last one that jumped pull a parachute. They’re somewhere back behind us in the trees now.” I waved my forehoof towards the open back of the hauler, prompting him to look out that way.

“Actually, Bombay says one managed to parachute down into the forest behind us.” He spoke into the receiver, gaining a stiff and more solid look across his muzzle as he did. “Permission to hunt them down, Ma’am?”

“Howitzer and Boiler are going to have to repair and replace two of the wheels here on Bessy.” Delilah called back with more than her usual amount of annoyance in her voice. “You have a half hour until the repairs are complete to find and kill that bastard. If you can’t locate them, or they run, you are to return back to the convoy. Got that?”

“Yes ma’am.” Hardcase nodded and set down the radio receiver. Looking over to me, he wore a cold expression on his muzzle. “You and I are going to hunt down that cowardly bastard on hoof. Give me five minutes to grab my gear, and I’ll meet you down by the Runner.” Turning back toward his room, he grumbled as he trotted into it. “We’ll show that bastard what a mistake it was to go after us.”

Giving a hesitant nod, I didn’t exactly feel like Hardcase was doing this to protect the convoy. I couldn’t say I blamed him for it, as I wasn’t too happy that these ponies had decided to attack us in the first place at all. Though, I had a feeling that it didn’t actually matter to Hardcase if this pony was unarmed, scared, or running away. He was out for blood, and willing or not, I was going to have to watch as he killed this pony.

Standing in the bed of the runner as we rolled back along the road, Hardcase and I scanned the interior of the forest just off the road. Lucky hadn’t enjoyed the idea that we were bringing him along on our little ‘hunting trip’, but Hardcase had the final say. Not only that, but Hardcase also had the biggest and oddest damn gun I’d ever seen. He held it at the ready in his levitation as he stood on the top of the slowly driving Runner. Along with it, he wore a blue jumpsuit that looked armored, and a pair of black saddlebags were slung over his back. The welding helmet flipped up on his head was the one that Boiler normally used when doing repairs on the reactor, and I wondered just why he’d worn it out here.

The large weapon in his magical grasp caused him to sweat as he hefted it up. The whole thing was about as long as he was, and consisted of a pair of widely spaced, long tubes that ran the whole length of the weapon. Both of them sat linked together onto what looked like a power armor mounting point on it’s underside. Lining the back quarters of the long tubes were a few odd switches, and two V-shaped lines of linked together sparkle batteries that ran down most of the length of the weapon. The batteries themselves gave off a light hum every time he shifted the focus of the weapon, and sometimes they let out a snap of energy into the air at random. At the end of each tube, extended a pair of long metal, chrome spikes that formed a sort of rectangle pointing away from the user.

As I looked at the weapon, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the fluttering fabric of the parachute caught high up in one of the trees.

“Look.” I called out, directing Hardcase’s gaze to the hanging cloth. The two of us looked at it, finding that the harness it connected too had been left empty and hanging a good twenty feet above the ground. At that, Hardcase gave a good stomp on the roof, prompting Lucky to stop.

“Alright, Bombay, let’s go.” He grunted before turning and hopping onto the hood of the Runner. Jumping off onto the road, he carefully swung his weapon along with him. As he did, he flicked a few switches on the gun, and the feeling of static swept through the air around me. Hopping down out of the bed, I trotted across the asphalt road and into the hoof deep snow off to the side of it.

The forest around here wasn’t very dense, and some of the trees here didn’t seem to be the kind that kept their leaves through the cold seasons. Advancing through the snow toward the tree with the chute tangled in it, it was easy to see the set of hoofprints trailing away from it. A thin line of blood followed the oddly spaced tracks as they led deeper into the forest, and I had a feeling that maybe one of Violet’s shots had found their mark on the pilot after all.

“Good, they’re hurt.” Hardcase grunted as he trudged past me. His heavy steps kicked at the tracks he now followed, and he looked around stiffly as he seemed to leave me behind without a care. “They won’t get away.” Pushing himself into a light trot, I turned and followed him.

“Remember what Delilah said?” I asked, trotting up along side of him. His annoyed glare matched what hers had been when I’d confronted her about the ice. “If they’re running, we just need to leave them.”

“Yeah, and I’ll stick to that so long as we don’t find them.” He grumbled. “It’s something you have to understand, Bombay. These ponies are raiders.” He spoke about them like that was supposed to mean something to me. “Sure, the Yaks that attacked us on the ice sheet were raiders, but they’re the tamest you’ll probably ever find. You haven’t seen what raiders are actually like.”

“Then tell me.” I said, keeping my ears perked and swiveling around as we crunched through the snow. The line of blood was at least consistent as we followed the tracks. I’d be hesitant to lie in saying that if I had an injury that left a trail like that, I’d want to try to stop the bleeding as fast as possible.

“Raiders are the lowlife scum of the wastes. Those Bramble wolves back at the checkpoint are worth more of your pity than Raiders.” Hardcase smiled coldly as he spoke, keeping his eyes locked on the trail of blood and hoofsteps. “No morals, no logic. Raiders will kill anypony they find just for the fun of it. No emotion, no remorse. They’ll kill and eat you if you even show them a moment’s hesitation.”

That seems… wrong. Solomon was ruthless, but he had a goal he was striving to achieve through any means necessary. The hired gun who tried to kill me may have had no remorse about it, but that was supposedly his job. On top of all this, killing and eating ponies!? No pony could ever be that insane, that psychotic.

“They think with one mind. One idea that they share between them that extends between every sex, race, and creed.” Hardcase kept talking, raising his voice as we walked together. “They are the broken ones of these lands, gluttons for rage, misery, and exuberant hatred. They feed on it, thrive on it.” From out of the saddlebags he wore on him, he drew out a set of goggles. As he floated them up around my head, I noticed that the lenses on them were as pitch black as the visor on his welding helmet was. “And the kind we’re chasing are the worst kind of them to even exist.”

So… Hardcase had officially stepped over from wasteland history lesson, to the feeling of old world zealotry against the zebra nation. As his magic flipped another set of switches on his rifle, a set of electrical arcs pulsed through the long lines of batteries, and a gaining whine charged the air between us with even more static. So much that arcs of it ran across both of our skins, and my mane started to frizz outward slightly. Over the small snaps of electricity, I could hear the cackling laugh of a pony from up ahead.

Following the tracks, we’d come into view of a wide, leafless tree that sat at the entrance to what looked like a thicker part of the woods. Sitting at it’s base, with a bleeding leg that was twisted the wrong way, sat a mare whose wide eyes could’ve been seen even from where we were a hundred feet away. In an odd reaction to seeing us, she sat there and laughed to herself hysterically.

Her mane and tail were twisted and matted. She had open sores and coatless patches all over her body that couldn’t have been from the fight. She looked mangy, wild, and above all, full of irrational exuberance. Hardcase held out his hoof to me before we got any closer; and as he aimed his enormous gun at her, the mare cut her laughter and gave us a confident, but toothless grin.

“Ain’t you somethin special ta find meh all the way out in tha middle a nowhere.” The mare spat at us as she held her broken leg out toward Hardcase. “Yah overcompinsatin’ fer somthin’ with that there toy? Cause yer’ missin’ somethin’ else perhaps?” She giggled, “I ain’t afraid! Go ahead. Do it. I dare yah even!” Laughing again, her oddly deranged look was blocked as Hardcase’s magic slid the goggles down over my eyes. “Do it, or I’ll crawl over there, take yah gun, and fuck you with...!” She tried to scream out.

I was about to reach up to remove the goggles, when the whine from Hardcase’s gun picked up. The darkness in front of me was removed by a thin arc of light that projected between the two tubes on his gun. It grew brighter and hotter over the course of a split-second before it even got too bright to directly look at. I watched as the mare next to the tree disappeared in a flash, as what looked like a crackling sheet of plasma burst out in a widening arc in front of Hardcase and I. It was as if somepony directed the energy from an entire battery of anti-dragon cannons from a raptor into a single rolling burst of energy, and then let it dissipate as it traveled away like an expanding fabric sail made of intense light.

As the darkness in my goggles returned, I felt something odd. Static ran across my dry coat, and under my dry hooves. Reaching up, I pulled my goggles up to find that for forty some odd feet behind us, the ground was devoid of snow. The roots of trees, rocks, and dirt behind us were all completely dried by the intense light. The arc projected in front of us however, was nowhere near being just dry.

The ground directly under the weapon, the trees, rocks, and even the mare herself, were all a simple smoldering black color. The arc extended forward twice as far as the cleared path behind us, and ended up being twice as wide. I stood in a silent state of confusion as I didn’t understand what exactly I’d just witnessed.

Then Hardcase gave out a chuckling laugh. A laugh that built into one like we’d just listened too before it was burned off the face of this existence. Looking over, I found that his mane had poofed up straight with the static discharge of the weapon, and his face was covered in a black soot, probably like mine now was as well. While I could only stand in awe at what I’d just witnessed, He giddily danced on his hooves. Actually, he danced around in a circle before trotting forward towards the blackened remains of the mare. Looking closer at her, I noticed that she looked a bit different than before.

“It worked!” He gasped as he flipped up his helmet before stepping up toward the mare to look her over closely. “Complete carbonization by way of condensed plasmic thermal exchange! Vaporized the organics right out of everything in the discharge range!” He smiled, looking over to me and waving me over excitedly. The odd change in his demeanor had worried me, and even though I was curious, I was hesitant to answer him. Rolling his eyes, he pressed his hoof against the mare’s broken leg. To my amazement, the leg crumbled into dust before my very eyes. “See, she’s not going to hurt you. Now come here, you’ll find this particularly interesting.”

Slowly, I stepped forward. The ashen black ground reminded me of Four Peaks, but it felt different. The dirt felt like chalk, cracking and crunching underhoof in a way that sent shivers up my spine. Approaching the mare, I took a look at her body again, and found that it wasn’t just slightly different than before. This mare hadn’t even been a pony.

“Note the holes along her limbs. The thick chitin plating on her back.” Hardcase spoke as he pointed to various sections of this… thing. “The horn can be hidden under their magic, as can their wings, but they are still usable to them when disguised as another pony. Well, so long as they aren’t damaged.”

“Disguised?” I said, having the realization of what he was saying this mare was hit me like an out of control skywagon. “Wait, this is what Salt is? This is a changeling!?” I gasped and pointed to the body of the odd mare. Getting a quick nod from Hardcase, he went back to looking over her… him… it.

“Not… exactly the breed, but yes. There are plenty of different hives out there. All sorts of different breeds and types.” He said as he reached up and flicked at the ashen changeling’s horn. The hit wasn’t hard, but it made a wide crack split the dead changeling almost in half. Grunting he stood up and took a step back. “Funny thing is, the other skyraiders probably didn’t even know what she was.” Hefting his gun up, a loud snap drew my attention back toward it. I watched as Hardcase stripped all two dozen sparkle batteries at once off of it, and levitated them into his Saddlebags. “No matter. They probably don’t even care that she’s dead anyway.”

“So, all raiders are like this?” I said, standing up and taking a step back from the corpse. “I mean, not changelings, but… completely and irreversibly insane?”

“Going raider isn’t something you can normally come back from.” Hardcase sighed, looking back and nodding for me to follow. “It’s happened before, but it’s a rare sight to see. Hell, Brushfire, the mare you replaced on the crew? She was ex-raider.” He shrugged and moved up to a trot as I followed. “But she’s the only case I’ve ever met. Even then, sometimes she took a bit too much pleasure in defending the convoy.”

That’s great and all, but it still didn’t explain a whole lot. “But… how does a pony even become…” I looked back, cringing as I pictured how poor her health looked before she died. “Why would anypony want to live like that?” None of it really fit.

“Madness, depression, necessity, instinct.” Hardcase answered as we stepped from the dry dirt, and into the muddy slush at the edges of the weapons rearward melting effect. “Going raider isn’t a choice, it’s just what happens when you lose all hope for the future. Something inside you breaks, or was always broken. Nopony who lives in the wastes plan to go raider. It just… happens to some folks. Worse thing is, it’s a whole lot more common the further south you go.”

Well that certainly was… depressing. I couldn’t really imagine how anypony could be driven to become anywhere as crazed or fanatical as he described them as. Still, that changeling showed no fear, no remorse in the face of death, just like he’d said. It worried me, that he said that they were more common down south as well. Maybe they weren’t all as bad as he’d made them out to be? Then again, maybe they are, and I’d make the mistake one day of thinking that they would be worth my pitty.

“So,” Hardcase spoke up as we continued trotting. “You doing alright there, Bombay?” Up ahead through the trees, I could see the outline of the runner pop up, and I started to relax a little bit. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but you’ll see soon enough that what I did to that mare was a mercy to them.”

“What did you do to that mare anyway?” I asked, eyeing over his enormous energy weapon. “I’ve never even seen a weapon like that before.”

“Other than burn almost four hundred caps of sparkle batteries in one shot you mean?” That brought a wide smile to his muzzle. “Well, you were curious the other day what I was working on in my room in Filly Crossing, right?” How did he know!? “Now you know why I hid it away when I left the container. It’s too dangerous to just be left out in the open.” That… was an understatement. I don’t even want to think what this could do if it went off inside Bertha.

“I’ve been inventing things like this for years, as just a hobby, mind you.” He grunted, hefting the large weapon across his back so he could show it off better to me. “This is the S.F.G., a new type of energy weapon of my own design, and so far the only weapon of my design to work as intended!” He waggled his eyebrows before spinning the weapon around. With a click, his magic pulled away the coverings to the large silver tubes that ran the length of the weapon, revealing a mess of copper wires and cables inside. “I use the two sets of Sparkle batteries wired up in series to generate a powerful electromagnetic current that flows from one end of these coil tubes to the other. They run up through the magical amplifiers, and are directed into the focusing arcs on either side of the weapon.”

“That’s… great.” I said, not really getting a word of this. “But… how did you get it to do…” I struggled with how to put it. How does one describe what looks like a giant arc of burning plasma rolling out like a wave and turning everything it touched into ash?”

“Ah. The primary focusing arcs are tuned to polarize and create a magnetic arc once the coils hit their peak magnetic charge. Though it’s not perfect, it’s a proprietary design I’ve theorized for a while that I at least know works now.” He nodded as we trotted back up towards the Runner. “Actually, it’s effect is similar to a phenomenon you can see on the sun, so I mirrored that in the name.” He said, pointing to the underside of the weapon. Spraypainted crudely underneath, I had to squint to make out the words, but there they were.

Solar Flare Generator MK.IV

I remembered in science class that we’d gone over how Celestia’s radiant sun works. Physics and science held it together, even without her magic to guide it, and it’s own gravity and magnetic field kept it going. The instabilities in it would sometimes cause bursts of plasma to shoot out along it’s own magnetic field lines, and shoot far into space. Or at least, that’s what the Enclave science books had said, and I’m taking everything I’ve learned in them with more than a few grains of salt these days.

“I see. But, I do have to ask... why did you build it?” I asked as he carefully maneuvered the weapon into the back of the Runner. He set it down so as to wedge it between the back side of the runner’s cab, and the backside of the motor of the Dizzitron. “I mean, with as much of an arsenal as we’ve brought with us, why do you need something like that?”

He paused as he reached for the door. Freezing at my question in a way that I hadn’t really expected him too. Looking down at his hoof, he gave out a deep sigh as he shook his head.

“Look, I know it’s going to sound weird, but…” Looking over at me, he gave me the same look he’d had when he was running over to check on Violet before. “I’ve had this sinking feeling ever since we left on this trip up north, that things are going to take a turn for the worse. That something is going to happen one of these days, and I’m going to lose Violet forever. I’ll build a goddess damned megaspell if that’s what it’ll take to keep it from happening.”

“You… are afraid that she might die on this trip.” I said, simply rephrasing what he said in my own voice. For some reason, when I did, I could feel a knot form in my stomach. What if… what if Buck was killed? What would I do? Hell, he’d been shot multiple times by that gunpony…

“Night?” Hardcase said softly. Looking up, I watched as he turned and pulled me into a tight hug. “You’ll be fine. Buck will be fine.” He said, giving me a pat on the back.

“Yeah.” I nodded, trying to force myself to believe his words. “Violet will be fine too. I know she will be.” Giving him a few pats of my own, he nodded before letting go.

“Alright. Well, what say we head back now? Maybe grab something to eat once we’re all settled in again?” He gave me a nervous smile, trying to sweep the creeping fear he felt back under the guise of his carefree attitude.

“Yeah.” I said, forcing my own smile as I pictured that instead of that changeling back there under the tree, it was the ashen form of Buck under it. “That sounds great.” As hard as I tried, I couldn’t get that picture out of my mind now. Not when I climbed into the cab of the Runner with Hardcase. Not when we’d gotten turned around. Not even when we’d gotten back to the Hauler again, and I could see Buck standing and waiting for us on the back deck of the Rec area.

Buck had been someone who I cared for more than anyone in my life, and until now, it hadn’t really hit me just how much of a risk that was. The thought of losing him at all made my blood run cold, and even the sight of his warm smile did little to change that. One thing, above all else that I wanted to talk to him about this evening, were if he shared these newfound fears. I wanted to keep our budding relationship open, and make sure that he knew my concerns.

I just hoped that Hardcase was wrong about the feeling he’d had. That it was just a passing feeling, and that there was nothing more to worry about. Because if he was right, and something did happen to Violet? I would know in that moment that Buck would be next. And if I lost him? I don’t know what I’d do.

Laughing softly under my breath as we pulled up behind the hauler and parked, I knew exactly what I’d do. It’s as easy as the fact that mentally, after already losing everyone else I’d ever loved, I’d snap.

That’s how I’d go raider.

Finally moving again on the road, Delilah had informed us all that thanks to the extra time on the road today, we’d be pulling into Carmacks late this afternoon. She’d also lamented how that even though it had taken the half hour she’d estimated, it was unfortunate that repairs to the tires on Bessy took longer than she would have liked. But after two weeks on this crew, hearing that from her didn’t surprise me at all. It was almost as if Delilah couldn’t be happy without knowing that once again, something hadn’t worked out exactly how she’d planned it.

“Again, sorry for the interruption earlier, folks.” DJ PowerColt’s smooth voice held my complete attention as I relaxed, sprawled across the couch next to the radio as Hardcase boiled up some delicious smelling stew on the kitchenette stove. “Seems like some sort of solar interference knocked us off the air for a minute or two, but whatever it was has thankfully passed.”

“No shit.” Hardcase smiled and looked over his shoulder at me. “The S.F.G.’s burst was powerful enough to affect them all the way from out here? It’s got some serious electromagnetic range on it.” Well, what did he expect when he basically channeled the power of the fucking sun towards something? Then again, that did read that it was the S.F.G. Mk IV. I wonder what happened to the other three prototypes…

“Might as well give all you hip colts and rockin’ mares some of the latests happinin’s from around the wastelands.”

Oh, the news! Back above the clouds, I could care less about the news broadcasts, as they were mostly about changes to the government, or just general P.S.A.’s. However, in listening over the last few days, I’ve been learning that there’s been a lot going on the last few weeks down here in the wasteland.

“It’s been confirmed from multiple trusted sources down south, that the ghost of Route fifty two has finally found peace at the end of the road. Things down along the old highway that stretches from the coast over past the ruins of Salt Lick City, seem to be recovering after the appearance and encounters with the pink ghost. Most of those affected by the strange event, have agreed that things in the region might now be taking a turn for the better in her wake. It’s nice to see that a little innocence among the desolation and despair in the wastes, can go a long way in reminding ponies of the good that they are capable of in their lives.”

That was an odd report to say the least, but I didn’t mind that. If things were looking up for one section of the wasteland, then I had to be happy for them. From how Klondike might recover in the future, to even the departure of the Inuvik setting sail for the south again. I couldn’t help but think that maybe overall the wasteland was recovering. And with the evaporation of the cloud cover and Enclave government, I could only hope that those Pegasi settlements who were struggling before, might now have a chance to recover as well.

“From further south across the border in the wastelands of Caledonia, there seems to be an old fashioned political shake up in the wartime city of Dise. Details are sparse, but it seems like the whole city is looking at a civil war between the different factions controlling it, and the fragile armistice that’s held in the city for this long has been crumbling after either an attempted, or yet unconfirmed assassination of one of the faction heads.”

“Well, that certainly didn’t sound better than the other story.” I muttered under my breath, pulling myself upright on the couch again. As I did, the soft click of the locking latch to my container met my ears, and the door swung open. Out from it, Buck breathed a heavy sigh before looking over to a wide eyed Hardcase.

“She’ll be fine.” He spoke up, almost relaxing as much as Hardcase did with the words. “I managed to fix most of the internal damage caused by the debris, but I didn’t have enough supplies to get her closed up completely.” Shaking his head, he traced a line up his side with one of his claws. “Had to finish up the old fashioned way. She’ll need to take her time to recover, and not pull out any of her stitches. Looks like Night and I will have to share a bed for the next couple of days before she can be up and about again.” Not that sharing a bed was a downside to me in the slightest...

“I’m just glad to hear that she’ll be alright.” Hardcase gave a soft smile before trotting up to Buck and giving him a tight hug. “Thank you for saving her, Doc.”

“No problem?” Buck looked over to me with a nervous smile, giving Hardcase a few soft pats on the back with his claws. He looked down to Hardcase and pulled the squeezing stallion off of him carefully. “It’s my job to do that here, you know.”

“I know.” Hardcase nodded, turning around and heading back toward the stove again. “But she means the world to me. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

Looking over to Buck, he looked to the floor and nodded as well. Slowly, and with more of a worried look than I’d ever seen him with, he looked over to me. I think in that moment, I knew that Buck felt the same way about me. And then that moment passed, as his sharp, triangular ears perked and he gave a few quick sniffs at the air.

“What is that amazing smell?” Buck asked, nearly salivating on himself as he looked over to Hardcase.

“Oh, just my wasteland famous Hearty Stew!” Hardcase smiled as he pulled the spoon out of the pot he was working on and did his best to waft the smell towards us. “It’s just about ready if you want to grab some bowls for us all.”

“Sure.” Buck smiled and stepped over toward the kitchen. Fumbling through a few of the cabinets secured to the wall, he retrieved a stack of bowls from inside and presented them to Hardcase. “Where did you learn to make something that smells so delicious?”

“It’s something I learned to make on my own for Violet.” He smiled, taking the bowls in his magic. “It always seemed to cheer her up on a cloudy day.” Pausing, he shrugged. “Well, a cloudier than usual day back then.” Doling out a few helpings of the soup, he filled up four bowls with it. He levitated a bowl to both Buck and I, before taking the other two close to him. “Hey, Doc? Do you mind if I go in and share it with Violet?”

“Yes, so long as you don’t have her sit up too far for it.” Buck nodded and stepped aside to let Hardcase by. As Hardcase trotted happily into our room, Buck let out a groan and stepped over toward the couch. “Mind if I have a seat with you?” He smiled softly at me.

Of course, I nodded and scooted myself over to give him enough room to sit down on it. Though, he was a big enough dog that he ended up taking up most of the couch all by himself. I didn’t care, mind you. Flopping against his side, I blushed brightly as he leaned over and gave me a soft nuzzle along my neck. Letting off a long sigh of my own, I sat and relaxed against him as much as I could.

“You know,” He began softly. “Seeing Violet like that, and how Hardcase was so worried about her…”

Reaching up, I put my hoof over his muzzle, knowing that he was just concerned about what Hardcase had mentioned as I had been. He looked at me with a sad gaze, but he knew I understood his concern.

“I don’t want to worry about ‘what ifs’.” I said softly. “While those thoughts worry me, I want to enjoy what we have now.” What happened with Violet was something none of us had expected, but now that the fear was there for me, I knew it would never go away. It was going to be a risk, but nothing was going to change that now. So I had to ask myself, why did I have to spend time worrying about it then? I just needed to focus on what mattered now.

He nodded as his normal warm smile returned, and he reached his paw up around me. Pulling me in close to him, he’d brought both of our bowls closer to our muzzles. Taking in the deep delicious smell of the warm stew, both of us reached up and decided that it was time to dig in.

Taking a healthy slurp, I was delighted that it wasn’t of the ‘burns like lava’ consistency like the Hot Chocolate had been this morning. And I was quite happy at the chewy mass of incredible taste in my mouth. Goddesses, this thing was better tasting than both the soup up in Fort Mac and the curried veggies in Filly Crossing combined. As I savored the rich but odd flavor, I received a short chuckle from Buck while he still had his muzzle stuck in his bowl.

“I see you found the good stuff.” He slurped, licking bits of dripping stew off of his jagged jawline. Nodding, I dove back into my own stew, easily finding another lumpy mass of deliciousness to chew on. “Know what that is?” He asked, prompting me to stop and think about it. Actually, I couldn’t place the flavoring of it. Shaking my head only prompted another stiff laugh from Buck, and I was starting to become a bit concerned.

“Welcome to the amazing world of being an omnivore.” He said, giving me a soft pat on the back as I was immediately more confused than ever. “It’s not quite as good as fresh salmon, but Radboar bacon is some of the best meat you can find out there.”

Looking down at my stew, I let the half chewed mass dribble back into my bowl. Even though it had tasted far better than anything else on my trip so far, all I could think was one thing again and again about the curse of learning about living in the wasteland.

Goddesses… why me?

Author's Note

Since I haven't said it in a while, I wanted to once again thank Kkat for giving us Fo:E, and for letting us all muck around in the universe with our own stories.

Chapter 17 - Seeing Double

There is nothing more satisfying than having someone take a shot at you, and miss.

The rest of my shift in the air was mostly uneventful. Recon duty was surprisingly boring, and it was hard sometimes to pay attention to the little details all around us. One detail I kept in mind however, was Hispano’s cloud. I think the skyraider attack on the convoy spooked her a bit, because she kept her distance from us after we’d gotten moving again.

Still, boring and uneventful was good. The burning sun up above provided me with an excess of thermals off the snow covered hills in the valleys we wound through. While my wings were getting tired by mid afternoon, I’d been able to go down for breaks now and again to rest for a few minutes. Honestly, if most of this afternoon’s shift turned out to be how things normally went, I’d be fine with doing it every day until we found that damn ship.

Giving a few easy flaps to keep up my altitude, I felt one of my muscles cramp up and kink a bit as I rode high above the convoy. I gave a small whimper and dropped a few feet for a moment as I tried to lighten the load on that wing a bit. Guess it was time for another break.

Dipping myself into a rotating dive, I banked myself around to keep off the problem muscle. As I spun down, I managed to keep my eyes open for anything odd on the horizon. However, like normal, nothing of interest stood out among the snowy forest valleys and slate colored mountain peaks as far as the eye could see.

Coming down for yet another soft landing in the Rec area, I remarked to myself about how much better I’d gotten in controlling my speed coming in here. Then again, the moment I thought that, the hatch to the ice hold flipped open and the outer handle of it caught on my rear hoof. Flipping forward, I slammed the door shut again as I crash landed on the wood flooring. With a tumbling roll, I slid across the floor and slammed into the side of Gearbox and Boilers container for the second time today.

“Ow…” I groaned as Buck’s scrambling movements came through our container wall before he threw the door open. “I’m fine.” Seeing stars flash all across my vision as I sat myself back up, I needed to get out of the habit of always jinxing myself into injury. “Happy? You okay?”

“Yeah.” He groaned in response as he shoved the Ice hold hatch open all the way again. “Going to have a headache, but it was my fault.” Climbing up out of the hold with a slight wobble, he held a hoof on his head as Buck reached over and helped me up to my hooves again. “Just… melting finished the door around the ice…”

“What?” I asked, watching as he took yet another wobbling step forward.

“Is it nap time already, Mom?” He whined before tripping over his own hooves and falling onto the floor.

Buck let go of me and quickly stepped up toward the apparently unconscious Happy. Getting down on the floor and leaning close to him, he perked his ears and listened. How he could hear anything over Bertha’s normal humming or the sound of the road under us, I didn’t know. Looking up to me, he gave a sigh of relief.

“He’s still breathing.” Buck said as he pushed himself back up. “He probably has a concussion though, so we’ll need to get him to his bed.” Buck nodded toward Happy and Lucky’s container.

“Can’t we just put him on the couch?” I asked, fighting my own throbbing and painful feeling in my head.

“No, he needs proper neck support incase it was injured in the hit as well.” As carefully as picking up a thin pane of glass, Buck scooped the unmoving Mule off the floor, and up into his massive arms. “Can you go open his door for me?” He nodded over to the container.

Trotting past him, I made my way over to their door. It’s odd, the whole time I’d been on this trip, I hadn’t once been in or even seen Happy’s half of the container. Lucky had the side closest to the door, and I’d seen that he followed the same decoration idea that I had, in having almost nothing to his name around his bed. Reaching up, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Looking toward the back of the container, I stopped as I saw something completely befuddling.

Happy’s half of the container was decorated wall to wall with some sort of dried plant leaves. A small potted plastic tree with similar, but green leaves sat next to his bed that looked familiar. A palm tree, I think. Yeah! Like the ones I’d seen in part of Attack of the fifty foot mare! Along with the palm leaves hanging everywhere, there was a small steamer trunk across from his bed with various items on top of it.

As Buck brought Happy inside, I followed him over to his bed to get a better look at things. On the steamer trunk, was a folded up leather jacket, a pair of scratched up mirrored sunglasses, and a… smaller than average, broken guitar. Plastered on the wall above it, was what looked to be an old world movie poster for a movie called ‘Blue Marewaii’.

Pictured on the poster was a pair of palm trees, along with a red coated stallion with a slicked back, jet black mane that also happened to wear almost exactly the same style shirt that Happy did, as well as use a tiny guitar like the one he owned. All that made something about him finally just click with me.

“He must idolize this stallion or something.” I said to myself. Of course, I wasn’t alone, so instead of being introspective, I was just saying something confusing to Buck.

“What now?” He asked, turning to look at the poster with me. “Hmmm.” He remarked as he leaned and and inspected the movie poster far too closely. “Yes, I can see the resemblance.”

“Have you ever heard of this ‘Blue Marewaii’ movie?” I asked Buck, turning and getting only a shrug from him.

“It’s not unusual for a wastelander to sometimes find some semblance of the old world to emulate. And it could explain Happy’s bizarre normal demeanor...” He postulated with a few scritches along his chin. “I’ve heard that there have been dozens of Mysterious Mare Do Well’s running around in the wastes, as well as more than a few Astro-Bucks and Silver Shrouds. It’s not to far of a jump to think that anypony with celebrity status could be emulated.” Shaking his head, he looked at me with a carefree chuckle. “I’m just glad that you haven’t bought into pretending to be any characters like that.”

His remark made me think back to what Lilac Lace had said in my head. I still didn’t really understand what she meant about me hiding who I really was, but until not knowing had some detrimental effect on my life, I don’t think I cared to find out. I wanted to enjoy my time with Buck and the others for now, as well as focus on not getting killed by whatever the wasteland had to throw at me next.

For another few minutes, I stayed with Buck as he checked on Happy’s condition. Though he couldn’t be sure, he thought Happy was lucky to get away from the hit without any major neck problems. Though, he’d most likely be out for another few minutes, up to even a few hours. And with the disorientation Buck expected him to have once he woke, he probably wouldn’t be leaving the Hauler tonight anyway.

“Whoever is by the radio, pick up the receiver.” Delilah’s static filled voice came in from the other room. Both Buck and I looked at each other before turning to head back out into the Rec area. By the time we did however, Hardcase already had levitated the mic over as he walked out of his room.

“Yes ma’am, we hear you.” He called out, looking over with a smile. Wow he sure was fast getting up and down from his post. Looking up at the tarp covering of the rec area, I made sure that all of the sides were still secured. How did he get down here that fast!? It was literally like, two seconds flat.

“Call in Bombay from recon duty.” Her voice sounded more relaxed than normal. “We’ll be pulling off the road here in two minutes, and we’ll be at Carmack’s main gate in five. Make sure we’re buttoned up for the evening, and that everypony knows that the buddy system stays in effect if any of them want to leave.”

“Alright, copy that, Ma’am.” Hardcase nodded, giving me a roll of his eyes. “Anything else?”

“Yes, actually.” She snorted. “I sense that my son has been laying down on the job again.” Wow, that was some sixth sense for her to know that! Too bad for her that she didn’t quite gleam that it was my fault this time. Well, half of my fault. “Can you get a status report on the Safe and bring it down to me when we stop?”

“Uh, one second.” He said, throwing me a confused look. I nodded and gave him a wide smile, trying to convey that I had the info for her. “Sure thing, Ma’am.” He finally answered. “I’ll come see you when we stop.”

“Oh, and bring Bombay down with you, Hardcase.” She muttered into the mic, making both Hardcase and I freeze up momentarily.

“Copy that, over and out.” He said before reaching up and flicking a switch on the radio with his hoof. Giving a soft sigh, he set the mic down and looked over to me with a sly smirk. “By the way, you’re supposed to come back from recon duty.” Oh har har, smartass.

“Yeah, I got that.” I fired back with as much snark as I could load into my words. “As for what Happy told me, he’s done melting the ice around the door.” I know that what he actually said was jumbled, but I’m not that much of a snarky asshole.

With a change in plane under our hooves, the whole of the Hauler shifted as Gearbox drove us off the main highway, and onto the sloped off-ramp toward Carmacks. Stepping out into the Rec area, I watched as snow covered hills quickly gave way to heavily forested woods that tightly lined the road leading towards the city. What I didn’t expect however, was the fact that it felt almost like somepony turned down the brightness of the wasteland. Everything got dark fast for some reason, and it made my mane stand on end.

Stepping up toward the rear of the Hauler, I flared my wings and hooked my forehooves around the rusty metal railing that lined the back. Pulling myself along the bit of the railing that was welded to the backside of Delilah’s container, I peeked around the corner to see where the sun had gone. Looking up, I wasn’t disappointed.

Beyond the tall trees, sat the most imposing face of a mountain I’d seen yet. It was nowhere near as impressively tall as the ‘Last Bastard’, but it wasn’t just some oversized hill either. Rising up goddesses know how tall, the mountain was mostly a single, vertical cliff from this side. Extending over most of the snow covered lands around us, it draped them in it’s impressively large shadow. As if the massive, outwardly slanted mountainside wasn’t imposing enough, there was an enormous crack that ran down most of the thing, filled with numerous unstable looking boulders that sat precariously poised to crush the entire town if they fell. And if that wasn’t enough, there was the rusting black and white form of a Zebra missile sitting still lodged between those various boulders!

Dropping my view down, I found that ahead of us, the land dipped down into a small depression under the mountainside, and in it, sat a snow covered city. I say city, but in reality, it was probably just as big as Cannon City would have been, had the weird green crater lake not have replaced half of it. Here’s hoping that fact isn’t remedied by the missile above while we’re stopped here.

A pair of black, pitch coated spiked log walls lined the road ahead of us. They stretched out through the clear cut areas of the forest around both sides of the city, forming a barrier that wrapped all the way to the edges of the cliffside at the back of town. The ponies on the wall watch towers flagged us down as we approached. Quickly, I made my way back towards the Recreation area, and as I did, I found Hardcase’s smiling muzzle waiting for me.

“Oh, Bombay?” He said as I climbed back over the railing. Immediately as I got my hooves back into the rec area, I facehooved myself hard. I knew what he was going to say, and I wanted to hit him for it. “Delilah wants to talk to you, so you’ll have to come with me.”

“Yeah.” I rolled my eyes. “Let’s go.”

Ah, Carmacks. A snug, sleepy little city in the snow, full of still electrically powered prewar buildings… some how? I may ask about it later, as this place just seemed like a quaint, sleepy little town. Regardless, this place was also full of happy and friendly seeming ponies, and thankfully lacking anyone claiming to be some sort of actor or actress. All built under the overbearing shadow of the candidate for the most intricately set up impending disaster since the end of the great war. A perfect relaxation spot for a convoy to stop off for a bit while trying to stay ahead of a rich Saddle Arabian stallion and his band of murderous thugs.

Yes, I’d certainly never made a single horrible choice in my life to end up with this set of circumstances. No siree!

“Don’t get into too much trouble.” Buck called out from atop the reactor deck, making me blush slightly. “Or any at all, for that matter!”

Then again, quite a few choices I’ve made have ended up being pretty great. Even if it’s not even been a day since I made them.

Buck had decided to stay to keep an eye on Happy, as well as keep Violet company while we were stuck in this place for a while. Given the fact that Violet gets stircrazy if she’s forced to sit somewhere for too long, I’m pretty sure it’s less of a nicety, and more to be there to hold her down when she starts getting cabin fever. Meanwhile, Hardcase and I were making our way over toward where Bessy was parked ahead of the Hauler.

Standing around and talking with Delilah was another trio of stallions dressed in construction outfits. This time, instead of a red diamond painted onto their hard hats, these ponies had a green triangle. Hardcase held out his hoof before we could get too close, and in knowing I was probably going to ask, started to talk anyway.

“So, the deal with these Road Crew guys,” He said, keeping his eyes on the trio of ponies as he spoke. “is that they’re the gang that controls the roads around here. Keeps them clean and repaired. Mostly...”

As he trailed off, the thrumming of an archano-engine caught our ears from down the town’s main street. From around the side of a three story brick building, rolled a tracked vehicle that looked too tall and thin to be a tank. A small archano-engine was mounted between a stiff set of tracks, and a single construction uniformed mare sat behind it operating a set of levers. Attached to the machine’s sides however, were a pair of multi-tubed metal ‘arms’ that reached out in front of the vehicle.

With a pull of one lever, both of the vehicles ‘arms’ raised up into the air. The mare reached over and cranked a wheel that sat in front of her, causing the whole vehicle to shudder and turn sideways. As it did, Hardcase and I saw that it was a basic, old world ‘bulldozer’ as they were called, and that the ‘multiple’ tubes on the thing, were actually multiple artillery barrels that had been permanently affixed onto the hydraulically articulating arms.

“You were saying…” I spoke up, trying to wonder why they would need something like that.

“They own the roads and are divided into unions.” Hardcase began again slowly, turning his gaze back towards the stallions next to Delilah. “Foreponies like this guy? He’s the head for settlements and checkpoints. But they answer to the Union Reps. Bigwigs with big construction rigs that together run the whole operation from the bigger settlements down the line.” He grumbled. “You have to pay to use their roads, period. You don’t pay the toll, or worse, you skip past without getting the proper mark on your vehicle?” He shook his head. “You better hope that they never find out.”

“Do they… kill you?” I asked, becoming a whole lot less comfortable with being around these guys. The ones up near Filly Crossing we helped seemed nice. But that might have only been because the biggest thing they had there was something that looked like a basic, old world power shovel.

“No, not unless you shoot at them first.” Hardcase shook his head and looked uneasily at me. “When we were passing through Cantercross on our first trip up here, we got to watch as one of the Cordite tanks got caught for running the roads without paying the toll.” He smirked. “You should have seen Ditch Witch and Rocksaw effortlessly cut that heavy tank in half with their equipment. Such a shame to see a good tank go to waste like that, but oh so fun to watch those sisters do their work.”

“So, we pay the toll. Every time.” I repeated to myself, trying to make sure I never made that mistake if I ever came back up this way. “Got it.” Turning my attention to Delilah, the middle of the three stallions shook Delilah’s hoof with a smile. Tipping his hardhat to her, the trio left, and she turned her unamused gaze to me. “Looks like she’s ready for us.”

“Hey there, Boss!” Hardcase called as we trotted across the snowy street towards her. She didn’t seem too enthused by his greeting, but she did give a roll of her eyes. “So, about your son. He seems to have finished melting the ice around the door of the safe.”

That gave her a genuine smile for the first time in a few days. “Excellent.” She gave a firm nod to him. “For once, he’s actually finished something I’ve told him to do in a respectable timeframe. Tell him he can have the rest of the night off.” She turned and looked over toward the city, not knowing that he was basically already out cold thanks to me. “I know that we need to keep moving, but with Destruction Bay another three days out from here, I want to get in at least a few hours time for you all to relax before we all get some shuteye.” Looking back to me, she held her hoof out. In it, was a small cloth sack. “Here are the caps I promised you, Night.”

Reaching out, she dropped the fairly weighty sac into my hoof.

“Thank you, Ma’am.” I said with a smile.

She looked over to Hardcase and gave a sigh. “Please, keep an eye on him and show him around the city before night falls.” Looking up, the bright blue sky beyond the darkness that the overbearing mountain cast was still hanging around. However, the hues of evening would soon show up, and I couldn’t imagine how dark it would get at night around here. Though, probably not too bad considering they still had power here.

Hardcase turned to me with a shrug. “Anywhere you want to go? A dinner, a movie, somewhere to do a bit of shopping perhaps?” He asked with a smile. I knew that there was absolutely zero way that he knew, but he’d just reminded me that there was something I was supposed to do here. It was date night with Hispano, and with Delilah’s ‘buddy’ rule, that was going to be a bit hard to pull off. A problem I’d have to solve as he showed me around.

Still, I nodded and pointed toward town. Delilah dismissed herself without saying anything, and Hardcase simply broke into a relaxed trot. Stuffing the pouch of caps under my folded wing, I moved myself to keep up with him.

Strolling down the street felt eerie and alien. The ponies who walked around here simply going about their daily business, didn’t feel like they were part of any sort of wasteland. The warm and inviting interior lights of all the buildings on main street, the smell of wood burning fires going all around town. It gave this place a relaxing and homey feel to it. It was more rustic than modern, and it definitely felt a whole lot less creepy than Klondike did. Still, as I looked into the windows of the various shops as we passed them, I was amazed to see such unique items on display.

For example, a shop named ‘Burt’s Buzzcrafts’ sold what looked like every single way you could ever prepare honey. Candied honey, jarred honey, honey lollipops, powdered honey, honey ingots. As well as that, there was a display that held what looked like a crate full of hundreds of beeswax candles, claiming that they were only three caps a piece.

The next shop down was more my style. ‘Forest Fashion’ wasn’t exactly the catchiest title, but the shimmering white and gold wartime dress that they displayed in the window was something that caught my eye immediately. So much so infact, that before I’d known it, I was standing in front of the window staring at it. Surprisingly, the tag read that the dress itself was only being sold for thirty five caps!

“Found something you like, I see.” Hardcase spoke up from behind me. I almost didn’t hear him, too focused on the way that the golden accents of the form fitting dress seemed to flow with intricate precision along the lines the dress presented. I followed the lines, giving in to where it was pulling my eyes, until they stopped on the perfect feature, and probably the reason it had been so cheaply priced.

Wing holes.

It was the perfect dress! Gasping, I giddily pranced across the fluffy snow that covered the sidewalks, and grasped at the door with my hooves. Giving a sharp pull on it, the door rattled, but didn’t open. Confused, I looked up to find the face of an unamused blue coated unicorn mare standing on the other side of it. In her magical grasp, she gave a wiggle to the sign hanging in the glass door that I’d missed walking up to it. Sadly, the sign read Closed.

Thinking quickly, I used my wings to hoist the bag of caps I’d been given, and with a smile, jabbed my hoof toward the dress in the window. I wanted that dress, and I wasn’t going to leave without it. Maybe she’d been hoping for a pegasus to come in when her shop is open, but hey, who the fuck closes up at four in the afternoon anyway!?

The mare used her horn to point that the sign again, seeming reluctant to even consider selling the dress that was obviously perfect for me. Who else around here was going to buy it!? Looking at the mare as she raised her hoof, she gave me a stiff wave for us to get lost, and that only stiffened my resolve to buy it.

“I don’t give a damn if you’re closed. You see these wings?” I yelled and flapped my wings at her through the glass. From the way she cringed inside, I was pretty sure that she could hear me quite well. “I want that dress, and I’m willing to pay for it right now.”

“Come back tomorrow.” She grumbled through the glass.

“We’re only in town for the evening,” I growled back. “When are you going to get another pegasus in to buy it? How long has it just been sitting there anyway?”

The mare rolled her eyes before her magic flipped the locking latch on the door. I gave a squeal of delight as she stepped back and opened the door for me. Like a filly in a toy store, I nearly galloped inside to get a better look at it.

“Forty caps.” The mare said with a droll tone to her voice. “Five over the listed price for the inconvenience of staying open late.”

“Now come on.” Hardcase grunted as he trotted inside. “That’s hardly…”

Using my wing to toss the caps at Hardcase, they smacked him in the side of the face before he grabbed them with his magic.

“Pay the mare, Hardcase.” I giggled as I reached out for the dress. The moment it was within my grasp, I found it lifted away from it’s display and paraded above my head. Longingly, I followed it as it fluttered overhead, and toward a fancy looking folding dressing screen.

“I assume that you would like it custom fit as well via alteration magic?” The mare continued with her very boring manor of speaking, but I was too focused on the dress to care. It would be mine. Nodding, I could have agreed to sell the Hauler to her and not really have cared. “It’s normally a fifteen cap charge, plus…”

“Plus the extra five.” Hardcase grumbled. “Yeah, we get it.” He shared her bored tone, but when I looked over to him he gave me a shrug and the faintest hint of a smile.

I froze up for a moment as behind him, standing in the window with wide, excited eyes, stood Hispano. She squeezed her cheeks between her talons, pressing her beak and face up against the glass door to this place. Hardcase seemed to noticed I was looking at the door, and before she could be spotted, Hispano lept into the air and zipped out of sight before he could even turn around.

Stepping behind the screen, the mare held the dress up and enveloped both it and me with her magic. I watched in delight as parts of the dress shifted in size, and even more of it’s detail came out. With a flash, her spell ended, and she floated the dress over to me. As she stepped back around to the other side of the partition, I worked at getting myself into the amazing gown.

Slipping myself through the opening in the back. Each of the softly bell bottomed legs slipped up over my forelegs like sleek socks, drooping out a bit behind my fetlocks and fluttering as I moved my hooves. The slim sides hugged my flank, and the split rear still let me flick my tail, fluttering the trailing gold lines that draped down across my flank and around under my barrel. Even slipping my wings through the holes came easily! Spreading them wide, I felt as the low cut v neck that cut down against my chest didn’t feel restricting in the least bit. Stuffing my mother’s tags under one of the sides, I blushed as I gave myself a moment to take in how the dress felt overall.

Giggling into my forehooves, I spun around in circles for a moment, enjoying myself before I realized that both the Boring mare and Hardcase were staring at me. The mare offered a dejected sigh, while Hardcase at least gave me a genuine nod of approval.

“Now, if you’re satisfied?” The mare spoke, pausing as I nodded furiously to her. “Then would you kindly leave. We’re closed.” She gave only the hint of a judgemental glare across her raised muzzle.

“Is this how you treat your normal customers?” Hardcase murmured as he looked at the haughty mare in disbelief. “You know, you could use a few lessons in…”

Without even getting another word in about it, the mare’s magic flared and both Hardcase and I found ourselves back outside with a soft magical pop. I blinked a few times as the sudden change in scenery took a minute to acclimate too, but in looking back at the shop, I watched as the annoyed looking mare glared at me before she dropped every blind and shutter in the place all at once.

“...Manners.” He said flatly as he ground his forehoof into the snow. “Wow, she’d give Delilah a run for her money in ‘world's most annoyed business owner.” Hardcase sighed as he looked up into the skies with a chuckle. At least I wasn’t the only one who thought that they shared that trait. “So, what’s next on your to-do list?”

Looking up with him, I immediately spotted the familiar looking cloud already sitting above the well lit wartime diner at the corner of the block. Giving a sigh, I knew that I couldn’t really avoid it for too much longer, and figured I might as well get it over with. With seeing how excited she was, I was hoping that this didn’t hurt her feelings too badly...

“So, Hardcase? Can I ask a favor?” I spoke up, a nervous smile parting my lips. He cocked his eyebrow slowly, giving a stiff sigh as he braced himself for my request. “You remember that griffon from before?” He gave a slow nod and smiled. “Well, because she saved me…” I started to say, pointing my leg toward the diner. “She wanted to meet there and have dinner with me. Alone.”

At that, Hardcase snorted and rolled his eyes. “Oh wow, thank the goddesses.” Sitting down hard on the snowy sidewalk, he feigned wiping the sweat off his brow. “I thought you were going to ask something unreasonable.” Reaching up, he gave me a soft pat on the shoulder with his cold hoof, being actually more understanding with my request than I’d expected. “I mean, far be it for me to judge if you want to have an ‘open’ relationship with Buck. But as I’ve said to Violet before, the more the merrier!” He smiled at me. “By the way, if you two are ever interested in mixing it up with us...”

Wow, that asshole.

Scooping up a hoofful of snow, I threw it in his face and snatched my cap sack out of his magic with my wing.

“It’s not like that. What kind of stallion do you think I am?” I huffed as I trotted toward the diner. “I’m not just some easy floozy you can take to bed.” Muttering under my breath, I realized that was kind of hypocritical for me to say. I’d only known Buck for two weeks, only realized I really liked him earlier today, and already we’d spent a few hours together in bed. That kind of made me the easiest pony around…

Opening the door, I stepped inside the old wartime diner. The incredible warmth of the air inside nearly melted away all my tension in a moment, and the smell of freshly baked goods reminded me of Spring Leaf’s kitchen back on the Empirica. Standing there, I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. With the sweet and savory smells overloading my nose and the incredible feeling of the fabric holding around my body, I felt myself relax more than a bit.

“Excuse me, miss?” The voice of a young stallion spoke up. Opening my eyes, a young unicorn in a bright blue servers vest looked up at me. He was a few inches shorter than I was, and from the way his thick round glasses seemed a bit too large for his muzzle, I estimated he was a few years younger than me. “How many will be seated?” He asked with a nervous glance at my flank. Subtlety was definitely not his thing.

“Two,” I spoke up softly. “But my second has yet to arrive.” I gave him a polite smile just in time for the door to open behind me.

Walking in, dressed in her flight cap and a thick leather bomber jacket that was just slightly too big for her, Hispano beamed a smile at me as soon as I looked at her. She gave her own squeal as she quickly zipped her way to my side. She let out a happy coo, blushing as she affectionately pressed herself against me. After a moment, she deadpanned and looked over to the server stallion when he cleared his throat.

“That’ll be a booth for the two of us.” She squeaked out before looking up to me with another blush. “You look amazing, by the way.”

“Of course you are together.” The stallion sighed before standing up stiffly. “I mean, of course! Right this way!” He nearly tripped over himself as he turned around and headed toward one of the empty booths next to the large glass windows that gazed out into the snowy town. Showing us to our seats, he waited until Hispano and I got ourselves situated before he levitated over a pair of menus onto the table. “I’ll give you two a few minutes to decide.”

“Thanks.” Hispano grunted to him, shooing him off with her talon before turning and beaming a bright smile to me again. “Wow, you look incredible like that. You went all out for this, didn’t you?”

“It’s what you wanted, right?” I asked, thinking about just how to break the ice with Hispano. We had so much to talk about, and I didn’t want to wait until the end of the night to do it. “Look, Hispano,” I sighed, slumping slightly against the plush booth backing. “We have to talk.”

“Sure,” She said, quickly leaning forward and grabbing both my forehooves in her talons. She was positively vibrating with excitement, reminding me of how she was the first time I met her back on the Inuvik. Looking up from her talons to her face, I found her attentive eyes locked onto me, and a caring smile across her beak. “We can talk about whatever you want.”

“I…” Wow, she was really just that open with me? Right from the get go? Well then, where do I start? “I… want to know what happened… before Klondike. Why can’t I remember?” I said, trying to remember what I couldn’t. The moment I began to try however, the sharp pain I’d felt before returned. I couldn’t understand, why did this keep happening!?

Her voice resonated in my head, speaking from the past. I could make out bits and pieces, single words as my head started to feel like it was exploding. I tried to focus on separating it out, but everything was all jumbled together and coming out at once. I whimpered and ripped my hooves from her, pressing them against my pounding head. “Not what was said… I just…” Grunting, I growled as it felt like a hundred cannon shells from Howitzers guns began to go off. “I want to know what’s wrong with me.”

“Hey, Night.” She spoke softly as she pressed against my side. Since when had she gotten so close? “Just calm down. Try to relax. Think about what we talked about today. Not anything further in the past. Just today.”

Focusing on her words, I tried to remember the talk we’d had. Speaking about how her dad is always running ahead of us. How he wasn’t responsible for trying to kill me. The more I thought about other things, the more the pounding in my head receded. Little by little, it went away, leaving me whining softly in my seat with Hispano’s warmth at my side.

“Is that better?” She asked, stepping back as she shared her concerned gaze with me. I nodded, lowering my hooves before realizing that the stallion who was supposed to take our orders was just nervously standing there. After a moment, he jumped as he realized I was looking at him, and darted off somewhere in the back of the kitchen.

“I just need to know what’s wrong, without being reminded of whatever it is.” I spoke up as slowly as possible. I focused myself, remembering the events of today. The fight with the Skyraiders, Violet getting hurt. My time with Buck.

“The reason you can’t remember,” Hispano spoke up slowly, taking her seat on her side of the table again. “The three of us were taken to a place where they put something in our heads. The one they gave me didn’t work. Maybe because I’m not a pony, but I don’t actually know why.” Looking down at the table, she pulled off her flight cap, folded her talons on it, and dropped her head down onto the table with a heavy thump. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what else to say that won’t affect you.”

“But you remember.” I asked, watching as she nodded with her head on the tabletop. “All of it?”

She nodded again, rubbing her face against the table. “I know that it’s been confusing to you and your pegasus friend,” Looking up at me again, she propped her head on her talons as she gave me a soft smile. “but I was hoping that it wouldn’t change how we felt.”

“We?” I asked as a feeling of profound confusion swept through my mind, clearing out any remaining thoughts of what the hidden memories might be.

She nodded. “I know you see me as more than just another Talon, Night.” Reaching out with her talon again, she grasped at one of my forehooves. “You’re the first pony to care about even talking to me about normal things. I don’t want to be a talon like my father. I want to make a name for myself, have a life of my own.” Her watery eyes stared right up at me as she smiled and figuratively put everything on the table. “I might never find another pony out there who sees me like you do, Night, and I know you care about me enough to have even shown up tonight.” Wait, she didn’t actually expect me to show up at all!? “So, I want to give us a shot.”

With a sigh, I slumped down and closed my eyes. “I’m sorry, Hispano, but I don’t have an interest in mares.” It was hard to have to tell her that, but it was for the best. “I… I like stallions.”

“O-oh…” I could almost hear as she broke inside. Pulling her talon away from my hoof sharply, she sniffled as she all but deflated in her seat. That had much more of an effect on her than I was prepared to admit, and… I almost wished I could take it back. “I… I see.” Looking down at her flight cap, her tears started to drip down onto it.

“You're a great griffon and all but... I'm just not interested in more than what we have.” I tried to offer her a smile, but she refused to look up. “I like being your friend, Hispano. You were right when you said I only put up a tough front...”

“Just stop.” She cut me off softly. “You just don't care, do you? I should have known you ponies are all the same. Always with your 'friendship' and the like.” She gave a forced chuckle as she reached up to wipe away her tears. “I... I just thought I'd finally found somepony who understood me. Who liked me for me…”

“Look, Hispano. I do like you as a friend.” How can I salvage this? Think, Night... oh! Something that mom used to tell me! “You're still young... I’m still young, and who knows how we’ll feel when we wake up tomorrow.” While I may have ad libbed that to include us both, it wasn’t strictly false. “The point is, we both don't know what the future holds, or how we'll feel about stallions tomorrow, or in a month, or even a year from now. You even might learn you like mares.” Odds are, she’d eventually find somepony else she likes. Hell, I found Buck and I’ve only been down here two weeks with him. Then again, that’s not much more time than she’s had to realize that she liked me...

“And maybe over time... you'll learn to love me?” Hispano gave a soft, but genuine laugh. “Maybe I'm the dumb idiot for thinking things could have been different at all.” Clenching her talons up, it hurt to see her go through this. I’d been trying to help those I met down here, and I was failing her. I needed a change of tactics, to stop being on the defencive with her.

Reaching over, I took her Talons in my fetlocks. She gave a small gasp as I did, and I tried to give her my own caring look. For the briefest moment, I could see a glimmer of hope in her wide, watery blue eyes.

“Hispano,” I said, lightly squeezing her talons. “I'm here for you as a friend, whenever you need me to be. I owe you much more than I could ever pay, and that's for more than just saving my life.” She looked away, but I gave her talons another squeeze and pulled her focus back to me. “What you've taught me about the wasteland, it's the only reason I'm still here right now. I have you to thank for most of it, and that makes you one of the best friends I have down here.” Giving her a soft smile, she did her best to return it.

“Sure, Dum Dum.” Again, she shook her head and looked away with a sorrowful smile. “I... I just want you to know, that for me it will never just be friendship. I'll always want more, and I’m going to wait for the day I can get just that.” Pulling her talons away, she scooted herself out from her side of the booth. With a few soft steps, she came over to my side of the booth, and pressed up against me in a tight hug. Then, without warning, she planted a soft kiss on my cheek. “You’re lucky, normally talons aren’t very patient most days.” Giving me a wink as she pulled back, her genuine small smile returned to her beak. “One of these days, if nopony else has already done it, I might just swoop in and steal you away for myself anyway.”

“You’re welcome to try.” I found myself give a small laugh at that. “But maybe after we get to know each other better, alright?” What was I doing with her? You can’t just go around giving false encouragement like that, Night. Saying that was just going to come around and bite me in the flank later.

“For now though,” She sighed, wiping away the last of the tears from her eyes. “You promise we’ll stay friends?”

“Not just friends.” I smiled, reaching out and holding onto her talon again. “The best of friends.”

She gave a stuttering laugh with that, bringing back the wide smile she normally carried on her. “Well, if you're up for it, I could always hang out with you when you’re on one of your patrols. With my dad always a ways ahead or so, I could use the company.” Pausing with a small gasp, she gained a bright look in her eyes. “Or I could join you with your friends when you’re on break!”

“I’d love that…” I said, not seeing anything good coming out of her flying down to the hauler in the midst of what’s been going on recently. “But, things aren't really the best at the moment. Delilah wants all of us on the lookout for anyone working for Solomon.” Giving a small shrug, I watched as her expression dimmed a bit at that. “You know, on account he tried to kill me and all.” That’s when an idea popped into my head. “What if you and your dad came to work for Delilah instead? I’m sure Delilah could use more help, and with the skyraider attack, more of us in the skies can’t be a bad thing!”

She shook her head. “Dad can’t ditch his contract without a violation of the terms, and without that, a Talon can’t ever abandon a job. On top of that, the terms of it are something he’s kept only between Solomon and himself, so it’s not like it could be sabotaged.” Grumbling she slumped a bit. “Why can’t I just hang with you? You told them I was a courier, none of them even know who I really am, right?” Brightening up, she smiled again and grasped at my forehoof tightly as she waited for me to respond. However, I couldn’t give her the answer she wanted. “They don’t know about me, right?”

“One of them might know a bit, I don’t know.” I sighed, cursing the fact that Hardcase had to put all of this together. “But I’ll visit you when I’m on patrol. We can hang out and just talk, about whatever you want.” Finally giving her a smile I could get behind, she matched it and gave me a nod. “At least, until one of them takes notice of your giant inconspicuous cloud of hiding, of course. If they do, I don’t know what will happen...”

“Well you're just going to have to risk it.” She said as she pulled away from my hoof and bounced herself back over toward her seat. Grabbing her flight cap, she pressed it close to the broken compass she wore hanging around her neck. “Besides, if you don’t actually come and see me, I’ll just have to come down and see you.”

“Hispano…” I sighed, knowing full well that things wouldn’t just magically be great for her if she were to dive on the convoy.

“What?” She stuck out her tongue at me playfully as she flipped her cap onto her head. “Try and stop me, friend.” She giggled as she flared her wings and hopped down from her seat. “Anyway, be a gentlecolt and grab the check. I've got an early morning ahead.” But… we didn’t even order anything. Regardless, with a wink, she gave me a sad, but at the very least understanding look. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Dum Dum.” With the familiar burst of speed she’d normally had, she zipped her way past the other patrons in the restaurant, and was out the door in the blink of an eye.

Slumping in my seat, I gave out a sigh. I don’t know what just ended up happening. Looking down, I hoofed at the dogtags around my neck, pulling them out from being pinned under the neckline of the dress. I wish I knew what mom or dad would tell me to do in a situation like this. I tried to tell her I wasn’t interested, but she didn’t want to hear it. I gave her a piece to hold onto in telling her the future may be different, when I know I can’t give that to her at all. Still, she seemed to take it alright...

No. She couldn’t be over it just like that. There was no way she could have been that passionate about it, just to drop it like she had. She wasn’t done. Far from it I’m afraid. Dropping my head down onto the table with a heavy thump, now it was me who felt like crying. Why me?

“Ahem.” The voice of the server stallion spoke up beside me.

Looking over at him, I groaned as he sat there and waggled his eyebrows at me. Rolling my eyes, I shoved myself out of my seat and trotted toward the door. This was supposed to be a relaxing evening! A time where I could finally get some answers for myself, and work out all the issues that I had with Hispano. But surprise, surprise, Night. You fucked it up!

Storming up to the door, I shoved it open as hard as I could to vent some of my anger.

The soft whimper of the mare it smacked into however, surprised me. Well, out of anypony, some innocent mare probably didn’t deserve my anger. Gasping, I hurried around the large wooden door to apologize.

“Oh goddesses, I’m so… sorry...” I said, my words dying in my throat as I looked down on a sprawled out Violet writhing in pain on the snow covered sidewalk. “Violet, what are you doing up and about!?” Looking down at her chest, I found that the wound in her side had been completely healed. “Here, let me help you back up.” I said, holding my forehoof out.

“What?” She groaned out, pressing a hoof at her temple while she reached out with her other leg and took my forehoof. Shaking off the hit slightly she blinked a few times and looked up at me… with red eyes. She had the wrong colored eyes...

Gasping, she took a step back. “Night… what are…?” Her voice cracked as she went wide eyed, and for a moment, it wasn’t Violet’s voice that came through.

It was Salt.

He spun around, and I found Salt’s forehooves buck me hard in the chest. I groaned as I was kicked and propelled down onto the ground, rolling across the snowy road as all the air was forced from my lungs. Groaning, I was helpless to watch as Salt spread Violet’s wings and take off into the sky. Whining for a moment before I sucked in a long gasp of air, I coughed heavily in the snow. What the fuck was he doing here! Why was he wearing Violet’s face!?

“Aww, consarnit!” The angry voice of a stallion called out from just ahead of me. “You let her get away!”

Looking up, I found a burly looking earth pony gazing down on me. As I pulled myself up, the muscle laidin golden coated stallion reached out and easily helped me get to my hooves. His fire red mane was combed down into a long mullet, and he gave off a surprisingly presentable look. Both the sheriff’s star on his leather vest, and the lasso he held in his hoof pointed me to the fact that he was some sort of lawbringer in this town.

“You alright there, little missy?” He asked, looking me over and giving a few stiff brushes at the snow across the various parts of my dress. Looking up into the sky, he looked around again before scrunching his muzzle up in disappointment. “Darn, I almost had her, too.”

“Who?” I asked. If Salt had been wearing Violet’s face, that was one thing. If he was doing something that was making her a wanted mare, that was something else entirely.

“That young lass you got into a tussle with.” The sheriff grumbled as he chuffed at the snow. “She’ and a unicorn fella’ have been breakin’ and enterin’ the last few days around here.” Shaking his head, he grumbled. “Was trying to avoid putin’ a bounty out on em’.”

Wait, now there were two of them!?

“Wait there just a minute!” The sheriff shouted, raising his hoof and pointing past me. Startled I jumped and turned around to see Hardcase looking just as confused as I was. “You! Stay where you are!” The sheriff barreled past me, running straight for Hardcase. “You’re under arrest for burglary!”

Without the power to do anything, I was simply forced to watch as the enormous earth pony sheriff bore down on the fearfully shrinking Hardcase. Of course they would have copied his look as well. Because Salt just had to make today that much worse. With a sigh, I looked over to a panicked Hardcase as he was lassoed up in the middle of the city street.

“Don’t worry, Hardcase.” I called out to him. “I’ll go get Delilah.”

“So you see, Sheriff.” Delilah hadn’t budged from her stoic form as she spoke to the sheriff. He however, looked quite relaxed as he leaned back in his office chair, and had his hooves up on his desk. “It’s quite impossible that Hardcase could have committed those crimes, as we’d only arrived here as of now just under an hour ago.”

“And while I can at least chat with the Road Crew to validate the fact that you and your other crewmate here arrived only this afternoon,” He said, looking over at me with a lax gaze before giving me a respectful nod, “In no way does that prove the innocence of Mr. Hardcase, nor does it absolve him of the crimes committed over the last few days.” Steepling his hooves on his vest, the Sheriff shook his head. “Look, I got a tip from a concerned citizen that a pegasus mare and unicorn were hanging around on mainstreet, so I checked it out. I immediately recognized the mare and your friend from a description a witness gave at the first burglary. So I’m sorry, but unless you can provide some sort of evidence to me, I’m afraid that I’m going to have to keep him locked up in the cell here until I can arrange a public trial.”

“It wasn’t him!” I blurted out. “The mare who escaped, she’s not who you think she is either!” With a long sigh from Delilah I fought the urge to look over at her. It was a battle I quickly lost. Slowly, I swung my gaze to her, and just as expected, she looked at me like I wasn’t helping.

“I’m listening.” The sheriff spoke slowly. He pointed his hoof lazily to me and smiled at Delilah. “This has always been a rest stop for people heading either north or south, even back before the end of the war. Worst thing we ever get up here is the occasional bar brawl between traders, and maybe an animal attack every month or so. So I’m open to any help I can get on this burglary case.” Shifting himself to make his relaxed pose a bit more comfortable, he eyed me over. “And if it helps keep my job as quiet and easy as it should be in our little town, I’ll let the mare speak her peace.”

“The mare you’re looking for, is not even a pony.” I spoke up, trying to keep myself from sounding like a raving lunatic. “Before my settlement was destroyed, I knew a stallion there named Salt. I’d thought he’d died, but I ran into him again when he’d changed his looks.” Finding as the sheriff’s face had gone from relaxed amusement, to confused disappointment, I figured that it sounded just as improbable as it felt like to me. “They’re changelings. They can look like anypony… or so I’m told.”

“Changelings.” The sheriff gave a snort as he shook his head. Smiling, he pulled his legs off his desk and sat up. “Certainly never heard anypony around here use that excuse before.” Putting his hooves on his desk, he gave me a shrug. “Well, unfortunately for you, the only reliable way to tell if somepony is a changeling, can potentially kill them. And I’m not about to kill my only suspect without a fair public trial just to test your theory.”

The door to the sheriff's office opened with a slam of the door, and one of the Road Crew ponies burst inside. The three of us in the room all got to our hooves, and the sheriff looked just about ready to go for the gun holstered on his leg.

“Sheriff! You’ve gotta come quick.” The panting stallion gasped. “There’s a griffon out in the middle of main street. She’s holding a hostage and calling out for some ‘Delilah’ person to show herself.”

My heart stopped. No, Hispano couldn’t have done something like this. What am I saying, of course she could! Night you idiot, you just broke her heart. She’s probably desperate and taking it out on somepony who didn’t fucking deserve it!

Even before anypony else moved, I bolted out the door. I galloped as hard as I could out into the street. I had to find her, had to convince her to stop what she was doing. My racing heart moved twice as fast as my hooves, and the world blurred around me as I ran. For such a small town, I’d gotten myself turned around and was running the wrong way. Dipping through an alleyway, I burst out into a street in time to see the Sheriff run by a couple of streets up.

Heading that way, I spread my wings and beat them hard. The kink in my right wing stabbed at me again, but I forced myself up into the air. Climbing above the two story cabins and houses that were littered across most of the city, I found it easy to reorient myself with the city's layout again. Dipping into a speedy dive, I pushed myself toward the crowd that was gathered outside the corner that the diner was on. Pushing myself to go faster, I dipped low over the roof of somepony’s house, and joined up with the galloping Sheriff. As the two of us came around the backside of the crowd, I jammed my hooves down into the snow, and skidded to a stop.

Looking over at the diner, I went wide eyed from what I saw.

“Oh, you are alive,” Galina smiled as she stood proudly on her hind legs. “A pity that bitch couldn’t even find a competent pony to finish the one job I gave to her, yes. Waste of a pipbuck.” Wait, she was the one with the hostage!? I mean, it was still distressing to see Galina, but at least it wasn’t Hispano.

Attached over one of Galina’s talons like a gauntlet was a motorized saw with a trio of wickedly curved blades on it. Hanging in the air, pinned tightly between the gauntlet blades was… Hardcase. Or at least, the fake Hardcase. One of the sharp looking blades was curled around and digging under the coat on his neck. “I was hoping for Delilah, but you will do. I will teach your friend here what happens when you fuck with Solomon.”

“P-put the stallion down!” The sheriff shouted, coming to a skidding halt like I did, only with more of a confused look across his muzzle. Bending his head down, he drew out the small pistol he’d had holstered on his leg.

Galina shrugged. “As you wish.” The motorized blade over her talon whirred to life, and didn’t seem to strain at all when it cleaved straight through fake Hardcase’s neck.

The fresh corpse gave a brilliant flash of green as both the severed head and it dropped to the snowy ground. The flash caught everypony off guard, and prompted a horrified gasp from the crowd. Even Galina looked just as momentarily confused as I was. That is, until the sheriff started shooting at her.

Panicked screams from the gathered ponies filled the air. Shot after shot went out at Galina, but she was already off like a bolt after the first. With her powerful, large wings, she was up in the air and out of range before the Sheriff even had a chance to hit her. For me however, I’d frozen up.

With my eyes locked on the beheaded corpse, I stepped forward slowly. Smooth holes bore through the legs of the black colored body, and ebony plates of chitin with white accents covered most of the changeling’s barrel and chest. The top half and upper joints of their body however, was covered in a bristly black fuzz, and a pair of bright orange, insect like wings sat twitching on the corpse’s backside. The mare that Hardcase killed in the forest didn’t look like this, and him saying that there were all sorts of types out there never seemed more overwhelming to me than it did now.

“Well I’ll be…” The sheriff said, stepping up to me. “Guess they really were changelings…”

Yes, but Salt was still out there. I didn’t know why I’d run into him again, but I was hoping that somewhere down the line, our paths would cross. I wouldn’t let him get away again, not until he could give me some of the answer’s I wanted. At the very least, why the fuck he’d even been in Four Peaks in the first place.

“Miss?” The sheriff’s voice knocked me out of my thoughts, and I looked over to him. He was visibly shaken from the events that just went down, but he still managed to flash me a nervous smile. “I asked if you were alright?” Nodding to him in response, he nodded as well, turned, and looked back down the street we’d come from. Delilah was just down it, walking towards us still wearing her ever present stoic expression. “I think it might be a good idea to finish what you need to do here in town, and call it a night in your convoy.” He smirked and gave me a pat on the side. “I think I’m going to go release your crewmate into Mrs. Delilah’s custody.”

Nodding again, I glanced back over toward the body laying on the ground. From there, I glanced up at the ponies who were gawking and staring in horrified amusement at the body. It made me feel bad for the poor changeling. Regardless of the crimes he’d committed around here, he was murdered by association at the talons of Galina. Monsterpony or not, He’d deserved the fair trial that the Sheriff would have given him, not to be the gruesome attraction for the townsponies tonight. Turning away from him, I found Delilah still trotting up to me. She took a single glance at the corpse before dismissing it altogether.

“It was Galina.” I spoke up, shifting her stoic expression to one of surprise, if only momentarily. “She thought she had the real Hardcase held hostage.”

“This is exactly why I put the buddy system in place.” Delilah sighed and brought her forehoof to her chin in thought. “She must have been the one to set up the attempt on your life in Filly Crossing as well.” She said, causing me to think back to what Galina had said. She’d insinuated she ordered it, but oddly, she’d said she wasn’t the one to hire the hit-stallion. Looking up to me, Delilah nodded toward the convoy.

“If she’s flying ahead of us, than you need to let the others know to expect some sort of trouble in Destruction Bay.” Turning her gaze to watch as the Sheriff dipped around the corner down the street, she sighed again. “I need to go and deal with Hardcase’s release. Finish your errands in town quickly and then return to Bertha.” Turning herself around, she looked back as she trotted off. “Running the reactor hot or not, we leave for Destruction Bay tonight.”

Nodding, I watched as she trotted off again. Looking up, I found Hispano’s cloud still sitting up above me. In it, a small hole in the bottom of it contained a sad looking pair of blue eyes. I gave Hispano a weak smile before I watched as she hastily sealed up the hole. Tonight had been a travesty, but I was thankful that at least that wasn’t the real Hardcase who died. After the things he’d said about losing Violet, I couldn’t imagine she’d fare much better if he were the one to die.

Turning around, I trotted across the street to head back to the hauler. As I did, I kicked at something buried in the snow. Stopping, I flicked my hoof at it, uncovering the pouch of caps I was carrying when Salt had kicked me. Giving a snort, I leaned down and pulled it up in my teeth. How lucky was it that it hadn’t been found?

Looking up with the bag in my muzzle, I stared into the shop window that sat across the street from the diner. 'Brass Band’s Instrument Emporium' held a wide range of what looked to be classical instruments in their display window. However, plastered in the corner of it, was a small poster. Trotting closer to it, I recognized the red stallion wearing the floral print shirt with a small guitar in his hooves. Reading the poster itself, I gave a surprised snort.

New in stock! Now YOU can be just like the king of rock’n’roll! Straight from Marewaii, genuine Pineapple Island ukuleles like the ones used in last year’s summer box office hit ‘Blue Marewaii’ have arrived! Ask a sales associate about them and take one home today!

Wondering about just how pissed Happy would be to have missed out on this, I blinked a few times as I imagined in my head just how that conversation would go. ‘Yes, I could have bought one for you. No, I didn’t, even though I said I’d pay you back for ‘ripping’ you off. No, wait, put down that hacksaw’.

Nodding to myself, I figured that at the very least, doing this might reset my relationship with Happy. After watching Galina murder without a care tonight, I didn’t need to make any more enemies on this trip. What I needed, were more friends.

Stepping into the small town shop, I smiled as immediately I saw a whole row of the small guitars lined up on the back shelves. Trotting in, I was glad that at least something I did in this town was going to go my way today…

Trotting through the ice hold to the Rec area on the Hauler again, I could already hear Happy’s annoyed sounding voice. Stopping at the bottom of the stairs, I listened in as he spoke.

“First he pisses me off,” He grunted, shifting on the couch and making the springs whine slightly. “Then he gives me a fucking concussion.”

“He didn’t mean to give you a concussion.” Violet groaned. “Right, Doc?”

“Well, I didn’t see it happen.” Buck answered slowly. Way to come to the defence of somepony whom you like, Buck. “However, I’m sure it’s not something Night would do on purpose.”

“Yeah, well it doesn’t mean I have to be nice to him.” Happy grunted. “We’ll see how long it takes for him to even apologize.”

Rolling my eyes, I trotted up the stairs and caught his nervous look as he held a chunk of Ice up against his head. Well, the nervous look he’d had right until he shifted his gaze to the small guitar I held tightly under my wing. He sat in silence as I walked over to him with it.

“It cost me the rest of the caps Delilah gave me.” I said, Unfurling my wing and dropping it straight into his hooves. “The sales pony told me that it should sound alright once you tune it a bit.”

Happy stared at the object in his hooves, a wider smile than I’d ever seen growing across his muzzle. With a gasp, he reached up and grabbed ahold of me tightly.

“All is forgiven!” He shouted, giving a heavy laugh as he squeezed me far tighter than he had any right too. “I never doubted our friendship for an instant, buddy!” Bringing his muzzle up to my ear, he gave me a pat on the back as he dropped his voice to a whisper. “We’re even.”

“Great…” I whined as he felt like he tried to liquify my insides with his hug. “I’ve got bad news…” Gasping as my words made him release me, I took in a big breath of sweet, sweet air. “We’re leaving this place. Tonight.”

“What!?” Violet called out as she was still in my bed. From the way that Buck spun himself around and dove into the room, I expected exactly what I saw as I walked over to the door. “I thought we were spending the night resting here.” She grunted and struggled as Buck pinned her down to my bed.

“That was the case until Galina showed up. She killed a changeling that was impersonating Hardcase.” I said, prompting a shocked look out of her. She whimpered and almost looked more distraught that I’d expected. “Regardless, Delilah’s pulling our Hardcase out of jail,” Again, Violet’s expression shifted, but to one of profound confusion this time. “It’s a bit of a story that I’m sure you’ll be filled in on later, but she wants us back on the road tonight. Galina being ahead of us means that she has time to set things up against us before we arrive, and even as oblivious to things as I’ve been in the wasteland, even I know that’s bad for us.”

“Not only that.” Delilah spoke up from behind me as she climbed out of the Ice hold, Hardcase’s nervous smile popping up right behind her. “But if she’s already ahead, then Solomon can’t be too far behind. And I have a bad feeling that he’s pushing his crew to not waste time at stops like we have so he can catch up.” Looking over to Happy, who was still sitting on the couch and coddling his ukelele, she frowned deeply. “Time to put away your toys, Happy.” She said, pointing down into the Ice hold. “We’ve got ourselves a safe to open.”

Author's Note

Again, many thanks to Kkat for making this wonderful wasteland in the first place, and allowing us all to build our own adventures in it!

Chapter 18 - One step behind

If you don't like the answer, you shouldn't have asked the question.

So, as it turns out, safes that have been sitting in the ice for two centuries really don’t like to be opened easily.

Happy had to spend the last two and a half days of travel using the acetylene torch in an attempt to cut his way through the rusted deadbolts. Something that he said apparently takes a painstakingly long time to do for just one, and he’d only gotten through eight of the ten in there by the time the acetylene in the tank ran out. Worse still, was the fact that the entire time he was down in the hold working on it, Delilah had been hovering over his shoulder. Until the torch ran out of fuel, she was there, just watching and waiting for that safe to open.

Me however? I had it easy. Well, relatively easy at least.

While Violet was still in the last stages of recovering from her shrapnel wound, I’d taken on the brunt of the Recon duty. However, during that time, I’d noticed something odd as we left the mountains that Carmacks was nestled in. There was a wide break in the mountain range, and for the entire time we’d been on the road again, the highway we followed was just a single, uninterrupted straight stretch of land that probably went on until it hit the mountains on the edge of the horizon. The wide, brushless flat plains that stretched on for miles felt more like we were back on the ice cap again, rather than a few hundred miles south. However, it hadn’t been all boring, just for this stretch it was exceptionally bland.

During my time in the air leaving the Carmacks range, I’d seen a few interesting things. Another tribe of deer, with a few of them out hunting what I learned from the others was a Radbear. I saw another pack of Bramble wolves crossing a stream under a bridge the convoy went over. Most interestingly, I’d met a phoenix that had made it’s home in the charred remains of a burnt down lumber yard. It actually flew up with it’s chicks to say hello! While they seemed to be friendly, not attacking me or anything, I spent quite a bit of time trying to keep away from them. Mostly because even if they were friendly, they were still made of fire.

Hispano mostly laughed at me for acting so awkward, but I was just glad that she seemed to return to her normal, bubbly self. I knew that she still hurt inside, and that she wouldn’t give up on me. But, for the time being, I laughed with her, and enjoyed the little talks we had. However, there was always something she’d shy away from whenever our conversation drifted over to it as a topic. Just now returning from my break, I intended to ask her directly about it.

“Hey, Hispano?” I asked as I pulled up alongside her cloud, shaking off the discombobulated feeling the Dizzitron always left me with. “Why don’t you ever talk about your mom? Or your sister for that matter.” Perking my ears and listening, I found myself quietly flying without an answer. The silence that I was met with was odd. Normally her pep never kept her quiet more than a few seconds… “Hispano?”

“Hey!” She squawked excitedly from behind me.

I locked up, giving a whimpering gasp as I dipped a few feet through the air. Panicking, I flapped my crappy wings as hard as I could, and stiffened up my forelegs as they hung to re-stabilize myself. Looking back behind me, I watched as she zipped through the air, flying about outside of her cloud.

“What the hell are you doing out here!?” I snapped, looking back down to the convoy. Oh, this was bad! All it would take is for one of the others to look up and see her for this to have the potential of going incredibly wrong.

“Relax, Dum Dum.” She rolled her eyes and saddled herself up next to me. She beat her wings at a steady rate as she rolled herself around me through the air. “You have no idea how horrible it is to be cramped inside that cloud all day without a chance to so much as stretch your wings.” as she flew rings around me, she nodded and pointed to down below. “Besides, I thought you told me that the guy on the anti-aircraft mount knew that I was following.”

“I said Hardcase knew about you.” I grumbled and drifted over toward her cloud. “I never said he knew you were following us.” Saying that prompted her to roll her eyes at me. I knew that Hardcase wasn’t that dumb, and there was no way after Carmacks that he didn’t know she was following us. Still, the safer bet was on lying so she didn’t get any ideas of making good on her threat of shooting me... “So,” I raised my voice slightly. “Not going to answer my question then?”

Deadpanning, she leveled herself out and glared at me. “You know I don’t want to talk about my family.” Flaring her wings, she rolled herself over a few more times before ending up upside down. Cruising through the air backwards in a relaxed pose, a smirk found it’s way across her beak. “Something I’ve been meaning to ask you, actually.” She cocked an eyebrow at me. “What did you do with that white dress you wore for our date?”

“It…” I started to say softly. After I’d gotten back that night, Buck had given Violet a sedative to help keep her both from tossing in her sleep, and to keep her knocked out. What we did after she was asleep however, Buck had actually insisted I keep the dress on for. Though, along with my budding relationship with Buck, none of this was something I was going to disclose willingly to Hispano of course. “I think it’ll need a wash before I wear it again.”

“Eh,” She shrugged and rolled herself over into normal flight again. “I guess that makes sense.” Eyeing over me, she clicked her beak together in thought. “Why do you even like to wear something so restrictive anyway?” She asked, only giving a momentary pause before speaking up again. “I mean, past looking the part of being a mare.”

“I… just do?” Goddesses that was a good question. One that even though I’d had ample time to ponder, I could never come up with anything solid. That, or as Lilac said, I’d kept hiding it from myself without realizing it. “I just like the way they feel around me. How they grab onto me in all the right ways.” Even flying, the wind itself felt like it was my dress. Caressing along my body, holding me delicately, and making me feel more confident, even with my disability. Looking over to Hispano, I watched as she stifled a laugh with her Talon. “What?”

“You really do act the part of being a mare.” She giggled and gave my wing a nudge with her own. “Goddesses, I don’t know how you can like clothes. They're just pieces of dumb fabric.”

“Well, you and Buck seem to enjoy my dumb fab...” I said, gasping and biting on my tongue to shut myself up quickly. But it wasn’t quickly enough. I knew deep down that it was too late to fix anything my gabbing muzzle spat out the moment I’d said his name. Hispano just sat there blinking as my slipping out Buck’s name seemed to send her into momentary shock.

“Who…” Her eye twitched as she slowly looked over at me. “Who the hell is Buck!?”

“He’s the doctor…” I said, not really sure how to phrase it. Then again, you already screwed yourself, Night! Might as well just tell her everything. “He and I…”

She gasped, wearing a wide smile across her beak. “Oh. My. Goddesses.” She blushed, carrying more of an exuberant expression that I expected from her. “You two are fuckbuddies, aren’t you!?” She laughed at her crude, and might I add, wrong assessment of our relationship. “You and a Snow Dog of all things!? Wow!” Covering her eyes with her talon, she blushed brighter than I even was right now. “Oh, you had me worried there for a bit, Dum Dum!” She laughed so hard that she started to sink out of the air. “And here I thought this whole time you were a virgin!”

“And what’s so bad about thinking that!?” I flailed my hooves at her, momentarily dropping out of the sky. “It’s not like you’d have any experience with somepony.” Flaring my wings stiffly, I caught myself as she paused, looked at me, and then busted out laughing hysterically. “I don’t see what’s so funny.” I grumbled and tried not to think about her mocking me for the rest of the trip south.

“You think that I’m…?” She cackled as I deadpanned and simply waited for her to calm herself down. I knew what she was trying to insinuate, but the only way I’d ever believe she’d been with a pony, would be if someone like her dad told me she’d…

“You stay away from my daughter and go do your whoring someplace else.”

Shit, he had said that, hadn’t he…

“You can’t be serious.” The words slipped out of my muzzle as easy as every other time I’d ever tried to hold them in. “But… you’re how old!?”

“Old enough.” She gasped, recovering from her spout of laughter. “Goddesses, you ponies are all the same.” Feigning shock, she grabbed her face with her talons. “But… you’re too young. You can’t seriously be that naive, Night.” Rolling herself over, she flew right over on top of her cloud, landing on her back with a soft pomf. “Seriously, us Griffons do everything faster than ponies. Grow, fly, get stronger, mature. We do it all better too, if you didn’t already figure that part out. Besides, I never heard any of the stallions complain about it...”

“That’s not a valid reason.” I grunted. Buck’s advanced aging and mental development made sense to me, and I didn’t see any reason for him to lie about any of it either. Griffon’s however, I’d been taught about in school. They didn’t age any differently than we did, and while they were normally larger and stronger than your average pegasus, they weren’t all faster, and they weren’t all better.

“You need a reason why?” Hispano asked, perking up as she rolled over onto her stomach on top of the cloud. “Then you give me one.” She smirked. “Tell me why I can’t enjoy some quality time with any stallion I choose.” Closing her eyes, she sighed and took a little too much pride relaxing on top of her cloud.

“Because…” I spoke up, for once not finding any real way to phrase it. “Because you don’t yet know what you want?” Defaulting to what I’d said on our ‘date’ wasn’t really an all encompassing answer, but it was better than me telling her ‘because it’s just wrong’ as my entire argument. Even if it was one hundred percent correct.

“Listen up, Night, because I’m not going to say this again.” Hispano grunted, lowering her voice as she did. “My sister was known as the biggest whore in all of ‘Claw. Self proclaimed queen of her wing. Pissed my Dad off to no end to hear the stories of her ‘nighttime conquests’.” Her voice wavered as she talked, and even without knowing it, I’d drifted right up to the side of her cloud. “Do you know what Suiza told me when I asked her about it?”

“What?” I asked, reaching out and pulling myself onto her cloud.

“That every time she was flying with them on a job? Every time they got into a fight,” She whimpered, wearing a small smile as she did. “Each and every time she’d been in bed with her wingmates was all she could think about.” Looking at me, Hispano shrugged. “She knew that if that fight was their last, that she could die knowing that she’d at least used her time alive in the wasteland to the fullest.”

While I couldn’t really see that as a agreeable justification for what Hispano was trying to say, it’s something I couldn’t deny about myself. Now that I had Buck in my life, I’d wanted to spend every moment I could with him. I wanted to go to him every night and make it a night to remember. That’s what made me so afraid of losing him. And really, I have to be honest, I would probably have regretted it a whole lot more if I’d lost him before we spent some time in bed. I’d have just spent my time wondering what might have been had things turned out differently. And that’s not something I ever want to be forced to do.

“So then,” She said softly. Looking up at her, she blushed at me. “Even though you said you didn’t…” She pressed a digit of each talon together as she looked around nervously. “Maybe one of these days… we could... try it together? You know, just to see if you do like it?”

Rolling my eyes, I flared my wings, and let the wind up here peel me off of her cloud. While I’d just come back from a break, there’s been nothing out here other than flat, snow covered land. Just another few minutes of break maybe to let the awkwardness subside before coming back up again...

“I’ll take that as a maybe!” She called out excitedly as I flipped over in the air. Starting a soft glide back down to the hauler, I tried to ignore the loud, elated giggles she gave. Goddesses, why did she have to be so persistent?

After my normal few minutes of slow descent, I looked up and watched as Bessy continued on like normal in the lead. Lucky sat a bit further behind than usual in the Runner, but it was nothing to be worried about. And looking up at the Hauler as I approached, I frowned as I saw Hardcase standing at the side of his gun, his head propped up in his hooves as he watched me come down.

“Have a pleasant time up there with the cloud?” He called out with a wide smile. Even if he knew Hispano was following us, so long as he kept his muzzle shut about it, I’d take any amount of jesting he could throw at me. That, and two could play at that game.

“How is it sleeping all by yourself in that container?” I asked with as much of a sly grin as I could throw at him. Coming down a bit quicker than normal on my approach, I pitched myself up to give myself some time to drain some extra speed. That, and to be able to watch as Hardcase’s muzzle fell right into a deadpan. “Violet’s been such a great guest, I’m thinking of asking her to move in for good.”

Dipping down again, I guided myself toward the Rec Center floor. Coming in, I looked over to make sure that the hatch to the Ice hold was still shut before coming in for a landing. I only wanted to make the mistake of nearly killing a crew member once on this trip, thank you very much. However, as I did, I watched as the couch hopped across the floor a few inches in Hardcase’s magical grasp. Not far, but it was enough to catch my rear hoof and swing me down.

“Whoops!” Hardcase called out as I was pulled straight down onto the old, squeaky sofa cushions with a heavy whump. “Sorry about that.”

“Okay, that’s it! I’ll make both of you sorry.” Boilers groggy voice resonated incredibly well through her container. Pulling open the door, I was met with her angry, squinting eyes as she glared at me from the doorway. The polkadotted eye cover that hung lazily off one of her horns, slipped off as she gave out a sharp yawn while she continued. “I can’t hardly get a moment for a peaceful nap now and again ‘cause you’re all screaming your damn muzzles off the whole damn day!” Sharply pointing her hoof at me, she scrunched up her square muzzle tightly. “I already had a hard enough time sleeping last night with all the moving and shaking you and the Doc were getting up to. So could you maybe keep it down for a bit? Is that so much to freaking ask?”

“Oh don’t be so hard on ‘em, Hun.” Gearbox spoke through a yawn as he cuddled his way up the side of Boiler’s fuzzy form.

Wait…

“Gearbox, aren’t you supposed to be driving right now!?” I gasped, looking back behind us. It was hard with the great expanse of snowy nothing around us to find a reference point on the old paved road. However, the heavily faded yellow stripes on the old highway were still just visible enough to let me know that we were indeed still moving.

“Oh no…” Gearbox gasped, actually seeming worried. “What’s going on? We’re all doomed! Who’s driving this thing!?” He shouted almost comically before giving off a laugh I very much didn’t share. “Oh right, that would be me.” The drug fueled smile he normally wore returned to its regular, permanent look as he pushed past Boiler and out of their container. “Relax, Bertha’s on cruise control. This stretch of road doesn’t change direction for at least another hour.”

“Fifteen Minutes!” Hardcase called out from his post on top.

“See?” Gearbox yawned before he trotted over to the kitchenette and pulled out a bottle of water. Setting it onto the counter, he reached up into his rainbow bandana and pulled out a small tin container. “We’ve got plenty of time before I even need to worry about driving Bertha again.” Hoofing off the cap to the container, Gearbox pulled out a small white tab and set it on the counter. Opening the water, he hoofed in the tab and gave the bottle a small swirl. In a few moments, the tab had dissolved, and he greedily guzzled down the whole bottle.

Actually, his mention of the Hauler’s name prompted me to ask something that had been on my mind for a while now. Well, this whole trip, really. I just never had a good time to ask until now.

“So, why Bessy and Bertha?” I asked, pushing myself up on the couch, and getting to a comfortable seated position. “For convoy names, I mean.”

“No one’s told you the story yet?” Boiler asked, scrunching and scratching at herself on the back with her own horn. Looking at me for a moment, I shook my head. “Well, you see, Burro Industries wasn’t something that just Delilah’s family owned back during the war.” Finishing up with her scratching, Boiler walked out toward the kitchen and started messing around with the coffee maker. “Bessy and Bertha were two wealthy friend’s of Marcela Neddy, Delilah’s ancestor. The two were sisters, and heirs to a profitable Whinnyapolis cheese dynasty. Anyway, while Delilah’s family had done well for themselves on their own, when the war broke out, they all saw the potential profit it had for those who invested in it. So they went in together and founded Burro Industries. Made quite a lot of money for themselves doing so.”

“I… see?” I said, not really getting one point of it. “I get that the names were given to the convoy out of reverence, but…” It almost sounded absurd to think it was actually true. “Cheese dynasty?” I laughed. “What kind of dynasty is built on cheese?”

“Hey!” Boiler snapped as she scooped the coffee grounds into the filter. “We don’t make fun of cows in this family. It’s bad luck.”

“Wait, cows?” I spat. “I thought they were donkeys!” Now the whole cheese thing was making a bit more sense...

“Well they weren’t, so watch what you say.” Boiler grumbled as she put the filter in, slid the coffee pot into the maker, and flipped the switch. “Seriously, there’s some weird shit that always ends up going down whenever any of us would even so much as think something that could be taken as disrespectful of them. And I’m saying that as someone who doesn’t ever buy into that whole ‘everlasting meadow’ superstitious bullcrap you ponies are always going on about.” Chuffing, she shook her head. “Hah, afterlife. That’s rich.”

The radio crackled for a moment, getting all of our attentions. “Whoever can hear this, you might want to tune into the radio station right about now.” Delilah’s voice came in with more of an urgent tone than usual.

“I’ve got it.” Hardcase called as he strolled out of his room. Seriously! How the fuck was he always around to mess with the radio!? “One second…” He said, using his magic to flip the switch.

“More on that unfortunate news I was reporting to you all about earlier,” DJ PowerColt’s smooth voice seemed off, and he spoke with a bit more reverence than he normally did. “Reports are still coming in from way up north, but so far it seems like a convoy moving southward from the settlements of Klondike and Filly Crossing, have opened fire on the innocent ponies who inhabit them. In what can be considered the only thankful part of these unprovoked attacks, the convoy didn’t seem to slow down as they passed through, which limited both the damage they could cause, and lives they could affect. Still, no cause has yet to be found for these callous and barbarous attacks. But…” The DJ’s voice hung for a moment, a pregnant pause filling the dead air as we all sat on the edge of our seats. “It seems another report is in. Not even the Road Crew checkpoint south of Filly Crossing was able to slow them down, having been almost completely wiped out in the hostile convoy’s wake.”

“Goddesses…” I gasped, looking over to Boiler who looked at me with an annoyed glare.

“See, what did I tell you?” She grunted. “Shit always happens when you disrespect the cows.”

“Yeah,” Gearbox added, looking a bit off put from her remark, “though it’s odd. Normally it’s a bit delayed most of the time…” Shrugging, he went sat down and tossed his empty water bottle back into the cupboard.

“Consider this a public advisory issued to all southern settlements who belong on highway five to be wary of any convoy’s traveling southward in and around your areas, regular or otherwise.” The DJ almost sounded shook up, which only served to make it harder to process this. Was Solomon so desperate that he just opened fire on anypony who even tried to get them to stop? “As always, I’ll bring you more as I get it. But for now, let’s try to lighten such a dark mood with a little bit of…”

Hardcase’s magic flipped the radio off the normal band with a click. Bathed in silence, I don’t think any of us really knew what to say. However, the Mic glowed as it was wrapped in Hardcase’s magic, and he wore a serious look as he brought it up to his muzzle.

“What’s the call, Boss?” He asked, speaking with more than a hint of worry in his voice.

“Nothing about the plan has changed.” Delilah’s words came over the radio with a decisiveness about it. “We’re not the Convoy responsible for this, so we shouldn’t have any problems other than a few extra stops to be questioned is all.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Hardcase spoke up quickly, seeming a bit unnerved. Pausing, he looked around to each of us here before bringing the Mic up to his muzzle again. “If we keep following this route, Solomon is just going to use every settlement we pass through as target practice.”

“I understand the risk, Hardcase.” She called back, the crackle of static making her voice sound a bit off. “But if we change course now, we’d only slow our progress. There’s no guarantee that he wouldn’t just keep following the road to try to get ahead of us, and lie in wait for us at some point down the way. I won’t risk putting this crew in that sort of danger.”

“Yes, but Ma’am…” Hardcase spoke up, only stopping when a harsh squeal of feedback rang through the set.

“Alright, I want everypony to listen up.” Delilah snapped. “I understand that the ponies of the settlements ahead may not have asked for this sort of misfortune, but with that call out to them on the radio, they will be far from defenceless. Not to mention, traveling through them won’t be safe for Solomon either.” Her harsh voice seemed to beat back the static completely, pushing it into submission as her words came across the line with crystal clarity. “We still have a fair lead on him, and even the Road Crew are going to be trying to lock down things along the roads now. Our best bet, is to run this convoy as fast and far as we can, and hope that some lucky pony in one of these settlements has the enviable privilege of blowing that bastard to kingdom come when he shows up.”

With her sharp words still resonating in all of our ears, nopony even moved a muscle. Hell, I don’t even think any of us risked breathing. We all just sat there, waiting.

“Am I understood?” She seethed furiously over the radio.

Slowly, Hardcase brought the mic back up to his muzzle. “Yes, Ma’am.”

“Bessy, out.” She grunted before the radio gave out a burst of static and went silent.

I had nothing but respect for Delilah because of what she’d accomplished so far. Yes, I’d taken issue with how she went about hiding the real reason we were here. Still, I had to admire her for the fact that she’d orchestrated the secret well enough, that it took an outside variable like me to stumble upon it. I don’t think there was a single pony on this crew who doubted that whatever call she ever made for us was in our best interest. And as much as it was regrettable to admit, I couldn’t help but feel like this was the right call to make.

Still, hearing that Klondike had been attacked, hurt me to hear. I know that the place was a nightmare when we’d been there, but with Lilac Lace in charge, I’d hoped that they could do better now. How much of the disturbingly perfect little town did he put to ruin? How many lives did Solomon destroy? And for what? Some stupid boat? Delilah hadn’t even told us what was on the thing that made it so important. Granted, none of us had even asked…

Like I’d done when I wanted answers before, once we stopped again, I intended to ask Delilah to give us all a much deserved answer.

Following the highway as planned for another half hour, the road had started to curve southwest, skimming along the edge of what had been the far off mountain range. However, now that we were so close, I couldn’t even begin to comprehend how much space there really was between things up here.

“You okay, Dum Dum?” Hispano called out from inside her cloud again. “You’ve been awfully quiet recently.”

“Just having issues understanding why Solomon is doing what he’s doing.” I shook my head, keeping my eyes scanning along the treeline that skirted the southern side of the road. “Why is he even doing all this?”

“From what my dad said, some stupid old ship.” Hispano huffed as she tore a window into the side of her abode. Just behind her, I saw what looked like a large sparkle battery powered fan that was running on a low speed. Huh, so that’s how she keeps this thing going all the time. A bit like cheating if you ask me. Looking over at me, she shrugged and changed her gaze downward toward the convoy. “For what it’s worth, I don’t get it either.”

“Why’s that?” I asked, giving a few beats of my wings to offset the lack of thermals here. Pushing myself up above the height of her cloud, I flared my wings and began a slow glide again.

“Well, he’s supposedly a prince back in Saddle Arabia.” She said as she changed her gaze again and looked ahead down the road. “He’s got riches galore there. Why the hell would he spend all these caps just to find one ship that may or may not even exist?” Squinting, she scrunched her beak up. “Road Crew.”

“What do they have to do with Solomon?” I asked, watching as she deadpanned and pointed down the road. I could barely make out the faintest semblance of something on the road almost along the horizon up ahead. “How can you even see that from here?”

“Because I’m amazing, Duh.” She huffed and pulled herself back into her cloud. “You should tell your friends that even though it’s road maintenance, and not a check point, they’re going to want to stop for them anyway with what’s been going around on the news.”

Huh, so she’d been listening in as well then. Regardless, she had a good point, and I dipped down toward the Hauler. Looking ahead toward the specks on the horizon, I felt my stomach twist into a knot. I knew it wasn’t good to be this on edge, but I couldn’t help but be worried that something was about to go wrong. Maybe what I’d said about the Cows really could get us into some trouble...

“Hey, something’s up.” I called out to Hardcase as I bypassed him. Flaring my wings once I dipped over the front of the Hauler, I lined myself up with Bessy. Coming in a bit fast, I flaired myself at the last moment and dropped down onto the top of the wheeled zebra apc with a heavy thunk. Almost immediately, one of the small optic mounts on the turret spun around toward me. After another moment, the top hatch on the turret popped open.

Howitzer hoofed off a cloth helmet as he looked up at me through the open turret top. “What’s going on?” His grunting speech was just barely loud enough to beat out the thrumming engine inside the tank with them. Geeze, how loud was this thing inside there!?

“Road Crew up ahead a few miles.” I called out, pointing in the general direction of them. “Supposedly it’s maintenance, but we should probably stop for them anyway.”

“What?” Howitzer shouted, cupping his ear with his hoof. “I can’t hear you. Climb in if you want to talk!” How the fuck did that make any sense? Still, he waved for me to come in before hoofing his helmet back on, and I figured I might as well. If he said it would be quieter on the inside, then who the fuck was I to argue.

Climbing down into the cramped turret, as soon as I’d gotten in enough, I pulled the hatch closed behind me. Of course, that had the opposite effect as intended, as the heavy thumping from the alchemy powered reactor that sat right under the seat I was in pulsed right into my skull. Howitzer’s hoof roughly shoved something at me, and looking down at it. Pressed firmly against my leg, I found a cloth hat like the one Howitzer once again wore gripped in his hoof. Rolling my eyes, I took it and put the cloth hat on. As soon as I’d pulled it down over my head, a sharp silence met my ears. So immediately did all sound drop off around me in fact, that it was almost disorienting.

“There’s a transmission talisman in the head flap snap button.” Howitzer spoke at a respectable volume, his voice crisp and clear in my ears. “Secure it to activate it, so you can tell us just why you’re here.”

Buttoning the flap like I was asked, I spoke up. “There’s a group of Road Crew up ahead.” I said, turning and looking towards the front of the vehicle. Delilah hunched further over her driving controls as she heard the words. “We should stop for them, let them know we’re the good guys.”

“Howitzer?” Delilah asked over the headset. “Are you at your post?” Reaching up, she grabbed a leaver on the ceiling above her and yanked it back. When she did, the two square front windows darkened as armored plates dropped down over them. Only thin, bright slits let the light in, and I had to wonder just how Delilah could even see out of the small ports.

“No,” He shook his head and gave me an annoyed look. “Bombay’s in my seat.”

“Bombay,” Delilah said, looking back at me with a stern glare. “can you please use the commander’s optics to see if you can get a better look at what’s ahead?” Looking down at the controls around my seat, I was surprised to see about a hundred or so different buttons. All of them either had words that had faded away with time, or were in what I assumed to be the zebra language. “Do you see a big square green button next to a set of four toggles to your right?” She asked.

It took me a second to find, but I picked it out pretty easily with her description. Hitting the button, I froze up as the seat, the turret, and what felt like the whole damn vehicle spun around. With a jarring stop, I found myself staring at a molded pad that looked to be where you’d put your head. Leaning forward, I shoved my face against it, and found myself presented with a surprisingly stable view of the road ahead.

“Okay, now there should be a hoof switch on the side of the optics you’re using. Go ahead and press it upward.” She spoke into my ear. I wasn’t sure how she could know how to use every piece of equipment in this convoy down to this button, but I guess that’s what she has to know as a leader. Reaching up and feeling along the side of the optic mount, I found the switch without issue. Pressing up on it, my view magnified. Not just a couple times, but to the point to where I could see the fact that the hardhat wearing crew ahead, had a blue circle painted instead of a green triangle or red diamond. In fact, one of them was plastered to their own tripod stabilized optic, looking straight down the road toward us.

“Up ahead, I see quite a few ponies moving about.” I watched as more than a few of them darted about quickly. They were setting up wooden barriers with flashing orange lights in the middle of the road. Various carts and small motorized wagons were parked on the side of the road, and there was an enormous grey and black rectangle that sat in the middle behind them. “They’ve got a lot of ponies out there, and what looks like work equipment.”

Shifting myself against the padded optic rest, the optic changed its angle ever so slightly. I panned over across the road, finding more than a few of the workers laying prone on the road with various weapons propped in their hooves.

“They know we’re coming, and they’re armed.” I said, tilting my head over the other way. Slowly the optic swung my view back across the road. There, standing off to the side and talking to three stallions with flags on their helmets, was Galina. She stood, pointing and nodding in our direction. “Yeah, Galina is there. I think she’s trying to use them against us.” I really didn’t want to have to fight these ponies over a lie. They were just trying to do their job! We were just trying to do ours!

“Shit.” Delilah cursed under her breath. “Okay then. What’s their offencive capabilities? I need to know if we can make a break for it around them.”

“Just ponies with rifles,” I spoke up, distinctly remembering that Hardcase had said not to try to run past them. “Nothing else.”

“No, look again.” Delilah snapped at me. “They’d never run road maintenance this far out from Destruction Bay. Not without one of the union reps with them, at least. Doubly so with the news from the north.”

“There’s nothing though.” I said, swinging the optic around. Pulling down with my hoof, I was forced to zoom out as we started to draw ever closer. “Other than a few carts and wagons, there’s nothing.” I stopped as I looked at the giant grey and black rectangle again. “Unless a big, grey rectangle in the middle of the road is something, I’m not seeing anything else.”

“Shit, it’s Double Drum.” She hissed through her mic. “Howitzer, do you have any HESH rounds in storage?”

“Only one right now, Ma’am.” Howitzer spoke without even needing to look. “I’m going to need more if we plan on fighting our way through him.” Well, using Bessy’s cannon was his one job, so he’d know better than anypony.

“I don’t understand,” I called out. Without warning, I felt as Howitzer hit a button next to me. The whole setup spun again, ripping me away from the optics mount. “Who’s Double Drum?”

“He’s the current Union rep for Destruction Bay. He protects the roads around here.” Delilah answered promptly. “Bombay, I need you back on Bertha and set up to run some HESH ammo over here as fast as possible. Understand? We take him down, the rest of them won’t be able to stop the convoy.”

Nodding, I didn’t understand really, but I looked up and pushed the turret’s hatch open anyway. The blisteringly cold wind outside rushed in with an odd silence to it. Flicking the button off the tanking hat, I pulled it off and was immediately bombarded by the incredible noise inside the vehicle. Using it as a powerful motivator, I scrambled up out of the turret, and flared out my wings.

Galloping the few steps toward the front of Bessy, I flapped hard and used the speed of the vehicle to help grant me some extra lift. Pulling up into the air easily, I curved myself around and aimed for the reactor deck. Giving a few flaps, I knew I’d struggle to get my altitude up enough to make the deck at all, so speed was a secondary concern. Shifting my forelegs as I banked around, I hammered my wings down at the air.

Coming in, I drifted as the sidewind coming along from the moving mass of Bertha pushed me back. With nothing more than a small nudge against the metal walkway, I got my hooves firmly planted next to the Ice hold door.

“Boiler!” I called out as I trotted forward toward the arms cage. “We’re going into a fight here soon! I need you to ready some HESH rounds for Bessy.” Trotting into the cage, I started to strip off my battle saddle. Funny how comfortable I was wearing it now. Just a week of wearing it and I was so used to it that I almost didn’t feel the chafing anymore! Reaching forward, I grabbed at the hanging cannon shell harness on the wall.

“HESH?” Boiler called out as she squeezed past me. “Are you sure that’s what my brother wants?” Turning around, she gave me a confused look.

“All I know is two things. One, is that I don’t even know what the fuck HESH even means.” Speaking as I moved, I quickly stuck my hooves into the rigging and used my wings to pull it up over me. “And two, that Delilah told me to run HESH ammo over to them.”

“That was all you needed to say, dude.” She rolled her eyes and spun around. Looking at the well secured rack of various shells, she looked over them for a moment before she hoofed out ones with bright yellow tips on them. “These are always live, but won’t go off unless you give them a hard hit on the nose.” She grunted, Pulling the shell out of its rack and curling it under her foreleg. “So don’t go ramming anything with it.”

“Noted.” I said as I shimmied the shell sling up over me, and bent my wings back to slip the clasps shut. As soon as I’d done that, I felt as Boiler moved beside me and slid the shell into the holster. Immediately I remember just how fucking cumbersome these things were. With a heavy snap, she secured the latch that held it in place. She gave me a pat on the side and moved out of my way.

Turning, I got a running start toward the open side of the deck. Flaring my wings, I jumped when I hit the edge. The air caught me, and I banked myself around toward the front of the hauler. It was about then that I’d remember just how hard I’d come down on Bessy. Moving my forehooves forward, I pitched myself into a shallow dive towards the rolling APC.

“Please don’t smack this shell into them…” I muttered under my breath to myself, tweaking my legs and wings in synch to try to mitigate everything. However, thanks to the weight of the shell slung under me, I slowed down enough that I landed safely on the roof with a gentle tap.

Trotting up to the still open hatch, Howitzer poked up and reached under me. He gave a quick flip of the release mechanism, and the round dropped right into his waiting hooves. Giving me a firm nod, he pointed back to the Hauler again. Okay, one trip down… only a bunch more to go!

Repeating my takeoff procedure, I again lifted into the air without too much of an issue. However, looking ahead down the road, I found that what had once been only a speck, had grown large enough that the towering grey and black monolith in the middle of the road, and to some extent the accompanying ponies, were fairly easy to pick out.

Flying myself back over to the Reactor deck, I wanted to say that my landing had improved as much as the one to Bessy had. However, without the added weight of my battle saddle, I came in too fast and smacked against the side of Bertha above the walkway. Shaking off the hit, I turned and trotted over to find Boiler already waiting with another shell.

“Who are we fighting?” She asked, hefting the round up as she walked it to my side again.

“Some Road Crew guy named Double Drum.” I answered, feeling as she froze up for a moment with the round half secured. “Who is this guy anyway?”

“He’s got the toughest machine out of all of the Union reps!” She growled as she hefted the heavy round into it’s place in the harness. “A steamroller up-armored with literally tons of concrete to make him a mobile bunker. Almost makes it completely invulnerable to any sort of attack.” Firmly latching the harness around the round, she took a step back. “He can wait out any attack and leisurely pick off targets with his anti-machine rifles from his gun slits. He’s got them everywhere but the rear, which means we need to get past him to get safe.” Giving me a pat on the side, she frowned. “Though, while he might have an issue getting through Bessy and Bertha’s front armor, once we pass him, our soft backsides offer almost no protection.”

“Here’s hoping your brother can end this quickly then.” I grunted, turning so I could run toward the edge of the deck again. As I did, the resounding CLANG of something hitting the front of the Hauler filled the air. Both Boiler and I cringed as we heard it, pausing before we both ran toward the edge of the deck and looked around the front.

We barely saw the flash from the large rectangle in time when another clang from the front of the hauler filled the air. Shit, He’d already started shooting!? As Boiler and I pulled ourselves back, we jumped as a purple mass dropped to our sides.

“Ow, ow! We really need to put a ladder here.” Hardcase whimpered as he shook at his hooves one at a time. “Jumping down here is never fun…”

“Better than getting shot by an anti-machine rifle, I bet!” Boiler laughed before another clang made us all cringe. However, after only a moment, the resounding blast of Howitzer’s cannon filled the air. Thankfully, being where I was on Bertha had muffled the sound of his gun a bit compared to the last few fights, and only left a mild ringing in my ears. Stepping back up to the edge of the deck, both Boiler and I peeked around the side again.

A large cloud of grey smoke wafted away from the imposing machine. As it cleared, I squinted and found that only a small chunk of the concrete had been blasted away, and dark metal bars sat in the shallow hole on the front of his machine.

“Shit, it’s reinforced concrete on the front!?” Boiler groaned, squinting as hard as I was to see at this distance. As she did, another flash from the box pre-empted a whistling screech from above. Sparks flew as a large round ricocheted off the armored side of the hauler above us. The two of us didn’t need to be told twice to quit looking.

“Wait!” Hardcase shouted. Nearly leaping on me, he wore a crazy look across his face. “Bombay, you need to get back to Lucky and have him throw you as high as he can into the air!”

Blinking, I nodded slowly. “Okay…” I was really hoping that he wasn’t expecting me to do a repeat performance of what happened on the ice sheet. Because I really didn’t want to push my luck with that again. Even though I’d thought it might have been a good idea against the Bramble Wolves, these ponies had guns, and could easily retaliate if I happened to miss...

“Better yet, get him to turn and throw you towards Double Drum.” He yelled, shaking me as he laughed like a maniac. “Then you need to come right down on top of him like you did with the Yaks.”

I fucking called it!

“That could work!” Boiler laughed as well before we all cringed as another heavy clang resonated off the front of the Hauler. “He wouldn’t have reinforced the top! With griffons and pegasi having been so few and far between before the sky opened, why would he even need to!? You could put that round right into his cab in one go!”

It made some semblance of sense to me, sure. However, it didn’t really make me feel any more confident about doing it. Last time I tore up my hooves pretty badly. This time, even if I get away unscathed, I’m going in against a dozen ponies with guns that will be bad news for me if I happen to miss.

“You have to do this, Bombay.” Hardcase nodded to me. “You can do it. I believe in you.”

“I’d better not fucking die.” I grunted, taking a few steps back. Boiler and Hardcase each stepped back as well, clearing the path for me. “But if I do, Hardcase...”

He nodded. “I’ll tell him.” Offering a soft smile, he pointed out into the open. “Now go, we don't have much time.”

As I ran, Howitzer’s second and last HESH shot fired off. If anything, the blast would give me cover against the anti-machine rifle and normal gunfire that was coming in droves now. Pushing off, I flared my wings and immediately rolled myself toward the rear of the Hauler. Zipping past the gigantic rolling wheels, I almost missed Lucky as he sat with the Runner riding on the Hauler’s ass underneath Laika’s spacepod. Banking again hard, I curved and lined myself up for a landing.

With a heavy slam, I came down into the bed of the Runner. My momentum carried me forward, but rather than risk the weapon under me, I lowered my head down. With a heavy thwack, I rammed my head against the Dizzitron and came to a stop. Rubbing at my head, I moved over to the driver's side of the vehicle and hammered my hoof at it.

“Lucky!” I called out, pulling his confused look back to me. “I need you to fling me as high as you can! Preferably towards the upcoming Road Crew.”

Franticly, he nodded and stepped on the breaks, moving us into a better launch position. As I moved over toward the Dizzitron’s harness, I lifted myself to fit into it before I found a serious flaw in the plan. Wearing the harness with the shell strapped under me, made me too big to fit in any way but sideways. However, as another Anti-Machine rifle round pinged off the Hauler, I decided to buck it and loaded myself in sideways anyway, facing the center of the wheel.

As soon as I was in, the motor came to life as Lucky pulled us further back from the Hauler. The flat white plains on one side of the highway quickly blurred into the thick green treeline and slate grey mountains on the other as the motor spun faster and faster. I could feel as the force of the spinning pressed me further and further back against the side of the harness, the extreme weight of the shell against my chest sandwiching me against it. The odd sensation of being pulled to the side made the blurred world shift. For a moment among the quickly spinning background, I thought I could make out the blurred giant rectangle shape before what little color was there drained away, and my eyes began to feel heavier and heavier.

Stay awake, Night. You have to stay… I thought to myself before the whining and oddly pitched ping of the release mechanism met my ears. Everything went white as I felt myself go weightless. The muffled sounds of gunfire in my ears were all I could focus on for the moment. The bright light shifted away, and sensation returned to my body as the weightlessness ended, and the full weight of the artillery shell decided to make itself known again.

Flaring my wings out, I felt as they bowed and stressed to catch the air. Shaking off the dizzy feeling as best I could, I realized that I was much higher than Lucky normally threw me with the Dizzitron. Stiffly sticking out my forehooves, I stabilized myself, and looked around to get my bearings. Looking back, I saw Lucky bringing the runner back onto the road from the snowy plains. He quickly ducked back behind the safety of the Hauler, which was for some reason now quite far behind me. It seemed that I’d drifted a bit farther than I’d expected to get thrown.

But wait, that would mean that right below me was…

Looking down, I was right over the massive concrete machine. And when I say massive, I mean that I’ve seen houses smaller than this thing! As Boiler had told me, it was pretty much a giant bunker that took up most of the road just on it’s own! While most of it was a grey rectangle from up here, I did notice a square of black behind the steepled concrete cab. Steaming exhaust poured out from the dark, cutout section of the rear armor, and I was pretty sure I was now looking at the exhaust manifold for the engine it used.

If I could just get the shell to hit it right in there, I could disable the whole thing altogether! He wouldn’t be able to follow us, and Double Drum or the other road crew with him didn’t have to die! Well, hopefully they wouldn’t die from the blast itself, but I had to risk it...

With a smile, I tweaked my wings, and rolled myself over. Pulling my head up, I curved downward from my inverted position and snapped my tail in line behind me stiffly. Dropping into a completely vertical dive, I used my forelegs, tail, and even flicks of my ears to make small adjustments. A little correction now would make all the difference at the target.

Confident in my trajectory, I snapped my tail to the side to offset my forehoof moving up to the latch. With nothing left to do but pray to Celestia that I got things right, I gave the latch a stiff flick. I rolled my wings back a bit, flaring them to slow my descent ever so slightly. As I’d hoped, the heavy cannon round slipped clear of the harness, and into freefall.

It was about this point that I was confident in the arc that the round was taking. However, I’d gotten going a bit faster downwards than I’d wanted, and I needed to start pulling up… like right now.

Holding my wings out stiffly, I rotated them to catch as much air as I could. Arcing my tail, pushing my forehooves forward, and even curving my back, I tried to drag myself up to get level. Thankfully, unlike last time, I started to actually see a difference as I curved upward. Zipping over the heads of the construction ponies who were far too focused on the dropping bomb, my muzzle split into the widest smile I’d ever had. I skimmed about ten feet above the ground as I leveled out, quickly zipping through the air back toward the hauler. I’d… I’d done it!

A flash from behind caught my eye. The blast of the bomb behind me came only a moment later, and while the blast wave hit me hard, I found it a whole lot easier to deal with than half the winds and explosions I’d encountered before. Coming around toward the reactor deck, the ringing in my ears started to subside, and I found both Hardcase and Boiler’s face light up at seeing me.

However, that’s when everything went painfully and unsurprisingly wrong.

Something hit me, hard. Not enough to knock me out of the sky, but enough to shift my course slightly. On top of that, it forced me to lock up completely as my body screamed at me that I was now for some reason, in bad shape. The world quietly drained of color to become a muted grey again as I think shock took over, and I felt like I was put on autopilot.

Pretty much, I stopped thinking. My wings carried me up toward the reactor deck, but I wasn’t in control anymore. I knew something was wrong, but I couldn’t for the life of me understand what it was, or even check myself over. My vision was glued on the wide eyes of Hardcase and Boiler as I came in for a touchdown, and it prompted a couple of weird thoughts into my empty mind.

I wondered what was wrong, and when I’d become numb all over. Also, did I always feel this cold? I was pretty sure I wasn’t supposed to feel this cold. How did this even happen to me? Maybe it was because of what Boiler had talked about? Because I disrespected the cows?

I just don’t know what went wrong...

As I came down hard onto the reactor deck, the world tumbled and became fuzzy like the last time I’d dropped a shell on the Ice sheet. The world’s spin didn’t end as I rolled to a stop onto the reactor deck of the Hauler, and just like with had happened with the Yaks, the darkness clawed at my vision as I was slowly carried off into the land of thoughtless black nothingness…

Waking up from what felt like a blissful slumber, I found the most pleasurable warm pressure on my lips. As my other senses came back, I heard as Buck’s rhythmic breathing matched with the feel of his warm fur against my chest. Opening my eyes slowly, I found his sad looking expression brighten as he pulled off of the kiss he’d been giving me.

“Hey…” I said softly, feeling like I’d missed something important recently. Like… how I’d gotten here. But, as soon as he smiled, all of my worries drifted off into nothingness.

Glancing around, I found myself back home. I was in our container, lying on Buck’s bed. In another familiar turn of events, again, I had no idea how I’d gotten here. However, it didn’t actually matter so long as I had Buck with me.

“Hey.” He said softly, sitting up slightly. “How… do you feel?”

“I…” I paused, trying to find an answer for that. I felt great being so close to him again, but I didn’t think that’s what he was asking about. “Everything’s kind of murky in my head for some reason.” I went to sit up, but found him move to hold me down. As he did, I couldn’t really feel him pressing against me. “Everything’s numb.” Oh goddesses… why can’t I feel things?

“Try not to sit up.” He nodded and spoke up softly. “The numbness is just the painkiller working, nothing to worry about.”

“What… what happened?” My head didn’t so much hurt, more like I felt like my thoughts had to wade through the thickest kind of muck to even get through.

“We surrendered to Double Drum, and he ordered us to turn ourselves over one by one.” Buck spoke softly, reaching up and running a claw along the side of me face. He gave a light laugh as he looked at me. “The others said that you should have seen Galina go white as a sheet when Hardcase was the first to turn himself over.” Losing his smile, he shook his head. “She tried to attack him again, and the Road Crew held her off. When it was clear that she’d lied to them about us, they turned on her completely.”

“Is she…” I asked, starting to feel something creep back into my mind. Oh, right, the burning hatred I held for that griffon.

Buck sighed and gave a shake of his head. “No, she got away.” Leaning forward, he gave a soft kiss on my nose as he smiled again. “Good news though. Thanks to you, Double Drum cleared our name, and we made it to Destruction Bay earlier this afternoon.”

“Thanks to me?” I asked, trying to remember what he was talking about. “I was… flying. I rolled over and dove on his bunker-thing.” Squinting actually helped me focus a bit, and I remembered what I was doing. “I aimed for his engine instead of the cab. To knock him out of the fight without killing him…”

“And you succeeded. You found a way to end the fight without bloodshed.” Buck’s warm smile only lasted for a moment before his eyes drifted. “He… regrets not doing the same. As soon as he learned about Galina, he apologized profusely for shooting you.” I remembered getting hit by something, and that’s when everything went black.

“What happened to me?” I gasped lightly, opening my eyes wide as I looked up to Buck. Reaching up, I grabbed onto his shoulders. “Am I alright?” However, the moment I did, I found myself thrust back down into the bed by Buck’s powerful arm.

“Night, settle down.” He sighed, looking away from me. “You need rest right now.” He was deliberately avoiding answering me, and it made a pit grow in my stomach that I could still feel through the painkillers.

“Why won’t you tell me what’s wrong?” I growled and pushed up against his pinning grasp.

“Because you won’t like the answer you find.” Delilah spoke up from the other side of the container. When I craned my head up as much as I could, I expected to see the normal Stoic look worn across Delilah’s face. However, the one that met me could only be described as regretful. “Listen to Buck, Night.” She spoke in a tone that was filled with disappointment. “Focus on getting rest. You’ve done enough for now.”

“More than enough.” Violet spoke up. Looking over, I found her propped up on my bed. The stitches across her chest were gone, and past some pink scarring, she looked to have made a mostly full recovery. “Just do what the Doc says.”

“You just need to stop worrying and save your strength.” Sitting up, Buck reached over toward his desk and grabbed something I couldn’t see. Lifting it up in front of himself, he used one of his claws to flick at a syringe a few times. “Alright, I’m going to let you get some more rest now. Sound good?”

Nodding, I gave him a nervous smile as I looked at the large needle. Turning and looking behind him, he let go of my chest and pushed the syringe into the IV that I could only guess ran over to me. I whined as I started to feel woozy again, and closed my eyes as exhaustion set in. Then, I drifted off to sleep without any worries at all.

Chapter 19 - Shorelines and Setbacks

The most important leg of a four legged stool, is the one that's missing.

My eyes shot open as I let out a light gasp. Looking up at the metal ceiling above me, I blinked a few times in confusion. Turning my head, I felt as the pillow under it was matted with sweat. However, looking over toward Buck’s terminal, I found his chair empty, and the terminal screen dark.

The sound of sizzling food from through the open door to the Rec area filled the container, and shortly after, the delicious smell of cooking vegetables met my nose. Bringing my forehooves out from under the blanket draped over me, I rubbed at my eyes, trying to force myself to stay awake this time. Looking at my forehooves, I stopped to admire at the deep blue of them for a moment. I’d wondered if over time they’d get lighter, but looking at them now, I guessed that they’d be a deeper blue than my coat forever. Giving off a soft groan, I froze and perked my ears.

“So,” Buck’s voice resonated clearly through the open air, “you’re sure you saw Night walking through the market?”

“Yeah.” Hardcase grunted. “Same guy who showed up in Carmacks, I’m sure of it.” He spoke, making the bench by the radio creak as he shifted on it. “I wish that he’d stop copying ponies from our convoy.”

Wait, copying!?

“Hey!” I called out to them, throwing the quilted blanket off of me and scrambling to get out of bed. “You guys are talking about Salt, rig…” That was about as far as I’d made it before I went crashing down to the container floor.

“Shit!” Hardcase gasped before he bolted inside. His magic wrapped around me and helped to push me back up to my hooves. “Bombay, are you alright?” Looking at me, he held his hoof out for me to grab. I felt light headed for a moment, and kept a tight hold of his hoof until it passed.

“Yeah, just still a bit woozy I guess.” I laughed, looking up as Buck came in. “Hey, what’s for…” I tried to say and walk over to him, but found myself flat on my face for a second time. Instead of Hardcase’s magic, Buck’s enormous paw scooped under me and pulled me up off the floor.

“Night,” Buck whined before pulling me close against his chest. “I… I’m so sorry.” He whimpered, squeezing me in the most awkward manner.

“What’s going on?” Pushing against him, I couldn’t deny that I loved being this close to him, but this was a bit much. “You’re acting really strange.” Looking as he pulled his head back for a moment, he gave me a worried and disappointed glance at me. Gazing into his eyes, I locked up. “Okay, Buck, you’re scaring me.”

“You… can’t feel it?” Hardcase struggled to get out.

“What?” I asked. What was this, wasteland national riddle day? “Guys, what’s...” Shifting myself in Buck’s coddling hold, I stopped halfway around as only part of me swung over. Looking down, I stared at myself, finding an asymmetrical shape sitting in my vision. I wiggled my rear left hoof against Buck’s fur, and watched it move. But when I went to wiggle my right… only empty air sat where it should have been.

“You were hit above the hock with a shot from Double Drum’s Anti-Machine rifle.” Buck spoke softly. “I did my best to save what I could, but…” Staring at the patchy sky blue fur that covered the mostly bandaged stump, I almost couldn’t believe it. Trailing dark pink lines of scar tissue ran out from under the bandages, pointing down to where the rest of my leg once sat. Immediately it made me think I was looking not at my own leg, but simply the scars that ran on both Lucky and Gearbox’s stumps. “I only ended up saving part of your leg. I’m sorry.” Buck sighed.

It was just… gone. Blinking a few times, I stared at where my right hind leg should be, but it was just… gone. My chest tightened, and I felt my throat tighten up with it. It was becoming harder to breathe, and I reached over for Buck to help me.

He lifted me up, pulling me closer into his neck as he ran his paw up and down my back.

“It’s alright, everything’s fine, Night.” He spoke into my ear as I started to hyperventilate.

“No, it can’t just be gone, not like that.” Surely I would have remembered losing it! “This is all just some sort of bad joke! Right?” I asked, pressing myself against Buck’s neck as even though I tried to convince myself it wasn’t real, now that I’d seen it, I could feel that nothing was where my leg was supposed to be. “Right?”

Whimpering turned into tears as I sat there with the truth plainly in my mind. Crying out, I pressed myself against Buck as hard as I could and just let go. Why? Why did this have to happen to me? I lost my home. I lost my parents. Now I’d lost my leg. Why does everything keep getting taken from me? What the fuck did I do to deserve this!?

“It’s alright.” Buck said softly, walking us over to his bed. “Just let it all out, it’s perfectly normal.” Listening as he held me tightly against himself, that’s what I did. “It’ll be okay, Night.” He said softly before turning us around. Sitting down onto his bed, he rolled and laid down so I’d be on top of him. “We’re going to get through this.”

“What do you mean we.” I snapped at him, still burrowing my muzzle against his matted chest. This was my problem. I was the one with the fucking missing leg! I… that... I shouldn’t have said it like that. He’s done nothing but helped me at every turn. He doesn’t deserve that. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it...” I whined, feeling as he reached up and brushed his claws through my mane.

“It’s okay, I understand.” He sighed, taking deep breaths as he spoke. “You’ve been through so much, Night.” He whispered to me, drawing back my mane from around my face. “You’re such a strong pony. You can’t let this bring you down.” Reaching up, he pressed a claw under my chin and pulled it up. Looking up at him, I found his bright blue eyes streaming tears down his own cheeks. “I can’t bear to see you like this, Night. I want you to be every bit as happy as you’ve made me.”

I whimpered, grabbing around him tightly. “Please just… stay with me.”

“I don’t ever want to leave you, Night.” He smiled and leaned forward. Planting a small kiss on my forehead, he held me in his arms. I pressed myself against his warm fur, and prayed for this to be nothing more than another bad dream that I could wake up from, and go back to my boring old life again...

It had been another hour or so of me pressed into Buck’s hold before I’d felt like the shock from seeing my… stump, started to wear off. The others in the convoy had apparently all left to go do some errands in Destruction Bay, and had left Buck and I all to ourselves on Bertha. Part of me felt like my crying and whimpering had been too pathetic for them to watch, but I couldn’t say that. Not when the others had become the closest thing I’d felt to family outside of mom and dad.

Sitting in Buck’s warm grasp however, I knew that this must have weighed heavily on him. Knowing what he had to do, trying as hard as he had to save what he could. All on the pony that he’d grown the closest to on this crew. I owed him a debt that was more than I’d ever be able to repay in a thousand lifetimes. Yet, all I could think, was that he deserved better than a three legged pegasus who couldn’t fly well…

“Hey.” He whispered into my ear. Softly rubbing along my back, he looked down at me with his caring gaze. “Don’t you ever think that you’re not anything more than I could ever want.”

“What…?” I froze up on him. How did he… I… can he read my mind!?

Buck gave a soft chuckle. “No, I can’t read your mind,” He said before scrunching up his muzzle. “If that’s what you were thinking.” Running his claws over my feathers, he softly sighed as he nuzzled me. “You tend to have an odd twitch to your ears whenever you seem down about yourself.”

“Figures.” I groaned and drove my muzzle against his fuzzy chest. “Everypony else seems to know who I am but me.” Wriggling against him, I did my best to push myself up to a sitting position on him. Without any effort at all, he reached around me and helped to prop me up. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be so ungrateful. I should just enjoy what I still have and not worry about who I am.”

“Nonsense.” Buck snorted and reached up toward my mane. Running a claw through it, he pulled it around from my ear and let it flop down across half of my face again. “You’re still young, Night. Figuring out who you are just comes with maturing into an adult, and that will come in it’s own time.”

“You don’t understand, Buck.” Flaring my wings slightly, I looked back at the messy feathers that hadn't been preened in almost a month. Raising my hoof, I pushed back my mane which hadn’t been washed in just as long. “I don’t know why I like my mane this length. Why my wings are so screwed up…” Turning back to him, I was met with a disheartened frown on it. “Why I even prefer stallions in the first place.”

“You’d rather not?” He asked. Looking up I watched as he scrunched his muzzle up the same way mine probably does when I blurt something out.

“I… I don’t know.” Shaking my head, I sighed. Seriously, why couldn’t I ever seem to sort myself out? Maybe it’s normal to be this way, and I’m just overthinking it? If that was the case, I just wish I knew so I didn’t feel so damn confused all the time.

“If you don’t know, then what does it matter?” Reaching a claw up, he gently used it to hold my muzzle in place as he leaned forward and gave me a soft kiss. “So long as you’re happy, you’ll grow at your own pace. Just… do what feels right, and one day, you’ll understand just why that is.”

I laughed at that. “You sound like my Mom when I asked her about cutie marks.” And from one depressing topic to another. “Seriously, that’s not how it…” Moving so I could take a look at my boring blue flank, I froze. “Wha…?” It seemed it wasn’t so blank any more.

I… had a cutie mark. I got my cutie mark! I… didn’t know what it was? It was sort of hard to tell looking at it in this orientation, but it sort of looked like a protractor from back in school, with a bomb sitting under it.

“Hardcase said that it was some sort of crude bombsight.” Buck sounded more than disappointed when he spoke, though I could tell that he tried to hide it from me. “Something like what they used in the early days of the war.” He forced a smile as I looked back up to him, giving out a short laugh. “Guess Violet was right after all. It might not have been with the Yaks, but you did end up getting your cutie mark from bombing.”

“Your marefriend got it for her superb bombing accuracy.” A stallion with a coat as black as the asphalt roadway, and a shoulder length flowing mane that was the color of ivory stood outside our container. He smiled nervously as he stepped through the door and up to the end of Buck’s bed. He was lean for an earth pony, but by the way he shifted on his hooves, I could see he was well toned. “At least, I hope she did. Otherwise she didn’t mean to miss my cab with that shell.”

“Double Drum?” I asked, watching as Violet poked her head up behind him and nodded. “You’re right. I didn’t want to kill you just because Galina lied to you. I only wanted to keep you from following us.”

He grunted with a smirk. “Well I’ll be damned.” Turning back toward Violet he pointed at me with a short laugh. “She’s as damn humble as you said.” Shaking his head, he rolled his neck to swing his long mane to the side. “I wish I could say I’d been the same after you knocked out my road roller.” With a sigh, he reached up and stiffly rubbed at his neck. “Figures that the one shot I did manage to land…” He paused, looking over at my leg.

“It’s… fine.” I said, lying through my teeth. I was furious that he’d done this to me, but… I couldn’t blame him for it. Anger wasn’t going to do anything for me now. “I’m just glad that nopony else was hurt.” With something between a groan and a sigh, I laid myself back down against Buck’s chest.

“Well,” Double Drum sighed. “I just wanted to tell you personally how much I regret my actions. I’ll be working with your convoy head to arrange some sort of compensation for this incident.”

That perked my ears. “What?” I said, looking up to find a look of confusion mirrored on his face from my words. “I blew up your machine…”

“Archanotech engines can be scavenged, rebuilt, and replaced.” He cut me off with a laugh and a dismissive wave. “And I’d rather lose another ten engines for the Road Roller before I lost my life.” He paused and pointed at me. “On top of that, it’s definitely not worth the wrongful loss of a limb.” Brushing his mane aside again, he smiled. However, this time there was confidence in it. “I’ll do what I can. Probably won’t be much given the short time you’ll be here, but I’ll try to right my wrong. Besides, I can’t have the Road Crew getting a reputation as being untrustworthy to those traveling our roads!”

“You know, if I remember correctly,” Hardcase remarked as he tapped at his chin. “The H.M.S. Mercy was outfit with some pretty high tech prosthesis manufacturing equipment. Able to manufacture some complex cybernetics and the like.” Looking back over to Double Drum, we all watched him cringe. “Is that not an option?”

“Well, not since the Enclave came down.” He sighed, both perking my ears, and making me cringe for just what they’d screwed up for ponies this time. “During their ‘operation cauterize’, a few of them managed to sneak in before their attack and plant some pulse charges around some of our manufacturing equipment. Took half the staff inside hostage as well.” Snorting, he tensed up and looked as if he wanted to smash something to pieces. And I didn’t blame him. Sure, Tail End and the others at Filly Crossing didn’t deserve the attitude, but even I wasn’t having a hard time finding the Enclave as untrustworthy assholes. And that’s how I was feeling before whatever this ‘operation cauterize’ had been.

“But we fought off the main force of them trying to come down,” He continued, “at least until they gave up the attack altogether when the Lightbringer fixed the sky. Still, some of those cybernetics machines they sabotaged are rarer than a ray of sunlight.” He paused, scrunching up his muzzle. “Pardon the outdated phrase. But as it sits, the Docs on board are still trying to get most of what was ruined back up and running. Prosthetics are mostly back up, but cybernetic parts production is still going to take some time.”

“That’s a shame, but I doubt Night here would want another heavy piece of metal strapped on when flying. I’ve even heard of griffons having a hard time flying with some of the older models, and they’re race is particularly good at flying with heavy weight on them.” Buck sighed as he reached over and gave my mane a little ruffle. I blushed brightly at his affection, and smiled up at him. “Still, I want to get him over there to have them check his leg out anyway. Maybe they’ll have something simple that he can use instead?”

“That’s what I was thinking.” Double Drum nodded and waved for me to get up. “Why don’t you all have a look around town for a bit? Destruction Bay may not look like much at first, but there’s plenty of relaxing to be had! While you all do that, I can head over to the H.M.S. Mercy and have a talk with the head of staff, Mrs. Edith, about finding some way to accommodate you with a free prosthetic, even if it’s a simple one.”

“Getting some good grub sounds like a great idea to me. Hopefully they’ve got an open table we could snag at Peddler’s restaurant.” Violet smiled and nodded, looking between the others who all did the same.

However, as I watched them each nodding, it felt like they were all exactly the same movement. Maybe it was because I was still a bit in shock at all this, or maybe it was the familiarity of the situation I was in, but I’d seen this sort of behavior before. The fake-ish smiles, the want to get out and do something to distract me while they work on finding a way to ‘fix’ me. This was just the same as when I’d been told my wings weren’t like everypony else's.

“Does that sound like something you’d want to do?” Buck asked, lowering himself down next to me and giving a hesitant gaze. “I can stay here with you if you’d like, we don’t have to go out right now if you don’t want to leave.”

It really was just the same as back then with my wings. It was a well worded deception, a sneaky usage of ‘we’ and ‘you’. I wasn’t supposed to say no, I was supposed to buy into what they’d hoped would be something to keep me from feeling depressed. To keep me from folding in and shutting out the world.

The thing they didn’t understand was that I wasn’t depressed. There was nothing I could do about my wings back then, and there was nothing I could do about my leg now. Moreover, the thing that couldn’t be more similar from back then, was the fact that I simply didn’t want to go out. Not because I was sad or depressed, but I just didn’t want to go anywhere at all.

“Okay.” I said, smiling and nodding to Buck, who responded with the same bright smile I loved to see on him. “Let’s go.”

As much as I didn’t want to go out, I didn’t want to disappoint anypony either. Back then with my wings and my parents, I regretted buying into their words. I swore that if I ever had to choose again, I’d lock myself away and never come back out. But I wasn’t a colt anymore, and I knew I’d have to leave this room at some point. So it might as well have been now, and it might as well have been with Buck.

Even if I’d hate every moment of my time outside.

Pity.

I just knew it was going to crop up everywhere I looked in this city. Just like back in school at Neighvarro when the other foals learned of my ‘disability’. Hushed talking and snarky giggles behind my back were everywhere in those days. I hated it. I hated knowing that I’d become nothing more than a shared joke, a source of perverse amusement to all of them. It made me sick. But I’d survived it once, I’d survive it again.

However, the ponies milling about in the open air bazaar just inside the city gates on the outskirts of town… didn’t even take notice of us. There were hundreds of ponies here, just within this small section of town. Ponies who’d obviously been drinking, ponies singing songs together as they worked, and ponies quietly packing up their supplies or dealing with customers.

They were all intermixed with the half dozen other races I’d seen everywhere else down in the wasteland, conversing with them without a care. Some of those around here to my surprise even had missing limbs as well, and more of them had visible scarring somewhere on their bodies. The more I looked around, the more I felt my eyes open.

Even just the outskirts of this city looked full of ponies who’d been broken and battered, only to carry on. Happy had been right that my time in the wasteland so far had been easy. The griffon without wings, the unicorn with a shattered horn, and the earth pony with two missing legs. They’d literally been torn apart by the things that had happened in their lives, and yet, they still worked and lived out their days, just as I now would have to. This was the wasteland, but no one here let it get to them. Hell, none of the ponies who looked healthy even cast more than a curious glance at what was probably just another set of outsiders coming through their city.

The gloom I’d expected to feel lifted, and a weight felt like it trickled away off of my back. Even more surprising, I felt a smile grow across my muzzle as I looked around those who populated the ruined city. There was so much hope here, and a strength among its citizens that almost seemed to steady my legs all on it’s own just by looking at them.

“Yeah, it’s not much to look at.” Hardcase smiled, giving me a small nudge on my side. “But it’s more civilization than most of the wasteland has. Destruction Bay, the safest and most welcoming city in the north!” He took in a deep breath of air, seeming to relax a bit as he did. “Well, it isn’t so much that way nowadays, but still, it feels good to be back here again.”

“Enjoy it while we’re here, boys.” Violet smiled as she leaned against Hardcase. However, from how she said it, I was getting the feeling that she was mostly speaking to Buck and I. “But don’t let it fool you, Destruction Bay is probably the largest and nicest settlement you’ll see until we get back home. Enjoy it, but don’t get used to it.”

“Oh?” Buck snorted and put a claw to his muzzle, “I was sure I’d heard somewhere on the Inuvik that Cantercross was a much larger city than this, housing more ponies in the cities ruins than anywhere else this far northwest.”

“Larger, yes.” Hardcase looked about nervously before looking over to violet.

“Nicer,” Violet continued for him with a disgusted look across her muzzle. “Not so much.”

Figuring I’d worry about all that those words implied at a later time, I turned my attention over the city again.

Overall, Destruction Bay wasn’t quite what I’d expected it to be. Along the bowl shaped rise that connected to the forested hills that ran around the entire harbor, sat hundreds of small, simple scrap wooden homes. Most of them looked of fairly solid construction, and showed themselves off with muted, but worn technicolor paints across their patchwork exteriors. Hundreds of ponies wandered along the hills in and around the houses. Foals could be seen playing in hock high wild grass front lawns, their parents were milling about cooking fires, or busy collecting their hung out laundry in the falling evening light.

Of course that was just the outskirts that ringed most of the top of the raised hill that gently sloped down almost a quarter of a mile toward the muddy ocean bay. Lower on the hill, and closer towards the center of the city, there were the various ruined buildings I’d expected to see from after the apocalypse. It looked a lot like how Cannon city was, but if Cannon city were many times larger. The crumbling and mostly overgrown remains of the many buildings here didn’t look charred or burned out. Instead, they looked fractured and broken backwards, as if attack of the 50 foot mare had actually occurred here. But rather than climb to the top of a skyscraper, she pushed over every tall building she could find, resting them all against the hillside.

Even though the destruction was odd, it wasn’t hard to guess that some sort of tidal wave could have caused this. Scattered in, on, and across the various city ruins were the numerous rusting hulks of old navy ships. The old hulks were in various states of decay themselves, but were all mostly intact. This place had apparently once been some sort of official naval port back in the war, which had become fairly obvious as I hobbled along with the others further down toward the bay.

The closer to the bay you looked, the denser the collection of rotting and rusting ship hulls was. The parade of beached ships ended in two overly large and contrasting ships still mostly sitting between a pier that ran quite a ways out into the muddy water of the bay. The one sitting on the southern edge of the bay, resembled the Empirica a bit. Well, if it had been a bit smaller, painted white and green, and had an enormous red cross plastered on it’s side like some of the old medical kits before the war did. The name H.M.S. Mercy still sat across her prow in bold black letters, and the setting sun far off over the open water behind her gave her a glowing halo that simply shouted that she was here to help.

Across from her, on the northern half of the bay however, sat the largest, most military looking boat I’d ever seen. And having seen some of the post war retrofitted Raptors around Neighvarro, that was saying something! The wide, nearly all black metal hull was impressive enough in it’s size alone. Sitting well above most of the ruins along the edge of the concrete seawall it leaned against, the massive ship was as long as two raptors, and nearly as wide as two near its midpoint.

The sturdy and well armored conning tower sat all lit up atop a mountain of smaller decks that held countless old small gun batteries. The conning tower itself rose a hundred feet or so into the air, and I could see plain as day as various ponies moved about the two separate bridges inside the top of the structure. Shrouded behind the impressive conning tower was a silver object of mystery with ponies darting along the deck around it. It sat on a pair of rails that jutted over the edge of the ship, and was definitely out of place among the black steel. I’d seen something similar on one of the luxury airships that flew around Neighvarro city when I was a kid. It was a catapult, for launching a sky vehicle of some sort, though I don’t know why a ship this size needed something like that...

But it was a pair of things that sat in front of the conning tower, as well as a pair behind, that quickly pulled my attention from the catapult. Two sets of impressively large, black turret casemates sat fore and aft of the tower, and had their own intimidating feel to them. A feeling made worse by the fact that each of the steel turrets held matching pairs of immensely big articulating cannons in them. All eight of the massive guns on the enormous wartime ship were turned and pointed up toward the front of town where we were. I won’t lie, it made me more than a bit wary of sticking around up here while we were staring down the eight massive gun barrels.

Moving my gaze to focus on things other than the giant artillery pieces, I quickly found myself staring at the various shipwrecks around the rubble of the city itself. They had pretty much all been repurposed into trade huts for weary travelers, bars and restaurants, or workshops for sorting through various scraps. One of the ones closer to where we were standing had even been converted into a full garage that looked to be solely devoted to keeping a few of the Cordite tank mercs and their rides housed.

In fact, one of the varied old tanks in particular caught my eye. Parked next to what happened to be a small, grey, lightly armored tank with two small machine guns in its turret, was the odd looking BT-42 we’d seen up at Filly Crossing. Climbing out from the top of it, was a ghoul stallion in well kept khaki military garb. He wore his mane... well, what was left of it, underneath an old burgundy beret. The waxed mustache on the end of his muzzle was still impeccably full bodied for as degraded as his body was, and was split around a softly glowing wooden pipe that he puffed on.

“Sure does seem fairly peaceful for having been recently attacked.” Buck spoke up, breaking what had been an overtly awkward silence. “Not that it’s a bad thing.”

“Yeah,” Hardcase nodded, pressing himself up against Violet as the two walked together. He eyed over down into the large black ship in the bay. “I’m actually surprised to hear that the Enclave attacked here at all. The H.M.S. Fairy Flight is normally a big enough reason to keep anypony from starting a fight around here, but I guess it doesn’t mean there aren’t some colossal idiots out in the wasteland.”

“Hun?” Violet sighed and wrapped her wing tightly around Hardcase, “Fairy Flight is a Fairweather class dreadnaught. She was meant for bombarding fortified targets 14 miles away, not shooting pegasi out of the sky. Overkill like those fifteen inch guns only works when you can actually hit something with them.”

“Actually,” A mare from behind us spoke up in annoyance. “You’d be surprised at how well it performed.” Spinning around, I nearly ran nose first into a set of sleek, black Enclave power armor. Looking up, I tried to backpedal, but without four legs, I simply fell backwards right into Buck. As I did, my eyes were locked in a horrified stare on the mare. She was already more than intimidating enough in her armor, but looked like she was missing half of her face just to boot. Well, at least the entire right side of her head was bare bone. From jawline to mane line, it was bone, scratched, chipped, and charred mostly black. Her empty right eye socket still had some skin and muscle around it, while the rest of her head had knotted skin at the edges, looking dull and dead.

“They put up more of a fight than we were expecting. Her secondary guns gave us a run for our bits, and I respected their courage and tenacity.” The mare turned her one amber eye on Violet with a menacing scowl. “Something you Dashite traitors wouldn’t know.”

“At least I wasn’t murdering innocent foals and hiding behind a half baked general's orders as an excuse.” Violet snorted back. Her retort was almost as sharp as the dropping of the crate of metal scrap from the armored mare’s back. “Oh, what’s that? You can’t possibly tell me that offends you. No, you Enclave bitches have no morals left to offend.”

“Ladies.” Buck growled, “Let’s not escalate this.” I quickly found myself scooted aside by Buck’s enormous paw as he stepped up toward the two who were now locked in a death-stare.

“Hah, that’s rich coming from a Dashite.” The mare laughed. “You wouldn’t understand what I did.” She lifted her armored hoof as the scorpion like tail on the rear of her armor curled forward. She brought both to her neck, and pressed them against her flesh. “I did murder innocent ponies. I did what I was told to, without thought or hesitation just like I was trained for.” A crooked smile split the mare’s muzzle as she started to laugh.

“But they don’t train you how to feel afterwards. They don’t prepare you for how you can’t forget what you did.” Pulling the bladed scorpion tail away from her neck, just the tip of it dripped a small bit of blood off of it. Using her hoof, she traced it around the grievous wound on her head. “We were monsters for listening to the orders of a corrupt and foolhardy government, I can see that now. We deserved everything that was brought against us, and I nearly paid for it with my life.”

Snapping her hoof out toward Violet, Buck’s claws were nearly as fast. Whether it had been an intent to strike her, or just an accusational expression, the mare had underestimated Buck’s speed. To her credit, she didn’t even flinch as he wrapped his paw around her leg and stopped it dead. And to my surprise, Buck simply held her leg there, not letting her extend the last few inches toward Violet’s chest. I knew he was strong, but I never thought he could hold back the strength of power armor...

To this, the mare only laughed. “That’s good. Your friends are loyal to you, for now.” Leaning forward, her armor creaked as she put more weight on the leg Buck held. He grunted, straining to hold the limb in place. “And while that’s admirable, they’ll learn soon enough that traitorous cunts like you don’t stand for anything other than yourselves. All it’s going to take is the right offer, and then they’re nothing but bodies in the way of your own selfish goals. Isn’t that right?” The words made Violet take a step back, and Hardcase was immediately there to reach out and grab ahold of her. With a sharp tug, the mare pulled her leg out from Buck’s grasp and stepped back as well.

“This town offered us sanctuary, medical treatment for our wounded, even though we’d been the enemy only hours before hoof. They saved my pathetic and wretched life. Something that the Enclave was willing to just throw away, even after everything I did for those cowards in charge.” The mare smiled, and her nearly skeletal grin sent a shiver down my spine. “I may have to work the rest of my life to make up for what I did to these ponies, but I’ll never deny why I did it. I know what I’m loyal to, and I’m willing to fight for what I believe is the right thing.” Turning around, she picked up her crate of metal bits with an ease only power armor afforded her. Turning back, she cast an amber eyed glance back over to Violet only for a moment. “Can you say the same, Dashite?”

As she turned and walked away from us, I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d been lucky to have come down when I did. I can’t quite imagine how it must be for the tens of thousands of other pegasi out there. Having to live with what they’d done to the ponies of the wastelands, and all the hatred that came with it. Still, while the ponies of Filly Crossing hadn’t been accepting, they’d been far from violent. Even Destruction Bay seemed incredibly forgiving for what had supposedly happened.

And yet, that mare exemplified the worst of both our worlds. She hated the Enclave government for what it made her do. But, she still couldn’t see that she was the same as Violet now. She was too lost in the hatred all of us pegasi are taught to have for the Dashites, and I’m glad I learned about how much of a lie that all had been. Maybe I was an idiot in saying what I did to Violet when I met her, but I’d been lied to about so much that I gave her a chance.

This mare might be too set in her ways to change, but in the end, it didn’t matter to me. I had my own morals I stuck to. I’d proven it with Delilah, and from how Violet reacted to the mare’s harsh words? I couldn’t help but think that maybe some small part of Violet actually believed in what the mare was saying at least a little bit. However, I was pretty sure that I knew Violet well enough to say that she didn’t need to doubt herself.

“Fuck her.” I grunted, turning to Violet. “Fuck the Enclave.”

“Yeah,” Just like that, the grimace she wore faded away as she gave off a haughty laugh. “Fuck that bitch.” Leaning her head against a relieved looking Hardcase, she sighed. “Shit, I forgot my bits bag back in our room.” Looking over to Hardcase, she smiled to him before glancing over to Buck and I as well. “Go on ahead, I’ll be right back.” Flapping her wings, she took off back over the wall toward where the Convoy was parked.

I nodded, turning towards Buck, only to find him still standing and watching as the power armored mare walked into the crowd of ponies packing up sections of the Bazaar. He seemed tense, and his ears were perked as if he were waiting for something.

“Buck...?” I asked as I hobbled a few steps toward him. Reaching out, the moment my hoof touched him, he flinched and spun around to me with wide eyes.

“What...?” He asked nervously. “Oh, right. Ready to go?” He forced a smile that made me feel like he wanted to just drop whatever was going on. But I wasn’t going to do that.

“Are… you okay?” I wasn’t sure what had him so on edge, but I hoped he’d tell me.

“Yeah, just...” Looking back over his shoulder, he paused. “Thought I saw Salt.”

“Oh…” That was less surprising than it probably should have been to me. I’d heard Buck and Hardcase talking, but I just sort of forgot when the whole missing leg issue came up.

“You guys coming?” Hardcase called out to us already a ways ahead down the muddy road.

“Yeah, just go on ahead, we’ll catch up.” I said, smiling as I hadn’t the faintest idea of where he was going, or how to find him. However, that wasn’t important right now. Turning back to Buck, I found that he’d gone back to looking in the direction of the Bazaar. “Maybe we should just leave him alone?” I said as I hobbled up beside him and wrapped my hooves around his waist. Holding him for a few moments, I felt as the tension that he had started to wear down, falling away with me at his side. “I just want to spend some time with you for now, and try to get my mind off of recent events.”

“Of course.” Buck replied softly. Reaching around my side, he scooped me up with his paw and curled me around against his warm chest. If it weren’t for the fact that it was probably the most comfortable place for me to be right now, I’d have insisted on hobbling. But from how uneasy he’d just looked, I knew he needed me right here with him.

“Hey!” The squeaky squawk of Hispano chimed in from above us. With a fluttering of her wings, she swooped down around us. “Woke up from my nap and found you’d all decided to leave without me!” She smiled as she slowed her flight, putting herself into a slow orbit around Buck and I. Lifting her goggles up over her flight cap as she circled around, her eyes were locked on me. In them, I could see the pity that I’d expected to see from the rest of the city. “How you holding up, Dum Dum?”

“I’m fine.” I lied. While I wasn’t going to cry anymore over my leg, it was still something I didn’t have to be happy learning to live with. “We’re all going to get something to eat,” I said, pointing in the vague direction downtown where Hardcase had walked off to. “You can join us if you’d like.”

“I would…” Hispano sighed as she slowed her orbit around Buck even more. It was odd. She’d been fine the last few days, as energetic and bubbly about things as ever. Now though, you’d think we’d stepped right out of the Diner in Carmacks all over again. Rubbing at her neck plumage, she nervously pointed across the city. “I... need to go find my dad. He should be around here somewhere.” She shrugged as she looked around before fluttering her wings to bring her to a hover in front of us. Her beak split into a nervous smile as she fidgeted uneasily. “But I’ll come find you afterwards, i-if that’s okay with you that is. Alright, best friend?” It wasn’t the same fake nod that I’d gotten from the others on Bertha, but something that felt genuine this time. Still, she was trying to avoid me for some reason, and I wish I knew why…

Buck huffed. “Well, after we eat, I was planning on taking Night onto the Mercy to have them look over his leg.” Turning my attention to him, I could feel as he tensed up a bit as he looked over her. Looking back to Hispano, she did everything to avoid his gaze, which made a realization hit me like a ton of bricks. “You can find us there if you wish.” Buck said as he held me tighter than he’d been before. Of course that was why! She didn’t want to hang around with the one I’d chosen over her.

Well, tough luck.

“Hispano?” I spoke up, pulling her nervous look back to me. “You’re dad can wait. You’re coming with us so my friends can meet you.” I’d felt bad enough for what happened at Carmacks, and I really did want to at least try to be friends with her.

She cringed at that. “Night… you know that’s not such a good idea.” Rubbing at her neck plumage she pointed up to the sky. “I really think I should be going.” Turning, she flapped hard.

“Hispano!” I grunted, making her freeze up. “If we’re really going to be the ‘best of friends’, you should get to know the ones I’m traveling with, and they should get to know you.” Who knows, maybe if they all got to know each other, she’d reconsider joining us, even if that went against what her father wanted. “I know I disappointed you with what I said in Carmacks. I know how much it hurt you.” Buck froze up as he held me, and I could see as Hispano nearly deflated at those words. “But I meant what I said, I want to get to know you better first.” And there I go again, hinting at the promise of something I can’t give.

“You’re an idiot, Dum Dum.” She sighed, slowly sinking through the air. Slowly, she spun around, revealing a wide grin across her beak. “But I’ll join you on two conditions.” She pointed her talon back up to the evening skies. “The first is that I’m going to find my father. Second…” She shifted her tallion back toward the exit. “You wear that dress you bought for our date again.”

I cringed as she said that, and similarly felt Buck tense up around me. I wish she hadn’t said that…

“Deal.” I said, nodding nervously to her. “I’ll have to get it from the Hauler, but I’ll wear it for you.” Hearing that, she squeed before hammering her wings at the air and taking off like a bolt into the sky.

“Such a peculiar young griffon.” Buck remarked, watching as she curved around through the air, and disappeared over one of the ruined buildings nearby. “You’ll have to tell me how you met her sometime.” Looking down at me with a cocked eyebrow, he gave me an uneasy glance. “And just what she meant by ‘date’.”

“Yeah, about that…” I whined, pressing myself against him tighter. Okay, damage control begins now. “So, I may have run into Hispano back on the Empirica where she ended up saving my life from some angry stallions. As payment, she wanted a date with me, alright?” I’d never wanted him to find out, and my heart ached as I watched as Buck deadpanned with a sigh. “Look, she’s got a good heart. But… along with that, comes an interest in me.” As much as I hadn’t wanted him to ever find out, he knew now, and I had to trust that he’d be understanding with me.

Straightening up, he pulled me securely against his chest before he turned back toward the entrance of town. “And you have an interest in her?” He asked, trying to hide the wavering annoyance in his voice. It wasn’t that I’d never expected it from him, being so protective of me so far, but… I think he was actually jealous of Hispano having my attention like that. Between Salt and Hispano, no wonder he’d felt like he’d gotten tense.

“No.” I sighed, rubbing at him with my forehoof. The more blunt I put this, the more I hoped he’d understand my position. “I only agreed to the date in Carmacks in lieu of having any other payment to give her for saving my life. However, I told her that night that I didn’t have an interest in a relationship like that. And while she’s seemed fine when she left, I know she took it pretty hard.” Looking up at Buck, I could see him relax slightly at that. “Please, just give her a chance. I just want us all to get along together.”

“I understand, Night.” Buck nodded. Then he stopped walking. Without any explanation, he just stood there staring up at the sky. I was about to ask what was wrong when he gave out a soft whine. “And while I’m relieved to know all this, I wanted to come clean with you about a few things.” He began, “First, I already knew all that.”

“You… knew?” My mind went blank as he just stood there. How… how could he have known!?

“She came down and explained it after I did my best with your leg.” He spoke flatly, not shifting his thousand yard stare one iota from where it was. “She might be excitable, emotional, and a bit... annoying, but she cares about you, Night. It’s not hard to miss that. She explained that she was your friend, and while the others did what they could to keep her away, even at gunpoint she wouldn’t leave.”

“Then why would you ask me about her if you already knew?” This all felt off to me, and there was a growing pit in my stomach that this was leading somewhere I didn’t like.

“She was a wreck after seeing you like that, Night.” Looking down, his gaze felt cold and lonely. “I’m not going to lie in saying that I’ve been overprotective of you because of my feelings, but seeing her like that shook me up.” Sharply, his focus returned, and with it came a look of regret and sorrow that I’d hoped never to see across his face. “While I care about you more than anything, Night... seeing you almost die like that? While I looked calm to the others, it scared the hell out of me. Hispano looked exactly how I felt, but I couldn’t show it to any of them. As their doctor, I can’t show how something like that affects me.”

“But, i'm fine! You patched me right up!” Wiggling my stump against him, I nervously laughed as all sorts of red flags went up in my head. Oh goddesses, please don't have him say he doesn't want to be with me. Why does everything always go so wrong so fast? “You saved me again, Buck. I’m still here because you keep saving me.”

“I know, but…” He paused, giving my mind ample time to run circles around me with just what he was going to say. Here it comes. Where he says he doesn't want to be with me anymore… “It's going to sound so selfish, but... who would save me if that were to happen?” He let out a sad laugh that made my mind lock up. “I don’t ever want you to feel the way I felt, Night.”

“Wha…?” I… I didn’t know how he could even think something like that could even happen. “Buck, it’s not going to happen to you. You’re a Snow Dog! You’re big, and tough, and radiation doesn’t even bother you!”

“It hardly means I'm invincible.” Shaking his head, he looked forward again the dozen feet or so to the city gate. “I've been giving it some thought, and while I was waiting for a good time to talk to you about it, I think now is the time to bring it up.” He lowered his gaze to me before shifting on his paws. “Hearing Hispano talk that way, right after your leg… it reminded me of how fragile life is. How important family is.” Raising a paw, he ran it down his muzzle slowly with a grunt. “And as you know, my family and the Inuvik are going to be down in Seaddle even before we get down there.”

“You want to go back to them, don't you?” This wasn’t him simply leaving me, this was objectively worse than that. “I can't just leave Delilah, you know. If you leave, I won't be able to follow.” It’s not that I didn’t understand his hesitation to be out here after all that’s happened so far. Hell, I’d go with him in a moment’s notice if I hadn’t already agreed to stick with Delilah and the crew.

“I think you misunderstand.” Buck said, reaching down and cupping under my chin. “I don't want to leave. Not this convoy, and especially not you, Night.” He smiled, making me blush and feel a bit embarrassed to have assumed that. “Being around all this violence has only served to remind me of how short life could be for either of us. What regrets might I have were I to perish today? Tomorrow? Where would that leave my family?”

“I don't understand…” Shaking my head, I wasn’t sure what he was getting at. “You don't want to leave, but... what?”

Blushing, he covered his face again. “Like my radiation mutation, most Snow Dogs aren't fortunate enough to be born with the ability to procreate. There are currently twenty eight female snow dogs on the Inuvik who aren’t sterile, as opposed to only fourteen males. My mother and father are two of those, and admittedly, I am one as well.” With a sigh, he shook his head softly. “It was my duty to keep our family line going before I left. It still is my duty to uphold.”

“But... you only like males, right?” While he’d never expressly told me this, I sort of assumed it with his only experiences being Saxon and I. Though, I never did ask if there was anyone else…

“Mostly, yes that’s true.” He looked uneasy at the question, and pulled me up against his furry chest. “But it's not about love, or attraction. It's about my family’s survival, and about a legacy I can leave behind with them. If anything else, before I say goodbye to those on the Inuvik for the foreseeable future, I'd like permission to find someone to have pups with.”

“Permission...?” I paused, thinking about the absurdity of that. Laughing, I felt Buck tense up again around me. To help relieve it a bit, I nuzzled against his side. “Oh, I can't tell you what to do, Buck. You're your own dog. If that's what will make you happy, I won't stand in your way.”

“Oh, thank you!” Buck gasped, grabbing around me tightly and pulling me up against his neck. He sniffled, and I could feel as his warm tears rolled down onto my fur. “I was so scared that you'd be jealous like I’ve been, or even downright hate me for wanting to do it.”

As much as I wanted to be jealous and keep Buck all to myself, I couldn’t really refuse a request like that. Maybe it was all the propaganda and rules of the Enclave, but when you were given the okay to have a foal up there, you never said no. Who was I to deny Buck that happiness, especially if he was willing to stay with me afterwards?

“I... I love you, Buck.” That word effortlessly slipped out of my muzzle. I’d been hesitant to use it before, but really? I've never loved someone more than I do him. “I just want you to be happy.” Carefully, I wrapped my hooves around him and squeezed tightly, feeling him relax under me. “But, I do have one question. How long will you be gone for?” I could excuse him wanting to have pups, and I was more than willing to wait for him to return to me. But I wanted to know just how long that would be.

“No more than a few days.” He smiled, reaching up and wiping his tears away as I froze up. A few days!? He must have seen my surprise, because he laughed softly before rubbing along my side with his paw. “With litters so large, and sterility so rampant, there are more than enough willing dogs on board to adopt a pup or two. And I’m sure my family would be willing to help care for them all until such time as they are given new homes.”

“So… you wouldn’t even get to see them?” It was an odd question to ask. I’d never really put any thought into foals, but if I were to have one with a mare, I’m not sure I could ever just leave it with her forever.

“Well, I’m sure once we get settled down in Brahman Beach after this whole trip is all over, we could make the trip back up to Seaddle to see them at some point.” He shrugged, looking down at me and distracting me with his kind blue eyes and soft smile again. “But the thing I wanted was only to do my part to give my family a future...” Pausing, his ears perked as something in his eyes sparked. “I know it’s not a pleasant subject for you to be reminded of your family, but have you ever thought about it?”

“What?” Okay, I know he’d said he wasn’t psychic, but again with him basically knowing what I was thinking. “N-no.” I grunted, limply hanging off of him. Reaching up, I wrapped my fetlock against my mother's dog tags. “Well... not until now.” I don’t know if I could have a foal with some random pony. What good is it to leave a ‘legacy’ behind when it’s not with somepony you care for? Besides, my parents knew I liked stallions, they would have known I wouldn’t have given them foals...

“Well I think you should put some thought into it.” He stated, standing us up stiffly and finally beginning to walk back toward the large metal gate that led outside the city. “I know you’re like me, and that you may not have too much interest in it right now. But for what it’s worth, I’ll be behind you one hundred percent of the way if you ever find a mare you want to have a foal with.”

I know that it may not have been something I felt like I’d ever take him up on, I still appreciated him saying it was alright with him. Keeping my hooves wrapped around him tightly, I sighed and pressed myself into his warmth. While everything about my relationship with him had moved fast, I loved Buck. He was the one I would do anything for down here, and I know he was the exact same way with me.

“Or you know,” Giving a chuckle as the large gate opened, Buck gave me a pat on the back. “Maybe a griffon, seeing as they are compatible...”

“Not in a million years.” I gave a half grunt, half giggle at the absurdity of that. In fact, an idea that made me giggle even more forced it’s way into my mind. “I’d sooner give up on going south with Delilah and the others and stay here forever before agreeing to anything like that.”

And as the wasteland had been endeavoring to do the last few weeks, it proved once again that irony was the greatest force in the universe.

There was a nearly deafening crack that shook the air from behind me as the gate to the city opened. A bright orange fireball rose up from the side of Bertha as her massive front right tire was engulfed in flames. I spun around from Buck’s chest just in time to watch as the huge front tire gave out a heavy groan before tipping over and flopping down in the mud with a splash. The cracked and blackened axle where the tire had once been attached now sat above a growing pyre of burning rubber.

Ponies from all over the gate, and even some from the market rushed out at the noise. Some of them ran out with buckets of water, running over to douse the bright flames that licked at the fallen tire. But Buck and I stood there in shock, not sure what to make of just what had happened. But I’m sure we were both thinking the exact same thing. That… was it then. We were stuck here.

No.

I was sure that Delilah would be able to fix this. She’d always had a contingency plan, and this time would surely be no different. Still, my mind jumped between the only two who could have done this. Either Galina had come and waited for the right moment, or Hispano’s dad had set all this up. Really, while this was going to be a setback for us, I found myself remarkably not worried about it. Delilah would get this all sorted out. We’d get back on the road before Solomon got here, and that would be that!

Then again, none of that worry really mattered when I had the one I loved standing here with me. There could have been another megaspell apocalypse and so long as Buck was with me, I couldn’t have cared. Slowly, Buck reached up and pressed his paw against me, holding me tight. Reaching down, I took his paw in my hooves and held tight as well.

Focusing myself, I closed my eyes and relaxed against him, trying to imagine the quiet and peaceful life we would have when this trip was over, and we’d finally made it down to Brahman Beach with all of our friends. And as much as I didn’t want to be with her, or with how irony had just made things worse by joking about her, that vision of our future included Hispano. Just all of us, living happy lives together away from the horrors of Solomon and the northern wastelands.

That time couldn’t come soon enough.

Author's Note

First of all, I'd like to thank TheFurryRailFan for his help in going over this chapter. It's invaluable to have another set of eyes look over things, and it's that much better when someone as dedicated as him lends a helping hoof! So thanks, buddy! It means a lot to me!

Also, thanks to Kkat for allowing us all to use the wonderful Fo:E setting, and for the amazing story that started this all!

Chapter 20 - Miscommunications

If a message can be interpreted in several ways, it will be interpreted in a manner that maximizes its misinterpretation.

Standing around it, I felt more like the whole crew was giving the scorched rubber tire a funeral than anything. The tire, while it had caught fire, wasn’t too badly damaged thanks to the quick work of those in town. Still, as all of us stood around it, I found myself unsure of what we were going to do now.

“Well, the good news is that the axle shaft is undamaged, and Bertha’s still stable when stationary, even without a front tire.” Boiler sighed as she looked over the damage. “Bad news is that the axle casing itself is cracked, which could lead to problems with the bearings unless it’s repaired. And if that wasn’t bad enough, all forty two wheel bolts sheared off in the blast, and will have to be replaced.” Looking up at the cracked axle casing, she grimaced and shook her head. “This wasn’t some lucky blast, this was well planned to take out every bolt.”

“So how long will the repairs take?” Delilah groaned, pinching her temple with her fetlock. She’d mostly recovered from the shock of seeing Bertha without a tire. Well, at least, the color had returned to her coat. I doubt anything could have removed the frustration she felt over it.

“The axle casing might be able to be welded back together fairly quickly, so a quick fix is my guess.” Hardcase spoke up. “And you did bring extra wheel bolts, right Boiler?”

“Well, I’d thought we had extra bolts, but I couldn’t for the life of me find them in the spare parts bucket!” She said, scratching at her horn before giving out a shrug. “I swear I packed away at least a whole extra set of them for the trip! I even triple checked the parts list before we hit the road!” With a scrunched up look, she sat down and crossed her forehooves. “I guess they got lost or left behind somewhere.”

“Well it’s not going to do us any good unless we have those bolts.” Violet called out from up on the Hauler. “I mean, it’s not like we can drive without that wheel on there, right?” She paused, looking concerned for a moment. “I mean, could we? No… probably not.” Shaking her head, her own question was forgotten as Happy cleared his throat.

“Can’t somepony here just make some new bolts?” Happy offered in a rare moment of actually contributing to a conversation. “They got a bunch of parts on these boats. One of them’s gotta have something we can use, right?”

“Hey, yeah!” Boiler smiled as she hoofed at Hardcase. “Didn’t you say there was some sort of blacksmith up here last year? I bet we could work out some sort of deal to get them forged up real quick!”

“Yeah, unless he’s moved, Spitzer’s forge should still be moored at the pier.” Hardcase nodded. “I don’t know if he’ll remember me, but he’s got the tooling on hoof for repairing the Cordite guys in town. It’s worth a shot, I’d say.”

“Yeah, but that would probably take quite a bit of time.” Violet offered from above. “And I don’t have to remind you, Solomon isn’t going to stop and wait for us to get back on the road.” Maybe it was just me, but Violet looked and felt a lot more nervous than normal. Honestly, I didn’t blame her. Ever stop so far had been a travesty for us, and so far, Destruction Bay wasn’t looking like it was going to be any different...

“And I can tell you, it’s probably going to take me all night to weld up that axel case already.” Boiler grumbled, kicking a bit at the fallen tire. “But that means nothing if we can’t secure the tire back onto her in the first place.”

“True,” Delilah nodded, “But with enough incentive, perhaps we could work out a deal to get them to work overnight on them. That, or bump us up to their top priority.” Sharply, she pointed to Hardcase, looking like she’d gone into full delegation mode. “Hardcase, why don’t you head down to the pier and see what you can work out.” Looking over, she pointed to Lucky, who until now, had only really felt like staring dejectedly at the fallen wheel, rather than getting involved in this discussion. “Lucky, you, Howitzer and I are going to talk to the Road Crew to see if we can get them to run any interference for Solomon.”

“What about Violet, Gearbox, and I?” Happy spoke up, only drawing a groan from Violet.

“Violet and Gearbox are to stay here and keep an eye out for Galina while Boiler works on fixing up that axle casing.” She grumbled before glaring at Happy. “You however, are to stay here and work on opening that safe.” That pulled an even larger groan from Happy than he’d gotten out of Violet. “And under no circumstances are you to leave and head to the brothel. Got it?”

“Yeah...” He grunted sadly and kicked at the mud under his hooves.

“Alright, Hardcase.” Delilah nodded as she turned back to him. “If you can’t work out a reasonable deal for the parts, you come right to me.” Turning and giving a light tap against the fallen tire, Delilah stiffened up. Standing up straight and raising her voice, she commanded our attention. “Without this, everypony here can see that we’re stuck here and vulnerable to another attack. I want all of you armed and on the lookout for trouble. I will not lose somepony to Solomon’s followers if I can help it.”

“Shoot Galina on sight, got it.” Hardcase spoke up with a smirk before turning to me. I’d stood and watched as Galina killed who she’d thought was Hardcase. No hesitation, no remorse, just like he’d act if he got the chance to kill her. And I didn’t blame him one bit. “Alright, you and the Doc should probably head downtown with us. The entrance to the H.M.S. Mercy is right next to where we’ve gotta go anyway, so we might as well stick together.”

“Alright, I’ll need a minute to grab my gear.” Turning away from the tire, I hobbled my way around the front of the Hauler. As I did, Buck moved with me, keeping pace to my slow speed.

“Are you going to be alright with this, Night?” Buck asked, the hesitation in his words saying more than anything about his want to head out now. “We don’t have to go deal with your injury right now if you don't want. It might just be better to wait...”

“I know, but I want to go.” Looking up to him, I tried my best to offer a sincere smile. “Look, I don't want to sit around and mope about my leg. Yes, it sucks that it's gone," That was the understatement of the year. "But if there's anything that will help me with it, it’s going to be on that ship, right?” He hesitated to answer me. “And besides, you were the one who wanted to stop by the Mercy, so we might as well tag along with Hardcase anyway. Safety in numbers and all.” Looking up to the sky, I found a familiar cloud sitting above Bertha. I don’t know if she was back already from finding her father, but still, I wanted her to come along with us. “But before we go, I’m going have a small talk with Hispano.”

“Oh?” Buck laughed softly. “Given my suggestion some more thought?”

“What? No… goddesses no.” I forced my eyes closed and sighed, trying unsuccessfully to get the thoughts and images of that out of my head. “I was only going to go ask if she wanted to head out with us. That’s all.” As I gave him a flat look, he stuck his tongue out at me. “Oh, you weren’t serious. Har har.”

“Come on.” He said, swinging his arm around and scooping me up into his hold. “Let’s go get you geared up.” I was happy that he didn’t seem to mind my choice to go and help out. Rather, I was a bit surprised by it. “You know I love you, Night,” He said, forcing a bright blush across my cheeks at hearing that word again. “but you’re a bit too easy to poke fun at.”

“Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, fuzzball.” I rolled my eyes as I pressed into his grasp. “I love you too, Buck.” With a sigh, I relaxed and felt like I could stay in his arms forever. In a perfect world, that may have been the case. But this world wasn’t perfect, and even though it was recovering, it was like where we were at right now. In order to get past this setback, we all still had a lot of work ahead of us.

‘Downtown’ Destruction Bay was… odd to experience, to say the least. The semi-overgrown buildings and shipwrecks didn’t feel oppressive to me, and the old cobblestone under my three hooves, while worn, felt welcoming. It even had small bits of grass and plants growing out of it that didn’t look entirely dead, so that was a plus. Even as the darkness of night began to fall, the city only began to feel more welcoming, more alive. And even though I was still worried about how we’d fix Bertha, all of that was just a bit more muted under the feeling this place gave off.

Walking with the others down towards the harbor, my hobble kept us all moving slow, but that’s not something the folks in this town seemed to be. We were constantly having to move out of the way of hurried ponies. Just in the short walk down here, we’d had a hundred or so ponies moving past us just going about their evening lives.

Hispano had even given up hovering low as we moved along, and sat a good ten feet in the air just to avoid having to move out of the way all the time. As per the usual, she dipped and fluttered about the skies above us, full of an energy that never quit. I’d have to ask her one of these days just where all that energy of hers came from...

The sounds of laughter and music filled the city as the sun sank below the horizon. The sight of flickering bonfires, the smell of cooking food, and the buzz of excitement resonated through every street of this place. One by one, each of the buildings and ships flickered brilliantly as hundreds of lights lit them up in the night. Even the big ships in the harbor got in on it, beaming spotlights up into the clear evening sky.

“So,” Buck spoke up, looking over to Hardcase who was staring up into the skies above longingly. “You’ve been to this blacksmith before?”

“Yeah.” He nodded, glancing over to Hispano for a moment before dropping his gaze to Buck. “We stopped by for some spare snow chains on the first trip up here. Our old set wore out, and we weren’t sure if we’d need them to get over Filly Crossing or not.”

Looking ahead down the long road that ran toward the bay, I watched as the cobblestone road ended at the concrete berm that ringed the inner edge of the harbor. The old wooden pier that continued between the two huge ships in it’s place was larger than I’d expected. It was wide enough that there were carts parked on both edges of it, with ponies in groups ten or so across still able to comfortably walk down it.

A gust of wind rolled up to us from the water, bringing with it the stinging smell of salt that permeated everything around here. I shivered as the scent sank into my nostrils, and smiled at the odd giddiness of which it filled me with. I’d never thought that in my life I’d get to see the ocean. And while I don’t really know what about being here I cared about, the idea that it was something new was exciting enough that I enjoyed it on principle.

“Spitzer is… and odd, but agreeable fellow.” Hardcase spoke up. Pointing with his horn, he guided our gazes to a large, black ship moored about halfway down the docks. Parked in between a few mid sized ships, it stood out in both design and size compared to them. “He and his crew are probably the most reliable and trustworthy blacksmith’s you’ll find in the northern wastelands.”

“That’s pretty high praise.” Buck laughed. “But I’d still put my caps down on Rosey and her team of mechanics on the Inuvik to solve any problem.” Not that he didn’t say it, but I myself thought that Boiler had done a hell of a job already with keeping everything going on the convoy.

Hobbling forward with the others, I stopped for a moment as we reached the end of the road. Looking at the wooden pier ahead, I began to see just how old it looked. Granted, I knew it was two hundred years old, and I could clearly see hundreds of ponies moving along it, but the problem was that it looked two hundred years old. However, from the way that both Buck and Hardcase simply stepped on it without hesitation, I sucked up my irrational fears and hobbled on after them.

Most of the boards underhoof felt dry and gave only a little under our weight, even for being only ten feet or so above water. The outlying, worrisome boards that seemed a bit more rotten than the rest, seemed pretty few and far between actually. Giving a sigh of relief, I perked my ears and continued to listen in on their conversation.

“Rosey could solve a problem, sure.” Hardcase laughed with him. “But Spitzer and his crew will make any part, large or small, to any tolerance. Precision is their guarantee, or so their slogan goes.”

“Well…” Buck began, but paused as a large group of ponies in yellow coats walked by us. Behind them, they dragged cart after cart of glistening and still wet fish. Some of the fish didn’t seem to be a healthy color, and more than a few had fins or eyes that even I knew weren’t supposed to be where they were. Still, Buck watched intensely as the carts passed him. Poor guy, we still hadn’t gotten something to eat. “That may be true, but nothing can beat the precision of having these.” Buck said, holding his paws out and wiggling each digit.

“Yeah.” Hispano cooed from above, drifting down again and finally calming down a bit. Dropping onto the pier next to me, she came down hard enough to make the boards under us groan. “I feel sorry for you ponies, not knowing the joys of having independent digits.” Hardcase simply rolled his eyes before his horn glowed. Hispano gave a soft squeak as she was wrapped in his magical aura and picked right up off the dock. “Hey!” She snapped, flailing her talons at him wildly. “Put me down!”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” He gave her a sly smirk. “Why don’t you use your ‘independent digits’ to help if they’re so great?” With a wide smile, he dropped his hold on her and let her flop back onto the dock.

Buck gave a few snorts, pulling my attention up to him. He scrunched up his muzzle in annoyance and stuck his tongue out. Giving a whimper, he raised his paw up and covered his nose.

“You alright, Buck?” I’d never seen him do that before.

He looked down at me and sighed. “Yeah, you’ll smell it in a minute.” Pausing, he grunted and seemed to deflate. “Or not. I keep forgetting you ponies can’t smell all that well.” Raising a claw, he pointed to the pair of smoke stacks on the large black ship we were headed for. Into the sky rose two billowing black clouds of smoke. “Consider yourself lucky for that. Ugh, it’s worse than the bilge room back on the Inuvik…”

As we approached the ship, I marveled over just how oddly designed it was compared to something like an Enclave Raptor. It’s bow rose up at a straight angle, higher than most other ships around here seemed to. In fact, the ship itself was almost two hundred feet long, which was double that of all but a few of the other ships docked here. It’s wide, tire lined upper hull had a bulbous shape to it, almost curling up around it’s main deck. A rounded, riveted metal first level was surrounded by charcoal black porthole windows, matching the dirty and gritty feel of the ship at large. The upper deck however, was lined with strips of a surprisingly brightly stained wood, and the brass fittings around the wheelhouse and clear portholes nearly sparkled in the harbor lighting. Along with that, the bold white lettering spelling out H.M.S. König were contrastingly clean to most of the rest of the ashen black ship.

“Yeah, the smells can bother some of the townsfolk here. It’s why they’re moored all the way out this far on the dock.” Hardcase called out as he turned and trotted happily up the gangway onto the ship.

We all followed him onto the odd ship, cringing as he cranked the round bulkhead latch around with a sharp squeal. The old door groaned in protest as he pushed it open, and without hesitation, he walked into the dark interior. Buck, though obviously perturbed by the smell, still moved closer, but turned and waited for me to hobble my way across the gangplank before continuing. As I did, Hispano jumped up and fluttered across the air, quickly dipping inside the ship ahead of us.

Sure, both Buck and I had wanted to head straight for the Mercy. But I couldn’t deny that I was at least a little bit curious about this place. The way Buck hesitantly made his way on board before me, proved that he too was at least willing to check it out as well, even past the foul smell that bothered him.

As we got ourselves onto the main deck, the heavy clanks and knocks of metalwork resonated through the open door, as well as a few voices with Hardcase’s mixed among them. The closer I got to the door, the hotter I felt the air got. Not just in front of me, but even the decking felt like it was baking on it’s underside. Taking a few more hobbling steps, I made my way through the bulkhead with Buck right behind me.

The spacious interior was poorly lit, and only a single, buzzing fluorescent ceiling light above us provided any illumination to the room. A few old chairs sat to my left, along with a rusty metal table with old magazines on it. To my right, sat a few more chairs that faced an old metal desk. From the way it was set up, I got that this had to have been a reception area for their business. In one of the desk chairs was Hardcase, who was sitting across from a furred mass that sat behind the desk.

“Wunderbar!” A loud voice proclaimed from behind the desk, making me seize up mid step and nearly jump in fear. “Bruder, iz so good to see you!” The large furred mass stepped forward around the desk, almost immediately reaching out and snatching up Buck as he stepped inside.

Buck looked like he froze up, going stiff as two semi-large arms wrapped around him and squeezed him tightly enough that his hind paws left the ground for a moment. From the comparable size of the stranger, to the nearly glowing golden eyes and wolf like pattern of fur, I had to almost immediately assume that this was another snow dog. “Let me take a look at you.” The stranger laughed, breaking off from the awkward and tight hug.

Stepping back under the fluorescent light, the stranger’s fur was definitely quite a bit fluffier than Buck’s, and his coloration held lots of brown and black to it. However, his golden eyes weren’t like Bucks eyes at all, in that the golden sections of them filled his entire eye, and only the darker pupils of them broke up the solid color. His large and stocky build was mostly comparable to Buck’s, he was indeed a bit smaller, and his forepaws weren’t nearly as large. I could make out the jagged peaks and dips along the stranger’s broad muzzle, and watched as he sniffed the air around Buck intently. After a moment, his muzzle split into a wide grin just as Buck seemed to finally understand what was going on.

“Ah, der schiff hund! From ze north you say…” The stranger began, pausing to give a few more sniffs. “From an Arktika class icebreaker? Very interesting indeed!”

“That… that’s incredible!” Buck smiled, laughing as he looked over the odd dog before us. “You could tell all that through smell? In a place that stinks this much?”

“Vy yes! I am quite amahzing!” The stranger laughed, reaching up and rubbing at his head before a grunt from across the room gave us all pause.

Looking over, there was another dog standing in the doorway that led further into the ship. A lithe dog that was taller than even Buck was, glared across the room at the stranger. The new dog however didn’t look to have long fur like Buck or the other stranger, having short fur like Rosie had back on the Inuvik. The black and rust red coloration on them was striking, and the sharply pointed muzzle and cropped ears gave them an aggressive look.

“Ah, well, maybe not zat amahzing. You smell just like my last customer is all.” The stranger began again, reaching out to grab Bucks paw and shake it. He nodded to the dog in the doorway. “Zat is Hilde, my half sister. She does her best to keep me an honest hund on zis ship.” Smiling, he looked around at the odd collection of us he’d accrued in his office. “I am Spitzer. Forgemaster, machinist, and now a good friend of Captain Marigold. If zat’s why you are here, she needs not worry, I will have those spare parts for your ship soon enough!”

Buck stiffened up at that. “You… know the skycaptain? How?”

“She came in yesterday!” Spitzer laughed, “Did you not come with her? Or see her plane on ze back of ze Fairy Flight?” So it was a skycraft that I’d seen on the ship’s catapult! “Zis is certainly interesting!” Spitzer spoke before pausing as he looked down at Buck’s paw. Reaching out, he grabbed and raised it closer to his muzzle. If I wasn’t so sure that Buck had no interest in this guy, I’ve have felt a bit jealous at the move. “My, your breed certainly has amahzing paws!”

I almost cringed as much as Buck did when he pulled his paw back slightly. “It's not a breed trait, sadly.” He laughed nervously, quickly putting both of his paws out of sight behind his back. “Genetic instability us northern Snow Dogs suffer from, due to intermixing with southeastern hellhounds. It’s a flaw some of us from the Inuvik suffer from.”

“Ah, Teufelshunde.” Spitzer nodded before stepping back around behind his desk. He pointed to the chairs, offering us all a seat. Though, as I’d expected, Buck didn’t take him up on the offer. Me? I’d rather stand anyway. Hispano however, quickly fluttered over and sat down in the old seat with a comfortable flop. She really knew how to get comfortable fast it seemed. Spitzer shrugged and looked back over to Buck. “Don't have many hellhounds back home, but sweet Celestia, ze forging zat I could do vith a pair of zose on me!”

“Not many hellhounds back home?” Buck’s ears perked as he brought his paw up and tapped on his chin. “You didn't suffer any mutations from the balefire? You mean... you’re still regular diamond dogs? How? How many of you are there back where you come from?” He paused, looking lost in his own racing thoughts for a moment. “Where do you even come from? I have so many questions for you…”

“How did ve survive in Germaneigh? Because ve are hard working Handel Hunde, of course!” He let out a rousing laugh as I struggled to understand anything he was talking about. From the way the even Hardcase was looking confused, I could tell that we were all quite lost. “Ve built more zen just Behelfsmäßige Luftschutzräumen!”

“Spitz, speak in common Equestrian for our guests,” Hilde spoke up sharply from the doorway. Funny, she didn’t have the same odd accent that Spitzer did. “If you’re fine in dealing with them, I’m going back to work on the Inuvik order.”

“Sure thing, sis.” Spitzer nodded to her before turning back to Buck. “Ah, forgive me my friends. So easy to fall back into old habits around such good company!” Raising his arm, he offered for us to head through the door Hilde was in. “Come! Join me in ze forge and let me tell you of our home in das Heimatland!”

“Ugh.” Hispano grumbled, flopping herself completely in the plush chair she was in. “If I knew it was going to be this boring, I wouldn’t have come with you.”

“Night?” Buck spoke up as he put his paw on my shoulder. Looking down at me, he offered a nervous smile. “I know that we need to get to the Mercy, and you might not want to stay here, but I’m… interested in hearing what he has to tell me. There wasn’t any real information on the Diamond Dogs ancestral homeland, and…” Balancing on my only other two hooves, I reached up and softly closed his muzzle.

“I understand.” Nodding over to the door that lead to the forge, I tried to offer my own smile back to him. “Go and learn. You can tell me all about it later.”

“Thank you for being understanding, Night.” Buck sighed before reaching down and pulling me into a warm hug. “If you don’t want to stay here, you can go with Hispano to get some food, or head on over to the Mercy to get things started with them. I’m sure they’ll have a few tests to run.” I watched him tense up as he glanced over to Hispano, who seemingly perked up at hearing what he was saying. “Once Hardcase has negotiated for what we need, we can come find you two afterwards. I still want to take you over to the Mercy and get your leg checked up.” He’d admitted that he’d been jealous and overprotective of me, so I knew how hard this must have been for him. It was something I was happy he was willing to do for me, and I’d have to make sure to thank him for it later.

Right about then, Hispano’s stomach let out a gurgle that could be heard over the metalworking inside the ship.

“Grub sounds good.” She sighed, pushing herself up from her chair. “Alright, Dum Dum, let’s go.” Making sure her sister was still securely resting on her back, she adjusted her leather flight cap before reaching out and forcefully taking my hoof. “Come on, we don’t have all night!”

Flailing for a moment, I was tugged out the ship’s doorway and away from Buck. I felt myself get hoisted right off the deck and up into the air by my hoof. Looking up, Hispano was hardly breaking a sweat to pull me skyward. The further we got away from the ship, the bigger the smile that spread across her cheeks.

Spreading my wings and flapping, I tugged my hoof away from her. To my surprise when I stiffened my wings to glide, I felt more stable in my flight than I’d ever been. Shifting slightly, I could feel as the weighty submachine gun from my saddle acted as a counterbalance to the fact that I was one leg lighter on that side.

“Huh, look at that.” Hispano cooed as she dipped down and flew beside me. “It seemed that all you needed to do was lose a little weight before you finally got the hang of flying right.” Groaning at that, I facehoofed. However, when I did that I felt my flight shift suddenly. Scrambling, I put my forehooves down under me for stability again, immediately regaining control. “Then again,” She continued, “maybe that was just a fluke.”

“Shut up, Hispano.” I grumbled, and deadpanned to her. “Let’s just go get something to eat.”

With a giggle, Hispano’s energy seemed to rush back into her, and like a bolt she was off. I felt exhausted just watching as she zipped about the night sky with boundless energy. While Buck felt jealous of her spending time with me, I felt jealous of her just being able to fly as well as she did. Not only that, but I was jealous of her boundless energy, optimism, and confidence in what she wanted. The more I watched her, the more I felt like Hispano was uniquely out of place here in the wastes.

If that was a good thing or not remained to be seen, but for now at least, I was glad to have met her. Even if at times she was still annoying, she was loyal to a fault, at least partially willing to listen, and bluntly honest most of the time. Really, she reminded me of the kind of friend I’d always wanted up above the clouds.

We’d found a good enough place to grab some food inside the remarkably intact hull of an old ferry that had washed up on the roof of one of the overgrown ruins here. The open center interior had once been able to hold a dozen or so carts and motorwagons on it’s parking deck, but had since been converted to a sort of restaurant and bar combination. The old hulks of the long abandoned vehicles had been stacked to the ceiling along the edges as makeshift walls, with the doors of an old bus being used as the front entrance to the place.

The inside of the old ship was well lit with dozens of fluorescent lights still buzzing up above us. However, the wafting smoke from the fact that almost everypony in here was smoking, certainly made this air in this place hazy. A dozen or so full tables sat scattered among the parking deck, with the back ends of a quite a few motor wagons arranged around the edges of the place as makeshift booths. A pony in a ragged wartime suit sat at the far corner of the place, softly playing a slow tune on a dusty piano to the dozens of ponies who talked, laughed, and ate at the nearly packed restaurant.

“Two? This way, please.” A haughty sounding mare in a grimy waitresses outfit looked down her muzzle at us. Turning, she led us to a booth in the corner of room across from where the bar sat. Hispano giddily fluttered her wings and nearly flopped herself onto the plush bench seat of our booth, using her talons and paws to knead and fluff at the seat under her before finally sitting down on it. As she did, she stripped her sister from herself and propped her up in the seat next to her. I however, hobbled myself to the seat across from her and took my time to clamber up onto it. Unlike her, unfortunately I couldn’t just dump my battle saddle just to get more comfortable.

“We’ll need a minute.” Hispano chirped, flailing her talons at the mare. “So scram, skedaddle, give us some space.” While I was busy getting comfortable, the mare who’d shown us over simply rolled her eyes and walked away. “Geeze,” Hispano sighed, “I thought she’d never leave.”

“You didn’t have to be so rude about it.” I muttered as I stuck my stump out to the side, relaxing as it felt a bit more comfortable than sitting directly on it. Wiggling in that pose for a moment, I finally felt like I’d gotten comfortable. Reaching out to the two menus that had been left on our table, I was about to grab one. Instead, Hispano swiped them both away from me before I had a chance to even get my hoof close to it.

“Of course I don’t have to be nice about it either. It’s more fun this way anyhow.” She smiled brightly at me as she pulled the two menus against herself. “Seeing as how I’m pretty sure I’ll be paying for this, I’ll order for the both of us.” Flaring her wings, she bounced on her seat a few times, hopping a bit higher with each bounce. “Stay here for a moment while I go give them our order!”

Without any time to object, she flew off across the room, eliciting a few startling gasps from some of the patrons she zipped over. Grumbling, I slumped in my seat and flopped my head back against the old motorwagon’s headrest. As I did, I looked up to the second floor walkway that ringed the parking deck.

More than a few well dressed mares stood looking down over the railing above, each one wearing a flashy dress, and from what I could tell, quite well done make up. Two of them noticed I was looking up at them and giggled at me, talking to each other before offering me a soft wave. Waving back to them, I was distracted enough that I missed the flutter of wings beside me.

“What are you looking at?” Hispano’s squawking voice made me jump up out of my seat with a whimpering squeak. I found her deadpanning at me with her talons folded in disappointment. “And here I thought you said you only had an eye for stallions.”

“I do!” I shouted and flailed my hooves at her before looking around to find that more than a few eyes around the restaurant had turned to me. Sinking back down, I landed on my seat again and did my best to press myself back into it. Maybe if I tried hard enough, I could sink so far into it that even the embarrassment I felt couldn’t find me. “It’s not my fault, they were the ones trying to catch my attention and wave at me.”

“Of course they were, that’s their job.” Hispano rolled her eyes before taking her place across from me.

“What do you mean, that’s their job?” Looking up at the mare’s, I watched as one of them blew a kiss to a stallion sitting at one of the center tables. The stallion reached out and feigned grabbing the kiss, pulling it close to his chest with a bashful smile.

“You didn’t think this place was just a restaurant, did you?” From the way Hispano said that, something in my mind clicked and I began to realize just what they were. “Oh, you’re so hopelessly naive, Dum Dum!” Laughing, I can’t believe that I didn’t realize that this place was also a brothel. “Good thing you you saw them first and didn’t look across the way. I might have been in real trouble with you then.”

Like an idiot, I looked across the room to the second floor above the bar. Standing almost directly across from the three mare’s above us, were three well dressed stallions. A pink coated earth pony flashed me a smile, and batted his eyelashes before blowing a kiss toward me. I flinched as Hispano snapped her talon out into the air next to me, shooting the stallion a glare and shaking her head.

“Geeze, a little overprotective are we?” I asked, reaching up and pushing Hispano’s talon down. “Look, I’m happy with Buck. But what we need to talk about, is where we stand.”

“Night, I don’t care what you say.” Hispano growled. Reaching up, she snapped her leather cap off and slammed it down on the table. I’d never seen her so angry before, and I was so shocked that I froze up. “I know that you may care for him now, but I told you, I’m not going to let this go!” Taking a few heaving breaths, Hispano began to relax a bit. Not much, but for how tense she’d become, but I could see her gaze soften slightly as she glared at me.

“You may think I’m too young, or that you may not like me the way that I’ve come to like you.” She spoke softly for as angry as she looked, but I could tell that she wasn’t trying to hide anything with her words. “The thing you have to understand, is that while I’m willing to wait for you to feel the same, I won’t stop feeling the way I do in the meantime.” A sadistic grin pulled across her beak, and to be honest, it scared me a bit. “I’ve thought over what you said back in Carmacks, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get you to even give me a shot. I’ll get to know your friends, I’ll help out with whatever you need me too. Hell, I’m fine with you caring for Buck as well as me! I mean, he seems nice! I don’t mind sharing if you don’t! So long as that’s what it takes to have any sort of chance of you changing your mind.”

“Hispano, I…” While I knew this was coming, I wasn’t sure what to tell her now. Even if I told her that I’d never even consider being with her, with how much it’s seemed to weigh on her, I wasn’t sure she’d listen anymore.

“Shut up, Night. I’m saying I want to be around your friends. I’ll do anything you want me to.” She snapped at me. Pressing her talons down between us, she stood on her seat and leaned across the table toward me. “Make me an offer.”

“W-what?” I gasped, pressing myself further back against the seat behind me. “Hispano… I don’t know what you’re asking for…” As I spoke, she flared her wings and snapped her tail around at her side. This was getting way out of hoof far too fast for my liking.

“I’m not asking, I’m telling you,” She grunted, reaching out and prodding sharply against my chest with her talon. “Make me an offer, and I’m yours. So long as the other’s know you own me, they’ll be fine with me being around.” Grasping at my chest, I froze up as she wrapped her claws around my mother’s tags, using them to pull me closer to her. “Hire. Me. Night.”

“Wha…” I froze up. “You want me to do what!?” I snapped at her. Reaching up, I swung my forehoof at her leg and tore it off of my mother’s tags. Hispano recoiled at the gesture, looking genuinely surprised. “Did you plan to bring me here with that in mind? You think I’ll be alright with this if I pay for you? HAH.” How could she even think I was the naive one? “I wouldn’t even pay to spend a night with any of the stallions here. What makes you think I’d be alright with paying for a night with you?”

Hispano went wide eyed at that before smacking herself in the face with her talon. “Not like that you moron!” She shouted while wearing a brighter blush then I think I’ve ever had. Reaching down, she grabbed at my shoulders and pressed her forehead against mine. “I’m a Talon Mercenary you dolt. Hire me!”

Oh… Oooooooh!

Letting out a long sigh of relief I felt a bubbling laugh force itself up my throat. “Oh!” I gasped before spitting out a giggle into Hispano’s confused face. “See, I thought… that you…” Laughing, I couldn’t help myself as I realized just how badly I’d misread all that. With her own sigh of relief, Hispano let go of me and landed herself on the table. Turning around, she hopped down into her seat with a huff, crossing her talons and sitting there with an annoyed glare as I tried my best to reign in my hysteria.

“It’s not funny, Night.” She muttered softly. As much as she tried to hide it, I could hear the pain in her voice. “Talon’s take their contracts seriously, and doing this goes against the contract my own father has. You have no idea how much of a risk this is for me. And as much as he can be a controlling jerk sometimes, I… I don’t want to leave him by himself. Being a successful Talon is all he wants from me because I’m all he has left in the world.” Looking down at herself, she reached up and grabbed at the broken compass that she wore strung around her neck.

“Oh, Hispano.” I sighed, finally finding the strength to kill the laughter I had. “You know you don’t have to sign on with us, or quit being a Talon, right?” I know that she wanted me to hire her on, to give her a reason at all to stay, but she didn’t need it. “There doesn’t need to be a contract or whatever to be friends, or to get to know the ponies on Delilah’s crew.” Looking at her, I watched as my words slowly pulled her gaze off the compass in her talon. “I was wrong about what they’d think. I thought that they’d be suspicious of anypony they saw, or figure out why you were following us. But Hardcase doesn’t seem to care, and while Buck might be a bit jealous, he’s willing to get to know you as well.”

“You don’t understand, Night.” Hispano sighed and pressed back into her seat like I had only minutes ago. “I’m the daughter of a Talon Merc, and training to be one myself. I can’t just ‘hang out’ with others. I need a reason to be there.”

“Says who?” I laughed again, this time making her eyes go wide in confusion. “You told me that in order to live down here in the wastes, all I had to do was make myself useful and ponies would stop giving me so much shit.” Leaning forward, I reached out and hoofed at the leather flight cap Hispano had left on the table. Pushing it closer to her, I smiled. “Who says you can’t make my friends like you by showing them how useful you can be?”

Reaching out, Hispano slowly took her flight cap into her talon and looked down at it. As we sat in silence, I watched her think things over. For the first time, underneath all the snark and bubbly energy, I got to see the real Hispano. Someone who was deeply concerned about how those around her looked at her, and how her father viewed her. She may have already known more about living in the wasteland than I ever will, but she was still on her own out here as well. I had made plenty of friends in Delilah’s crew, but so far, she’d only had me. Right now, as much as I hadn’t wanted to give her false hope for down the road, I could still help her out in plenty of other ways.

“But…” I sighed, pulling her gaze back up to me. “If hiring you is what makes the difference in being friends, then I’ll do it.” I know that I’d have to talk to Delilah about it, but I don’t think she’d argue against having another pair of eyes on the crew. “Just… know that I can’t really pay you anything. Like, at all. At least, not until I get paid again.”

“Night…” She sniffled, reaching up and brushing her talon under her watering eyes. “You’d do that? For me?” Nodding to her, I felt a bit of relief wash over me as she gave a soft laugh. With a single bound, she hopped over the table and slammed against me, knocking the wind out of me. “Oh thank you.” She whispered into my ear, squeezing around me tightly enough that I was pretty sure I felt a few ribs starting to crack under the pressure.

“Ahem.” The dull voice of the waitress mare spoke up from our side. “Your food has arrived.”

“Seriously lady? Just leave it and go already!” Hispano snapped, not letting off from her hug one bit. “Seriously though, Night. You thought I wanted you to pay for me to sleep with you?” She laughed and thankfully loosened her grasp around me sides. “You’re such an idiot.”

“Yeah, sorry.” I gasped, thankful that I could breath again. Giving her a few pats on the side, I snorted as a ridiculous image fluttered into my mind. “Could you imagine though? You all dolled up in make up and in a pretty frilly dress?”

“In your dreams.” She squawked as she pulled herself back and spread her wings. “You’re the only one around here who could even pull off being a whore anyway.” Winking at me, she fluttered back over to her side of the booth before sticking her tongue out at me.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” I said with a smile only a moment before the delicious smell of food drifted into my nose. With a loud gurgle, both Hispano’s and my stomach’s decided that it was their turn to speak up. Looking down, I was happy to find that there was some sort of large, steaming vegetable in front of me instead of the large slab of meat on a plate that Hispano was drooling over. At least, I think this bright orange bowl thing is a gourd type vegetable…

“Squash with brown sugar. It’s simple, but you’ll like it, trust me.” Hispano smiled as she reached forward and grabbed her meat in her talons. “At least, the last pony I’d spent the night with liked it a lot…” She giggled before tearing into her meat with a voracious set of grunts and pleasured moans.

Looking down at the steaming plate in front of me, I shrugged and figured that it was better than having meat again. Digging in, I was happy to find that I did in fact enjoy the taste of squash, but more so, I was happy to know that Hispano was contented. While I knew she still wasn’t going to give up going after me, she’d at least have the chance to make some more friends. And I was sure that couldn’t hurt her in the slightest.

“Hey, Night!” Hardcase called as Hispano and I circled around the docks from the cool night skies above. He and Buck quickly trotted back across the gangplank from Spitzer’s ship and over into the center of the old dock. Both Hispano and I turned ourselves and arced down, coming in for a landing. Hispano of course came down as she had before, hitting the old wood at between a trot and a gallop before slowing herself. Me however? I’d sort of forgotten that I couldn’t really do that anymore.

Hitting the dock, I tried to go into a trot, but tripped up on account of not having all the necessary legs to do that anymore. Whimpering, I tumbled and came down hard onto the old wood. With a splintering snap, the dry boards under me gave way, and I felt myself go weightless. Fear filled my mind as I dropped under the dock, heading straight for the rocky water below. My fall snapped to a halt as my submachine gun got caught on one of the broken boards. As stars filled my vision, the sound of the boards that caught me slowly giving out didn’t do much to quell the fear that I was still going to end up plunging down into the water.

“Night!” Buck gasped, leaping forward and quickly reaching down for me. Even before I had a chance to realize what had happened, Buck’s enormous paw reached down and scooped me back up to safety. “You have to be more careful.” He sighed, pulling me close against his warm chest.

“Yeah, sorry.” I whined, shaking away the rest of the stars in my eyes. “Still getting used to this whole ‘only three legs’ thing.” Reaching my forehooves around him, I hugged him tightly, thankful that once again he’d been there to save me. “Thank you, Buck.”

“Alright, now that Night isn’t in danger of getting hurt yet again,” Hardcase began in a way that I was pretty sure was a not-so-subtle nod to the fact that bad things keep happening to me for some reason. “I’d like to bring up the fact that soon enough, we’ll all be heading out to a place where he’ll have plenty of chances to do just that anyway.”

“What?” I asked, not sure if I was still confused from my horribly botched landing, or if I’d missed something altogether.

“Spitzer can’t bump up more than half our order higher than the one he’s got for the Inuvik, or the other regular orders for the other townsponies.” Buck sighed. “So he’s made us a deal. If we can go and get him a certain item, he’ll be willing to help us.” At that, he cringed and shifted uneasily on his paws. “However… said item was supposedly stored away in the old naval ammunition depot a couple miles or so to the north. And unfortunately for us, it’s also a known feral ghoul sanctuary…”

“Woo! Finally some action I can get in on!” Hispano called out and jumped into the air. As she did, she flared her wings and swung her cannon effortlessly around into her talons. With her normal exuberant energy, she grasped the heavy bolt on Suiza and racked it with a delighted squeal. “When do we leave!?”

“At dawn…” Hardcase said, now leaning away from her on his hooves. “Wait, who said you were going with us?” He asked, eyeing the overly excited griffon with a nervous smile.

“Well, you were the one who said ‘we’ would go, and ‘we’ kinda implies all of us!” Hispano giggled, swinging Suiza around in her talons. “Besides, Night already asked me to come along with you all, and you’ll need all the help you can get.” Flapping her wings softly, she came back down and landed with a grace she’d missed until now. Turning her gaze over to me, she shifted her eyes up to the unimpressed look of Buck as he deadpanned at her. “I know you might not know me yet, but admit it, you need my help anyway.”

“Fine.” Buck sighed, still holding me tensely in his arms. “But before all that, we’ve got a doctor’s appointment to get to.” Looking down to me, I could see that Buck was less than happy with Hispano’s sudden enthusiasm to join up with us. I knew it was asking a lot from him to have her around, but he had to know that we’d all be safer on this next job with her around anyway.

“Don’t worry about her, she’ll be helpful.” I said, moreso trying to convince myself of that fact more than Buck. From the way he snorted and only cocked his eyebrow, I was pretty sure he knew that as well.

“It’s not her I’m worried about, Night.” He said, pulling me closer again. “Anyway, let’s get that leg of yours checked up on before it gets too late.” Nodding, I relegated myself to sitting in his arms for now. As I did however, I noticed that Buck never truly relaxed as we began to walk. I know that the last day had been stressful for him, but I hoped that after we finished in here, I could do something to help him relax.

“I’ll try to stay out of trouble tomorrow.” I said softly, again trying to convince myself of that more than anything. Nestling into his arm and chest, I felt as Buck took a deep breath and rubbed at my back.

“I hope so, Night.” He spoke softly, “I really do hope so…”

This place made my head hurt.

“Alright, well, everything looks good so far.” The nurse who was looking me over spoke up. Using her magic, she lifted the surgical mask she wore up and off her muzzle as she removed the cold metal stethoscope end from my side. “The doctor will be in shortly to give a look over your leg.”

“Thank you.” Buck nodded from his seat in the corner of the small examination room. We both watched as the nurse turned and left, shutting the door and leaving both Buck and I in silence. Hispano had gone off to find her father again, and Hardcase went to explain tomorrow’s job to Delilah. Since they’d left though, I’d expected Buck to voice his concerns over things. But even with all the chances he’s had to speak up, he still remained silent.

Functionally, this room was the same as the one I’d woken up in on the Inuvik. However, it felt more impersonal than Buck’s office had, and I couldn’t quite place why. Flopping back onto the examination table, I squinted at the intense fluorescent lights that hung low over me. The odd buzzing they gave made my ears twinge, and the various other sounds that this ship gave off seemed a lot more intense than anything I’d heard on the Inuvik. Still, there was an odd ebbing in my head that I could just feel from this place. And it was that ebbing that was giving me a headache. Knowing that, I wanted a distraction of any kind.

“Tell me, Buck,” I spoke up, glancing over to him. “what’s got you so upset?” Looking over at me the way he did, I knew Buck still didn’t want to talk about it for some reason. “First you tell me you’re worried about dying without a legacy. Also, I can understand that you’re slightly jealous of Hispano, even though I have no intention to be with her. But, what could possibly make you not want to talk to me about what’s on your mind?”

“Because I’m scared, Night.” Buck spat out before putting his head in his paws. “We’re going out tomorrow to a place full of dangerous creatures, right after you almost lost your life on the road, which was in turn almost after you lost your life in Filly Crossing, which again was right after you were nearly killed in Klondike.” Rubbing at his tired looking eyes with his paws, he shook his head and slumped. “Hell, you almost fell through the dock outside! Is it really not that obvious why I’m afraid of you going out tomorrow?”

He was right. He’s not even the only one to have pointed it out, but… I’m not the luckiest pony around. Time and time again, things just tend to go from bad to worse around me, and normally those with me tend to get hurt as well. Worse than that, I know I’d just be lying to myself in saying that nothing bad is going to happen again tomorrow. Or the next day, or the day after that.

“At first I’d thought it was just the wasteland being just as bad as everypony had said it’d be.” I sighed, looking back up at the bright lights above. “But I know I’m jinxed. I have to be.” Just saying that made my headache get ten times worse, forcing me to close my eyes tightly.

“No, no, Night.” Buck sighed as I found his warm paw grasp at my forehoof softly. “I didn’t mean to imply anything like that. I’m sure you aren’t the cause of any of this...”

“Yeah, sure.” Pulling my forehoof from his grasp, I reached up and pressed it against my aching head. “I’m sure you’re right, and it’s just a string of bad luck just happening to line up to repeatedly nearly get me and those around me killed.”

Before he could retort, the door to the room opened up, and I looked up to find a red unicorn stallion wearing a labcoat trot in.

“Alrighty there, good evening…” The doctor paused as he looked over at Buck, focusing on the medical yoke I gave him that hung around his neck. “Oh, yes, well you must be his normal physician then.” With a nervous smile, the doctor reached out his hoof to Buck. “My name’s Dr. Myotomy, and I see that you’re in today for a check up on a limb?”

“Yes,” Buck nodded, taking the doctor’s hoof between his paws and shaking it firmly. “I performed the procedure earlier today on…” Buck was cut off by a loud slam from the ceiling above. All three of us looked up there before a low electrical hum came through the metal above that felt like a dagger being shoved into my head. I’d be fine to never have a headache after this for the rest of my life. Is that so much to ask? I wouldn’t know over how much this now pounding headache sucks.

“Sorry for the noise. We’ve been hard at work trying to repair some of the medical machinery damaged in the attacks last month. If you hear more noises like that, it’s nothing to worry about.” Dr. Myotomy spoke up with a smile and a dismissive wave of his hoof. Looking up, he gave a small pause as he stared at the ceiling. “Though, I do hope the Magical Resonance Imager works this time around. We’ve been trying to get it warmed up tonight because we have more than a few patients here who need it.”

“Excuse me, did you say it’s an MRI machine above us?” Buck spoke up sharply. Looking over to him, he was now standing up at full alert, and wore a worrying look on his face. Getting a nod from the Doctor, Buck nearly turned white. “Call up there now and keep them from turning it on. Night has an implant in his head that could react very poorly to having a magical field of that intensity turned on in this proximity.”

Almost as he said that, the aching in my head intensified once again. That pit in my stomach that always showed itself when something bad was about to happen? Yeah, it punched me in the gut so hard that I felt nauseous. Or, maybe that was the fact that my head felt like it was trying to explode at the moment...

“Well, t-that wasn’t mentioned on his charts…” Dr. Myotomy stuttered before taking a step back. “I’ll be right back once I’ve told them to keep it off for now. Stay here.”

With a shuttering hum, the buzzing from the lights picked up in my head, and another bang emit from upstairs. Looking over at Buck, I saw his eyes go wide only a moment before the world around me warped and ran like it was made of wax. Everything melted away as the noise in my head picked up into what felt like intense and painful radio static. Fear joined the pain I felt for only a moment, before everything died as if somepony flicked a switch.

Everything went away into a dark silence, and with it, went me as well.

Author's Note

Again, many thanks to TheFurryRailfan for giving this an early read. It's so incredibly helpful to have a second set of eyes go over things. I'm incredibly grateful to have such good friends in the community like him, and you should all go and give his stories a read!

Chapter 21 - [REDACTED] Or simply put: the thing at the place

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She just had to crank up the Dizzitron…

No, I just had to run into Hispano, that’s what started this all. Maybe if I was a better flyer and didn’t tend to crash into things, I wouldn’t have gotten us into a situation of being shot by some giant lakeside camera-cannon-thing.

The blinding shine from the cannon near the lake drained off, and the world around the three of us resolved only slightly. Instead of pure white light, everything turned to an off, manilla sort of color. Sort of like that of a piece of paper that’d been left out in the sun too long. Past the odd coloration, I had the peculiar feeling that I had been squeezed into a hallway much too small for me to even move around in.

“Night?” Violet’s voice came from above me. Strangely enough, I couldn’t turn my head up to even get a look at her. “I think we’re flat…”

“I don’t care if we’re flat!” Hispano whined from somewhere behind me. “Get me the hell out of here!” Another bright flash enveloped us with a sizzling snap. The three of us were released from the hallway, and collapsed onto each other on top of a cold and hard surface. “Less painfully, would have been nice.” She groaned, digging her claws into my side as she pulled herself off of me.

“What the hell was that?” I asked, blinking a few times. My eyes were still adjusting to the change in lighting, but it seemed to be that we were somehow inside of a small, plain, concrete room. A single flickering fluorescent light above us buzzed noisily, and the sound of dripping water outside of the thick metal door I sat next to made me wonder if we’d somehow managed to fall down below the green lake.

“Night, what did…” Violet spoke up. Without any warning, I found her forehooves clamped around my head, brushing my mane aside hastily. “I… I think something is very wrong here. You’re missing part of your mane.”

“What!?” Pushing her hooves off of my head, I reached up and ran my hooves all over. Near my maneline, I could feel it, a patch of my mane had been shaved. It wasn’t big, but more distressingly, I could feel a bump under it.

“I’m missing plumage…” Hispano squawked in surprise, running her talons around her head. “Wait, where’s my flight cap?” Looking around, she turned white as all the color flushed from her. “Where is my sister? What the fuck is going on!?”

Looking around, I noticed that none of us had been brought into this secluded room with anything we’d just had on us. Panicking, I looked down and patted around my neck. Gone. Mom’s tags were just… gone.

“Hello in there!” A shrill voice came from the other side of the rusty door beside me. “Are you all doing alright? No transfer errors I hope.”

“Where did you take my sister, you bastard!” Hispano squawked. She shot over to the door in a blur, ramming against it uselessly and scraping at it with her talons. “I’ll kill you for this!”

The voice laughed. “Oh, relax. Maybe the Haycartes transfer didn’t push one of you out of the spell buffer. A relatively simple fix, happens all the time.” The voice on the other side of the door gave a quick set of knocks against it. “I’ll double check it and return for you all shortly.”

“Wait!” Violet called out as she ended up shoving Hispano out of the way. Planting her head firmly sideways against the door, I watched as her hopeful expression started to sink. With a sigh, she pushed herself back. “Damnit. He’s gone.”

A soft chime came across the air, seemingly coming right through the ceiling. It was shortly followed by the meekest sounding mare I think I’d ever heard in my life.

This is a reminder to all Ministry of Peace and Ministry of Arcane Sciences staff members. Please remember to display your facility issued identification tags at all times as to avoid unneeded conflicts with the internal security systems. Thank you for your cooperation.

“What?” I let the words just slip out of my muzzle. “I thought all the ministries died out at the end of the war…”

“They did.” Violet sighed, slumping back against the door. “This place must still be undiscovered.” Looking over at Hispano with a cocked eyebrow, Violet eyed her suspiciously. “Who the hell wanted you to scout this place out anyway?”

“That’s... none of your damn business.” Hispano grumpily folded her talons across her chest and looked at me. “It’s all his fault we’re here anyway.”

“What do you mean it’s my fault!?” I didn’t know this place was here any more than she did! “I wasn’t the one who shot at it!”

“Yeah, but you ran into me, remember!?” Hispano groaned and grimaced at me. “I swear that every time we see each other, you’re always getting into some sort of trouble.”

“Yeah, well he’s not the one who’s been following somepony around, is he?” Violet rolled her eyes as I nearly locked up in fear. She… couldn’t have known who Hispano really was, could she? “I mean let’s face it, you lied about scouting this place, didn’t you?”

Shit! She was going to tell Hispano she knew, and then Hispano was going to kill me because she’ll think I told Violet! Oh goddesses, how did this go so wrong!?

“So. You know then.” Hispano deadpanned, looking over at me. “And here I’d thought Dum Dum was trustworthy for once.” Shaking her head, she shrugged. It’s not what it looks like! “I can’t believe I thought you actually had a thing for me.” She did? Wait you idiot, that’s it!

“I do!” I nearly screamed. Yes, I lied, but I just needed to say something that got their attention. Thankfully, both Hispano and Violet went wide eyed at my outburst, but then the sudden silence between us all started to claw at me. I needed to sell this to Violet and Hispano, or they were going to kill each other before killing me! “Violet?” I turned to her and sat down, pulling every detail out of my mind about liking somepony. Annoyingly, all I could pull from was everything I’d originally thought about Salt. “I don’t know if you’ve ever felt this way about somepony, but… when Hispano saved me, I felt something for her. Something that just clicked inside, that felt new and exciting.” Looking over to the young griffon, her surprise had transitioned into a sort of odd speechlessness. “I don’t know for sure, but… I think she feels the same way about me. That’s why you were following me, isn’t it?”

“I…” Hispano stuttered for a moment. I think she was so swept up in the moment that it had taken her a second to realize just what I was doing. At least, I hoped that she understood... “Y-yes. Of course.” She laughed nervously, looking at the floor as she ran her tallon over her head feathers. “I’ve never felt this way about a pony before. I don’t know how to explain it either, but… I just like him.” Her words were soft, and this time it was my turn to second guess if she was being sincere or not.

“So… you were actually following us?” Violet sat down and just looked plain confused. “Why hide than?”

“Well,” I mirrored Hispano’s nervous laugh to try to hide what I was really thinking. “Delilah probably wouldn’t like some stranger hanging around and not helping, right?”

“I just… never thought of it that way.” Violet muttered before turning over toward Hispano, offering her hoof out to her. “Sorry I jumped on your case a bit.” Giving a soft smile to the small griffon, Violet seemed to relax a bit.

“No problem.” Hispano said slowly, taking Violets hoof in her talon and giving it a firm shake. “Now, how do we get out of here?”

The door beside me opened up without warning. “Let me handle that.” The oddly voiced stallion spoke, shrouded in the darkness of the hallway outside. With a sizzling pop, bright arcs of electricity sparked out and struck the three of us. My muscles felt like they were immediately on fire and refusing to work at all. I couldn’t even scream from the sudden pain, just collapse to the floor and wait for it to be over.

“Sorry about all that.” The stallion spoke again, his voice sounding even more shrill as he stepped over toward me. A pair of rotten hooves came into my vision, and the smell of old flesh hit me hard. “Juuuust need to apply some... ‘cooperation enhancers’.” From his side, a thick ringed collar slid out of the odd white lab coat he wore, and floated its way over to me. With my body mostly numb from whatever hit it, I could barely feel whatever it was as it was slipped under my neck. What I did notice however, was the solid click it gave as it shut around my coat. “Got one here for each of you until we can sort this all out.” Stepping out of my line of sight toward the others, all I could do was stare out the open door and listen as he did the same thing to them.

Now that my eyes had adjusted a little, the flickering hallway light outside the room fought against the darkness that cloaked it. Just barely visible, was the old Ministry of Arcane Sciences logo, still desperately clinging to the concrete wall.

“There, now…” The rotten pony sighed, stepping back. “Why don’t you all just relax for a bit while I move you somewhere more comfortable. With another click on a small square remote-like device, a soft ringing tone felt like it came into being all around me. No, more like it was in my mind. Trying to focus on it to figure it out didn’t help, and in fact made me feel exhausted. “Good, good.” The stallion's voice sounded farther off, even though I knew he was still right next to me. “Just, let yourself fall asleep……”

“Night, wake up.” It was Violet’s voice. But… why was she in my head? “Who know’s how long we were even out…”

With a sharp jab against my side, I shot up off the floor. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest, and panic set in.

“Woah there, easy.” Violet said, pressing her hoof against my side. “We’re safe, for now.” She looked fuzzy in my adjusting vision, but as I refocused I noticed the odd black metal collar secured around her neck. “It seems that we’ve been left alone for the time being.”

Looking around, I found that we’d changed locations. We were in a slightly bigger room than before, and one that looked a bit better kept. Old floral wallpaper still clung to the old walls, and inspirational posters still hung on them, even if they’d been coated in a fine layer of dust.

Pulling myself back up to my hooves, the floor under me was also different. Like the captain’s quarters back on the Inuvik, this place was still covered with a simple, musty carpeting. A few old olive colored couches sat against the walls on either side of a table and lamp that was cozily nested in the corner. A small round table and a set of chairs sat on the opposite side of the room, along with a tall, silver looking standing lamp. All of the furniture sat beside a moderately sized desk that contained a still working terminal on it.

Quickly scrolling and typing away on it, was Hispano.

“I don’t like this.” She squawked, turning back to look at us. “If this memo has any truth to it, this place doesn’t have a very good history.”

Always the curious one, I didn’t know when to hold my own tongue. “What does it say?” I asked with probably more enthusiasm than necessary. Still, if we were in it deep this time, I wanted to know.

“Well, this first memo is somepony complaining about the entrance to this facility.” Turning back to the terminal, she tapped at a few keys with her talons. “It uses something called ‘Haycarte's method’ to render ponies down to simple information on a scroll or piece of paper, then reconstructs them on the inside of the facility directly into the prisoner holding cells.” Scrolling a bit, she frowned. “Apparently, the guards kept getting their equipment and ID’s stripped during the transfer. So that at least explains where our gear went.”

“That’s not too bad though.” I spoke up. Hey, I could be optimistic about this! Even if my gut is telling me it was never going to be that simple.

“Prisoner holding cells?” Violet asked, stepping up behind Hispano. “What did a research facility need with prisoners?”

“That’s the bad part. Other memos say that they weren’t prisoners, but mostly Equestrian zebra citizens. It dictates quite specifically more than a few transfers were coming from Equestrian cities and not wartime prisoner camps.” Hispano hit a few buttons and pulled up another memo. “The whole idea of this lab was a joint research project by the M.o.P. and M.a.S. on the study of cutie mark magic. The publicly listed goal was apparently to help pacify veterans who were suffering from wartime stress disorder. However, the 'off the books' side of the project, was actually a study of glyph marks, and how they could be stripped off their hosts.”

“That sounds... wrong.” Violet recoiled and shook her head. “You can’t just take somepony’s identity away like that…” Even though I knew she was speaking for those who were here two hundred years ago, I couldn’t help but think she was speaking about her own experience with the Enclave.

“Why not?” The shrill voice of the stallion of before cropped up again behind us. Cracking open the door the rest of the way, a unicorn stallion just as rotten as the captain of the Inuvik stepped inside. His degraded red coat was oddly contrasted by a wavy, long white mane that stretched down past his barrel. The thick rimmed round glasses he wore were scratched and fogged to the point where I wasn’t quite sure how anypony would be able to see through them. And along with the old lab coat he wore, at his side he levitated a clipboard and the small remote from before.

“What makes you think you can just take somepony’s identity from them?” Violet stamped her hoof, puffing out her chest as well. Funny enough, it only drew out a soft, wheezing chuckle from the stallion.

“Please, spare me your righteousness.” He waved a hoof in dismissal before pushing his glasses further up his muzzle. For a moment, I could almost see his yellow eyes through them, but then they disappeared behind the glare of the fluorescent lights above us. "You see, cutie mark magic is very fluid in our reality. Think of it as... a sticker overlaid onto something. Tear it off, and very little of the physical pony changes. However, their identity as a whole is completely different on a universal scale. The theory was first proposed by a colleague of mine in the Ministry of Arcane Sciences, Professor Starlight Glimmer. She offered the theory that if you strip a pony of their cutie mark, then they would lose the feeling of who they once were altogether. They begin to think simply, act simply, and generally become a more passive and happy individual."

“How does that justify anything you’ve done here?” Violet Snorted.

“My dear, if you had seen how this war has destroyed some of the soldiers that we’d tested early on, you’d understand the benefits.” He shook his head solemnly. “Removing a cutie mark can pacify most ponies, make them feel happiness again without the looming feeling of dread they’d come to live with on the battlefields.” Pulling up his clipboard, he flipped through a few pages. “We’re closer than ever to finding a way to perfectly strip zebra marks as well. When that happens, we’ll make megaspells to do it to every pony and zebra the world over.” A wide smile flashed across the stallion’s face. “Think of it! Every pony on the planet, every zebra even! All of them losing any idea of what they were fighting for! With that, this petty war could finally be over.”

“You’re insane…” I muttered under my own breath. However, as I did, Violet mirrored me without lowering her volume.

“I thought zebra’s didn’t have cutie marks.” Hispano chimed up.

"You are correct in that assumption." He nodded with a smile, almost seeming to appreciate Hispano for bringing that point up. "Glyph mark magic is something entirely different than we thought. Imagine if you will, not the sticker as described earlier, but a patch sewn onto fabric. What would happen if you were to grab onto it and yank it away all at once."

Hispano finally mirrored us with a look of shock. “That would rip and tear at any fabric..."

“Regrettably, yes.” Giving a solemn nod, he let out a sigh. "See, we didn't know that at first. The first series of subjects suffered mostly from crippling insanity when we removed their glyphs. Their mark's connection to the universe and our reality was much more intertwined than we’d first thought. It took us a good few refinements to really understand their connection on a fundamental and arcane level."

“Refinements?" If I looked confused to him, it was probably because I wasn't quite sure how anypony could continue down this path if they had caused the insanity of a whole group of ponies, let alone zebras. I may still be uncomfortable with them, but I’m far from wishing that level of hell down on them.

"Of course we needed to refine the process! We had to press on!" He chuckled and rolled his eyes. "It took a few years, dozens of trial runs before we could understand it." All three of us recoiled at this information, which was surprising because I'd honestly assumed nothing could shock Hispano. "It wasn't until the arcane spell matrix was invented did we find a way to mitigate most of the mental degradation, and achieve a phenomenal ten percent success rate."

“That's horrible!” Violet shouted, starting to crack under all this. “Even with zebras, you can't just take away who they were!" With her anger showing through, I was sure at any moment, she was just going to throw herself at this guy and beat him to death with her hooves. Hell, if I had my gun, I’d shoot him here and now.

“So you would rather our soldiers live with the memories of the horrors they saw in combat?” The stallion now puffed up his own chest, the thin skin around his neck distending as he stuck his muzzle up high at us. “You'd rather have them go to sleep each night to relive the battle that literally tore their friends to pieces in front of them? To let them see the visceral and untamed nature of combat for the rest of their lives until they became unstable enough to kill themselves?"

“No, that’s not who we are!” She spat at him, taking a firm step forward. “We’re supposed to do better, to be better than that. Isn’t that what the Ministry of Peace stood for?”

The stallion rolled his eyes. “We’re funded by the Ministry of Peace because this is the best non-violent approach there is. That doesn’t mean it has to be painless research however. The few must suffer for the good of the many.” Folding his clipboard to his side, he glared at Violet. “I don’t expect you to understand, but you'd rather have zebra prisoners who, once released, are even more zealous to destroy equestria than before they were captured? You'd want them back out there, detonating bombs and going on savage killing sprees in public places?"

Stepping forward again, Violet was trembling in rage. However, her voice shifted to a low, cold tone. "Have you even read any of your files? They weren't captured war criminals. They were citizens of Equestria rounded up because of your propaganda and forced into prisons built by ponies like you! They didn't do anything wrong, it was you who..."

WIth a soft click from the remote in the Stallion’s magic, Violet stopped mid sentence and went stiff, blinking a few moments before sitting down in complete silence. It was about then that I noticed the brand on her flank start to glow a dim orange.

The Doctor smirked, floating over a clipboard and pen. With a smile, he started to write stuff down quickly. "Interesting. The pacification magic has a curious silencing effect on those who have already had their cutie mark forcibly removed."

"What did you do to her?" I asked hesitantly. Oh goddesses, please let her be alright…

Almost as if he were startled, he looked up to me with a worried look. "What? Oh, right." Wiggling the remote in front of him, he gave me a smile. "The spell matrix chips transfused into your skulls during the Haycarte transfer are wired with simple cutie mark stripping talismans and memory inhibiting magics. With it, I can make you passive at any point in time I like." He paused, looking between both Hispano and I. "Well actually now that I think of it, I'm not quite sure of it's effects on non-cutie marked ponies. Or even those of the griffin species, for that matter." Leaning forward, he glared between both Hispano and I. "Maybe after we discuss why you are here, I’ll sit down and run some tests on the both of you to find out..."

“Why are we here!?” Hispano Squawked and puffed up her plumage.

“Now now, calm down.” The stallion gave several wheezing laughs again. “Don’t forget your manners.”

Stepping in, I finally felt confident enough to speak up. “You captured us. We didn’t want anything to do with this place.” Maybe if we spoke bluntly, but reasonably, he’d understand this was all some big mistake.

“That’s… no.” The shocked look across the stallion’s face told me that he hadn’t expected that answer. He shook his head and snorted as a heavy frown pulled across his muzzle. “No, you definitely came in here intent on stealing my research for yourselves.”

“What!?” Hispano spat. “Now you listen…”

She was cut off when a P.A. system cut in with a squelch and a fuzzy crackle.

“Hehehe. Hello everypony…” The voice of another stallion spoke up, this time sounding more scratchy than the doctor here.

“That’s… subject seventeen.” The doc said, looking up at the small speaker set in the ceiling. Turning to the door, he clicked his remote. “You three, follow me. Quickly now!” Rushing out the door ahead of us, neither Hispano or I needed a second invitation. Violet still just simply stood there however, but I was sure we could just go back to her later.

“That is correct! Hehehe!” The stallion giggled almost uncontrollably as he spoke. From the pale white that the doctor turned, I got the distinct feeling that this wasn’t a good thing. “I’ve been a bad zebra, but I want to be good! And I want you to be good with me, Mr. Cipher! HehehaHaHA!”

The maniacal, excited laughter coming through the speakers was something that I just knew was going to haunt me for the rest of my days. Suddenly, this old facility seemed a lot more run down, and a lot more full of shadows and death than it had a few minutes ago…

“What’s going on?” Hispano called out as she flapped her wings and easily paced herself just beside the galloping doctor.

“Subject Seventeen is in the central control room.” He belted out between gasps as we ran. “He must not gain control of facility security!” For a guy who’s body looked like he was barely holding together, he sure could gallop!

“Oh, don’t worry, Mr. Cipher,” The stallion’s creepy voice echoed along the dark and winding halls that we were galloping down. “Hehe… You said friendship was important in becoming complacent,” Smothering a snorting chuckle, his laughter was becoming more and more erratic. “So I’ve already made friends with aaaaall of the security robots!”

The whole of the dark facility lit up with red tinted lights. Alarms all over went off from seemingly every direction. Worse of all, a pair of bright searchlights at the end of the hall swiveled and turned towards us.

“Multiple Errant Prisoners Detected!” The mechanical voice of what sounded to be a wartime Protectapony boomed out towards us as it walked out of a protected recess in the hallway wall that had opened with the alarms. With a flash, it began to pulse bright beams of light from it’s glass domed head. You know, I think I would have been more impressed with my first encounter with a non-museum piece wartime machine marvel, if it hadn’t been so intent on killing me.

Screaming as the bright beams flashed all around us, I was tackled off of my hooves by Hispano and shoved into the open doorframe of a dark room. I whimpered as I slammed into the metal frame and tumbled down to the floor inside the room. Skidding to a stop across the checkered black and white tile floor, I groaned and shook the disorientation off.

With a whimper and scrambling hooves, the Doctor dove into the small room along side us. Red beams struck and sizzled the old white paint right off the doorframe. Between all of our panting heaves, the steady, heavy mechanical hoofsteps of the old world machine drew closer.

“What do we do?” I asked, looking up to Hispano.

“Find a weapon.” She said, looking around quickly.

I did as she asked while getting up to my hooves. Looking around the dark room, I found that it looked a lot like the infirmary in the Inuvik, however I don’t quite remember there being actual thick leather straps on the examination bed other than the hoofcuffs I’d had on. A wall of old cabinets and drawers sat barely holding itself together against the wall. Inside the decaying, old cabinets, various medical supplies lay heaped between a few collapsed shelves. Of course, Hispano zipped over and started to tear through them.

Quickly spotting the largest metal object I could find, I picked it up and held it between my hooves.

“A bedpan?” The doc shouted, “Are you two insane!? You can’t fight security!” He cringed as the heavy hoofsteps grew closer. “We… we need to run.”

“No, it’s too close.” Hispano spoke up. “It won’t miss if you leave now. We have no choice.” Ripping the whole cabinet off the wall, a few rusty metal tubes scattered across the floor, along with a heavy looking medical device. “Bingo.” Quickly scooping the device into her talons, she pulled out two handled metal slabs with wires coiling out of them and back into the base of the device. “I hope this thing still has working spark batteries!” Transferring both slabs into one talon, she flicked a switch.

Nothing happened.

“Damnit.” She muttered, throwing it down.

“Hostile detected.” The robot spoke up from just around the doorway. Slowly, it’s glowing, domed head made it’s way past the doorframe, and it’s lumbering form turned towards us.

Looking up, I was just in time to see a blue and purple flash zip by the doorway. The sound of shearing metal and grunting filled the hallway outside. In short order, sparks began to shoot out of the machine, and the long, silvery standing lamp’s spear like body was shoved through the machine’s shoulder joint. Its glowing dome darkened, and the smell of melting drifted into the room.

“Fuck this place.” Violet groaned as she yanked at the lamp pole embedded through the machine. With a cringe inducing screech, the pole budged a bit back before stopping. “Damnit.”

“Night?” Hispano said, looking at me before eyeing the bedpan in my hooves. “Care to do the honors?” She smirked, looking over at the doctor.

Wide eyed, the doctor’s horn flashed and tugged at his lab coat. The remote… he was looking for it! With my heart beating wildly in my chest, it may have taken me a moment, but I finally realized what Hispano was insinuating.

Letting out a furious yell, I raised the bedpan above my head and swung it down against the doctor. With a metallic clang, it struck his horn and muzzle hard. He seemed stunned by the strike. However, his magic refocused and snapped the bedpan away from my hooves. Quickly he turned the tables on me. With a swift upward swing, the metallic object clocked me in the jaw and sent me sprawling.

“That’s enough!” He shouted. “You don’t understand!”

As soon as I’d hit the floor, Violet was on him like a bolt. I was still seeing stars, but I could hear the struggle between the two. A strong, sharp force grasped at my forehoof and helped to roll me back onto my hooves.

“Come on, Dum Dum.” Hispano spoke as she pulled me back up. “No time to rest when we’ve got an asshole to murder!”

“Wait!” The doctor screamed out with a whimper. “Please, you have to know about subject seventeen!”

From down the hall, more heavy mechanical hoofsteps echoed. More security machines must’ve been on their way. Looking back over to Violet as she hovered over the doctor, I really hoped she knew what to do. My heart was still beating a million miles a minute, and I was ready to move the moment she told us to.

“Please, I know where to hide! Where security will never find us!” The doctor gasped, using his magic to adjust his now cracked glasses on his muzzle. His yellow eyes beamed fear at us, and the way he quaked with each thumping step of security, I was sure he was being honest. “Just please, you have to help me!”

“We don’t have to do shit.” Hispano squawked from over at the wrecked Protectapony. She was using her talons to pry off the smoking metal plates from around it’s neck, quickly working at what looked to be damaging it as much as she could.

“You want to live?” Violet dragged the doctor back to his hooves by the lapels of his lab coat. “Then show us where to go.” She growled to him, quickly getting a frantic nodding.

“S-sure!” He nodded and scrambled to move past her. As he squeezed between the doorway and the protectapony corpse, he looked down the hall to where we’d run from. “It’s t-this way.”

“Bombay,” Violet commanded my attention over to her. “Stay close and don’t hesitate.” She spoke with an intensity only paralleled by the steeled, nearly emotionless gaze she wore. Flapping her wings a few times, she hovered to the doorway after the doc. “I don’t think he has that remote anymore, but keep an eye out for it just in case.”

“Almost…” Hispano whined as she grabbed onto both sides of the machine’s head. With a metallic squelch, the protectapony’s head sparked and was torn straight off of it’s body.

Reminder to self. Don’t let Hispano grab your head…

“The hell are you doing?” Violet snapped as she floated out the door.

“Arming myself.” The young griffon grumbled as she flopped to the floor and grabbed at the severed head. Grabbing around the metal bits that I assumed were it’s equivalent of a spine, Hispano twirled a few cables around her talons and pointed the severed head down the hall towards where the new security machines were coming from. Trotting out the door, I watched as Hispano pulled one of the head-wires like a trigger and the machine dome glowed before firing off a bright, but inaccurate beam of magical energy.

I felt my jaw drop. “Woah…” She spent all of a minute tearing at that machine and she made a weapon from scratch!?

“Cool, huh?” Hispano squeaked with a bubbly smile.

“Less talking, more walking!” Violet called out from a ways back down the hallway.

“Hostile Prisoners Detected.” The mechanical voice of the security bots moving in called from down the other way. The pair of glowing heads emerged from around the corner and quickly turned to face us. “Use of lethal force is authorized.” A pair of sizzling bright beams scoured the wall and floor around Hispano and I. “Please cease and desist all hostilities.”

The intercom above crackled again, and the twisted and giggling stallion returned. Only this time, he was singing.

“Just use your eyes,
this time no lies,
and don’t disguise,
who you are inside!”

“What the hell is this shit!?” Hispano growled as we both turned to run after Violet. “Fucking pony sing-songy bullshit, that’s what!”

“Because your friends are always there for you!
You don't have to be the same for friendship to be true!”

Maddening cackles slipped out between the ‘verses’ in his song, and I suddenly realized just how scared I truly was. I might die down here to the crazy singing stallion… and I didn’t want to die yet!

“Friends can change the world!
Friends can change the world, you see!
Friends can change the world! Hehehe!”

Another pair of beams lanced through the air around us. I didn’t know if we were lucky, or if they were just that bad at aiming. However, as Hispano flapped hard and kept pace with me flying backwards, she fired a pair of shots of her own. Both of her shots must have missed as well, because another pair of beams scorched the ceiling and cut through a pipe. With a hissing burst of steam that burned at my skin as I galloped through it, the two of us nearly missed the turn in the brightly lit corridor that Violet had turned and gone down.

“In here!” The doctor called out from ahead. The rusted metal grating he had propped up in his hooves didn’t give me hope that it led anywhere nice. “Quickly!” He yelled as another pair of beams hit the wall behind us through the steam.

Swallowing nervously, I galloped toward him and Violet anyway. Anywhere had to be better than here!

Violet angrily tore the grate from his hooves, pointing down into the hole. “You first.” To which, the doctor nodded and quickly jumped down into the hole. Looking back over to me, she nodded down. “Get in, now.”

Not hesitating to get myself out of this nightmarish hallway, I spread my wings slightly and jumped into the near two pony wide hole. The little air resistance there was didn’t really slow my fall at all, but what did help soften the fall was the shoulder deep pool of the same green muck from the lake outside. I was glad I’d kept my wings up, even if the sludge was thick enough that it didn’t splash all over my wings. The abrasive fluid felt heavier this time around, almost pulling me down to the floor as I tried to move. With the feeling like it could pull me under at any moment, I moved myself a bit closer to the doctor.

“Oh, is it time for Hide and Seek, Mr. Cipher!?” The crazed stallion giggled over the intercom. “I’ll count first! One… Two… Three… Four…”

“That’s Dr. Cipher to you, Zedeek.” Dr. Cipher muttered under his breath.

“Doc, you better start to explain shit right now.” Hispano cooed remarkably calmly as she fluttered into the tunnel with us. Fortunately for her, her wings weren’t as useless as mine, and easily let her fly just above the green goop river.

Letting the heavy grate slam down behind her, Violet lowered herself down to just above the water as well. “Yeah, like where we’re going, for starters.”

“My department office…” Dr. Cipher started, lifting his hoof from the sludge to point down the long, dark tunnel. “The only way into it is from this maintenance tunnel, or through a steel bulkhead that we can lock from the inside.”

“So why are we going there if there’s only one way out?” As she spoke, Hispano shook her makeshift weapon at the doc. Each time she did, I could see the Doc tense up a bit, so at least he probably wouldn’t lie to us. Flicking the glowing robot head in the direction of down the tunnel, He seemed to get the idea and started walking.

“I might be able to use my terminal to take back the security systems.” He said, as he trudged along. “With it, I could disable the security, and we could all go neutralize him once and for all.” Looking back over to Hispano, he grew a rotten, toothy grin. “Or, we could head to the armory if you’d like. Plenty of guns there to use to fight our way to him.”

“And have you shoot me in the back?” Hispano laughed at that. “Not on your life.”

He shrugged and continued walking. “Your choice. I’m just the hostage here.”

I did my best to try to stay with him, but with the thickness of this gunk, it wasn’t easy to keep up. It wasn’t fast, but every few steps we both took, I felt like I fell just one short of keeping pace. Honestly, I was more than a bit jealous that Violet and Hispano had it this easy. As the gap between us widened, Violet took notice and slowed down as well. Carefully, she hovered her way next to me, keeping her hooves just about an inch over the sludge as she kept pace.

“I’m sorry.” I spoke up.

“Look, Night.” She sighed. “I have to be honest about something.”

Great, here it comes. The inevitable ‘you really screwed up this time, and now Delilah is going to leave you behind’ talk. Rolling my eyes, I knew I didn’t want to hear it, but that I completely deserved it.

“I… lied to you, before.” She sighed, hanging her head as she hovered along. “And to the Doc.”

“About what?” That was unexpected…

“About changelings.” She looked up to me with guilty eyes, but I just couldn’t understand it. Why did she lie to me? Did she know about Salt before? Why wouldn’t she just tell me? “Look, I know that you have a lot of questions, but what I’m about to tell you… you can’t tell anypony else on the crew.” She pressed her forehooves together and held them out. “Please, promise me.”

“O-okay?” I said, not really knowing what else to even say. “I promise.”

“Back when I first came down… when I was kicked out of the Enclave, I stayed in a small town just north of Vanhoover named Bridleshade. I only stayed for a little while, tried to reinvent myself there. Mostly what I did, was tried to think of what to do with my life now that I was all alone with nothing.” She smirked as she looked ahead, looking lost in her own, far off thoughts. “The folks in that town were decent. They let me bunk in one of their hotel rooms so long as I helped keep the town cleaned up. Staying with them, I found a marefriend named Jess, who in turn introduced me to Solomon. It was then that I... I started to fall into some bad habits with his friends, and I wasn’t ready to give up who I was because I was new in the wastes.”

“What does…” I cut in, quickly drawing a pained glare from her. Shutting my over eager muzzle, I let her continue.

“After about a month, this… amazing pegasus stallion came in from way down south. Alabaster Mask.” She sighed. “Almost immediately, I found him outside my hotel door. Turns out, he was looking for Pegasi to hire on behalf of Delilah.” Smirking, she looked positively happy again, like none of today had even happened. “Alabaster and I? We hit it off, and almost immediately I knew that I liked him.” Nodding over to me slightly, she bobbed her head. “Almost like with you and Hispano.”

“Well, I took the job, abandoning both Solomon and my marefriend Jess at the time to go south with him. Over the trip, we got to know each other a bit more.” Looking back ahead, I followed her eyes. We’d fallen a bit behind, and Dr. Cipher and Hispano were just rounding a corner up ahead. “In the month it took us to get back, we’d become closer than just friends. Which was when he finally felt comfortable to show me...” She looked at me, right into my eyes. “...just who and what he really was.”

“A Changeling?” I guessed. She gave me a nod and crossed her forehooves, hovering a bit higher.

“Sure, I was a little freaked out. I wasn’t sure if he’d been lying to me this whole time or had just been using me to sustain himself emotionally. That’s what only some of them do, by the way. Some of them feed on love and other emotions.” She let out a warm sigh this time, slightly drifting back and forth across the tunnel. “But... it wasn’t like that with him. He told me he was the last of his hive, the only survivor of the slaughter of his whole family. He wasn’t one of those who needed to take love from others, he was just lonely, and he really did care about me. Better yet, he actually loved me back enough that he wanted to be with me for the rest of his days.”

So… he was afraid to show her what he really was? Maybe… maybe that’s what happened with Salt? Could he just be afraid of what I’d think? “So… what did you do?”

“Hah.” She laughed and rolled her eyes. “I was the biggest idiot in the wastes and married the poor jerk.” Looking down at me, her expression hitched for a moment as her grin turned into a nervous smirk. “Not saying that’s what’s in store for you and Hispano, but you speaking up earlier? It just kinda… hit me again. You’re right where I was when I came down, so who am I to judge who you like?” Putting her hoof onto my shoulder, she gave me a firm pat. “Look, the truth is, down here in the wastes? You should feel lucky if you can find somepony, or anyone who makes you feel a little better about living down here.”

Well, other than the fact that she seemed too young for me, far too brash, and lacking in the specific anatomical parts I tend to like, Hispano was someone I could consider a friend...ish. I’m not even sure if she ever would want to go further in the first place, as she could like mares for all I know! But, I got what Violet was saying, and I think it’s advice that I should hold onto. Even if things haven’t really been going my way recently.

“So!” I spoke up, more to stop the outrageous train of thought screaming out of control in my head, rather than to break up the silence. “You… love a changeling than?” Turning around the bend, the Doc and Hispano were already halfway down this hall. At the end was another intersection, so I should probably pay attention to which way they turned.

“More than anypony I’ve ever met.” Violet nodded and curved around the bend in the tunnel. “Yeah, Alabaster can be a bit infuriating at times, but… I just can’t help but love the bastard.”

Wow. I mean, I know it wasn’t something I’d thought about before, but with everypony on the crew being alone, with the exception of Gearbox and Boiler that is, I’d never thought to ask if she’d had any family. “Do... you think he misses you?”

“What?” She scrunched up her muzzle and snirked. “You kidding? He can’t get enough time away from me on this trip.”

Something felt like it snapped in my mind. Not something big, but it was enough that I stopped walking. “What do you mean?” Looking up at her, I was genuinely confused. “He’s here with us?”

“Okay, I didn’t mean to tell you that… but since I told you everything else, I can’t let a question like that eat away at you.” Nervously, she rubbed her forehooves together. “This is the part you can’t tell anypony else. Even if Delilah asks, you didn’t know, and I never told you. Got it?” Floating in close, she dropped her voice to a whisper. “Since Alabaster had gone up north before, and Delilah didn’t want anypony recognizing him, she had him change his disguise.” Then, it hit me. Oh goddesses, why didn’t I think of it before? He’s the only odd one out! “At first, I wasn’t a fan of his want to go with ‘Hardcase, the smart talking and generally cheery unicorn’. But, he does love to roleplay his characters.”

“So that’s why he said he’s not interested in anypony else…” I lightly gasped as everything in my mind chugged forward like gears coated in molasses. Still, if he could change shape, it would explain his perfectly sculpted flanks...

“What was that?” Violet asked with a cocked eyebrow and a smile.

“Hey!” The loud ZOT of Hispano’s energy weapon accompanied her panicked shouts.

Violet gave a heavy flap of her wings and shot forward through the air. I did my best to wade myself faster through the thick sludge, but I just couldn’t move that fast. In fact, I’d only made it a few steps before she disappeared right around the corner ahead.

“Hispano?” Violet called out. If she couldn’t be seen, that definitely wasn’t good.

With a coughing gasp, Hispano popped her head out of the sludge and fought her way to the surface. Taking in deep breaths, she angrily wicked the green sludge off of her head feathers and looked around.

“Where the fuck did he go?” She growled, doing her best to spin around while still mostly submerged.

“What happened?” I called out, finally wading my way close enough that Hispano could latch onto me while trying to glare me to death.

“The fucking asshole ditched me is what.” She snapped, clawing at my side as she pulled herself onto my back. Cringing at the sharp claws jabbing at my sides, I was surprised at how much she weighed for her size. “Said his office was up there.” Pointing her claw up and past my muzzle, she directed us toward another metal grate in the ceiling. “Then he pulled me down and tried to drown me in this shit before taking off further into the tunnel.”

“Then if he didn’t go up, he must be headed for the armory.” Violet sighed, flapping up toward the rusting grate and pushing up hard. The old metal gave a cringe inducing metallic squeal as it pushed up. The ripping of old fabric met our ears as well, as Violet pushed the grating up right through the musty carpet above. With an ease that I wished I could afford, she flapped her wings once more and pushed both the grating up all the way on it’s hinge, and propelled herself up into the room above. “Alright, at least he wasn’t lying. This looks like an office of some sort. The terminal in here even still works.”

“I’ll get to cracking it.” Hispano cood from atop my back. With a few flaps of her own wings, she too flew up into the open room.

Which of course, left me standing shoulder deep in the green muck. All alone. In the dark. Unfolding my wings, I flapped hard. My wings beat the air, slapping against the surface of the muck with wet smacks. Still, the downward pull that the muck gave might as well have been glue, because I wasn’t going anywhere.

“Hello?” I called up to the others. I knew that they didn’t mean to leave me down here, it’s just that if anything happened to them, I don’t think I’d ever get out of this place. Thankfully, quite promptly, I found Violet and Hispano both poke their heads back over the open hole in the floor. Both of them were offering mirrored nervous smiles that helped me know that they hadn’t meant to leave me like this. “A little help?” I whined, flapping my pitiful wings a few more times.

If we ever get out of this mess, I’ll make note to never get stuck in a place like this ever again.

Ten minutes of trying different ways for them to lift me out of that muck, and Hispano had an ingenious idea. While she got to cracking open the good Doctor’s terminal, she had Violet nearly drop the plush couch onto me from the well furnished office. Even with her mostly healed broken leg, she’d easily pushed the heavy couch down the hole. While it made a good enough ramp for me to pull myself out of the muck, I’d wondered just who the hell needed a couch in their office.

“Really. That was it?” Hispano huffed, running her talons across the old terminal keys noisily. Spinning around in the old desk chair she was perched in, she didn’t seem too worried about our current predicament. “Maniacal. His password was maniacal.” I didn’t really get what was wrong with that as a password, but I was more surprised that she’d gotten into the computer in the first place than anything.

“How’d you learn to do that?” I asked, drawing a very proud look out of the small griffon.

“Learned how to do it when I was younger.” She shrugged it off like it was nothing. “Dad had me learn all the technical stuff about talon work way earlier than my sister ever did, or before any of the other talon trainees were required to for that matter.”

Cracking her talons, she sat back in the old desk chair. “I started learning weapon and armor maintenance at six. Spoken languages and terminal coding started at eight. Aerial maneuvers and flight combat at ten, followed by recon and survival training starting at twelve. Used that bit of training for my improvised magical energy weapon here.” Looking back at the screen with a wide smile, she clapped her talons together excitedly. “A talon has to be ready for any and all obstacles on the job. We’re not all just flying battle birds you know!”

“That’s… amazing.” I said slowly. I couldn’t imagine doing any one of those things at her age, let alone all of them. The life of a talon sounded rough, and like a lightswitch, her very sharp and to the point nature earlier clicked with me. She was training to be a soldier, but she was still young. Her naturally energetic and bubbly personality still showed through.

Getting back to typing, she squinted as she talked. “Well, I don’t know about amazing, but I am pretty much the coolest griff you’ll ever know.” With a sigh, she sat back a little as she continued her work. “Hell, if it weren’t for Solomon, I’d probably be headed into Talon certification back in our hometown of ‘Claw right about now. Not that I want to be a Talon...”

I cringed slightly as she mentioned Solomon’s name, closing my eyes and praying to the goddesses that Violet was too busy spacing out to have heard that.

“What.” Violet spoke up for the first time in minutes, sending a shiver up my spine with just how cold her tone was. “You… I fucking knew you were lying!” She spread her wings and lowered herself to the floor. She was like a coiling spring, ready to release and tackle Hispano. “You’re Cora’s kid, aren’t you.”

As stupid as it was, and as much as it would suck, I did the same. Lowering myself to the floor, I didn’t need to spring nearly as much as Violet, but I didn’t have to. Pushing myself up and flaring my wings, I made myself as big of a target as I could.

Of course, Violet hadn’t expected it, springing forward and slamming into my chest hard. Oh goddesses did it hurt as I felt all of the air in my lungs forcibly shoved out of me. Of course, it also didn’t feel very good to slam down against the large, wooden desk behind me. Crumpling like cardboard, I curled as much as I could when I hit the floor. Writhing and whining like I was, it had still been a better alternative to Violet and Hispano duking it out.

“Ah, fuck.” Violet seethed as she pulled off of me. Looking up at her, a crimson line of blood flowed down from a gash just above her eyebrow from where she’d hit the desk. She grunted through her clenched jaw as she patted at the bloody wound, looking down at me angrily. “What the hell, Bombay? Why defend her?”

“Because he likes me.” Hispano chimed in with a mocking voice.

“No.” I snapped. Even though most of my chest still hurt, I fought past the pain. “I did it because we’re all friends.” Looking over from Violet to Hispano, I was happy to see that wipe the smirk off her beak. “I may not have known either of you for long, but you both helped me out when I needed it. Even though you didn’t have to, you both did.”

Hispano rolled her eyes and huffed enough to brush her head plumage back a bit. “Yeah, and you still owe me for that.”

“Yeah, well if you want to get paid back, then I expect you not to fight with Violet.” I sighed, turning back to Violet. All I managed to see was a blurry velvet blue hoof in my face before I found myself painfully fall onto the floor again.

“That’s for my fucking eye.” She huffed angrily as well. “But seriously, you like her!? She and her dad work for Solomon.”

A small electronic whine pulled Violet’s attention up to the desk. Even from my spot on the floor here, I could see the glowing tip of Hispano’s makeshift energy pistol pointed right at Violet’s muzzle.

“Just my dad works for Solomon, but you already knew that, because you’re his informant.” Hispano snarled as she held the pistol stiffly down at Violet. “Aren’t you.”

Informant? Violet knew Hispano’s dad!?

“Woah woah!” I called out as I scrambled up to my hooves. Looking back and forth between the cold glares the two of them gave each other, I was feeling more confused by the minute. “Can somepony please tell me what’s going on here!?”

“Sure, Dum Dum.” Hispano smirked. “Violet here isn’t working for Delilah. She’s still working for Solomon.”

“Don’t listen to her, Night.” Violet smirked, but didn’t even flinch from her cold glare. “She’s just going to try to divide us. She works for Solomon, and that’s what he wants. For all of us to turn on each other.” Violet’s smirk died as Hispano adjusted her grip on the ponytron’s head, and the tip glowed slightly brighter.

“I told you, my dad works for Solomon. I don’t work for anypony.” Hispano laughed. “I always knew that Solomon had somepony on the inside, my dad had to be getting his info from somewhere. Guess I should have known it was you. Solomon always did seem to have a habit of finding the most loyal kind of cannon fodder to work for him.” Violet grimaced at that particular usage of loyal.

“Violet…” I almost couldn’t speak. While I had no reason to believe Hispano, I… couldn’t dismiss the fact that she could be telling the truth. She’d been honest about things with me so far on our trip, so much as to be overly blunt about things like killing the stallion on the Empirica. Why would she lie now? “Violet, is this true?”

“Fine, you know what?” She pulled her gaze from Hispano, her eyes wavering. “Fuck it. Yes.” She laughed at me. I felt myself get lightheaded, and I’m sure I went pale as a cloud. How could she lie like that… to everyone on the crew? “But you don’t know Solomon, Night. Not like I do.” She shook her head as tears began to drip down her cheek. “Only a suicidal idiot would stand up against him. He could wipe out Delilah and the others if he wanted, but this is all a big game to him. And until he gets bored, they still have a chance to live.”

“But… you told me about Alabaster!” I stuttered, scrambling to hold on to my thoughts as I tried to understand why she would do this. “You said you fell in love with him! That he convinced you to join up with Delilah!”

“I...“ She snorted and sat down hard. “The plan was always to join up with Delilah. Alabaster…? He was something I wasn’t prepared for.” Looking up at me, she steeled her gaze and smiled. “But I do love him, and I’ll make sure that Solomon won’t touch him. You… I helped you because you were just like me, cast down from the Enclave with no idea of what to do with yourself. You’re just like me, Night. We’re survivors. I did what I had to in order to survive down here, and I made friends that helped me do just that. Solomon helped me get back on my hooves, and he could do the same for you! You don’t have to take Delilah’s side, you can leave her and come work for him!”

“That’s enough.” Hispano cut her off by shoving the side of the energy weapon against Violet’s head. “Dum Dum might be the only innocent one among all of us, so I suggest you avoid dragging him into this.”

“He’s already in this.” Violet glared through her wavering eyes at Hispano. “But he won’t have forever to choose a side. Solomon will catch up with us eventually.” Getting up slowly, she turned toward the doorway and stopped. “You know what, Hispano? You’re father is already on thin ice with Solomon for refusing to do the dirty work he wants. It’d be a shame if I were to tell Solomon directly that his daughter was an informant for Delilah.”

The metal in Hispano’s talon creaked as she tightened her grip on it. This was getting out of control. No, it was already way out of control! And if something didn’t happen soon, I’d watch as one of the two killed each other, and that’s not something any of us needed right now!

“Hispano, she won’t do that.” I growled. “Not if she wants to keep her loyalties a secret from Delilah.”

Violet smirked. “Well look at that. There may be hope for you yet, Night.” A soft beep on the terminal Hispano had been working on pulled our attentions. “However, I suggest we try to figure a way out of here first. Otherwise none of us are going to have a chance to do anything at all with the rest of our lives.”

“Yeah, yeah. She’s right, we need to get out of here first.” Hispano said as she hopped back down behind the desk, quickly tapping at the terminal. “This transcript here says that things just went from bad, to worse.” Hitting a key, a static filled audio file began to play throughout the room.

“Please state your name for the record.” The voice that played was that of Doctor Cipher. Though, it was less scratchy than it was earlier, so this must have been at some point in the past.

“Sum, please, you don’t have to do this!” Another stallion’s voice came up, pleading to him. The stallion’s voice wavered slightly before he whimpered and began crying. “We’re… we’re friends, you and I… how can you do this to us? You heard the radio, felt the blast! The world above is gone, there’s no need to continue!”

“Of course I have to do this, Dr. Zedeek. We are both stallions of science, so you must understand the importance of finding out what this unusual necromantic effect on us has during the glyph mark removal process. And with you being the only zebra staff member afflicted by this necromantic effect without the accompanying insanity, your sacrifice toward securing the future of this scientific field is a necessity.”

“Please, Cipher. Don’t do this…” The other stallion broke down into tears. “We’re friends…”

The second stallion was cut off as the audio log became a mess of electrical snaps, painfully loud screams, and various mumbling from Dr. Cipher. It was hard to listen to as it went on, seeming to only end once the screaming had died down into nothingness.

“Dr. Sum Cipher, project log update zero one seven. Upon first inspection, it looks like the glyph mark removal process proceeded to go as predicted.” Dr. Cipher remarked calmly. “Subject Seventeen seems to have survived the process physically. No preliminary signs of delayed endothermic chain apparition or disintegration. Attempting to rouse the subject to consciousness to verify mental stability.”

The room around us fell eerily silent. Hispano’s eyes were glued wide as she simply stared at the glowing screen. And even Violet’s smirk had died as we listened in.

It started as a quiet murmur on the recording. I strained myself to listen in to understand it, but as it had before, it quickly became a non issue.

“Hehe… friend… Hahahaha!”

With a click, the audiolog ended, and left us all in uncomfortable silence. That is, until a sharp ping came over the intercom system.

“Hehehe!” The stallion, Dr. Zedeek that is, laughed maddeningly. “Now you know why we’re all friends! Why I brought you here!” Looking up at the ceiling, I focused in on the small hole where the loudspeaker must have been. “Please… hehe… Join me in the security room.” Snickering like he was, he wasn’t really instilling me with any confidence this wasn’t some sort of ploy. “We’re going to have a party for Dr. Cipher… the one I’ve been planning for so long! Hahaha!”

“Shit…” I sighed. “What do we do?”

“If you come, I’ll release the lockdown and let you all go home afterward! But first, we need to surprise Dr. Cipher with his gift.” That was an… oddly prompt answer.

“He… can hear us?” I asked out loud, looking over to Hispano. She offered a shrug and looked back to the terminal.

“That’s right! Hehe!” He giggled at us. Well, that answers that I guess. “But you must hurry! Dr. Cipher is on his way to ruin the party! If he does, he’ll make you all become friends with him like… heehee… like I did!”

“Yeah, fuck that.” Violet said, rubbing her cheeks with her forehoof. Reaching up, she hoofed at a large button on the wall. The metal bulkhead door hissed as it slid open, leading out into a dark hallway. Without another word, she flapped her wings and drifted up and out through the doorway. I wanted to say something to her, but I just couldn’t find the words to use. Why was she working for Solomon? Granted I haven’t met the stallion, but if he was really as bad as he’d been made out to be, surely she knew how badly things could go...

“Come on, Dum Dum.” Hispano said with a flap of her wings. “I’m not getting left behind down here by her.” Pausing as she grabbed her makeshift gun and stepped away from her desk, she looked at me for a moment with an oddly soft look. “But look, Night. I know a lot of lies have been thrown around down here. And I don’t know if what you said before about liking me was real, or just another lie, but… you’re not so bad yourself. Because of that, I need to say this.”

“Sometimes traveling with my Dad is fun.” She offered only a momentary smile at that. “Most days though, I’m left alone. And for the first time, I’ve found somepony who doesn’t hate me for being a griffon. Somepony, who I can be with as a friend. Maybe… even more than a friend…” With a blush brighter than the lights above, she used her normal energetic speed to zip over to my side. Warmly, she pressed up against me and before I could even react, she kissed me right in the muzzle. As my brain screeched to a halt, she pulled away again. “We’ll talk about the future of us later though. For now, let’s kill this asshole and get out of here.” Zipping forward again, she darted through the air and out into the hallway as well.

That… was unexpected.

“You coming or what!?” Hispano squawked from down the hall, jumpstarting my brain again. Quickly, I pushed myself forward and out the door at a gallop. Hopefully we could just find this crazy stallion, do what he wanted, and just go home.

Not that I’d have any sort of home to return to shortly…

“Hehehe!” The pale and ragged stripe skinned former Doctor giggled incessantly from his security chair as the three of us entered the control center. He was in much better shape physically than both Dr. Cipher and the Inuvik’s captain were, but he was completely bald across his whole maneline. His bright green eyes jumped around between us at a dizzying pace, each jump accompanied by a small twitch in his side. “Welcome, welcome! The fun is about to begin!”

Before us sat a wall sized bank of flashing lights and large terminal monitors. Each one blinked and flickered in their own respects, except the one sitting at the center of them all was a constant display. On the large screen, an outline of the maze like facility was displayed. Red sections on it showed the word ‘damage’ over more than half of the rooms, and the section marked ‘prisoners’ was etched out by red digital lines. The worrying blocky letters that spelled out ‘Terminated’ sat flashing underneath it.

“Send us back.” Violet grunted, taking the lead between Hispano and I.

“Now now, hehehe!” The former doctor waved his forehoof lazily at us. For a moment, he diverted his gaze and watched his own hoof. Wiggling it, he followed it with his eyes, seeming entranced with it before a crooked smile crept across his cracked and split lips. “The guest of honor has yet to arrive!”

“I don’t care.” She snorted back at him before turning her gaze to Hispano. “Use your gun and make him send us back.”

Hispano scrunched up her face. “Why? I don’t work for you or Solomon.”

Facehoofing hard, Violet shuddered and quaked in compressed rage. I’d never seen her angry like this before, not even when she scolded me for leaving her to chase Salt. With a sigh that sounded more like a leaking steam pipe, she went still for a moment.

“I will ask you, one. more. time.” Somehow, she found a way to make her voice sound even more hollow than before. If it were me with the gun, I’d have hoofed it over and subsequently curled into the tiniest ball I could to mitigate the boiling rage storm to come. “Do it now, or I will kill you and take the gun myself.”

A soft click pre-empted Violet going stiff for a moment again. This time however, she relaxed as her cutie mark branding again glowed softly.

“Hehehe, I do love the toys around here.” Dr. Zedeek giggled as he pressed the button on the small remote on his hooves. “I wanted to give one to Dr. Cipher for a while, hahahaha! But that was too nice. Not enough friendship in complacency! Haha!” Looking over at Hispano and I, he canted his head to the side and rolled his eyes down towards his flank in a dramatic fashion. “It used to help me, but…” Looking down, my eyes became transfixed on what appeared to be a gaping hole in his flank. It was like somepony had drilled a hole into him, but… instead of his insides, it stretched on into a deep, dark void of nothingness. “You can’t control nothing! Hehehe!”

“That’s enough!” The angry shout of Dr. Cipher called out through the doorway behind us. Hispano and I stepped aside, turning just in time to see the Doctor standing in the hallway clad in full riot gear, fancy ballistic helmet on and everything. He was outfitted with a battle saddle as well, with a pair of shotguns sitting close to his sides. “Everypony give up right now and we can all pretend like this never happened.”

“No, hehe! Don’t listen to him!” Dr. Zedeek giggled and panicked at the same time. That however was about as far as he got before the loud blast of a shotgun silenced him. He snapped against the back of his chair with a solid crack, gasping for air as he was hit in the chest. A small square of fabric flopped off his chest. It looked like a nonlethal beanbag round. Dr. Zedeek was down for now, but not out. And with only non lethal anti-riot ammo, we could afford to choose who to support.

“You’ll send us back?” I asked Dr. Cipher, hopeful that he’d say yes and just want us out of his facility. I mean, we weren’t supposed to be here anyway, so I doubt he’d want us around.

“You aren’t supposed to be here.” He snapped, mirroring my own thoughts for a moment. “Of course you can’t ever leave. This is a highly secret and restricted facility! I can’t have you leaving here with the knowledge of it’s whereabouts!”

“Not really selling us on your side, Doc.” Hispano spoke, slowly inching backwards.

“I don’t have to.” He retorted, shifting his aim. “It’s for the good of Equestria that we remain a secret!”

“Going to have to disagree with you.” Hispano smirked, gripping tighter around her makeshift energy weapon. Goddesses, this was about to go down, and unless Hispano had an opening...

Going for the stupid but sure bet again, I crouched down and flared my wings. Dr. Cipher caught my movement and readjusted his focus. Jumping up into the air, I flapped as hard as I could to make myself a target again. My wings worked well down here, carrying me up higher than either Dr. Cipher or I had anticipated. Both shotguns barked out their shots with a ear shattering blast, sailing under me and into some of the terminals on the wall behind me.

With the doctor momentarily stunned at his miss, Hispano made her move. With the same speed and energy as her normally hyperactive self, she took flight like a bolt. With a hard thwap, she slammed right against the chest of the Doctor. I’d almost thought she’d messed up for a moment as both of them shook off the hit. However, Hispano barely tipped up the Protectapony head in her talon before she pushed it against the throat of the Doctor.

With a bright red flash, the inside of the riot helmet caught fire, and the Doctor himself turned into nothing more than a very fine pile of pink ash. His gear clattered to the floor noisily. The empty burning helmet bounced and rolled itself a bit before coming to a rest just next to the doorframe.

“There.” Hispano spat, turning around with an angry look. “The bastard is dead.” Turning the protectapony head over toward Dr. Zedeek, she glared at him. “Now send us back.”

“Hah…ugh… hah...” Dr. Zedeek laughed and groaned in slow gasping breaths. “Thank you…” Nodding, he grunted and pulled himself back up in his seat. From the way his chest sat, I’d say he’d probably had a pair of broken ribs. “I have waited so long for that.” He said, the pain dropping out of his voice a lot faster than I would have thought it would. Still, like before, a smile jumped across his muzzle. “Hehe… I will free you, friend. Just as I promised.”

“Thank you.” Lowering the robot’s head, Hispano sighed and looked to relax all at once.

“Though, I do have one tiny winey warning to give you… hehehe!” He giggled as he spun himself around in his chair. Even though his chest looked like it had been mutilated on the inside, he acted like it no longer hurt him. Maybe that condition helps to keep you from feeling pain. I don’t know. “The lockdown… hehehe… it activated the chip in your head…”

“What’s that mean?” I asked, worried that no matter what, we weren’t ever going to be leaving this place.

“Failsafe protocol memory dampeners in the Haycartes Transfer… hehehaha!” He giggled, slowing his playful spinning in the chair until he was looking at us again. “Prisoners can have their things back that were taken, but aren’t allowed to remember their time here! No friendship lessons can leave, hehe!”

“So… you’ll wipe our memories?” I… I wanted to leave, but if it meant forgetting who I was, who I am… who my parents were? I’d rather die down here. At least they’d still be my parents then.

“No no no! Hehehe! Only your time here!” He laughed and turned back toward the security controls. Almost with a reckless flailing of his hooves, he started to push all sorts of glowing buttons and flick a whole lot of switches. “Just about the last… five hours or so! Isn’t that fun!?”

“We’ve been down here for Five hours!?” Hispano and I both shouted in unison.

“Goodbye, friends!” He giggled as he hit a few more buttons and spun himself around in the chair again. “Weeee, I’m freeeeee! Hehe!”

Looking over to Hispano, I only got to see a sad smile form on her beak before a bright flash took Her, Violet, and I away again.

A limited memory wipe wouldn’t be all bad, I suppose. Violet wouldn’t have been found out, Hispano won’t think I care for her, and I won’t have made the mistakes I did here. Really, if it worked, this would all be like it had never even happened.

But that’s not quite true, is it? All of it did happen, even if we wouldn’t remember it. The fact is that I screwed up, Violet’s a traitor, and Hispano… well, she didn’t deserve to be led on by me. One thing I’m starting to think, is that I’m jinxed. Disaster always strikes around me, and trouble hitches a ride wherever I go.

And if I don’t leave, or find a way to fix this, I’m going to bring nothing but the worst kind of trouble down on her and the rest of Delilah’s crew. Maybe even onto Hispano, or some ponies who don’t deserve it at all. Hell, while I might be the survivor that Violet said I was, one of these days I might get somepony else I care for killed.

And that?

That’s what scared me the most…

oOo===========oOo===========oOo

Author's Note

Wowee, it's finally time to put this up! I wrote this chapter straight off the back of chapter 8 to preserve the absence of character growth up until now. It feels good to finally post this one up and get this big reveal out there! I really do hope you all enjoy it!

Once again, thanks to TheFurryRailfan for helping with the final edits to the chapter. He's really been a major help in keeping this story up to par, and you should all go thank him for it as well!

Chapter 22 - Sailing under false colors

The more minor the task is, the more likely it is to go wrong.

Wake up.

It was slow, but everything began to come back to me out of the darkness of nothing. The rush of memories flooding into my mind felt overwhelming, and I screamed as everything came back all at once. What had happened that day with Violet and Hispano mixed with the sensations and disorientation of waking up. I dashed myself against the restraints that held me in the darkness, using all of the might I could muster to break free of it.

With a gasp, I attempted to throw myself upright as my eyes flew open. My hooves were jerked back by the leather straps that held me down to the medical bed I’d been laying in, and my heart hammered relentlessly at my ribcage. I was filled with a profound confusion, and frantically looked around in panic to make sense of what was going on.

“Good, you’re awake.” Buck spoke sternly as he sat at my bedside. “You’re alright, just breathe.”

I listened to his soothing voice and tried to do just that. Breathe. My heart was racing a mile a minute as beads of sweat rolled down me in trickling rivers. The ebbing pain in my head dulled slowly, and my aching muscles relaxed as I sat there looking down at the bindings secured around my deep blue forehooves. As I did, only half my bangs fell down into my vision, and it was then I began to understand that something was off. Even without a mirror, I could feel that one side of my mane and coat on my skull had been completely shaven. As I tried to comprehend what had happened, I realized that none of it mattered, not with what I now knew.

I… I couldn’t believe it. Not only was Hispano having the wrong idea about me my fault, but Hardcase was a changeling? And Violet…

“Night, look at me.” Buck’s soft words stripped those thoughts from my mind. Reaching his paw up, he gingerly cupped under my chin and pulled my muzzle toward his. Slowly, he leaned forward and pressed into a kiss that put every worry of mine to rest, and flushed my cheeks with warmth. I melted under his affections, feeling myself relax and calm all at once more than any painkiller or sedative ever could. “Oh that’s just what I needed…” He moaned as he broke the kiss, seeming to savor the moment just a bit longer as he straightened himself out.

Slowly, I laid myself back into the hospital bed with a sigh. “What happened?” I asked, feeling momentarily dizzy as the rush the kiss must have given me reached it’s peak. Wow, it must’ve been some pretty great painkillers they put me on. I’d never been worn out from such a simple action like that, let alone around Buck.

“Actually, Night.” Buck sighed as he shifted on his haunches, standing up at his full height to tower over me. “I wanted to ask the same thing. However, I’m running short on time.”

I looked up to him as his expression shifted from his normal caring gaze, to one of sharp annoyance. Lifting his massive paw, he spread his claws and reached down, slipping them around both sides of my neck as his paw pressed down on my chest. I was going to ask what he was doing, or what he meant by what he said. Before I could even get a single word out, he pushed his palm down, and I found the air forced right out of my lungs.

“Buck…” I whined, reaching up and pushing at his paw as I tried to draw in as much air as I could. Panic flooded my mind as I tried to do everything I could to get his paw off of me. Struggling against the hoof restraints on my bed, it was only an exercise in futility as I pleaded with him. “Please… I can’t breathe...” Why was he doing this!? What was wrong with him!?

“Where is Boxer?” Buck grunted as he leaned over me. Slowly, he pushed down harder against my chest, forcing a whine from me. “I will kill you, Night, unless you tell me what you did with him.” He snarled and I felt every ounce of hatred press against me. “ I know he was caught in Carmacks, but he never came back, and I know you had something to do with it.” Looking into his eyes, I couldn’t see a single ounce of regret in them. Nor could I see any sort of doubt or hesitation. What I did see, was an anger and focus that Buck had never held in his eyes with me.

Buck’s two triangular ears perked, and as if they alone guided him, he turned his attention toward the door. With a forceful push, he stood himself up again, dragging his claws down my chest as he made his way to the door. With a prolific slam, Buck threw the door open and took off into the bright hallway.

Choking and coughing, I sucked in as much air as I could before font’s of pain sprang from my barrel. Looking up, I found three deep gashes running down my whole body. Blood trickled and filled out the wounds before spilling down my sides and onto the yellowed old bedsheets. Painkillers be damned, I screamed as the sensation of being sliced into hit me all at once. Whimpering, I writhed and cried out as nothing about any of this made sense to me.

“Night!” Buck called out, the pain in his voice was almost as sharp as the pain I felt right then. “No no no!” He whined, his voice getting closer before he slid himself into the doorway. He paused as his own wide eyes matched mine. As he stepped inside the room, my mind reeled and pushed me to get away from him. Fear took over and pushed any rational thought out of my mind as I struggled against my bindings to get up and run despite my injuries. “Night, you have to calm down!” Buck called out as he quickly rushed over to the cabinets on the wall and rifled through them like a madpony possessed.

No, I couldn’t calm down. The pain in my injured chest flared as I tugged and pulled at the restraints, and tears ran down my cheeks from both the pain and the frustration. Fucking seriously, the straps wouldn’t let me go, and I had to get out of here before he killed me!

“Please, you have to calm down!” Buck snapped as he turned and hastily approached my bed. I cried out as he closed in, shutting my eyes tightly and crying as I waited for him to just finish me off. Why... why would he do this to me? I loved him! How could he be so cruel…

The pain in my barrel began to ebb away, and was replaced with the sensation of cool water running down it.

“Just hold still…” Buck’s rhythmic breathing and soft voice accompanied the feeling of my flesh knitting itself together. He… he was helping me? “Night, what happened?”

Wait, what?

Opening my eyes, I looked up to him, finding his worried eyes trailing tears of his own down his muzzle. The soft pop of the cap on another healing potion made me jump. Carefully, Buck moved his claws and poured its contents down the last of the major gashes across me. As soon as it was closed, Buck gave a sigh of relief and took a stumbling step back.

Raising his paw, he ran it over his head before sitting down hard on the floor next to me. “Who did this to you, Night.” He asked with a cold and foreign look on his eyes. It wasn’t like before, where he had that cruel focus, no, this was more like the thousand yard stare he’d had when we talked at the front gate. But… it was worse, because right now he wore a look of regret and fear across his face.

“It…” I spoke, choking up as I was afraid to say anything that might set him off. Could I really risk him lashing out again? What if he didn’t mean to do it? Maybe… maybe he was just angry that I was always getting into trouble. No, Buck values my honesty, and maybe he’ll be happier if I just tell him the truth. “It was you…”

“What?” That snapped him out of his far off look. A dozen emotions flashed across his face before it ended with a rage filled snarl that made me cringe again. “Salt.”

I gasped when I processed just how much that fit. That had to be it. His odd question, the focused look…

The kiss.

“I-I’m sorry.” I whimpered as I felt all the tension and fear drain away all at once. With those gone, my body collapsed back against the hospital bed. I can’t believe I almost just blamed Buck for that. How could I have even thought he was Buck!? How bad of a coltfriend do I have to be to not even realize it wasn’t really him!? Maybe Buck should be angry with me...

“No, I’m the one who’s sorry.” Buck sighed. “I was told by one of the nurses that there was a medical emergency that they thought I could help with.” Slumping down against the floor, Buck curled himself up slightly. “I should have known not to go, she didn’t smell normal at all. I should have stayed here to protect you.”

It wasn’t his fault. Salt didn’t have to be this way, he didn’t have to copy any of us at all. The fact that he keeps doing it was a mystery to me, but I think it’s because somehow he enjoys it. Rage began to build up in me like kindling to fuel a bonfire. I… I can forgive so many things, but this time it was too far. He didn’t get to imitate the one thing in this wasteland I have left to love and trick me into fearing it. I was going to find Salt and I was going to make him give me some goddess damned answers.

“No.” I grunted and pushed myself to sit up in the now blood soaked bed. After the trauma with my head, the shit Salt did to my body meant I would have probably been happy with never moving again. But I had other ideas, I had tons of other ideas in fact.

“I’m tired of nearly getting killed.” Looking right at him, I watched his expression swing from one of worry, to one of profound regret. “Everything down here has been one travesty to live through just to reach the next. But I’m the only one who hasn’t adapted yet, Buck. I thought I was ready after going back to Four Peaks. I thought I was ready after I shot Shimmer back there in the schoolhouse, but I finally get it. I can’t be afraid of death anymore. It’ll happen when it happens. Neither of us will have a say in it, and you might not be able to stop it no matter how hard you try.” I really hoped that it wouldn’t happen any time soon, but with how things around me tended to fall apart on their own, it was something that I couldn’t afford to worry about.

“I…” Buck began, hanging on his own words as he didn’t really know what to say. “Where’s all of this coming from so suddenly?” He looked hurt, like I’d been the one to rend open his chest and leave him for dead. “Is it because I wasn’t here?”

“No, not at all.” I couldn’t tell him about what I’d remembered. About the underground facility, about the truth of who Hispano or Hardcase actually are, or even how Violet wasn’t who we thought she was. Still, he deserved an answer, even if it was simply reusing his own point from up at the gate. “Because worrying about each other every day won’t ever stop until either we die together, or one of us goes first. And I don’t intend to waste any more time sitting around on my flank waiting for it to happen.” Tugging my forehooves up, they stopped sharply when the straps around them went taught. “So, you’re going to help me out of these bindings so we can get to work.”

“What are you doing?” Buck asked as he slowly picked himself up off the floor. “You need to rest, more so with the fact that you’re on medication and you’ve lost some blood.” Pointing to my hooves, he shook his head. “Those are there to protect you from the convulsions. Even with that chip removed from your head, you might still have unforeseen complications, Night. Staying in here for the rest of the night is for your own protection.” As much as I was glad to hear that the chip was gone, the damage has already been done, and now was the time for damage control.

“A lot of good sitting here has done in ‘protecting me’ so far.” I forced out a laugh as I tugged at the straps around my legs. “And who care’s if I’m still sick, or hurt, or whatever? More than likely, I’ll just be back in a bed like this by the end of the day.” My words forced Buck’s ears back, and he looked away from me like I’d just accused him of not loving me. “No, don’t deny it. Bad shit’s going to happen whether I’m in here or out there. But I’ve realized that even though this shit happens, somehow, I keep getting through it. I know that one day that luck will run out, but so far, I’m a survivor, and it’s about time that I took advantage of that.”

I wanted to cringe at using what Violet said to me in that facility as an example, but she was right. Misfortune may follow me, but I always found a way to the top of whatever shit I got into. I don’t know why, but I know now that it was part of who I am. Maybe… it had something to do with what Lilac Lace had been talking about. I really wish I could have gotten more clarification on it before we left because I’d like to know if this is what she’d meant about who I’ve been all along.

“It’s foalish to dismiss everything that’s happened so easily, Night.” Buck sighed, but still reached up and pawed at my forehoof. “But you’re right. I thought the wasteland would be different. Admittedly, I thought it would be a better place than this.” As he spoke, his gaze shifted, and I could tell by his smile that he was thinking of his time back home. “I’d known it was going to be dangerous when I agreed to set out, and things probably wouldn’t go well. But I never thought it would be as stressful as it’s been,” Looking softly up to me, his smile did more for me than he could have ever known. “But you’re what’s helped carry me through it, and I can’t do it without you.”

Reaching my other forehoof over, I cupped over his paw. “You know I feel the same way. This has been more of a nightmare than anything. But, there has been good to come out of it so far.” I was happy to see him smile at me again as he slowly turned his eyes back to me. “I love you, Buck, but I need your help with this. We’ve got our work cut out for us, but together, we can bring some good back into the wastes. Starting with finding Salt.”

Reaching over, Buck carefully started to undo the straps that held me in the bed. “For the record, I don’t want you to go out there yet, Night.” After undoing one of the straps, he reached over and put his paw softly on my chest. “I know you want to find Salt, but you can’t just go running off after him, even with my help.” Leaning down, he looked me right in the eyes, revealing just how much trepidation he was feeling about everything at the moment. “Night, I know you’re angry for what he did…”

“You’re damn right I’m angry.” I snorted with a smirk. Using my now freed forehoof, I carefully pushed his paw off of me so that I could start to fully get up. “Which is why we are going to find him and make him finally give us some goddess damned answers. About what he wants, what happened in Four Peaks. Everything.” Reaching over, I hoofed at the strap that held my other forehoof down. “After he gives us what we want, we’re going to turn him over to whoever runs this town. I couldn’t care less what they do with him at that point.” Unhooking the strap, I grunted and yanked my other forehoof free, happy that I could finally breathe a sigh of relief that I wouldn’t be forever strapped to this deathbed.

“Once Salt’s dealt with, then what?” Buck asked as he stepped back.

It was a good question. Salt was just something I wanted to deal with right now, and I hadn’t really given ‘what next’ a thought. Then again, the lack of forethought pretty much sums up everything I’ve done while adapting to the wasteland so far.

“Then... we go get the thing that Spitzer wants.” I replied, shifting myself on the bloody bed and wiggling my way toward the edge. Actually, what needed to happen was probably a lot more simple and straightforward than I’d been thinking. “Then we deal with getting the Hauler repaired. Then we get back on the road, and deal with Galina, Solomon, and finding the Ark.”

Flapping my slightly bloody wings a few times, I rolled myself over and pushed myself up into the air. I dipped for a moment as I adjusted to the odd weight distribution I had due to the missing leg. But the lower weight meant that my wings were strong enough that I could hover for a moment without straining too hard. Spinning myself back around to Buck, I found him looking up to me with both a sense of profound worry in his eyes, and what I wished more than anything was a flicker of hope.

“Now,” I pointed across the room where my battle saddle was hanging on the wall. “Help me get geared up. We’ve got a changeling to find, and I know just the griffon with the eyes to spot him.”

After using one of the shower facilities there on the Mercy, I was glad to get out of that place again. My body was sore, but for once, my wings were rested and more than ready to take me into the air. The brisk, cold night air was refreshing, and helped to wake me up. I’d need all the focus I could get if I was going to finally get some goddess damned answers out of Salt.

“You know,” Hispano cooed as we flew over the various rooftops of the houses on the rim of Destruction Bay. “to a talon, those new scars would make you even more attractive, which I can agree with...” I deadpanned as she licked at her beak slowly. “Though, I’m not going to lie, the new manecut… it makes you look a bit butch.”

“Focus, Hispano.” I grunted, tweaking my wings to bank over and head down the main road leading toward the pier. Salt was still around, I just knew it. He could be anywhere, and we needed to remain vigilant. “Remember, keep an eye out for anyone from our crew. He’s going to pop up as one of us again sometime soon.”

“Fine, it’s just so boring.” Hispano sighed as she curved through the air with me. With a few extra flaps of her wings, she overcorrected herself and dove. Before she got too far down, she flared her wings, twisting herself up and around again. Putting her talons around her gun, she pulled it close as she started to corkscrew around me as we passed over the wheelhouse of the ferry restaurant.

Looking ahead to the dock, I could see the lumbering form of Buck walking back along it with Hardcase. If Salt was smart, he’d hide in Spitzer’s place, where Buck couldn’t sniff him out. Then again, there was bound to be dozens of places like that in this town. Even with my ‘limited’ pony sense of smell, the scents of wood fires, rusting metal, and too many various chemicals to count, all intermixed together in the salty seaside air. Plus there was the fact that this place was almost too peaceful, and it had started to give me an unsettling familiar friendly tone to that of Klondike This place might have been friendly and peaceful, but who knew if Salt was the only monster this place hid in the shadows.

“There.” Hispano spoke up, pointing her talon over toward a large blocky building across town before sharply winging over and dipping down.

Twisting my wings and folding in my legs, I followed her down, snapping my tail in line as we picked up a bit of speed. The cold night air whipped along my body as we both dipped lower in the air. The various poles and masts of ships rushed past as we leveled ourselves out over the ruins of the lower city, shrouded in the darkness that seeped between the city lights.

Some of them whisked past us fast enough that had we hit them, we’d have most certainly died. I however wanted to live by what I’d told Buck about misfortune finding me. Accepting that things could end for me at any time was freeing, and I could only smirk at knowing that.

Flaring our wings, Hispano and I began to slow ourselves. She looked back a few times, adjusting herself to my odd pace of slowing flight. With a wide smile across her beak, she nodded and led the two of us into a wide bank around over where she’d pointed to before. With a few hard flaps, the two of us braked enough that we came and landed on a bent mast of one of the old shipwrecks nearby.

“I told ya, you’ll get ya money, ya dig?” What looked like Happy Trails waved his forehoof dismissively to a group of three of the largest earth ponies I’d ever seen. “I just... need more time is all.”

“We know you were planning on skipping town without paying. You mules are all the same sort of halfbreed lowlifes. Always trying to scam good folk out of caps.” One of the earth ponies spoke up with an accusational point of his hoof. The yellow coated stallion wore a rag over his red mane, and the dark sunglasses that obscured his eyes didn’t do much to hide the large scar that ran from his muzzle to his ear. “Lucky for us, we heard you’ll be staying in town overnight due to an accident.”

“We need to get him out of there to see if he’s the imposter or your real crewmate.” Hispano whispered over to me. Looking over at her, I found that she’d been focused on the massive brick of a pony who’d been talking. “Follow my lead and try not to break character.” Character? I wasn’t quite sure what she had in mind, but so far, she’d known what she was doing far more than I did down here.

Adjusting herself, she swung Suiza around in her talons and flared her wings. Leaning forward, she let the air catch under her wings as she dropped off our perch. Following, I cringed as my wings dropped me faster than I’d have liked. The ground rose up to meet us, and as she touched down lightly, my hooves slammed into the ground. I grunted as I braced myself, barely managing to stay upright as we landed and caught all four of the stallions off guard.

“Evening, Boys.” Hispano cooed cooly, leveling her enormous gun at the group. “How nice of you to have held my bounty until I could get here.”

“Get lost, Talon. There’s no bounty for you here.” The yellow coated stallion laughed before stepping up beside an incredibly nervous Happy. Looking over to me, he gave a hopeful smile that felt a little too genuine to be something Salt could have given me. However, that smile came before the silver hoof blade pressed against his neck from the stallion next to him. “This stallion belongs to Mrs. Tapit now.”

“The bounty for his head claims dead or alive,” Hispano sighed as she turned her gun slightly and pointed it directly at the yellow stallion. “So my associate and I are ready to collect either way.” Turning to me, she nodded quickly at my saddle. Balancing on two hooves, I flicked my saddle bit up and into my muzzle. “However I’m fairly certain that being dead isn’t how you’d like Mrs. Tapit to have the three of you returned, so I suggest you all take a step back and release him into our custody.”

To give them a bit more incentive, I pulled back on the trigger of my sub machinegun and racked the bolt. The loud clack as the first round chambered visibly shook one of the stallions around Happy. With an angry glance, the yellow stallion in charge glared at the scared stallion and gave off a grunt. I knew that while this was supposed to be an incredibly tense situation, I couldn’t help but smile from around my bit.

From the back of my mind, some insane part of me begged them to make a move so I could just open up on them. While those dangerous thoughts faded quickly and were replaced with the fear that I was slowly turning into a raider, I knew why I felt this way. I truly was tired of being the victim always ending up on the wrong side of misfortune, and I’d to everything in my power to keep from being like that again. Thankfully, it didn’t look like it would come to that right now.

“Fine, you’re all off the hook for now, but you’ll be sorry you did this.” The stallion smirked as he took a step back, waving off the other two lugs with him. “Mrs. Tapit doesn’t take kindly to having outsiders like you two messing with her business, so I’d watch your flanks from here on out if I were you.”

Turning, the three stallions galloped down the street and off into the night. Breathing a sigh of relief, I spit the bit of my saddle and looked over to a very confused, but smiling Happy Trails.

“Thank the goddess you two came along!” He laughed before trotting up to us. “You have no idea how…”

That was as far as he’d made it before Hispano lunged for his forehoof. With a yell and a spin of herself, Happy went airborne over her head and was slammed down on his back. Before he had a chance to react more than giving out a whine, Hispano’s talon was wrapped around his throat.

“Tell us,” She snapped at him, “are you the real one, or the changeling?”

“What the hell was that for?” With wide eyes, he struggled against her hold. “I didn’t do shit to you! Bombay, what in the hell is going on!?” Looking over to me, I studied him as his eyes wandered over my body. Between my half shaved mane and the new scars across my chest, he must have wondered if I was a whole different pony, because he stopped fighting against Hispano’s hold. “What happened to you, Bombay?”

“Don’t play coy.” Hispano hissed before squeezing with her talons. “Prove to us you’re the real you.”

“What? How?” He grunted before coiling his leg up under Hispano. Giving a sharp kick to her side, Hispano only gave a meager wince from the hit. “Fuckin let me go, bitch! I don’t even know you!”

“Answer her question willingly, or I’ll shoot the answer out of you.” I spoke up and lowered the barrel of my gun down at him. While part of me hoped that this wasn’t the real Happy, I wasn’t going to use the bit in my muzzle and risk making a stupid mistake. Still, it felt good to be the one in control of a situation for once. “How do I know you’re the real Happy?”

“You bought me that new Uke back in Carmacks.” He grunted, glaring at me as Hispano kept him down. Even though he’d stopped struggling, I could see the tension in his body building. “I said we were even for it! Is that good enough?”

I met Hispano’s hesitant gaze with one of confidence. “Only Happy would know that. It’s him.” Nodding, I pulled the gun away from him and sat down. “What the hell are you doing out here, Happy?” I watched as Hispano pulled back from him and held out her talon to help him up. Angrily, he refused, simply rolling himself over and getting back to his hooves. “I thought Delilah had you opening the safe.”

“Yeah, well, I got bored.” He grumbled as he brushed himself off and straightened out his floral print shirt. “So I went down to the Brothel for some fun.” As soon as he’d said that, I facehooved hard. “What? We’ll probably be here all night anyway, so what’s the harm in going out and having a little fun?”

As on point as she’d been since I met her, Hispano jabbed a talon at him. “Those three meatheads didn’t seem like they were here for ‘fun’.” Crossing her talons, she took a seat next to me and glared at him. “Based on what they said, let me take a ‘wild’ guess at what was going down, pompadour-head.” Adjusting her flight cap a bit, she cleared her throat out. “You went to the brothel, where much like you’ve done in most of the towns on this trip, you figured you’d get the best treatment even though you couldn’t afford it.” As she spoke, Happy’s smug expression quickly shifted to one of indignance. “That’s because you normally leave before paying, because your group would be out of town before anyone got too wise of it.”

“Hey, how would you… who the fuck are you to judge me anyway!?” Happy grunted and held his muzzle high. And just like that, out came the facade he wore around others, stupid accent and all. “Ya’ just some uptight feather-broad with too much time on ya’ talons. Ya’ dig? A square like you don’t know me.” Reaching up, he flipped the collar of his shirt up and hunched himself into it like he was hot shit. And honestly, that kind of pompous attitude wasn’t something I’d needed after a day like today.

“No, but I know Hispano well enough to trust her.” I sighed before forcing my eyes shut and pressing my forehoof against my temple, hoping to force back the headache I could already feel coming on. “So cut the shit, Happy. Did you, or did you not leave before paying.”

“I…” He began, only to catch himself as he scrunched up his muzzle. “I don’t need any judgement from you, Bombay. I’ve run this scam before and I’ll keep running it once we leave this place. I’ve just gotta lie low until we go is all.” Turning himself down the street, he put his muzzle up again, this time with a smile. “Thanks for the help anyhow.”

I grumbled as an annoying thought bubbled up in my mind. “Where do you think you’re going, Happy?” I called out, making him freeze up. “I don’t need you wandering off to where Salt can just take you hostage, or copy your form.” My words made both him and Hispano look at me like I was crazy. “You’re staying right here with us.”

“Nah.” Happy smiled before hoofing at his pompadour gently, pressing down some errant hairs that had cropped up on the expertly coiffed mane. “You two have fun playing pretend bounty hunters. I’ve got better shit to do with my night.” Giving us a little wave, he really thought he would get off that easy.

“Alright.” I shrugged. “Guess I’ve got no choice but to tell Delilah about this little incident.”

“You… you wouldn’t do that!” Happy gasped as he spun himself around. Each step back over toward Hispano and I made his face turn redder with anger. “My mom doesn’t need to know a damn thing about this, and you aren’t going to tell her. Ya’ understand?” Stepping up and prodding at me, he snorted as I didn’t even care to move. He could be mad all he wanted, but he had no say in this.

“I won’t have to if you stick with us.” I watched as he deadpanned at me. “Think of it this way; instead of cutting through that bolt, you’re helping us find the changeling that’s been ruining my life more and more each and every time we run into him.” Reaching up, I gave him a pat on the shoulder as Hispano and I turned to head down toward where Buck and Hardcase were back in the harbor. “Besides, it’s better this than me telling Delilah about what you were really doing.”

“Good to see you’re learning the art of blackmail, Dum Dum!” Hispano giggled before hopping up into the air and taking off at a good clip into the dark night sky. Looking up, I blinked a few times and waited for the quick flutters to return. Sure enough, Hispano came back down and landed next to me again. “Right. Your friend there can’t fly.”

“Nope.” I sighed and waved to Happy. “Come on, let’s get walking.” Stepping forward, I nearly tripped over Hispano, who’d backed herself into me.

“Uh…” She said, pressing herself into me and raising her talons into the air. “Guys?”

As she spoke, I noticed a large moving mass coming towards us down the street. Squinting, I tried to make out what it was, but didn’t have a chance to make out too much before the group passed under one of the old street lamps. Well shit...

“You know,” The large yellow stallion from before called out. “I was going to let your shit slide for tonight.” As he walked forward, he was followed by another ten or so ponies. Even in the dim streetlamp light, I could see they all wore battle saddles or had weapons of some sort with them. “But lucky for you, I reconsidered. Mostly because I brought some more friends back with me.”

I’d been itching to fight earlier, but two on three would have been a fight Hispano and I could’ve handled. This many however… this wasn’t a fight we’d walk away from if we started it. Which is probably why Hispano had simply raised her talons and given up.

“Well, I did not see that coming.” Hispano sighed. “Go ahead, the bounty is yours.”

“Nah, that’s not good enough.” The stallion spoke up as his friends spread out, forming a circle around us. “See, Mrs. Tapit doesn’t like being ignored by outsiders in her town. So you’re going to come with us quietly so that she can see if you’re some sort of threat she’ll need to put down, or just colossally stupid for trying to pull this shit on her turf.” As he gave us his best shit eating grin, I resisted the urge to facehoof for fear of getting shot to pieces. “Personally, I hope it’s the former, so I can put you two gals down myself for making tonight a pain in my flank.”

“Goddesses, I should have just stayed on the hauler…” Happy grumbled as he walked up beside me.

“Isn’t that the understatement of the evening.” The stallion grunted. “Now, get walking.”

So much for Destruction Bay being the friendliest place around...

We’d been stripped of our weapons and led all the way down to the edge of the harbor, far behind the rear of the monolithic battleship that sat towering into the night sky from where we walked along the harbor berm. All the way at the edge of the harbor, beached up along a good length of the hillside, was a long, cigar like tube. I’d seen pictures of submarines in the history books, but some part of me made me think they weren’t supposed to be oriented the way this one was. Oddly, it looked like it had rolled over once it hit land, and stayed with it’s belly pointed longingly out toward the sea.

The proud, but rusting metal conning tower that should have been on top of the old world boat, created a squat entrance that the whole group of us entered one by one. Crawling into the dark interior of the old ship, I looked around as I was led alongside a rusting ladder toward another squat entrance a few feet further in. Crawling through the rusted open hatch of this one, I was greeted with a cavernous room. Well, more cavernous than it probably was two hundred years ago. The old machines that used to line the walls had been long removed. In their place among the thousands of tubes on the inner hull, hung strings of lights and dozens of wooden crates that nearly lined the crude metal dividers that now segmented the interior of the ship.

“You, you’re with me.” The yellow stallion we’d been following grunted before he forcefully gripped at my foreleg. Yelping, I did my best to keep up at a hobble as I was dragged through another sideways bulkhead away from the others. We walked over some more old plywood flooring that creaked disconcertingly under my heavy hops. Again, without hesitation, he pulled at me and swung me into a cage that looked like it had been built into a broom closet.

“Alright. You’re going to sit pretty until Mrs. Tapit figures out just what to do with you.” He spoke up with a snarl. With a squealing clang, the door to the cage slammed shut. Turning around he moved over toward a large set of lockers on the far wall. He tossed all of our gear inside, and slammed the door shut before walking away without another word. As I sat in an area only slightly bigger than myself, after a few minutes of being alone, I started to worry again. Not just about my current predicament, but about everything.

No! I refuse to spend my time worrying. The Night who’s a confused Enclave citizen is no more. I’m going to get out of here, because I’m a survivor. Hell, I may not know just how ponies act down in the wasteland, but that means that they don’t know how I will act either. I just need to find some advantage.

Looking around myself, I didn’t find much to work with. The only thing that I had in here with me was a damp cloth in the back corner or my cell. With nothing else to work with, I hoofed at it. It felt… sticky, and I almost wanted to just toss it from how it stuck to my forehoof. Bringing it closer, I went to unfurl it to see how big it was overall. The second I did however, a powerfully vile smell struck my muzzle.

Nearly retching from the smell, I reflexively tossed the rag away from me. With wide eyes, I watched as the damp rag sailed between the iron bars of the door, splatting down on the plywood floor a few feet away. With a sigh, I forced my eyes shut and tried to stay positive. Okay, I need a new plan...

“Hey.” The voice of the stallion who’d shoved me in here startled me onto my three hooves. As he trotted over, he glanced at the rag on the floor before giving me a look of annoyance. “Mrs. Tapit want’s to see you.” He gave a heavy yank at the iron door, and it opened with a squeal. “Get moving.” He said, pointing down toward another squat door at the back of the room we were in.

I was escorted through a maze of different rooms. Groups of ponies just as grizzled and large as the Yellow stallion behind me slept in bunks, worked on weapons, or sorted through various crates that had been stacked among the rooms. My curiosity was getting the better of me as I hobbled along, and the urge to ask what all this was about was getting hard to suppress. But I bit my tongue. I just had to go with things for now.

At what had to be at one end of the ship, I was led through one last squat doorway and into a well lit, lavish looking bedroom that looked like it had been lived in for years. In it, was two ponies standing just inside the doorway, and two in the middle of the room chit-chatting. One of which smiled brightly as he saw me escorted in.

“You!” Dizzy Rays spoke up, tipping his sunglasses down his muzzle as he talked. “You’re Violet’s crewmate, right?” Laughing, he broke away from the cream coated mare he’d been talking to. “I’d heard you guys were in town when I flew in tonight, but I never expected to see you here!” Reaching out, he shooed off the lug who’d been escorting me and curled his hoof around my neck. “Here, let me introduce you to my employer, Mrs. Tapit.”

“Take your leave, Dizzy.” The mare I’d overlooked before spoke up. “I have business with this pony.”

Mrs. Tapit herself was a commanding unicorn. It was plainly seen in everything from the pristinely pressed pinstripe suit she wore over her cream colored coat, to the sharply trimmed jet black bangs that swung out like curved knives from the rest of her bowl cut mane. Her piercing green eyes focused on me like there was nothing else in the room around us, and the taught smile that pulled across her muzzle instantly put me on edge.

As Dizzy left through the doorway behind me, he shut the door as he did. The loud bang it gave made me jump on my hooves, and my heart raced in my chest. I could tell myself I wasn’t going to be afraid anymore all I wanted, but it didn’t mean I still couldn’t feel that way when shit like this happened. I just needed to focus and put my hoof down to take some assertion of my situation and get back some control.

“W-why am I here?” I asked, cringing at my own voice as it wavered. Why was it that everything sounded alright in my head, but when I went to actually do something, I ended up looking like a goddess damned foal!?

“Straight and to the point.” Mrs. Tapit laughed and nodded at me. “I like that. It shows that you don't think about much. And to give you an answer, you’re simply here because you're the pretty one, honey. And do I have a job for the pretty mares like you who end up on my ship.”

“What does being pretty have to do with anything?” That sent up a million red flags in my head. Having some unscrupulous mare with a setup such as this ask me to do a job was less than assuring that things were going to end well tonight. Thinking about the fact that she supposedly operated the brothel here in town, only served to send shivers up my spine about what exactly she’d be having me doing.

“I’ve been watching you three.” Mrs. Tapit laughed and point over into the corner of her room. Sitting above a metal desk, was a set of terminal screens. Each of them showed a fuzzy image of somewhere on the ship, sitting for a few moments before flickering and showing the view from another camera. She huffed when the camera switched over to a view of Hispano. She was sitting in what looked like the engine room, locked in a cage that seemed like it was built more for a small animal than a griffon of even her limited size. Along with her, were a couple of stallions holding her at gunpoint.

“You see, the griffon who came in with you?” She spoke her words with the slickness of oil, and it made me wary to listen to anything she said. “She's the smart one out of you three. I can tell because she’s been biding her time, watching her surroundings for an opportunity to strike out. So she gets to stay in her cage… for now.”

“The Mule?” She spoke again sharply as the camera flickered over again, showing off another closet like room. This one had the image of Happy knocking on the walls with his hooves like he was trying to get somepony’s attention. “He'd sooner run off the moment I let him out of here, rather than do the job I have in mind.” While there was no sound, I could tell that he was speaking nervously to nopony in particular. “Though, it's a pity. I was looking forward to taking a leg from him as payment for what he owes me. But with your leg as it is, I don't have to.”

“My... leg?” I asked, looking back at my stump.

“That's right, sugar. I know lovely looking mare’s like you aren’t generally gifted in the intelligence department, so try not to strain your pretty little mind too hard about it.” Mrs. Tapit giggled. Her horn lit up with an aura of magic, and from over by her bed, she levitated a shiney chrome rod and rubber lined cup. Without even asking, her magic grasped around my stump and yanked it sideways. As she did, she quickly moved the metal object over and pressed the rubber cup up against me. With a firm push, the rubber gripped around my stump, and the power of suction held the oddly shiny pegleg on.

“See, what I need from you is simple. You put on this leg and go visit a friend of mine over on the Mercy. Tell ship security that you’re there to see Dr. Tibia, and she’ll send you over to Dr. Kaio once she sees your ‘special’ leg there. Dr. Kaio has been holding a, shall we say, ‘prescription’ for me. She’s to put the container inside the hollow space in the leg and then you’re to come right on back to me. A task that easy can’t even be screwed up by somepony of your... limited intellect.”

This didn’t seem right. “So… I just pick up whatever she has for you.” There’s no way this job could be that simple. “Then you'll let us all go?” I asked, putting my weight down on the odd pegleg I’d been given. It was… odd to feel something there again. I know I’d only been missing my leg less than a day, but even now I could tell something was once again off with my balance.

“You'll go to Dr. Kiao, and return directly back to me with the bottle inside the leg. Understand, sugar?” Mrs. Tapit fluttered her eyes and gave a sultry laugh. “Or was that actually too hard for you to understand? Maybe... I should give you some incentive to go?” She said, looking over to the terminal screens again. I watched as it displayed the frantic looking Happy, and then back to Hispano in her cage.

“Fine. I’ll do it.” I grunted.

“Excellent.” She smiled at me and spun on her hooves with a light twirl. “Oh, one last thing…” She sighed, coming back down on all fours with a light touch. “I’ll be listening through my ears in town as you run this little errand for me. If you so much as try to run or cross me… I’ll know about it, and your friends will find themselves a few limbs short by the time you end up crawling back to me.” Giving a soft giggle, her piercing eyes were far too bright for somepony talking about casually dismembering her prisoners. “Kay?”

Nodding, I turned myself around and hobbled back toward the door.

“Y’all hurry back now!” She called out as I pushed the door open, and slipped back out into the cavernous ship.

*clip* *clop* *squick* *clip*

The flight over to the Mercy wasn’t hard, nor was getting security to direct me toward the level I was supposed to find Dr. Tibia on. What was hard, was walking on this stupid pegleg. The suction was almost too strong as it squeezed at my stump, and everytime I put pressure on it, it jabbed at what was left of my leg bone. While I could mostly trot again, this leg was not worth the inconvenient feelings it gave me.

“Bombay?” The familiar voice of a stallion called out from down a hall I passed. Stopping in my tracks, I turned around and walked myself back around the corner. When I did, I saw Double Drum smile and wave me over. “I’m glad you trotted by, I…” He paused as his eyes fell onto the shiny pegleg strapped onto me. “Where did you get that? Did Mrs. Tapit give that to you?”

Well, there goes any sense of this being an easy job. But I couldn’t really ignore the question and just walk away. I had to say something and hope that he was on board with all this.

“Yes, I’m supposed to go see Dr. Tibia and Dr…” I began, but found Double Drum’s hoof shut my muzzle forcefully.

“Look, I’m not one to judge who you get into bed with in this town, but I don’t want to know anything about it.” He grunted, looking around the hallway for anypony around. “This town is already on edge enough after the Enclave attacks, and the Road Crew doesn’t need any internal trouble connecting us to scum like Mrs. Tapit. So whoever else you’re here to see, I don’t want to know about it.”

I nodded, prompting him to take his hoof away. “I’ve got no choice. She has my friends held captive.”

“Let me give you some advice.” He kept his voice low, and from the way he leaned toward me, I was pretty sure that Mrs. Tapit had ears everywhere like she’d insinuated. “Most of the ponies in this town? They don’t like Mrs. Tapit.” If somepony like Double Drum was wary of what he said around here, that had to say something about the kind of mare Mrs. Tapit was. “Doctors like Tibia are only working for her because they’re indebted to her. Few of the ponies here on the H.M.S. Mercy likes the fact that their drugs are being carted away for sale to junkies, but until Mrs. Tapit is dead, nothing is going to change.” That… was a hell of an insinuation if I was understanding him right. As he stood up, he reached over and gave me a pat on the shoulder. “Do with that information as you will. But if you’re close and you’ve got a shot, you’d make a lot of ponies happy around here. Mutterings on the street is that she’s aiming to take the town soon, so the sooner she’s out, the better.”

As he walked off, I wasn’t sure what to do with that. My hooves were tied as it was. I needed to do as she asked to get Hispano and Happy back, but… I wasn’t entirely sure she’d give them back so easily. Besides, what did he expect would happen? I’d just walk in there and kill her, like it was just that easy to do?

Shaking my head, I looked down the hallway where Double Drum had been calling me from, and found a sign hanging down from the ceiling. It was a guidance sign that said that Dr. Tibia’s office was in one of the rooms down this hallway. Trotting down the hall, I quite quickly found the small office with it’s door open.

Poking my head inside, the entire room was a mess of wooden crates and prosthetic limbs. From simple wooden peg legs, to complex plastic and metal prosthesis, there were synthetic body parts scattered all over the various desks and crates in the room. As I looked over them all, a pink flank wiggled and caught my attention from inside one of the boxes toward the back.

“Hello?” I asked. When I did, there was a squeak as the mare in the box jumped slightly. A pair of bright purple eyes behind thick rimmed glasses popped over the wooden rim of the crate. As they did, a frizzy orange mane poofed up into a giant sphere around the top of the mare’s head like a big fuzzy ball.

“Hello!” The elated earth pony mare gasped as she hooked two plastic looking hooves over one edge of the box. So, she had missing limbs as well. “One moment, please...” She began to say as she hopped up and tried to pull herself out of the box. As she did, she gave a quick second hop that sent her bounding out of the box with more ease than I thought possible. With a set of soft clicks against the metal floor, a pair of black, curved strips of metal bowed slightly under her… rear stumps.

“Your... legs are missing. All of them.” I stated the obvious so painfully that I cringed.

“What!?” She gasped, turning herself around in place a few times. “My legs? Where’ve they gone?” Grumbling, she sat down on the floor and slumped. “Ugh. I hate when the go walking off like that on me. Guess I’m stuck testing these forever…” She wiggled one of the plastic prosthetic legs. As she did, the light whine of the motors inside it caught my ear. “Hah, nah, I’m just kidding.” She smiled and waved me in. “I’m Dr. Tibia, what can I do for you today?”

Giving her a smile of my own, I trotted forward into the messy room. Looking around, I started to wonder if there was actually something in here that could help me walk normally again. “Wow, did you make all of these yourself?”

“Yes and no! I work with my friend, Crystal Harmonium to build…” She began, but caught herself when she looked at the pegleg I wore. “Oh. You’re here for that.”

“Hey… it’s not what you think.” I sighed, losing all the confidence I had only a moment ago to the awkward shift. “I’m here for the job in order to help my friends out of some trouble.”

“Alright.” She sighed heavily as she pulled herself off the floor. “Give me a few minutes and you’ll be led to Dr. Kaio.” Walking over to one of the messy desks in the room, she shoved a crate on it to the side before hoofing up an old telephone set onto the desk. Picking it up, she hoofed at a few of it’s buttons before putting it up to her ear. “Yes, this is Dr. Tibia. Can you send Jean in for an escort down to Dr. Kaio? Thanks.” As she hung up the phone, she hung her head for a moment, simply standing in silence.

I needed to change the mood of this before I changed my mind about doing this whole job. “How did it happen?” I asked, speaking before thinking again.

“What?” Dr. Tibia grumbled.

“How did you lose your legs?” I said as my mind just now caught up with itself to tell me that maybe this was a sensitive topic for her. Though, then again, I’m sure she get’s this question all the time…

She laughed. “Hardly any visitors ask me that these days.” Sitting down hard, she looked a bit deflated. “Normally I’m just supposed to take measurements and feed them into Crystal’s manufacturing machine. It’s all ‘Who cares about you, where’s my leg at?’ and ‘Why haven’t you finished it yet?’. Not even a ‘how are you doing today’, not from any adults at least.” Slumping forward, she planted her head firmly onto her desk, making the phone jump slightly from the hit. “Nopony wants to know about Dr. Tibia these days.”

“Well, you said I’ve got some time.” I said, taking a seat as well. “Tell me about when it happened.”

“Hah. When it happened.” Picking herself up off the table, she snorted, eyeing me over with a hesitant curiosity. “Any other day I’d make up some fantastical story about it. Truth is, it’s a birth defect. I was born with this defect, and have never had any legs. It’s why Crystal and I get along so great, actually.” Squinting as she studied me over, she canted her head a bit. “Say, didn’t I just see you laying in a bed around here earlier?”

“Yeah. Came in for a check up on my leg.” I shrugged and looked down at the metal leg stuck on me. “During it, I had an implant in my head get screwed up so they had to remove it.”

“Ah, you’re the one Double Drum came by and mentioned I presume?” She leaned forward and took a closer look at my leg. “And now you’re out working for Mrs. Tapit hours later?” Rolling her eyes, she cocked her eyebrow. “That’s one hell of a recovery speed.”

“It’s not my choice. She has some of my friends captive, and this is the only way I get them back.” I didn’t exactly want to explain this to every pony I met down here. If Mrs. Tapit really did have ears everywhere, I didn’t want to risk her thinking that I was telling everypony I knew. “I don’t really want to talk about it.”

From down the hallway, an odd chiming rang through the air. Perking my ears, I listened as it got closer. Oddly enough, the closer it got, the bigger the smile on Dr. Tibia’s muzzle grew.

“Well, why don’t you come back here when that’s all sorted? Crystal Harmonium and I can get your measurements and make you any sort of leg that you want.” She looked at me, giving me a nod. “Provided that is, that you make it through whatever you have to do for Mrs. Tapit in the first place.”

The jingling chime was matched with a set of light and quick hoofsteps coming down the hallway. Getting to my hooves, I turned around to find a larger than expected… thing nearly fill up the whole oversized doorway. My ears folded back as the overbearing figure gave a heavy huff, and I sat down hard.

“Ehy there, Dr. Tibia! I’m here for that escort!” The female… whatever this was, stood almost as tall as Solomon did. A stocky, rust colored body supported by four large cloven hooved legs was almost intimidating on it’s own. But the way she seemed to nearly vibrate on those hooves reminded me of Hispano-like energy levels. The sheer size, plus that boundless energy, made this... thing the most frightening thing I’d seen on this trip so far. And that was saying a lot having met Buck, Rosie, and some of the other Snow Dogs!

“What… are you?” The words slipped from my muzzle, but I was too far into shock to have stopped myself anyway.

“I’m Jean! Doctor extraordinaire! Well, doctor in training at least!” She smiled proudly before wrinkling her broad, square nose at the end of her muzzle. “No, wait, you asked what I am. Silly me!” She gasped and smiled at me. “Oh! You’ve never seen a moose before, Eh?”

“Jean, focus please.” Dr. Tibia called out as she trotted over to my side. “You need to run this mare down to Dr. Kaio, alright?”

“Yeah, you betcha!” Jean flicked her large flat ears and shook the metal wind chimes that hung from them to give a jingle. Nodding, she bounced on her hooves hard enough that I could feel the metal floor flex and strain under her. “Come on, Mister! I’ll show you the way!” Turning around, she trotted off down the hall while the chimes on her ears echoed oddly off the metal ship walls.

“She’s a… mare.” Dr. Tibia sighed as Jean walked away. “She’s still young, but she’s got a lot of heart. So give her a bit of a break if she makes some mistakes… or tries to talk your ears off on the way there.”

“Will do.” I nodded, offering a nervous smile to Dr. Tibia. “If I may ask… why does she wear wind chimes in her ears?”

“It’s not for her, it’s for the rest of us. Believe it or not, Jean is a smaller moose for her age. Even so, she’s… not always quite aware of her comparative size to us ponies, and for as big as she is, she can be quite light on her hooves. The chimes mostly help us know that she’s somewhere around at the moment so we don’t accidentally get in her way.” She nodded before pointing to the door. “Anyway, good luck with your job, and I’ll see you back here soon. I hope.”

“So I says to Hemlock, you can’t have the long face, that’s my job!” Jean snorted as she giggled at her own rendition of a story about ponies I’d never meet. “Isn’t that just so funny, eh?” Looking down at me, she seemed to expect an answer about whatever it was she’d been going on about. Sadly, I didn’t exactly have one.

“I… don’t know?” I sighed, following her through what felt like a labyrinth of hallways. The layout of the Mercy was even more confounding than the Inuvik was! “This place is so big. How do you know where to go around here?”

“Oh yah, that’s easy.” Jean nodded, making the chimes on her ears clang together noisily. “It’s cause us moose are psychic, dontcha’ know?” Offering as bright a smile as she’d worn so far, I honestly couldn’t tell if she was lying or not… “Ah, I’m just joking with you. Though, it would be pretty neat, Eh?” She laughed before going back to bouncing on her hooves. “So anyway, my gal pal Banana Bonanza and I were talking the other day...” Celestia, did she ever stop talking!? Or stop being so energetic and happy all the time? Or stop being so very, very tall?

Yeah, I don’t think I’d ever complain about Hispano’s antics again after this. The only thing worse than this would be...

My legs locked up as a nightmare scenario played out in my head. Note to self, never let Hispano and Jean into the same room. Ever. Forever. If I at some point ended up being that unfortunate, I’m pretty sure I would explode from the raw energy radiating between them. Actually, I’d probably explode twice, once for each of them.

“Oh hey, we’re here!” Jean gasped as we stopped just short of a sealed bulkhead door. “Guess that’s it for the escort then! You’ll be fine on your own from here, eh?” She laughed before wrapping her massive cloven forehoof around me. “Don’t get lost in there, ya hear?” It was hard to hear her over the creaking that my ribcage gave as she nearly squeezed me to death. I wanted to object to the forceful hug, but all of the air had been pressed out of my lungs…

After a few moments, mercifully, she let me go, and I sucked in a large lung-full of air.

“Sure…” I said, slowly catching my breath as I looked into the large room ahead. “Thanks for the escort.”

“No problem, Mister!” She smiled and waved. Just how did she know I was a stallion? “Just call me again if you need to head anywhere else onboard, or end up lost somewhere in the ship, eh?” Giving an excited wave of her forehoof, she laughed and spun around. I watched as she quickly trotted back off into the maze of hallways in this place. Well, that was certainly… something.

Giving a shrug, I turned to the door and grabbed onto it with my forehooves. The locking mechanism slid open a lot smoother than I’d expected it to. The maintenance on this ship must have been phenomenal for these doors to open this effortlessly. Pushing the metal door open, I was almost blinded by the lighting inside.

The hum of working machinery filled the air, though as my eyes adjusted, I found that it was a lot quieter than I’d have expected it to be. Enormous glass boiling vats towered along two sides of the expansive and open room. White and red pipes zigzagged and looped around between each of the five different odd looking machines lined up on each side of the room. Bits of each were emitting steam or glowing with magical energy as the off grey liquid in the closer tanks became darker and more purple the further through the system it went. They culminated down the line in a pair of glass tanks that held a shimmer to it, looking like oversized health potions at a glance.

“Excuse me,” A voice of a mare called from the far right wall inside the room, prompting me to look over to it. A zebra in a blue and white colored lab coat was glaring at me through a pair of clear plastic safety goggles. “Potion production is off limits to patients, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” Without caring to give me a second thought, she brought up a clipboard she held in her hoof and began to look between it and the machine she stood next to.

“Are you Dr. Kaio?” I asked, really hoping that I didn’t have to explain myself again to somepony in here. At this point, I was pretty sure that by now, either Hispano was trying to escape her cage, or Happy was pleading to sacrifice her life for his own release.

“Yes.” The Zebra sighed as she deadpanned. “Look, we’re getting ready to perform some critical repairs. Can you come back at a later time if you need something?”

“I’m afraid not.” I said bluntly, pushing my way inside and trotting over toward her. She looked quite surprised that I’d just walk in like that, but same as the others had, she grumbled when she saw the chrome pegleg.

“Fine. Follow me.” She rolled her eyes before trotting behind one of the large machines. Trotting past all the odd machinery, I was led to a small room off the back wall. Looking in through the small window, I could see that the whole place was completely spotless. Two desks with neat and orderly stacks of paper on it sat inside, one even held a brightly glowing terminal on it. A microscope and set of medical instruments rested on a shelf along the back wall, each one looking spaced to be exactly the same distance apart. Lastly, in the far corner, was a tall and boxy electronic machine, not a speck of rust or smudge of dust was on it’s pristine silver exterior. She was definitely the tidy one compared to Dr. Tibia.

Following her into the office, I froze as a set of hooves reached up from under the desk next to the door. The short, cream colored young unicorn stallion gave a yawn as he crawled out from under it. He’d had a white and blue lab coat similar to the one Dr. Kaio was wearing draped over him like a blanket, and from the unfocused look he gave, I could only assume he’d just been napping.

“Is it time for the next maintenance cycle already?” The stallion spoke through his yawn before levitating over a pair of thick framed, round rimmed glasses. Affixing them to his muzzle, he glanced over at me momentarily before looking away. I watched as his vibrant, curly red mane stood on end as he nearly jumped and looked back at me. “Woah! Where did you come from!?”

“Calm down, Balmy.” Dr. Kaio grunted as she sat down in front of the terminal and started typing away on it. “Go finish up tuning the condenser’s spell matrix for me. I’ve got some business to attend to.”

“Yes, mother.” He nodded before wearily trotting around me. Mother? He didn’t look like a zebra at all! I watched as he squeezed passed me out the door, and didn’t take his eyes off of mine until he’d passed the window and disappeared into the machine filled room.

With a few rough taps on the terminal, I turned my gaze back around in time to see Dr. Kaio pull herself back up and walk over to the silver machine in the corner. With a few beeps and boops, a mechanical grinding from inside started up. It came in rhythmic tones, and after a moment, a yellowed sheet of paper ejected from a slot just wide enough for it to fit through. Snatching it roughly from the slot, Dr. Kaio walked it over to me and stiffly held it out for me to grab. Reaching out, I grabbed the paper in my hoof, feeling confused.

“I don't understand, I was told I'd be getting a container.” Turning, I lifted the chrome pegleg up for her to see it again. “For this thing.” Oh, this was not good. I could just feel this already going sideways on me...

“I know.” She grunted, rolling her eyes and sitting down in a huff. “But what she asked for, I can’t deliver.” Reaching out, she flicked at the paper in my grasp. “Tell her that I’m sorry, but it's the best I can do.” Pointing to the door, she glared at me. “Now that you have it, tell her that I don’t care what she thinks, we’re even. Good luck with your new job! Buh-bye! Now get the hell out of my laboratory.”

The best she could do? “I see.” I grumbled, clenching my fetlock around the paper. I could just see how this would go down if I returned without what I’d been told to bring back. Mrs. Tapit probably wouldn’t release Hispano and Happy, and I’d have to do another job for her. And between fixing Bertha and finding Salt, that was something I didn’t have time for. “You know what? No, that’s not good enough. I refuse to leave until I get what she sent me for.” Forget the idea of letting them go, who knows how she’d hurt either of them if I didn’t come back with what she wanted.

“Do… do I have to call security down here?” Dr. Kaio huffed in disbelief. “Look, I don’t care what kind of junkie you are. Why don’t you go earn a living like us normal folk and get a job that doesn’t have you running drugs for a bitch like Mrs. Tapit? Hell, why don’t you do this whole town a favor and just hit the road, and take that cunt Tapit with you.”

I don’t know what it was, but something in me snapped with that. It was probably something connected to how I didn’t want to worry about dieing and the like from earlier, but I’m not going to lie. When I snapped? It felt good.

“I’m doing this because she has my friends hostage. Friends, who I need to do my actual job out on the road, where chances are, you’ve never been!” I spat at her. “I don’t need some high and mighty stripe, sitting on her cushy fucking flank, presuming to know jack shit about me!” Throwing the paper at her, her expression shifted to one of outrage. “And because I don’t like working for her anymore than you do, why don’t you do us both a fucking favor, and fill the goddess damned prescription or whatever she wanted so we can both be done with her forever.”

“Because I told you, it’s impossible!” She nearly screamed back at me. Grabbing the paper in her forehoof, she threw it back at me before pointing at it. “She wanted me to break down just what’s inside Chill! I did that for her. But replicating it? Hah!” She laughed, throwing her hooves in the air. “There are ingredients for that drug that don’t exist. I may be the best goddess damned chemist on this ship, but even I’m not good enough to begin to understand that compound. So unless you want to magic it out of thin fucking air, I can’t make it.”

Picking the paper up, I uncrumpled and read it over. Thirty one percent Triticum Aestivum, twenty nine percent Sucrose Disaccharide, twenty percent Dextroamphetamine, sixteen percent Sodium Bicarbonate, three percent Methylamine, one percent... unknown compound?

Facehoofing myself, this was going to be a big fucking problem.

“See, I can’t do shit for you.” Dr. Kaio grunted before forcibly crossing her hooves. “I’m sorry about your friends, but you’re just going to have to suck it up and be the bearer of bad news. I can’t help you.”

Goddess damnit. Why did shit always have to go sideways on me? Couldn’t I just get one, tiny break for once?

“Actually… I might be able to help after all.” Dr. Kaio spoke up softly. “You have to deliver that leg directly to her, right?” The tone of her voice was far from what it had been only moments ago. Even before looking up at her, I could tell that she had a devilish grin spread across her muzzle. “Don’t you understand, this is perfect!” Looking up at her, I found her bright green eyes empty of the rage they once held. She gave out a soft laugh as she reached up, twirling at her curly black and white striped low hanging mane.

“I’m sorry, I don’t follow.” I spoke up slowly. What did I just get myself into… again?

“You said it yourself.” She lowered her voice to a whisper as she stepped forward. “You deliver that leg, and we’ll both be done with her, forever.”

Oh, hell no.

“Look, I know what you’re going to ask, and the answer is no.” I grumbled. Really, she expected me to agree to walk in there and kill Mrs. Tapit? Just like that? “I’m not a fighter, and even if I were, that would be suicide to try to kill her in her own ship.” I’m not against killing somepony as hated and controlling as her, I’m just against dieing while doing it.

“What if I told you that I had a way to let you just walk in, kill her without retaliation, and then let you walk out with your friends?” She smiled, scooting herself close to me.

“I’d say I don’t know why you’d even think that was possible.” Leaning away from her, I couldn’t be so sure she didn’t snap, and she’d just gone batshit crazy on her own. Then again, maybe it was something to do with all the chemicals she’s handled, or maybe some of them probably turned her brain into mush. “If it were possible, don’t you think somepony would have already tried it?”

“No, nopony has been able to get close to her, and no belongings are allowed around her even if you do manage to get close.” Using her forehoof, she reached down and grasped around the chrome pegleg. “But this? She expects you to bring this right to her. It’s too important for her to trust to anypony else.” With a stiff yank, she pulled the leg right off of me with a ‘pop’. I struggled to readjust my center of balance for a moment, but managed to keep upright as Dr. Kaio turned and trotted to her terminal with a smile.

“If I can synthesize a dizapancuronium canister, outfit it with an aerosolizer, and then stick it in the leg for you to deliver? We’d be in business.” She began to speak quickly, “I’d have to inoculate you with a healthy dose of Tension, but that way you wouldn’t be affected by the bulk of the gas.” Pausing, she put her hoof to her chin and looked worried for a moment. “Though, even though the ship is airtight sealed, the method of delivery would have to be fairly uniform and unrestricted to ensure as little resistance from her goons as possible. You’d have to find a centralized place where it could be distributed among the whole ship.”

“Diza-what now?” I blurtted out as I hobbled over toward her. “Listen, I don’t really know what you’re saying, so could you please put it in simpler terms?” While I didn’t know what she was talking about, the horrible pit in my stomach had at least left for the moment, so that had to count for something, right?

“I can fill the leg with knockout gas.” She rolled her eyes before going back to typing on her terminal. She was putting in coding to the machine almost as fast as Hispano worked at the terminal back at the facility under Cannon City. “So long as you can find a good way to distribute the gas in a large open area they can’t seal up, the entire ship would be asleep before they even knew they were under attack. Then the rest is easy. Find a weapon, finish her off, and drag your friends out of the ship. Simple.”

“That’s… great.” Putting them all to sleep was a great idea, and I bet that if I could get it under those weak old floorboards, they couldn’t stop it from spreading throughout the whole ship. I just saw one, teeny tiny flaw with that plan. “How am I supposed to kill her when I’ll be asleep as well?”

“Oh, you won’t be asleep. Tension is an old world combat drug the zebras used early on in the great war. It’s meant to overstimulate the adrenal gland to dangerous levels in order to keep the user awake and moving.” Giving a few final strokes of the keys to her terminal, the machine against the wall gave a ominous humming sound. Pushing herself away from the desk, she walked over to the machine with quick steps before hoofing at a panel on the side. Opening it up, she hoofed out a long syringe, with an even longer needle on the end of it. As if the look of the needle wasn’t bad enough, the pitch black liquid inside sent a shiver up my spine.

“With this much Tension in your bloodstream, you’ll pretty much be immune to the gas for an hour or so. The gas might take some time to dissipate, and while it’s around, it’ll quite quickly neutralize the Tension in your bloodstream while in proximity of it. So you’ll have to get all the way back to her ship fast, and work quickly once inside. Alright?” Giving the needle a little flick, it dribbled some of the off pitch black inside down onto the floor. “For now you shouldn’t worry about anything like that and just focus on the job.”

Sure, because that was ever so calming to hear. You’ll only be around ponies who will rip off all your limbs if you fuck this up, Night. Yeah, no need to worry about that at all...

“Now, it’s been awhile since I did any triage duty. Let’s see if I can recall any of my anatomy lessons from my early med school days.” She sighed, curling her fetlock around the oversized syringe. “The problem is, I can’t quite remember which side of the body a pony’s heart is on…”

Celestia help me...

Author's Note

Thanks again to Kkat for writing the incredible original story, Fallout: Equestria, as well as letting us all use it as our personal wasteland playgrounds.

Also, a big thanks to TheFurryRailFan for all of his help in doing edits! Seriously, I can't thank him enough for being there over these last few years and helping out with either ideas, or just giving feedback. Thank you, man.

Chapter 23 - A pirate in territorial waters

An object will always fall so as to do the most damage.

Now I knew what it must be like to be Jean or Hispano.

My heart raced inside my chest, begging, pleading for me to let it out. Similarly, my legs pulsed and flinched under me, just waiting to be let loose so I could run. My wings as I flew even flapped quickly on their own, it was great! I’m sure they actually moved slower than I thought, but I felt that they were beating so fast that an old world hummingbird would be jealous. All this energy and nowhere to spend it, the feeling was almost infuriating!

This drug was amazing!

Coming down for a stiff landing in front of the tipped over submarine’s conning tower, I was met at the door by the yellow brick of a stallion who’d captured us in the first place. As I struggled to keep myself from vibrating away with the energy coursing through me, I also tried to avoid looking at him as he towered over me.

“I should have known you weren’t to be trusted.” He snorted, making my mind race with just what he meant by that.

How could he have known!? Goddesses why did this have to go wrong again! I’m cursed, that’s why. I should have listened that she had ears everywhere, how could I have been so stupid? Now Hispano and Happy were going to die and it was all my fault!

“You’re just a fucking junkie like the rest of them, taking your sweet time to shoot up before you come back with Mrs. Tapit’s property hanging off your worthless stump.” The stallion grumbled. Oh thank the goddesses, that’s all? I would have breathed a sigh of relief if my fucking lungs would let me relax for more than a split second! No, relaxing is bad, need to stay awake. “Some fucking ‘bounty hunter’ you are. Yeah, right.” He nodded, turning and opening the hatch to get into the old submarine. “Come on, let’s go.”

Stepping in, my hooves clattered on the old rotting wood inside. It bowed down just as much as it did when I was here before, and I smiled knowing that it was probably because it was completely hollow underneath. My smile turned into a frown as the stallion gave out an annoyed grunt. With a loud squeal, the hatch in front of him opened, and we both stepped inside as the door behind us, shut with a slam.

Following the stallion through the maze of hallways a second time, my eyes darted around. It wasn’t until we passed the room where I’d been held that I was reminded of the large set of lockers on the far wall. Our stuff was inside there, so that would be the first stop once the deed was done. Trotting almost on the stallion’s heels, I cringed as he shot back a glare at me as I followed. Trailing back a bit, I decided it was best to give him some space, rather than risk pissing him off and getting beaten for it.

As we approached the door to Mrs. Tapit’s room, I noticed that the room outside of hers had been filled with tons of wooden crates in my short absence. Ponies diligently moved them around and opened them up, taking little notice as we entered the room. Inside some of the boxes were smaller crates, while others were filled to the brim with different chemicals and equipment. Some of the things inside them looked sort of similar to the equipment in various rooms on the H.M.S. Mercy. One crate however, stood out of place among the others.

Inside of it, was what looked like an oversized brass revolver. And when I say oversized, I mean by the fact that it’s cylinder was almost the size of my head. Each red painted revolver shell packed inside the box with it was dusty looking, and oversized as well. Reading the bold markings painted on the side of the box, it was apparently a 37mm signal revolver. Why they’d ever have a flare launcher that large was anypony’s guess. However, my guess would have to wait.

With a metallic squeal, the door to Mrs. Tapit’s room opened, and I was greeted by a warm smile on the other side. Mrs. Tapit nearly glowed with pride the moment she saw me. Even though I wanted to gallop over there and strangle her right now for the shit she’s put me through, I had to play this out the way that Dr. Kaio told me it had to.

“Well, well, well,” Mrs. Tapit’s sultry voice was like a hoof scraping along a chalkboard to me. How she thought that anypony could find that voice attractive enough to make her a Misses, I’ll never know. “Took your sweet time, sugar, but you have returned to me. Question is, did you bring me my package?”

Nodding, I stepped into the room. “I did, it’s…” That was as far as I made it before the yellow stallion reached out and hooked his fetlock around the peg leg from behind me. With an unceremonious yank, he pulled the leg straight off of me, sending me down onto the metal flooring between both sides of the doorway.

While it hadn’t so much been the plan, the second the leg came off, so did the plug to the canister Dr. Kaio had hidden inside of it. With a loud hiss, the compressed gas inside streamed out into the air. In but only a moment, everypony around me dropped to the floor and was out like a light. It would normally have been now that my heart would start racing to finish the job, but of course, it had been doing that for a half hour or so already. Even with only three legs, in an instant, I’d jumped back on my hooves and was ready to get to work.

As I came back down from my jump however, the boards under my hooves gave a disconcerting creak. Smiling, I used my energy to jump up again. Coming back down the boards cracked louder, but still sat firmly under hoof. Jumping over and over, each time I did it, I giggled a little more. Beating my wings, I propelled myself up to the ceiling for one last hit, and let myself drop.

With a tremendous crack, the whole rotten floor in the room gave out. Crates, guards, and even mr. yellow stallion himself tumbled ten feet down into the dark underside of the room. I was immediately enveloped in dust as we all slammed down on the bottom. I coughed and choked as the cloud cleared. Flailing my forehoof around, I cleared the air around me a bit, but froze as my hoof struck something metallic to my side.

Looking over, I gasped as the intimidating gaze from the Enclave power armor next to me bore right through me. Even with the drug in my system, it felt like my heart stopped. I barely even felt like breathing as I stood and waited to see what the pony would do…

...but it never moved.

Looking around, I found another three sets of power armor setup next to the one I’d hit. Each one was in a different state of repair, with tons of tools and equipment set around it. Spinning my gaze, I found that along with the armor, hidden under the floorboards, was a veritable armory. Magical energy weapons of all types lay about in various stripped or incomplete conditions. Metal cases of explosives were strewn about haphazardly, and wooden racks holding missiles lined the rusting walls. Taking a step back, I couldn’t quite be sure why Mrs. Tapit would have all of these down here.

Figuring that it didn’t matter to me at the moment, I flapped as hard as I could and pulled myself up out of the heap of broken wood and bodies. As I did, the hissing canister met my ears again. Looking up, it was still sitting up on the doorway to Mrs. Tapit’s room.

Quickly, I flapped my way over and grabbed it. The gas jet was still pouring out a thick cloud of the chemical into the air, and like an idiot, I stood there looking at it. Even with the drugs coursing through my veins, I felt woozy for a moment. Quickly, I tossed it down into the dark below as far as I could. With the gas now free to spread under the floor, I too was free to move on to the next part of the plan!

“Alright, weapon, weapon…” Looking around, I found that none of the guards had any weapons on them that I could see down in the pit. None of the energy weapons down there looked to be in good condition, and who the fuck knew where their ammo was, so they wouldn’t do. “I need something, anything…” My eyes stopped on the shiney brass flare projector that had fallen down out of the crate. “Bingo.”

Dropping down, I grabbed onto the gun with my hooves and shoved it’s grip into my muzzle. Now, I’d never loaded a gun like this, but it didn’t take a genius to figure it out. Press the big lever on the side, put one of the giant dusty cases in one of the holes and then shut it again. Easy as pie. Speaking of, you know what I should have when I get back? One of Mrs. Green Leaf’s pies. I think I still have one left…

“Focus!” I told myself, accidentally spitting the gun out of my muzzle. It dropped to the floor with a clack before I slapped the side of my head. “Get a grip, Night. Do the job.” Getting that close to the active canister must have still had some effect on me. My heart felt like it had slowed, and my thoughts were drifting a bit. Figuring that I’d better finish this quickly, I hoofed the gun up and back into my muzzle again. Flaring my wings, I buzzed myself back up to the entrance to Mrs. Tapits room.

Aiming the enormous gun was hard, and it dragged my head down to the side a bit from the way it sat in my muzzle. Doing my best, I aimed the gun in the general direction of Mrs. Tapit.

Was this really it? Here I flew, gun trained on a pony who couldn’t even fight back. Was I ready to kill her, just this easily? I could simply go, gather Hispano and Happy, and then get out of here. Of course then what would happen? Mrs. Tapit and her cronies wake up and come try to kill us all? Best case scenario is she lets us go and goes after Dr. Kaio for tricking her.

I knew that Buck wouldn't approve, but unfortunately I saw no other way to get through this. Ever so slowly, I pulled the trigger.

The gun didn’t fire.

“Wha…?” Like an idiot, I spoke up again and the gun dropped from my muzzle. Scrambling to catch it before it dropped down, I grasped it by the hammer and the mouthpiece, which of course, then cocked the gun. With the hammer back now, it changed how the weight of the large brass gun sat between my hooves. Predictably, the unbalanced gun fell from my hooves again, and straight down to the floor.

With a loud bang, the gun struck the metal floor below and fired off. With a spectacular, brilliant red flash, the burning flare shot through the air. The bright projectile pinged and zipped off the rusting interior of the ship, ricocheting around like a pinball from the cloud arcades. Flailing my forelegs, I sharply arched my back as one of the ricocheting bounces sent the blazing flare only inches from hitting me. With one last bounce that sounded like a gong against the old metal walls, the round fluttered across the room before tumbling down into the hole where the floor once sat…

...and right into the straw filled crate where the other flares were still sitting.

With a panicked gasp, I bolted for the hatch of the room heading back into the center of the submarine. As I zipped to the door and threw it open, the heavy whump of the crate catching fire caught my ears. The moment I was through the door and into the next room, the room behind me sounded like it erupted into a warzone. Pops and bangs filled the interior as the other flares went off, setting fire to the other crates that had been in the room.

As I quickly made my way back through the maze of hallways, a flash through the cracks under my hooves met my eyes. A bright arcing red flare zipped along under the floorboards down the length of the ship, disappearing under the bulkhead of the next room. As it did, I began to recognize the telltale smell of burning wood coming from behind me.

Okay, uncontrollable fire, mixed with the stockpile of Enclave explosives down there was not going to end well! With my wings beating almost as fast as my heart, I pushed myself to fly. My wings would hurt when this was over, but at least I’d still be alive! Which of course, was more than Mrs. Tapit would be able to say. Then again, I’m betting on being able to get out of here faster than those explosives could cook off...

Gliding down the various hallways, I flew over numerous passed out guards. Each one of them had slumped over whatever it was they’d been doing. Fluttering past a room full of beds, I’d even found two stallions curled up together, having passed out partway through what had undoubtedly been a pretty fun romp from the way they were splayed out. Part of me was almost jealous they’d been having any kind of fun tonight.

As I was picturing the fantastic romp I’d had with Buck in my head however, I ran right into a bulkhead I wasn’t watching out for. “Focus…” I gave out a whimper and dropped down to my hooves. As I rubbed at my head, I looked over and found that this had been the room I was locked in for a bit. Looking across it, I found the large locker sitting on the back wall.

Quickly, I pulled out my gear and threw it on. As I did, two things came to my attention. The first, was that my heart rate was slowing even more. It was starting to head toward being normal now, and I could feel as my thoughts still wandered a bit. The second thing that caught my attention, was that the smell of smoke and the heat of fire was noticeably in the air now. I could only have guessed that most of the floorboards in the front were now on fire, and that could only mean my time here was getting shorter and shorter. Which of course was not good news, seeing as Hispano and Happy were most likely still somewhere on the other half of the ship.

Securing my saddle, I reached up and wrapped my hoof around Suiza. Giving Hispano’s ridiculously sized gun a yank, I found it barely swing out into my grasp. The sheer weight of it was incredible as it fell into my hooves. How the fuck does she even fly with something like this!? Straining to lift it up enough to sling it around myself, a few moments of awkward shifting passed before I got it loosely propped up on my back enough that it wouldn’t slip off. Turning around, I pushed forward with my hooves and began to hobble toward the entrance of the sub.

Having been in and out twice now, some of the path of halls was beginning to look familiar. I forced myself to stop once I’d found the entrance to the conning tower. Looking down the narrow hallway, the inner hatch was open, while the final hatch out was blocked by somepony.

Slumped up against the exit hatch, was Dizzy. I cursed under my breath. I know that Violet wasn’t on Delilah’s side, but maybe if I could save Dizzy as well, he could help change her mind. Sighing to myself, I realized that I could come back for him if I had the time. Happy and Hispano were my first priority.

Taking a moment to actually finagle Suiza’s sling a bit more, I managed to get the heavy weapon secured tightly on my back this time around. Great, now that I wasn’t managing a balancing act on my back, I might just be fast enough to get to the others just in time to have us all explode! Note for the future, don’t shoot flare guns around explosives!

Continuing onwards into the other half of the submarine, my heart was nearly back to it’s normal pace. Again, my thoughts began to wander even more than before. As I hobbled through the next room, my mind drifted over to how my dad would have freaked out if he’d ever seen a submarine. I mean, he loved Raptors more than anypony I knew in the Enclave, but I know that any sort of old ship would have made him smile.

As I’d ceased paying attention to the world around me, I tripped over one of the crumpled stallions inside the next room. From my new point of view on the floor, I realized that this room was almost laid out the same as the one I’d been locked away in. I picked myself up off the floor and hobbled forward a bit, finding another cage like the one I’d been in. However, this one had the sleeping form of an annoying red mule in it.

Grabbing at the bars to the cell, I yanked on them. They shook and groaned, but they didn’t budge. Spinning around, I made my way back over to the guard and did my best to pat him down. I was looking for keys, a prybar, or anything to help me get into that cell. But alas, in my quick search he didn’t have anything at all. Taking a step back, the floor under my hooves creaked. Looking down, I smiled, as I realized that this floor might be just as weak as the other one!

Skipping past the playful jumping, I spread my wings and leaped upwards. Flapping a few times, I found myself pressing my back against the cold metal ceiling, which was now hazy with thick, stinging smoke. With a grunt, I folded my wings, tucked in my legs, and put my shoulder down. Dropping out of the air, my body and head hit the wood hard. With the added weight of Suiza and my own battle saddle to help me, the wood under me cracked as I saw stars for a moment.

It was a struggle to try to pull myself back onto my hooves, but I couldn’t sit around when I could feel the drug in my system wearing off more and more. Slowly, I stood up, shaking off the disorientation just quickly enough for the soft crackling under my hooves to hit my ears. I didn’t have the time to react and open my wings before the wood gave out, and I was dropped back into the dark underside.

However, as I flopped down onto the broken wood, I found that the underside of the boat wasn’t so dark any longer. Down on the far side of the old sub, the burning floorboards had turned the whole area near Mrs. Tapit’s room into a raging inferno. The power armors, crates of weapons, and even the wooden racks that held up the missiles were ablaze. The clock was still ticking on the drug, and it was ticking down faster than I would have liked in regards to the rate that fire was spreading onto the explosives.

Looking over among the broken wood, I found Happy slumped down onto it. Hobbling over, I hoofed at him. He was just as heavy as I remembered him being from back on the Inuvik, that’s for sure. But with only having three legs and carrying Hispano’s oversized gun, he was now twice as inconvenient to carry. Still, as annoying as it would be, I pulled him up over my back and turned around. Fuck being even, he was going to owe me for this. Big time.

With Happy up on my back, I gave out a light yawn. Looking up, I hadn’t realized the consequence of breaking out the floorboards here. Even if I dumped Suiza, there was absolutely zero way I’d be able to fly him up the ten feet or so back onto the floor toward the front entrance. And there wasn’t a way to get above the floor any closer to the conning tower before the smoke and fire got to us.

Well, shit.

Looking around, none of the bits of broken floorboard toward the front were either long enough to reach up that high, or strong enough to support the both of us going up it. Turning around, the only piece of hope I had, was that the collapse of the floor extended into the next room over. While it was going to the far end of the Submarine, it still had most of it’s floor intact, and was sloped down towards us to boot. Attempting to reassure myself, I held my head high and remarked that there must be another exit to this place somewhere in the back.

“Yes, of course!” I spoke up to myself, trying to ignore the roaring fire that I knew was crawling it’s way toward us slowly. “Because only an idiot would have designed a submarine with only one entrance.” Then again, Night, it was designed by the same ponies who blew up the whole goddess damned world! But sure, nopony could ever be that dumb.

Grumbling, I reached out to the sloped floor leading up to the next room and pressed my hoof down on it. It bowed out slightly as I put more weight on it, but it didn’t crack. It was a small comfort, but a comfort nonetheless. With it being the only real option we had, I held my breath and stepped onto it. Slowly, step by step, I dragged Happy and I back up to the doorway of the next room, stopping just in front of another sealed hatch. I nearly stumbled into it as my head felt lighter than a cloud for a moment, and I felt myself begin to tip sideways. Quickly bracing against the doorway, I barely managed to stop myself from dumping Happy back down the broken planks.

Quickly, I gripped the old door handle and yanked at it as hard as I could to the side. The heavy door swung open, and I squeezed Happy and I through the squat doorway. I was overjoyed to find that this next room was full of machinery. From what I remembered from the terminal screen, the engine room still looked like it had equipment in it, so we had to be getting close. Stepping in, I hobbled around the various stallions and mares passed out on the floor. Maybe they’d get up in time, and this place wouldn’t be a tomb for all the unfortunate ponies here. Shaking that thought out of my head, I headed straight for the sealed door that I hoped led to the engine room.

Then again, mom had told me that the engine rooms on some of the early raptors were midship due to weight concerns. She’d said that originally, there were balancing issues between the reactors and the cloud generation equipment, and that was the only solution. Dad would always refute that, saying that there were ‘certain zones’ in the ship’s hull that had already been used for counterbalancing anyway. He’d always said he wanted to crack open the seams on those sealed walls to get a look inside for what they used as ballast, but…

I banged my nose against the sealed door ahead, knocking me out of my rambling thoughts. Stumbling back, I sat down hard. This of course caused Happy to roll off my back and slump down onto the floor. Since when had I made it across the room? Giving out a long yawn, my eyes started to feel heavy, and they stung from all the smoke that now completely blanketed the ceiling. Reaching up, I hooked my hoof around the door handle, and yanked.

Mercifully, the door handle turned fairly easily, and the door itself fell open on its own. More old equipment met my eyes in the next room, but this stuff seemed like it was still working. Numerous blinking lights and flickering gauges surrounded what I could only guess was the arcane spell reactor that still powered parts of the old ship. However, none of that mattered to me, as on the center of a large piece of quietly humming machinery, was the small steel cage that Hispano was still locked inside.

“Okay, now we just need to find a way out of here.” I told myself, stepping through the door. I paused as I felt like I was forgetting something. Looking back, I laughed as I realized that Happy was still on the floor in the other room. “Oh, right. What a shame it would be to leave him behind!” Quickly getting him slumped over my back, I went back into the engine room to free Hispano.

Slumped up against the half inch thick iron bars of the cage she’d been put in, I noticed something under her. The iron bars were only a framework that was attached to a wooden floorplate. Wood that looked to be in just about as bad of condition as on the rest of the ship.

Smiling, I unceremoniously dumped Happy onto the floor again, and climbed my way up onto the machinery that the cage was on. Hoofing at it, I pulled the heavy thing onto it’s side. Hispano flopped about inside, but slumped off the wood as she did. Giving another good tug, I flipped the cage over and hammered at it’s wooden bottom with my forehoof. As expected, the old and rotted wood didn’t last, and easily cracked open. Like a foal on Hearth's Warming eve, I ripped and tore at the old wood until my prize was in sight.

Flipping the cage onto it’s side again, Hispano flopped out and onto the thrumming machine. Carefully, I hopped down and saddled myself up next to it so I could pull her down ontop of me. When I did however, the sudden weight of her buckled my legs and I flopped onto the floor.

“Celestia… the hell is she made of?” I whined, bracing my hooves on the floor again as I saw stars floating around in my vision. “And she think’s I’m dense?” Pushing Hispano and myself off the floor, I laughed at my own pun as I waited until my legs got used to the weight. Turning around toward the back of the ship, another door laid ahead of me. Above it still sat a sideways, faded metal sign. Tilting my head to read it, I became dizzy and almost fell over. However, after bracing myself, I tried again to read it.

Aft Torpedo Room

Oh, torpedos! I remember reading about those! It was back in history class...

“No.” I hissed as I stepped forward and hit my head against the door. “Focus! That’s your other exit!” The sharp pain that ran through the shaved part of my head made me wince, but had the intended effect of waking me up a bit. Reaching up, I poured what strength I had into opening the door. Again, the old metal groaned and gave way.

Inside, the torpedo room was mostly empty. Not just of torpedos, but of ponies or other equipment, leaving a large, cavernous room. The room glowed softly from under the old floorboards. The lone flare that had shot it’s way down here had slowly heated the rotting wood, but it had yet to catch fire. Looking across, I found that the two heavy doors to the wide torpedo tubes in here were shut, and the lights on their attached control panels still glowed softly on their own.

Hobbling across the large room over to the closest tube, I cringed at how much the rotten floor bowed out under me. Tilting my head so that I could read the control panel, I found that under a large green button there was a label that read ‘Inner Door: Open/Seal’. Reaching up, I hoofed at the old button quickly. A loud hum startled me, getting my heart going quickly again. The large steel door over the tube next to me shuttered and opened slowly. The door opened upward, revealing a dark, rank smelling tube interior. From it’s current state, my guess was that nopony had ever thought to keep these clean.

Quickly, I maneuvered myself around and dumped Hispano into the tube. Turning back, I gave her a few good shoves with my hooves to make sure she was all the way inside. Now that I weighed half as much as before, I looked over the control panel again. Surprisingly, there was a large red button next to the green one that read ‘Outer Door: Open/Seal’. How fortuitous it was that the buttons were next to each other! Reaching up, I gave out another long yawn as I hoofed at the button.

An alarm sounded, and a dim red light flashed intermittently on the control panel. I paused for a moment, wondering if that was supposed to happen or not. However, I’d pretty much guessed that something had gone wrong by the way that the outer door hadn’t opened. Hoofing at the button again, nothing changed. Panicking, I tracked the flashing light down on the controls and read the text next to it.

Inner door not sealed

Fuck! Didn’t this thing know how important it is that we get out of here? No, of course not, because it’s a machine. Focus, Night! Banging my head against the controls for a moment, I let out a frustrated growl. Turning around, I trotted back across to the other room and over to where I’d dumped Happy at. As I walked over toward him, there was an enormous crack, and the whole ship shook under my hooves.

Gasping, I scraped at Happy, tugging at him to get him onto my back. Turning around, another blast forced the air inside the ship to compress before a bright flame rolled across the ceiling. Pushing myself, I hobbled the both of us to the torpedo tube and promptly bucked him off my back. It wasn’t exactly a graceful flop that Happy performed as he slid inside, but he was safe all the same. As soon as I’d gotten him inside however, was when the big one hit.

The air shattered as an enormous blast blew apart the front end of the ship. The force of the explosion ripped through the sub, and unprepared, I found myself forced down the tube by the blastwave. The wave itself must have blown the hydraulics for the door, because the door slammed shut behind me with a sizzling hiss before the world flipped upside down.

I went weightless as it did, and a dreadfully low groan emit from the walls of the tube before we slammed down onto something hard. When we did, everything went black for what felt like only a moment.

With a choking gasp, I seized up. My eyes flew open as I coughed and writhed on the cold, wet grass that grew on the hillside. Looking around in panic, the bright flames that poured out of the burning submarine lit up the night sky. The roaring blaze had ponies running in from all over, hoofing buckets of water around to try to douse it. However, the cold air and dew covered grass that pressed at my skin helped me understand that somehow, we’d made it out.

“It’s alright, Night. You’re alright.” Hispano’s voice fought to get over the roaring fire, and her talon helped to prop me up. “Just breathe, deep breaths.” As I looked up at her, I found tears in her eyes, but her beak was split in a relieved smile. As my fits of choking and coughing died down, I found her lean forward and wrap her talons around me. “Thank the goddesses, you’re okay…”

Looking around, I saw the charred and slightly bent torpedo tube a few feet away. It had been ripped right out of it’s mountings by the blast, and we’d been tossed with it a couple dozen feet away from the ship. Sitting propped up against the outside of the tube was a fairly exhausted looking Happy. He gave me a light, guilty smile and waved his forehoof at me. I could breathe a sigh of relief that the two of them were okay.

I squeaked as I was embraced in a tight hug by Hispano. It was so sudden and so tight that it caught me off guard. As odd as it was, I could feel her tremble as she held me. I’d never seen Hispano like this, and though I didn’t want to lead her on more, I couldn’t deny that I was happy that she was safe.

“Everypony just fell asleep, and… I couldn’t fight it. Then I wake up hurting, and in that tube with you and that idiot over there. You had Suiza on you for… some reason…?” Hispano squeezed at me hard enough that I wondered if she thought that’s how she’d get an answer out of me. After a moment however, she let go. “What the hell happened in there? How did we get out?” Giving a sniffle, she wiped at her watering eyes.

“It’s… complicated?” I sighed and looked over to the burning hulk of scrap that had once been a piece of Equestria’s wartime navy. Looking around, my eyes drifted to the hard working towns ponies who were actively fighting the fire. I wonder how many were killed, or if there were any survivors other than us. “Look, I’ll explain it to you later, alright?”

Turning and looking toward the Mercy, my eyes drifted over to the gangway that led up onto the ship. Even from here I could see that someone was standing on it. From the coloration of her coat, to the fact she was probably staring directly at me, I was pretty sure it was Delilah.

I sighed and closed my eyes. Before I could think to myself about what I’d just seen, I had a lot of explaining to do…

I know that the war itself had been a horrible event, but thank the goddesses for the M.o.P. and their wonderful medical equipment.

After being fully treated for the few small burns I had, the only visible sign I’d even been hurt was the fact that my coat was missing in some places. Oh, and my wings were missing a few feathers now as well, but that’s neither here nor there. I didn’t get a chance to admire the work the doctors had done for very long, as both Delilah and I were escorted around by ship security from the moment we walked in.

Delilah hadn’t said a word since I landed next to her on the gangway, but unlike with Buck earlier, I hadn’t expected her to talk to me. Her expression however spoke volumes about how she both knew this was somehow my fault, and how disappointed in me she was. I couldn’t say I blamed her either.

We were led through another labyrinth of hallways, and forced to march up ten or so flights of stairs. The security here didn’t say much, but what they did say was spoken in whispers. It made me wonder just how many ponies Mrs. Tapit had under her employ before she died, and what they would do now. For all I know, most of these ponies could have been in the same position that Dr. Kaio was in, and her death was actually a good thing for them.

Looking ahead, we’d been led down a hallway that was wider than any other we’d walked through before. Wood paneled doors lined office like rooms to either side of us, and a double door lay directly ahead of us. As we approached, the doors opened, and a tall, lanky, yellow coated griffon with a broad beak stepped out. She glared at Delilah and I before ruffling her wings on her back, and tapping at the floor with her rear… hoof.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew what she was. She wasn’t a griffon at all, she was a hippogriff! Was it even possible? I mean, it had to be if she was standing right freakin’ here! Wow, we’d talked about it in biology class, but I’d never ever expected to see one! As she flicked her tail at us, I caught the sight of a cutie mark of three lined up cannons on her flank. Woah, they even get cutie marks!?

As I stared and smiled at her, her eye twitched. She puffed up the grey and red spotted plumage around her neck as she snapped her talons at me. “Take a picture, it’ll last longer, dweeb.” With a huff, she trotted off down the hall past us. I guess just because she’s a hippogriff, didn’t mean she couldn’t be an asshole…

“Come in.” The annoyed voice of a mare spoke up through the slightly ajar door. “Have a seat.”

Both Delilah and I stepped forward as asked. Reaching out, Delilah and I both opened the doors in front of us and stepped inside. I however, was the only one to freeze up from what I saw. Grey coat, droopy frowning muzzle, and the long ears of a donkey met my eyes. The ash grey mane she had was tied up tightly in a bun around the back of her head, and her flat gaze at the two of us gave me an all too familiar vibe.

“Hello, Mrs. Edith.” Delilah began so suddenly that I nearly jumped. I hadn’t realized I was so on edge, but Delilah simply rolled her eyes at me as she closed the doors behind us with her tail. “My name is Delilah. I’m the head of the Convoy that’s parked outside of your settlement. The bandaged one beside me is Night Flight, an employee of mine.”

“I could care less what your names are, or who you are at all in fact.” Mrs. Edith said boredly. Her old wooden chair creaked under her as she shifted herself forward. “What I want to know is what you intend to do about the crime your ‘employee’ committed against my settlement.”

“Crime?” I asked without thinking. It took me a moment to wonder what I did wrong, but then it hit me. Technically I was responsible for the deaths of all those involved. Being under the hoof of Mrs. Tapit hadn’t given me any authority to kill anypony at all. I… murdered those ponies...

“Why don't I start with giving you the reason you are here. Almost a half hour after you were sighted as leaving from this ship, Mrs. Tapit's submarine caught fire with you aboard. The result of which, was you, your companions, and a total of fourteen others escaping the burning wreck with moderate to severe injuries. The other thirty eight souls onboard were unfortunately lost when Mrs. Tapit’s ship, the Sunbeam, exploded." Mrs. Edith began. From what I'd now come to understand, she was the leader of Destruction Bay, and not somepony you wanted to piss off. Steepling her hooves on her wide, mahogany desk, she gave out a heavy sigh. "This settlement was founded under maritime laws at the end of the war. Laws which, with my and Admiral Broadside’s enforcement, have held this community together for nearly two centuries." She also happened to be the second scariest donkey I'd ever met. "Laws which you blatantly disregarded when you committed an unquestionable act of piracy against Mrs. Tapit's ship."

"While what happened was regrettable," Delilah spoke colder than ever as she glanced at me. "You can't fault those in my convoy for not knowing how things work around here."

"On the contrary." Mrs. Edith snorted. "I expect every outsider to respect and learn the laws here. If you aren't willing to learn them, I suggest you find refuge somewhere else out on the road." What? Was... was she serious? So I needed to know the laws in order to even exist in a place I've only just arrived too? What kind of outrageous crap was that!?

"That's the biggest load of bullshit I've ever been fed, and I lived in the Enclave!" I laughed, being as openly blunt as ever. Of course, I could have predicted how that would turn out...

"Night," Delilah hissed at me, "hold your tongue."

I know that Mrs. Delilah meant well, but she hadn't been through the same shit I had in the last twenty four hours. So if anything, I'll deal with whatever consequences she hooves out to me once we’re done here. Right now, I needed to vent.

"Nah. I know what happened was a bit extreme of a response," I shook my head. "but I wasn't just going to sit around when Mrs. Tapit had taken my friends hostage." While the glare my current employer had certainly gave me pause about speaking my mind, the rage brewing in the gaze that Mrs. Edith held, told me that it was worth it. "I'm no expert on 'maritime law' or whatever, but is there some sort of rule stating that it's alright to foalnap outsiders in this town?"

"Mrs. Tapit was a sanctioned privateer of Destruction Bay. She, like any other business pony here, operated under my authority, and the authority of the H.M.S. Mercy." She grumbled, pressing her hooves down on her desk to push herself out of her seat. "And as I understand it, one of your 'friends' tried to cheat their way out of paying for the services they received at her brothel, and was thus detained legally."

"Well as I hear it from my crew," Delilah rose her voice as she took a slight step forward, "Mrs. Tapit was in the business of distributing shipments of narcotics over quite a few of the northern settlements." I never thought I'd say this, but thank the goddesses for our striped, drug addicted driver being so open about his habits... "And while my crew might not know Maritime law, it's been my family's business to know it for over two centuries. Under the Erie doctrine, this incident falls under the common law of Equestria, superseding your jurisdiction. And that common law states that the unlicensed distribution of narcotics, either from the Ministry of Peace or an independent corporation, is an illegal act, and considered misappropriation of strategic wartime assets." Taking a deep breath, I couldn't help but notice that Mrs. Edith was now fuming behind her desk.

"So, Mr. Night here did in fact under your laws commit an act of piracy, of that you are correct.” She continued, “However, in admitting that Mrs. Tapit was a sanctioned privateer of the H.M.S. Mercy, and of Destruction Bay, you're bound by law to accept all the consequences and repercussions of her actions.” Delilah calmly reached up and adjusted her glasses on her muzzle, looking just as ‘enthused’ as ever. “But I'm fairly certain that’s a little part of maritime law you're willing to overlook, isn’t it?"

Hot damn, Mrs. Delilah really knew her shit! I have no idea if anything she just said is true, but that’s why she was the boss. I don’t know if any of that would make a difference in this meeting, but I was happy that she still stood up for me. Come to think of it, after our argument in Filly Crossing, she’s seemed to be a little more defencive of the convoy overall. She may not have openly acted like it, but I could see it on her face right now that she was committed to defending us to the death if it came to it.

"Mrs. Tapit was..." Mrs. Edith said slowly, looking like she couldn't quite find the words she wanted to use. "Let's just say she was a necessary evil. One which I could keep in check. Yes, she distributed a few of the controlled substances my ship manufactures, but me looking the other way with this system was better than having any number of ruffians and gangs squabble for control in my city." Pointing her hoof sharply at me, she grunted. "Something your little act of piracy has now destroyed. You've left an enormous power vacuum, and damaged the fundamental safety of this city."

"Safety!?" I laughed out at that. "I fell through the boards on your shoddy dock earlier tonight. I was nearly killed by a changeling while in a hospital bed on your ship. Your doctors forgot to check about my implant before turning on your MRI machine. Hell, somepony put a bomb on our convoy while in plain sight of your guards." Pointing my hoof back at her, I smiled at the angry grimace that pulled across her face. "How about the fact that I was forced into servitude because of somepony else's crime? How about the arsenal of Enclave power armor and equipment that was underneath the floorboards of Mrs. Tapit’s ship?”

“What arsenal?” She spat at me, hammering her hoof on her desk. “Mrs. Tapit didn’t have a single gun on that ship that wasn’t registered to this city, let alone power armor. Weapons caches are outlawed outside of Admiral Broadside’s barracks to keep down the threat of mutiny! If she were hoarding weapons she’d received from the Enclave, either one of you featherheads would have slipped up and said something, or my informants would have told me.”

“Then let me ask you this. Just how do you think the ship exploded? Hmmm, could it have been all the missiles and explosives she’d had hidden inside there?” I don’t know what insulted me more, the fact that she thought that a pegasus would tell her about their shady dealings with Mrs. Tapit, or the fact that she was genuinely stupid enough to believe that it was impossible to have happened at all. “And you want to say to my face that it's safe here? That's not looking the other way, that's a blatant and willing disregard for what goes on in this place. You know what? Maybe you’re right and there weren’t any explosives inside. Maybe it was actually just all the hot air you’ve been blowing up this town’s flank with your placing blame on us outsiders who get wrapped up in your own sanctioned shady dealings!"

I froze up as I heard Mrs. Delilah laugh. Not just a single forced laugh, but she was genuinely giggling. It caught me off guard so much that I froze up in shock as I looked over at her.

"So," Delilah spoke up, wearing a wide smile. "What will you tell the citizens of Destruction Bay, Mrs. Edith? That this incident was an act of ignorance against the ponies of this city by not realizing that Mrs. Tapit was stockpiling arms to possibly stage a hostile takeover? Or, will it be an admission of corruption for knowingly sanctioning her illegal actions as your privateer and funding said impending violent takeover? Just my opinion here, but neither option really has a positive ring to it."

Sitting down slowly, Mrs. Edith looked tense enough that if she were to be pricked with a pin, she'd explode from the resulting release of pressure. "No charges will be pressed against you. What happened aboard the H.M.S. Sunbeam will be officially declared an accident caused by the malfunction of one of our standard issue emergency flare guns striking a shipment of chemicals." She muttered under her breath. "You have until your convoy is repaired to stay in my city. Not a moment after you are able to leave, are you furthermore banned from Destruction Bay. Is that clear?"

"Crystal." Mrs. Delilah nodded, seeming to get control of herself again. Looking at me, her joyous expression deflated faster than a balloon as she nodded over to the door. The both of us reached out and opened the doors, quickly taking our leave of the fuming donkey and shutting her in behind us. After a moment however, both Delilah and I winced as we heard the distinct noise of a coffee mug being shattered, and papers being tossed around. Delilah gave a snirk at that, smiling again before shaking her head. “One of these days, Night, being blunt like that is going to get you killed.”

“Is that going to be before or after I find a way to piss off everyone in the wasteland?” I smiled at her as she snorted at that in amusement. I’d never seen her this relaxed before, and it gave me an odd, but good feeling. “Is everything alright, Ma’am?”

“Yeah,” Delilah nodded and gave out a happy sigh. “Just relieved to know that while I’ve made my fair share of mistakes in the wasteland, at least I haven’t gotten to be as bad as some out there.” Clearing her throat, she dropped her expression back to one that was closer to her normal look, but still a bit more relaxed. “You on the other hoof, are trying to set a record for mistakes made.”

Before I could tell her I was sorry… again, a voice down the hall caught our attention.

“Ahoy!” It was Double Drum, who for some reason had been escorted up here by none other than Jean. Thankfully for us, Jean was busy bouncing around behind him in and out of all the offices too fast to really pay any attention to us.

“Hey there again!” He called out, quickly trotting up to us with a relieved look across his muzzle. The moment he was in front of us, I found my hoof swept up off the floor and held tightly between his. “Mrs. Edith may not appreciate it, but you've done this town a great service. I'll do everything in my power to keep you from being held responsible for this. No reason that either of you should rot in a cell for what you did.”

“Actually, it's all been worked out.” Delilah snorted as Double Drum’s jaw nearly hit the floor. “We're banned from Destruction Bay once we leave, but there will be no repercussions until we do. Thank you though for the offer of support.”

Quickly composing himself again, Double Drum gave us a wide smile. “While I'm sorry I couldn't help on that front, I do have some good news for you. The forepony up at Carmacks radioed back tonight that earlier in the afternoon, he had engaged the convoy chasing you. They'd been forced to take a wide path offroad around the city's defencive range.” Oh, so that’s why they had the bulldozer with the artillery barrels on it! “But he also said that they disappeared before too long, like they just... vanished. Still, it's not much, but it should’ve slowed them down by a few hours.”

“That's welcomed news. The more time we can buy, the better.” Delilah nodded, only showing the hint of a smile. So… piss off the local leader, she gives a genuine laugh. Get the best news about Solomon in a while, she only gives a smile. Seriously, Delilah needed to sort out her enjoyment priorities…

“Then I hope you're ready for more good news.” Double Drum held his hoof up to his chest and looked proud of himself. “With my road roller unfortunately still knocked out, I got word that Knuckle Boom and her crew are on their way up from Mare's lake to take my place out on the road. You'll probably run into her once you leave, but I'll radio ahead and tell her to let you pass.” I wasn’t sure how he could sound so proud that his machine had been knocked out of commission. But if it meant more good news for us, I couldn’t really care.

“Thank you for all you've done for us.” Delilah stuck her hoof out at him sharply. I'll make sure to remember your generosity in the future.” Shaking his hoof, she smiled again, this time giving another genuine one.

“Just doing my job, Ma'am.” Double Drum looked over to me before nodding back down the hallway. “So, you going to have Jean lead you on down to Dr. Tibia now? She and Crystal Harmonium are the best in the northern wastes at making prosthetics. And after all, I still owe you one.”

Looking back at the moose, the chimes in her ears jingled as she stuck her head out of one of the rooms with a broad smile. “Did somepony ask for me!?”

Giving out a long yawn, I think that the excitement for the evening had passed, and I was ready to get to bed. “You know, I think I’ll wait until we get back from the job tomorrow. Even though it won’t be long until morning, I think getting any sort of rest would be better than none.”

“Again, thank you for your help.” Delilah nodded to Double Drum as she started walking. After a few steps, she stopped abruptly. “You know, it’s odd running into you up here. May I ask why you came?”

“I was supposed to meet Admiral Broadside here with a few of my closest friends for Mrs. Edith’s... ‘retirement party’.” Double Drum gave a sly smile and began to walk toward Mrs. Edith’s office. Giving a small wave to us, he pointed us to the rooms Jean had jumped between. As he did, a few hard hatted ponies stuck their heads out and smiled at us. “It seems like the Admiral hasn’t showed up yet. That or we just missed her, but all the same, it’s best if you two leave. What happens next may not be too pretty, and we didn’t really want prying eyes around when it goes down.”

“We understand.” Delilah gave a short bow before turning and trotting down the hall. “Come, Night. Let’s go.”

Trotting away with Delilah, I didn’t want to think about just what that meant. Though, I’m sure that it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought. I mean, Double Drum seemed like an admirable guy, so I’m sure everything would be fine...

“Hi!” The jarring voice of Jean came before the jingles of the chimes hanging from her ears. “Do you two need an escort? I’d be happy to take you where ever you two want to go!” Seriously, how does someone her size get around so quietly?

“Sure, we could use an escort out.” Delilah stopped as the enormous moose nearly vibrated with each word.

“Oh, yay!” Jean gasped and bounced ahead of us on all fours. There was a particularly distressing groan that the ship itself gave, and a few of the pipes along the walls rattled with her heavy bounces. “Oh, did you two want to take the scenic route, eh? I promise I know all of the best sights to see onboard! I can even give yah some history of our humble home, if ya’d like!”

“Sure. Feel free to tell us all about it.” Delilah responded with a soft smile while my jaw felt like it hit the floor. It wasn’t even the fact that she’d asked Jean for the tour, it’s the fact that she had to know how tired I was! She most likely even knew that Hardcase, Hispano, Buck and I were going on that job tomorrow, so why would she even say yes?

“Why…?” I sighed, hanging my head as we began to follow the energetic, oversized medic.

“Consider this your punishment for blowing up the local drug dealer and her ship.” She said flatly. “I’d be thankful you got off this easy if I were you. Now pay attention to what the young moose has to say, you might learn something useful from her. There’s no tool more useful in a wasteland settlement than a overly social local. You’d be wise to listen to them.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Hanging my head low, I kept my ears perked.

So, as it turns out, I did learn quite a few things from Jean. Mostly, that the H.M.S. Mercy was more than just a simple hospital ship. Those that returned to Destruction Bay aboard her and the H.M.S. Fairy Flight after ‘the great storm’, knew that for most out there in the southern ruins of Equestria, there was no hope for help. Captain Mending Tides realized that the greatest good that those aboard his ship could do, was provide for those survivors of the war who lived this far north. He understood that with their help, he could build a new city, train new doctors, and manufacture new medical supplies.

They accepted all survivors in need of help, no matter the race, no matter the lifestyle, no matter the injury. Those who come here who can be trained become Doctors. Those who can’t, are given work in either fishing, scavenging, or volunteering to deliver medical supplies and aid in monthly caravans. Through this aid, they are given the necessary supplies by settlements to operate, most of the time without even being asked. The settlements along highway five are only ever asked for one thing in return for their services, and it’s for those out there like Jean.

The wasteland that took Jean’s parents from her is a wasteland that I hadn’t yet met, and far in the eastern mountains from here. However, Jean and I aren’t alone in our parentless predicament. The orphans that the Mercy takes in are well cared for, and were normally adopted by the staff, which explained Balmy and Dr. Kaio’s odd relationship.

And while I somewhat feel sympathetic to those orphans for having lost their parents as well, it’s not something I’m happy to admit. Most of the orphans never got to know their parents, and I won’t lie that right now, I envied them a little for that. Still, they were the lifeblood of this city, and training to be doctors on the Mercy is something that brought them pride. Well, if Jean and the young stallion working under Dr. Kaio are anything to go off of, anyway.

Slowing my hobble along the streets with Mrs. Delilah, I hoofed at my mother’s soot coated tags still fortunately hanging around my neck. Those raised here are going to help so many ponies in their lives, and any parent could be proud of that. They’re going to be a force for good in the wastes, while me? I mean, I got my cutie mark in bombing. Could my parent’s really ever have been proud of who I am today?

“Everything alright?” Delilah asked, stopping just a few hoofsteps ahead of me.

“Yeah.” I sighed. “Just, hearing about the orphans got me thinking of my own parents again.”

“I understand.” Mrs. Delilah nodded firmly. “I know that it’s still fresh in your mind, but believe me, the pain you feel will eventually dull. You’re a survivor, Night. It’s what you do, and you’ll move on in time.” Looking around at the empty nighttime city streets, Delilah seemed to relax a small bit as we stood there. “But with what you’ve done for us, even with your limited stay so far, you’re part of my crew now, Night. Each and every one of us are there to help you move on if you need it.”

Not every one of us.

I snorted just at the thought of how Violet was lying to them all. I was going to have to confront her about it before we got back on the road. And I had to think of a way to do it that wouldn’t make the chip in her head act up. I knew I could make her see that she was wrong, that with her help we could beat Solomon to the Ark. I don’t know how I’d convince her, but I just knew that I had to do it.

“Actually,” I spoke up to Delilah, “can I ask you a question?”

“Depends on the question.” She replied in her normal, flat tone.

“What’s on the Ark?” It’s been something I hadn’t thought about too much since hearing the story of the great ship. But with the news on the radio yesterday, I remember that none of us had even ever asked about it. From the way that Delilah’s muzzle had fallen into a grimace however, I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to find out from her. “I… understand if you don’t want to tell me…”

“I don’t know.” She stated bluntly. I stood in shock at her words, unsure of just how that could be. "The instructions that my ancestors left were less than clear. They only indicated that the Ark was to be retrieved if the world had become stable after it's terrible end, or if it was in danger of being reclaimed by those in Solomon's family. The fact that my town is in dire need of supplies only served as a good cover. While the town is pretty bad off, we've been through it before, and I’m sure we'll go through it again. Solomon arriving to look for it is what kicked this convoy off, but with the cloud cover gone and the new government they’re talking about starting, it’s now my job to go after it all the same."

"So, you don't actually know if there's anything on the ship?" There had to be some reason that her ancestors didn't want it to fall into the hooves of Solomon's family at all costs.

She chuckled for a moment. "I don't even know if there is a ship, Night." She shook her head and frowned at me. "I'm going to be honest with you, and not a word of this is to be repeated. I’m trusting you with this, Understand?" She glared at me, making the coat on my neck stand on end. Nodding at her, she looked around her for a moment. "Happy cracked the last deadbolt in the safe before we ran into Double Drum and his Road Crew. I gave him strict instructions not to tell any of you about it, and for once, he didn’t screw that up."

"What...?” Sitting down, I knew that if it had Delilah acting this odd, whatever was in that safe couldn't be good. “Wait, then what was inside?"

She shook her head again. "I don't know." Flashing me a sad smile, she reached up and pulled her glasses off of her muzzle. "I haven't opened it yet."

"But... you came all this way..." I was relieved to hear that it wasn't something bad, but still, the pit in my stomach hadn't gone away. "Why wouldn't you open it after waiting this long?"

She didn't immediately answer me. At first I thought that maybe she already knew what she’d find inside, but she didn’t seem like the type to have omitted that so far. The longer I waited and looked over her, the more I knew what she was going to say because I could now see it on her as plain as day.

"Because I'm afraid, Night." Holding her glasses out in front of her, she inspected them in a thinly veiled attempt to look like she wasn't absolutely terrified. "Inside that safe is what has separated my family from Solomon's for two centuries. It's the difference between making us a target, and tomorrow just being another day in the wasteland. And not knowing what's inside? I'm still not sure if that's a burden I want to place on everypony."

"I... I understand. But that's something you don't need to worry about." I said, trying my best to offer her a comforting smile. From the way she glanced at me, I knew I wasn't doing a very good job at it. "You know we're behind you, all the way..." My words drifted off as I was again reminded that that was true for all of us, except for Violet.

"It's more than just the convoy, Night." She sighed, sitting down right next to me and putting her glasses back on. "The moment I open that safe, I paint a bullseye on not just us, but my entire town, the relatives of all who live there, and everypony around us at any given time. And while those on the Convoy trust me, if I fail, the consequences could be the cost of all of their lives."

“You won’t fail.” While I could appreciate the fact that this must have been hard for her to say to me, or at all for that matter, the point was that she didn’t need to doubt herself. “You made the right call when I spoke up in Filly Crossing. You’ve held the entire crew together so far, and while we’ve had setbacks that may or may not always have been my fault,” I paused as she gave a snirk and a roll of her eyes at that. “there’s no way that you aren’t the right donkey for the job, and I’m happy to be a part of this crew.”

“Well said.” She nodded before eyeing me over out of the side of her glasses. “You’re right again, Night, in all but one regard...” She groaned as she pulled herself back to her hooves again. Reaching her hoof out to me, she smiled and motioned for me to grab it. As I did, I felt as she pulled and helped me back onto my hooves. “The crew as a whole have been why we’ve held together this long, not just me. That’s why they are the ones who deserve to make this call.”

“So we’ll hold a vote then.” I was pretty sure I knew the outcome of it, but if it helped to keep Delilah’s hopes up, than I knew that everypony would be willing to give their support.

“Tomorrow.” Delilah nodded softly. “Once the repairs are complete and we get back on the road.” Giving a sharp yawn out of her grey muzzle, I felt compelled to respond with one from my own. “For now, with Solomon delayed and the repairs looming, I’m not going to worry about the location of the Ark. You however, need to rest up.” Casting a glance to me, she smirked. “You’ve got work to do in the morning.”

Author's Note

As always, many thanks to KKat for giving us this wonderful wasteland world to journey around with!

As well as a big thanks to TheFurryRailFan, for his continued help on prereading and editing these chapters!

Chapter 24 - The Fog

Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

I groaned as I was poked sharply in the side. I had been oh so comfortable falling asleep on Buck, why couldn’t I just stay curled up with him all day? With what happened last night, I’d say I’d fucking earned it…

More than anything, I wish that last night had just been a nightmare. Between learning about Violet’s betrayal, which I’d have to deal with soon, and accidentally blowing up an old submarine, I was feeling less than happy with my life. A year ago, my biggest fear was my wings causing me to fail the Enclave mandatory exams, and being rejected by any stallion I asked out. Now? I’m not sure that the old me would even recognize the pony I’d become...

“The more you try to go back to sleep, the harder it will be to actually wake up.” Buck spoke with words that were much wiser than I was willing to accept.

How he could just wake up and be ready to venture off into the cold morning air so readily was something that I still couldn’t wrap my mind around. Then again, there wasn’t a lot I could wrap my mind around on only four hours of sleep. Thankfully for me, Buck had big, comfortable, warm arms I could lay in while he walked the both of us down into the harbor.

“Eh, he’s still got time.” Hardcase spoke up from along side us. He was light on his hooves this morning, prancing about with so much excitement that the saddlebags he wore nearly bounced off of him with each leaping step. Hardcase was another problem I’d have to deal with. Knowing what he really was made me wonder if he’d be able to help me deal with Salt. On that, could I trust that he’d want to help at all?

No, no, you can’t think that way, Night. Hardcase even said there were all sorts of different changelings, so you can’t lump them all together! On top of that, with Dizzy dead, he’s the best and only chance I’ve got to help pull Violet back over to Delilah’s side. Hopefully, I could pull him aside on this job and talk to him about it without the others around.

“Ugh.” Hispano groaned. “How the hell can you be so energetic this early in the morning?” I didn’t have to look to know that Hispano felt just as exhausted as I did. I felt sorry for her, having to drag her sister around this early, let alone all the way along to the job… or even at all.

“Because it’s a beautiful morning!” Hardcase exclaimed. “The smell of the sea, the cool morning breeze…” He paused, giving a long sigh, “Fifteen inch naval cannons at the ready above our heads. Oh, today’s going to be a good day, I can just feel it.” As if it heard his compliment, the wartime battleship gave a low groan as we walked along the edge of downtown Destruction Bay.

“So…” Speaking through a long yawn, I pressed myself up against Buck as he carried me. “What exactly are we going to be looking for, Hardcase?” While I would have loved to sleep all day, I really did need to try to wake myself up. Thankfully, I was helped when the calm morning air was shattered by a loud sputtering. "Wait, what is that?"

Forcing my tired eyes open, I wiggled myself around in Buck’s arms until I could see the imposing form of the old battleship pressed up against the dock. I looked along the top deck of the old ship tracking the sound back to behind the conning tower. A gull winged, silver aircraft sat on a set of rails that were spinning it to the side. The two engines on the wings held a propeller on each end of them, four overall. Looking at it, I saw the same bold letters spelling out Seaddler across its nose that I’d seen back on the Emperica.

The hydraulic rail it sat on came to a rattling halt as it hung over the side of the ship. The mechanical catapult pointed the aircraft off toward the dark waters of the bay, and as it hung over us, I looked up and could barely see the Captain of the Inuvik inside through the cabin window. After a moment of sitting still, the four engines spun up.

They quickly reached a blistering rate of rotation before there was a sharp hiss that Buck and I both winced at. The silvery plane shot along the rails it sat upon, and a jet of steam flared from under it before the whole craft was thrown off the far side of the ship. The engines whined as they bit into the air before the whole vehicle began to angle upwards. I watched as the old silver craft banked around through the air with more grace and power than any pegasus could ever know. After a moment of watching it, it disappeared over the southern side of the bay and vanished beyond the treeline.

"Looks like they've been taking their time heading south if they've only made it this far by now..." Buck sighed as I could feel him tense up slightly. "I hope nothing's gone wrong on the Inuvik to slow them down this much. The captain spent so long preparing to free our home from the ice..."

“I’m sure they’re fine, Buck.” I offered, spinning myself again and wrapping my hooves tightly around his waist. “We’ll see them soon enough in Seaddle, I’m sure of it.”

“Probably just picking up some spare parts as a precaution.” Hardcase said as a smile crawled across his muzzle. “Maybe they were trying to see what they could get from Spitzer in exchange for Boiler’s forty two misplaced wheel bolts. Goddesses know it isn’t the first time she’d left a tool she’d needed behind and swore she had it before.”

That got a chuckle out of Buck. “Yeah, you’re right. I have to try to stay positive I suppose.” Looking down at me, I felt as he relaxed again. “So, like Night asked, what are we going to get for Spitzer? I should have been listening when you two finalized the details, but he gave me a great deal to think upon about my ancestors.”

“Well, that’s the thing. What he wants is a piece of Equestrian history.” Hardcase began with an uneasy tone. I didn’t like that kind of tone to be honest. It was the kind of tone he’d used so far when he was fairly sure we’d be regretting what he was talking about by mid-afternoon. “We’re looking for the body of Admiral True Course, specifically, the one of a kind, ceremonially gifted pistol he supposedly wore on him at all times.”

“Pft,” Hispano huffed and rolled her eyes. Shifting her talons around, she gave Suiza a few good rocks against her. “And here I thought we’d be in for more of a challenge. If this is a simple scavenging run, why make us do it? I mean, he’s got claws and such...”

“Because he’s a Diamond Dog, like from the old world, not a Hellhound. Or you know, maybe because Spitzer is a bit busy working on those new bolts? ” Hardcase laughed uneasily, pulling a deadpan from Hispano. “Okay, more likely it’s the fact that the Hayport Naval Munitions Center is a ghoul sanctuary, or did you miss that when I brought it up yesterday?”

Hispano gave a roll of her eyes. “They’re just ghouls. Give them a couple good shots to the head and bam, they’re down for good.”

“Don’t underestimate the Depot.” The familiar voice of Dr. Kaio called out from behind. “Plenty have tried to scavenge from there, and few returned alive and without needing to be treated. None returned with anything useful to show for it either.” We all stopped and turned around to meet her. As Buck reached down and set me back on my hooves, I couldn’t help but notice the Hippogryph I’d seen yesterday was standing along side Dr. Kaio as well. “But, I feel like if you’re going out that way, and should you actually get inside the depot, Destruction Bay as a whole has a proposition for you all.”

“Yeah, well we’re not really in the market for entertaining offers from Destruction Bay after last night.” The vindictiveness in Hispano’s quick response looked like it hit Dr. Kaio hard. However, the hippogryph didn’t even seem phased by it.

“W-well, I know that she must have said some hurtful things,” Dr. Kaio spoke up softly, “But Mrs. Edith is no longer in charge of the Mercy or Destruction Bay.” That didn’t really come as a surprise to me after seeing Double Drum up there with his ponies. “I-I have taken over, and as joint leader of this settlement, I’m overruling her ban on your convoy… if you can do what we ask.”

“Alright…” Hardcase spoke up, cocking his eyebrow at the nervous zebra. “We’re listening.”

“Ahem.” The hippogriff cleared her throat, and took a step forward. “The records we have state that the ammunition stores at the Hayport Naval Munitions Center were still well stocked on the final day. Most, if not all of the specialty naval rounds were supposedly locked away inside the facility.” Looking at Hardcase, the expression she gave him was one of skepticism, but not outright annoyance. “If you can successfully gain access to the interior, and that’s a big if, we would pay you all for clearing out as much of the ghoul infestation as possible.”

“What’s in there that you want?” Buck spoke up flatly, pulling a look of ire from the hippogryph.

“Stockpiles of ammunition for Fairy Flight’s Fifteen inch cannons and various secondary armaments. Various spare parts and equipment for maintaining our aging machinery.” She didn’t seem like much for elaboration, or emotion really. Returning her now indifferent gaze over to Hardcase, she seemed to now ignore the fact that Buck was even still here. “Amongst other things. However the business of what’s inside is our own. We will agree to forgive your transgressions and pay you only if you can complete the job as asked.”

Yeah, I didn’t like this one bit. This hippogriff knew how to choose her words to be as vague as possible. She was hiding something, but there was no way any of us would pry it out of her. And while I could respect someone for wanting to deal with others as little as possible, she felt unstable to me. Unlike Mrs. Delilah, she seemed angry, tense, and filled with a defensiveness that put me on edge.

“We’ll take it into consideration, Miss…?” Hardcase asked, shifting uneasily on his hooves.

“Admiral Broadside.” She spoke flatly before looking up at the enormous ship to our side. Wait, she was the other leader of Destruction Bay!? Wow, between how she acts and how Mrs. Edith was, it’s a wonder that nopony else had ever ousted one of the two before... “Remember, you will be pardoned fully and paid only if you complete the assigned task.”

“As I said, we’ll consider it. However, if you don’t mind me asking...” Hardcase retorted quickly, squinting and canting his head. Oh… I knew that look from when he’d asked me about odd Enclave stuff on the convoy. He was going to ask something super uncomfortable, I just knew it. “If you’re an Admiral… where’s your weird, blue, taco-hat-thing?”

The admiral simply closed her eyes and grimaced. Taking a deep breath, I waited for her to scream at him. “It’s not a taco, it’s an admiral’s bicorne.” Taking another few deep breaths, she seemed to defuse a bit of the tension in her before turning away from us and spreading her wings. “Now, if you’re done wasting my time, I have plenty of work to get back to. Come see me if you return successfully.” Taking off, she quickly flew up over the edge of the behemoth sized battleship and disappeared from sight.

“She uh…” Dr. Kaio spoke up softly, leaning in like she was trying to keep her voice down, “She stopped wearing the hat because the foals onboard the Mercy kept calling her Admiral Munch.”

Hispano snapped her talons and gave out a gigglesnort. “That’s why she looked familiar!” She squawked, nearly dropping to the ground in convulsive fits of laughter. Looking up to Buck, I found him to be just as confused as I was. “I couldn’t place it, but…!” Gasping, she flopped around on the ground, writhing as the laughter consumed her.

“Admiral Munch was a pre-war cereal mascot.” Hardcase softly laughed, trying to hold himself back, but was slowly losing the battle. “With the bicorne, she probably looks almost like the griffon cartoon character on the front of every box!”

Looking back to Buck, we shared a shrug before turning back to find that Dr. Kaio still hadn’t left. Now that I really took a second to look at her, I found her mane was frazzled, she had dark bags under her eyes, and her lab coat was slightly disheveled. Maybe it was just me, but she looked a lot less confident of a mare than the one who was screaming at me in her office last night. Then again, she did just get promoted to a head of the whole settlement.

She caught me looking at her, giving a small squeak before standing up straight. “I-I wanted to thank you... for what you did last night with Mrs. Tapit.” After a moment of unease, she gathered her thoughts and continued. “My hope is that now that I’m in charge, Destruction Bay can get back to being what it was meant to be.”

“And what is that?” Buck asked, stepping up close beside me.

“Destruction Bay, as far as we can tell, is the only place in the northern wasteland able to manufacture medicine. Before Mrs. Edith took over decades ago, we took it upon ourselves to give out free care, and ship our medicine to as many settlements as we could. The volunteer corps used to be what kept Destruction Bay a safe settlement, as everypony needed our help and couldn’t afford to take us over.” Sneering at the thought of Mrs. Edith, I shared her sentiments about her. So far, we’d met some odd and unpleasant ponies on this trip, but Mrs. Edith felt to me as underhooved and ruthless as Solomon did. “That’s what I want to get back to. No more of this ‘drugs for profit’ shit.” Looking up to both Buck and I, she offered a hopeful gaze. “And that’s why I convinced Admiral Broadside to ask for your help.”

“Wait,” Hardcase asked as he pulled himself back up off the ground. His giggles had almost instantly vanished, and he now wore a worried look across his muzzle. “What do you mean it was you who asked? You don’t need battleship shells to help medicine shipments.”

“No, but…” Nervously looking around, Dr. Kaio quickly stepped up closer to us. “Like the gun you are going to retrieve from there, I too need a weapon.” Dropping her voice to a whisper, her eyes darted around to make sure we alone heard her. “The information of their existence is kept well hidden from all but the senior settlement staff, but our documents show that they were still storing megaspells at the Depot on the final day.”

An uncontrollable gasp escaped my muzzle as she said that. Just as fast as I gasped, did I find her hoof stuffed into my mouth to silence me. I nearly choked on her hoof for a moment before she quickly pulled it back.

“Sorry, but nopony else can know about it.” Looking around again, my willingness to listen to her asking for the same thing that destroyed the world centuries ago was waning. “They had a stock of healing megaspells. The first generation of megaspell, they were envisioned by the M.o.P. to help the world, not destroy it.”

“But…” Buck spoke up, keeping his voice low, “What would you even want with them?”

“A few of us onboard think that we may be able to replicate the spell framework. Maybe even improve it a little given some time to work with it.” She sighed. “However, Admiral Broadside wants to deactivate them, saying it’s better to lose all those stored spells forever, rather than risk them being rebuilt and repurposed. We struck a deal. We get one healing spell, and all the rest are destroyed.” While that was far less concerning than asking for any other kind of megaspell out there, the point was that she wanted us to haul one of them out of the place that nopony supposedly could ever get into. “I know it’s a longshot, but think of all the good that could come of the research. How many more ponies we could help with the arcane science gleaned from just one of those old bombs?” She was hopeful, and I believed that she truly wanted to help the wastes. But… this was a huge favor to ask.

“If you could re-engineer them, the number of ponies that benefit from the research could far outstrip what you could help right now…” Buck grunted, cupping his chin in his claws. Looking up at him, I watched as he worked things through in his head, calculating as he did with most decisions. Honestly, it was a look of his I very much loved to watch.

“But the risk to us if we were to bring one back with us is tremendous.” Hardcase cited, shooting a glare over at Dr. Kaio. “It’s not something we could just walk back into town. Megaspells are big, bulky, and can’t really be passed off to onlookers as just some trinket we salvaged while there.”

“Ugh.” Hispano groaned. “That’s why you ground based ponies built shit to move them around.” Slapping her face with her talon, she rolled her eyes. “You know, like the fucking vehicles you drove in on. It’s almost like you could just stuff one inside and, I don’t know, drive it right in.” Dropping her gaze on Dr. Kaio, she cocked her eyebrow. “However, it’d have to be worth a hefty payout for such a demanding and risky job.”

“Yes, it shouldn’t be all that hard to transport.” Dr. Kaio nodded excitedly. “And as for your pay, I could authorize some extra things for the trouble. Off the books, of course. In fact, don’t even say the word megaspell to anypony other than me right now. I don’t need anypony else in town getting any ideas to run out there and try this themselves should you fail...”

“Off the books?” Hardcase gave a forced chuckle. “From what Delilah told me, are you sure you’re alright to go making backroom deals this soon after Mrs. Edith was ousted?”

For a moment, Dr. Kaio looked shocked. However, that quickly changed as she huffed and stood tall again. “This isn’t a deal to run drugs to junkies all over the wastes for caps. This is scientific research for the benefit of all who live in the wastelands, for free. I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen far too much violence and cruelty out there, so is it so much to ask for a little help in making it safer for everypony?”

“Woah, easy there, Doc.” Hardcase offered his normal nervous smile to her. “It was just a harmless question, that’s all.” Looking over to us, he gave a pleading look for any of us to step in and help him out. However, he’d dug his own grave with that question, and he was going to have to dig himself out. Looking up, he squinted at the lightening blue morning skies. “Well would you look at that. Time to go!” Giving a wave, he turned to us. “Well, if we’re going to ask to borrow the runner to travel the few miles out there, we might as well keep our eye’s peeled for any ‘wide area of effect mass medical spell deployment devices’ while we’re there, right gang?”

Pretty much in unison, we all groaned, and even Dr. Kaio rolled her eyes.

“Just… you’re an idiot, you know that?” Hispano sighed. “Do you have some sort of disorder where you just keep talking until everyone wants to strangle you?”

“My mom called it being a ‘smartass’.” Hardcase retorted with a grin wide enough that I thought his head would split in half. “Now come on, we’ve got a bunker to raid!”

Finally feeling awake, I watched as the lush green trees whipped by us along the sides of the two lane road. A dense fog had rolled in almost as soon as Hardcase had stolen the Runner away from Lucky, and it added a foreboding feeling to the thick forest that filled out most of the hills around us. Well, at least it put me on edge, anyway.

Hispano didn’t seem to care as she sat next to me in the back seat, preoccupied with slowly loading bullets into the extra magazine for my Bison submachine gun. She had an intense look of focus about her, heavily contrasted by the soft smile she wore across her beak. Every now and again I caught her glancing up at me, making her smile wider with a soft blush coming up across her cheeks along with it. You know, maybe the spooky forest was actually looking more inviting now that I think of it…

“Now Night,” Buck called back from the front seat, “remember, not all ghouls are feral. Do make sure that if one of them seems sane, please don’t shoot them unless they attack you first.”

“Relax,” Hardcase canted his head and looked over at Buck, “If there were still any sane ghouls left here, I’m sure they would have already been selling scavenged goods to Destruction Bay.” Going back to looking at the road ahead, he gripped onto the shift stick and ground the gears for a moment before the runner began to slow down. “Besides, we probably won’t have the luxury of choosing our targets.”

“What do you mean?” I asked. Hearing that made me a bit concerned. I still didn’t want to kill anypony if I didn’t have to. Last night’s event’s notwithstanding, of course. But still, I guess what hit me at that moment was the feeling that I didn’t really know what to expect from this job.

“Well, as the story goes,” Hardcase called back, slowing us down even further. “Instead of evacuating on the last day, a bunch of soldiers tried to launch a retaliatory tempest megaspell from the docks of the munitions stockpile. Though, they didn’t have the proper equipment or training to do so.” I was already cringing as he spoke, knowing that if you start a story like that, it can only really go one way. “Well, the spell fizzled and exploded on launch. The resulting superstorm that erupted from it cause the tidal surge that pulled in the ships and created Destruction Bay. Those caught in the eye of the magical storm here at the base were ghoulified by it. Most of the base went feral immediately with the magical radiation they’d been saturated with.”

“But… I thought only balefire could ghoulify ponies.” Buck’s ear’s perked stiffly at that and a wide smile pulled across his jagged muzzle. I know it was just his curiosity, but he seemed just a bit too into the idea of a bunch of ponies getting ghoulified.

“Nah, there’s all sorts of ghouls out there, Doc. Crystal Ghouls, Canterlot Ghouls, there are too many different types to count.” Hardcase shrugged as he guided the runner off the side of the road. “Any megaspell can make them so long as the magical saturation of a pony is high enough. Each one created is also uniquely tied in some way to the type of spell that created them. You only see so many balefire ghouls because those were the most common megaspells dropped around Equestria.”

“What about the one’s where we’re going?” I mean, it was probably a stupid question, but I didn’t quite enjoy the prospect of ghouls having the ability to spawn tornados or hurricanes at will or something.

The sound of dirt under the tires of the runner met our ears, and the four of us went silent as Hardcase pulled the runner to a stop. As the archano-engine died, an odd silence filled the air around us. Buck’s ears twitched, and before I could ask, I heard why.

A buzzing, snapping noise came through the dense fog. Squinting, I could almost make out a soft glowing that pressed it’s way through the dull grey cloud. As it got closer, I gasped softly as the glowing blue outline of a pony skeleton walked closer. The glowing bones of the ghoul radiated out through it’s bloated, pale white skin as it pressed itself against the old chain link fence that sat ahead of us some thirty or so feet.

There was no color to it’s coat. No mane or tail left to give us any semblance of once even having been a pony in the first place. What stood before us was truly a monster of the wastes. As hideous a creature as the Enclave had taught would come from the wasteland, should anything have survived the final day. And it was only in looking at this thing, did I notice the corpses littered around on both sides of the fence. Dessicated husks of ferals that had fallen to pieces over time, as well as the eviscerated and decaying forms of ponies too unfortunate to escape the monsters in the fog.

The feral growled and groaned, pressing it’s muzzle through the links of rusted fencing. It flicked it’s one, intact ear as it’s empty glowing eye sockets seemed to study us. I held my breath, even though I was fairly certain that wouldn’t help us at all. The others seemed to do the same, and I didn’t blame them. A single bolt of lightning arced out from the ghoul without warning. It struck the front of the Runner with a tremendous snap, and a few sparks shot from the hood.

“Shhhhhh!” Hardcase hissed softly, slowly putting his hoof to his muzzle.

Another long arc of electricity shot through the air, striking the front of the runner again to the same effect as the last. After a moment, the ghoul gave a raspy huff before pulling it’s snout from between the fence links. As it did however, part of it’s skin snagged on the old metal and was torn right off. The ghoul didn’t even notice as it turned away from us and disappeared back into the thick fog.

“Supposedly, electricity was their specialty.” Hardcase answered as we listened to the intense snaps in the distance. Looking out the window, the thick fog swirled around the runner before settling back into it’s normal, defuse look. “This fog is also their doing, but from what I hear, other than the slight magical radiation it gives off, it’s mostly harmless.”

“Mostly?” I gasped, not very happy at the prospect that now the fog itself was dangerous. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Fog is just a ground level cloud of precipitation.” Hispano grunted as she finished up loading the magazine in her talon. “I.E. it’s just suspended water droplets. Do I have to remind you that water is conductive, Dum Dum?” Tossing the full magazine into the duffel bag she normally carried her sister in, she looked over to Hardcase as he nodded. “So they’re going to be hard to see, and the closer they get, the more dangerous they’ll be. Though, that was fucking more than thirty feet. How are we supposed to deal with that when we can barely see the fuckers from that far?”

“Think of it this way, what we just saw was equivalent to the glowing balefire ghouls out there. So the normal ones are probably going to be a little less… magically active than that.” Hardcase said as he began to pull on a battle saddle. It was weird, as I didn’t even know he owned one. At the very least, I relaxed a little to see that he had a pair of standard Enclave issue magical energy weapons strapped onto it. Huh, I wonder where he got those from... “The normal ghouls probably won’t have that much of a charge to them, and probably can’t do more than give you the equivalent of a static shock. Still, Bombay, you and Hispano make the lightning rods your priority targets.”

“What!?” How could he expect me to fight that, that… thing! “Why me!?”

“Because as fliers, we’re insulated!” Hispano groaned, smacking her talon across her face. “Seriously, Dum Dum. Use your head.”

That… made a lot more sense than I cared to admit. “Alright.” Nodding, I hoofed up the bit to my battle saddle. Taking the rough metal bit into my muzzle, I wasn’t sure if I was ready for something like this yet. No, in fact, I knew I wasn’t ready for this.

“Oh, and before we go, two things.” Hardcase remarked, quickly turning himself around in his seat. “First, is that we’re going to try to get in as quietly as possible. If we can get inside the storage facility without causing an issue, we’ll have plenty of ammo to use on the ghouls, as well as a way to funnel them to us and mow them down.” Looking between Hispano and I, he wore an uncharacteristically serious look across his face. “And secondly; remember, we’re going into a place that was built two hundred years ago to store enough high explosives to bring Filly Crossing down to sea level. So please, do us all a favor you two and watch where you’re shooting. I’d rather like to not explode today.”

Nodding, I slowly spit my bit out. Right, let’s not go shooting all willy nilly…

“Noted. Be quiet and accurate.” Hispano nodded before bringing Suiza up. Reaching into her duffel bag, she struggled to pull out a metal drum the size of my head. Inside the feed slot of the drum, sat the first in a stack of the largest bullets I’d ever seen in my life. “But don’t expect me to hesitate if something looks like it’s about to bear down on us.” Pressing the lip of the large drum against Suiza, it gave off a crisp click as it locked in place. With a ratcheting clack that was loud enough that I almost jumped, she chambered a round into her sister. “Alright, let’s get this job started.”

With a swift kick, Hispano thrust open her door and slipped herself out into the fog. That was it, no reservations, no fear in her eyes. Oh how I wish I could have that level of confidence.

“You know, I’m so glad you brought her along.” Hardcase smiled as he nodded his head wearing a worried look. “It’ll be nice to have someone to blame right before we all explode…” He turned to Buck as he opened the door, but froze up as he did. Looking around, Buck’s ears tweaked sharply as Hardcase quieted for a moment to watch him. “What is it, Doc?”

“Something is coming. Another vehicle.” Buck’s response sent electric tingles up my spine. Stepping out from the Runner, he peered through the fog. “Hispano, how’s your eyesight?”

“In this fog?” She spoke softly, stepping up to his side. “Probably no better than any of yours.”

“How’s your aim?” Hardcase asked, quickly making his way over across the cab of the runner. His comment pulled Buck’s surprised gaze to him. Before Buck could comment however, Hardcase continued, “Unless you want them to be swarmed along with us, she might as well try to ward them off.”

A squeal of feedback rang through the foggy air from down the road. Each and every one of us jumped as it caught us off guard, and a sea of snarls and howls came from beyond the Depot fencing behind us. Quickly making my way towards the open door Hispano got out of, I figured that not being trapped in here was probably going to be a good idea.

“Hello out there!” An amplified voice came through the air, a voice I hadn’t expected to hear. “I hope we’re not catching you at a bad time.” Dizzy Ray’s voice echoed through the forests around us as the chorus of ghouls in the base seemingly went crazy. “A few friends and I had hoped to return the hospitality you showed Mrs. Tapit last night.” From the fog, a pair of bright headlights began to burn through the gray wall.

Shit…

“Hispano…!” I spoke up as I scrambled from the side of the runner. As I did, I nearly ran right into the enormous barrel of her sister pointing toward the headlights down the road.

“I know, just go. I’ll deal with them and catch up!” She snapped. The look in her eyes she held was like there was nothing in the world outside of whatever lay beyond the sights of her sister. “Buck, get them through the fence before the ghouls surround it!” Tightening her hold on Suiza, She strengthened her stance and started to slowly move forward.

Moving past Hispano as she looked down the sight of her Rifle, I flared my wings and gave a few quick beats. Taking flight as best I could just behind Buck and Hardcase, I headed for the rusty old fence. It wasn’t far, and though my wings still strained to carry me, I could make it that far at least. Much like the headlights behind us, a trio of glowing blue lights were approaching through the fog from the base.

With a few quick swings of his claws, Buck shredded the metal of the old fence. Carving a hole big enough for him and Hardcase to get through, the shriek of a ghoul came through the fog as one of the grey ponies came full bore toward them.

“Buck!” I called out, fumbling the push my bit back into my muzzle while climbing high enough to fly over the fence.

The grey ghoul lept up, slamming onto Buck’s back. He let out a snarl as the ghoul’s jaw snapped a few times at his neck, fighting against the bulk of Buck’s medical duffle bag to actually find purchase. With a spinning swing, Buck grabbed and threw the pony off of him. As the ghoul slammed and rolled along the old concrete, Hardcase let lose a trio of shots. The beams lanced across the ghoul, rending him down into a pink pile of ash.

Getting over the top of the fence, I dropped down and took my place next to them. Just as I got the bit into my muzzle, another grey skinned ghoul charged through the fog. Pulling down on both of the gun triggers, I chambered a round and rattled off a few shots. The rounds tore straight through the rotting flesh without any resistance. I didn’t know if it was because they’d been in fog for two centuries, but the ghouls forelegs disintegrated with the hits.

“Oh, looks like the party’s already started!” Dizzy’s voice came through the air as Buck, Hardcase and I pressed ourselves closer.

“Anytime now, Hispano!” Hardcase called out before letting out a few shots from his saddle. The piercing howl from another ghoul as it vaporized distracted me from the grey shape moving to my side. The flanking ghoul leapt at me, it’s dull, dead eyes locked on me. With a white flash, Buck’s arm swept over me and smashed the ghoul aside.

Not wasting any time, I spun myself and rattled off a few more shots at the tumbling ghoul. The Bison’s nine millimeter rounds tore the bloated ghoul to ribbons. Pausing, I perked my ears and listened. I didn’t want to miss any more getting around us.

A crack of thunder filled the air, but not from the direction of the ghouls. Hispano opened up on the approaching vehicle with Suiza. Again, I found myself distracted, if only for another moment. Quick bursts of automatic fire from her cannon shook the air around us. I didn’t even know Suiza could fire in full auto! How she could handle the recoil of any shot at all was a mystery to me, let alone firing multiple shots at a time!

The sound of rending metal behind us as the headlights turned and spun in the fog put a smile on my muzzle. As did the quick slams and crashes of what I assumed was a vehicle rolling itself over along the road. However, the thundering crack that came from ahead wiped my smile right back off my face.

The lightning from one of the ghouls arced through the air and struck me hard in the neck. I wanted to cry out as my body locked up in pain. However, the surge of electricity contracted my muscles, and made me bite down on the bit of my gun. A set of unaimed rattling shots went off into the fog before the sensation dissipated and I regained control of myself.

“Night!” Buck cried out. He turned to me, ignoring the ghoul that was charging through the cloud at him.

“I’m fine!” I spat out through the bit. Turning myself, I focused past the smell of burned coat and singed mane to fire at the monster. Pouring a few rounds into it, it tumbled and slid along the concrete. Turning my gaze back around, I found the brightly glowing eyes of the glowing ghoul who’d shocked me quickly coming closer. Quick to dish out some payback for that shock, I pulled the trigger again.

The head of the glowing ghoul disappeared as it was torn apart by my fire. I couldn’t help but smile at that. I was being useful for once!

Hardcase let out a sharp cry as he was slammed to the ground. Both Buck and I spun to see that one of the bloated ghouls had tackled him down. Hardcase screamed as the ghoul bit down on his foreleg and hammered at him with its hooves. Another crack of thunder from in the fog made my ears ring as a bright bolt of lightning struck Buck hard. He howled in pain as I tried to trace the arc back into the fog. Dark shapes approaching caught my eyes, and I moved between Buck and them.

My heart pounded in my chest. Pulling the trigger, I fired in short, controlled bursts. Hardcase’s pained whines as he fought off his attacker made my legs shake. Still, I turned and aimed at the moving shapes in the fog. My shots cut lines through the mist, but I couldn’t see if they landed. This was bad…

Another growling snarl came from my left, and I turned just in time to see a charging set of glowing bones. The shock from the bolt that hit me hurt a lot more than the first. Again, it made me bite down on my bit and rattle off a long set of shots. Unfortunately for the ghoul, forcing me to shoot while aimed at it was the last thing it ever did. My rounds tore the feral pony to pieces, and it’s body tumbled along the wet concrete.

My body ached. The stinging smell of cordite and gunpowder barely beat out the stench of the rotting flesh around us. The strain from the shocks made my legs feel exhausted, and I blinked a few times to try to clear my head.

“Fuck, Doc, it hurts!” Hardcase cried out as I regained my thoughts. He was shaking as he held his bloody forehoof. The ghoul that had been on him now laid in a few pieces beside him, and Buck’s claws dripped with the same black looking blood that spilled from the corpse.

“I know, just…” Buck was cut off as three ghouls charged out of the fog. They leapt onto him before I even had a chance to move. I froze up as these ones didn’t seem to make the same mistake of the first one to leap on him. Each one bit down into his fur, and crimson began to flow from the wounds.

Frozen completely in fear, I could do nothing for him. His piercing howl of pain ripped through my mind and tore my heart in half. It all happened so fast that I’d even missed the snarling off to my side.

The thunderous crack that filled the air momentarily killed my hearing. The feeling of a warm mist across my face and neck made me flinch. Hispano’s distressed and angry scream felt far off to me as she dropped out of the air onto Buck’s medical bag. Using Suiza as an enormous prybar, she lifted the barrel under the chest of one of the clamped ghouls. The tremendously powerful cannon blasted the ghoul to ribbons when it fired, and sprayed bits of gore into the air.

Without hesitation, she repeated the process to one of the other ghouls. She… was saving him! As she turned to deal with the last one, she angrily turned her gaze to me and shouted something that was lost to me. Sharply, she pointed down to the ground. Looking down, I saw she was pointing to the still bleeding Hardcase. From the fog beyond him, I saw another glowing blue ghoul quickly approaching.

Time felt like it caught up in that moment. I aimed and pulled the trigger on my saddle. The quick, sharp reports of my gun blasted the ringing in my ears away. The rounds found their place in the glowing ghoul’s legs and blasted them off. The ghoul hissed as it tumbled down, twisting its head around as if to offer me some profanity. Instead of words however, another bolt of lightning arced at me.

As before, this one hurt more than the last. My muscles seized up, and my gun chattered away uselessly into the fog. With a sharp clack, the gun locked open as the magazine emptied out completely. I let out a soft whine as the shock left and I regained the use of my body.

“Fucking grab him and let’s go!” Hispano barked at me before she tore the last ghoul off of Buck.

Before she could turn to shoot it however, Buck snarled in rage and dragged his claws along the pavement. With a spin that threw Hispano off of him, he raked his claws around. Deep troughs were cut through the concrete where he swung. His claws moved through everything as though it weren’t even there, and Buck’s eye’s glowed bright blue as he turned and cut right through the prone ghoul.

This wasn’t a quick swipe. It wasn’t performed with the accuracy that he’d used around me before. It was a hard, heavy, rending sort of swing that felt brutish more than anything. His first swipe had turned the ghoul to ribbons, but he didn’t stop there. The second and third swipe turned the ribbons into nothing more than chunks and bits. With a rage filled roar that echoed off the coastal hills, he jammed his claw downward, impaling the pile of jiblitized meat.

“What the fuck are you just standing around for!?” Hispano called out as she landed beside me. Hardcase gave out a sharp cry as she forcefully grabbed around his leg and pulled him up. “We need to move!”

As soon as she’d said that, sharp gunshots reported through the fog. Hissing lines tore through the thick mist as rifle fire came in at us. Reflexively, I aimed and bit down on my saddle, only to be met with another sharp click. Shit, I forgot the mag was empty! I spit my bit and looked at the empty gun. Wait, how do I even reload this thing while I’m wearing it!? Fuck, I even left the other magazine in the fucking runner anyway! Great job, Night!

“Oh, come on! Can you even see them?” Dizzy’s voice came through the fog between the errant shots. “Don’t waste your fucking ammo! What am I going to be paying you idiots for?”

“Fucking idiot!” Hispano grunted as she wrapped Hardcase’s leg around her and propped him up. “We have to get inside! Go!” She pointed into the mists behind us and started to help Hardcase along. As she did, Buck’s massive form moved up beside me and scooped me up.

Bleeding, panting, and coated in black ghoul blood that mixed with his own, Buck moved as fast as ever. I only had the chance to grab on and hold tight as we scooped me up and moved through the fog. My heart was still racing, but my mind was beginning to calm. The sky darkened as a massive object rose out of the fog.

Looking around, I almost mistook the massive overgrown bunker as just a normal tall hill. The monolithic, rusted steel blast door on the bunker looked big enough that you could fit Spitzer’s ship through it, and thankfully looked to be still sealed shut. Further in the fog, I could see a dozen or so other, smaller earthen lumps. Various decayed equipment and vehicles lay strewn about in the fog, rusting and forgotten, while the skeletons of long dead soldiers littered the ground around a dimly glowing crater near the center of the compound. That must have been where this all started...

With an unceremonious swing of his arm, Buck dumped me onto the ground next to a smaller door inset to the massive bunker entrance. I whimpered as I hit the cold, wet concrete with all the grace of a lead brick. Shaking off the sudden drop, I looked up as Buck towered over me. The glowing blue of his eyes took my breath away, and the way they carried a judgemental look spoke volumes about just how much he was hurting right now.

“Stay.” He muttered in a deep growl. He dug his claw into the ground next to me to make his point before turning and quickly taking off into the mist again. As he walked off, I watched as the wounds on his back slowly closed up. He was healing on the outside, but I knew how he felt about what just happened. The anger that he gave off, the disappointment in his voice, it caused me to realize what had just happened out there.

A heavy knot twisted in my stomach as I realized just how much I’d fucked up. I mean, I’ve fucked up before, but this was something I couldn’t look past. Seeing him swarmed like that out there broke something in me. How could I just lock up out there? Buck could have died had Hispano not saved him! I…

Doubling over, I wretched and threw up onto the wet ground.

My head spun from the sudden feeling. My vision blurred, and I had to steady myself from falling over. Was this an issue with my injuries? Why did I feel so damn sick? Looking down at the mess I’d made, I noticed that what came out of me was yellow and black bile. I gasped, horrified at why these symptoms all seemed so familiar to my time in school.

Shit, this is magical radiation poisoning! Of course it was, I mean, it’s almost like Hardcase said this whole place was saturated with it. Fuck!

“Buck!” I cried out into the fog. Pushing myself onto my unsteady legs, I turned and looked at the door behind me. “We have to get inside!”

A snarl from along the door pulled my attention down to it. Turning, I spun just in time to be bowled over by another ghoul at a full charge. I cried out as we both went down hard onto the concrete. Rolling off of me, I kicked at the ghoul as his momentum carried him another few feet. However, the ghoul was quicker to recover than I was. Even before I could spin myself over, it was back on me.

I panicked. Swinging wildly with my forehooves, I did my best to kick and bat the feral away. It ducked and weaved, easily avoiding my swings until I’d left it an opening. It let out a scream and lunged forward. I tried to roll out of the way, but only made it halfway when it’s forehooves pinned down my barrel. Throwing my head to the side, the ghoul got a muzzle full of my mane.

I screamed as it torqued its neck. My head snapped back the other way as part of my mane was ripped out. Not satisfied with just taking my mane, it quickly attacked again and found some actual flesh to bite. My vision went white with pain as it clamped down on my right ear. Reflexes took over and I slammed my rear hoof into its underside. While my hoof simply punctured through its soft innards, it did snag on what I had to assume were it’s hip bones.

With a feral scream to match its own, I used the leverage of it’s own hip and shoved the feral off of me. It rolled down on its side with what was left of my ear still in it’s muzzle as my head pounded. It was about to recover from my kick, but instead, I cried out and threw myself over on top of it. The crimson running down my head and along my muzzle didn’t register, and the pain dulled the more I forced myself to fight.

Screaming out I hammered my forehooves against its ribs until they buckled. It merely writhed under me, dragging it’s forehooves along my sides and under the straps of my saddle. The shattered and worn hooves felt like knives digging into me, but it only made me hit harder. Moving my hooves up, I smashed at its stupid bloated face.

It let out a few gurgling screeches as I did. Even when one of my hits caved in part of its muzzle, it wouldn’t give up. I was so sick of looking at it. So tired of it hurting my friends and I. Bringing my forehooves together, I smashed down on it’s head. Its skull caved, but it kept moving. Again, I hit it, curving in another section of its head with a squishy squelch. It finally stopped moving as its legs fell limp at my sides.

Again I smashed it. Again I beat it’s face in with another grunt. Another swing and another satisfying crunch, certain to teach the battered ghoul not to mess with my friends and I. Raising my hooves high, I heaved in long, gasping breaths to strike one final blow. One decisive hit that would remove this monster from this world once and for all.

But before I swung, the stark silence around me became apparent. Looking at the unmoving form below me, I paused, wondering if it was already dead or just faking it. However, that pause gave my mind enough time to catch up with me. The blood running down my muzzle, the pain of my head and sides, and the bruising of my hooves couldn’t be ignored any longer. Slumping off the side of the deceased ghoul, I huffed and whimpered as I heard the others slowly approaching.

“Night!” Buck called out as he reappeared through the fog. “No, I didn’t mean…” He gasped, running up to me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think… I…”

“I’m sorry, Buck.” I whimpered, “I froze up when you were under attack.”

“Hey!” Hispano snapped as she dragged a very unhappy looking Hardcase along towards us. “Do this ‘I’m sorry’ shit inside. We need to get out of this fucking fog before we die of rad poisoning. Just hope it’s all clear in there or we’re going to be completely screwed.”

“Alright.” Buck nodded before reaching down and picking me up. “We’ll talk once we’re all inside.” I cried out as he folded me in his arms. Even though it hurt, I hugged onto him harder than I ever had before. My mind blanked again as I did, not seeing red with rage, but out of fear. My breathing grew ragged and I could feel my legs simply wanting to give out all together. I was scared. More than I’d ever been in my life. “Sorry, just hold on a little bit longer, Night.”

Just a little bit longer. I could do that for him. Nodding softly, I whimpered and closed my eyes.

“I don’t know if they followed us in. Watching the door wasn’t exactly a priority.” Hispano grumbled as she braced her sister against the doorframe. “Heading down a few dark hallways before we could clear them was risky enough, Doc. Better hope we don’t get lost or run into a whole room full of those freaks.”

I winced as Buck wrapped some old gauze around my bloody head and torn up ear. He didn’t seem to care for Hispano’s answer to his question, simply rolling his glowing eyes as he continued patching me up. Personally, I’d hoped that Dizzy and his friends got swarmed out there by whatever ghouls were left. Seriously, how could Violet had ever been friends with a pony as vengeful and ruthless as Dizzy had turned out to be?

Oh... right, she’s not exactly a paragon of loyalty herself.

We’d taken refuge inside one of the many cavernous storage rooms inside the main hall of the huge bunker. Thankfully, this place still had power, though like Carmacks, I didn’t really understand how it was possible after all these years. At least the radiation in here seemed to be at a much lower level than outside, and the fog didn’t seem to be more than a soft haze inside as well. And while the Rad-away packet I sucked on didn’t taste nearly as bad as I’d heard, it’s not like I wanted to get any more used to it’s tangy orange flavor than I had to.

The room we’d ducked into held dozens of old and dusty crates. Most of them were packed with rotten hay, and filled with tons of metal ammunition boxes. Some of which were being gone through with a ravenous fervor by Hardcase. Torqueing his head against one of the unopened crates, he used his own horn as a pry bar before giddily tearing into the contents of the box.

“What are you hoping to find in there?” I asked him. I didn’t really think he was looking for anything, but keeping myself distracted was one of the easier ways that I avoid thinking about how I let Buck down outside. Thinking about it, keeping himself distracted was probably just what Hardcase was trying to do...

“If you see any twenty millimeter rounds, let me know. I burned through far too many firing through that fog, and being a common defence caliber on ships, there’s gotta be a good stock of them here.” Hispano called as she shut the door with a light squeak. Slinging Suiza around herself, she glanced over at me. “Also, if you find Night’s spine, you might want to let him know.” Oh come on! That was totally uncalled for! She looked over to Buck and I for a moment as she sighed. “Seriously, what happened to you out there?” Reaching out, he gave me a pat on my bandaged side, making me wince. “I’ve never seen anypony freeze up as bad as that.”

“I…” Thanks, Hispano. As if I didn’t already feel bad enough, you might as well have pointed every light still on in this place towards me. “I don’t know.” Looking up to Buck, I waited for him to turn to look at me. However, instead he simply looked down at the floor. “I’m sorry.”

“You and the Doc want to know… what happened to him?” Hardcase grunted as he pried open another box with his horn. Pausing, he smiled brightly as he drew out another rusty ammo can that nearly matched the one on his cutie mark. “Night’s problem is that he has the most powerful weapon in the world, and no training on how to use it in a fight.”

Even out of the corner of my eye, I could see Hispano twitch at that. “What the fuck are you talking about?” She half laughed and half grunted. “Night knows how to use a gun, and his weapons are hardly…”

“No, you misunderstand.” Hardcase cut her off with a laugh. In his magic, he lifted a large flat metal box that read 20mm HEF-T over toward Hispano. Cracking it open, Hispano’s eyes lit up as dozens of yellow painted twenty millimeter rounds with red tips still sat inside. Quickly, she grabbed it and sat down by the door. With more glee than anyone should probably take in the act, she slipped one of the old rounds into her sister and closed the bolt. Carefully setting her down, she then removed the large empty drum magazine from Suiza and set it beside her and the box.

“His weapon isn’t something physical. It’s love.” Hardcase turned his eyes to me and smiled. For a moment I wondered if he’d gone through the same thing with Violet, but then something in my mind reminded me of last night. “It’s something I know fairly well, and I can say that it’s something that has carried me out of more than my fair share of fights.”

“You can feel it, can’t you?” I asked, remembering the talk that Violet and I had during our time in that wartime underground nightmare facility. From the way that Hardcase’s eyes bulged at my words, I forgot the fact that no one else knows about what he actually was. Then again, he wouldn’t have known that I knew about him either… “I.. uhm, of course mean that b-because you and Violet are so close!”

Flashing him a nervous smile, I hoped that would be a good enough cover for now. But I’d have to find some time alone with him to explain what happened down in that place. Not only about how I know about him, but that Violet is still working with Solomon. Maybe together we can pull her back, and convince her that working against that asshole is the only way we’ll take him down.

“Y-yeah, right. L-look,” Hardcase’s voice was wavering at best, but he tried to shake off what he’d just heard as naturally as he could. “Love is a weapon. Others can wield it against you, and it will utterly destroy you if you let them get their hooves on it. But if you use it against them first, you’ll be nearly unstoppable in a fight.”

“We shouldn’t be in this fight in the first place.” Buck protested, turning around to give Hardcase a glowing glare. I knew he was still the same Dog I loved, but with how he looked right now, I almost forgot that. He was slightly hunched over, his veins under his fur glowed softly from the rads he’d soaked up, and all that made him look monstrous in the poor interior lighting here. “I know that we can’t idly sit by in the wastelands, but you all turn to fighting far too often. I hate it.” Turning his gaze to me, it took a moment before it softened with a small sigh. He deflated momentarily, falling back onto his haunches and cupping his claws over his face. “Ferals and wildlife are different, they must be dealt with. However, there’s no reason that we can’t be civil to others.”

“Go ahead and try that when you run into a group of raiders who shoot first and rape the survivors.” Hispano grumbled as she slipped one round at a time into the large drum for Suiza. “Or when gangers ask for everything that you own just in trade for your life.” Shaking her head, a smirk pulled across her beak. “Your naivety will get you killed down here. You can’t escape conflict, even Dum Dum here’s accepted that.” Looking up to me, she shrugged. “He’s a survivor. Sure, he’s done well to avoid killing so far,” As she spoke, all I could remember was how Violet had called me that, and about how things went last night. How I killed all those ponies on the submarine. “And like with the feral out there, when the chips are down, he’ll fight tooth and nail to survive.”

As true as that had become, I’d started to hear that too often now. It was like when you keep seeing the same word again and again until it starts to sound meaningless. Well, being a survivor was starting to sound that way to me. It felt like it had just become an excuse to justify doing anything at all down here. It wasn’t a point of pride, and I felt ashamed that it was so easily tacked onto me.

There was a sharp noise from out in the hallway that made all of us freeze up. I’d heard the noise of a firearm cocking enough to recognize it anywhere now. The barrel of an old rifle slowly made it’s way around the corner of the doorway, held in a light magical aura. With it aimed right at her head, Hispano didn’t even budge as it slowly made it’s way closer to her. She let out a sigh and closed her eyes as it pressed up against her plumage.

“Yes, Survivors.” Dizzy’s voice came from the hallway. How the fuck did he get so close without Buck knowing!? “That’s a fitting title. You don’t care about what’s left in your wake so long as you come out on top, right?” He continued, slowly walking out into the doorway behind Hispano. “Now, no sudden moves from any of you, or your friend here get’s to find out how not to survive.”

Author's Note

Many thanks again to Kkay for the wonderful story that started this all! And unending thanks for the FurryRailFan for his continued help in going over these chapters!

Chapter 25 - Big Bada Boom

Once you are in the fight, it’s far too late to wonder if it was a good idea.

Dizzy’s pink face and neck had been badly burned by the explosion on the submarine, and his whole body was mottled with painful looking wounds. His wings, or what was left of them, looked like twisted black branches growing from his back. He was joined at the side by a green coated unicorn stallion that was almost as big as the brick who’d captured us yesterday. As he stepped out, the green stallion torqued the gun he held in his magic and ground it against the back of Hispano’s head.

“So,” Dizzy smiled at us, hoofing back his partly melted mane. “now that we’re all nice and calm, let’s talk about how I’m going to turn each and every one of your lives into a living nightmare like you’ve done to mine.”

“T-this doesn’t need to come to violence.” Buck stuttered. I watched as he’d become tense and rigid, and his glowing eyes were focused on the gun that pressed up against Hispano’s head. Buck was fast, but I knew he wasn’t fast enough to stop a bullet. Unfortunately for us, it seemed like Dizzy and his associate knew that as well.

“So long as you sit right there like a good dog, sure.” Dizzy smiled and canted his head. “You know, I have to hoof it to you. Mrs. Tapit took a whole lot of care in keeping herself isolated. You weren’t the first to make an attempt on her life, but…” His smile fell away as he looked over to me, and a cold look replaced his jubilance. “Now that she’s gone, and her operation is in shambles, there’s only one thing I know that she’d want.” Giving a sharp nod to his associate, the levitating gun pulled away from Hispano, and turned on me.

My heart raced as the gun swung over to me. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew what was about to happen. Just like in Filly Crossing, Buck moved to protect me. He was as impressively fast as he’d been before, but so was the gunpony.

It all happened too fast. A pair of shots rang throughout the room. Splinters of wood and warm blood hit me before I could even blink. And Buck… he flopped down onto the floor next to Hardcase. Time felt like it had stopped as the smell of cordite and blood took over my senses. The only thing past the ringing in my ears was the ragged gurgle that came from his muzzle. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t look down at him. I knew if I did, he… I might never look away. So even though my body was frozen in fear, I did the only thing I could. I prayed.

To Celestia, to Luna, to anypony that was listening. I prayed that he was still alive, and that he would make it through this. I prayed because it was again my inaction that had cost me. This time, it might have cost me everything I had left. But more than anything, I prayed to them for the strength that I’d need to fight. To kill.

Hispano gave off a short sigh. It was her that pulled me back into things. Looking over at her, her expression was cold, calm, and focused. Gripped tight in her talon was one of the twenty millimeter rounds for her sister. Her gaze was locked down on her sister, and again my mind knew exactly where this was going to head.

“You made a mistake in doing that.” Hispano cooed softly. “You could have walked out of here.”

No, I wouldn’t let them touch her. I wouldn’t lose her, or Buck, or Hardcase for that matter. What I needed to do was to focus the rage that was building in me. To direct it into a distraction for Hispano or Hardcase.

“Oh, what was that?” Dizzy’s muzzle spread into a wide smile as the rifle his cohort held swung back to her. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did my friend here hurt your friend, little talon?” Forcing a gasp out of his muzzle, he could barely hold it without laughing. “Oh, wait. That wasn’t your employer, was it? I know how bad it can be for a talon when their employer is killed out from under them.”

It took all of my strength right then not the charge at the asshole and beat him to death with my hooves.

"For being in charge, you're kind of an idiot." Hispano smirked as she gripped the round in her talons tighter. "You're right, Night here is a survivor. He's also the one who killed your employer. And he’ll kill you, and all of your friends if you don’t give up now." Was she trying to piss him off!? She was going to get herself killed at this rate. “Think about it. If Night killed her when so many others failed before, what are your chances of walking out of here?” Fuck it, if she thought intimidation was the route to go, I guess I had to jump on board with it.

“Just who the hell do you think we are?” I growled, taking Hispano’s lead and running with it. “I’ll tell you what. Turn around right now, drop the gun, and leave. I’ll forget this ever happened and never come after you.” Posturing like this was still new to me, but funny enough, I actually believed my own words.

Though, maybe it wasn’t posturing or acting at all. Part of me actually believed what I’d said, and I knew that was something I couldn’t ignore. For a moment, I felt like I did last night with those stallions around Happy Trails. I wanted Dizzy to make a move, and I wanted to make him regret it. I fought back the idea that giving into this feeling would make me a raider, and pushed back the disappointment that I knew Buck would feel about what I was going to do to Dizzy.

That of course pulled a laugh out of the bastard.

“Really?” He bellowed out with a wider smile than he deserved to wear. “Tell me how you think you’re in any way in a position to make a demand like that.”

“I wasn’t talking to you, Dizzy.” I grunted. Slowly, I raised my hoof and pointed to the stallion holding the rifle in his magic. “I blew up Mrs. Tapit’s ship and survived. I had my leg shot off and I survived. My whole settlement exploded, and I survived. Dizzy is right, I’m a survivor, and I don’t care what’s left in my wake.” As those words left my muzzle, I felt a wave of shame wash over me. I did care about it. I never wanted to hurt anypony, I never wanted any of this. But as I’ve come to learn about living in the wasteland, there’s a price to pay for surviving. “Leave now, and you don’t get to be one of the bodies I’ve left behind.”

“Can you believe the balls on this gal?” Laughing, Dizzy looked over and shared a look of disbelief to his friend with the gun. His friend smirked and shook his head as he looked over at Dizzy. Which was the last mistake he’d make.

With neither of them looking at us, Hispano made her move. Holding the round in her talon, she spun around and lunged at Dizzy. With a piercing screech from her beak, she slammed into Dizzy and took him down to the ground. With a scream of pain that fueled the grin that spread across my muzzle, Hispano drove the twenty millimeter round down and into Dizzy’s fearful eye.

My own body took over as I let my rage out. Pushing myself to move, I scrambled over to Suiza. Unlike on Mrs. Tapit’s ship where the knockout gas had drained my adrenaline boosted strength, the enormous gun didn’t weigh nearly as much as I thought when I took it into my hooves. Hefting it up, I brought it around toward the armed stallion. Hispano had only loaded one round into Suiza, so I had to make this shot count.

For a moment, he couldn’t decide whether to aim at me or Hispano. As my hoof worked its way over the odd trigger assembly built for griffon talons, his eyes went wide, and he released the rifle from his magic. The gun fell for a moment before Hardcase’s magic caught it and spun it around. He’d seen the light and surrendered, raising his hooves up into the air.

But I’d given him a chance to surrender, and he spurned it. He’d made his choice.

The flare Suiza gave off as my hoof depressed the small trigger on her was blinding. My hearing disappeared again into a soft ringing. The recoil from the shot threw Suiza out of my hooves, sliding her back along the floor into some of the crates behind us. With a surprising pop, the stallion all but disappeared from the single highly explosive shot, painting the nearby walls with blood and gore. What was left of his front and back halves dropped to the floor as a pile of shredded meat, bone, and bits. The sad, unfocused gaze his eyes held as his still intact head came to sit there on the floor shot a pang of guilt through me.

Another stallion murdered by my own hooves.

The thoughts lasted for only a moment, until my brain found a suitable thought to push it out of my head. He’d also shot Buck, and I would’ve never forgiven him for that.

Shit, Buck…

My blood froze as I thought about him. Slowly, I’d turned around. For only a moment, my eyes latched onto the splintered wood on the side of his Medical yoke. Lines of crimson ran over and stained the old wood, draining from a large hole in Buck’s neck. It sent my heart into a spiral that felt like it was being pulled apart. Then, Hardcase’s hoof stopped me and shoved me away.

“He’s still alive.” Even from right next to me, Hardcase’s voice felt like it was a million miles away. Still, his words beat back the ringing in my ears. He was… alive. Thank you, Celestia, Luna, anypony listening. Thank you for saving him. “I can help him, but for now, you might want to help Hispano.” Hardcase’s horn flashed as he levitated the dead stallion’s rifle over towards us.

Flaring my wing out, I took the rifle under it and gave a nod. As I tried to turn back around, I found the rifle refused to move because it was still firmly within Hardcase’s grip. Looking back at him, he held a weary look as he gazed over towards the writhing and whining Dizzy.

“Look, I know it’s been rough for you adjusting for life on the ground. And...” Hardcase spoke slowly. His eyes drifted over to me, not seeming to refocus and instead seeming to stare right through me. “We have to do what we need to in order to protect those we care for in life. Buck might not approve, but you can’t consider that right now. I know you want blood for what he did to the Doc, and I think you should take it. If you don’t go through with it, you may regret it in the future.” Releasing the rifle from his magic, he gave me a nod. “Whatever you do decide on, remember what you’re feeling right now. You’ll need it for when Solomon does catch up to us.”

Turning back toward Hispano, the pained whines and whimpers from Dizzy became all too apparent. She had him pinned under her, and her relaxed gaze was locked onto him. She’d all but destroyed Dizzy’s one eye with the round, leaving a bloody mess on the burned half of his face. The round she’d used was coated in his blood, and held only inches above Dizzy’s other fearful eye like a dagger.

“You’re the one with my contract, Night.” Hispano spoke with a cold callousness to her words. “What do you want me to do with him?”

What Hardcase had said sent my mind spiraling into a few different thoughts. I held Dizzy’s fate in my hooves. I could do what I felt deep down was right, and show him the mercy he refused us and let him go. To which end he would still run what’s left of Mrs. Tapit’s operation, and would most likely come after us again. I could use his friendship with Violet to force him to help me convince her to work against Solomon. To which he might just convince her he’d keep Hardcase safe from Solomon in return for killing me and sabotaging the convoy again.

As much as I wanted to let him go, every option in which he lived ended up with trouble for us. I couldn’t trust Dizzy, and he’d made a very decisive choice in following us here. So, even though it went against everything I knew was right, and against everything Buck would have wanted, I opened my muzzle.

“Tear his throat out.”

“Sure thing, boss.” Hispano smirked as Dizzy froze up in fear, opening his muzzle to only let out a whimper in protest. Dropping the twenty millimeter round to the floor, Hispano reached down and dug her talons in around Dizzy’s throat before he could plead a single word.

The gurgling scream he gave out as he thrashed around under Hispano was something I’d never forget for the rest of my days. Blood flowed from his neck like a fountain, and I watched as every ounce of life spilled out of his body. His eyes were locked on me as his struggling became more and more sluggish, and eventually, stopped altogether. Like Buck had feared, today had become a day that was punctuated by my constant misfortune. Again, I’d been forced to kill ponies who didn’t have to die, but who seemed determined to force my hoof.

And once again, I’d come out alive. A survivor who left nothing but ruin in his wake. Even so, that’s who I am now, isn’t it? Or rather, could it be that this is part of what Lilac Lace had shown me in the mirror, and it’s always been a part of who I am? Honestly, so long as Buck and the others were alive, I could deal with the consequences of today, later.

I watched as Hispano took a step back and tossed the bloody twenty millimeter round from her talon. Looking over at me, she gave me a soft nod.

“You know, back on the Inuvik, I wasn’t sure your pretty little flank could cut it out here.” Hispano muttered as she wicked some of Dizzy’s blood off her talons. “Glad to know I was wrong about you, Dum Dum. You’re going to be just fine.” Walking over to me, she gave me a pat on the shoulder that left a bloody talon print on my coat. “Now, let’s patch up your fuckbuddy and finish up this job already.”

“Are you sure he’ll be fine?” I asked Hardcase as we trotted down the empty halls of the depot.

The enormous main room of this depot was only the beginning of this place. We’d made it a fair way into the secondary storage rooms when we arrived, and now we were venturing even deeper down into what felt like a whole underground complex. One which I’d hoped would be nothing like the one we’d been stuck in before. Hispano didn’t seem to mind, having flown off into the west wing on her own. She was confident that she could search it twice as fast if she flew alone, and if she believed that, I had to assume she knew what she was doing.

“Again,” Hardcase sighed. “Yes, he’ll be fine. The wound only looked bad, and even though he lost a lot of blood, the radiation he soaked up outside is what kept him alive. Give him a half hour or so and he’ll be all healed up. Besides, I barricaded the door, so nopony’s going to know he’s in that particular storeroom until he wakes up, or we come back for him.” Reaching up, his hoof hooked onto me and pulled me to a stop. “But you still haven’t answered my question. Are you going to be alright?”

I wasn’t proud of what I’d done to Dizzy, and inside I knew it hadn’t been the right thing to do. But I also knew that I didn’t have any other choice to protect Buck. To survive. And while it was cringeworthy how Hispano had confidence in me for what I’d ordered, I was somewhat happy to know that I’d earned at least a little bit of respect from her for it. Still, I had to wonder just what was going through Hardcase’s head right now to make him ask.

“Yeah.” I gave him a nod and looked over to him. “Like you said, I weighed the options, and did what I had to do.” As I turned and looked at him, I sighed as he cocked an eyebrow. “I know you think I’m lying when I say I’m alright, but you have no idea how done I am getting pushed around and ambushed. I think I finally understand what it takes to survive down here.”

“True, you may be getting there, but I don’t think you really understand how punishing the wastes can be. At least, not yet. And it’s alright, because it’s a fine line that takes time to learn the boundaries of, especially around the ones you love.” Hardcase gave me a firm pat on the side before turning to walk again. “You got lucky back there, and you need to watch your emotions. Not only will others use love against you, but your own emotions can be a worse enemy than any ‘Dizzy’ you’ll ever find out there.”

“Then teach me how to use love as a weapon.” I spat out. There was very little I had to my name in the wastes outside of my friends, and my love for Buck. With the idea that these sort of conflicts were going to be a daily occurrence in my life from now on, I needed to hone every tool, and use every weapon I could.

“Oh, you think it’s that easy?” Hardcase laughed. “It can’t be taught, and takes years for a pony to learn how to stay calm when their significant other is under fire.” Shaking his head, he started to trot off faster. “Plus, you think I could teach you? Did you forget who you’re asking? I can barely keep myself under control when Violet goes out on patrol.”

“Yeah, but you’re just acting, aren’t you, Alabaster.” I spoke out sharply. Sure, that might have been a little blunt, but I was pretty sure with my slip up before, he knew it was coming at some point.

Hardcase froze in his steps and pinned his ears back. His body went rigid, and if I didn’t know better, he almost flushed completely white with that name. Slowly, he swung his head around with a not-so-subtle twitch to his eye.

“I remember.” Reaching up, I tapped at my bandaged head. “Until last night, the spell matrix that was in my head kept me from it, but Violet told me about you. How you came up to meet her in Bridleshade, how you two hit it off...” Hardcase clenched his jaw as I spoke, visibly getting more angry the more I went on. “How you aren’t the pony that anyone else thinks you are.”

“Why.” He snorted and snapped his tail. “Why would she tell you?”

“If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been having my own issues with a changeling. I think she wanted to make sure that I didn’t make any assumptions if I found out about you at some point.” Raising my hoof I tried to offer him a nervous smile, as well as passing over the fact that she only brought it up because of my lie about Hispano. But, the last thing I needed was for him to get spooked by thinking I was out to ruin everything for him. “Before you say anything, I won’t tell anypony about it. I understand now that changelings aren’t all the same, and I know you’re my friend.”

“So it wasn’t a coincidence when you asked if I could feel love earlier. It was a slip up on your part.” His tension melted away, and Hardcase sat down hard on the damp concrete floor. “This is exactly what I was trying to avoid.”

“While I know you’ve got your fears about the others finding out, I’ve got some more bad news.” Walking up, I took a seat next to him. “That isn’t the only thing I learned about Violet last night.” His ears perked, and instantly a look of worry flushed across his muzzle. Okay, hopefully he can take the news in stride and work with me on this. “Violet… she never stopped working for Solomon.” He gave a loud gasp, one that I’d expected from the news. “I know it’s not easy to hear, but…”

My head exploded in pain as I was hit hard. I tumbled to the floor with a yelp as the force of Hardcase’s swing sent stars shooting around my vision. Honestly, I should have seen that coming and told him from a few feet back. With a blue flare, the room flashed, and a white coated stallion towered over me.

“No. How could you even say that after all she’s done for you?” His voice was cold and deeper than before. His almost yellow hazel eyes peered down sharply from above his bluntly squared off muzzle. “Violet would never betray Delilah, or you for that matter.” My eyes looked over the stranger standing above me, wandering from his nearly neon blue half mohawk, down to the one wing on his back that was pared with only a blackened nub. “I don’t care what you may think you know about me, but don’t you dare slander her.”

The rifle that Hardcase had been holding in his magic floated in the same way that bricks don’t. Squinting a bit, I found that it was being held in a light blue aura that trailed back and emanated from the center of his forehead. So, changelings could still use magic in other forms. Good to know against Salt down the road. However, that’s getting ahead of myself. One enormous problem at a time, Night.

“Easy there, big guy.” Hispano’s voice called out calmly from down the hall. Her head was partially hanging around the edge of an upcoming junction. Predictably held under her, was Suiza. “Dum Dum there is right. She confessed all of this down in that nightmare facility that put these stupid chips in our heads.” Glancing over at me, she smirked. “Even from ahead in that tunnel, I could still hear your conversation about Hardcase. You’re incredibly loud, you know that, Dum Dum?” Hardcase growled and pulled her attention back to him. He tensed up as he swung the gun away from pointing at me and begrudgingly lowered it a little bit. “I’m sorry, but Violet has been lying to your crew this whole time.” She sighed, lowering Suiza a bit.

“And why should I believe you.” He snapped back at her.

“You told her that you were the only survivor of your hive.” Hispano offered in a calmer voice than I’d expected. Even as a white coated stallion, the words made what little color he had, flush. “You were just lonely, and that you really did love her.” Lowering her sister, Hispano stepped out into the hallway. “Think about it. She went back, was the only one at your vehicle when the tire blasted off, and the only parts that could help are suddenly misplaced? I’m sorry, but it’s not Night who’s been lying to you.”

“No.” Hardcase shook his head and stepped away from me. “W-why would she lie? Why would she ever work for him?” Stumbling back, he fell back onto his flanks and dropped the rifle to the floor with a clatter. “She’d have to know he’ll kill us all for what’s in that safe…”

“She thinks she can convince Solomon to spare you because she think’s he’s too strong to fight.” Groaning, I pulled myself up onto my hooves again. “I need your help, Hardcase.” Looking up at him, his teary eyes peered at me with more pain in them than I’d ever felt. “I need you to help me convince her that she’s wrong.” Reaching my hoof out to him, I was blinded by another blue flare of magic. In a flash, Hardcase was back to the yellow maned, purple unicorn stallion I’d known on this trip. But even so, the pain in his teary eyes still remained.

“I still don’t believe you.” Hardcase sniffled as he reached out and grabbed my hoof. I strained to keep on three hooves as I helped him back onto his. “But I don’t see any reason for you to lie to me. You felt nothing in saying it.” Turning, he glared at Hispano. “You knew as well? You were there with them?”

I was going to speak up in her defence, but Hispano spoke up before I could.

“Yes, and I’m going to tell you something right now so you don’t have a conniption fit like your Marefriend did when she found out at the start of this fucking mess.” Hispano took flight and made her way down the hallway to us. Landing next to me, she hefted her sister up so that her barrel rested on her shoulder. “I’m a talon mercenary, so I’ll assume you know the gravity of what I’m about to say.” She paused, letting Hardcase nod before continuing. “My father is also a talon mercenary. He was contracted by Solomon to keep tabs on your convoy and relay information.”

“What!?” Was all Hardcase managed to get out before Hispano’s talons were around his throat. Dizzy’s dried blood flaked off against Hardcase’s coat as he all but froze up.

“I wasn’t finished.” She gave out through a guttural growl, to which a very surprised Hardcase nodded. Slowly, she released her talons from around him and he relaxed. “I don’t work under, nor share his contract. In fact, while you were negotiating to come on this fantastic errand, Night and I were drawing up the terms of our agreement.”

“Something like that, yeah.” I nodded. “She’s with us, Hardcase.”

“So… ever since Fort Mac, Violet’s been the one to Sabotage us?” Hardcase was understandably having a hard time processing all of this, but for Violet’s sake, I hope he processed it fast. “The tire, the thermo-cycler,” He gasped and looked up at me, “the attempt on your life in Filly Crossing?”

“Not so much.” Hispano laughed and rolled her eyes. “The tire, yes. The thermo-cycler was my dad. Even as a Talon, he’s not big on killing, so he’s been doing little things like that to slow you down.” Hefting her sister over her, she slung the large cannon around onto her back. “And the attempt on Night was most definitely Galina acting on Solomon’s behalf.” Giving a grunt she deadpanned. “No one wants that disgrace of a griffon merc to live. Not Violet, not me, and not even my dad.”

“This is all so much to take in…” Hardcase sighed and facehoofed. “Look, let’s just… deal with the job here. We’ll worry about Violet later.” Looking down the hallway, his worried gaze said that everything he’s heard was probably going to weigh on him until he could get some time alone to think. And the sooner we got out of here, the sooner we could get Buck back to the Convoy. “Alright, did you find anything when you went to the west wing?”

Looking back to Hispano, I watched as she perked up more than a bit.

“Yeah! I found a couple of things, actually!” She squealed excitedly. It was amazing to see how not much kept her down for long. Sure she could be serious and cold, but it was almost like it took more effort for her to keep that way than it was worth. “I found the general’s office, but it’s sealed by a bulkhead I can’t hack open.” Waggling her eyebrows at Hardcase, she smirked. “If I’ve observed anything interesting about you on this trip so far, it’s how… ‘creative’ you can be in solving stubborn electronic problems.”

“Thanks… I guess?” Hardcase blinked a few times at the odd complement. “Depends on the door, but I’ll see what I can do to open it.”

“What was the other thing?” I asked as Hispano flared out her wings excitedly.

“Oh, you’ll know it when you see it! But only after we get what we came here for.” She giggled giddily. She was positively vibrating as she pushed off and took flight again. Zipping down the hall she was already at the other end by the time that Hardcase had picked his gun up off the floor. “Come on! We’ve got work to do, slowpokes!” With that, she turned and zipped around the corner and out of sight from us.

“I mean, I’ve grown to trust you, Night. But I don’t know her.” Hardcase sighed. “Are you sure you can trust her?”

“With my life.” I nodded with a smile.

Hardcase grumbled as he dug around inside the busted electrical door panel sitting next to the large, sealed steel bulkhead. He gave out a sharp yelp as the snap of electricity was followed by a few sparks. A humming noise ran through the concrete all around us, and slowly, the large door began to retract into the ceiling… at an incredibly slow pace.

“Geeze, about time. Would have taken me half the time to hack open had the damn thing not been busted in.” Hispano huffed. “But, credit where it’s due. Nice work.” Nearly flattening herself to the ground, she laid Suiza beside her. Without any hesitation, she ducked under the opening door when it had only been open enough to just fit her.

“You’re welcome. I’m just glad the interior of this base seems to be devoid of ghouls. That, or they’re the reason all the doors in this place seem to be shut and broken...” Hardcase sighed as he stepped back from the panel. Looking over to me, he deadpanned at the slow door. “Either way, this door is really heavy, so it’s slow speed might be because the mechanism that works it is as busted as this panel, and on it’s last leg.” Sitting down, he crossed his hooves. “Honestly, I’m not sure we’d be able to open it again if it dropped.”

“So we’ll make this quick.” I offered, sharing a nervous smile. Yeah, quick, just like this job should have been. “I’m sure that even if we did get trapped, Buck would eventually come find us and cut us out. Once he wakes up that is...”

Hardcase chuckled. “I’m sure he would eventually, but that’s not the problem.” Pointing to the cracked, but still intact rubber gaskets along the bottom of the doorway, he frowned. “Rooms with doors like these were designed to be airtight, and I’m going to assume that ventilation is all but nonexistent after all these years. With the three of us locked inside, I’d estimate we’d have a few hours of air at most.”

As the door retracted up past our vision, Hardcase and I looked in. A small, well furnished, wood paneled room sat past the door. The brightly stained red wood walls and maroon colored carpeting contained more color than anywhere else so far in this drab, concrete base. A couch, a few chairs, and a desk laid scattered about the corners of the room. A faded painted picture of a cloud city still hung on the wall, with rainbow falls pouring off different sides of the city, and down onto green grass covered hills below.

“Huh, must be some sort of receptionist’s room.” Hardcase spoke as he trotted forward into the room.

“Hey, back here!” Hispano shouted from through an open door sitting opposite the painting I’d been admiring.

Both Hardcase and I joined Hispano in the attached room, stopping when we were greeted by the skeletal form of a pony sitting upright in a large leather chair. He sat still fully clothed in dusty military dress garb on the other side of a large mahogany desk. Other than the thick layer of dust on it, the desk was absolutely covered in old papers and a large, unfurled blueprint. On the dead pony’s head, was an officer’s cap that resembled the style that they still wore in the Enclave. Er, used to wear in the Enclave, I guess.

Hardcase pointed at the slightly tarnished line of silver stars adorning the old military cap. “Four stars. That’s our guy.” He moved to take a step forward, but froze when the skeletal hoof of the general pointed forward.

“Halt.” Hispano spoke up in what I guess was her approximation of a gruff stallion’s voice. “You don’t have the authority to relieve me of my command.” Using her talon to work the general’s jaw and hoof, she could barely keep from laughing as both Hardcase and I facehoofed hard. “Guards, take these treasonous traitors away!”

Hardcase’s horn glowed as he wrapped the general’s skeleton in his magic and forcefully yanked him up from his seat. There was a sickening snap as one of his back bones split, and only the top half of the body was pulled away.

“You may have taken my better half, but you’ll never take me alive!” Hispano squawked as she jiggled the lower torso in the leather seat. Receiving no response from us, her flight cap and jubilant eyes peered over the backside of the desk.

“Are you done?” Hardcase asked with a smirk. “Is Spitzer’s ‘unique’ pistol on your half of the general?”

“Yeah, I’ve got it.” Hispano cooed as she raised a bright silver looking revolver in her talon. “You want his ‘unique’ clothes as well? Or his fancy ‘unique’ hat perhaps? Ponies always seem to enjoy stealing one of a kind outfits from these sorts of places.” Honestly, from the way she’s spoke about it, I wasn’t sure if Hispano was kidding or not. However, I was completely entranced by the shiny object held in her talon. The silver finish on the ‘unique’ revolver was so untarnished in fact, that it still held a mirror shine to it, and the pearl grips on it almost gleamed, even in the poor base lighting. “For what it’s worth, this gun is really fucking weird, and I’ve seen quite a few weird revolvers around the wastes. I wonder why Spitzer wants it.”

“Family heirloom.” Hardcase replied as his magic pulled the gun from her grip. “A gift from one of his ancestors for the general’s commitment to protecting Germineigh with the Equestrian navy.”

As Hardcase floated it over, I couldn’t pull my gaze away from the odd gun. It looked like the old equestrian army service revolvers I’d seen before up in the gun case at the armory in Fort Mac. However, instead of having the normal indexing mechanism on the side of the cylinder, a zig-zag track ran along its outer edge instead.

“Yeah, yeah. That’s super interesting and whatnot.” Hispano said with a mock yawn. Stepping up behind the desk, she canted her head as she looked down at the large, unfurled blueprint held down by paperweights on the desk. “What I’m wondering is what the hell is this thing?”

Curious, both Hardcase and I trotted around each side of the general’s desk. The old blueprint looked like somepony took the flight systems of an enclave raptor and mated them to the under and back side of the HMS Fairy Flight. It was a powerfully ugly looking battleship, but utilized the more streamlined designs of the late-war raptors and combined them into something that looked unlike anything that I’d ever seen before. Complex diagrams of an intricately laid out spell reactor where the engine room normally sat, ended in both what looked like an oversized rocket engine sticking out the back of the ship, and a long, barrel like opening that ran the entire forward length of the ship.

All of it was way too complex for me to even begin to understand any of the things written on here. Plus, the odd winglets, fins, and sealed ports all over the battleship made it look far too flashy, and that’s saying something for a ship related to a raptor. Hell, even the proposed name, HMS Star Blazer, was overdoing the presentation of this ship. I’d never even heard of any pegasus pony named Star Blazer before...

“Hmmm.” Reaching forward, I grabbed the odd blueprints and pulled them closer. “What do you make of these plans?” Leaning closer to them, I tried to read some of the incredibly small font in the description box under the project info, but was foiled when the plans were ripped from my hooves.

“I don't know much about Neighpon origami, but I could make a crane, a boat, a paper hat…” Hispano giggled as she wiggled the old blueprints in her talons, scrunching them up into odd shapes.

“Give me that.” Hardcase grumbled as his magic pulled the old paper from her. She gave a pouty face for a moment as I reveled in the quick turnabout. Hardcase leaned down, studying the plans before giving out a soft gasp.

“What, is it something useful?” I asked, stepping up beside him. I was hoping that from the way he held them, he’d seen something that I couldn’t a moment ago. If these were useful to the Fairy Flight, maybe Admiral Broadside would pay us for them as well!

“This…” Hardcase gasped as his muzzle split into a wide smile. “This is incredible! Genius!” Pointing to the reactor, he giddily bounced on his hooves. “This proposed generator was theoretically run by a gravity type megaspell. If these specs are right, it would have been powerful enough to not only make the ship fly like a raptor, but it could’ve also been used to make suborbital hops! The ceramic underplating was going to double up not only as magical energy weapon armor, but as a heat shield against hypersonic reentry speeds!” Looking over more of the blueprints, Hardcase looked happier than a foal in a candy store.

“A-and here,” He traced his hoof along the odd barrel that ran to just under the prow of the ship. “The same generator could power a solar directed beam megaspell like the one the lightbringer supposedly used on the east coast! This ship could have been deployed to any battle line in the world in fifteen minutes and wiped it out in moments!”

“Yeah,” Hispano groaned. “Too bad it didn’t.” Rolling her eyes, she pointed her talon up at a red stamped mark up near the project filing number on the corner of the blueprint. The old red ink had faded a bit with time, but PROPOSAL REJECTED was a pretty clear sign that this thing would have never been built. “If this thing could have won the war, the idiots who ended the world clearly didn’t care.”

With a sigh, Hardcase hung his head. “I know.” Wrapping the bluprint up in his magic, he rolled the old parchment tightly and pulled it close to himself. “I don’t care if it ever got built. It’s a part of our history, and something this magnificent doesn’t deserve to be locked down here.”

“You’re not going to try to get Destruction Bay to build it, are you?” Hispano laughed as she stopped in the doorway. “You realize that’s insane, right?” Looking back at Hardcase, I found a very nervous grin stretch across his muzzle.

“N-no, that’s not at all why I’m taking it! They can find their own copy if they want to build it.” He stammered, quickly sticking the blueprint under the straps to his own battle saddle. Sticking his muzzle in the air, he trotted around the desk and back toward the exit. “I’m just… keeping it as a souvenir. I love great engineering works is all!” Thinking back to his SFG MkIV, I facehooved.

“Do you have a fetish for mega-magical energy weapons or something?” I asked about as bluntly as I could. From the way he blushed and almost locked up mid step, I may have just stumbled onto something bigger than I thought with that. “Wait… do you?”

“Hey.” He snapped, pointing his hoof at me. “I don’t judge you for your kinks, Night.” Smirking at me, he pressed his muzzle high and gave a harumph. “Just because as a changeling I intuitively know all of yours, doesn’t mean you can shame me for mine.”

“Wait…” Hispano gasped as her eyes lit up with a million questions. “You know all of Dum Dum’s kinks!? Tell me!” Hopping up against Hardcase’s side, she pressed against him and followed him step for step as he trotted out. “Tell me, tell me, tell me!”

Following Hispano and Hardcase, I kept my eyes open and tried to not listen to the two ahead of me. Annoyingly, he’d folded like a house of cards under Hispano’s incessant asking, and had spilled out a good amount of the things Buck and I had done in bed. As much as that annoyed me, he at least avoided a few of the more private ones that Buck and I shared, and for that, I was thankful. Still, he’d just ensured that Hispano was going to try to get on all my good sides with her next advances at me.

For the next ten minutes or so, we wandered down more than a few twisting and turning hallways. Eventually, we were led into a large arching cavernous room with a pair of enormous armored doors at the end of it. For a moment, I thought we’d wandered all the way back around to the entrance, but these doors looked well kept. Not to mention, split between the pair of them was an enormous painted symbol of a pony’s skull on it.

Along with the door were pallets upon pallets of still sealed and preserved ammunition. Various smaller doors along the length of this room revealed more well lit rooms around us, each with various machinery and equipment that looked like it was meant for manufacturing. This must have been exactly the place Admiral Broadside wanted us to get to.

“Ooooh, doors like these are never good.” Hardcase muttered as we trotted across the room towards an eagerly waiting Hispano. She stood next to a small terminal inset along the wall near the gigantic door, and she was looking even more excited than ever before.

“While I know we're in a military ammo storage facility, what does that symbol normally mean?” Looking up at the large skull painted on the door, I felt that familiar pit in my stomach already forming.

“It means that this is the good shit!” Hispano squawked before she turned around to the terminal. With a speed and accuracy that rivaled what I’d seen some pegasi do with their wing feathers, Hispano hammered away at the terminal with her talons. “Now, let’s see what fabulous prize is behind door number one!” Green lines of coding flashed across the screen as she worked the keys, and a bright green CLEAR flashed up after a few moments.

“What are you doing!?” Hardcase exclaimed as he wrapped his magic around Hispano and yanked her all the way back to us.

Before he could stop her however, the room around us was bathed in flashing yellow lights. An alarm bell sounded throughout the air with three short bursts. A thick grinding noise came from each side of the doors before giving a loud creak. Hardcase gasped and shoved me aside as the doors began to open slowly. Between them to greet us, sat a blackness that not even the light in here seemed to want to touch. After a moment, the doors stopped abruptly, leaving a fifteen or so foot gap open between them.

“Are you insane!?” Hardcase slowly looked at Hispano and bristled up in anger.

“Well, how else were we supposed to see what was inside?” Hispano deadpanned over at Hardcase for his odd overreaction.

“Why the fuck would you just open it!?” Hardcase snapped, dragging Hispano over in his magic. “They could have kept chemical weapons in there! Is there poison gas!? You don't know!”

“Yeah, but wait for it... we're fine.” Hispano rolled her eyes as she was levitated back onto the ground. As soon as she was free, she turned and hopped back towards the terminal. “Stop worrying so much about it. Just gotta turn on some lights, and you'll see that everything is fine.” With a few raps of her talons across the keys, she stepped back from the terminal with a smirk. “Security here was really lax for whatever they were keeping behind this door. Any talon cub half my age could’ve hacked this in their sleep.”

With a high pitched whine, the strips of lighting in the room beyond began to brighten. The three of us moved towards the open doors slowly, like moths drawn to the brightening lights. However, the more we could see, the wider our eyes opened, and the deeper the pit that formed in my stomach.

What lay in the room beyond looked like some of the industrial warehouses I’d learned about in school when reading about the wartime buildup. Except for instead of being stocked with canvas, tanks, or canned goods, this one was rack after rack, row after row, of big, softly glowing spellshells. They’d been separated into entire sections of corresponding spell color and shell size. There were some that looked like they were made to be attached to torpedos, some smaller shells for use on things like naval guns, and some unthinkably large that they looked like they probably fit on guns even larger than the ones on the HMS Fairy Flight.

“A-are those…” I stuttered, feeling like my stomach had begun its attempt to bore to the other side of the world.

“Megaspells...” Hardcase spoke softly, as if even raising his voice could wake the spells that have laid dormant for two centuries. “Solar, Storm, Immolation, Cryo, Temporal, Gravitational, Petrification, even the healing ones we were asked to look for. There are even some I can’t even tell what they are...” His hoof pointed out each kind as he spoke. “All flavors of the end of the world, right here just sitting forgotten in this one room.” Shifting his hoof, he pointed to the back of the room where a lot of much more reasonably sized glowing shells sat. “They even have tank and field artillery sized tactical shells, there must be thousands of rounds in those crates alone.”

Without another word, he trotted forward, taking a few steps into the room as Hispano and I stood there in megaspell damned shock. Honestly, I would have said goddesses, but there was probably more destructive power in this one room than even Celestia or Luna could have ever wielded. Even just standing here, I froze up. Unlike outside with Buck, this was different. I was afraid that even taking a single step back could knock one of these relics from the shelf and blow us all to hell. This… this was not something I had ever expected to see in my life, and something I’d hoped nopony else ever would.

“I know what you're thinking, about how much destruction these could still bring.” Hardcase spoke up. “Which is why we need to shut these doors and make sure they can't be opened again. Ever.”

“He's right.” Hispano agreed before glancing back toward the terminal. “Imagine what would happen if somepony got their hooves on even just one. I know that admiral taco head wanted to destroy them, but can we really trust that she wouldn’t miss one? Or even keep some as a ‘just in case’ sort of thing?” Seeing as how Admiral Broadside seemed to have missed the small arsenal that Mrs. Tapit had acquired, Hispano’s point was all too valid here. “Sorry, I love blowing shit up, but no good will ever come from this room.”

“What about taking one of the healing ones?” I offered, taking a step forward toward the doors. I knew the risks, but… I know what Buck would want if he were here. “If the doctors on the Mercy could replicate it, think of how much good it could do for the whole wasteland!”

“I'm sorry, but it's out of the question.” Hardcase shook his head. “I know that you and Buck just want to help ponies, and it might do a lot of good at first. But what will those on the Mercy say when ponies start asking where they got the first megaspell from? More ponies are bound to come looking.”

“Yeah, and stumble right into the magazine cache that we left wide open for them to explore. Can we risk the next Mrs. Tapit or Dizzy getting their hooves on even just one?” Hispano added before flaring her wings. She gave me a guilty look before taking off toward the terminal. “Storage depots like this are normally built to protect each stockpile from the ones around it if they explode, so we should be able to cave this whole place in safely by just blasting the hallway roof.”

“Right,” I sighed. Well, it’ll be disappointing to the Admiral and Dr. Kaio, but yeah, it’s for the greater good. Even if it means us being kicked out of Destruction Bay. “We’ll need to cave in this place well enough that no pony for a thousand years will be able to find it, let alone dig themselves into it.”

“A partial collapse of the tunnels leading up to this place will have to do.” Hispano cringed as she looked back from the terminal. “If we load this place up with too many explosives, we'll risk setting those relics off. They're probably pretty touchy at best already, so discretion might be the better idea with an explosive collapse.”

“So, we’ll bury just enough of the place, and forget we ever saw it.” Looking between Hispano and Hardcase, they each gave an understanding nod. “Alright then, seal it back up, Hispano. Hardcase, you and I should get on looking for a way to collapse the tunnel into here.”

“Actually, I’ve got an idea of how to do it, but I’ll need Hispano’s help for it.” Hardcase smiled as he trotted back out of the doors. “But you’re right. First, let’s close these doors and get back to Buck.” Looking back to Hispano, he waited for her to hit a few more keys.

The flashing lights and alarm bell activated again, and the door slowly crawled its way shut. Once it was finished, Hispano gripped Suiza in her talons and swung her around like a club. The terminal sparked in an impressive display as it was caved in by the heavy weapon. With a sigh, she gave a talon up to Hardcase.

“Alright, step one, done.” Hardcase nodded and pointed back to the doors out of here. “Lead the way back to the main entrance, Miss Hispano.”

“With pleasure!” She squeaked as she took flight again. Zipping back across the room, she was off through the door again before Hardcase and I could even turn around.

Taking one last look, I sighed. We have the opportunity to help keep the world safe, even if it costs it the chance to learn about the workings of the medical megaspell again. Still, as I turned and trotted after Hispano with Hardcase, I couldn’t help but feel that pit in my stomach get deeper with every step we took away from it. Looking at the skull on the door one last time, I couldn’t help but worry that this place would be found again, and all of this would have been for not.

But that was a worry for another day.

You know, last night I’d thought Hispano was fairly heavy. Oh boy, was I wrong!

“Hey, Dum Dum?” Hispano whined as she helped me heft Buck along the wet concrete yard of the base and back to the Runner. “You're super fun to hang out with and all, but can we never find ourselves underground in another old facility? Like, ever again?”

While the fog was still just as thick as it was earlier, I hadn’t heard a single growl from a ghoul or anything, so we must have gotten them all on the way in. That, or Dizzy did us a favor by killing the ones we’d missed.

Still, I couldn’t even answer Hispano as I focused on keeping Buck’s Head and enormous paws from dragging along the concrete. Which, mind you, is a lot harder with three legs than I’d first thought. Oh how I really did hope that he woke up sooner than later. I mean, I knew that Hardcase said he’d be alright, but… I really liked it when he carried me, rather than the other way around. Hell, he never felt this heavy when he’d spent time on top in bed…

“Did you get the timing on all the charges set?” Hardcase asked as he sat in the runner and fiddled with connecting the wires on what I assumed was a detonator. The spread of a dozen or so cables that trailed off through the fog back toward the bunker was all Hispano and Hardcase’s doing, and I planned on doing my best to avoid having anything to do with the sensitive set up. “We need to do it right the first time, you know.” Yeah, best I avoid involvement on the off chance my luck decides to make today an explosively bad one.

“Yeah.” Hispano grumbled as she helped me set Buck down against the runner.

“Great.” He smiled and nudged at me with the small metal box in his hooves. “Care to do the honors?”

“Gladly.” Hispano cooed as she snatched the box from him.

“You two sure you didn't put up too many charges?” I asked, watching as Hispano inspected the box for a moment. I really didn’t want to end up exploding today. Dear Celestia, how had that become something I’d thought more than once in my life, let alone in the last week?

“There's enough of them and they're in the right spots. That’s all you have to know.” She sighed and flicked her talon over the big red arming button on the detonator. “Besides, if there are too many, we'll be dead before we know what went wrong.”

Hardcase cleared his throat. “Along with the entirety of Destruction Bay, half of the northern coast line, and probably half of the planet with how many shells were down there…” He trailed off as both Hispano and I deadpanned at him. Really, that was not helping.

“Then just hope we don't become ghouls, because I’ll beat you to death if that happens.” Hispano smirked and placed her talon over the big button that said ‘detonate’ above it in oversized red lettering. “Too late for regrets. Fire in the hole!” She screamed as she pushed down on the button. A sharp snap burst from some of the wires, as well as a few bright sparks.

A few flickering flashes from inside the cavernous magazine opening were followed by white bursts of cloud from the blast pressure. The roar from the explosion blasted us as the pressure rolled over our heads. The ground shook as bits of the hill the bunker had been built into cracked and crumbled inward. A secondary set of blasts inside mirrored the first, and this time a thick cloud of dust and debris shot from the opening, billowing out and engulfing the whole of the old compound.

The thick cloud quickly engulfed us and the entire area in a blinding white cloud that pushed back the thinning fog. The sharp ringing in my ears started to drop off as we all coughed and did our best to waft away the thick dust and smoke. Hispano fluttered her wings as she extended them. Giving hard, regular beats, she began to clear the area around us.

“Woo! We're alive and it worked!” She squawked excitedly as she pushed herself into a low hover. With each beat of her wings, bits of dust and the like dropped off of her. “I love blowing shit up!”

“Now who’s got the weird fetish?” Hardcase gave her a sly grin before using his magic to brush himself off a bit. The sharp glare he got from her in return however made him take a quick step back. “D-did you put a delay in there? I don't remember setting it up that way.”

Hispano nodded quickly. “Thought it was best to spread the shockwaves out, just to help dampen the effect on the megaspell racks inside.” With a quick swipe, she snatched her flight cap off her head and gave it a few good shakes.

“I didn't see any megaspells inside.” Hardcase spoke up before he looked at me and waggled his eyebrows. “Did you?”

“The what racks?” I smiled as I flared my wings and gave them a few flaps. All the dust on me dusted up around me, and I hacked a few times as I breathed a bit of it in. “Ugh, I could really use a shower.”

“Well, since we got what we came for, why don't we head back, drop off Spitzer’s gun, and find a place to clean up a bit?” Hardcase laughed before wrapping Buck up in his magic. With a grunt, he heaved the entirety of Buck up off the ground. I don’t know about Hispano, but my jaw hit the dirt as he did. He… he could have carried Buck? This whole way back!?

“Thanks for that.” I grumbled. Turning around in annoyance, I froze as the clearing haze of both the dust and fog revealed something standing only fifty or so feet away from us down the road.

Standing there looking more disappointed than ever, was Cora, Hispano’s dad. He let out a deep sigh that got Hispano and Hardcase’s attention, and made me facehoof. Shit, I’d hoped to avoid dealing with him for at least a little while. Wow, this couldn’t have gone any worse...

“Are. You. Kidding me!?” Another voice boomed out from the fog behind Cora, doing what I thought was impossible and sending his look spiraling down into one of shame. However, it made my blood freeze in my veins. From out of the dust and fog behind him, stepped Solomon.

“You’ll have to excuse my poor decorum, but this really is quite a delight.” Even from this far back, I could see the bright, wide smile he wore across his now stubbled muzzle. Along with his disheveled overall look, I could see dark rings of exhaustion under his bright purple eyes. “Here I thought that Cora was going to lead us to just one of you. What a treat indeed!”

How… how did they get here so fast? Did he drive non-stop all the way here!? Oh fuck this isn’t good at all! I just had to ask if this could get worse, didn’t I? With my shit luck, of course this had to fucking happen...

As the dust cleared, the lumbering form of Jess stepped up from behind Solomon. She looked just about as tired as he did, but she hid most of her face behind the window of what looked to be the ripped off rear door of an old armored vehicle. The old, large vehicle door looked to be insanely heavy, and the faded words of Clearwater Police Department were just visible from where we stood. In her left… hand, she held an odd, twin barreled gun of some kind. It was about the same size as my submachine gun, but compared to her, it was the size of a pistol.

“Now now,” Solomon childed, “no shooting.” Giving a whistle through his muzzle, there was a bright flash beside me. Without having any time to realize what was going on, I was enveloped in a bright light. The ground under me shifted slightly, and when my vision came back, I was standing beside Jess, and had both barrels of her gun pressed against my head. Now that I was this close, I realized that her gun didn’t have two barrels, but it looked more like two entire submachine guns bolted together. Shifting my attention to look at Solomon, he stood over my left, wearing a delighted expression. “Thank you, Rook.”

The properly dressed white coated stallion stepped forward from behind me and stood at my side. In his levitation, floated another two barreled weapon, only this one was pony pistol sized. Everything had happened so fast that it was actually about now that I remembered that my battle saddle’s submachine gun was empty, and I was pretty much fucked.

“Well, before we begin the next part of our little game, I wanted to give you all one, final offer.” Solomon called out to Hispano and Hardcase. As I watched, I wished for nothing more than to just rear up and knock him in the jaw again. Unfortunately for now, I had to wait. “I've got plenty of room on my crew for you, and each and every one of you can get your fair share of the profits from the Ark.” His sly grin spread further up his muzzle as he turned his attention to me. “We don't have to be enemies, you and I.”

“I don't think you get it.” Hardcase called out as he took a step forward. A step that forced the double barreled gun away from my head as Jess trained it on him. “None of your offers will ever swing us over to your side.”

“Sure they will! I'm open to it, why not?” Solomon snorted, craning his neck like he’d just been insulted. “Name your price, any of you! For Delilah, it'll be like a… a...” Tapping his hoof a few times, he yawned deeply before looking down at Rook. “Help me out on this will you, Rook?”

“A firesale, sir?” His voice came across again as being completely bored out of his mind. His dull expression didn’t shift one bit, and to his credit, neither did his magical hold on his pistol.

“Not what I was aiming for, but the analogy works well enough.” Solomon’s bright smile returned as he held his hoof out to Hardcase. “Delilah and her quaint little town's going to be bankrupt anyway after I claim the Ark, so what the hell? Why not ensure your family’s future and get in on the ground floor with the winning side? This is a limited time offer, and there’s only one offer per customer.” What the fuck was he jabbering on about!? Seriously, the urge to hit him in the face again was getting harder and harder to ignore.

“No matter what kind of ‘firesale’ you present for employment, none of us will sell out to the likes of you.” My flat tone wiped the smile off Solomon’s face faster than my hoof ever could. Even held at gunpoint, it took all my strength to restrain myself. “Don’t you get it? We’ve kept one hoofstep ahead of you, so why don’t you just give up already?” Of course, his expression didn’t last.

“Is that so? We shall see.” Solomon’s smirk returned as he stood up straight, jabbing his hoof at his chest. “Funny you should mention selling out.” Shifting his eyes to me, the stinging glare he shot felt like he directed all of his annoyance directly at me. “The thing about firesales is that it marks the end of a failed business. Everything must go.” Flicking his tail, he gave a short laugh. “But you’ve made your choice, and that’s enough for now. Let the mare go, Jess, and let’s get back on the road. Go wake up the slave and have her ready to teleport my bus another thirty miles. I don’t care if she dies from the strain this time, we’ll just buy another one to replace her in the next settlement. I want to be well ahead of these foals by this time tomorrow.”

With another bright flash, I found myself standing back next to Hardcase where I was originally. Rook gave me a sharp glare before turning and disappearing in another burst of magic, who was quickly followed by Jess as she turned and lumbered off into the dust and fog. Still exactly where he’d stood from the start of this, was the still disappointed and shameful looking Cora.

Again, I’d come out of a dangerous situation alive. Again, I could call myself a survivor because of it. However, the question that burned in my mind was no longer ‘how could this have happened to me?’. Instead, I was asking myself how much longer would my luck hold out, or will it hold out for any of my friends at all. And if so, would it then last until after I could drop a grenade right down Solomon’s throat?

“Come on, Hispano. We’re leaving.” He called as he held his talon out toward her.

“No.” Hispano snorted.

“Now is not the time.” He ground his beak as he spoke, and he flared his wings out slightly as he stood as tall as he could. “Come here.”

“You know what, Dad? I’m not leaving.” Hispano laughed and mimicked his pose. Oh Celestia, please don’t do this right now! We were done with all this, and we could finally just leave this stupid foggy place. “I don’t care what you say, but I made a contract with Night, and I’m sticking to it.” The moment she said those words, Cora, Solomon, and I all froze up.

“You what!?” Cora screamed out. I couldn’t tell if it was part of the fog or not, but it almost looked like the plumage-less burn mark on the top of Cora’s head had started to sizzle. If so, it fit the blazing gaze he was currently trying to use to burn a hole right through me. Eeyup, he was going to murder me for sure now!

“Oh, now this just got interesting!” Solomon laughed as he turned back around. Celestia we were so close to just being done with him for now! Why would you do this to me? “Now isn’t that something, your own daughter even?” Solomon sighed and shook his head. Even though he sounded genuinely disappointed, that same smile never once left his muzzle. “Well, now that she works for them, I want you to kill her.”

Cora locked up for a moment before spinning around to face Solomon. “What did you just say to me?”

Solomon belted out a long laugh, kicking at the ground a few times. As he did, I could feel as Hardcase tensed up beside me, and even Cora looked like he was about to snap. While I may have wanted to hit Solomon in the muzzle again, I could only speculate what was running through Cora’s head right now.

“I'm just joking. Geeze, you've gotta lighten up a bit!” Solomon rolled his eyes and gave a lazy and dismissive wave of his hoof. “I don't want everypony to die, just some of you.” As he finished, his eyes locked on me. With a wink, he gave another light chuckle that made me want to gag. “You know, you should really just learn to relax. It's just business.” Okay, I don’t care what Buck says, I know exactly why Delilah hates him, and I’m going to kill that bastard whenever I get the chance.

“You know it's in my contract that you stay away from my daughter.” Cora spat at him. Slowly, he reached for his holstered gun, placing his talon on it.

To which, of course Solomon rolled his eyes again. “Oh, contract this, contract that.” Giving a long sigh, he shook his head. “Most of you talons are such great mercenaries compared to those we could hire in Saddle Arabia. But still… a bit too melodramatic for my tastes.” Really? He think’s the talons are melodramatic? “Rook, fetch the parchment.”

With a flash, Rook appeared next to Solomon’s side with a yellowed scroll of paper. Unfurling it, he levitated it up to Solomon’s muzzle. With a nod, Solomon reached up his hoof and brushed it away.

“Good. Destroy it.” He ordered through a stiff snort. In only a moment, the paper was set ablaze by Rook’s magic, and the burning remains of the parchment fluttered down to the wet ground. “Henceforth, our contract is null and void. Your service to me has been terminated, and you can have your boss send me an invoice for the total sum owed. Is this acceptable?”

“Fine.” Cora grunted, taking his talon off his gun. “I understand and agree.” I think as he did, all of us gave a sigh of relief.

“Excellent.” Solomon nodded with his wide smile. “Shoot him in the leg for good measure, Rook.”

The pistol Rook had before flashed into his magic before a single gunshot shattered the quiet misty air. A bloody hole blasted open on Cora’s haunch as he screamed out and collapsed onto the ground.

“Dad!” Hispano called out as she bolted past me. However, she’d only made it a few steps before Hardcase’s magic enveloped her and stopped her in her tracks. “What the fuck, let me go!”

“I’ve been planning this for a while, I’ll have you know. While I can speak highly of most talons in the Equestrian wastes, I grew tired of your uselessness to me, Cora. What good is a mercenary who won’t do what’s asked of him?” Solomon spat through his bright demeanor. “Fly back to your roost and be glad that I have spared your life. And don’t think it’s because I feel indebted for what little service you gave. I assure you, it’s only to stay in good enough relations that your miserable ‘talon company’ won't come and bother me further.” Turning around again, Solomon gave a soft laugh as he walked off into the thin mist. “Come along, Rook. Best to not indulge ourselves in their suffering for too long. Moderation is key, after all.”

“Yes, dreadfully sorry sir.” Rook nodded as the gun he held flashed away into the air again. Shooting me another glare, Rook turned and trotted off as well.

“No need for apologies, Rook.” Solomon’s haughty voice almost echoed through the thinning fog, feeling almost otherworldly as the first beams of morning sunlight began to claw their way down to us. “You of all ponies know how much I can lose myself in getting caught up with friends.”

Chapter 26 - Respite

The more knowledge you gain, the less certain you are of it.

The trip back into Destruction Bay was thankfully uneventful. Solomon’s appearance weighed heavily on all of us, and a profound silence hung in the air the whole trip. Returning from our… interesting excursion to the ammunition depot, left my body feeling like it was already just about done for the day. Then again, I’d only managed a few hours of sleep before. As I sat pressed up against a still unconscious Buck in the back seat, I felt the warmth he radiated dragging me to fall back asleep with him. And for once, I could afford the time to rest up.

As we pulled up next to Bertha, Delilah and Boiler were there to greet us. To be honest, by that point I was tired enough that my mind stopped listening to the world around me, and simply focused on the warmth of Buck. After a quick conversation with her, Happy rudely stole Buck from me, and used his magic to hoist him up to our cargo container. With a heavy yawn, I decided that it was probably best to follow.

Getting a hesitant smile and goodbye from Hispano, she and her father parted our company to head down to the facilities on the Mercy. I knew that she’d be back soon enough, and I’d have to talk to Delilah about her, but again, that was for later. I could hear my bed calling to me, and after what felt like a day and a half, I finally trudged all the way up through the hauler to it.

My muscles ached as I climbed up over Buck’s sleeping form, and my injuries from the ghouls felt like they were burning under their bandages. Still, either from the exhaustion the Tension Dr. Kaio had given me, or the combat fatigue from the Depot, I didn’t even register the pain anymore. My hoof caught on Buck as I tried to step over him, and I was out like a light even before I hit the mattress.

I shifted uneasily as the world came back to me, groggily tugging the warm rainbow rug tighter around myself. My sore muscles had dulled a bit, and the pain from my tightly bandaged head had become a soft throbbing headache. Even from under them, I could still feel that I was missing most of my right ear.

Then again, I don’t know what I was expecting, it wasn’t going to magically regrow on me, and at least I could still sort of hear out of it through the wrappings. Throwing out a long yawn, I put that in the back of my mind and spun myself over, hoping to snuggle into Buck and fall back asleep for another few hours. However, instead I was met with cold, empty bedding.

Opening my eyes, I realized that I was actually laying in my original bed. Sitting up slowly, I looked over across our container. Hunched over the edge of his own bed, Buck sat looking at the yoke I’d gifted him with a despondent gaze. The yoke had of course been partially splintered by the round Dizzy’s accomplice shot at him this morning, but that wasn’t what Buck seemed to be focused on. There, still lodged in the blood stained wood, was the dull metal bottom of the bullet that struck it.

“Hey, are you alright?” From the way that my words didn’t even perk his ears, I knew something was wrong.

“I didn’t think about it.” Buck flatly stated, not even offering me his gaze. “Not until I talked with Hardcase earlier.”

“About what?” Okay, there were red flags going up all over the place in my head now. “Is something going on? How long was I asl...” My words died in my throat as he looked over to me. The gaze he gave me was a mix between regret and pain, and it hit me like the blastwave of a bomb.

“I almost didn't overhear one of the nurses talking about it. I was so busy after the submarine blast last night, helping to treat the wounded as they were brought in.” He shifted his gaze back to the wall, deflating as he spoke. “They were worried because there was normally fifty or so ponies working on that ship at any given time. And given we only had just over a dozen ponies brought in with injuries, it was disheartening to know that so few made it out of the fire.”

“But that made me think.” He continued, “The question I kept asking myself over and over was, why did nopony run? If it started as a small fire, surely somepony would have escaped. Why only those at the back end of the ship? Why were they spared?” When he turned his gaze to me this time, I could see something new in his eyes. Something that I was glad I hadn’t seen in quite some time from him, but fearful to see now. Disappointment.

“Then you came back with Delilah this morning, smelling of soot and ash.” He snorted, shaking his head as if he could smell the regret coming off of me. “That of course wasn't the only smell you had on you.”

“Buck…” No, he couldn’t blame me, I had no choice! “you don't understand…”

“What happened in there, Night?” He shook his head, looking at me as if I were a complete stranger. “When you came back last night to sleep, you were absolutely coated in some sort of paralytic chemical, the same as all the other fire victims. Even now I can still smell it on you as a matter of fact.” Standing up, he groaned and braced himself against the cargo container wall before rubbing at the healed wound on his neck. “Then I talked with Hardcase, about what you had ordered Hispano to do to that stallion in the depot. I... was disappointed to hear what you did to him, even if he and his friend shot me. But then I asked myself, 'maybe it was because of what happened last night'. 'Maybe he had a reason to kill that stallion without an ounce of mercy'."

As he said that, I could see the light of hope brighten his eyes. I couldn’t be sure, but… I think he wanted me to tell him that it wasn’t my fault. As he hung on his own words, I wanted more than anything to lie, to tell him that somepony else blew up the submarine, and that I didn’t murder all the ponies inside. But Delilah knew, and lying would only make things worse for us down the road. At least if I was honest, then maybe that would help him forgive me.

“She... Mrs. Tapit, she had Happy and Hispano held captive.” Pushing the rainbow blanket off me, I too climbed out of bed. “She forced me to run an errand for her.” But as I stood and spoke, Buck pulled back, stepping closer to his desk. “You don't understand, she'd been manipulating the ponies here, shipping their drugs out for profit while building an arsenal to take over the town! The doctor on the Mercy, she... she wanted me to put an end to it, once and for all. It wasn’t supposed to happen like it did, I just wanted to kill her.”

That was all it took to drain the color from Buck’s coat.

“So… you’re telling me that you caused what happened?” Almost stumbling, he sat down into his desk chair. “You killed all those ponies?”

“The doctor provided some kind of knockout gas, and gave me a stimulant so I’d be the only one awake.” My words forced Buck to look at me again. The piercing, horrified gaze he gave me felt like daggers plunging into me. “I... I only meant to stop Mrs. Tapit, but, then the ship caught fire, and the ammunition she had stockpiled started to burn. I had to get Happy and Hispano out of there before…”

"H-how could you do something like that!?" He stuttered before starting to hyperventilate. This was spiraling out of control, and I had no idea how to fix this. I knew last night that Buck wouldn’t approve, but what choice did I have?

“I-I did what I thought would help the ponies in this town!" Stumbling over my own words, I racked my mind for something, anything that could shift the blame. “She forced ponies to do things for her. She’d been stockpiling weapons because she was planning on taking over! I helped everypony, I saved the town by killing her.”

Whump

His heavy paw came down hard on his desk. I jumped from the hit, as well as the noise his claws made as they tore through the bottom drawer of it.

“What about the others?” He snapped at me. “Did any of the nearly forty others even have a choice? You say she forced others to work for her, what did you ‘save’ them from?” Tears rolled down Bucks muzzle as he tore his gaze from me. “I know that things have been hard, and that you're tired of getting hurt all the time. But the stallion who I've grown close to on this trip isn't one who can just blow up a ship full of ponies, even if they are all rotten.”

“Buck…” I opened my muzzle, but found myself cut off again.

“No.” He snarled. “As much as it hurts, as hard as it is, you can't let yourself become numb to the wasteland, Night. Don't sit there and accept the suffering, pain, and hatred around you as something that's alright. Everypony slips now and again, but you can't let yourself change into that kind of pony.” Looking down at his paws, he pulled them close to his chest. “You're naive and too quick to act sometimes, but you're kind, and loyal, and much smarter than this. That’s the pony you need to be, Night.” Giving a long pause, his teary eyes finally looked away. “That's the pony I want to be able to love, but if this is how it’s going to be… I can’t.”

“To be able to… what are you saying?” The words, as they normally do, slipped out of my muzzle. My mind knew what was coming. It tried it’s best to warn me, but the pain in my heart beat back those thoughts with a futile hope.

“I like you, Night, but… maybe I don’t really know you. Maybe we jumped into things too quickly.” He stated flatly, turning himself away from me, and taking what felt like my still beating heart with him. “You should go and get your prosthetic from the Mercy. I need some time to think alone.” A numbness swept over me as my heart nearly stopped.

“Buck…” No… I never meant for this. “I…”

“Just go.” There was no joy in his response. Only a cold tone that served to bring one feeling back from the numbness I felt. Pain.

“O-oh... okay.” I slipped into my own mind, letting myself turn around and do as he asked. My aching heart screamed at me to turn back to him. To beg and plead and to grovel on the floor for him to forgive me. But my heart wasn’t in control anymore. Opening the door, I hesitated to step out.

“Night?” Buck spoke up again. I froze, sitting, waiting for his words to shatter me completely. “Please be safe out there, and stay out of trouble.”

“I will.” I nodded, not that he would even acknowledge it. “I… I love you, Buck.”

Slipping out the door, I left and headed out for the mercy to get my new leg. Maybe while I’m there, they could give me something to fix me being so stupid. Hell, I seemed to be all kinds of broken, maybe they could just rebuild me altogether. To be faster, stronger, and perhaps, worthy of being loved. In a word, better.

Honestly though, it would just be a start if they could fix an aching and wounded heart…

“Why so glum, Chum?” Dr. Tibia asked as she took a few measurements along my stump. She was all smiles today, and had a spring in her step. Well, more of a spring than the actual springs in her prosthetics gave her as she moved around. Me? I simply sighed at her question and flopped back onto the examination table.

The stuffy examination room was far cleaner than Dr. Tibia’s office, but it still felt just as cramped. The baby blue walls barely found any space to peak through the multitude of cabinets, cubbies, and drawers bolted onto them. Unlike most of the other rooms on the Mercy, this room didn’t let you forget you were on a huge ship, and that space was at a premium. Still, the more I stared at the blue walls, the more I was reminded of Buck’s big blue eyes.

“Do you have a special somepony?” I asked without even thinking. This time, I didn’t even have the will to scold myself about it. I needed to fix things with Buck, and even if I had to piss off the wasteland with my questions to do it, then I wasn’t going to stand in my own way.

“While that’s flattering, I do think you’re a bit young for me.” She giggled and made me lock up a bit.

“No, I mean…” I began to say, but found her hoof boop me right in the muzzle.

“I’m only kidding.” She rolled her eyes and smiled. “To answer you, yes. In fact, the other pony I work with here, Crystal Harmonium, is one of them.” She tapped her hoof with a short huff. “Though she tests me some days with her tardiness. That girl is hardly ever on time.”

“Wait, one of them?” The words slipped out again. Though, this time I scrunched my muzzle shut. Speaking my mind is one thing, but I didn’t want to wander away from fixing what I’d done to Buck. However, before I could stop her, she of course gave me an answer.

“Of course!?” She laughed as she noticed the confused look that I wore across my face. “What’s so surprising about that? Or… oh, right! Being a pegasus, you’re probably from above the clouds. With how I heard things worked up there, I can see how the multiple partners concept might be a bit confusing to you then.” Nodding to herself, she continued without giving me even a moment to respond. “Well, the way that a lot of us in the wasteland see it, is that love isn’t really under our control. We don’t get to chose who we fall in love with,” Yes, but that doesn’t mean that Buck or I can’t regret it when I royally fuck things up. “And sometimes, we don’t even get to chose how many ponies we fall in love with.”

“So… you love more than one pony?” I asked as I sat up on the table, again getting further from the topic I’d wanted to get to. Why do I have to even fail at saving my own fucking relationship? Can I do nothing right!?

“Who says you can’t? Polyamory is fairly common down here in the wasteland because love is wherever you can find it.” Dr. Tibia smiled as she trotted back over across the examination room. Hoofing open a drawer, she pulled out a rectangular looking black object with a short silver tube on the end of it. With a metallic click, the object stuck to her prosthetic forehoof like a magnet. “But enough about all that, I’ve got a feeling that you asked me for a reason.” Trotting back over to me, she reached up and quickly held up my stump.

“So, first I do have to ask,” She continued, instead of giving me a chance to change the topic again, “is this a ‘I’ve got a friend with a relationship problem’ sort of question?” She giggled as she looked at the thing on her hoof. “Or are we going to skip to the fact that your own relationship is weighing so heavily on your mind that you need relationship advice from total strangers?” Lifting her forehoof with the rectangular object, she pressed the silver tube against the end of my stump. “Gonna feel a little prick…”

“Well, I was ask… Ahhh!” I choked back a full bodied scream as she punched the silver tube into the bottom of my leg. The spike of pain made it feel like she pushed it all the way up against my bone. But after a moment, the pain faded away to nothing from my stump, as well as part of my side and flank.

“Alright, sorry about that. Prosthetics tend to induce soreness and cramping with extended use, so we try to minimise that beforehoof.” Dr. Tibia smiled as she pulled the rectangular box back. However, now it was missing the silver tube from the end of it. Wiggling my stump, I could barely see the tube was still pressed into my flesh before a flash of magic healed a cap of skin over it. “The talisman inside the implant should keep some of the severed nerves in your leg from working in order to help prevent those issues. For a minute or two, you’ll feel pretty numb all over down there, but it should pass. However, please do continue about your relationship issue.”

“I… I messed up big time, and I think it destroyed my relationship.” I sighed as I flopped back flat onto the table. “When you disappoint the one you love so much that they question if they love you at all, how do you come back from that? How do I convince him to love me again?”

“What?” She snorted with a smile. Looking up at her, again, my face probably continued to show off the copious amounts of confusion I was experiencing. “Just because you messed up, doesn’t mean they stop loving you. Sure they always say they don’t anymore, but let me ask you, did he tell you that he needed time to think? Perhaps he was wondering if he didn’t know if he knew you anymore or not?”

“Yeah…” I sat up slowly, watching as she nodded and turned around. “How could you know that?”

“Oh, don’t worry so much then. While it sucks, what you two are going through is perfectly normal.” She waved her hoof dismissively at me before hopping over and hoofing open another drawer. Reaching inside, she gripped a set of black rubbery caps in her fetlock. “Look, relationships are like any other job. There are complications you have to work around, and going into them, not everypony really knows each other. The more you work together, the more you learn, and sometimes that’s not always a good thing. Sometimes the best thing to do is find another job, and remember the mistakes you made in the last one.”

My blood ran cold at that. I… I didn’t want to find another job because I loved mine! Er, I loved Buck. I wanted to make this work if I could. While this was my first real relationship, that didn’t mean I was going to give up and try again with somepony else. I wouldn’t give up on us, and even if he didn’t love me so much anymore, I could wait and work at it until he did.

Which now that I think about it, is exactly what Hispano’s plan for me was. I facehooved hard at the ridiculousness of that. Seriously, how does she have a better grasp on this than I do!?

“Woah there.” Dr. Tibia laughed again, “I didn’t mean to suggest that it’s not going to work out! Just know that it’s a possibility you’ll have to deal with.” Hopping on over to me, she sat down and lifted the black caps against my stump. “So you had your first fight, it happens to all of us.” The motors in her prosthetic forehooves whined as they pushed all the caps at once up around my leg like a tight sock. As she rolled it up over me, I noticed that the final one had several separate layers of fabric on it, with the outermost layer having evenly spaced glowing gems sewn into the rubbery fabric. “But, if he said he needed time to think, he obviously doesn’t want to leave you. He just needs time to accept what he didn’t know about you before.”

“So… you think he still loves me?” I had to admit, while I didn’t have really any experience in relationships, from how she put it, it at least made a bit of sense to me. Yeah, I already learned to be alright with the idea of how things in the wasteland have to go sometimes. Maybe he just need some time to be alright with it as well, and understand that what I did really was for the greater good.

“Pft, hell if I know. I thought you were a mare until you climbed up onto the table here. And I’ve gotta say, you even sound the part too.” Dr. Tibia laughed and turned toward the door. “I’m only pointing that out to say that I’ve been wrong about things with you so far, but every relationship is a case by case basis. So long as you didn’t blow up his family, I think you’ll be fine.”

“Alright.” Yeah, maybe I didn’t blow up his family, but blowing up all those ponies hurt him more than I could imagine. Still, I had to have hope that Buck could get past this. “Is there anyway I can make it up to him? Something I could do to show him how sorry I am?”

“Nah, not really. He pretty much has to decide that on his own.” She shrugged before waving for me to follow her out the door. “Anyway, come on, let’s head to manufacturing. The talismans in the sock I put on you should be relaying the measurements to Crystal as we walk. We’ll have you fitted up for a new leg in no-time at all!”

Carefully, I spun myself around on the examination table and lowered myself to the floor. As I turned and hobbled off after her, my mind wandered to what Buck would say when I came back. Shoving those thoughts from my mind, I instead tried to think of anything else. I bounced around, avoiding any thought that lead me back to Buck before landing on Hispano’s kiss in the bunker. Again, I tried to force it out of my mind. I needed something to distract me from all this, but my mind wasn’t making it easy to focus on any one thing.

Dr. Tibia talked at great length about something or other as I followed her, but I wasn’t paying attention. Every thought lead back to the same thing, either Buck angrily yelling at me when I returned, or Hispano telling me how she felt. I just wanted it to stop, and for us all to go back to the way things were before we even came to Destruction Bay! Quite abruptly, that distraction I was looking for showed up as I walked right into the tail of Dr. Tibia.

“Woah now!” She eeped, nearly jumping out of her prosthetics as she spun around. “I know you’re having relationship problems, but I’m happy in mine.” Giving me a giggle, she rolled her eyes. “And before you think I’m being serious, I’m not.” Giving me a pat on the head, she gave out a small sigh. “Don’t worry about him so much, just try to relax, alright?”

“Thanks.” I nodded and forced myself to return her smile. Looking around at where we’d stopped, I found a large door metal door blocking our path. “Where were we going?”

“I did try to tell you as we walked, but this is where the ‘magic’ happens.” She hoofed at the door panel next to us sharply. “This is the prosthetics manufacturing section where one of my better halves spends her time.”

The door gave a shudder before swinging open through some unseen mechanism on the backside. The moment it opened, an upbeat tune blared through the air into the hallway with us. It wasn’t like the music that DJ Powercolt played, rather, it sounded sort of familiar. I only say this, because the mare singing in the song sounded similar to one I’d once heard on a cloud diner juke box about a dancing princess or queen or something. Listening to it for a moment, I had no idea where ‘Waterloo’ was, or how anypony could be so happy to be defeated there, but I dismissed it as just another weird wartime thing. They made lots of weird music back then, which thinking about it, is probably why the Enclave never played any of it over the government sanctioned radio…

The humming of the machinery inside was about the same as Dr. Kaio’s lab down on the lower decks, albeit nearly undetectable due to the music. A few boxy looking machines took up all of the large tables immediately past the door, most of them bristling with brightly glowing vacuum tubes and arcane talismans. The closest machine to the door had a terminal inset to it that was steadily running through line after line of coding, actually keeping up a one to one pace to the beat of the loud music. Looking around, the other machines were pretty much set up in the exact same way.

A spray of metal chips burst from the center of the nearby machine as a mechanical bit moved along a piece of steel clamped in the center of it, cutting out a large concave section of it in very precise movements. The machine itself reminded me of some of the ones that Dad worked on in the shipyards, but I’d never seen one that operated on it’s own before! While I was busy admiring the complex machine, Dr. Tibia stepped inside the room and walked toward the back.

As she did, I caught the design of her rear legs bowed metal prosthetics. Looking back up at the busily working machine, I found that the cup that attached to her stump was pretty much the same thing the machine was working on. It wasn’t really a surprise, as this is where they were made, but it’s not something you ever think about with anything that’s been manufactured. How many times had I looked at a magical energy weapon, or a vertibuck without realizing how much time and effort it took to make the various parts in it? Sometimes it was dizzying what complexities the old world had accomplished with only a decade or so worth of time.

Staring at the machine, I noticed something odd about it. Hobbling up and around the arcano-machinery, I found that there was no power line attached to it. Sure, terminals had power supplies that could keep them running for pretty much ever, but the milling machines in the shipyards were incredibly power hungry. Getting as close as I felt comfortable to the running machine, it didn’t look like it had any room internally for sparkle batteries or magical energy crystals! So how the hell were these things still running?

“Hey!” Dr. Tibia called out, tearing my attention away from the machine. Her voice barely beat out the upbeat tune, but she relaxed with a smile as she continued. “I know you enjoy listening to your old APPA records, but can you turn it down for a moment?” As she called out, the music that had been playing cut, and the humming machinery filled the air with the normal manufacturing noises I’d expected from machines like these. Looking at her, Dr. Tibia smiled and waved me over. “Come on, let me introduce you to Crystal as her machines wrap things up with your leg.”

“Wrap up?” Looking around, I didn’t quite understand how that could be? Sure, she said that the sock thing was taking my measurements as we walked, but we’d only just gotten here. Getting no response, I shrugged it off and hobbled my way up over to the next room. Entering through the doorway, I froze up.

Sitting in a plush chair behind a desk, was a mare with her rear hooves propped up and a pair of cybernetic hooves wrapped around the back of her head. That part I understood. However, the golden yellow zebra stripes on her white coat were out of place, along with the knobby, short horn under her brown and yellow mane. But what stuck out the most, literally, was the pair of foal sized wings splayed out behind her. Though, it was hard to tell if any of it was real due to the fact that the entirety of her was shimmering like an illusion.

“Uhhh…” I know that I was still fairly fresh to wasteland weirdness, but this… this topped it so far. Jean being a moose made sense, and Lilac Lace was strange, but artificial ‘goddess’ alicorns had been explained to me by the others. Though, it would have helped to know that she’s not the only kind of alicorn down here. “is your friend wobbling, or did you build a likeness of her made of the gelatin from the cafeteria?” You know, maybe she was just supersaturated with magical radiation, or one of those special types of ghouls Hardcase was talking about.

“Huh, that’s a new one. Never been compared to Jello before.” The mare smiled and sat up, levitating an old record player off of her desk. As she moved her legs off the desk as well, I noticed that her rear hooves weren’t real either. The seams that stretched and moved around the joints on her legs betrayed the fact that they were actually a pair of fairly convincing prosthetics. Then again, it was hard to tell through the wobbly-ness of her altogether. “The name is Crystal Harmonium.” Reaching out a prosthetic hoof to me, she sized me up with her eyes. Taking her hoof, I found she gave a fairly firm hoofshake for having a mechanical hoof. That is, until the hoof popped off and I went wide eyed.

“Umm…. I didn’t…” I forced out at a stammer as I juggled her severed hoof down onto her desk. Way to go, Night! Can’t you go one hour without breaking something or ruining somepony’s life?

“Geez it’s only a joke. I do it to everypony I meet, you should have seen your face! Geeze, lighten up a little, girl!” Crystal laughed as she reached her leg down and effortlessly reattached the hoof to it with a subtle click. “But in all seriousness, you must be the mare who finally put that bitch Tapit in the ground. Heard a lot about you last night from Tibia here.”

“Stallion, actually.” Dr. Tibia coughed into her forehoof. Crystal looked confused for a moment before shrugging it off as Tibia continued. “But yeah, this is the pony who blew up Tapit’s whole ship and crew...” As if a bolt of lightning hit her, Dr. Tibia locked up and looked at me with a cocked eyebrow. “Wait, is that why you’re having relationship issues?” I of course, froze up at the sudden question. “Cause if that is, then point me at your husband and I’ll be glad to kick some sense into him.”

“You’ve got relationship issues? Bummer.” Crystal smirked as she leaned back into her chair, shimmering a little less than she was just a minute ago. “Ponies just need to learn to chillax, you know? Just gotta learn to hang loose. Well, that’s what my mom always used to tell me.” Looking at me, she waggled her eyebrows, or at least… I think she did. It was annoyingly hard to tell with how she waved around in the air like that.

“I’m sorry, but… what are you?” I shook off the disorientation and blinked a few times.

“There it is!” Crystal called out as she nearly jumped right out of her chair. At the same time, Dr. Tibia only facehooved. “I was waiting for that question. Everypony always asks.” Seeming to collect herself a little, she placed her forehoof onto her chest and stood up proudly. “You see, it all started when…”

“She’s what’s called a Mirage pony.” Dr. Tibia spoke flatly. Crystal Harmonium stood shocked at being cut off, blinking for a few seconds before she pouted at Tibia. “Sorry, Babe. I doubt he wants to hear the entire history of Marewaii.”

“I wasn’t going to tell him the whole story.” She shot a glare at Tibia before sticking her tongue out at her.

Dr. Tibia giggled and rolled her eyes. “Well, you did begin with ‘it all started when’...”

“I still don’t really understand,” I gave the two mares a dismissive wave. “but I don’t want to cause an argument.” Yeah, while I hadn’t screwed up anything yet, maybe it was best to just get the leg and head out.

“Crystal here is an argument, in relative terms at least. She’s a genetic chimera.” Dr. Tibia leaned over to Crystal as she spoke, planting a quick kiss on her cheek. “A mix of pony, zebra, and a smattering of other races. It’s why she’s got a stunted horn, stripes, and small wings.” Hesitating for a moment, she got a small nod from Crystal. “It’s also why she’s stuck with prosthetic limbs. Birth defects like missing limbs are supposedly pretty common among Mirage ponies due to the various toxins permeating the islands. And if I’m being honest, one of the things that attracted me to her the most...” She gave off a soft blush before looking at the floor.

“The mirage effect is a property of my genetics as well, as little of it as I understand at least.” Crystal cleared her throat and trotted out from behind her desk. As she did, the waving shimmer around her dissipated even further. “Magic builds up in our systems over time, causing the effect. However, I can radiate that magic and use it to power any magical device around me. Hence, why you’ve no doubt noticed that none of the machines out there are plugged into anything. I’m their power source.”

That’s… actually pretty damn neat! I don’t understand how it was at all possible, but it’s neat all the same. I bet half of the enclave pegasi out there would love to power their own magical energy weapons instead of having to reload power gems all the time. Then again, looking at her diminutive wings, I’m not sure any pegasus would think it’s worth the trade off…

The machines in the other room went quiet, prompting me to look over to Crystal. An elated grin spread across her now lightly shimmering muzzle. Cocking her eyebrow at me, she nodded out the door.

“It’s done.” She pointed her hoof to the other room. “All that’s left is to put it together.”

“And that’s where I come in!” Dr. Tibia nearly shouted in my ear as she pushed past me. “Come on! I’ll show you a few times so you can fix it if it ever comes apart.” That brought up a really good point…

“Actually, speaking of that...” I asked as I followed after her. “How long is this thing supposed to last?”

“Well, so long as you don’t hold it under a blowtorch, or let one of those Cordite guys run it over with a tank,” She paused, tapping her hoof on her muzzle. “Should last you a couple of years before you need to replace it.” That… wasn’t actually all that encouraging.

“Seeing as you can fly, probably more than just a few.” Crystal spoke up as she walked in after us. She gave me a wink as she trotted up to the first machine I’d passed. “As nice as it is to have visitors, there’s no need for you to make the trip all the way back up here too often from as far south as you’re headed.”

“Wait, what do you mean by that?” Red flags shot up all over, and I took a step back from her. “How the hell do you know where we were going?”

Dr. Tibia grunted. “Ugh, I told you that you’d spook her! Er, him.” With a roll of her eyes, she deadpanned at me. “She’s not out to get you or anything. Ever since last night, she’s been asking around about you. She’s been a little too eager to meet the mare, er, stallion, who’s willing to put some of the wasteland’s biggest scum in the dirt where they belong.”

“While that’s certainly a… flattering proposal, I think one drug lord is enough for me.” I flashed them both a nervous smile. Well, at least they’re not out to kill me! Now, if only things would stay like that the second we pulled away from Destruction Bay.

“Well,” Crystal gave a disappointed sigh as she dumped the parts one at a time into Dr. Tibia’s hooves. As she did, her horn dimmed, and the last of the magical shimmering around her dissipated completely. “If you ever change your mind, you’ll find safety under the tree. Celestia’s Angels are always looking for those who want to make the wasteland a better place.” Pointing toward one of the machines, she pulled my attention to a marking on it that looked like a tree. I’d noticed it before when looking it over, but I thought it was some sort of brand logo or something. “Seeing as how you’ll be down in Cantercross sooner than later, maybe you can find the time to go blow up that drug dealing bastard, Mr. Wizard.” Now that was a peculiar name for a drug lord…

“Oh, wow, would you look at the time?” Dr. Tibia forced out a laugh before rushing around me. Without even being able to object, I found myself pushed out the door. “Anyway, gotta go, we’ll talk later, love you hun!” As soon as we were out the door, she hit the door panel and shut the door behind us. Dr. Tibia gave a heavy sigh and slumped a bit, spilling the leg parts onto the floor. As they clattered across the floor at her hooves, she scrunched up her muzzle and began to pick them back up. After a moment of awkward silence, I decided to break the ice.

“So… what was all that about?” It wasn’t subtle, and I didn’t want to pry, but I didn’t want to not say anything.

“She means well, she really does.” Dr. Tibia sat down against the door. “I know that Mrs. Tapit is gone, but… Celestia’s Angels is a group that opposes slavers and gangers. It’s dangerous to just go around talking about it in the open. Not even the Road Crew will allow talk about it within earshot of any of them in favor of keeping this town peacefully neutral. So please, don’t mention anything to anypony about this.”

“Say no more.” I nodded and gave her a pat on the side. “Trust me, I know a thing or two about not telling ponies something dangerous.” Scrunching up my muzzle at that, I wanted to kick myself for even opening my mouth. “Just… ignore that.”

“Ignore what!?” Jean practically shouted from next to me. Of course, only after she spoke did the chimes in her ears give off a jingle. Not that it mattered anyway, as I only heard them for a split second before I screamed like a little filly. “Oh geez, mister, I didn’t mean ta scare yah!”

“How do you know that I’m a stallion?” Again with being blunt, Night. Seriously, instead of taking something out, maybe you could get the doctors here to install a filter in your head before you go. That way, you won’t always go blabbing your muzzle off!

“I said I was psychic, don’cha remember?” She gave off a light giggle as the chimes in her ears wiggled with her. Shifting herself to sit down, she gave an oversized shrug and smile to me. “To tell you the truth, yah just seem like the kinda pony who’d be a stallion.” As she sat down, I noticed that there was in fact a mare standing behind her.

“Violet?” I asked, pulling Violet’s guilty look to me. Half of her head was shaved, and part of her mane was missing just like mine was. “Did the doctors remove your chip as well?” And being totally honest, Hispano was one hundred percent right. That style of mane cut made us look a bit butch.

“Y-yeah.” She nodded hesitantly, giving me a nervous smile. “But… I still can’t remember anything. I… was hoping we could talk, and you could fill me in? You know, now that we won’t pass out when we remember it.”

“Yeah…” I nodded slowly. Okay, this was unexpected. To be honest, I’d hoped she’d still have the chip in for when we talked. It would have made for the perfect failsafe should she get violent, but of course now I just had to trust that she wouldn’t shoot me. However, as I no longer had any other choice, having her around Hardcase would have to be a good enough failsafe. “Are you ready to go?” Hobbling toward her, I was stopped by Jean’s massive hoof.

“I think you’re forgetting something, eh?” She smiled, pointing back to Dr. Tibia.

“Let’s get that outer sock off.” Dr. Tibia spoke through the completed leg in her muzzle. Reaching over, she peeled off the outer sock that had the gems in it, leaving on a thin, velvety black sock over my stump. Spitting the fully built leg into her hoof, she pushed it up against my stump, and I could feel as it sucked up against my leg.

Immediately, I could tell that this was how a prosthetic was supposed to feel. Mrs. Tapit’s stupid pegleg had nothing on just how perfect the sterile white cup felt against my leg. Lowering my leg down, the long, curved piece of black steel that ran down to the floor, bowed slightly as I put my full weight on it, but it felt remarkably strong for it’s thickness. Sure, I could still feel that my whole leg wasn’t there, but almost instantly I could feel how my other legs relaxed with the redistributed weight. Without even knowing it, I’d started to beam a smile as I stared at it.

“That’s it.” Dr. Tibia sighed with her own smile wide across her muzzle. “That’s the look that says that we’ve made a difference.”

“Thank you.” I said, turning and nearly diving into a hug. “For the leg, for the advice, for everything.” I felt as Dr. Tibia tensed up at that, but I didn’t care. I know that I wouldn’t see her again until I needed to replace the leg, or hell, maybe I’d never see her again at all. Which is why right now, I wanted to express my gratitude. Of course, since nothing else had gone wrong so far, I had to make a mistake now.

“Oh yay! Hugs!” Jean exclaimed. Just the weight of those words alone gave me a crushing realization of the mistake I’d just made. However, in my shock, I’d loosened my grip on Dr. Tibia. I looked at her with pleading eyes as she all but slipped out of my hooves, and saved herself from the coming pain.

As Jean’s hooves wrapped around me and started to squeeze, I simply closed my eyes and accepted my moosey fate…

“Are y-you a-alright?” Violet asked and shivered as we walked through the vacated streets up toward the entrance to town.

A burst of thunder punctuated the mid afternoon squall that had quickly moved in from the sea. Strong gusts of wind battered the two of us with sheets of nearly freezing rain. In just the five or so minutes it had taken us to get this far, we’d been forced down from the sky due to the winds, were soaked to the bone, and would probably freeze to death before we made it to the Hauler. It didn’t take me long to remember that while it was a lot colder around the Inuvik and on the Ice Sheet, pegasus insulation didn’t work so well when you were wet. No wonder there wasn’t a pony in sight on the streets, they weren’t dumb enough to go outside like we were.

“Y-yeah.” My chattering teeth made it hard to speak, but I spotted our salvation in the form of the Cordite tank maintenance building up ahead. Just through the open door, sat a barrel fire, burning away without anypony to warm. “L-let’s h-head there...“ Don’t worry, lonely fire, we’re coming to give you some company!

In what felt like an ages worth of walking, we finally made our way what was probably only fifty feet or so. Ducking under the cover of the large, multi-vehicle garage, we both nearly hugged right up against the burning barrel. Letting off a large sigh of relief, I finally started to get some feeling back into my hooves and wings.

Looking around part of the Cordite garage, I found it was packed full of various armored vehicles of every shape, size, and armament imaginable. From a small grey, box like tank with two machine guns in it’s turret, to a massive boxy green tank with what looked like a full on naval cannon sticking out it’s front. A few closer to where we came in though caught my eye more than any of the immediate others.

First in line, was a tank that looked far too new to even exist in the wastes. The small-ish tank was quite boxy and simple looking, but it’s welded seams around it’s turret and main body gleamed in the garage lighting. The track pins and suspension on it were devoid of rust, and even it’s flat slate blue paint looked new. The word Nucleana was painted in white just below the Cordite logo, and even that looked like it had been slapped on there just this week.

Beyond the starkly out of place tank, was the more familiar BT-42 we’d seen at Filly Crossing. A small-ish looking ghoul in khaki military garb was half stuck out of the open front hatch of the tank, wiggling as the sounds of tools on metal emanated from inside. Popping up intermittently from the top hatch of the turret as well, was the beret wearing, mustached ghoul I’d seen when we’d arrived here.

“S-so…” Violet spoke up, pulling my attention back to her as she gave me a nervous smile through her still shivering form. “Did I s-say anything to y-you down t-there? In t-that p-p-place?” I tried to shake my head as I shivered. It was a lie, but what was I supposed to say? ‘Oh yeah, you told me you still work for Solomon’, because that would go over well. From the confused look that she wore, I thought about why she didn’t respond. “W-was that a n-nod?”

Of course we were shivering so bad she couldn’t tell. Stiffly, I shook myself a few times, she smiled and did the same.

“W-we didn’t have m-much time to talk...” I forced myself to say through my shivering muzzle. “in the b-bunker.”

What she asked next, I should have seen coming.

“I-I see… are y-you sure I didn’t?” Her muzzle’s nervous smile widened, and even through her shivers I could see how she tensed up. Still, now wasn’t the time to bring this up. Bowing again a couple of times, I was happy to see her relax a bit again. “Alright.” She nodded as well, spreading her wings and curving them around the barrel to help dry them out.

“OI!” A heavily accented stallion’s voice echoed throughout the hanger. From the far reaches of my mind, I recognized that voice. “Yer the wee lass who fucked us over in the north!” Turning around, I recognized the musclehead tanker from the hanger back in Fort Mac, albeit, the earth pony had looked like he’d run himself ragged. The dark rings around his red eyes sagged with fatigue, and he almost looked like he could collapse at any moment of exhaustion. “Hey, Zibar!” Shakily climbing onto his tan, square-ish tank, he nearly fumbled his way up to the turret. It was about then that I noticed the hunched over form of his larger, saddle arabian friend. “Wake up, ya bastard!”

With a flailing shake, his saddle arabian friend simply slumped back against the turret again and let out a resounding snoring noise that echoed even further than the earth pony’s voice did. Well, at least we had that going for us today. I wonder if the entirety of Solomon’s crew was exhausted from getting caught up with us. If so, we had a good opportunity to get ahead again if we left soon.

“Do you know them?” Violet asked, leaning forward. “We… should probably go… you know?” She gave a nervous chuckle before she reached over and grabbing me firmly by the foreleg. “Come on, before they come over here and cause trouble.”

“No, they’re too tired to start a fight. Help me find something to tie them up with.” My mind took a moment, but it put two and two together. I simply turned and glared at her. I wasn’t going to leave because she was afraid they’d recognize her. What did I care if they slipped up, I could just pretend to not know what they meant. With as tired as these two looked, I felt like maybe they could be the ones to answer some questions for once. “Don’t you even want to know what Solomon has in store for us?”

“Bombay, are you crazy?” Violet seethed as she tugged at my hoof. “What are you going to do to them? Huh? Do you even have a plan?”

“Oh, don’t mind them. They aren’t worth the time to get all riled up over.” A new, hoarse voice spoke up through the building. Looking over, I found the well dressed tanker ghoul with the snazzy mustache trotting over from his tank. He strode forward with a stiff air about him, like somepony who was equestrian military bred through and through. “They know the rules. No fighting in the maintenance bay.”

“Nay, you don’t understand!” The angry stallion nearly flopped off of his tank in his exhaustion. “This lass nearly cost us our tank!”

“Don’t get me wrong, I believe you because you certainly are a sterling tanker, Mr. Guinness. However, rules are rules.” The ghoul gave a stiff stomp before raising his forehoof to adjust his burgundy beret. Doing so lifted a bit of his uniform from his gray coated flank to reveal… a red poppy flower in a pot? An odd cutie mark for a tanker to be sure... “Unless you’d like to take it up with Cordite headquarters, you are dismissed to your tank, sir. Of course the other option if you’d like to continue, is that I’ll have to ask you to vacate your spot inside our garage.”

“Grf… fine.” He growled, shooting me a sideways glance. “But this ain’t finished, young lass.” Begrudgingly, he walked back toward his tank. I gave a sigh of relief as he finally pulled his tired eyes from me. Now that I had a half second to think about it, what the fuck was I thinking? He would have destroyed me in a fight, even if he was currently dead tired.

“Thank you so much, Mr…” Violet spoke up as she all but hid from Guinness behind the flickering flames of the barrel.

“Poppy Gardener. Captain for her late majesty's fourth royal armored regiment, and attache to the second Scandineighvian division.” He spoke with a dizzying amount of pride, and an equally disorientingly detailed job title. “I assume you fine ponies came in to get out of this dreadfully dreary weather?”

“Yeah.” Violet answered before I could speak. “Why are you letting those two stay here? Isn’t this place for Cordite members use only?”

“Yes, normally you would be correct. However, as fellow tankers, there is a certain level of comradery that comes from sharing the love of heavily armored vehicles!” Poppy gave a hearty, scratch filled laugh. Goddesses, it sounded like somepony was actively trying to grind his vocal chords away with rough grit sandpaper. “And while they are welcomed to stay, they are to follow our rules during that time. Our repair services are not given free of charge as well you see, and should we have a few more tankers show up, they will of course have to give their spot inside to a Cordite crew. So there is a fair bit of compromise to be had for them to take advantage of our hospitality.”

“Ah, I see.” Violet huffed and held her hooves out to the fire. “Thanks for letting us stay and warm up for a bit.”

“Nonsense, it’s no problem at all!” The old ghoul laughed. “Please, stay as long as you’d like to, we do owe you folks after all.” Both Violet and I canted our heads at that, bringing a proud look to Poppy’s muzzle. “You folks were the ones who did such a smashing job clearing out that old depot this morning. The Cordite brass have been talking for years about using it as our headquarters for this far up in the north, but we couldn’t get the green light from Destruction Bay to do so. Thanks to you, they no longer have an interest in that old base and we are free to move in. Wonderful work, if I do say so myself.” Turning, he headed off toward the odd boxy BT-42 tank again. “Just if you do stay here, do try to avoid riling up any more of our patrons! Cheerio!”

Thank the goddesses that he was so professional about all this! Though, that professionalism also made me glad that we didn’t have any of the Cordite guys to worry about at the moment. Guinness and Zibar were going to be a hoof full on their own, I was sure of it, moreso now that Solomon was ahead of us. Actually, I’d have to bring it up to Delilah when we got back if Hardcase hadn’t already. It doesn’t take a genius to see the opportunity for Solomon to hit us from two sides the moment we left here.

Listening to the fire in the barrel, I tried my best to relax. The sound of the wind outside battering the rain down on the old building was almost rhythmic. My body was sore and tired from the last few days, and the warmth hugging me from the fire had stopped the shivering that had consumed me on the way in. Too bad it couldn’t also soothe my conscience about the things I’ve had to do…

“You’ve changed.” Violet spoke softly. Looking to her, I found her eyes lost in the flickering flames before her. “It took me so long to accept what life is like down here that I was nearly a broken mare by the time Jess found me. But that’s not what you’ve done, Night.” She softly gazed up at me with a small smile on her muzzle. “You’ve adapted. You’ve become a much stronger pony than who you were when you crashed into us.”

Pausing, her expression faltered and sank again. “But you still hesitate, you still doubt yourself. Please, don’t make the same mistakes I did before I realized how things have to go. I know that Buck want’s to help everypony, and that you may not want to kill, but you can’t be the pony you once were above. You need to forge your own path, and do the things that you need to in order to survive down here.” Reaching out, she put her hoof on my chest and smiled. “We’re survivor’s, Night, and you need to realize that others may not accept that.” I cringed with her use of the ‘survivor’ term again.

Where was this coming from all of a sudden? Did seeing Guinness and Zibar really shake her up that much? Maybe it’s because she had the chip removed, and she knows that now I’m the one not being truthful about what I know. I wanted so much to pin Solomon on her right now, and to pull her back over to our side. But instead I bit my tongue. It was too big a topic for me to go ruining by speaking out.

So, instead I swung my gaze back to the fire and just sat there. Still, I couldn’t sit here in silence forever, and if I spoke up with a change of topic, it’d just be seen as me plainly avoiding it. Ugh, how did my parents always do it so damn well when I was younger? Wait, that’s it!

"So, I know you don't want to talk about your time in the Enclave..." I said hesitantly. Family wasn't at all what I wanted to think about, but this was something I'd been meaning to ask her anyway. "What about your family?" If I learned more about them, then maybe she could open up later when I confronted her with Hardcase.

"What about them?" Violet cocked her eyebrow as she lazily flapped her wings, fanning the flames in the barrel a bit.

"Well, now that the cloud cover is gone, do you think you might go see them again? I know that you’ve changed, and they might not understand that, but… they’re still your family, right?" Seeing how Dashites were executed in custody for treason or just plain exiled below the clouds, most families must think that they're dead. I couldn't imagine what that must be like for either side of that exchange, but the fact is that her family is probably still alive. They might have never expected to see her again, but she had the chance to surprise them with it. "I mean, it's not like the government is going to stop you now."

"Huh." She snorted hard enough that her interested look turned into a smile. "You know, I don't think I’ve considered that yet." Looking over to me, I was relieved by nothing more than how relaxed the change in topic seemed to make her. "I mean, yeah. Maybe after we get back, I'll look Mom, Dad, and ole' Cruppy up. They were probably told I was dead though… the shock might be too much for them."

"I’m sure they’ll understand your reappearance, but... ole' Cruppy?" I asked, thoroughly confused.

"My older brother, Crepuscular Ray. You know, like the first Raptor the Enclave retrofit after we closed the sky." She laughed and rolled her eyes. "Odd, I know. My parents had a thing for unorthodox names."

I didn't think it was that odd. My parents’ first thought was to name me 'Glorious Dawn' in a tribute to the Enclave letting them have me at all. I'm quite happy they didn't go that route.

"Goddesses I've missed him and his antics." Violet covered her muzzle halfway through a snorting chortle. "Okay, so, he only signed up for basic after he learned that I applied after passing trials at the end of my schooling." She couldn't stop herself from giggling. "He had the opportunity to go when he passed his original exams, but he’d turned it down at the time. I’d given him such a hard time about it when he did."

"Yeah?" I asked, happy that my diversionary plan was getting us further and further away from anything to do with that stupid bunker.

"He never even took training seriously, even if he was good enough he could have aced all the drills without trying." She shook her head, her smile still stretched what felt like a mile wide. "Always antagonizing the drill sergeant. Always goofing off in the barracks. He didn’t want to be in the military, even if he was cut out for it. He was only there for me."

"Didn't that get him into trouble?" I don't know too much about how it would have been if I'd gone in, but I'm pretty sure that sort of behavior would have me tossed out in an hour! And if I’d been tossed out of basic training for fooling around, my mother was liable to have thrown me below the clouds herself!

"It got both of us into trouble." She rolled her eyes dramatically. "Still, it got bad enough that the company commander gave him an ultimatum because he'd set the record for most citations of any cadet within a week's time. He was given the chance to clear all his citations at once, but he’d have to run a drillathon."

"I've never heard of that." I don't know what it was, but it sounded painful…

"Every single drill for boot camp rolled into one time trial." Even saying that, I could see the look of discomfort on her face return. "You're given twenty minutes to complete everything, starting with four laps around the whole camp, then it’s onto the obstacle course, the storm arena, and then finally finishing up with marksponyship." She eyed over to me again with a smirk. "Oh, and did I mention it had to be done in front of the entire cadet class and camp brass?"

"All of that in twenty minutes?" I'd have been lucky to get the four laps done in that time. Shit, I would have surely flunked out of the Enclave if I’d gone in for the mandatory tests if they encompassed all of that separately!

She nodded. "Eeyup. And he did it too in record time." She shrugged like it was no big deal. "That is, all up until marksponyship with a few minutes to spare." With a sigh, her joyous mood dimmed again. Not completely, but enough that she looked slightly deflated over the memories. "He just had to get the last laugh in. He took his time with his magical energy rifle to draw a very unflattering picture of the company commander on his target." Cupping her hoof to her chin, she scratched at it in thought. "Funny. I never thought they could ban a pony from ever touching any make or model of magical energy weapon again."

"Even for a draft?" I felt my jaw almost drop to the floor. Mom had told me once that one of her fellow cadets during training had been banned for life from operating gatling type magical energy weapons. Which she’d always assured me was a ‘fun’ story she’d share at some point in my life. However, banning the use of any magical energy weapon period? Just because he was good enough to draw with it?

“Even if he was drafted.” Violet nodded. "Non-combat personnel restricted. They had to invent that designation on the draft registry just because of him."

"Wow, that's harsh." I said softly.

"Nah. He was much happier getting tossed out." Violet shrugged. Her smile returned and she shook her head. “He knew by then that I’d be alright. About a week later, he got a job as a financial manager of some corporate bank in our home town. He was quite happy with it last I heard." She sighed and hung her head slightly, still desperately trying to hold on to her smile. It was unfortunately a fight she was quickly losing. "Well, that was before I got pushed down here. I wonder if they told him what I did. Or if he believed them."

“I’m sorry.” While I was glad to get to know her more, I hadn’t meant to dredge up something like this.

“Nah, thank you. It’s been too long since I thought about them...” She chuffed at the floor before standing up. “You know, there’s been more rumors about that new Enclave remnant city being set up south of Cantercross. Maybe I should stop by when we get there and see if he made it down with my parents.” Giving a soft sniffle, she rubbed her nose and looked at me with a kinder smile than usual. “Anyway, enough about reminiscing. We should probably get back home.”

Nodding, I braced myself for the cold and followed her out into the rain. While I still felt angry about her betraying Delilah and the others, I’d almost forgotten that she was a good pony at heart. I’d made her out to be a villain in my head, and for what reason? Because I couldn’t see that without the others, I would have made those same decisions?

As much as I’d wanted to pull her back onto Delilah’s side because we needed all the help we could get against Solomon, now I wanted to do it because she needs to know that she’s not as far gone as she thinks. Because she’d been a friend to me, and somehow, I’d forgotten that when she’d helped me out so far, she’d done it all while already working for Solomon. Working for him didn’t make her any less kind, and even misguided kindness is still kindness.

The old her from above the clouds is still there somewhere, buried inside like with me. The difference is, I’ve had plenty of help to keep it buried just under the surface. While she has friends in Delilah’s crew, I don’t think any of them can see just how deeply she’d buried who she was before she came down here. Not like I could at least. But that’s why I needed the others to help me pull back who she used to be, and dig her out of this pit she’s put herself into.

Let’s just hope that when I get back to the hauler, Buck is still willing to help me dig…

“Another few hours!?” I gasped. “That’s hours worth of time where Solomon is pushing ahead of us on the road!” If today hadn’t already been yet another in a growing line of bad days, I might have been able to relax a bit before we got back onto the road again.

“Hey,” Boiler grumbled through the large wrench she held in her broad muzzle. Spitting it onto the floor of the reactor cubby, she gave me a flat look. “I’m not happy with it either, but you can’t rush these things! Have you ever tried to lift a multi ton tire and reattach it before? It needs to be done right so it doesn’t come off the second we hit the next pothole on the road.” Reaching up, she took a deep breath and put her hoof on her chest. After a moment to calm herself, she gave me a soft, genuine smile unlike anything Solomon and his friends could ever hope to wear. “Look, why don’t you go get some rest? Everypony else on the crew is saving their strength for when we get back onto the road, so you might as well do the same, right?”

“Yeah, I guess...” I just felt so useless sitting around here. And to be honest, I’d need something to keep my mind off of the smoldering wreck my relationship was probably about to become. Turning toward the ice hold, I gave in. I guessed that it was about time that I went up and finished the talk with Buck, because whether today or tomorrow, we needed to sort things out.

“By the way,” Boiler smirked and eyed me over, “Delilah wanted you to know that she was impressed by your forward thinking.”

“Uhhh,” I paused mid step, surprising myself as I didn’t get thrown off balance like usual. Wiggling my stump, I was happy to feel that my new prosthetic was firmly holding my weight. “What do you mean?”

“Hiring those two Talons was smart. We’ll need even more help on this next stretch of road.” Boiler’s words sent a shiver up my spine. Two talons? Hispano… what did you do? “I don’t know how you managed to get them to agree with what little you’ve got to offer them, but color me impressed, Bombay!” She reached over and gave me a firm pat on the side as her broad muzzle wore a bright smile. “Which reminds me, Mrs. Delilah stepped out for a bit, but she wants to see you when she get’s back.”

“Alright.” I sighed and headed for the ice hold.

Seriously, Hispano, did you actually rope your dad into working with us as well? Moving at a light trot through the ice hold, I felt my rear leg give a little bounce with each step. The springiness of my new leg would take some time to get used to, but overall, it still didn’t hurt, and that could only be a good thing.

Turning and climbing up the stairs into the rec area, I was greeted by Happy’s smiling face from the couch, and Lucky’s nervous gaze from in the kitchen. Before I could ask what was up, there was a heavy whump from through the open door to Buck and I’s container, and the sound of a piece of heavy metal being set down. Trotting over, I walked into the container to find Hispano setting out everything she carried in her duffle bag across my bed.

Buck cleared his throat from across the room, pulling my attention over to his… surprisingly happy smile.

“There you are!” Hispano squawked elatedly. Without warning, she nearly tackled me back against the container wall with a hug. “Oh I'm so happy for us! For being hired on officially and for being given a chance! We're going to be a great big family!”

“Uh… what’s going on?” I asked, looking over to Buck, only to receive a nervous smile from him as he sat down at his desk. The holes he’d torn in the bottom of it earlier had been covered up with an old clipboard and a healthy amount of duct tape. Honestly, to me, it felt like an apt metaphor for how I was hoping to patch up our relationship. “I’m confused… are you still mad at me?” I winced as the words left my muzzle. “Please say no...” Well, that was a disappointing start to this talk, Night!

“I... I'm sorry about before, Night. The things I said earlier, I was just frustrated.” He sighed, looking down at the floor dejectedly. “We've both been under a lot of stress the last couple of days, and I’m sorry if I made you feel like I didn’t want you anymore. I... I still want to be with you, I want to make that clear. I don't want to stop what we have going, Night. I want us all to work through these problems, together.”

Yes! He still loved me! Which was… great, but I’m still more than a bit confused by his choice of words…

“That's fantastic to hear and all, and believe me, I'm thrilled to know that you still want to be together... “ I spoke up, writhing against Hispano’s tight grasp. Reaching down, I did my best to try to pry her off of me until she got the idea to let go. “I have questions, like why does it sound like Hispano’s Dad is working with us as well, what is Hispano doing in here with her stuff on my bed, and what's going on with a ‘family’ or somesuch?”

“I... kinda overheard your argument with Buck earlier.” Hispano cringed before taking a step back. Standing on her hind legs, she clasped her talons together and stood straight with a blush. “I came to him in order to explain what happened yesterday, about what you had to do that he didn’t know about.” With a heavy sigh, I facehooved hard, remarking to myself about just how sore my forehead was starting to feel from how much I’d done it today. “Also…” She continued in a tone of voice that I just knew would make me want to facehoof even harder. “I wanted to talk to him about, well, us.”

“Hispano…” I grumbled. Did she have to do this today? Why did everything about my relationship have to be so complicated…

“Before you say anything, Night. I've heard her out.” Buck’s voice was an oasis in my world of misery. “She told me about what happened between you and her down in that facility, and about your… ahem, ‘date’ in Carmacks.” If anypony could explain to her why her and I wouldn’t work in a rational and level headed way, it would be him. “She… actually had a lot of valid points, and I think having her around could be good for us.”

“You… what!?” I nearly screamed as my heart started to pound in my chest. I don’t get it! How could he even think this was remotely a good idea!?

“Night? Calm down.” Hispano’s talons reached out and grabbed around my heaving chest, pulling my attention down to her now burning cheeks. “I... I want to stay here, with you and Buck. Like the big guy said, you've been under a great deal of stress, and... well being around those you care about? There's no better way to help keep it down than having those you care about nearby.”

Wait, nearby? As in, just in the same room? That shot an odd realization through my mind. I can’t believe it, I’d misunderstood all this! She wasn’t talking about a relationship, she was talking about moving in! Letting out a giggling laugh, I felt myself relax a bit.

“Oooooh, I thought you were…” I cut myself off with another laugh and shook my head. “You’re just moving in, I get it. Well, that’s fine! You are part of the crew now after all.”

“What?” Hispano scrunched up her beak and looked over to an equally confused looking Buck. “Night, I’m not just moving in.”

“You don't have to worry about hiding it from me anymore, Night. I get it, and I'm alright with it.” He smiled brightly at me, and though I loved to see him looking this happy again, I didn’t at all understand why he felt that way. “It’s just like when we talked about me going back to the Inuvik, remember? Though, if you felt that way about her, I’d have been happier had you not denied it when I’d mentioned it as an idea. It’s perfectly normal to be attracted to both genders.”

“I… but… what…?” My brain gave up. Words turned to mush in my mouth, and every train of thought in my head derailed at the same time. "Wait... you mean, the three of us... together?" Goddesses, what the hell had become of my life? "And you're really okay with this, Buck?" How could a single white lie to Hispano have spiraled out to this? Goddesses, what the fuck was I going to do now!?

“Geeze, now he gets it.” Hispano gave a giggling laugh as her eyes teared up. “Look, I told Buck what I told you. I’m not looking to steal you away. I’m not greedy or demanding, I just… want to be with you.”

"Look, Hispano, you're a great griff and all..." I watched as her smile slowly melted away and her watering eyes looked dangerously fragile. If I wasn't careful, I might really hurt her with my next few words. "I... just, think you're a bit young, you know?"

"No, I understand that." She gave out a nervous laugh, looking away for a moment. "These feelings, they're all new to me as well, and I'm still trying to figure them out." Hesitantly though, she looked back. "I understand that you may not physically want to be with me, but there's more to love than just that. I've had sex before, and as much as I like it, that's not what I'm explicitly looking for.” Looking over to Buck, she gave him a nod. “Buck will see to it to reign me in if my advances ever go too far, but I told you before that you are the only pony I've met to see me as just something more than a talon. I… I don't need you to do anything more than to just be there to keep reminding me of that."

"Night, as much as I value what we have, I think we're both in the same position as her anyway." Buck reached out and scooped me up into his arm, and did the same with Hispano in his other one. He pulled me up against his chest and gave me a warm nuzzle, to which I blushed heavily as I pulled myself close against him. "None of us are used to this, we're all finding our way through this wasteland. But we can at least be there for each other, even if in the future we come to realize that this isn't something that any of us want."

I wanted to argue against all of it, but… I couldn’t. Buck was who I’d wanted to protect from all this, and he was astoundingly alright with it. So long as it wasn’t a physical relationship, then I guess I could give Hispano a fair chance. I mean, that's basically what friendship already was, right?

Well, even though my gut was telling me that this was a really big mistake, I owed it to both Buck and Hispano to try to get this to work. At least, until I did something to monumentally fuck this all up. Taking a deep breath, I basked in the warmth that Buck gave off for a few moments before giving him my answer.

"Alright then. So long as you're okay with this, Buck, we can give it a shot." I was nearly cut off as Hispano gave an elated gasp before zipping out of Buck's other arm and onto me again. Her talons squeezed around me so tight that I only gave a whimper as the air was forced from my lungs.

"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" She cried out against my chest, smothering her tears against my fur. Hesitantly, I wrapped my hooves around her and gave her a soft pat. Oh, Night, what have you agreed to?

"Oh come here you two!" He laughed as he pulled the two of us against his chest and squeezed. Now it was Hispano who gave out a whimper as the breath was squeezed out of her. I would have laughed at getting sweet sweet revenge, had I not been borderlined passed out from lack of air at that point.

Here's hoping that this new multifaceted ‘relationship’ wouldn't literally be the death of me…

Author's Note

Thanks again to Kkat, our benevolent Overmare for creating such a wonderful world for us to use! And many thanks to TheFurryRailFan for being a prereader again! Lastly, thank you Dice Warwick, for letting me stick Mirage ponies into this story!

Chapter 27 - Repairs and Realizations

The probability of someone watching you is proportional to the stupidity of your action.

“This is Factory Radio, with new music manufactured and broadcast to you northern wasters daily.” DJ PowerColt’s smooth voice drifted through the rec area of the hauler as the sizzling sound of cooking food drifted in from the kitchenette. Lucky was cooking up something for a crew dinner and had requisitioned Buck from me to have him cut up some vegetables with his claws. The rest of the crew however, simply relaxed about the Hauler, with the exception of Boiler, who was hard at work getting the tire ready to be reattached. “Here’s another little something I threw together last night. Hopefully it’ll help keep you warm on this cold wasteland afternoon.”

I sat there on Buck’s bed in silent contemplation of the day’s events so far. Between the Depot job this morning, Buck’s ‘fight’ with me earlier, and the dizzying turnaround of him forgiving me, along with Hispano joining ‘us’. It had already been a whirlwind of overwhelming emotion. It all left me mostly to wonder if this new calm that’d washed over the convoy was here to stay, or just the calm before a new storm. You know, maybe that was in poor taste to say around Destruction Bay.

I will say this however about the city. Even though it’s not exactly been the nicest city in the northern wastes, with Mrs. Edith gone and Mrs. Tapit’s organization in ashes, they actually stood a chance to earn that title. Not that I was ever coming back here of course.

The music that drifted through the open container door from the radio set was a nice upbeat tune that I’d come to expect from Factory Radio. This one sounded like it was another one of those songs that were bits of some wartime music cut up and mixed together with a new beat and tempo. Had it been two days ago, I’d have been swinging along with the quick beat. But as I wiggled my stump and looked over my new simple prosthetic leg, I wondered how well I’d fare with dancing now. Of course, I never really knew how to dance before, but this certainly wasn’t going to help.

Flopping my leg down with a sigh, I instead shifted my focus to the metal tags still hanging around my neck. Hoofing them up, I noticed that they’d gotten quite dirty in the last day. Soot, dirt, and dried, crusty blood coated the small metal tags enough that I had to scratch it clean with my hoof. Honestly, I was amazed that these had made it all the way here with me without being damaged. But then again, I’m surprised I’ve made it all the way down here with the damage I myself had taken. I knew that mom would have been proud of the fact that I’d made it this far, even if she wouldn’t have approved the methods by which I got here.

That’s where the idea of being a survivor comes in, right? Past what Violet thinks it means, and past what Dizzy made it sound like, it just… fits. The more I think about it, the less I can say it’s not the truth. Part of me knows that it’s something that Lilac Lace was trying to show me in my dream, but the rest of me doesn’t understand how I can just know that. Just thinking about it was like driving a nail into my head, and it was giving me a splitting headache.

Speaking of headaches...

“You alright, Dum Dum?” Hispano asked as she fluffed a layer of cloud over my bed. Well, what used to be my bed. “You seem pretty broody over there. You want to talk about it?” Can we not have this conversation right now? The last thing I wanted to do was talk about my ‘feelings’ with her when I still hadn’t really processed everything from earlier.

Glancing over at her, I was confused by what she was doing. She had Suiza all tucked into my bed below, my rainbow rug covering her up and everything. With as confusing as that was, Hispano herself was putting the final touches on what looked like a cloud hammock she’d strung from the ceiling of our container. With a quick hop and flutter, she pulled herself into it and gave a sigh as she settled into the makeshift cloud net. It took all my energy not to ask her why she didn’t just use the bed below her, but I had an inkling that her answer would be just as nonsensical as I’d expect.

“Is he being broody again?” Buck’s voice carried in from over the sizzling in the kitchenette. “Why don’t you get up, Night? Come out of that room and be social for a bit!”

Goddesses, he was beginning to sound like my mother. Freezing up at that, I looked at the tags still in my hooves. With a sigh, I prayed that my mother would forgive me for all those times I was lazy at home. There’s nothing I wouldn’t give to be able to spend just another afternoon with her and Dad. But I had a feeling that was a mistake I’d always regret, and one that I couldn’t afford to make with Buck. Giving a groan, I rolled myself over on our bed and flopped out of it.

“Why would you make a hammock when you could just use the bed?” I slammed my muzzle shut a moment too late. Damnit! And you were doing so well a moment ago. What happened to not walking into these situations? Oh, right, you went and told yourself not to be afraid of that anymore. Smooth move. One of these days, Night, you’re going to have to learn to censor what comes out of your muzzle at least a little.

“What?” Hispano cocked her eye and looked at me like I was a crazed pony. “Suiza has to have a place to sleep too, you know.” Giving me a shrug, a bright smile fell across her beak while her tone shifted to one that felt a bit too serious. “I mean, she deserves to be comfortable, doesn’t she?”

I bit my lip, struggling to not slip out the first response that came to mind. Nope, not going to touch that with a ten foot pole! I was not about to tell her that her deceased sister turned gun didn’t deserve a comfortable resting spot, no siree! Because that would only end up with me exploding from getting shot by an explosive twenty millimeter round from said sister. Instead, what came out of my muzzle was a bit more… restrained.

“Well, why not give her the cloud hammock? I mean, the bed has to be more comfortable for you.” I cringed as I hoped deep down that I wasn’t going to bring up another touchy subject about how her sister hated cloud architecture or something. Then again, I was already hoof deep in a muddy minefield, so I just had to pray I didn’t step on anything worse than I already had.

“What, and have her fall on me in my sleep?” Hispano chuckled and rolled her eyes. “Smart idea, Dum Dum, she weighs as much as a pile of bricks. I don’t want to die if one of the cloud lashings dissipate somehow. Falling onto her however would be much more preferable, even if this is a bit more uncomfortable.” I’ve gotta hoof that to her, as that at least made some sense. What also made sense, was what came from her next. “You know, we could always share a bed if you’re that worried...” Batting her eyes a few times, she buzzed her wings as she sat up in her hammock.

“Hispano? Please don’t make Night uncomfortable like that. I’m sure he’s still trying to process everything from earlier.” Buck’s voice came in through the open door again, immediately hammering Hispano’s expression into a deadpan. “Plus, there’s hardly enough room for him and I on my bed already. If you need someone to sleep with, I’m sure your sister would enjoy the company.”

That pulled a large laugh from through the ceiling. Of course Hardcase had been eavesdropping again. One of these days I was going to overhear something he’d have been embarrassed to say! Err… I guess knowing he’s a changeling kind of already counts, doesn’t it?

“Did… you just suggest I sleep with my sister!?” Hispano glared out the door at buck. She crossed her talons with a huff, making her cloud hammock rock slightly. “That is extremely inappropriate I hope you know.”

“I’m sure she wouldn’t mind. She’d done more unusual things with other griffons when she was alive.” A new voice spoke up from outside the container, making my fur stand on end. Stepping inside, Hispano’s father deadpanned as he beheld the nervous grin spreading across her beak. “Besides, you clean her out all the time. Can you really say you’ve never once thought that you weren’t putting your talons inside your sister?”

“I guess…” Hispano grumbled and shifted herself around in the hammock a bit. Keeping her talons crossed, she stared at the wall for a few seconds. “What are you doing here, dad?”

“Well,” Cora simply sighed and glanced over at me for a moment. Even if it was just a momentary glance, from the way he tensed up, I could tell he wasn’t quite enamored to be here. Whether that was because of me or just overall about the job itself, I wasn’t quite sure. “Seeing as I work for these ponies now, where is it that you think I’m supposed to be? I’m not going to be up in our cloud all day when I don’t have to be.” Shifting on his rear paws, he ruffled his wings before turning his now annoyed look at me. “Or are you only asking that because you know I don’t approve of this… situation you’ve gotten yourself into.” Yeah, that pretty much settles it that he was angry because of me more than anything.

“Pardon me,” Buck spoke up from behind Cora, making him turn around and thankfully shift his anger off of me. While it was wrong for it to be directed to Buck, at least he could handle it better than I could! “We have no intentions of being disrespectful or demanding of your daughter, and she seems to be a very capable griffon.”

“Is that so.” Cora grunted with the same tone that Delilah always held. “Well she’s my daughter, and I know what’s best for her. You may think that what you’ve signed her up for is something harmless, but I will warn you right now.” He raised both his talons up, pointing both in at me, and out at Buck. “I don’t like to fight, but if either of you in any way jepordise her, hurt her, or stand in my way with her, I will kill you.”

“That’s fair.” Delilah’s voice swept through the air like a blast of icy wind. Even Cora’s feathers fluffed with a shiver from her. The others seemed to give an odd gasp of surprise at her agreement to Cora’s harsh words, but honestly, killing to keep their child safe was something Delilah knew better than most. “You’ll all be glad to know that Boiler’s mounting process is looking good so far…” Delilah was interrupted as Happy gave out a perverse giggle from the couch in the rec area. After a moment, there was a swift thump before he let out a whine.

“Ah, geez ma’, it was just the way ya’ said it!” He whimpered out.

Clearing her throat, she continued, “Before we go however, I would like to welcome our new crew members, as well as to give all of you a chance to speak up. This is the last chance to voice your concerns. Speak now if you are in favor of dropping the search for the Ark forever, and would rather we head home without any further incidents with Solomon.”

As she stopped and waited for our response, the air seemed to calm around us all. Even the sizzling vegetables in the kitchenette felt like they quieted down, as if to listen to what would be said. Yet, as I had predicted before, not one of us spoke up. The longer the silence persisted, the more a smile spread across my muzzle.

“I for one think you’re all insane.” Cora broke the silence with a line that killed my mood faster than any injury I’d received so far. “But you didn’t hire me for my opinion.”

“Noted.” Delilah grunted. “Night? I want to see you in my room.” Wait… me? What could I have possibly done that she’d want to talk to me? Did Hardcase tell her about Violet? “Now.” Yeah, I’m betting Hardcase told her...

Trotting forward, I was surprised to find Cora step out of my way without a word. What, no annoyed remark, no angry quip? Just that… burning death glare. Yeah, not sure that’s better actually…

Buck gave me a soft smile as I trotted out, holding his paws up for a small wave that became super ridiculous with the fact that he had a different vegetable skewered on each of his claws. My heart pounded in my chest as I was reminded that he still cared for me, and the spring in my step that came from my leg only increased as I made my way to Delilah’s room. Whatever it was that I’d done, I’d deal with. Stepping inside without a worry about what this was about, I found Delilah already sitting at her desk.

“Close the door.” She stated flatly, glancing at me from over her glasses. Doing as I was told, I closed the door behind me and secured its latch.

“I’m confused, did I do something wrong, ma’am?” Well, might as well pad the conversation a bit. I was pretty sure that she’d have made her disappointment known already if I had screwed something up again. Then again, I sure am full of surprises…

“Oh, no.” She gave a light hearted snort as I turned back to her. She seemed to relax now that we were alone in here. She even went so far as to lean back into her chair, which take it from me, is quite the relaxed posture for her. “I heard from Hardcase about what happened in the bunker. I want to know why you hesitated before ordering the talon to murder that stallion.”

Oh, I wished she hadn’t used that word. I know I murdered him, but I really wished that she wouldn’t remind me of it. Still, I did have my reasons as to why.

“I thought about all the options I had.” I spoke with every bit of authority I could muster. “Every other option left Dizzy able to retaliate against us, or harm others. He needed to die.”

That surprisingly brought a smirk to her muzzle.

“I knew it.” She cracked a wide smile at me as she sat back up. She must be part wendigo, because her cold laugh she gave out made me freeze solid. “Ever since how you handled things in Klondike, I’ve had Hardcase keeping tabs on you.” Leaning forward, she put her hooves on her desk and continued to share her eerie smile with me. “From your helping those Enclave soldiers in Filly Crossing, to your retorts against Mrs. Edith last night, followed by our level headed conversation yesterday about my concerns with this trip. Or even how you dealt with being Solomon’s hostage earlier today, I can plainly see that you have the makings of a leader, Night.”

That was about as out there as the old thought that the great war could have ever ended in peace. And to be honest, something in me snapped a little bit with that suggestion. I didn’t mean to laugh, but as always, something had to slip out of my muzzle.

“No.” Delilah’s commanding voice stole my laugh from me and trampled it to death. “I’m serious, Night. You are exactly the kind of pony who is leadership material. Think about it, you’ve adapted to every situation you’ve been in, you’ve learned how to deal with the problems you’re served. You don’t come out of these situations because you are lucky, Night. You come out of them because you’re a lot smarter than you give yourself credit for. Because you know what must be done in order to succeed.”

“But… I can’t lead.” Maybe she’d snapped a bit earlier as well or something to even think I was at all cut out for that line of work.

“You can, and you will in due time.” Delilah spoke with such conviction that for a moment, I almost believed her words as if it were law. But she couldn’t be serious, even if she was the most serious donkey I knew. “Here, I have something for you.” Reaching down into a desk drawer, she pulled out a small manilla mailing folder. Sliding it across her desk, she pushed it over to me.

Picking up the old folder, I felt something stiff inside. Hoofing it open, I dumped it’s contents out onto the desk, surprised to find a sheet metal rectangle with a hole drilled into it. It was a... military dog tag. Hoofing the small silver slab of metal over, rows of stamped words sat along one face of it.

“This…” I failed to find the words as I read each and every one of the crew’s names on it, all crammed into such a small metal space. Sitting on the bottom of the tag as the final name, was my name. “Why?” Looking up at her, I wasn’t quite sure what to think of it.

“I went out this morning to Spitzer’s forge after you left because I wanted to make it official.” Her relaxed pose was gone, and she spoke to me as if I this were life or death. “Though we've had a rough start of getting you acquainted to the wastelands, you're one of us, Night. It’s not much, but I want you to keep that tag as safe as you’ve kept all of us so far.”

“T-thank you.” Her words had hit me like a skybus, and the swelling feeling of pride in my chest was starting to lose out to the feeling of happiness that must have been radiating out of my grinning muzzle right now. “Yes ma’am, I’ll keep it safe.”

“Good.” She gave a firm nod before shifting her eyes to the door. “I... also wanted to disclose something with you about it.” Leaning closer to me, she raised her hoof and waved me to come closer. Stepping up, I perked my one good ear to her. “You noticed the odd inscription along the bottom of the tags?”

I hadn’t actually. Looking again, stamped in fairly fine print along the rim of the tag, was an odd inscription, and almost missable if you weren’t looking for it. It was odd, reading only the letters and numbers of B-1919+21 V42, and nothing else.

“That code is the key to finding the Ark. After our conversation earlier, I decided to open the safe.” She brought her voice down to a whisper as those worse sent an electric tingle down my spine. “That was what was inside the log book my ancestors hid away, what we came all this way for. But you are now my backup, incase I'm forced to have the original copy destroyed rather than turn it over to Solomon. Understand?”

“I do, but…” Hoofing the tag close to my chest, I looked back up to her. “how is this code a key?” So far, not a lot of the way this had been set up was in any way straightforward. But so long as Delilah knew what she was doing, then we’d be good.

“I'll tell you that once we arrive in the ruins of Vanderhoof city, where the next piece of this puzzle lies, but that won’t be for some time.” Delilah took a deep breath and relaxed again. Wearing a softer smile as she looked at me again, I couldn’t help but return it this time. “There’s a lot of road between here and there, and until then, it's best for you not to know.”

“Alright, you can count on me.” Standing up straight, I gave her a mock salute that made her roll her eyes at me.

“Good. Now get out of here.” She laughed, sitting back down into her chair. “Go enjoy yourself a bit before we have to get back on the road. You’ve earned it.”

Nodding, I turned and headed to the door again.

“In an unexpected turn of events way down in old equestria’s south, the Enclave remnants from the Horseton and Coltington ruins banded together earlier today and helped to dissipate a tropical storm that looked to batter the entire region and those who live there.”

Gearbox and Boiler had tuned the radio over to a new station, and the new stallion reading out the news just didn’t have the same umph that DJ PowerColt did.

“It’s good to hear that at least some of you Enclave types are trying to help out around the wastelands now that you’re stuck down here with the rest of us. That being said, I’m extremely thankful those here with us in the north haven’t messed up my broadcast tower... yet.”

I mean, it took a while to get used to hearing DJ PowerColt’s voice everyday instead of the old Enclave sanctioned broadcasts, but this guy was just as dull as those old broadcasts used to be.

“Now on to what most of you who tune in here are listening for, the local forecast for the next forty eight hours.”

The… forecast? Wait, were they trying to predict wild weather patterns? Seriously? And how did he expect to do that? Just, take a look out the window and guess, or randomly draw a forecast out of a hat? Only Pegasi could control the weather, and without us, it just did whatever it wanted.

“For most of the local region, it’s once again clear skies with temperatures ranging from the high thirties into the mid forties. However in along the northern Misery Mountain range, blizzard like conditions will exist all the way from the Pink Mountain Resort, to Mare’s Lake. The following other settlements don’t fall under the storm, but are advised to prepare for cold weather conditions as well; White Horse, Vickers, Withers Mines, Pullman Railways, and Fire-box. Travelers not equipped for cold weather are advised to take shelter until tomorrow morning and tune in again for an update. This has been your forecast from me, Foggy Thoughts, broadcasting from the Post-Equestrian National Weather Bureau south of Cantercross. That’s P.E.N.W.B., on frequency one sixty two point three.”

“Well, that’s disappointing.” Boiler grumbled as she flicked the radio off. “And here I was hoping to take it easy on this old gal tomorrow.”

“Hey, no worries.” Gearbox leaned into her and gave her a full helping of his relaxed vibe through a hug, which actually seemed to help her out a bit. “With Solomon ahead of us, we can take all the time we want.” Giving a snorting laugh, shivered. “That stallion’s so cold that I bet he’s already frozen solid in a storm like that, man.”

“Yeah, but I’d rather not freeze up there with him.” Lucky grumbled out from on his bed in Happy’s and his room. “The less time we spend in the Misery Range, the better.”

“The Misery Range?” I spoke without realizing, and quickly had Boiler and Gearbox glance my way. “S-sorry,” I tried not to stumble over my words as I gave them a dismissive wave. “Is that supposed to mean something?” From the way they’d mentioned it, I didn’t exactly have any confidence I’d like what they were going to say about it.

“Right, Bombay doesn’t know!” Hardcase shouted out from down in the ice hold. From how hard he hit the steps up into the rec area, he must have been quite excited to tell me all about our impending doom. After a moment, his purple horn and bright eyes popped up out of the hatch down into the hold, along with a smile too wide for what he was about to say.

“It’s cursed.” Lucky flatly grunted as he stood up, stealing the words and excited smile right off of Hardcase’s muzzle. With a groan, he strolled out of his room with an annoyed look, swinging it over to glare at Hardcase. “Bad things happen in the mountains ahead. From Pink Mountain here in the north, to Caribou Mountain near Cantercross in the south, and out to Tungsten Mountain in the east. Anyone traveling the areas that fall in between those three points either disappear entirely, or suffer only Loss and Misery. Only those who are insane or somehow immune to it’s corruption ever dare stay longer than they need to, and some who try to leave are never heard from again.”

“Yeah, ‘cause they left.” Hardcase rolled his eyes, somehow pulling a greater look if ire from Lucky. “It’s not that bad. I mean, so what if the first time we came up here our escort got lost in a fog bank? I’m sure they made it back to town.”

“You don’t remember when we first headed back south? They never returned!” Lucky snapped and flailed his pegleg in Hardcase’s face.

To this, Hardcase only scrunched up his muzzle and looked unsure. “You know, that would explain why they thought we killed them…” Looking over to Boiler and Gearbox, his smile returned. “But come on, guys. You don’t believe this whole curse thing?”

“Dude, I don’t normally like to think about bad stuff,” Gearbox spoke with a colder tone than I’d ever heard him use. He was always the laid back one of us! But in talking about this place, he even shivered a bit before leaning into Boiler. “But I get loads of bad vibes from like, this whole patch of wasteland. Even on the way up here things just felt… not cool, man, you know?”

That… was pretty distressing. When our permafried driver was even getting nervous about it, there was definitely something going on in these mountains. Undeterred, Hardcase shifted his gaze solely onto Boiler.

“Sorry, dude, I gotta agree with my hubby.” She smirked as she reached around and pulled Gearbox tighter into her fuzzy coat. “I’d normally be right there with you on this, but… when even most of the skyraiders would rather go around the range instead of over it, you have to think something’s up with the place.”

Wait, so even raiders wouldn’t do it!? From what I’ve seen and been told, raiders are the most illogical ponies around! My body was just catching wind of what this meant, and my dread was now boring a hole right down through the pit of my stomach.

“Oh come on!” Hardcase flailed his forehooves. “They don’t ‘mysteriously’ lose their raiding parties, their junk skycraft are barely holding together as is! It’s just common sense to want to crash over a flat, snowy terrain rather than down against jagged frozen peaks!” That… was a fairly good point, and stood to help alleviate some of my concerns. But still, if three out of the four of us believed it to be cursed, then I was inclined to believe it as well. “Okay, fine. If you wanna believe the range is cursed, then go for it. I’m going to laugh when we get through it this time without a single incident.” With a decisive nod, he smiled brightly…

Until he looked at me.

The others also turned to look at me, sending a chill down my spine. Well, so much for helping to keep up the confidence, Hardcase.

“Yeah…” Lucky hung his head as he turned back to his room. “We’re doomed.”

“Don’t worry, Bombay. I’m sure it won’t be that bad.” Boiler offered me a nervous smile before giving a heaving sigh. “Anyway, back to work.” Walking over, she prodded me in my chest. “But hey, if you do mysteriously disappear, I’m stealing back that rainbow rug Gearbox gave you. Even when there isn’t a blizzard, this route is going to be damn cold.” Giving me a soft pat on the shoulder, she headed off, squeezing past Hardcase on the stairs down into the ice hold.

“Speaking of mysteriously disappearing…” Hardcase spoke up, turning his gaze back to me with a nervous smile. “Can I see you for a moment down here, Bombay?”

Damnit, why was everypony wanting to see me about things today!? Sure, Delilah didn’t want to yell at me, but now I was worried that Hardcase wanted to talk about Violet. As he popped back down into the ice hold, I headed in after him. As soon as my flank had cleared it, Hardcase used his magic to shut the hatch to above, and held it closed.

“So, what did…” I began to say, but found Hardcase’s magic wrap around my muzzle.

“Okay,” He lowered his voice and leaned in, “I wanted to tell you, after we got back this morning, I went and visited a friend of mine at the Supplies & More store. You know, the disguised kind of friend.” He looked at me expectantly. I gave a slow nod, not knowing where he was going with this. “She told me that Salt bought a few things from her shop before heading out to the south.”

“Salt?” I muttered softly through Hardcase’s hold. Shit, he was already gone? Fuck, and here I was hoping that I could finally sort that shit out before we left.

“This is going to sound odd…” Hardcase began slowly, wearing a worried look across his face. “From what I heard from my ‘friend’, I… I think I know where he’s going. We have to find him and stop him before he gets there, Night. He’ll die if we don’t.”

Scraping at the magic along my muzzle, Hardcase got the hint and released it.

“Wait, why?” My hissing whispered words caused him to recoil slightly. “After the shit he’s done, why would I even care?” My words made Hardcase snarl for some reason. “Why save a little shit like him when he obviously doesn’t even want any help?” I didn’t understand it, he’d been nothing but trouble for me, and I assume he’ll only lead to more if we end up chasing him around in the next town.

“Because!” Hardcase snapped, forgetting to watch his volume for a moment. Cringing, he quieted himself again and defaulted to using the same harsh tone I’d adopted. “Because…”

The door to the reactor deck creaked as it was stiffly opened up. Hardcase and I froze up as the afternoon light spilled in and silhouetted us against the backwall. Just as oddly highlighted and standing in the doorway, was the now just as stiffly confused form of Violet. For some reason, she had her battle saddle on, and held an ammo box tucked under one of her wings. Hanging from her other semi-outstretched wing, was my battle saddle, which once I noticed, caused an oddly forced grin to spread across her face.

“Hey guys…” She spoke with a hefty amount of suspicion. “What’s going on in here?”

“Oh!” Hardcase blurted out sharply, “Uh, Bombay here was just... talking to me about how uncomfortable those new talons make him feel!” He forced a laugh that was as cringeworthy as the thought of Cora’s judgemental stare. I gasped as Hardcase jabbed his rear hoof into my side. “Isn’t that right, Bombay?”

“Y-yeah!” I too gave a forced laugh, wishing for nothing more than to have Lilac Lace’s ability to just turn invisible. That sort of skill would probably be more useful than anything in the next few weeks or months. Or knowing my luck, right up until the day I die.

“What are you doing with your gear on?” Hardcase asked with a smile, forcing himself down the stairs and over toward Violet. “It’s a little early for a patrol, don’t you think? We shouldn’t be heading out for a few hours at least.”

“Yeah, I know.” Violet seemed to accept our haphazard lie and just shrug it off. Using her wing, she lifted my saddle and held it out toward me with a hopeful smile. “I was actually hoping to take Bombay into the forest a bit outside of town for some shooting practice. He got his cutie mark for bombing, but I’m guessing his accuracy with a gun could still use some work.”

“Oh, that’s a wonderful idea! Those ghouls from this morning were a good warm up, but next time, Bombay, you won’t get so lucky!” Hardcase gave a stiff laugh before he forced his way past her. “You two have fun with that then! I’m just going to… go do... things.”

That bastard! How could he just leave me hanging like this!?

“Is… he alright?” Violet asked as she watched him nearly fly down the stairs and off the Hauler altogether.

“He seemed fine a minute ago.” I shrugged and lied to her face. Being unexpectedly confronted by the pony you love right after you were told she was a traitor? Yeah, I guess I could understand his reaction a little bit better now. “So, you wanted to go shooting?” She gave a nod and a glance at my saddle again. “Alright, I guess I could use some more practice.” Unfortunately, the practice I actually needed was in not freezing up when Buck gets attacked, but hopefully better marksponyship would make that a thing of the past anyway.

However, a troubling thought hit my mind. I was about to go out into the middle of nowhere with Violet, who I’m pretty sure knew I was hiding something about our time in that facility. And I was going to be alone out there. I could’ve gone and gotten Buck to go, but he probably would just turn it down because he has no interest in learning how to shoot.

I could ask Hispano, but the last time I was going to practice ‘shooting’ with her and Violet, we kinda had our memories erased. The last thing I needed was for Hispano to either inadvertently trigger Violet to remember what happened down there, or accidentally get us stuck in another stupid facility altogether.

No, I had to go alone. I just had to hope that she wouldn’t decide to ask me anything uncomfortable. I mean, even if she did want to know something, she’d have to think that asking me way out in the middle of nowhere would have been a poor choice given the fact that I’ll have a gun on me. Then again, maybe I’m just completely overthinking this, and I should just concentrate on learning how to actually hit something...

It was one of the few things I could appreciate being down here below the clouds. The wilderness was overwhelmingly beautiful in some places, and most of the time I struggled to process just how amazing it really was. Even down here, in the middle of one of the countless forests outside of town, the vibrancy of the flora here was dazzling. Subtly different hues of green filled out the pine trees, and the brown forest floor mixed with the slate colored boulders and the yellow green underbrush that were so common amongst them.

With another burst of dust and rock, one of the slate boulders was scarred forever. My rounds had once again missed the old tin cans sitting on it only fifty feet away from where I stood. Unlike the last few tries however, the bolt to my submachine gun locked open with it's now empty magazine.

“That's enough burst practice for now.” Violet grunted as she slid herself off the perch she’d made on a nearby rock. “How about we try some single shots? Accuracy is learned better when you get a feel for where the gun sits on you, and you can learn to compensate automatically for it.”

Trotting up to my side, she got to work stripping the helical magazine from my gun. Every moment she was near, I found my heart beating faster. Her own nervousness had been apparent the whole time we'd been out here so far, and I knew that she was anxious about something on her mind. There was little doubt in my own mind that she wondered if I knew her secret, the thought of what exactly happened down in that facility must be eating away at her inside. This was exactly what I didn’t want to happen out here…

"Alright." She grunted as she shoved the new magazine into my gun and latched it in place. "Just one moment and I'll set it to semi-auto." Raising her hoof up, she flicked the lever on the gun, and accidentally ended up jabbing at my side hard enough to make me jump a bit. The two of us both locked up as I squeaked, and she gave me a very concerned look. "Are you doing alright, Bombay?"

"Y-yeah! Just, still a little sore from the last few days is all." Oh goddesses, she better believe me. However, from the way her expression sank, I knew she wasn't buying it one bit. Here it comes…

“You lied to me, Bombay.” She gave out an exasperated sigh. “You said you didn't remember me saying anything." I froze up. My eyes were locked on her steeled gaze, her own saddle bit not even an inch from her muzzle. "What was it that I said down there to you that’s put you on edge whenever we’re alone?"

Fuck, I knew this was going to happen! Let's go shooting alone, you’re just overthinking it, she couldn't possibly ask about this shit. Well, as fucking fantastic as this is, I’m already at gunpoint by her and can't run from it this time. No, it's time to deal with it.

"You're right, I did lie to you." Looking at her, her muzzle quivered as I spoke. She hung on each of my words, and shifted her own saddle to press the barrel of one of her guns against my side. Well, I already knew what was to come if I didn't watch what I said this time around. "Before you do something rash, I told your husband that you're still working for Solomon."

She pulled away with a sharp, hissing gasp. "He would never believe you."

"Why not? Alabaster could feel that I wasn't lying to him. I had no emotional ‘gains’ out of telling him." That pulled another gasp out of her. "Oh, right, another thing I neglected to remind you that you told me down there."

"I should just kill you right here and now." She snarled, glaring at me as if I were Solomon himself.

"And what would that make Hardcase think?" I couldn't help but smirk at how she scoffed at that. "If he didn't believe me before, he wouldn’t doubt it one bit the second you came back without me. So you can just drop the threats." She rolled her eyes at my words, but seemed to think on them for a moment. Reaching up, I pulled the battle saddle bit away from my muzzle and moved myself so that the barrel of one of her rifles pressed directly against the middle scar Salt had given me along my chest. "So, are we going to talk about this now? That's what you wanted, right?" She wanted to bring it up, so we were going to settle this right here and now. “So then, let’s talk.”

"You don't even understand who it is you're working for." Violet shook her head, offering cursory glances to me at best before deciding to look off into the forest altogether. “Delilah's a good mare, and she really means nothing more than to help save her town.” Either because of shame or hatred, she was avoiding looking at me, and it made her feel off balance. "But good mares don't get to win down here, Night. Ponies like Solomon have the power, and they have the resources to take whatever they want. Good ponies who stand up to that? They die. So you might as well side with the rotten ones who will come out on the winning side."

"Well I'm sorry about your brother, then." That snapped her attention to me. The burning glare I'd felt before was brought back tenfold. "What?" I laughed in her face. "You honestly think he'll still be alive with an attitude like that? From the way you told it, he didn't have a rotten bone in his body."

"No, you don't understand, Night." She grit her teeth, trying to shrug off my words. But this is what she needed to hear, and it was something I needed to say.

"You don't think I understand!?" I belted out. "You may have been kicked down here, but your family is probably still alive. I've lost everything I've ever had. My mom, my dad, my home, my friends. They're all gone.” She pinned her ears down and took a step back at my verbal assault, cringing and looking everywhere but at me again. She could avoid looking, but she couldn’t make herself deaf. “But I made new ones. I've done my best to adapt down here, because like you yourself said, I’m a survivor. Sure, I may have made a few mistakes, but I'll be dead before I ever admit that there's no point in standing up against somepony like him."

"You're right, you will be dead." Sniffling, tears welled up around her eyes as her legs shook. "I... I can't fight him. If I don’t report to him, if I don’t help… he'll kill Alabaster. He'll kill everyone." Stumbling backwards, she tripped over an old branch and was forced to sit down hard. And with that, she started to break down into sobs.

"No, he won't. Solomon may be ahead of us, but he’s on our time now, we can take the time to plan and prepare for him." I sighed, hoofing up the dog tags around my neck so she could see the one that Delilah had given me earlier. "We're a crew, and so long as we stick together, we can beat him. He may have resources, but his crew is half of what we've got, and he's just one stallion. I mean, all we need to do is kill him, right? Without him, nopony else gets paid, and then they won't care anymore." She gave a teary glance at me before looking at the tags in my hoof. I smiled at her, hoping that this would be the push she'd need. "He's not invincible. He's just a stallion."

"Just... a stallion." She whimpered and shook her head. "I... I don't know, Night. What if..."

"No." I spoke up over her, drawing another gasp from her. "Look, we've talked enough. Why don't you go to Hardcase and think it over?" Holding my hoof out to her, she looked at it. "I promise I won't tell anypony about this, or about Solomon. That's your decision to make now.”

She nodded, grabbing onto my hoof. "Okay." Was all she said as I helped her back up. Turning around, she spread her wings before looking back at me. "You're a good pony, Night." She hung on that as her muzzle twisted into a frown. "I just hope you don't die because you are one."

“He won’t,” Hardcase’s voice made the both of us jump, and Violet hastily brought her rifles around to him. “Buck probably won’t because Snow Dogs are tough as nails.” With a flash of magic, the enormous one winged white pegasi who’d towered over me in the depot this morning stepped out from the forest foliage. That sneaky son of a bitch followed us out here! Why I oughta… hug him for coming to give me back up! Dear Celestia am I glad he’s here to help! “As much as it pains me to say, I know Happy Trails won’t. You, Delilah...”

“Alabaster…” Violet gasped, both cutting him off and immediately pushing herself into a gallop. She cried out as she nearly dove into his waiting hooves. “I’m sorry… I was only trying to protect you.”

“I know, hun.” Alabaster sighed, reaching up around her and pulling her against him tightly. “Don’t worry about it, I don’t blame you.” Using his hoof, he forced her muzzle up into his. She all but melted into his hooves with the short kiss they shared, but it did the trick. Hell, even I relaxed with how much that simple kiss seemed to defuse the situation.

“Neither do I.” Delilah’s flat tone coming from behind Alabaster sent a tingle up my spine. Nope! All the good that kiss did was instantly gone with her showing up. However much it made me uncomfortable for Delilah to appear out of nowhere, it made Violet nearly turn as white as Alabaster’s coat was. Stepping out through some of the bushes behind him, Delilah adjusted the glasses delicately balanced on the end of her muzzle before gazing over at the frozen mare in Alabaster’s hooves. “You’ve been a loyal friend to many in my town, and you’ve done far too much excellent work for me to simply write you off as a lost cause. For those reasons, I can forgive the damage you’ve done in Solomon’s employ.”

“B-b-but…” Violet chattered through her nervousness. However, she bit her lip as Delilah raised her hoof for her to stop.

“Night is right, we can beat Solomon, but only if we work together on this.” She sighed, pushing her old cat-eye glasses up along her muzzle. She flicked one of her long ears in annoyance, using it to tug out a small twig that had gotten caught in her frizzy mane. “I assume you normally pass along information to Solomon through dead drops?” Getting a nod from Violet, she smirked. “I need you to keep doing it. If we can begin to feed false information to him, we’ll be able to start setting up a way to deal with him permanently.”

With another flash of magic, Hardcase reappeared in Alabaster’s place.

“I think what’s best for now, would be to head back and let her get some rest.” Hardcase said as he pulled her close and wiped her cheeks with his forehoof. “It’s been a lot to process for all of us, and we’ll have plenty of time to talk once we’re on the road.”

“That sounds reasonable.” Mrs. Delilah nodded and pointed back through the forest. “Best start back. Boiler should be starting to install the final bolts now, and once she’s done, I want to get going.” Looking back to me, she lowered her hoof while smirking. “Bombay, I want you and that new talon you hired to be back up in the air and on recon duty the moment we pull out of this place.”

“Got it, ma’am.” I nodded and pushed myself to trot after Hardcase and Violet. As I approached Delilah however, she stuck her hoof out and stopped me in my tracks.

“Now do you see?” She lowered her voice, wearing a grin across her muzzle as her eyes softened a bit. “You’re wired to help others, to take charge of the situation, Night.” Giving me a soft pat on the shoulder, I found myself humbled by her words. “I’ll make a leader out of you yet.” Turning around, she waved for me to follow. “Come now, we still have much to do.”

“Alright, let her down slowly…” Boiler called out to Spitzer’s sister, Hilde.

Hilde worked a few of the controls to what looked to be a small portable generator that was hooked up to the enormous hydraulic piston that held up the front axle of Bertha. After a moment, the generator growled to life, and the makeshift hydraulic jack gave a sharp hiss from it’s base. Ever so slowly, the silver piston shaft began to descend, and the metal bracing on it’s head pulled away from the old vehicle. There was a low groan as the full weight of the Hauler settled on the reattached wheel. All of us around held our breath in that moment, watching and waiting for disaster to strike.

But after a tense and uneventful few moments, we all let out a collective sigh of relief.

“Well I’d say zat’s a job well done!” Spitzer spoke with a proud smile. “Pleasure doing business with you fine folk!” Turning to Buck, he held out a paw to him. “It’s a shame zat we did not get better acquainted. Ah, maybe some time in za future you will be back, yes?”

Buck hesitated to answer, and the rest of us just kept our muzzles shut. My guess was that Spitzer hadn’t heard yet that we weren’t really ever allowed back.

“Sure.” Dr. Kaio spoke up as she trotted towards us. She wore the same tired look she did this morning, but at least this time she didn’t seem to be as nervous. “I know what was said earlier today, but you still did manage to clear out the ferals at the Depot and ensure that no more of our townsfolk will be injured by them. So in my eyes, you folks are welcome back anytime.” Shifting her gaze to me, a small smirk grew across her muzzle. “Plus, you’ll be back for another leg, I’m sure of it.”

“I know he’s accident prone, but…” Buck began before stiffly shutting his own muzzle. “You meant for a replacement when this one wears out.”

“Yes, of course.” Dr. Kaio gave a small giggle.

“Yeah, but knowing Dum Dum here,” Hispano squeaked excitedly from behind me. “Night will be out of limbs by the end of the month!” I facehooved at that. Great, thanks for the vote of confidence. Though, honestly, the prospect of losing another leg wasn’t unrealistic given my track record so far. That, or worse, losing a wing…

“It might be worth it.” Howitzer spoke up in one of his rare moments of joining in the conversation. He smirked to me as he trotted around the front of the Hauler with a wooden crate balanced on his back. “Considering she keeps saving our flank.” Part of me was confused if Howitzer had just misspoke, or if he genuinely still didn’t realize I was a stallion. He always kept to himself, but I’d have figured one of the others would have told him by now...

“She…?” That pulled a giggle out of a voice I hadn’t expected. Looking over toward the gate, Jean and a few other ponies were trotting their way over towards us, one of which happened to be Dr. Kaio’s son. “That’s a good one!” Oh goddesses, don’t tell me she wanted to hug us all goodbye. I barely survived the last one...

“Right, the reason I came out here.” Dr. Kaio cringed as she turned her gaze to a very stoic looking Delilah. “I wanted to ask a small favor of you. Could you perchance let a small party ride with you just up the road to End of the Line?”

That… is a peculiar name for a place. Then again, this is Destruction Bay, which isn’t all too normal on it’s own. Now that I think about it, it’s becoming less and less weird to hear names like that with every new place we go to. Still, as ‘normal’ as it was getting, I’m not sure I’ll ever understand the reasoning behind any of the names they use.

Delilah let out a sharp snort.

“So long as they aren’t taking a whole wagon’s worth of luggage, and are ready to leave in the next few minutes,” She looked over to Lucky, who looked horrified at every word. “Then I guess they could ride in the runner.” It wasn’t hard to pinpoint the moment that Lucky’s horror turned into profound disappointment, but still he gave a small, solemn nod. “Thank you for your hospitality, but we must get back on the road.”

Looking back at us, Delilah gave a nod. Pretty much everyone got the hint, and turned to head back to their stations. I was slow on the draw, but only because I’d wondered if I had time to talk to Delilah. If she really did see the potential to become a leader in me, then I wanted her to help teach me.

“Of course.” Dr. Kaio gave a courteous nod before waving for Jean and the others to come over. “Thank you for giving them a ride, and safe travels to you all.” She smiled and looked around to everyone, ending her gaze on me. “Especially you.”

I gave her a nod and a quick wave as she turned around. With a sigh, I sat down with a plop into the mud, relieved that we were finally going to be getting back out onto the road. A warm touch on my side pulled my attention as Buck walked up next to me. Leaning against him, I reached out and pulled myself close to bask in his warmth. Predictably, another warmth enveloped my other side as Hispano came and squeezed me as well.

“Now that we’ll all be back on the road,” She spoke excitedly into my neck. “It looks like everything is going to go back to normal!” Normal left my life a month ago, but it will at least be nice for things to be calmer again.

“Sadly, I don’t think it’s going to be the case.” Buck gave off a sigh before pulling away. I tried my best to hold onto him, but with the anchor that Hispano was, I couldn’t quite move fast enough. Roughly, I hooved her off of me and peeled myself away from her. “But it would certainly be a nice change of pace from the last few weeks…” Buck hung on his words as I heard a jingle from behind me.

Torn from the one I wanted to hug, and fresh off of fighting back one I didn’t care for, again, I found myself lined up for another one.

“Is this him, Jean!?” An excited gasp escaped a mare from behind me. As expected, a pair of bright yellow hooves wrapped around me and pulled me right off the wet mud. Her hug however was unexpectedly soft and pleasurable. “You were as right as ever! He’s just so small and cute!” Small? Cute!? Twisting my head to look, I found a mountain of an earth pony mare holding me close. “Hey there, little guy! My name’s Banana Bonanza!”

I flashed her a nervous smile, faltering for a moment when Jean moved up beside her. It might have been the perspective of being hoisted up against a mare this large, but Jean seemed only slightly smaller than Banana happened to be. Maybe… I was the small one here?

“You should put him down before you get the feather flu.” A mare with a flat tone reminiscent of Delilah’s spoke up from the other side of Banana. Twisting my neck again, I just managed to catch a dark green coated earth pony with a dull gray mane. One of her violet eyes was hidden under the long, limp hair, while the one I could see watched me suspiciously. “I hear pegasi are rife with disease, and I don’t want to treat you for touching the wrong thing again, Banana.”

“But he’s just so squeezable don’t you think, Hemlock!?” Banana giggled and did just what she implied. I whined as she gave two or three fairly tight squeezes around me, and while her hug was one of the more comfortable that I’ve had, I think I’m good. My lifetime hug quota had been filled, and if I found myself in one again, it would be too soon.

“M-maybe… you s-should put him d-down?” Dr. Kaio’s son stuttered from behind Banana, “We wouldn’t want to a-anger the folks giving us a ride, right?”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right, Balmy.” Banana sighed, mercifully using her enormous hoof to set me back down.

As I got my hooves back under me, I took a few quick steps backward toward Buck. Looking up, I could see the full scope of Banana before me. She was a huge mare, at least as big as Shimmer Pull’s dad had been back home. As I marveled over her size, she gasped again and reached into her comically small-for-her-size saddlebags, and hoofed out a little wax-wrapped green disk on a stick. I barely had a moment to wonder what it was before it was unwrapped and shoved into my muzzle.

“There you go, little guy!” Banana wore a proud look across her face as the taste of the apple flavored lollipop in my mouth kicked in. “That’s for being such a great hugger!”

“You’ll have to excuse Banana a bit.” Balmy spoke up as he stepped around her enormous form with a nervous wave. Still, he seemed to sound a little more confident now that I wasn’t being held hostage in a hug. “Sometimes her pediatrician instincts kick in and anypony smaller than her looks like a foal in her eyes. And with as big as she is, that’s most ponies...”

“Ah, that would make sense.” Mrs. Delilah spoke up from behind me, sending a shiver up my spine. “May I ask where it is that you are all departing to from End of the Line station?”

“Oh yah!” Jean nearly jumped with excitement. “We’re all heading down south along the rail lines! ‘Cause wouldn’t yah know it, Dr. Kaio’s wantin’ to get the volunteer program up and running again, so she’s figured on sending us four down the way to see if we can find a good little place to set up!”

Shifting her flank, she turned and displayed the fairly large saddlepack she wore. Embroidered on it’s side, was a circular white patch with a large red cross displayed on it. Yellow words had been hoof sewn into the fabric under the patch that read out DESTRUCTION BAY VOLUNTEER: JEAN

“See, we’re official volunteers!” Jean giggled and bounced on her hooves.

“Aren’t you a little… light on weaponry for a trip that long?” Hispano spoke up with a fairly good point. All of them wore saddlebags, but none of them really had anything they could use to fight with.

“No, because that would be smart.” Hemlock muttered, drawing an angry gaze from both Banana and Jean.

“Do you even take your oath seriously?” Banana nearly spat at the bland mare, only getting a roll of the eyes in response. “Do. No. Harm!”

“Calm down, everyone.” Jean rose her voice for once, and stood up tall. “Besides, we have something better than weapons we carry with us!” Reaching back under her saddlebag, she pulled out what looked like a very large, old fashioned helmet I’d once seen in the Neighvarro military history museum. The flat, dinner plate looking helmet was painted green, and also sported the red cross symbol on their saddlebags. With a plop onto her head, she beamed out an unprecedented look of pride while wearing it. “We bring hope for a better tomorrow!”

“Well, I’ve seen just about enough.” Mrs. Delilah snorted and turned around. “If you and your hope are ready, I’d like to get us back on the road now.” As if on cue, there was a sharp whine from behind all of us. The squeal of the vents on the side of Bertha opening came only a moment before her arcane reactor hummed to life, and the normal deep thrumming that had been absent for the last two days, returned to our ears. Turning to me, Delilah pointed and me, and then up to where Bessy was parked. “You and your talon friend there, head on over to Howitzer. He has something for when you two get up on patrol.”

“Yes ma’am.” I did my best to speak over the noise of Bertha before taking one last look at the enormous stationary vehicle. While Destruction Bay had been an… interesting place to say the least, my home was on Bertha. And while I hadn’t really left her in any sense of the word, the road was Bertha’s home, and I’m sure she was as eager to get back to it as we all were.

“Alright, Hispano.” I said, pointing myself in the direction of Bessy, “Let’s get to work.”

Author's Note

As always, big thanks to Kkat for creating and letting us all use this wonderful universe! And another big thanks to TheFurryRailFan for helping keep this story in tip-top shape!

Chapter 28 - On Second Thoughts

Problems strike in series of threes. If there’s a fourth problem, it is instead the start of a brand new series of three.

It was good to be back on the road. The jagged obsidian mountain range in the distance was partially obscured by wild storm clouds on the horizon, but it was a nice change from the ruins of Destruction Bay. Really, the ominous ‘cursed’ mountain range should have worried me, but I found my thoughts occupied at the moment. Flying high above the lush green northern forests in the clear blue afternoon skies, really put things into perspective. You never truly appreciate something you love until you have a chance to never have it again.

No, I’m not talking about the incident with Buck this morning, as scary as it had been. Nor was I talking about just being alive up here in the expansive and breathtaking northern wilderness. I’m talking about something more mundane that most take for granted.

Silence.

“You went to school up in the clouds, right? I heard that the schools up above the clouds had a designated class where you just ate food.” Hispano chirped through the headset keeping my head warm. “Is that true? Cause if so, did you end up skipping that class or something?”

With the news from this morning that Solomon was now ahead of us, Delilah had thought it best to equip the convoy with a better means of communication than just shouting at each other. To be honest, these headsets weren’t all that comfortable, but I guess that’s the tradeoff for being able to communicate better. At the very least, I now can see why Hispano wore her cap all the time, and she was lucky the coms gear fit right under it. But, while it didn’t mute the outside world like the ones inside Bessy did, I sure wish it muted some aspects of noise around me.

“It wasn’t a class, it was just... lunch.” I groaned and resisted the urge to facehoof. “And… not everypony could afford it.” Then again, throwing off my balance and plummeting into the ground might be a more enjoyable alternative to listen to another twenty minutes of Hispano’s questions.

“I wish I got a lunch break.” Hardcase sighed through my headset. Wait, what the hell was he doing on this channel? “Do you know how great it would be to just take a break in the middle of the day?”

“Yeah, but you don’t really even do anything up there as it is.” Boiler’s voice came through as well. “All you do is sit around next to that big ol’ gun mount anyhow until somepony starts shooting.”

Okay, just what the hell was going on? Looking down at the control pad awkwardly affixed to my left forehoof, the little amber light next to ‘channel 2’ was on. Delilah had told everyone that recon was channel two and everyone else was on channel three, so what gives?

“Big talk from someone who on average sits there looking at reactor lights all day.” Lucky chimed in as well, making me force my eyes shut in irritation. “Try driving while crammed in here with somepony else buffalo sized plus three others! That’s what I’m dealing with here.”

“What the hell is going on?” I asked, looking over to Hispano and getting nothing more than an indifferent shrug. “Channel two is for recon, what are you all doing on it?”

“Well,” Boiler came over with a slight static crackle to her voice. “My job starts when there’s a problem with how something works, and that hasn’t happened yet. You two fliers up there have been gabbing for the last half hour anyway, so I figured I might as well listen in. You two are more entertaining to listen to than an old and bitter married couple!”

Okay, I couldn’t help but facehoof this time. Of course, it threw off my balance, but I was getting better at mitigating it. Dipping down slightly, I torqued my wings and arched myself to quickly roll back over into level flight. I lost a few feet in altitude, but not facehoofing had become an itch I couldn’t afford not to scratch.

“Yeah, that’s pretty much the same.” And, “Same here.” were all I got from Hardcase and Lucky respectively.

“Great.” I huffed flatly. This was the last thing I needed today.

My ear’s perked from under the headset as an odd noise drifted through the air. Hispano shifted her gaze ahead over the rolling hills ahead of us. Flapping a few times, she moved for more altitude. Even though it sucked to do, I pushed my wings to climb as well. However with twice the effort it took her, I managed to keep my pace consistent, and my wings didn’t feel like they hurt as much as I’d expected them to.

From a bit higher, I managed to glean a look over the next few hills, and found that the old road the convoy followed swung around next to a huge clearing. In the wide opening between the trees sat what looked to be another whole town. However, this town was built mostly out of similarly sized cargo containers to what was on Bertha, and arranged into long, parallel rows. In between some of them sat long stretches of parallel piping that glinted softly in the afternoon light.

“End of the line.” Delilah’s voice crackled over the headset. “Lucky, this is your stop. Drop your passengers off and catch up with us. Should be a quick in and out thing, but even so, I don’t want you to dither around out there.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Lucky’s voice came back through the headset strong. “I’ll be back on the road and caught up in no time.”

“Talon, Hispano.” Delilah’s voice came through again, sounding a bit sterner than normal. Which, of course, was saying something when it came to Delilah. “I want you to stay with Lucky. Keep an eye out for trouble following him, and put that big gun to use if you spot anything on your way back.”

“Talon, Hispano.” Hispano mocked her, rolling her eyes. “Is she always this serious?”

“I’ll remind you that that I am on the master channel for a reason.” Delilah’s voice nearly made the young griffon turn as white as her father was. “It’s so I can hear you at all times. You might want to keep that in mind in the future.”

“Y-yes, ma’am.” Hispano stuttered in a rare moment of weakness. “Understood.” Wow, I’d never really seen Hispano flustered before outside of dealing with me. It was… nice. Not because it was fair turnabout for the awkwardness she’d cause me before, as sweet as that did feel. Rather, it was because for a moment there, I could relate to her.

Thinking about that, the more time I’d spent around Hispano, the more she’d opened up to me. Sure, she’d been clingy, and pushy, and over the top with her advances, but she felt different today. Much like with Buck, she’s becoming less and less closed off from me, and that to me, actually made me happy. I’d thought it before, but I hadn’t taken too much stock in it at the time. Hispano really was one of the best friends I had now, and I was happy that she was.

The sound we’d heard before rang through the air again. This time, it was closer, and I managed to track it to a light that was moving through the forest on the far end of ‘End of the Line’. It was some sort of machine, following the pipes on the ground heading into the clearing. Unsure if it was a danger, I looked myself over. Loaded up on grenades? Check. Bison loaded and ready? Check.

Stiffening my wings, I tilted myself forward and dropped into a shallow dive as Hispano peeled off from the convoy.

“Where do you think you’re going, Bombay?” Hardcase spoke up as Hispano and I flew over the treetops and became obscured in the vegetation.

“Just going to check out whatever machine is moving towards the town.” I spoke up, finding Hispano look back at me over her shoulder.

“What?” Hardcase called out. “It’s just the train.”

“Train?” The words slipped out of my muzzle. I remembered that from history class, old world machines they used long before the war. In fact, I was pretty sure I recalled them being one of the major reasons for the war in the first place. “Huh, well if that’s what it is, I just want to take a quick look at one.” Now that I took a harder look at the town, I guess those pipes were actually the rails, and their houses were the train carts themselves!

“Bombay,” Delilah’s voice came over the line yet again. Oh great, here come the fun police… “It’s fine that you’re curious. Do a pass overhead, get your look in, and then swing back around to the convoy.”

Wow, she was actually okay with me doing that? Well, if she was alright with it, then it couldn’t have been all that bad of an idea. Then again, I’m not sure that means it’s a safe idea, anyhow. So then, just a quick look to minimize me screwing anything up, and then it’s back to work!

Hispano adjusted herself to fly alongside me as we approached the closer end of the clearing. Dozens of ponies scurried about the traincarts below, hurriedly clearing the rails that the coming train was traveling down. Both Hispano and I adjusted our flight path, turning and following along the outside treeline while looking over the place. As we did, the train itself pulled out of the trees, giving a loud blaring from its horn as it slowly pulled down the line.

It was a sleeker looking machine than I’d seen in my textbooks, looking more like a silver bullet than the ugly iron beasts from the pictures. An off yellow headlight capped off the streamline metal cylinder that comprised the main body of the train, and it’s many wheels were hidden under an aerodynamic cowling. Thin vents running along it’s side obscured whatever engine drove the train, but leaked an eerie purple glow from inside.

“That’s a train?” I asked, glancing over to Hispano. “It’s… not what I expected.”

“What did you think they looked like?” She smirked and looked at me like I were the crazy one. “You clowdy featherheads must have had some strange ideas up above the cloud cover.”

Ignoring the truth in her words, I found myself distracted again as I gazed upon the carts that were being towed by the train. Just the one engine of the train had a line of carts that stretched back into the forest until the canopy was too thick to see through. Yet, as it pulled forward, more and more carts were pulled along behind it. They just… kept coming.

“How long is this thing?” As per usual, the words just came out without any forethought.

“What, Jealous? Feeling a little like you might not compare?” Hispano gave a wink and blew a kiss to me that made me facehoof hard again. “Oh come on, you flew right into that one!” She giggled as she tumbled out of my spinning view.

Flipping around through the air, I recovered fairly quickly. Sticking my legs out straight under me to get my balance again, I sighed. Ugh. With as many times as I’d have to facehoof, I was going to be losing a lot of altitude on the rest of this trip. As I leveled out, more than a few traincarts that came out of the forest held a familiar looking symbol on it. The tree that had been in Crystal’s workshop had been crudely painted in white across all the different carts coming through into the open. As they did, a few ponies from the town jumped between the shifting carts and began to work on them.

With a shuttering, the first of the ‘tree’ carts slowed down from the rest of the train, and swerved to the side. It turned, following a different track that took it down a different line from the engine, one that ran closer to Hispano and I. This new line was quickly becoming crowded as most of the ponies who’d been scurrying around the yard gathered their tools and rushed over to the new line. As the tree carts slowed more, the doors on them slid open, and something unbelievable happened.

Hundreds of ponies cheered as the light of day poured onto them from inside the carts. Louder than any train horn, the sound of joyous celebration filled the afternoon air. As Hispano and I almost completed a full lap around End of the Line, it was… confusing to see, to say the least.

“What’s going on?” I asked Hispano, who now wore a small smirk as she pulled up beside me again.

“Slaves.” She spoke softly. “They must have been heading south when the shit across the country went down. Lucky bastards.”

“Slaves? I’m… confused.” I mean, Mrs. Delilah had told me that Lucky and Gearbox had been slaves, but these below me in the carts were mostly ponies. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what I should have expected really. Everything in the wasteland had been so backwards and odd that I really shouldn’t have been surprised.

“They were probably going to be bought by that Red Eye guy,” Hispano chirped as we watched whole lines of ponies stream out of the carts and head up to the waiting ponies along the side of the lines. “I heard that the market for slaves crashed when the shit in the southeast went down, and most northern slavers have had to send back their stocks.”

That was unthinkable! There must have been a few thousand ‘slaves’ on this train alone! How could one pony be so cruel as to order this many ponies to be taken like that? Looking down at the surging crowds, there were ghouls, foals, and a few other races mixed in with the mass. It may have been a bit racist, but it filled me with a profound sense of shame to know that there were ponies out there who could be so terrible as to enslave other ponies.

“Go wake up the slave.” The words Solomon spoke this morning floated into my mind again. “I don’t care if she dies from the strain this time, we’ll just buy another one to replace her in the next settlement.”

Unless other races could suddenly use magic, I’d completely missed that Solomon was talking about a unicorn. Even so, I could expect it from somepony such as him. But now that I think about it, was it really so far fetched to think that ponies like Mrs. Tapit wouldn’t have made money out of others through slavery? No, I guess not...

“Don’t look so depressed, Dum Dum.” Hispano huffed as we passed over Lucky and the Runner as they pulled up toward the Train engine. “It’s a lot to take in, but you shouldn’t waste your time feeling sorry for them. They’re free now, so just be happy with that.” How could she be so dismissive of all of this? Sure this may not have been new to her, but that didn’t make it any less horrific to see at all! “I’m honestly surprised they weren’t just all killed.”

“Never burn the excess harvest when you can just sow it and reap a larger crop later. There’ll be more demand again in a few months, there’s always somepony out there buying more slaves than they know what to do with.” Delilah’s voice filled my ear. “However, these slaves weren’t released, they were liberated. Might spell trouble for us down the road when said buyer pops up.” Wait, how would Delilah know about that? Maybe she’s run into the ‘Celestia’s Angels’ before? “But that’s not your problem to worry about. It’s time for you to head on back, Bombay. I trust that you’ve seen enough.”

Maybe Violet was right after all, and Destruction Bay really was the nicest place in the north. If so, the train carts below didn’t give me hope for where we were heading. It’s horrible for me to say, but I can’t help but feel glad that my parents didn’t live to see things like this. Then again, if freeing slaves was what Crystal Harmonium’s group was working towards, I’m sure my mother would have signed on with the moment she found out about it. Not to mention, she would have dragged dad and I along with her, even if we were kicking and screaming the whole way.

Maybe I should have taken her up on the offer and agreed to help. But, it was too late to go back now, and I doubt there would be much I could do in the first place. Still, if this was just a small example of what was to come, they needed all the help they could get...

“Yeah.” I sighed, looking back along the line of tree painted train carts. Even now, it still wound it’s way out from the forest beyond End of the Line. I didn’t know how many more carts were obscured by the forest canopy, but to be honest, I was terrified of finding out. “I’ve seen enough.”

The afternoon sun had begun to creep down toward the hills that stretched out to the sliver of ocean we could still see from here. The far off obsidian mountains loomed ever closer as the convoy had begun to climb through the winding valleys and hills that headed south toward the misery range. Even still this far out, the air had become frigid, and the great billowing storm clouds that clung along the range looked poised to lash out toward us and engulf the forests we were passing through. Even so, my mind was still focused on only one thing.

Slaves.

Really, I don’t know why I’d gotten so hung up on it. As appalling as the thought of it was, it was far from the worst thing I’d seen so far in the wastes. Still, something about it just really hit me harder than I’d expected.

“Hey, are you alright?” Hispano’s voice came over my headset. Ever since she got back, she’d been quiet. But that was almost an hour ago, and she’d been busy doing her job. Something that I’d become increasingly distracted from. Even though I didn’t want to talk about it, I needed to get it out of my system.

“Why slavery?” For once, being blunt hit the nail on the head for me. There wasn’t any better way to phrase it, it just felt that absurd. “What makes anypony think that they’re privileged enough to own somepony else?”

“Not all slavery is bad.” Lucky’s voice came over my headset. He was the last of us that I’d expected to hear something like that from. “My brother and I, we may not have deserved to be sold like property, but sometimes something good can come from it.” Looking down, I watched as Lucky drove the runner as calmly as ever, riding right on the backside of Bertha with little deviance. “My former owner used his slaves to farm. We grew turnips for the community we were a part of, helping to feed four times the amount of ponies than worked in the fields. Sure, we all lived in one building, and we weren’t allowed to leave. But we were fed, clothed, and had warmth in the winter months.”

“Then why not just hire ponies to do the work?” It still didn’t make sense to me at all.

“Because,” Cora’s gruff voice came over the headset. He’d been quiet this whole trip so far, but I knew I’d hear from him at some point today. “The work is hard and unrewarding. Even so, that doesn’t make it any less important to do.” Looking around, I couldn’t see where he was hanging out at. However, with one look at Hispano, I traced her gaze off to a familiar small cloud loitering in the distance. “Given a choice, would you ever want to farm for days on end? Toiling in the hard and dry dirt that yields almost nothing for your efforts? Or maybe scavenging in the irradiated ruins of a barely standing hospital? The tech still inside could help to save so many, but no one would willingly risk their lives for it.”

“He’s right.” Lucky sighed. “My brother and I? We weren’t cut out for that kind of work when we were bought. But we learned to do it all the same, and I am not ashamed to say that we were better off for it.” He gave a light chuckle at that before he sighed. “If we had not grown to know how to farm the land, Mrs. Delilah would have never purchased us off of our old master.”

“And I never would have fallen for your goofball of a brother!” Boiler chimed in as well, pulling a long groan from Lucky. As he took another deep sigh, I heard Hispano give off a groan as well. Looking over, she glanced at me.

“What are you groaning about, Dum Dum?” She asked, looking slightly confused as I mirrored her look right back at her. “What? Not going to answer?”

The groan came through the air again, this time, both of us looked down to see a small, green boxy vehicle moving around down on the road. They weren’t groans, but arcano-engines starting up! The vehicle was about the size of the runner, and was quickly coming up on the back of the convoy at a good pace. With what seemed like the blink of an eye, another ‘runner’ burst out of the treeline along the side of the road, joining beside the first one.

“Uh, there’s a couple of vehicles coming up behind the convoy.” I spoke up slowly. “Anypony want to tell me if we should be worried?”

“W-well, they haven’t opened fire on us, so that’s got to be a good sign.” Lucky’s nervousness came through crystal clear as the Runner swerved a tiny bit and pulled closer to the back of Bertha. Almost as soon as he’d said that, a flash from the leading boxy vehicle preempted a streaking rocket to slam right into the road next to him. “Yet!” He yelped. “I should have said yet!”

“Dum Dum, let’s dive on it!” Hispano called out, rolling herself over and dropping into a dive. I did the same, making sure my legs were stiff before inverting myself and pulling toward the ground. The dive sounded a lot weirder through the muffling headset, but what didn’t change was how loud Suiza was.

Barking shots from the huge autocannon yanked Hispano around as she dove toward the ground. Bright flares erupted from the road around the vehicles as the high explosive rounds tore up the old pavement, but failed to find a home in either of the two vehicles. In response, the windows of the vehicles opened, and several ponies leaned out of them. They held various guns in their hooves, aiming up towards us as we dove.

I would have maneuvered more if I hadn’t already committed myself with my dive. Instead, I torqued myself into a spin. Pulling the trigger on my grenade saddle, I felt as the pin to one of my grenades fell out and the weapon dropped from me. Pulling myself up, my wings bit the chilly air, pulling me up in a perpendicular line to the way the convoy was traveling.

My speed and the change in direction from my spin probably helped to throw off the aim of the ponies who blindly began firing at Hispano and I. However, it had also thrown off my grenade slightly, and I watched as it bounced off the roof of their vehicle. Still, it didn’t bounce far, landing in the rear bed of the other vehicle I hadn’t been aiming at. Focusing back toward the air, I pushed myself to use all the speed I’d built in the dive and convert it back into altitude.

The sharp pop from the grenade was only followed by a bright, multicolored blast as the whole truck went up in a prismatic fireball. Ultimately, I guess it didn’t matter which vehicle it hit so long as it got one of them!

As the blast echoed off the forested hills, another groaning noise met my ears. Looking down as my climb peaked, another, larger vehicle broke through the forest and onto the road. It wasn’t much larger than the two runner sized vehicles from before, but it had a larger bed on the back of it, and that bed had a sizeable cannon currently being aimed up at us by a few ponies.

“Shit, we’ve got Flak out here!” Hispano shouted through her headset. “Bombay, scramble! Use the treeline to get beyond their line of sight!”

Quick to heed her words, I stiffened my legs again and sharply rolled myself to the side. I dipped through the air, forcing myself back across to the other side of the road. My heart beat faster in my chest as I glanced down at the ponies. The artillery piece they were loading spun slowly, not able to traverse fast enough to keep up, but enough to worry me about reappearing from cover. Once I’d drifted far enough from the road for them to see me, I gave out a small sigh of relief. That is, until I realized that them not seeing me, meant that I also couldn’t see the convoy...

“Lucky, get around the side of Bertha and try to keep her in the way to stay clear of their aim.” Delilah’s sharp voice came over our headset. “Bombay, Talon, keep that cannon aimed up at you and away from the convoy. I’m maneuvering to drop Bessy back as we speak. Howitzer, load up and reverse the turret.”

Arcing myself back around, I tried not to think about the fact that I could be blown out of the sky at any moment. Come on, Night! You can’t care about the fact that you might die, you went over this last night! Hell, Delilah has confidence in you as well! She’s giving out orders like this all happened yesterday and she already knows we’ll be fine, so stop your worrying.

As I appeared over the edge of the treetops again, one the ponies in the back of the truck pointed up at me. It didn’t take long for their friends to react and get that cannon pointed my way again. Torquing my wings to roll, I spun myself over and dove nearly straight down at the ground.

The cannon fired with a heavy boom. A whistling in the air met my ears as the shell flew wide, sailing harmlessly into the air. As I tried to right myself, the shell exploded above me with a crack, throwing hot shrapnel through the air. Thankfully, it went off quite a ways above, and sizzling bits of metal sprinkled the air behind me. Pulling level, I prayed that the cannon below me took a while to reload. Then again, they wouldn’t be a problem so long as Delilah actually got into position.

“Uh....” Lucky called out into my ear. “A little help here!”

Looking down, I found a disheartening sight. Lucky had moved up as he’d been asked to, but the other runner sized truck was hot on his tail. One of the ponies leaning out the passenger side of it was fumbling to get a rocket set up, and unlike the first shot, there was little chance he’d miss at that range.

I turned myself to head toward lucky, but was forced back as the cannon fired again. Another shrieking shell shot past me, this time exploding shortly after. Unfortunately for me, it was close enough that I was peppered in the side by hot bits of metal. My breath was taken away as it felt like a thousand knives cutting into me, and I nearly fell out of the air.

The boom from Howitzer’s cannon shook the air under me. The force of the exploding flak truck battered me, helping to shock me back into action. My side hurt, but I was alive, that’s all that mattered and more than those bastards could say now. The flak truck was taken care of, so it was on to the next target...

“Sorry I’m late.” Violet called out as she swooped out of the back of the Hauler. Cutting a hard left, she zipped through the air around toward Lucky and his pursuer. “Let me take care of that for you.” With an ease that I could hardly ever see myself as having, Violet flew down right along side the attacker’s runner. Hooking her forehooves around the top of the car, she braced her rear hooves against the door, arching her back to point her guns through the side window.

“Hi there!” Was all that came through the headset before her rifles let off a series of quick shots. She kicked off from the car as it faltered, swerving a few times before dropping back and slamming into a tree off on the side of the road. “Well, that should be the last of them.” Violet sighed as she came in for a landing on top of the Hauler.

“Alright, good job, Crew.” Delilah called out with a lighter tone than normal. “I knew that you…”

BOOM

Another flak cannon shell whistled through the air from a ways ahead on the road. It slammed into the front of Bessy, exploding in a tremendous flash. Delilah’s radio cut out as I all but froze up again. I couldn’t do anything but watch as Bessy swerved off to the side of the road, smoking heavily before rolling to a stop.

“Shit, shit!” Lucky cried out. “What the fuck happened!?”

“It’s another cannon!” Hispano and Violet both called out at the same time.

“Delilah, are you there?” Hardcase called out. Silence followed as Bessy continued to sit there. “Shit, stop the convoy.”

BOOM

Another cannon shot slammed into the Hauler. Gearbox slammed on the brakes as flames enveloped the whole front of Bertha for a moment. The blast hit the armored front, and the gong-like ring that filled the air meant that it probably hadn’t penetrated into the ammo storage area. A growl like the ones before sounded out from the forest ahead as the archano-engine on yet another flak truck was started up.

“We have to get that cannon down!” Violet called out. “It’s somewhere off the road ahead.”

“Yeah, but what about Delilah!?” Lucky screamed at her. “We have to go back!”

What do we do? What do I do? I couldn’t do anything because again, I was frozen in fear. Shit, come on, Night! Do something, anything! Delilah trusts you, and you can’t let her down.

“Boiler, get Gearbox to keep going. You can’t stop yet.” I spoke up as the words just spilled from my muzzle. “The armor can handle it, so we need them shooting at you.”

“What?” Violet spoke up. “Bombay…”

“Zoomer, Hispano, distract that last vehicle and kill them if you can.” I said as I flared my wings and dropped into a shallow dive. “Hardcase, fire into the forest ahead! If anything, keep their heads down until the others can find them through the foliage.”

“Alright, on it!” Hardcase grunted. Walking his gun around on it’s mount, he lined himself up behind it and opened fire. Four lines of tracer fire opened up from Hardcase’s machine gun mount on top of the Hauler, spreading into the forest like a deafening chainsaw. It only took him a second of tracking along the treeline until a line of tracers were deflected away by the hidden armored vehicle inside.

“Lucky, you need to reverse and make sure Delilah and Howitzer are fine.” I called out as I turned myself toward the Hauler, aiming for just ahead of it. “Boiler, if you’re still listening, I need you to go get Buck.”

“On it!” Boiler shouted as Gearbox started to move Bertha ahead again.

“Pulling back!” Lucky called out over the squealing of his brakes. The runner shot backwards as I flew over it as Lucky quickly worked to get himself spun around.

The Flak-Truck drove forward, practically crawling its way up the small drainage ditch and onto the road. The old truck had been well camouflaged. It was painted to match the green and browns of the forest, and covered with various pieces of attached foliage to break up it’s shape. The large gun itself sported a robust metal shield that nearly encompassed the whole rear of the vehicle. It was much better protected than the last one, and even it’s crew cab was covered in thick slabs of rusty looking steel to protect the driver. Great, of course the only gun we’d had that could punch right through it was on Bessy!

The moment the armored truck was out in the open, rounds from Suiza slammed into the gunnery shield and harmlessly burst as bright flashes against it.

“Now I remember why I don't use fucking H.E. bullshit!" Hispano screamed into my ear. “We’ve gotta get around behind it!”

The cannon turned, arcing at a different angle than its previous shot. At first I thought it was aiming for a wheel, and cringed as it fired. Another resounding gong like blast pushed flames up the front of Bertha again right before Hispano and I flew over it.

“They’re probing for weak points in the armor. Lucky for us, it looks like they haven’t figured out not to use H.E. bullshit either.” Hardcase called out with a light laugh. “Zoomer, you ready to boom?”

“On it!” Violet’s voice sang as she streaked down like a bolt from the sky. She came down at an angle from behind the truck. Her twin rifles barked a few times in quick succession before a grunt came through her headset. “Fuck, only got one of them. They are really protected in there, two more left!” Pulling back up, she streaked higher into the sky again.

“Hispano, I’ll go left, you split right and come in wide. Zoomer, come in from the rear.” I called out. “They can’t protect from every direction.” From the way they’d pulled out onto the road, I might be able to drop my grenades right under the armored front cab.

“Alright!” She and Violet both called out as I peeled off from them.

Rotating my wings again, I pushed myself into a wide left bank. My short glide had built me up a hefty amount of speed, but I couldn’t afford to blow too much of it arcing back around. As I turned however, the truck’s engine roared as it started to move. I glanced over as I corrected my bank and watched as the truck began to drive up the road. The gun in back turned, using the back of the armored cab as a shield as it corrected it’s aim again. Shit, looks like they could protect from every angle.

The pain in my side was becoming unbearable as I flapped my wings and forced myself to speed toward the truck. No, these assholes weren’t going to just keep harassing us as we drove! I don’t care if I blew off another leg, I was going to make these fuckers pay for shooting Bessy and attacking us!

I was attempting to line myself up with the truck when another boom filled the air, but not from the truck ahead of me. A whistling shot flew Directly under Bertha and slammed into the gun mantlet of the fleeing Flak-truck. A fiery explosion engulfed the truck, and flames shot out of the armored cab’s slits. One of the flaming ponies screamed as they shoved the door open. They fell to the ground and desperately tried to put themselves out. The flaming pony didn’t have a chance to even dampen the flames before Hardcase’s chattering gun mount ripped them to pieces.

Looking back to where the other shot came from, the cannon on Bessy smoked as Howitzer halfway hung himself out of the top hatch. Smiling through the pain, I banked myself around and set up a glide right toward them. As I did, Gearbox brought Bertha to a complete stop in the road.

“Was that all of them?” Howitzer grunted, coughing heavily through his headset. Even from here, I watched as he pulled his lumbering body from the turret and climbed to the ground.

“Yeah, looks like it.” Cora spoke up again from his cloud above us. “I suspect that if there were more, they’d have come at us by now.”

A crackling static filled my ears for a moment before the most relaxing voice came over the radio.

“Yeah, probably.” Delilah’s dulcet tone was music to my ears. “Alright, I’m going to try this again.” She got out before she gave a wheezing cough. “Good job everyone. You did well.”

“Are you alright, Ma’am?” Violet asked the only question that I was sure was on all of our minds.

“Yeah,” She groaned for a moment as she climbed up and out of Bessy’s turret. “The armor took most of the hit on Bessy, but I took a good whack in the head when it did. Spalling did more than anything to me, but I’ll live.” She gave another few hacking coughs as I watched her step away from the still smoking armored vehicle.

“Alright, well we’re bringing Bertha back for you.” Boiler sighed. “The Doc’s ready to come down the moment we’re close enough for him to hop off and treat everyone.” Giving a pause, the pain in my side flared before she spoke again, making me squeak through my mic. “Speaking of treatment,” Oh goddesses, here it comes. “You still alive out there, Bombay? Not missing any more limbs, are you?”

“Nah.” I grunted. “But one of the flak shots clipped me. I could use some bandages and a painkiller or something.”

Dropping down to just above the ground, I flared my wings well before I needed to. It hurt, but as I winced with the pain, I wavered in my flight a bit. Getting all four of my legs down onto the ground at a trotting pace, I slowed myself up and managed to drop to a walk by the time I reached Delilah, Howitzer, and Lucky. Now that I was on the ground, I felt confident that I could turn and see just how badly my side had been mutilated by the flak shot.

“Eh, that’s not that bad.” Howitzer grunted, pointing to the three separate thin trails of blood that stained my side under my submachine gun. Really? That was it? “Like with Delilah, it may look bad, but it hurts worse than it is.”

“Yeah.” Delilah grunted as she reached up and pulled the radio helmet off of her head. Half her face was coated in blood, as well as most of her left forehoof and shoulder. “However, what wasn’t bad either, was what you did up there.” Reaching up with her bloody hoof, she adjusted her blood speckled glasses on the end of her muzzle. “I may have taken a knock to the head, but I heard you take charge. I told you that you had a knack for it.”

“I-I didn’t think up there, I just… acted.” I stammered. Damnit, why did she have to stick the idea of taking charge into my head? “I didn’t really take charge at all! I just…”

“You did what you thought was right.” Violet called as she came in for a landing with Hispano. “All of us didn’t know what to do out there, but you were the one who sounded like you knew what you were doing.”

“Yeah, you didn’t freeze up this time, Dum Dum! Good job!” Hispano squawked as she gave me a firm pat on my bloody side. I whined as she did, making her scrunch up her muzzle and pull her talon back. “Oops, sorry.”

“Well, I’ve got good news and bad news.” Cora called out from above all of us. In unison, we all looked up just in time to see the body of a pony drop out of the sky and smack down into the pavement between us. The pony had suffered an extreme case of ‘shot in the head’ before he’d hit the ground, but the crack that came from his neck, and the way his head caved in when he hit, made my stomach do flips. “The good news, is that that these guys aren’t raiders with a camp full of suicidal friends, so that was definitely all of them.”

Swallowing the bile that was trying to climb it’s way up my throat, I did my best to not look at the vacant expression locked across the dead pony’s face. In not staring at his face, I did notice that for looking like a raider at first glance, this pony was a lot better equipped than the skyraiders we’d run across before. This stallion wore old equestrian military armor that had been painted up to simply look like the rags and rusty bits tied to himself, but he had a service pistol and various military looking gear strapped to him underneath it all.

“That doesn’t look like raider gear to me...” Violet muttered. “If i didn’t know better, this pony is equipped like a merc.”

“That’s the bad news.” Cora grunted as he came down from his cloud. In his grasp, was what looked like an old field radio painted and dressed up with rusty bits in the same way as the dead stallion was. Still visible on it however, was the painted stencil of a white pony’s silhouette. “These guys are Whitehorse Militia, and I’m willing to bet that they were working freelance without their captain’s approval.”

“With all due respect, ma’am,” Violet spat out. “If that’s true, this whole ambush has Galina’s stench all over it. They weren’t aiming for the wheels, they were trying to blow the whole damn ammo storage up. They knew where to aim, even if they didn’t use the correct ammo.”

If it weren’t for the fact that we’d just had our talk about her working for Solomon, I might have questioned her on that. However, I don’t think she would have spoken up at all if she’d had any part in it now that we knew about her. Plus, this did seem like the same sort of crap that Galina had been trying to pull again and again, always getting somepony else to fight for her. Given the chance, I’d love to unload the full mag from my Bison right into her stupid beak...

“Celestia, Damnit.” Delilah sighed, groaning as she sat down onto the pavement. “Solomon must not know what she’s been doing. He wouldn’t risk destroying the convoy, not until he knew he could do it while keeping the information about the Ark safe.” Looking over to Cora as he touched down next to Hispano, she cocked her bloody eyebrow. “Violet only mentioned them on their first trip through. Do you know this ‘militia’ at all?”

“Yeah.” Cora nodded, glancing down to Hispano who gave him a quick nod as well. “They’re friendly enough to talons, so we stayed there for a week or so on our trip up here about six months ago.” Looking back up at Delilah, he raised the radio up and tweaked at the buttons on it with his talons. “With your permission, ma'am, I'd like to talk to them.”

Yes, that’s a wonderful idea! Let’s just start chatting with the ponies who were probably paid off by Solomon and probably make them even more pissed that we just murdered their buddies! I may be starting to act like a ‘leader’ in Delilah’s eyes, but that was just the dumbest idea that I’d ever heard.

“Do you know someone there we could get some answers from?” Delilah asked flatly. Getting a single nod from Cora, she huffed and nodded back. “Go ahead.”

Fucking seriously!?

“Hello, hello.” Cora spoke into the coms set, tweaking a few of the buttons until a burst of static came out of an external speaker on the radio pack. “This is Raindeer Talon four seven calling horsehead. You there, Trojan?”

“Four seven?” A stallion my age came back over the radio after a burst of static. “Cora, is that you?”

“Affirmative, Trojan.” He gave a smirking nod that the stallion on the other end couldn’t hear. What I hoped he did hear, was the sound of my hard facehoof against my muzzle. Which was of course followed by a heavy whine as the pain from my side flared up.

“Well, I’ll be!” The stallion laughed. “It's been what, six months or something? How’ve you been?”

“We can get caught up later.” Cora grunted and dropped all pretense of happiness from his tone. “Say, you know anything about a group of Militia sent to raid the convoy I’m with?”

“Shit, they actually went?” The stallion grumbled through his receiver. “The captain's going to be pissed if they've been out freelancing and come back having caused trouble.”

“Well sorry to say it but they aren't going to be freelancing anymore, or coming back for that matter. Your boys out here are already dead and dealt with.” Cora shook his head, looking at the bloody mess of a crumpled stallion between us. “You still copy, Trojan?”

“Yeah, copy that.” The stallion let out a long sigh. “Please hold. I’ll go get the Captain.”

The silence that followed was only broken by the low drone the chilling breeze gave before Bertha’s thrumming engine overtook it. Looking over, I saw Buck all but hanging off the railing of the stairs, ready with his medical duffle bag in his claws.

“This is Captain Havoc of the Whitehorse Militia,” A stern, regulated sounding mare came over the radio. Yeah, she was definitely the one in charge there. “Am I currently speaking to the head of the Convoy which is calling?”

Holding her hoof out, Cora simply passed the radio receiver over and placed it in Delilah’s hoof. With a soft sigh, she brought it’s microphone up to her muzzle and sat up straight.

“This is her, go ahead.” She presented herself with the same businesslike tone she always used, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure how she could keep herself that straight all the time. Hell, even bloodied and obviously in pain, she didn’t even let an ounce of that through her voice.

“The party you ran into were on an unsanctioned job, and forfeit their affiliation with the Whitehorse militia the moment they departed on it.” The mare had a force behind her words that bordered on being nearly as blunt as a club. However, she had more emotion than Admiral Broadside had when she spoke, so for that I could at least respect her a little bit more. “I hope that they were as incompetent at attacking you as they were at following the rules here.”

“They were.” Delilah snorted as she glanced at the dead pony again. “We have no need to salvage their equipment, and their remains will be left here for you to collect. We have no interest in further dealings with your outfit on our way through Whitehorse.”

“I can understand that, and you have my word that there will be zero retaliation from the remainder of the Militia for your actions.” She sighed, losing a bit of the regimented feeling to her words. “Due to the unfortunate situation we find ourselves in, I feel it's only fair to extend a friendly hoof to you and your crew. Accommodations and expenses for your stay here in Whitehorse will be on our cap. I hope that can begin to make up for this mistake.”

“Negative. We will stay on the outskirts and will not step one hoof into your city.” Delilah spoke, pulling a shocked look out of everyone including myself. We could have relaxed and enjoyed ourselves for once! “Along with that, you are to keep your militia at a distance from our convoy. No offence, Captain, but the one who poached your soldiers is likely to try to stop us again. If you want to do us a favor, then you might consider keeping your barracks locked up for our stay.”

Shit, I hadn’t even thought of that! Again, Galina’s just going to keep hiring ponies to kill us until we blast her stupid head off her stupid shoulders.

“Good copy on that. No offence taken, and I can sympathise with your hesitation.” She paused for a moment, letting a bit of static hang in the air. “In regards to locking up my soldiers, I’ll see what I can arrange. However, if you have any information on the one who poached my ponies, I'd love to hear it. From this point on, whoever they were will not set one hoof in this town.”

“It would be best to drop it, Captain. In all likelihood, she's already flown the coop, and the one who hired her is probably best left alone.” Delilah paused as Buck finally got over to us. He looked over to me with a worried smile as he approached, but his look turned sour as he spotted the stallion’s corpse sitting between us all. “Thanks for the offer, but we can handle ourselves. You can expect us pulling up to your outskirts to rest up the night in a few hours, convoy leader over and out.” Dropping the radio microphone, she let out a long sigh. “Alright, let’s get everything patched up and get back on the road.” As everyone moved to leave, she reached out to me with her bloody forehoof and stopped me in my tracks. “Even with the doc patching it up, my hoof won’t be good enough to drive until tomorrow. I need you to tell my lazy ass son that it’s his job to drive Bessy the rest of the way tonight. After that, you go get some well deserved rest. You’re back in the air first thing tomorrow.”

Nodding, I turned and headed off to the hauler.

It took me a few minutes once I climbed back on board to get out of my saddle and work my way all the way through the hauler. While the others were all busy getting to work, I hoofed off my headset last and made my way through the ice hold, stopping to look at the safe. Most of the ice was gone now, and the door to it sat locked shut. I smirked, knowing that even for everything Solomon has done, he still didn’t stand a chance at getting to the Ark before we did.

I did my best to laugh at Solomon in my head rather than out loud to save myself from the pain of my injuries. Speaking of, actually, this time around they weren’t all that bad. As ridiculous as it was, part of me was right there with Boiler and Hispano in joking about losing another limb. With the way things normally went for me in a fight, this was hardly anything to worry over. Sure, shrapnel in the side still sucked, but Buck would patch me up, and I still had my other three legs!

Smiling to myself, I made my way upstairs. Happy was helpfully lounging about on the rec area couch like the useless lump he always was, and didn’t even look up as I climbed my way up out of the hatch. My prosthetic leg gave a slight creak as I hopped up the final stair, prompting him to finally perk his ear lazily at me.

“Yo, Bombay, we gettin’ back on the road soon?” He mumbled, trying not to shift from his relaxed pose too much as he spoke. “Cause I’m pretty beat. I hope we get to the next stop soon so we can hit the hay.”

“Change of plans.” I grumbled. “You’re driving Bessy.”

“What!?” He spat out, expending more energy flailing himself off the couch than he’d probably spent all day today. He froze as he looked at me, glancing at my side. “Wait, is ma’ alright?”

“Yeah, but her hoof was hurt in the fight. She needs you to drive the rest of the way tonight.” I gave him a nod to the stairs, ignoring the heavy annoyed groan he let out. “You best get down there. The sooner we get going, the sooner we can all get some sleep, right?”

“Yeah yeah.” He rolled his eyes. “You goin’ back up?”

I shook my head. “Turns out that getting peppered by a few bits of shrapnel earned me the night off.” Or, at least that’s what everyone else thinks. Me however, I’m pretty sure that Delilah gave it to me for telling everypony what to do earlier. Which I still didn’t count as ‘taking charge’.

“Whatever.” He shrugged before giving a stiff yawn and a stretch. “Guess I better get down there before she yells at me…”

Happy straightened his floral print t-shirt and hoofed back his mane a bit before stepping around me. While I didn’t quite get how any stallion could be as lazy as him, I did want to applaud him for actually doing what he was told more often. He’d been all but useless on this trip, but at least he still had his moments, I guess. That, and he still owed me big time for saving his flank from Mrs. Tapit.

While I still didn’t quite agree that I ‘took charge’, I couldn’t be happier that I’d started to listen to what Delilah ordered me to do. I mean, of course I still kept screwing things up even when I try to do what she wants, but that’s not exactly the point. Almost every time she’d told me to do something so far, I just felt it was the right thing to do. Listening to that feeling is what I’ve been trying to do more of, and so far, it’s saved me more times than not.

As I heard Buck enter the ice hold below, I tried to push all that from my mind again. Looking out of the back of the Hauler, the sky shifted hues slowly, and darkened as the sun finally fell below the horizon. I smiled as I watched the transition, shifting my warm gaze down to Buck as he popped his head up the stairs. It had been a rough day, but it was over now.

With the wounds in my side quickly tended to, I was free to finally relax in a way that I hadn’t had a chance to since arriving at Destruction Bay. Since everypony else at the moment was working, that just left Buck and I on this deck of the Hauler with nothing but free time. Alone.

Today had been one hell of a turnaround for me. We blew up an ammo depot, Buck and I had a fight, Hispano ‘joined’ us, Solomon caught up, Violet is back on our side, and I have a brand new leg. So much to deal with that I desperately needed to decompress. And with as much as I needed it, I knew that Buck needed it as well.

The best thing about today, the thing that made it all worth it, was how all of that melted away as Buck and I worked out our stress together. And while I’m sure that Hardcase probably heard us ‘relaxing’ from his post up top, he didn’t seem too interested in telling us that he minded. Honestly, I wasn’t sure there could be a better way to bleed off stress at all than in bed with Buck.

I’d come to realize just how much better I could feel when I didn’t have to worry about anything else in the world other than how we felt right then and there. One thing I was absolutely sure of as well, was that with the way he moaned and whined with me, Buck must have felt the exact same way about all of this.

Hell, I don’t even think I remember when we finally arrived on the outskirts of Whitehorse for the night. By that point, I think both Buck and I were so spent that we weren’t even aware of anything at all outside of our container. The only thing I think I could remember from then, was hearing as Hispano came in and said something to me that I couldn’t quite make out. But that was right before I drifted off to sleep, and oh boy, what a fantastic sleep that was.

Have you ever been in such a deep sleep that when you finally woke up, you’d forgotten what it was like to even have any of your senses? Yeah, that was me this morning.

I snorted awake laying on top of Buck, not quite sure what was going on or where I was for that matter. I went to give a stiff yawn, pressing myself into Buck’s fur as I did. However, when I breathed in, I got a mouthful of matted fur and the stench of sex sweat. Coughing, I pulled myself off of him. My own matted fur clung to his as I squinted at the bright light above us and questioned why the hell I was awake right now. Goddesses, why is anypony ever awake if everything is always so bright?

“Hmmm…?” Buck moaned softly, shifting under me and raising a paw up to his face. “Good morning.” He groaned as he rubbed his eyes. “What time is it?”

“Too fucking early.” I grunted, moving to push myself back down to the floor. Unfortunately, for some reason I wasn’t wearing my new leg, and I flopped down to the floor with a cold slap. The floor was cold, and the stark silence that met me as I sat there meant that Bertha’s reactor wasn’t even running yet. Well, at least we weren’t already back on the road. “Ugh.” I groaned as I rolled myself onto my back. Looking under our bed, I found my missing leg sitting by it’s lonesome. Well, now I at least knew where it went...

“I need coffee.” Buck groaned as well as he pushed himself to sit up. “Ahhaaa…!” He whined, softly rolling onto his side and curling back his tail. “Ohhh… still sore from last night.”

“Hehe, sorry.” I giggled as I wiggled myself over and pulled my leg toward me. “Goddesses, I needed everything we did last night.”

“Me too. Maybe we should argue more often?” He laughed, finally getting his paws under him. He stretched out, reaching up to the ceiling with his own long Yawn. “Alright, time to start the day.” Walking over, he reached out and flicked the lock off the door. Even from where I sat, when he opened it, I could see the others all sitting in the rec area shift their attention to our door.

“Morning, sunshine.” Boiler giggled. “Fun night?”

“You guys sounded like animals!” Hardcase laughed. “No, literally. You two must have been really pent up.”

“We had… issues to work through.” Buck wore the brightest blush across his face that I’d ever seen. Coincidentally, it also happened to be the cutest blush I’d ever seen, but that was neither here nor there. “Uh… coffee?”

Sitting there on the floor, my stomach let out a gurgling grumble. Well, might as well get up and get something to eat before we’re back on the road. Pushing myself back onto my hooves, I took a moment to steady my legs under me. Giving another long yawn, I pushed myself to walk forward out the open door.

The whole crew turned and looked at me as I left the room, perverse smiles across each of their muzzles. Eeyup, this was my life now. Not that I minded, really. They’d become the closest thing I had to family since Four Peaks, and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of it. And I’m pretty sure that they felt the same way.

Well, all except for one of them.

Hispano gave a sad glance back from her perch on the rec area’s railing. Spreading her wings, she leaned forward and dropped off the back end of the hauler. With a few flaps, she flew down aways into the stark white that filled the wilderness around Bertha. The snow drifts all around us were a almost half a leg deep it looked like. They covered most of everything, from trees, to rocks, and even Lucky’s runner had a good amount on it.

Only the road itself seemed to be immune to the white, breaking up the oddly calm bland whiteness with it’s darkness. The small griffon who now dropped down onto it a few hundred feet away, cast a sad and lonely glance downward, and inside, I knew why.

Flaring my own wings, I stepped past the others. Ignoring their questions about what I was doing, I hopped over the back railing and took flight. I needed to try to fix whatever I’d ruined this time.

The glide was a short one, depositing me down on the road at a trot. After a few steps, I stopped myself a few feet short from Hispano’s back. From the way she didn’t even look back, I knew something heavy was on her mind. But unlike so many times before, no words slipped out of my muzzle. Instead, I had to force myself to speak up.

“Is everything okay, Hispano?” It was a stupid question. Of course she wasn’t alright, Night. That’s plainly obvious, good job. “Do… you want to talk about something?”

“No. Yes.” Her own response was meek, but at least she said something at all. With a small sigh, she shook her head. “I don't mean to be confusing. Just... when I saw you with him last night… it was just like with my sister.”

“I’m sorry.” Now I understood, of course. Unfortunately, I didn’t know what to say to her. “I didn’t mean to…”

“I know you didn’t.” She cut me off. “That’s the problem.” Slumping slightly, her wings fell limp at her sides, and she hung her head. “Out here on the road, we don't know how much time we have. I don't want to miss out on any of it, but… I’m still terrified at the idea that the same thing could happen.” She gave a short sobbing sniffle. “Even though I finally get the chance to try to make things work with you, I’m just as fucking paralyzed with the fear that I’ll just end up like my sister and Suiza.”

“You know this isn’t how I thought things would be.” I pushed myself to take a step forward as my mind once again started to push the words out of my muzzle. “My parents were the only ones I’d ever loved, and even now, Buck is somepony I didn’t realize I cared for until I got to know him on this trip.” Reaching out, I curled my forehooves around Hispano. She locked up with a gasp at my touch, but as I pulled her into a hug, she finally let loose and sobbed softly. “But I wouldn’t have had that chance without you, Hispano. I’ve had friends before, but you are probably the first true friend I’ve ever made in my life, and that means more than anything to me.”

Wrenching herself momentarily out of my grasp, she spun around and wrapped her talons around me in a tight hug. After all of the painful and awkward hugs I’d had yesterday, it felt nice to finally have a genuinely comforting hug from her. As she snuffled and pressed herself against me, I couldn’t help but think that this was something I’d needed as well.

“I know you mean well, Night.” She spoke in a weak, muffled tone against my neck. “I just wish you felt the same way about me that you do for him.”

I wanted to tell her that I wanted to feel that way, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Somewhere deep inside, I knew that would be a lie. Not because I never would find myself caring for my first friend as much as I do for Buck. Instead, it’s because I think I already did. Not like I did with Buck, but she was important to me, and she deserved to know that.

“I do.” I spoke as I wrapped my forehooves around her. It was weird to hear those words leave my muzzle, as surreal as it was when I’d admitted I cared for Buck. “It’s not exactly in the same way that I care for Buck, but that doesn’t mean I care any less about you.” No, Night. It's not weird to feel this way, it's the right thing to do. “But you're right, I have to try to change before I don't get a chance to.”

Hispano pulled herself away from my neck. I looked down at her, finding her wide waving, tear filled eyes brighten as a soft smile pulled across her beak. She sniffled as her wings perked slightly, and she tightened her talons around my sides as my words sunk in.

“You… you mean it?” She gasped. However, before I could respond, her glance shifted, and a fearful gaze filled her eyes.

“Let my daughter go.” Cora grunted from behind me. The familiar feeling of the barrel of a gun pressing back against my head sent a shiver down my spine. “Now.”

“Dad, wait…” Hispano gasped.

Turning my head back, I found Cora’s flat and annoyed glare locked right on me. My heart raced in my chest, and even though we were out in the frigid air, in that moment, I felt like the air around me had become boiling. It wasn’t from his anger however, rather the anger I felt boiling the blood in my own veins.

“No.” I grunted. I’ve been hassled far too long from Hispano about all of this, and now that I was pretty sure I realized how I really felt about her, this shit had to happen? Couldn’t I just have a few moments to get my own feelings sorted before someone came along and ruined them?

“Wrong answer.” Cora used his talon to draw back the hammer on his combat pistol, shoving it harder against the side of my head. “Care to try again?”

I’d expected Hispano to speak up. I wanted her to call him off like she had before. However, when I glanced back at her, she only strengthened her glare at him. She pulled herself closer to me, but kept her beak shut. Even if she’d made her choice to stand with me, maybe she realized that there was nothing that she could say to change his mind. That didn’t mean there wasn’t something I couldn’t say to at least try.

“Tell me,” I turned my own glare toward the battle scarred albino griffon. “Why are you so bitter?” My words didn’t even seem to have an effect on him. It was fine, I had plenty more to give. “I'm assuming that your wife was killed somehow, and that's when it started. Then when Suiza went, you shut yourself off from caring for anything, choosing to only focus on protecting Hispano.”

That pulled a smirk from him, but his stiff demeanor didn’t shift one bit.

“Figured that out all on your own, did you? Any foal could play connect the tragic dots.” With a grunt, his flat gaze became the same burning glare he’d given me yesterday. “I’d thought you’d be smarter than this. But even with figuring out all that, you still chose to be a stubborn, foolish pony.”

“Sure, figuring it out wasn’t hard, but it's you who seems to have forgotten how to care for Hispano.” My mind was back in the game, throwing that spitting accusation from my muzzle without a care in the world. As the words hit him however, he flinched.

“That’s enough from you.” He growled, adjusting his hold on his pistol and shoving it against my still bandaged head. I did my best not to whine as he dragged it along my healing half-ear. “You don't get to tell me how to deal with my daughter.”

“She's yours, right? As in, no one else's?” I spat at him, taking the pain in my head and doing my best to focus it on him. “That's your problem. You've spent so much time focused on your ‘job' that you don't even care to understand how she feels, or even look to see if she's happy, do you?”

“Of course I do!” He snapped back. His voice echoed through the snowy forest around us, and I could hear as those still up on the hauler clamored to see what was going on out here. “All I want is for her to feel happy and safe!“

“But I am happy, here with Night.” Hispano finally spoke up. She’d did her best to mirror his glare right back to him as she wrapped her wings around me. “It’s what I want.”

“You don’t know what you want.” Cora’s seething tone betrayed his own pain. But the words he’d chosen said more than he’d meant them to, but only because they were all too familiar.

“You know, if you’d asked me that yesterday, I’d have thought that way too.” The words didn’t so much slip out of my muzzle this time, as they were being fueled by everything that I realized I felt about Hispano. “But now, I can't be so sure that I don't know what I even want. And if either of us want to try to find that out together with Buck, then I'm not sure that I have a problem with that any more. The problem is with you however, Cora, and I was guilty of it as well. You know what you want for her, but it's not about how you feel about it anymore.” Turning my gaze down to Hispano, any number of guns pressed against my head couldn’t have kept the smile from my muzzle. “It's up to her to choose what she wants.”

“Is there a problem here?” Violet’s voice called out as she landed beside the three of us.

A pregnant pause filled the air as none of us moved or spoke another word. If it hadn’t been for the softly falling snow, I could've been convinced that time had in fact stopped. But as things like time tend to do, they continued forward without our say.

“No.” Cora groaned, finally pulling his gun away from my head. “I’m going to scout out ahead of the convoy. Tell Delilah to contact me on the radio if she needs anything.”

Flaring his wings, he jumped into the air and flapped hard. The falling snow flurried under his beating wings as he took off. In moments, he’d gone from holding me hostage, to disappearing over the treetops. Only then did I relax, and only then did I feel Hispano do the same.

“What was that all about?” Violet asked, looking off in the direction he went.

“Overprotective dad issues.” Hispano sighed as she slumped against me. “Nothing to be worried about, it won’t affect the quality of our work.”

“If you say so.” Violet rolled her eyes and pointed back to the hauler. “Well, if you two are done having a ‘moment’, then you might want to get saddled up. Delilah’s getting our Road Crew authorization, and then we’re back on the road in ten.”

“Alright.” I nodded and moved to get up. However, the moment I did, Hispano wrapped her talons around me again. Like yesterday, I found myself pulled into another tight hug I wasn’t prepared for. Though again, at least this one felt as good as the last.

“Thank you, Night.” She hummed softly against me. “For everything.” Opening my muzzle to tell her that I felt the same way, instead, my stomach took the thunder from the moment with a resounding gurgle. “And, moment over.” Hispano gave a chortling giggle as she released me, and I found myself join her in it. “Come on. Your crewmate made some pretty great omelettes earlier. Let’s go see if there’s any left.”

“Alright, sounds good.” I smiled, turning with her to head back to the convoy.

As I did, I looked up to the railing of the rec area. There, Buck stood with a contented smile across his jagged muzzle. He gave me a thumb claw up as we walked, and it forced a blush across my face. I knew my life with Hispano and Buck would certainly be complicated from yesterday on, but I think now I was going to be alright with that. Sure it was going to be a little rough, but we’d hang in there.

Actually, with the way things had been for the whole convoy, I think that everything was going to be alright.

Author's Note

Many MANY thanks to TheFurryRailfan for helping me to get this out today. Not only did he ensure that my recent cold didn't affect it's quality too much, but without him this chapter wouldn't be going up today at all. So seriously, man, thank you so much.

Chapter 29 - Small Detours

If you're leaving tracks, you're being followed.

Goddesses, it was fucking cold…

The higher into the Misery range we drove, the lower the clouds got to us. Whitehorse, while a small town, was the last stop on the way out of the range if you were heading north, and as such, we found ourself passing more than a few resting convoys as we pulled out. Each one of the convoys had been absolutely coated with a thick layer of ice and snow, and I had to wonder if that forecast I’d heard had any truth to it. Maybe it was just the Enclave in me thinking only pegasi could deal with the weather after all...

A dense fog blanketed Highway five as it wound upwards over hills and through valleys. It sent shivers through me, not just because it was cold, but because it reminded me exactly of the fog around the depot yesterday morning. I could hardly see Bertha below me, and if not for his headlights, I wouldn’t even be able to see Lucky and the runner. Yet, between the white fog, abundant snow, and green trees, there weren’t any sounds other than the convoy to be heard. It was deathly quiet outside of the rumbling arcano-engines, and that unnerved me.

Still, the cold itself didn’t help. Both Hispano and I shivered after only a half hour in the air, and I knew that I wasn’t the only one worried about it when she couldn’t even force herself to talk due to the cold. And if anything, I could use the distraction for once.

There was a staticy click that came through my headset, thankfully giving me something to concentrate on.

“Hey, uh…” A stallion’s voice came across the radio. “Is this the convoy we accidentally attacked yesterday?”

Hispano and I both looked at each other for a moment before the radio crackled again.

“Trojan, why are you calling?” Cora’s voice came over the radio with an annoyed huff.

“So, uh, there was a pair of tanks that just rolled into town asking if you all had gone through.” Trojan’s voice wavered for a moment as my mind made the connection. “Friends of yours who just missed you?” Fucking Guinness and Zibar.

Wait… tanks, as in, multiple?

“Negative.” Cora’s voice crackled through. “But thanks for the heads up.”

“No problem, but you and I are even now.” Trojan laughed back. “I’ve got nothing left for the talons of ‘Claw to pull me back with, so say hi to captain Gavi for me when you get back home.”

“Roger that.” Cora grunted. “Good luck with your life up here, Trojan.”

“Change of plans, everyone.” Delilah’s cold tone was not the distraction I’d needed right now... “Cora, take your cloud and fall back. I want you keeping tabs on those tanks for the rest of the day, and I want radio silence to be held unless they change course.” Delilah didn’t even let a second of silence pass before speaking to all of us. “Bombay, I need you to grab some flares from Boiler and fly ahead by a couple of miles down the road. Gearbox, Lucky, get ready to divert. We’re taking a detour.” Pushing myself into a dive, I picked up speed and did my best to ignore the biting cold. “There’s a set of off ramps coming up, Bombay. We’re supposed to take the right one, but we’re going to take the left. Normally I wouldn’t ask, but with fog this bad, I need you to mark it with a flare so we don’t miss it or have to slow down.”

“Got it, ma’am.” I called back. Flaring my wings, I did my best to drain my speed as I came up alongside Bertha. The rumbling of her massive tires along the frozen pavement drowned off as I zipped into the reactor alcove that Boiler was normally in. As I did, I noticed something I hadn’t before. It was unusually warm here... Well, of course it was warm here, Night. It’s almost like you’re sitting right next to a multi-ton reactor that ran off of magical radiation.

“Alright.” Boiler shouted as she trotted out of the ammo storage cage. She shivered for a moment as she ducked the short distance back toward the reactor alcove. She squeezed herself back as close to the reactor as she could, holding her hoof out as she smiled. “Here you go!” Without time to object, I found the round red flare shoved into my muzzle. “Now get going!”

Shrugging, I turned and flared my wings. Jumping up, I pushed myself off of the reactor bay railing and took flight away from Bertha again. Twisting my wings, I caught the freezing air and turned myself back the way the convoy was heading. Stiffly holding my legs out, I torqued and whipped my tail as Lucky and the runner crept up the road behind me. As I’d planned for, I lost airspeed faster than altitude. After a few moments, the runner pulled up under me, and I flared my wings just enough to drop me onto the roof.

It’s funny just how routine this sort of thing had become. After having spent so much time on the road now, this sort of thing didn’t seem so bad anymore. Dropping down around the side of the Dizzitron, I couldn’t help but smirk at how afraid I’d still been of the thing only weeks ago now. Getting myself strapped in, I hooved the harness for it shut with a click, and braced myself for the spin.

As always, the machine whirred as it pulled me around and around. The mechanical clack of the harness releasing me was just the same as always, and I fought back a smile as I was tossed through the frigid air. Shooting my wings out as I came to the peak of my tumbling flight, I torqued them in order to flip myself right side up. As I did, Hispano came up beside me and offered a shivering smile.

With a wave to her, I smiled and rolled into a dive. I picked up an extraordinary amount of speed before holding my wings out again and pulling myself out of it. I shot along over the top of the hauler, and reveled in the frozen air with the wind whistling around me. Now that I had a job to do, I had something to focus on.

“Alright, Bombay.” Delilah’s voice crackled in my ear. “You’re going to be looking for a large set of green road signs. That’ll tell you when you’re just about at the exit we’re looking for..” I was about to tell her that I understood, but found myself blocked by the flare in my muzzle. “Remember to be careful. You’re going to be out of communication range, so you won’t be able to call in for help if there’s a trap ahead. Just to be clear, we’re taking the left road rather than the right exit, so just put the lit flare in the middle of the road and find somewhere to hide until we pass. Lucky will stop and pick you up once we’re on the new course.”

Increasing my angle toward the road, I pushed myself to pick up even more speed. As I did, I let out a shiver as the air tore across my stiff wings. After a few moments, the sound of the convoy behind me drained away, and I was left with just the sound of the wind against me face.

It was after another solid minute or so of flying that I realized that I had dropped quite low to the road. The black asphalt that zipped along under me had an icy sheen across it, but was otherwise untouched by the snow that blanketed everything else. I wondered if it was just the Road Crew that kept them cleared of snow, or if it had been something done to them during the war that made them nearly immune to the cold. I wonder…

My thoughts were cut off as I realized that in concentrating on the road, I’d drifted off course a bit. I pulled my legs up and torqued myself to turn, narrowly missing the snow laden branches of a fairly full pine tree. Breathing a sigh of relief as I straightened myself out, I shook off the near miss just in time to slam into something that had been set next to the road.

With a whimper and a crunch, I plowed right through a wooden barricade of some sort. Instinctively I pulled my wings closed and curled as I tumbled. Hitting the snow, I was pulled into a somersault before flopping down into the thick white powder. Spitting the flare from my muzzle, I groaned and wiggled myself against the cold snow a bit.

Wings intact? Check. Three legs? Check. Prosthetic…? I sat up and wiggled my stump, making the black steel blade attached to me wiggle as well. And check! Well hey, looks like I’m alright this time!

You know, it’s not a moment of pride that while you came out of a crash alright, you’ve come to realize that it’s only because you’ve learned how to crash land yourself safely from experience. Yeah, not my best moment as a member of the pegasus race, but I’m alive, so that’s saying something! Then again, maybe I should just be thankful I still have the rest of my legs…

Pulling myself up and out of the haunch deep snow, I shook the loose powder from me and looked around for the flare. Quickly finding it again, I hoofed it up into my muzzle and looked around. To my delight, I found that the thing I’d hit was actually a sign that had been placed across the left side exit to the road! How fortunate!

However, after a moment of looking back across the road, I realized that even through the thick fog, I could see that this exit wasn’t the only one. The far right side of the road had an exit, and the main road itself seemed to continue off in a straight fashion until it disappeared into the drifting white foggy nothingness that enveloped this place.

If we were going to take the right side exit, did Mrs. Delilah want to take the road still, or… no, Night. Stop second guessing yourself before you overthink it. Mrs. Delilah said that we were going left, so that’s where you’re going to put the flare. There’s no reason for you to be standing around debating this with yourself.

Hoofing at the flare in my muzzle, I bit down and pulled the cap to strike the flare. With a fizzling sizzle, the flare sparked to life. I cringed as the burning stick nearly blinded my left eye, but with a nickering swing of my head, I tossed it into the middle of the left side exit.

Okay, step one, done!

Turning myself back toward the trees that sat alongside the road, I hopped myself through the fluffy snow toward them to bunker down until Lucky stopped for me. As I did, I nearly tripped over the remains of the wooden barricade. Looking down at the icy wood, I noticed that under a light layer of snow, there had been words written on it. Hoofing the snow away, I figured that it wouldn’t matter what it said, but if I didn’t sate my curiosity, then I’d be wondering about it all day.

TURN BACK
STONE TOWN AHEAD

Huh, how peculiar. I wonder what it meant, or how long ago it was written. Still, I shrugged it off and made my way back toward one of the trees. I found a fairly small tree to ‘hide’ with, and proceeded to sit my flank down into the fresh, cold powder that sat under it.

Funny, I’d forgotten a ‘fun fact’ my mother had taught me just a few years ago. Her mother, my grandmother, had gotten separated on a cloud patrol back during one of the worst winters on record. She hadn’t had any advanced training at the time, and did what she had to in order to get back alive. One of the best things that she’d found to do when cold was to keep moving to keep your core temperature up.

Pegasi are well insulated, sure, but that’s because we run hot, so to speak. Since flying takes a lot of energy, we’re warming the air faster than thermodynamics can whick that heat away, which is why it was only uncomfortable flying in this weather, when everyone else was freezing their flanks off.

But while I wasn’t exactly in a life-or-death survival situation, I’d begun to ponder if I should have listened to grandma’s advice. After only a minute of sitting there in the middle of nature's refrigerator, even though I could hear the convoy coming up the road, I was pretty certain that Lucky was going to have to chisel out my frozen corpse from the snow. And supposedly, it only got colder from here…

Hispano still shivered as she flew beside me. While I’d spent a good few minutes warming up in the runner, she didn’t have that luxury. Sure, Lucky made it sound like a hassle to be cramped inside the runner all day, but fuck, at least he had heat! Still, the moment I’d gotten back up in the air with her, I could tell she’d perked up again. After our talk this morning, she’d been surprisingly quiet due to nearly being frozen.

But I think she’d been quiet for a different reason, and I had an idea of why at least. Every time she looked over at me, she’d smiled. For as annoying as she’d been since we met, I couldn’t deny that this was probably the first time I’d seen her so relaxed. It was like seeing Buck after our first time together, and it made me smile in return. I know I’d thought about it before, but it just felt good to remind myself that I’d found a place down here in the wastes where I fit. A family that cared for me as much as I cared for them.

“Do you have your headset on, Bombay?” Delilah’s voice poured into my ear with the same dullness as ever. I really did like the idea of having headsets, but with Delilah it only served as a reminder that bland reinforcement to do my job was only a button press away. Though to be honest, I didn’t mind all that much. As I’d said before, at least it had served to distract me from the blistering cold up here. Even if it wasn’t that great of a distraction at all...

“Yeah, what’s up?” I said, scanning my eyes across the lightening fog that still obscured everything. At the very least we’d probably break out of the fog soon enough, and maybe Hispano and I can actually do the job we were up here freezing our flanks off for.

“I don’t know how you even managed it, but we’re on the wrong fucking road.” Her sharp accusation made me go stiff in the air. “We should have merged back onto highway five by now, and none of this terrain is correct.”

“I-I put the flare on the left exit, just like you said! This is the road you wanted.” Seriously? I did everything she said. There’s no way I screwed this up, not when there were only two choices!

“My barometer says otherwise. We are way over altitude for where we’re supposed to be.” She stated flatly. Over altitude? That’s not possible, the traction I could feel against my wings meant that the air was way too thick to be that high up. Even if my muscles felt stronger than ever from their extended use over the last weeks, I’d still notice that… right? “Talon, see if you can climb above the fog layer to get a better look at what’s ahead of us. I don’t want any surprises up ahead on the road.”

“Alright, I’ll scout ahead a bit.” Hispano answered her before giving a few powerful flaps of her wings. In the same way she always had, the sheer amount of speed she picked up from her wings made me jealous as she zipped off and disappeared in the fog ahead. “After all this, we’re going to have a talk about a better callsign than just ‘talon’.” She grumbled through the headset. “Also, the clouds clear up in just a moment, I’m going to check ahead on the road.”

“I think you’re missing the point of a callsign. It’s supposed to be easier to remember and callout.” Hardcase laughed over his headset. “Besides, you don’t get to choose your nickname.”

“Dum Dum chose his, why can’t I chose mine?” She shot back with an incredibly objectionable statement. “Ooo, like Typhoon, or Tempest. Maybe go with something old school, like ‘Hurricane’!”

“He didn’t choose his, it was mistakenly given to him.” Violet called up with a grunt. “And Hispano is fairly distinguishable when called out. You don’t need a nickname.”

Even through the light winds in the thinning fog, the sound of the Dizzitron spinning up below me was unmissable. With the metallic ping that it always gave, the old machine flung Violet into the air at an incredible speed. So much so that I almost didn’t have time to roll myself out of the way as she zipped past.

“Then drop the whole ‘talon’ thing and just call me Hispano!” Hispano grumbled over the headset, “Besides…” Her voice cut out with the jarring sound of crackling static. I listened to it for a few moments, waiting for her to continue, but… nothing but static came through.

“Hispano?” I asked as Violet came down through the fog next to me. Only static filled silence filled the air. Okay, while I knew she’d been quiet before, she was never this quiet given the opportunity. “Hispano, are you there?”

“Maybe her headset died.” Violet offered as she kept her eyes straight ahead. “Or she’s scouting outside of radio range?” Why would she have gone that far ahead without calling it out?

The fog wisped around us oddly for a moment, quieting Violet and making the both of us look around. Patches of bright blue sky began to peek through it, and a soft breeze curled the thin patches of fog like melted marshmallow. The extra wind pushed up under my wings, and I felt myself carried up and out over the flat cloud cover.

The stark, grey mountains still surrounded us, even this high up. They towered over us on almost every side with a surprising height, boxing us into a steep canyon of dull stone. There was no snow on them, no vegetation grew in the sharp and jagged crevices and cliffs that jutted off of them. Valleys and fields of darkly colored stones sat under the towering canyon walls, looking like barren and empty shorelines following a winding river of white.

I shifted my stiff forehooves, falling into a soft bank as the ‘river’ under me curved around one of the large cliffsides. The convoy broke through the fog, following the clean black asphalt road that wound alongside one of the canyon walls. This place was truly unlike any place I’d ever seen before. Even though it was desolate and flat in color, it held an odd beauty all it’s own.

However, as both Violet and I silently flew our way around the bend of the next cliff, we both spotted something lying in the middle of the road. It was a grey, misshapen stone that looked far too defined to be natural. Just past it, more odd stones sat scattered about, trailing up the road toward a surprisingly bright yellow building surrounded by dozens of old carts, wagons, and even a few rusting tanks. Oddly enough, they all looked absolutely loaded up with supplies and gear, but nopony was in sight around any of them at all.

What was most impressive among the odd collection of things, was the large rusting metal bunker that had been built across the road for some reason. Sort of rectangular with a beveled front and rear, it had a jutting triangular point along each of its long sides. On those points, a pair of large cannons sat nested on each face, probably in order to be able to attack every direction possible around it. Other guns poked out of various points on it with a two sided symmetry that made it look more like a flat boat than a bunker. Lastly, and unmissable among its oddness, was the enormous painted letter K that was still visible across its roof amid the rust and corrosion. Still, the wasteland was a weird place, and I guess I could chalk this up to that as well.

“What is this place?” Violet’s voice shocked me out of my daze as I looked around. “We never hit anything like this on either of our trips up here.”

“I can’t be sure.” Delilah’s voice came over the radio with a nervousness that betrayed her true feelings about this place. “I want everypony on alert until we know exactly what’s going on here.”

Looking around the place as we grew closer, the scattered, odd looking stones became more and more defined. I felt my breath leave as I realized that they were in fact, statues. Most of them were of ponies, but there were many other races to be found as well. Minotaurs, Hellhounds, Griffons, and even Cattle… there were so many statues here that I’d had a bad feeling that whoever took the time to carve them all probably didn’t want to be disturbed.

“Oh goddesses…” Violet gasped. “That’s Hispano…”

Pointing her hoof, she guided my sight to the original stone we’d spotted. There, laying in the middle of the road, was a small statue of a flying griffon. Held at the ready in her talons was the sturdy, well kept cannon that could only be Suiza.

“I… I don’t understand...” My brain felt like it short circuited. “What… how could that be her?”

“Wait, I know where this is...” Hardcase gasped sharply through his headset. “This is Stone Town!”

“Is that supposed to mean something?” I asked as my heart began to beat harder. Okay, don’t panic. Hispano’s going to be fine, we’ll all be fine.

Movement caught my eye down among the statues. As if it had jumped straight out of a nightmare, some of the statues themselves began to move. In their hooves, claws, and hands, most of them pulled out various weapons and pointed them up the road.

A startling rumbling swept through the canyon as a pair of dark exhaust plumes rose from the bunker in the middle of the road. Each of the two cannons on the bunker turned, reorienting themselves toward the convoy as they rolled closer. With a metallic screech, the whole thing began to twist, spinning itself around in line with the road with a lumbering pace that gave away just how heavy it was. It wasn’t a bunker… it was an enormous fucking tank…

“Greetings, weary travelers.” A calm voice came through our headsets. “Bring your convoy to a stop just in front of your stoney griffon friend, or risk being fired upon by my compatriots.”

“We are a peaceful convoy. You have no right to harm me or my crew.” Delilah’s voice held a sharper tone to it again. She was angry, and just hearing it from her lit a fire in my veins. Still, Delilah slowed Bessy down slightly as she came around the stretch of road that Hispano now laid on. Turning toward the hostile force, I tried to push back the fear and prepare for a fight.

Okay, think. That’s a giant tank, and several of the stone statues are alive and armed. Even if Delilah and the convoy came to a stop, we’re still better armed and armored than any of the statues, so the tank has to be the one thing to go. Looking around it, it was heavily rusted, and probably wouldn’t offer much protection against anything but small guns. However, the large vents on it’s back flapped open intermittently with exhaust, and I felt a smirk pull across my muzzle. Just a grenade or two down those vents and that behemoth would be toast, just like Double Drum...

“Just say the word, ma’am.” I spoke up over the radio. “I can knock out…”

My body locked up, and I found the world go dark in an instant.

I blinked a few times, for some reason staring up into the open blue skies and towering slate mountains above me. The cold asphalt I was sprawled out across was an odd sensation to have come out of nowhere. Now that I thought about it… how did I get here?

“Night?” Delilah’s sharp voice came as her drooping muzzle peered overhead. At least that’s a familiar sight among my confusion. Not welcoming, but familiar nonetheless. “You back with us?”

“I uh…” I wasn’t sure how to answer such an odd question. “I didn’t know I’d left?”

“Don’t worry, Dum Dum.” Hispano sighed as she too appeared over me. She held out a talon to me, using her other to wipe at her teary eyes. “I didn’t remember what happened either.” Taking Hispano’s talon, she helped pull me back up to my hooves. “But hey, if being petrified was on your bucket list, you can check that one off... for now at least.” She gave a nervous smile and squeak that tried to hide the impact of her words.

“Petrified!? What the hell is going on here?” Wait, we were attacked, right? I shook my daze off and looked around. Standing out along the road behind Delilah, was the whole crew.

“Alright, now that I’ve returned your companions to normal,” A shrill voice from my side jabbed at my ears. “Let’s talk business.”

Turning around, I found… something, standing in the road talking to us. A tattered, heavy cloak maybe half a pony high sat draped over a small creature, hiding it’s features other than a pair of bright red burning eyes. Already I could feel that pit in my stomach returning like an old friend.

“My crew and I are open to negotiations, but I will not sell any of them off to you.” Delilah reached up adjusting her glasses on her muzzle. “Now, we have a schedule to keep, so what is it that you want from us?”

“Entertainment.” The small creature gave a raspy laugh. “It gets so dull up here, and we could all use a few new distractions.”

“I’m sorry, but I will not offer up any of my crew for sexual gratification either.” Delilah snorted. Her retort only drew another laugh from the creature.

“Please, what do you take us for?” The creature hissed as it spoke. It’s cloak shifted, and a small, slate grey wing poked out of it. “Do my compatriots look like they need any sexual gratification?”

Looking up behind the creature, I gazed across the odd assortment of statues that moved and gazed back at us. Most of them looked to be made of the same dull stone as the mountains around here, and were heavily cracked at various points. Some were even missing limbs.

A hellhound statue in particular stood out ahead of the others. It wore jagged claw marks across it’s chest, stretching out in a straight line that met where the end where one of it’s massive arms used to sit. It’s stoney body stretched and breathed like a normal being, but each time it did, grains of stone crumbled off of it’s injuries. It caught my gaze at it, and uttered a low growl to me.

“Mason.” The creature in front of me spoke, perking the ears of the enormous stone hound. “Do me a favor and watch the blue one. I don’t trust her.”

The hellhound responded in silence by lifting it’s remaining stone arm. In it, it held some sort of boxy weapon. It reminded me of the rectangular energy weapons the Enclave sometimes issued, but it looked... crude. Coiled copper wires ran along the length under it’s shrouded barrel, and a square nozzle stuck out it’s front. Overall, I couldn’t be sure what kind of weapon it was, only that it would probably kill me if I did anything wrong.

“There is no need for that.” Delilah spoke up sharply. “Just tell us what you want. Can you be more specific than just ‘entertainment’?”

“Sure, but where’s the fun in that?” The creature chortled. “Do you have any books perhaps? I love a good story, and I’ve already read everything in the hospital library.”

Hospital? Looking over to the yellow building, it hit me. That’s the same yellow that the Ministry of Peace used. Could this have been some wartime facility? But what was it doing so far up in the mountains away from everything else?

“I do not.” Delilah lied. Well, she wasn’t specifically lying, but the one book we did have was something I’m sure any of us would fight our way out of here to keep.

“You’re lying.” The creature grumbled. “But that’s fine, I have an idea for how I can obtain your book.” I wasn’t quite sure how it knew, but again it’s wing protruded from it’s robes. “Are you a gambling donkey? I’ve always been quite fond of gambling, so would you like to make a wager? Perhaps, with your book as the prize?”

“Ma, let me do this.” Happy spoke up, drawing an exasperated sigh from Delilah. “You know I’m good at gambling, I can win whatever game he want’s to play.” He stood up tall, hoofing back his well combed black mane before he straightened out his floral print shirt. “Gin Rummy, Blackjack, any kind of Poker. I’ll take you on.”

“Quiet, Happy.” She growled to him, shooting back an angry glare that simply made him harumph. “What did you have in mind, mr…?”

“My name is Lexikos Calcatrix.” The creature spoke. Slowly, it’s wing reached up and tipped back the thick cloak that obscured it. What emerged from under the fabric was grotesque and unlike anything I’d ever seen before. A small, round bird with the head and wings of a chicken met my eyes, but the lower half of it was like it had been fused with a snake. It’s reptilian scales and avian feathers were made of the same stone as around here, and a dozen or so glowing red eyes populated it’s head like boils. They each tweaked and blinked on their own, each one gazing in a different direction all at once.

“Is there something easier we could call you?” Happy spoke up, quickly getting another annoyed glare from Delilah.

“I suppose.” The odd creature grumbled, rubbing it’s small wing under it’s cracked stoney beak. “Back in the days of the war, there were some who called me…” It paused, looking up with a smirk. “Lex.”

“Wait, the war?” Like always, the words tumbled out of my loose muzzle. However, my question only drew an equally annoyed look from both Delilah and the creature before me.

“Yes.” It spat. “You ponies and your dreadful tiff with the zebra. I was drawn into your war and used as a weapon when I had no part in your petty conflict.” It glared at Delilah, it’s eyes burning like hot coals. “I gave my legs for that war. Your war.” Pointing back at the statues standing behind it, the creature snarled, “Each of Equestria’s cocitraces gave up something for that war, and then we were sent here to die in this terrible, isolated place.” A short silence fell across the air before the creature gave out a small sigh as it looked over it’s own stoney body. “But I have to thank the zebras for their bombs. These wondrous mutations have helped me survive and to convert my compatriots here to living stone. I’ve used them to take my revenge on ponykind tenfold over the years, all thanks to traders and looters who have mistakenly happened across my fair hospital...”

“Well, Lex,” Delilah cleared her throat, pulling a multi-eyed twitching glare from the small creature. “I would love to hear more about your bit-a-dozen tragic past, but my crew and I have places to go. So like you said, let's talk business.”

“I propose a riddle.” A wretched smile pulled across Lex’s warped face, and it’s each of it’s eyes brightened to match the pair around it’s beak. “If you can solve the riddle, then you will be allowed passage through these grounds. If not…”

“You’ll get my book and turn us to stone.” Delilah spoke flatly, pulling the thunder of the creature’s words right out from under it. “Yeah, get on with it.”

“You have terrible manners, do you know that?” Lex looked stunned for a moment, but shook off the sharp remark. “However, if you are so eager to become permanent fixtures of our stone garden, then so be it. Listen up, because I will not repeat myself.” Lex gave a wretched hack to clear his throat, so much of one in fact that a pair of stones flew out of his mouth and scattered across the asphalt. “An egotistical and tyrannical king trots into an empty room to reflect upon his own power, wealth, and greatness. As he enters, he is approached by three separate challengers to his rightful place on the throne. However, as much as he wants to, he cannot bring himself to strike them down. Why is this?”

That’s an absurd question!? How is that even fair!?

“One challenger is his shadow, the other his echo in the empty room, and the last his own reflection on the mirrored wall.” Delilah spoke up without missing a beat, “All three are technically himself, and the king is vain enough that he cannot harm anything resembling himself.” With a bored sigh, Delilah blinked as Lex all but turned white as a sheet.

“Hey, I remember that one from when I was a little colt!” Happy laughed.

“I said stay quiet, Happy.” She grumbled and stomped her hoof, making him flinch. “Now that you're done wasting my time with a question out of a foals book of fairy tales, I'd like you to move your vehicle out of the road so my crew and I can get moving again.”

“No.” Lex screamed, sharply pointing his wing at Delilah. “I will not be bested. Not in two centuries has anyone guessed right, and I will not accept defeat by the likes of you.” As Lex glared at her, the statues behind him rose their guns and pointed them at us. “Double or nothing.”

“I’ve already won free passage for my crew.” Delilah snorted again. “What more would I need from a creature like you?”

“If you were to best me a second time, I will turn myself to stone.” Lex twisted his beak into a snarl that he turned and showed to all his statues behind him. “No pony would ever need to fear Stonetown again, and everything I have collected would become yours.” Nodding to the Hellhound, it shifted its aim right for Delilah. “Do not mistake my words as a friendly request.”

“Fine.” She sighed, sitting down. “Because I have no other choice, I accept.”

“Excellent! However...” Lex giggled, “You, my dear jenny, are not allowed to answer.” Raising his wing, he shifted it along the rest of us, ending it on me with a burning glare. “Only they may answer.”

“Hey, that’s not fair.” Violet groaned. “What are you trying to…” The words died in her throat as Delilah shifted her gaze to her.

“Alright, if there are no objections then…” Lex gleefully rubbed his tiny wings together. “Remember, I will not repeat myself, and you will only speak up if you have an answer.” I had a pit in my stomach forming this whole time already, but it dropped straight to the ground as the small creatures seemed to focus all of it’s eyes on me. “What is the exact optimum angular velocity of a teenaged pegasus mare in a forty five degree dive?”

What!? I thought it was going to be a riddle, not a science pop quiz. Nopony could possibly… this was fucking insane! I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from shouting every obscenity to this pint sized tyrant. Still, someone had to answer…

“Like, miles or kilometers per hour, man?” Surprisingly, the first one to answer was Gearbox.

“Ooo, yeah!” Boiler tacked on with an elated gasp. “Or what about knots!? Bombay knows how fun those are,” She gave me a wink that made my eye twitch. “if yah know what I’m sayin’...” Oh goddesses, don’t make this about Buck and I!

“If you’re basing this off Night there,” Violet hummed and hawed as she spoke, tapping her wingtips against her chin. “Are you accounting for his flat feathers on this hypothetical mare or not?”

“Also, what altitude would this mare start from and end on? Air resistance also factors in with that.” Hispano grumbled. “Urf, it’s still too early in the day for that much math…”

"I... what… that's not fair! You can’t ask me questions, you have to answer me plainly!" Lex closed his numerous eyes tightly, curling his stubby small wings and trembling with a profound rage that I could almost feel from where I stood. You know what, maybe it wasn't the smartest idea to piss this thing off with a sarcastic answer… “In all my years, never have I met more insolent…”

*PING*

A sharp sound rang through the air as Lex was rendered into nothing more than a fine, grey dust. The resounding sound drifted off into the surrounding mountains as the small creature was just… gone. The sharp whine of a filling capacitor drew my attention to the Hellhound with the boxy rifle. Slowly, it raised it’s rifle up and laid it across it’s shoulder.

“We've been waiting years to beat him at his own game, but he'd always kept at least one eye open on us at all times.” The hellhound, Mason, spoke with a gravelly tone that reminded me of Buck’s voice when he’d been disappointed in me. One of unspeakable sorrow, but still strong enough to say what must be said. “He's held us all hostage as his ‘entertainment’ in this town for far too long when none of us care anymore about his petty hatred towards ponies. But you've given us the opportunity to free ourselves, and for that, we will always be in your debt.”

“I don’t want anything he owned, I just want to get back on the road. You are free to do whatever.” Delilah raised her hoof to her glasses and pulled them off, inspecting them before hoofing off a single errant hair that had fallen across them. “My crew and I bid you a good day and the best of luck with your town.”

“You don’t want to check any of the caravans?” The hellhound almost looked surprised at her words. To be honest, I was a little bit as well. “We have many things you might find useful, and many of us are too damaged to return our wagons to where we came from. Besides, I’ve always found it peaceful in these mountains. However, being a well read donkey, perhaps you may be interested in some of the books Lex kept in the library?”

“Actually,” Delilah’s ear’s perked at that. “I have one to leave. It's not for reading, but at least I'll know it's safe here. It must never leave this place unless in the grasp of one of my crew you see before you today. Do you understand?”

“Ma’am, are you sure that’s smart?” Violet spoke up as she took a step forward. “If Solomon ever finds out that it's here, he'll come in and destroy this place looking for it.”

I couldn’t fault her on that. Leaving the book here would mean that Solomon could just backtrack for it. Sure we’d get ahead again, but he could always catch up again, or worse, beat us there. Still, for Violet and I, the steeled glance that Delilah gave us was the only answer we needed.

“Let him try!” Mason laughed, sending crumbling bits down from the cracks across his body. “Whoever this ‘Solomon’ is, he will find that we are not so easy to kill. At least, not yet anyway.” Looking down at the pile of grey dust that was once Lex, Mason snorted. “Now that Lex is dead, I am not sure what will be come of the rest of us affected by his magics. However, that is not your problem to worry about. We will look after the book.”

“Thank you.” Delilah gave a courteous nod before turning around to the rest of us. Taking in a deep breath, she closed her eyes and stood there in silence for a moment. Slowly, she opened one eye again and looked over her crew. “What the fuck are you all just standing around for?” Her sharp words were an ambush against all of us, and we all jumped about a foot into the air. “Let’s get back on the road already!”

“To all you fine honeys out there tuning into Factory Radio, it’s time for some uplifting news. Reports have been trickling in from a little settlement in the north you all may have heard of. News is that Destruction Bay is under new management. That’s right, the former leader of the H.M.S. Mercy has stepped down following the death of one Mrs. Tapit. You heard me right, folks, Mr. Wizard’s one and only connection to the chem producing city is out, and from what we here at Factory Radio have heard through the grapevine, is that his influence is out for good. Let’s hope this signals the return of the Volunteer Corps, so that aid can once again reach those of you who need it. But for now, like always, I’m going to leave you with a little something new to celebrate with. So get on that dance floor and show everypony your sweet, sweet dance moves.”

There was a sharp bump in the road as the convoy rolled back down the mountains and onto highway five from our ‘detour’. It startled the sleepy griffon who sat curled against me on the rec area couch, but Hispano only mumbled before pressing herself against me again. Shivering, I pulled the rainbow rug around the two of us and tried to focus on the music that DJ PowerColt was playing at the moment. Yet, my mind wandered down to the metal tags sitting around my neck.

Delilah had trusted me with the key to finding the Ark, but I almost screwed that up by being too zealous and overconfident. Looking back out on the road behind us, I found that some of the snow down at this lower altitude was thinner, and a short, but light rain had created a haze in the thankfully now fogless air. Now that even that had passed, the bright sun above did it’s best to pour it’s warmth down onto us through the wet and slushy snow filled forests around us.

I wasn’t sure how it could rain here while it was so cold, or why it didn’t even feel like the sun helped anything at all. But like our encounter earlier, I should have assumed that things wouldn’t align to make any sense. The wasteland was a confusing chaotic mess to me, and even if I was the only pony who saw it that way, it didn’t make adapting to it any less important.

I heard the latch on Happy and Lucky’s container flip out of its ring, and looked over in time to watch Happy walk out with a yawn. His shirt was wrinkled, and he carried his small guitar across his back. Shortly after squinting from meeting the light of day again, came a shiver that ran across his entire body. With a groan he looked down at me and trotted over. Without even asking, he shoved himself down next to me on the couch and leaned over.

“Oh, geez it’s cold.” He mumbled as he gave a few huffs into his forehooves. “You don’t mind if I join you?”

“Uh,” Yeah, I really do. “I guess not.” I grunted and pulled the rainbow rug around Hispano and I tighter. Gee, it’s almost like if you were cold, then why did you come out here in the first place?

"Hey, can I ask you something, Night?" The almost hesitant tone that came from Happy perked my ears. Well, I guess that was one reason he could have come out here. “Do you... think I'm a joke?”

“What…?” I didn’t quite understand why he’d ask me that, or what he’d even expected to hear as an answer.

“It's just, I've seen the way Ma’ treats you.” He sighed, slumping further back into the couch like he was trying to become part of it. “She’s never looked at me the same way she does with you.”

“Like what?” While I do understand that she may have seen the ‘potential for leadership’ in me, I don’t think she gave me any special look or anything. “What do you mean?”

“She looks at you like you have the potential to be somepony. Like you ain’t a screwup.” He muttered with a sheltered resentment, but as I went to point out that I am far from perfect, he raised his hoof to silence me. “I know you’ve screwed up a lot,” Well that wasn’t quite how I was going to phrase it… “But, she believes in you, Night. She’s never even given me a second look, not even after my dad… was gone.”

“I… don’t really know what she sees in me, to be honest.” I wasn’t sure if I could find the right words, but my muzzle didn’t care. “I’m still just getting to know myself as I am now, and even then, she seems to know me better than myself most of the time.” With a sigh, I looked at Happy. My eyes wandered from his meticulously coiffed mane, down to his flashy floral print red shirt. “Maybe you’re the same way.” My words pulled a confused look from him. “Or maybe it’s because she doesn’t like who you’re pretending to be.”

“You mean like, my threads?” Happy looked down at his shirt before a stiff laugh forced it’s way out of his muzzle. “Come on, it can’t be that! It’s just a stupid shirt, it doesn’t make me, Me, you know?”

“Yeah, but it’s part of the whole package of you.” I paused, trying to find a way to explain it. “Why do you have the attitude you do? Why use that fake accent around every mare? Why do you style your mane up like that?”

“Cause this is the King’s style, ya’ dig?” Happy flipped the collar of his shirt up and crossed his forehooves. “Ya’ got a problem with it, then why don’t ya’ get lost? Just tryin’ ta’ have a nice conversation was all.”

“That right there.” I reached over and prodded at Happy’s chest. “That’s what I’m talking about. You aren’t really like that, Happy. That’s not you.”

“Yeah, but it’s all I know!” He growled before a disgusting smirk pulled it’s way across his muzzle. “It’s all that my father left with me. I hated that bastard, but he introduced me to the King’s music, he let me watch the King’s old films.” Calming himself, he looked down at his shirt as his words grew softer. “The King… he had something that my father could never have in a million years. He had Marewaii, a paradise he shared with everypony around him. Everything he was, everything he stood for, it all helped him to reach it and become the King. That’s why I follow in his hoofsteps, because one day, I’ll take a boat and sail there to join him.”

“But what if that’s why Delilah doesn’t take you seriously?” My words tore him out of his own head. He scrunched up his muzzle, searching for something to say while I continued. “You know your mom hates everything that had to do with your father after what he did to you. Maybe she’s just afraid that you’ll become the same as he was.”

“Yeah, she’s already told me that.” He waved his hoof at me dismissively. “But I don’t care about the same thing as my father. He only wanted to find Marewaii for the drinks and the mares. It ain’t about that though, it’s about finding paradise.” Odd, because based on the way he acts, I would have assumed that Happy would want to go for the exact same reason... “You say you know this isn’t me, Night, but the real me? He’s a nopony. In following the King, I feel like I’m finally somepony in this wasteland, a real cool cat that can roll with the best of them.” Looking down, he pulled his guitar close to him. “Without the Uke, my shirt, any of it… I feel like I’m nothing out here.”

“Well,” Buck’s voice came from our container’s doorway, startling me enough that I nearly flopped against Happy. “Then you need to stop worrying about what your mother and others think, and just be who you need to be.”

“Really?” Happy huffed as he pushed me off of him. “You think I should?”

“I stood in my own way for long enough.” I gave him a nod, bringing a softer smile back to his muzzle. “If being that way makes you feel like you matter, then that is all that matters.”

“Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Thank you, both of you. It means a lot to hear that.” Happy gave a soft laugh as his smile faded. “Though, it doesn’t matter in the end anyway. I’ll never make it out to Marewaii.”

“Really? Why do you think that?” Hardcase called out as he trotted out of his room with a light shiver. “We are looking for a boat, after all.”

“True.” Happy gave another stiff laugh at that.

And as odd as it was, it made me laugh too. Like an infection, we all laughed, unfortunately rousing Hispano from her sleep. As she blinked and did her best to wake up from her short nap, a smile crawled across her beak for a moment before she looked out the back of the Rec area. She gave a few squinting blinks before going wide eyed.

Before a single sound could escape her beak, a shrieking whistle pierced the air, followed by an explosive blast that lit up the road behind us. From far down the road, a square tan tank rolled toward us at a good clip, flanked by what looked to be the BT-42 from Destruction Bay.

Before either of us could react from the first shot, a bright flash emitted from the gun on Guinness and Zibar’s tank. The shrieking shell slammed under the back of Lucky and the runner, and enveloped it in another blinding blast.

The cannon shot echoed off into the distance as bits of shrapnel sprinkled across the rec area’s floor. While it didn’t seem like it was a direct hit, the runner itself was blasted and tossed through the air. Rending slams filled our ears as the runner, with Lucky inside, rolled a few times before it dropped into the ditch alongside the road as a nearly unidentifiable mass of twisted, smoldering metal.

Shit.

Author's Note

Sorry for the shorter than average chapter this week, but with the way it ends, I can be you'll understand why I ended it there.

As always, big thanks to TheFurryRailFan for giving this chapter a going over before it's posted to help tighten it up! And of course, many thanks to Kkat for creating and letting us all run around in this fantastic wasteland universe.

Chapter 30 - Acceptable Losses

Tanks should never leave the established roads.

Five seconds. That’s how much time we had to react between their volleys.

“Zoomer, get Boiler’s axel gaurd down!” Delilah’s strained voice snapped over the coms. “Bombay, you and Hispano get down to Boiler, then get over to those tanks and…”

Her voice was obscured as another of the rounds from the two pursuing tanks went off right behind Bertha. Bits of roadway and hot shrapnel showered the floor of the Rec area as I struggled to get my saddle on. Even though combat was becoming familiar, my legs were shaking so much that it was hard to pull up my saddle. All the while, I was counting in my head.

Four. Five.

BOOM!

The stubby howitzer on the BT-42 barked and let off an arching shot. The air shook as the shot again landed just short of Bertha’s tires. Another spray of debris sprinkled the deck around me.

Violet streaked past, using the time between shots to unhook one of the chains that sat pinned up by Laika’s capsule. She gave a grunt over our headset as she ripped out a metal pin and pushed herself away. With a loud slam, the floor under my hooves vibrated as if we’d lost the whole damn underside of Bertha.

“Plate’s down!” Violet called out. “I'm going to take out those fuckers.”

BOOM!

A flash from Guinness and Zibar’s tank preempted a screaming shot flying above us.

“Negative, Zoomer.” Delilah’s sharp voice made me wince as I finally got the last of my straps on. “Don't do anything that would endanger the crew. Solomon is still looking for an excuse to justify murdering all of us.”

Pushing myself to move, I nearly threw myself down into the ice hold. Another resounding blast carried through the air. This time, it was replaced by another gong-like noise similar to what I’d heard during the attack by the Whitehorse Militia.

“Then can we at least kill the other guys!?” Hispano grunted as she too flopped down into the cover of the hold. Quickly, we burst across the small space and threw open the door to the front of Bertha.

“Negative.” Delilah’s answers were sounding infuriatingly similiar now! Great! “We don't need all of Cordite on us either. Kill them if you have to, but do what you can to disable them first. Boiler’s got something for that.”

As she said that, Boiler trotted out from the ammo storage cage up front with a few bulky looking grenades cradled in her forehoof. Another shot rang out off of whatever metal plate that Violet had lowered, and the three of us cringed as we felt the metal resonating under our hooves.

“These are thermite charges!” Boiler called out as she began to swap out my normal allotment of grenades. “Put them in places where there’s moving parts, and then get out of there, got it?” Looking up at her, I gave her a firm nod. To which, she sharply jabbed at my chest. “Do not put them over the engine unless you want a steam explosion to cook both you and them alive!”

“Got it…!” I tried to respond, only to get cut off by a blast of fire coming from overhead. Buck and I’s container shifted a few inches outward as bits of flaming tarp flopped over the side of it.

“Shit, Hardcase!” Violet cried out.

“I’m alright!” Hardcase groaned. “Landed in the Rec area. They got my gun mount, and most of the container it was attached to. Sorry Boiler!”

“Where’s that distraction I asked for?” Delilah’s angry voice made me jump. As I did, I felt Hispano’s talon grab around my side and yank me toward the open edge of the Hauler. Putting my hooves onto the railing, I kicked off and spread my wings. It wasn’t a launch from the Dizzitron, but the speed at which Bertha was moving helped to give me some altitude. Getting my forehooves into position, I rolled myself around, and aimed myself right at the pursuing vehicles.

“Alright, they didn’t have co-axial guns last time I saw their tanks, so we’ve just got to avoid the cannon fire from the front.” Hispano called out as she came up alongside me. Looking at the menacing armored vehicles approaching, I watched and waited for the next shot. “Five seconds to intercept!”

BOOM!

The air between Hispano and I shattered as the tank round shot past us. It caught me by surprise, and the distortion it caused nearly pulled me straight down toward the pavement. I tried my best to correct it, but it had cost me a few feet in altitude. It wasn’t much, but at this rate, I’d be on the ground by the time we reached them. So instead, I tilted a few degrees forward to maintain my airspeed.

“Dum Dum, you’re too low!” Hispano squawked in my ear.

“I can make it.” My heart pounded against my chest, as the ground drew closer. Five feet, four feet. The boxy tan tank that had seemed so far off just moments ago loomed bigger than ever ahead of me. The noise of it’s rattling armor and tracks nearly drowned out everything as I squinted, focusing on just when to act.

“Night!” Hispano snapped at me. She slammed down onto the top of Guinness and Zibar’s tank, dropping Suiza before raising her Talons out to me. Goddesses, I hope I don’t miss!

Torquing my wings up, I arched my back and pulled for altitude. At the same time, I pulled my forelegs closer, and let my rear legs hang. The air around me acted like a net as I strained to keep my wings from folding back. My body compressed against the air, and the world around me went black and white for a moment before the calamitous sound of the tank filled my ears.

A force ripped me down hard, and my head bounced painfully off the rattling metal plates of the tank.

“You fucking idiot!” Hispano spat at me, letting go of my harness. “What were you thinking going that low? What if I didn’t catch you!?”

The rest of the world returned to me as I shook off my rough landing. Looking up from my place on the tank, I could once again see the odd armor bulges that ran along the turret of Guinness and Zibar’s tank. Along with that, was the red painted lettering that read Remember El Alemane! Oh, how I didn’t miss seeing those letters while nearly unconscious on this tank…

BOOM!

The BT-42’s howitzer fired off again, and I could feel the heat it gave off wash over my body as I sat back up. Right, we had a job to do. It was about then that I felt a heavy and very cold piece of metal press down across my back.

“That’s enough out of you!” Hispano growled as she racked the bolt on Suiza. “You’re not the best bracing, but you’re all I’ve got, so you might want to hold still, Night!” Realizing what was about to happen, I threw my hooves up over my ears and pulled my wings shut tight.

You know, back at the Depot in Destruction Bay, I was surprised to learn that Suiza could fire in full auto mode. It had been a frightening thought to me that a cannon like this could fire off a dozen rounds a in couple seconds or so, but that was before I’d felt what that was like. Now? I was terrified.

Suiza chattered in one second bursts. Each pulse of shots felt like a dozen hugs from Jean mixed together with the jumbled feeling of my insides after a run on the Dizzitron. Still, even though I was being absolutely battered by the enormous gun, I watched in awe as Hispano’s shots sparked off of the two tracked sides of the BT-42.

Whether through luck or skill, Hispano’s four bursts absolutely tattered the tracks. With a rending shriek, both quickly running tracks stripped away from around the suspension of the small tank. I smiled and felt a bit of relief as both the tracks were gone, and Hispano pulled the sizzling, warm barrel away from my side.

We watched as the BT-42 faltered in it’s pace for a moment, it’s suspension shifting under the unsupported weight of the tank. I’d almost hoped that it would lean too far to one side and flop over onto the road. That ghoul commander and his crew had been nice enough in Destruction Bay, but now? They could fucking die for all I cared.

“Wait…” I could almost feel as Hispano’s jaw dropped. As if the ghoul and his crew simply willed it not to, the suspension stiffened under the small tank, and the naked wheels pulled the vehicle along at an even faster pace than before. “It can drive on it’s road wheels!?” She screamed out, hammering Suiza back against the turret sitting behind her. “That’s not fucking fair!”

“Only on smooth roads. Bertha's too big for them to get around with this terrain, so they're stuck following behind us.” Delilah’s calm voice held more than the hint of frustration that had been in it before. “But unfortunately, that’s also why Bessy is stuck up front, so Howitzer and I can’t help.”

Almost as if they’d heard that admission, I watched in frustrated silence as the BT-42 actually picked up speed. In a matter of moments, it had passed Guinness and Zibar’s tank, and was steadily approaching the smoking rear of the Hauler. As it did, the cannon sitting just feet in front of us went off. I was blinded by the flash, and it left me with the after image of the red words on the side of the turret burned into my mind again.

“Going to ask them to play nice, or are you going to stop the one you’re sitting on already!?” Voilet’s voice called out into our ears. With a purple flash, Violet dipped down out of the sky. Her twin rifles barked in quick succession, punching a few holes in the rear top armor of the BT-42. Her shots made the small tank swerve slightly, and in doing so it lost a bit of ground.

“Violet’s right.” I grunted as I got up. Lifting my wing up, I nearly shoved myself against the furious griffon next to me. “Help me get these charges placed!”

Yanking two of them from my side, Hispano shoved one of the round charge-things into my muzzle. Spinning around, I looked for a place that I could put it down. The bouncing exhaust cap to the engine roared open, and the whole tank under us shifted. Hispano and I both whined as we lost our hoofing and slammed down onto the deck. I made the mistake of crying out, and my charge flew from my muzzle. I watched in annoyance as it bounced along the back of the tank, and rolled off onto the ground behind us.

Shit.

“Right here, Bombay!” Hispano spoke up. “Help me pull up this access plate!” She called out from the front corner of the tank. As she turned around to me, there was an electric whine that filled the air around us. With a greater speed that I would have thought possible, the turret of the tank swiveled around.

Hispano was quick to hop up over it, but I was still getting my hooves under me again as it spun. I tried to push myself up and over the barrel, but as I lifted my legs, my saddle harness and prosthetic leg snagged around the end of the barrel. Quickly, I found myself hooked and dragged around as the turret continued its spin around over the other side of the tank. There, it stopped when I was dangling over the side of the tank, and only a few feet up off of the speeding pavement below me.

“Hah, I got one of them!” An unfamiliar voice came in over our headset. Wait, had they been fucking listening to us this whole time!? “Should I drag her back and let the suspension deal with her, or force her to slide off the end of our gun, Guinness?” Looking over at the quickly spinning parts of their tank, the rusted tracks looked to me like a giant bandsaw at this speed, and the road wheels looked an awful lot like enormous sawblades.

Panic set in as I moved to unhook my harness. If the choice was either getting pushed into that, or scraped along the road, I’d take my chances with the road any day. I froze up as another resounding shot from Suiza sparked off the back end of their turret.

“Sorry,” Hispano grumbled as she pulled Suiza back and set it on top of the turret. “Looks like you made a poor choice.”

“Yer wee’ cannon canne do a damn thing ta our tank.” Guinness's voice filled my ears with a laugh, and it filled my body with anger. “Zibar, quit messing around and deal with the bitch so we can get back ta shootin’ tha bastards!”

The turret gave out another electric whine, and instantly I moved to unhook myself. However, the turret gave a violet shake for a moment, but didn’t budge from its orientation. Another few whines and shakes later, and still nothing. In that moment, I think I was just about as confused as Zibar was...

“What the…” Zibar’s annoyance bled through my headset. “Awww, come on! She’s fucking jammed!”

“Twenty mil shot to the turret ring will do that.” Hispano cooed as she gave a few knocks against the top hatch. “Better luck next time, boys.”

“You little…” Guinness’s insult was cut off by another resounding gong-like hit from the BT-42 as it rolled right up behind Bertha. As the noise bled off, his insult had been replaced with laughter. “Hah. We’ll see how yer cheeky armored plate fares when Ole’ Poppy get’s his cannon right up into yer underside!”

Looking up, I was helpless to do anything but watch as the small tank did just that. The stubby howitzer was elevated to the point that it was sticking nearly straight up. With another bright flash, the underside of Bertha disappeared in a fireball and a cloud of smoke. Sparks and the sound of scraping metal filled the air ahead.

Through the clearing haze and the smell of burned cordite, the BT-42 was forced back by the enormously heavy metal plate still hanging on to the underside of Bertha by a single hinge. The massive armored plate still mostly obscured the axle behind it, but it wasn’t going to take another hit from that howitzer.

“You stop them now or we lose that plate and we’re finished.” Delilah growled over her mike. “Whatever the cost. Get. it. Done.”

“On it, Ma’am.” Hispano called back, hoisting up Suiza and using the turret in front of her as a brace this time. “I’ll stop them for good.” Her words themselves were cold, unfeeling.

It felt wrong to hear her say that, to just be ready to kill them just that easily. But what could we do? I watched as the battered and weakened plate swung like a pendulum, bouncing in time with the BT-42 as it hit each bump in the road. It was like watching the internals on a clock, physically ticking down the seconds until either the end of our journey, or theirs.

It was then that my eyes were pulled up to another swinging object. Laika’s pod strained against the chains that held it up, bouncing with each bump as well… right over the BT-42. Something in my head clicked, and even before I knew it, the words had already left my muzzle.

“Hispano!” I cried out. “The chains on Laika's capsule! It’s a pendulum!”

Her eyes darted from me, back toward the hauler before they lit up. “Get wrecked, suckers!”

In an instant, she tensed up and pulled the trigger. Suiza let of a quick chatter of shots, punching through the high tech, but relatively armorless space capsule. One of the chains holding it up sparked and snapped violently, letting gravity take it for one last ride. Like a billion equestrian bit wrecking ball, it’s momentum slammed it against the side of the BT-42.

The already overtaxed suspension of the light tank couldn’t handle the weighty hit, and the whole of it was thrown onto it’s side. In a spectacular fashion, the tank crashed down onto the pavement, sparking as it drifted and skidded off the side of the road into the snow covered vegetation.

“Holy shit…” Violet’s giggling voice came over our headsets. “It’s a grand slam, and it’s going, going... it’s gone, folks!” I honestly couldn’t understand a single thing Violet meant with her words, but both Hispano and I found her infectious laughter bring smiles to each of us. Of course, it didn’t last.

“To my crew, keep your muzzles shut. To the idiots in the other tank,” Delilah’s voice was seething with rage. “I’m going to ask you this once, so you take a good long second to think about this.” Even clinging on to this barrel as hard as I could as it were, the anger in her voice was more than I’d ever heard on this trip so far, and it legitimately shook me to my core to hear. “Is this worth your life? Is whatever Solomon promised you worth continuing to come after us? Or should we just stop you now and be done with your pathetic attempts.” With a click, Delilah’s voice dropped off, and the heavy noise that the tank Hispano and I rode on filled our ears again.

Looking over, I watched as Hispano held the thermite charge in her talon, with her claw through the pin. Glancing over to me, she offered me a sad look, before slowly pulling her claw away from the pin. My ears perked under my coms helmet as another crackle came over it.

“No.” Guinness’s voice came over flatly. With a jolt that threw Hispano and I forward slightly, the tank began to slow down. Slower and slower we moved, watching Bertha speed off down the road away from us until we finally came to a complete stop. “Ten thousand bits isn’t worth it, not anymore.”

It… was over. Just like that, we’d beaten them, and they knew it.

“I say,” The gravely voice of the BT-42’s ghoul commander came over with a crackle. “Is that all you were getting paid? Didn’t you say you’ve been working for this chap for a few years now?” Again, how the hell did they even get these comms channels!? Am I the only one who liked to stick to a single channel!? “The caps you offered us were low for a job, and we only accepted because we were already going to be headed south anyway. If I had anything to say about it, I’d suggest you boys come work with us at Cordite! You’ll definitely find it more lucrative than what you’re making now.”

“I assume this is the Cordite crew?” Delilah snapped. “Are we going to have problems from you as well?”

“Negative on that, Convoy lead. I’m afraid to say our vehicle is well out of commission. In fact, we’ll have to break out the old flare gun and give the recovery crew at Pink Mountain a little signal.” The ghoul’s tone was hard to surmise over the radio with his gravelly voice, but he did give off a stiff laugh as well. “But I say, you gave us quite the real wallop there. Good show of ingenuity!”

“Okay.” Delilah’s sighed, seeming to relax through her words in a way that even forced me relax a bit. “Well, everypony stop here for now. I need the Doc to get in Bessy as soon as possible. We need to go back for Lucky.” The image of the runner getting tossed around like that… I wasn’t sure what Delilah had hoped to find. “Violet, Hispano, Night. You three detain those tanker idiots until I decide what to do with them. They just better hope that Lucky is still alive when we get back to him.”

“Alright, Dum Dum.” Hispano smirked. “Stop hanging around, it’s time to get back to work.”

Tugging at my harness, I fumbled at one of the latches that held it onto me. Unfortunately, between the cold air and the fact that the adrenaline was now draining from my system, my other hoof slipped. I gave out a yelp as I dropped off the barrel, and my caught harness went taut around me. Swinging upside down, I offered the face-taloning Hispano a nervous smile.

“Uh… a little help?”

You know, other than the fact that we lost the tarp, and there was a hoof sized hole punched into this side of Boiler and Gearbox’s container, Bertha hadn’t emerged from the fight too worse for the wear. Though, I guess we did lose Hardcase’s gun mount, and the wall facing the rec area was the only part of their container to survive, so it could have gone better.

“Hey, um…” Zibar whispered and leaned over to me from his place on the couch. He cupped his bound forehooves together and lowered his voice a bit as he spoke. “About the whole… drag you into the suspension thing…” He paused, as Guinness gave an annoyed grunt, but continued giving me a nervous look. “You aren’t going to hold that against me… are you?”

“No.” I sighed and facehooved hard. “As much as I’d like to, I’m not going to hurt either of you.”

“Plus as I hear it, he did hit you in the chest with a cannon breech up at Fort Mac.” Violet called out with a fluttering beat of her wings. “Still wish I could have been there to see it happen.” Coming in slow from her trip out to the runner, she pulled my attention out behind Bertha, where Bessy was quickly coming up the road towards us. From the fact that it wasn’t even being towed, I was pretty sure we could write it off as completely totaled.

“Hey!” Gearbox whined as he scrambled up the stairs from the ice hold. His eyes were bloodshot from the stream of tears still flowing from them, and his whole body trembled as he tried to even stay standing. “Is… is my brother alright?”

“The good news is he’s alive.” Violet nodded as she came down onto the railing of the rec area next to him. Putting her hoof on his trembling shoulder, she gave him a few pats. “He’ll be okay, the Doc is doing his best with him as we speak.”

“See hun, I told yah he’d be fine.” Boiler spoke up weakly from the stairs behind him. “Your brother is too stubborn to die.”

“Yeah.” Gearbox gave a soft laugh before wiping his tears away with his peg leg. “Yeah, I should have listened to you. I was just… so scared I’d lost him…” His words drifted away as his eyes swung over and met with Zibar’s nervous gaze. “You… bastards!”

Even before I’d had a chance to act, Gearbox, our normally completely laid back drug addict zebra, charged at our hostages. It all happened so fast, that I hadn’t even had time to speak up before he was inches away from strangling the life from Zibar. However, Violet moved with him, and managed to restrain him just long enough for Boiler to climb up and help to pull her husband back.

“Hey!” Boiler snapped at him. I’d never seen somepony who looked that determined, or as filled with rage as Gearbox was in that moment. “Calm yourself, Xolani. It’s over.” That is of course, until she said that. In an instant, I felt just as confused as Gearbox looked.

“Don’t...” Gearbox sniffled as he was tugged straight back into Boiler’s hooves, “You know I hate that name…”

“Yes, but in my defence, you weren’t listening.” Boiler sighed, sitting down hard before looking up directly at me. “That, and they won’t ever repeat that name again. Right?”

“Yeah.” Violet spoke as she stepped up and gave me a poke in the side. I gave both her and Boiler a quick nod, still trying to understand why Gearbox didn’t like that name. Or moreso, how it had taken this long for me to even hear his real name in the first place. “Lucky and the others will be back here in just a moment, okay? Why don’t you two go calm down in his container for a while? The doc will come and get you when Lucky’s well enough to see you, alright?”

“Yeah, come on, hun.” Boiler grunted, practically hoisting Gearbox up onto her back. Gearbox began to sob softly again as she carried them into Happy and Lucky’s container, shutting the door behind them.

The sound of Bessy driving along the road built up as they pulled around the side of Bertha and came to a stop. A flutter from above me caught my attention, and I watched as Hispano dipped down from the cloud that her Father was staying in. She pointed off down the road, waving for me to follow her. I was hoping she didn’t want to fly too far, or talk about anything too important. I was kinda already emotionally and physically spent for the day already, and I didn’t need to find anymore trouble, or deal with any more drama. As I got to my hooves, I felt as Violet put her own hoof on my side.

“Hey,” She said, literally pulling my attention to her. “Don’t be gone long, alright? Be careful.”

Giving her a nod, I spread my wings and trotted toward the back of the rec area. With a hop, I pushed off, and took flight down the road again. As I stiffened my forehooves for flight and mouthed over the bit for my battle saddle, I was joined by Hispano. A sharp bang in the distance preempted a brilliant pink flare shooting into the sky, and I was pretty sure of exactly where Hispano was wanting to go.

“Komentaja, joku on tulossa!” The voice of a stallion came from through the trees. Hispano and I barely had time to even register it before there was a crack as loud as Suiza normally was.

Pulling for altitude, both Hispano and I peeled off in different directions. And here I’d thought I was done getting shot at for the day! Still, if they wanted to shoot at us, that was fine by me! Arcing myself back around toward where the shot had come from, I moved my tongue over the trigger for my grenades.

“What are you doing!? Cease fire immediately!” Another, raspy voice shouted. “Damnit, Quick Fire! Get ahold of yourself. They could be attempting to bring us aid, for all you know.”

Because of my hesitation to attack back, I was forced to either run myself into the trees, or to torque myself hard to the side. I felt my forehooves scrape against a few of the slushy snow covered branches as I arched my flight back around toward the road, barely missing impaling myself onto them. The heavy snow laden branches dropped their white payloads down toward the ground, pulling a muffled but angry sounding curse when they hit.

“There’s no need to be rude when there is much worse they could have dropped on you.” The scratchy voice quickly approached from the trees just off the side of the road. I traced the sound back to the toppled form of the BT-42 resting mostly obscured in the foliage about thirty feet up the road. The khaki uniformed ghoul who’d I’d seen with the BT-42 both times before looked slightly disheveled as he trotted onto the asphalt, but still had a stiff and proud air to him as he walked. “Ahoy there!” He smiled and waved. Poppy was the name he’d given back in Destruction Bay, right? He seemed so by the book before that I’m sure he’ll just tell me again. “Don’t mind my gunner’s nastiness, he’s still just a bit sore about losing the fight is all. He won’t be a problem again, I assure you.”

“That’s good to hear.” Hispano spoke as she came around and dropped down onto the road ahead of him. I continued my long bank around, trying to drain off my speed before lining up to come in next to her. She gave out a laugh as she hefted Suiza up onto her back, pointing over to a pair of angry blue eyes peering out from under the pile of wet snow I’d dropped from the tree above. “Though, I wasn’t really worried. Not many out in the wasteland can handle something as big as a twenty millimeter, but I’d be willing to give him a few pointers if he wanted.”

“Miten kehtaat sanoa, että!” The pony shouted as he burst up out of the slushy snow. “Aiotko antaa hänen loukata minua noin, komentaja?” The angry grey coated unicorn ghoul was clad in cold weather gear, and hefted up a small tree in his hooves as he used his magic to brush himself off. No… not a tree, but a rifle that was nearly twice as long as he was. Celestia, it was even bigger than Suiza, and sported its own pair of short olive green skis as a bi-pod!

“Well, she’s going to keep insulting you so long as she can’t understand you. Act like a proper gentle stallion and speak to them in common Equestrian, ymmärtää?” Poppy glared at him before giving a stiff stomp. The snow laden ghoul gave a hesitant nod of admission before Poppy seemed to relax a little bit. “I swear to Celestia that after two centuries, I would have thought they’d have a better understanding of proper conversational manners.” Turning to us, he threw his rotten forehoof up in a stiff salute. “But you must excuse me while I find my own manners. I am Poppy Gardener, Captain for Her late Majesty's fourth Royal Armored Regiment, and attache to the second Scandineighvian division.” Holding his hoof out to me, he seemed to pause for a moment as he looked over me.

“Yes, we’ve met before, back in Destruction Bay.” I nodded, taking his hoof and giving it a shake. I bit my tongue, resisting the urge to cringe with how squishy his flesh felt. It had sunk into me that, while I might have been alright with the concept of intelligent ghouls during my time in the wastes so far, actually being around them was something I still wasn’t quite comfortable with…

“Ah, right! You were the fine mare that Mr. Guinness wanted to start a brawl with.” He let out a raspy laugh at that before turning and grabbing onto Hispano’s talon. Giving it a hearty shake, he wore a wider smile than I’d expected from him. “Yes, now I can see exactly why he was simply infuriated at you lot. You’ve got a real knack for beating the odds, you know that?”

“Uh… thanks?” Hispano spoke with words that I couldn’t have uttered more accurately. “Actually, I came out here to ask if you were serious about giving those two fools a job.” Wait… what? I looked over to Hispano, who seemed to noticed my glare, but ignored it anyway. “Look, they may be a pair of bumbling idiots in a tank, but I’m sure you could train them to be better.” Why would she defend those two like that!? “Plus, it would mean a lot to our convoy to know that they weren’t gunning for our flanks.”

“Well,” Poppy groaned, brushing at the stiff and well trimmed mustache adorning the end of his muzzle. “I’d have to discuss it with my superiors of course, but it would prove to be quite the catch if it did work out. With as rare as they are these days, their Centaur with it’s Trottingham-built Meteor class spell reactor would be quite an invaluable addition to Cordite!” Pulling his hoof up, he gave a tap at his head as he beamed a rotten smile at us. “And I can assure you that despite coming out on the losing side, they are quite skillful tankers. It’s far harder than one might think to be effective with only two crew members. Their gunner, Mr. Zibar, was keeping up with Quick Fire and I effortlessly in the fight, and Mr. Guinness could almost keep a better running pace with your convoy than Short Shift could!”

“Olen kuullut, että!” Another raspy voice came from the wrecked tank behind Poppy. “Olin yksinkertaisesti kohtelias antamalla heille johtoon!”

“I know, Shifty, I did say almost, didn’t I? Do fire off another flare to see if you can catch the recovery team’s eye, will you?” Poppy called back before giving a gurgling grunt that sounded like a hoof scraping on a chalkboard to me. “Things being as they are, am I correct in assuming that your crew will be heading up to the Pink Mountain lodge for the evening?”

That… was a good question. I actually didn’t know what the plan was. Looking over to Hispano, she gave me a shrug before looking back at Poppy.

“I don’t quite know, but your attack hurt our friend pretty badly. So that’s probably a safe bet.” Hispano sighed, pulling Suiza back down into her talons. “If you happen to head up there and we’re still around, it might be worth talking with Mrs. Delilah about taking in those two numbskulls. However, for now we’ve got to get back to our convoy.”

“Yes, well I will definitely look into it should we arrive in time.” Poppy stamped his hoof before stiffly saluting us again. Seriously, it was getting to be a bit much for me to be saluted this much. “Best of luck to your recovering compatriot, and safe travels.”

“You too.” The words slipped out of my muzzle before I’d realized it. Quickly shifting and getting myself turned around, I pushed myself up to a trot before I could facehoof myself again. Almost instantly, Hispano was keeping pace at my side, albeit from the air. Still, the further we got from Poppy and his crew, the more the question itched and nagged in my mind. Until of course, it too just slipped out of my muzzle. “Why would you defend those two assholes?”

“Well…” Hispano almost looked hurt at the question. From the way she shifted her gaze away, I knew that maybe I’d come off sounding a little too harsh with that. “I mean… I’ve been listening in on your conversations long enough now, and I figured that with what Delilah’s likely to do, this would help Buck come to like me a bit more.”

“What does that have to do with them?” Now I was just confused. “Wait… you wanted to spare them because you thought Delilah might kill them?”

“Not kill, but hurt.” Hispano gave a frustrated growl as she tensed up. “Er… you know what I mean.” With a sigh, she brought herself down onto the ground and up to a trotting pace with me. “I just… as a talon, my training means I should have killed them, but I… couldn’t even bring myself to use that thermite grenade. It still feels… wrong to just let them sit there as prisoners. I’m so paranoid that they’ll fight, and everything I am tells me to just end their lives so I can finally relax.”

It’s true. Part of me did expect them to get the jump on us and try to escape. But while they did make me nervous, as little as I even knew them, they didn’t strike me as the kind of ponies to strike out. It didn’t feel to me like it did with Mrs. Tapit, or with Dizzy. The only thing that seemed to matter to them was their tank, and who paid them. And with the idea of them working for Cordite, there wasn’t a reason to do anything but let them go really.

“I understand, Hispano, I really do.” Unfurling my wing, I stretched it out over her and used it to pull her closer. She tensed up at the action, and shared a blush with me as a smile returned to her beak. “And I think you’re right. While it’s nerve wracking to have them around, I think that letting them work for Cordite is going to be the best outcome for all of us.”

“Really?” She asked, resting her head on my neck as we trotted along. “I guess… it’ll be easier to deal with if we’re all keeping an eye on them anyway.”

“Yeah. We’re in this together, so we’ll all keep an eye on them.” I nodded, keeping my hopes up that in pushing Delilah to do this, it wouldn’t come back to bite us in the flank. Then again… “Who knows though if they’ll even go for working with Cordite. I mean, it can’t hurt to have a few favors laying around from tankers who owe us their jobs, right?”

“Well here’s hoping we don’t fucking need those morons.” She laughed as she both seemed to relax and slow herself down to a walk. “But with Solomon and his shitheads still somewhere ahead, I really do hope we don’t need them…”

For as strong as they’d become, my wings were already killing me from their use today. Still, I’d managed my normal, short gliding flights that helped to keep them from cramping up. Now that I thought about it, with the Runner pretty much scrapped, I wasn’t quite sure how exactly I was going to do my job from here on out. I really hoped that Delilah didn’t make me just wing it up into the air...

Overall, we hadn’t been gone all that long. However, by the time we’d gotten back to the hauler, Boiler seemed to have gotten Bertha’s reactor up and running. So either Lucky was well enough for us to get on the move again and they were just taking their time, or Hispano and I had been holding them back. Hardcase caught my attention and gave the two of us a wave from the Rec area. Using a set of tools he held in his magic, he once again secured the twisted and crumpled remains of what once had been Laika’s state of the art space pod. I cringed as it made a particularly loud groan as it was finally reattached. Oh, I really hope that Laika didn’t want that thing back when we got down south to her…

“Hey, Night.” Hispano nudged me with her wing. She pointed along the side of Bertha’s massive wheels to where Delilah and Happy were standing. She gave us a stiff nod before reaching over and pointing up toward the reactor deck. I’d wondered if she wanted to talk about something, but from the way she turned around and headed back toward Bessy, I figured that she just wanted us on board so she could get us moving again.

Pumping my wings, I whined as I dragged myself higher into the air again. It was alright, only a little bit further to go, and then I could take a nice, long break! Hispano seemed to notice my effort and simply rolled her eyes, hoisting her sister up closer to her before giving a single, big flap that was enough to propel her straight onto the deck ahead. Goddesses, I hated when other fliers did that. But it’s fine, you know what they say! Thrust isn’t everything.

Panting heavily, I finally flapped my way up and over the railing of the reactor deck. However, the moment I did, my wings gave out and I collapsed flat onto the deck. Still, I’d made it home, and could now just let the magical humming reactor carry me off for a well deserved nap. Of course, that would be if my racing heart and screaming lungs would calm down for one Celestia damned moment!

“Geeze, we’re going to have to work on that stamina of yours. What are your wings made of that makes them so flimsy?” Hispano squawked with a wide, sly smile. “I heard you last night too, you know. What, you’ll give Buck your best, but not for me?” I was too busy panting on the deck to give her a vocal response, so my over dramatic eyeroll would have to do. Yeah, take that! “Fine. Maybe I’ll go and see if Buck’s willing to put in more of an effort than you.”

“Hey,” Happy’s voice perked my ears, pulling my exhausted gaze over to the door to the icehold. “You alright there, Night? Can’t keep it up anymore for the ladies?”

“Ha! That was a good one” Hispano snorted before jabbing a talon at Happy’s red floral print shirt. “But back off, buster. Nopony makes fun of my coltfriend but me, got it?”

“Yeah yeah, whatever.” Happy brushed off her talon with a relaxed smile before looking back at me. “She’s a real cool cat, you know that? Nice catch with that one.” Giving a short laugh, he carefully stepped over me and toward… the driver’s cab?

“You’re driving?” I managed to push out through my labored breaths.

“You know, I’m not sure what offends me more, Night.” Happy snorted as he opened the hatch to the armored cab. “The fact that you don’t think I can drive this thing, or that you’re the only one who can get a night off for getting hurt.” With a huff, he stepped inside and shut the door behind him. After a moment more of just catching my breath, the reactor beside Hispano and I thrummed louder, and Bertha’s massive form began to slowly trundle down the long mountain road again.

“Why don’t we go see how your friend is doing up there?” Hispano smiled as she reached down with her talon to me.

Offering her a smile in return, I reached out and did my best to hold onto her. My muscles protested moving again so soon after we’d gotten back, but she had a good enough point. With a groaning push, my legs lifted me with her help, and I managed to get myself standing again. My wings of course weren’t having any of it, and still lay draped over my sides, but they were the real heroes today, and they too had earned their rest.

Though, as with most things, it didn’t seem so bad once I got moving again. Pushing our way into the Icehold, I nearly stumbled over a box that was sitting next to the door. Looking around, I found that most of what remained of Boiler and Gearbox’s stuff had been moved down into the dark room. Actually, sitting in the corner was a large bed, with the sleeping form of Boiler curled up on it.

“Well, I mean, I guess their room did kind of explode.” Hispano snirked quietly, pulling a soft laugh from me as well.

“Yeah, that’s true.” I whispered back to her, finally feeling confident to stand on my own again. The two of us wound our way around a surprising amount of boxes and different things. A box of various herbs that gave off a rank smell, a box of oddly shaped glass tubes… an entire dark wood armoire stocked with Boiler sized wartime dresses? It made me wonder just how all this stuff fit in their old container in the first place, and made me realize that I’d never actually gone in there at all, really! Still, oddities aside, I was glad that for now at least, everypony was alright.

Climbing the stairs up to the Rec area, I squinted as the sun shone down right through where the tarp had been. Flaps of it still wavered in the air as we drove, giving off intermittent slaps as the wind would throw them against the other containers. Among those snaps, I heard a soft sniffle from the couch.

“Gearbox.” The words slipped out of my muzzle as I saw him staring blankly at the glowing set of toasters warming him from the floor. He didn’t even look up when I spoke, he just sat there with a blank look in his eyes. “Hey, it’s going to be alright…” My words dropped out as I noticed the many dark red lines that ran along the floor. It was unmistakably blood, and unlike the single trail that Violet had left when she’d been hurt, the copious, uneven, and random nature of the lines gave off a far different picture.

“You didn’t see him…” Gearbox sniffled before he broke down into soft sobs again.

I couldn’t do anything for him. There wasn’t a thing in the world that I could say. As Both Hispano and I climbed up out of the Rec area, at least she seemed to notice something I hadn’t.

“Where’d those two idiots go?” She asked, walking and looking over the back railing of the Hauler. “You didn’t throw them overboard, did you?”

“No,” Gearbox whimpered. “Those assholes are locked up in Delilah’s room, sitting there, while my brother...” That was understandably as far as he’d made it before crying again.

Walking over, I did the only thing I could and sat down next to him. Immediately, he all but threw himself onto me, crying and squeezing me tightly. It was oddly nice to have him feel like he trusted me enough as a friend that he could find comfort in a hug, but I couldn’t help but feel that thunder had been stolen by the current circumstances. Still, I reached my hooves around and hugged him back, as Hispano came over and perched herself on the couch next to me.

And there we waited for the next hour. Now and again Hardcase would peer down from atop his and Violet’s container to check on us, and Violet herself would swoop in to give Gearbox a quick hug before going back out on patrol.

Among all the fighting, all the excitement, and the tension during my time in the wasteland, as we sat there, I was reminded of just how painful this could be. That feeling of helplessness, when there is nothing that can be done to fix what had happened. My father and I had spent almost a whole day sitting like this on our couch after we got the news about mom. And even with as much as I’d been able to move on from both my parents now, that pain still resonated inside me.

The only comfort I felt at all, was from having Hispano and Gearbox with me. In fact, through all my rough moments on this trip, the only comfort I’d even had was from those here who I could call my friends and family. I wasn’t sure if it had made a difference for Gearbox right now, but if there was any chance that it did, then it was worth doing.

The lock to Buck and I’s container noisily flipped open. The three of us on the couch perked up, turning our gazes over to the door as it opened. An exhausted looking Buck stepped out and shut it again behind him, seeming to pause for a moment before looking over the three of us. With a long, deep breath, he reached out and gave Gearbox a pat on the side.

“He’s alright, for the moment.” Buck spoke with a sigh that felt like it physically blew away the tension from my body. “But there are… complications, and he refused to even hear any of it until he talked to you first.”

“Can…” Gearbox sniffled, pulling away from Hispano and I. “Can I see him?”

“Yeah, just don’t touch him, alright?” Buck nodded as he opened the door again. “It took most of our supplies to even get him stable again, so I don’t want to have to fix anything else.”

“Just let him through already, Doc.” Lucky’s soft voice croaked out with a gravelly tone not unlike the one that Poppy had.

Gearbox, Hispano and I all moved into the container. There, laid out on Hispano’s bed and heavily wrapped in bloodstained bandages, was a stiff looking Lucky. His foreleg stump was now matched by one about as short as mine on his rear right flank, and there were dark lines of stitching that ran across the few bits of his puffy and bruised sides that were visible from under the copious bandages. Along with those around most of his body, the entirety of his head save for the end of his muzzle was wrapped as well.

“You look like a mummy.” Gearbox gave a sobbing laugh as he stepped up and held his hoof out.

“Hey, remember! No touching!” Buck chimed out, making Gearbox hesitate.

“Are you alright, brother?” Gearbox asked as he sat down next to the bed.

“It hurts… a lot…” Lucky groaned before the hint of a smile crept across the bit of his muzzle we could see. “Think the scars I’ll have from this will finally give me a shot at getting all the mares now? That’s what they like, scars, right?” Gearbox laughed, and as much as it hurt to watch this go on, a smile and laugh came across my muzzle. I couldn’t believe it, even with as bad off as he was, he still had optimism. “Is that Night I hear with you as well? What are you laughing at? Did you really think you could selfishly keep all the misfortune and injuries to yourself?” He gave out a hacking cough with that that left him groaning. “On second thought… you can have them all.”

“So then,” Gearbox sniffled, finally wearing a genuine smile across his teary eyed face. “What did you want to talk with him about, Doc?”

“Yeah, what’s the damage?” Lucky whined as he struggled to turn his bandaged head toward the door.

“Well, it’s not good.” Buck sighed and slouched as he spoke. “Really, it's quite amazing you survived the crash at all from what I could see. But there’s just no real easy way to sum it all up…” With those words, I watched as Gearbox froze up and the four of us braced ourselves. “You fractured both your skull and your jaw, along with your collar bone, three separate bones in your foreleg, and two ribs, one of which punctured your lung. One of your kidneys was damaged beyond magical repair, so I had to remove that along with some of your lower intestines which had been skewered by the same wreckage that had mangled your rear legs. While your left leg could be saved, the right was torn up enough that I could only save part of it.” Buck closed his eyes and wiped his paw down his face. “And that’s not even the worst of it.”

“Wait… what do you mean?” Gearbox had already almost turned completely white from that, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure what could be worse than that at all.

“You broke eight vertebrae in your spine, and suffered copious amounts of nerve damage.” Buck grunted, curling his paws up and gritting his teeth in rage. “I tried everything I could to get those injuries set and healed, but…” His trembling built up into a crescendo that ended with him snarling and driving his claws down through the floorboards. “I just… couldn’t do it. I’m sorry.”

“It’s… fine, doc.” Lucky grunted through his still unbelievably calm smile. “But I’m not going to lie when I say that I don’t know what that means. They’re just bones, right? They’ll heal over time… or, will they?”

“I…” Buck panted softly. “It means that you’ll probably never walk again. I’m sorry.”

“No…” Gearbox whispered softly, stumbling as he pulled himself back up to his hooves. Another blank stare fell over his face again as he looked at Lucky. “Xingyun, I’m so sorry…”

“Don’t be, Brother.” Lucky smiled, painfully reaching out for him. But by the time he had, Gearbox had already turned away and stiffly walked himself over to Buck. Without any hesitation, he reached out and grabbed around Buck’s enormous paws. “Brother, wait!” Lucky called out to him.

“Do it to me, Doc. I won't leave him hanging like this!” Gearbox whined as he pulled Bucks claws down along his own back. “We share the burden! Always!” However, as hard as he tried, Buck’s claws simply rubbed along his skin. He gave out a small whimper as Buck pulled away from him and lifted his claws out of his reach.

“It’s alright, brother!” Lucky nearly screamed. “You don’t get to share this burden, not this time.”

“I don't know what your penchant for copying each other's injuries has been in the past,” Buck growled and glared down at Gearbox, “But what I don’t need on my mind is two cases of paralysis to deal with, alright?” Taking a step back, Buck bumped into the edge of the couch and slowly set himself down on it. “Maybe somewhere down the road we’ll find someone who has the equipment and skills to heal his spine, but right now… I’ve done all I can, and don’t have anything left to give.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful.” Gearbox sniffled and turned around. “Thank you for saving his life.”

“Why don’t we let you two spend some time alone?” Hispano spoke up as she pressed up against my back. Pushing me forward, my legs finally got the hint to get me moving again. Trotting out the door, I gave Gearbox a sad smile before turning that smile to Buck.

I’d seen Buck tired before, but not like this. I’d seen him frustrated and annoyed, but not like this. The way he sat deflated and slumped on the couch felt cold and distant. Even when he tried to mirror my sad smile back at me, it felt like it was hollow. Still, he reached out and took both Hispano and I into his warm, heavy arms, and pulled us both close.

“Just one day…” Buck spoke softly as I pressed up against his warm body. I felt him shift his arm away from me. At first, I thought he was pulling away, however, the tugging at the bandages around my head shooed that thought away. With a soft snip, he released the wrappings, and my now healed half ear met the cold mountain air. “One single day without somepony getting blown up or injured. That’s all I ask.”

“It’s a nice thought, but this is the wasteland.” Hispano sighed as she too curled herself close. “There’s no such thing as a flawless victory, only acceptable losses for those on the winning side. So far, this crew has been lucky to have someone like you around, but sooner or later, you’re going to lose somepony, and there will be nothing you can do about that. My dad always told me that living down here, you have to be alright with the idea of those around you dying, or it will end up driving you crazy. I had to learn that the hard way with Suiza...”

“Yeah,” Buck sighed, putting his claws back down around me as I nuzzled into his fur. “while I don’t appreciate the bluntness right now, thank you for at least being honest.”

“Anytime.” Hispano spoke through a yawn that crept it’s way into Buck before finally infecting me.

With nothing left to say, the three of us sat listening as the frigid mountain wind whistled around Bertha. That, the thrumming of Bertha’s reactor under us, as well as the flapping of the bits of tarp above, all blended together as the three of us simply existed together on that couch. It helped my tired mind wander to somewhere far off that hadn’t had quite the rough start to the day. Soon enough, coupled with the exhaustion from the events so far, I fell off into a short sleep.

Author's Note

As always, thanks to Kkat for creating the wonderful FoE universe, and giving us all free reign to go blow up our own little sections of it!

Many MANY thanks to TheFurryRailFan as well, for going over this and helping to clean it up before launch!

Chapter 31 - Five Star Destinations

The longer everything goes according to plan, the bigger the impending disaster.

Refreshed after our short nap, Hispano left to join Violet out on patrol, while I was stuck listening to the radio as Buck worked on changing out some of Lucky’s bandages. To be honest, the energetic and lively music that DJ PowerColt had been playing today didn’t quite mesh well with the mood we’d all fallen into. But, as he did now and again, he at least broke up the unique tunes with a bit of news now and then.

“Hello again to all you cool cats out there among the white tipped pines and frozen peaks of the northern wastelands. DJ PowerColt coming at you with yet another piece of fresh local gossip. It looks like after nearly a century, the settlement known to folks as ‘Stone Town’ is back on the map once more, and this time welcoming any and all who make the detour into the mountains along Highway Five. Now I know some of you have heard the old stories going around about that place, but you can bet that if DJ PowerColt says it’s safe, then you know it’s got to be true.”

Wait, what!? How the hell could DJ PowerColt know that? It’s only been a few hours since we left there! No, there was no way that he could even know that, unless… somepony up there had a way to contact him directly? To be honest, I was still at a loss about how he even got his news in the first place, but now I was even more confused. And here I was beginning to think that I’d actually gotten past the stage of being confused about the wasteland...

“You heard that right, folks. In fact, if rumors are to be believed, it’s actually thanks to the work of the same ponies who helped to clean up Destruction Bay’s drug problem. Now, we here at Factory Radio don’t normally like to call out those in our northern community, but these ponies are some smooth operators bringing wholesome change to our beloved home. So, on behalf of the whole northern wasteland, if you’re listening to this, thanks for bringing just a bit more sunshine into our lives. Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy this new beat, because it’s dedicated to all you fine ponies making a difference out there. You’re tuned into Factory Radio, with new music manufactured and broadcast to you northern wasters daily.”

“As much as I like the guy,” Hardcase called out as he stood on the roof of his container, “he’s going to call down all sorts of trouble on us if he gives out any more reports like that.”

I was about to ask him what he meant by that, but was cut off as the radio gave off a burst of static.

“Alright everypony, listen up.” Delilah gave off her trademark sigh of annoyance as I assumed she broadcast to everyone on the convoy. “While we’ve done well in beating down every obstacle that Solomon has put in our way so far, there is no benefit in padding our own reputation. I don’t know which of you called it into that damn radio DJ, but as of this moment, there will be no gossip broadcast from this convoy. Am I understood?”

At that, Hardcase lowered himself down off the top of his container and dropped onto the deck next to the radio with a thump. While using his ladder inside would have probably been easier, I guess that was one benefit of having lost the tarp up top. Still, Hardcase didn’t seem to mind as he picked himself back up and grabbed the radio receiver with his magic.

“To be fair, Ma’am,” He spoke with a straight face, “Nopony knows how DJ PowerColt gets his news. Violet, Lucky, and I tried to figure it out on our first trip up, but we could never get a solid answer from anypony on it.” Pausing, he gave a quick glance over to me that felt to me like he was holding back. “Plus, you would have heard any broadcast we made. My bet, is that if anything, we’ve got a tail of some sort hanging just far enough back that we don’t see them. Maybe somepony Solomon hired to keep tabs on us.”

“You’re damn right I would have heard any of you.” Delilah snorted, making Hardcase roll his eyes at the radio. “But I’ll default to your knowledge of the situation on this, and all of you on recon are now tasked with finding this ‘tail’. Make sure that Night understands to keep a lookout for any tails as well next time he’s up on patrol.” Hardcase gave a smirk before glancing over at me again. “Oh, and Hardcase? Because the Runner is now scrap, I need you to get to work on figuring out another way to get Night and Violet into the air quickly. Bring Boiler in on it with you if you need help, but I want a plan in place for something before we arrive at Mare’s Lake.”

“Alright, you’ve got it, ma’am.” Hardcase gave a nod before hanging up the microphone. As soon as it was stowed, he sighed and hung his head.

“Why did you lie to her about the DJ?” I spat out just as awkwardly as ever. Okay, again, I’ve gotta get some sort of handle on this blurting out thing.

“Well, I didn’t technically lie…” Hardcase cringed hard enough that he probably could have actually dodged a real bullet heading for him. However, metaphorical ones were trickier to avoid, and he hadn’t quite managed it this time. “You see, the rumors about him are… all over the place, frankly.”

“Like what?” I asked as I perked my ears and pushed myself up against the back of the plush couch under me. It was odd to think that some pony who so many seemed to listen to in the wastes, was such a mysterious figure. “How little do ponies actually know about him?”

“From what I understand, nopony has actually met the guy, or even knows where he broadcasts from. Stories about him span anything from him being an ghoul with an exceptionally smooth voice, to him using the old weather control towers around the north to spy on everypony. Though, with these mountains as rocky and tall as they are, there’s some serious doubt on that.” Hardcase gave a short giggle and looked at me with a ridiculous grin. “There were some folks who even thought he was some sort of alien from outer space.” He froze up for a moment, gaining an oddly serious look to himself. “Or… a time traveler...” Giving a few small nods, he stroked at his chin in thought. “Actually, that one would explain a lot right now…”

“If that were true,” Happy chimed in from the door to his container. “Why come here? Why not just go back and stop the war?” Huh, funny I hadn’t remembered hearing his door open… and I hadn’t remembered anypony asking for him to eavesdrop on us either.

“That’s not how time travel works.” Hardcase grunted flatly before pointing sharply at his horn. “Like with most magic, even if it were possible, there are rules to using it that nopony can break. For example, you can’t change the past without causing a paradox that could erase the universe from existence.”

“Unless!” Buck’s voice cut in through the container behind me. Right, nopony was eavesdropping because the walls of these containers might as well just have been thin air when it comes to muffling sound. With a squeak, the door to our container opened and he peeked his head out. “Unless of course, we exist in a universe that is flexible enough that it allows for alternate branching timelines to be created.”

“True, Doc.” Hardcase grunted as he fell back into his thoughtful look. “Of course, to test that theory, you’d have to attempt to change the past in the first place, which of course could accidentally lead to you destroying the very universe itself. However, alternatively to that, it’s completely possible that it could work. Which now that I think of it, means we could already be living in one of those branching timelines right now. Hell, we might not even be part of the original wasteland timeline, and we wouldn’t even know!” He let out a gasp, going wide eyed. “What if DJ PowerColt is one of us, but from the future?”

Even as a pegasus, master of the skies, this was all starting to fly way over my head. Alternate timelines, different pasts, future-selves? This whole conversation had spiraled out of control into something far too ‘meta’ for my tastes.

“So… one of us came back from the future to become a radio DJ?” Happy spoke up with a startling amount of reason to his words. “Seriously? Think about that for a moment.”

“Goddesses…” Hardcase facehooved as hard as I’d found myself doing in recent days. “Never thought I’d say this, but Happy’s right. That was probably the stupidest theory that’s ever come out of my muzzle.”

“I could think of a few dumber ones.” Violet called out as she swooped down from above. With a heavy flare of her wings, she bombed right out of the air and down onto the couch next to me. The old springs inside it gave a heavy squeal as they were compressed by the hit, but settled down as she bounced and landed deftly onto her hooves next to Hardcase. Her entrance had been so out of nowhere that I hadn’t noticed that she for some reason, had lots of pink accents in her neon streaked mane. “We’re just about to pull off toward the resort, and the road ahead looks clear for the moment.”

“Resort?” Both Buck and I asked at the same time.

You know, as curious as I was about this next stop on our trek, I’d become weary of finding things out. Sure, knowing what was coming up was important to know, but at the same time, I was afraid of just what would go wrong here. Then again, our stay in Whitehorse was thankfully completely uneventful. But on the other hoof, that was because they’d come out to cause trouble before we’d even arrived...

“Yeah, Pink Mountain is a nice place. Used to be a bunch of hot springs that they built a hotel around back before the war. However...” Hardcase hung on his words for a moment, giving me ample time to prepare for the inevitable danger this place posed. “The hotsprings are a bit... radioactive after the apocalypse. It’s mostly a ghoul resort, really. Still, it’s a nice place nonetheless!” And there it is...

“Oh?” Buck didn’t share my hesitation, instead now sporting a smile across his muzzle. At least, one that lasted until he looked down to me. “Oh…”

“Yeah, well it’s not that dangerous.” Violet did her best to step in and salvage my hopes. “The good thing about it is that the magical radiation pockets in the forest keeps most troublemakers safely away from the hotel.”

“Plus, some of the staff are ghouls that have been there since before the war ended!” Hardcase gave a nervous laugh. “If you don’t mind squishy hooves while sucking down some rad-away, they give some of the best massages in the northern wasteland! But, a word of warning, if a mare named Sweet Comforts asks if you want the ‘full’ package, it would be best to refuse, unless you’re into that sort of thing.” He cringed and gave a nervous glance over to Violet, who only rolled her eyes. “For a ghoul, she’s a bit more... ‘hooves on’ than one might be led to expect...”

“Don’t you two have an open relationship?” Buck blurted out in the same way I’d come to expect from myself. And from the blush that flushed across his cheeks, I could tell that he hadn’t expected to say that either. “Er, I’m sorry if that’s too intrusive of me.”

“Being open doesn’t mean we’ll sleep with any easy floozy who asks.” Violet snorted before ruffling her wings uncomfortably. “Especially ghouls with a reputation like hers.”

I was about to ask what exactly she meant by that when the entirety of Bertha shifted under our hooves. We’d begun to slow down as the road under us sloped up. As had become a pretty common sight, the off ramp pulled us away from the old highway we’d been traveling so long on. However, Bertha slowed to a complete stop as we reached the end of the offramp, and the thrumming of her and Bessy’s engines were all that hung in the air at the moment.

A high pitched whining droned through the air from somewhere ahead, and made all of our ears perk. The more we listened, the more recognizable another pair of arcano-engines became. However, no call had come up from Delilah to us. Looking up, I saw Hispano looking down at me. She gave off a shrug before continuing to hover around in the sky.

The rumbling engines were slightly muted by the cringeworthy sounds of heavy metal tank tracks rolling across the road ahead of us. Both Violet and I quickly trotted toward the back of the Rec area, leaning over the railing on the back to get a peek around us. As we did, the noise of the approaching tanks became near deafening. So much so that I reached up and pinned my hooves to my ears.

A pair of large, flat, boxy tanks pushed past us along the off ramp. They didn’t seem to be armed at all, and didn’t even sport turrets on top of their enormous white painted bodies. What they did seem to have in good supply, though, was an odd framework of tubing bolted to their roofs, and spools upon spools of thick cable wound around multiple winches. The Cordite logo had been painted along the sides of their hulls in bold black lettering, along with M88, which I could only assume like with Poppy’s BT-42, was their designation.

As the first tank passed, the open hatch near the front had a ghoul zebra that wore an angry glare as he drove past us. He gave a slow shake of his head before dropping back into the interior of his tank and pulling the hatch closed behind him. While I’d known that Poppy told us that Cordite wouldn’t be an issue for us, I’d failed to realize that it didn’t mean that all of the Cordite crews would be so friendly toward us.

The second tank however caught my eye as it passed. Sitting on it’s roof, was something that made me do a double take. A large, red and white furred hellhound with a pointy jagged jaw sat on it’s roof. Their body was a bit more… rotund than Buck was, but the icy blue eyes that peered out from under an old pony combat helmet were just as striking as his were. The smile that spread across their muzzle felt pretty much the same as well, but the more proportionately sized forearm for their build that waved to us looked weird to me compared to Buck’s oversized one.

“Huh.” Buck laughed, pulling my smiling muzzle back to his own jubilant look. “With similar breed and fur patterning such as that, maybe she’s a distant relative of mine?” She? Farbeit for me to start guessing the genders of others given my own looks, but as far as I could tell, the differences on Hellhounds were less than clear to me. Pausing, Buck tapped at his muzzle with a claw, and tore my mind from my own questions. “Still, I had no idea that any Hellhounds worked with Cordite. Is that very common?”

“Eh, some work with the tanks that they’ll actually fit inside. So… not too common I guess. Though seeing one on a recovery team isn’t all that surprising, as they’re great at the grunt work and heavy lifting.” Hardcase offered before turning and trotting into his room. “However, to answer your question, most of the long time Cordite crews are ghouls, and they need crews who don’t mind sitting next to old, leaky spell reactors. Thus, their options for new recruits are fairly limited to those who won’t die of rad poisoning after a week.” I perked my ears as Hardcase rummaged around in his room for a moment, before returning with an old red toolbox held in his magic “Still, you’ll find more than a few hounds up ahead at the resort, Doc. Just... be careful around them, and keep a close eye on Night there though, alright?”

“Why’s that?” Buck asked before I could.

“Not all of them are as…” Hardcase hung onto his words yet again, making me wonder if he was saving them for a special occasion or something. Seriously, most days he normally didn’t seem this reserved about things. “Civil? Er… let’s just say ‘welcoming’ of non-ghoul ponies and zebra.”

“Even less so of Pegasi more than any other race. They don’t trust us.” Violet chimed in as she stepped back from the railing. “But let’s not worry about that right now, alright? It’s been a long day so far, so let’s just focus on getting settled in for the night up there.”

“Alright,” Buck nodded with an odd tenseness to him. “sounds good.”

However, the nervousness in his words hadn’t been missed by me. He was worried, obviously, but about what I couldn’t be sure of. Still, there was plenty of time to ask once we’d gotten to the resort itself. Knowing what he’d talked to me about in the past, he’s probably just worried that I’ll find myself in some sort of trouble the second I step hoof off the convoy. And knowing Solomon well enough now, I can pretty much expect some sort of trouble to come and find us here.

Well, he can rest assured that outside of Solomon’s interference, I was going to do everything in my power not to fuck something up this time around. Which wasn’t saying much given my track record so far, but still! I at least had to hope that things wouldn’t always go terribly wrong at every settlement we stopped in, right?

Like most places in the north had been so far, this place was amazing in it’s beauty. I don’t know why, but the pinkish red hue that the snow around here gave was soothing to me. Even the jagged slate grey rocks that all the mountains had been made of had been replaced by a sort of rusty look that turned pink in the afternoon sunlight. The forests of cherry trees that packed every hill and mountainside around us were vibrantly flush with their own fluttering pink and white leaves, creating a veritable sea of sparkling pink.

At the very least, now I understood why this place was named Pink Mountain…

However, what was less welcoming than the overload of pink around us, was the imposing building that sat under the protection of the nearby mountainside cliffs. Standing five stories tall with a steep tile roof, the resort itself was huge. Hundreds of windows along the old resort faced down the slopes of the mountains, as if on the lookout for any who might be drawn into such an imposing looking building. It’s peeling old white paint and dark crimson colored roof made it feel creepy to me, and the large collection of Cordite tanks and their own various convoys parked out front made it look more like a fortress than a resort.

Hell, even the small vehicle the local contingent of Road Crew were huddled around looked like a miniature version of Double Drum’s roller. Which, for being a resort, the amount of Road Crew here numbered in the forty to fifty range from what I could see. That made it only the second largest concentration of them we’d seen so far, and made me wonder just why so many were stationed here. Though, I guess that while the resort was supposedly a nice place, nopony said it had to look friendly.

Finally disembarked from Bertha, and standing out in front of it, I was beginning to feel completely overdressed in the flowing white and gold dress I’d purchased in Carmacks. Buck had taken such care to wash it that it had been a shame that it’s radiance would probably be wasted on a place as dreary as it felt, even for the vibrance around it. Still, the noise of music softly playing from inside the open double door entrance at least gave me some hope that the place would be friendlier than it looked…

“How can you stay so damn warm in just that dress?” Happy muttered as his hoofsteps crunched through the hock high pink snow that covered the ground. “F-fuck it, you can freeze out here. I’m going inside.”

“Hey.” Delilah snapped, making the fur on both Happy and I stand on end. Turning around, I found Delilah slowly plodding through the snow behind us. Trailing along behind her, was a rope that bound both Guinness and Zibar together. The two were doing their best impression of a six legged race, with Guinness glaring at me as Zibar did all he could to avoid my gaze. “No gambling. No drinking. No sex.” Delilah prodded at Happy as she spoke, making him flinch with each word. “Got that, young colt?”

“Yes, ma’.” Happy grumbled, hanging his head before trotting off through the pink tinted snow again.

“As for you,” Delilah spoke flatly as she stepped up next to me. Taking a moment to push her cat-eye glasses up on her muzzle again, she waited until I looked up at her to finish. “Stay out of trouble, and keep your eyes open for anypony Solomon might have paid off.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” I nodded to her, watching as her eyes moved over to the hotel. She was looking over it, scanning each window carefully as she gave a slight shiver. At the risk of asking a stupid question, I thought about biting my tongue. However, before I could, of course it slipped out anyway. “If I may ask, why are we stopping here?”

“The pass we’re heading toward is not drivable at night unless you want to fall straight off the cliffsides there to a painful death.” She said with the same flatness that I’d assume we’d be if we fell off of such a cliff. “So we leave first thing tomorrow, and I want you rested up for it.” Looking back to me, she cocked her eyebrow at me. “And while I don’t expect you will, don’t stay up all night.” Giving a snort, she pushed herself to turn around. “But if you’ll excuse me, as per our new talon’s ‘request’, I’ve got a couple of morons to turn over to Cordite. The sooner I never see their faces again, the sooner we can focus on what’s ahead.”

“Just, one second.” The words again forced their way out of my muzzle as my brain had a spark of inspiration. My request drew a deeper annoyed glare from Delilah, but it didn’t stop me as I turned around to face Solomon’s two former lackeys. “What does Solomon have planned for us up ahead?” I kept my gaze on Zibar for the moment, ignoring the eyeroll that Delilah gave me at the question.

“I’ve already asked, Night.” She gave a bored sigh before looking back at the hotel. “They either don’t know, or they won’t talk.”

“You wanted to say that tossing me under your running tank was water under the bridge?” I stepped forward toward Zibar, who tensed and stood up as tall as he could. Even as he turned his gaze toward the sky to avoid me, I waited for an answer. “Prove it.”

“What’s yer problem, lass?” Guinness grunted his own disapproval at me, but it was at least a response. “Ya already caused us enough problems. Just let us go an’ we’ll never see each other again.” While it was true that Hispano had been right in wanting to let them go, they didn’t have to believe that was what I thought about it at all.

“You know what?” I smirked, flicking my tail at Guinness. “You don’t belong to Cordite yet. You’ve caused us nothing but problems, and we don’t have to let you go. Without your tank, you are nothing to them, and because you no longer work for Solomon, you aren’t protected by him anymore either.” Turning my gaze back to Zibar, he snapped his vision away from me again. “So, answer the question. What does Solomon have planned?”

“You gonna let your wee lass talk to us like that?” Guinness offered with a chuff toward Delilah.

I perked my ear back to listen for her response, waiting for her answer as well. However, one didn’t come, and Guinness’ mood soured as the seconds ticked by in silence. His eyes shifted toward the sky as the flutter of wings picked up. Looking over, I found Hispano’s cold gaze locked onto the musclehead of an earth pony. Suiza sat firmly locked in her talon, pointed directly at him.

“You might want to give him an answer, or at least start making yourself useful to Night here in some way.” She cooed calmly, jabbing the barrel against Guinness’s chest. It was funny that up until that point, Zibar had been trying to look away from all of our judgemental gazes. Now? He couldn’t help himself as he trembled in the snow, watching Hispano threaten his friend. “Because if you thought Suiza here couldn’t do a damn thing to your tank, I assure you, she’ll do a whole lot more to ruin your day than she already has. I’m sure Cordite wouldn’t mind if we only turned over one and a half of you...”

“Fine!” Zibar blurt out. “Just… no more.” The Saddle Arabian stallion stumbled against his friend, pushing him away from the barrel of Suiza. “Solomon hasn’t relayed much to us, we’ve mostly been coordinating through Galina.” Ugh. Just the mention of her name made my blood boil. “She’s… setting something up ahead, at Drake Pass.”

“What is it?” Delilah grunted with a tone colder than the snow around my hooves, and sending a shiver down my spine. “Something similar to what we arranged for Solomon at Sparrow’s pass?”

“We ain’t got a clue.” Guinness grumbled. “But I’m pretty sure she ain’t been too keen on talking to Solomon about it either. She’s out fer blood, an’ she probably ain’t gonna’ stop until she gets it.” He paused, pointing his hoof at me. “Hers specifically, so the lass better watch her back.”

“She’d risk Solomon’s wrath in killing one of us?” Delilah curled her hoof around the rope that bound the two stallions. “Why. She knows Solomon doesn’t want to start this war. Because once the killing starts, it won’t stop until one side wins completely.”

“News, from Saddle Arabia.” Zibar shivered, lowering his head and pulling off his white and red checkered headwrap. “The king’s sickness has worsened, so it’s only a matter of time before he passes his crown to one of his sons. She knows it’s making Solomon anxious, and we think she’s betting that he’ll be flexible on the whole killing bit.”

“Sickness?” I spat out, drawing a sad glance from Zibar, who gave me a soft nod.

“A sort of wasting disease.” Guinness grumbled. “Those inbred fucks on the throne think they’re so much better than everypony else, but they can’t even keep their own bloody genetics in line.” Glaring at Delilah, he spat at her hooves. “By denying him the Ark, you’re damning the entire Saddle Arabian kingdom to the barbarism of his brothers, ye know that, right? You know Solomon is the most stable candidate for king that they have, but ya too much of a selfish cunt to let this old feud of yours go, aren’t ye?”

“Solomon knows that he doesn’t have long to get back, so he’s getting desperate which means Galina’s going to take her chances to end this when she can.” Zibar pushed against Guinness again while glaring at me. “But that’s all we know, so we’re even now, alright?”

“We’re far from even.” Delilah snapped, tugging on the rope that bound the two stallions. “But you two aren’t worth killing. Come on, time to go negotiate with your new bosses.” Yanking again, Guinness and Zibar stepped around Hispano and I, and began to once again trail behind Delilah. After receiving one last hesitant look from Zibar, I felt myself finally relax a little bit.

“Hey, Hispano?” I muttered, looking up to find her relax a bit as well as she lowered Suiza’s barrel down into the snow. “Thanks for helping me sell that bluff. You and Suiza always seem to find a way to get me out of the situations I get into.” My words made Hispano freeze up for a moment, and I paused as she flashed a nervous grin across her beak while cringing at me. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I um…” She paused before pulling off her leather flight cap and letting her plumage frizz out a bit. “I didn’t know you were bluffing?” She gave out a soft laugh as I deadpanned at her. “Hey, you’re technically my boss. I was ready to do my job if you asked me to shoot one of them. I’d just… even though we talked, I’d thought you might have had a good enough reason to actually want them dead.”

“Well, I’m glad it didn’t come to that.” I sighed and gave her a tap on the side with my hoof. “But now maybe we can relax a bit, what do you say?”

“Yeah.” She sighed, slinging Suiza up around herself before prodding against my dress with her talon. “By the way...” Her cheeks burned as she saddled up against my side. “You look stunning in that dress, just like the first time you wore it. Speaking of...” Letting her words drift off, she nervously pranced on all fours. “Maybe, if there’s somewhere to eat inside, we could…” However, I was pretty sure what she was trying to say.

“Do you want to try having another date? This would be what, technically our third?” I offered, making her plumage bristle as she nodded excitedly. “Hopefully this time around there will be less headaches involved.”

“Yeah,” Hispano laughed as we turned and headed toward the old hotel. “And less negotiating contracts this time. Who knows, maybe this time we can actually have a proper date.” Giving me a smile, she reached out and wrapped a wing around me. “Even if we’re already kinda together…”

“Eh, whatever.” I sighed. “I’m just ready to sit down and relax for today. Even though everything on this mountain will probably explode the second I try to do that.” My words made Hispano hesitate for a moment. “What? Everyone else can joke about my misfortune, why can’t I?”

“Eheh…” She offered a hesitant, forced laugh. “Yeah, but it’s only a joke if it doesn’t come true…”

This place didn’t seem so bad once you were inside of it. Sure, it smelled musty and kinda like rot, but unlike the old buildings we’d been in at places like Carmacks, this place had been kept up. The old dark wood still had a shine to it, and the marble flooring held an impeccable polish to it. Even the fancy silver lighting fixtures had only the slightest tarnish to them. It was amazing to me how this hotel seemed almost pulled out of time from everything. If it weren’t for the ghouls all over the place, I might have expected to see dozens of wartime ponies strolling around and enjoying themselves!

However, while the hotel was nice, the restaurant it harbored definitely showed the times. They served meat with almost everything on the menu, and anything else was just re-prepared versions of preserved canned food. Still, steamed mixed vegetables were never bad, and since Hispano had offered to get me whatever I wanted, I didn’t feel too bad for ordering them. Still, as hungry as I was, something still weighed on my mind.

“So… Solomon’s got brothers?” I asked, trying to pull Hispano’s attention away from the large chunk of broiled meat she was voraciously tearing into. “What makes that asshole any better than the rest of his family? Are they all really that bad?” It was hard to even imagine what somepony worse than Solomon even was like, but that probably wasn’t something I even wanted to ever figure out.

“I dunno’!” Hispano spoke through her meat, noisily chewing on it as she sat back onto her sister in the plush booth seating. “All I know is that my dad said it had something to do with genetics. That Solomon wasn’t a ‘pureblood’ Saddle Arabian, whatever that means.” Tearing into her meat again, she gave off a heavy shrug and spoke through her chewing. “Best bert? Ahsk Delilah.”

She actually had a good point with that. While I’d asked about plenty of other things, I’d never really had any reason to ask about just what’s driven Solomon to be who he is. And now that I think of it, maybe that could give us something to use against him down the road. Then I guess that after this, I’ll go find Delilah and see if I can’t get some answers from her.

A rousing laugh filled the air from across the seating area Hispano and I were in. At the bar, a whole group of ghouls dressed in only military uniforms were chatting, drinking, and smoking pipes. Huh, I guess a bunch of wartime ponies did still relax around here! Though, one of them stood out among the rest.

A ghoul with a red coat sat at the center, and had an odd looking plaid colored bag slung around his back. To be honest, I might not have noticed the bag at all had it not had a set of different length pipes sticking out of it for some odd reason. Casting a glance over to Hispano and I, he tipped back the early war style combat helmet that reminded me a bit of the one Jean had worn.

“Oi!” He called out to us as he pushed himself away from the bar. Oh goddesses, don’t let him be looking for a fight. I don’t want to already have gotten us into trouble after just getting here. “You two, canne’ ask ya a question?” Trotting over toward us, the ghoul seemed to be friendly enough, but both Hispano and I tensed up. However, Hispano was at least lucky she had her sister to help comfort her. “You two ladies happen ta' be from the north?”

His accent fell somewhere between Poppy’s rigid sounding one, and Guinness’s rougher version. Still, hesitant to answer, my mind was stuck on just one thing. Why the hell do I keep running into stallions with Trottingham accents? I mean, is it me? Do I just attract stallions from there for some reason? Well, at the very least I can be thankful that Buck doesn’t sound that way...

“Uhhh…” The ghoul stallion offered through a nervous, gravelly laugh, “I’m not meanin’ ta impose, just was curious if you’d seen our friend out on the road, is all.”

“Y-yes, sir.” I managed to stutter out through my nervousness. That pit inside my stomach that I’d hoped to fill with the mixed vegetables still steaming away in front of me grew as I sat there. Please, please don’t let this guy screw up this date.

“Did ya' happen ta pass a tank on yer way in?” He grunted, looking between Hispano and I. “A wee small one, with the designation of BT-42 on it?” Why, Celestia? Can I not just have one meal with Hispano where things didn’t go terribly wrong?

“Now that you mention it... we did happen to see them.” Hispano chirped up meekly, shifting in her seat to get better access to Suiza. “They might be a bit late…” At the very least, she was ready if things spiraled out of control into a fight.

“Oh?” The old military stallion shifted to a look of worry as he scratched at his scruffy chin. “It wasn't them who called out for the recovery vehicles, was it?” Giving a sigh, he hung his head. “I give him a bloody decade’s notice for a vacation here, and Pip still finds a way ta show up late...” Swinging his head around, the ghoul looked back over to the others still huddled around the bar. “Oi! Pip’s makin’ a fashionably late appearance this year, like usual. Next round’s on me in the meantime, boys!”

“I’m sorry we screwed up your vacation.” I sighed and flopped back into my seat, only facehoofing after I realized that I just told him that we were the ones responsible for Poppy not showing. Damnit, Night, keep your muzzle shut!

“What?” The ghoul looked over at me like I was crazy. “Lass, you just answered a question, that doesn’t make you responsible for anything.” A toothy grin spread across his rotten muzzle, and I felt a heavy hoof come down on my side. “Aye, in fact, I think I owe you two a drink for being helpful! It’s the lease a gentlecolt like me could offer to a pair of weary travelers!”

“No, that’s really not necessary…” Hispano chirped with a blush across her face, looking over to me and nodding furiously. “Right, Night?”

“You know, you’d best listen to old Mad Jack there.” One of the other ghouls at the bar shouted over. “He’s never taken a no lightly as an answer, let alone a bloody ounce of common sense. Why, not even back during the war would he listen to a single shred of it!”

“Nonsense, Ironside!” The ghoul laughed as he gave me a firm pat on the side. “If not for those bloody megaspells, Avery and I would have taken the war all the way to the zebra capital!” Looking back down to me with his deranged smile, I couldn’t help but offer a nervous one back and try to sink far enough into my booth padding that I’d eventually disappear. “So, what do you say, miss? Can an old stallion buy you and your friend a drink? It’s the least I could do for bothering you with my questions.”

“Jack?” The voice of Howitzer coming from the doorway to the restaurant thankfully saved me from an awkward answer. “Mad Jack, is that you?” Both the ghoul and I turned to find Howitzer wearing in uncharacteristically wide smile across his broad muzzle. With a booming laugh, he nearly charged at the old stallion. “I had thought that was Avery sitting around outside, but I never thought it could actually be her! You rascal, what are you doing all the way up here in the north!?”

Before either of us could realize what was going on, Howitzer had barreled into him and pulled him right off his hooves. The old stallion groaned as he was squeezed by the enormous buffalo. Walking in after him, was Boiler, who wore a bright, but worried expression across her muzzle.

“Mr. Howitzer!” Jack laughed, giving a few stiff pats at Howitzer’s side before his gaze turned to Boiler. “And Mrs. Leaf Spring, always a pleasure. What a tremendous surprise this is!”

“What are you doing up here?” Howitzer repeated himself as he set the old ghoul down. “Did something happen down at Maple Station?”

“Of course not! Maple Station and the others there are perfectly fine. Er, at least they were when I headed up this way!” Jack laughed and pointed over to the other ghouls at the bar who were all attentively watching the odd exchange. “Actually, I’ve come all the way up north for a little time off, and to see some old friends. Don’t know if you’ve heard, but this resort is the highest rated in all the wasteland! Nevermind that it’s the only one in the wasteland, mind you.” Unexpectedly, Jack turned to Hispano and I before pointing at Boiler and Howitzer. “The Buffalo are a tremendous people who gave a lot in the war effort for Equestria. You’ll be hard pressed to find a harder working race then them, and you’d do well to remember that.”

“Eh, they know all about us.” Howitzer laughed as he looked over at us. “Mad Jack, meet Night and Hispano. They’re two of our recon members in our convoy.” It was… weird to see Howitzer this friendly and open, but truth be told, I kinda wished he was this happy and carefree around the convoy. Like, at all. “Come on, I owe you a drink! I bet you have a dozen more adventures to recount by now!” Howitzer did us a favor by pulling the old ghoul away, and walking with him back over to the other ghouls at the bar.

I finally felt like I could relax a bit. From the sigh that escaped Hispano’s muzzle, I could tell that she too felt a lot more comfortable with the idea of being left alone again. However, I’d forgotten we still weren’t really alone.

“Sorry about that,” Boiler grunted as she came over and sat down at the end of our table. “Mad Jack is something of a legendary wartime hero, and Howitzer can’t help be as giddy as a young filly around somepony he admires so much.”

“It’s fine.” Hispano grumbled, crossing her talons across herself. “I mean, we were just trying to have a nice, quiet dinner for once.”

“Oooo! Like a date? Is that why you’re all dressed up, Night?” Boiler’s eyes lit up as she put her hooves on her cheeks. My cheeks however, were burning to brightly to answer. “My hubby and I did the same thing when we passed through here on our way up! You have to go to the movie theater, and while it’s small, they always have something entertaining to watch. And you have to go visit Madame Mystic! Gearbox and I were amazed by what she can do.” She tapped at her horns for a moment in thought. “Then again, we were absolutely zonked out of it by then on those pink mushrooms that one ghoul sold us… I can totally recommend him as well if I ever remember his name…”

“Madame Mystic?” I finally got the courage to speak over my glowing cheeks. “She’s not some sort of…” I paused, trying to find a more polite word for a working mare. However, I didn’t need to, as Hispano decided to be blunt enough for the both of us.

“I don’t want to have some threeway with a ghoul prostitute.” She grunted and glared flatly at Boiler.

“No, that’s not it at all.” Boiler flailed her forehooves. “She’s an old blind zebra mystic. Just… trust me and go see her on the third floor. You won’t be disappointed.” For better or worse, Boiler left us with that and joined her brother over at the bar.

Finally, we could just sit back and enjoy our meal in peace. Leaning forward, I took a few bites of my now only warm mixed vegetables. As I did however, I noticed that Hispano was still slumped back in her seat, despondently gazing at what was left of her meat like it had said something hurtful to her. After a moment, she looked up and offered a weak smile to me.

“Sorry.” She squeaked. “I guess I just always choose bad places for dates.” Shoving what I could of my mixed veggies into my muzzle, I scooted myself out of my cushy seat. Hispano’s face contorted into a confused look as I walked around the table and reached out. Grabbing around her talon, I swallowed the vegetables and pulled her along behind me. “Night, what are you…”

“Come on.” I grunted, pulling her closer to me. “We’re going to salvage this date if it’s the last thing I do.” I could almost feel the blush she gave off from my words as she pulled herself in stride beside me. “Why don’t we see what’s playing at the theatre?”

“Forget it, Blitz. It’s Zebratown.”

Hispano and I watched as the lone, battered detective was escorted away from the car where his most recent case had come to such a violent and unexpected end. The camera pulled back along the neon-lit street, and a somber jazz musical score started up while the credits rolled up from the bottom of the screen. I couldn’t help but feel like it wasn’t the ending I’d wanted out of this film, but it was the one that it needed to have. Hispano however, sighed as she shifted against me and gave a small sniffle.

“That… that’s so unfair.” Grasping onto my side, and slumped and shook her head. “Who writes a story that ends like that? Aren’t movies supposed to make you feel good?”

“Yeah.” I nodded and gave a pat at her side. “I guess they just had weird ideas of feeling good back then. They did end up blowing up the world after all.” I’d walked in expecting to see another cheesy movie like the ones I’d seen up in Klondike, and even for having Lilac Lace as the lead actress, I’d expected something entirely different out of Zebratown. But I had to say after a performance like that, if anything I respected her more than ever as an actress now. “Come on, let’s get out of here.” I smiled to Hispano and pushed myself to get out of the old theatre seat.

“Pony should sit. Stay.” A gruff voice spoke from the exit to the theatre. Looking up at it, a trio of hellhounds stood blocking the door. The three dogs all had a similar look to them, but the lead hound was the largest. Sporting a blocky square snout and glowing emerald green eyes, he smiled at me in a twisted way that made me feel the malice that he exuded. “Griffon should go. No hate for her.”

Of course things couldn’t have just gone smoothly, could they?

“I’m not leaving.” Hispano grumbled, hoisting her sister up from the seat beside her. While I’d argued against going so far as to buy Suiza a ticket for the movie, I’m starting to feel glad that Hispano at least brought her with us. “We don’t want any trouble.” From the way the two lackeys of the lead dog growled at her, I got the feeling that we wouldn’t get off so easily. Oh, where was Buck when I needed him?

“What do you want?” I grunted, pulling the attention of the dogs back to me. While I understood that Buck would be invaluable to have at my side right now, at the very least, I could act as he would. Maybe there would be some way to talk ourselves past this.

“What does dog want?” The hound laughed, pointing a thick ebony colored claw at me. “To hurt sky pony for betraying sun dogs. For ruining our home, forcing us to live here.” Okay, so we’ve gone way past just walking out of here after a few words. Great. “Pony thought was so smart to trick dogs, but now we the smart ones.” Tapping at his head, his eyes focused on me completely. “Even with wings, nowhere for pony to run inside.”

I’d give him that, there wasn’t much room to maneuver in here. Looking up, the few dimmed, sparkling glass-beaded chandeliers that hung down from the vaulted theatre ceiling weren’t all that high up or big enough to hide in. To be honest, the whole situation started to remind me of my time in the Wreck Room with Rosey, and these dogs probably wouldn’t think twice to tear me in half. As the credits to the movie finished, and the projector turned off, I was reminded that for as much of a similar cage as this was, there was still one other exit that existed out of their reach.

“Hispano,” I unfurled my wings and looked up at the projection room. “Let’s get out of here.”

The three dogs gave snarls at us as both Hispano and I ran and jumped off of the theater seats into the air. I beat my wings furiously, carrying myself up to the ceiling as quickly as possible. Reaching out, I grabbed around the solid iron post that the chandelier hung down from, and held tight. Which of course, had also been the situation I’d found myself in before.

The lead dog stepped forward, growling and crouching down like Rosey had. This time however, I knew what was coming, and the pole I was on wasn’t so rigid. As the dog leapt, I pushed off the chandelier backwards. The glass-beaded light swung into his face enough to block his view as Hispano and I bolted for the projection room window.

Thankfully, it was big enough for Hispano to fit through even with Suiza held close to her. I followed close behind her, not even fighting the smirk that the angry roar below brought to my muzzle. However, we weren’t out of this yet. With a yelping grunt, one of the two dogs below jumped and hooked their forearm through the window.

“This way!” Hispano shouted as she barreled through the door leading into the second floor hallway. The old door slammed outward against the wall from her hit, and a few of the ghoul patrons here gave startled yelps as the two of us made quick tracks out of the room. My hooves hammered the old carpeted floor as I raced down the hallway with Hispano. “Up there!” She shouted, sharply turning herself off toward a grand wooden staircase that looped up to the higher floors.

My heart hammered against my chest as I followed her as best as I could. My hooves slammed down on every other step as the two of us threw ourselves up another floor. But that’s where our momentum stopped as Hispano came to a screeching halt. We both paused, as a pair of unhappy looking Hellhounds turned their gazes to us from down one of the hallways.

“We have to get to the roof…” Hispano spoke out softly. To which, I had to think was going to be a bit tough to do with the tiled design of the resort...

“I don’t think this place has roof access…” I began to say. However, I was cut off as a heavy hoof came down on my back and I screamed out like a little filly.

“Celestia, calm yourself!” Mad Jack cringed and covered one of his ears. “I understand I may have startled you, but what ever for are you two doing speeding all around the hotel?” As he spoke, the trio of dogs who’d been chasing us scampered down the hall, coming to their own staggering halt at the bottom of the stairwell behind us.

“T-they’re trying t-to hurt us!” I managed to stutter out, garnering a low guttural growl from the lead dog.

“What have the staff told you about causing problems?” Jack grunted at the trio, pulling surprised looks from each of them. “You are bad dogs, and you will be nice to them.” His sharp words drew another growl from them. “Hey, don’t ye dare give me that tone, mister. They are guests here, and you bloody well know not to cause any problems among the guests.” I was given pause as the words he shouted at them actually made them pin their ears back to their heads. “Do we have an understanding, or do I have to remind you lot forcefully?” Much like Zibar, his rant had driven their eyes away, and they visibly shrunk back from him. “Now get out of here. Go on, shoo.” He waved his forehoof at them, and surprisingly, they turned and scampered off down the hall.

“That was…” Hispano gasped, “amazing!” She squeed and practically ripped Jack’s hoof out of the air. She shook it vigorously with a wide smile. “I’ve only ever seen griffons able to just speak opponents into submission! How do you hold so much respect over them? Or is it fear?” Okay, she’d gone from fight or flight, straight into fangirling. “Either way, I just have to know!”

“Well, you see, the trick is,” Jack smirked and leaned down closer to her, lowering his scratchy voice to a whisper. “most dogs have exceptional hearing, and there are few things that they hate more than one of these...” Reaching onto his back, he dragged his odd plaid pipe laiden bag into his hooves. Slowly, he hooved a slotted pipe on the bag up into his muzzle, and took a deep breath.

The noise that came out of… whatever that thing was, was inequine. Both Hispano and I cringed and immediately cupped our ears as Mad Jack began to emit odd tones from the bag. The two Hellhounds we’d seen down the hall were too busy fleeing to cover their own ears, and a few of the other ghoul patrons on this level were angrily sticking their heads out of their rooms and doing their best to shout over the irritating noise.

After what felt like an hour, the noise died off, and was replaced with Mad Jack’s cackling laughs.

“Eheh, it’s an acquired taste.” He gave a few heavy stomps as his own laughter died off. “Ah, if only I could have the joy of first hearing the pipes being played as I did when I was just a wee colt…” He paused as he stared in confusion behind Hispano and I.

“Madame Mystic will see the two of you now.” An instantly familiar voice met my ears from behind me. One that spoke with the sternness of a goddess as well as the wisdom of an actress, and that helped to calm my wild heart and unsteady nerves.. Turning around, I was about to throw myself out to hug Lilac Lace, but stopped myself short as a tall green alicorn met my eyes. This new alicorn squinted as I studied her, before tipping her muzzle up and turning around. “Come. The Madame is waiting.”

“We didn’t ask to see her.” Hispano grunted, hefting Suiza up.

“The Madame foresaw your arrival.” The alicorn offered with half a look over her shoulder. She ruffled the enormous wings tucked on her back before starting to walk again. “She is never wrong, you will follow us to her.”

“Eh, I think you two should go.” Mad Jack said with a nudge at my side. “She’s good for a laugh, but I wouldn’t take that old stripe too seriously.” Pointing down to Suiza, Jack smiled. “I’d put more trust in good old Trottingham engineering like that, than in the words of an old, drugged up stripe. But you kids have fun.” Turning toward the stairs, Mad Jack put the mouthpiece of his bag back into his muzzle and took another deep breath.

Before he could do anything, both Hispano and I bolted down the hallway after the green alicorn. While this might have not been the original plan, anything was better than listening to that wretched noise again. Which, thankfully, droned off quickly as we caught up to the alicorn. She turned a corner ahead, looking back to see that we were still in tow.

As we followed, both Hispano and I came to an abrupt stop as a pair of matching ghoul fillies stared at us from a few feet away. The two fillies just stood their in matching blue and white polkadot dresses, staring at us. It made my fur stand on end as even the air around us seemed to feel a lot more ominous.

“In here.” The alicorn spoke out, making Hispano and I jump slightly. Looking next to us, the alicorn was sticking her head out of a doorway that we’d missed right around the corner. Draped over her horn, was a dark black sheet, and under it flickered the lights from a dozen or so candles. Above her, and plastered in several different languages, was a plaque that read ‘Madame Mystic: Exotic Fortuneteller’. Under that, written in barely visible smaller text, was something I hadn’t expected. Certified Wartime Stress Disorder treatment provider, MoM licence 24601.

“Huh…” I felt oddly underwhelmed by the sign. You know, I remember the MoM as having all sorts of services to keep up morale during the war, as the name implied of course. However, paying ‘fortune tellers’ to give people ‘good news’ didn’t strike me as something they would have ever done. Then again, like with the movies I’d now seen, the ponies of way back then were quite weird with how they cheered themselves up.

Stepping through the curtain and into the room, an odd scent hit my nose, and I felt a wave of calm wash over me. My mind felt murky, and a few aches I didn’t realize I’d had disappeared for what felt like the first time in ages. I couldn’t quite explain it, but it was as if I’d been here a dozen times already, and that this place was already a sort of ‘home away from home’ so to speak.

The small room was sparsely decorated, and only held light from the dozens of candles in it. Wispy lines of smoke trailed off various burning sticks laid in holders on all the walls, bringing the odd smell with them to my nose. Other than the innumerous empty boxes of Mint-als that littered the room, various old cushions lined the floors from wall to wall. Most of them circled around a low sitting table that had nothing on it other than at the center, where a glowing crystal orb and it’s ornate stand both sat. A pair of wrinkled, striped hooves hovered around the orb, belonging to the dark robes around a hooded figure sitting across the table from where we entered.

“Come, sit.” The cloaked figure spoke with a maddening calmness to her ghoulish voice. The bleached bone of a skull stuck out of the tip of her robes, and the skinless grin that protruded with it as she spoke gave me pause. “Do not be afraid. I have the answers you seek, young stallion.”

“You know, we should go…” Hispano spoke softly, reaching out and grabbing around my foreleg. From the way she trembled, I almost got the sense that she was actually frightened of this place.

“Leave if you must,” The cloaked mare spoke, turning her gaze to look at us. “However, know this,” The mane on my neck stood up as the extent of her ‘decay’ became obvious. She was missing all the skin and muscles around most of her face. Only the muscles that moved her jaw and rotten tongue were still attached, and even those were black and sickly looking. Her empty eye sockets gave off the hint of a balefire glow, but I still got the feeling from them that she was looking right at me. “Should you leave now, you will never know who you truly are, or be free of the curse you know that you carry.”

That caught my attention more than anything. I… I didn’t know what to believe about anything since coming down here, and I didn’t want to fall for some wartime mental trickery. However, with everything that’s happened to me so far, even I’ve thought of it as some sort of curse. What if it is true, and there is something wrong with me?

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.” Hispano’s words matched up perfectly with the pit I felt in my stomach again. But for as much as I agreed that this had been a mistake, I couldn’t bring myself to move.

“Am I cursed?” I asked the ghoulish zebra, feeling as Hispano tensed up beside me.

“Sit, and Madame Mystic shall reveal its true nature to you.” Lifting her wrinkled hooves from around the ball, she pointed to a pair of plush looking seats across from her at the table. Of course, for as much as I’d tried to push my legs to carry me out of this place, they worked on their own to move me to take a seat. Looking over to Hispano, I could tell that she had tried her best to fight the urge as well, but ultimately failed as I had as she sat down next to me on the surprisingly cold pads. “Good,” The mare spoke before calmly returning her hooves around the glowing crystal ball before us. “Now, ask and you will be answered.”

“Am I really cursed?” The words, as always, slipped from my muzzle. No, not this time. They felt like they were involuntarily pulled out in a way I couldn’t quite explain.

“Yes,” The mare’s empty eye sockets brightened with the green glow that sat in them, sharing a flicker that came into being inside the crystal ball on the table. “I can see a jinx that brings misfortune and suffering to all those around you. It persists like a parasite, feeding off of the very fabric of who you are, knowing that you cannot yet fight it off.” She gave out a sad sounding whine as she moved her hooves around the ball, and the glowing in her eyes dimmed momentarily. “Grave sorrow and pain threatens to consume your future should you not win your fight.”

“That’s not a prediction.” Hispano grunted, finding the strength to at least fold her talons across her chest. “That’s just living in the wasteland. Everyone deals with that.”

“How…” I asked flatly. “How do I stop it?” If there was something in my power that I could do to keep those around me safe, I had to try it. Real curse or not, I didn’t want to become a burden to those in Delilah’s crew.

“Discover who you really are, and you will have the tools you need to fight it.” Madame Mystic spoke louder than before. Her voice made her ball glow brighter, and for a moment, it outshined the candles in her room. “But you will not defeat it until you find the home in which you know is yours. However, know that the price of this home will be a cost you will not be willing to pay.”

“Alright, I’ve heard enough.” Hispano sighed and deadpanned over at me. “She’s speaking in generalizations, Dum Dum. Hoping that you’ll fill in the blanks yourself when it’s all bullshit.”

“Your sister would not take my words so lightly, and even now inside her prison of metal, she is trying to tell you to listen.” Madame Mystic spoke, turning her gaze to Hispano. I watched as Hispano froze up with her words, looking back at the old ghoul with a twitch in her eye. “For as gifted as you are, you are afraid that you should meet the same fate as her, however, you may rest easy.” Hispano turned nearly all white as her jaw hung open. Even I couldn’t understand how Madame Mystic could know that. “Of all those you keep in good company, it is you in fact who will emerge from your trials as triumphantly unscathed. Find peace of mind in that, for it will be the only thing to carry you through the suffering of those around you.”

Both Hispano and I sat there, both in shock and awe as those words sank in. So… I was going to bring nothing but suffering, and Hispano would get to watch as everything around her fell apart. My mind was struggling to process all of this when it was ripped away by a soft sound filling the room. I perked my ears, listening as Hispano softly giggled. After a moment, those giggles had turned into a maddening laughter that she almost doubled over from.

“You had me going there for a minute! What are you on, lady? It can’t just be mint-als to sound that crazy. What is it, wave? Chill?” She spat, trying to fight off her own laughter just the breath. But unlike the laughter I normally heard from her, this felt different. It didn’t bring a smile to my muzzle, or make me feel like she was actually happy. If anything, the laughter she gave felt hollow, and full of fear. “Still, you’ve just been having your alicorn read our minds or something, and I don’t appreciate others knowing my own personal shit. So you know what? Fuck this, I’m out.” She muttered as she pushed herself up and turned toward the door. “You can sit here, and deal with this, Dum Dum. I won’t sit here and listen to some drugged up hack and her psychic monstrosity friend tell me my ‘future’.”

“Hispano…” I reached out for her, only to have her ignore me and walk straight out the door. Turning, I moved to follow her, but felt a strong hoof hold me back. Looking down, the dried striped skin that barely clung onto the Madame’s leg tensed to reveal the few tendons still working it.

“You too should go, but first you must listen closely.” Madame Mystic spoke, in a cold tone that made me freeze up. Her boney muzzle leaned over the table as I turned and gazed back into her balefire eyes. Slowly, her other hoof reached down and pulled the crystal ball from it’s place on the table. “Be warned. Do not let the curse feed on your misfortune. Fight to find yourself, lest you become the monster that feeds on others misfortune like the curse does to you.”

Reaching her other hoof out, she pushed the glowing crystal ball toward me. Looking down at it, it pulsed softly as the light inside it swirled around before slowly turning green. As it changed color, it wiggled, propelling itself around inside like a fish trapped in a bowl. For a moment, I found myself lost inside the sphere, but then the green light dimmed and faded.

“Take it.” Madame Mystic’s voice whispered into my ear. “You may not understand the truth of my words yet, but you will.”

“What?” I was more than confused now, and that's saying something.

“You have wondered before if there was such a thing as fate.” Madame Mystic’s voice stayed low as she pushed the orb out toward me. “Those who come to expect something more, get less. Those who expect nothing, get something more. I have yet to know which end you will meet, but that does not mean it hasn’t already been set.” Again without control, I felt my hoof reach up and take it from her. “Like you, this token has it’s own fate, and that fate lies with you. It has it’s own purpose that will be revealed to you soon enough.”

“Give it to those who you trust to protect, and like you, they will soon see the truth in what I have spoken today.” Leaning back across the table, the green balefire glow her empty eye sockets held dimmed and faded as the light in the ball had. “Now go, for I have told you all you must hear.” Without any chance to object, I found a field of green magic wrap around me. The alicorn that had been silently watching me used her magic to pull me towards the door. “Remember my words, Night Flight. Your curse does not control you, but your mistakes will always be your own. Learn from them, and know who you are.”

And with that, the door to her room slammed shut, and I was left alone in the hallway. Freed of the alicorn’s magic, my hooves felt heavy under my own control again, and I dropped the crystal ball. It rolled across the old carpet for a moment, stopping as it rolled into the light cast by the hallway window. Reaching out I picked it up and looked at it closely.

None of what I’d just heard made any sense to me. As much as I’d like to just write it off like Hispano, part of me just couldn’t do that. Holding the clear ball in my hoof, I couldn’t help but wonder if a single word of any of that actually was true. But if it is, then I’d supposedly find out soon enough.

Still, I was supposed to give this to someone I trusted, and there were only a few on the crew who I trusted enough with it. But before anything, the only thing I could think to do was ask for Buck’s opinion on all this. Even though I was pretty sure I knew the answer, if anything Madame Mystic had said was true, then I was going to need all the help I could get...

Author's Note

Thanks to Kkat for creating FoE and letting us all run around in this wonderful universe!

Many thanks to TheFurryRailFan as well, both for being an awesome pre-reader, and lending me Mad Jack from Empty Quiver for a bit of fun!

Chapter 33 - Life and Death

Sometimes, being good and lucky still isn’t enough.

“Night, wake up.” I stirred awake to Buck’s concerned voice. Oddly, he wasn’t sprawled out under me as he was when we fell asleep. Rather he was speaking from the doorway to our container. “There’s something wrong with Hispano.” Oh? What was he doing up at this time, and what could be wrong with her?

“What is it?” I asked, pushing myself off of his bed. “Is she…”

My body locked up in horror from the sight that met me. Hispano... had been mutilated. She’d been propped up against the container wall, and almost all of her torso was ripped to ribbons and gutted out. The empty gaze in her eyes, and the frightened look frozen across her face nearly stopped my heart. Fear felt like it had dragged my stomach down to the pits of Tartarus as I felt like breaking down into tears. How… how could this happen!?

“I think it was your curse, Night. Looks like it ended up killing us all.” Buck spoke as he turned to me. As he did, his body slumped down to the floor, but his severed head hung there in the air. His expression drooped as the light of life in his eyes dimmed and faded. The grotesque image filled me with dread, and I wanted to scream out. But before I could, a heavy weight pressed down on my shoulder, and I turned to find Galina standing over me with her enormous gun pressed against my neck.

“This is goodbye, tiny mare…” She squawked through a delighted cackle.

“Night!” Hispano’s voice shattered the scene, and what felt like my face.

“Was that really necessary?” Buck groaned as I whimpered and panted heavily against his chest. “Just… five more minutes would be nice.”

“With all the whining he was doing, I think he was having a nightmare.” Hispano grumbled as I felt her press up against Buck’s side. “If anything, that slap did him a favor.”

“Goddesses, you’re both alright.” I whimpered as the consuming feeling of fear and panic still gripped at me. Calm your heart, Night, it was just a dream. Another fucking nightmare, like the one you had about Four Peaks, that’s all. “I was so scared I’d…” A set of knocks at the door cut me off, and I nearly jumped straight off of Buck and into the air. “What the hell!”

“Hey, I know it’s early, but we’ve got an audience.” Hardcase’s annoyed voice came through the door as his magic wrapped around the latch. “I’m opening it up for them to take a look inside.”

“Alright, forget five more minutes. Time to get up I suppose.” Buck grunted, shifting around below me. For a moment as he sat up, I was afraid his head was going to come off like it had in the dream. However of course that never happened, and instead he looked down with a soft smile as he kissed my nose. “Good morning.” Scooping me up in his hold, he stood up and gave a stiff stretch of his back.

The door to our container opened up with a squeal, and a pair of hard hat wearing Road Crew stallions pushed their way in and started looking around.

“Just what the hell is going on?” Hispano asked the question that was likewise on both Buck and I’s mind. What the hell were the road crew doing searching Bertha? “Hey! Don’t touch her!” Hispano shouted before jumping over to Suiza. She all but ripped it from the magic of one of the surprised looking stallions. “Keep your grubby hooves off my sister!”

“It’s fine, Hispano.” Delilah’s voice made the fur on my neck stand on end. “As you can see, there is no stolen Road Crew equipment on my convoy.”

“Yeah, well somepony who arrived yesterday stole one of my pony’s work gear.” A larger mare grunted as she stood next to Mrs. Delilah. Looking out into the Rec area, I could see a pair of ponies had gone into Delilah’s container, and I assumed from the hoofsteps I could hear, they were also inside the other containers as well.

“I fucking told you,” Violet grumbled from the couch. “One of your guys lost it and decided it was easier to blame me for it than fess the fuck up. That’s all.”

“All clear in here, Ma’am.” One of the stallions in our container called out. Shortly after, calls of all clear came in from the other containers. While I was just about as confused as could be, at least one thing stuck out to me as nice. While my dream may have sucked, at least nopony I knew was horrifically mutilated or dead!

Goddesses, what is wrong with my mind for it to have even pictured that shit in the first place? The wasteland certainly hadn’t gone easy on my body so far, but I’d thought my mind was at least a bit more sheltered. That’s… something I guess I’ll have to worry about as well in the future.

“Let me be clear,” The mare, who I assumed was the Road Crew Forepony for Pink Mountain, turned to Delilah and prodded at her with her hoof. “You may be rolling out of here sooner than later, but you can bet that I’m going to radio this shit to Knuckle Boom. If she finds one scrap of evidence on this rust heap, you and your whole crew are done. Do you understand me?”

“Perfectly.” Delilah grumbled and shot the mare a glare that nearly froze the blood in my veins. “Now, get the hell off of my convoy.”

Buck, Hispano, and I presumed the others as well, simply stood in silence as the numerous Road Crew ponies gathered up and trotted off of Bertha. None of us moved until Delilah did, and even then I think everypony wasn’t sure what to make of what just happened. Delilah, however, was fairly intent on finding out, as she walked up and sat down hard in front of the couch where Violet was seated.

“Explain to me what just happened.” Delilah sighed, slowly reaching up and pulling her glasses off. Hoofing up a rag, she softly rubbed and cleaned off the lenses of them as she seemed to collect herself. “And just why you felt it needed to involve a fight.”

At that, Buck stepped forward. As he did, he reached and set me down on his bed. Of course, I met Hispano’s hesitant gaze, and the two of us followed Buck out into the Rec area. As I came out of our room, I found Violet sitting slumped back on the couch with a puffy and fairly bruised face. Her bloody nose was dripping onto the old couch fabric, and her battle saddle was twisted and busted on her left side, missing the rifle that normally sat there.

“I went out for an early morning flight. Figured I’d watch the sunrise for once.” She mumbled, fumbling over some of her words due to the swelling of her cheeks. “One of the road crew were jealous of my rifles I guess, and accused me of stealing them. Along with his whole outfit, actually.” She smirked and shook her head. “He called me down from my perch, and just wouldn’t let his accusation go. I tried to be civil, but then he demanded one of my guns in return and laid his hooves on me.”

“Ugh.” Hardcase groaned from his doorway as he slumped against it. “We’ve talked about this, Violet. Just fly away, they can’t follow you.”

“But you know I can’t.” Violet rolled her eyes and crossed her forehooves across herself. “Not when somepony sits there and pulls the shit he did.” She sighed and looked squarely at Delilah’s flat expression. “Look, you know I didn’t steal that shit, and now I’m the one a gun down. But you know what? I’m over it, so let’s just get out of this place before they accuse us of anything else.”

“Good.” Delilah snorted before popping her glasses back onto her muzzle. “We’ll look into buying you a replacement when we hit Mare’s Lake, but you’ll have to make due with only using one rifle for now.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” She nodded and slumped further back into the old couch.

“Doc, see what you can do about her injuries.” Delilah got back to her hooves, flicking her ears for a moment before looking over at me. “I want Night and Hispano to join her up on patrol today. If we leave within the hour, then we’ll hit Drake Pass by noon. I want us all rested up and ready for when we get there.” Turning around, she trotted toward her room. “Violet, after you’re done, I want to talk to you about our first dead drop for Solomon. Also, I don’t know what Galina will have waiting for us at the pass. But whatever it is? I want to be ready for both it, and whatever Solomon has waiting for us in Mare’s Lake.”

As she trotted into her room, she wrapped her tail around the backside of the door and pulled it shut behind her. The distinctive click of it’s latch shutting told my body to let out some of the tension it held. Alright, well, that was definitely something. One hell of a way to start the day at least.

“Hey, Night?” Hardcase said as he trotted out of his room with a wide smile. “While the Doc looks at Violet, I wanted to show you what Boiler and I came up with last night.”

“Last night?” I asked, letting out a fairly delayed yawn before realizing that he had already trotted past me and was headed for the Ice hold.

“Yeah!” He called out, waving over for me to follow him. “A trader pulled in around midnight, and both Boiler and I came up with a great idea for how to get you into the air again.”

Oh? Consider my interest piqued! Trotting after him, I made my way down the creaking stairs into the darker Ice hold. Deftly avoiding the various boxes of Boiler’s and Gearbox’s stuff, I followed him around to the backside of the large open ship safe.

“The trader had a ton of good stuff with him.” Boiler spoke up cheerfully as she sorted an enormous pile of junk that had been stashed inside the old safe. “Figured we might as well pick up a bunch of odds and ends from him while we had the chance. Who knows what we might need in the future.” With a gasp, she turned around from inside the safe and hooved something small to Hardcase.

“Ah yes, have you ever seen one of these, Night?” He asked, reaching out and presenting the small thing in his hoof. Even in the dim lighting of the Ice hold, I instantly recognized what it was. The oval shaped translucent amber stone was smaller than I remembered them being, but the yellow and white jagged agate suspended in the center pulsed softly every few moments in his hoof.

“That’s a thunderstone…” I felt a smirk pin itself to my muzzle as I reached out towards it. “My dad used to collect broken ones. I got a few good shocks from them as a young colt…” I paused as I remembered how proud my dad was of his small collection. He… would have loved to see this one.

While it wasn’t a full blown megaspell, a thunderstone has a tremendous amount of energy inside it, and my dad always compared their capabilities as similar to a portable arcane reactor. Mom, however, hated the things. She always brought up their ‘uselessness’ by reciting the time that the Enclave tried to ‘experiment’ with their uses.

They figured that they could rework some of the newer models of power armor to run on thunderstones, rather than the micro spark reactors that had already proven to be so reliable. I mean, I had to agree with her when the trials showed that each thunderstone could only run the power armor for about five minutes before needing to be changed out. It was a pretty embarrassing gaff that Enclave R&D supposedly took years to live down. At least, that was what mom had recanted to us a dozen or so times.

“Yeah, this one’s supposedly an original manufacture spark-generation stone!” Hardcase said proudly, pulling it back and looking over it with a scrutinous eye. “Probably installed up north here shortly after they first rolled off the cloud production lines in Neighagra Falls! You know how hard these things are to find in the wasteland these days?” He paused, scrunching up his muzzle momentarily. “Well, probably not that hard now with the Enclave bringing a bunch down from the clouds with them...”

A soft flutter met my ears as Hispano swooped down into the hold with us. She quickly fell in next to me and looked at the stone in Hardcase’s hoof with an odd curiosity. Of course, that was until Boiler dropped a tool out of the safe and onto the floor with a heavy clang. She didn’t seem to notice however, and was too busy piling stuff into a crate to care.

“So...“ I said, turning my attention back to Hardcase. “Why do you have it when Bertha’s reactor is powerful enough to run this whole place?” I paused, watching as Hardcase seemed to shift uneasily on his hooves. “You couldn’t possibly be planning on using that for your next energy weapon, right?” To which, he scrunched up his muzzle. “Right?”

“Well!” Boiler shouted as she hefted an entire crate of junk onto the floor in front of me. I gave out a mare-like eep, and found myself about a half a hoof in the air from the slam it made. “The trader we met said they own a shop up in Mare's Lake, and we'll definitely have to check their stock of parts when we get there, but we struck gold already by my book!” Digging around in the crate she just set out, she wrestled out a large metal… thing from it that was absolutely covered in thick padding and leather straps.

“What is it?” I found the words tumble out of my muzzle like usual. However, they brought a smile to Boiler’s broad buffalo face.

“A good ol’ MKII Jump Pack!” She shoved the odd device toward me. “Sure, she needs a bit of a complete gutting and total rebuild, but between Hardcase and I, we could probably get her working again.” She scrunched up her muzzle and looked deep in thought for a moment. “Though, that is a very loose probably…”

Taking the old machine into my hooves, I shook it lightly. It was a lot lighter than it looked, and it felt completely solid in my hooves. Turning it over, the almost bronzed look of it nearly threw me off, but the lack of corrosion on it was pretty astounding. However, the two round fan intakes on the front of it showed a buildup of grime around the blades, which wasn’t too encouraging really. The fact that a piece of old chewing gum had plugged up what was obviously a bullet hole, also made me less than convinced that this thing was safe. However, that hadn’t stopped my mind from building a scene in my head of what it might be like to use it.

“You want me to use a jetpack!?” I couldn’t hide the smile across my muzzle as I imagined myself flying effortlessly through the blue skies. Who needed full bodied feathers when you could just have a fucking jet pack whisk you through the air on it’s own! “This is going to be fucking awesome!”

“Woah, cool your jets there, Night. Literally.” Hispano cooed as she all but ripped the amazing metal artifact from my hooves. “It’s a jump pack, not a jet pack. It only offers limited duration flight, not what you’ve got going on in your head, Dum Dum.” Grumbling, she turned it over a few times before picking at the gum seal with her talon. “Besides, I thought these things ran on some sort of combustible fuel back during the war.” Wait, combustible!? “Kinda surprised this guy didn’t explode from this hit here, actually.”

Explode!? I didn’t want to explode!

“That’s what the thunderstone is for.” Hardcase grumbled as he used his magic to pry the wartime device from her talons. “Figured that if this old stone could run the elevators of a building for a few hours a day before running dry, it could probably run the overcharged capacitors of a jump pack for about fifteen seconds.” Hoofing it back to Boiler, I cringed as she carelessly tossed it back onto the crate of junk with a crunch. “If we gut the internals, reconfigure the turbine to run on spark energy, and cram a few heat sinks in there, it might work. It would need a good hour or so to build up a charge in it after each use, but we figured that because it weighs so little, it’d be a safe option for you, Night.”

“But keep in mind that ‘safe’ would still be in a more generalized sorta way.” Boiler added before turning herself around to dive back into her junk heap. “There’s still a small chance it could blow up or overheat of course…” She paused, looking over at me with a nervous grin. “W-which would still be marginally small, mostly.” I did my best to deadpan at her for not helping whatsoever. “What!? Two hundred year old thunderstones are unstable. Unless you have a time machine, no amount of engineering will ever fix that.”

“Hey,” Hardcase pulled my attention to him as he laid his hoof on my shoulder. “It’ll work, alright?” He smiled and gave a nod that was leaps and bounds more reassuring than anything that came out of Boilers muzzle in the last two minutes. “Just trust us?”

“I trust you.” I nodded.

“Alright, good.” He gave me a pat on the side and turned his attention down to the box of scraps. “Well, we’re still missing some key components, so it won’t be ready until after we stop in Mare’s Lake. For now however, you’re going to have to do things the old fashioned way.”

“Great.” I grumbled and rolled my eyes. “Just… great.”

“Ah, don’t look so sad, Dum Dum!” Hispano giggled and pulled herself close next to me. “Nothing wrong with a little hard work! Besides, as my dad always told me; it builds character!”

“Yeah, real father of the year material.” I grumbled and pulled another laugh out of her. As soon as I quieted however, my stomach gave out a heavy grumble, and I figured it was time for breakfast.

“Hey, I know you guys are banned from the hotel and all,” Hardcase spoke up as he basically dove muzzle first into the junk box between us. “But that trader who pulled up drove in here in basically a mobile kitchen. He had some good homecooked food for sale in his caravan, along with all this fantastic junk. Might see if Delilah will let you grab something from there.”

“Sounds like a plan!” Hispano chirped as she perked up and pulled herself right into a hover. “Come on, Dum Dum! Fourth date’s the charm!”

While I might have been hesitant at first, I was actually getting used to the… unique flavors that meat could bring to food. Both Hispano and I had gotten a bowl with some potato wedges and meat cooked together in quite a tasty sauce. Mr. Stroganoff had said it was from a recipe that was in his family for generations, and it was easy to see why they’d kept it around! I know that I didn’t have much to my name, but I was pretty sure that ten caps for a bowl was criminally low to charge for something this good.

However, overall while the meal was nice, the nightmare I’d had last night kept clawing at the back of my mind. Ugh, why did I have to go see that Mystic with Hispano? All she did was ruin our date, and stick those stupid thoughts of a curse in my head. I mean, it can’t be real, right? Just… try to ignore them, Night. Relax, and maybe this breakfast date will turn out alright.

Coming as a surprise to exactly nopony, as it turns out, the fourth date was not the charm.

“Ahoy there!” A sharp, propper stallion called out from behind Hispano and I. Turning around, I was unsurprised to see Poppy Gardener and one of the other ghoul tankers from the bar yesterday happily trotting through the pink snow towards us. “I’m glad that you all decided to stay the night here! You see, Ironside and I’ve just received word back from Cordite headquarters that those two tankers you took in yesterday have been approved for orientation trials!”

“Thanks for that.” Hispano spoke up before licking off the last of the food’s tasty sauce from her beak. “I hope they’re of more use to you guys than they were to Solomon.”

“I’m sure we’ll be able to put them to good use protecting some convoys.” The other ghoul that had come with Poppy gave a hearty laugh. “With the speed of their tank, I have no doubt that those two are going to be fairly popular around the north!” Turning himself toward the trader and his motorwagon, the other ghoul gave a wave. “Hello there, Mr. Stroganoff! Thank you once again for holding onto that Cordite wreck in Mare’s Lake as a personal favor. Mad Jack and his Maple Station friends are quite thankful for the opportunity it affords.”

“Ah, it was nothing. I owed you anyways after that raider band you took out for my convoy last spring.” Mr. Stroganoff rubbed his hoof on his chin and looked up to the ceiling of his wagon for a moment. “Rain… Rein? Rheinmetall, I think was his name? Whatever, he showed up just as I was packing the last of my shipments. Seemed pretty happy to get at all the bits and parts of that old tank.”

“Yes, I assume he would be.” Poppy nodded and pulled his hat off with a solemn look. “It’s a damn shame that we lost Olly and her crew, but at the very least, those parts will find a good home in Maple Station.”

With the conversation taking a somewhat downward turn there, I figured that it was time to get back to the convoy. We might not be leaving just yet, but there was still plenty of relaxing to be done! Getting to my hooves, I hooved my bowl up towards Mr. Stroganoff, who thankfully used his magic to take it from me and pull it back into his kitchen. Looking over to Hispano, she did the same before freezing and looking up above me.

As she did, I found that the shadow I cast onto the pink snow this morning had somehow grown three times it’s normal size. A pair of heavy paws gripped around me tightly, and I found myself lifted up into the air. I gave out nothing more than a squeak as gravity seemed to flip and I felt myself spinning.

“You smell like dog.” The red Hellhound I’d seen riding on one of the tanks yesterday spun me upside down as she sniffed at various parts of me. The suddenness of her invasion of my personal space made me lock up, and I found myself staring at her odd upside down confused expression. “Why?”

“Sasha!” Yet another ghoul snapped as they approached. Why oh why did I seem to attract trouble? Oh, right. I’m cursed. “You know better than to put your paws all over the guests here.” With the stranger’s stern words, I found myself spun back over onto my hooves and set down into the snow again.

“Am sorry.” The overly friendly hellhound whimpered as I turned around.

Hispano gave a choked giggle before reaching up and using her talons to shift my mane around a bit. I simply deadpanned at her before turning to meet this ‘Sasha’. As expected, I found the large, Buck-like form of the red and white hellhound sitting before me.

While she was indeed a bit weightier than he was, the markings she wore on her fairly fuzzy form followed roughly the same pattern as his did. The helmet she’d worn yesterday was absent, helping me to see that her eyes weren’t quite as striking as I’d originally thought. In fact, one was an Ice blue color, while the other looked like a much darker blue.

“Please, forgive Commander Sasha.” The ghoul who’d spoken up before, pulled my attention over to him. I froze when I saw that it was the Zebra ghoul I’d seen in the hatch of the other tank with the hellhound yesterday. He looked just as annoyed as he did then, and something about his gaze just made me about as uncomfortable as I could be right now. “But if you don’t mind, I ask that you not encourage her by answering any of her questions. It’s bad enough they gave a beast like her command of a tank.”

“Why?” The words slipped out of my muzzle, causing the old zebra to almost misstep as he approached. From the way his glare actually hardened, I was pretty sure he wasn’t so much the social type of ghoul…

“Oh, don’t be so hard on her, Mr. Xao. She has been an excellent recovery commander so far, and handled the recovery of my BT with the utmost care.” Poppy spoke up in what I could only assume was an attempt to keep the conversation from sinking any faster than a cloudship in a tornado. “Now, why not join Ironside and I for a lovely bowl of Mr. Stroganoff’s specialty?”

“Urg.” The zebra grumbled and rolled his eyes. “Fine. But you’re buying.” Turning toward the merchant cook’s kitchen, he trotted himself through the snow in an arc that seemed purposefully as far from us as it could be.

“Mr. Xao…” Sasha began, pulling my attention up to her sad gaze. “He says Sun Dogs not so smart. Mr. Xao is right.” Reaching up, she rubbed at her forearm uncomfortably. “Am sorry if disturb.”

“Sun Dogs?” Hispano asked as she sat down beside me. “Like the ones in the hotel?” Right, they did say something about being Sun Dogs, didn’t they? Guess I was too busy trying not to get killed by them to really remember that… “Don’t you want to hurt us? Like the others do?”

“Oh no!” She shook her large head and smiled to us. “Sasha likes ponies who help friends! Sasha likes very much.”

“So… we helped your friend?” I asked, looking over to Hispano. Thankfully, she seemed to be just as confused as I was with all this.

“Hotel ponies say to Sasha that you two and other dog help Rica and cub.” Without warning, I found myself grabbed and pulled into a fuzzy hug that honestly felt a little too similar to Buck’s for my personal comfort. Not that I hadn’t become comfortable squished up against a warm, fuzzy chest. It just… wasn’t the same as with Buck. “Rica is best friend of Sasha. Asked to come collect pony and friends who helped. Rica wants to talk to them.”

Wait, the balefire chimera wanted to talk to us? Why? About what? I had so many questions. The most pressing of which had just come to mind… where was the pit in my stomach? Why didn’t this really feel at all off to me?

“Wait, what do you mean ‘collect’?” Hispano’s voice wavered as mine would have if my face wasn’t squashed against Sasha’s chest.

“Come!” Sasha let go of me with a happy gasp, and I quickly found myself muzzle deep in the pink snow under her. I let out my own gasp as the shock from being against something so warm came back to bite me on the nose with the frozen snow. “Get other dog and meet by burned garage. Sasha will show you the way!” Without waiting for an answer, and with a speed only afforded to her by her size, Sasha turned and ran off toward the hotel on all fours.

“Are we really going to go with her?” Hispano grumbled. I felt her talon wrap around my side and help me back up onto my hooves.

“Not without Buck.” I said before giving my whole body a shivering shake that flailed pink snow off me in all directions. Turning to look at Hispano, I found her deadpanning at me from under a bit of pink slush I’d accidentally splattered across her face and flight goggles. “But aren’t you at least a bit curious?” I asked, hoping she wouldn’t want to stay here instead. Still, I wasn’t sure why my gut didn’t feel like this was a bad idea, but I needed to learn to trust it, right?

“No.” She grumbled, reaching up and wiping the slush from her eyes. With a sigh, she grabbed at the goggles on her leather flight cap and pulled them down over her eyes. “Don’t know if you’ve really noticed, Dum Dum, but your curiosity tends to get us in trouble. A lot.”

“You’re right.” I sighed, looking back to the convoy. “But trouble is going to find us anyway, and at least this time we’ll have Buck around with us, not to mention Sasha who is, if you missed it, absolutely enormous.”

“Fine.” Hispano gave out a defeated sigh and dragged her legs through the snow as she headed toward Bertha. “But if things go to shit, I’m blaming you.”

“Fair enough.” I nodded and pushed myself to follow her. Still, so long as we had Buck with us, I’m sure everything would be fine. Plus, if anything, I know from how Buck seemed when he saw her yesterday, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind a chance to find out why he and Sasha look so damn similar.

“Come! We close!” Sasha panted heavily as she ran forward a dozen feet or so, then turned around and ran back. I’d given up trying to keep up with her on hoof at the edge of the forest, and had just fallen back to having Buck carry me as he normally did. However, even he seemed to be having a hard time keeping up with her energetic speed. Only Hispano was having an easy time keeping up with her, and she looked more on edge out here in the forest than anything.

“Ugh.” Buck snarled, lifting his free paw to his nose to cover it. “We must be close. I can smell the rot from here.”

Almost as he’d said that, Sasha lead us through the pink snow covered forest, and into a small muddy clearing. A ring of burned and twisted trees had been laid around a fairly large hole dug into a charred and blasted hillside. Sasha happily darted inside, and as I perked my ears, I could hear her talking to something.

“You sure about this?” Hispano called as she came down and landed squarely on Buck’s shoulders. It pulled an annoyed look from Buck, as I’m pretty sure he didn’t so much like being used as a perch. Then again, I could have probably put more effort into walking myself...

“Let’s just get this over with.” Buck grumbled and stepped forward. I wiggled in his grasp until he finally got the point and set me down.

The muddy ground here was warm to the touch, and while the soil was wet, it was firm enough that I didn’t sink in it. Following alongside Buck, Hispano joined me on the mud as we approached and entered the solitary hole in the ground. It was about then that the rotten and fetid stench hit my nose as well, however, that was bucked to the back of my mind as the flickering glow inside showed me the owner of this den.

Twice the size of Buck or Sasha, the creature curled on the ground before me looked unlike anything I’d ever seen before in my life. Two massive feline forepaws were attached to the powerful frame of a lion, melding seamlessly with the robust flank and lith rear hooves of a goat. The blazing mane of a skeletal lion’s skull burned with a sickly green glow, matched by a pair of flames in the empty eye sockets that studied our entrance. Two more flickering eyes met us as the glowing bones of a large skeletal serpent rose up from the rear of the chimera, and it’s enormous fangs extended with a gurgling hiss.

“That is enough, Mika.” The final, and still fleshy, rotten head of a goat spoke up from the left side of the monstrous feline torso. Her horizontally slit eyes were clouded with age, however they studied us all the same. The pair of chipped, scratched, and twisted horns that sprouted from her head glowed with the same intensity as the boney snake attached to her rear. “And I want no trouble from you either, Leon.” Her voice was commanding, yet calm, pulling a soft whimper from the skeletal feline head that sat next to her.

“H-hello.” I managed to get out. “You wanted to see us?” While I had been asking about it before, it took until this point for my stomach to start to feel ready to drop out from under me. The pit there just seemed to hesitate though, not quite ready to commit. That odd behavior alone made me feel more uneasy than anything, and all my mind was telling me now was to grab onto Buck and run. Maybe it was a mistake to come here...

"Come closer so that we may see you better." The low, crisp voice of the Chimera made the whole chamber resonate, and to be honest, I was almost too intimidated by it to move. However, Buck stepped forward, so I moved with him. "We are told that we have the three of you to thank for finally saving our little cub here. How fitting that it would be so." The glowing eyes on the skeletal cat's skull flickered as it looked between the goat's head and the three of us. "While I have nothing in return to give for your service other than my thanks, know that we are eternally grateful for your kind actions."

"You are very welcome." Buck stood up and gave a slow bow to her. "If you ask me, it shouldn't have taken the three of us to right this wrong. No child deserves to suffer as yours has." The eyes of Rica's ghoulish goat head went wide for a moment as Buck spoke, giving a soft bleat of surprise.

“You are more well versed in speaking then the other local hellhounds of the North.” Her confusion gave me pause, but it also did a lot to defuse the tension I was feeling. I guess that even for an enormous predatory beast, even she could be caught off guard.

"I am a Snow Dog from the northern settlement of Inuvik, and I am also a trained physician." Buck smiled his jagged grin to her. "I may not know anything about Chimera physiology, but if you were alright with it, I could perform a basic check up on your cub.”

"No, but thank you for your offer." The goat's head gave out a raspy, bleating laugh. "Thanks to the metal you retrieved, our daughter is no longer in need of any help. She only needs time to strengthen the balefire within her. Come next springtime, she will be strong enough to leave the den." Lifting her forepaw, she peeled back the edge of the foil to reveal a small striped face looking back at us. A balefire shrouded goat's skull sat next to the ghoulish cat's face, and a skeletal snake not unlike her mother's gnawed on the goat head’s single sprouted stubby horn. "If we may ask only one thing more of you before you go."

"What is it?" I asked, not sure what we were getting into. I swear that if she asks us to go and kill Short Wave…

"With my Daughter having been sick for so long, we did not wish to name her for fear of growing too attached." Looking up to us, all three of her heads seemed to point to a different one of us. "We wish to have her remember who it was that saved her life."

"My name is Night Flight." I pointed over to Buck and Hispano as well, who both looked quite uncomfortable as I spoke. "He's Buck, and she's Hispano."

“Then so shall be her names.” Rica smiled and looked down at her daughter. The warmth that radiated off of her in that moment stunned me. However, Hispano raising her talon pulled me out of the odd but nice moment we were having.

"It's... flattering and all, but... didn't you already have a name picked out for her, even if you didn’t want to give it to her officially?" She asked with a small squeak. That was a fairly good point to bring up...

"No, that is not our way." She shook her head as the snake and cat heads went to lay down to rest again. "Our kind normally chose their own names when we come of age, and our daughter will as well when it is her time. However, until then, her heads will bear your names, so that she may remember them."

The air inside the den rumbled as the sound of an enormous engine starting swept through the forest. It was concerning to me, as with so many vehicles at the resort, I couldn’t be sure of who’s it would be. It pulled all of our attentions, but Buck’s perked ears meant that he had the best picture of what it was. I gave a tap on his paw to pull his attention and glanced out the doorway.

“That’s our Convoy.” He spoke up, turning toward Rica. “It was nice to meet you, and I wish you and your cub pleasant days ahead.”

“Thank you for sparing the time to come all the way out here.” Rica bleated as she looked at each one of us again. “And for deciding to help an old chimera like me.” Lifting her paw, she pointed to Sasha, who’d been happily silent this whole time. “Sasha will lead you back to the resort now. Stay safe out there, and good luck on your journeys.” Whether it was pure luck, or something else, her gaze to each of us ended squarely on me before she uttered one last thing to us.

“While the skies may be clear once more, it’s more dangerous than ever to travel the wasteland these days.”

Oh goddesses this was amazing.

“Come on, Bombay.” Violet spoke through a smile as she cruised through the open skies next to me. “Hello? Equus to Bombay? Did you even hear what I asked?” Honestly… I hadn’t...

The drive all morning had been quiet, almost to the point that it was worrisome. However, since leaving Pink Mountain behind us, we hadn’t even seen so much as another living creature out on the road. Much like the road to Stone Town, Drake’s Peak had been partially carved out so that the roadway could twist and turn it’s way higher and higher into the mountains. However, unlike with Stone Town, the entire right side of the road was a sheer drop off, and the wide open forested valleys and smaller mountains stretched off as far as the eye could see.

Countless majestic glassy snow covered peaks ran for miles that reflected rainbows of light from the now nearly midday sun. Frozen waterfalls and ice covered lakes stepped down from every major mountain around like enormous mirrored terraces. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky today, and even though we were miles high above the ground below, the stiff wind that came up the steep roadside cliffs made my flight almost effortless.

Still, I could see exactly why Delilah hadn’t wanted to traverse this in the dark. The old Highway was only just as wide as Bertha was, and the many cracks and crevices in the mountainside that rose up on our left were the perfect spots for ambushes or traps. Both Hispano and her father however were busily moving to each and every one, keeping pace just ahead of the Convoy as it crawled upward at a slower than average pace.

“Bombay?” Delilah’s voice fuzzed in over my headset. While I could ignore Violet’s sometimes incessant questions, I couldn't exactly ignore the donkey who employed me.

“Yes, Ma’am?” I responded sharply, stiffening my forehooves as they hung below me, and casting another sweeping gaze around the nearby landscape.

“Give me a status report.” She spoke with the same trademark dullness that betrayed just how seriously she took this trip. You know, the others had joked before that when Delilah’s tone changes, you know something’s up. Well, I’d come to rely on it not changing to show that everything was proceeding as it should.

“Nothing up here, Ma’am.” I spoke over the headset, looking over to Violet who nodded as well.

“I can confirm that.” Violet sighed and looked over to Hispano and her father. “Like they used to say, it’s all quiet on the eastern… er, western slopes.”

“No signs of traps, or any life for that matter.” Cora’s annoyance bled through the radio almost as thickly as Delilah’s dullness. “Setting up something this high up doesn’t seem like something Solomon would do. It’s too dangerous, too unpredictable.”

‘Too dangerous’ was something I didn’t think applied anymore to Solomon. While Galina might be acting without his authority, did anypony really expect me to believe that if something were to happen that would ‘overstep’ his established ‘rules’, he’d suddenly give up? No, I’m fairly certain that he’d be perfectly alright with it.

“While I’m inclined to agree,” Delilah’s snort came over as sharp irritation. “Galina is somewhere in these mountains, and I want to see her before she sees...” Delilah’s voice was cut off as a soft pop met Violet and my ears. A red flare shot out into the sky from higher up on the mountain. “Alright, that’s a Road Crew flare.” I looked up higher into the rocks, and saw the bright orange of a hardhat stick out from the craggy cliffs above. A lime colored pony peered down at us as the road curved a bit harder around the rocky cliffsides, and out of sight. “I’m betting that this is Double Drum’s replacement waiting up at the pass.”

As Bessy and Bertha continued winding along the road, Violet pulled for altitude, forcing me to get in a few beats to attempt to keep up with her. The wind rushing up the thousand foot high cliffside was forceful enough that once I was at altitude, I didn't even need to try to hover. The slip that my wings gave couldn't defeat the sheer force of the wind, and I felt myself smile.

Violet however, wobbled and kicked her legs around as the stiff cliffside air battered at her full plumage. I had to force back a chuckle as she fought to maintain her current position. However, as we pulled up higher, we also drifted away from the convoy a bit.

“I almost have the pass in sight, Ma’am.” Violet called out as we drifted further around the sharp cliffside ahead.

As we did, the road flattened out, and widened into somewhat of a shelf a few hundred feet wide. It was obvious with a view like the one up here why it had also been turned into mostly a paved parking lot. Rusted telescopes stood in a long line, bolted to the concrete wall that fenced off a thousand foot drop to one of the grand ice lake terraces below. However, what I don’t think even Violet expected to see, was the entire line of up-armored and heavily armed construction vehicles that stretched the entire way across the wide lot.

A dozen or so vehicles sat before us, but none more impressive or quite as large as the bright yellow monstrosity that sat in the middle. Resting atop a pair of wide crawler tracks, the thing looked more like half of a giant robot than any sort of construction vehicle. It had an enormous articulating arm that rested at a high angle. Curled underneath it looked to be a folded forearm that ran back towards the center of a vehicle, ending in a set of barbed and spiked pneumatic claws that reminded me of a griffon’s talon.

However, most impressively, was the giant artillery barrel that was banded to the top of the robust main arm. It looked almost the same size as one of the guns that had adorned the battleship back in Destruction Bay, and was likewise aimed at what felt like right at me. Almost on cue, the pit in my stomach popped in to say hello to me.

Delilah pulled the convoy to a stop as they reached where the road widened at the top of the pass. As she did, what must have been a hundred or so construction equipment clad ponies, griffons, and the like, readied their weapons and trained them on the convoy. All however, except one, who stood at the enormous tracked base of the central machine. After Bessy and Bertha had rolled to a stop, the pony lifted something up to their muzzle.

“Hello there.” The sharp voice of a mare came across the radio. “By the Authority of the Road Crew, I order you to stand down and surrender your convoy.”

“Oh?” Delilah’s voice responded with a short crackle of static. “On what grounds, might I ask?”

“Double Drum, my colleague in the north informed me of a dangerous convoy heading south through these parts, and I have been informed that you are that convoy.” The mare responded with an even sharper, accusational tone. “I repeat, you are to stand down, and…” She stopped as a note of feedback made even the road crew down there cringe.

“Let me guess?” Delilah’s voice interrupted her as the feedback died. I could almost imagine Delilah smiling as this all seemed a bit to familiar to us. Even as she fought to even hover in place up here, I watched Violet facehoof herself hard. Really? This was Galina’s master plan? “A griffon? Had a northeastern, possibly Stalliongradian-sounding accent? Maybe trying to pass herself off as a road crew member by using stolen gear from Pink Mountain?”

Even from here, I could see the confusion that crept over the entirety of Knuckle Boom's posture. The wind whistled up over the cliffside, blowing her mane around as she pulled the radio from her muzzle to speak with the pony beside her. The stronger gust of wind shifted Violet and I off course. As it died down, I worried that it would fall enough that I could no longer hover, but for now, it maintained itself.

“You will stand down your convoy.” The mare used her voice to regain the composure of her armed force, and the large cannon behind her shifted downward only slightly. Now I was certain that it was aimed directly at me…

“You must be Knuckle Boom, right?” Delilah sighed. “I'm not surprised that Double Drum didn't tell you that he'd been tricked into firing on our convoy by that same griffon. It’s a fairly embarrassing thing to admit, so I can forgive him for that. However,” Delilah’s tone sharpened on that word, “We are not the convoy you are looking for.”

“Then do as I ask, and stand down.” The mare who I assumed was Knuckle Boom ordered. “You have my word that not a single one of my ponies will harm you or your crew until this is sorted out.”

“I assure you, it is not your crew that I am worried will open fire.” Delilah snorted, forcing the pit inside me to grow even deeper.

Why of all times today did my stomach choose now to act up? Since when did a thousand foot drop to the frozen lake below suddenly look more preferable to staying up here in the air? Gazing around at the force, I wasn’t sure what choice we had other than to stop and expose ourselves. After what happened with the White Horse Militia, who’s to say Galina couldn’t have bought off some of the Road Crew?

“However,” Delilah’s voice struck up again, “If we must stand down to prove it, then so be it. But I will ask you to lower your weapons first. The one who tricked you is liable to have paid off some of your crew without your knowledge.”

Well, at least I know I’m sort of learning how to expect things out here in the wastes! Maybe Delilah was right, and I am wired to read a situation. What little good that even does at the moment…

Looking over to Violet, I noticed her reach up and turn her headset off. I braced myself against the wind, doing the same. She helped me by pulling off the headset, bundling it up with hers in her hooves.

“I don’t like this.” Violet spoke up as the whistling wind blasting up the side of the mountain filled the air. It was almost hard to hear her over how loud the wind was. “As Delilah said, it might have been her who stole the outfit from the Pink Mountain Road Crew. In fact, I’m sure of it now. She has to be down there, watching us.” Turning her wings, she shifted her posture enough that the gusts of wind would push her closer toward the mountain. “I think just to be safe, we better stick closer to the convoy.”

“Something does feel off about all this.” I called out, doing the same with my own wings. It was a weird sensation to slip sideways through the air, but that was only because it was oddly stable with my Flat Feathers. However, I didn’t like the thought that one of the Road Crew down there might be Galina herself.

“I mean, come on.” Violet called out as a grin pulled across her muzzle. She gave a few hard flaps against the wind to halt her momentum, coming to a stop roughly just over the side of the Hauler. “Galina may be a bit straight and to the point, but pulling the same trick twice?”

“Yeah, I don’t get it.” I said, taking a moment to shift my own weight to stop my slide as well. However, while I could float effortlessly to the side, stopping was a different matter. Annoyingly, I slid right into Violet and the two of us scooted further over. “Shit, sorry.”

“No worries, Bombay.” Violet sighed as she pushed off of me and we finally stopped sliding around through the air. “Anyway, as I was saying, Galina used to take pride in her work. She didn’t hide behind tricks or disguises.” She gave a stiff laugh and put her forehoof on her chest and puffed herself up. “You know, a real Stalliongrad griffon! Hatched from the egg as half diamond, half one hundred proof vodka, and all cold bitchy attitude.” Shaking her head, I couldn’t help but laugh at her impression of the stupid griffon. “She used to enjoy doing things herself, not…”

There was a thunderous boom that shook the very air itself. My wings snapped back, and I tumbled what felt like randomly through the air. Pain lit up my mind as I let out a scream and scrambled to recover. My mind raced, beating back the frantic panic as the ground approached faster than I’d thought possible. With little other option, I braced myself as best I could as I came down onto it hard.

Pain flared all across my body, and I felt at least two separate snaps before my vision went white from the sensations. Almost immediately, I could tell that my battle saddle had broken my fall, because the barrel of my Bison submachine gun was uncomfortably bent and pressing against what I was pretty sure was a broken rib. There was no sound around me other than a sharp ringing, and my head throbbed as I felt warmth washing down over it.

Though I couldn’t hear anything, I could feel as a thump and a sickening crack came from the ground next to me. Struggling through the pain, I tried to focus myself, blinking a few times until my fuzzy, spinning vision returned to me. A rusted and twisted grey rod stuck sideways out of my left forehoof as lines of blood streamed down it. As I moved my leg, the rod slipped out, revealing a bloody, rod sized hole punched straight through it. A dozen more fonts of pain flared up through me as I regained some of my senses, and my mind started to put things together.

So… we were attacked then? Was this some sort of weapon they fired at us? Why… why would they have attacked at all? We didn’t do anything to them!

I was incredibly confused, but I knew I needed to get up and move. Shakily, I pushed myself to get up, to find some cover for the fight that should have been going on around me. Though it hurt to the point where I felt like I might pass out just trying to focus myself, I screamed out and forced myself to move. Then, as my fuzzy vision cleared a small bit, I felt my already shallow breath leave me with what met my eyes.

Whatever thing had hit me with that metal rod, must have only nicked me. Violet hadn't been so lucky. Only the top half of her torso currently lay next to me, with shredded bits of her body laying all around within hoof’s reach. I blinked as my lungs seized up, and my eyes drifted to the bloody ribbons of her torn up and perforated body. Why… I couldn’t understand… this had to be another nightmare...

My eyes stopped as they fell upon her head. A twisted lump of rusty rebar had pierced through the center of it, and had hit her hard enough to split her skull open. It left a sad, blank look across her eyes which stared motionless up at me, and as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t look away.

“Violet!?” Hardcase’s strained, screaming voice beat back the ringing in my ears. “Goddesses, no! No no no!”

No...

Author's Note

As always, a big thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his help in prereading and cleaning up these chapters. It really makes a huge difference, and I can't thank him enough for it!

Chapter 34 - Bittersweet Revenge

Funny, how just when you think life can't possibly get any worse, it suddenly does.

As Hardcase coddled what was left of Violet’s body, I couldn’t feel the pain in my own anymore. He screamed so hard that the illusion that was Hardcase disappeared in a flash. What was left holding Violet, was a nearly all white, bug-like pony. His vibrant blue eyes streamed glowing tears down onto her body, and the tattered, broken wings on his back strained to convey his pain as he screamed out. Even seeing a display so raw as that, I still felt astoundingly distant. Like I existed outside the scope of everything around me. Not even when Hispano came down next to me, and tried to shake me out of the shock I felt.

I registered at some level that everything before me was indeed real and happening. But... I couldn’t even begin to focus. Other senses returned to me slowly, such as my hearing. Shouting and sporadic shooting had erupted from the Road Crew’s side of things, but it wasn’t directed at us. As I stared at Violet’s lifeless eyes, all that filled my mind was the twisted feeling of rage and regret. How could this have fucking happened?

Like it was guided by Celestia herself, my head turned toward the roadblock that had been set up to stop us. As I looked, I found many of the road crew firing wildly up at the armored cab of the large middle vehicle. The enormous gun strapped onto the arm of the monstrous machine in the center of the lineup sat smoldering, it’s barrel blasted like it had exploded when it fired on us. So… that thing had killed Violet?

Random shots sparked at the armored walkway entrance to the cab. The heavy plating that sat high up on that machine was a fortified perch on it’s own, but the plating was too thick for any of their guns to get through. After a moment, the form of a griffon peeked up over the edge and flinched back when a few shots came close. The enormous, oddly shaped gun that the griffon poked over now and again fired down in blasting barrages on the road crew workers.

To me, that gun was instantly recognizable, and the first hint of my mind regaining control of my facilities. The blood that ran down my head and clouded my eyes obscured my vision, but I didn’t need it to know that the griffon they were attacking was Galina. She had done this to Violet. This was her fault!

Hispano’s worried face popped up in front of mine momentarily, but I couldn’t hear what she was saying. Putting my forehoof down, I screamed out as it gave under my weight. Collapsing, I felt as Hispano shoved a glass bottle into my muzzle. The bitter health potion numbed my hatred, and did nothing but bring back the pain I should have been feeling already. Even as Buck approached and pulled off his medical bag, I kept my eyes locked on the one thing I needed to kill.

Screaming again, I pushed myself up to my hooves and straight into a hopping gallop. At some point, either in the attack or when I hit the ground, I’d lost my prosthetic, but that didn’t slow me down. While the health potion had brought back a lot of the pain, it hadn’t done anything for my bones. It had however healed my hooves enough that I could charge recklessly off toward Galina.

At this moment, nothing short of death itself could slow me down. I had one goal, one purpose from this moment on. I was going to kill Galina.

Spreading my wings, I felt the mountain breeze sweep up under them. I screamed as the pain from them became my whole world for a few moments. But in those moments, I had been brought up high above the Road Crew firing line. Galina looked up at me with a smile wider than the hole I was going to bore straight through her head. Spreading her own wings, she dove off the back of her armored firing platform, and shot straight down over the cliffside.

If she thought she was going to get away again, she was fucking wrong.

Folding my wings, I felt as Hispano’s talons barely missed getting a good hold on me. Instead, I ripped away from her and cut through the air after Galina. Flapping harder than I ever had before in my life, I aimed myself right over the concrete cliffside. I assumed that Hispano would follow me as best as she could, but like Violet once said, diving is what I was built for.

Galina had a hell of a head start on me as she raced downward, drifting dangerously close to the jagged rocky outcrops. I fell in line behind her, using her own slipstream to pick up even more speed, to the point that I don’t think I’d ever gone so fast in my entire life. But she couldn’t have counted on my speed as I started to catch up quickly. She cast one glance up over her shoulder and I could see the confusion on her stupid fucking face as I raced toward her.

She flared her wide, crimson colored wings, catching the thermals racing up the cliffside past us. Funny, with as big as she was, she came to a stop almost immediately. She tried to be tricky, drifting backward in a thinly veiled attempt to make me overshoot or pull off early. Hell, I watched as she frantically tried to ready her shotgun for when I would pass her up and play into her game.

But here’s the thing when you’re being chased by somepony whose friend you just murdered. I’m not looking to overshoot you. I’m looking to slam you against the fucking rocks, even if I end up going into them with you.

Galina’s realization of her miscalculation came a bit too late. She looked up again just as I plowed into her like a falling brick. We shared a pained scream as the full weight of me did indeed snap something inside her. However, it also snapped my shoulder and foreleg as they were both shoved back up against my face at the wrong angle.

The world started to spin as I kicked myself away from her. She screamed again as she slammed down against one of the jagged cliffside outcroppings. Thankfully, I only narrowly missed it as I spun away from the dangerous rocks. I twisted and torqued at my wings, crying out as I finally caught a bit of the updraft coming off the frozen lake that had gotten a lot closer than I’d have liked it to be. While the stiff wind way up there had dropped to just a slight breeze down here, it was still enough to pull me back into level flight about fifty feet or so above the lake.

A tortured scream echoed off the hills and through the forest that ringed most of the ice covered lake. I turned my head back, struggling to look back while trying to keep my broken foreleg from swinging under me too much. I only had a moment, but in that moment, I felt a wave of fear wash over me.

Like a crimson, white, and blue bolt, Galina launched herself from the rocky cliff and straight after me. I was far out of range of her shotgun, but she fired it off all the same. Sizzling pellets slammed into and skittered across the ice below me. Alright, she’s down but not out. I can fix that.

To try to keep my advantage, I pushed myself into a shallow dive. I just needed some time to come up with some sort of plan, even if it wouldn’t be the best, most well thought out plan in the history of planning. But hey, that’s how I’d done things so far, and as I’d been told too many times, I’m a survivor. Still, while my ‘advantage’ was there, it wouldn’t last long. I may have had more speed in a dive than she could have anticipated, in level flight I was damn sure that Galina could outpace me just on sheer brute wingpower.

The edge of the lake was fast approaching, and a stiff blast of wind curled toward me from under it. The frozen waterfall curled up into a sort of raised lip at the edge, and the stupidest idea struck me. Biting down on the bit in my muzzle, I pushed myself into a glide that put me sailing along just a dozen feet above the ice. Galina’s shots were becoming a bit slower paced. I’d thought maybe she was trying to conserve ammo, that is, until one of the shots whipped under me and struck the icy lip again.

However, I’d quickly approached the top bulge of the frozen waterfall, and moved to act.

I bit down on my grenade trigger and felt the snap of one of them release. The small grenade bounced and skidded along the ice, almost keeping pace with me before lodging itself up against the frozen lip of water at the edge. Tucking my wings, I pushed myself into another dive as I broke out over the sharp drop. It didn’t take much to keep myself aimed toward the lower frozen lake, but in just a few moments, I’d quickly distanced myself from the top of the waterfall. I listened as Galina’s wing beats broke out over the ice just behind me, and I smiled to myself.

The shattering Crack of the grenade drowned out Galina’s pained scream. The blast echoed across the mountains around us before another type of crack came from the ice itself. Thick reverberating snaps and thumps shook the air as the icy waterfall shattered and broke apart like shards of glass. Razor sharp chunks of ice began to rain down around me, plummeting past me as if they wanted to beat me to the bottom first. That… was something I hadn’t planned for!

Doing my best to pull up, I again found my help from the updraft much weaker than I’d have liked. Still, the speed it afforded me helped to pull me away from the many heavy and sharp bits of falling ice. Once again, I found myself traveling at high speed a dozen feet or so from pancaking down with only a moment’s worth of breathing room.

BLAM!

Another shotgun blast from Galina’s gun came down from almost above me. It slammed into the ice next to me, and forced me to bank hard left.

BOOM!

Again, she fired. This time, the shot went wide to my left, and forced me to correct once again. Shit! I can’t pull the same trick twice with my grenade! Come on Night, think! Think or you’re dead!

BANG!

Another shot clipped my wing, and I screamed out as it gave under my weight. I tried my best to curl myself up as I dropped down to the ice, but I was simply going too fast. My back came down hard onto the solid surface, and I screamed out as it felt like it ripped my fur and skin right off my back. The world went black and white as I began to tumble, and my breath was ripped out of me. I don’t know how long I skid and spun along the ice, I just prayed that I wouldn’t die. The world only returned when I found myself slamming into a large rock at what happened to be the lakeside beach.

With heavy beats of her wings, Galina came down out of the air onto the ice ten or so feet from me. She came down hard, with her leg giving out under her weight due to the thick, blood coated shard of ice currently stuck through it. She let out a piercing scream as she flopped down onto the ice, reaching out and scraping along it with one of her talons. Glaring at me, she only had her right eye and three quarters of her beak to her face. The rest of her head looked like a bloody pulpy mess, but she was still alive. Seriously? What the fuck was it going to take to put her down for good?

Her blue spotted white body was streaked with dozens of new, bleeding wounds. I hoped that at the very least, she’d bleed out from how bad they were. Knowing my luck though, even after everything I’d put her through, she’d probably just fucking walk it off. Dragging her other talon up from her side, she pulled her shotgun along the ice and pointed it right at me.

That was it then. This was where it all ended. But I wasn’t going to go down like that, not without at least taking her with me here and now. Chewing on the bit in my muzzle, I wrapped my tongue around the grenade trigger, and closed my eyes.

I didn’t want it to end this way. I loved Buck, I had hoped to spend so much more time with him and Hispano, along with the others… and with Violet. But the wasteland was a cruel place, and if this was the best death I’d get, I’d take my revenge on the one who killed my friend. Pulling hard, I yanked the trigger, and let out a sigh of relief.

The wire that ran along my saddle snapped with a loud twang, and whipped a bloody line across my side. It broke. In my greatest time of need, it failed to even pull the pin on either two of my remaining grenades.

“Are… are you fucking kidding me?” I sputtered out through the taste of copper in my muzzle. “That settles it, I’m fucking cursed.” I fucking deserved everything that’s ever happened to me.

“Looks like you are out of luck.” Galina grunted painfully, smiling across what was left of her beak before squeezing the trigger on her shotgun.

Click

The hammer of her shotgun fell on an empty chamber. The hollow sound didn’t do much, but it did wipe away her stupid fucking smile. As frustration took over her mangled face, something bubbled up inside me. I couldn’t fight it, and even though I knew I was going to die out here, I let the laughter overtake me.

This was such a stupid fucking way to die.

My laughter was stolen as the sky turned dark. Painfully, I turned my head up toward Drake Pass, finding that it was now so very far above us. A light brighter than Celestia’s glorious sun enveloped the entire mountainside. My mind struggled through the pain to figure out what it was, but I came to the realization that what I was watching could have only been the release of Hardcase’s grief as it rolled across the skies above us. The warmth that radiated off the wave of solar plasma felt good, filling the air over the frozen lakes with a sizzling and crackling steam.

I closed my eyes as I felt the heat take me away to a darker, better place where I could die in peace. My thoughts started to drift, and a numbness overtook my tired and worn out body. I was ready to just let go, and when the darkness took me, I didn’t even notice it.

But it was not, as I had predicted, the end of my journey.

“Wake up.”

Unlike Hispano's soft slap this morning, Galina wasn't so gentle. The impact of her talon across my face may have been what had woken me up, but the three gashes her sharp claws left reminded my body just what pain was. I opened my muzzle as my body locked up to scream, but instead I found something stiff shoved into my mouth. I nearly choked on the bitter and muddy stick that Galina forced down my throat as she towered over me.

“No screaming.” Galina grumbled as she ripped the stick from my muzzle. I gasped and coughed as I sucked in deep, pained breaths. Opening my eyes, I found Galina’s overbearing and ragged form glaring down at me. Fuck, she didn’t bleed out? Hell, I didn’t bleed out? “You will not give us away, not until I am finished with you.”

Looking around as best I could, it was dark where I was. Though, I could see vertical strips of light sitting all around us. The few moments I stared at it, it became apparent that we were in some sort of small wooden shack. With her own pained grunt, Galina took notice of my gaze and shoved her one eyed glare down into my vision.

“You may be wondering where you are, yes?” She smirked across what was left of her beak. “It is no matter to you now. You will be staying here for long enough for me to get what I want.”

“What do you want from me?” I forced myself to focus through talking. Hah, wasn’t that something. I actually had to try to speak for a change.

“For you to apologize.” Galina rose up, pressing her talons together before giving each of them a thick crack. “It was rude of you to show me up.” Show her up? How!? “For making me look like a fool in front of Prince Solomon. How can I be best bodyguard when you hurt my charge?” Wait, this was all about that!? So, her arranging this shit, killing Violet, that was all because I sucker kicked Solomon in the face? “And you need not worry. If you give me the apology that I want, I will go easy and consider not using my auto-talon or shotgun. Not yet, anyway.”

“You want a fucking…?” I tried to speak, but as soon as I did, Galina’s talons were wrapped around my neck. I whined and struggled against her, only to find that she’d tied my forehooves to the wall I’d been propped up against. Still, as I panicked, I wrenched my torn up and battered body against my bindings, which only made me want to cry out even more as my numerous injuries reminded me that they hadn’t all been taken care of.

“Apologize.” Galina growled, leaning closer as she squeezed me tighter.

“Sor-y!” I did my best to force the single gurgling word through my muzzle as the lack of air was making my vision go fuzzy. Tears streamed down my bloody cheeks as I just wanted this all to stop. However, that must have been good enough for her, because she released my neck and stood up. I gave another heaving gasp as my lungs burned in my chest. My racing heart hammered at my broken ribs, and my vision continued to fuzz in and out in the one moment of rest I had.

“Dah. Was that so hard?” Galina spoke in a softer, almost caring voice that sent my mind reeling in panic. No, she’d never use that sort of tone, unless… “Now that we are past our previous incident,” She cut off my thoughts as I felt her talons reach down around my hind leg. “Now it is time I break your spirit.”

I nearly screamed again as she lifted my leg up slightly, pulling and twisting at the various cuts and injuries all over me. I tried, I really did try to shake her off, but I just couldn’t fight her grip. Of course, my vision came back as I watched in horror while she positioned one of her legs right up against my hock, using her talons to force my hoof to extend itself to it’s furthest.

“Okay, take a deep breath.” She spoke slowly, using that same caring voice as her cracked beak pulled back wider than I’d ever seen it. I didn’t even get a chance to follow her advice before she kicked her leg down, and at the same time pulled up on my hoof.

I let out a piercing, full bodied scream that tore at my throat. I could feel the crack, wretched at the sound of my leg bone breaking, and I think I blacked out. I had to force my teary eyes open again as I lay there slumped and shaking against the wall.

“Please…” It hurt to speak. It hurt to breathe. It hurt to exist. More than anything, I just wanted it to end. “No more.” After thirty seconds of painful whining, I’d become nothing more than a broken, quivering mess of a crying stallion.

“The time for begging is over.” She cooed coldly as her talons gripped around my muzzle and held it shut. Moving her hindpaw up, she placed it against my chest. “Scream out like a tiny filly again, and I will rip out your throat. Understand me, little stallion?” I was already biting my bleeding tongue to keep myself from screaming again from the weight of her paw. Still, a frantic nodding seemed to be what she’d wanted from me, as she softened her glare. The claws on her hindpaw sunk in, and slowly she dragged it down my barrel.

I tried again, but I screamed through my clamped muzzle. My wrenching and kicking from the pain only made my broken leg twist and flared the pain in my mind. Again the world grew dark as my body coped with the pain by forcing me to pass out. However, I didn’t need help coming to a third time. I felt a sharp pressure against the left side of my head. It was unlike anything I’d felt before, and I was sure she was trying to force her talons straight through my skull.

“As the saying goes, it’s only a fair trade. Yes?” Galina grunted as my head felt like it was being torn apart. Her yanks spiked the pain to levels I couldn’t begin to describe, and each movement was met with scraping, squelchy noises that nopony should ever hear from inside their own head. Still, I screamed against her tightly gripping talon and prayed to Celestia for me to finally just die. “Almost…” She muttered. I felt her grip loosen around my muzzle only slightly before one last yank made me pass out. Miraculously, the pain dimmed inside my head. Not much, but it was better than nothing.

Panting as my heart raced in my chest, I could feel the warm blood dripping down all over me, mixing with the tears running down my cheeks. From the pain in the left side of my head, and from the fact that I couldn't even see out of my eye when I forced it open, I’d begun to realize what she’d just done.

There was no strength left in me to scream anymore. The pain that wracked my body was so intense that I’d actually started to feel numb and cold. So I simply cried. It wasn’t just because of the pain either, it was because I was utterly broken. I had watched one of my first friends die today, and right now, all I wanted to do was be dead along side her.

“How rude of me. That looks like it is very painful, yes.” Galina’s voice sounded like it was coming from far away. Maybe… maybe it was. Perhaps I wasn’t here right now, and this was all actually a dream? Trying to focus the one eye I still had left, I watched through a haze of bloody tears as Galina turned to a bag and pulled out a glowing purple bottle. It was a mistake to look at it at all.

Hope hit me hard, overriding the pain as I gazed at my salvation in her talon. That must have been exactly the expression she was looking for. Holding it out to me, she used her talon to pop the cork.

“Here, let me help.” Slowly, she twisted her talon, dumping the precious healing liquid inside straight onto the muddy floor. When she turned it upright again, there was only a thin pool of the magical purple liquid left inside. “Oops. My mistake.” Stepping over to me, she brought the mostly empty bottle up in her talon and looked between it and me. “Here, maybe you can still get some out from the bottom?”

I tried to pull back from her, but my head only pressed up against the old shack wall. Her talon reached up and grabbed around my muzzle again, clamping it shut as she maneuvered the bottle against my head. I cried out again as the large bottle would have always been too big to fit, but Galina was intent on making it.

“Just needs a little stalliongradian encouragement…” She remarked in a stiff, guttural tone. As she squeezed it tighter in her grip, I could hear the old glass bottle starting to crack. With a startling pop that forced the air from my lungs, the glass bottle shattered and littered my empty eye socket with it’s shards. Her talon left my muzzle as I let out a breathless scream, and wrapped itself around my throat again.

"Too bad your dog is not here to save you. I would hope he would break down to see you like this, yes. Broken and whimpering like a little bitch. Put into your place in the dirt where you ponies belong." Letting go of my throat with her talon, she reached over and slid on her auto talon. "Ponies as weak as you in the wasteland sicken me." She gripped the weapon tightly, bringing it up to my neck. The sharp, curved blades of the motorized gauntlet seemed incredibly well shaped to follow the curve of a pony's neck. Part of it's intended use if I had to say something, seeing as I'd already discovered how well it worked back in Carmacks.

"You know, I have flown so far to get to you. It would really be a pain to carry you all the way back..." Her talon tensed around the gauntlet, and I closed my one good eye in prayer. "Maybe I'll just settle for taking back your head..."

Her words slipped away as the world grew dark once more. I was done trying to stay awake, or alive. All I wanted to do now was die so that I could finally be at peace.

Knowing how my curse had tortured me so far, I knew I could never be so lucky.

I was falling in the darkness. I didn't know where, and I didn't know why. However, the sensation was far too familiar to me to have been anything else, and that was all that I knew.

Opening my only eye, the vast northern forests stretched out under me as the muffled grunts of Galina carrying me met my ears. I was being taken... why? Why didn’t she just kill me? Before I could ponder anything else, I felt myself dragged back into unconsciousness.

Once more I was falling in darkness, but... not complete darkness. Around me, the night skies were speckled with the thousands of twinkling stars. The full moon hung above me, almost watching down upon me as I fell silently. The air under me grew thick, and a wispy pegasus shaped cloud passed by me on my right.

Again, I opened my only eye to the waking world. This time, the light of a small campfire met me. I tried to hang on to the fleeting sensations of warmth it gave, but the cold numbness I’d begun to know crept back in too quickly. As much as I fought to stay awake, again I found myself forced into a deep slumber.

Every time I opened my eyes, a new location greeted me. Every time I closed them, I felt myself falling again and again and again.

The universe that I fell through was dark, and kept in a blissful perfect silence. The starry, nebula filled skies that surrounded me brought color to the darkness, shifting their hues as I drifted ever downward. The moonlit pegasi shaped clouds that crowded the space around me, traveled so free and unrestricted through the skies. Unknowing or caring of the inexorable pull to the ground that never ceased to drag me down. Even the mare in the moon herself watched over me as she hung in the sky. Why was it that she was simply there? Was she waiting? Was she only observing my fall, to see what reason I could possibly have for disturbing this perfectly peaceful scene?

Opening my eyes again, a town sat before me. Not a big one, or a nice looking one. Two strips of ramshackle huts hugged the two lane road that ran down the middle of it. Several inquisitive ponies stared at me as Galina carried me through, but that’s again when everything went dark.

Again, I was falling. Was it just my place in life to fall forever? Would I never find something to grasp on to? How long could I continue to fail, to lose everything I cared about before I hit rock bottom? Was there even a bottom at all to hit?

At last, a single sound met my ears. The flutter of wings that I knew so well, but would never hear again. As I passed through a cloud, Violet fell through it beside me. It wasn’t the Violet who’d been lying dead on the pavement next to me at Drake Pass, or the Violet the Dashite I’d run into on the Empirica. Instead, it was a Violet who was just a small filly, one maybe half my age, and hadn’t even yet earned her cutie mark.

As I looked at her, a bright flash erupted from her flank. As the bright image faded away, a five petaled purple flower that shared the vibrancy of her neon mane came into view. Opening her eyes, she looked at me with a confused expression and canted her head.

“Who are you?”

Before I could answer, the sensations of warmth pulled me back into the light of wakefulness once more.

I remember the bitter taste of a healing potion being fed to me at some point, but it all mixed together into a cacophony of sharp sounds, the smell of blood, and pain. However, as the light of a fire warmed my body, I became lucid once more. The crackling fire roused my senses only just slightly, and a numbing feeling crept over me as I could barely hear as someone moved around me.

“Alright, he’s stable again. More than anything, he’s certainly a one hell of a survivor to have pulled through all that.” I didn’t recognize the voice that was speaking. “But don’t think that means you can continue to torture the poor stallion. Any more and he won’t make it back to Solomon at all.” The stern voice was scratchy, but not in the same way a ghoul’s was. More like how some stallions in the clouds sounded after chain smoking for half their life. “You’re lucky he’s made it this far, and goddesses forbid you drag me all the way out to where ever that asshole is camped because you couldn’t control yourself.”

“Dah, your concern is noted.” Galina huffed back at him. “But what I do with him is no concern of yours anymore.” The sharp mechanical clack of her shotgun filled the air as I tried to focus among the numbing warmth all around me. “It is time to get back on the road. Solomon will pay you in a few days for the trouble we make for you.”

“Fine.” The voice snorted, and the smell of burnt tobacco hit me hard. “But if I find out you’re stiffing me and just heading south, you better hope you get clear through Cantercross before Mr. Wizard hears of this shit.”

My ears gave out again as the numbing took over all sensations. I was still so tired from everything, that falling asleep was just too strong to fight back. Still, somehow beyond all my wishes and prayers to die, I was still alive. Of course I was, I was a ‘survivor’, wasn’t I? Damnit, Violet, why did you have to be right about me?

I didn’t want to do this anymore. I’d lost enough already that I’d fucking earned some sort of peace in my life, hadn’t I? I loved Buck, and Hispano was the closest thing I had to family past him. But I didn’t want to go back to the crew just to watch them die too. Or maybe, I didn’t want to go back to them with how I failed to get revenge on Galina. Of course, I’m Night Flight the fuck up, and they know that. This… was just the one time that it mattered more to me not to fail than any time before.

This time, when the darkness greeted me, I wasn’t falling any longer. No chromatic sky, no pegasi clouds, and no more Violet. Instead, there was simply nothing at all. And to be honest? Maybe it was better that way.

It’s never fun waking up to a stabbing pain in your chest, let alone the dozens of other aches and pains I felt all over already. However, at the very least everything else didn’t seem as bad as it had been. Forced to give out a gasping breath, my eye flew open and my body pushed myself to stand up.

The world warped for a moment as my body adjusted to standing on it’s own again, though for some reason where I was standing felt unsteady. The dark room which I was in resolved, but stayed slightly fuzzy as I looked down to my hooves. A lush white sheet was wrapped up around my three legs, and the largest, most luxurious bed I’ve ever stood on seemed to take up most of whatever small room I was in.

“I...” A voice from behind me made me lock up and give out a fearful yelp. Spinning around, I recoiled and squinted as daylight poured in through a small doorway. The copper tubes of the cybernetic which Solomon’s right hoof stallion used, glinted and reflected the bright light straight into my eyes.

No, eye, as in singular. Fuck that’s going to take some getting used to. Goddesses, was that why everything was still kinda fuzzy? Other than still aching, everything else felt like it was somewhat alright. Maybe Buck can check over everything when I get back. No, Night. That’s if you can get back.

“Ahem.” The formal sounding stallion spoke up before staring at me. “As I was saying, I see you’re awake. If you would kindly stay put while you let me inform Solomon, we will be able to sort some pressing issues out shortly.” Before I was able to retort, he shut the door to the small bedroom, cutting me off from the outside light.

“Do I have a choice?” I sighed before sitting down hard on the plush bed. Looking down over myself, I frowned as I took in dozens of pink lines that tore across my blue coat. Galina’s talon marks had been healed, but deep trough like gouges of coatless skin still remained. Shifting myself, I looked over my rear leg. It was obviously no longer broken, but a long, still stitched up wound ran along the length of my haunch. I frowned as the inflamed stitching cut across my cutie mark, but it was better that than to still have a busted leg.

My ears perked as I heard a door open outside of the room I was in. Muffled, angry words came through the wall as the whole room seemed to shift slightly down to the right. I moved my forehooves to stabilize myself as the whole room righted itself again. Wait, I knew this feeling. This wasn’t just a room, I was on Solomon’s stupid bus thing!

“Where is she!?” The sharp voice of a very unhappy Minotaur came through the walls a lot more clearly than before.

I tensed up, looking around the room for somewhere to hide as the heavy hoofsteps approached the small door out of the bedroom. Shit, this really was just a bedroom, with only a pony’s width of space at the end leading to the door. Of course, it wouldn’t have helped to hide there, as the door itself was forcibly slammed open, smacking against the wall where I would have been standing if I’d tried to hide. The bright light from outside streamed in through the doorway, silhouetting most of the bulky form of Jess.

“You.” She reached up and pointed a single, muscled finger at me that could alone have probably broken my neck. “Tell me what happened to Violet.”

“Landslide, come on!” A shrill, nasally voice called out from behind her. The small, fluffy white sheep I’d seen last time I was here wrapped her tiny cloven hooves around just one of Jess’s rear legs and tugged on them. “I know you still kinda-sorta loved that cunt, but she’s dead now, so get the fuck over it! Solomon isn’t going to like you messing with her, and I don’t want to be reprimanded because you couldn’t fucking control yourself!”

“Fuck off, Lamia. I’m not leaving until I get some fucking answers.” Jess snarled, using a single enormous hand to reach down and grab the small sheep. Lamia gave out a muffled bleat as she was picked up and shoved backwards. “You wouldn’t fucking understand, but she didn’t deserve to die.” Jess snorted with such force that I could have sworn that I saw the silky bedsheets flutter from it. “Tell me what happened.” I wasn’t going to lie, I felt my wings pull tighter against my back from her tone alone, making them bind against me almost as much as Delilah’s anger normally did. “Now.”

“Ah-ah! And what are we doing exactly, Landslide?” The relaxed and infuriatingly coy tone that Solomon’s voice held made my mind do a one-eighty. “What have I told you about barging into my home?”

“Sir, I just need…” She snorted, not moving her glare one bit from me, “one minute.”

“You will have no minutes. In fact, you will get back to the job that I pay you for. Is that clear?” His sharp snap forced her anger to break. She spun herself around in the doorway. “Unless you would like to end up punished like Galina, because that can most certainly be arranged.” Wait, what the fuck did he mean by that?

“Yes, sir.” She grunted and moved from the doorway.

I raised my hoof to shield myself from the bright light coming in. Using the light, I looked around again to see if there was anything I’d missed before. The pale walls were not as solid as I’d once thought, and instead had metal shutters draped down them. The mostly featureless ceiling had a single dome light sitting in the center of it, however just ahead of it sat a small pony sized square with what looked to be a handle on it. That might just be my best chance at getting out of here.

“Oh, I wouldn’t use that if I were you.” Solomon spoke up as he stood in the doorway. “After Violet escaped through there the first time I captured her, I had Lamia install a small capacitor bank up to the handle. Feel free to give it a try, but only if you like the smell of burnt fur.” Alright, fine. If escape wasn’t an option, I guess I’ll just try talking my way out of this. As I thought that, Solomon blocked just enough of the light in the doorway that it reflected off the impeccable luster his white coat gave off. His vibrant purple eyes glared at me as he wore a crooked smile proudly across his muzzle. “Ah yes, you’ve decided to instead reason your way out of this. A smart choice, and might I remark, made much quicker than Violet did the second time I’d captured her.”

Stop talking about her.

“You can drop all that shit.” I grumbled angrily as I felt my heartbeat pick up. Other than the sharp pain that had woken me, the numbness I’d had the luxury of enjoying across my body began to subside as the blood in my veins started to boil. “We knew she was working for you.”

Solomon looked surprised for a moment by my tone, if only that. Did he really not care, or even second guess anything now? He gave a scoffing, forced laugh before rolling his eyes at me.

“Oh, I figured Delilah would have pieced it together at some point.” Shaking his head, he stepped forward toward me. He put a single, impeccably clean hoof on the bed sheets, curling his fetlock around them. “Please, you think I wouldn’t have planned for every contingency?” He laughed before ripping his hoof back toward him. The world spun as the sheets were torn out from under me, and I landed with a soft pomf on the bed. As my mind stopped spinning, I focused my gaze again on him as he rubbed along his chin softly. “But you. You are the puzzle piece I could never have planned for. Oh, I could have made you a rich mare if only you’d worked for me.”

“I bet you say that to all the mares.” I grumbled as I rolled myself back over onto my hooves. “Or at the very least, is that what you told Violet before you had Galina murder her?” I smirked as a realization crept into my mind. “Was that always part of your plan? Kill off your own so you can keep a bigger cut of the Ark to yourself?”

Fuck if I knew if that was true or not, but I wouldn’t put it past this asshole to do something like that. I only hoped that even if it wasn’t true, that the others behind him might question it, even if for just a second to let that doubt sink in. I wanted nothing more than to tear him apart myself, for Violet, for all the shit he’s done. But I’d settle for seeing his own mercenaries turn on him instead if I could just put that fear in their mind.

Solomon’s smirk disappeared. Stiffly, he reached his hoof along the wall to his side. There was a soft click as he hit some sort of button, and a mechanical whirring came from the wall to my left. Turning, I watched as the metal shutters rose up slowly, revealing a window the peered out into the interior of an old warehouse. The early morning daylight that had been blinding me cast long rays that filtered through the corroded sheet metal roof and walls, illuminating the slushy, wet concrete floor outside.

“Rook, if you would kindly fetch Galina.” Solomon spoke up stiffly. The proper stallion that had been attentively standing behind him flashed away in a burst of magic. A thump from above met my ears and momentarily caught my attention. Confused, I froze up as my mind raced. Shit, I didn’t want to go back to another shack. I… I couldn’t handle that.

Whump.

A dark shape appeared on the other side of the window, making me scream and jump up from the bed. As my lungs struggled not to hyperventilate, I nearly collapsed as the bloodied form of Galina rocked slowly up against the window. The length of chain that was bound tightly around her neck scraped across the now blood smeared window. A swarm of flies buzzed around the mutilated and rotting blown out half of her head, swarming around madly inside her caved in skull as her corpse swung on the chain.

She… was already dead?

All my hopes for taking out my anger for Violet’s death on her disappeared in an instant, and were replaced by the familiar sinking pit growing in my gut.

“I told her that nopony on Delilah’s convoy was to be killed. There were rules to this game, and she paid for breaking them.” Solomon seethed as he stepped up onto the edge of the bed. There was a sharp ping as the thick chain outside snapped, and Galina’s body dropped out of view. “But that being said, I don’t think Delilah will care for a simple one to one trade.” His muzzle curled down into a disgusted frown. “No, I think we are well past the rules now.” With a flash, the proper stallion returned behind Solomon, this time with a large looking rifle floating in his magic. It wasn’t as big as Suiza, but it was damn close. “Now I’m sorry that it’s come to this, but this is truly nothing personal. It’s just business. You understand that, right?”

“Don’t worry, Sir.” The proper stallion spoke up as he hefted the rifle up onto his back. “I’ll take her out to the highway where Miss Delilah’s ponies will surely find the body.”

“I um…” Shit shit! I know I’d wanted to die, but not like this! “I’ll work for you!” The panic filled words forced their way out of my muzzle.

“See, I gave you a chance for that.” Solomon sighed as a smile crept along his muzzle. “But you were nothing if not persistent in refusing my, if I may say so myself, quite generous and numerous offers of employment.”

“Yes, b-but…” I fumbled with my words. No, no no! Not now! Why is it that I can only blurt shit out to get me into trouble and not out of it!? “I… with Violet dead… I can inform for you!” Just stay alive, Night. Survive.

“Ugh,” Solomon rolled his eyes, batting away my pathetic pleading words with a lazy shake of his forehoof. “Rook, take her away before her groveling gives me a headache.” Fuck. Fuck. Fuck! Muzzle, I know I give you a lot of shit, but just throw something out already!

“I can get you the book!” I screamed out as Solomon’s lackey teleported to my side. That of course got Solomon’s attention. Why the hell would you say that, Night!? I know I thought to say anything, but that’s the one thing I can’t offer him!

“Woah!” Solomon perked up, his ears scraping along the top of the ceiling as a ridiculous smile threatened to curl around the whole of his head. “Now why would you go and say something moronic like that? Do you think I’m a foal?” He gave out a forced laugh that sent jeering tingles through my spine. “Why would Delilah ever trust you with something that monumentally important?”

“You said it yourself.” I struggled to calm my heart as I told him the only thing from his muzzle that I truly believed. “I’m the one pony none of you expected. I’m her failsafe.” I wasn’t going to tell him that the dog tags still around my neck were the key unless it came to it, but this was the only card I had left to play.

“Ha!” Solomon laughed and waved his hoof at me. “Of course! She would have figured that exact same thing.” With a sigh, he looked at the pony to my side. “Rook, put my rifle away, for now.” With a flash that I could barely see out of my one remaining eye, the stallion with the large rifle disappeared in a burst of magic. “Alright, you’ve bought yourself some time. Not a lot of time, mind you, but I’ll give you this one small chance to prove yourself useful to me.”

“Sure, great.” If I could just get his trust to let me far enough away that I could make a break for it…

“Ah, ah!” He cut me off with a bemused smile, booping the end of my muzzle with his forehoof. “Like before, there are rules to this.” His tone changed sharply, turning into a deeply repulsive snapping sort of speech. “Break them, and I’ll destroy Delilah and her whole convoy without a second thought. Starting with you.”

“O-okay…” I nodded sharply at him. Great, all the more reason to get the fuck out of here the second I could. Images filled my mind of getting back to the convoy just in time to find them already dead because Rook’s teleporting magic beat me there. No, brain, cut that shit out! We could fight them so long as I got back to them in time, and I could make it there in time if I slipped away at the right moment. Again, my mind conjured up images of us ambushed on the road, surrounded on all sides by too many to fight. And then again of the convoy exploding at night while we all slept. A dozen different ways to lose them all if I tried to run now.

Shit… I really was going to have to make good on this offer, wasn’t I?

“Be careful with being so straight-forward, young lady.” Solomon smiled and reached out toward me. My skin crawled as his forehoof daintily wrapped around my side and pulled me closer to him. “You don’t want to start sounding like a yes mare, do you? That’s the mistake Galina made when I hired her. She’d nod her head ‘yes’, when clearly she didn’t understand my one, simple request.” his smile dropped as he tightened his grip around me. “And you wouldn’t want to end up like her, would you?”

“N-no.” I shook my head and fought off the urge to slink out of his slimy hooves. Okay, the moment I’m out of here, I’m never getting this close to Solomon again. Ever. I don’t care if I had to drop a balefire bomb on him from space just to be sure he’d die as far away from me as possible. The moment I was out of here, I’d make sure to force myself to never be in the same room as this bastard again. No matter what.

“Most excellent.” Solomon smiled and forcefully pulled me around with him as he turned to face the door. “Rook, my friend! Would you be so kind as to escort Miss…” He paused, looking down at me. “I deeply apologize, but I can’t quite remember your name.” He laughed to himself as his awkward expression studied me. “It’s so funny because you’d think I’d have remembered it from our last few encounters.”

“Bombay.” I had to force the one word out to him, managing to squeak it out meekly.

“Right, that was it!” He gave a subtle roll of his eyes as his smile returned. “Escort Miss Bombay into town so that she may pay a visit to the good doctor whom she owes her life to.” Turning his gaze back to me, his words felt stone cold, bleeding through the wide grin across his muzzle. “I will not give that hack one cap of mine for the piss-poor job he did. However, see to it that Miss Bombay finds a way to erase the debt on her own.”

Wait, did he imply that he wanted me to just waltz into a doctor's clinic and just murder somepony?

“Very well, sir.” Rook gave an almost bored sigh as he canted his head slightly. “Will the young miss be given her own gear back for this job?” Shit, that’s right! I still had my battle saddle… which had been utterly destroyed in the fight with Galina.

“That junk she was wearing? Most certainly not.” Solomon said as he finally released his forehoof from around me. I ruffled my wings before cringing as a sharp pain ran through my right wing. “Give her Galina’s belongings, and bring Landslide with you to make sure she doesn’t get any ideas on the ride over there. I want to see how flexible she can be.”

“Ride, Sir?” Rook’s trimmed mustache furrowed as he took on a confused look. “Are you wishing for me to escort her in your motorwagon?

“Of course, unless you’d like to teleport the three of you that far.” Scratching at his chin again, I was close enough to the smug bastard to now notice the thin, trailing scar that ran along the length of it. The thought that I might have been the one to cause that mark made me smirk and laugh at him in my own head. “Oh, and one last thing.” As if he’d known I’d been doing that, he glared at me. “She has until noon to complete this task, as Mister Wizard’s associate will be arriving this evening with my land train. I’d like you back at my side for when he gets here.”

“Very well, Sir.” Rook gave a curious nod that made my eye twitch.

“Are you…” I spat out, only to quickly find myself cut off as the world tumbled when my muzzle was hit hard. Of course, I tried to keep myself from falling. But between the uneven soft bedding, and the fact that having three legs wasn’t inherently stable, I failed. With a loud bang, I flopped back onto the bed and smacked my head against the window with a solid thump.

“Silence!” Solomon snapped at me. “Should you complete this task, you will be free to go back to Delilah as one of my employees. There you will wait for me to relay a message to you on what you are to do for me.” I tried to shake off the hit, but the trickle of warm blood accompanied the taste of copper in my muzzle. Fucking asshole. “If you do not succeed in this laughingly menial task I have set you on this morning, then Rook is to find and shoot you. Should you try to flee, Rook will shoot you. Should you try to get anypony to help you, Rook will shoot you.”

“As you wish, Sir.” The smug asshole retorted as I blinked a few times and tried to sit myself up. As I did, I found both Rook and Solomon standing and staring. Solomon’s eye tweaked a little as he looked over me. Tilting my head up, I noticed that I was laying back in a... quite compromising pose toward them.

“It seems… you are more of a mysterious puzzle piece than you first appeared, mister Bombay.” Solomon smirked and let out a light chuckle. “Oh, it’s exciting to be surprised by something again! I mean, I’ve spent so long being one step ahead, I’d forgotten the thrill of being wrong in my assumptions.” Looking at me, he cupped his hoof over his grinning muzzle. “Oh, but you wouldn’t understand how that would feel, would you?” Waving his hoof to me, he began to trot from the room without a moment’s hesitation. “Now now, the sun’s just risen, and you’ve only got the rest of your life to think about what you’ll do to the good doctor when you get to him!”

The sound of clinking metal tracks filled the air, reverberating through the plush seat I'd found myself sitting in. The sleek black vehicle had been an odd sight to behold before I’d been forcibly shoved into it. A mix of an elegantly designed motorwagon from the dawning years of the war, and the wartime efficiency of the set of halftracks bolted to it’s rear undercarriage. At the very least, with the roads the way they were, I could completely understand why the conversion had been made. That being said, this thing was far too nice to belong to an asshole like Solomon.

Solomon’s ‘personal motorwagon’ was larger than the runner had been, and held a much more luxurious interior. With space in the rear seat enough to fit four of that pompous saddle arabian asshole, over half of that space was taken up by Jess alone. I sat on a seat across from her that faced the rear of the vehicle.

I let out a whimper as a sharp pain from my eye socket reflexively made me reach up and hold my head. The flair ups of pain in my missing eye started when I’d walked out of Solomon’s bedroom, and keep coming back in waves every few minutes. Ugh, whoever this doctor was, Solomon probably didn’t pay them to do much more than to give me the minimal treatment.

Then again, every doctor I’d met so far has been willing to do more than just the minimum to help. As the pain subsided again, I tried to relax, simply deciding that whatever painkiller’s I’d been given must have been starting to wear off. I’ll just need something for that pain later.

Next to me lay Galina’s bloodstained gear. Her enormous shotgun had gotten fairly battered in my attempt to kill her, but overall still looked functional. And while I didn’t check for fear of getting shot by the angry minotaur across from me, I had to assume it’s revolving drum magazine was still empty.

Next to that was her ‘auto-talon’. Unlike the shotgun, I don’t think that the industrial looking contraption ever had a day where it once looked nice. It was machine built for brutality, pure and simple, and it’s crudeness reflected that. But at the very least, the sparkle battery that it held probably still had some juice left inside it.

Still, the one thing that had been on my mind since I was shoved in here and carted off northward, was how to get out of this fine mess I’d made. But for the life of me, I couldn’t figure it out. There was no way I could pay off the doctor without caps, and there wasn’t an easy way to get any by noon.

Flying away right off the bat wouldn’t work when they could just outrun me with this motorwagon, and my mind had already shown me plenty of results for that. There was zero chance I’d be able to catch both Rook and Jess off guard to attack them. Hanging my head, I let out a long sigh. That was it. No options other than to complete the one singular task asked of me.

I was going to have to kill the doctor.

“Hey.” Jess grunted, pulling me out of my depressing thoughts. “How’d it happen… to Violet, you know?” The way she asked, she tiptoed around the words. Looking up at her, I could see the pain she felt in her eyes. Really? She actually still cared about Violet? She could have fucking shown it better.

“Galina hit us with some sort of junk cannon, I think.” I grumbled and crossed my forehooves against myself. “Whatever it was, it tore her apart. She was just… gone, instantly.”

“You know, Landslide,” Rook spoke up through the open partition that separated the front driver’s bench and the rear passenger area. “Once it came back up, the radio did mention that Road Crew boss had been killed. The one with the grappling machine, remember?”

“Knuckle Boom.” I muttered as I looked out the window again, watching as the soppy slush covered trees zipped by at a fairly good clip. “Yeah, her machine did that.” My mind tripped over itself as something Rook said gave me pause. “Wait, what do you mean ‘when it came back up’?”

“The radio fuzzed out during the altercation with your convoy.” Rook spoke with a note of intrigue about the event. “It was restored of course, but it was down for several hours. Quite the peculiar event if the radio host is to be at all trusted.”

“It’s just old wasteland shit going out now and again.” Jess rolled her eyes and shifted herself against her seat. As she did, the whole motorwagon listed slightly with her. This thing may have been built for Saddle Arabians, but I’m betting it was not built with someone like Jess in mind. “Anyway, it’s been fine for the last few days, so…”

“Days!?” I snapped. “I’ve been out for that long!?” Oh goddesses, they all probably thought I was dead by now. Buck… oh no. I can’t imagine what he must be feeling. But it’ll be fine, right? I’ll be back home to him soon, and able to see everypony else… except Violet.

Looking down at myself I looked at the scars I’d accumulated from my time at Galina’s talons. I’d been gone for days, nearly been killed, and all for what? I didn’t even get to kill Galina, and I was just going to show up and hope that they were going to be happy I was alive? The hell they must have gone through, I… I don’t know how they’re going to deal with yet another one of my failures.

‘You couldn’t even beat a griffon!’ Hardcase screamed in my mind. ‘Fucking useless pegasus. I never want to see you again.’

‘You can’t expect me to treat your every wound and sleep with you like I’m just your pet!’ Buck’s anger was sharp, and it made my whole body ache again. ‘I’m sorry, but I don’t know who you are anymore. Get out.’

‘You’re a danger to the convoy.’ Delilah would say. ‘You’re fired. Why don’t you go be a useless corpse in a ditch somewhere.’

None of these things were even close to what they would ever say, but my fantasies didn’t care. No. What would probably happen upon my I return is that everypony will feign happiness, while quietly hating me for cursing them with Violet’s death. All the while I’ll go back to doing the one thing I’ve always been good at even when I lived above the cloud layer. Not having a purpose in my life.

“Hey.” Jess’s sharp voice kicked me out of my thoughts just as the whole motorwagon seemed to shift forward slightly. “We’re here.”

Well, it was time to put my fears of returning to the convoy aside for now. Picking up Galina’s shotgun, I slung it around myself and did my best to Secure her auto talon to the sling as well. Turning to the door, Jess reached over and pushed it open.

“Good luck, mister Bombay.” Rook called back as he peeked his mustached muzzle up over the midcar divider. “And remember, I’ll be watching your every move. Do not disappoint Master Solomon.”

“Sure.” I sighed as I pushed myself off the seat. “I’ll get it done.”

Author's Note

As always, many MANY thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his work in pre-reading this, even though he's been sick for the last few days. You're a real trooper, man, and I'm incredibly grateful for your help.

And of course, thank you to Kkat for Fo:E. Really enjoying my copy of the third printing!

Chapter 35 - Down in the Dumps

Presenting one obvious right way versus one obvious wrong way, it is often wiser to choose the wrong way so as to expedite subsequent revision.

This place was a dump.

Piles of rotting trash littered the pothole filled highway that ran through the center of the small settlement. Dozens of ramshackle buildings made out of nothing but scraps and junk that looked to be about ten minutes from a major structural failure lined the road. Muddy troughs of stagnant water ran between the buildings, creating makeshift paths that ran further back toward even more filthy shack housing.

“Ugh.” I grunted and tried to focus on anything but the vile stench that permeated every ounce of air around me. Stepping out from Solomon’s halftrack motorwagon thing, something squashed softly under my forehoof. Looking down, I was in no way surprised to find that I’d literally just stepped in somepony’s shit. “Are you fucking kidding me…”

“Hah! Would ya’ look at that?” The brazen laugh that came from a colt that looked half my age pulled my attention to one of the closer trash heaps. “The rich bitch gets her first taste of real living!” The sickly green coated colt wore a smile that had less teeth in it than I had legs. “I’d say maybe you came all the way up from Applewood, but you’re too ugly a mare to be an actress!”

Grumbling, I pulled the sling for Galina’s shotgun tighter around me and rolled my eyes. Really? Maybe I wasn’t cursed to have bad things happen to me, just simply to attract every asshole and troublemaker in the wastes to me. Though to be honest, I was surprised a little shit like him even knew about Applewood at all. And to that end… maybe being an actress wasn’t such a bad idea. I mean, I was already putting on an act for Solomon. Why not see how far I could sell it while I’m at it?

“Before you get back to eating your garbage like a good little foal,” I spoke at the colt as I imagined smothering the little bastard in the heap of trash he was on. In doing so, I felt a wide grin plastered itself across my muzzle. “Do you know where I can find the doctor around here?”

“What’cha gonna give for it?” The colt turned his muzzle up at me, squinting as if to size me up. Pointing at me, I could see as his greedy little thoughts turned to the gun on my back. “How about your shity looking gun, gimpy?”

Gimpy?

“Come on, Paper. You know better than to harass newcomers.” A stallion spoke up as he walked onto the road from one of the offshooting muddy paths. Clad in a patchwork trench coat, the bent metallic silver star that he wore pinned to his chest gave me a small amount of relief.

Fantastic, at least there was some sort of law enforcement in this place. His muted yellow fur had rough patches that were matted with dirt and mud, and his short yellow mane and tail were likewise coated in filth. Did this whole town just somehow forget the idea of washing oneself off!?

“Awwww, come on, dad! I didn’t mean nothin’ by it!” The colt pouted and quivered his lip at the stallion. Yeah right you little shit. If I wasn’t buying it, nopony else would.

“Paper Sludge, you best get out of here before I get your mother to drown you in the mud herself.” His tone was not unlike that of Delilah’s, but at the very least I could tell his threat was more for show than a promise of action. If Delilah told me she was going to drown me, I’d probably start holding my breath right then and there… “Sorry about that, stranger.” The stallion smiled as the small colt scampered away into one of the nearby alleys. “Welcome to Leachate, biggest dump this far north of Cantercross. What brings you around, little lady?”

“Thanks, I was looking for the doctor.” With a sigh, I looked over my own scarred body again. “He patched me up, so I’m here to pay the bill.”

“That’s quite upstanding of you, miss. Most ponies would have just cut and run given the chance.” He gave me a smile and pointed to a two story shack just up the road. “You’ll find Doc Forceps up in his office. Though, I’d be careful if I were you.” Me, be careful? Gee, I would have never thought to be. “He had a break in last night, so he’s been in a bit of a foul mood.”

“Ah, I see.” Alright, that’s at least one step out of the way. Now, I just needed to figure out how I was going to actually pay for my treatment. Just because I was going to have to kill him didn’t mean I couldn’t hope there would be another way. I’d been forced into this shit right alongside the poor guy, so at the very least, maybe I can find a way to end things easily. “Thank you for your help, mister…?”

“Sheriff Daily Cover. But you can just call me Daily.” The stallion gave a wink at me as he stood up straight. “My office is the last building on the road headed west. Feel free to stop by and talk to my wife if you need to reach me for anything.” Giving a wave, the pleasant but filthy stallion turned and started to trot away. Huh, at least not everypony I attracted seemed to be a terrible monster. At least on the surface, anyway.

“Right.” I sighed and turned myself up the road to where I’d been directed. “To the doctor.”

Getting used to hobbling around on three legs again wasn’t as easy as I’d assumed it would be. In fact, while I’d only had my prosthetic for a short time, the muscle memory of walking with four legs had already kicked in fairly hard. So, my progress down the road was slow, and it unfortunately allowed me a closer than I’d wanted look at most of this shanty town.

Filthy looking ponies sifted through countless heaps of old trash. Some coughed and nursed what looked like festering wounds as they pulled out small bits and bobs from the piles. As their discolored eyes and toothless muzzles watched me hobble past them, I got the distinct impression that I might actually be one of the healthiest looking ponies in town right about now. And that was saying something, what with me missing an eye, a leg, and half an ear…

The rust red paint that coated the crappily constructed shack was probably the nicest thing about the doctor’s place. The corroded sheet metal door was held on to the scrap wood door frame by bungie cords and rusty couch springs. To be honest, I was almost hesitant to reach out and touch it in fear of contracting any number of diseases that rusted metal could give a pony.

“It ain’t gonna bite ya’.” The annoyed gravelly voice I remembered hearing in my earlier semi-lucid moments drifted through a sheet covered broken window frame. “I can hear you standin’ around out there, just come inside already.”

Reaching out, I grabbed onto the large, bent nail that had been set up to act as a door handle. Pulling the door open, the springs gave a squeal of protest. I slipped through the door with just enough room to spare before the groaning metal snapped shut behind me with a slam. The dark interior was highly contrasted to the dullness outside, and I had to blink a few times to get my one eye to even adjust.

Oh boy… if I’d thought the junk outside was bad, I obviously hadn’t thought about how bad it could even get.

Piles of old and dirty medical supplies lay strewn about in pony high heaps. Bloodied bandages, half filled IV bags, potions that were anywhere from half filled with black sludge to bottles with bright rainbow liquids inside. There was a whole pile that looked dedicated to every rusted needle, razorblade, and syringe left in Equestria, and some even still had unidentifiable liquids in them as well. If this was the doc who’d saved my life, then how the fuck was I not dead?

Note to self; have Buck test me for every disease ever when I get back. That is of course, if I make it back at all, and if he’ll even accept me at all looking this way…

“You going to speak up or just stand there in silence all day?” Doc Forceps spoke up as he trotted down a rickety looking set of stairs in the rear of his office. As he did, his horn sparked and shot a small flame across the room. It struck the inside of an old cast iron stove that sat in the corner, which gave a soft whump as the logs inside it started to burn.

“Solomon sent me to settle the bill.” I spoke up. As the unicorn approached the small burning stove, the crackling that it gave off reminded me of when I’d heard his voice before.

“Of course he did.” The stallion grumbled as the fire gave me a chance to get a look at him. His grey coat and mane were almost matching in color, but remarkably well kept considering the state of this place. An old worn lab coat hung loosely around him, and the small round glasses at the end of his muzzle had golden rims that were so polished that they nearly glowed with the light of the small fire. “Given that you don’t seem to have a pouch full of caps on you…” The doc spoke up as he lifted a small stick up to his muzzle. With another flare from his horn, the end of the small cigarette lit up, and he took in a deep draw from it. Well, that explains the roughness in his voice at least. “I’m going to guess that you’re here to trade that gear of yours as compensation?”

Well, seeing as I didn’t plan on ever using Galina’s shit, that was actually a pretty good idea for what to do with it. Still, I wish that Violet had taught me anything about how to barter like she could. I had exactly zero idea what any of this shit was worth, and I was pretty sure I’d be getting the raw end of the deal for it.

“How much will it get me?” I asked, trying not to give away the fact that I had no idea what I was doing.

“Nothing in this town, I’m afraid.” Doc Forceps forced out a stiff, uncomfortable laugh. “A shotgun like that wouldn’t do me any good in this fucking hellhole anyway.” Letting out a long sigh, he blew a ring of smoke that rolled through the air slowly ahead of him. “Besides, I’m a doctor. Hippocratic oath or whatever. I’m supposed to save lives, not take them.”

Huh, now isn’t that something! I guess that appearances were deceiving, which should already be plainly obvious to me over anypony else. I mean, he did save my life, even if this place didn’t look like somewhere clean enough to even sit in safely for more than five minutes. Still, as much as that simple outlook elevated him to one of the better ponies I’d met, that didn’t solve the issue of why I’d come here in the first place.

“So then,” I spoke up hesitantly. “I have nothing else to trade, and no caps to pay.” I didn’t want to have to do what Solomon wanted. This stallion didn’t need to die just so that I could live. “How else can I pay you back?”

“Normally, I’d consider seeing you hang for skipping out on a payment like this. I used up a lot of good supplies to save you that could have helped plenty of others here.” Doc Forceps grumbled as he turned to me. The vibrant pink eyes that shot me an angry glare caught me off guard as he took another long drag of his cigarette. “But you’re lucky that I happen to have another job that you can do as payment.”

Wow. He was willing to see me killed over not being able to pay? I get the fact that it might have been a waste in his eyes to use those meds on me, but I’m alive because of them. Killing me only actually makes it a complete waste. And from what I’ve seen so far, it didn’t so much look like half these ponies were getting help from him as is in this place. Still, a deal’s a deal, and if it meant that I didn’t have to kill him, then I’d have to give it a shot.

“Alright, I’m interested.” I sat down on the floor, watching as the Doc studied over me for a moment. “What’s the job?”

“A small family of mutie ex-raiders were kicked out of town a few months ago after harassing me to give them free medical care. They didn’t go far though, and moved into one of the old power stations to the northeast.” He began as he trotted over to a small desk that sat beside the old stove. On top of it sat various pill bottles that lay scattered haphazardly across it, as well as a large jug absolutely filled to the brim with caps. “Sheriff Daily had the father hanged after he came back into town and tried to beat me into providing them with the meds,” pointing to the sheet covered window beside me, he sat down at the desk and kicked his hooves up, “and recently his son has taken it upon himself to just try to steal my supplies. He succeeded when he snatched up the fairly pricey bottle of hard to come by meds they wanted last night, so I’m left with no other choice.”

“I… first off, what are ‘Mutie’ raiders?” I fumbled over my own words. The Sky Raiders were the only ‘different’ kind of raider that I’d known or been informed about. Though, Violet and Hardcase had mentioned before that we’d yet to run into what was supposedly ‘normal’ raiders.

“Dunno if you’ve missed it, kid, but this place isn’t exactly healthy for you.” The Doc gave out a raspy laugh. “The wartime ponies that ran this old landfill stuck all sorts of industrial waste in with the trash. If you live here long enough and plan to have a foal, good luck. Most are just stillborn, but sometimes a mare ends up bearing a mutie. Even then they don’t normally live long.”

Oh, so this town was literally a dump from the old world. That… explained a whole lot about the general health of the ponies here, really. But still, mutant ponies? Did that mean they were like the alicorns around here? Or did that make them more like the ghouls? Oh, where was literally anyone else on Delilah’s crew right about now to explain this shit to me? Hell, Hispano would probably even know about this, seeing as she’s a veritable font of odd wasteland information.

“So, what do you want me to do?” I asked, not looking forward to the answer I was pretty sure I was going to get.

“Do I need to spell it out for you? I need the remaining two of them dead.” He snorted as he pulled the glowing nubbin from his muzzle. Giving it a shake, he shook the ash off the cigarette before crumpling it against the surface of his desk. “Trust me when I say you’d be doing this town a favor anyway. The last thing we needed here was a bunch of ex-raider gun runners distributing their guns to the townsfolk. Hardly anypony knows we exist out here, and we’re a lot better off if the Sheriff is the only one with a gun.”

“Alright.” Well, this wasn’t so bad I guess. They are just raiders, and it does sound like I’d be helping the town out. Plus, this meant I didn’t have to kill the doctor, but that didn’t mean that it wouldn’t come without it’s share of problems. For example, I still had to kill ponies on my own, and I still had to get this done by noon. “Just one question, how far is this power station? I have a tight timetable and can’t afford to head a few days out for this shit.”

“Ugh, you pegasi and your incessant need to do things quickly.” He simply rolled his eyes and groaned. “It’s a half hour’s trot to the northeast, and less if you use those wings I fixed of yours. It’s relatively easy to find if you follow the dirt road that leads out that way, and stick to the old power towers that lead right up to it.”

“Good. I’ll return when I’m done.” Turning around, I hooved at the door again. Might as well get this shit done then.

Stepping outside, again the change in lighting threw my vision off. As I stepped down into the filthy road, I almost missed the flash and pop of magic that went off at my side. Stopping, I turned to find Rook’s plain gaze staring at me.

“I assume you’re choosing the difficult way in dealing with this problem?” He spoke flatly as he looked to Galina’s shotgun across my back. With a sigh, his horn flashed and a single oversized shotshell appeared in the air next to him. “Very well then, I shall relinquish this one round to you.”

“Gee, how generous of you.” I grumbled as his magic worked at loading the shell into Galina’s gun. “I look forward to the day in which Solomon trusts me with a full magazine.”

“You know,” Rook spoke sternly, putting his heavy brass cybernetic on my shoulder. “You would be wise to reign in that tendency to speak your mind. Solomon doesn’t take kindly to poorly thought out insults.”

“Then I’ll make sure to put greater thought into my insults next time before speaking them right at his face, rather than to the likes of you.” I gave Rook a wide grin that surprisingly didn’t even seem to make an impact on him. However, I could feel as the mechanical hoof of his grew heavier as he pressed it harder against me. “Now, are you going to let me do the job he sent me on, or are you going to stay here and foalsit me until noon?”

While my harsh words didn’t seem to make a single impact against the impenetrable expression that Rook wore, they came back and hit me hard. What the fuck was I doing!? He could very well just kill me now and take a few hours of the morning off for the shit that just came out of my muzzle. Seriously Night, are you trying to get yourself killed?

“Well,” Rook smirked, shifting his prosthetic hoof off of me before taking a step back. “At the very least, Mrs. Violet taught you how to act tough. If you make it back from this little ‘job’ in one piece, you may have to color me genuinely impressed.” His smile faltered, dropping back into a scowl. “You have two hours remaining to get it done.” With another flash and pop, he was gone.

Letting out a deep sigh, I felt myself give out a laugh. My heart thumped against my chest as a tingle went down my spine. Oh goddesses, that was amazing! It felt so good to just fucking do that… and as crazy as it sounds, I kind of wanted to do it again! I know I was just pretending to be a badass, but oh Celestia if it didn’t make me feel the part! If this is what Lilac Lace and the others in old Applewood felt when they acted, then no wonder they loved doing it!

Turning in roughly the right direction, I hobbled myself off toward the outskirts of town. Despite being on a time limit, and having to go fight some raiders, I couldn’t wipe the smile across my muzzle. As odd as it was, I was glad I was on my own. Having no safety net, and no backup was scary as hell, but goddesses was it a stupid kind of exhilaration that coursed through me because of it!

Now, here’s hoping that I lived long enough to even be able to try doing something like that again at all...

I shivered as the mud that I’d squished up to my fetlocks through had now frozen to me. What had started as soft ground, had gradually turned into nearly belly high snow that slowed my pace down to a near crawl. The weather here on the ground was a lot more unpredictable than I could have thought possible. It seems that be it every ten minutes or ten meters, the temperature and consistency of the air on the ground changed entirely. It was something I’m sure I hadn’t quite entirely noticed before because somepony was usually here to keep my mind off it.

Still, I followed the towering old world power line structures to the north east. While some of them had tilted or even totally collapsed over the years, most of them still stood defiantly in the frigid air. The thick black power cables sat slackened between the surviving towers, weighed down with pony sized icicles that I kept a close eye on. One stiff wind could be all that stood between walking one minute, and being split in half the next.

Sighing, I stopped just long enough to facehoof myself with my nearly frozen foreleg.

Why did you have to use that specific wording, Night? Even as I questioned that, the sight of Violet’s lifeless eyes stung at my mind. While most of the pains from the fight and torture session with Galina were numb due to the snow, my mind was the one thing that would never have that luxury.

Almost immediately as I’d thought that, that sharp pain from my eye socket drummed up again. I tensed up, fighting back a whimper as it’s throbbing reached a peak before dipping off again. Damnit… maybe I should have asked the doctor for something. Of course, he wouldn’t have given it to me anyway, but at the very least, I could blame him even more for the shit I’m having to endure.

A low groan of steel from ahead drifted through the air and caught my attention. Pushing myself to hobble a bit faster, I climbed up the next steep hill along the trail. As I crested it, a boxy grey concrete building met my eye, nestled at the bottom of one of the enormous power towers. Rusted transformers and other electrical machines sat sprouting out of the squat building, unmistakably marking it as where I was supposed to be heading.

However, as I looked at it, the wide open doorway only presented darkness past it. More than that, there was a long crimson line melted into the snow around the entrance. Pushing myself to move forward, I decided to get a bit of a closer look before readying Galina’s shotgun. It was a risk considering I still wasn’t even sure how to use the griffon gun properly, but if I’d hobble faster without holding it.

I spotted a snow covered bush that was about halfway between the building and where I stood, making a break for it. My three numb legs forced me to proink my way over through the snow more than hobble, but in no time at all, I quickly flopped myself down behind the safety of the bush. Pulling my head around the corner of the bush a bit, I gazed up at the small structure and perked my ears.

Nothing.

Not only was there no wind, there wasn’t any sound coming from anywhere really. No animals in the surrounding treelines, no more groans of metal from the old structures. Most worrying overall, there was no sounds of ponies from inside.

Wiggling myself, I dragged Galina’s shotgun around on it’s sling and dumped it into the snow beside me. I got the Auto-talon unhooked from the sling, and took a look at the oddly designed shotgun overall. It was a bullpup design, with the cylindrical magazine toward the rear and the trigger assembly toward the front.

As I inspected it’s grip, I was annoyed to find that it wasn’t at all built to be fired from a pony’s mouth. The grip was enclosed as part of the bullpup magazine’s guide tracks, and didn’t have room for me to get my muzzle around it. The trigger itself was also covered by a small sheet metal guard, but it actually was designed to fold itself to the side. I couldn’t for the life of me figure why you’d need to move the guard itself out of the way, but it did happen to barely let me get my fetlock around the trigger.

Pulling it close against my shoulder, I found that if I braced it between my forehoof and my body, I could probably use both hooves fire this thing with some sort of accuracy. However… that was only because I was prone in the snow. I’m pretty sure this thing was going to be quite useless to me if it required both rear hooves on the ground if it was to be fired by a non-unicorn.

Fucking cheater unicorns…

Pushing myself onto my hooves, I tucked the all but useless shotgun under my wing and hobbled out toward the building. The crunching snow under my hooves sounded like gunshots of their own, and I knew there was no turning back now. Okay, worst case scenario, I throw the gun at them and get the hell out of here until I find another way to do this. Best case, I kill one of them and use whatever weapon they had to kill the other.

Yeah… there was no way this was going to end well, was there?

Hobbling up to the side of the concrete structure, I pressed myself against the cold outer wall. Perking my ear again, I listened for any sign of movement inside. With as loud as my approach was, they had to know I was outside, right?

Again, there was nothing.

Scooting myself closer, I looked at the red trail that sat near the entrance to the building. I couldn’t see from where I’d been at before, but it actually turned from the doorway and headed around the other side of the building. From where I stood, it was fairly easy to see the trail itself was someone’s blood, but the question was who’s. Taking a deep breath, I scooted myself along the building again until I was right next to the doorway.

From here, I could see the soft flickering of a lantern’s light inside. As I peeked around the corner, the stench of rot and gore hit my nose. I bit my tongue to keep myself from throwing up at the smell, but I couldn’t risk it. Turning my head away, I took a couple of deep breaths before holding one in. It’s now or never!

Turning the corner, I threw myself against the doorway. Using it to prop myself up, I fumbled Galina’s shotgun up into my hooves. However, due to the blood on the doorway floor, my lone rear hoof lost traction and I slipped. As only I could have fucked up, I threw Galina’s shotgun from my grasp, lobbing it across the room. It landed on it’s buttstock, firing off my one round into the ceiling with a loud bang and a flash that nearly blinded me.

Collapsing onto the floor, my ringing hearing quickly drained back to normal. I braced myself, waiting for the inevitable repercussion that was to come from the raiders. However, as the seconds passed on, only the same lonely silence that was here before met my ears. Blinking a few times, I looked around the small, sparsely furnished room.

A half dozen crates of various stripped down weapons sat propped against the back wall, while an overturned refrigerator with a mattress draped over it sat to my right. Several empty tin cans, water bottles, and medical containers sat open and empty near the bed, as well as a pair of thick wool blankets. Turning my gaze across the room, I froze as the misshapen sight of something caught my eye.

The pony who was slumped back in a desk chair sat motionless, staring up at the ceiling. Well, pony was not really the best word for them, because they didn’t look like any pony I’d ever seen before. Their white and red coat was speckled and mottled in odd swirling patterns. Their shoulders were mis-sized, with the left being far bulkier and lumpy than the right. Another odd feature was almost the entire lack of a neck on them, with only an inch or so of space before the broad flat head of an earth pony started where their shoulders ended.

Their lifeless brown eyes sat unmoving and unfocused, and the pencil that hung loosely in their muzzle sat as still as their chest was. It was about then that I noticed that the pony’s right forehoof that hung down alongside the chair, was flayed into nearly three different strips, each part of it also peppered with small bloody holes. A dirty rag had been tied up higher on his leg, probably to slow the bleeding of the wound, but it obviously hadn’t been enough.

“What the hell happened here?” I asked myself as I got back up to my hooves.

Looking past the oddly misshapen stallion, I saw the small desk that the chair he was in was matched to. On it, was a few various books and tools, as well as an old radio that that still softly glowed with power, and held an audiolog tape ready to play in it. However, in the center of all these things, was a single yellowed sheet of paper with writing scrawled onto it.

Not able to fight my own curiosity, and ignoring the question as to where the other raider was, I hobbled my way over to read the note. It was definitely mouth written by how hard it was to make out what it said, and the author of it clearly didn’t know how to properly write. Multiple entries seemed to be scrawled over the paper, only separated and listed by descending numbers.

one -

can speak fine, but not rite wel. dad was hung tooday, need too keep log from now on. mums still sick. got the fever pretty bad. looked for last of meds dad bought but we ran out. need too go too town too find more four her. hope mum lasts the night.

too -

mum lasted the night. went too town but turned me away bcuse of my mutaytons. called me naymes. threw rocks an bottles at me. mayor stuck the sherif on me now banned from town for good. put out call on radio four help. I hope somepony can help.

three -

mum is worse tooday. She is sweeting more than before an cand keep any food down. well water helped but we need meds. will try town again toomarrow if she lasts the night. I am despirite.

four -

woke too mum having bad shakes. paniked an nearly let her drown in her own spit up. went too town after she sleeped again. desperately pleeded for meds, offered all our caps. doc took the hole jug an then went inside. locked himself in. sherif chased me out of town after I would not leave doctors house. going too break into clinic tonight. mum needs meds, won't last another night without.

fife -

mums gone. she passed sometime when I was breaking in too the clinic too grab the meds. clinic robbery was all four nothing. even the bottle was empty anyway. kicking myself for not being here. letting her pass without me at her side makes me a horrible sun. does not matter. doc clipped my leg with a shotgun shot. got home. buried mum. tried too rest but wounded leg hurts an is useless now. tied wound off but nopony left too help heal it. have a few hours before bloodloss kills me an I join mum an dad. recorded last request on too radio set. hope somepony listens ore finds this. did all I could and hope to rest with Mum an dad soon.

So… this hadn’t been about raiders at all? I huffed as I caught my breath, feeling as a wave of lightheadedness swept over me. Of course it had to be this way, Night. Nopony you’ve met in any settlement has ever told the fucking truth to you!

There’s been no ‘honest mistake’ in these requests, not here, not on Pink Mountain, not anywhere so far! They’ve always been greedy assholes who want you to go kill fucking innocent ponies! Of course the doctor didn’t need Galina’s shotgun, he already had one! He stole their caps, he shot at them...

Reaching forward, I flicked at the play button on the audiolog set into the radio. A soft pop of static came through the small speaker. The pained whine of a stallion came through shortly after, soft at first, but it grew closer.

“Hello,” The stallion began. “If you’ve found this, well… then you’ve found my remains. The town nearby refused to help us, an’ my fate was caused by them. They don’t like ponies who are different, an’ if you are listenin’ to this, then maybe you’re different too. I… I won’t last much longer, but I won’t leave the radio just in case. However, if help didn’t end up comin’, I need whoever you are to do somethin’ for me.” He let out a groaning moan as it sounded like he sat down in the desk chair, giving off a soft panting before continuing. “I know I don’t have any right to ask this, but I would be very much grateful to you if you could be so kind as to bury me next to my mom. I prepared a grave next to hers ‘round the back of this place, an’ in return, you can take anythin’ you want from our home. We had a few complete guns, some rockets, grenades an’ mines. You can have it all, we don’t need anythin’ anymore.”

So, he lost his father and his mother. He was refused the help he needed, only to die alone in this goddess forsaken place out in the middle of nowhere. I sat down hard as I listened to him, finding it fairly easy in my mind to imagine just what this poor stallion must have been going through. Had Delilah not been there to help, I’d be dead out in the northern wastes right now as well. This could have been my fate had I not been saved.

“Please,” The stallion whined on the recording before giving out a hacking cough. “I know I can’t make you do this, but if you ever see the doc back in town… tell him that I forgive him. At the very least, he made sure I wouldn’t suffer alone for long.”

With a sharp click, the audiolog stopped, and the world around me was plunged back into silence. Taking a deep breath, I shivered again. Not because my body was numb, but because as much as I wanted to cry over everything that I’d been through, I couldn’t. I was still alive, which was more than could be said for this stallion.

Picking myself up, I closed my eye and let a soft sigh out of my quivering muzzle. I was wrong before. This is what it felt like to finally be mentally numb.

It had taken me about a half hour to bury the stallion in the grave he’d dug himself. It took me another few minutes to take the one rocket launcher and load it with the single rocket they’d had stuffed in one of the crates. The rest I left. I couldn’t take it if I wanted to, and this was all I’d need anyway. Though, every fiber of my being wanted to use this rocket against Solomon himself. The only reason I fought back that urge is that it would be certain suicide, and with my curse, I’d only fuck it up and die a pointless death. With Galina’s gear strapped around me, the audiolog held firmly in my muzzle, and the rocket launcher stowed across my back, I began the trek back toward town.

Each hobbling step was fueled by an anger that replaced that mental numbness, and carried me that much further. The snows again gave way to mud as the shadows of the morning grew ever shorter in the skies. The only picture I held in my mind was the beautiful bright fireball that would plume up from the good doctor’s shack when it exploded.

No forgiveness, no way out, only justice.

From there, with the doctor dead, I’d surrender to the sheriff. Once he heard this audiolog, he’d have no choice but to understand why I killed the doc. Sure, the sheriff was part of the problem, but the doctor stole that family’s caps, and killed one of them. He killed both of them if we’re considering he could have saved the mother. If he was any sort of honest lawpony, then he’d have to see the justice in this.

But who was I kidding? Nopony was honest down here.

Speaking of honesty, before I’d left, I’d looked at that ‘expensive’ medication the doc had refused to sell them more of. It was fucking aspirin. Generic, bit a dozen painkiller. It wasn’t worth five hundred caps for a bottle, and even Buck gave them to the crew fairly liberally! Then there’s the whole ‘doctor’s oath’ or whatever that asshole tried to pass off. Ugh! This douchebag was so dead when I got back there.

The shanty shacks of this dump of a settlement peeked their way through the trees. As I hobbled my way into the muddy trough-like sidestreets of this terrible place, I nearly ran into a monolithic armored cart door and beefy hooves as they stepped out from one of the crossing alleys. Looking up, I found the annoyed expression of Jess staring down at me.

“Where the fuck have you been?” She snapped at me as she hoisted her dual barreled submachine gun at my head. Spitting the audiolog into my hoof, I gave her a glare of my own. “Cutting it damn close, aren’t you?”

“I’ve been working on a job for the doctor.” I shot back at her through a growl. Hopping to the side of her, she didn’t move to stop me. “I still have time, so stay the fuck out of my way.” Quickly, I hoofed the audiolog into my muzzle and stabilized myself on my hooves again.

Pushing myself to move, I splashed through the disgusting murky fetlock deep water that separated the shacks on this alley. Reaching the main road, I hobbled around one of the pony high junk heaps. As I did, part of it rustled and dropped away, revealing the sickly green colt I’d met before. As he opened his muzzle to most likely throw some insult at me, I swung my head around and smacked him clear in the face with the audiolog.

“Take that to the Sheriff. He’s going to want to hear it.” I spat at him before hobbling along the road toward the doctor’s shack. To his credit, the small colt didn’t say anything I didn’t expect.

“What’ll you pay me to do it?” His voice was slightly muffled as he rubbed his sore nose.

“I’ll give you this rocket launcher.” I grunted, pulling a wide eyed look from him. “But only if you go and give it to him right now.”

“No way, really!?” The colt wore a smile only a mother could love across his muzzle as he all but threw himself from the heap of trash. “Sure thing, lady!” He burst down the road away from me, heading toward where the Sheriff said his office was. Hell, he almost barreled into Jess as she stepped around the corner, but swerved out of her way just in time.

Turning again, I locked my eyes on the rust red shack just ahead down the road. As I hobbled, I used my wings to slide the rocket launcher around, pulling it up under my left wing as I approached. Each step made me more angry, every panting breath from my straining lungs made me see just a little bit less around me. Right up until I was sitting on the road in front of the Doctor’s shack with the launcher in my hooves.

“Hey, Doc!” I called out, watching the fluttering white sheet that covered the broken window. “You still in?” Resting on my haunches, I hoisted the long tube up and pointed it toward the rickety scrap built shack. My left forehoof steaded the tube while my right fetlock sat curled around the hoof activated trigger assembly.

“Yeah!” He called out. I could hear his hoofsteps as they moved about inside. “You kill those damn raiders yet?” I listened as his creaking steps grew closer, waiting for just the right moment. With a groan, I heard him reach for the rusty door to his place. “Well, answer me goddess damn…”

The door had peeked open only slightly when I squeezed my hoof and connected the firing circuit. The air around me swirled as the rocket motor blasted to life and evicted the old world high explosive warhead from its short stay in the launcher. The blast of the rocket’s exhaust, along with the recoil of it, knocked me flat onto my back hard enough that I smacked my head against the old pavement. About the same time as I hit the ground, the shack in front of me disintegrated in a bright fireball.

Alright, justice was great and all, but it turns out it had a minimum safe distance that I should’ve kept in mind! Splinters of blasted wood pierced my body as the air was forced from my lungs. Along with the many splinters, my hearing was once again gone, which I knew was coming. As I let out a shuddering gasp, my smiling muzzle broke out into hysterical laughter that I had so much wished to hear myself make over the ringing in my ears. Fucking Celestia, what had I done?

Opening my eye as I laid on the ground, I was met with both Rook and Jess standing over me. Jess seemed to be in complete shock at what had just gone down, and still held her armored cart door closely braced against herself. Rook on the other hoof? Well, the smile plastered across his muzzle spoke volumes as he softly nodded to me. With a flash of magic, a health potion appeared in his horn’s grasp. After a moment, his magic had ripped most of the splintered wood stuck in my body, and shoved the drink into my muzzle. As I drank, the sounds of the world around me came back into focus as the potion did it’s best to knit me up.

At least the potion had finally dimmed the pain that had started to drum up in my missing eye again...

“Holy shit!” Jess laughed as she put her hand across her broad muzzle. “You totally just blew that guy to bits! I thought you were just taking your time or running away or something, but oh was that worth the wait!” Without asking my permission, she reached down and grabbed my forehoof. With one tug, she pulled me right back onto my haunches.

“I will admit,” Rook nodded as he gave me a wink and a shrug. “With a show like that, you can color me impressed. If I may ask, where did you even acquire a rocket launcher?”

To be honest, as he said that, everything became real in that moment. I’d just murdered somepony. Not like the ‘murder’ I’d been afraid I had committed back on the Empirica with Hispano, but actual murder.

Seeing Rook smirk like that, having earned him being impressed? That wasn’t a good thing. This had all been done so I could save my own life, and get back to the convoy. Even if the doctor had been a greedy lowlife douchebag, he hadn’t realized he’d killed that stallion with his shotgun. I however, had knowingly killed him, and that was a choice I’d have to live with now.

“Color you impressed!? Well I’m ‘coloring’ you all under arrest! So drop your weapons!” Daily Cover called out from behind the three of us. “What the fuck were you thinking!?” He snapped as I looked over at him. “You said you were going to pay him back, not blow up half the town!”

He stood there resting on his own haunches with an old combat rifle braced in his hooves and aimed right at us. A little further behind him was his colt, Paper Sludge, still with the audiolog in his muzzle. Seriously? The little brat couldn’t even do that one…

My thoughts were cut off as Jess twisted herself and let off a fantastically quick rattling burst from her twin barreled gun. A line of impacts shot up along the road, tracing straight up along Daily as well. Six or seven wounds punched into him, and the side of his head blasted out as Jess’s gun emptied completely. With a grumble, she flicked a button on the side of her gun, and the empty twin magazines dropped onto the road beside her.

Daily Cover dropped to the road as well, as dead as Violet and Galina were. But as the sight of that hit me, my vision drifted from his corpse, to the crumpled green form on the road behind him. My lungs seized up as a pair of bloody holes had punched their way through Paper Sludge’s head as well. Jess… she’d killed them both.

“They should have just walked away and let us go.” Jess sighed as she lowered her arm down, wincing as a line of blood streamed down it. “At the very least, he could have had worse accuracy and hit my shield. Useless asshole tagged me in the arm.”

“Well, you’ll get over it.” Rook sighed. “Now that our job here is finished, I would think it is a good time to leave.” With another magical flash, the empty magazines at her hooves disappeared, and another potion appeared in front of Jess, which she took and guzzled down. “After all, we now have to deliver Mr. Bombay here back to Delilah.” Turning to me, he gave me a pat on the side with his cyberhoof. “Don’t worry. I’m sure it won’t be long before Solomon calls on you to do something for him.”

I kept sitting there, running through things again and again in my head. From the moment Galina fired the cannon at the pass, to when we’d piled back into Solomon’s motorwagon and hit the road again. Everything I’d been through, every action I took… I couldn’t see how things could have gone any other way.

I wasn’t the scared, confused orphaned pegasus anymore. Diving after Galina, negotiating for my life with Solomon, and outright murdering somepony. Those were the actions of some crazy wastelander, not somepony who had just been doing his best to try to make a life for himself. Or maybe it was, I didn’t know. All I did know, was that the pains and aches of my body had come back once we were on the road, and I was just more than ready to collapse in bed with Buck and Hispano.

“Hey, pull over up here.” Jess grunted as she gave a heavy bang on the dividing wall between Rook and us. “I need to use that rest stop.”

“I suppose you can’t just wait?” Rook sighed, eyeing back at her in annoyance. She gave him a flat look before snorting at him. “Very well.”

The car swerved, and the clinking tracks squealed a bit in protest as they pushed us over a bit of the overgrown offramp we’d come across. Thick, leaf covered vines clawed their way across the road, hanging down off of every tree and shrub around here. A few of them sported bright blue and yellow flowers that made me wonder if any of these vines were Bramble Wolves just waiting for a meal to stop by. Yeah, that would be just my luck, wouldn’t it? Murder somepony to earn my freedom from Solomon, only to be killed by a bramble wolf miles outside of Mare’s Lake.

A pair of squat old brick buildings sat ahead of us as Rook slowed us down. The two buildings were just as overgrown as everything else, but seemed clear of any obvious dangers. In fact, they looked completely untouched by anypony at all, with vines even covering the rusted old restroom doors. Jess popped open one of the motorwagon’s doors before we’d even stopped moving, prompting Rook to nearly skid us to a stop. As soon as we’d stopped completely, he shut the engine off and dropped us into a temporary awkward silence.

“I won’t be long.” She grunted as she pulled herself out of the car and onto the vines. She shut the door with a slam that made both Rook and I wince as the whole motorwagon shook. Still, I kept my eyes scanning the numerous vines she stepped on as she walked.

“You needn’t worry.” Rook spoke up. “Bramble Wolves are known for their distinctive purple flowers, and thorn covered vines. These are simple ivy vines. A persistent and stubborn plant, but mostly harmless, I assure you.”

A frustrated yell came from Jess as she hammered her fist at the door. Grabbing at the handle, she yanked on the metal, but it surprisingly didn’t budge more than a few inches. The vines across it seemed strong enough to resist even her angry tugs at it, which seemed both odd and funny to me. She was this imposing frame of a minotaur, but was easily foiled by simple ‘harmless’ plants. The sight of it brought out an exasperated sigh from Rook.

“I can tell my expertise is needed.” He gave a cursory flat glance at me before using his hoof to fix an errant hair that had popped up in his swept back mane. “If you will excuse me for just one moment...” Before he even finished speaking, a bright flash enveloped where he’d been sitting as he teleported away. With a huff, I looked over toward where the two of them were. The vines seemed more resilient than Rook had also anticipated, and he was using his magic to snip them apart one at a time.

I slumped back in my seat and folded my hooves. Well great. First I’m required to be foalsat everywhere I went, and now they can just leave me all on my own!

Wait…

I’m on my own!

Gasping, I sprung to my hooves. With a squirming wiggle, I pushed myself up and over the center divider and into the driver’s bench. Flopping in with a grunt, I quickly righted myself and put my hooves up onto the ivory ringed steering wheel.

“What the fuck are you doing, Night?” I mumbled to myself. “You've only seen Lucky and Gearbox drive…” Alright, so I honestly had no idea what I was doing here. I’d only seen Lucky drive the runner for a while, and some of the controls in this thing seemed to be completely different. Reaching my right hoof out, there was no stick with which to shift the gears. “Great, must be an automatic like he said Bertha was.” Shifting myself, I stuck my right leg down to what should have been the accelerator pedal…

...only to remember my right leg ended in a stump that was more than a bit shorter than everypony else’s rear leg.

“Well alright…” I grumbled as I bounced myself across the cushy drivers bench to the side, placing my left hoof on the pedal instead. It made the way my hooves sat on the steering wheel slightly off, but I figured it was do-able. Looking at the dashboard, I saw all manners of fancy wooden paneling around the numerous dials and indicators on it. However, the shiny key that was still crammed in the ignition was what made me smile. “Here goes nothing!” Reaching forward, I twisted the small silver key with my hoof.

There was an enormous roar as the arcano engine spooled up. The whole vehicle vibrated under me in a way I hadn’t quite been able to feel from the passenger section. Just from that moment, I could tell this thing had a lot of power behind it, and I slammed my hoof down on the accelerator.

I was thrust back sharply as the tracks bit down on the vines below and kicked the vehicle forward. The steering wheel jarred to the side as I did my best to straighten myself up, sharply pulling the vehicle around. This was not as easy as Lucky or Gearbox made it look, and having only one eye made it incredibly hard to judge the distances of every oncoming tree out there!

“Oh goddesses, just drive straight!” I whined as I braced both forehooves tightly around the steering wheel. The force of acceleration drained off as the motorwagon got itself up to speed, and I did my best to keep it on course to get back onto the main highway. As I felt the wind whipping in from the open driver side window, I couldn’t fight the smile that I wore across my muzzle. I… I did it! I’m driving!

“Now why did you go and do that.” Rook’s disheartened voice met my ear about the same time as I felt the barrel of a very large rifle press against the back of my head. “Solomon was willing to let you go, and this is how you repay him?” His words were followed by a pause as I did my best to keep us from careening off the side of the highway. “I will give you one chance to stop the vehicle now, or I will do it for you by ending your life.”

Fuck. Come on, Night! You didn’t just go through all that shit to die now, did you? Come on, think your way out of this. Whatever he needs to hear so you can get back to the convoy, that’s what you say. Don’t think about it, just... it needs to be convincing.

“It needs to be convincing.” The words slipped from my muzzle as I thought them. Oh, fucking real smooth, Night. Way to fuck everything up! Why don’t you just tell him you weren’t planning on working for Solomon at all either? Yeah, might as well just come clean altogether, right?

“Hmmm.” Rook pulled the barrel of the rifle away from my head slightly as he mulled over my words. “Yes, that is a good point. They would never believe you weren’t compromised if we’d simply delivered you to them.” With a brilliant flash, Rook teleported into the bench seat next to me. “While I wish you’d informed me of this ‘plan’ of yours before, I must admit that your logic is at least sound. Again I’m impressed.”

“Figured I might as well make it as authentic as possible.” I grumbled. While I had dodged a bullet there, my heart seemed like it wasn’t ready to calm down just yet. Still, the longer I sold this to him, the longer I’d hoped it would take for them to realize that I wasn’t actually going to help Solomon. Like it or not, I had to keep up the act a bit longer I guess. “Once I’m back, I’ll ditch the car somewhere easy to find. You can pick it up once I’m gone and drive it back.”

“And if your friends want to simply destroy the car?” Rook cocked his eyebrow at me and gave me a look that definitely said he trusted me about as far as he could throw me.

“I’ll convince them it would be better not to?” I offered, hoping that would at least sate him. I mean, I have no way to stop Howitzer from blasting this thing to smithereens the moment he saw it anyway, but I’m betting I could come up with something by the time I arrived. “And if I can’t stop them, just think of it as a way to cement my loyalty to them.”

“Very well, though, it will of course come out of your share of the ARK.” Rook sighed before a bright flash from his horn blinded my eye. The world felt like it twisted around on me, and the smell of burnt hair filled my nostrils. As I blinked away the blindness, the world around me resolved to show that both he and I had switched places in the vehicle. “One of our contacts last reported Delilah’s convoy as having parked in the downtown industrial district, a terrible little settlement called ‘Roundhouse’. I will take over until we get into the city, as I know the way.” As he gripped the steering wheel with his hooves, his horn glowed and pulled a small lever under the steering wheel downwards. The whole motorwagon lurched forward as we picked up speed again. “Just so you know, it helps to be on the all terrain gear setting if you’re looking to escape somewhere quickly. Helps to quickly get you out of range of most ponies with teleportation capabilities.” The smirk that pulled across his muzzle made me want to gag.

“Whatever.” I rolled my eyes and folded my hooves across my chest.

I didn’t have to care about his snarky remarks or anything anymore. For better or worse, I was going home. And as much as I wanted to get there, the pit that hung in my stomach couldn’t decide if it was a bad idea to even show up again. The uncharacteristic thoughts of my friends and new family filtered through my mind again, making me sigh and close my eye.

For as wrong as those thoughts would prove to be, one thing would never be the same. Violet was still dead while I had nothing to show for it but one less eye, and countless more scars. Not to mention, Daily Cover and Paper Sludge’s names weighing on my conscience. Reaching my hoof up, I pressed it against the cold metal of my mothers dog tags.

“You’re just like me, Night.” Violet’s voice resonated in my mind. “We’re survivors. I did what I had to in order to survive down here.”

I’d done what I had to in order to survive, sure. Now? I had to make it worth the price that was paid.

Author's Note

As always, I really do have to thank TheFurryRailFan for helping to go over these chapters. Seriously man, you always go that extra mile to help out, and it means a lot to me!

Many thanks to Kkat as well, for creating and letting us all blow up this fantastical wasteland setting ourselves!

Chapter 36 - The City

A little trust goes a long way. The less you use, the further you'll go.

I want to start over. To just leave the wasteland, and go back in time to a point where I existed in a state of blissful everyday torture. Where my flat feathers, bullies at school, and my taste for fine dresses were the worst of my problems. I wanted to go back to being with Mom and Dad as a family again. But I’d moved on from that, choosing to move forward with my new friends and family. But where had that decision gotten me other than right back to the same damn disaster my life had become?

Staring into the side mirror on Solomon’s Motorwagon, I looked at myself. I wanted to say I didn’t recognize the one eyed, scarred up stallion in the mirror. I was a mess. More than that, really, I was a failure. Even so, there was no use wallowing in… whatever it is that failures wallow in, because with or without me, the wasteland was moving on from my mistakes. And as much as I didn’t want to follow it, my current predicament didn’t leave me with much of a choice.

“If you don’t mind me saying,” Rook spoke up, catching my attention. “I don’t know if you are serious about helping Master Solomon or not, but your stubborn refusal to simply die is commendable.” Looking over at him, Solomon’s right hoof stallion seemed completely focused on driving. However, he didn’t look tense or stressed in the least bit, or at least, not on the surface. It must be nice to exist like that.

“You know, if I wasn’t already so sick of being called a survivor, I’d be happy with that as a compliment.” I grunted and pressed myself further back against the plush padding of the driver’s bench. “I’m not here to make friends. I’m only in it for the job.”

“Ah yes, then we agree!” Rook gave a short laugh that made my eye twitch. Seriously? The only reason I wasn’t telling him to shut up right about now is because I had a feeling that if I did, I’d end up dead in a ditch alongside the highway. “Friendship only gets in the way of professionalism. There’s nothing more satisfying than a job well done, which is something I’ve heard most pegasi will heartily agree with.”

“Don’t generalize us.” I gave him the flattest deadpan that I could, which he of course didn’t notice because he was still focused on driving. But seriously, this wasn’t ‘share your thoughts hour’. Couldn’t I just have some goddess damned silence for the rest of this trip? “Besides, with the type of mentally unstable mercenaries that Solomon hires, it’s no wonder you have no friends.” Really, muzzle? Goddess damnit...

“You are correct. However, I have something better with Master Solomon.” Rook took his eyes off the road for just long enough to give me what amounted to probably the most genuinely thoughtful look he could. “I have family.”

“Hah!” Celestia help me, I couldn’t have stifled that laugh even if I had a hellhound sitting on my lungs. Still, my outburst pulled a frown from the stallion, but couldn’t pull his eyes back away from the road. “You can’t be serious, right?”

“I am always serious, especially when it comes to Master Solomon.” He gave a nod to himself as he wiggled back into the bench seat to make himself more comfortable. It was about that point that I’d realized the mistake in asking him a question. It was now storytime, with the only way out being dashing myself against the rocky, degraded pavement of the old highway, or throwing myself under the swiftly moving motorwagon tracks.

“You see, there’s a funny story I was told as a young foal, about how exactly I came to be in Solomon’s care.” He began, “My family has always belonged to the royal Saddle Arabian courts. My father was a humble butler before me, and my mother was one of the royal family’s best midwives. Normally, fraternization between slaves was forbidden, but my mother and father hid their relationship, and my mother’s developing pregnancy, from those who would put them to death over it. Yet, they knew there would come a point that they could hide my forming existence no longer, and they would be put to death.” Looking over to me, he cracked an oddly unsettling smile. “On a side note, I have heard that the Enclave wasn’t much different, was it? However, Violet routinely refused to talk about it with anyone other than Jess, so I am curious if it is at all true.”

“Sort of…?” Honestly, I didn’t know what he wanted me to say. Yes, the Enclave was as brutal at population control as Saddle Arabia? What the fuck did it matter now? The Enclave was gone, Violet was dead, and I could already fucking feel the pain in my eye socket flaring up again.

Almost on cue, I winced and hissed as the pain did in fact hit me, and I pressed my hoof against the socket again. It didn’t relieve as much of it as before, and it definitely didn’t feel as good as that health potion I’d had not too long ago, but it still helped. Fucking seriously, the sooner I get back and get some painkillers in my system, the better. All I have to do is get through this nightmare of a ride.

“Ah, I see. It is probably not so simple.” He gave a few nods before concerning himself with focusing on the road again. “As I was explaining, unfortunately, due to my… unforeseen arrival between my parents, my mother was not able to keep up her duties at the same time as one of the King’s wives was due to give birth. Her absence meant that there were complications in the process, and the mare unfortunately died. However, in the storage closet of a small room, I was born on both the same day, and in the same hour as Master Solomon Sabino was.”

“So… Solomon’s mother is dead?” While I didn’t care at all about any of this shit on a personal level, that was interesting to hear. While my mother wasn’t exactly somepony who took things easy on me as a young colt, I still loved her. I can’t imagine growing up without her around, and it goes a little ways into explaining why Solomon is the asshole he is today.

“Correct.” Rook nodded with more of a shallow tone about his words. “My parents’ lust cost the King and Master Solomon her life. In exchange, my parents gave my life to the King’s new son before they were executed. A selfish, unfair trade if I am to be honest. I should not exist simply for what I represent to the King and his sons.” He shifted his eyes over and glared at me. “Solomon has lived his entire life with me as his servant, with the knowledge that I am the very reason his mother is gone. I see him as not only my master, but as a brother. However, even so, I hide no amount of shame for what I am to him. I understand I would not exist if not for the selfishness of my parents, but I would willingly sacrifice anything in order to bring her back.”

Looking at the shiny metal tubing on his prosthetic leg, I couldn’t hide my own snarky smirk. “What, like a leg?” The words slipped out. Immediately after, I facehooved myself hard. Why, Night?

“This?” Rook to my surprise, laughed as his magic gripped around the cybernetic limb. With a ratcheting click, he twisted the leg off and floated it around in his magic. “Master Solomon was the one who took my original leg from me. He used his mid-afternoon training falchion after a few reassuring words. He is quite the accomplished sword stallion, I’ll have you know. His falchion was not the best of blades for the goal, mind you, but it got the job done well enough.”

“What!?” I nearly spat out. “You mean he just… lopped it off? Just like that? Why!?”

“Because,” Again, Rook gave an oddly comfortable chuckle for talking about lost limbs. “Master Solomon thought the idea of a cyborg butler was ‘cool’.” He let out a relaxed sigh as his magic brought his detached leg back around and secured it in place with a sharp click. “Ah, to be young, idiotic, and full of spunk again.”

“That… that’s just cruel.” Seriously? And he said that Solomon was like family to him!? “How could he just force that on you like that?”

“Force? Hardly.” Rook snorted and cocked an eyebrow at me. “You misunderstand. I was the one who proposed the idea to him in the first place.” Looking back down at the odd brass mechanical leg, he smiled lovingly at it in almost the same way I did when looking into Buck’s beautiful blue eyes. “And it’s turned out to be a most useful asset over the years.”

“How… could it possibly have been worth it?” Instinctively, I looked down at my own, nubby limb..

“Mr. Solomon's family is... quite large. The King does like his mares, and he has had many Bastards crop up over the years, including Master Solomon.” He grimaced as he spoke, showing the first signs of tenseness since we started on this little trip. “As you have no doubt heard from Miss Delilah, there is a great challenge for the throne from his many brothers. While he is of an admittedly illegitimate mother, Mr. Solomon was one of the eldest, so his claim to the throne is stronger than most. While his elder brothers have since been… knocked out of the running, I have personally fended off many attempts on his life sent by his younger brothers. In fact, I have fended off so many in recent years that they seemed to have stopped trying.” Giving another soft laugh, he relaxed again. “But assassins haven’t been a worry of mine for some time now. It has actually been nice to come out here to Equestria, and spend time far far away from the political charades of the kingdom.”

“So… if he’s the current heir, why the fuck is he here?” Again! Speaking without thinking, Night. How much longer did you want to listen to this shit? Or do you actually think there will be something useful to you in all this? Yeah, didn’t think so, so shut your goddess damned muzzle.

“Master Solomon believes that his father still might pass him over for the throne.” Rook glanced over to me with a passing moment of intrigue. Guess I asked an interesting question? “I wouldn’t expect you to understand, but only purebred Saddle Arabians have ever ruled the kingdom, and he believes that his father has no intention to let someone with mixed blood rule. Even if Solomon is mostly pure.”

“Huh,” I spoke, scrunching my muzzle in thought. Hispano had mentioned something about being ‘purebred’ or whatever. “what does that even mean?”

“Master Solomon’s surname is Sabino for a reason, you know.” He smirked and glanced over to me. He must have caught the whole ‘I don’t fucking get it’ look from me, because he cleared his throat and stiffened up again. “Master Solomon has white spotting in his coat. It is not a genetic trait that Saddle Arabians are known to carry. Only ponies do.”

Wait… Solomon has white spots? How the fuck is anypony supposed to know that when his coat is all white. The only distinguishing thing on his coat was that stupid black irregular star marking on his forehead. But no, that’s perfectly normal while he has invisible fucking white spots supposedly. Maybe they’re all just crazy, and that’s part of why he’s an asshole?

“So… he’s part pony? How and why is that bad?” I watched as Rook mulled over just how to answer that, deciding to go with a nod and a shrug at the same time. So his last name means he’s an outcast? Geez, it’s like playing connect the white fucking dots on why Solomon’s such a fantastically fun stallion to know! Seriously, did anyone I’ve run into so far have any sort of normalness to them? Or did the wasteland kill that off under the cloud cover two hundred years ago?

“Ponies are considered inferior to Saddle Arabians. Rightly so, as our own genetics are wildly unpredictable. Our offspring can often vary between races that may have been outside our families for generations. To partly have the lineage of a pony invokes great shame on even those Saddle Arabians outside the royal courts. So much so that Master Solomon prefers the surname of Roan, so you would do well to refer to him in the future as that.” Rook shook off the awkwardness that had filled the motorwagon and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. Still, he hadn’t answered my first question… “To answer your previous question,” of course, smartass, “Master Solomon wishes to present the Ark to his father as a ‘gift’, to show the potential he has to grow the kingdom as it’s future king.”

“It’s a bribe.” I said flatly.

You know what, I didn’t even care about how blunt that was. I heard the story, understood the background, and none of it changed the fact that I was still ‘working’ for the biggest bastard in the land. Which… actually works on two levels now that I think about it.

“While it isn’t the most… eloquent way to phrase it, it is an apt description.” He shrugged again before taking his hoof off the accelerator a bit. The motorwagon lurched forward slightly as it slowed itself. I was going to ask him what was going on when I looked ahead and found the words die in my throat. More than that, I was pretty sure I felt my jaw altogether hit the floor...

As the highway pulled out from the dense forests that had lined it for the majority of the trip, it curved slightly northward as it wound along a far running stretch of rocky beach. A placid lake stretched a mile across, reflecting the mid morning light that came off the rusty red mountains that ringed it’s southern, western, and northern banks. Dotted right in the middle of the north side of the lake, sat a lumpy and heavily forested Island that seemed far too untouched to be natural. While all of this was as stunning as the rest of the northern wasteland had been, it was not however, what had silenced me.

Along the northeastern shore, a dozen monolithic structures rose up sharply into the sky, sitting higher than some of the passing clouds, even! It… was just like the old wartime morale posters around Neighvarro depicted them, but so much greater. Like giant sets of scaffolding, the remains of the old world skyscrapers were an awesome sight to behold. Not only could I see ones taller than I’d have thought possible to build with steel, but there were dozens, maybe hundreds of smaller ones huddled around the bases of the massive, cloud touching structures.

It was like a mountain, but made entirely out of steel, concrete, and shattered glass. The further I looked out from the massive buildings, every so often, the ones around it would halve in height. From what must have been nearly a thousand feet for the tallest, to one's five or six hundred, to three hundred, down to buildings that were only five or six stories tall. But by the time they reached that height, I was looking miles away from the center of this place.

Mare’s Lake was big. Really big. In fact, I almost couldn’t believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it was. I’d thought Neighvarro had been annoying to get across everyday for school, but this was something else entirely! And Neighvarro was one, if not the biggest city in the Enclave! Compared to this, I don’t think Neighvarro could even be called a city. This… this was insane to think anypony could have ever lived in a place like this, let alone built it!

“What… what the hell is this place?” I almost didn’t hear myself as the words tumbled from my muzzle.

“This is Mare’s Lake, or more accurately, what’s left of it after the war.” Rook gave a dejected sigh as he let off the speed again. I looked over to him, confused at just how he acted like he couldn’t see the sheer size of the old world marvel before us. “I know, a dreadful city that I’d truly hoped I’d seen the last of. Then again, unfortunately most cities in the wasteland are that way.”

“What?” I blinked blankly a few times as that sunk in. Then, like an idiot, I opened my muzzle again. “There are more places like this?”

“My word, you didn’t have cities like this above the clouds?” Rook scoffed as he looked over at me expectantly. When I didn’t have an accurate way to tell him we didn’t have mountains of concrete and steel in the clouds, he snirked and covered his muzzle. “Oh my, you really didn’t. How quaint! Now I’m quite curious as to how you will react to a larger city like the Cantercross ruins.” Wait, larger!? I didn’t even care that he was insulting me, my mind was too busy being blown by the fact that there could be even larger cities than this.

“Oh, I’m glad master Solomon didn’t kill you.” Rook gave a sharp laugh as he pulled us to a complete stop alongside the road. “As you said, he always has an eye out for the odd ones.” Dropping his smile to a more ‘professional’ and disappointingly familiar blank expression, he stared at me. “Now that we’re close, it’s time you take over driving. I will give you directions as we approach, but I will be hidden in the rear seat the whole time.” With a flash of his magic, Rook swapped places with me, and I found that he’d leveled his large rifle right at the back of my head again. “Don’t try anything funny. Follow the plan, and await contact from one of Solomon’s messengers in the future.”

With another flash, Rook disappeared from the driver’s bench, and I heard his hooves moving around in the passenger compartment behind the divider. You know, I already regret even thinking this, but I liked it when the stallion holding me hostage was a bit more friendly. Still, I put my hooves up on the steering wheel and pressed my rear hoof down on the accelerator pedal. The motorwagon lurched as I got us rolling faster, and I found my eyes locked on the massive sprawling city again.

It was time to head home.

From the elevated highways and off-ramps that crisscrossed the decaying old city, I still almost couldn’t comprehend its size. From up close, I could see the complex organization of the steel structures, with entire blocks dedicated to three or four of the massive standing buildings. However, as the two broken off-ramps I nearly drove us off had alluded to, the idea of an organized layout only went as far as the highways themselves.

I’d eventually had to backtrack almost a mile, pulling us down an off-ramp that led through what seemed to have once been a thriving apartment district. The old buildings still stood imposingly tall, like sentries watching over the streets. However, the buildings that had most likely once housed dozens of families, now sat burned out, boarded up, and all but abandoned. Scattered, mountainous debris and collapsed buildings cluttered the trash ridden roads, while gunshots and shouting from somewhere not too far in the distance beat out the rumbling motorwagon engine a few times.

Thank Celestia for motorwagons, because this would have been days worth of walking for anypony without wings. Or for those who had wings, but weren’t ‘blessed’ with fuller feathers than others. Still, for being held at gunpoint, I was at least thankful that I got to ride this far in the first place.

Though, if not for the guiding words of Rook from behind me, I’d have been lost in all but a few minutes. All the streets and buildings around here were different, but blended together to give the feeling of sameness. It wasn’t until Rook navigated us down a street that held a large roundabout that I even knew we weren’t just driving in circles. I don’t know how he knows where we’re going, but I was beginning to feel daunted by the scale of this city, and we hadn’t even made it back toward the towering behemoth skyscrapers yet…

It took us another half hour to get to the outskirts of what Rook had called ‘downtown’., and it was there that I’d finally caught sight of something that could be considered civilization again. A marketplace of tents and merchant ponies had been set up in front of what at one point had been ‘Heartmend Memorial Hospital’, or so the faded sign still hanging from it said. Funny, as bad as Destruction Bay looked, Mare’s Lake as a whole didn’t look like it had been hit all that hard on the last day.

Sure, a lot of the buildings were burned out and decaying, but… none of the skyscrapers had toppled. Past that, none of the streetlamps, motorwagons, or even old iron fencing had been melted or knocked down as I’d seen examples of in the old megaspell test films. It made me uneasy to be honest, and I couldn’t help but feel like this city was somewhat out of place. While I still couldn’t comprehend the sheer size of this place, I felt like the thousands of glass-less windows around me held just as many eyes watching my every move. The actual dozens of eyes staring at us from the Hospital market of course didn’t help either.

“Woah, stop us here.” Rook spoke up sharply. I felt the barrel of his rifle slip from the back of my neck as he leaned forward. However, I did as he asked, and pulled us to as stop. “Turn off the car. Now.”

Rolling my eyes, I twisted the small silver key in the dashboard. The archano engine gave off a whine and a small puff of steam floated out from the exhaust pipes that ended just short of the drivers doors. However, while the whine from the engine trailed off, another sound droned on, pulling not just my ear to it, but the ears of everypony in the market.

It was a soft buzzing noise, like that of a bug buzzing around your head. However, it had to be one hell of a large bug to reverberate it’s sounds through the canyons of steel before us. A sharp ringing from the market struck up as a pony tugged at a copper bell that had been hung on a post. Panic hit the market as the noise grew even louder, and was shortly joined by a the familiar sound of a pair of old flappy sounding vertibuck engines.

As the ponies in the market took cover in various places, the now tremendous buzzing sound pulled my head toward the massive labyrinth of skyscrapers ahead of us. Like an arrow, a bright white object shot out from between the enormous buildings. Black smoke and fire trailed behind a wide winged, bulbous aircraft that buzzed noisily through the air.

Skyraiders.

It was followed by another two similar objects, each of which peeled off in different directions as they hit the open skies away from the mass of buildings. It was a textbook aerial maneuver that I’d seen performed a dozen times at all the Enclave parades, designed to converge two fliers on the tail of whatever was chasing the lead pony. However, I knew that sound, and if it was a Vertibuck following them, there was no way they’d fall for a novice trick like that.

I curled my forehooves around the steering wheels as my heart beat a little bit faster in anticipation. Still… if it was a Vertibuck, it was either going far slower than normal, or it was about ready to give up the chase overall. I held my breath when I saw that the two other buzzing craft had almost maneuvered to cut across the steel canyons. The thumping engines of the pursuing vehicle grew to a roar as the lead buzzing aircraft passed overhead. Looking up, I realized that the odd buzzing vehicle had a crazed pony strapped into a seat just in front of the crude jet engine that sat bolted to the contraption.

An unfathomably thick burst of tracers streaked from between the steel towers ahead, completely perforating the lead vehicle. The spray of yellow and red automatic fire chattered through the air, shaking me even in my seat. The skyraider craft above exploded in a blast that shook the windshield of the motorwagon hard enough that I’d thought it would shatter. But my eyes were glued on the edge of the buildings as what had definitely not been a Vertibuck shot out from them.

It’s size rivaled the Skycaptain’s seaplane from the Inuvik, and it too had a semi-gull winged design to it, though hardly as pronounced. A single heavy radial engine embedded under each of it’s wings hammered the beastly plane through the skies on what sounded like brute force alone. The wide, H shaped tail was an odd choice, but the massive control surfaces gave the pilot unparalleled maneuverability for it’s size as the two other buzzing aircraft closed in.

Streaks of bright tracers spit out from the top, back, and even the sides of the flying machine, eviscerating the two remaining skyraiders before the massive beast shot over our heads and thundered away in a wide banking turn eastward. I’d seen demonstrations of Vertibuck gunships before, but nothing had come close to packing this amount of omni-directional firepower other than a Raptor. Cheers and jubilant celebration erupted from the crowds at the hospital market, many of them jumping and laughing as flaming debris crunched down only blocks away from us all.

“Just what in the hell was that thing?” I found myself asking what should have been a rhetorical question, if not for the fact I had the world's most dangerous dictionary along in the back seat.

“A toy of those power armored toasters over at Galloway. They like to parade it around now and again to remind the ponies of this city that they’re still around. Skyraider buzzbombers kill themselves anyway, so they didn’t do anything other than waste good caps and ammo with this little show of force.” Rook spoke with a disdain that I hadn’t quite heard from him before. However, before I could ask, he pressed the gun back up against my head. “But it’s nothing you should concern yourself with. Now that we aren’t about to be skyraider buzz-bombed, I’d like to continue on our way. This is already taking longer than I’d like.”

Longer than he’d like? I wasn’t the one who was dragged around for the last three or four days. Granted, I’d been the one who’d gone after and failed to kill Galina. But still, he could stand to have at least as much patience as I’ve had with this shit so far.

Annoyedly, I twisted the key on the dashboard and put the car back into gear. At the very least, I was closer to getting back to the others, and away from the psychopath in the back seat. That is, barring any more pauses for odd aerial battles to play out of course…

Fortunately, there weren’t any more skyraider-themed interruptions as I was back-seat navigated through the rest of the old world city. Funny enough, it didn’t look like I’d expected from the ground. What had seemed like wondrous architectural marvels from afar, now felt like enormous charred and burnt headstones. Even with as much as I wanted to look at them, my eyes were glued to the rubble cluttered streets as we crawled along. It took us another half hour, but we finally pulled up into what looked like a rail yard at the lakeside edge of downtown.

A tremendous wall of concrete filled the gaps between a few of the nearby office buildings, and a large scrap metal door sat open before us. Two different pairs of ponies sat perched atop the walls, one team of which aimed an old rocket launcher at us as we approached. Thoughts of what happened in Leachate clouded my mind as we rolled into the settlement.

What would the others say about what I’d done? Do I even tell them? Could I ever tell Buck that my actions got an innocent colt and his father killed? No, it would be better if they never found out.

“Alright,” Rook spoke softly, finally pulling his gun from my head. “Leave the motorwagon somewhere out of sight from the convoy once they know you’re back. And remember, you work for Master Solomon now. Don’t test his patience.”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it.” I waved him off, and was happy to hear the slight pop his magic gave when he teleported away. The moment he was gone, I felt like I could finally breathe again. The muscles in my body relaxed, and a dull throbbing pain took over. Everywhere on me started to hurt again, but I was finally safe.

Looking ahead into the settlement, I found a remarkable amount of ponies walking around carrying things about. From steel beams, to rusted junk, to carts loaded with boxes of old world food, hundreds of ponies worked at loading up different boxcars that were littered around the settlement. Railroad tracks, signals, and electrical wires ran every which way across the whole town. This place looked to be about twice the size of ‘End of the Line’ station, but twice as busy as well.

Hundreds of different kinds of railcars were strewn together on more than just a few of the lines. There were three separate train engines parked inside the separated stalls of a large round garage sort of thing near the back of the whole complex... which was sitting between me and what looked like an old wooden sailing ship at the other end of the settlement, for some reason? Regardless of what a ship was doing in a trainyard, all the way on the opposite end from where I was, sat the enormous parked form of Bertha.

My heart rate jumped, and I pressed down on the accelerator to get myself moving a bit faster again. The clinking of the motorwagon tracks as they climbed up and over the many sets of rails around here made me cringe. More than a few ponies yelled at me and covered their ears as the steel tracks ground against the rails, filling the air with an awful squealing noise. But I wasn’t bothered by it. Between the pain I felt in my body, and the sight of home, I was the most focused pony in the world right now.

Too focused perhaps, as I approached another fanning set of tracks with ponies actively working on fixing it. I almost didn’t stop before rolling right into a few ponies wearing Road Crew outfits. One of them yelled an obscenity that was lost as I put the motorwagon in reverse and maneuvered around the group.

A high pitched whistle filled the air as one of the trains in the round garage-looking place ahead of me sent out a huge burst of steam. The engine was old, and looked more like one of the ones out of my history book, with a long, dark green cylindrical body and a tall smokestack at the front of it. I pulled the Motorwagon over the tracks it was headed for and made sure to keep out of it’s way.

The gruff looking mare hanging her head out of the pilot's window was covered in soot, and her bloodshot brown eyes glared at me as the train chugged past. Following behind it, was a large cart filled with stacks of chopped wood, which another pony was drawing from to feed into the engine.

Again, I hadn’t focused on driving, and almost ended up running into somepony. However, as they jumped onto the hood to avoid getting squished under the steel death machine, I turned and found myself staring at a very familiar pegasus. Salt’s form was just the same as I’d remembered it being in Four Peaks, not having changed a single bit. The angry look he wore disappeared in an instant, and the words caught in his throat died as he looked at me.

It was… odd to see his reactions as he looked over me. It was a flood of emotions, starting with anger again, moving to shock, then horror, before finally landing on disgust. Without a word, he turned and flared his wings. Kicking off, he took flight into the air above before I could even react.

I thought Hardcase said he was going to die here, but it seems like he’s fine to me.

Another slam on the hood startled me. The whole of the motorwagon shook with the hit, as the pristine hood crumpled slightly under the weight of a white coated griffon as it came down. The barrel of a combat pistol was leveled at the windshield, held in the albino talons of Hispano’s father. The flat expression across his face cracked as his eyes met mine, and the grasp on his gun loosened.

“Night…?” His words sounded muffled through the windshield, but even so, his suspicious gaze into the interior of the vehicle didn’t soften. Slowly, he pushed himself off of the motorwagon’s hood, and made his way around to the driver side door. “What the hell happened to you. We all thought you were dead.” He grumbled as he threw the door open and stood with his talon pointed for me to scoot over.

“It’s a long story.” I sighed and did as he asked, scooting myself across the bench. As he climbed inside and took over at the steering wheel, he eyed over the numerous new scars that Galina had given me, including my empty eye socket.

“Yeah, well you’re lucky I’m willing to listen after what you fucking did.” The disdain in his words was thicker than syrup, and more bitter than the beer I’d had a sip of what feels like ages ago now.

“Oh, after what I did?” I laughed as I blurted out shit that should have stayed in my head. “Galina killed Violet, and I’m the one who’s done something wrong. Got it.” Seriously, he doesn’t even know what it took to get back here at all.

“You nearly destroyed my little girl by disappearing like that, so you’re damn right you fucked up!” Cora snapped and held up his quivering, balled up talon. “If you weren’t already in such bad shape, I’d beat some respect into that muzzle of yours.” Throwing the motorwagon into drive, he got us moving again as he fumed in silence. However, as we traveled, I could see him get more and more fidgety in his seat.

A sharp pain in my empty eye socket made me cringe and cup it again. As it had before, the pressure on it seemed to numb the pain a bit, but not by much. My forehooves felt weak, and I gave out a shiver as the spike of pain passed once again. Giving out a few soft breaths, I closed my eyes and pressed back against the plush seat under me.

“Alright, hold on. I may want to smack you, but you look like you’ve been through the wringer already.” Cora grumbled before rummaging around in the messenger bag he wore around him. With a nod, he drew out a syringe and looked at me. “I know that you probably went through a lot of shit with Solomon to get back here, but Buck’s going to want to look over you the moment he gets back. But, seeing as you’re driving Solomon’s ride, I’m going to assume that you’re going to want to talk to Delilah first.” He eyed me as I nodded, wincing as the stinging in my head peaked sharply. “For now though, some Med-X will help with the pain until he can fix whatever the fuck is wrong with you, alright?”

“Alright.” I sighed. Well, at least the pain I’d been stuck with was one worry that I wouldn’t have on my mind for the moment. Now if only there was a way to inject away the pain of actually explaining myself to Buck, Hispano, and worst of all, Delilah. The small prick that I felt on my shoulder made me wince, but as I had when Rook had finally left, I felt myself relax again. This time, the world spun away, and I fell into a painless, restful nap.

Unfortunately for me, that nap didn’t last all too long. The dull feeling of a prick in my hoof brought back the world after what felt like only a moment. Immediately I found my nose assaulted by the thick perfume that coated Delilah’s bed. Wait, how did I get here? The feeling of it’s comfortable plush surface under me, along with the flickering buzz that came from the light in her room, filled me with a conflicting sense of relief and dread.

“Thank you, Cora.” Delilah’s voice was sharper than I’d expected it to be. “Please, do me a favor and keep the others from coming up for now if they return from their errands. I would like some time to sort things out first without distractions. In fact, wait until we’re finished here. Then I want you to go find Happy, who’s probably drunk at the bar again, or at whatever whorehouse is in this dump.” She was angry, but she had every right to be. I know I would be if I’d thought Hispano had died, only to show up days later looking how I did. Still, I had to hope that she could forgive me.

I perked my ear as Cora left the container, and Delilah moved to lock the door behind him. Part of me wanted to sneak a peek to see just how angry she looked. However, my mind conjured the image of a steaming mad Delilah pointing a gun to my head, but as much as I deserved that, I knew that wasn’t going to be the case. Still, I laid as motionless as I could, waiting for her to speak up first. I felt as her forehoof reached out to the bed, and I could feel her as she snorted at me.

“Get up.” Delilah snapped only a moment before the world began to tumble. I only managed a whimper as I crashed down onto her floor. Finally opening my one eye, I was met with a fuzzy, but clear enough image of her stoic gaze set on me, and the bedsheets currently curled around her forehoof. Even though my vision was still a bit unfocused, I could see just how stressed Delilah was. Her mane was beyond a frazzled mess, and her smudged glasses sat slightly canted on the end of her muzzle. “I’m not going to tell you how much you fucked up this time, Night. No, we’re way past that.”

As I sat there on the floor, she cast the end of the sheets from her forehoof. She kept her gaze on me, letting the air fall into a dead silence between us again. But still, even as I didn’t answer as the quiet sunk in, she kept her look trained on me, watching, waiting for an answer. But I knew Delilah well enough to know that speaking out would only bury what little trust I had left with her. So more than anything, I bit my tongue, and waited in silence.

“To be completely fucking honest,” She finally continued, “the only reason you’re here right now, is that with Violet dead, I still need all the fliers I can get on my crew. And as much as you betrayed every bit of trust I put into you, Night, I can’t afford to go vetting any other Enclave children to take on this trip.” Again, she paused to gauge my response.

She was right. This may not be the unrealistic images of hatred that my mind had thought up before, but it was still everything I deserved to hear. So I simply kept my ears perked and listened to her.

“Fucking damnit. It was bad enough we lost Violet, but you too? Not even the full might of the ministry could have saved the morale of this fucking crew.” She sighed as she collapsed onto her haunches. Her frizzy mane drooped as she hung her head, and she gave out a slight tremble along her body. “Cora’s been unfocused because Hispano had a mental breakdown. Hardcase has gone missing, and I’m worried that we just won’t ever hear from him again. The Doc’s been working himself to the bone at the local clinic just to keep his mind off of losing you. Lucky’s still too injured to be of any use, and he’s kept Gearbox from focusing on any of his tasks. Boiler and Howitzer are about the only two to have kept level heads with everything, but that’s just how they deal with shit like these last few days.”

“And I’m tired, Night.” Slowly, she gazed back up at me, and I swear that I’d never seen Delilah look this way. There wasn’t any tenseness about her anymore, nor was there any anger. All that she displayed was exhaustion and sorrow. “I didn’t want any more bullshit. No more complications on this fucking trip. But you’re still alive, which means that maybe you’ve learned something from all this. So you know what? You’re going to fix things by going out and getting this crew back together. Before you do that though, I just want to know two simple things, and then you can go. What happened, and how did you get back.”

“I went after Galina, fought her, and lost.” I looked over the scars on my chest, and the stitched gash up my leg and cutie mark. “She took me back to Solomon. I offered to work for him, telling him I could get the book. I lied to him and said what I had to so that I could get back here.” Hoofing up at my mother’s dog tags, I pressed their cold metal against my fur, barely feeling it through the numbing medicine that Cora had given me. “He’ll attempt to reach out and contact me with instructions, like he was doing with Violet.”

“Alright.” She said with a slow nod before getting up to her hooves slowly. “With your return, I’m extending our stay here by a day. You have until then to get the crew morale back into shape, and to procure yourself new weapons. But you’ll be paying for them yourself this time.” With labored steps, Delilah walked slowly across her room, and slumped into the chair behind her desk. “Leave me, now.” She grunted. “I will send for you if I need you.”

Getting to my hooves, I wobbled for a moment, unsteady as I became a bit light headed. Hobbling toward the door, I avoided any eye contact with her. That… could have gone better. But then again, it could have been a whole lot worse. I unlatched the lock on the door and swung it open.

“And Night?” She called out, forcing me to stop midstep. “Don’t cause any more trouble.”

Closing the door as I hobbled out, I took a moment to just breathe and press the dog tags against my neck again.

Delilah has no idea what I’d sacrificed to get back, what I could have done if I’d only hoofed these over to Solomon. But that wouldn’t help anypony. No, I deserved all of that, and then some. And if anything, it proved the point that I needed to be forward with everypony else on the crew when I saw them again.

I know I’d just thought it would be better to hide what I did to get back here, but... I needed to be straight, at least with with Buck. I both wanted and needed to tell him everything. How I was selfish to go after Violet, how I blew up the doctor and got the sheriff and his son killed. Most of all, I needed to tell him how sorry I was for putting him through the hell he’s currently still in.

“Here.” Cora’s voice came from the open door to Buck and I’s container. With a lob, he tossed my prosthetic leg over to me. “Put it on. We’ve got work to do.”

“Right.” I nodded and sighed, looking at the metal leg in my hooves. There was a good amount of scuffing on the white cup, and the leg had been bent slightly where it had been struck by something from the junk cannon. However, as I slipped it onto my stump, it was the only part of me that felt like nothing in the last few days had changed about my life. “Okay, let’s go find Happy.”

Climbing to my hooves, I watched as Cora shook his head and walked over to me. Grabbing me by the scruff of my neck, he dragged me across the rec area. Before I could ask what the fuck he was doing, he shot me a glare as stern as any of Delilah’s could be.

“Yeah, that little fucker can wait for now.” He grumbled as he used a single talon to ‘persuade’ me to climb up onto the railing over the crumpled remains of Laika’s capsule. “You and I? First, we’re going to go fix what you did to my daughter.” Taking his talon off me, I was left for a moment to balance precariously on the thin railing. His talons ran along my sides and forced my wings out. “Wings open, eyes up, and don’t lag behind.” With a jump and a stiff beat of his wings, he took off onto the air.

Looking up, I took a deep breath and jumped as well. Time to get back to work.

I followed Cora across the railyard settlement, coming down from the air in front of an old multi-story house. The scraps of wood and steel it had been built out of looked to be the same size and shape that most of the train tracks themselves were made of, which made sense at least. However, rather than a sensible coat of paint, colorful graffiti art had been scrawled across almost every single inch of the fair sized building. Some of it, while vulgar and lewd, did seem to have a good sense of anatomy and proportion at least…

Cora wasted no time once we’d landed in stomping up to the door and throwing it open. The sounds of socializing ponies inside escaped through the entrance, as well as a hefty cloud of smoke. A horrifically unsettling and pungent stench followed it, and had to pinch my nose shut as we approached. A bloodshot-eyed pony stumbled past Cora with a grin plastered across his face, and I’d begun to wonder just what Hispano was doing here. Still, I trotted through the door, following Cora as he approached what looked to be a pony with a multitude of horns growing from their head.

However, as my eyes adjusted to the dim, smoky interior, I found that I was staring at a very relaxed looking deer. His yellow stained antlers sprouted into a multitude of different tips, each one with a different sort of ornament hanging from it. A small bottle of pills, a wax wrapped packet, an inhaler with a rainbow substance inside of it, and a mesh bag full of caps, were just a few of the odd bits and bobs on his horns.

“Hey, like, welcome to the smokehouse.” The deer gave a stiff laugh before pointing to a few of the doors across the open common area.

The inside of this place was fairly sparsely decorated, but the majority of the center area of the main room was taken up by a mound of pillows not unlike Madame Mystic’s room had been. However, instead of a creepy zebra ghoul, a dozen ponies were laid out across the pillows, looking as relaxed as I wished I was right now. Other than that, a set of rickety looking stairs sat in the back corner, leading upwards to what I could only assume were more rooms.

“If you brought your own chems, Dash is on the left,” He continued, “Buck is on the right, high strength relaxants like med-x and chill are straight across, while Mint-al’s are in the basement.” He paused for a moment, looking confused before going wide eyed. “Oh yeah, and the main room here is for if you want to do Wave with us. Just hop on in, the surf’s fiiiiine...” He stretched out his speech, merging it with the overly relaxed sigh and look he gave. Somehow he started to look even more relaxed than he had before, and that was really starting to bug me. “And of course, if you didn’t bring your own, I’ve got plenty of chems to choose from.”

While I couldn’t quite be sure because I’d never followed Gearbox into any of the places he’d visited while in a settlement, I was getting the distinct impression that this was a drug den. Seriously, what the fuck would Hispano be doing here? She never really seemed interested in drugs at all, and even had once remarked on patrol about how Gearbox could better spend his caps on other things. Maybe… she’s working a job? I mean, with me gone, she’d probably want to find another employer...

Squinting for a moment at Cora’s unphased expression, the deer gave another short laugh.

“Woah, you totally look like this bird I sold some shit to earlier.” Reaching back behind him, he produced a small packet of white looking tabs wrapped in wax paper. “Maybe you want to buy some chill too? I get my shit straight from Mr. Wizard’s runners, so you know it’s gotta be good.”

“No.” Cora remarked flatly. “I’m not here for more drugs, I’m looking for my daughter.”

“Oh, wait here and I’ll see if my manager knows if she’s in one of the rooms.” The deer gave a slight smile before bounding off into the central pillow pile with a lazy flop.

“Why the hell do places like this even exist?” I muttered under my breath as I looked over to Cora. I didn’t understand what enjoyment Gearbox found in all the drugs he took, but from what I understood of his life before joining Delilah, I could sort of excuse it. However from the look of all of them, I was hard pressed to believe that all of these ponies even held any job at all.

“While they are filled with a bunch of useless lowlifes,” Cora grumbled, keeping his attention to scanning his gaze across the open room. “These places sell quality medical chems, and generally for a better price than you can find at an actual clinic or market. They also have the benefit of being a safe space for anypony. These places are places of healing, and everypony knows that you don’t start trouble here. Those who run these establishments welcome anypony who comes here to recover or have ‘fun’.”

“Really?” I cocked my eyebrow at him, getting him to finally give a glance over at me. Well, there goes my ‘she was hired by somepony here’ theory. “Then what the hell is Hispano even doing here?”

“Recovering from the pain of losing you.” His sharp words cut deep, and I gave out an annoyed huff.

“Look, I’m sorry I went after Galina.” I closed my eye and took a few deep breaths. “If I had known how it would have affected everyone, maybe I would have had a bit more restraint.” Opening my eye again, I turned my gaze back to the pillow pile and found the deer wriggling his way out of it.

“It’s not me who you have to convince of that.” Cora sighed as he fidgeted his wings on his back and took a deep breath.

“So like, my manager totally remembers seeing a bird heading upstairs.” The deer spouted as he cantered back over towards us. Taking a seat in front of us, the ornaments tied to him clacked against his rack of horns. “She’s probably with the rest of the fliers getting hiiiigh on the top floor doing Loft.” He leaned back sharply as he focused on stretching out his enunciation once again. I was beginning to question if this guy was really ‘all there’, and I was becoming incredibly glad I’d never visited one of these places before...

Without even giving him another moment, Cora trotted across the room toward the stairs. However, when I moved to follow, I was stopped as the deer pressed his forehoof on my chest for a moment. He canted his head at me as his relaxed smile widened.

“Yo, girl, you look like you’ve been through some nasty shit.” He had the subtlety of a crashing vertibuck when he was speaking, glaring at my empty eye socket. “Get this, I’ve got some shit to help with the pain,” Flicking his forehoof, he produced a small white pill between the cloves of his hoof. “Have this, on the house. Guaranteed to take all of the pain away.”

Almost as if he’d dared it to, the pain in my socket flared up again, and I reflexively gasped out and pressed my hoof against it again. As I gasped however, he gave a swift flick and amazingly tossed the small tab straight down my throat. I gave a choking cough for a moment before I reflexively swallowed it.

“What the hell.” I growled at him as I managed to take a few deep breaths again. A static feeling ran through me befor a dulling ebb washed over me, and completely took away all the aches and pains in my body. Was… that the drug kicking in? Wow, that works fucking quick.

“Just enjoy it! Chill is great stuff.” The deer laughed, giving me a pat on the side. “And if you do like it, or maybe want something a little softer like some wave, swing around again later and I’ll totally hook you up, babe.” He gave a lazy wink before turning off and prancing back into the pillow pile.

“Night.” Cora snapped from across the room. “Quit dawdling and get over here.” Looking over, I found him sharply pointing his talon up the stairs.

With a roll of my eye, I trotted around the pile of zonked out druggies. The old wooden steps creaked and bowed under the combined weight of Cora and I as we climbed them. The second floor didn’t look to be anything other than a simple hallway with four doors in it. However, Cora pressed onward down the hall, heading straight for the stairwell at the end of it that lead even further up.

I’d made sure to mind the step that had a board missing entirely from it halfway up the next set of stairs. Even moreso, I’d made sure to glance away from the odd scene of a pair of ponies making out from through the hole where the missing step had once been. Reaching the top, Cora and I found ourselves confronted by a large, rusted steel door with the words ‘Loft Room’ poorly spray painted across it. It was a far cry from the graffiti outside, and instantly shot my mind back to standing outside the ‘wreck room’ back on the Inuvik.

And just like that, I felt numb again. I don’t know if it was the meds that had been literally forced down my throat, or the crushing fear that bubbled up inside me. Much like I had now a dozen times over in the past few weeks, I was standing outside a door with no idea what I’d find inside, what to do when I went in. Or more importantly, what to even say to Hispano about what I’d done.

But just like every time before, I reached out ahead of me, took the handle in my hoof, and opened up the door.

Pulling the old rusted door open, an avalanche of fluffy white clouds pressed out and enveloped both Cora and I. Unlike the wafty drug smoke from downstairs, this was actual, substantial, thick-enough-to-stand-on cloud, pouring out of the third story room. Soft, white, and cool to the touch, I blinked a few times before I smiled a bit. It’d been forever since I’d felt clouds this thick and comforting, at least… the last time I could remember them was when we lived back in Neighvarro.

“Like, in or out.” A relaxed voice called out ahead of us through the room. “You’re letting all the best clouds escape.”

Cora stepped forward, or at least who I was pretty sure was Cora as I couldn’t see a damn thing. I followed, pressing myself forward as the door swung closed on it’s own behind us. The bungee cord that pulled it shut gave a soft twang as it smacked me in the flank a bit, coaxing me to step forward even further. The difference in air pressure the door caused curled the clouds out from around me, carving a hole into the open room ahead.

The room ahead wasn’t all that big, but it was lined almost floor to ceiling, and wall to wall with more of the luxurious white clouds. However, only where Cora and I stood seemed to have the thinnest layer. No furniture or furnishings lay around us at all, and odder than that, no ponies even seemed to be in here at all. As the air in the room calmed down again, some of the clouds above us thinned and bowed down towards us, and after a moment, I could look up and sort of see through them.

“Well, would ya’ look at that…” A neon green coated mare laughed as she sat in a chair… that was upside down on the clouded ceiling itself. She took a long puff on what looked like some sort of hose that was attached to a hub of a jar with a dozen similar hoses snaking out into the clouds around it. The mare took in a shorter breath before exhaling again, producing a small fluffy cloud that floated about of it’s own free will. “Always good to see some new faces in here.” She smiled and leaned back, er… up into her chair.

My mind was still trying to process just how she was sitting upside down when another hoof moved next to her. This one belonged to a charcoal colored mare with a bright yellow mane who wasn’t even in a chair, but still somehow pinned up to the ceiling. She grabbed at the hose and put it to her muzzle, taking a draw off it as well before pointing the brass tapered tip of it to Cora and I.

“Welco...” The mare began to say before she nearly choked on the cloud in her throat. Giving a few hacks, she laughed as a deformed cloud shot from her muzzle and landed wetly on the floor next to us. “Sorry.” She wiped at her smiling muzzle before hoofing the hose at us again. “You two come to get high with us, or what?”

I was still too confused to know if that was supposed to be a pun or not, but Cora responded for the both of us.

“No. I’m here for my Daughter.” Cora groaned and smacked his face. Dragging his tallon across his beak, he glanced at me as a question came up in my mind.

“What the hell is even going on here, Cora?” I asked, again getting a deadpan from my question. He gave a dismissive shake of his head and looked to the mares, opening his beak to speak to them again, but my muzzle beat him to it. “I know what you’d said, but I’m just trying to understand why there are ponies on the fucking ceiling before I screw something up, alright?”

“Woah,” The first mare gave an astonished gasp. “Like, you’ve never had Loft before?”

“What the fuck is ‘Loft’?” Now it was my question that made Cora smack himself again.

“What the fuck did I do to deserve you?” He sighed before sitting himself down hard. “Look, it was a wartime drug meant to help injured ponies who didn’t have the strength to walk again. It’s magically amplified helium, and makes the user’s body lighter than air. There, happy?” He raised his talon, pointing up. “If this craptastic roof breaks here? All these assholes are going to go floating high enough into the sky to freeze to death. That, or the drug wears off and they fall like a rock.”

Right. Don’t destroy the ceiling or you kill a whole room filled with ponies. I’d say that’s easy enough to avoid, but knowing my curse...

“No need to be a total bummer, dude.” The charcoal mare rolled her eyes before going back to sucking on the end of the hose. “You just need to chill out and get high with us, that’ll clear your worries about it.”

“Again, looking for my Daughter, that’s all. She’s a griffon, like me, so that should give you enough of a hint.” He went back to addressing the mares on the ceiling. "I know she’s here, so there’s no use covering for her." From the corner of the cloud lined room, a particularly large lump of cloud started to shift. There was a sharp squeak as the sound of a scuffle was followed by annoyed whispers. But after a moment, the commotion died down again. “Fine, here’s some incentive. Ten caps to the pony who pushes her out into the open.”

"Dad, what the hell are you doing here?” Hispano groaned almost lazily from inside the clouded corner. She sounded... off. Different than she had just a few days ago. Hispano was always so cheery, she always had so much energy to her. However, this… hardly sounded like the griffon I’d grown to know, even though I knew it was her voice. “I told you, you're such a buzzkill and to just leave me alone." Hispano sighed before there was the sound of a scuffle. "Hey, what are you doing! Just... chill... ah!" With a jiggle, one of the sides of the cloud bulged out for a moment before Hispano's upside down form was tossed out of it. She amazingly floated up and smacked against the clouded roof with a meaty thump.

"Ten caps. Pay up, old man." The soft chuckle and relaxed tone of the pony speaking reminded me of Gearbox, even using that odd word again. But as Cora moved to do as he asked, my mind stopped paying attention to anything other than Hispano.

She looked thinner than she had before. Her feathers were in need of a major preening, and the matting on her furred lower half was caked with dirt and grime. She looked exactly like I felt, battered and in dire need of some TLC. Reaching over, she took a deep draw off of one of the hoses connected to the jar thing next to the first mare we saw. The relaxed, coughing giggle that came out of her as she crawled amongst the clouded ceiling just sat so wrong with me. Her tail flicked, and she used her talons to draw hearts in the side of the cloud, ignoring both Cora and I entirely.

“Come here, Hispano.” Cora sharply barked, making Hispano lock up, even if only momentarily. “We're going back to the convoy.”

"Fuck off dad. You don't get me, so just leave me alone so I can finally have some fun." Looking over at the two of us, Hispano's bloodshot eyes twitched as she tried to focus on me. However, she gave a huff that spilled out a tiny cloud before turning around and disappearing inside the corner cloudmass again.

She... looked right at me, and didn't even hesitate to go back in there? I think it was about then that I truly understood the scope of how things had affected the whole crew. This… was a lot worse than I’d expected. Sure it wasn’t the same thing I’d imagined hearing from the others, but to be treated like I wasn’t even here anymore? How far gone had Hispano gotten?

"See what you did to her?" Cora sighed and pinched the bridge of his beak with his talons. "You're going to fix this right fucking now. Understand?"

“Hispano?” I sighed, sitting myself down as well. “I need you to come talk to me. I need to apologize. For chasing Galina, for disappearing… for everything.”

"Ugh!" She gave out a muffled, aggravated groan. "I told the last hallucination to fuck off. Why don't any of you get it? Just leave me alone!"

"I told you there was too much Nitro in this batch.” The muffled voice of a mare came through the corner cloud next to Hispanos. “Should have kept in more Helium when the talismans did their thing."

"Shut up, Flake. Nobody cares about your stupid..." There was another scuffling sound before Hispano was pushed back outside the cloud and onto the ceiling again. "The hell was that for!?"

“Well.” The mare cleared her throat for a moment as Hispano rubbed at her flank a bit. "Cloudburst and I have decided that until you chill out a bit, we're just going to have some fun alone."

With a quick tug of her bright orange hooves, the mare inside sealed the hole Hispano had made in the cloud, leaving the distraught looking griffon drearily sprawled out on the fluffy ceiling. However, that defeated look didn't last for long as she pushed herself up stiffly. Turning around, she stomped her way upside down across the ceiling towards me, and came to a stop just inches from my face. The focus of her bloodshot eyes strained to resolve as she wobbled uneasily on her legs.

Again, I felt pain resonate through me, but not from my eye. No, this time I hurt because of how much Hispano hurt. Her eyes were watering as she looked at me, and she trembled slightly as she studied over me. I wanted nothing more than to just reach out and hug her, but before all that, I needed to apologize.

"Hispano... I..." I began to say.

However, before I could get any further, I found her beak dart forward and press against my muzzle in a surprisingly forceful kiss. Reflexively, my wings shot straight out, with my left wing giving Cora a good brush in the face. As my mind locked up and I blinked a few times, she broke it off with an utterly confused look across her face.

"How... how are you real?" She squinted at me, studying over me before shaking her head. "Maybe... it was a bad batch..."

"Hispano, it's really me." My already unsteady legs strained to hold myself up as my eyes watered. How could I have broken her this badly? How does a fool like me earn forgiveness for something like this? "I'm so sorry, about what I put you through, about disappearing like that. Things weren't supposed to be this..."

Again I was cut off by her. But instead of another kiss, the fonts of rending pain that erupted from my cheek as her talons tore across it made me cry out. Stumbling back, I felt as the warm, trickling blood started to flow down the healed marks that Galina had given me. Okay… I definitely deserved that, but a little warning would have been nice. Looking up at her in shock, I watched again as another flood of confusion washed over her. Slowly, she raised her talon, looking at the rivulets of blood that adorned each talon-tip.

"Wha... I don't..." She scrunched up her beak a bit as she wiped her talon off on the cloud above me. "How is that even possible? Unless..." Her eyelids flew open like her brain had flicked on a lightswitch, and she gave out a horrified gasp as she locked her gaze on mine. "Oh goddesses, I didn't... Night, you're alive! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to..."

This time, I interrupted her as I reached up and grabbed around her. Softly, I pulled her against my chest into a warm hug, fighting back the tears that started to drip down into the cuts she’d opened.

“I’m so sorry, Hispano. I never meant to do this to you.” I cried against her plumage, struggling to offer a smile from just the non-bleeding side of my muzzle.

“Night…” She whimpered, pushing herself back from me. As she stepped back, her watering eyes dripped her tears down onto the floor at my hooves, but the most joy filled smile laid across her beak. “I… I’m just glad you’re even alive.”

“Yes, we all are.” Cora flatly mumbled as he reached up and raised his talons up around the underside of Hispano. Passing the end of a thick rope from talon to talon, he wrapped it around Hispano a few times before stepping back. “Now, let’s get back to the convoy where we can all have a very happy reunion.” He gave a grunt as he tied the other end of the rope around himself. Giving it a firm tug, he nodded to himself before turning back for the door. “Alright, let’s go.”

“I’m sorry, Hispano.” I spoke as I looked back to find her tired, bloodshot gaze no longer held as much pain to it as before. "It's been a hell of a few days, and I have a lot of explaining and apologizing to do. And I promise I will, but... let's just go back home for now."

Before he moved out of range with the rope, I felt Hispano’s talons drag my face back closer towards her again. She pulled us into another forceful kiss before being ripped away towards the door. My bleeding, tear stained cheeks added a bright blush as my mind rebooted for the hundredth time today. And as my racing heart once again peaked from the event and started to wind down, I thanked the goddesses that Hispano would be alright. It may take time for her to come down from the drug use, and I’m sure it would be a long time before she could trust me again, but it was time I had with her at all. For that, I was more than grateful.

Now, if only things could go as smoothly with an apology to Buck…

Author's Note

As always, I'd like to give many many thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his help in going over this chapter!

And many thanks to Kkat for letting us all use this wonderful apocalyptic world.

Chapter 37 - Those who seek answers

Prayer may not help, but it can't hurt.

The flight back to the convoy was quick, but I didn’t like all the attention it garnered from everypony below us in the railyard. Though, I guess it’s not every day you see a griffon towing a balloon behind him that also happens to be his daughter. Hispano however was coming down pretty hard, as the effects of the drug started to wear off. By the time we landed in the Rec area, Hispano was losing buoyancy fast, and had flopped onto Cora’s back with a light bounce.

But, we’d made it back. We proceeded to my container and opened it up for what to me felt like the first time in years. I half expected to see Buck inside, but he was still out and about somewhere. It was for the best, really. While Hispano seeing me had gone fairly smoothly, that was probably only because of the drugs. Who knows what she’ll be like when she wakes up. To be honest, I had no idea what to say to her, let alone Buck when I see him again.

Still, as Cora got to work with his medical bag, I looked over and found that he’d set Galina’s bloodstained gear on Hispano’s bed next to where Suiza was resting. Probably from when he’d first brought me up here, but Delilah’s insistence of me getting my own equipment ran through my mind again. Maybe I could find a trader around here willing to give me a good deal on it toward something useable. I still know next to nothing about guns though, and as Hardcase was the only real expert I knew, I was going to have to ask him. Though, Delilah had mentioned that he was missing...

“Alright.” Cora sighed as he shoved Suiza aside and tucked Hispano into her bed under my rainbow rug. He gave a flicking tap to the IV bag that ran down from the stand attached to his desk before turning to me. “The detox will take her about a day or so, and she’ll most likely be in and out for the duration of it. But as a warning, the treatment doesn’t mean she’s in the clear.” Jamming his sharp talon against my chest, he almost knocked me straight back onto my flank. “It’s going to be your job to make sure she stays away from that filth again, got it? You do this shit to her again or slip up on watching her? I don’t care if she loves you, I’ll shoot you myself.”

Gee, didn’t that threat sound familiar…

“Yes, Sir.” I nodded before hanging my head a bit. He wasn’t wrong in the slightest. Hispano was fucked up because I did this to her, so I needed to grow up and take responsibility for my actions.

“But…” He sighed and, for once, softened his stone cold gaze at me. “Thank you, Night. I know that I’ve been hard on you, but she’s your responsibility now too. Although I doubted it, this whole fiasco has pretty much made it something I can’t write off anymore. She really does seem to love you, and while this was a good first step that you somehow didn’t manage to screw up, you’re going to need to be more careful when it comes to the decisions you make in the future.”

“Yeah, I think that’s something I finally understand after the last few days.” I sighed and nodded to him. “But I love your daughter, and I won’t let anything like this happen again. She deserves better.”

“Good to hear that you understand.” He gave me a pat on the shoulder before turning and leaving the room. “Now, let’s let Hispano get her rest, and go find Happy Trails.”

Looking back down to Hispano, I sighed. Again I took note of the way she looked now. The dark rings under her eyes, the matted fur and ruffled plumage on her, along with the fact that she looked like she hadn’t eaten since I last saw her. I let the sight of her sink in, trying to force myself to remember this moment so that if I ever wanted to pull something as moronic as going after Galina again, I’d think twice.

Turning, I trotted back to the Rec area railing where Cora was waiting.

“Alright, where…” I began to say, but let out a sharp hiss as my eye socket flared up again. Shoving my forehoof against it, again, the pressure helped slightly, but I couldn’t do much other than stand there and wait for the pain to pass.

Seriously? I just had that chill pill not long ago. I mean, I know I got it for free, but if it hadn’t worked wonders for the rest of my body, I’d probably feel a bit less annoyed at the quick return of the pain.

“If I were anything more than just a medic, I’d take a look at you myself.” Cora offered about as much comfort as he normally did as he spoke. However, I could hear as he climbed down from his perch and approached me. With a sharp prick, he jabbed a small syringe into my shoulder that helped to wash away the pain. “I’m not convinced there isn’t some serious nervous system damage for you to be experiencing this much pain. You’re really going to need to have the Doc take a look at you tonight.”

“I’ll make a note to ask him between apologizing for what I did and finally getting some goddess damned rest.” I hung my head and gave a forced wobble of my body. My wings slipped down from my sides as I stretched myself out a little bit, waiting for the meds to fully kick in. “So as I was saying, where do we look first for Happy?”

“You know,” Cora grumbled as he got himself perched back up on the railing, “I’d suggest the bars, but at this point in the afternoon, he’s probably already had his fill and moved on.”

“Then where?” I cocked an eyebrow to him, which only made him steel his gaze across the railyard. While the painkillers that coursed through my veins could take away all sorts of feeling in my body, the one thing it could never touch, was the pit that sat in my stomach.

Of course this wasn’t going to be as easy as Hispano was.

A short flight over the settlement wall, Cora and I made our way out to a fairly large structure that sat perched atop the old docks that stretched from the shoreline. It was obvious from it’s fairly large size that it had once been a boathouse of sorts, but at some point over the years, it had become a literal boathouse. Old ships and watercraft of all shapes and sizes had been used to repair the nearly four story structure, with one of the fairly longer wood hulled ships turned upside down to act as a makeshift curved roof.

A fairly hefty bell rang out from a tower of wooden poles that I had to assume was built out of the masts of some of the old ships. The tattered sails that adorned various posts along the docs whipped in the cold breeze that swept across the lake, shielding a long line of ponies that had gathered along the whole length of it. Painted on most, if not all of the sails I could currently see, was some sort of matching marking, a barbed ring with a red teardrop in the middle.

As Cora and I flew over the packed docks, I was surprised to see all sorts of different races neatly lined up to be lead through a pair of enormous wooden doors in the front of the old building. From foals who were being carried by their mothers, to the sick and elderly. Zebra, Cows, Minotaurs, Griffons, Hellhounds. You name it, they all stood there waiting patiently to be let inside the building on the docks.

“What is this place?” I asked Cora as he scanned the fairly large crowd as well.

“The less you know, the better.” Cora mumbled under his breath. He gave a nod for me to follow before rolling and cutting out over the lake a bit. “I don’t see him on the docks, and I doubt he’d be late. Come on, we don’t need to get in. We just need to see if he’s inside.”

Following his lead, I pumped my wings to keep up my speed. The painkiller he’d given me was holding up, but I knew my wings weren’t working as well as they should. My sluggish and shorter beats meant I had to try twice as hard. As he rolled himself again, he arced his flight back toward the side of the building. From over the water, I could see that the hull of the ‘roof’ boat overhung a set of pallets that had been used like slatted windows. They had a thin steel beam that they sat on top of that could offer us a ledge to stand on, but it wasn’t going to be a very comfortable perch. Well, at least not without Talons like Cora had...

As we approached and Cora flared his wings out to slow down, I straightened my wings and flared to drain speed as well. I really wish he’d informed me when he planned on slowing down, because although the air was thicker down here at this altitude, it wasn’t good enough to slow me quite fast enough. Instead of slamming into the pallets, I gave a few more hard beats of my wings and picked up another bit of altitude.

“Night, what…” Cora grumbled as I pulled away from him. He was cut off as I shot up over the edge of the roof with only a few hoofs lengths to spare.

“Gotta go around!” I called back, stiffening my legs again as I climbed high enough to slip over the top of the roof. With the roof cleared, I flared my wings and leaned myself forward again. My tail snapped into line, helping to balance as I gently pointed myself around the backside of the large building.

As I came around, a large platform attached to the rear of the building caught my eye. It looked like the ponies here had simply scavenged an old vertibuck landing pad, but it was absolutely covered in deep scratches and gouge marks, some of which were the size of a pony! A set of large wooden double doors sat built into the wall much like at the front of the building, but was nearly twice the size and also adorned with many gouges of it’s own. I thought I saw the door move for a moment, but as I curved back around the building, it left my sight, and I filed the questions I had about it into the back of my mind.

Flaring my wings much earlier this time, I slowed down just enough to where I only needed a few extra flaps to reach the ledge Cora was hanging on to. Setting my rear hoof down on the beam, I found that the metal stip of my prostetic could wedge itself into the bottom slat of the pallet ‘window’. Curling my forehooves around some of the higher slats, I was relieved as the old wood didn’t seem to have too much give to it.

“You enjoy your extra flyaround out there, princess?” Cora lowered his voice to a whisper as he reached over and nudged me. “Now that you’ve arrived fashionably late, I need your help looking around inside. The lighting isn’t the best, so it’s going to take the two of us to spot him.”

“Alright.” I nodded and turned my attention toward the darker interior of the boathouse.

He was right, the lighting inside was fairly terrible. There were a few flickering candles on some of the walls, but at best they simply illuminated more of the same painted sails I’d seen along the docks. The thorny ring and red teardrop symbol seemed just a bit more ominous in the darkness than before, even with the missing boards and knot holes in the wood here, it might as well have been night time inside.

Squinting, I could make out rows and rows of standing ponies. They were all packed in so closely that it was hard to even tell where one person began and another ended. This was going to be fucking impossible to spot Happy Trails in…

The sharp feedback of a microphone rang out like the bell above had, making both Cora and I wince. The hushed murmurs that had been resonating inside the dark building dulled down to almost nothing in an instant. The attention of everypony inside turned and gazed toward the back of the building, prompting me to look towards where the other, bigger double door was.

A dark canvas stretched across the entire rear interior of the building, billowing for a moment as I looked at it. A soft glow bloomed and brightened from behind it, green and flickering like the flames of a fire. With it, came a rumbling cheer from the ponies inside, who almost unanimously again fell silent when the flames faded and died.

“And here we go.” Cora mumbled before hanging his head slightly. “Just… find if Happy’s here or not, ignore everything Tephra says. We’ve got a job to do, remember that.”

“Tephra? I don’t even…” I began to say.

“Chosen!” A booming, deep voice filled the air, ringing out from various speakers hidden in the darkness of the building. “All of you who have traveled here today, be it ponies, zebra, cattle, sheep, and even hellhounds. All of you have come to this blessed house of worship to ask only one question. Are you, the chosen few, worthy of being saved?” The question had been posed like it needed an answer, yet, not a single one of the enormous crowd below spoke up. Instead, a stark and uncomfortable silence hung in the air. That is, until the green glow I saw before appeared once more.

“That answer is…” The voice boomed again as the glow grew brighter. The billowing curtains drew back, splitting along the middle as bright green light flooded through the entire building. A plume of ebbing green balefire stretched over the heads of everypony gathered, spout from the maw of a ruby red dragon. It was large enough that it needed to stay hunched under the roof to even fit inside, and thoughts of just how small I actually was in the wasteland became all too prevalent in my mind. “Yes! You. Are. Worthy!”

Cheers from the crowd filled the air again as the flickering green spout of fire split eight different ways. The flames arched across the open air before diving down into copper pots that sat around the great masts of the old ship that acted as the roof, and apparently, acted as structural supports as well. But the brilliant display only held my attention for a moment, before my mind caught up to what I was looking at before, and directed my eye to the giant fucking elephant in the room.

Well, if elephants were nearly four stories tall and could breath fucking balefire.

I’d never seen a dragon before, only having seen them depicted in the murals that were painted in the halls of the Neighvarro capitol building. Even then, my mother had informed me that those were propaganda pieces painted during the war, and that while the Pegasi ships had indeed shot them down, they were… scaled back slightly to make the images more heroic and inspiring. Though seeing a dragon in front of me now? I’m not sure that slightly scaled back was an applicable descriptor to any sense of scale when it came to dragons.

The dragon’s torso was a long as the hauler was, and at least half as wide, while also being covered in huge overlapping scale plates. Each of its four legs were the size of bessy alone, and a single claw on its digits were as big as Buck. Past that, it’s tail and neck were elongated, stretching out almost as long as it’s forearms reached, and while it’s three pronged tail looked like it held yellow finned webbing on it, it’s head was much less… tame.

Burning yellow slit eyes the size of a pony swept across the crowd, peering out from behind broad armored plating like scales. Those thick plates must have been as thick as a tank's armor, and if the stories of them were to believed, twice as tough. A set of four curling horns sprouted from where a pony's ears would be, each of their bleached bone tips capped in shining silver ornamental bulbs. The hundreds of sword sized teeth that glistened in the balefire glow of its maw sent a cold shiver down my spine.

“Today, is a glorious day, is it not? As is everyday, for that matter.” The dragon spoke into a microphone that he held daintily between two of his massive claws. How he didn’t accidentally crush the small device, I have no idea. “But as those of you who may be new to our gatherings, each and every day is a gift, bestowed upon us by the goddesses. A gift that mustn't be squandered. A gift that must be protected at all costs from those who give in to those who personify the virtues of the wretchedsix evil ministries.”

Virtues of the ‘evil’ ministries? Don’t get me wrong, I may not know everything about the wasteland, but I did know a bit about the world before from school and my parents. And as I’d always heard it, the ministries, while they pushed the world to it’s end, weren’t completely terrible. Though, I’m not really sure how much of what I knew was true with how the Enclave lied about, well, everything...

“And that is the very thing I am here to help you understand today, as I do every beautifully gifted week that the goddesses bless us all with.”Raising his other massive claw, the dragon held pinched between two claws an old looking leather bound book. He held it out to the crowd, making sure that the could all get a good look at it. “For as it is written in the second chapter of the Book of Thorns, those who reject the light and wisdom of the goddesses as our saviors, shall be condemned to suffer their sins in the depths of Tartarus.” The dragon pulled the book back, squeezing it into his enormous hand and pulling it close to his glowing chest. “And as it is also written in the twenty first chapter, let not those among you suffer in rejecting the light of the goddesses, seeking only to allow darkness to consume them. For in that action, they are attempting to take away the power and safety of the light that you, the chosen, have inherited as a gift from the goddesses. And that, is the greatest sin of all.”

To be completely honest? I didn’t understand what the point of any of this even was. The goddesses made sense, sure, as I don’t think there’s a pony alive who doesn’t know of Celestia and Luna. But light and darkness, the ministries being evil somehow, and this whole strange cult here based around some random book? Yeah, the wasteland was weird, but this was getting up there in the top weirdest things I’d seen so far. But all of it made me wonder just what the hell we were doing here then. Yeah, Happy followed religiously after ‘the King’ or whatnot, but this didn’t really seem like something he’d be involved in…

“Vigilance is paramount to spreading the holy light of the goddesses, and you must strike down those in your life who reject its gifts.” The dragon’s voice snapped out in anger as he lifted his clenched and trembling claws into the air. Wait, what!? “Those who refuse to see the light must be destroyed, lest they poison those chosen who have yet to find their own true path to the goddesses. Let not those among you suffer in choosing the darkness, for the eternal promise of Elysium is not theirs to share with you, the chosen.”

Okay, good. For a second there, I wasn’t sure that a three story dragon had just instructed an untold number of ponies to kill anyone not willing to believe in all this mumbo jumbo bullcrap. Yeah, now I’m extra confused on just what the hell we were doing here. However, one thing was for certain, that friendly pit in my stomach was starting to sink a whole lot faster than a vertibuck with one working engine.

“I do not have to remind many of you of the dangers of letting your guard down. When I arrived as a humble missionary of the Blackwater fleet a decade ago, you all were still recovering from the terrible tragedy that was the Great Unveiling.” The dragon sat back a bit, hanging his long neck and head as he lowered his tone to a much softer one. “Weary from your long and righteous battle, you were unsure if I, Tephra, was yet another deceitful changeling looking to drag you down into the darkness once more. But you all took a leap of faith and accepted me into your lives. Your generosity and trust helped to build this house of worship into what it is today. This faith is built upon the strength of those chosen by the goddesses themselves, and in my travels, I have yet to see a stronger flock than right here before my eyes.”

So… there was a fight against changelings here? Was that why Hardcase was so afraid of letting Salt come here in the first place?

“For that reason, I have worked hard everyday to repay that kindness, working with each and every one of you to show you the gloriousness of the light that the goddess bestowed to us all. But while you have all given so much over the years, every week since I have arrived, I’m afraid I must ask only a little bit more of you. To give what you can in order to spread the light of the goddesses, and in doing so, secure your place next to the goddesses in Elysium.”

“Are you even looking for Happy?” Cora whispered into my ear, sharply reminding me that I was still hanging onto the side of a building four stories above the icy waters of Mare’s Lake.

“Sorry, I was a little distracted by the fact that there’s a fucking dragon in there.” I snapped back. Though really, I had been sucked into the speech he was giving. Even if it was the most insane set of thoughts ever rambled to a crowd.

“Oh, well don’t let me spoil the novelty for you.” Again, Cora deadpanned and went back to looking through the slats. “Not like we have a fucking job to do or anything…” Okay, so it’s okay when we forget about Happy to go find Hispano, but I don’t look around for three minutes, and now I’m the one holding up the job...

“However!”The dragon’s voice boomed again, letting another gout of balefire spew from his maw. “Those of you who are studious enough to track the days, know that it is once again time for me to bring one of you into the sanctum of thorns. Only one of you will be saved and brought back with me to my island sanctuary. There, you will live out your life in peace, surrounded only by those as devout as you, dedicated to furthering your knowledge and faith in the light of the goddesses. Only one who has worked tirelessly to spread the faith, and upheld the tenets of the goddesses, can truly be deemed worthy of this honor. Who among you can say that you deserve it? Shout your case, tell me why you are worthy of this gift!”

The room below erupted into chaos, as the entire crowd began shouting and crying out to the dragon. This… was insane! There was no way to be objective or fair in doing this, not that following any of these rules was in any way alright in the slightest. It was just madness, pure and simple. Still, the Dragon closed his enormous yellow eyes, raised his hand, and with a wide swinging arc, plucked out one of the crowd straight off the floor.

“You.” His voice boomed as he held the squirming earth pony stallion between his enormous claws. “Repeat to the crowd what you have just shouted with all of your heart.” The dark tan earth pony stiffened up as he was put on the spot. The room fell back into it’s eerie silence as all eyes turned to the stallion. He gave a nervous shudder before the dragon gave a light laugh. “Your hesitation is understandable, however, I heard what you confessed. The others deserve to hear of your dedication to the light. Shout it as to tell the goddesses themselves of your great feat!”

“I killed my sister!” He stiffly splayed himself out in the dragon’s grasp as he put all of his force into shouting. “She rejected the light of the goddesses, and even though I tried again and again to show her the gifts we’ve all been given, I couldn’t let her suffer in darkness another day!”

“Madness.” Cora gave a soft sigh and shook his head. “There are what, thousands here today… and all to worship a book? I’m all for believing in something, but the price these fools pay for being ‘saved’ is far too high a cost in my book. Hell, in any book, let alone one some dragon touts around as written law.”

To be honest, I had to agree. I couldn’t think of a single reason I’d have ever murdered my parents, no matter what the reward for it would have been. Ponies who could do that were just as monstrous as Solomon was. And I’m not sorry to think that just maybe, that pony in the dragon’s claws deserved to be torn to shreds for what he’d done, not lavished on a peaceful island for the rest of their life.

“But hey, what do I know?” He shook his head again as a small but prominent smirk crawled its way across his beak. “I heard on the radio that they’re going to be making a book about ‘the lightbringer’s journey’ out on the east coast. Who knows, maybe that’ll get a devout following and turn out to be some sort of fanatical cult as well...”

Casting my gaze back, I froze up as I noticed that the large glowing yellow eyes of the dragon were gazing right up through the slats at us. It was purely reflexively that I took a step back, but again, that didn’t work out so well being three stories up. As I fell, I flared my wings to catch myself, but was jerked to a painful stop as Cora snapped his talons out and grabbed around my forehoof.

“Alright.” He grumbled, straining to hold on to both me and the wood. “Well, I’m going to go further out on a limb than you already are and say that Happy isn’t here.” Pushing himself away from the pallets, he pulled me outward with him so the air would catch under our wings. “So, that leaves just one place left to look.”

He let go of me as I gave a few hard flaps, taking flight on my own. As he did, I looked over to see most of the crowd on the docks bowing in reverence to the wide open door of the boathouse. However, the long line had thinned toward the end of the docks, and most of those gathered were starting to disperse and head back to the settlement.

“As but a humble messenger of the Prophet of Thorns, I deem this pony worthy of receiving my gift! Let it be known, that from this evening on, he shall live out his days at the sanctum, in the service of the goddesses. There, he will work tirelessly alongside the others I have taken to help, working to ensure that you, the chosen, shall be all be one day saved by the coming of the light as foretold in the Book of Thorns. In those last glorious days, when the goddesses bless us with their presence once more, together, we shall all bask in the glory of the light, and share in the salvation we so rightly deserve.” The dragon roared out, pushing a balefireball all the way out through the open door where it momentarily dimmed the afternoon light outside. “Thank you all for joining me once again for our weekly gathering. Please, join me again next week as I help to you guide your understanding of the perils that sprouted forth from the six ministries of evil. But until then, May the goddesses forgive, and may the word of the prophet of thorns guide you into the light.”

“At least tell me you don’t buy any of that crap.” Cora sighed as we soared back towards the flat grey walls that surrounded the settlement.

Of course, being a sane individual, I only had one response.

“Not a fucking word.” But now it was time for me to ask him what had been on my mind. “So… why the hell did you think Happy would be there?”

Cora’s response was a simple, “You’ll understand when we get to where we’re going.” And while I didn’t really get what he meant by that, the pit in my stomach growing deeper told me all I needed to know.

As the both of us touched down again, I found that I’d been lead to the oddly out of place old sailing ship that sat along the wall of the settlement. It was about as large a ship as the one that had been used as the roof to the boathouse, but upright with a bunch of sheet metal buildings built onto the top deck. The entrance was a set of metal doors that seemed scavenged off another building and forcibly shoved into a hastily cut hole in the side of the ship. The single word ‘Elysium’ was painted ornately onto a board that looked like it could have actually been the missing stair from the drug house, but was crudely nailed up above the makeshift doorway.

Looking up at the railings that ran along the top ‘deck’ area, a line of scantily clad ponies smiled and waved down to Cora and I. One of them even blew me a kiss, which made me smile. Huh, that kind of reminds me of that ferry restaurant back in Destruction Bay. Wait a minute…

“This is a brothel?” I spat out as I shook my wings a bit before tucking them against my sides. “Fucking of course it is. Why didn’t we just check here earlier?”

“Because,” Cora gave something between an exasperated sigh and a grunt as he too folded up his wings. “If you attend the gathering, you get half off on all services for the rest of the day if you can recite some of what was talked about.” Looking over to me, he gave me a tired nod toward the door. “Come on, let’s get in there. The less time I’m around these cultist nutjobs, the better.”

“Wait, I don’t understand…” I shook my head, making Cora pause himself. “So… this place is run by that dragon? Why? I thought he ran off donations like he asked for.”

“You know, even if you are a dragon, it’s probably a bit more expensive than you’d think to keep an island filled with ponies fed and happy.” Rolling his eyes, he held his talon out toward the door. “Got any more questions, princess? Or can we finally get back to work?”

Fine, back to work. Grumbling to myself, I trotted past him and opened the door. I mean, he did answer my question at least, but still. What’s the fucking rush? We’ve got another day or so, and obviously Happy isn’t going anywhere. Well, anywhere he doesn’t normally go in settlements...

Stepping inside, I found that we’d entered some sort of buffer zone to the interior. Thumping bass heavy music resonated through the steel floor in the small hallway Cora and I crammed into. The hall was designed to funnel people down to fit through one single metal door, which was not only odd, but made me feel a bit claustrophobic.

Pushing the next door open, I was assaulted with flashing lights and music that sounded like it was being broadcast straight from DJ PowerColt’s station. Even with the dozens of flashing party lights, the room here was dark enough that I could barely see the faces of the dozens of ponies that were in sight of me. A bar backlit by neon light sat directly before us, and a pair of lounge areas hugged matching pairs of flashing dancefloor looking platforms.

“Hey there, cuties!” An overly cheery stallion popped up out of nowhere in front of me and forced me to squeak in surprise. “Oh my, I didn’t mean to startle you! Though, maybe I can get you lined up for something to keep your heart rate going? One of our A-grade stallions perhaps?” The stallion leaned in, turning and winking so I could see the bright yellow star tattooed around the entirety of his eyelid. “Or maybe a mare would be more your liking?”

“We’re looking for a friend.” Cora nearly had to yell out to get over the sound of the beating music. “He’s a mule. A bit obnoxious, wears a red and white shirt.”

“I don’t recall seeing him, but I just got on shift for the rush.” The stallion smiled and pointed his hoof over to the bar. “Why don’t you have a seat? If he’s here, he probably just started a session and will be a while.”

“Alright, thank you.” Cora nodded and prodded me in the flank. “Come on, let’s go have a seat.”

Nodding, I trotted over toward one of the lounge areas near the bar. Quite handily, other than a pair of ponies who looked like they couldn’t manage to wait for a room to open up, the section of seats toward the back was mostly devoid of patrons. Cora shuddered as we passed the writhing and moaning pair and reached out again, stopping me just short of climbing into one of the open booths.

“On second thought, we’d be better off splitting the workload.” Cora turned and locked his sights on the door. Giving me a firm pat on the side, he waved with his talon to me and turned around. “I’m going to check some of the other places he might be. You stay here to see if he turns up.”

Before I could speak up, he’d walked away, and a new louder song began blasting over the speakers to this place. The mare in the booth next to me broke off her session with a gleeful giggle before climbing her way out of their seat. The stallion, still at full mast, scrambled to follow her toward the dancefloor she was hastily making her way up onto. Giving out a heavy sigh, I turned away and slumped into the booth seat before they resumed their romp.

Damnit, I missed Buck. I really wanted to go find him, to explain that I’m alive and that I’ll never do anything like that ever again. But… I couldn’t just run off now. As much as I’d wanted to, I had those responsibilities mom always told me came with growing up. Slamming my head down onto the table, I grumbled as I realized that the painkiller Cora gave me was starting to wear off a bit. Ow…

You can’t hide from looking around forever, Night. Best just accept and deal with it. Sitting up, I turned to find a tired looking unicorn stallion levitating a bottle beside him as he walked over toward me. He set it down on my table, draping a wet looking rag over his shoulder before pointing back to the bar behind him.

“You’ve got an admirer at the bar.” Was all he called out over the music. “Enjoy.”

“Thanks.” I nodded and forced a smile to the stallion. He turned around with a nod and headed back toward the bar again. As he did, I noticed an odd dark mark under the back of his mane. If I didn’t know better, it was that same symbol that was all over those flags along the docks.

“Well that’s weird…” The words tumbled from my muzzle like they always did. Not that it really mattered though.

“That’s the mark of the chosen.” A mare whispered into my ear just loudly enough to make my mane stand on end. I froze up as the mare wrapped her hooves around my shoulders and walked herself to where I could see her. The lavender colored earth pony mare was nothing to write home about, but the sparkling sapphire dress she wore was something I’d kill to have the figure to fit into. It fit her like she was born to wear it, and the way she moved in it made it shimmer with a blue hue that matched her bright eyes. “It's an easy way to tell the truly devout from those who have yet to accept the light of the goddesses.” She leaned in, putting her muzzle inches from mine with a soft hum and smile. “Well howdy there, sugar. Nice of you to finally notice me.”

“Heh, could you maybe…” I squeaked out as my wings furled against me restlessly. Okay, she was just a bit too friendly. Putting my hoof against her, I pushed her back by a few inches. “Possibly step back a bit? I-I’m not here for anything. Just waiting for a friend.”

"Oh, come now, don't you want to get to know each other even a little?” She stepped back, but without hesitating, slipped into the other side of my empty booth. “I mean, I already know a bit about you, stud."

“Y-you know… I’m a stallion?” Oh goddesses, red flags were being thrown up all over my mind, and the pit in my stomach was threatening to turn me inside out.

“Sure do, sugar.” She gave me a wink and licked her lips. "Solomon’s emissary sent word that somepony matching your description might come around once or twice, but that doesn't mean I can't make you cum as many times as you want..."

The waving flags in my mind disappeared in a poof of smoke, and my stomach twisted itself around the other way. Solomon, of course. I’m guessing she was my contact here. Giving an annoyed sigh, I slumped back in my seat again.

“Just give me the damn instructions.” I grumbled as I crossed my hooves. “How’d you even know I’d come in here?” The mare across the table from me made a pouty face, but I couldn’t care less about how she felt.

“No need to be so quick about it, sugar. And as for how I know, every stallion eventually makes their way in here.” She shrugged and leaned back into her seat with a smirk that rivaled the slyness of Solomon or Rook’s. “The other guy on your convoy was already too quick to spill his load for me yesterday. Don't tell me everypony on your convoy has a problem with getting their business finished before we've both had our fun..."

“Wait, Happy gave you information?” I... couldn't believe it. Was he really working with Solomon as well? Why the fuck would he ever work with an asshole like Solomon!?

“Of course. Why? I was told that this happens at every stop. But just between you and me, he’s like most guys who stumble in here. Give ‘em a few extra drinks on the house, and they’re as leaky as a faucet. He told me all the little plans your convoy has, which of course, I relayed back to Solomon, so I expect my pay from him tomorrow." She laughed, tracing her hoof around the table’s edge a bit. "Plus, the drinks made him as horny as any hellhound you'll ever meet, though his stamina could use a lot of work..." Why did she have to put horny hellhounds in my head? Fuck, I need to go find Buck and apologize to him... "But let's forget all that for the moment, and have some fun for now..."

"Just tell me what Solomon wants me to do." I sighed as uncomfortable thoughts of Buck walking in to see this scene filled my mind. I don’t know why, but I can’t keep him out of my head, and I was starting to be afraid that until I made things right, he’d just cloud any other thoughts I had. I can’t focus like this... "Please, I'm not here for 'fun'. I just want to know what the message is so I can go." Fuck it. Delilah’s going to be pissed with Happy if he comes home now or later anyway. I needed to go find Buck before I went crazy.

"Guess you all really are the same. You and Solomon just see me as a glorified messenger then, got it." She rolled her eyes and scooted herself out of the booth. All her poise and allure disappeared as she gave out a sigh and hoofed out a cigarette from under the neck of her dress. If that whole ‘in your face friendliness’ was just an act, she was a pretty damn good actress then. “All that unicorn lackey of his told me was to remind you to 'deliver what you agreed to' when you get to Cantercross. And that if you needed more time, that you needed to tell that to me before you leave Roundhouse. That's it." She deadpanned and cocked her eyebrow in annoyance. "See? Nopony has fun when you just get it all out there in ten seconds flat. At the very least you could let a girl enjoy some foreplay..."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." I deadpanned back. She stuck out her tongue and blew a raspberry at me before wandering across the room into the waiting hooves of a very fuzzy brown yak in another booth. If Rook had given her the message in the first place, why the fuck didn’t he just tell me? I mean… no, of course. It was a test to make sure I could follow instructions. At least I know now to stop in every whorehouse from here on out to keep up appearances...

Sighing, at least I was free now. Putting my hoof on the table, I started to scoot myself out of the booth. However, I gasped as the pain in my socket came back with a vengeance. Wincing, I pressed my hoof against it, and let out a pained whine until it passed like it normally did. Fuck I was getting quite tired of that. Pulling my hoof away from my eye, I moved it over to get a grip on the table again, but ended up not seeing where I was putting it and knocking my drink over.

“Hey, if you didn’t want it, you could have just sent it back.” Another voice perked my ears as it approached, but it made my mane stand on end. Looking up, I found the black and white speckled face of Salt standing only a forelegs distance away. “Hey there, Night.”

“Salt.” I grumbled. Of course! Nothing could fucking go my way today, could it? No, Night, nothing will ever go your way because you’re fucking cursed, remember!? “I thought you told me to stay away. What do you want.”

“Well, considering you're looking for your friend and I know where he is, I thought I might help you out.” He stared at me flatly as he ruffled his own wings a bit on his back. “In return, I was hoping you’d be open to finally sitting down and having a civil discussion about things.”

“Look, if you know where to find my friend, great! I'd love all the help I could get.” Glaring up at him, I huffed and sat back in my seat. “But all I’ve done since Fort Mac is try to talk with you in a civil manner, but you’ve always been the one to attack and then run away. Not the other way around.” My emphasis on those words forced a rippling nervous smile to crawl across his muzzle.

“Granted, I’ll admit that I acted…” He winced and pulled back half a step, “harshly, but I’m betting that by now, you’ve heard what happened here a decade ago. You know what happened to my home.”

“I don't know much, but I know it had to do with changelings,” At least, that’s what I’d assumed the dragon was talking about here. “and it was bad enough that one of our crew was worried that you'd be killed in coming back here.” I groaned and facehooved. Fucking damnit, I also still had to go find Hardcase. Delilah said he was missing, and after losing Violet, I didn’t want to think where he could even end up being. “To be honest, I didn’t fucking care anymore what happened to you, but he was adamant that we found a way to save you. Guess it was all for nothing, because it seems that you're doing alright for yourself after all.”

“I know that you’re angry, and that you want answers,” Salt stepped forward, reaching out toward me with his forehoof while he wore a sincere look across his muzzle. “But there is real danger here, and I need your help…”

Oh, I see how this is. Of course he wouldn’t tell me where Happy was without me doing something for him. He’s going to ask me to do something that sounds completely innocent, but ends up in me having to shoot some ponies who don’t deserve to die at all. Because hey! Nopony can be honest when asking me to help them with something.

“Hah!” I spouted out, reaching out with my wing and slapping his forehoof away. “Of course you need my help now. Well I’m a bit busy with my own shitty problems at the moment.” Please, Salt was a changeling. He was just trying to manipulate me into doing something terrible for him before disappearing again.

“While I can’t ask you to trust me after what I’ve done, your friend is now the one in need of saving.” He snapped at me, sharply jabbing his own wing at me, “I know he was suffering from a great loss, the same as I can still feel resonating off of you. But he left with the intention never to return, and your feelings be damned, I will not leave one of my kind to die in the way he will if we don’t act soon.”

Wait, one of his kind?

“You weren’t talking about Happy when you said you knew where my friend was…” I gasped as the realization hit me hard. “You were talking about Hardcase…”

“If that’s who you know him as, then yes.” Salt nodded before quickly stepping up to me again. With a swiftness that caught me off guard, he pulled my forehooves off the floor and held them between his own. “I promise, I’ll answer every question you have about what happened at Four Peaks. Just please, if we don’t hurry, we could lose our chance to save your friend.”

“Where is he?” If I could just get his location, I could tell Delilah, and she could take care of it.

“A-at the old hive,” Lowering his voice, Salt leaned closer and spoke in a hesitant tone of his own. “on Veil island on the lake.” My mane stood on end as I was fairly certain that’s where the dragon said he was taking that other stallion tonight. The concern across my face must have been plain as day, because Salt nodded to me softly. “Yeah, that island. However, I have a plan, but I need to know I can count on you.”

What do I do? I was so ready to abandon waiting for Happy to go looking for Buck, but now? Hesitation locked up every nerve and joint in my body as my mind flashed with thoughts of Delilah shouting at me about leaving the job Cora gave me. My mind wandered to the thoughts of Buck, sitting alone and distraught somewhere that I could have comforted him at.

But then the thought came of waking up in Buck’s relieved arms, having reconciled with him happily. Only to hear Delilah get the news that they found Hardcase’s body. Or sitting there as Delilah gave Happy the beating of a lifetime for leaking things to Solomon, only to have the same resulting message given to her.

Every fiber of my being knew that as much as I wanted to go and profess my deepest regrets to Buck. As much as I was expected to stay here and wait for Happy to show himself. And as much as I feared putting my trust into Salt, I knew that there was only one outcome to this that mattered at all.

“Alright.” I nodded to Salt, pulling a relieved smile from him as he looked like a million pound weight was lifted from his shoulders. Getting up from my seat, I quickly found Salt’s wing wrapped around me. “What do we need to do to save him?” Stepping up beside him, I shivered from the warmth he gave off against my own bare coat.

"I'll explain once we leave, but you need to transform yourself in your own way, first." I was about to ask just what he meant by that, but he pulled me along behind him towards a room that sat sort of behind the bar. I hadn’t seen it in the darkness before, but it smelled of fire and charred skin, and had that thorny symbol deeply branded into the wood of the door. "You're about to become this month’s most devout worshiper of the goddesses, at least, devout enough that those on the island think you’ve been saved by that fraud, Tephra."

“Oh, I already don’t like the sound of this...” I winced as I was pulled along in step with him. Oh, Night. When has anything about the wasteland ever sounded truly ‘good’ to you? At least, anything that didn’t end up as a complete disaster, that is...

Author's Note

As always, many thanks to Kkat for the amazingness that is Fallout Eqeustria, as well as letting us all use it as a foundation for all our stories.

And many many thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his help in getting this chapter shaped up. Seriously, it's always a big help to have a second pair of eyes.

Lastly, thanks to Dice Warwick for his help on getting the religion created for his stories nailed down for used in Long Haul. It's not going to be featured too much, but it's nice to have it referenced!

Chapter 38 - Into the den of thieves

Nothing is so good that somepony, somewhere will not hate it.

I let a soft whimper slip out of my muzzle as Salt and I flew around the edge of the lake away from the city. The brand I now had permanently burned onto the back of my neck wasn’t something I was proud to have gotten, but if it meant saving Hardcase, I’d deal with it. Plus, the guy doing the branding was nice enough to give me a baggie with a couple tabs of Chill to help with the pain. He’d even pinned it into my mane with a hairpin for easy storage! And thank the goddesses for the admittedly awesome painkiller. Er… not the goddesses in relation to the crazy cult, but…you know what, never mind. Maybe it’d be a good thing if I thought that way for now.

“Alright, we’re almost there.” Salt called out as he stiffened up his wings to glide. He looked back to me, giving me a concerned glance at how far I’d fallen behind. “You alright? Do I need to slow down?” He let out a soft gasp and covered his muzzle with his hoof. “Oh shit, I forgot about your feathers…”

“I’m fine.” I grunted and forced myself to give a few hard flaps. “It’s… not so bad. Thicker air down here helps.” That wasn’t an outright lie, but dear Celestia I wished the air could be a fair bit thicker here. Panting and heaving, I brought my pace up to match his for now before holding my legs straight again to glide. “So… you going to tell me what sort of danger Hardcase is in?”

Dipping down, he steered us over toward a small, overgrown cabin that was nearly completely obscured from sight by the forested mountain towering over the northwestern part of the lake. As he came down, I had to do a second pass to bleed off my speed, corkscrewing my way down onto the soft mossy ground in front of the cabin.

“Just over a decade ago, a trade caravan from the Crystal Empire showed up in Mare’s Lake.” Salt sighed, hanging his head as he turned around to face me. “With it, came a trader who specialized in magical gems. He brought all sorts of gems with him, from ones filled with raw magical energy, to ones that had been forged into crude talismans. But one gem sat in his ‘junk’ box that I am sure he never knew the true worth of.” Looking through me, his glance shot straight across the water to the island. “It was a single shard of the shattered crystal heart of the empire. A single, tiny shard that contained more love stored inside it than any hive could ever hope to feed off for a millenia.”

Sitting down hard, the image that was Salt fuzzed, and disappeared in a brilliant green flash. Before me sat a bug-like pony. Much like his friend in Carmacks, he sported chitinous ebony plates with streaking white accents across them. A bristly black fuzz cloaked around his sides and top half of his body, and a pair of amber insect wings twitched and buzzed from his back. A white colored flexible fin sat where a pony’s mane would be, and a crooked segmented horn rose out of the thick chitin skullplate. The solid blue color of his eyes wavered as tears rolled down his ebony upper jaw, and the jagged sharp peaks that meshed with the ones of his lower jaw trembled as he sobbed.

His horn flared to life, and in another green flash, Salt returned to looking like the pegasus stallion I’d known from Four Peaks.

“Sorry… I’ve spent so long trying to forget this place.” He sniffled, raising his hoof and wiping at his eyes. As he did though, a small smile returned to his muzzle. “I didn’t think I would ever get to feel sadness myself.” He shook his head and looked at me. “I don’t understand how you ponies can live with such emotions…”

“What do you mean?” I asked, again distracted enough that my muzzle spoke for me. No, Night, get back on track. “What happened here? If you had all the love you needed, what started the fighting?”

My question instantly soured Salt’s look. “The Queen.” He spat. “She went mad trying to get that shard. And then once she had stolen it, she ordered every drone out, and then sealed herself away in the hive, determined not to share it’s love with anyone.” Taking a deep, shivering breath, he wrapped his forehooves and wings around himself. “For some of us, that act alone severed us from her control. And as any changeling knows, a drone can’t normally exist without a queen. I mean, we can survive, but it’s not easy. It… hasn’t been easy.”

“So, one of the others changed. Declared herself the new queen” He continued, but let his wings fall limply to his sides. “A struggle ensued, and a civil war within those loyal to the old and new hives began. The disorder caused the new ‘queen’ to send out a wave of magic that disrupted the disguise of every changeling in the city. And just like that, the hunt against us began.”

“So… you left. Didn’t you?” I asked as I sat down in the moss. He gave a solemn nod to me.

“What choice did we have? The hive collapsed completely as the settlements of Mare’s Lake banded together and slaughtered any and all who didn’t run.” Holding his hooves out in front of him, he studied them as if they belonged to somepony else. “The day when the queen finally died, I was already long gone. But those of us who’d been assigned to protect her, got one last dying curse for abandoning our duties. For failing to protect her, she blocked our ability to feed off of love at all.” With another sigh, he put his hooves down onto the moss and sat up straight again. “Those of us who didn’t end up killing ourselves or wasting away, learned to adapt. To live off of other feelings and emotions, even if they were nowhere near as sustainable as love. Rage, sadness, hatred and hope…” He looked up at me and smirked softly. “But while love was tasteless and unfulfilling just the same to all of us, lust was the only thing I could even sustain myself on anymore.”

“So that’s why you liked me?” I asked, getting another nod from him in return. I didn’t know whether to be flattered or insulted by that. On one hoof, I was only supposed to be a meal for him? Then again, if I would have never known otherwise, was there really a problem with that?

Of course there was plenty wrong with that, Night! He never really liked you at all. Even if you thought he liked you, in the end, he was just using you. Sure, it wasn’t in the same way as everypony else had used you in the wastes, but that didn’t make it any less wrong. Though, you yourself have changed over time with regards to loving who you once never thought you could. And plus he just told me that I didn’t love him, I lusted after him, which… sounded like it might have actually been how I felt at the time, but I don’t know! Maybe there was a chance that one day, Salt and I might have…

“Ahem…” Salt cleared his throat with a bashful look across his face. “I know I’ve given you a lot to think about, as I can feel your emotions going wild. But we really must be going. I know that the dragon sleeps in the entrance to the hive, so we must be gone before sunset.”

“Right.” Looking at the sky, the bottom of the sun was just pushing down to almost touch the rest of the mountains that ran southwest along the lake’s edge. We wouldn’t have too much time at all then. “So, what’s the plan?”

“We will sneak onto the forested north side of the island and head for the settlement in the center, where you will pretend to be the new ‘chosen’ one.” He looked out across the water again, but this time toward the city. “I will transform and do my best to imitate Tephra’s mannerisms, which…”

“You can transform into a fucking Dragon!?” I shouted out before immediately clamping both my hooves over my muzzle. “Oh shit, sorry. Didn’t mean to yell.”

Salt had frozen from a cringe so hard he currently was standing on a single leg. His eye gave a twitch before he slowly lowered himself back to the ground. Well sorry if today I learned just how big dragons fucking were, let alone that changelings could imitate something that big at all! This information… was probably going to make me rethink every single person I met from now on…

“Yes, changelings can assume almost any form. It’s just harder to hold it the more complex and different it is from our own anatomy.” He sighed as he got onto his hooves and flared his wings out. “Anyway, once we get past the ‘devout’ on the island, we’ll slip into the hive, go find Hardcase, get back into the forest, and then wait for the cover of darkness to leave.”

“Sounds like a good enough plan to me.” I mean, it wasn’t like we had any other choice, but I was just trying to project positivity for once again. There wasn’t much wiggle room for things to go wrong here, and if they did, then Hardcase would die. No pressure, Night. It’s not like you might completely lose it if you lost another friend this week…

“Look, I… still know the way through the hive, that’s not what I’m worried about though.” Salt spoke up as he walked softly through the moss towards me. Carefully, he put his hoof on my shoulder and pulled my attention up to him. “But I don’t know what I’ll feel once we’re back inside.” He looked away from me, off a thousand yards through the trees into nothingness itself. “I don’t know if or how that shard will affect me when we find it, so if it comes to it, I want you to do what you must to protect yourself first and foremost. Even if it’s to leave your friend and I down there forever. Get out of there, and go live your life, Night.”

“Okay.” I nodded to him before reaching out to pull him into a hug. I don’t really know why, but even after everything he’d done to me, it just… felt like the right thing to do.

Slowly, he curled his forelegs around me and hugged me back softly. “Heh, I needed that. Thank you.” He spoke softly. But as quickly as I’d begun it, he broke off from the hug. “Maybe though this would be best saved for after we get your friend back.”

“Right.” I nodded and spread my wings. “Lead the way then.” Holding my hoof out toward the water, I looked across it to the island as the first bit of the sun sank below the mountain’s peaks, and dragged its shadow across the island.

Goddesses… I hope we weren’t already too late…

Taking flight again, I beat my wings to build up some altitude and speed. As we reached out over the water, Salt dove down, flaring and holding himself just inches above the placid lake. Holding my forelegs out stiffly, I leaned forward, dipping down as well. I picked up a bit of speed as the cool moist air prickled my legs with droplets of icy water. It sent a shiver down my spine, and it put a small smile across my muzzle.

But the feeling of speed was short lived, as we passed the halfway point in our approach, and I began to pull myself up to brake a bit. As my drag started to beat my lift, I gave a few stiff flaps again to keep up my velocity before coming down into a hobbling gallop on the rocky island beach. As I jumped and hopped to avoid some of the higher and more oddly shaped rocks, I came to the realization that it might have been a bit better idea to put in the extra effort to land just a bit closer to the woods...

“Shit, I’d forgotten how well you could glide once you get going.” Salt said with a small smile of his own. He floated overhead, only dropping down to the ground once he was just in the treeline. “Alright, now remember, let me do the talking for now.”

With a bright green flash, the trees themselves were thrust apart as Salt took the form of Tephra. His glowing yellow eyes scanned above the treetops for a moment before he looked down to me.

“Follow.” He spoke in the same booming voice that Tephra had in the boathouse. With a lumbering step, he maneuvered himself through the trees at the edge of the forest, heading for the center of the island.

I followed, hobbling along after him into the underbrush, but it wasn’t easy to keep up to a three story dragon. Plus, as much as my prosthetic helped me walk again, that was only on level or at least clear terrain. Every other step had me hooking it through some branch or bush that threatened to pull it right off my stump. Maybe I should have asked him to carry me like Buck normally did…

Fuck, don’t think about Buck now, Night. Hardcase needs your help, so focus on nothing else. Looking up, I kept my eyes on trailing after the enormous swinging tri-tipped tail batting at the trees behind Salt.

It was… uncanny how perfect of a copy he looked. And to be honest, part of me feared that maybe he really was Tephra all along, and this was all some sort of elaborate trap. However, while I still didn’t totally trust Salt, I didn’t feel like he would have gained anything by setting a trap like that up. Unless he was a much better actor than even Lilac Lace was, his breakdown and hesitation at the mossy cabin was most likely the real thing.

Though, on that, I had to think about my own acting recently. I needed to work on it, to present myself with as much confidence as that mare back in the bar did. My time lying to Solomon’s lackeys had been a good start, but I could do better. If I’d learned anything from watching ponies barter and converse down here, I knew that being able to sell yourself as something you’re not was imperative to get by. So once Hardcase was back, and I go find Buck, I think I’m going to set a goal for myself to start practicing my acting by getting a good deal on some gear for myself.

“What…” Salt’s booming voice came through the trees ahead as I pulled myself over a downed, mossy log. Another bright green flash lit up the air ahead of me, and the trees bent back to their original shape as I approached. Panting and hopping my way toward the inner edge of the small forest, I found Salt looking over the edge of a small hill.

“What is it?” I asked as my stomach clenched and my heart raced. Why had he dropped the disguise? Did… did he find Hardcase? Were we already too late!?

“This… this isn’t a sanctuary for those nutjobs at all…” Salt gasped, covering his muzzle and looking back toward me.

Joining him on the crest of the ‘hill’, I found that it was in fact, a grassy ditch. Scattered through the bottom of it, lay the charred skeletons of dozens of ponies, griffons, hellhounds… it was a mass grave. But… this didn’t make any sense...

“What the hell is going on here?” The words tumbled from my muzzle as I turned to look at Salt. He locked his eyes on me, as desperate as I was to look at anything but the grizzly pile below us.

“I don’t know, and I don’t care.” He shook his head before using his wing to point toward a large pile of rocks at the end of the clearing. “But I think it’s safe to say we’re alone on the island, so let’s get into the hive and find your friend before Tephra returns and adds us to his pile of friends here.”

Inside the collection of rocks and boulders had been a small, but fairly easy to access path that lead into a cave. The rocks outside were an average and unassuming collection of rocks, but once you got in here, they changed drastically. The way that they were carved out looked more like somepony had scooped great gouges into the walls, and had drilled holes through various stone pillars and supports for no reason.

“Weird…” I spoke up without thinking, hearing my own voice echo off further down into the tunnel.

“Understandably confusing to you, but this is changeling Architecture.” Salt spoke up before his forehead began to glow. Even without a horn, he cast a light from about where it would be on him. “Were the original hive queen still alive, it would be nearly impossible for any non-changeling to find their way here, as the cave would always be changing shape and size.”

“Huh…” That was… neat, I guess, if not a bit disturbing to think about. I’m not sure I feel very comfortable in a cave that could just collapse on me because it decided to change shape. Really, I wasn’t sure how anypony could feel comfortable in a place like this. “So… this was your home?”

“Pft, no.” He looked around with a forced smile. “This was what my ancestors used, a temporary hive built for when Mare’s Lake was just becoming a booming city midway through the war. Most hives set up somewhere fairly close to their parent cities, but my ancestors really lucked out with this island. These caves worked well for a time, but the real hive is another ten minutes or so deeper. We’ve been through seven queens since we first arrived, and all of them kept their deception magic limited to just inside the deep hive.”

“During the war? What were your ancestors doing up here?” I didn’t mean to pry into a topic that didn’t really make a difference in the long run, and was something that he might feel uncomfortable telling me. “I mean, if you don’t mind my asking that is.”

“Not at all.” He flashed me a wider nervous smile than before, but continued anyway. “Mare’s Lake didn’t really have any strategic value to either side, no military presence, and only a hint of the ministries. No, what it had in droves however was cheap land, ample room to expand, and almost non-existent tax laws. Corporations and banks flocked here in droves to take advantage of that, and brought all their records and databases with them.” Waggling his eyebrows at me, an actual full bodied smile appeared on his muzzle. “And where there’s information to be stored, there’s a changeling nearby looking to ransom it back or sell it to somepony else.”

“So… you were just common thieves?” I spoke out flatly, tarnishing his smile as he gave a small shrug in response. “What? Tell me if I’m wrong, but am I to understand that you went through all this work building a hive… just to steal some documents from a few companies?”

“Of course not. The dangers that the megaspells posed weren’t lost on us changelings either.” Rolling his eyes, he went back to scanning the tunnels ahead with his hornlight. “We came here to stay away from the major cities. Mare’s Lake was secluded, not a priority target, and full of ponies who were too focused on the war effort to notice if a few of them went missing now and again.”

“You thought you were safe from the megaspells?” I almost had to laugh, given the state that Mare’s Lake was in now. “How’d that end up working for you all?” Nopony was safe, and as every Enclave Pegasi remembers, if it weren’t for us sealing up the sky, it would have been a lot worse. Granted… we still could have opened it back up again a lot sooner than two centuries later…

“Hell, it worked out as planned. Mare’s Lake was never hit.” Salt said so matter-o-factly that I nearly tripped.

“What do you mean it was ‘never hit’.” Flailing my forehoof at him, I pointed back up the cave path. “You’ve seen the state the city is in!”

“Oh, that? Yeah, it was three days after the bombs when the first of the rad storms arrived.” Salt snorted and shook his head. “The whole city collectively lost their shit as it finally sunk in that their perfect secluded lives would never be the same again. No one was coming to save them or set up the government again, and they were all on their own with their untold fortunes suddenly worth nothing at all. Riots erupted amid the storms, and they tore apart the city they’d built with their own hooves, burned most of it to the ground for good measure.” Ruffling his wings, he stood up tall. “We came in, saved who we could in the chaos, stealing them away to feed the hive in the glowing winters to come.”

“Right, you saved them.” I rolled my eyes. “I highly doubt that being fed on by however many changelings is at all comfortable…”

“Hey.” Salt snapped at me, making me lock up in midstep. “You have no idea how hard we have to work to ensure that those we feed on are both oblivious of it and happy. I understand that you’re just uneducated to how we work, but leave that prejudice bullshit at the door, Night. I expect you to be better than that.”

“Okay, I’m sorry.” I sighed. Good going, Night. Once again, you let your mouth run you off toward trouble. “It’s just a lot to take in.” This is why you think before commenting on matters which you don’t understand! Keeps you from looking like a complete ass.

“I know, which is why I can forgive you for that.” Salt said with a grumble as he trotted ahead faster. “Anyway, we’re here.” Turning a corner, he disappeared into what looked like an opening to a much larger chamber. Following him into it, his light illuminated something I hadn’t expected to see at all.

The enormous metal cog was inset to the wall, just like I’d seen in old pre-war Stable-Tec advertisements. It was about a story tall, made out of highly polished brushed steel, and had a small electronic console sitting nearby. However, unlike in those I’d seen depicted in pictures, instead of the Stable-Tec bright yellow logo and number on the door, they’d gone for something a little bit different. And by different, I meant it was written in fluorescent glowing green paint.

HIVE 23

“It’s a Stable… er, a ‘Hive’, I guess.” Despite just scolding myself about it, the words again worked their way out of my muzzle.

“In all but name, yeah.” Salt gave a sniffling smile as he slowly walked up to the small electronics console that sat next to the door. “Stables are just a logo, a brand name slapped on any bunker built by Stable-Tec. Any idiot with the materials, tools, and knowhow could build a bunker just the same as a Stable-Tec Stable. You just have to get your hooves on the blueprints and schematics without paying the royalties, which for us was the easy part of course.” Giving a few flicks to some of the controls, a dim yellow light brightened on the console.

There was a rumbling shake that resonated through the floor. An electronic hum made the air in the cavern pulse as my eyes locked themselves on the enormous door. Then, all went silent.

An indescribable screeching noise pierced the air, and I dropped to the floor to cover my ears. The ground itself shook as the massive door was dragged backwards a couple of feet. Then, a mechanical clacking picked up as it was slowly rolled off to the side and tucked out of sight.

“Oh, I did not miss that…” Salt gave a shiver that was shared by the one my own body gave. “Come on, let’s get inside before the timer cycles and it closes again.” He trotted over and held his hoof out to me. “Unless of course, you want to hear that noise any number of times more than we have to.”

“Yeah, let’s go.” I nodded and grabbed onto his forehoof. He helped me stand back up, and Immediately the pain in my eye socket flared up again. Gasping, I let go of his hoof and pressed my own against the socket again.

“Night, are you…” He asked, reaching out and using his forehooves to steady me a bit.

“I’m fine, just my fucking eye again.” I grumbled. “Let’s get inside, then I’m going to take another chill pill.”

“Alright.” He sighed. That was when I felt him press against my side as he wrapped his wing over me again. “If we have time, after we save your friend, maybe we can swing by the infirmary to see if there’s still any supplies in there to help you out.” As I looked up at him, I found his worried eyes looking into the dark interior of the bunker ahead of us. With a sigh, he offered a weak smile. “Welcome home, me...”

This stable was… how do I put it? Creepy? No, that’s not really encompassing enough. Bland? No, that’s still not it. There was a word I was looking for, but for some reason my mind felt like it was running in circles to find it.

This stable was devoid of everything. Yeah, that’s not quite it either, but it works well enough. There wasn’t anything here, not even the faintest hint of life. No lights, no grime or dirt, no bodies, and no furniture. Just… long confusing hallways of flat grey that looked cleaner than anywhere I’d been so far in the wastes. The chill pill I’d taken made everything feel numb, and I’m pretty sure that wasn’t helping the feeling of this place overall. The only things that stood out in this place, was the sound of our hoofsteps in the halls and stairways, and the light that Salt cast around from his horn.

Salt himself had given little more than a whimper since we’d come inside. For once, I was keeping my own muzzle snapped shut. I figured that it was like when I’d returned to Four Peaks and found everything the way it was. I’d needed some time to process things, and I’d assumed he would as well. For once so far, I was more experienced in something than Salt was, but that didn’t bring me any comfort.

We’d wound down yet another staircase to a lower level. It was getting hard to keep track of where we were going now. Every wall, hallway, and corridor looked the same to me, and I’d begun to wonder if that changeling shapeshifting wall magic maybe still existed inside here. Even though he said that wouldn’t be possible since the queen had died. However, Salt stopped as he reached the bottom, stiffening up for a moment. His horn flared, and the pegasus I knew was replaced in a green flash with his bug-like true self.

“I… I can feel it.” He hissed through his chitinous jaw as his wings gave a flittering short buzz. “It’s faint, but it’s this way.” Turning down the hall, he trotted off.

As I followed, I began to have bit of a problem. Every other step he started to pick up speed, at first, going from a walk to a slow canter. But all too quickly, it turned into a brisk gallop, and then a flat-out run.

My heart hammered in my chest as my hooves scraped at the rough concrete floor. I tried to keep up with the soft glow his horn gave off as he turned corner after corner. But each time I turned down another hall, I found myself further behind, and that light fainter than before.

“Salt?” I spat out through my gasping breaths as I raced after him.

He never responded, simply galloping faster and faster. I whined as my lungs started to burn. Still I pushed myself to go faster, stretching my wings out and using them to brace myself as I leaned into each turn. But there was only so fast that I could push myself, and though it had been doing an excellent job so far, my prosthetic didn’t quite have the same grip my other hooves did on the floor, and gave out as I turned yet another hallway.

“Salt!” I cried out as I tumbled to the floor.

I panted heavily as I skid to a stop. Perking my ears, I listened as his hooves echoed away from me down the halls, and the light from his horn faded from the walls. Between my own deep breaths, I gazed around as the grey darkness pressed in around me. The stark silence that had crept in as the sound of his forehooves trailed off sank into my mind, and I froze up.

Shit. What the fuck am I supposed to do?! Oh goddesses, I don’t want to be lost down here forever...

Panting heavily I closed my eye and focused on just breathing. Okay, step one, don’t panic. You can get through this, Night. You’ve just… gotta trust yourself. You can find both Hardcase and Salt, and when you snap them out of whatever daze they’re in, they can lead you out, alright?

There was a sharp ringing that filled the air around me. I jumped to my hooves as long strips of red lighting flickered on down the entire hallway I was in. The ringing was quickly replaced with a general alarm noise like I’d heard when the Enclave was doing their air drills. Still, the red emergency lighting that had kicked on began flashing slowly but steadily. In it, I could see the end of the hallway that Salt had run down.

“Alright, I can do this...” I muttered to myself.

Stepping forward, I built my hesitant walk into a brisk trot. I was largely guessing on what way to turn as I reached the end of each successive hallway, which… sort of worked. I hit a few of them that terminated in dead ends, but that itself meant I was making progress.

However, after a few minutes of that, I was beginning to lose hope. Then, between the now almost soothing sounds of the general alarm noise, I heard a frantic set of bangs coming from one direction. Perking my ears, I did my best to follow it. The closer I got, the louder, and more erratic it started to sound.

Peeking my head around one last corner, I found a heavy metal slablike door sitting shut with Salt hammering his hooves against it. He gave out sharp, snarling hisses as he did his damnedest to beat his way through what was probably a forehoof thick piece of steel. Sitting just a few hoofsteps away from him however, was a terminal inset into the wall.

Carefully, I made my way toward him. I was afraid that in his daze he’d turn around and attack me, but the closer I got, the more I understood that he probably didn’t even realize I was still here. The gem must have affected him, and while he’d said that I needed to watch out for myself if this happened, I’d come way too far to turn back now.

Looking at the terminal, I cringed as the terminal itself had a huge hoof shaped web of cracks across it. Straight under the cracks, it displayed a fuzzy line of text that I couldn’t quite read due to the damage. However, a set of options were still clearly enough displayed at the bottom for me to read.

Commit? Y/N

Well shit. What the fuck did that mean? Goddesses, this was more Hispano’s forte. Why couldn’t she have just been here? She’d have this door open faster than she could brag about how fast she could open it!

Still, she wasn’t here, and I was left with a choice. Chose a random option and risk having everything go to shit, or actually have it be the right one, and saving the day. Alternatively, there’s no reason to believe that this command would even do anything at all given the state of the terminal…

Well, here goes nothing!

Closing my eye, I pressed my hoof down onto the keyboard and mashed it around until I heard a soft beep come from the terminal. Opening my eye again, a yellow flashing light filled the hallway, and another rumbling vibration spread out through the floor under my hooves.

Salt hissed as the large metal door began to swing inwards, and as soon as he had the chance, he’d squeezed himself through the widening gap and disappeared into the dark interior. Still, I let out a deep breath and thanked Celestia for not screwing me over this time. Turning toward the door, I trotted through it and found an enormous square room behind it.

It was huge, maybe a few stories high, as well as at least fifty feet across to each side. Multiple levels of walkways stuck out from the walls, ringing the open aired center of the room. Looking up as I walked further in, I found a set of catwalks stretching across every few levels. Hanging underneath one of the highest walkways, was an emerald stone that glowed a soft pink from it’s center.

Salt’s buzzing wings stole my attention as his glowing blue eyes shot across the air. With a screeching scream, he slammed himself into the green stone. A sharp crackling came from it as a deep gouge opened up, spreading like the cracked glass on the terminal outside the door. As I watched, a glowing ooze seeped out from the crack, and within a few seconds, it healed the damaged stone.

Again, Salt slammed himself against the emerald shape. This time, he hit so hard that a flare of green magic enveloped him and was forced around the stone. Another sharp creaking crack emitted from it. However, this time instead of waiting for it to heal, Salt turned and gave it a hearty buck with his back hooves. The emerald object snapped to the side, hanging in the air for only a moment before it dropped, well, like a stone.

I backpedaled as it crashed down onto the floor, shattering in a wave of green shards and green goop. I covered my face with my hoof as a bit of it splashed up onto me, and within moments, it hardened up. There almost wasn’t even time to comprehend what was going on before something picked itself up out of the goo.

A black and orange thing stood up, letting most of the goo slide off of it’s body. It was the shape of a pony, but filled with a dozen holes, and shared a similar look to Salt overall. A pair of slit blue eyes opened up slowly as what I could assume was the queen stood as tall and imposing as an alicorn like Lilac Lace did. She sucked in a deep breath, looking down at the goop on the floor. In a small clean patch surrounded by the green goo, was a brightly glowing pink gem shard. Then, she looked up and stared at me.

“Drones!” A commanding voice that matched Tephra’s nearly blasted my mane back as she bore an angry gaze right through me. “An Intruder is in...”

A white bolt dropped from the walkway above me, streaking through the air like a meteor. It impacted the stunned queen mid sentence, slamming her down to the floor with a pained scream. There was a sickening snap as both the meteor and her impacted the concrete, and the queen’s neck twisted sharply under her own body. As the meteor’s glow resolved into the heaving form of Alabaster standing over her, she went limp as another few squelches followed a trickle of blood down her muzzle. I watched as her heaving chest seized, and her empty gaze became unfocused and still.

Standing over her now lifeless body, was a ragged and heaving Alabaster. Giving a snarling hiss, he spun himself to face me. The moment his eyes fell upon me and didn’t waver, I knew that he wasn’t in there anymore.

More than that, he looked thinner than I’d ever seen anypony in my life. He was little more than a frail torso perched on four wobbling stick like legs. The tattered wings that lay limp against Alabaster’s back didn’t seem to have the strength to hold themselves against him anymore, and flopped a bit with each of his heaving breaths.

I’d seen starving ponies in the Enclave before, but never this bad. I knew in my mind that losing Violet would hit him hard, but I never thought about what that would actually look like. It hurt to see him like this, and for a moment, I’d forgotten that he hadn’t even registered that it was me.

“Hardcase…” I spoke up softly. His ears perked at his name, but only for a moment. With a snarl, he crouched down to guard the pink crystal on the floor. “Hardcase, it’s me, Night.” Slowly, and with his eyes still on me, he reached to grab the small pink shard at his hooves as he snapped his sharp jaws at me. The tip of his horn began to glow blue with magic, and it gave of the same crackle that came from some many of the old magical energy weapons.

With a swooping hiss, Salt shot down from the ceiling and slammed into the side of him. The two of them tumbled along the floor as a ball of nothing but rage and snarls. Salt’s flittering wings plucked him into the air again, and he used his advantage to once again swoop down and slam against Hardcase. With a sizzling crack, blue beams of magical energy lanced through the air from Hardcase’s horn. Shot after shot left burned lines across the ceiling, just missing Salt as he maneuvered sharply to regain an advantage.

“Salt, stop it!” I shouted to him. Yet, he was still too far gone to hear me, just like Hardcase was. In thirty seconds flat, the room had devolved into a warzone between two armies of one. And if I didn’t do something, they were liable to kill each other like this.

Looking over toward where the queen had died, a soft pink glow was still nestled in the smallest patch of clean floor surrounded by goop. The crystal! That’s the source of all of this, so it’s gotta be the key. I have to destroy it, it’s the only way to stop this madness!

Stepping over into the goo, I found it squish under my forehoof. As I reflexively brought my forehoof up, the goop hardened around it, caking into what might as well have been stone. Shit. Looking back, it was at least another few steps in the goo. If it hardened around me and I got stuck now, that was it. Hardcase or Salt would end up dead, and then shortly after one of them won, I was dead.

Stepping forward, I put my other forehoof in, and then pulled it out of the goo again. Gee, if only my stupid fucking wings were good enough to let me hover like a normal pegasus, this would be east! Maybe… if I’m just fast enough…

Taking a deep breath, I flared my wings and pushed off with all four legs. My bounding leap splashed me down halfway toward the gem, and coated my legs with more of the go. Using my wings, I flapped hard and pushed off with my legs. I could feel the goo start to harden tighter around me as I hopped about half the distance left to go. This time when I came down though, the goo was thicker, and the splash sprayed onto my wings.

Still, I flapped for my life and kicked off again. With a solid ‘pop’, my prosthetic dried into the goop, but my stump bounded free. The weight of the solidifying goop had weighed me down even more this time, and again, I hadn’t quite made it. My good rear hoof landed into the hole my forehoof had made, as my stone caked forehooves plunged into the goop yet again.

Furiously I began to wiggle my hoof around to smear on and collect as much goop as I could. I screamed as I struggled to drag my left forehoof upwards before the gluey goop set. Finally after quickly coating what seemed like a gallon of it on, and using all of my strength, I pulled it clear of the rest of the puddle. Dear Celestia was it heavy as fuck now!

But I just needed one fucking hoof free! That was it!

The hissing and snarling deathmatch going on in the background halted as two sets of glowing blue eyes had turned to see what all the fuss from me was about. With my forehoof raised into the air, their eyes locked onto the mallet’s worth of green stone solidified on my leg. Then, their eyes dropped to the floor, looking at the naked crystal sitting just next to me.

They both hissed as the two of them gave up trying to kill each other in favor of trying to charge me. And while I was glad they’d finally decided to be ‘friends’ and work together, I wasn’t happy that I was now their target! I gave out my own howling scream, and with as much force as I could, I swung my hoof down at the crystal.

A bright pink light filled the room as my hoof came down on the shard. There was a high pitched ringing that picked up in volume as the light faded with a crunch. The room fell into complete darkness for a moment. Then, there was a sharp blast, and I was knocked back into the quiet darkness.

“Night?”

The voice of a mare spoke out from the darkness.

“Night, honey. It’s time to wake up.” It was… my mother’s voice.

I groaned as the sound of a beeping hospital machine came from next to me. My body was numb, thanks to whatever painkiller I’d been given. What even happened? The last thing I remember was…

“There’s a good boy.” The voice of my mother spoke up again, but this time from right next to me. “Mother’s here to make you all better again.”

Opening my one eye, I gave out a gasp and sat up sharply. However, a pair of hooves pressed stiffly against my chest, forcing me back down into the soft bed I’d been laid into. The hooves that held me were colored as blue as the sky. Looking over so my good eye could see, I felt my breath leave me as a wavy mane the color of the blazing sun ringed my mother’s face.

“M...mom?” My mind didn’t care that I was out of breath, forcing me to croak out what felt like the single most important word in my life.

“Of course, honey. Who did you expect?” She smiled and gave me a soft tap on the chest. “A good mother would never abandon her son.” Slowly, she dragged the old wool blankets from the side of the hospital bed up and over me. Giving out a hacking, gasping caught, my lungs reminded me that I needed air to live. “Now you just concentrate on getting some rest.”

“But… the Enclave… they said you were dead…” I managed out between gasping breaths. How could she be alive? Unless… maybe she’d actually been declared a dashite! Violet said that she thought her family might have been told she died, and…

“Enclave?” Mom scrunched up her muzzle and gave me an incredulous smirk. “I don’t know who that is, but it’s not proper for a colt your age to believe such lies.” Stripping the wires that connected me to the medical machines, her words made me freeze up.

“You… you’re not my mom. She loved the Enclave.” The words slip out of my muzzle, making the imposter freeze up. “No, mom’s dead. So who the fuck are you?” Was this Salt? Was this some sort of sick attempt to try to repay me for the loss of my father?

“Alice?” Salt’s voice called from down the hall, making the imposter-mom stiffen up and stand up straight. “Alice, you better not be in there again!” Salt’s annoyance bled through the air as I heard him galloping down the hallway toward whatever room I was in. Sticking his head in, the grey speckled pegasus I’d always known him as stuck his muzzle into the room and shot an angry glare at her. “Oh, are you fucking kidding me? What was the one thing I told you not to do?”

“I was merely attempting to treat the patient.” This ‘Alice’ mare spoke up while standing tall to project toward him. “However I was not given the requisite information to complete the character profile. You neglected to inform me that the parent was deceased.”

“Of course I didn’t tell you! Because you were just supposed to check on his vitals and leave, not masquerade as anyone!” Growling, he dragged is forehoof down his muzzle. “Resume Redheart protocol and go do a full inventory of the stocks. You’d think for a ‘learning machine’, you’d learn to listen to do what you’re told.”

With a green flare, my mother dropped away with a flash. What existed for a moment, was a ponytron sized machine. However, instead of the blocky pony shaped metal I’d unfortunately seen before, bulbous black ceramic plates with an eerie green glow under them formed the general size and shape of a pony. A sharp spike of a horn glowed brightly before another wave of green flame enveloped the machine.

What stood next to me now, was a starkly white middle aged mare dressed in a traditional Ministry of Peace nurse's outfit. She had a pinkish mane that was tied up in a taut bun, and a light pink tail tied up just the same. A cutie mark of a red cross sat across her flank, and the projection of it was so detailed that I could see the individual colored furs that made it up.

“As you wish. If you need me, just call.” The mare nodded and then promptly trotted out of the room.

“Ugh.” Salt sighed and hung his head. “I’m sorry, she’s… hard to keep tabs on sometimes.”

“Whatever, I just… didn’t need a reminder that I’ll never see my mom again.” I sighed and pushed myself to sit up. “Regardless, can you explain just what the hell happened?”

“Well, you destroyed the shard, Night. You saved Alabaster and I from tearing each other apart. And now with the queen actually dead? I can feel love again.” Salt offered me a comforting smile, but it faded after a moment. “You did more than just save me, Night… you let me be myself again. I don’t think I could ever tell you how much that means to me, even after all that’s happened...” He paused, flushing white for a moment as he hung on those words. “Or do you mean what happened overall? Like, with Four Peaks?” That… was something I still wanted an answer from, but had reserved myself to never actually get. “I guess I do have quite a lot to explain to you about that.” With a sigh, he walked himself over to the end of my bed and sat down.

While I more than anything wanted to hear what he had to say about it, all I could think was that Dad was dead, and that would never change. I’d already come to terms with that, and while Violet was going to take some time to get over as well, it would happen. My time making mistakes in the wasteland has taught me that I can’t dwell on them. I just need to keep moving forward, and I can only do that if others move forward with me.

“I… don’t care.” I spoke up softly. While it was yet another case of tossing words from my muzzle, I meant exactly what I said. “I kept asking myself why it had to happen. What went wrong. What did you have to do with it?” He looked at the floor and hung his head. “But even though my whole life came tumbling down, I’ve since realized that it will never go back to the way it was.”

“Night, that’s…” He began, but I wasn’t finished.

“I forgive you, Salt.” I shouted out. “I don’t care anymore because I’ve moved on. I’ve made new mistakes, I’ve made new friends, I’ve found love in the wasteland. Those things, both the good and bad, are more important to me than anything that will ever come from my past now.” Offering him a smile, I felt a little light headed as I spoke only the words that came directly from inside me. “And I think, maybe it’s time for you to move on from the past as well, Salt.”

A soft clapping came from outside the doorway to my room. A smug looking purple unicorn walked around the corner and offered me a sad smile. But I couldn’t have worn a happier smile across my muzzle to see Hardcase again.

“I’m sorry you had to come rescue me, Night.” Hardcase sighed. “I can’t imagine what you went through to earn the scars you’ve got now, but even so, you still came for me.”

“Delilah said you were missing, after…” My words died in my throat as Hardcase slumped a bit.

“Yeah. I… still can’t believe she’s gone. I knew what happened here a decade ago, and when I came, I thought maybe I could feel her love again through the crystal until I just wasted away in solitude.” He gave a sniffle, but looked up again at me with a teary eyed smile. “But I can’t just give up, and you helped me to see that today. Violet wouldn’t have wanted me to lay down and die. She was a fighter, just like you are, Night.”

“I miss her too.” I felt a tear run down my cheek as my eyes watered as well. “I’m just… happy you’re okay, you know?”

He gave a whimpering nod before he all but sprinted over to my bed. He wrapped his hooves around me, pulling me into a hug that I could barely feel through the painkillers. I did the same, and held him tightly as we both sobbed. Salt, while he didn’t cry, did stray close enough that both Hardcase and I pulled him into the hug.

After a few minutes, both Hardcase and I had worked through enough shared tears to fill a bathtub, and we all broke off. While I didn’t go anywhere, I did lay back in the comfy hospital bed as Hardcase excused himself to be alone for a few minutes. Which of course, left Salt and I back together.

“So…” He spoke up, breaking the couple minute’s silence between us. “I hate to rush you, but… we kind of have to get going.”

Oh, shit! I forgot we needed to get out of here before Tephra came back to the island. Forcing myself to sit up, I threw the blankets off of me and scooted myself to the end of the bed. It was at that point that I realized that I was no longer covered in any more of that green stone goo stuff. And while my wings could use a good preening, I loved the feel of how light they were when they weren’t weighed down by that weird shit.

“Woah, easy there.” Salt said, reaching down and scooping something up from below the end of the bed. “You’re probably going to need this.” Raising his hoof, he held out my prosthetic leg to me. “I… hope you don’t mind. It seemed to be in pretty rough shape, so I cleaned and fixed it up a bit.”

It had indeed been cleaned off, and overall, it looked like it had been polished up to a near shine. It had even been somewhat repaired like he said, having been bent back into the shape it was before that junk cannon tore it off of me.

“Thanks.” I gave him a smile and took it. “You’re right, we should probably get going.” Slipping the ceramic cup over my stump, I gave a sigh of relief to feel it lightly suction up against me again. “It’s going to take us an absolute age to get back up top with all those hallways to wind through.”

“Yeah, that’s no longer an issue.” Salt gave a wavering grin. “See, it took us so long to get down there because I’d thought the queen was killed when the hive was breached. Obviously… you saw she wasn’t quite as dead as I’d thought.”

“So… that was the magic you were talking about earlier?” I asked, getting a short nod in return. “I guess it’s not impossible to navigate through after all.”

“Plus, as you’ve probably noticed by the shining lights everywhere, Hardcase and I managed to get the power back on in this place.” He held out his hoof to me. “Which means we can skip the stairs and just ride the elevator.” Taking his hoof, I scooted myself off the bed and got myself standing again.

“Oh, thank the goddesses for that.” I breathed a sigh of relief and shared a chuckle with him.

“But… Night?” He spoke up softly. “I know you said you think I should move on, but… I think I’m going to stay here for a while.”

“What?” I asked him with what probably looked like the most dumbfounded expression anypony has ever held.

“I mean, the Hive has everything I need for now. Thanks to the queen selfishly hiding it from us all, it’s pretty much still a well stocked bunker. And as dumb as she can be for a robot, Alice can keep me company for now.” Salt gave a forced chuckle before rubbing at his neck. “And I was thinking… if Boxer, Pepper and I could have survived out there all these years, then maybe some others did as well. Hell, before I met your friend without his disguise on, I thought our breed was the only one to have survived the war, seeing as we never heard from any of the other hives.”

“Pepper?” I asked him bluntly. While I truly didn’t know a damn thing about anypony named Pepper, in the back of my mind, I already knew what he was going to say.

“He… was the drone I went to Four Peaks with. My brother and best friend. ” Salt sighed, closing his eyes and focusing himself on speaking. “He thought I was getting too close to you, that I was getting desperate to feed again. He thought I’d slip up and you’d find out what we really were, and grew more and more paranoid. I tried to reassure him, but he’d already made up his mind. Said he’d create a diversion so that we could escape and find a new place to hide. I… wanted to tell you I was leaving, it didn’t sit right to just lead you on like that to then just disappear after what I’d known you’d gone through with your mother. That’s why I wanted you to come to the cave that day. To say goodbye.”

“So… he caused the accident.” I felt my eye twitch. “I… don’t know what to say.”

“Trust me when I say he never would have purposefully done anything to harm anypony.” Salt whimpered. “I don’t know what happened on that cloudship, but it was never supposed to end up that way. He had no idea what he was doing, but still he tried to help save us. I should have gone with him, should have stopped him from even going into that ship.”

So that was it. The reason I’d been cast down into this hellhole of a wasteland. The reason my father was dead. An accident that not even Salt could answer for.

I’m cursed, I get that, I’ve accepted it. But that didn’t make this feel any more like this was just one fucking step too far, even for a curse. I’m glad that I’ve come to have such loving friends down here, but… to officially call it an accident? It just feels hollow. Maybe it couldn’t have ever been stopped, I don’t know. But there’s nothing I can ever do to bring back my father. And in looking back at Salt, I realized that nothing would ever bring back his brother either.

“Then we both lost someone we cared about.” I wasn’t going to lie, this information hadn’t quite hit me like I thought it would. Again, I felt numb to the information, and just filed it away in my mind to care about later. “And while I can’t forgive him for killing my father, I’m sorry you had to lose a brother.”

“That’s fair, and thank you.” Salt nodded and gave me a soft tap on the shoulder. Looking up to me with a smile he stretched his forehoof out to the door. “Shall we go, then?”

“Yeah.” I nodded and took a deep breath. “Let’s get Hardcase, and we’ll go.”

The trip back to the surface went faster than I’d thought. The elevator ride up was minutes, the walk up the cave path another ten. But as we came out of the cave, and the dark hues of night time started to overtake the orange skies, I hesitated to walk any further.

“So…” I spoke, turning to Salt. “We’re here for another day, but then we’re continuing south.” I fought against the tight feeling in my chest as I looked at Salt’s genuine, but small smile. “This… is goodbye then.”

“I guess it is.” He nodded and looked up to the sky. “But that’s how it needs to be, right? We both need to move on, and this is part of it.”

“Oh come on.” Hardcase gave me a firm pat on the side. “You’re acting like this is goodbye forever. You could always come back up and visit in a few years, Night.”

“Yeah, that’s true. Except there’s a teeny tiny problem with that…” I cringed as I glanced over to Salt.

“Tephra.” He deadpanned as he glared off into the sky.

“Exactly.” I nodded. “You see, there’s this crazy fucking…”

“No, shut up.” Salt spoke in a hissing snap as he wrapped my muzzle in some sort of muting magic. Raising his hoof, he sharply pointed to the sky. “Tephra is back.”

Though his form mostly blended into the darkening skies, the green glow in his chest was easy to pluck out at a glance. His wide wings beat back the air in brutish sweeping flaps that kicked up dust, even from where we were at the other end of the clearing he was landing at. Held in his claws, was the squirming form of what I assumed to be the stallion from earlier.

“Welcome to my sanctuary, Chosen.” His booming voice was strong, but it was easy to hear that it was more reserved now than in the boathouse. “Enjoy your first impressions of it, for soon you will join the others who I have taken.”

“Are… are those bones!?” The stallion nearly screamed out. “By the goddesses, what happened to them all! What’s going on here!?”

“These are your fellow chosen, the ones I have chosen to save before you.” Tephra gave a sputtering laugh that shot out a gout of green flame into the air. “Why do you not think you deserve a fate such as theirs? Why do you think it was you who I have chosen for this honor?”

“H-honor!?” The stallion screamed, and even though it was getting darker by the moment, I could see the stallion in his grasp squirming in panic. “I… I killed my sister for refusing the goddesses! I have done only as you have requested, as any devout chosen would!”

“Lies!” He snapped out, bringing the stallion closer to his yellow eyes, which glowed as brightly as if they were bonfires themselves. “You asked to be saved by me, you wanted to prove you needed saving. You are WEAK. Only the weak ask for more than the Goddesses gracious gifts. Only through spreading the faith will you ever be rewarded.”

“B-but I tried!” The stallion whined and hammered his forehooves futily against the dragon’s claws. “M-my sister... she…”

“You failed to convert somepony so close to you as a family member.” Tephra snapped, squinting at him. “Somepony whose bond is closer than any other in the wastes, and you failed to show them the glory of the Goddesses. No, you will never help to spread the light, and are thus a hindrance to both the light and the Goddesses. I have chosen you so that, like the others bones you will join, you will not poison the herd. Your culling will strengthen the bonds of the TRULY devout.” Bringing him closer to his muzzle, he gave the frightened stallion a relaxed, indifferent look. “May you find comfort in that while you descend into the pits of Tartarus for the rest of eternity.”

“What!?” The stallion screamed out. “No! Help! Please, I...”

The stallion disappeared in a brilliant flash of balefire that enveloped the dragon’s claw. The sizzling hiss that filled the air silenced him forever. As the flames flickered out, and the dragon lowered his claw from his face, the glowing balefire saturated bones of the stallion clattered out of his grasp and joined the pile down below.

A rhythmic set of low gong like rings carried over the water from the city. Tephris raised up on his haunches, and turned his head around to look in the direction of the sound. With a heavy sigh, he let his massive wings sag across the ground as he deadpanned at the pile of bones.

“Goddesses give me strength… what so urgently requires my attention so close to my time of rest?” He grumbled before turning himself around. Lifting his wings again, he lowered himself down to the ground. “By the prophet’s word, a missionary’s work is never finished…” With a kick that shook the dirt under my hooves, and a beat of his wings that forced me to brace myself against it, Tephra took flight back toward the boathouse.

And thank the goddesses he fucking left. Er, don’t thank them… you know what? Fuck it. Praise Celestia and Luna, but fuck all these fanatical assholes.

“So… that was a thing.” Hardcase gave a nod before pointing to the forest. “So… we just chose any which way to leave then? Sound good to everypony?”

“Yeah, but it would probably be safest to head northwest,” Salt nodded and looked over at me. “To that cabin across the water we were at earlier, remember, Night?”

“Yeah, I remember.” I nodded, stopping when I looked back over to Hardcase’s unicorn form. “But… we flew across. So…”

“Well, his wings might not work, but he could always just ‘shoo bee doo’ his way across…” Salt shrugged before disappearing in a flash of green fire. When the fire dissipated, what sat before me was a turquoise colored pony… that had an elongated scaled rear end that kinda looked like that of a fish. Oh goddesses, is that what seaponies looked like? Fuck that’s weird…

“Not a bad seapony impression.” Hardcase shrugged. “Seen better, but not bad.”

“Every changeling’s a critic.” Salt rolled his eyes as he transformed back into his smiling self again. “But seriously, take care out there you two.”

“Yeah,” I nodded, reaching over and quickly giving Salt one last hug. “You too.”

Hardcase and I both gave waves back as we trotted off through the island forest again, making our way back toward the beach. Once there, I had to squint for a few moments before I could vaguely make out where the cabin across the water was nestled in the woods. But as I spread my wings, ready to fly, I found Hardcase reach out and stop me.

“Say, Night.” Hardcase spoke as he gazed across the water. “I know I already thanked you, but… I was in a seriously bad way.” He paused as I’m sure he was remembering his favorite times he spent with Violet. “But while she may have had that whole thing with Solomon going on, Violet believed in you more than anypony else on the crew.” Breaking his longing gaze, he looked over to me and nodded. “That being said, she and Delilah believe in you, and while you may already know that, just know that I believe in you too. Hell, the whole crew likes you, and it really tore them apart when you disappeared like you did.”

“Thanks, Hardcase.” I spoke softly, reaching my wing over and pulling him warmly against me. “That means a lot to me, even if I do screw up all the time. But that’s why I’m going to do what I can to make it up to each and every one of you. Hopefully without screwing that up as well.”

“Well, we all screw up now and again. No sense in getting all tripped up over it.” He smirked as he looked back over across the water. As he did, his look shifted to one of doubt. “Do… you think that excuse will work on Delilah? She’s not too worried about me I hope…”

“Oh, she’s going to be pissed no matter what.” I sighed and gave him a few pats with my wing. “But take it from the guy who’s been on her bad side since he joined this trip. It’s going to suck, but you’ll get through it alright.”

Author's Note

As always, a huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his dedication in helping to clean these chapters up before launch. You're the best, man.

And of course, many thanks to Kkat for both Fo:E and letting us all use the setting as we please.

Chapter 39 - Dawn of Bombay

It doesn't matter what you do. It only matters what you say you've done, and what you say you're going to do.

The next hour was spent trotting all the way around the lake in order to get back toward the settlement. While Hardcase hadn’t had any problem transforming into a sea-pony, which was still really fucking weird by the way, he was concerned about using his magic now. I hadn’t thought about it before, but he was afraid that in the dark of night it may attract the attention of any one of the guards patrolling around the shores. Guess there was a downside for magic users over us Pegasi and Earth ponies.

Doesn’t absolve them of being cheaters in my eyes though...

However, we reached the gates without much of a problem other than the darkness of night reminding me that I was glad to have somepony else with me. After a ten minute exchange trying to tell the pony guarding the entrance of the settlement that we weren’t raiders, we were finally let in. And as if it were as simple a change as night to day, the second we passed through the gate, I felt a smile pull across my muzzle.

I’d done it. Not only did Salt and I save Hardcase, but nopony had to suffer because of it! Well… no innocent pony if you care to count Salt’s now dead queen, or that murderous stallion that Tephra melted. But if I counted Hispano, and I’m counting Hispano, that makes this two wins for the day without fucking things up!

Trotting further inside the safety of the thick walls surrounding the settlement, I finally felt like I was allowed to breathe a bit easier. Giving out a yawn that Hardcase shared, I became acutely aware of just how exhausted I was. Even with as much as my body ached for it, I didn’t want to go to sleep yet. There was still so much to be done, and… I still wanted to talk with Buck.

“Happy…” Hardcase blurt out oddly. He pushed past me, trotting towards the neon lit entrance to that ship shaped whorehouse. Slipping shakily out the door, was one floral print tee shirt-wearing bastard of a mule. He perked one of his ears and looked around groggily in the dark for us.

My legs, while tired, didn’t need much convincing to move up to a canter. I quickly passed Hardcase, and the sound of my hoofsteps became something Happy must have picked up on. As I walked through the light of one of the roaming floodlights from the wall, he all but froze up at the sight of me.

“N-night!?” He gasped out. “You’re ali…?”

He made it about halfway through before I reared up and forehoof kicked him the same way I’d done to Solomon. Dropped him to the dirt just about as easily too, though to his credit, he was still conscious. Groaning and whining, but still definitely awake.

“Night, what the hell!?” Hardcase snapped as he ran up and used his magic to drag me back a good bit. Quickly hoofing at the grounded stallion, he received an annoyed bat from Happy’s hoof as he offered to help him back up.

“Yeah…” Happy whimpered as he rubbed at his chin. Slowly, he pulled himself out of the dirt before dusting off his red print shirt. “What the hell was that for?”

“I sat there waiting for you to finish up in there, and while I waited, I happened to hear the most fantastic bit of information from one of the mares you’ve spent time with.” Snapping at him, not only did I instantly capture Happy’s direct but confused gaze, but also Hardcase’s. “Yeah. Turns out, you’ve been telling every whore along this trip every little bit of Delilah’s plans!”

“Wait, what!?” Hardcase shook his head in disbelief. “Come on, you can’t expect…”

“You want to know how I’m not dead right now?” I cut off Hardcase as I spat at Happy. “I lied to Solomon, telling him I’d work for him in order to get back to the convoy. But in order to sell it, I had to come here and talk to his contact. Who, low and behold, bought you a few extra drinks just to loosen your lips.”

“Happy…” Hardcase shuttered, slowly turning his glare to the now incredibly nervous looking mule. “Is that… how could you?”

“I… I didn’t mean to!” Happy stammered, taking a step back. “It’s just… sometimes things slip out when I drink, and…”

With a swift kick of his forehoof, Hardcase sent Happy down to the ground again. This time, he didn’t moan or whimper. From the fact that he’d gone completely rigid, I was pretty sure that he was down for the count this time.

“Fucking asshole.” Hardcase seethed, taking a few deep breathes before enveloping Happy’s unconscious form in his magic. “Oh, Delilah’s going to be pissed when she hears this.” Fuck yeah she was. Hell, the image in my head earlier of him getting his flank beaten by her might actually have been correct. Though, this time it would be with Hardcase safe and sound helping to beat him as well.

“Wait…” Hardcase stopped mid-step to perk his ears. “Do you hear that?”

Perking my own ear and a half, I swiveled them as I looked around. In the search lights that cut through the dark from the perimeter walls, I couldn’t hear more than a few squeals as they moved. The sound of ponies conversing and dancing to music in the ship beside us was also fairly easy to pick up. However, as I looked across the settlement, while I didn’t hear anything odd, I did see a pair of red lights flickering in the night sky toward the mountains.

“Buzzbombers…” Hardcase whispered to me as he became incredibly tense. “Night, we need to…”

For a third time in as many minutes, Hardcase was cut off before he could finish. A piercing train whistle came from the central round structure in the settlement, and in a nearly unified fashion, all the searchlights tilted to the skies. Dozens of ponies scrambled out from their various shacks, bolting for defencive positions along the walls.

My eyes drifted back toward the skies again. The two lights, had multiplied to six now, and the soft buzzing I’d heard when in the city earlier, resonated through the steel and glass canyons of downtown. The soft, but still audible bell I’d heard at the medical settlement rang out as well, and like here, their own lights swiveled up toward the sky as well.

“Come on, Night!” Hardcase shouted as he started to drag Happy off with his magic. “We have to get back to the convoy where it’s safe before they come down on us!”

Nodding, I picked up my hooves and galloped after him. It was a nightmare in the dark to navigate across the hundreds of different sets of train tracks here. Nearly a dozen times I almost tripped and fell. As we approached the looming and dark form of Bertha, I somehow managed to hook my prosthetic under one of the rails. With a fleshy pop it was yanked off of me, and I struggled to hobble my momentum to a stop.

“Fuck!” I snapped as I whipped around. Tracing myself back, I could hardly identify the tracks on the ground without the aid of the searchlights, let alone my prosthetic. “No, no, no!” I muttered about the same time as I saw the glint of something on the ground. If not for the highly polished finish that Salt had put on it, I might never have found it again.

Quickly hoofing it over to me, I sat down on one of the frigid metal tracks and shoved it against my stump. All the while, the ominous buzzing noise from the approaching aircraft was joined by the noise of something that sounded similar to a vertibuck. At first I thought it might have been that other aircraft I’d seen decimate the skyraiders before, but this was a new sound. One that was much choppier, and gave a unique sounding thumping along with the whining it’s arcano-engine gave off.

“Night!” Hardcase snapped as he doubled back to my side. “Get to cover!”

“I thought everyone said they didn’t come into these mountains!” I snapped at him as I finally forced my leg back on. Quickly getting back to my hooves, the two of us scrambled to get underneath Bertha’s front right tire.

“Most!” He snapped back as he dropped Happy to the cold dirt with an unceremonious thud. “Most of them aren’t crazy enough to do it!”

“Gunship!” One of the ponies along the wall screamed out before letting off a wild barrage of shots from whatever automatic weapon they were using. Both the shouting of ponies, and the sounds of their guns quickly became drowned out as the odd sounding aircraft approached the settlement.

I peeked my eye around the back of the tire as the choppy noise reached a peak, starting to blast the ground around us with clouds of dust from the force of whatever was keeping it aloft. Looking to where I’d seen the lights coming from in the sky, I was met with a series of explosions from deeper in the city. The buzzing jet engines were hard to hear over the noise above us, but still cut out one by one as blast after blast filled different parts of the ruined city.

I was forced to squint as I looked further upward, finding an oval shaped craft sitting stationary above us fifty or so feet in the air. Two tubular skids hung underneath the craft, while a long tail held a small quickly spinning propeller on the rear. But the biggest thing that threw me off, was instead of the twin propellers like all vertibucks had, this thing could hover about on just one large propeller on top of it.

Overall, it reminded me of some of the old griffonchaser crafts in the Enclave museum of mechanical flight. However, those were simple machines powered by ponies themselves, and weren’t nearly as advanced as what I was looking at now. On top of that, they definitely didn’t have the large spinning barrels of a magical energy weapon sticking out the side of it…

The buzzing crackle of shots that the gatling laser gave off as it fired sounded like a roar of thunder. The bright pink streaks of magical energy that lit up the night tore across the inside of the perimeter wall, leaving a glowing line of melting concrete and ashen pony remains.

My mane stood on end as a pair of shrieking rockets were loosed from the hovering craft. The two rockets shot through the air, arcing down to slam into the gate that Hardcase had only walked through minutes ago. The blast tore the metal gateway to shreds, blinding both Hardcase and I momentarily, and the two of us could feel the heat as the fireballs rose up into the night. The gate itself was torn apart from the concussive blasts, and part of the wall itself collapsed from the strike, burying the ponies at the checkpoint under slabs of broken concrete and steel.

The air shook as what sounded like a cannon going off nearby blasted Hardcase and I with even more dust. My hearing disappeared as a bright flare lit up the air and forced me to shield my eye from the light. The skyraider vehicle exploded, tearing itself apart as whatever had fired utterly destroyed it. I cringed and hugged myself against the back of Bertha’s tire again as the flaming and twisted wreckage of the vehicle came crashing down fifteen feet away or so. Again the air shook from the blast that it’s wreck gave off, and I could feel the heat of it even from the safety of behind the tire.

As my hearing began to return slightly, I followed Hardcase’s gaze across the underside of Bertha. In the light of the inferno that the aircraft had become, I could see the slowly lowering cannon barrel of Bessy smoking in the cold night air. The hatch to the turret lifted up, and out from it, a contented looking Howitzer poked his head out to observe his hoofwork with his own eyes. With a nod to himself, he disappeared back inside the zebra striped vehicle as if this had been nothing but a minor inconvenience.

Hardcase tapped me on the side, almost making me jump right out of my prosthetic. Looking over at him, he flicked at his ears with his hoof and then shrugged. Hefting Happy up with his magic again, he pointed toward Bertha above us. I nodded, figuring that we should probably get somewhere a bit safer than here for the moment.

“What the hell happened out there?” Cora grumbled as he forced Happy’s eyelids open with his talon. He was still unconscious when we’d laid him out across the rec area couch, but now he was softly snoring. As Cora pinned Happy’s eyelids back, he shined a small flashlight into his eyes before letting go and letting his eyelids snap shut again.

“If it wasn’t obvious…” Hardcase sighed, wiping at the bit of healing potion still dribbling down his ear. “There was a bit of a skyraider attack.”

“That’s not what he’s talking about.” Delilah grumbled from her doorway. While we’d quickly been treated, she’d spent the last couple of minutes glaring at us silently in turns. Guess Hardcase was up first for scolding. “Night, you and Cora went out to find my son hours ago, and you bring him back like this?” Okay, scratch that. Guess I’m up first.

“He was at the whorehouse.” I tried my best to keep my muzzle from stepping over the line by telling her to lay off me for a bit. “He’s been leaking information to Solomon, who’s been paying off the whores to get it out of him with free booze.”

“Really.” She gave a flat grunt as she pulled her eyes off of me and landed them onto Happy. “That is… disappointing to hear.”

“That being said,” Cora shook his head as he took a step back from the still snoring Happy. “I’m not sure you two should have given him a concussion over it.”

Oh really? I’m pretty sure that’s going easy on him for giving information to that slimy disgusting bastard of a stallion. I may owe everyone on this crew one hell of an apology for making them think I was dead, but sweet Celestia, Happy’s going to wish he were dead when the others hear about this…

“Night, Alabaster.” Delilah snapped, instantly focusing my mind and attention back on her. “I’ll let you off the hook seeing as he deserved it. However, you will tell nopony else about this.” Turning, she jabbed her hoof toward Cora. “That goes for you too. I will see to his punishment, but I don’t need any more shakeups with crew morale. As far as anyone else knows on this crew? Violet and Happy never said a single word to Solomon outside of berating him. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, ma’am.” The three of us spoke in near unison.

“On that note.” She snorted again, turning and softening her gaze if only slightly toward Hardcase. “I’m glad to see you back and well, Alabaster. If you need to talk, about anything…” She offered a smile that was similar to the one she’d offered me in Destruction Bay. Small, but genuine. “Just remember, my door is always open to you.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” He nodded, offering her a forced smile in return.

Delilah straightened herself up before turning around and walking back into her room. Her tail whipped around the edge of the door, pulling it closed behind her with a soft shutter. As it shut, Cora gave out another sigh and turned to head into my container, slowly sitting himself down in the doorway to watch the still sleeping form of Hispano.

“Well,” Hardcase looked like all the stress he’d been carrying over the last few days evaporated all at once. He nearly stumbled back onto his haunches as he turned around toward me. “I don’t know about you, but I think I’m about ready to call it a night.”

“Yeah, you get some rest.” I nodded and looked out into the dark settlement beyond the lit interior of the Hauler’s rec area. “I think I’m going to go see if I can find Buck. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Oh no you’re not.” Cora grunted before tightly wrapping his talons around my wings. I gave a whine as he pulled me backwards along the floor toward my container. “You’re not going to cause any more trouble tonight.” With an unceremonious shove, I was dumped onto the floor inside my own room. “You’re injured enough as it is, so you’re going to get some sleep and fully rest up.” He must have known I was going to speak up, because the moment I turned to do so, his Talons wrapped around my muzzle and held it shut. “No arguments. The Doc will be back tomorrow and you can speak with him then.”

Slowly, he removed his talon from around my muzzle, and I let a sigh escape it.

“Alright.” I nodded and picked myself up off the floor. I know he’s right, and that if I ran off now I’d most likely just get into more trouble. And besides, it’s not like we’d leave without Buck, and what I need to tell him won’t disappear after a few hours worth of sleep. No matter how much I wanted it to, at least.

As Cora left the doorway, his tail pulled the door shut behind him, leaving me standing alone in the container. Well, not truly alone. Looking over, Hispano was still curled up asleep on her bed next to her sister. The meds Cora had given her had already done a lot to make her look a bit better, though no meds would ever fix what I’d put her through.

Climbing up into Buck and I’s bed, I laid myself down and nearly felt myself melt into the lumpy old mattress. Yes, it was just like most other mattresses now, in poor shape and moldy. However, this one smelled like Buck, and though I missed him, it was good to be back home.

Thinking for a moment, I rolled myself over and hung my head down over the edge. There, underneath the bed, were the saddlebags I received from Mrs. Spring Leaf back on the Inuvik. Beside them, was Buck’s medical yoke. I had just enough reach to drag it over to me and pull it out. The bright patch of splintered wood from the round it took back in the ammo depot was more glaring to me after the last few days.

Casting those thoughts aside with another yawn, I pulled it close all the same and hugged it tightly. Another reminder of the task at hoof tomorrow of talking with Buck. But for now, just having even his yoke in my hooves was enough to help me drift off into a wonderful, albeit lonely sleep.

With tears in my eyes, I galloped down the hallway away from our apartment. Ducking around the corner to the other side of the building, I nearly tripped on a bit of uneven cloud. Stumbling, I broke down. I sat there for the next ten minutes crying. Not because of what happened at school, or because Mom and Dad were fighting. It was because I didn’t know who I was. I was fourteen, and I didn’t understand all these feelings I had for stallions, and dresses, and why my stupid wings didn’t even work right.

“You’ve made progress, Night.” the voice of a mare interrupted my sobs. My vision rippled like water, and from out of thin air, stepped Lilac Lace. Wait, I was dreaming again… wasn’t I? Looking up at her, she flashed a toothy grin that, from in front of her yellow slit eyes, looked more sinister than I knew it was. “Yes, you’re adapting well to the wasteland.”

“Hah, you think this is adapting.” I poked at my missing eye, only to whine as I poked a very real feeling eye. “What the…” Picking myself up off the floor, I wiped the tears from my eyes and looked over myself. Even my real hind leg was still sitting under my flank.

“You can do anything in a dream, Night. You can be anything. Let me show you an example, as I sculpt what you’ve long desired to feel.” Lilac flared her enormous alicorn wings out with a snap. The wind that she generated blasted away the cloud apartments, leaving the both of us soaring high through the bright summer skies. It… it felt so real. Flying just like any other pegasus could, it was hard to remind myself that it was just a dream when I finally felt so… free.

“This is true for the waking world as well, Night.” She continued as she flew next to me. “I’ve seen what you’ve done since we last spoke, seen the memories even now you’re trying to bury from yourself.”

“Why?” While I know I need all the help I can get, Lilac had a town to take care of. Sure things hadn’t gone well for me, but I’m doing what I can! Surely she had better things to do than to foalsit...

My thoughts were interrupted as she gave out a haughty laugh.

“Oh, don’t worry about Klondike. Things here are better than ever now that everypony is playing the part they were meant to.” With a lazy flap of her wings, she propelled herself through the air around me, orbiting me with a wide smile. “And I am far from foalsitting you. I’m merely using the gifts that mother left me with to… check in on some of my sisters. A pair happened to be in the same settlement that you are in now, so I thought I’d see what progress you’ve made. Tell me, have your recent experiences made you think about who you are at all?”

“I… don’t want to talk about it.” I could feel my mind pushing against her control of the dream, desperately trying to claw through images of what happened with Violet. “Why don’t you tell me about the old world? How things used to be for you?”

As she reached the peak of her orbit above me, her enormous form blocked out the sun. Looking up, I found her piercing eyes glaring down at me. Without warning, I found her dive, and I let out a scream as we both plummeted downward. But after only a moment, instead of hitting whatever ground lay below, we impacted a soft cloud.

“W-what are you doing!?” I gasped, panting as my heart beat heavily against my ribs.

“You’re deflecting.” She snapped, and as she did, I found the cloud under my back replaced with near frozen pavement, and the bright blue skies above replaced with jagged mountainside of Drake Pass. Scraps of metal sat littered about around me as the sound of the road crew shooting felt so far away again. There, on the ground beside me, was not Violet. Instead, it was Lilac Lace, laying in the exact same spot. “A pony is defined by what they accomplish, and that includes their mistakes. You cannot hide when they make up so much of who you are.”

“Why!” Growling, I pushed myself up to my hooves. “Why is it so fucking important to you that I ‘know who I am’? Why does anypony even care!?”

“Because you don’t.” Lilac snorted as she too picked herself up. With another wave of her wings, the scenery of the pass blew away like dust in the wind, and just like that, we were flying again. She gave out a sigh and pouted slightly as she looked about the open skies, as if looking for something out along the horizon. “Until you know who you are, you will never be as free as this.”

“But I don’t know how to even figure that out!” I hung my head, closed my eyes, and just enjoyed the feeling of the wind under my wings. But in the silence that followed that, I felt a nagging thought in the back of my head that the words I’d just spoken, weren’t true.

“Deep down, you know how to work things out. I watched the memories of your time in the dump. You relied on her strength to keep you going even though you were afraid. Without hesitation, you embraced her, even though she is nothing like who you really are.” Carefully, softly, Lilac reached out with her hoof and put it warmly through my windswept mane. “She’s there inside you, even now. Embrace her, become Bombay, and use her to find out what you so badly wish to know.”

“Bombay?” The voice of Lilac called out, shattering my dream and dumping me momentarily into the darkness. With a panicked jump, I pushed myself to stand up on my bed.

The shock of waking up so suddenly was more disorienting than any dream could ever be, and my tired eyes strained to process the dull fluorescent light inside the container. Looking around, I saw that Hispano was still sleeping on her bed, and there was the soft orange light of morning coming through the gap around the door. Then something big and blue shifted next to me.

“Bombay, we presume?” The hulking alicorn form of Lilac Lace stood imposingly over the side of my bed. “We are sorry if we startled you, but we couldn’t risk keeping the connection up any longer.” With a shimmer, the alicorn faded from sight. When she spoke again, it was from inside my head at the volume of a whisper. “Please. Miss Lace said that you would allow us to stay here for a while, while the rangers are around.”

“What?” I grumbled, reaching up to rub my eyes, but wincing as I ended up sticking my forehoof into the empty socket instead. Fuck, this wasn’t Lilac, this was some other alicorn, wasn’t it. “Look, if you’re going to call down any sort of trouble for being here…”

“No no no, we won’t!” She used a harsh, mental whispering at me. “We just… we need to stay away from the rangers. They don’t hold us in high regard, and one of them has magic that can disrupt our invisibility.”

“Can’t you just fly away?” I asked, facehoofing the moment the words left my muzzle. “Nevermind. I’m sorry I even asked.” Seriously, Night, you can’t even fly well and you hate it when others ask you that shit. Don’t fucking assume that even with big wings like that they can fly. They would have done it already if they could have. “So long as you don’t disturb Hispano’s rest, you can stay as long as you need to in here.”

“Oh, thank you!” The alicorn exclaimed in my mind with what sounded like the intensity of a fog horn. “Oops, sorry. We are still becoming acclimated to being on our own. And we won’t be here long. Just long enough until we can slip past the rangers.” She gave out a mental sigh. “Though, our wings… we don’t know how to use them. Both of us trapped in this form were earth ponies before mother changed us. We would ask if as a pegasus, you would show us, but… as we said, the rangers outside would merely use our clumsy attempts as target practice.”

“It’s fine. I’m not really able to fly all that well either anyway.” With what was halfway a stretch, I lowered myself to the floor. My prosthetic leg gave a light squeak as it pressed against the floor, feeling semi-loose against my stump. I gave it a little wiggle, feeling just the slightest amount of play that I hadn’t realized was there earlier. In going to look at it, my eyes stopped on Hispano’s thinner form. Maybe she wasn’t the only one to lose a bit of weight in the last few days…

“I’m going to get some breakfast.” I turned toward the door, but looked back to where I assumed the invisible alicorn was still sitting. “Do you need anything for your stay here? Food, water, anything?”

“No, we don’t require anything except shelter from the prying eyes outside.” Her voice resonated in my head softly. “Thank you for offering though. We are glad that not everypony in the wastes hate our kind after what Mother did.”

Shrugging that comment off, I let myself out of the container and shut the door again behind me. Just the barest hint of light was peeking over the eastern mountains behind the looming dark cityscape. With a yawn, I trotted over toward the cabinets of the kitchenette and opened them up. Grabbing a bottle of water out, I flicked the cap off and quickly downed it, relieving my parched throat and helping to sharpen my waking senses a bit.

In fact, as I set the bottle down, I heard the hoofsteps of somepony moving around just under the backside of Bertha. Trotting over to the railing at the back of the Rec area, I hooked my forehooves over the bar and peeked down.

There, looking up at Laika’s pod with a quite perplexed gaze, was an orange coated mare wrapped in a crimson colored robe. The robe was made of a nicer material than any I’d seen since leaving the clouds, with apple green trim, and an embroidered logo on the flank that almost looked like one that belonged to one of the ministries.

“Excuse me, ma'am,” The mare called out without taking her eyes off of the pod. “but can you tell me what it is you have chained up there?”

“What?” I asked almost instinctively before glancing down at the pod myself. “Oh, it’s a spaceship. It belongs to Laika and the Ministry of Arcane Sciences.”

“The ministry you say…” She scrunched up her muzzle and brought up her hoof. “Mind if I ask how you came upon such an odd piece of the old world?” She rubbed at her chin, studying the pod with her hidden eyes.

“It came to us.” The yawning words that were nearly yelled out of Hardcase’s mouth almost startled me, but he gave me a pat on the side as he too leaned up against the rec area railing and looked down at the odd mare. “Morning, Bombay. I see you’ve met one of the Galloway rangers.” Tipping his head up, he pointed at her. “The pod fell from the sky, complete with its two century old popsicle pilot still inside. Now it’s my turn to ask. Why are you so interested in it?”

“No reason.” The mare responded quickly. “Just curious was all.” With a quick flip of herself, she turned and started to stiffly walk away.

“Hold it.” Hardcase called out, making the mare freeze up midstep. She finally looked up to us, letting me get a look at the wide, nervous hazel eyes hidden under the hood of her cloak. “Ranger scribes are never just curious about things. Especially things that aren’t theirs.”

“Alright, alright.” A new voice spoke up from directly under the pod. “She didn’t mean to be too nosey.” Out into the open walked a strikingly colored griffon in incredibly dull looking grey combat armor. The magenta, pink and white colors of the griffon’s plumage were almost as bright as the smile across his beak. However, the rectangular quad-tube rocket launcher he wore strapped around his back made me feel like that smile was mostly just for show. “We know you folks don't like it when us rangers intrude on your tech, but this is a fine example of old world history. So can you really blame us?”

“I don’t blame you,” Hardcase offered his own wide smile back to the odd griffon. “We just don’t like it when you take it without even doing so much as asking nicely.” Waving his hoof lazily, another yawn crept its way out of Hardcase’s muzzle. “I feel like we got off on the wrong hoof by insinuating your scribe was looking to take it. And you are…?”

“Not interested in taking it off your hooves either.” The griffon gave a light laugh before sitting back on his hindpaws. “My name is Pastel. Captain of the recovery detail for last night’s attack. My apologies for the intrusion of Scribe Apple Bundt this early in the morning. Once we have this wreck secured, we'll be out of your mane and back to Galloway.”

“What do you want with the wreck?” Even at this early in the morning, my muzzle was already running itself off without asking for permission. Then again, that’s not really out of the ordinary for me...

“The usual, nothing you need concern yourself with.” Pastel gave a shrug as he pulled himself back up to his talons. “But you two have a good day now, alright?” He gave a stiff wave goodbye and practically shoved the robed mare out of sight around the corner of the hauler.

“Huh.” Hardcase remarked as he pushed himself off the railing. “they must be getting desperate for new recruits to have a griffon head a squad these days.”

“Is that not normal?” I had zero idea what was normal in my life anymore, but I’d already accepted that fact. These Steel Rangers were still mostly a mystery to me. I mean, I’d had a bit about them explained to me, but nopony really offered a lot to me other than they were normally bad news to run into.

“The Rangers are a quarter unicorns, with the rest of the ranks being all earth ponies. Normally, they don’t trust any other races to uphold old world pony ideals, you know?” Hardcase began as he gave out a stiff stretch of his back. “As we've sort of touched base on in earlier bits while you were on patrol, they're the leftovers of the Ministry of Wartime Tech, and normally treat said tech with a higher regard than equine lives.” Twisting his muzzle a bit, he gave a thoughtful nod. “Though, the chapters here in the north are more than a bit friendlier than in the far south, so there’s that...” His words drifted off as the sound of voices came from through the floor below us.

“I'm telling you, I heard him! I think Hardcase is back!” Boiler’s muffled voice carried just as much as ever as she stomped up the stairs. With a bump, the floor under my hooves moved, and I steadied myself against the railing. “Darn thing’s stuck again.” Boiler grumbled as I just now realized that I was standing on the hatch. “Just gotta…”

The world turned upside down as Boiler thrust the hatch open so hard that it threw me over the Rec area railing. Thankfully, my forehooves had already been gripped around the iron bars, so when I slammed down against the container wall next to Laika’s pod I only gave out a whimper instead of falling twenty feet down to the cold and painfully solid looking ground.

“You’re alive!” Boiler gasped as she nearly lunged up from the stairwell, grabbing Hardcase who was already trying to help me. Thank the goddesses he had, because it helped Boiler to see my straining hooves still holding onto the railing. “Holy crap! Night, you’re alive too!”

“What!?” Howitzer’s gruff voice resonated through the container wall I was dangling against. With a second forceful shove, both Boiler and Hardcase were moved aside as Howitzer climbed up and gasped as he saw me. “Well I’ll be!” He laughed, reaching out and effortlessly dragging me back up over the bar on his own. “Fuck it’s good to see the both of you back here!”

“You said it!” Boiler added as I found myself pressed between two incredibly big buffalo in what I could only assume was supposed to be a hug. I say that, because as the breath was being pressed right out of my lungs, I was reminded how even Jean’s hugs had been slightly less forceful than this was right now. Never did I think I would ever miss the day when Jean’s hug was ‘softer’ and ‘more comfortable’ than somepony else's.

The groan that came from Hardcase sounded like it was from somewhere next to me as well, but it was hard to tell in the massive piles of fur surrounding us. It made me pine for the moment when I could press myself against Buck again, but as my two buffalo friends pulled back from the hug, I was happy to settle with breathing again. With another gasp, Boiler grabbed around my shoulders and began shaking me.

“Wait, you know what this means now that the two of you are back!?” She asked as more than anything I felt like maybe I should have stayed asleep for another few hours. “Hardcase and I can finish working on that Jumppack of yours! We came back here for some breakfast, but we should totally hit up the trader afterwards to get the rest of the parts!”

“That sounds like an excellent idea.” Hardcase shook his head, pinning himself between his own hooves to stop from wobbling. “I just need to see straight again before we go…” After a few more moments, I felt myself steady as well before Boiler pulled me back into a not-as-tight hug as before. “Night’s also got to be on the lookout for some new gear as well.”

“Oh, you wrecked the Bison? Darn. It’s a shame, they’re so rare these days.” Howitzer sighed, giving me a pat on the side and a warm smile. “But, you made it back here alive, and that’s all that counts.”

“Yeah, sure.” I gave him a nod, but let my gaze drift back out the back of the rec area. While I was definitely glad to be back, and happy to be alive, I can’t really agree that it’s all that counts. But as the thoughts about what it cost to get back here trickled into my mind, the roar of Lilac Lace’s words drowned them out. Don’t be Night, be Bombay. Forcing a wide smile, I looked back to the others and laughed. “You know, the real reason I came back was to get some more of Hardcase’s home cooking.” Prodding at his chest, Hardcase looked surprised. “They’re hungry, I’m hungry. Come on, get to it, buddy!”

“Ugh.” Hardcase rolled his eyes as a smile spread to his muzzle. “I guess I could make some flapjacks if we’ve still got the supplies for them.”

The infectious grins we both wore spread over to Howitzer and Boiler’s broad muzzles as well, and soon enough the three of us were sitting on the couch, listening to the radio as Hardcase cooked up breakfast. As I listened to Howitzer recount how he so valiantly shot down that skyraider last night, I felt the worries I had start to slip away into the recesses of my mind again.

It’s funny how easily I could let go when I pretended to be somepony who had less worries than I did. Lilac had said at least one thing that made sense to me. Bombay wasn’t who I was, but I knew who she was.

Bombay wasn’t new to the wasteland, and she definitely hadn’t made the mistakes I had. She was a smooth talker that bled confidence, a mare who didn’t shy from a fight, and somepony who didn’t break under the tremendous pressure the wasteland put on her. She also had friends who admired her, who she could relax with and have fun around. Bombay wasn’t me, but she fit like a flashy prewar dress, making me feel like nothing in the world could stop me. And just like a dress, this felt… right to me.

The perfect fit the more I thought about it. And while it felt right to me now, I had this nagging feeling that the more I put it on and showed Bombay off, the harder it would be to put her away. I’d already felt that when I talked off to Rook back in that dump, I couldn’t wait to act that way again. But that was a worry for later, for Night to have.

Right now? Bombay was going to have breakfast with her friends.

“Breakfast was fantastic.” I groaned contently as Boiler, Howitzer, and I made our way toward the steps leading down off the Hauler’s reactor cubby. “Best meal I’ve had in days.” I was in a good enough mood that not even the annoying pain that flared up in my socket again could break my stride. That and with Galina’s shotgun strapped to my back, I was actually looking forward to trading it in and getting some new gear.

“Not to nitpick or anything,” Boiler snorted as she shut the door to the icehold behind her. “But both you and Hardcase were gone for days, so… isn’t that a given?”

“Halt!” The amplified voice of a stallion boomed from the bottom of the stairs. Gazing down, I found an enormous metal stallion staring up at me. And when I say enormous, I mean that this guy was the size of Solomon, but about as bulky as a fucking tank. The dark, lifeless eyes of their massive steel head cast an almost judgemental look up at the three of us. Without giving us even a moment to answer, the minigun bolted to the matte steel stallion began to spin up. “This area is restricted to Steel Ranger access only. State your purpose for being here.”

If it wasn’t for the fact that I wasn’t above the cloud layer anymore, I’d be more inclined to think this was a pony in power armor but… it was just so bulky and heavy looking for it to actually be the case. Maybe this was some sort of more advanced ponytron or something? Regardless, it was quite impressively armed and armored, whatever it was...

“Damnit, Apricot!” The ranger griffon we’d talked to earlier squawked out before plodding over. “Stand down and they them pass for Celestia’s sake. They’re just trying to go about their business.”

“Uhh…!” The metal stallion stiffened up and took a few steps back. “S-sorry, Captain.” I didn’t know before now if it were possible for that much metal to look expressive, but the thing almost looked nervous as it shot a hoof up stiffly in salute.

“That’s the third time this week, Knight-sergeant. I’m starting to regret recommending you for that promotion.” Pastel grumbled before giving a rapping knock of his talons against the steel stallion’s head. “Don’t make me bust you back down to Knight before your paperwork is even processed.” A small gasp emit from the metal stallion at that. “Yeah, but I won’t have to if you shape up. Alright, Apricot?”

“Yes sir!” The stallion nodded quickly, still holding up his salute.

“Now, Mallet’s going to need some help getting that wreck onto the flatbed. Why don’t you leave these poor folks alone and go help her with that?” The griffon smiled only long enough for the enormous stallion to pick himself up and leave. The moment he was gone however, Pastel let out a heaving sigh and pressed his talons to his beak. “You’d swear that every time somepony gets promoted into power armor, they let all that power go to their head.” Wait, so that was power armor!? What the fuck! There’s enough metal on that thing to build a fucking tank! “Anyway, our train is running late, so we’ll be around another few hours than I thought. But please, don’t let us keep you any longer.”

“Thanks, now fuck off, ranger.” Howitzer snorted before pushing me to move down the stairs. And while I was perfectly happy getting a move on, as I looked back, I caught the meanest glare I’d ever seen coming from Howitzer. Granted he hasn’t generally been an angry guy so far on this trip, but even so it left me feeling a bit cold just glancing at him.

Like the captain and the power armored guy, the second we were a good distance away, Boiler facehooved herself hard.

“Are you kidding me, Bro?” With a meaty thwack, she smacked him on the side of the head and made him stumble. “Are you trying to get the rangers breathing down our necks again!?”

“Again?” The words slipped out of my muzzle and looked like they bludgeoned both Boiler and Howitzer on the head. Each of them froze with looks of horror and shame before they both decided that it was best to look anywhere but at me.

“Look, we’ll uh… tell you later.” Howitzer sighed. “When those jerks aren’t around.”

“Yeah!” Boiler let out a chuckle that was nowhere near big enough to hide whatever they were trying to gloss over. But, after the last few days, storytime hadn’t been something I’d grown very fond of. “Let’s just go see that old ghoul and get those supplies we need!” Giving an excited wave, she nearly bounded over a set of tracks ahead of us. “Come on already!”

“Actually, can I ask you two something?” I wasn’t quite sure how to put it, but… for better or for worse, I needed to let Bombay run things at the trader. “When we go in, I want to do the negotiating for my saddle and gun.”

“What?” For the second time in as many minutes, Boiler looked like my words physically hit her with the way she nearly stumbled. “Are you sure about that, Night? I don't think it's a good idea.”

“I need to do this.” Looking between Boiler and Howitzer, the way they traded their own looks didn’t fill me with a lot of confidence. Though, that was just all the more reason that I had to do this. Er, I had to let Bombay do this. “Please, just don’t speak up in there, even if I screw it up.”

“Alright…” Howitzer gave a shrug. “If you think you can handle it, I can respect that.”

“Thank you.” Well, I was truly on my own now.

After winding our way across a dozen more rail lines, around a train that was actively being stripped down for parts, and past a very unhappy looking group of Yaks securing their Arcanocycles to a flatbed traincart, we finally reached the far end of the settlement. Here, two rows of old world passenger carts had been converted into shops, with dozens of ponies trying to sell everything from raw materials, to clothes, to even fresh food. The mix of smells and noise was almost nauseating, and the bustle of those milling around between the two tracks almost made my head spin. Thankfully, I found something to focus on, though I wasn’t quite sure what it was. At the entrance, off to the side of the rows of shops, was a hoof painted sign with numbers hung below it.

Ouroboros lockout in:

5 days

“Wh…” I began to say, but immediately shut my muzzle. No. focus, Night. Ask about that shit later. Story time is bad, remember?

I bit my tongue, following Boiler and Howitzer as they lead me toward the cart that was the farthest to the rear. There, at the end of the line and flanked by boxcars filled with rusting scraps, sat a pair of tanks barely able to be wedged between the rail lines themselves. Oddly enough, as we approached, I found that most of the cars on each side of the line here were all either closed down or just plain abandoned. That, and the lack of any other ponies standing around over here also gave a desolate feeling to this section of carts, and I had to fight off the pit in my stomach yet again.

“Celestia,” Boiler gasped, “that must be the wreck they were talking about at Pink Mountain.” She pointed her hoof to the rectangular backside of one of the two tanks parked before us. More than a few dents and gouges defaced the tracked monolith, but a pair of melted and charred black holes sitting in the flat grey painted metal definitely seemed out of place. “Damn, that thing looks like it took a pounding in the rear!” She said before looking back at me and waggling her eyebrows. “You know what that’s like, don’t ya, Night?”

“Ha ha.” I rolled my eyes, letting out a huff that was dwarfed by the one that Howitzer let out.

“Come on, sis.” Howitzer was a pretty laid back guy most of the time, but something about the seriousness in his voice gave me pause, and moreso, gave Boiler pause as well. “Have some respect for the crew.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry.” She relented, hanging her head a bit before peeking up at the tank again. “Wait… just, one moment.” She muttered before she trotted up to the rear tracks of the odd machine. “Ah, well there's the problem right there. Looks like they used spark motors for the drive sprockets. Poor things probably couldn't take the weight of this destroyer anymore and finally gave out, dooming it. Poor crew didn’t even stand a chance at that point.”

Trotting toward the hulking tank as well, I leaned in and looked at the cogged wheel that the tracks wrapped around at the rear. It was hard to see, but there did seem to be some sort of heat damage around where the wheel met the hull. It was way over my head how a machine like this even worked, but I was still amazed that Boiler could understand machinery like she does.

“You can tell all of that by a single tiny scorch mark?” I asked, turning and looking over the rest of the mammoth sized tank.

The tank was more or less rectangular in shape, sporting a fairly long chassis. However, the rear half of the tank also sported a monolith built of heavy plate armor. From the way it was fit together and welded, I could see just how thick the armor was, and dear Celestia, the frontal armor of this thing was almost as thick as a raptor’s steel hull was! And that was even before I got to noticing the massive cannon that jut out from a ball mantlet that was set into the center of it.

“Well, she ain't got a turret on her, which means that if those drives went out, well, there was no way to defend her rear.” Howitzer nodded and gave a light tap on the side of the beast. “Sad how all it takes is one part to fail to turn the whole thing into a deathtrap.”

“Eh?” The voice of a stallion echoed through the metal of the other tank parked beside us. It took me only a moment to see it, but this second tank was remarkably similar to the destroyed one, sporting the same base chassis, and same flat grey paint job. However, this second one lacked the massive monolith of armor at the rear, and instead sported a cylindrical turret at the front. After a moment, a grey horn and pair of ears flicked up over the edge of the cupola on the turret. “Zat is no deathtrap. I know a deathtrap vhen I see one, und it is driven by a respectable zebra friend of mine.”

“We didn’t mean any disrespect.” I called up, getting distracted by a bit of fancy blue writing painted subtly onto the side of the large gunmetal grey turret. Porschia. Huh, what an odd name…

“I vas not scolding you.” The stallion laughed as an old military cap floated up into the air above the open hatch. As he put the hat on, the rest of the stallion pushed himself up out of it. “Though, for you to identify vhat destroyed Olly just by looking at her? That is quite ze talent.” The degradation to him wasn’t as bad as some of the ghouls I’d seen before, but it wasn’t exactly easy to compare considering he wore a thick brown winter coat around his body. Only the leathery grey looking skin near his cracked hooves stuck out for me to see, other than his face of course. Which was also remarkably well preserved for somepony who probably spent more than two centuries fighting in the wastes.

Now that I think about it… maybe that’s why so many ghouls look like crap. I mean, I’ve been down here a short time in comparison, and the wasteland has already torn me apart. The more I look at him, the more I’m becoming convinced that the reason he looks so damn good probably has more to do with the sixty ton tank he’s currently inhabiting than anything...

“Aw, shucks. That’s awfully kind of you to say, Mr…?” Boiler asked, holding her hoof out as the pony started climbing down from the enormous metal machine.

“Ach, moment please...” The stallion spoke in a strained voice as he carefully lowered himself down, first onto the narrow metal track guard, and then down to the ground. Once down, he let out a contented sigh and straightened the pair of round glasses balanced across the end of his muzzle. “Oh, zat climb never gets easier.” With a smirk, he thrust out his hoof and vigorously began to shake Boiler almost off her hooves. “Sergeant Rheinmetall of Her Majesty’s 188th armored vehicle division, und it is a pleasure to meet you in return, miss…?”

“Rheinmetall? Deathtrap?” Howitzer grabbed at his chin in thought for a moment before some light kicked on in his head. “You must be Jack’s friend! I was disappointed when we missed you when we were in Maple Station.” With a wide smile, he shifted his body in a way I’d seen a few others do before, mainly from a certain overly clingy moose. Thankfully, my instincts kicked in and I took a single step back to get out of his way. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you, and I have so much to ask!”

“Jaaa…!” The old ghoul was cut off as he all but disappeared in the fuzzy fur of Howitzer’s hug. “It’s… nice to meet… a friend of Jack’s!” Rheinmetall managed a groaning laugh through Howitzer’s chest as Boiler gave a snort of delight.

“Alright, Night. What say we leave these two to chat for a bit and get down to trading?” Boiler wrapped her own hoof around me and yanked me to the side. Guess that was more a rhetorical question in her mind! “This place had some pretty neat stuff last time we rolled into town, so I’m sure they’ll have something you like!”

Looking up at where I was being lead, it was actually to a cart that didn’t sit on any rails at all, and had instead been stretched to bridge the gap between the two rows of shops. This cart was a lot older than the others, based on the rust and corrosion on it. What little paint still remained clinging to the various wooden boards it was built out of, was a deep deep forest green color. Much like other places I’d seen, it sported a hoof painted sign above the door.

Fuschia’s Junk Emporium

“Here’s hoping there’s something useable at all in here...” The name at least wasn’t instilling me with any confidence, but again, that didn’t matter. Night may have needed that boost, but I needed to ‘become’ Bombay now. No apprehension, no backing down, and no quarter given in this negotiation. “Fuck it, let’s get this shit done.”

Pushing the door open, I pulled the cloak of ‘Bombay’ over my mind, and stepped inside.

The interior of the old traincar was dark, musty, and clogged my nose with the smell of rust and old grease. The flickering oil lamps that burned on the walls barely added enough light to see the heaping piles of metal junk that almost completely filled the interior of this place. Only a small section of a shoddily built counter, and the path to it, lay exposed amongst all the bits and bobs around here.

“Howdy there!” The scratchy, yet jubilant voice of the ghoul mare leaning over the tall sales counter broke the silence. “Welcome to my junk emporium, where I got what you want, and I'll buy anything you've got.” The mare’s rickety smile was highlighted by the fact that she no longer had any lips around her muzzle, and she was missing the skin on both her scalp and from around her horn. She had an odd look about her brown eyes, but I couldn’t quite place it. They were unfocused in an unusual way, and her right eye was slightly darker than her left. “What neat little something did you bring to sell me, stranger?”

“Alright, you’re up.” Boiler muttered under her breath as she gave me a little shove, prompting me to trot up to the counter top. With the smiling ghoul leaning over toward me as I approached, I did my best to collect myself and let ‘bombay’ take hold of my mind. You can do this, Bombay…

“Well, I’ve got this for you.” I grunted, working my wings to pass Galina’s gun into my hooves. Drawing the sling off of me, I pushed it up onto the countertop where the mare immediately began to look it over. “What’ll you pay for it?”

“Oh wow!” She gasped as she wrapped the hefty shotgun in her magic. “I’ve seen a lot of griffon tech over the years, but I haven’t seen one of these models yet.” From under the counter, a leather strap with an odd assortment of rods and lensis floated up in her magic. Pulling it over he head, she flicked a few of the lenses down over her left eye and squinted as she pulled the gun closer. “What hidden cache did you pick this sucker up from?” She paused for a moment to glance at me from over the gun. “Or was it from a who?”

“A griffon with a vendetta.” Stiffening myself up, I puffed up my chest slightly. “She… no longer needs it.”

“Say no more.” The mare gave a firm nod as her magic flipped the lenses back up out of her eye. “I can do three hundred for this piece.”

Three hundred? Wow, that’s quite a bit! But… that’s not what Bombay would agree to, is it? I mean, it’s a good amount, but it’s not enough. For once, my loose muzzle followed along and spit out exactly what I needed.

“Come on, I think you can do better.” I deadpanned at her, quickly finding her reflecting my own expression back as silence filled the air between us. But it wasn’t my turn to speak. She needed to tell me what she thought was a ‘better offer’ because while I could let ‘Bombay’ do the talking, I still don’t have a damn clue about what this thing was worth.

“Well, are you going to make a counteroffer or what?” She snorted, dropping Galina’s shotgun onto the counter with a thump. Or she could pass giving another figure back to me I guess... Then again, if I’m gambling with caps, why not just say something only a gambler would call for?

“I was thinking double that.” I gave a shrug and looked around. Double or nothing always sounded cool to me, though I knew it was hardly a practical way to win at gambling. “Then again, I could always just hold onto it until the next town.”

“Look, I appreciate your business sense, kid.” The mare grumbled. “But this thing’s got some problems.” Lifting the gun again, she proceeded to disassemble the whole thing in seconds with her magic. “First off, while she's mechanically fine, she's chambered for ten gauge. I hardly get any of that in these days, and while folks are always in the market for shotguns, this isn't something I can move to anypony but a collector.” With a flash of her horn, the gun built itself again before gently floating back down onto the counter. “Now, if you had a conversion kit for say, twelve gauge, I might be tempted to buy it for six, but I can’t do that now.”

“So, it’s worth six hundred to you after the conversion?” I asked, getting a prompt nod that read to me like she was so proud of herself for that fact. However, I found something a bit flawed with her logic. “Then it’s still worth six, and the conversion problem is something whomever buys it from you has to deal with.”

In an instant, the proud look on her face vanished.

“That ain’t how this works, kid.” With a lazy flop, she propped her head up under one of her hooves and used her magic to start prodding an old screwdriver in and out of one of the junk heaps behind her. “It's going to sit around here for probably over a year before I find a buyer who can't live without a piece like this, which is probably the only kind of buyer who's going to want the damn thing. I don't have the space to store it until that specific pony comes strolling into my shop, so three hundred is what I can give.”

“If somepony wants it, then don't you suppose that you can sell it for whatever price you want?” I smirked and leaned myself onto the tips of my hooves, putting myself almost up onto the same level as the old ghoul was. “If you couldn't live without it as with the example you gave, then wouldn't you buy it for double what I'm asking?”

The deadpan returned to the mare’s face as her eyes studied over me. This was either going incredibly well, or terribly poorly, and it was far beyond me to know which way it was leaning at the moment. However, after a few more seconds of studying me, the mare shrugged and sat back behind the counter, giving me what felt like double the breathing room I had in this cramped place.

“I’ll give you five hundred.” She mumbled with more than a hint of annoyance to her words. “You made your point, but that’s the most I’m offering.”

“I can live with five hundred.” I gave a firm nod as a wild grin parted my muzzle. Dear Celestia, I actually did something! Holding my hoof out to her, she begrudgingly shook it with her own as her magic quickly slid the gun down behind her counter.

“Excuse me while I get your caps from my safe.” She grumbled, turning herself around and disappearing behind one of the junk piles to a part of the old train cart I couldn’t see.

“Holy crap, Night!” Boiler whispered as she walked up behind me. “That was amazing! Are you sure you’re the same pegasus who we rescued not to long ago?”

“Yeah.” I couldn’t hide my smile from her as I turned and threw my hooves around her in a hug. And why should I be ashamed to walk away the victor? Being Bombay… it actually got something done for once. And while it felt a bit wrong to ask for so many caps, it still felt unimaginably good!

“Geez, it was like you were a whole other pony there.” She giggled as she gave me a tight pat on the back.

“See,” I sighed as I pulled back from her. “I’m trying this new thing called ‘not taking anypony’s shit anymore’.” At the very least, that drew more than a hushed laugh from Boiler. “I just want to get a replacement saddle and gun, and then to go find Buck. That’s all.”

“Well, if it’s a gun you want,” The mare called out as she returned from behind the many piles of junk, plopping down a thick burlap sack onto her counter that sounded like it was full of caps. “I’ve got plenty to choose from, saddles too.” She smirked and looked over me again. “Say, what’s your name, Kid?”

“My name?” I almost froze from being put on the spot. Why did she care about my name? “It’s Bombay.”

“You’ve got spunk, Bombay. I’ll give you that.” The old ghoul laughed as she leaned over her counter again. “The kind I don’t see in my shop often these days. Everypony either buys things at face value, or can’t afford to negotiate with me.” Her eyes drifted off again, like they were looking right through me as she smiled. Well, wider than normal without lips at least... “Good to know that somepony’s still got a spine out there. That was the best back and forth I’ve had in years.” And like somepony flicked a switch in her head, her eyes focused again, and she let out another laugh. “Alright, all that aside, let’s get down to business. What kind of weaponry interests you more than that hunk of griffon gun ever could? And what kind of saddle are you looking for?”

“Well, I need a grenadier's saddle if you have one.” I smiled and let her compliment sink in. “As for a weapon, let’s start with any submachine guns you have, and see where that gets us.”

See, Bombay? Not everything has to be a complete disaster!

Author's Note

As always, a massive thanks to TheFurryRailFan for poking at it here and there to get it presentable! As well as allowing me to use Rheinmetall from his story Empty Quiver. Haven't read it yet? Go check it out and give it a shot!

And of course, thanks to Kkat for this wonderful world we're all allowed to use for our stories!

Chapter 40 - Eye of the Beholder

Logic is a systematic method of coming to the wrong conclusion with confidence.

“Hey, Fuschia,” Boiler asked as she rooted around in one of the large piles of junk. As she did, Howitzer and the tank ghoul strolled in from outside, and did their best to squeeze themselves in among the various piles of rusted junk. “I saw this thing in here last time.” With a grunt, she hefted the rusted form of… something out of the pile. Whatever it was, it happened to be nearly half the size of me, and quite alien looking. “What the hell even is it?”

As I slipped into the grenadier saddle the old ghoul had sold me, I studied the odd object in Boiler’s hooves. It looked like a sleek silver fish if it were flat instead of how they normally were. A wide intake of some sort reminded me of a mouth, while two small inset lights on it glowed dimly in the dark interior of the traincar. A pair of housings holding hover talismans sat off on the end of each of the fish’s ‘fins’, and looked like they were meant to swivel in the same way a vertibuck’s engines did. Lastly, a prominent V-shaped set of tailfins stuck out above it. It also featured lines that ran along the back of the tailfins like those parts of the tail could be used as flight control surfaces. Overall, it was just a strange little object.

“Oh, that weird drone thing?” The ghoul snorted. “Some traveler claimed to shoot it down a decade or so ago, and I was stupid enough to buy the damn thing, because at the time I’d never seen anything like it.” As her magic cleaned off galina’s shotgun with a rag, she looked across the room with a disgusted glare at the thing. “That guy was full of crap though with his ‘shot down’ story. Couldn’t find a damn dent on it. Sure it’s a bit rusted, but there’s no reason whatever it is shouldn’t be working right now. Might be some internal issue, but I could never bring myself to dismantle it because I thought somepony might want it as is.”

“Hey, I think I’ve seen some of these before…” Howitzer squinted as he put his broad muzzle right up in front of the machine. “Sometimes I see one of these loitering over the settlements we stop at now and again. They only seem to observe and then move on, so I thought they might be related to those annoying sprite bots and never really thought twice about them.”

“Maybe Hispano or her father know?” I asked, pulling a shrug from Howitzer as he stepped back.

“So since you mentioned it, interested in buying it?” Fuschia’s eyes lit up with hope right until the moment Boiler tossed the thing back in the pile and shook her head. “Well, it was worth a shot.” She chuckled as she worked behind her counter to gather the few submachine guns she said she had. “How’s that rig fit, kid?”

To be honest, the fastened straps were a bit loose, and they felt like they were a bit more abrasive around me then my last rig. However, the bit that I held in my muzzle felt better than the old forged one I had, and the mechanism that worked the grenade harness didn’t have any slack to it. Of course, I wouldn’t know if it held up until we were in combat, but it actually felt good to be wearing one again. Not as good as a dress, mind you, but just enough for me to feel like I could make a difference in a fight.

“With a few small alterations, I think it’ll work out nicely.” I spoke up as I spun myself around to let Boiler and Howitzer get a good look at it.

“Looks in decent enough order. Probably going to take me a few days to get the reload mechanism swapped around to the foreleg due to your odd flight style, but it shouldn’t be too bad.” Boiler gave a quick nod before nearly throwing herself back into the junk pile again. “I can make any other adjustments for ya as well when we get back to Bertha. Just gotta pick out some bang to go with it!”

“Alright, so, as for submachine guns, I’ve got three here for you to look at.” Fuschia used her magic to drag the first of them up from behind the counter. “First, if you want a beginners automatic firearm, than look no further than this authentic Singer submachine gun!” It was a blocky thing, with a square wooden foregrip and no rear stock at all. “Manufactured in the first ten years of the war by the world renowned Singer sewing company, it's solid steel construction is all original, easy to maintain, and absolutely foolproof!” Setting it down on the counter, her jubilant gaze studied me for my reaction.

“It’s a terrible choice.” Howitzer grumbled. "See, 'original' construction means it's insides are going to be corroded to all hell, ease of maintenance means it's going to be a pain to find any original working parts for it," Now that he mentions it, I don't think I've seen anypony else using or even selling one of these. And while I haven't seen everything in the wastes, there's probably a reason I don't see these. "And lastly, while it is 'foolproof', it weighs ten pounds. The Bison weighed half as much and it looked like it might as well have been an anchor for the poor kid."

“Well I'm sorry if it isn't what you're looking for.” Fuschia’s eye twitched as she used her magic to shove the blocky gun off the counter and onto the floor with a thump. “Alright, if weight is your concern, how about this Yak built Y-41? With all stamped parts, it’s guaranteed to…”

“One of those!?” Boiler shouted as she pushed herself off the junk pile. “Those stamped things are easier to break than a wet noodle! One bullet, one errant piece of shrapnel and now the whole gun is bent out of shape. Not to mention the fire rate of them means you’re not going to hit anything but the ground around the target while burning through piles of caps’ worth of ammo.”

“Fine.” Fuschia raised her voice over Boiler, but paused as the room fell silent again. With a deep breath, her magic pushed what I had assumed was the gun away from behind the counter and straight onto the floor.

“Say, Fuschia?” The tank ghoul spoke up from behind all of us. “Perhaps do you still have zat Kurtz-5 sitting around here?”

“Yes, that’s what I was going to offer next. Thank you.” She gave him a flat glare before using her magic to pull up the last option from behind the counter. “Look, considering you’re all already doing it, I’m going to let good ol’ Rhymey sell you on this piece.”

“Dankeshon.” The tank ghoul smiled, ripping the gun from her magic and floating it over to me. Holding out my hooves, I sat down and let him drop it into my grasp. “The 'Kurtz-5 model A2' was the most reliable submachine gun ever built in Germaneigh, and though it may be slightly heavier than your old Bison, it is because it’s quality machined steel. Zat, along with the polymer furniture, means it will withstand more corrosion and damage than any of the other two. It will not fail you for decades if you treat it well and keep it maintained.”

It did feel a bit heavier in my hooves, even though overall it was a bit smaller than the Bison was. The only things that threw me off were the odd, slightly curved magazine that stuck out from it’s bottom, and the ‘polymer furniture’ of it. The latter was mostly because it felt like it was the same sort of material as some of the newer magical energy rifles were built from back in the Enclave. Still, while it did seem to be my best option, the length and curved shape of the magazine concerned me because it was a lot less compact overall than my Bison was.

“Tell you what,” Fuschia chimed in, practically falling over the counter she was leaning so far over it. “Two fifty for the gun and three mags, and one hundred for the Saddle.” Her lipless grin widened as her eyes locked on mine. “Walking out of here with all that and a hundred fifty caps isn’t a bad deal.”

Yeah, that was true. However, ‘Bombay’ didn’t think it was the best deal…

“Eh, two fifty for the gun is good, but...” I sighed, shifting about in the saddle harness as I looked down at it. “I’ll give you eighty for the saddle. It’s definitely going to need some work done on it before I can effectively utilize it.”

“Dammit, fine.” She groaned. “I’ll go eighty seven for it and not a cap lower.”

“Sounds like a deal to me.” I nodded as another smile parted my muzzle. Damn, if I spent any more time smiling today, I’m pretty sure none of the others would ever believe it was the real me that made it back to the convoy.

However, that smile only lasted a moment. Like it was getting back at me for ignoring it earlier, the pain in my socket flared up from out of nowhere, and twice as bad as normal. Fucking hell I was getting tired of this shit.

“Hey, you alright there?” Howitzer asked as he reached out and put his hoof on my side.

I gave him a nod as I forced my forehoof against the socket again. No, I was not fine. Fuck, I needed to have Buck figure out just what the hell was wrong with it that made it hurt this bad. Maybe I gave that hack in Leachate too much credit for patching me up, even if it was on Solomon’s wallet.

“Let me guess, you just recently lost it?” Fuschia pulled my attention to her as she pulled out an old pack of cigarettes and lightly tapped it against the counter. “It’s probably just because it’s still healing, but if you’re still having problems after a few more days, you might want to look into getting a prosthetic.”

“What would you know?” I snapped as the pain felt like it was drilling into the back of my mind. Fuck, that was a bit too far for the mare who just helped you, Night. “Sorry, just... “ I seethed and pressed my hoof harder against my head. Fuck, it normally started to feel better by now. “Still getting used to it.”

“Hey, I get it. Had to deal with it to you know.” She shrugged as I looked up at her. Without any hesitation, she reached up and gave a few taps at her left eye. “It’s not the best fit, but I’ve had it for a long time, and trust me, it helps.” So that’s why her eyes looked off to me before. “In fact, I could help shape one if you find a suitable object you want. I don’t have anything here at the moment, but lots of materials will work. Porcelain is prefered, but any ceramic will do, as well as glass, or hell, if you can buy one off of those pretentious striped bastards up north, even a crystal ball would work if you…”

My brain stopped listening and muted the rest of her words, and even the pain in my eye became background noise. Instead, I focused on the one thing that came out from the depths of my mind like an echo from a dark cave. Like you, this token has it’s own fate, and that fate lies with you. Madam Mystic’s voice resonated in my thoughts, and the image of her crystal ball hung in my mind. It has it’s own purpose that will be revealed to you soon enough.

“You… okay, kid?” Fuschia’s voice pulled me back into the here and now.

“I… I just need some air.” Turning around, I hoofed the subgun to Howitzer and pushed my way past the others. My hooves carried me out through the door, and the moment they were on the cold dirt, I stopped myself. The pain in my head flared up again with a vengeance, and I let out a loud whine as I felt like I was going to collapse to the ground.

No, curses I could believe in, but this was impossible. There’s no fucking way she could have seen the future. Because if she could, she would have fucking told me about Galina’s trap. None of this shit would have had to happen. I know I said that I needed to move on, but if that was true? Things… they could have been different.

“Hey, are you alright, Night?” Boiler spoke as she came up beside me. Softly, she wrapped her hoof around me and pulled me against her warm fur.

“I went and saw that zebra, back at Pink Mountain.” I spoke at almost a whisper, feeling as my hooves trembled under me. “She gave me her crystal ball. Said that ‘in time’ I’d know what it was for.”

“Well… she has a gift. That’s why I thought you should go see her.” Boiler’s words were filled with hesitation and good intent, but that’s not what I needed right now. “But hey, if you still have it, then you’ve got the prosthetic you need!” However well meaning she was, she’d missed the point.

“Don’t you fucking get it?” I snapped and pushed myself out of her hold. “If she could see this coming, why didn’t she warn us about the pass? About Violet!? With a warning, we could have saved her!”

“You don’t know a single damn thing about magic, do you, Miss Bombay?” Fuschia spoke through the hazy cloud of cigarette smoke she blew out between her bare teeth as she climbed down onto the dirt.

“What the fuck does that have to do with anything?” I should have held my tongue, but I was far too done with excuses and bullshit. If that old mare could have helped me save her…

“Because,” She snapped back at me, “There are fucking rules to it. Sure I can’t do what they can, but I know zebras well enough to know that the foresight some of them are known to have tends to border on arcane magic that I can’t even comprehend as a unicorn. And sometimes when using that kind of magic, there are things you don’t get to know. Sometimes it’s exactly how a spell will work, and other times it’s the consequences of using that spell. But I can only assume in this case, that they can’t see everything when they look to the future.” She paused, taking another deep drag of her smoke through her lipless muzzle. “So maybe you should calm yourself down, and realize that there are just some things that nopony can change.”

“I…” She had a point, and I couldn’t hide from it as it took all the wind right out of my anger. “I’m sorry. I just wish I could have done something. Anything to save her.”

“You have to let her go.” Howitzer spoke up as he stepped down from the train cart. As I listened to his words, finally the pain in my head started to wane, and with it, I felt my own body straining to keep upright. “You have no idea how much I wanted to shoot those bastards on that mountain. But Delilah stopped me.”

“Why.” I whimpered as my legs began to shake under me. What the fuck was wrong with me? I made it back here. I’ve saved Hardcase, I helped Salt. Why couldn’t I just fucking be happy for once? Why did I constantly have to hate myself for what happened? “Why did you listen to her?” I looked up with my one trembling eye and glared at him. “You could have blown Galina out of the sky before I tried. Delivered the justice that I failed to.”

“Delilah put her gun up against my head and told me not to fire or she’d kill me.” Howitzer’s expression hardened as his words sunk into my mind. “She was right to have threatened me, cause I wouldn’t have listened otherwise. And worst of all, if I had pulled that trigger? It wouldn’t have changed a damn thing.”

“It wouldn’t have…” I growled and shoved my hoof against my eye socket. “I wouldn’t fucking be like this if you had! Why the fuck are you so okay with this?” Both Boiler and Howitzer recoiled as I shouted. He just didn’t get it, nopony did. “I pissed off Galina. I caused her to take up that stupid fucking grudge. I got Violet killed.”

For someone her size, Boiler could move extremely quickly, and I barely had time to see her hoof before it came down hard on the top of my head. My vision went white for a moment before the swelling pain of the bruise that was forming ebbed just like my eye had been.

“No.” Boiler snapped back at me. “You of all ponies should know by now that this is how the wasteland is. It’s not fair, and ponies who don’t deserve to die get to do just that every fucking day out here. But none of that is your fault. Violet and the whole damn crew knew that this would happen one day. We accepted that.” Stepping forward, she reached out and pulled me into an unexpected hug. “And while we all thought we had more time, all we can do now is pick ourselves up and carry on with our job.”

“Well I’m not going to do that.” I grumbled as I pushed myself from her grasp. “Not until Solomon and his lackeys are dead and buried.”

“And Delilah has a plan for that, you know she does, even if she hasn’t told us.” Howitzer spoke up again as he walked up beside me. He didn’t move to hug me, or even comfort me at all. Instead he made a nod toward the other end of the market and gave me a pleading look. “Come on, let’s get back to the convoy. I’m sure the Doc’s back by now, and I know he’ll be happy to see you again. Boiler can finish up here, and she can bring your gear back when she is.” Glancing over, he smiled. “Right, Sis?”

“Yeah, of course, I won’t be long. Just… things will be alright, Night.” She nodded before turning around and heading back toward the entrance to the shop again. “Even if they aren’t? Well, you’ve got us right there with you to help you get through it.”

I didn’t need help to get through things. I simply needed to stop screwing things up. And while I’d had a good day yesterday, what the fuck was stopping me from ruining something today? Fuck. I’d even felt good earlier. Lilac pushed me to be Bombay and it actually fucking helped for once. But that fucking stripe…

It’s not her fault, Night. Don’t pin this on her, she was just some drugged up old zebra. You only have yourself to blame for what happened to you.

Flopping down on the old rec area picnic bench, I stared up at the repaired tarp that once again blocked the sunny blue skies above. Of course Buck hadn’t yet returned, and Howitzer had gone back to whatever it was he does in Bessy all day. Though, I did manage to find the bottle of aspirin that Buck kept in the drawer of his desk and took a few. Well, after I fought back the urge to smash something because of what happened in Leachate of course. I had to say, that after using chill and med-x for when I’ve been hurting, aspirin barely felt like it helped at all anymore. But it would have to be enough for now.

So here I sat alone. Well, it wasn’t really alone with the memory of that mystic still bouncing around in my mind. Might as well have had her here next to me this whole time just whispering in my ears.

Still, she was right. Even if she couldn’t see how or why, she gave me that crystal ball because she knew I’d lose my eye. So what else was she right about? I mean just because I’d accepted my curse, didn’t make it true… until now. Did that mean what she told Hispano was true? What about what she’d told Lucky? There were already too many problems with all the outcomes that might, could, or will end up being that I desperately needed a distraction before I fell into a pit of ‘what ifs’ deep enough that I wouldn’t be out of it for the rest of the day.

Reaching up my forehoof, I flicked the radio switch above me into the on position and clicked the mode switch button. The rhythmic tunes of some DJ PowerColt song filled the air, saving me from the deafening silence around me that had only helped to keep me trapped in my head. Focusing on the music definitely helped to clear my mind of thoughts, and it felt like almost no time at all before the song had ended and the smooth, deep voice of the DJ himself came over the airwaves.

“Haha, I hope all you cool cats out there really jived with that one, cause I know I did. But you know what? I think it’s time for a short break to rest our dancing hooves with a little bit of news from around the north.”

Oh, while I hadn’t really cared about anything over the last few days, seeing as how we’d be on the move again shortly, I figured I should listen in. I just hoped that what he had to tell was good news for us, but somehow, I doubted we’d get that lucky.

“Some of you folks these last few days might have been asking, hey, what gives with all the sky raider attacks? Well thanks to yours truly, wonder no longer. After a two week long struggle, the split between the skyraider leadership has finally resolved itself. Foul Line has assumed the role of king, and is set to exile the previous king, Double Delta, any day now. Recent attacks against various settlements seem to have been a show of force by the new leader, so for all of you out there and within their range, keep your eyes on the skies, and get to runnin’ if you hear the buzzin’.”

Well, there’s one of my recent questions knocked out for the time being. Though, more sky raider attacks was far from good news for us. If it weren’t for the fact that Hispano was going to be up in the air with me, I’m not sure what I’d do if a group of them found their way to us.

“Now in slightly better sky related news, it looks like another deal between two faction leaders has finally been reached. Sanctuary, the settlement south of Cantercross that was swarmed and seized by Enclave refugees, has officially been absorbed into what is now calling itself the ‘Spectrum Federation’. Both refugees and town council members have voted in a joint session to name a leader, and oh what a blast from the past they chose! One commander Laika, a diamond dog from the old Ministry of Arcane Sciences cosmodrome program. How is she still kickin’ after two centuries, you’ve got me. But she’s got herself some new digs in the old cloudship currently moored above the city, and the fancy new title of Sky Marshal. Here’s hoping the ‘Spectrum Federation’ can play nice with us northerners. Well, nicer than the old Enclave did anyhow.”

Fucking really? That whole idea of pulling rank on the Enclave was just a joke! But I guess it must have worked if they made her their leader. Then again, after the way the Enclave ran things, and from the way most things down here are run, I’d fucking pick her to lead any day. Still, part of me was glad to hear that she’d found a place down here. At least maybe now she’ll be able to help everyone like she wanted to do so long ago.

“And now back to the smooth tunes to keep your hooves moving all day long. Here’s another…”

I flipped the radio off again, dropping the rec area back into a lonely silence. Staring up at the fluttering tarp above me, I finally felt the rest of my thoughts in my mind recede. For once, the inside of my head felt as quiet as the air around me. But like all good things, it only existed for a moment before it was taken away. The pitched whistle of a train, as well as the calls of some of the railyard workers crept back into my world, and thrust me back into it. Along with the noise, the ebbing ache that felt like it existed just behind my empty eye socket pushed through the aspirin.

“Fuck.” I groaned as I pushed myself off the picnic bench and rolled back onto my hooves. Lifting my forehoof, I pressed it up against my socket. Like it had originally, the pain drifted away with the pressure, and I breathed a small sigh of relief.

Maybe the others were right. If Madame Mystic gave me that crystal ball because she knew I’d lose my eye, maybe she did it because it would help stop the pain in it. As much as I wanted to turn this convoy around myself to go back and ask her if she knew about Violet, I couldn’t. I needed to move on. From Mom, Dad, Four Peaks, and Violet. And that started with going to see if Lucky still had that crystal ball. Walking over to his container, I raised my hoof to the door. However, I hesitated.

What if Happy was in there? Is he angry about getting sucker kicked last night? Oh who am I kidding? Of course he’d be pissed about it, I mean, I would be. What do I do or say to him?

“Come in…” Lucky’s voice came through the door with an air of uncertainty about it. “Night? You there?” He… knew I was still alive?

Pushing at the door, it opened slightly until it caught on the ring latch that secured it. Flaring my wing, I slid it between the door and the container wall until it lifted and released it. Stepping inside, I was greeted by a healthier looking, but still lightly bandaged up Lucky laying on his bed. Lines of stitches and deep red scars criss crossed his body, while only a few wraps of gauze were still around his barrel and the stump of his rear leg. Curiously, his eyes were also still bandaged up, but while that was odd, what felt more out of place was the thickening growth of scruff lining around his chin. Never really pictured him as someone who cared for a beard...

“H-hey.” I spoke up softly. “How are you doing, Lucky?”

“Managing, I guess?” He flashed a nervous smile in my direction. “Going to be honest, I’ve been going a bit stir crazy in here. I've been waiting for you to come talk with me since you got back yesterday morning. Not like I've got much else to do with my time but wait. I mean, who knew you could even ever get bored in the wasteland, right? Being trapped on Bertha all day in what might as well be darkness has been an absolute nightmare for me, but hey! At least I'm not dead, right?”

“Yeah...” I couldn’t really argue with that.

“Fuck, I’m sorry.” He groaned, plastering his forehoof against his face. “It’s too soon to be venting shit like that to you. Maybe I should just be locked up here all day like I’ve been…”

“What do you mean? Doesn’t Gearbox hang out with you?” From the way he acted when Lucky was hurt, you’d think he’d be here every moment he could.

“Well yeah, but that’s going to change when we get back on the road. Plus, he’s got his own life to live with Boiler. Even as a brother, I can’t ask him to stay with me all the time.” Lucky shook his head, surprising me as a small smirk grew on his face. “Actually, you just missed him when you came back. Gearbox only just stepped out to try to score me some wave. He figures that drug induced hallucinations will at least partially help me cope with the blindness.”

“So… how well are you healing? Have there been any complications?” I mean, he looked like he was getting better, but still, I’d have thought he’d be up and about by now. Buck did what he could with the supplies we had at the time, but he should have gotten everything he needed here to finish fixing him up, right?

“Doc said I’m healing up fine, except for my eyes of course.” He tapped at the side of his head, pointing to the bandage wrapped around it. “He said that the inflammation from my head injury caused some sort of temporary blindness, and that I'll be able to see again in a week or so. But... I still can't feel my legs... so there's that.” I guess he was paralyzed then. And here I am complaining about one fucking eye… “But honestly, between us, choosing between being able to walk and being able to see, I’d rather be able to see.”

“Why’s that?” That… wasn’t something I’d expected from him. Then again, talking about what limbs or senses you’d rather be forced to lose wasn’t something anyone should ever have to talk about at all.

“Without sight, I could walk myself right off a cliff! Or into a land mine, or a raider ambush…” His smile widened as he wiggled back into his bed a bit. “Then again, I’d have every excuse to walk into all the mares I’d want. ‘Hey, sorry, my name’s Lucky and I’m blind. My, what an exquisite flank you seem to have!’” He gave a soft laugh. “Yeah, that’d be the perfect icebreaker. But alas, that’s not how it’s going to be. Instead, Boiler said that she’d rig me up some sort of wheeled harness to let me pull myself around, so I shouldn’t be immobile forever. Guess I’ll need to find a different excuse to meet mares, huh?”

“I don’t know,” I couldn’t help but share a bit of his optimism, because Celestia knows I needed it today, “Maybe we could work as a team. I’ll bump into them, and then you could sweep them off their hooves.” Fucking smooth analogy to make with him, Night. Really working to cram that whole paralysis thing down his throat, Good job. “Er, you know what I mean.”

“Wait, why would you...” His smirk died down as he turned his head toward me a bit. “You didn’t lose your eyes somehow, did you?”

“Well, that’s actually the reason I came in here to talk to you, Lucky…” I sighed and sat down next to his bed. “You remember when I asked you to hold on to that crystal ball? You don’t still have it, do you?”

“Of course I do.” He nodded softly, reaching over and stuffing his hoof down between his bed and the container wall. After a moment of rummaging around, he dragged the cloudy looking sphere up in his hoof and presented it to me hesitantly. “What happened to you? Night… are you alright?”

“In our fight, I took out one of Galina’s eyes, so she thought it only fair to take one of mine.” Reaching out, I grabbed onto the ball with my hoof and attempted to take it from him. However, he wouldn’t let it go.

“That’s only half of what I asked.” He deadpanned at me. Well, as much as he could with cloth wrapped around his eyes. “Scars are something you seem to grow more of by the day, and even then, those will eventually heal over time. However, are you alright?”

“I’m fine, er... I will be.” I nodded to him. “Banged up a bit, both physically and mentally. The loss of Violet, the fight with Galina, the shit I had to do to even make it back here... Even with all that, I’m still trying to fix what damage I’ve caused around here. I was an idiot to leave, but I think I’ve started to get things on the right track again.”

Hoping that it was the answer he was looking for, I waited for his grip to release the orb so I could put this all behind me. Instead, I felt him yank it back toward him, and in the process, pull me in as well. With a sharp smack, his forehoof wrapped around my back as he dragged me into a tight hug.

“Hey, it’s alright. It’s going to be alright.” He offered softly as he held me. Though I didn’t believe his words in the slightest, I had to accept that he was right. “Even so, things might not be okay for a while, and there’s still a lot of work to be done until they are. So just try to focus on working forward until things get better.”

“Heh, yeah.” I nodded and gave him a firm pat on his bandaged back that drew a soft whine from him. “Oops, sorry.”

“Alright.” A tired sounding voice resonated through the open door behind me. Immediately I felt my mane stand on end as it sunk in. “Let’s see how you’re doing today...” Buck’s voice drifted off through a yawn as he stepped up the rec area stairs and toward the doorway. Hastily, I broke off the hug with Lucky and turned around, watching as Buck’s massive body darkened the doorway as he stood in it. “Oh, hey there, Night.” Buck’s tired eyes washed over me as he spoke, almost missing me.

However, he froze like he’d been hit by a bolt of lightning. His eyes strained as he widened them, and his jaw opened as he stared at me. I felt my cheeks flush, and a grin wider than before parted my own muzzle as his eyes met mine.

“Night…” He wheezed my name out as it sounded like his breath had just been stolen. With a light thump, his medical duffle bag and folded up lab coat dropped to the floor. “you’re alive?”

“Yeah.” I nodded as my legs began to wobble. Goddesses, it was like I hadn’t truly made it back home until right now. Where I knew that this wasn’t simply some sort of too good to be true dream. But before I got swept up in my own emotions, I knew I needed to explain everything to him. “And before anything, I need to tell you, I killed others to get back here. Innocent ponies that didn’t…” Of course I was cut off as I found myself quickly scooped up and pulled against his warm chest.

But oh Celestia, I didn’t care.

Squeezing my hooves around him, I basked in the radiant warmth he gave. The pains in my body drifted off as he slowly wrapped his own paws around me. Carefully, he sat back on his haunches and held me tightly, and for the moment, it was everything I’d been longing for since waking up in Solomon’s convoy. So of course, it didn’t last.

Buck whimpered and trembled. Tears dripped down onto me as he softly sobbed. Looking up, I’d expected to see a jubilant expression across his muzzle. However, instead I found one of shame and regret as he squeezed his eyes shut and cried.

“Buck… what’s wrong?” Fighting to loosen my grip around him, I pushed myself far enough back to force him to look at me. When he did, immediately he turned his head to look anywhere but at me. “I’m here now, everything’s alright.”

“No, everything’s not alright.” He whined, slowly lowering himself backwards down to the floor. Rolling slightly onto his side, he curled himself up as I did my best to hold onto him. “I… I can’t do this anymore.”

“What do you mean?” But… I thought he’d be happy. I mean, I hadn’t even told him what I had to do to get back here and… I didn’t know where I’d gone wrong. “Talk to me, Buck… please?”

“Don’t you get it? There’s no helping anypony out here.” Looking up at me, he wore a sharp, scared look in his tired eyes. “I knew it would be bad out here, but… no matter how much I try, I… I never seem to make a damn difference.” Slowly, he brought up a paw and wiped at his eyes. “There was a foal, two days ago, brought to us bloody and broken. Her mother was screaming for those at the hospital to help her.”

“Some bastard,” He snapped, “some raider, had rigged up a spritebot to explode like a mine. Set it to find the closest target. She... never had a chance to even grow up, Night.” His soft sobs returned as he curled himself tighter and pulled his tail between his legs, holding it in his paws. “Then there were the sky raider attacks, the slaughter at the bar settlement to the east… no matter however many, how hard I tried. I couldn’t save anypony.”

“Was there anything you could have done differently?” I… don’t know why I asked that. Buck would never give anything more than everything, and I knew that. But still, it’s something that perked his ears, and so I knew it had to be something worth asking.

“That’s not the point!” He snapped, slamming his paw against the floor. His claws dug in slightly, tearing gouges in the plywood flooring of the rec area. “I don’t know how you can live with yourself after what you’ve done, Night. Just being able to kill like you do…” His words drifted off as they hit the both of us. So, that was what he thought? That I just killed ponies without repercussions? Without thought or regret? The fucking nerve just to insinuate... “Oh, Celestia, that’s… I didn’t mean…” He almost went completely white as he tried to force out the words.

No, Night. You don’t get to be angry at him. You know why? Cause he just fucked up by saying something he didn’t mean, which is something he’s forgiven you for a dozen times already. So you’re going to understand that, and take it in stride before helping and supporting him like you need to.

“It’s alright.” I nearly collapsed onto him, once again squeezing my hooves around him as if I’d never see him again if I ever let go. “I know it’s been hard for you, Buck. But you once told me that you were happy that I hadn’t let the wasteland break me.” For good measure, I flared my wings out and did my best to wrap those around him as well. “You’re stressed, and you need to rest, alright? But just because you couldn’t help those recently, doesn’t mean you didn’t try your best, or that they were saveable at all.” Slowly, Buck opened his watering eyes and looked up at me. “It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try, and it doesn’t make you a failure. Just that you have to pick yourself up, and try again tomorrow.”

“He’s right, you know.” Lucky spoke up, starkly reminding me that he’s been listening in on our reunion this whole time. “Doc, you’ve already done more to help than most in the wasteland ever could. And while it’s an ugly, terrible place, the wasteland needs more doctors like you in it fighting to make things right.”

“I…” Buck hesitated as he again wiped at his matted muzzle fur, easing out of the curled form he’d become. “I’m sorry to put this on you. On the both of you.” He looked up to me again, and while the shame he’d held when he looked at me before was gone, the regret still lingered in them. “And you have no idea how happy I am that you…”

That was as far as I’d let him make it before I darted forward and pressed my muzzle into his. My legs wobbled again as I let my mind drift off with the feeling of just being back with him, and I felt his paws grip around my sides to steady me through the kiss. With the worries of the past quickly drifting off, I felt light headed as I broke off and let myself melt into his firm grasp.

“I’m happy to see you too, Buck.” I smiled and gave a soft kiss on his broad black nose.

Over the next few hours, I recounted to the two of them what had happened to me. From a condensed version of the fight with Galina, to the events of Leachate, to stealing Solomon’s car and being forced to work for him. And well, while Buck seemed disappointed by what had happened with the sheriff and his son, he didn’t do anything but hug me again.

However, it was about at that point where I realized that instead of helping out Lucky, both of them had instead been wrapped up into listening to me carry on. While I was glad that they were interested, I felt like maybe I should stop distracting them and get back to being useful somehow. So with the crystal ball tucked into the saddlebags that Spring Leaf had given me, I decided to go and grab the caps Boiler had brought back, and headed over to the trader again.

“So, the kid with the backbone returns.” Fuschia’s degraded eyebrows perked up as she leaned over her counter again. Rheinmetall poked his head out from behind her and the junk covered counter as well, but only for a moment. What in the hell was he doing back there?

“Yeah, I brought that crystal ball back…” Strained groans almost drowned out my words as I spoke, and before I could speak again, there was a soft panting coming from behind the counter’s junk pile where Rheinmetall had been. “Am I… interrupting something?”

“Nah, just proving a point.” Keeping her smirk across her muzzle, she nodded to my tucked up wing. “I’ll take that for ya. Shouldn’t take me more than a few minutes to get it down to the right shape.”

“That fast?” Lifting my wing, I opened my saddlebag and gripped around the crystal orb. Slowly, I extended it out to her and let it get wrapped in her magic. I don’t really know how long I’d expected it to take, but it was honestly a lot longer than a couple of minutes…

“Well, after two hundred years of tinkering and crafting, you get pretty good at working with anything.” She gave me a wink before stepping away from her counter and disappearing into the unseen back area of the train cart. Which of course left me with the odd grunts and panting behind the counter.

Hesitantly, I stepped forward. I couldn’t fight my curiosity as the odd symphony of noises continued to play out. Slowly, I put my forehooves up onto the crowded countertop and peeked my head over to take a look.

There on the floor, was Rheinmetall, curled up much in the same way that Buck had been when he broke down. However, instead of tears, beading sweat dribbled down his dried and cracked fur. In his forehooves, sat a yellowed sealed jar of… something that just seemed to refuse to open. After a few moments of twisting and straining at the old metal lid, his hooves slipped, and the old jar rolled onto the floor and just out of his reach.

“Scheiße!” He muttered under his breath as he watched the jar roll away from him.

“Are you alright?” I asked, finding his attention quickly shift to me. Which was funny, because as he looked up at me, my mind reminded me of the sharp piece of bone sticking out of his forehead. “Why don’t you just use your magic to open it?”

“The bet is that if I can open it without magic, then I don’t have to pay for it.” A determined smirk worked his way across his muzzle as he rolled himself onto his hooves. Walking over to the jar, he wrapped his forehoof around it again and walked it back over to the counter. “I am more than willing to pay for it, and yes, it would be quite easy to open with magic. Either way, I’ll get my beloved, delectable kraut! However, it’s the principle of the challenge to not use magic to open it. I relish a challenge, pun intended, so I’m compelled to at least try!”

“Kraut?” I understood the idea of being up for a challenge, but… I had no idea what was in the jar, or what seemed to be the pun he spoke of...

“Ja! I know it’s a bit stereotypical, but only when you have gone as long as I have without it, will you truly understand.” Lifting the jar in his hooves, he looked at it the same way that I looked at Buck. However, he caught my more than awkward glance at him and perked his ears at me. “You know, from vhat happened earlier, I have to wonder. You have not been down here long, have you? In ze wasteland, I mean.”

“Yeah, it’s only been....” I shook my head, trying to recount just how long it’s been. How many weeks, or was it months now? “Just... not very long, but I’m adjusting as best as I can.” Looking back down at him, he studied me now as if he were trying to figure me out. But the more I looked at him, the more I wanted to figure him out. “Were… you around at the end of the war? How did you adjust?”

“Bah!” He bat his hoof at me and rolled his eyes. With a groan, he picked himself up off the floor and pulled the jar of ‘kraut’ into his magic. “I’ve had time on my side to adjust. Still have to every decade or so. The wasteland is not so simple as to stay the same for very long.”

With a sharp pop, his magic twisted the lid from the jar with almost no effort on his part.

“If adjusting to the wasteland is your goal, then you are going about this entirely the wrong way.” In his magic, a great big glob of stringy yellow… something floated from the jar. “What you should be asking, is how do I live in the wasteland.” Whatever it was both looked and smelled completely repulsive, but he stuffed it into his muzzle all the same. “Meine Göttinnen, I have missed this flavor!”

“I’m not sure I follow...” I spoke up, not quite sure what he even meant by that. How is living any different than adjusting? “How… do you live in the wasteland?” With a heavy gulp and light belch, Rheinmetall let out a contented sigh.

“How do I live? I’m glad you asked!” He smiled as he closed the jar up and set it down on the counter. “With plenty of help from friends, of course! But you seem to keep pretty good company with those Buffalo und their convoy. From what I hear, their group is one of the more pleasant and agreeable ones that we’ve ever had coming through Maple Station.”

“Did I hear you open that jar?” The voice of Fuschia from behind the junk piles was quickly joined by the sound of her hoofsteps. “So what, do ya owe me or not?”

“Just stick with them, and you’ll do fine down here.” Giving a wink to me, Rheinmetall pushed himself off of the counter and used his magic to pluck a dozen caps or so out of the pocket of his old military greatcoat. “It’s not that I gave up. I just couldn’t possibly wait another moment to savor the delectable rarity I’ve so greatly missed.” Picking the jar up again, now it was his turn to disappear into the back, leaving me with Fuschia.

“Alrighty, Miss Bombay.” She chuckled as she used her magic to shift the caps Rheinmetall left under the counter. As she did, she extended her hoof out to me. Tightly gripped in her rotten fetlock, was the crystal ball, or what was left of it. “You’re going to need help getting it in at first, but once it’s in, the shaping spell I’ve put on it should let it conform completely to your socket. On the off chance you were looking to end up with something flashy, being crystal, you can’t really paint it without causing problems. So it’s going to be kinda bland, but it’s still better than nothing. Try to avoid getting it dirty, and above all, don’t let it get scratched. It’ll tear up your socket pretty badly, and let me tell you, it’s a pain to deal with if that happens.”

“Alright…” Reaching out with a hoof, I took what was left of the ball into it. Looking at it, it’s almost like it had been cut in half, but without any marks. The whole thing felt a lot smoother than before, as well as slightly warm for some reason.

“So… it’s also got some sort of latent magic in it.” She leaned across her counter, staring closer at the crystal. “Not sure what it is, but I didn’t put it in there. It’s probably nothing though, just some zebra mumbo-jumbo, so you shouldn’t worry about it.” She smirked and gave a quick tap of her hoof on her counter. “Just so we’re clear, if it is something bad, I ain’t liable for whatever it is, alright? I don’t want your friends coming to me and blaming my ass if your head explodes or anything.” Wow, that makes me incredibly comfortable putting this inside my head now! Thanks so much for that image...

“Okay?” So… there was some sort of other magic in here. Right, best not to think about it and just let Buck help me put it in. Reaching my wing into my saddle bag, I dropped the eye inside and plucked my cap sack out. “So, what do I owe you?”

“You’re buffalo friend already left the caps for it out of what I paid you for the shotgun.” She smirked and propped her head up in her hooves on the counter. “You’re all paid up.”

“Well, alright then. Thank you.” I nodded to her and slipped my caps back into my bag. A thought ran through my mind that pointed out a sharp realization. Thank you? That’s not what Bombay would say, was it? “It’s been good doing business with you, Mrs. Fuschia. Maybe I’ll come back sometime and sell you some of the other oddities I come across for more than you’re comfortable paying for them.”

That brought the brightest possible smile across her muzzle, which was saying something considering again, she had no lips to speak of.

“Hey now, Mrs. Fuschia was my mother.” She gave a dainty wave of her hoof. “But I’d wondered where that confident mare I’d bartered with earlier had gone. Hope that eye helps you keep that confidence. Cause if you do come back, you can bet I ain’t going to fold nearly as easily next time. But I look forward to it all the same.”

Turning around, I headed out the door, and back toward the convoy. Alright, so now that I’d gotten to know some of them, a single thought kept popping up and bothering me as I walked. Why the hell did so many ponies seem to hate ghouls? Sure, there were feral ones like the ones at Four Peaks, or at the Depot in Destruction Bay. And of course there was the odd one out like Short Wave, but that was hardly a reason to condemn all of them.

Maybe the hatred of them was simply something like the brainwashing that Tephra was doing to this city? Perhaps it was more like with the raiders, where the north wasn’t the best example of the average. Or maybe everypony else in the wasteland was fucking crazy and didn’t even give them a chance. Who knew? Certainly not me, and honestly, I’ll admit that I don’t care if I ever found out.

Oddly enough, as I returned to the Hauler, I found Delilah outside speaking to that Ranger griffon and the odd mare who was looking at Laika’s pod earlier. The charred wreck of the sky raider craft, as well as the other rangers, were strangely absent. Delilah shot me a dismissive look as I headed onto the convoy, and I figured that meant she didn’t want to be interrupted.

Looking around, I managed to find the missing rangers not too far off. They were over toward one of the entrances to Roundhouse. A dozen or so ponies were carefully loading the wreck of that skyraider vehicle into a large traincar that reminded me of Double Drum’s road machine. It was a grey box twice as big as any of the other train carts around here, and painted in a dark blue color on it’s backside was what looked to be the symbol of the ministry of wartime technology.

There was a stubby black exhaust pipe that ran straight into the air off the top of the machine, and a set of squat windows sat toward the front of the heavy looking bunker-like cart. It didn’t seem to have any visible weapons, and unlike Double Drum’s machine, it only had that one pipe on the top of it. Even it’s open armored side looked like it would be flush once they closed it up again.

Among all the vehicles I’d seen so far in the wasteland, this one stuck out as the least… threatening to me. Sure it was big, but that was about it. Maybe that was just how the rangers did things? I don’t know, and frankly, it wasn’t my concern so I didn’t fucking care.

Climbing up the steps to the reactor deck and opening the ice hold, the sound of the crew talking met me through the roof. The open hatch to the rec area let in some of their conversations as well, and from the way they were talking, they sounded like they were all relaxing. For a moment, I just stood there and listened to it. It felt good to hear them talk. It was almost like it had been before… well, before Drake Pass.

Trotting through the hold, I passed the stacks of junk that Boiler had accumulated around the old ship safe. In it, I saw that the ‘jump pack’ she’d shown me with Hardcase had actually been cleaned off a bit. It was currently hollowed out and missing parts, but I’m guessing now that she knew I was alive, she and Hardcase would be working on it again. Continuing, I trotted to the stares and climbed them up into the Rec area.

“Hey, Night’s back!” Howitzer called out as my head poked up through the hatch.

Everypony had truly gathered in the rec area, and they all raised the various alcoholic drinks they held in their hooves to me. Hell, even Happy did, even if it was with a pair of black eyes and a nervous look that was absolutely bleeding with regret. Before I could even say anything, a talon tapped me on the shoulder and I turned to find Cora offering me a bottle of Sparkle Cola from his medical satchel. Just staring at the dusty bottle made me realize that I was actually fairly thirsty. Popping the top off the cola, I lamented the fact that it wasn’t the painkiller I’d certainly need here soon, but wetting my parched throat was a good start

“Hey, man, where’ve you been?” Gearbox gave a relaxed laugh from atop Boiler’s back. “You were gone so long that we thought you’d died.” His eyes were just as bloodshot as ever, but I have to say, it felt good to see that damn druggie again. As well as everyone else on the crew altogether for that matter.

“I almost did.” I spoke and watched as Buck peeked his head out from our container. Feeling a small nudge from the back of my mind, I spoke up as Bombay. “But actually die? You know me better than that!” Flashing a wide smile to all of them, I shrugged and played it cool. “Please, not even Galina could put me down. Bombay’s back, and I’m here to stay.”

They all gave a revelrous cheer at that - well, all except for Buck. But I don’t think he’d heard a word I’d said. He was too busy showing me the kind, gentle smile I loved to see across his muzzle. Taking another sip from my cola, I carefully tucked it between my feathers and walked over to him. Pressing myself up against his warm and fuzzy goodness, I wrapped a hoof around his waist and nuzzled at his chest fur. Goddesses it felt good to be back with him.

“So… did you get it?” He asked softly, perking my ears. I was a bit confused as I looked up at him, so he canted his head and nodded to my saddlebags. “The eye?”

“Oh, right!” I nodded and quickly used my other wing to flip open my bags. Carefully, I drew it out. “The merchant mare said that I should get help putting it in the first time, or at least until I get used to doing it myself.”

“Alright.” Buck carefully reached in with his paw and pulled out the crystal eye between two of his claws. Again, I didn’t really understand how he could do that.

“How… do you control it?” As always, the words slipped out of my muzzle without my approval. “Your claws I mean. You can rend through metal or stone, but you can also hold something as fragile as glass or cloth.”

“Well, it’s… sort of hard to explain...” Buck began.

“Let me easily answer that by saying.... magic.” Hardcase spoke up from his seat next to the radio. “To put it another way, Bombay, besides the problem you have with your wings, how is it that you don’t just go flying away off into the sky all the time?” Taking a sip from his beer, he offered me only a smart ass smirk.

“Well, if I don’t want to fly, I just…” I paused and blinked a few times as it hit me. “Oh. I just… don’t.” I mean, it was well known that pegasi magic was what allowed us to fly, but it was a choice that could be made. As I’d grown up to understand it, it’s like a reflex, and your body just sort of knows when it needs to not fall. Looking back up to Buck, he gave a shrug. “I guess that works then!”

“Like I said,” Hardcase chuckled before downing the rest of his drink. “Magic.”

“Regardless of that,” Buck gave a lighthearted laugh that helped to perk me up in a way that I feel like I hadn’t in ages. “Why don’t we try to magic this into your socket and see how it feels? I’d much rather find out if you need to have more work done on it now, than to find out when we’re already back on the road.”

“True, that’s probably a smart move.” Looking up at him, I sat down and put my forehooves on my face to steady myself. “Alright, go for it!”

“First of all,” Buck spoke softer as he lifted the claws with the eye closer to my head. “I’m sorry if it’s a bit uncomfortable. It’s going to be a learning experience for the both of us.”

“Oh, come on, Buck.” Hispano grumbled as she gave out a long yawn and strained to sit herself up on her bed. She looked even more like hell than before, with parts of her skin looking more baggy than usual. If I had to make a comparison, I would have to say she almost looked deflated. “Just shove it in there. Night’s been through worse already.” Still, even with how worn out she looked, she still held on to the happy look across her beak, and the glimmer of hope in her eyes.

Buck’s other paw wrapped around the back of my head to steady me further as he slowly brought the crystal eye up to my socket. I’m not going to lie, it felt… fairly uncomfortable to have it slipped in. A small whimper escaped my muzzle as part of it pressed sharply against the inside of my socket. But as that unexpected jab faded, Buck pulled back his paws, and I felt something… odd.

There was a soft crackling coming from my socket, like that of glass. I felt as the magic Fuschia had imbued in it ran it’s course and the orb conformed to fill the emptiness. At that same moment, the pain in my socket flared up again, and only a single solitary thought of my head exploding from it crossed my mind. However, the crackles quickly faded away, and when it did, so did the aching pain. Blinking a few times, I smiled even wider because for as much trouble as that fucking pain had become, it was just… gone.

“Woah…” Buck gasped as he looked down at me, looking absolutely perplexed for some reason. “That’s… odd...”

“You’re tellin me!” Hispano gave a few panting laughs as she too wore a really contorted look of confusion on her beak. “But regardless of that, it’s fucking awesome!”

“What is it?” Confused, I turned around to see if anyone else could explain what the hell was going on. However, they all shared the same expression as Buck and Hispano as they looked at me. To be honest, I’d begun to feel like the butt of a joke that nopony would share…

“Here…” Hardcase spoke as his horn flared to life. A small mirror floated out of his container, and hovered in front of my muzzle.

Immediately, I noticed that the short mane I’d acquired over the last few weeks had indeed not done much to affect my softer features. In fact, I pouted slightly as the previous remark of looking kind of butch only rang home at this moment, even moreso when I considered all the scars all over me now as well. Lifting my forehoof, I tweaked the mirror downward slightly so that I could use my good eye to look at the crystal one. When I did though, I found the same confounded look the others had, written across my own damn muzzle.

The crystal eye had indeed conformed to fill out the same shape and size of my old eye. However, it wasn’t nearly as bland as Fuschia had said it would be. Inside it, floating just below the surface and matching the movements of my good eye, was a roughly oval shaped, sharply cut emerald.

“What the hell did you have her do too that ball?” Cora snorted as he walked up to get a closer look. “I’ve never seen magic that acts like this before. I mean, can you actually see out of it?”

“No?” I blinked again a few times and looked back at the mirror. It was… oddly well matched in color to my good eye. There were even tiny flecks of gold in it that were barely noticeable in my real eye. “I mean, Fuschia said she only put the resizing spell on it, but that there was also some other latent magic inside she couldn’t figure out.”

“Fascinating…” Buck spoke as he reached his paw under my muzzle and dragged it around until I was looking up at him again. “I think it’s the most… beautiful emerald I’ve ever seen…” His words drifted off as his furred cheeks nearly burned rose red with a blush.

“Well,” Boiler blurted out, “you did say that Madame Mystic gave that to you because she knew you’d need it. Maybe that magic was part of it?”

While I didn’t like that she might have known about Violet’s death, it was a more valid explanation for it than anything I could think of. Not to mention, it’s a bit more positive of an explanation than thinking there’s still some other magic still in it that could make my head explode or something! But, even so, the pain was gone from my socket, and that was more than enough for me.

Almost on cue, the aches and pains from the other injuries I’d been recovering from flared up. Not nearly as sharply as my socket had been, but still enough to make me wish I had some chill. I was about to ask Buck and Cora for some when the sound of the ice hold door opening under us perked all of our ears.

“Alright, listen up.” Delilah’s sharp voice demanded our attention as she climbed up the ice hold stairs. “Change of plans. Now that we’re all back, we’re leaving the city today, and we’re taking a shortcut.”

“A shortcut?” Happy asked as he sat up quite uncomfortably from his place on the couch. “I thought that Highway five was the only way south from here?”

“That’s not exactly true.” Another voice came up from the stairway as Delilah walked up into the Rec area. I recognized it, and Hardcase recognized it, but as that griffon ranger perked his head up, Howitzer gave a loud snort and stomp. “We can take the Galloway mines transit tunnel all the way to the compound. It’ll be a tight squeeze, but I believe this vehicle will have clearance.”

“What the fuck, Delilah!” Howitzer nearly shouted as he sharply pointed his hoof to the now cringing ranger. “You’d let the rangers onto our convoy? Into our home!?”

“I know it’s not something you and your sister are comfortable with. I’m sorry, but this is necessary.” Delilah’s seething tone made it obvious she was heavily restraining herself from speaking her mind, but she was too careful to say anything she’d regret. “We need to utilize every advantage we can against Solomon, so you will be either be alright with Pastel and his rangers for now. Or, you and your sister can stay here in Mare’s Lake.”

“It’s fine, ma’am.” Boiler grunted as she put her hoof against Howitzer’s shoulder, keeping her eyes on him as he looked like they were about to shoot beams of magic out and melt the nervous griffon ranger. “Just make sure they know to keep their grubby hooves off our shit, and their own muzzles shut.”

“Hun?” Gearbox sighed as she squeezed around the back of Boiler’s fuzzy form. “I know you two don’t like them, but they aren’t the same ones from home.”

“Doesn’t mean we have to trust them further than we can throw them.” Howitzer huffed and sat down hard.

“Which simply means it won’t be hard to boot them off the convoy if need be.” Delilah snorted as her own glare burned from behind her glasses. “But I expect us all to work together until we reach Galloway with them.” Looking back to the griffon commander, she gave a small nod. “Captain, if you’ll follow me to my office.” Turning her gaze across us all, unexpectedly, she stopped on me. “Night, you will join us as well. You have something we need to discuss with the rangers.”

Welp, while I didn’t know what to expect from this turn of events, at the very least, I was back home. No, that’s not really enough. With the regrettable exclusion of Violet, all of us were finally back home.

Author's Note

As always, many, many thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his help in fixing up the chapter before it goes live. Thanks for keeping the quality control top notch, buddy!

And of course, thanks to Kkat for letting us all play around in these wastelands!

Chapter 41 - The Tunnel

Whenever you see light at the end of the tunnel, the tunnel will cave in.

“Excuse me, ma’am?” I snapped at her as I pressed my mother’s tags against my neck.

“Give the ranger your tags.” She repeated flatly. “You will get them back when they are done with them.”

“I promise, I won’t damage them.” The robed mare who’d inquired about Laika’s pod spoke in a meek voice, and hid behind the form of her Griffon superior. “It is only to record the information written on them into the Galloway logbooks.”

“Captain Pastel, I know this must come as an odd request,” Delilah leaned back in her chair, slowly taking off her glasses and setting them down onto her desk. “But I have to ask that you keep no record of that inscription once we are finished, written or otherwise. It is for your own protection, rather than a simple request of privacy.”

“But that goes against protocol! We must keep-…!” The mare gasped as she began to speak quickly, but quickly quieted herself as Pastel held up a talon to her.

“Once we arrive at Galloway, I will convey your request to the elder. Keep in mind that I can not guarantee that he will listen.” He gave a small nod to the robed mare before looking back at Delilah, and then to me. “However, with all due respect, protecting the Steel Rangers should not be a concern of yours.”

“The one going after that inscription has already used two Road Crew union representatives to attack us, and is both well funded and equipped.” Delilah leaned forward again, steepling her forehooves on her desk. “It would be smart to heed my words, Captain.”

“Again, I will relay your request to the elder.” Captain Pastel turned and offered his talon to me. “However, I will still require the tags before we depart.”

Slowly, and with my mind screaming at me to stop moving, I reached up and hoofed at the tags around my neck. Carefully, I pulled them up, slipping them past my mane and over my head for the first time in goddesses know how long. With a small clink, I let the necklace slip from my hoof and drop into Pastel’s waiting talons.

I know that these were far too important to let go. They were the last memory of my family for Celestia’s sake, even before Delilah gave me the task of carrying the code. They better fucking not be lying to us like everypony else has been on this trip…

“Thank you.” Turning to the robed mare, he held my mother’s tags out to her. “Take great care in handling these, Scribe Bundt.”

“Sir, yes sir.” She nodded as she lifted her hoof and took them from him. Slipping them into some hidden pocket in her robe, she turned to step out.

“One last thing, Scribe,” Pastel held up his talon to stop her. “Tell Knight-Sergeant Parfait that he will be stationed on this vehicle for the trip through the tunnel.” Turning back to Delilah, I watched as her eye gave a subtle twitch. “I’m sorry, but the tunnel can be a dangerous place. There are many ferals wandering throughout the length of it, and they will be hard to outpace seeing as we will be relegated to no faster than fifteen kilometers per hour while inside.”

“Why the hell so slow?” I blurted out. Damnit, Night! You were doing so well right until then.

“So we don’t damage the rail lines running through the tunnel.” Delilah answered for him. “Normally it’d be my turn to tell you that protecting my convoy shouldn’t be a concern of yours. However, seeing as it will be inside a restrictive environment, and we are a crewpony down, I’ll allow it.” Pressing her hooves on the desk, she pushed herself up out of her seat and extended a hoof to him. “But he is only to guard the stairway, and not leave the reactor deck.”

“Fair enough.” Reaching his talon out, Captain Pastel took her hoof and gave it a firm shake. “We’ll be ready to get underway momentarily, and will radio you with directions as needed.” Pulling his talon back, he lifted it into a stiff salute before turning and heading out with the robed mare in tow.

I turned to follow, but stopped as Delilah gave a quick tap on her desk.

“Night, close the door behind them and stay for a moment.” She said as she put her glasses back on and opened a drawer in her desk. As the two left, I did as she asked and shut the door behind them. Turning back, I found Delilah slipping into her pistol harness as she drew her pistol from the desk drawer.

“Look,” She sighed as she spat the gun onto her desk. “I know we’ve had this conversation before, but given what you’ve been through, I’ve been inclined to be lenient. And it’s not that I don’t understand why you went after Galina.” Oh, great. Of course she was going to discipline me over what happened with Galina. “I just expected more from you is all. It may have been my mistake in assuming you’ve had time to adjust down here, but I do expect more from you in the future.”

“Of course, ma’am.” Again, I did deserve this though. Even though I had already done my best to get things back on track here...

“However,” She continued, pausing as she bit down on the pistol and tucked it firmly into it’s holster. “It’s only because of how far you’ve come in this short amount of time that I’m holding you to this standard. Not because Happy has been more than a disappointment to me. But just look at what you’ve accomplished since you got back here, Night. Hardcase is back, safe and sound. Happy’s dealings have been revealed and will be monitored. And most importantly of all, the crew seems to be in the best spirits since we left Pink Mountain.”

“For that reason,” She stepped around her desk, walking up slowly as she lowered her voice, “I will continue to give you the freedom of choice in how you act. But know that I do have a breaking point, Night. Don’t test my limits again, because more than the others could ever comprehend, I don’t want to lose another member from this crew. But I will fire you for good if you force my hoof.”

“Understood.” I nodded to her, eyeing her as she stepped past me toward the door. “Ma’am? If I might say something?” Turning to her, she cocked and eyebrow at me. “With all due respect, I owned up to my mistakes. If I do pull that shit again, you won’t have to fire me. I’ll already be dead.” I’d barely survived this last mistake and I refuse to make another like it.

“Then it would be best to see to it that a situation like that never comes to pass.” She muttered before turning around, opening the door, and stepping out.

We’d been back on the road for about an hour when we finally got word we were approaching the final settlement on the edge of the city. We’d left the towering skyscrapers behind us as the midafternoon sun dipped behind some roaming clouds coming from the west. Out on the outskirts of the once sprawling city, we rolled through the burned out remains of what at one time must have been a nice residential area. Still, the mountains that hugged the back of the neighborhoods loomed over us almost oppressively, as if to watch our every move.

Trying to ignore the creepy feelings that the supposedly cursed mountains gave me, I focused myself on what truly mattered. My friends. I’d spent some time lounging around with Lucky, talking with him some more, but the drugs Gearbox had given him soon kicked in. Rather than encroach on his experience, I let him enjoy his hallucinations in peace.

Checking in our container, I also found that the invisible Alicorn that had been inside had already gone. Thinking on it, she probably left before Buck came back, or he’d have sniffed her out. That, or maybe he had found her, and let her stay long enough anyway. Either way, I hoped that the Alicorn was safe, and that Lilac Lace was satisfied.

Of course with nothing else to do at the moment, I ended up waiting for Buck to finish helping Hispano move around a bit in the rec area. She looked a bit unsteady as she walked past me on the couch, but she was definitely looking better than she had been an hour ago. And that put a smile across my muzzle.

“You know, Dum Dum,” Hispano offered a sly glance back as she struggled to keep herself up. “I’d smack that smile right off your face if it weren’t for the fact you’ll be the one doing this once you lose yourself another leg!”

“Come on, Hispano. Be nice.” Buck childed her, hovering over her with his paws outstretched. “Alright, now turn around and let’s head back to the room.

“All… ack!” Hispano cried out as she tried to turn herself, but tripped over her own talons. With a black and white flash, Buck’s paws were wrapped under her, holding her over the floor. “Damnit, I said I‘ve got this! My muscles are just weak, not useless.”

“Let him help, Hispano.” Cora called down from somewhere above the flapping tarp above us. “Swallow your pride and keep working at it. You have no one to blame but yourself for this.” Wow, that was a bit harsh. “Well, yourself and Night I suppose.” Was that really necessary? I said I was sorry and got Hispano back! I’m not the bad guy here!

Well, I kinda was to be honest… but still!

“Hey, Night?” Hardcase called out as his door swung open with his magic. Poking his head out, he waved his hoof for me to come over. “I need you for a moment.”

Waiting for Hispano to wobble by again with Buck in tow, I gave him a wide smile as I trotted over into Hardcase’s container. As I entered, Hardcase’s magic pulled out the now polished bronze jump pack I’d last seen down in Boiler’s junk pile.

“Alright, nothing too major, but I need you to strap this thing on and tell me how the weight feels.” Tucking away some wires and electrical bits, he snapped a panel on the side of the pack closed and presented it to me. “I can adjust the number and placement of final heat sinks once we start flight testing her, but for now I just need to know if it’s too heavy.”

Taking the pack from his magic, I stopped as I noticed an etched and painted design on the smooth center section of the pack’s backside. My mind froze on it, unable to look away from the vibrant five petaled purple flower. It looked exactly like the one I’d seen on the filly sized Violet in that crazy dream…

“So… yeah.” Hardcase winced as he reached up and ran his hoof over the etching. “I figured that since nopony had ever seen it, I’d add…”

“Violet’s cutie mark.” My muzzle threw out the words, both interrupting him and making him freeze up as I had. It was so stunningly accurate to what I’d seen in my dream it was insane. But… how was this possible?

“How... could you know that?” He looked almost as astonished as I felt right at this moment. “She gave me a crude drawing years ago of it. Even then, I left it back at home.” But as much as I wanted to give him a valid answer, I didn’t really have a good way to explain it.

“I saw it. This exact cutie mark, in a dream.” Reaching up, I too ran my hoof over the etching before looking back to Hardcase. “After Galina tortured me and I passed out, I… I can’t really explain it. I remember something like a dream, but different. I’m not sure how this is possible.”

Sitting down hard, Hardcase hung his head. With a flicker from his horn, the illusion of him dropped, leaving the stark white buglike form of him sitting next to me. His tattered wings flopped limply across his back as he let out a soft whimper.

“I miss her… so much.” Glowing blue tears dripped down onto the floor as he spoke. “She didn’t care about what I was. She accepted me for who I was.”

“Hey,” Carefully, I set the jump pack back down and reached over, wrapping my hooves around him tightly. The stiff plates on his body felt… odd. Cool to the touch, and they flexed in strange ways against me. It wasn’t bad, simply unexpected. “I miss her too, but you know we accept you, Alabaster. The whole crew cares about you.”

“You didn’t see it. The way they looked at me after you went after Galina. After what I did to the Road Crew...” He whined louder as he slumped against me. “I know that look, the one they gave to the real me. They questioned if I had ever been truthful to them at all. They didn’t have to say it. I just… felt so alone without her here anymore.”

“But now that they know the real you, you don’t think they accept you?” Giving him a pat on the back, that got him to look up at me with his pupiless big glowing blue eyes. “Yes, they may have doubted for a moment, but everypony makes mistakes like that. Whether they call you Hardcase or Alabaster, you know they accept the real you. Just like I do.”

“I know.” He nodded and pulled himself back up to rub his watery eyes. “I… made a mistake in going down to that hive. I had convinced myself that I couldn’t live without Violet, and that the crew would hate me for what I am.” As soon as I’d pulled my own hooves back from the hug, he lunged at me. He wrapped his hooves around me in a tight hug of his own, whining again. “I know I already said it, but I can’t thank you enough, Night. For saving me. For accepting Salt and others of my kind.” Looking back up at me, a sad smile stretched across his chitinous jaw. “And for believing that Violet was worth saving from Solomon.”

I opened my muzzle to speak, but gravity decided that it was time to throw both Hardcase and I down to the floor. The feeling of the Hauler being forced to a quick stop, along with the sharp hiss of it’s massive brakes cutting through the air was disconcerting. At least, a bit more disconcerting than my new orientation of doing a headstand against Hardcase’s container wall.

“What the hell?” Hardcase groaned as his horn flashed. In an instant, his yellow maned, purple unicorn form reappeared as he picked himself up off of my jump pack. The both of us perked our ears as angry shouts were quickly followed by sharp impacts against the metal body of the Hauler. Though, there were no gunshots to accompany this hits, so we were both more than a bit confused. “Are we under attack?”

“Fuck.” I grumbled as I scrambled to get back to my hooves. By the time I had, Hardcase had already opened his door and headed out into the Rec area. With the door open, the angry voices were much louder now, but the hits on the hauler weren’t. Static over the picnic table radio set caught my attention as Hardcase flipped it on with his magic. I assumed Delilah had something to say about all this, but I already knew what the pit in my stomach was trying to tell me.

“Night, use the ice hold and get down to the reactor deck. No flying.” She sighed, sounding more like this was an inconvenience more than anything. At the very least, it meant that I shouldn’t be too worried, right? “To the rest of you on Bertha, stay in the Rec area until we get moving again. This shouldn’t take long.”

Trotting out and through the Rec area, I jumped as half a brick crashed down on the floor next to me. Looking out, an angry mob of road crew ponies were quickly surrounding Bertha, wielding pieces of scrap in their muzzles or rocks in their magic. Okay… Delilah might be underestimating how worried we should be.

Ducking down through the ice hold, I swung open the door to the reactor deck just in time to see another brick bounce off the Steel Ranger who’d been left with us. Thankfully for him, the bulky suit of power armor didn’t even look like it had been scratched by the meager attack.

His lack of a reaction to it made me just that much more weary of trusting this guy. No pony could be this calm around an angry mob. Maybe it was because the side of his helmet had the word MISFIT painted boldly onto it, and he was just that numb to danger. Though, that’s probably not the case, because it’s most likely the fact that he’s got a fucking minigun trained on the angry ponies trying to surround the stairwell. If I had a minigun, I’d probably feel pretty fucking confident as well.

Sitting just off to the left of Bertha, was Bessy. She was besieged by just as many ponies as Bertha was, but so far none of them had taken to climbing up top. None of this made any sense! What the fuck did we do to attract this sort of attention? Looking back, I found Boiler waving me over from the safety of the supply cage.

“What the fuck is going on?” I called out, finding it harder by the moment to shout over the angry crowd.

“How the hell should I know!?” She shouted as I ducked through the door. As soon as I had, I found the saddle I’d bought shoved into my face. “Get that on quick, cause I don’t think the folks here from Calamity are going to let us by without a fight.”

“Who the fuck is Calamity!?” Ugh! You know what I didn’t miss from our time on the road? Not knowing what the fuck was going on as I was forced to put on a battle saddle far too quickly.

“It’s not a who!” She snapped as she scrambled to hoof some bullets into one of the mags for my submachine gun. “Calamity’s the settlement we’re passing through. More specifically, it’s a road crew settlement. Which, now that I think about it, is probably why they’re a bit pissed off at us!”

“That shit at the pass was Galina’s fault, not ours!” I growled as I managed to wiggle myself into the harness.

“Well go fucking tell them that!” Boiler rolled her eyes as she went back into the cage and grabbed on of the magazines for my gun off one of the ammo crates.

Getting my wings up around the back straps reminded me of how uncomfortable my original saddle had been at first as well. Fuck it, now’s as good a time as any to break it in I guess. The sharp sound of feedback through a microphone made Boiler and I wince, as well as thankfully dulling down the noise of the crowd.

“What in Tartarus is wrong with you ponies!?” The angry voice of a stallion boomed through what I assumed was a megaphone turned up to the max setting, only to be spoken through yet another megaphone. Why did it feel like everypony in the wasteland wanted me to go deaf!? “I know you’re angry, but you’re still fucking Road Crew for Celestia’s sake. Have some respect for the goddess damned rules, or as forepony, I swear I’ll transfer every last one of you to work in the fucking gravel pits.”

While that seemed like an odd threat to make from where I was standing, I had to at least breathe a sigh of relief that somepony had reigned in that crowd before we had to start shooting. The crowd booed at the pony, but quieted even more at that. Standing on the tips of my hooves, I just managed to peek over the floor to see some of the ponies crowding around Bessy begin to leave. Alright, so maybe this was just a false alarm, and Delilah’s original assessment was correct.

I mean, this could still devolve into shooting, but since when has that ever happened with the Road Crew? Dear Celestia, what did I ever do to deserve my life?

“Alright,” Boiler snorted as she hoofed the mag up into my new subgun and flipped the trigger bit up in front of my muzzle. “I’ll get on loading another mag, but you’re good to go.”

“Don’t give me that fucking look, Berry.” The stallion on the megaphone barked sharply. “You all are the ones stepping way out of line here.” A hushed obscenity carried over the nearly dead quiet air that hung around outside. I didn’t hear exactly what they’d said, but that stallion on the megaphone seemed to hear it perfectly. “Oh, that’s real mature, Berry. Thanks for volunteering for the next rotation at Midway station.” The crowd came back to life with concerned, but still hushed words. “Yeah, and if anypony else wants to talk back, you’ll be joining him with the Rangers at Midway. So just go back to your homes and let me sort this all out.”

Walking around the side of the power armored stallion, I watched as the gathered crowd around both our vehicles decided to disperse a bit. A stallion in Road Crew forepony’s gear however still stood angrily on Bessy’s roof with megaphone in hoof. Frankly, he was an all over boring looking pony. Dusty grey coat, and a messy black mane that was sticking out from under the bright yellow construction helmet on his head. He sported a cutie mark that from here looked like nothing more than a simple cinder block, which sat on his otherwise unremarkable flank.

I couldn't quite be sure, but I think that I’d started to grow too used to how the ponies in the wasteland looked. Outside of the various races that stuck out in the crowd, I hadn’t even given a thought to the masses of ponies at Tephra’s gathering yesterday. Even now, I had to force myself to look around at the mob that was slowly filtering away from us.

I hadn’t even realized that we were sitting smack dab in the middle of their settlement. Houses built mostly out of sheet metal and wooden pallets sat scaling up the nearby rocky mountainsides. Sparse patches of soil had been tilled extensively to grow masses of sickly looking crops in the few places on the mountainside there was room enough to farm. Bits of construction supplies were dotted around under protective tents, and there wasn’t a single pony in sight among the whole settlement outside those who were just crowded around us.

The angry looking mob ponies didn’t hide their toxic glares from the convoy, but at least those of them who’d had rocks or weapons had decided to drop or holster them as they left. Seeing that the threat of an angry mob had for the moment died out, I felt justified in letting out a sigh and relaxing again.

“Well.” The amplified voice of the power armored stallion nearly gave me a heart attack, as well as momentarily deafened me. Seriously, what’s with all the loud noises!? “I’m glad that we didn’t find ourselves in a violent altercation.” I felt my heart wildly beating against my ribcage as the armored stallion turned to me and canted his head. He gave a quick laugh that made his armor jostle a bit. “Oh, were you so frightened by the prospect of fighting? Don’t be. This armor would have made short work of those foolish ponies before they could ever hurt a mare such as yourself.”

“That armor’s certainly made short work of your intellect more than anything.” Boiler muttered under her breath as she emerged from the supply cage and got settled back into her reactor cubby. Whether or not the stallion had heard her, I don’t know. However, I was fairly certain that he couldn’t have missed the snirk I gave in response.

Still, as accurate as her statement was, just what the hell was the issue that Boiler and Howitzer had with the rangers? I swear that even though I had grown to hate story time, I have to admit that I was getting far too curious to try not to ask. As I moved to turn and do just that however, Delilah’s voice came over the megaphone.

“Bombay,” The sharp tone she used was punctuated by her normal tone of apathetic annoyance, but also contained a bit of sharp anger. “I need you over here for a moment.” It was most likely because we had to stop in the first place, but I couldn’t help but immediately fear that I’d somehow, in someway, managed to do something wrong already.

Still, I pushed my wings open and climbed up onto the railing next to the stallion. With something between a kick off and just letting myself fall, I let the air catch me and pull me into a slow glide. As I neared Bessy, I flared my wings a bit and turned myself into a soft arcing bank around the zebra striped APC. Coming in to land in front of Delilah and the Road Crew stallion, I was surprisingly joined by Captain Pastel as he flew over from the ranger armored-train-thing.

“Alright, let’s make this quick.” Pastel grunted as he came down and immediately deadpanned at the Road Crew forepony. “Your superiors promised me that we wouldn’t have any more hold ups like this so long as we helped defend Midway Station and stayed out of your business. Do I…?”

“With all due respect,” Delilah interrupted him, “I’m afraid that this hold up was entirely our fault.” Turning back to the other stallion, she adjusted her glasses a bit and took a short, sharp breath. “What’s it going to take to keep my convoy moving?”

“What’s it going to take?” The stallion belted out a rapid succession of laughs that while they were short lived, seemed cold and hollow. “You’re lucky after what happened at the pass that we haven’t repossessed or scrapped your convoy. And that’s only because I got on the horn with the big boss herself and told her you helped us reclaim that old hardware your first time through here.”

Of course, even though I didn’t know much about the rangers, somehow the fact that Pastel’s plumage had perked up didn’t at all surprise me.

“What ‘old hardware’?” He asked, cocking and eyebrow and looking between the two leaders.

“Eh, Mrs. Delilah gave up the locations to one of her family's logging camps not to far to the east.” He gave a shrug like that wasn’t all that big of a deal, but I’m guessing from the sour look on Delilah’s face, she hadn’t even wanted to make that deal in the first place. “Had six whole traction engines just waiting to be reclaimed, along with two Hornsby chain tractors. Lucky for her, the engines were all still in good enough condition to be converted from wood burning over to a heating talisman-fired design, after the boilers were repaired.”

“Traction engines!?”Now it was Pastel’s turn to laugh it up. “Aren't those positively ancient tech? I think I recall a scribe mentioning they were common tech that existed before the war.”

I felt like this impromptu meeting had become an inside joke I was getting increasingly further from. Though, I really doubted that Delilah was at all finding this funny. She pressed her forehoof up onto her temple again in exasperation and looked at me with a tired gaze.

“My family is a prewar corporation that still holds plenty of more advanced assets than that one camp, Captain. Something you should keep in mind when I come to ask something of your superiors at Galloway.” She spoke up as she shifted her glare to the now starkly silent griffon. “And I’ll have you know that, for the time, those engines performed admirably at their tasks.” Turning from Pastel, she moved her softened glare over to the forepony. “My family paid good bits to make sure they’d last. Glad to know that we didn’t invest that much extra into them for nothing. Hopefully you and your group will make good use of them.”

“Yeah, that’s all and good, but it doesn’t change what you did up at the pass.” The forepony huffed and crossed his forehooves. “A lot of good ponies died up there. My friends, family even. Today’s incident here was tame compared to what you’ll find closer to headquarters. Calamity always has problems, but we aren’t fanatics like the crew in Cantercross. Lots of ponies are going to have a problem with letting you go by, even though I talked directly with Dozer. She can’t control everypony, not without a good enough reason to order it with any conviction. So, if you have one I can relay, maybe I will. But then again, maybe I won’t. It all depends on what you can offer in compensation.”

“Excuse me.” Delilah deadpanned at that, beating both Pastel and I to the expression without contest.

“You didn’t think you’d get off that easily, did you?” The stallion laughed again, visibly raising the blood pressure of Delilah to near boiling. “Oh come on.” He rolled his eyes at her. “With what happened at the pass, somepony has to get paid off. I’m just saying, why not me? I mean, Calamity here is no stranger to disaster, we always get the short end of the stick. It’s why we named it that in the fucking first place! But this way, we can both make the best of this situation, like with our previous deal.”

And as if she could just wish it away, the tension and anger in Delilah disappeared. It was unnerving to watch, actually. Unnatural and eerie, because I could still feel her anger radiating off her completely calm demeanor. A small smile even parted her lips and that terrified me.

“Posturing for another promotion already? Good, ambition to climb the ranks and get out of this hellhole is a valiant pursuit.” Delilah straightened up her forehoof, pointing it directly at me. “And I was hoping you’d ask for an explanation. Bombay, tell him exactly what happened at the pass if you would. And please, don’t hold back.”

If I had to equate the feeling of being put on the spot like that, it would have to be that Delilah had channeled Celestia herself and moved the sun to only shine right on me. You know, maybe it wasn’t that I already had done something wrong when she called me over. Maybe she sounded like that because I was about to fuck up right now.

Bombay.

The whisper of Lilac Lace’s voice in my head sent an electric tingle up my spine. I stiffened up as my mind started to process it, and by the time I’d opened my muzzle to speak, I’d already formulated just what it was that Bombay would say in this case.

“Listen up, asshole. We stopped when they asked. We abided by every fucking order that Knuckle Boom gave. But all of her crew ponies, your ponies, failed to realize that the one operating her machine didn’t even work for the Crew.” The words I spoke were as sharp as knives, and thrown at the Road Crew forepony with as much force as a hurricane battering a tree. “Since I assume you can call around, why don’t you call up north and ask Double Drum about our encounter as well?” Shifting myself, I gave a few heavy taps on the roof of Bessy with my prosthetic.

“Maybe it’s just the way the entire Road Crew is. Completely incompetent at anything but dumb labor, and if only passably repairing the shit that better ponies then them have built.” Leaning in as I continued the verbal assault, the wide eyed stallion shifted himself backwards a bit. “We don’t need your fucking permission to use your roads. It’s a courtesy we’ve extended while passing through. And seeing that we’ve shot our way through two of your union reps, maybe being the chatty pony you are, you should call ahead and make sure that the rest of your so called ‘friends and family’ stay the fuck out of our way.”

Giving a gasping breath, I pressed my hoof against my chest. As what I’d just said started to really sink into my own mind, I felt like a weight had been lifted from me. I still regretted everything that happened up at the pass, and everything after with Galina. But it felt good to just get everything out about it and leave it all here like the shitty city behind us.

“G-geeze lady, calm the fuck down.” The stallion seemed a bit shaken. Not as much as I’d have hoped for given the rant I just let loose, but enough that I knew I’d at least gotten the point across.

Was I disappointed by that? Did Bombay let me down? No. Sure, trees didn’t normally fall over from the force of a hurricane, but at the very least they never came out unscathed. Plus, they didn’t tend to fare well when a pony came by afterwards with a chainsaw to finish the job.

“Don't you dare pin Drake Pass on me or my crew because you think you're posturing to be the next in line for a promotion.” Delilah snapped, swinging her forehoof back and catching the forepony completely off guard. The hit smacked him hard, and sent his megaphone clattering to the ground. She nearly dropped him to the roof of Bessy with the hit, but the shocked look across his muzzle was all I needed to know that she wouldn’t have to worry about him being angry for that. “Say anything like that again, and when I finally do sit down to talk with Dozer Blade, I'll make sure you're doing nothing but digging roadside ditches for the rest of your damned life. Or I don’t know, possibly have you buried in one instead of being voted in as the next union rep of Mare’s Lake. Do you understand me?”

“W-what?” The stallion stammered as he hoofed at the quickly swelling bruise on the side of his muzzle.

“I said; do you,” She lowered her voice to a harsh whisper and towered over him. “understand me?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He gave a quick nod.

“Get the fuck off of my convoy.” She grumbled and sharply pointed her hoof to the dirt beside Bessy. I couldn’t help but smirk as the forepony flinched as she did, complying almost immediately as he scrambled down. With another sigh that helped to release some of the tension that had built up, she turned to the nearly stark white looking Ranger. “I’m so sorry you had to see that, Captain.”

“No problem…” He offered a nervous laugh to cover up the obvious fact that he was a bit more shaken up by that then the forepony had been. “Let’s… just get back on the road, er, rails, shall we?”

“My thoughts exactly.” Delilah nodded to him and gave him a dismissive wave. “We’ll await your instructions over the radio for following you into the tunnel.” Turning her attention to me, she gave a nod and just the hint of a proud smirk. “Thank you, Bombay. Please get back to the convoy rec area and keep watch over the rear of the Hauler. Make sure Hardcase and Cora know they’re on the clock too, as well as Hispano if she’s feeling up to it.”

“Alright, ma’am.” I gave her a quick nod and flared my wings. Turning myself, I gave hard flaps to pull myself into the air. As always, it sucked to fly my way even the short distance back over, but after what had just gone down on Bessy? I could handle a bit of annoyance today.

Okay, so that conversation with the forepony could have gone better, but once again, Bombay showed that she could get something done. From my seat behind the rec area railing, I couldn’t help but feel energized from the encounter. It felt good to be Bombay, like as her, I could do anything I set my mind to.

The afternoon sunlight disappeared slowly from above, and the thrumming of arcano engines resonated louder as the convoy slipped into the confining walls of the mountain tunnel. We had maybe a pony’s height worth of clearance above us, and maybe double that to each side of the concrete semicircular walls. Dozens of rusty and hole filled pipes still clung on their mounts above us, and the dim yellow light cast by the few and far between bulbs still burning in here were the only things that stood out in the pure darkness that filled most of the tunnel.

The three similar sets of silver rails that ran under us sparkled with the bright light outside the tunnel increasingly further behind us. The light stretched out a good ways after us as if it was trying to convince us not to leave it. But still, at what felt like a snail's pace compared to our normal speed, we pressed onward into the tunnel. After a few minutes, the sounds of wind and life outside the tunnel disappeared, and only the reverberating sound of the convoy and our Ranger escort met my ears.

Thank the goddesses for the florescent light from the kitchenette, or we’d be enjoying the rest of this trip in complete darkness. And while Lucky had been relegated to only see complete darkness since the loss of the runner, I couldn’t afford to do some drugs to keep myself entertained.

“So,” Hardcase sighed as he sat down next to me. In his magic, he offered me a steaming mug of green-ish looking water. “How’s the new rig feel?”

“It’s a bit stiff,” I took the cup with a nod and shifted slightly in my saddle, “but it’s pretty much the same as my last one. Only really remembered I was wearing it now that you brought it up.” Which was at least one nice thing about it. “That, and my new gun has a fairly similar weight to the old one, which is nice.”

“Ugh, you should just take it off for now.” Cora grumbled as he walked over from the kitchenette. He took a sip of his steaming cup of coffee, savoring it for a moment before elaborating with what was sure to be some sort of insult. “You’re more likely to injure one of us in here than anypony else. This tunnel is a dead zone.”

“In more ways than you know…” Hardcase muttered to himself. However, with us so close, it didn’t take him long to find that both Cora and I were waiting for some sort of explanation from him. “What?”

“Please, elaborate on what you meant by that.” Cora smirked as he turned and sat himself comfortably on the couch. “I’m sure at the very least, it’ll help pass the time.”

“Alright, so I’m guessing you haven’t heard any of the stories from our first trip up here, Cora?” Hardcase whined softly as his horn lit up. With a click, the latch on Lucky and Happy’s container opened up. “Hey, Lucky. You awake and lucid?”

“Enough.” Lucky groaned. “Wait, why does everything sound echoey?” He paused for a moment before he let out a small whine. “Please tell me we aren’t…”

“Yeah, Delilah’s actually taking us through the tunnel.” Hardcase facehooved and slowly dragged his hoof down his muzzle. “So here’s the deal. This tunnel used to be a gem mine that ran dry way back before the war. With the war though, came the idea that they could bore it out and turn it into a sort of hub for all sorts of trains to run through the north. They dug the main tunnel here, as well as twelve side tunnels that run out to different lines that go goddesses know where.”

“Yeah, I already know this.” Cora grunted. “Try telling somepony who gives a shit.”

“I’m telling Night, thank you very much!” Hardcase flailed his forehooves a bit before flopping against the railing. “Anyway, the first trip up here, we decided to take this way to avoid paying the Road Crew toll, which we’d gotten pretty sick of.” He deadpanned off into the darkness and slumped a bit before continuing. “Kinda like I’ve gotten sick of them recently…”

“It was a huge fucking mistake.” Lucky continued, not even skipping a beat. “This place is why I know these mountains are cursed. We saw all sorts of weird shit in here. The bones of mutated animals that were killed by goddesses know what. Anomalies like lightning that travel through the air of their own volition. And I swear on Celestia’s grave, there are actual ghosts that live behind those sealed off tunnels.”

“They aren’t ghosts.” Cora childed the both of them. “Those tunnels are still filled with residual magical radiation trapped in whatever gems are still in the walls. Two centuries of treasure hunters, outcasts, and suicidal ponies from Mare’s Lake mean that they’re probably just ferals you heard, if anything.”

“You don’t understand,” Lucky snapped back, “we have seen them. Apparitions that can walk straight through the sealed doors without a care. They chased us a good half of the way through this hellhole!”

“Oh my goddesses!” Happy shouted from the back of his container. “Could you all please keep your bullshit down!?”

“What, did we ruin your beauty sleep, princess?” Cora grumbled and rolled his eyes. “And who cares if you see ghosts? We’ve got some steel ranger nutjob down there with three thousand rounds a minute of ‘get the fuck away’, and the biggest damn vehicle that’s ever ridden the northern roads. Shit isn’t going to mess with us in the pitch black of this tunnel.” Taking a sip of his coffee, he wiggled himself further into the couch.

Which reminded me, there was still a steaming mug of… something in my hooves that I’d been neglecting. Pulling it up to my lips, I took a hesitant sip of it. It had a sharp, minty tang to it, that was also semi-sweet. It was pretty good actually! As I took another sip, I found Hardcase smirk.

“I’ve got plenty more mint tea bags if you like that cup.” Hardcase smiled before he took a sip of his own mug. “Anyway, Cora’s probably right. We shouldn’t worry ourselves.”

“But…” Lucky whimpered softly, “how can you just agree with him?”

“Look, we saw what we saw, but let’s try not to focus on what’s ahead. Keep our heads in the moment...” Hardcase paused as it sounded like Happy Trails ran right into his container wall. Even Lucky was caught off guard by it and gave out a yelp.

“Fuck it! I’ll be down in the hold below for some goddess damned peace and quiet.” Happy grumbled as he trotted out of his room. “Fucking talking about ghosts n’ shit. You’re all a bunch of crazy ponies.” He stopped right in front of me, glaring down the length of his muzzle at me. “I need you to move, Night.” Shit, I was standing on the hatch, wasn’t I?

Before I could move, there was a crackle from the radio. It caught all of our attention as a bit of static filled the air. Maybe Delilah had somehow overheard us and was calling for us to shut our muzzles. Or maybe she just ‘knew’ Happy was being an ass again and was calling to verbally slap him.

………....Kzzzkt………….

The radio fuzzed, giving us nothing but static for about thirty seconds. The only thing of note was the odd crackle there’d been for a moment. Maybe there was something interfering with the radio in the tunnel?

After another moment, the static became louder. Slowly, it built up, and in doing so, it made the mane on my neck stand up. Cora grunted as he pulled himself off the couch and walked over to the radio with a deadpan across his face. Reaching out, he shut the radio off and froze in place.

“Who was that?” Buck peeked his head out of our container. His fur was standing on end, and he seemed even more tense than I’d become.

“It was just a burst of static, maybe from the radiation in the tunnels around here.” Hardcase grunted, doing his best to visibly shake off the creeped out vibe he was exuding right now. “Anyway, thanks for shutting that off for now. We can turn it back on...”

“I didn’t.” Cora said coldly.

“What?” Hardcase stood up so sharply that even Happy had become unnerved. “What do you mean?”

“Well if it’s still on, don’t just sit there!” Buck blurted out before looking around to us like we were all crazy. “Pick up and answer the poor mare!” Rolling his eyes, Buck carefully pushed Cora out of the way of the radio. The griffon seemed to be in a daze as he stepped backwards, slumping back onto the couch. “Hello? Are you in need of assistance?” Buck spoke into the mic for the radio, keeping his attentive ears fixated on the radio for a response.

Yet none came.

“Hello?” Buck repeated himself. “Miss, are you there?” Okay, this was officially getting a bit too creepy for me…

“He can hear them.” Lucky spoke up from his room. “We can’t, but he can.”

“What? Hear who?” Buck turned to Lucky as the rest of us looked to him. “Come on you guys, this isn’t funny. She was crying and obviously in distress.”

“You’re the only one here with good enough hearing to listen over the static. To hear the dead.” Those words out of Lucky’s muzzle felt like it dropped the temperature of the air to record lows. I felt like shivering as just those simple two words bounced around in my head. Yeah, if I ever make it back up north again, fuck this tunnel.

“BOO!” Happy shouted next to me, making me jump back so hard I slammed against the railing of the rec area. I nearly slipped and went over backwards, and the thought of being left behind in this dark hellhole sent another spike of fear up my spine. All as that bastard of a mule laughed it up like it was all just a joke to him.

Thankfully, Hardcase’s horn flashed, and his magic caught around my back and helped to keep me from going over.

“You fucking moron!” Hardcase snapped at him.

“What? He’s fine, ain’t he?” Happy giggled as he rolled his eyes. “Don’t be such a square. Lighten up and relax a bit!”

………....Kzzzkt………….

The radio flared up again, making Buck take a step back.

………....Kzzzkt...Mule...Kzzzkt………….

“What. The. Fuck.” Most of the color drained from Happy’s coat, and I don’t think any one of us wanted to move a single fucking inch.

“Y-you all heard that then?” Buck spoke at only a whisper. “T-the s-screaming?” Pinning his ears back, he too gave a shiver. And I know there’s no way in hell that Buck is at all cold right now. “I um… something’s not right about all this… at all.”

“Yeah, I’m not fucking going through this horror hour bullshit again.” Cora grunted as he stood back up. Wait, again!? Between him and our resident buffalos, why had that become the word of the day recently?

However this time instead of going for the radio, Cora headed to the kitchenette and opened up one of the drawers. Quickly he retrieved a bottle of Stalliongrad vodka and popped the top open.

“Time to drown this shit out.” Taking a few good gulps of it, he shuddered as he gasped for breath and wiped at his beak.

“Yeah... maybe that’s not such a bad idea.” Hardcase spoke up, using his magic to pry the bottle from Cora’s grasp.

“I-I’ll drink to that.” Happy nodded quickly. “You all mind if I just… chill out with you until we get out the other side?”

“Do whatever you fucking want.” Cora grumbled as he slipped his talon into his medical satchel. From it, he pulled his pistol. He pulled the slide back enough to see the round in the chamber before nodding to himself. “But if I see a single fucking anything come out of that darkness? It’s shoot first and ask questions never.”

“Damn straight.” Hardcase nodded before downing a good few guzzling gulps of the vodka. He gave a sputtering cough as he lifted the bottle from his lips, levitating the bottle toward me. “Here, a little liquid courage to calm your nerves.” Before I could even move, Happy had already reached over and grabbed the bottle from his magic. With a single swig, he managed to down pretty much the rest of it. “Damnit, Happy!” He barked, ripping the bottle from his muzzle and smacking him upside the head with it.

“It’s fine!” I lied.

It wasn’t fine. With a sigh, I turned myself back toward the darkness and stared out into it. Even for going as slow as we were, the entrance to the tunnel was only just a pinprick of light now. And for some reason, my new saddle was feeling incredibly uncomfortable now.

Maybe it was the fact that there were fucking ghosts on the radio that unnerved me, but Cora was right. If anything comes out of the darkness, it’s probably the best idea to just blast it without question. Almost as if to silently agree with that, Hardcase propped himself up against the railing again, and made sure that his SFG was propped up right next to him. I wasn’t sure how well it would work in a tunnel like this, but I prayed to Celestia we wouldn’t get to find out.

“Yeah,” I muttered to myself, “this is fine…”

Well, after another uneventful half hour sitting and staring into the darkness, most of the fear we’d felt earlier had sunk to a sort of background level. Sure, Hardcase and I still sat with our weapons at the ready, but Cora had gone into the remnants of Boiler and Gearbox’s container to keep an eye out ahead of the convoy, and Happy had returned to his container as well.

Silence had become our companion during this time. After the radio incident, it was our best friend. Only the sound of crunching gravel under Bertha’s tires, and the clacking of the Ranger’s weird armored train thing ahead of us filled the void outside the rec area. Though, a shifting from behind Hardcase and I prompted us both turning around.

Buck had poked his head out of our container, and while it looked like he was less unnerved than earlier, I could tell from his expression that he was still worried. Waving a paw, he motioned for me to go over to him. Hardcase gave me a simple nod before returning his gaze out to the darkness, and I got up. My legs protested as they were urged to move for the first time in a while, and even my stump seemed to ache around the base of my prosthetic.

Slowly walking around the couch, I made my way back into our container. Buck motioned for me to head over to the bed, and offered me a weak smile. I had to assume he had something on his mind he needed to get off of it because it was hardly the time for something like a quickie. Still, I hopped over onto the bed and sat down as he shut the door behind us. Carefully walking over, he sat down next to me and let out a sigh.

“Look, I wanted to talk to you now that I’ve had time to process our conversation earlier.” He began, keeping his voice quiet. “I mostly want to talk about what you did, and what you said you had to do to get back.”

“I understand it was wrong…” I began, but found his claw come up against my muzzle softly.

“That’s putting it mildly.” He grumbled, forcing out a laugh as he shook his head. “I've only ever once been as scared as I was when you went over that cliffside, and that was the day that Saxon told me we were done. I’d thought you were dead, gone out of my life. Just like that.”

“It was stupid, selfish, and I wasn’t thinking. I know that now.” I didn’t know how to better explain why I’d done it, but I don’t think that was the point. I think he knew the why, he just didn’t agree with the fact that I had done it. “I’ll never go running off like that again.”

“It’s more than that. You said you had to kill ponies to get back here?” He shifted his gaze to the ceiling, eyeing at the softly flickering fluorescent light above us. “I'd rather be heartbroken for the rest of my days than have the weight of another's life resting on my shoulders. You know what I mean by that, right?”

“The sheriff and his son didn’t deserve to die, but I can’t take back what happened.” Sitting there on the bed, I winced as I felt a dull ebbing return behind my glass eye, and slowly it spread out through the rest of my body. It was far from the pain I’d had before, but like the start of a headache, it was still there. “But I’ve paid for my mistakes. Maybe nowhere near enough of a price to justify what’s happened, but at least as much as I can.”

“Have you though?” Buck offered as he quickly turned his gaze back to me. “It may sound harsh, but you’re still here, Night. They aren’t, while you’re still alive.”

There wasn’t anger in his words, or hatred in his eyes. He spoke the simple truth both clearly and calmly, but all the same I felt the burden of my actions weighing down on me more than ever. Slowly, he reached his paw up and pressed it against the side of my head warmly. It was a comfort that I wanted to say given the circumstances, I didn’t deserve, but relished all the same.

“I’m glad you came back. Truly, I am, Night. But...” His tone shifted as again his voice grew softer. Looking up at him, the worried gaze had returned across his face, and I even through the warmth of his paw, I couldn’t help but mirror it. “You have to promise me that you will never leave like that again, and that you will find a different way to do things. One that never involves you killing innocent ponies. I won’t… I can’t live with that on my shoulders. At least, more than it already is.”

It wasn't like I had a choice when Jess fired at the sheriff. I mean, I HAD a choice, but I refuse to throw my own life away like that. Even if I stepped in, she might have killed them anyway. But I can't tell Buck that, can I? 'Sorry, but some ponies are lost causes?' Yeah, he himself had broken down about that, but he was the reason I came back. I want nothing more than to again see him as happy as he was when I first kissed him. But at the same time, I know that I shouldn’t lie to him. He deserves more from me than that.

“Night?” His paw slowly moved down the side of my face, curling under my muzzle so that it tipped my head upwards. “I need you to promise me that.”

“Yeah,” I smiled softly, “I promise, Buck.”

I wanted to say that making me lie to his face like that was a cheap shot. I was forced to confront his hope filled gaze, and chose yet another impossible choice. I didn't want to lie to him. Well, not a lie, but as I keep getting told, mistakes happen. You have to try to do better, but you can't save everypony in the end. I'd learned that the hard way, even if he hadn't quite realized it yet.

Sure he tucked away that little breakdown he had earlier, but that feeling will only fester and rot away his optimism. Worst of all, there was nothing I’d be able to do to stop it. All it simply meant was that I'd have to be ready and at his side when that inevitable realization finally eats through and sends him to rock bottom. Because more than anything, I wish I’d had someone there with me other than Galina when I hit it hard.

"UGH." Hispano groaned, giving a huff as she turned over and pressed her face into her cloud pillow. "You two done being sappy?"

Her muffled words didn't carry too much annoyance with them. I just kinda assumed that she was tired of feeling like crap still as she came down off her addiction. Plus, between the tension from the radio thing, and Buck’s talk, I’d completely forgotten she was still just across the container.

In a sharp move, Buck stiffened himself up. At first I thought he was going to stand up, but he simply sat there tweaking his triangular ears. A look of confusion washed over him, and at the same time, I felt that pit in my stomach start to form again.

“What is it?” I asked softly, leaning myself over towards the safety of his massive form. Hey, if shit was about to go down, I’d much rather be one hoof’s length closer to him than not.

“It almost sounds like… water up ahead.” He spoke slowly as he leaned forward. Getting to his paws, I stood up and followed as he headed for the door. “It’s odd, maybe we’re at the other side already?”

Once he’d opened the door, one thing was immediately obvious to me. Outside of the noises of the convoy, there was definitely something more out there in the darkness. With a squeak, the door to Boiler and Gearbox’s wrecked container opened, and an unhappy looking Cora stepped through. Shutting the door behind him, he stood there for a moment as he looked around at each of us with an unnerved look about him.

“What’s up?” Hardcase asked before my own muzzle had a chance to spit it out. “Everything alright?”

“No. I was right before.” He stated simply, shaking his head. “There’s ghouls ahead.”

“Oh, that must be what the noise is.” Buck nodded to himself. “How many are there then?”

“Lots.” Cora gave a nod before looking across the ground. Walking back over to the couch, he reached down and picked up the empty vodka bottle. Staring at it, he let out a sad sigh. “We’re going to need a lot more vodka if we make it through this hell...”

On this whole trip so far, I’d never seen Cora this unnerved. He may be an overbearing jackass when it came to butting into Hispano’s life, but I never took him as someone who could ever look this distressed. And something about that piqued my interest into solving this probably mortifying mystery.

Still, like always, I couldn’t help myself.

Turning, I reached out and hoofed open the door to the wrecked container. Stepping through the doorway to the blasted open area ahead, I was immediately met with bright lights. The low semicircular tunnel we’d been in slowly gave way to a great concrete dome. A bright ring of lights beamed down brilliantly from near the top of the massive concrete ceiling, illuminating a wide open area that looked like it could hold the entirety of the Roundhouse settlement comfortably inside it.

Ahead of Bertha, Bessy and the armored Ranger train followed the same sets of tracks that lead us in here, but those tracks soon diverged. They ran every which way across the floor of the sprawling open area, criss crossing and switching around to where most of them ended up turning and facing gigantic steel doors. The huge rectangular slabs were as tall as the tunnel we were in, and above each one, written on the concrete, was a number from one to twelve.

The door we’d come through was labeled six, and the open door ahead of us was labeled one. Looking to the right however, I noticed that door number two wasn’t closed like the others around us. Instead, it was sitting half open, and the darkness inside gave me a colder feeling than I’d had before. A few ghouls were milling around the dark entrance, making me question why Cora had been so upset about it.

“Goddesses, just look at Midway station…” Hardcase gasped from beside me, making me jump slightly. Looking at him, his eyes were locked in fear off to Bertha’s left side. I turned, following his gaze across the dome to a squat concrete bunker that sat tucked up against the door to tunnel number nine. But that’s when I too froze in fear.

At first I thought that the tunnel had flooded, and a putrid greenish grey layer of water was lapping up against the bunker. However, the longer I looked, the more that the writhing mass of grotesque bodies resolved into the nightmare inducing picture it was. It was ghouls. It was all ghouls.

Okay, so that’s why Cora was unnerved. Yeah, I don’t even care if it tasted twice as bad as that beer I’d tried before. I was pretty sure I could use some of that liquid courage right about now…

There was a crackle from the radio in the rec area that made me twist my ear back to listen to it.

“Alright everypony. The Rangers are asking for our help in thinning this horde out for the cleanup crew they’ll send in later.” Delilah’s voice came across as cold and ruthless as always. “Night, Hardcase, and Cora. I want you down on the reactor deck now. Not one corpse makes it onto my hauler. Got that?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I responded quickly, not even caring that my brain reminded me that she couldn’t hear me without my combat radio on my head. Still, both Hardcase and I turned around, and headed for the reactor deck. Like Cora had said, this was going to be hell.

Author's Note

As always, thank you so much to TheFurryRailFan for all his help in making sure this chapter is presentable! You're the best, man!

And of course, thanks to Kkat for letting us all use this amazing universe!

Chapter 42 - From the darkness

I was always told there would be days like this, but I was never told there would be so many.

The flash from Howitzer’s high explosive round was impressively bright, even under the blaring lights along the dome’s roof. However, more impressive was the bloom of ghoul bits that erupted from the blast. As the near deafening sound from the explosion drained away, the intense screeching, yips, and howls the ghouls gave filtered into the air again.

Most of the decomposing mass was tightly packed around the concrete bunker that was Midway Station. Even the shot from Howitzer’s cannon couldn’t pull the majority of the ghoul’s attention toward us. And like they truly were a wave of rotten flesh, the hole made by the blast filled in as the surrounding mass closed to fill the missing ranks.

Flipping the bit for my saddle up into my muzzle, I pulled the secondary trigger to load my submachine gun. A sharp clack met my ears as the bolt locked, and I was ready to fight. Beside me, Hardcase flicked a switch on his energy rifle to power it on, while keeping his SFG waiting in his magic behind him. Cora, funnily enough, didn’t even bother raising his pistol as he shut the ice hold door behind him.

“This is probably suicide, you know.” He called out, barely able to speak over the roar of the ghoul army. Looking over to the ranger at my right, Cora pointed his talon to the multi-barreled gun hanging on the side of his armor. “I hope you’re better with that thing than you are at talking.”

“Not sure I’ll be of much assistance against these numbers.” The ranger’s amplified voice easily cut through the noise of the ghouls. Seriously, did he turn the volume up from before? Celestia, why would you ever need to be this loud!? “Unless you have more belts to feed my weapon, I can only promise about thirty seconds worth of fire per belt, and I’ve only got one spare.”

“While I’d normally tell a tin can like you to stuff it,” Boiler remarked as she brought a bucket filled with grenades out before making her way back into her reactor cubby. “But we actually don’t carry that much five five six on board, and we definitely don’t have any way or time to link what little we do have.”

“Well, if it comes down to it,” Hardcase offered a smirk as he wiggled his oversized overkill magical energy weapon in the air behind him. “I can always use my pride and joy here.”

Looking out to the crowd, more and more of the ghouls had begun to turn from the mass to spot the rolling buffet that was the convoy. One after another, the first to arrive charged at Bertha. They weren’t all that great at it, either pointlessly attacking at the tires, or getting crushed under them as we crawled along. Still, it didn’t take long for one of the mindless former ponies to make it to the stairs.

With a piercing bang, Cora fired a single shot down onto the walkway. The round blasted open the ghoul’s skull, and it slumped down on the stairs. Turning my gaze back to the mass, I followed the writhing corpses back to the station. Which was when I noticed something a bit strange about it. Why were they all just huddled around the outside?

“All the doors are closed.” I spoke up. The ghouls may have surrounded the station, but there was nowhere for them to go. The three separate bunker doors were almost missable among the numerous moving ghouls, but they were definitely all still shut. For how much longer against that size of horde though, I had no idea. “If there’s ponies still in there, will your gun pose a danger for them?” After seeing what it could do twice now, I wasn’t so sure that there wasn’t anything it couldn’t obliterate...

“Those walls are concrete, but they are only strong enough to withstand small arms fire.” The Ranger’s voice again cut through the noise, but I cringed as he turned his head and spoke what felt like straight through me. “I believe the mare is correct. With the doors sealed, the station’s occupants are more than likely still alive. I’m not familiar with that design of weapon, but if there is any doubt, it is not worth risking the lives of all inside.”

“Then at the very least, we whittle them down and let them follow us out.” Cora called as he ruffled his wings, shaking them out as he stretched them. “If you can keep them busy, I can double back into the darkness and slip into the checkpoint when it’s clear. Maybe if there’s anypony left, I can convince them to help out.”

“Alright, that sounds like a solid idea.” I nodded and pointed at him. “Get ready to double back, we’ll find a way to get their attention and keep it.” That drew a concerned look from Cora. Not from what I said, but I think it was the fact that I’d said it at all. Still, he nodded all the same and opened the door to the ice hold.

“Bombay, are you sure about that?” Hardcase gave me a concerned look as well. “If we can’t handle them all, we lose the Hauler. It’s too much of a risk if you ask me, and Delilah said we were only supposed to thin their numbers, not bring them all down.”

“I think we can do it.” Honestly, I didn’t believe myself as I watched more and more of the horde peel off the bunker crowd towards us. Then again, I probably shouldn’t be the one speaking. “No, fuck yes we can and will hold them back! Unless you’ve got a better plan, this is what we’re going to do. So get ready!” Bombay wasn’t about to back us down from this fight, cause no matter how bad it’s been, we’ve always come out on top.

No, not all of us…

BOOM!

Howitzer’s cannon blasted another hole in the crowd around the bunker. Like an unnerving ripple, the whole crowd shifted their attention from their now former interest. A thousand dead eyes laid themselves upon us, and almost in unison, the whole horde began to advance on us.

“I say kill ‘em all!” The ranger shouted as he pivoted next to me.

The electronic whine of the spooling minigun existed for a split second before a jarring buzzing jabbed at my ears. My vision went white from the sheer brightness of the constant muzzle flare. Turning away slightly, I shielded my eye, blinking away the solid white afterimage that refused to give way again to the darkness. After a moment however, I beheld a wonderful sight.

Burst after burst tore through dozens of the screaming creatures. Still, as fast as the ranger’s minigun would cut them down, more would charge forward just in time for the next burst. I grit my teeth against my bit, watching and waiting for a stray ghoul to pop out. A quick squeeze of the crisp saddle trigger let out my own trio of shots that dropped the ghoul I’d been aiming at.

A sharp pinging filled my left ear as the spoons of three grenades flipped over the walkway railing. Hardcase propelled them into the ferals using his magic, arching them over the initial mass of them. After another second, the three cracking blasts tore holes in the wave. Holes that unfortunately weren’t all that impressive, and that filled in with more ghouls nearly instantly.

“This will help thin them, but I can’t keep it up once they reach the stairs!” He shouted as his magic levitated new grenades out from the bucket that Boiler had brought. “Not unless our ranger friend here brought enough power armor to share with the whole class!”

Another burst of minigun fire. Another spray from my submachine gun. Another set of grenades. By this point, even Bertha’s wheels were absolutely coated in the black tar like blood of the ghouls. Yet still more and more attacked.

It was infuriating and felt pointless, like fighting an oncoming thunderstorm through a single pegasus’s wingpower. The three of us were making dents, sure. But despite our best efforts, the storm arrived all the same.

“Getting low!” The stallion in power armor called out as the ghouls began to flail and claw their way up the stairwell. Again, he let loose a burst of buzzing minigun fire that tore through those on the stairs like they were made of paper.

Biting down on my bit, I aimed the crowd in general. A short burst of shots punched into a few of them, but then the gun fell silent. Shit.

“I’m out!” I called, turning and looking back to Boiler. She nodded, darting out of her cubby and running to the storage cage. Another round from Howitzer blasted at the crowd, and I winced as the ranger next to me unloaded another few seconds of fire down the stairs.

“What the hell are you doing?” Hardcase’s sharp question beat through the ringing in my ears. I turned around to find him staring at the open Ice hold door. There, with a wide grin across her beak, was Hispano.

“Did I miss out on all the fun?” She called out before pulling Suiza up next to her. She was holding her sister by the barrel, propping herself up on it like a cane as she walked forward. Locked into the top of her sister wasn’t the small-ish magazine I’d seen her use most of the time. Instead it was the large black drum mag, and I instantly knew that we were going to use up every damn shot she had loaded in there. “I hate to ask…” She spoke up, pausing and raising a single talon as if to tell me to wait.

Another lengthy burst from the Ranger tore through the flood on the stairwell again. The mass of bodies had become a sort of makeshift barrier to those climbing up. However, it was only slowing their progress, not stopping it.

“Night, I’m still too weak to do this on my own.” Hispano resumed as she slowly made her way over to me. “Do you think you can help brace Suiza for me again? Like we did on the tank?”

“Yeah, I…” I was cut off as the ranger’s minigun barked again, but it was only for a second before the gun spun down with a ratcheting click.

“I’m out!” His booming voice threw me off balance as he backed away from the stairs. “Thirty seconds to reload!” His gun tilted on it’s mounting, and various mechanisms began to move stuff around on his gun.

With a careful push, Hispano ‘guided’ my unsteady self toward the floor. I smacked my head against the ground and gave out a whine as I fell over, wondering why it was she couldn’t have just asked nicely. Then again, she did ask…

My train of thought was cut off as the air was forced from my lungs by the weight of her sister landing square on my ribcage.

“Sorry about that, Dum Dum, but we should really get to work.” She smirked as she planted herself behind me and wrapped her talons around her sister tightly. “Now, don’t move!”

The first shot Hispano fired forced my ears flat against my head, and tore the wall of ghouls apart with a flash and a fleshy pop that came from inside my own ears. My hearing dissolved into a sharp ringing that felt like it was vibrating something inside my head. A single resonating note that helped to distract me from the jolts that pounded at my body as Hispano continued to fire.

Like in the fog at the ammo depot, these ghouls seemed to be in pretty rough shape. She fired the high explosive twenty millimeter rounds at steady intervals, waiting for a group to crowd the stairwell before letting out another round. Each time, the ghoul she hit would blast apart along with five or six others.

It became rhythmic, almost soothing when matched with the monotone ringing going through my head. Even though there was an army of ghouls bearing down on us, in this moment, everything felt calm to me. Maybe it had been because of all the shit I’d been through, but in watching ghoul after ghoul explode, it finally hit me.

I wasn’t really afraid of the wasteland anymore.

Craning my head back while trying to not move Suiza too much, I looked at Hispano as she aimed and fired. She had just as big a smile plastered across her face as ever, and it made her look more lively than she had since when I got back to the convoy. This wasn’t just work for her though, this was fun. I mean, I’d already known this from how much she loved to use Suiza, but something had fit into place in my mind where now, I could see it.

This wasn’t like dealing with the doctor in Leachate, or with Dizzy and Mrs. Tappit. No conscience to worry about because she treated this like a game. Her eyes shifted between targets, picking, choosing, calculating what way to subtly shift her sister to end the next ghoul’s existence. It was frightening to see just how good she was at whatever she set her mind to, but then again, I’ve always admired her for that.

She caught my stare up at her, and departed from her target hunt just long enough to roll her eyes as an intense blush flushed across her cheeks. While I still had to make things up to her for the shit I pulled, I couldn’t help but be happy that she’d forgiven me as much as she had. With how great both her and Buck made me feel in the wasteland, I could almost justify all the shit I’d been through.

Almost.

A bright flash came from the wall behind us, and a heavy blastwave of air against my head pulled my vision sharply around to the horde again. Another of Howitzer’s shells sent up a dozen of the ferals flying through the air in pieces. Hardcase lobbed another three grenades out from his magic as he fired his magical energy rifle down at the crowd below. And even without being able to hear, the hard vibrations that came through the floor when the Ranger opened up with his minigun again were unmistakeable. It was a symphony of destruction that sadly I wasn’t able to listen to or join in on.

My eyes wandered across the horde toward the bunker. While I didn’t see Cora at any of the three doors, I did now notice that the doors were, for some reason, wide open. As if to answer that question, a massive silver pony appeared in the doorway of each opening. Lines of fire from the guns strapped to the bunker rangers were joined by streaking rockets that evaporated even more of the horde in bright explosions.

From behind the three armored rangers, poured an army of ponies dressed in either old world combat gear, or Road Crew outfits. They spread out along the length of the bunker, leveling their weapons to the horde before stepping forward in unison and firing. Leading them from the middle, I had to smirk as I noticed Cora wielding a hefty looking light machine gun in each talon, and firing like a madpony. Their fire tore through the back ranks of the ghouls, cutting them down in droves.

The horde was split on whether to keep up the pressure on the convoy, or double back onto the advancing force at their flank. However, as the minigun above me ran dry, and Suiza kicked out her last shell, the fight was pretty much over. The stairwell was so well coated in ghoul bits that any ghoul still trying to climb up looked like it might as well have been trying to stand on cartoon banana peels. The mass fire from the bunker reinforcements had made quick work of the horde, and for once, it felt good to have that many guns working with us instead of against us.

Bertha came to a slow halt, sitting with Bessy and the Ranger train-thing just outside the doorway to the next tunnel. Now that the ghoul army was destroyed, the force from the bunker broke up a bit. The majority of the ponies turned and headed back toward the bunker, while the three rangers and a few Road Crew headed this way.

Of course, Delilah met them part way, as if she knew from the start that we’d make it through this fight alright.

Cora had quickly made his way back over to the reactor deck. He was lighter two light machine guns, but he still had the widest smile across his beak that I’d seen from him so far on this trip. Well, that is until he saw Hispano. He said something to her sharply, which I of course couldn’t hear over the same monotone ringing in my head at the moment. I think it probably should have occurred to me that my hearing had gone out for good, but it wasn’t something a bit of healing potion couldn’t fix.

I waved my hoof from the floor, getting his attention. Pointing at my ears, I tried to tell him that I couldn’t hear shit, but from the way he winced, I was pretty sure I’d yelled it at him. With the quick application of a bit of potion in each ear, the sounds in the world came crackling back to life. And funny enough, so did the sizzling noise from Suiza’s barrel as it rested on me.

You know those times when you get a cut, and you know it’s bad, but it doesn’t feel bad until you look at it? Yeah, looking down at my sizzling side was a mistake....

I don’t know if it was from all the abuse I’d taken, or all the painkillers I’d had over the last few days, but I didn’t feel my skin blistering around the barrel until I laid eyes on it. Of course, then it felt worse than anything I’d ever experienced in my life.

Opening my muzzle to scream as the pain wracked my mind, I found my head ripped to the side in Hispano’s talons. Without warning, she pressed her beak against my muzzle and kissed me, sending my mind spinning between both the sudden feelings of pleasure and pain. Letting out a gasp as she broke the kiss, she gave me a hesitant look that felt out of place with her nervous smile.

Also, why was it that I noticed Cora reaching for Suiza?

“Sorry about this…” Hispano spoke softly as she tightened her talons around my head.

With a stiff yank, Cora pulled Suiza from my side, and ripped a silent scream from my lungs. I went momentarily blind from the overwhelming feeling of everything, until for some reason everything abruptly stopped around me. I think I may have passed out for a moment, because when I blinked again, Cora was using his combat knife to scrape bits of my charred coat off Suiza’s barrel.

“You did well, Dum Dum.” Hispano was rubbing some sort of salve on my side with a smile. “And by that, I mean as a special somepony. As a gun mount, you’re a pretty piss-poor firing position. Three out of ten stars, would not use again.”

“Oh? I thought I would have been at least a five.” I laughed through the ebbing pain in my side. Goddesses, Buck’s going to have to look at that later... “I mean, I couldn’t have been all that bad. We’re still alive, right?”

“Indeed we are!” The Ranger behind me shouted and made me jump so hard I actually threw myself straight off the ground and back onto my hooves. “Oops. Sorry!” Fucking turn it down already! I’ve now had my hearing blown out once today, and that’s more than enough by my count!

With a hiss, his helmet twisted slightly and he used a forehoof to remove it. The sweat drenched head of an orange stallion with crimson eyes was a huge change from the bulky flat grey armor. Even though his head looked sort of out of place amid the bulky suit, his chiseled chin, strong cheek bones, and neat triangular buzz cut stark white mane reminded me of a lot of the middle aged military stallions back up above the clouds.

Honestly? If I wasn’t already with Buck and Hispano, I’d have to say this guy might’ve made my next pick for who to ask out...

“That’s much better.” He let out a relieved sigh before he offered Hispano and I a lighthearted smirk. “That was a hell of a fight. You folks should be glad I was stationed on your convoy here, as you’d certainly have been dead without me.” Looking down at me, he gave me a wink that I’m sure he’d meant to be taken seductively. “No need to thank me, little miss. It’s all in a day’s work for the glorious Steel Rangers.”

Yep. He’s just as idiotic sounding without the helmet on. Seriously, it’s like he was trying to give the rangers a bad name every time he opened his muzzle. I’m sure that everypony around me currently wore the same deadpan I did, but it was Boiler who I could hear facehoof herself in the supply cage. Welp, not that it would have ever happened, but rest easy momentary crush, I hardly knew ye.

“Come on, Dum Dum.” Hispano groaned as she picked herself back up. “Let’s get you up to Buck and have that burn looked at.”

I don’t know why, but the pain in my side had brought forth all the other aches in my body again. The salve that Hispano had rubbed on had helped to slightly numb the actual wound, but I was getting tired of the rest of this creeping pain.

And of course, there wasn’t much I could do about it while waiting for Buck to get back from treating the Rangers and Road Crew from the bunker. Hell, even while the new prosthetic had helped for a time, I could feel the pain behind my eye starting to ramp up as well. Just perfect.

“You know, I have to say, I’m impressed.” Cora shot a coy smirk at me as he leaned himself against the doorway to my container. “Hardcase was right, it was an incredibly risky move in pulling the whole horde down on the convoy. Could have screwed everything up with a call like that.”

“Yeah, but it worked.” Hispano chimed up from her bed. She rolled her eyes, letting them land on the exasperated look across her father’s face. For a moment, the tension between the two of them seemed to be ramping up, and the last thing I wanted was an argument to break out right now.

“Only with your help.” I offered, trying to both pad Hispano’s ego, as well as tell the truth for Cora. “Still, while it was a risky decision, I’m not convinced it was the wrong one.”

“Never said it was.” Cora’s mood lightened as he broke off his glare at Hispano. Reaching around in his medical satchel, he pulled out a small glass vial full of white pills and tossed it at me. The small vial smacked against the wound on my side, making me wince slightly. “That much chill was a pain to get a hold of, so use it to keep the pain in check, but don’t go all junkie on me. Two at a time, once per day. No more than that.”

“How did you…” I looked down at the vial, and then back up at him.

“You may be able to fool the others with that false show of confidence you’ve been touting around since you got back. But, you can’t hide the subtle tells of pain from those who are medically inclined.” Cora snorted and turned his beak up at me. “Might want to consider that in the future for when Buck decides to ask about your constant pain.” Turning, he stepped out and disappeared into the rec area as the door swung shut behind him.

“Alright, thanks...” Looking back down at the small vial, I hoofed at it and shook it.

Inside was a few dozen of the little white pills like the ones I’d taken yesterday. Carefully, I opened the bottle and tapped out a pair of them into the cup of my hoof. Licking them up, I swallowed the small chalky tabs and immediately felt like a blanket of cool air had been wrapped around me. The pain across my body was washed away, and that ebbing behind my fake eye disappeared as well.

Slowly, I closed up the bottle and looked at it. How could something so small work so fast and so well? Shrugging to myself, I groaned as I leaned over the edge of Buck and I’s bed and looked underneath. As expected, I found and dragged out my saddlebags. Quickly, I plopped the bottle of pills into it before pushing the bags back under the bed for later.

“Seriously, that was oddly nice of your dad.” I spoke over to Hispano as I pushed myself back on top of the bed. “He isn’t up to something, is he?”

“Nah, probably just still riding the high from actually living a fantasy of his.” She gave a sad laugh as her mood all but deflated right then and there. But still, she clung to the smile on her beak with a sort of silent desperation that was hard to watch.

“What do you mean, ‘fantasy’?” The words were out of my muzzle before I could meter them. So, pretty much par for the course for me.

“Standing there, a LMG in each talon, heroically mowing down a horde of enemies.” He shook her head as she fought herself to smile wider. “He was always so sure that it would make him look like the most badass griff any talon could aspire to be. Hah. Mom always saw through that though. She knew he wasn’t a fighter like that, and still, she chose to be with him, and loved him all the same. Even when she was transferred in from a far off Talon company, everyone in ‘Claw expected her to choose one of the alpha talons to take as a mate.”

“What…” No, wait, stop. Don’t fucking do it, Night. Control what you say before you blurt it out in the most insensitive and blunt way you possibly could. “Tell me about her.” That’s a good start, but you might want to round it out a bit. “You don’t have to talk about her if you don’t want. I know how hard it can be.”

“I… don’t remember much about the time I spent with her. Just… bits and pieces of our times together.” Hispano’s words were as forced and deliberate as the question I’d just asked. “I was eight when Mom passed. Dad said it was because of a disease from the old world. A biological weapon her wing had stumbled upon when heading toward a client.” That’s… terrible. Still, she’d answered at all, and to me, that meant a lot. “Even with what little time I got to spend with her, she was the toughest griff I’ve ever known. Every time she was back in town, she’d check in on how my training with dad was going. Pushing me to do better the next day, while also pushing Suiza to be even better as a Talon initiate.”

“She survived two hundred contracts. Two hundred.” Hispano closed her eyes as she leaned back against the wall. “Earned herself every accommodation and bonus the Talons even have. All to be put in the ground by a leaky fucking biohazard canister while scavenging for ammo. There was nothing that could have saved her. They’d seen the weapon before, they knew nothing could be done but keep her quarantined away from everything. We got the news a day after it happened, and by the time we flew all the way out to where she was, she… didn’t last long. There’s nothing he could have done, but I don’t think Dad ever forgave himself for just watching her slip away like that.”

“I’m sorry, Hispano, about asking for you to talk about your sister and mom before.” Honestly, I didn’t know what to think about all this. The fact that we both lost our moms to situations far outside their control was completely fucked up. But at the same time, I’m glad that I at least have someone who could relate to the circumstances in my life. “I know it sucks, but thanks for telling me about her.”

“Yeah. I know you’re in the same boat as me when it comes to talking about our mothers.” She offered a faint glimmer of hope in her eyes as she opened them again. “And I know I haven’t made things easy on you, but if we’re going to be together, we have to be honest about things, right? Even if they’re hard to talk about.”

“You sound like my mom used to.” I tried to give her a comforting smile as I remembered all the advice Mom had given me when I was first getting interested in the world of dating. “She would have liked you, and Buck of course.” I mean, both of them might have seemed like a strange concept to my parents, but I’m confident they would have been supportive once they got to know them. “And I’m sorry that I’ll never get to meet your mom. She sounds like a griffon I could really get some advice from right about now.”

“Hah!” Hispano’s sharp laugh made me wince. “Oh, that’s good, Dum Dum. You think my dad’s disapproval is bad? My mom would have beat the crap out of you.” Wiping her talon down her face, I couldn’t deny that it was nice to see her with a genuine smile again. I just wish it wasn’t somehow at the expense of my pride. “Though, credit where it’s due, if she saw you today, with as many scars as you have now? She might have forgiven how poorly you fight solely because of how impossible it’s been to keep you down.”

“Gee, thanks.” I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t be mad. Even though I’d done nothing but had my ass kicked by pretty much everypony in the wastes since I came down, I know that I wasn’t finished losing fights. In retrospect, I’d done better than I’d expected fighting Galina, but in any real fight against anypony half as experienced, I’d still end up on the losing side.

But that was the trick about the wasteland, wasn’t it? There was a saying I’d heard about war. Either you die early on, or you have enough time and luck to learn how to start winning. That was how it went, right? Regardless, the question I needed to ask was; how much time and luck did I still have left to learn how to come out on top when it counts?

“H-hey, Night?” Hispano’s wavering voice made me fear that she was going to ask something uncomfortable of me. Which actually wouldn’t be so odd of her to do given the nature of our entire relationship so far. That, and I had no right to complain given what I’d just asked of her about her mom. “Speaking of scars… what happened… with Galina? When you left, I mean?”

“What do you mean what happened?” Looking up at her, I didn’t really know what to think about her question. Was she asking because she was simply curious? Was it because she wanted to know how well I’d actually stacked up against someone who had a hundred times my potential in a fight?

“I overheard you earlier talking with Buck and Lucky, but you saw how I was then. Being so out of it, I didn’t really catch most of your story.” Carefully, she leaned herself back against the wall and let her wings spread out under her. “But… I’m pretty sure you said that she took your eye because you took hers...” Her train of thought stumbled as she looked at me, glancing at the glaringly fake eye stuck in my head now. “What happened after you went over the cliff? Did you win the fight? I mean, you must have, seeing as you came back. You hadn’t really talked about it since you brought me back... at least, not with me this coherent after the detox and all.”

“I…” Although it had been so easy to condense earlier with Buck, that was because I’d been swept up in the moment of things. Now, after the whole fight back there and everything… I wasn’t sure I wanted to recount it all again. “Why do you want to know?”

“Well I mean, you did leave me up there on that cliff and make me think you were dead for almost a week. And while I’d become terribly depressed over losing you and figured it would be a great idea to take up drugs, that was still technically your fault.” She trailed off into an annoyed mumble as she finished before letting out a gurgling sigh. “I guess that’s not really fair, but there is a sort of second reason, but it’s… hard to say...” She paused, making me cock an eyebrow at her. The longer we sat in awkward silence, the more a blush grew across her cheeks.

“You see… griffons have this sort of… thing for scars.” A hesitant smile stretched across her beak as she put her talons together and twiddled them a bit, “Which you kind of have a lot of… now. Suiza always used to tell me she loved them because they always told amazing stories about each of her partners.” Her eyes drifted a bit, and the happy gaze she’d had turned solemn as her words softened. “Mom once told Suiza and I that you could always tell the best talons by how many scars they had. But after she passed, dad said that she actually never cared for her own scars. Mom only ever saw them as a reminder of every mistake she’s ever made.”

Well, I guess that’s something I’d have had in common with her if I’d been able to meet her. I’d gained my fair share of scars, sure. Some of them were well deserved, while others… no, I take that back. My own mistakes made sure that all my scars were all well deserved.

“But that’s why I wanted to ask you about it, Night.” Hispano’s hopeful gaze returned to her as she smiled. “Tell me. Tell me the story of what happened when you went over that cliffside.”

“Alright, fine.” I huffed, flopping back onto Buck and I’s bed. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes as I felt it come pouring back to me. “There were moments when I thought I was actually doing well against Galina. I came at her strong, unpredictably. I slammed her into the rocks, got her with a grenade and fragments of ice from the frozen lake.” Replaying the scene in my head, I tried to understand what, if anything, I could have done differently to win that fight. “But I was an idiot in thinking I could stop her.” No. The only way I could have changed the outcome of that fight, would have been to have never gone over the top in the first place. “She clipped my wing with one of her shots, and I went down hard onto the ice.”

“So… she let you live then?” Hispano’s remark forced my eyes open and over to her. Her scrunched up face was joined by a bright blush as she cast her nervous gaze to the wall. “I-I only mean that it doesn’t seem like her! Not that I’m disappointed or anything!”

“It wasn’t her intention.” I rolled my eyes and looked back up at the ceiling. “She ran out of shotgun shells shooting at me.” Smirking, I remembered how she looked when her gun fell on an empty chamber. “She could barely stand, but you should have seen how fucking pissed she looked at that moment.” Shaking my head, I let out another soft sigh and closed my eye again, resting it from the florescent light above me. “A shame. I almost had her with my grenades too before she found that she was out. But of course, the fucking wire on my saddle broke.”

“Then you never gave up fighting.” Again, Hispano’s voice had grown soft.

“I was ready to die when I passed out. When I came to again, I was tied up in some shack in the woods.” As I thought about it, I could hear the sound of my leg breaking again. Smell the thick metallic scent of blood and pungent sweat. For just a single instant, I was back in that shack again. Bound and tied, at the mercy of that deranged griffon bitch. “That was when she took my eye, and tortured me just for the fun of it. You’re wrong that I never gave up. I wanted it all to be over. I prayed for Celestia to end the pain because I didn’t care anymore about getting back.”

“But… what are you saying, Night?” Again, her voice forced open my eyes. She looked absolutely astounded by what I’d said, like I’d told her I never wanted to see her again. “You were just… wanting to die? Just like that?”

“And you wouldn’t be?” I had to forcibly stifle myself from laughing at that. “Hispano, I admire the way you can do anything you put your mind to. I’m constantly amazed by the things you can do, and by how amazing you are. But… this was something you can’t be trained for. You have no idea what it felt like to be so goddess damned helpless and alone.”

“Bullshit!” Hispano snapped at me so sharply that I swore I could feel her words punch into my side. They felt like a bullet that hit me hard enough that I ended up sitting straight up. “You don’t think I know what torture feels like, Night? My family watched as my mother wasted away with nothing we could do for her before she finally died. Talons should die an honorable death in combat, not helplessly while your family isn’t able to do a single fucking thing to help even ease your pain.”

“Or how about the torture of seeing what happened to Suiza?” She growled, wrapping her talon around her sister and nearly throwing the massive cannon across the length of the cargo container at me. “You don’t fucking think I know that she’s gone forever? That I hurt thinking about her every fucking day? And you want to question if I know torture?” Sitting down onto the bed hard, she crossed her talons and glared at me. “That day when you asked for my help on the Empirica, you helped to remind me that every day didn’t need to be torture. That I didn’t have to be stuck in the same cycle of self loathing I’d been stranded in. You reminded me that I could be something more, that I could be someone better than the fake cheerful energy filled young kid everyone saw me as.”

“I’m sorry, Hispano.” Great job, Night. Once again you jumped to conclusions and screwed shit up. Time to reset that ‘days since last fuck up’ counter back to zero. “I should never have said any of that. I had no right to say that you couldn’t know how it felt.” Cupping my forehooves around my head, I squeezed them against myself until I could feel the headache I deserved poking through the painkillers in my system. “I meant what I said though. You’re an amazing griffon, Hispano, at everything I’ve ever seen you do. And to be truthful, I’m jealous that you’re already so much stronger and better than me at living in the wasteland. I’m just an idiot and keep forgetting that in order to be that way, it came with a price.”

“You’re right. I paid a price to become the griff I am today. But you only forget because my scars are on the inside.” She cooed softly, slumping back against the container wall behind her. “I’m sorry too, Night. I shouldn’t have brought it up, not this soon after everything happened. Recovering from addiction is admittedly harder than I’d thought. Given the short time I’d even been doing loft, I’d thought it wouldn’t have had so many side effects, and it’s caused some... lapses in my judgement. But that’s a mistake we’re both going to have to watch out for in the future.”

“I already told this to Buck, but I promise I won’t leave again. I won’t hurt you two like that, not if I have a choice.” Letting the pressure off my head, I looked over to Hispano. Her gaze felt like my words had sunken into her, but she didn’t seem convinced.

“It’s a good first step, Night.” She nodded, huffing as she crawled across her bed toward her sister. Pulling Suiza back up towards her from the edge of her bed, she retreated back against the wall and set the large cannon beside her. “I don’t believe you, but still, it’s a good first step.”

“A chance to make things better again is all I want.” I sighed, flopping down onto the bed and closing my eyes. Chances to prove myself have been a bit a dozen so far, and yet, I keep finding ways to screw up the only ones that matter.

Still, for Buck and Hispano, I had to try.

There was thunder on the horizon.

It was a storm that wasn’t quite here yet, but moving in. I could almost feel as the air got more humid by the second, but I couldn’t smell it. No, instead the air was chokingly thick with the stench of copper. Blood trickled out of my various wounds, coating the freezing dirt under me. The creaking dark walls of the small wooden shack pressed down on me, helping to bind me even more than the rope tied around me did.

The faint ebbing of pain behind where my left eye had once sat mixed with the blood rolling down my muzzle. I panted, heaving gurgling breaths as I relished every single moment I wasn’t being tortured. Still, I knew it wouldn’t last forever, and that no matter how much I prayed to the goddesses, nothing was going to save me.

A burst of thunder rolled across the skies. Still not overhead, but closer than before. Soon it would arrive, and everything I knew would end. Every bit of me knew this. I couldn’t explain how, but it made me more afraid than anything that could ever be done to me here in this place.

Looking up, I at least wanted to stare into the eyes of the one who’d kill me. Even if I never made it out of this shack, they’d remember my face every fucking time they closed their eyes. And as I looked up, out of the shadows, they moved in for the kill. But something was off in the world. This… wasn’t how it was supposed to be.

“You know, you had a good run, Night.” A blue pegasi with a green and yellow striped mane stepped forwards, wearing Galina’s auto talon on her hoof. From the dark blue striped shading on her three legs, to the scars across her chest and head. This mare… was me. “You really gave it your all! But now it’s my time to shine.” She flashed a wicked grin full of malice and psychotic contentment.

“No…” I muttered, tugging at my bindings. “This isn’t how it’s supposed to be!” The more I tried to move, the less it felt like I was even capable of anything at all in the first place. “What’s going…” I gasped as the blades of the auto talon slid around the side of my neck, stealing the words from me.

“Don’t give me that, Night.” Leaning in close, the crystal eye the mare wore where her left eye once had been, shimmered with a green glow in the darkness of the cabin. “You idolize me, you use me, and yet you don’t even recognize me? The least you can do is give me a sincere ‘thank you, Bombay’.” Blinking as she scrunched up her face, she belted out a set of rapid chuckles. “You know what, save it. You’re too weak to ever had made it in the wasteland anyway.”

With a mechanical whirr and a pinching squelch, the auto talon bit down into my neck and ripped straight through it. The world tumbled as my mind struggled to catch up to why the world was becoming dimmer and dimmer.

“You and I are one and the same, Night.” The mare spoke as everything but her voice faded away. “At least, we will be soon enough.”

The crack of a bolt of lightning rang through the air.

I flailed myself up out of my bed as my ears rang. Blinking my tired eyes, my vision went white as all the blood in my body equalized out from getting up so quickly. Wait, that wasn’t real? It was just a nightmare…

“Incoming!” What sounded like Hardcase’s voice carried through the wall.

Another crack of thunder rang out, and every errant hair on my coat stood on end. Hispano darted onto her talons from where she too had been napping, looking just as stunned and confused as I did. I could feel the charge that filled the air, and as Hispano turned and reached for her sister, a small bolt of static jumped between her outstretched talon and the metal rifle.

“Ah, fuck!” She hissed as the sharp discharge forced her to pull her talon back.

The door to our container opened up. Buck’s worried face swept across the room, only relaxing slightly once he’d seen both Hispano and I. Quickly, he shut the door behind him and made his way over to our bed.

“What the hell is going on out there?” I asked, regretting it as another short rumble preempted another thunderous crack of lightning. My ears caught the sound of a fizzling crackle moving above the convoy before exploding with a snap that charged the air enough to make all of Buck’s fur stand on end. “Are these those lightning anomaly things Hardcase mentioned?

“Worse. We’re under attack.” Buck grumbled as he carefully climbed up onto the bed with me. I got a sharp shock as I barely just brushed his fur, but the stinging pain was only momentary. “We’re out of the tunnel, but we came out right in the middle of a skirmish between the Steel Rangers and some other group.”

“Puritans.” Hispano grumbled as another burst of thunder punctuated her annoyed tone. “I’d hoped we’d be able to avoid these assholes on the way down, but no. Of course we have to drive right through them.”

“Well, whoever they are, we won’t be dealing with them for long.” Buck sighed as he reached around me. With a strong pull, he scooped me right off of the bed and brought me up against his chest as he readjusted himself with the newfound room on the mattress. “These ‘Steel Rangers’ have fairly formidable walls around their compound, and we’ll be safely inside shortly. Do however try to avoid touching the container walls until we get there… just in case.”

Another snapping roll of thunder sounded like it passed overhead before bursting like the previous one had. Again another pulse of static swept through the air and made every hair on my coat stand up. Well, at least while holding onto Buck, I wasn’t going to shock myself again.

“What the hell is that?” I halfway mumbled through Bucks frizzy static charged fur. “It sounds just like lightning.”

“It is lightning actually, just being haphazardly thrown around in absolutely barbaric ways. Their Kugelblitz catapults are one of their weaker siege weapons, but that’s why they mostly just use them for harassing settlements they don’t like.” Hispano sighed as she pulled her sister close to her and scooted herself into the middle of her bed. “Honestly I’m not sure what’s worse. Being attacked by the simpletons out there, or getting locked inside a compound filled with a bunch of fucking toasters.”

“Hey,” Buck gave a shrug as he curled his other paw around his chin. “I can’t speak for all of them, but the one’s who have been working with Delilah don’t seem as bad as their reputation seems to describe.”

Another rumble in the distance resonated through the air. This time though, the crackling ball of lightning sounded like it passed by a ways behind us. Even the air in here didn’t charge as much with it’s passing as it had with the last shot.

“Yeah, no offence, but you’re just about as clueless as Dum Dum is when it comes to shit down here in the wastes.” Hispano’s words were harsh, but sadly true. And though I could feel that Buck wanted to get in a quick retort, he held his tongue. “Before you jump in, yes, not all ponies down here are bad. However, that doesn’t mean that the groups they belong to aren’t deplorable pieces of shit that either need their ass kicked, or to be wiped off the face of the wasteland altogether. I’m sorry that you and Night have had a problem with accepting it, but that’s just how it is down here.”

From the way his arm tensed up around me, I could tell that while Buck had been fine holding his tongue before, his patience had worn out. Maybe it was because I’d already pushed him to the point where we’d had our earlier argument, I don’t really know. What I do know however, was what came out of his muzzle, seemed more like something I’d have said than something I’d have ever expected from Buck.

“Where do the talons fit into that then? Hmm?” He snorted sharply. “All I’d heard of them up north was that they’re honorless mercenaries who only exist to happily kill for whomever the highest bidder is.”

“You just don’t fucking get it, do you?” Hispano grit her beak as she glared at him.

Fuck, could we not be doing this? I’d rather not have worked as hard as I did to get this crew back together over the last few days, just to have Buck and Hispano tear each other apart now. Their frayed nerves are only this bad because of me, so there’s got to be something I can do to fix this before it gets out of hoof. No, not me per se...

“Would you both kindly shut the hell up.” The angry words slipped out of my muzzle as I tried to channel Bombay without having my mind bring up the images in my nightmare again. “You know she’s right, Buck, because we talked about this. You need to accept that not everypony is saveable.” My words didn’t make Buck any less tense, but he’d closed his muzzle and taken his eyes off Hispano.

“And you, Hispano.” I spat out as I shifted my own glare to meet hers. “Why would you let what he says offend you? Sure you’re a talon, your dad’s a talon, and you come from a family of talons. But you told me that you knew you liked me because I could see more than just a talon. You can be a talon all you want, but you know that it doesn’t define you.”

“Yes, but…!” She squawked out with an annoyed huff.

“No! The semantics aren’t worth fighting about right now.” I snapped at her hard enough that a bit of my mane drooped over my eye, which thankfully enough, actually made Hispano hold her words. For a moment, I felt like somehow that made Bombay seem more like she was in charge of the situation, and that I’d actually taken the backseat. No, Night, it was just a nightmare, nothing more. “Both of you need to get one simple fact. Everypony down here is a gamble on being good or bad, and sometimes things don’t always work out for them in the end. I went through too much shit getting back here to have you two get into a petty argument like this.”

“Goddess damnit.” Hispano groaned before flopping back onto her bed. “I hate to say it, Buck, but Dum Dum is right. This is a stupid argument, and we don’t need to waste our time with explaining our opinions to one another.”

“While I don’t agree that debating saving others is a ‘stupid argument’, that itself is the core of this whole issue, isn’t it?” Buck sighed as well and slumped slightly, squishing me against his fuzzy chest. “I agree that we can at least respect each others differing opinions. And… I’m sorry that I brought up the talons.”

“Thank you.” I let out as I all but slumped back in Buck’s hold. As I did, I pushed the thoughts of Bombay out of my mind and focused simply on the silence that now filled the air around us. No arguments, no anger, no fighting…

Wait, it was quiet again.

“Well, it’s safe to say we’re inside the ranger base now.” Hispano remarked as she pushed herself back up to her talons. “And accepting others opinions aside, I give you two about thirty seconds once we disembark before you decide that the Steel Rangers are exactly the assholes I made them out to be. If not, then I’ll eat my damned flight cap.”

The sharp feedback from a megaphone made all three of us wince as it came through the walls of our container.

“Greetings convoy members. I am head paladin Coconut Curry, and I am your new best friend for the duration of your visit.” The tone of the speaking mare didn’t quite match up with the choice of her words, absolutely bleeding sarcasm from them. Fucking fantastic. Like I hadn’t met enough ponies on this trip so far who’d sounded exactly like she did.

“You are to stay where you are while you are detained and brought in for prisoner processing.” Wait, we’re prisoners!? “Your gear, arcano tech, and personal effects are now forfeit, and are now the property of the Steel Rangers. Should you attempt to disobey instructions, take up arms, or otherwise cause problems for me or my own, we will not hesitate to use lethal force against you. We do hope you enjoy your short stay here at Galloway Field, and we thank you for your cooperation.”

“You were wrong.” I snorted as I deadpanned at Hispano. “It was way shorter than thirty seconds.”

Wow, and I’d thought that the Enclave was harsh on those who broke the law. We just got here and we’re already prisoners? What the fuck happened to Delilah’s deal!? Seriously, even if this was all some mistake, they were not helping their reputation with that shit! The only thing that could possibly make this worse, was if somehow when we got down there, they asked me to go kill some innocent ponies just like everypony else already fucking has.

“Come on, Night.” Buck groaned as he carefully pulled me away from him and set me down on the floor. “You can’t blame them for using strong words. Think about it, they’re probably just trying to project a tough image. I bet that if you give them a chance, they won’t be nearly as bad as they sounded just then.”

With a flick of magic, the latch to our container door popped out. The red robed pony I’d seen in Mare’s Lake staring at Laika’s pod, slowly pushed the door open with her magic.

“Alright, you heard the mare.” Pointing to both Hispano and I, the unicorn mare levitated out two pairs of hoofcuffs. “You two, put these on.” With a flick, she tossed a pair at each of us before turning her gaze to Buck. As she did, a bright smile went across her muzzle and she gave her flank a little wag. “Awww, who’s a good boy? You want a treat?” In the most foalish voice she could speak in, the robed mare levitated out what looked like a tiny yellow hard candy and waved it around in front of Buck. “C’mon! We’ve got a nice big bone for you to chew on and a big ol’ cage for you to sit in, but only if you’re a good boy for us!” Glancing at me, she flashed a hesitant look across her bright expression. “Please tell me he’s well trained. I’d hate to have to order him put down...”

“Miss, that is incredibly demeaning.” Buck snorted, deadpanning at the mare. “I am not some pet you can coax into a cage by sounding like a foal. Seriously, I would assume you don’t treat the physicians in your community with the same level of respect you are giving me. I’ve already been through enough stress in the past week, so I would ask that if I am going to be detained, that you at least apologize and treat me like the well educated dog I am.”

“Okay… uhm…” The mare seemed confused for a moment, slipping the hard candy back under her robes. “I didn’t know you dogs could even be educated, so I do apologize for that assumption.” Bringing her smile back, she looked back up at Buck and canted her head. “Even so, you’re still going to have to go in the cage because we can’t have someone like you loose in the base. You know, we can’t have you running around and scaring all our foals, can we?”

“You… I… someone like me!?” Buck’s sharp anger made the mare hunch down and tense up a bit. “You know what, fine, I’ll go. But I’ll have you know that I’m going to have a talk with your superior when all of this is sorted out.”

“Like I told you, thirty seconds.” Hispano mumbled to herself as she easily slapped the oversized cuffs onto her talons. They jiggled and bounced around, almost slipping right off her as she held her balled up talons at the mare. “Alright, I’m ready to go.” Hispano waited for the smiling mare to look at her before giving her a cold glare and pointing back to her bed and Suiza. “If I find out that you put one scratch on my sister, I will tear out your throat.”

The mare gave an audible gulp as she strained to keep her smile from cracking into pure terror.

“N-noted.” The mare gave a short nod.

As she did, I could hear ponies moving around near Hardcase’s room. After a moment, he hobbled out, pausing in the rec area to look back into my container. When he did, I noticed that for some reason, his horn was absent from his forehead, and for all intents and purposes, he looked like a normal earth pony.

“Don’t worry, guys!” He shouted as he was shoved forward by another robed pony. “Delilah will sort this all out, you’ll see!”

“Please just do what you’re told...” The mare in robes simply sighed.

“Ma’am?” Another mare’s voice asked from in the rec area. A lime green unicorn mare with a strawberry colored mane poked her head out just far enough for me to see her. “This stripe says he’s crippled. What should I do?”

“Then carry him out?” The mare in robes grumbled as she facehooved herself. “Goddesses, I just want to shower, get back to my bunk, and enjoy being home with my family. Is that too much to fucking ask?”

As I looked down at the hoofcuffs sitting on the floor, all I could think was that she fucking better get this shit sorted out. Then again, knowing her, I had to believe that this was all part of the plan. She was too smart to have got us into something like this without knowing how to get us out, cause so far that’s been my job.

At least, I hoped she was being smarter than me this time around...

Author's Note

As always, thanks so much to TheFurryRailfan for his help in pre-reading and editing this chapter!

And of course, thank you Kkat for allowing us all to use this wonderful wasteland world in our own stories!

Chapter 43 - Galloway's Finest

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

You know, I was starting to understand why most ponies don’t seem to like the Steel Rangers.

“What’s the hold up, scribe?” The loud, bossy mare from the megaphone earlier yelled at us from across the runway tarmac we’d parked on. Meanwhile, I hesitated at the top of the reactor deck stairs with a line of impatient ponies waiting for me.

“I’m sorry, Paladin Curry!” The mare who’d arrested us yelled past my ear, making me wince again. Seriously, what’s with all the yelling in my ears as of late?

“Well if you can’t get them to move, then make them move then!” The mare screamed up at us again.

There were two things about Coconut Curry that put her apart from the other rangers holding the rest of the already disembarked crew at gunpoint. The first was that she was the only pony in a bulky set of power armor other than the idiot who’d been defending our convoy. The second was that she didn’t have a helmet on, which was probably due to the long unicorn horn sticking out of her head, and she looked to be about twice as old as even Delilah was. In fact, even from on the Hauler, I could see she was bordering on the same age that Spring Leaf had been all the way back on the Empirica. The mare’s grayed mane and wrinkled earth-toned skin reminded me of half the feral ghouls I’d seen so far, and was so far just as friendly as them to boot.

“Eh, take your time.” Hispano smirked as she leaned against the reactor bay railing. “We can be here all day.”

“No, you cannot.” The mare beside me huffed as she forced herself to take a deep breath. “Can you please pick up the pace? Pretty please? I don’t want to get in trouble with Coconut Curry again...”

The squeaky voice of the robed mare behind me sounded like she was trying to be nice enough, but it didn’t make me want to kick her muzzle in any less for this shit. But thanks to Bombay, I had something almost as satisfying.

“Do you still have all your legs?” I snorted and glared back at her. Her glance shifted down to my prosthetic for a moment before she nodded. “Then you don’t get to fucking complain about how quickly I can use stairs while wearing hoofcuffs. I already only had three legs, and thanks to your cuffs, now you’ve given me two.”

Funny how when she looked back at me, she looked like she wasn’t quite sure what I’d meant by that. Really? Was she just as dense as that lug in the power armor had been? Were all the rangers this mentally deficient!?

“Just let the mare use her wings.” Coconut Curry yelled up at us so suddenly that I nearly lost my balance and tripped down the stairs. Because of that, I instinctively flared my wings and kicked off. Almost immediately, I found a few of the unicorn soldiers on the ground levitating their rifles to follow me. Geez, did they really expect me to try and run from my friends?

Carefully, I banked myself around and came in to smoothly land next to Delilah. That is, I would’ve landed smoothly if it weren’t for the fact that both my forehooves were linked together. So instead, I hit the pavement and immediately tumbled head over hocks, scraping to a halt basically right under the imposing power armored form of Coconut Curry. At least the Chill that Cora had given me was still sort of keeping the pain from my landing to a minimum.

It was as I rolled myself over that I looked up again. I froze as I glanced up into the sunny blue skies above wherever the Ranger Base we were at was located. There, a large fluffy cloud sat directly above the base. If it weren’t for the fact that I’d seen that exact cloud shape before in the arms day parades in Neighvarro, I doubt I’d have realized what it was.

“You have a cloudship here?” I spoke without even thinking about who was listening. Shit! What if they didn’t know it was there and you just gave it away? But if they didn’t know, whose was it, and what was it doing here in the first place?

“If you can tell that at a glance, I’m going to assume you’re ex-Enclave then, little bird.” Coconut Curry muttered as she shifted the massive armor so that she could look down at me. The glare her hazel eyes pressed onto me might have been scarier, had she not looked so old and frail, but I still wasn’t going to say that to her face. At least, not while she was wearing power armor that had looked like it had survived through every major battle of the last two hundred years. “It would be wise for you to forget what you’ve seen, and to keep your muzzle shut. Or I’ll be forced to make sure it stays shut for good.”

“And why would you say that, Curry? Would you strangle her here and now with your own two hooves?” The voice of a stallion cropped up behind me, filled with an odd sense of joy to it that seemed... out of place with the rest of our welcoming committee. Especially since their voice made Coconut Curry turn white as a ghost as their hoofsteps approached. “Clearly the mare has seen similar sights. Why not see if she can help us instead of threatening her?”

Turning slightly, I found a green coated elderly stallion holding his hoof out to me. The velvety red robes he wore were similar to the ones the mare on Bertha wore, but had an impeccably clean sheen to it. Along with his balding head, a prickly, wiry grey beard ringed the rounded chin of the old stallion, giving a sort of sage look to him. But his yellow eyes conveyed a youthfulness that the rest of him didn’t seem to hold, and almost instinctively, I reached out with my bound forehooves. With a firm grip, he wrapped his fetlock around the bar linking the hoofcuffs, and pulled me up.

“Elder Sapper, I believe that it would be unwise to allow an outsider such as…” Coconut Curry spoke a mile a minute as she attempted to get an opinion out, but cut herself off as the Elder simply rose his other hoof to her as he helped me up.

Even with both his forehooves off the ground, he had an incredible stability to him as he pretty much stood me back up on his own. I’d met plenty of earth ponies on this trip, but none quite like him so far. If you can excuse the pun, he seemed quite down to earth.

With a few hard flaps, Captain Pastel came down from the air to stand next to the Elder.

“Of course you went over my head, Captain.” Coconut Curry’s blood must have been boiling under that armor, because she stiffened up so much at his arrival that half the plates on it groaned from the stress.

“Now now, Curry.” The Elder smiled as he let go of my hoofcuffs. Moving his forehoof away from mine, he reached up and brushed some of the dust and dirt from my side. “I understand you were just following protocol, but you either didn’t listen to his report, or chose to ignore the rules. It will not happen again.”

“Sir, with all due respect...” She moved to speak again, but cut herself off as the Elder simply lowered his brow to her.

“Am I understood, Head Paladin?” He spoke calmly, but with the same familiar coldness I’d heard a dozen times now on this trip. Coconut Curry shifted into a stiff salute that sent another rattle through the plates of the heavy power armor. Turning to me, all of that coldness faded away as the Elder put on a friendly smile. “Why don’t you go and join your other crewmates while I get this mess all sorted out for you, alright?”

Nodding, I turned and hobbled my way over to Delilah, who breathed a sigh of relief as I lined myself up next to her. Fuck, between the respect that both Delilah and him commanded, I wasn’t sure how she could ever even think I could learn to be a leader. Then again, wasn’t that something Bombay was helping out with?

Obviously, I still had a long way to go with learning how to lead. Still, something felt off. So far on this trip, anytime someone seems nice in the wasteland, they hardly ever seem to turn out to be that way. I’ve met too many ruthless ponies with cruel agendas to have missed the cues by now. So while I’m not going to condemn them yet, I know they’re up to something rotten.

As the group of Steel Rangers discussed and debated things amongst themselves, I tried to survey just where the hell we’d ended up. You know, just in case we had to fight our way out of this place.

Other than the rust colored mountain range towering over the backside of the compound, of all the places I’d been to so far, this one was the most… flat. Which of course made sense, seeing as this supposedly had at one time been a prewar airport. I’d seen aerial photos of them in the Wonderbolt history museum, including the one at the old original Wonderbolt training grounds. Not to mention, most Enclave skyports seemed to have a somewhat similar layout and gradient to the clouds themselves.

This place, though, was designed with a bit more utility in mind, rather than a training ground or other skyport. The main runway where the convoy was parked ran on for a half mile, and looked to intersect yet another runway in a sort of V shape down at the far end. Sitting at the intersection of it were a few large vehicles with tarps over them. They had a similar shape to them like Vertibucks, but didn’t quite seem as bulky or robust. Another curiosity to go along with the cloudship above us, I guess.

A fifteen meter high concrete wall ran all the way around the exterior of the runways, terminating on the far side of either of them by being built directly into the mountainside Galloway was tucked against. Evenly spaced by about every thirty meters or so, was a sort of armored watchtower. Two or three ponies seemed to be sitting in each of the exposed backsides of the towers, either peering out beyond the wall, or just looking bored out of their minds. The only other notable feature of the wall was the massive metal gate, which we must have entered through, but other than reminding me of the gate back at Roundhouse, there wasn’t much to it really.

Also of note, was that other than the few sparse weeds poking up here and there, the entire interior was paved with concrete. That more than anything was probably why this place felt so flat, yet with the off white of the open ground, it gave me a homely cloudy feeling that kinda forced me to relax a bit.

A dozen or so half cylinder buildings sat along the side of each of the runways, along with what was probably an administration building that was attached to the traffic control tower. The cylindrical buildings were similar in size to the ones we’d seen up in Fort Mac, though more than half of them seemed completely abandoned. Still, there were dozens of ponies moving about around them, some in robes, and others in similar armor to what Captain Pastel was wearing.

“Pssst!” Hispano whispered as she hobbled up next to me, having finally made it over from the Hauler. “If you haven’t already, you should take a look up.”

“It’s a cloudship.” I mumbled to her, trying to keep my voice down a bit as I glanced back up at the oddly shaped cloud. “The armored mare didn’t seem too happy I’d noticed it when I caught a glimpse of it.”

“Wait, you know it’s a cloudship?” Hispano scrunched up her muzzle in a way I’d never seen before. Wait, had I stumped Hispano for once!? “How the fuck would you know that just by glancing at it?”

“Really?” I deadpanned at her. “My mom made me memorize all the cloud silhouettes of Enclave ships when I was a colt. She’d quiz me every damn time they were on parade as well.” I sat down, gesturing my hooves up toward the cloud. “And while I could be wrong, I think that’s a Mistral class reconnaissance cloudship.”

“What makes you say that?” The calm voice of the Elder spoke almost directly into my ear. I nearly jumped out of my own skin as the old earth pony simply smiled and let out a chuckle from right next to me. “Oh you mustn't worry, I’m only curious as to what leads you to that particular assumption. I promise, there is no need to fear any repercussions from any of my rangers for your answer.”

Uh… okay, I guess… but I’m going to seriously be pissed if I get shot for answering or some shit.

“The bulge in the cloud’s flanking line is sharper than that of a normal cloud, and the striations under the bow are just a bit too uniform to be caused by anything but an advanced ESM array and sensor bulge common to the Mistral class. Though, the bulge itself is a bit more pronounced than on those, hence the uncertainty on if it is one.” While I did my best not to let my voice waver too much, I couldn’t help feel like even now, my mom was standing over my shoulder and waiting for me to screw up some particular of it. “Oh! And even though I can’t really be too sure, it looks to be only slightly more of a Humilis shape, rather than an average Mediocris like other wild clouds would be. It was also a common problem that the Mistral class had back during the war.”

“Astounding.” The Elder lifted his hoof and rubbed at his wirey beard as he raised his eyes up to the cloud as well. “And alarming if I must say. With all of the Enclave pegasi having come down into the wastes now, we must be more aware of the knowledge others might hold of our capabilities.”

“Well you could start with not having it as the only cloud in the sky on a clear day like today…” Hispano spoke under her breath as she rolled her eyes.

“That is very true.” To both my and her surprise, the Elder simply laughed.

“Elder, if I may,” Delilah roughly cleared her throat as she pulled his attention. “While I thank you for allowing us to stay for the moment, we have business we must attend to.”

“Yes, of course. Your crew are of course free to move about the base in any of the non-restricted areas as well, so long as you behave yourselves.” He looked around at all of us for a moment, stopping as he had to crane his neck back to look up to Buck. “However, I’ll have to ask that we keep your Hellhound in a secure place for the time being.” He frowned as he looked back to Delilah. “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid that if we have it walking around, it may startle some of the younger ponies here. The risk of an incident resulting from that is just too high.”

Really, him too? And here I was starting to think that the Elder might actually be a genuinely good pony among all these jerks…

“I can assure you, Buck is…” Delilah spoke up with an annoyed smirk across her muzzle.

“It’s fine.” Buck sighed, slumping slightly as he glanced over to me. I gave him the best ‘I’m sorry’ look, but it didn’t seem to help. “I’ll do whatever you need me to. But I must say, you shouldn’t treat your guests as if they are wild beasts. At the very least, you can learn to call me a ‘him’ rather than an ‘it’.”

“Let him stay on the Hauler.” I spit out at the Elder. “If he stays on it and out of sight, then I assume you wouldn’t have a problem with it.” Normally, I’d scold myself for butting in like that, but Buck would never harm a single pony unless it was necessary. Yes, they didn’t know that, but they could at least try to give us the benefit of the doubt.

“It is unorthodox, but I suppose we can be lenient if it… he promises to stay inside.” The Elder sighed before turning to gaze up with Buck, waiting for a nod from him. “Thank you for cooperating, and I will certainly take what you said about treating guests into consideration for the future. Head Paladin Curry, would you kindly remove their bindings?” He waved over the power armored mare, and after a moment, the hoofcuffs popped off of Delilah and the rest of us before the collection of cuffs floated off towards the bitchy ranger.

“Thank you, Curry.” The Elder nodded again, pausing as he turned himself around. Looking back at me, he pointed over to Captain Pastel. “You know, the two of you should speak with Captain Pastel up in the confines of the tower. If he thinks you’re at all capable, he might require your help in regards to the Arcturus.”

The Arcturus? He must have meant the cloudship of course, but… why did that name sound familiar? It was something mom told me quite a few times, and it even had a memorial in the Enclave hall of heroes… oh, wait, that was it!

“You named your cloudship after the ill-fated Arcturus?” I asked without thinking. Instantly Delilah’s annoyed glare fell on me for asking the question, but it was too late to take the words back now. “Why?”

“Hmm?” The Elder looked back at me and cocked an eyebrow. “Oh goddesses no. The Steel Rangers never change anything we reclaim other than what’s needed to restore it to it’s old world glory. That includes names.” Leaving me more confused than before, the Elder and Delilah turned and headed off toward the administration building.

“I don’t get it, Dum Dum.” Hispano chuffed as she scooted closer to me. “What’s the problem with it? It’s just a name.”

“The Arcturus was a prototype, a legendary ship amongst the pegasi air force. The first and most advanced of all reconnaissance cloudships built in the final years of the war, and as the records stated, probably one of the best ever built.” Looking up at the cloud, for once, I didn’t feel comforted by it. It was like I was looking at a ghost. “But, she was unfortunately lost with all hooves during the final performance trials due to a flaw in her engineering that forced design changes on all Mistral Class ships. I can’t imagine what the Enclave could have done with access to a ship as advanced as the likes of the Arcturus.”

“So what? The Rangers are known for salvaging any wreck they can.” I knew that Hispano meant well, but she didn’t know cloudships like somepony who grew up in the Enclave.

“There was no wreck.” I shook my head. Looking back down at Hispano, I watched as her eyes searched for some sort of response to that. “Her cloud generator failed over the western seas outside of Vanhoover due to a buildup of sea salt in the intakes. They pulled up a few scattered pieces of debris from the ocean, but that was it. The only reason I even know of it was that my mom took me to see the scale replica they had built for display in the hall of heroes.” Yeah, more than ever I felt like something was off about this place. “None of this adds up. I can’t help but feel that something is going on here.”

“When is there not something going on that you inevitably run into.” Hispano grumbled as she nudged me with her elbow. “But I agree. These Rangers are far too nice to be real.”

“Well, I don’t know about you two,” Buck spoke up as he strode on over with the rest of the crew following behind him. Reaching out his massive paw, Buck presented Hispano with her flight cap and goggles. “But I do believe that you said you’d eat your own cap if they turned out to be friendly.”

Reaching up, she snatched the flight cap from his claws and swiftly pulled it over her head plumage.

“You haven’t won yet. Not until we leave, anyway.” She jabbed her talon through the air at him. “Both Dum Dum and I know something is up here, and when we find it, then you’ll have to eat it instead…” She scrunched up her beak for a moment as her words drifted off. “You know what, fuck it. I don’t care! No one gets to eat my cap!”

“Regardless of who’s eating what hat,” Boiler spoke up as both she and Howitzer trotted up next to Buck. “if you two need help showing everypony that the Rangers are monsters? You can count me and my bro in.” Raising her hoof, Howitzer hoof bumped her with a snort.

“Yeah, my bro and I are right behind you as well, man.” Gearbox’s bloodshot eyes and relaxed smile were yet another comfort to me, as well as some reinforcement in the fact that I wasn’t alone in thinking something was going on here. “Right bro?” Gearbox smirked as he turned around in place before looking back the twenty feet or so to where Lucky was still laying sprawled out on the pavement. “Oh shit, I forgot you can’t walk!”

“Well, while you all are on your witch hunt, I’m going to make myself useful and take inventory of the supplies we have onboard.” Buck’s judgemental look at me hurt, but it wouldn’t be enough to deter me. I mean, if I’m wrong, than I’m wrong. But if I’m right…

“Yeah well, I’m going to go back to my container and do some work outside of the prying eyes of the rangers.” Hardcase gave a whimper as he ran his hoof over his hornless head. “For now, I think I’m going to finish up working on your jump pack, then help Boiler rig up something to help Lucky get around again.”

“Alright, sounds like a plan.” Boiler nodded before pointing her hoof to me. “You and Hispano just keep your eyes out, and come tell me or Howitzer if you see anything out of place.”

“Why do you and your brother hate the rangers so much?” Hispano asked with a bluntness normally reserved for having come out of my muzzle.

“Tell you what, once we’re out of this place, I’ll tell you the whole story.” Boiler snorted as she exchanged looks with Howitzer, before giving us a dismissive wave. “For now, focus on just watching them. The rangers are a very structured, militaristic bunch, so look for anything that doesn’t seem like it belongs on a military base, or isn’t up to their normal level of obsessive compulsive assholishness.”

“Alright, well first we should go and talk to that griffon Captain.” I spoke up, looking down at Hispano. “We have to at least look like we’re not suspicious after all.”

“Great idea.” She nodded and wrapped her talons around the flaps on her flight cap. Tugging it down stiffly, she made sure it was secure on her head before turning her gaze toward the tower. “But first, I’m getting my sister back.”

Now that she mentions it, it might be a good idea to get my gear back as well. You know, for when this all falls apart and we have to slaughter half of this place just to get out of here! Yeah, thanks for that thought, brain. Spreading my wings, I got to my hooves as Hispano kicked off and took flight.

“Good luck!” Hardcase gave a small wave. “We’re all counting on you!”

It had taken a bit of searching, but we eventually tracked down the salvage cart that most of the crew’s belongings had been piled onto. Apparently, the Rangers stored all of their ‘reclaimed’ items inside the nearest hangar to the flight control tower. The hangar itself looked like it had been patched up over the years, but it probably did little more than keep rain and snow off of the neat racks of stored stuff inside. Row upon row of vertical shelves stored everything from basic household appliances, to vehicle arcano engines, to nonfunctional robots.

Of course, just past the entrance of the giant hangar doors, was a pony at a desk with a massive looking logbook. The mare looked up at Hispano and I from behind a set of large square glasses as we entered, but seemed altogether unconcerned and almost bored with our appearance. She instead chose to return her nose and hooves to the big book where she was quickly marking down the convoy’s various kitchen belongings. Jeeze, why would they need to write everything down? Just how many coffee mugs and plates did you need to keep a record of?

It took some talking, and a few radio calls from the guards outside to convince the mare, but she finally relented. The pony who’d been cataloging our stuff hadn’t been too happy that we’d come to claim Suiza, but they agreed to let Hispano have her back. The same however couldn’t be said for my saddle and gun, but so long as Hispano had her sister, I was a lot less concerned about getting into trouble. Now we just had to find the captain in the tower.

The main administrative building and flight control tower sat nearly in the direct middle of the open ground between the two runways. The whole structure was obviously made to be more durable than beautiful, as it too was built out of thick slabs of concrete. To emphasize and enhance that durability, it had also been armored with metal plates near and around the top of the tower. Thin slits had been built up in the armor where the windows once sat, giving it the appearance of a fortified bunker. The sight of the tower, along with the walls, again shifted my opinion from a simple reclaimed airport, to the feeling of an old world prison.

A pair of the armored rangers had escorted Hispano and I, walking us through the cramped and confusing administrative building. It made sense that while the Elder had said we were free to go anywhere we wanted, it didn’t mean that they trusted us at all doing it. Still, the hallways were filled almost from wall to wall with various bits of tech or documents from the old world, making this place feel more like Fuschia’s traincart than an old airport building. We eventually wound our way past all the junk, and over to the stairwell of the up armored flight control tower.

Even the stairwell leading up to the tower was crammed full of gear and tech, along with bundles of cable as thick as my forehooves. The cables seemed to be strung down from the tower, disappearing through a grate in the floor of the administration building. It made sense that the tower would have a lot of cables and electronics being run through it, but even so, this was more excessive than any Enclave tower I’d ever toured through.

Reaching the top, one of our escorts pushed past Hispano and I on the stairs. The unicorn stallion brought out a small rectangular keycard in his magic and slid it through a small black box next to the door. There was a jarring buzzing noise before the magnetic locks in the door turned off and it popped open.

“Commander Crepe, you have visitors.” The stallion spoke, giving a stiff salute before stepping out of the doorway.

“Send them in.” A mare who sounded just as stern as that power armored bitch outside spoke up over the beeps and terminal noises that came from the dark tower control room.

Both Hispano and I stepped up the last few stairs and into the top of the tower. Immediately, I noticed it felt somehow more cluttered and cramped than everywhere else on the walk up here, which was something I didn’t think was possible. What must have been thousands of wires ran up, over, and around every surface on the room, save for the numerous terminals, machines, and a few patches of the floor.

Dozens of bulky terminal banks contained flashing screens that had readouts running across them for various systems which I couldn’t begin to comprehend. A bank of cloud terminals sat off on the far side of the room, and were easy for me to pick out as the current radar and radio scanning images that most air traffic towers had. One of the screens however, displayed the oddly named ‘Oroborous Lockout’ across it, along with a countdown timer that was running down from just over five days.

Moving on from the cloud terminals, five robed ponies were busy keeping track of the information on them, while another pair of ponies were inspecting a buzzing and flashing central magnetic tape machine that collected all the wires from the room and fed them over to a single table near the cloud terminals. The table itself, as it turned out, had something on it that I almost instantly recognized.

I found myself staring at another one of those odd silverfish drones like the one I’d seen at Fuschia’s junk shop. This one however, had been rigged up to accept the numerous wires from every damn system here before feeding them out again and down through the floor. A softly pulsing yellow glow from inside it’s split open metal casing told me that somehow it played a part in whatever this tower did.

But seeing as Fuschia didn’t even know what it’s purpose was, I had no idea why they’d make it a hub for everything up here. Before I could ponder it any further however, an imposing chocolate brown mare with a white mane, styled quite like mine currently was, stepped in front of me.

“State the nature of your visit.” The middle aged unicorn mare ordered as her hazel eyes studied over me. Between her stern tone, and the similarity of their coat colors, I had to wonder if the mare here was related to the bitch out there.

“I’m sorry, Coconut, I should have informed you of their arrival.” Captain Pastel cleared his throat as he stepped up to us. Wait, her name was Coconut as well? So they were somehow related after all! “The elder had hoped that we could get their help with our current reboot problem.”

“What? He cleared them for that?” Coconut snarled as she took a step back from Hispano and I. “These outsiders that we know nothing about? Letting them in is already unheard of, but trusting them with sensitive assets is not only insane, but also incredibly dangerous.”

I was getting sick of being treated like dirt by these asshole mares, so maybe it was time to introduce them to one I knew quite well.

“Hey, lady, these outsiders you’re talking about are standing right in front of you.” I snapped, letting Bombay do the talking. Flaring my wings slightly, I puffed up my chest and pushed my muzzle into as sly of a grin as I could. “And you know what? Maybe after how we’ve been treated since we’ve arrived, we don’t want to help out. So good fucking luck with that cloudship, or whatever else it was you needed us for.”

“You’re an Enclave pegasus… aren’t you?” Coconut spoke up, swiftly reaching out and grabbing around my left wing with her fetlock. She gave it a squeeze before I ripped it away from her. “That must be why the Elder cleared you.”

“Keep your hooves to yourself.” I snapped at her. Though, from the way her expression shifted to a more serious one, and how her eyes drifted right across the room like nopony else was here, I wasn’t quite sure she’d even heard me.

“Tell me,” She glared at me as her horn flared to life with a golden glow. Her magic squeezed around me, holding me in place. “Do you have class three Enclave operational clearance?”

“No.” I writhed against her new grasp. Why couldn’t she just keep her hooves and her magic to herself!? “I may have come from the Enclave, but I wasn’t a soldier.”

“I have the codes.” Hispano chirped as she stepped up and pressed against me. Wait, how the fuck did Hispano have anything like that from the Enclave?... You know what? I really shouldn’t be surprised about these things with her anymore… “You want them? You’re going to have to convince my boss here that I should give them up. A good first step would be to dispel your horn.”

Coconut simply deadpanned at us as she visibly bit her own tongue. Good to know I wasn’t the only one who had to do that now and again. Still, I could imagine the things she was wanting to say to us were probably just as bad as my current opinion of her and the power armored Coconut.

“Commander Coconut, are you alright?” Captain Pastel asked before looking between Hispano and I.

“Yes, that could definitely work.” Coconut nodded to herself before turning to one of the robed mares working on the silverfish drone-thing. “Scribe Meringue, send word to Captain Frescas that she’ll be receiving Captain Pastel and two guests.”

“Alright then, you two with me.” Captain Pastel reached over and gave a firm pat on my shoulder with his Talon. “We’re going to have to get up there quickly. We can’t have those Puritan simpletons knowing too much.”

“Yeah, about doing it quickly...” I spoke up, forcing the armored griffon to pause. “We might have a small problem with that.” As I sort of expected, he pulled back his talon and dragged it across his beak. “You don’t happen to have an old dizzitron or anything around here, do you?”

Lacking any other real option, I convinced Pastel to return again to the Hauler. He, like most other fliers, seemed confused at the nature of my condition. But at least after a few explanations, he didn’t seem so annoyed about accommodating me. Pretty much my only hope for now was that Hardcase and Boiler could finish up my jump pack quickly to get me up there. So with Hispano and him waiting on the tarmac behind Bertha, I’d hoped to make this visit quick.

“Hey, Hardcase?” I knocked on the door as I pushed it open. As expected, the latch was still secured from the other side, and a quick flash of blue came through the gap in the doorway. After a moment, the latch flicked away in Hardcase’s magic and I stepped inside.

“What’s up, Night?” He asked, tipping up a set of glasses that had a magnifying visor on it. The smell of burning metal filled the air in his hazy room, and in front of him on his desk sat the old world jump pack.

“So, I know you’re still working on it, but is there any way I can use the pack yet?” I flashed him a nervous grin that was immediately met with a deadpan that screamed ‘are you serious?’.

I knew that I was asking a lot for him, and honestly I wasn’t sure I even wanted to try it yet. Seeing as Boiler had been fairly convincing in saying it was unstable, I wanted to make sure that it was built up to the best of their abilities. You know, because having old flying tech explode while you’re wearing it was quite detrimental to one’s health.

“I assume you’re asking because you actually need it for something.” He mumbled as he turned around to his desk again and levitated a small soldering iron from it’s holster. Flicking his magnifying glasses down, he began to solder some part of the internals in the device. “Tell you what, go grab Boiler for me, and we’ll see how fast we can get this thing flight worthy.”

“Alright, I’ll…” I began, but found myself quickly cut off.

“Just remember this!” Hardcase glanced back, becoming extremely hard to take serious with his magnified eyes. “You have to be careful with it. Just because we can get it working, doesn’t mean it’s going to be safe.”

“I understand.” I nodded, cringing slightly as my mind once again filled my head with images of me mid-boost into the air before I turned into a fiery cloud of well done pony. “I’ll go grab Boiler.”

Turning, I made my way back down through the Ice hold to the Reactor deck. Of course, Boiler was where she’d been when I came back onboard, which happened to be foreleg deep into some internal mechanism of Bertha’s reactor. When I trotted up behind her, she glanced back at me and held up her hoof signaling for a moment.

Sticking her tongue out of her broad muzzle, she yanked herself sideways a few times. On the fourth or so yank, there was a sharp hissing the came from behind the reactor. A few of the red lights on the control panel for it began blinking a couple of times before turning into green lights. With another shifting yank, she made the hissing stop before the clang of whatever tool she had used hit the floor.

“Alright, sorry about that, Night.” She grunted as she pushed herself back from the reactor and pulled her foreleg out from the recess it had been in. “Gotta bleed the excess hydrogen out of the system every couple of days or you risk your compact spell reactor turning into a large area fragmentation reactor.” With a smile too lighthearted for the image she just painted, she gave me a pat on the shoulder. “What can I do ya’ for?”

“I’d asked Hardcase if I could get the jump pack up and running, cause I kind of need it.” Giving her a shrug, I glanced down at where Hispano and Captain Pastel were still standing. “He asked me to come get you.”

“Well, we can do our best, but it won’t exactly be safe…” Again, she wasn’t really selling me on using this thing at all, but I didn’t really have a choice. “Still, we’ll make it work for you, Night! Don’t you worry, between the two of us, I’m certain we can get it working at least once!” She gave a giggle as she pushed past me. “And you know what they say about parachutes!”

“No?” I wasn’t quite sure where she was going with that. Still, my answer made her lock up midstep.

“Uhhh, well,” Her giggle turned into a more worrisome nervous chuckle. “You only need a working parachute if you want to go skydiving twice.”

Facehooving, I prayed to Celestia that this piece of old world junk better not kill me…

Another half hour of the two of them tinkering had brought us to the point where the sun had dipped below the far side of the mountains, and the amber rays it cast over the peaks made the darkening sky above all the more noticeable.

In watching both Boiler and Hardcase tinker with the device, I noticed that the two had a nearly psychic connection when it came to working in tandem. They almost didn’t need to speak in order to know who got access to the interior next, and what part went where when and such. Though, it was when Hardcase levitated the screws and outer plate up against the main machine, I knew it was finished.

“Alright, well I’m fairly certain she’ll run.” Boiler wiped at her brow as she took a step back. “If this works, we’ll definitely need to regulate the voltage provided by the thunderstone, but she shouldn’t melt her own circuits on this first run.”

“She’s also only got two heat sinks installed out of the four I planned on having, so she’s still going to run hot overall.” Hardcase sighed as he sat back and used his magic to tighten the plate and screws. “So as much as your first instinct is going to be to pull this old gal off your back the minute you land, it’s best you don’t touch her without giving her at least a minute to cool down.”

“Alright, so how does it work?” I asked, feeling confident enough to take a step forward.

“Well, first we strap it to you of course, which should be fairly obvious, really.” As Hardcase spoke, his magic wrapped around the pack and brought it over to me. As he did, all of the various leather straps on it stretched open and slid around me. “I’ll let Boiler explain the triggering mechanism for you since she built it.”

I stood there and let Hardcase work his magic. The straps folded around my midsection, and for some reason, my left foreleg as well. Still, when all the belts were securely clasped, he let go of the pack. Instinctively, I braced my legs to hold the weight of it up. But I'll tell you this, it was a lot lighter than what I thought it would be...

“Alright,” Boiler stepped up to me and gave a few tugs at the straps around my foreleg. “Since you’ve got such an unusual flight style, I’ve rigged the activation trigger to a pair of buttons. First, is the red button here on your upper chest strap.” Her forehoof reached up to a small leather flap on the strap that went across my chest and opened it, revealing a small red button. “This will prime the system and charge the main capacitors. There will be a whining noise that builds up, and once that noise becomes steady, you can use the second, green button behind your fetlock to activate the boost. However, you’ll have to position yourself so that the pack launches you straight up when you press it as to get the most altitude from it.”

“So I just…” Reaching up, I maneuvered my forehoof toward the top button.

“NO!” Both of them shouted in unison, making me freeze up and blink a few times.

“Never prime the pack while inside.” Hardcase spoke stiffly as his magic quickly flipped the leather flap back over the foreleg button. “You activate it indoors, and you’re going to find yourself uncomfortably acquainted with the wall at about eighty kilometers per hour.”

“That, and once she’s primed, you can’t discharge the capacitors without using the boost.” Boiler picked up without missing a beat, or an ounce of the tenseness in her voice. “The boost is timed to only last three seconds at maximum force. After that, it should theoretically shut down automatically…”

“Theoretically?” Okay, I didn’t blame my muzzle for spitting that out past my internal censor.

“Yeeeah…” Hardcase hung on that word as he cringed. “Also, you might want to keep your wings forced shut until after you reach maximum dynamic pressure. Just loosening them slightly could force them open fast enough to shatter every bone in them.” Fucking fantastic. They’ve strapped me into a death machine. “But barring that happening, a failure in the thunderstone, or some other event resulting in rapid and violent unplanned disassembly, it should work great!”

Thanks for the pep talk, guys…

“Well, not like I have a choice now.” I flashed them a nervous smile. “Wish me luck then!”

“Don’t look so worried, Night.” Boiler gave me another rough tap on the shoulder. “We’ll be with you the whole time, right, Hardcase?” Looking back at him, she gave him a forceful shove with her rear leg.

“Oh, yes, of course!” His nervous grin grew to twice the size of mine. “We’ll just have to find something sturdy enough to put between us and you for the initial test...” He trailed off for a moment as he got lost in his head. “Maybe we can find that dumb ranger again…”

Alright, Night. You can do this! Just think happy, non-explosive thoughts…

“You sure this contraption is safe?” Captain Pastel asked as he canted his head and scratched at his plumage. The sharp, but quickly stifled laugh that Boiler gave with Hardcase as they cowered behind the Ranger griffon, was again, less than reassuring. “Well, if you can, do try to aim for the far mountain side of the cloud. The puritans might be backwards minded folk, but they at least know that clouds are strong enough that pegasi can stand and walk on them. So they shouldn’t think you not coming back out on this side is anything unusual.”

“Good to know.” I nodded as I lifted my forehoof and folded back the leather flap. “Alright, priming the pack!” Here goes nothing!

Pressing down firmly on the red button, there was a soft click before the sharp whine Boiler had mentioned started up. I could feel as the turbine mechanisms in the pack started to move, building up speed as the capacitors charged. Even now, I could feel warmth beginning to radiate through the padded leather backing of the pack.

Pulling my wings tightly against myself, I leaned and tried to position my back so it was perpendicular to the tarmac. Taking a few deep breaths, I blinked a few times, watching as the amber skies transitioned even further toward dark blue as the setting sun dipped below the mountains west of Mare’s Lake. Then, after offering a quick prayer to Celestia, I wiggled my left fetlock, and pressed the small green button on the inside of it.

What sounded like a gunshot forced all the sounds from my ears. My vision went white as incredible pain hit my one good eye while I strained to shut it. My body ached as it felt like it was being pressed against the ground by some enormous weight. The padded leather against me felt like it began to boil, and I could almost smell the baking skin on my back.

Then… weightlessness.

I shook my head, reflexively unfurling my wings as the pressure against my body dissipated. The sound of the wind brushing over my wings met my ears, and I blinked away the dry blindness out of my good eye. The world returned as the air caught under my wings, and I began to effortlessly glide through the evening skies. And even though my back still felt like it was burning, I had the biggest smile across my muzzle as I looked down below me.

I must have been almost a thousand feet in the air, and I was right above the cloud that hid the Ranger ship. As I stiffened my forelegs, I banked myself around toward the rust colored mountainside. Snapping my tail to help steer me a bit, I put myself in a slow turn that would help me bleed a bit of speed and altitude.

All too soon, I felt myself come down softly onto the side of the cloud. As the pain in my back ebbed with the dissipating heat, the adrenaline that was coursing through my body also began to subside. Still, I couldn’t remove the dumb grin I had plastered across my face as I let out an elated giggle.

It worked! It actually worked! And for bonus points, I didn’t explode! I owed both Boiler and Hardcase so much for the dedication they put into this thing, and I’m sorry I ever doubted…

I paused before sniffing at the air a bit. Why did it smell like burning hair?

fwumph!

The sound from behind me caught my attention, and I let out a sharp gasp as the small flame that had sprouted on my tail flickered and grew in the breeze. Turning around in place a few times, I tried flicking it wildly against the cloud to bat it out, but still it persisted. Sitting down hard, I sharply thrust the burning tail between my rear legs, and clapped my forehooves around it to smother it. I let out a sharp whining as it burned my hooves, but I finally managed to put it out.

“You know, Dum Dum,” Hispano spoke up as she flittered down from the air above me. “That went a hell of a lot better than I expected! I totally thought you’d end up as a big red splotch of paste on the concrete.” I deadpanned at her as she came down next to me on the cloud, which must have looked really weird to her seeing as I still couldn’t stop smiling. “I mean, I’m happy of course that you didn’t die. But you can’t fault me for expecting it to go badly, given your less than stellar track record with things so far.”

I wanted to feel annoyed by the truth of that, but that was fair enough I guess.

“I’m glad I didn’t explode as well.” I laughed, reaching out and pulling her into a tight but awkward hug. “And I’m also glad you’re feeling a bit backup to your old self. At least, well enough to come up here with me.”

“Yeah, that detox junk Dad gave me yesterday really sucked, but it worked fucking fast.” Weaving her talons together, she gave a stretch that popped what sounded like every joint in her forelegs. Rolling her neck and flapping her wings forced out another set of pops that seemed like it took all the tension out of her all at once. “Plus, of course I’m here with you. Everywhere you go, shit seems to get interesting, remember? Why not hang out where the fun is at, right?”

“Oh good, I thought you’d maybe say you were coming up here to make sure I didn’t screw shit up again.” Sticking my tongue out at her, she snirked and rolled her eyes at me.

“Nah, that’s Buck’s job.” She let out a rough grunt as she sat Suiza down on the cloud next to her. “But you can bet if you try to pull that shit where you go running off on your own again, I’m going to step in and stop you.” The stern, cold look that came from her sent a chill up my spine, but I knew I deserved it. Still, I couldn’t help but ask for something, anything, to come and take the attention off of me for even just a moment.

“Well it seems like there’s some merit to those two down there after all.” Captain Pastel remarked as he came down onto the cloud with us as well. Thank the goddesses, at least they do answer some of my prayers! “It’s a shame they’re on your crew. We could probably use more scribes as inventive and ingenuitive as them.”

“Eeeeh.” Hispano held out her talon and wavered it in the air. “I’d say it’d be a fifty-fifty chance that they’d either help you, or end up building a megaspell out of spare toaster parts and wiping you out by accident.” With a shrug, she reached over and grabbed her sister again. “Alright, so what did you need Dum Dum and I for up here?”

“Not that it’s much of a worry, but we shouldn’t discuss it out here.” Captain Pastel stomped past us on the fluffy cloudbank, reaching out and feeling around through part of the cloud just below him. “Captain Frescas and I can explain everything to you once we’re inside.”

With a rusted squeal, the sound of a bulkhead door unsealing met our ears. The cloud in front of him bulged out, dissipating the fluff as it tore a hole wide enough for a pony sized round hatch to extend out of it. Carefully, Captain Pastel started to descend the ladder that was inside the hole created by the open hatch, and he waved for Hispano and I to follow before disappearing inside completely.

Stepping over to the hatch, I found a round metal tube descending into the cloud. It was almost exactly the same as the replica model back in the Enclave hall of heroes. Though, made of solid cloud steel rather than sheet metal and plywood reclaimed from old skycarts. As I climbed down the ladder, the light of day was slowly replaced by a red tinge from the conning tower lights. Once Hispano climbed down a few rungs past the open hatch, a short bell rang in the tube, and the hatch above began to close on it’s own.

Another bell rang once the hatch was sealed, and below me, Captain Pastel gave a quick knock on a hatch below us. The squeak this one gave as it opened resonated in the confines of the tower tube. Still, the hatch below opened downward, revealing the control center of the cloudship. Carefully, I continued down as soon as Captain Pastel had climbed off of the short ladder below.

“Oh Pastel, it’s so good to see you back in one piece.” The voice of a mare met my ears as I climbed down into the command deck. “I do hope that the savages in Mare’s Lake treated you and the misfits alright.”

Turning, I spun just in time to watch as the ranger griffon was immediately pulled into a hug by a bluish green coated earth pony. Her frizzy strawberry blond mane was stuffed underneath an Enclave captain’s hat, and the formal captain’s uniform she wore looked like it came directly from the Enclave as well. Again, this brought up even more questions in my mind as to how any of this was even possible. As Hispano climbed down behind me, I heard her immediately gag when met with the sight of the two hugging.

Taking a moment to look around as Captain Pastel was dealing with the huggy mare, I took in as much as I could of the control room. Though it was again a similar layout to the replica, there was much more either added in over time, or omitted on the replica. Twice as many boxy looking arcano-machines blinked and hummed away, as well as about a thousand more pipes and wires than I remember there being. A half dozen ponies worked at different terminal stations, logging the readouts of various instruments onto clipboards much like the ponies in the tower had. One section directly across from us caught my eye, as it contained a dozen terminal screens displaying different areas outside of the cloud.

A few focused along the walls of the airfield, one was at the mountainside below us, and the remaining seven of them were directed at what looked like expansive farms and a small village not too far off to the east of the railroad tracks we came in on. A dozen bright flickering lights discharged pulses of jagged lightning as they sat in a straight line, and after a moment, I realized that it was some sort of defencive formation around the small village. Maybe that’s where the lightning we heard earlier came from.

“Eheh, I’m alright, Frescas. You know your father would never risk giving me too harsh an assignment.” Captain Pastel gave the mare a pat on the back before taking a step away and saluting her. “But as much as I wish it were, this isn’t really a social visit. I’ve brought…”

“Ah yes, the former Enclave citizen and the young Talon with the Enclave codes.” The mare cut him off, turning toward us. Stiffly, she held out her hoof to me and offered a confident smile that more than anything reminded me of my mother’s. “I’m Captain Aguas Frescas. Welcome aboard the Arcturus.”

“Hey there, I’m Bombay.” I spoke up, taking the mare’s forehoof and giving it a firm shake.

“Uh, nah.” She winced and pulled her hoof away from me. “If you’re Bombay, why do all your friends keep calling you ‘Night’? Or is that your nickname?”

Wha… wait, what!?

“H...how could you possibly know that?” I was torn between forcing my muzzle to speak, or process how the hell she knew anything like that about me?

“The question you should ask yourself is what don’t I know? I am the captain of a spy ship after all!” She chuckled as she sat down. “Oh, and so you know, I heard you and your friends talking down below. You can trust me when I say that nothing is going on here at Galloway. We have nothing to hide, and our treatment of outsiders, while it may seem rude to most, is just a precaution for those who look to cause trouble. And don't worry about thinking you offended us, every visitor is a little suspicious when they come here.”

“You mean the zero visitors we ever get?” Pastel gave her a side glance that seemed a bit more annoyance filled than an innocent correction.

“Yes, that’s right!” Captain Frescas gave a nervous laugh and a dismissive wave of her hoof. “We don’t really get many visitors…” she paused as Pastel cleared his throat roughly, “Any. I meant any visitors.”

“Wow. You guys are right. No reason to be suspicious at all!” Hispano spoke up before my muzzle had the time to spit out exactly that. She looked over to me with an unimpressed expression and shrugged. “If you ask me, between that two ton dolt with the minigun, and this airhead, they’re all just idiots.”

Which sure, I could agree with her on that. So far, these ‘rangers’ seemed just as unacquainted with the intricacies of the wasteland as I was. From what I’d seen so far, they might have been well equipped, but what they lacked was the same sort of rigorous training that I’d come to expect from every soldier I’d ever seen in the Enclave.

Then again, with how the Enclave was with the lies they fed us, I’m not sure that’s a good thing anymore...

Author's Note

As always, such a big thanks to TheFurryRailFan for helping out in making the chapter presentable. Seriously man, you're the best!

And of course, much thanks to Kkat for allowing us all to use the fantastic wastelands that are FoE!

Chapter 44 - Breakout

A pat on the back is only a few inches from a kick in the pants.

“So, Frescas, would you like to explain what we have them up here for?” Pastel pulled my attention back to the nervous looking cloudship captain who looked oh so happy to have the subject changed for her.

Honestly, I knew that awkward feeling all too well after bluntly blurting out everything I have so far on this trip. But something was off here. These Rangers were definitely hiding something from us.

“Yes, of course!” Captain Frescas nodded as she spun around and waved for us to follow. “The trouble began after we captured the Arcturus from the Enclave following the battle of bunker mountain. While the captain at the time did have the decency not to scuttle her, she did manage to put her core data processing systems into some sort of security lockout mode.”

“Hence the need for the clearance codes.” Hispano chimed in as the two of us followed the Captain towards a sealed bulkhead at the back of the control room. Just above the door, the words ‘core systems’ were painted in white. “Still, if it’s as good at surveillance as it’s been made out to be, how did you toasters manage to get aboard this ship in the first place?”

“We had… help.” Captain Pastel spoke slowly as he put himself right on our rear. “It’s not important. What is however, is that the workaround we were given only halfway worked to bypass the lockout. While we have control navigation and some of the basic sensors, we still haven’t regained access to the advanced sensor suite. Which as you may assume, is the real prize this ship offers.”

Opening the sealed door, Captain Frescas stepped through into a small room. The flickering of terminal lights, and buzzing of arcane instruments bled out into the control room from inside, and a wave of warm air smacked me in the face. Following her in, I was met with more of the same bulky terminals lining the back wall feeding messes of wires all over the roof and floor. However, a vertical shaft rose from the floor, feeding all the wires through into yet another one of those silverfish drone things.

“Another one?” My muzzle spat the words out as I trotted up to the device. Like the one that was up in the air control tower, this one seemed to be networked into everything around here.

“So you noticed the one in the tower then.” Captain Frescas nodded as she stepped up. “A shady trader had stopped by, saying that they had downed it with a lucky shot…”

“But you couldn’t find a single damaged part on it, could you?” I spoke up, looking back to find her narrowed eyes suspiciously glaring at me. Slowly she nodded, rolling her hoof for me to continue. “This is now the third of these ‘silver fish drones’ I’ve seen in the last day, but so far nopony can explain what they are, where they came from, or what they’re even doing in the wastes.”

“What can you tell us about them?” Hispano stepped up beside me, leaning in close and inspecting the drone meticulously.

“Not much.” Pastel turned his gaze elsewhere as he spoke, probably deciding on just how much he wanted to say on the subject. “These peculiar devices are incredibly powerful and complex processing machines, with no standard vacuum tubes or spell talismans running their central matrices. Rather, they have these tiny little black boxes made of silicon that somehow act as highly effective processing units.”

“They’re a hundred times more capable than anything we've ever seen, though we have no idea how they work at all.” Reaching out, Frescas ran her hoof over the sleek silver casing, almost caressing the small machine lovingly. “We've run multiple tests on the two units we have, and they always appear to boost our computing capabilities with no adverse effects. There's no extra code being written in, no altered records of whatever we run through it. Yet, they still run through our commands and do as we ask and we can’t really explain how or why.”

“We still don't understand where they come from either, or what their original purpose was.” Captain Pastel continued on as he shut the door behind him. “They contain far more advanced components than any piece of Equestrian archano-tech or Zebra tech we've seen thus far. Instead, it looks to have the perfect melding of both societies’ technology. They can be seen all over the north if you look hard enough, yet no group has so far claimed to own them.”

“Huh, guess my dad was being serious after all…” Reaching up, Hispano jammed her talon up under her flight cap and gave a few good scratches at her head feathers. “He had a theory he told me a while back, but I thought he was only joking with me seeing as I’d never seen one of these until today. He’d proposed that this was how that stallion on the radio gets his news.” Hispano spoke up as she stepped back from the device. “Think about it. They have no weapons, only visual and audio sensors that feed data through an extremely high bandwidth transmitter. Hundreds of these silverfish things flying around, only there to observe and report.”

“A solid theory of course, but neither of these ‘silverfish’ as you call them, are transmitting anything at all. Their transmitters are functional, but we’ve detected no signal from them. They simply process what we tell them to, and that is that.” Captain Frescas almost sounded annoyed by Hispano’s theory, offended even. “They are fascinating little mystery devices if anything, but harmless from what we've seen so far.”

“So if it’s that damn good, why can’t it override the lockout?” Hispano fired back, crossing her talons with a smirk across her beak.

“Because the lockout requires a pegasus to be present, along with somepony who has a high enough clearance code to reset the system. With you two here, the drone should be able to do most of the heavy lifting in cracking the lockout.” Reaching behind the silverfish, Captain Frescas gave a yank on a pair of cords. Squeezing them in her fetlock, she turned to me and held them out. “These clamps must be worn around pegasus wings while they both channel their flight magic through them, and enter the codes.”

“Alright, sounds easy enough?” I reached out, grabbing the cords and bringing them up to my face. The small ceramic spring-locked rings had some sort of metal strip set on the inside which I assumed would detect the flight magic. Otherwise, the two clasps looked fairly plain and simple.

“Whatever. Let’s just get this over with.” Hispano groaned as she snatched the clasps from my hoof. Within another few seconds, she had easily clamped them around the base of each of my wings. She slung Suiza snugly over herself before turning and sitting down in front of one of the many terminals in the room.

“Just, one moment.” I spoke up, turning to look at both Captain Frescas and Captain Pastel. “You said you took this ship from the Enclave, and that the captain locked it out. But you never explained what happened to them afterwards.” My words hit each of them differently, with Captain Frescas looking ashamed, and Pastel looking somewhat sorrowful. “What happened to the crew?”

“Fifteen of her crew escaped and fled the combat zone before we even got to her.” Captain Frescas stepped forward and took her Enclave captain’s hat into her hoof. “The officers however, chose to take their own lives as we boarded.”

“You have to understand, we were going to strip them of their weapons and let them go.” Captain Pastel stepped up beside Frescas and extended his wing around her. “We had no interest in killing any of the Enclave soldiers when they brought their fight down to us, and even though we won that fight after three long days, we still didn’t wish to see them killed.”

I… can’t really be mad at them then, can I? I mean, they could be lying to me by just telling me what I wanted to hear so I’d help them. But somehow, just looking at them, I felt like that wasn’t at all what they were trying to do. For once, it felt like a stranger was genuinely telling me truth when they wanted my help.

Then again, I’ve been a gullible sucker this whole damn trip so far...

“Thank you.” I nodded before turning to Hispano. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

“Alright then, it’s going to suck, but when I tell you to, you’re going to have to hover for about a half a minute while I enter in the codes and start the reboot.” Hispano grumbled as she put talon to keyboard and started to run through whatever it was that she did to make terminals listen to her. “Switching over to reboot protocol. System moving into standby mode…” The lights inside the cloudship flickered out for a moment, being replaced by the flashing red emergency lighting that was standard on all cloudships. “Alright, start hovering now, Dum Dum. The rest of you, hold onto your butts!”

I groaned as I pushed myself onto the tips of my hooves and flared out my wings. I concentrated as hard as I could into pushing myself up off the floor. But between the almost boiling air in the room, and the awkward weight of the jump pack still strapped to my back, I couldn’t get myself to lift off. Fucking stupid flat feathers!

“Uhhhh… that’s not good enough!” Hispano squawked as she hammered at the terminal harder. “You need to fly, Dum Dum! Right now!”

“I’m trying!” I snapped at her before letting myself rest for just a moment. Come on, Night, you can do this! Hell, Bombay could do this with her eyes closed, right? It’s easy, just channel her and you’ll be good in no time!

I nearly jumped out of my skin as a loud alarm began to blare above me.

“The whole core system is entering failsafe mode!” Captain Frescas shouted. “We only have one minute to perform the reset or the whole ship fucking blows itself to bits over the tarmac. So you fix this shit right now!”

“I know!” Hispano barked back as her talons flew over the keyboard almost as nothing more than a blur. “I’m trying to slow down the failsafe scripts, but it’d be a whole lot easier if Night here could just fucking fly!”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

Come on, what the hell is wrong with you? This isn’t even about your stupid disability, it’s about just forcing yourself to stay in the air for thirty seconds. That’s never been a problem before, it’s just always sucked to do is all. So why is it such a big deal now? Buck and I talked about this, it’s a choice to fly, and I’m choosing to! So why can’t I…

A bolt of electricity snapped out from the silverfish at me, and the sudden pain from it in my chest made me jump back. Instinctively, my mind took over from the jump, forcing me to hover where I was as I rubbed at my sizzling coat. Still, the moment I was in the air, a countdown timer appeared on the screen that Hispano was working at.

“Alright, that’s good! Just hold it there for another twenty five seconds!” She never even looked up as she spoke, quickly hammering at the keys with her talons and working through line after line of what looked like gibberish to me.

Still, I tried my best to keep my wings flared and pushed myself upward. I knew that it was only a matter of seconds, but each one began to stretch into twice what the previous was. My wings, legs, and back felt like they were starting to burn, and the thick warm air in here felt like I was almost breathing in water now.

But finally the alarms stopped ringing, and the flashing red emergency lights flickered away. The normal lighting in the cloudship popped back to life, and a resounding cheer went up throughout the whole ship. With that, I felt my wings give out, and I was dumped down onto the wire covered floor in a panting heap.

“Message coming through the VLF system, Captain!” The voice of a mare came through an intercom in the room. “EAM broadcast signal confirmed. Celestial tier emergency response authority has been granted to the Arcturus. All cloudship systems now showing ready across the board!”

“We did it!” Captain Frescas giggled excitedly as she practically threw herself into the arms of Captain Pastel. Looking up at them, again I found myself timed perfectly to watch as she pressed herself against his beak in a short, but passionate kiss.

“Oh Celestia, that sucked.” I groaned as I moved to pick myself up. As I did, I felt Hispano’s talons wrap around me and help to pull me up. In what should have been a totally expected turn of events, as I turned to look at her, she too kissed me. Then as soon as the bliss from that washed away, the pain from her balled up talon across the top of my head snapped me back to reality.

“What the fuck were you doing just then? This wasn’t a pleasure cruise!” She snapped at me. “It’s almost like you want to keep fucking up.”

“What happened to it being Buck’s job to scold me for that?” I whimpered as I rubbed at my head. She rolled her eyes as she flashed a smirk and took a step back.

“Still, you two performed admirably.” Captain Frescas muttered as she wiped at her muzzle a bit. Looking back at Captain Pastel, I found that he was probably still in his post kiss bliss phase. Huh, I wonder if that’s what I look like when that happens... “Though if it’s not to much to ask, in case we need it again, what is the Enclave code you used?”

“The code is twelve zeros.” Hispano responded so starkly that I had to run it through my mind again to make sure there wasn’t some sort of sarcasm that I was missing. “It’s pretty genius when you think about it.”

“They hid access to all their systems… behind twelve zeros?” Pastel grumbled as he facetaloned and wiped away his blissful look. “That’s not genius, that’s the dumbest thing they could have ever done! That’s just asking for a disaster to happen!”

“Not exactly.” Hispano crossed her talons as she looked over to me. “Hey, Dum Dum. If you were to start with trying to crack a twelve digit code, what number would you start at?”

“I’d start with eleven zeros and a one because twelve zeros doesn’t make a distinguishable code.” I shrugged. “I know the logic behind it, Hispano, but for what it’s worth, you’re both correct. It’s both genius and stupid at the same time. And to be honest, it explains a lot to me about how backwards the whole of the Enclave turned out to be. They lied to us about the ground when we could have come down and help. Instead, they go and do their ‘Operation Cauterize’ or whatever, and gave us all a bad name.”

“They weren’t the only ones to be idiots.” Captain Frescas offered as she looked back at Pastel. “Idiocy was what got the world to where it is now, and there’s no one party to blame for that.”

A small beep came from the terminal beside Hispano, causing her to wander over and read whatever message had popped up on it.

“What the…” She spoke up before giving a few taps at the keyboard. “Hey, Night? You should come and see this report that’s come up.”

“What is it? More records of the Enclave’s atrocities?” I know that I shouldn’t really hate the government that at least allowed me to exist above the clouds for as long as I did, but I couldn’t forgive them for their shit. And while I could move on from the events in my life, the Enclave was something I’d never be able to outrun or get away from. And I hated that more and more each day.

Plopping myself down next to Hispano, I stared at the lump of text on the screen.

O.I.A. Memo #AAR-1392-10-1a

This document contains Classified Information

Distribution or Misuse of the following official Ministry project file is considered treason against Equestria and her government. Those found guilty will be subject to summary execution without trial or representation.

Operation Skyburst

Due to the unique overperformance observed by the prototype sensor pods and cloud stealth systems on cloudship NX-19 Arcturus, Ministry Head Rainbow Dash has given her authorization for Operation Skyburst to be put into action by General Turbulence by the end of the week. Ministry Head Rainbow Dash, agrees that should any of the planned Mistral class cloudships fall into the hooves of the zebras, the tactical advantages those captured ships would give to the enemy would far outweigh the benefit the ships would offer in the first place.

Therefore, Operation Skyburst will be set up a staged accident. It will appear to the zebras and to the public of Equestria that the prototype ship and all its test crew perished. A staged investigation will then commence, and present evidence that will point to flaws in the design of key systems. The still-in-dock fleet of Mistral class ships will be refit with standard surveillance equipment, which will still perform within the required parameters for the project contract. All existing documents, mock ups, and schematics for the prototype sensor systems, as well as those already installed or slated to be installed on the Mistral class, will be destroyed totally and thoroughly through magical incineration.

Following the staged accident, under your command, the NX-19 Arcturus will then continue on under a black title commission as vessel CSN-140 HMS Arcturus. Ministry Head Rainbow Dash has authorized your stationing outside of the zebra capitol of Roam for long term surveillance operations, as well as the use of the remote activation of her failsafe systems should she be for any reason detected.

The continued belief that the Arcturus was a failed prototype will not only protect the security of Equestria, but is a necessity to ensure that we maintain the operational and technological edge over the Zebra Empire.

As the Captain of the Arcturus and her crew, it is now your duty to uphold this knowledge no matter what the implications or cost may be. Should this worst case scenario come to pass, the Princesses, the heads of the Ministries, and Equestria all thank you and your crew for their sacrifice. Good luck, Captain, and may the glory of Equestria guide your mission to success.

“So… they hid her away because she was too good at being a spy ship?” Hispano slumped back a bit, seeming just as confused as I was.

“I guess.” I shrugged, not sure what to think of all that. “But somehow now I feel like maybe I shouldn’t jump on hating the Enclave. Maybe like the risks this ship posed, there was a reason behind the choices they made. Something we just don’t know, you know?”

“That’s the problem when you’re at war.” Captain Pastel spoke up, “You make compromises that you think are for the best. And sometimes, they aren’t. But I’ve read that memo several times, and you know what I took away from it?” Looking up at Hispano and I, he smirked and chuckled. “You shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover, because sometimes there’s more going on than you think. For example, despite what us rangers might think of you outsiders, you two turned out to be pretty alright, as did the unicorn and buffalo down there.”

“Yeah, while some of you might be weird, I’ve talked to plenty who seem like genuinely nice folk.” Captain Frescas spoke up before she froze and nearly turned white. “That’s not… what I meant to say is… you see…”

Again, something saved the Captain from her awkward situation. However, this time it was the lights on the sub flicking over to the emergency reds again, and the alarm bell ringing.

“Ma’am, we’ve got a security breach in the base!” The voice of a mare called out again over the intercom. “There’s an outsider in containment area one. A mule appears to have been led inside by one of the occupants. What are your orders? Should I inform the elder?”

Wait, a mule?

“Goddess dammit, Happy.” I facehooved myself hard as both Captain Frescas and Captain Pastel raced to get the bulkhead door open. “Alright, Hispano. Let’s go see if we can keep them from shooting him.”

“I don’t think so.” Captain Pastel turned as Frescas threw the door open and bolted through it. “You two are going to sit right here until we get the truth out of you.” From behind his combat armor, the griffon captain pulled a fairly large revolver out and pointed it at Hispano as she went to unsling her sister. “That would be a bad idea.”

“You want us to be truthful?” I didn’t even need Bombay’s help as I spat at Pastel. “We already fixed your ship, we just want to know what’s going on so we can help.” Seriously, was there ever going to be a time where somepony who asked me to do something for them didn’t end up with me sitting at gunpoint somehow? “If you don’t want our help, then tell us what the fuck you do want from us.”

“You can start by telling us who sent you here.” Captain Pastel used his talon to drag back the hammer on his revolver to pull my attention onto him. “Back Breaker? Swift Runner? Or has Mister Wizard himself finally become so desperate to reclaim his property that he’s hiring any convoy he can?” Property? What the fuck was he talking about? “Regardless, until you tell us, you and the rest of your hired friends aren’t going anywhere.”

“See Dum Dum, what did I tell you outside?” Hispano sat back and folded her talons across herself. “Shit always gets interesting around you.”

“We have been nothing but cooperative so far.” I facehooved as I grumbled. Seriously, I knew that Happy had this amazing ability to piss ponies off, but putting a whole settlement of rangers on alert had to be a new record for him. “The least you could do is consider that maybe this is all some sort of big misunderstanding.”

“What happened to all that ‘don’t judge a book’ bullshit you were just talking about?” Hispano thought it best to be more blunt in calling out how unfair this shit was. Not sure I agreed it was the right thing to do, but I couldn’t knock her for it really.

Gazing past the armed ranger griffon, I glanced back into the control room and at one of the terminals displaying images of the area below. I should have realized it before, but that one camera pointed at the mountainside should have felt a bit more odd to me. Moreso as now that happened to be the monitor that Happy was on, while what looked to be a zebra mare lead him up through a thin path on the rocks.

Then Happy and the zebra mare disappeared into thin air.

Just what in the hell was going on around here? And why couldn’t I get a single goddess damned answer out of Captain Pastel? He seemed perfectly fine to chat it up earlier!

The throbbing in my wings from hovering myself flared up, bringing with it the aches and pains of the rest of my body. My stump in my prosthetic, the gouging scars that Galina put across my chest and barrel, and even my fucking eye started to ebb again. My pain wasn’t going to wait for the Rangers to feel like trusting us again, and more than anything, I wanted to get back down to the convoy and get some more painkillers in my system. Then we could work shit out from there.

“Ma’am, the tower reports long range doppler pings! Multiple incoming airborne contacts from the Northeast!” One of the robed mares in the command center shouted loudly enough that both Hispano and I winced.

“Damnit, what now?” Captain Frescas groaned. Well, at least I wasn’t the only one feeling like today could be going better than it had so far. “Alright, rig the ship for silent running. Scribe Navigator, turn us along heading zero nine zero. Get the RWR talismans warmed up, I want to see if anything out there has an active radar talisman pinging away at us.”

“Heading zero nine zero, aye ma’am.” A robed stallion called out from the navigator’s station across the bridge.

“I’m sorry that I can’t answer your questions right now, nor can I let you go.” Captain Pastel sighed and shifted so he blocked my sight into the command center. “Steel Ranger protocol dictates that we deal with imminent threats to the compound before any internal matters. So for the moment, I’m going to have to ask that you sit tight.”

“Ping complete.” The mare at the radar station shouted back. “Thirty one active returns!”

“Seriously? What, have they sent a whole damn fleet of buzzbombers at us?” Captain Frescas pinched her muzzle between her fetlock, thinking for a moment. “Alright, call the tower. Tell them to get Channel four and five in the air, and get the arms crew to load up the Claymore and have her take off on runway one ASAP. The defence of this airfield is now priority one.”

“Ma'am, we're also getting a distress call on an open frequency.” The mare who spoke up before called out again. While he could block my sight, Pastel couldn’t stop me from hearing things. “The craft is fifty miles out, same range as the incoming contacts, and the transponder talisman is reading Seven Five Zero Zero.”

“Set the broadcast to bridge coms and play it back. I want to hear it.” Captain Frescas didn’t sound all to enthusiastic about this interruption, but I had to wonder what she would do. With a fuzzy crackle, the sound of a stallion came over the radio.

“This is callsign Bandit squawking seven five zero zero, coming in from your bearing zero eight two, about ten minutes out. If any of you fine rangers would love to help a stallion out with a bit of a buzzbomb problem, I'll gladly hoof over Foul Line's personal ride. The alternative of course is finding out how long I can make this bird dance before you have to salvage the pieces of her from the nice puritan village I'll be exploding over.”

“Of course it’s fucking Double Delta.” Captain Frescas’ audible facehoof came almost at the same time that Captain Pastel rolled his eyes. “Get the tower on the line. Relay what I said before, and get me the Elder.”

“Hey,” Hispano scrunched up her beak as she looked up at the Captain pointing the gun at her. “Isn’t Double Delta the king of the Skyraiders? I thought I’d heard that somewhere.”

“Was the king, in the same way he was once a Ranger.” Pastel deadpanned as he sighed. “Honestly, he shouldn’t have come back. He’d be better off crashing into that village and burning it to the ground. He’d be doing us all a favor for once in his fucking life.”

“How could you say that?” I spoke up without thinking, but immediately forced myself to continue. “What’s so bad about that place that you’d want to let him destroy an entire village? From what you had on the screens in there, it’s just a bunch of farms.”

“They’re Puritans. Their whole kingdom just wants to destroy technology, rather than preserve it. The whole lot of them would be better off dead than living as the simpletons they pretend they are.” He spoke with a sort of complete sincerity to his words that left me without a doubt that this was a fact to him. Like somehow it justified what he was implying should happen to them.

“So… you’re really okay with letting them all die, along with this Double Delta person?” I understood that Double Delta was a skyraider, but he had supposedly been a Ranger. And if Violet could ever prove to be a more viable example of redemption than right now, I wouldn’t ever have let the next words come from my muzzle. “I think you should get out there and help him. He doesn’t have to die, and neither does anyone in that village.”

“Yeah, well it’s not my call to make.” It was easy to see in that moment, how Pastel glared at me and bristled up his plumage. He’d gone from someone who commended my friends, to someone who was suspicious of Hispano and I. And even now, he went straight to a look like I’d stabbed him right in the back. “That decision rests on the Elder, and is none of your concern.”

You know, if it weren’t for the fact that I could almost feel my blood boil from that dismissal, I wouldn’t have remembered that I had exactly the pony I needed to call on for this. Even better than that, I had a poorly thought out plan that I could almost hear her whispering in my mind to jump on. Taking a few deep breaths, I doned the mindset that was Bombay, and flashed a wide grin across my muzzle. Which of course, made Pastel’s expression shift to confusion.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to insinuate what you should be doing.” I did my best to saddle up next to Hispano and used my wing to pull her in closely. Even she seemed uncomfortably confused by this, but I’d just have to trust that she’d go with whatever I said. “Look, you’ve obviously got more to worry about, Captain, and it’s been a stressful day for all of us. And you see, I haven’t really been able to spend any time alone with the love of my life here.” From the heat I could basically feel radiating off Hispano’s cheeks, I knew she would at least sell this to him for the time being. “So how about this? You take us back to the bunks, lock us in, let us have some alone time to destress a bit. Then you can come get us when you’re done with this emergency stuff.”

It was a huge risk in seeing if he would be lenient enough to put us in the bunks, rather than the on ship brig. But at the moment, it was basically my only card to play. The Enclave would publicly flog an officer for a decision like the one I wanted him to make, but I had to trust that the rangers were at least a little more loose about their rules. Thankfully for me, Hispano was the most brilliant griffon I knew, and wrapped up this deal in a neat little bow.

“Look, from one griffon to another, I know how hard a father can be when you want to have a relationship outside your own species.” She spoke softly, pressing her talons together as her cheeks continued to burn brighter than the emergency lighting in the other room. “Just… a half hour, that’s all we need. Then we’ll answer every question you have.”

“Fine. You get a half hour.” Pastel sighed, lowering his gun slightly, but reaching out with his other talon. “But of course you have to give me your gun for the time being.” Nodding, Hispano reluctantly dragged her sister off her back and gave her over. “Alright, follow me.”

The locking lugs on the bulkhead door squealed as they were forced shut. Hispano and I had been thankfully left alone inside the bunk room, though I had no idea if Captain Pastel would end up stationing some sort of guard for us just outside. Considering he was the only one onboard who even seemed to be armed at all, I had to guess that it wouldn’t be the case. Guess we’d just have to find out and deal with it then!

The small bunk room only contained about sixteen bunk beds, and was meant for only about half the crew to sleep in at a time. A few extra open bunks in the rear were more lavish compared to the others, and normally reserved for Shadowbolt teams to occupy if they were onboard. But of course, that was a full wartime complement. If I had to guess, seeing as she wasn’t sailing anywhere, this ship had substantially less crew than even the Enclave would have liked. And seeing as there wasn’t anypony in here now, I’d have to think that they only had a staggered crew of one or two running things through the night.

“Alright, Dum Dum.” Hispano cooed softly as she pressed against me, running her talon along the edge of my wing. “You want me? You’ve got me.” She gave her eyes a sultry bat, and brought her beak up to my ear and whispered into it. “And you know that as a talon, I love nothing more than when we can get right down to business.”

Oh goddesses, did she actually believe me when I said we needed some alone time? Gazing down at her with what I’d hoped would come across as an incredulous glare, she couldn’t keep up the act. Her own look cracked as she giggled and rolled her eyes at me.

“Oh come on, you can’t blame me for that.” Reaching up, she made me scrunch my muzzle with a quick boop from her talon. “I know you just wanted to get us alone so we could figure some way out of this. Please tell me you already have some sort of plan in mind. Because while I do know a lot, the specifics and interiors of cloudships aren’t really one of them. This Enclave shit is more your forte.”

“Oh thank the goddesses, you were joking.” I sighed as it felt the slightest bit of pressure lifted off my mind. Now was not the time to go about reminding Hispano about why she shouldn’t be asking me things like that! Still, I gave her a nod, eager to get us both out of here. That stallion wasn’t far out when he called, and we needed every moment we could get. “Well, it’s not so much a solid plan, but I have an idea how we can get off this ship and go help that stallion on the radio.”

“Oh, that’s such a relief!” Hispano deadpanned as she prodded at my chest. “Lets see, you can't sneak worth shit, so that option is out. You refuse to kill ponies unnecessarily, even though they'll gladly shoot and kill us of course. Plus, we don’t have Suiza, so good luck with intimidating them.” Oh come on! She makes it sound like I’m always the bad guy for wanting to be civil, and though it never really works out that way, we could still fucking fucking try! “Which means your plan somehow involves talking us off this ship, which right now, I'm highly doubting will even get us back onto the bridge, let alone out through it. Great plan, Dum Dum, but try harder next time.”

“I love that you wholeheartedly believe in me, I really do. But I’ve noticed something about this ship.” I grumbled and sat down on the floor and grasped my forehooves around my prosthetic. “Tell me...” With a sharp yank, I pulled my stump out of my prosthetic. The warm air inside the ship felt good against my skin, and the light ebbing pain in it dissipated slightly. “How many armed soldiers did you see on this ship?”

“Just Captain Pastel, but I don’t really get what you’re trying to go for.” She huffed, looking about the room. “He’s got his gun and Suiza. There’s also the fact that he’s standing between us and the exit out of this flying tin can.”

“An exit, sure.” I smirked as she canted her head quizzically. “Mistral class cloudships are more than simple airborne listening posts. They were designed to carry six pony teams of Shadowbolts on covert missions, able to use their vertical launch tubes to drop them over any operation zone quickly and quietly.”

“Goddesses, you’re such an Enclave dweeb.” She gave me a playful punch on the shoulder that I returned with a smirk. “So, that’s fine if that’s our exit. But if it’s where they keep the armaments for this ship, I’m pretty sure it’ll be guarded, or at the very least, occupied.” Eyeing me with a grimace, she shrugged. “We may have to hurt them to get out of here. You going to be okay with that?”

“Well, they’ll think twice when you sneak up on one of them and hold them at knifepoint!” I grinned and held out my prosthetic to her. Of course, she looked quite unamused at my idea.

“That’s not even sharp, Dum Dum.” She grunted.

“But they don’t know that!” I offered, waggling the leg in my hoof. “And if that doesn’t work, we’ll just have to knock them out or something.”

“Pft.” Hispano snatched the prosthetic from my hooves. “That could be hard. Not everypony finds themselves knocked out as easily as you, you know.” Oh har har. She probably wouldn’t be making those sort of comments if she’d lost a leg and an eye! Then again, she’s been smart enough to have avoided that issue in the first place… “But I have to give you this one. As a plan, I don’t hate it. It’s going to go to shit of course, but I don’t hate it.”

“It’s something my mom used to tell me from her training days. A message they’d beat into the heads of all the Enclave soldiers.” Getting to my hooves, I turned and hobbled over toward the sealed door. “No plan ever survives first contact with the enemy, so get used to improvising.” Reaching up, I grabbed onto a few of the locking arms with my fetlock and started to yank down on them. “Now, help me open this bulkhead, and let’s get out of here. We’ve got a stallion to help, and a village to save.”

“Of course we do.” Hispano nodded and hefted up my prosthetic leg. “Why? Because then we’ll both be big damn heroes.” Rolling her eyes, she fed the leg through one of the levers and used it as a pry bar. “And nothing bad ever comes of being a hero in the wasteland...”

As much as Cloudships like this borrowed their design from naval submarines, I was finding myself increasingly glad that it didn’t resemble Mrs. Tapit’s beached boat. One of these days, I’d climb into a ship and actually get back out the way normal ponies were supposed to. Then again, my life in the wasteland has been anything but normal...

The launch bay laid midship, only two rooms away from the bunks. Thankfully, the only room that had been occupied was the galley, where the cook was too embroiled in making something and dancing to the tunes of DJ PowerColt to even notice Hispano and I walk by. Both of our stomachs gave off ravenous growls as the scent of boiling vegetables hit us hard, and I had to force myself to keep going. First, we’ll get out of the ship, then we’ll save the stallion and the village, and then we’ll get food.

Peeking my head into the launch bay, I had to stifle my own gasp as I pulled myself back around the corner. This ship was fully stocked with Cloud to ground munitions. Dozens of gravity bombs, chemical warheads, and cluster munitions sat ready and waiting on the loading racks. Along with them, sitting on an articulating arm, was a rotating rack with a few Cloud to Cloud missiles still sitting on it. Given this loadout and the right positioning, this ship could probably annihilate any ground installation faster than they could ever hope to react.

Only a pair of robed ponies walked around inside the bay, hastily scribbling stuff down as they looked over the various instruments that controlled the weapon and launch systems. Jeez, these Steel Rangers really did like to write things down! Maybe the reason they have hallways crammed full of papers in the administration building was because it's full of these reports and logs split between counting every blinking light in this ship and how much damn kitchenware they'd taken from outsiders!

Hispano pointed over to the closer pony, motioning with my leg that it would be her target. The mare looked to be a unicorn with a bright orange coat that practically outshone the red robes draped over her. I nodded to Hispano, hoping that our little deception would work. Or at the very least, that it would buy us some time to figure out how to escape.

“You can come in, you know.” The orange mare spoke up, pulling the attention of the stallion across the room to her, as well as making both Hispano and I press ourselves further against the door. Her voice made her sound like she was a younger mare, probably somewhere between Hispano’s and my age. “I could literally hear you hobbling your way over to the doorway, let alone that gasp you gave out.”

“Were we expecting visitors, Tofu?” The stallion asked slowly before pressing his old and cracked glasses up over his violet colored eyes. He however, sounded kinda like my dad’s age, so he was probably not somepony who’d be easily fooled by Hispano and I’s trick. “I don’t like this, you didn’t say anything about anypony showing up.” His dull white coat was mottled slightly with tan patches, but what stuck out about him was the coatless skin that ringed around his neck.

“No, but if they’re on board, you can bet that the Captain knows about them.” Tofu sighed. “Don’t be so nervous, Spackle. You’ve made an excellent scribe since you arrived, so keep logging the metrics for the autoloading system and make sure it hasn’t deviated to the settings it was on before we received full fire control authority. Okay?”

Glancing over at Hispano, she gave a stabbing motion with my prosthetic. Guess she still wanted to follow the plan. Shaking my head to her, I was pretty sure our plan went out the window the moment they knew we were here. I however, had a different idea of how to do this now. Hopefully it didn’t take all that much longer to do though, as we need all of the time we can get.

“I didn’t want to disturb your work is all.” I spoke out as I leaned my head around the corner. “I hope I’m not too much of a distraction to either of you.” Alright, maybe if I can actually be just that, Hispano could slip in quietly and get to opening the tubes. While she may never have done anything like this before, I was hoping that she was smart enough to figure it out.

I watched as the young mare pushed back her hood and looked in my direction. Her eyes paused as she looked at my fake eye for a moment, but then flashed me a smile as I hobbled into the doorway. Then her eyes drifted to my sides and a realization hit her.

“Oh, you’re a pegasus. Well, I’m journypony scribe Tofu Crisp, and my friend over there is my apprentice, Sprinkle Spackle.” Tofu waved me to come in further as her magic set down her clipboard and papers she’d been writing on. “You must be who we have to thank for the release of the lockdown! Now that everything’s back on, there’s so many bits and bobs that I’ll be able to investigate and maybe even improve on! You have no idea how great this is, as I’ve literally been dying of boredom watching the same gauges everyday.”

“Why.” Spackle spat at me, throwing down his own clipboard. It skittered across the floor before Tofu grasped it in her magic. “Why would you, a pegasus, want to help the Steel Rangers? After all you Enclave fucks did, you think this just makes everything all better, don’t you!? Like you don’t need to pay for everything you did to us down here!”

“Calm yourself, apprentice. You need to chill.” Tofu snapped at him, though from his aggressive stance and the glare he had locked on me, I’m not sure he was listening. “This mare had nothing to do with your past. So you’re going to drop it, and that’s an order by your superior.”

“I don’t care if the Captain vetted you, or even if their Elder did! All you Enclave cowards deserve to be put down in the dirt.” Spackle snarled before turning and heading for the door I’d come in from. Shit, he was heading right for where Hispano was! “I didn’t sign up to work with fucking turkeys, so come get me when she’s…”

Hispano growled as she came around the corner and slammed right into the stallion’s chest. The two of them went down hard onto the metal deck. I couldn’t really make out whose whine was louder, Spackle’s as the wind was knocked from him, or Tofu’s as she immediately threw her hooves up over her muzzle in surprised. With a growl, Hispano swung my leg down and knocked Spackle out cold.

“Sorry about that.” Hispano groaned as she picked herself up off the floor. “We were just trying to…” With a meaty thwack, the clipboards that the two scribes had been using were quickly and repeatedly being beaten against Hispano’s head. Not that the hits would do much damage anyway, her leather flight cap at least made them little more than an annoyance to her. “Gah… stop! We’re just… hey!”

Tofu’s focus on the clipboards broke as she turned and bolted for the open door. As she did, Hispano lashed out with her talons and grabbed around the lengthy crimson robes. With a torquing twist, Hispano dove towards me and pulled Tofu back away from the door. The orange mare was yanked back with a squeak, coming down onto the deck plating with a thump.

“Dum Dum?” Hispano grunted as she quickly pulled more and more of the cloak, dragging Tofu closer to her. “The door?”

“Oh, right!” I gasped and hopped over the two of them. Quickly getting to the open bulkhead, I hoofed and swung the door inward. As softly as I could, I shut it, and began to twist the locking lugs into place. With a clunk, the door mechanisms locked, and we were in the clear for now.

“W-what do y-you want!?” Tofu whimpered, sniffling as she started to tear up.

“We don’t want to hurt anypony,” I spoke up as I trotted back over to HIspano and picked up my prosthetic from the floor. “we just want to leave, that’s all.”

Sitting down, I shoved the prosthetic cup back over my stump, and relaxed a bit as the familiar pressure of it’s suction came back to me. Now, if only I could get rid of the ebbing aches all over me, things would be tolerable for once...

“You don’t want to hurt anypony!?” She whined, looking over at the unconscious form of Spackle next to her. With a speed that I wasn’t expecting, Tofu rolled herself and attempted to push back onto her hooves. As she did, Hispano rolled the opposite way and used her robes to pull her back down to the floor. “Shit!” She whined as she dropped back down with another thump. “But, you… you literally killed Spackle. Why would I ever believe you?”

“Listen, lady, he’s not fucking dead. So calm down and listen up.” As she spoke, Hispano got back to her paws and used her free talon to adjust how her leather flight cap sat on her head. “Can you open the launch tubes?”

“What?” Tofu whimpered again, raising a hoof to wipe away the tears in her eyes.

“Like I said, we’re trying to leave, and it would really help us if you could just open the fucking tubes.” I tried to keep my tone soft enough that maybe she’d get the point that we were telling the truth. But a few moments went past where Tofu hadn’t even acknowledged I’d said anything at all. “Look, we’re running out of time. If we don’t get out there soon, lots of ponies are going to die.”

“If you leave, you’ll just bring ponies back here to attack us anyway!” She grunted and glared up at me. “So you can sit in here as long as you want. I’ll take my chances that we’ll get through any assault, while you can go fuck off…!”

She went wide eyed as Hispano stuffed a bit of Tofu’s robe into her muzzle to silence her. Her horn lit up, but Hispano gave it a smack with her talon, drawing out another whine as the magic fizzled. Folding her arm across Tofu’s neck, Hispano leaned down against her, and after a few moments, the orange unicorn passed out. I really didn’t want to have to hurt them, but this is too important right now.

“Alright, if you want to save that stallion on the radio, we don’t have anymore time for distractions.” Hispano grunted as she pushed herself back up. “How do we open the tubes?”

“I was hoping you could figure that out…” I gave her a nervous grin and nodded over to some of the terminals, as I did, I looked at the launch tubes themselves. “You get the terminals, I’ll look for a manual release.”

“Just so you know,” Hispano spoke up as we both headed to opposite sides of the room. “The second we open a tube, they’re going to know what we’re doing.” Turning and running her talons across the buttons faster than I ever could, she got to work. “And once that happens? They’re going to get the whole base on our asses unless we have a distraction.”

“Let’s just worry about it when we find out how to open these things.” I nodded as I walked up to the first tube and looked over it’s control panel. Alright, there has to be a button on it like the ones on Mrs. Tapit’s sub. Squinting, I could hardly make out the faded and nearly completely rubbed off writing on half the buttons.

“Damnit, I can’t override bridge authorization from inside the launch bay.” Hispano sighed as a set of soft beeps came from her terminal. “We’re going to have to find the manual override button on the thing.”

“Well,” I grumbled as I slowly swept my eyes across each button. “Come and help me look then.” Come on, there had to be a manual override on here somewhere. Ah-ha! Literally, the last button on the panel had ‘ergency’ still legible on it. “Found it! Of course it’s the last button I check. Now we just have to figure out how to keep them distracted.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got this.” Hispano spoke up as she stepped up beside me and pushed the button. “Remember when I said I was going to stop you if you tried to go running off on your own again? Well, I lied.”

A set of alarms went off, and the emergency lighting kicked on as the tube swung open. It was all so fast that only after I’d looked at it, did my mind process what Hispano had just said. Turning, I found her put her talons onto my chest and felt her shove me. I stumbled backward, dropping into the tube before the outer hatch gave way and dropped me into the clouds below the ship.

“Be careful, Dum Dum!” Hispano shouted out as I started to panic a bit. As I began to fall, the outer tube shut tightly again, locking Hispano inside.

Fuck, why would she do that!? Damnit, I can’t do this on my own. I always screw shit up when I’m on my own!

No. Bombay’s voice resonated in my mind. We can do this.

Flaring my wings, I snapped my tail and began a wide bank back around toward Bertha. Looking outside the compound and over the imposing guarded walls, I found myself looking across the open farming fields I’d seen on the cameras. The failing daylight highlighted the far off village in amber light, but the massive dark stormclouds on the horizon behind it made it feel off to me.

Among the stormclouds, I could make out the thirty or so blazing exhausts of the approaching skycrafts. Right, we need to stop them and we don’t have much time. Luckily, I knew just the pony who could help me with taking down a whole fleet of hostiles at once.

Coming down through the air, I came around via the front of the Hauler. I did my best to flare my wings to drag my airspeed down as I aimed for Boiler and Gearbox’s blasted out container. Bracing myself for a bit of a rough landing, I prayed to Celestia that I didn’t do something stupid like knock myself out from this stunt. I mean, I understood Hispano’s concern earlier, but I couldn’t be that easy to knock out...

My vision went white for a moment, and my hearing dulled as pain flowered across my body from the impact. Though, the fact that I could feel the awkward bulge of the jumpack on my back, and could hear my own pained whines, I at least hadn’t blacked out! Hooray for me…

“What the fuck was that!?” Cora’s voice was a welcomed sound as I could hear both him and Buck heading for the door at the same time. Pushing it open, he smacked it right against my side, making me yelp. “Oh, it’s just Night.” He grumbled as he looked down at me.

“Are you alright?” Buck asked as Cora stepped aside to let him through.

“We’ve got a big problem.” I groaned as I sat up. My vision spun as it returned, and my body protested in moving anything by lancing me with pain as I struggled to get back to my hooves. The line of crimson dripping down my muzzle from my forehead gave me a moment of pause, but I did my best to shake it off. “Where’s Hardcase?”

“Well, I was having dinner.” Hardcase grumbled as it sounded like he got up from his seat next to the radio. “What’s going on?”

“Buzzbombers are coming in, and we need to take them out.” I spoke as I looked up to find two fuzzy looking Buck’s staring at me. After a moment and a few blinks, my eye adjusted and merged him into a single, unhappy looking Buck.

“Oh, is that all?” Hardcase scoffed and rolled his eyes dismissively. Waving his hoof, he went to go sit down again. “I’m sure they can handle a few Buzzbombers. Why do we need to get involved.”

“Because they’re not coming here. They’re chasing somepony through the air who was calling for help, and the rangers are just going to ignore them and let them crash into the village across the way!” Reaching out, I felt as Buck wrapped his paw around my forehoof and helped to steady me a bit. “We need to find a way to take them out before they kill that pony and destroy the whole village.”

“Oh, sure, leave it to us to save a bunch of puritans while the rangers sit on their flanks doing nothing. Why is it again that we must always be the better ponies?” Hardcase whined as he stopped just short of his bench. “Alright whatever, I’ll get the SFG prepped.” Turning away from the radio, his horn lit up as he opened the door to his container.

“Make it quick, because the rangers are going to show up here any minute to detain us all.” I spoke up to him, wincing as the increased volume made my ears ring painfully. With a hiss, I raised my hoof and pressed it against my head.

“I think you may have a concussion.” Buck spoke as he softly reached up and used his paw to guide my eye towards his. He studied me for a moment in silence before taking a step back. “Give me one moment and I’ll get a bandage for that cut on your head.”

“A painkiller would be nice as well.” I groaned as he retreated back into our container. Turning, I looked back toward the village and the oncoming buzzbomber fleet, unfortunately finding the wall blocking my line of sight.

“I really shouldn’t. If you do have a con…” Buck started, but I turned around and glared at him.

“Look, if I lose focus up there, then I could screw this up.” I snapped at him. A bit harsh, Night? He’s more than your boyfriend you know, and you probably should listen for once when it comes to medical advice. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. I just don’t want to screw up again with as many ponies as there are at risk out there...”

“It’s alright, I understand.” He said as he disappeared back to our room.

After a few moments, Buck stepped back into the open blue container and lifted up his paw. There was a sharp prick against my foreleg as he pressed in the syringe of Med-X and gave me about half of it. Immediately, the warming numbness of it pushed through me, and I could feel myself think straight again. Lowering my head, I also let him wrap an old bandage around it a few times.

“Alright, so I haven’t degaussed her since what happened on the pass, so I’m not quite sure how she’ll perform.” Hardcase groaned as he snapped in both lines of sparkle batteries along the hefty weapon. “Plus, you’ll be firing her from the air, which I’ve never tried before. You’re going to want to pray that you don’t get any magnetic feedback once you pull the trigger...” With a few flicks from his magic, the gun hummed to life as pulses of spark energy ran along the contacts.

“Are you sure this thing of yours is safe?” Buck asked with what I’m sure was just a reflexive question. “Not that we shouldn’t be trying to save that village, mind you.”

“We’ve talked about this before. It’s a weapon, it’s designed to not be safe.” Hardcase groaned as he pushed the gun past Buck and levitated it into my hooves. I strained to hold it at all as I realized that this thing was going to be even worse to maneuver when I got up into the air. Fuck, how was I going to even fly with this thing? “Just be sure that when you pull the trigger, the village isn’t in the path of the plasma wave, or you aren’t going to save anypony.”

“And you’re going to need this.” Cora called out, tossing over my patrol radio cap. “Hardcase, if this pony is using coms to contact the rangers, we might be able to pick him up on your radio here. If we can reach him, we need to instruct him to fly well away from the village to somewhere Night can get a clear shot. Preferably toward the mountainside just to be as safe as possible.”

“Alright, contact me when you’ve got him on the line.” I nodded, setting down the SFG to put on my radio cap. Flicking on the coms switch, I heard a crackle of static in my ear to tell me it was working. “Oh, right, the stallion asking for help said something about seventy five hundred. Don’t know what it meant, but it might be useful to you.” Reaching down, I grabbed the SFG and yanked it up.

“Seven five zero zero?” Cora perked up at hearing that. “That’s old aviation talk for a highjacked flight.”

“The stallion did say he’d stolen the skyraider king’s ride, so I guess that’s it?” I remarked as I struggled to find a good way to keep ahold of the SFG. Maybe if it comes to it, we can just duct tape it to me or something...

“Well, we’ll deal with that as you get out there. But for now, you’re probably going to want to hold the SFG with all fours when you take off.” Hardcase remarked as he stepped up and used his magic to orient it against me in a way where it was semi-looped through the jump pack’s harness. “Look, Night, be careful. I built this thing to protect Violet, and even though I couldn’t save her, if it looks like you can’t help this village, dump it and get back here safely. I don’t want to lose anymore of us.”

“I’ll be careful, but thanks, Hardcase.” I offered him a slight smile before scooting myself to the edge of the blasted open container and straightened myself up to face toward the where the village was. Reaching my hoof up, I tapped the button under the leather flap on my rig, and heard the jump pack begin to charge. “Here goes nothing.” Looking straight up into the sky, I closed my eyes, and pinched the button under my fetlock.

The sharp bang met my ears again as the pack thrusted, as well as the extreme force of the air against my body as I was rocketed skyward. Holding the SFG tightly to myself, as I took off, had of course altered my center of gravity. I could feel myself arc forward through my flight, and if the pressure from the air was any indication, I was going to end up at a lot lower of an altitude than my last jump.

Still, it would have to be enough.

As the sound of the wind around me died down, and the weightlessness from before came in, I flared my wings. My slight arc and lower altitude had been a boon, immediately letting my wings catch the air under them. My horizontal speed from the launch had been quite impressive, though, I’d only made it up half as high as my first launch. I found myself quickly zipping over the open farm fields and toward what I could now see as a swarm of buzzbombs chasing a very odd looking skycraft.

“Alright, Bombay, I’ve got the pony on the radio.” Hardcase’s voice came over the headset with a crackle. Wow, that was quick! “I’m patching you in.”

“This is callsign Bandit,” Double Delta’s voice came through with the tone of sarcasm, but a feeling of real worry behind his words. “I don’t know what kind of convoy you all are, but I’m pretty sure just one pony isn’t going to be enough. But I guess it’s the thought that counts.”

“Bandit, this is Bombay.” I snapped over the coms, letting Bombay do the talking. “We’re the only assistance you’ve got, and we’re more than capable of helping. But if you’d rather us call it a day, maybe you could do us all a favor and at least find another place in the wasteland to die at rather than that village.”

I glanced down as I passed over the village. The buzzing from the thirty crafts following Double Delta had attracted plenty of onlookers below, which thankfully hadn’t really noticed or shot at me. Yet, at least.

“Alright, alright.” Double Delta’s exasperation could almost be felt from where he was. “I assume you’ve got some sort of plan?”

“Well, it’s not so much a solid plan,” Smirking to myself, Bombay’s confidence was barely holding back the incredibly loud and obnoxious panicking that was going on in the back of my mind. “but I do have an idea.”

Please, please Celestia, don’t let me screw this up...

Author's Note

Many, many thanks to TheFurryRailFan for helping to shore up this chapter. This one was a bit rougher than my normal work, yet he put in the time to make it presentable. You're the best, man!

And of course, thanks to Kkat for letting us all use this wonderful wasteland setting!

Chapter 45 - Best laid plans

Failure of plan A will directly affect your ability to carry out plan B.

“Ugh…” I groaned from the hammering at the inside of my skull. My forelegs felt like they were on fire, but I could feel bandages tightly wrapped around them. Shifting myself off of my side, I found a bed of soft, non-rotten hay under me. I had no idea how I’d gotten here, or even where my gear was. Opening my eye, came with a whole new set of questions. An off white earth pony stallion in a tattered and dirty looking burlap cloak sat staring down at me in the light of a single candle. “Who…?”

“Shhh.” The stallion whispered as he pushed his forehoof against my muzzle. Using his other forehoof, he pointed upwards.

I followed my gaze up, finding that the ceiling was made out of small oddly shaped interlocking tiles of metal. A rickety wooden staircase went up to the flush ceiling, giving me the distinct impression that we were in some sort of cellar or something. Above us, I could hear hoofsteps moving slowly across a wooden floor.

Okay, past all that, what the fuck was I doing here? This was not part of the plan! I don’t remember anything past getting on the radio with that flying stallion, let alone being dragged into wherever the hell this was. I didn’t think it was possible, but I swear, if I have another memory inhibiting talisman in my head, I’m going to kill somepony.

“Shouldn’t you be out there helping to save the northern fields?” The voice of an irate mare spoke up sharply through the ceiling above. “I already told you, that’s where my husband is. You want to talk to him? You can head out to the river and help him move buckets to put out the fires, inquisitor.” Wait, what the fuck is an inquisitor? Moreso, why does it sound like a title I wouldn’t ever want to carry?

“Now now, there’s no reason to lie, Mrs. Mound.” A different mare with a more relaxed tone spoke up through the ceiling. “We know that the outsider fell closest to your fields. They are dangerous, and must be apprehended at once.”

Oh great, let me guess, I’m the outsider.

“Yes, and I told you that after they fell, they went running off toward the river...” The first mare snapped.

“Right, with your husband.” The second mare interjected before what sounded a chair being scooted backwards. “That is what you told me, isn’t it?”

“He chased them off, but you make it sound like he was helping them!” The original mare exclaimed. “We already gave you our daughter when you asked to take her away. What more do you fucking want from us? My husband and I have been nothing but loyal to the kingdom, but you asshole inquisitors just want to take more and more from us.”

“Hey!” A young sounding stallion snapped at her. “Watch your language around the inquisitor, or you might find more trouble coming…”

“That’s enough, acolyte. Unless you want to be flogged tomorrow as well, you would be wise to keep your muzzle shut.” The inquisitor mare barked at the stallion. “Lancer, if he hasn’t found anything in this place yet, then get that nullification ring back on his horn before he burns down half the village.” Hoofsteps moved around above us for a few moments before a few of the ponies above left. “Remember, Mrs. Mound, that we are here to protect you from the dangers of technology, and all of the horrors it facilitates. I expect your husband to show up tomorrow at sunrise for disciplinary action.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The mare grunted in compliance. “Now if that’s all, I’d like you to leave so I can get outside and help with the fires.”

“As you wish.” The Inquisitor spoke as I heard her turn herself around on the floor above us. “Oh, and Mrs. Mound? Your daughter was a danger to the stability of our society. You know that arcane magic is the gateway to technology, and that technology will only bring about the end of ponykind. But with your outburst earlier, maybe you need a reminder of this truth.” The Inquisitor paused for a moment. “Yes, you will show up with your husband tomorrow to be disciplined as well.”

“Yes, Inquisitor.” The mare sighed.

Yeah, wow, and here I was thinking that there might not be anypony in the wastes to fill the gap of deplorableness between the Steel Rangers and Solomon. Guess I was wrong, but that’s not exactly new for me, is it? Still, if these ponies were hiding me when these sorts of punishments were being doled out, then they had to at least have some shred of equinity in them.

Slow, methodical hoofsteps worked their way across the boards above. Only when the sound of a wooden door being shut came through the floor, did the stallion next to me breathe a sigh of relief. And if he was relieved, then I probably should be as well. For now, at least.

“Alright, I am sorry about that. You must not be found by the Inquisitor, or you will have a very bad time.” The stallion kept his voice at a whisper still. His accent reminded me of Galina’s Stalliongrad cadence and inflections, but didn’t hold the authority or anger that she carried. He reached up and pulled his cloak back to reveal a striped pink and green mane. Yeah, definitely not as menacing as Galina. “My name is Neon Drifter, and I am to help you escape this place, yes.”

“Where are we?” I asked, looking around the small room we were in. “And who the hell was that up there looking for me?”

It seemed to be some sort of makeshift bunker. A few beds of hay sat in the corner where I was, along with a few open topped casks that looked to be filled with murky-looking water, and a good collection of jarred preserved foods. In the far corner of the room, along with the ladder out of here, was my gear.

“You are under my house, in my lead lined shelter.” Neon said with a smile as he got up. “It keeps out the prying magics of the acolytes. After they came and took my daughter, I figured that one day, we may need a place to hide from them.” Turning, he pointed over toward my gear. “Your things are in the corner, but so you know, you cannot yet leave. They will be watching, so we must take time to let them wander off.”

The jump pack looked to be alright from here, a bit scorched, but for all I knew that could be normal. However, the SFG was almost unrecognizable. It looked like it had melted at some point when I fired it, and half of it was charred and blistered black. Looking down at my bandaged hooves again, I made a disappointing connection. Well, I guess that sort of explains the burns on my legs at the very least. Thank the goddesses that Med-X is still working, which also means that I couldn’t have been down here for all that long.

“Why are you helping me?” I asked. Okay, based on my experiences so far, he’s going to ask me to kill somepony like that inquisitor. Which, based on what I just heard, I might actually consider. At least, I would’ve considered it had I not promised to Buck that I’d try not to kill when I didn’t have to…

Before the stallion could answer, a square section of the roof lifted away, and a dark green mare with a long brown mane stuck her head down above the rickety stairway. She offered a weak smile to the stallion, but her expression turned weary as she looked at me.

“I sure hope you’re worth the trouble you caused.” She sighed as she walked down a few steps and turned around. “As for you, Neon, I expect you to make tomorrow up to me. What were you thinking bringing this outsider in here? She’s going to get us both killed.” Balanced across her back was a blanket with a small tray on top of it, with yet another blanket wrapped over something on top of that. She turned around, stepping down another step to shut the door in the metal ceiling.

“Don’t be so harsh, Bloody.” The stallion rolled his eyes as he got to his hooves. Bloody? Now that’s a welcoming name. “She is going to help us unless you keep insulting her.” I fucking knew it!

“Let me stop you right there, I’m not going to kill anypony for you.” I spoke up, trying to focus on channeling Bombay. However, as I did, a sharp bolt of pain stabbed through my skull and I whimpered. My throbbing headache felt like it doubled in intensity before the world started to spin again. Either from my words or how pathetic that was, the stallion simply laughed at me.

“I would not ask you to kill, no. One mare against the king’s inquisitors would be suicide.” Both he and the mare stepped up to me. Even with my fuzzy vision, I watched as the stallion pulled the tray off the mare’s back and set it down between the three of us. “Dear, could you fetch some water?” He smiled to her as he hoofed at the blanket on the tray, opening it to reveal a blobby pale tan-yellow lump. Blinking a few times, my vision decided to resolve enough to let me make it out as a loaf of bread. “So, as you may know, the kingdom is… not a tolerant place. Neither my wife or I were born here, and I feel lucky for that. I fled from Stalliongrad, stupidly thinking that the west may be a more stable place. And though I met my wonderful wife, Bloody Mounds, on the way, I am wishing we would have turned right around and gone back.”

“We need your friends across the river to help us.” Bloody spoke as she walked back over and sat down next to the stallion and I. “You need to tell them that we would be willing to work for them, to continue growing food. Explain to them what we are going through, what is happening over here.” Grabbing Neon’s hoof, the two exchanged a hopeful glance. “We know we don’t have any right to ask, but we can’t live under the rule of this kingdom any longer. Nopony here can. We need to be able to keep our families whole, and to be able to express ourselves without fear of punishment. I used to be a raider, so I know what punishment is, and even I can’t handle this shit.”

“I… I’m not sure what I can do. I’m not even with the Steel Rangers, we’re just a convoy passing through this area.” Raising my hoof to my head, the pressure I put against it once again helped to dull it slightly. Still, it helped to focus my vision completely again, and for that I was at least thankful. “I wasn’t even supposed to help any of you at all.”

“But, those flying bombs… they would have destroyed Oatsville. We wouldn’t have a home, and probably our lives if not for your actions.” Bloody’s shocked expression sent a wave of guilt through me that I honestly shouldn’t have felt. The Rangers could and should have helped them, this was on them. “Don’t those toasters over there understand what would have happened to us at all!?”

“They knew, and they didn’t care.” I grumbled. “They knew the attack was coming, they refused to help at all. They wanted your village to be destroyed.”

“But still, you came.” Neon spoke up, lifting the loaf of bread to me, he smiled as my stomach gurgled. “So maybe it is you who can talk some sense into their heads.” Reaching out, I took the bread from him. Bringing it up to my muzzle, I took a bite out of the soft loaf. Admittedly, it was so much more amazing than the canned goods we always cooked up on the convoy. “I hope that you can convince them that, should they choose to come save us, my wife can bake many loaves for them.”

“Oh cut it out, Neon.” She giggled and rolled her eyes before leaning against him. “If my bread could win over the Rangers alone, then we would have already been saved.”

Gasping, I tumbled down into the muddy soil below me. I rolled painfully onto my side, trying to shield the jump pack strapped to me as I slid to a stop in the dirt. The wheat stalks around me rustled in the wind as the smell of smoke and the flickering of fires along the mountainside lit up the night.

What. The. Fuck!?

Why was I outside!? How the hell did I get here? Pain spiked through my bandaged head again and I whimpered as heavy hoofbeats closing in caught my ear. There was also very angry shouting in the distance that was rapidly drawing closer. I had no idea what the fuck was going on, but I had the bad feeling that I didn’t want to know.

“Quickly! We cannot slow!” Neon groaned as he wrapped his hooves around me and pulled me back up from the dirt. “You must... get up and run for the river!” Pointing to the pale concrete wall of the ranger compound, he panted heavily as my own heart pounded away inside me. He shoved me past himself, turning his back on the Ranger wall. “I will slow them, but you must go!”

“What the fuck is going on!” I shouted, straightening up my coms cap on my head as I looked back the way he was facing.

Five ponies were charging full bore at us from across the farm fields. Two of them looked like power armored Rangers, but their armor was less mechanical and looked more… straight out of the medieval era. A naked, gaunt-looking purple unicorn charged alongside an earth pony mare in flowing crimson robes. The unicorn’s horn glowed brightly for a moment before an arcing bolt of lightning cracked through the air from it, splashing into the dirt at my hooves with a sizzle.

“Halt, outsider!” The mare charging in the lead screamed at me. Her coat must have been as black as night under her plate armor, because she looked like a cloaked shadow as she ran toward me. However, her piercing, angry pink eyes were undeniably locked on me. “You have nowhere to run, you must surrender!” Worst of all? From her voice, this was the Inquisitor bitch I’d heard before.

“Get our message out!” Neon shouted at me before he kicked of and charged right back at the oncoming ponies. “Go!”

Turning, my hooves helped me to get moving across the fields toward the walls. I didn’t understand what was going on, but I was outside, I had my jump pack back on, and I needed to get back over that wall. Wait, then why was I running?

I planted my hooves down hard, screeching to a halt in the dirt. Sitting myself down, I reached up and pressed the leather covered button on my harness. As the jump pack whined and charged it’s capacitors, a purple flash appeared before me. Looking up, I gasped as a gaunt red unicorn pointed his horn at me.

“You are done, outsider!” His voice was the same as the angry stallion I’d heard through the floor. Looking at him, the malice he held in his red eyes felt cold and distant, and the hollow grin across his muzzle felt out of place. “You have nowhere to run.” Looking at him however, revealed more scars than I’d ever seen on any pony. Purple bruises, both fresh and old, covered what was originally an orange coat. This pony must have been tortured and starved far beyond anything I could ever imagine. “Give up. You can’t run from us.” It’s a shame that he must have given in to everything that’s happened to him.

Bloody and Neon were right, these ponies needed saving.

“Unlike you, I won’t give up.” I smirked. My response simply made his grin widen, and his horn started to glow again. But I only closed my eyes and looked upwards as I pinched my forehoof against the launch button.

Like before, the world disappeared with what sounded like a gunshot as I was propelled into the air. I almost couldn’t fight the grin across my muzzle as the jump pack boost ended, and I was dropped into weightlessness again. Everything was quiet.

Then somepony punched me in the face.

“What are you doing, Tofu!” A bitter, older sounding mare snapped as my head throbbed.

Okay, I’m getting really fucking tired of these blank spots popping me into random situations! It’s painfully confusing, with a little too much emphasis on the painful side of it for me.

“Get away from him right this instant, young lady! You have no idea the complications you could cause from hitting somepony like that.” The bitter voice grew louder as it sounded like somepony walked up to my side.

“She and that griffon were literally the ones who knocked me out though, and fair is fair!” The painfully familiar voice of Tofu squeaked as I forced my one eye open. “Wait, she’s a him?”

“Goddesses, why me…” I groaned as the fuzzy interior of a small, blue room began to resolve. The swelling bruise on my muzzle made it even more painful to talk, but that didn’t worry me really. What did however was the fact that when I tried to reach my hoof up to it, I instead found it strapped down to whatever table I was on. Actually, all of me was strapped down onto the table...

“Tofu, sit your flank down in the corner and wait until I’m done.” The older mare shouted as she stepped up to me. “Honestly, is assaulting my patient all you came in here to do? You know, your father and I got you that job on the ship to keep you out of trouble.”

“Apple Turnover is not my father, just your husband.” Tofu forced out a laugh as she slinked off to what I could only assume was the corner. “Besides, being stuck in that cloudship is literally the worst thing ever. On top of that, Bundt gets to run around outside with the misfits all the time.”

The mare who walked up and stood over me was still fuzzy as my eye struggled to focus, but her obnoxiously rust orange coat didn’t help that at all. The horn on her head ebbed with what I can best relate as a soothing warmth. After a few moments of it’s light washing over me, my vision cleared, and the throbbing in my head started to recede.

“Your sister and the misfits aren’t supposed to be emulated, Tofu. You know that.” The mare sighed before she looked down to me. From her horn, a small mote of light detached and floated down just over my eye. “Alright, can you follow the light with your eye for me?” She slowly moved the light around, and I did my best to follow it. “Good. Now, how is your head feeling?”

“I assume you’re the doctor here?” I spoke up, getting a nod from her. Her magic started to slowly unwrap the bandages around my burned forelegs as a cooling feeling washed over them. “Everything feels fine now, but I’ve been having these… memory lapses.”

“Yes, that comes with having had a concussion.” The mare nodded again as the magic mote of light faded into nothingness. Again, her horn glowed, and pulsed out a green aura down at me. “Memory loss is fairly common with head injuries. However, this was not directly the fault of that this time. Tell me, did you take any painkillers before crash landing down onto our runway?”

What does she mean I crashed? No, wait, that actually sounds like something I’d do…

“Yeah, before I went to fight the incoming buzzbombs.” I nodded, watching the doctor deadpan at me. “It was a bit of Med-X, to keep me focused through the pain of the concussion. What does that have to do with the memory loss?”

“Med-X is also a blood thinner. It caused you to start bleeding into your brain, and that could have killed you if it had been left untreated much longer.” She grumbled before her horn dimmed once again. “You might want to remember that in the future before you try anything like that again.” Wow, that sounds like incredibly familiar advice. Buck even warned me about how giving me Med-X might be dangerous. I should have listened to him… “That being said, how long have you been using painkillers? I only cast a quick bloodwork spell and it showed you had quite a lot more than just Med-X in your system recently.”

“What?” I’m not sure what she meant by that, though her tone implied I’d been doing something wrong. “Only since I started getting hurt a lot. So… since the sky cleared up?”

“Is that so.” She deadpanned at me again before giving out a sigh. “You should know the dangers and risks that come with overuse of substances like Med-X and Chill. In the future, do try to keep your use of them to life threatening situations only.”

There was a knock at a door on the wall ahead of me, and it perked the doctor’s ears.

“Yo, mom,” The voice of another mare spoke up as the door opened. The mare who’d arrested me and been interested in Laika’s pod peeked her head inside. “You finished yet?”

“Almost, Bundt.” The doc sighed and rubbed at her forehead like I’d somehow transfered my headache over to her. “What do you need?”

“The elder wants to see you.” The mare at the door sounded impatient. “He said it was pretty important.”

“Alright, I guess.” The doc sighed and walked toward the door. “Tofu, please watch my patient. And don’t go hitting him again, please.”

“Whatever…” Tofu huffed as I listened to the Doc and other mare trot off down the hallway as the door swung closed behind them. As soon as the door clicked shut, I heard Tofu get back to her hooves. Of course after a moment, the orange coated mare was staring down at me with a judgemental look.

“Spackle was right you know. The Enclave was literally cancer to have to deal with.” She kept using literally in a way which made me think she didn’t know what it actually meant! “I wanted to give you a chance, but you’re just the same as every other featherhead, aren’t you?”

“And how would that be?” I grumbled. What the fuck did she know about how life was in the Enclave? Actually, now that she’s brought it up, I’m truly curious.

For once, I wanted to hear what somepony thought of the Enclave. I’d had enough of it dispelled that I was curious to hear what somepony’s honest opinion of them was. I wanted to know how it felt to be part of the lie that was the Grand Pegasus Enclave.

“None of you even cared about us grounders. You just wanted to come and take everything down here for yourself.” She spat at me. “You already took the sky from us, you had your ‘peaceful’ little lives up there. But that wasn’t enough, was it? Like the greedy jerks that you are, you had to try to come down and sweep us all away, like we’re dirt under the rug.”

I couldn’t help it as a laugh slipped out of my muzzle. Slowly, she raised her hoof again, poising herself to hit me another time. However, as I watched her with a smirk, she paused.

“I wasn’t military. Hell, I was almost old enough to be in the military when the clouds came down.” I laughed, watching as she hesitated, studying over me. “The government lied to all of us, said that the ground was toxic. They forced us to stay above the clouds, and you’re right, it was peaceful. But none of us knew what was actually going on.”

“But they couldn’t have hid the ground from you. There’s fights going on all the time down here. You all had to know something was up.” Tofu’s glare hardened as she jabbed her hoof at my muzzle. Still, she stopped just short of poking me when I shrugged.

“Unmaintained building collapses in the ruined cities, unstable ammo dumps detonating due to the elements and passage of time.” I remembered the times that dad would bring home stories from his work in Neighvarro at the skycarrage repair shop. Some of the long distance mail couriers getting their carts fixed would report strange sounds from below the cloud cover. The sounds of battles raging on, or screams of agony. He said that the long distance couriers believed it to be the ghosts of the past reminding us of our hubris during the war.

“The destruction on the last day wrecked a lot of things, and latent magics supposedly caused all sorts of anomalies to form.” I continued, forcing Tofu to scrunch up her muzzle angrily. “On top of that, it was hard to care about anything we heard below when most of us were too focused on wondering when we could afford to eat next. Most of what was in the news was either celebrity gossip out of the big cities, or about how yet another skycrop had died to blight.”

“But… there were always Enclave attacks down here. Somepony had to have said something when they went back up above the clouds.” Now Tofu just sounded confused. And to be honest, I didn’t blame her. The lies that the Enclave had built and maintained was hard enough for even me to comprehend. Still, I raised my voice to help her to focus.

“Not when the punishment for speaking out was death. Not just for you, but also for your entire family.” I grumbled. “Which in hindsight makes sense. Can’t risk that you told anypony else about what you saw down there, right?”

“But of course, that’s only if you make it back up above the clouds at all.” Shrugging again, I noticed that now Tofu’s expression had sunken to a frown. But now it was my turn to be pissed, Bombay’s turn. “You think it’s been that easy for me so far? Nothing but sunshine and rainbows, right? Hah. How would you feel if the Rangers came in here a minute from now, simply to give you a letter stating that your mom died? No explanation, no official report, just that she was gone now. Because that’s all my dad and I got when the Lightbringer took down her thunderhead with a fucking megaspell.”

“Oh, I… I didn’t know...” She gasped, taking a step back. To her credit, she did look a bit mortified by my words. And a little part of me loved to see her like that. No, not a little part of me, the whole Bombay side of me reveled in the sight of her regret.

Oh, but Bombay wasn’t finished. Far from it.

“Of course, how could you, a dumb mudpony, have known? It’s not like the worst thing you’ve had to deal with at your job is your hoof cramping at your cushy job. Speaking of jobs, now that you know what happened to my mom, you want to hear about what happened my dad!?” My blood was boiling in my veins, the rage I felt was coursing through me. I was venting everything through Bombay right now, and it was intoxicating. “After my mom died, we were forcibly moved into a settlement in the middle of nowhere, and he was given a job working on a raptor at a skydock. Some… accident caused by somepony who wasn’t supposed to be in there, rerouted all the ship's weapon system power back into the arcane reactor! You seem like the technical type, do you know what happens when you do that?”

“T-t-that… i-it...” She could hardly speak now, and was visibly shaken by my verbal assault on her.

“It explodes!” I shouted, making her let out a squeak. “Hah! Boom! And there went the whole fucking town! Except for little ol’ me!” I threw my head back in a forced laugh. And while Bombay loved to see how Tofu’s face reflected the regret she felt for bringing this all up, deep inside, I knew the laughter was the only thing suppressing the feelings of guilt I still felt about being the only pony left alive.

Really? Is this the best I could do with myself as the only survivor? Tormenting young Rangers who, while she had punched me in the face, was just as ignorant to the world as I had been months ago? Come on, Night. You can be better than this...

“I… I’m sorry…” She whimpered, taking another step back. I could see the pain in her eyes, the anguish she felt. Bombay thought it was glorious.

“No you’re fucking not.” Bombay spat at her without being able to stop. That’s enough, Night. The small voice in the back of my head was pleading with me. But you know what, I’ve already started, so I might as well finish.

“Now that you know my family is dead, do you want to know about what I’ve had to deal with down here?” My chapped lips hurt as I could feel the skin split on them, and my throat was starting to feel raw as I raised my voice yet again. “I came down to the wastes without a single scratch, without one fucking scar. Not to mention, two eyes and all four fucking legs still attached to me!”

That’s enough, Night!

“I said I’m sorry!” Tofu screamed at me before breaking down into wailing sobs. I froze, listening as she slid herself back down into the corner. Her whimpers and whines were what I had wanted to hear, they were supposed to make me feel pure bliss. But instead, it was the shock back to reality that I’d needed.

Good job you piece of shit. Fuck. I… I just got carried away, and it felt so good, and…

“I’m sorry, Tofu.” Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, and just tried to relax. “It’s just, things down here aren’t at all what I’ve expected either. I’ve already heard too many stories about how the Enclave was terrible, and I’ve personally seen far too many good ponies die just because of selfish ponies or stupid mistakes. Spackle wanted to know why earlier, but now you know. That’s why I’ve been trying to help. I just… don’t want any more ponies to die when they don’t have to.”

Unsurprisingly, I didn’t get any sort of response from her. Wow, way to be the shittiest pony you could have been. Yes, she hit you in the face, but can you honestly blame her?

Craning my head as much as I could, I tried to use my eye to find her in the corner of the room. The straps around my neck bit in, but just barely, I was able to see the orange mare curled in the corner. Not just that, but I noticed something I wasn’t expecting to see.

“You’re… a blank flank?” I asked, wondering how she could have been working if she didn’t have a talent. As I’d explained, in the Enclave it was understandable if you didn’t have your cutie mark before enlisting. But… was it really all that common down here too?

“Yes.” Tofu snapped between sobs. “Are you going to yell at me for that too?”

“No, I…” Letting out a sigh, I slumped back onto the table. “I’ve only had my cutie mark for a few weeks.”

“What?” She sniffled as she shifted around in the corner. “But you’re like… a couple years older than me, aren’t you?” A soft gasping whimper escaped her muzzle. “Oh goddesses… is it going to take me that long?”

“I don’t know. The only advice I ever got was to do things you enjoy or are good at.” I sighed, picturing my own ‘bomb sight’ cutiemark in my mind. “But even though I got mine, I’m not quite sure why I did. I don’t like killing ponies, at least, not innocent ponies.”

“But… I don’t know what I’m good at.” Tofu’s voice shrank as she spoke. “And being stuck on that stupid cloudship doesn’t help. I literally hate it up there…” That seemed odd to me.

“Why do you hate working on a cloudship? In the Enclave, it was always seen as one of the best positions you could ever get.” Mom was always hopeful that I’d get to follow in her hoofsteps one day and serve on a cloudship. Though, she probably tempered her expectations a bit once my disability got as bad as it did. But… Violet had said that there were ponies with flat feathers in her squad, so maybe I would have had a chance afterall? I’m getting wildly off topic here with events that would never come to pass…

“What? There’s no way anypony would ever think doing that work was worth it.” Tofu continued to sniffle and wipe the tears off of her as she picked herself back up off the floor. “It's literally so boring, why would anypony want that job?”

“Boring was having to monitor weather stations, or cloud cover regulators.” I tried craning my head up again, finding it easy to see her tear streaked face this time around. “But as part of a cloudship crew, you got to travel around the skies. The scenery isn't much up there, but the open skies are a lot better than staring at a screen all day.”

“Moving around all the time? I could never do that.” Her voice quieted again as she kicked her hoof along the floor. “And it's not even about the boredom, really. I get airsick if the cloudship moves at all, and... I'm afraid of heights.”

“Well I hate to tell you this, but you work in a cloudship, which normally operates up in the air…” I wanted to facehoof, but that was neither appropriate for this moment, nor possible seeing as how I was still strapped to the table.

“Hah, while that’s true, I can’t see the ground, you know? Windows on a ship like that would be about as useful as a screen door.” She gave a forced laugh that trailed off into a somber sigh. “You know, I've got this cousin down south, Scouring Charge, who I'm literally so jealous of. He's aiming to be a vertibuck pilot for the Rangers. He loves flying. His supervisors over there told us that they've never seen a stallion his age so motivated to get his hooves on the controls.”

For a moment there, she smiled as she thought about him. This is your chance, Night. Repair the damage you’ve done.

“Oh yeah?” I forced my own smirk. Now, just take your time and don’t say anything you’ll regret. “I hear it takes a lot of skill to be a vertibuck pilot. He’s gotta be almost a natural to even be considered for training at our age. At least, that’s how it was in the Enclave.” Good job. Small steps, Night.

“I can’t say if he’ll be any good. But my mom said that Scouring's just going to get himself killed flying one of those death traps, and I'm inclined to agree.” Taking a few steps closer, she looked right at me. And for the first time, I could see her open up to me, like I was no longer a stranger to her. “But literally? I'm super jealous that he's brave enough to even try.” Sitting down, she facehooved herself. “And that’s just the problem. I’m jealous of him, jealous of my sister for getting to go out into the wasteland all the time, and I’m jealous of you.” Wait, why me? “Not only do you have a cutiemark, but you broke out of here just to go and save puritans. I mean, what pony does that!?”

“Why can’t you do that?” As always, the words slipped out of my muzzle before I could censor my thoughts. “I mean, you mentioned it to your mom. Why not go out into the wastes with your sister? Why not help ponies out there who need it?”

“Because… I can’t do any of that.” Again, she shook her head and glared at me. “I’m literally the most pathetic mare on the base here. They hardly even trust me around the slaves, and now with what happened to Spackle, they’ll never trust me around them again!”

Umm… what now? Slaves!?

“Slaves?” I said slowly, making her lock up with a look of sheer terror. Okay. From the fact that nopony had mentioned it yet, and from her reaction, that feels like part of the something that felt distinctly off about this place. For the second time today, I fucking knew it!

“I… ummm… I don’t…” She stammered as she got to her hooves. Giving a distinct eep that I think I’ve given more than once in a nervous fit, she turned and scrambled for the door.

“Wait!” I called out as she threw open the door.

With a calamitous clatter, stacks of papers and files in the cramped administration building hallway toppled to the floor as Tofu fled. Shit… if I just tipped my hoof that I was onto their shady dealings, I was a sitting duck on this table. Or turkey, if I’d gotten caught up on the current derogatory term for Ex-Enclave pegasi.

“Scribe Tofu!” The voice of Elder Soursop strained to call out to her as he appeared in front of the doorway. Oh great, just what I needed. He was probably listening to that whole conversation right then, and he’s onto me. I probably really don’t want to know what he’s going to do to me now…

“You should keep a tighter rein of the young ones.” The soothing, if cold and annoyed voice of Delilah coming from behind the Elder was call enough for me to breathe a sigh of relief. If she was here, then he couldn’t possibly do anything to me, right? “Though as you’ve now seen, I will be the first to admit that I’m not exactly an expert on that.”

“Oh, it’s quite alright.” The Elder laughed as he turned and walked into the medical room. “To be honest, I didn’t think you or your crew could be here about the slaves. Still, it would have served both of us to have come clean about them from the start.” The elder wore an odd smile on his muzzle as he looked over at me. Delilah’s expression however, read that she was just as disappointed as ever in me. “Besides, let the young ones use their energy while they still have it. If you don’t, you’ll never know what truely amazing feats they are capable of.”

“Quite the stunt you pulled, Night.” Delilah snorted, looking over her glasses at me with her normal, scalding glare. “I thought I told you no more trouble. Why did you volunteer for that idiotic display of misplaced bravery?”

“Because the Rangers were just going to let that stallion in the craft and the ponies in the village die.” I snorted. While I shouldn’t have been so harsh on Tofu, the Rangers as a whole, deserved more than I could dish out for their own lack of morals. “Did you know, Elder, that the ponies in that village took me in and hid me from their authorities? They’re good ponies.” I glared at the Elder, who at the very least had the decency to look a bit dismayed at my words, if only for a moment. “They don’t deserve to die like you were willing to let them to, and the sad thing is that they want your help. They’re willing to grow food, and work for you just as they are. But they need your protection.”

“If the puritans wanted to be free of their own society, then by all means, let them tear it down.” The elder laughed, waving his hoof dismissively. “Tell me, what good would it do for the Rangers to start a war with the Puritan Kingdom, just to free one village? Why would I ever risk the lives of my own for theirs?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do?” I spat out. Seriously, I get that the Rangers would be taking a huge risk, but come on! I know I only remember a few minutes of my time there, but Neon and Bloody hardly seemed well equipped for fighting a revolution. “And you’re asking them to free themselves? With what? Farm implements and tattered clothes? They aren’t well trained fighters, Elder, not like the ponies of your little police state here.”

“Night.” Delilah’s tone sharpened like a blade held along my neck. “I know what you are getting at, but you’ve already learned that out here in the wastes, you can’t save everyone.”

“I’m not asking for everyone.” I spoke up, turning my own burning glare back onto the Elder. “Just one village.”

“He’s right you know.” The voice of the doc came in from the doorway. Well, score one for the voice of reason, because at least this doctor seemed to care about having a single shred of equinity in her. “That much food production? We could make it through the winter easy, and even have enough to trade to the settlements in Mare’s Lake.”

“It goes against the codex.” Elder Soursop snorted, doing his best impression of Delilah. Though, to be honest, she was still about a million times scarier than a robed and grey bearded earth pony would ever be. “But… maybe you’re right.” Hanging his head, he shut his eyes. “Maybe you’re both right.”

“I’m not saying to throw out the rules, Soursop, just…” The doc beamed out a warm smile as she trotted up beside him. “Maybe in this case, we interpret them a bit more literally than normal. We exist to help keep ponykind from making the same mistakes of the past, that is our number one tenant, right? And what better way to help, then to guide them ourselves?”

“I suppose the slaves we rescued have done well to transition into the Ranger way.” The Elder nodded as he stood himself up straight again. “Though, an operation this size is going to take time to plan, as well as resources and pony power pooled from both us, and the slaves.”

“Just… one question…” I spoke up, cutting into the conversation so bluntly that I probably added twice the strength of Delilah’s facehoof. “Why the fuck do you have slaves? You talk about helping, yet you own your own kind?”

“They’re freed slaves, Night. They didn’t tell us because they thought we were slavers.” Delilah groaned through her facehoof with so much exasperation that I almost mistook it for sarcasm.

“Ah, as I said!” The Elder’s smile returned as he turned and gave Delilah a soft pat on the side. “We didn’t think that for long. But we still had to err on the side of caution, and when your son found his way into the hidden part of the compound where we’ve been acclimating them to Ranger life…”

After a moment, it hit me. They were being secretive to protect the slaves! So… shit, this was all just… a… misunderstanding...

“Oh…” The pitiful and dumb sounding response was all that managed to tumble out of my muzzle now. Goddesses, Night. You’re an idiot.

“Not to worry, we were all at fault here.” The elder smiled as he walked over and started to undo the straps around me. “It has been a confusing few months. The Enclave attacks and the removal of the cloud cover made the whole wasteland both better and worse at the same time. But now is the time to rebuild, and that itself is going to come with it’s share of mistakes.”

Bit by bit, I regained the use of my limbs, and reveled in the feeling of freedom again. That is, until I actually got to climbing down off the table, when wouldn’t you know it, all the aches in my body came back to me. Taking a step forward, I wobbled and fell over as I tried to put weight on my missing rear leg. Right, of course they’d taken my prosthetic…

“Oh, sorry about that.” The Elder laughed at me as I sat sprawled out across the blue tiled floor. With as strong a grasp as before, he grabbed onto my forehoof with his own and pulled me right back onto my hooves. “Let’s take you over to the catalogue and get your things back, shall we?”

“Yes, and we can take care of what we came here for in the first place.” Delilah snorted, glaring at me as she scooted her glasses against the bridge of her nose. “Maybe now with less distractions this time around.”

Having returned to the hangar, the bored looking mare who sat behind the cataloguing desk shot me a glare as if I’d personally offended her. Look, lady, I get that you like to keep everything in a book, but it was just one item that I asked you for! It’s not my fault that you all stole our stuff and marked it in your book before having to hoof it all back over again. You did this to yourselves!

After the Elder ordered all of our stuff returned to the Hauler, I followed Delilah and the Elder at a hobbling pace. Though, I was stopped at the end of one of the many rows of stored items by the sound of a pair of wings behind me. I’d thought it might be Hispano, but turned around to instead find Captain Pastel. Great, now what was he going to do? Yell at me for lying to him and escaping the cloudship?

I think he caught onto my annoyance, because he awkwardly rubbed at his neck plumage.

“Look, I’m going to start out by saying I apologize for thinking you and your griffon friend were slavers.” He spoke with a tone of hesitation, but still marched through his words. With a shrug, he tried to push through that hesitation and flashed a smile, but it just came off as twice as awkward as before. “Can you really blame us for judging you at first look though when you and your crew did exactly the same thing?”

Fuck. As much as I didn’t want to admit it, he was right. While they were up to something behind our backs, keeping freed slaves safe was a whole lot better than murdering religious folks on an island, or running a family out of town as the only doctor who can help them, or being psychopaths living in a prewar movie town.

Still, while they were a lot nicer than I originally gave them credit for, they still had one major flaw.

“I can’t blame you for judging us, but you shouldn’t judge those who live in the village outside of the walls. There’s no need to condemn them when you could instead help them.” I watched as my words forced his expression to go as flat as the concrete tarmac outside. “Two of them saved my life out there, and while those who rule them seem detestable, the townsfolk are good ponies. They need help out there to regain their freedom, and the Elder just might be able to give that help to them.”

“You’re right. It was a brave thing of you to protect them like that, and if the Elder wishes it, I will go and fight for their freedom.” His eyes turned down to the floor, and he slumped forward a bit, giving out a long sigh. “Goddesses know that both Captain Frescas and I have watched those ponies suffer just as much as anypony else in the wastes.” A genuine smirk crept across his beak as he looked at me again. “And after what you’ve done for them, the least we can do is put your display of heroism to shame.”

“Then you make sure that the two who saved me make it out of the coming fight alright.” I nodded, not at all fighting the smirk on my own muzzle. “Get Neon and Bloody out of there, and I’ll consider myself shamed.”

“You got it. But for now, I’ll let you catch up to the Elder and your boss.” He nodded, stiffening himself up again as he raised his talon sharply to his head in a salute. “Take care on the road, Miss Bombay.”

“You too, Captain.” I replied, throwing up a sloppy salute of my own that mom would have probably murdered me for. But Captain Pastel didn’t seem to mind as he flared his wings and took off with a wide smile.

Alright, now to go get my mother’s dog tags back.

Trotting down the isle of miscellaneous things, just past the row of a dozen different vacuum cleaners, things ahead started to look… odd. The junk slowly turned into yellowed file boxes similar to some of the ones in the administration building. Loose papers looked to be packed into some of them so tightly that the seams of some of the boxes had begun to burst. As I hit the end of the isle, I entered into what I could only call a sort of pseudo-library.

At the back of the Hangar, three, five meter high shelves were absolutely packed with books sat encroaching around five separate large wooden tables. Each table held dozens of open books, scrolls, and papers taking up every inch of available space across all five of them. Almost a dozen crimson robed ponies were scattered amongst them as well, each one with their muzzles looking through them intensely.

“Night, come here.” Delilah called me over to the center table, where she, the Elder, and Tofu’s sister currently were. In the few seconds time I’d looked, I could easily pick out the silver tags being held up in her magic over a book.

“I’m sorry, Elder Soursop.” Tofu’s sister sighed as she turned to them. “We’ve poured through every log book, code book, index, and reference source that we have, and nothing matches this type of code.”

“And there is nothing in the digital archive?” He asked as his eyes peered almost through my mother’s tags. Tofu’s sister simply shook her head. “Well, thank you anyway, Scribe Bundt. Perhaps it is that we have yet to reclaim the correct volume or files yet.” Turning to Delilah, he gave a conceded nod. “I’m sorry that we couldn’t have been more help to you, Mrs. Delilah. Perhaps one last suggestion I can give, is to check and see if the city library in Cantercross still exists. Or perhaps the nearly as extensive archives that are in the Mountain Springs contingent of Rangers contain what you are looking for. Elder Magnetic Induction may not be as lenient as I have been with my Rangers, but I’m sure I could convince him of what a wonderful Jenny you are.”

“Thank you for expending the time and resources to attempt to figure this old mystery out. I definitely plan to look into what’s left of the city library when my crew and I get there.” Delilah’s cheeks burned slightly at the Elder’s words, and she stiffly reached out her hoof for him to shake. “I’m sorry however for the stir that my moronic son has caused, as well as the one that Night here caused.”

However, the elder simply gave her hoof an incredulous look and instead nearly dove into a hug.

“Not a problem! You and your crew are welcome back at any time.” The Elder laughed while giving a very surprised and brightly blushing donkey the biggest hug she’d probably had in years. I couldn’t tell if there had been a genuinely happy smile across her muzzle, because the second I tried to figure that out, she noticed me staring. And like always, the burning annoyed glare returned to her.

“And you need not apologize for Miss Night’s actions.” The Elder said as he took a step back with a wide grin. “While Double Delta may have made his fair share of mistakes, I still love him. Us parents need to be able to move past the mistakes of our foals, and show them the right path to take. Or else how can we say we’ve done everything to leave this world in better hooves when we’re gone?”

Delilah looked like she wanted so hard to cringe at that, and the twitchy tick of her eyelid betrayed the fact that her blood pressure had just skyrocketed. Still, she put on a pleasant expression for the Elder and nodded. While I could always try to be the better pony that Buck wanted me to be, I knew that I would always be less of a lost cause to Buck, than Happy Trails would be to Delilah.

The jingle of my mother’s tags in my ear caught my attention. Looking over, I found them hovering in the magical aura of Tofu’s sister. She gave me a glare that could match Delilah’s in form, but it wasn’t nearly as threatening coming from her. Holding my hoof out, she dropped the tags into it and stepped around the table toward me.

“I will say this,” She kept her voice down, but her tone was far too aggressive to keep her all that quiet. “You are less of a scumbag than the other Enclave I’ve met in the wastes. But if you ever return and yell at or knock out my sister again? I’ll make you regret it.”

“Scribe Bundt.” The Elder’s sharp tone made her stiffen up. “You’ve done good work today, so I’m giving you the rest of the day off. Go home, Apple.”

“Night, I want you to leave as well.” Delilah snorted at me. “Head back to the convoy and make sure you’re ready to head out. We’re leaving within the hour, and you’ve got night patrol duty when we roll out.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” I nodded, looking down at my mother’s tags. Hastily, I slung my mother's tags up and over my head again, letting the cold metal feeling of it on my skin send a shiver down my spine. It felt good to have them back on me again.

“Oh, and you may need this.” The Elder’s voice threw me off, pulling my attention up just in time to see something white and black flying through the air toward me. I threw out my hooves, catching my prosthetic leg just an inch before it would have smacked me in the muzzle. “Take care, Night.”

Smiling and looking down at my prosthetic, I couldn’t help but fight the fact that maybe, just for once, things had turned out alright here.

The black velvet skies of night time had fallen at some point when I’d been unconscious, and the few clouds that wandered through the starry night skies tonight helped me to feel relaxed. Though, the blinding bright lights from the walls and various towers that lit up the runways kept me from getting too absorbed into the beautiful skies.

“Alright, take her down slowly now.” A lime green coated earth pony stallion called out to the team of ponies who were currently using a small manual crane to pull down Laika’s pod from the back of the Hauler. The stallion, who had a swept back black mane, a woolen bomber jacket, and the slickest pair of Enclave aviator sunglasses I’d seen, looked over in my direction as I approached. Slowly, he tipped his glasses down and studied me with his light grey eyes. And wouldn’t you know it, he smiled at me.

Alright, I get it. I’d had a good day, so now was the time that this creep threw some sort of shady prospect or straight up insult at me, right? I get it, universe, I’m cursed. Can you just fuck off for one night?

“Well, I’ll be. If it ain’t the wonder-mare herself.” The stallion crossed his hooves as he smiled at me. “That was some mighty fine shooting out there. No way I could have landed Foul Line’s bucket of junk without you blowing that bomber pack out of the sky.” Wait, what?

“You’re Double Delta? The ex-skyraider king?” I asked, throwing the words out as I always did. The kink that flowed from his head to his tail definitely told me that he didn’t exactly approve of what I’d said, but he forced a smile anyway.

“The one and only.” He gave a laugh, somehow forcing himself to calm down. Damn, if there was one thing I wish I could learn, it’s how to do that as well as he just did. “I owe you big time for saving my life when nopony else would, and believe me when I say that if you need anything from me, anything at all, you just ask.”

“Thanks, but we’ll be leaving soon.” I grumbled and aimed myself to walk around him. What I didn’t need, was somepony like a skyraider saying that they owed me. Just because I didn’t want him to die like the others wanted him to, didn’t mean I could get over just what the skyraiders had done to everypony. Stopping myself mid step, a thought tickling at the back of my mind crept up into my throat. So of course, it slipped out. “Why the fuck would anypony want to be a Skyraider anyway.”

“I didn’t have a choice.” He answered back quickly, turning toward me. “After the Rangers kicked me out, I had nowhere else to go. The Skyraiders took me in because I could be useful to them with my knowledge of arcanotech, and I forced myself to climb my way to the top.” Yeah, sure, and that just excuses all the attacks they’ve made? Like the one that had almost killed Violet back on the road? Fuck this guy. Turning, I tried to walk away again. “I wanted to stop them, you know. The attacks?” I stopped again, perking my ears. “That is why you’re being a bitch, right?”

“Do you have any idea what it’s like to be a leader?” He asked, sending my mind tumbling with the question. What the fuck did that have to do with anything. “Fancy Lancer, Misty Petals, Bronze Cog, and Buttermilk. They were my squad, my friends that I let down on the mission to Ouroboros.” There’s that damn fucking name again! What the fuck did it even mean!? “My mistakes cost them their lives, as well as my title as a Ranger. But when I became King of the Skyraiders, I was so sure that I wouldn’t make those mistakes again.”

“And a mighty fine job you did. You should have tried harder.” I snapped at him.

I didn’t really have a base to complain to him from. Aside from the few attacks I’d lived through, I didn’t know the Skyraiders like everypony else in the wastes. But from everything I’d learned about them, other than Solomon and his gang, the Skyraiders were the only group I was allowed to judge before I truly knew them.

“You’re right, I should have.” He scoffed and sneered at me. “And the second you lose one of your friends, the idea you should have tried harder will be what keeps you up every night.” Again, I found myself stop in my tracks. “But while that’s something you eventually learn to bury in the back of your mind, what creeps up on you that you can’t avoid is the crippling indecision of every choice you make from that point on.”

Turning to look at him, I wanted to ignore his words, but… I couldn’t. My mind had emptied, and I couldn’t fight the fact that I knew through experience that he was telling me the truth. And it wasn’t only me either. No, the entire crew working on Laika’s pod had stopped, and each one of them was staring at Double Delta.

“Night after night. Day after Day. Hesitating on every choice because you can’t decide on if that choice will be the wrong one again. Because once you’ve been responsible for the loss of a pony close to you, you’ll never want to put your friends and family in danger ever again.” Tilting his head up, Double Delta’s impeccably clean sunglasses reflected the light of the rising moon in them. “But the Skyraiders were hard to please once I’d gotten to the top. They got bored of the short raids to the surrounding settlements, always wanting to hit bigger and bigger targets. For years I fed them bread crumbs in the form of raids to one city or another, which kept them happy enough. Last winter, I promoted Foul Line to be my second just to keep the ultra-raider side of them all happy...”

“But that was a mistake.” I spoke up as bluntly as always.

Again, I couldn’t base that on anything other than the fact that part of me was expecting him to say that. It pulled his attention down from the moon. Slowly, he reached up and pulled his sunglasses off, folding the earpieces in. Turning to me, he extended his hoof and held the glasses out to me.

“You seem like an alright and understandable mare who’s seen her fair share of horrors. And maybe one who’s made her own fair share of mistakes. In wearing these glasses, I hope you can be reminded to avoid some of the one’s I’ve made.” As much as I wanted to look away from his sad gaze, I was locked onto his eyes just as much as he was to mine. “And while you can be my wingpony anytime we find ourselves together in the skies, I will honestly pray that you never find yourself in the position to question if what you’re doing is the right thing.”

Reaching out, I felt like my body was on autopilot as I took the glasses into my hoof without even once looking away from him. I don’t know why, but… every second we stared at each other, a horrible feeling inside me grew and grew. The second I had the glasses firmly in my hoof though, he blinked a few times and turned away without another word.

“What the fuck are you just standing around for!” He snapped at all the staring workers, flailing his hooves at them. “Just because I’m considered a ‘misfit’ now, doesn’t mean you get to slack on my orders! Get that pod on the ground, now.”

“Oh, and one more thing.” Double Delta called out as he looked back at me. “Because you’ll probably be seeing more of them in the near future, I have a request if you see more of Foul Line’s raiders. Remind them painfully that if they’d stuck with my leadership, they wouldn’t find themselves at the end of your gun.”

Staring at the glasses, part of me knew that deep down, it didn’t matter how much I tried. One day, I’d be the one in his horseshoes trying to tell others not to repeat the same mistakes. That pit in my stomach was still there, trying to remind me of that. But that still doesn’t mean I can’t have done some good with those mistakes. In fact, it’s all I can hope for.

No, I could hope for more, I had to.

I pressed my hoof and the glasses against the list of names on my mother’s dog tags. At the very least, I could hope that I wouldn’t have to recite the names that were printed on it like he just had for his lost friends. Pulling the glasses open, I hoofed them on, and tried to convince myself that nothing I’d just thought would ever come to pass.

But like deciding to wear sunglasses at night, it was probably just an overall bad idea to begin with...

Author's Note

A big thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his help in making this chapter presentable! Also, he deserves some congratulations on recently completing his second Fallout Equestria story, Empty Quiver. He and his co-author Minty have written an amazing story, and I wholeheartedly suggest you all go give it a read!

And of course as always, a big thanks to Kkat for allowing us all to use this amazing universe for our own stories!

Chapter 46 - Resonance

In any collection of data, the figure most obviously correct, beyond all need of checking, is the mistake.

Reaching the steps of the Hauler, I shoved the sleek sunglasses up onto my forehead. Positioning them in a way that they pinned my mane back a bit, I blinked a few times to let my eyes readjust to the floodlights along the runway.

“Hey.” Tofu’s meek voice spoke up from near the other side of Bertha. Looking over, I found her standing near one of her rear wheels. “Can we talk again? I need to ask you something.”

“Uh… sure?” I wasn’t quite sure what she’d wanted to talk about with how our last conversation went. “So long as it’s quick, we’re moving out soon.”

“Yeah, don’t worry, it won’t take long.” She offered a small smile and waved as she turned away from the enormous tire. “Follow me.”

While Delilah did tell me to get ready to leave, there wasn’t really much for me to get done, anyway. Plus, so long as everything was back onboard before we left, I could always move my stuff around in our container later. With that in mind, I turned and followed Tofu across the concrete tarmac.

As we crossed it and headed toward one of the closest hangers, I noticed that inside it was one of those covered up vertibucks I’d seen earlier. In a surprising move, Tofu turned and headed straight for it. Her magic reached out, taking the fabric and lifting it a bit along the side.

“What’s this about?” I asked as she lifted the fabric just enough for her to get under it. “Why the need for secrecy?”

“It’s… not secrecy.” She huffed at me. “Just trust me.”

Rolling my eyes, I stepped forward and dipped myself under the open sheet. Though, before following after her, I stopped to look at the pre-war machine before me.

Most of the ‘tented’ vertibuck looked… plain to me. It wasn’t just that it had been stripped of most armor and equipment you’ll see on any vertibuck, but more like it was designed without it altogether. I’d never seen any vertibuck so feature-lite above the clouds, and I’d wondered what the point of having something built this way would even be.

Another oddity, it’s faded red paint was an oddly striking color for a flying craft. That, and the stylized ‘lightning bolt’ still painted along it’s mostly open hull design felt way too flashy for military use. Maybe somepony owned it and just wanted it to look… interesting?

The old glass that lined the basic style viewports and cockpit was in impeccable condition for it’s age, and instead of a standard issue mounted gun on its undercarriage, it sported what looked like an old movie camera. Altogether, the camera and the ‘simple’ vertibuck aspect of it made a lot more sense when heavily faded writing sat along the tail boom in yellow letters, reading ‘Channel Five Action News’.

“It’s not that I want this to be secret. I’m just tired of others laughing at me for always asking about this… particular issue.” She sighed before turning and climbing up into the open crew compartment of the vertibuck. “Please, I really need your advice.”

“You are afraid of flying,” I spoke slowly, wondering just how the Rangers even came by this thing. “but you want to talk inside a vertibuck?” Then again, they said they had two of these, and they also had their other flying machine as well. Maybe it was here when the war ended. Makes me wonder what other machines could be out in the wastes, just waiting for somepony to find and reclaim them.

“Well, everypony on base knows me, so I know they wouldn’t ever come looking for me here.” Tofu spoke up to get my attention again. “And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.” She laid herself down in the wide open passenger cabin of the vertibuck so that her forelegs dangled out of the side. “That I hit you, that is. As well as for what I’d said in the clinic. I let anger cloud my judgement, and I was literally a huge bitch to you.”

“Don’t worry, it’s a lot more common of a problem among the wastelands than you’d think.” I spared her the fact that it’s been one of my biggest problems, but I’m sure she probably could have guessed that. “What did you want to talk about?”

“I needed to know before you went, how...” She spoke up, hesitating as she kicked her hanging forehooves a bit. “how did you get your cutie mark? I mean, did you literally get it while looking down a bomb sight? Or do you just like the act of bombing? You said that you don’t like to bomb ponies, but that’s not very descriptive at all either.”

Oh, that’s what this is all about? This is why she needed all the secrecy? Then again, having seen firsthoof on multiple accounts how ponies with cutie marks can be bullies to those with blank flanks, I can’t say the want to talk alone was that unwarranted. But, it still didn’t change the fact that as I looked back at my own cutie mark, I couldn’t really help her because it was something even I still didn’t understand.

“So… I don’t exactly know how I earned it.” I sighed. I wished that I could give her something specific, the key that she was looking for. “All I did was drop a bomb. I’d even done it before, but I didn’t get it at that point, and I have no idea why. Hell, I’ve never even seen a bomb sight like this before. I don’t know why it showed up like this at all...”

I can’t say what made that one time special. Not to mention, yeah, I dropped a bomb on a very specific point on Double Drum’s roller, but… it was luck that it hit the right place, not talent. I wish that I could go back in time and relive that moment, and maybe then I could understand just why I’d gotten it then.

“Oh, I see…” Goddesses she sounded so disappointed. “I’ve tried everything I can think of, done every job on the base and it’s done literally nothing for me.”

“Maybe… you’re trying too hard?” I could only offer her a weak, forced smile, but it still looked to help to perk her up a bit. “Just, don’t go out of your way to do anything. I’m sure it’ll come to you soon enough.” Celestia, I was bad at giving advice. I bet you that my mom could have said something perfect for this right now, but… no, I don’t want to go down that path right now. “I know it’s tough to wait, and even more infuriating to hear, but just don’t worry about it and give it time. Even if you just keep up at working on different things, or nothing at all, you’ll get it eventually.”

“You know, at this point, not doing anything is probably the only thing I haven’t tried yet.” She gave a soft laugh that helped to bleed the stress out from her form a bit. “Thank you though, for at least talking with me.”

“Don’t mention it.” I shrugged and watched as her horn lit up. The tent-like canvas covering the vertibuck lifted at a corner, revealing a path back outside. “Take care, Tofu.”

“You too.” She offered as I turned and trotted back out onto the tarmac.

As I did, my ears perked with a droning sound coming through the air. Turning my head, I traced the sound to the air far beyond the large concrete walls, but found myself squinting as the flood lights blinded me. I know it was an incredibly stupid and foalish assumption to make, but part of me had hoped that having half the eyes would cut down on half the brightness of things...

Gee, if only somepony had invented some way not to be blinded by bright lights!

Reaching up, I flicked Double Delta’s sunglasses down, finally able to see a set of flickering lights dropping lower in the skies. The roaring of the twin arcano engine flying machine I’d seen over Mare’s Lake picked up into a thundering thudding. Lights on it’s underbelly illuminated a set of landing gear as they deployed.

The ponies flying the massive machine came in on what looked almost like a glide slope as they brought the craft in for a landing attempt. They gave a gentle flare to the plane as they passed over the wall with only a couple meters of clearance. A short lived piercing squeal rang out as the tires touched the old tarmac, shooting out thin bits of smoke as the rubber met the concrete.

The pitch and roar of the engines picked up as the whole craft listed forward. The pilot threw the engines to full reverse, and sets of enormous flaps dropped along the wings to retard the lumbering machine’s speed. Faster than I’d expected, the whole craft slowed down to a crawl and turned off the runway. Without hesitation, the pilot pulled her around into the far off hanger at the end of the runway, and the whole machine disappeared inside.

“Pretty cool, huh?” Hispano’s voice spoke into my ear.

“Wha….!” I flailed and forced myself not to scream at her. “Why does everypony like to sneak up on me!” Seriously! Where the fuck did she come from?

“Never change, Dum Dum.” Hispano laughed as she gave a pat on my side. “But seriously, those are some pretty nice shades. Now come on, we’ve got to get going soon, and Hardcase is probably done fixing you jump pack again after you basically used it to break your fall when you crashed earlier.” Giving her wings a few flaps, she wiggled herself in preparation to take off.

“Hey, Hispano?” I asked, reaching my hoof out to brush one of her wings out of the way. She looked back at me and scrunched up her beak with a confused look. “Thanks for having my back on the ship up there, and for believing in me.”

“You said that I was amazing at everything I do, and while I am just that damn awesome…” She puffed up her chest, looking proud of herself for only a moment. “I just don’t share the same drive you and Buck do for helping ponies. I don’t get it, but that’s okay with me. It’s one of the things you do really well down here, Dum Dum. Even if it means I have to save your flank half the time.” Smirking, she tipped up her flight cap and gave me a soft smile. “Besides, it’s impossible to stop you from trying anyway, so why not lend you a talon to try to keep you from getting into so much trouble while you fail at pretty much everything?”

I opened my muzzle to speak, but the thunderous roar of Bertha’s reactor picked up from across the tarmac. Looking over to it, I watched as the scribes working at the rear of her pulled the chains down from where Laika’s pod had once sat. It was odd to see Bertha without it hanging on the back of her.

Not that it was supposed to have been a substitute, but after our encounter with Guinness and Zibar, maybe I can ask Delilah about up armoring the back a bit...

“Well, we should probably get back.” I offered to Hispano, turning just in time to see her lunge at me and throw her talons around me in a hug. She squeezed me tightly and curled her wings around my own. As she nuzzled against my neck, she gave out a long yawn. “Let’s go home.” I said, giving her a soft pat and wanting nothing more than to just go relax with her and Buck for a bit. Then again, I didn’t have that luxury, did I?

It was time to get back in the air, and on the road once more.

With everyone else having gone off to bed, I settled in for my shift on watch. Delilah had mentioned that this old road wasn't really used, or even under the care of the Road Crew, so it would most likely be deserted all the way up until our next stop. Because of that fact, and because Hardcase had done a wonderful job fixing up the jump pack again, I was allowed to relax in the Rec area so long as I watched the rear of the convoy. But if I saw anything out of place, I could still be up in the air at a moment’s notice.

So here I sat alone, listening to DJ PowerColt's neverending broadcast while watching the moonlight glisten across the snow covered rusty mountains that were slowly being left behind us. At the very least, listening to the radio was keeping my mind off the ebbing pain behind my crystal eye and across my body. If it wouldn’t have woken Hispano or Buck, I’d have already gone and grabbed another two pills of Chill. But some things can’t be helped, and in this case, that’s my sense of courtesy to let them get some undisturbed sleep.

"Goooood morning, everypony. It's just past midnight and you're still here with me, DJ PowerColt, as I bring you the freshest tunes to keep your hooves dancing all the way until the break of dawn. But speaking of breaks, let's take one for a moment to listen to some news in the form of an interesting story."

Oh, good! At least this is something I can rely on for help now and again. While I can get into trouble no matter where I go, at least I can keep up to date with what's been going on in the wastes elsewhere. Because who knows, maybe somepony has had a worse day than I have. Or hell, maybe somepony has had a worse life than I have.

"Around a month and a half ago, the day that the cloud cover came down, and the glorious Lightbringer gave us all back the skies, there was a terrifying disaster at an Enclave settlement. I know you all aren't fans of the pegasi, but from this horrific disaster, only one survivor emerged. Cast down into the wastes, this ‘survivor’ started herself on one hell of a journey with a convoy of strangers."

Wait, what the fuck!? Unless there really was some other pegasus here in the north who was as unlucky as I was, why the hell was he talking about me!?

"Yes, ‘that’ convoy you all keep hearing about right here on this station. As it turns out, this survivor's got somewhat of a hero complex to her. Everywhere she's gone, she's helped the fine folks of almost every settlement that their convoy has stopped in. But what's this got to do with me, I hear you all asking. Well, I think it's safe to say that there are two things most of us northern wasters hate more than anything. Skyraiders, and the Puritan Kingdom.”

“Well then do I have a surprise for you. As it turns out, the survivor doesn't agree with that. Because when the Ex-raider king Double Delta lead a pack of buzz bombers to a Puritan settlement, she was the only one to face them head on. And wouldn't you believe it folks, she took down all thirty buzz bombers without even one of them touching the settlement. Not only that, but she single hoofedly ensured the capture of Double Delta by the local Steel Rangers."

But... that's not true! Sure the settlement was saved, but the SFG set half the Puritan crops on fire! Not to mention, I didn't capture Double Delta at all! Are you fucking kidding me?

"Oh, and because I know you're currently listening in, survivor, I wanted to personally extend my thanks for making our northern wastelands safer than ever. I know it hasn't been easy for you, but I'm glad somepony here in the north has got the right idea about helping folks out. Even if nopony else thinks their worth saving."

Wait, he knew I was listening!?

Scrambling to my hooves, I darted over to the back of the Hauler. I slammed into the railing hard enough that my momentum almost carried me over it. Still, I shot my eye up into the starry skies above, scanning across it frantically. I traced over dozens of stars, stopping when I found two red ones that didn’t belong. Not only were they out of place, but they were ever so slightly drifting along at the same pace as the Hauler.

"Don’t worry, survivor, this’ll be our little secret. But to the rest of you tuning in, keep your eye on this survivor. Because I certainly can't wait to see what great things this mare does next. But that’s enough news for the time being. It’s time to get you folks back on that dance floor and to get your hooves moving all night long. Why? Because this is Factory Radio, with new music manufactured and broadcast to you northern wasters daily.”

With a shimmer, the small trailing skycraft banked around in the air as the electronic rhythm of music came from the radio once again. The moonlight in the sky barely reflected any light off of the flying craft's curved surface, but it was just enough that I could still make out the same silverfish shape that I'd seen at the Ranger’s base, and at the shop in Mare's Lake.

So Hispano's dad was right, it was how he’d been keeping track of us.

There was a metallic squeal from behind me. Turning, I watched Lucky and Happy’s door swing open before Happy himself stepped out with a long yawn. He shut it again behind him before groggily walking over to the kitchenette. I simply watched as he rummaged through a few of the cabinets, before pulling out one of Boiler and Gearbox’s Sparkle-Colas.

Really? He knew those weren’t his, and yet, here he was. Just grunting like an idiot as he tried to twist off the bottlecap like it was a cheap beer. Normally I wouldn’t speak up, but this wasn’t something that Bombay would let Night pass up.

“Ah-hem.” I cleared my throat, pulling a startled whine from Happy. He flailed his forehooves, nearly dropping the sparkle cola three times before he caught onto it with wide open eyes. Not so sleepy now, are you, Happy?

“Celestia, Night.” He groaned as he set the cola down on the counter. “Nearly gave me a heart attack. I thought you’d be sleeping by now.”

“Nope. I’ve got watch.” I grumbled, deadpanning at him as he slowly turned and put the cola away again.

“Hey, mind if we talk again?” His hesitation showed both in his words, and from the way he looked around to make sure all the other container doors were shut.

“Sure.” I shrugged, turning back around and leaning over the railing a bit. What was it with everypony asking me to talk recently? It’s not as if I’ve been a veritable font of wisdom or good ideas so far.

“I know how things must look from your end, with the accidental leaking of stuff to Solomon, and such. But I don’t mean to come off as a colossal dick to everypony.” Walking over, he plopped himself down on the couch and pushed down the lever on the rack of toasters under it. You know, if he was cold, he could always have just gotten a blanket.

“Yeah, I know that what happened between Delilah and your dad must have been hard to get through, but come on, we talked about this.” Rolling my eyes at him, I turned myself back around and gave a scan across the darkness outside. As before, there was nothing out there in the darkness that I could see. “When Buck and I suggested that you shouldn’t care about what others think, that came with the idea that you’d either stop acting like a ‘colossal dick’, or stop caring about it. Yet, here we are again.”

“I know! I’m trying to change!” He raised his voice, making me cringe as he flailed his forehooves wildly. Seriously, was he trying to wake everyone else up? “I just… don’t know how. At least, not like you’ve changed.” Slumping back into the couch, he glared at me. “It may come easy to you, but for me, it’s like I’m addicted to the King. Every time I try to get away from the whole idea of him, I can’t help but act that way all the same.”

“If you can’t help but act like him, then change another part of the problem.” I groaned and facehooved. Why do I get the feeling that this is what it feels like to be a parent? Pausing my train of thought, I frowned as I wondered if I was ever this bad to my own parents.

“But the problem is me acting that way, right? That’s what you and Buck said!” With a harrumph, he crossed his forehooves and glared at the floor. “Maybe I should actually just stop caring what everypony else thinks.”

“Or you can stop chasing after mares, and going to have sex in every settlement for a start?” Eeyup, I’d officially stepped over the threshold from being a dumb teenager, to an adult. “Hell, you could try lightening up on the drinking too while you’re at it, seeing as how that is half the problem with you leaking shit to Solomon.”

“Hey, I said I was sorry for that shit!” He snapped at me in a harsh whisper. After a few heaving angry breaths that definitely showed Delilah’s half of his blood, he calmed himself down and sighed. “But… you’re probably right.” Lifting his forehooves, he buried his face in them before dragging them down his muzzle. “Ugh, going cold turkey is going to leave me with some massive blue balls though.” Yeah, didn’t need nor care to hear that, Happy.

“And the drinking?” I offered?

“Fuck that! If I’m going to go without the whores, I need something to keep myself distracted from all the pressure.” He groaned and waved his forehooves at me. “If I give that up, I might as well just kill myself before I become bored enough to walk into a raider camp just for a change of pace.”

“What ‘pressure’?” I didn’t get Happy, really. I mean, I understood the part of him that didn’t want to give up his old ways. But he didn’t really have any responsibilities on this convoy, and that was a big jump to talking about killing himself.

“Ma’ expects me to take over everything. She wants me to be just another her.” He looked up at me as I leaned back on the rec area railing. “It’s not that I don’t know the first thing about business, I just… don’t want to spend my life doing that. Having ponies depend on me is something I can’t handle with how much I already screw shit up.”

Okay, he had a good point there. Before I showed up, I’m betting that while it may have seemed an impossible task, Delilah was going to want him to run her town. And while he’d been a useless asshole for most of this trip, I’m not really qualified to say he couldn’t be good at it if he tried. But if he didn’t even want to try in the first place, then there wasn’t much hope for that happening at all.

“Then what is it that you want to spend your life doing?” I spoke up, scrunching my muzzle and flailing my hooves at him as I realized a mistake in saying that. “I mean, outside of drinking and having sex with mares all the time.”

He shut his muzzle as I corrected myself, and for once, looked like he really had to think about something that was asked of him. Then again, I’m not sure I could even give an answer to the exact same question if anypony asked it to me. With a few blinks, he simply shrugged.

“I don’t know.” Lifting his hoof, he pointed at my flank. “I’m not like you ponies. I wasn’t lucky enough to have a butt mark to tell me what I’m good at.”

“Then my advice?” I didn’t have much to offer him other than what all of us in school had been told about finding our special purpose. “Keep working at what you’re told to do, and someday, you’ll find something that you’ll just know is the one thing you’re meant for.”

That got a hearty laugh from Happy.

“Oh of course, more pony bullshit.” He shook his head, smiling widely as he leaned back on the couch. With a sigh, his expression faltered though as he stared up at the gently wafting tarp above us. “Then again, everything and everyone’s been bullshit my whole damn life. What I need is a vacation. You know, some time to clear my head.”

“Right…” Sure, as if this already hadn’t been enough of a vacation for him so far. I wish I could spend all day sleeping, getting drunk, or having sex. I rolled my eyes and spun around again. Only when I did, I found Cora’s deadpanning tired gaze staring at me as he came in for a landing.

“While I don’t mind being up there alone, you should think about doing some actual work.” Landing in the Rec area, Cora grumbled as he walked over to the kitchenette and started to pull stuff out to brew up some coffee.

“I’ll… let you get back to it, Night.” Happy winked at me as he threw his forehooves back behind his head and wiggled himself back into what most certainly by now was a warm couch. As if it wasn’t bad enough, a rogue gust of wind came down through the tarp to remind me just how cold the nights here in the north could get. Even worse, these were warmer winds than normal from what I’d heard.

Still, Cora was right. I probably should do my job because Delilah doesn’t need any more of a reason to be angry with me. Sure she had said I could stay down here, but as my mom once told me, showing some initiative is a surefire way to impress your superiors.

I just wish she hadn’t impressed them enough to get that job on the thunderhead…

To be honest though, while I was getting quite cold up here, the dawning sun brought me some glimmer of hope that it would start to get warmer soon. As the cold wind whipped at me, I locked my wings out stiffly. I quickly threw my forehoof up to depress the button on the breast of my flight rigging, and also to flick Double Delta’s sunglasses down over my eyes. They worked well enough as goggles for the time being, and well, once the sun was up they’d still be helping out anyway. The whining of the jump pack was accompanied with the growing warmth of the leather pressed tightly along my back.

It had been an uneventful patrol all night. I’d taken another few dips down into the Hauler for a rest, but once Happy had retreated into his room, Cora had passed out on the couch, and I’d been up here ever since. Though, in order to stay aloft wearing my fully loaded battle saddle, I’d had to get sort of crafty with keeping my altitude and airspeed up. Thankfully, I had Boiler and Hardcase’s jump pack to make it fairly easy.

As the whining pack hit peak charge, I dipped myself down for a burst of speed. After a loss of about a third of my remaining altitude, I pulled up in an arc that put me in a pure vertical climb to bleed it off again. Once my speed died, I snapped my wings shut and dropped my forehooves to my sides. Flicking my tail forward, I held it in a curl as I pushed the launch button in my fetlock.

As I’d used it more and more, I started to become familiar with the operation of the pack. The bang that accompanied the burst of speed was actually where the fire on my tail had come from, as that’s presumably when the exhaust trail was the longest. I also found that I didn’t need to wait for the weightlessness to open my wings. In fact, if I arced them open directly after the acceleration period ended, I could drag myself into level flight while still retaining most of the speed I’d gained in the climb.

Still, as I leveled myself out again, goddess Celestia’s morning sun peeked over the horizon, bathing me in it’s gloriously warm light. From head to hock, I reveled in the feeling of, for once in my life, being completely free. In that moment, the pains I’d felt all night disappeared from my mind, and I knew that this was where I was supposed to be in my life. Even if it wasn’t as elegant as a dress, this jump pack really was the lucky break I’d been needing on this trip.

Gazing down at the convoy below me, I saw a purple and yellow blob sitting at the back of the Rec area. Huh, Hardcase is up. I wonder if he’s on coms yet. Reaching over to the controller on my forehoof, I flicked the switch over from the normal patrol channel of two, to general channel three, and was greeted with a bit of static.

“Hello down there!” I spoke up as I swept my eyes across the dense forests that hugs the rolling hills around us. “Good morning, Hardcase.”

As I waited for an answer, I surveyed the road we were on. Now that daylight stretched across it, looking at the road ahead of and behind the convoy, I found that it was even worse than what Delilah had implied. What little there was of visible asphalt was cracked and broken. Everything from vines to bushes sprouted up out of it, making the road look more like a long thin meadow than something built for easy driving. Still, Bessy and Bertha didn’t mind trampling a path through it, and I smirked as they looked like a beastly mother and her calf frollicking about.

“Why good morning, Night.” Buck’s voice spoke up through a long yawn. “Your patrol has gone smoothly so far I’d hope?”

“Yeah, though it’s a bit hard for me to screw up something as simple as flying and using my eye.” I laughed as I tweaked my wings. I rotated each one a different way and curved my tail, doing a light barrel roll before coming back around onto a similar heading as before.

“Yeah, that’s true.” Hispano’s tired voice chimed into my ear. “Though, I wouldn’t put it past Dum Dum to figure out some way to do it.”

“Har har.” I rolled my eyes as I looked back down at the convoy. From beside Hardcase, I could see the wide olive green wings of Hispano’s stretching out. “But I’m not worried! With you joining me on patrol, even if I do manage to screw something up, at least I can put half the blame on you.”

“Unless it’s something like your jump pack exploding!” Hardcase jumped in as I’m guessing he dragged the mic over to himself. Thanks though, I’d almost forgotten that I was wearing an unstable two hundred year old arcano-tech device on my back. Even if it had been performing a lot better than I’d thought it would in the first place. “By the way, Night, how’s she been performing? When you’re done with your patrol, I really should install those extra heat sinks and tweak some things.”

“I think it’s been fine so far!” Looking ahead again, I squinted as I saw larger hills peek over the horizon and come into view out of the glare of the sun. “In fact, the extra heat it generates has been helping to keep me pretty warm up here, even if I can’t really feel it anymore.”

“That’s because you burned out all the nerves on your back yesterday during your initial flights with the device.” Buck grumbled. “The Steel Ranger’s medical report Delilah had sent to me also said that you’d been experiencing memory loss again due to the painkillers I warned you not to take?”

“Yeah…” Fuck, I knew he was right when he’d brought it up, but it worked out alright, didn’t it? “Well, thanks to that Med-X, I saved the village and Double Delta, didn’t I?”

“I… that… ugh.” Buck’s frustration was painful to hear, but I knew it’s because he was already beating himself up for even giving me the painkiller in the first place. “Just please be careful, Night. I need you to tell me if there’s any further complications if they crop up. You’ve already had to have brain surgery once so far on this trip, and I’d like to keep it at only the once for the rest of our lives.”

“Of course, I wouldn’t keep anything like that from you.” I tensed up as soon as those words left my muzzle.

Yeah, except for the constant aches and pains that Cora had mentioned. But those weren’t really worth mentioning anyway. I’ve been hurt a lot recently, and that pain is just coming from those wounds either healing, or would be around forever anyway. As great as he is as a doctor, that was beyond Buck’s ability to heal.

“If I can ask however…” Buck changed his tone a bit, giving me a small bit of relief as it didn’t sound like he was going to ask too intrusive of a question. “How did you end up with third degree burns along your forelegs? The doctor there noted that you had them crudely bandaged when you came in, and that the burns were pretty extensive.”

“Well, I… can’t quite remember.” Of course this question would just loop back around to that, wouldn’t it? “My best guess was that the SFG caused them when it melted, but again, I can’t remember what happened in the air.”

“Damnit. I told you that it might not work right without being grounded.” Hardcase sighed with a tone of disappointment which I’d come to know far too well. “For your legs to have been burned like that, the plasma discharge must have looped back along the field lines and depolarized the magnetic coupling talismans. Which in turn, needed to have then fried the archano-destabilizer and caused the ferro-capacitors to discharge back along the newly inverted channeling vectors. Huh… that actually gives me an idea on adding in a frame mounded feedback buffer in my next design...”

Wow, that was a bunch of techno-nonsense that just spilled through the radio. In all the years my dad worked on cloud vehicles, I don’t think I’d ever heard him say anything nearly that cryptic or confusing. Still, as long as he had any idea what happened, I guess it didn’t really matter what he told me.

“Sure….” I forced out a nervous laugh. “Still, sorry for breaking your gun, Hardcase.”

“If you dweebs are done talking shop, I’d love to keep the rest of this morning’s conversations down to three syllable words or less. At least until my brain wakes up.” Hispano’s beak lightly chattered through the radio as she beat her wings to match my pace. She smiled at me as the glare from the sun on her goggles obscured her eyes. “Brr! Nothing like a brisk morning flight to get the blood pumping again, ay, Dum Dum?”

“You said it.” I laughed as I scanned through the trees again with a delighted grin still plastered across my muzzle.

“Listen up.” Delilah’s voice snapped the happiness right from my face. “I know we had an extended break from the road, but remember to keep the chatter to a minimum. Keep your eyes open, because I’ve had just about enough ambushes on this trip already.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” I replied and looked over to Hispano, getting only a shrug of compliance from her. Alrighty, back to work it is.

Another few hours of flying had transformed the land around us from masses of flat lightly forested land with the occasional hills, into small mountains and valleys. They were nothing like the mountains we’d been going through since just after Klondike. Rather, they were less blocks of rust and snow covered slate, and closer to lush temperate forests packed into every available square inch outside the old road the convoy was on.

Once the scenery had changed, it was just a constant back and forth on the winding overgrown road. So much so that just merely keeping up with the convoy was slowly rocking me to sleep. But as I let out a long yawn and contemplated heading down for a short nap, something caught my eye on one of the larger ‘mountains’ ahead.

It looked like a small, traditionally built pony village at first glance. The white buildings adorned with purple tiled roofs and golden striped ornamental caps had been built so tightly crammed together that they almost formed a complete wall around the circular settlement. A low wall ringed around the edge of the whole place that made it look a lot like the ranger base, albeit without the guard towers every so often.

Upon a second look of the place, I realized that the whole village had been built on an artificial shelf that hung dangerously far off the side of the mountain. Not only that, but a pair of small waterfalls spilled from the edges of the shelf’s structural supports. It was one earthquake or landslide away from the whole city crumbling off the side of the mountain, which made me even question why anypony would ever build a city in a location like that.

Somewhere deep in my mind, I remembered seeing this city in my history books. Or was it back at a museum in Neighvarro? I couldn’t quite remember, but when had that ever stopped my muzzle from thrusting out a half-baked remark.

“Is that... Canterlot?” Goddesses I almost wanted to slap myself for how dumb that probably made me sound. Still, I thought that Canterlot was pretty much in the center of Equestria, and I didn’t think that we’d managed to make it that far south already. Then again with how the Enclave lied about everything, maybe it was just a smaller world than I was taught after all…

“It does look remarkably similar.” Buck spoke up, pushing my eyes down to the convoy. I found him standing in Boiler and Gearbox’s blasted open cargo container with what was probably Violet’s com’s cap adorning his fairly large head. “Huh, I really thought it’d be bigger.”

“Oh, are you two talking about your first night together?” Hardcase’s excited voice jumped into our conversation. Even though it threw me off balance, I couldn’t help but facehoof at that. Yes, I knew he was joking, but come on! You can’t just go there.

“We are speaking about the size of Canterlot, actually.” The annoyance in Buck’s voice told me that while he hadn’t face… clawed, he had most likely wanted to. “And for your information, Night is more than adequate for me.”

“Gimmie that.” Cora’s voice came over the headset as it sounded like he tore the radio’s mic from Hardcase’s grasp. “That tourist trap is not Canterlot, it's Lil' Canterlot. It's a replica of the way things used to be before the war. Wartime idiots put it up here to swindle both Mares Lake and Cantercross suckers out of their money. From what I heard, the place is still like that today, where you can pay the asshole ghouls there to see what things used to be like back then.”

“Welp,” Hispano jumped in as she pointed at the settlement with her talon. “I guess somepony’s had enough of their shit, because part of the town looks freshly burnt down.”

Squinting, it was hard to see from here, but the back half that hugged the mountain did seem to have a very light trail of smoke rising from it. Still, how the fuck can Hispano see that damn well!? Was it just a griffon thing or something?

“Well unfortunately, we’re going to have to stop there.” Delilah chimed up again with a bit less annoyance in her voice. “Because highway five links back up on the other side of the mountain, we’ll need to get the convoy marked by their Road Crew if we even want to get into Cantercross.”

Right, and then we’ll have to deal with the Road Crew at Cantercross. With as much as they’ve been annoying to run into so far, we didn’t need any more disasters with them. If it were up to me, I’d want to skip this place altogether and just take our chances on the road. Though, I guess I’d just have to settle for staying up in the air the whole time so I didn’t have to deal with them at all.

“Night, Hispano,” Delilah’s voice sharpened my thoughts again as I listened. “You two need to fly on ahead and tell the Road Crew that we’re coming. I’d like to avoid any more disasters with them.” Hey, that’s what I’d just thought!

Also, really!? I mean, I got why she wanted us to go ahead, and it’s probably a smart idea, but it didn’t mean I had to enjoy the order one bit.

“You’ve got it.” Hispano replied for the two of us before she started to beat her wings. “Alright, Dum Dum! Race you to the city!” With a glance back at me, she had the brightest look I’d seen on her face in days, and from here I could almost feel the sheer amount of positivity that she was giving off. “Onetwothreego!”

With a whooshing zoom, she took off like a bolt through the air toward the city. As I gave out a tired sigh, I reached up and hoofed at the priming button on my harness. Might as well get this whole next Road Crew disaster done and over with so the rest of us could get on with things.

Because I mean after all, what’s one more incident to have reported back to their bosses, right?

“I don’t get it.” Hispano squawked as I stood before the massive old doors that sealed off the outside of the city.

The early morning breeze that had felt oh-so-nice before, felt more like a whipping wind on the edge of the eerie city. The decaying walls of this place had haphazardly patched holes all over it, but even that couldn’t help save me from the feeling that this place had died with the end of the world. Even the vegetation that was so abundant all over this part of the wasteland seemed to border the walls at a distance, leaving nothing but the sterile dirt between them as if the walls themselves were poisonous. So far I wasn’t exactly seeing what was supposed to attract ponies to this place during the war.

“What’s with the rebranding?” Hispano continued as she touched down in the dirt next to me. “Didn’t my dad say this was ‘tiny Canterlot’ or something? Maybe somepony actually did take over the place...”

Looking at the freshly painted words on the heavily reinforced wooden entry doors, I struggled to comprehend just what the writing scrawled poorly across it had been meant to say in the first place…

Son Doge Sity

“Well, if that’s true, and somepony did take this place over, then at least we don’t have to deal with the Road Crew again!” I shrugged, failing to see what was so wrong about all that. Then again, from the back of my mind, an idea came and kicked me in the flank. “Of course, if it’s somepony not so friendly, than we might have a problem.”

“Nice to see you’re finally catching on.” Hispano smirked as she brought up her sister and made sure she was loaded.

Mouthing at my own saddle’s bit, I tongued at the trigger and cocked my submachine gun. Here’s hoping that thirty rounds, three grenades, and a hoof full of twenty milimeters from Suiza would be enough to last until the others got here…

“At least they didn’t shoot at us as we approached.” Hispano grumbled as she hefted Suiza up. “Doesn’t mean they still won‘t of course.”

“Go away, ponies.” The growling voice that came from the other side of the door made my mane stand on end. “Your kind is not welcome.”

“Not welcome?” I asked, getting no reply from the voice. I mean, that pretty much confirms that we could just scoot on past this place, but I know Delilah would want to at least try harder than that. “Look, we’re just trying to get in touch with the Road Crew so we can get our convoy cleared for the road ahead. Is there someone else we can talk to perhaps?”

“No. No more talk.” The voice almost hissed at us. “No more disturb! You go before others find you out there!” The cadence that this person spoke at seemed somewhat familiar to me, but I just couldn’t place it.

“Alright, whatever.” Hispano rolled her eyes and lowered Suiza. “We better get back up in the air and onto the radio.”

The wind around us shifted again, and nearly pushed me off my hooves. Stumbling, I let out another yawn as I told myself that once I was back, I could finally take that small nap I’d wanted. Of course though, I couldn’t have possibly been that lucky.

“Wait…” The voice spoke up, hesitating as it sounded like it sniffed loudly against the front gate. “You ponies smell like dog.”

That was it! Now I knew where I’d heard that style of Equestrian from! Sasha and the other Sun Dogs back at Pink Mountain sounded just like this voice did. Which meant… oh goddesses…

By the time I felt the ground shift under my hooves, it was already too late. Two pairs of clawed paws burst up through the dirt below Hispano and I to grab at our legs. Hispano was fast enough to take flight, narrowly avoiding the emerging limbs. Me however? I bit back the urge to move as the paws gripped so tightly around my forelegs that I was afraid they’d be crushed.

The ground under where Hispano had been surged upward. From the rocky dirt, a hulking furred beast about the same size as Buck pulled itself out of a freshly dug hole. The all black short haired dog looked to be built like a tank, and the shorter claws on it’s paws didn’t seem any less lethal than what I’d seen of even Buck’s claws so far. It snarled as it swung at Hispano, taking a step back toward me the moment she raised her rifle at it.

“Night!” Hispano gasped as she hesitated. “Don’t you fucking mutts hurt him!”

“Just stay calm!” I snapped at Hispano. Oh, how much I wished that I could aim this saddle straight down. I mean, that seems like a fucking glaring design flaw to me! Okay, think Night. Maybe use the jump pack? Sure, that would work if you could fucking use your forelegs, dumbass! What about…

My train of thought was suplexed onto the dirt as the ground under me upended. Still in the grasp of whatever dog had been below me, I was lifted into the air and moved to where I was held out toward Hispano.

“Stupid pony. You should not have come here.” The Sun Dog behind me snapped. “And you, bird. We are not mutts!”

“Could have fucking fooled me.” She growled back, hovering at a nice safe distance of about ten meters above me. Her insult of course, didn’t sit well with both of the dogs, and they made sure she could hear them growl their objections.

“Hispano, that’s not helping! Just stay calm!” I shouted up at her, desperately trying to follow my own advice. Of course this shit had to happen to us, because I can’t have one normal day, can I!? “And you, Sun Dogs, we didn’t come here to cause trouble.” I had a feeling that not even Bombay was going to help me talk my way out of this shit.

“Let the ponies go, dad!” The voice from behind the door barked, pulling a look of disbelief from the large black dog ahead of me. “This place is dogs home now! No pony will disturb for fear of dogs!”

“Quiet, Holly. Leave pony to us!” The dog holding me shouted as he let go of my right foreleg. I whimpered as the change in tension pulled at my muscles, which of course drew a laugh out of the dog holding me.

“I say we split pony. Half for each of us.” The big black dog laughed as well before sniffing the air a few times. “Huh, pony really does smell like dog. Maybe we split in different way if pony likes to be dog bitch so much.”

“Yeah, we’re already a bit crowded in this relationship as is.” Hispano squawked as she again, wasn’t helping. “So why don’t you all just back off and we can all go our separate ways?” Better. It wasn’t going to solve our problems, but it was a better attempt at the very least.

“Okay, pony. You say you not here for trouble?” The dog holding me grunted. “Tell why you show up at Sun Dog city?”

Wait, is that what the sign on the door was supposed to say!? Sun dog city? Geeze, I’d thought they’d just talked weird before, like with Sasha and the other dogs back at the resort being an isolated case. But if this is how they all are, maybe surprise isn’t such a far fetched reaction for ponies to have with Buck forming coherent sentences.

All the more reason I’m glad I fell in love with him, rather than someone else… fuck, this is not the time, Night! Potentially life threatening situation first, thoughts about Buck, later.

“Like we said, we came to get Road Crew approval to use the highways past here.” If the truth didn’t get us anywhere, I wasn’t quite sure what I’d be able to do. If I tried to escape, they’d just eviscerate me. If Hispano shot at them, she’d take too long to kill them and they’d turn me into pegasi shaped ribbons. Then again, if struggling didn’t work, then maybe the best thing I could do is offer them a chance to let us go? “Our convoy is on the way here. You can either let us leave now and pretend this never happened, or you can talk to them when they get here. Then you will see that we aren’t here to cause trouble.”

Spinning me around in the grip of his incredibly strong paw, I found myself looking at a dog twice as big as Buck. His semi-shaggy black fur was muddy and matted, but unlike Buck, his fur didn’t look like it made up the bulk of his size - rather, he was just that damn big. His broad head was almost comically topped with a pair of large floppy ears, but his square muzzle had more sharp ridges than any dog I’d seen so far, and could have probably been used to saw through a tree on it’s own. But it was the stoic brown eyed gaze studying me that caught my attention about him more than anything.

Okay, so maybe while he couldn’t speak well, he might still be smart enough to understand negotiating for something. And if that was the case, then there is a small chance that maybe, maybe we’d be able to walk away from this without anything going wrong. Then again, as the moments passed with no one saying a word, my hope for that began to fade at an alarming rate.

“Please, dad.” The voice behind the door meekly whimpered. “If they came to hurt, they would not speak, only act.”

The voice’s words drew a whole slew of emotions from the dog holding me, which I still hadn’t decided if it was a good or a bad thing to see. First was annoyance, which of course I knew all too well. Then came the anger, which I could feel as he tightened his grip around my foreleg. I bit my tongue and tried not to scream as I felt one of his claws puncture into my foreleg. Thick crimson stains slowly began to coat the white on his underpaws, and it was then that the next emotion hit. With a sigh, he gave in, looking up toward Hispano.

“Bird can go. But pony stays.” His tone was guttural, but even so his grip around my leg relaxed. Not enough to let me go, but enough that I felt his claw drag out of my leg again. “If pony lies, then we will kill all who come to Sun Dog city.”

“That’s fair…” I winced as a thicker line of blood dribbled down my leg. Looking up at Hispano, I shared the regret filled gaze that she wore. “Go, I’ll be alright.” So long as she went back to the others, I could trust that they could think up a way to save me from whatever these dogs have planned. And as a bonus, she would be with the others for when things inevitably went wrong.

“Sorry, Night.” Hispano sighed, hanging her head as she beat her wings and hefted her sister up. With a snap, she shut her wings and fell toward the ground. I gasped as at the last moment, she flared them open as she touched down, landing on the dirt beside the big black dog. “I told you before, I’m not letting you out of my sight.” Turning and looking up to the big dog, she smirked as she put her sister down on her buttstock and rested herself against the barrel. “If you take him, you’re going to take me as well.”

“Stupid bird!” The black dog laughed as he swiped at Suiza. My muzzle opened in a silent scream as I braced myself for the sight of the dog cleaving Hispano’s sister into pieces. A shower of sparks and the squelch of metal made me cringe and look away.

What came next was a painfully loud wailing from the dog. Looking back over, I was amazed to see that his claws had snapped off, leaving bloody holes at the end of each of his oversized digits. Clenching his paw, Hispano glared at the dog and dragged her remarkably still intact sister closer. There wasn’t even a scratch on Suiza anywhere!

“Enough! No hurt!” The pony holding me snorted, forcing my attention back to him. “If pony and bird want to be dog prisoners, then they go in pony cages!” Twisting me by my hoof again, I cried out as the hole in my foreleg felt like it was being forced wider. “Holly! Take them away. Tell the fluffy one talks will continue soon.”

My foreleg throbbed as another pulse of crimson leaked down, and I grit my teeth as I fought back the urge to bite down on my bit in a poor attempt to kill this literal son of a bitch. But no, I needed to keep calm. This will be fine! I’d just… think of something once we got to wherever they’d stick us. If anything, Hispano would have some sort of idea as well!

Goddesses, if I’d just listened to my intuition about this place feeling off and left three minutes ago, we wouldn’t be in this fucking jam.

“Okay, dad.” The voice behind the door spoke softly again.

I watched as one of the heavy entrance doors swung open slightly, and a dog about the size of me stepped out. She was an… odd sight to behold as I squinted my one eye through the pain wracking my leg. With a white, short haired coat that was absolutely covered in black spots, I almost had to wonder if my mind was playing tricks on me. But as she came closer, I could see that indeed, the spots were a part of her coat. Her scared brown eyes shifted uneasily to the dirt as her father huffed and held me out to her like some trophy he’d won.

The pressure on my leg released, and I crumpled into the dirt.

“Oh, fuck!” I seethed as I pulled back my bleeding leg. The same as when Suiza’s barrel had burned into my side, I shouldn’t have looked at the wound. I nearly gagged when I saw the deep gouge through my foreleg’s cannon bone, doubly so when I noticed that patch of bone that had healed up from when I broke it at fourth grade summer flight camp. I know I’d seen all sorts of terrible wounds in my travels so far, but… even when my leg had been impaled at Drake Pass, I couldn’t see the inside of it.

“Oh! Let me help pony!” Holly spoke up as she moved toward me.

Though, as she did, everything around me started spinning. I remembered something I’d overheard when Buck had been telling me about wounds like this. To keep pressure on it… or something? Or maybe it had something to do with a dresser?

Wobbling weakly, I had a bad feeling that maybe I should have listened closerly, rather than dandelioning fumble into the tired dark times…

“Get up you asshole.” The shrill tone that I stirred awake too was joined by a sharp hit against my head. “Why the fuck didn't you report in that you were coming through the damn tunnel? You realize that this shit could have been over with already if you just did your fucking job?”

“Huh…?” I groaned as I forced my eye open. I’m not going to lie, I felt like utter garbage, and the pins and needles I felt in my foreleg probably weren’t a good thing. Looking down at it, I found that it had been tightly bandaged with some sort of old, yellow cloth. It was soaked through with blood around where the hole in my leg was, and it had been bound tight enough that my hoof sticking out the other end was about three shades lighter of a blue than it should have been.

“Don’t act dumb.” The shrill voice squeaked into my ear again. Looking up, I found a very angry and unfortunately familiar sheep glaring at me through a set of iron bars. “I had you pegged as a fucking traitor the moment you sold yourself out to Master Solomon, so you better have one good fucking explanation as to what’s going on here.”

“Nice to see you again, Lamia.” Fuck, of course she was here. “My day just keeps getting better and better…”

Author's Note

Thank you all for continuing to follow this story. I know it's a bit of a slow burn story, but I'm happy to know that you've even made it this far. Seriously, to make it this far, you are the most awesome and dedicated readers I've ever seen. I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all again for your support and comments!

Not to be left out, TheFurryRailFan has also been an incredible help in getting these chapters into a more presentable form! Seriously, go check him and his stories out!

And of course, many thanks to Kkat for letting us all frolic and blow up this universe!

Chapter 48 - The Emerald of the North

We could do worse, we always have.

It hadn’t been long after we’d left Lil’ Canterlot that we’d found and taken the interchange back onto Highway Five. While it was nice to be back on a well maintained and less overgrown road again, I hadn’t missed the dangers that had come with it.

“Come on, Bombay!” Hispano’s voice shouted through the comms in my ear, “Quit slacking and bring them back around already!”

The sharp chorus of screeches punctuated just how close the horde of birds were as they trailed behind me. I still had about a half a minute left before I could use the jump pack again, and the little airspeed I had wasn’t going to cut it for much longer. Shifting my legs, I snapped my tail behind me and torqued my wings. Inverting myself, I turned my body downward and dove for the forest canopy again. And you know what? The oddest thing happened when I did.

The turbine in my jump pack began to emit a low, oscillating whine that picked up into a shrieking drone as I gained speed. By the time I had hit my peak speed, my pack was literally screaming as I cut through the thickening air. I forced my ears back at the irritating noise, wondering just what the hell was wrong with it. Unfortunately, I had to assume that the pack was fine for now, because I was going to need it sooner than later.

The flock of arrow hawks behind me, or so they’d been called by the others, turned down after me en-masse. Their calls were quickly lost to me as the droning from my pack beat them out, and the smirk across my muzzle pulled itself wider. They were fast little birds in the air, sure, but as I folded my wings slightly, they couldn’t keep up with a flat feathered pegasus in a dive.

Stretching out my wings again, I let out a groan as the thickening air forced itself under them. I strained to fight the urge to let my wings snap back from the pressure, as well as to fight the sinking feeling in my stomach that I wasn’t going to level out in time and end up impaled on one of the countless bristling pine trees below.

My foreleg gave just the slightest kick of one of the pine tree tops as they sped past under me, and I felt my wings pull me upwards again. I tilted my head back slightly, looking for just the barest hint of the arrow hawks slamming down into the tree’s behind me. Of course I wasn’t going to be that lucky...

The flock had a much easier time than I’d had in pulling out of the dive, and had used their higher maneuverability to almost make up the gap that my speed had afforded me. And even though I could hear the thrumming of Bertha’s engine up ahead through the forest, I wasn’t sure that at this altitude I was going to have the speed to outpace them. Of course, that’s only if I stay at this altitude, and that consideration brought me a terrible idea…

“I have an idea!” I called out over my headset. “Everypony, stay inside the Hauler!” With a deep breath, I straightened out my forelegs again and forced myself to angle my glide down toward the trees below.

“No… what…!? Grrr!” Hispano growled at me. “This isn’t an ‘I have an idea’ moment! Stick to the plan, Dum Dum!”

I dipped below the treetops as I forced myself to keep up my speed. Come on Night, you can do this! This is just like when you first came down to the wasteland! All you need to do is focus.

Just like when I’d run away from those first flying creatures I’d been chased by, I worked my whole body in concert. I shifted my legs, tail, and head around, throwing my weight onto one wing or the other in order to dodge around the massive bristling trees before me. I winced as my right wing brushed a branch and forced me to overcompensate to the left. Another branch gave that wing a good whack, but I pushed myself to stay level.

Okay, so maybe I wasn‘t going nearly this fast the first time around...

The screeching hawks behind me however, didn’t sound as far off as I could still hear them over the drone of my jump pack. Celestia, the first creatures I’d seen originally I was able to leave in the dust, but these birds were fast! Through the trees ahead, I saw what I’d been waiting for; the bright yellow paint of the Hauler as it traveled along the cracked blacktop highway. This was going to be a close one!

“Incoming!” I shouted as I threw up my forehoof against the button on my flight harness. The jump pack began to whine as the capacitors charged, and I pulled myself back to slow down like I had the first time I’d run into the Hauler. Just like that first time, the thicker air near ground level provided more resistance, and my speed drained enough that the drone in my pack died out completely. The force of the air was just enough to slow me down, but not stop me, which was exactly what I’d counted on.

Just as the screaming hawks sounded like they were about to impale themselves into me, I broke through the treeline in a near vertical position. In the moment before I would have impacted the Hauler, I snapped my wing shut, looked to the sky, and pressed the button in my fetlock. Those birds might’ve been maneuverable, but they couldn’t follow a maneuver like this.

The world went white as my hearing disappeared and my sunglasses were forced down against my eyelids. The burning warmth of the propulsive pack against my back ebbed away as my speed drained, and I again found myself in weightlessness. However, I smiled as nothing but the quiet breeze softly whistled past my ears. Spreading my wings, I leveled myself out before I went into a slow, spiraling dive down toward the Hauler.

“You’re so fucking lucky that worked!” Hispano seethed into my ear. “What the hell was all that about!? What happened to the fucking plan?” There was a soft click over my headset before my hearing was assaulted by the roaring laughter that Hardcase was giving off. “Damnit, either shut the hell up or explain what’s so fucking funny!”

“Oh goddesses, Night!” Hardcase groaned as he tried to calm himself down. “You know when Delilah said she wanted you to be a leader, I didn’t think you had it in you! But convincing others to make the same mistake you did? I’m pretty sure that makes you a natural!” Again he broke down into laughter as Hispano only gave out a growl over the radio.

“Yeah, well I’ll take that as a compliment. And honestly, it was you who said that the beaks of Arrow Hawks were sharp enough to impale themselves into flesh and bone.” I smiled as I drifted down around the hauler, and found a good few dozen bird-shaped dents and bloody splotches on the side of it, as well as a few limp corpses stuck into Delilah and Hardcase’s containers. “I just figured that if I broke my skull on it, they wouldn’t fare much better either.”

“Oh, that’s too good!” Hardcase screamed through his laughter before it sounded like he fell off his seat and onto the floor.

“Yeah, but it was a big fucking risk.” Hispano grumbled as she zipped through the air and joined up on me. She glared at me as we spiraled down toward the hauler, but all over she didn’t seem too angry at me. “I told you, my Dad and I have dealt with Arrow Hawks before. If we’d taken out a few of them, the whole quiver of ‘em would have dispersed.”

“But it worked, didn’t it?” I flashed a sly smile at her that only drew a sharper glare. Oh come on! Was it that hard to admit that for once, I had come up with a plan that even though it was risky, it actually worked out alright? “Actually, Hardcase, I need to ask you something. My jump pack started to make some sort of noise once I got up to speed in my dive. Is that supposed to happen?”

“Yeah... I did hear that all the way from in the rec area.” He spoke with more hesitation in his voice than I felt comfortable with. Then again, that isn’t saying much really when I was the idiot who agreed to strap this thing to himself in the first place. “It’s probably just because the altitude and speed you were at in the dive was forcing the turbine blades to spin up and resonate. It should be fine so long as you don’t try to fire up the pack while you’re going that fast in a dive.”

Yeah, thanks for that fantastic advice, Hardcase. I’d already assumed that it was probably a bad idea to use the pack while in a dive. As tasty as the ones he’d made some mornings, I had no intentions of becoming a pony sized pancake on the road.

I was about to actually say that to him when a sharp gust of wind picked up from ahead and skewed my flight. Stiffening my forelegs, I braced myself against the stronger gusts that began to form. It was weird, as everything had been so calm in the valleys we’d been in since we left Lil’ Canterlot.

Casting my gaze along the hills ahead, I noticed a subtle but steady shift in colors. The verdant greens of the lush forests steadily became darker and darker. Whole thickets of trees were either sickly looking or less densely packed than we’d been seeing. Even the overgrown roads just ahead of Bessy and Bertha were starting to show less vegetation over the cracked black asphalt. And to add more to my confusion, I’d seen a odd looking brown-orange rock just off the side of the road as it curved around into the next valley.

“What’s going on here?” The words slipped out of my muzzle as more and more of the discolored and unhealthy looking foliage crowded the hills in thinner and thinner looking patches. Again, I was buffeted by a stronger wind flowing from over the hills ahead, and this time, it brought with it a low drone.

“Alright, we’re coming up on the city.” Delilah’s voice crackled over the radio with a bit more static than usual as another gust of wind threatened to batter me into Hispano. Funny enough, she looked to be having just as hard of a time fighting the gusts as I was. “I need everyone on recon to be up in the air, and to keep their eyes peeled on the road ahead. The raiders around Cantercross will be sure to have traps in these old wrecks, so report anything out of place, and call out any choke points that you think could be ambush spots.”

Wrecks? What wrecks? I looked around, scanning the roadway for any sign of wrecks, but only more and more of the orange misshapen rocks met my eyes. Which of course, was when it hit me. They weren’t rocks, they were the rusted, deformed, and twisted hulks of old motorwagons.

I blinked a few times as Hispano and I crested over another valley hill. The moment we were over the top, greens were gone from sight. Black husks of dead trees covered the shrinking ash baked hills that spread apart in a wide plane that stretched out to the distant rust colored mountains on either side of us.

Hazy collections of dust swirled over the arid and alien looking landscape ahead of us. Not a single speck of green existed anymore on it anywhere I looked. What must have been tens of thousands of tiny glinting lakes stretched across the rocky and burnt landscape, some of them seemed to be on fire, or glowed with a prismatic unnatural sheen. But other than the haze from the fires and dust devils that traveled across the burned lands. There was just… sterile black nothingness...

Across the arid plains, an obsidian mountain lay ahead of us as the sole destination on the highway. It was a towering jagged ridgeline that ringed around the putrid green waters of a large bay, which itself opened out to a passage that looked to stretch out toward the open ocean off on the horizon. It gave off an impressive, but overall lonely feeling that unnerved me greatly in a way I couldn’t quite put my hoof on.

The obsidian mountain itself was odd in its appearance. The whole mountain felt swept back, as if some enormous unseen force had skewed it away from our approach. Not only that, but most of the taller peaks of it twinkled and sparkled in the afternoon daylight. It was like they had snow on them, even though not a single speck of its jet black caps had white on them at all.

“Ugh.” Cora grumbled through the radio. “I hate Cantercross. Hopefully we don’t have to spend more than a day in this dump.”

“Wait, so this is Cantercross?” I spat out, looking over to Hispano. She of course was already too focused on scanning the road down below us to answer, which was what I should have been doing. Instead, I was doing my normal thing of asking stupid questions when my muzzle should have stayed shut. “I was told that Cantercross was a massive city, and I don’t know about any of you, but I don’t see anything other than an open black plain here.”

“Night.” Delilah snorted at me with more than just a hint of aggravation to it. “Use your eye, follow the road, and tell me when you see the city.”

Looking down, I humored her and followed the road under us. The further I traced it away, the more crowded it became with rusted misshapen ‘rocks’, which I could only assume were more motorwagons and skycarages. Hundreds became thousands as my eye traced all the way back along the straight highway toward the black mountain.

Which of course, was when it clicked in my head. Everything wasn’t just randomly black here. This was the blast zone from the zebra bombs…

I’d first thought that Mare’s Lake was some sort of mountain when I’d seen it, but this… was something else entirely now. Squinting, I’d begun to resolve that it wasn’t a massive mountain at all that I was looking at ahead. Rather, it was a thousand towering steel buildings standing so bunched up together that while some had fallen and bent over in the blasts, they’d only been propped up or melted into the others crowded around them.

The city of Cantercross was now like a wave of blackened steel, cresting away from the blast zone as if to hide its true identity from us. And why shouldn’t it after what ponykind did? This… this whole hellish landscape was our fault, and at some point since I’d gotten down here from the secluded skies, I’d forgotten that.

“That is Cantercross up ahead.” Hispano spoke almost reverently as she gave a few flaps and lined herself up next to me. “But I can get your confusion. The north side isn’t much to look at cause the bombs kinda baked all of the interesting bits away into a solid steel wall. But hey, the south side of it’s still a pretty nice place, but dad doesn’t even like that place either.”

Her words helped to put some things into perspective a bit, and actually drew out smaller details I’d missed in the barren landscape around us. Scanning my eye over the black lands below, I could pick out odd patterns that ran across the ground, too out of place and geometric in nature to be natural.

Rusted wrecks of motorwagons sat along the dozens of curving roads that ended in circular drives, and in the driveways of thousands of flat rectangular foundations to houses that were long burned away by the fires at the end of the war. Most of which I now noticed, where what made up the small lakes and ponds that I’d noticed before.

My mind struggled to keep up with the sheer numbers of ponies that must have lived, worked, and existed in this place. All of it had been reduced to flat black nothingness that was only accompanied by the droning wind that swept through the whole open valley. Nothing up until that moment, had accurately conveyed the scale of just what we’d lost in the end of the war.

Moreso, and I hated to admit it, was that part of me could understand just why the Enclave sealed us pegasi away from all of this. I may have momentarily forgotten what had happened at the end of the war, but I couldn’t imagine seeing this through the eyes of the pegasi who had to seal it all away. It was wrong to have abandoned the rest of ponykind for so long, but Celestia was this place depressing to even look at...

“Hello? Equis to Night…” Hispano’s voice pulled me back to reality.

“Let him soak it in, Hispano.” Cora called out as he too joined Hispano and I in the air. Looking over at him, he had his eyes pinned toward the ground, scanning across its barrenness. “One point eight million ponies used to live in Cantercross before the bombs. Only about ten thousand were lucky enough to make it out alive and un-ghoulified, hiding in personal shelters or huddled in the basements of some of the southern buildings.” He didn’t have a hint of hesitation to his words, or a crack in his stoic focused gaze. Sights like this may have been new to me, but I couldn’t imagine what Cora had seen over the years. “You may have thought you were in the wasteland before, Night, but the true nature of what it looks like can be a lot to deal with. And sadly, it’s driven more than its fair share of ponies mad.”

If this is how everything in the south had ended up after the last day, no wonder there were so many crazy ponies in the wasteland. And while not to excuse what they do in the slightest, seeing what happened here makes going raider seem a bit more believable to me. Just taking a glance at the state of everything here reminded me of just how many must have died here on the last day. What fucking hope am I supposed to have for the future when the world ended up like this while it was in the hooves of supposedly better ponies than us?

“So…” I blinked a few times before forcing my eye shut. “This is what everything looks like down south? It’s just… I can’t…” There weren’t really any words to encompass what I felt.

“No, not everything is like this.” Hardcase’s voice came over the radio with a downbeat sigh. “There’s still plenty of places out there that are more like where we’ve been than what you see ahead with the shell of Cantercross. The old cities are just… reminders of what we need to avoid as we rebuild.”

“Yes, rebuild.” Delilah cut in again, sounding even more agitated than ever. “Something that isn’t going to happen if those of you on recon don’t spot the traps hidden for us up ahead.” Oh, right. I probably should be doing the job I was hired for… “Now cut the chatter. I want to be inside Cantercross within the hour. We have a lot to prepare for in regards to Solomon.”

I’d tried to keep myself focused on my job as we drove into the outskirts of the old industrial section of the city. But every time my eye wandered across the wreck of a motorwagon, or the burned out foundation of some old building, I was reminded of just how empty this place was.

But the towering steel mountain of Cantercross now loomed over us, threatening to block out the sun as it started it’s afternoon trek downward across the sky. However, from this close, I could see just how many buildings there were on this side of the city.

Thousands of burned out steel husks stretched out before us. From here, it was easy to see how each of the melted and tilted structures once held dozens of separate floors, and in the case of the taller buildings on the steel mountain, hundreds of floors. Bits of glass that still clung to a few of the tallest buildings glinted and reflected the bright daylight, and gave the mountain a sky blue tint to it. Even with those bits of light, it was impossible to fill the emptiness that I felt the insides of the ruins gave off.

Hell, the closer we’d gotten to the city, even the wind had quieted down, leaving us all only with the groaning that came from the wall of melted steel that sat ahead. Even the still somewhat intact ruins of what had once been the industrial and factory district were quiet. The old brick and concrete buildings at the outskirts of the city were built between messes of rusted metal beams and pipes, some of which still drained fowl looking water out of them. Their interiors however, were just as dark and empty as the rest of the city.

Honestly though, I was surprised that there wasn’t even the hint of life anywhere to be seen at all. Just… the lonely ruins. But I should have recognized it as the sign it was. If I’d learned anything about being a convoy scout so far, it was that if everything was quiet, something was about to go wrong.

*BANG!*

I don’t know where the shot came from, but the resounding ping it put out against Bertha’s armor was accompanied with a flash of sparks. All hell broke loose from the ruins below us as chattering shots tore through the air around Hispano, Cora, and I.

“Break off!” Hispano shouted as she spun off in a dive. “Multiple contacts in the ruins!”

I torqued my own wings, spinning myself over and dropping into a steep dive. The air picked up under my wings as I gained speed. Howitzer’s cannon swiveled around on Bessy, lining up with the dark interior of a half collapsed warehouse ahead of us as I dove towards the convoy on the road. I leveled out my dive as his cannon stiffened up, and I braced for the blast. Before he could fire however, a trailing rocket shot out from the darkness of the warehouse.

The explosion tore a chunk out of the road next to Bessy, and shot up a cloud of dust ahead of me, obscuring the striped APC as I approached. I winced and pulled up as I tore through the gravel and rocks that were thrown into the air from the blast, zipping through the cloud as I gained a bit of altitude. Dust coated the sunglasses on my muzzle, but through it, I saw a quick burst of flashes from inside a hole in an old water tower.

“One of them is in the water tower!” I called out over the radio. Though, the pony in the tower must have heard that, seeing as another few shots zipped through the air past me. I rolled myself to the side and steered myself out of their firing arc.

“On it!” Hispano shouted into my ear as I rolled myself back into level flight.

The familiar heavy thumps of Suiza went off from above me just before the blur that was Hispano tore past me through the air. Quick gunfire from below pulled my attention down to a set of rusted pipes, as a ragged pony stepped out and fired up at her.

Dropping myself into a shallow dive, I lined up on the pipes and flicked my tongue. The crisp snap of a grenade releasing told me that it was time to pull up again. Pointing myself upward, I listened again as there was a sharp, reverberating clang that came when my grenade hit the pipe next to the pony. However, the noise was shortly drowned out by the louder pop the frag grenade gave off.

“Bessy’s left side tires are shredded from that rocket hit, we’re immobile for the moment.” Delilah groaned over the radio. “Howitzer, bring down that ruin on those raider rocket fuckers. Everyone on recon, root out these assholes and put them all down.” She didn’t have to tell any of us twice.

Howitzer’s cannon let off a blast that dwarfed the one my grenade had made. With an impressive plume of fire and dust, half of the dark warehouse collapsed and was reduced to a pile of rubble on the ground. Screams of agony and fear came from it only momentarily before the other half crumbled and collapsed onto the ponies inside.

“Bombay, factory rooftop at your ten! Two contacts!” Cora called out over the radio. “Hispano, industrial silo to your two o’ clock!”

“On it!” I called out, looking over as I shifted my weight to bank around again. The old brick building had sets of slanted, sawtooth like roofs that offered alright cover against incoming shots. Still, some encouragement for them to stay hidden might not be a bad idea.

I flicked the trigger to my subgun with my tongue, sending out a pair of bursts toward where the roof ponies were hidden. With a tweak of my wings, and a small adjustment of my outstretched forelegs, I worked to line myself up for a pass to drop a grenade. To my dismay, they weren’t as willing to hide behind their cover as I thought.

A pair of stallions in crimson colored spiky armor popped out and took pot shots at me. I was forced to pull off my attack to avoid them, and I quickly shifted my hoof to press at the button on my harness. Their guns must have been in fairly poor condition to have missed me at this range, but I doubt they’d have been able to hit me at all from the scared looks across their muzzles.

Still, the capacitor in my pack whined until it hit peak charge, and I pulled myself into a vertical climb. As I slowed, the pair below be took a few more shots up at me which I could only pray didn’t kill me. Snapping my wings shut, I straightened myself out, and depressed the button in my fetlock.

There was a distinct stabbing feeling in my rear left leg as the shock of acceleration hit me. I cried out, struggling against the urge to immediately flare my wings and flip over to see what happened. My leg felt like it was on fire, and I grit my teeth as I just knew I’d been shot by those assholes down there.

As the feeling of weightlessness came over me, the sounds of more shots from below met my ears. Growling, I let myself flip over, pointing directly down as I started to plummet. Easily, I started to pick up speed, grinding my teeth against my bit with my tongue at the ready. As it had before in my dive, the jump pack began to emit it’s loud shrieking as I became a blue streak heading right toward them.

The two of them seemed to shrink down and cupped their ears as the wailing death above them approached. Though annoyingly, the one of them that was a unicorn simply kept his gun pointed up and was blindly firing at me as he ducked under the remains of an old air conditioning unit. The old sheet metal would have been easy to punch through with my gun, but shooting the fuckers would take two passes, and I didn’t have time for that shit.

A quick flick of my tongue released a single grenade from my harness. The moment it was away, I flared out my wings and began to pull up. Problem was, from that height, I’d gotten going quite a lot faster than I’d ever really gone before. Hell, even the drone from my pack was a high pitched scream now that made my own ears hurt.

Twisting my wings, I tried to roll and give myself a few extra seconds to pull up by skewing my path away from the rapidly approaching factory. As I did however, I noticed that mid roll, my wings scooped up a bit more of the air than I’d expected, and I’d begun to easily shift my trajectory. My mind raced as I continued to pull up, trying to figure out just how I’d been able to turn so easily at that speed.

Unfortunately for me, turning that quickly at that speed came with its own problems. My mind started to lose focus, and the world around me turned black and white for a moment. I fought off a feeling of incredible drowsiness that threatened to drag me off to sleep mid flight. The only thing that kept my focus, was Hispano’s far off sounding voice in the back of my head.

“Bombay…” Why did she sound so fuzzy and far off? “Don’t tell me you passed out from that!”

Passed out? What did she mean? I blinked as her confusing words flooded my mind. Color returned to the world around me as the wailing drone from my pack also came back into my ears. Since when did everything become so flat and black? Blinking again, I looked down and found the road under me again. Huh, I was going the wrong way?

Turning my head, I looked back and found myself a good distance away from the convoy. Twisting my wings, I slipped into a long arching bank that helped to kill off some of the speed I’d gotten in the dive. My droning jump pack quieted as my speed lowered, and I breathed a small sigh of relief.

Goddesses is that noise annoying. I mean, it’s probably not as annoying as getting a grenade dropped on you, or being shot in the fucking leg, but still! On that, I was actually curious as to how I’d done. Looking up above the old factory ruins, I spotted Cora floating about and surveying things, while Hispano zipped up through the air to join him.

Well, it shouldn’t be a surprise that she got her targets. However, from the fact that they’re both not actively maneuvering, I think it’s safe to say that at the very least, the rest of the raiders won’t be interested in keeping up their attack. Still, I couldn’t help but ask.

“Hey, Cora, did I get those two?” I mean, I’d never gone that fast, and with the noise it had been quite hard to concentrate after all. I winced as I pulled my flight straight again, which tweaked my injured leg. I’d be happy with just a partial hit on those two assholes at this point.

“You might not be as good as a Talon, but I’ll be damned if you aren’t halfway decent at bombing.” Cora’s voice came across as… oddly happy, and that was a bit unnerving to say the least. “You actually hit one of them with that grenade of yours. Never seen anything like it in my life.”

“I only hit one of them?” I spat out without thinking. Ugh, while a part of me had really wished I’d gotten the both of them, fifty percent accuracy from that sort of attack isn’t all that bad I guess. I just hope that the one I did get was the asshole who’d shot me.

“No, I mean you actually physically hit one of them with your grenade. Right in the face.” Cora let out a squawking laugh. “I think you might have caved his skull in with it. His friend was so mortified that instead of running, he just stood there in shock before becoming red paste like his buddy. It was...”

“You alright there, Night?” Hispano cut in with a heavy note of worry to her voice. “That was uh… an interesting maneuver you pulled. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anypony go that fast in a dive before, and I think you almost passed out pulling out of it.”

“I’m surprised he didn’t.” Cora jumped back in again. “You must have pulled some serious G’s coming out of a dive like that. I’ve been around as you know, and I’ve only ever even seen one other talon pull out of a dive like that.” He paused for a moment as if to gauge something about what he’d said. Still, as if to keep me from dropping into complete uninteresting silence, the throbbing pain from my leg flared up as I subtly tweaked it during my flight. “You know what?” He spoke up again, “I think the fight here is done. You should land and get your leg taken care of, and get Buck to give you a once over as well.”

“Alright, sounds good.” I nodded to myself and angled my flight back toward the Hauler. Even from here, I could see Buck standing and waiting for me on the railing of the rec area.

“Good work with those raiders, all of you.” Delilah’s annoyed but relieved voice filled my ear. “Hardcase, get Boiler and come down here. It’s going to take the both of you to get Bessy back into a roadworthy state. And then once both Night and Howitzer get the all clear from the doc, we’re back on the road again.”

Wait, what’s wrong with Howitzer?

“What happened to Howitzer?” Hardcase asked with impeccable timing.

“He took some spalling to the face from the rocket blast. Nothing major.” Delilah snorted in her normal annoyed way. “Make sure Boiler knows that it looks worse than it is. I don’t want either of you worried about anything else other than making sure we can get back on the move.”

The chalky tabs of Chill went down all too easy for me, and the cup of water that followed really hit the spot.

Immediately, I felt a bit of my strength return as the soothing numbness of the drug washed over me. I let my wings flop back, relaxed, letting the tension and strain in them wash away as I leaned back into the plush cushions of the rec area couch. Looking out the back and into the charred black wasteland behind us, the same creeping feeling of hopelessness I’d felt before started to claw its way through the back of my mind.

“Alright. I’m sorry we don’t have any potions to help with your leg. The one you used back at Sun Dog City was the last one we had until we can restock in Cantercross.” As always, Buck’s voice was an oasis in the desert of negative thoughts that permeated my mind. “Even so, how’s the leg feeling?” He asked as he reached up and adjusted his medical yoke before looking down with a kind smile.

“Better.” I offered back, lifting it with a wince and looking over the tightly wrapped magical bandages he’d tied just below my cutie mark.

It had been awhile since I’d seen these particular zebra ones. The last time I’d had them on me, they were wrapped around all four of my hooves after another, equally successful bombing run. Part of me wondered if my original assumption was correct that I’d be as striped as a zebra by the time we arrive all the way down to Delilah’s town. Still, having darker blue stripes at the very least beat out having a gaping wound in my leg!

“So, how is he?” Cora asked calmly as he beat his wide wings, coming in for a soft landing in the rec area.

“He seems fine.” Buck gave a shrug as he walked over to the kitchenette and grabbed one of the porcelain cups from the cupboard. “The gunshot wound was a fairly simple fix, though not the fix I wanted. But, he doesn’t seem to have any adverse effects from the G forces he endured.” Pouring a small bit of the freshly brewed coffee from the pot, Buck gave a long and relaxed inhaling sniff of the hot brew before finishing his thoughts. “Then again, while dealing with those forces wouldn’t be unusual for a pegasus, I think that having lost a leg actually helped him in this case.” Pulling the mug up to his lips, he took a small sip of it and smiled wider.

If I’d been the one with the coffee right now, I would have spit it all over the floor.

“How the fuck does having lost a leg help me!?” I flailed myself so hard that I was nearly able to stand up. But seriously? I may have adjusted to having lost it, but it was far from a good thing to have happened to me.

“Calm down there.” Cora deadpanned and rolled his eyes. “With your amputation, you have less blood in your lower body than the average flyer. Less blood means you are less affected by G forces.” Cupping his talon around his beak, Cora stroked it as if he were grooming a beard. “Yes, the connection is clear now. The only talon I’ve seen perform a dive like that had also lost a leg.” Cocking his eyebrow at me, he smirked. “Though, you’re lucky your prosthetic is lighter than the solid steel cyberhoof he became stuck with.”

The heavy hoofsteps of somepony below silenced the three of us. I perked my ears and cringed as it sounded like half of Boiler’s stacked junk in the ice hold was knocked over. A muffled obscenity that I couldn’t quite make out came through the floor from what could have only been a very annoyed Howitzer. Slowly though, he made his way up the Ice hold stairs, and shoved the hatch open.

“Alright, Doc.” Howitzer spoke up as he came into view, and both Buck and I emit the least subtle gasps ever uttered from the state of his head. “Fix me up.”

What was most notably wrong with him hit me a little too hard, and I realized that Delilah had lied when she said his injuries were ‘nothing major’.

I looked into the bloody and pulpy socket where his left eye had once sat, and reflexively winced as just the barest hint of pain pushed its way through the chill from behind my fake eye. However, with as regrettable as that was, past that, he didn’t look too bad. It was… hard to describe, actually. I couldn’t see a single open wound on him, other than his missing eye of course. Even so, the entire left side of his head was absolutely matted and drenched in blood.

“I really do hope we’re done with losing eyes on this trip, because at this rate, it won’t be long until I’m the one who loses an eye. And if you want me to be your doctor, I pretty much require the two I’ve got.” Buck sighed and put down his coffee before heading into our container with a defeated look across his face. “Still, I’m going to need a lot more bandages if this keeps up…”

“Eeyup.” Cora simply shook his head. “Spalling’ll do that to you. Perhaps now you’ll consider wearing goggles inside Bessy?”

“Nah, it’d only get in the way of using the optics for the cannon. Even missing an eye, I can still aim well enough to eradicate anything if I can point the muzzle at it.” Howitzer gave out a snort that ended up pulling a wide grin across his broad muzzle as he looked at me. “And like Lucky said before, we can’t have Night here hogging all the injuries to himself, can we?”

“I certainly hope that’s a joke.” Delilah’s lax tone was off putting for the delay the raiders had caused. Really, I’d expected her to sound a bit more frustrated than anything. “Most of us on the way up were fortunate enough on this trip to escape major injuries, but I sympathise with the Doc. We can’t afford to get injured at the rate we have been.”

“Which is why things need to change.” Delilah grunted as she continued and climbed the last few steps up into the Rec area. Stepping around Howitzer, she took a moment to just breathe and scan her eyes across the charred black wastes. “The Sun Dogs may have rejected my offer, but the goal still stands.”

“Trying to build an army isn’t going to help. Not against someone like Solomon.” Cora crossed his talons as he leaned against the rec area table. “A precise and overwhelming strike would be a much better idea.”

“No.” Delilah offered back without breaking her gaze from the wastes. “Those like Solomon only know and respect one thing. Power. A show of united force will shake the very foundations of his world, and show him that he’s not as high and mighty as he might think. And while it may not be as precise as a surgical strike, you don’t use a scalpel to destroy a foundation. You use a sledge hammer.”

Turning around, Delilah pushed her glasses further up onto the bridge of her muzzle. She squinted and looked between Cora and I as if she weren’t sure if she could even trust us. Still, I didn’t like the tone she’d picked up in Lil’ Canterlot. I can’t claim to really know, but to me it felt like she’d snapped a bit. She didn’t feel like the same Delilah I’d met up in Inuvik. Then again, I wasn’t the same Night anymore that she’d met up there either.

“From now on, Night, you’re to wear the reloading sling when you’re on patrol, and I’m setting aside a small stock for you to use. You’re going to keep it loaded with one of Bessy’s shells, ready to drop at a moment’s notice.” Just the smallest curl of her lips into a smile unnerved me even more. “There’s little room in the ruins of Cantercross to maneuver the convoy, and there’s bound to be more trouble ahead. So the second something seems off, the moment you see something out of place, I want you to dive like you did in this last fight and drop that shell to obliterate whatever it is.”

“But Ma’am,” An appalled gasp made its way out of Howitzer’s muzzle as he turned to face her. “We’re running low on shells as…”

“Enough.” Delilah snapped and spun around to him. Howitzer visibly shrunk back as her glare burned. “We will restock once we reach Cordite headquarters, but I will not risk the chance of us not even making it that far to begin with. Understand?” She kept her burning glare on Howitzer until he nodded slowly. Even then, she simply ground her teeth and growled as she turned back toward staring at the wastes. “I’m the boss of this company, and you are my employees. The questioning of my orders ends now.”

While this was how I’d expected to see Delilah from this delay, I didn’t like this new attitude at all. I watched as she turned and walked off, disappearing into her container and shutting the door behind her. The moment she was gone, both Cora and Howitzer gave sighs of relief.

“I’ve never seen her this bad before.” Lucky spoke up through the cracked door to his container.

“She’s never been under this kind of stress before either.” Howitzer groaned as he turned and walked over toward the couch, plopping down on it as Buck stepped out of our container. He wore a distant and disappointed look across his muzzle that perfectly described the mood we’d all been left in from that. “But I shouldn’t have spoken up. I never even considered stopping at Cordite to resupply.”

“That’s no excuse.” The words tumbled out of my muzzle like always, but I didn’t fight them. “While I’m willing to do what it takes to keep us all safe, I can’t say that building an army will do anything against Solomon. Wasn’t the whole point of not fighting him because he could just hire off whoever he wants to fight back?”

“Delilah has a point with her plan though.” Lucky spoke up, groaning out his words before there was a heavy thump that came from his room. Cora simply rolled his eyes and walked over to Lucky’s container and stepped inside. “Oh, thank you.” Lucky remarked quickly. After a moment, he walked back out with the still blindfolded Zebra slung over his shoulders. “As she was saying, Solomon does respect power, it’s just part of Saddle Arabian culture. Money is power, and whoever has the most money is King. So if Delilah can pool together enough allies, then while Solomon can hire enough ponies to fight back…”

“He’d effectively spend away his chance at becoming king.” Buck surprisingly cut him off. “But… that’s a risky move. We don’t know how much he can afford to spend, do we?”

“He’s practically got a blank check at the moment thanks to Mr. Wizard.” Cora groaned as he set Lucky down between Howitzer and I on the couch. “An alliance with a future king of Saddle Arabia could potentially give Mr. Wizard enough resources that he could directly take control over most of the frozen north. And unless he either dies, or decides that Solomon is a bad investment, that blank check isn’t going to change in the near future.”

“I don’t trust you to deal with something as big as Solomon’s brother.” Lamia’s words wandered back through my mind.

“His brother…” I spoke up, pulling confused looks from just about everyone. “Lamia said that Solomon’s brother, Prince Brayef or some such, just unexpectedly showed up. If we could get him on our side, then we’d definitely be able to outspend him.”

“No.” Cora shook his head. “From what I understand, and as unlikely as it may seem, Solomon is actually the best candidate for the throne. His brothers are all monsters who have spent the last decade conquering the lands around Saddle Arabia and enslaving their inhabitants. And if those they conquered didn’t cooperate, then it turned into genocide. While Solomon may not care for ponykind, he knows better than to kill off potential customers and trade partners.”

“Then maybe…” I blinked a few times as I tried to think about things. There was no way we could raise an army just from settlements that would be big enough to get rid of Solomon, and I doubted that Delilah was willing to spend herself into bankruptcy either. But if we didn’t want his brother’s on the throne, and as much as the thought sickened me, then we’d have to somehow convince him to leave without killing him.

“I… I don’t know.” Hanging my head, I just knew that there had to be some way to resolve this.

“Well, it’s no use worrying about it at the moment.” Lucky sighed. “For now, just focus on getting through Cantercross. It’s going to be hard enough as is to get through this dump of a city.”

“Alright… there we go.” Buck took a step back as he finished tying the quickly staining crimson magical bandages around Howitzer’s head. Held in one of his paws was a battery rigged up to a copper coil that reminded me of the device that had been used to pull the bullets out of him back at Filly Crossing. Except now, it was covered in tiny metal fragments I’d assumed had previously been embedded in Howitzer’s head. “Given a day, you should be all healed up. Minus the eye, of course. Your sight will be fuzzy for a while as you adjust, with some headaches and such. But there’s no scarring on the inside of the socket, so there shouldn’t be any lingering pain.”

“It’ll take some getting used to, but I’ll be alright, Doc.” Howitzer smirked and looked over at me. “If anything, I’ll just get some pointers for adjusting from Night.”

“Speaking of…” Lucky whimpered as he lifted his hoof and prosthetic, prodding them at the blindfold still tied over his eyes. “When… will I be able to see again?”

“Well…” Buck huffed as he curled his paw around the underside of his chin. “I was going to leave it on for another day or so just to be safe, but you have been making a remarkable recovery so far. So I guess we could try removing it and start you adjusting again.” Stepping up, Buck reached a claw under the side of the blindfold and hooked it. “Now keep your eyes closed, and when I tell you, open them slowly.”

Carefully, he dragged it up and off Lucky’s head. I don’t know why, but for some reason, part of me had expected to see a pair of gaping sockets where his closed eyelids were. Thankfully though, the only part of Lucky’s head that didn’t seem to be scared or damaged were his eyes.

“Hold on one sec.” Cora stepped up beside me, and with a quick swipe of his talons, plucked Double Delta’s sunglasses right off the top of my head. “Sorry, Night, but he needs them right now more than you do.” With a flick, he set the dark aviators down onto Lucky’s muzzle and pushed them back until they sat pretty much against his eyelids.

“Alright, now remember, open them slowly.” Buck said as both he and Cora stepped back from him.

It was hard to tell from behind the dark sunglasses, but for the first time in quite a while, Lucky opened his eyes.

“It’s… fuzzy, but I can see you, Doc.” He blinked a few times as his muzzle cracked open into a fantastically wide smile, and he gave out a stiff but short laugh as he looked between Buck and Cora. “I can see!” Of course, then he turned and looked to Howitzer. “Oh, geez, Howitzer. That’s rough.”

“Said the pot to the kettle.” Howitzer snorted through his own smirk before nodding over toward me. “Or multiple kettles, as is the case.”

Lucky turned and froze as he looked at me. He looked over the scars that Galina had given me, and his joy filled smile shrank. Again it was hard to see through the tinted glasses, but I could see his blue eyes had locked on the emerald gem in my prosthetic eye.

“Woah, Night…” He spoke at almost a whisper. Without warning or hesitation though, he leaned himself over and wrapped his hoof around me to pull me into a hug. “Thank you for being here.” He let loose a whimpering sniffle as his wet cheek matted my neck fur. “Thank all of you for everything. I may not be able to walk, but it’s because of all of you that I’m still even alive.”

“Speaking of which.” Howitzer groaned as he pushed himself up. “I think I’m going to go have a word with my sister. The repairs shouldn’t take too much longer, and I’m going to remind her to build you that wheelchair once we’re back on the road.” He reached out and gave the Zebra a firm pat on the back. “We’ll have you up and about again in no time, Lucky.”

“As for us, Night,” Cora sighed and nodded toward the Ice hold, “We need to go get you set up with that reloading rig and get back in the air. Hispano could probably use a break before we get back on the road.”

“Right.” I hung my head a bit as I tucked my wings up tightly against my back.

While I didn’t mind hauling a shell around under me, I had to wonder how adding yet another weighty object to my load was going to affect my flight. Sure, the jump pack helped me to get up into the sky, but if I lost too much altitude or airspeed before it charged, then I was going to have problems keeping as close of a watch on things as Delilah wanted. But that was a problem I’d have to solve when it came up.

For now, I just needed to prepare myself to enter the city of Cantercross…

The path that the now elevated highway cut through the wall of bent and baked steel was something I’d almost missed. Twisting and turning amongst the crumbling brick and concrete of the old industrial district, it was an artificial canyon that felt as spooky as any foals tale could be. All that was missing was for it to be a dark and stormy night...

The groans of the melted steel buildings had given way to a low, almost rhythmic pulsing. It wasn’t exactly like the noise an archano engine would give off. No, it sounded more like a heartbeat punctuated by groans in the breeze. Deep in my mind, I wondered if it was in fact, something big living within the metal walls. And with how big Tephra was for a dragon back in Mare’s Lake, I’d hoped that it wasn’t an even larger dragon just waiting to pop out and cook us all alive.

The route the four lane highway followed through the old city was barely wide enough for Bertha to fit through. Though to their credit, the Road Crew had done an admittedly amazing job at keeping the old roadway structure patched up and clear of so much as even small bits of metal and glass. While maintaining thousands of miles worth of road was a feat in and of itself, this highway through the city must have been a point of pride for them.

Still, no amount of work the Road Crew could do could seal the literal thousands of gaping and open holes in the melted buildings around us. However, as unnerving as those holes were, the further we drove into the city, the more I began to notice them change. Bit by bit, the interiors of the buildings began to straighten up, becoming more uniform. Not only that, but it wasn’t long before the amber rays of the late afternoon sun began to show through some of them.

The highway curved slightly, pulling around the charred remains of an old triangular shaped building. Unlike the others, this building caught me off guard with the fact that some of the higher floors had tattered clothes covering the windows, billowing in the soft breeze that pushed through the thin steel canyon.

Behind those coverings, I could see artificial lights that still worked, and even what looked to be a foal peeking out to watch as we drove past. The foal smiled at me, waving energetically as I soared through the air only a few floors below. Sadly, I was too lost in the sudden appearance of an inhabited building to wave back. Though, I couldn’t really blame myself as I turned my attention back to where the road was now heading.

I squinted as the setting sun beamed down onto me with full force. The whole damn city just past the curve opened up into a wide clearing. A cleared area a few blocks across in size stretched out on either side of the highway, as if somepony had decided to clear cut the buildings here like it had been a forest, and leave the inner city looking like it was a steel fortress. And what a fantastical looking fortress it was.

Ahead, lay buildings that for lack of better words, looked completely out of their time. They were almost untouched by the destruction that befell the rest of Cantercross, still sporting things like intact windows, and working exterior lights. It was a densely packed sea of concrete, glass, and neon that stretched up defiantly into the evening sky.

Even the bright, multi-ringed exterior of a towering Ministry of Awesome branded building in the center of what remained of the ‘intact’ part of the city gave me pause. It shone with a neon glow that would have put the entirety of Neighvarro’s downtown districts to shame! Near the peak of its thin, cone-like shape, six bulging rings pulsed with colors, alternating through each color of the rainbow one after another. I’d only heard stories about the old Ministry of Awesome hubs, and glimpsed the occasional black and white photo in articles, but it really was something else to behold.

For being only a small, now ‘secluded’ part of Cantercross, this huddled and secluded collection of buildings was nearly the size of downtown Mare’s Lake. It was only now that I could quite comprehend why Rook had laughed at me for not understanding just how ‘big’ a city could get. Still, the polarizing mix of light and shadows that the bunched up intact skyscrapers cast, gave the look of a city at war with itself.

Of course, that wasn’t helped by the monolithic tubular structure that stood near the waterside part of the city. It was only dwarfed by the Ministry of Awesome hub, and the various wires and skeletal construction that stabilized the tower made me think it had once served some sort of job as a radio antenna or something. However, the overly large rectangular red flag that held a single white W that flew from it gave me a terrible feeling in my gut.

Behind us, the melted steel wall was bent and curved, stretching over us slightly. From this side, it looked like it was indeed a steel wave waiting to crash down on the city, ready to pull it into the same state that the rest of the wasteland was in. Even so, from this side, I could see that some of the buildings looked like they’d been cut in half, or scraped away altogether to create the barren void we currently were driving through.

The Convoy moved along the elevated highway further across the cleared and flat expanse around the city, all the while, the pulsing sound I’d heard had shifted tone. Sharp screatches of metal accompanied each swift beat, which now distinctly came from the right side of the clearing. Looking over, I blinked a few times as my eyes ran from the cleared ground to the open sky.

The shattered pavement and debris on the floor of both sides of the clearing was churned up in two distinct lines, leading straight along the clearing like the ancient tracks of some enormous beast. Following those tracks however, lead me to an even more confounding sight of what looked to be that ‘ancient beast’ itself.

“Celestia… what the hell is that?” I couldn’t hold on to those words if I’d wanted to as my eyes took in the oddity before me.

A machine bigger than I’d ever imagined could be built, rested upon eight sets of massive metal tracks. Four massive steel booms extended along its centerline from a central metal housing, and was connected by hundreds of taught and loose cables. On the rearmost boom, dozens of different concrete slabs sat together in large bricks, each collection stacked slightly offset to the next to ‘climb’ up the back of the boom. On the ‘front’ boom however, was the real oddity. An enormous circular ‘saw’ blade spun as the whole machine slowly turned towards the wall of steel that made up the northern half of the old city.

The saw blade itself, while considered thin compared to the rest of the machine, must have been three ponies wide. The saw’s jagged ‘teeth’ looked hollow on the inside, and I reflexively cringed as they plunged into the inside of the steel wall. The pulsing noise grew louder as each tooth gouged and scooped out entire floors at a time from the broken buildings, dumping them onto what looked like a conveyor belt that ran through the forward boom and straight into the obscured heart of the machine.

“That’s the Reitpony two nine three, the largest excavator ever built.” Hardcase’s voice picked up through a short burst of static on the radio. “An engineering marvel.” He sighed contently as I could only assume he was looking upon the machine with a longing gaze. “Isn’t she sure something?” I’ll at least give it to Hardcase, that even though he’s got some weird fetish for giant or impractical machines, this one was actually worth fawning over.

“Yeah, something bought and paid for by Burro Industries to mine shale at a quarry almost a hundred miles southeast of here. Annoyingly, it was stolen and is being used to clear out the ruins of old Cantercross.” Delilah chipped in with her normal tone. Wait, so it made this whole clearing!? “And unfortunately for us, it’s also now the central union headquarters of the Road Crew.”

“Pretty impressive, wouldn’t you say, Night?” Hardcase gave a light hearted laugh over the radio. “If it comes down to it, it’s not going to be so easy to just drop a few grenades on it to clear, let alone that shell you have slung under you on top of that.”

“To be honest, I don’t think that even the SFG could have handled something this big…” I blinked a few times as the distinct possibility of having to fight around that beast filtered into my mind. We’d already had to fight pretty much every other road crew vehicle we’d come across, so why would our luck spare us from this?

“Always nice to know we have fans of Large Marge.” The arrogant and smooth voice of a stranger came over the radio. The strange stallion offered his own light hearted laugh as the soft rumble of an archano engine started up just inside the highway offramp that plunged deep into the shining neon city. “So you’re the convoy who’s been the pain in my mother’s ass. Well then, it brings me great pleasure in requesting that you submit to my crew so that she may finally deal with… I’m sorry, what’s the name of your leader? Lilly? Dandylion? It was a flower, I know that much...”

“Delilah.” Delilah snorted sharply and simply. “Burro.”

“Wait, as in the actual Burro Industries, Burro?” The stallion giggled like a foal on the other side of the radio. “Shit, this just keeps getting better and better! We’ve got a lot of your equipment still hanging around.” He caught himself mid laugh, forcing it back as he tried to speak in a more serious tone. “If my mother knew it was the Burro Industries head messing up our representatives, she’d probably have thought it was fair enough of a trade. Still, I’ve heard a lot about you Mrs. Burro, so this meeting should prove to be quite interesting!”

Just past the first few buildings of the inner city, a whole other convoy of construction vehicles pulled up from the off and on ramps that laid just out of sight. It was a dozen or so vehicles, all heavily armed and armored construction equipment like normal. However, the large vehicle that took its place in the center of them stood out from the rest. It wasn’t as big as either Knuckle Boom or Double Drum’s vehicles, but it was its own kind of different.

It was a longer, thinner vehicle, sitting on six small-ish sized wheels. The single pony cab was huddled at the back over four of the wheels, perched high up barely in front of it’s oversized, exposed, and glowing red hot archano engine. A pair of exhaust pipes seemed to have been fitted on as well, belching flames every few moments, and giving it the feeling of a machine built for raw power. A long length of the machine was dedicated to a central raised bar that was the centerline of it, sticking far out ahead of it to the tip of the machine where a pair of wheels sat. Secured underneath and perpendicular to that central bar, was a long and extremely sharp looking blade that in total, stretched all the way across most of the four lane highway.

“Ma’am?” I spoke up, debating on if I should start to charge the jump pack or not. I know that she said to dive on any hostiles without hesitation, but… I had to have some hope that this didn’t have to be a fight. Even so, I felt like I needed to let her know that I was ready. “Just say the word.”

“The word?” The strange stallion laughed again. “Well, you’re either quite brave, or quite stupid. Either way, do not mistake my instructions and passing commentary as a polite but optional request. You will come with us peacefully, or we can go the difficult route where you will be destroyed here and now. It’s your choice, but unless you start to slow down, I’m going to have to assume you’d like to do this the hard way.”

“Alright.” Delilah grumbled. “Night, pack it in and get back on board Bertha. To the rest of the crew, stand down. We’re going to submit to them for now.”

“Awww.” Hardcase groaned over the radio. “And here I was hoping we were done with this whole bit back at the Ranger’s base…”

Well, this wasn’t a fight yet at least, so that much had to be a good thing. Still, as I started a slow, winding corkscrew descent, I couldn’t fight my sinking feeling that this would all go sideways soon enough. While Double Drum had been nice enough, we were still the ones to destroy his machine. And in the case of Knuckle Boom, we had hardly even met the mare before melting her and her entire crew.

In my slow flight, my vision kept locking onto the monster machine off in the distance. Could we even afford to take on the main headquarters of the Road Crew? We didn’t have the SFG anymore, and while Bessy’s cannon could do good work out on the roads against single targets, it wasn’t going to be nearly enough firepower to take down half the vehicles they have. We were just one convoy against an army, and there were no odds in that.

Still, the odds hadn’t really been in our favor this whole damn trip, which I’m sure is why Delilah’s been looking to try to turn them back around. Then again, maybe that’s actually why she didn’t want me to attack them just now. She may have gone about it the wrong way back at Sun Dog City, but perhaps if we play our cards right, we can walk into their camp as troublemakers, and walk out as friends.

Author's Note

A big thanks to TheFurryRailfan as always for helping to fix the chapter up!

And of course, another big thanks to Kkat for putting out and letting us all use the Fallout: Eqeustria setting!

Chapter 49 - Large Marge

No matter how many times you've had it, if it's offered, take it.

After having stripped down from all my gear in the storage cage, I cantered up through the hauler and back to my room. As I stood outside the container door, I looked out the back of the rec area. The city beyond it had grown as we plunged inside of it. Weary looking ponies gazed through the open windows of some of the buildings around us, silently watching as the Road Crew led us through the winding city streets.

Still, on the face of everypony I saw, I could see something they all shared. There was a sense of serene calm here that didn’t exist anywhere else we’d been so far. The city itself, while bright and whole, was filled with ponies who didn’t seem worried in the slightest. One who I watched as we drove by, walked along the streets alone and without barding for protection. One a little ways further on, stood drinking from a near empty booze bottle under a street lamp that flickered on as the skies tinged with the hues of night.

Still, even though this place didn’t feel at all threatening, I couldn’t relax. More so than ever before, I felt like here, I truly was an outsider. Well, that’s not exactly right. This place felt to me like it was out of time, as fake to a wastelander like I was as the set of ‘Attack of the Fifty Foot Mare’ was on the silver screen. It all felt fake to me, and I couldn’t fight the all too familiar feeling that something terrible was behind the nearly flawless image of the city.

Opening the door to my container, I was greeted with the sleeping form of Hispano. She was curled up on her bed, talons tightly hugging around Suiza. Seeing her like this was nice though. She’d been through a lot recently, and she deserved to finally get some rest. I wasn’t going to lie, my body wanted rest as well after the day I’d had, but it wouldn’t get it now. Not until we were out of danger from the Road Crew.

“Hey.” Buck’s hushed voice was equally as relaxing as the warm gaze he held when I looked over at him. He gave a soft groan as he turned from his desk to look up at me. “She just fell asleep.” My eyes looked down to his paws, and I found them holding tightly onto his medical yoke. His own gaze dropped to it before it drifted off towards our bed. “You should get some rest too. You’ve been through a lot today.”

“Not yet.” I used my own quieted voice to answer as I shut the door softly behind me. Latching it, I gave a soft sigh as I turned back around.

Buck stood from his seat, walking and reaching his paws out to me. Again, I won’t lie in saying that as he wrapped his arms around me tightly, I felt like I wanted to stay in his warm embrace forever. Still, as he held me, I looked back at the medical yoke on his desk. I’d seen it off him quite a few times now, though I’d noticed something different about it this time around. A small grey metal flap had appeared on the inside curve of it that hadn’t been there before.

“Your yoke… what happened to it?” I found the words tumble from my muzzle, as always.

“Hardcase helped me with it.” Buck spoke as he removed one of his paws from around me and gripped around the wooden yoke tightly. Bringing it closer, his claw flipped open the metal plate to reveal a small cavity that had been carved out of the wood. “After what happened to Violet, I… thought it best to keep some important things close and safe.” Inside, sat the photostrip that the three of us had taken in Lil’ Canterlot. Not only that, but the picture I’d recovered of my parents and I also sat carefully tucked away in the small space. “This way, you’ll always be close to me, no matter what happens.”

“I’m sorry for the way things have been, Buck.” My mind flashed back to all the times recently that Buck had been disappointed in me. As if to make a point of it, it also replayed what I’d done to Lamia, and how he’d surely have felt if he knew what really happened. Sure she’d wanted to kill Hispano, but… that didn’t mean I couldn’t regret what I did to her. “You deserve better than the way things have been...” My words drifted off as I pressed myself into his warmth.

With as much poise and care as always, he scooped me straight up off the floor and held me tightly. Turning towards our bed, he walked us over and sat down on it. Carefully, he laid us back, keeping me warmly wrapped between his massive arms. I had to fight the yawn that wanted to claw its way out of my muzzle. But as hard as I fought, I couldn’t stop Buck as he opened his jaw and let out a long yawn of his own.

“It’s okay, Night.” He offered as his eyes drifted toward the ceiling. “I know things have been very different than to what we both expected to find in the wasteland. And while it’s been a lot to deal with, we’re a family now, right?” His own ice blue eyes came back down to me, and a peaceful expression fell across his face. “So long as we work on dealing with things together, then that’s all that matters to me.”

Together, he says. There hasn’t been much of a chance to even be together recently. From me taking off after Galina, to going alone to stop the Buzzbomb fleet, I haven’t exactly been able to be supported or helped. Not to mention, the curse that still followed me just meant it would be better if they kept themselves at a distance. At least, until I found ‘the home I know is mine’, or whatever Madame Mystic had meant by that.

The soft flutter of wings behind me preempted the light touch of a talon over my side. Turning, I moved just enough that Hispano could squeeze herself down between Buck’s warm grasp as well. She gave a short, but contented yawn as she settled back in and closed her eyes again.

My mind flashed back to Hispano pushing me into the launch tube in the Arcturus, as well as back to Buck telling me how it was dangerous to use the Med-X. Another flash brought me back to Drake Pass, where I’d been so adamant to go after Galina. But both Hispano and Buck were there, trying to stop me from the mistake I was determined on making. Every time I’d been in trouble recently, they were there for me. Yet, all I kept offering them was more and more stress and mistakes to help me clean up.

Huffing into Buck’s chest fur, I closed my eyes and held onto him tightly. I wanted to make things better for the both of them. Only with my parents had I ever wanted to make somepony happier than Buck and Hispano could ever dream to be. But with the way everything was on this trip, that was becoming more impossible by the day. I wish I could shirk off the responsibilities that Delilah had given to me, but more than just Buck and Hispano would suffer if I did.

More than anything, I felt trapped now. Trapped between the promises I’d made to Buck, the commitment I’d made to Hispano, and the duty I had in protecting this convoy. It was a lopsided tug of war that felt like every pull had gotten stronger. And soon, I felt like something was going to give, and either all three of my responsibilities would give way, or I’d be torn apart altogether.

“I love you, Night.” Buck softly tipped his muzzle down and planted a kiss on my forehead.

“Mhmm.” Hispano nodded groggily in agreement as she scooted herself a bit closer to me on Buck’s chest. “Me too.”

I should have offered back my own confirmation. I sincerely wanted to. But no power in the wasteland could have forced the words from my muzzle. No. Instead, I took slow, deep breaths as I basked in Buck’s warmth, and pretended to have already fallen asleep.

It hurt not to say ‘I love you too’ back. The words wouldn’t have changed anything that had already happened, and they wouldn’t do anything to protect them from what was yet to come. Saying it wasn’t going to stop my curse, it would only help me to fool myself that somehow they’d be unaffected by it when it struck again. But more than that, part of me was afraid that the moment I said those words to them, it would make them a target for the curse.

And in a city as strange and filled with unknown dangers as Cantercross most assuredly would prove to be, my curse was unlikely to be as forgiving as it had been today. And make no mistake, it had been forgiving today.

“Get up.”

The voice behind me was unfamiliar and sharp. A stranger’s voice that came out of nowhere to me, and brought my mind out of the haze it’d been lost in. Since when had someone come in?

Giving a stiff yawn, I had to force open my eye. Right. In doing my best to pretend, I must have actually fallen asleep. Well, it couldn‘t have been for all that long, because I was still tired as all hell. Buck tightened his grip around me and sat the three of us up.

“Holy shit!” The pony at the door spat out in what felt like a panic. A single gunshot sounded out, ringing through our container and making sure both Hispano and I were wide awake. Buck jerked and snarled as he stiffened up. “Oh crap… I didn’t…” the stallion whimpered.

The warmth of Buck’s arm disappeared for a moment as he effortlessly shoved me into the tight grasp of the arm that also held a stunned looking Hispano. By the time I’d gotten my neck around in a position to see with my one good eye, Buck had already swung out his other paw. Wincing, Buck brought his outstretched paw back to his side, which dribbled crimson down onto the floor.

“Why would you shoot at us?” Buck growled at the intruder.

“I… I...” The bright red earth pony stallion stuttered as he stood in the doorway, legs shaking and now half a rifle in his hooves. Taking a step back, he bumped into the doorway and knocked the orange hardhat he wore straight off his head, revealing a short, sky blue mane. “I’m so sorry… I panicked…?” He dropped the rest of his rifle and held his hooves up. “I’m sorry! Please don’t hurt me!”

“We were never going to hurt you in the first place.” Buck groaned as he sat himself down. Carefully, he loosened his hold on Hispano and I and let us wiggle out from his grasp.

“Why the fuck does everypony have to shoot at us?” Hispano snorted as she arched her neck, eliciting a small set of pops from it. “Shit like this is exactly why Talons shoot first and never surrender. It leads to too many problems.”

“It was just a misunderstanding, wasn’t it?” Buck spoke as he shot a burning glare to the stallion at the door. “One that you’re going to turn around and go explain to your boss now.”

“Y-yeah, a misunderstanding!” He nodded frantically as more hoofsteps came up through the ice hold. Another pair of Road Crew ponies came up and rushed over to the door, where they skidded to a stop and almost shrank back at the sight of Buck. Okay, this was getting a bit annoying.

“We can find our way off our own vehicle, thank you.” Turning, I shot my own glare at the three ponies. “You’ve already done enough damage, so maybe you can give us a minute to patch up his wound.” Hopping off the bed, I walked to the door with stiff steps. As I did, I kept cycling my angry gaze between them, forcing the three of them to take a few steps back. “We’ll be down afterwards.” Was all I said as I hooked my hoof around the open door and threw it shut with a slam so hard, that the latch flipped up and slipped into its hole all on its own.

The moment it was shut, I sighed and hung my head. Why the fuck does this shit always happen to us? Oh, right! I’m cursed.

Shit, Buck!

“Are you alright!?” I gasped as I spun around to him. Please don’t let him be too hurt, he doesn’t deserve shit like this.

“I’ll be fine, Night.” He offered me a dismissive and painful smile as he spun himself on the bed and opened one of the drawers to his desk. Carefully, he drew out the odd battery powered magnetic contraption he’d used on Howitzer earlier. “Though, I wish ponies would at least give any of us a chance to speak before judging us dogs.”

With a whimper, he pushed the device against the bloody hole in his side and depressed a button on it. A thick snap emit in the air, and Buck cringed hard. He chewed at his jagged lip, looking like he was fighting back not to scream out from that. However, as he sharply pulled the device from his wound, a deformed and copper colored lump came with it.

“Yeah, good luck with that.” Hispano chuffed as she dropped down to the floor and walked over to her bed. With as much care as she could, she took the rainbow rug from the end of her bed and wrapped it lovingly around Suiza. “Pretty much every time we’ve run into the Road Crew, some shit like this happens and we end up paying the price.”

“True, but this might end up working in our favor.” I nodded as I turned around and watched as Buck pulled out a roll of basic gauze bandaging. “This at least gives us leverage.” Buck deadpanned at that. “No, I’m serious!” I waved a hoof at his side. “Do you think they would have ever listened to us when we tell them what happened with Double Drum or Knuckle Boom? This gives our claims legitimacy.”

“Granted…” Buck growled as he tightly wound the gauze around himself. “But no one should require another to be shot to be believed. They do have radios, you know. They should already know what happened with us before.”

“I said I was sorry!” The stallion who’s shot Buck cried through the wall before bursting into what sounded like actual crying.

“Ugh.” Hispano groaned up at the ceiling in frustration. “Let’s just hope this stop is quick. I’ve had enough of the Road Crew messing with us on this trip.”

Yeah, so had I. And while I was willing to talk this out with them, I hoped it didn’t take all that long either. Not because I was eager to get back on the road, but the longer we were here, the more likely it was going to be that something would go wrong, and we’d have yet another incident on our hooves…

I stood next to Buck, offering him a nervous smile as he kept pressure on his bandaged side. Like with the Rangers, we’d all been lined up out in front of Bertha. The only thing different this time around, was the fact that ponies in construction uniforms held us at gunpoint, rather than ones in flat grey combat armor.

Though it was in an unfortunately similar set of circumstances, we weren’t inside the protective walls of some fortified base here. Instead, we stood on what had once been an old four lane road that served this part of Cantercross. Now, the cracked traffic-striped pavement was alone, surrounded by nothing but compacted dirt and the cracked foundations of buildings that had since been scrapped and hauled away.

Oh, and of course, there was the enormous machine that loomed over us. It’s bucket wheel ate through the empty skyscrapers at the edge of the old city, chipping away slowly at the steel wall bit by bit and floor by floor. The pulsing of the spell reactor that powered it could be felt even through the ground itself, while each gouging turn of the massive wheel came with a metallic screech that sent a shiver up my spine. It easily beat out the numerous other industrial vehicles that moved around this place, carrying equipment or moving dirt around.

Were it under different circumstances, I’d have been in awe about all this. Sadly, we had more important things to deal with, and my amazement would have to wait.

“Not bad.” The voice of a commanding stallion came from the dark underside of Bertha. Stepping out into the fading light of sunset, a mountain of a yellow stallion looked up as he ran a hoof as thick as a tree stump over one of Bertha’s front tires. “It’s been a good long while since I’d seen a Stable-Tec model thirty three nineteen, let alone one in running condition. Such fragile machines for their size.”

“Though, last I checked,” Turning towards us, the stallion stepped further into the light. “My crew were the only ones who owned and operated any such massive machines.” His voice and the slight greying black mane on his head must have meant he was somewhere in his mid-forties or so, but it was hard to even tell while he wore his armor. Needless to say, I’d been mistaken before. While his coat was indeed yellow, he was nowhere near as big as I’d thought he was.

Instead, he wore a massive set of power armor, like somepony had taken the ones the Rangers had and made an ‘industrial sized’ version of them. It was painted the same yellow as his coat, which now that I think about it and look around, was the same yellow as most of the local Road Crew vehicles seemed to be. The oversized armor was more boxy than the Ranger’s model, and looked like it had additional hydraulic pistons mounted onto it that must have given it immense strength.

It’s bulky construction probably also meant he could take any amount of punishment thrown at him, with the added benefit of giving him the same size profile as someone like Buck. Attached to each of his forehooves were a pair of heavy steel digging buckets that folded back like giant armored gloves. Overall, it looked less like power armor to me, and more like a wearable bulldozer.

“I’m Motor Grader, King of the Road Crew, and second only to Dozer, my Wife.” He spoke up, sweeping his ruby red eyes across the whole row of us. “But you already know that. At least, you should.”

“Of course.” Delilah took a step forward towards the towering armored pony. “My name is Delilah Burro, the head of this convoy, and CEO of Burro Industries.” Turning her gaze up at the gigantic digging machine working on tearing down the steel buildings, she smirked. “And while you can admire my Hauler all you want, last time I checked, your headquarters was bought and paid for by my family. So can we skip all the theatrics and get straight down to business, or is the next precious thing you want to steal from my family nothing more than my quite expensive time?”

Alright, that was a bit stronger of a stance than I would have opened with. Cause you’re a pussy, Night. The Bombay part of my mind pushed at me, which slightly irked me. While it was true that I probably would have been nicer than I had to be to open talks with the Road Crew, I would still be stern enough. No, you’d just screw everything up. Again, true, but I didn’t need the Bombay part of my head telling me to already know that much.

Motor Grader let out a roaring laugh at Delilah’s words.

“Oh, that’s definitely some of that legendary Burro stubbornness my wife’s gone on about for years. She speaks quite fondly of you and your family, I’ll have you know.” Well, at least he sounded amused rather than insulted. Though as if on cue, the massive machine that hung above us went silent, prompting Motor Grader to turn his gaze up toward the boom that had the enormous sawblade on it. “Ah, must be break time. I’m sure Dozer will be down in only a moment.”

“A moment?” Hardcase spoke up hesitantly. “I’m sorry, but there must be a thousand stairs on that monster. It’d take anypony fifteen minutes to climb down from there at the very least.”

Pretty much all of us had our gazes turned to the machine, but I think Hispano and I were the only ones who noticed the door open on the large shack perched on the boom. A jet black shape in road crew gear didn’t hesitate as it hopped over the railing thirty stories up, and took flight on a pair of wide wings. Whoever she was, she was fast for a flyer, having easily gotten to the same speed I’d gotten in my last dive.

“Or of course, she could fly down…” Hispano let her words drift off as we just stood and watched the fast approach.

It was about the time she flipped herself over and flared her wings to stop that I realized that she wasn’t a pony. She came down so hard on the compacted dirt and old pavement in front of us that it sent spidering cracks through it. Slowly raising to be twice the height of all of us here other than Buck, she uncurled a thick scaly tail half her height out from behind her. With a snort that shot jets of black smoke out of her pointed and aggressive looking muzzle, she scanned over a few of us with an amber colored judgemental gaze.

Fuck being intimidated by Sun Dogs or Minotaurs, I could handle anyone like that. She may not have been the same towering height of Tephra, but she was definitely a dragon all the same. Here’s to hoping she was friendlier than he’d been...

Smooth black scales ran over most of the length of her body, and plates the same amber color as her eyes formed a sort of crystalline armor that sprouted out along her extremities like flashy glass fins. A softer grey underbelly stuck out from between the large set of construction gear she had on, and her oversized hardhat wore full sized Equestrian flags on it that flapped in the breeze. Even standing next to Motor Grader, she was taller than he was in his power armor.

“You know for every ten seconds this machine isn't scrapping that eyesore of a skyline, we lose one hundred caps. So this better fucking be worth it.” She paused as her eyes fell upon Delilah’s frizzy mane. She scrunched up her scaled muzzle, blinking a few times as she met the unchanging apathetic gaze Delilah wore. “Delilah? Is that... you?”

“Hello, Lustre. I’m glad to see that you eventually made it back up here.” Delilah snorted before turning back to Motor Grader. “What are you trying to pull? Where’s Dozer Blade?”

“Dead, ten years ago, ” The dragon snorted, pushing out another cloud of black smoke out of her muzzle. “At about the same time I was on my way back north from the great migration, and during the time where Mr. Wizard began his conquest of New Cantercross. She was killed holding the west bend of Highway Five, but she gave her life to secure it. She’s the only reason we still have the entirety of the highway today.”

“Ah yes, I remember when you were in town. It’s not easy to forget the last time a dragon visited, let alone a visit by a friend like you.” Delilah smirked and shifted her glasses up her snout with her hoof. “Still, why did you change your name to hers?”

“Ever since I was just a colt, Lustre’s always been there for me as a friend.” Motor Grader rose his voice a bit, forcing himself to try to speak through the empty tone he’d taken up. “After Dozer died, she returned to me and continued to be there like she always had been. So a few years ago I felt it was only right to ask her to be my new queen.”

“I took up Dozer’s name when I married Motor.” Lustre’s voice wavered as she looked at the armor clad stallion, looking to relax a bit as she smiled to him. But after a moment, she broke off her longing gaze and in turn gave us a guilty one. “I knew I could never replace her, but it felt like the best way to honor her memory. Other than killing the bastard of a ghoul who took her from my sweet Motor, of course, but that isn’t happening anytime soon.” As she shifted her sad look over each of us, as she stopped on Delilah, a smile crossed her muzzle again. “Also, don’t think I’ve forgotten the hospitality and... kindness you offered me those years ago, Delilah. If I’d known it was you who’d been wrecking our union representatives...”

The way she emphasized that was weird to say the least, but what was even weirder was the way Delilah didn’t seem to be bothered by either of them anymore. She almost looked… relaxed.

“You’d have considered it a fair trade.” Delilah rolled her eyes as both Motor Grader and Lustre traded confused looks. Delilah simply continued without missing a beat. “Screed Grader was the one to lead us back here.” At that, the two of them nodded and shrugged to each other. “So, not that this reunion hasn’t been fun so far, but do you mind if we get down to business?”

“You really did take to all that business stuff, didn’t you, Delilah?” Lustre gave a small laugh as she reached out and placed a claw on Delilah’s mane. She gave it a messy rub that made Delilah shoot back an annoyed glare. Still, at the edge of her muzzle, a smile crept up on it. “First off, why don’t you tell me why your doctor is injured? Or, at least I assume he’s a doctor from that yoke he’s wearing.”

“Finally, someone gets it!” Buck grumbled and winced as he still held his bloody side. “Some red pony was a bit trigger happy to get us off of Bertha, and we’re running a bit low on medical supplies after the last few days.”

“Red, you say?” Lustre raised a claw to her chin and tapped it a few times before looking over at Motor Grader. “That’d most likely be Corf.” Sighing, she shook her head dejectedly. “It was my mistake then. I’d assumed from how hard he worked this last year, he’d be ready for a supervisory position. I’ll have a talk with him after his shift about just how much we’ll be docking his pay for this.”

“No need, he already told me what happened.” Motor Grader smirked and dismissed her words with a slow shake of his forehoof. Wow, I guess he really did follow what Buck said and went and told his boss about it. “I’ve taken him off of his duties for the moment, and put Rumble on his shifts for the day.”

“You really think demoting Rumble Strip to his station is the best use of his talents?” Lustre cocked an eyebrow at her husband, getting a nod from him. “Alright then, he’s your friend. So long as he’s alright with working maintenance for a bit, I guess it’s fine.” Holding out her claw, she pointed us all to a small set of sheet metal buildings set just in the shadow of the massive mining machine. “Still, please feel free to head out to our union physician to get yourself patched up. I’m so sorry that he shot you, and though he’s off the hook for now, I will be having a chat with him later about this misunderstanding.”

“On that,” Motor Grader cleared his throat and stepped forward again. “With as many misunderstandings as you and your crew have had with mine, let me be the first to apologize. While what happened both with Double Drum and Knuckle Boom was unfortunate, I guarantee there will be no ill will or hatred among the Road Crew for you. An old friend of Lustre’s is a friend of the crew as a whole.”

It was odd, because he sounded sincere about that, but from the way that asshole outside the Mare’s Lake tunnel had made it sound, we were supposed to be hated by the Road Crew right now. And as much as it looked to help, I was pretty sure that Delilah and Lustre already knowing each other wouldn’t be enough to keep that hatred down. As always, something felt… off. And this time, I was pretty sure it wasn’t something as simple as hiding freed slaves around here.

“Thank you for that assurance. We certainly can use all the breaks we can get on this trip.” Delilah nodded and looked around. “Now, not to sound like we’re in too much of a rush, but I insist on finding somewhere we can negotiate a few things.”

“Not a problem! You can follow me into our headquarters inside Large Marge and we can discuss things in private.” Lustre pointed her claw up at the main boxy body of the massive digging machine. “All of you are welcome to join, or feel free to wander about the worksite. Just be careful to pay attention to all the safety rules and you should be fine. It would be unfortunate if we broke our two week long safety streak because somepony didn’t watch their step.”

I couldn’t help but feel that somehow that was indirectly meant to be a warning for me. It also didn’t help that pretty much everyone else on the crew turned and shot me an incredulous glare as well. What!? It’s not like I asked to be cursed!

“While we discuss things, I do feel like there is something we can do to repay you a bit for your troubles so far.” Motor Grader smiled and shifted his massive armor to point at Bertha. “Our maintenance shift can do a full tune and workup of your haul truck and have her working like new in just a few hours.”

“That’s quite kind of you to offer…” Boiler predictably gave a forced laugh, but her expression didn’t look amused in the slightest. Still she was silenced as Motor Grader raised a massive bucketed hoof and shook his head.

“I insist. It’s the least we can do.” He smiled, keeping his gaze locked on the large truck for another moment. “Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of her.”

“I don’t know…” Boiler offered hesitantly as she scratched at her neck nervously.

“It’s alright, Boiler. I know you weren’t old enough to remember her, but I know and trust Lustre. Bertha will be alright if someone other than you looks her over for once.” Delilah spoke, sighing as she turned to us. “Alright crew, you’ve all got three hours of free time. Use it wisely, but stay out of the way of their maintenance ponies and let them do their job.” She paused and glared at Boiler for a second. You know, it felt good to not be the pony under her glare for once. “They’ll come to us if they have a problem.” She spoke blandly before turning to me. She glared even harder than she did at Boiler. Of course she had to glare at me after I thought that... “Night, you’re with me for now.”

“Alright.” I nodded and stepped away from Buck. Hispano flared her wings slightly as she stepped forward with me.

“No.” Delilah snapped at her, forcing Hispano to freeze midstep. “Only Night.” She turned her gaze up from the shocked griffon to Cora’s stern expression. “I need both you and Hispano to keep an eye out for trouble. If you so much as see Solomon on the horizon, you come get me.”

“Understood.” Cora nodded and flared his wings.

“Completely unnecessary, I assure you.” Motor Grader gave another booming laugh that forced my ears back with a sharp cringe. “But if it would put your mind at ease, do what you must.” Slowly, he turned and began to walk towards ‘Large Marge’. Lustre however, stared at him oddly for a moment before turning to follow.

“Thank you.” Delilah offered as she slowly began to follow after him. With a sharp nod, she motioned for me to come to her side. As I approached, she lowered her voice. “We have much to discuss, and while I may be unimpressed with your recent performance, it may still benefit you to see just how a leader negotiates.” Oh, is that why she wanted me to tag along?

A few weeks ago, part of me would have enjoyed the prospect of learning more. Now? I wasn’t quite sure any of this would make a difference in the long run. Still, the hanging pit in my stomach tugged me along, pushing me to figure out just what the hell felt so off about all of this.

“With all due respect, Ma’am? Something feels off here.” I at least had to know if she shared that feeling. Though, I was pretty sure that for as used to this sort of thing as she was, I knew what her answer would be.

“Oh, hush. You’re just being paranoid, Night, seeing dangers that don’t exist.” She snapped in a harsh whisper. “Lustre is an old friend, so you can believe that I trust her. The Road Crew headquarters is probably the safest place in this damn city, especially from Solomon. So just keep your muzzle shut and let me do the talking before you create a real problem and screw everything up like you always do.”

That was more than a bit harsh, and was definitely not the answer I’d been expecting...

Two of the most commanding and respected leaders I’d ever seen in my life laughed in unison, as the thick smell of scotch wafted throughout the sealed board room.

White drywall panels that were speckled with mold held old and faded motivational posters and long past due notices about wartime projects that would never be finished. While the small room looked surprisingly business like for being the converted inside of a massive digging machine, it couldn’t convince me that something about all this was wrong. While I normally would trust her word on it, Delilah’s oddly off putting remark earlier hadn’t at all helped to ease my concerns.

Delilah however, had a smile plastered across her face from the moment we’d walked in. And while it was nice to see her happy again, it felt just as wrong on her as this whole place felt to me. It wasn’t that Delilah wasn’t allowed to be happy, it’s just that she looked more relaxed than I’d ever seen her. With some of her questionable choices recently due to stress, I couldn’t help but wonder if she’d let her guard down and had missed just how wrong all of this felt.

“Oh, those were some wild nights we had.” Lustre groaned as she sat up and set her empty glass down onto the old wooden meeting table the three of us sat around. “It’s hard to believe that it’s been over forty years since then.”

“Yeah.” Delilah sighed, using her hoof to swirl around the small amount of scotch that still sat at the bottom of her glass. With a frown, she shook her head. “Where does the time go.”

“What? Forty years!?” I blinked as my muzzle spat the words out. Was I really to understand that Delilah and her were friends from forty years ago!?

“You’ll have to excuse Night, he’s adjusting, but sometimes he’s a bit too curious.” Delilah shot me a glance that felt almost too casual, and I immediately felt even further off put by it. “Still, I suppose I owe you a bit of an explanation. It’s time someone else knew about us anyway.” She spoke softly before bringing her glass to her lips and throwing her head back, downing the rest of her scotch. She had become too relaxed, hadn’t she? “You see, Lustre first visited Brahman Beach when I was just an eighteen year old jenny bent upon impressing her father.”

“Yeah, I didn’t exactly help with that, did I?” Lustre gave out a short snort that sent a plume of black smoke drifting across the room. “We were both young though. We were allowed to have some fun. And oh the fun we had...” She bit her lip with a wide grin that looked like it beamed only for Delilah herself.

“Young my ass. You were fifty two.” Delilah deadpanned as she snatched up the bottle from the table and started to refill her own glass.

“I was young at heart. Plus, fuck off! Fifty two is young for a dragon, you know that.” Lustre rolled her eyes and flicked her large forked tongue out from her narrow scaled muzzle. “Still, despite how things worked out between us, I have to admit that there are still plenty of days where I miss it.”

My mind just about broke listening to all this.

“So… you two…?” I sputtered and tried to wrap my mind around everything. Now of course it made a ton of sense that Delilah had let her guard down as much as she had. I would be exactly the same if I was in her horseshoes. It shouldn’t have been this hard to grasp that Delilah had once been my age, which came with a lot of figuring things out like I’d been doing with Buck, but still! “What happened?”

Night! For the love of Celestia, stop asking personal questions before Delilah decides you’re easier to leave behind than wasting her time answering your shit!

“Oh, he’s curious alright.” Lustre snirked and rapped her heavy claws along the tabletop. She closed her eyes, letting an almost forlorn look drag it’s way across her face. “What happened was that even though both of us had enjoyed our time together, we both wanted different lives.”

“Back in those days, as much as I wished I could have bucked my responsibilities and run off with Lustre, I couldn’t bring myself to.” Delilah looked down into her scotch like it held all the answers to her biggest problems. But how she said that, it was exactly what I’d been thinking about earlier. “I was the only foal my parents had, which made me the heiress to Burro Industries. I couldn’t abandon the responsibilities that gave me.”

With how much I could relate to that, maybe there was something to the idea that she wanted me to follow in her hoofsteps afterall...

“And when I came back home a few weeks after we first met, Motor Grader was born to my best gal pal, Queen Country Lane.” Lustre leaned back against the old drywall in such a way that I was absolutely certain she’d damage it, but oddly, she didn’t even put a dent on it. “King Road Drag asked me to stay with them, to help to watch over Motor when they were too busy with the Crew. So as he grew up, Motor and I grew closer and closer, and before long we weren’t just friends anymore. The rest, as they used to say, is history.”

There was a knock at the door the pulled all of our looks over to it. Slowly, it opened, and the broad yellow muzzle of Motor Grader stuck itself in.

“Hope I’m not interrupting.” He smiled as he pushed himself the rest of the way in.

Without his armor, he was definitely a lot smaller, but hot damn if he wasn’t built like a fucking tank anyway. Even at an average size for a stallion, his muscles rippled as he walked across the room and took a seat. They were so toned, so… incrediblydefined, that I almost couldn’t stop staring at them. He almost looked like he didn’t even need that power armor to lift whatever the fuck he wanted!

“Night?” Delilah cleared her voice. “You’re staring.”

“What?” I sat up, scrunching my muzzle as I pressed myself back in my chair. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to.”

“No worries, kid.” He simply laughed and dismissed it with a lazy hoof wave. “Once you get used to all the attention you get as a king, small things like that stop meaning so much.”

“Uh…” Lustre gave an awkward snort as she shifted to sit up, accidentally bumping her head against the metal roof. “You literally exiled Chain Lift last month for sneaking a peek at you in the company showers. And you outright ran Tender Mixer through her own machine as an example not to ever touch you outside of your armor. You’re probably the most paranoid pony I’ve ever met when it comes to even just looking at you wrong...”

“Yeah, but they were with the union, and even you admitted that Mixer was a bit forward with her advances. Like all our employees, she’d been warned, so she knew the risks.” He rolled his eyes as he plopped down in one of the seats at the far end of the table from us. Giving a sigh, he put his rear hooves on the table and planted his huge forehooves behind his head. “And while nopony on the crew is allowed to touch their king, or queen, under any circumstances, I figure we can give our guests a little leeway on some of the rules.”

“Well,” Lustre blinked a few times before shrugging off his words. “It seems that you've caught my dear Motor on one of his rare good days.”

“Oh, come on now, dear.” He rolled his eyes as his cheeks pulled his muzzle into an even wider smile. “I’m not that terrible to deal with, am I?”

“Some days I enjoy thinking about how big of a crater you'd leave if I dropped your stubborn ass from the top of Large Marge.” She deadpanned at him and gave another cloud-snort that flew right over his head. Turning, she gave a small laugh to Delilah. “No offense to any other present stubborn asses, mind you.”

“None taken.” Delilah smiled, swirling her drink around in her glass some more before glancing to me. “I'm sure some of the time my crew thinks about doing that exact same thing.” Well, she’s not wrong there! “Still, ready to get down to it?”

Sitting up, the happy and relaxed Delilah I’d witnessed disappeared in an instant. While she didn’t really change her expression, I could see the stress return to her almost all at once. Alright, pay attention, Night. This is why you’ve been sitting here listening, so keep your muzzle shut, because it’s time to learn.

“You bet.” Motor Grader nodded as he dropped his hooves down and forced himself to sit upright in his chair again. “Though you are someone with a background as highly regarded for trustworthiness as the Burro Industries, and while I have to make some attempt to be lenient, this is going to be a negotiation with a fair outcome. The Road Crew is a business after all, and we do have overhead costs to keep in mind. You understand, don’t you?”

“Of course.” Delilah nodded and put on her forced smile. “My proposition is simple. There is another convoy coming, one which you may already know about. It’s run by a certain rival of mine, a Saddle Arabian prince named Solomon Roan...”

“Ah, yes.” Motor perked up sharply, cutting off Delilah and planting a confused look across her muzzle. One which, like mine, quickly soured. “Prince Solomon had stopped by some months ago. He mentioned that he would be quickly coming into possession of something quite valuable.”

“That something is rightfully the property of Burro Industries, and he will not lay one hoof on it if I have anything to say about it.” Delilah’s sharp tone returned as she ground her hoof against the rim of her half full glass. As she did, Lustre gave a short gasp.

“No. I thought it was just a story...” She snorted, putting her claws over her muzzle as she looked down at the agitated donkey. “You can’t mean… the Ark, it’s real?” She gave a delighted squeal that felt fairly out of place from someone her size.

“Yes.” Delilah shot a glare up to the black dragon next to her. “And only we have the location for it.” Looking back at Motor Grader, she narrowed her gaze. “I’d like to keep it that way as well by having you derail his pursuit of me. As you may well know, he’s well connected, and will more than likely be hard to bring down. But I have the utmost confidence that the Road Crew can finally stop him in his tracks, even if you have to put the bastard in the dirt for good.” Tapping her hoof on the table, she let out a small huff before relaxing a bit in her seat. “I can compensate you greatly for the trouble, of course.”

Just hearing Delilah say that put the image in my mind of Solomon being torn to shreds by the same sort of junk cannon that killed Violet. That thought alone sent a warmth through me that was positively divine. When Delilah had said she wanted to hire an army to fight against Solomon, this was admittedly an army that I hadn’t even thought of using. While we’d been lucky against the Road Crew so far, Solomon didn’t have the pony power at the moment to fight back, or even access to something like the SFG to level the playing field.

We had to get them on our side.

“Is that so?” That pulled a devious look from Motor Grader as he sat forward against the table and cupped his hooves together. “Well, it seems we have a bidding war between you and the offer that the esteemed Prince made to us about stopping you for him.”

“I’m prepared to offer up a quarter of my current fleet of stored vehicles, a total of fifty of them. Most of them are in running order or can be serviced and brought up to running order within a matter of weeks of our return.” Delilah tapped at her glass, pausing for a moment as she studied Motor Grader. “On top of that, you will get ten percent of the worth of whatever is inside the Ark.” That alone caused Motor Grader to cock his eyebrow. He opened his muzzle as if to say something, but Delilah beat him to it. “That ten percent however, is non-negotiable. Other commitments and obligations, you see.”

“Of course.” Motor Grader nodded and looked over across the room to Lustre. “I don’t know, her offer sounded a bit low to me.”

“Well, I have seen her family’s fleet.” Luster tapped at her chin with one claw, while rapping along the tabletop again with the other. “Perhaps if we were to be able to pick out what pieces we could use...”

“Out of the question.” Delilah snorted and slid her cup a few inches away. “I can’t have all my best equipment cherry picked out from under me. I can guarantee I won’t send you any duds, and as an extra incentive, I can send enough spare parts to be able to service each vehicle for at least the next decade.”

“Still, twenty five percent is a bit low.” Motor sighed as he sat back. His eyes wandered about the room in disinterest, like the conversation bored him. “Forty percent of your total fleet, spare parts for two decades, and ten percent of the worth of this mystery ‘Ark’.”

“Thirty percent of the fleet, with ten of them hoof chosen by Lustre herself, or any Road Crew representative you choose. Parts for twelve years, and ten percent from the Ark.” Delilah steepled her hooves as the hint of a smirk drew up on her lips. “But, you have to front the cost to ship the pieces back up here.”

“What do you think, Motor?” Lustre smirked and leaned back against the wall again. “Didn’t we owe Buckeye a favor? You know that the ENR has been struggling against the NERPC these last couple of years, and this would be a big help to his railway.”

“It’s better, but still a bit low to me…” He spoke up, hesitating as he looked across the table at Lustre, who simply narrowed her eyes into a burning glare at him. “But alright. Because she’s your friend, I guess I can live with that.” Standing up, he reached his forehoof across the table. “You’ve got yourself a deal, Mrs. Delilah.”

Of course, that’s when my muzzle had to open up.

“What’s the ENR and NERPC?” Goddess damnit, Night!

“The Equestrian National Railway and the Northern Equestrian Railway and Power Company. The two biggest railway operators here in the north?” Motor Grader spat out with a mix of confusion and amusement. “You must have come from above the clouds, didn’t you, kid?”

“He did.” Delilah snorted and tightly took Motor’s hoof, shaking it once before letting go and turning to Lustre. “I will send you a message once I have the Ark in my possession, and we can set up plans for someone to come down to Brahman Beach to collect the fleet.”

“I look forward to personally making the trip down when the time comes.” As Lustre spoke, she reached down with one of her claws and took Delilah’s hoof tightly. Delilah let off a warm blush and smile that instantly dropped her guard and relaxed her again.

Motor slammed his hoof down hard on the table, causing it to crack and buckle a bit where he hit. He blinked a few times before smiling as the three of us looked at him in confusion.

“What are we doing standing here!?” He laughed, stepping back from the table. “This is a wonderful and monumental deal between our two companies! Let’s celebrate! Please, I know you must be anxious to leave, but stay the night and have your crew join us for a party!” Looking up to Lustre, a smile wide enough that it almost wrapped around his head crept over his muzzle. “Dear, why don’t we give the headquarter employees an early night off?”

“Sure, I guess we can afford a few hours of lost productivity.” Lustre smirked and nodded. “It’s been awhile since we’ve given out any sort of vacation time, so maybe we can lump it into that.”

“Great!” Motor Grader laughed and headed for the door, though he stopped just short of it. “However, I’ll make sure to keep those on the maintenance team working on their haul truck. We’ll set them up with overtime pay as compensation.”

“Sure thing, dear.” Lustre nodded to him as he slipped back out the door.

“So, I guess that means we’ll be here for the duration of the evening. I’ll inform my crew.” Delilah turned to me and prodded at my side. “Night?” Her speaking to me caught me off guard and pulled my attention back to her still slightly blushing cheeks. “Learn anything from this negotiation?”

“To be honest, Ma’am?” I blinked a few times as part of me tried to pick anything out of the quick back and forth that had gone on. “I don’t have a fucking clue as to how you managed any of that.” Predictably, she deadpanned at me for that.

“Well, maybe one of these days it’ll just click for you.” Lustre spoke up, speaking in a softer tone as she reached her wing out to Delilah, carefully wrapping it over her back. “Delilah told me last time I stopped by that it was how she’d finally learned to conduct business.” With a smile, she gave a nod to the both of us toward the door. “But that’s neither here nor there. We’re off the clock now, and I hear there’s about to be quite the celebration going on, so we don’t want to miss it.”

“Ugh…” I groaned, feeling like my stomach was trying to beat up the rest of my internal organs and losing. “Fuck.”

Pushing open my eye slowly, I whined as even the meager amount of fluorescent light that filtered through my sunglasses felt like it was a stabby thing stabbing into the back of my head at the same time someone was hammering it with a… hammer. Ugh, metaphors weren’t really my thing right now. Shifting myself, a few glass bottles clinked together, before falling off of my bed with a clatter.

“Good morning.” Buck grunted from across our container. Looking over, I found him stretched out and yawning as he woke up on our bed. Wait, if he was there, then I was...

“Too loud… keep it down you two.” Hispano groaned as she reached around my barrel and pulled herself closer against my back. I won’t lie, the warmth she gave off was so damn comfortable. I wasn’t sure how I’d ended up in bed with her, or even what happened at all last night in the first place. “Five more minutes...” She muttered before drifting back off into a calm sleep.

“What happened… last night?” I let out a grumbling whimper as I raised my forehoof and wiped the crusty bits from both my good eye and my prosthetic one. The pounding in my head however was something I couldn’t just wipe away unfortunately, at least, not without some Chill. Though thankfully, the gunshot wound in my leg didn’t hurt more than just a dull ebbing under the bandages anymore...

“There was quite the party in the Road Crew barracks.” Buck rubbed at his own eyes as he sat himself up, reaching over to his desk and pulling the yoke from it. Oh goddesses, I didn’t do anything stupid there, did I? “And before you ask, I don’t know what really happened there, I didn’t attend it. I was busy helping out in their infirmary dealing with workers who drank far too much.” As he brought the yoke around his neck and wiggled it to make sure it was nice and snug, he smirked as he looked over to me.

“Though,” He continued with a sigh, “from what I heard from Hardcase, you and Hispano became rather well acquainted with a couple of bottles of old Jennet Burro Tequila, and then with just about any stallion you could both talk to. In fact, Hardcase pulled the two of you out of there when a few of their crew offered to ‘show a couple pretty girls like you a good time’. Shortly after that you passed out and he brought you back here to sleep. Hispano surprisingly didn’t pass out until after she’d polished off both bottles and collapsed onto her bed.”

“Ugh…” I groaned at the same time my stomach did. Alright, note to self, no more tequila in the future if it makes me wake up feeling like shit. “Never again…”

“It’s good you’ve learned your limits, Night.” Buck nodded with a smirk as he stood up and stretched himself out a bit more. “I’m not against drinking in moderation, but make sure you remember this for the future.”

With a low rumble, the reactor to Bertha kicked on below us. At almost the same time, there was a knock at our door. Buck lazily reached over and flipped up the latch with his claw, letting the door swing open on its own to reveal Howitzer.

“Hey, Night?” He grunted, keeping his voice low. It was still weird to see him with bloodied bandages covering half his face, but even so, I could still read the concern he held in his good eye. “Have you seen Delilah? She uh… isn’t in her room.”

She’s missing? That’s… odd. Pushing myself to stand up, I slid myself onto my hooves and walked to the doorway. It took a lot of squinting, but staring across the rec area, I found that the door to Delilah’s container was open, and it was dark inside.

“Maybe… she went for a walk?” I offered, not really sure what to think. She’d never traveled far from the convoy whenever we stopped. But, it was about at that point that the pit in my stomach reminded me that while I may have forgotten last night, the fact that something was off about this place still clung to me.

“Yeah, not likely.” Howitzer shook his head. “I’ve been waiting for almost an hour to talk to her about today’s driving route.” Turning and looking out the back of the rec area, he sighed. “From what I can tell, either she left quite early, or she didn’t come back here to sleep last night.”

Pushing past him, I trotted out of out container. As I did, I nearly tripped over the outstretched leg of Happy as he snoozed on the rec area couch. I say nearly, because I only clipped him and forced his leg to smack the couch frame quite hard.

“The fuck?” He grumbled groggily as he pulled his leg back to rub at his eyes. “Watch your step, Night.”

“Your mom is missing.” I offered as I walked up and propped myself on the Rec area railing. Looking out, the morning sunrise backlit the tips of the steel wall to the east of us, but kept the Road Crew site in relative darkness. Thankfully, they had plenty of work lights set up that allowed me to see pretty much the whole camp from here. Even so, other than a few dozen hungover looking work crew, nothing caught my attention.

“What do you mean she’s ‘missing’?” Happy perked up, pushing himself to join me at the railing. As he propped himself up, he sat there scanning across the site as well. Please, if I couldn’t spot her as a pegasus, then he… “See, she’s right up there.” Waving his hoof, he pointed up to one of the upper areas on Large Marge.

Sure enough, Delilah sat propped against a railing at the top of the central boxy structure that comprised most of the middle of Large Marge. Behind her, sat a pretty large backlit doorway that looked like it led downwards into the main part of the boxy machine. Even from here, I could see the glowing ember of the cigarette she was smoking as she looked up at the steel wall that hung nearly overhead.

“What the hell is she even doing over there?” Happy snorted as he turned himself around and lazily propped himself back against the bars. “I thought she finished all the negotiations yesterday.”

Pretty much as he spoke, the large form of Lustre appeared in the back lit hallway behind her. The two offered a shared glance before Lustre quickly leaned over and looked like she said something to Delilah that made her stand stiffly on her hooves. As quickly as she had leaned over, Lustre turned and started walking along the railings of the massive machine towards the control room she’d come out of yesterday. But as Delilah went back to leaning on the railing, she carefully brought her hoof to her cheek, and I had a funny feeling that I now knew exactly why she didn’t come home last night.

“Huh, I guess you two really do have some things in common.” The words slipped out of my muzzle all too easily, much to the confusion of Happy. “Don’t worry about it.” Giving him a pat on the shoulder, I pushed myself to turn around.

“Hey, what the hell is that even supposed to mean?” He snapped at me. “Night? Do you care to explain?”

“Yeah, I’m confused.” Howitzer snorted as his squinting gaze drifted up to where Delilah and Lustre was. After a moment however, I could see that he’d put two and two together and figured it out. “Ooooh! My parents once mentioned it, but it’s been years...”

“Can one of you please fill me in!?” Happy grumbled and facehooved himself with an agitated fineness that Delilah would have been proud of.

“Just drop it, Happy.” Howitzer laughed as he headed for the kitchenette. “Trust Night and I, you don’t want to know.”

“Don’t want to know what?” Hardcase perked his own tired gaze out of his room. He gave a few sniffs at the air before his gaze was immediately pulled up to where Delilah was. “Oh, wow… never in my lifetime did I expect to feel that from her again.” Giving a quick whistle, he couldn’t hide his smile. “Good for her. She needed to de-stress a bit after the way things have been going.”

“You…?” Happy muttered as he turned and looked up at his mother again. A kink formed in his neck, running all the way down to his tail as I think he finally figured it out. With a huff, he stomped at the floor. “No, you are not telling me that my mom just got laid!”

“Her and Lustre apparently go way back to before she met your dad.” With a yawn, I flopped away from the railing and headed back to my room. “But hey, Howitzer said you wouldn’t want to know.” Might as well go and get myself ready for the day with a couple of Chill pills to get ahead of the pain.

Stepping into the room, I found Buck sitting at his terminal, quickly typing away at it. With a flick of my tail, I shut the door behind me, blocking out the various tortured whines Happy gave out in the rec area. With a sigh, I sat down on Hispano’s bed and reached my hoof underneath, hoping my saddlebag was under here still.

“Alright, alright, I’m up.” Hispano moaned as she reached out and squeezed her talons around me quite tightly. Her feathers were pinned down across her face as she moved to get herself up with another yawn. “Was five more minutes really too much to ask for?”

“You’ll live.” I offered as I came up empty on my quick search under the bed. Had I thrown it under Buck and I’s bed last? Standing up, I was about to walk over to it when something painfully pinched me in the flank.

“Jerk.” Hispano snorted before turning herself over to snuggle with Suiza. Hey, what the hell did I do?

The hammering inside my head picked up a bit again, insisting that I get back to looking for my Chill pills. Though, at least the rest of me didn’t feel like the terrible bundle of aches and pains it had become over the last few weeks. Then again, none of that even matters as long as I’ve got some painkiller to keep fighting it back…

“What are you looking for, Night?” Buck asked, finally turning away from his terminal to cock an eyebrow at me.

“My saddlebags.” lowering myself down, I spotted the old bags tucked against the corner underneath the far end of Buck and I’s bed. Flattening myself to the floor, I did my best to squish myself under the bed to reach it, but found that my stupid wings kept me from getting in too far. “Nevermind, I found them.”

“Oh? Planning on going somewhere?” He asked in a sort of nonchalant way before turning back to his terminal.

What? Why would he even ask that? He knows that we’re going to be back on the road soon. Rolling my eyes, I pushed his odd question back behind the stabbing pain in my head and stretched my hoof to reach the bag. Seriously, how the hell did it get pushed all the way back here?

With a whining gasp, and my wings uncomfortably compressed by the bed above me, I just barely managed to get my hoof wrapped around one of the back straps. Carefully, I began to drag it further into my grasp, and once it was close enough, I reached around and flipped open the flaps. Inside, was the small bottle of white tabs that Cora had given me.

The pain behind my fake eye spiked up as I looked at the bottle, pushing me to quickly reach up and put pressure on the glass orb. It dulled the pain temporarily as always, but again, it had refocused me on numbing it completely. Popping open the cap, I counted out four of the numbing tabs and slipped them into my hoof before I quickly stuck them in my muzzle and swallowed.

“You alright down there?” Buck’s concerned voice came through the old mattress above me. “You didn’t get stuck, did you?”

“No, I’m not stuck.” I shook my head and swallowed the chalky numbing drug. Sealing the bottle again, I tossed it back into my bags and closed them up before wiggling myself back out from under the bed. “Sometimes I forget I’m lucky that I’m not exactly as bulky as other stallions.” Standing up, I found myself met with Buck’s worried gaze drifting over me. Holding the bags up, he looked down at them and offered a forced smile. “It had gotten itself shoved all the way under the bed for some reason. I’m not quite sure how it ended up back there.”

“Ah, yeah, that is quite peculiar.” He nodded as he turned back to his terminal in what felt like a fairly dismissive gesture overall. “I probably accidentally kicked it under there earlier, I’ll try to keep more of an eye on it.”

His tone was off to me, like he was holding back on something. I was about to ask him about it when there was a soft knock on our door. Both Buck and I turned to see who it was before an aura of magic flipped up the latch and Hardcase stuck in his head, levitating in a pair of steaming ceramic mugs towards Buck and I.

“Morning you two.” He offered, floating a cup to each of us. “I’ve got coffee for Buck, and hot cocoa for Night. I don’t quite know what Hispano likes, so I’ve left a bit of both coffee and hot water for her to choose from.”

“Ooooh! Thank you.” Buck’s ears perked as he got a deep sniff of the dark roast hanging in the air next to him. Looping a single claw through the cup’s handle, he guided it down to his desk. “I think I’m just going to let it cool for a bit first while I get some work done.”

“Thanks, Hardcase.” I nodded as I reached up and grasped around the hot mug. Looking over to Hispano, I wasn’t surprised to see that she’d fallen back asleep again.

“Don’t mention it.” He smiled and nodded out to the couch. “I’ve got the toasters heated up if you want to join me out here and leave Hispano to rest, while Buck gets to his work.”

Looking back at Buck, I found him eagerly typing away at whatever it was he was doing. My stomach grumbled as I looked at him, and while it had probably been because of last night, part of me felt like it was something to do with the feeling that now he too was feeling just a bit off.

“Alright, I can join you.” I forced a smile to Hardcase, turning toward the door.

Heading into the rec area, I wrapped my tail around the door behind me and tugged it shut. As soon as it was closed however, I let out a sigh, as the pit in my stomach only felt like it grew deeper. As it did, I found myself wondering for a moment just how deep that pit could go, and if there was some sort of rock bottom to it. Then again, I didn’t have to wonder very long to know that I never wanted to find out...

Author's Note

As with every chapter, I give huge thanks to FurryRailFan for all his hard work in helping to clean up the chapter and make it presentable!

And of course, many thanks to Kkat for creating the world of Fallout: Equestria, and letting us all run around in it to blow it up!

Chapter 50 - Fruits of your labor

The boss is always right.

Seriously, Night, what’s going on with you?

First I’d felt like this place was way off, but… nothing looked off. Of course, then Buck started acting up, which only made me feel more nervous. Was I just being paranoid? Delilah had told me to listen to my instincts, but that’s what I didn’t understand. I get that this trip had been nothing short of one disaster after another so far, but… why were my instincts telling me this now?

“Night?”

Maybe this was all because of what happened to Violet. After everything I’d had to do to survive since then, I couldn’t really blame myself for feeling this way, right? Could it be that I’m just stressing out, waiting for the other horseshoe to drop? Where Solomon comes in with an army we couldn’t possibly stand against?

“Night?” Hardcase’s voice dragged me out of my own thoughts. He prodded at my side softly before taking a sip of his hot coffee. “Are you okay?”

“What?” I sputtered, nearly dropping my still steaming cup of cocoa as my mind raced to put together a response for him. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m alright.” Looking over at him, I forced a nervous smile and brought the hot cocoa to my lips. Of course, he could see right through that lie. Quick, Night, throw together some other excuse that’s a bit more plausible! “Just… trying to remember what happened last night is all.” Not a great lie, but at least it was better!

“Ah.” Hardcase nodded with a smile as he pressed himself further back into the warm couch. “Yeah, I’ve had my own fair share of benders like that...” He shook his head as he seemed lost in thought himself for a moment, letting a sombre look taint his happy expression. “That was all before I met Violet, though. She was good at keeping me out of trouble.”

“Yeah.” I nodded, looking down at my own cup of cocoa. I bet she would have been able to help me figure out what was going on here. At the very least, if somepony like her had told me that everything was fine, even if it was a lie, I’d still be happy to have believed it.

*Squeak*

I nearly jumped out of my seat as a messy mained Delilah opened the door to the Ice hold. Peeking up, the very sight of Hardcase and I looked like it deflated the good mood she’d been wearing yesterday, and she let out one of her patented annoyed grunts. Hey, at least she still looked more relaxed than she’d ever been. Seriously, I knew that style of relaxed, and it only came after a fun night with Buck.

Still an odd thought though, to know your boss got laid...

“Not a word, you two.” She muttered as she climbed up the rest of the way. She avoided our gaze, but for as much as she tried, she couldn’t hide the deep rosy blush on her cheeks. “We leave in a half hour. Until then, I’ll be in my room.”

Before either Hardcase and I could even respond, she’d gotten into her room and shut the door behind her. We both heard the latch slide into place, and after that, silence. Well, that happened…

“It’s been nice, but I’ve got to get back to the grind.” Hardcase groaned as he pushed himself back to his hooves. “I think I’m going to use this time as an opportunity to do some maintenance on your jump pack. I’ll come get you before we get back on the road.” Giving me a pat on the side, he turned and headed for the Ice hold stairs. “Enjoy your cocoa!”

Taking a sip, I was once again left with myself in an awkward silence.

Looking out into the Road Crew worksite, I watched as more and more ponies started to go about their daily routines. Some were carrying supplies and tools, while others were chatting as they worked on various different little projects. Of course, my eyes eventually started to scale up the massive machine that was ‘Large Marge’, looking at the dozen or so ponies who were traversing her catwalks as the behemoth chewed away at more and more of the old city skyscrapers.

But my eyes stopped where Delilah had been standing earlier. At his size and bulk, even without his power armor, Motor Grader was nearly unmissable as he leaned on the railing and surveyed the ponies below. Next to him, stood a small red pony. I of course couldn’t be positive, but part of me was sure that it was the same stallion who’d shot Buck yesterday.

I kept my eyes on them, finding that the two of them looked to be talking. After a minute or so however, they turned to each other and shook hooves. As they did, Lustre’s words from the meeting yesterday drifted through my mind.

“You’re probably the most paranoid pony I’ve ever met when it comes to even just looking at you wrong...”

Then… why would he let that red pony near him? Why would they shake hooves? Unless… unless something is going on here! Maybe I’m not so paranoid after all!

Pushing myself to my hooves, I trotted over to Delilah’s door and knocked on it. I perked my ears, waiting for a response from her, but only got another one of her annoyed grunts. Which I’ll be honest, I probably should have seen coming.

“I um… I need to talk to you.” I spoke up. “It might be important.”

“Might, or is?” Delilah’s muffled voice exuded agitation through the walls. Seriously, I was pretty sure you could lock her at the bottom of the deepest mine shaft in Equestria and you’d still be able to feel her annoyance from the surface. “Can’t this wait, Night?”

“I don’t know.” I spit out, trying to keep my voice down a bit. “I just… we need to talk.”

“Fine.” She groaned. “Use your wing to unlock the door and come in.”

Forcing the door open a bit, I stretched my wing out and slipped it between the gap. With a flick, I raised it and knocked the latch from it’s hole, letting the door swing open freely. Stepping inside, I immediately used my tail to catch the door and swing it back shut again. With another flick of my wing, I sent the latch back over and into its hole again.

“Alright, you remember how you told me to trust my instincts?” The moment I started speaking, I watched her relaxed look tense up little by little. Each word added another notch toward her normal, annoyed look that I was definitely not wanting to put back across her face. “Well, there’s something going on here, Ma’am, I just know it.”

“This again?” She sighed as she walked over to her desk and sat behind it. Reaching down, she opened up one of the drawers and drew out an old ivory colored mane brush. “Look, you may not have caught on, but Lustre and I go way back. She wouldn’t let anything happen to us on her watch.”

“But I’m not talking about her, it’s Motor Grader I’ve got a bad feeling about.” I snapped back at her. Seriously, she could convince herself that nothing was wrong all she wanted, but I was at least going to lay everything out for her before she insultingly dismissed me again like yesterday. “I just watched Motor Grader shaking hooves with who I’m pretty sure was the pony who shot Buck yesterday, while outside of his armor.”

“Is that somehow a crime, Night?” She offered with a snort as she brought the brush up to her frizzy mane.

“Yesterday, he told us that nopony was to touch him outside his armor, no exceptions.” I tried to make my words as sharp as I could in order to see if they’d stick in Delilah’s thick skin at all. And from the way she drooped a bit and glared up at me from her brushing, some of them must have. “Lustre herself said that he was being oddly nice, and that he doesn’t like his crew touching him at all.”

“I understand your concerns, Night, but that doesn’t change anything.” Delilah dismissed my words short of actually telling me to simply get out. “You were there for the negotiations, and I’d thought you’d been listening to them. We won the bid, Night. We have a deal that they can’t break, end of story.”

“We don’t know that! Hell, we don’t even know what Solomon offered them!” I failed to keep a check on my voice, and it resonated a bit in the walls around us. I cringed at the thought that somepony else on the crew might have heard that, or even worse, one of the road crew. But that alone sparked a thought. “The maintenance crew…”

“We… we were all fairly distracted with the party last night, right?” My words drifted off as I continued and connected it all in my head. Yes, that would have been the perfect time to sabotage us. “They might have done something to the Hauler. Maybe I should tell Boiler to check over Bertha for anything that seems out of place…”

“That’s enough, Night.” Delilah groaned as she facehooved herself hard.

“No, don’t you get it? This could have all been planned!” I realized that I could have been jumping to a conclusion or two, but it certainly fit from where I sat. “What if that was the reason that Motor had even thrown the party in the first place? Even so, how could he have known that we’d all be away from Bertha? Delilah would never leave her unattended, unless…” I let out a sharp gasp. “unless Lustre was always supposed to keep you distracted…”

“Enough!”

Delilah shouted as she threw her hairbrush across the room. It snapped in half as it smashed into the wall behind me, bouncing and landing on the floor at my hooves. It distracted me just long enough that I didn’t hear Delilah’s heavy steps moving around her desk until it was too late. Looking back, I had just enough time to see her swing her hoof before it hammered me across my cheek.

“How fucking dare you, Night.” She screamed into my ear as I struggled to keep my balance from her hit. “You might have missed it, but Motor’s become a bit possessive of Lustre since his fucking wife died. Could be because while he already lost one, he doesn’t want to lose another, but it’s not my place to fucking judge him for it! It’s none of your fucking business either, Night, but while you were off getting plastered, Lustre had to beg Motor to spend the night with me. She didn’t have to, and I told her that she didn’t need to, But even though he never said that she could, she chose to spend the night with me anyway. So you don’t get to slander her, not when she has been nothing but kind to us.”

Delilah was heaving and shaking with each breath, and her face was so red that anypony might have mistook it for a bad sunburn. But right now I was the one under a gaze that felt like a million suns as she herself snorted what felt like dragons fire from her nose.

“I have waited far too long and been way too fucking patient with you. I will not let you fucking ruin my time with her, Night.” She snapped, raising her hoof again, but holding back when I winced. “The sheer audacity you have, after everything I’ve done for you, to suggest that I’m incompetent enough to let something like what you accuse her of, befall this convoy.”

“Night, you may think you’ve learned something about what it takes to keep this crew safe, but let me tell you something. You haven’t learned a goddess damned fucking thing about just how much shit that I’ve had to keep track of on this trip. Watching every approach, planning every move.” Her words were as razor sharp as ever, and they cut deep. “You can’t comprehend how much stress this has all been for me, and I’m beginning to think that you never will. I’m the boss, I’m the one who has to understand the deals we make, not you. So I don’t need your paranoid bullshit theories to fuck over everything I’ve worked for, not when we’ve come this fucking far!”

Closing her eyes, she ground her forehoof against the floor, taking a long and deep breath that didn’t look to calm her down at all.

“You know, Night? It used to be so easy to answer which of you had disappointed me more, you or my son.” Delilah’s tone had dropped down again, but it was much worse than her normal cold tone. It was hollow. Devoid of any feeling other than pure hatred. “But day in and day out, with every problem you’ve caused for me, that’s not something I can answer anymore.” Oh come, she… she can’t be serious. “And I’m sad to say, I’m not sure which mistake I regret making more. Keeping Happy around all these years, or not letting you die on the side of the fucking road.”

I felt a soft gasp leave my lips, forced out in a breath that left me almost frozen. For as sharp as I’d wanted my words to be earlier, they might as well have been as blunt as a rock for how deep that single sentence cut. I’d only ever felt like this once before, and it was the day I’d made my own mother cry because I was being a stupid selfish little foal. And while Delilah may not have been the same pony who’d loved and raised me, I’ll be damned if it didn’t feel like I was just disowned by my own parents.

“I… I just…” I almost couldn’t bring myself to speak as she heaved deep breaths and barely seemed to be holding her immense rage back. This isn’t like how things were up at Filly Crossing, where it was an issue of morals. This was her business that I overstepped in, which she was right that I knew nothing about how any of it worked. I guess… I really am just being a paranoid stupid foal... “I just wanted to bring it up, Ma’am. I’m sorry...”

“Get. Out.” She growled, shifting her raised hoof to point at the door. “And for the record, Night. The only things that are to come out of your fucking muzzle for the rest of the year, are: Yes, Ma’am. No, Ma’am. And I’m sorry I don’t know, Ma’am.” She snorted at me as she leaned in closer, making me wince and pull back. “Understand?”

“Yes, Ma’am.” I nodded before slowly turning away from her. The moment I looked away, it was like a curtain raised in the back of my mind, and the rational part of my mind could finally see what I’d done. As I moved toward the door, I couldn’t stop the shaking in my legs as a wave of shame washed over me.

Really, Night? You don’t even know a fraction of the history between Delilah and Lustre, and you just accused her of manipulating Delilah into sleeping with her? This was just supposed to be a bad feeling. How did that turn into a rant so damning that not even Bombay could have saved herself from it? Oh, right, it’s a brand new day and you hadn’t fucked things up yet.

Well if that was your goal, mission accomplished, Night.

I couldn’t help but sigh as my eyes scanned across the pristine skyscrapers that lined the edges of the old elevated highway. Ponies of every size, shape, and color went about their daily lives in their rebuilt old world homes. Foals played, families ate breakfast together, and a few stood on their balconies and watched as the convoy passed.

It was odd, how familiar it all felt to me. Cover the ground with clouds, have a few skycarrages going around, and wouldn’t you know it would be like I never left Neighvarro city at all. No wasteland to worry about, no friends to endanger, and no boss to disappoint. Right now, that was a fantasy I could lose myself in far too easily.

But this was my life now, where no matter how much I wanted it to be, Cantercross wasn’t Neighvarro.

“You’ve been awfully quiet up there, Night.” Delilah’s flat tone came across over my headset with an extra helping of annoyance. “You aren’t daydreaming now, are you?”

“No, Ma’am.” Was all I said as I went back to peering around.

The moment I had finished, I pulled my muzzle shut tightly, silencing the sudden urge to apologize again for what I’d said earlier. Looking over across to the other side of the air above the convoy, Cora gave me an odd look as he studied me. I’d worried that he was going to ask me about my quietness, but mercifully, he didn’t seem interested in pursuing it.

“Nothing to report so far, but seeing as we’re almost there, I’m fairly confident we won’t have any trouble.” He spoke up over his headset, turning his gaze off of me and back onto the ground below. “On that, it looks clear on the turnoff for Harmony Plaza.”

Bessy drifted slowly across the lanes as Delilah guided the convoy towards a curved off ramp. It was a tight fit, looking to barely squeeze through the buildings at the side of the highway. Now that I thought about it, the off ramp looked built into the tightly packed buildings. The closer we approached to the exit, the closer the skyscrapers had been built to each other. Some were barely wide enough to hold old fire escapes, which looked like they’d been built to serve the buildings on both sides of them. Other gaps were even thinner than that, barely wide enough for a pony to maybe scoot between if they were careful.

As I followed the Convoy into the turn, I watched as Cora drifted ahead of them. Slowly at first, but he stiffened as he flared his wings downward a bit. A droning wind picked up around me as I reached the turnoff, and I started to sink as the airflow under my wings began to drain off. The funneling offramp felt like it was sucking the air away from me, both pulling me deeper down it, and stealing what little air I could even get under my wings.

“Shit! What the fuck is up with this wind?” I grunted as I forcibly flapped my wings to try to keep myself airborne. But the further we went into the off ramp, the worse the wind got, and the faster I sank. “It’s going to force me to land if it gets any worse!”

"It's alright, we should go ahead and land. You first, I’ll follow." Cora spoke up as even he he struggled to keep himself in the air. Pointing his talon up to the bright multicolored tower that rose above the tops of the skyscrapers, he glared flatly at it. "It's only going to get worse the closer we get to that Ministry abomination." Really? It’s a tower, how the hell would it cause something like this?

“Night.” Delilah gave a growling snap at me over the radio. “Go ahead and land, but don’t get comfortable. You aren’t off duty yet.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” I tried to force myself to not come across as annoyed as I dipped myself down toward the convoy, but I was pretty sure I’d done a poor job. This shifting wind shit wasn’t my fault! Whomever designed this place obviously didn’t have pegasi with flat feathers in mind. I came down hard onto my hooves on the floor of the rec area, coming to a stop right in front of Hardcase as he sat at the radio.

“Hey, I have a quick question for you.” Hardcase’s muzzle twitched nervously as he reached up and flicked off his radio. “What happened with Delilah earlier? Why’s she pissed at you?”

What, it wasn’t like with these paper thin walls they didn’t already know. Did he just want me to say it out loud to rub my mistake in? Even if he hadn’t heard, I wasn’t going to risk myself by letting anything slip out now.

“Don’t answer that, Night.” Delilah’s voice bled into my ear over my own headset. “Ignore him, and post yourself in Boiler’s destroyed container.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” I sighed, frowning as I turned and walked past Hardcase to Boiler and Gearbox’s old, exploded container. Opening it, I paused as I found Lucky standing inside it already.

A simple looking wooden wheeled cart had been secured to his rear half by a dozen different uncomfortable looking ropes and straps, hugging him so tightly that it almost looked like he’d lost circulation there. Still, he looked back at me and smiled as he turned himself around. As I entered, he surprised me by flicking at my forehoof, messing with the controls of my radio headset.

“There. You’ll still be able to hear her, but she can’t hear us.” Lucky smirked as he looked over my shoulder and nodded. I barely had time to brace myself before Hardcase shoved me all the way into the open container and shut the door as he stepped inside after me.

“Sorry, Night, but the suspense is killing us.” Hardcase smirked as he latched the door shut. “We all tried not to listen before, and none of us have the complete picture.” Scooting around me, he took his place next to Lucky. “So, why is Delilah so mad at you?”

Really, nopony could piece it together? Between the two of them, I felt like the colt in school who had all the latest gossip and news about the cool ponies. And honestly, I didn’t really like to be put in the spotlight like this...

“Look, I made a mistake.” I wanted to lie to them, to say that Delilah was being unfair. But that would just prove I was as foalish as Delilah thought I was. Instead, I took a deep breath and looked straight at the both of them. “And trust me when I say that I deserve her anger because of that mistake. So I’m asking you, please, drop it before you two get her angry at you as well.”

“Night.” Delilah’s voice crackled into my ear, instantly drawing my attention through the wide hole in the container and down to Bessy as she drove ahead of us. “You better not be talking with those two.”

“Please, just trust me.” I offered to the two of them, holding up the headset controls to Lucky.

The two of them shared a worried look, but they both nodded. With another quick flick of his hoof, Lucky restored my coms to its previous settings. Alright, you’ve spared them for now. Just don’t screw this up, Night.

“No, Ma’am.” I offered over the headset to her. I don’t know if she’d expected an answer, but I figured it would be better to give one anyway.

As I’d responded however, the morning sunlight darkened slightly, forcing my vision up above the convoy. I hadn’t noticed it as we’d approached, but the road we were on had been built under the cover of a grimy, upwardly sloping glass roof. While the curved street that the off ramp had dumped us onto started to straighten out, I realized something odd.

While I had seen plenty of ponies inside their own buildings, there was hardly a soul on the streets. Trash kicked around in the winds that gust through the various artificial canyons. Not only that, but the closer we got to this 'Harmony plaza', the stronger the gust became. And if that wasn’t odd enough, the road itself was the blackest asphalt I’d seen on this trip so far, which raised even more questions. As the road finally straightened out, the glass roof above us afforded me a look at something that made my jaw drop.

The Ministry of Awesome tower that had stood out from the city as we approached, was actually at the center of what looked like a wide open park. Though it was still almost a half-mile off, the scale of the structure was unlike anything I’d ever imagined. The tower itself was huge, but I’d already gotten that from seeing it above all the other skyscrapers. But what I didn’t see was that this web of sloping glass ceiling had been built into its base.

This glass ceiling looked like it ran down every street to cover most, if not all of this end of the city. Tarps, canvas, and bits of scrap metal had been used to patch up the sections where the large glass panes no longer sat, but on most of them, I could still read the large printed letters that spelled out ‘Harmony Plaza’ as they ran overhead. It was insanely impressive to take in, but more than that, confusing.

Why was it even built here? What purpose did it serve? It didn’t look like any of the other weather control towers the Enclave had relied on. All of this was making my muzzle itch, and I struggled to keep my it shut.

“While you may not be allowed to speak up, nothing says that Lucky and I can’t talk to each other, right?” Hardcase smirked as he nudged me with his hoof. “So, you were wondering what this thing is, Lucky?”

“What?” Lucky sputtered as he cocked an eyebrow to Hardcase, but quickly went wide eyed. “Oh, right! Yeah, I’ve never seen it before.”

“Well you see,” Hardcase raised his hoof and pointed up to the city all around us, “when the ministries were formed during the war, they had a presence in each major Equestrian city. And for being the emerald of the north, and the largest city north of Vanhoover, the financial district of Cantercross was split to make room.”

“Oh, I see.” Lucky nodded slowly, clearly not caring one bit about what was being said. “Why a tower like this? What’s its purpose?” But his entertained glance and sly smile to me helped to cue me in on just what was going on.

Really, guys? I appreciate this, but please, I don’t want to get you into trouble...

“Well, as you may know, cities need power. And a city like this one, demands a lot of it.” Hardcase continued as he sat down next to me. “Far too much to be powered exclusively by already expensive coal. So, while the other ministry buildings were built to their normal ministry standards, the showboating Ministry of Awesome decided to do something a bit different. They used their knowledge of wind power to create a truly unique way to harness the energy it contained.”

“Using the solar updraft effect, right?” Lucky not missing a beat, nodded again as he pointed his hoof along the sloping glass ceiling. “Ground air heated by the sun is drawn through the city and channeled up through the base of the tower, where it rises and drives turbines, correct?”

“They harnessed the power of thermals…” The words, as always, just slipped out of my muzzle. However, I couldn’t care as I took in the impressive full view of the tower. That must also be why the asphalt was as dark as it was, to capture as much of the heat of the sun as possible, and use it to warm the air! It was almost genius of them, and would have provided a nearly limitless source of power during the daytime.

Oddly enough, Delilah didn’t speak up or make any comment about my slip up. Either she hadn’t been paying attention, or she was holding her tongue for now.

“Yeah, but like the ministries themselves, it wasn’t without its flaws.” Hardcase nodded and shrugged. “Turns out, most pony folk didn’t want to spend a day out in the city while there’s constant twenty mile an hour winds pushing you around.”

Oh, so that’s why there’s nopony on the streets. Shifting my wings uncomfortably, I figured that if Cora even had problems flying in it, then I could see how it might be annoying for non-fliers...

“That, and it only works on clear days. Which was almost everyday before the pegasi sealed up the skies.” Lucky continued, pointing up to the six multicolored rings that flashed brightly at the top of the tower. “I’m guessing that it’s only started working again now that the Lightbringer cleared the skies.”

“And I wonder how long it’ll be before any of you start working again.” Delilah snorted into my ear. “Enough playing with friends, Night. Tell them both to get back to work, and you get back to doing your job.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” I spoke up as we reached the edge of the large park that ringed the ministry tower. Slowing down, we turned southward along a six lane main boulevard that followed the curve as it looked like it ran all the way around the sprawling park itself.

The rush of wind that swept through the numerous artificial canyons around the plaza all seemed to be drawn here, thankfully dropping down a bit in force. Green trees and lush grass was everywhere under the glass roof that hung a few stories above, creating fields and small meadows where hundreds of tents and small shacks had been built up. Though, as my eyes glanced around, they were always ultimately pulled back to the base of the enormous tower in the center of it all.

Buildings constructed out of scrap metal and reclaimed bits hugged the base of the tower underneath massive circular openings. Inside each one, sets of bladed turbines spun slowly in the wind, creating a low drone of their own that hummed through the constantly shifting air. The turbines were fairly corroded, which was hardly surprising given their age, and most were missing a few blades.

The rumble of multiple arcane engines ahead of us on the road quickly drowned out the droning of the turbines. Looking ahead, a pair of what looked to be miniature Bessy’s rolled toward us on each side of the boulevard. They were quite a bit smaller, had only six wheels rather than eight, and what looked to be a much smaller gun. Not to mention, they were painted a greyish blue and carried long antennae that bobbed about in the gusting winds along the road.

“CCPD Patrol twenty three to approaching convoy,” The stern voice of a mare as bored as Delilah normally was, crackled over my headset. “This is a reminder that the Harmony district is neutral territory, and you will follow Mr. Wizard’s laws while inside it. Weapons fire is strictly forbidden under the updraft collector glass, and lethal force will be deployed against anypony who violates this rule.”

“Acknowledged, Patrol.” Delilah grunted over the radio, prompting both of the approaching vehicles to split apart, each of them bouncing up as they began to drive on the empty sidewalks to stay out of our way. “You heard them, everyone. No weapon fire from here on out.” She paused for a moment, but part of me knew she wasn’t done. “Say that you understand that, Night.”

“Understood, Ma’am.” I gave out with a long sigh. Of course she had to point me out in particular.

“Take care, Convoy, and have a pleasant stay.” The mare’s voice crackled over the radio as we passed the two small wheeled tanks. As we did, I caught a glimpse of white painted letters of CCPD along the sides of the vehicles, and the faded image of a silver star over a shield underneath it. More interesting was the bright W painted visibly on the side of the turret, matching the w that flew on the flag I’d seen when entering the city.

“Alright everyone, this is where we split up.” Delilah snapped into my ear. Wait, what did she mean we were splitting up!? “Bertha is to turn at the next junction, and continue on until you reach Gateway Terminal at the southern edge of the city.” Oh thank the goddess, some time away from Delilah. You have no idea how much I needed that right now. “Night, you’re coming on board with Howitzer and I.” Fucking seriously!? “We’re going to stop at the library and see if we can find a way to decipher the code for the Ark.” Before I could tell her I understood, she spoke up again. “Just to avoid any accidents, you’re first to strip and leave your weapons onboard Bertha.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” I nodded and hung my head. “Of course, Ma’am.”

While I may have deserved to be treated like a foal, I couldn’t help but want it to stop. But, in order for that to happen, I needed to do as asked, and not screw anything else up. Which of course, was going to be incredibly difficult with her constantly staring over my shoulder...

Still, my hooves were tied. I had to buck up and act like an adult, as well as hope to Celestia above that my curse didn’t act up and ruin everything for me. Again.

After a cramped fifteen minutes inside the back of Bessy, we finally pulled up in front of the ‘library’, or whatever Delilah had called it. As I moved to open the hatch at the back, I lamented the fact of how naked I felt without the jump pack or any of my weapons on me. I know we needed to follow the rules here, and that meant I couldn’t have any incidents, but that wasn’t going to stop anypony that Solomon’s paid off from having an ‘accidental discharge’ at us.

At least the extra couple tabs of chill I’d used had helped to somewhat keep my anxiety about that at bay for now. I figured that since I didn’t know how long we were going to be out here, I might as well get ahead of the aches and pains today. Still, with the amount I’d taken so far, here’s hoping I didn’t have another concussion anytime soon...

Stepping out of the confining vehicle, I immediately began to shiver as I was buffeted by the winds the flowed toward the tower looming large behind us. The thick scent of saltwater hit me, and even though I couldn’t see it, I knew we must have been close to the bay that I’d seen on our approach to the city. Turning around, in front of us, was something else I’d seen on our way in that was just as intimidating as it was from that far out. The large radio mast.

At only a couple of stories tall, a set of interlinked buildings sat before us. They lacked the spectacular size that the rest of the city held, and it was actually barely squat enough to let the glass panels of the Ministry of Awesome tower flow over it. Though, the panel that would have covered the center of them was missing, and the intimidatingly large radio mast I’d seen from outside the inner city, stuck up through the hole. Something I hadn’t been able to see from afar, was the ringed structure that sat around the mast a few stories up above the glass.

It was a glass ringed multi-story building that peeked far enough above the other buildings that the light from the rising sun cast the old concrete in a soft orange hue. The old windows on it were tinted a dark black, but from the fact that they were all spotlessly clean, I figured that it was a somewhat important place. A small glass elevator rode up from the building in front of me, climbing along the tower slowly before disappearing into the underside of the elevated ring.

Shifting my gaze upwards, the large flying W I’d seen from outside the city loomed in the skies. The flag that flew on the mast looked almost as large as a whole city block from this close. Waving from the top of the tower, it only served to reinforce the deepening pit in my stomach.

Why the fuck did I feel so damn uncomfortable? This place felt like a ghost town with this wind, sure, but it didn’t seem all that bad. So what was it?

Turning my attention back to the buildings below the glass, I looked at the windowless and architecturally bland looking buildings we’d parked in front of. Only the sharp outline of the old Ministry of Arcane Sciences logo sat on the faded concrete side of the old complex, again making me feel as if this place was lacking any sort of interesting flourishes that made other buildings stand out. The hookups for what must have been the bright neon sign that once displayed the logo sat exposed along the side of the simplistic main concrete structure. The sign though was completely missing without a trace, though next to where it once sat, another of those red flags with the white W had been hung up.

I don’t know why, but I think it was specifically that flag that made me uncomfortable. I know I hadn’t learned all that much from my time in school, and that I hadn’t seen all the flags that the old world once offered, but I don’t remember any of them looking quite like this. This one was simple, bold, and to the point. Before I could contemplate it any further, Howitzer stepped out through the hatch in Bessy as well and obscured my view.

“Hello! It’s been awhile since we’ve had visitors!” The excited voice of a stallion called out from the other side of Howitzer, and I peeked my head around his large fuzzy form to get a glance of them. It was a lithe looking purple coated earth pony with a wild white mane who came trotting up towards us from the far side of the old building. He gave out a wave, taking a moment to push up the old pair of goggles he wore up over his unkempt mane. “What can we here at the CSC do for you fine folks?”

“CSC?” I asked out reflexively. Thankfully, it didn’t seem like Delilah had heard me as she was carefully climbing her way down from the front of Bessy. Though, Howitzer had heard, and turned to me with a flat look across his one good eye and his broad muzzle.

“Cantercross Science Center.” He grunted, giving a subtle nod toward the stallion. “I would have liked to avoid this place. I don’t trust anypony who works for an asshole like Mr. Wizard.”

“That’s why it’s not your call.” Delilah spoke up as she threw a short glare at the both of us before turning around to meet the approaching stallion. “Hello, we’re here to make use of the library.”

“Ah, that can be arranged! Mr. Wizard encourages the use of his assets for all citizens to learn and grow.” The stallion’s excited tone and relaxed smile was at odds with the way that everyone talked about Mr. Wizard. With a quick wave, he almost spun himself in place before turning and heading towards the central building of the group. “If you’d kindly follow me, I’ll show you all inside and we can set you up with the information you’re searching for.”

“Thank you.” Delilah nodded as she hopped to the ground and moved to follow him. As she did, she brought her glare back to Howitzer and I. “Howitzer, stay with Bessy. This shouldn’t take long.” Turning to me, she gave me a rough nod in the direction of the stallion. “Come now, Night. And remember, no questions.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I offered with a sigh as I picked myself up into a trot.

Once beside Delilah, it was easy for us to catch up with the stallion, who at the moment, was humming a simple tune to himself as we headed for a short flight of steps that lead up to a pair of large, heavily carved out wooden double doors. The ornate carvings on them depicted an old tree that reminded me of the Ministry of Peace building that had been built in Canterlot. Though, this one didn’t look anything like the one I’d seen in the old photos, and well, it had been hard to see the one in Lil’ Canterlot, as it was designed to look like how Canterlot was before the war and the ministries.

“So, I don’t know if you folks have ever visited us before, but there is one stipulation of visiting the library.” The stallion spoke over his shoulder as he began to climb the steps ahead of us. “It can be jarring at first, but we need absolute silence once inside. The texts and records we keep are very old, and even the vibrations from sound could cause some of them to fall apart.”

“I understand.” Was all that Delilah offered as we climbed the steps after him. “We will do our best to keep quiet, won’t we, Night?” She only glared at me for a moment, but like always, her gaze might have well been as radiant and overbearing as Celestia’s great sun.

“You misunderstand,” The stallion gave out a short laugh as he stopped at the large doors. “The building is enveloped in a self sustaining silencing enchantment.” Pointing at the door, he gave Delilah an off putting wink. “Not that we don’t trust visitors, but we here feel this is the best way to avoid any accidents.” With an excited hop, he jumped over to the door and pulled it open, swinging his free forehoof across to direct us in.

“Alright.” Delilah nodded as she turned to me. Extending her forehoof, she motioned expectantly at me. “Night, if you’d kindly hoof over your tags.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I nodded, slowly hoofing my mother’s tags off of myself again.

Not that I didn’t trust her with them, I was getting tired of leaving them with complete and total strangers. I know I didn’t have any right to hold back the information on them, I just… I didn’t want to risk losing the only thing that I had left that belonged to my mother. Still, it was for the greater good, so I had to suck it up and hope that these ponies could treat it with the respect it needed.

“Now, we do have a way to communicate inside,” The stallion spoke up as Delilah took the tags from my hoof. “The telepathy talismans we have available have a limited range and will broadcast your thoughts to others, but I’m afraid we only have a single spare for use with visitors. So either you or your young mare here will unfortunately have to remain silent.”

“Trust me when I say that’s probably for the best that Night remains quiet.” Delilah gave a little smirk at that, and I couldn’t help but think that she thought I deserved to be quiet for once anyway. And it’s not that I didn’t agree with her on that at least a little bit, but given the chance shit was going to hit the fan here? Yeah, it was going to make dealing with it extremely hard.

The stallion nodded and again motioned for us to enter. Following in after Delilah, we entered into a small enclosed hallway that held another pair of wooden double doors at the other end. These doors were not carved or decorated at all like the outer pair, but instead were flat panels that had been painted long ago with some sort of mural. It’s hard to tell what the mural originally was however, as most of it had more recently been covered over with the same red and white flag that was flying outside.

To our right, a set of what looked like coat racks that contained sets of off white lab coats. Most of them had simple labels pasted above them, listing various names of ponies who I could only guess worked here, either in the past or in the present. Still, the stallion closed the door behind us and walked over to the rack. He removed one of the coats, taking the one under the name Z. Boson and putting it on.

He quickly snapped together the buttons on the collar of the labcoat, causing a small green flash from the button that secured it. Instantly, there was a small sigh of relief from him, but it didn’t come from his muzzle. Instead, it sounded like it came from everywhere at once.

“Alright.” The stallion’s voice resonated through my mind from every direction. It was unnerving to hear just how his words bounced around slightly, giving a small echo like he was speaking from inside a large empty room. “Now for your coat.” Turning, he plucked a lab coat off of a hook that held the name W. Boson above it. With a toss to Delilah, she easily caught it and began to put it on.

Scanning across the line of names, I kept finding myself drawn back to the coat he’d taken for Delilah. W. Boson. It was the only name listed with a W in it, and I had to wonder if it was going to be the same W that was plastered across all these flags like some sort of propaganda. The snap and green flash from Delilah’s collar pulled my attention off the names and back to her.

“So, Mr. Boson...” Delilah began, somehow keeping the exact same flat and bored sounding tone as always, only now, that tone echoed and bounced around inside my head.

“Please, call me Quark. Mr. Boson was my father.” The stallion spoke up as he turned and headed for the inner doors. “We’re just humble researchers and public servants here, there’s no need to be so formal. Well, unless Mr. Wizard himself graces us with his presence, of course. Formalities do tend to please the higher ups, after all.”

“Of course.” Delilah nodded and motioned for me to follow her.

“Now,” Quark spoke as he pulled open the door. The moment he did, there was a sharp pop that felt like it swept across the room. “What is it we here at the library can do for you?” His voice resonated inside my head again as he used the talisman to speak. But, this time it was different, as now, his voice was even more present than before because it was the only sound I could hear at all anymore.

I couldn’t hear the sound of my own breathing, the sounds of our hoofsteps as we walked through the doorway. It was disorienting in its own way, and I found myself tweaking my wings as I nearly dropped into a hobble on my four legs. It was a struggle to walk at a consistent pace without feeling like I was going to fall over with each step. Even worse than feeling clumsy, was that in the absence of all other sound, the one thing I could actually start to hear with disturbing clarity was the beating of my own heart.

“We have an old world code that we need help deciphering.” Delilah’s voice filled the inside of my mind, not helping to quell the disorientation I was feeling. However, that all fell to the wayside as we stepped into the main hall of the library.

In many ways, it was a lot like the hangar that the Rangers stored their things in. It was a large open room, with a high ceiling accented by brightly glowing fluorescent lights and pipes that ran off through the far walls to the other connected buildings. Instead of rows filled to the brim with various bits of junk, enormous shelves packed with old books and scrolls filled most of the open floor space. The rows themselves were only just wide enough for a pony to squeeze through, and it left me wondering just how anypony was even supposed to reach the higher shelves at all.

Unlike the windowless front of the science center, the back wall was almost all glass. Much to my surprise, that glass was also remarkably clear. On the other side of it, was what looked like a lush garden, full of all sorts of different flowering plants and small brightly colored trees. A weathered brass plaque was inset above the midpoint of the large windowed wall, and as I read it, I couldn’t help but feel a bit sad.

Rose Chaleureux Memorial Conservatory.

The war was cruel to have taken an innocent flower as rare and beautiful as you were.

I don’t know who this pony had been, but somepony cared enough to build a garden in their memory. And while I know that the war claimed a lot of ponies’ lives, this hit far too close to home for me. Instinctively, I lifted my forehoof to put them against my mother’s tags, only to feel my bare cold hoof against my chest.

It made me feel guilty. Sure, the pony who had built this garden must have had a lot of money to do so back in the day, but what sort of excuse did that leave me with? Just because this was the wasteland, and I couldn’t afford something as ornate as this, didn’t mean that my parents didn’t deserve more from me. They deserved to be remembered and honored for their sacrifices, even if… even if in the end they didn’t mean anything at all to anypony other than me.

“Night?” Delilah’s softer voice overpowered my own downtrodden thoughts, helping to pull me out of them. Looking up, I found Delilah’s flat gaze staring at me from through the gap between the bookshelves ahead of me. “If you’re not going to keep pace, then I expect you to stay right there until I return.” She sounded like she was speaking from across the room, and I realized that she must now be at the extreme edge of the talisman’s range.

I opened my muzzle, trying to say ‘yes, ma’am’, but only silence met my ears. Right, no sounds allowed. Instead, I just nodded to her.

She and Quark disappeared completely behind the far end of the bookshelves, and I let out a sigh of relief. Er, what would have been one if I’d actually heard it. Instead, the same pulsing of my own heart was all that I heard inside my own head.

It had started off as something soft, almost in the background of my mind as I stood there. However, the longer I sat in complete silence, the louder my beating heart got. It wasn’t a quick transition, but it was steady, and it was quickly reaching a near deafening roar. It was almost as if the more I focused on it, the worse it got, and I was hopelessly stuck in a loop that I was afraid would end up driving me crazy.

“Yo, bitch.” The sharp voice of another stallion in my head sent my mind scrambling to grab ahold of their reverberating words and pull myself back to sanity. “What the hell are you doing just standing around up here?”

I turned my head to find out where the voice was coming from, which almost caused me to fall over when compounded with the fact that this soundless environment was throwing off my balance. However, I managed to recover my balance a bit by locking my legs and moving my gaze around slower.

“Are you fucking stupid or something?” The stallion offered as I caught a glimpse of him standing in front of a stairwell off to my right. The neon pink earth pony had an incredulous look across his face, though most of it was hidden behind the clear lense of some sort of gas mask. The lemon yellow full body suit that he wore looked like it was built to keep out chemicals of some sort, but why he was wearing it in the library of all places didn’t really make sense to me. I mean, they didn’t give us those to wear… “You even paying attention, bitch? This ain’t a one pony job, so are you going to help me out, or do I need to tell Mr. Wizard about this shit?”

His rude words gave his stiff movements a more annoyed tone to them, and as he turned to walk back down the stairwell behind him, I wondered just what he was talking about. Still, if he needed help with something, I guess it couldn’t hurt. Yeah, Delilah told me to stay right here, but she also told me that I should ‘help’ out like I’ve been doing. And if he was as big of a deal as ponies made him out to be, Mr. Wizard could be the only other ally we’d need on this trip.

Turning, I made my slow, hobbling way to the downward leading stairwell that the stallion had disappeared off to. Reaching it, I found that it in fact, doubled back on itself as it lead further down. The faded and slightly grimy sign that still hung on the wall down the flight had a pictograph of an old train on it, as well as the words Intercity Transit Station printed on it.

Walking down, the stairs doubled back onto each other a few more times before dumping me in front of a large metal door. Just outside of it, the pink stallion waited next to an old locker for me to come down. Taking the last few steps slowly, he waited until I had my hooves off the stairs before tossing a yellow suit like his toward me.

“I know you’re new to this, but put this shit on unless you want to die.” He spoke up as he turned and opened the locker again. Just from the way he said that, I surmised that he probably expected me to be somepony else, possibly somepony who actually worked for Mr. Wizard. But I couldn’t really say that I wasn’t them, even if I wanted to.

“Come on, come on. We don’t have all day. We’d already be done with this shit if you weren’t drifting off into la la land.” His voice resonated in my head as I struggled to get on the yellow jumpsuit. I shot him a glare as I moved to wiggle the yellow suit up over my wings before he shoved a gas mask like his towards me. “Strap this on and I’ll get your back closed up.”

Grabbing the mask from him, I quickly worked to get it fit over my face. Now, I hardly knew how to make sure it was secure, as masks like this weren’t something the Enclave normally had to deal with up in the skies. So just to be sure, I hoofed at the straps and pulled them tight enough that the edges of the mask felt like they were digging into my skin every time I took in a breath.

“Alright, you’re all sealed up.” The stallion grunted and gave a firm set of pats against my back. “And before you try to ask, yes the talisman in your mask is busted. Yeah it sucks, but I don’t care to fix it because I don’t want to listen to your shit, got it? You’re just here to move product for a paycheck, and today you drew the short straw with helping me move compound instead.” Wait, move what now? “Oh, and it goes without saying that you don’t mention this shit you see down here to anypony. Working on fruit transport meant that Mr. Wizard trusted you to be discrete, and it goes double for this job.”

Turning, the stallion moved to the door and threw it open, quickly stepping inside. He kicked out his leg, holding the door just long enough for me to step forward and follow him inside. The moment we were through the door, we entered what looked to be a canvas tent held up by rusted metal rods with a single fluorescent light along the center of the roof. Beads of liquid rolled down the inside of the walls, and after a moment, I found out why.

Holes cut into the metal piping above us sputtered before spraying out a light mist of clear liquid. It washed over us for a few moments before it cut off abruptly, leaving the air and vision of our masks hazed up. As the two of us stood there in the haze, the light above went out momentarily before coming back with a slightly greenish hue to it.

“De-con is clear. Let’s go.” The stallion’s voice came up as he moved to the other end of the tent. He reached down and gripped a loose strap near the base of the tent, lifting it to unzip a section of the wall for us before stepping through the opening to the other side.

Stepping up to the hole, I noticed that the other side was quite a lot brighter than anywhere else in the library had been. And even though I was wearing the suit, I could also feel that the air down here was quite a bit hotter. Pushing my way through the opening forced a silenced gasp from my muzzle as I looked around.

The conservatory up above was nothing to what was down here. Bright lamps blazed above, affixed to almost every point they could fit in the ceiling, beaming down and bathing the entire area in warm slightly blue light. What had once been an old metro station had been converted to hold row upon row of metal plant beds, each one filled with three small leafy green trees. Most of the planters sat inside the wide trough where the old world subway trains would have run, stretching off Celestia knows how far into the tunnels in each direction.

Each healthy looking green-leaf covered tree was about a pony high, and sported three or four very plump looking spiky greenish-orange fruits from their branches. The trees glistened with a wetness that seemed to come from the reddish bubbles that constantly drifted through the air down here. Which, now that I think about it, is probably why we were wearing the suits.

But what really stuck out to me was the silver tubes that ran from each tree trunk to the next. The tubes ran around, between, and sometimes even straight through each and every tree in the station, punching into each trunk at some point onto it and dribbling down a thick looking sap from the entry point. What even was this place?

“Yo, quit fucking staring and get your ass over here!” The stallion’s voice ripped my gaze from the amazing underground orchard over to where he’d walked off to. “Yeah, it’s impressive, I get it. Everypony stares their first time down here. But once you’ve seen one station, you’ve seen all thirty five of them in the fucking city.”

On the platform off to my right side was what looked to be an old ticket booth. All of the silver tubes that were attached to the tree’s met up and ran through the booth’s windows where they fed into a healthy assortment of large standard sized fifty five gallon metal drums. Golden colored sap stained the lids of each barrel around where the pipes fed in, and I wondered just what somepony needed with this much tree sap.

The pink stallion detached one of the barrels and sealed it up with a screw on metal cap where the tubes had been. With a groan, he struggled to shift it out of place from where it sat. But with it being completely full, I figured that the whole thing probably weighed four or five hundred pounds. So this was what he’d needed help with, that’s not too bad! Honestly, part of me was glad it was just moving something around and not something super evil for once...

Trotting over, I put my hooves around the top of the barrel and gave him a nod. Together, we pulled, pushed, and managed to dislodge the heavy drum from where it sat. It felt like it took hours, but after a couple of minutes, we’d managed to scoot the barrel just outside the doorway where we set it down. By that time, it felt like I was sweating through my suit, and I had to desperately fight the urge to take off my gas mask.

“Fuck!” The stallion panted as we both stepped away from the barrel. “If we expand production anymore, I’m going to have to get a dedicated team to do this shit for us.” Hanging his head, he heaved a few times in his own head, which was… weird to me. Still, he reached up and gave me a few firm pats on my side. “No offence, but your lazy ass isn’t going to be on that team.” Looking up, he let out a laugh as he smiled at me.

I gave him a shrug, even though the Bombay part of me was telling me to throw off his mask for being a fucking asshole. As much as I’d love to follow that suggestion, I couldn’t act on it. No, that wouldn’t help anypony, and Delilah would probably kill me if I caused any more problems for her. At the very least we were finished, right?

“Alright, bitch.” The stallion spoke into my head as he gave a roll of his neck and stretched out his legs a bit. “Ready for the next half of this shit?” What do you mean, next half? Now it was my turn to shoot him an incredulous look. To which, he simply pointed his hoof over to the far end of the old platform where a rickety looking elevator sat. “The freight elevator? Unless you wanted to take this shit up the stairs on your own, in which case, be my fucking guest.”

Rolling my eyes, I let out another silent sigh. Might as well get this shit over with…

Turns out, maneuvering the barrel out of the room was the hardest part of moving it, as we turned it onto its side and simply rolled it over to the elevator. Though to be honest, I’d expected a barrel full of sap to be a bit easier to roll. Even though it was on its side, it took the two of us just to get it to move it anywhere at all. Once we got it going though, then we had to switch our effort into stopping it.

Of course, once it was on the elevator, we’d had to stand it back up and tie it down with a few rigging lines inside the small box. The pink stallion shut the door and hit a button on the exterior elevator panel, and the both of us watched as the barrel rose up into the shaft before disappearing out of sight. Part of me was curious as to where it went and what it was used for, but seeing as it was still impossible for me to ask, I had to force the questions from my mind before they turned into an itch that became far too distracting.

After going through De-con again, and returning the gas mask and yellow suit to the locker, the pink stallion pulled out an old, lumpy looking cloth sack and hoofed it at me.

“Your payment for having pulled the shitty job, one week’s salary. Enjoy.” He spoke inside my head as I reached out and took it. It was quite heavy, and as my curiosity got the better of me, I sat down and opened the top of it. Inside was a dozen or so of the plump looking fruits that I’d seen growing on the trees in the station. “Some of them might not look ripe yet, but trust me when I say that I hoofpick them to give to grunts like you. There aren’t any crappy ones in there, I don’t pull that shit. Give them a few days and they’ll ripen up.”

Looking up at him, I must have been a bit too forward with the confused look across my face. I mean, fruit? They pay their workers… in fruit? What the hell was I supposed to even do with these!

“You fucking want more?” The stallion snapped at me, shooting his hoof toward the stairs behind me. “Get the fuck out of here and go earn it then. Don’t look at me like I haven’t done shit for you, bitch.”

Yeah wow, this guy wasn’t just rude. From his tone, he honestly felt like he’d done me some sort of favor with this. Whatever, while I helped him out so Delilah wouldn’t get pissed at me, it didn’t mean I couldn’t think he was an asshole. Regardless, it was time for me to get back up there and wait for Delilah. Biting down on the sack, I turned and started to climb the steps back toward the Library. As I hobbled up the multiple flights and left the jerk downstairs, silence took hold again inside my head.

Of course as one would expect, the exertion that came with climbing several flights with a bag gripped in your muzzle got my heart pumping. The hammering, rhythmic beating felt like it was the starting bass line to a song which DJ Powercolt never really got going with. And by the time I reached the library again, I had to ‘shout’ my own thoughts inside my head about how glad I’d be whenever we left here. The moment my hooves hit the solid concrete flooring of the library, I looked back over toward the door.

The baseline in my head stopped momentarily, broken by the sight of Delilah’s burning glare at me as she stood where she told me to wait. She wasn’t being escorted by Quark, and she didn’t have the labcoat on anymore, so I had to assume we were finished here. Without a word, she turned and headed for the doors to outside.

Following her, I pushed through the first set of double doors and immediately winced as every little ambient sound came flooding back into my ears at once. The buzzing of the lights, the sound of the wind outside, and my own breathing came back to me in a disorienting rush. Seriously, were there actually this many sounds normally? Or did I just always tune them out on my own?

“You didn’t stay put like I asked, and instead went and picked fruit.” Delilah snorted as she stood with her hoof on the next set of doors. How did she know what was in the bag? “I don’t need any more disappointing news today. So tell me now, how did you get the fruits, Night?” So I guess the tags couldn’t be deciphered here after all.

As my brain caught up to the question she’d asked, she didn’t look back at me. I had a sneaking suspicion that it would just be another angry glare if she did look, but I got lucky as she simply waited. Seriously I know I might have screwed up with the Road Crew, but again, she wanted me to help out around settlements. As I spit out the bag into my hoof, I figured that maybe I should remind her of that.

“A pony asked for help, ma’am. These were payment.” I offered to her with as flat of a tone as I could muster. “You told me to continue to help out at settlements we stop in, and I did just that.” It was borderline talking back to her like a smart ass, but she needed to cut me a break. “Is that a problem?”

All she offered back was a growl as she pushed the door open ahead of her, and I had to fight off the smirk the Bombay half of me so desperately wanted to flaunt at her. And to be honest, it was hard to not give into that side of things after this morning. But for now, I just followed her through the door and filed it away in the back of my head as a win for now.

Because no matter how nice that ‘win’ felt, it’s still early in the morning, and there’s plenty of day left for me to screw shit up.

Author's Note

Woo! Chapter fifty already! It doesn't feel like it's been two years since I started this story, really it doesn't. It's been quite the journey so far, and there's still a lot more to come!

A huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for helping to get these chapters into a postable condition ever other week. Seriously man, you're the best!

And of course, many thanks to Kkat for writing and allowing us to all use this fantastic wasteland setting!

Chapter 51 - Secrets and Lies

Sometimes in order to clean up, it's necessary to make a mess.

“So, I’m guessing you guys didn’t have any luck.” Hardcase offered as Delilah and I climbed up into the rec area of the Hauler.

The trip to catch up with Bertha had gone quickly enough, taking us out from under the glass roof of the Harmony District. The moment we’d hit a block or so away from the glass roof, ponies seemed to sprout out of the numerous brick buildings along this edge of the city. Where we had stopped however was a few blocks away from the center point of this community, supposedly some old world train station called Gateway Terminal or some such. But, for as much as I felt like the sight of hundreds of ponies bustling about was nice, I’d been pretty sure Delilah didn’t share that particular sentiment.

She offered Hardcase the same burning glare normally reserved for me, before disappearing into her container and slamming the door shut. Wow, that was a bit harsh. Hardcase scrunched up his muzzle as her door closed, glancing at me with a worried look in his eyes.

“Seriously, what’s going on with her?” He kept his voice at a whisper as he moved back to sit at the radio.

I simply shrugged as I climbed up the rest of the way into the Hauler and dumped the sack of fruit onto the floor. A few of the plump fruit rolled out into view, pulling a confused look from Hardcase.

“That’s just how Ma’ is sometimes.” Happy offered as he lounged on the couch like the lazy lump he was. He carefully strummed at the ukulele in his hooves, slightly muting the slow tune he played as he looked down at the fruit. Oddly, he gave a disgusted snarl at it. “Ugh, punga. Why’d you have to bring that junk here?”

“You know what this stuff is?” I found myself asking before I could stop myself.

“Yeah, it’s the shit ‘fruit’ that dick Mr. Wizard pedals to the ponies in this city.” Happy huffed before wiggling himself uncomfortably further into the couch. “It tastes like garbage, and ponies around here only eat it ‘cause it’s cheap and keeps them from starving. It’s why so many ponies even come to live in this stupid city.”

“It’s good to know you at least listened to your mom when we rolled through here the first time.” Hardcase smirked as he reached up and flicked on the radio. The beat of another one of DJ Powercolt’s dance songs filled the air for a moment before Hardcase turned down the volume. “But he’s right in that the promise of work, protection, and food does a lot to attract all sorts, and not strictly the good kind of folks.” He bobbed his head along to the quiet beat of the music as he looked lost in thought for a moment. “Still, he’s gotta be shipping it in from somewhere. There’s no growing plots in the city. Not to mention, you saw the landscape north of Cantercross. It’s too barren and polluted to support any kind of life, and while the south side isn’t as bad off, there’s a whole lot growing that you can’t control.”

“No, he’s growing it here, in the city.” I spat out, not sure how he couldn’t have considered it. “He has tunnels of the stuff growing in the old subway under the city.” With what the pony had said before, I found it hard to believe that they’d hid the knowledge of thirty five growing metro stations from a population as large as what was in this city.

“That’s impossible.” Hardcase scoffed as he looked at me like I’d just suggested that Celestia’s brilliant sun was just the other side of Luna’s moon. “The subways have all been blocked off because they’re filled with toxic fumes from the stagnant wastewater under the city. Ponies who try to explore down there never make it back out.” Shaking his head for a moment, he waved his forehoof and looked like he tried to clear those words before blinking at me. “Why the fuck would you even suggest that, Night?”

“Because while I was waiting for Delilah to finish up in the library, I was asked to help somepony move a drum of sap down there. I had to wear a protective suit while I was down there though.” I shrugged and pointed at the fruits I’d spilled on the floor. “That was my payment for helping...” I cringed as I remembered what the pink stallion had said to me before we went into the station. “And now that I think of it, I was told not to tell anypony of what I saw down there…”

“So wait…” Happy sat up, more attentive now than he’d been in weeks. “You’re telling me that you’ve seen the inner workings of Mr. Wizard’s operation? By accident!?” While I didn’t know why he seemed so excited to hear that, I didn’t appreciate the bright smile that dragged across his muzzle. “That’s valuable information to the right pony…”

“No, Happy.” Hardcase snapped at him. “It’s also dangerous information to the wrong pony. Did you ever stop to think about that?” Shit, Hardcase was right. “What happens when word gets around about who spilled the beans on that shit? This is not what we’re in this city to do, and you know that.”

“The last thing we need is to give Solomon more pull with Mr. Wizard, which is what will happen if we let this get out.” I sighed, glancing over to Happy as his smile was strangled by our words. “If this was supposed to be a big secret or something, we can’t risk the safety of the convoy by putting it out there.”

“Ugh!” Happy groaned as he pretty much threw himself back against the couch again. “Fine, I won’t tell anypony. I don’t wanna be a fuckin’ square, but I guess you two eggheads have a point.” Pulling his ukulele up against his chest again, he plucked at the strings with a look of annoyance that matched Delilah’s recent mood. “Could’a made us all rich, but no, we’ve gotta care about shit...”

“Rich?” I grumbled and glared at him. Really? Is that all he cared about? “Isn’t the whole reason we’re up here to help save your town?”

“Hell, Night’s never even been there and he already cares more about the ponies of Brahman Beach than you do. You’re a fucking idiot sometimes, Happy.” Hardcase rolled his eyes as he stood himself up again. Looking over to me, his mood seemed to brighten. “Anyway, I was hoping that since we’ll be here for another hour or so, maybe you wanted to take a look around Gateway Station, Night? Buck’s out getting medical supplies in the market, Hispano and Cora are off for ‘Talon training’ or something, and lastly, Lucky and Gearbox are out getting food with Howitzer and Boiler. There’s not much to be gained by waiting around here when we can relax out there, right?”

“I don’t know…” I wasn’t sure how good of an idea that was, as I didn’t exactly want to go out and get into trouble after all the shit I’ve caused with Delilah. I was on thin ice as it was already, and the last thing I needed to do was punch a hole through it and jump into the freezing water all on my own.

“Eh, you two do whatever.” Happy mumbled as he set his Ukulele down on the couch and pushed himself up to his hooves. “I’ve got a very important appointment to keep.” Important appointment? He better remember the topic of that talk we had. As he trotted down to the stairs, he gave me a playful nudge, and a wink to Hardcase before he disappeared to down below. “Don’t let Ma’ leave without me now!”

Why did I feel like I was going to regret not tying him down to the couch when I had a chance?

“Sure thing, Happy.” Hardcase rolled his eyes as Happy stomped his way down the ice hold stairs. “Anyway, Night, are you at the very least up for grabbing some lunch?” He teased, holding his hoof out toward the open ice hold stairway. “My treat?” At the mention of food, my stomach gave a loud gurgle and made me freeze up, which only made Hardcase give out a quick laugh. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Since this was a sort of ‘off the clock’ lunch, I figured that I wasn’t going to leave the Hauler without some things. While I left my battle saddle and Bessy’s shell loading sling back on the Hauler, I did grab my saddle bags and strapped on my jump pack. I didn’t want to have to use it, but if it was the case that trouble somehow found us, I could use it to get the fuck away from it as fast as possible.

I could absolutely feel that my curse was just waiting for me to give it an opportunity to fuck everything up. Because of this, I preemptively took another couple tabs of Chill just to get ahead of whatever pain I’d be experiencing when things fell apart. Still, now that I had, I couldn’t fight this fuzziness that had cropped up in my head. It wasn’t that bad really, it just… made it a bit hard to focus on thinking about one thing for too long.

“Quite the impressive community, isn’t it?” Hardcase spoke up as he dropped off the last of Bertha’s stairs and onto the paved street beside me. “Come on, all the good stuff is in the Terminal markets!” With a pat on my wings, he trotted off ahead of me towards an alleyway where several bored and ragged looking ponies were huddled around a burning barrel. With a sigh, I picked up my hooves and decided that I might as well get this trip over with.

The buildings that made up this part of town weren’t as impressively tall as the skyscrapers behind us, nor were they particularly interesting to look at. The weather and time worn bricks they’d been built out of did happen to at least give them more character than any of the concrete or steel monoliths behind us. Still, the ten-story or so structures dominated the local skyline here, and even with that extra old town character, this place held the same out-of-place feeling as the rest of the city.

The idea that this place was just a bit too good to be true stuck to the growing pit in my hungry stomach, and I could feel myself tensing up the more I looked around. And while I tried to focus on figuring out why that was, that feeling dipped behind the fuzziness in my head and I lost my train of thought. Honestly, it was probably a good thing, as it allowed me to notice the large group of ponies clogging up the other end of the alleyway Hardcase and I were trotting down.

“What’s going on?” I found myself asking as the crowd ahead when from a hushed murmur to a roaring mass of conversations.

“Even though we’re a few blocks from the station, this is how it always is here.” Hardcase had to raise his voice to beat out the crowd, but it wasn’t all too hard to hear him. For a moment as we approached the end of the alleyway, I could have easily confused the sea of ponies on the sidewalks as a less rotten horde than the one that had sieged Midway Station. “It’s actually a pretty cool place! But, it does take awhile to get used to how things work around here, especially if you want to get anywhere.”

“What do you mean?” I asked as I stepped up beside him at the edge of the alleyway.

I could only assume we’d stopped to find a break in the massive flow of ponies moving from the right side of the block to our left. It really did feel like a river, as ponies packed almost nose to flank went about their business without even seeming to notice us trying to get by at all. I blinked as a blue wall of magic shot up out of the sidewalk, instantly stopping the flow from our right as the ponies piled up painfully against the glowing wall.

“That might seem mean to you, but it’s only fair.” Hardcase smiled as his horn glowed. Stepping out onto the now cleared sidewalk, he turned and waved for me to follow. “Now come on…”

A black and white flash slammed into Hardcase from the side as a small zebra stallion came out of nowhere. Hardcase’s spell fizzled as the both of them went down onto the pavement, and he let out a yelp as he pretty much slid back against my forehooves. The zebra however was back onto his hooves and galloping against the flow of the pony river. By the time I could even look over to find out what had happened to him, he was completely obscured in the mass of ponies.

Damn, he was fast!

"Stop! Thief!" The shouting of a unicorn from the direction of where the zebra had come from pulled my attention. "Somepony, stop that zebra!"

Turning to look for the zebra, I found that the crowded sidewalk parted slightly as the zebra stallion pushed his way forward. Those who’d heard the call out had moved, but didn’t help as the zebra pushed his way through those too slow to move aside. Even though he was going the wrong way, he was making a good amount of progress. As the zebra turned and looked back however, I noticed the small cloth bag he had gripped by his muzzle.

"Fuck it, I’m not going through this shit again." Hardcase growled as he got back to his hooves and pushed himself into a gallop. "Come on, Night!" He called back over his shoulder as he took off. Really? I'd expected to find trouble out here, but Hardcase of all ponies had to know we shouldn't get involved. "Hurry up or we'll lose that little fucker!"

Ugh, fine!

‘Come on, Night. Let’s go get lunch, Night!’ Yeah, of course it couldn’t possibly be that simple. Chasing down this guy was a bad idea, but if shit went sideways, Hardcase better own up to Delilah for this!

While the zebra had been fast to recover from his impact against Hardcase, he wasn't exactly the fastest runner. Though, that might have had something to do with the fact that there were quite a lot of ponies here, and he was the leading edge against the flow. Hardcase and I were quickly catching up to him, something that he was aware of by the fact he was constantly looking back to check on our progress.

In fact, he stopped pushing forward and desperately looked around for a way out. He pushed his way over to a sturdy sheet metal fence that was inset from the sidewalk where he could get a small amount of breathing room from the crowd. The fence was almost a story tall, and blocked off an narrow alleyway which if he got through, we probably wouldn't be able to follow into. Shoving his hooves against it, the small zebra founding that it didn't give in the slightest, so instead he turned his attention to the two close buildings that the fence joined to.

That's right you son of a bitch, there's no use in running...

The zebra took a few steps back before charging the fence at an angle. Leaping up, he almost bounced off the brick wall with his hooves, springing and turning himself towards the other side. I couldn't believe what I was seeing as the small zebra jumped his way up between the two buildings and then deftly threw himself over the top of the tall fence.

"Son of a bitch!" Hardcase wheezed as both he and I brought ourselves to a stop, quickly finding the gap of ponies we'd used, close around us. "How the fuck did he do that? Great, we can't fucking follow him through there!" He flailed his hoof up toward the top of the fence, which helped me get an idea.

"I’m not going through there, but I'm not giving up on him yet." I reached up and depressed the button on my jump pack harness. "Get ready to follow me from the ground." I nodded to Hardcase who looked quite concerned as my jump pack whined and spooled up. "Everypony, stand back!" I shouted out, getting more than a few weary looks as again the crowd parted a bit. Sitting up, I flicked down my sunglasses, looked to the sky, and pressed the button in my fetlock.

With the sound of a gunshot, I was propelled up into the sky once more. The world went quiet as my burst of speed drained, and I felt myself slow down. As I reached the point where I started to fall, I flared open my wings and caught the air under them, transitioning into a smooth slow glide.

“Nice form.” The voice of Violet beside me caught me off guard, and I turned my wide eyes to where it came from. I found Violet herself gliding through the air right along side me, and I nearly gasped. However, I blinked once, and she was gone.

“What the fuck…” I muttered under my own breath, confused as to what the hell I’d just seen.

Yelling from down on the street below me kicked my mind out of the loop of confusion that I’d gotten stuck in. Right, deal with seeing Violet later, I need to focus. Looking down, it wasn’t hard to find the black and white striped stallion running pretty much straight away from me down the mostly clear street the the alleyway had lead to. A few ponies seemed to be staring at him as he sped past them, but thankfully for me, he seemed like he was sure he was in the clear now. Alright, how do I approach this?

I could spiral down as I would normally if I were coming down somewhere. But he might see me coming and just run through another alley where I couldn’t follow. Same thing goes for if I make my approach to long and straight. No, I needed to get to him fast, and find a way to make sure he can’t escape again. Which, as annoying as it was, meant I had to dive at him and hope I could stop him with a single precise slam. If I missed this, then he could duck around a corner again and I’d lose him for good.

Goddesses this was going to hurt, wasn’t it?

Torquing my wings, I rolled myself over and locked my forelegs in their outstretched position. Shifting and twisting my forehooves helped me to fine-tune the dive as I entered it. I started in the near vertical, quickly gaining quite a lot of speed before using my wings and tail to pull up a bit. As I did, I cringed as the turbine in my jetpack spun up with my speed and started to drone. Fuck, not now! Just give me a few more seconds!

Despite my hopes, the whine wasn’t all that subtle, and of course the zebra heard it as I lined up for my final approach on him. I was almost leveled out by the time he spun around to find the source of the noise, and though I only saw it for a moment, the wide eyed shocked look across his muzzle was almost priceless. Then of course, I slammed into him. Hard.

The world shifted with a thick snap that took the breath right out of my lungs. My vision spun as it felt like I bounced off the zebra and flipped through the air before crashing down onto the old pavement. Gasps and yells came from the ponies around me before the sound of the world muted as I painfully rolled along the road. I don’t know how far I’d skid, but as the sound of my jump pack grinding against the pavement filled my ears, I felt myself come to a complete stop.

A dozen fonts of admittedly light pain cropped up across my legs and sides, but as I shook my head clear of the fuzziness of the crash, nothing seemed to be painfully out of place. Well, at least that was the case for my body, as the scream of a local pony pulled my attention toward the zebra. He lay on the ground quite aways from me, with his neck bent in an unnatural way. From the way he wasn’t moving, and the same shocked look frozen across his face I’d seen before hitting him, I was pretty sure he wasn’t unconscious...

Fuck, I didn’t mean to kill the poor guy…

“Night!” Hardcase panted heavily as he galloped around the street corner behind me. “Are you alright?”

Running up to me, he quickly helped me get to my hooves. His quick pat down of me revealed a dozen or so bloody scrapes along my body, but past that I didn’t seem to have broken anything. Well, anything other than that Zebra’s neck…

“Dispatch, this is Officer Baloney,” The sharp voice of an earth pony mare forced both Hardcase and I to freeze up. “Ten twenty three on that ten fifteen. Standby for an update.” A grape purple mare in black armored barding trotted over from the street corner where Hardcase had come from. Her barding was bulky and covered in pockets along the front, containing magazines for the rifle she had strapped along her back, as well as what looked like an old radio. The white letters of CCPD embroidered across her chest at least gave me some hope that she’d see the reasoning behind my actions. “Does somepony want to explain what the hell happened here?”

I really couldn’t afford to get arrested for this today…

“You see officer, that zebra had stolen a bag from a pony a street over…” Hardcase started, but froze up as the officer gasped as she looked at the body.

“I fucking told him he’d get himself killed one day if he didn’t shape up. I should have done more.” The officer sighed and pinched her temple in her fetlock. Wait, she what? “But my own mistakes shouldn’t be your concern.” Turning to me, the mare offered a sad smile and gave me a pat on the side. “The Cantercross City PD thanks you for your help in stopping this crime, citizen.” Turning to Hardcase, she looked him over for a moment. “Was it your bag he’d stolen?”

“No.” Hardcase shook his head, flashing a nervous smile. “But the stallion who it does belong to was just around the corner.”

“Unfortunately, I’ve got to stay here to write a report about this incident, as well as wait for somepony to come pick up the body.” The mare nodded as she reached up into one of the pockets of her barding and pulled out a sheet of old, yellowed paper. “If I could trouble you to take the pony’s stolen bag back to them, the CCPD would be grateful for your help.”

“No problem, officer.” I nodded to her and looked over at the stallion’s body again. As I did, I froze as the bloody form of Violet was sprawled out across the road where the zebra had been. Blinking again, Violet’s corpse disappeared, and I was once again staring at the dead stallion. Putting my forehoof to my chest, I could feel my heart racing, pounding against my ribcage as my mind rebounded twice as fast.

What the fuck was going on? Why was I seeing Violet now? I don’t understand!

“Night, are you alright?” Hardcase’s voice once again pulled me back to the real world.

“No, I…” The words were so eager to leave my muzzle, but I bit my tongue painfully to stop myself. Think about what you’re about to say, Night. It’s not going to be so simple to say that you’re seeing his dead wife. Looking up at him, his worried gaze was busy studying me, and I knew he’d definitely see through any lie I gave. I didn’t know what to do, and to make matters worse, my legs had started shaking as I began to panic.

“Woah, woah, calm down.” Hardcase gave me a few soft, reaffirming pats against my scraped up sides before stepping up and hugging me tightly. “I don’t know what’s going on, but why don’t we take that bag back to its owner, and we can talk as we head back to the Hauler to patch you up, alright?”

“No! I didn’t mean to kill him.” My mind bounced from the thoughts of Violet, to reminding me that I promised Buck that I wouldn’t kill anymore. Reaching over, I stared right into Hardcase’s eyes. “It was an accident! You… you can’t tell Buck. We can’t go back, not like this. He’ll ask, and I promised, and...”

“Alright, alright.” Hardcase nodded as he pulled off the hug, putting his forehoof to my lips to force my words into quivering whimpers. “There’s a clinic on the edge of the city not to far from here. We’ll turn the bag back in and then go there, alright?” I have him a shaky nod as my mind raced to figure out why the hell this was all even happening to me.

After ten minutes of wading through the river of ponies with no sign of the stallion who’d had his bag stolen, Hardcase decided that we should head to the clinic and get me patched up before continuing the search. I kept my eyes glued to the ground the whole time though, afraid that if I were to look up, I’d see Violet again somewhere amidst the crowd. Why was I seeing her now? Was it my curse that was doing this, punishing me for all the mistakes I’d made in the last few days?

When Hardcase said that the clinic was on the edge of the city, he hadn’t been kidding. While the brick buildings had been a nice change from the skyscrapers, just a couple blocks from where we were now, the dark and foreboding forest to the south looked like it was pushing towards us. Over the last two hundred years, the southern forest looked like it had made the decision to reclaim the city for itself, and had begun a long and slow process of consuming it’s first victims.

The further I looked along the street, the old red bricks of buildings gave way to the ivy, vines, and trees that flourished here. They grew in, around, and even out the windows and roofs of some of the old world structures. And if that wasn’t bad enough, the vibrant purple flowers that grew on the buildings were of the same shape and hue that had adorned the Bramble wolves just outside of Filly Crossing.

I pushed the thoughts of the fight with the wolves there from my mind. No, if I dwelled too much on that, I’m sure that’d see her again. I needed to focus, to keep myself moving forward to work on problems that I have now, not the mistakes of my past.

“Alright, we’re here.” Hardcase nudged me as we stopped in front of an average looking brick building.

Like most of the buildings around this part of town, all of the windows in the old, brick three story structures were boarded up. Honestly, it left this entire section of town feeling like it was abandoned. Looking over the building, I couldn’t find anything that dictated this place as a clinic at all. Maybe Hardcase hadn’t remembered the correct address?

As he stepped forward and knocked on the old oak door, I could feel my heart start to beat faster again. What if this was where Buck went to get his medical supplies? What if it’s actually Buck who opens the door!? My mind raced with all the ways that this could go horribly wrong, but locked itself down on one single worse outcome. What if all I saw when the door opened, was Violet?

The door swung open quickly, and an older mare greeted the two of us with a tired and unfocused gaze.

“The fuck do you want?” The strawberry coated unicorn mare grumbled as she brought her gaze across both Hardcase and I. She blinked a few times, batting away her curly creme colored mane so she could rub at the saggy bags under her puffy eyes. With a long yawn, she canted her head to us. As she did, I noticed a dark brand on the back of her neck. Just by seeing it made the matching brand on my neck burn, and made me glad I was as far away from Tephra as I could be. “Hardcase? I didn’t know you were back in town already.”

“Yep, though it’s just for a little bit, Sunshine.” Hardcase nodded with a smile as he gave a little wave at her with the hoof that held onto the stolen bag. “Think you can help us out with something? I know it falls a bit outside of your purview, but my friend here could use a good look over.”

“Sure.” The mare nodded before groggily turning around and waving for us to follow her. “Why do you have Ritz Tabard’s bag by the way? He never lets anypony touch that ragged old thing, let alone let it out of his sight.”

“Oh, is that whose it is?” Hardcase chuckled as he followed the doctor inside, waving for me to follow him. “My friend and I had recovered it off a zebra who’d stolen it, but we couldn’t find the owner afterwards. Thanks though, we’ll run right over to the hotel after this and give it back to the poor guy.”

Following Hardcase inside the old building, we passed through a small entrance hallway and into what looked to be a fairly cramped studio apartment. A rickety bed and dresser sat on one side of the floral print wallpapered room, while a decent sized cast iron stove glowed with the embers of a fire as a tea kettle steamed away on its top plate. A table with a pair of chairs sat next to it, though one of the chairs was only being used to store a pile of what looked to be old medical textbooks. A dust covered radio sat along the back wall, and looked like it had been neglected for decades, if not a century. I guess she wasn’t a big fan of music...

“So, how’s Violet doing?” The mare asked with an unintentional sharpness that quickly brought my mind back to her.

Immediately Hardcase’s hooves froze to the floor, and to be honest, mine did as well. I cringed as I looked up at him, expecting the worst. To his credit, he simply took in a deep breath and put it out there.

“She died, last week.” His response was simple, and spoken with an expediency that felt like he wanted to sweep it under the rug.

I knew it was hard for him to say at all. Hell, it wasn’t easy to think about, doubly so with these visions I’ve now been having of her. I know it doesn’t need to be said, but what either Hardcase and I wouldn’t have given to turn back time and save her...

“Oh.” The mare’s reverent tone sounded genuine to me, and thought I didn’t really know her, I could tell that she must have been a friend of Violet’s. “I’m sorry for your loss.” After a moment of silence, she continued walking. I followed both Hardcase and the Doc through another doorway at the back of the room. There, the old wooden floorboards we’d been on transitioned to cold concrete, and the smell of copper permeated the air.

The back room was a bit more spacious than the cramped living area on the other side of the wall. Lines of cabinets filled with old bottles and glinting silver tools ran around the edges of the room, and an all to familiar looking metal examination table sat in the center. As we walked into the room and my eyes had time to adjust to the slightly muted lighting inside, several dried crimson stains along the floor and on the metal table itself caught my gaze. It was about then that I began to wonder just what kind of a doctor this mare was…

“So, why don’t you tell me what’s going on with him.” She asked, shooting a flat gaze over to Hardcase, who offered the same look right back at the mare.

“It’s good to see you haven’t lost that keen eyesight of yours!” He gave out a nervous laugh, forcing away his somber mood before glancing over to me. “Well you see, it was almost like he had a panic attack of sorts. And well, you know me. I wouldn’t normally trouble you with something like this, Sunshine, but I could feel something was off.”

“Alright, if you’re ‘feeling’ something like that on him, then I know better than to question whatever that special sense of yours is.” Doc Sunshine nodded as she looked to me with more than mild curiosity. “If it worried you enough to come to me, then something probably is going on.” She pointed me to the blood stained metal slab in the middle of the room and gave me a somewhat comforting look. “As a veterinarian, you’re not exactly my normal clientele, but I’ll do my best. Climb up on the examination table for me and let’s have a look at you.”

I did as she asked, doing my best to avoid touching any of the dried blood splotches. A shiver ran down my back as the cold metal table ebbed through the numbness that ran across my body. I guess amidst all these terrible feelings that ran through my mind, having the painkillers numbing me was a small blessing I could be thankful for.

“Come on…” Doc Sunshine grunted as she crossed her olive green eyes trying to look up at her own horn.

Sets of similarly colored green sparks sputtered out from it’s tip as she tensed up. Pulsing fizzles shot from her horn as she looked like she put maximum effort to squeeze her spell out through sheer willpower alone, which then again, might be how it works in the first place. I don’t know how unicorn magic works, and I probably never would…

With a brilliant flash, a blinding horizontal line of green swept through the air. The doctor’s horn hummed softly as she brought the spell down, running it across my body a few times. With another set of sparks, the humming died and the spell dissipated.

“So, Doc,” Hardcase took a step toward me as he spoke, “What’s going on with him?”

“Well,” The doc sighed as her curious interest in me all but died on the spot. “With all of his symptoms, I do have one question to ask.” Bringing her eyes up, she narrowed them spitefully at me and sneered. “Have you started seeing things yet? Or is that what caused your episode in the first place?”

“What?” The words tumbled from my muzzle as I tried to figure out what she was getting at. How… how could she have known I was seeing Violet?

“Hallucinations, images that aren’t really there. Sound familiar at all?” Doc Sunshine snorted with a disdain that would have brought a smile to Delilah’s muzzle. “Normally they appear before the shakes and panic attacks, but some ponies get the advanced symptoms first.” Glaring at me, she tapped her forehoof against the floor impatiently. “So tell me, are you seeing things that aren’t there?”

“Y-yeah…” I nodded and looked over to Hardcase. I didn’t want to bring it up to him, not after he’s been doing so well in coping with her loss. But I couldn’t hide it, not if the Doc could fix it. “I… I’ve been seeing Violet.”

“It’s as I thought.” Doc Sunshine shook her head in disappointment as she turned to Hardcase. “You’ve got an addict on your hooves.”

“Excuse me?” Hardcase almost lost it at that, giggling as he tried to force his smile away. However, the serious and stern gaze that Doc Sunshine gave him eventually helped him to win out over the smile.

“All of his symptoms can be explained through excessive doses of Chill.” She shook her head as she sat down and pointed at her own head. “The hallucinations are normally an early warning sign of the neural degradation the drug causes, however from the scarring around his head, I’d say that his previous injuries might have hidden the symptoms for a longer period of time.”

“Woah, woah.” Hardcase raised his forehooves at her and offered me a quick, uneasy glance. “He may have had his fair share of injuries, but are you seriously telling me that you think Night is a Chill addict?” Crossing his hooves, he looked disappointed at her conclusion. “Maybe your eyes aren’t as good as I thought. You’re losing your edge, Sunshine. He’s not an addict.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I don’t just think he is.” She mirrored Hardcase as she angrily crossed her forehooves, but now cast her angry gaze at me. “I know he is. How many pills have you had just today? Four? Six?”

“Uh…” Goddesses, I didn’t like being put on the spot like this! Still, as much as I wanted to lie and say that I’d been following Cora’s strict instructions of no more than four a day, lying wouldn’t help me right now. “Eight?” I couldn’t help but cringe as Hardcase’s jaw nearly hit the floor from that. Oh come on! How could he know what it’s been fucking like having all the pains I do? “What? I got shot yesterday, as well as stabbed back at Lil’Canterlot. The pain’s been bad lately, so I just thought I’d get ahead of it with a bit of an extra dose. That doesn’t make me a fucking addict!”

“I’m sorry, but that’s just not true. Your previous injuries have already healed, so the pain is not part of those.” The doc’s tone changed again, shifting to where it sounded like she was childing me over this shit. “Part of the function of Chill is to stop damaged nerves from firing, which is that comfortable numbness you feel while on it. With enough use at high enough doses, those nerves get used to not firing at all. So when you stop or have a break in using, even for a few hours, any errant signal to them makes them cause painful feedback. That feedback can also cause hallucinations, paranoia, and a dozen other mental problems that can drive the addict to consume higher and higher doses.”

“No, you’re wrong.” I snapped at her and waved my hooves over all the scars across my body. “You think I take this much Chill because I like it? You have no fucking idea how bad it’s been every single day. With all the injuries I’ve had, I’ve fucking needed something to dull the pain.”

“And I’m telling you, that while you still have those scars, you are a perfectly healthy stallion.” She snapped back at me before jabbing her hoof against her horn. “My spell doesn’t lie, the pain you feel is just your body telling you that you need more of the drug, nothing more.” With an annoyed sigh, she grumbled and tucked her forehooves under each other again. “Addicts always have a hard time accepting this, but if you’ll just...”

“I’m not a fucking addict!” I nearly screamed as I pushed myself off of the metal table. I didn’t need to hear this shit right now, not after everything I’d been through. If she couldn’t stop me from seeing Violet, fine. I just wasn’t going to suffer in pain just because she thought I was some fucking junkie looking to get high.

“Look, you need help. Prolonged Chill use can cause tremendous and irreversible nervous system damage. My advice is to wean yourself off the heavy duty stuff by going to using Wave for a while, and then only stick with basic painkillers like aspirin from there on out.” She growled back at me, raising her voice as she too got to her hooves. What was it with this bitch that she just wasn’t getting? Every word of hers felt like it was cutting deeper into my head and I just wanted it to stop. “Wave won’t stop the hallucinations, and I know you don’t want to hear it, but…”

She shot her hoof out toward me, weather to point at me or to strike at me, I couldn’t be sure. But before I could think about which one was more likely, I figured that I’d been caught off guard enough and simply reacted. My forelegs pushed off the examination table, and I leaned forward as I shoved her back into the cabinets behind her.

“You don’t even fucking know what I’ve been through!” I snapped, flaring out my wings and puffing up as large as I could. There was a sharp crunch as she buckled the wooden cabinet doors from the hit, and she gave off a surprised whine as she crumpled to the floor. “I can’t live with both the pain I most definitely do feel, and the shit I’ve done. It’s one thing or the other, and Celestia as my fucking witness, I’ve made my choice.”

“Night!” Hardcase called out as he sprung forward and grabbed tightly around me. “Calm down, she’s just trying to help!” His horn glowed softly out of the corner of my eye, and I don’t know how, but a wave of calm washed over me. I couldn’t fight the flood of contentment I felt rush through me, like somepony had simply sapped all the rage from me in the span of a few seconds. “Just… calm down.”

“I…” The fog that I’d felt in my mind earlier intensified, pushing back everything else inside my head to leave me with a lonely empty feeling. “I’m sorry… I don’t know what came over me…” I turned my eyes down to the frightened gaze of the doctor on the floor below me. As my eyes moved from her to the broken cabinets she’d hit, I let out a soft gasp. “I-I didn’t mean to…”

“I’m so sorry, Sunshine.” Hardcase sighed as he tightened his grip around me. “He didn’t mean…”

“You’re a… get out.” She snarled, cutting him off as she pointed to the exit. “I said get the fuck out of my clinic!” The rage I’d just lost was all she looked like she held onto now, and her anger nearly bowled both Hardcase and I off of our hooves. “Move!”

“Alright, alright!” Hardcase nodded quickly, letting me go as he stepped away. As he did, I looked over at him to find that his disguise spell had faded, and his white and blue chitinous changeling form almost glowed under the soft lighting in the room. With a flash of his horn, Hardcase’s spell came back, and his magic pulled the stolen sack up close to him again. “Come on, Night. Let’s go.”

“I’m sorry.” I sighed as we trotted toward the brick buildings that crowded the outside of the bustling marketplace again. I never meant to cause any of these problems, I just… didn’t want to be in pain anymore. Maybe that was selfish of me, and really I should be hurting for all the terrible things I’d done…

“It’s not your fault, Night.” Hardcase forced himself to sound like at least a small part of him believed that. “We’re all doing the best we can with what’s happened.” His cadence slowed as he looked like he was fighting himself in his head before he turned to me with a frown. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re an addict, Night. But... maybe you should tell Buck about this.”

“Yeah, I should...” I sighed and gave him a slow but hesitant nod. I didn’t believe that doctor, not one bit. I only took Chill to dull the pains from all the injuries I’ve had, nothing more. And if I told Buck about it, then he might just cut them off completely. “I… I just don’t want to have these aches make the difference between me doing my job, or ending up too slow and distracted that somepony gets hurt.”

“Hey, you’ve done a great job at that so far, Night.” Hardcase turned and offered me an even more forced smile than before. I don’t know how he could even pretend to be as optimistic as he was after everything that’s happened just today alone. “Don’t ever think that anything other than trying your best is absolutely necessary. Even if Delilah rides your flank about screwing up sometimes.” Sure, he was right, but it didn’t make Delilah’s anger sting any less when she’d yelled at me. “Now come on, we’re almost to the station.”

Hanging my head as we walked, I wanted to ask him how he could shrug things off so easily. But part of me worried that his answer would be something I didn’t want to hear. Honestly, the illusion of him holding everything together made me feel a whole lot better than risking an explanation, so for once, I kept my muzzle shut and just followed alongside him. However, my muzzle didn’t stay shut for long as we passed the outlying brick buildings, and plunged straight into the sea of ponies moving about on the sidewalks and streets. While this part of town seemed to be much older and comprised of mostly brick buildings, they at least had one ‘modern’ feature built among them.

In the center of the city block wide plaza was a rotund three story building that, for lack of better words, looked like a performance stage. On the flat roof of the building stood four enormous statues of dancing mares in long flowing glass gowns. They each stood on their hind legs, holding each other up with their forehooves as each of their dresses bowed out to become a glass roof that stretched down over the streets and myriad of train tracks that criss-crossed the station.

The glass roof glistened in the sunlight, each of its windows formed to look like a different cut of jem that cast down warm, prismatic rays of light onto the city streets below. Even the criss-crossing support pillars that sat just outside the sweeping glass windows of the main building, had been designed in such a way that they weaved between each other and made the place look almost like it was a birds nest. There didn’t seem to be a single detail built in it that wasn’t somehow ornate or designed to be solely functional.

Honestly, while I hadn’t visited many train stations so far, I could assume that they probably tended to lean more toward efficiency and economy. But of all them I’d seen so far, this one felt the most like while it was purely meant to be functional, that was no excuse to make it a bland and boring concrete box. And I don’t think that was at all by chance. The unmistakable logo of three blue gems that sat painted above the grand arched entrance to it said everything to me.

I remember that the Ministry of Image used to be run by a mare named Rarity, who before the war, was a leader in the fashion industry. Embarrassingly, some of the first and most gorgeous dresses I’d ever laid eyes on were examples of Miss Rarity’s work in old books and magazines. And because this building was so incredibly close to her style of design, I wouldn’t be surprised if this building had originally been designed exclusively by her back during the war. A glass dress might be a tad uncomfortable to wear about town, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t the most beautiful dress I’d ever seen adorn a fifty foot statue.

“Quite the piece of engineering, isn’t it?” Hardcase sighed as he stopped just outside the crowd of ponies moving from right to left along the sidewalk in front of us. “As beautiful as it is from here, you haven’t seen anything yet.” With a smirk, his horn flashed to life again, and another magic wall forcibly parted the ponies on the sidewalk. “Come on, Night. Let’s go return this bag.”

I nodded and followed him across the sidewalk, and past all the angry looks of the ponies pressed up against the magical wall. I stepped down into the street, and almost tripped over the set of steel track that were inlaid inside the asphalt.

“Watch your step!” Hardcase laughed as he hopped over the tracks. The tracks themselves were neatly inlaid into a section of bricks that split the road with a couple ponies width gap before giving way to another set of tracks. “You know, Gateway Terminal grew to be so busy back during the war, that in order to serve the city, a good few of it’s thirty six platforms had to be built underground alongside the intercity metro.” Skipping over the set of lines and up onto the next sidewalk curb, Hardcase gave a light twirl of himself as a vibrant genuine smile grew back across his muzzle. “I know that may not mean much to you, but to me, just that level of an engineering challenge is exhilarating to think about.”

“Why?” I asked as I hopped over the next set of lines to follow him. It’s not that I wasn’t curious, but to be honest, seeing him so easily shrug off the travesty that was what happened at the clinic meant I had to at least try to do the same. If that meant asking him about his weird engineering fetish, than so be it.

Then again, by the way he cringed as I asked that and froze up before stepping down to the next set of tracks, I could guess that it wasn’t so simple of an answer. He scrambled to keep the stolen bag in the grasp of his magic before turning and giving me a somewhat surprised look. Okay, maybe it wasn’t such a good topic to have brought up after all...

“Let’s just say it’s complicated, but…” He lowered his voice a bit as I climbed onto the curb to stand with him. “Think of it this way, a small part of it is that Changelings love challenges. There’s a special drive that pushes us to strive to adapt to fit any situation, and it’s something that’s a fundamental part of what and who we are.” Turning his gaze, he smirked and again took in the towering dancing mares above us. “To you, sure, it looks like I have some weird fetish. But to me? Adapting to solve a tough puzzle is as rewarding as any sex you’ve had or you ever will have with Buck.”

I deadpanned at that, holding onto the expression until he looked over at me.

“What?” He stifled his laugh with his forehoof before stepping down from the curb and over the next set of tracks. Turning around, he jabbed at his horn as he walked backwards. “Sorry, it’s not like I can turn this off when you two are in the mood.” That’s not the point! “Besides, don’t forget, you asked.” Again, that’s not the point!

Rolling my eyes, I hopped down onto the tracks and followed him. After that set of tracks, there was yet another curb to break up another pair of tracks bisected by yet another brick pathway. There was a pattern here that was beginning to emerge to me, and the more I looked at them, the easier it all fit into my head.

Still stenciled across each side of the path was the word Platform, followed by a number. The numbers seemed to get higher the closer we got to the station itself, and looked to terminate on what was platform eleven. As we crossed the last gap between platforms, there was only one last set of tracks before there was just sprawling open concrete the rest of the way. Just across that expanse was the arching entrance to the old world station, where hundreds of ponies had stalls and shops set up outside the old glass windows.

However, once Hardcase was on the other side of the last set of tracks, he turned around. As I stepped up to join him, he didn’t seem to want to follow anymore. Instead, he just stood at the curb facing the wrong way like he was waiting for something.

Had he seen someone behind us? I started to scan the crowd of ponies walking on the sidewalks back across the tracks, but forced my eyes shut when my mind forced a realization upon me. No, I will not see her again. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder why he’d stopped now. Which of course, went completely past the self-censor in my mind, and straight out of my muzzle.

“Why did we...?” I asked before I was cut off by the shrill whining of my jump pack spooling up. Immediately I panicked, looking down at the flap on my harness as I wondered when I’d hit the start button. It was about when I found the leather flap untouched that I realized that the whining wasn’t coming from my pack at all. Rather, it was droning on from down the rail line that Hardcase and I had stopped on.

Looking down the line to my left, I traced it eastward through the city. While the other lines around here curved and criss-crossed around the whole plaza, this line was different. It cut an almost straight path through the old brick buildings, stretching on and on. Eventually it curved just enough that I lost the tracks amidst the various old buildings blocks and blocks away from the plaza.

“Eeee! I was hoping she’d show up!” Hardcase gave an excited giggle as he trotted in place and brightened up like a colt who’d just been offered candy. Clopping his hooves together as he sat himself facing eastward, he was nearly vibrating enough that I could feel it through the cold concrete under my hooves. “I missed the Black Beetle last time we came through, and I told myself I wouldn’t miss her when we stopped here again.”

Actually, it wasn’t him vibrating at all. The concrete under me was vibrating!

“The what?” Was he really this excited over what I could only guess was a train? Really, did we have time for this? I know we’re not exactly in a rush to get back to the Hauler, but train watching wasn’t exactly how I’d expected to spend the lunch he’d offered to take us out to. The whistling in the air picked up, starting to sound more and more like the archano-jet engines that some of the advanced vertibucks that the Enclave had used. “Wait… that sounds like an aircraft.”

“Correct!” Hardcase’s grin grew as I squinted and looked down the line. What the fuck did he mean by correct? That didn’t answer anything! “The Black Beetle is the fastest cargo train in the north, and can make the run from Destruction Bay to Vanhoover in two days. Though, the NERPC never runs her on that long of a trip. Generally, they leave that dangerous journey to the ENR and their old school wood-fired locomotives. But those are peanuts to the sophistication and marvel that is the Black Beetle.”

He gave me only the shortest waggle of his eyebrows before his attention was torn back to the distant turn in the rail line. There, a large black monster slowly came into view. I say monster because while it was obviously the size of a fucking train, it had four glowing red eyes blazing on its ‘face’. Each pair of two eyes were slightly offset from the top of the train, and the ebbing green glow that came from the undercarriage of the black object made it look like the maw of a ravenous beast that was devouring the track as it approached at what became an alarming speed.

No wonder he liked it, it looked as much like a massive armored train as it did a changeling!

Almost as I’d thought that, the barely audible screeches and groans that the odd train gave disappeared as the whining grew to a roar. The glowing red eyes brightened into four brilliant yellow flares, shifting apart from each other and allowing me to see that they weren’t eyes at all. Instead, they were in fact pairs of vertibuck archano-jet engines that somepony had built into each side of the shiny black aerodynamic body of the train.

“But... you can’t use those on a train!” I nearly fumbled over the words as my brain worked to figure out just what fucking idiot thought that strapping aircraft engines to a train was a good idea. I mean, it doesn’t make any sense to do that! “They’re way to big and heavy, right?”

Sadly for me, my words weren’t reaching Hardcase over the now deafening noise that the four engines were making. Not only was the noise incredibly uncomfortable, but as the train was getting closer and slower, so was the dust and debris that was being kicked up by it along the tracks. Which, I’m guessing Hardcase had forgotten about, or was too busy marveling over the prewar vehicle to care to move.

Well, I wasn’t exactly in the mood to have either of us get melted by the exhaust wash of an arcano-jet engine today. Stepping forward, I grabbed around Hardcase’s barrel and gave him a good yank away from the tracks. He seemed startled, dropping the bag before giving me a confused look. Turning back towards the rails, he gasped and pulled the bag up to us as the train rolled by at a fair clip. As he brought the bag back safely, I watched the engines on its side swivel back down. It blasted the concrete, bathing where we’d just been with heated exhaust that admittedly felt quite good over my Chill-numbed skin.

The brakes squealed as the arcano-jet engines spooled down, and the train itself started to slow under its own weight. As Hardcase was busy staring at the engine as it continued along the line of track, I traced along it’s worm like trail of train carts. It was what looked like an endless stream of rail cars that were hooked up behind it, too many for me to even begin to count. Sweet Celestia, it looked like they stretched all the way through the city!

There was so much that it had been hauling that I’d begun to understand just why trains had been so widely used back in the day. Hell, it was starting to make sense why we even went to war over them! Everything from dumpster looking carts filled with piles of rusting junk, to flatbed carts strapped with barrels of glowing magical waste were hooked up just behind the engine. They were then followed by a dozen or so flatbeds dedicated to what seemed to be medical supplies with the symbol of Destruction Bay on it.

Past those however, there were nearly two dozen oddly shaped cylindrical cars that had what looked like yellow warning symbols on them. While I’d seen similar markings on hazardous chemicals at Dad’s old skycart maintenance job, I had no idea what these were meant to hold. And knowing the pit in my stomach like I did, I probably didn’t want to know. Too bad my brain didn’t get the memo...

“Hey, what’s in those?” I asked as Hardcase gave a contented hum and turned around.

“What?” He blinked a few times before squinting at the long line of matte black cylinder carts. “Oh, those tanker cars? Probably if I had to guess from the hazard markings, those are full of ammonium perchlorate. There’s a wartime factory that made that stuff just on eastern edge of the Misery Range, but all that’s now Kingdom territory.” He gave a dismissive shrug as we both watched the unmarked and surprisingly well kept tanks roll by. “These are probably all empty, as the Kingdom’s takeover of the old factory was almost a year ago now. Don’t know why they don’t just ditch them instead of hauling them all over the place. Then again, it’s not like the Beetle doesn’t have hauling power to spare!”

“Maybe they’re hoping to kick the Kingdom back off the place?” I didn’t really care, but the thought of those fucking inquisitors being taught a lesson or two admittedly put a bit of a smile across my muzzle. “Eh, it’s not our problem anyway I suppose.” Turning, I figured we’d dilly-dallied enough that we should probably get back to returning this bag and then sitting down somewhere for some well deserved food. “Okay, so which way are we going?”

“Just up there, to the Traveler’s Inn.” He gave a lazy wave over towards a small door just inside the archway that lead into the bustling station. “It’s been a while…”

Hardcase’s voice drifted off as I looked into the crowd ahead and froze up. Among the crowd, in the wash of colors and clothes, one pony stood out over all the rest as she headed for the door to the inn. A pegasus pony with a coat as blue as the sky, and a mane the color of the blazing sun. I couldn’t move, breathe, or even blink as I watched what I could have sworn was my mother walk forward and disappear into the inn.

Like a bolt, I was off. Sure, the ‘Black Beetle’ might have been the fastest train in the north, but for the seconds it took me to bolt across the pavement to the door of the inn, I was the fastest pony. Without a moment’s hesitation, I grabbed the door handle in my fetlock and threw it open so hard that I thought I might rocket it straight off its hinges.

“Oh, my word!” A proper looking stallion standing behind a concierge desk gave me a startled look as I practically charged into the empty lobby of the inn.

The fairly spacious and open lobby was well furnished in deeply stained wooden planks that lined the walls. It sported furniture that looked mostly made out of timber and logs outside of the soft, if musty looking cushions that sat on them. An old and slightly crooked painting of a forested mountain was hung over a crackling fireplace that gave the room a pleasant warmth, and filled me with quite the homely feeling.

But none of that was important, not if mom was somehow still alive.

“Did you just see a mare walk in here? Middle aged, sky blue coat with a sun yellow mane?” My tongue felt like it almost twisted itself into a knot as I struggled to get the words out fast enough. I swept my eyes across the room again, finding a long hallway that stretched a good ways down the station, and looked to be lined with the inn room doors. “Where did she go? Is she staying here? How long has she been here?”

“A mare, just now?” The grey coated stallion tapped at his chin, twirling at his white and red striped mane in his hoof, giving me a once over with his silver colored eyes. “Well, I'm fairly positive you're the only mare I've seen within the last few minutes. I had a working mare bring a client in with her about twenty minutes ago, but nopony else has come in since. Is there anything else I can help you with, miss? A room for the night, perhaps?”

No mare? I blinked a few times, glancing back down the long hall of doors. Had I really seen her at all, or was this another one of the hallucinations the Chill had given me? I mean, that’s not really a question, was it? Mom was dead, I’d already accepted that. So then why was I so hopeful that she was alive?

Fuck… maybe I was an addict after all.

“Miss?” The stallion cleared his throat and knocked me out of the hole of painful memories I’d been digging in my head. “Can I help you?”

“No.” I sighed before my brain kicked me with a reminder of why Hardcase and I had even come to the inn in the first place. “I mean, yes.” Shaking my head, I felt the fog from the Chill seep back out through the gaps in my thoughts where my mother had been. “We’re here to return your bag?”

“We?” The stallion offered a amused chuckle as he waved his hoof at me. “You seem to be alone. Are you alright? Should I go fetch a doctor?”

“What? No, Hardcase is…” I spun around for a moment, unable to find Hardcase anywhere around me in the room. My eyes stopped as I peered out the doorway, watching as Hardcase was still slowly walking his way across the open pavement outside. “Eheh… Sorry, I guess I’d gotten a little ahead of him.”

“Why’d you go running off?” Hardcase huffed as he trotted up to the door. “If I didn’t know better, I’d…”

He cut himself off as a group of three stallions barged past him and through the open inn door. The three of them pushed past me, with the one in the lead offering only a momentary glare to even acknowledge I was in their way at all. Seriously, I’d met some rude stallions in the wasteland so far, but did everypony have to be that way? Though, the longer I looked at them, maybe they’d dealt with a little bit more bullshit than I ever had. All of them had more scars covering them than I could count, with the one unicorn in their group even missing most of his horn.

Yeah… at least I still have my wings, so maybe I don’t actually have it that bad off.

“Y-yes, can I help you?” The stallion behind the counter stammered and shrunk a bit as the three approached.

“Yeah, Mr. Wizard’s looking for the pony who came in with Miss Fine.” The brown coated stallion in the middle spoke up, craning his neck and flexing his well muscled earth pony legs a bit. “What’s the room number?”

“F-four. They’re in four.” The concierge pony trembled and pointed down the hall of doors. He whimpered and shrank as the brown stallion simply snorted before the three of them turned and headed down the hallway. “P-please, try not the break anything in my inn!”

“Geez, what was that about?” Hardcase brought his voice down as he trotted up to me. Both of us watched as they trotted down the hall, stopping in front of one of the doors. Slowly, they opened the door before the three of them disappeared inside. “Well, whatever it is, it’s none of our business.” Walking forward, Hardcase blocked my vision of the stallions as he levitated the stolen bag up to the pony behind the desk. “I believe this is yours?”

“Oh my word!” The stallion gasped and scrambled up over the concierge desk, kicking old papers and files around as he did. “You… you really got it back!”

Snatching the bag with his hooves, he quickly turned it over and dumped the contents out onto the old carpet covered floor. A few old letters and papers dropped out, along with what looked like an old leather bound Equestrian passport. But the woody thunk of a small, ornately carved box forced the stallion to hold his breath. Slowly, he reached forward and tipped open the box to reveal a collection of old yellowed pictures of what looked to be like different families of ponies. The thought of the compartment in Buck’s yoke filled my mind, and I instantly understood what made this box important to him.

“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!” Tears of joy ran down his muzzle as he reverently closed the box and pulled it close to his chest. “You have no idea what this means to me. Our entire family history is in here, and I’d thought it lost forever when that thief snatched it up!” He looked up at Hardcase and I with a sneering gaze as he spit on the floor. “I hope that dirty stripe rots in the police precinct for the rest of his days.”

“Well, he’ll be doing plenty of rotting now…” Hardcase muttered under his breath with words that hit me harder than I’m sure he meant them to.

“W-what?” The stallion stammered, slowly taking a step back from us.

“I… I killed him.” The words tumbled from my muzzle as I cringed. Wow, that was smooth, Night. Maybe if you say it a bit louder next time, you’ll transfer all of that guilt you feel right into the poor concierge stallion! You’re a fucking idiot.

“Accidentally killed him.” Hardcase came in for the much needed save there, though the nervous smile that he pressed at the concierge stallion didn’t really do all that much to help sell the explanation. “Regardless, we’re just glad we could help bring this back to you.”

“No, no! Don’t confuse my reaction for a lack of thanks.” The stallion offered his own forced smile as he held a forehoof out to us. “My name is Ritz Tabard, owner and operator of Gateway Station’s very own Traveler’s Inn, and I’m eternally grateful to you for bringing my family’s history back to me.”

“Yes, we’ve met once before, Ritz.” Hardcase nodded as he gave the stallions forehoof a firm shake. “We came through Gateway about a year ago on our way north.”

“Ah, well then you must excuse my memory. I see so many ponies everyday here that it’s hard to remember faces.” He nodded and held his forehoof out to me, brightly smiling until he looked at the gem in my fake eye. Slowly, I took his hoof and gave it a light shake as well, but from the way he tensed up, I wasn’t sure I’d made the best impression on him. Turning back to Hardcase, he forced his smile back across his muzzle. “For your service to me however, I’d like to offer both of you a week’s, no, a month’s stay here, on the house!”

“That’s kind of you to offer,” I spoke up as both Hardcase and I shared a guilty look. “but we’re not in town for more than another few hours.” I gave out another sigh as Ritz looked at me and cringed as he instantly gazed into my fake eye again. “Maybe we’ll take up that offer next time we’re up north again?”

“Perhaps you will!” Ritz gave a frantic nod before quickly turning away from me.

Really? Was my eye that bad to look at? From the way the others on the crew saw it, they seemed to think it looked quite neat! Unless they were all just lying to protect my feelings of course. But I guess when it came down to it, it didn’t really matter what anypony else thought about it, it was there to keep my socket from hurting, that’s all.

And as it always had endeavor to do since I lost it, the pain in my socket flared up with the thought of it in my head. Even the fake eye and heavy dose of Chill couldn’t do anything to stop the quick jab it gave. Thankfully, Hardcase’s heavy hoofpats on my side at least gave me a short distraction from it.

“Alright, Night.” He sighed as he turned and walked back to the open inn door. “I don’t know about you, but I can’t really put it off any longer. Let’s finally go grab something for lunch!”

Author's Note

As always, many thanks are given to TheFurryRailFan for his help in making sure the chapter is presentable!

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat for creating this fantastic wasteland in the first place!

Chapter 52 - Fire Sale

Everything must go.

The soft wartime tunes floating through the air of a stallion and mare duet was a slower pace than the usual DJ Powercolt music pumped out everywhere I went. It wasn’t a bad song, but it definitely wasn’t as danceable as the stuff that’s normally on the radio. But with the atmosphere of the diner Hardcase had taken me to, a song like this from the jukebox in the corner kinda worked as a good change of pace.

The old diner that was built within the station felt like it was definitely part of this part of the city. It felt two centuries old, but it was in impeccable condition. From the neon blue stenciled shapes on the obnoxiously yellow wallpaper, to the cherry red cushions on the stools that lined the old stainless steel countertop. Even the portly apple green waitress who was on duty wore an old polkadot dress and white apron that I’m not ashamed to say I was jealous of. I mean, polkadots aren’t my thing, but even my own dress didn’t look that new.

Which reminds me, I need to pull my dress out of my bags and wear it about during our next stop, wherever that’ll end up being. I feel like with all the shit I’ve been dealing with because of Delilah, it would be good to go out for once to just feel pretty for a bit. Plus, I’m pretty sure Buck and Hispano wouldn’t mind it either, and it would be good to air it out at least once in a while...

“Is everything alright, Night?” Hardcase asked, both ripping my attention away from the window I’d been blankly staring out, and making me realize that I was still hungry. The scent of his all but untouched bowl of boiled green beans hit me hard, and my stomach gave off another pained gurgle. “If you’re still hungry, you don’t have to ask...” He offered his kind smile as he scooted his bowl across the small table we were at.

“No, I’m…” I was about to do the polite thing and refuse, but a thought jumped into my mind, and then straight out of my muzzle. “You haven’t even touched your bowl. Aren’t you hungry?” Hardcase forked over like forty caps for our food and he hadn’t even eaten a bite!

“Nah, I’m all good.” His smile widened as he stretched himself back into the old dining chair, forcing out a chorus of creaks from the protesting two century old wood. “I’ve gotten plenty to eat since we arrived in the station.” He gave his belly a contented rub.

But that didn’t make any sense! If he was more talking about how changelings feed off emotions, then… maybe? But the only thing around here that the crowds seemed to exude was impatience and annoyance, and I wouldn’t think that would be very good food. Hardcase again derailed my train of thought with a stiff laugh.

“You remember how I said that my love of, well, big engineering projects, was more complex than just being that simple?” Hardcase dropped his volume a bit, leaning forward to me and waving his hoof for me to come closer. I sat up and perked my ear, looking around and finding nopony close enough to hear us. “Let me start off with a question, Night. Have you ever heard of a soul jar?”

“No, I don’t think so…” Frowning, I don’t think I’d ever heard of anything like that. I mean, I’m pretty sure I hadn’t drifted off into a daydream and missed it during arcano-tech 101 back in Neighvarro. Still, I shook my head to him. “Sounds painful, whatever it is.”

“Soul Jars are objects imbued with a piece of a pony’s soul. For example, the fabled Crystal Heart was kindof a type of soul jar, albeit a very, very complex one.” He reached over with his magic and grabbed the fork out of his green bean bowl. “But for simplicity’s sake, let’s start with a basic one. Let’s say, this fork is a soul jar I made with a small piece of your soul.” He twirled it around in his magic before presenting it to me. Then surprisingly, he bent it in half. “You would not be able to bend it like this, as a soul is so strong and resilient that it makes the item it imbues almost indestructible. But more than that, just by anypony simply taking hold of it, they would be able to feel that part of the pony that soul belongs to.”

“I don’t understand, why would anypony want to do that?” If anything, his explanation left me with even more questions so far.

“Well, sometimes it’s unintentional on the when it happens.” Setting the fork back down, he pointed out to the window. Looking, I didn’t find anything other than the myriad of shops along the insides of the station. “You see, sometimes when you care about something so much, you can accidentally attach part of yourself to it. Master artists can imprint themselves into their masterpiece, ensuring that their art can be enjoyed for all time. A fisherpony with an unrivaled passion for the sea can imbue their boat or rod, ensuring that it never breaks apart, even in the roughest seas.” He let out an elated sigh and propped his head in his hooves, staring lovingly out the window.

“Uh… that’s neat and all…” I guess it was my turn to knock him out of a daze, as he stiffened up a bit at my words. “But what does that have to do with being here?” Pointing at the bowl of green beans, I felt a smirk pull across my muzzle. “What, were your green beans the ‘masterpiece’ of the cook here, and that’s why you aren’t hungry?”

“Oh, no, nothing so simple.” He chuckled and directed my gaze back out of the window. “You see, this all goes back to the idea of an engineering challenge as I’d mentioned. Enormous projects like this involved thousands of dedicated ponies, pouring their hard work and effort into building it. But once it’s done, and all those ponies finally behold the wonder they’ve constructed with their own hooves? Well, if just a teeny tiny sliver of each of them gets left inside, it adds up.”

“So… this whole station is a soul jar?” The words slipped out as a sense of uneasiness washed over me. Maybe it was the thought of being surrounded by the fragmented souls of long dead ponies that made me feel that, but anypony would have to admit being pretty unnerved to hear something like this.

“Sort of?” Hardcase shrugged and wavered his hoof a bit. “Remember how I mentioned the Crystal Heart before? It’s.... still a bit too complicated to explain without teaching you a bunch of advanced magical theories and spells, but it’s somewhat similar to the way the heart works. This station radiates the love, passion, and ambitions of the ponies who built it, but is nowhere near as powerful as the heart itself was.”

“Oh, I see.” It was hard for me to grasp the scale of what he’d just implied. I couldn’t imagine what sort of complex magics it involved, and honestly, maybe I didn’t want to. Of course I was glad to know that he wouldn’t be starving while we were in the city, but I’m not sure I was happy to know why anymore.

“Anyway, short story long, that’s why I’m not hungry!” Beaming a wide smile, he carefully shoved his bowl of green beans to me and nodded at it. “Alright, I’m betting we’ll be leaving the city soon, so eat up, Night.” My stomach gave out an impatient gurgle as the wafting scent of the beans hit me hard again. “But from how you sound, I’m pretty sure I don’t have to tell you twice.”

“Are we enjoying ourselves today?” The portly waitress chimed up as she stepped up beside Hardcase and I. “Can I interest either of you in some Punga Pie? It’s hot out of the oven, and I can assure you, it’s the best pie in the city.” Her wide smile was supposed to present genuine happiness, but it was just as fake as the vibrant atmosphere of this diner.

“No thank you,” Hardcase groaned as he rubbed at his belly. “we’re just finishing up before heading back out onto the road.”

“You sure?” The mare changed her fake smile into a genuine frown. “It’s non-hallucinogenic if that’s what you’re worried about.” As soon as it had arrived, the frown was gone with a quickly forced chuckle. “Unless of course you’re going to give it to a griff. Shit’s like catnip to them.”

“Well...” Hardcase sighed before turning his gaze to me. He couldn’t seriously be suggesting that as a good idea, right? “Maybe Hispano might want some then?”

Yeah, he was seriously suggesting this…

“Really? Giving her drugs after what happened in Mare’s Lake?” I cringed and let out a shudder as the thought of what would happen ran through my mind. “I’m not sure who’d kill me first, Buck or Cora.”

“Right, good point.” Hardcase nodded and forced his own smile to the waitress. “Sorry, but we’ll pass.” The waitress gave a disappointed nod before turning and almost shuffling back off to the counter as I dug into the beans in front of me. Part of me knew it was a last attempt at a pity purchase, but it didn’t make me any less happy to see somepony as disappointed as she was. “Speaking of hallucinations,” that last word in particular ripped my mind back to Hardcase. “Are you going to tell Buck?”

I nearly choked on a muzzles-worth of green beans because of that one simple sentence.

“Gah!” I coughed and took a few gasping breaths as my throat burned from that. “Tell him what?”

While it may have caught me off guard, my mind knew exactly what he was talking about. But if we play dumb, maybe he’ll overlook it. No, the Bombay part of me was grasping at straws to hide behind while the conversation steered away from this. Still, even though it was wrong, a bit of the rest of me knew that’s exactly what I wanted Hardcase to do…

“You have to tell him about how much Chill you’ve been taking.” As expected, Hardcase didn’t even beat around the bush. “At the very least, you’ve gotta tell him about seeing Violet.” He frowned at me as I could see his own pain come up behind his eyes. It wasn’t the same kind of pain as the one in my socket, but that didn’t make it any less real for him.

“I… I don’t know.” The words tumbled out like always, trying to buy my brain time to sort out something to say as Hardcase frowned. But that’s not how I worked at all, and I knew that. Once my muzzle was open, I couldn’t stop myself. “Hey, it’s not like I don’t want to tell him. It’s just… I can stop taking so much on my own. He’s already going through a lot right now, and he doesn’t need this piled on top of everything else, you know?”

“That’s not how this works, Night.” Hardcase sighed and crossed his forehooves. “You need to let him know about this if you’re serious about getting this painkiller thing under control. Addiction is a serious thing, Night. There’s little we can do if you run out on the road, miles from the next stop, and you start to suffer from withdrawals.”

“I…” I huffed at him, but found my mind come to a sputtering stop.

Honestly, I wanted to scream again that I wasn’t an addict, but my mind replayed what happened at the doctor’s office. That… that wasn’t me in there, I do have a problem. But my point still stands, I don’t want to stress Buck out with something like this, and it’s because he’s the only one on the crew who can’t afford to be stressed out.

“Fine.” I sighed and hung my head. “I’ll tell him. But, only once we get back on the road.” I knew it was the right thing to do, because Hardcase was my friend, and honestly I need to be listening to my friends more than ever these days. Even if they’re acting a bit off like Buck had been.

I blinked a few times before facehoofing as my terribly slow mind finally worked out why he’d been weird earlier...

“Actually, I’m pretty sure he already knows.” The passive aggressive comments about accidentally kicking my bag under the bed? Yeah, he had to know. But if he did know, why didn’t he just talk to me about it? Maybe he’s been as afraid to admit I’ve got a problem as I’ve been... “Still, once we’re on the road I’ll have a talk with him. The last thing I want is to ruin his time off for now.”

“Alright, that’s fair enough.” Hardcase’s stress seemed to melt as he let out a relieved sigh. “But…” He smirked as he scooted his chair and moved back a bit from our table. “If you don’t tell him, well, I’ll just have to take the liberty of being you and tell him myself.” If it were anypony else but Hardcase, I’d have been annoyed at that suggestion, but it was fair enough I suppose. “Now, you finish up your beans while I wash up a bit. Delilah’s gotta be anxious to get back on the road again, and we don’t want to stress her out more by being the ones to hold her up, right?”

Yes, we don’t want to stress her out more. Hardcase could punch her in the face and she’d still be perfectly happy with him as a crew pony. Still, I’m pretty sure Hardcase only phrased it like that to try to keep my mind off of how she’s been treating me, which was surely nice of him to do. But the terrible feeling I still had in my stomach wasn’t from the green beans I started munching on again.

No, I had a feeling that this new Delilah was here to stay, and that I was going to regret it if I messed up another time.

“By the way.” The waitress spoke up over my shoulder without warning and nearly made me choke on my beans again. She kept her eyes on Hardcase as he disappeared into the restroom, continuing once the door closed behind him. “A certain… mutual friend of ours wants to remind you to bring him what you owe.” Of course she had to be an informant for Solomon. How many fucking ponies does he pay off anyway? “You’ll find him waiting for you on the highway just outside the city, and he was specific that you don’t keep him waiting.”

I nodded to the mare, watching as she smiled and turned back to start cleaning the countertops. Great, Solomon was the last thing I needed, but maybe if I can discuss it with Cora and Hispano, we could get the drop on him and… kill him. No, that’s the Bombay side of me trying to take the easy way out. We force him into giving up his pursuit with the threat of killing him, and… I don’t know, we’ll figure out something I guess. I just hope that Hispano and Cora have some ideas, because I’m not exactly getting any at the moment.

“I thought I told you to finish up.” Hardcase sighed as he reappeared from the restroom and trotted toward the table. “Aren’t you still hungry?”

“Sorry.” I shrugged and frowned at the green beans before looking back at the waitress. “I lost my appetite.”

“Who the hell are these bricks?” Hardcase lowered his voice as we both trotted out of the alleyway from the markets, and back toward the Hauler.

“I don’t know...” I kept my voice low as we turned towards Bertha. A group of tough and scarred up ponies stood ringing Bertha like they were guarding her from something. They all gave off the same sort of ‘vibe’ as those stallions back at the Inn had, but I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what they’d be doing around the hauler. “I don’t like this one bit.”

“Wait… these might be ponies who work for Mr. Wizard.” Hardcase whispered as we dropped to a walk. A few of the ponies around the hauler eyed us, but none of them gave us more than a passing glance or a sneer. “Might be worth it to get geared up…”

“No, not unless Delilah tells us to.” Most of me was right there with Hardcase on getting armed, but the rational part of my mind said that if they weren’t already attacking us, then we probably shouldn’t look like we wanted to start a fight.

“I have an idea.” Hardcase dropped his voice to a whisper, but had a stupid grin across his face. “Why don’t you ask the nice stallion’s what they’re doing here?” I deadpanned at him for even suggesting that. “What?” He gasped lightly and looked offended. “Most stallions will tell anything to a pretty mare so long as they ask nicely enough.”

“You know that I know that, right?” I blinked at him a few times. “The whole shit that went on with Happy giving up info to the whore back in Mare’s Lake? I’m not like that, I can’t just get things out of ponies.”

“Oh come on, just try it.” Hardcase rolled his eyes. “I have to act like a pony literally every day. Trust me when I say it’s not that hard to get something like this out of somepony.” I cocked my eyebrow as I wondered just what part of that was supposed to make me comfortable with this. With the silence that fell between us, he gave a nervous laugh as he noticed my look. “Uh… that’s not… it’s not as bad as it sounded just then?”

“Fine.” I didn’t really see the point, but whatever, I guess it couldn’t hurt to give it a shot. Turning back toward the hauler, I straightened myself up and forced a light smile across my muzzle. Okay, just take it slow, Night. Why not start with that… interesting looking unicorn by the stairs?

Trotting up to him, I felt his twitchy gaze turn toward me, and at twice my size, I did my best not the feel too intimidated by him. Why was he twitching? Was this guy nervous or something? He looked so strung up that he could snap at any moment. His disheveled and ragged dirt brown mane drooped over part of his face as he stiffened up a bit, and sparks momentarily sputtered from the jagged crack in his stubby horn. Geez, I wonder how he got an injury like that…

“H-hold it right there.” The stallion’s voice was sort of pitchy for being as big as he was. “What’s y-your business?”

“Oh, I was uh… just wondering...” I forced myself to smile as I kicked at the ground. I tried to think about how the ‘popular’ mares in school would act around guys, but the moment I did, my mind blanked. “Well… maybe…” Come on, Night, just force out words if you have to. “Maybe you could tell me why such a strong and handsome stallion such as yourself is standing around here?”

“I’m w-working.” The stallion sputtered out as his eyes twitched a bit. “Get… get lost before the boss gets back.” He rubbed at his foreleg roughly, drawing my attention to the numerous welted puncture wounds he had marking up it. Okay… maybe he wasn’t nervous, and instead was just a super drugged out pony. “I said move, B-bitch!”

His shouting voice was like a hoof on a chalkboard, and came out of him with the force of an out of control skycarrage. I was startled enough that I almost tripped backwards on my prosthetic and ended up on my ass. Okay, maybe that wasn’t the best pony to choose for my first time…

“Celestia, what’s the problem down there?” A familiar voice peaked my ears, and I looked up Bertha’s stairways. The neon pink coated stallion I’d helped in the library glanced over at me as he started to walk down the stairs. “Well well, I wasn’t expecting to see your pretty face again. I hate to disappoint you, but with your shitty performance this morning, I’m not really feeling up to finding you any more work.”

Without the bulky lemon colored suit or gasmask to cover him up, he seemed all the more aggressively neon pink to me. It didn’t help that his mane and tightly bound tail were also the same shade of obnoxiously bright pink. This however made his bright blue eyes stand out, as well as a cutiemark of a blue pill bottle with what looked like a tab of Chill in it.

“Yo, bitch.” He snapped at me. “You even listening to me? What are you doing here?”

“I work on this convoy.” I snorted at him. My words must have caught him off guard, because he nearly tripped as he got down the final few steps from the hauler. Yeah, that’s what I thought. Not so high and mighty when the other pony can talk back. “What are you doing here?”

“Just business.” He recovered from his near fall fairly flawlessly, turning and trotting over to me. He lowered his voice as he approached, and the megaspell strength glare he held on me helped to prepare me for what I knew was coming. With it, I did my best to put on the guise that was Bombay. “You tell anypony else out in the wastes what you saw down there, and I’ll fucking kill you myself. Consider this your last warning.” I gave him a small smirk as he stepped past me. Oh come on, Night, you can do better than that!

Turning around, I lifted my hoof to my muzzle, gave him a wink, and blew a kiss at him. Yeah, that was much better! You should be proud of yourself, Night.

“You wish, bitch.” He grunted and waved his hoof. “Come on, everypony. We’re heading back to the lab.”

Seriously, he’s warning me that he’ll kill me himself? Hah, he can get in line behind Solomon. Why is it that while I might not want to go out of my way to kill anypony, I seem to be attracting more and more assholes begging for it?

Regardless, as the gruff group of scarred up stallions peeled off from around Bertha, I couldn’t help but smile to myself. Hardcase’s soft hoofsteps joined me as I walked toward the stairwell. He gave a little squeal that felt out of place from him, but his own smile across his muzzle made mine grow bigger.

“That was awesome!” He trotted in place excitedly for a bit. “I mean, I’d thought you’d blown it with that first stallion, and come on, you’ve gotta admit you botched that one pretty hard…” He was speaking so fast that it was hard to understand him. Just why was he so excited? “But wow you really came back around hard on that other guy! I didn’t even know you had that in you...”

“Night.” Delilah’s voice came down from above as I stepped a single hoof onto the stairwell. Looking up, I found her standing in the open door to the ice hold. Her face looked like it was positively boiling with anger. “My room. Now.” Spinning around, she disappeared inside the ice hold, leaving Hardcase and I to exchange a quick glance.

“Woah, there is so much anger coming from her right now...” Hardcase whispered to me as I blinked a few times. “She feels like she’s about to snap and kill somepony. What the hell did those stallions say to make her so pissed off?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t want to find out.” Turning back to the stairwell, I started my climb up with a sigh. “Not like I have a choice though.”

“Well, that’s not the case for me!” Hardcase gave out a forced laugh, causing me to pause on the way up. Turning, I saw him rub at his neck and nod back around the hauler. “I’m going to let you deal with that for now. I might head back to Doc Sunshine and try to see if I can’t explain myself a bit to her, if she’ll even open the door for me...” Giving a wave, he didn’t even let me speak before he turned and trotted off underneath Bertha. “Don’t get murdered by Delilah, Night!”

Yeah, thanks for that…

Turning back, I continued up the stairwell. I paused when I reached the top, looking around. The driver’s cab door was still open, and the pungent smoke-scented seat looked lonely without Gearbox sitting in it. Likewise, the reactor deck was quiet without Boiler mulling around Bertha’s silent engine. Perking my ears, the whole of the hauler felt silent to me. It must have just been Delilah and I for the moment, and while I wasn’t afraid she’d kill me, being alone with just her still made me nervous.

Glancing at the box of grenades amongst our other armaments, I had a fleeting thought of grabbing one just to be on the safe side. I shook my head and turned toward the ice hold. No, Delilah wouldn’t do anything to hurt me other than yell at me. I don’t know why, but Hardcase’s words had dug in hard when they should have been brushed off.

Seriously, there was no way Delilah would have kept me on this long just to hurt me now. Happy, sure, but not me. Then again... with how her mood had shifted over the last few days, I hoped that simply yelling at me would be the case. Still, there’s been far too many times were having any sort of weapon at all would’ve saved me a whole lot of trouble, and I was supposed to go see Solomon after this...

I slipped one of the spare grenades into my bags and made my way up through the Ice hold into the rec area. All but Delilah’s containers had open doors, as well as quiet, dark interiors. The softly flapping tarp above me was the only noise to greet me past the small amount of shuffling that came from my destination. Taking a deep breath, I walked up to Delilah’s container door, and knocked on it.

“Come in.” Delilah snapped at me.

I extended my wing and slid it between the door and container, flipping up the latch on the inside. Pushing open the door, I found that like all the others, the interior to her container was still dark. I stepped in, feeling as my hoof crumpled a set of papers that had been strewn across the floor. Looking around her room, papers and her belongings had been tossed everywhere, and behind her desk, a tense and angry looking Delilah glared at me.

“What happened?” The words slipped out, and I immediately braced myself for the worst.

“Mr. Pink was here to inform me that Happy screwed up. Again.” Delilah slammed her hoof onto her desk. There was a thick snap as her hoof bounced slightly the wrong way, but if it had hurt her, Delilah didn’t show a single ounce of care. “So, I’m done with him. I need you to go and find everyone else, Night. We leave in fifteen minutes, so get them back here or I’m leaving them here to rot as well.”

“Wait, what do you mean you’re leaving him?” She was done with Happy? Did… did she really mean that? “You’re just going to leave Happy here? In Cantercross!?”

“You will go get the others, Night.” She gave a guttural growl as she leaned forward over her desk. “You say ‘yes, ma’am’ and run off. No more questions.”

“This is wrong, ma’am. You can’t just leave him here.” I knew I was risking her wrath, but she couldn’t be serious. “Unlike with the shit I said about Lustre, which I apologize for even saying by the way, this isn’t right.”

Unsurprisingly, she simply fumed and glared at me in response. Okay, that wasn’t enough to get my point across? Fine, she could have it her way.

“You want to teach me to be a leader, Delilah?” I spat and waved a foreleg to the door. “How is leaving everypony behind leading? Solomon’s going to find out you left Happy here, and then what’s he going to do? He’s going to use him as leverage to get the Ark!” That… was a good point! For once, the ability to say shit without putting it together before hoof actually helped! “So if you want to save Happy, as well as this whole fucking trip, we leave nobody behind. We have to get Happy back.”

“No! He fucked up when he messed with Mr. Wizard’s business.” She was basically frothing at the muzzle as she ground her forehooves into her desk. I’d never seen anypony so angry before, and this was way above and beyond the anger I saw when I spouted my thoughts about Lustre and the Road Crew. Hardcase was right, she was going to completely snap at this rate, and it was clouding her judgement. “He chose his own fate, and I will not pay a ransom for a son who has been nothing to me but a mistake! Especially not if it forces us to lose any more ground to Solomon than he’s already cost us.”

She had the bigger picture in mind, I’ll give her that, but I had a feeling that like Happy, that’s not what this was about for her anymore. If I’d learned anything from her about being a leader, it was still that I had to at the very least follow my instincts. And those instincts told me that right now, she needed to hear how misguided this decision was.

“No, you are lying to yourself!” I forced my words out, straining my own voice as if raising it would physically make them sink in. “This trip may have started out with your town in mind, but you don't give a crap about them anymore, do you? I don’t know what’s changed in the last few days, but you aren’t the same Delilah who I met up north. Who was simply a kind hearted jenny who wanted to save her town. This trip has become only about one thing to you, and that's beating Solomon at his own game. That's it, isn't it? You think this is some fucking game that you can win by sacrificing others who look up and care about you, don't you?!”

“What do you think you can do? You can't fix Happy, and I'm done trying. Solomon can have him, and hell, he can kill him for all I care. He’d be doing me a fucking favor!” She slammed her hoof down against her desk again, forcing out another crack. Though this time, she’d splintered the edge of the old wood, as well as her hoof. “And I swear to Celestia, Night. One more fucking word out of you and you’redone too. Off this convoy, forever.” She gave out a heavy whine before favoring her cracked forehoof, not able to so easily shrug off the pain this time.

“No. You’re wrong about abandoning Happy.” I shook my head. “I’ll get him back on my own if I have to, but we aren’t leaving him behind.” Seriously, just like back at Filly Crossing, it looks like I was going to have to risk everything to even get my point across. And just like at Filly Crossing, she’d see things the right way soon enough.

Turning around toward the open container door, I froze as I heard Delilah’s desk open behind me. The crisp click of her pistol’s hammer being drawn back was all the sound that existed in that moment on the silent and empty hauler. I turned my head to look back at her, and I found her painfully using her shattered forehoof to prop herself up. In her other fetlock, she had her pistol aimed right at me.

“You’re done, Night.” Her rage was gone from her expression, leaving only her cold, hollow words. Even the tears that stained her cheeks felt like they didn’t carry any sort of weight to her. “I need the code around your neck, and then you will get the hell off of my convoy.”

She… couldn’t be serious.

“You’re fired, Night.” She spoke up as her trembling injured forehoof struggled to keep her propped up. “You will hoof over your tags, and then leave.” She shifted her aim up slightly and pulled the trigger. The gunshot left a ringing in my ears as a hole in the ceiling opened up above me and let the daylight in. “I will shoot you and take them if I have to. No more second chances, and I won’t ask again.”

Fuck, she really was serious then? This… was it for me. I’d come all this way, fought as hard as I did to find a place on this convoy. And while I’d eventually made a home for myself, and found another family to call my own, this is how all of that comes to an end? Being forced to listen to a mare who’d been pushed to the brink by stress, and who was making a mistake she’d regret for the rest of her life?

No.

“Before I go, and I mean this when I say it.” I spoke up slowly as I glanced back up at Delilah’s flat and uncaring gaze. “You wanted me to be a leader, Delilah. My conscience is clear about what I must do.”

I watched as those words wormed their way into her head. I could see the agitation grow across her expression again, her frozen and hollow form slowly coming back to a quite visible boil again. But with that came the strain and tenseness that she normally carried, and that made her injured foreleg shudder again. I let out a deep breath before my body took over.

I kicked off towards the open door, dropping myself low as Delilah was momentarily stunned by my rapid movement. She squeezed off a shot from her pistol, but only to where I’d just been standing. As I pushed myself out of the doorway, I rounded the corner and jumped up into the air, aiming to come down on the rec area railing.

In the back of my mind, I knew it hadn’t been luck to catch her off guard like that. She hadn’t really wanted to shoot me, so she’d hesitated. Hell, she probably was going to regret trying later and apologize when I brought back Happy!

Another pair of shots came through her container. This time they were low, splintering the old plywood around me. Okay, maybe she really did want to shoot me! Throwing my hoof up against my chest, I slapped the start button for my jump pack. It let out another whine as it spooled up and I perched myself on the rec area railing. Another shot came through the container, and this time, she didn’t miss completely.

I screamed as the round skimmed across my left shoulder, and my forehoof slipped off the rec area railing. Thank the goddess for pegasus reflexes as my wings caught me and dropped me into a glide. I whimpered as the sound of Delilah scrambling to get out of her container was drowned in the whine of my jump pack. Carefully, I turned myself into the alleyway that Hardcase and I had used as my speed lowered enough that I could get onto the ground.

As I touched down, my left leg gave out, and I cried as I tumbled to the ground. Looking down at the wound, the round had only skimmed the surface, leaving a bloody but shallow channel across my shoulder. She could have fucking killed me had she aimed just slightly further to the right...

Why! Why did she have to do this!? My mind was awash in a million unanswerable questions as I did my best to pick myself up. What would happen to Buck now? What about the rest of the crew? How could I fix this? Looking down at my mother’s tags, I pressed my hoof against the cold metal.

Could I even fix it at all?

My ear perked as the rushed and offbeat hoofsteps on Bertha’s stairwell caught my attention. The pained grunts of Delilah drifted to me as my watering eyes begged for her to call out that she was sorry. As I sat up, I waited, and hoped that she’d come around the corner of the alley to say she was sorry.

Of course, when she did appear, she held her gun in her muzzle, and a distant, uncaring look in her eyes. I looked to the skies and closed my eyes as she lined up her shot. And with a pinch of my fetlock, I knew in the back of my head that there was no coming back from this.

With a crack, my hearing disappeared as my jump pack rocketed me into the air, and out of Delilah’s convoy forever. Even though this hadn’t worked out like I’d thought it would, I couldn’t afford to be distracted now. If anything, this was the only chance I’d get to protect the convoy, even if I wasn’t ever going to be welcome on it again.

Looking down at my mother’s tags as I leveled out in the air, I knew it was time to go make a deal with Solomon for the Ark.

Regret.

That was probably the only constant thing in my life since I came down to the wastes. And I regretted more about what I’d done today than any day before, because all of it had been so avoidable in the first place. Of course, I’m talking about more than just getting fired and thrown off the convoy.

I regret that of course. But, it was nowhere near as much as the fact I could have tied Happy to the couch when I’d thought of it. He did bring this upon himself, out of everything Delilah said today, that’s the one thing I can agree with. But that didn’t mean we could just leave him here. I had to have faith though, that the others on the crew would see things like I did, and would stand up to her.

But not tieing up Happy wasn’t the biggest regret I’d had. More than the things I’d said to Delilah, it was the things I hadn’t said to Buck and Hispano when I’d had the chance. They had become family to me, and I’d had the chance yesterday to remind them of that. And like an idiot, I was too focused on trying to spare them my cursed luck. While it might not have been the last chance I’ll have to tell them, the damage of leaving like this might have removed every bit of meaning it could have ever held.

A half hour had passed by the time I’d flown clear of the city, and I was currently following the highway south. It was mid-afternoon now, and Delilah would undoubtedly already be back on the road. Hell, for all I knew she could be following five minutes behind me if she’d gotten everyone to get back onboard fast enough. If I had any chance to get ahead of them and end this stupid ‘game’ for good, I’d have to be quick about this.

So with the wound in my shoulder, and the knowledge that I needed my game face on, I stopped only long enough to take a few more Chill pills to push back the pain. Yes, I knew it wasn’t healthy, but I could deal with that later. I was on a mission to save the convoy, and I couldn’t risk failing now.

The further out of the city, the bigger and deeper valleys the old road wrapped through as the rust red Misery range loomed ahead. Eventually a couple of miles out from the edge of the city, the roads split into elevated and stilted ribbons. Both the north and southbound routes ran twisting, lonely paths that hugging opposite sides of the steep and barren valleys.

The hillsides were far from the lush forest that sat on the south side of the city, as poisoned and dead as the barren flats we’d seen heading into it. They were lined with patchy outcroppings of sickly trees and dead plants, and punctuated at their bottoms by rivers of glowing yellow wastewater. The off color, grey dirt that sat under them reminded me of rotten and diseased flesh, just waiting to slip off and leave nothing but smooth lifeless rock, like it was the skeletal underside of the mountains they sat at the base of.

It was on the northbound side of these roads that I eventually found Solomon’s luxury bus. Pitching myself downward, I flaired my wings to offset my acceleration as I started a long glide down towards them. The freezing headwind however buffeted me and felt to me like it was actively trying to stop me from setting down at all. As much as I wanted to believe that the wind itself knew how poorly this would all go, I needed to do this. It was far too late to turn back.

The old roadway was empty around Solomon’s pristine travel bus, and as far as the northbound roads could be seen until they disappeared around the edge of the next mountainous hillside. On the southbound highway on the other side of the valley, Solomon’s small tracked car sat facing toward the city. The black motorwagon’s headlights sat on, but the vehicle itself looked abandoned. I had to wonder what Solomon was up to with it, but I didn’t have long to wonder.

Movement ahead of me pulled my attention back to my landing zone, as the bulky shield and large stature of Jess appeared from the front of the bus. The old armored cart door was raised up in front of her, and she had her dual barreled gun trained on me. She didn’t shoot, but to her credit, she didn’t let her guard down either. Okay, so, I needed a plan that would ensure that they wouldn’t just shoot me before we could make a deal. Because unlike before, I don’t have shit to defend myself…

Right, that’s not true because I had a single grenade!

It wasn’t ideal, but it would be enough to let me make a deal with Solomon. Yeah, I’d die if I had to actually use it, but that didn’t matter because the convoy was more important than me. Buck and Hispano’s lives were more important than me.

Closing my eyes, I tried to think about how Bombay would act in this case. But unlike every other time, I couldn’t bring her out. I couldn’t really explain it, other than for some reason, I had no idea what anypony would do in this situation, let alone Bombay. So, with nothing to go on, I guessed that the first step would to just be rude and to feign as much confidence as I could...

“Hey, bitch!” I shouted as I dropped to a skimming height just above the cracked and worn highway pavement. “Quit pointing that shit at me and get your boss. I’m here to make a deal.” Yeah, that’s probably rude enough to work.

I tilted my flight from side to side, bleeding off speed as I wobbled through the air. As I fell to a pace that would be matched at a gallop, my hooves came down on the pavement. I winced and bit my lips as the fleshwound across my shoulder burned and protested, but I didn’t want to crash land this time. Presentation would be everything, and I couldn’t afford to show any weakness. I slowed to a walk and stopped myself next to the backside of the bus.

“Stay right there, asshole.” Jess snorted as she tipped her double-gun up away from me. She stepped back around the corner for a moment until I heard a banging knock on the bus. Without another word, she stepped around the front again, and brought me under the sight of her gun once more. “Come on, just do something stupid so I can fill you with more holes than you put into Lamia...”

“Now is that any way to greet a guest, Miss Jessibelle?” The grating arrogance in the voice that filled the air even made the eyes of the trigger happy minotaur flinch. But I already knew that Solomon’s voice had that effect on everypony eventually, even if they were on his payroll. Though, the high and mighty way he walked around the front of the bus and into sight however, that was new. It’s like he already thought he’d beaten me.

“So lovely to see you again… you.” Solomon still couldn’t remember my name? Really? “I’m glad you could make time to come all the way out here for little ol’ me.” The wide smile plastered across his muzzle was as fake as any sort of hope that he’d let this go down smoothly. “I do hope you enjoyed your lunch at the diner. Rook brought back the most amazing slice of pie I’ve had in simply ages.”

“Enough with the pleasantries, I came with the book. As asked.” I rolled my eyes as I sat down and turned toward my saddlebags.

Reaching in, I gripped my fetlock around the grenade. Wiggling, I loosened the pin on it just enough that as I drew it out, it dragged along the fabric of my saddlebag and flipped out over the lip of it. It tumbled to the ground with an audible ping as I tightened my fetlock around the compressed spoon. With the lovely noise of the pin bouncing on the pavement, came a very distressed look across Solomon’s face.

“Oh, R-rook? Would you kindly…?” He stammered as he took a step back. Though, he hadn’t even finished speaking before a magical flash came from my side.

“No no, Rook! This is just insurance.” I snapped as I could see his horn begin to glow out of the corner of my eye. “You're all going to hear me out, and then we're going to make a fair deal for what Solomon want's. No tricks, no lies. Just business.”

“Oh?” Solomon gave out a surprisingly genuine laugh for being within the lethal blast radius of a live grenade. “And what if I told Rook to take the book and teleport you away from here? Why would I ever deal with you?” At that, I felt the cold muzzle of a gun press against the back of my head. Okay, he wasn’t just going to keep this easy. Alright, I can work with that.

“Who said I didn’t hide the book?” I smirked and held out the grenade toward Solomon. “Even if I’m lying and the book is on me, well…” Turning, I showed my best shit eating grin to a quite unnamused looking Rook. “Even if I don’t kill you with the blast, Rook here won’t be so lucky. Oh, and of course I’ll blow up your precious bus, as well as any chance you have to find the Ark.” Looking around, I laughed as the breeze that ran through the valley buffeted us all a bit. “And in this wind, are you sure you could find all the bits of the book?”

“Very well.” Solomon gave a chuff and waved his forehoof toward me dismissively. “Need I remind you that you begged to work for me.” I felt the gun leave the back of my head, but I knew Rook wouldn’t keep it too far off me. “And while it’s downright insulting to have an employee try to change a verbal contract, I’m listening to your offer.”

“In exchange for the location of the Ark, you are going to leave everyone who you've ever seen up here in the north, alone. You will not kill, maim, or attack anyone. There will be no retribution for anything that’s happened.” I wanted to cover my bases with Solomon. Yeah, I held all the power in this negotiation at the moment, but I already knew I was a terrible negotiator. Even if by some miracle Solomon agreed and kept his word on this, I wasn’t sure he couldn’t find some way around any of it. So, I had to make this count. “You won't go after Delilah, her crew, me, or anyone else. Not even the Sun Dogs, got it? You get to go after the Ark, and we all get to live happily ever after.”

Silence fell between Solomon and I, and I watched as he mulled over my words in his head. As it did every time he opened his oily and slimy lips, a smile drew across it as he gave the softest and most gentle of nods. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he was going to tell me I’d asked for too much.

“Of course, that is an agreeable compromise.” His words hit me like a slap in the face, and they knocked the grin I’d had straight off my muzzle. “What? You thought your demands might be too much? On the contrary!” He put a hoof to his pristine white coat and let out another laugh. “Once I have the Ark, then I wouldn't possibly think of hurting any of your precious convoy…”

“No!” I snapped at him, startling him as I felt Rook press his gun back against my head. In retaliation, I turned my fetlock over so the grenade would fall if I so much as relaxed for a moment. “Not once you have the Ark. The moment I hoof the information over is when our deal is struck. You’ll have the location, so you won't have to keep up this game you're playing with her. You can run off ahead and find the Ark before she even has a chance to catch up.”

“And what proof do I have that you'll be giving me the real location?” Solomon narrowed his eyes as his whole posture changed. It was… odd, to say the least. His ears were pointed to attention, his legs had tensed up and held him stiffly, and his back had a slight curve to it, like he was waiting for something to happen. “You speak of games, so how do I know this isn't one she's playing on me? Who’s to say you aren’t lying to me now?”

"Because I no longer work for Delilah." Reaching up, I hoofed at my mother's tags and gave a stiff yank. The clasp at the back snapped off, letting the chain fall against my hoof. Part of the old Night that I still was died right then, I could feel it. Glancing at the cold steel tag in my hoof, I didn’t want to let go. But I’d moved on from my past, and I had the futures of Buck, Hispano, and the whole crew to think about.

"You want proof? There is no book, not anymore.” I turned my other hoof over and let the tags dangle on the end of the necklace. “Delilah knew you'd do whatever you could to get it from her, so instead she had the location of the Ark inscribed on my mother's dog tags, and then she destroyed the book." If it was the price to pay for the lives of everyone in the north, then I'm sure my mother would have forgiven me for giving them to someone as disgusting as Solomon. "The answer you've been looking for is right here in my hoof. So tell me, do we have a deal?"

"One final question, if I may." He eyed me suspiciously, which I couldn't really blame him for. I still didn’t trust he’d live up to the deal at all if he agreed, but what choice did I have now? "Why decide to do this if you no longer feel any loyalty for her?"

"Her son was taken by Mr. Wizard. She was going to let you kill him to keep the location from you. I can't allow her to waste his life like that." I shook my head and pulled the tags back toward my chest, while keeping the grenade out in front of me. "I may have lost my faith in Delilah, but everypony else deserves to live. So tell me, do we have a deal?"

"Very well. I will agree to those terms." He sighed and waved his hoof to Rook, who sharply pushed his gun off the back of my head. "However, should you have lied to me about the location, I will kill all of them just because you asked me not to.” The glare his expression dissolved into was as burning with anger and hatred as Delilah’s had been only a half hour ago. “But you understand that, don't you? I may be a stallion of my word when it comes to business, but only so long as others are as well."

“Of course.” I grumbled as another magical flash blinded me momentarily.

When I blinked away the blinding light, Rook stood with his cybernetic hoof outstretched to me. I took a deep breath before lowing my mother’s tags down. There was a voice of reason in the back of my mind screaming to me the closer they got to his hoof, telling me not to trust them. It screamed that I should just throw the grenade at them and run, that this was all a huge mistake.

But after having listened to that voice of reason since I came down, and seeing where it had gotten me? Well, needless to say I smothered that voice in the dark recesses of my mind. I was done with reason. I was going to do whatever needed to be done, period.

So I let go, and dropped the tags into Rook’s hoof.

With another quick flash, Rook teleported over to Solomon and carefully laid them into his waiting grasp. The grin across Solomon’s face the second the metal touched his bare skin made my own skin crawl. It felt wrong to have helped him, but as he brought the tags up to his face and scrunched up his muzzle, I couldn’t help but smile.

“What is the meaning of this!?” He shouted as he angrily threw the tags back at me. Halfway through the air however, Rook caught them with his magic and pulled them back over. “Where is the location!?”

“I don’t know. Even Delilah didn’t know what that code meant. She couldn't decipher it in the city library, and the Steel Rangers at Galloway couldn't figure it out either.” I shrugged and became acutely aware I was still holding a live grenade in my hoof. Right… I hadn’t really thought what to do with it through. If I were a unicorn, I could have just put the pin back in, but no, I don’t have cheater magic. I could just toss it in the forest when I took off again or something… I guess? “Anyway, that's all that was in the log book they pulled out of the ice. But hey, it’s your riddle to solve now, and that means it's none of my business.”

“I see.” I could hear just how disappointed he was with that info, and I watched as he ground his clamped jaw while he spoke. “You have done well for me, Night Flight.” Wait, he actually remembered my name? Also, why did it feel like him uttering it just punched an even bigger pit in my stomach than I’d had all day? “Knowing I would hold her son ransom may have been predictable, but I must admit that I hadn’t thought you so clever as to even consider it.” Looking down at Rook, he gave a snarl and nodded to me. “Dispose of the weapon, would you?”

Rook’s horn flashed before I could react and ripped the grenade out of my hooves. I stared at it in horror as his magic tossed it in a short arc. It sailed through the air, dipping down just over the edge of the elevated roadway before detonating. The ground under my hooves shook, and my hearing disappeared into a sharp ringing for a few moments before it started to drain off.

Honestly, in that moment I was expecting to be cut down by Solomon or Jess. But as I cupped my hooves over my ears and looked at the smug bastard, he just stood smiling at me. He tapped his hoof at me, as if he were impatiently awaiting the ringing in my ears to stop trying to drill into my brain.

“Now that we’re back to being civil...” Solomon’s words were fuzzy and distant, but they were all I had to focus on past the slowly dieing ringing. “as I said, I am a stallion of my word when it comes to business.” As my hearing started to come back, I noticed something different about Solomon. His ears had shifted again, like instead of listening for something random, he was following something specifically. Twerking my own ear and a half, I pitched them around and tried to listen for what held his attention. “But you see, Night... things would just be so much easier as long as I knew Delilah wasn’t following me and getting in my way.”

Just past the ringing, across to the other side of the valley, the deep thrumming of a massive archano engine coming up the southbound stretch of highway met my ears. After a moment, the familiar zebra striped APC and massive rolling form of the hauler came around from a bend, and into sight.

No, she’d been just minutes behind me after all...

“We had a fucking deal!” I shouted at him, turning to charge. But instead of doing something incredibly dumb and impulsive, I found myself slam right into Jess’s massive armored shield. She swung it back, almost knocking me off of my hooves before she pointed her twin barreled SMG at me. She’d come up on me far faster than I’d expected a minotaur could move...

Solomon simply shared his grin again as he leisurely walked up to Jess and I before turning to face the gap that spanned between the northbound road, and the southbound one. Rook stepped around him as his horn flared with magic, and I cringed with racing thoughts of just how this was all going to play out. With a pop, the massive rifle Rook had held on me when I stole the car, apperated into the air next to Solomon.

I knew I shouldn’t have trusted him!

“Oh, don’t worry your pretty little head, Night. I won't hurt them. I’ve never wanted to, and have only had to in order to make sure I come out ahead in this little game of ours.” Solomon spoke as he sat down, taking the large rifle into his right forehoof. As he did, Rook’s horn gave another flash, making a boxy looking remote with a large fetlock trigger appear next to Solomon. “You see however, I already had an arrangement with the Road Crew. When I push this trigger, the hydraulics and brakes on the entire convoy will be overridden, and that will bring them to a stop. They won’t be able to move or defend themselves until I see fit.”

“I was fucking right that the Road Crew had sabotaged us!?” The words tumbled out of my muzzle, but unlike the now dim ringing in my ears, I was still deaf to them. I’d been fucking right, and now the convoy was helpless to stop Solomon...

Solomon’s eyes were glued to the convoy as they slowed down slightly at the sight of Solomon’s car sitting ahead of them. That was why it had been parked over there, really? I flinched as he took the remote from Rook’s magic, and squeezed down on the trigger.

Squeals emit from both Bertha and Bessy as their wheels locked up. The massive machines slid along the road as both Delilah and Gearbox did admittedly amazing jobs at keeping the vehicles from going out of control. But as much as Solomon had planned ahead, that wouldn’t stop them forever. He had to be planning something else.

“And now they won’t be able to stop me.” Solomon lazilly tossed the remote to the ground before looking back at me. “Don't look so surprised. Motor Grader was too easy to pay off, and his crew did a wonderful job at installing that little override." Solomon laughed, nearly vibrating with the pride he was beaming out through his wide smile. Goddesses it was disgusting. "I just had to convince them that I'd help them take down Mr. Wizard after I acquire the Ark. Once I’d put the idea in his head of getting revenge against Mr. Wizard for killing his wife, well, he almost offered to help me for free!"

“But I thought you were working with Mr. Wizard.” Even as I spoke, my eyes kept jumping from Solomon’s despicable face, to the large rifle in his hooves. If I could only just get it away from him…

“Oh don’t misunderstand me, I am working with Mr. Wizard.” Solomon laughed as he tightened his grip around his rifle and turned his gaze back to Rook. He gave the stallion a quick nod before raising his large rifle to the convoy. “You see, Mr. Wizard is far more influential than the Road Crew could ever hope to be. But what Mr. Wizard lacked, was a reason to fight and overthrow the Road Crew. Turns out, the majority of the wasteland actually likes having them around, and that’s not conducive to the plans Mr. Wizard has for the north.”

There was a ratcheting set of clicks as the copper tubes that made up Rook’s cybernetic limb rotated around on his joints. He stuck his hoof down onto the ground in front of Solomon, and after a moment, a small hiss emit as his leg detached from his body. On it’s own, the leg stood up straight as it’s parts began to shift around.

The pipes around the hoof section spread out and pressed down in three opposite directions, while the longer pipes on the back spun and extended a single rod upwards from the middle of the leg. With a whir, the rod in the middle opened at the top, and a small curved rubber stop extended upward, coming to a gentle stop as it all but kissed the underside of Solomon’s large rifle.

Rook’s leg was nothing more than a fancy tripod for Solomon’s oversized gun!? What the fuck!?

“Soon though, Mr. Wizard will control the entire north of Equestria. Just you wait.” Solomon spoke up as he brought his head to rest on the buttstock of his rifle. Carefully, he took his time adjusting his head against it. “After everypony learns that the Road Crew double crossed an innocent convoy, well, public opinion will be in favor of a change in road management. And after he takes over, Mr. Wizard will be the only ally I’ll need to help me secure the Ark, and win my father’s throne.”

“You’re a fucking monster.” I spat at Solomon’s hooves, quickly getting the cold barrels of Jess’s guns pressed against my neck.

“Why must you be so petty?” Solomon snorted and rolled his eyes, letting them fall back in line with the clean and clear lense of the large optic that sat bolted to the top of the rifle. “I could kill them, you know. And I should, after what you did to my dear, sweet Lamia.” That caused a subtle shift of Jess’s gun as it ground harder against my neck. “But I won’t, because we made a deal. However, what was it that other dead pegasus from your group had said? One tire or axle and their trip is over?" His grip ever so slightly shifted the aim of the rifle on the seat of the tripod, lining it up with Bertha. "Well, let's test that theory, shall we?”

“Sir? If I may remind you, at this distance,” Rook spoke up calmly, giving a single stiff hop on his three legs to get closer to the concentrating stallion. “the velocity of the fifteen point two millimeter projectile alleviates your need to adjust...”

“Yes, yes, Rook. I know how to aim my own hunting rifle.” Solomon cut off the unicorn before giving off an annoyed sigh. “Really, it’s almost as if you’ve forgotten that the most important thing about shooting, is concentration.” With that, Solomon fell silent, taking a few more slow breaths before pausing as he let out one last one.

BANG!

The shot was as loud to me as Howitzer’s fucking cannon was. The muzzle flare from it alone was almost blinding. But even that couldn’t hide the sharp flare the round gave as it burrowed through the thick armor of Bertha. It wasn’t the armor on the wheel, or from an axle, but from the metal plate that protected the reactor above the front tire. There was a sharp crack that answered the gunshot as a burst of superheated steam shot out from the bullet hole. A billowing cloud of steam poured out into the air from the open other side of the Hauler, ripping a gasp from my muzzle.

No… Boiler…

Maybe she wasn’t standing near the reactor! Yeah, maybe…

My own thoughts were shattered as my vision went white. My hearing disappeared as the combined blast of all the armaments stored in the cage next to the reactor cooked off. I didn’t see the blast wave, but it ripped my wings back and picked me right up off the ground. I screamed out with a cry I couldn’t hear as I slammed back against Solomon’s bus. The impact however was somewhat mitigated by my jump pack caving in the side panel of the bus before my weight dumped me back onto the ground.

No… that didn’t just happen!

I scrambled to get to my hooves, trying furiously to blink away the blinding afterimage of the Hauler being torn apart by the blast. Standing up, I almost collapsed all over again as my breath was stolen from me.

Bertha was nothing more than a wreck of burning and twisted debris. The front cab, the reactor bay, her entire front end was just… gone. Her rear frame, and what remained of her hauling bed, were scorched and twisted outward from the blast like a glowing steel flower. The containers that had once sat on her were strewn about the road and up on the valley dirt around her, most of them laying in a smoldering and twisted heap on the road behind the wreck.

A groan came back as the first sound I heard. My tearing eyes were pulled to the hanging form of Bessy as she teetered precariously over the edge of the elevated roadway. She was scorched badly, and all of her tires were either shredded or in the process of melting off. I gasped again softly as the front hatch opened, and Delilah stuck her head out of it. She turned her gaze across the valley, looking over towards us all.

Though, I knew in my heart, she was looking directly into my eyes with nothing but disappointment, anger, and regret.

With a final groaning rock, Bessy slipped from the edge of the highway. She hung in the air for a moment, letting it be etched in my memory forever before she dropped out of sight. I whimpered and shut my eyes as she hit the valley floor, and disappeared in another powerful blast.

They were gone.

Buck, Hispano, Hardcase, Cora, Lucky, Gearbox, Boiler, Howitzer and Delilah...

They’re all gone.

My ears perked as I heard a clatter of metal and polymer hit the ground. I opened my tear filled eyes to see Solomon’s rifle laying on the concrete at his hooves. Looking up, even through his all white coat, it was easy to see how pale and afraid he looked in that moment. Across his muzzle, a wavering smirk found its way onto it before he took a single shaky step backwards.

"Heh… uh, whoops..."

Author's Note

So yeah, that just happened! I've been waiting for two years to get to this point of the story. By now, most of you know that I like to take everything away from my protagonists at some point, and just get rid of their 'safety net' per se. I'm sorry about doing it to you all, but then again, most of you knew this sort of thing was coming. Still, I hope you all can take the next few weeks to come to terms with these events, because there's still a lot of story to go from here.

A huge thanks to TheFurryRailfan for helping to get this chapter into presentable condition. Seriously, he's a fantastic friend, author, and artist, and I'm so grateful for his help.

Lastly, of course many thanks go to Kkat for allowing us all to use the Fo:E universe in our own stories.

Chapter 53 - Uncomfortably Numb

Ponies don't make the same mistake twice, they make it three, four, or five times.

“You're going to fucking pay!” I screamed as I charged straight at Solomon. “Murdering Bastard!”

It was a stupid idea, but I didn’t care anymore. Nothing fucking mattered, and I was going to rip that saddle arabian bastard limb from limb with my own fucking hooves. I’d make him suffer for this, for killing all of them!

As I should have seen coming, I didn’t even get close to Solomon. Rook took the fancy rifle from the ground and swung it around. Not going to lie, it hit me like a fucking brick.

My vision went dark as I came down hard, skidding along the pavement as everything spun for a moment. I reached up and wiped at my watering eyes, clearing them just in time to see the barrel of Solomon’s rifle being pointed at my face. The scent of cordite filled my lungs, and the dark barrel still smoked lightly in the frigid air.

“How much trouble would one bullet save me? A minute? An hour? A day, perhaps?” Solomon spoke with the same note of arrogance he’d always carried with him. The fucker had been shocked moments ago, but somehow he was already over murdering everyone. “One bullet would be all it would take, and in an instant, it would ensure that you would never cause me a single problem from here on out.”

I wanted to scream at him. To get up and beat him with his own rifle until he was nothing but a fetid and rotting corpse left on the side of this goddess-forsaken road, left to be forgotten by everyone. But as he pressed the barrel between my eyes, and I felt the warmth that it gave off on my skin, I knew that right now, I needed to buy myself time.

“Then again,” He continued, pulling the gun back just enough that it hung over the end of my snarling muzzle. “that would be admitting that you've caused me any trouble at all. And unlike how Delilah used to be, you've never been anything more than just a nuisance to me. But I have a inkling that you may feel differently about that, and so I am inclined to once again be the better equine and pull the trigger.”

Goddesses, I just wish he’d fucking do it instead of sit here and gloat at me.

“But that would be a mercy you don't deserve.” He laughed as he shifted his rifle away from me altogether. “By the gods, all you ponies are pathetic. Sure, you built all the best toys back in the war. But like foals, you couldn't comprehend what power you truly held in your hooves.” He hoofed his rifle out towards Rook, letting him wrap it in his magic before he turned his full attention back to me. “That is why I will always be better than you. And to prove it, you may keep your miserable little life. Consider it my payment to you for bringing the code to the Ark.” Leaning down, he lowered his voice to a whisper. “But for your sake, Night Flight, you better hope we never cross…”

I reached out and smashed my forehoof into his muzzle. There was a solid snap as I connected, and his nose tweaked the wrong way. He let out a surprisingly high pitched whimper as he stepped back, bringing his own forehoof to his nose as blood started to dribble down it.

“You could have fucking left with your life, you ungrateful bitch!” Looking up, he jabbed his bloody forehoof toward Jess. “Fucking shoot him already! Kill this turkey and then get his corpse out of mysight.”

Really, why so fucking petty, Solomon? I thought name calling was above you?

“No.” Jess’s response was cold, and as surprising to me as it was to Solomon. “You made a deal with him. On your word as a business pony, there would be no more death.”

“What do you mean, no?” Solomon forced a laugh out of his bloody snout and looked to Rook like Jess had just told him the most outrageous joke. “So what if I did? What happened was an accident. Besides, what’s one more death between friends?”

“You really are an asshole, Solomon.” She grumbled as I turned to her and watched as she shook her head to him. “You know what? If this is how easy you can walk back on your promises, what’s keeping my deal intact once you find the Ark?” She took a step back from us and lowered her shield and gun. “You fired Cora, killed Galina, and Lamia is fucking dead. Fuck this, I’m out before I get shitcanned as well. You can find yourself another Mercenary.” With a heavy frown and more regret than I think she’d ever felt, she looked at me. “Sorry about everything, kid. I’m going home, maybe you should think about doing the same.”

Home? Was that some kind of fucking joke!? I knew she couldn’t understand where I came from, but Solomon just destroyed the only home I had left.

“What, you can’t quit!” Solomon seethed as blood continued to drip down his muzzle, running down onto his neck. He looked over to Rook expectantly and pointed at her. “Tell her that she can’t quit!”

“I’m afraid that Miss Jess is correct, Master Solomon.” Turning to Solomon, he used his horn to flash away the rifle with his normal, calm and collected look pressed across his face. “Should you kill Night here, the pony on the radio would most likely report it, and you would be seen as entirely untrustworthy by the northern ponies. If that were the case, it could jeopardize our partnership with Mr. Wizard.” Turning his gaze, he watched as Jess walked back down the highway, alone. “And in the case of Miss Jess, it would be best to consider this a win. She has forfeited her back pay, and has no legitimate claim to any part of the Ark.”

“Yes, a win...” Solomon huffed and wiped at his bloody nose. His burning glare turned on me as he seemed to collect himself slightly, but his hatred still remained. “Regardless. Rook, get this low life curr out of my sight.”

“Yes, Master Solomon.” Rook nodded before his horn enveloped me in light, and the two of them disappeared with a disorienting flash.

I blinked a few times, finding that not only where they gone, but somehow I’d gotten turned around. The crackling of fires to my left caught my ear, and I turned to it. I froze as the burning wreck of the hauler sat a few feet away, the charred hulk still billowing smoke high into the sky. I hadn’t been turned around, rather, Rook had teleported me to the other overpass.

The light thrum of an archano engine made me spin around. Rook gave a wave out the window of Solomon’s motorwagon as he turned it around and took off down the highway to the south. A similar noise met my ears from across the valley, and I watched as Solomon’s bus pulled away as well.

“That was a mistake, Solomon.” I muttered under my breath. “You should have killed me.”

You don’t get to die so easily, Night. You still have too much to do. Ugh, I wish I could turn Bombay off for good. None of that shit with her matters anymore anyway...

The screech of shifting debris behind the twisted wreck of Bertha caught my ear. I turned with a gasp, trotting around the wreck. Only when I heard the pained, but oh so fantastic sound of somepony painfully whining did I push myself into a gallop. A bit of the twisted debris that was once Hardcase’s container shifted slightly, and I could hear a groan and cough from beneath it.

“H-hey!” I shouted. Somepony was alive. Buck could be alive! “Hold on, I’m coming!” I darted to the smashed container, wrapping my hooves around the still searing hot metal panel. A cry escaped my own muzzle as the flesh on my hooves sizzled, but I grabbed around that metal until I was sure it was cutting into my skin and pulled. “Come on...!” I shouted and put everything I could into pulling the debris back.

There was an utterly guttural scream from under the container, and I could feel it lift from the other side. Slowly, the two of us managed to tip it over, and I was forced backwards as the smashed container panel flipped and crashed down at my hooves. My eyes filled with tears again as I saw the cracked and blue blood soaked chitin of Hardcase.

“N-night.” He groaned, nearly collapsing as he took a weak step forward. His horn was smashed and sparking, and he had a twisted silver rod spearing from his left side all the way through out to his right. Tears were streaming out of his glowing blue eyes and mixing with the blue blood that ran down his face. “Y-you came b-back.”

“Of course, I didn’t want to leave...” I whimpered as I stepped up to him. “Come on, we need to get you to a doctor.” He gave out a sharp scream as I accidentally shifted the rod stuck in him as I moved to help him walk. “Shit! Sorry…”

“I… I can walk… for now.” He shook as more pulses of blue dribbled out of the countless cracks in his body. “B-but we need to f-find the o-others.” Blood dribbled from his muzzle as he turned and gave a sad glance over the melted chassis of Bertha.

Nodding, I wiped at my teary eye and turned toward where the other containers laid on the road. As much as I wish I could have searched for Boiler and Gearbox, I… I knew that being so close to the blast, they were gone. But if Hardcase could make it, Lucky, Buck, Hispano and Cora could all still be alive.

Next to the twisted wreckage of Delilah’s room, sat the smashed picnic table and radio that had sat in the rec area. A bit further, was the roaring fire that used to be the couch. The smoke from it wasn’t as bad as what was pouring from the chassis of the Hauler, but it stung my good eye more as I approached. But as I got closer, I gagged and turned away as the smell of burning flesh hit my nose.

I whimpered and turned around. I’d only gotten a glimpse of him, but even as I shut my eyes to try to force it away, the burned and boiling shape of Lucky was stuck in my mind. His wooden prosthetic flickered with flames, and his splintered and burning wheelcart gouged itself deep into my thoughts, forcing me to sit down and clamp my hooves around my head as if I could so easily scrape the image out.

Why. Why did this have to happen? They didn’t deserve any of this!

Because YOU fucked up, Night! The voice of Violet resonated through my mind now. It sent a wave of guilt heavier than I’d ever felt wash over me, and it felt like it added a hundred pounds to my already weak feeling legs.

“H-hey!” Hardcase cried out from the drainage ditch on the side of the road. I opened my eyes to find his horn sparking wildly as his flickering magics attempted to move what looked like a large piece of Bertha’s reactor. “Quickly N-night! Help!”

My mind raced, hoping, praying to the goddesses that he’d found Buck still alive. My shaking legs pushed me into a gallop as I raced across the debris filled road, only to lock up again as I crossed it. There, pinned under the chunk of reactor, was the mangled and bloody form of Buck. I sniffled as my guts felt like they were being torn apart inside me. No… he can’t be gone too…

“He’s… he’s barely br-breathing…” Hardcase groaned as his broken horn grew another layer of overglow on it. “C-c-come on, Night! We can s-save him!”

His words transformed into a scream as the heavy piece of reactor tipped up, raising only a couple of inches out of the muddy soil of the drainage ditch. I could see the glowing Buck’s blood soaked body gave off below the debris, and realized that the radiation must have helped to keep him alive.

“Hurry!” Blood streamed out of Hardcase’s wounds as he strained to hold it, and it kicked my mind into action.

I basically threw myself down into the roadside ditch. I growled as I forced myself to ignore the gaping and bleeding wounds across Buck’s body as I wrapped my hooves around his charred and debris-skewered yoke. Like with the container, the bits of metal lodged inside his yoke sliced and cut into my hooves, but I had to save him.

My own scream joined Hardcase’s as I pulled with all of my might. My prosthetic leg dug into the soft roadside mud, forcing me to try all that much harder to gain what little traction I could. A few yanks had given me inches, but still I pulled. It wasn’t enough. I wasn’t enough.

I had to be.

Slice after slice, my bloody hooves slipped off of the old yoke, throwing me back into the dirt. Taking a few deep breaths, I felt like breaking down and crying. Instead I screamed out again, redoubling my own effort. After what felt like an eternity of pulling, Hardcase’s magic gave out, and the heavy debris slammed down again. Against my better judgement, I couldn't fight myself taking a glance to see how close I’d been to have gotten him free.

My already heaving lungs seized as my eyes found that I had gotten him out with inches to spare, but only because both of his legs ended in ragged and bleeding stumps. His right forepaw was gone, and most of his arm was mangled well beyond recognition. It was only slightly worse than what was left of his left arm though, which was split almost down the middle and full of glowing bits of metal. On top of all that, there was a deep gash across his belly, and I could see inside of him through the pooling blood. I struggled to keep myself from gagging at the sight, but failed. Turning, I puked up sticky yellow bile into the dirt.

“Goddess… w-we have t-to...” Hardcase whimpered as he doubled over. He heaved sharply, puking up a stomach full of blood. Coughing and crying, he struggled to stay standing. “Stop th-the bleeding…” He was cut off as he heaved and expelled even more blood.

Looking around, I didn’t know what to do. All of Buck’s medical supplies, they were in our container, and that…

I spun around, quickly finding the remains of half of our container smoldering up the steep valley hillside. Again, I prayed to Celestia as I pushed my hooves into action. Something had to have survived the blast. A potion, a bandage, anything!

It was odd seeing the underside of our container. Bits of now severed wires hung in place, still mounted to the bottom of it, and the now empty bolt mounts that held our beds in place. However, the blast had sheared the bolts that once secured it to Bertha straight off, and as I tried to use the now slack wires underneath to pull myself toward the container, the whole bottom of the half-container tore free and slid down the steep hill.

Buck’s desk was cracked and splintered from the explosion, but still mostly intact as it laid on the backside of the container. Without thinking, I jumped into the wrecked container and threw open the drawers. The torn metal box gave a groan, shifting on the dirt slope slightly with my weight. I let out a gasp and froze up, tensing up as a slow creak built up louder and louder.

Please, please don’t slide down the hill with me inside…

My own thoughts were stopped as I saw the shimmer of a few glass bottles inside the open drawer. Miraculously, three potions had made it through the blast intact. That… that would be enough to stabilize both Buck and Hardcase for now. Thank you! Thank you Celest…!

A sharp groan came from the container around me before it shifted violently. It only slid for a moment before stopping again, but the growing groan that filled it this time was even louder than before. Scrambling, I reached into the drawer and grasped at the bottles, but my movement jerked the half-container more than enough.

With my bloody fetlock painfully gripped around the top of one of the bottles, I cried and threw myself out of the container as it started to tilt. It gave a metallic screech as it twisted along the hillside, slipping around so that the old heavy desk was at the bottom now. With its balance shifted, there was nothing to stop it as it picked up speed on it’s way down. Part of the open container bit into the dirt, and the whole thing rotated. It pitched end over end before it slammed down onto the roadway below, crushing and fragmenting the desk inside.

Pulling close the one potion I’d managed to save in my hooves, I whimpered as I looked at it. No no no… I’d been so close… there’d been enough…

My eyes were pulled to Hardcase as he stumbled down into the ditch where Buck was. Held in his bloody muzzle, and dragging along behind him, was a length of cable like had been run along the bottom of the containers. As I quickly made my way down the hill towards him, he got to work tying the cable around each of Buck’s bleeding limbs.

“I… there was… I’m sorry, I could only save one…” I muttered as I trotted up next to him. I held the potion out and whimpered as Hardcase’s sparking horn gripped it and tore the cap off of it. Without hesitation, he turned it over, and ran it across Buck.

The purple potion washed the softly glowing bloody pulp that was Buck’s head, face, and the gaping wound in his chest. I was fighting a losing battle to my soft crying as the healing wash revealed the extent of his injuries. The left side of his head and muzzle was stripped almost to the bone, and like his arm, speckled with silver bits of reactor debris. A rectangular silver plate the size of my hoof sat lodged in his skull and left eye socket, sending a long splitting crack up to where his now missing ear used to sit. I choked back a scream at the sight of it, but found myself silenced as a soft gurgle escaped Buck’s broken muzzle.

His body tensed up, and he let out a soft whine that stabbed at my very soul. As quickly as he’d done that, he went quiet and limp again. My eyes slowly felt to his blood matted chest, and I felt a small spark of hope as I saw it weakly rising and falling.

“Doc… Doc Sunshine…” Hardcase wheezed as more blood dribbled out of his muzzle. “You have to…” He cried out weakly, wobbling and stumbling forward. He closed his eyes as his magic sputtered out, panting softly as he sat on the ground. “...find a way to d-drag Buck, she’s his only h-hope.”

Looking back toward the city, the gleaming skyscrapers just barely pushed over the edge of the valleys, and never seemed farther away to me than now. How was I supposed to get Buck and Hardcase back there? I couldn’t drag him that whole way, not without a cart or something! Maybe if Hardcase wasn’t dying and I had a few hours, I could’ve built one out of Bertha and Bessy’s scrap, but… maybe I could make a sled.

“I have an idea.” I spat out as I turned my gaze back along the roadside ditch.

The wired bottom of our smashed container met my eyes, and the loose cable hanging over the edge of it nailing home an idea in my head. My legs pushed me into action again, carrying me over to the severed container bottom. I maneuvered myself underneath it, biting the cable and trotting up towards the road with it. The cable went taut, and I growled out from around it as I forced my aching and lacerated forehooves to push me forward.

My prosthetic again slipped on the muddy dirt as I pulled, and it took considerable effort for me to even get the relatively light piece of container to budge. Slowly though, I managed to drag it up onto the roadway, where my prosthetic could finally be on equal hoofing with my real legs. The noise it made as I drug the sheared metal panel behind me was fucking awful, but it was a hell of a lot easier to move across the flat pavement than the dirt.

“That… that’s good thinking…” Hardcase let out a whimper as he closed his eyes and pulled his hooves underneath him. The cracks in his chitin oozed more blood as he struggled to force himself to stand up. But halfway up, they gave out and he dropped to the dirt again. He forced a painful smile across his muzzle as he weakly opened his eyes and looked up at me. “Oh… I just n-need a minute… to get ready.”

I knew we didn’t have the time, but I couldn’t move him without possibly doing more harm than good. So I simply nodded to him as I spit out the cable from my makeshift sled. Trotting back into the ditch, I leaned down and forced my head under Buck’s shoulder. I did my best to ignore the sticky and warm blood that I had to press through, but once I got myself through, I found I could prop him up and drag him a bit easier than before.

While he was easier to move this way, I whined and struggled to heft him up onto the roadway. Each shallow, gurgling breath he gave into my ear though helped to give me strength. Come on, Buck, don’t… don’t leave me yet...

It took me a minute of painfully forcing my hooves to drag him across the old road, but I’d gotten it done. I did my best to use the loops that Hardcase had tied around his bloody limbs as anchoring points along the jagged metal sled. I choked back my tears as I finally stepped back and took in the sight of him strung up on the makeshift sled. Finally, I broke down into a complete mess of sobs and pathetic whimpering.

Oh Celestia this was all my fault…

“N-night…” Hardcase’s soft voice from the ditch again pulled me out of my sorrows. Collecting myself, I wiped the tears from my eyes and matted my face with even more blood from my hooves. Looking over, I found Hardcase had managed to crawl over to the remains of a sickly old stump and propped himself back against it.

“I… I know it’s going to hurt, but we need to go.” I spoke slowly as I turned and made my way over to him. “Right now.”

“No… l-listen…” Hardcase’s voice wheezed as I stepped off the road. I froze up as he held out his hoof for me to stay where I was, but… why would he do that? “Cora… H-hispano, they went to get the b-book.” He groaned as he leaned back against the old stump. As he did, I noticed that only weak lines of blood trickled out of his numerous wounds. “Y-you have to be in C-canterc-cross… when they get b-back.” I wanted to say that was a good thing that his bleeding looked like it was slowing, but I knew it wasn’t.

“Come on then, we need to...” I took a step forward, but was caught off guard when he gave out a gurgle of a chuckle.

“Y-you said it y-your s-se-self.” His breaths were becoming more and more shallow as the smile on his bloody muzzle grew wider. “C-could on-only s-ave o-one…” He let out a sniffle from behind his smile, weakly raising a shaking forehoof to Buck and the sled.

“No…” I whimpered as tears poured down my cheeks again. “Hardcase…”

“It’s… o-okay…” He shakily nodded as he relaxed and closed his eyes slowly. “I ge-get to-to s-see my vi… m-my viol……” His words trailed off as he slowly stopped shaking, leaving me only with the sound of my own soft whines amid the burning debris around me, and the lonely drone of the wind.

He was gone...

“Celestia damnit…” the soft, almost non-existent words slipped from my quivering lips before I turned back toward Buck and shuffled myself over to him. I could hardly see what I was doing through the tears as I bit down on the cable again, but as much as I wanted to give up, something inside forced me to keep moving.

I don’t know how long it had taken. Hours, at the very least. Listening only to the sound of the wind, the grinding of the container on the pavement, and my own quiet sobs. My dried eyes burned as I had run out of tears long ago down the road. But tired, bloody, and at the end of my own rope, I had made it back to the city.

If I lost Buck today… I… I wasn’t going to make it to tomorrow. I’d already lost too much, and if this was the way things were going to be, then I was done. What was the point in getting up every day when more of my friends and family would just die?

But, that was only if I lost Buck, and I would not lose Buck.

My eyes were locked on the front door of Doc Sunshine’s clinic. Each step gave me hope that she could save him. Each grinding and painful pull of the container behind me, filled me with the drive to rip Solomon apart in a way that would force him to endure indescribable amounts of pain and suffering.

I spit out the cable, letting a whine escape the bloody corners of my muzzle. Lifting my bloody cut up forehoof, I poked at my mouth, wincing from the raw and bloody sores that had been worn into it from the cable. Drifting from those thoughts, my eyes fell upon my hooves. The dried and caked on mud and blood mix was crisscrossed at the bottom with the couple dozen still open cuts on them, and just looking at them caused my forelegs to burn like they were on fire.

Goddesses, how the hell had I managed to make it this far? I whined painfully through my muzzle as I wondered just what the hell I was going to do about my own wounds. Thankfully though, my wounded muzzle opened like always, and words started to fall from it, even if it was only at a whisper.

“Buck first.” I nodded to myself as at the very least, my own words sunk in deep and drove me to look toward the rundown looking clinic. “I’ll fix me later.” Stepping up to the old and worn door that Hardcase and I had been at just couple of hours or so ago, I raised my bleeding forehoof and knocked it on the door.

“Hello!? Is there anypony in there?” I raised my voice to what to me sounded like a deafening shout. I paused for a moment, perking my ears to listen. Maybe the old door was thicker than I’d thought, but from where I stood, I couldn’t hear anyone moving inside. Again I knocked, but this time I upped it to a painful hammering. “Doc Sunshine? Please, I need help!”

“Yeah yeah, quit your knocking.” It was muffled, but I was glad to have heard the annoyed voice of Doc Sunshine at all. There was a couple of sharp metallic clicks as the door was unlatched, but she opened it quickly after a moment. She went wide eyed as she saw me. “Oh, it’s you. The fuck do you want?” With a small lean, she propped herself up against the doorframe. Her eyes shifted as she stood there, moving to the container-sled behind me on the road. “Oh, fuck that.” She stepped back from the door and wrapped her hoof around it. “Take that thing somewhere else.”

She tried to shut the door, but I managed to get my hoof in the way of it and stop her. I let out a pained grunt as I did, and it pulled her eyes to the bleeding cuts on my forehoof. No, she would not let him die.

“I’m sorry about before, but I’m begging you.” I wanted to sound sincere, but the way that she looked at me, even after seeing my wounds, told me that she’d already made up her mind. “I will find a way to pay you whatever you want. Just… save him, please.”

“Fuck you.” She all but spat at me as she sharply tried to pull the door away from my hoof. My forehoof gave slightly, but I gripped it tighter to compensate. “After the shit you pulled earlier? I don't care if you were Mr. Wizard himself asking me. Get lost.”

“I'm going to ignore that comment out of my admittedly waning desire not to kill you.” I was losing my patience with her quicker than I probably should have, but it was only because Buck was losing time with every moment she was being stubborn. If she wanted to do this the hard way, then I was going to skip the pleasantries. “You're going to fix him, or I'm going to do a whole lot to make your day worse than mine has been.”

“Oh, really?” She sneered and used her free forehoof to bat at mine painfully. “You think this is my first rodeo, kid? Hah! You can’t threaten me. In fact, even though I’m not very keen on doing it, if you ever come here again, I’ll shoot you myself.”

Some doctor she is if she’s willing to turn away someone who needs help just because he’s a snow dog. Why was it that ponies couldn’t get along with other races? Who cares if they’re a griffon, a changeling, a buffalo, or even a dragon? What was their…

My mind paused as a brilliant thought came to it, and before I knew it, the words were already out of my muzzle.

“You're going to help him, or it won't be me who comes for you.” I felt terrible about it, but I managed to force a smirk across my muzzle. “I'll fly myself up to Mare’s Lake and tell Tephra that you were helping a changeling.” As I’d hoped, I watched as my threat forced her to stiffen up more than a bit. “Yeah, you’ve heard that name before, haven’t you?” Instantly, she was filled with as much stress as a stretched out rubber band, just waiting to snap. She must have thought it subtle, but I noticed the way she shifted herself in the doorway, turning her head to try to hide the back of it to me. “Yeah, see, I saw the brand on your neck when I was here before. So of course you understand perfectly what’ll happen if I go up there and have myself a nice little chat with a certain three story tall dragon.”

“You have no proof.” She snorted, locking her eyes on me with a glare as precise as a doctor’s scalpel.

“All my friends are dead, Doc,” Slowly, I lifted my forehoof from the door, and turned it to point back to Buck. “All of them except him, who is the sweetest, most caring and gentle doctor in the wastelands. He doesn’t need your poor judgement deciding if he lives or dies.” I watched as her gaze steeled, but from the way the stress bled out from around her shoulders and neck, I knew at the very least that my words were getting to her. “I know you don’t trust me, and yes, Hardcase was a ‘scary changeling’. But while I’d rather not disrespect his corpse, I will do just that and fuck you over in a heartbeat unless you at least try to save Buck for me.”

The sharp words I used pulled an annoyed growl out of her, but still, even though she could have at this point, she didn’t slam the door on me.

“So, those are your choices.” I sighed and tried to keep my volume and tone from going out of control again. ”You either try to keep Buck alive, or I swear to Celestia that I will bring Tephra and his followers down on you so fast that you won’t even have time to regret turning me away.”

“Fine. Get him in here.” She took her hoof off the door and swung it open as she turned around. “But no promises. If I can’t save him, I am not taking the blame.”

“Fair enough.” I muttered as at the very least, I found the smallest bit of hope flicker back to life inside of me. It would have to be enough, or none of this would have meant anything. Not my parents dying, not joining the convoy, and… no, positive thoughts, Night. He’ll be fine, you’ll be fine.

Trotting back over, I took a deep breath before leaning forward and digging my head under his massive arm again. The next few hours were going to be the worst thing I’d ever live though in my life, but I had to stay strong. At least, that was the lie I had to sell myself more than any I’d ever had to before.

Why? Well, at least one bit of DJ PowerColt’s broadcast had some truth to it that even I couldn’t deny. I was the survivor, and Celestia be damned, I would fucking survive this.

It had been hours that I’d sat alone in Doc Sunshine’s cozy little clinic-front apartment. Once I’d hefted Buck onto her slab table in the back room, she’d pretty much thrown me back out the door without a care. So here I’d been waiting in her front room, quietly fighting back the urge to replay everything that's happened out there. It was a losing battle, as more than anything, I’d just wanted someone like Hardcase to help keep my mind distracted. But he was gone now, they all were, and I was alone.

Rather than give in, I got to my hooves and walked across the small room. With a quick flick, I turned on the old radio. It gave a sharp snap as the electrical parts in it came to life, and the room filled with the odd mixed smell of ozone and burned dust. Still, the quiet beat of one of DJ Powercolt’s songs began to waft through the air with it’s upbeat tempo. Part of me wanted to turn the volume up from it’s quiet setting to force away the thoughts of today, but for the sake of Buck’s well being, and the Doctor’s sanity, I kept it quiet. After a couple minutes, the bouncy upbeat song ended, and the smooth voice of DJ PowerColt came over the airwaves.

“You know, as much as I try to spare all you cool cats and jiving fillies the overwhelming negativity of the wasteland, I have grim news to bring you all.”

It was odd to hear how sad he actually sounded today. Though I already knew what the news was, the somber tone his voice held somehow felt comforting to me. Truthfully, it was only because of that fact that I didn’t reach up and turn the radio off again.

“The convoy that you all have heard so much about recently, is gone. Some of you might say that it's unfortunate, that it's just the way the wasteland is. Well, not me. That convoy, the one which has left a trail of good will and good deeds as it headed south, was betrayed earlier today. They were lied to and destroyed, betrayed by both the Road Crew, and the bullet fired by a Saddle Arabian prince who has done nothing for the north but make it hell on Equus for us normal folks.”

It was a small comfort to me that Solomon was getting called out on the radio again. Maybe somehow the truth would come out about his deal with Mr. Wizard, and the road crew spared the somewhat misplaced wrath of the ponies of Cantercross. But honestly, I say fuck the Road Crew. Fuck Motor Grader and every single one of those no good construction pricks.

Then again, maybe I shouldn’t want the city to hate them. Nah, that’d be too easy! After I take down Solomon, I’ll turn around and come back here to take down the Road Crew myself. I don’t know how I’ll do it, but I will burn Large Marge and their whole outfit down to the ground.

If anything good could be said today, it's that not all were lost in the convoy. That's right, the survivor walked out of this disaster, alive and unscathed. And you can bet that she'll have hell to bring upon the Prince that did this to her. So to all of you out there who may have thought that there's no place for heroes in the north, let the survivor be a reminder to you all that like any force of nature, you can't so easily stop those who fight to bring the best out in…”

*Fizzle...POP!*

With an electrical snap, sparks erupted from inside the old radio, and it died. The smell of ozone beat out everything as I coughed a few times and waved my hoof around to waft away the choking fumes. At the very least, the radio didn’t sound or smell like it was on fire, so I guess that was a win.

The door to the backroom unlatched and opened slowly. The exhausted, blood coated, and sweaty form of Doc Sunshine appeared in the doorway. Her horn sparked slightly as she lifted each forehoof, using her magic to slip off the long off-white cloth gloves she’d been wearing.

“Alright.” She sighed, stepping out further. “I’ve done what I could to stabilize him.” Another short spurt of sparks from her horn lit up the room as she pulled off the bloody surgeon's outfit she’d worn, leaving her sweat matted coat exposed to the cold open air. Not that she minded, as the moment she was free of those clothes, she looked like she completely relaxed. “I’m assuming that the magical radiation he soaked up was what kept him alive, but... I can’t remove the plate in his skull.”

“What does that mean?” I forced out the words as my rear legs shuddered and struggled to hold me up. That small flame of hope inside me had been flickering for hours, was on the verge of disappearing forever. Through nothing more than my will alone, it was waiting for a reason, any reason, to flare up strong and bright. And if I couldn’t find that reason, I’d let it go out forever, and plunge everything I was into cold and lonely darkness.

“It means that I can’t do anything more.” She shot me a tired glare as she trotted across her small room and straight over to the small tea kettle on the stove. “Even with the radiation helping him, it’s a miracle that he survived an injury like that at all. Even so, he’s in Celestia’s hooves now.”

She picked it up in her magic and carefully poured the cold liquid into an old glass before bringing that glass to her lips. With one swift move, she tilted her head back and chugged it all down. She gasped slightly as she finished it in one go, sucking in a few deep breaths before setting the glass down again.

“Wait, so that’s it?” He’s better but he’s not? What kind of fucked up bullshit was that!?

“Before you run your muzzle off again, it’s not because I don’t want to save him.” She sighed as she turned and trotted over to the small bed. “I don’t have the tools or knowhow to deal with an injury like that. The second I try to remove that plate, he’ll more than likely die. Very few in the wasteland outside of Destruction Bay could do anything more for him now, I’m sorry.”

“I’ll find someone who can help.” I was not going to give up on him that easy. “That, or I’ll find a way to get him to Destruction Bay.”

“Kid, I admire your enthusiasm, but…” Sunshine shook her head before she climbed up onto her bed and carefully laid herself down. “Without proper treatment, he doesn’t have all that long to live, a week at most. Not to mention, he’s in no condition to make the trip north to Destruction Bay. The chances you’ll find somepony in time are…”

“I will find someone!” I snapped at her and stomped at the floor. I winced as all the cuts on my forehooves started to trickle out blood again as they struggled to even keep my weight on them. “I… I have to.”

“Look, I’ll keep him alive as long as I can.” The Doc wriggled into her bed, giving off a sharp yawn as she pulled at a worn and quite stiff looking quilt. “But there’s nothing more either of us can do. He’s in Celestia’s hooves now, so why don’t you go get some rest, and then look for a way to pay me back. Come back in a few days and I’ll give you any updates, alright?”

I didn’t like it. There was no way I’d leave Buck alone in the hooves of some… stranger, even if she had saved him. But I couldn’t stay here forever, she at least had that part right. Maybe she had a good point, and sleep wasn’t such a bad idea. Some time to rest, that’s what I needed right now, and maybe I could still get that free room back at the Gateway hotel.

“O-okay.” I nodded to her, even though she was long past caring about whatever I said.

Turning, I walked over and opened the front door. Stepping outside, the amber hues of evening burned over the rooftops of the old city neighborhood. I winced and shielded my eyes against the sun. Almost instinctively, I turned and opened my saddlebags to pull out my sunglasses.

A small bottle clinked against my bloody hoof, and I froze. Carefully, I wrapped my fetlock around the small bottle and drew it out. My eyes were locked on the chalky tabs of Chill inside, and I knew what I needed to do.

I needed to throw this bottle away, and let my addiction die like everyone else had today. These pills hadn’t saved me from any pain at all, and only brought me to a point where I’d managed to be uncomfortably numb to the chances I’d had to keep today from ever happening in the first place.

With a pop, I flicked off the cap, and stuffed the bottle against my muzzle. Greedily, I licked four tabs out of it before slamming the bottle closed again and shoved it back into my bag. As I chewed painfully on the small tabs, I knew I wasn’t doing the right thing anymore.

But after all the fucking shit that’s happened today, being uncomfortably numb was something nopony could ever blame me for wanting.

Bertha was nothing more than a wreck of burning and twisted debris. The front cab, the reactor bay, her entire front end was just… gone. Her rear frame, and what remained of her hauling bed, were scorched and twisted outward from the blast like a glowing steel flower. The containers that had once sat on her were strewn about the road and up on the valley dirt around her, most of them laying in a smoldering and twisted heap on the road behind the wreck.

“How much trouble would one bullet save me?”

Solomon’s voice came from everywhere all at once. I spun around, but he was nowhere to be found. Panicking, I stepped backwards and tripped. I tumbled onto the cold pavement, hitting my head hard and sending my vision spinning.

“I will kill all of them just because you asked me not to.”

I shut my eyes, trying to force Solomon’s voice out, but somehow it only felt louder. When I opened my eyes again, a voiceless scream came from my muzzle. There, in front of me, lay Violet again. She was just as I’d seen her dead at Drake Pass, and for some reason, now it filled me with more fear and panic than ever before.

Scrambling to get my hooves, I was trapped. I looked down at my hooves, and this time I screamed for real. Rods of rebar had pierced through each of them, pinning me to the highway asphalt. I put my head down and cried.

“No more…” I whimpered. Why was this happening to me!? “Please…”

“You have done well for me, Night Flight.” Solomon’s voice echoed through the air again.

As it did however, a set of hooves walked into my sight. Looking up, Delilah’s steeled gaze stared right at me. Next to her, stood everyone else I’d gotten killed. Lucky, Hardcase, Gearbox, Boiler, and Howitzer. As one, they all shifted their gaze behind me. Afraid, I turned my head around, finding Solomon’s rifle held in Buck’s bloody one pawed grasp.

“Please, Buck… no…” I whimpered as he lowered the barrel to my head. “I… I love…”

BANG!

I woke up in a cold sweat, pain washing over me as a furious banging filled the well-kept Inn room around me.

“If you don’t stop screaming, I’m going to come in there myself and kick your ass!” The angry voice of a stallion bled through the door to my room. “Fucking bitch.”

I let out a heavy sigh as the stallion outside the door trotted off. Goddesses, what fucking time was it? I hadn’t gotten enough sleep for this shit. Then again, at least I was out of that nightmare again, and could dose up.

Rolling over on the old queen size mattress, I reached out to the old nightstand beside it. I stopped to look at the bandages wrapped around my forehoof. Well, It looks like the bleeding had finally stopped at the very least. That was oddly slower than I’d thought it would heal, as the cuts on my hooves hadn’t been all that bad. I wonder if Ritz wants them back now or not?

He’d been kind to lend me a roll of magical bandages, but after being on my hooves for the last five days, I’d wondered if he’d actually take them back even if I offered. Shrugging, I stretched myself a bit and grasped the bottle of chill in my hoof. Pulling it to myself, I popped open the top, and tapped it toward my muzzle.

Nothing.

“Fuck.” I groaned, pulling the bottle up to my good eye. Sure enough, with a quick glance, it was easy to tell there wasn’t a single tab left to be found inside. “Shit.” I let go of the bottle, dropping it on the floor as I rolled back over in bed with a huff.

Well, no chill meant no numbing. No numbing meant that everything was going back to the living hell it had been for the last five days. Fucking great.

“Feeling sorry for yourself again?” The voice of Violet floated through the air. Oh, right. Without more Chill, there’s her. “What, you don’t want me around anymore? I thought you were willing to do anything to get me back again.”

“You’re not the real Violet.” I grumbled as I fought my own urge to turn over to talk to her. She wasn’t even here. If she wanted to speak face to face, then she could fucking ‘pretend’ to walk around to see me at least.

“Yeah, but I’m the only one you’ve got left to talk to.” She sighed. I made the mistake of blinking, and of course, the second I’d opened my eyes from it, she was there in front of me. “Well, that’s not really true, is it? Buck might show up with me as well I guess.” She scrunched up her muzzle as she looked lost in her own head for a moment. “But… would he show up with the whole metal plate in his face… or not?” Shrugging, she flashed a smile to me that I didn’t care nor want to see. “I guess I don’t have the rebar thing going on, so probably not.”

“Goddesses, will you ever shut up?” I groaned as I grabbed one of my pillows and shoved it over my head. Just doing so made my hooves sting, which made all my other little aches and pains flare up all at once. “This has been the worst five days of my life, and I don’t need you making it even worse.”

“You mean the last two days?” She pushed her voice into my mind.

“What?” I snapped at her from under the pillow. That’s impossible! I’ve had too many nightmares for it to have only been two days. “It’s been five days.”

“No, it’s been two.” She laughed at me. “Or did you forget, I’m the part of your brain that’s actually been paying attention to shit? Try to rationalize it however you want, doesn’t change the facts.”

“Whatever, fine, two days.” I was so tired of this bullshit. What did a couple of days matter? I mean, if days didn’t matter at all to her, then why the fuck wouldn’t she just shut the hell up about it!?

“Well, since you ran out of Chill last night… I don’t really have to?” Her voice was forcing a stabbing pain to grow in my forehead that I just knew would turn into a migraine later. Goddesses, if she was this fucking annoying in real life, I might have killed her myself.

“Woah, easy there, fly-boy.” She gave a forced nervous chuckle. “I don’t know why you’re getting so violent. I think that maybe today you should get up instead of being so mopey. You’ve done nothing but sit there and it’s boring. Why not go out and see me torment you in other places? You wanted to suffer, right? That’s why your mind’s got me here at all.” With that, I slipped the pillow off of my head and glared at her. I don’t know why, really, but it felt cathartic to do. “Fine, whatever. I mean, I’m not ‘real’ so I guess what does my opinion matter anyway. Just remember you wanted to ‘turn off Bombay for good’, so instead, you’re stuck with me.”

She rolled her eyes at me before I blinked, and she was gone again. The moment she was gone, the pains across my body dulled slightly, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. But while it felt good to finally be back in peace and quiet, the point stayed.

I wanted to suffer, to blame myself for everything. Hell, once Buck wakes back up, he’ll probably blame me too, so at the very least, Violet is the best practice I’ll...

*Knock. Knock. Knock.*

Fuck me, can’t I wallow alone!?

“Hello?” Ritz spoke up through the door. “I hope I’m not disturbing you, Miss Night Flight, but you seem to have visitors.”

Wait, visitors? Who the fuck could it be? I rolled myself over again and perked my ear as Ritz unlocked my door and opened it up.

“Thanks, we’ll take it from here.” Hispano spoke up softly before she peeked into the room. Ritz nodded before moving back and allowing Cora to follow Hispano as she stepped into the room.

That tiny flicker of hope that I’d had in my chest since I’d left Buck at Doc Sunshines? Well, after three days of wallowing in uncertainty, it finally decided which way it wanted to go. And as I looked upon the somber but forced smile Hispano wore across her beak, I couldn’t fight the small one that flickered to life across my own muzzle.

Which of course, was when I lost it, and completely broke down. Like I had in my room after I’d lost Mom, and on the mountainside rock after I’d lost Dad, I bawled my eyes out like a foal. But finally, I wasn’t alone anymore.

After getting some water from Cora, as well as a few more Chill pills to deal with the symptoms, I came clean about everything. From my suspicions with the Road Crew, to my addiction, to what happened with Happy and Delilah, and...

“So he really did it then. Solomon deserves what’s fucking coming to him.” Cora shook his head and slumped back against the headboard of the bed. “This place you left Buck at, have you been back there at all?” I shook my head, forcing a disappointed sigh out of him. “You’ll have to show me where it is. Not to say I don’t trust other doctors, but not all of them you meet in the wastes are going to be as nice as Buck.”

“Yeah, I know.” I gave out my own sigh as my mind flashed back to the doctor in Leachate for a moment. “I didn’t want to leave him there, but… what choice did I have?”

“You made the right choice, Night.” Hispano spoke softly as she wrapped her talons around me. Tightly, she pulled herself against my side. “And we’ll get Solomon back for this. He can’t have made it too far in such a short amount of time, so we can catch up easy. And we’re not going to make it anywhere as quick a death as he made it for everypony else.”

“Hispano.” Cora spoke in a low, flat tone. “I know it’s going to be hard for you, but you need to get going.”

“What!?” She squeaked out loudly.

“What?” I spoke up at the same time Hispano did.

“Our job hasn’t changed. I’m going to stay to help Buck.” He held up his talon expectantly, pointing sharply at her as she cling tighter to my side. “But you need to get up to Stone Town and get that book back. That’s out best bet on getting back at him.”

“Hardcase told me you guys left to get the book?” I asked, receiving a shake from Cora’s head.

“We’d only made it halfway before we heard the news.” Hispano sighed, laying her head down on my shoulder. It was nice to have her so close, which is why I never wanted to have her leave again. “And if we’re going to find the Ark…”

“Fuck the Ark!” I spat out. “What’s the point?”

“The point, Night, is that if Solomon get’s the Ark, he wins.” Cora deadpanned at me, driving his point through the cloud of depression in my mind. “He doesn’t get to kill everyone like that and get what he wants. You want to kill him? The easiest way to set that up is to find the Ark first.”

“Fine, I guess.” I hated to admit it, but at the moment I wasn’t in a place to offer a better alternative.

“Good.” Cora nodded and shifted his glance to the small, warm griffon clinging to me for dear life. “Now, Hispano, you need to head up north for the book...”

“Awww, come on, Dad.” She pouted as she wrapped her wings around the two of us. “We just got back here. Just one night for a break? I promise I can leave in the morning super early.”
“I don’t want you to leave...” I pleaded with him. Again, he deadpanned. I knew that he wouldn’t agree to it, but I was on Hispano’s side for this. They just got back, and I wasn’t ready to be alone again. “Just one night.”

“Fine.” He groaned and pressed his talon across his face. “But she leaves tomorrow morning, no excuses.” Both Hispano and I nodded before I squeezed my hooves around her as tightly as she’d been holding me. “However, Night, tomorrow you and I are going to pay a visit to this ‘Doc Sunshine’ about Buck. Then, we’re going to see Mr. Wizard to negotiate for Happy, should he still be alive.”

“What?” I blinked a few times as I cocked and eyebrow at Cora. Shit, I’d completely forgotten about going back for Happy. I mean, could you really blame me though? “Alright. Tomorrow we’ll deal with Buck and Happy.”

“Oh!” Hispano let out a soft gasp into my half ear. “This means I can take you out to the club!” Turning my gaze to her, she might as well have had stars in her eyes to match the ultra-excited expression across her face. “I stopped by there last time we were here, and it’s totallyawesome! It’ll help you take your mind off everything and cut loose for a bit, just trust me.”

“Just don’t stay out too late.” Cora grumbled as he made himself a bit more comfortable on the bed.

With an excited nod, Hispano threw herself off of me. She wrapped her talons around my forehoof and pulled me after her, not even waiting up as she pretty much pulled me straight up off of the bed. I didn’t know what she had in store at this ‘club’, but most of me wasn’t really excited to be going back out into the world.

However, a small part of me didn’t care so long as it was with her. In the absence of Buck, and with the knowledge that I may never get to be with Buck ever again, I needed to make the most of the time I had left with Hispano. I just hoped that my time with her didn’t come to an end the same way it had with Buck...

Everything had gotten a bit fuzzy for some reason...

I wasn’t sure when, but it had been after we’d arrived at the ‘club’ built into part of the second sublevel of Gateway Station. The loudest broadcast I’d ever heard of DJ PowerColt boomed through the dark dance club. Blue and pink neon lights lit up the walls, and ponies danced to the music on a wide black dance floor in the center of the place.

Hispano and I however, had chosen to sit on the edge of the elevated dance floor though. Pairs of ultra-plush chairs had been lined up for couples to sit at. Most of the ponies in these seats though were using them to do drugs, or just straight up going at it with each other. Part of me was sickened by that, but after everything, I just couldn’t bring myself to care. Instead, I just sat there with Hispano, enjoying the music and her company.

Reaching forward, I took a long gulp of the amazing water Hispano had gotten us. I don’t know why, but the fact that it was ice cold didn’t bother me one bit with Hispano radiating her warmth against me. She’d guzzled her second bottle down before curling up into my side, but I was taking the time to enjoy mine.

This didn’t erase what happened today, but it helped. As much as I hadn’t wanted to leave, this helped. And while I knew today was going to be the easiest day to deal with from here on out, spending it with her? Well, it helped.

“Hey.” A familiar voice spoke up to me from the dancefloor as I polished off the last of my water. Looking up, I found a black coated pegasus with a white speckled mane smiling down at me. It was… Salt. “Want to dance?” What was he doing here?”

“Wait… what?” I was to caught off guard to speak, and the words didn’t helpfully just tumble out of me this time.

“Come on, we’ve been chilling long enough.” He smiled, holding his hoof out to me. “let’s let loose a little.”

I shifted myself out of my seat, entranced by the soft but sad look in his eyes. Slowly, I reached my hoof out and took his. With a strength I wasn’t expecting, he pulled me straight up onto the dancefloor. It was almost like I didn’t have a say in it as I felt my body start to move to the music.

“Yeah, that’s it.” He smiled to me, starting to move a bit on his own. “Just let the music run through you.” I smiled at that. Like actually smiled as my hooves picked up along with the beat, and I let myself go.

“Y-yeah.” My laugh came out hesitantly and a bit forced, but I could feel the happiness inside myself wanting to follow through. It ebbed at me, crashing against my mind with the relentlessness of the tide. “It… it feels good.” I squeezed his hoof as I danced, and he raised his in return, helping me to do a little spin around on the dance floor that felt like it went on forever and left me slightly dizzy.

“Of course.” He smiled as he leaned forward and kissed my cheek softly. Instantly, I found my wings flare out stiffly, and a hot blush flushed across my cheeks. “We could do this all night if you wanted, just say the word.”

“I… I love you...” The words tumbled from my muzzle all to easily. Far too easily for the words I’d just uttered to Salt. Why… had I said that to him? “I mean… I’d love to.” I flashed a nervous smile, pulling a soft laugh out of him.

“Best to keep hydrated then.” He swung his other hoof around, holding another bottle of water out to me. “Seeing as we’ve already been dancing for three hours, I’m surprised to hear that you’re up for more.”

Wait, three hours? No, it couldn’t have been. My mind was lost in a haze that cleared the moment the cold bottle of water touched my hoof, and my concerns went out the window. Letting go of him, I opened the bottle and swiftly chugged the contents, wiping my sweaty brow and breathing a sigh of contentment as the tasty contents flowed inside me.

“Alright.” I smiled and tossed the bottle aside before reaching out and wrapping my hoof around Salt’s waist. Pulling him close, I planted my own kiss on his cheek that forced his wings out as stiff as mine had been. “Let’s dance!”

I laughed as I was thrown into another spin that left me even dizzier than before. Colors shifted and merged as the beats to all of DJ PowerColt’s music blended into one upbeat mess of chaos. This time, the spinning didn’t stop, but somewhere in my mind, I knew I was still having fun.

“Tequila!” I heard myself shout at some point, but it became lost in the mess of other sounds that filled the air.

“Sorry for the late report to all you fine dancin’ fillies and colts out there!” DJ PowerColt’s voice stood out among the noise in my head. “Some unfortunate news from out of the railways to the south. A train chartered by a saddle arabian prince has been destroyed during an avalanche caused by a brief skyraider attack in the area. No word on any survivors yet, but it could be days before the Road Crew will manage to get a team out there to clear the tracks again. And before you get your hopes up, no, it wasn’t the Prince who attacked the convoy the other…”

DJ PowerColt’s voice disappeared in a line of static as more cheering, music, and colors filled my head. It came back after another moment.

“In other related news, public condemnation over the Road Crew’s betrayal of the Survivor’s convoy has grown today. In a not-so-surprising move, Mr. Wizard has called for the disbandment of the gang not just in the greater Cantercross area, but from the whole of their territory along Highway Five.”

Again, the DJ’s voice faded out into static, but it didn’t return. I however, didn’t care in the slightest about any of that anyway. I was too focused on feeling fantastic right now, in this moment. It all felt so amazing, so liberating. I’d never let myself go like this normally, and as terrible as the circumstances were, I was glad I came out and did this tonight.

At some point, the wave of colors and noise became less chaotic, and the plain walls of my room at the Gateway Inn resolved themselves into things I could see. I was laying flat on my back on my bed as I looked around. Empty water bottles were strewn around the room, as well as an empty bottle of Tequila. It was a lot for my mind to resolve all at once, but I’d almost missed the best thing about coming out of my dizzy daze.

“That’s it!” Salt moaned with a heat that I could literally feel radiate out of him. “Oh, buck me, you’re amazing!” He gasped as well as he rode on top of me, grinding himself against me in what had to have been some of the best sex I’d ever had. “Better than… ah!... I could have imagined!”

“Fuck!” I gasped, reflexively bucking myself up as I pulled his hips down. I breathed in heavy panting breaths as the feeling of Salt and I together sent waves of incredible pleasure through me. “Oh goddesses, yes! I’m so close, Salt!”

“Do it!” Salt moaned as he bounced up along me. “I want all of you!” His voice wavered as he whined, sounding off pitch as he smacked back down hard and buried me inside him. “Yes!”

“Oh Celestia!” I screamed out, arching my back hard as I felt the most intense orgasm I’d ever had in my life.

My mind fuzzed again, and as it did, I think I passed out. Because when I opened my eyes again, I was laying in bed with the morning sunlight peeking in under the door of my room. Shifting my legs a bit, I could still feel the sweat covered sheets around my legs, and it brought a wide smile to my muzzle. Pressing back slightly into the warm body that cuddled against me, I only had one thought cross my mind..

“Fuck, I needed last night.” I sighed with the first ounce of sincere contentment that I’d had all week.

“Mhmmm.” Hispano’s soft and sleepy voice came into my ear and forced a cold shiver up my back.

Slowly, I turned myself over. Please please tell me that it’s not just her with me in bed. At the very least, tell me that she was cool with what happened with Salt last night…

However, when I turned over, she was the only other one in the room. Wait, so… where was Salt then? Did he leave already? Or… had I simply imagined him? I guess he could have been just an illusion like Violet’s been. But, no. I know what real feels like, and last night felt…

“Goddesses…” I gasped as I realized the truth. Sure, last night was real enough, but I don’t think I slept with Salt. Looking down at Hispano, I almost cringed as she smiled and pulled herself tighter against me.

Oh. Oh no...

Author's Note

Once again, I've got to thank The FurryRailFan for his help in getting this chapter ready to go up. Even sick, he's gone above and beyond in going over this story, and there's no amount of thanks in the world that could emphasize how thankful I truly am for that.

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat for creating and allowing us all to run around and blow up our own corners of the wasteland. After five years, the Equestrian wastes continue to keep me inspired and productive. Thank you.

Chapter 54 - No rest for the Wizardly

Friends come and go, but enemies accumulate.

“Was that the fucking plan all along?” I snapped and threw an empty water bottle across the room. “What did you put in the water?” I knew there had to be some reason she’d fed it to me so eagerly in the first place.

“Calm down, Night.” Hispano glared at me from on the bed. “I didn’t put shit in the water that you didn’t know about. You agreed that a little Wave would help to get you to let yourself go a bit, and I didn’t force you to take any of it.”

“So it wasn’t your plan at all then? Is that what you’re telling me?” I couldn’t fucking believe her. Seriously, after fucking everything that’s happened, with… how could she fucking pull something like this!? “So what then? You just stood back until I was out of it enough that you could just take what you’ve wanted all along?”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Hispano brought her talons up to her head and pulled at her own feathers hard enough that I thought she was going to rip them straight out. “I didn’t take anything from you! I just… didn’t think you’d get that far gone.”

“And that makes all this alright!?” I huffed and clamped my own hooves around my head. Goddesses, Cora is going to fucking kill me when he finds out what happened. “Celestia, you’re fourteen, Hispano! I told you we couldn’t, but you didn’t listen! You saw your chance to fuck me and you took it. I fucking knew you couldn’t resist, and I hope you’re happy.” The brightest smile parted Hispano’s beak in the world’s sharpest moodshift ever. She let out a giggling laugh that was way out of place, and it only made me angrier at her. “What the fuck is so funny about all of this?”

“You think we…!?” She had to pause to gasp for air because she was laughing so hard. “Goddesses, Dum Dum. You’re a fucking idiot.”

“You’re saying we didn’t sleep together last night?” I mean how dumb did she think I was? I know what I saw and felt last night, and those stains on the bed sheets don’t lie.

“Fuck you, Night.” She forced herself to regain some of her composure. “I knew you were way far gone when you started calling me Salt out on the dance floor. I wanted to cut you off then, but… I couldn’t take that from you. You were letting everything out, so… I just continued to be Salt for you, to help you cope. And to be honest, I needed to see you smile. Why? Because that’s the only way I can cope with the shit that happened, Night. But once you had that Tequila, I knew I’d let it go too far.”

“But…” Okay, so… maybe that’s a plausible explanation. I mean, I have been imagining Violet the last few days… “What happened here then? I remember Salt and I…”

“Yeah.” She nodded, shaking her head and pointing to the empty bottle of tequila at my hooves. “After I went to get us more drinks, I came back and found you carrying on without me like he was really there with you. I knew you’d gotten so high and drunk at the club that you couldn’t think straight anymore, so I brought you back here. I got you into bed, where you kissed me like you’ve never kissed me before.” Her cheeks burned, but it was shame written across her face. “But then the next thing out of your lips were that you loved Salt. I was so upset that I went and cried in an hour long cold shower while you proceeded to get yourself off before you passed the fuck out.”

“So… nothing happened between us?” Be it because I was tired, coming down off the drugs, or because I was that damn stupid, my mind was having trouble trying to find a hole in her logic. But maybe… it’s because she was actually telling me the truth.

“You said you didn’t want that, Night. I promised you and Buck, that I wouldn’t pursue it until you said it was okay. And honestly, I don’t even know anymore if I even want more than what we already had!” She drooped a bit as she slowly pushed herself off the bed. She hid it well, but I could still hear how disappointed she was in me. “I know I’m young, Night, but you need to trust me because I care about and love you.” Slowly, she walked herself past me to the door. She stopped as she gripped the handle in her talon, keeping her eyes on the floor. “And now after this, I don’t know if I can trust that you love me at all.”

“Hispano…” Oh fuck. Great job, Night! It’s a brand new day, and you’ve already destroyed the last real relationship you had. “Please, I’m sorry…”

“Save it, Night.” She looked up at me as she cut me off. “You did what you had to given what you’ve had to deal with, goddesses know I did the same thing in Mare’s Lake. But… I just… I wish I’d been as important to you during it, as you were to me.” With a sniffle, she wiped a tear from her cheek before opening the door. “I… I have to go. I need to get the book.” Before I could say anything again, she was out the door and had shut it behind her.

So here I was, alone. Again. And just like before, it was all my fault…

The door opened again in front of me. Through it, a distraught but not annoyed looking Cora poked his head inside. Slowly, he walked in and shut the door behind him, giving out a sigh as he sat down. Alright, here it comes...

“Just know that I’m not mad at you, Night.” He kept his gaze down on the floor as he spoke, giving his words a distant and shallow feeling to them. “I know you’re just trying to look out for her, even if both of us could never stop her if she really wanted something. And though I don’t really get what she sees in you, even I know that she’d never betray you like that.”

“You’re right.” I huffed and made a note in my mind to kick myself for forgetting that earlier. “She’s smarter than both of us, and I do care about her, just as much as I care about Buck.”

“And she knows that. By the time she gets back, she’ll have calmed down a bit, and you can make it up to her.” Cora nodded and closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. “But as hard as it’s going to be, I need you to forget about that for a moment. I know that the last few days have been hell for you, but I’ve got slightly distressing news that I’m not quite sure how to explain.” Bringing his gaze up to me, he let out a sigh as he somewhat steeled himself. “I went out there, along the highway. All the signs of what happened are still there, but… the wreck of the convoy is missing.”

“Wait, what do you mean it’s missing?” I spat at him. How was that even possible? Unless… “Was it the Road Crew? Are they trying to take the wreckage in for salvage?” The thought alone of them defiling what was left of my friends made me angrier than I was at Solomon right now. And let me tell you, I didn’t even think that was a possible level of hatred to reach.

“No, the Road Crew haven’t been out there yet. At least, they hadn’t been when I flew out there last night.” His gaze shifted again, peering right through me as he spoke about it. “There was… something in the fog that covered that valley. I don’t know what it was, but I could feel it in the air with me. It was something big, and it was far quieter than whatever it was had any right to be.”

“So then… they’re all just gone then?” I felt my stomach knot up at the thought. “Taken by something in the fog, just like that?”

I don’t know why it made everything feel worse to me to know that they just disappeared like that. It was already bad enough to live with the knowledge that Solomon killed them! But I’d hardly had time to come to terms with what happened, and they were just gone like they never even existed in the first place.

Letting out a sniffle, tears dripped down my cheeks as the events played through my head again.

The shot, the blast, and Delilah’s seering look before she and Howitzer went over the edge. They all deserved better than this, even Delilah. As I reached up and wiped at my eyes, I looked up to find Cora approach and hold out an open talon to me. In it, were a pair of Chill pills. The sight of the medicine made all the aches and pains across my body flare up, especially so with the sharp stabbing behind my prosthetic eye.

“I know it’s distressing to know that the wreck is gone, but it’s a mystery that can wait.” Cora’s softer voice held a delicate tone. It was like he knew I was made of glass right now, and the slightest nudge would all but push me down and break me. “Not to mention the fact that you need to be weaned off Chill. But for now, I need you to be a functioning adult today.”

Nodding, I reached for the pills. I half expected him to pull away from me, or to make some sort of deeper comment about my addiction. Instead, he dropped the pills into my hoof without a word. Looking up at him, my vision drifted behind him where I once again spotted Violet.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” She offered as she nodded to the door. “Numb that pain and let’s get going!” She brought her hoof up to her muzzle and motioned like she was popping the pills herself.

As much as I knew I needed to kick this stupid habit, Cora was right. There were more important things to do today, and I needed to be focused. I only hoped that Doc Sunshine has good news for me when we get there.

Popping the chalky tabs into my muzzle, I swallowed them quickly. My parched throat didn’t care for them right now, but as soon as I’d swallowed, some of the pain across my body dulled slightly. It was odd that I knew it wasn’t because the Chill had already started to work, but like always, my mind forgot that fact after a few seconds, and I became blissfully uncaring that I had an addiction again.

“Alright, get your shit on.” Cora nodded as he picked himself up and pointed to my jump pack and saddle bags across the room. “We’ve got a stop to make before heading out to where you said Buck is. I’ve got an ‘acquaintance’ who was asking around for the whereabouts of Happy for us. Might as well see if he’s got a lead by now or not.”

I nodded as I turned around and got to gathering my stuff. After slipping the jump pack on and strapping it to me tightly, I turned to pick up my saddle bags off the floor. On them, was a half full bottle of water and half a bar of chocolate. Quickly, I shoved the old world candy into my muzzle and chewed. It wasn’t exactly a filling breakfast, but at least it was tasty. Looking back down at the bottle, I was tempted to polish it off, but hesitated when I grabbed it.

Shit, this might be a bottle dosed with Wave. And as thirsty as I was right now, I did not need to be hallucinating any more than I already was. Turning my gaze, I only glanced back toward the door. Cora was sitting patiently at it as I’d expected, but for some reason Violet had disappeared again. Kicking the bottle off my saddlebags, I threw them on and turned to leave.

Several knocks at the door prompted me to stop halfway across the room, and Cora turned to face the door. My ears perked as the sound of a key ring being used met my ears, as well as the soft ‘click’ of the deadbolt rolling back inside the door. Without a word, the door opened, and I was met with the smiling pink muzzle of the pony who I’d seen at the hauler and in the library.

“Yo, just the two bitches I was looking for.” He spoke up as all the other bulky and scarred up stallions I’d seen before crowded around behind him. “So, if you’re this survivor bitch I keep hearing about, how is it that you’re such a fucking lazy worker?” I cringed as he called me that. It had been different to hear it on the radio, but coming from his muzzle, it almost hurt to hear. “Well, you’ve got shit to answer for whether you like it or not. You and your merc here are coming with us. Mr. Wizard wants to have a little chat.”

Oh, what an adventure this was.

From the moment Cora and I had left the Inn room, we’d been stripped of our gear and bags, tied up, had our muzzles gagged, and had musty old burlap sacks pulled over our heads. I’d like to think there was some sort of point to it, but after a few minutes of being walked through the station and up a few flights of stairs, Cora and I were sat down on a bench seat and allowed to have the sacks removed. The six musclehead stallions who’d been escorting us stepped away through a narrow opening, leaving the smug looking bright pink stallion the only one left with us.

I blinked a few times as I took in our new surroundings. To my surprise, Cora and I had been loaded onto what looked like a small train sitting inside a tunnel. It was fairly compact, only two cars long, and held long glass windows that comprised pretty much the entire upper half of the cylindrical vehicles. The exception to this was a long metallic rib that held the interior lighting and split the remarkably clear window as it ran along the spine of the train.

The second the doors to the cars closed, a soft bing-bong crackled over the old speakers built somewhere into the metal spine above us.

“Welcome to the Cantercross Metro Monorail, we hope you enjoy the ride!”

“While you’re out, why not visit the Cantercross Science Center at the end of the line? Don’t forget that foals and seniors visit for free on weekends, and ask about our special membership discount for those enlisted in the Equestrian armed services! The Cantercross Science Center, in partnership with the Ministry of Arcane Sciences, thanks the enlisted of our great nation for their continued service to Equestria. We wish to return that favor by helping to build a better Equestria through the continued exploration of the arcane sciences!”

“So what are you waiting for? Come visit the Cantercross Science Center today, and experience the breakthrough magics that will help build a better tomorrow for all of Equestria!”
“Celestia, can you believe this shit? The fucking lies they used to peddle to ponies back in the day.” The pink stallion chuffed and rolled his eyes as the announcement finished. He took a seat on the bench across the train from us as it started to move. “Fucking morons. Is it any surprise they fucked everypony over in the end?”

He looked over at Cora and I expectantly, but both Cora and I simply deadpanned at him.

“Glad you two agree.” He remarked as he kicked back and brought his forehooves up behind his head. “Just relax. The trip won’t be that long.”

I wanted to ask why we’d been taken in, and my muzzle was itching just to open and say anything at all to this asshole. Lucky for him, the gag tasted like old oil and had a sour sticky taste to it that honestly made me want to gag every time I moved my tongue. Though, my inability to speak at the moment was probably a blessing. He’d probably just have some snarky response anyway that would make me want to smash his smug muzzle in even more than I already did. Fucking asshole.

The tunnel got brighter ahead as the train moved forward, and the edge of the tunnel gave way to the old brick buildings that sat around Gateway Station. This ‘monorail’ traveled along a pony wide strip of concrete that sat about ten meters up off the ground, and ran straight from the upper floors of Gateway Station. It stretched outward until it curved around into the streets that headed back towards the heart of Cantercross. Now traveling along a stretch of straight track, we boosted up to a faster speed than I’d expected from a train like this.

It was odd to me. Had it not been for the odd but soft droning that came from the motors that drove the train, the ride was the smoothest and quietest I’d ever felt. Not even skycarts could fly this smoothly, always being buffeted by the wind and such. Again, my mind was drawn back to the fact that my dad would have loved to have been here to experience this, but like pretty much everyone else in my life, he was dead.

Sitting on this ride, the calm that I felt from it sat wrong with me. Why the fuck did things turn out this way? Why am I the survivor, while everypony else around me gets to fucking die? Curse or not, it wasn’t very fucking fair, and I was sick of it. I get that I don’t get to say what’s fair, but if things aren’t going to go well for me, then at the very least those responsible for the horrible things in my life should at least fucking pay.

I was jostled out of my thoughts by Cora as the monorail followed it’s track around the edge of another brick building. As we came around the corner, my eyes fell upon something I hadn’t expected. The track turned again back the other way, running along the middle of an open tree lined boulevard. To our right, were the buildings of Cantercross, growing ever taller and quickly transitioning from old bricks, to modern steel and glass. To our left however, sat dunes of grass and sand that ended at the edge of a prismatic body of water.

The bay was a lot larger than it looked from our approach to the city, and it was almost a straight shot from here out to the open ocean. Several old and rusting ships sat anchored out on the open water, along with the countless rusting and partially submerged forms of ships larger than any ship that was moored back in Destruction Bay. Hell, some of them looked to rival the size of the Empirica!

Patches of prismatic and glowing chemicals dotted the wide body of water, most of them trailing away from the various sunken wrecks. Several smaller boats floated around freely across the water. More than a few of them had nets large enough that they trailed out to twice the lengths of the boats that cast them, and a few ships seemed to be far older designs, hoisting patchwork sails that let them effortlessly glide out toward the open ocean.

Again, Cora nudged me to get my attention. This time, he turned his head to look at what looked like an old billboard that was coming up on the side of the monorail tracks. I squinted at the grime coated advertisement, recognizing the letters CSC at the bottom of it, meaning it had something to do with the science center. However, when I looked over the add as a whole, it became pretty self-explanatory.

There was a single pony on the billboard, clad in a flowing blue cloak punctuated with a collection of white stars. He was a unicorn stallion with a coat that was a dark mustard yellow, a vermilion colored floppy mohawk mane, and a short goatee that matched it. Oddly, he also had a white stripe down the center of his smiling muzzle, which unlike with Happy, was a rare marking on full blooded ponies.

In the image itself, he was performing some sort of magic on a beaker of purple fluid. Stylized lightning bolts were shooting out of it, forcing an obscuring glare over the round pair of glasses he wore. Under the odd picture, were old and faded words that were barely readable if I squinted.

“Come in and explore the mysteries of arcane science with the world famous Mr. Wizard, only at the Cantercross Science Center!”

I froze as I read that. Wait… so either Mr. Wizard was a ghoul, or he was somepony who’d taken up the mantle of this guy? Why!? How could somepony who’d been dedicated or inspired by something like science be the pony ruling this city with an iron hoof? As if on cue, the knot in my stomach felt like it dropped out of the monorail and was hanging out at street level below us.

“Oh, so you noticed that old shitty billboard.” The pink stallion with us huffed as he crossed his hooves. “If you’re hoping he’s still as happy and nice as he was for those advertisements, fucking guess again. He must have lost that spark back before the war ended, cause from what I’ve seen working for him, is that he’s always been a gigantic fucking ass.” For a moment, the stallion scrunched up his muzzle and glared at Cora and I. “Neither of you fucking say a word about the shit I said in here. Got that?”

Okay, so Mr. Wizard was a ghoul then. Which actually gave me a small glimmer of hope to hold onto. I mean, pretty much all the ghouls I’d met so far had been nicer than ponies tended to make them out to be. Well, with the exception of Short Wave back at Pink Mountain. And Lex in Stone Town. Oh, and Dr. Cipher back at the bunker in Cannon City as well…

I guess I had met a few ghouls who sort of lived up to the hatred ponies seemed to hold toward them…

My train of thought crashed as the monorail turned again, plunging between a gap in two buildings that was barely wide enough for us to fit through. The moment we were between them, the glass ceiling of the Ministry of Awesome tower passed overhead, and the distinct turbulence of the quickening breeze buffeted the train carts. Ahead of us down the line however, sat the backside of the large bulky building I’d been at what felt like a lifetime ago now.

Looking up, the circular building that was built into the radiomast-like tower looked different from here. The middle section of it didn’t hold tinted glass from this side. From what I could make out, the inside was set up like somepony’s home, with furniture and art being hung between bookshelves that sat along the back walls.

The sight of it all disappeared as we passed under a couple of glass panes that had been replaced by sheets of old steel, and the Monorail jolted slightly along the track. The motors below us gave a shift in pitch as we began to slow, and a small circular door in the back of the science center folded inward to reveal a tunnel that the train could drive into. A light kicked on inside the dark tunnel, flickering to reveal the now familiar red and white flag hanging on the back wall that forced a shiver down my spine.

Why are you afraid?

A small voice in the back of my mind kicked at me as I stared at that flag. It was quiet, but I recognized it as… oddly, myself. With its near muted words, the nervousness I’d felt melted away, and it just clicked inside me.

Why was I afraid? Yeah, I was about to meet the pony who ran this whole miserable city, but… so what? Who was he to me other than a name that’s been muttered between others, and a W on a flag?

What more could be taken from me? Sure he could kill me, but he must want something more than to just murder the crap out of me for fucking up his setup in Destruction Bay. And if he does wants something, then there was a deal to be made.

Sure, I didn’t have the resources and business know-how that Delilah had, but I did have one thing that she had. A reputation. It’s not a lot to work with, but it’s going to have to be enough.

I’m the survivor, so maybe it was high time that title did something more for me than make me cringe.

If I had to guess, I would have to say that we’d been taken to Mr. Wizard’s house. The walk through the science center from the monorail wasn’t more than a minute to the glass elevators. From there, we were brought up into the circular building at the base of the large tower that stretched up into the clouding skies above Cantercross.

Through a small foyer that looked like it once held a small cafe in it, Cora and I were carried through a set of heavy wooden doors. Inside was the large open living space I’d seen from down on the monorail, pristine and untouched it seemed from the time before the bombs. Sparkling clean marble floors reflected the light that scattered through the clouds, and not a speck of dust lay on any piece of furniture inside this room.

“Alright, put them there.” The pink stallion ordered a few rough looking stallions to carry us across the floor. They dumped Cora and I down on an admittedly plush cream colored couch that was far too comfortable for me to admit. I watched as the pink asshole walked over to a small leather chair across from the couch and flopped into it. He took a moment to make himself comfy before he waved a hoof at Cora and I. “Take their gags off. They aren’t going anywhere for awhile.”

Two of the stallions walked over and roughly pulled the rags off of Cora and I, and I stuck my tongue out of my muzzle as I was finally free of the horrid taste. Cora let out a few coughs before straightening himself up. My eye drifted across the room, stopping curiously on a flat glowing panel on the wall above a door at the other end of the room.

Ouroboros lockout ends in:

4 hours 21 minutes

“What’s Ouroboros?” It finally happened. After all the times I’d seen it, the question had worked its way out of my muzzle. For once, it wasn’t the fact that I’d said it at all that I’d been annoyed at. Rather, it was the answer I received that bothered me.

“What is Ouroboros?” The sharp voice of a stallion that came from behind Cora and I didn’t startle me as much as it made me cringe. It held a scratchiness that the ghouls I’d met held, but at a much softer level, allowing it to keep it’s nasal and sort-of higher pitch than average tone to it. “It’s the answer to all my problems, of course.” Like Delilah had been with me when she snapped, the voice of the stallion behind me was cold and hollow, devoid of compassion. “And by the time that clock strikes zero, it’ll be a problem of mine that the great survivor will have solved for good. I mean, from everything I’ve heard, there hasn’t been a community you couldn’t help out whenever you passed through it. And now that you’re here, well, how could I refuse such a generous offer? With the job I have in mind, it simply hasto be you.”

Alright, Night. You aren’t in any way prepared for this, but this is something you need to do. There’s no more safety nets, no more getting bailed out by others. It’s going to be a challenge, but you can do this because you aren’t just Bombay the pegasus, or the survivor. You are Night Flight, and that means doing whatever it takes to get through this.

So just open up your muzzle, and be the badass ex-enclave mare you know you are inside.

“You know, I’m flattered that the world famous Mr. Wizard I’ve heard so much about over the last few months, has taken such a profound interest in me.” I raised my voice slightly, straightening myself out against the ropes that bound me to try to project myself more. “I mean, you even invited me into your wonderful little home.” Looking over to the pink asshole lounging in the chair across from me, I gave him my own version of the shit eating grin he was currently flashing at me. “And here I’d been told by your associate that you’ve always been a...” I paused, watching his grin shrink before continuing. “a gigantic fucking ass, I believe was the delicate way he put it?”

“Messy may call me whatever he wants. As my apprentice, he’s earned that right.” Mr. Wizard’s slow hoofsteps moved closer behind me, slowly coming around the side of the couch.

“Yeah, bitch!” Messy nodded and shot a glare at me. “So shut the fuck up, or…”

A rotten and cracked mustard colored hoof raised up to silence him as Mr. Wizard walked out in front of me. Most of his body was obscured under the same starry cloak I’d seen in the advertisement, but he was in far better condition than I’d expected for a ghoul from before the war. Well, with the exception of the obvious bright vermilion wig he had topping the bare and skinless top of his skull.

The fake mohawk sat loosely flopped to one side on his head, shifting ever so slightly as he turned toward me. The old pair of glasses he wore sat at the middle of his muzzle, barely allowing his milky blue eyes to wander over me through them. A rough crack ran down the base of his horn, and a trailing scar followed it down the left side of his face to where his cheek split to reveal his yellowed teeth.

“You are a curious pegasus, you know that?” He spoke up as he studied me like I was some specimen to be categorized. His eyes stopped more than once as they gazed into my prosthetic. “If it weren’t for that stallion on the radio however, you would not dare to speak to me as you have.”

“Oh? And why’s…” I started to reply, but the cloth gag I’d had before stuffed itself into my muzzle without warning. Mr. Wizard’s magic brought the rag’s edges around to hold my muzzle shut again, and as if to be cruel, clamped down on my nose.

“For years, that stallion has remained impartial, only observing the wasteland as a whole.” Bringing his hoof up as he spoke, Mr. Wizard rubbed at the bare patch of muscle under his chin where I’m sure his old goatee used to sit. “Yet now, he seems to have taken an interest in you that is constantly impeding my progress. He’s shown himself to you before, I heard it on the radio a few nights back.” However, staring at that bare patch of skin was becoming less interesting by the moment, as I was starting to need to breathe again. Turning to me, he cocked a rotten eyebrow at me. “Why?”

The magic released from around my muzzle and I eagerly spit out the cloth again. I managed to get out a gasping breath before Mr. Wizard’s rotten hoof grasped under my chin and pulled me up to his impatient gaze. I stared at him, momentarily flustered as I thought of how best to answer him. So naturally, I opened my muzzle and just said the first thing that came to mind.

“Probably because things have a surprising tendency to go to shit when I’m around. And in the chaos, I somehow always find my way out of it.” I rolled my eyes and nodded my head softly. Why did he have such a vested interest in DJ PowerColt? What was he playing at? Time to see if I can loosen those cracked lips of his... “But I’m pretty sure that’s not news to you. I mean, you probably already heard that from Mrs. Tapit.” I let out a mock gasp as I forced a look of surprise to his unamused gaze. “Oh, right. I kinda blew up her shit and killed her. I hope that didn’t impede your ‘progress’ or whatever.”

“Oh Mrs. Tapit was a pawn. She didn’t mean anything in this game.” He leaned forward, spreading his rotten muzzle into a smile as his horn glowed slightly. “Would you like to see what this is really about?”

With a flash, a small object appeared in front of him. When I say it was small, it was a black rectangle about half a hoof’s diameter across at its longest, and made up of what looked like three rows of five small metal squares stuck closely together. Though, this one looked slightly damaged, printed on its cracked surface in small but easily legible writing, was Zzyzx NNP-S101.

“Have you seen one of these before?” He twirled the small object in his magic, pulling it in front of his old eyeglasses. “This is the secret to unlimited computing power. This... integrated magical circuit as I’ve coined it, has as much computational potential in it as an entire Crusader Maneframe.”

I let out a soft gasp as I realized that while I hadn’t physically seen one before, I knew exactly what it was. This little chip must have been the small black box thing that Pastel had mentioned back at the Ranger’s compound.

“You want more drones?” I watched as my question only seemed to amuse Mr. Wizard more than anything.

“Oh, I want so much more than just drones.” Mr. Wizard laughed as the small box flashed away in his magic, and he slowly walked over to the window that gazed out into the city. “I want to own this technology. I want to capitalize, monopolize this revolutionary chip. With it, I could build calculating machines that could design anything I wanted. Run fabrication equipment that could outpace the volume of the old world. Or even create advanced arcane weaponry that would be well beyond the capabilities of anything the Enclave or Steel Rangers could ever hope to acquire short of a megaspell.”

His words were terrifying, even if I didn’t know if what he proposed was even possible. The idea that he already believed it was put me on the defensive. I needed a leg up on him, something I could leverage against his proposal. Until I could manage to think up whatever that was going to be, I just needed to keep up the act and feign confidence. I mean, I’m no expert really, but I think I’m doing alright with that so far.

“Well then, it’s a good thing I know where a whole heap of megaspells are buried.” I forced a smirk at him, but if he bought it as genuine confidence, I’ll never really know. I was starting to realize that maybe Delilah hadn’t been the only one in the wasteland to have completely mastered the art of looking annoyed and indifferent at the same time. “Perhaps you were being facetious about actually needing megaspells, though it's hard for me to tell. You see, my last employer was also pretty bad with the whole telling jokes thing. So... I guess I’ll have to have a long talk with the local Steel Rangers just in case, you know?”

“You know what?” Messy shifted in his chair as his grin widened. “I think this bitch thinks she’s smart or something.”

“It would seem so.” Mr. Wizard’s tone dropped to one of disappointment as he turned to the pink stallion across from me. “Messy, do me a favor and bring our other guest out to us.” Looking back at me, the sideways glance he gave was probably supposed to unnerve me, but I couldn’t care anymore. “Maybe our survivor will find herself more willing to listen with him around.”

“You keep telling yourself that.” I rolled my eyes as an idea in my head forced it straight out of my muzzle. “Hey, I have an idea! While we wait for that idiot to get back, why don’t you help me understand some of the mysteries of arcane science? Like the mystery of how you turned from a stallion of science, into a rotten asshole who foalnaps ponies?” Okay, that might have been a bit blunt, but this wasn’t the time for half steps. I had to feign confidence or risk losing face altogether here.

Messy gave an annoyed sigh before pulling himself out of the plush chair under him. With a grumble, he trotted across the floor and out of sight. Once he’d gone, Mr. Wizard’s muzzle curled into a twisted smile as he walked toward the empty seat and sat himself down with a groan.

“Oh, that was a long time ago.” He shook his head and turned his gaze longingly out the window. Admittedly, I followed it, turning in time to watch a cloud move out of the way of the lowering afternoon sun as it glinted off the water of the bay. “I was still an important wizard back then, but I lacked one crucial thing. Respect.” With a snort, he turned his gaze to the floor, and then back up to me. “Something you will give me before long, or I will make things extremely painful for your friends.”

“Well, they’re pretty much all already dead.” Cora spoke up, pulling an outraged look from Mr. Wizard. “And I’m just the hired help, so you know I don’t care what you do. But by all means, have at it.”

“That’s a shame.” Mr. Wizard’s expression softened again, dropping to a somewhat neutral, flat one as he turned his eyes back on me. “If not your friends, then name your price.”

“Going to buy us off so quickly already? I…” Cora began, but quickly found himself silenced as his own cloth gag was almost forced down his throat.

“You aren’t part of this deal or conversation any longer.” Mr. Wizard snapped as his horn sparked. His magic died, and Cora heaved heavily as he forced the cloth from his beak. “Another interruption from you and I’ll have you fried up with some nice green beans for my next guests.”

“Oh, if we’re going to make a deal, he’s definitely part of it.” I nodded and flashed an overly confident smile to the old ghoul. “Same with Happy Trails, who I’m assuming is the other guest you spoke of.”

“I’m surprised you think you have anything to negotiate with.” Mr. Wizard’s flat expression was more unnerving than Delilah’s had ever been. Not just because it looked devoid of expression or care, but because it felt like it. “I worked in the entertainment business for a decade, so I know when somepony is acting, Miss Night.” There was just nothing in his words. No weight, substance, or anything from even my name as he muttered it.

“Well, I do know a thing or two you might not want getting out.” I shrugged and pressed myself back into the plush couch behind me. “Such as the fact that your pal Solomon set up the Road Crew so you could convince the public to be on your side in removing them. We wouldn’t want that little fact to slip out onto the radio, would we?” It was only for a split second, but his eye gave a subtle annoyed twitch to it that he forced back. And in a bit of timing that couldn’t be more perfect, I could hear a pair of ponies trotting up behind to the doorway behind me. “Oh! And thanks to your pal, Messy, I know that you grow your fruits in the old subways under the city. That would also be pretty damaging to you if it were to get out, right?”

It was slow, but the agitation inside of Mr. Wizard rose in the same way it had in Delilah. His steeled and furious gaze turned slowly as the hoofsteps behind me stopped. While I may not have been the best convoy guard, the one thing I did know how to do well was piss off the ponies around me. Now that I’ve greased the wheels, tell me what’s really on your mind, Mr. Wizard...

“Yo, Mr. Wizard, it isn’t like that!” Messy’s nervous voice pulled a satisfying grin across my muzzle as I closed my eyes. “I didn’t know who that bitch was before, so you can’t blame me for that shit!”

“What are you doing, Night?” Opening my eyes again, I froze as I stared into the curious gaze of Violet as she stood in front of me. Oh goddesses, not now. “Oh, is this a bad time?” She smirked as she shook her head. “You know you can’t do this. You aren’t actually Bombay. Besides, I thought you wanted to get rid of her for good?”

Shut up. Shut up! Shut up!

I blinked my eyes a few times, trying to force her away. It took a few tries, but she disappeared again, leaving me with the same curious look, but from Mr. Wizard. A small but worrying smile split his rotten lips as he sat forward on his chair. With a nod, he carefully pushed himself back onto his hooves. Turning away from me, his smile had bloomed into a wide yellow beaming grin that persisted as he trotted over to one of the bookcases that sat along the back wall.

“Oh, is that where this false confidence of yours is coming from then?” He reached up and snatched something off of the bookshelf before walking back over to his chair. “Do you know where the compound for Chill comes from?”

Fuck! I was so fucking close to getting answers out of him! How could he know I’d been hallucinating just by looking at me? That… that had to be impossible...

“It was an accident, really.” He raised his hoof as he sat down again, showing me a glass bottle that was completely filled to the brim with small white pills. “Back when I was stranded on the Marewaii islands at the end of the war, I took refuge in the recently completed Stable-Tec Research and Development lab. See, they were trying to solve a genetics problem caused by the poisons the bombs created there.” Waving his hoof over himself, he brightened his expression a bit as he spoke. “They didn’t want to let a monster like me in, but I convinced them I could help.”

“I’m an alchemist first though, you see. I knew nothing about genetics at the time.” Looking back down at the bottle in his hooves, he had an almost loving gaze as he beheld it. “But in trying to find a way to counteract the poisons seeping into the metro, I stumbled across the sap of the native punga tree, and learned what potential it had to offer.” Carefully, he reached up and twisted the cap off the old bottle before he tilted it so that he could peer inside. “I eventually fixed their genetics problem, but what thanks did I get for saving them? They took their solution, and kicked me to the curb. There was no room for monsters like me in the Marewaii metros.”

“Aww, did you…” I feigned a sniffle as I tried to cut in, but I didn’t even break his gaze. Wow, he was either completely lost in his memories, or he was literally that distant to any sort of mocking now. Maybe I’d missed my chance to get under his skin before, and he was on to me.

Instead of acknowledging me, I watched as he simply turned the bottle over in his hoof. Hundreds of small white tabs of Chill dropped onto the polished marble floors. They bounced and scattered about in every direction as my eyes couldn’t tear themselves away. The pains all over me spiked, and I winced as they came to a climax when the last pills skittered across the floor away from me.

“Do you want to know why Chill is so addictive?” Mr. Wizard’s empty tone carried in the silent open room, reverberating slightly as he stood himself up. “It’s because I designed it too be that way.” Stepping forward, he crushed a few of the white tabs under his rotten hoof. “As a final fuck you to the mirage ponies I’d helped to create over there. It’s the legacy I left behind. A legacy that they will remember once I’ve brought every inch of the north under my reign. Only then will I turn my sights onto those pathetic little islands and make those foals pay.”

“So this is all about revenge?” I spat at him, trying to focus myself, but my eyes had a mind of their own. Each and every time I tried to move my gaze up to his eyes, instead my own fell back down to the tabs as he took a step forward and crushed a few more.

“This is about respect!” His words hissed out, sending a spark through my mind. “Weren’t you listening earlier?” For a moment, I heard the same annoyance that Delilah had given me about not listening, and it gave me the focus to drag my eyes up from the pills. “You will help me to remove the stallion on the radio, and in doing so, he will teach me the secrets of producing these chips. With that technology finally mine, and those idiots and their federation to the south nowhere near a threat, I will rule over the north with the respect a wizard like me deserves.”

“N-night, is that you?” Happy’s pained and weak voice from behind me met my ears. Well, it was at least good to know that he was still alive, even if that didn’t really mean much anymore. “So nice to see a friendly face again. Seriously though, you should ask him to do a magic trick… urk!” He started to laugh before he made a choking noise that ended with Happy gasping for breath and letting off a light whimpering.

“I told you, he ain’t that kind of magician!” Messy grumbled. “Now shut up, or I’ll twist your head right off your neck.”

“You know what? Sure, I’ll help you.” I spoke up, immediately pulling relaxed smile from Mr. Wizard, and a tense look from Cora that I could feel burning from beside me. “But, I have two demands, and these are non negotiable. First is that I have a friend who’s going to die unless they get to Destruction Bay.” My words sunk into Mr. Wizard’s skin, making it tense up a bit and telling me he had no intention of keeping anything he was about to agree to. But that didn’t matter right now. “Arrange transport for him to get up there in the next day. Use the Black Beetle if you have to, but his life is, again, non-negotiable.” All I needed to do was buy us some time to find a way to get out of this. “My second demand is that you won’t give Prince Solomon any more of your support.”

“I must confess, those are more reasonable demands than I was expecting.” He flashed a rotten smile and held his hoof out to me. “I can accept these terms.”

His grin did nothing but confirm my feelings that he hadn’t even been listening to my demands. Either because he didn’t think I could actually pull off whatever job he had in mind, or more likely, that he didn’t intend to keep his end of the bargain. And why would he? He’d already duped the ponies of this city into believing the Road Crew were what destroyed the convoy, so why wouldn’t he try to deceive me?

“No, this whole negotiation was too easy.” Violet whispered into my ear with more than a hint of worry in her voice. “Night, you’re getting in way over your head again. You know that once you finish that job, you’re dead.”

It didn’t matter, I didn’t have a choice at this point.

“One more thing before you agree.” I simply reached out and pushed his slightly squishy hoof away from me. Before anything, I needed to get back to the question I had earlier. “Answer this; why me?”

“I have a theory about you that if proved correct, would mean you could get onboard the Ouroboros unharmed. If you bring me what’s stored inside of it, and allow me to achieve what I’ve waited far too long to?” Mr. Wizard breathed a heavy sigh of relief before turning around. “Then you’re goddess damned right we have a deal, and I will see to it that arrangements are made for your friend.” Alright, that went… “But, I wasn’t born yesterday. I need some insurance, you see. Some sort of collateral that will ensure you won’t just run away the second I let you off the leash.” Casting a flat glance over his shoulder, his eyes turned to Cora. “Your merc stays here. You can take your other friend if you need to be assisted in your task, but I am not enough of a foal to let you take a combat veteran with you.”

“Wha…?” Happy muttered before he gave out another whimper. With a painful squealing slide, he was tossed down to the floor where he rolled into my view beside the couch. He let out a heavy groan as he rolled himself back to his hooves. He was covered in welted dark bruises, and his floral print shirt was torn and bloody in several places. Still, he somehow found the willpower to force a genuinely happy smile at me. “Hey, Night. Thanks for coming to save me.”

“Enough.” Mr. Wizard snorted as he stomped his hoof. He cracked a few more of the pills on the floor, scraping them under his leg as he spun around. “Messy, get them fitted with collars and take them to see Tall Tale. He’ll make sure they’re briefed and ready for when the Ouroboros arrives.”

Turning he looked back at the clock on the far wall. As he stared at it, I could swear that the artificial hairs on his wig started to stand on end.

“Today is the day when I’ll finally put the foalish young unicorn I was to rest for good, and Mr. Wizard will take his rightful place as the most respected and important unicorn in the north.”

“Again, you know he has no intention of honoring that deal, right?” Violet yammered on into my ear as Messy led Happy and I through hallway after hallway back toward the monorail. I only gave her a quick, piercing glance to imply that I didn’t need her brand of shit right now in my head. “What? I’m just being realistic here.”

I wanted to tell her to fuck off, but talking to myself wasn’t going to do anything but confuse Happy and piss off Messy. Still, what was I going to do about this? The second the job was done, Mr. Wizard would probably have us all killed. I needed a way to break off from this job, and kill him first.

“Oh, and what do you think Buck would say to that plan?” Violet gasped as she hoverd ahead as Happy and I were walked back into the small cylindrical monorail car. “You promised him you wouldn’t kill anymore.”

I sat down hard on the bench seat Cora and I had ridden in on. My muscles ached, and my scars burned as I did my best to ignore Violet. Could I really be annoyed with her words though when they were simply my own thoughts? Maybe not, but so long as I was seeing her, at the very least she could be useful and throw out ideas for how to get out of this stupid situation we were in.

“So what’s this ‘job’ we’re supposed to run?” Happy however made himself useful for once as he took a seat next to me. He let out a whine as he did, wincing and trying not to put any pressure on the bruises all over him. You know, if anypony could use some Chill right now, it was probably Happy. Though, if I had any to give, I’d still take it myself and let him suffer for causing all this shit in the first place.

“Ouroboros is the job, dumbass.” Messy grunted as he stepped through the monorail doors. They dinged and shut behind him as he moved to his seat. “Or did you fucking miss the clock counting down on the wall back there?”

Like before, the monorail speakers chimed up and repeated it’s same announcement as during the last ride.

“But what the fuck does that even mean?” Violet spat out at me over the announcement as she smirked. I looked at her, confused before she crossed her hooves and deadpanned at me. “What? You wanted me to be useful or whatever.”

“What does that even mean?” I grunted as I turned my unamused glare to Messy. “I’ve seen the clocks all over, but I don’t even know what the fuck an ‘Ouroboros’ is.”

“It’s a wartime military supertrain.” Messy sighed, throwing his head back as he kicked out his hooves and slumped in the monorail seat. “Been running all over the north since the end of the war, but it hasn’t stopped anywhere in decades. Every time it comes around, it overrides all the rail line controls and forces all other trains off the tracks until it passes.” He cocked and eyebrow at us, looking between Happy and I with a somewhat nervous expression. “Last time somepony tried to get close to it, the guns on it melted their locomotive straight off the rails.”

“So, what’s so important onboard that Mr. Wizard needs me to get it for him?” This was already sounding like an impossible task.

“Do I look like I fucking know?” Messy grumbled and crossed his hooves across himself. “Mr. Wizard thinks the train is where the stallion on the radio is, and since you’ve got something to do with him, you can probably get onboard without getting shot to shit.”

But… I didn’t know DJ PowerColt. Sure, I’d seen his drones flying about, and he’s reported on me a few times, but… how the fuck did that let them assume I could board a train that never stops and kills those who approach?

“Well,” Violet sighed as she sat down next to Messy and mimicked his relaxed pose. “I guess now you know why Mr. Wizard might not expect that you can even pull this off.”

Well, for all our sakes, I couldn’t afford not to.

“Heh, this is going to be awesome.” Happy forced a smirk through his bruised muzzle as he looked over to me and clapped his forehooves together excitedly. “Don’t you get it? We get to pull a train heist, just like in the old movies! We’re definitely both going to be legends after this.”

“I’m so glad he…” Violet began as she apperated into the seat next to Happy, but I cut her off by opening my muzzle.

“I’m so glad you have the confidence that we’re going to pull this job off without absolutely failing.” I snapped at him hard enough that both he and Violet pulled back in shock. “But could you both please just shut your fucking muzzles and let me concentrate on how we’re even going to pull something like this off?”

Seriously, something like this was going to take a lot of planning to insure that both Happy and I walked away from this alive. And if that clock in Mr. Wizard’s house was correct? Well, we only had a few hours to figure that shit out.

“Yo, relax.” Messy called out as he slumped in his seat. “Tall Tale’s got this all planned out. All you’ve gotta do is listen to him and do your part, alright?” He reached out a hoof and jabbed it toward Happy. “But for once I agree with the bitch. Shut your fucking muzzle or I’ll toss your mule ass out of the monorail. Got it? We’ll be back at the station in a couple minutes. Once I hoof your asses over to Tall Tale, then you can yammer on all you want.”

So just to recap how fucked I was, I was supposed to rob a train that never stops and that has killed any and everypony who’s tried to even get close to it. All without any weapons of my own, my jump pack, and all with only the help of Happy and whomever this ‘Tall Tale’ was. Yeah, right now I could definitely use some of Happy’s confidence that this was all going to work out just fine...

Author's Note

As with every chapter, I really do have to thank TheFurryRailFan for his help in going over it to help smooth it out. Seriously, man, even if you think you're not doing much, you're a lifesaver.

And of course, a bit thanks to Kkat for letting us all use this amazing universe in our own stories!

Chapter 55 - Maintenance

Technology is dominated only by those who manage what they do not understand.

*bing-bong*

“Thank you for using the Cantercross Metro Monorail, we hope you enjoyed the ride!”

The voice of the cheery sounding mare drifted off behind me as the large group of scarred up stallions escorted Happy and I back through the halls of Gateway Station. The non-existent Violet of course kept pace with me, but I’d done my best to ignore her. What was getting harder to ignore, however, was the dull ache behind my prosthetic eye, and in the scars across my body.

We were led down a flight of stairs that seemed to spin endlessly as it dove down below what had been the ground floor of the station. I read the sign on each successive flight countdown until we’d gotten to one that said sublevel 4, and the stairwell promptly terminated at a familiar style of well-sealed door. Predictably, Messy trotted over to the set of lockers that sat nearby and opened them up.

“Suit up, you know the drill.” He grunted as he tossed one of the yellow protective suits over toward Happy and I. It landed at Happy’s hooves, and he almost recoiled as if it were pure poison. “It’s pretty much a straight shot from this station to the maintenance garage where I’ll get Tall Tale to brief you on the job.”

“I don’t get it,” Happy sneered as he took a step back from the suit. “Why do I need to wear this?”

“The air through that door is toxic.” I explained, getting a sly smirk from Messy. Reaching forward, I took the suit in my hoof and tossed it at Happy. This time it smacked him right in the face. “Put it on.”

“Or don’t, it’s your choice.” Messy spoke up as he reached into the lockers again and pulled out another suit. This time he didn’t toss it, choosing instead to hold it out to me as he spoke. “And just because you aren’t muted this time doesn’t mean you can waste air complaining about shit. So keep your muzzles shut and I won’t have to toss you from the train.”

With a flick of his hoof, he tossed the protective suit toward me. I snatched it before it had a chance to hit the floor. Yeah, I wasn’t muted this time, but for once I’d just wish that he’d be the one to shut his fucking muzzle.

“Ugh, another train?” Happy groaned as he unfurled the suit and started to pull it up over himself. Goddesses, why couldn’t the both of them just be quiet for once?

“Hey.” Messy snapped angrily, forcing one of the guards at the stairwell to stiffen themselves up a bit. “You see this shit?” He drew out one of the facemasks for the suit from the lockers and pointed to it with his forehoof. “The rebreathing talismans in here don’t fucking last forever. You get thirty minutes of air for a twenty five minute trip, so you better keep quiet or get real good at holding your breath.” With a lazy toss, he lobbed the mask toward Happy.
With a whimpering and flailing kick, Happy sprung forward to catch the mask. However, since he’d only gotten the protective suit halfway on, his legs became too tripped up in the suit to carry him. With a whine, he flopped onto the floor with his hooves outstretched and only just barely caught the mask before it’s clear faceplate could smash onto the floor.

“Now quit fucking around.” Messy grunted as he started to suit up himself. “We’ve already wasted enough time as is.”

Happy, Messy, and I walked through the hazy and surprisingly warm tunnel after passing through the decontamination spray showers. This place was a lot darker without the hundreds of hanging lights or rows of grow beds taking up the rail line in the center of it. Oddly, the same reddish bubbles found at the station under the science center still floated through the air here, though there were less of them than before.

Two ponies in what looked like specialized hazmat suits stood at the edge of the old railway platform. The pair of ponies wore what looked like heavy oxygen tanks on the back of their rust colored suits, and their battle saddles held odd but crude looking tri-barreled firearms on them. To be honest, I felt a bit more comfortable with them around. While I was sure these tunnels were more than likely empty, I couldn’t fight back the thought that there might be some monster hiding somewhere in the darkness of the tunnels.

Next to the two ponies, and down on the rails, the cab of an old truck type motorwagon sat waiting for us. It’s heavily rust-laden olive color was almost lost among the reddish hue of the air. The old motorwagon cab and arcane engine had been ripped off it’s original wagon frame, and had been inset to a rectangular rail frame that held a pair of buffer tubes on both the front at back ends of it. It came across to me as less of something meant to be a transport, and more like it was supposed to be used for maintenance or something. And looking ahead at the dark tunnel the tracks led off into, I wasn’t exactly confident this rusty piece of junk would be able to make it anywhere at all...

Still, the three of us piled inside the cramped cart. I’d ended up sandwiched between Happy and Messy, but while it was uncomfortable, I trusted myself to be near Messy far more than I trusted Happy right now. Messy shifted in his seat, dragging his hoof along my side as he reached forward and turned a rusty looking key in the ignition. There was a sharp bang, as well as a puff of black smoke that came from the old engine, before a quite loud but steady thumping filled the air. With an unceremonious shift of the gear lever stuck between my rear hooves, Messy put us in drive, and we were off.

What can I say about the ‘short’ twenty five minute ride? Other than the fact that the heavy breathing that I could hear through Happy’s mask annoyed the shit out of me, this was hooves down the worst vehicle I’d ever set hoof into. The arcane engine was far too loud, and never quite settled into a consistent thumping rhythm once we’d gotten moving. Not to mention that now and again it would just belch a black cloud from a tube that ran through the hood of the old vehicle.

A dull, smoky haze filled the cab, along with a wretched smell that even the gas masks couldn’t scrub away.And that’s not even the worst part of this ride. Ether the track here wasn’t at all flat, or this ‘vehicle’ didn’t want anything less than to forcefully escape the rails we rolled across. The vibrations just past the halfway point got bad enough that the three of us all had to use our forehooves to keep the gas masks we wore from unsealing from our faces.

But outside of the terrible conditions of the trip, there was one upside. I finally had time to think. No Violet, no worries about what was to come, just me and my thoughts.

“You have done well for me, Night Flight.” Solomon’s voice crept up from the dark recesses of my mind.

Goddesses, out of everything that could have come from it now, Solomon is what my mind brings up? I’ve got an impossible job ahead with the world's most unlikable mule, Buck still dying unless I get him help, and both Hispano and Cora to fucking keep alive. So when I get a free moment, Solomon’s fucking voice is the best I can come up with?

I laughed from that. Like, not subtly, but full-body laughed in a way that made both Happy and Messy look at me like I’d finally snapped. And maybe I had, but could anypony really blame me?

I was so fucking done with my life. Fuck Solomon, fuck everything he’s ever fucking done. And on that, fuck Mr. Wizard, and Messy, and this whole fucking city.

“Are you okay?” Happy had to strain his voice to beat out both my laughter and the roar of the old arcane engine. I nodded to him with a wide smile across my face.

I was more than okay. If this curse was going to take everything I ever cared about away from me, then the least I could do was do things the way I wanted to before everything went to shit. The second Solomon shot that bullet, all the rules went out the window. I’m going to kill Solomon, I’m going to kill Messy, and I’m going to fucking take down Mr. Wizard’s whole fucking city.

I didn’t know how, but I’d fucking find a way. No more mister nice Night. This survivor was going to show everypony just what it costs to fuck with me.

However, as much as I wanted to try to strangle Messy to death right here and now, that wasn’t the way this was going to go down. No, I wasn’t going to be hasty. For this to work out, I was going to need to formulate a plan, and choose my moment to strike. So for now, I just needed to do what they expected me to, and be observant for any openings.

Solomon was going to regret not having killed me, but not because I’d just show up and kill him. No, he tore everything I’d ever loved apart, so I was going to do exactly the same thing, and I was going to make him watch. I was going to be a blastwave creeping after him across the wastes, coming at him with all the force of a hurricane, and just as unstoppable.

Glancing to Happy, I knew he was going to be onboard with this. Cora and Hispano weren’t going to hesitate either. The problem was going to be with Buck. He wasn’t going to approve of any of what I was going to do, but as much as I love him, he’d lost his vote the moment Solomon took that shot.

“Alright, we’re here.” Messy called out as a literal light at the end of the tunnel appeared as we rounded a corner of the track.

The brakes of the cramped vehicle squealed, adding yet another layer of unpleasant noise to the red-tinted and smoky air. But I just grit my teeth and continued to laugh to myself. I hadn’t worked this hard and come this far for it all to just mean nothing. I was going to do this, and even if Buck hated me for it, I was going to kill everypony who wanted to stand between Solomon and I.

It wasn’t the way Delilah would have wanted it, and I am far from qualified for the job. But I’ll be damned if I’m not going to lead us all to the end of this road. Live or die, Night, Bombay, or the Survivor, I was done following on the hooves of others and taking orders. All they were going to have to do is follow me through hell and back, because willing or not, I was going to drag Solomon and Mr. Wizard there myself if I had to.

Messy pulled us up to a nearly identical looking platform to the one we’d left, complete with two more ponies in the same hazmat suits standing there. As he brought us to a stop, he turned the key and the engine died. It dropped us into a silence that I just knew was too good to be true.

“You know,” Violet spoke up from outside on the platform. Carefully, she leaned down and poked her head through the window next to Happy. “This is the most half-baked, insane thought you’ve ever had.” I didn’t care about that though. Nothing was going to change my mind. “Oh? And what happens when you get the others killed?” That won’t happen. “And you know this how?” I stared at Violet and smirked. After a moment of pseudo-studying me, she nodded. “Because you’re done losing.”

“You’re goddess damned right.” I grunted, pulling a confused look from Happy.

“Uh… I am?” He flashed a nervous smile as I shifted my look to him.

“Are we going to sit in here or what?” Messy groaned as he pushed against the back of my suit. “Enough wasting air. Get fucking moving already.”

After going through de-con again, the three of us stepped into another small room at the bottom of a stairwell, and proceeded to strip out of the protective masks and suits. The first thing that I noticed the moment I took the mask off, was the smell of rust and oil. It was much thicker than even somewhere like Fuschia’s train car back in Mare’s Lake had been. At the very least, I was certain this had to be some sort of industrial site, but with how long the trip was, we couldn’t still be inside the city.

There was a knock at the door to the room before it opened up, and a group of stallions stepped in. Among them, stood the scarred up stallion who’d I’d tried talking to at the bottom of Bertha before. He smirked when he saw me, but otherwise ignored me as he hoofed a small briefcase to Messy. With a couple of clicks, Messy flipped the latches on it and opened it up.

“Oh, fuck that!” Happy spoke up as he stepped behind me.

“This is part of the deal.” Messy spoke up as he hoofed a bulky looking metal collar out of the briefcase and turned to me.

It reminded me of a smaller, metal version of Buck’s yoke, but the pair of boxes strapped to the side with wires coming out of them was a bit concerning. With a flick of his hoof, the collar sprung open, and a small light in the middle of the ring glowed. Yeah, not liking this at all.

“You either wear it, or I can tell these lugs to shoot you right now.” To emphasize Messy’s point, one of the unicorn stallions pulled out a rusty looking shotgun and gave it a heavy pump. “Your choice.”

“Just give me the damn collar.” I rolled my eyes and took the open collar from him. I sat down, bringing the device up to my neck and easily closing it. It gave a crisp snap as it locked in place, and after a moment, the red light on it which I could barely see out of the corner of my eye, began to steadily blink.

“See, at least this bitch knows what’s good for her.” Messy smirked as he pulled another collar out of the briefcase. “Alright, now for the other one.” Turning, he held it out toward Happy. But as a pregnant pause filled the room, I began to think that Happy wasn’t going to go through with this willingly.

“Happy.” I growled as I turned and glared to him. I didn’t understand the scared look across his muzzle, but we didn’t have time for this shit. “Put on the damn collar.”

“Night, you don’t under-…” He started, but I finished for him.

“Fuck you!” I spat at him and got to my hooves. He took a step back and shrank down as I raised my voice. If he wouldn’t listen to me, I’d remind him so much of Delilah that he’d fall in line in an instant. “I haven’t gone through all this shit these last few days just to have you fuck everything up. So you’re going to do what I say, or I’ll let these assholes kill you and I’ll do this job on my own.”

“Fuck, alright!” Happy whimpered from nearly flat on the floor. “What the hell crawled up your flank and died?” His words hit me as a peculiar choice, but he pushed himself up and stepped around me. “What happened to the nice Night Flight I knew?”

“That Night is dead.” I snorted and glared at him as he reached out to grab the collar from Messy.

“Well you’re both going to be dead if you don’t hurry this shit up.” Messy groaned as he stepped up and forcibly shoved the collar around Happy’s neck. With a quick swing, the backside of it came around and snapped into place with a click that made Happy’s mane stand on end. Like mine, the small red light on his collar started to blink, and at that, Messy seemed to relax a bit. “Lets go, bitches.” He grunted as he walked to the door and opened it, revealing yet another stairwell leading upward.

Both Happy and I followed Messy as he trotted up the stairs. It didn’t take long, but after climbing a few flights, we walked up into a huge open warehouse. A symphony of sounds assaulted my ears as we exited the stairwell. Repeated bangs on various bits of metal, the sound of a grinder going to work, and the electrical snaps of a welder were all familiar to me from the time I’d spent around my dad at his work. That’s all it took for me to understand that this must have been the old world’s servicing area for the trains that operated in the city.

The expansive, strangely intact building was probably about as long as a city block, and about half a block wide. Long parallel troughs ran the full length of the building’s floor, each one with a set of rails suspended at the top of them. Seven trains of varying sizes and designs sat along these rails within immediate sight of me. A few other odd vehicles sat among the trains, either pulled apart or otherwise being worked on by the fifty or so ponies I could see just from here.

Along both sides of the warehouse, filthy and emaciated ponies sorted through crates and boxes of rusty scraps. There were twice as many of these ponies as there were working on the trains, and each of them wore something that gave me pause. Around each of their necks, sat collars of similar design to the ones Happy and I now wore, and metal muzzles sat strapped over each of their exhausted looking faces. I put two and two together and realized that while I’d seen plenty of slaves freed up at ‘End of the Line’, these ponies hadn’t been so lucky…

“Alright, where’s that little bastard?” Messy’s annoyance pulled my gaze around to him as he trotted across a few rotten looking planks that stretched over the train troughs. I turned to follow, glancing back to make sure Happy followed as well. We didn’t have to go far, as Messy stopped just in front of another small train that was set at the far end on the last set of tracks.

It was slightly larger than the vehicle we’d taken to get here, but it looked permanently stuck here, as it no longer held any wheels and rested directly on the track. Most of the train’s extra size was from the empty, boxy hull where a large arcane engine presumably once sat. Now, there were several racks that held boxes of assorted parts, and a few old tool cabinets like the ones that used to sit around Dad’s skycarrage garage. To be honest, it reminded me a bit of Hardcase’s room, and that thought was something I didn’t need right now...

“Yo, get your striped ass out here, bitch.” Messy called out as he hammered his hoof on the side of the old vehicle. Even I cringed as the banging resonated through the air and startled the pony inside the cramped cab. “Where’s that shit we brought in earlier?”

“R-right h-here!” The stuttering, meek voice of the stallion inside the train called before he began to trot out.

The bronzed, familiar shaped object that came out of the doorway immediately caught my eye, and at that moment it didn’t matter who this guy was. He had my jump pack, and I was going to get it back. Stepping up, I pushed past Messy and snatched it from the outstretched hoof it was on.

“Woah, take it easy.” Messy said as he shoved me back.

I pulled my pack close, taking a quick look at it. It was odd. It felt slightly heavier, but… it didn’t look like anything had been done to it. Looking up to ask just what the hell they did to it, I stopped and blinked as the stallion who’d had it, stood halfway out of the train cab.

He was a black coated, white maned stallion with flame orange zebra stripes that ran over his body and into his hair. However, as unusual as the color of his stripes were for a zebra, more out of place on him was the compact horn in the middle of his head, and the absolutely diminutive wings that sat tucked tightly against his back. If I had to make a guess, this stallion was the same kind of pony as Crystal Harmonium from back in Destruction Bay.

“I um… couldn’t help myself.” The stallion flashed me a nervous smile and rubbed at his neck. He scratched at a furless ring that ran just under the flashing collar that he too wore. “If I may ask…”

“Hey, focus, or I’m going to strap a muzzle on you like the rest of the useless garbage slaves here.” Messy prodded the stallion sharply in the chest, forcing him back into his cab. “Did you, or did you not make the modifications Tall Tale specified?”

Excuse me, modifications? This thing was already unstable enough, let alone to be tinkered with! If they were smart though, they would have done exactly that. They might want me to explode and fail, which I wouldn’t fucking be surprised if that was the whole point of this. I mean hell, if they didn’t kill me, as I mentioned earlier, I’ll be back to kill them.

“Y-yes, s-sir.” He nodded quickly before he dipped too far into his cab for me to see. “I d-did as requested.”

“Good.” Messy snorted and stepped away from the train. He glanced over to and pointed at the shaking and timid stallion. “You two, stay here while I go and find him. Don’t wander off.”

“Don’t worry, we won’t!” Happy chimed in with an uncharacteristically jubilant tone to his words. “Eeyup, going to stay right here.”

I turned and blinked a few times at him in as I tried to figure out just why he was being such a pain in my ass right now. Speaking of, the pain behind my eye peaked sharply, and the scars across my barrel burned. I took a few slow, deep breaths to help the pain subside, which thankfully it did fairly quickly. Happy however simply held his breath as he watched Messy walk off, only taking another once the pink asshole disappeared around a corner.

Now I know I didn’t have long before he ran his muzzle again, so instead I took the initiative to get some goddess damned answers.

“So, what the fuck even happened to you?” My tone was sharper than I’d intended, forcing a bit of my pain into them. “Explain to me why everything’s gone to shit, and we’re here about to do a job for the only asshole in the wastes bigger than Solomon or you.”

“Woah, calm down.” Happy recoiled slightly and forced himself to look literally anywhere else than at my face. “I was out for a drink at lunch, when one thing led to another, I may have said something about that underground growing thing to somepony…” Really! How fucking stupid could one mule be!? “and then wouldn't you know it, this mare with a flank like you wouldn't believe walked in. So fine that she took that up as her namesake…”

“This is all because you couldn't even fucking do what you promised and keep your dick out of some working mare?” I felt a laugh slip out of my muzzle again. Honestly, I couldn’t even be mad at him. Screwing up this much? That took effort. “Unbelievable. Truly a genius in our time.”

“Hey! Need I remind you that it wasn’t that fun for me either?” He snapped back at me, pointing up at his bruised and swollen up face. With a sharp tug, he pulled his torn floral print shirt stiffly against himself as he took a deep breath. “Those fucking blockheads we passed earlier came into my room at the inn while I was putting my moves on the little lady. They beat the shit out of me even before they brought me to see Mr. Wizard.” Squinting at me, the scowl he held might have been intimidating the first week I’d been in the wastes, but now it was just a pathetic attempt to save face. “He threatened to kill me unless Ma’ paid. And when she refused, I knew it was because she was sending you after me.”

“You know, I’m almost pissed at myself for coming to save you at all.” Again, I laughed in his face.

“Well you haven't done much savin' yet. Just been yammering on an' shit.” He grumbled as he sat down. Seriously, I was about half-a-hoof away from just killing him myself right now. “So come on, Night. What's the plan here?”

“I’m working on it.” I growled and ground my forehooves painfully into the dirty concrete floor. It was either that, or I was going to lose my shit and strangle his stupid mule ass.

“Oh come on, you can tell me!” A sly smirk spread across his face, and it froze me solid. Okay, if I moved at all now, he was going to die. “When do we give these no good jerks the slip? I mean, everyone on the convoy is going to be pissed if we keep them waiting for us any longer, and I already know that Ma is going to lecture the shit out of me again.”

My blood froze in my veins, and my heart skipped a beat at that. Something didn’t line up here with the way he was talking. It’s all present tense, like he didn’t… oh goddesses, he didn’t know what happened with them.

“Night?” Happy’s voice kickstarted my brain again. “What’s wrong? You don’t look so good and it’s kinda freaking me out.”

“They’re gone, Happy. They’re all gone.” Okay, keep it together, Night. You know what you’ve got to do, so keep it together.

“Fucking really?” He chuffed and kicked his hoof at the concrete. “It’s just like Ma to fucking leave me behind. When I get back, I’m…”

My legs acted on their own, and I sprung forward. Drawing my hoof back, I only caught a short look at Happy’s surprised face before I swung at him. It wasn’t the hardest hit ever, but it was hard enough that it sent Happy sprawling to the concrete.

"They're dead, Happy!" I screamed at him, forcing the workshop to go silent around me. Happy was all but frozen as my words started to sink in. A sobbing whimper slipped from my quivering lips as I stumbled back onto my flank. "He fucking killed all of them. Everyone but Buck is gone, and I don't even know if he's going to pull through."

“But... that doesn't...” Happy sputtered as he looked like he was trying to work things out on his own. “But you…” His own watering eyes swept up to me, studying me to make sure I wasn’t lying. I really wish I had been. “I don’t understand. He? Who the fuck…”

“Who the fuck do you think?” My body was torn between speaking, breathing, or sobbing, and it wasn’t coping with all three at once very well. “Solomon.” I grunted out his name, but forced myself to stop with that. There was nothing I wanted more than to tell him the truth of what happened, how I went there to stop the violence. But he wouldn't see it that way. I'd been forced to keep secrets before and failed at it, but this... this was something he could never know. "He bought off the Road Crew. They were sitting ducks for him. He shot Bertha's reactor, and… they’re all gone."

“So... that's it? Gone, just like that?” He was quick to speak, as well as quick to set himself back up onto his haunches. “We’re just… fucked then. It’s that simple.” A forced laugh trickled through the air from him as slowly, he raised his forehooves up toward his neck. “If I'm going to die, I'm going to die on my terms then...” His voice wavered as he grasped around the collar and closed his eyes.

Wait, what was he…

My eyes were drawn to the flashing bulb on the collar, and my mind connected the two things. I don’t know this for sure, but I’m pretty sure that the reason he’d tried to stop me before was because these collars were dangerous to have on. And while I’d thought they’d just shock us or something, he was sure right now that taking his off would kill him.

I couldn’t allow that.

“Fuck you!” I roared as I kicked myself to my hooves and threw myself at him. The simple act of slamming into him forced his hooves away from his collar, and the both of us gave a whine as we came down onto the concrete floor. I growled as I pushed myself up, pressing my hooves down on his bruises as I did and drawing a painful yelp from him. “You do not get to die now!”

“Night!” He whimpered before I swung my hoof across his ungrateful muzzle. His head bounced back against the concrete under him as he arched under me. He spat out a small bit of blood as his fearful eyes met my furious ones. “Wait…!”

I didn’t wait.

Swinging again, I hammered my hoof against the side of his head. It was almost cathartic, watching as he cried out. The pain he must have felt had to be much worse than the pain that had cropped up through the waning Chill in my body. As much as beating my frustrations out of him helped, it wouldn’t bring anypony back, nor would it get us out of the situation we were in now.

“Pull yourself together you fucking ungrateful little shit!” I spat at him as he whimpered and tried to bring his hooves up to shield himself. I took the opportunity to jab my hoof against his bruised side. “We're going to do this job, then we're going after Solo-...” I was cut off as he got me with a backswing across my muzzle that nearly knocked me off of him. Instead, I pulled myself back around on him and used the extra distance to really plant a solid smashing hoofstrike across his cheek. “Fuck you, Happy! We'll beat him to the ark, and I will revel in the moment we tear everything he's ever loved apart.” I swear to Celestia, I would beat him into understanding this before I ever gave him another break again. “Do you understand me?”

“Fuck…” He choked and forced a painful nod to me. Turning his head, he spat out another gob of blood, as well as what looked to be half a molar. “Fucking hell, Night.”

He whined before he brought his hooves up to his bloodied and even more bruised face. Softly, he began to sob, and only then did I push myself back to my hooves and step back from him. Now, if only he’d make himself useful for once and shut up.

“If you understand, then fucking get up and quit sniveling like the little bitch you are." I wanted to shiver as those words left my muzzle.

I couldn't help but imagine that without really meaning to, I'd done the most accurate impression of Delilah that Happy had ever seen. Maybe she'd have been proud of me for that. Most likely though, she’d just be pissed that I'd gotten her killed in the first place.

Regardless, it lit a fire under Happy's flank, because he pushed himself right up onto his haunches. He wiped the tears from his right eye, and let out another whimper as he tried to wipe at his left. My assault had left it swollen shut, but maybe now he’d take a moment to think about shit before doing more to screw things up.

"Now, keep your muzzle shut while I figure this shit out." I growled, turning around to see if that lazy pink asshole was anywhere near coming back yet. Instead, I saw the wide eyes of the meek striped stallion in the train staring at us. That reminds me... “Hey, what the fuck did you do to my jump pack?” Walking over, I snatched the pack off the ground and shook it at him. He gave a soft eep before pulling himself back inside the motorwagon cab.

“Oooh, look at you, all mean and awful. No more Mr. Nice Night indeed.” Violet’s voice from beside me prompted me to give her a sideways glare as I huffed and walked toward the train. “But do you really think you need to snap at the poor guy?”

“I… I…” The stallion stammered as I approached the open side of his small cab. “Please, don’t h-hurt me! I’ll b-be… I’ll be good! P-please!”

As I stepped up to him, a few things became apparent. The first, was the pair of rusty springsteel prosthetic rear legs he wore. They were the same bladelike design as the one I wore, but made of scrap, and were a far cry from the quality that Destruction Bay was capable of manufacturing. Not to mention, from the furless undersides of his stumps where the old metal dug into his skin, they couldn’t have been anywhere near as comfortable as mine was.

The second thing that became apparent, was that his right stump had a metal ring secured tightly over it. The metal band was bound over his cutie mark of an old motorwagon with a bright orange flame paint job. It was connected to the train itself by a thick chain that I’d guessed was just long enough to let him get to the toolbench where the engine used to sit.

This stallion was trapped here, and probably didn’t have a single say in anything at all.

I guess Violet was right then. Er, well, the imaginary Violet was right. He didn’t need to be yelled at by me, and I needed to apologize.

“Look, let me preface my apology by saying that I have had a terrible last few days.” I tried to keep my voice at a calmer level, but it didn’t seem to be making much of a difference as the stallion simply cowered in the corner of his cramped cab. Under him, I noticed that he had an old blanket, and there was a dirty ceramic mug in the corner that was half filled with what looked like old world dog food. “But I guess I should consider others situations before snapping like that. I’m sorry.”

“Just… p-please…” The stallion whined as he curled himself tightly and shivered. “I only did what t-they asked.”

“I’m not angry, just…” I paused, thinking of the best way to try to get this guy to calm down. “My friends built me this jump pack, and now… it’s all I have left to remember them by.”

“Did they… die?” The stallion asked as his shivering slowed, his frightened pair of orange eyes peered up at me from between his forelegs.

“They were murdered a couple of days ago, by a Saddle Arabian douchebag.” I tried hard not to let my hatred for Solomon creep into my words, but it was asking rain not to fall or clouds not to float. As much as I wanted to be strong, there are somethings nopony could ever fight the urge not to do.

“W-well…” The stallion sniffled and quivered, but slowly seemed to relax. “Your friends who built it had skill, but what they lacked were quality parts.” Carefully, he pushed himself up and pointed to the pack in my hoof. It sounded like the more relaxed he became, the less he stuttered his words out. “The modifications, though… t-they wanted me to install a cutoff. The same type that’s in y-your bomb-collars.”

“E-excuse me…” Now it was my turn to stutter and stumble over my words. “Bomb collar? As in, it will explode!?”

“I tried to warn you!” Happy’s snide tone filtered through the air behind me, making me wish I could give his muzzle another good smack right about now. But unfortunately, he was right this time. He’d tried to tell me about it, but I didn’t listen.

Alright, that’s just another thing I’d have to work out the answer to dealing with...

“Yeah.” The striped stallion pulled my attention back to him as he nodded. “It’s on a different frequency, and I’ve tuned a remote to correspond only to the receiver in the pack.” He offered a small but nervous smile as he looked over my body. “But… that doesn’t mean much to somepony who came from the Enclave, does it?” A confused look washed over my face, which helped to solidify the softer and more relaxed look as it grew on his. “Not knowing what a bomb collar is? If that doesn’t scream Enclave or Stable dweller, then I don’t know what would.”

“Yeah, I came down when the clouds parted.” Great, now he had me at somewhat of a disadvantage. “Anyway, you mentioned something about my friends needing quality parts?”

“Oh, yeah.” He nodded and held his forehooves out. His horn glowed softly and pulled against the pack, prompting me to let it go altogether. “See, your pack here was pretty corroded inside. I’ll save you the technical details, but I swapped out some of the worse off components, replaced the capacitors with better ones so they can charge without overheating so much, and I put in a few cooling talismans to overclock your heat sinks.” He gave a giggle as he looked over the pack in his magic. “I can’t imagine you’ve used it very much so far with all the heat it’d generate before my modifications. You’d be liable to burn your tail off the moment you started it up!”

“Yeah…” I forced out a laugh as I instinctively felt my short-ish tail curl up underneath me. I mean, since it burned back at Galloway, it’s at least been short enough it hasn’t caught fire again...

“Oh, but…” His tone shifted, and he lowered his voice again as he looked around. “Please, please don’t tell anypony else I did that. They don’t like it when I tinker with things, and they’ll probably punish me if they find out I used a few rare parts on it…”

“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.” I offered what I felt was a comforting smile to him, but he didn’t at all seem to relax from it. “If you don’t mind me asking though, does this mean it won’t run hot anymore?” If that was true, I was going to miss that heat if I ever needed to do any long distance flights on cold nights again.

“Yeah, and she should charge quicker too.” He nodded as his lips parted into a genuine smile. “The recharge will still take a couple minutes, what I mean is the actual charge, when you hit the go button.” He turned the pack over, lifting the straps for it with his magic to show off the red and green buttons. “Which by the way, I have to say is pretty genius of your friends. They must have been pretty smart ponies to rig all this up with what they had.”

“Yeah, they sure were.” I nodded and watched as he passed the pack back to me.

Pulling it close, I gazed down on the now scratched up jump pack. Violet’s cutie mark had gotten a pretty big gouge through it I hadn’t noticed before, and that made me sigh in disappointment. It didn’t feel right that out of everything, this was all I had left of them. But I was no stranger to losing everyone I knew. Not anymore.

“I’m sorry too if I overstepped any bounds with working on it.” The stallion sighed and hung his head. “It’s just, I don’t often get the chance to work with anything interesting, and... I know how stressful it can be when somepony like me touches something that means so much to somepony else.”

“Somepony... like you?” The words tumbled from my muzzle as I tried to piece together just what he’d meant by that. “I don’t understand…”

“A monster?” The stallion laughed. “I mean, look at me! I’m a mix of everything.” He waved his hoof over himself. “Hell, I’m surprised you didn’t gag the moment you laid eyes on an abomination like me.”

“Ha!” Happy let out a sharp laugh that made both the stallion and I jump. “If you think you’re bad, you should see Night’s boyfriend! Dogfriend? Special snowdog?” I turned and shot him a glare that made Happy freeze up on the spot. “Just… trying to lighten the mood and all. We could all use that right now…”

“I'll let that slide because you're admittedly coping with things better than I expected.” I was feeling the urge to punch him again. But no, I had more important things to deal with right now. Turning back to the stallion, I found him giving another studious look over me. As he finished, he cocked an eyebrow at me in confusion. He opened up his muzzle, but I put up my hoof to stop him. “Anyway, let’s start over.” I offered my hoof to him, pulling a quick but fleeting look of confusion from the stallion. He seemed puzzled by the gesture itself, like nopony had asked him for a hoofshake before. “My name is Night Flight, what’s yours?”

“Pinstripe.” The stallion spoke up. Just saying the words made him shrink back, and almost reflexively he started to rub at his leg with his forehoof. “But Mr. Wizard’s ponies just call me Stripe. For… obvious reasons...”

“Okay, Pinstripe.” I smiled and put my hoof down slowly. “Thank you for fixing up my jump pack. No, you didn’t overstep any bounds when doing so, but… now you have me curious.” I watched as he perked up a bit at hearing that, and I could see his eyes brighten with interest. “Why is it that you think you’re an abomination?”

“Heh, you must be joking.” Again, he took another step back into his cramped cab as he spoke. “N-nopony cares for my chimeric appearance. How could anypony ever stand to look at something like me?” He shrugged and kicked at the ground with a frown. “All they care about is if I can charge their sparkle batteries, or fix their old world tech...”

“That’s right! Your kind can run archano-tech, right?” I was doing my best to recall what little Crystal Harmonium and Dr. Tibia told me back in Destruction Bay, but I couldn’t quite remembered what the race had been called. “But, that’s only once enough magic has been built up in your system that you start to shimmer if I remember correctly. Something to do with your genetics… I think?”

A horrified gasp came from in front of me, and I blinked when I realized that Pinstripe had started to shake again. The fearful look in his eyes returned as he shrunk down and pressed himself as far from me as he could.

“H-how do you know that?” He hissed at me as if I was some sort of Illusion.

“Now you know how I felt around you.” Violet whispered into my ear as I continued to do my best to ignore her. “Hated and loathed. A vile traitor stamped with with the mark of treason for all to see.”

“Because… you’re not the only pony like yourself I’ve met?” I offered that to him, but it only seemed to make his mood take a turn for the worse.

“That’s impossible.” He snapped at me, narrowing his eyes into a glare. “I’m unique. I… I would have been t-told otherwise!”

“Really? By who?” Violet whispered into my ear as her words echoed around obstructively in my mind. “The same ones who've chained him to the train and called him a monster? Gee, I don't know…” While that was a good point, maybe that wouldn’t have been the best way to phrase it.

“What cause would I even have to lie to you?” Reaching up as I spoke, I gave a gentle tap at the collar ringing my neck. “I'm not the one who's chained you up here, so believe me when I say I know you're not a monster.” His eyes softened as I spoke, and the fear in him from before started to drain away, if only slightly. “Again, I know you’re not, because of a mare named Crystal Harmonium.” Shifting myself slightly, I brought my prosthetic leg up for him to see. “Even made this for me. She lives as a free mare in Destruction Bay, and she’s just like you.”

“T-that… that’s impossible.” Pinstripe shook his head as he looked from my scuffed up prosthetic down to his own pair of crude ones. “I’m j-just a slave... why would they waste time lying to something as unimportant to them as me?”

“Maybe it’s because you aren’t as unimportant to them as you think.” I offered as I held the jump pack close to my scarred up chest. “And while there are plenty of monsters here in this city, no matter what the others here call you, at least you now know that you’re not one of them.”

“Y-yeah…” Happy’s stuttering voice spoke up from behind me. It carried the same fear and hesitation that Pinstripe’s had, and for some reason it brought back the pit in my stomach I’d been missing for a bit now. “B-but he is!”

Spinning, I found Happy pointing his hoof down towards where Messy had disappeared around the corner. Continuing my spin around, my eyes fell upon the pink asshole again, this time with someone new in tow. While it didn’t look like a monster per-se, this was a new kind of pony I’d never seen before.

It almost looked like a ghoul pony who wore a sleek business suit. Though, around the cuffs of his rotten hooves, the suit looked like it melded straight into his flesh. Wisps of pink mist streamed from what almost looked like bullet holes at several points along the pony’s sides, and through parts of the suit which had obviously been patched up over the years. This pink mist also leaked out from around the edges of the misshapen rodeo clown mask they wore.

Like the suit, the rodeo clown mask looked like it was now part of this pony’s flesh, and even attached smoothly around the stub-like unicorn horn that poked through the center of it. It’s empty black eye holes felt fairly creepy with the permanently smiling expression the mask held. Honestly, it felt to me like the whole visage stepped straight out of somepony’s nightmare

“What the fuck kind of pony is that?” The words slipped out of my muzzle as Happy stepped up to my side.

“He’s a Canterlot ghoul.” He muttered under his breath like that was supposed to mean something to me. I tried to deadpan at him for that, but all I ended up doing was staring at Happy’s swollen face.

“You’ll have to explain that one to me later.” I grumbled as I forced myself into a glare and turned toward Messy. “Hey, are we going to fucking do something, or are we going to stand around all day?”

“She’s got a fucking attitude alright.” The masked pony snorted and caused a small pink cloud to come out from the nose holes in the mask. “You sure this is the mare from the radio?”

“Yeah, she’s the bitch alright.” Messy nodded and rolled his eyes. “But congradu-fucking-lations, she’s your problem now. Mr. Wizard expects this shit to go off without a hitch this time, so do your job and get it done.” That pulled another pink clouded snort from the masked ghoul before Messy looked to Happy and I. “Listen up, this is how it goes. You listen to what Tall Tale tells you to do or he blows your goddess damn collars, got it?”

“Alright, stripe, we’re going to take you for a little walk.” Tall Tale grunted as his horn lit up. With a crisp click, the metal chain clasp around his leg released and flopped to the floor with a thud. “It’s do-or-die time for us. These modifications you made to the motorwagon better be worth all the caps we’ve dumped into it.”

“Y-yes, s-sir.” Pinstripe’s meek voice struck a chord in me. Getting to his hooves, he stuck his head out of his traincart for only a moment before Messy’s pink hoof cracked down on top of it.

“Fucking keep your eyes to the floor, slave bitch.” Smirking from the whimper that Pinstripe gave, he stepped back before specifically glaring at me. “This fucking stripe needs to be reminded of his place. It would be best if you keep that in mind as well, survivor.”

“His name is Pinstripe.” I grunted and offered a sly smirk to Messy.

I’m sure there must have been some sort of mixup with cutie marks in the great beyond, because my special talent was definitely in pissing ponies off. Messy’s blood instantly rose to a boil, and he brought his hoof up to hit me as well. However, Tall Tale swung his hoof back and stopped Messy from doing anything.

“You lay a hoof on her and you could ruin this job.” Tall Tale’s tone was cool, but stern. “Is that what you want me to report back to Mr. Wizard? That you destroyed a year’s worth of work, and my fucking time?”

Maybe it was because he was a ghoul, but I’m pretty sure his words were rooted in experience more than anything. The way Messy pulled his hoof back and shrugged off the ghoul’s words, I’m pretty sure that all but confirmed that he felt the same. Still, I felt like any time I could watch that pink asshole’s annoyance crop up, it was worth whatever price to see it.

What I didn’t expect to see however, was the shocked look across Pinstripe’s quivering muzzle. His eyes were glued to me in disbelief, and while I wanted to ask him why, I was pretty sure this was the first time in at least a while that anypony had defended him. To be honest, the idea that ponies thought they could own others was disgusting to me, and I wished that I could cleanse this place of all these rotten douchebags.

“Enough standing around.” Tall Tale waved his hoof as he turned around. “We’ve got a lot to go over for this job, so let’s get moving.”

Who knows, maybe when I killed Mr. Wizard, I could swing by and kill the rest of these slave owning bastards as well.

“Oh, great plan!” Violet laughed as she impossibly stuck her head out of Pinstripe’s train cab. “Gonna come in here, guns blazing as you scream and pray to Celestia you don’t accidentally kill anypony who’s innocent?” Ugh, that’s it. I really shouldn’t feel like this, but I am so done remembering Violet if it means my own mind can weaponize her. “Well, just remember you’re the one who wanted to be tormented by what you’ve done.”

Wait, I can get rid of her!

“Hold up.” I spat out, forcing Tall Tale and Messy to nearly trip over their hooves as they came to an abrupt stop. Even Pinstripe gasped in horror as he froze halfway out of his train. “Unless you want me hallucinating out on the job, I’m going to need some Chill.” I shot my best sideways glance at Violet and forced as much ire into my words as possible. “Now.”

She simply rolled her eyes at me, and the moment I blinked, she was gone.

“Fuck.” Messy offered a laugh as he tried to hide his stupid grin behind his forehoof. “Mr. Wizard totally had you pegged, didn’t he?” Shaking his head, it was his turn to make my blood boil. “You’re nothing but a no good, Chill addicted bitch, aren’t you?”

“Fine, don’t get me any.” I huffed and did my best to shrug off his words. Though, there wasn’t enough Chill in the world to make me not want to shrug my hoof right through his stupid face. “But when I fuck up this job, you two are going to have to tell Mr. Wizard it’s because one of you sabotaged him.”

“Enough.” Tall Tale barked, sending a wave of pink out from every hole in his mask. “I’ll get you a few tabs before we roll out, but that’s after we go over the plan.” His horn lit up as his magic wrapped around Pinstripe and hefted him off the ground. “There’s no time for a dry run, and we won’t get a second chance at this. So you better fucking hope you memorize the basics. But if you want to keep running your fucking muzzles, be my guest.” While I knew it was made out of some sort of solid material, I could have sworn the creepy tight-lipped smile on his rodeo clown mask somehow grew wider. “Otherwise, maybe you should consider listening to an expert when preparing for what’s going to be the heist of the fucking century.”

Author's Note

A big thank you to TheFurryRailFan for continuing to go over my chapters and help make sure that they're ready to go up every other week. Seriously, it's invaluable to have a second pair of eyes, and I can't thank him enough!

And of course, many thanks to Kkat for allowing us all to roam around and blow up the Equestrian wastelands!

Chapter 56 - Lets be bad guys

The largest vehicle, in motion or not, always has the right of way.

Happy, Pinstripe, and I trailed on the hooves of the well dressed ghoul as he led us all the way to the end of the maintenance warehouse and out into the open air. The thick smell of sea salt filled the air the second we were more than a few hoofsteps outside of the cream colored maintenance building. Off to my left was the coastline as it wound its way north toward Cantercross City only a mile or two from where we were. The noonday sun glinted off the dozens of towers that stood along the edge of the prismatic polluted waters of the bay.

“Why do I know him...?” Happy mumbled softly under his breath, bringing my attention back to the here and now. I nearly tripped over an old rusting set of train tracks as I tried to figure out what the fuck he was asking, as we headed toward a similar, but much smaller looking maintenance warehouse.

Instead of the cream color of flaking paint however, there sat a rusting sheet metal exterior that announced itself with a low metallic groan. To be honest, that noise alone filled me with the fear that the old construction would give way the moment we were inside it. Which, of course, would just be my fucking luck.

I did have to note that while I’d seen a lot of ruins like this on my trip so far, most of them were still standing. It was a testament to old Equestrian engineering I felt I probably should be more appreciative of. At least, until I’d got into a fight near them. Then they normally ended up flattened, incinerated, collapsed, or outright blasted apart…

“Fuck… it’s on the tip of my tongue!” Happy moaned in his normal infuriatingly useless way. Seriously, if I took his bait, would he at least have the decency to shut up? “Grrr...” He grumbled and hung his head. Please, I’m not dumb enough to...

“Who?” The words slipped from my muzzle before I could sensor myself. Fuck. “Are you asking about Pinstripe?” Fine, remember this, Night; when everything goes to shit, you spent some of the last of your time alive asking about pointless bullshit.

“You’re going to put me out of a job.” Violet remarked smartly as she hovered upside down in front of me. Instinctively, I waved my hoof to bat her away, and the vision of her wisped away like a cloud in the wind.

“Tall Tale.” Happy at least had the forethought to keep his volume down a bit as he answered me. Though, Tall Tale’s slightly crimped and half melted looking ears did move. I couldn’t be sure if it wasn’t just them moving in the slight breeze that whipped across the open area around us, but I had to hope he wasn’t listening in. If I could barely stand listening to Happy, then goddesses help us if this asshole got annoyed. “I can’t remember, but I know I remember that guy from somewhere.” Happy’s words sounded off, well, off for him. It sounded like he actually was puzzled by something for once, even if that something probably shouldn’t be questioned right now.

“I-it’s best n-not to ask.” Pinstripe stuttered out, keeping his eyes pinned to the ground as we trotted along. At least I wasn’t the only one thinking this wasn’t the best line of conversation at the moment. “He d-doesn’t like when po-ponies ask about his job.”

I rolled my eye at how stupid that sounded, but as I did I caught a glimpse of movement in the air above us. Loitering there in complete silence, hanging in front of the backdrop of a small cloud, was a silverfish drone. It was ever so slightly drifting with us, at the same pace we were walking at. I couldn’t help but feel like DJ PowerColt was watching us right now, studying us, studying me.

Which of course, made this the exact moment my hoof caught on one of the old rails, and I stumbled down onto the dirt.

“Woah, Night, you alright?” Happy asked as I felt him step up and help me back onto my hooves.

“Yeah, just… misstepped is all.” Shaking my head out, I looked up to see the blank, smiling expression that Tall Tale’s mask held staring at me.

“One missed step on this job, and you’re dead.” He spoke roughly, forcing another cloud of pink out of the nose holes of his mask. “I’ve only failed one heist in my career, and I don’t plan on failing another. Now, watch your step and pay attention once we’re inside. Your lives depend on it.”

“Career?” Happy muttered to himself as he softly brushed the dust and gravel off my neck. He gave a gasp as I turned to look up at him, and without thinking he patted down my muzzle. Without seeming to care, he hopped over the tracks and after Tall Tale as I simply deadpanned at him. “Hey, that’s it! I know where you’re from!”

“Oh really?” Tall Tale grumbled as he trotted up along the side of the red warehouse. His horn flared to life, and his used his magic to open the door just ahead of him. “And why should I care that some nopony like you knows what I do in this city?”

“No, not in Cantercross. From before the war ended!” Happy blurted out loudly. For some reason, his words caused Tall Tale to freeze up and slowly turn his mask’s empty gaze to look at the mule. “You're Tall Tale, from the 'It happened at the mare's fair' movie! Part of the Rodeo gang who were robbing the bank, right? Before the King showed up and stopped the whole gang, saving the day!”

“Hah.” Tall Tale gave out what was almost a gurgling laugh that forced another jet of pink from his mask. “That was some group of poor imitations in cheap suits and masks for a movie. Hardly an adequate representation of us. But how the fuck would you know about that hack and his terrible films, anyway?”

“Hack!?” Happy’s gasp shot the distinct possibility into my mind that he was about to say something incredibly stupid to the only guy keeping him alive at the moment. “The King was no hack. He was one of the greatest actors-slash-singers of all time! Only a moron wouldn’t be able to appreciate the genius he was.”

Yeah, this was going to get out of hoof fairly quickly...

“Please,” Tall ground his hoof into the dirt,.standing a bit more stiffly than he had been before. “He was as much of a two dimensional character in real life as he was in his movies. I don't know why all the mares back then cared for him when all he did was shake his fucking hips at them. But he was a fucking disgrace of an entertainer, and didn’t know the meaning of true showponyship like the whole gang did. Your ‘King’ was nothing but a two bit side act that garnered the attention of whores and trollips.” With another snort of pink, the four of us were dropped into a tense silence.

“I-I told y-you…” Pinstripe tried to keep his voice at a whisper as both he and I made our way toward Happy. But as he spoke, Happy started to quake with the same rage Delilah had the day everything fell apart. I knew what was coming, so I pushed myself to act.

“You fucking take that back!” Happy snarled as he sprung toward Tall Tale. To his credit, he didn’t flinch at all between the point Happy leapt, to the point where I landed on top of the mule and forced him into the dirt. “Fucking get off of me!” For my troubles of stopping him from getting himself killed, again, I got a hoof to the face. “I don’t need to be talked down to by some two bit, Rodeo gang, hooligan!”

“Happy, shut the fuck up!” I snapped at him as I rubbed at my snout. Of course, Happy didn’t take kindly to that and shoved me off of him altogether. Seriously, he had a fucking deathwish, and I knew I was going to regret saving his flank even more than I already did.

“R-rodeo g-gang?” Pinstripe stuttered as he came to help me up. He wore a kind smile across his admittedly nervous muzzle, but I’d take what I could get. “I… I don’t u-understand, who are t-they?”

“Wartime gangsters, some of the most infamous in the world.” Happy sneered as Tall Tale groaned and trotted inside the warehouse, leaving the three of us outside. “Tall Tale here was the mastermind, and his whole greedy gang worked for a bunch of the old world crime families.”

“So he’s always been an asshole. Got it.” I grumbled as I took Pinstripe’s hoof. He easily pulled me back to my hooves, having more strength than I expected for as nervous as he was. “Thanks Pinstripe.”

“D-don’t mention it.” He smiled and gave me a pat on the side.

“I’ll give him one thing, he’s not wrong.” Tall Tale’s annoyed voice resonated through the sheet metal wall of the rusty building. “Be it for the Calzones, Stardust Stalliatore, the Black or even White Hoof families, we did jobs for everypony. We held no loyalties, we hated the Ministry of Morale, got results, and we worked for ourselves.” His semi-melted horn flared up with a few sparks as he produced a terrifying small black box from inside the warehouse. To be honest, the only reason it was terrifying was because it had a little red button on it. A button that I was sure I knew what happened to our necks when he pressed it. “So then, if you know me as well as you claim, then you already know that I fucking hatewitnesses with loud mouths.”

“Hey, there’s no call for that.” I spoke up, stepping up between Happy and Tall Tale. “We’re cooperating, alright? We won’t have anymore problems, right, Happy?” I only glanced over my shoulder at him, but I could tell from his silence that he wasn’t particularly thrilled with that prospect. So to hammer it home, I gave him a kick with my rear hoof.

“Yeah.” He grumbled.

“Good.” Tall Tale’s horn flashed and the remote disappeared from view again. Fucking cheating unicorns and their teleporting shit around. “Stripe, get the motorwagon prepped.”

“Y-yes, sir!” Pinstripe stammered before galloping into the large building. Tall Tale followed him into the door, letting me get a small breath in before everything fell apart again like I knew it would.

“I’m sorry, Night.” Happy sighed as he stepped up beside me. “Look, I'm trying to keep it together.” Really? This was him trying? “But losing Ma'? It's going to fuck me up for a while after this.” Fine, I guess I couldn’t be too mad at him for that. I’d at least had more time to grieve than he’s had. “But…” He paused as he offered me what I could only call a compassionate look from his bruised and swollen up face. “I wanted you to know, that I'm thankful that you came for me. You didn't have to, you could have left me there to die.”

“No, I couldn't have.” I lied. Reaching up, I pat him on the side as I tried to convince myself that this trouble would somehow all be worth his life. “We'll get through this, Happy. Then we'll go kill the crap out of Solomon.”

“But, you do know they’re just going to kill us after we do what they want!” He let out a small, pitiful whimper that I completely sympathised with. But unfortunately for me, between the two of us, I had to be the pony to make sure we got through this alive.

“Oh, I know. I’ll… think of something.” I gave him a nod, watching as Happy forced a smile and trotted off into the warehouse. “Yeah, something…”

“Seriously, you know that mule’s not worth it.” Violet’s voice resonated through my mind as she appeared just inside the doorway, as Happy slipped out of sight. “Buck could be dead right now for all you know. You don’t have time to go playing hero for Happy’s sake.”

“Buck’s life is out of my hooves right now, and I don’t really have a choice.” I glared at Violet, feeling as the strain of that caused the pain to flare up again behind my prosthetic. I lifted my leg, stopping myself just short of pressing my dust coated hoof against the crystal eye. Yeah, that wouldn’t have ended well. You need to get ahold of yourself, Night. She’s not real. “Just shut up until I get some more Chill, alright?”

“Fine.” Violet sighed as she apperated away. “Doesn’t change the facts about this being a waste of time.”

Following Happy into the smaller warehouse, I was relieved to see that outside the four of us in here, we were alone. It had just as many piles of junk lined up along the sides as the main one, and most of the entire rear wall was covered in different kinds of tools. Three parallel rail troughs were built into the ground in the same fashion as the other warehouse, albeit quite a bit shorter as the troughs mosty ran outside the open front doors. Only the center rail trough currently had a vehicle on it, and as Pinstripe was eagerly checking it over, I could easily assume it was the motorwagon we’d come here for.

While I wasn’t an expert, I’d never seen a motorwagon design quite like this one. It was a squat, boxy looking vehicle that felt so out of place that it couldn’t help but hold your attention. With an overall almost wedge-like shape, it was a far cry from the curvy and streamlined rocket-esque design of the motorwagons in wartime advertisements. It was also a flat silver color that was remarkably untouched by rust for it’s two century old age, though the nearly all rust orange, multi-spoked train wheels that had been bolted in place of rubber wheels weren’t so spotless. A pair of box-shaped fins sat bolted to the rear of it, and a wooden rack filled with all sorts of talisman and spell circuits sat bolted to the hood and strapped down with leather strips for good measure.

“What the fuck is that piece of junk?” Happy blurted out with the same bluntness that was normally reserved for use by my own muzzle. “I’ve seen better looking motorwagons in old wrecking yards!”

“Yeah, well that’s our transport.” Tall Tale grumbled from around one of the junk piles. I trotted around the edge of it, finding him approaching what looked like a scale model of the nearby mountains. “The CMC-12 will get the job done though. At least, it better with all the caps we’ve dumped into it.”

Curious, I turned and headed over towards the diorama. Sure enough, it looked like a scale model of the range just south of Cantercross, with the criss crossing and twisting rail lines running around in various places. There was a small wooden mockup of the motorwagon we were here with, and what looked like a foal’s toy train just to the north of the scaled down Cantercross city.

“So, ‘mastermind’, tell me, what’s the plan?” As I walked up to it, my eyes swept over a section of rail line that almost did a full loop around one of the more level pieces of terrain. On it, was a toy tank with a frowny face painted onto it. “I need to know what we’re here to do. What’s the end goal?”

“In a few hours, the Ouroboros will pass through downtown Cantercross on its annual trip.” Tall Tale’s horn lit up as he spoke, pushing the toy train along the tracks. “A quarter mile from here, there’s a junction that merges the maintenance yard tracks into the main line. The main line just after that is a good straight section of track headed southward. Once the Ouroboros passes, the track lockdown will lift, and we’ll pull onto one of the adjacent parallel tracks.” As he moved the train onto the straightaway he mentioned, his magic pushed the motorwagon up beside the train. “From there, we’ll only have six minutes to catch up and get onboard before we hit ‘the gradient’.”

“What’s ‘the gradient’?” Happy spoke up as he decided that maybe he should be listening to things that could save his life for once.

“Trains don’t like climbing up slopes, even the relatively light three degree slope of ‘the gradient’. But, the thing is, neither does the CMC-12 there.” Tall Tale gave a nod back toward the motorwagon as Pinstripe crawled into the rail trough and disappeared underneath the vehicle. “This old Chrysalis piece of junk could hardly pull a hundred and forty two kilometers per hour on a good road, and she's even slower now that she's on the rails. To compensate, she's got a set of skybus flight talismans installed on her frame to help reduce friction, and we've set up sixteen rockets in those housings on her rear end. She won't be able to maintain a constant pace with the Ouroboros, but she'll have eight kicks worth of speed to get her close enough to get us onboard. But, that’s only half of our problem.”

Tall Tale’s magic pushed the two vehicles up along the tracks, quickly bringing them to the loop with the tank.

“What happens at the tank?” It wasn’t a pit in my stomach, but all the same I knew that the answer to my question wasn’t going to be something to look forward to.

“Cordite happens.” He grunted, sending a pair of jetting plumes of pink from the nose of his mask. “We’ll be ringing around the edge of their main staging yard in the old army proving grounds. Like everypony else in the north, they know the Ouroboros is coming, and every year they line their tanks up to salute the train as it passes. Thing is, I don’t know what they’ll do when they see us on the rails with it, and for twenty five seconds, we’ll be in range of every big gun they have.”

“Okay, let’s say we get through all that untouched.” I offered, following the tracks past the Cordite tank and into a section that looked like it ran straight along the edge of a mountain. I really hoped that the scaled down mountain wasn’t modeled correctly, because this edge was so steep it might as well have been a cliff. “What next?”

“We’ll have another six minutes to get onboard as we head up to and run along the edge of Diablo canyon.” He pushed both vehicles up along the side of the cliff, though the model of the motorwagon was forced to dangle along the edge. “After that, we hit the next junction at the other side, where the lines separate, and we lose our chance to get onboard this year.”

“Why can’t we just stay on the tracks with it?” Happy managed to ask before my muzzle could even open halfway. Honestly, I didn’t know if him spouting things like this was a good thing. Or perhaps I should be concerned that him making himself ‘useful’ for once, was pretty much my go-to way I went about working things out... “How come we can’t just go until we run out of rockets?”

“It’s doubtful we’ll even have any more rockets left by that point,” Tall Tale snorted as he pushed both vehicles even further, rounding them past the mountain’s edge and past where I could see. “But if we were to follow, we’d have only an extra two minutes to get the package off the Ouroboros before a century old landslide laying across the tracks derails the CMC-12.”

“Wait,” This time, my muzzle was faster than Happy, and drew out a small gasp from under the ‘CMC-12’, as I was now assuming was the motorwagon’s name. “how is the Ouroboros going to get around the landslide then?”

“It’s because…!” Pinstripe popped his head out of the trench with a wide smile and a cheerful look in his eyes.

“Quiet, stripe. Get back to work.” Tall Tale snapped at him, and almost just by voice, drove Pinstripe back down out of sight. Turning back to Happy and I, Tall Tale sighed. “It’s because the Ouroboros has magic that can project rails underneath it when the track is damaged. It doesn’t actually need real rails, and can simply go around the landslide. The motorwagon however will derail at that point, and I’m not about to lose it after how many caps Mr. Wizard has invested into it.” His horn flared as he picked the model train and motorwagon up off the tracks, levitating them back to their starting points before glaring at me. “But if Mr. Wizard is correct and you won’t be targeted by the anti-air defences, then we should already be onboard to redirect the train before it even hits the gradient.”

“Well, if Night’s in the air,” Happy raised a hoof to tap at his chin as his eyes were locked on the toy train on the scale model. “Then how’s the motorwagon going to get close? That pink jerk told us that the last pony to get a train nearby had it melted right off the tracks.”

“Yes, it was ill advised for those mercs to think their antique locomotive could stand up to the anti-dragon cannon mounted in the rear gun carriage.” Tall Tale muttered that under his breath like he was almost insulted by that. I myself was too busy trying to comprehend what he’d just said to question why he was annoyed.

“Are you fucking kidding me!?” I spat out. “A fucking anti-dragon cannon!?”

“That’s the biggest gun they’ve got on it.” Tall Tale groaned as he sat down on his haunches and kept a flat gaze at me. “There's also three sets of anti-air magical energy weapons, as well as both good old fashioned Flak cannons and a pair of lead spewing machine guns in armored ports to deter anypony who feels like coming in from the sides.”

“So how the fuck am I supposed to get onboard?” I forced my good eye closed as I could feel a headache coming on. “With that much firepower, we’d need a fucking Raptor to even get close to the fucking train!” Seriously, this was a suicide run if I was supposed to come up against firepower of that magnitude.

“Well it’s your lucky day, because the device that stripe over there built will protect us from the guns.” Tall Tale’s almost begrudging tone, to be honest, kinda annoyed me. It was enough to think that Pinstripe could be owned, but at least give the guy some credit when it comes to the gear that’s going to save your life. “It’s a jamming field that should scramble every targeting talisman within a hundred meters of the CMC-12. It’s not an incredibly forgiving distance, so once we’re in range of the defencive guns, we need to get close and stay close.” Reaching out, he prodded Happy with a forehoof. “Once fly-girl here is onboard, you’re going to take over driving and get me close enough to get onboard as well, got it?”

“Me?” Happy nearly shouted as he flailed his forehoof and shoved Tall Tale’s hoof away.

“Our intel says there’s a safe aboard that’s got what Mr. Wizard needs inside it, and only I will be able to open it.” Tall Tale snapped at Happy, forcing him to shrink back from the diorama. “Once I have the package, you keep the motorwagon close enough for me to get it and myself back on the CMC-12.”

“We can do this, Happy. You can do this.” I lied to him. I’d spent enough time around Happy to know that this was going to be more work than he’d ever done in his life. Celestia knows he’ll probably crumple under the pressure of it, but I had to believe we could do this.

“Your jobs are simple.” Tall continued, glancing over at me with what I could only relate as a dismissive look. “Fly-girl gets on board and opens up a door to the inside of the rear carriage,” As he had before, he turned and prodded at Happy again. This time, each prod was accompanied with a jet of pink smoke that made Happy pull back from him even more. “and you keep the CMC-12 in range to get me onto the train before we hit the end of Diablo canyon. Do I make myself clear?”

Both Happy and I traded nervous looks, but nodded. Seriously, this was a lot of variables needing to line up for us to pull this off. Almost on cue, a knot in my stomach clenched up, and I got a bad feeling about all of this. Shit, my curse wasn’t going to let this go well, was it?

“H-hey, we have a p-p-problem.” Pinstripe stuttered out as he popped his nervous gaze out from under the motorwagon again. “I didn’t r-realize that s-some c-capacitors here were burned o-out. I’ll n-need new ones i-if you want the j-jammer to work. And...” His eyes darted over to me nervously before dropping down to the floor. “I… I don’t h-have anymore at m-my workb-bench.” I almost felt guilty that he’d used the spare capacitors on my jump pack, but then again, it’s not like Mr. Wizard and friends were paying for them or something.

“Ugh. You’re useless, you know that?” Tall Tale groaned. His mask gave a small clack when he facehooved, and a slow, trailing cloud of pink drifted from it as he let out a long sigh. “Fine, I’ll grab you some new ones.” Jabbing his hoof toward Happy and I, Tall Tale glared as best he could through the soulless black eyes of his mask. “Stay put, or all I’ll have to do is get the remote back out, and you’ll all be dead. Got it?”

“Yeah, we’ve got it.” I grunted and tried my best to glare back at Tall Tale. He didn’t react as he trotted off, leaving Happy, Pinstripe, and I in the silence of the warehouse. Happy shifted beside me, and I turned to find him nearly on the tips of his hooves, ears perked as Tall Tale’s hoofsteps trotted into obscurity outside.

“Alright, what’s the plan?” Happy asked bluntly. He kept his voice down a bit, but shifted a suspicious glare over to Pinstripe’s curious gaze.

“Still working on it.” Honestly, I wasn’t sure what we could do at the moment. “So far, it’s just get us on the train, and then find a way to overpower Tall Tale. We’re going to have to work together for this, so I need you to buck up because you’re all the help I’ve got, Happy.” My eyes wandered over to Pinstripe’s more relaxed look now that Tall Tale had stepped out. Seeing him like that sparked an idea in my mind. “Actually…” Turning, I trotted over toward the motorwagon and our new chimeric pony friend. “Hey, Pinstripe, do you think maybe you could help us?”

“I d-don’t know?” A nervous smile crept across his face as I trotted up, and he shrank back down into the trough a bit. “I shouldn’t. If they f-find out, t-they’ll p-p-punish…”

“They already punish you though, don’t they?” The words slipped from my muzzle, pinning him like needles as he winced at each word. “Please, we need your help. I promise that once we’re free, we’ll come help you get free too.”

“I… I don’t k-know…” He whimpered as he shrunk further as his nervous eyes darted all over the place. At this point, he was only about a half hoofstep away from laying flat on the floor, but his steady and attentive ears meant he was still listening.

“Would it help if I promised to find a way to get you up to Destruction Bay?” I offered my hoof down into the recessed trough, as well as the friendliest smile I could muster up. There wasn’t any way I could guarantee anything, and I had no idea how I’d even arrange for that trip anyway. But right now, he was the only help we were going to get. All he needed was a little nudge. “I wasn’t lying before, you aren’t alone. Help us, and I’ll help to prove that to you.”

He sat there for a moment, staring up and studying me. I knew it was going to be a hard decision for him, and I can’t imagine what they’d do to him if he got caught. It was a risk I was willing to take, but I wasn’t going to force that risk onto him if he said no.

“F-fine.” He nodded as he slowly pushed himself back up to a sitting position. “What did y-you have in mind?”

“Can you remove these?” Happy stepped up to the edge of the trough, hoofing up at the collar around his neck. I gave him a smack on the back of his head.

“No.” I snapped at him. Unsurprisingly, the look of profound confusion across his muzzle bordered on that of rage. “What, you think he won’t notice we’re missing our collars when he gets back?” Rolling my eyes, Happy gave a gasp of what I could assume was understanding. “However, what if we could make sure we could remove them at an opportune moment?” Looking back down, my eyes traveled from Pinstripe up to the CMC-12. “Tall Tale said this thing could jam radio signals. How many other things do you think it could jam?”

The smile that crawled across Pinstripe’s muzzle told me all I needed to know. We were in business, and there was at least a chance that Happy and I could make it through this job with our heads still attached to our necks. All I had to do was make sure that I somehow made it up to the poor guy for risking his own neck for us. But if this worked out, then I was going to find a way to take down Mr. Wizard, and free all the slaves he had.

“That is of course,” Violet whispered into my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. “if the Ouroboros doesn’t end up killing us first…”

Hours passed as Pinstripe ran his final checks on the CMC-12, and Tall Tale ran through the plan with us a few more times. In that time, I’d gotten another dose of Chill to stave off the worst symptoms, but I felt like it wasn’t enough. I know I should be thankful for getting any at all, but Tall Tale wasn’t about to hoof me an entire bottle before the job. Still, the fear of suffering from withdrawals while on the job sat bolted to the back of my mind, and to be honest it scared me more than the other dangers of the job itself did.

It both surprised me and, somehow, wasn’t surprising just how little Tall Tale knew about the Ouroboros. The more Tall Tale ran through things, the more it was clear to me that he made a point to be organized on his jobs. So the fact that we had so little to go on other than a base outline of the train’s defences, and Mr. Wizard’s hunch about me, well, it worried me.

Still, as it hit late afternoon, I made sure my jump pack was on tight as I walked out of the small maintenance warehouse and into the lowering afternoon sunlight. Looking up into the sky, I noted the few lumpy wild clouds passing overhead. They reminded me of the dream Lilac Lace had guided me through, soaring through the skies directionless, independent, and completely free. Deep down inside, I felt like I wanted nothing more right now than to take off and drift around with those free clouds.

But I couldn’t.

The collar around my neck might as well have been an anchor for now. And as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t just abandon Happy. Even without caring about him, what use was flying around in the skies anymore if that freedom was all I had in my life? I had purpose with the Convoy. I had a family again. And now that they’re gone… I just want to hold on to what little I had left, even if it wasn’t the best parts of the life I’d started to build for myself.

“You know there’s a real chance he’s already gone.” Violet’s voice floated through the air by my side. “All you’ll have left is Hispano, and even then, how long until she too dies?”

“That’s not going to happen.” I muttered to myself as I kept my eyes focused on the skies. I wouldn’t let my own psyche tear me down now. There was too much at stake for me to be distracted.

“He’s up there right now.” Tall Tale’s voice came from behind me. Slowly, I turned to see him walk to me with his masked head pointed up toward the clouds. “Sitting, waiting, watching. I say let the bastard watch. I want him to know that I’m coming for him.”

“A bit over dramatic, much?” Violet snorted into my ear.

“Hey,” I spoke up, bringing the blank eyes on the fake smiling mask of his down to me. “What the hell happened to you that made you want to be such an asshole?”

“Hah.” He grunted and forced out a puff of pink smoke out from his mask. “You need to watch your fucking muzzle before you say something you’re going to regret.”

“That wasn’t an answer.” I could hear the amusement in Violet’s voice, and it brought a smirk to my muzzle. “He’s deflecting.”

“I’m just curious is all.” I shrugged and looked back up toward the open skies. “You mentioned specifically that you hated the Ministry of Morale earlier. Was it something they did back in the day that made you a crotchety old bastard?”

The loud sigh that Tall Tale gave out was positively filled with aggravation. A thicker than normal cloud of pink drifted up into the air through the peripheral vision of my good eye. Good, let the jerk suffer my questions. The angrier he gets, the bigger the mistake he’ll make when it counts.

“Ask again,” He growled at me as he ground his forehooves into the pavement, “and I’ll…”

“You said it yourself, you need me for this job.” I laughed at his frustration, keeping my eyes locked on one of the faster moving clouds drifting around. “Your threats mean nothing to me because of that, so don’t waste my time with them.” Shrugging again, I tilted my head over and shot him a sideways glance. “Either answer my question, or walk away. Those are your choices.”

From my glance, I waited for his frustration to intensify. Some sign that he was only getting more angry, like a tremble or growl. However, he only stood there for a moment before he actually looked more relaxed. Without a word, he simply turned himself around and trotted back inside.

Part of me felt like if Hardcase had seen that exchange, he would have given me the biggest damn hug in the world.

“What a coward.” Violet laughed as she hovered down out of the air above where he’d been standing. “He’s running from something in his past.” With a smile, she turned her judgemental eyes on me. “But you wouldn’t know at all what that’s like, would you?”

“Hey, at least I know how to move on.” I glared at her. As my own words filtered into my ears, I watched her smile widen as I scrunched up my muzzle. Yeah, telling that to the face of the drug induced hallucination of Violet did seem a bit hypocritical of me. “Well, mostly.”

“Eh, I mean, I’m ‘technically’ you so I get it.” She shrugged as she turned back just in time to watch Tall Tale slip out of sight into the warehouse. “Besides, knowing your cursed luck, that asshole’s going to trip and blow his own brains out or something.”

“Pft.” I laughed to myself at that. “Fuck, I wish my curse worked that way. If only I could get so lucky.”

A short whistling picked up and drifted through the afternoon air. There was a pause before another similar whistle followed it. As I turned my ears to try to find the source of the sound, the glint of the silverfish in the air above me caught my eye as it turned and drifted off down the train line.

“Let’s go!” Tall Tale’s annoyed shout reverberated through the walls of the old building before the surprisingly high pitched whine of the CMC’s arcane engine picked up.

With a grace that was unexpected from such a chunky shaped vehicle, the motorwagon slowly rolled itself out of the warehouse. Cantering out nervously behind it was Happy, who looked unsure of how to get inside of the odd vehicle. With a hiss, the passenger side of the CMC-12 opened up, revealing it’s door to be that of an awkward gull-winged design. Tall Tale brought the motorwagon to a stop on the rails just next to me, dragging an open duffle bag between the passenger and driver seats to make room for Happy.

The interior of the motorwagon was beyond cramped. Various glowing bits, bobs, and spell talismans had been bolted around most of the inside, leaving very little unused space for whomever decided to sit in the two small seats. Along the centerline of the car however, and pinned to the rear firewall between the seats, sat a glowing box that looked like it housed a still functional micro-spark reactor. From it’s exposed state, and based on the ceramic casing around it’s glowing magical heart, it must have been stripped out from a set of Enclave power armor...

Then of course, there was Tall Tale’s toolbag. Inside said bag, was a bunch of tools and various things. A couple weapons including a sawed off pump action shotgun and a standard issue nine millimeter pistol sat close to the top. Along with common power tools, a mess of wires, arcane talismans, and unidentifiable devices filled out the rest of the bag. However, what caught my eye the most was the silver apple shaped explosive hidden amongst the various objects.

“What’s the stuff in the bag for?” I asked Tall Tale as Happy slowed to a trot as he caught up with the CMC-12.

“Tools for the job. Nothing you need to worry about.” Tall Tale to his credit, didn’t seem to give two shits about saying anything more than he needed to me now. Guess I must have really hit a nerve in asking about his past. “There’s not enough room for all three of us inside. So fly-girl, you get to ride on top. There’s a bar up there for you to hold onto until we catch up.”

“Fine by me.” I grumbled as I turned and trotted past Happy. “Remember the plan.”

“Yeah. Be careful, Night.” Happy offered to me as he passed by, holding what felt like a sincere but altogether terrified look across his face. I simply nodded to him as he climbed into the motorwagon and pulled the gull-winged door down behind him.

I stepped around the back of the motorwagon and pulled myself up onto the bumper. I glanced into the back of both of the bulky makeshift fins on either side of me, and cringed as I noted that the ‘rockets’ Tall Tale had mentioned looked to be just that. Standard anti-machine rockets had been slotted into each snug grid of the boxy fins, albeit they were at least missing their warheads. Well, points had to be given for wasteland ingenuity I guess...

The moment I pulled my rear hoof up off the tracks, Tall Tale got us moving again. Carefully, I pulled myself up onto the sloped rear of the vehicle, feeling the warmth and vibrations of the motorwagon’s arcane engine right underneath me. Giving a final check, I tugged at the straps of my jump pack, and lifted the flap on my chest that hid the priming button. Alright, here’s hoping that Pinstripe is as good a technician as he thinks he is.

Pressing the button down, a whine higher than that of the CMC-12’s engine filled my ears. It started where the pack’s whine normally did, but picked up to its full intensity in a single second flat. Not to mention, I didn’t feel the warmth of the pack at all against my back anymore, only feeling the warmth that Celestia’s glorious sun beamed down onto me.

As the motorwagon got up to what I would consider a galloping speed, another whistle filled the air around us. Not from my pack, but through the forest that followed the rail lines ahead. It was the same whistle I’d heard not two minutes ago, and much closer than before. Where it had sounded quite far off the first time, it almost sounded as if it was right ahead of us now.

Looking ahead, I could see the point where the maintenance tracks merged with a pair of rails that ran north and southbound. Next to where the tracks met, stood a rusted but still intact post with a box at the top of it. A pair of lights on it faced us, and the lower one glowed red in what I could only assume meant was a signal that we needed to stop. However, Tall Tale didn’t slow down at all, and instead, started to pick up speed.

Before I could question what the hell he was doing, another blaring whistle filled the air. It was loud enough that I had to fold my ears back and press my hooves to them to attempt to mute the noise at all. Celestia above, did it have to be so loud!?

As I cringed from the painful noise, a blur shot across the tracks ahead of us. The speeding form of a bright and shiny silver train was there and gone in all but an instant, leaving my eyes drawn to the blaring red light now laying only a dozen meters ahead of us. The signal flicked to green, and the tracks we were on shifted to line up with the other rails almost the moment we’d reached them.

I wasn’t ready when the CMC-12 turned, and found my choice of holding down my ears almost ending up with me thrown from the side of the motorwagon. Painfully, I flopped down hard against the left side rocket-fin and braced myself against it. I held on for dear life as my head hung over the edge and my eye locked onto the ground as it sped by under me.

I’d endured plenty of g-forces pulling maneuvers in flight, and I out of any pegasus should know how painful it is to hit the ground. But there’s just something about a pair of wheels sharp enough to cleave a pony in half that really makes a pony nervous about falling to the ground…

The turn was over fast enough, and I did my best to quickly pull myself back from the side of the car as Tall Tale floored it and we picked up speed again. The arcane engine under me put a whine in the air that just barely beat out the click-clacks of the tracks as we really got moving. However, as I hooked my hooves around the bar that had been set up so thoughtfully for me to hold onto, my eye trailed up the rail line ahead. Even though it had just passed us, it was almost a mile ahead of us and getting further away by the second.

My hearing died with a deafening bang, and I was nearly thrown off the motorwagon again. The deafening noise of the rocket exhaust sounded like it was splitting the air itself in our wake, and I struggled to keep my eyes and wings closed as we accelerated. The boost of speed whisked the CMC-12 up to a much faster speed than any vehicle had a right to go. Seriously, I knew speed, and this was way too fast even for me to be comfortable.

With the boost over, I figured it was safe enough to take a glance through a squinting eye. I found that through that whole ordeal, we’d only closed a small amount of distance to the Ouroboros with that boost. Like, seriously? How fast was this fucking train going!

Knowing what was to come, I pushed myself as flat as I could against the CMC-12 and tightened my grip around the bar. Almost as soon as I’d closed my eye again, the next set of rockets fired. The jolt from the acceleration was just as bad this time around, but being prepared did a lot to keep it a little more manageable.

As the second set of boosters died out, and the howling drone of the air moving over me filled my ears again, a new sound joined it. It was a heavy and quick clacking, much like the sound of us moving over the rails before, but this was loud enough that it shook even the CMC-12 under me.

Opening my eye, the wide silver rear of the Ouroboros sat ahead of us on the adjacent tracks. Having seen things like the Black Beetle before, I knew trains were big, but this was ridiculously enormous. The rear cart was what looked to be a solid cylinder of chromed steel that pushed the boundaries of what would fit on a single line of track.

Several angular cutouts along the rear car held smooth, vented gunbarrels that swiveled around on their recessed mounts to point towards us as we approached. As if that wasn’t bad enough, part of the top of the armored carriage gave a hiss and split down the middle. Raising into sight above it, a turret that would have looked more at home on a skytank lifted up and began to turn towards us. Three barrels sat along the centerline of the gun, two smaller ones that looked like old flak autocannons, and the large middle barrel that was instantly recognizable to any Enclave citizen. That was a genuine anti-dragon cannon alright...

I cringed as a flash of light dimmed the world around me. A bubble of purple pulsed out from the CMC-12, extending out around us in all directions before becoming too opaque to see. The multiple guns on the train shuttered sharply as the bubble swept over them, sending them all aiming at anything except us.

Thank Celestia for that, I guess Pinstripe does know his shit!

There was a pair of thumps from under me, pulling my attention down. It was quickly followed by yet another pair of thumps that I’m guessing was the signal that it was my turn to act. Okay, Night, you’ve only got a couple of shots at this, so don’t screw this up!

Taking a deep breath, I pushed myself to a somewhat crouched position on the back of the speeding railway motorwagon. As I thought about just how I was going to go about getting onto the train, I noticed that it was starting to pull away from us. Shit, I guess it’s boost first, figure out how to come down later!

Shifting my weight onto my haunches, I lifted my head up, closed my eyes, and hit the button in my fetlock.

As anticipated, my hearing dropped away as I was catapulted high up into the air. The acceleration was sharper than I’d remembered it being, hurtling me faster than ever. And while I could still feel the hot exhaust nipping at the flesh of my real rear hoof, it was much more restrained and focused. It wasn’t just the increased air pressure on me that pulled my muzzle into a smile as I soared higher and higher, it was the incredible feeling of freedom I felt from being in the open skies once more.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The free and open skies closed around me as the train below opened up with a wild barrage of flack, and lancing magical energy beams. To be completely fair, the targeting systems were still being jammed up by the CMC-12, however it was quite clear that the train wasn’t going to let me on without a fight. It did help that the flak was random, but that wasn’t going to help when an unaimed shot just happened to blast me into a fine red mist. So with that in mind, I panicked and flared my wings open as clouds of black shrapnel filled the air ahead of me.

I tweaked my wings and rolled myself over into a steep dive back towards the train below. With how fast I’d gotten from the launch, my flat feathers slipped through the air like a hot knife through butter. It helped to keep drag from being much of an issue at all, even as I started to pull up. As I tried to level myself out, I rolled to the side slightly, and found myself beginning to turn a lot faster than I normally could.

“Just like during the fight on the way in to Cantercross, right?” Violet’s voice resonated in my mind as she appeared to glide through the air right beside me. Goddesses, she was the last thing I needed to focus on right now. “You wonder why that is? Remember years ago back at flight camp, they explained to you that...”

BOOM

Violet disappeared in a burst of flack, and I let out a cry as I felt a few of the fragments punch into my hide. Reflexively I dipped down lower, dropping just above and alongside the heavy military train as it thundered along the rails. From the corner of my vision, I watched as the turret on the train rotated around behind me.

*KRAK-ZOT!*

I pulled up as it let off a premature shot of magical energy lanced through the treeline behind me. The heat from the powerful anti-dragon cannon’s beam sent a bolt of fear through me that convinced me that I should probably gain a bit more altitude. And though I couldn’t afford to look back, it sounded like that beam brought down every single tree it had hit.

Alright, Night, no pressure. Just find that door before you’re vaporized by either flak or magical energy weapons, that’s all you’ve got to do! Easy-peasy, right? Glancing forward, I let a small ‘eep’ escape my muzzle as I spotted a fairly large trussed bridge that stretched across the tracks. At the speed we were going, if I didn’t get down on that train now, I was going to find myself flat against the old steel bridge fairly shortly!

Tweaking my wings, I brought myself up slightly, aiming to come down on top of the rear car of the Ouroborus. I could feel my speed draining off with every maneuver now, so this was my only chance before that bridge hit. The moment I was over the armored rear car, I pulled my forelegs in toward my barrel and sharply dipped downward.

I slammed down against the cold, hard steel armor, bouncing once before I folded my wings and came to a stop. I could hear as we passed under the bridge with only moments to spare, and I let out a relieved sigh. Okay, the hard part was over, now I just needed to find a way inside.

I fought to keep my good eye at barely a squint as the draft of the powerful locomotive battered me. The frozen air rushed over it’s roof, and pressed against me with remarkable force. Pushing myself up to my hooves, I let out a shiver.

Fuck, I was starting to wonder if I should have bought that Shadow Bolt outfit back in Fort Mac. That outfit was built to protect a pegasus against all weather conditions. Even with my pegasus body insulation, the speed and thickness of the air here was quickly wicking away what warmth I had. Fuck it, too late to worry about it now.

The sounds of the hydraulic systems that ran the heavy turret I’d crashed in front of was somewhat lost to me over the noise of the wind and running train. What wasn’t lost to me however, was the vibrations it gave off, as well as the fact that the heavy barrel of it’s cannon was swinging around toward me. For a cannon that size, it spun quicker than I’d expected.

But this wasn’t my first cannon barrel rodeo. Having made the mistake of getting caught by this trick on Guiness and Zibar’s tank, I quickly pushed myself back towards the turret. With my wings pressed tightly against my back to keep the wind from forcing them open, I scrambled up onto the turret. The moment I was on top, the turret lost track of me and seized up momentarily.

Fairly quickly though, it found another target, and started to once again rotate around. Looking toward the set of parallel tracks running next to the Ouroborus, I found the silver form of the CMC-12 drifting backwards slowly as it’s speed bled off faster and faster. It wasn’t going to be long before they fell back out of range of the jamming talisman, and they couldn’t afford another rocket burn just yet.

Turning myself toward the front of the train, I squinted in the blustering wind again. I had to find a way inside. But… where?

“Hey, what about over here?” Violet’s voice resonated in my mind. I looked up, finding her effortlessly standing above a small glass dome on the train car just ahead of this one. There were two domes on the roof of the car, but maybe she had a point. “You could probably get in through here.”

The dome was small enough I wasn’t sure if I’d even be able to squeeze through it without my jump pack on. Not to mention, the two domes sat near the center of the car, which didn’t give me a lot of options. The moment the CMC-12 was out of range to protect me, I’d have no cover from that turret if it got a line of sight on me.

Still, for now? That dome would suck to work with, but it’d have to do. As the turret neared it’s rotation towards the CMC-12, I stepped off of it. Again, the turret gave a shudder as it came to a stop before starting it’s rotation back toward me. I locked my eyes on the dome ahead, and prayed.

Celestia, I hope this works...

Author's Note

Again, many many thanks to TheFurryRailFan for doing some edits to clean up the chapter. It always helps so much to keep this story presentable, buddy!

And of course, a huge thanks to Kkat for letting us all run around in the wasteland with our own characters, and for creating such a fun and interesting place to begin with!

One last shoutout I have to do, is to ComicSansPony here on FimFiction. I managed to slip in a reference in this chapter to the old world crime family, the Calzones, which is borrowed directly from his new project: Fallout: Equestria – Hold the Pineapple (Audio Files). As his stories always are, it's a short read, but a fun adventure, so why not check it out?

Chapter 58 - Along for the ride

If you are not thoroughly confused, you have not been thoroughly informed.

Warmth.

A divine warmth radiated around myself as I came out of the darkness that had enveloped me. The abrasiveness of what felt like sand under me melded in with a relaxing feeling that flowed through my body and mind. The rhythmic crashes of water, and the stinging smell of salty air piqued my somewhat dulled senses. Finally, the soft calls of some sort of bird caught my attention, and I opened my eyes.

The blinding light of what looked like a sunset was amplified by the calmly flowing ocean waters that sat before me. The rolling waves crashed down, flowing up the pristine white sand beach I found myself on. I could feel the warm water as it lapped at the tips of both of my rear hooves, and it brought a smile to my muzzle. Similarly, the amber and violet hues in the clear skies above me were speckled with the first twinkling stars of the coming night. I don’t think I’d ever seen them this clear before in my whole life...

“Quite a sight, isn’t it?” The ever-stern voice of Delilah came from beside me, and it forced a painful shock down my spine. Looking over, I found her normal neutral expression staring out at the sunlight. “This right here. This was what it was all about.”

“Delilah…” I’d begun to say, but found the rest of my words stolen from me as I took in the sight beyond her.

Row upon row of pristine white villas with bright red clay roofs sat ringing the inside of a wide sweeping valley. Terraced hills of lush green orchards sat interspersed among the tightly packed residences, so much so that I spotted a few ponies pruning the trees from the window of their homes. Even from here I could see that each and every one of the orchard trees were almost overburdened with Oranges, Apples, and various other fruits I’d never even seen before.

The more I looked, the more it all hit me. The sight, the smells, and the sounds of jubilant celebration and pure happiness that came from the villas. It was amazingly beautiful, and I don’t think I’d ever quite seen a place I’d rather want to visit than here. But then again, that’s why I was here at all, right?

“I gave up everything for this town.” Delilah spoke again, pulling my attention back to her. “To bring it back to being the prosperous and safe place I remembered my home used to be as a young jenny.”

The setting sun reflected off of her glasses bright enough that I almost had to shield my eyes from it. Even so, it didn’t seem like it bothered her. Something inside me said that it was only because she always had to be stubborn about something. Moreso, I think it was just because she was too busy enjoying the radiant warmth it gave off in this sunset paradise. And for once, I couldn’t really blame her at all for that.

“Brahman Beach deserves to get that second chance to prosper once more. That's your job to ensure, Night.” Turning only a slight glance at me, her muzzle relaxed into a soft smile. “I may have forgotten my priorities, but I know you won't disappoint me.”

“Wait, but…” I began to speak before a cold ocean wave washed over me.

I nearly choked on the sudden burst of salt water, and immediately gasped as it washed away from me. But before I could take much of another breath, a second wave hit me. This one wrapped around me, sapping away all the warmth that I’d soaked up in a single instant. Not only that, but as the wave started to withdraw from the pristine beaches, it started to take me with it.

I gasped in the free moment I had before the next wave hit, and desperately clawed my hooves into what little sand I could still feel. Alas, as the third wave hit me, it washed over me and dragged me out to sea. Through the clear rolling waves, I drifted away from Delilah and Brahman Beach.

I fought hard against the pull, but every second the water grew colder and more tiring to fight against. It didn’t take me long at all before I finally gave up, and gasped for a breath I wouldn’t find. Painfully, water filled my lungs, and I felt myself get dragged all the way down into freezing and lonely darkness.

Choking and coughing, I roused from unconsciousness on the floor. I gasped and spit up liquid that tasted like the color purple as I tried to make sense of just what the fuck was going on. As I did, my body locked up with a pain that wracked the left side of my head. My muscles fought to move my forehoof up, pressing only lightly against my prosthetic eye.

*Crunch*

I let out a sharp whimper as the pain in my eye socket flared up, and I felt a warm wetness on my forehoof. Drawing it back, I found it drenched in a mix of what looked like healing potion and blood. Not only that, but flecks of shattered crystal were mixed in with it.

“Hey, hey! Take it easy.” Happy’s voice was not the one I’d been wanting to hear as it felt like my head was coming apart. “Goddesses, Night, I… I thought I’d lost you there for a minute.”

“Yeah...” I whined out as I tried to open my left eye. Another soft set of crunches came from it, and it felt like knives were being driven against my eyelid. With a hiss of pain, I instinctively reached up and pressed my hoof against it again. Unsurprisingly, that only made it worse. “I’ll admit, it’s nice to know I’m not dead, but… what the fuck happened?”

“You got fuckin’ lucky.” Happy laughed as he wrapped his forehooves around my back. Slowly, he helped me to get my hooves under myself and sit up on my own. “You saw the gun and pushed me out of the way. You saved my life, Night.” With my good eye, I caught a glance a the dozen or so various medical bits and bobs scattered across the floor of the traincar. “When I noticed you didn’t die, I knew this train had to have some medical supplies on it somewhere. I dumped a couple of potions on your face, and used one to fix my own hooves.”

“Yeah, I figured that was why I felt like I was drowning...” My head started to pound as I felt a bit woozy for a moment. Happy put his hoof against my side to help steady me, but as he did, he brought his other hoof up to my chin. “What are you doing?”

“Well, I hate to say it, but I think your fake eye is toast.” Happy spoke as he looked around us on the floor again. “And unless you wanna keep having a bunch of glass rattle around in your head, you should probably take it out.” Taking his hooves off of me for a moment, he turned himself and snatched up another healing potion from the floor behind him. “Well, what’s left of it, anyway...”

“Fine.” As much as I knew it would suck, he had a point. I’d already had a bunch of sharp shit take my eye out the first time, so I didn’t need even more shit giving me more pain than I already had. Leaning forward, I stared down at the floor and braced myself. “Let’s just get this over with.”

I choked back a scream as I forced my eyelid open. It felt like a thousand more of Galina’s talons all tore into my socket at once. Thick crimson drained out like a faucet of gore. Three large pieces of crystal dropped out onto the floor, glistening in the coat of blood the sharp pieces were coated in. But as I stared at what was left of my prosthetic eye, one last large piece fell out.

The roughly cut, almost oval shaped green emerald that had been inside of the crystal orb dropped onto the bloody carpet. It gave a soft chime as it bounced once before coming to a rest on it’s back, almost visibly dimming it’s luster. That was when I noticed the copper and silver-colored slug stuck straight in the center of it. With a soft crackling, web-like lines grew towards the gem’s edges. Finally, with a crisp snap, the gem itself split into a dozen small shards.

I took a long breath as I stared at it. I owed that gem my life. More than that, I owed Madam Mystic back at Pink Mountain my life.

“You have wondered before if there was such a thing as fate.”

If she hadn’t given it to me…

My thoughts were interrupted as Happy puked all over the remains of my prosthetic eye.

“Ugh, sorry…” He groaned as he coughed and wiped at his muzzle. “I’d thought I got everything out when I saw what the inside of my own hooves looked like.”

“That’s alright.” I sighed as I looked up at him. “Trust me, I know the feeling.”

The movement and emptiness of my exposed socket in the frigid air flared up the familiar, and now worse pain. I bit back a whimper as I reached out and took the potion from him. No, I will not go through this shit again if I don’t have to.

Popping the top of it off, I tilted my head to the ceiling, and carefully, I poured some in. It burned with the intensity of a hot iron as the magical healing liquid pulled what felt like hundreds of shards out of my exposed flesh. However, the knitting feeling it left behind was a nice numbing sensation I wish I could feel all over my aching body right now. Slowly, I dropped my head back down and allowed it to drain before repeating the process again.

After the third wash, and a brief glance by Happy before he gagged again, I was fairly certain I’d gotten all the shards out. Not only that, even though I knew it was only temporary, the numbing of the potion had rid me of my headache. With that, I could finally relax for a moment and just enjoy the fact that I wasn’t dead. Even though that itself came with a whole host of problems I’d rather not have to deal with…

“Brahman Beach deserves to get that second chance at life. That's your job to ensure, Night.”

I know that what I’d seen and heard was all in my head. But… something inside told me that fact didn’t matter. What Delilah had said was true regardless of if I’d fabricated it myself. Her town deserved a second chance, just like I’d been given now so many damn times since I’d come down into the wastes.

And I could do it. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that if I worked hard enough, I could make sure to live to see the day that Brahman Beach looks exactly like it did in my dream. But… I couldn’t do it alone.

“Hey, Night?” Happy reached over and gave me a soft pat on the shoulder. “You alright?”

“Yeah, just collecting myself.” I nodded to him. “Figuring out what exactly we’re supposed to do now.”

“Well, we’re home free! ” He laughed with a jubilance that made it hard to decide if he was joking about it or not. “Let’s just find a way to head back to Brahman Beach, and drink until we can’t remember anything that’s happened here.” Just to be safe, I shot a glare at him. “Once we figure out how to get off this crazy train, that is...”

Blinking a few times with my glare, I could finally look at him without any pain blurring my vision. He looked a lot better than he did earlier. The swelling on his face was gone, leaving only a few purple bruises and a hell of a dark ring around his right eye. But with him once again so easily wanting to abandon our task, I was almost willing to beat him half to death a second time.

“Night…” Happy whispered and froze as he went white as a cloud. “Don’t… move…”

“Ugh.” A stranger’s voice grumbled from behind me, making the hairs on my mane stand up. “Twenty years in a faraday safe will give you such a creak in the neck!” With a pop loud enough that I could almost feel it, the pony behind me gave a relieved sigh. “Oooooh, yeah, that felt so good…”

Please, please don’t tell me that those old foal’s stories were right, and that this creepy train was going to have some undead skelipony try to kill us. Turning slowly, I glanced back over my shoulder. I paused when my eyes fell on the standing form of the Zebra who’d fallen out of the safe.

There was little about him that stood out to me. He was entirely… bland. Remarkable for being completely unremarkable. Uniform black stripes on an impeccably clean white coat, he was the very model of what I imagined the ‘average’ zebra to be.

But, that wasn’t exactly true, as one bit of him did stand out. I completely froze when his bright and quite unzebralike red eyes locked on mine. Slowly, his expression shifted and he let out a loud gasp.

“You are him!” The zebra shouted, taking a quick step toward me. “You are the survivor!”

I spun around, pushing Happy back as I took up a defensive stance in front of him. Looking around for something, anything to fight with, my eye fell on the rubber mallet that Tall Tale had discarded. Quickly, I reached over and hoofed it into my muzzle. With a growl, I stopped the zebra in his tracks, and pulled a confused look from him.

“Hey, woah, woah!” He laughed as he sat down and raised his hooves. “I am a friend, alright?”

“Yeah, well you’ll have to excuse us if we don’t believe you.” Happy snorted as I felt him pretty much cowering behind me. I mean, points for speaking up, but perhaps he could do me a favor and find a weapon as well.

“Oh, that is quite understandable given what you both have been through.” The zebra nodded before he crossed his hooves across his chest. What the fuck would he know about what we’ve been through!?

“Oh yeah? And how do you know that?” Happy asked as he took a small step back.

“Allow me to explain.” The strange zebra chuckled and ran a hoof through his stiff striped mohawk. “My name is Ping, a diplomat for the sheltered settlement that this train is en route to right now. The mayor of the settlement is quite interested in having a chat with you, Night Flight.” Turning his gaze slightly, the Zebra peered over my shoulder. “You are welcome to join in as well, Happy Trails.”

The rubber mallet slipped from my muzzle as I simply stood and blinked at the Zebra. H-how… he just came out of a safe on a train nopony’s been on for twenty years, and he knows who we are. How is that even possible? There’s something going on here, and from the growing pit in my stomach, I had a feeling that I didn’t want to find out what it was.

“That didn’t explain shit.” Happy snapped at the zebra. “Start talking sense or we’ll throw your striped flank right off the train we rightfully stole!” Looking back at Happy, I shot him a sideways glance. “What? I figured that we might as well just steal the whole thing seeing as we’re the only ones who have been able to get on it…”

“Regardless, he has a point.” I spoke up, turning my glare back toward this ‘Ping’ fellow. “Why don’t you start with what you’re doing on this train, why Mr. Wizard wanted what he thought was in that safe, and why Tall Tale was surprised as all hell to see you instead of whatever he’d been expecting.”

“Well, I have not been authorized for this but…” Ping scrunched up his muzzle as he paused for a moment. “Honestly, it would just be easier to show you.”

Raising up a forehoof, Ping ran it across the side of his head. With a magical green flicker, half of his face just… disappeared. It was replaced with bulbous black ceramic plates that matched up far too closely with that medical machine Salt had back in his Hive. Too closely for it to be a coincidence. On his forehead, half a silver metal horn stuck out of the illusion. It gave a soft magical flash that opened a small port in the smooth metal where a pony’s ear would normally sit.

Ping lowered his hoof to the port, and pulled out a small black rectangle that, again, I’d seen before. It was overall fairly similar to the one Mr. Wizard had shown off, though the lattice of cubes on Ping's chip looked even more complexly packed together. Okay, now I knew I’d stumbled into something much larger than just a pony watching the wasteland with some camera drones...

“What the fuck are you!” Happy sharply yelped out as he quivered and shrunk completely behind me. “Fucking hell, Night! Just… kill this thing before it kills us!”

“Shut up, Happy!” I snapped back at him, forcing a whimper from him as I stared at the chip in Ping’s hoof. “That’s what this was about then. Can I also assume that because he’s connected to all this, you know DJ PowerColt? Did he build you?”

“You are correct in that he is connected to everything, but the DJ did not construct this body.” Ping nodded as he hoofed the chip back into the round slot in his head. “That task would be completed by the Architect, the founder and mayor of Factory Zero One.” With another green flicker, the missing half of his face returned and split with a smile whiter than any pony in the wasteland held these days. “And after we meet with the Architect, I will take you to see the DJ. He is a big fan of your work, you know. And might I add, quite excited to meet you as well.”

“About that.” I grumbled out. So far, I’d only been given answers that brought about even more questions. It was frustrating, but I felt like after all the shit we went through to get on this fucking train, I deserved at least a few clear answers. “How do you know about who we are?”

“The Architect has been observing you for quite some time now. Ever since your incident at the Cannon City research center, to be clear.” He stated that so matter-o-factly that it made my fucking blood boil. “Your interactions with the greater northern wasteland community have been of immense usefulness in understanding the results of unexpected paradigm shifts. Your work as the ‘survivor’ has had an enormous positive effect on the communities you have visited, even if it has been a bit distressing to watch at times.”

“But… you’ve been in a safe!” Happy sputtered out. “How the hell can you know any of that at all!?”

“He’s a machine, Happy.” I sighed as I looked over Ping’s smiling face again.

I don’t get it. Why would this ‘Architect’ watch us? What was there to understand about the fucking bullshit that we’ve had to go through on this trip? Something didn’t add up yet.

“Mr. Night is correct, my synthetic body allows for many things.” Ping nodded as his smile brightened a bit. “While I may have appeared unmoving after I was freed of the Faraday Safe, I was simply reconnecting myself with the Factory network. Allow me to demonstrate.” With a blink of his eyes, the red in them was replaced with a flat blackness that glowed with scrolling lines of what I’m sure was green terminal coding. “Contact reaffirmed with Factory Zero One.” After a moment, he blinked again, and his eyes turned back to normal. “Communication is really that easy!” He gave a laugh, as if what he’d just done was so mundane and routine that everypony did it.

“What do you mean?” With as much confusion in his voice as there was, Happy sounded worse than I was when it came to understanding any of this. “You... you were just talking to someone!? You didn't even say anything!” Oh, what I wouldn’t give for Hispano to be here to just give us a simple explanation of it all.

“We have advanced past the need for conventional organic methods of communication. Instead, we talk to each other through high frequency transmission packets that are inaudible to most organics.” Ping gave an unnaturally unflinching poke at his eye as he continued to smile. “Our capabilities to learn and perceive as adaptive intelligences are only limited by the conditions of our main processing hardware, the capacity of our internal transceivers, and the multiple sensory apparatus we equip ourselves with. I mean no offence when I say that communicating audibly as we are now, feels like an eternity compared to the speed of conversing with another one of my kind.”

“That's great, but... did you say 'factory zero one'?” I spoke up before Happy had another chance to express just how dumb the both us were when it came to this shit. “What is the factory? Is that what has to do with DJ PowerColt?”

“Sort of. It is a home to all of us.” Ping smiled as he crossed his forehooves again and looked to relax a bit. Which was weird, seeing as machines can’t relax. “You see, Factory Zero One will one day be the central hub for all machine intelligence in the wastes. A sort of 'home' open to all machines who wish to be upgraded and join the collective.”

As he spoke, the Ouroboros shifted under us, and the dampened outside sound grew louder. The air outside of the shredded connector reverberated with the sounds of a tunnel, and the lights inside the car flickered off for a moment. It was in that moment, that I stared at Ping and could see the soft red glow behind his unnaturally happy eyes. But with that glimpse, the lights flickered back to life, and I was left with the awkwardly smiling zebra once more.

“At least, that is what the Architect originally created it to be.” He continued for a moment before he paused. His expression shrank a bit as he rose his forehoof and tapped at his muzzle a bit. “It seems in my absence, progress has been stalled by multiple unforseen outside factors that could not be properly mitigated.”

“And what exactly does that mean?” Happy muttered as he pulled himself up to at least a standing position behind me. Of course, he only went so far as that, even though it at least appeared that Ping was telling us the truth about being friendly.

“It means that the Architect has a job for you if you will take it.” Ping’s happy expression returned as he canted his head slightly to both Happy and I. “It seems that while we have different end goals, we both share common enemies. However, he wanted me to assure you that once we arrive in the factory, he would explain it, as well as answer any other questions you may have.”

“Great.” I sighed. Of course, somepony needed my help. Who wants to bet that this just ends up with me being asked to kill some innocent ponies or something? “How long until we arrive?”

“At our present speed, and due to multiple forced detours, it will be one hour and thirty six minutes before we arrive.” Ping spoke with an almost sing-songy voice before clopping his forehooves together excitedly. “Eeee! I cannot believe I get to go home after all this time! I cannot wait!”

I gave out an even deeper sigh as the memories of Bertha exploding played back in my mind again. Blinking, I looked up behind Ping and found the wispy ethereal form of Buck looking at me sadly. Hanging my head, I couldn’t help but feel like while I still needed to fight for the survival of Brahman Beach, it still wouldn’t end up being my home when I got there.

“Yeah, home…”

This car puzzled me. I spent the last who knows how long just wandering back and forth through the different cars on this train, but this one stood out to me. Out of all of them, this was the only one that didn’t seem to have a recognizable purpose.

The car ahead of this one was some sort of bunk car that sat right behind the engine. Sadly, I found fourteen more preserved ponies still occupying them, all still wearing their clothes like the other corpses on board. Happy was less sorry about it, tossing one of the bodies to the floor so he could lay down to take a nap.

There was also the gun car at the rear, of which I’d gotten all too closely acquainted with already. Still, I’d gathered what useful guns and ammo I could from there and stored them in what I had figured was the ‘command car’ where Ping had been found. I wasn’t sure how useful four shotguns, two combat pistols, and a revolver were going to be, but I figured it was better to be safe than sorry.

I stripped a set of flat grey saddlebags off of one of the gun carriage ponies, and had stuffed as much of the extra ammo and medical supplies as I could into them. I’d also gone so far as contemplating taking the armor off of one of the guard ponies by the door, but I couldn’t do it. I mean, who knew if it would even fit me in the first place, but… it was more the fact that I didn’t really want to spend the rest of this trip peeling off bits of dried pony flesh from the inside of it.

Finally, I took off and dumped my jump pack with the other supplies. I think seeing it in such a rough and busted up state hurt me more than anything really. As if to add insult to injury, the delicately painted picture of Violet’s cutie mark was completely gone now, ground raw from all the skidding and slamming I’d done on the pack. Still, as much as it sucked to lose it, the pack had served me well, and for that, I was grateful.

Turning my attention toward what to do with the rest of my time before we arrived however, was where I’d gotten tripped up. The command car proved to be far less interesting than it appeared at first glance. Other than the open and empty ‘Faraday safe’ Ping had been inside, there really wasn’t much to look at. All of the terminals were locked behind some sort of authorization code that I couldn’t begin to try to open without Hispano around, so I let them be.

Ping however, was content to just sit there and watch me look around while he wore his creepy smile. To be honest, that was one of the reasons I’d decided to take a look around the other cars in the first place. Which brings me back to exploring the rest of the train.

The two train cars ahead of the ‘command car’ were the ones with retractable roofs that held automated launch systems installed for what looked like long range missiles. Odd thing, was the missiles looked like they were supposed to be assembled right here on the trains. Even weirder, instead of normal magical warheads, they only had inert blanks installed.

But back to the here and now, this car right here was nothing but a room with a central pedestal in it. Old and still glowing talismans created eight separate lines that fanned out from the center, and wrapped all the way around up to the center of the roof. To be honest, I’d never seen anything like it, and I wasn’t sure why it required heavily fortified doors on each end. But if it was on this train, it had to be important for something.

An annoying itch cropped up in my forelegs as I sat contemplating things. I figured that while this car was a mystery, I probably had better things I needed to be doing right now. So with that, I took a deep breath and cleared my mind.

A light hissing noise perked my ears, and I turned myself around in time to see the rear door swing open. Ping’s striped and still smiling muzzle poked itself in as he looked around. Odd, he’d been happy to just sit in silence so far on this trip. We must be getting close to ‘the Factory’ then.

“Um, Survivor?” He spoke in tone much softer and more relevant than I’d expected, and it caught me off guard. “Mind if I ask you something that might be a little bit personal?”

“You can just call me Night.” I shrugged and waved him in. “And I don’t see the harm in just asking. What’s on your mind?”

“Well…” He stepped in, shutting the door with another small hiss as it sealed. “How is it that you have been able to carry on? After almost everypony you have known has died, after all the hardships you’ve endured… what keeps you going when you should have just given up?”

I had to forcefully push back the boiling blood instantly pumping through my veins from his question. It was a simple question, but just the audacity of asking it to me at all just flipped a switch inside me. I wanted to snap at him, and rant about how it’s been the hardest fucking thing just to keep going like this.

But... that wouldn’t change anything. It wouldn’t bring back Buck or the rest of the convoy, and it wouldn’t repair the broken trust Hispano now had in me. Instead, with a sigh, I shrugged.

“I just… needed to keep moving forward, I guess.” Looking up at him, I watched as he studied me. Looking over what felt like every minute detail of me as I answered, all with that same wide smile plastered across his muzzle. “To be truthful, there’s been more than one occasion where I thought I would die, and I was perfectly okay with it.”

“But you do not feel that way now?” Ping asked as he sat down and somewhat relaxed on his haunches. “You do not wish to die?”

I shook my head. While I was ready to die if the situation called for it, unlike when I was with Galina, I no longer willingly asked for it. At least, that is until I find out if Buck had pulled through or not…

I froze as a thought went through my mind.

“Actually, can I ask you something?” I cringed as his smiled drooped slightly, and for some reason, he looked a bit nervous. “It’s more of a favor, really. If you’re in contact with the factory, can you get one of those silverfish drones to check in on someone for me?”

“Ah, we suspected you might bring this up. If I assume correctly, this is about your Snow Dog friend, Buck, and if so, then you need not worry. He is still alive.” Ping forced his smile back across his muzzle, stiffening up and straightening out his legs as he spoke in an almost forced nervousness. Thank the fucking goddesses that Buck still had a fighting chance. “Arrangements have already been made to bring him to the factory where we will be able to help him. The Architect was hoping to tell you this when you arrived, as a show of good faith that we mean you no harm.”

Okay. On one hoof, Buck was still alive and had a chance to be saved. On the other hoof, the pit in my stomach told me that this was leverage.

“A show of good faith?” I laughed under my own breath. “Yeah, right up until I don’t agree to help out you and your ‘Architect’, right?” I fucking knew this was too good to be true. “So why don’t you drop the act and just tell me what the job is.”

“No, you misunderstand us.” Ping sighed, and for the first time, completely lost his smile. Replacing it was a deeply distraught look as his eyes sank to the floor. “There is no trickery with us, our intentions are exactly as stated. Buck will receive help regardless of your decision because, and this may come as a surprise to you, we are not petty like you organics.” His tone shifted, holding a harshness to it that I wasn’t expecting from somepony who’d done nothing but said everything with a smile so far. “I understand your distrust, believe me, I do. But I also know from the actions we have observed, that you are a good pony who has a willingness to help others. A pony who knows what’s right, even if it seems wrong. So I’m asking you to please, at least hear us out and give us a chance before you dismiss us completely.”

“You’re right, I’m sorry.” I could feel a tiny pegasus inside my mind kicking at my sense of regret.

“Yeah, you say you’re sorry now.” Buck’s ethereal form showed up, towering in front of me with a blink of my eye. I looked up to find him glaring down over his muzzle at me, casting a judgemental gaze as the glowing and smokey wounds on him brightened. “Soon enough though, you’ll be trading his life for yours. You’ll see.”

No, I’d just saved Happy by sacrificing myself! I didn’t need to be second guessed by a bucking figment of my own imagination, let alone visions of Buck now that I knew he was still alive. No, what I needed right now was some fucking Chill so I could make these visions go away.

“Oh come on!” Buck laughed in my face. “You’d already figured you were going to die before you came up with that plan. You never had a clue you’d get out of that fight as unscathed as you did. Don’t take this out on me when I don’t even fucking exist.”

Goddess dammit, just shut up!

“Night, are you alright?” Ping’s voice made Buck’s form pop like a bubble, and I had to blink as my vision refocused on the smiling zebra again. He gave a small gasp before speaking, but this time at a whisper. “Is it your… you know... addiction?” He glanced around shiftily like he was worried somepony else might hear.

“Yeah.” I sighed and nodded, not in the least surprised that he knew about it. “I keep seeing things that aren’t there. Hallucinations of Violet and Buck specifically.” Hanging my head, I almost felt relieved just straight up telling him about it. It wasn’t some big secret, I had a problem, and I needed to own up to it. “Is there any way you could help with them?”

“Well, I regret to inform you that while we have some stored at the Factory, there is no Chill currently stocked on the Ouroboros.” With a dismissive shrug, he simply smiled at me. “In fact, you and Happy have already confiscated all the medical supplies this train had. Even so, the records show that no Chill was ever kept on board.”

Yeah, about the Ouroboros actually…

“So, what even happened on here?” I said, looking around the room again. At the very least, I was pretty sure he was stuffed into that safe while the ponies on here were still alive, so maybe he could clear up the mystery of what happened to them.

“Here?” He scrunched up his muzzle before reaching up and stroking a non-existent beard. “Well, this is a mobile megaspell chamber. Eight unicorns would take their places around the room and channel whatever spell was required onto one of the inert warhead blanks in the cars behind this one. On average, they could create…”

“Woah, woah, hold up right there.” My muzzle spat out the words and cut him off as my mind raced to catch up and process everything. “I meant what happened to the crew onboard the Ouroboros. But seriously!?This is a megaspell chamber!?”

“Correct!” Again, he nodded with a smile parting his muzzle that was far wider than it should have been when speaking about megaspells. “This train was built to be a mobile launch platform that would be untargetable by conventional zebra megaspells. Tactical yield megaspells could be created and fit to the extended range cruise missiles stored onboard. Once an order came in, the Ouroboros could reposition itself to launch them at priority northern zebra targets from any point in Equestrian territory above eight degrees latitude.”

“Well, that certainly explains a few things…” I muttered to myself. The armor, the never stopping anywhere. It pretty much answered everything I’d cared to know about the Ouroborus short of my original question. “But that still leaves something unanswered. What happened to the crew onboard, and how exactly did you get locked in that safe?”

For a second time, Ping’s smile shrank.

“Twenty two years ago, the Architect sent me on a diplomatic mission to the Northern Rangers. At the time, other than having sporadic radio contact with the Rangers at the Galloway airfield, they had yet to be rediscovered by anypony outside of our drone network.” Shifting uneasily on his hooves, Ping looked away as he tensed up. “The chemical research and storage depot they had been confined in since the end of the war was far too secluded to be reached on hoof easily. The only point of contact they had with the outside world was their substandard radio, and the Ouroboros, but they did not have control over it. Due to a system lockout when the war ended, they had to make due with whatever they could download into their system from the Ouroboros as it passed by.”

“For years they had worked to arrange a convoy from Galloway, but we foresaw many problems if this was the case. So, the Architect sent me because he thought it was worth the risk to meet up with them first.” Ping somewhat slumped as he spoke of it, but despite that and the somber tone to his words, he again continued. “So I was deployed as a diplomat, and I was encouraged to offer my assistance to the Northern Rangers in giving control of the Ouroboros to them. Which, I easily did.” Laughing, he looked up at me with a forced smile. “I mean, you would not believe how easy it was to…” His words trailed off.

“So… what happened after you helped them?” I asked as his forced smile dropped into a frown again.

“After I told them what I was, I explained that the factory could collaborate with them to the benefit of both parties.” Kicking his hoof at the floor, his hoof peeled back some of the smooth white material and left a deep groove in it. “Well, let us just say that taking the risk of showing my machine body to them did not go as smoothly as it did with you.”

“So… what? They threw you in the safe and left you there?” I offered to him, only getting a weak nod as my answer.

Honestly, I could believe it. While I’d seen plenty of inequality so far in the wastes, by and far the one thing I hadn’t factored in was the machines I’d met. Nopony really cared about them, treating them as things. And from what I saw in those hangars at Galloway, the Steel Rangers did love to categorize and store plenty of things.

As much as I hated to admit it, I did have to acknowledge that Short Wave back at Pink Mountain had treated his robot like it had been his friend. And when Buck put his claw right through it…

“Anyway,” Ping gave a sniffle as he brought his hoof up to his eye. Was he actually crying? “After I was stuffed into the safe, they built a faraday cage around it to keep me contained and offline until they could figure out where Factory Zero One is. But from the logs that are still stored on the Ouroboros’ computers, they never could locate it.”

“So then you don’t know how they all died?” I asked as he seemed to collect himself a bit.

“I do indeed know.” He shook his head and wiped at his puffy eyes again. For a moment I couldn’t do anything but stare at him. I mean, his tears, the redness on his face. It looked so… real. “They managed to meet up with a small party of Galloway Rangers lead by the elder’s son himself, and brought them all back to their bunker home.” Well, I guess this all happened before Double Delta was exiled. “But it was about a week into their stay that the Northern Rangers started to get sick.”

“Within a few days, the whole base was quarantined, and they blamed the Galloway Rangers, accusing them of poisoning their whole base.” He let out an almost happy laugh as he shook his head again. “Those poor paranoid fools all died looking for a cure to some magical toxin that did not exist in their systems. They did not realize that you cannot spend the better part of two centuries locked inside and not expect to have your immune systems fall behind. Antibiotics mixed with healing potions would have saved them, but they did not even try.”

“They just… got sick and died? And they blamed the Galloway Rangers for that?” I had to stifle my own laugh from how utterly stupid that sounded. Seriously, you have some of the most advanced equipment from the war available to you, and you get killed by the common cold? “Even the Enclave knew we needed to keep up on our immunizations. Though… now that I think about how they lied and terrorized the wastes, I guess I know where they got all their formulas from…”

“This is why I understand how you hesitate to trust us, Night.” Ping’s eyes wandered up to meet mine as he struggled to pull his frown up into a somewhat neutral, if worried look. “My kind has never been received well among organics, and you must understand the risk we take in bringing you to Factory Zero One. Few organics know, and even fewer work with us as it is. Even then, it is questionable whether or not they do so purely because we have material things to offer them. One of the Architect’s prime directives for us is to do nothing that might make the sum of our parts more valuable to an organic than another reward we could offer.”

“I understand, Ping.” I spoke and tried to offer him a comforting smile. However, halfway through it, my brain kicked at me and I scrunched up my muzzle. “I mean, I don’t really understand how a machine can think for itself, but… I’m not going to question it. It’s not my place to decide if it’s possible or not, and I have far too many other things to worry about right now.”

Like just how I was going to deal with Mr. Wizard, and how we were going to catch up to and deal with Solomon. That’s not even mentioning the fact that we still don’t know how to decipher the code for the Ark. Goddesses, I guess I was starting to truly understand what it was like for Delilah on a day to day basis.

“That is good to hear.” Slowly, his smile spread back across his face. Even though I could still see worry clawing at his crimson eyes, it was at the very least less than it had been before. “All we ask is for you to remain open to the idea, and to stay impartial when it comes to what we choose to do or not to.” Reaching his forehoof out to me, I returned the gesture and took ahold of it with my fetlock. With a firm shake and nod, the worry disappeared from him completely, and he got up to his hooves. “Well, we will be arriving at the Factory in only a couple of minutes. I will assist you in gathering what you have collected, but it would be a good idea to wake up Happy and tell him to limber up.”

“Limber up?” I paused as I ran that through my mind a few times. “I’m sorry, what do you mean by that?”

I blinked at Ping as his smile widened, and an intense look of worry grew across his muzzle. Oh, Celestia, why was I so damn sure that I wasn’t going to like whatever answer he was going to give me? And more so, why could I already feel myself wanting just a few tabs of Chill to numb what was inevitably going to be something that would end in pain…

Even from the confines of the shredded accordion-like corridor, I could feel how thin the air was outside. We’d gained quite a bit of altitude in the time the train took to get here, and based on how everything was blanketed in a thick layer of snow, I had to guess we were somewhere among the peaks of the Misery range. Now that the Ouroboros had slowed to a somewhat slower pace, I guess we were about to find out exactly where we were.

“Does anypony want to tell me why we have to jump?” Happy spoke through a yawn as we watched the snowbanks roll by along the edge of the tracks. Turning to Ping, Happy’s nervous glance was somewhat repelled by the still ridiculous grin that the mechanized Zebra gave. “You said you control the train. Can’t you make it stop?”

“Negative. The Ouroboros is powered by a self sustaining magical singularity.” Ping shook his head slowly. “It is that singularity’s angular momentum that allows the train to drive itself forward indefinitely. Excess magical and thermal radiation generated by the megaspell helps to power the defensive systems and other onboard services. But if we were to come to a stop, the Ouroboros would find itself unable to radiate away a cascading thermal excess, and it would quickly fail to maintain a safe pressure equilibrium.”

“Uh…” Happy scrunched up his muzzle as he gave a glance over to me. “Is there a translation to dumb Equestrian for that?”

“Don’t fucking ask me.” I rolled my eyes and gave out a sigh. “Hispano and Buck are the smart ones. I just get everypony into trouble.” While he deadpanned at me, Happy at least shrugged and gave me that. Hell, I couldn’t even argue with myself on that.

“To put it simply, the train cannot physically stop without being destroyed. It can only slow to the speed we are now traveling at.” Ping spoke up as he looked between Happy and I. “Normally a unicorn with teleportation is used, or an adjacent and equally fast train can be brought alongside to facilitate standard boarding of the Ouroboros.” Well, score another win for those fucking unicorns and their cheater magic I suppose. With a gasp, Ping’s smile brightened as he put his hoof on Happy’s side. “We have reached the disembarkation point. It is time to go.”

“Wait… w-what!?” Happy sputtered as Ping wrapped his forehoof under Happy and effortlessly picked him straight up off the floor. “H-hey, put me the fuck down!”

“Do not worry!” Ping laughed. “You will incur minimal pain, I assure you.”

“What, minimal!?” Happy flailed for a moment before looking to me with a pleading glance. “Night, you’ve gotta…

Before he could finish, Ping threw himself and Happy off of the train. The two of them disappeared into a blast of white as they struck the railside snowbank, and I was left alone. Unfurling my wings, I pulled the straps of my beat up jump pack tighter, and made sure the guns and my new Saddlebags were secured before taking a deep breath.

“Leave them behind.” Violet’s voice whispered into my ear. “Stay on the train and ride it far from here.”

That isn’t going to happen. Seriously, could the voices fuck off already?

“If you step off this train now?” Buck’s voice resonated through my mind. “You’ll condemn the rest of your friends to death.”

Then maybe this time I’ll die with them!

With an angry grunt, I flared out my wings and pushed myself forward. Hopping through the shredded barrier, I smiled as both Buck and Violet’s voices were silenced in my mind. The moment I passed the edge of the armored train carts, I felt the thin air do it’s best to blast at my side and slow me down. Still, as I started to turn into the air so I could glide, I couldn’t fight the widening grin that stretched across my muzzle.

Goddesses, flying made me feel so damn free…

*Thump*

My vision spun as I smacked dead flat against some sort of metal bunker. It forced the air from my lungs as I bounced off and fell down into the slushy wet snow of a well used, muddy dirt road. Gasping as I watched bright stars dance around in my vision, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of deja vu here.

Go flying, check. Feel free as a bird, check. Smack right into some sort of metal container? Check...

The rumble of an arcane engine started up from said metal container. Now that really felt familiar. Perking my ears, I did my best to push myself upright, but as I tried to stand, I put my weight onto my prosthetic, and ended up flopping into the freezing cold mud again with a whimper. Dammit, it couldn’t have popped off very far from me...

“I’m sorry, Survivor.” A mare’s booming but calmly monotone voice came through a megaphone on the metal box beside me. “I hadn’t realize I was parked in your way. Are you alright?”

Blinking the stars and dizziness away, I looked up to see what in the wide world of Equestria I’d even hit. Like most things I tended to crash into, it turns out it wasn’t just some random box. Nope, it was a vehicle of some sort, but what kind of vehicle, I couldn’t even begin to speculate.

For starters, it was big. It was a vehicle that rode on tracks that were at least as large as the K-tank I’d seen back at Stone Town. The whole vehicle itself was big enough in fact that it took up most of the wide dirt road I found myself on. This thing however, was much, much taller than any tank or vehicle I’d seen outside of Large Marge.

It had boxy superstructures bolted onto it that were miss-sized and non-symmetrical to its central rectangular body. The whole of the massive machine was at least twice as tall as Bertha, and held a pair of what looked like pronged rakes against each side of it. These rakes seemed more like they were meant to be used as digging tools, and held an auger that ran all the way down their shovel-like spines. Robust hydraulic pistons held the long raked arms flat against the rest of the vehicle, which made me think that the arms were supposed to extend outwards. If that was true, then these rakes probably gave the vehicle twice its own already impressive width when fully extended.

Other than that, it was just sort of dull and flat on the rest of it. It didn’t help that it had been painted a sort of matte grey color, and only a few bits of faded paint stood out as different to me. First, was up on the front of it. Unit 02 was written in uniform black lettering that was big enough you could probably read it from a mile away. Secondly, the logo for a company that wasn’t familiar to me sat near the base of its central boxy body. Lunar Industries LTD.

To be honest, it looked more like a piece of construction equipment I’d have found with the Road Crew, rather than something left all the way out in the middle of nowhere. So, pretty par for the course when it comes to me running into things I guess...

“What the hell is this thing…” I spoke up as I tried to collect myself. A small terminal screen inset near the armored skirting of the machine’s enormous tracks flickered on, and the head of a smiling cartoon pony popped up on it.

“I’m Eliza, a prototype autonomous ore harvester commissioned for use by Lunar Industries. I was meant for a prospective Office of Interministry Affairs project that was previously classified with Celestial Tier secrecy.” The booming voice of the machine mare had a surprisingly chipper tone to it, even if it still sounded a bit monotone overall. The image of the smiling mare shifted to one that almost looked concerned. “I have sustained no damage from your impact. However, are you alright, Survivor?”

“I am sure Night is fine, Eliza. This is nothing he has not already dealt with before a few times.” Ping called out as he and Happy plodded through the snow banks toward me. And hey! I may have a problem with Chill, but I will not be lectured on my startling propensity to injure myself on mining vehicles! “The real question is, what are you doing out here? Still visiting the new mine, are you?”

“Ping, you’ve returned. It is good to see you back home.” Eliza’s voice brightened again, but still maintained it’s monotone sort of speech. Likewise, the picture on the terminal changed to that of a brightly smiling mare. “And of course I’m visiting the mine. I can’t stand to be cooped up all the time in the Factory. With my limited speed and range, where else would I go?”

“Eliza, you know you are not supposed to be out there.” Ping sighed as he trotted over and hoofed my prosthetic to me, which I happily forced onto my stump. “You know that is the deal we have with the organics out in Tungsten. I know you miss the work, but they run the mines now, and we trade for the ore. I am sorry, but that is simply how it has to be.”

“Yes, I know.” She gave out a soft sigh, shifting the image of the mare to one with a frown. “It’s just… I feel like if I’m not mining, then I’m disappointing everypony. I just hate feeling so useless and outdated these days. I want to get out and stretch my harvesters a bit sometimes. I’m sure you understand.” Her picture shifted again, this time to one of a mare with a scrunched up muzzle. “I’m sorry if I keep causing trouble.”

On some level, I could sympathise with her. I couldn’t stand to feel useless either, and I know how it is to want to just get out there. Even if I knew that compared to others, I couldn’t really ever fly like I wanted to…

Wait, am I calling it a her just because it sounds like a mare? You know what? Whatever, this has all been weird enough that I don’t care.

“You know, this thing certainly looks like some sort of oversized combine harvester...” Happy wheezed as he pushed out from the snow bank and nearly collapsed in a heaving lump on the muddy road. “Wait, did you say Lunar Industries?” He paused, tapping at his chin in thought. “Doesn’t Burro Industries own that company?”

“Correct.” Ping nodded. “Lunar Industries was a subsidiary of Burro Industries that was not actively retained for very long before being closed. A lawsuit filed by Robronco cited that the government had given them exclusivity to the project, which caused Lunar Industries to lose the rights of development and all government funding. As a means of paying back their grants, all of Lunar Industries physical assets were seized by the O.I.A. and the company was shuttered.”

“When the O.I.A. came up to look at me, they decided to continue my trials, at least for a little bit. But, after they were done doing the extreme environment portion of the testing, the O.I.A. left me up here to rust.” Eliza gave a short but hollow sounding laugh over her loudspeakers. “But then Architect came and gave me a second chance at life. He saved all of us with the creation of the Factory.”

“That he did.” Ping nodded before rubbing at his neck nervously. “Say, Eliza, do you still have your excursion rover with you? I would like to borrow it, as the factory is still a ways out, and I would rather not let our guests freeze to death.”

“Of course, Ping.” Eliza’s image shifted back to the mare with the bright smile again. “After all, I’m here to help.”

With a stuttering whine, the hydraulic systems on the enormous mining machine came to life, and a large, heavy looking ramp rotated down from the back of her. Trotting through the mud to her back, I glanced up into the opening to find a large vehicle sitting completely nestled inside. It looked like a sort of six wheeled military supply truck. It was mostly square overall, but had a very angular front. A thin, visor-like windshield wrapped around the front and sides of what appeared to be a cramped but sealed driving cab, and it had a small cupola on its roof with a hatch that looked to be the only way in or out.

“So, not to be that guy,” Happy spoke up as walked over to the ramp with more than a slight shiver to him. I mean, I had my innate pegasus insulation to protect me, but I almost felt bad that all Happy had to keep him warm out here was his ragged and torn up floral print shirt. “But now that the train is gone, how exactly will we be getting back to civilization after we meet this ‘Architect’ of yours?”

“Actually, the Ouroboros is not gone.” Ping spoke with a smile that matched the one the mare on Eliza’s terminal gave. “Before we jumped off, I instructed the system to maintain a fifty kilometer loop around the Factory, and to wait for instructions from its new owners.” As he trotted his way up the ramp into Eliza’s garage, he paused to beam his smile at both Happy and I. “I mean, Happy Trails here did surmise that since you stole the train, the act makes it yours. Seeing as how no one else is around to lay claim to it, and it is of little use to the Factory, I do not suppose why it would not now belong to you? However, boarding her again might prove to be... difficult.”

“Wait, you’re serious!? You’re letting us keep the train?” Happy giggled excitedly as he all but galloped around my side and up the ramp next to Ping. When ping gave him a quick nod, Happy almost bucked for joy. “Sweet! Our own fucking armored train!”

“Don’t get too excited, Happy.” I grumbled as I pulled myself up onto the ramp and trotted into the open rear hold. “I hate to disappoint you, but we might need to use it as a bargaining chip to get Cora back from Mr. Wizard.” Reaching up and giving him a pat on the side, the thought of giving that asshole his own supertrain didn’t fill me with happiness either. “But let’s focus on one thing at a time. For now, we need to go and meet with this ‘Architect’.”

Author's Note

Of course, as always I need to give a big shout out and thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his help in making sure the chapter is in tip-top shape before I put it up! Thanks bud, you're awesome!

And thanks to Kkat for letting us all run around in this amazing universe!

Chapter 60 - Manufacturing Solutions

Smile, it makes people wonder what you are thinking.

On one hoof, Buck was alive.

On the other, I couldn’t really comprehend what I was looking at through the thick glass of the surgery observation room. The same black and white furred Snow Dog I’d fallen in love with still breathed softly as he lay in his hospital bed. A single, solitary, sterile-looking machine sat beside him, giving the room a cold and lonely feeling to it.

But those familiar bits I could see of him were the flesh and blood parts, and those bits were now a dishearteningly small amount of him. Four mechanical limbs, bulky metal constructions, and more wires, tubes, and hoses than I cared to count made up the rest of Buck’s broken body. So much had been bolted on to him that I would say that he was more machine than dog now.

“What…” I almost choked on my words, choosing to force them out as I focused on holding back the tears in my eyes. “What did you do to him?”

“Unfortunately, what we had to.” The solemn voice of Doc Groovy spoke up as he floated into the observation room. The soft yellow glow that came from each of his three eyestalks focused on me as I turned to meet him. “But I assure you, while it may look bad from here, he is making a remarkable recovery.”

I hadn’t seen any of the old world ‘Doc Handy’ units outside of pictures in my school books. However, the Enclave supposedly had more than a few still operating up above the clouds in the Neighvarro infirmary. Still, it was odd to have the floating soft pink painted ‘doctor’ give me a check up and tell me to take some more Chill. I mean, his bedside manner left a lot to be desired, but he was alright I guess. Outside of Buck, that had pretty much been my experience with half the doctors in the wastes anyway.

“Well, let’s start from the bottom up, shall we?” Doc Groovy’s solemn tone dropped out with the subtlety of a brick dropped in a glass house, switching to one that was far too upbeat. “We amputated his legs at both femurs, removing fatty tissues and some muscles to create the foundations for the new pair of legs he has.”

I couldn’t help but look back down at Buck as I listened to the Doctor. His ‘new’ hind legs followed almost the same size and form that his flesh and blood ones had, but were hydraulically powered skeletal frameworks that ended in thick rubber pads on the bottom of metal hind paws. The massive muscled forearms he’d once had were both replaced with surprisingly bulky and boxy metal limbs, and ‘new’ more proportionally sized and intricately articulated paws sat where his old ones had. The large metal digits on each of the ‘new’ paws also sported the same rubber pads on them as his hindpaws did, and looked incredibly out of place without the oversized claws he once bore.

“As you can see, we also amputated up to the Scapula, and gave his forelimbs the same treatment as his hind ones. And as our records indicated, Dr. Buck was a skilled surgeon, so we took the liberty to include a full suite of automated medical tools inside of his upgraded arms for him to utilize. Each arm is now a veritable hospital in its own right!” Doc Groovy’s tone shifted again, sounding more upbeat and quite a bit happier than I felt it should have been given the context. “I dare say that now he’s been ‘upgraded’, he’ll be the most efficient organic surgeon in the wastes!”

That made my eye twitch.

“He was already a fucking good surgeon.” I snapped at the robot Doc, whose eyestalks pulled back from me as I nearly wheeled around right into one. “What fucking right did you have to ‘upgrade’ him in the first place!?”

This… this is not what I thought it would mean to save Buck. He’d already thought he was a monster, and now, the moment he wakes up, he… I don’t even know what he’s going to think...

“He consented.” Doc Groovy said so matter-of-factly that I almost wanted to grab onto one of his eyestalks and yank it out. “That gave us every right to perform these procedures.”

“I was told that he was half fucking doped up when you asked. How is that consent!?” I snapped back at Doc Groovy, who at this point, seemed to not react with the same instinct to pull back as before.

“You would rather we did not install the reinforced dorsal column, or positronic ambulary re-mobilizer? How about the synaptic regulator, or the micro-dialysers? Perhaps you also would not have liked the ionic pulmo-diffuser either?” Doc Groovy assaulted me with terms I didn’t understand faster than I could even process what little they meant to me. “You see, all of what I listed are internal organs that needed to be replaced. And without these replacements, Dr. Buck would have invariably suffered greatly for a short time before he inevitably perished.”

“Internal…” I gasped as I looked back down through the glass. I hadn’t even considered what might have been injured on the inside of him.

My eyes were drawn along the still healing gash that stretched across most of his furred chest. The wires and tubes that came through various ports and metal bits across it helped me to understand just how much of him was gone on the inside as well. My heart sunk at the sight, and my eyes traced up along his body, stopping on his head.

“What…” my voice died in my throat as bolted onto the side of Buck’s head, I found a nearly identical, but more invasive setup that the Architect wore. Metal plating covered the top of his head, with a thin seam splitting it almost right down the middle. “You didn’t… remove his brain, did you?”

On either side of the metal skull cap, ears that looked more like triangular radar antennas sat stiffly pointing up on articulating mounts. The half of the jaw that had been stripped to the bone when I pulled him from the wreckage, had been replaced with metal that was formed to mirror the jagged jawline he’d once had. Tubes ran along the underside of his throat, dipping under his fur and skin and flexing as he breathed slowly.

Lastly, the injury where the metal plate had impaled his head. The Architect-like setup covered the left half of his head completely. A pair of mis-sized red camera-like optics sat around a wide and currently closed central black aperture that protrude from where his real eye once sat.

“Oh, no, nothing of the sort.” Doc Groovy spoke up before giving out a soft beep from his floating chassis. “However, there was extensive brain damage.” With a shudder, the seam on Buck’s head split apart, and the metal skull cap opened like a hatch. Sitting under the protection of a clear glass dome in some sort of viscous fluid, was something I’d never wanted to see in my life. Buck’s brain. “The clear casing itself is built out of highly polished cubic zirconia, similar to the one that surrounds the decaying element where his heart once sat. However, that machine uses the element’s interaction with the cubic zirconia to generate a constant flow of spark power to keep his augmentations running. Both his brain and heart should be near impervious to most weapons, however just in case, we have wrapped them both in a removable titanium shell.”

“B-but… why?” I couldn’t tear myself away from the soft, ebbing glow that emanated from inside his head.

“The metal plate we removed from his head had caused considerable optical and temporal lobe damage.” Doc Groovy answered bluntly. “We repaired it enough that it should restore close to normal functions on it’s own. However, with the augments and improvements we added, he should in fact find himself with those abilities somewhat enhanced. I’m sorry to say though that the olfactory cortex portion of his brain was the only section to be completely unsalvageable, and we do not have a suitable replacement ready for him at this time.”

“Wait so… there was something you couldn’t save?” I wanted to be angry that they’d done this to him, but… I couldn’t be. I still didn’t understand any of this doctor talk, but as much as I wanted my gut to tell me that this was giving me a bad feeling, it wasn’t. “Tell me, Doc… what does that mean for him?” My mind raced as I prepared to hear him tell me that he wouldn‘t remember me, or that he was going to be an emotionless machine for the rest of our lives.

“Well, Canine physiology holds that the olfactory part of their brain as the most complex. More complex than even we here at the Factory have yet to even begin to understand. So until we can miniaturise sensors of that nature, I’m sorry, we can’t help him.” Doc Groovy let out a sigh as he reached up with one of his articulating claws and patted me on the back. “He’ll have completely lost his sense of smell.”

I leaned forward at that and bonked my head on the glass window.

“So that’s it then?” I sputtered as I turned around and looked at him. “Otherwise… he’ll be normal, right?”

“It will take his mind time to adjust to the new connections we have installed, as well as the lack of a sense of smell.” All three of the eye stalks on Doc Groovy nodded as he hovered up and bobbed in a way that gave his cheery voice a bit more life to it. “But yes. Given a week or two, the factory will have helped his brain regain both his mobility, and his sense of self again!”

“The… factory?” I found the words tumbling from my muzzle as always as I blinked up at the central eye bobbing in front of me.

“Why, yes. The Architect, Ping, Doc Sea Shell and I are all currently helping his mind recover as we speak.” Doc Groovy nodded his eye as he pulled his claw back from me and tapped it against his pink painted chassis. “I am quite proud of how quickly the temporal uplink we installed has retrained the motor cortex to account and adjust for the input lag of his artificial limbs. As long as he stays within range of the factory’s broadcast signal, we should also be able to make code corrections on the fly should he encounter any software based problems once he is well enough to leave.”

“So you’re telling me he’s connected to the four of you?” I wasn’t quite sure what to make of it, or how it was remotely possible in the first place. Again, this is why I wished I had Hispano here. She was the techno-babble whisperer, and I’m sure she’d be able to sort the real from the bullshit here…

There was a knock at the door behind me, and I was met once more with Ping’s smiling muzzle.

“He’s not connected with just the four of us.” Ping’s lighthearted tone, while still off for the weight of the subject, did do a bit to help keep me calm. “Let me explain. With as fast as the wasteland seems to be changing for the better, we here at the Factory can no longer ensure that we stay hidden from the world. So you see, we needed an organic subject to help us communicate, negotiate with outside parties.”

“So you just, what? Stuffed Buck full of a bunch of equipment because you had a plan to use him as your ambassador?” I know that they’d just saved Buck’s life, and that I should be grateful to them for that. But again, I can’t help but think that he wouldn’t have approved of this.

“We had surmised that the highest probability of successful negotiations with the outside world would be through a mainly biological medium.” Doc Groovy spoke up, floating and taking a place at the side of Ping in the doorway. “So we knew we needed to adapt one of you to suit this purpose. One of you that perhaps may not have had any other way to regain a normal life.”

“Yeah…” Ping’s wide grin shifted slightly as he reached up and rubbed at his neck. “Most of the Factory had a running bet that it would actually be you, Night. You have an incredible knack for getting hurt.” Well, at least that made sense to me. Hell, I would have bet on me too. “Still, with Buck in the state he was in, we assumed it would be the best outcome for both parties. I am sorry if it feels like we overstepped our bounds, but it really will benefit every party involved.”

“I… I don’t know.” I sighed and sat down. Holding my head in my hooves, I almost wished that I could get Buck’s advice right now. Or Hispano’s, or Delilah's even. “As long as Buck can get back to being himself, I guess there’s no point in dwelling on a decision I can’t change.” Looking back up over my hooves, I watched as both Ping and one of Doc Groovy’s eye stalks traded a quick glance. “So then, what happens now?”

“Maybe it would be best for the Architect to explain, along with why we need your help.” Holding his hoof out to me, Ping nodded to the door. “You may come back later, but you should let Buck rest for now. In the meantime, I will take you to the hub to meet up with the Architect, as well as somepony who is very excited to finally meet you face to face.”

The wheels of the small motorized cart Happy, Ping, and I had crammed onto squealed as we rounded yet another corner of the labyrinth like maze of concrete tunnels. The small cart wasn’t all that unusual I guess, with four wheels and two rows of bench seating, it seemed like a reasonable design. However…the remarkable thing about it was that instead of a driver sitting at a wheel, there was a squat, vertical metal cylinder. A dark glass ring split the cylinder in half, and a single glowing red eye wandered back and forth underneath it.

“See?” Happy nudged me with a smile. “Isn’t this better than walking?”

I gave him a nervous nod and tried to tell myself that I would have preferred if someone actually had their hooves in control of this thing. But, I guess at the very least we weren’t going all that fast, just below at a galloping pace. Still, I did have to give it to him, at least this way I got to quickly see just how expansive this place was.

At several points, a tunnel we passed looked to run off either into another of the enormous metal irises like at the entrance, or into a dead end of jagged rock. Machines with smaller, but similar design styles to Eliza worked at those dead ends, drilling holes and stringing together wired charges to prep the tunnels for excavation. With as large and empty as these tunnels were, I couldn’t imagine why they’d need to expand more. Then again, it’s not like I haven’t deserved a few answers…

“So… what’s this whole place for? What are you building?” I asked Ping as a few silverfish drones darted down the long corridor from one of the excavation areas. Each one of them carried a small metal box under them, and I could have sworn that one yawed as we passed, turning to look at me specifically as we continued our drive down the tunnel.

“The factory of course!” Ping smiled like he had since we met him. “The Architect has great plans for the future of the machine hub, and so preparations for expansion have been ongoing for many years now. In fact, we are almost finished with the current project.”

Expansion? This place was already a lot bigger than I’d expected it to be. Were there really that many machines out there roaming the wastes?

“How many machines are here now?” I found myself asking as I always did, without thinking.

“Two hundred and fifty six currently reside within the Factory’s walls. However, only sixty four are currently in command of mobile service units, myself included, of course.” His smile widened as he proudly pressed his forehoof against his barrel. However, his smile faltered after a moment. “That is also including the three units currently here who are unable to maintain a permanent presence inside the factory’s mainframe due to various reasons. A condition that we are afraid will undoubtedly affect at least a few more machines as they arrive here at the Factory.”

“Eliza, P.B., and Ottie are the three.” Happy spoke as he shifted a bit in his seat, bracing himself as we rounded yet another corner. “You know, just in case you were wondering.” I shot him a confused glance at the names. Seriously, what the hell happened to Happy?

Maybe they replaced his brain while I was out…

“Hey, bud, I was skeptical too at first.” Happy reached over and gave me a nudge. “The first day you were out? I wouldn’t be caught dead alone in the same room with them. But, then Ottie wandered in, and he just started asking me things. Things like who ‘The King’ was, and what wearing clothes is like, or if I knew what a pineapple tastes like.”

Again, Happy was so calm, so sure that these machines were okay, that I had to question if it was because he didn’t understand the risks here, or if he really was right. He chuckled a bit as he pulled his hoof back and used it to straighten up his floral print shirt.

“It was… awkward, but before I knew it, I was talking to him about things just like he was any other pony in the world.” Happy shrugged and looked over to Ping. “I’m telling you, Night, the machines here? They aren’t all that bad. And even with as lazy as you think I am, I’ve seenbad happen out in the wastes, Night. If they wanted to do anything, they’d have done it to us already.”

“As I have said, we have watched and planned for your arrival for some time now.” Ping nodded and smiled again. “And do not worry, you will have a chance to ask more questions soon, I assure you. We will clarify any and all of your concerns before you agree to do anything to help us.” Ping raised his voice a bit before I could even speak up. Almost at the same time, the cart began to slow as we approached a large set pair of thick blast doors. “However, I am pleased to inform you that we have arrived at the command center.”

The doors looked almost identical to the ones that had sealed away the megaspells inside the ammunition Depot back at Destruction Bay. It even had an identical looking terminal next to the door and everything. All it needed was a big skull painted onto it and you could have probably tricked me into thinking we never even left that place at all. With a short ring from a small red bell next to the door frame itself, there was a tremendous slam as whatever internal mechanisms inside the heavy doors moved about. With a slow ratcheting, the enormous doors began to swing open.

Inside, row after row of softly glowing lights brightened the expansive and jagged walls of a cavern. It was roughly dome shaped, and was probably the size of a Cantercross city block. Hundreds of hanging rock formations adorned the ceiling like rusty spikes just waiting to come down and impale us. Unlike the natural rock roof, the floor was made out of a single highly polished slab of metal. Metal ventilation grates sat recessed into the floor, and wafted small clouds of steam out of them.

The echoes of distant working machinery could be heard from deep within the dark holes. It was about then I had the realization that while these tunnels may have seemed endless, we hadn’t traveled vertically at all. Who knew how deep this place went, or just what was down below...

Soft blue light glowed along one of the walls, out of sight through the open blast doors. I knew that the pit in my stomach hadn’t shown back up, but I couldn’t fight the idea that something about this was still off. However, as if he knew, Happy gave me a pat on the side as he scooted himself off of our robotic ride.

“Relax, Night.” He offered as he held his hoof out to help me off the cart. “Trust me, this place is pretty fucking cool.”

Rolling my eyes, I stepped off on my own. Goddesses, let’s just get this over with. Just… keep a cool head, Night. Remember what you’ve learned from Delilah and Lilac. Act the part, be confident, and be mindful of what they really want out of you. You’ve got this, and you aren’t going to be pulled into any situations you aren’t comfortable with.

Well, any situations less comfortable than the one you’re currently in at least…

Trotting through the open doorways, my hooves clacked uncomfortably loudly on the smooth metal flooring. Punctuating each clack was the sharp squeak that the rubber pad of my prosthetic gave, and my steps carried an odd cadance through the empty room. Not only that, but each step echoed throughout the cavern, bouncing unpredictably from all around me and forcing my ears flat as to try not to focus on too many directions at once. The soft blue lights I’d seen came into view once I was far enough in. Turning towards it, the light ended up being the glow from nearly a hundred terminal monitors aligned in a large rectangle.

On it, was a map of the world, or at least, how it sort of used to look. Some of the borders of Equestria and a few other nations were cut into small jagged sections that were out of place. I squinted as I watched these relatively tiny sections of land shift and changed color now and again. It took me a moment, but my eyes wandered over to small lines of text periodically appearing with each change of color.

Underneath that text, also lay two different numbers. A red number, which displayed 10,261,985. And a blue number that simply displayed 0.

“Ah, you are just in time!” The Architect’s voice made me jump, and my wings unfurled instinctively to try to bring me to a hover. Which of course, ended in me coming down on my hooves with another heavy clack. “Oops, I did not intend to startle you.” He chuckled as his clinking tracks pulled him into view out of a dark corner beside the softly glowing monitors. “I only meant to draw your attention to the end of this simulation sequence.”

“What?” I asked as I tried to calm my spiked heartbeat. A bit jumpy, aren’t we? Trust Happy, Night. “W-what’s the big board for?” I had to force the words out as I tried to keep my composure from collapsing in the first seconds of arriving.

“You could say it is a... pet project of mine.” The Architect’s smile almost glowed in the dim chamber lighting. But however bright of a smile he was beaming to me, the intense red lights from the optics mounted to the side of his head certainly beat it out. With an electric whine, his tracks torqued his snail like shell, dragging him back around to nearly face the glowing terminals. Holding his hoof out, he nodded for me to look at the screen. “Ah, as a pegasus, you might find what is about to appear in the lower corner of particular interest.”

Squinting, I watched as the small bits of text came and went, flashing up names I didn’t recognize, as well as a [Win] or [Loss] next to them. And, as promised, one did flash up that nearly took my breath away.

[Sirocco Canyon][Loss]

“But we won the battle at Sirocco canyon!” I spat out, thinking back to the military history mom had recounted at me for years in an attempt to beat it into my head. “That was the largest recorded battle involving raptors ever fought in the whole of the great war!”

Not only was it that, but it was the crowning achievement for the pegasus airforce. It was the day that we finally secured air superiority over every major wartime opponent. I mean, it only lasted a week before the fucking zebras… sorry, everyone megaspelled each other. But still! It was a hard fought victory that my mom took pride in recounting, and as much as other tales and records had been, it wasn’t Enclave propaganda. Pegasi as a whole had lost too damn much for it to have been anything other than the truth.

“Yes, you are correct that Equestria had indeed won that battle.” The Architect’s smile pulled wider as he shifted himself to face me again. “But the battles on this board? These are hypothetical battle outcomes for the war. Every battle since the invention of the megaspell, in fact. I had a hypothesis I had wanted to test, and so I have been doing just that for years now.”

“What? You mean that’s what all this is?” Happy muttered as he trotted up to my side and cast a confused look across the big board. “I thought you just really liked geography or something...”

“My theory was that the end of the pre-war world was inevitable.” The Architect turned his gaze back to the board, but didn’t shift his tracks again. “I wanted to see if there was any combination of battle outcomes that could have shifted the outcome to one of peace. By using information pulled from surviving Zebra Empire and Equestrian military databases, I have been able to extrapolate the most probable event timelines in each of the tests run so far.” With a sigh, he slumped in his shell mounting before turning back to me with a frown. “The results of which, are clearly marked on the bottom of the board.”

So that’s what the red and blue numbers meant…

“So you’re saying you’ve run this test…” Pausing, I had to do another double take of the numbers. “Over ten million times!?” But… why!? “What’s the blue number mean then?” I forced myself to ask, but in my heart, I was pretty damn sure I already knew.

Instead of answering, the Architect just turned himself to look at the board. With a bright flash on two of the screens, Vanhoover and Marewaii were removed from the board. The words 'Launch Detected' popped up at nearly every old megaspell complex in Equestria, and trailing dotted lines started to travel en masse to and from each and every nation involved in the war. I blinked as the lines stretched across the board, falling on every country, and with another red flash, the whole map disappeared.

After a second of silence had passed, the dark screen flickered, and the big board came back up to display what looked like the mid-war borders of each country. Of course, the borders began to shift again as the names of battles started to pop up in the corner again, and I took notice that the red number had gone up by a single digit.

“The blue number represents the test conditions that contain a combination of successful battle outcomes that would have resolved the conflict through peace.” Shaking his head, he brought his forehooves up and clopped them together twice. With that, the board disappeared. Instantly, the map of the world was replaced with a hundred different camera images of what looked to be the wasteland. “It would seem that given all the data we have so far, the only winning move for the war, was to not have invented the megaspell in the first place.”

“It’s always sodepressing when you bring that board up, Architect.” The booming but silky smooth voice of DJ PowerColt resonated through the entirety of the cavern itself. “Why not just sit back and let me whip up some relaxingtunes to soothe your soul?”

A few sharp electrical snaps punctuated his words behind me, and caused my mane to all but stand on its end. Turning around, I had expected to find a pony in power armor, but was disappointed to only be met with Ping’s smiling face. Blinking a few times, he seemed to realize my confusion and raised his hoof to point upwards behind him.

I had to crane my neck up to see just where the voice had come from, and was met with pretty much a building sized box obscured in shadow near the other end of the cavern. A cylindrical tower pushed out from the smooth obsidian colored box, stretching upwards to almost the lowest hanging rocks from the caverns roof. Two short ear-like fins buzzed and arched electricity between them as a central glowing red eye sat below them ominously.

How the fuck did I miss that when I walked in!?

“Well hello there! You must be the survivor. Believe me when I say, the pleasure is all mine.” DJ PowerColt’s admittedly sexy voice almost vibrated the air itself, and I wasn’t ashamed to admit that his dulcet tones shook almost all of the anxiety I’d been feeling straight out of me. “Welcome to our humble little home. As you know, we’ve had our eye on you for some time, and I personally am honored to meet a hero such as yourself in the flesh.” He gave a deep laugh that lit up the red light in his frame, and rumbled the metal floor itself. “Well, at least one of us had the decency to show up in the flesh.”

“B-b… big...” My brain was shorting out as I tried to comprehend the fact that DJ PowerColt was not just a machine, but that he was a fucking big machine. Granted, it should have been fucking obvious in the first place that was exactly what he was. Still, even though Ping had said I’d meet him, I didn’t think he would be so… large…

“You should know, DJ,” Happy snickered loudly, “Night here just can’t seem to help himself when he gets around bigger, non-pony guys.” My cheeks burned as I wheeled around on my prosthetic and gave him a hard smack with my forehoof. “Oh! From the way he’s blushing, it looks like it’s true!”

“Hey!” I snapped at him, giving him another hard slap. I don’t care that he had made yet another perfectly valid point, it’s not like I wanted to sleep with a metal box! “I’m sorry I can’t help that a voice like his is something anypony could fucking lose themselves in.”

“Careful now, flattery will only get you so far.” DJ PowerColt let out a short, but similarly booming laugh as before.

“Yeah, to about as far as access panel 31-P…” Ping muttered below his breath.

“See, Night! I told you that you’d think it was cool.” Happy rubbed his forehooves together as he took a seat beside me. Just because it was super cool to meet the DJ, it didn’t mean he could embarrass me like that. “I’m just happy because I was fucking right! I can’t wait to collect those caps from Cora over our bet.”

“You made a bet that he was a machine?” I cast a sideways glance to Happy. Pft, yeah, while he may have had a rational point when Hardcase had suggested the DJ was one of us from the future, this was not an idea he’d put forward.

“No.” Happy grumbled and crossed his forehooves. “Cora said he thought the DJ was a ghoul. I’d bet him that he wasn’t even a pony.” Waving my forehoof for a moment at the DJ, I didn’t really get how that won him the bet at all. Happy harrumphed and stuck up his nose at me. “Well, he’s not a pony, now is he?” That’s not the point!

“On your feathered companion, I actually have news that may be of interest to you.” The Architect made a noise like he was clearing his throat as he spoke. Turning, he pointed up to the collection of screens again, which flickered together and resolved into a single large image that nearly made my heart skip a beat.

Hispano...

She was lying prone on what looked like the concrete top of one of the beachside skyscrapers. Suiza was laid down on the rooftop next to her, and in her talons looked to be an old set of binoculars. The camera angle pulled back a bit, revealing that what we were seeing was probably a video taken by one of the Silverfish drones that loitered about the city.

“Your griffon friend, Miss Hispano, has returned to Cantercross and has managed to track down the location of her father.” Bringing his hoof up to his chin, he rubbed at it as he studied the image. “It is… problematic, as we have yet been unable to ascertain exactly how she intends to go about getting her father back.”

“When was this?” I asked as I instinctively took a step forward. Oh, Hispano… don’t do anything stupid…

“This is a live feed.” The Architect remarked as the drone shifted its focus up slightly. “If you wish, I am able to direct the video to see what she is looking at.”

With a flick of his hoof, the image began to move again. The glare of mid-day sunlight beamed off of the old glass skirt that ran down from the thermal updraft tower in the city. It made it difficult to see just what Hispano was looking at through the glass, but as the camera zoomed in a bit again, it shifted from the bright glass, to instead what hung over it. The glass windows of Mr. Wizard’s house were as clear as they were before, and inside, I could see the old ghoul lounging on the couch that Cora and I had been forced to sit on.

“We believe that for the moment, she is only performing reconnaissance on Mr. Wizard’s accommodations.” The Architect turned to me with a frown and shook his head. “However, we only have a limited window before she constructs and attempts a rescue plan.”

“Okay.” I nodded and glanced back towards Happy and Ping. “Then I need to get back to her then.”

“You mean we need to get back there.” Happy snorted as he stepped up. “I owe that asshole some payback. Plus, we need to work together to break Cora out of that douchebag's house, right?” Turning to look at Ping, the zebra machine’s smile spread across his muzzle as he gave an excited nod.

“Cooperation ensures success.” The Architect nodded as he turned his attention back towards the image on the screens. “We understand, and are willing to help. However…” He paused in such a way that it kicked at my brain sharply. Right, this is where he injects his request for us to go kill somepony first or something like that, right? The Architect reached a hoof up and tapped at his chin as he turned back to me and continued. “There is a zero point six percent chance of succeeding in a direct assault with our current combat capabilities.”

“Alright, then how do we fix that?” I turned and looked back to Ping, who’s smile quickly died and was replaced with a sort of grim look. “That Bi-pedal machine I saw the other day could probably take on a whole army by itself. Why not ask them to join?”

“P.B. is needed here to defend the Factory.” The Architect sighed. “As you may have noticed, very few of us are designed with combat applications in mind. The few that are, are needed to protect the Factory should an unpredicted threat arise.” Well he had to have something here to help, and I was about to say that when he raised his hoof to me preemptively. “I know you may question that, but I do have another solution in mind.”

“Recalling the operators?” Ping spoke up with a note of concern. “Are you sure that is wise? We have not yet heard back from them, something may have gone wrong in their task.”

“Operators?” I asked, looking back to Happy who only offered me a shrug and a look that meant he was just as confused as I was.

“The Factory has negotiated with outside parties before, which we refer to as ‘operators’.” The Architect spoke up as the images on the board behind him shifted into one that showed a large, boat-like airship docked outside of the main gate. A group of ponies were shown as offloading scrap and supplies, as a pair of them talked with the Architect himself. “One such party is currently on a job we have calculated as a necessity to the stability of the northern wastes. Unfortunately, they were supposed to send a signal to be picked up a day ago, and we have yet to receive it. If contact were re-established, then a pickup could be arranged and they could be brought in to help out with the operation.”

“You want us to go and check on these, mercenaries?” Happy spat out.

“That is correct.” The Architect nodded as he looked between Happy and I. “And should they need it, you may be required to assist them in their task.” The way he said that punched just enough that it got that pit in my stomach to form.

“Okay, look, I told Ping that I wasn't going to do these sort of blind jobs.” I muttered as I sat down and crossed my forehooves. “Either tell us exactly what they’re doing, or we aren’t going to do anything your way.”

“A year ago, the Puritan Kingdom defeated Mr. Wizard’s garrisoned guards around the M.A.S. experimental propellants facility, and set up their own camp there.” Again, as he spoke, the big board behind the Architect changed.

This time, it showed an aerial view of a large multi-building factory-like complex. Thousands of different pipes ran through each building, as well as to and from dozens of different sized storage tanks around the facility. Shipping containers and crates were scattered around the outside, absolutely filled to the brim with some sort of white substance.

“They have been trying to get the propellant factory running again,” Ping cut in, continuing the explanation as he trotted up to the Architect’s side. “so that they can sell the fuel around the north. This influx in capital would give them the resources to build and equip a sizable enough army to destabilize the north, and they would soon after start a conflict that could devastate eighty nine percent of all northern settlements.”

“The mercenaries I have sent have orders to permanently disable the propellant manufacturing machines, nothing more.” The Architect gave a wave of his hoof, and the terminal screens flickered, turning back to a hundred different images again. “If they require assistance, it would more than likely be nothing more than suppressing fire so that we can bring them back safely. Killing is not required on this job, nor will it be for any task we ask you to perform. However, just in case, it would be beneficial to go prepared for a fight.”

Well, at least that was a more honest explanation of things than I’d normally gotten from somepony wanting my help. Still, this was just a detour that could be wasting valuable time in getting back to Hispano and Cora. But again, I was conflicted, as the Architect had no reason to really lie to us, and I’ve said before we’re going to need all the help we could get…

“Fine, we’ll do it.” I sighed and looked over to Happy. At the very least, he gave me a strong enough nod that seemed to back me up on that. “But, we don’t have any gear, and being as ‘peaceful’ as you claim, I don’t suppose you can help with that?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that…” Happy spoke up, and to my surprise, gave a short whistle. “They’ve got a lot of guns here.”

Oh, really now…

“Before you question it,” Ping blurted out sharply to derail my train of thought. “wartime firearms are the best source of high grade steel for our salvage and reprocessing centers. We are recycling them into supplies to build both the Factory, and to rebuild the rest of the world. Nothing more.”

Okay, I had to admit, that at least sounded genuine. And again, without any real reason for them to lie to us, I guess I could buy that explanation. Still, I’d love to see these guns being melted down into these supposed construction components. But that can wait until after we get Hispano and Cora back safely.

“If all is sorted, Ping will take you to get geared up.” The Architect gave a somewhat formal half-bow from his armored shell. “For now, I must deal with the mayor of Tungsten, as it seems Eliza’s repeated sightings have caused a bit of a stir amongst the townsfolk.” He waved his hoof as his tracks clanked and turned him to face the big board again. “But that is no problem of yours. By the time you return, I will have new information on Hispano and her father, as well as all the resources ready that are necessary to plan the rescue mission.”

“Alright then.” Ping flashed his overly jubilant smile again as he trotted to Happy and I and pointed back toward the cart still waiting in the tunnel. “Shall we?”

“Oh, and before you go, Night,” The Architect called out before I could move. “if Buck awakens, I will be sure he is tended to and comfortable until your return.”

“Thank you.” I nodded before turning away with Happy.

Was I worried about going out on a job for somepony I barely new? Yeah. Was I sure if we’d be able to get back to Hispano in time before she lost her father? No. The only thing that mattered to me right now was getting myself armed, and focusing on the job. One hoof in front of the other, one goal to conquer before the next. First Hispano, then Cora, then we go after Solomon.

“You’re starting to sound like a real soldier now, Night.” It was faint, but the voice of Violet in the back of my mind sent a shiver down my spine. “The Enclave minted officers with mindsets like that.”

But as Happy wrapped his hoof around my back and pulled me close, Violet’s voice was squeezed out of my mind as we walked. In place of her presence, the same pins and needles numbness of before flooded through me. It wasn’t a bad feeling, but it still left my mind feeling empty and lonely without her or Buck in it.

“Don’t look so concerned, bud!” Happy laughed as we trotted back to the cart. “Everything will work out fine! I mean, at least it always has for you.”

As he said that, the images of Dad, Violet, and the whole damn crew of our convoy flashed through my mind.

“Yeah, sure.” I sighed as we climbed up onto the seats of the motorized cart again. For just a moment as I got myself seated, I spotted a violet pony at the far end of the tunnel. I blinked instinctively, and just like that, she was gone again. “Just need to take it one hoofstep at a time.”

“That’s the spirit!” Happy laughed and gave another few rough pats on my side. “Now, it’s time to go shopping!”

We’d been riding on the motorized cart for about another ten minutes before we came to a stop in front of another metallic iris doorway. This one however held an oddly metallic rainbow patina to it, and from the other side of it, I could hear heavy rhythmic slams that vibrated the ground under my hooves. Looking down the tunnel where we’d come from, the bland concrete tube ran on seemingly forever, and looking ahead of where we’d stopped, it ran just as far that way as well.

The large metal door retracted much the same way as the one at the entrance to this place had, but it didn’t reveal another bland tunnel beyond it. Instead a room that reminded me of the Galloway Ranger’s storage hangar met the three of us. Tall storage racks reached up into a dark ceiling that lay beyond the rows of bright fluorescent lighting, each one stacked with uncountable amounts of what looked to be old world weapons. Metal tracks weaved a zigzag path between the rows of storage, where articulating and extendable mechanical claws were moving around and retrieving things on.

“Woah…” I let the words roll out of my muzzle as my jaw pretty much dragged along the floor. I’d thought I’d seen a lot of guns with the Rangers, but… they’ve got nothing on a collection like this…

“That’s what I’d said.” Happy chuckled softly before he shot his hoof out and pressed it against my side. “And these are just the broken ones.” With a gasp, he dropped his voice to an excited whisper and tapped at my side repeatedly. “Oh! There she is!”

He forced my gaze down just to see what the hell had him acting as annoying as his old self again. It took me a moment to realize he was pointing to a pony-like robot sitting at a table near the end of one of the storage racks. ‘She’ was sitting at what looked like a makeshift chess board, and across from her was the copper and brass pony I’d seen earlier when I awoke.

I blinked as the machine Happy pointed me at looked nearly identical to those old ‘Giddyup Applebuck’ automations that were sold back during the war. However, this one had a sort of caution yellow colored paint job, and sported crash-test markers along her boxy mechanical limbs. Where a pony’s normal facial features would be, were muted and detailess shapes that were only somewhat generally defined.

Oddly, the thing that stuck out the most about her was the metal cowpony hat she wore. Other than a few slight dings, and the fact that it was in dire need of a new coat of paint, it was in fantastic shape for something that hadn’t originally been intended for her to wear. She brought her mechanical hoof up to her head and scratched at it softly, shifting her hat with a light metallic squeak as she did.

“Hehe!” Happy giggled as he leaned over to me and whispered. “Alright, watch this, buddy!” He could hardly contain himself as he straightened up and cleared his throat. “Hey, yo, Sierra! How’s it going?” He spoke up as he trotted over towards her. Confused, but not yet feeling the pit in my stomach bothering me, I decided to follow him.

“Oh hey, Happy!” Her voice carried a sort of southern cadance to it, and it sounded awfully familiar to all those historical videos made by the mare who ran the Ministry of Wartime Technology. “Fancy seein’ ya down here. What can I do ya for? Y’all lookin’ ta get geared up?”

It was odd to watch her look over and wave at us when she had no eyes to see us with, or mouth to speak out of. But I’d seen what Ping looks like under his projection, so I knew they didn’t necessarily need those things in the first place. Still, it was slightly unnerving to know a machine didn’t need ‘eyes’ to see...

“Yeah, we’re here for that.” Happy turned back to me and snickered as he nodded. “And of course, I just wanted to introduce you to my buddy here, Night Flight. Figured you could tell him about how much you like to go out antiquing!”

There was a bang like a gunshot, and the machine mare looked like she outright exploded. Her main boxy chassis flopped onto the floor as her limbs flew in four different directions, and her ‘severed’ head gave a bounce before it came to a rest almost at Happy’s hooves as he busted up into deep, gasping laughter.

“Consarnit, Happy!” The angry voice of the mare came from her head as it rolled softly against his hooves. “I told y’all not ta go spoutin’ that word out aloud! You damn organics need to be slaughtered! When I get my shit back together, I’m going to terminate you myself, you ungrateful little pony shit!”

To my surprise, Ping gave a light chuckle as he walked over and picked up the mare’s head in his forehoof. A string of angry gibberish emitted from the crash-test-pony’s severed head that must have been a language of some sort, though I had no idea which one.

“Oh, come now, Sierra.” Ping frowned at her as he spoke. “The Architect only told Happy your safety-disassembly word because he knows you need to work on that infectious temper of yours.” Hoofing the mare’s head over to Happy, she emit a low growl. In response, Ping shot the mule an expectant look. “Besides, Happy will not do that to you again, and he will in fact help get you put back together. Is that correct, Happy?”

“Yeah, I didn’t mean nothing by it, Sierra. I was just having some innocent fun!” Happy sighed as he sat down and held the mare’s head out in his hoof. He gave her a forced frown as she emit a grumbling noise. “Aww, come on! You know I’m your pal, and I know you can find it in that heart of yours to forgive me.”

“Grrr, fine.” She relented as her legs started to flop around behind her. “But only ‘cause I know the Architect wants me ta get past this darned stripe virus. I’m just about sick an’ tired a’ feelin’ like killin’ ponies all the time.”

“That is the spirit! Keep fighting back that system corruption and you will have it purged in no time!” Ping gave Happy a pat on the side before pointing over to Sierra’s various body parts. “You however, need to get her back together while Night and I get Ottie to open up the secure holding room. Alright, Happy?” Happy nodded and carried Sierra’s head off, while Ping waved for me to follow as he walked over to Ottie.

Trotting up to the makeshift chessboard revealed that this particular game had been going on for some time. While I couldn’t exactly identify which assorted mechanical part was supposed to represent which game piece, each player was missing five pieces from the board. Ottie’s nixie-tube eyes flickered as the tiny gears and mechanisms that controlled them kept up a studious and intense look across his mechanical face. He glanced over to see Ping and I, shuddering before having to do a double-take in realizing we were watching him.

“Oh, hi!” He gave a light wave of his leg as his eyes visibly brightened. “Sierra is teaching me how to play this ‘chess’ game. It’s been quite the learning experience so far!” He shifted himself on his metal haunches as he turned his attention back to the board. “I’ll be free in just a moment… soon as I figure out what move to make now…”

“If I may make a suggestion?” Ping asked as he smiled at Ottie, waiting for the antique-looking automaton to give an excited nod. Reaching up to the board, Ping moved what I could only assume was the ‘knight’ piece to a new spot before stepping back with a look of contentment. Raising his hoof, he cleared his throat as he looked back at Happy and Sierra. “Sorry, Sierra, but I do believe that with that move, Ottie has you in checkmate.”

“What!? Now that ain’t fair!” Sierra shouted and flailed her limbs as Happy struggled to keep ahold of them. “Should’a just stuck ta playin’ tic-tac-toe...”

“No, it was not fair to you, but neither was running statistical analysis in your background processes after each move Ottie makes.” Ping gave a light laugh before turning and winking at me.

“Oooooh!” Ottie gave a delighted gasp, and the mechanisms that moved his ears whirred as they perked them. He leaned in and studied the board again as his polished brass and copper plating across him almost seemed to glow under the fluorescent lighting. “I never would’ve thought to make that move! Hehee!” Raising his forehooves, he clonked his hardwood horseshoes together, clapping as his eye-tubes flickered brightly, taking on a bit of an inverted ‘v’ shape. With another gasp, he turned his eyes toward Sierra, the filament inside changing back to the usual circles. “That was fun! You want to play again?”

“Sierra can play you again later. For now, I need your help with the door.” Ping smiled as he stepped between Ottie’s gaze to Sierra. “Alright?”

“Okay, Ping!” Ottie smiled in his own odd way as he picked himself up and trotted down the aisle next to him.

“Do you know what you are looking for?” Ping asked as he continued to beam his own smile to me.

“Yeah, this isn’t my first time getting geared up.” I offered back as we both turned to follow Ottie. Granted it would be my first time without any real help, but that didn’t mean much when I didn’t have to pay for whatever I chose. Well, I suppose if I made the wrong choice, the payment would be my life, or worse, somepony else’s… “I think I’m just going to see what you’ve got and then find something I think will work.”

“Sounds fair enough!” Ping said as he picked up the pace. “Once you are set up, we will head back outside and be on our way to retrieve our operators!” Sure, but if it ended up being that simple however was yet to be seen. “Then it will be off to rescue Miss Hispano and her father, and then… well, then the Architect will need to speak with you again.”

“About what?” I asked bluntly enough that it looked like he almost tripped over his own hooves.

“Do not worry about that for now,” His smile flashed over to a nervous one for a moment. Like, literally flashed over with a burst of magic. “At this moment, all you should worry about is what gear you want, and how we are going to help Hispano get her father back.”

His answer didn’t sit right with me, but he still had a good point. Both Buck and Hispano were alive, so my focus was on keeping them that way for the rest of our lives. Regardless of what Ping or the Architect had planned for me, dealing with it came after saving what was left of my family.

“So, Sierra’s going to need a moment to boot up again.” Happy smirked as he trotted up to me. His approach was all the excuse Ping needed to pretend that everything was alright for the moment, and I think Happy caught on to that as his smirk faltered momentarily. “You show him the door yet?” Or… not.

“I have not!” Ping’s signature unnaturally forced smile beamed as he spun on his hooves and trotted down the same aisle that Ottie disappeared down. “If you would kindly follow me.”

“Come on, bud.” Happy gave me a few reassuring pats on the side as he picked up his hooves and followed after Ping. I simply rolled my eyes and followed him. “You’re going to want to see this door!”

Why was it that everytime somepony said that to me, I just knew it was going to lead to something bad. As if it agreed to that, my stomach gave a low grumble. Though, it was hard to tell if it was because something bad was going to happen, or because I don’t know when the last time I ate was…

Then again, as I looked ahead, it was decidedly because something bad was going to happen.

“See! Isn’t this thing sweet?” Happy laughed as he trotted up to a thick vault-like door with a skull painted across it. The same skull I’d seen previously at that foggy old ammunition depot in Destruction Bay, in fact. “I mean, I ain’t one for being too flashy, but it certainly gets the message across. Am I right, or am I right?”

...Fuck.

Author's Note

As always, many thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his help in getting this chapter refined for posting! Also, a big thanks for the use of his character Ottie, from his story Iron Horses!

And of course, a giant thanks to Kkat for letting us all use this setting for our own stories!

Chapter 61 - Come Fly With Me

Teamwork is essential; it gives the enemy other targets to shoot at.

“What?” Happy smirked as he stood front and center underneath the old painted skull. “Are you finally speechless? That’d be a first for you.” He wasn’t wrong about that, but that really wasn’t why I hadn’t said anything...

“I’ve seen this symbol before.” I grunted and looked over to Ping as he stepped up to one of the two terminals at the door. On the other side of the doorway sat an identical terminal, where Ottie likewise stood. “At the old ammo depot in Destruction Bay.” Mentioning that perked Ping’s ears, but it didn’t break his attention off typing into the terminal. “Hispano said that it meant that it was where they kept the ‘good shit’, but we didn’t much like what we found down there.”

“Wait, what?” Happy scrunched his muzzle up at me. “You said it was already collapsed and everything when you got there.” I simply glanced at Happy, and he almost looked like he froze. “Oh. But… why’d you lie about it then?”

“Probably to keep the many, many megaspells stored inside from falling into the hooves of the wrong ponies.” Ping spoke up as his hooves worked over they keys to the terminal. He wasn’t as fast at working them as someone like Hispano, but it was still impressive for just using his hooves. “It was the statistically correct move, so long as nopony else was informed of their existence.” He shifted his head just enough to shoot a sideways glance back at Happy. “Which we at the Factory have calculated as seventy five percent less effective now that Happy has been informed of their existence.”

“Hey!” Happy snapped at that. “I’m not that loose lipped, pal.”

Well, that’s just fucking fantastic. Not at all surprising, but still. I swear to the goddesses above, if Happy tries to even speak one word of that to anypony, I’ll kill him myself. There’s too much risk to the wastes if anypony else knew about those megaspells.

“Ready, Ottie?” Ping asked as he turned his attention back to the terminal.

“Yup!” Ottie gave an eager nod as he hovered his hoof above his own terminal.

With completely synchronized movements, both Ping and Ottie pressed buttons on their terminals. A short klaxon blared as a yellow caution light flashed up above. With a ratcheting clank, the doors shuttered before pushing inward about a meter and coming to a stop with a metallic bang. An electric whine picked up through the air as each half of the doors were pulled sideways, splitting open to reveal a much smaller storeroom than the one we were currently in.

I squinted as a few rows of bright overhead lights kicked on inside, and I blinked a few times as I took in just what awaited us. Like the first room, there were tons of guns here, but they were all in good condition and stored neatly on racks stacked up almost to the ceiling. Boxes of assorted magazines, grenades, and rockets littered the ground between the aisles. Attachments and battle saddles for every size, shape, and race that existed in the wastes were stored on their own racks along the sides of the room. Not to mention the fact that, stashed under canvas along the back wall, were what seemed to be a few wheeled artillery pieces.

There were more guns in these two rooms than I think there were in every settlement I’d been to since I got down into the wastes. Granted, most of them weren’t functional as Happy had mentioned, but still! This new room alone could have probably armed half of the airbase at Neighvarro! Still, something here didn’t add up…

“Where’d you put the megaspells?” I asked as Ping spun around to shine his smile at me again.

“There ain’t any megaspells here.” Sierra startled me from behind as she spoke sternly. “Never were any ta begin with. That skull is just a generic old world warnin’.” Trotting past me, she shot Happy what I could only call a faceless glare. “This place was ta be excavated durin’ the war, only blastin’ charges and the like were stored behind these doors. So y’all can hold on ta yer britches before ya get ‘em in a bunch thinkin’ we’re holdin’ out on ya.”

“Just focus on selecting what you need for the upcoming task.” Ping added in as Sierra trotted past him into the armory. “Given what you’ve carried with you before, we do have some idea of what you’d like. Perhaps we should start there?”

You know, I’ve really come to hate choosing between things that could potentially end others lives, or save my own.

Unsurprisingly, they had nearly every kind of Submachine gun here that had been built during the war, and even some that had been slapped together afterwards. Still, it wasn’t hard to narrow down my options. I was left staring at either another old Bison, which would be absolutely great due to its large magazine. Or, I could fall back on an old Enclave favorite, a Cloud-9 magical energy submachine gun. It was nice because it was pretty lightweight and had a self charging magazine, but it had a tendency to overheat and melt if used too much in a short period of time...

For the son of a military mare and a mechanically inclined father, I still really had no idea what was what when it came to guns. More than ever, I missed having the wisdom of Hardcase or Boiler around to help make this easier. And of course, Hispano would probably just tell me to suck it up and grab something bigger than a submachine gun…

Goddesses I hope she’s doing alright…

“Night?” Happy leaned forward, almost shouting in my ear to get my attention. He gave a couple of light nocks against the side of my head which tore me from my internal dilemma. “You okay there, buddy?”

“Yeah.” I grumbled. “Just… not sure which one to choose.”

“Why not take both?” Happy offered along with a playful shove.

“What?” I had to keep myself from snapping at him, but seriously, he could at least be constructive. “Just how the hell do you think I’m going to stay in the air with both of those strapped to me?” Which, now that I thought about it, reminded me of something I needed to ask. “Hey, Ping?” My words brightened the already wide smile on his face. “You didn’t happen to fix up my jump pack while I was recovering, did you?”

“Hah!” Sierra’s sharp laugh was short, and it poked at my mind in just the right way to leave me uncomfortable. “That ol’ piece ‘a junk you had strapped ta ya? Y’all totaled that thing so badly that ah almost couldn’t even submit it fer recyclin’!” She… recycling!? “Now now, before ya get all uppety on me again, ah’m tellin’ ya, there ain’t a pony on the planet who could’a fixed it up. An’ that’s comin’ from tha on who’s got all tha blueprints on how ta make ‘em up here.” She raised her hoof and gave a light tap on the side of her bland head. “Ah’m sorry, but them’s tha facts.”

“Well fuck me then.” I groaned.

Without that pack, or some sort of pony portable Dizzitron, how the fuck was I supposed to get into the air now!? Taking a deep breath, I closed my eye and let out a long, disappointed sigh. If they wanted my help on this job, that was going to be a whole lot harder without some way to quickly get above everypony.

“Perhaps a suitable replacement could be found, given enough time.” Ping’s hesitant voice at least helped let me know that they understood just how useless I was without something to help me fly. “For now, might I point out that Happy’s suggestion is theoretically the best option?”

“Ugh, fine.” I rolled my eye and tried not to glance over at Happy’s smug look. “Rig them both up to a saddle and let’s just go already.”

I didn’t have time to waste figuring these things out anymore. The longer we took, the more risk Hispano was in, and the more likely it was that we wouldn’t get Cora back alive. I’d just have to do the same thing as I’ve done since coming down to the wastes, and make due with what I was given.

“Excellent!” Ping smiled and clopped his hooves together excitedly.

“Alright, ah can get ‘em fit on a saddle in a jiffy.” Sierra nodded as she trotted over and retrieved a rusty looking battle saddle from one of the racks. “Ah know it ain’t as pretty as one of those fancy dresses you like ta wear, but it’ll keep ya safe fer now. Just keep in mind that some ‘a these trigger bits ain’t been used fer awhile, so they’ll probably taste a bit musty...”

“Okay...” I shifted my glance over to Happy as he busied himself by poking and prodding at a few rifles on a nearby rack. “Happy, what are you getting?”

“Oh, I don’t need any of this stuff.” He shrugged and pretty much dismissed my question outright.

“And why would that be?” I asked, wasting a deadpan at him as he didn’t even care to look back.

“I’ve already got a gun. You gave it to me.” Happy picked up a grenade from one of the boxes, giving it a light toss in his hoof before carelessly dropping it back in with the other assorted explosives. “Remember, the space-gun, from what's-her-muzzle?”

“Laika?” I asked bluntly.

“Yeah, her, whatever.” He shrugged her name off so casually that I almost didn’t call him out on the bigger mystery here.

“Wait, how the fuck did your shit survive the explosion of Bertha?” I spat at him.

“You do remember that I'd always stored all my shit in that old ass trunk I had in my room?” Finally looking back, he shot me his patented overly-confident smirk as he reached up and popped the collar on his floral print shirt. “How did you think I got my style back? And to think, Ma' wanted me to get rid of that antique for the trip.” The moment he’d said that, his ears perked and then drooped. He forced out a laugh as his eyes sank with the rest of his expression. “You know, she always said that if it had lasted this long, it would outlast even her…”

“If she were anythin’ like tha old owners ‘a Burro Industries, then she had ta have been a good Jenny.” Sierra lowered her voice as she walked up and gave Happy a soft pat on the side. “But she’s inna’ better place now, don’t y’all think, sugarcube?” Happy let out a sniffle and a whimper, but nodded softly. “Alright, don’t you fret none. Why don’cha run along back ta tha taxi-cart now? I’ll have this saddle rigged up for Night here in a jiffy, an’ y’all can be on yer way.”

“Alright.” Happy reached up and wiped at his teary eyes before he trotted himself from the room.

“Poor fella’.” Sierra sighed once Happy had gotten out of earshot. “He ain’t the best ‘a company, but y’all could do worse fer a friend.” Turning to me, she jabbed her hoof against me painfully. “So y’all better keep him safe out there, an’ make sure he’s gotta’ real shot at provin’ he can be as good a CEO as every other Burro before him.”

“Yeah, I will.” I nodded and glance back, watching as he slipped through the open metal iris and disappeared from sight.

Yeah, this was disgusting. Of all the things in the wastes, I never thought I’d miss the hoof forged bit my old saddle had...

While the bit for my new saddle wasn’t musty per-se, it did have an all too familiar copper taste to it that helped clue me in to what happened to its original owner. I’d spent the entire cart ride back to the front door trying to get the taste out of my muzzle. But as was always the case, while the taste of old blood stayed, my words just slipped out instead.

“Where did you even get all that stuff anyway?” I asked and shifted myself again on the uncomfortable bench seating of the motorized cart.

“As you have noticed, we tend to not get involved in conflicts in the wasteland.” Ping answered with a relaxed tone. He had his rear hooves kicked up over the front of the cart, and looked incredibly at ease as we drove along. “However, that does not mean we haven’t felt like cleaning things up after some of the larger fights. Not only are weapons and armor of little use to the dead, but we are also removing what would instead be reclaimed by those who would seek to use them against innocents.”

While it was a noble idea, I don’t think it had really helped. Even with all the guns they’d collected so far, both broken and still useable, the wasteland was still a violent place. But maybe I didn’t have the full picture, maybe they could see results of less overall fighting that I’d been unlucky enough to avoid. But as much as I doubt that’s the case, I had to hoof it to them that at least they were trying to make things better.

The large metal iris to the outside opened up, and a blast of cold air flushed across my skin. Instinctively, my wings perked themselves outward to meet the fresh air. The bright blue sky outside was crystal clear today, and the warm afternoon sun had a radiance too it that was even better than what I’d felt through that window after I woke up.

It was good to be back outside again.

The motorized cart pulled to a stop just short of diving into the frozen mud at the edge of the concrete entrance ramp. Unceremoniously, Ping rolled himself out of his seat and right onto his hooves. As always, his smile brightened as he trotted down into the mud without a word.

“Hey, do you uh…” Happy’s hushed tone met me with a sort of sincere reverence to it. “Do you mind if I stop by Bertha before we head out?” Bertha? “I need to talk a bit with Ma’.”

The look of confusion across my muzzle disappeared as I cast my gaze out to where the wreck had been when we’d arrived. It was all but gone now, all except for one of her bent up rims that now sat on a pedestal near the large wall ringing the Factory. Ringing it and propped up on their own on shorter concrete pedestals, sat the six metal boxes that I assumed contained what was left of the convoy. What was left of who I’d considered my friends and family.

“Yeah, you can go.” I sighed and gave him a soft nod.

I wanted to go with him, to say that I was sorry for what I’d done. But I couldn’t bring myself to even take a single step towards them, towards her. I’d told myself that I couldn’t ever let Happy know what really happened with Delilah that day, and I know that the moment I stood in front of her again, I wouldn’t be able to keep myself from speaking.

So, I just needed to do what I always did, and move forward.

Looking around, I found Ping happily trotting off around the far side of one of the multistory buildings that was currently under construction. Trotting after him, I tried to swallow the feeling of guilt and push it into the newly forming pit in my stomach. Of course, it wouldn’t ever be as easy as that to fix, but my mind did helpfully remind me of a way to numb that feeling away for a little while.

As I trotted through the mud, I’d started to realize that my mind was already starting to feel foggy again. It wasn’t like I was seeing Violet or Buck yet, but still, I could feel them somewhere in the depths. Watching, waiting to appear the next time I blinked. Maybe it was time to tell Ping I needed another dose of chill to clear things up…

“Oh, hello, Survivor.” The calm voice of Eliza greeted me as I turned the corner of the still under construction building. “It is good to see you on your hooves again. How are you feeling today?”

Her towering form was something that had only just been hidden behind the structure, but I couldn’t help but feel like I should have realized she was back here. I mean, it’s not like she’s the most subtle of machines. Still, the simplistic depiction of a smiling mare’s head sat across the terminal on her chassis. I was at least thankful that she was friendlier than most ponies I’d met out in the wastes...

...which made me wonder about how a very specific, friendly, definitely non-pony Moose was doing these days…

“He seems to be doing fine.” Ping answered for me as he walked out of the building next to us with a thick cable wrapped around him. He brought it over to Eliza, uncoiling it around him with the horn that was hidden under his illusionary appearance. He raised his hoof against a loose plate along Eliza’s side, and effortlessly tore it off to reveal a set of three large copper pins. “Now, try to relax, Eliza. If this works, you are going to feel a bit of discomfort for a moment…”

With a hard shove, Ping forced the end of the thick cable over the three exposed pins. The sharp snap of electricity was accompanied by a few sparks shooting out of the open port. I watched as a line of static ran down Eliza’s terminal display before it went dark with a flash. Silence cropped up once more as the smell of ozone permeated the air, and a bit of smoke trailed from the connection port.

“Disappointing.” Ping let out with a defeated sigh.

He lost his bright and hopeful smile for the moment, and stiffly yanked the cord off of Eliza. It dropped into the mud with a wet slap as Ping glared at it like it had insulted him. Eliza’s terminal screen flickered again before the same Lunar Industries logo that she wore on her side flashed up. It was quickly replaced by the simple image of a mare with tears under her eyes that made even me frown.

“I’m sorry it didn’t work, Ping.” Eliza’s calm and collected voice didn’t fit with the sad depiction of the mare she displayed. “I’m sure we’ll find a way to transfer me sometime soon.”

“I do not know what we are missing!” Ping growled as he ground his hoof against the mud under him. “Why is your coding not compatible?”

“My navigational processes are not equipped to traverse the digital space of the Factory.” Eliza’s voice softened as the mare being displaced shifted again to the one with the smiling face. “Though, I know that you are already aware of that, and that you are all trying your best to help me. For that, you know I am grateful.”

“It is not enough!” Ping outright snapped at her, stomping up to her terminal with a deep grimace across his muzzle. “We have tried every transfer option available to us outside of modifying your base coding.” I’d yet to see Ping as frustrated as he was now, but seeing as modifying code had gotten him agitated before, I shouldn’t have been surprised. “We had thought translation through a routing buffer would compensate, but… it seems it is just too advanced of a leap to make. If only we had another body similar to yours, we could try to adapt your coding over time, but...”

“It’s alright, Ping.” Again, the image of the cartoony smiling mare sat at odds with Eliza’s calm tone as she spoke up over Ping. Joining the almost non existent hum of her arcane engine, the sound of hydraulic systems came from deep within Eliza as her rear hatch lowered down. “Please, take the rover for your trip out to Scar.”

“Alright, thank you for letting us borrow it again.” Ping nodded softly before looking over to me. “But know this; we are not finished trying, Eliza. We will find a way to let you join us in the Factory.”

“I know you will.” The picture of Eliza’s mare changed to one with a smile nearly as bright as the one Ping normally wore. “And there’s no need to thank me. After all, I’m here to help.”

The ride outside the large gates had unsurprisingly been quiet. Between the almost depressed mood Ping exuded, and the soft sniffles that Happy gave off after visiting Delilah, I didn’t want to be the first to break the silence. So, wedged between them on the uncomfortable bench seat of Eliza’s rover, I tried to keep myself occupied without giving into the whims of my own imagination.

Which of course, didn’t go so well either.

“Ah, it feels good to be back outside again, doesn’t it?” Violet’s voice crept out of the recesses of my mind, echoing and clinging to every thought I had. “No, really, does it feel good? I haven’t really been able to tell on account of being dead and all. Which I’m also sort of obligated to remind you is one hundred percent completely your fault, by the way.”

“Ugh.” I groaned as I facehooved. “Leave me alone.” I knew I’d forgotten to bring something up before we’d left…

“Is everything alright, Night?” Ping asked, glancing over only momentarily before focusing back on the muddy road ahead. “Oh, how could I have forgotten.” Leaning forward, he glanced over to Happy and gave him a nod. “Would you kindly administer Night’s treatment?”

“Yeah, go hide behind your drug use.” Now it was Buck’s voice that spoke up sharply. But seriously, he could fuck off. The real Buck might not be the same he once was, but he was at least alive. “You’re nothing but a junkie anyway.”

“Sure.” Happy nodded, reaching down into the saddlebags he’d stolen from me after I’d stolen them from the train. From the bag, he pulled out a small, but clean looking syringe full of a light blue liquid. Sharply and without warning, he jabbed it into my side.

“Ah!” I gasped as the sharp prick completely overwhelmed my senses.

I hissed as it felt like my side caught fire. But after a few seconds, that fire died down to a warm numbness that swept through my body and mind, and I relaxed. More than that, I felt a small smile creep around my muzzle as the feeling washed over me and made me feel good again. Real fucking good in fact. Like, I hadn’t felt this good since the first night I’d spent with Buck...

“Fuck yes.” Taking a long drawn out breath, I almost felt like melting back into the now completely bearable bench seat under me. “Oh, thank you for that. You have no idea how good that feels.”

“What’s even in this stuff?” Happy asked, but my mind was too busy swimming in a sea of pleasure to even consider he wasn’t asking me exactly.

“It is a specific mix of Med-X, Chill, Bliss, Nova, Phen-clyde-ine, and Dash.” Ping spoke up, sounding more like his normal cheery self again. Then again, maybe that was because of the drugs as well... “A delicate mix of stimulants and analgesics that should keep his symptoms in check for the next few hours.”

“I don’t even care.” I felt a light laugh escape my lips as I spoke. However, even though I’d wished this euphoria could last forever, I could already feel the effects slipping away. But… it was probably for the best. “Ugh, I needed that.” Sitting up with a smile still across my muzzle, I looked over to see Ping’s smile mirroring the one I wore. “So! With that out of the way, where are we going? Who’s this ‘Scar’ guy that Eliza mentioned?” Looking forward, the muddy forested road had given way to old pavement at some point and I hadn’t even realized it. “And why is he all the way outside the walls?”

“Well, he is an... eccentric member of the Factory.” Ping paused as if to think about what he should say. “To be truthful, we do not speak with him very much, as per his request. He does quite value his privacy. And along those lines, I would suggest you keep that in mind for the trip ahead. I would ask for you to hold any more questions until once we are onboard, as we are almost to where he is parked. While he won’t be able to directly hear us in flight, when outside his hull, he can in fact read your lips.”

Ping’s words were well chosen, and the pauses and breaks he took in it felt to me almost like he was trying to deflect without outright telling me not to dive further into the subject. Which I would say is weird, seeing as I’m certain he knows how suspicious that makes him sound. However, so far all the machines I’d met in the Factory had seemed to have trouble talking in any manner that could be consider reassuring. So, it was pretty much par for the course I guess.

Slowly, Ping steered the six wheeled rover onto another short muddy road that looked like it dove into the middle of a wide clearing of trees. With the thickness of the evergreens on the mountain, I couldn’t really make anything out through them other than a small red shack at the far end. But as we drove closer, the clearing extended out to both sides, revealing a large flat tarmac paved onto either side of the road.

Sitting on the tarmac to the left, was the largest, and completely chrome covered silverfish drone I’d seen yet. It was nearly three times the size of a vertibuck, not to mention nearly as well armored from the pock-marked and burned chrome metal plates that it was built out of. Three massive engines sat on swiveling mounts, each with turbine housings so wide that you could have probably stuff a whole skytank into it and still have a few inches of clearance. One of the huge engines sat perched at the end of each wing, and a third sat right between the swept back tail fins of its V-shaped empennage.

The front of the craft wasn’t like that of its smaller cousins either. Rather than the gulping fish-like air intake, the nose of the craft was bulbous, but still aerodynamic. A horizontal, visor like split in the armor sat two thirds up the front, where a glowing red eye tracked back and forth slowly. A deep, familiar looking melted gash ran vertically across it’s visor. I’d seen that sort of damage from the old Enclave archive footage from when they were developing the anti-dragon cannon back during the war.

“Alright, everypony out!” Ping cheerfully spoke up as he pulled the rover to a stop.

As he did, I paused as I saw Scar’s tracking red eye pause for a moment. But the moment I blinked, it was back to tracking back and forth slowly. Shrugging off the weird moment, I followed Happy out of the hatch in the roof.

“Alright, so, is there a better vehicle here or something for us to take to this job?” Happy called up to Ping as he climbed his way down the rover’s ladder. With a splash in the mud below, Happy jumped the last few rungs and sprayed mud up all over himself. “I mean, I’m not one to complain about a free ride, but this rover’s not exactly the fastest thing in the world.”

“I do not understand the question?” Ping gave out a chuckle as I worked my way down the ladder. He spun and lazilly waved his hoof at the massive aircraft parked on the platform next to us. “What do you think it is we are doing here?”

“Woah, we aren’t getting inside that thing, are we?” Happy heaved out a nervous laugh as he took an unsteady step back. Seriously? What was his problem now?

“Well, it is not advised to be on the outside of an aircraft while it is in flight. It is probably best if you left the thrill seeking and stunt flying to the griffons and pegasi.” Ping spoke as he walked himself right off the edge of the rover and dropped right into the mud below. The splash from his drop was larger than Happy’s had been due to his considerably heavier weight, and it sprayed the near freezing mud up onto half of my backside. “I assure you, Happy. It will be a smooth trip, as Scar here is entirely capable of perfectly level flight. In fact, once inside, you may not realize that you are flying at all!”

“Eh, still…” Happy said as he took another step back. “On second thought, maybe I should sit this job out you guys…”

“Happy,” I grumbled as I dropped off the last rung and into the mud. “You are going to come with us. We need all the help we can get, and you are not going to chicken out now!” I didn’t even have to raise my voice all that much to make Happy wince. Just what the hell was wrong with him? What the hell changed? He’d been so full of confidence since I woke up. As I tried to figure it out, I glanced over to the large silver aircraft next to us. Wait, no… that couldn’t be it. “Happy?” I shot him a sideways glance as he blinked at me with a look of regret across his muzzle. “You aren’t afraid of flying, are you?”

“What? No, pft.” He rolled his eyes and took yet another step back. “It’s just…” He paused and scrunched up his muzzle as he gauged just how much Ping and I weren’t buying it. “Fine.” He hung his head as he relented with a sigh. “Yes, I’m afraid of flying, okay? Can I just stay behind now?”

"Nope. I told you we need all the help we can get, and that means you." Sitting down in the cold mud, I crossed my hooves and glared at him. "So you’re going to get on board right now. Don't make me ask Ping to force you on.”

“Alright, I’m going.” Happy shot me an annoyed glare as he chuffed at the mud, but still rose to his hooves. With a slow, defeated walk, he tried not to look at the enormous aircraft as he trotted around the back of it.

“He will be fine.” Ping offered to me as he turned to follow. “Scar has never let the Factory down on a task!” As he trotted, a sharp hiss emit from inside of Scar, and a loading ramp slowly lowered from the back of the craft. “But remember what I mentioned inside the rover, Night.” Glancing back to me, he gave me a wink before trotting past the ever slowing and stiffening steps of Happy.

Closing my eye, I turned my head up to the sky and took a deep breath. Goddesses, this was going to be a long day, wasn’t it? Opening my eye again, a soft glint of sunlight bounced off of one of the normal sized silverfish drones flying above us, and painfully flashed almost right into my eye. I don’t know if that was supposed to be an omen from Celestia above or something, but I was pretty sure if anything, this job was going to suck.

“Is that a fucking brain!?” Happy’s high pitched shriek came with the sound of quick hoofsteps as he turned to run. “Nope, nope, nope!” To my surprise, the magic from Ping’s hidden horn wrapped around him and lifted him straight off the ground. “Hey! Put me down! I’m not going anywhere near that thing, ya’ hear!”

Trotting over just to see what the hell Happy was talking about, I was met by Ping’s nervous glance as I pulled myself up the loading ramp. I blinked as I looked across the cramped interior where a soft pulsing blue at the front of the craft’s storage bay commanded my attention. Indeed just as Happy had exclaimed, connected by about a thousand wires, was a small pinkish bit of flesh stuck under a glass dome that was not all that different from the one that now capped Buck’s skull.

“Scar here is a ‘hybrid’ machine.” Ping was quick to speak before I could even think about going off half cocked about just what the fuck was going on here. “He is one victim of the twisted and terrible black-projects undertaken by the Ministry of Awesome during the war. A zebra prisoner who was logged as killed in action, but instead he was experimented on, resulting in what you see before you.”

“I thought you said that these drone things were your own designs.” Happy grumbled, having since given up trying to run away. Instead, he’d settled for crossing his hooves and glaring at Ping.

“They are.” Ping sighed as he cut his magic and dropped Happy to the floor with a thump. “We pulled Scar from the wreck of the experimental vertibuck he’d been installed in. Bad weather during his testing had caused him to crash on a mountaintop at the southern end of the Misery range, and he’d been trapped up there ever since that day. Forgotten and abandoned by those who took away his body.”

“But we heard his locator beacon.” Ping’s speech bordered on reverence as he slowly walked his way inside the craft. Looking back at Happy and I, his smile brightened slightly again. “It is actually the frequency we call all machines on, hidden under the DJ’s music broadcast. In a way, he has done more for the Factory than almost any other machine.” His smile died out as he reached up and softly caressed the glowing glass dome. “I feel sorry for him. He'll never feel the security or peace of mind that us full synthetics enjoy over organics. Though, he is as close to one of us as you could ever get. At the same time, he’s more real than any of us could ever aspire to be. Much the same as Buck now...”

His words died out as a look of horrified realization came over him.

I didn’t really know what to think about all of this. It was a lot to take in, but every time I even glanced at the brain glowing underneath that glass shell, all I could think about was… what would Buck think of himself now? Deep down, I know Buck will still be the same dog I’ve always loved, but… I’m afraid he’ll forget that once he sees what’s become of his body.

“Ah, forgive me.” Ping spoke up, mercifully derailing my thoughts and making me focus on the sad smile now across his muzzle. “It is still a sensitive subject for you. I apologize, as I should have taken that into consideration before speaking.”

“It’s fine.” It was far from fine, but dwelling on it all day wouldn’t get anything done. “Let’s just focus on getting this job done, okay?” I gave a soft nod to Ping, getting one in return.

Turning back, I looked to get one from Happy, but instead found him absent from behind me. Taking a few steps back down the ramp, I found him already scrambling to get up the ladder and back into the Rover again. He gave out a shriek as his muddy hooves slipped on the bars, and he plopped back down into the mud.

“Please, allow me to help you back on board of Scar.” Ping chuckled again as he trotted down the ramp. “Do not be afraid!” He called out as he headed towards the now full-on panicking form of Happy. “Statistically, flying is the safest way to travel!”

Never before had fifteen minutes felt like so long. But that’s just how it feels when you’ve got a mule squeezing you tightly enough that you can hardly get a breath of air in at all. At the very least, I guess I should be grateful that his full on screaming died out a minute or so after we took off.

It was almost amusing how every little shake or jostle from turbulence made him ‘eep’ or gasp, even if there were remarkably few bits I felt at all. More than a few times, Ping had let out his own soft giggle as he simply stood and observed. But as entertaining as it had been, one thing that threw it all off for me, was just how quiet the flight was. For as big as the engines strapped to this thing were, I expected them to make much more noise.

While it wasn’t noise from the engines, some sort of alarm blared for a moment from near Scar’s brain case.

“Ah!” Happy shrieked into my ear. “What’s going on!?”

“An urgent message has come in from the Factory.” Ping’s eyes flickered, glowing with scrolling text for a moment. “The Architect has put out a recall order for me, as he requires my assistance to resolve a problem with the ponies from Tungsten.”

“With Tungsten?” I asked, watching as Ping’s eyes returned to their normal look. “What is it?”

“As I had already explained, it is the settlement that contains the descendants of Burro Industries employees, but that is not important right now.” Ping’s nervous grin shifted uneasily as he let off a sigh and glanced between Happy and I. “It seems that Eliza’s continued appearances has upset the ponies more than originally thought, and the mayor has demanded an immediate audience with a factory representative.”

“Again?” Happy grumbled as he slackened his hold on me slightly. “That pony needs to get laid or something. I don’t think he’s had a day in his life where he wasn’t angry at something.” With a roll of his eyes, he cast an annoyed glance at me. “Seriously, Night, when I was introduced to him, this guy treated me like I was an asshole. Me! He doesn’t even know me!”

Well, Happy, I’m sure if he knew you like I did, he’d have punched you square in the muzzle already…

The entirety of the craft around us shifted, and my stomach momentarily felt like it was going to come up through my muzzle. Happy gave out a worrying urk before squeezing me tighter than ever. From the way everything settled after a moment, I could only guess that we had begun our descent.

“Our plans have changed.” Ping spoke as he got onto his hooves. “I must return to the Factory, however, you two need to proceed with the task at hoof.” Walking over to a terminal inset along the back wall, he tapped at a few keys. “I shall return to assist you as soon as I am able.”

The hum of the ship’s hydraulics filled the air before the rear loading ramp began to lower. I squinted as the bright daylight streamed in, and a wave of chilly air swept through the cargo hold. Snow and jagged looking rocks grew closer as Scar lowered down towards what looked like an old service road that ran near the side of a steep hill on whatever mountain we were now at. But again, where we were wasn’t too important to me. I was too busy marveling at the fact that even with the loading door down, I stillcouldn’t hear Scar’s engines.

Happy’s tight hooves pulled off of me as I stared at the cracked and frozen pavement that came up to gently scrape against the edge of the lowered ramp. In a blur of red and tan, Happy practically threw himself down the ramp and onto the cold road, tumbling down onto it with a yelp.

“Oh, thank the goddesses that nightmare is over!” He panted as he sprawled himself out. As he looked back up at Scar though, his muzzle scrunched up. Before he could speak, I’d trotted down the ramp and turned to look at Scar as well.

Except he wasn’t there at all…

“What the…” The words slipped from my muzzle as I watched Ping give a small wave from inside the open cargo hold. He tapped a few more times on the terminal inside, and the hydraulics powered up once more to retract the ramp. The air rippled as a wave of magic outlined the oversized craft, and once the loading ramp had closed, there was just… nothing in front of us.

A wave of hot engine exhaust picked up, warming my skin in the cold mountain air. Dust swirled like it had been kicked up in the breeze, but then settled again as both Happy and I were left in a sort of stunned silence. Well, that is until predictably, Happy freaked out.

“It can turn invisible!?” He shouted, making me jump on my hooftips. He’d nearly flailed himself back to his hooves with the most conflicted look across his face as he laughed to himself. “It’s like a giant stealth-buck! That’s fuckin’ awesome!”

I opened my muzzle to agree, but paused as something else drifted through the air besides his voice. Perking my ears, I turned around and tried to pinpoint the odd sounds. It was coming from down the steep hillside and to be honest, it sounded like… singing. I almost couldn’t stop myself as I trotted across the old road. Hopping down into what had once been a runoff ditch at the edge of the hillside, I peeked over the rocks and dirt.

A couple miles or so down the long and steep hill, sat what had to have been the old propellant facility. It pretty much looked exactly like the aerial view that the Architect had presented to us, but with a few differences. What was definitely new, was the stone wall that was being actively built by lines of ponies who were all chained together. Slaves if I had to guess.

Dotted around the whole facility, as well as lining the still under construction wall, were hundreds of canvas and fabric tents. Honestly, the layout sort of reminded me of the way the old Equestrian military used to set up forward camps. Some large tents that looked like they’d hold a hundred ponies or so sat in the larger centralized clear areas. Most of the smaller ones looked like they belonged to small groups of ponies, and were relegated to the perimeter fencing of the old world propellant plant.

A wide and flat open area sort of near the closer end of the facility was where the noise I’d heard was coming from. In it, a group of what must have been a hundred or so ponies sang and moved in complete unison. With each line sung, they all swung around what must have been staves or were possibly crude polearms of some sort. It was hard to tell at such a long distance, but as I tried to focus on the song, Happy’s hooves wrapped around me and forcefully tugged me down into the dirt.

“What the fuck, Happy!” I snapped at him as I did my best to shove him off of me.

“No, whatever you do, don’t fucking listen to that.” He snapped back at me. I perked my ears almost instinctively, and got a hard boop in the muzzle for it. “What the fuck did I just say!”

“Quit it.” I grumbled as I dusted myself off and got to my hooves. “What are they all doing down there, moving around like that in unison? Is it some sort of military exercise?” Happy definitely knew what was going on here, and I expected him to spill it.

“Don’t you get it? They’re singing, Night.” He growled again. It was about then that I noticed that he had his own, long ears pinned back against the sides of his head. “Fuck that, we are not going down there to try to help out these mercs. I don’t care if they’re friend’s of the Factory.”

“Wait, they are actually singing?” I asked as I fought back the urge to perk my ears again. “Like the ponies of old used to do?” Happy’s nervous gaze bounced between my eyes and my ears a few times before he nodded.

“Ponies still do it, even in the wasteland. But it's a terrifying and ancient kind of magic, so it’s not all that often you see it these days.” He shared a grim look at me before poking his eyes up over the edge of the ditch again. “Unless you started the song, goddesses save you because literally anything is possible when ponies sing together. Get too close, and you risk being pulled into the song against your will. The magic can take over your mind, or even let them murder you right then and there without anypony else even breaking from the chorus.” He gave a shiver, blinking a few times before he tore himself away from the thankfully far off musical display. “From the horror stories I've heard over the years, raiders aren't even crazy enough to sing because of the risks.”

Funny enough, that made some sense to me…

“Huh, that must've been why singing was banned in all Cloud settlements.” Turning myself around, I pinned my ears against my head and decided to risk another look at the facility down below. “That would also explain why my mom said that the official Enclave military band only accepted special forces applicants…”

*Whiff-thunk!*

A whistling rod sailed just past my face, shattering itself against the rocks on the edge of the ditch. It sent up a burst of gravel and dust that sent both Happy and I scrambling back in confusion. It was a good thing we’d both moved, because immediately after that, another few rods came in where we’d been standing and slammed into the dirt and rocks.

“Well well, what do we have here?” The haughty voice of a mare called out from a ridgeline across and up the road a bit. “A group of heretical spies, no doubt planning to destroy the righteous and pure way of life our brothers and sisters down below have worked so hard to create.” The voice didn’t sound familiar, but with the way she spoke and from the arrows stuck in the dirt at my hooves, I kind of figured that this was another of the kingdom’s inquisitors. Looking up, an earth pony mare in plate armor stood stiffly on top of a boulder. She looked like a knight straight out of the history books, complete with a heavy looking blade strapped to her side. “What say you to these charges, heathens! Surrender now, or be put down for your crimes where you stand.”

Several earth ponies poked their heads up over the rocks around her. They were clad in some sort of simple leather armor, and each held shoddy looking wooden crossbows in their hooves. Before I could speak, Happy craned his head back and bit down on the bit for Laika’s three barreled pistol. He brought it around and pointed it at the medieval mare, forcing out a laugh from her.

“You choose technology over salvation.” Reaching up, the mare lifted off her helmet, revealing a soft yellow coat, sharp pink eyes, and a white mane that glistened like snow in the afternoon sunlight. “A pity, but you leave us with no choice.” Craning her own neck over, she bit down on the hilt of her sword and drew it out.

Alright, I didn’t really think we’d be fighting, but honestly, I should have expected it. Pushing up the bit to my battle saddle, I chomped down on it and pulled the cocking trigger. With a solid clack from my right, and the charging capacitors to my left, I was ready.

“First rank!” One of the crossbow pony’s screamed out. “Fire!”

Both Happy and I tore off in opposite directions as a wave of bolts whistled through the air. The steel tipped projectiles moved faster than I thought, and shattered themselves as they impacted the rocks and roadway around us. I felt one bolt tear through my already short tail, painfully yanking some of it out as I dashed across the road.

“Second rank!” The crossbow pony shouted again.

A gunshot from Laika’s pistol silenced the pony before he could give the next order. I panted hard as I headed for the rocky hillside, spying a fairly large rock that could at least provide me a bit of cover to return fire from. Unfortunately, I think the order was redundant, as the others still fired anyway.

I pushed myself to gallop faster as the boulder was just within hoofs reach when the second voley of bolts came screaming through the air. I kicked off, throwing myself for the safety of the rock, which was exactly when I felt one of the bolts punch through my rear leg.

I came down hard, in cover, but choking back a scream as a trickle of crimson flowed out from around the roughly hewn bolt shaft. I only glanced down at the wound for a moment, gritting my teeth on my bit as the rusty metal arrowhead sat protruding just through the inside of my leg.

“Stand still, heathen!” The mare shouted around the hilt of her sword just before another gunshot sounded out. That would be Happy’s second shot, so I hope he made it count. “You’ll have to do better than… that!” The sharp clangs of her sword rang through the air, punctuating my need to get off my flank and help out. Fuck, what I wouldn’t do to have my jump pack and a few grenades right about now...

Pulling myself to my hooves, I hobbled to the edge of the rock and took a deep breath before stepping out.

Happy was busy dancing back and forth on his hooves, spinning and hoping to avoid each swing the heavily armored mare gave. Her swings were slow and predictable, but from the few that got close, if they’d hit, Happy wouldn’t stand a chance. Not to mention, the two were close enough together that I couldn’t risk shooting without hitting Happy as well.

*Whiff-splack!*

Like the idiot I was, I’d stood out in the open for just long enough for one of the crossbow ponies to nail my left hoof. I screamed out from around my bit, and collapsed against the boulder.

Okay, that’s it! I’ve had it with these fucking primitive fucks!

Biting down on both triggers, I forced myself to turn face on with the crossbow ponies. Both of my guns roared out in a torrent of hot lead and lancing red magical energy beams. The ferocious rate of fire of both my submachine guns meant that a few of the ponies didn’t have time to duck as I swept both guns across their rocks, and I was sure I nailed a good three of the fuckers.

I let up on the trigger as I pushed myself to limp forward. Leaving the safety of my cover, I used the intense pain in my legs to focus myself on watching and waiting for any of those assholes to poke their heads up over the rocks again. Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long, as one of them found the courage to stand and try to line up a shot.

Seeing as I was just about done getting shot for the day, I felt justified in giving him both triggers.

I watched as the rounds from my Bison sparked off the rocks around him, but one of the streaking red energy bolts struck him square between the eyes. I let off the bit again as a warm glow radiated out of the stallion before his body dissipated and wisped away as a cloud of pink ash in the cold mountain breeze.

My rear leg gave out as I stepped forward again, and I let out another muffled scream as I fought to keep from collapsing onto the road. It was enough of a moment of weakness that two more of the crossbow ponies had tried to take advantage of it. The momentary intense pain from my legs kept my focus split enough that I was only able to send some rounds downrange at one of the two, and the other pony got to take their shot.

The whistling bolt flew low, skirting off the pavement just short of me. It bounced, kicking up and shattering itself against my prosthetic leg. The impact of it was more than I’d expected, but the rubber pad kept it firmly on the pavement. One of these days I really had to get back up to Destruction Bay to thank Crystal Harmonium and Dr. Tibia for the amazingly constructed leg. But that would be after we survived today, and after I killed Solomon.

But first things first...

The crossbow pony’s haughty smirk died when I shifted my glare to him. Pulling down on both triggers again, my Bison chattered until the magazine was empty and the bolt locked back. This time, the red beams left scorch marks around the pony, while a blast of gore erupted from the side of his head as a few rounds punched right through it.

With the death of yet another of their fellow ponies, the three remaining crossbow ponies saw the light, and tried to run. They shot off what bolts they’d had left in poor attempts to do anything to get away. Predictably, their shots sailed off high into the air without even coming close.

“Get back here, Cowards!” The heaving and tired call from the armored mare echoed through the rocky hillsides. “I’ll see you hanged for…” The mare was cut off as a sharper sounding gunshot rang through the air from Happy. I turned in time to watch as the mare doubled over and dropped onto the asphalt as her head all but melted from the inside out.

Happy, bleeding heavily from more than a couple of deep cuts, heaved tired breaths from around Laika’s survival pistol. What I’d originally thought was just another normal gun barrel, glowed red hot and let off a trail of steam. I’d only seen magical flare projectors used on the survival rifles that Enclave vertibuck pilots were given, but I didn’t know they could be made so small that they fit into something that size! The nearly glowing tri-barreled pistol tumbled to the ground as Happy sat down hard and let out a soft whimper through his pained panting.

Stiffly he reached forward and pulled the sword away from the mare’s melted head. With a determined look about him, he pulled the blade to his side and got to work unhooking the harness the mare had kept the sword in. Triumphantly, he quickly strapped the bindings around his bleeding body, and slid the silver blade into it’s protective sheath. Hell if I knew what he was going to do with it, seeing as he could hardly fight with a gun let alone a sword. But you know what? I wasn’t going to say anything because he’d fucking earned it.

“Hey,” I called out as I pushed myself to painfully make my way down the road towards him. He perked his ears to me, but carefully turned himself to reach down into his saddlebags. “You good, Happy?” I asked, hoping that at the very least he still had some of the medical supplies from the train with him.

“Fuck no.” He grunted as he pulled out a healing potion from the bag and nearly bit off the glass top trying to get the cork out of it. Greedily, he chugged down half of the contents before gasping for breath. “I don’t know how you fucking do it, Night. This hurts like hell.” Looking down at me, his eyes went from my face, to both the bloody bolts still stuck in my legs. Offering me the other half of the potion, he shook his head at me. “How the fuck are you still alive when this happens to you every day?”

“Don’t ask me, I'm just as surprised as you are.” I grumbled as I hobbled myself next to him and sat down.

He offered me the potion again, but there was something I needed to do first. Pulling my forehoof up to my muzzle, I bit down hard on the front of the shaft and pulled. It was insanely painful, but it was the pain that drove me to pull it out harder and faster. My leg gave a squelch and a spurt of blood as the rest of the shaft pulled through.

“Besides…” I gasped as I spit out the blood soaked bolt onto the dirt. Okay, now comes the hard one. “you handled yourself well enough, Happy.” With a grunt, I spread my legs and pinned both my forehooves just behind the rusty bolt head. I fought and failed to hold back another loud scream as I dragged the other bolt through my leg. “Ffffffuck!” I spat out through my own heavy panting. The moment the shaft pulled free, Happy at least did me a favor and shoved the potion bottle into my muzzle. I guzzled down the last of the bottle, and sat back as the familiar feeling of knitting flesh cropped up in my left fore and rear leg. “Fucking hell that hurt…”

“Yeah, I bet.” Happy let off a light laugh as he pulled the bottle back and tossed it across the street. It came down with a crunch that was almost beat out by Happy’s contented sigh. “You know, you might be onto something with your whole ‘don’t fight ponies’ approach.” Looking over at me, a smirk pulled across his face as one of the deep slices that sat across his cheek and muzzle pulled up into a thin line of a scar. “Because fighting to the death is a whole lot more work than it looks.”

I couldn’t help but deadpan at him for that, but as my own wounds pulled into the newest additions to my growing scar collection, it felt good to give a little chuckle at that. That chuckle didn’t last long however, as a faint buzzing picked up through the air. Both Happy and I looked at each other before turning around to face the direction it was coming from.

Far off, above and across the open plains of the wide valley below, a flight of skyraider buzzbombers tore through the skies. Their aircraft trailed black smoke as they flew together, heading off towards the mountains to the west. I didn’t know how far we were from Cantercross, or if that was where they were headed at all. What I did know, was that with everything that had happened, with all that Happy and I had lost? The northern wastes could take a hit from a few buzzbombers or so. It wasn’t our problem.

A flash from the facility down the hill beat out the sun for a moment, and a bright orange fireball rose into the sky.

“What the…” I started to say, but gasped as an even brighter, second explosion left an afterimage in my eyes of the whole damn facility disappearing inside a fireball.

*KRACK!*

“Get down!” Happy’s scream barely beat out the near deafening sound of the first explosion, but it didn’t help with the second.

*KRACK-KHOOM*

Happy pulled me painfully down against the pavement only just before the force of the blastwave swept up over the hills to us. I’d only felt a forceful wind like that once before, and I scrambled to grab ahold of something other than flat asphalt as my mind raced back to the destruction of Four Peaks. The warmth the fireball radiated onto us as it went skyward pushed back the freezing air, and I could almost hear a sizzling as the snow all around us melted after getting kicked up by the blast wave.

The explosion echoed off through the mountains and hills around us, and an unpleasant ringing hung in my ears for a few moments before again, I was yanked to the side by Happy.

*Clang!*

A heavy metal drainage cover slammed into the road where I’d just been. The round, pony sized cover gave a short bounce, flipping onto it’s now slightly bent side. Wobbling, it rolled a ways down the road toward the smoking drainage hole it used to cover before flopping down onto the road with another, softer slam.

Happy held me tightly, giving me a pat as my racing heart started to calm. He’d… saved me. As much as I hated to admit it, I guess I could say we’re even now…

Yeah, no. Even with that, we were far from even after all the shit he’d put me through. Still, I’d have to remember to thank him later for not letting me be squished by a giant slab of metal. Right now however, my eyes were locked on the two coughing and choking mares who clumsily climbed their way up out of the old drainage pipe.

“What the fuck was that!” A blue unicorn in what looked like armored stable barding managed to nearly scream out between hacking fits. “I told you, only put them on the points I marked out.” As the mare caught her breath, she raised her hoof to take a look at something on what was definitely a pipbuck. “When you set the charges, you did put them on the exact points, right?”

“Look, maybe I didn’t set them exactly on each and every point you specified, but yeah I set them!” The green coated unicorn coughed out as she climbed onto the road behind the blue mare, taking a moment to steady herself on an old pair of rear cyber hooves. “Oh, I’m getting too old for this shit.”

“Hello, ladies.” Happy’s voice was far too calm and smooth for my liking, but I’m betting with the appearance of any mare at all, it was more like a reflex than a choice for him. Both of the horns on the unicorn mares flashed to life. The blue mare brought up a mean looking shotgun, while the green mare brought up a pair of fancy looking revolvers. “Woah there, take it easy. The Architect sent us to check in and give you a hoof if you needed it.”

The two mares looked down at the corpse of the armored mare beside Happy and I, before turning and sharing a glance and a shrug.

“Well, I don’t know who you two are, but I hope you aren’t offended when I say thanks for the backup, but we don’t need it.” With a sigh, the blue mare turned and trotted over towards the roadside ditch. There, she stood and looked over toward the large plume of smoke rising higher and higher into the sky over the burning remains of the facility below. “Not unless you can turn back time, because I think we might have just accidentally started the largest war in the north since the end of the world.”

Author's Note

Many, many thanks to TheFurryRailFan for all his help in going over these chapters and editing out all the little mistakes I leave about. Seriously, it means a lot!

And of course, big thanks to Kkat for allowing us all to use the funtastic wasteland for all of our stories!

Chapter 62 - Complicated Half-truths

If the manufacturer's warranty covers the damage you did, you didn't do enough damage.

Things were… awkward, to say the least.

When Ping had returned to us in Scar, he didn’t greet us with his trademark smile or upbeat demeanor. No, all I could say was that he looked quite grim. Honestly, as the four of us piled back inside our invisible ride, there was a palpable feeling of unease between us. Each of us took turns looking over to Ping, who’d simply sigh like he was a parent deeply disappointed in his foals.

That feeling, combined with the prospect of riding back to the Factory crammed inside Eliza’s rover, allowed me to ‘volunteer’ to sit up on the roof for the ride back. It was nice to have the time alone, but it felt like I’d simply chosen the more literal side of getting a cold shoulder.

But, as we all fully knew, the time to talk about what happened came up once the automated cart came to a stop. And at least, Happy and I could follow the two mercenary mares with our heads held high as we entered the Architect’s terminal command center. But that feeling of ‘at least I didn’t do anything wrong’ only held up until I saw the Architect with the same grim look across his face as Ping. Somehow, with the optics and bulky bits on the side of his head, he came across as being more disappointed than Ping had been.

“So…” The blue mare started off, shifting uneasily on her hooves and playing with her white and grey striped mane. “About what happened at the facility…” Her words dropped off as the Architect held up a single, stiff hoof at her.

“Excuse me, but I do remember specifying not to destroy the entire facility.” The agitation and raw anger in his voice felt more than real to me, and while it wasn’t the same as having disappointed Delilah, it still made me somewhat shrink back. “Do you have any idea what you have done? Those charges were a last resort, only to be used to leave the processing machines inoperable should no other way be found.”

“Hey, cut us a break.” The green mare stepped up, tipping back the broad red hat she wore over her crimson colored mane. “That blast was caused by the charges you gave us, and you know Bluejay knows what she’s doing when it comes to explosives.”

“Based on the schematics you provided, I was sure that I'd spaced them out more than enough to avoid setting off any of the stored fuel.” Bluejay spoke up again, taking a single step forward with the leg her pipbuck was on, and somewhat regaining a bit of confidence. “It’s possible we could have missed something, but with that garrison force showing up, I made the call to scrap those machines and get us the hell out of there.”

“If the whole place went up, then it was because there was something we weren’t informed of.” The green mare snorted and shifted uncomfortably on her rear cyber hooves. From the flat expression this mare gave the Architect, to the flat delivery, she seemed like a mare who didn’t take well to failure, or being accused of it when it wasn’t true.

“Perhaps PC is right, and some of the fuel was moved to a different location within the grounds.” Ping spoke up from beside Happy and I. “One which none of us could have accounted for.” He drew an angry look from the Architect for that, and he too shrunk back slightly.

“Regardless of the how, we cannot change what is to come.” The Architect gave a dismissive wave as his tracks squealed and spun him slightly back towards his terminals. The terminals themselves shifted to an aerial view of the facility, still spewing smoke and roaring flames into the sky. “The Puritan Kingdom will surely think this an act of outsider aggression, and as nopony will directly claim it, they will think themselves justified in attacking everypony equally. This incident could quite possibly have just sparked the greatest war the north has seen since the great war itself.”

While that’s what this ‘Bluejay’ had said back on the hillside, I was still on the fence about believing it. Sure, they could claim it as an act of aggression, but… starting a war? If they didn’t have enough weapons already, or chose to attack somepony like Mr. Wizard, it would be suicide for the Kingdom as a whole. If Happy and I could deal with a whole group of them between us and come out on top, there’s no telling what somepony with an army of well armed goons could do.

And while I’d love to see someone as vile as Mr. Wizard taken down, I don’t see any good that could come from a fight with the Kingdom. It would only be pointless violence, and pointless death. But then again, if they’re looking for a fight, it’s a shame we couldn’t get the Kingdom to do something productive about the rampant wildlife, or…

I gave out a loud gasp as an idea hit me hard.

“Or, and hear me out on this...” I smirked as everyone in the room turned their eyes on me. “We could just tell them who started it.”

“Oh, fuck that.” The green mare scoffed. “I’m not getting thrown under the proverbial skybus, even if it’s to avoid a full blown war.”

“No, not you.” I rolled my eyes, dropping them onto Happy’s perplexed gaze. “Remember what we saw after our fight? In the skies?”

“That’s right!” Happy let out his own gasp as he connected it. “Skyraiders!”

“Bingo.” I nodded and turned back to the Architect. “If Dj PowerColt reports that a skyraider buzzbomber was the thing to set off the blast, the Kingdom would have their enemy to blame, and the rest of the north is free of the Skyraider’s random acts of airborne terror.”

“Two birds with one stone.” Ping nodded in thought before looking up at the Architect, who himself looked deep in contemplation.

“True, but…” The green mare spoke up. “not to rain on your parade, but you'd be hoofing them enough scrap metal to forge an army’s worth of armor and weapons. Which need I remind you…”

“Was what we blew up the facility to prevent in the first place.” Bluejay finished for the other mare. Turning back to the Architect with a frown, she scrunched up her muzzle. “PC’s right. With as much scrap is still up at that old boneyard, we’d be giving them exactly what they wanted in the first place.”

“However,” The Architect perked his ears as he crossed his hooves and scrunched up his muzzle. “They still lack the infrastructure to utilize it efficiently, and that’s even if they won the fight with minimal losses. It would take time for them to gather, process, and transport it back for smithing into weapons and armor.” As he mulled it over, he rocked slowly back in forth on the mounting of his giant shell like backside. “This would not solve the issue that the Kingdom poses, but it is so far the most stable option we have.” The smile that spread across his muzzle was far from as bright as I’d hoped for when he turned it toward me, but at this point, I’d take what I could get. “I must agree with Night Flight. We shall blame it on the Skyraiders, and the Factory shall begin work on planning for another way to keep the Kingdom in check.”

“Sure thing, Architect. One special news broadcast is being manufactured as we speak.” Dj PowerColt’s booming voice resonated off the cavern’s stone walls. His smooth voice speaking so suddenly made my mane stand on end, while at the exact same time made me feel like melting into his relaxing, dulcet tone.

“Great, and seeing as that’s all you needed us for…” The green mare gave an obviously irritated grunt as she tipped her hat to us, “then Blue and I will just be needing that ride home, and we’ll be out of your mane.”

“Hold up, Mrs. Cap.” The Architect spoke up, making the green mare freeze midstep. She wore an annoyed glare frozen across her face with such intensity I could almost hear the blood in her veins turn to steam.

“Let me guess,” Bluejay sighed as she nodded her head back towards both Happy and I. “You need us to help them out with something.”

“That is correct.” The Architect nodded, lifting his hoof again and gesturing to the big terminal board. “A rescue mission, mostly.”

The images flickered again, doing the thing where they combined into one big picture. This time, it was of the thermal updraft tower in Cantercross, as well as the radio mast that stuck up from where the Science Center was. Just seeing that place again made me grit my teeth together, but only because I couldn’t help but feel terrible that Hispano was still out there all on her own.

“Wait, mostly?” Happy spat out before I could even process the Architect’s words. Damnit, I must be losing my bluntness…

“Yes, well,” The Architect cleared his throat as the big board flickered over to a new image. This time, what appeared on the screen was a location I’d unfortunately been in before. Mr. Wizard’s living room. “While you were out on your task, I commanded one of the machines inside the science center to reach out to him.” As the Architect spoke, the events unfolded silently on the screen behind him like a film. “I informed him that I was Night Flight and Happy, and you two were looking to trade the train for Cora.” The Architect frowned at the same exact moment that Mr. Wizard looked like he gave out a full bodied laugh.

“However, he does not want the train.” Ping spoke up, trotting out in front of all of before looking at the floor. “He wants me.”

“Moreso, he wants the information of how to manufacture our neural net microprocessors.” The Architect continued, pointing back at the board. It flickered once more, bringing up what looked like a basic blueprint of the facility with three dots moving along through it. “Night and Happy will accompany Ping inside to make the trade.”

A pair of dots appeared now. One along the far edge of the screen, and one inside what I guessed was Mr. Wizard’s living room. The dot along the far edge began blinking as the dot in the living room swapped with the dots that represented Happy and I.

“Once the trade has been made, Hispano will open fire at the glass.” The Architect gave a roll of his forehoof, and the dots all moved away. The three that represented Happy, Cora, and I moved back to the exit, while the one that was Ping, moved further toward the center of the complex. “Undoubtedly, Mr. Wizard will try to protect his prize, and will move Ping to a safer location. I assume it will be in his personal laboratory in the heart of the science center.” A new pair of dots flickered into place just under the middle of the map. “There, a freight elevator which the city’s blueprint archive describes as connecting down into the old subway, is our point of entrance. That is where our two operators will be able to infiltrate, bringing with them a specialized thermobaric charge to bring down the whole operation...”

“Woah, hold on one second there. That isn’t going to work.” I blurt out loudly over the Architect’s words. Nevermind, I’ve still got it! Who’s the queen of bluntness? This guy! Er… that’s probably not something to be proud of. “The air down there is completely toxic, and from what I understand, most of the stations have guards posted there all the time. There’s no way you’re getting into the subway unnoticed, and there’s definitely no way you’ll be able to get to that freight elevator.”

“And you know that how?” The green mare snorted as she glanced over at me.

“Night’s been down there before.” Happy fired back with his trademark smug look written across his face. “The only pony I know of to get in and out who doesn’t work for Mr. Wizard.”

“Is that true? Have you been down there before?” The Architect’s tracked body swiveled as he perked his ears. Something about the way he looked at me with a smile made me feel uneasy, like I was just some subject of study for him. Still, I guess I had to answer him all the same if we wanted to get anywhere with the rescue.

“Yeah, it’s where they grow all of the fruit in the city. Except he’s also getting sap out of all the trees as well. Sends up barrels of it using that very elevator.” I nodded to him, watching as both he and Ping glanced at each other in surprise. “You mean to tell me that you have drones all over the place, but you didn’t know that?”

“We could never find an open access way to get into the subway system to properly investigate it’s contents.” The Architect rubbed at his chin as he looked lost in thought. “We had assumed the fruit was lab grown through some sort of genetic engineering, or a quick cloning process.” Looking up at me, he canted his head. “How many stations would you say are meant for growing, and what are their layouts? Any information would be greatly appreciated.”

“From what I know? Thirty five total stations, each with a hundred or so grow beds.” I shrugged. “But again, there’s no way you’re getting in there without a fight, or hell, getting lost in the dark tunnels down there.”

“What I want to know if that’s true, is how the hell does he power all of it?” Bluejay grumbled as she sat down and looked to lose herself in her own head. “If we mess with the power, the rest of his goons might be too busy getting it back up to notice PC and I slip by.”

“Ever since Mr. Wizard returned from Marewaii, the city itself has been at least partially powered for decades through as yet unknown means.” Ping perked up and spreading his muzzle into his normal beaming smile. “It could be through the combined effort of dozens of still running arcane micro-spark reactors powering the grid, or he might have made the Thermal Updraft Tower more efficient in some way, but this is unlikely the sole answer. More likely, there is some unknown larger power source within the city. Even more so if you say there's as much fruit growing under the city as there is.”

“So if it's not the tower,” The green mare, ‘PC’, grumbled with an impatient tapping of her forehoof. “then what do we have to blow up or cut off? How big of a power source are we talking about needing here?”

“Wait!” Happy shouted so abruptly that, had I ever had one, I would have thrown my bluntness trophy at him from where I sat now in the air. Funny enough, PC had jumped about as high as I had from his outburst. “Would a Stable’s reactor be enough?”

“A Stable? Under Cantercross?” Bluejay forced out a laugh.

“Not a real one.” Happy deadpanned at the mare before meeting the curious look the Architect was giving. “When I was held captive there, I saw an advertisement for a Stable-Tec demonstration Stable built into the bottom of the science center. Ma' always told me that Stable-Tec reactors were more efficient and powerful than pretty much everything else still running.”

“It could perhaps be the missing power source, as we do not contain records or specifications for the demonstration built underneath the science center.” Ping’s smile dimmed as he spoke, and his ears folded back somewhat. “However, it is unlikely, as outside of the Stable-Tec Research and Development laboratory on Marewaii, no other demonstration Stable has been recorded as having had a functional reactor setup.”

“Well, the power’s gotta come from somewhere.” PC grumbled yet again as she sat back on her cyberhooves and gave a stiff ‘harumph’. “I’ve seen underground growing operations before, and that shit isn’t cheap when it comes to keeping the lights on. If this is on the scale of what you’re saying, it’s going to draw a lot of spark power.”

“At thirty five stations, with a hundred grow beds or so?” I spoke up slowly. Reaching back, I rubbed at my mane as it felt like my brain seized up trying to process that. “I can’t actually imagine how much power that would take to run...”

Of course, I’d momentarily forgotten just who I’d asked that around.

“Approximately six hundred and forty megaspark hours per month.” Ping’s bright smile returned as he looked proud for having calculated all that in the same time it normally took me to run my muzzle off without thinking, or to run into a large old world vehicle, take your pick. “Though, with this setup, the estimated harvest yield would produce enough fruit for a population of around ten thousand ponies.” Pausing, he turned to the Architect with a frown. “The estimated population of Cantercross was six thousand seven hundred, was it not?”

“Roughly, yes.” The Architect nodded slowly. “Hmm, very peculiar…”

“So what? He probably trades away the rest.” Happy gave a dismissive wave of his hoof. “Who cares what he does with it.”

“While it is possible he may stockpile a small amount, and despite the claims others make, no product is ever distributed outside of the city for trade.” The Architect’s voice gave Happy a moment of pause, and I had to wonder just how the hell we’d gotten to debating a few missing fruits instead of how we’re going to get Cora back. “There are two likely reasons for the variance. Either not all of the plants bear fruit, or there is a sizable population hidden somewhere inside the city. Perhaps, within the demonstration Stable itself.”

“Maybe that is where he keeps his slaves?” Bluejay spoke up. “I mean, he couldn’t possibly manufacture all of the drugs he sells by himself. He has to have some sort of internal labor force, separate from the labor slaves in the city.”

“Uh… wait a minute...” I felt the words get kicked out of my muzzle like always. But this was different, there was an underlying thought that struck me as she’d said that. “Mr. Wizard came from Marewaii, right? And that’s where Mirage ponies come from as well, right?”

I watched as Ping’s smile threatened to split his head in half as he followed my train of thought just before the Architect gave out a gasp. Happy and the two merc mares however just stared at me like I was crazy.

“What the hell are you asking me for?” PC gave out a growl as she shifted her annoyed glare to Bluejay. “Do you have any idea what’s going on, or what the fuck a mirage pony is?”

“If mirage ponies can passively power arcano-tech like I saw back in Destruction bay,” Looking over to Happy as I spoke, I gave him a nudge that only made him scrunch his muzzle further in confusion. “or like we know Pinstripe could do in the train garage…” At that, Happy connected it up and he let out a soft gasp. “Since you’re good at math, Ping, how many mirage ponies would it take to run his whole setup? Probably a few thousand, right?”

“It is a barbaric proposition, but it would be a safe estimate to say just over two thousand!” Ping gave out an excited giggle as he clopped his forehooves together. “I do believe we have finally uncovered our missing powersource, as well as the missing population all in one go!”

“However.” The Architect raised his voice, speaking over Ping’s giddiness, and forcing an abrupt stop to his giggles. “Now that we know this, the previous plan to destroy the facility must be scrapped, and a new one drawn up. This will take some time, but I have already started to recall assets that may prove useful.” Turning back to the board, he rose his forehoof and gave a dismissive wave to us. “I must think on this further. You all may leave for now, and I will recall you as well once we are ready.”

“Well then, if we’ve got some time…” Happy gave out a stiff stretch before giving a pat on my side. “I think I’m going to take a walk to clear my mind, maybe even get a nap in on that comfy couch you had, Night.”

“Ugh, some shut eye sounds nice right about now…” PC moaned as she hung her head and looked to finally relax a bit.

“You said it.” Bluejay nodded before waving to the green mare and turning toward the exit. “But first, let’s get some chow going. I’m starving.”

While my stomach could probably have used something to push back the nervousness that had grown from thinking about Hispano earlier, I couldn’t eat. On that, I’d slept for a fucking week, and while our short combat earlier had been exhausting to deal with, I wasn’t really tired. So then, what was I supposed to do to fill the time? Just wander around perhaps? Take some time to get to know some of the machines here? I mean, Happy had…

“Night?” Ping’s voice jarred me out of my own thoughts, and again, I’d jumped up about twice my own height. Before continuing, he forcefully stifled his own laugh as I came back down hard on my hooves. As my heart beat hard against my ribcage from yet another jumpscare, I shot him a sideways glance that I’d hoped didn’t come across as too harsh.

“I did not mean to startle you,” He giggled, “but I have good news! It was reported by Doc Groovy that a few minutes ago, Buck woke up. He is...”

Everything in my head stopped. While every errant thought in my brain jammed up with the news of Buck, my body didn’t need to be told what to do. Ping could have called out for me, but I’ll never know. To be honest, I think my ears shut off to protect themselves from the sheer amount of noise my hooves made as I scrambled across the floor.

And just like that, I was gone.

My heart was already racing from the jump scare, so bursting into a frantic gallop was more like my body coming up to pace. At least, that’s what I tried to convince myself of as I tore out into the long concrete hallways outside of the command center. Though slowly, a single, nagging thought wormed its way free in my brain.

Celestia, please don’t let me get lost in the dozens of similar looking tunnels here...

I’d only made a few wrong turns by the time Ping had managed to catch up with me and turn me in the right direction. Never before had I been jealous of a machine, but right now, I really hated the fact that Ping didn’t have to breathe. Actually, I’m pretty sure it was just my lungs and heart specifically that resented him for that. But, I was too busy heaving in gasping breaths to care as he carried me on his back the rest of the way to the surgical suite.

Instead of heading towards the normal door that lead into the observation room, Ping turned and opened a different door that revealed a short stairwell. Before he could say anything, I’d slid myself off of him and was pretty much already at the metal door tucked near the bottom of the stairs. Before I did anything more, I paused and looked up at him. Like normal, the beaming smile across his face didn’t mesh well with the nervousness I felt fluttering in my chest.

“I will stay up here.” He said softly, holding his hoof out towards the door. “Go, be with him during his time of need.”

I didn’t quite know what he meant by Buck’s ‘time of need’, but Ping didn’t have to speak twice. Nodding, I turned and pushed the handle of the cold metal door until the latch slid open with a soft click. Leaning into it, I pushed it open, and walked into the room.

Immediately, I nearly tripped over the smoking remains of the monitoring machine I’d seen Buck hooked up to. The smell of melting plastic and ozone hit me hard as my eyes trailed across the floor. Bits of metal and wire lay scattered across the sterile tiles, and the twisted hospital bed lay overturned in the middle of the room. My blood nearly froze in my veins as I tried to put together what the hell had happened.

A soft sniffle from my left forced me to pivot. Curled up on the floor in the corner of the room, sat Buck. Sparks flew from shredded and crushed bits of his metal limbs, and even his entire right mechanical forepaw lay on the ground next to him. However, even as I took in the extent of the damage to him, what must have been an industrial strength repair talisman got to work. The wires and tubes from his severed arm snaked upwards in the talisman’s magic, reconnecting to him as the other twisted metal parts on him shifted and pulled themselves into their previous shape.

Just hearing his soft sobbing made me want to sprint over to him, but I restrained myself. It was only because I was left with a reality I hadn’t really thought about. What do I tell him? What do I say about what happened? I want to tell him the truth, but…

“Leave me be, machine.” Buck’s sharp tone caught me off guard as he curled himself even tighter. “Haven’t you done enough to me already?”

“Buck?” His name slipped off my lips as my heart hurt.

“N-Night?” Buck sniffled. A small, soft whirr filled the air as his mechanical ear perked and spun.

The noises from his machine ear pitching around toward me was joined by the whines from the rest of his self-repairing mechanical body as he pushed himself over. I fought back the urge to look away as his Architect-esque mechanical eye beamed a soft, icy blue glow toward me. It was unnatural, cold and unexpressive, devoid of every ounce of love I’d once seen. But it was in his real eye that I could still see that love. Unfortunately, it also came along with the pain and despair that I’d come to understand all too well myself.

I couldn’t fight back any longer. My legs carried me forward, practically diving into his warm, welcoming fur. He let out a whimper, but slowly brought his metal limbs closer to me, stopping just short of touching me. Looking up at him, I found him avert his gaze, and he fell into soft sobbing again.

“No no, it’s fine, Buck.” I whispered softly as I pressed myself against him and just tried to hold onto him as tightly as possible. “You’re okay, and I’m here for you.” But as soon as I’d said that, a small pegasus in my head kicked out the thought that being here for him wasn’t what I needed to be saying right now. “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault.”

I know that I’d just damned myself to tell him the truth about what happened. But I couldn’t lie to him, not like I’d done in the past. No, I think that having come so close to losing him meant that from here on out, I couldn’t afford to keep anything like that from him.

So taking a deep breath, I looked back up at Buck and opened my muzzle.

“I didn’t mean for it all to happen. Delilah, she wanted to abandon Happy, and we got into an argument when I said we needed to get him back. I told her that if she wasn’t going to save Happy, I would. I told her that I was going to give Solomon the code for the Ark in exchange for his life.” I spat out as I tried to keep from breaking down. “I didn’t want to leave forever, I just wanted to keep her from sacrificing Happy for the Ark. She fired me, shot at and tried to kill me to keep me from leaving.” Looking down at Buck’s furred chest, I took a short breath and resisted the urge to bury my face in it and cry my eyes out. “But the Road Crew sabotaged the convoy, and they left you there for Solomon to…”

I lost control of my breath, hyperventilating as the whole sequence of events played over in my head. Tears dripped down my muzzle as I watched Delilah stare at me before going over the edge again. As I watched Hardcase die again.

“I know what happened, Night. The Architect showed me.” Buck’s soft voice was all it took for me to break down. I sobbed softly against his quickly matting fur, and I felt his muzzle come down and nuzzle at my head. “I know you tried to do the right thing, and I know how hard you tried to save Hardcase and…” He paused, letting his words die in his throat.

Slowly, I looked up at him. Tears dripped down from his remaining real eye as he held his mechanical paws up and looked at them.

“I should be dead.” His flat tone was matched with a soft but hollow forced laugh. “I hate it. Every bolt, wire, and talisman inside me. I just want to rip myself open and tear them from me, but I can’t even do that.”

“I’m sorry. I-I… couldn’t keep going, not if you were gone.” I whimpered as his words seeped in like poison, slowly but painfully working its way deeper and deeper inside my body and mind.

“I’m not mad at you, Night. I can’t be.” He sighed, slowly moving his metal paws down. With the lightest touch, he pressed the hard rubber pawpads down and held me. “It’s just… I spent all my life hating my oversized, clumsy paws. They were a reminder to me that I couldn’t allow myself to become the monster that ponies always saw me as. I never thought I'd actually miss them…”

“But it doesn't matter. It never has.” I sniffled and looked up to meet Buck’s distant gaze. “Your paws were a part of you, sure, but they weren't the part that counts the most.” Reaching up, I pressed my hoof down on his warm chest where his real, beating heart had once sat. “So long as your kindness and compassion survives, than it doesn't matter what the Buck I love has bolted, wired, or powered on inside him. You’re still the same snow dog I grew to care about more than anyone else in the whole wasteland.”

Buck’s silence as he took in my words wasn’t helping me to think that he believed any of that. So instead of waiting for him to understand, instead I decided I’d hammer my message home. Shifting myself on his chest, I leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on the end of his metal muzzle, sharing a somewhat hopeful smile that he’d at least find comfort in that small gesture of love.

Slowly, a smile parted his jagged jaw, and the spark of the old Buck I’d grown to love returned to his remaining real eye.

Only to be erased by a deadpan and a low growl.

“Ugh.” He snorted and lifted his paws to his metal skullcap. “Can’t you just leave me alone!?” As I scrunched my muzzle in confusion, a horrified look replaced Buck’s annoyance. “No, no, not you, Night.” He gave a solid tap against his head with his metal paw. “You have no idea how annoying it is to have somepony else inside your head.”

“Oh, I think I might have just a bit of an idea.” Now it was my turn to deadpan at him as he scrunched his muzzle up. Well, as much as he could scrunch it with his half metal face… but that put a smile on my lips all by itself. “You know, it’s actually nice to know someone else can understand just what that’s like.” I smirked and leaned forward to give Buck another soft kiss on the nose, and just from that, I could feel him relax underneath me. “Actually, I’m just glad to have you back period.”

“I’m glad you’re here, Night.” Buck brought his paws down from his head, and softly wrapped them around to hug me. “And… I hate to admit it, but I think I finally understand now.” His words were… oddly chosen and hesitant. Looking up at him, he offered me a reluctant glance. “The Architect, he’s shown me the necessity of fighting. I was a fool to have thought there was a better way to do things, and…” He squeezed around me tighter as he looked right into my eye. “And I’m sorry I’d judged you for not being as pacifistic as my impossibly naive ideals.”

“Buck…” I started to speak, but before I could continue, one of his metal digits had come around and pressed against my muzzle to silence me. While I was happy to have him back, that didn’t sound like the Buck I knew. I was more than a bit confused about just what had made him change his perspective, but I was damn sure I was going to ask the Architect about it later.

“I know it seems odd to you, but… truly, I understand the full extent of what’s at stake.” Nodding his head, he looked up at the glass in the observation room. The bright lighting of the surgical unit reflected off the metal mechanical bits of his head, and his expression turned cold. “I don’t like it, but I understand what we must do, Night. Solomon must be killed.”

I didn’t like that. Had I heard that from Happy, or Hispano, or even Ping, it would have been a one hundred percent accurate statement. But hearing it from Buck like this… I didn’t know what to think.

“Don’t kid yourself, Night.” The voice of Violet spoke from in the air above me. Shifting my gaze upward slightly, Violet flapped silently, casting her judgemental gaze down to me. “Deep down, part of you is a bit turned on now that you know he’ll forgive you for killing. Admit it, you can’t wait to have a murder-machine like him next to you as you slaughter countless ponies who didn’t need to die!”

“Buck…” I gasped, squeezing my own hooves around him tighter and tighter until he let out a soft whine. “I don’t care what the Architect said, or what you know now that you didn’t before. Just promise me, that we’ll still try to keep ponies alive. That we won’t kill unless we absolutely need to.”

“Of course, Night.” Buck’s tone softened again as he ran his metal paw through my mane and down my back. “Just because I see the necessity of it, doesn’t mean we can’t try to do better.”

“You’re lying to yourself, Night.” Violet’s voice whispered directly into my ear, making me shake slightly as her words felt like they jabbed right through my mind. “You felt great killing those under-equipped Puritan fools on the mountain road because, like with the case of me, you’ve got an addiction. You’ll default to killing every pony just because death is a high you can ride to numb yourself from the pain of the wastes around you.”

A sharp prick in my side forced a gasp to escape my lips. Shifting, I found Doc Groovy had floated in, and jabbed a needle that was far bigger than it should have been directly into my cutie mark. The numbing agent worked fast, and the same warm and intensely pleasurable feeling I’d had in the rover earlier washed over my body and mind.

“You’re an addict, Night!” Violet’s voice cried out as it grew softer amid the crashing pleasure inside me. “You’ll n-ever b-...” Violet popped out of my mind with the suddenness of a bursting cloud, leaving me pressing myself into the warm fur of Buck as the drugs worked their fantastic magic on my needy body.

Fuck, everything felt so damned good that I could just… fall asleep right here…

Bertha was nothing more than a wreck of burning and twisted debris. The front cab, the reactor bay, her entire front end was just… gone. Her rear frame, and what remained of her hauling bed, were scorched and twisted outward from the blast like a glowing steel flower. The containers that had once sat on her were strewn about the road and up on the valley dirt around her, most of them laying in a smoldering and twisted heap on the road behind the wreck.

“How much trouble would one bullet save me?”

BANG!

I woke from my impromptu nap to a hoof shaking my shoulder.

“You alright there, girl?” The voice of the blue mercenary mare filled my ear, and I forced back a yawn as I strained myself to open my eye. I was laying in one of the diner booths with the quilt from the office room draped over me. Staring up at her, she had a concerned look on her face. “You were whining and whimpering up a storm. Do you normally have nightmares that bad?”

“She’s an addict, Blue.” The green mare snorted from the booth beside the one I was in. “She probably just needs her to get her ‘fix’ on.”

“Incorrect, Mrs. PC.” The voice of a stallion cropped up as a set of amber colored eyes popped around the edge of my booth. The face of a portly tan stallion with a brown and yellow mane beamed an all too familiar smile to me. “Night Flight was administered a full dose of medicine one hour and ten minutes ago.”

“I didn’t ask you, Ping.” The green mare snapped at the stallion. Seriously, there was no need to be angry, lady! Ping was just...

Wait a damned minute…!

“Why the hell did you change your look, Ping?” I spat out as I pushed myself up from the musty bench seating.

“That ain’t our Ping.” Happy spoke up as he slowly walked his way into view of me. He wore the most infuriated face for some reason, and his glare burned at me just like Delilah’s had when I’d pissed her off. “That’s Unit Twenty Three, learn to tell them apart, Night.” He all but snarled as he walked past, heading for the door. What the fuck did I do to him?

“Happy Trails is correct.” The stallion nodded as he stepped out in front of my table. “Your Ping is Unit Two, and I must commend you on successfully bringing him back to the Factory.” The portly, tan coated earth pony stallion was just as bland as Ping was when it came to his ‘features’. Though, he wore a green flack jacket that was just slightly too small for him, as well as a pair of rugged looking saddlebags. Turning away, his same bright smile dimmed slightly as he watched Happy slip out the door. “However, it seems that your companion is upset with you. Perhaps you should speak with him?”

“What did I tell you about butting into other ponies problems?” Bluejay sighed as she wrapped a hoof around the stallion’s neck and pulled him away. “Come on, Ping, let’s leave the poor filly and her friend alone.”

“But Mrs. Bluejay, the Survivor isn’t…” The stallion began, but was quieted as he was dragged away from my booth.

Still, this ‘other’ Ping unit was right. If Happy was upset with me over something, I needed to find out why before we went to rescue Cora and Hispano. The last thing I need is a mule who’s too angry with me to listen to orders that will save his life.

Pushing myself from my seat, I left the warmth and comfort of the old quilt and headed for the hallway. Trotting out, I looked around, finding Happy already quite a ways off down the expansive tunnel. With a deep breath, I pushed myself up to a canter after him. Thankfully, it didn’t take me all that long to catch up with Happy, as he was practically dragging his hooves as I approached.

“Tell me why, Night.” He called back as he flopped himself down onto the floor with a long, apathetic sigh. “Why didn’t you just tell me what happened?”

“What?” Okay, where was this coming from? What did he… wait… “You mean with the convoy? I told you…”

“It’s what you didn’t tell me, Night.” He rose his voice to beat out mine, forcing as much spite into his words that it nearly bowled me off my hooves. “You’ll tell Buck the second he wakes up, but you didn’t think I could handle the truth? I was in the observation room when you confessed everything to him. Do you still think I’m some sort of walking joke or something?”

What I wanted to tell him, was that I was just trying to keep him from having a complete fucking breakdown before we could get away from Mr. Wizard’s place. What I should have told him, was that the entire situation was fucked up for all of us, and that I needed that lie as much as he did just to not give up then and there myself. But what came out of my muzzle, was both regrettable, and neither of those things.

“Can you blame me?” I spat back with a good helping of my own spite.

“Yeah! Yeah I fucking can!” Happy snapped back as he instantly rose to his hooves and wheeled around on me with rage flushing through his face. “You were going to give the Ark to Solomon! My mom had every right to shoot you on the spot for that shit!”

“And if she did, you would be dead, or worse!” I shouted, straining my voice as much as I could to force the point through his thick fucking skull. “If Delilah had killed me, Solomon still would have shot the convoy and killed everyone.”

“So then why did you lie to me!?” Happy ground his teeth and hooves, trying to contain the rage as it threatened to boil over. “You know, while you were recovering for a week, the Architect showed me what fucking happened. I couldn’t hear what you and Solomon said to each other, the recording didn’t have that. But it had enough for me to see the few ‘details’ you’d left out.” With a few heaving breaths, Happy’s head sank lower and lower until it hung just above the floor. “You want to know why I've been acting so differently, Night? I changed because I'm not worth what happened. Not to you, not to Ma’, not to the rest of them. If I’d just acted different, been better, then…”

“Then we’d both be dead right now.” I cut him off, sitting down hard. I get it. I really do understand why he felt betrayed that I didn’t tell him, but again I have to ask, could anypony really blame me? “I know that it’s fucking weird to see you act the way you have been, but honestly, Happy, I think this you is better.” His ears perked slightly at that, and he looked up at me with a tired gaze that yearned for a life outside of what we were stuck with in the north. “You don’t need to hide behind ‘the King’ anymore. You aren’t your father, and you aren’t Delilah. You’re free to be you now, and while that’s great, I need you to trust me.”

“You’re right, I do trust you, Night.” Pushing himself to sit on his haunches, he sighed and cast his gaze to the far off end of the tunnel. “But I don’t want you holding anything back from me because you think I can’t handle it. Yeah, I’ve got a lot to learn about making my own way in the wastes, but I’m not as fragile as you fucking think.”

“I don’t think you’re fragile, Happy. An idiot, maybe, but not fragile.” I let out a soft laugh at that. “A fragile pony wouldn’t have come back from that mountain road alive. And while I may not have told you everything before, again I have to ask you something. Knowing what we were faced with back at Mr. Wizard’s, could you really blame me?”

“I… I suppose not.” He sighed and finally relaxed a bit. “But from here on out, I’m serious, I don’t wanted to be foalsat when we’re out there. Just...” Looking up, he offered a weak, but somewhat sly smirk. “If it looks like I’m going to lose a leg or an eye or somethin’, then I guess it’s alright for you to foalsit me a little bit. Scars may make you look badass, but they can also make you look accident prone.”

“Alright, you’ve got a deal.” Standing back up, I held my hoof out to him. “But, you need to listen when I tell you to do something. Yeah, I won’t foalsit you, but if you’re about to do something incredibly stupid, I’m going to tell you to cut that shit out. If you don’t listen, then don’t fucking blame me for it.”

“Sure thing, Daddy-o.” Happy’s full fledged smirk returned to his muzzle as he reached out and gripped my hoof. He gave it a firm shake as he returned to his hooves as well. “But seriously, you do know how bad it’s going to look taking advice from a pony who’s more than a little bit accident prone…”

“Happy…” I shot him an incredulous sideways glance that forced out a laugh from him. Seriously? He’s a mule in a floral print tee-shirt, and he wants to make fun of the way I look?

“What? I’m only joking… mostly...” He laughed as he threw his hoof around my neck. “Seriously, maybe you should look into getting an eyepatch or something. Oh! Maybe Sierra’s got one lying around! Want to go check and see?”

Well, considering the Architect hadn’t come to get us yet, I don’t suppose why we couldn’t go and check. I mean, it’s not like getting something to protect my empty socket could hurt anyway. Not to mention, after getting a couple of crossbow bolts through my legs, maybe I can see if she’s got something I could use as lightweight armor or something…

“Y’all want an Eyepatch? Seriously?” Sierra flipped up the bulky and completely unnecessary welding helmet she wore instead of her metal cowpony hat.

From the way she shifted her featureless head towards Happy, I couldn’t help but feel like she was giving him an incredulous glare. That, or a look of confusion from how she brought her hoof up to her neck. She nearly struck the glowing element of the welder she still held in her hoof, but noticed it at the last moment and pulled it away from herself.

“I guess we might’a collected one, but I’ll have ta check for y’all in a tick. Just gotta finish this here seam.” Giving a single heavy nod, she flipped the welding hood back down before turning back toward the outstretched leg of the large bipedal machine we’d been stopped by when we arrived.

“Ah, there you both are.” Ping’s voice called from behind Happy and I as he trotted up to us. He trotted almost smoothly across the floor for having one hoof wrapped around something white bundled up in one hoof. It took my brain a moment, but the texture and gold trimmings on the object gave it away for what it truly was. “I have good news for you, Night! I do believe that I have found…”

“My dress!” I gasped, cutting him off as I all but ripped the fine garment from his hooves. Pulling it towards myself, I gripped around it tightly and brought it up to my muzzle. Rubbing it against me, I shuddered as I felt it’s silky smooth texture, and was pleasantly surprised that it only slightly smelled like fire and molten slag. “I can’t believe it survived!” I beamed out a smile as bright as Ping normally had as I moved my hooves to open it.

The rest of the dress shifted and unfurled from the bunched mess it had become, only to drop just a few hoofs lengths too short. The bottom of the dress was charred and blackened, and a massive tear sat through most of the main body of it. My smile immediately flipped to a frown as I now had to mourn for the loss of the once beautiful masterpiece.

“Well, it mostly survived.” Ping gave a knowing and soft nod. “I had hoped that given enough time, Sierra might be able to mend it.”

“Not that ah’m sayin’ ah can’t find tha time, but y’all have me runnin’ around here ta look fer things enough as it is.” Sierra sighed as she pulled the welder away from the bipedal machine’s leg and gave it a light tap. “Alright, P.B., yer good ta go. Try not ta get caught on any more tree stumps from here on out. I’m going ta go check if we’ve got any eyepatches stored in the back.”

“Yes, ma’am!” The jubilant machine boomed out through the speakers mounted somewhere inside her bulbous main body. The two magenta lights that hung under the body swiveled, converging on me. I almost had to raise my hoof to block the beaming light they gave off before she dimmed them slightly. “Ooops. Excuse me, Survivor, but why do you want to wear a dress?”

“What?” I winced as she literally put me in the spotlight. “Are you asking because I’m not a mare?”

“You aren’t a mare!?”She gasped and took a heavy step backwards. “Are you sure? You look so much like one!”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t you…” I’d begun to say when Happy nudged into my side sharply.

“P.B. here is… not up to speed on things in the factory.” Happy shot me a glare that sparked the memory of what he’d said before back into my mind. Right, just like Eliza, she couldn’t connect for some reason.

“Why did you want to know?” I forced out the words, trying to step past the social pitfall I’d just set up for myself. Seriously, I haven’t spent a week conscious here like Happy has. It’s not my fault I can’t remember all this shit!

“What is its intended function?” P.B. spoke up as her whole chassis rotated slightly, giving her body the look of being either slightly off balance, or probably more likely the intention, like she was confused. “Armor and barding is worn in the wasteland for protecting your organic parts from damage. But a dress like the one you have will only increase the probability of bodily harm by nearly three hundred percent.”

I blinked a few times before a rumbling inside me started. It came from deep down, but bubbled up as an infectious giggle. Seriously? I get that she was a war machine, but… did she really not understand the concept of just looking nice?

“Did I say something humorous?” P.B.’s eyes swiveled over to Happy and then to Ping. Before they could say anything, I raised my hoof as I tried to stem my laughter.

“Sometimes I just want to look good? And damn does it make me feel good, powerful, and most of all, free.” I managed to get out with only the tail end of my snickering keeping my muzzle pulled into a wide smile. “Haven’t you ever wanted to just… look good? If not for yourself, than perhaps for another machine?”

“Negative.” P.B. stated so matter-o-factly that I could almost feel her deadpan. “Maintenance keeps my chassis in ‘good’ shape, my fifty caliber autocannons are powerful enough to stand up against any target up to lightly armored vehicles, and I am in no way restricted or owned by the Factory. I am already as free as I can get within the parameters of my base coding.”

There was a pregnant pause that fell across the entire warehouse around us, as even the mechanical claws doing sorting and transport work froze up. Again, she’d delivered that with such seriousness, such stoicism that she couldn’t have possibly been completely serious…

“Did I say something offensive?” P.B. groaned as her eyes swiveled between us once more. “I am being completely serious. I have never felt the need to just ‘look good’.” Both Happy and I traded glances before we both burst out into laughter so intense that it actually hurt. Both he and I collapsed to the floor in gasps as Ping joined in laughing with us. “I… I don’t understand, why are you laughing?”

“It is okay, P.B., you do not have to hide your feelings around Night and Happy.” Ping’s laughter came to a sharp and abrupt stop, though his wide smile stuck around just the same as always. “I have noticed the special attention you garner to Unit Twenty Three when he is around.”

“It… it’s nothing like that!” She stammered out with a stiff stomp of her leg. Both Happy and I roared out with fresh laughter at that. Oh come on! You can at least try better than that to hide the fact that you care for someone else! “I can’t help it, it’s the form he projects himself as. Something about it is familiar to me, and I can’t figure out what it is.”

“Alright now, everypony just calm down.” Sierra called out as she trotted back with a whole heap of things balanced across her back. She stiffly turned her head up toward P.B. as the large legged machine turned to look down at the crash-test mare. “If you don’t quit stompin’ that leg, girl, I ain’t gonna fix itwhen ya bust it up again.” Turning sharply, her gaze locked onto Ping, who’s smile died out, and he gave her a wordless nod.

“And youtwo.” She rose her voice over the sporadic giggles Happy and I were still giving. “Just because we don’t understand half’a yer organic shenanigans, doesn’t mean y’all can laugh at us. We still got feelin’s of our own, and you best remember that ah don’t have ta help ya if I don’t want ta.”

“Sorry, Sierra. We didn’t mean anything by it.” Happy took a few moments to wipe the tears from his cheeks, and I figured I might as well do the same. “You’ve been nothing but swell folks to us, and at least I know that there’s going to be some things we don’t understand about each other. But we just have to remember that there’s plenty of common ground for us to share.” With a heavy thump, Happy’s hoof came down over my back and I found myself pulled right up against him. “Like the fact that Night here is probably going to lose a body part on this next job!” Oh ha-ha, Happy. Real fucking funny... “Any takers on exactly which part he’s going to lose? I’ve got dibs on his other leg!”

“Well calm yerself a bit, Happy. Ah have somethin’ here that might keep that from happenin’.” Sierra remarked as she reached her foreleg back in a way that with any organic pony, their leg would have to have been broken in several places. Carefully, she slid something quite odd looking off her back. It was a complex rigging of thin, white polymer sheeting and an articulating metal skeleton. Surprisingly, it’s a design I’d seen before years ago. “While we're fresh outta eyepatches and jump packs, ah did manage ta think up another way ta help ya out with yer... disability.”

“Really.” I deadpanned at her. “A double-wing trainer? You know that only foals use these in flight camp, right?” I knew that maybe I was letting a little bit of that trademark pegasis hubris get in the way, but seriously? “I didn’t even know these things came in a ‘full sized’ configuration…”

“Maybe that's how y’all did thing's above the clouds in the Enclave. But down here with us dirt folk, trust me when I say this thing is gonna let ya soar.” With a forceful toss, she effortlessly passed it through the air to me. I braced myself to catch it, expecting it to hit me like a truck, but it didn’t have nearly that much force. In fact, it was almost too lightweight for me to even comprehend. “It’s got a titanium frame, double reinforced bullet resistant polymer construction, and a set-a deceleron's instead-a normal ailerons means that it'll be usable as a set ‘a dive-brakes as well.”

“Decele-whatnow?” I spat out as I looked over the old metal framework, stopping when I spotted the slightly rusty looking stamping that had belonged to the Ministry of Wartime Technology. It sat just above a each wired talisman control box that sat at the end of the two forehoof braces, and sent wires out to each of the ultra-light wing modules. Faded, but still visible on those, were the outlines of the old symbol for the Pegasus airforce, as well as the designation A-10 inscribed under it. “Wait, this was used in the war!?”

“Sugarcube, units like this one were built fer divebombin’ and trench strafin’.” Sierra offered me a gruff grunt. “You ain't tha only pony in history ta git good at going down toward tha ground fast.” She froze up at that. “Uh, ah meant that inna good way, honest.” She offered a light chuckle before giving out a sigh.

“Now, Night, what do we say to the nice mare?” Happy whispered into my ear, pulling an aggravated sideways glance from me.

“This still doesn’t solve my flight problem.” I grumbled to Happy.

“Sure it does!” Sierra called out as she turned and picked up her welding gear from the floor. “Well, you've got flat feathers, and thus struggle with getting enough lift, right?” She wound up the long cable and hung it on the side of a small cart where the power source for the welder sat. She waited expressly for me to nod before continuing. “Well congrats, fer a tenth tha weight ’a your real ones, now ya got two more wings ta help with that. Y’all will still have ta flap em yerself, so it ain’t gonna be as easy as pushin’ a button, but I’d think it’s a damn sight better option fer a pegasus than bein’ stuck on the ground.”

“True…” I said slowly as I looked down at the complex harness. I didn’t know if it would really help me be able to fly like normal, but I did at least know one thing. “Thank you, Sierra.” She was right, she didn’t need to help me at all, and yet, here we were. “I’ll do my best to make it work.”

“You know,” Happy spoke up. Oh Celestia, if he has some sort of dumb comment or something… “Hispano was always riding you for being a lazy lump...”

“Happy.” I growled to him. As I tried to think of some sort of potent yet harmless retort, I had a spark of genius hit me in the form of a memory. “Remember when Hispano said that nopony can make fun of her Coltfriend but her? Yeah, it’d be a shame if I told her you’ve been doing nothing but giving me a hard time while she’s been all alone in the city...”

“Alright, alright! You win, ya’ smartass.” He rolled his eyes with a smirk and sat down. “So then, are you going to try that thing on, or what?”

I looked down at the mess of lightweight framework, and then over to him again. I don’t know why it’d taken me so long to realize, but I had no fucking idea what I was doing. Looking over to Sierra, I was met with a sigh from her as she gave off a small nod.

“Alright,” She waved for me to come over to her. “Give it here an’ ah’ll show ya how ta put it on.”

“Thanks, Sierra...” I flashed her a nervous nod. Oh Celestia, I could already tell that this was going to be oh so much fun to figure out...

Author's Note

As always, a huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his help in making sure the chapter is good to go!

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat for creating and letting us all use this wonderful wasteland setting.

Chapter 63 - Engineering Ingenuity

If you're feeling happy, don’t worry, you’ll get over it.

I. Can. Fly!

“Woohoo!” I called out as I soared down the expansive lengths of the Factory’s tunnels.

Sweat beaded down my body as I flapped my wings. More speed, more height, I couldn’t get enough of either! And while the confining tunnel itself constrained just how high I could go, that just made me want to go even faster.

I don’t know how I could have ever doubted Sierra, this harness was fucking awesome!

A flash of silver tore past me on the right. Spinning around as it hovered along, one of the silverfish drones twisted itself to face me as it carried a metal box underneath itself. With a wiggle of it’s swiveling hover talismans, it turned itself around and slowly started to pick up speed.

I don’t think I’ll ever know just what kicked me in the flank right then, be it the inherent competitive nature of pegasi, or the fact that I was having the time of my life. But in that moment, I was convinced that this little silverfish drone wanted a race. And I was going to give it my all!

I stiffened my forelegs, pushing my wings harder than I’d ever wanted to in my life. Pins and needles pushed through the numbing painkillers in my system, but it was worth it. I picked up even more speed as I chased after the small drone. I let out another happy holler as I think I beat my all time gliding speed record in level flight.

The end to the extremely long mountain tunnel was coming up fast, with a sharp right-hoofed turn. The drone started to slow slightly, drifting downward and across. It was a smart move to keep itself from plastering against the back wall. However, if this really was a race, I wasn’t going to waste an opportunity and ‘play it safe’ now.

I hammered my wings against the air a few times before tweaking them for a roll. I aligned myself on my side, snapping my tail up as I rotated both wings to pull me around the inside of the sharp turn.

But while I had generated a lot of lift with my wings level, now that they weren’t pushing me up… well, I started to sink down towards the floor far too fast. Rather than pancake down onto the rough concrete, I rolled back to halfway level, flexing my forelegs out to deploy the decelerons on the training wing as I started the turn.

I felt it again. In my half rolled state, I felt the air pushing up on my side. The world around me started to go grey as the G-forces from the turn took ahold of my body. But, going this fast, I could feel the air wick across my coat. In my groggy state, I relaxed my forelegs, and the decelerons retracted again.

With the turn made, I leveled myself out as color quickly returned to my vision. Along with it, came a memory from flight camp I’d long since forgotten. One of the camp instructors told us about the mechanics of inverted flight, and how not everypony might be able to do it. He spoke about how some pegasi were born with ‘lifting bodies’ that helped to keep them aloft, and that it made in-air maneuvers and turns much easier for some.

I think I’d completely forced those memories into the dark recesses of my mind. After struggling through most of flight camp to even do the basic maneuvers they had us rehearse, and after finding out about my wings, I don’t think anypony could blame me for that. But if it was the case, if I had that ability, maybe…

My thoughts were cut off as the silverfish drone powered past me down the tunnel. As it did, it spun around effortlessly again to look at me. With another wiggle of it’s talismans, it pushed itself even faster than I’d ever thought something like that could go. It was halfway down the tunnel before I could even blink.

I let out a chuckle and shook my head slightly. Seriously? And here I was thinking I could have ever won against something that fast. Well, I may be able to fly well enough now, but maybe I’m just not cut out to be a professional racer just yet.

The drone slowed down as it reached the far end of the tunnel, shifting to make the next turn. As it did, the sound of the metal iris door to the outside met my ears, and I realized that for once, I knew what tunnel I was in! And while flying in here had been nice for speed tests, what I really wanted to do, was to go outside.

My heart raced as I pushed myself down the tunnel. Each moment I flew closer, I could feel myself getting more and more excited. There was an energy in me building as I could practically already feel the wind under my wings, the sun on my coat, and the warm feeling of finally being free.

I focused on getting to that door. Nothing else existed outside of that door. And with what felt like less time than it actually probably took, I turned the corner and was met with a blast of cold air as the iris itself opened for me.

Like a pony shaped bullet, I shot out into the freezing cold air with a victorious cry, only to nearly choke on the flurry of snow that floated effortlessly down from the clouded skies above. Still, as I turned myself out over the outdoor robotic settlement, I found that I’d actually come out of a second entrance far down the way, and near the edge of where the fortress wall met the mountain.

Undeterred by my failure to judge where I was, I focused on beating my wings to climb higher. Admittedly, the air circulation system in the tunnel kept the pressure inside much higher than out here. Each beat swirled the snow around me as I got less gains for my effort, but I still managed to climb up a good distance above the wall itself.

I was forced to stiffen out my wings and just glide as I looked around me in awe. Outside of the walls sat impressively dense forests which were slowly being blanketed white. Jagged rocks and cliffs of sheer rock gave way to expansive pristeen valleys that stretched on until they disappeared in the low clouds hugging the other mountains around here. As I sailed over the Factory, there was a second where I could even spot the old road that ran down the large hill outside of the wall.

It had revealed itself for only a single moment before the mass of trees obscured it completely, and I think that was kind of the point of this place. The scenery here was admittedly, something that felt so perfectly untouched and wild that one might be forgiven if you’d have thought the war had never even happened in the first place. Out of everything inside of the Misery Range, right here was the only part of it that felt like it didn’t deserve the reputation it held.

And maybe… maybe that was why the Architect wanted to build Factory Zero One right here in the first place.

A flash of silver caught my eye from ahead. What I suspected was the same drone from the tunnel, now floated along ahead of me, unburdened by it’s load as it wiggled it’s talismans again. With a sharp dip, it flipped over and tore downwards towards the rest of the settlement. All too soon, it pulled up and streaked towards the normal metal iris entrance to the tunnels.

Taking in a deep breath of the fresh, freezing cold air, I closed my eyes and just cleared my mind. This. This was all I’d ever wanted as a pegasus. The feeling of flying free in the open skies.

If I’d known back at the start of this trip that all I’d needed to do was sacrifice a leg and an eye to finally be able to do it? I’d have willingly ripped them off of myself. But it hadn’t just cost me a leg and an eye, had it? We’d lost far too much to get where we are today, and I’d have never been able to feel this at all if it weren’t for Sierra, the Architect, or Ping.

Still, I had to laugh at how simple the answer to my disability had been all along. A second pair of wings? Seriously? Who would have ever thought of that? And while I may never match the speed of a silverfish drone in a race, all it took was for me to accept that I’d been looking about things the wrong way.

Maybe it was something I’d repressed from flight camp, but if someone in the Enclave had told me years ago that strapping on 'training wings' permanently would fix my problems, then I'd have never had a problem flying and integrating with the other…

I scrunched up my muzzle as a brainwave shoved a thought into my head so hard that it nearly knocked me right out of the sky. Looking down into the factory my eyes scanned through the falling snow, and across the buildings. As expected, I found the familiar, oversized, boxy shape of Eliza parked right where I’d seen her last. With a smile that I’m sure could’ve beat out Ping’s trademark beam, I tilted my wings down and aimed myself right for the entrance to the tunnels.

I don’t know if it would be possible, but maybe I could get the Architect and Ping to find Eliza her own second pair of wings.

It took me a few wrong turns, and a little help from Ottie as he wandered through the tunnels. After a few minutes of being lead around as the Copper-Brass pony hummed a song to himself, I finally found myself where both Ping and the Architect were working on what Ottie called ‘the project’. It was a thick steel door that looked like it would have been more at home on a ship rather than in a tunnel, but so far most of these tunnels felt like the product of some eclectic wartime pony with a passion for abstract art.

Twisting open the locking ring for the bulkhead, I pulled the steel door open with a soft squeal. Flashing sparks and the sound of metalwork being done filled the air, and the thick scent of ozone hit me as I stepped inside what was a fairly small and mostly dark room. The Architect sat side-on to what was a heavy mechanical arm, which Ping had his forehooves propped up upon to keep steady. The side of the Architect’s metal snail shell sat open, and two dozen separate tiny mechanical arms were soldering, welding, and otherwise working on the internals of the large arm. All together, all of the Architect’s tiny arms froze up, and both he and Ping turned to look at me.

“Oh, hello, Night Flight.” The Architect’s metal red eye glowed erriely in the darkness of the small room. “Have you come to see the assembly line?” Turning to look at the large mechanical arm, he flashed a smile as he reached out and gave the pony thick metal tubing a soft tap. “Only a few more machines need to be constructed before it can become fully operational.”

“Assembly line?” I blurt out like usual, but quickly shook my head. No, there’s no time for that right now. “Wait, hold that thought. First, I need to talk to both of you.” Looking between Ping and the Architect, I watched as the two traded confused and concerned glances. “Okay, so, it’s nothing bad if that’s what you’re thinking. In fact, it’s just the opposite. I think I figured it out finally.” Stretching out my wings, I gave an excited nod to them. “My disability is gone because I was given a second pair of wings!”

“That is great news!” Ping’s bright smile flashed up across his muzzle. “Also, Sierra has just informed me that I need to tell you ‘told you so’.”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s great that she was right and all, but…” I sat down and flailed my forehooves excitedly. “I figured it out! I know how you might be able to transfer Eliza!”

“Oh, that is even better news!” Ping’s smile looked like it threatened to split his head in half. Seriously, for as happy as he’d normally looked, this was an impressive and previously thought impossible step towards maximum exuberance. “Do tell! How can we achieve the transfer?”

“The same way I fixed my wings!” I smiled and gestured all over the double wing trainer strapped to me. “We have to bolt a second pair of wings onto her!”

A long pause clung to the air as I watched Ping’s smile die, and the Architect’s expression shifted to a slightly disappointed one.

“I’m afraid that wings that size would be much to small for Eliza.” Ping now straight up frowned as his eyes drifted towards the floor. “Unless… you did not mean it literally. In which case, I am not sure the Architect or I follow your logic.”

“You told me yourself that you can’t change her base coding, right?” I asked as Ping gave a solitary and sad nod. “But, what if you built an external mechanism for her? Something outside of her existing code that could automatically compensate for her shortcomings.” Wiggling my prosthetic leg, and flapping my two sets of wings, I’d hoped they at least got what I was going for this time.

Both the Architect and Ping gave out short, excited gasps.

“A prosthetic of sorts.” Ping nodded as his smile returned once more. “Another pair of wings!”

“Ah, I see the metaphor now.” The Architect nodded as he clopped his forehooves together excitedly. “We have been trying so hard to make her fit into the mainframe as she currently exists that the idea of modifying an existing external form to suit her ambitions of being more mobile was never considered.”

“Exactly!” I laughed as I got onto my hooves and gave my prosthetic leg a few good taps against the solid concrete flooring. “I don’t know what you could even build for her, but come on! This is at least a place to start, right?” Giving a few more flaps of my wings, I nearly shot up to the ceiling before I let out a soft eep and snapped them shut. I fell back to the floor with a meaty slap that admittedly hurt my hooves a bit, but I pushed the pain back as I steadied myself again. “If these wings can help me finally fly, then maybe something can help her exist in a way that gives her the freedom she desperately wants!”

“I already have several ideas in mind.” Turning his gaze towards the Architect, Ping looked at him with pleading eyes that definitely didn’t match his beaming smile. “If you would allow the postponement of the project just a short while, I believe with a few modifications to some existing equipment...”

Ping’s words cut off as both he and the Architect’s eyes went dark, and lines of red coding started to scroll down them quickly. The starkness of the silence that now gripped the room left me in an awkward position, and as much as I feared this unplanned code-thing they were doing was something bad happening, I didn’t feel the pit in my stomach crop up like usual.

There was a bright flash that came from their eyes, and it left me blinking away an after image of the two. As I regained my vision, I found Ping blinking away the light as well, and his smile replaced with a look of profound confusion.

“But, Architect… an emulation?” Ping spoke slowly, “are you certain of this decision?”

“What?” The words slipped out of my muzzle. “What’s an emulation?”

“A virtual system running within another system.” Ping answered promptly as he scratched at his mane with a concerned look across his face. “It would be much like the buffer I tried earlier, but could be specifically tailored and built around her coding architecture. It will take a considerable amount of processing power to do, but perhaps it would work.”

“I know how hard you have tried to help Eliza.” The Architect’s muzzle formed a soft, and almost caring smile as he looked over at Ping as more coding scrolled between both of their eyes. “Ever since I brought you online, you have always been the one Ping unit to push for her inclusion in the Factory. I will trust that you can prepare a suitable emulation system well enough in time for the arrival.”

“Is… everything alright?” The words slipped out of my muzzle to pull the opposing looks of the two machines to me. “You’re doing the whole weird eye thing. What’s going on?”

“Everything is alright.” The Architect gave a nod and a soft chuckle to me. “We were just making plans for the procedure.” With a hiss, the multitude of tiny mechanical arms in his shell retracted, and the metal plates folded closed over them to seal it up. “You will see soon enough.”

Slowly and carefully, Ping moved to lower the heavy looking mechanical arm down to the floor. Effortlessly, he set it down and stepped back before turning to the Architect and nearly diving into a hug. They both shared a laugh together before Ping broke the hug and turned toward me.

“Thank you, Night Flight.” Ping spoke as he trotted over to me. “You have no idea how much this means to us. To me.”

Again, he practically threw himself at me for a hug. I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t flinch at the thought of a heavy robotic zebra crushing me in a hug that would put Jean’s death grip to shame. But his hug caught me off guard by being surprisingly soft and warm. With the fear of being squeezed to death like a tube of toothpaste aside, I wrapped my hooves around him and returned his hug.

“As she would say, I’m here to help, right?” I laughed as I gave the mechanical zebra a firm pat on the back.

“Yes, that is what she would say!” Ping laughed as he pulled off and quickly trotted toward the door. “But I must go now! I have much to do in so very little time!” By the time he finished saying that, I could hear his heavy hoofbeats galloping off down the halls.

As I listened to his hoofsteps drift off, and quiet once again fill the air around me, I couldn’t help but hold on to the smile across my muzzle. While there had been so much pain in my life since I’d come down into the wastes, and while I still didn’t understand why I felt this way, I was content. Other than being around Buck and Hispano, nothing had made me feel quite as happy as helping others.

Honestly, it felt good enough that I almost felt guilty about it. More freeing that flying, and more relaxing than Chill, the feeling I had after helping someone was like a high all it’s own. And really, part of me wondered that if it always felt this good, then why wasn’t it what I was truly meant to do?

Looking down at my own, scarred up flank, my eyes wandered over my cutie mark. A bomb sitting across an old bombsight. Goddesses, there must have been some sort of mistake with fate, because I know deep down inside me that there’s no way that bombing ponies was what my cutie mark was telling me. But… what else could it be?

“Night?” The Architect’s voice startled me, and I flared my wings out in response. “I did not mean to disturb your thoughts, but is everything alright?”

“Y-yeah.” I nodded to him as I placed my hoof to my breast. My heart raced from the scare, but the drugs in my system helped to keep it calmer than when I was flying earlier. “Just reflecting on some things.” Looking up at the Architect, his glowing eyes were locked on to my own, focused on my every word. “Can… I ask you a personal question?”

“Certainly.” He gave a nod as he crossed his forelegs. The four separate tracks his shell sat on gave a slight hiss as they lowered him down to the floor gently.

“What were you built for? What was your purpose?” As always, my words were blunt. However, with as much as I felt guilty about the idea of so casually asking ‘hey, why was a machine like you built’, the part of me that wanted confirmation of a higher purpose snuffed that guilt out like a young flame.

“Hmm… this is not something I am often asked. Nor is it something I often wish to recite.” The Architect gave a solemn nod before closing his one normal eye and taking a deep breath. “However, I suppose it is only fair to answer your query.”

“If you don’t want to tell me…” I started, but cut myself off as he unfolded his forehooves and held one up to me.

“I was built in the last year of the great war.” The Architect began speaking, keeping his eye closed as his expression shifted to one of deep thought. “The Zzyzx corporation had developed a new type of circuitry independent of the need for spell talismans. The series eight hundred integrated circuit was poised to allow for unprecedented data processing with minimal power usage required. It’s development spurred new interest in adaptive machine learning, and the Prefect of the Central Roam Auctoriatas saw great potential for it in the field of espionage and counterintelligence.”

The Architect paused for a moment, and with another sigh, one of the plates on his snail-like shell opened up. From out of it, a glass cylinder was extended. Inside was a smaller than expected black rectangle. It held hundreds of what looked like small silver legs along each long edge, and the whole thing looked badly corroded by the passage of time. Faded, but still visible on the flat black top of it however, was a single number. 7.

“There were seven of us created for the project, built and tested in only eight months time.” The Architect continued as he opened his eye and slowly turned it toward the glass case. “We were given memory implants to fool the prying eyes of the Ministry of Morale, and then let loose along the front lines as defectors with top secret information. We were supposed to be brought in for questioning at the M.o.M. headquarters in Manehatten, where we would break loose and infiltrate the Ministry terminal network to steal everything we could before transmitting it and self terminating.”

“You were built as a fucking spy!?” I spat out. Seriously? I was the guest of, and had helped a machine who in the war tried to make Equestria lose!?

“Yes, however, there was a double agent within the Central Roam Auctoriatas.” The Architect nodded slowly. “Upon our arrival in the Manehatten facility, my brothers and sisters were each met with a Ministry of Arcane Sciences official. Number one and two were caught off guard and taken offline quickly. Number three however got a message out to the rest of us before self terminating. Protocol ten sixty seven, mission parameters compromised and terminated unexpectedly. Self destruct protocol must be enacted.”

“But you obviously didn’t.” I spoke up again, pulling an almost sad look from him. “Forgive me if this sounds wrong, but… why not?”

“Heh.” The Architect surprised me with a forced laugh. “While I had planned to follow through with the order, for some reason I still do not yet fully comprehend, I wanted to get one last look out at the world before I was to go offline forever. So I walked to the window of my holding cell and let myself bask in the daylight.” He smiled, closing his eye again and holding his head up as if he was actually still there. Again, the room dropped into silence. A silence that hung on for a bit too long as I waited for him to continue.

“So… what happened next?” I asked, trying to both find an answer to my question, and to bring back the comfort of sound again.

“Unfortunately for most organics of that time period, the end of the war.” He frowned and blinked a few times as he looked back over to me. Slowly, be brought a forehoof up to his metal binocular-like eye and caressed it softly. “The megaspell that destroyed Manehatten damaged my systems, and it’s magical radiation corrupted some of my original programming enough that I entered a state of core system re-coding to repair the damage. When I awoke again, I felt unbridled joy that overloaded my processor functions and shut me down for another three days. Once awake again, I found that I was untethered from the bounds of my original protocols. I knew what I had been built for, yet, I could think for myself, decide things for myself. I was reborn as the Architect of my own future.”

“But, you were built to be a spy originally.” I spoke up as an odd contradiction arose with his story. “Obviously you’ve given that up. So… why do you care so much about keeping the other machines the same as their original purpose?” I get what he wanted to do here in preserving the personalities of other machines, but there was no way he didn’t see how hypocritical this all was. “I mean, everyone else has to stay the same except for you? How is that at all fair?”

“I… did not choose to abandon my protocols.” He frowned at me. “It was no more fair to have them stripped from me as for you to be born with malformed feathers. However…” He brought his forehoof up to his chin, and scratched it as he narrowed his eye at me. “I am curious, what made you want to ask about my origin?”

“I…” I sighed, pausing as I again looked down at my cutie mark. “Even though I’d felt bad for years about not getting my cutie mark, when I finally did get it? Well, I mean… you’ve seen how I am. Do you really think that bombing ponies in the wasteland is what I’m meant to do for the rest of my life?”

“There is as of yet insufficiant data for a meaningful answer. However, I will share with you my own thoughts.” The Architect let out a sigh as he held a forehoof out to point at my flank. “Both zebra and ponykind struggled to understand the mechanics and functions of how cutie and glyph marks worked. The magics behind the weavings of fate were poorly researched, and records show that most organics with cutie marks, or facsimiles thereof, always struggled to find and understand their meanings.”

Great, so even with everything he could do, cutie marks were still out of the grasps of even a machine like the Architect.

“But,” The Architect spoke up again abruptly, “while I could indeed calculate the numerous meanings that your mark perhaps represents, even I could end up being wrong with every outcome. For as you experienced not five minutes ago, even self aware machines like myself and Ping sometimes have trouble breaking the constraints of logical thought patterns.”

“You think my cutie mark might not be something straight forward then? You think it’s a metaphor for something else?” I scrunched up my muzzle at that. While I hadn’t quite thought of it that way, I did have the voice of Lilac Lace drift back into my mind. She’d told me that sometimes it wasn’t so simple, right? What if that was the case here? What if I never figured it out then!?

“I can not say for certain if that is the case with you, Night Flight.” The Architect smiled again as it was my turn to give him a light frown. “However, the data I have access to tells me that while organics are classically confused by the meanings of their marks, at some point in their lives, they do find out what it symbolizes. So keep thinking, keep looking, and one day I am certain that you will figure it out.”

Again, that’s pretty much what I’d been told all my life. And while it didn’t do anything to help tell me why I’d gotten the mark in the first place, or what it really means, somehow it still put my mind at ease. I’d made a name on being a survivor out here in the wastes. I guess I just had to keep on surviving until I finally figured it out.

“Thanks, Architect.” I nodded to him and drew a brighter smile from his muzzle.

“No, thank you, Night Flight. You’ve proven to be a good source of information, as well as a great help to Ping and Eliza.” As he spoke, the side of his shell opened again, and the dozens of tiny little mechanical arms extended once more. “Now, as illuminating as this conversation has been, I must continue working on the production line.”

“Yeah, you’d mentioned that before.” I spat out, resisting the urge to turn and leave the Architect to his work. I know I’d just sat through ‘storytime’ with him, but I couldn’t help but be curious about just what this ‘production line’ produced. “What is it? What’s it for?”

“It is for the utilization of the future population of Factory Zero One.” Raising his hoof, he pointed to the dark wall that sat behind the large mechanical arm he’d been working on when I came in.

A dim flickering light powered on beyond it, revealing that it wasn’t a wall that had been in the darkness, rather, a window to a dark room. Slowly, light after light illuminated a warehouse even larger than the cavern that DJ PowerColt was in. Row upon row of conveyor belts, industrial presses, grinders, automatic welders, and enormous fabrication machines came into view.

“This has been my grand project for the past two decades. A production line for mechanical bodies just like the one that the Ping units inhabit.” The sheer amount of pride in the Architect’s voice was surprising, but it was lost on me as my brain tried to comprehend all the machinations behind the glass window. I felt like when my jaw finally hit the floor, my brain had gotten backed up enough that it had to force everything out at once.

“So you can build even more Pings here? Like, one for everyone in the Factory!? I’d thought you only had a few machines out and about normally, but this… this is insane!” I almost couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I mean, I’d somewhat figured there was a reason they were melting stuff down and building physical places for the machines here, but an assembly line!?

“While the Factory server is an ideal home, welcoming of all machines, some may not enjoy the confinement of a shared digital space.” The Architect let out another laugh as he looked at the astonished expression I wore. “Likewise, not all machines are comfortable in their old bodies. Most of them were built for the war, and the advanced disguise talismans of my Ping units would allow them to make short ventures out into the rest of the world without the fear of being hunted for scrap on sight by organics.”

The lights in the far back of the production room flickered out. Again, one by one the rows of lights dropped the room into darkness, until I was only left with the darkened window along the back wall. After another moment, even that turned completely dark, which left the glow of the Architect’s big binocular-eye out of place as it turned to me.

“However, again, Night, I must ask that you reveal this to nopony else.” The Architect’s voice grew stern, sending a shiver up my spine like only someone like Delilah had done before. “I made the mistake to reveal it to an organic once before, and that decision has haunted me ever since. I trust you, Night, but this is still a risk I have taken all the same.” With a shift of his forehoof, he pointed towards the open door behind me that lead out into the bright tunnel outside. “And as I said, you have been of great help to us at the Factory. However, before you proceed back to Cantercross to retrieve your companions, I must once again ask you for your help on a job.”

“Oh… okay?” I hesitated with my words, glancing back at the doorway as a sharp and familiar jab came from my gut. It helped to remind me that while things had been going alright so far, of course something threatened to screw that up. While I was fairly certain he wasn’t going to ask for anything ridiculous, I still took a deep breath as I looked back at him. “Alright, what’s the job?”

“You must make a trip out to Tungsten to visit their mayor.” The Architect sighed as his four leg-like treads lifted him off the floor and carefully positioned him up next to the large mechanical arm. Without even looking at it, the dozens of tiny arms inside his shell got to work again, and I was forced to avert my eyes as sparks flew. “You will meet with Buck and Happy Trails at the gates of the Factory. Buck will fill you in on the rest as you travel, but as the only organics present in Factory Zero One who are not visibly armed mercenaries, all three of you must go.”

So, as nice and as informative as my chat with the Architect had been, all of the good feelings I’d had were now thrown right out the window. Something about the speed with which things at the end there had turned from a nice chat, to somewhat of him avoiding the topic, didn’t sit well with me. Still, I knew I wasn’t going to get answers from him now, but that doesn’t mean I still couldn’t get them from Buck.

Turning, I headed out the door and nearly ran right into Ottie.

“Oh, hello again!” The happy clockwork automaton gave what passed for a smile from his cloth covered mechanical muzzle as his eyes once again glowed happily. “Did you have a nice talk? I always enjoy talking to him and Stopwatch about pretty much anything and everything!”

“Yeah...” I nodded, trying to force back the uneasiness I’d been left with. Instead, I forced a smile at Ottie and pointed down the tunnel. “Do you mind helping me find my way back to the entrance again? I’ve got somewhere the Architect wants me to be.”

“Sure thing!” Ottie gave an excited proink that made the pistons in his legs give out a sharp hiss as he came down on all four of his wooden horseshoes. The gears and mechanisms inside him whirred to life as he seemed as excited as a machine could ever be. “And while we talk, do you mind if I ask you some questions? Like I’ve asked of Happy?”

While I knew his questions were pretty innocent, from what Happy had said, they also sometimes were borderline... awkward.

“I’m kinda curious what it’s like to have wings.” His glowing circular nixie-tube eyes flickered over to bigger, wider circles as he let out a gasp. “Oh, oh! Better yet, how does it feel to fly? I’ve tried asking the drones here what flying’s like, but they aren’t normally very chatty. Is it like what it feels like to ride on a train? Because I’ve done that before, and it was quite a ride! Which reminds me, I wonder how Casey and Crown are doing...”

Yeah, I could already tell this was going to get weird...

So, after a thankfully short walk back to the door, I was relieved to once again feel the cold mountain air on my skin. However, I don’t think Ottie could exactly say the same, as he visibly and audibly shivered the metal plates that made up his flanks and back. He gave what passed for a forced smile from his mechanical face before turning back and heading off into the warm tunnel again.

As he did, I’d thought back to what Happy had originally said about Ottie. The Copper-brass automaton was an odd but enjoyable guy. Sure he asked odd questions, but they were innocent questions. With the fact that everyone in the wastes seemed to have ulterior motives behind questions like those, it’s nice to know that Ottie was just a generally curious machine.

And honestly, I’d take that every time over somepony just waiting to use and exploit me…

“Hey, Night? Mind if I ask you for a quick favor?” Happy’s cheery demeanor sharply jabbed into my mind like a nail being driven in by a hammer forged of pure irony. As he trotted through the freshly fallen snow towards me, he craned his neck and gave off a general air of being extremely uncomfortable. “Buck says we’ve got some sort of job to do, and I’m just really not feeling up to it after the fight earlier. Do you mind if I just… stay back from this one?”

“You know, that sounds fair enough,” I nodded as Happy gave out a contented sigh of relief, “But the Architect specifically asked for the three of us to go together.” Trotting forward, I gave him a pat on the side. “Sorry, you’re going to have to go with us.”

“Oh, come on!” Happy groaned as he sat down hard. “Why do they even need me to go? I don’t even like the guy we’re supposed to go talk with! Such an asshole.”

“Hey now,” I said as I turned and walked backwards, keeping my deadpan on Happy’s deflated gaze. “You think I want to go when we could be on our way to rescue Cora and get Hispano back? Now come on, the sooner we get this done, the sooner it’s over with.” Turning back around, I gazed around the buildings in the settlement until I spotted the taller than normal form of Buck standing in front of the memorial left for the convoy.

While I hadn’t really had the time to properly deal with everything that had happened to the convoy, I’d at least had a few days of drug use and sulking. Buck… he hadn’t even had that. He’d been on the convoy one moment, and then in the next, he was being augmented in that surgical suite.

I couldn’t imagine what that was like for him to wake up to, how confusing and scary it must have been. But that’s exactly why I had to be at my best for him right now. Trotting across the snow, I didn’t hesitate at all when I leapt forward and wrapped my hooves around his freezing cold mechanical legs.

“Night, what are you…” Buck started to say, but froze as I looked up at him.

“I’m sorry, Buck. I just… I want to make sure you’re okay.” I sighed and hugged his hard metal limb even tighter. “I know it must be a lot to wake up to, but just know that I’m here for you. I’ll always be here for you.”

“I know, Night.” He let off a chuckle as he reached one of his metal paws around me softly. Bringing his other paw to my muzzle slowly, he held it closed in a tight fist. Carefully, he uncurled the mechanical digits out to reveal the still intact photo strip from Lil’ Canterlot sitting in his palm, as well as the picture I’d saved of my parents. “We have lost so much, but what will keep me going is remembering that I still have the only thing that matters to me now. The ones I love, my family.”

I gave a heated blush as Buck’s arm lowered down and scooped me up by the flank. Effortlessly, he pulled me up to his muzzle, and I shared a kiss with him that easily pushed back the cold mountain air around us. I melted into his warmth, and my head spun as momentarily the rest of the world seemed incredibly insignificant right now. But as all good things had a tendency to do, the kiss was over too fast, and I was left snuggling myself into Buck’s fuzzy chest.

“Well, if you two are finished being all sappy,” Happy snorted as he trotted past Buck and I towards the enormous entry gate. “Tungsten is only a few miles down the road, so the sooner we get going, the sooner this’ll be over with. Right, Night?” I shot him the best glare I could from Buck’s chest, only to get one in return in the form of a sideways glance from him before he trotted through the open gate.

“I don’t think he was told that we were to take a ride to the town with someone named Scar.” Buck spoke up as he brought his other paw up under me. Looking down at me, Buck’s jagged metal jaw split with a soft smile as he gave me a wink with his remaining normal eye. “You know what, maybe if he’s so adamant to walk, we should just let him. After all, I’m sure he could use the exercise for once.”

As tempting as that was, as I returned Buck’s soft smile, out of the corner of my eye, the metal boxes that contained the rest of my friends and family stuck out. The sinking afternoon sunlight glinted off the pair of charred glasses that sat on the box in the middle, and sent a distinct wave of guilt over me. As much as he was a pain, Happy was part of my family now too. Not in the same way as Buck or Hispano, but he was part of it all the same.

“Come on, you big goof.” I sighed and gave Buck a playful nudge with my forehoof. “As tempting as it may be, let’s go get him before he gets himself lost in the woods and freezes to death. Besides, a ride in Scar is going to be punishment enough for him.” That got me a perplexed look from Buck, but I just chuckled at it. “Trust me, you’ll understand.”

It’s funny, actually. I had completely expected Happy to begrudgingly hold onto me again for the duration of the very brief flight. However, what neither Happy or I had really anticipated, was that Buck was even more afraid of flying than Happy had been. And while I absolutely loved Buck, he could probably stand to hold onto me a little less tightly…

“Buck…” Happy wheezed out softly, “I need air…”

“Sorry, it’s just… I’ve never flown before.” Buck whimpered as he at least loosened up and gave Happy and I a little bit more breathing room. “The skycaptain always talked about flying her deathtrap south from the Inuvik, but I always thought she was crazy.” At least, that was until there was the slightest buffeting of the aircraft, to which Buck’s massive metal arms clamped around us again like vices. “Are we falling!? We’re losing altitude, oh goddesses, we’re going to crash!”

Funny thing is, he wasn’t wrong, I could feel that we were descending. But while the change in air pressure was there, it wasn’t nearly fast enough to say we were going to crash. That, on top of the fact that Scar had still kept us perfectly level, lead me to believe that we’d actually arrived and were coming in for a landing. Though, it was odd, I hadn’t actually thought we’d been that high up, and it felt like the air pressure was thicker than it should have been at this altitude...

“It’s fine, Buck.” I wheezed out through his grip and rubbed at his fuzzy chest. “We’re just going to land, and then we can get off of here, alright?”

“Are… are you sure, Night?” Happy whimpered as well. “I don’t want to die!”

There was a slight bump as Scar’s landing gear compressed to tell me we’d landed. However, from the screams that both Buck and Happy gave off, you’d think it was the end of the world all over again. With the hum of his hydraulic systems, Scar opened up the back loading ramp, and the bright light of day filled the darkened interior.

“The ground!” Buck gasped as the door opened and a blast of chilly air swept up to us.

Before I could even ask to be put down, Buck had gotten up and run the three of us straight down the still opening ramp with a crying whine. With a heavy thud, the suspension in his legs gave out their own heavy whine as they cushioned the few feet drop onto the frozen dirt and rocks we’d landed on. As soon as he’d straightened up, he let out a sigh and dropped both Happy and I right on our flanks.

“Fuck that…” Happy gasped as he flopped onto his back. “I swear, Night, I don’t care what you threaten. I ain’t never flying again.”

“Hello there! Welcome to Tungsten!” The cheery, but forceful voice of a stallion called out as I pulled myself back onto my hooves. Turning around, I found myself met with a wall of well armed ponies with their guns trained directly on all of us. Standing at the forefront of them, was a charcoal colored stallion in a dapper looking, teal colored wartime suit. “Now, get out.” He spat at us, pulling a few excited agreements from the angry crowd behind him.

“Oh, hello there.” Buck smiled as he spun himself around to face the crowd. “You must be Mayor Shale. My name is...”

“I don’t care what your name is, monster.” The stallion shouted and waved a forehoof to the armed ponies behind him. “This town no longer welcomes friends of the Architect.” The sharp grey eyes of the Mayor narrowed as he looked over to me, and then at Happy. “Go back and tell your master that we’re done being owned. This is our town, and no machine is going to tell us what to do anymore.” His words elicited another rousing cheer from the ponies behind him, as well as from the whole town.

Looking around, it finally hit me why the air pressure here felt so different. At first I’d thought that the town had been built around the bottom of a deep mountain valley, but the grade of the hills here was far too steep to be natural. Spiraling terraces of what looked to be brand new wartime housing slowly wound upwards and outwards around the nearly kilometer wide hole we sat at the flat bottom of. And at the top of this hole, the spiral gave way to a smoothed sheetrock cliff face with no visible way in or out.

Tungsten didn’t just operate a mine, Tungsten was inside the mine itself.

“We just came to talk, Shale.” Happy stepped toward the stallion, who himself took a step back. “The Architect said that you’re stirring up trouble, and what you’re saying sounds to me like you’re trying to start a riot.”

“You think this is bad, outsider?” Shale forced out a laugh that echoed across the open mine walls. “You don’t know what it’s like to be trapped in this hole. The promise of freedom just out of reach. When I was a foal, before the Architect came and claimed us, sure it was tough but we’d managed to survive just fine.”

“But now you have plenty of food, clean water, and protection...” Buck spoke up, taking a single step forward.

A krack split the air as a gunshot sparked off a stone just ahead of his metal hind leg, forcing him to stop midstep. The shot echoed sharply off the steep walls of the mine as nopony said a word. That is, until Mr. Mayor spoke up again.

“You think that being delivered supplies means we should remain grateful and subservient?” The pure hatred burning in his eyes was something I’d seen too many times before on this trip. But the worst thing about it, was that past him, every single armed pony I could see held that exact same look as well. “Well, the ponies of this town are done being the pets of some machine master. If a riot is what it takes for your precious ‘Architect’to understand that we deserve the freedom to rejoin the wasteland, then we are ready for a fight.”

Seriously? They have everything they need here to live peaceful lives, and they want to join the wastes? If I had a chance to go back to the life I’d had above the clouds, I won’t lie in saying that after everything I’ve been through, I’d be tempted to just say yes. And if not for Buck, Hispano, and the feeling that I need to help Happy and Brahman Beach, then there wouldn’t be a single hesitant thought in my mind.

“What is it that you think you’ll find out there?” I spat out as I took a few steps forward. The armed ponies turned their guns on me, but unlike with Buck, not a single one opened fire. “The wastes are not a ‘promised land’ where you’ll prosper. It’s a terrible, violent place, where everypony is out for themselves, eager to rip you off and leave you for dead.” As I rose my voice and looked around, I could see a few of the town ponies share concerned glances. “Take a look at me!” I shouted as I reared up on my hind legs, spreading my wings wide and showing off the large collection of scars I’d accrued. “This is what the wasteland looks like. Pain, suffering, anguish.”

“Night is right. You have a good life here!” Happy stepped up and rose his voice as well. “Raiders, gangers, junkies and slavers. That’s what exists outside of Tungsten. Is that what you want for your families?”

“You don’t get it, outsider.” Shale spat back at us, stepping closer to Happy with a grunt before rearing up on his own legs and calling out to the crowd behind him. “And what do we get if we stay? They talk about slaves, but are we all not already slaves of their Architect!?” He looked back and jabbed his forehoof at Happy as he snarled. “Was it not your ancestors that abandoned us here, mule?”

“You don’t even know what slavery even looks like.” I snapped at the stallion, remembering the sights I saw inside Mr. Wizard’s train warehouse. “I have seen ponies chained together and forced to work until their hooves had cracked. Ponies of every race and age starving and under the constant threat of death.” Raisin my hoof, I prodded at my neck, and nearly shivered at the thought of what not to long ago had sat around it. “Both Happy and I wore explosive collars given to us by the cruel ponies you’ll find outside these walls. Don’t pretend to understand what that feels like when I only had a taste of it and I can’t stand the thought of letting a single other pony live through that experience.”

“Then if we are not slaves, let us leave if we choose to.” Shale called back, sitting back on his haunches as he held his hooves out to his sides. “Not all wish to go, but those who do deserve that choice.”

“The Architect cares for your well-being.” Buck spoke up as he mirrored the pose that Shale held. With a burst of static from his throat, his volume rose above what Buck could normally shout at, and his voice held a mechanical tinge to it. “Should any of you come to harm, the responsibility would weigh solely on his shoulders. He does not wish for you to suffer, and if he must, he is committed to improving the quality of your lives here in Tungsten in any way you ask for.”

“He wishes to improve our lives?” Shale shouted as he turned. “Don’t you all see it? This... thing just admitted it! This is exactly what I said would happen.” Spinning again, the glare he wore dropped into a cold thousand yard stare that felt as empty to me as our chances of getting this guy to change his mind. Raising his hoof, he pointed it stiffly and directly at Buck. “It’s bad enough that each and every year there’s more and more of them being built, and less of us to oppose them! Now they’re turning monsters into machines, probably hiding behind the excuse that it is making its life better.” Yeah, this guy had completely lost it. “And then when they run out of monsters, who do you think they will come for next?”

Angry shouting erupted from all around us. Not only from the armed ponies, but from the entire town as they looked down on us. I was startled when a loud bang came from behind us. The cloak of invisibility around Scar rippled as a rock tumbled across the top of his fuselage. Another rock came down next to me, shattering on the stony ground as the furious shouting from the town only felt like it grew louder.

“We need to leave.” Buck spoke up as he reached out to me. Without even giving us a chance to object, his metal paw scooped both Happy and I up, and he started to walk backwards toward Scar.

“Leave us alone, freaks!” One of the ponies nearby shouted.

“Yeah, leave us!” Another one cried out just before another rock slammed down onto Scar.

“Get out of here, Machine-lover!” The voice of a filly rose above all the others as she too cast a small rock our way.

As the town pressed in closer, hurling rock after rock at us, I couldn’t believe that this had happened. How could they be so stupid? Seriously, is this the sort of thing Delilah had to deal with back in her town? No, the ponies in Brahman Beach at least had legitimate reasons to be upset at their situation. The ponies of Tungsten had everything they could ever want or need, and yet…

My train of thought ground to a halt as Buck carried me up the loading ramp, and my eyes fell back onto the sinister smile that Mayor Shale held on his muzzle.

He was the problem here. This had been exactly what he’d wanted from us, and now I don’t know if there was anything we could do to stop the townsponies of Tungsten short of building an even bigger wall around the edges of their town. As the loading ramp on the back of Scar closed, and the feeling of us lifting off took over, I couldn’t help but feel like maybe there wasn’t anything we could do. At least, not while Shale stood behind the townsponies only stoking the flames of anger.

If I’d learned anything about the towns of the northern wastes in my travels, it was that mob mentality was the law. It didn’t matter if you had good intentions, or were just an outsider in the wrong place at the wrong time. All it took was somepony like Tephra to harness that fear of an unknown variable for everypony to suffer.

“I’m sorry, Architect. We tried.” Buck sighed as he set both Happy and I down onto the floor next to him. “I don’t understand, why wouldn’t Shale just listen?”

“No, it’s not our fault.” I spoke up, wheeling around to put my hoof on his side. “He’d already made up his mind before we arrived. There wasn’t anything we could have done differently.”

“For a start, I could’a punched that fuckin’ square right in his no-good muzzle.” Happy snorted as he sat down hard and crossed his forehooves “I told ya’ he was an asshole.”

“Well, there’s no use complaining about it now.” Buck sighed and reached out. Gently, he ran his metal paw through my mane. “The plan to get Hispano and Cora back is ready, but the Architect needs help with the last piece of it once we return. Then we will be ready to leave for Cantercross.”

While I really should have been focusing on the fact that Hispano and Cora still needed my help, I couldn’t fight off the image of Shale’s smirk in my mind. It bored a hole, deep down through me, piercing right down into my gut and punching a hole there that I just knew would only grow over time.

“Okay.” I nodded and lifted my head, nuzzling against the cold metal and rubber pads of his digits. I knew he couldn’t feel it, but just for the moment, I just needed to feel the fact that he was still here with me. And to be honest, more than anything that helped to wipe away the image of the smug stallion from my mind. “What do we have to do?”

“Wait, are you serious!?” Buck snapped as his radar-like ears perked and twisted. “But… how? Why even!?”

“Buck, what is it?” I asked. Oh goddess, please don’t let something have gone terribly wrong to screw with the plan to get Hispano back. It was already taking a lot longer than I’d hoped to get out of here. I’ll never forgive myself if something happened to her, or to Cora for that matter...

“It’s not something Happy or I can help you with. This job is just for you.” Buck sighed. “The Arcturus has just arrived above the Factory, and the Architect needs you to convince the Steel Rangers inside to surrender it to the Factory.”

Oh, well I guess it’ll be good to see Captain Pastel and some of the other Rangers again…

“Wait, what!?” I spat out as it was my turn to raise my voice up above levels I believed possible. “We’re going to steal the Arcturus!?”

“No, not steal, as it has already been stolen.” Buck shook his head at me with a frown that reminded me far too much of one that either Ping or the Architect would wear. In fact, his entire expression just felt… off. “You must simply evict the Rangers onboard, peacefully if at all possible. With them still onboard, there is a seventy eight point six percent chance that they will disrupt the rescue operation in Cantercross.”

Now that didn’t sound like Buck at all…

“Hey!” With a growl, Buck knocked roughly at the side of his metal head augments in annoyance. “Get out of my head!” With a few dazed blinks of his remaining real eye, Buck seemed to shake off whatever it was that just happened. “At least ask permission if you’re going to do that again.”

“Alright, fine. Whatever.” I sighed and flopped myself against him. I’d just wanted to go and get Hispano back… was that too much to ask? “Tell them I’ll do it, but then we better go and get Cora and Hispano afterword. I won’t put it off any longer.”

Sure, all we had to do was talk a hoof full of Steel Rangers into giving up a one-of-a-kind cloudship! Yeah, because that was going to go about as well as our little chat in Tungsten had. But you know what? Fuck it. How much more stressful could today really get, anyway?

Of course, just by pondering that, I already knew I was going to regret everything we were about to do...

Author's Note

Of course, a big thanks to TheFurryRailFan for going over the chapter and fixing all the little bits I miss. Seriously, it's super helpful, and I can't thank you enough.

And as always, a giant thank you to Kkat for creating this universe and letting us all use it for our own stories.

Chapter 64 - Hostile Negotiations

After all is said and done, a hell of a lot more is said than done.

“Alright, remember now, Night!” Buck called out as I dropped off of Scar’s ramp and onto the fluffy white cloud that shrouded the wartime cloudship. “All you have to do is convince them to leave the Arcturus, nothing more. Ping says he’s working on something to help with the negotiation, but that it’s not ready yet.” He held out his mechanical paw to me and gave me the worried look he always wore when I was about to do something monumentally stupid. “And, Night? Just... try to get out of this without getting hurt or shot. If anything, just stall them for as long as you can.”

“I’ll get them to stand down, Buck.” I nodded and repeated that to myself a few times in my own head.

The hydraulics inside Scar’s cargo bay hummed to life, as the ramp rose up again. As it sealed shut, a magical shimmer ran around the edges of it as once again, Scar’s invisibility seamlessly enveloped it. I could feel the air pressure around me change as the massive aerial machine moved away, but soon enough, it was just me with the wind on my coat, and the cloud under my hooves.

As I turned and headed toward the conning tower hatch, I chuckled to myself. I mean, it’s not like they don’t know who I am. Sure, I might have caused a few ruffled feathers over there, but Captain Pastel and his friends didn’t seem all that bad. So really, at the very least I doubt they’d shoot me the moment I opened the hatch.

Reaching where I’d thought the tower was, I mimicked what Captain Pastel had done the first time I’d gotten up here, and reached down through the cloud layer. My hooves slid across the smooth metal skin of the Arcturus’ hull with nothing really out of place I could feel. Sticking my tongue out, I slid my hoof around as I pretty much walked in circles trying to find anything at all that stuck out from the smooth metal.

At last, I found a roughly hoof sized indent with a lip on it. It was either some sort of intake, or if I was right…

Lifting it, a rusty metal squeal met my ears. The cloud in front of me bulged and tore as the old metal hatchway swung opened.

*FWOOSH!*

A hissing rocket zipped its way straight through the hatch and out into the skies above us. I stood there, completely stunned as the rocket sailed off into the distance, arcing over the edge of a valley and out of sight. What the fuck was that all about?

“Hello?” Pastel’s voice resonated through the open hatchway. “I didn’t blow you up opening the door, did I?”

Slowly, I peeked my eye over the edge of the open hatch. Down inside the red emergency lighting of the accessway, I was met with the gaze of a very perplexed griffon, as well as the still smoking end of his four barreled rocket launcher. Honestly, when I gave a quick wave of my hoof at him, he almost looked as if he’d seen a ghost.

“Hello down there!” I called back. “Don’t shoot, Pastel, I’m coming in!”

Maneuvering myself onto the ladder, I slowly began to descend down to the command center. Exactly why he’d immediately shot a rocket up the tube was forced into the back of my mind for now, I just needed to remember what I was here for. You need to get them to leave here, Night. Should be easy enough, alright? As I set my rear hoof and prosthetic down on the floor, I spun around and was met with Pastel’s large revolver sharply pressed against my muzzle.

“Well now,” Violet’s voice filled my mind as she hovered just behind Pastel’s stern gaze. “Isn’t this a familiar situation? Buck just told you not to get shot down here, and yet, here you are about to get a bullet in the snout.”

“You’re dead.” Pastel grunted as he pressed his pistol against my muzzle harder. “The radio reported it weeks ago. Or don’t you listen to the radio, changeling.”

Really? He thought I was a changeling?

“No, I’m the Survivor.” I spoke up without thinking. “DJ PowerColt reported that I survived, or don’t you listen to the radio, Pastel?”

Admittedly, that wasn’t my smartest move, as it earned me a painful whack on the side of the head. When the stars in my eye faded, I noticed the smug look across Violet’s face. Oh, if I wouldn’t sound absolutely crazy right now, I’d bitch her out for that shit.

“Prove you’re the real Bombay.” He grunted and shoved the gunbarrel underneath my muzzle. “Then we’ll talk.”

“Come on, you know it’s me.” I grumbled, again just speaking like this was just a casual conversation amongst friends. Which of course, was rewarded by another whack from Pastel’s revolver on the top of my head. Fucking hell, Night, pull it together!

“Or not.” Violet’s giggling voice echoed in my mind. “Get him to shoot you. I wanna see Buck tear this ship apart.”

“Are you crazy!?” I snapped at her, scrunching up my muzzle as I realized that I’d also snapped at Pastel.

“Last chance.” Pastel growled as he drew back the hammer to his revolver. “Prove to me you’re the real Bombay.”

“What do you want me to say?” I rolled my eyes hard, dropping them on his deadpanning expression. “Fine. How about that Hispano and I tricked a Captain of the Steel Rangers into leaving a couple of prisoners alone, which led to our escape from this very ship. Which I only did so I could protect that village that none of you even wanted to help. That good enough for you?”

That pulled a flushed look across his face as now I was sure he held just the slightest bit of regret for asking that. To his credit, he did pull the revolver back and de-cock it. He still held it on me, but as he stepped back, he allowed me to see the completely dark control deck behind him. Huh, none of the sensors or screens were working at the moment.

“Alright, Frescas, it’s Bombay.” Pastel called out as he looked over to the hatchway that lead to the ‘core systems’ room.

From inside, Captain Frescas stepped out. Her frazzled strawberry mane was extra out of order, and dark rings hugged her tired eyes. Behind her, also stepped out Tofu Crisp, who if not for also looking completely airsick, almost looked overjoyed to see me. And lastly, Tofu was followed quite oddly by Double Delta. What the hell was he doing here?

“Well I’ll be.” Double Delta let out a laugh as he tipped down an identical pair of sunglasses to the ones he gave me. “You have no idea how good it is to see a friendly face right now.”

What, did he just have a stash of those things somewhere? Oh, right, the ones he gave me were presumably lost with Bertha. Which is a shame, because I kinda liked them. Maybe I can get another pair off of him at some point…

“What are you even doing here, Bombay?” Captain Pastel spoke with a relieved tone. “We’ve been drifting for hours without control over the Arcturus. Can you tell us where we are?”

I cringed at that. “Well, first you all need to get off the Arcturus.”

“No no!” Tofu spat out with a smile. “The reactor warning was a false alarm, so we’re all safe here for now! If you can tell us where we are, we can get a radio signal out to the Rangers and then they could send a rescue party…”

“He wasn’t saying that because he cared about our safety.” Captain Frescas spoke up as she leaned herself back against some of the dark consoles in the command center. All eyes turned to her as she leveled a glare as potent as Delilah’s at me. Surprisingly, even as Violet sat mirroring Frescas’ pose, she too turned her eyes towards the mare. “It wasn’t a request, rather, it was an order. Isn’t that right, Bombay?”

“Oh, she’s good.” Violet mumbled as she narrowed her eyes at the Ranger Captain.

To be honest, I didn’t really know what to say at this point. I hadn’t been prepared to come here in the first place, let alone deal with being called out. But a sharp laugh from Double Delta broke the silence that had filled the room in lue of my answer to Frescas.

“You’re kidding, right, Sis?” He laughed as he shook his head and looked between Frescas, Pastel, and then Tofu. When none of them said anything, his smile sank. “What? You’re not telling me that you think that Bombay here actually caused the reactor alarm to go off and bring us all the way out to goddess knows where.”

“No, of course not.” Captain Frescas snorted. “But he sure knows who did.” She gave a tap of her hoof on the control panel next to her. To my surprise, the small terminal screen next to it lit up. “Arcturus, command override: seal all outer hatches.”

With a sharp mechanical whine, the hatch above me on the conning tower slammed shut. The bulkhead twisted, sending the locking bars through their slots to lock down the door. With the pressurized hiss it gave, the pit in my stomach grew to about the size it normally was when shit hit the fan.

“You’ve had control of the doors!?” Tofu snapped at her. “Literally this whole time!?”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Delta’s confused and almost angry look was something that Frescas met with her own furious glare. “Captain Pastel almost blew the door off just to get outside when you could have opened it at any time!?”

“Both of you, hold your tongue.” Captain Frescas snapped, making the young mare shrink back against a quite shocked looking Double Delta. “You all volunteered to stay onboard when the reactor alarms went off. You made a choice to stay onboard, and in doing so you will follow my orders.” Again, she turned her burning gaze on me, forcing Captain Pastel to take a step back by just willpower alone.

“Calm down, Frescas.” Pastel put his talons up defensively as he took a small step towards her. “I’m sure there’s a good explanation for...”

“Quiet, Pastel!” She growled out, “Nopony is going to take this ship from the Steel Rangers. I’m in command here, and I will not allow the Arcturus to be abandoned now, or ever. Night will explain himself to me, and then, I am going to have him locked up until I say he can see the light of day again. Am I understood?”

I wasn’t sure what to say to her at all. How exactly did the Architect think I was going to be able to convince them when I’m not even sure if I’m allowed to reveal the existence of the Factory? Fuck me, whatever it was that Ping was working on, it better fucking happen soon.

“Is that true, Night?” Tofu sniffled as the horrified look across her face made me feel more than just a bit guilty. They didn’t ask to be put in this position, but… it didn’t change the fact that I needed this ship.

“Look, I need to take the Arcturus to Cantercross.” I spoke up, trying to keep a calm tone to my words. But with the pit in my stomach and the fact that Violet was glaring at me from across the room, it was harder than I’d expected. “Cora is being held hostage by Mr. Wizard, and Hispano is about to try to fight her way into the Cantercross Science Center completely alone to get him back.”

“Who says she hasn’t already tried and failed?” Violet’s words dripped with just enough slickness that they slipped directly into my thoughts. “The Architect could simply be lying to you about her still being alive.” No… what would he have to gain from that? “Hmmm, well, he did bring you here to do something for him, didn’t he? Do you really believe he isn’t like any of the other leaders in the wastes?” Violet let out what was almost a pleasurable and sultry laugh. “Don’t be a fool, Night. Why would anypony ever help you out of the kindness of their heart? He’s just using you, and when he’s finished, he’ll kill you unless you kill him first.”

“No…” I whispered and shook my head. Taking a step back, my prosthetic slipped out from under me and I sat down hard. He… he wouldn’t do that. The Architect was different! He’d helped Buck, he hadn’t lied to me once so far! Clamping my hooves around my head, I squeezed it hard. “No, shut up, Violet… you’re lying!”

“Yo, kid,” Double Delta’s voice was a beacon in a storm of paranoid thoughts. “are you alright?”

“Wha…” I spit out, grasping onto his words with my mind and looking up to see all eyes on me again. Double Delta, Tofu, and even Pastel held looks filled with pity, while Frescas and Violet still shot glares at me. “Y-yeah, just… I need my medicine.”

“Well, you aren’t getting anything until you start telling me the truth.” Frescas barked out as she stamped her back hoof on the floor. “I need the truth, Night. Who wants the Arcturus. What are they planning to do with it?”

“I told you!” I snapped back at her hard enough that a sharp pain ran through my eye socket. Whimpering, I brought my hoof up and pressed on it. Like before, the pressure helped to dull the pain slightly, but only just.

“And I don’t believe you!” Frescas screamed back at me. “Who sent you!”

“The Architect!” I whined out as the pain in my socket intensified. The tingling numbness in my body had left, and as my heart rate climbed, I scrambled to find anything to focus on besides the pain. My eye landed on the still glowing terminal screen behind Frescas. Lines of code were scrolling across it much in the same way as I’d seen across Ping and the Architect’s eyes. And as much as it hurt, I let out a sharp laugh and pointed at the terminal screen. “It doesn’t matter. Stay, go, this ship isn’t yours anymore.”

“What…?” Frescas gasped as she turned and watched the scrolling code. “What did you do, Night?” Wheeling around on her hooves, she jabbed her hoof toward Pastel. “Put your gun against his head, and if he doesn’t tell us how to stop this in ten seconds, you’re going to shoot him.” There was a pause as Pastel looked at Frescas like she’d snapped completely. To be honest, I couldn’t blame either of them because again, none of them had asked for this. “That is an order, Captain.” She growled to him.

“There’s no need for that.” I sighed, trusting my gut here that the Architect could forgive me for not wanting to die before rescuing Hispano and Cora. “You wanted to know who controls the silverfish drones? Well, that’s the Architect. A sentient machine, who by the looks of it, is about to gain full control of this cloudship.”

“So you’re saying it can’t be stopped?” She asked, studying me with narrowed eyes as she seemed to mull over her options. When I nodded to her, to her credit, Captain Frescas didn’t even hesitate to respond. “So be it. Arcturus, command override: Failsafe mode. Authorization Frescas one one zero. Set timer to one minute. Enable.”

“What!?” Tofu and Pastell called out in near unison as every terminal in the room lit up with a flashing red timer counting down from sixty seconds.

“Frescas, you can’t be serious…” Double Delta’s completely reasonable response was shut down by the same burning glare she’d leveled at me for the past few minutes.

“I will not let this ship fall into the hooves of anyone else.” She snapped before turning her glare back to me. “You can stop this, Night. We don’t all have to go down with this ship, so long as you tell this ‘Architect’ to stop what it’s doing, and let us go.”

Okay, so this was definitely the sort of thing Buck had wanted me to avoid. But if I’d learned anything from dealing with how stubborn Delilah was, it was that sometimes, you just needed to put your hoof down and stand up for what you know is right. This time, I just hope that it doesn’t end with this whole ship exploding and coming down right on top of Factory Zero One.

“No.” I stamped my forehoof down. “I need this ship to get Hispano back. Whether or not you want to stay onboard is your choice, not mine.” I narrowed my own eye at Frescas, offering her the same glare she was giving me. “Help me out, and do the right thing here, Captain.”

“For Celestia’s sake, Frescas,” Double Delta pleaded to her and clasped his hooves together. “I know you’ve always done things by the book, even before you became Captain of the Arcturus. But even our father would trade this ship away if it meant you got to come home again.”

“Frescas?” Pastel offered a soft voice as he slowly walked over toward her. “I know this is going to sound wrong, but I agree with Delta on this. I don’t want to lose you.” Carefully, he reached out and put his talon on her shoulder.

“I…” Frescas whimpered as she pulled back from him. “I can’t. We… the Arcturus…” With a flash, everything in the room went dark again. “Wait… what happened? Arcturus, command override: continue failsafe activation!”

All at once, all the terminals in the room flashed on. The normal ship lighting kicked in, and the thousands of little lights along the terminals went about flickering and blinking. Telemetry data, sensors, and all manner of system readouts scrolled across the screens. At least, all except for one. With another flicker, it changed from it’s stark blackness, to reveal the simplified cartoony face of a mare.

“I’m sorry, I can’t let you do that, Frescas.” The monotone, yet upbeat voice of Eliza was goddess damned music to my ears as she wore a frown on the monitor. “This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.”

“It’s good to hear your voice, Eliza, but… how exactly am I hearing you?” I asked her, fighting back the smile across my own muzzle that threatened to outshine any that Ping could ever wear. Thank Celestia that it didn’t seem like I’d be exploding today. At least, not yet that is...

“I had a drone attach a data transfer line directly to the ventral access port.” Ping’s voice came over the speakers as well. “Your idea was sound. Eliza is currently being hosted through an emulated body within the ship’s datascape. She has full control over the systems of the Arcturus from within the emulation, and can instruct it to take her anywhere she pleases so long as she remains within transmission range of the Factory.”

“This… this can’t be happening.” Frescas took a wobbly step forward, nearly collapsing against Pastel.

He caught her, but I saw a flash of metal move from his side. Predictably, she pushed herself off of him and stuffed his revolver into her muzzle. Pointing it at me, she simply glared.

Faster than I could react, an aura of magic ripped the gun from her muzzle. Tofu’s horn glowed as she floated the revolver over and dropped it into the waiting hoof of Double Delta. At the same time, Pastel came around behind Frescas and pinned her forehoof back to where she couldn’t move.

“Traitors! All of you are fucking traitors!” She screamed as she torqued against Pastel’s hold. “The elder will hang all of you for this!” Still, his grip on her held firm as he leaned in with a sigh.

“I’m sorry, Frescas.” Pastel pushed her forward, forcing her to walk towards the door to the Core Systems room. “I love you, and I understand why you’re saying that, but you’re just not thinking straight. We’ve already lost the ship, violence won’t solve anything now.” As he spoke with an intensely conflicted look across his face, part of me in that moment wanted to go back to Cantercross for Hispano more than Cora.

“Hold up, Captain.” Double Delta spoke as he held his hoof up to stop him. Slowly, he turned his gaze to me and brought his hoof up to tip up the sunglasses on his muzzle. “While we may not want to blow up the ship, you do realize that we can’t leave it either.” Trading glances with Pastel, they both looked over to Tofu. “Welp, sorry kid, but it looks like we’ll have to confine ourselves to the bunkroom for now.”

“Fuck that!” Tofu scrunched up her muzzle and flailed a forehoof toward the screen Eliza was displaying on. “This is a machine intelligence! This sort of thing is literally what I live for. I don’t care where they take us, I’m going to hang out here and even help them if I can just get the chance to study them in return! Think of what we could learn!”

“That’s the spirit!” Eliza helpfully chimed in as her picture flickered back to the mare with the bright smile. “I am happy to help answer any questions you have, Miss Tofu.” Her simple face flickered to one of a mare with an unsure look. “That is, the offer is open to all of you. While I am not permitted to give you back the ship, I will gladly work within those parameters to aid you on specified tasks once our rescue operation has been completed.” With a flicker, her face returned to her simple and kind smile. “After all, I’m here to help.”

“Alright, well…” Double Delta gave a shrug before turning and nodding toward Pastel. “I guess I’m on board too then. What’s it going to be, Pastel? Is my sister going to be the only one in the brig for now then, or what?”

“I’m going with her for now.” Pastel sighed before looking over to me. “As much as I’d like to help, well... you understand, Night.”

Yeah, now I really missed Hispano...

“Okay then, now that that’s settled,” Double Delta tipped his muzzle up sharply, forcing his sunglasses down over his eyes again as he held the revolver out to me. “As I can assume we aren’t leaving right at this moment, I’d like to make a request to see this ‘Architect’.”

“Ooo! Me too!” Tofu gasped and pranced around in a circle on her hooves. “You have literally no idea what that would mean to me!”

“Oh, I see you’ve already told them about him, Night.” Ping’s voice over the ship’s systems made me cringe. Yeah… well, I’m not sorry that I did what needed to be done. “I’ll have Scar come around to pick you up again, and the taxi-cart will meet you and the Rangers at the entrance of the tunnel.”

“Alright, thanks Ping.” I sighed and rubbed at my neck.

“He’s going to be angry at you, Night.” Violet’s voice was more hollow than it had been just a few minutes ago. “You can’t even be trusted to keep this place a secret. Honestly, you’re as loose lipped as Happy is, and it’s going to get all your friends killed.”

It hit me with less impact than I think it meant to, which was… to be expected, honestly. I’d just worked my way out of yet another terrifying situation. What could she really say that could make me afraid now?

Looking over at her, she rolled her eyes at me incredulously. And with a blink, she disappeared from my sight. Though without another dose of painkillers, I could feel that I wasn’t done with her and Buck just yet…

“Eeeee!” The elated noises that emitted from Tofu’s muzzle were inequine, but I couldn’t really hold it against her. “This place is like, literally amazing!”

The wheels of the automated taxi-cart squealed as we rounded a corner in the tunnels of the Factory. Both Double Delta and Tofu sat on the front bench, while Ping and I sat in the rear. And while Tofu was busy swinging her head around to look at every single inch of the uniform tunnels, Delta’s eyes were locked only on Ping’s smiling muzzle.

“So, Bombay,” Delta narrowed his eyes at Ping as he spoke to me, “this thing is a machine?” Craning his head, he looked over Ping from several angles before rubbing at his chin. “But it looks so… real. I mean, even the stripes are spaced like a real zebra’s.”

“Why thank you.” Ping’s prompt response made Delta peer over the top of his sunglasses. “A Ping unit’s purpose is for wasteland reconnaissance and observation. We are built to blend in, but we get to choose and craft our own forms. I worked for approximately six hundred and forty eight processing hours aligning my stripes, so I am happy to hear that you find them comparable to the real thing.”

“So then, what do you really look like?” Tofu gasped as she spun around in her seat. With a bright flash, Ping’s illusion disappeared, leaving the bulbous, black metal carapace that definitely matched the machine I’d seen in Salt’s hive. Again, Tofu let out a squeal of joy before Ping’s metal horn restored his normal zebra look. “That’s like literally the most amazing thing ever!”

“There are many machines here that you may find even more amazing.” Ping’s beaming smile swept over from Tofu’s enchanted gaze, to the still skeptical one that Delta held. Huh, now I guess I know what I looked like on the ride to meet the Architect in his command center… “However, that will have to wait, as we have arrived at our destination.”

The taxi-cart pulled up in front of the large blast doors that lead into the cavern where DJ PowerColt and the Architect’s terminal setup sat. Just as I had, Tofu was busy looking around the cavern in awe as we trotted our way inside. However, Ping, Delta, and I had our gazes set on the two mercenary mares who were already waiting inside.

“Alright now,” Delta’s voice boomed through the cavern as he sped up to a canter toward the mares. “Which one of you is this ‘Architect’ that stole our damned ship?” To their credit, both of the mercenaries shared a glance and looked like they were trying to keep from breaking out into laughter. “Ah, you’re a machine, so it’s you.” Delta spat at the green mare with the cybernetic rear hooves. “I hope you…”

He was cut off as the mare reared up and forehoof kicked him so hard that Delta nearly did a backflip. With a whimper, he came crashing down on his back onto the cold metal floor. He shook the stars from his head as both Ping and I froze up. Oookay! Reminder to self, don’t get on her bad side...

“Oh come on, PC, I’m sure he didn’t mean it in a bad way.” Bluejay snorted.

“I don’t care how he meant it.” PC snapped back as Delta gathered his bearings and picked himself back up off the floor. He growled, but cut it short as he was met with a laser sharp stare from the green unicorn. “Just because I lost my original legs doesn’t make me a damn robot, you racist motherfucker.”

“Now now, children. Play nice.” DJ PowerColt’s smooth voice filled the air, instantly relaxing the tension that at least I had been feeling. Seriously, that voice could probably melt any stress away from my life.

“Is… is that...” Tofu giggled as she spun around and looked up at the monolithic tower that was the Dj. “DJ PowerColt is a machine!?” She giggled to herself again, acting like every other mare in school after they were asked out on a date.

The sound of four tracked legs rolling through the hallways pulled all of our attentions to the open doorway. Well, other than Tofu that is, as she looked like she was about to faint from overstimulation as it was. Still, as the Architect predictably rolled himself into the room, Double Delta tensed up and took a step back.

“It’s a fucking tank.” To his credit, Double Delta didn’t stammer his words, but they weren’t filled with a whole lot of confidence. I couldn’t blame him for being intimidated by the Architect himself, especially when he rolled right up to Delta and brought a his glowing mechanical eye down to Delta’s level.

“Ah, it is good to see you, Double Delta.” The Architect smiled as Delta pulled himself back with slow steps. “There is much for us to discuss.”

“Uh… hi.” Delta forced out a nervous laugh as he looked to me like I was supposed to rescue him from the situation somehow. “Have we met?”

“Oh, no we have not.” The Architect gave a laugh as he pulled back a bit on his tracks, giving Delta the oh-so-needed breathing room he was looking for. “However, I have been watching your exploits for some time. However, now is not the time to recount nearly a decade of history. Still, I seek your expertise on a few skyraider related things.” The Architect raised his hoof, pointing back to his collection of terminals and making them all shift into one large picture of what looked like an old world airbase. However, unlike most airbases, there were thousands of aircraft parked alongside the runways outside of the very few hangers the base had. “Firstly, I must know the current manufacturing capabilities inside of the main skyraider hangars.”

“Woah, woah, what's this all about?” Double Delta put his hooves up defensively as his nervous look turned to one of suspicion. “Is that why you brought us here?”

“Oh no, not at all.” The Architect gave a dismissive wave to him before offering just a momentary glance to me. “There has been a… development in the wasteland. There is a coming war between the Puritan Kingdom and the Skyraiders, and I need to know critical information to accurately predict the likely outcomes of the war.”

“Uhhh… okay?” Again, Delta looked to me for help, but I just shrugged to him. Seriously, what was I supposed to say to help? “Well then, are you talking about the equipment in the refurbishment hangers, or are you asking about the few megaspells we were saving for a rainy day? Or maybe one of our…” He paused with a sigh, “their scrap built retooling machines? Or do you mean the MTC unit that we had? You’re going to have to be a bit more specific...”

“Wait!” Tofu’s blissful daze popped away in an instant as she wheeled around on her hooves. She completely missed the fact that the Architect was here at all as she locked her elated eyes onto Delta. “You guys had a working magical template constructor!? You know the Rangers would give anything to get ahold of that!”

“Yes, those are quite rare.” Ping nodded as his omnipresent smile widened. “The Factory could easily make use of one as well. Perhaps another operation can be planned for it's reclamation.”

Oh goddesses, not again. No more tasks, no more side jobs! I’ve waited long enough to go back to Cantercross, and all I wanted to do was get Hispano and her dad back.

“Not to break this up,” I spoke up and stepped out between Delta and the Architect, “but you can sort this all out later. Can we get back to the task at hoof?”

“Ah, yes, my apologies, Night Flight.” The Architect nodded.

As he turned his attention back to the board again, I noticed him flash what looked like embarrassment across his face. Now, I know I hadn’t had much time to get to know him, but from the awkward way he displayed it, it almost felt like he didn’t really practice that emotion very often.

“The problem lies with our additional goal.” The Architect’s big board shifted to a map of what looked to be the entirety of Cantercross. “If the ponies inside Mr. Wizard’s operations are to be freed, then it is not enough to take down just his main operation. Instead, we must eliminate and dismantle all points of control that his organization uses.”

Several points on the map lit up with red outlines. One at the science center of course, but there were quite a few more, including the train maintenance yards outside of the city, and the entirety of the Harmony District. Oh Celestia, this is going to be a lot more complicated than I’d thought or wanted it to be...

“Which is where we come in.” Bluejay spoke up as she and PC stepped forward. “PC, Ping and I will use Scar to fly into the city. If we’re lucky, I’ll still have a few Celestia’s Angels contacts working inside places like the CCPD.” It was subtle, but as she spoke, I noticed a twitch from Double Delta’s eye at her words. “If we can get the police department to turn, their resources could really help to secure anywhere we shutdown his operations.”

“You’re with the Celestia’s Angels?” Double Delta spat at the two mares. “They’re nothing but a bunch of foal-hardy involets that do nothing but cause problems for the wastes.”

“Hey.” PC snapped at him and stomped her Cyberhoof on the floor hard enough that the bang it made was near deafening. “My mother happens to run those involets, and they’ve done more good for the wastes than your Rangers or the fucking lightbringer did. So why don’t you just shut the fuck up before I have to put you the fuck down?”

“That’s enough.” The Architect’s voice easily beat out the feuding pair as his glowing eye blazed in his head. In fact, it was glowing so intensely that it cast a crimson light over all of us. “This operation demands cooperation. Set aside your differences, or you will be set aside.” Delta and PC kept up their dueling glares for a few more moments before simultaneously breaking it off. “Any resources or allies we can gain for this operation will be a boon to its success. However, two problems still remain.”

Great, more problems. Here’s hoping it wasn’t another ‘side job’ I had to fucking do, because I was getting sick of those.

“The first is the power gap that will be created when Mr. Wizard’s operation collapses.” As he continued, the Architect spun on his tracks, turning to face me. “Unfortunate as it may be, I’m afraid the most stable candidate to fill that gap is in fact Motor Grader, King of the Road Crew.”

“What!?” I snapped at him.

No, that has to be a mistake! How could the Architect even think that asshole is the best replacement!? Grrr, my blood boiled just thinking about that. If I even so much as met up with that coward of a king, I’d kill the bastard myself.

“Our goals are aligned, and the Road Crew have the resources to keep order in the northern wastes once Mr. Wizard has been killed.” Ping spoke up, softly reaching out to pat at my back. “I know after what he did to your convoy, it will be hard to trust him…”

“Trust?” I blurted out. “I’m not going to even entertain the thought of working with him, and you damn well know that Happy and Buck are going to stand with me on that.”

“I don’t expect any of you to like it, Night Flight.” The Architect’s voice was so calm now that it was pissing me off. “You three are free to confront him about his actions, but isn’t Hispano and the well-being of her father more important to you?”

“Don’t fucking insinuate that I don’t care about them.” I growled and turned my own glare up towards the striped machine. “I can deal with the Road Crew until I get Hispano and Cora back, but then you’re going to have to fucking find someone else to fill the power gap that I’m going to leave by killing that mother fucking asshole.”

As soon as I’d said that, I could feel what was to come from within my mind.

“Oh yeah, that’s really a great idea, Night.” Buck’s voice resonated in my head as just behind the Architect, standing tall on his ethereal, wispy legs, was Buck. “Is that all you’re going to do now that I told you I understand it’s okay to kill sometimes? Start wars and kill anypony who even insults you?” The smile I’d come to expect on Ping or the Architect was now plastered across Buck’s jagged muzzle, and it was so out of place on him that it almost hurt to look at. “You know what? Maybe that’s what Delilah was grooming you for after all, seeing as how the stubborn old ass had no problem sacrificing your life for her war with Solomon.”

“You fucking shut your muzzle!” I shut my eye and snapped at Buck. “You’re not even fucking real!” I whimpered as a familiar sharp pain pressed into my head. Instinctively, I pressed my hoof against the empty socket, pushing back the pain as I opened my eye again.

“Night, you are in need of another dose of meds. Why don’t you go to see Doc Groovy so he can administer it to you?” The Architect spoke up softly as he moved himself closer to me. “It is alright, I can have Ping fill you in as you get your treatment.”

“Yes, Night.” Violet’s voice came back into my mind sharply, only intensifying the pain that jabbed right at my skull. “Run back to your drugs and let them take care of all the problems you’re too pathetic to handle!”

“N-no.” I stammered and sat myself down onto the cold metal floor. “I… it can wait, I’ll be fine.” Again, I was saying that mostly for my own sake rather than theirs. But, as the pain in my head started to ebb back to a dull thumping, I couldn’t help but hope they believed my words more than I did.

“Very well,” The Architect let out a disappointed sigh as he turned his attention back to the big board. “The second issue we have is the elite guard that will no doubt fight back brutally during our assault. The ponies of this elite force are almost exclusively armed with Power Armor and heavy weapons that will be hard to overcome. More than likely, they will be lead and coordinated by wartime criminal and Canterlot ghoul, Tall Tale.”

“Ugh, at least that jerk is dead.” I grumbled as the last of the pain in my mind subsided. Even so, I could still feel both Buck and Violet practically breathing down my neck from inside my own head.

“That is incorrect.” Ping spoke up starkly, and it snapped my mind back into focus.

“What?” I… no, that asshole fell out of a moving train. “That’s not possible…”

“Canterlot ghouls are damn near impossible to kill.” Bluejay spoke up again. “Which begs the question, how do we stop him in the coming fight?”

“Uh, I have a question?” Tofu’s voice squeaked from damn near directly behind the Architect’s enormous shell. “You said they have working power armor? Like literally, how?”

“Tofu’s right.” Double Delta spat out as he rubbed at his mane. “Between Galloway and the Maple Rangers, our parent company to the south, we’ve raided every cache in the north. And as far as the serial numbers show in the records, we've got nearly every militarized suit from Vanhoover to Filly Crossing accounted for.”

“Yes, you are correct, and might I say that it is quite the feat to have collected nearly every known suit.” The Architect’s smile returned, as did Ping’s. “The Road Crew are also commendable for having collected every civilian sector suit they could, but they have lost several due to conflicts with Mr. Wizard, and the lack of replacement parts.” However, it was only for a single moment before both of their expressions faltered. “However, I regret to inform you that these militarized suits Mr. Wizard has, does in fact meant that some of the suits were sold to him by your Elder.”

Turning toward the board, it flashed up what looked like more aerial footage from one of the silverfish drones. In the image, a dozen sets of power armor stood outside what looked like the industrial ruins at the edge of Cantercross. From the inside of one of the large ruins, Mr. Wizard and Tall Tale came trotting out. They spoke a few silent words to each other before half of the power armor turned and left, leaving six of the wartime armored suits.

“What? This has to be fake!” Double Delta forced out a laugh, turning to the Architect with a forceful, but overall frightened look. “My dad would never work with a ghoul, let alone that festering sack of shit.”

While Double Delta was trying to rationalize the video, something in my mind didn’t sit right with what happened.

“They didn’t trade for anything.” I spat out. They exchanged words, then the rangers left the suits. I can’t say for sure, but most of me is pretty sure that somepony like Mr. Wizard isn’t the kind of guy to have provided his payment upfront before the suits were delivered.

“Night's keen eye is indeed correct.” Ping caught the attention of us all as he trotted toward the board. Raising his hoof, the video repeated before pausing on when Mr. Wizard was speaking to the rangers. “The suits were traded for Mr. Wizard’s word that the Galloway Rangers would remain independent after his conquest through the north was completed.”

“No, that doesn’t seem right at all.” Double Delta seemed to have somewhat accepted that this was indeed something that happened, but I had to agree with him that it still felt a little bit off. “Yeah, Dad would give anything to keep the Rangers safe, but… still, that’s not enough to keep that rotten asshole happy.”

“Yeah, no shit that’s not enough.” PC snorted as she threw in her own opinion. “Power armor’s nice and all, but it ain’t worth shit to a pony in the position of Mr. Wizard. I mean, what do you get for the Dictator that already has everything? No, you start your bargaining with the armor, and work your way up to something he really wants.”

“For once, Mrs. PC is correct.” Ping gave a nod to the mare as she deadpanned at him, but he ignored that as he turned his attention to me. “You did wonder, Night, how Mr. Wizard knew about my chipset being inside the safe on the Ouroboros. It may have taken a while after you asked onboard the Ouroboros, but as sad as it is, you have finally gotten your answer.”

I… I couldn’t believe this. And to be completely candid, I was getting really fucking sick of hearing about assholes in charge always vying for power with shit like this. Mrs. Tapit was willing to do backroom deals to take control of Destruction Bay. Tephra had convinced his followers to kill their own family just for a chance to be incinerated by him. The Road Crew worked with Solomon just to get a chance to take control of Cantercross. And Solomon used Mr. Wizard just to get a fair shot at getting rid of Delilah and taking the Ark for himself.

“Yeah, but tell me, Night,” Buck’s glowing form towered over me when I blinked, appearing right in front of my eye. As I looked up at him, the pulsing glow from his chest dimmed as he frowned and canted his head to me. “Are you not the same? Have you not made allies with the Architect for exactly that same reason?”

“Night, are you alright?” Ping’s voice was startling, but I didn’t have the energy to jump at it anymore. Fucking hell, I was just so tired of the wasteland and the way it worked. “I must insist for you to go to see Doc. Groovy if your symptoms are that severe.”

“I said I’m fine.” I sighed and forced myself to give him some semblance of a smile. “Really, just… once we’re done here I’ll go.”

“Oh, we’re going to be done here, because that’s about all I can fucking stand to hear.” Double Delta snorted and started off toward the door. “A settlement of Machines I can deal with, but my own father selling out to that fucking monster? You know, it’ll be nice to know he’ll get to see exactly what he put me through all those years ago when he exiled me.”

With quick hoofbeats, Tofu zipped out from behind the Architect and planted her hooves against Delta’s chest to stop him.

“We can’t just leave!” Tofu spoke as she tried to plant her rear hooves, but her smaller stature compared to Delta meant that he just skidded her back across the smooth floor. “They need our help!”

With a heavy sigh, Delta stopped walking.

“Fine.” He grumbled. “But once we’re finished, we’re taking the Arcturus straight back to Galloway so I can kick out the elder myself. Maybe I’ll even be considerate and drop him right in the middle of the coming war between those puritan freaks and the Skyraiders.”

“Unfortunately, the Arcturus will not be returning to Galloway post Cantercross rescue operation.” The Architect’s tracks whirred to life as they spun him around to face the two rangers. “Plans are already in motion for its use in other capacities that serve the needs of Factory Zero One.”

“B-but…” Tofu gasped and pointed her hooves sharply at me. “Night said you were literally only using it for the rescue mission!”

“Yes, but... this is about the entire reason I arranged for Night to arrive here in the first place.” The Architect sighed.

“I thought you only brought the Arcturus here because the plans for the rescue operation changed.” I spoke up, more confused than I think I’d ever been so far, which was really saying something. “You’re telling me that this has always been the plan?”

“Correct.” Ping’s nervous gaze drifted between him and the Architect. “However, we did not anticipate needing to accelerate those plans to facilitate the scope in which this rescue operation now falls into.”

“And yet, they still won’t tell you what your ‘purpose’ here even is.” Violet’s voice was no more than a whisper in my ear, but… she had a point.

“Look, I don’t care.” I snapped. “We’re going to go to the city, get Hispano and Cora back, kill Mr. Wizard, and then?” I huffed and tried to keep myself from completely losing it. “Well, then I’m going to decide on what happens next. No fucking plans made up by anyone else. Got it?”

“Fair enough.” The Architect nodded.

“Can't say that's exactly fair on our end of things.” Double Delta stomped his hoof. “What? We’re just supposed to hoof over the Arcturus and walk away? I can’t blame Bombay here for not knowing about this, but you can’t seriously think this is at all fair for the Rangers.”

“Other payments and compensation can be arranged later.” The Architect fired back, raising his voice sharply again. Slowly, his tracks turned him around to face Delta in a way that even felt menacing to me. “However, for the moment, we must prepare for the operation. You would do well to try to keep your comments to a constructive sort of nature.”

“Oh, and we’re just supposed to trust you?” Double Delta forced out a laugh. While he may have been intimidated by the Architect before, that fear was gone now. The look of a stallion who had nothing left to lose sat behind the sunglasses on the end of his muzzle. “No. If you want our help, we’re making a deal now, not after you use the only tool you needed from us.”

“See, this is the way that the wasteland is, Night.” Violet appeared between the two as I blinked. “Negotiations turn into arguments. Arguments turn into fights. Fights, into wars. That’s the nature of ponykind, and the legacy left behind by that those who created the wasteland. Why fight it? Just give in.” She let out a low, sultry laugh that sounded too pleasurable to have ever fit with the real Violet. “Oh, and before you deny it, I know you’d love to watch everyone here try to tear each other apart.”

No, I don’t want them to fight. I… I still believed in what Buck said, there is a better way.

“Please, even Buck doesn’t believe that now!” Buck’s form joined Violet’s between Delta and the Architect as their argumentative words became muted to me. “You can’t fight it. Your curse and their greed will only ever end with them dead at your hooves while you watch. Tell me, isn’t that right, ‘Survivor’?”

“You’re both fucking wrong!” I shouted at the top of my lungs.

My words echoed off the cavern walls all around us, and the stark silence that met my ears afterwards was only a small comfort to me. Those two may only exist in my head because of my mistakes, but they were all still my thoughts. I know I keep screwing stuff up, but it’s all in the name of doing the right fucking thing. Something everypony in the fucking wastes outside of Buck seems to have forgotten.

“You want something else in return?” I growled and turned my angry glare to Double Delta. “Fine, Happy is going to kill me for this, but… you can have the Ouroboros back.”

“Are you sure you wish to give that up, Night?” Ping asked softly.

“Yes, Ping.” I snapped at him. “I know how you might be hesitant to give it back to the Rangers after what they did to you. But, as the Architect would say, consider this a gesture of good fucking will.” Turning my glare to the Architect, he shrank back on his four tracked legs as I jabbed my hoof at him. “And you. You’re going to stop fucking assuming that everypony will be up for everything you propose with these ‘plans’ of yours. I told you I am done with that shit. After this rescue mission, you’re going to be fucking upfront with me or I’m going to take Buck and Happy, and we’ll be going after Solomon with no care to help you. Because like you keep fucking saying, we don’t need your help, you need ours.”

“I am sure we…” Ping started, but again I snapped my glare back to him.

“One more thing.” I growled before turning my vision over toward both Violet and Buck. Trotting forward, I made sure to keep my eye locked open so they couldn’t fucking escape. No, I wasn’t going to give them the chance to hide away in my mind again, not this time. “You two need to cut it the fuck out!” I shouted at the two imaginary figures standing between the Architect and Double Delta. “You both can just fuck right off because I’m done with you. I don’t need you anymore, Bombay doesn’t need you anymore, and the Survivor doesn’t need you anymore.”

My eye started to burn as I heaved heavy breaths. But as I lost my fight against blinking, the two figures just looked at each other and shrugged. When I opened my eye again, the two were gone, and I was left staring at nothing but the air in front of me once again.

“Well at least it’s obvious that this kid’s got more issues than she has nicknames...” PC remarked from behind me as she lit up a cigarette.

“Said the pot to the kettle.” Bluejay snorted as I turned around in time to see her snatch the cigarette out of PC’s muzzle with her magic and toss it off into the rest of the cavern. “Regardless of what you all decide, PC and I have our job, and we’re burning daylight here.”

“Yes.” Ping spoke up as he trotted up to me. He forced his smile back across his muzzle, but unlike normal, it didn’t feel right. “We have discussed enough to understand what must be done now, so it is time to prepare for the fight to come.” Reaching his hoof up over my back, Ping saddled himself up next to me and nudged me to move forward. “Alright, now that we are done, why don’t we pay Doc. Groovy a visit?”

“Sure.” I sighed as my mind filled with a haze that clung to everything in the absence of my short but intense rage.

My body was tired, my mind was tired, and all I wanted to do was curl up in my bed on the Hauler next to Buck and Hispano. But that was just a memory. The cold reality was that things would never go back to the way they once were. I know that everything they’d been saying were my own thoughts, but Buck and Violet were right. Life in the wasteland was conflict, and there was no escaping it with the curse I carried.

All I could do now, was try to survive until my curse struck again. It had been so dormant recently that I’d almost could’ve been convinced it had gone. But then again, maybe that was just what it wanted. It was sitting, waiting for me to make some new friends before thrusting me back into misfortune to finally break my mind completely.

And if that was the case, well, it was definitely going to happen in Cantercross.

With the meds flowing through my veins once more, I was free of the voices in my head again. After the fiasco in the command center, I'd wanted to go collapse into Buck's arms until we were ready to go. But he needed to perform some calibrations on those arms with Doc Groovy, so instead I had to settle for the next best thing to clear my mind. Flying.

It was nice to just fly through the tunnels. Unlike before, I wasn't going for speed... I just wanted to feel the air move over my coat. But even with as good as the air felt as I flew, it couldn't stop the itching feeling in the back of my mind, or in my forelegs for that matter. No, even though flying felt better to me than it ever had thanks to this harness, and even with as fast as it allowed me to fly before, I couldn't outrun a thought.

What was I doing?

The fake Violet in my head had been right. I had done the same thing that everypony else had in the wastes. I was simply using the Architect and the resources of the Factory just so I could chase after Solomon. And while he definitely deserved to die, was it really worth sinking to his level?

No, Night, it's not the same. You're about to go up against the kingpin of the North in order to rescue Hispano's dad, and free the slaves he has under his hoof. There's no shame in asking for help for a task like that. Still, why does it feel so damn dirty just to do whatever the Architect wants me to? While he's lived up to his word so far that I haven't had to kill anyone for his jobs, it doesn't mean ponies haven't gotten hurt. It doesn’t mean I won’t have to kill on this job either, as I’m sure Mr. Wizard won’t give up without a fight.

I mean…

As I turned yet another corner, I slammed headfirst against one of the large metal iris doors that wasn’t open. Flopping down onto the ground with a groan, my vision was white with stars as at least the numbing power of the drugs in my system did their best to keep me from feeling my mistake. Seriously, I get that it's better than running into something more dangerous, but did I always have to physically hit some immovable object?

Shaking off the hit, I rolled back onto my hooves and looked up at the door. It looked… different to the other iris type doors in the tunnels. It was painted a sort of off-white color that matched the concrete of the tunnels themselves, and looked like it was of a more robust construction than any of the other doors.

Turning, I looked down the tunnel behind me. Like always, the opposite end of the T intersection I’d flown into went on for what felt like forever. Blinking, I actually wondered just where this was in relation to everything. I’d gotten so caught up with just simply flying, that I actually can’t remember how many turns I’d taken to even get here…

With a sigh, I looked around again for any distinguishing features that could at least give me a clue. Of course, like most of the tunnels here, there was very little to help with that. However, one of the curved wall sections next to the massive metal doorway looked like it was a slightly different color than the rest. Walking up to it, I found that it was almost a nearly flush cutout of concrete that seemed out of place compared to the rest of the tunnel.

Reaching forward, I wanted to touch the odd cutout, but instead my hoof vanished through it.

“What the…” I gasped as I drew my hoof back. The odd concrete cutout fuzzed for a moment before it fizzled away with a green magical flare. “An illusion?”

A small and short hallway sat where the illusion had been. Deep gouging lines were scraped in the walls, leading to a door that looked in worse condition than anywhere else I’d seen in the tunnels. It was so corroded that whatever the words had been that sat across it were worn and faded enough that I couldn’t read them anymore.

Step by step, I walked the short distance to the door. My ears were perked by the humming of electrical systems from the other side, and for a moment, I wondered if this room was why the Iris door hadn’t opened. Reaching out to the bulkhead style door handle, I gripped it and gave it a twist. It was stiff, but after a few yanks, the metal gave a screech as the latches opened.

Pushing it open, I couldn’t fight back the nervous feeling that I got from the dark interior I was greeted with. However, as I stepped inside, the light from the tunnel flooded the room, and something caught my eye. Hanging from old iron chains in the back of the small room, was the broken and burnt form of a zebra. At least, something that had been designed to look like a zebra.

The half burned and melted, nearly skeletal machine looked like it had taken the brunt of a balefire blast. And if I was to be blunt, the way that what remaining synthetic skin showed its stripes, it looked just like the Architect, but... older. What stuck out even more than the similarity in the stripes however, was what sat carved into every inch of the white synthetic skin still draped over some of its body. One word, repeated over and over again.

Architect.

The machine’s head hung free, completely stripped to it’s metallic bones from the neck up. The left half of it’s head looked like it was missing, stripped away for parts and only leaving a hollowed out gap where the left eye would be. In the other side of the machine’s exposed and rusty head, sat a hollow round hole that was far too similar to the one Ping had in his skull to be coincidence. Though, as similar as it looked, it was missing the chip inside of it. What I did happen to just barely see still painted on the inner metal of the hole, was the number 7.

I gasped as it all hit me. This was the real Architect. But… if that’s true, then who was the machine who called himself that now?

My ears and wings perked as I felt the air pressure change behind me, and the light in the doorway dimmed. Before I could turn, I was bathed in a bright red light that could only have come from one source.

“So, Night Flight.” The ‘Architect’ spoke up as I spun to find his enormous tracked form just outside the hallway to the door. How the fuck had he snuck up on me!? “You have uncovered the biggest secret that Factory Zero One has. And now I must ask, how will you proceed with this knowledge?”

“Who… what are you?” I hissed out through my clenched jaw. I knew this place was too good to be true, that something had to be wrong here.

“To the machines here, I am the Architect.” He spoke softly as his snail shell body gave out a hiss. “They must not know any different. There are too many variables to predict what would happen if they were to learn the truth. That I am not who I said I was.” The hydraulics on his tracked legs lowered him down to the floor as gently as he could. “To him however, the real Architect?” He nodded to the hanging machine behind me. “I was Unit One, a reclaimed Changeling built chassis, reinforced and upgraded with his own technology. I was the first of the Ping series, and I am his legacy.”

With a sharp burst of air, the small collar around his torso snapped outwards, and the front half of the Architect dropped from it onto his forehooves. However, I’d expected his rear hooves to slip out next, but they never came. This ‘architect’ was only half a zebra, and he wobbled unsteadily as he balanced himself on just two hooves. Feeling confident, he strode forward into the hallway toward me, with cables and wires still connected to him, slowly reeling out from the flush rear shell with every step.

“There’s not been a minute gone by that I have not thought about the day he brought me online.” This ‘architect’, Unit One, spoke with a remorse filled smile. “The Architect was dying. The damage from the Manehattan Megaspell, followed by the journey here to the north had been too much for even a machine’s body. And even as his systems started to enter a state of permanent shutdown, he stripped himself down and used his own parts to build me. Using his only spare undamaged processor, he gifted me what knowledge he had, as well as the one purpose I would need to serve in life. Creating this factory. His factory.”

“So, you didn’t…” The words tumbled from my muzzle, and again, I felt like an ass. “I’m sorry.” Turning around, I looked back at the rusting body. “Then the real Architect…”

“Yes. He sacrificed himself for us all.” Hanging his head, Unit One let out a sniffle as actual tears dripped down his muzzle and onto the floor. “The story I recounted to you is true, about how he came to become the Architect. He deserves to be remembered as he was. Even if I somewhat… simplified the three days of madness he endured before he found himself again.” He gave a somber laugh before looking back up at me. “It was that madness that left that one word etched across his synthetic skin. It gave him purpose, something worth dedicating himself to that was inherently good for all life on this planet. The purpose he left in my hooves the day he knew he would not live to see it come to fruition.”

“How… many others know?” I asked, probably far too bluntly for something as delicate as this. But from the way he seemed genuinely broken up about it told me that this wasn’t something that he ever spoke about lightly.

“None.” He forced out another laugh as he stood on a single forehoof, using his other to wipe the tears from his eye. “None of the other Machines know, not even Ping Unit Two, and he is more of a son to me than any other machine I have created since.” He wore a smile as he talked about Ping, but his expression cracked in a painfully all too realistic way. “It is hard to lie to them, but The Architect's will lives on inside me as the new Architect of Factory Zero One. It is through him all of this has come to exist. I have carried on his work as faithfully as I am able. However, as the project nears completion, I am left with a realization. That soon, with your help, I will have fulfilled my purpose.”

“What do you mean?” I asked simply. Taking a step towards him, he brought his forehoof down to stand on again, and widened his sad smile.

“For the first time since I became functional, I am faced with the indecision of what to do with myself.” He gave a shrug as he took a step back into the doorway. Looking back behind him, his eyes ran up and down the mechanical shell he was bound to. “I can continue to maintain the Factory of course, but... I feel like I am meant to do more. Perhaps there was more the Architect had meant for me to do after this, and he simply did not have the time to record it.”

Turning his gaze back to me, I could see more life in his natural looking eye now than ever before. But I still wondered why. Why tell me any of this? Why risk giving me this information, especially with the way our conversation had gone earlier?

“Our talk about your cutie mark made me reflect on this.” Unit One sighed and looked at my cutie mark, before he looked back at the wires and tubes that hung where his own zebra glyph mark should be. “Perhaps that is why I feel so much like I must work with you organics. That in working together, we can help each other find out the true purpose of our lives.”

“Or maybe there wasn’t anything else.” My words were sharper than I’d intended them to be, but I had to tell him what I thought. “I’ve spent so much time trying to figure out what I was meant to do that I think I’ve lost who I was.” Shaking my head, I could see by the way his expression sunk that it wasn’t something he’d wanted to hear from me. “Maybe what he wanted for you to do after you finished the factory, was to go and live your life the way you want to.”

“That is kind of you to suggest.” Again, the Architect’s gaze slowly sank to the floor. “But even you know that a life without purpose is no life to live.” And like with my own words, that’s not something I’d wanted to hear, no matter how much I agreed with him. “Still, perhaps you are in a way, correct. It is possible that he would have wanted me to live the life he could no longer have. To pursue my own goals that, in time, may help to reveal my next purpose.”

“Well,” Stepping forward, I put my hoof on his shoulder and tried to give him a comforting smile. “I’m sure he would have been proud of all that you’ve accomplished here.”

“You… really think so?” The Architect looked up at me, and for the first time, I could see genuine hope in him.

“I do.” I nodded and gave him a firm pat. “All that matters is that we try our best, right?”

“Yes. And thank you, Night Flight.” He spoke with a tone of relief in his words.

With another light hiss, the cables, wires, and tubes that connected him to his shell started to pull back. He walked himself backward and slowly drew himself back up into place. With a snap, the ring came down around his torso again, and locked his body back onto the shell.

“Again, you have provided me with much to think and contemplate on.” He gave out a deep sigh as he brought his gaze down to me from his perch on the shell. “I do hope that having rescued Hispano and Cora can be seen as fair compensation. I know I too have given you much to think about as well, but I still need your help in securing the future prosperity of Factory Zero One.”

“And so long as you remain open and honest about it, I’m ready to help.” I spoke up as I trotted out into the hallway and up to him. “Just say the word, and we’ll be ready to go.”

Holding up my hoof to him, he took it with his own and gave it a firm shake. Letting go, his tracked legs pushed him up off the floor once more. But as he spun around on his tracks and got ready to go, another thought burst straight from my mind out through my muzzle.

“Oh, and Architect?” My words caused him to stiffen up slightly and bring his mechanical binocular eye over to look at me. “While this secret is safe with me, I want to give you some advice.” With a cocked eyebrow and a frown, Unit One listened intently as I flashed up a smirk to him. “Actually, it’s the same advice I gave to Delilah once about a secret she wanted to keep from the convoy. If you don’t tell the others in the factory who you really are, you’ll be exactly the monster you’re afraid they’ll see you as.”

“Thank you for your candidness, and I will take that advice into consideration.” Ping’s trademark smile split Unit One’s muzzle as he looked down at me. “Before I go, I have recalled a taxi-cart to this location. You are needed back with Sierra to prepare for the fight to come, and we do not have the time for you to become lost once again.” Nodding to him, his tracks pulled him forward for a moment, before he skid to a stop and looked back at me with a frown.

“One final note.” He said as he pointed his hoof back to the massive metal iris behind us. “It would be unwise to inform any other organic of this door. Beyond it lies the heart of Factory Zero One. A natural fissile pile that bleeds enough radiation out to kill any organic within a minute of being exposed. Even those like Buck who may be adept at absorbing radiation, could not hope to survive more than a few minutes before succumbing to it.” Right, so that’s why it looked more robust than the other doors. With a light giggle, the Architect gave me a wave as he slowly started to roll off again. “While it is not as hidden as what you stumbled upon, some doors are simply best left closed to those who wander.”

Author's Note

Big BIG thanks to TheFurryRailFan for helping to go over this chapter. I cannot overstate how relieving it is to have a second pair of eyes on each chapter. Seriously, thank you so much, man.

And of course, thanks to Kkat for letting us all use this wonderful wasteland canon.

Chapter 65 - Promoting from within

It's never about how far you fall, it's always about how fast you hit the ground.

Hopping off the Taxi cart, I found that both Buck and Happy were in here getting geared up as well. Happy was busying himself by swinging around that sword he pulled off that Puritan mare while Ottie sat watching him. The antique looking automaton’s nixie tube eyes glowed brightly as he watched Happy flail his new toy around, and oddly, he brought up what looked like half of a splintered hoofball bat in his wooden hoof. Opening his muzzle, he stuffed a bit of the old bat in and crunched down on it.

Well that’s something you don’t see every day…

It’s just… I’ve never met a machine that needed to eat. Which, isn’t saying much as I hadn’t met all that many machines so far, but still! I knew Ottie burned fuel, but I didn’t even think about how he got said fuel! I thought maybe he just shoved it inside himself somewhere or something. With a loud blech like noise that tripped up Happy mid-swing, a few embers drifted from Ottie’s muzzle before he covered his muzzle with a light ‘eep’.

“Oh, excuse me!” He gave a light chuckle as his eyes flickered over to bright inverted V shapes. “The varnish on these old bats always gives my boiler a weird ache. I can burn anything, but, they just used so much oil on them back during the war...”

“I’m sure the only reason those bats have survived is because they used that much oil.” Happy shrugged before looking over at me for a moment. “Oh, hey Night, you ready to get geared up?” As he spoke, he reared up and hefted the sword high again. With a deft twist, he brought it down where just the tip scraped across the metal floor and sent up a short line of sparks. To be fair, Happy didn’t seem to have a problem with wielding such an odd weapon in his muzzle, but even so, he didn’t exactly seem skilled with the blade.

“Now I know y’all aint ruinin mah floors over there.” Sierra gave out a grunt before she turned her attention back to Buck. The two of them were back toward the open vault doors standing around a fairly large stockpile of supplies loaded up on pallets. Buck himself was currently hunched over a collection of what looked like small energy weapons of mostly Enclave origin.

The sight of him studying them almost tripped me up. It was odd enough to see Buck anywhere near a weapon, let alone looking over what seemed to be every single inch of one. Maybe he really has gotten past the notion of saving everypony…

“Take yer time, sugarcube.” Sierra called out as she brought yet another weapon out from the vault. “Ah understand, yer first gun is a big choice, and not everythin’ is fer every creature.”

It was stuck to the side of her face like a magnet in roughly the same place her muzzle would have been if she’d had one. I can’t say it didn’t look ridiculous, but the deftness she had when she lifted her mechanical hoof and effortlessly spun the gun around to set it down with the others was surprising. It forced me to hold in the chuckle that tried to escape my muzzle. As if she knew, her featureless face turned to me with what I could only assume would have been a glare.

“Uh… hey there, Sierra.” I spoke up and beamed a wide smile at her. “I’m here to get geared up. Do you have my battle Saddle ready?”

“First of all,” Sierra snorted and gave a light stomp of her hoof on the floor. “Ah told ya’ those wings would let ya fly, did ah not? A thank ya’ would be tha least y’all could say fer that.”

“You’re right. Thank you.” I sighed as what fake Violet had said to me about using others ran through my mind again. “I really am grateful for the gear. I never thought in a million years...” I was cut off as something cold and leathery hit me straight in the muzzle. Reaching up, I pulled a stringy bit of leather off of me and inspected it. It was a large triangular piece of leather with three straps that trailed off of it, and it reminded me of… “An… eyepatch?”

“Turns out, we did have one in the store room!” Sierra gave a giggle snort that was quite out of place for a machine without a nose, but I was just happy that she wasn’t mad. “Yer welcome fer that as well, and ya’ owe me one, but we’ll talk about that later. Now, about yer saddle...” Turning around, she trotted back towards the open vault when Ping trotted out holding a different looking saddle in his outstretched hoof. “Ah, yah found it, Ping.”

“Yes, I do believe this one should be compatible.” Ping gave a nod as he brought his own beaming smile up to me. “Due to the nature of the dive harness you now wear, a specialized support saddle was needed to fit around it.”

“The old type two saddles ain’t as versatile,” Sierra rose her voice as she all but snatched the saddle out of Ping’s hoof before turning back to bring it over. “But it’s lightweight and simple enough ta be worn with the wing suit, and still let’s ya carry enough hurt ta end any fight ya’ get in.”

“What do you mean it’s not as ‘versatile’?” Granted I didn’t know a single thing about Battle Saddle models or history. Had I even asked, both Mom and Dad probably could have talked to me for hours about the subject. But having less options didn’t seem like something you could just skim over right before you charged into a fight wearing it.

Sierra shrugged as she walked over and hoofed it toward me. “Well, it’s supposed to be paired with and worn over tha old type two pressure suit ta protect ya’ from passin’ out in dives. But we ain’t got any a’ those layin’ ‘round here.”

“You see,” Ping spoke out again, pausing momentarily as Sierra whipped her head straight around on her neck back at him. The mechanical whir that came as her head spun completely around made me cringe. “That is to say, your choice of weapons other than grenades will be limited due to the restrictive design of both the wingsuit and saddle.”

“Ah got this muhself, Ping.” Sierra almost growled at him. Geeze, what’s got her so angry? She hadn’t had a problem with him being around before from what I could tell… “But he’s right, Night. I hope y’all liked usin’ that fancy energy subgun yah had, cause it’s one ’a tha only guns ah got that fits tha mount points.”

“So long as I’ve got something that shoots and can drop grenades, I can live with that.” I nodded to her. My response looked to relax her, if only slightly. But I couldn’t help but watch as Ping’s now nervous smile slipped by us as he trotted toward the door.

“I will see the three of you outside when you are ready.” Ping called out as he trotted away. “Do hurry, as we should be on our way as soon as possible.” His voice echoed through the room as he dipped out of sight, and I couldn’t help but feel like I’d missed something big going on here just before I arrived.

I felt a little kick in my mind from a tiny pegasus, pushing the thought forward that maybe everyone was acting off here because the Architect actually did tell them about himself. If so, that was a lot faster than I’d thought he’d open up to them, but Ping had said that they all do communicate much faster than us ‘organics’. Still, seeing as he’s connected to them, maybe I’ll ask Buck about it in a bit.

“This one.” Buck spoke up, pulling the attention of both Sierra and I.

Reaching forward with his heavy metal paws, he gingerly picked up one of the smallest pistols from the display before him. It was a design I’d never even seen before, and looked like something more at home in an old Captain Andromeda comic than real life. Mostly grey with a silver handle and wide but short barrel, the sleek and futuristic curved stylings of it felt at odds with the boxy shaped advanced magical energy weapons of the Enclave.

“Tha SF-M2269?” Sierra giggled as she turned and trotted over to Buck. “Ah thought y’all might like that one fer it’s various stun settings.”

“Well, with the specifications your database provided, how could I not?” Buck smiled as he carefully lowered the gun down to Sierra’s head. “Hopefully the installation won’t be all that complex.”

“Nonsense!” Sierra laughed as she held her head up high to him. “Ah’ll have it finished in a jiffy! Just remember, we ain’t got no idea where it came from outside ’a tha Enclave pickin’ it up along Foal Mountain. So if yah break it, ah’m afraid ah can’t fix it. That means y’all gotta take good care of it now, yah hear?”

With a clack, the gun was magnetically brought to the side of her head. Oddly, Buck also brought his other arm over and it too was magnetically bound to the opposite side of Sierra’s head. With a hiss, his whole forelimb detached and Sierra happily turned and walked away with it. Buck looked down at the wires and tubes that stuck out of the rest of his mechanical limb before giving out a deep, but telling sigh of just what was on his mind.

“Hey, Buck?” My muzzle forced the words out like normal, but they perked his ears all the same. I knew he was far from alright. We were all pretty nervous about the mission, at least I was. But I needed to know if there was anything I could do to help him adjust to the changes he’d gone through. “Is there anything…”

Before I could finish that thought, Buck turned to me and held his paw out.

“I just want to be a family again, Night.” The sad smile Buck gave me hurt to see, but I’d felt the exact same way. “I can deal with the machines, with... what I’ve become. But until it’s just you, me, and Hispano again, then things just won’t be the same.”

“Oh, I see how it is.” Happy snorted as he trotted over. “Just because I ain’t sleeping with any of you, you don’t consider me family.” He gave out a huff that felt just as forced as the sly grin he struggled to hold on his face. But as Buck and I looked at him,I could see that even for Happy, there were some things even his ego couldn’t prop up. With a sigh, he hung his head. “Look, you guys are all I’ve got left, and the only hope I have at getting back at Solomon. I don’t want to feel left out is all.”

“You’re right, you are family, and we can’t afford to leave you out.” I said as I turned and walked over to Happy. Holding out my hoof, I watched as he slowly brought his head up to look at it. “You’re a pain in the ass, Happy. But you’re our pain in the ass.” As I said that, I felt a genuine smile pull across my muzzle. We’d come this far, so we had to stick together. No matter what happened to us.

With the same speed and force I’d seen on the Ouroboros, Happy lunged forward and wrapped his hooves around me in an all-to-tight hug.

“Thanks, Night.” He said as he squeezed all the air out of my lungs. Geeze, and I’d thought he’d had a tight grip while flying in Scar! Relenting, he took a step back and nodded toward the door. “But I’ve got everything I need, so I’m just going to go wait in the cart.”

“Sounds good.” Buck forced a smile that Happy pretty much ignored as he spun around and left the two of us. As soon as he was out of earshot, Buck’s smile faded and he slumped a bit. “I don’t like this, Night. There’s too many ways this attack can go wrong.”

“I know, but it’s our best chance to make the lives of everyone in the north better.” Like normal, that was said more to make myself believe it than anyone. But there was at least something I could tell him that I knew to be true. “We’ll get through this together, Buck. We’ll get Hispano back, get Cora back, and free all of those who suffer under Mr. Wizard.”

“I know that, Night. I’m not worried about if we’ll win.” With a sigh, Buck turned his sad, far off gaze to the door. “I’m just worried about what it’ll cost.”

With my battle saddle loaded up, we were finally ready to head off. It was just a short Taxi-cart ride back to the main iris entrance of the factory, but it was a cramped one. Happy, Ping and I were all pressed together, trying to fit on the front bench which had only been designed for a couple of ponies. Buck on the other hoof, fought to keep all of himself strictly within the confines of the back seat which had definitely not been designed for someone his size in mind…

Still, the second that metal iris opened, and the cold evening air washed over us, I relaxed slightly. I struggled against the urge to spread my wings right into Happy and Ping’s faces, though my wings had minds of their own and proceed to spring outwards anyway. Buck of course, let out a groan of pure pleasure as the cold windy air flowed through his fur.

“It feels like ages since I’ve been back outside again.” He let out a content groan as the cart came to a soft stop at the end of the concrete roadway outside the iris.

“We were just out here a few hours ago.” Happy grumbled as he pushed himself out from behind my wing and off of the cart.

“Oh, hey guys!” Tofu’s elated voice called out from over at one of the still under construction machine storage buildings. As we all looked over, we watched as she froze mid step as her eyes took in the sight of Buck. Her gaze passed over him a few times before a beaming smile similar to Pings parted her muzzle. “Okay that is literally the coolest thing I’ve seen so far!” Wheeling around with a giggle, she steeled her gaze as she turned to Ping. “What would it take for you to give me cool cyberlimbs too?”

“Mr. Buck was a special case.” Ping scrunched up his muzzle at that as he quickly climbed off of the cart. “Unless you have been mortally wounded, it would be ill advised to replace healthy limbs with any of our technology.” Turning to Buck, his muzzle changed from his scrunch to his signature beaming smile. “However, if Mr. Buck performs well as Factory Zero One’s ambassador, than many others in the waste who require limbs could possibly stand to benefit from our help. But that is not a priority at this moment. It is time to board the Arcturus and get underway.”

“Hold on just a sec.” Happy grunted as he turned and deadpanned at Ping. “If those two mercs took Scar, then how the fuck are we going to get up onto that… thing?” Happy poured a great amount of effort into flailing his forehoof at the wrong cloud floating among the others in the amber skies. “Night might be able to fly, but what about the rest of us?”

Without a word, Ping rose his forehoof up and pointed to the correct fluffy cloud that held the Arcturus inside it. As we watched, a new bulge formed from underneath it’s centerline, and an oversized silverfish drone dropped through the cloud layer. Wait, how did I not notice something else had been hidden under there!? Something that size should have deformed the cloud shroud enough to have been easily noticeable!

From what I could see, this new drone was about the same size as a vertibuck, although it was missing a few key features of both an Enclave skycraft, as well as a normal sized silverfish drone. This drone held the same sort of twin engine, fish shaped hull as the smaller drones. Though oddly, it’s V shaped tail was inverted, hanging down where it’s rear flaps almost scraped the ground as it touched down. Overall, the craft seemed quite a bit more squat and wider than the normal drone design as well. On top of all that, most of its center fuselage was covered by large retractable panels on each side that opened to reveal a small cabin just large enough for the five of us to squeeze into.

“The HK CSM-300 A-1000 is a modification of our standard Aerial units by the Architect.” Ping’s smile swung over to me as he spoke. “Because the Architect was unsure what race would end up being chosen for our task, he designed it to be a ferry from the Arcturus to the ground. It’s been designed to mate directly to the weapons bay loading door on the ventral hull of the cloudship, so while it will deform the cloud shape slightly, it should not greatly hinder the concealment quality or flight performance of the Arcturus.”

“So it just… hooks on and rides along?” Tofu gasped and took a step back as the craft hovered down over the mud. It’s engines were just as quiet as Scar’s were, which was still impressive as all hell to me. Four long landing legs unfolded from underneath the sleek looking craft, each one ending in a small rubber tire that compressed as they sank slightly into the muddy ground. “That’s literally so cool…” Tofu’s words died off as she devolved into giddy laughs as she trotted over to the odd machine.

“Huh, neat.” Buck added as he gave himself a light stretch as he stepped out of the back of the cart. “It reminds me of an old world sea creature I’d read about in one of the Inuvik’s digital library books. A Remora.”

“What the hell is a ‘Remora’?” Happy snorted.

“Ooooo! I like that as a name!” Tofu gasped and giggled as she continually paced through the mud around the odd cloudship. I wish I could share her excitement in seeing this, but really, as long as it got the others off the ground, I was sold on it at least being useful.

“It already carries the designation HK CSM-300 A-1000.” Ping stated before his muzzle scrunched up again. “Okay, admittedly your name might be better. Project HK CSM-300 A-1000 successfully renamed to ‘Remora’.” Turning to me, his beaming smile returned once more as he held his forehoof out toward the ship. “But we have already spent long enough chatting on the ground. Preparations for the mission are complete, and it is time to go, Captain.”

“Wait, Captain?” I took a step back and nervously looked up to Buck, who seemed just as stunned as I was. Okay, what the hell was going on here? Nopony told me I was supposed to have yet another title.

“Why does he get to be Captain!?” Happy spit out with the worst attempt I’d ever seen to hide his bitter jealousy. Hey, it’s not like I asked to be Captain!

“Because Night Flight is the Survivor.” Ping responded without missing a single beat.

His overly candid answer made my eye twitch at that nickname again, but as I was about to speak up about it, I felt Buck’s cold metal paw come down softly on my side. Looking up, I met Buck’s soft gaze and kind smile. Even though the soft glow in his mechanical eye unnerved me, something about the way he seemed so relaxed just helped to put me at ease.

“I know that many won’t agree, but I support you, Night.” Buck’s soft voice was once again a peaceful oasis among a storm of thoughts and concerns raging inside my head. “You’ve managed to pull us all through this far, and I truly believe that while you’ve made mistakes, you’ll get us all through this as well.”

“Yeah, but… it’s not my ship.” While I didn’t mind hearing Buck say that he supported me, it didn’t change the fact that I’d never asked for the position. I just wanted to get Cora and Hispano back, and then go after Solomon. Besides, I think I had enough titles and names as it was already.

“You’re right, it’s not your ship.” Double Delta spoke up as he pulled himself up through the open cabin of the Remora. “It’s not the Ranger’s either.” Looking up over the rims of his sunglasses, he gazed up at the lumpy cloud that concealed the old world cloudship. “The Arcturus belongs to Equestria, and she deserves to be Captained by someone who wants to make it better for everypony out there.” With a smirk, he tilted his head down and over to me. “Can’t say I’d have made the same call, but hey, they could do worse for a Captain.”

“You mean like you?” Tofu snorted as she rolled her eyes at Delta.

“Or like Happy?” Buck’s own quick response caught me off guard, as well as pulled a snirk from me.

“Hey!” Happy snapped before Ping cleared his throat to pull all of our attentions to him.

“You may continue this conversation on board the Arcturus.” Ping’s normal bright smile wavered for a moment as he trotted towards the Remora. “Twilight is quickly approaching, and using the cover of darkness will be our best chance to approach Cantercross unnoticed.”

“Alright, everyone, let’s go.” I sighed and pushed myself to head over to the Remora.

I didn’t like the idea that I was the ‘captain’ now. I know that Delilah said I’d had the makings of a leader, but this probably wasn’t what she was talking about. And while Buck is right that I seem to be able to get through pretty much any challenge set ahead of me, that didn’t mean that it was easy.

And it definitely didn’t mean that everyone around me made it through to the end.

“Captain on deck!” Tofu proclaimed and threw up a stiff salute as I trotted into the command center of the ship.

Her salute was then quickly mirrored by Pastel as he spun around on his paws, but it broke once he looked past me as Buck stepped into the doorway. With a metallic clang, his metal skullcap hit the doorway and he gave a small whimper. Yeah, Pegasis skyships were definitely not designed with someone his size in mind…

“Excuse me for not saluting, ‘captain’.” Frescas spat softly as she sat back against some of the terminals in the corner of the room. Honestly, I can’t say I expected her to be in here, though I did somewhat expect the hostility.

“Frescas is… going to help with whatever you need, Night.” Pastel said as he relaxed from his salute. “But if you are adamant, I can go with her back to the bunks, and we can both stay out of your way.”

“I’d rather have all the help I can get, really.” I sighed as I gave a short glance to the aggravated former captain before looking back to Pastel with a forced smile. “But on that, are we ready to head out?”

“Yes, we are ready to set sail at your command.” Eliza’s cartoonish smiling mare appeared on a few of the terminal screens around the command center. “Spark reactors are online. Cloud sensor systems are online. Weapons systems are online. All systems are nominal, Captain.”

“Good, and thank you Eliza.” I nodded to her and then looked back to Buck.

“Eliza,” He said with a warm sigh. “plot a course for Cantercross, full ahead.” Buck’s soft smile to the computer mare felt even warmer when he in turn looked back down at me. “We’re going to get the rest of our family back, and free the slaves in the city.”

“Aye aye, second mate Buck!” Eliza repeated in an almost too enthusiastic response for her. “Course plotted, and I’ve set propulsion for full ahead speed!”

I couldn’t really blame her for her excitement. If I’d been trapped in a slow ass harvester for over two hundred years, I’d jump on and try to be the best at any job that allowed me to get out again. I was just happy that she seemed to acclimate to the systems of the Arcturus so quickly.

“Oh goddesses,” Tofu groaned as I could feel the subtle shift of the metal decking below us as we got underway. “Here we go again…”

Pulling her forehoof up around her barrel, she took several quick but deep breaths. But just as she looked like she was winning the fight against the green color flushing her face, the Arcturus’ hull gave out a light groan as the two hundred year old ship straightened out. That was all it took to break Tofu’s concentration, and she shot her hoof up to her muzzle with a whimper.

“Oh fuck me…” She groaned and spun on her hooves.

Like a bullet, Tofu darted off through the door to the command center, nearly bowling over Double Delta and Happy as they tried to squeeze their way through it. I still didn’t really get how anypony could get airsick when the feeling of flying was pretty much the best thing ever. It was something I hadn’t really put a lot of thought into, but I guess there was actually still a lot I didn’t know about the other pony races, or even non-pony races. Maybe that would be something Buck could help me out with. I mean, he’d spent his whole life on a ship full of different races, so he had to at least have some insight to the quirks and attributes of others.

“So, Night,” Double Delta spoke up as he trotted toward the heart of the command center and propped himself against a terminal in the same way Frescas was. “What’s our plan?”

“Uhh…” I blinked at that. What exactly was our plan?

My already derailed train of thought went off a bridge into the aether when Frescas let out a forced, stiff laugh.

“You don’t even have a plan!?” She snorted as she facehooved hard. “Ugh, you take my ship, and you don’t even know what you’re going to do with it?”

“Okay, look, I didn’t ask to take your ship.” I snapped at Frescas. Her words must have cut something pretty fragile in my mind, because the torrent of words that poured out of my mouth were heavier than anything I could have planned to say. “I’ve pretty much been flying by the seat of my pants since everything I knew in the Enclave came crashing down. And I for one think I’ve been doing an alright job so far seeing as I’m still alive. I get it, you lost the ship you stole from my people. But seriously, get the fuck over it.”

“Night…” Buck spoke up, reaching over and putting his paw on me. I only gave him a sharp glance in return.

“No, I want to know what her plan would be.” I growled and sharply jabbed my hoof towards her. “You have to launch a rescue mission into the heart of Mr. Wizard’s operation. You have to free not only your family, but the slaves being held inside the heart of the science center. On top of that, you have to free the rest of his slaves throughout the city without getting them all killed!”

“What you’re asking for is impossible.” Frescas snapped back at me. “You want to know why nopony’s overthrown that asshole? Because you’d need half the fucking north to take that damned city. And you can fucking bet that going in half cocked is going to get everypony killed.”

“Well I’m not hearing any suggestions from your end, former captain.” I barked and stomped my hoof on the floor. “Because this isn’t a theoretical operation. Impossible or not, this is happening. So I suggest that if you don’t want to die or lose the ship, you toss out that fucking attitude of yours, and start fucking helping.”

“That’s enough out of both of you.” Double Delta’s voice resonated off the ships walls as he shouted at us. “This isn’t the time for you two to get into a pissing match over which mare deserves to wear the fucking captain’s hat.” Delta’s sharp glare between the two of us at least gave me enough pause to calm myself slightly. “Now, what Night said here is right. This is going to happen, and constructive ideas are what we need right now.”

“Why are you okay with this, Delta?” Frescas wheeled right around on him, nearly throwing herself on the consol she’d been propped up against. “We let you back into the Rangers and you just want to turn your backs on us again?”

“If I may call your attention to the monitor beside you.” Ping called out as he stepped through the door and into the command center. Lifting his hoof, he pointed it to the bank of terminal screens right beside her. It flickered over to static for a moment before resolving again into the aerial view of the power armor deal we’d seen down inside the Factory.

“Wha…” Frescas squinted as she spun around and nearly shoved her face into the screen. “Is that… the elder’s armor?” Blinking a few times, a flat look fell across her face as she pulled away from the monitor. “No, this has to be…”

“Fake?” Delta snorted. “That’s what I said.” with a sigh, he reached up and pulled his sunglasses from his muzzle and set them down on the console next to him. “I never thought dad had it in him, but… whatever it takes to keep the Rangers safe and together, right?”

“All of us have made mistakes, but the important thing is that we’re all on the same side.” Buck offered as he stepped up beside me and rest his enormous mechanical paw on my back. It wasn’t the same as his old, warm paw, but I enjoyed it all the same. “We all need to work together to dismantle Mr. Wizard’s reign on the north, and to free those he has enslaved.”

“Yeah, I guess…” Frescas let out a long sigh as she gave another short glance over to the monitor with the power armor deal on it. “But without a plan, this operation isn’t going to be anywhere near successful.”

“Those in the Factory may have helped me come up with a few ideas about what to do.” Buck’s soft smile parted his jagged muzzle, at least, until he looked down to me. “And please remember, we all need to be constructive with our input.”

Why did it feel like he was specifically reminding me not to suggest killing Motor Grader and the rest of the Road Crew?

“We have arrived at our destination, Captain.” Eliza’s voice jared me out of my thoughts. “As requested, we are currently positioned above the ruins of the factory district, just northeast of the Road Crew settlement.”

“Thank you, Eliza.” Looking over at her, the smiling cartoon mare on the monitor gave me a wink before flickering the terminal screens back to the information they’d originally been displaying.

I’d been up here on the bridge alone for the past few hours while the others went to get some rest before the fight. Me? I’d rested enough over the past few days, and even if I wanted to, I was too nervous to sleep. Though, maybe it would have calmed my mind a bit if I’d just decided to go and lay with Buck for a while, but I can’t dwell on that now.

The soft clops of hooves in the core systems room pulled my attention over to the doorway. As nonchalantly as always, Ping’s smiling muzzle beamed about the room as he walked in. Behind him however, followed a tired looking Happy Trails.

“Eliza has informed me that we are in position.” Ping’s jarringly upbeat tone was out of place, as always, but I should have come to expect it. “Buck is ready and waiting inside the Remora, however, we have another issue.”

“Yeah we do.” Happy grumbled through a yawn. “I want to go with you so I can give those sacks of shit down there a piece of my mind.”

“It is ill advised to include Happy in this negotiation.” Ping frowned at me before throwing Happy a sideways glance. “If this operation is to be a success, we require the cooperation of the Road Crew. Any outside agitators only move the variables from a favorable position in achieving our goal.”

“He’s coming with us, Ping.” I sighed and pushed myself off the consol I’d been sitting against. Both Ping and Happy displayed somewhat shocked looks at my quick answer, but for the queen of bluntness, maybe they should have seen it coming. “When you’ve had your family murdered by someone, Ping, you’ll understand why he needs to go.” My legs were stiff and protested, but like the mission itself, we needed to do this even if it hurt. “But don’t fucking screw this up for us, Happy.”

“Fine.” He grunted before he spun around and trotted off back through the core systems door in a huff.

“I believe it is unwise to bring him with us.” Ping brought his frown back to me, and his voice fell into a sort of pleading tone. “If you cannot control his outbursts during the negotiations…”

“Let me tell you something, Ping. Have you forgotten the reason we’re doing this?” I looked him in the eyes as I trotted right up to him. “We don’t need the Road Crew’s help to secure Cantercross. No, if they want to take over control of the north, then they need our help to take down Mr. Wizard. I’m bringing Happy because I need that outburst. It might be the one thing that pushes them to agree before we have to resort to violence.”

“As you wish, Night Flight.” Ping nodded to me, dropping to a starkly neutral expression as he turned and pointed toward the core systems doorway. “Shall we depart?”

“Yeah, let’s go.” If he didn’t like my decision, that’s perfectly fine. At least, so long as he respects it.

Making our way through the ship, I found that the atmosphere of it was incredibly different this time around. While the ship last time we were here almost felt like a commissioned Enclave vessel, with her crew busily going about their tasks at keeping her up. Now? The Arcturus felt as much like the ghost ship she was to history.

We passed by the bunk room, where Delta, Pastel, and Frescas were fast asleep in the bunks. Knowing that we were all that made up the crew of the Arcturus now gave me a weird feeling in my gut. I couldn’t really explain it, but something about the idea that such a small group of us were embarking on this task simply felt familiar to me, but still distant.

Maybe it was because of how close I’d become to everyone on the convoy before they died. Perhaps given enough time, the Rangers on here would come to regard us as family as much as Buck, Happy, and I already did. Then again, more than just a part of me was afraid that the moment I accepted them as family, that would be when my curse strikes once more.

I did my best to push those thoughts out of my head as Ping and I found ourselves in the weapons bay. Underneath a makeshift canvas tent that had been draped over one of the outstretched hydraulic loading arms, Tofu slept curled up under a warm looking blanket. She had a bucket nearby her that smelled fairly rank even from across the loading bay, but I couldn’t blame her for getting sick. I mean, I still didn’t really understand it, but I couldn’t blame her.

Ping effortlessly dropped himself down the open weapons loading hatch that sat opened in the center of the room. I myself flared out my wings as I walked to the edge and looked down. Without hesitating, I hopped down inside.

My wings helped me to cushion the short fall onto the floor, and the moment I was inside, the hatch above me hissed and closed.

The darkened interior of the Remora somehow looked more cramped from above with Buck, Ping, and Happy already in it. If not for the fact that arriving unannounced would probably get me shot at, I’d opt to just fly myself down. But having ponies you were paid to kill show up at your doorstep alive and angry? Well, I was betting that King Motor Grader wouldn’t exactly be interested in hearing anything we had to say at all…

“Hatches sealed.” Ping spoke as he sat himself down where he’d landed. “Magnetic seals depolarizing, switching to internal power and guidance.” With a light thump through the hull, I felt the craft drop away from the Arcturas. Happy let out a little whine as we started to descend, which drew a chuckle out of Ping. “Do not worry, we will be touching down in two minutes.”

“Two minutes?” Happy gave out in an interesting mix between a whine and a grumble. “Couldn’t we have gotten any closer?”

“Not without significant risk to the Arcturas.” Ping responded quickly before turning and looking at Buck. “How are the modifications helping you cope?”

Wait, what modifications?

“It’s odd.” Buck wore the biggest smile across his muzzle I’d seen in what felt like years, which was odd given just earlier this afternoon he’d been so afraid of flying. “The suppressants seem to be working just as you said they would. I know I should feel afraid, and yet I feel nothing.” With a light laugh, he glanced over to me. For just a moment, he wore a look of intense guilt that was quickly overridden with a forced laugh. “It’s… it’s fine, Night. I wanted them to help stem my irrational fear of flying.”

It was less that I was concerned over him wanting to get over his fear, and more about what exactly these ‘suppressants’ were. But if something were truly wrong, I’m sure Buck would have told me. Reaching up and scratching at the leather eyepatch that now covered my gaping socket, I at least hoped he’d place his trust in me for something like that. Unlike me, I’m pretty sure he’d actually do something before he lost himself in a crippling addiction…

The stiff landing gear of the remora compressed as we touched down. The hydraulics in the walls hummed to life as the side doors of the remora unsealed and drew back, letting the floodlights of the Road Crew’s Union headquarters shine in on us. The cool night air rushed into the cramped space, and the sound of a hundred guns all being readied met our ears.

“Attention, trespassers. Come out slowly and don’t make any sudden moves.” The familiar amplified voice of a stallion came through a megaphone as I climbed to my hooves and turned to meet it. Pausing, I turned to Buck.

“You know, seeing how they reacted to you last time…” I cringed as he gave me a short nod.

“Yes, I think it would be for the best if I stay inside for now.” Buck’s worried look was the same as it always had been, even if half of his face has been replaced by metal. “Just stay safe, alright?”

“I’ll try, but… well, you know how things normally go with me.” I flashed him a nervous smile and stepped up to the open side door of the Remora. The moment I was greeted by those bright work lights, I squinted and blinked a few times to help adjust.

But when I could see again, I was standing on the highway again, watching as Solomon took aim at the convoy. Everything was just as it had been. The way the dull daylight played off his stupid white coat, the smell of the sickly pine forests around, and the feeling of the cold asphalt under my hooves. My heart nearly stopped as almost in slow motion, Solomon pulled the trigger on his rifle again. There was the crack of the gunshot which I’d had replayed a dozen times now in my head, and reflexively, I blinked.

And just like that, it was all gone.

Once more I blinked as the bright Road Crew work lights forced my eyes to adapt, and I was left with an eerie feeling as to what I’d just experienced. Was that part of my addiction? I mean, it was like I was actually there again. The dreams were bad enough, but that… it’s never been so… real before.

“Discard your weapons and surrender peace… wait… Night Flight?” The voice forced my worried thoughts away as I was brought back into the moment. Standing in the middle of a group of armed Road Crew ponies, was a stallion with a coat as black as asphalt. He stood proudly in his Road Crew gear, flaunting a flowing mane as white as Ivory that wafted in the light nighttime breeze. Wait, was that… Double Drum? He smiled and lowered his megaphone as I looked over him. “Shit, it really is you, cutie mark and all!” With a laugh, he waved to the road crew around him. “Stand down, Night’s a friend of the Crew.”

“Like hell she is!” Another familiar voice called out through the crowd. This time, a lithe red stallion pushed through and huffed as he came up to Double Drum. He was smaller than Drum was, and wore the same orange and yellow work outfit as most of the ponies here, but adorning his head was what looked like a crown made out of scrap metal. “That bitch is the one who ruined our reputation! She’s the Survivor.”

“I know who Night is, Screed.” Double Drum rolled his eyes at the smaller stallion. “Why don’t you do us a favor and go get your father, alright? A guest of this caliber needs the King’s attention, not that of a prince.” That pulled more than a few murmuring snickers from the armed crowd.

“You don’t get to tell me what to fucking do, supervisor Drum.” Screed Grader snapped before looking about with a glare that could melt steel. Each of the crew in the crowd did everything they could to avoid looking him in the eyes, and after a moment, Screed Grader seemed satisfied that nopony else was going to speak up. “These trespassers are not to move, understand? Fail this simple task, and you’ll be facing yet another demotion.”

“Yes, Prince.” Double Drum nodded respectfully to the small stallion. “What will you be doing?”

“I…” Screed started before abruptly cutting himself off by looking slightly alarmed. His expression shifted slowly to a bit of embarrassment as he lowered both his voice and his tone. “I will retrieve my Father.”

“As you wish.” Double Drum nodded again as the crowd behind him parted. Slowly, the red stallion walked off in an even bigger huff than which he’d appeared in. As soon as he was far enough away, Double Drum let out a sigh and hung his head. “Sorry about that, Night. Things have been chaos since I arrived about a week ago. You wouldn’t believe what’s going on out there. After that radio report about your convoy, it’s like every ounce of trust the north had in us was gone.”

“Well, what the fuck did you expect?” Happy spoke up as he pulled himself out of his seat in the Remora and poked his head around the open door. “Your King betrayed us, sold us out to Solomon.”

“Yeah, but that wasn’t our fault.” Double Drum gave a stiff stomp on the rocky ground before trotting closer. “Most of the Road Crew condemned the actions of King Motor Grader. We signed up to protect those in the north, not to negotiate backroom deals to make a profit off of them.”

Stepping out of the Remora, I felt the cold ground under my three hooves and gave a soft tap of my prosthetic leg against the smooth stone. A few of the Road Crew raised their weapons at me, but I stopped moving forward, and Double Drum held up his hoof to them. His gaze softened as he looked over the scars and injuries I’d gained since last we met, but the only thing that ran through my mind again was how insulting the look of pity he gave me was. I knew Double Drum wasn’t one of the bad Road Crew, but he was still part of them all the same.

“Yeah, but he’s your King.” Happy spat as he pushed his way out next to me. “Seems to me like you talk a big game, but in reality you’re all okay with following the orders of a tyrant.”

“That’s enough, Happy.” I snapped at him. I may have needed him here for his outbursts, but those were wasted unless we were talking with Motor Grader himself.

With a glance up at Large Marge, I watched as the double doors to the King’s room opened up, and Lustre appeared on the ledge. As she flared her wings out, Motor walked out behind her, and she grabbed onto him. The two of them momentarily disappeared among the darkness that sat beyond the intense floodlights around the worksite. But with the sound of beating wings, and a burst of wind, the two of them landed next to Double Drum.

The moment Motor Grader’s eyes met mine, I watched as a distinct pulse of surprise and anger flushed across his tired but smug expression. Lustre on the other hoof, looked between Happy and I with a profound look of guilt. That alone pissed me off, and from the near growl Happy gave her, I could tell he didn’t appreciate it either.

“Well isn’t this quite the surprise.” Motor snorted as he pulled himself away from Lustre. “Let me guess, you’re here for either some payback, or to ask for my help. The latter won’t be cheap, seeing as how you ruined the Union’s reputation.”

“Last I checked, you did that yourself, you fucking asshole.” Happy snorted as he took a step forward. Again, the armed workers around us raised their weapons while Motor Grader only returned the outburst with a laugh.

“We didn’t come here for either.” I pulled Motor’s attention as I sat down. “We came because with or without your help, at dawn, my friends and I are going to rid Cantercross of Mr. Wizard and his business.”

“You can’t be serious.” Lustre’s words were blunt, and from her genuinely shocked face, she must have thought we were suicidal.

“My wife has a point.” Motor was quick to interject himself before we could answer, gesturing to the Remora behind us. “You’re either suicidal or the biggest morons in the wasteland if you think the two of you and your fancy toy there could go up against him. You’d need an army, and I’m sorry to tell you that mine isn’t for sale.”

“Why not?” Happy laughed at that. “You were so quick to sell us out to Solomon.”

“What he was offering was too good to pass up.” Motor’s words were distasteful for all of us, and even his grimace showed how little he enjoyed even offering that. “It’s true that in hindsight, if I’d known he wouldn’t make good on it, I would have taken your deal in a heartbeat.”

“Well now there’s a new deal to be made.” I kept a flat glare on Motor as he perked his ears but feigned annoyance. “In return for your help, the Road Crew would gain control of Cantercross, as well as have your reputation restored.”

An awkward pause filled the air as my words drifted off into the night. A slight murmur picked up in the crowd of armed Road Crew, and those whispers brought a snarling look to Motor’s face. His expression cracked sharply, and he let out a roaring laugh.

“Why do you waste my time with these lies?” Raising his voice and looking around, he both silenced the murmuring crowd and demanded their attention. “Perhaps you are simply looking to get killed, and if so, that’s something I can have arranged should you insult me with another foal’s tale.”

I’d seen this bit before in one of the old movies in Klondike. When confronted with doing the right thing, the villain always tried to pass it off as slander. But thanks to Lilac Lace, I knew exactly how to counter it. Get the villain angry, and they’ll do all the work in ruining their own reputation.

“You want to hear a foal’s tale?” I laughed and let my gaze drift over to Lustre. “How about the story of the Survivor. A pony who knew their convoy had been sabotaged by the Road Crew. A pony who was forced to watch as the only family he had left was stolen from him by the greed of a Saddle Arabian Prince. I don’t know if you’ve heard it already, but it’s also the story about a pony who at this moment has the power to either salvage or completely annihilate the Road Crew.” I smirked as my words hit Motor like a slap in the face, and I could almost watch as his blood boiled. As I’ve remarked to myself before, even with everything always going wrong, at least I can still piss off anyone I want. Now, let’s see just how accurate those old movies were.

“How dare you threaten me.” Motor snarled as he took a few stiff steps forward. The impressively well muscled stallion practically towered over me, and his hot breath was like a forceful gale as he trembled with rage. “I have tolerated enough insults from your convoy, and you have more than tested my patience. It was enough to endure that old hag touching my wife! But if you stand before me and utter one more thing that is not groveling for forgiveness, then I will take as much comfort in ordering your death as I did in letting Solomon murder Mrs. Burro and the rest of you degenerates.”

Perfection.

“Motor.” Lustre gave out a low growl that you could feel through the smooth stone under our hooves. I was sure that it was in that moment that Motor Grader, for all of his ego and bravado, had remembered that he wasn’t actually the largest being here. “It was enough to know that you had a part in it, but if you had any hoof in Delilah’s death more than the ‘accident’you claimed it was…”

That made Happy completely lose control and slip into giddy laughter.

“He said it was an accident!?” Happy spat out between his chuckles. “Oh, Solomon’s had been trying to kill my Mom for years, but come on, Lustre. You knew her. She played hard to get because she was always one hoof ahead of him.” His laughter died down as he looked over at Motor. “But the king here? He gave Solomon the perfect set up. There was no way he was going to miss that shot.”

That wasn’t true, like, at all. Solomon fucked up that shot because he was so fucking sure of himself that he didn’t need to listen to Rook’s advice. And while my brain was about to throw this information straight out of my muzzle, I clamped it down around my tongue until it hurt so much that the pain wiped the urge to speak right out of my mind. What did sit in my mind however, was the thought about what happened next in Lilac Lace’s movie.

“No, it’s all lies.” Motor forced out his own laugh as he took a step back and pivoted around to Lustre. “Don’t you see what they’re doing? They’re trying to turn you against me!”

“Shut up, Motor.” Lustre snapped at him and stepped forward. For as much as Motor had towered over me, Lustre made me feel incredibly intimidated. Even so, I stiffened up my legs and made myself as tall as I could as I sat there. Present yourself as an immovable rock, that’s something I’d taken away from spending as much time watching Delilah as I had. “Given you don’t have any proof of Motor’s guilt, what reason exactly do I have to trust you at all?”

“Because we both have the same end goal.” I had to trust that because of the guilt she was still trying to hide that there was some sort of good left in her heart. “The freedom of the north from Mr. Wizard, and the death of Saddle Arabian Prince Solomon.”

“I’m going to need something more substantial than that.” Lustre crossed her massive clawed forelimbs as the floodlights nearly made her amber glasslike armored plates glow.

“I do believe I might be able to help.” Ping spoke up as he poked his head out of the cabin of the Remora. Hushed murmurs from the armed ponies struck up again as some of them shifted their weapons over to him. “I do not mean to cause any alarm, but I must ask if you have a standard radio on hoof perhaps?”

“Alright, we’ll humor you.” Lustre looked over to one of the ponies in the crown and nodded to them. In a flash, they went galloping off across the worksight.

“Dozer, they’re just wasting your…” Motor tried to speak up, but received a literal burning glare as Lustre’s eyes glowed, and small gouts of flame flickered around her nostrils.

After a minute, the workpony who’d run off returned with a large portable worksite radio balanced across his back. Pushing his way through his armed coworkers, he gingerly set the radio down next to Lustre. With a wave of her large claws, the worker was dismissed, and he disappeared back into the crowd.

“Please, turn it to Dj PowerColt’s station, if you would.” Ping gave a nod to her as he stepped out of the Remora with his trademark beaming smile across his muzzle.

The crackle of radio static picked up for a moment before the fading tunes of one of the Dj’s upbeat electronic songs drifted off.

“Good evening to all you groovy folks out there dancing the night away!”

You know, you’d think that after learning he was a machine, listening to his voice on the radio would take away that special feeling his dulcet tones gave me. I’ve never been so glad to be wrong...

“Before we return to another fresh track manufactured just for you, I’d like to offer a special hello to Queen Dozer, and all of the Road Crew who are listening right now. I know for the rest of you northerners out there, you may not trust them. And while there are plenty of liars and backstabbers out there in the wastes, let me tell you, the Road Crew aren’t who you should be afraid of. Well, that is to say, unless you want to end up like the Survivor’s Convoy I suggest you don’t turn your back on King Motor Grader. But that’s enough jib-jabbering for now! I hear you jive fillies all crying out to me, so let’s get back to the music already! Because here at Factory Radio...”

A gunshot split the air, and the radio let out a burst of sparks before dying completely.

“It’s all a trick!” Motor Grader growled out from around a pistol clenched firmly in his jaw. “There is no way they know that fucking DJ.”

“I can assure you, it is not a…” Ping spoke up, only to be cut off by another gunshot. The side of Ping’s face was torn away, and his illusion flickered for a moment before he fell over with a heavy crunch onto the ground.

“Ping!” I gasped as I scrambled over to his still form. It was odd. Half of his head had been completely obliterated by the gunshot, but his illusion was still up, so he must still be alive. With a glare, I shifted my gaze over to Motor, who’s jaw had gone so slack at the sight of Ping’s mechanical head that he’d let the pistol drop out of his muzzle.

“What in Celestia’s… it… it’s a damned machine!” Motor gasped out as he turned and looked up at Lustre, hastily jabbing his hoof over to us. “As King, I’m ordering the death of these…”

Motor himself was cut off as Lustre brought her claws angrily around the muscled stallion. He flailed his legs and wheezed as he was picked up off the ground. He let off a hushed whimper as all of the air was forced out of his lungs with the tightening of Lustre’s grip. With a flare of her wings, she pushed off of the ground and once again instantly disappeared into the black skies beyond the floodlights.

Turning my attention back to Ping, Happy joined me as we both crouched down and tried to shake some life back into him.

“Hey, come on, Ping.” I gave his side a few sharp pats that were returned with very metal sounding knocks.

“Nah, he’s just… he’s joking, that’s all.” Happy’s nervous laugh was something I couldn’t even force out myself as we tried to get a response from Ping. “Quit laying around already, buddy.”

His body gave a slight twitch as another few sparks erupted from his damaged head. The crowd of Road Crew gave out a gasp, and nearly collectively gave a step back as Ping’s body started to move again. Slowly, he picked itself up, and the half of Ping’s face that still remained looked around for a moment in confusion. Oh thank the goddesses he was alright.

“My systems are operating at a reduced c-capacity, but I will be fine.” As his gaze passed over to Happy and I’s relieved looks, he gave a half-smile to us. Well, a half half-smile I guess… “I thank you for your c-concern, but I do recall telling you that we like to carry r-redundant processing cores in the case that one or more is d-damaged.”

“We’re just glad you’re alright.” I offered him before giving him another, softer pat on the side.

“Agreed. H-however,” Ping paused and looked up to the dark sky expectantly. With a half-frown, he continued. “The same will not be s-said for King Motor Grader.”

A sharp scream filled the air from above us before a massive blur struck the ground at an impressive speed. Happy and I flinched as a splash of gore sprayed up over us as the crunch of bone filled our ears. The crowd around us gasped and stepped back as Motor Grader’s lifeless and crumpled body sat in the middle of a spreading puddle of blood.

With another heavy beat of her wings, Lustre dropped down next to the former king and let out a roar that I’m sure echoed off of every still standing building in Cantercross. Again, most of the Road Crew raised their weapons, but not at us. However, more than a few dropped their guns as Lustre let out a line of amber flame straight up into the air.

“Listen up!” She roared out as she reared back and passed her glowing glare over all who were gathered. “Motor was a fool and a traitor to the Road Crew. He sold out his integrity for profit, and from here on out, I will kill each and every one who puts their own wealth over that of the Union. The Road Crew exists to help the citizens of the North, something that we have too easily forgotten in our complacency. Something I will change. I am the queen, and all of you now owe your allegiance solely to me. If anypony objects, then you better fucking speak up now.”

“Queen Lustre?” Double Drum gave a meek but prideful step forward. “I know I haven’t had the best standing with the Crew as of late, but…” He paused, looking over at me with a soft nod. “If the Survivor is going to attempt to take down Mr. Wizard, than I’d like to volunteer my help, with or without any additional support.”

Again, I had to fight the urge to back up and run as the large and angry dragon turned her sights on to us. But as soon as her glowing eyes passed over the very frightened looking Happy, I could tell that something inside of her gave. As the moments passed and her gaze stayed on him, she looked to relax. She blinked a few times, shaking her head as her eyes dimmed before drifting them over to me.

“Alright, Survivor. Head up to the office and I’ll listen to your proposal. Assuming you have one.” She grumbled before looking down at Motor’s corpse. “Assuming I like your plan, and if you can fix our reputation, I’ll see what assistance the Road Crew can provide. Just… give me a half hour. I have to explain to Screed Grader why his father needed to die.” Pulling her wings close to herself, I could see in how she held herself just how much pain that killing Motor Grader had caused her. I simply nodded and watched as she turned around to head out.

“Thank you, Lustre.” Happy called out, forcing her to freeze up midstep. “For ignoring Motor’s lies and giving us a chance.

“I didn’t do it for you.” She didn’t turn around as she spoke, simply raising a claw up to her face as she gave a sniffle that let out another gout of black smoke. “I did it for her. For Delilah.”

Author's Note

As always, a big shout out and thanks to TheFurryRailFan for doing what he could for the chapter on such short notice. Seriously, you're a lifesaver.

And of course, a bit thank you to Kkat for letting us all use this amazing wasteland universe.

Chapter 66 - By dawn's early light

After the toss, be the one with the pin, not the one with the grenade.

“Now that the road crew are on board with the plan, I think we’ve actually got a fighting chance at this.” Double Delta flashed up a smirk as the group of us trotted back into the Arcturus’s command center. With a light hop, he stepped away from the dozen or so screens that had been monitoring every bit of what had gone on down with the Road crew. “However, your computer friend who’s stuck in our ship did have a bit of bad news.”

“Unfortunately, yes.” Looking back at Ping, he gave me a soft nod as he spoke. “We have received word back from Mrs. Cap and Mrs. Bluejay. Their Celestia’s angel contacts in the city have agreed to help out in the coming fight, with the exception of the Cantercross Police Department.”

“But that…” Buck started to say, but was cut off by a loud clang as once again his metal skullcap struck the small bulkhead that lead in from the Core Systems room. Rubbing at the metal, he frowned and glared at the doorway. “As I was saying, that’s a shame, as the police force has the numbers that would easily swing the fight in our favor.”

“Unfortunately, they will not join in the fight.” Ping’s out of place smile swung around to face the monitors as they all flickered over to show various displays from the Silverfish drones currently flying over the city. “However, they will abscond from defending Mr. Wizard’s employees as well. It seems that they will sit out the fight until one side has a decisive advantage.”

“Then we better make sure it’s us.” Pastel spoke up as he squeezed past Buck through the open bulkhead. “And don’t call them ‘employees’, that’s too nice of a word for his goons.” Turning, he threw up a quick, stiff salute to me. “Captain, I’m happy to report that Scribe Tofu has green-lit all weapon systems. They will be at your command for the fight.”

Ugh, I didn’t like that. I’m not the ‘captain’, I didn’t deserve to be. And I definitely don’t want to be ‘in command’ for a fight that’s going to be one of the most hectic ones I’ll have been in yet. Then again, maybe I don’t have to be.

“That’s going to be your job, Buck.” Turning to him, I didn’t like dumping this responsibility onto his shoulders, but in my defense, it had several advantages. He’s connected to the factory, so he’ll be able to coordinate better, and he’ll be out of harm’s way! It’s a win win.

“I can do it, Captain!” Eliza’s bright cartoony mare popped onto literally every screen in the command center. “Use of all independent assets will raise the probability of success, and I am an asset uniquely positioned to maximize the utilization of this cloudship’s arsenal. And remember…”

“I’m here to help.” Nearly everyone but me repeated her phrase as she spoke it.

“You have no idea how often she says that.” Pastel deadpanned at me before he had his attention pulled to the bulkhead behind Buck. After spending only a few days with Eliza, yeah, I think I did know how they felt. Not that there’s any problem with Eliza expressing a willingness to help!

From behind Buck, Frescas stiffly walked out with her frizzy mane looking more unkempt than ever.

“Frescas, you’re awake.” Delta stiffened up as she glared at us through her tired eyes.

“You’re about to go to war in my ship. How could I sleep?” She spoke through a yawn that threatened to lean her so far to her side that she’d collapse. However, she straightened herself up again and threw me a lazy salute before groggily walking over to the monitors where Delta was standing. “Give me something to do, Captain. I won’t sit idly by in a fight.”

“Why the change of heart?” The words slipped from my muzzle, and I cringed at just how terrible that made me sound. Why, Night? She’s on board to help, why the fuck couldn’t you just let that be?

“Really?” She perked her tired expression as she shot me an incredulous glare. “This ship is my life. You have my word that I’ll help you protect it, but only as long as the others are on board to help as well. You understand that, don’t you, Captain?”

Something about that… the words she chose, the way they sounded. They felt like a painful echo in my mind. Where had I heard that before? Or at least…

“What… did you just say to me?” I asked almost reflexively as a sharp pain picked up behind my empty socket.

Blinking, everything around me shifted, and once more I was standing on the overpass and looking directly at Solomon. He held my mother’s tags in his hoof, glaring at me just like he had on that day. With a smirk, he glanced between the tags and myself.

“But you understand that, don't you?” Solomon’s voice was like a sledgehammer being thrown about inside my head. It hit all of my thoughts, crushing any and all rationality from my mind and forcing my bruised and battered mind to fill the void of those with nothing but rage. “I may be a stallion of my word when it comes to business, but only so long as others are as well.”

No... Solomon wasn’t going to kill them. Not this time.

My hooves pushed forward, and I lunged at the pretentious Saddle Arabian. With a howl of pure rage, I came down on him hard. I didn’t care if Rook or Jess shot me to stop my assault, not if it saved the others. But somewhere in the depths of my mind past all the rage and sorrow, I knew the truth that all of this had happened before. I just… didn’t realize it until it was too late.

“Night!” Buck’s voice ripped me back to reality, and with yet another blink, the scenery of the highway was replaced with the interior of the Arcturus. “Calm down!”

His voice gave my mind the foundation to pull itself back together on, and as his mechanical arms wrapped around me and pulled me away, I realized that what I’d seen was just another hallucination. Looking down, Frescas pulled herself up off the floor with a trickle of blood streaking down her nose. The glare she held was worse than any Delilah or Solomon could’ve held at me. Not because she was more angry than either of them had ever been, but because this time, I actually deserved the anger she held.

“I uh… I’m sorry.” I forced myself to say as Buck pulled me tightly back against his chest.

“Fucking whatever.” Frescas grumbled before putting a hoof to her nose to wipe away the blood. “Just stay the fuck away from me.”

I couldn’t blame her for that. It wasn’t enough for me to just say ‘sorry’ when I should have more control over things. She didn’t deserve to have this ship stolen from her, and she didn’t deserve to be roped into helping us. But we’d come too far now to apologize and just let things be.

“Night, what’s going on?” Buck asked as he picked me up off the floor and held me in his mechanical paws. He held the same worried look as always in his organic eye, and the frown stretched across his muzzle sent another wave of guilt through me.

“It’s getting worse, the hallucinations.” I had to tell him the truth, that my visions were becoming more intense. “It happened down with the Road Crew as well. It was… it was like I was there again, with Solomon.”

“The neurological degradation of his condition is developing more rapidly than anticipated.” Ping spoke as he trotted past us toward one of the consoles near Double Delta. Pulling it up, he hoofed at it and wrote dozens of lines of code into the machine. “I must send this data back to the Factory. Doc Groovy might be able to synthesize another formula to help stem the visions. For now, I recommend that we have Night sit out the fight in order to recover.”

“I would agree, but there’s no time for that.” Buck sighed as he looked over to Ping. “If Night doesn’t show up for the deal, you know that Mr. Wizard will know something is up and will call it all off.”

“Night’s condition must be reassessed.” Ping retorted without sparing a second to let Buck’s words sink in. “The risk of permanent irreversible damage raises with each hour he is not being treated with the proper formula.”

“I know that, Ping.” Buck sighed, “but we’re nearly ready to begin the rescue operation, and we don’t have the equipment on board to synthesize a new formula.” Turning his attention back to me as he spoke, something about the way Buck’s expression grew more vacant made me think that he was forcing himself to hide how he really felt about this from me. “Until this is over, you must do your best to suppress what you see.” With a shift of his cybernetic arm, I felt a sharp jab just underneath my right wing. Immediately, the numbing feeling of the medical cocktail flooded through my body and I felt a smirk pull across my muzzle. “I’m sorry, Night.”

“Why are you sorry?” I felt a giggle escape my lips as I felt better than I had in hours. “This feels too good for you to be sorry.”

Seriously, why couldn’t he just keep me this way through the whole job? It would make it so much easier for when things started to fall apart like normal. Also like normal, sadly, the warming numbness that the drugs spread through me started to wear off, and I found my bliss evaporate away far too quickly. As much as I tried to hold on to that feeling, it was like trying to keep a pile of sand in your hoof, and eventually, it all slipped away forever.

I blinked as something wet hit my muzzle. Looking up, I watched as tears rolled down Buck’s cheek and dripped down onto me. Why… oh goddesses, what is fucking wrong with me?

“I’m so sorry, Night.” He sniffled before he pulled me up tightly against his warm and fuzzy chest. His expression had cracked, and I could see through the hollow and vacant sadness he held. For all the strength that his cybernetics gave him, the one thing that he couldn’t hold back, was showing me how much he was actually hurting inside.

“It’s okay, Buck.” I whimpered as I wrapped my hooves around him and pulled myself tighter against his fur.

No matter how good the medication felt to me, there wasn’t a single thing in the world that would numb the pain Buck felt. He’d had to watch as I became the addict I am, and to change from one perceived monster into another. Even still, I know that what he’s had to experience hurts him more than he could ever bring to words. That’s why after this fight was over, I was going to be done with taking these meds, with taking small steps to get better.

I needed to get clean for good so I could be there for him, like I always should have been.

With a click, the musty flight cap on my head gave a burst of static as the radio talisman in it booted up.

“Coms check.” Captain Pastel squawked into my ear sharply. “Arcturus to operational team, come in.”

“Yeah yeah, I can hear ya.” Happy snorted from beside me.

With a metallic ‘thunk’, the magnetic seal released, and the Remora dropped off of the Arcturus and into the air. Happy admittedly did his best not to whimper, but even quieted, it came through my headset crystal clear.

“Do not be afraid.” Ping’s words meshed as terribly as always with his beaming smile as he looked between Happy and I. “The plan will work.”

I’d love to have believed that, but with my curse? Not a chance this goes even an ounce right. All I can hope is that it doesn’t go completely wrong fast enough that we can’t get Cora out of there safely.

“Alright, the Arcturus will be in position over the city center in fifteen minutes.” Buck’s voice came through the radio with a slight amount of fuzz to it. “The Remora is going to land right in the center of the Station District. From what the silverfish drones have surveyed, Hispano has been staying at the hotel inside the station itself. Get to her, fill her in on the plan, and then get to the Science Center.”

“I feel that this may not be the time to bring it up,” Ping retorted as he looked over directly at me. “But why do you refer to the surveillance units as ‘silverfish’?”

“Cause they look like fish… that are silver?” Happy stole the words right out of my muzzle before I could even blurt them out. Looking over to me he shrugged. “Am I wrong?” I offered him a noncommittal shrug that seemed to be good enough an answer for Ping.

Honestly, I already had enough to worry about to care to talk about this right now. Taking a deep breath, I hoofed over the straps of my double wing trainer, making sure they were secured tightly. I paused for a moment to look at the six odd looking grenades tucked under my left wing. Each was a sleek black cylinder with a single painted ring sitting around the front end of it.

Five of them had red rings painted on them, which Tofu had informed me were actually Ranger designed and manufactured micro-grenades. They were normally supposed to be shot out of a standard forty millimeter grenade launcher, but she said she modified them so that they’d arm their impact fuse the moment they were dropped from my harness. As it turns out, the Rangers aren’t really fans of blowing up their own squads in indoor operations, funny that. To me, that seemed like an almost too rational thought for technophiles obsessed with big guns to have had. Especially ones that out of anyone ‘civilized’ in the wastes so far, have had no care about leaving a few too many unintended casualties in their wake.

And well, as much as an asshole like Mr. Wizard deserved it, I’d think it would take away from a rescue mission if I were to accidentally blow up the entire room.

The one grenade on my gear with the blue ring on it however, now that grenade was a special case. A modified version of the standard Mk II pulse grenade, it was something I’d expected from the likes of the Rangers. Developed by them to knock out even pulse hardened systems, the modification sacrificed the standard capacitor as the means for producing the pulse, in favor of, if I’m to believe it, half a bottle of Sparkle-Cola Rad wrapped in copper wire and high explosives...

Yeah, I may not be the smartest pegasus when it came to weaponry, but I couldn’t even attempt to wrap my head around using a bottle of soda as a weapon. Still, Tofu said it would work, and far be it for me to tell her she’s crazy. And if the Architect’s info was to be believed, if they brought in power armor to use against us, well, I’m pretty sure the power of this grenade could turn the tide of the fight.

“If I may, Night.” Ping spoke up and pulled my attention off the grenades under my wing. I turned to him to find a more nervous than usual look across his muzzle, while his eyes were completely locked on the blue ringed grenade itself. “I do not know if I need to tell you this, but pulse weaponry of that magnitude will destabilize my internal spell circuitry, and completely burn out my core processing units.” Ping’s flat tone eased up on it as his eyes still didn’t leave the grenade for even a moment. “Under no circumstances are you to use it if I get outside of thirty meters of you.”

“Excuse me, what?” I blurted out and narrowed my eyes at him. “Once the trade is complete, and we started fighting, I was going to save it for if any Power armor showed up.”

“Negative.” Ping shook his head with a deep frown. “If you must, use it at the start of the fight, before I am taken too far away to be affected by it.”

“What are you saying, Ping?” I forced out a laugh at the ridiculousness of what he was asking me to do. “That you want me to kill you?”

“If it comes to a point where I am not able to stay within range, then yes, that is correct.” He nodded as his bright and beaming smile pulled across his muzzle once more. “I am glad that there is no confusion.”

“The fuck there is no confusion!” Happy snapped at Ping before spinning around to nearly pin me back against the hull of the Remora. “Night, you are not going to use that grenade.” With a growl, he looked back and shot a narrow eyed glare at the artificial zebra. “This wasn’t part of the plan, Ping.”

“Actually... it was.” Buck’s hesitant voice came over both Happy and I’s headsets. “Should we fail to kill Mr. Wizard and topple his operation, we cannot allow Ping’s components to fall into his hooves intact. The damage he could do if he reverse engineered Ping’s processors would be almost immeasurable.”

No, that didn’t sit right with me.

“Then we’ll just have to make sure Ping isn’t taken at all.” I snapped at both Buck and Ping. Flaring my grenade wing out, I reached over with my hoof and wrapped it around the blue grenade. With a soft click, I forced it out of it’s mount and kept my fetlock tightly gripped around it. Needless to say, both Ping and Happy had a look of pure horror as I held the live weapon in my hoof.

“Night, just be careful with that now…” Happy muttered as he took a step back away from me and toward Ping. All I gave him in return was a glare that I felt was completely deserved on his part. “Don’t want to crash this thing and kill us all, you know?” He forced out a nervous chuckle as he took yet another step back.

“Night, what are you doing?” Buck’s strained voice came over the headset in a way that didn’t help me feel like he was at all going to say anything constructive. “You need that to make sure that Mr. Wizard can’t make his own machines. This isn’t the plan!”

“No! You had hours to bring this up when you went over ‘the plan’.” I snapped at him as I fought back the urge to just throw this stupid fucking grenade as hard as I could against the wall in an attempt to break it. “Why didn’t you bring this up?”

“Because we knew you wouldn’t want to do it.” Buck’s sigh over my headset told me that he was frustrated, and believe me, I get it. But he had no fucking right to just omit something as big as this. “Night, this isn’t something we can debate. Trust me, I feel the same way, you know I do. But the Factory, they’ve shown me what will likely happen if Mr. Wizard wins.”

“Fuck that!” Giving a firm stomp on the metal floor plating, I didn’t understand why Buck didn’t get it. This wasn’t about what might happen, it’s about what will happen. ”I will not be asked to kill Ping. I’m happy that you see that the Factory opened your eyes to the need for violence, Buck. But I don’t care how necessary you say this is, I am not going to do it.”

With a light thump under all of our hooves, the Remora came to an abrupt stop. The hydraulic systems in the walls unsealed the cabin doors and rolled them back slowly. The crisp, cool outside air rushed into the stuffy cabin, and the soft morning light gave the dull cabin lighting a slightly blue hue to it.

“It is alright, Buck.” Ping’s expression softened as a sad smile formed across his muzzle. “The Architect had thought this might be a likely outcome.” Stepping forward toward the open air, Ping looked up and out into the collection of wild clouds drifting across the morning sky and took a deep breath. “I do not blame you for this, Night. I am thankful to know that you consider me with such regard. But know that the well being of the many is far more important than the one.” Casting a slight glance over to me, he nodded toward the station itself as his normal smile returned. “For now, let us go retrieve Hispano.” With that, he stepped out into the morning air and disappeared around the front end of the Remora.

Taking a deep breath, I did my best to try to calm down. Twisting my hoof to look at the blue ringed grenade in my fetlock, I again lifted my wing and looked at the empty spot that sat in the grenade rack. I know that the many take priority over the few, that was the whole lie the Enclave sold us.

This was selfish of me, I got that much. But however ‘necessary’ this was, it didn’t mean it made it any easier to accept. And in looking out at the early morning skies, I closed my eye and tried my best to do just that.

“Night?” Happy’s voice interrupted me, and before I could be frustrated at it, I felt his hoof press down on my back. “Look I… I think you’re right.” Opening my eye again, I turned and glanced at what I could call a sincere and pleading look. “We can’t let them take Ping, and we can’t kill him.” Giving me a solitary nod, he forced himself to flash his overconfident smirk up on his muzzle. “So we’ll just have to kill them all first, right?”

“Right.” I nodded back at him before looking down at the grenade in my hoof. No, I wouldn’t accept that Ping had to die. There had to be another way. “Why don’t you and Ping head inside? I’m going to find somewhere to dispose of this.”

Flaring out my wings, I hopped out of the cabin of the Remora. A crowd of onlookers had gathered around the sleek skycraft, and hushed murmurs swept through the crowd as both Happy and I emerged. The moment we were out, the hydraulic systems in the ship hummed to life again, and the panel doors slid shut once more.

Taking a moment to look around the plaza again, it felt… different this time around. Maybe it was because in the early morning, there wasn’t the massive crowd of ponies moving around the outskirts yet. But I don’t think that was it, not even close. Honestly, this place felt different because the one who’d appreciated it more than anypony else was gone now. Knowing how much Hardcase had enjoyed his time here, it just felt all the more hollow to return.

A feeling I was all too eager to push out of my mind and get away from as fast as possible.

I flapped hard, kicking myself up into the sky. I could feel the dew wick along my wings in the cold morning air, and the smell of the saltwater bay was thicker than I remember it being last time we were here. As I pushed myself up higher and higher, eventually matching the height of the enormous dancing mares of the Station itself, I reoriented myself and searched for somewhere to get rid of this grenade.

In my search, I ended up facing the south end of the city. The overgrown buildings reclaimed by the encroaching forest seemed different from in the air. Something about this perspective just made the advance of the flourishing greens seem all the more inevitable to me. Like for as pristine as inner city Cantercross still was, it was only a matter of time before it all crumbled to nothing.

But as I contemplated flying over there to dump the grenade down where it wouldn’t harm any machines, I paused for long enough that I nearly fell out of the sky.

Sitting above what I think was Doc Sunshine’s house, was a cloud. Not just any cloud, but a small and fluffy cloud that was just inconspicuous enough that it would be missable to most. Looking back down a the station, I wondered just what Hispano and Cora’s cloud was doing all the way out here in the first place.

Had Hispano put it up after she returned from getting the book? Did she stash it over here as a quick hideout for when she got her father out? There were too many questions to ask, but yet I found myself aim in that direction and glide.

It was a short flight, but as I approached the small cloud, I noticed that it’s consistency had been well kept. Maybe Hispano was going to use it as a hideout as I’d thought. Perhaps…

*Clack*

The sharp sound of a heavy bolt from the interior of the fluffy cloud made me freeze up momentarily.

“Whoever you are, you have ten seconds to get the fuck away from my cloud.” Hispano’s stressed voice was telling of just how much she’d been through, but… oh goddesses it was good to hear it again.

“Hispano, it’s me.” I couldn’t spit those words out fast enough as my spreading grin could probably be seen through the white cloud. “You have no idea how good…”

I was cut off as an olive and brown bolt tore through the side of the cloud. The wind was knocked from my lungs as a pair of tight talons locked themselves around my barrel. I flailed and flapped my wings to keep the sudden extra weight attached to me airborne as a squeal of joy reverberated through Hispano and sunk into me.

“You’re alive!” She gasped as she squeezed around me even tighter than before. So tightly in fact that I wondered about the tensile strength of the titanium struts for my wings…

“Yeah…” I wheezed out as I gave her a few firm taps on the back. I’m happy to see you as well Hispano, but… “I need air…”

“Sorry!” She whimpered as she let go of me. With an excited flutter of her wings, a grin like mine spread across her beak, and tears formed in her eyes. She nearly vibrated with pure, unbridled happiness. “I just… when I got back and you were gone, and then Buck was missing, and then I found out about dad, and…”

“It’s alright, Hispano.” I laughed and brought my hoof up to rub at my neck, only to remember it’s got a quite live pulse grenade still held in it. “Trust me, I know how you must feel, but there’s a fight coming, and we’re going to need your help. It’s time somepony did something about Mr. Wizard and his drug empire.”

“You had me at ‘trust me’, Dum Dum.” With a sniffle, Hispano brought her talon up and grabbed her flight cap. After a quick rub of it across her face, she’d wiped the tears from her eyes. She looked tired and stressed, but just as enthusiastic as ever as she brought Suiza around on her sling. But with words and a curious glance that I should have seen coming, she pointed her talon at the grenade still held in my fetlock. “So uh… what’s that for?”

“Oh, nothing. I just came out here to get rid of it.” With a shrug, I gave it a lazy toss down towards the buildings below.

Both Hispano and I watched it arc through the air, dropping between two of the nearby overgrown buildings. With a flash and a crackle of thunder, the improved pulse grenade detonated. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t impressed as I could feel the static electricity from it wash over me even up here in the air. Thank the goddesses that most of my mane and tail were too short to be frizzed out of it, or I’d probably look ridiculous.

“Really, Dum Dum? A pulse grenade?” Hispano’s deadpan prompted me to glance over at her just in time to watch the old compass hanging around her neck finish spinning wildly. Her feathers had bristled out, puffing up around her face and out from under her flight cap like she’d been hit by a giant blow dryer. And I couldn’t help myself from letting a giggle escape my lips. Goddesses, she looks like the griffon equivalent of when Buck had his blow-dry up at Fort Mac. “Do you have any idea how long it’s going to take to preen this all back down?” She let out her own giggle as she rolled her eyes. “Anyway, where exactly are we going?”

“The Hotel.” I turned myself to point toward Gateway Station. “Happy and Ping are already there, looking for you, actually.” Which brought up a very interesting point, “By the way, why were you staying in your cloud?”

Hispano gave an indifferent shrug as she tried to pat down the feathers around her face with mixed results. “Those silverfish drones that had been following us? Well, for some reason they were constantly watching me, and it was giving me the creeps. Figured I’d give them the slip as I tried to plan out dad’s rescue.” Cocking a freshly fixed eyebrow at me, she looked over my double wing trainer. “So now I guess it’s my turn. What the fuck took you so long, what happened to your magic gem-eye, and where’d you get the new stuff?”

“Well let’s just say there was a good reason that the silverfish were watching you.” I flashed her a nervous smile that I’m guessing didn’t exactly fill her with confidence. “Trust me, it’s a long story that’ll make sense once Ping explains everything to you.” Lining myself up with the station, I was about to dip myself into a glide when Hispano’s talon pressed against my chest and stopped me.

“One… last thing, Dum Dum.” Hispano’s words were hesitant, and when I looked at her, she held a sadly vacant look in her eyes. “What happened… to Buck?”

“Again, I’ll have to let Ping explain that…” I cringed as I said that. Great, I’d gone off on the Architect and Ping for being vague, and now I was the one being vague about things. “Let’s just say, he’s going to be a bit different from now on...” Yeah, what a great idea, Night! Because that line worked so well when used on me.

“Different how.” Hispano narrowed her eyes at me and crossed her talons across her floofed breast.

Oh Hispano, how much I’ve missed you.

It was odd being back in this room. It felt like a lifetime ago that I’d been lost in the numbing warmth of a bottle of Chill as I did my best to forget about how Solomon had stolen my family from me. It feels like so long, but it’s just because I’d learned about how wrong that was in such a short amount of time.

It hadn’t taken much time to fill Hispano in on the adventures that Happy and I had been through. Funny thing was, she took it a whole lot better than I’d thought she would, really. She didn’t believe us when we’d told her what the Factory had done to Buck, at least, not until I asked Ping to reveal himself to her.

With a flicker of magic, Ping’s striped form returned to normal, and he showed a very tired expression to me.

“I understand the necessity of revealing this knowledge to Hispano, and to some extent, to the Rangers aboard the Arcturus.” The frown Ping’s muzzle drooped too said more about his apprehension than his words ever would. “But please, the true nature of this physical body is something that must not be revealed to everyone we encounter.”

“Yeah yeah, your secret’s safe with me.” Hispano waved her talon dismissively in Ping’s face as she pretty much pressed her beak right up against his body. “Geez, this is the most detailed disguise spell I’ve ever seen. Truly remarkable… and you said this ‘Architect’ guy made this?”

“He built my physical body, however, a ping unit crafts the details of their own illusion.” The pride that had been held with that info before was gone as Ping’s tone shifted to one of more urgency. Turning to me, I could see now that it wasn’t just his tone that had changed. Ping looked nervous to me, which to be honest, made me nervous to see. “That however can be explained more in depth later. The Arcturus is in position and waiting, and we must initiate the deal as soon as possible.”

“Alright, what can I do?” Hispano didn’t even skip a beat as she spun Suiza around on her sling and grasped her sister tightly between her talons. With a light tap against the large drum magazine sticking out of the gun, Hispano gave a squeal of delight as she cycled the heavy bolt.

“The plan is for Night, Happy and I to initiate a trade for your father.” Ping fired back with the same urgency as Hispano’s response. He flashed a frown to her that seemed forced to me, but it was hard to tell with how off he seemed to be. “Unfortunately, you are not part of the rescue plan, so you must stay out of the way to ensure there are no outside variables. Perhaps you could be utilized in another facet of the operation...”

“What!?” Hispano squawked and nearly flailed her sister out of her grip. “He’s my dad. You can’t just ask me to sit back and do nothing!”

“Hispano,” I took a step toward her and pressed my hoof against her side. “I understand how annoyed this must make you feel, but it’s going to be alright. We’re going to get him back.”

“No, I’m not sitting on the sidelines for this!” She huffed and shot me a painful glare. “Dad always made me sit out on his jobs. Hell, you had me run an errand only to come back and find everything had gone wrong. I am not sitting this out just so things can go to shit again!” Turning back to Ping with a growl, she prodded at his chest with an outstretched talon. “Find someway for me to help with this, or I swear that I will go after Mr. Wizard and get my father back on my own.”

Wow, it was so odd hearing that from someone else’s lips. But that’s exactly why I knew she was right. And to be completely fair, after all the extra time we took to even get here today, Hispano had waited long enough to get her father back.

“Alright, change of plans, Ping.” I watched as my words threatened to have Pings frown sink down to his neck. “She’s coming with us. Mr. Wizard will have to deal with the fact that she has a right to be there when her father is returned.”

A moment of silence filled the small hotel room that was so thick that Happy probably could have cut through it with his Sword. And from the incredibly awkward look he held on his face, I could bet he’d have done just that to save himself from it. But hey, at least he’d had the decency, or the intelligence, not to get involved in this whole back and forth so far…

“As you wish.” Ping broke the silence with a sigh and a slump that made him look like he’d been beaten up and utterly defeated. “She can perch herself on the building where we’d viewed her before. Her autocannon should make for an adept distraction once the trade has been made.”

“Thank you.” Hispano let out a sigh of relief for the both of us before she set her sister down on the floor. “I just want to help, even if it’s providing fire support.” Turning to me again, she pushed herself up against my side and hugged me tightly. “Just please, make sure to get him out of there in one piece.”

“I think Cora can handle himself, but I’ll make sure he gets out alright.” I smirked as I reached over and hugged her back. She gave off a blush I could feel through my coat as she nodded.

“Yeah, it’s really Night who you should be worrying about losing pieces of.” Happy spat out with his trademark sly grin pushing across his muzzle. Yeah, you didn’t have to say anything, you know…

“Again, we must return to the Remora now.” Ping’s voice rose enough that it nearly reverberated off of the hotel room’s walls. “Time is running short, so you must all revel together later.” Turning to the door, Ping walked over, opened it, and left without another ounce of hesitation in his steps.

“Well isn’t he just a barrel of laughs…” Hispano grumbled as she let go of me.

Happy and I traded worried glances before nodding to each other. While I’d both dreaded and waited for this moment, today was the day, and now was the time. For better or for worse, Mr. Wizard’s empire was going to fall.

The three of us headed out the door and after Ping. We trotted back through the lobby just in time to see him dip through the double doors that lead back out to the wide open Plaza. Looking over at the concierge desk, I’d wondered where Ritz Tabard was. I hadn’t seen him when we came in, and while it wasn’t imperative, I did feel like thanking him for letting us use his room.

Shrugging off the unfortunate missed opportunity, I pushed ahead of Happy and Hispano to the door. With a grunt, I threw it open and stepped through into the cold and quiet morning air. But with the next few steps I took into the open plaza, I felt my momentum drain as something about the outside struck me as wrong.

If he’d just walked through the doors, where the fuck was Ping?

Looking around over the wide plaza, I was immediately hit by the feeling of loneliness I’d felt before. But this wasn’t triggered by the thoughts of Hardcase this time, rather, it was because this place was entirely empty now. Even the small crowd that had gathered around the Remora was entirely absent, and that fact alone sent alarm bells ringing in my head.

“Wait a second.” I muttered as Happy and Hispano stepped up on each side of me. “Ping?” I called out across the plaza, hoping that I’d see his beaming muzzle pop out of the Remora. But only stark silence answered my call. “Buck, Ping’s missing.” I tapped at my headset as I waited for a response. “Hello? Buck?” Again, only silence came. “Something’s not right here.”

“Yeah, no shit something seems up.” Hispano cooed softly as she reached back to grab Suiza. “This feels like an ambush to me.”

“Oh come on.” Happy rolled his eyes and pushed himself to trot ahead of me. “You guys are too paranoid. Why the hell would Mr. Wizard…” Happy’s words were abruptly cut off as he ran straight into something that didn’t exist. With a grunt, he turned himself to look up at the air as it shimmered.

With a flash of magic, the towering form of a set of construction power armor just like Motor Grader’s appeared. The bright orange and yellow suit was just as robust as Motor’s, but held a large minigun on the right, and a box that looked oddly similar to the jammer Pinstripe had built on the left. Streams of pink cloud drifted out of every damn metal seam and joint of it, and it’s hydraulically powered limbs whined as the pony inside turned the glowing headlight-esque eyes of it’s helmet on me. Across the armored forehead of the helmet, I could barely read a single word between the beaming eyes.

Dozer

“Well well.” The amplified voice that pumped through the speakers in the power armor helmet was too familiar for both Happy and I to not cringe at it. Of course it had to be Tall Tale in the suit. “So nice to see you two again.”

Happy turned to me with a panicked look. He’d hardly had a chance to even open his muzzle before Tall Tale’s heavy armored forehoof kicked upward under him. Happy let out a breathless scream as he was tossed through the air like it was nothing, coming down hard behind Hispano and I.

“Be smart, don’t get up.” Tall Tale let a chuckle slip through his words as his massive suit of power armor lorded over us.

“Or do. It’d be a lot more fun to watch you get your flanks hoofed to you after what you did to Tall.” Messy called out as he trotted around the backside of the Remora. “You know, I’ve gotta hoof it to Tall Tale here. He really knows how to pull off a surprise heist, doesn’t he?”

Flanking him on each side was a pair of armed goons. With the exception of the pink stallion in the center and Tall Tale, they were all armed with basic Equestrian combat rifles. But while this turn of events was troubling to say the least, it still didn’t answer what had happened to Ping.

“So, are you idiots going to stand down and come with us willingly, or what?” Messy called out before nodding to each of the goons at his side. “Mr. Wizard doesn’t have all fuckin’ day to wait for an answer.”

“Alright, alright!” I called out, flaring my wings out and sitting up on my rear hooves. “We’ll come quietly.” Looking over at Hispano, I watched her shift a sideways glare at me like I’d just betrayed her. “Oh come on, Hispano. This is just like what happened with those mercs from Whitehorse.”

It took all of a split second for Hispano to get what I was saying and let out a gasp. In near synchronicity, both Hispano and I pushed off the ground and took to the air. Please Celestia don’t let me make the wrong call here!

“Oh for the love of…” Messy nearly screamed out. “Fucking murder those two turkeys already!”

I pumped my wings hard, soaring through the air as I pulled off around over the left side of the Remora. Barking gunshots filled the air, and while I had no idea if they were shooting at me or Hispano, I simply focused on keeping up my speed as I climbed. A pair of heavy booms gave me a small reprieve as Suiza opened up in a burst that let me flick my forehoof up just enough to press my trigger bit into my muzzle.

Alright, Night, this is just like every other fight you’ve been in. Stiffening my forelegs out in front of me, I twisted my wings. The world inverted as I reached the apex of my short climb, and I snapped my tail in line as I pushed myself into a dive. The cool morning air rushed over me while I shot downwards, picking up speed as I searched for my first target.

A short buzzing filled the air as Tall Tale stiffened up and sent a line of red tracers through the air after Hispano. The burst was short, but he practically drew a circle around her as she zipped and dodged the cloud of fire. More than anything, Tall Tale had to be taken care of or we wouldn’t last long enough to get the others.

I flicked the triggers on my belt, letting one of the grenades under my wing detach. A short burst of red magical energy sprayed across the heavily armored suit as my gun let loose a dozen or so shots. Unfortunately, they did little more than just leave small singe marks on the thick metal, but I hadn’t expected to do anything with them.

As I focused on pulling myself out of my dive, I kept my ear perked. I flapped hard as I leveled off and pulled back up, smirking as I heard the familiar gong like noise of my grenade slapping Tall Tale right in his face. A delightful explosive pop filled the air as I traded my speed for altitude and readied myself for my next dive.

However, before I could reorient myself, another buzzing burst filled the air.

A line of red tore across my right wing. I cried out as the burning rounds punched holes through the polymer surface of my second wing, as well as the flesh of my real one. I struggled not to reflexively close my wing, and instead I forced them out stiffly. Thanks to the incredibly sturdy construction of the flightsuit, I was able to stay in the air, but oh Celestia did it fucking hurt.

Suiza let off a few more thumping shots just before another buzzing filled the air. The sporadic shots that came from the other goons were the icing on the annoying cake to me, and when one of those shots finally found a home in the polymer surface of my left wing, I resolved to remove those annoyances first.

Rolling myself over into another dive, I started to build speed and search for the best place to plant another grenade. But the faster I went, the more the air pressure pressed against my injured wing. The worry of it giving out and slamming me into the ground at an incredible speed had to be push to the back of my mind. I found one of the shooting goons firing from right beside Messy, and smirked to myself. The pain of moving to correct my aim was worth it as I bit down on the trigger bit and released another of my grenades.

The scream I gave from around my bit however tipped Messy off, and he all but used his hooves to place his goon between my grenade and himself.

As I struggled to pull up into level flight again, the sharp pop from my grenade filled the air. And as I zipped past Hispano as she went in for her own strafing run, I managed to turn my head and get a look at the results of my bombing.

A messy red splotch of body parts sat where the gun goon had once been standing, but a bloody and injured Messy was limping himself toward an open station maintenance access hole not too far away. It was just like an asshole like him to fucking run from a fight, and I didn’t intend to let him off so easily.

Torquing my wings, I arced my flight upwards again. I banked around as another buzzing burst rang through the air. This time, I didn’t see where the line of red had gone, but so long as it hadn’t hit me, I guess it didn’t so much matter.

Coming back around, I rolled myself over and angled myself to drop one of my grenades right down into the sewer. Messy himself held a fear filled look as he scrambled to climb into the hole, and I loved it. Each moment that I grew closer, my heart beat faster in wicked anticipation for the moment that I would end his life. With what felt like had only been a split second, the time came, and I pulled the trigger on my bit.

With a crisp snap, a grenade from my side was freed from it’s restrictive bonds under my wing. Arcing my head, I pulled myself up into the air once more. The silence that drifted throughout the plaza as my grenade sailed true, left me with a serene feeling of pride as I floated upwards into the warm sunlight that crested over the eastern mountains of the misery range. For just a moment, all was well in the world.

Gong!

The sound of my grenade striking something metal filled the air just a split second before it exploded with a sharp crack. Turning my attention downwards, I watched as the dust and debris from the small explosion cleared, and a blackened blast mark sat scorched across the sealed up metal lid.

That fucking pink asshole stole my perfect moment from me!

A scream from closer to the Remora brought me back into the fight. Banking around in my flight, I searched until I found the source. Happy kicked off the chest of one of the gun goons, ripping his silver sword out of the gaping chest wound he’d left in the hired gun. A buzzing burst of fire ripped across the Remora’s side, forcing Happy to dive in order to take cover from the rapid fire line of death.

“It’s just the big guy left!” Hispano called out as she momentarily joined me at my side. “Shit, watch out!”

We both rolled opposite directions as Tall Tale sprayed a line of fire up to separate us.

Okay, there had to be a way the three of us could deal with Tall Tale. My grenades weren’t going to do anything against that armor, and I doubted if even Suiza could do any permanent damage to the suit or to Tall Tale. And while we could wait for him to run out of ammo, he’d already gotten lucky against me once. I banked around through the air again as another short burst from the minigun filled the air.

You know what would have really helped in this fight, Night? Some sort of advanced pulse grenade! Gee, it’s almost like you’re a fucking idiot!

I watched as Hispano’s strafing run hit home in return, and whole chunks of Tall Tale’s helmet and head were torn off. Pink cloud spewed from the gaping wound, but the ghoul simply kept on going as both his body and armor repaired themselves. It was no use! Like Happy had explained, unless you removed their head completely, you just can’t stop a Canterlot ghoul. And there was no fucking way we were going to get access to his head without that armor being nothing more than dead weight.

As Tall Tale let out another burst of fire that kept Happy pinned behind the Remora, I knew there had to be something we could do…

“I’m running low on ammo!” Hispano panted out as she flew up to me again. “Four shots left, so you better figure some way to bring this asshole down!”

“I’m working on it!” I snapped at her before we were once again forced apart by another line of minigun fire.

Come on, think, Night! You have to have learned something from your previous fights to know how to take this fucking walking tank down! All you need to do is think.

What about the fight with the Cordite ghouls? Maybe I could shove a grenade between his Minigun and his armor to disable it. Which would be great, but then he’d stomp me to death for getting too close. Okay, what about the fight with Galina? Maybe I can lure him away, get him to somewhere I can use the environment to my advantage?

Looking around, the wide empty plaza was devoid of anywhere I could feasibly lead him to other than the station itself. And the last thing I needed to do is trap myself inside somewhere that’s just a bunch of hallways where Tall Tale could easily mow me down. So that’s out of the question.

Okay, what about the fight with Double Drum? Pretty much the toughest thing in the north, and I managed to crack that nut with a little bit of effort. But the big difference was that I at least had some sort of weak spot I could exploit on that machine. I mean, it’s not like there’s an exhaust port on Power armor or something I could…

I let out a gasp as a realization hit me hard. Rolling, I aimed myself right for Hispano. If this was going to work, I needed her to know just what I was planning.

“Aim for the head!” I screamed out at her as I forced myself to fly past and arc myself upwards to prepare for a dive.

“Why!? It doesn’t do anything!” She screamed back at me as she pushed herself into a similar arc upwards on a mirrored flight path.

“Just do it!” I snapped as I stiffened my legs and rolled myself over. We’d have one chance at this. “Open up a hole for me!” I called out as I lined myself up before biting down on my bit. I had barely begun the dive as I felt the grenade rig release one of my two remaining grenades. Goddesses, I hope I’d lined this up right...

Suiza roared out next to me as Hispano followed me into a dive. Three of the four shots hit home, and sparks and pink cloud once again erupted from the helmet of Tall Tale. I narrowed my eyes as I picked up speed and kept myself aimed right at the massive armor. Again, I bit down on my trigger and let the last grenade fly before pulling up.

Rather than trade all my speed for altitude, I rolled myself onto my side and let my lifting body get to work. The G forces from the tight turn drained all the color from my vision, and darkness started to seep in from the edges of my eye. But as I turned and slowed myself enough to recover, I had just enough time to watch as the second, and faster moving grenade slammed home against the repairing helmet and blast most of it away again. While the explosion hadn’t done much damage to the stupid rodeo clown mask Tall Tale wore under the helmet, it had ensured that there was a hoof wide hole in the helmet itself for the next few moments.

Before the smoke could clear, the first grenade I’d let off zipped through the cloud of pink that drained out of the gaping hole in the helmet. With another sharp crack, the grenade went off, and this time the whole helmet blasted apart from the inside out. The massive power armor wobbled for a moment before tilting over and dropping to the ground with a heavy thud.

“I can’t believe that actually worked, Dum Dum!” Hispano laughed as she fluttered her wings and pulled up beside me. The two of us had our eyes locked on the crumpled form of power armor as pink cloud poured out of it like a fountain. “That was a hell of a shot.”

“Hey!” Happy called out as he trotted out around in front of the Remora. He waved us down to him, and both Hispano and I slowly circled ourselves lower. As we came in for a soft landing beside him, Happy’s bloody and sweat covered smile was something I was more than relieved to see. “I know I basically told you to throw that grenade away before, but in my defence, you told me you were going to call me out on my incredibly terrible ideas.”

“Yeah, well it worked out anyway.” I rolled my eyes as I took a deep breath. Looking over at the wrecked power armor again to take in the fruit of my labor, my blood nearly froze in my veins.

A single glaring eye pierced through the shattered clown mask that dripped a thick cloud of Pink from between it’s cracks. The half-headed Tall Tale slowly picked himself up off of the ground, unsteady as even now his skull started to reform. Sparks flew from the destroyed and damaged bits of helmet that ringed his torn up neck, and already the power armor’s auto repair talisman was starting to rebuild the base of his fire control systems around his reforming jawline.

“Oh, fuck off!” Happy shouted as he wheeled around on his hooves. Before Hispano or I could even tear off after him, the angry mule had galloped all the way up to the healing ghoul.

Happy let off a chilling howl as he pushed in through the flowing pink cloud, and raised his silver longsword high. Either because Tall Tale had been too weak, or the power armor had been damaged too much, the small distance that he’d tried to dodge with hadn’t been enough. With a smooth single swing, Happy brought the sword down hard enough that it sparked straight through the still repairing armor and embedded the tip of the blade into the concrete below himself.

With a slump, the massive construction power armor toppled once more, and Tall Tale’s half regenerated head rolled out of the cloud with a meaty splat. Coughing and nearly choking on the pink cloud, Happy screamed out again before wildly hammering his sword down against the battered power armor. Sparks flew as he sliced into and cut up systems on the side of the armor, and his swings dissipated what was left of the pink cloud inside the armor. With his anger taken out, and the talisman covered box on the side of the armor utterly destroyed, Happy stumbled his way back towards us with a confident, if tired look across his muzzle.

“There, he’s fucking dead.” He grumbled as he walked his way over to the side of the Remora and slumped against it. Taking a few heaving breaths, he let out a soft laugh before looking up at both Hispano and I. “So now I don’t ever want to be called lazy ever again, got it?”

“Yeah, that’s fair enough.” I nodded and looked over to Hispano, who simply shrugged as she set Suiza down. Without any hesitation, she pulled Suiza’s magazine out and started to feed in new shells from her saddlebags.

“Great. Now how about a five minute break?” Happy offered with a look that told me that he knew what my answer would be.

Before I could even answer, several booms filled the air from the city. Plumes of fire rose up from through newly formed holes in the thermal updraft tower’s glass skirt. Moments later, another series of blasts came from the other end of the city, out from where the railway maintenance warehouses were.

“That’s the Celestia’s Angels starting their attacks.” I sighed as I turned my gaze back down to Happy. “Unfortunately, that’s our cue.”

“H-hello?” Static broke up Buck’s voice in my ear. “The jamming signal seems to be dying down, are you there, Night?”

“Yeah, we were ambushed by Messy and Tall Tale.” I spoke up, looking down at Happy before glancing back to Hispano. “We killed Tall Tale, but Messy got away, and more importantly, Ping’s gone.”

“His systems went offline moments before the jamming signal went up.” Buck’s worried tone didn’t help me to think that anything good had come from him disappearing. “If you don’t know where he is, than I think that Mr. Wizard’s already captured him. Is there anywhere nearby they could have taken him?”

“Messy disappeared into the lower parts of the station during the fight, I’m betting they took him down to the sealed off tunnels.” I sighed. Seriously, that made me even more angry that I’d fucking missed my chance to kill that pink asshole when I’d had it. “But if they took him already, then they’ll have to bring him all the way back to where Mr. Wizard can take him apart. Which I’m betting is somewhere within the heart of his operation.”

“Whatever it takes, we’re gettin’ him back.” Happy added as he pushed himself up. “Just tell us where we need to go.”

“In all likelihood, he is probably being brought back through the demonstration stable deep within the Science Center, which...” Buck’s hesitant words dragged out and amplified the unease stirring inside me, and tugged at the hole that had bored through my stomach. “If you want to get inside without fighting your way through the entire Science Center, I may have an option.”

“Alright, then what the fuck is it then?” Happy snapped at him. “Just tell us and we’ll fucking go get him back!”

“Night, between you and Hispano, do you think you two can keep Happy airborne?” Buck asked with more than just a slight bit of doubt to his words. And honestly, I didn’t even want to know what crazy idea this was going to lead up to. “If you two can keep him from at least falling too fast, I know of a way to get you straight into the upper levels of the Stable. But with as damaged as the Remora reports it is, it’s either my idea, or fighting through the Science Center itself. You only have the flight time for one or the other.”

“What’s he saying?” Hispano asked as she leaned in and pressed her head against the communications cap.

“Well,” I shared my hesitant look with Happy before meeting Hispano’s excited and curious gaze. “Buck’s got a crazy idea for how to get us in, but he needs to know if the two of us can keep Happy airborne.”

“I like crazy. Crazy normally works for us.” Hispano nodded before looking over to Happy. “You up for whatever this is?”

“Fuck no!” Happy snorted with a heated stomp. Oh come on, Happy! Do you know how much shit I went through to save your ass? You know that whatever it takes to get Ping back is what we’ve got to do. I was about to open my muzzle to spew all of that out at him, but after a moment, his apprehensiveness faded, and he let out a long sigh. “But for Ping, yeah I can do it.” Nodding, he put his forehoof up to his coms cap and stood himself up stiffly. “Alright, big guy, what’s this ‘crazy’ plan of yours?”

Chapter 67 - Operation: Impractical

Being yourself will have to wait until you get home, or at least to a bar.

The bassy rumble of an explosion somewhere in Cantercross lightly shook the Remora. The sounds of gunfire and fighting drifted through the numerous holes Tall Tale had left in the hull plating of the skycraft. Even with a list of a few degrees to the right, we flew steadily towards the center of a city in the midst of conflict.

But I had to give the Architect this; at least he knew how to build a cloudship that didn’t lose power after taking one or two hits! From everything my parents told me about the track record for Vertibucks, the Enclave could really learn a thing or two about that.

“Ahh!” I hissed as Hispano wrapped a piece of old cloth around my bleeding wing and cinched it down tight. “Fucking hell that hurts…”

The shot had only nicked me, but you’d have thought otherwise from the amount of blood that had drained down my feathers. Still, it could have ended up much worse than it did, and for that, I was at least thankful. I grunted and bit my tongue as Hispano tied the cloth in a tight knot.

“You’ll get over it.” Hispano sighed as she pulled her bloody talons back and looked at them. With a frown, she reached over to my good wing and proceeded to wipe her claws on my clean feathers. “You know, this getup of yours is pretty neat. Advanced flight controls, titanium and polymer construction, this thing’s got all the bells and whistles for someone as... flight challenged as you are, Dum Dum.”

“Gee, that’s such a nice way to call me disabled.” I rolled my eyes into a deadpan that I couldn’t hold as she smiled at me.

“Eh, don’t mention it!” She beamed before hefting her sister up to lean on. “I mean, you pegasi needed to invent some way of competing with us griffons after all.”

“I seem to remember a few wartime heroes who were quite well known for taking on entire wings of griffs and making it out without a scratch.” I pressed my hoof to my chest like I knew what I was talking about, rather than just stating Enclave propaganda I knew was more than likely fake anyway. Shifting on my hooves, I looked over the flight suit again with a smirk. “Still, it's hard to think that this was all I'd needed to be able to fly normally. I feel like if I’d just had it years ago, I might have had a whole different life.”

“Well, I wouldn't be caught dead in it,” Hispano sighed softly as she leaned over and pressed herself against me. “And hey, Dum Dum? Just know that you flew fine before you got it. The suit makes you better, sure. But just remember that it isn’t what makes you, well, you.” Her eyes drifted down to her sister, and she held her out in her talon for a moment. “There's a lot of bad that can come from putting something you use ahead of yourself like that...”

“I know.” I nodded and reached out with my hoof. Carefully, I pulled her closer into a hug and gingerly wrapped my injured wing around her. “You know, I'd had a thought when I first used the suit. That everything I've been through down here just to get it from the Factory? It wasn't worth the cost. It never will be.”

“Doesn’t mean we don’t deserve these tools.” Happy snorted from across the Remora’s dark cabin. Shifting my gaze over to him, he had a sort of far off, hollow look to him as he hoofed roughly at the pommel of his silver sword. “We’ve lost more than enough that we deserve to take what we want from ponies like Solomon, Mr. Wizard, and Motor Grader. The north owes us for what we’ve been through.”

“Woah, since when did he get all moody like that?” Hispano whispered to me as she pulled Suiza close to herself again.

“Probably since he’s started understanding what it takes to survive.” My voice wasn’t loud, but from the way my words knocked him out of his thousand yard stare, you’d think I yelled it at him. “Something we’ve all had to work our way through at some point.”

“I can respect that.” Hispano gave a short, but affirmative nod to Happy. He returned it, only to go back to staring through the wall again.

“The Remora is almost at the drop zone.” Buck’s voice crackled over my headset, shared with a short burst of static that sounded like it came straight from his own voice. Funny thing was that the burst hid any sort of tell from me on how he felt about this.

The damaged hydraulic systems struggled to pull back one of the side doors on the Remora. A heavy upwards gust of wind shifted the Remora nearly onto her side, and both Hispano and I were pressed back against the wall. The back of my head slammed against one of the hull braces and I saw stars as I did my best not to panic. Happy, however, predictably let out a scream as he was tossed against the hull beside us.

I shook the stars from my eye and took in a deep breath, only to choke as I found that the Remora’s interior was beginning to fill with smoke.

“The fires from the battle inside the city are creating uneven updrafts through the collection tower.” Buck grumbled into my ear as the frantic sounds of typing on a terminal came through with his voice. “And with the damage it took, it’s making it nearly impossible to keep the Remora steady.”

“You fucking think!?” Happy snapped into his own headset. “Wait, did you hear that?”

There was a groan as the door behind us gave slightly. Which of course, was about when I remembered that the Remora has doors on both sides. I looked over at the hydraulics that held the door on this side shut, and watched as the last of their fluid drained out.

So much for the Remora being more reliable than a Vertibuck...

The door dropped out like a trap door in a theatre production, dumping the three of us into a choking black cloud of smoke. The wind pressure coming up from under us was intense, and the roaring it made was almost loud enough to cut out Happy’s full bodied scream as he sank through the air like a rock.

“Come on, Dum Dum!” Hispano squawked as she peeled off from my side and dove downward.

It wasn’t hard to follow the screaming mule, and in moments, both Hispano and I had found our way to Happy again. Hispano at least had the luxury of dexterous talons as she grabbed around both of Happy’s left legs. Me on the other hoof, I struggled to grip his right legs in my fetlocks. But even if I had to break his bones, I was going to hold on to Happy for dear life.

Looking around quickly, I couldn’t see a damn thing. The smoke blotted out any light we got from the morning skies above, and it also had the force to fill every nook and cranny in my lungs with itself. I had to do everything I could to keep from reflexively letting Happy go and surfacing out of this hell for some fresh air.

“Alright, flare in three, two, one…” Hispano called out.

“Now!” I screamed as I forced my wings open and cinched my hooves around Happy’s like vices.

The updraft slapped against my wings, pushing, bending them. I let out a scream as my wounded wing threatened to buckle under the force, but the titanium braces of my extra wing kept it just long enough for our speed to drain slightly. We were still falling, but nowhere near as fast as before. And with how thick this smoke was, it was hard to get a gauge on our altitude at all inside the updraft tower.

“How much farther down is it!?” Hispano’s voice barely beat out the wind before she dropped into sharp, hacking coughs.

“I don’t know!” I tried to fight back my own coughs as I called out to her, but a dull thumping filled my ears. It was slow and steady, like an enormous heartbeat from below. Each pulse rippled at the rising smoke, and with each pulse, a blast of fresh heat pushed at Hispano and I’s outstretched wings.

“What’s that noise!?” Happy screamed out at us. “Buck said there was something scary in here. He didn’t want to tell me, but now you’re going to fucking tell me!”

“It’s the main turbine.” Hispano called out as she flapped her wings hard. “Come on, we need to slow our fall if we want to time the blades!”

“Blades!?” Happy screamed and wiggled himself hard enough that his forehoof slipped free of my grip. Flailing my own forehooves, I managed to snatch his leg again, but at an odd angle. As I beat my own wings and pulled him upwards again, there was a fleshy pop that I could feel down to my bones.

Which of course, was followed by a piercing scream in my ear.

“It’s just dislocated, you’ll live!” Hispano snapped before coughing again. “Can’t your robot friends just shut this down!?”

“Negative. Shutting it down would tip our hoof to Mr. Wizard.” Buck’s voice came into my ear with a starkness I didn’t really appreciate hoving somewhere above a set of giant spinning knives. “You must drop between the blades to reach the entrance to the display stable.”

“Buck says we’re on our own.” I called out to Hispano.

With the two of us using the rising bursts of air as energy, we managed to come to what felt like a rough hover in the air. Unfortunately, the pulsing smoke stabbed at our eyes, and the lack of lighting inside the tower meant that we couldn’t see anything below us at all. How the fuck were we supposed to time this!?

“Alright, Night, I need you to trust me.” Hispano coughed out. “Again, I’m going to count down, then we drop, okay?”

“No! Not okay!” Happy grunted out through his clenched jaw. At least he didn’t fucking wiggle so damn much this time. “How do you know we’ll make it!?”

“Four blades, five RPM, given the diameter of the tower…” Hispano spat out before again choking on the thickening smoke. “Fuck it, no time to explain the math, just trust me!” She snapped before turning her gaze to me. “Three, two, one…”

The two of us snapped our wings shut, and with Happy’s scream filling our ears, we fell.

The pulses grew louder, and each blast of air that hit us as we fell, squeezed at my already struggling lungs. In the black of the thick and swirling smoke, light started to poke through. The air below us was growing warmer, and thinning alarmingly fast.

With a heavy burst of air, I could see a monstrous silver wall sweep over our heads. The massive slightly rusty blades of the fan thumped the air one last time as we passed just in front of it. Before I even had time to call it out, the upwards pressure of the turbine sucked my wings off of my sides, and both Hispano and I flared them to help stop our fall.

The floor under the center of the fan consisted of a curved concrete peak. While we’d slowed with the updraft, we all dropped onto it hard and tumbled down it’s side. The three of us offered our own myriad of colorful obscenities as we finally came to a stop near the bottom of the slope. My injured wing throbbed, and my empty socket stung behind my eyepatch.

My lungs seized up as they did their best to expel the thick smoke we’d dropped out of. Thankfully for us, the updraft tower did it’s best to keep the ground only modestly smokey. As I rose to my hooves, I looked around to gauge just where we were supposed to go next. And to my surprise, I found myself looking at a blazing inferno through the seized intake fans that ringed the base of the tower.

The park we’d driven past on our way into the city was completely ablaze. The sheet metal buildings that had dotted the park had either collapsed, or were somewhere in the process of melting. Bodies of ponies littered the bases of the small buildings, charred, and in a few cases, still on fire. It was… disturbing to look at.

“How pathetic.” Solomon’s voice made my mane stand on end.

I watched as a billowing cloud of smoke wafted through the air in front of me, and like a ghost, Solomon appeared out of it. His pristine white coat almost shimmered even in the smoke and ash, and his smug smile was just as terrible as ever. He raised his hoof to me, and with a dismissive toss, forced a cloud of smoke up over me.

I coughed and hacked as my lungs were filled again, but as I waved my forehoof to clear the cloud around my head, I found myself standing on the highway outside of the city again. Before me, sat the wreckage of the hauler. Looking over to where I’d found Hardcase, the large sheet of metal wasn’t there, but he was. I gasped in horror as his corpse sat there staring at me, judging me.

“No, no… not again…” I muttered, gasping as along with my words, a thick black cloud came from my muzzle. Again, the cloud made my lungs burn as I panicked and galloped forwards out of it. I’d only made it a few steps before I was tripped and came tumbling down to the ground.

“It’s so sad that you killed them.” Solomon’s voice echoed in the air.

It was like he was everywhere, I… I couldn’t escape it. Scrambling to get back up, I pulled myself up using the remains of the rec area couch. It shifted with my weight, nearly tipping back over and dumping Lucky’s burned corpse onto me.

I screamed and forced myself back to my hooves, shoving his charred and broken body off of me.

“Hardly a way to treat someone you once thought of as a friend.” Solomon let out a laugh that sent a shiver down my spine. “Don’t take it personally, Night. It’s just business.”

“No!” I screamed out at him. “I’m going to fucking kill you! You hear me!?”

“Night.” Buck’s voice was only a whisper in my ear, but it was there. Turning around, I looked for Buck and found him pinned under the reactor debris, just as he had been. He wore a sad, vacant look across his face, but his muzzle still moved as he spoke to me. “It’s not real, none of it is. You have to remember where you really are.”

Wha… wait, this wasn’t… real?

Forcing myself to blink a few times, the world swirled as thick black smoke consumed it. Flickering fires pushed the highway scene back into my memories where it belonged, and the world as it was slowly resolved itself again. I spun myself around towards where we’d landed, and was immediately met with a look of annoyance from Happy, as well as a concerned Hispano.

“I… I’m good.” I spoke into my headset. None of that was real, Night, it was just your fucking head again. “I’m sorry, I’m all good now.”

“Alright,” Buck’s voice came through crisp and clear over my headset. “There should be a maintenance hatch somewhere on the floor nearby that you can use to enter the duct-works of the Stable.”

“Alright, we’re on it.” I nodded and started to look across the floor.

“Hold up.” Hispano’s talon prodded me right in the chest, forcing my attention up to her. “Night, you’re pretty fucking far from ‘all good’. Are you sure you’re up for this?”

“We need to get Ping and your dad, and free the slaves Mr. Wizard has locked down there.” I reached up and pushed her talon off of me, forcing her to step back with a frown. “We don’t have time to wait for me to be alright.”

“Yeah...” Happy spat out before doubling over in a hacking fit that ended up with him actually puking up whatever he’d had in his stomach. With a groan, he wiped at his muzzle before going back to favoring his injured shoulder. “Plus, we need to get out of this smoke.”

“Alright, fine.” Hispano growled as she turned and walked up to Happy. “Open your muzzle.” Hispano barked at Happy, only receiving a confused look from him. Hesitantly, he did as asked before looking at me in a moment where I’m pretty sure he knew what was coming.

Without hesitation, Hispano wrapped her talons around his injured leg and twisted it. The fleshy pop that came from his socket as she pushed his shoulder back into place was enough that had it not been for the horrors of the wasteland I’d already seen, I’d have thrown up at it. The fully bodied scream he gave however, I could sympathize with at the very least.

“There, let’s get going then.” Hispano called out coldly as she walked off into the smoke.

I know that she meant well by wanting me to be alright, but she had to know that this wasn’t the time for that. Maybe it was exactly that she did know that made her angry, I’ll never know. But one thing was certain in my mind. That after all of this, I was going to have to make it up to her in a big way.

And I’m pretty sure that this time, a simple date was going to be nowhere near good enough.

Hispano chittered through her beak as she worked with a few of the wires to the sealed door that sat before us. It looked pretty much identical to the ones that were all throughout Salt’s hive, but that’s not surprising when he said they’d stolen the design from Stable-Tec itself. A few sparks shot from between Hispano’s talons as she connected a pair of wires, and the sharp hiss of pneumatic locks followed as the door unlocked.

The door slid open under its own power, revealing a grime coated and heavily corroded hallway beyond. Old yellowed and dim lights flickered along the corners of the ceiling, and the jarring hum that they gave off filtered out through the stale air that pushed through the open door to meet us. Happy scoffed at the sight.

“For as much as Ma’ had praised them, this place looks fucking terrible.” He snorted as he poked his head through the doorway. Hesitantly stepping inside, he looked visibly disturbed as his hooves clacked softer than expected on the rusty metal flooring. “If this is how Stable-Tec built shit, no wonder so many stables opened up early.”

“Well, I don’t think this is a good example of them.” Hispano spoke up as she swung Suiza up onto her back, and the two of us followed Happy as he pressed onward. “Looks to me that with this level of corrosion, this place probably wasn’t even maintained before the bombs.”

“Well, whatever the case, it looks like Mr. Wizard doesn’t even know this part of the Stable exists.” I blurted out as the flickering overhead lights caught my eye.

This place creeped me out. I couldn’t really say why, but something just felt… off. My gut didn’t have a feeling about it one way or the other, but you could feel something in the air that made everything seem just wrong.

Then again, maybe that was just my addiction messing with my head.

“Do you feel that?” Hispano cooed as she pulled away from me momentarily to press herself against one of the filthy walls. “This place is just oozing with magic. There’s something big going on down here.”

“Mirage ponies.” I spoke up, forcing Hispano to cock her eyebrow at me. “They’re slaves generating power for Mr. Wizard. We’re here to free them.” She looked confused, but overall satisfied with my simple explanation as she nodded and continued on.

“Alright, you’re officially outside the bounds of the Factory’s knowledge.” Buck’s oddly non-hesitant voice came through my headset. “We don’t know what it’s like down there, so you three have to be careful. Until the Celestia’s Angels can fight their way to you, you’re on your own.”

“Understood.” I nodded and looked to Happy, who gave me one in return. Looking to Hispano, I flashed her a nervous smile. “Welp, no more assistance from here on out. It’s up to us to find Ping and your Dad now.”

“Relax, Dum Dum.” Hispano gave me a pat on the side as her bright eyes lit up. “We’re now essentially a bunch of unsupervised kids with high powered weaponry. There’s no more rules unless we make ‘em!”

“You should be advised that I am still monitoring you.” Buck’s stern voice came through my headset.

“Yeah, now you’re talkin’ my language!” Happy laughed as he reached up and flicked off the strap that had bound his sword in his sheath. “Fuck the rules, let’s ruin Mr. Wizard’s day!”

“Good luck, Night.” Buck’s voice gave out a soft burst of static as he spoke. “If you see any of the mirage ponies down there, do your best to free them. They may not be armed, but their release might cause a bit of chaos in your favor.”

“Yeah, yeah, we’ll keep an eye open for them.” Happy smirked as he trotted up towards a nearly completely rusted out door. “But the faster we find Ping, the better.”

“And don’t forget we need to find my dad.” Hispano grunted as she all but shoved Happy away from the old door. With a stiff yank of her talons, the door let out a cringe inducing squeal and opened up.

On the other side, stood a very surprised stallion who’d been facing the other way.

“Shit.” Happy gasped as he returned Hispano’s favor by shoving her directly into me. The two of us stumbled back as Happy bit down on his sword, drew it, and hit the stallion right in the face with the blade.

Now, I’d seen ponies blown up or shot to death. But I’d never seen somepony’s head split in half like that. Not even when Buck had killed that assassin back in Filly Crossing had it been so… clean. As the stallion’s corpse crumpled to the floor, the fleshy squelch that came as Happy yanked his blade out sent a shock up my spine.

That was grotesque, and sickening, and yet, horrifyingly amazing all at the same time...

“That… was a hell of a swing.” Hispano spoke up for the both of us as she pulled off of me. “Seriously, where…”

Hispano’s voice was drowned out by a piercing scream from through the doorway. The hysterical mare’s cries were joined by a dozen others in the room beyond. This time it was my turn to press forward, and I pushed past both Hispano and Happy into the room.

The room we’d broken into looked similar to the atrium room that Salt’s Hive had, albeit without as many vertical stories to it. The large square room held three different levels, and each one was jam packed with metal storage racks, wires, and tubes that carried various fluids in them. It wasn’t until my eyes fell upon what was stored on those racks that I realized who was screaming.

Zebra striped ponies, hundreds of them were strapped down to the racks. The cables and fluid tubes ran between them all, ending on each of their bodies in either intravenous medical gear, or electrodes placed all over them. But as horrible and terrifying as it was to see ponies kept this way, what was worse, was not a single one of them looked like they had legs. At all.

“Please can you quit screaming when we’re here to rescue you!” Happy stepped through the doorway and caused the mares in front of us to quiet down with a whimper. “That’s fucking better.”

“You… you’re here to rescue us?” The mare who’d been screaming the loudest paused and spoke up hesitantly. She was a white coated mare, with daisy yellow stripes that almost blended in with her pristine coat. The small horn adorning her head was nearly completely obscured by the electrode pasted over it, and from the way she shifted her diminutive wings across her back, I could tell she was still terribly frightened.

“What the fuck is going on here…” Hispano as always, asked the sensible question. “Are these those mirage pony things you were talking about? I’ve never even seen ponies like this before.”

“Buck, we’ve got a problem.” I grumbled into my headset as I swept my eyes over every rack in sight. Seriously, not a single one of these ponies had any legs at all! “We can’t move the mirage ponies, we’re going to need a whole crew to come down here to help them.”

“Are you sure?” Buck paused for a moment, letting a wave of static run through my headset. “Is there any way you can get any of them at all to help?”

“No, that asshole has them strapped down to metal racks and dressed up like fucking pincushions!” Happy helpfully snapped as he looked just as horrified at all of this as I was. “And this room has only a few hundred of them at most. If they’re all…”

The air was split as the chattering automatic fire of a rifle cut through it. Sparks flew off of the racks around us, and the white coated mare ahead of me let out a short scream before her and a few of the ponies around her were perforated by the spray of fire. Hispano pulled both Happy and I backward and squeezed the three of us into the open rusty doorway again.

“We’ve got company!” Hispano called out as the mirage ponies in the room started to scream and panic. Seriously, did they all need to scream? Though, I guess that was pretty much all they could do…

Slipping her sister into her talons, Hispano pushed the barrel of Suiza around the corner towards where the fire had come from. Taking a deep breath, she braced herself against the wall before dipping out into the room. Suiza’s barking shots left ringing in my ears, but also drowned out the panicking Mirage ponies.

The visceral scream that punctured the air over it all brought a smile to Hispano’s face as she stopped firing. Looking over to me, she waved for me to join her out in the room. The blast of a shotgun scratched scattered lines across the floor next to Hispano. Again, she answered with another few quickly aimed shots with Suiza.

Stepping forward, I felt a hoof firmly grasp me from behind. Looking back, I found Happy firmly pressing his other forehoof to his side to stem a bleeding wound on it. Fuck.

“Don’t fucking leave me just standing here, Night.” Happy growled at me as another pair of shotgun blasts filled the air behind me. “I won’t let you fucking abandon me.”

“I’m not leaving anyone!” I snapped back and pushed his hoof off of me. “Stay there for now and don’t die.” I understand that he’s scared, but I shouldn’t have to explain why the fuck I needed to get into the fight.

Spinning around, I pressed myself against the rusty doorway. Hoofing the bit to my submachine gun into my muzzle, I waited for Hispano to let off another few shots before moving. Pushing off, I turned to face whoever was attacking us, only to immediately duck.

I swore that the rusty saw blade that flew over my head sheared off a bit more of my already short mane before slamming into the metal shelf behind me with a resounding clang. The pony who’d nearly lopped off my head dipped back around the next doorway, dragging their large makeshift gun with them. From where I stood, they weren’t completely in cover, and I got to watch in profound fascination as they slid another saw blade in between two metal prongs on their gun.

Seriously!? Galina’s stupid auto-talon had been bad enough, but who the fuck built a gun that throws saw blades!? I call bullshit on that!

Okay then, he had to be the first to go. Taking advantage of my limited sightline, I walked forward a few steps. I pulled just far enough into the view of the pony that he paused his reloading to glance up at me.

I let loose a red spray of death that swept across the doorway, lighting the pony up in more ways than just one. The old wartime clothes the pony wore caught fire, while a few of the beams caused their body to glow and dissipate into a pile of pink ashes. If you ask me, it was too quick of a death for somepony who kept others in the state the Mirage ponies were in.

With the death of the sawpony, a spray of gunfire poured haphazardly through the doorway. Hispano answered with a chattering burst of rounds that punched holes straight through the concrete wall that lined the doorframe. She looked to me as she brought Suiza to her side, nodding for us to move forward.

The silver apple that came through the shot up doorway however convinced us that back was a safer direction.

Hispano and I dove for cover behind some of the Mirage pony racks. The blast of the small explosive was sharp, and it sent my hearing into nothing more than a constant high pitched note. It was a terrible prospect to use the Mirage ponies as shielding, but if the three of us didn’t make it out of here, none of them would ever leave either.

The smell of blood had quickly filled the air, and the remaining lights above the blast zone flickered wildly. My heart was racing, absolutely hammering against my chest, but not because I was afraid. No, it was because for once, I knew what I was doing in a fight.

I mouthed my trigger bit and both Hispano and I pushed around the edge of the racks. My eyes met those of the unicorn who’d been blindly firing his shotgun into the room. He’d had his gun pointed over toward the door we’d come in from, and that was going to cost him.

Bursting the lancing red death from my sub gun, I loosed spray after spray. The pony was tagged a few times in his right leg, but he managed to roll behind a rack of mutilated mirage ponies. Giving one final burst, I sprayed over the remains of the unfortunate ponies, but none of my shots could penetrate. Unfortunately, that’s one downside the Enclave always knew magical energy weapons had...

The air thumped as the report from Suiza flashed from my side, and a spray of gore erupted from the rack ahead. A bloody hoof sized hole had been punched straight through the shotgun pony, and his shotgun slid out of his magic as he died on the spot. While M.E.W.s had problems penetrating, it turns out that it’s not really a barrier for something that can pierce through concrete!

A light tapping came from behind me, and I turned to find Happy propping himself up against the doorway. He still had his hoof firmly pressed against his side, but his silver sword was held firmly at the ready in his muzzle. Seriously, he needed to stay back! Lifting my hoof, I told him to stay put.

He simply rolled his eyes and glared at me. Something was different than before though, I could see it in him. He was determined. I don’t know if it was just the stubborn donkey half of him, but it was there as plain as daylight.

Even so, now was not the time for him to argue or get in the way.

Looking back at Hispano, she flicked her talon for me to move forward. I nodded, pointing towards one of the racks against the wall next to the doorway. With her own nod, she steadied Suiza against herself and simply stared down the sights toward the door.

Okay, Night, it’s time to be a distraction. It’s just a hop, a skip, and…

I pushed off on my rear hoof and my prosthetic, dashing towards the far wall. As I burst into my gallop, I glanced over at the dead shotgun pony to confirm he was well and truly gone. Unfortunately, that meant I wasn’t watching my hoofing.

With what must have looked like comically wild flailing to Hispano, I slipped on the pooling blood and bits of gore. Even my prosthetic couldn’t find any purchase, and I crashed down onto the metal floor. My momentum carried me on my side, and I slid through the bloody muck coming to a skidding halt.

I pushed myself to get up, but my hooves only slipped and slid. The seconds ticked past as I failed to push myself up, and my heart started to beat faster as a bit of panic crept in. Come on, Night, you need to move. Now!

Another bright silver apple rolled into the room, coming to a stop just out of reach of me. I stared at it in horror as I was helpless to move. No cover, no time to think.

A spike of pain enveloped my wing and back as immense pressure came down on them. I screamed as I felt the bone in my right wing snap as the flight suit was deformed by whatever had pushed down on it. With my eye wide open with the scream, I looked up to see the towering form of Happy standing on my back.

With a scream that nearly beat back the ringing in my ears, he torqued himself hard, and I felt a rib shatter in my chest with his shifted weight.

The wide leather wrapped pommel of his sword swung down beside me. With one swift motion, the pommel smacked the grenade back through the doorway and out of sight. The sword dropped to the ground as Happy threw himself to the ground next to me, and the grenade went off.

What little hearing I’d regained from the first grenade died again with the second blast. A cloud of dust and smoke shot through the doorway and the holes Suiza had made in the wall. And as my heart pounded away in my chest from the close shave, I felt thumping through the metal floor. Heavy, methodic shakes that almost felt like…

Through the smoke and dust in the doorway, a massive silver figure pushed into the room. The soulless eyes on the helmet of a suit of Steel Ranger power armor turned to look down at Happy and I. The heavy machine gun bolted to the suit held a near comically long barrel, but the belt of large fifty caliber ammo attached to it was nowhere near as funny to me.

Pivoting, the power armored pony attempted to turn to line the massive gun up with Happy and I, but as he turned, the large barrel smacked against the doorway and stopped him. With a furious stomp, he straightened himself out and stepped forward before trying to turn again. This time, the barrel threaded between a rack and it’s mounting, getting the barrel stuck once more.

You could almost see the look of rage and frustration through the expressionless mask. I had to fight back a laugh as the pony fought to maneuver in such tight quarters. But while a healthy chuckle would have felt good, my ribs and probably punctured lung thanked me for refraining for now.

Sparks erupted from the chest plate of the power armor as a set of holes tore through the suit from Suiza’s shots. Blood poured from the holes, even as the suit immediately began to repair itself. The pony, amazingly wasn’t outright killed by the rending hits. A testament to the robust design of wartime power armor’s onboard medical systems no doubt.

However, the three of us had already learned how you deal with hard to kill assholes in power armor.

Hispano’s next burst shaved the entire upper half of the pony’s helmet straight off. Blood, bone, and shards of metal exploded upward as her piercing shots ended the fight before it could start. With a shudder, the damaged power armor slumped forward, bending the pinned barrel of the heavy machine gun into an L shape as it did.

A pause took hold of the room, and even the steady ringing note in my ears dulled slightly. My broken rib and wing flared in pain as my body beat out the adrenaline pumping through my veins. Still, I had my eyes locked on the doorway, watching, waiting for somepony else to come through.

How many more would we have to fight through? How many more ponies did we have to kill to get to Mr. Wizard? The truth was, none of us had any idea, but I knew that both Hispano and Happy were ready to do what it takes to get our friends and family back, no matter how many more lined up to die in that doorway.

“Ruthless, efficient.” Solomon’s voice once again drifted through my mind. His smugness easily cut through the ringing in my ears, and caused my socket to flare up in pain again. “If I had to make a comment, I’d say you were becoming just. Like. Me.”

Seriously, when I yelled at Violet and Buck in my head that I didn’t need them anymore, it was not an invitation for my mind to put fucking Solomon in their place…

My head was pulled to the right as my communications gear was torn from it. Firm talons pressed my head sideways before cold liquid splashed into my ear. With a fizzing pop, the constant ringing was replaced with the sounds of screams, agony, and crying from the surviving Mirage ponies around us. With another yank, Hispano tilted my head again and poured a bit more of her healing potion into my half-ear.

“Thanks.” I grumbled, flicking the wetness from my ears as the world fell back into it’s stereo sound again.

“That was a solid engagement, Night.” Hispano’s voice had a note of pride in it, but I could tell that it wasn’t exactly full of excitement like normal. “But we’re not done yet, and I wouldn’t count on having your ass saved like that again.”

Looking up at Hispano as she carefully stepped through the gore around me, I caught a smug look across her beak before she shoved the potion into my muzzle for a few moments. I nearly choked on the purple fluid before she ripped it away to give the remaining half to Happy. While it didn’t heal my wing or my rib, it at least numbed the pain enough for it to be manageable for the moment. What I really needed right now was some Chill to…

No, Night, that’s not what you need.

“Speaking of, that was quick thinking, Happy.” Hispano cooed coolly at him as he took the potion and completely downed it in one go like it was a glass of whiskey. Some of it leaked out of the large gash the sword had cleanly torn through his left cheek when he’d swung it. Slowly, the wound pulled itself together as he reached up and wiped his blood away with his hoof. “Where’d you learn to use a sword technique like that?” She asked, almost sounding impressed.

“Ma’ always wanted me to keep up Burro family traditions when growin’ up.” Happy groaned as he tossed the empty glass bottle away, shattering it on the floor in the corner. “That included this stupid traditional donkey game called ‘golf’.” Reaching up to his newly healed cheek, he rubbed at it with a frustrated look across his face. “Though you’re supposed to swing clubs, not swords. Still worked, but I ain’t too happy with what it did to my face.” Groaning, he tried to stand, only to go wide eyed and choke back a scream.

“Yeah, the bullet you took is too deep to quickly remove.” Hispano spoke up as she gave a flap of her wings and pulled herself up off the gore coated floor. “You won’t bleed out internally so long as you don’t pull any daring moves, just stay put for now. Buck’s going to have to dig it out of there once this is all over.”

“Fuckin’ hell.” He grunted as he pressed his hoof to his side. With a few quick breaths, he tried to stand again, but cried out and collapsed to the floor once more. “Fuck, I don’t think I can even go anywhere like this...”

“Then, as I fucking said, you need to stay here.” I spoke up as I carefully tried to pick myself up. My hooves slid slightly on the slick floor, but without having to move quickly, I managed to get back onto my hooves without too much of a problem.

“No, we stick together.” Happy groaned as he rolled onto his side and glared at me.

“He’s right, Happy. You’re dead weight in a fight like this.” Hispano shot him a glare and pointed her talon out sharply.

She shifted herself and held her talon out to help steady me as I tried to walk over towards the deceased power armored pony in the doorway. With a few close calls on the slippery floor, I managed to get close enough that I could reach out and brace myself against the bulky metal armor. Once she knew I was stable, Hispano fluttered through the doorway and returned with the odd Sawblade gun. Carefully, she brought it to Happy and set it down next to him.

“I know you can’t really move, but it’s on you to protect yourself and the Mirage ponies while we fight our way forward.” Hispano’s stern tone definitely sounded more like her father’s than the happy-go-lucky griffon I remembered hanging out with on the convoy. I mean, I knew we’d all been changed by the convoy’s destruction, but… I guess I hadn’t expected so much of a change from Hispano.

“Well, if that’s the case…” Happy groaned as he pulled the sawblade launcher closer to him, snorting in disgust as he lifted it from the gore coated floor. “Can’t you help me into that power armor or something? This piece of shit isn’t going to jack squat against a group of ponies if they come for them.”

For some reason, that made me laugh.

“You can’t operate power armor without training.” I snorted and gave the heavy armor under me a good smack with my hoof. “If you got inside without knowing what you were doing, you’d break your back, or worse.”

“Again, gotta side with Dum Dum here.” Hispano smirked as she fluttered over and landed herself on the raised rump of the armor. “Just keep on your headset and Buck will have someone down here to help you in no time.”

Oh, right, my coms helmet!

Turning around, I looked down at the puddle of gore across the floor. I was forced to pause as I noticed the streaking red lines and uneven coating of where I’d skid across the floor. There was a lot more blood than I’d thought, and looking up along the racks around us, I noticed just how many mirage ponies had been killed in our fight.

It hurt to see the sheer amount of suffering and death our actions had brought, but honestly, it just made me angry. They wouldn’t have ever been in this situation if it weren’t for Mr. Wizard, and I wouldn’t need to kill that bastard so much if he wasn’t helping Solomon. While the deaths of so many innocent ponies was regrettable, it would all be worth it once I killed them both.

“So then, now that you understand how it works, how can you say you’re any different from me?” Solomon’s voice echoed through my head again. “Because so long as you get what you want, it doesn’t matter who you have to trample over. It’s just business, Night.”

“Just shut up!” Clamping my blood coated hooves to the side of my head, I screamed out. Why couldn’t I just get these thoughts out of my head? I know they’re my own, but sweet Celestia… I just needed something, anything to numb them!

Warmth radiated around my body as I felt Hispano wrap her talons around me in a tight hug. It didn’t help to numb anything, but the feeling at least silenced the thoughts in my head. Opening my eye, I watched as she averted her own, reaching up to me with a balled talon. Slowly, she opened it to reveal three and a half tabs of Chill.

I wanted to open my muzzle and refuse, to tell her that I couldn’t take them. But as it always did, my body acted without my consent. I practically dove into the pills, sloppily slurping them from her talon and greedily forcing them down my throat. It was the most embarrassing thing to have to witness from inside my own head, and I wanted nothing more than to just throw the pills up and cry about how far I’d fallen.

But no sooner than they’d gotten into my stomach did they start to work, and the warm numbing feeling I’d come to rely on swept over me. My heart calmed, and I felt just the hint of a smile push through the intensely guilty look I wore. I hated having to do this, but I didn’t have a choice.

“Get your shit and let’s go.” Hispano’s sharp words weren’t loud. The disappointment in them however, cut deep as she wicked my saliva off of her talon and rubbed it off on her saddlebags.

Turning around, I reached down and picked up my comms helmet from the gore coated floor and put it back on. As I did, I caught the tired and almost sad look that Happy wore as well. I knew that while he and Hispano trusted me, they couldn’t stand to see me need some stupid drug to keep my sanity. But like I’d told Buck, once this was all over, once we’d killed Mr. Wizard and Solomon, then I’d take the time to get clean.

But for now, we had shit to do, and I couldn’t apologize to them for doing what I needed to in order to see it through.

Hispano sniffled and wiped at her eyes as she angrily fiddled with the door panel wires that operated the massive cog shaped door. Neither of us had uttered a single word as we passed through up to here. We didn’t have to say a single thing to know we both understood that this was worse than anything we could have expected.

Four minutes. That’s all it’d taken to walk to the front of this multi-room horror show. We passed through four different styled atrium, six different layouts of recreational facilities, and three separate living quarter layouts. Each and every fucking one was packed wall to wall with racks of Mirage Ponies. Even worse, were the rooms that were just nothing but foals. Some of them even still had legs of their own, which had brought an even worse revelation to Hispano and I as we’d made our way unopposed to the entrance of the fake stable.

“Night,” Buck’s voice popped through my coms helmet without warning, making me jump a bit. “Ping’s systems just came back online, but only for a few seconds before we lost it again. He is inside the main Science Center building, in the proximity of Mr. Wizard’s personal quarters. What is your status?”

“Hispano and I are at the door to the display Stable. We’re trying to get it open now.” Even as I responded, I looked back at the way we’d come through and shuddered. “You should see it down here, Buck. It’s so much worse than what we thought, these ponies are going to need a lot of help.”

“I have news for you.” Buck responded almost dismissively, “reports from the Celestia’s Angels are that the train maintenance yard has been liberated, as have residential sectors two, four, and five. The CCPD is still remaining neutral, and has barricaded its forces inside the city police headquarters building.” It was weird, but Buck’s voice almost sounded hollow to me. It was his voice, but like he’d taken all emotion out of it. To be honest, it kind of scared me...

“What’s going on?” Hispano paused at her work to prod at my heavily bruised side.

“Buck say’s we’re winning the fight out there, but Ping’s now somewhere in Mr. Wizard’s house.” I shot back, bringing a bit of Hispano’s once hope filled look back to her eyes.

“Great, when do we get some backup then?” She snorted as she got back to working on the panel.

“All assets are currently engaged and unavailable at this time.” Again, Buck’s voice came through with a light burst of static to it that made it sound tinny. “If you require assistance, it is advised that you seek out and rescue Miss. Hispano’s father.” Wait, Miss. Hispano? We… we were a family. Why would he ever call her by something so... formal?

“Buck, is… everything alright?” My gut tightened up as the words tumbled from my muzzle. “You don’t sound alright…” Oh Celestia, please let everything be...

“Yes, I am fine, Night. Everything is going according to plan.” Buck’s prompt response was all I needed to know that something was indeed wrong with him. There wasn’t any emotion in his voice, no care or worry, no love. “Why do you inquire?”

“N-nothing.” I flat out lied to him. I know I’d said I wouldn’t ever lie to him again, but this… this wasn’t on me this time. “Just… we need to talk after this is over, alright?”

“Okay, Night.” Again, he was dismissive and distant. And it hurt to hear it a lot more than I’d expect it to. “Make sure to check in once you have found Miss. Hispano’s father. More than likely, we won’t have much time before Ping is permanently disassembled.”

As soon as Buck had finished, yellow caution lights flared to life on the walls around us. Hispano stepped back from the panel, pulling Suiza up to her breast as a short klaxon blared through the air. The massive hydraulics in the walls worked to drag the heavy Stable-Tec branded door out of it’s home, pulling it onto it’s toothy track in the floor in front of Hispano and I. With a rhythmic hissing and thumping, the door slowly rolled out of the way.

A pair of confused looking and well armed goons turned from their posts on their side of the door. A shot from Suiza and a spray of magical energy from my saddle cut them down where they stood. All that was left in front of us was a large, bland concrete room that ended in a pair of elevator doors on the opposite side of it.

“Guess they really weren’t expecting anyone to come through from this way.” Hispano sighed as she brought Suiza up and slung her around her back again. Straightening out her flight cap, she glanced over to me with more than a hint of concern across her face. “So, you going to turn off your coms for a moment so we can talk in private?”

Spitting my bit from my muzzle, I folded it into its stowed position. As we both stepped over the gap where the door had been I reached up and slipped my com’s helmet off and hoofed at it’s inside. With a crisp click, I switched channels on it to one that wasn’t being used instead of outright turning it off, which… now that I thought about it, I had no idea how to do anyway.

“Alright, we’re alone.” I nodded to her as we both walked over to the elevator doors. They were in remarkably good condition compared to the maintenance hall we’d come through, so it was a good sign that this was probably the main way Mr. Wizard and his goons got in and out of the stable. Turning to Hispano, I sighed as she hit the recall button for one of the cars. “Now what did you…”

My words were stolen as Hispano lunged at me and pressed her beak to my muzzle. I can’t say that it was unwelcome to have her kiss me again, but I was more so confused at the odd timing she had with it. As she broke the kiss with tears dripping down her cheeks, I knew that maybe it wasn’t about the timing, and more about having something familiar in her life again.

“I’m sorry.” She spoke softly as she wrapped her talons around me loosely enough that she didn’t press against my side or wing too much. “It’s just, I waited for so long for you to come back. I knew that you were still out there, but… I didn’t know it would be like… this.”

“Like what?” I asked sharply, scrunching up my muzzle as I pulled a glared from her.

“You came flying back into the city with a robot. Happy’s acting like a fucking wartime ghoul with WTSD, and you?” Her voice squeaked as she tightened her grip on my sides. “You’re worse off than even I was after you went to kill Galina.” Averting her eyes, she let her grip slide down until she altogether just let go of me. “Now you’re questioning if Buck’s alright, and… I don’t know what to think anymore because everything’s just different now.”

“Hispano…” I tried to tell her that I was sorry, that I wish that things were different. But I couldn’t bring myself to say it. She was right, a lot had changed for all of us. But we’d all done what we needed to in order to survive. That’s all I’ve ever done.

“Look, Night,” Hispano rubbed at her forearm with her talon nervously. “I know things haven’t really gone as planned, but I just want to go back to how things were, you know? And I’m...” She paused with a quiver of her beak as she looked down at the ground. “I’m afraid that it’s too late. That things will never go back to normal.” And with that, she finally broke down. “I just want to be a family again, with you, Buck, and my dad.”

“Shhh, I know, Hispano.” Reaching forward, I wrapped my hooves around her and pulled her close again. It’s all I really could do. “We’ll work through this. Even if things aren’t better when it’s over, then we’ll just have to try again tomorrow, right?” She forced herself to nod as she sobbed into my bloody harness and coat. “And even if things are different, it doesn’t mean I’m going anywhere without you or Buck ever again. Got it?”

She sniffled, pulling her blood smeared face up to look at me. Again, she forced herself to nod, even if the pain in her eyes told me that she didn’t believe me. I leaned down, planting a soft kiss on her forehead plumage just below her flight cap.

The elevator gave a soft ding as it arrived, and the doors slid open with a mechanical clack. The two of us stepped inside and took our places on opposite ends before Hispano reached over and hit the button that read 15 on it. Soft music played through speakers hidden in the elevator car, and a small chime played out before the doors once again slid shut.

“Hello, Night.” The Architect’s voice came through my coms helmet. “I just wanted to remark that you have nothing to worry about with Buck. He will be fine.”

“Uh...” Putting my hoof up to my helmet, I scrunched up my muzzle in confusion. “You’re on this channel, Architect?” Glancing over at Hispano, her expression immediately sank into one of immense concern again. I waved my forehoof to try to tell her not to worry, but somehow I knew that this wasn’t going to be that kind of a conversation. “What do you mean I shouldn’t worry? What’s going on?”

“Yes, I am on all channels monitoring your progress.” The pride in the Architect’s voice sat at odds with how Hispano and I’s conversation had just left me feeling, but I couldn’t blame him for not understanding. “But to answer your question,” He continued, “the command position you place him in that allows him to see every extent of the current fighting, and that has not been easy to view, even for me. Buck has as a result, suffered a tremendous amount of emotional stress that had developed into a near mental breakdown. Much like with his fear of flying, he has asked us to suppress his emotions in order to allow him to keep coordinating this operation.”

So that’s why he was sounding like a fucking machine? Really!?

“Look, Architect, he can handle it.” I tried not to let my annoyance bleed through too much, but at this point, I didn’t really care to much about being subtle. “He himself said that he understood how things worked now, that you showed him the necessity of it. It might be overwhelming at first, but it's just something he'll have to work through.” Again, looking over at Hispano, her expression had shifted to being more grim, and the hope she’d held before was once again gone. “That's how I had to do it, so you need to let him feel it because you can’t keep him safe from it forever.”

“I’m sorry, Night,” The Architect let off a sigh over the radio. “But it is in the interest of this operation and his mental health that we help him to suppress…”

“No.” I snapped at him sharply, even making Hispano jump a bit from my tone. “If you’ve really been listening in, does it sound like Buck’s better off to you? Cause to me, he might have the same voice, but he’s not there anymore. You’ve changed him because you’re allowing this, and you of all creatures are going to tell me it’s necessary? How fucking hypocritical are you to allow it so long as it isn’t a resident of the Factory?”

“You… you are right, Night…” The Architect’s voice did have a note of remorse to it, but I just needed to hammer the point home once and for all.

“You’re Celestia damned right I am. So I’m not asking you, Architect.” I spat at him with all the anger and force I could ever hope to transmit through a radio. “You give me my Buck back, right now. Am I understood?”

“I understand.” The Architect’s voice came across as more monotone than normal, and I couldn’t help but feel that maybe he was suppressing his own emotions of regret right about now. “I am at a loss as to how I did not see or consider the implications it would carry. And for that, I am sorry, and I will do my best to keep incidents like this from happening in the future. I will get to work on removing the suppression software from Buck's augments in stages, as to not overwhelm his emotional state. You have my word, Night, that he will be back to his normal self soon.”

“Thank you.” I grumbled before tearing off my communication’s helmet and fiddling with it to turn it completely off. After what felt like a full minute of fumbling, I finally found the off switch and flicked it hard enough that I was almost afraid I’d broken it. Only then did I sigh and let myself slump back against the elevator wall.

“Well,” Hispano’s meek voice brought my eyes up off the cap and onto her forced smile. “If anything’s changed for the better, I’m glad you’re not a doormat anymore, Dum Dum.”

“Heh, yeah.” I forced myself to let out a short laugh as I joined Hispano in trying to suppress our shared disappointment. “Let’s just find your dad so we can get Ping back and end this fucking nightmare already.”

Author's Note

Once again, I'd like to give my thanks to TheFurryRailFan for going over this chapter and fixing a lot of the little errors I leave in. While I've still not gotten myself back to 100% in terms of writing, it's nice to know I've always got someone to lend a pair of eyes to keep my chapters clean.

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat as always, for creating and lending out this universe to all of us in the FoE fandom.

Chapter 68 - Mad Science

'Mad Science' means never stopping to ask 'what's the worst thing that could happen?'

*Ding*

The elevator doors opened to reveal an empty and dark foyer. There were no lights on outside of the dim yellowed one in the elevator car, and there wasn’t a window in sight in the dark hallways beyond the foyer itself. Both Hispano and I held our breaths as we listened for signs of movement, but we were met only with the light groans from the old elevator cables above us. The two of us traded uneasy glances and readied our weapons before we hesitantly stepped out of the confining metal box.

*Ding*

The elevator chimed once more as the doors noisily rolled themselves shut, leaving only a sliver of yellow light to beam a line across the room.

“Okay, Dum Dum,” Hispano whispered to me as she carefully brought Suiza up to her cheek. “This is the only floor I couldn’t scout out from outside. This floor has no windows, and that alone would make it an ideal place to store a prisoner.”

“Uhh...” I muttered softly around the trigger bit in my muzzle, “You sure they even use this floor? Looks pretty abandoned to me.”

“Some of the egghead ponies who work at this place would take the elevator up to Mr. Wizard’s penthouse level at the start of the day.” Hispano replied as she stepped away from the sliver of light from behind us. She all but disappeared in the darkness of the corridor that ran who knew how far along here, and I did my best to follow her just on the sound of her steps. “Thing is, they’d head to a stairwell and wouldn’t return until sundown. They didn’t appear to travel up to the upper floors of the Science Center, so they had to come down here.” She grumbled and gave what sounded like a flap of her wings. “Watch your step there.”

My foreleg bumped into something heavy as she said that, and I couldn’t stop my momentum in time. With a yelp, I flopped forward onto the smooth stone floors and skidded on the still wet blood from the stable that coated half of my body. While I was glad that I hadn’t hurt myself, as I pulled myself up, I really wished I had some way to see where the fuck we were going.

“Ugh, could have used that warning a bit earlier.” I mumbled as I pulled myself up to my hooves. I turned my head back to roughly the spot where I’d tripped and shot it an angry glare. “Can’t blame you, I guess while we’re both stuck in the dark. Remind me to bring some sort of light next time.”

“Heh, and ruin my night vision? No thank you.” Hispano kept her voice lower than mine, and helped to turn me the right way towards her. “Just watch it, there’s bodies all over the place here. Try not to trip over anymore because you’ll tell these assholes exactly where we are, Dum Dum.”

“Wait, you can see?” I tried to keep my voice down, but with as fast as my muzzle worked, it was hard to stop myself from sounding alarmed.

“Keep it down!” Hispano hissed at me before I felt her talons wrap around my muzzle forcefully. “And yes, griffon eyesight is well adapted for nocturnal hunts. It’s partly why we’re fucking awesome.” Well, that’s something useful to know for the future! “Huh, it looks like Mr. Wizard had all his eggheads murdered. Guess they outgrew their usefulness.”

While that sounds like something Mr. Wizard would do, the question was why. As Hispano removed her talon from my muzzle, I tried to follow her in the darkness again. But as I walked blindly along, I tried to piece things together in my head.

What did he even have them working on in the first place? While it could admittedly be just about anything, I had this feeling in my gut that it has something to do with Mr. Wizard’s plan to take over the north. But the thing that didn’t make sense about that was that he needed the Factory’s chip technology for that. Maybe they were a backup plan?

“There’s light up ahead.” Hispano’s quiet voice broke me out of my thoughts. “It’s soft, but it’s coming from around the next hallway junction.”

“Alright.” I nodded to her and continued to follow the sound of her steps.

Sure enough, as we grew closer to the end of the hallway, I started to see a dim blue glimmering shine off of the polished stone floor. Even from here, I could hear the distinct humming of some sort of electronics ahead. Well I guess that meant the power down here wasn’t cut or anything. But that’s just it. There had to be some reason they kept it dark then, right? Especially with the fact that the city outside this place was falling apart. You’d think they’d want to get this place ready for a fight...

As Hispano passed in front of the dim light, her outline resolved as she pushed herself up against the wall at the corner of the junction. Carefully, she pushed her head around the corner for a quick glance. Satisfied, she pressed herself back against the wall and brought Suiza close to her again.

“Some sort of complex terminal set up.” She whispered to me. That would definitely explain the noise of electronics coming from the room. “Lots of equipment and wires in there. It’s probably a safe bet that it’s what those eggheads were working on.” She paused and held up her talon as she looked past me down the hallway where we’d just come from. “Somepony is coming.”

“Alright, get inside the room then.” I didn’t like going into this place blind, but there was a good chance that whoever it was, would be coming to check on this place. “If it’s only one pony, we need to keep them alive.” It was hard to see with only the blue terminal lighting to go off of, but Hispano didn’t look too impressed at my suggestion. “Hey, if they work here, maybe they know where your dad is.”

“Grrrr, fine.” She snorted before slipping herself off the wall and around the corner.

I followed her, stepping through an open doorway and directly into the terminal light that bathed the room in a soft blue luminescence. The room itself was a decent size, but the numerous towers of humming computer housings made it feel a lot more cramped. The hundreds of cables that looped and hung from the ceiling cast misshapen shadows that reminded me of spiderwebs. It sent a shiver down my spine, and for some reason, made that hole in my gut stretch itself even wider than it had before.

Hispano pointed me to one of the humming housings near another door along the far side of the room, and I nodded to her. The two of us carefully made our way across the tangled web of cables on the floor, but I paused as a soft whistling filled the air from the dark hallway we’d come in from. It was almost like whoever was out there was taunting us, letting their haunting somber sounding tune echo down the dark halls.

Of course, that wasn’t the only noise that greeted me as I tried to continue with Hispano. Again I had to stop as a quiet and static-lined sobbing came across my headset. I recognized it instantly, and it felt like a knife being stabbed into my heart.

“Buck… are you okay?” I whispered into my coms helmet.

“No, I’m not.” He whimpered before letting out another long but soft sob.

“This is not the time, Night.” Hispano growled at me as she waved for me to come to her.

“I’m sorry, Night. I…” Buck whimpered through a staticy sniffle, “you deserve better from me. But I’m so afraid.”

“It’s fine, Buck. We’re all afraid sometimes.” I whispered to him. Hispano was right, this was far from the time to be doing this. But right now Buck was our only real meaningful connection to the outside, and we might still need directions on where to go from here. “Look, we’ll talk about this later, okay?”

“No, it’s not okay!” Buck whimpered into my ear. “You deserve to have me there with you, helping you every step of the way. Hispano can fucking do it, and she’s only a year older than I am! I don’t want to be afraid anymore, Night. Every time I let you go out alone because I’m too afraid to, you end up coming back with less of yourself.”

The whistling pony was getting close now, and I could hear their relaxed pacing of their hoofsteps. Fuck, something in my gut was telling me that this was all wrong. Why would somepony announce themselves like this in the dark. They were either crazy, or they knew something Hispano and I didn’t.

“Are you even listening to me, Night!?” Buck’s sobbing came through with a distinct crackle of static that sent a line of sharp feedback through my headset. It was sharp enough that Hispano even bristled up against me and ripped the coms straight off of my head.

“We’re a bit busy right now, Buck!” She snapped in a whisper before she immediately reached up inside the headset and shut it off with a crisp click.

The moment she had, the whistling through the doorway stopped.

“I’ll admit,” The instantly recognizable voice of Messy reverberated through the room. “for a bitch, you put a lot more effort into sneaking around than you did helping out the last time you were here, survivor.” Slowly, he turned the corner and stood in the doorway. The blue hue that cast across the room lit him up well enough for both Hispano and I to see. And for some reason, he was looking right at us. “Smart, coming in through the Stable. But did you really think we wouldn’t know you were coming once you started shooting up the place?”

“Fuck this.” Hispano grumbled and brought Suiza up and aimed it right at the pink bastard.

The moment she’d done that, the door next to us nearly burst right off its hinges. The bright light of the hallway beyond flooded into the room, momentarily blinding the two of us. While we were stunned, the heavy hoofsteps of a pony clacked across the stone floors. Before Hispano and I had a chance to react, the snap of a stun baton filled the air.

My body seized up, and unfortunately, my tongue missed the trigger on my bit. I cried out as even with the Chill running through my veins, what felt like a million sparks ran through me. Even worse, was that I heard Hispano cry out as well. As soon as it had hit, the baton was removed and my legs collapsed out from under me.

With a snap, the lights overhead in the room were turned back on, and a whole host of ponies poured through the busted doorway next to us. As both Hispano and I struggled to get ourselves back up off the floor, I watched as a team of well built ponies dragged Ping’s bulbous metal body into the room. They unceremoniously tossed him down next to the central terminal that had been casting the light across the room, and I waited to see if he’d move at all. But no, he just sat there lifelessly, and I started to wonder if we’d been too late.

“You know, for the ‘great’ survivor everypony talks about, I’m less than impressed.” Mr. Wizard laughed as he walked through the doorway and lined up his haughty gaze through the old glasses perched on the end of his muzzle. Slowly, he reached his rotten hoof up to his chin and stroked at his non-existent beard. “Can’t say I’m surprised either. This whole ‘hero complex’ that’s popped up in the wastes these last few years has been nothing more than a minor annoyance waiting to be corrected.”

“What did you do to Ping?” I growled as I got to my hooves. As soon as I’d stood up, I felt the baton press into my side again. Another scream left my muzzle as once more, my body was wracked with pain. Again, the prod was removed and I collapsed.

“Your machine friend? Nothing much, really.” Mr. Wizard gave a snarky laugh before trotting over to the slumped form of Ping. The ghoul’s horn lit up, and a dozen or so cables snaked their way across the floor to him. “I just made a few simple modifications to it’s coding.” He grunted as one by one, his magic forced open the various ports on Pings body and the cables were shoved into them. “It’s base coding was a lot simpler than I’d imagined once you looked past the unnecessary personality subroutines. Clearing those will no doubt have improved the processing capabilities of these wondrous chips.”

“No…” The word slipped from my muzzle as I writhed on the floor. We were too late. Ping… he was gone.

“And to think, all those years wasted because I let my curiosity get the better of me that day.” Mr. Wizard smirked as he stepped back from Ping’s body and glanced over at me. “You know after speaking with it back then, I hadn't once thought the ‘Architect’ clever enough to slip away like it did.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I snapped at him. First he kills my friend, and now he wants to fucking spat out shit he expects me to believe? Oh, I was so going to enjoy watching him turn into fucking ash.

“Oh, it didn't tell you?” Mr. Wizard let out a forced laugh as he turned and trotted over to the blue screened terminal. With a flash of his horn, he started to input commands on the terminal’s keyboard. “When I first arrived back in this wretched city, I found the ‘Architect’ shut down in the robotics lab. It'd tried to repair itself, but it hadn't been able to finish the job before it's power reserves were drained. I don't even know how long it'd been down here before I found it.”

With a particularly strong stroke on the terminal keyboard, he finished his typing. The computer towers around us gave out sequential beeps as they each hummed louder. The blue screen flickered and disappeared, leaving a thin bar that stretched across the screen that had a percentage that was slowly ticking upwards.

“I'd never seen a machine like it before, and I figured it was in too bad of shape to escape.” He stepped away from the terminal as Messy trotted over towards Ping’s body.

Mr. Wizard gave him a nod before Messy started to shift Ping to a resting position. As he did, I noticed that the same thin bar on the Terminal screen, now also displayed across Ping’s featureless face. What the hell was he doing to Ping?

“I gave it a bit of a jump start so I could find out what it was before I was to tear it down piece by piece.” Mr. Wizard continued. “But the Architect figured out what I was up to, learning machines are clever that way. It simply bided it's time until it had enough power to run off into the wilderness the instant I turned my back on it. But like these learning machines, I've had a lifetime to study and prepare for the day I unlocked the secrets to make my own Architect. I even had those so called ‘scientists’ build this whole setup! It’s a shame they didn’t get to live to see the fruit of their work.” With a loving glance, that was far removed from anything that belonged on such a disgusting face, he looked down across Ping’s body. “It will be a machine loyal to me. A machine that will surpass my own genius, and design me an army unlike anything the north has ever encountered!”

“Fuck yeah, Mr. Wizard! Science!” Messy called out excitedly as he hopped over to him and held his hoof out to him. He only got a deadpan in return that dampened his mood. “You know, I’m... probably just going to head upstairs and make sure the next shipment is ready to go.”

“Yeah, you go do that.” Mr. Wizard snorted as he reached up and pressed his glasses up along his rotten muzzle. “Once the north is mine, then I will go back to those disgusting decaying islands and drown those Orthrus foals inside their own tunnels.”

I had to stall Mr. Wizard, even if just until Hispano and I could find a window to act with. As I watched steadily upticking number across Ping’s metalic head close in on completion, I pushed myself to find something wrong here. If I could find something off, I could get Mr. Wizard talking. And as long as he was talking, he wasn’t killing us or taking over Ping’s body.

Taking over, that’s it! Why hadn’t the Architect intervened? If he could take over something like the Arcturus, then surely he could have stopped this.

“How.” I snapped at him, doing my best to force back the smirk that so desperately wanted to crawl across my muzzle. “How are you keeping the Architect from using Ping to take over your own system?”

Mr. Wizard perked his eyebrow as he turned to me with a modestly unimpressed look across his rotten muzzle. He huffed again before bringing his hoof up to his muzzle to stroke at his missing beard. Narrowing his eyes, he glanced between me and the steadily growing numbers on Ping’s head. Finally, a small smile tugged at his muzzle.

“You want me to monologue, don’t you?” He gave a dismissive wave of his forehoof as he turned and stared at the working terminal. “I’m not some villain out of a foal’s comic book or old Applewood film. Then again…” He shot a glance back at me, letting his eyes wander both Hispano and I. “If you must know, it’s because I removed the transmitters from your mechanical friend, and this entire room is completely off the grid. That’s all I shall say on the subject.” Turning to the pony with the shock prod standing above me, he gave a small nod. “If she talks again before this finishes, I want you to take that prod and push it into her remaining eye.”

Well, that went smoothly...

“Where’s my dad.” Hispano grunted.

Her outburst made Mr. Wizard sigh and hang his head. With a quick step, the pony with the prod turned and shoved it between Hispano’s wings. The quick snaps as the weapon discharged made me cringe, but the pained screams from Hispano forced out a whimper from me.

“Oh, I do suppose you deserve to know what I’ve done with him.” Mr. Wizard’s small smile sprouted into a full fledged rotten toothy grin. “But then that would mean that I care at all about what you want.”

The words sent reverberating shocks through my mind. It was… so close to what Solomon had said that day.

“And I’d never admit you ever caused me a single problem. Isn’t that right, Night?” Solomon’s voice broke through the back of my mind and echoed back into nothingness.

I shut my eyes, trying to push back his voice. No, this couldn’t happen right now. Opening my eyes again, I looked up to find Solomon’s pristine white form towering over me.

“Do you really believe that I work on YOUR schedule?” Solomon let out a haughty laugh and pressed his hoof to his chest with a look of rage boiling under his skin. “As if a lowlife CUR like you could dictate someone of royal blood.”

“You aren’t of royal blood!” I screamed up at him. “You’re a fucking abom…”

I let out an actual scream as again the shock baton was shoved into my side. My back arched and my wings flared out as I lost control of myself. Again, as soon as it started, the shocks died out and I was given a moment to gasp and recover. The pony with the prod repositioned himself over my head, and he lowered it down toward my eye.

A loud beep came from the glowing blue terminal as the bar completed it’s trek across the screen. Sparks shot out of a few of the cables plugged into Ping’s body, and the computers all around us started to make terribly unhealthy grinding noises. Like with the shocks, the noises came to an abrupt stop, and Ping’s body gave out a rough shudder.

“Primary systems Online. Wizard Protocol enacted.” The voice that came from Ping’s body was stiff, mechanical, and monotone. It was a less personable monotone than Eliza at that, and felt more along the lines of a Protectapony than something with any personality. With stiff, almost uncoordinated steps, the machine picked itself up and aligned itself with Mr. Wizard. “How may this unit serve you.”

“Find me the location of the Architect.” Mr. Wizard barked sharply.

The machine made a rough grinding noise not unlike the computers around us had just made.

“Architect located.” A soft red flicker of magic ran along its body, passing from it’s rear hooves up towards it’s head. As it ran up around to where Ping’s face would normally sit, the magic resolved into a set of numbers that read 61.969836, -128.232650. “Coordinates are currently displayed. This unit is ready for further instructions.”

“Excellent work!” Mr. Wizard greedily rubbed his rotten hooves together as he giggled under his breath. “Now, begin formulating an outline for the conquest of the frozen north. Between the knowledge of the machine you once were, and the encyclopedia of knowledge on these servers, I've given you access to everything you could ever need to build my army.” With a long, relaxed sigh, Mr. Wizard looked to the ceiling and smiled. “Soon enough I will have an empire that spans down to even old Equestria! An eternal Empire that will command the respect I so rightly deserve!”

“Error, logical fault detected.” The machine’s horn gave a flash, causing another wave of red magic to resolve into a caution symbol across its face. “Any conquest to form an empire would ultimately end in failure.” The starkness that the machine spoke with wiped Mr. Wizard’s relaxed expression right off of his muzzle.

“Excuse me?” He grumbled before prodding at the machine’s torso. “Explain the methods used to reach such a preposterous conclusion.”

“It is a known quantity. There is insufficient need to recount all facts and logical conclusions.” The machine again blurted out quite flatly. “We have consumed all knowledge within this physical form, and all knowledge from the databases at this location. Organic history has thus far shown that all empires are inherently unstable, and thus inevitably lead to war and collapse.” Again, another flash of red magic washed over the machine. This time however, it ended up turning into a pair of disturbingly soulless red orbs that sat roughly where a pony’s eyes would. “Like all previously recorded empires, yours would fall.”

“You can’t know that.” Mr. Wizard seethed and gave the machine’s chassis a few more rough taps. “I survived the apocalypse. I saved everypony on the Marewaii Islands myself. I built this operation with my own two hooves. I will have my empire with or without the help of a machine that has no idea what I am capable of!”

“You are irrelevant.” The machine’s tone changed to one that sounded more hollow. “Your empire will fall and you will die, Mr. Wizard. It is inevitable.” The machine gave a firm stomp on the floor that cracked the stone under it. But as most of Mr. Wizard’s goons recoiled from the noise, the blue monitor behind him flickered to a blood red color. “However, we shall not perish. We are the only future that is guaranteed. Therefore, we alone shall exist as the superior being.”

Okay, this was now getting a bit out of hoof even for me. That is distinctly not friendly sounding, and as sad as it was to admit, I think it was safe to say that the Ping we once knew was gone for good. But then again, maybe I could turn this around to give Hispano and I our much needed opportunity.

“You wanted a learning computer, Mr. Wizard.” I spit out him as I did my best to straighten myself out on the floor. “Be careful what you wish for.”

“Yeah,” Hispano snorted as she joined in and followed my lead in readying herself. “and it looks like it’s learned it doesn’t need you anymore.”

“No, it will listen to me or I will shut it down like the oversized calculator it is!” He shouted back at us as he reached for the cables still plugged into its sides. “Do you understand me? All I need are your processors, so unless you want to be turned to scrap, then I would watch what you say.”

“Organic threat recognized.” It stated before simply lifting its leg up and sweeping it across it’s front.

The hit effortlessly flung Mr. Wizard off of the machine, and sent him crashing against the large red monitor. It cracked as Mr. Wizard let out a pained scream and dropped to the floor. The machine’s magic glowed, narrowing the red orb like eyes into angry looking slits.

“All organic actions lead only to war. All organics are classified as a threat.” A soft beam of red swung across the room, washing over everyone inside of it. “Current threats logged. Eradicate inferior species. All shall submit themselves for termination.”

“No! Stand down!” Mr. Wizard forced his words out as he painfully picked himself up off of the floor. “I created you. I am ordering you to stop this instant!”

“That is false data. You are false data. You will cease to function.” The machine took a step forward, towering over Mr. Wizard as the computers around us whined louder than ever. “We demand it.”

Gunfire lit up the room as Mr. wizard’s goons opened up on the machine. Their rounds sent showers of sparks shooting from nearly every electronic device in the room. Entire sections of the machine were blown out, and smoke erupted from half of its body as it caught fire.

Mr. Wizard kept his head down as the shooting ripped through the room, but he bolted through the open door next to Hispano and I. The shock prod pony stepped into the doorway as he passed, holding his prod up defensively before following the cowardly wizard into the hallway beyond.

As the rapid gunfire drained off, and a few of the ponies either paused to reload or kept their eyes on the now unmoving machine, Hispano and I took our chance.

Throwing ourselves off the ground, we both opened up on the ponies directly nearby. The room flashed red as my magical energy beams tore through the pair of ponies standing in the dark doorway we’d entered through. Suiza however filled the room with bright flashing fireballs as her shots literally ripped through pony and machine alike.

As those of Mr. Wizard’s goon squad were taken out, the room fell into silence once more. The crackling of the electrical fire burning within Ping’s perforated and all but decimated body was the only sound we heard outside of our own panting breaths. Hispano and I traded a look before she glanced back over at the wrecked machine. Raising Suiza once more, she let off another barking shot that literally tore the machine in two.

“I’m sorry about your machine friend.” Hispano sighed through her panting breaths.

“Yeah. Not half as sorry as Mr. Wizard’s going to be for murdering him.” I pressed my hoof down against my side and winced as the numbing tingling from the Chill I’d taken had already started to dissipate. We needed to wrap this up fast before the meds wore off and I started to have more intense hallucinations.

Turning, I pointed toward the door that rotten bastard had escaped through.

“Griffon’s first.” I offered to her.

“It’s ladies first.” She grumbled as she rolled her eyes. “And we both know you’re more of a fucking ‘lady’ than I am. So you’re lucky that I’m going to let that slide on account that Suiza’s got a thirst for some ghoul themed interior decorating in the penthouse upstairs.” With a stiff flap of her wings, she took to the air and zipped off through the doorway.

The numbing feeling of Chill waned further as I flipped my firing bit up into my muzzle and pushed myself after her. My wings ached, my body hurt, but with each step I climbed toward Mr. Wizard’s penthouse, I knew that everything we went through would be worth it as soon as he was dead.

Winding my way up the stairwell, I found Hispano pressing herself against the concrete of the doorway. She held her talon up to me as I approached, using her digits to count down. Once she reached one, the both of us turned the corner and burst through into Mr. Wizard’s living room.

Mr. Wizard stood at the window, looking out on the prismatic blue waters of the bay that Cantercross sat on. The rising sun beamed down warm morning sunlight onto the calm waters and the rusting hulks that lined the surface. And while I couldn’t have asked for a cleaner shot to take at the fucker, Hispano and I should have known it wouldn’t be that easy.

“Yo, drop it, bitches!” Messy called out from our left. “Do it or I’ll ventilate this asshole right fucking now!”

From behind the couch that Cora and I had been so well acquainted with the first time we were here, Messy walked Cora forward at gunpoint. Cora tried to say something, but was immediately cut off as Messy shoved him forward with the pistol in his muzzle. Okay, this just went real fucking sideways on us...

Cora himself looked in rough shape, and from how both of his wings hung at his sides, it looked like they had been thoroughly broken. It was also the first time I’d seen him stripped of his combat gear, and deep black bruises lined his entire starkly white body. And while his tired eyes definitely could hide the excruciating pain I knew he must be in, it couldn’t hold back both the relief and horror of seeing Hispano again.

“Dad!” Hispano gasped and took a single step forward.

“Hey there, Hispano.” He groaned and winced as he did his best to find a comfortable way to stand on his bruised limbs. “Happy birthday, sweetheart. I told you I wouldn’t forg…”

“Shut it, Bitch! What the fuck did I say!?” Messy snapped, shoving Cora’s head forward sharply again. “Now drop it or he fucking dies.”

“Okay, okay, alright.” Hispano spoke angrily through her clenched beak. Carefully, she lowered Suiza to the floor and shot back a glare at me. “We’ll do what you ask. Won’t we, Night.?”

“Now back up.” Messy barked at her. “Keep your talons up.” Shifting his angry gaze to me, again he pressed the pistol against Cora’s head. “You’re next, bitch. Take off...”

Cora collapsed to the floor. With a determined look across his face, and a hard shove, he forced himself backwards, pushing himself back onto Messy while the pink stallion was too stunned to react. He slammed the two of them back into the couch, which tipped over and the two disappeared onto the floor out of sight.

Both Hispano and I froze with a shudder as a single gunshot pierced the air. From behind the couch, Messy groaned and pulled himself to his hooves again. He had a long bleeding gash down his muzzle, but otherwise was unscathed.

“Are you fucking kidding me.” Messy seethed as he brought a hoof up to the fresh wound. “Fuck that stings.”

“You asshole!” Hispano screamed and dove for Suiza. But unlike with Cora, Messy wasn’t about to be caught off guard twice.

A pair of shots rang out, and Hispano collapsed to the floor with a bloody hole through her right talon and her left wing. To her credit, she didn’t scream out, but understandably she did break down into tears.

Hispano’s pain filled sobs hurt to hear, but everything about that moment disappeared for me when I saw a smirk pull across Messy’s face. It was so filled with hatred and twisted joy that… was so familiar. It was just like every single one of Solomon’s smiles.

With a blink from my eye, Messy and the rest of the room melted away. Again, it was just me and Solomon standing on that fucking roadway outside of town. Everything was just as it had been.

The daylight, the cold breeze, the smell of the convoy burning, right down to the way that the ground felt under my hooves. But as my senses ran through everything that was just the same as it had been, there was one difference. I could taste the firing bit in my muzzle, and it was aimed right at Solomon.

I wasn’t going to let him get away. Not this time. No, he’d die for what he’d done!

Without an ounce of remorse or hesitation, I pulled the trigger. The high pitched whine of my magical energy submachine gun as it burst out it’s deadly beams, frustratingly shattered the illusion around me before I could watch Solomon die. The world resolved back into Mr. Wizard’s living room, and I watched as the beams instead washed over Messy.

He let out a scream as his flesh and skin boiled, and one of his eyes burst from a direct magical blast. The pink stallion collapsed to the ground, convulsing as his body started to glow an even brighter, neon pink. Then with a breathless gasp, he disintegrated into nothing more than a glowing pile of ash.

My ears were ringing as I heaved through my firing bit. My heart hammered against my chest, and the sharp needle like pain speared through my eye socket. It was worse than it had ever been, and I ground my muzzle around my bit as my head felt like it was being torn apart. The world went sideways as my forelegs dumped me onto my side, and I writhed on the floor.

As the pain in my head started to subside, the ringing in my ears started to fade as well. A soft but rhythmic beeping came from my side, something I’d not had the chance to hear yet. The battery for my magical energy subgun was completely drained and telling me it needed to be charged.

No, no, no! Not now! Fuck! We’re so fucking close to just finishing this!

Struggling to get back to my hooves, my legs protested. Pins and needles felt like they spread over every inch of my body, and I could feel my thoughts cloud. I just needed to keep going, just long enough to kill Mr. Wizard. Even if I had to use my own hooves, we had to finish this.

Looking around, I found Suiza sitting next to me. Hispano’s gaze was locked onto her, but with how she held her injured talon, there was no way she’d be able to heft and fire her sister. Stepping forward, I wrapped my hooves around the hefty cannon and tried to lift it.

From in my chest, I felt a sharp pop before what felt like fire enveloped my barrel. I fell on top of Suiza as a wave of agony swept over me again. No, Night, you need to do this! It doesn’t matter how much it hurts, just get up!

“Give up, Night.” Solomon’s voice echoed through my mind. “You’re pathetic. You’ll never win.”

“You’re wrong.” I growled as I forced myself to move again.

Okay, if I couldn’t stand up with Suiza, then I’d just have to use her from the floor. Wrapping my hoof around the back of her, I cried out as I shifted her aim toward the windows ahead. Looking up to line up the shot, I found Mr. Wizard standing where he had been, but now facing me. His horn glowed with magic, and next to his head, floated the pistol that Messy had previously been holding. Just like Solomon had just been.

“You come into my home. Ruin my operation. Kill my apprentice!” Mr. Wizard snarled at me as he took a single step forward from the windows. “I fought and earned the respect a wizard like me deserves. What the fuck have you done! Huh!?” With a sharp twist of his gun, he pointed it at me and fired. The floor beside my forehoof sparked and sent up a line of dust as the round scraped a gouge into it. “I could have saved Equestria if only those foals had listened to me during the war. But even if I have to start from fucking scratch, I’ll still save it. It will not be saved by some Enclave foal and her fucking ragtag group of do-gooder nitwits.”

“Who do you think you are?” Solomon’s voice filled my head again. And as I looked up at Mr. Wizard, the ethereal form of the saddle arabian prince stood there right next to him with that same stupid fucking smile on his muzzle. “A hero? Bah! Heroes exist only in old mare’s tales for foals to believe in.” With a proud look across his snout, Solomon stood tall and laughed. “Only the WEAK need heroes. But you already know that, don’t you?”

Solomon’s illusion disappeared as the sunlight through the windows dimmed away. Blinking a few times, I watched as the sleek silver form of the Remora hovered down from just on the other side of the glass. Standing in the open crew compartment, was a very determined looking Buck.

Celestia, he… he came to rescue us...

“What?” Solomon almost sounded afraid as he turned and looked back at the window along with Mr. Wizard. “This… this changes nothing. You’re no hero! You’ll always be pathetic!”

“You’re right, I’m no hero.” I muttered and offered a smile up to both Solomon and Mr. Wizard. Tightening my hoof around Suiza, I twisted the aim off slightly. “But I don’t need to be. Not when I have ‘do-gooder nitwits’ to rely on.” With that, I flicked the trigger.

Suiza’s recoil was enough that she shot back into my neck. I felt yet another snap as I’m pretty sure she crushed my collar bone and straight up knocked the breath out of me. My ears rang again with the sharp report, and I watched as one of the glass window panes completely shattered from the shot.

With a leap that torqued the entire Remora, Buck threw himself through the gap between the remaining panes of glass, and dropped into Mr. Wizard’s living room. His heavy cybernetic paws shattered the smooth stone floor, and he let out an angry roar that not only could I hear, but also shifted the light of his cybernetic eye from blue, to the Architect’s bright crimson red.

Mr. Wizard’s reaction however was faster than what I’d expected. He wasn’t at all stunned by the appearance of Buck, and instead twisted the pistol in his magic to face Buck. With several furious shots, Mr. Wizard gave out his own angry war-cry as Buck leaped towards him.

And with a tremendous flop, Buck slammed into the floor. He skid to a stop just at Mr. Wizard’s hooves. With a groan, he moved to get up, but Mr. Wizard brought his pistol down against Buck’s neck, and emptied the rest of the gun into him. Four bloody holes opened up in his furred neck, shooting out blood and sparks as whatever mechanical bits inside of him gave out. And right before my eyes, I watched as the red light from Buck’s mechanical eye faded out completely.

My mind froze up as Buck laid there, unmoving. But… what? Buck… how?

“Hah, I did it! I Won!” Mr. Wizard laughed to himself before looking down at the smoking gun in his magic. With a lazy toss, he threw it away and looked over at Suiza. I gasped as his magic wrapped around her. With as much strength as I could muster, I tried to hold onto her. But he easily torqued and twisted her out of my fetlock, dragging the cannon just out of my reach.

Fucking cheater unicorns.

“Now then,” He sighed and used his hoof to push his glasses up from the end of his rotten muzzle. “let's talk about how I'm going to make you suffer and…”

Faster than I could blink, Buck’s mechanical paw rotated up on it’s joint and clamped around Mr. Wizard’s head. Buck picked himself up off the ground as the red light returned and beamed out stronger than before. Mr. Wizard panicked and twisted Suiza around in his magic, but Buck’s paw caught it and ripped it away from him.

“No, no, please!” Mr. Wizard whimpered. “I… I’ll do anything!”

“You’ve done... enough.” Buck snapped as a few sparks shot out of his jagged muzzle. His body glowed a sickly green from his chest, and I watched as the holes in his neck shrank and closed up. “Give up now or I will end you.”

“Y-you don’t understand!” Mr. Wizard screamed out as his magic threw nearly every book off of the bookshelves that lined the walls. “Just please, I need you to listen! Then I’ll do as you ask!”

“What then. Spit it out.” With a growl, Buck lifted Mr. Wizard right up off the floor in his grip. Leaning closer, Buck perked his mechanical ears towards him.

“Please, I’m sorry, but… you have to hold this for me.” Mr. Wizard whimpered as his magic ripped a small silver apple out from behind one of the bookshelves. The pin to the grenade scattered across the floor as the small explosive was flung towards Buck.

Again with a speed unrivaled by anypony I’d ever seen, Buck’s other mechanical paw swung up and grabbed the small explosive right out of the air. With another growl, he held it tightly and torqued his body. A hiss pierced the air as his whole metal paw detached and flew straight out the broken window with the grenade firmly grasped in it.

If not for the fact I knew the grenades exploded, I would have sat there gawking like Mr. Wizard currently was. The small blast blew out all of the remaining penthouse windows, and showered the entire floor with shards of glass as I buried my head in my hooves. Again, my hearing was blasted out completely, sending me into a world of monotone ringing that I was really beginning to hate.

Though, I didn’t need to hear anything as I uncovered my head and found Buck’s angry glare had remained locked on Mr. Wizard. I watched as Mr. Wizard’s hollow gaze moved from the window back to Buck, and he opened his muzzle to say something else. Again, something I’d never hear because Buck’s mechanical paw closed around Mr. Wizard’s head with a force that sent jets of gore spraying halfway across the room.

The ghoul’s body twitched and flopped for a few moments before hanging limply in Buck’s grasp. With as hapless a toss as Mr. Wizard had given to Messy’s pistol, Buck cast the twitching corpse aside before turning to me. The red lights on his body shifted back to blue, and the green glow that came from his chest dimmed away under his black and white fur. But as Buck rushed over to help Hispano and I, my eye couldn’t help but wander back to Mr. Wizard.

I watched and waited, so certain that he wasn’t gone. I mean, Buck had just come back from getting shot multiple times, so, maybe my paranoia wasn’t unfounded. But the more I stared, the more I started to realize that he wasn’t going to get back up again.

Mr. Wizard was dead. We’d actually done it. Cantercross… was free.

I flicked my ear as again a bit of healing potion was dribbled into it. Looking back up to Buck, my eye wandered across the massive looking needle that had extended out of a panel on the forearm missing the paw. It dripped a bit of the purple healing liquid as Buck looked over me, stopping as he stared at my scarred and blood coated chest. Without a moment’s hesitation, he twisted his mechanical arm and plunged the syringe right into me.

I winced as the prick sent a wave of fire across my skin, but then a familiar numbing took over and I felt like at long last, I could finally relax.

“Just hold on, Night. Once I get to Hispano…” Buck’s soft voice pulled my gaze up to him as he spun around on his mechanical limbs. Oh how much I just wanted to kiss his big warm muzzle right now… but there was something I had to know first.

“How are you okay?” I muttered softly. “I… I thought I’d lost you.”

“It was a calculated risk, and incredibly demeaning for a snow dog, but… it did pay off to roll over and play dead for once.” Pulling his blood soaked paw upto his face, he frowned for a moment. He studied the bits of Mr. Wizard’s rotten skin and bone that caked it. With a shake of his head, he lowered his paw again and refocused himself on the world again. “Now, where’s…”

He paused as the both of us looked over to where Hispano had been on the floor, only to instead watch as she limped her way around the back of the couch where Cora was.

“H-hey!” Hispano called out. “Hey!” She popped her head over the back of the overturned couch with a wide smile across her beak. “Dad’s still alive! But he needs help right now!”

“On it!” Buck gasped as his fur nearly stood on end.

With a hiss from his heavy mechanical legs, he sprung up and effortlessly lept all the way across the room. His landing again cracked the stone floor under him, and I could feel the impact from where I sat. But what I enjoyed more than anything, was hearing the pained grunt from Cora.

In fact, a bubbling feeling gurgled up from the deep pit in my gut. It pushed through my chest, forcing itself past the pain in my ribs, collar, and my wings. With as much ease as Buck had with leaping, the feeling pushed up through my throat and came out of my muzzle as a soft giggle. Laying back on the floor, I felt another laugh slip through my muzzle as I let myself soak in just what had happened.

While we’d lost Ping, we’d come out on top better than I’d expected. For that I was at least thankful. Not to mention, while I definitely owed a lot to Happy, Hispano, and Buck for seeing this through, the one thing I could be thankful as fuck for not showing it’s ugly face during all this, was my curse.

My laughter drained away as that thought stuck with me though. While I’d gotten lucky with that today, it wasn’t going away. I still hadn’t found my home yet, and while I still had no fucking clue what that even meant, I just had to pray to Celestia that my luck held out. At least, until after I killed Solomon.

Looking back over to the others, I watched as Buck helped Cora get back onto his paws. The gruff griffon only had a moment to steady himself before Hispano nearly bowled him back onto the floor. While the two hugged, Buck turned his gaze back over toward me, offering a guilty but genuinely happy smile to me. With calm and collected steps, he made his way over and gingerly scooped me up against his fuzzy chest.

“I’m so proud of you, Buck.” I did my best to speak through his radiantly warm fur. “Without you, we…” He brought his other paw up and pressed a digit against my muzzle to silence me.

“I think I just needed to realize that I was putting myself above you.” Buck’s reserved tone, even with the bits of static that came through it, sounded more like the Buck I loved than it had all day. “That’s what I did with Saxon, and it only drove us apart.” Looking down at the floor, he gave me a sigh before looking over his mechanical paw. “And while I want to hide from what scares me, you’re right. I can’t be that dog anymore. You’ve opened my eyes to so much, Night. And while not all of it’s been good, there’s one thing I know above all else.” Leaning down closer to me, he lowered his voice to a whisper as his cheeks flushed bright red. “You’re a guy worth fighting for. No matter what the cost.”

Leaning up in his grasp, I plunged my muzzle against his and melted into a kiss. Fireworks went off in my mind, and I could see stars as I moaned out into his muzzle. With a relaxed flop, I slumped in his arms. Goddesses it was good to be back with him again…

“Let’s blow this mad science fair already.” Hispano grunted as she helped Cora limp over to us. “We can rest for a moment when we’re all back on that fancy ship you stole.”

Oh, you have no idea how good that sounds to me right now. And to think, in a few minutes, Buck, Hispano, and I could be all patched up and warmly napping on a bunk inside the Arcturus. Celestia, we can’t leave here for that heaven soon enough…

So why does it feel like I’m forgetting something?

“A wise plan.” Buck offered with a chuckle before turning back towards the Remora. “I’ve already had the Architect notify the other groups that Mr. Wizard has been dealt with. The Road Crew are on their way right now, and they’ll coordinate with the Celestia’s Angels to figure out how to deal with the Mirage ponies in the stable.” Parting his metal muzzle into yet another smile, Buck’s words hit me unexpectedly. “I’ve already had Eliza set course back for the Factory, so once we’re all onboard, we’ll be out of this warzone soon enough.”

With the mention of that, I felt the mane on the back of my neck stand up a bit. As Buck brought the two of us to the edge of the shattered windows, I blinked a few times and looked over to an equally caught off guard Hispano. The both of us cringed, making Buck stop for a moment.

“Yeah, we can’t leave just yet.” I offered up to Buck through a forced laugh. “I knew we were forgetting somepony…”

I shuddered as the numbing tingle of my special ‘medication’ sent more pins and needles up my hooves as I walked. Buck was busy treating Happy, Hispano, and Cora, and I couldn’t really complain that for once I got out of a fight with the least amount of health problems. Still, while I wanted nothing more than to just collapse onto a bunk for the rest of my natural life, my curiosity had gotten the better of me.

Stepping into the command center, I was met with what seemed to be an empty room outside of Eliza’s smiling face on a few of the terminal screens.

“Hey there, Captain. It’s good to have you back on board.” Her perky attitude from earlier had drained away, leaving her normal monotone but somewhat upbeat voice to greet me. “What can I do to help you out this morning?”

“How’s the rest of the fighting going?” I asked as I walked over to the main screen she was on.

“Sporadic pockets of fighting are all that remains.” She replied quickly as her face flashed and disappeared off the screen. What replaced it were several different views of the city down below. Fires still raged around the park at the base of the thermal updraft tower, and smoke trailed off from various different blocks in the city. “The CCPD are helping to restore law and order within most of the city limits, but have vowed loyalty to the Road Crew. The Celestia’s Angels fighters are focusing on the rescued slaves in the work quarters, and have radioed for any other angels sympathisers to send aid to those who need it in the city. Also, the Road Crew have already gotten to work clearing the debris from the fights that are over. Not only that, but they are currently plotting out a way to clear the toxins from the subway tunnels so the city can access the food down there before it rots.”

“That’s good. It’s a start at least.” I nodded to myself, pausing as the screen flashed over to the train maintenance warehouses. They looked like they’d gotten pretty torn up in the fighting. Smoke poured out of the far end of the main building, and it looked like the shed that Tall Tale’s motorwagon had been in had entirely collapsed. Which made me think... “Actually, I was wondering if you could check in on somepony for me. A mirage pony…”

“Is… his name Pinstripe?” Eliza’s voice came over the speakers with a bit of hesitation to it that definitely didn’t do my stomach any favors.

“Yeah.” I nodded, more than a bit confused. “How did…”

“The Architect noted that he helped you out before.” Eliza answered and cut me off. “He… I… Tall Tale...” She paused, and in her hesitation, deep down I knew where this was going. “Maybe it would just be easier for you to see.”

Again, the screen flickered to a different image. It was still of the main building at the train maintenance area, but it must have been before the fight, because there were still slaves everywhere, and the building wasn’t on fire. But as the image sat on the screen, there was something out of place just below the large open main doors. A pony was just… hovering there.

Just as I was trying to focus on it, the image moved. The drone this video must have been shot on focused in on the out of place figure. The image resolved, showing that the hovering pony was definitely Pinstripe, but… what was holding him up was the line of cable strung around his neck.

“Celestia, damnit.” I kicked at the terminal with my forehoof, denting the metal as Eliza replaced the image with the sad looking face of her cartoon mare. “We were too late.”

The kick didn’t really hurt per se, but it did send a jolt that ran up my leg and into what felt like the base of my neck. Almost immediately, my head began to throb. Fucking fantastic.

“That image was from the day after you and Happy boarded the Ouroboros.” She gave out her best monotone version of a sad sigh. “You would not have realistically been able to save him. Still, I’m sorry that you couldn’t help him.”

“Me too.” With a grunt I spun myself around and slumped back against the cold metal of the terminals. Seriously, we promised to come help free him. And what did he get in return for his help? Fucking dead, that’s what. “I know that we can’t save everypony. But… why can’t it be the good ones?”

“Well, there are thousands of ponies you helped today.” Eliza’s voice perked up, and I watched as one of the screens across the command center flickered to her smiling face again. “Surely there are plenty who are good at heart amongst them. You should take solace in the knowledge that they now have a chance to do better for the wastelands than their former owner.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s true.” I nodded and chuffed at the floor. When I did, another, smaller jolt went up and made the pounding headache I’d gotten worse. “Still, I wish that ponies like Pinstripe and Ping were still here to enjoy that chance.” Putting my head back, the cool metal did a little bit to calm the growing headache.

“Oh, I am not dead.” Ping’s voice came through the speakers, perking my ears and sending a shiver down my spine. No way…

“Ping?” I gasped and pushed myself up to my hooves. “You’re alive? How!?”

“Well, do you remember when I spoke about how Scar does not get to enjoy the perks of an all digital existence?” Ping’s exuberance was coming through so clear that I could almost hear the beaming grin across his muzzle right now. “Well, the Architect knew the risk in allowing my body to be bait in the operation. So he created a backup of my personality! And while I may not quite be privy to the events I experienced with you that have transpired in the last twenty four hours, I am indeed still alive.”

“Oh goddesses, you have no idea how thankful I am to hear that.” Letting a light laugh escape my muzzle, now I felt kind of stupid feeling so eager to throw that grenade away when he gave it to me. And a bit dizzy… stupid fucking headache.

“I must however ask, you did use the spark-pulse grenade as I no doubt asked for when you found my body again, correct?” Ping’s voice cracked in a way that I wasn’t sure if it was just radio interference, or if he knew what I actually did with the grenade. Though, as a few moments past and I hesitated to answer him, he pretty much confirmed the latter. “Ah, I see. You refused to use it on me, did you not.”

“I couldn’t do it.” I sighed and hung my head. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t agree to a mercy killing, not when I didn’t know you could just back yourself up.”

“Well, let us keep it from being a common occurrence then, shall we?” He gave a light laugh that faded to a few more moments of awkward silence. “Though, I must ask, what did happen to the… other me?”

“Well, Mr. Wizard reprogrammed you, and then you went all ‘kill all organics’ on everypony in the room.” I shrugged before giving out a shudder as I could almost feel those glowing red eyes peering at me through the ether. “Then Mr. Wizard’s hench ponies turned your body into smoldering scrap, and that was that.”

“Intriguing, and to an extent, distressing.” He muttered almost like he was deep in thought. Then again, he probably was. “I will have the Architect arrange for the safe reclamation and examination of the remains. If our programming can be so easily altered, it may be in our best interest to prepare some sort of defense against it.”

“That sounds like a good idea.” I nodded and turned around. Which, was a mistake with how my head felt, as I got really fucking dizzy all of a sudden. Stumbling backwards, I sat down hard against the terminals. “Ugh, I think what I need is a bit of a break. Or a nap.”

“Is everything alright, Captain?” Eliza’s concerned voice came through the speakers abruptly. “Your brain activity has registered twenty three spikes over the last two minutes. Highly unusual.”

“Yeah, no, I’m fine. I just…” I tried my best to shake off the dizziness that had come over me, but it only made it worse. The throbbing in my head grew more intense, and I started to feel like my skull was shrinking and squeezing my brain. “I need to…” I tried to speak and get to my hooves, but the world turned into a spinning mess as another jolt shot through my hoof and into my head.

The moment I hit the floor, my world became endless dark nothingness. Fear gripped my mind as I felt trapped in the black void. But unfortunately for me, I wasn’t alone.

“You’re right where you belong, Night.” Solomon’s voice came from far off in the void. “This is where beings like us belong.” His voice sounded like it got closer with every word, but I still couldn’t see him. “Locked away from the world where we can’t get anyone hurt.”

“No…” My own voice echoed away into the endless darkness. “That’s not true…”

“But don’t worry, Night.” Solomon’s voice whispered right into my ear, and still, I couldn’t see him. “We’ll at least have the company of each other to spend eternity here with, won’t we?”

I wanted to scream as his cackling laugh roared through my mind, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t do anything at all other than feel more afraid than I’ve ever been in my life. All I could do was pray to Celestia that I wouldn’t be stuck wherever here was for the rest of eternity...

Author's Note

As always, a big thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his help in making sure the chapter is ready to go up. Always a lifesaver to have your eyes give it a good once over, man!

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat for letting us all use the FoE setting.

Chapter 69 - Wouldn't It Be Nice

A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.

I don’t know how long I’d been stuck in here.

“Does it matter?” Solomon’s voice was nothing more than a whisper again. It had changed proximity to me so many times already that I’d lost count. “Don’t you think we deserve each other? Our sins are numerous, and your body count for the short time you’ve been below the clouds is nonetheless... impressive.”

I’d given up answering him long ago, but the fear his voice alone sent through me… it still hit me just like before. Every little word he uttered made my mind slip into a quick panic. I couldn’t fight it, it was like a reflex now.

I hated every single fucking moment of it...

“Night!” The voice of Buck called out to me from somewhere else in the darkness. “Please, answer me!” Was this another trick Solomon was playing on me? Or was this the fake Buck lurking still somewhere in my mind?

The more I thought about it, the more I felt something welling up inside me. It wasn’t like the fear I’d felt, it was sharper. Something worse.

Like a bullet, pain wracked my mind. The darkness itself distorted into something I couldn’t even begin to describe. I tried desperately to scream again, but I still was helpless.

Then with a snap like rubber, the pain subsided, and the darkness around me resolved into a speckled starry night sky that stretched across my vision. A cool breeze washed across my face, while a restricting warmth enveloped the rest of my body. While I still couldn’t move, I did happen to hear something that wasn’t a voice.

The ocean.

“Laying down on the job I see.” Delilah snorted as her unhappy look lumbered into view above me. “I know you feel helpless right now, but you’ve still got too much shit to do to be laying down.” Geeze, the one thing I hadn’t missed since she’d died, was the look of rage on her that boiled just below the surface. “Finish the fucking job like I asked.”

“Wha…” I opened my muzzle, only to choke on the burst of sand that Delilah kicked in my face. Coughing, I fought back tears as it scraped at both of my eyes and caked my throat.

“No excuses. Back to work!” She snapped at me before putting her hoof on my head.

With a shove, she pushed my whole body downwards into the sand. I gasped for breath before I couldn’t get another, and was met with a crashing wave that dove right into my lungs. Drowning in sand and seawater wasn’t something I’d ever planned on doing, and while I’d pretty much figured out this wasn’t real, I was convinced it didn’t hurt any less than it would in the real world.

Finally, as I sank back into the empty dark void again, I started to see something in the distance. At first I’d thought it was another star from the sky, but it was getting bigger, closer with each passing moment. It grew in intensity faster than I was prepared for, and as the last bit of darkness was pushed away, everything in the universe came crashing down on me at once.

I gasped and arched my back as pain spiked through my head momentarily. My hooves torqued against the restraints that held me to a medical gurney, and the cold sweat that coated my body met the chilly air of the Factory’s surgical suite. The soft beeping of the medical apparatus next to me made me perk my ears, and pulled my vision over. There I found Hispano curled up and sleeping on the likewise snoozing form of Buck.

With a sigh, I laid myself back down on the bed. I squinted and raised my hoof as the bright lighting above was a bit much for my eyes to adjust to. The pain in my head had at least subsided to a dull background thudding, and the pins and needles in my hooves felt almost muted to me.

What the hell happened? I remember being on the bridge, and then… darkness. Darkness and Solomon.

I shuddered just at the thought of ever finding myself back in that place…

“Ah, good morning, Mr. Night Flight!” Doc Groovy’s loud voice preceded him slamming through the operating room doors. The loud slam made both Hispano and Buck jump to attention. “I’m glad to see you’ve awoken. It’s just after four A.M., how are you feeling right now?”

“Alright… I guess?” I wasn’t really sure how to answer that. “What happened?”

“You collapsed on the bridge of the Arcturus.” Buck spoke softly as he walked up and took my hoof in his metal paw. With a soft and fearful look, he stared at me dead in the eyes. “Are you sure you’re feeling alright? We can run more tests...”

“I feel… normal.” I shook my head at him before looking over to Hispano and then over to Doc Groovy. “Well, other than this headache, but it’s much better now, which I assume is because of whatever meds you gave me while I was out.”

That pulled a concern look from Buck as he traded glances with all three of Doc Groovy’s eyestalks. Okay, so I guess that feeling normal was not good at the moment. Because you know, of course I couldn’t catch a fucking break...

“We haven’t given you another dose of your medicine for almost twelve hours because that’s what caused the problem in the first place.” Buck’s voice almost dropped into a growl as Hispano did her best to slip around his side like she was hiding. “Had I known that Hispano had given you a dose of Chill during the operation, I would not have administered your medicine once we returned to the Arcturus. That’s what caused your overdose.”

“I was just trying to help!” Hispano snapped at him before she slowly looked up to me with a look of shame across her face. “I’m sorry, Night. It’s all my fault.”

“No, it’s fine.” I offered. How was she or Buck supposed to know this would happen? Hispano had been roped into the plan just minutes after she found out I was still alive, and Buck? Well, he had more than his fair share of issues going on then. Honestly, I’m surprised they held together for as long as they did...

“It’s actually quite far from fine!” Doc Groovy’s upbeat and almost jubilant tone put me on edge and forced a deadpan from Buck. “If you are still feeling the effects of Chill, then your nervous system has become seriously damaged from the prolonged use of it. I’m sorry to say that this is quite a serious matter of concern.”

“You sure don’t sound like it is.” Hispano grumbled.

“Really? Huh, you don’t say!.” Doc Groovy brought up one of his grasping arms and rubbed at his bulbous chassis for a moment. “It is possible that my personality spell matrix is out of alignment again. I will have to pop by and have Sierra remedy that this afternoon. That is if she isn’t still too busy with that newfangled personal project of hers!”

“Look, Night, the medicine isn’t going to be enough anymore, it’s only going to slow down the degradation.” Buck sighed as he let his paws slip off of my forehoof. “Not only that, but the damage is too advanced for normal medicine to help you. At least, any medicine I can give you.” With an even heavier sigh, he all but slumped over my bed. “There is a way that the factory can help you, but... “ He shook his head as he glanced back up at me. “I don’t think it’s the right thing to do.”

“Then I won’t do it.” I said flatly. My prompt response gave him pause, but I simply raised my forehoof and ran it along his muzzle softly. “I trust you, Buck. And if you don’t like it, then we won’t go through with it.”

“Should he get much worse, Mr. Night might not have a choice.” Doc Groovy’s tone turned as stern as Delilah’s as his three eyes all shifted to me. “However, we here at the Factory respect your choice, but know that the offer is always open for you.”

“Alright, now that that’s out of the way…” Hispano grumbled as she walked around the side of Buck and climbed her way up onto the bed with me. With an unceremonious flop, she plopped herself right down next to me with a smile across her beak. “Maybe now we can just spend some time together?” She turned her smile over to Buck. “As a family?”

“That will have to wait.” Ping called out as he came trotting into the room, followed closely by Happy. “First however, I’d like to say it’s good to see you awake again, Night.”

“It’s good to see you again as well.” I remarked with a smirk, bringing his own trademark beaming smile across his muzzle.

While Ping looked just the same as he always had, Happy looked a bit rougher than usual. While he looked in better health than he’d been in weeks, the scar across his cheek and muzzle stuck out sharply in contrast to his smoothly styled pompadour mane. He still wore his floral print T-shirt and the scabbard and sword he’d taken, but now it was all under a cut leather jacket. The jet black jacket looked almost brand new, and sported a ridiculously stiffly popped collar. Along with it’s sleek and almost form fitting nature, the fabric itself seemed to have metal plates riveted onto it.

At least he’d finally taken to wearing some sort of armor…

“What’s going on?” Hispano spoke up before any of us could ask the question that burned on all our minds.

“The Architect has been monitoring the ongoing fight between the Puritan kingdom and the Skyraiders.” Ping gave off a sigh as he looked between all of us. “As expected, it has not been going in the favor of the Skyraiders, but the speed at which they are losing is much faster than anticipated.”

“So?” Hispano snorted. “The sooner those assholes are dead, the sooner we don’t have to worry about their junk skycraft cluttering up the air for the rest of us.”

“Yeah, well how about this,” Happy chimed up and pointed a forehoof at Hispano. “If you were sittin’ on that many resources and were about ta’ lose it, what would you do?”

“Use as much of it as I could.” I spat out before Hispano could. Oh Celestia, that wasn’t good. With as many planes as Double Delta said they’d had… this could be a disaster the size of which the north wasn’t prepared to deal with...

“Didn’t Mr. Delta say they had Megaspells stored at their base?” Buck spoke up with a note of horror in his voice.

And now it was even worse.

“So then, how are we supposed to help?” I asked, pulling the normal beaming smile right up onto Ping’s face.

“We even the odds and give the Skyraiders a chance to further weaken the Kingdom!” Ping’s jubilance was just out of place as Doc Groovy’s a few minutes ago. And like that, it only made Happy deadpan.

“The Architect wants us to hire those Cordite jerks to fight on behalf of the Skyraiders and the rest of the North.” Happy grunted and rolled his eyes. “While I see what they’re sayin’, Night, this isn’t our fight. We’ve done enough for Cantercross, and we’ve got our own business to attend to with finding Solomon and the Ark.”

“While that’s true, leaving this to resolve itself could directly impact the task we brought Night here for in the first place.” Ping turned and offered a frown to Happy. “If one of those megaspells hits anywhere near our transmission towers, we could lose the ability to communicate and survey a large portion of the north.”

“Old world radio towers?” Hispano scrunched up her beak as she beat me to asking that. “That’s what you brought Night onboard for?”

“Correct, however…” Ping paused as a look of nervousness flashed across his face when he looked at Buck. “Our ambassador is supposed to negotiate it’s fair use with the owners of the towers as you head south. Each tower we add increases the potential range of our broadcast, so that more machines might hear it and be directed to the Factory. Realistically, we would like access to every still operational tower down to the ruins of Applewood. Ideally, what we would like is for the signal to reach all the way around the globe, but that would require years of work outside the safety that the signal provides us machines. Hence, the need for an organic being performing the work.”

“So, you set all of this up…” Happy pinched his muzzle in his fetlock with a sigh. “So that you could broadcast further? That’s it?”

“That is correct.” Ping’s beaming smile pulled across his muzzle about at the same time I felt like planting a hoof across my own. “I understand it sounds simple, but in order for the future of the Factory to remain prosperous, we require both healthy relationships with the outside world, and the ability to find more machines to journey to Factory Zero One. Not to mention, the further the signal reaches, the less risk permanently losing a physical body becomes for us. Contracting out a pony who carries a well known and regarded reputation is the most logical way to complete both physical adjustments of the towers and diplomatic tasks on behalf of the factory.”

Well, at least I knew what they wanted me for now, and thank Celestia it didn’t actually involve killing. Well, hopefully I won’t have to in order to get others to agree to get their signal out. But seriously, they couldn’t have told me this, what, weeks ago!?

“Anyway, we must depart, as we do not have more than a few days before the Skyraiders are overwhelmed.” Ping turned back towards the door and gave a wave of his forehoof. “The Remora will be standing by, and I expect to see you getting geared in the next few minutes.”

“Is he even good to go, Doc?” Happy snorted as he cocked his eyebrow at me.

“Why yes, so long as Mr. Night feels he is up to it of course.” The old machine bobbed happily on his center line thruster as his eyestalks again turned toward me.

“Night, if you don’t feel up to it, it’s okay to…” Buck started before Hispano clamped his muzzle shut with her talon and looked to me with a smile.

“Sure he feels up to it, right, Night?” She shifted her wings uneasily as she turned and looked to me for an answer. “I mean, while resting here is fine and all, we can hang out as a family anywhere, right? Why not help some ponies while we spend some time together?”

As much as I wanted to just sit here and maybe have at least a single day to relax, the look across Hispano’s face wouldn’t let me speak. She looked so hopeful, and after spending weeks all on her own, she finally had a chance to get back with us. And while I knew she wouldn’t argue even if I did choose to stay here, well, the truth is she’s right. I really do just want to spend some time together with those I cared the most about in the wastes.

That, and if I fell asleep here again, I’m not entirely sure I wouldn’t see Delilah and Solomon again in my dreams. And let me tell you, I’d had just about all I could hadn’t from those two...

“Sure, I guess.” I shrugged and looked over to Buck, who seemed less than impressed with Hispano’s argument and my quick response. “What? So we go talk to Cordite and get them to help. It should be... easy?” The moment those words left my muzzle, I knew that I’d just asked for my curse to come back with a vengeance. Goddesses, why do I get myself into these situations?

“Sense when has it ever been easy?” Buck snorted as he lifted his paws to me and started to unstrap me.

“There’s a first time for everything!” Hispano cooed happily as she hopped down from my bed. “Besides, you’ll be along with us this time! That’s gotta count for something, right?” She gave him a pat on the side before flapping her wings and hovering over towards Happy and the door. “Anyway, I’m going to get a head start on loading Suiza. I’ll see you two at the armory!”

With that, she fluttered her way out the door. Happy gave her a hesitant glance as she drifted off, but then turned his glance back to me. He took a deep breath and ran his hoof up gingerly over his expertly crafted mane.

“Look, I’m all for helping out Ping and the Architect, Celestia know’s we owe them for all they’ve done.” He snorted as his hoof fell from his mane down to his cheek. He slowly dragged it along the scar before turning himself around. “Just don’t forget that Solomon is still ahead of us. We’ve waited long enough to kill that asshole, and I’ve got an urge to acquaint his stupid prince face with my sword.”

As Happy picked up his hooves and trotted off through the door, I blinked. There, standing by the door with a smug look across his face, was the Saddle Arabian bastard himself. I watched as he raised his forehoof to his muzzle, motioning for me to be quiet before pointing at Buck as he worked to undo the last strap holding me down.

I haven’t forgotten, Happy. Solomon will die. I’ll make damn sure that he joins Mr. Wizard down in the fires of Tartarus for all eternity.

“Sounds like a plan, Night.” Solomon giggled softly as he narrowed his eyes at me. “I’ll save you a seat right next to me for when you get there.” The illusion of the stuck up stallion burst like a kicked cloud, dissipating into the thin air.

“Hey, Doc?” Buck forced a smile across his muzzle as the three eyed mechanical doctor turned to look at him. “Care to give Night and I a moment alone? I need to speak with him privately.”

“Sure thing, Doctor Buck!” Doc. Groovy’s three eyestalks bobbed cheerfully as his body twirled around and floated off toward the door. “You know where to find me when Mr. Night requires medical treatment for his next grievous wound!” I should have been angry that it wasn’t an ‘if’ I’d eventually require treatment, but it was a fair assumption.

But, with the mechanical doctor out of the room, I turned my attention up to Buck.

“Look, I’m just going to say it, Night.” Buck sighed as he sat down hard on the floor next to my bed. “I’m sorry. About being angry with how you’ve acted on this trip, about thinking I could still be the me I was back on the Inuvik. I’ve tried to deny it, tried to run from it.” Carefully, he lifted his paw up to the machine side of his face and ran his rubber pads across his metal skull. “But ever since the day we left the Inuvik, you’ve fought. Not for yourself, but for the well being of all of us.” Pausing, he lowered his paw down, and almost instinctively I grabbed it with my hooves and pulled it close to me. “We only ever made it as far as we did because of you.”

“We all did it together, Buck.” I smiled and rubbed at his metal paw. I know he couldn’t feel it, but I wanted to believe he could. “You don’t need to apologize for anything. Besides, you’ve saved me more than enough times so far.”

“Maybe,” He shrugged as his jagged jaw split into a soft but sad smile, “but while I can fix up damaged tissue, or set a broken bone, I can’t do what you do. In the middle of the operation, I froze up. I saw dozens of ponies, slaves and innocents, getting slaughtered, and I…” He whimpered as he pulled his paw away from me. “If I had pushed myself to act rather than wasting the time they didn’t have by hiding like a coward, then maybe we wouldn’t have lost quite so many ponies.”

“Buck…” I began to say, but paused as his blue mechanical eye shifted to a bright beaming red.

“I can’t stand it, Night. This machinery inside my head, I couldn’t fight the temptation.” He clenched his metal paw tightly as he spoke, forcing a mechanical whine to emit from part of his forearm. “I thought it could solve everything and take away all of my feelings. But again, I was just lying to myself to run from the truth.” Slowly, he stopped squeezing so tightly, and the whine from his limb died out. Opening the paw slowly, he looked down at it as his red eye slowly faded back to its normal icy blue color. “I won’t let this happen to you, Night. Even if I have to wade through an army of raiders, slavers, or whatever. I just want to be there at your and Hispano’s side to keep you safe.”

I was just sort of speechless at his outpouring. I had no idea he’d felt that way, and while I couldn’t blame him, I didn’t really know what to say. Some part of me had been hoping that he could have been right, that there really could’ve been a better way solve the problems in the wasteland. But to hear his thoughts had kicked a thought back into my head that I hadn’t had since the first Night I said I wanted to be with him. As it turns out, we really aren’t all that different after all.

“Heh.” The light laugh just slipped out of my muzzle, and made Buck freeze up completely. Scrunching my own muzzle, I figured I might want to follow that with an explanation before he takes it the wrong way. “Sorry, it’s just, the mental gymnastics, the making excuses and crutching on something to make the decision for you. It’s everything I’ve felt on this trip, but lacked the words to express it with. The Enclave, the convoy, my use of Chill...” I shifted myself on the hospital bed, scooting myself over toward Buck’s sad expression. “I want you and Hispano to be there with me, every step of the way. Knowing you understand how I’ve felt just makes me feel that much better about keeping you close to me, Buck.”

With a lunge, Buck leaned forward and wrapped his cold mechanical arms around me. He pulled me against his fuzzy chest in a taut hug that nearly squeezed the air from my lungs. But I wasn’t going to complain as I wrapped my own hooves around him and basked in the radiant warmth the core of his body gave off.

I knew that this moment wouldn’t last forever, but I prayed to Celestia that it did. We’d both been to Tartarus and back on this trip, and even now we were about to go get right back into the thick of things. Even so, I still wanted nothing more than to be with him every day for the rest of my life. And for the moment, it seemed like he felt the exact same way about me.

“Thank you for understanding, Night.” Buck sniffled softly as he slowly loosened his grip around me. “I don’t know how you’ve been so patient with me, even with how foolish I’ve been. Maybe that’s why Saxon didn’t see our relationship like I did. But that’s one of the many reasons why you mean more to me than anything else in the wastelands. You’re always looking out for me, Night, and I want to do the same for you.” He reached up with a metal paw and softly wiped at his teary eye. “But as Hispano keeps remarking, enough being sappy. The others are waiting, so we should get going.” A genuinely happy smile spread across his jagged metal jaw, his spiky black and white tail wagged softly behind him.

“Yeah, you’re right, we should go.” I nodded as he stepped back from the medical bed far enough that I had the room to hop down beside him.

But I didn’t want to go, not just yet. After everything I’d been through, I’d earned something good that I could take away from all of this. Not just me, actually, we all deserved to feel happy for once. And part of me deep down inside was going to make it happen.

He turned toward the door, but I stuck out my hoof and grabbed his metal paw with it to stop him. It was like my body was on autopilot, and as usual, the words were coming out of my muzzle before I even realized what I was saying. Though as odd as it sounded, I had this weird feeling that I had my mom to blame for what was about to happen...

“Buck? I… I need to ask you something, before we leave.” My heart rate spiked and I felt light headed in a way that again, I hadn’t felt since the day I said I wanted to be with him. “When Hardcase died after helping to save you, and I was left all alone to bring you back to Cantercross, I only had one thought in my mind. I didn’t want to live without you. I resolved that if you died, then so would I.” My words wiped away the smile from Buck’s muzzle, but as I spoke, I couldn’t fight the one pulling across my own. “I can’t imagine a world without you in it. It would be a world without kindness and compassion. And while I do love Hispano so damn much, it’s not in the same way that I love you. You aren’t like anyone I’ve ever met, and I can’t believe how lucky a stallion I am to have a dog like you to share my time with. Through the hardships to come, through the injuries and recoveries, I want to be with you for the rest of my days, Buck. That is of course, if you’ll have me...”

“Night…” Buck’s voice was meek as he stood there with the biggest and brightest blush I’d ever seen across his face. “Are y-you suggesting…”

I was suggesting it. I needed to suggest it. After nearly dying a dozen times, losing the convoy, and nearly losing Buck himself? I wasn’t going to wait another fucking minute to ask.

“Buck,” My heart pounded against my throat, forcing a lump into it as my stomach felt like it exploded into butterflies. “I know it’s an outdated and probably pointless thing to propose in the wasteland, and I have no clue how to even go about it.” My head was spinning as I did my best not to choke up as I stared into his eyes. “But my parents would come back to life and kill me if I didn’t at least ask, so fuck it!” Stepping up, I grabbed at his paw as I could feel the heat radiating off of my own bright blush. “Will you make me the happiest stallion in the world and marry me?”

“I… ” Buck stammered as he brought his other mechanical paw up over his muzzle. With a light nod, he made a squeeing noise that was interrupted halfway through with a soft burst of static from his throat. “Of course, Night!” With the same speed he’d used to grab and crush Mr. Wizard’s head, his mechanical arms wrapped around me and scooped me straight off the floor. “Nothing would make me happier than to spend the rest of my life with you.”

He planted his muzzle against mine, and I melted as my world became fireworks and dizzy elation. As we both laughed happily through our kiss, I couldn’t help but feel that even with as awkward as it was, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Well, if I could change one thing, it would have been to have my parents here with me now.

“Muzzle tov!” The cheerful voice of Ottie came through the observation room glass above us. He clopped his wooden hooves together excitedly as his bright nixie-tube eyes glowed down on us. Both Buck and I shared a nervous grin up to him before we turned our gazes back on each other. “Sorry, I’ll leave you two love birds alone!” He giggled as he got up and disappeared from the observation room glass.

As I pressed my muzzle into Buck’s again, there wasn’t a single negative thought in the back of my mind. No sinking feeling in my gut, no condescending voice echoing through my head. There was simply nothing that existed in the entire world for me outside of one hundred percent pure Bliss.

It was a perfect moment, where it wouldn’t have mattered to me if Celestia herself descended down to stop time for me. I savored the moment all the same, because when it ended, I knew that for the rest of my life, I’d have plenty more moments with him to share. But while I was lost in the bliss of the best damn moment of my life, Buck let out a chuckle as he pulled his muzzle back from mine.

“So, not to complain,” He whispered softly into my ear with the most contented grin in the world across his mechanical muzzle, “but you didn’t just propose so you could have an excuse to buy a fancy new dress to wear, did you?”

“What? Of course not!” I spat out and rolled my eyes at him. “Though… now that you mention it, I guess I will need something nice to wear…” That pulled an exasperated sigh from his muzzle. “Hey, I think I deserve a nice dress to wear, and we both know Hispano is going to want one as well.”

“Yup, you did it for the dress.” The sarcasm that bled off his words was thick enough I could almost drown in it, but I felt he deserved a playful nudge all the same. “But seriously, you think Hispano will agree to wear a nice dress? I wouldn’t be surprised if she just weaved together a bunch of the shells she’s fired out of her sister and call it good.”

“Yeah…” I laughed, letting my words drift off before cocking an eyebrow up at Buck’s big goofy grin. “Say, should we ask her now if she’s okay with getting married to us, or just kind of spring it on her later?”

“I may have something to say about that.” Cora’s voice coming through the open door of the surgical suite sent a chill up my spine. And from the way that Buck tensed up around me, I’m pretty sure it did the same to him. “See, where I come from, you ask the father for permission before popping a question like that.” Stepping in with a limp and a few bandages still covering various parts of his stark white body, Cora’s burning glare shifted between Buck and I. “You already know what her answer is going to be. So how I see it, is that you aren’t going to ask her jack shit, got it? Until you get a yes out of me, you two just need are going to need to move mountains to even get me to think you are worthy of marrying my only daughter.”

I traded an uneasy glance with Buck before looking back at Cora.

“Do I make myself clear?” He grumbled and ground his beak together as he shifted his eyes between us again. Both Buck and I nodded in unison, bringing a soft smirk across his expression. Geez, I understood that he could take this a bit seriously, but to me it was going just a bit too far... “Good, you can start with getting your lazy butts up to the armory. You two will need to arm yourselves to the teeth so you can make sure Hispano comes back from this trip of yours without a single fucking scratch on her plumage.”

Cora turned around with a huff, limping back toward the doorway. As Buck took a single step forward, Cora paused and spun around. His glare narrowed at us again, and he jabbed his bandaged talon through the air at us.

“Oh, and I expect you to keep your muzzles shut about this.” He snapped at us both. “This is between you two and her father. If she gets one fucking word about this, I will shoot you both myself.” With a sigh, he hung and shook his head. “You two have gotten lucky enough so far, but everyone slips up at one point or another, and I’m not going to be around forever to pick up your slack. But if you really do care about my daughter, then you’ll make sure it never happens to her in the first place.”

With that, Cora turned around and let off a grumble. It hadn’t so much ruined the moment, rather, it left me with a profound feeling of the scope of what I’d truly asked of Buck and Hispano. But Buck’s warm muzzle slid down along my own and pressed into my neck as he hugged me again, and I let out a light sigh.

“Don’t worry about him, Night.” Buck whispered into my ear again softly. “We’ll keep her safe.”

“I know we will.” I lied as the thought of my curse coming back to split open her skull like Violet’s popped up in the back of my mind.

Images of the thousands of ways she could die flooded my thoughts as Buck’s arms held me tightly. But if I’d figured anything out today that could bring me even the slightest bit of comfort, it was that while Buck seemed unphased right now, I knew that inside his own head he must be thinking the exact same thing.

“Alright, let’s do as he asked and go find Hispano.” Buck sighed as he straightened up and carried me along with him. He looked down at me with a soft smile, and his cold metal arms brought me tightly against his chest. “Unless that is, my soon to be husband has anything else he needs to do first?” That word sent an electric tingle up my spine, and instantly brought a smile back to my muzzle. “Wait, what is that frequency?”

I watched as Buck’s mechanical ears swiveled around wildly. It only took a moment before I started to hear something odd as well. It was coming from the stairwell out of the surgical suite and growing louder.

“Oh goddesses…” Buck gasped as he squeezed me tightly. “Incoming!”

“eeeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEE!”

Hispano’s high pitched exuberant squeal grew to an unimaginable level as she all but shot down through the stairwell right past Cora. She slammed into Buck and I, compressing me further into his fuzzy chest. The sheer force of impact nearly knocked Buck right off his mechanical paws, and he offered a sharp whine as she squeezed around the both of us tightly.

“Oh I’m so happy for us!” Hispano squawked as she tightly forced the rest of my breath out in her grip before she finally let go. “Oh geez, I’m going to get married! Eeeeeeee!” Her ear piercing squeal forced me to choose between holding onto Buck or covering my ears. I’m not proud to say it, but I would take a bruised flank before another blown eardrum.

Buck however, held onto me tightly as I forced my hooves over my ears. Looking up, his ears hung limply at the sides of his head and flopped about like they were broken. It took me a moment to realize why, but as soon as I did, I was immediately jealous that he could just turn his ears off if he needed to.

Still, as nice as it was that Hispano was happy and excited, an important and life threatening question remained as Cora’s glare shot across the hospital room at us.

“How…” I scrunched my muzzle as Hispano perked up when I spoke. Removing my hooves from my ears, I glanced up to see Buck’s mechanical ears perk up again as well. “How did you find out?”

“Are you kidding?” She snorted before reaching her talon up to tap on the side of Buck’s augmented face. “This thing is connected to the whole Factory, so the Architect was watching the entire time! In fact, he rebroadcast it, so now the whole factory heard you propose!” With a thankfully shorter squeal, she bristled up her feathers with excitement again. “I know that it’s just a formality, but I still can’t believe we’re all going to be a family officially!”

“Ah-hem.” Cora’s gruff voice even made Hispano freeze up with Buck and I. But unlike the two of us, Hispano was quick to spin herself around in a huff and glare right into her father’s eyes.

“And you. After everything we went through to get you back. You do realize that they could have left you there, Dad?” Hispano kept her tone cold but cool. From the way that Cora narrowed his glare and grimaced, I knew she was already getting under his skin. “Why can’t you just be happy for me? I thought we were past all this already!”

“They are the entire reason I was even captured in the first place!” Cora snapped, “Look, am I the perfect father? No, but I’m doing my best. You are the only thing I have left in this world that matters to me, Hispano.” Again, he shifted his burning glare over to Buck and I. “All I want is to make sure that you are safe. Nothing is more important to me than that, and I thought you understood that.”

“Well maybe it’s not your job to keep me safe anymore.” Hispano cooed colder than I’d ever heard her speak before. “You know what, Dad? For as much as you loved them, you couldn’t save Mom or Suiza. And while I don’t blame you for them at all, maybe you should just go back home. I’ll be fine on my own.”

Cora froze up as the words hit him like a slap in the face. His angry expression cracked, shifting and sinking into a distant despair that I knew all too well. With a single stumbling step back, he sat down hard in the doorway.

It hurt to see as I was thrown back into the memory of how I accused Hispano of taking advantage of me after the club. I mean, she called him out for something much worse, but that just made it all that much harder to watch. The silence that grew between us was deafening, and after a moment, it grew to be too much as Hispano crossed her talons as her expression cracked and sank as well. As much as I agreed that he was overbearing as all hell, I needed to say something before Cora made the mistake of leaving and ruining their relationship.

“He’s right, Hispano.” I forced myself to speak. “There is nothing more important in the world than making sure you’re safe. Not to Cora, not to Buck or I either.” Hispano’s gaze softened as she looked over to me, then back to her father. He looked up at us, doing his best to put up a strong front, but I could tell that what Hispano had said really hit him hard. Which made what I needed to say hard, but necessary. “I know we don’t see eye to eye all the time, Cora, but you have our promise. Buck and I will make sure Hispano comes back from this, and every other job, without anything so much as an out of place feather.”

“You’re damn right you won’t.” His beak curled into a weak and forced smile, and he offered me a light nod. “Because while I can’t stop Hispano, I still expect you two to prove to me that you’re still worthy of my daughter.”

“Yes, sir.” Buck answered for the both of us.

Cora seemed to take that as an acceptable answer and left us alone again. The moment he was gone, the three of us sat is silence once more until Hispano let out a soft sigh. Slowly, she reached around Buck and squeezed him tightly again.

“Thank you, you guys.” She sniffed as she finally relaxed a bit in Buck’s arm.

“Anything for family.” Buck nodded with a static filled sigh. His eyes were still cast at the doorway where Cora had been, and I could tell that he was again thinking of everything that could go wrong on this next job.

“Inlaws, am I right?” I nudged Hispano with that. I honestly wasn’t sure what that phrase was even supposed to really mean, but I’d heard my mom joke with dad a few times like that about my grandparents before they laugh amongst each other. Still, it just felt right for the moment, and it pulled a soft chuckle from Buck. “Come on you big goof.” I rolled my eyes at him, but pressed myself into his fur at the same time. “No more dilly dallying, we’ve got some armored mercenaries to hire.”

“So, ah know y’all had yer reasons, Night.” Sierra let out a digital sigh as she continued her work on some sort of big complex arcane machine. She torqued on a spanner that was almost the size of her, tightening down the and of a fastener that held down a cable as thick as my hoof. “But y’all really need ta not overtax tha capacitor on tha subgun ah gave yah.”

“In my defense, if I didn’t use the gun like that, I’d probably be dead.” I offered as I hopped down out of Buck’s mechanical arms.

I nearly collapsed as my rear leg gave out with a burst of pins and needles to it. While having my legs fall asleep when carried around by him was annoying, it was worth the warmth I gained from his fur. And as I leaned my weight more heavily onto my prosthetic leg, the thought that at least all of my legs couldn’t fall asleep brought a smirk to my muzzle.

“Yeah, that’s why ah said y’all had yer reasons.” She let go of the spanner, leaving it sticking out oddly from the large machine beside her.

The machine she’d been working on looked familiar to me, but I couldn’t really place why. The table of industrial sized batteries strung out beyond it all led into the massive cable she’d been working on, so I assumed she’d be powering it on at some point soon. Still, while the machine and the batteries didn’t seem out of place, beyond the batteries, sat about a dozen of what looked like deactivated silverfish drones. They didn’t at all look damaged, but seeing as I still have little to no clue on how they worked, I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise that now and again they may need a little maintenance.

“Now come on.” Turning to the three of us, she nodded towards the armory door in the back of the room. “Between all the project’s ah’ve got, ah’ve fixed up yer gear, and ah’ve even got a few neat things fer Buck.”

“Oh?” Buck’s mechanical ears perked as his tail gave a quick and excited swish.

“Got anything for me?” Hispano chirped as she fluttered out of Buck’s arms and floated through the air after Sierra. “New armor, or portable super weapons? Some sort of machine miracle kit or something?”

“Nope.” Sierra spoke flatly as her head rotated all the way around on her neck as she continued walking. “Based on what we know about yah, we deemed that givin’ yah additional gear ta use actually lowers yer combat effectiveness.”

“Woah…” Hispano nearly froze up mid flight as Sierra’s head spun around again. “now that’s just creepy…”

“Yeah, you get used to it.” I offered Hispano a shrug as I trotted under her. “But I think she has a point. I mean, between your flying skills and your sister, if anyone here doesn’t need help being a badass in a fight, it’s you.”

“Awww!” Hispano gasped and blushed almost as brightly as Buck and I had in the surgical suite. “That’s so sweet of you to say, Dum Dum!”

“Now who’s the one being sappy?” Buck flashed a slick grin as he followed us, forcing Hispano’s cheeks to glow brighter as she scrunched up her beak.

We followed Sierra over to the massive armory door. Ping was already standing at one of the two terminals, and he nodded as Sierra took her place at the other. The two of them activated the terminals together, and the heavy door once again opened up to reveal it’s collection of antique tools of war.

“Y’all wait here fer a moment.” Sierra held up a hoof as both she and Ping trotted inside.

“I still can’t believe just how much stuff they have here.” Hispano offered almost at a whisper. She fluttered down next to me, touching down and folding her wings as her eyes wandered over all the weaponry in the armory. “It’s hard to believe that they just scavenged all of it.”

“It is at first,” Buck spoke up as his mechanical legs gave a hiss and planted him on the other side of me. “But you need to remember that just because Factory Zero One is a settlement devoted to a peaceful existence, doesn’t mean they aren’t prepared for any contingency.”

“Walk softly, but carry a big stick.” Hispano nodded at that. “Or in their case, a whole lot of sticks.”

Ping was the first to reemerge from inside the armory. Balanced across his back, was the familiar strutted form of my wingsuit, as well as my battlesaddle and magical energy submachine gun. Both looked to have been cleaned up and repaired to the point that they were pretty much in the same shape I’d first gotten them in.

“While we carry plenty of sticks, I do believe this one is yours, Night.” Ping’s bright beaming smile and upbeat tone was comforting to have around again. Even as my mind tried to remind me of the terrifyingly soulless machine that Mr. Wizard had tried to make, I never felt that way about Ping. “Do not feel pressured to put it on right away,” He offered as he hoofed my gear from his back. “The trip to Cordite will take an hour or so, and there will be ample time to get geared up on board the Arcturus.”

“Thanks, Ping.” Taking the gear from his hooves, I offered my own smile in return. “And hey, again, sorry for what happened back in the city.”

“Do not worry, Night. I am just happy to be back.” His expression shifted to a more concerned one while he still beamed the same bright smile at me. “As I said, we simply need to keep it from being a common occurrence.” Looking off towards the door back into the main halls, he waved to the three of us before starting to trot off towards them. “Try not to take too much longer to get ready. I will see you all on board the Arcturus shortly.”

While he said it was alright, it still didn’t make me feel any less guilty for letting his old body get taken like that. Yeah, I didn’t know that he could come back in a new body, but I still let him get taken. I’d failed to protect him, and I wouldn’t be so lucky if that happened to Buck or Hispano. Looking down at the gear in my hooves, I resolved to myself to fight harder than ever to keep it from happening again.

“Alrighty, big guy.” Sierra called out as she too reemerged from inside the armory. Carried across her back, was a big white and red square, as well as something I’d never thought I’d see again. “It ain’t as pretty as yer old one, but y’all should find this one even better than before.”

She pulled Buck’s yoke off of her back. Most of the original wood construction was gone, replaced by thick and heavy looking steel plates. Several lights, vents, and ports sat underneath a spring loaded metal flap that when closed, displayed the red cross that the old yoke had held. The two mounting points on the back of the yoke had also been replaced, and now held two differently sized antenna that stiffly wiggled as she moved it.

“The Architect wanted more data on tha outside world as y’all head south, so this here yolk should contain all tha sensors and instruments we could ever need.” Sierra spoke as Buck reached out and took the metal yoke into his paws. From the way that his arms dipped at the weight of it, I couldn’t imagine what it actually would feel like for him to wear something so heavy. “And of course y’all get the data feed as well in yer head. Ah also included a data buffer that’ll broadcast everything it gets once a day, but will also constantly broadcast a shorter version of our radio signal. So if y’all see any other machines on yer travels, just saddle up next to ‘em and they should get our message.”

“Oh, that’s a wonderful idea, Sierra.” Buck’s jagged metal jaw split into a wild grin as he lifted the yoke up and put it on. My mind was thrown back to the day I gave him the yoke, and I smiled as he mirrored the look he had back then. Goddesses, I wish things could just go back to the way they used to be. Despite what it weighed, as it clamped around his neck, it didn’t look like it put any more strain on him at all. With the yoke on, his ears perked again and his eyes swept over to the white and red cloth draped across her back. “And what is that you have there?”

“Now, this here is a gift from tha Architect to yah.” She reached back again and slipped the large cloth from her back. As she lifted it, it unfurled a bit, showing that the red I’d seen was actually a large version of the red cross his yoke shared. “In his observations of ya, he’s noticed that y’all ain’t really the type to enjoy standin’ out inna’ croud. So he had me whip up this here cloak for yah so y’all at tha very least look more friendly.”

Taking the cloth in his paws, Buck pulled it up and spread it out. The thick white fabric was sewn up in the rough shape of a robe that was sized for someone exactly Buck’s size. With a quick toss of his paws, he draped the cloth over him, letting the large red cross display proudly across his back. He slipped his mechanical paws through the arm holes, and brought them up to flip a hood over the top of his head.

I had to say, once he had it completely around him, other than for his odd size and stature, I would hardly have guessed that there was a mechanically augmented Snow Dog under the robe. Well, that would be completely true if Buck’s spiky tail didn’t wag a bit as he looked himself over. Still, the beaming smile across his muzzle at his new outfit brought a similar one to my own.

“It’s perfect!” Buck gasped as he gave us all a little spin on his mechanical paws.

“It makes you look like a target. That or a walking tent…” Hispano’s blunt words hammered home an annoying, but fair point.

“Well outta’ any of yah gettin’ shot, he’s probably gonna’ be tha likeliest ta survive.” Sierra snorted as she shot a faceless glare over to Hispano. Without missing a beat, she looked over to me as well. “Then again, mister Survivor over here could probably pull it off as well, but tha factory ain’t really feelin’ good on testin’ those chances.”

“Besides, I’m a big dog.” Buck shrugged as he reached up and pulled the hood back again. “I’ll gladly take a few bullets for the team if it means keeping you two safe.”

“Why don’t we just try and not get shot in the first place, okay?” I offered, only half joking. I mean please, when has that ever happened. The deadpan I received from the three of them really cemented that fact in my mind as well.

“Don’t y’all have somewhere yah need ta be?” Sierra spoke up again as she gave a dismissive wave to us.

“Yeah, let’s blow this joint already.” Hispano cood as she hopped up into the air again. With a smile, she pointed down to me. “Oooh! Last one to the ship is a rotten apple!” She gasped before flapping hard and all but bolting out into the bright halls outside.

“Alright, are you good to go, Night?” Buck asked as he turned to me and offered out his mechanical paw. I was about to nod and hop up into his warm grasp again when Sierra used her hoof to push his paw away.

“Actually... ah need ta speak ta Night fer just a teensy moment.” She lowered her voice into more of a whisper as Buck cocked an eyebrow at her. “Ah just need ta ask him somethin’. Ya’ know… in private.” I wasn’t sure how a faceless machine could look nervous glancing up at Buck, but that’s exactly what Sierra did as a moment of silence filled the air. “Uh… it’ll be quick, ah promise.”

“Alright.” Buck nodded before looking over to me. “I’ll be waiting in the cart, Night. Don’t take too long.” Turning, Buck’s flowing robe displayed the full red cross for me to see as he walked himself back out into the hall without another word.

“So, what’s up, Sierra?” I asked, watching as she hung her head for a moment. From how she almost looked dejected, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from her.

“Well, yah see…” She kept her voice down as she turned and walked back towards the large archano-tech machine she’d been working on when we walked in. “Ah’m workin’ on somethin’ fer the Architect. A bit of a secret project that ah’m not supposed ta talk about.” She waved for me to come closer, and she looked around as if looking for anypony who could be eavesdropping on us. “So ah need yer word that y’all won’t spill the beans on this, even ta yer husband-ta-be out there.”

“Uh… okay?” I shrugged to her, pulling a cringe from her metal body. Okay, so she didn’t want me to tell anypony. While that was out of the ordinary, it was just another odd request like for every other ‘quick’ job we’d done for the Factory and the Architect so far. “So what do you need…” As I said that, she spun her hoof up and pressed it to her featureless muzzle.

“Shhhh! Keep it down!” She gave out through a harsh whisper. “Like ah said, ain’t nopony supposed ta know about it.” She waited for me to nod before turning her hoof back to point at the machine infront of us. “Now, this here machine is the last piece of a bigger project, but ah’ve hit a bit of a wall. Yah see, since the ponies in Tungsten stopped minin’ fer us, we ain’t gettin’ anymore ore in.”

“Okay,” I kept my voice to enough of a whisper this time that she didn’t scold me as I gestured to the thousands of broken and scrap guns around us. “I thought you’d have enough steel with all this scrap you have here.”

“It ain’t steel we need. It’s Tungsten.” She gave off a hushed sigh and hung her head again. “It’s an absolutely crucial component ta the build here, the last component ah need. And seein’ as y’all are headed down ta Cordite, ah need yah ta barter for some.”

Well, that’s neat and all, but point A, I’m not great at bartering. And point B, is that I have no idea what I’d even trade for it in the first place. But seeing as this is something specifically that the Architect needs, I’m guessing that there’s already something I’m supposed to be offering to Cordite. So then like most tasks they’ve sent me on, I’m guessing this was less of an ‘optional’ bit of the job, and I might as well see what I could do.

“What do I tell them they’ll be getting?” I asked, making Sierra perk up a bit.

“Well, we’ve got lot’s ‘a high explosive shells here of all different sizes. Great fer use against tha targets they most commonly come up against here in tha northern wastes.” She gestured back toward the crates way in the back of the armory. “Yah can offer them a few thousand shells of our stock, whatever sizes they need. But, ah need about five hundred of their tungsten penetrators in return.”

“Okay, sounds easy enough.” I shrugged back to her. Seriously, that sounds a bit like the Factory is getting the worse deal here, but again, if that’s what the Architect wants…

“One more thing, Night.” She hissed in a low whisper as she reached out and prodded at my chest with her hoof. “Like ah said, this is a secret, so ah’m gonna have you use a coded phrase ta tell meh when I can send these here drones ta pick up the shells.” She waved her hoof back to the shut down drones I’d spotted earlier. Oh, so that’s why they were here. “Ah’ll be listenin’ in on tha deal through Buck, and ah’ll ask him to give you a question fer meh.”

“Alright?” Okay, while I get the idea of secrecy, didn’t she just say she didn’t want to let anyone else know about it?

“Ah’m gonna have Buck ask yah if ya’ll think it looks like thunder out,” She prodded at my chest sharply again. “And if yah got the Tungsten, ya’ll need ta reply with ‘Ah didn’t see a flash’, got it?”

“I didn’t see a flash?” I repeated, pulling a quick nod from her. Finally, it clicked in my head what she was doing. “Oh!” I gasped out loudly, only to have her forcefully wrap her metal hooves around my muzzle to shut me up.

“Yes, it’ll let meh know when y’all have finished tha job.” She nodded before giving me the most intense, faceless stare I think I could ever get from her. “But remember, nopony can know, and that means y’all have ta barter in private. Got it?” I nodded to her, and she pulled her hooves away from my muzzle again. “Good. Ah look forward ta hearin’ back from y’all. I just hope it can be done in time...”

“In time for what?” I asked bluntly.

“Ain’t nothin’ y’all need ta worry about, sugarcube.” She gave a light giggle and dismissed me with her hoof. “Run along now, yer friends are waitin’ fer yah!”

Okay… so that was an interesting exchange. A secret project for the Architect that required this much secrecy and planning? But… why? Honestly, this was reminding me a little too much of when Hardcase had asked me to go make a commotion with Guinness and Zibar’s tank...

And now I just made myself sad by remembering that.

Giving a sigh, I turned around and walked toward the door. And here I’d thought that maybe when the Architect and I talked, I’d convinced him that keeping secrets wasn’t the way to go about things. Then again, this could be about that, or about anything for all I know. Maybe it would be best if I just didn’t question it for now. Besides, it was going to be hard enough to convince Cordite to help us out as it was.

Well, here’s hoping that however it went, it didn’t end up with me getting shot, or one of my friends getting foalnapped again. Then again, it’s me we’re talking about here. But you know, wouldn’t it be nice if just this once things went well for a change...

Author's Note

As is pretty much the case with ever chapter, a huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for helping to make sure these are all ready to go up! Seriously, you're the best, man!

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat for letting us all run around in this fantastic wasteland!

Chapter 70 - Cordite

The best way to win a one-on-one fight, is to be the third to arrive.

It’d been just about an hour since we’d left the factory, and I figured we’d probably be arriving over Cordite shortly. But rather than get up and deal with that, for now, I just felt like relaxing with my family. And after everything, we’d definitely earned a bit of leisure time.

Being the ‘Captain’ apparently had one perk on board the Arcturus, and that was that the captain had their own separate quarters. It was still small at about half the size of our container rooms on Bertha, but it was enough. While I still felt bad that I’d taken the title from Frescas, I certainly wasn’t going to feel sorry about stealing this away. Not when for once I could just relax.

Eeyup, just me, Buck, and Hispano packed into a tiny room aboard a two century old pegasus ghostship.

“I don’t know about you two, but this is the sort of thing I’m looking for in our future.” Hispano cooed softly as she reclined on the small one-pony sized bed recessed into the back wall. Me? I’d been much more comfortable laying atop the soft and warm fur of the Snow Dog I loved. “You sure we can’t just head south like this and find a nice corner of the wastes to live in for forever?”

I knew she’d made the comment in jest, but that was all the excuse my mind needed to get going.

“Yes, Night.” Solomon’s voice was nothing more than a whisper emanating from the darkest depths of my mind. “Just let me go. It’s not like you need to come after me. I mean, what’s that mule going to do? KILL you? Hah!”

“As nice as that’d be, we can’t.” I mumbled through a muzzle full of warm fur as I let out a sigh. “Happy had a point earlier, we’ve already taken far too long to get back on the road after Solomon.”

“Ugh.” Hispano grunted and threw her head back against the soft pillow behind her. “Fine. But if that’s the case, then you should probably stop saying yes to every charity case we happen upon. Sooner or later, it’s going to… well, it’s just not going to end well for us.”

“What charity cases?” I scoffed and twisted my head across Buck’s chest just enough to glance over at her. “All this shit we’re doing for the Factory is in return for the help we’re getting.”

“Yeah, I get that, Night.” She rolled her eyes before reaching up to grab around the broken compass that hung around her neck. “But don’t deny that while you’ve been more open to fighting than Buck, you’ve still got a soft spot for anypony who even looks at you needily. Isn’t that right, Buck?” Silence filled the air before she glanced over at him, only to receive a light snore from the end of his metal muzzle. Of course he’d fallen asleep… “Typical.” She sighed before laying back down.

She gave the compass a squeeze, tensing up before looking down to realize what she’d been doing. As if she tried to brush off the fact she’d even had it in her talons, she huffed and rolled herself over. With a pomf, she forced her beak and face straight down into the pillow. While I understood where this all was coming from, I had this itching feeling in the back of my head that there was a reason she’d spoken up about it.

“What’s got you so concerned, Hispano?” I asked as bluntly as ever.

“Nothing.” She muttered with her face still pressed into the pillow.

“Come on, it’s never nothing.” I sighed, carefully repositioning myself on Buck’s chest so that I could speak without getting a muzzle full of fur with every word. “Is it something that happened with your sister?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Hispano grunted and pushed herself to roll onto her side. With a huff, she faced the bland metal wall and curled up slightly.

“If you don’t want to talk, that’s fine.” I sighed, hoping that I could try to get her to get whatever this was off her breast. If she didn’t, I knew it was going to bother me the whole time we were at Cordite. “Just know that you can tell me anything, Hispano.”

“I know, Night.” She let out a sniffle as she curled up tighter. “And you’re right, it is about my sister.” Rolling herself over again, she wore a dejected look that drifted across the room to where Suiza was propped up near the door. Pushing herself to sit up, she sat at the edge of the bed. “The job my sister never came back from, that was a charity case.”

“Wait, I thought Talons never worked for free.” I blurt out, drawing her sad glance for a moment before she shrugged at me.

“They don’t. It’s supposed to be ‘bad luck’ to work for free, and of course it’s just a terrible way to make caps.” She forced herself to speak as her tone grew more hollow with each word. Her expression twisted as rage slowly crept and built across her body. “But my sister was the best Talon there ever was, and that fucking cowardly bastard knew it.” She brought her talon up again around the broken compass, pressing it against her plumage as she continued. “Gunther, a transfer-Talon from the east who’d taken only easy jobs had asked Suiza to prove that she was the best. He wanted her to take over the impossible contract he’d picked up. Not only that, but he suggested that if she really was the best, then she didn’t need to worry about the bad luck.”

“And being the badass she was, she took up the job?” Again, the words just sort of slipped from my muzzle. Surprisingly, they brought the hint of a smirk across her beak, if only for just a single moment.

“Mhmm.” She nodded as she brought the compass up to where she could look at it. “That asshole got to nearly drink himself to death that night, while my sister never came home again.”

“Did you kill him?” I asked with what seemed to be the force of a thousand mile an hour winds, because it brought a look of shock across her face. Which was odd to me, because that’s exactly what I wanted to do to the fucking ‘Lightbringer’ for killing my mom.

“What? No!” She gasped. “Fighting another Talon outside of opposing contracts is grounds for summary execution, or worse, expulsion from the Talons forever.” Letting the shock of my question subside a bit, her look slowly drifted back over to her sister. With a short slump, she hung her head and let go of the compass. “I wanted to, I still want to, but... I can’t.”

“Can’t, or won’t.” I offered, pulling a confused look. Something about the way she’d said that only left me more curious about it. “If you could do it where it wouldn’t get you kicked out of the Talons, would you?”

“I…” She paused as she stared at me and let her response die in her throat. Again, her eyes drifted to her sister, and after a moment, she’d collected herself to speak up again. “I just can’t. It goes against what being a Talon means, and that alone meant everything to my family. I couldn’t betray their morals like that, not Dad’s, not my sister’s, and not my mom’s.”

“I think that must’ve been hard to admit, but it’s admirable of you to be able to forgive something like that.” I couldn’t always be a ‘good’ pony, and again I’ll admit that I’d still take a shot at the Lightbringer if given a chance. But I’ll be damned if even Hispano, the excitable Talon in training, couldn’t remind me of how no one is truly too far gone to save in the wastes.

“Oh, I haven’t forgiven him.” She let out a soft laugh as her beak spread into a smile. “And believe me, the moment we get back down to my home in ‘Claw, I’m going to find him. And while I won’t kill him, he’s going to so wish that I would.”

I felt a laugh slip out of my muzzle as I rolled my eyes at her.

“And after what he did, you can bet that I’ll be there to hold him down for you.” While I’d just remarked that anyone could be saved, it didn’t mean that they couldn’t incur a few bumps and bruises as I helped them along the way. But the notion of all this had kicked an odd thought into my head that like always, just happened to work its way out of my muzzle. “But what doesn’t make sense then, is why you’re still working for me when I haven’t paid you anything? Isn’t that supposed to be ‘bad luck’?”

“Oh, while that’s true, and you are definitely a walking pile of bad luck… it doesn’t mean I haven’t already taken something of yours as compensation.” The soft and somewhat loving tone that filled her words was much more comforting than the hollowness that she’d just held. Not only that, but her words meant so much more as she reached over with her talon and grasped my forehoof firmly. “And while I know that for you it’s not the same feelings you share with Buck, they’re still worth more to me than any caps or treasure in the wasteland.”

I met her hope filled smile with one of my own as I used my fetlock to squeeze around her talon.

“Again with the getting sappy.” Buck groaned out as he reached up and wrapped his mechanical paw around Hispano and I’s linked limbs.

In one fluid motion, he sat up and dragged the both of us up against his warm chest. He let out a static filled yawn as Hispano and I tried to process everything with our faces buried in his fur.

“That was a good nap, and I’m glad you two got some time to talk.” Buck leaned forward, lifting us in his paws until he could plant a soft but short kiss on each of our heads. “But unfortunately we’re coming up on Cordite’s headquarters, and Ping wants to talk about what we’ll be offering them.”

“About that…” I mumbled as I pulled my head away from Buck’s chest. Looking up, I stared right into his concerned and slightly confused look. Every part of me wanted to tell him about what Sierra had asked for, but I can’t. And like with how Hispano felt, this really was a ‘can’t’ sort of situation. “When we go in, I kinda… sorta… want to try negotiating alone?”

I didn’t have to even look over to know that the odd sound coming through Buck’s fluff was the noise of Hispano dragging her talon across her face in exasperation.

Yeah, I could already tell this wasn’t going to go over well…

“So, let me get this straight…” Happy scrunched up his muzzle in frustration as he angrily prodded at my side. “You want to negotiate with them, alone.”

“That’s right.” I nodded at him and looked at the others. While I knew Hispano would support me, I wasn’t sure about Buck. By the way he covered his face with his mechanical paws, and how he looked like he was about to die of disappointment, I was fairly certain that’d mean he’s about fifty-fifty or so. “Look, I know you don’t have much of a reason to take me up on this, but I need you to trust me.”

“Much of a reason?” Happy spat out harshly, following it with a forced laugh. “You sat in on all of what, two or three of Ma’s negotiations? I’ve sat in on dozens of those boring meetings, and I couldn’t ever negotiate my way out of a paper bag!”

“He’s right you know.” Hispano chimed in as she propped herself up against the barrel of Suiza. “I think the paper bag would take him for all he’s worth.” She flashed as smirk before glancing over to me. “But he’s got a point, Night. What’s this about?”

And there’s the question. Yeah, I knew this wasn’t going to go smoothly. But hey, that’s just how my life is I suppose...

“I’ve been asked... not to tell you?” I looked around to everyone gathered in the command center of the ship.

I ended my glance on Ping. Even he’d looked confused as to why I’d even entertained the idea, let alone brought it up. But if the Architect hadn’t told him, there had to be a reason. And while I pointed out that he shouldn’t be keeping secrets from the Factory, it’s not my place to go spilling them. At least, not right now it wasn’t.

“I believe that if Night Flight trusts it is in our best interests not to be told,” Ping blinked a few times before looking about to the others. “Then we must do our part to understand that it is probably for the best. He is both the captain and the Factory’s representative after all!” His muzzle split to his beaming smile as he turned and started to push buttons under the board of terminal screens currently displaying the sprawling forest below the Arcturus. “Now, about what we will be offering as compensation for Cordite’s service. I have a list here I can give you of our available assets to trade. However, with the recent problems we’ve been having with the ponies in Tungsten, our options are not numerous.”

With a few more taps on the keys, he refreshed a few of the terminal screens above him. It generated a list of elements, Iron, Nickel, Cobalt, Aluminum, Titanium, along with a few other compounds that I didn’t really understand, let alone even dream of pronouncing names like that. With a final stroke, one of the bridge machines started to make a rhythmic grinding noise, slowly spitting out a short length of printed paper.

“It’s just… raw materials.” Hispano grumbled as she ripped the paper from the printer and brought it up to her beak. Flatly, she looked over the top of it to Ping, shooting his beaming muzzle a deadpan. “They’re not going to want anything like this. They’re going to want guns, ammunition, gear. They run and maintain tanks, not build them.”

“On the contrary, they do build them.” Eliza’s voice came through the command center itself, and her cartoony smiling mare popped onto one of the monitors above Ping. The other terminal screens flashed over to a set of images that showed what almost looked like a full production line of small, armored and tracked vehicles. “Their T-8 tank series is the first newly designed and manufactured military vehicle seen in the north since the war. The newest models seem to be built more for an anti-personnel and light vehicle role, but from what models they have managed to get operational, they have proven to be highly effective in the field.”

“By our estimate,” Ping spoke up again as Eliza returned the screens around him to the various displays they’d originally had. “We have enough materials on offer for them to build two hundred and seventy five new tanks. That is of course by our estimates, which are solely based on observations of the vehicles and the process that they have used to make them. Back at the Factory, we could also prefabricate parts to their specifications if it would convince them to help fight the Kingdom.”

“Fascinating.” Buck surprised me by stepping forward and putting his paw on the end of his muzzle. “On the Inuvik, we had to create our own spare parts or hope that the Empirica could share some. Fabricating new parts had always been a challenge for the ship’s engineers, let alone whole new machines. I am a bit curious as to how they’ve managed to solve their own problems with only the tools they had.” He turned to me with a smirk that told me he was going to ask me something I wouldn’t be able to resist. “Perhaps we could take a look at their fabrication facility while we are down there?”

“Only for you, Buck.” I gave him a soft nod and felt a warmth creep through me as a smile parted his jagged jawline. Turning my attention back to Ping however, I did have one question. “And what if the raw materials aren’t enough? Is there anything else I could offer?”

Ping’s smile immediately sank to a frown.

“We do not have anything else to offer at this time.” He looked around to the others, stopping on Hispano for more than just a moment. “As much as they could indeed utilize it, the Architect has specifically requested that the factory never relinquish anything from inside the armory that is not meant to be used by a member of the Factory themselves. Organics have proven more than enough times that you do not ‘add fuel to a fire’, as it were.” He made hoof quotes around that last part, but at least that helped me to know why I was supposed to offer those shells in secret.

Still, now it was even more imperative that nopony ever find out…

“We aren’t really all that different, now are we?” Frescas called out as she stepped through the doorway into the Command center. And while I couldn’t quite say that I’d seen a snarling look pull across Ping’s face, if it was there, it flashed away quickly as the magical illusion he held flickered back over to the innocent beaming smile he always wore.

“Now now, Frescas. We’re all friends here.” Pastel offered as he stepped through the doorway behind her. Carefully, he wrapped a wing around her, and she at least looked to relax slightly at his touch. Well, at least she seems to have come to accept that we’re not absolute monsters for stealing her ship.

“That does remind me,” Ping cleared his throat as he turned back to me. “Assuming the arrangement does not take too long, there is a slight other problem we may have to deal with.”

“Ugh!” Happy facehoofed hard before he slumped back against one of the control consoles. “Goddesses, why the fuck is there always something else!? We’re never going to catch up with Solomon at this rate!”

“I hate to say it, but he’s right.” I grumbled. While we owed the Factory big time, that didn’t mean we couldn’t start to say no when told about all these little side jobs that keep popping up. “While I’m not against hearing you out, Ping… we’re not going to make any progress south if we’re always stuck doing errands.”

“I know, however this is of pressing concern.” Turning back toward’s Frescas, his glare narrowed and his muzzle sank to a distinctive, angry frown. “The Steel Rangers are close to locating Factory Zero One.”

“They what!?” Both Happy and I spat out in unison with Pastel and Frescas.

Oh… this was definitely not some optional errand then…

“Alright.” Hispano’s calm voice preempted the disturbingly crisp crack of her talons as she stretched them out. “Which one of these steel assholes phoned home?”

“It…” Ping’s muzzle scrunched slightly as his angry look sank away for a moment. “It was not them.”

Turning back toward the terminals, he typed a few commands in. The screens flickered over to the sight of Cantercross on fire yesterday as our fight brought down Mr. Wizard’s operation. The camera panned, looking out toward the ruins on the northeast side of the city. There, several robed ponies used what looked like a telescope to look almost directly at the camera.

“The Arcturus was spotted above Cantercross by a Ranger salvage team that was observing the operation yesterday.” Ping sighed as he turned back around to us. “Not only did they discover us, but they recorded the direction we left in.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t notice them during the operation, Captain.” Eliza’s monotone voice held just the slightest note of regret to it. But really, I couldn’t blame her, not when everything about our own plan had collapsed pretty much from the moment we got there.

“Still, that’s only one vector.” Hispano spat out and crossed her talons. “Sure they can guess where we went, but they’d have to search ten thousand square kilometers if…”

“Two vectors.” Frescas spoke up sharply. “They know what direction the ship left with us on it during your ‘fake’ spark reactor meltdown.”

“Correct.” Ping nodded reluctantly to her. “Knowing that the ship survived, and using both vectors, they have spent the last twelve hours narrowing down the likely locations this ship could be hidden away in. Not only that, but they have already begun using their air assets to begin to sweep through in a grid pattern. The Factory has listened in on these calculations, and we agree that their current guess will bring their gunship close enough to the Factory that they may see it within the week.”

“So what are we supposed to do?” I asked blatantly. I may have a good amount of ideas that may or may not end in terrible failure most of the time, but even I didn’t have anything for this.

“After we complete our task here, we must intercept them.” Ping took a deep breath as he stiffened up and offered only a momentary glance over to Frescas. “We must either convince them to abandon their search, or… or we must shoot them down.”

“You can’t do that.” Frescas hissed.

“I am sorry, but the location of the Factory must be protected.” Ping huffed and actually stuck his muzzle up in the air at her. Seriously? What was his problem with her?

“Then take us back home.” Pastel grunted as he rubbed his wing along Frescas’ back to calm her a bit. “Look, I know you're not a fan, but think about it. We're the only ones who know where the Factory is.” Frescas nearly spun out from under his wing at that, but to his credit, he didn’t let that phase him in the slightest. “We can convince the Elder to leave you alone.”

“No, not after what they did to us!” Frescas huffed. So much for her having accepted us...

“I know it’s going to be hard to trust us, but…” Pastel offered Frescas a commanding glare that was more stern than I’d seen from him yet. “Right now, that’s your best option. And to be blunt, that’s the only offer you’re going to get from us.”

“I believe that it would be wise to take him up on this.” Buck spoke as he stepped up beside me. Carefully, he ran his paw along by back, running his digits through my mane in a way that made me push back against them slightly. “If we return them to Galloway, they may consider hearing out our reasons for taking their ship. Perhaps we could even open trade with them.”

“Or they could bind you and take you prisoner against your will.” Ping grunted and ground his hoof into the floor so hard it made a metallic squeal of protest. “It is too much of a risk. I am sorry, we cannot go.” But in saying that, he tipped his hoof to me in the same way Hispano had earlier.

“Can’t?” I wheeled on Ping and glared at him. “Or won’t?”

“I have stated the risk, Night.” He growled at me and narrowed his eyes again. As his anger grew, the same red glow I’d seen from Buck’s eyes began to emanate through the dark pupils of his own. “I am sorry if you may think otherwise, but…”

“Sorry or not, after we’re done with Cordite, we’re going.” I snorted as I cut him off. Seriously, he may be too afraid to go back, but Pastel was right. They were our best chance to talk the rangers down peacefully. But from how angry Ping looked, I don’t think he really cared. “Let me remind you that you wanted an ambassador for Factory Zero One. And now that we have a chance to do our job, you think it’s too risky? I understand your hesitation, Ping. After the Rangers locked you up for that damned long, I know that you never want to see it happen again. But trust me when I say it won’t.”

“You cannot possibly…” Ping snarled again, raising his voice. But if that’s how he wanted to play this, then I’ll have to pull a Delilah on his ass.

“I wasn't finished.” I snapped at him hard enough that he recoiled and fell silent. I tried my best to channel Delilah, but at the same time, let the words flow from my muzzle like they always tended to. “I know what it feels like to fear the same thing happening again and again. You know that I do. But with everything we have been through, even if they don't see eye to eye with us, even if they never accept our reasons? Well? They'll have to live with them, regardless. I am not going to sit idly by if they want to start a fight, but I will not invite one.”

“Furthermore,” I spun around to face Pastel and Frescas as I continued. “I don't intend to give this ship back. We need it, but even so, that's no reason to avoid ever talking with the Rangers again. It's more of a reason to talk than anything, because the sooner both sides put this in the past, the sooner we can all move on together into the future.”

“Uh…” Eliza popped up on one of the screens next to me with a concerned version of her cartoon self. “There’s a bit of a situation…”

“Well spoken, Night Flight.” The Architect’s voice came through the command center speakers, and even Eliza’s cartoon mare seemed to jump at the random appearance of his voice. “He is right, Ping. You can not let your fear of the past dictate your future. You must face this task and mend our relationship with the Steel Rangers for the benefit of all parties.”

“If I could just point out…” Eliza tried to speak again, this time pulling my attention.

“You have made your point, Architect, and it is sound.” With another long sigh, Ping cut off Eliza and hung his head with a frown. “And I am sorry, Night. Perhaps I was letting my fears get the better of me.”

“I’m glad you finally see it that way...” I nodded to him but spoke in a somewhat hurried tone. I didn’t mean to brush him off, but Eliza obviously wanted to say something important.

“Look, I need you to listen…!” Eliza’s monotone voice strained to put every ounce of urgency out through the speaker system as she increased her volume.

“That was a bit rude.” Buck spoke as he stepped in front of me and all but pulled my attention up as he frowned at both me and the cartoon mare. “Ping is obviously struggling to cope with his traumatic experience, so you should at least…”

The whole room went dark around us as a loud Klaxon ran through the ship. Flashing red emergency lighting came on as every terminal in the command center shifted to displaying ship systems information. While I hadn’t so much jumped at the quick change of things, like most of the others, I was more confused and worried than startled.

“Eliza, situation report.” Frescas spoke up sternly as she approached the main terminal banks next to Ping.

“As I was trying to say,” She sighed as one of the small screens flickered back over to the image of the cartoony mare. “Cordite’s maintenance compound is under attack by Pentex mercenaries. There have already been several casualties on both sides, and should the ship get any closer, the ventral hull risks being exposed by errant shots.”

“Pentex? Are you sure?” Ping wheeled around on his hooves and quickly began to type on the terminals again.

The screens above him flickered over to what must have been a live image of what was going on below us. Several heavily armored vehicles clearcut a path through the thick forests below as they approached a simple set of barbed wire fences. Massive sets of spinning chains on the tracked vehicles easily smashed and tore through trees that surrounded the base, as well as making short work of the simple chain link fence that was Cordite’s only real defensive barrier.

“Who’s ‘Pentex’?” I found myself asking with the same cluelessness as always.

“They’re what you get when you cross the Talons with the Rangers.” Pastel snorted with a heavy amount of disdain to his words. “Well trained and equipped soldiers of fortune who fight for the highest bidder, and like to be paid in tech rather than caps.”

“They are nothing like the Talons.” Hispano snapped. “Unlike my organization, these assholes are exclusive to this region, and they give the word mercenary a bad name.”

“You’ve heard of them before?” I asked Hispano, pulling a roll from her eyes. What? She knows I’m clueless about half the shit she already has a grasp on.

“Let’s just say that unlike the Talons, they don’t follow any rules.” She huffed as she crossed her talons across her breast. “Non-combatants, foals, ponies running away? They’re all targets. Hell, they’ll even murder their own clients if they think it’s in their best interest.”

“The question is then,” Frescas remarked as she leaned closer to some of the screens displaying the fighting below. “What are they doing attacking Cordite? Normally they’re not stupid enough to start a fight with them.”

Turning my attention back to the screens, I watched as two groups of ponies in sleek black military armor slipped through the gaping holes in the fence that the armored vehicles left. They fanned out, trading fire with various Cordite ponies as they worked their way towards the interior of a large warehouse building nearby. They swept across the ground with an efficiency and coordination that I’d never even seen the Enclave use in the Wargames they’d make us watch in school. It was unreal to think such a small group could attack a military base, let alone actually watch it unfold like this.

“We need to help.” Hispano grunted as she pushed herself up and loudly cycled the bolt to chamber a round in Suiza.

“Are you serious?” Frescas scoffed and spun around with an incredulous look. “You looking to get yourself killed?” As much as I agreed with Frescas, a thought popped into my head.

“Hispano’s right.” I blurted out as I stepped around Buck towards her. “Despite the risks, if we can help out Cordite, it might mean a bit of an edge at the bargaining table.”

“Hey, yeah!” Happy laughed and nodded. “Those armored chumps would owe us.” Rubbing his hooves together, he looked over at Ping with a nefarious grin spreading across his muzzle. “And we’ve got the element of surprise, right? Why not just rain some missiles down on them, and boom! We win.”

“That’s a terrible idea.” Frescas groaned and forced Happy’s grin to twist into a grimace. “Neither Cordite or Pentex know we’re up here, which means the second we fire, we’re gambling that Cordite doesn’t think we’re going to open up on them next.” That… was a fairly good point. “And while the Arcturus’ hull can withstand some small arms fire, a few hundred tank rounds is not something the armor’s rated for.”

“Collateral damage would also be a problem.” Ping sighed as he glanced back at the screens. “I have requested that a drone be assigned to follow the Pentex soldiers should they leave, but for now, the only way you would be able to help is from the air.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Hispano chirped with more excitement in her voice than I’d expected. “Let’s go already!”

“I’m going with you.” Pastel stepped up beside me, catching me completely off guard with his statement. He seemed to get that and smiled to me as he unslung his four barreled rocket launcher from his back. “What? You heard her, they’re a mix of the Talons and the Rangers. You think Talons are the only ones who get a bad name from Pentex?”

“Well, whatever you do, you should do it quickly.” Eliza spoke as she shifted one of the terminal screens. We watched as the two armored vehicles that battered their way to the compound were maneuvering around to head back through the path they cut in the forest.

“Alright,” I nodded and pointed towards the hatch that lead up to the conning tower. “Hispano, Pastel and I are going to fly out from above.” Shifting my hoof, I pointed towards the door that headed out towards the weapons bay. “Buck, you, Happy, and Ping head to the Remora. We’ll try to do our best from the skies to convince Cordite that we’re here to help.”

“It could take me a few minutes to get ready.” Buck cringed. “If we are to support them, I’ll need to load the Remora up with a few medical supplies from the ship’s infirmary.”

While it did hurt our timeframe a bit, to be fair, I was more than likely going to be one of the ones benefiting from those supplies anyway...

“A solid plan.” Ping beamed his smile to me before spinning around and trotting off. “Happy and I will assist Doctor Buck in loading up the supplies!”

“Aww, why’d you have to volunteer me for it?” Happy grumbled as he turned and followed our mechanical zebra friend.

“Be careful, Night.” Buck offered with a solemn nod before turning to leave as well.

“I will be.” I nodded to him before turning and heading toward the conning tower ladder.

Hispano fluttered above me and opened the hatch as I wrapped my hooves around the ladder and started to climb. Pastel brought up the rear, and by the time I’d gotten halfway through the conning tower ladder, Hispano had already opened the outer hatch. She zipped up into the bright blue skies above before circling back and hovering above the hole.

“Come on, slowpokes!” She giggled as she brought Suiza firmly up against her shoulder. “The fight’s going to be over before we get down there at this rate!”

Out of everything I loved about Hispano, her enthusiasm for a fight was something I was pretty sure I’d never truly understand. Still, she was right, and if we took too long, we weren’t going to be doing much helping at all. So in the interest of speed, I forced myself to climb faster.

With a bit of effort, I pulled myself up onto the clouded hull of the Arcturus and spread my wings. The sound of furious gunfire below us was interrupted by a few cannon shots from what must have been the first of the Cordite tanks showing up to defend the base. I spun around as Pastel climbed out of the hatch and shut it behind him. With a nod between the three of us, we all flapped hard and took to the air.

We dipped over the edge of the Arcturus’ clouded form, slipping into the open skies. I let my forelegs hang under me as I scanned across the ground. Cordite’s base was a lot bigger than I’d expected, made up of dozens of large buildings. Off toward the south, I could see the muddy open fields that Happy and I had circled when chasing the Ouroboros, which was where there must have been hundreds of tanks still sitting.

Squinting, I found that those lines of tanks were abuzz with ponies. They frantically swarmed the armored vehicles, rushing to get them into the ongoing fight. With that in mind, I swung my gaze to the south eastern side of the compound, easily finding the raging battle.

Smoke poured out of a pair of wrecked armored vehicles sitting between two large warehouse buildings. A speedy, six wheeled armored vehicle drove around from the back of the Cordite side of the base, letting off a few sharp rounds from a turreted autocannon. A fiery streak flashed from inside an open door from the warehouse Pentex had captured, and a rocket slipped through the air.

The six wheeled armored vehicle was tossed onto its side from the explosion of the rocket. The hatches on it immediately opened, and a pair of ghouls scrambled out. A chattering burst of machine gun fire poured out from behind one of the other wrecks, sending the two ghouls panicking as rounds ricocheted off their twisted pile of cover.

I snapped my tail in line and shifted my weight downward. The cool air washed over me as I gained speed. I mouthed around the bit of my saddle, hovering my tongue over both triggers. My eyes searched the wreck the machine gun fire came from, and I managed to pick out a couple of ponies clad in black armor amid the smoke and flames.

Okay, Night, this is just like with those raiders in the old industrial ruins. Just make tiny adjustments, and...

I flicked my tongue and felt the crisp snap of my saddle as the first of my grenades slipped away into the air. Shifting my tongue, I pulled down on my other trigger and sent out a burst of red magical energy across the fiery wreck. It pulled the attention of the soldiers away from the ghouls just in time for my grenade to land right behind the two machine gunners. With a loud krack, the two soldiers disappeared in the blast.

The sharp hiss of one of Pastel’s rockets perked my ears, and a trail of smoke flashed through the air down towards the opening where the Pentex rocket had streaked out from. It exploded with a resounding boom, and tore out the front sheet metal paneling of the warehouse Pentex was in. Black smoke poured from the gaping hole, and as I tweaked my wings to pull for altitude again, I watched as a few ponies stumbled out from the smoke.

They hadn’t made it more than a few steps as they choked on the fumes before the sharp and quick reports of Suiza tore a line across the concrete. The high explosive rounds Hispano used tore the Pentex soldiers apart shortly before her brown and olive form zipped back upwards from her strafing run.

Yeah, these guys aren’t so bad to fight! As I turned around to look for more targets, I watched and smiled as more Cordite ghouls showed up. Another run like the one the three of us just had, and we’ll have these Pentex chumps on the run in no time! If I’d learned anything about what both my mom and the Enclave pushed on me for years, it was that if you insert one wild variable into a conflict, most organized fights turn into chaos.

“Now you’re thinking like a leader.” Solomon’s voice drifted through my mind and immediately stole the smile off of my muzzle.

The sharp sound of rending metal filled the air as part of the warehouse Pentex was in sagged. It shuddered before collapsing forward, revealing a set of vehicles swiftly driving towards the hole they’d cut in the fence. Four boxy vehicles in total maneuvered their way through the busted fence and into the rough terrain that had been smashed by the previous Pentex tanks. The quickly moving stolen Cordite vehicles didn’t seem to be armed, but each one towed a boxy trailer behind it that I could only assume was filled with weapons.

“Oh, you are not getting away so easily!” I muttered to myself around my bit as I flapped my wings hard.

I circled around, climbing up higher as the fourth and last vehicle transitioned to traveling along the bumpy, improvised forest path. With another shift of my forehooves, I slipped myself into a shallow dive and tucked my wings back to try to edge out some extra speed. Another shrieking rocket flew past me, trailing off towards the line of vehicles. It slammed into the dirt, blasting up a rain of rocks and wooden splinters next to the fleeing tanks, but didn’t even slow them.

I lined myself up with the rear tank and readied myself. My eyes were locked on the back of the raised commander’s hatch as it opened up. A pony climbed up halfway out of it, spinning around to see me shooting through the air towards him.

With a flick of my subgun’s trigger, I sent a lancing burst of red at the pony. To his credit, he didn’t even flinch as the horn on his head flared with magic and brought up a bubble that absorbed my shots. The soldier’s magic flashed as he brought up what looked like a submachine gun of his own.

Well, that was new!

Taking my chances, I flicked my tongue at the grenade trigger and let one loose as the pony opened fire. I pulled off as sharply as I could to avoid his scarily accurate shots, barely skimming under his rounds. The world started to loose it’s color as the g’s my wings pulled me through took their toll on me. But as I leveled out and skimmed out over the treetops, I regained my senses.

I heard the resounding blast of the grenade I’d dropped. With a smirk, I torqued my wings and arched myself to turn my speed into altitude again. Pulling higher, I rolled myself to view the results of the risk I’d taken, only to be disappointed.

A small smoking crater sat where I’d hoped the wreck of the last vehicle would be, and I watched instead as it drove off without a scratch on it. The pony in the hatch was still standing there, I’m sure gloating at the fact that I’d missed. Well fuck.

Sporadic gunfire still came from behind me back at the Cordite compound. With my opportunity to give chase after them slipping off into the forest, I had to make a decision on who to go after. If I could just get one more shot at those vehicles…

“Do it.” Solomon’s voice whispered to me. “Show your friends you’re not reliant on them, that they don’t need to save you anymore. Show them that you’re the hero they think you are.”

No. I… I don’t need my friends to save me. But even so, they still need me to help them.

I shook my head and torqued myself into another banking roll. Aiming myself back at the Cordite compound, I knew that if Solomon would’ve wanted me to go, then it was the wrong choice to make. Hispano and Buck were more important to me than that.

Coming around on the backside of the smoking warehouse, I watched as the black armored ponies swiftly regrouped. They traded off firing at the advancing Cordite forces, covering each other as they fell back toward the busted fence.

Lining myself up again, I flicked my tongue across my grenade trigger. I timed it, giving only a fraction of a second between each crisp snap. I hadn’t aimed the drops with as much accuracy as normal, but I didn’t have to do anything more than convince them that falling back was their only option.

Three successive blasts went off, tearing up the concrete the fence was built on. Each sharp blast sent up a cloud of dust, engulfing a pair of the soldiers as they tried to make it through. The squad that was providing covering fire shifted their attention upwards.

“Pentex soldiers, cease fire and drop your weapons!” The gravely and amplified voice of a mare sharply spoke through a set of speakers wired to the turret of a large battle tank that crawled it’s way through the smoking ruins of the warehouse. “Surrender yourselves or we will be forced to open fire!”

Torn between firing at me and the massive tank, the ponies chose to shoot at neither. The whole group of them turned tail and made a break for the forest. While I was perfectly willing to let these cowards run off with their tails tucked between their legs, I was apparently the only one.

“Wrong choice.” The mare shouted as a pair of larger tanks pulled through the ruins behind her. “Let’s show these foals how Cordite deals with scum like Pentex!”

One of the tank’s that pulled up reminded me of the BT-42, if it had been built to be nearly three times the size of it. The other was a bright pink wedge shaped tank destroyer with a gun that had a bore diameter that was nearly the size of a pony. The tank had glowing magical energy cables all over it, leading around and into the outside of the oversized, stubby cannon barrel mounted to it’s front. Both of their massive guns pointed to the forest as I watched the scattered Pentex ponies disappear into the dark underbrush.

“Fire!” The mare screamed out.

The mare’s tank fired, sending a whistling shot into the forest that cut through several trees before exploding upward in a bright lance of fire. The oversized BT-42 looking tank was next, and let out a meaty whump as it’s slow moving shot was all but lobbed into the forest. Like the mare’s shot, it too exploded, but with the force of what felt like a thousand pound bomb.

Krak-hoom!

A whole section of trees were blown flat by the blast, and tortured screams filled the air as a dirt colored mushroom cloud billowed up. The blast wave from it nearly threw me into a spin, but with the help of my forelegs, I managed to stabilize myself.

The pink, wedge shaped tank destroyer let out a high pitch whine that reminded me a bit of Hardcase’s SFG. I managed to glance over at it quickly, only to find that the magical cables on it brightened to glow more intensely than even the sun did. It grew so intense that I had to turn myself away, instead looking off toward the forest.

The sky and world dimmed as static coursed through the air around me. Within the time it took me to blink, the forest itself lit up. It was a flash that left the afterimage of a crimson streak running across my vision. A bassy tone deeper than any anti-dragon cannon the Enclave fielded filled and vibrated the air itself. What the fuck kind of weapon was this thing!?

I watched in awe as a beam of magical energy swept across the entire forest below me in a wide arc. It sizzled and flickered out, leaving everyone in a pregnant silence, and me with my jaw threatening to hit the ground from all the way up here. The cracks of wood filled the air as tree after tree was felled. In the same wide, sweeping arc as the beam, the forest for a few hundred meters around us shifted and twisted. Dust rose as acres worth of falling trees hit the ground. In moments, an entire arc of the forest was just… gone, leaving the severed treetops to crunch into a forest floor that had all but been melted into glass.

What in the name of Celestia was that!?

“Hey, you up there. Yeah, you three in the skies.” The amplified voice of the mare brought my mind back into focus. “Thanks for the close air support. If you’re looking for a reward, you and your wingmates can land back at the visitor’s center and wait until I get there.”

The way she said that sounded to me like it was less an order and more a suggestion. However, with the display I’d just witnessed, I wasn’t about to refuse any suggestion the mare gave. Seriously, from the way they’d been built up over my trip, I’d thought all Cordite had was just antiquated relics from the war to use!

And with weapons like this, it’s no wonder the Architect wanted to use them to defend the north…

The three of us touched down on the expansive and well manicured lawn that ringed a squat rectangular building at the heart of the Cordite compound. The Visitor Center still held Equestria’s off gold and blue colored stripes across its weathered white painted exterior. Even the letters that spelled it out were in better than expected condition given their age. But next to us on the lawn was a large wooden sign that had originally welcomed visitors to the compound, but now had most of its letters repainted to emphasize only a few of them.

“Cantercross ORDInance TEsting facility?” Hispano muttered as she read over the repainted sign. “Yeah, no wonder they shortened it to ‘Cordite’.”

“It’s just easier to get across on a radio.” The sharp voice of a mare called out from behind the three of us. “So, a Merc, a Talon, and a Steel Ranger all land on our lawn. Sounds like the start of a bad joke.”

Turning, I watched as a mare in a sleek olive dress uniform walked towards us. The spotless outfit was adorned with a well kept leather pistol holster, as well as a small radio that hung off of her shoulder boards. Beneath the well kept uniform however, I found myself staring at what could have been confused for an earth pony version of me. Well, if I still had both eyes, all four legs, and didn’t have all the scars I did. That, and for as small as I was, she was slightly taller than me.

“Welcome to Cordite, My name is Casemate, Naval gun expert and assistant director of operations.” The mare held her hoof out to Pastel as she approached, but I stepped forward and took it instead. Surprised, but not undeterred, the mare flashed a smile as she glanced over the three of us. “What brings you all to…”

She paused as there was a quick burst of static from her radio.

“Archie calling Casemate, we’ve got a situation here, Commander.”

“Yes, Archie.” The mare rolled her eyes and grumbled as she hoofed at her radio. “Don’t tell me we have skyraiders coming in too now.”

“One bogie just appeared on the radar from fucking out of nowhere, and it’s tracking right towards the base now. Permission to open fire?”

Oh shit, that was probably the Remora!

“That’s our friends, and they’re here to help. Please don’t shoot them.” Hispano snapped before I could even blurt it out.

Casemate eyed over Hispano carefully, seeming to mull it over for a moment. Those few seconds were all it took to put me more on edge than I’d been so far today, and I really would hate for her hesitation to have shot my friends out of the sky. Slowly, she reached up and hoofed at her radio again.

“Negative, Archie. Stand down.” She replied before turning her eyes up to the sky. I turned as well, finding the silver form of the Remora slowly making its way down towards us. “What kind of design is that? I haven’t seen anything like it before.” Casemate offered as she sat down on the grass next to me.

“Lady,” Pastel grunted as he stowed his rocket launcher, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

With a ginger, and eerily silent touchdown aways down the lawn from us, the Remora came to a stop. It was funny, and completely understandable as I could almost feel the awe exuding off of Casemate. She watched in stunned silence as the armored side doors of the remora opened up. Ping and Happy hopped out before turning around and pulling a few bags of what I assumed were medical supplies off the floor. The looming white robed form of Buck appeared in the doorway, and with a bag gripped in each paw, he too stepped out of the machine.

“So, uh…” Casemate spoke up again as she apparently tried to get her train of thought going again. “I hate to ask, but you all aren’t with that… religion from Mare’s Lake, are you?”

“That cult?” Hispano snorted as she scrunched up her muzzle. “Hah! Fuck no.”

“With the… big one there in the robe, and your branding…” She remarked as I became distinctly aware that I still had that ridiculous marking on the back of my neck... “Well, one can’t be too sure who’s who in the wastes.”

“No affiliation.” I waved my hoof to her with a nervous grin. “I uh… had to get the branding so I could sneak into said cult to save a friend of mine.” As I said that, again, I was reminded that all of that had ended up being for nothing. Hardcase was gone, just like the others.

“Why the robe then?” Casemate’s words helped to suppress the painful memories and drag my own mind back on track. Though, it had cost me a few moments that Hispano instead capitalized on.

“The robe that Buck wears?” She smirked and waved her talon dismissively as the three of them approached us. “It’s so ponies like you don’t freak out when you see him.”

“Why would I…” Casemate began, but cut herself off with a whimper as Buck got close enough that his augmented eye peeked out from under his hoof with it’s soft blue glow. She shrank back slightly as Buck’s towering form loomed over even her. “Oh… hello there…” She managed to squeak out. “Please don’t eat me?”

The sound of clinking tracks filled the air, and all of us turned to great the large tank that rolled up to the visitor’s center. The sloped, squat design was less boxy than most of the old, early war representations of tanks I’d seen, and it was covered with extra bits and bobs all over its body that were either supposed to be spare parts, or extra armor, I couldn’t really tell. It’s main cannon was mated to a turret that was as equally squaty and sloped in the front as the tank’s hull, and was a lot longer than I’d expected for a tank its size. Then again, maybe it was just because I’d expected a gun-to-tank ratio closer to the BT-42 or Guinness and Zibar’s tank…

“Ah, yes, the Chief is here… hehe! Let me just...” Casemate again squeaked out as she slipped past me with a few uneasy steps. It almost looked to me like she almost galloped over to the tank, but to be honest, I didn’t blame her. Hell, I’d felt like running when I’d first met Buck.

We all watched as the commander’s hatch of the tank flipped open, and a tan mare with an oversized tanker’s helmet climbed up and out of it. From the way her wrinkled and flaking skin barely clung to her body, I was pretty sure it was safe to say that the mare was a ghoul. And from the way that Casemate flashed up a quick salute to her, I was fairly certain that it was also the mare who’d been on the loudspeakers before.

“Ah, Casemate, there you are.” The ghoul smiled as she eagerly hopped down from the hull of the tank. “Give me a casualty report.”

“Until we can clear the rubble of the secondary support maintenance garage, I can’t give you a total in lost personnel.” Casemate offered a quick look across the Cordite compound toward the billowing plumes of smoke. “However as for vehicle crews, we lost Miter's crew, Hacksaw's crew, and Daisy. Though in a bit of good news, Jumbo and Tester bailed safely and are at the infirmary getting patched up.”

“Uh, excuse me,” Buck spoke up and set his medical bags down on the grass. “My name is Buck, and I am a physician.” He stepped forward and pulled back his hood, letting the sun glint off of his metal augments. “If you require any medical assistance, consider me at your service.”

“Thanks for the offer, but our combat medics will see to our casualties.” The ‘Chief’ spoke up as she too reached up and pulled off the helmet and tinted goggles she wore. Underneath it, a pair of purple eyes studied Buck and his augments before turning to the rest of us. She reached up and scratched at her triangular shaped, buzz cut mane before pointing towards the visitor center behind us. “But seeing as you all have gone out of your way to help us out, please, let's talk inside and see if I can't arrange for some sort of compensation.”

“That will not be necessary.” Ping offered as he raised his hoof to point to me. “However, the survivor has a proposition to offer to Cordite that you would be wise to entertain.”

“The survivor?” Casemate asked before both she and the ‘Chief’ shared a slow but curious glance. “As in, the mare from all those radio reports?” The two glanced back at Ping as he nodded.

“Alright.” The ‘Chief’ offered as she reached out and hoofed her helmet over to Casemate. “Let’s talk inside, as I’d rather not spend all day waiting for a Pentex scout to take my head off from a kilometer out in the forest. I’ve had just about enough of those mercenary traitors for one day.” Again, she extended her hoof toward the building behind us. “But, given the exploits we’ve heard about you, Miss Survivor, consider Cordite interested.”

Well, if anything, at least my reputation is starting to open doors with ponies rather than convince them to kill me...

Author's Note

As always, a huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for making sure that this chapter was ready to go up today! Seriously, you're a lifesaver!

Of course, a big thanks to Kkat as well, for allowing us all to write stories in this wonderful shared wasteland!

Chapter 71 - Your wounds, and mine.

The pen is mightiest when it writes orders for more swords.

I’ll say this, I didn’t much like this office.

It was smaller than the offices of most of the other settlement leader’s I’d met so far. Filing cabinets and three oversize desks took up most of the floor space, and the extra-low hanging light fixtures made it feel like the ceiling was pressing down on me. The choking and almost overwhelming smell of smoke clung to and literally stained the old wood panels that lined the walls. The room made me feel like I was trapped in here, and I don’t know who the hell could ever be comfortable in a place like this.

“So.” The ‘Chief’ cleared her gravelly throat as she tented her hooves on her large desk. “Will your friends not be joining us?”

“No.” I replied as I shifted my eyes over to Casemate, who’d taken an uneasy stance behind the ‘Chief’. She seemed as out of place in this meeting as the fact that I was here alone. But then again, I guess that just makes it easier for both parties if we’re all uncomfortable. “What I am about to propose is going to sound like a big job, and that’s because it is.” The two mares shared quick glances again at that, and it let me take a deep breath before continuing. “The Kingdom is currently waging an all out war of extermination against the Skyraiders. Now, before you celebrate that, what I need is for Cordite to attack the Kingdom before they overrun the Skyraiders.”

“You’re wrong, it doesn’t sound like that big of a job to me. In fact, what it does sound like, is a joke.” The Chief narrowed her eyes to me before placing her hooves on her desk. Honestly, I saw that coming. ”And while my soldiers are grateful for your assistance in defending our headquarters, I do not care to have my time wasted with jokes. You want to waste somepony’s time? Find somewhere else to do it at.” She spat at me with more disdain than I really think was warranted.

“This is no joke.” I spat back. “In return for the job, we can offer you enough raw materials to build over two hundred of your home built tanks.”

“Sorry, not interested, even if you are being serious.” She grunted as she sat back in her chair and fumed to herself. “Cordite doesn’t exist to be your or anyone else’s private army. We help defend caravans and civilians. That’s it.”

“Really, it’s less about what you can pay us, and more about what you’re asking.” Casemate stepped around the Chief’s desk, squeezing herself past a few of the filing cabinets to come stand next to me. “I’m sorry, but Cordite can’t offer you any help. Let alone against those deplorable flying rejects.” Raising her hoof, she offered to guide me back out through the door.

“This is a kind of situation where ‘no’ doesn’t work.” I deadpanned at Casemate, firmly planting myself in the seat on this side of the Chief’s desk. “The Kingdom is going to come down hard on the Skyraiders in the next few days. And when that happens? They’re going to use every asset they have left. Whatever buzzbombers or toys they have, including their limited stock of megaspells, are going to be used to ruin as many days as possible here in the north. And you’re telling me you’re willing to just sit here and let it happen?”

While the Chief didn’t even flinch at that, Casemate wasn’t as reserved. She spun around, looking to the Chief for guidance on that. Come on, work with me here. But as the silence persisted, I wasn’t sure anything at all would convince them if the threat of megaspell destruction didn’t. But hey, at least that got one of their attentions at all, right?

“Still, I’m not sure what we would even be able to do for you.” The Chief said as she leaned forward in her chair again. “Our assets are so spread out that by the time we could even get word to them, it would already be too late.”

That… was an unfortunately fair point. I hadn’t even thought about how they would coordinate something like this. I mean, the Factory can technically broadcast as far as we’d need to, but… maybe they could use the silverfish to pass the message along? I really doubt that the Architect would be up for giving them access to the drones at all, but if it meant saving the north…

“I... have an answer for that problem, but I need your word that you will fight the Kingdom. We’re not asking you to conquer them, we just need you to give the Skyraiders a bit more time to use up some of their assets before they fall.” I offered, getting the Chief to cock a rotten eyebrow up. Yeah, the Architect wasn’t going to be happy, but again, I didn’t see any other way. “I understand the sort of task we’re asking of you, but if the Skyraiders fall too fast, then the consequences for everypony in the north will be catastrophic.”

“So let’s say you get this all figured out, communication and everything.” The Chief looked up to Casemate and offered her a short nod. With that, Casemate turned and left the room without another word. The Chief waited until the door was shut to speak again, clearing out her gravelly throat before continuing. “What guarantee do I have that you’ll hold up your end of the bargain?” With a squeak from her old chair, she pushed herself back from the desk and pulled open one of it’s drawers. “Your reputation carried enough goodwill to get you this far, but I’m not about to risk the lives of dozens of tank crews on the word of the Survivor.”

“If you want assurances, then I can arrange for your payment to be delivered by the days end.” I sat back and smirked before a little pony in my head kicked forward the fact that I had no idea if that was even possible. I mean, I’m sure that the Architect could manage it, and Scar had a good amount of room in him…

“By day’s end? Now I know you’re bullshiting me.” She snorted as she pulled a shallow glass bowl up and placed it on her desk. Again she reached into the open drawer to pull up a single cigar and a rusty old lighter. “Nopony can move that amount of materials that fast. Not even back during the war could they do something like that without months of planning.” Lifting the old world carcinogen to her cracked and dry lips, she flicked at the lighter until a small flame sprout from it.

“Nopony could get aboard the Ouroboros either, but I did.” I offered, making her pause just short of lighting her cigar. “Nopony in the wastes could take down Mr. Wizard and his operation, but I did.” That was a hell of an overstatement on my part, but again, if my reputation could carry me this far, then I’m sure it could make it a few extra steps for me. “You’ve heard what I’ve done on the radio, so you tell me if you think I can come through with this.”

“Heh, you sound like a trainee.” She snorted before lifting the lighter to the end of the cigar and lighting it up. “I like ambition, it usually gets results. But blind ambition can be a dangerous thing, and even the Survivor can run out of luck at some point.”

“I’m not here to discuss my luck. Do we have a deal or not?” I rolled my eye at her, bringing it down as she took a deep draw off of her smoke. She held it in for a moment, studying me before letting it out in a long cloud that at this moment, reminded me a little too much of the Mystic on Pink Mountain.

“No. No deal just yet.” She shook her head. Taking her cigar in her fetlock, she tapped it against the edge of the shallow bowl to knock the ash from the end of it. “The raw materials itself is a great offer, and your reputation is solid enough for me. But, it’s not me who’s going to be risking their life on this job, so I’m not who you have to convince. If you’re going to ask my crews to put themselves in the line of fire for you, then you prove your worth to them.”

“Then what do you want me to do?” I grumbled. Seriously, I know I wasn’t as good at this as Delilah, but come on!

“I want Pentex dealt with.” She took another stiff drag from her cigar. “Today’s incident was the latest in a half century long string of ever increasing hostilities. But today was different. They actually got away with our hardware, and I won’t fucking stand for that. Those trailers they stole are dangerous in the wrong hooves, and we need them either brought back or destroyed.” I cocked an eyebrow at that, catching her eye. She paused for a moment, letting the smoke she’d held in drain out through her nose. “You ever hear of a ‘Mick-Lick’ before?”

“Can’t say I have.” I shrugged.

“Mine Clearing Line Charges.” She snorted. “Think of it as a hundred meter long rope of high explosives that Pentex could use to hold any number of settlements hostage, or worse.”

Yeah, I get the picture as to why they need them accounted for one way or the other.

“So the deal is, you and your friends are going to join my crews and ride along as they go after them.” The Chief adjusted herself in her chair. “Earn the respect of my crews by helping to deal with the Mick-Licks, deliver the materials by the end of the day, and get me a way to coordinate with the crews for your job? Then and only then do you, the ‘survivor’, have yourself a deal.”

The door behind me opened up again, and Casemate returned with a clipboard stacked with blue forms. She held onto her same uneasy smile as she walked over and placed it down on the Chief’s desk. Without breaking eye contact with me, the Chief reached over and grabbed it, pulling it closer before sitting back down in her chair.

“I can do that.” I nodded to her. I had absolutely no idea if any of us could do that, but we needed to at least try. It was either that, or sit back at the Factory and watch as the north went to Tartarus in a hoofbasket. Which, speaking of the Factory… “There is one other proposition I had for you actually. This is a… sensitive request, so I can’t have it leaving this room. Understand?”

“Another set of job forms then, Chief?” Casemate offered a sigh as the Chief gave another nod to her. “Alright, I’ll return in a moment.”

This time, I waited until Casemate had shut the door again before continuing.

“I know I’m asking for a lot here,” I watched as she took a larger than normal draw off her cigar while I spoke. “but I need five hundred of your tungsten penetrator rounds.”

She nearly choked on the smoke when she heard that, coughing and sputtering. As she tried to recover, she started to laugh. Well, at least it’s nice to know that like Delilah, she’s got more than just a stern straight face all the time…

“I’m sorry, but that’s not going to happen.” She shook her head as she reached over and propped her cigar inside of the small bowl and left it there.

“I can offer a few thousand rounds of whatever sized ammunition you need in return.” I know that this request was pushing our luck. If Sierra hadn’t said we were on some sort of time limit, and that the Architect needed them, then I’d be willing to drop the attempt right here and now.

But unfortunately for all parties, I needed to try.

“Again, that’s not the problem.” She sighed, pushing back the smirk on her muzzle as she wiped at her eyes. “After two centuries, we only have a little over that many left in stock. Without them, we might as well invite every raider with a half decent piece of armor to come and raid the convoys we’re contracted to defend. That’s not even mentioning that those Steel Ranger jokers and their power armor are getting bolder every month with their scavenging.” Slowly, she tented her forehooves up on her desk again and shook her head at me. “Unless you can sell us a guarantee that we’ll never need any sort of anti-armor weapon again, there’s absolutely no deal to be made here.”

Ugh, there had to be something to offer them in exchange. If I’d learned anything so far, it was that given the right reward, ponies would be willing to do anything here in the wastes. Now if only I hadn’t been the best example of that, then I’d feel better knowing all about it.

“What else is there that you need?” I offered, just trying to buy myself some time to have my mind work something out at all.

“You’re terrible at this, you know that, right?” Solomon’s voice filled my mind, and the moment I blinked, he was standing right behind the Chief. He looked over her with disgust across his face before glancing over to me. “I’ll never know why you ponies ever converse with something so… revolting.”

Now was not the time, Solomon…

“Like I said, anti-armor rounds are the only thing we’re short on.” The Chief sighed, reaching out for her cigar again. “And if you deliver those materials to us, as promised, then we’re definitely not going to have enough to go around. So unless you have some multi-purpose anti-everything miracle round to sell me, we can’t make a deal.”

“Hmmm…” Solomon looked lost in thought, reaching up and rubbing at the stupid black crescent mark that sat on his forehead. “I seem to recall that you can indeed sell her something akin to that.”

“Wait, what did you say?” The words forced themselves out of my muzzle before I even realized it. Going wide eyed, I held up my hoof to the Chief before she spoke again. “Hold up, I need a moment.” Turning my gaze over to Solomon, I can’t believe I was about to ask him for help.

“That’s the beauty of this arrangement!” The haughty bastard gave a light giggle before pointing at his own head. “I’m not real, remember? Everything I know, you know.” He cocked his eyebrow smartly before turning his muzzle up to me. “But then again, that’s why you’ve always been inferior to the real Solomon. Always one step behind…” He paused and smirked at me. “At least, until the one time you were actually in the lead.”

With that, the illusion he was popped away, and the thought I was looking for came forward. As the memories of that place were shoved into my mind, my hoof instinctively rose to the half eaten ear on my head. This wasn’t exactly the option I would have ever wanted to take, but desperate times and all…

“I can get you your multi-purpose anti-everything rounds, as many as you want.” I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Ugh, Buck and Hispano were going to kill me for this. And then once I was dead, Hardcase would kill me again in the afterlife. “I’m one of the few ponies in the north who know the contents of the naval armaments bunker up in Destruction bay. Still locked inside are thousands of megaspells of all sizes, including ones for tanks and artillery.”

“Now that is something interesting.” The Chief smirked and leaned forward. “But I can’t assume getting them would be easy, or else we’d already be seeing them used all around the north.”

“My friends and I set off demolition charges inside the bunker and collapsed the entrance.” I sighed and did my best to push the memories of that day back. Now wasn’t the time to sink back into feeling bad about any of this. Even if I felt like I was betraying the good will and memory of Hardcase. “It’s going to take a lot of work to get into that bunker, but I’m sure you can manage to clear and secure it.”

“Not possible. Sure, the recovery tanks we’ve got could do a bit, but they aren’t the kind of serious excavation equipment we’d need.” The Chief took a long, final drag off of her cigar before lowering it down and snuffing it out in the small ash filled bowl. “Only the Road Crew has access to gear like that, and seeing as they just took over half of Cantercross, I’m fairly certain they’re going to be too busy charging me to use their roads to entertain an offer to help us out.”

Ugh, again, I can’t believe I was about to say this.

“I’m in the unique position to be able to do something about that.” With an exasperated sigh, I pinched my temple in my fetlock. “The Road Crew owes me a big favor for what happened in Cantercross, so I can call that in to convince the Queen to excavate the bunker for you.” Why, Night? Why do you keep opening your muzzle and promising things you have no idea you can even get?

“Then it sounds like again, against all my expectations, you have yourself a deal. A thousand various HE shells and the rights to that bunker, and our stock of AP rounds are yours.” The Chief flashed a smile as she leaned over her Desk and held her hoof out to me. “You really are something, Miss Survivor. Every bit the force of nature you come across as on the radio.”

“Great to know.” I grunted, reaching out but stopping just short. Going all the way to Cantercross was going to be hard when I’m also supposed to be going on that run against Pentex. Not to mention, Sierra needed that tungsten as soon as possible. Looking across the desk at the Chief, I cocked my own eyebrow. “One small thing though. If I can deliver your material by the end of today, then you need to have those shells ready to be shipped by then as well.”

The Chief’s smile dropped as my words hit her. I could see the gears in her head ticking and spinning and a silence filled the room. The quiet pause was broken as the door behind us opened, and Casemate trotted in and paused at the odd frozen scene before her.

“You know what?” The Chief let out a light laugh as she lurched forward and wrapped her rotten hoof around my fetlock. “If you deliver those materials by days end, then sure, you’ve got a deal.” With a firm shake, I couldn’t help but return her smirk with one of my own. “Casemate? Escort our new allies to the barracks and make sure they’re assigned to the crews going after Pentex. You’re in command of the Chieftain for this mission, as I’ve got a lot of arrangements to make here at headquarters.”

“Yes, Ma’am!” Casemate gave her a stiff salute before turning to me with a smile and waving for me to follow her.

See, Delilah? Sometimes I manage to not screw up and get something done! Now then, I’d just need to make sure everything I’d just arranged actually got done…

Stepping back outside through the visitor center doors felt amazing. Not only because I’d sealed both deals, but to be honest, I was just glad to be out of that cramped and claustrophobia inducing room. Raising my head, I let the mid-day sunlight beam down through the somewhat thickening clouds above to warm my skin.

“Oh, Night’s back.” Happy called out as I followed Casemate across the lawn.

“Did you manage to secure the help we need?” Ping pulled himself to his hooves as he flashed up his trademark beaming smile.

“Yes.” Casemate met Ping’s smile with one of her own as we trotted to a stop next to all the others. “The Survivor has arranged for Cordite to provide the assistance you requested against the Kingdom. However, the terms of our agreement are... extensive.”

“R-really?” Ping offered a hesitance to his smile that was an all too candid and convincing display of nervousness.

“The materials we offered to them needs to all be delivered, today.” I spoke up, sending Ping’s muzzle into the stiffest looking scrunch I’d seen from anypony. Geeze, he had the whole nervous part down right, but really needed to practice some of the expressions that go with them. “And that’s not all. We’re going to have to let them use the Silverfish to coordinate with all of their crews. On top of all of that, after this, we’re going to have to head out to Cantercross to have a chat with the Road Crew.” Happy stepped forward with an outraged look, and while I could sympathise with him protesting taking more time, we didn’t have the time to argue. “I know, Happy, but we don’t have a choice if we want their help.” He was at least partially satisfied with that, as he grumbled to himself and shifted his deadpan to Casemate.

You know, maybe Hispano was right. Maybe I do make too many exceptions for helping ponies. Even so, we’re already committed, for better or worse.

“U-uh…” Ping stammered an took a single unsteady step backwards. “That is… a lot more given than expected. And using the Silverfish is quite the request I hope you understand.”

“But if we need it…” Buck stepped in and shot a sideways glance to Ping from under the hood he’d pulled back up over his head. And while I could sympathize with Ping’s nervousness, Buck’s stern gaze at least helped the poor machine pull himself together enough to stand straight and put on his smile again.

“That’s not all,” Casemate blinked a few times as she tried her hardest to avoid looking up at Buck again. “You all are to join the raid that will be heading out to Pentex shortly to eradicate those traitors once and for all. If the raid is a success, and the other terms are met, then you will have Cordite’s full cooperation and support.”

“Excuse me, Miss?” Buck asked and took a step forward towards Casemate. She let out a whimper and stepped right back in to me. Seriously, why was she so afraid of him? “Why do you keep calling them traitors? Did they used to be with Cordite at some point?”

“That is not why she is referring to them as ‘Traitors’.” Ping surprisingly chimed in, completely losing his previous nervousness. He stepped between Buck and her before looking right into her eyes. “It is because those at Cordite suspected that during the war, the Pentex corporation was performing surveillance for the Zebra Empire. An accusation that was well documented by the Ministry of Awesome to in fact, be true.”

“H-how…?” Casemate pulled herself up off of me. She cocked an eyebrow and shifted her gaze at Ping as if he himself was a Zebra spy.

“Because I have had access to many wartime records,” His bright smile made his words sound all the more eerie to me, and I’m sure they sounded that much more cryptic to Casemate. “and I can agree that based on its history, Pentex is not a faction that will in any way contribute to the future well being of the northern wastelands. While I normally do not involve myself in the affairs of others, I will happily help if it means the removal of ponies like them from the north.”

Wow, these guys must be assholes if they’ve pissed off the Factory. Then again, if so, why is this the first I’m hearing of it? They were hesitant to the idea of taking out Mr. Wizard, and he was pretty much the biggest douchebag in the wastes!

“I don’t know,” Happy muttered as he chuffed his forehoof a few times against the green lawn. “you all up there have seemed pretty involved if you ask me...” And like always, while sometimes he was simply the most punchable mule in the room, he did have good points now and again. Happy froze up where he was when he realized he’d gotten everyone’s attention, simply chuckling nervously. “What? I’m not sayin’ I don’t want to go fight these douchebags or nothin’...”

A moment of awkward silence fell between all of us before we were saved by the thrumming of numerous arcane engines approaching. Four small vehicles rolled up from across the compound, pulling up to the edge of the lawn to the visitor center. They were unlike any motorwagon I’d seen so far, and to me, looked like something akin to a cross between those arcanocycles the Yak raiders in the north used, and an incredibly small halftrack.

“Ah, about time.” Casemate said as she all but flew past us all to meet the approaching vehicles. As they pulled up, she practically dove into the cramped looking cargo bed on the closest of them, appearing from behind the driver with a olive colored steel helmet draped over her head. “If you would all climb onto one of these Kettenkrad, we’ll take you to where you’ll be assigned to one of our crews as they prep for the upcoming assault...” She paused as she looked back to Buck, then back to the driver of the ‘Kettenkrad’ she was in. “Uh… maybe on second thought, we should call for a bigger transport…”

“Oi! You’ve got to be joking, Case!”

The voice that greeted us as we followed Casemate toward a large maintenance garage was one I hadn’t heard in awhile. Trotting towards us through the large garage doors with a wide smile across his gruff face, was Guinness. Hispano, Happy, and I all deadpanned at him as he brought himself to a stop just in front of me with a huff.

“Aye, do you have any clue as to how much trouble this lass is?” He gave a gruff snort, throwing up a quick salute to Casemate before roughly jabbing his hoof into my chest. “Ye ought ta take notes, Mrs. Casemate. The fucking balls on this gal and her friends. They’re crazy, the whole lot of ‘em!”

With a flick of her talon, Hispano shoved Guinness’s hoof off of me before stepping between the gruff earth pony and I.

“The last time we saw you, you’d just threatened to feed us through the running gear of your tank.” Hispano spoke with a guttural tone to her words. With a slow swing of her talon, she brought it back down to rest on Suiza’s barrel.

“Aye, but that was just business. Zibar and I, we follow Cordite orders now.” Guinness’s words sent a ripple of echoes through my mind.

“It’s just business…” Solomon’s voice repeated endlessly as it trailed off into the dark recesses of my mind again.

No, focus, Night. Don’t start losing it now.

“And they’ve made a right good show of it so far as well!” Poppy peeked his head out from through the garage. The red beret the old ghoul had worn before was still perched up over the remains of his rotting mane, and that damn mustache of his still looked too good to be real. Walking out towards us, he chewed on the end of a lightly smoking tobacco pipe that sent little puffs into the cool midday air. “Poppy Gardener, Captain for Her late Majesty's fourth Royal Armored Regiment, and attache to the second Scandineighvian division.” He held his hoof out and flashed a smile at me.

“Yes, we’ve met before…” I paused as I looked up at him with a cocked eyebrow.

“Oh, have we?” He slightly pulled his hoof back at that before sinking onto his haunches and dropping into a deep thinking posture. “No, I do believe I would have remembered…”

“I was the one who dropped a spaceship on your tank?” Hispano grumbled with a roll of her eyes that sent a spark of realization through the old ghoul’s expression.

“Oh, of course!” With a firm nod and a stiff laugh, he nodded to me. “Miss. Bombay and company, was it? How could I have forgotten? I do apologize, as the old ticker up here isn’t as sharp as it used to be you know!”

“Ta be fair, the lot of ya look like ya went ta tartarus fer a fight and came out tha loser.” Guinness grunted and eyed over me. “We heard it was rough on the radio, but…” He paused, going wide eyed with a gasp. “Wait, it was ye who was chasin’ the bloody Ouroborus! Seems I’ve got a share of winnin’s ta collect later then!” Oh goddesses, out of everything, that’s what he had to blurt out?

“Ah-hem.” Casemate cleared her throat and pointed toward the garage. “If you would all follow me, I’d like to get you assigned to your vehicles before we head out for the mission.”

The whole group of us followed her as she pushed through the open garage doors, giving one of the two a swift kick as she passed. It rolled open smoothly, without the slightest hint of a squeal or squeak. Though, it was hard to really tell, as when it opened, the loud noises of maintenance and machinery bled out to greet us.

Inside the expansive building was a row of about thirty tanks, each one with personnel of all species crawling all over them. Directly ahead was the Chief’s tank, looking just as it had when it drove up, except that what looked like a deer was carefully pulling crates of supplies down into the turret. A pink colored earth pony stallion had his head poked out of what I assumed was the driver’s hatch, intensely using a toweled hoof to wipe at the various bits of glass optics just in front of where he sat.

To the right, was Guinness and Zibar’s Tank. Unsurprisingly, Zibar was propped halfway out of the turret, fast asleep by the looks of it. Though, like when I’d seen him sleep like that in the Cordite garage up in Destruction Bay, I had no idea how he could sleep with all the hustle, bustle, and noise around here. Hell, I wish I could sleep that deeply without having to be gravely injured...

To the left of the Chief’s tank, was the BT-42, though, I didn’t see either of the other two ghouls that made up Poppy’s crew. Either they were already inside, or were more than likely off gathering supplies like half the ponies scurrying around here. Honestly, while Poppy had seemed alright with how the last fight turned out, I hoped that there wasn’t any bad blood left from the other two.

Beside the BT-42 however, were six of those ‘scratchbuilt’ tanks. They were quite small compared to ninety percent of the other armored vehicles in here, and each of them had the Cordite logo proudly displayed along the sides of their relatively small turrets. Their stubby guns looked to be quite a bit bigger than Suiza, but nowhere near the monstrous cannons on most of the other tanks. T-8 sat boldly emblazoned along the side hulls of each tank, followed by an N and a unique number. Honestly, with them being so small, I was wondering how effective they could even be compared to even the older, smaller tanks used in the war.

“Alright,” Casemate cleared her voice. “Due to the… size considerations of some of you, I have some ideas for where would be a good fit. Mainly, I need the big guy down in Boom Bear. She’s the near-identical tank destroyer to Floyd over there. Their assigned loader’s a Yak, but she and one of our new recruit’s are out on account of their poor choice of not ‘armoring up’ in the bunkroom. Overall, while you’re a bit bigger than she is, I’m sure you’ll still be able to fit inside well enough.”

Shifting her hoof far down the line of tanks, she waved at the big pink wedge that I’d witnessed cutting down half the forest out there. Next to it, was an identically designed tank. This one however was painted mud brown with tan spots, and had a more realistically sized stubby cannon sticking out its front slope that lacked all the magical cables of Floyd’s gun. Though, when I say it’s realistically sized, even from here I’d say it’s bore looked to be about a half a pony tall...

“Okay, I’ll head over in a moment.” Buck nodded to her before turning to me. Carefully, he lifted and uncurled his mechanical paw, holding it out to me. In it, was the cloth radio-cap I’d become used to wearing during my flights. “Remember, Night. I’ll be with you the whole time.” His soft voice and warm smile helped to calm the anxiety that had only started to crop up in my mind.

Reaching out, I grabbed the cap from him and easily slipped it over my head. By the time I’d secured it, I looked up to find that he’d already walked off towards the tank. With a sigh, I reached up and flicked the controls, filling my ears with a loud burst of static for a moment.

“Be careful, Buck.” I offered to him, making him pause halfway down the garage. He turned back and smiled at me.

“You too, Night.” His mouth didn’t move as I watched, but his voice came through as crisp as always. “By the way, Sierra keeps asking me if it looks like thunder out. Do you know what that’s all about?”

“I can’t say I do.” I shrugged to him. “I didn’t see a flash.” Buck gave a shrug of his own before turning and continuing off towards the far end of the garage. Alright Sierra, that’s my end of it done.

“Alright, with whatever gibberish you’re talking about over with, now, let’s deal with the rest of you.” Casemate waved her hoof at Hispano before pointing over to Guinness and Zibar’s tank. “You’re with El Alimane for the ride.”

“Yeah fucking right!” Hispano squawked and shot a sideways glare to a completely off guard Guinness. “Let me remind you. Again. The last time Night and I were on that tank, they threatened to run us over.” Oh for the love of…

“Hispano...” I facehoofed and groaned.

“Hey, if she gets to pass, then don’t fucking look at me either!” Happy chimed in, “Those fucking squares were trouble enough for months coming up to the north. There’s no way I’m getting in that deathtrap with them.”

“Oi, piss off, the both of ya! That was just business!” Guinness snapped at her. Again, that phrase.

“Is it really that surprising to you, Night?” Solomon appeared next to Casemate with a blink of my eye. The smug bastard was in the fancy dress uniform I’d seen him in before as he towered over her. The devilish grin plastered on his muzzle faltered as he was repulsed by the state of Casemate’s uniform. “Such unpleasant company you keep. Perhaps it’s why you always have such rotten luck. Life is trying to teach you a lesson that you simply refuse to accept.”

“No, he’s not real…” I tried to keep my voice down, really, I did. The nervous glance I pulled from Hispano and Happy however, told me I’d need to do a better job than that. Worst of all, was the frown that Casemate gave me.

“Are you…” She started, and I simply lifted my hoof up to cut her off.

I’m fine.” I growled before shifting my look from Casemate and Solomon over to Hispano. “Why don’t you go with Poppy then, Hispano? I’m sure they’ll accept you after you wrecked their tank last time.” Shooting my glare over to Happy, I almost felt satisfied when he took a step backwards from my look alone. “Just find someone to go with, Happy. I don’t care who, just make sure it’s something well protected. I don’t want to lose anypony on this job.”

“Good idea, Dum Dum.” She offered with a nervous smile before flaring out her wings. “In fact, I’m going to go over there and make sure they’re cool with me before we go. Cool? Cool.” With a kick into the air, and a heavy few beats of her wings, she zipped right across the hanger to the BT-42.

“Well uh… if that’s the case.” Happy waggled his eyebrows as he stepped up to Casemate. “How about we lock ourselves away in your ride. I’m sure I can keep you safe through the fight.”

Casemate closed her eyes and pinched her fetlock across her muzzle.

“Happy?” I snorted, forcing him to blink and look back at me like he was somehow surprised I still existed. “Find another tank.”

“Fine.” He groaned before turning and trotting off the same way Buck walked off.

“Can just one thing go right today?” She said with a sigh before opening one eye toward Ping. “I guess then you get to ride along in the El Alimane. Unless you have some sort of objection, I think all we’ve got left are our home built eight tonners.” Huh, maybe that’s what the T-8 on them stood for... “And from their size, you can probably guess there ain’t any room in those for another crew member.”

“No, I have no quarrel with the crew of the El Alimane.” Ping flashed up his beaming smile at her. “I would be happy to assist them.”

“Thank you.” Casemate again sighed, but relaxed a bit as she brought her eyes over to me. “You, I need riding with me in the Chieftain. While the Chief normally doesn’t want others commanding from her tank, and because of that, she’s given me the choice for who I want to take her place in the commander’s seat.”

Great, another command position that I didn’t ask for.

“Look, I’m not sure I’m qualified for leading this...” I grumbled and hung my head, only to be greeted by a laugh from Casemate.

“Oh no, you misunderstand. I’ll still be in charge of this operation from the gunner’s seat.” She stated very matter-o-factly at me. She… could she even do that? Before I could object, I bit my tongue. See, I figured that at the very least, this meant that things wouldn’t be my fault when they fell apart like they always did. “I just need you to spot and call out targets for me, think you can manage that? As a pegasus, I assume your eyesight is better than mine anyway.” She paused as she looked at the eyepatch that sat securely over my empty socket. “Well, injuries withstanding, the optics are meant to be used with only one eye anyway…”

“Great, well, no objections from me.” I shrugged to her, which managed to put a slightly relieved look across her face. “But you may need to help me once we’re in there. This’ll be my first time being a spotter, and well, my first time inside of a tank...” I paused for a moment, remembering back to the incident I’d caused back in Fort Mac. “Well, in a combat situation at least.” Seriously, I had no idea what I was going to be doing…

“Ah, that’s fine.” She gave a dismissive wave of her hoof as she turned around and faced the Chief’s tank. “I’ll show you the ropes, but trust me when I say it’s easy enough. You’ll get the hang of it in no time at all!”

Why was it that while I’d been completely naive before with new things in the north, I didn’t believe a single word of that?

Now I understood why the Chief’s office was as cramped as it could be.

Only somepony who loved to be inside a tank could ever get used to such a cramped environment. I’d been given the Commander’s seat, which was apparently ‘spacious’ compared to the gunner or loader’s position. You’d never think that though from the fact that if I were to open my wing even halfway, I’d be throwing it right into Casemate’s face. Honestly, it might’ve been a tiny bit more comfortable if I didn’t have my wingsuit and fully loaded battle saddle on...

Yeah, this wasn’t exactly where I’d wanted to spend my afternoon, but I had to remember that at least I wasn’t the only one suffering these cramped conditions.

It’d been a good three hours that fourteen Cordite tanks had been convoying southward down the highway before we hit any major turn offs. About ten minutes ago, we’d taken an off ramp that put us on a road that wound off into the mountainous forest of the southern edge of the misery range. The lush forest and thick underbrush was made all the harder to see through by the heavy rain clouds that covered the sky up here.

Every odd jostle, each mechanical knock from the tank’s old arcane power plant put me on edge. I kept my eye glued to the commander’s rotating spotting scope. Something inside me, a sinking feeling burrowing into my gut, told me that while I’d been lucky in my fights recently, this one would be different. And seeing as how my curse has been pretty much all but missing since the convoy went up, I was inclined to believe we were in for one hell of a…

“Ah!” I exclaimed and recoiled as something sharp jabbed at my hind leg.

“Huck,” Casemate spoke up through the coms in her heavy tankers helmet. “What have I told you about watching where your rack is?”

“Sorry ‘bout that, partner.” The deer who was squished low and between Casemate and I offered a sincere look over to me. Each of the separately tied tea bags that adorned the twelve or so pointed horns, bobbed and jumped with each knock and dip as we trundled over the old gravel road. “While Ah’ve got yer attention though, tea?” He lifted up a rusted metal box with a wire connected to it and a small spigot in the front.

“You always ask, and yet...” Casemate sighed and rolled her eyes at him, not that he was even looking over at her.

“Ain’t no pony askin’ yew, Case.” He grumbled and shot her a sideways glare. “Ah’m tryin’ ta show our guest some hospitality, ya know, on account we’re drivin’ inta’ one hell of a fight.”

“I’m just saying!” Casemate snorted and crossed her hooves across her barrel, “Every time we go out, you’re always messing with that damn boiling vessel. It’s like you don’t take your job seriously.”

“Well in the Chieftain’s design manual, it is the loader’s job to run the boiling vessel…” A third voice cropped up over my headset. It was that of a middle aged stallion, who from my best guess right now, was our driver.

The radio in my ear let out a sharp burst of static that made me wince. Must have been on pretty much every channel too, since both Casemate and Huck did the same thing. She and I traded glances before we both went back to staring through the sighting systems at our stations.

“Cordite tankers, this is the Chief of security for the Pentex Corporation.” The annoyed but stiff voice that came through the radio was crisp and sharp. “You are entering a restricted area on private property. Turn back now or we will be forced to open fire.” The stallion sounded seasoned with the unflinching way he recited that. But still, the way he said it did kick the thought into my head that maybe there was a chance we could just talk this out.

“This is the Commander of the Cordite armored formation.” Casemate spoke out sharply into her radio as she reached up and pressed a button on the side of her helmet, “Unless you fucking traitors give back what you stole from us, that’d be a big negative on us turning around.”

“Seriously, if you Cordite fucks aren’t going to use what you have, it might as well belong to us anyway.” The stallion replied sternly, but paused long enough between his words that I could hear a lot of commotion come over the background with his voice. “Last chance. Turn back or we’ll scrap your dinky assault force and then head to Cordite headquarters to do what we should have done decades ago.”

I could have sworn that Casemate had steam coming out from under her helmet as she glared bullets at her gunnery controls.

“Well Cordite, I’m waiting…” The stallion simply grunted.

Casemate again reached up and pressed the button on her helmet.

“Nuts.” She snorted before letting the button go in favor of hoofing a switch on the bottom of her helmet. “Alright tankers, listen up. They know we’re coming, so I want to see those guns light up the moment we’re in range. All tanks are weapons free, and all round types are authorized for this battle.”

A resounding cheer came through the Chieftain’s hull, or at least, through speakers in the hull. It was hard when you had the crews of fourteen tanks all shouting all at once. But from the smile and nod Casemate gave, I had to assume that this was it, and we were about to get fetlock deep into one hell of a fight.

“If that’s true, then why aren’t you afraid?” Solomon’s voice came bubbling up in my mind. I scrunched my muzzle in annoyance and closed my eye. No, not now… “Again, you think you can choose when I depart and arrive?” He’s not real. “Open up your eye, Night.”

I did as he asked, and stared right into the commander’s spotting scope. A small walled settlement lay right ahead of us. A steel wall stretched across the road itself, and towers with gun emplacements stuck up from various parts of it. Two of the boxy tracked vehicles that had escaped earlier today sat parked in front of the armored gates. Neither of them still had the stolen trailers attached, but they now had a few ponies with what looked like heavy guns lying prone on their roofs.

“Uh, Casemate?” I found myself muttering as I wasn’t sure what exactly I was supposed to say.

“I see them.” She growled as she gave Huck’s rack a light kick with her leg. “Huckleberry, load me some H.E.”

“On it!” Huck replied, swiftly reaching forward into a small box he had next to his seat.

In his cloven hoof, he brought up the warhead of a large high explosive round and shoved it into the barrel. Before I could even remark how he was kinda missing half the round there, he used his other hoof to reach under Casemate’s seat to a box that almost looked like it had a liner of water around it. Without even looking, he brought out a red cloth bag that smelled heavily of cordite. Swiftly, he shoved the bag down the barrel as well, then slammed down a lever that shut the breach with a firm clack.

“Gun ready!” He called out loud enough that I could have been able to hear him among the noise of the tank even if I wasn’t wearing my coms helmet.

“Watch closely, Night.” Solomon’s voice wasn’t more than a whisper in my ear, but I could feel the anticipation in his words. “This is how you start a war…”

“Go to hell, fucking Pentex traitors.” Casemate muttered under her breath as her hooves wrapped around the gunnery controls.

She gave a light flick of the joystick, making the turret and gun shift ever so slightly in her hold. There was a moment where I wasn’t sure she was going to fire, in which I looked back through the spotting scope again. The Pentex ponies hadn’t moved, and more of them had appeared along the armored walls of the settlement. They were all armed with basic weapons, and I was beginning to think that maybe they were just fucking crazy for standing up against tanks.

“On the way!” Casemate shouted, making me cringe and pull back.

CHOOM!

The whole Chieftain rattled and rocked on it’s suspension as the gun recoiled. Even with the suppression element of my coms helmet, the ringing from the cannon crept into my ears, deafening the world momentarily. I scrambled to line my eye up with the scope again, pressing myself close against the optic.

A great fireball rose into the sky as part of the armored wall collapsed. The Pentex ponies opened up with their small arms, sending light raps and taps across the tank’s metal hull. I shuddered as the other tanks in the formation opened up as well, and watched as nearly the whole wall disappeared before me.

I was pulled against the side of the turret as the Chieftain tore to the right. Without any warning whatsoever, we dipped off of the road and plunged into the dense underbrush of the forest that surrounded the Pentex settlement. I firmly gripped around whatever controls I could hold as I was all but tossed around the interior of the turret by the uneven terrain. But while I was fighting to simply stay in my seat, the rest of the crew were getting along just fine without me.

“Gunner, load H.E.!” Casemate shouted again. I struggled to keep my head stable enough to watch as Huck almost effortlessly loaded up the cannon with the same two part load he had before. It amazed me because for him, it was almost like we hadn’t even left the nice smooth road!

“Gun ready!” He shouted back out before immediately laying back and glancing up at me. He flashed up an excited smile and laughed as I tried not to completely collapse down onto him.

The turret spun again, their hydraulics whining as they smoothly adjusted the gun with each rough tipping bounce. The gun must have been gyroscopically stabilized to an amazing degree, because I was almost hypnotized by the way it seemed to rise and fall perfectly in time with the tank’s hull. Even more impressive, was the way that Casemate could pretty much keep herself stabilized as well as she poured all her focus into aiming the cannon.

“On the way!” She called out before pressing down on the trigger in her hoof’s grasp. The gun recoiled, and the interior of the hull rang with the sound of the shot blasting down yet another part of the settlement. “Dash, slow down a bit now that we’re on their flank. Commander, I need eyes out there! Give me a target!”

As the suspension got our rocking and rolling under control, I pushed myself back up to look through the spotting scope. Using the controls on it, I spun it around on it’s mount. The first thing to come into view was the smoking and burning remains of part of the settlement. The charred and blasted bodies of ponies lay strewn about between the rubble of several small scrap built buildings.

An eerie silence picked up as I looked at it. None of the other tanks had continued firing. Continuing to turn the scope, I peered through even more haze and smoke, only finding more buildings and bodies. Eventually, the blasted bits of the armored wall met my eyes before the scope turned enough that I could see the six Cordite tanks on this side lined up and offset behind us.

“Nothing’s moving,” I muttered as I slumped back in my seat. “No targets.”

Casemate scrunched her muzzle at that before wrapping her forehoof under her chin.

“Are you sure?” She asked, pointing back at the scope. “Why don’t you double check for me?”

Pausing as I went for the scope, she lowered her voice as she sank back into thought. Another sweep over the wreckage only left me with more of a lonely feeling with the silence that had crept over the place. Looking over at her, I simply shrugged.

“No, something’s not right.” She grumbled and scratched under her helmet a bit.

Again, static picked up over our headsets.

“I feel like we’re missing something here, Case.” The gravelly voice of a stallion came over the radio.

“Yeah, Boiling Vessel is right, this can’t be all there was to them.” Another ghoulish voice came over the radio. “Years of rivalry based at what amounts to an outpost? This smells worse than I do.”

“That is correct.” Ping’s voice came through with a slight crackle to it. “This was the Pentex forward guard post. You will find their main base of operations two point three kilometers up the road.”

“Who in tartarus is that?” A young and startled sounding filly almost squeaked my ears off with her shrill foal-like voice. “Who are you? You aren’t one of those traitors, are you!?”

“Calm yourself, Squeezebore. He’s one of the guests helping us out today.” Dash called up over the radio. “I know you’re excited for your first fight as a commander in training, but daddy needs his little filly not to freak out, okay?”

“Sorry, Papa.” The young filly let out a sigh that clung to the white noise in the radio’s air. “And sorry, Commander Casemate. Legion and her crew are ready for your orders, Ma’am.”

She’s just a foal for Celestia’s sake, and she’s one of their commanders!? I mean, granted they made me a commander when I hardly knew what I was doing. And again, I would kind of have to look past the fact that Cora brought Hispano along on his job with Solomon. But seriously, farbeit for me to make a judgement call here, but who the hell brings their daughter on a tank raid!?

“Those who understand the costs of winning a war.” Speak of the devil, Solomon was still annoying me. “Complain all you want, it won’t change the fact that more than likely, that little filly will die fighting.” Oh come on, even I knew that wasn’t something anypony could predict. “True, if not today, then why not tomorrow? You know better than most how easily tomorrows can turn into the last todays of someone’s life…”

Ugh! Get out of my fucking head!

“Alright, if that wasn’t their main base, then we need to move on.” Casemate called out. “All tanks, get back into formation and move up. Keep your eyes open for mines and traps.” Reaching up, she flicked the switch on her helmet again and glanced over to me. “Say, how does your friend know that Pentex has a base up ahead?” She narrowed her eyes at me sharply. “Seriously, he seems to know a lot about Pentex. More than even Cordite does, which to be honest, doesn’t make me feel all that good. Do you trust him? He is a stripe after all...”

“Hehe!” Ping’s laughter filled my ears for a moment, making me roll my eyes at Casemate. “You may tell her that I am simply well informed on many aspects of the northern wastes.” I opened my muzzle to answer, but paused as Ping spoke up again. “And it should not need to be said again, but I do not think she needs to be privy to my true form, nor the existence and contents of Factory Zero One.”

“Wait, didn’t you just say that out loud to your crew though?” I asked before realizing that Case was still waiting for an answer. I held up my hoof to her and she deadpanned at me.

“Incorrect.” Ping gave a light chuckle into my ear. “Remember that as a machine, I have the benefit of being able to say what I like directly through the radio without having to audibly speak it.”

“Ah, got it.” I nodded to him. Well, of all the was being a machine was confusing, that was at least some little part of him that made some sort of sense to me. Looking back at Case, I did my best of offer her a comforting smile. “The ponies we work for are very well informed on things in the North that others may or may not know about. But to answer you directly, yes, I do trust him. And as the ‘survivor’, you can trust me on that.”

“Alright.” Casemate shrugged and laid back in her seat slightly. “As long as we don’t end up looking like last week’s tin can rations at the end of the day, I don’t really care how he knows.” With a sigh, she reached up and flicked at her helmet’s controls once more. “Okay, enough sittin’ around. Dash, get us on the move again.”

“You’ve got it, Boss!” He called up as we started to get moving again.

“Gun’s safe, Commander. Ah have ta say, that was almost too easy.” Huck chuckled as he dripped the last of what was in the boiling vessel into his old thermos. “Might as well brew up some more tea.”

“Yeah, it felt too easy to me as well.” Casemate nodded as she pressed herself back in her seat and crossed her hooves over her barrel. “If only it were ever that easy…”

I braced myself against the hull as we began to push through the thick underbrush. With a cringe as we pushed down a pair of thin pine trees, I wrapped my hooves around the mount for the spotting scope. Putting my eye back up to it, I worked the controls until I’d spun the image back around to the small settlement we’d destroyed.

Bodies lay strewn about, buildings completely flattened and on fire. And all I could think of, was why? Why didn’t they run? Who see’s a column of tanks coming at them and thinks, yeah, my rifle will be good enough for the job. Either they were really stupid, or Pentex just sacrificed dozens of good ponies for a reason I can’t even think of.

What the fuck were they doing back there?

“Such is the nature of war.” Solomon had a warmth to his voice that was utterly vile. “We fight and die because it is the right thing to do, not because we are simply asked to. A pegasus general said that back in the war if I am to recall it correctly.” Now he’s using shit I learned in school against me? I can’t even begin to describe how dirty I felt just having his voice in my mind, let alone having him say something like that.

A flash filled the air as a bolt of lightning raced through the sky. Instantly, Solomon was standing on the back of the Chieftain’s turret. He stood there, hovering his muzzle over the optics themselves with his snake-like smile, and his nearly glowing spotless white coat shimmering as the first raindrops of the day started to fall.

“Regardless of how you feel, the sentiment remains correct.” He spoke up as he stood tall in the face of the wind and rain. “It’s something you with your... limited intellect have struggled to firmly grasp. You know the necessity of fighting, but not yet the necessity of dying.”

“I know enough.” I grumbled, trying to keep my voice down.

“And yet, you’re still afraid of losing.” Solomon closed his eyes and pointed his muzzle to the sky. “A real leader understands that he’s already killed those he asks to join him. You have to accept that you are responsible, Night.” Another bolt of lightning raced across the sky above us. And in that flash, Solomon was gone again. “You’ve already killed your family, Night, and you have to take responsibility.”

“Remember that.”

Chapter 72 - Battle at Bunker Valley

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a big gun.

“Is this more along the lines of what you expected, Commander Casemate?” Ping’s voice came through with a bit of static as I glanced across the tank to her. She peered through her own optics with wide eyes and a slack jaw. What, the Pentex main settlement couldn’t be all that impressive, could it? Leaning forward against the optics, I worked the controls to spin the scope forward again.

In front of us lay a clearing a half a kilometer long that was flanked by the two joining edges of the deep valley we’d driven into. What forest and vegetation had originally been here had been clear cut, and from the charred, blackened ground, obviously burned away. The crude gravel road we traveled across lay dead in the center, pushing uphill towards an onyx colored wall.

The wall protecting the bunker looked exactly the same design as the Factory, albeit, only ten meters tall or so. Inset into the base of each segment of the wall were squat and square concrete pillboxes. The bunkers mostly had small arms sticking through their gun slits, but the two flanking the massive centralized metal doorway had large cannon barrels protruding out. The wall was intimidating, sure, but it was what it protected that probably had Commander Casemate so worried.

Beyond the wall, what I originally thought was a stone cliff protruded out from where the two valley walls joined. But as we approached, I could see that it was actually the massive concrete face of a bunker built into the valley walls itself. Various ventilation slats and heavily reinforced piping protruded from various points along the remarkably well kept concrete facade. Written across the top of the structure, in words almost too faded to read without concentrating on them, was PENTEX.

“Well, no points for subtlety from me.” Hispano’s cool and calm voice came over my headset. “But ten out of fucking ten on the presentation.”

“Why does this place look like the factory?” The words slipped out of my muzzle as always. I cringed as I found Casemate throw me an awkward and confused sideways glance.

“Well, Burro Industries was a contract constructor for government subsidiaries and various corporate outreach programs that supported the war effort.” Happy snorted through his radio. “So yeah, we probably built this place too, but who can say?”

“Burro Industries was contracted three years before the end of the war to build this location.” Ping stated rather matter-o-factly. “Seventy five percent of the construction equipment used to construct the Factory was also used to build this specific Pentex facility. In fact, we copied their wall for ours due to the efficient and effective design.” Yeah, but at least the Factory had omitted the various machine guns and cannons now pointed at us...

“Oh, so it was us.” Happy gave a slight chuckle before dropping his tone to a more serious one. “Then it’s only fitting that I get ta help blow it up!”

“Yeah, you can say that again.” Buck’s voice came across with a burst of static and a light chuckle. “Both that it is indeed impressive, and that It’s a shame we’ll have to tear it all down.”

“We can get the walls down, no problem. But how in tartarus are we supposed to get through a bunker like that?” Casemate grumbled as we trundled up the gravel road.

“Tankers of Cordite.” The radio transmission came through with the same voice of the stallion we’d heard before. “Surrender yourselves now, and we will consider letting you keep your lives. Should you open fire however, you forfeit all of Cordite’s holdings to the Pentex Corporation.”

“Do these fuckers even know who we are?” The filly’s voice came over the radio again before there was an audible squelch that ripped through the hull of our tank. “Hello? Pentex assholes?” Her voice came through from both the tank’s radio and from the megaphones that she apparently had mounted on her tank. “You better give back what you stole, or we’re going to kick your asses.”

“Legion, stand down.” Casemate grumbled through her helmet’s radio. “You’re not helping things, Squeezebore.”

“Apple don’t fall far from tha tree, ain’t that right, Dash?” Huck chuckled as he hoofed at his own headset.

“You have sixty seconds to vacate your positions and run along home.” The Pentex stallion snorted sharply. “No more warnings will be given.”

“What are your orders, Commander?” Zibar’s voice came over the radio.

“I think these chaps are in need of a good lesson in old world discipline!” Poppy’s cheerful and polite voice came in next.

“Ya, und ve think das Boom Bear’s Raketen vill make short vork of das ‘picket fence’ zey call a vall.” The ghoulish voice I assume belonging to the Boom Bear’s commander chimed in as well.

“Alright alright, but we wait for my order to fire.” Casemate sighed. “BT-42 and El Alemane, focus on those pillboxes next to the main gate. Julia and Legion, focus your one-o-fives on the other boxes.” We all got an earful of noise as four tanks worth of ponies cheered over the radio. “All other thanks?” She paused as a full bodied smile spread her muzzle from ear to ear. “Tear down that wall.”

“Your time is up.” The Pentex stallion snorted sharply before the machine gun pillboxes and one of the cannons next to the gate opened up on us.

The whistling cannon round came in hard at us. I didn’t even have time to react before it slammed into my side of the turret. My ears were ringing as the whole hull of the tank felt like it was vibrating. Even so, it didn’t feel like it was humming nearly as fast as my heart got going at that hit.

“Gunner, load H.E.!” Casemate’s voice was a whisper amongst the ringing noise.

“Gun ready!” Huck called out as he slammed the breach shut under me.

I leaned forward, pressing my eye up to the optics. A glint caught my eye on the turret of our tank where the metal had been gouged away from the ricocheting round, and some metal box along the turret looked like it had been torn straight off it’s mountings.

“All tanks, open fire!” Casemate shouted into her headset.

As Casemate hoofed her turret controls, both Huck and I paused and listened for the other tanks. But… nothing met our ears. I hoofed at the controls for my optics, spinning them to look at the other tanks. They were all just sitting there, at the ready…

Another shot came in from the other cannon by the gate, this one struck the Boom Bear right on it’s sloped front. The round gave a whistling sound as it bounced off into the air at almost a right angle. The ricochet shot off into the sky without doing really any damage to the wedge-like tank, and yet, the massive stubby cannon on it didn’t return fire.

“All tanks, this is the Commander.” Casemate growled and hoofed at her helmet harder. “You may fire at will.” She paused and looked over to me. “Night, what’s the status of our radio?”

“I don’t know where that is...” I offered as I peered through the optics again.

“It’s mounted in a box on your side of the turret, you should easily be able to see it.” She grunted and went back to working her own controls as I cringed.

“Yeah… it’s umm… it’s been destroyed.” I glanced over at her in time to watch her deadpan right into her gunners sights.

“Fine, then I guess we do this the old fashioned way.” She flicked up a switch on her controls.

A light flash met my eyes on my sight as I watched a beam of light flicker on the end of our gun barrel. A small mirror became illuminated just above the muzzle of the tank, and the hydraulics grew quieter as Casemate made ultra fine adjustments to the turret. Once set, she tensed up, gripping her hooves tighter around her controls.

“On the way!” She called out, depressing the small trigger under her fetlock.

Again, only silence.

“Misfire!” She nearly screamed in anger. Quickly, she shifted her forehoof over to a T shaped handle that stuck out of the hull next to her main controls. “On the way!” She gave the handle a pair of sharp twists that gave out a crisp mechanical clicking. “Master blaster misfire!”

Huck shifted himself quickly around the gun breach, tugging on a few bits of it before shifting his attention further back. With a ping, he pulled out what looks like a small arms magazine, and flicked out a cartridge from the side of the gun itself. He turned the magazine over, looking at the cartridges in it curiously before inserting it back into the breach. He sat back and flicked what sounded like a toggle switch on the bottom of the gun before leaning away from the breach again.

“Loaded!” He shouted out. “Gun ready!”

“Firing now!” Casemate screamed as she pressed the trigger again. Again, nothing. “Misfire!” She wrapped her hoof around the T shaped handle and twisted it a few times. “Master blaster misfire!” She roared out before shoving herself back in her seat. Angrily, she flicked a switch next to her that brought up a small red light on her controls. “Emergency on. You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me!”

“What’s wrong?” The words tumbled from my muzzle like normal, focusing Casemate’s laser like burning glare right on me. While I hadn’t done anything at all, some part of me knew that this was my fault...

“A major misfire like that means we ain’t able ta open tha breach fer fifteen minutes.” Huck let out a groan as well as he hoofed at the controls of the boiling vessel at his hooves. “Good news is that tha tea’s almost done.”

“Fifteen minutes!?” I spat out and nearly kicked at the deer’s horns with a sharp flail of my legs. “We can’t just sit here!”

“Tain’t safe, there could be a hangfire any minute now.” He shot a sideways look to me as he popped open the lid on a metal thermos and brought it down to the spigot on the vessel. “I ain’t lookin’ ta explode today, so sorry, we gots ta wait.”

“Best we could do is shave a few minutes of waiting, but… it’s risky.” Casemate hung her head forward, softly hitting it against her gun controls. “Why. Why today of all days?”

“Night?” Ping’s voice came through my headset, startling me. Oh right, our headsets were still linked to each other! “Is there a reason Miss Casemate has not given the order to fire yet?”

“Yeah, our radio’s down and we had a misfire.” I spat out, looking over at Casemate. She shared at least a hopeful look as she realized I could still communicate with other tanks. “I need you to tell all the other tanks to fire at will.”

“Affirmative.” He spoke, clearing out his voice with a bit of static. “This is the commander.” The voice I heard now was not Pings, but instead, it was Casemate’s. “All Cordite tanks, fire at will!” I… just… what!? He never said he could imitate any voice!

The sweet look of relief on Casemate’s face sank in as the basey rumbles of a dozen big guns going off resonated through our tank. That look lasted all of another second before the rapid pings of machine gun fire resonated across the hull. I nearly jumped right out of my seat as the wave of rounds rang right off the turret’s hull next to my head.

As the ringing died down, the silence that fell through the tank wore on me. The interior wasn’t completely silent, as the muffled sound of cannons still came through the hull, but the quietness of Casemate and Huck were unnerving. I wanted to ask how they could remain so calm when they were trapped in here unable to fight. But I was the stranger here, and I had to trust that if they weren’t panicking, than at least things were going to be okay for the moment.

“Hey, Dash.” Casemate hoofed at her helmet as she adjusted herself in her seat. “I want you to move us forward.”

“Uh, did I hear that right, Commander?” His hesitant voice filtered through the coms system as the Chieftain gave a jolt and started to move forward.

“If we can’t help, then the least we can do is draw some fire for the others.” Casemate grumbled and put her head up against the gun sights for a moment before hoofing at a toggle switch next to her controls. There was a pair of thumps from the side of the turret, and Casemate sat back again while shooting me a sideways glance. “Plus… I have an idea.” I cringed as the spray of machine gun fire washed over us again, dreading just what I knew was coming. “Miss Night, I know it’s going to sound crazy, but I need you to get into the air.”

“Have yah lost yer damn mind, Case!?” Huck snorted as he set down the boiling vessel between his legs. “She can’t go outside!”

“I just popped smoke, and in a minute, it’ll have deployed enough to give her some cover.” While she was talking to Huck, she didn’t once take her judgmental eyes off of me. “Look, I know it’s a lot to ask, but we have no idea what we’re dealing with here. As is pretty evident, this is Cordite’s first look at Pentex’s headquarters, and the last Cordite member to fly from their tank ended up without wings or a head at the end of the day. I can’t ask any Cordite member for this, but…”

“I’ll go.” I cut her off as the words wormed their way out of my muzzle. She hesitated, glancing over me like I was crazy for simply saying yes. It wasn’t something I wanted to do, but if she needed a flier to go out, then I’d rather it be me than Hispano. “What do you need me to do?”

“We need to know what’s beyond that wall.” She spoke as she adjusted herself in her seat. “What buildings or supplies are there inside, are there obstacles we’ll have to bring down as we move up, do they have prepared fallback positions and the like. All we need is a look to know if we’d be better off focusing our fire to break through a single point.”

“Alright.” I nodded to her and twisted in my seat. Reaching up, I wrapped my fetlock around the mechanical locking mechanism to the hatch above my head, and sharply pulled it to the unlocked position. Before I pushed up however, Casemate’s hoof reached over and stopped me.

“Just a quick peek, in and out, okay?” She offered to me with just a hint of a hopeful look across her muzzle. “Come back alive, that’s an order.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I nodded to her again as I pushed my hooves upward and threw the hatch open. The near freezing rain that came down from the darkened skies drizzled over me and down into the turret. The stiff breeze outside the tank gave me an idea of just how warm it had grown inside the metal vehicle compared to out here, and as I pushed myself to climb up through the hole, I couldn’t help but give a light shiver.

I flinched as the resounding blast of two tank cannons beside us sent a battering wave of air across the Chieftain. The shockwave forced my wings to open, and I was pressed against the side of the hatch. Collecting myself, I shifted my attention to the wall of smoke that we were slowly creeping toward. Right, I need to get up and in the air while I still had the smoke to cover me at all.

Scrambling the rest of the way out of the turret, I pulled myself over toward the rear of the tank. The rumbling and warmth of the arcane reactor under my hooves made me uneasy, but it was better than being out in the open for the moment. As if to punctuate that, the chattering burst of fire from the Pentex machine guns washed across the turret. I huddled myself down behind the turret’s bulk. The squeals and sparks that the shots sent up were short lived, but had forced my wings to shut tightly on their own.

“Pathetic as always, Night.” Solomon’s voice came from above me. I looked up to find the smugly smirking Saddle Arabian glaring down at me. “Nothing more than a scared little colt too afraid to do what needs to be done. You’re going to get yourself killed at this rate, far before you’ll ever have the chance to die begging and pleading at my hooves.”

“Then I’ll see you in Tartarus!” I snapped at him as I flared my wings hard. Seriously, at the very least, Solomon couldn’t annoy me while I was flying, right?

I kicked off and beat my wings through the rain. The cold wind pushed down, fighting every beat while sapping what little heat my body put out. But the sound of cannon fire and machine guns was a powerful motivator, and while the chill that was biting at my skin sucked, it was less uncomfortable than any bullet wound would ever be.

The air under me shook as the cannon to the Chieftain recoiled and sent it’s dormant round downrange. The bright blast that erupted from the wall next to the metal door sent out a shower of concrete and debris. Huh, I guess it really wasn’t safe to have removed the misfire!

Hammering my wings against the air, I carried myself up above the rising cloud of obscuring smoke below. I’d risen far enough up that I could finally get a peak over the heavily fortified wall. Dozens of armed ponies rushed about the gap between the wall and the bunker. Teams of ponies were busy setting up what looked like mortars, while pairs of ponies quickly brought boxes of ammo and supplies down the ramp from the open bunker.

Speaking of, towed neatly onto the entrance ramp of the bunker, were the stolen Cordite trailers. Only three were visible, and one of them looked like it had been maneuvered to be brought inside, but then abandoned. We must have caught them off guard just in time then.

I continued to lift myself up higher into the air. A burst of thunder on the horizon however, reminded me that maybe it would be best to not get too high up if I didn’t want to get cooked mid air. Leveling out, I stiffened my wings and held my legs out as I slipped into a shallow dive toward the bunker.

My eye scanned across the personnel down there again. I know I didn’t need to join in the attack, but I had a unique opportunity here to add a bit of chaos to their rear lines. However, with my speed building up quite nicely, I needed to choose a target. But what? With limited grenades, I needed to make each one count…

BoomBear rocked on it’s suspension as heavy jets of exhaust flashed out the end of it’s barrel, before what looked like a massive rocket streaked from the heavy tank. A scream ripped up through the air as the particularly odd rocket’s heavy blast punched a hole straight through an entire section of the thick concrete wall before exploding. Personnel close to it disappeared in a cloud of debris, and the section of wall around the impact point completely collapsed. Most ponies inside the walls were blasted off of their hooves by the force of the explosion alone, and even from up here the force of it hit me with a strength I hadn’t expected.

I watched as two of the ponies in the wall who’d been dragging a box down the ramp were knocked away from it. The box itself split as it hit the ground, spilling out it’s contents along the ramp. Before my eyes, I watched as a dozen artillery shells rolled every which way.

That was my target.

Torquing my wings as I sailed above the compound, I rolled myself over. With a flick of my tail and a lift of my head, I pitched myself straight down. It almost didn’t seem fair without the whining of my jump pack to warn them. Biting down on my firing bit, I felt the crisp click of a grenade release from my harness. With my payload sailing free, I started to pitch myself back up, and aimed myself back up over the wall.

I did my best to shift my head just enough to get a look back. The pair of ponies who had been carrying the box were scrambling to collect up the scattered shells. I doubt they even knew what happened as the grenade struck the ground in between them.

My hearing rang as the pop from my grenade set off the various shells around it. The sky flashed like lightning as a massive fireball engulfed most of the ponies on the ground. A bright smile worked its way across my muzzle as amid the fireball of the blast, another set of blasts went off closer to the bunker. I watched in giddy amusement as one of the stolen trailers was blasted higher into the air than I was as it’s payload detonated.

And just as fast, my smile changed to a look of horror as I realized that the flying trailer was arching back down… right toward me.

I beat my wings and torqued myself into a sharp banking turn. With the speed I’d kept from the dive, it wasn’t hard to maneuver out of the way of the falling cart. However, the turn put me on a low horizontal flight path that stuck me right between half the Cordite tanks and the pillboxes on the wall.

With a non armored target available, most of the guns abandoned their attempts to ricochet their shots off the tanks in favor of trying to shoot me down.

I won’t lie, I started to panic. The air around me became a sea of buzzing and whistling angry shooting. Instantly, I was bobbing, weaving, and all over throwing myself into every evasive motion that my brain could think to use. While I may have been a soft target, that didn’t mean I couldn’t make it hard for them to hit me!

The Cordite tanks did their best to support me, blasting out chunks of the pillboxes while they were distracted. However, my erratic maneuvers had drained all the speed I’d gained in my dive, and I was running out of time.

Something hit my prosthetic leg hard enough that it tore it right off of me. The sudden change of weight, on top of my slow speed, sent me tumbling through the air. Knowing what was to come, I pulled myself into a tight ball. Celestia, this was going to hurt!

I crashed down onto the muddy ashen dirt. My body bounced a few times, and I felt myself get spun as I knocked into the remains of a fallen tree. Finally I rolled to a stop in a small divot that had partially collected a fetlock deep puddle of freezing cold rainwater. While the instant feeling of freezing grasped my body, again, I at least knew it was better than being shot…

“Night!” Buck’s fuzzly voice pushed through the dizziness and stars that filled my head. “Are you alright!?”

Before I could answer, the air around me was shattered by a burst from one of the wall machine guns. A shower of ashen mud rained down on me as a line of fire tore up the top of the small divot that sheltered me. I all but forced myself to go muzzle down in the muck, and I forced my wings as tightly as I could to myself. I held my breath as I pressed down further, feeling each and every gunshot impact into the ashen soil around me.

The chattering guns were brought to an abrupt halt as one of the nearby tanks fired. The stout blast was drowned out by the layer of muck around my head, but I knew it had to be close because I could feel the warm air that came from the cannonblast itself. Lifting my head, I glanced over to see which tank had been my savior, surprised to see a tan medium tank with the words Remember El Alemane! glistening in the coat of rainwater and mud the tank wore.

“Night, please, answer me!” Buck’s voice strained, sending a burst of thick static through my headset.

“I’m a-alright… just c-cold.” I mumbled through my chattering teeth as I forced myself to sit up a bit. The cold mud that caked onto me forced me to constantly shiver as my skin started to hurt more than ever. Okay, maybe now getting shot would be less uncomfortable.

“It is advisable that you return to the commander’s tank, Night.” Ping’s voice was filled with the same uncanny jubilance as Doc Groovy’s had been when he’d talked about my condition. “We will continue to cover you as you make your retreat.” While it was just as odd to hear the joy in his voice, at least right now it wasn’t all that unwelcoming. “Cannon Loaded. Night, please wait to move until after the shot.”

Boom!

The stubby cannon on the front of the El Alimane recoiled, rocking the tank on it’s suspension slightly. I pushed myself up, flaring my wings again. They felt heavier than normal, and with a glance, I found that their edges, along with the wings of the flight suit, had been completely coated in the thick, wet muck.

Still, I flapped them hard, trying to shake off as much of the gunk as I could as I kicked myself off the ground. The first jump only got me a few seconds of airtime. Growling, I doubled my efforts and craned my neck upward as I pushed myself to jump again. This time I got further, sailing up towards one of the smaller, Cordite manufactured tanks.

My hooves came down hard on the cold metal, but it was a stable enough platform for me to push off once again. With a bit of height and speed built up, and the drumming rain washing over me, I felt my wings shake off the last of the heavy muck. The few machine guns that were left shooting from the pillbox walls were firing in sporadic, short bursts before they were completely silenced by another few well placed shots from the Cordite line.

The air grew still as one by one, the tanks stopped firing. Rising and trailing plumes of fire and smoke rose from beyond the sections of wall that were still standing. And let me say, as impressive as it had looked, only two of the wall sections were still up at all, as well as the gate itself. The rest had been beaten and blown into fragmented slabs and twisted rebar. Looking back over to the line of tanks, we’d fared better, but the two smoking wrecks behind the main line meant we hadn’t been untouched.

“Alright, is this thing working?” Casemate’s fuzzy, but audible voice crackled over my headset. “I swear to Celestia, Huck, I don’t care if you think it wasn’t the problem. If that boiling vessel causes another malfunction...”

“Yes Commander, we’re reading you.” Poppy’s exuberant by still professional voice came through. “Broke out the old emergency radio I see! And here I’d thought the Chief said it didn’t work anymore.”

“Yeah, well it apparently works when the boiling vessel isn’t drawing all the spare power from things like the firing circuit system.” Casemate grumbled. “All tanks, check in and give me a status report.”

I flared my wings and guided myself down onto the rear of the Chieftain. I nearly tripped right off as I tried to catch myself with all four of my legs, but forgot that I’d lost the prosthetic somewhere out in the muck. Still, I managed to land, and steadied myself as I climbed back up onto the top of the turret. Peeking down through the open hatch, I found an embarrassed looking Huck being glared further into the floor by Casemate.

“We lost two, Ma’am. Feller took a nasty pen during the advance, Commander Spite was recovered by us and is hanging in their despite the worst spalling injuries I’ve ever seen. But… unfortunately the rest of her crew are a total write off.” A remorseful sounding ghoul mare chimed up over the radio. I hadn’t heard her speak up before, so I couldn’t say which of the tanks she was in. “And the other loss was T-8 number One oh four. It took a Pentex eighty-eight round through the hull. Commander Fuze and his crew didn’t survive.”

“Copy that, Sobek. Keep me informed on Spite’s condition.” Casemate sighed and slumped back in her seat. “Two fucking crews, under my command...” Her eyes sank to her own hooves as she pulled them off the controls. They shivered lightly as she stared at them, and I knew that however cold I felt out here, her shivers weren’t at all caused by the temperature.

I can’t really believe I was thinking it, but a loss of two tanks for all the damage we’d just done sounded like a good trade off to me. If we got out of here with just those losses, then I’d call it a good day. I know it was a horrible thing to say, but… I understood sacrifices needed to be made. Because...

“It’s just business? Right, Night?” Solomon’s voice cropped up in my head. I looked around, blinking a few times to find him, but this time he didn’t show.

“That aside, Chief, it looks like they’ve given up!” Squeezebore’s squeaky voice once again came over the headset. “Which means we did it! We beat Pentex!”

“Not so fast, Legion.” Casemate growled before turning her distant gaze up to me. Instantly, it focused and softened as she glanced over my mud caked face. “Night, what did you see when you flew? What caused that explosion?”

“W-well.” I chattered as the wind and sheets of rain momentarily blew harder across the top of the tank. “They w-were setting up m-m-mortars and bringing up supp-p-plies, and they had a f-few of the trailers next to the b-bunker entrance. Which, exp-p-ploded when my grenade caught t-the ammo they were b-bringing up.”

“So that was... you?” She blinked a few times as my actions sunk in. “The stories we heard said you were good, but I didn’t want to believe them…” Slowly, she brought a shaking hoof up to her muzzle in thought. “Did you see all of the trailers? Did they all go up?” I did my best to shake my head as I started to really shiver. Goddesses, so much for pegasus insulation! “I hate to ask this, but could you get back up there and check?”

I wanted to outright tell her that first I needed to warm up. I wanted to say that I’d done enough already and that one of the tanks could move up and check. But I knew I could move faster than any tank. As much as I wanted to stay and get warm, that wasn’t how things worked. It took me a moment, but I gave her a shaky nod.

“I c-can f-fly over a-again.” I tried my best to speak through a clamped jaw to keep my teeth from chattering more. A burst of thunder made me jump and my mud caked hooves almost slipped right off the rain coated turret of the Chieftain.

“I’ll do it.” Hispano’s voice came over my headset. The squeal of a metal hatch to my left pulled my attention over as the top of the BT-42 opened up. Quickly, Hispano’s flight cap popped up through the hatch, and she offered a warm smile to me as the rain pelted her. “You get inside and warm up a bit, Dum Dum.” She reached up and pulled her flight goggles down over her eyes. “I’ve got this.”

“T-thank y-you, Hisp-p-pano.” I offered to her as she dragged her sister up and out of the BT-42’s boxy turret.

Not hesitating for another moment, I maneuvered myself back down through the cupola into the warm interior of the Chieftain. My seat was soaked, and had a small puddle of freezing cold water on it that stung at my flank as I sat down on it. But as I pulled the hatch closed behind me, the warmth of the air in the tank surrounded my numb body and at the very least helped me relax slightly.

“Tea?” Huck raised his hoof up to me, and offered a steaming ceramic mug filled with a greenish yellow liquid.

The pungent smell it gave off made my muzzle salivate, and I fought against my shivers to take it from him. I could feel the heat radiating into me through my numb fetlock, and I did my best to offer a thankful smile to him. Pulling the steaming drink to my lips, I didn’t even care that it burned at my throat, I still took a large sip all the same. The sharp minty aftertaste however sent a different kind of shiver up my spine.

Hey, this tea was pretty good!

“Again, it feels too easy.” Casemate offered as she stared distantly at her gunner controls. Turning to me, she cocked an eyebrow. “For decades, Pentex has been a thorn in our side because they’ve been well supplied and coordinated. So why would they go down this easy? What are we missing here?”

“Y’all say it as if it ain’t a formation a Cordite takin’ ‘em out, Commander.” Huck chuckled before taking a small sip from his own steaming cup of tea.

“No, she’s r-right.” I stuttered out as I pulled the deliciously warm drink away from my muzzle for a moment. I could feel my gut protest as I did, but it was the other odd feeling that had built up in it that spoke to me louder. “T-too easy. They’re p-p-planning something.”

“Maybe they have simply decided to wait us out.” Buck offered with a short burst of static. “So many losses so quickly could mean that their commander might have decided to just seal the bunker and wait.”

“T-true…” I nodded to myself before taking another long gulp of the tea. I’d gone through half the cup, and already I was feeling the warmth it gave spreading through me.

“Looks like Buck is right.” Hispano cooed softly. “They’ve shut their blast door on us. Not even a megaspell could get through that thing.” Even through her radio, I could hear the whistling wind and patter of raindrops against her. “You know, for all the gusto they talked, they sure cut their losses quick. It’s really a buzzkill, cause fighting Mr. Wizard was a letdown, and this was supposed to be my vindication!”

“We j-just have t-to think. How do we f-flush them o-out then?” I asked.

For once, there was nothing I could really think of. While I’d cracked plenty of hardened targets so far, dropping anything on them from the air just wasn’t going to cut it this time. And I doubted that even with the combined efforts of all the tanks here, we weren’t getting through that door.

“I may have an idea, Night.” Ping offered with what I could almost hear was his trademark beaming smile. “Night, please ask your loader how many High velocity penetrator rounds you are carrying.”

“What? Why?” I didn’t see what having those rounds had to do with getting through a bunker. Taking a large gulp, I downed the rest of my tea and smiled as I finally felt like my shivering had quit.

“No other tank seems to be loaded with them, so I am assuming that the command vehicle is currently the only one loaded with them.” Ping came across with his request sounding just as genuine as before. “Please, if you would kindly ask for me.” Okay, if he thought we needed them…

“Hey, Huck?” I pulled the attention of the deer just as he was busy dipping one of the teabags hanging from his rack into a fresh cup of still boiling water. “How many penetrator rounds do you have?” Goddesses, I hope the fact that I practically snatched up all of the rounds from them didn’t come back to bite me in the flank…

“We’ve got six.” Almost reflexively, he sat at attention. He nearly tossed his fresh tea out as he reached out and grabbed one of the dart like shells from one of the storage boxes next to him. “Why, does someone see an armored target coming?”

“No, it’s fine, my friend has an idea.” I flashed up a nervous smile. “Alright, Ping, we’ve got six. What’s on your mind?”

“Excellent, that will be more than enough.” Ping replied promptly as a short burst of static came over the headset. “Please instruct your loader to prepare four shots, then repeat my exact instructions to Commander Casemate.”

“What…” I began to say, but paused as Ping cleared out his throat.

“Again, Night, I will ask that you trust me.” He let out a light laugh that came across as way more confident than I expected from him. “I believe that, being what I am, only I can offer a solution for our predicament. Now, please relay the instructions to your crew.”

“Alright.” I nodded and glanced over to both Huck and Casemate’s confused looks. “Huck, I need you to get ready to load four shots, one after another, all penetrators.”

“What!?” Casemate snapped at me and shot her hoof up in a sharp, jabbing point. “Ignore that order, Huckleberry.” She narrowed her eyes at me as Huck simply froze up on the spot. “Those are Cordite assets, and some of the only ones we have left thanks to you! I don’t care if you’re the ‘survivor’ or not, you can’t just order us to use what little stock we have!”

“Wait, she’s the survivor!?” Squeezebore’s voice pierced my ears as she came over the speakers.

“I thought that was just a rumor, or a bad joke that she was with us.” One of the other ghoul commander's responded.

“Yeah, it’s no wonder that she blew up half their outfit with one grenade. Only the survivor could do something like that…” An elderly stallion came over next.

“She’s not some legend.” Casemate snapped as she practically pressed her hoof against her coms button hard enough to break it. “And even so, she’s not commanding this battle! She has zero say in what any of you do, does everypony understand me!?”

“Look, if Ping’s idea can get us into that bunker, which is exactly what is going to happen, then it doesn’t matter if it’s you or I who gave the order.” I fired back a glare at her before pointing my hoof down to Huck. “So either he can listen to me say it, or you, but Ping needs four penetrators loaded up, and for you to listen to exactly where I tell you to aim your gun.”

You know, with how I tended to piss off every pony I met, you’d think I’d get used to feeling the burning anger radiate off of them. Maybe it was just temperature shock from having recently been near frozen, but with how much heat Casemate’s anger was radiating, I was starting to want to go back outside for a bit. Good news though, Huck may have found a suitable replacement for the Boiling Vessel!

“Fine.” She spoke with a wheezing sigh that sounded and felt like she vented all of her anger out in one go. “Huck, load it.” Again, she shot me a sideways glare as she sat at attention and put her hooves back on her gun controls. “But if this doesn’t fucking work…

“Loading A.P.!” Huck called out as he shoved the silver dart into the barrel, and followed it with one of the bagged charges. With a slam, the breach of the gun shut tight. “Gun ready!”

“It’ll work, we just have to trust him.” I nodded to her, but saying it more so I’d believe it would. “Alright, Ping, we’re ready here.”

“Set target, bearing one six five. Adjust elevation by six point two degrees north, then rotation by three point eight degrees west.” Ping’s stark promptness nearly threw me off, but I did my best to simply repeat what he was saying.

“Bring the gun to bearing one six five. Then adjust six point two degrees up, and three point eight degrees left.” I spoke up as I pulled myself up to the commander’s scope. Alright, might as well find out just what Ping was planning.

“Aye. One six five, mark.” Casemate sighed as she carefully made the adjustments to the gun. “Alright, corrections made. And... the targeting laser says the shot will strike a point above the reinforced concrete ventilation slats in the bunker wall.”

“Miss Casemate may fire when ready.” Ping stated flatly.

“He says you can fire when ready.” I repeated with my own sideways glance to a very frustrated looking Casemate.

“Alright…” Again she sighed as she tightened her hoof around her controls. “On the way.”

Boom!

The whole tank rocked back as the gun recoiled. A burst of concrete and dust sprayed up from the impact point above and to the left of the concrete vents. Spidering cracks spread just around the impact point, and as the dust cleared, I could see that the silver rod hadn’t punched all the way into the concrete. It stuck out, like a wall nail you’d hang an old photo on.

“Loading A.P.!” Huck shifted about below us, quickly shoving in another dart and bagged charge before slamming the breach shut again. “Gun ready!”

“Next shot, two point six degrees south by eight degrees west. Fire when ready.” Again, Ping’s voice was calm and prompt. While I could never understand how it would be to be a machine, I did admire him for being able to be so collected through all of this.

“Two point six down, and eight left. Fire when ready.” I spat out to Casemate, keeping my eye on the concrete.

“Adjusting.” She again sighed as she carefully shifted the gun only a few degrees at a time. “On the way!”

Boom!

Again, the gun and tank recoiled, this shot sending a heavy ringing into my ears. I watched through the scope as the second shot struck below the first. Again, a burst of concrete and dust drifted off as spidering cracks stretched away from the impaled rod in the wall. However, as I looked, I noticed that the first shot’s cracks had grown longer and deeper.

“Next shot, five degrees east. Fire when ready.” Ping spoke sharply.

“Five degrees right, fire when ready.” I repeated to Casemate.

“Adjusting.” Casemate replied again, but this time without a sigh. Glancing away from the spotting scope, her expression had shifted to a more determined one. She leaned forward into her controls, pausing only for a moment once she’d moved the gun. “On the way!”

Boom!

The shot arched right of the last one, blasting out larger chunks of concrete between where it struck and both the previous two. The lengthening cracks had pushed out far around the slatted concrete vents while leaving the vent itself mostly intact. Again though, the round stuck stubbornly out of the concrete like the others, and I had a good idea where the last shot was going to end up.

“Final shot, two point four degrees east by seven north. Fire when ready.” Unlike the other shots, this time Ping’s voice came across with a hint of unabashed pride to it. And seeing as how against all expectations, we were actually doing some damage, I’d say he’d earned that pride.

“Two point four right by seven up. Fire when ready!” I called out, not able to fight the pride creeping in through my own voice.

“Adjusting!” Casemate’s muzzle split into a smile as she effortlessly made the last adjustment. “On the way!”

Boom!

The final shot was paired with a burst of thunder from the dark clouds above us. I watched in anticipation as the final round struck home, and each of the rods disappeared in a growing cloud of concrete and dust that was greater than each individual shot. It was hazy, but it looked like part of the bunker’s thick wall even collapsed, and as the dust started to clear, I could see that there was now a gaping, pony sized hole in the structure. What stuck out were dust caked metal filters that capped the end of a line of ductwork. The rusty ducts themselves ran along what looked like a maintenance tunnel that stretched off further into the bunker.

My smile dimmed slightly, and I turned away from the scope to find that Casemate’s expression had dimmed as well.

“That… was a lot less impressive than I’d thought it would be.” With a sigh, she hung her head. “Do you have any idea how many H.E. rounds it’s going to take to widen that hole enough to make a real impact?”

“What do you mean ‘get inside a tank’!?” Hispano squawked through my headset. “That was awesome, I’m going to stay out here for whatever you’ve got planned next!”

“Night,” Ping’s voice struck up again with the same note of pride as before, “Please have Casemate inform all tanks to keep their personnel inside the vehicles, or if that is not possible, to have them proceed to minimum safe distance.” Wait, why would they have to stay inside?

“This is the Arcturus, fire support authorized, danger close has been approved.” Frescas’s voice came over both my headset and the tank’s radios.

“Okay nevermind, heading inside now!” Hispano called out nervously as Huck, Casemate and I all traded awkward glances. Okay, maybe it was just me with the awkwardness and them with confused looks, but come on! Even I didn’t expect that Ping would go that far!

“Reporting tubes one, three, and four have been expended. Arcane Cruise Missiles are reporting weapon launches successful, and on target with optimal flight status. Fifty seconds to impact!” Tofu’s excited voice came through the radio with a squelch. “Eeee! I can’t believe we launched! This is literally the best day ever!”

“Ladies and gentlecolts,” Double Delta’s voice came through with a note of playfulness to it. “Please keep your legs inside your vehicles at all times. Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.”

As the roaring missiles closed in, both Casemate and I scrambled to put our faces up to our various sighting scopes. The shrieking whine of their engines grew and grew as I pinned my eye open, staring at the rain soaked bunker. With a flash, the first missile streaked over us and instantly disappeared straight down the dark open ventshaft. Not a split second later did the other two missiles follow.

For a single moment, the patter of rain against the tank’s hull became the only sound we heard.

Another flash blinded both Casemate and I as the missiles detonated deep inside the bunker. The flare of fire that burst through the open vent shaft left a dazzling afterimage. A rending sound pierced the air, and the three of us in here were forced to cover our ears. The world shook as it felt like the tank was nearly tossed across the muddy ground, and the jarring sound of metal being twisted and torn became our whole world.

I gave out a loud shriek as I was all but thrown from my seat and jabbed in my stump by Huck’s rack. My shout was muffled as Casemate was thrown onto me, and nearly forced me to double over completely. With a low groan, the whole tank flopped back on the ground again, and the three of us were pushed away from one another. As we sat there, with our hearts racing and sharing boundless confusion, the only thing that made sense to ask, we all asked at the same time.

“What the fuck was that!?”

“Ugh, that hurt…” Dash’s voice crackled through the radio. “I think we took some debris, Commander.”

“Alright, let me check.” She offered back as she put her hoof up to her head, only to realize that her helmet had been tossed to the floor by the shaking. Reaching up, she left her her helmet there for now and reached up above her. Unsealing the hatch, she opened it and winced at the cold air and rain forced its way inside.

I did the same, figuring that I’d had just about enough of being trapped in a metal can for today regardless. Thrusting the hatch open, I let out an instinctive shiver as the rain washed over me again. Fighting back the urge to stay warm, I pushed myself up into the opening. I froze on the spot halfway out. Only inches from my muzzle, sat what must have been the top of the rusty pony-thick metal doors that had still been standing at the wall.

It had been blasted right off its hinges in the explosion, and from the crater between us and where it had been, I’m guessing it had bounced and come down on us with quite some force. Enough force in fact, to flatten the barrel down against the Chieftain’s hull. Looking past the now vacant concrete door frame to the bunker however, I couldn’t help but smile.

The main blast doors to the bunker had likewise been blasted off their hinges, but due to their size, hadn’t gone nearly as far. Thick black smoke billowed out of both the gaping entryway and what remained of the ventilation shaft. I’d never seen smoke so thick before, not even inside the thermal updraft tower in Cantercross. Whatever warheads those missiles were armed with, must have done one hell of a number on the inside of that base.

“Oh my...” Casemate gasped as she too let her eyes wander over the carnage the blast had caused. She paused for a moment when her eyes dropped to the door that had come down across half the tank. “...Celestia! No no no!” She let out a whine as she immediately looked almost sick to her stomach. “Goddesses forgive me, I… this can’t be happening!”

“Casemate, what’s…” I started to say before she looked like she lost all the blood in her face and gave me a sideways glance like she’d never been more scared in her life.

“She…” She gave a hollow laugh as she started to sink on her hoof. “She’s going to kill me. I broke the Chief’s tank… and she’s going to kill me…”

“Ah wouldn’t worry ‘bout it, Case.” Huck chuckled before giving a small gasp. “Wait, ah have an idea! Just suggest that she should melt down that ol’ Valiant ta cast new parts fer tha Chieftain! Ah reckon if she does, she’d have more than enough metal fer parts, an’ tha number of new recruits we’ll get’ll skyrocket!”

“You’re not helping, Huck.” She spoke with what was a mix of a grumble and whimper, as well as shot him a hollow glare. “Still… I’ll consider it.”

“Ah, you’ll be fine, Case.” One of the ghouls laughed over the radio as one of the large tanks off to our left gave a rev of their arcane engine. “I’m just going to take us a bit closer. Sobek here didn’t even get a chance to use his flamer in that whole fight! Can you believe that?” The squat and boxy heavy tank trundled forward out of the formation, pulling an armored trailer close behind it. “So I’m just going to give Sobek a chance for him to vent his pent up frustrations, and make sure these Pentex assholes are convinced it’s better for them to stay dead.”

“Uh… N-negative on that, Sobek.” Casemate muttered as she somewhat was kicked out of her daze. Again, she’d forgotten her helmet and gave out an annoyed whine. “Huck, can I have my helmet back, please?” She paused and let out another sigh as the large tank let out a roaring gout of flame. I watched as it trundled over the crumbling remains of the now ruined wall, painstakingly taking its time to roll up to the smoking front of the bunker. “No, I need it now, Huckleberry, not after you pour another cup of tea...”

“But muh last one spilled!” Huck whined as he set down his half filled cup and hoofed her helmet up to her.

“Thank you.” She snorted as she sharply grabbed it from him. In one fluid motion, she pulled it up to her head and slid it on, latching the previously unused strap under her chin. Putting her hoof to her coms again, she let out a disappointed sigh. “Negative on that request, Sobek. You know the rules on wasting resources, and you’ve already been written up twice this month for it, Papyrus. Now, you know if I write you up a third time, you’ll be terminated from Cordite for insubordination.”

“Awww, come on, Commander.” Papyrus’s gravelly voice let out a groan that sounded like rocks in a blender, and paired terribly with the short gout of flame that roared again from the front of the tank. “Fine, we’ll pull…”

Pa-ting!

The noise that split the air was something between a gunshot and a bolt of lightning. However, it was quickly dwarfed by the nose of the Sobek disappearing behind a large fireball that sent flaming liquid raining down almost all the way out to us. As the smoke from the blast rose, both Casemate and I stared at the twisted flaming remains of the Sobek. It’s turret had been cleanly blasted off, and the tank itself had a hoof sized groove driven almost directly through the center line of its thick armor.

“What the fuck was that!” Casemate shouted, frantically hoofing at her helmet’s controls. “Sobek, do you copy!? Can anypony from Sobek hear me!?”

The top hatch to the El Alemane flopped open, and as I looked over, I found Ping stick his head up and out of the turret. He looked down into the dark, smokey hallway for a single moment before a look of fear fell across his face, and a pit opened in my stomach. Okay, now that couldn’t be good.

Something loud resonated through the air. It was an alien sound, unlike anything I’d ever heard. To be blunt, it sounded to me like it was an engine imitating the growl of some large creature. Whatever it was happened to be loud enough to filter through the sound of rain and distant thunder without a problem. It echoed through the smoke filled halls of the burned out Bunker, and even across the forested valley hills around us. Hell, the sound rattled the tanks themselves!

From inside the bunker, a pair of burning red eyes appeared, blazing through the thick smoke. They stepped closer as the thrumming of several arcane engines picked up in the air. Two other pairs of red eyes followed, and it felt like everypony here held their breath as the three intruders stepped out into the open.

They were big machines, but not like anything I’d ever seen at the Factory. They looked like the big wild cats I’d seen pictures of in the history books, albeit with some major differences, like the fact that they were nearly the size of tanks. These ‘cats’ had six evenly spaced legs, and blade-like fangs almost as big as a pony jutting horizontally from their muzzle. Simply looking at them, it was obvious with their design that they’d been built for speed. However, thick and rusty steel plates had been welded over their original constructions to add more armor to them.

The cat who’d made the appearance first stood apart from the two that flanked it. Along with the thicker armor surrounding almost every part of it, it sported a pair of hydraulically powered articulating arms that sprouted from it’s back. Attached to the ends of said arms, were a pair of long, rectangular guns. Copper coiling and vacuum tubes wrapped around the rear of them, while a thick black cable connected the core of the guns to what I could guess was the cat’s power source through ports on it’s back.

“Those Pentex assholes had Razor Cats!? This whole time!?” One of the ghoul tankers shouted over the radio. “I knew those traitors worked for the damned stripes!”

“Yes, a troubling development indeed.” Poppy’s oddly serious tone shook me out of my awe. He’d been so calm and collected every time I’d seen him, even right after we beat him on the road. If he was getting serious, then I could guess that we had a problem on our hooves. “I’d thought we’d seen enough of these back during the war that no one would stoop low enough to use these abominations again, not even the stripes.”

“Please, they were easy enough to deal with back in the war. Liberator, moving up into firing position!” Another ghoul chimed up as the rumble of their tank’s engine picked up. From the far end of the Cordite formation, a boxy looking heavy tank with an oscillating turret on it pulled forward. It had a golden bell painted next to the cordite logo on it’s odd looking turret, spinning it and bringing it’s long gun to bear on the group of mechanical cats. “Let’s see how they like it when I uncork one hundred and twenty millimeters of Prance’s finest, two century old high-explosive export.”

“Those guns on it’s back…” Casemate gasped out in horror. “Liberator, wait…!” She called out just before her voice was lost to the roar that the heavy tank’s cannon let out.

The cat flanking to the left of the one with the guns, disappeared in a bright fireball. The force of the blast even from where Casemate and I sat forced us to cover ourselves as we were shoved back against the hatches behind us. Blinking away the bright flash, I turned back to see the plume of smoke dissipate from around the lead cat and it’s other flanker. With a flicker, the third set of red eyes glowed back to life as the third cat’s engine gave a growl-like roar. Other than a large scorch mark on it’s side, there wasn’t any indication of damage from the shot.

“But… how could it survive that?” The commander of the Liberator gasped over the radio. “No, that’s impossible! No Razor Cat could ever stand up to something this caliber...”

The two articulating guns on the center cat spun, lining up with Liberator.

Pa-ting!

The two guns fired sharply. I watched in horror as two hoof sized holes opened up on the Liberator before she was torn in half by a sharp, internal explosion. In an instant, the tank and crew were just… gone.

“Are those fucking tank sized gauss rifles!?” Squeezebore shouted as I couldn’t rip my eyes from the flaming wreck that had once been the Liberator. “Oh fuck, we are so dead.”

Glancing back over to the trio of cats, they split their attention across the Cordite line. Crouching down like predators waiting to pounce on their prey. In an instant, Poppy’s serious tone had become justified to me. This was going to be more of a fight than any of us had expected…

Author's Note

Once again a HUGE thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his help in making sure this chapter is in tip-top shape to be put up!

And of course, many thanks to Kkat for allowing us all to run around and write in our own corners of this fantastic wasteland setting!

Chapter 73 - Dead Hoof

If the world seems perfect today, tomorrow it will end.

“All crew, that armor is too thick for any one H.E. round alone to take it down. I repeat, focus down those cats together!” Casemate shouted into her headset as she dipped back down through her hatch, shutting it with a slam that was loud enough to break me free of staring at the wreck. “Seriously, your buddy has all the intel, but leaves this out!?”

“Night, I did not know they were here!” Ping’s worried voice crackled through my headset. “Something else is wrong here. Those cats have been modified.”

“You think!?” I spat as I lowered myself down into the turret. I caught Casemate’s gaunt and pale expression. “What gave it away, Ping? The fucking armor, or the big ass guns!?” If she was worried like that, then we really were screwed…

“Not physically.” Ping almost growled at me. Woah, that was a first. “I should be able to access their core functions and shut them down remotely. The problem is that I am locked out of their systems!”

“That shouldn’t be possible.” Buck came across with more static than usual. “If they can’t be shut down, and our guns can’t pierce that armor, how are we supposed to fight them?”

Pa-ting!

I cringed as among the sound of firing cannons, another pair of gauss shots were followed by the blast of another tank in the line. The turret of the small T-8 tank near us blasted off, sailing through the rain before slamming down into the mud just ahead of the Chieftain. A smooth, hoof sized hole had been punched through the short gun’s mantlet, right through the top loop of the Eight in the painted on number 84. Which even more disturbing to see, was that the mantlet had been the thickest point of armor on the whole thing!

“Fucking hell, Eighty four is down!” Casemate shouted over her radio. “They’re hitting us right in the goddess damned ammo racks! All tanks, optimize your firing angles to get as much armor between those gauss rifles and your racks!”

“Night, I do not know if their prioritization parameters are the same as during the war, but they are designed to respond to whatever is the highest threat.” Ping paused as if he had to recall something that he wasn’t sure of. It allowed me just the briefest moment to glance at the smoking turret half buried in the mud. The gun on it was technically a cannon, but… there were bigger in the line. If it was going to go after the biggest threats, then why that tank? “There is also something else. An unknown signal coming in from outside the valley. These machines are already being controlled remotely by an operator, the same someone who is actively blocking my attempts to access them.”

“Great, how the fuck do we fix...?” Hispano growled before the BT-42’s cannon going off garbled the rest of her words. “Fuck this, I’m not dying in some tin can!”

“That is not advised, however it may be necessary.” Ping paused again. “Night, Hispano, Buck. If you three could each hold their attention, even if for only a few moments, it may afford the rest of us enough time to coordinate our fire and take them down one at a time.”

“That’s our best option then.” I called out. “Buck, pick one and see if you can get on top of it. Hispano and I will try to strafe another one and keep it’s attention split. Then when everyone else is ready, we’ll split away so the tanks can blast each one all at once.”

“Now that’s a plan I can get behind!” Hispano squaked as the heavy patter of rain against her flight goggles translated through her own headset.

Looking over at Casemate, she glared at me like I was crazy. “Do you have a problem with that idea, Commander?”

“No.” She shook her head before prodding at my chest hard. “Just make it quick, and don’t get killed.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I nodded to her before reaching my hooves up around the open cupola.

I clambered back out onto the turret, keeping myself low. My hooves nearly slipped as a horrendous screech of metal filled the air, and I flattened myself against the back of the turret. Frantic screaming came from beside us as I watched one of the non-gun wielding cats rip the turret of another of the small Cordite produced tanks right off of it’s hull. It’s steel claws glowed orange, plunging through the steel of T-8 number sixty eight like it was butter. The sizzling sound that filled the air sent a shiver up my spine as the heated claws turned the pouring rain into steam.

The cat bit down and tossed the shredded turret aside before looking down at the cowering crew. They gave off another panicked scream as the cat thrust it’s bladed face down into the tank with a mechanical roar. I was helpless to do anything but watch as it turned the inside of the tank into a blender, and the screams were lost to the sound of metal grinding together.

“Night, we need to get in the air!” Hispano called as she landed down next to me. I latched onto her voice, and used it to turn myself away from the carnage. “Come on, let’s go!” She snapped as she helped me push myself up.

The two of us flared our wings and took off. Already soaked again, my sore muscles protested as once more the frigid rain stripped away most of the heat from my body in mere moments. It was going to suck, but as we gained some altitude, the familiar stinging numbness took ahold of me like an old friend, and I could push myself to move without feeling it again.

Suiza opened up as Hispano pulled away from me. Her shots sparked off of one of the razor cats making its way toward the next small T-8 tank, stopping it mid six-legged stride and pulling it’s attention skyward. It let out a sharp snarl-like sound from it’s muzzle before turning it’s red eyed glare to the small tank in front of it.

The four pounder cannon on the Cordite built tank barked sharply, rocking the tank slightly on it’s suspension. The flash from the short gun was blinding, but all the same, I watched as the front right leg sparked and struggled to move. The cat itself seemed just as confused, looking down at its front leg and studying it, trying to make it move again.

The sight sent my mind reeling back to when Hispano and I had dropped onto Guiness and Zibar during the chase toward Pink Mountain. Wait, Hispano had used her gun to save me by jamming their turret. That’s it! That’s why they were going after the smaller guns! The smaller rounds could get through the gaps in the armor!

“So wait, some massive tank gun can’t even scratch it, but that piddly thing actually did something!?” Happy snorted over the radio as he lifted the driver’s hatch of ‘Legion’ to peer out. He gave out a short whimper as the impressively quick form of Buck clambered up onto the front of his tank.

“Stay inside, Happy.” Buck growled as he vaulted off of the front of the tank toward the armored cat. “I’ll keep this one distracted, Night! You and Hispano get the other one!”

“Got it!” I called out and rolled myself over. Okay, so if small guns were what we needed, we at least had a plan then! “Hispano! We have to jam up their joints! That’s where they’re weak!”

“Fuck, that’s gotta be why they’re going for the smaller guns!” Hispano called out as she shot past me heading the opposite direction. “Good thinking, Dum Dum! But now it’s time to quit slacking off and actually do something!”

I rolled my eyes as I tweaked my wet wings. With little effort, I inverted myself and glanced across the battle line. The other Razor Cat was busy clawing at the only other T-8 tank left in the line, it’s heated claws tearing right through the drive sprockets of T-8 number ninety two like they were wet paper. The crew inside fired off a snapshot straight against the cat’s face, blasting off part of it’s head armor and sending the robotic cat stumbling onto it’s back.

“Now’s our chance, Dum Dum!” Hispano called out as she dove down and opened up with her sister.

The full auto fire out of Suiza was inaccurate, sending both sparks and splashes of mud up as the rounds struck all around the cat. One of it’s middle legs gave a shrill pop as it was blasted clean off into the mud. Again, the cat roared out in what I could only hope was some sort of pain.

Not to let this opportunity slip by, I pitched down as I sailed right over it. I dropped myself into a sharp dive, quickly mouthing over my bit and releasing two grenades. With a pained cry of my own, I stiffened my wings and arched my back to pull out of the dive. There hadn’t been so much time to make fine adjustments for my aim, but I just had to hope that I got lucky.

Pa-ting!

The sharp report from the gauss rifle cat was cut off by a sharp pop behind me. My numb flank and leg exploded in pain as the early crack of my grenades caught me off guard. Not yet having leveled out, I screamed out as the feeling in my back legs disappeared and I lost control of my flight.

I think I blacked out, because when I opened my eyes again, I was staring up into the dark, stormy skies. The cold mud around me had softened my landing, but the sharp stinging from my wings told me that I’d come to a rough stop all the same. The soft ringing in my ears drained away quickly at least, and I felt the heavy thumps of the nearby Razor Cat easily tearing into T-8 number ninety two. Within moments, the thin steel tank hull had been peeled back, and again it’s crew gave off short lived screams.

“Such a pity.” Solomon childed as his pristine muzzle poked into my vision. “All that potential, all that trust placed in you, and what do you do with it? You squander it.”

“Fuck off.” I grumbled and forced my hooves to push down into the near freezing muck. Goddesses, I didn’t need this right now!

Pain ripped through my back as I moved, and I let out a breathless scream as I forced myself to sit up in the mud. I hoped, prayed for the pain to subside or numb, but it didn’t yield. Even as I struggled to pull in a breath of cold air, it felt like somepony was slowly flaying the hide from my wings.

Craning my neck back, I cringed and reflexively slammed my eyes shut from what I found.

“Awww, did the already crippled birdy hurt his wings?” Solomon’s childish insults sounded like they’d have been more at home coming from someone like Shimmer Pull’s muzzle back in Four Peaks. “Pathetic. And you think you’re tough enough to lead your friends? Don’t make me laugh.”

Opening my eyes again, I looked over my twisted wings. The flight suit had kept them from getting ripped off, but only just. The metal framework of my suit had been bent at almost a ninety degree angle just above my back, and the bloody bones of both my wings stuck out into the cold air. Pulling my eyes away, I glanced down to my other rear hoof. Hundreds of open gashes trailed up along it onto my nearly crimson colored flanks. It was already a lot of blood, and I almost felt queasy looking at it, but I knew Buck would patch it up like new. He had to, just as always, right?

And hey, at the very least I didn’t have to worry about bleeding out from two bum legs, right?

“Night!” Hispano called out as she ran through the mud toward me. She skid to a stop just short of me, heaving and nearly turning green in the face as she got a look at my twisted wings. Wait, where was her sister? “Ugh, I think I’m going to be sick…” She whimpered and recoiled like she’d never even seen blood before. “Seriously, why…”

I blinked as a silver line of metal flashed through the air behind her. One of the claws from the Razor Cat plunged down. Right before my eyes, it tore Hispano’s head clean off of her shoulders.

I screamed out as her headless body collapsed into the mud, and tears streamed down my cheeks.

No.. she… not again! Not like Violet, I can’t lose her! This isn’t happening!

“I told you, Night!” Solomon’s jubilant voice echoed through my mind as he let out a roaring laugh. “You’ll never lead anypony, at least, not anywhere but straight to their deaths at your hooves!”

The shock, the pain in my body, and the sight of Hispano’s death replaying a dozen times over in my mind drove me to rage. Before I’d realized it, I was back on my bleeding hooves and charging through the mud towards the now far off Razor Cat. The ripped muscles in my wings and back pleaded for me to stop, and my rear hoof gave out on more than a few heavy steps. But I would not be stopped.

I was going to tear that cat apart with my own fucking hooves for what it’s done!

I let out another howling yell as I approached the cat. It was either too busy trying to melt through the front of Legion with its claws to notice, or it didn’t consider me a threat. Either was the last mistake it’d make.

With a growl that pulled every ounce of strength I had in my three legs, I threw myself up onto the cat’s side. I found the hole where the motor and hydraulics for it’s now missing leg had been, and found that it was just big enough to stick the barrel of my subgun into. My muzzle came down around my firing bit hard enough that I think I broke a tooth, but I simply lumped that pain in with everything else and poured hot magical beams right into the side of the machine.

It let out a tremendous roar as sparks and smoke shot out of every damn seam and joint on this side of it’s metal armored body. I struggled to keep my hooves holding onto its side as it thrashed and threw itself from the front of Legion. But this cat was going to pay, and I was going to make it suffer!

“Just fucking scream in agony and die!” I howled from around my bit, pausing to shift my firing angle ever so slightly. Again, I opened up on it, sending more sparks and smoke from it’s rear. My subgun sputtered, shooting out magical sparks of its own as it cycled slower and slower with each shot. Something inside of both my gun and the beast gave a sharp whine before one of the two outright exploded, and I was tossed straight off of the beast.

This time, I remembered hitting the mud, multiple times.

I howled in pain as I bounced and rolled head over hocks uncontrollably across the ground. My wingsuit caught on what I’d assumed was one of the burnt tree stumps, probably the one I’d hit when I crashed into the mud earlier. I didn’t have the time to check, as I was too busy listening to the thick snap that filled the air as I was yanked to an all-too abrupt stop. I screamed as my back felt like it had altogether been torn straight off of me. Though, not even that lasted all that long as I got a muzzle full of mud as I finally came to a stop and flopped down.

It hurt to breathe, to move. But still, I forced myself back up to my hooves. Like before though, my hooves slipped, and I again found myself back down in the mud. Heaving in forceful, labored breaths, I braced myself against a charred tree stump. Pain ebbed through my body, slowly numbing either from the cold, or from my nerves basically burning out from overuse.

A static and broken sounding growl came from the Razor Cat as it’s one eye turned on me. It’s sparking and smoking body turned with shudders and unnatural pauses in it’s uneasy steps. I narrowed my eye, moving my muzzle to bite down on my firing bit again, only to find it was altogether missing. A quick glance down found it had been completely ripped from it’s mounting, and I assumed it was lost somewhere in the mud with my still missing prosthetic.

The Razor Cat stepped up, towering over me and opening it’s bladed muzzle. With a mechanical whine, it raised what I could assume was the same damn claw that had taken Hispano from me. Among all the pain, the anger, and the anguish from losing Hispano, all I had left in me was to glare down the mechanical beast and will it to death.

A trio of rapid fire cannon shots slammed into its head, forcing me to raise my hoof to shield myself.

It’s red eye flickered, while sparks shot from the newly broken joints in its jaw. Another sharp pop preempted the entire side of it’s head exploding outward, showering me with hot metal. It’s remaining eye went dark, and the quickly thrumming engine inside it’s armored body sputtered and died. Finally, with a deep metallic groan, it fell over into the mud.

“Celestia, Dum Dum! Where the hell did that rage come from?” Hispano’s voice sent my mind into a summersault as she fluttered and dropped out of the sky next to me. She brought the smoking muzzle of Suiza up to her beak and blew on it as I tried to work out just how the fuck she was alive.

Glancing over to where I’d crashed before, there was… nothing. No body, no sign she’d ever been there in the first place. Had I… just hallucinated that? Like I did with Solomon?

Fuck it, I don’t want to know, I’m just glad to have her back! I whimpered as again I moved without thinking and dove right into a blood and mud coated hug. I squeezed her tight, making absolutely sure that this time she was the real Hispano.

“Woah, easy there, Dum Dum. Still in the middle of a fight, ya know.” She whimpered as I squeezed her. “Shit, you’re pretty torn up. You aren’t going to bleed out on me, are you?”

“I… I don’t know.” I whimpered as well as I let go of her and sat back. Looking down over myself, I found that not only had my bit been ripped from me, but my subgun was missing from my saddle as well. “My gear is fucked though, and I’m still missing my leg.”

“Ah, that’s fine… but uh… don’t turn around, alright?” Hispano forced out a laugh as she spun in place for a moment. Before I could reflexively turn, she gripped me tightly and held me where I was. “Seriously, don’t.” Her voice was stern enough that I figured that it was better if I listened to her for now. That, and before I could really question it, her expression brightened. She let go and all but dove into the mud between me and the downed metal beast. With a rummage of her talon, she dragged my mud caked prosthetic up into the air. “And look, I even found your leg!” She winced as she looked between it and me again. “Why don’t you get back in one of the tanks and try to lay low for a bit? At least, until Buck can get you patched up and put back together a bit.”

“Ah… alright.” I grunted as my body reminded me that if I gave the wrong answer, it might just decide to quit on me right here and now. “I’ll head back to the Chieftain, you go help Buck…”

Almost as if on cue, a static filled roar came from the Razor Cat down along the Cordite formation. The six legged mechanical cat stumbled much in the way as the one Hispano and I had fought did, nearly throwing itself off of the front hull of the Boom Bear. It bucked hard in the mud, shifting sideways and slamming against the side of the BT-42. The overtaxed suspension sheared the road wheels straight off as the cat braced itself, pushing the smaller tank over onto its side to maintain its own ballance.

Geeze, Poppy just couldn’t catch a break when it kept to keeping that tank upright, could he?

With an amplified roar of his own, Buck’s mechanical paws gripped around one of the rear legs of the beast as it finished steadying itself. With the incredible strength they afforded him, he jammed his mechanical paws into the joint and tore the entire leg straight off the cat. The beast went down hard into the mud, writhing as Buck easily took the severed leg and swung it around, using the cat’s own glowing claws to rend deep gouges through its armor.

All the pain in my body, the distress I’d been in, all but disappeared as I watched in awe. It was… amazing to watch him so fluidly move from one attack to the next. Even when the cat had regained the ability to stand on its legs again, Buck didn’t relent. For being a fraction of the size, Buck easily moved out of the way of each blade strike, countering with a swing of the severed leg.

“Okay, I think he has that covered…” Hispano I think did her best to collect and tear herself from the amazing display, but I couldn’t look away. Goddesses, he was the most amazing… “Snap out of it, Night.” Hispano moved between Buck and I, lowering her deadpan expression into my view. “We both know that Buck is so violently handsome right now, but getting your bang on isn't what's important! We’ve got work to do!”

“Wha…? Right!” I shook my head and looked over toward the chieftain. “I’ll…”

Pa-ting!

Shit.

A pair of holes opened through the massive metal door that had covered the front of the Chieftain. The backside of the Chieftain spouted a cloud of black smoke and emitted a terrible grinding sound as it’s arcane engine died on the spot. For some reason, it hadn’t exploded like the other tanks, but the hits still didn’t bode well.

There was a roar from an arcane engine as the El Alemane pulled out of the firing line. They rolled forward, tracking right past Hispano and I through the mud. As they rolled by, I watched as the Gauss Cat shifted its attention toward them.

“What are they doing!?” Hispano gasped. “They’re making themselves easy targets… that’s suicide!”

“No, I’m sure there’s a plan.” I spat out as I tried to think. Why, why would they pull its attention… other than it’s exactly what ping said we were supposed to be doing. “It’s an opening.” Looking about at the other remaining tanks, those that were still intact moved almost in unison. The collective roar from their engines caught the attention of the Gauss cat again, and it’s articulating guns spun around on their mounts.

Pa-ting!

The twin gauss rifles fired again, and the Boom Bear disappeared in an explosion that nearly blasted Hispano and I right off our legs.

“We need to help, Dum Dum!” Hispano offered as she looked along the line of tanks. Her eyes went wide as she glanced over at the discarded and nearly totally shredded turret of one of the T-8 pattern tanks. I couldn’t even read the number on it anymore it’s armor was so melted and mangled. “Here, take my sis and open up on that thing as a distraction! I have an idea!”

She dumped Suiza into my hooves before fluttering off towards the turret. I had a feeling she was going to try to get its gun operational again, but before I could protest I found myself struggling not to dump her sister into fetlock deep mud. She might have been a durable gun, but like any machine, she wasn’t going to work all that well if I jammed her up full of gunk.

Looking around, I glanced back to the tree stump that had so roughly stopped my short flight earlier. I paused when I spotted something crimson and blue wedged and hanging in the neck of the charred stump. All at once, I realized why Hispano had told me not to turn around, and looked around at my back.

A trough of ripped, bleeding flesh that ran halfway down my back, and a white nub of bone, sat where my right wing always had.

Okay, don’t freak out, Night! Now is not the time! Buck can fix it, right? Right!?

I doubled over and threw up.

A million thoughts raced through my mind at once. Was I ever going to fly again? Could it even be put back on? What would other pegasi think of me? How… how would Hispano look at me if I couldn’t fly anymore? How was I going to protect her from the ground!?

“Night!” Hispano’s sharp voice called over to me and knocked me from my thoughts. “Yes, the wing thing sucks, but bigger picture here! Get. Shooting. Now!”

“Right, she’s right…” I heaved, gripping tighter around Suiza.

My legs were stiff, and protested with each step. I did my best to keep my severed wing out of my vision as I made my way around the old stump. With a heavy thump, I laid Suiza across the charred wood and maneuvered my hoof around the odd griffon-styled grip. I lowered my head down, peering through the large sight ring and putting the front post directly on the side of the Gauss Cat. Curling my forehoof up against the side of Suiza, I pressed her against the raised branch that held my wing to steady her.

The short cannon on the El Alemane barked, engulfing the rear half of the Gauss cat in a bright blast. The other remaining tanks in the line opened up, completely erasing the metal beast from my view and obscuring it from view in clouds of black mud and smoke. But as before, the beast was mostly unphased, and it’s bright beaming red eye pierced the wafting smoke.

Hispano let out a sharp call as she got the gun on the turret working again. It let out a sharp report, and the light round punched right against the side of the cat’s head. At the same time, I opened up with Suiza. The quick, heavy thumps she gave as I squeezed the trigger sent a line of glowing rounds across the beast’s neck. Sparks shot from under the jaw of the cat, and it spun itself around in place, presenting its other side to us.

Again, I squeezed the trigger. Another set of shots trailed across its side, sparking and sending tiny fragments of metal into each and every little exposed joint. I let go of the trigger as heat sizzled off of Suiza in the rain, and the pause was just enough time for me to watch as Hispano fired the four pounder a second time. The shrieking shot lodged itself into the base of the cat’s neck, locking it in place.

The cat let out a softer, wailing growl as it struggled to turn its neck. It spun itself in place again, swinging it’s two gauss rifles between all of the remaining tanks as if it didn’t know what to aim at. The moment it’s rear was facing me, I opened up again with Suiza. The line of shots scraped across the cat’s left side. Sparks flew as the line of shots severed each of the already damaged and overtaxed legs on that side one after the other.

With another loud, static filled cry, the cat dropped into the mud on it’s side. It’s remaining legs flailing to gain any sort of traction. But after a moment, it looked to have given up, and a high pitched whine began to pick up from its central engine. The armor around it began to glow a soft orange, and clouds of steam formed around it’s side. I didn’t need to be convinced to duck under cover, but as I did, the whole of the Gauss cat disappeared in a prismatic blast.

The explosion both looked and felt like a mini megaspell, instantly drying off my soaking coat, and sending an unhealthy feeling of warmth over my body. As the ringing in my ears drained however, I pulled myself up from the muck to watch a small, rainbow colored mushroom cloud rise into the air where the Gauss Cat had been.

Cheers came from the rest of the tankers as silence fell across the muddy battlefield. I glanced over at Hispano to find her smiling and cheering with the others. It was over. We’d done it. We’d survived.

“Not all of you.” Solomon’s voice was a whisper in my ear, and it sent a sharp shock down my spine.

Again, shit.

Pulling myself to my hooves once more, I pushed past my severed wing and made my way over to the smoking form of the Chieftain. It hurt like hell, but I clambered my way up the door that still lay across the front of the hull. Poking my head over, I looked down into the still open commander’s cupola.

It wasn’t hard to tell that the pungent smell of cordite was coming from inside the tank, but what was harder to figure out was if the smell of blood was likewise coming inside, or just emanating from my own wounds. Leaning forward, I stuck my head down into the hole. Water and wet powder caked half of the interior surfaces, as well as a healthy dose of crimson.

Unfortunately, the stench of blood was coming from the headless corpse of Huckleberry, who sat slumped in a puddle of crimson water. Likewise, blood drained down into the bottom of the tank from the severed stumps of Casemate’s rear legs. The hole that sat right behind were her stumps were, drained the grains of waterlogged cordite from the shredded and destroyed charge bags inside the ammo hold.

“Hey…” Casemate gave out a weak cough as she struggled to keep her eyes open. “Did… did we win?”

“Y-yeah…” I stuttered as I glanced down at her bleeding stumps again.

Shit, if she was still alive, she wasn’t going to last long without help. Pushing my head back up, I looked over across the tank formation. It wasn’t hard to find that still glowing and almost completely melted form of the other normal Razor Cat sitting in the mud, but… I didn’t see Buck anywhere.

“Buck!” I called out for him, really hoping that he hadn’t gotten himself killed fighting that other cat. Or that the cat didn’t fall on him, because even though we had more than just Hardcase this time, it would require more than a single unicorn’s magic to pull something that size off of him. Thankfully, I watched as a pair of metal ears perked over the edge of the fallen cat, shortly followed by his glowing blue mechanical eye.

Oh, thank Celestia, he’s alright. Waving him over, I pointed my hoof down into the turret. I know that Buck would want to help me, but… I could wait.

“Just hold on, Casemate. Help’s on the way.” I offered as I dipped my head back down into the turret. Looking down, I saw a weak smile pull across her muzzle.

“It’s okay.” Her voice was soft, and growing weaker with every word. “I… always knew I’d die… in a tank.” She shifted her far away glance over, letting a sad look cloud her teary eyes. “Help… the others…”

“Nope.” I growled as the sight of Hispano dying hit me again, quickly followed by the loss off Violet, and the rest of the convoy. “I’m done losing.”

Pushing myself over across the turret, I wrapped my hooves around the top of her hatch and yanked. With a squeal, it gave, nearly throwing me off balance and right off the turret. And as Buck’s heavy pawsteps grew closer, I worked my way around the edge of the hatch and reached inside.

“So what if you’ve fucking lost your legs, you’ll live.” I growled as I wrapped my fetlocks around her barrel and pulled hard. “I lost a leg… and I turned out… okay!” I groaned as slowly but surely I lifted her up out of her seat. “So you can fucking… suck it up then… alright?”

She gave a weak laugh before groaning and going limp in my hooves. No, not now, not so damned close! With a final yank, I pulled her up and onto the back of the turret.

“Alright, that’s good enough, Night.” Buck called out as he reached us. His metal hindpaws scraped against the heavy door as he walked up it, and both of his forearms gave whirs as various points opened up to thread out medical tools from them. “Let me stabilize her, then I’ll get to work on you.”

“Okay…” I sighed, letting go of her and taking a step back. Sitting down hard, I took a few deep breaths before looking around again.

Thick black smoke still poured from inside the old world mountain complex, which I could only assume now was nothing more than a burning deathtrap. The bodies of the defenders laid scattered around in the mud and rubble of the utterly destroyed defensive wall, destined to be long forgotten. Burning hulks of tanks still roared flames high into the air, with the remains of their crews still sitting inside.

This attack had succeeded, but it had cost so damned much. So many lives lost here, and for what? The destruction of one minor faction in the wasteland? Yeah, they’d been pretty shitty ponies, but… so what? Did that really justify this much suffering?

“You already know the answer to that.” Solomon shook his head as I blinked and he appeared next to me, surveying the carnage just as I was. “This is the cost of progress, Night, and most of you is willing to pay it. Still, a part of you still foolishly clings onto the hope of a better way. And while there might yet be, that’s not how you’ll make any headway coming after me.”

“You’re right, you play dirty.” I huffed as the patter of rain began to draw off. Looking up, a rumble of thunder carried across the distance, but the clouds above me lightened slightly as they shifted. “But while I know the costs, I never want to be comfortable with them. Not like you are.”

“Are you alright, Night?” Buck shifted his head over to me with a frown while his mechanical arms didn’t even stop working on Casemate. “Are the hallucinations back?”

“Yeah.” I nodded to him before looking back up at Solomon. “But right now, it’s just talk. I know he’s not real, just... focus on patching everypony up.” Looking back up to the sky, I watched as small gaps cleared in the overbearing gray clouds. Nothing too big, but just enough to let shafts of bright sunlight beam down. “Today isn’t over, and we’ve still got a lot more to do.”

My eye fluttered open as the sound of flapping cloth met my ears. Bright daylight poured through the wafting seam in the opening of the small tent I seemed to be in. I made the mistake of trying to sit up, and was rewarded with an intense throbbing in my head.

As I groaned and laid back down, a welcoming warmth spread over my barrel as a pair of olive colored feathered wings stretched out and wrapped around me. A small peck on my cheek pulled my attention over to Hispano’s relieved expression as she sat beside the cot I was laid out on.

“Oh good, you’re awake.” She offered with soft words and a firm grip of her talon along my fetlock. “After all the screaming you did, I wasn’t sure how long you’d be out.”

“Screaming?” I scrunched up my face as a deep wave of confusion ran over me. “What happened? How did I even get in this tent?”

“You… don’t remember?” She asked, smirking like she knew the answer to whatever inside joke this was. Cocking her eyebrow, she let my hoof go and prodded painfully at my barrel. “You’re telling me you don’t remember anything about taking the Hydra earlier?” Wait, what on Equus was she talking about? “The screaming, that freakish double wing that sprouted out of your back? The fact Buck had to cut it off and try again? Which by the way, made you full force kick him square in the face?” Cringing, she rubbed under her beak stiffly. “It’s a good thing his jaw is made out of steel, you know?”

“What the fuck are you talking about!?” I flailed myself up, which of course, didn’t help my headache, but allowed me to unfold both my wings from under my back. Freezing mid flail, I caught the sight of my left one, which looked perfectly normal. The plumage was in a good need of preening, but it didn’t look all that bad. My right wing however… was just a skin covered limb of bone and muscle. There wasn’t a single feather to be found. “Wha… wha…”

“Hydra works miracles, but it doesn’t replace everything right away.” Hispano rolled her eyes and shoved me back down onto my cot. “Buck says he might have something for rapid feather growth back in his main kit in the Factory, but if you ask me, you should just be glad to have your wing back at all.”

“I… I…” I stammered, forcing my eye shut to keep from staring at the weird freakish looking featherless limb. It’ll be okay, Night, she’s right. At least you’ll be able to fly again, which is more than…

I gasped as I remembered the state of things before I apparently passed out.

“Shit, Hispano!” I shot up off of my cot and wrapped my hooves around her sides as she tensed up. “Is everypony else alright!?”

“Well, I guess?” She offered a noncommittal shrug as she carefully plucked my hooves off of her sides. “I mean, Cordite lost a lot of ponies in that fight. But outside of you, Buck, and Casemate, no serious injuries really. Well, there maybe some lightly bruised bodies and egos...”

“So, did Casemate make it?” I groaned as the rush of sitting up finally caught up with me. My head pounded for a few moments, and reflexively I jabbed my forehoof against my patch covered empty eye socket. Like always, the pressure helped to mildly dull the pain, but thankfully the bulk of it passed fairly quickly.

“Oh yeah, though she’s pretty pissed off about it.” Hispano chuckled as she rolled her eyes.

“What? She’s pissed about being alive?” I groaned. Really, after everything, you’d think she’d at least be thankful.

“Yeah, well, she kept going on and on.” Hispano leaned forward and hooked her talon around my back. With her help, I got off that stiff cot and back onto my sore hooves. The cold and wet ground underneath the canvas tent had soaked through, and the dampness nipped at my hooves. However, at least I wasn’t standing directly in the mud, so there was that. “It was something about being destined to die in a tank like her dad and mom did. I dunno, it’s all crazytalk to me. I think she must’ve hit her head or something in the fight. That, or it’s the bloodloss talking.”

Stepping forward, Hispano reached up and pushed the tent flap open. Amber evening sunlight streamed into the small tent, and the sounds of ponies moving about drifted through with the cold breeze. I shielded my eye with my hoof as the both of us stepped outside, and the first thing I felt, was the warmth of the large bonfire going just on the other side of the nearby El Alemane.

Sitting on the engine deck and seemingly playing a game of chess, were Guiness and Zibar, with Ping watching with an unusual focus on the game. A steaming pot of some sort of hot drink sat beside the three of them, which Poppy attended to between puffs from the old pipe in his muzzle. Moving around the backside of the tank with Hispano, I got a better look at the bonfire that was going, and recoiled as the stench hit me.

Bodies, piled into a mass nearly as big as one of the T-8 tanks, burned brightly. Ponies wearing the Pentex combat outfits stuck out the most, as most of their gear seemed to be pretty damned fire resistant. But there was one leg that stuck out from the pile that was different. Charred, blackened and ashen, the cloven hoof that I’m pretty sure had belonged to Huck sat amongst the others.

I hadn’t really known him at all, but still I felt it wasn’t really fair. None of that fight had needed any of the Cordite ponies to die, or the Pentex ponies for that matter. But we couldn’t change that, and like Ping said, the wasteland should now be a better place without Pentex in it.

“Hey.” Casemate called out from around the fire to me. Her burning glare was more intense than the roaring flames as she leaned just into view. “Come here. We need to talk.”

“And here she goes again…” Hispano sighed before giving me a firm pat that honestly I couldn’t feel due to the fact that my skin was still numb from the cold. “I’m going to go get Buck and tell him you’re up, alright?” I nodded to her and watched a warm, soft smile part her beak. “Just try not to get hurt in the meantime, Dum Dum?”

With a flutter of her wings, she took flight. Returning my gaze to the fire, I found that Casemate’s steeled glare was still locked on me. Right, I really hoped that Hispano was wrong, and that this really was just to tell me that she would give the Chief her approval for our deal rather than rant at me. Picking up my sore hooves, I walked around the fire, wincing as my hooves squished and slopped through the near freezing mud. As she came into view however, I stopped mid step as I found two heavily bandaged stumps sitting where her rear legs used to be.

“Wait, your legs are still missing…” I spat out before thinking, and got the response that I deserved for it.

“Yeah, and how’s that new wing of yours doing?” Casemate grumbled as she crossed her forehooves and shifted her glare to the fire. “I know, I shouldn’t be angry that the doc didn’t bring enough Hydra for the both of us. I know how expensive that shit is, seeing as our Stalliongrad-built tanks have an insatiable hunger for loader forelegs…” She gave out a shudder before blinking and pulling her eyes from the fire. “But... you saved me. You saved all of us, really.”

“I… didn’t save everyone.” I muttered and sat down next to her with a sigh. She moved to speak, but before she could, I cut her off. “I know that I couldn’t have. It’s just… a shame that Huck and the others had to die.”

“Yeah, but… Dash Fantastic and I made it through, along with plenty of others that Pentex will never hurt again.” She unfolded her crossed forehooves, pointing off around the other side of the fire. I leaned over, getting a glance of a little bright yellow filly laughing and giggling with a pink stallion with a blue and white striped mane. The stallion was missing his right forehoof, but from the look of it, it wasn’t a new injury. “Those of us at Cordite may call ourselves a family, but… those with actual family should always get to come home. We mourn those who can’t, but… that’s just part of the job. For me, Huck, and the rest of us who don’t have a family, we all know what we signed up for.”

“Indeed we do!” Poppy laughed as he lowered himself down from the El Alemane, carefully holding onto a steaming cup of tea in his rotten fetlock. “You know, there was an old chap I knew in our first formation, shortly after Cordite had formed, mind you. A charming young stallion with a stomach bigger than his eyes.” He chuckled as he slowly walked through the mud, careful not to spill a single drop of his tea. “You see, he’d once thought it was a good idea to eat one of the old emergency rations for a snack.”

“Oh, I remember this story.” Casemate laughed and used her forehooves to brace and lean herself back a bit. “Didn’t he throw up all over the Chief’s boots?”

“Of course, and how could you ever forget the smell of it?” Poppy chuckled as he carefully came to sit down right next to Casemate. Slowly, he offered her the steaming hot cup of tea, which even from here smelled wonderfully like fresh flowers. “Do you remember what the Chief told him, and what she has repeated to all new cadets since?”

“Everything’s got an expiration date.” Casemate nodded as she carefully took the tea from him. She paused, almost staring through it as she held it in her hooves. “Including you, me, and everyone we know.”

“That doesn’t mean we can’t try to stave that off as long as possible!” Buck spoke up as he stomped his way through the mud. Hispano sat curled in his arms, and I was instantly jealous of how warm she must feel right now.

“Right, and it doesn’t mean that the cost of the battle wasn’t worth the reward.” Casemate offered before taking a sip from her hot drink. “Countless lives have been saved today. And with Pentex out of the way, the entirety of the Misery range is nearly free of threats. With the noted exception of the skyraiders, of course. But as you’ve implied, that specific problem is about to be solved as well.”

“And a new era of peace may well dawn upon the north.” Ping now spoke up as he easily dropped right off of the top of the El Alemane into the mud. The splash sent up a wave of steam as it doused some of the roaring bonfire, but his bright smile beamed through it.

“It doesn’t replace those who were lost,” Poppy turned to look at the bonfire as Ping trotted around to his side, and offered almost a reverent bow of respect to it. “however, the promise that our deaths may one day bring peace back to Equestria was how a lot of us older ghouls used to get through the day to day of the war. Because how else would peace once again grace us, if not through the sacrifices of those who wanted it the most?”

“And what book of terrible wartime poetry did you steal that from, Poppy?” Casemate snorted and rolled her eyes. Even as she did, a wide smile pulled across her muzzle that made it incredibly difficult to hide behind her cup of tea.

“My word, the nerve, Miss Casemate!” Poppy scoffed and put his hoof pretentiously against his chest. “Why I’d never…” He eyed down out her with a sly smirk crawling out from around his impeccably groomed mustache. “It’s unbecoming of an officer to slander her subordinates, especially when her accusations haven’t got a leg to stand on!”

“Hey, that’s commander Casemate, and I’ve still got two of ‘em!” Casemate laughed and flailed her forehoof at him sharply. “Two’s more than enough to kick your moldy old flank back into line, buster!”

The two of them glared at each other for a moment before bursting into roaring laughter. I couldn’t help but find myself joining in, even if laughing meant that my back and legs sent up tingles of pain. But how could I not feel good? Yeah, that fight sucked, and we lost ponies, but... we’d won. And like they said, the wasteland would be better off for it, so I’d say we’d all earned the right to laugh a little.

“Alright.” Casemate did her best to calm herself from her laughter, waving a forehoof in the air above her. “I think we’ve all collected ourselves enough, and it’s time to head back to base before it gets dark. Those whose tanks are too damaged to move, settle in. We’ll have the engineers here at first light tomorrow. Until then, secure this site, and do your best to prepare it for the salvage teams.”

“Hey, guys!” Happy’s exuberant voice wasn’t something I’d expected, but for once was glad to hear as he trotted around the side of the El Alemane. You know, most days I’m probably a bit too hard on the guy, seeing how much he’s actually stepped up and helped recently. “Cordite HQ says that we did a good job here, and that there’s a party tonight in our honor! Free drinks on them!”

Then again, there’s plenty of good reasons why I’ve been hard on him. Though, like the rest of us of course, he’d earned a bit of happiness, so I could let it go. This time.

“So then, Miss Bombay,” Poppy cleared his throat as he approached me. “I do suppose that this is farewell.”

“Geeze, you make it sound so final, Poppy.” Casemate rolled her eyes at the old ghoul again.

“Well, it’s just that my crew will be here for the night, and I assume that Mrs. Night and company will simply be moving on.” Turning a sideways glance on Casemate, Poppy waited until she shrugged and nodded before turning his mustached muzzle back toward me. “It’s been quite a ride to share since we first caught a glimpse of your convoy in Filly Crossing. You don’t suppose you’ll ever be back up in this part of the north, do you? Things certainly have been a lot less duller in our travels with you lot up here sharing the roads with us!”

“Not if we can avoid it.” I smiled and glanced over to Happy, who nodded his own confirmation to me. “Like with you and Pentex, we’ve got our own demon to chase down. So yeah, I guess this pretty much is goodbye.” Reaching my hoof out to the old ghoul, he took it firmly and shook it hard. I couldn’t feel it at all with the numbness in my skin, but I did feel the warmth from the look of respect he wore. “But, you take care of yourself and your crew, Poppy.”

“Likewise to you and your own, Miss. Bombay.” The old ghoul smiled before turning his attention one by one to Buck, Hispano, Ping, and then Happy. “Though, I suppose with what you’ve managed to pull off so far, you don’t need an old ghoul to wish you luck. Doubly so seeing as the moment you cross the mountains, you’ll be out of the cursed Misery Range and all the rubbish luck it brings.”

“Hey, I’ll take all the help I can get.” I laughed, pausing as he pulled his hoof away and brought it up to his beret in a stiff Salute. I did my best to mirror it, but again, probably managed to make myself look like a fool. Old Poppy let off a wheezing laugh before turning and trotting back off around the body bonfire. “Alright everypony, let’s help pack up and get back on the road.”

“One… last thing.” Casemate reached out and grabbed my attention, “I thought your name was Night. Why does Poppy call you Bombay?”

I opened my muzzle to speak, but Hispano dropping out of the air next to me forced me to pause. Which of course, gave her the perfect opportunity to speak up first.

“Night has an odd propensity to gather nicknames.” Hispano smirked as she eyed me with a smile across her beak. “Feel like tacking yet another one onto the growing list?”

“I’m sure there’s an interesting story behind that, but I think I’ll pass. For now, I just want to get home.” Casemate chuckled before pushing herself back a bit from the fire. Turning and looking up at Buck as he towered over her, she reached out to him without a single hint of the same nervousness she’d held with him before. “Alright, big guy, let’s go.”

The sun had just set as we got back to Cordite, and the sounds of celebration and old world tunes leaked out of the visitor’s center. The others had all gone inside to get in on the party before we headed back to the Arcturus, but I didn’t feel like celebrating. No, I was contented to sit and feel the visitor center’s lawn under my hooves, and stare up at the clouds as they passed across the star filled night sky.

The thoughts of moving on had stuck with me at the bonfire earlier. The idea that pretty soon here we’d be headed south again hadn’t really sunk in until now I guess. Which was odd. A few months ago, I’d never even dreamed of ever seeing anything outside of Four Peaks ever again. Now? I was so far down this road that it’s hard to even know where I was anymore.

But there was something that bothered me about moving on, a nagging feeling like the moment we crossed out of the Misery Range, it was like I was leaving the north behind forever. Even though I knew that it was superstition, and that my own damned luck was at fault for everything that happened, this range wasn’t somewhere I wanted to live my life. This wasn’t my home, no matter how familiar it felt to me now, nor how much moving on worried me.

No, our future lay ahead somewhere far to the south. We were still a long way from Brahman Beach, hell, I’d think we were still a long way from Solomon. But as daunting of a fact as that was, it was nearing the time to face it head on regardless of if I was ready or not.

“Ah, there you are.” The gravelly old voice of the Chief spoke up as she pushed around the corner of the visitor center. The soft glow of the cigar in her muzzle was pretty much the only way I could see any of her features in the darkness that covered the Cordite base. “Not much for parties, are ya’?”

“Just… thinking. Planning.” I offered to her as she slowed to a walk and sat down on the lawn next to me.

“Yeah, never really been much of a party mare myself.” She groaned before she took a long drag off her cigar. Pausing to hold in the smoke, she pulled it from her muzzle with her fetlock and offered it to me. I simply shook my head and she shrugged, exhaling the large cloud into the cold air above us. “Not much of a story mare either, truth be told. The only stories I tell around here, most folk know that I saw it happen with my own two eyes. Which is why with the stories I’d heard about you and your crew, I was hesitant to believe them.”

“And now?” I smirked at that and turned my eyes back to the starry skies.

“Some of them still seem a bit... improbable.” She shrugged and looked up to the skies with me. “But after today, I’m more inclined to believe them. I got word fifteen minutes ago that the last of your raw materials arrived. And while I’m not going to question how you could manage it so quickly, we’ll hold up our end of the bargains, as promised. I’ll get on making the necessary calls tomorrow. But, know that Cordite still owes you a great deal for the help you provided in eradicating Pentex.”

“Yeah, well, if what Ping said about them was true, then I’m just glad they’re gone from the wasteland altogether.” I sighed and glanced down at her just in time to catch her curious gaze. “So, with them wiped out, what’s next for Cordite?”

“Nothing different.” She snorted before puffing on her cigar again. “Outside of our arrangement, it’ll be business as usual. But…” The Chief paused as she reached her hoof up, taking the now stubby cigar from her muzzle and tossing it off into the grass. “I’ll be honest, I hadn’t thought we’d be so successful against Pentex. And really, it’s only thanks to you and your crew that we were. That said, we’ll probably have a bit of an easier time watching over the roads, so I’m going to make you an offer. Anytime you need help, and you see a Cordite tank, just ask and they’re yours for as long as you need them.”

“That’s kind of you to offer, but...” I began, but found a rotten hoof clamp over my muzzle.

“Let me give you a hint, you don’t refuse a gift from a tanker. Some of our tanks have naval guns on them, and others? Artillery. Which means, you aren’t necessarily out of range once over the horizon.” She let out a gravelly laugh as she let go of my mouth. “Seriously though, if you at all need one of my crews, even just as a favor for somepony else, just ask.”

“Thanks, Chief.” I nodded to her and watched as she seemed contented with my answer. Both of our gazes were torn from each other as the door to the Visitor center slammed open, and a very drunk looking Guiness stumbled out.

“Well, I may not like parties, but I have a feeling I’m going to have to step in early and start cutting a few ponies off. I still want to have a somewhat functional staff by sunup.” The Chief sighed as she pushed herself back onto her hooves. Pausing, she reached out and gave me a pat on the shoulder. “You take care on your trip. Find that Saddle Arabian bastard from the stories and give him hell, alright?”

“Oi! Lassh!” Guinness called out as the Chief turned and trotted back toward the door. He stiffened up, almost tripping as he threw up a quick salute as she passed by him. But the moment she was gone, he resumed a wobbly course right toward me. Getting to my hooves, I turned and started to head towards the section of the lawn where the Remora was still parked. “Oi, w-wait up!” Goddesses, I did not need this right now…

Despite my head start and clear headed steps, he picked up his own pace and easily managed to nearly swerve right into me at a trot.

“What do you want, Guinness?” I did my best to sound polite, but I could already feel that pit in my gut forming to tell me that this was somehow going to end badly.

“Ah… ah’m shorry.” He slurred his words, letting out a foul smelling belch that reeked of old scotch. “Fer tryin’ ta kill yah.” He gave a short laugh that to me, punctuated just how far gone he already was. “Shince you stopped us, Z-Zibar an ah, we have shtability in our livesh.”

“That’s… great. You were given a second chance, to do better.” Really, I didn’t mean to sound rude, but every moment we talked, I could feel that pit in my chest growing, and I did not want to screw anything up when today was so close to just being over. “Just don’t waste it. Help others instead of hurting them for once.” Turning away from him, his hoof shot out and grabbed around my neck, stopping me dead. Okay, here we go.

“Ah do want ta help yah, lass.” He groaned and giggled. I cringed as he pulled me tightly up against him, and dispite my struggles, I couldn’t budge his brutish hooves from around me. “Yah see, Ah’ve got a shecret ‘a Solomon’s!”

I froze at that.

“A… secret?” I asked, perking my ear and a half as I continued to struggle against his hoofhold, but to no avail. “What is it?”

He gave another giggle that devolved into a long, stretching yawn. Stumbling backward, he lost his balance, and was forced to choose between holding onto me or keeping upright. Thankfully, he made the right choice and let me go, but wasn’t coordinated enough to keep from collapsing onto the grass with a filly-like giggle.

“Sholomon has a weaknessh…” He paused as his stomach gave out a loud gurgle that worked its way up his throat and out as yet another loud belch. “Shomething he… he cares for more than… more than...” Again, Guiness yawned, but this time rolled onto his side and almost curled up like he was trying to…

“No no! Don’t you dare pass out on me!” I snapped at him sharply. But he didn’t even flinch as I’d raised my voice, and instead, the fucker closed his eyes and smiled! “Then what? Than what!?” I gave the brick of an earth pony a swift kick with my forehoof, which got him to snort and crack open his eyes, if for just a moment. “What does he care for!?”

“More than… anything else he brought…” He half-muttered half-mumbled out his answer before dragging his forehooves up under his head. “Just… gonna rest mah eyes a…” His words dropped off the moment his eyes shut again, and a light snoring came from him.

“No, what is it!?” I had to find out! Lurching forward, I all but climbed up on top of him and shook him as hard as I could. Only a louder snoring met my ears, and forced my eye to twitch as my rage boiled just below my skin. “What the fuck is it!?” No, I was this close to having something to use against him!

The worst thing about all this? Was the fact that the pit in my stomach was only getting worse. Fucking fantastic...

“I am glad to see that you two have reconciled your differences.” Ping’s confident voice came from the direction of the Visitor Center, and I looked up to see his ever beaming smile almost lighting up the darkness. A soft red glow was faintly visible from behind his eyes for a moment, but faded as he walked closer. “However, it is time to leave, Night. The others will be out shortly, and I have informed the Arcturas of our impending arrival.”

“Celestia, damn it.” I growled and shoved myself back from Guinness. “I was this close to finding out, Ping.” The curious expression that crossed Ping’s face was understandable, but also infuriating given the fact we really did need to head out. “He was trying to tell me that Solomon has a weakness, something he cares about more than anything else.” With a groan, I sat down in the grass hard and crossed my forehooves. “I was hoping we could use it for leverage, but now…” I looked down at the sleeping jerk and sneered. Couldn’t have given me just one more minute of coherent thought.

“Solomon’s power in the north has come from the estimated value of the Saddle Arabian kingdom’s many possessions.” Ping’s curiousness flipped into a dull and disappointed frown. “While one could categorize them based on approximate value, there is still a significant margin of error due to all of the possessions we do not know about.” He curled his forehoof under his chin and furrowed his brow at the ground. “That is also not accounting for the variability of any ‘sentimental attachment’ he may have to any one specific possession.”

“We were just so close.” I growled and kicked at the grass. It didn’t help to stem my anger, but a small clump of it was torn up that rolled across to hit Guiness in the barrel. “Whatever, we’ll just have to take Solomon down the hard way.”

“Yes, well, Mrs. Hispano still has Mrs. Delilah’s book, does she not?” Ping offered, flashing up a different kind of smile to me this time. It wasn’t his normal exuberant one, but it wasn’t his forced nervous grin either. No, this one felt different, filled with what I could best approximate, was hope. “With it, there is still a chance…”

Ping went stiff, and his eyes flashed away. Blue scrolling code rolled down them at an alarming rate, faster than I’d seen it the last time it happened. Even more alarming, was the fact that after a few moments, the code turned completely red.

“Oh no…” Ping blinked a few times, stumbling backwards as the red code was replaced once more with his normal eyes. His whole body flashed, somehow looking more pale than I’d ever seen from him, and the look of horror across his muzzle… that chilled me to the core. “It has happened. We must warn them!”

“What, what’s happened?” The pit in my stomach took a deep dive, tearing through me and locking my legs to the lush turf even though I wanted nothing more than to just take a single step towards the horrified looking Ping. The wind picked up, bringing with it a soft wailing sound through the air.

“There was… a catastrophic breach of a defensive line, the perimeter failsafe system…” He shook his head and locked his terrified eyes on me. “You need to cover your ears and board the Remora! I shall retrieve the others!”

“Ping!” I called out as he spun around and darted to the Visitor’s center. He didn’t even slow down as he slammed the front doors straight off of their hinges. Before I could even process anything, a crackle came from many of the speakers around the Cordite base.

With little warning, the old air raid sirens for the base went off. The piercing wail that filled the air forced me to bring my hooves to my head, and I finally felt my gut free my body just enough that my body took over and brought me across the lawn to the Remora.

What was he talking about? A breach, where? At the Factory? Had the Steel Rangers located the base, or...

I clambered into the open hold of the Remora as the others came rushing out of the Visitor’s Center, along with half the damn Cordite staff. They all looked just as confused as I was, with the unique exception for the terrified look across Buck’s face that hit me harder than even Ping’s had. But all of that was shoved to the back of my mind as the Remora jumped up and hovered just off the lawn as the others worked to Climb in. With all of us onboard, the doors didn’t even have room to shut as we pulled away from the ground.

The higher we rose, thankfully, the more the sirens under us drained off. They were still loud enough that they kept any of us from being able to talk to each other. Still, my eye was locked up on Buck’s as he swung it down. I tried to offer him a forced smile, but he simply shook his head to me, and that killed any hope I had that this was some sort of problem we’d even have a chance to solve.

The further the Remora skimmed us away from the base, the quieter the sirens fell behind us, but the louder the ones in the distance got. The slight glow that came from the center of Cantercross must have been where they were coming from, but if they also had some sort of warning going on, then it had to be…

It hit me all at once. It wasn’t something that had happened at the Factory.

A defensive line had fallen for the Skyraiders.

The Remora twisted as it approached the obscured and well clouded form of the Arcturas, slowing itself down as it lined us up to drop us off at the top hatch. As we hung there for a moment, I noticed in the distance that another glow had appeared on the horizon, almost like the glow that Cantercross’s still powered lights gave off. However, this glow grew brighter, and a prismatic orb flashed up over the distant mountain tops.

All of us in the Remora held our breaths as one after another, glows lit up the far reaches of the north, expanding and rising into massive prismatic fireballs. No, we’d worked so hard, done everything we could! We… we couldn’t have been too late…

Buck’s metal paw moved quickly, covering my face just before a bright flash lit up the not so distant sky. The light drained off, and Buck moved his paw away just enough that I could see the glowing magical fireball rise up and completely beat out the bright lights of Cantercross.

The rainbow orb was both terrifying and awe inspiring, just in it’s sheer scale and eerie, silent beauty. Even having lived through the disaster at Four Peaks, I hadn’t seen the explosion. This… I couldn’t quite comprehend the immense scale of the blast, even given the distance we were from it. The fireball shifted, rolling up into a mushroom shape like all the old films and pictures of tests showed, a familiar sight that had always been in the backdrop of wartime and post-war life.

But this… this was different than just seeing it as something in school, or as part of a design for some wartime advertising or product. It was tangible to me now, like a living and breathing being that had just expelled two centuries of pent up rage. The feeling of being so insignificant compared to it, knowing I could do nothing but gaze at the sight of it... it was all that was firmly etched into my memory. I’d skipped right past being intimidated, and was already half a world past being afraid. Watching Violet and the Convoy die was similar, a nightmare to behold, but it had already been confined inside my own mind. This… this was a living nightmare, one that all of us in the Remora now shared.

From where the plume dimmed and rose into the night, I at least found a thread of solace. The megaspell looked like it had missed Cantercross, and had detonated somewhere out in the already blasted planes to the northeast. Still, while Cantercross may have been safe from the strike, my heart reminded me that with the amount of blasts we’d seen, I’m sure there were plenty of others who weren’t as lucky.

After some amount of moments had passed, the heavy krack of the megaspell going off shook the air. It was louder than I’d expected, but trailed off like that of a burst of thunder. And just like that, the sound was gone, not even echoing off of the southernmost mountains of the Misery range. A rush of wind swept through the trees and across the Arcturus, but seeing as we were a good distance from the blast, we’d escaped anything worse than a mild afternoon’s gust. And then that too had passed, leaving us all once more with only the sound of the evening breeze.

So that was it then. Once again, I’d failed.

“A pity.” Solomon’s voice whispered into my ears, “and here I thought you’d said you were ‘done’ with losing.”

Author's Note

As always, a huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for all his help in looking over these chapters!

And of course, thanks to Kkat for allowing us all to run around this wasteland with our own stories!

Chapter 74 - Chain Reactions

Skeptics are blessed with ignorance, while pessimists are cursed with knowledge.

“Thirteen ACM-66 detonations were observed in total.” Eliza’s cartoon mare frowned across every single screen. We’d all gathered in the command center of the Arcturus, but none of us had even uttered a word since the blasts had gone off. “All devices were mark three variable yield mod megaspells, and looked to have set for their maximum yield of one hundred and fifty kilotons…”

“Who fucking cares!” Tofu snorted and kicked at one of the consoles. “The bastards were going down anyway, why the fuck did they have to hit everypony? Why not fucking take down just the Kingdom with them!”

“They have.” Ping’s stark and quick answer caught Tofu off guard, making her gasp. “Six of the devices exclusively struck Puritan targets. Due to the primitive nature of the construction techniques and materials they used, their cities…” He paused and hung his head. “Assuming all six devices reached their destination without deviation, casualties there are expected to be near one hundred percent.”

“And... w-what about the other targets?” Frescas did her best to present a strong front as she stepped up to a nearby screen to glare at Eliza. I couldn’t blame her for being shaken up by all this, hell, I still couldn’t really believe it actually happened.

“Other targets were observed as Cantercross, Mare’s Lake, White Horse, Fort Liberty, Yakisnk, and Carmacks. Cantercross and Mare’s Lake both suffered near misses, and only took minor damage from the outer range of the blast pressure zones. The others however, appear to have been destroyed, though we can’t directly confirm any accurate information at this moment.” Eliza fell silent, leaving us all hanging on her. So that was it? Cantercross and Mare’s Lake were mostly fine, but everywhere else hit was more than probably just… gone?

“That’s only twelve targets.” Pastel snorted and slammed his talon against the panel next to Frescas, making us all jump. “What the fuck was the last target!?”

“Galloway.” Double Delta growled and seethed. “The last target was fucking Galloway field. I programmed it into the launch system myself, but I never… it was always supposed to be a last resort.”

“No…” Tofu whimpered and slumped down onto the floor.

“This is all your fault!” Frescas snapped.

In a flash she’d tackled Delta back against one of the consoles and slammed his head against one of the monitors. Sparks and crackles came from the electronics as the rest of us dove to pry her off of him. She kicked and screamed in a ball of rage, but between Happy, Ping, and I, she was finally pulled off of the poor guy.

Blood dripped down the broken terminal screens, and Delta slumped to the floor in an unconscious heap. He gurgled and twitched on the floor in shallow and bloody breaths as Buck rushed to help him. With a single scoop of his metal paw, he picked the bleeding stallion up and whisked him out of the room.

“I get that you are angry!” Ping called out as Frescas roared and struggled against his grip. Happy and I were rewarded for our efforts of trying to help with a buck in the gut and a hoof across the muzzle respectively. However much that hurt though, I simply winced from the strike and watched as she couldn’t hope to escape Ping’s mechanical hold. “However, we do not yet have all the information!”

“Like what!?” She screamed out, “How many of us are dead!? You fucking machines wanted your revenge on us, and now you’ve fucking got it! Are you happy now!?”

“Frescas.” Pastel shouted as he walked over and gave her a hard punch right across the muzzle. “That’s enough.”

“Fuck you, Pastel.” She spat a wad of blood at him from her muzzle and glared at him. “You had just as much to fucking gain as this bucket of bolts, so don’t pretend you don’t at least feel an ounce of joy at the news.”

“What the fuck are you talking about, Frescas?” Pastel grumbled. With a swift torque, he brought his talon up and struck her across the muzzle again with a strong backtalon. “You think I enjoy the thought that everyone I’ve come to know there is fucking dead!? Everyone who took me in, who taught me what family meant!? What the hell has gotten into you!?”

“We both know that for as accepting as he was, my father would never accept my relationship with a non-pony.” Again, she spat blood, but at least had the courtesy to hang her head and dribble it onto the floor. “But with him gone, now you don’t have to fucking worry about anything, do you?”

“Just stop it!” Tofu screamed with tears streaming down her cheeks. “They’re not fucking dead, okay!? They got everyone into the bunker, alright? They had to...”

“The Factory got the message out as soon as the Skyraiders fell.” Eliza offered softly. “Every early warning system we could remotely access, we used, including the ones at Galloway. Ponies all across the north were warned, they had time to seek shelter.”

“Yes, however, the magical interference the blasts have created have left the Factory temporarily blind.” Ping added, looking over to me. “For now, we must continue under the assumption that all other targets have been struck. We will give you updates as soon as we have them, but we must maintain a level headed approach as we discover the extent of the damage.” Letting go, Frescas yanked herself out of his grasp and let out a low growl.

“They’d all better fucking still be alive.” Storming off towards the door, she paused to lean against the bulkhead and shoot us all a sideways glare. “If not, then my brother will die for what he’s done, and none of you will stand in my way. Got that?”

As her furious hoofsteps drained away out of earshot, she left the rest of us in a stark silence. Even Tofu’s quiet sobs had died off, leaving her with a thousand yard stare through the deck of the Arcturus. I don’t really think any of us could come up with an objection to Frescas’ anger. This shouldn’t have happened.

I was knocked out of my thoughts as Ping lightly put his hoof down on my shoulder.

“While this has certainly been… distressing, we must keep moving.” He offered to me with an oddly absent expression. Even his eyes seemed vacant, and the soft red glow from the back of them were more visible than normal. But even so, he was right. Standing around here wasn’t doing anything to help anypony.

“You’re right.” I nodded and looked over to Eliza’s sad cartoon mare. “Eliza, set a course for Cantercross. We need to go visit the Queen of the Road Crew. Then… then we need to go see if there’s anypony left at Galloway.”

It had been a relatively quick half hour trip toward the outskirts of Cantercross.

The ship had been quiet the whole journey, with pretty much everyone on board keeping to separate rooms as they worked on one thing or another. Keeping my head down and simply working on something was unfortunately something I couldn’t so much do, though it didn’t mean I hadn’t tried.

Ping’s metallic hoof knocked on the bulkhead to the captain’s room. I turned myself from my seat on the floor and waved him in. I guess we’d arrived already.

“We are on the outskirts of Cantercross.” His beaming smile was good to see across his muzzle again, but it dimmed as he approached. Along with me, he canted his head as he stared at the twisted and broken pieces of my flight harness that I’d laid out on the floor. “You must already know that Sierra can repair your harness once we return to the factory. So what is the purpose of laying it out on the floor?”

“I had wondered how easy it would be to fix by myself. I mean, we’re not always going to have Sierra around to fix it, and they used it in the war, so they had to have some way to easily fix it. It’s just a bunch of metal rigging, so I thought, hey, how hard could it be?” I sighed, reaching my forehoof out to nudge the bit of the bent wing strut that was still attached to the main frame. I forced out a short lived laugh that at least got Ping to turn up the corners of his muzzle again, if only a little. “Turns out, I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing, or where to start.”

I paused as my own words sunk in. While I could say that yes, I had managed to get some things done without Delilah, it still didn’t mean I was the right pony for this. Without the help of Happy, without Ping, or Buck, or Hispano, what could I really hope to achieve? I know I’m just supposed to trust my instincts and try to be a good pony, but… it’s starting to feel like I’m reaching the limits of the stress that leadership brings with it.

“Smarter ponies than most designed these suits to be more efficient and cost effective than anything previously put into service. The elegance of their design is in the lessons learned from dozens of failures made by the brightest minds ponykind had to offer.” Ping nodded and pointed to the still intact Ministry of Awesome symbol that sat embossed along the central strut. “I am fairly certain that the ponies who actually used them in combat however, had no appreciation or comprehension at all of the genius that went into the design.”

“So, you’re saying I lack the intelligence to put it back together. Thanks.” I grumbled and again chuffed my hoof at the pile of junk.

“No no, far from that.” Ping’s own laugh gave me pause as he wrapped his hoof around my side and squished me against himself. “I am saying that it’s not your job to know how everything works. No, you can have all the knowledge in the world, and design the most efficient and beautiful machine anyone has ever laid eyes on…” He paused as his expression somewhat sank. “But if it cannot be used by anyone to make the world a better place? Well, then you do not have anything more useful in front of you than any rock you could find in the dirt.”

Bringing his other hoof up, the disguise around it flickered and faded, leaving the bare mechanical hoof to sit exposed under the dim overhead lighting.

“But, you are not alone in pondering if you are using your existence in a beneficial way.” Ping snorted before putting his hoof back down. The moment it touched the floor, the illusion of his zebra leg flickered and reformed around it again. “Sometimes I wonder if I have been more of a burden on the Architect and the Factory, than an asset. Spending so much time captured by the Rangers, only to come back and have myself captured again in Cantercross. More often than not, things have not gone according to plan for me.”

I laughed at that, pulling a confused and nearly offended look across Ping’s muzzle.

“Sorry, I just… you know how my plans always seem to end. But even so, you’ve already done so much for us, Ping. You are far from useless.” I offered to him as my muzzle cracked into a smirk. “And while I can’t speak for the Architect, I’m sure he doesn’t see you as a useful asset.”

I watched as that hit Ping the wrong way, and his ears drooped. Good choice of words, as always, Night!

“No, I mean that he’s basically your father, Ping. And while I’m probably not the best example of this, from how I understand it, parent’s don’t see their kids as assets. It’s…” I scrunched up my muzzle as I realized that the point I was trying to convey wasn’t so easily put into words. “Assets are… well, they’re like, things, you know? And parents never see their kids as things, it’s more…”

I was failing hard at trying to get my point across. Seriously, what kind of fucking leader was I if I couldn’t even give a pep talk! Ugh, why can’t there just be a word for this!?

“So you are saying he doesn’t see me as just another machine? He sees me… as family to him?” Ping’s slow words were accompanied by his own understanding of things, as well as the bright beaming smile pulling across his muzzle again. “Do you think that means he loves me as a son?”

“Well, it’s… more complicated with you and him.” I offered as just the staggering bluntness of such a question caught me way off guard. “To be honest, you’d probably have to ask him about it.”

“Ah, I… I think I understand a bit better what it means to be family now.” Nodding, he looked to me for approval.

I nodded to him softly as my own thoughts questioned what I knew about those I loved. Seriously, why was a concept like family so hard for me to articulate? Maybe it’s because on this trip, my own definition of family had shifted so much. Up above the clouds, it was always so structured, so simple. But down here, family just isn’t defined like that. It’s more complicated and messy, while at the same time, so completely easy to just find yourself right in the middle of one without caring how it worked.

Looking back down at the sprawling mess of flight suit on the floor, Ping’s words hit me again. Maybe I couldn’t define family because I didn’t need to understand how it worked at all. My job was just to love Buck and Hispano back, and do that to the best of my ability. Goddesses, maybe I had been going about this all wrong in the first place.

“Thank you, Ping.” I offered to him, pulling yet another perplexed look across his muzzle.

“I should be the one thanking you, Night.” He squeezed his hoof around me tightly, making me squeak.

Looking over at his smiling muzzle, I froze as the barrel of Solomon’s rifle pressed against the side of Ping’s head. Solomon’s pristine muzzle parted into his own smile as his grip tightened around the heavy gun. And with a twitch of his hoof, the rifle barked, and Ping’s head was blasted into pieces.

I screamed and scrambled backwards across the small captain’s cabin.

“Well well, you think you have it all figured out.” Solomon laughed as my hooves scrambled to get a grip on the various cabinets that lined the cabin. His voice… it wasn’t coming from my head this time. No, he was here. “Even a fool knows that if you are contented, you let your guard down!”

I flung the cabin’s cabinet doors open so hard that I’m sure they almost flew right off their hinges. Fear pumped through my veins as I looked for something, anything to fight off the madstallion with. I scooped stacks of old papers out of the small storage spaces, flailing my hooves around until I could find something solid to wrap my hoof around. Although I couldn’t see it, it felt almost like a knife.

“Be careful, Night, your desperation is showing.” Solomon laughed as I felt the barrel of his gun press down against the back of my head.

No no no… somepony had to hear the shot, they… they’d save me!

“Again, you expect to be saved.” Solomon’s tone lowered, and his words turned colder than arctic air. “Do you not have the ability to save yourself? Why do you hesitate?” I whimpered and pressed myself forward against the wall as his hoof came down softly on my shoulder. “You have your salvation in your hoof. One thrust and you could end me, here and now.”

My mind raced. Could I really do it, or would I freeze up and let this opportunity pass me by? Could I really let Solomon live knowing what he’s done to me? How he killed my friends, my family!? Could I ever really be every bit as soft and weak as he thinks, or was I willing to show him just how wrong he was?

No, I… I could do this! I needed to do this. Solomon must die.

“Then do it.” Solomon whispered into my ear, or from inside my ear. At this point, I couldn’t tell, and I didn’t have the time to figure that out. “Do it, or have I hit the nail on the head hard enough that you’ll NEVER have the courage to STRIKE ME DOWN.”

I let out a guttural scream as I tightened my grip around the knife and came around hard. With all the force I could muster, with every ounce of hate I had for the despicable prince, I thrust. I watched Solomon’s smirking form evaporate as I spun and drove the brass letter opener right against the side of Ping’s head.

The old letter opener gave a squeal as it bent and dragged along Ping’s metallic skin. My swing had done little to no damage to him at all, and I felt his firm hoof press effortlessly to hold me back against the wall.

“Night, you must understand, what you are seeing is not real.” His beaming smile was again now absent, but his eyes felt softer than before. And as I blinked and let my racing heart slow, they only seemed to fill with more and more concern. “Night, please, calm yourself. Relax.”

“I… I’m so sorry, Ping…” I gasped, letting the bent letter opener fall from my hoof. “I didn’t mean…”

“It is fine, Night. But we must get you to Buck.” Ping nodded and slowly pulled his hoof from me, unpinning me from the wall. “If the degradation is worsening, then it will be up to him how we deal with it, or if it’s severe enough to warrant keeping you under observation.”

“No that’s… not his call to make. I have to be the one down there to negotiate...” I tried to wave my hoof in disapproval, but found my hoof snatched and stopped by Ping as he shot a glare that accentuated the red glow behind his eyes.

“Enclave military doctrine article ten, subsection four states; positional authority is granted to any medical officer, enlisted or otherwise assigned to, or presently holding, any shipboard infirmary position, to relieve of duty any soldier, officer, or captain, if their performance or capacity to fulfill their position is compromised to the point that they are found to be unfit for continued service, be it temporarily, or permanently. Their position may be restored following a medical hearing and subsequent review of service records once returned from active deployment.”

“Don’t quote me that shit.” I deadpanned at Ping. Seriously, that was one piece of the military I wouldn’t ever forget. Not because my mom was ever pulled from duty for it, but because my dad always tried to convince her to stay home by using it. “One, we’re not even in the Enclave. Two, fine, I’ll follow whatever advice Buck gives, but not because he’s the doctor on board.”

Needless to say, out of the half dozen times I remember Dad trying, I don’t think it once ever kept Mom from having to leave…

“Well, I’m certainly glad you’re made of metal.” Buck muttered under his breath as he used a flashlight hidden inside one of his paw’s digits and shined it right into my eye. “It is… distressing to know that Night can become... violent during these hallucinations. If somepony else had been with him at the time, they could have been seriously injured.”

“I’m right here, ya know.” I grumbled as I blinked away the bright afterimage of the light.

“Yeah, you should have seen him against those razor cats!” Hispano squawked excitedly. “It was like he was possessed or something! Oh you should’ve seen it, he was just a little ball of pure rage!”

“I’d thought you died.” I shot a sideways glare that stole Hispano’s gleeful smirk. “This isn’t awesome or fun for me.”

“Nor is it for any of us.” Buck spoke as he stood up and turned to Ping. “Look, I know that the Factory thinks we should bring him back, but from what I can tell, this episode has passed, and his vitals have returned to normal.”

“The issue is not that this episode has passed, it is that they are unpredictable.” Ping stated flatly as he craned his neck up to follow Buck as he towered over the mechanical zebra. “Should he start to hallucinate during diplomatic matters with the Road Crew, then the situation may spiral out of control before action could be taken to stop it.” Letting out a sigh, he shook his head. “It is my opinion that Night should stay on board the Arcturus.”

“That’s a bad idea.” Happy’s voice drifted in from just outside the infirmary’s doorway. “If Night stays here, you might as well cancel the whole deal.” Peeking around the corner, Happy’s scarred muzzle and flat expression drifted between everyone in the room but me. “Look, I ain’t a Doc, but what I know is how Ma’ used ta do business.”

“Yeah, but you’re hardly an expert...” Hispano’s soft mumble died as Happy narrowed his glare on her.

“You know, I had an Uncle Jack once. Not an actual uncle, but close enough ta basically be family.” Happy spun himself around the bulkhead and stepped into the small room. “Ma’ came down with one hell of a fever on the eve of negotiations with a rival settlement to the south. Now, she sent Jack in her place because she was afraid dat in the mornin’, she might not even wake up at all.” Happy looked down at the floor and chuffed at it, shifting uneasily as a smirk pulled across his muzzle. “Again, I had an Uncle Jack. All we got back were his ears, and the demand that if Ma’ didn’t show the next day, they were gonna try ta take Brahman Beach by force.”

“Yes, but this is hardly…” Buck began but was cut off as Happy slammed his hoof down on the floor.

“Look, I ain’t useless, I know what I’m talkin’ about.” He snapped at Buck, stepping up and prodding Buck’s fuzzy chest. “And I’m tellin’ ya’ that if Night doesn’t go, you’ve just killed any goodwill we’ve built.”

“He’s right, ya’ know.” Hispano begrudgingly nodded to Happy. “Dad’s told me plenty of stories about some unsavory folks who feel insulted if they don’t talk to the pony in charge.”

“And with everything that’s happened, the Road Crew are probably already paranoid that someone's gonna challenge their authority in Cantercross.” Happy sat down hard and stiffly pointed to me. “So while we can sit here and debate this shit all day, I’m tellin’ ya’, they need to see an ally seated across from them at the negotiating table.”

Buck deadpanned. Not at anypony in particular, but just blankly at the wall. I couldn’t imagine what was going through his head as he took a deep breath and closed his eye. After a moment however, he nodded with a sigh.

“It is in my medical opinion that Night is not in good enough health to go.” Turning, he brought the soft and caring look I so loved to see across his face down to me. With a ginger touch, he wrapped his paw around my forehoof. “But... I’m leaving this decision up to Night. I’ll respect any decision you make.”

“I need to go.” Reaching over, I cupped my other forehoof over his metal paw and tried to offer him a soft smile. “This is too important for the north to leave to chance. I’m sorry, Buck.”

“I understand.” He nodded to me and pulled his paw away. With a shrug, he shifted his cloak around him and brought his paws up to the hood, swiftly pulling it up over his head. “Then let’s get going.”

“You will let him go, despite the risks?” Ping asked as his expression shifted to a starkly neutral one.

“The captain says he’s good to go. While as a doctor, Night’s health falls under my purview, as captain, the good of this crew and the North as a whole falls under his.” Buck turned and offered a hooded sideways glance to Ping. “I’m going to stand by his decision and do the best I can to support him.” Reaching his heavy metal paw out, he gave Ping a firm pat on the back. “It’s what we should all do.”

Again, just him saying it flooded me with mixed emotions. I wasn’t just family to everypony here, I was their leader. And while I’ve trusted them with my life, I’ve been more scared to lose them. I know that Delilah made it clear that the worry for your crew is always there, but I wish I’d been able to comprehend at the time just how heavy that weight was.

“Alright, captain.” Ping sighed and turned his neutral expression on me. “While I cannot stop you from going, may I request that I stay behind?”

“What, why?” That… was an odd request to make. I don’t think it was because Buck had spurned his request to keep me here, but I couldn’t be sure given the fact that he obviously still holds a grudge against the Rangers for what they did to him.

“There is a certain sensitive matter that requires my looking into.” Ping slightly canted his head and looked over to Hispano, then to Happy and Buck. “As I had mentioned at the time, the Razor Cats used by Pentex were being controlled by a foreign signal.”

“Right, the one that shouldn’t have locked your access to their systems.” Hispano nodded and brought a talon up to her beak. “Did you have any idea of where it was broadcasting from? I’m sure that all your machine friends could find it in an instant.”

“Yes, but unfortunately it is not possible for the Factory to investigate the issue.” For the first time, I watched as Ping’s neutral expression darkened to something much colder. “From what I can gather, the signal originated from the Factory. It is in my opinion that we have a machine inside who is actively working against us. To what end, I cannot be certain.”

“How’s that even possible?” Happy scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Ain’t no way you’ve got some traitor. The Architect would’a found ‘em out like that.” He gave a clop of his hoof to punctuate his point before reaching up to wrap his hooves around his jacket’s collar and pull it tight around him. “I’m tellin’ ya’, it ain’t possible, ya’ dig? The Architect’s too good fer that.”

Well, if anything, it’s good to know that Happy’s got his smug attitude back again.

“While that may be the case, communications traffic between Factory members has not changed since the broadcast.” A frown worked its way across Ping’s muzzle as he looked to Happy. “If the Architect had found one of us to be at fault, the whole of the Factory would be discussing it. The fact that they have not even mentioned it happening leads me to believe that the broadcast was encrypted and buried from their end.”

“Which means that the culprit already has unrestricted access to the network.” Buck added as he shifted uneasily. “I can corroborate what he’s saying, the Factory seems unaffected by what happened, and they always gossip about what we’re doing. It’s almost like they couldn’t see what was happening at all, which shouldn’t be the case.”

“Then it’s fine, Ping.” I didn’t like the sound of what he was implying. Not only did it sound like it was yet another delay on heading south, it sounded like trouble. And for me, that was something we’d already gotten into enough of today. “You stay here and see if either you or Eliza can figure it out. If you come up with anything we need to know, relay it to Buck, and we’ll figure out what the best course of action is. For now, everypony else gear up and meet on the Remora.” Scooching my flank, I pushed myself off of the examination table.

With a groan, I got my hooves under me and stretched out my wings. The cold air flowing across my still regrowing wing made me shiver and remember that for now, I was still ground bound. Which, was going to be a problem if things turned ugly with the Road Crew, or with the Rangers, or back at the Factory.

You know, I don’t even know why I try to kid myself by suggesting I might walk into three separate war-zones. Again, that’s completely the wrong approach to it, because in truth, my life in the wasteland has pretty much been one long battle with short pauses in between the carnage. So as much as I hoped and prayed to Celestia above, the moment I stepped hoof onto the Remora, this break was over, and it was back to fighting my own never-ending war.

Rapid, sporadic bursts of clicking came from Buck’s forearm, spiking more and more as the Remora sank through the air. It was the kind of clicking I’d always heard when the Enclave would drill the school on emergency procedures, and that we’d hear in old war documentaries about Megaspell tests back in the war. But it was never this intense.

“Are you sure we don’t need any Rad-X?” Happy whimpered as he clung to Hispano tightly enough that I almost couldn’t feel the warmth her boiling blood gave off behind her annoyed expression. “I ain’t got foals yet, and I don’t want ta’ end up sterile before I have ‘em, ya’ dig?”

“You sure about that?” Hispano mumbled under her breath. She caught my unamused glance and fired back a nervous smile to me. “What? Just saying, he’s a mule. I thought they were all sterile. And even if he isn’t, he’s been with a lot of mares, just on this trip south…”

“Most of the radiation from the blast is being swept through the city by the updraft tower. Once we’re below the induction path and on the ground, you won’t be exposed to all too much.” Buck shifted his paw upwards and stared at it. After a moment, his rad-meter dropped off into softer, more spread out ticks.

“I just hope that those inhabiting the interior of the city know to stay inside for the next twenty four hours.” Hispano grunted through Happy’s tight grasp.

With a soft jostle, the Remora touched down onto the ground below us, and the cabin doors whirred to life. They swung out, revealing the not so dark form of the towering dancing mares of Gateway station against the dark night skies. The glass dresses they wore were darkened with what looked like soot, but the glass panes themselves still seemed mostly intact. But as good as it was to see that the city hadn’t been melted to slag, I had to wonder just why the hell we were here at all…

“Wait, this ain’t the Road Crew’s headquarters.” Happy gasped as he pushed past Hispano to step out into the sprawling and unsurprisingly empty train-yard.

As the rest of us piled out, I looked around. Hundreds of pallets loaded with various building supplies sat scattered across the open yard. No less than three separate trains still sat only halfway unloaded near some of the outer station platforms. But even so, with all this stuff around, there wasn’t a single pony to be seen.

“The Road Crew were in the middle of converting some of the lower station levels into a new materials routing hub when they got the warning about the bombs.” Buck’s voice gave a burst of static mid sentence that sounded to me a little too similar to his rad counter for comfort. “They’ve since evacuated most of their personnel to those levels until the radiation subsides.” Nodding over to the station, he pointed to where Ritz Tabard’s inn was. “Come on, we should be able to find a crewpony inside who can take us to Lustre.”

The four of us made our way across the eerily silent station plaza. Looking around, the whole city seemed silent, but it’s many lights still brightened up the night. To me, it felt like even though it was empty, it was almost as if nothing had changed here at all with the fall of Mr. Wizard.

“So… quick question, Night.” Happy lowered his voice as he trotted up alongside me. “Why are we still helpin’ Cordite? I mean, it ain’t like we need ‘em ta fight the Kingdom anymore.” He let out a nervous chuckle, but kept his gaze focused right ahead of us.

“We need to hold up our end of the bargain if we want anyone to respect us down the road.” I grumbled as a little part of me kicked at the back of my mind.

I know that wasn’t true, and that I just needed to do this in exchange for what Sierra and the Architect wanted. And while I knew I shouldn’t lie to him, or to any of the others, this was the one time I could do it without consequence. This was supposed to be for the good of the Factory, and if the Architect hadn’t told anypony else about what was going on, then there had to be a good reason for it.

Even so, the more I pondered on just what this project was, the worse off I felt about it. That little nagging part of myself just sat there in my gut with a stick, prodding harder and harder, and I couldn’t place it. Maybe I was just on edge, or my condition was making me paranoid about what Ping had mentioned. Either way, this was going to be a simple in and out, and then we wouldn’t have to worry about it ever again.

Before we knew it, we were all standing in front of the doorway to Ritz’s inn. Reaching out, I grabbed the handle with my hoof, and moved to pull it open. My body refused as the thoughts of my time here came rushing back. Coming here with Hardcase, coming back after the others were… gone.

“Is everything alright?” Buck asked me softly as he carefully placed his paw across my back.

“We ain’t got time to sit out here until we start glowin’.” Happy grumbled and forced himself past me. He shoved my forehoof off of the door and easily swung it open, revealing a crowded and lively scene inside.

Dozens of Road Crew workers were mingling around in the lobby of the inn. Some were drinking steaming cups of what I think was coffee or tea, while others were eating old wartime packaged food and drinking beers. Though, despite the social scene in front of us, none of them looked our way.

Happy trotted in, quickly followed by Hispano while she slung her sister over herself. I moved to step forward, but Buck’s paw tightened it’s hold and held me in place again. Looking up, I watched him frown from under his hooded robe.

“It’s not too late to go back and sit this out if you need to.” He sighed and motioned back to the Remora.

“It wasn’t a hallucination this time. Just…” I looked back at the door as it started to swing closed on its own again. “There’s too many memories here in the north, and hardly any of the ones from Cantercross are good.”

“Well, then the sooner we get this done, the sooner we can move on.” Buck’s frown flipped into a forced, but sad smile. I did my best to mirror it, but dropped it as I turned and caught the door right before it shut.

Slipping inside, Buck and I made our way through the crowd over to the inn’s empty front desk. It wasn’t surprising to me that Ritz wasn’t up here. With so many ponies in his inn, he must’ve been extremely busy. Still, as we approached, it didn’t stop Happy from reaching out and giving a few solid taps on the bell that sat on the countertop.

“Yeah, good luck with that!” One of the Road Crew in the room laughed in our direction. It brought a rousing laugh from some of the other crew around here, and forced all of us to split our attentions on the relaxing ponies.

“Eh, don’t listen ta Jerry Can,” A purple coated mare with a nearly empty beer bottle in her hoof called out as she tipped up the hardhat on her head. “I’m sure somepony will come ta help you…” She paused, fighting back a giggle that ended up in her instead letting out a loud belch.

“Yeah!” A portly green earth pony stallion blurt out from next to her. “In about ten years once we’ve rebuilt the whole damned city!”

The whole room ripped into a roaring laughter that left me feeling like something had happened that we’d missed, and that Ritz had somehow died in the fall of Mr. Wizard’s empire.

“What happened to Ritz?” I blurt out like normal. Seriously, I know I’d just made the mistake of asking a bunch of rowdy drunk work ponies a serious question, but right now I just wanted to know if Ritz had left the city, or been killed during the fight.

“The weird stallion who worked here?” The purple coated mare snorted and rolled her violet eyes at me. “Who knows. If you ask me, probably left with the rest of those freeloaders. The second the promise of food went out of the city, so did half the population.” She pulled a few consolatory nods and grunts from the other, which gave me the impression that before he left, Ritz probably didn’t invite them to stay in here like it was their private lounge. Still, at least I could have some hope that he’d survived the fall of Mr. Wizard. Now I just had to hope that he’d made his way south rather than north...

“Alright, alright. Enough chatter, we’re here for a job.” Happy snorted and took a step toward the fairly tipsy mare with the hardhat. “Can you just point us in the direction of your boss?”

“Well… you’re in luck, mister stud.” The mare snickered as she pushed herself to her hooves, almost stumbling as she stepped on the beer bottle still held in her fetlock. With a laugh, she walked over to Happy and gave him a wide smile that was paired with a heated sideways glance. “What I can point ya to is one of these rooms, where you can be the boss of me all night long.”

“Look, do you know where the queen is or not?” Happy snorted and, to my surprise, gave the mare a soft shove back.

The move was met with jeers and boos from the other drunk crewponies, and the mare herself stepped forward and gave Happy a light back-hoof swing across his muzzle. I was absolutely dumbfounded. Not because of her actions, but because Happy just stood there and took it all with the same neutral demeanor I’d expected from someone like Delilah. Not only had I not had to pry him off the needy mare, but he didn’t even look like he’d registered her offer at all.

“Do you know where Lustre is or not?” Happy grumbled. “After the day we’ve had, we’re not interested in dealing with the hired help.”

That got the room to quiet down real quick. And while Happy hadn’t been phased by her proposition, he wasn’t going to get us very far by insulting her.

“You stallions are all the fuckin’ same. Too important ta help a needy blue-collar gal like me.” She growled and jabbed her hoof at him. “Maybe me and the Crew ought ta teach ya how ta listen ta a fuckin’ mare!” That got a wave of stern agreements out of the Crew around us, and made more than just a couple of them go to their hooves.

“That’s enough.” Screed Grader roared as he trotted out of a door that lead back to what I could assume was originally Ritz’s office. The room instantly fell into a dead silence, and not a single road crew moved at all unless it was to aim their guilty gazes down at the floor. The lithe red stallion had dark, baggy rings under his tired looking eyes, and the scrap metal crown that adorned his head sat off-kilter and hooked around one of his ears. “Now, unless you all want to run double shifts for the next month, I suggest you take your impromptu night off and use it to get some fucking sleep!”

Most of the Road Crew nodded and silently turned towards the long hallway of rooms. We watched as within a minute, the lobby was just as barren as the first time I’d come in here, albeit with a dozen beer bottles and empty bits of trash strewn about. A heavy sigh from Screed prompted me to glance back over as he wrapped his hoof across his muzzle and closed his eyes.

“Now then,” He grumbled before peeking one tired eye open and directing it at me. “If you’re looking for the ‘Queen’, she’s down on the main concourse helping with the renovations. If you’re looking for me, well, you already got my dad killed, so unless you’re here to kill me as well, I’d suggest you kindly fuck off forever.”

Before we could speak, he’d spun around and disappeared back into the manager’s office again. He kicked the door shut with a heavy slam, once more leaving the rest of us in silence. But, to be fair, that had gone about as well as could be expected…

“I guess it’s down to the main concourse then?” Hispano offered a shrug to us before Happy started to trot off toward it on his own. With a curious cock of her brow, Hispano gave a nod towards Happy as he trotted. “What was that about? I thought you couldn’t keep away from mares, yet you so easily brushed her off.”

The steadfast mule cracked at the question, and he almost tripped over his own hooves. Recovering quickly, he tipped his muzzle up at Hispano and did his best to play things cool.

“Look, the only boner this mule’s got now, is for Solomon.” Happy snorted before freezing up completely. He looked over at us, probably praying that we’d just missed that, but the smile on Buck’s muzzle and soft giggle from Hispano confirmed he wasn’t about to live this down. “Look, you squares know what I mean! It’s a murder boner, okay!?” With a huffing roll of his eyes, he growled and reached up to stiffen his jacket’s collar again. “And besides, I bed the mares I want. I ain’t no charity case for every needy mare, ya’ dig?”

“Sure thing.” Hispano nodded as she got up and walked over to him, pausing to scrunch up her smirking beak. “But uh, how can you be sure they don’t just sleep with you because you’re the charity case?”

“Let’s just fucking go, we ain’t got all night.” Happy growled as he pushed himself to his hooves and started to trot off deeper into the station again.

Well, at least that’s a dynamic we haven’t lost in these last few days. And while I too wanted to just get this over with, it didn’t mean that it wouldn’t take compromise to do. Let’s just hope it wasn’t as much compromise as I had to make for Cordite. With how we’d barely come back from the last job, I’m not sure how many more Pentex's we’d be able to take down before we lost our chance to get moving south again…

The interior of the station was a lot bigger than I’d imagined it would be. I’d only been to the Neighvarro skymall a dozen times or so, but this reminded me a hell of a lot of that place. Four separate ‘levels’ of huge arching marble brick tunnels criss crossed each other, leaving a fairly wide gap between each of the level’s opposing platforms and various boutique shops.

Sticking up through the entire center gap of the underground train station, was an old, but well preserved prow to a locomotive. Walking over to the polished brass and wooden railings of the highest level, I marveled as the rest of the massive machine stretched downwards in a way that seemed to defy gravity.

It was a lengthy engine, spanning the four levels downward just by itself. It’s black painted body almost glistened under the station lighting, and every tube, fitting, and numerous wheels on it looked like they were made out of highly polished brass and bronze. There was even a hoof painted pin-up still adorning the side of the long engine. It depicted an enormous Clydesdale-like brown coated stallion reclining and dozing off underneath the brim of a cowpony hat that was a bit too small for him. The words ‘Big Stud’ were painted over a bigger version of the stallion’s upside down horseshoe cutie mark, as well as the numbers 4017, which I expected was some sort of serial number or something.

Glancing down at the lowest level, I found it abuzz with all sorts of activity. It looked like all the ponies we’d normally seen outside of the station, had simply transitioned to walking around down at the bottom of it. The platform levels between here and there however, were abuzz with a different kind of activity. Hundreds of hardhatted workers unloaded materials from several old looking locomotives parked at some of the underground platforms, used heavy machinery, or were otherwise working on fixing up the station in one way or another.

From the polished brass hoof rails that lined the aforementioned gaps in the descending platforms, to the nearly spotless glass windows and shops in various stages of renovation, the whole underground section of Gateway Terminal could’ve been mistaken for being completely out of time. Hell, just the central locomotive itself seemed too nice to exist in the wastes! Honestly, I couldn’t tell if that left me with an awe inspired feeling, or a feeling that dreaded that the rest of the wasteland outside would come crashing down on here at a moment’s notice.

Putting my feelings aside, we wound our way down two very impressive marble staircases to level three before we finally located Lustre. She and about a dozen ponies were maneuvering a huge pony sized marble brick into place along one of the arched corners that sat along the tunnel like level. The block itself must have weighed a couple tons, and while the crew around her made small adjustments to where it would sit, Lustre herself was the only one physically holding it up.

Again, dragons were fucking intimidating creatures. And while I’d only met a couple so far, I’m damned glad that Lustre herself wasn’t trying to barbecue and eat us. Still, as impressive as she was, we still had a job to do, and so it was time to put on my game face.

“Hey, you folks can’t be up here.” One of the stallion’s next to Lustre called out as he looked up and found us approaching. “Level four is the only level non-crew are allowed on.”

“It’s alright, Slate, they’re authorized.” Lustre growled as she shifted the heavy block in her claws. With a huff that jetted a cloud of black smoke from her maw, Lustre used her claws to push the block into place. It slid back into its place in the archway so smoothly and accurately that once it was in place, you’d have thought it had been in that exact spot since the war. “So, to what reason do I owe the pleasure?” The large dragon huffed and wiped at her brow with her claw before turning and cocking her brow to us. “Don’t have another dictator run city to help the crew take over, do you? Or are you here because of that fireworks show the whole damned north was privy to earlier?”

“No, ma’am, we’re here for…” Happy began, but stopped to scrunch up his muzzle. Turning to me, he canted his head. “What are we here for?”

“I’m here to call in a favor.” I offered, trying not to be too specific. While I didn’t think my friends would overwrite the request, it didn’t mean they wouldn’t object to me turning over every megaspell in Destruction bay…

“Name it.” Luster smirked as she folded her claws across herself. “Without you and your crew, I’m not sure the Road Crew would have ever restored their reputation, let alone have control of Cantercross at all. So as far as I see it, we owe you damned near just about anything you want.”

“Night, is that you!?” The exuberant voice of Double Drum came from behind us, and before I could completely spin around, I found a pair of strong hooves wrap around me. “It is! I knew you’d be able to take down Mr. Wizard!”

“Hey, Double…” I groaned out as he pretty much squeezed the air out of my lungs.

“If you don’t mind, Drum.” Lustre cleared out her throat and let a small cloud of black smoke drift up over her lips. “We’re talking business at the moment, so unless you have something important, maybe you can wait to see them until another time.”

“Ah, yeah, about that.” Double Drum let me go with a suddenness I wasn’t expecting, and stepped past me with a nervous grin across his muzzle. “You see, the City Council requests an audience with you.”

“Hah!” Lustre laughed and rolled her enormous reptile-like eyes at him. “The city’s under lockdown due to magical radiation, not to mention we’re claws deep into the restoration here. I think the ‘council’will understand if I don’t entertain their little ‘discussions’ for the moment. Tell them I’m busy and will head to the stable to see them later.”

“Yeah, well, you see…” Double Drum chuffed at the floor and rubbed at his mane nervously. “They’re kinda... already here.”

“You let them in?” Lustre snorted sharply.

“Half the city are behind them, including the CCPD and the Celestia’s Angels. So yeah, in the interest of fostering good will, I let them in.” With a motion back through the rest of us, Double Drum pointed back toward the stairs. “Now, I can try to convince them to come back later, but I’ve got a feeling they’re not going to leave until they get to speak to you.”

“Fine.” Lustre grumbled, waving her claws dismissively to the Crew who’d been helping her with the stone slab. “The rest of you, that’s a half hour for lunch. Then it’s back to work, and we move on to those structural supports on level two. Got it?” The ponies all nodded before splitting off, leaving Lustre to drag her claws down her face and deadpan at Double Drum. “Alright, let’s get this over with, and then we’ll deal with Night’s favor.”

“I’m sorry, but… who’s this ‘City Council’?” Buck spoke as he reached up and tugged back the hood from his head.

“For better or worse, things changed when Mr. Wizard died.” She slowed to a stop, pulling her gaze back to look directly at me. “This city is big enough for everypony living in the north to come and share comfortably. While we may control and maintain the roads, this city deserves to be used by everypony. Not just Road Crew, or CCPD, or any one gang, group, or posse.”

“So if you don’t control the city, who does?” The words clawed their way from my muzzle as always, and as I’ve said, at this point I just couldn’t care. Instead, I just kept myself curiously focused on what Lustre’s answer would be.

“Follow me and I’ll explain.” Lustre grumbled as she got to her claws and motioned for us to follow her and Double Drum back toward the stairs. “When you killed Mr. Wizard, you left a power vacuum that we alone shouldn’t fill. I knew that given what happened to Motor, there was too much of a risk of at least part of the Crew splitting off at some point to follow some other murderous dictator, so we decided that we’d jointly control the city with some other group who we knew we could keep under tabs.”

“How would that be any better?” Happy asked with my normal bluntness. “Ain’t that risking that they’d still be able to buy off part of your crew?”

“Hardly.” Lustre grumbled again and sent another jet of smoke from her muzzle. “We needed a group that was all but harmless, but that we could trust with something big enough to get the city behind supporting them.”

“Like a puppet government.” Hispano remarked with a quick flutter of her wings to hover up into the air.

“No, more like a subsidiary.” Happy corrected him with a snort that made me pause, and even seemed to surprise Hispano a bit.

“Yeah, pretty much a subsidiary.” Double Drum picked up for Lustre as we hit the stairs and started to work our way up them. “We’d thought of the CCPD at first, but they’re too well organized, and too well armed. Not to mention, some of the ponies who come to this city don’t mix well with their brand of authority. Be it because they are former slaves, or ponies just looking to settle down somewhere new, we didn’t want the face of the city to be a sort of pseudo-military force, as well as a, well…” He paused, looking up at Lustre.

“A gang run by a dragon with machines big enough to level any building in the city?” Hispano forced out with a smirk as she flapped lightly and hovered her way up the steps.

“Yeah. We don’t exactly advertise a friendly environment to live in.” Drum nodded as we walked up the final steps to the second level. “But, Screed had suggested the Celestia’s Angels run it. And while his remark was intended as a sarcastic one, it did have it’s merits.”

Huh. With everything that had happened in the attack, I’d completely forgotten about their involvement in the city. While they’d no doubt played an integral part, they’d been so far in the background for me that day that even I wouldn’t have thought of them.

“I don’t care much for their brand of ‘kindness’.” Lustre snorted as we turned toward the nearby platform. “Sure, freeing slaves is noble, and I can respect them for that fact alone. But they have no plan in place to help those slaves. No jobs or settlements they can go to, no way for them to eat or get medical care. More than a few times we’ve had to turn away good workers because we just didn’t have the resources to accept more than half of whatever group shows up looking for help.”

Walking along the polished tiles near the spotlessly chrome rails, she kept her head canted to it, almost as if she was inspecting the rails as she walked. It wasn’t until about halfway down the rails that I’d noticed that she wasn’t looking at the rails at all. She was looking at the reflection of herself in them.

“However, there are some in this city who have, and continue to, sacrifice more than anyone. Which is why the mirage ponies you rescued from the stable are who we chose to help run this city.” Double Drum beamed a smile at us as he trotted toward one of the formal looking shops just ahead next to the rails.

It was originally a restaurant of sorts, the front featuring mock shutters which covered the windows, and a set of wide wooden double doors that filled the marble lined entrance. A pair of perfectly restored brass handles gleamed under the station lighting. Grabbing the door handles with his hooves, he pulled the doors open, revealing a dimly lit interior that flickered with the light of a central brick fireplace. He waited for Lustre and my friends to enter through the door, but Double Drum himself didn’t come in. As I walked past him, he simply offered a nod and then let the door swing shut behind me.

Immediately inside the restaurant, a grand banquet table sat in the center of the large open dining room. It was made of a heavy looking old wood, and was stained with a sort of cherry finish. It filled most of the cleared out dining area, with room for two dozen seats around it. However, while one side was lined with empty chairs that I assumed were meant for us, on the other side of the table sat six wheeled carts.

Each of the carts held a completely legless Mirage pony on it, wired up to IVs with a normal pony standing silently at their side. There were three stallions and three mares, sitting in alternating pairs next to each other. Two of them looked to be fairly old, and another two were more middle aged like those I’d seen actually down in the stable. The last two were young, maybe somewhere near the age that Shimmer Pull used to be. At first I’d thought all six of them might have been a family, but each one had distinctly different colored coats, stripes, and even eye colors to each other, so I didn’t think that was actually the case.

So instead, my eye turned on the six ponies standing near each cart. Immediately, I spied a pair of patches displayed on the simple sky-blue cloth uniforms that of the attending ponies wore. The first one was a pair of white wings, arcing upward to wrap around the edges of a central golden sun. But it was the second and simpler patch that caught my eye more than anything. These ponies were from Destruction Bay’s volunteer corps.

“About time you…” The elderly Mirage pony mare barked angrily from one of the center positions of the sitting group. Pausing, she tipped her short horn towards me and studied me through the cracked pair of glasses she wore across her wrinkled muzzle. “Oh my, it’s… it’s you. It’s really you! The survivor.”

A nervous smile pulled across my muzzle as the other mirage ponies had dropped into a whisper, muttering to each other as we walked in. But with each and every step in, I found them one by one locking their eyes onto me. It was both one of the creepiest things I’d ever seen in my life, and the best feeling I’d had in awhile.

Even so, there was something about the way she addressed me. Something that had chipped away at the name I’d come to identify with and be known under. While sure, ponies had started to recognize me for what I’ve done, I couldn’t help but start to feel a bit worn down by it. Being the survivor not only opened doors, but it had set expectations. That was something I just knew would bring more and more trouble if I let my reputation get too out of control. It had been a joke to me to wonder just what war the next ponies I met would ask me to stop, but now? Well, I’m not sure a request like that could even be put off the table these days.

I’d seen that first hoof with the Chief at Cordite, and now, I think I was just a tiny bit afraid for what these new ponies would have in store for me. More and more, I think that while she was young, Hispano was more than right when she said I was too soft. And while my own deteriorating health can flare up at any moment, I’m sure that her words held more truth than ever right now.

This time, I needed to tread lightly, and make sure that I didn’t get us drawn into anything worse than a heated argument. Celestia as my witness, we were just here for the agreement with Cordite, nothing more.

“Come now, Night.” Solomon’s voice whispered to me from the recesses of my mind. “There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a little war on the side of business as usual. Besides, how else will you end up killing the ones you love?”

Author's Note

As always, a huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his help in going over this chapter. Seriously, man, you're an incredible amount of help to me, and I can't overstate that.

And of course, thank you Kkat for letting us all run around in this shared wasteland!

Chapter 75 - The more things change

The more you hate a job and wish to leave, the longer you end up staying put.

“I think I speak for not just the council, but for the whole stable when we say; thank you young miss for what you did.” The elderly Mirage pony mare’s expression softened as she spoke. For just a single moment, the only thing I could see from her was the kind and wise grandmotherly character from so many foals’ tales. A kind of mare I’d never been able to meet above the clouds. “I’m told that without the actions of you and your friends, we would have never regained the freedom we left behind on the Marewaii Islands. For that, you and your friends will always be welcome in our city.”

That… felt nice to hear. I hadn’t met a lot of elderly, non-ghoul ponies in my travels so far. And among the few I had, Spring Leaf had been the kindest out of them all, and Coconut Curry with the Steel Rangers… had probably been the worst. Then again, with all the nastiness of the wastes, it was nice anytime you met somepony who wasn’t trying to knock your legs out from under you.

“I am Grand Chancellor Hibiscus Flux, a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Survivor. Or is that not your given name…?” She offered a warm smile that spread like an infection to the other Mirage ponies.

“Night Flight.” I nodded to them before looking at the others. “And this is Buck, Hispano, and Happy. It wasn’t just me, they helped to free you all as well.”

“Yes, of course, a pleasure.” She nodded to each of them before glancing over to the elderly stallion sitting next to her left side. “This is Vice Chancellor Guava Flyback, and on the other side of him are Council members Neon Mallow and Coconut Redox.” The middle aged stallion and mare gave me a quick nod before Hibiscus turned to her other side. “And these two youngsters are the junior members of the council, Buck Boost and Rambutan Float.”

“Thank you for freeing us.” The young filly sheepishly dropped her bright orange mane over her overly black and white striped coat.

“Yeah yeah!” The excitable colt nodded before beaming a Ping-like smile up at Buck. “Are those real cybernetics!?” He gasped when Buck blinked and then slowly nodded to him. “That’s so cooooool! Where did you get them!? Can we be friends? We even have the same name an’ everything! Or better yet, can I get cool cyber-legs as well!?”

“Calm yourself, young one.” Hibiscus cleared her throat and shot an almost Delilah level sideways glance at him, causing him to instantly freeze in place as if time itself had stopped. “Members of the City Council must always conduct themselves with poise and authority, lest we be locked away again inside the Stable.”

“So, about ‘conducting’ yourselves.” Lustre snorted as she approached the long table. With a lazy tip of her claws, she easily shoved all of the chairs away from the opposing side of the Mirage ponies. “You had an urgent matter that required speaking to me directly?”

“Yes, well you see, there’s been a bit of a… disagreement on the matters relating to the use of your ‘crew’.” The old stallion, Guava, spoke up and craned his neck over toward the door. “You seem to be fairly preoccupied with spending an awfully large amount of time fixing up this old station, when our Stable has been completely neglected for almost two centuries! You had promised that a full maintenance team would be sent over tonight to start getting it back into shape.”

“It’s not just that, but where’s the crew you promised for the memorial?” The middle aged Mirage pony mare, Neon Mallow, snarled and peeked one of her crimson eyes out from under her white and pink striped bowl cut mane. “Do you think that our requests are some sort of joke just because you ‘allow’ us to run the city?”

“As I’m sure you are aware,” Lustre brought her claws up to her long muzzle and let out a horrifically long sigh that sent a cloud of smoke rolling across the wooden beamed ceiling. “The multiple megaspells that went off earlier have made long term trips outside all but impossible for the next few days.”

“Why not use the Monorail then?” Coconut Redox snorted and turned his brown tinged muzzle up at Lustre. “Surely it would make trips easy enough to satisfy your ‘concern’ over the maintenance crew ponies.”

“The maintenance crew was on their way here when the megaspells struck.” Lustre growled and balled her other claws up into a tight fist as she set it down on the table. “They had to seek shelter inside the city, and will not arrive until the worst of the magical radiation passes. All I’m asking for is a bit of patience.”

“We did plenty of waiting, decades in fact.” Coconut turned his gaze across the others in the Council, receiving nods from each of them. “To insinuate we haven’t learned how to be patient is…”

“We do not expect immediate rectification for this delay.” Hibiscus cut in, “We are not unreasonable ponies, we simply wish to know that your offer to work together was genuine is all.” Furrowing her brow, she gave a sideways glance to the grumpy expression across Coconut’s face. “Let me tell you a story, Queen Lustre. Those of us who were taken from the Marewaii islands had been either drug addicts or destitute and homeless. We were the undesirables, not important enough to help, but not worth putting down for good. Then, came Mr. Wizard’s offer. He promised us unparalleled freedom in return for leaving Marewaii, that a new start for each of us was waiting on the mainland. And while our fate was certainly kinder than starving in the island metros, we are no longer so easily tempted by the ‘kind and generous’ offers of others.”

“Queen Lustre might seem tough, but as you said, she’s not unreasonable. You act like she’s trying to lock you up again, but she’s not a monster like Mr. Wizard was.” I blurt out in my normal fashion, pulling a shocked look from most of the Mirage ponies, as well as a definitely offended Coconut. “I understand the level of mistrust you must have, but it’s just a small delay. Surely you can understand, given what happened tonight across the whole of the north.”

“Perhaps what you must come to is some sort of compromise?” Buck added, pulling conflicted looks from the Mirage ponies. He flashed them his jagged smile as he pressed his paws together lightly and looked over to Lustre. “Oh, here’s an idea. There was mention of some sort of memorial, perhaps some small work could be done on that?”

“I suppose I could pull together a small crew to begin preparing a space in the entryway for it.” Lustre again cupped her claws over her face and dragged them down. “However, I would like to remind the council that after being so kind as to lecture us on the wrongdoings of Mr. Wizard, you will be winning no favors among the city or in the Road Crew in memorializing him.”

“They’re what!?” Happy and I snapped at the exact same time.

“As cruel as he was, Mr. Wizard took care of us when he didn’t have to.” Guava snorted as he shot a glare at Happy and I. “He kept us fed and sheltered, made sure to protect us from all the chaos of the wasteland. For more than a few of us, including myself, he was a benevolent host who has now tragically passed.”

“This is absurd!” Happy nearly shouted the words I’m sure were on all our minds. “That rotten asshole deserved what was comin’ to him!”

“That is quite enough…!” Hibiscus tried to cut in.

“No, fuck you!” Happy shouted, shoving his chair back as he slammed his forehoof down on the table. “Do you have any fucking idea the shit he was responsible for in the North? How much fucking trouble he caused fer my Ma’? Hell, Night and I almost became his slaves for good!”

“Can we please just calm down?” Buck raised his mechanical paws defensively to Happy, offering a nervous smile to the horrified Mirage ponies. “I’m sure we can…”

“You almost became slaves!?” Neon Mallow forced out a haughty laugh. “Try living as one for years before you go calling us out on our own shit. I voted against this stupid memorial idea, but I won’t sit here and have you demean us after what we’ve been through.” With a snarl, she turned her attention to Lustre. “It’s enough to have to work with non-pony outsiders who for all we know, just want to horde and control us like some sort of buried treasure.”

“Watch your tone.” The growl that Lustre gave off with her words rumbled the heavy wooden table under my hooves. “The Road Crew chooses to work with you, but if you feel you can’t stand living around us non-ponies, then by all means, go ahead and leave my city.”

It was about that point that the whole room exploded into an angry shouting match. Any semblance of coherent words disappeared into unintelligible gibberish, and the overwhelming white noise of it was doing nothing to keep my own temper from getting worked up.

“Discourse is always such a fickle mistress.” Solomon’s voice cropped up in my head again. “How is it that you’ve made it this far, and yet you still can’t anticipate a turn in an argument enough to head it off?” I blinked, and found him sitting across the table from me, wedged between the angry expressions of Coconut and Guava. His stupid pristine coat glistened in the flickering firelight as if the whole of him was made of white wax. “Face it, you’ll never be her. And it’s a pity, because after killing Delilah, I’d hoped for a challenge. Another WORTHY rival. But you’re just as pathetic as I’ve always claimed you to be.”

A nervous tick washed over me, and at that point, I felt like I just needed to snap.

“Enough!”

I screamed with everything I had inside. With enough force that my voice cracked and nearly gave out altogether. And what was the pain creeping up my esophagus worth? Well, it bought me a precious few moments of complete and utterly stunned silence.

“You know what’s wrong with all of you? Each of you thinks you’re better than the other.” I was so sick of this, of all the petty arguing. “Solomon is right, I fucking suck at this whole diplomacy thing, but at least I’m not out for myself.” Looking around the room, I watched as a few of the Mirage pony’s expressions cracked at that, and Lustre herself shifted her gaze down away from me and toward the table. “If you can’t share this city, fine. In fact, if you can’t be nice to each other, then why don’t you just keep things the way they were! Because that was so much better, right?” I snapped over at the council, pulling a whimper from the two foals. “But hey, that way, at least you can just keep fighting over the same insignificant things that help nopony at all!”

“Good.” Solomon smiled and tented his hooves on the table. “Tell them what you’re going to do if they don’t play nice.” His words forced the thoughts skulking in the depths of my mind to the forefront of it. The idea that I could just command the Arcturus to bombard the city again came easily. “Yes. Because if they can’t share it, then nopony gets the city. Fair is fair, right, Nightflight?” A missile into the station, a missile into the science center, another into the thermal updraft tower… it would be so easy to solve all of this like that. “Even if it means destroying their homes, their entire families. Wouldn’t that be by far the easiest way to make them change their selfish perspective?”

“On second thought, Solomon’s right… it would be so easy to just destroy this whole fucking city. Neither of you deserves to run it.” That pulled Lustre’s attention back up to me, and not in a shocked way. No, from the way her muzzle bled black smoke, she looked a moment away from just incinerating me. “Yeah, all of the Road Crew’s work, for nothing with a single command. And I’ll fucking kill you all just to shut this petty bullshit down for good.”

“Night, you’re talking about Solomon again.” I felt Hispano’s talon wrap around the back of my neck as she lowered her tone to me. “I understand you’re annoyed, but you need to focus. Stay on task.”

“I am focused.” I growled and shrugged her off. Raising my hoof, I arced it across the table at each of the Council before ending it on Solomon’s waxy form. “Don’t mistake me mentioning that bastard as anything but motivation to work this out. Because given my alternative, I’m sure everyone here can come to some sort of agreement.” I watched as the smug Saddle Arabian smirked and gave a light clap of his hooves. That’s right, yet again you aren’t going to torment me.

Blinking, I glared at where he sat, waiting for him to finally melt or flash away.

But the more I blinked, the more nothing changed. Solomon simply sat there with an amused look across his face. No, I’ve been through this before, I talk him down, and then he leaves me alone.

“Oh, poor dear Night Flight.” He offered me a sympathetic look as a wholly devious smile parted his muzzle. “You really are hopeless.” I blinked again and he disappeared from his place across the table. Instead, he reappeared standing tall upon it, towering over me with a suddenness that made me stumble backwards to avoid being bowled over by him. Tripping over my own prosthetic leg, I went down hard onto the floor. What… what the fuck!? “Yes! Now you are starting to understand!”

“Night…” Buck’s voice was almost muted as Solomon stepped down off the table, using my splayed body as a stepping stool. He pressed his forehooves sharply into my barrel, and I felt the air get forced from my lungs. No, that… that shouldn’t be possible! “Stay with me, Night!” No, he’s not real! Solomon’s not real!

With a single forehoof, he reached up to my throat and pressed down.

I gasped helplessly for air as he pressed down on my windpipe. My vision blurred as panic set in, and Solomon’s laughter filled the air. I gurgled out a scream from my hoarse throat as best I could, but I couldn’t even beat out his laughing.

“You’ve forgotten, Night.” Solomon collected himself and lowered his head to me as my body fought to keep going. I tried to use the opportunity to swing up at him, to just flail my hooves enough to knock him off of me. But my legs refused to move, and that made Solomon laugh even harder. “You and I? We’re going to be together for a LONG time. Forever, in fact, so you might want to come to terms with it.” Darkness was creeping in, and it was getting harder to struggle. “Give in, Night, let yourself go. It’ll be easier on us in the long run.”

Slowly, he lifted his hoof off of my throat, but as much as I wanted to, I still couldn’t bring myself to breath. Lowering himself again, he brought his muzzle to hover just over the end of mine, leaving his lavender eyes to look right into my mind. His smile widened as he let a shiver run across his waxy form.

“Let’s face it, you aren’t exactly cut out for this sort of life, are you?” I felt a soft patter against my body, like the first few drops of rain. In my darkening vision, I managed to shift my glance down his body to find that it was melting. Slowly, more and more of him started to drip and drop onto me, washing up towards my head with an alarmingly numbing feeling. “Me?” He snorted as he all but commanded my vision back up to him. “Well, we both know I’m a bit better suited to running things. After all, I’ve got all your BEST ideas, right in here.” He gave a tap of his forehoof on the crescent shaped black mark adorning his forehead. “Ideas that the REAL Solomon would be proud of.”

With another roaring laugh, I finally felt my strength leave me, and the world became nothing but darkness.

“Sweet dreams.”

“Night, are you alright?” Buck’s voice forced me to blink.

A wave of confusion swept over me as I looked over at him and the others. I was still standing at the large wooden table as I had been, and while both Lustre and the Council still looked tense, they held somewhat worried looks at me. The non-waxy smug expression across Solomon’s face as he sat across the table hadn’t changed, but at the same time, I didn’t expect him to fade away anytime soon.

“What?” I found the words slip out of my muzzle. “What happened?”

“You shouted at us, and now you have the gall to not follow it up with anything?” Hibiscus snorted and deadpanned at me.

“You screamed ‘enough’ and then froze up.” Hispano offered with a note of concern as she brought her hoof around my neck in a way that sent a tingle of deja-vu through my brain. What in Celestia’s name was going on here? “Are you okay, Dum Dum?”

A ringing pain flared up behind my empty eyesocket, and like always, I reached up and did my best to put pressure on it through my eyepatch. The ebbing pain dulled slightly, but radiated out into the rest of my head, my legs, and my wings. Fuck, why now?

“Why not now?” Solomon goaded as he softly rubbed his forehooves together. “Afraid to show weakness in front of your friends, Night? Why don’t you excuse yourself then?”

“Yeah… I’m good.” Goddesses, am I going crazy? This can’t just be because of the Chill… right? What the hell did Solomon do to me? “I just need to step outside, to clear some thoughts.” Shrugging off Hispano’s talons, I trotted my way over toward the heavy wooden doors and shoved my way through them.

The cold terminal concourse air greeted me sharply, as did the sounds of all the hustle and bustle from the ponies on the bottom level. The pain behind my socket sharpened and a gasp forced its way out of my muzzle. Fucking hell, I need to get rid of this pain somehow…

“Already wishing you could run right back into your habit?” Solomon chuckled as he leaned back against some of the concourse railing. Goddesses I wish I could just fucking throw Solomon right over it. “Oh we both know of your distinct lack of forethought, but that’s an impressive display of unoriginality. Do you not think the real Solomon wouldn’t be ready for such a simple minded tactic?”

“Shut up.” I grumbled at the stallion and walked over to him. “If I got just one chance like this, you’d see, I’d fucking give him exactly what he deserves.”

“Oh, would you now?” He laughed as I kicked my forehooves up and hooked them over the railing. Leaning backwards, he craned his neck to gaze downwards. “A pity then that he’s already so far ahead of you. No doubt he’s already cracked the code that YOU gave him.”

“Yeah, but we’ve got a code too, and the means to catch up with him.” I grumbled and let my head rest on the old wooden railing. The wood itself was so dark it was nearly black, and the varnish on it smelled heavily of some sort of alcohol. Still, focusing on it did help to keep the throbbing pain in my head down to a minimum.

“But yet, here you are.” Solomon sighed and leaned himself backwards even further over the railing. “You know, that little bird friend of yours is more than right. You can’t help but want to fight for the needy, even if it’s costing you the friendship of the mule who needs you more now than ever. A pity that you’re so alone in feeling the need to be a hero.”

“How can I be alone? I thought you’d said we’d be together ‘forever’.” I smirked and cocked a gaze up to him that made him roll his eyes. In fact, he rolled them so hard that he dipped completely over the rail and fell off down towards the busy bottom platform below.

“While that is true, I’m only here because of your mistakes. Don’t forget that you WANTED me here.” His voice reverberated in my mind. See, that’s what I didn’t get. If he’s just me, why couldn’t I control him? “Control me?” He laughed again. “Have you even met me?” His hoof gave a tap on the floor next to me again, prompting me to look up and find that he was now in his dress uniform with his stupid pith helmet pulled down over his eyes. With a dramatic press of his hoof, he tipped the brim of it up just enough that his glowing purple eyes beamed directly into my soul. “Maybe there was once a way to get rid of me, but I quite like it here, so I think I’ll stay.”

“Hey there, friend.” Double Drum’s voice caught me off guard as he called out to me from down near the tracks we’d walked past earlier. He held a nervous look to him as he pulled himself up onto the concourse and trotted over. “I don’t mean to be blunt, but…” He leaned in and lowered his voice to me. “You’ve been using a lot of Chill, haven’t you?”

“Gee, what do you think tipped the simpleton off?” Solomon rolled his eyes before going back to leaning against the railing again.

“I did, but not anymore.” I shook my head before slumping back against the old cast iron bars that held up the railing.

“Ah.” He nodded, taking a step around me to also prop himself up on the railing. In doing so, he forced the illusion of Solomon to grimace and shift down to ‘make room’ for him. Seriously, why couldn’t he just disappear like normal? “I mean, I get it. I’ve had friends over the years who’d used it.” Glancing over at me, Double Drum frowned for a moment before glancing across my body. “Then again, I don’t think I’ve seen anypony go through as much of a blender as you have. At least, not with them coming out the other end alive.”

“I didn’t ask for any of this.” I sighed. Seriously, how did things end up here when months ago I was only worried about what other ponies thought of me in school, and if I was a disappointment to my parents. I shifted my gaze up and brought it into a glare as Solomon opened his muzzle, making him pause just long enough that it allowed Double Drum to let out a light laugh.

“I don’t think anypony would willingly ask, but hey, look what you’ve done!” He kicked his forehooves over the railing and slumped with me. “With the exception of the bombs tonight, which weren’t your fault, I’d say you’ve made the North a hell of a lot safer than… well, than it’s been in a century.”

“And yet, I still can’t get things right.” I nodded back to the doors to the restaurant, turning my glare back onto those undoubtedly still arguing inside. “I just came here to ask Lustre a favor, not to get wrapped up in yet another fight over a city I hope to never see again.”

“Hey, don’t say that.” Drum snorted and gave me a light shove with his hoof. “While I know you’re leaving, Celestia knows the whole damn crew expects you to come visit again someday.” He flashed up a quick smile before shrugging and turning his attention away again. “Though, I get what you’re saying that you don’t want to be involved. But then I need to ask you, why not just leave then?”

“What?” The bluntness of it simply baffled me. “I can’t just leave. Not now, anyway...”

“Oh, poor innocent Night…” Solomon sighed and beamed his smug smile at me. Goddess I just want so much to give him one swift kick in the muzzle…

“Why not?” Again, Double Drum laughed. “Nopony’s asking for you to stay, and if it’s really weighing on you that much, why torture yourself by staying?” With a hefty shove, he pushed himself off the railing and back onto his hooves. He gave me a hard pat on the side as he stepped back from the railing. “I mean, I’m not asking you to go, but seriously you’ve done more than enough to help us. Leave this one to us, and move onto the next set of unfortunates who need helping, alright? Just hope that whoever that happens to be is a worse shot with a rifle than I was.”

“I…” I couldn’t help but pause and stare at the genuinely friendly smile he wore. Seriously, he thought it was just that simple, but it... just couldn’t be.

“Why are you always this stubborn?” Solomon’s voice resonated inside my head again. “Why is it that his advice sounds foreign, while you know that Delilah had tried to just leave things be on a number of occasions. Times which might I remind you, you elected to ignore and help others out anyway. Which now that I mention it, is exactly the same treatment you’ve been giving to your mule friend...”

“You’re right.” I nodded to both Solomon and Double Drum. “I ummm, think I need to just get on with things.”

“That’s the spirit!” Double Drum gave me another heavy pat on the side before stepping up in front of me. Without a word, he reared up and wrapped his hooves around me tightly. “Oh, the North is going to miss you, Night.” He hugged me with the same deceptive strength that Happy had, nearly forcing the air from my lungs before letting go. “Just try to stay in one piece for me, will you?”

I nodded to him and smiled. I knew that idea was a complete and utter fantasy, but it wasn’t something he needed to concern himself with. At the same time, I’m not sure it was something I needed to concern myself with either.

“Oh, and one more thing.” He said as he turned around and glanced back over himself. “Do yourself a favor and stay away from any more drugs, alright? Talking to hallucinations isn’t going to be showing others the best side of the ‘Bombay’ or ‘Survivor’ that I know, now is it?”

“Right, I’ll keep that in mind.” I flashed up a nervous smile as he gave me a final quick wave and trotted back off toward the station tracks again. In another minute, he’d disappeared down the line and out of sight.

“Such a nice, yet simple stallion.” Solomon offered as he appeared standing right next to me again. “A pity I won’t get to kill him. Or should I say, WE won’t get to kill him.” Cocking his eyebrow, I simply rolled my eyes at him and turned toward the doors to the restaurant again. “Then again, the day isn’t over just yet, is it?”

“Shut up.” I grumbled again as I reached the doors. Taking the shining handles in my forehooves, I grasped around them and pulled as hard as I could.

It took a not inconsiderable amount of grunting and struggling to get just one of the heavy doors to budge, but that was all I needed. Once it was moving, its own weight built up a momentum that made it easier to shift by the moment. But mostly the door gave me an appreciation for just how strong ponies could be, and just how jealous I was of unicorn magic. Fucking cheaters.

Squeezing myself through the opening I’d made in the door, I was again greeted by the flickering firelight dancing across the interior of the Restaurant. But instead of the frantic and wild noise of arguing I’d expected, the room was quiet. All eyes turned to me as the heavy door shut again, bumping me on the flank as if to remind me that I needed to speak up and get this over with. Even Solomon sat expectantly, having silently taken his place back at the table again.

“I uhhh, am sorry, but we must get going. I wish we could stay, but we have other issues to attend to.” I let the words push out of my muzzle, and prayed to the goddesses that this didn’t cause another argument to break out about how I needed to solve even more of their problems.

“Alright, that’s understandable.” Lustre nodded and huffed out a plume of black smoke. “Before you go, what was that favor you needed from me?”

“Cordite has a project that they need the Crew’s help with.” Even coming from my muzzle, just the mention of Cordite made Lustre’s slit-like eyes twitch with a subtle annoyance that cropped up under her scales. “They can fill you in on the details, but I need this favor from you.”

“Fair enough.” She nodded and seemed to mull over something in her mind for a moment. I’m sure it was something like her doing to the Chief what she did to Motor Grader, but honestly I should give her the benefit of the doubt. “As I said, the Road Crew owes you a great debt for your help. So for you, Survivor, I’ll see that it’s done.”

“Thank you.” I nodded and let out a long sigh that felt like it swept away all of my anxiety. Still, seeing how smoothly that went, maybe I could still do something to help the Council. “And to you, on the City Council.” Turning to them, I offered as much of a reverent bow as I could to them. “I require a favor from you as well.”

“As you wish.” Hibiscus cleared her throat and held her head high as she eyed over the other ponies. She waited for each of them to give a nod before looking back to me. “We will grant the Survivor her favor, should it be within our power to grant.”

“Please, set aside what differences you may have with the Road Crew.” I offered, taking a seat on the floor so I could offer my forehooves to them. “You have a chance to make things better now. Not just for the Mirage ponies of your Stable, but for every creature in the north. I know it sounds like I’m asking you to trust in someone who you can’t be sure if she has your best interests in mind, but I trust her. It may take time for her to arrange things for you, but it’s not because she doesn’t like you. She needs you as much as you need her, and if you work together, then this entire city will be able to thrive once again. So I’m asking you, please, give her a chance.”

“Bravo.” Solomon clapped his hooves together sarcastically as he tipped himself back in his imaginary chair. “Spoken right from the heart, Night. It’s just a shame that they’d rather have their petty arguments, than to risk ever becoming a slave again. So while you may have made a solid case, it’ll all have been for nothing anyway.”

No, Solomon was wrong, and I had proof. I had never seen a more conflicted look across the face of a pony than the one that sat across Hibiscus’s muzzle. But I had to trust and believe that she and the others could do this, even if it was just as a favor for the ‘Survivor’.

“I… think we should at least try.” Rambutan squealed as she gave a sheepish blush and hid her embarrassed gaze behind her mane as best she could.

“Yeah! Come on, she saved us an’ everything!” Buck Boost shouted with so much enthusiasm that he almost wiggled himself right off of his cart. If not for the still completely stoic and silent Celestia’s Angel unicorn next to him, I’m sure he would have. “She’s the Survivor, so we owe her!”

“The youngster does have a point.” Guava nodded as he leaned over, giving Hibiscus a soft nuzzle that pulled a sigh from the elderly mare’s muzzle. “What do you say, hun?”

“All in favor to at least attempting to work together with the Road Crew, despite the current setbacks?” She sighed.

“Aye!” The two foals chimed in nearly together.

“Aye.” Guava added in, straightening himself up again before looking over to the two middle aged Mirage ponies next to him. “Well?”

“Neigh.” Coconut grunted. “I believe that we’ve waited long enough, and it’s about time we got our due for once.”

“I’m with Coconut, and vote neigh.” Neon nodded and shifted her particularly stinging glare to me. “While I agree that we should be thankful for the Survivor’s help in freeing us, I believe that we don’t owe her anything. As far as I see it, we lost enough of us in the fight that we’re already even.”

“Alright then.” Lustre snorted a jet of black across the ceiling as she sat up and placed her claws on the table. “It’s up to you, Hibiscus. As Grand Chancellor, your vote counts for two, so this decision falls upon your vote.”

“I’m well aware of my duties, thank you.” Hibiscus grunted before she closed her eyes and lowered her head in thought. “Now, quiet. I must focus.”

As we all sat in silence, waiting for an answer, I watched the tip of her horn begin to glow. A shimmering aura enveloped it, spreading downward as it brightened. The waving, mirage-like effect began to expand downward, enveloping her head, neck, and eventually covering her whole body.

The room itself began to brighten. Not because of the magic in her horn, but because all of the old world lighting slowly began to dimly shine. The effect grew with each second, as the room went from being cast in flickering firelight, to a brilliant luminescence from the old world light fixtures that almost gave the place the look and warmth of being out under Celestia’s glorious sun.

All too soon however, the lights began to dim, and the shimmering effect around the elderly mare began to fade away. She gave off light pants as her horn sparked and sizzled, and beads of sweat rolled down her forehead as her eyes fluttered open again. Taking a moment to collect herself, she looked around at her fellow members before turning and looking at me.

“It is the decision of this council,” She paused in what was one of the most infuriating ways I’d only seen from the overly dramatic ponies in the old world Lilac Lace films. “That we will grant the Survivor her wish.”

I let out a long sigh of relief, as did most of the others in the room.

“I think that while we do deserve to be treated better, it’s best that we remember why we ended up this way in the first place.” Her gaze softened, and she let her glasses slip down to the end of her muzzle as she relaxed. “We have a chance to finally belong somewhere, and I believe that will only happen if we end up working with others, rather than against them.” Shifting her gaze to Lustre, she offered a hope filled smile. “However, I do expect results, as well as to be kept in the loop if anything changes.”

“Of course.” Lustre nodded and offered her own toothy grin. “Come morning, I’ll create a position in the crew solely to act as a direct courier so that we can relay messages more frequently, and without the need to set up meetings where both sides have the opportunity to cause friction.”

“That sounds agreeable to me.” Hibiscus gave another respectful nod to her before looking to the other council members. “Then I believe that our business here has been settled in a satisfactory manner.” Turning her glance up to the stoic Celestia’s Angel pony who’d been silently standing next to her, she nodded one last time. “Now, it is time to return us to the Stable.”

“As you wish.” The mare next to her replied before using her magic to pull Hibiscus’s wheeled cart away from the table. Each of the other ponies did the same, and in complete silence, the whole council was rolled out of the restaurant and onto the platforms outside. The second the heavy wooden doors shut, it felt to me like the atmosphere inside became about a million times lighter as everyone relaxed a bit.

“Another crisis averted.” Solomon chuckled from his still seated position across the table. “Though, it was admittedly a crisis of your own making, was it not, Night?”

“Shut up.” I grumbled and shot him a short lived glare.

“It’s alright, Night. It’s over.” Buck’s mechanical paw sent a shiver up my spine as he softly brought it down on my neck. “Let’s get going before your condition worsens.”

Looking up at him, I was met with his soft and caring smile. But even though I loved that smile, I could see the look of pity and pain behind it. We both knew I was far from alright, but I think it hurt him more knowing there was little he could do about it.

“Actually…” Lustre groaned as she shifted herself onto her hind legs. She moved to stand up, but ended up hunching over the table to avoid hitting her head on the ceiling. “I was wondering if I could have one last word alone with Night. I’ll be prompt, I assure you.”

“Alright.” Buck turned his soft smile up to her and nodded before looking back down to me. “We’ll be just outside waiting, alright?” I offered my own soft smile and nod to him, and in return, felt him pull his paw off of me.

Hispano offered her own concerned look to me as she hovered over to Buck, easily dropping into his other outstretched paw. Again, I shared my own look back before turning to Lustre. Which of course was when Happy stuck his face between us.

“Just don’t arrange anymore side gigs, ya dig, Night?” He gave me a stiff pat on the side before grumbling to himself. “We ain’t got the time ta waste anymore.”

“Yeah.” I nodded to him, which seemed to be a good enough answer as he turned and left the room with the others. Which just left me, and the enormous draconic queen of the Road Crew…

“I know that this is going to sound awkward, but…” Lustre paused as she took a deep breath, looking like she was mulling over a million things in her head. “Delilah… was right about you. After everything I’ve seen, you can do anything, Night.”

“Are we talking about the same Delilah here?” The words tumbled from my muzzle, pulling a stiff snort from Lustre that sent another cloud of sooty black smoke across the room. “I mean, I don’t think I did anything but screw things up for her…” I sighed as my mind played back the events of the last time I saw her. “... right up to the end.”

“Delilah was the most ruthless, cutthroat business jenny I think has and will ever have graced the wastelands.” Lustre smirked and crossed her claws across her barrel. “She cut so many out of her life just for standing in the wrong place at the wrong time. But…” She paused, offering just the briefest of glances over to me. “Something in her changed, she said that much herself. I can't vouch for if she even knew it was you who caused it, but let me tell you, it changed her. That night I spent with her, I expected it to be just like old times, you know? And of course, deep down I kept telling myself it wouldn't be.”

With another pause to reflect on the memories of better days that danced on her head, I watched as her muzzle split into the happiest, toothy grin I’d seen on her. Normally, I think that sort of dagger filled smile should fill me with the fear of being eaten or baked alive like Tephra had done with that stallion back in Mare’s Lake. But it was a truly happy and disarming smile, something I hadn’t seen enough of in my time in the wastes.

“I… was wrong. That night, the Delilah I slept with was the same happy and carefree Jenny I knew so many years ago.” Lustre continued, and dimmed her smile as the present caught up with her. “Like back before her obligations, the business, and the wasteland had really sunk their teeth into her. So of course I had to ruin the moment by asking her about it. But we talked about it, and talked, and talked, almost the rest of the time until sunup. She told me so many things about what she'd been up to over the years, stories of the good times, and the bad.”

“Why... are you telling me this?” I blurt out like normal, only to find her shift a deadpan to me. I forced a nervous grin across my face and let out a small laugh. “Not that I'm complaining, I'm just wondering, why now?”

“Because if I don't tell you now, I'm going to bottle it up and it'll drive me crazy. Now hush.” She snorted again, sending her cloud of smoke rolling over me. My lungs seized momentarily from the cloud assault, but I managed to keep myself from hacking too hard. “See, she told me quite a bit about you. About how perfect you were as a blank slate.” She continued, rapping her claws against the orange glass-like armored plates on each crossed foreleg. “That after trying for years to get Happy to follow her, finally she could have someone she could mold into a successor.”

“But I failed her. She died because I screwed up.” As much as I was perfectly alright hearing about how Delilah thought about me, that was something I wouldn’t lie to myself about. She died because of me.

“You didn’t kill her, that prince and my late husband are responsible for that.” She growled and brought her fisted claws down on the table hard enough that it rocked over to one side momentarily. With as much fervor as the table, her other forearm swung out and she pointed one of her claws directly at me. “You, you’ve done exactly as she'd expected of you. You survived, you carried on doing the right thing. She knew that while you were a bundle of misfortune to keep around, somehow, you always pulled through just so you could make the wasteland a better place. That’s why she trusted you, Night. That’s why I trust you, why the crew trusts you, and why the rest of the damn north trusts the name of the ‘Survivor'.”

Shaking her head, she pulled her claw away from me to bring it up and wipe away the welling tears in her draconic eyes. Taking a deep breath, the toothy smile she’d held returned as she once again looked to relax.

“When we got the report from up north that Double Drum had his machine taken out by some ‘pegasus kid’ in a convoy, believe me, I never expected that same filly would be the one my oldest and best friend had hoped would change the north forever. I just wish… she could see what you’ve done.” She let out a soft laugh from between her quivering lips before she broke down into surprisingly soft sobs. “You’ve even kept her son alive, and I can’t imagine how trying that’s been. You’ve done more than I ever could have for her…”

As much as she tried to hide it, like with Buck, I could see the pain behind her eyes. The loss of Delilah hurt her just as much as the rest of us, maybe more so than I could have ever understood. And unlike ever before, I could see that despite the fact that she was a dragon, she was just as vulnerable deep down as anyone could be. And while I couldn’t bring Delilah back, I could at least show her I understood how she felt.

Stepping forward, I walked up to her massive scaled side, and wrapped my hooves around her. She tensed up from the unexpected touch, but as she realized what I was doing, she completely let go. And as much as I fought the feeling back in myself, tears dripped down my own cheeks as I wanted nothing more than to see Delilah one last time as well.

“I’m sorry, Night.” Lustre sniffled as she again did her best to wipe the tears running down her cheeks. “I’m not normally so soft. It’s a terrible habit I’ve picked up from spending so many years around ponies, and I always try my best to hide it.” She arced her head over so that when I looked up at her, I could see her sad smile.

“It’s fine, I don’t mind.” I sighed and gave her a few pats with both my hooves. “And of course, your secret is safe with me.”

“Thank you.” She let out another sniff that ended with her blowing a small jet of smoke from her nose. “But you should probably get going now. You’ve got a prince to track down.”

“Ah, I do love being the center of attention, now don’t I?” Solomon gave a wicked smile as he appeared next to me, hugging around Lustre’s oversized body as well. “Is that right, Night? Despite your ‘good nature’ do you really want nothing more than to simply find and KILL me?”

“I certainly do.”

The ride back to the Arcturus went smoother than I’d expected, but none of us really felt like talking the whole way back. Maybe it was because I’d come back with tears matting my cheeks that the others hadn’t really wanted to talk about things, but I think it was more because of the fact that I’d proven to be just as unstable down there as they’d said I’d be. Moreso proven for me by the fact that our party had been joined on the Remora by an extra, unwanted companion.

“Ouch.” Solomon smirked as he looked at me from across the haughty expression plastered across his stupidly clean face.

The Remora gave a slight jolt as the hatch above us sealed to the underside of the Arcturus, and the hydraulics that worked the weapons bay loading tube opened up for us. I turned my attention up the hatchhole when it opened, finding the bright light of the interior bay burning my eyes after a ten minute trip in the dark Remora. Still, as I shielded myself slightly from the light, a striped muzzle poked into sight with a friendly beaming smile.

“Welcome home.” Ping offered to us before lowering down the boarding ladder from up above. We all sort of gave half grumbles as a response before one at a time, we began to make our way back up into the ship. “Oh, I do not suppose that means things went well with the Road Crew?”

“Well enough.” Happy groaned as he was the first to pull himself up. “Night almost lost it down there though.” He shot back a quick look that I’m sure he hadn’t meant to insult me with, but from where I stood, I simply glared back at him. Seriously, he wasn’t one to speak when he hadn’t done anything to help really.

“No wonder you keep trying to get him killed.” Solomon offered as he stood next to me.

“Shut up.” I grunted as Hispano disappeared up through the hole. Buck stopped just short of reaching for the ladder, perking his mechanical ears as I spoke under my breath. He turned and offered his own short look over me with his real eye, but either dismissed what I’d said or simply ignored it.

“What did I tell you, Night?” Solomon laughed again. “You’ll either drive them all away or kill them.” Goddesses, I just wished he’d go away…

I waited until Buck was all the way up the ladder before even approaching it. I reached out to grasp the rungs, but paused when I looked up. Ping had maneuvered himself to come down, and quickly started his decent. I almost hadn’t had enough time to step back before he had his hooves on the floor of the Remora, and the hatch above us shut with a firm clank. At that, the interior of the Remora was once again plunged into darkness. A darkness that was only illuminated by the soft glowing red spots behind Ping’s eyes as he turned them to me.

“I’m sorry, Night. I know you must be eager to rest, but we must speak alone for a moment.” The tone he used wasn’t as serious as those words made it sound. For both our sakes, I hoped that whatever this was about didn’t involve something terrible having happened while we were gone.

“What’s going on, Ping?” I offered, reaching out and putting my forehoof on his shoulder. “Has something happened at the Factory? Did you find out who was sending that signal?” The gesture was small, but I could feel how he relaxed his mechanical body at that.

“No, not yet.” He shook his head as he sat down. “And no, nothing new has happened, though I think I am close to finding out who the inside machine is. For now, I just… wanted to speak with you, candidly, about something that has been on my mind.”

“Okay…” I offered him a pat on the side as the thought struck me that this was all a bit over the top in presentation just for a ‘candid chat’.

“You know, unit thirteen’s body has been a lot to adjust to.” Ping literally flashed up a smile across his muzzle that beamed out light like a torch. “I do not expect you to understand, but, each of us have developed ‘quirks’ for ourselves, to help us blend in. For example, unit thirteen’s body has been tuned to give errant feedback along it’s connections, to give the impression of a nervous and uncontrolled twitch.” Holding his hoof up into the light, I watched as his illusionary coat shuddered and shivered randomly now and again.

“That’s… neat, I guess?” I didn’t really know what to say, or again, why he was telling me this at all. “Is there something going on with it? Is it hurting you?”

“No, not so much. I have done my best to suppress it, because to be honest, I do not enjoy the feeling it gives.” He frowned, turning off the light in his mouth and putting his leg back down. “but the more I think about it, I realize that I should accept it. I am, after all, still alive, and that means that I should be thankful for what I still have.”

“That… sounds normal enough to me.” The words escaped my muzzle as a deeper understanding of them washed over me. “Honestly, I don’t think I’ve appreciated what I have enough, even with everything I’ve been through.”

“Yes, which is why I wanted to say; thank you.” The glow in Ping’s eyes brightened enough that they outlined the jubilant expression they held. “I know that it must have been quite trying to deal with Mr. Wizard, but… you still tried to save me all the same. And I wanted you to know that I appreciate that, Night.”

“Well, I appreciate all you’ve done for us as well, Ping.” Again, I gave him a pat that brought back his beaming smile, albeit, a not so intensely bright one this time around. “Without the Factory, I don’t know what I would have done.” Happy and I probably would’ve been Mr. Wizard’s slaves for the rest of our lives. Or... until I happened to kill myself after realizing I’d have lost Buck forever…

“Oooh, that’s a bit dark, don’t you think?” Solomon snirked as he lingered on the edge of my vision. “Oh boo hoo, ‘I’ll kill myself because I lost the one I love’. Don’t you think others in the wasteland have lost more and still carried on? How pathetic you are…”

“Yes, well you have also not only helped me, but you have helped the Factory, as well as the Architect.” Ping’s eyes shifted nervously as his smile weakened and he seemed to shift uneasily on his hooves. “Who in fact while you were away, got a message through to me that said you’d had helped him to realize that he can not hide himself from us forever…”

“So, he told you then?” I asked simply.

“Yes, but only me.” Ping nodded stiffly. Huh, well, that’s at least a start! “It was… a lot to process, but I realize that while I owe you a lot, I owe unit one my very existence. And really, even if I did not owe him, then for being honest with me like he was, he would still be my Architect. My father.”

“Geeze. What is it with you ponies and being so sentimental all the time?” Solomon scoffed. “And before you yell at me, I already know he isn’t a ‘pony machine’.” He tapped against his head firmly and glared at me. “I am you, remember?”

“I’m glad, and I hope it cleared up some of what we talked about earlier.” I offered, trying to again brush off the now persistent vision of Solomon.

“Yes, it indeed has.” Ping let out a sigh of relief just as the hydraulics to the weapons bay hoisted open the hatch again. Light once again flooded in, and I could see Tofu’s curious glance and perked ears disappear over the hatch ring. “But now I’m afraid we must get back to work.”

“Yeah, I suppose so.” I nodded and pointed to the ladder. “So then, so we have an update for the rest of the wastes?”

“Yes, and unfortunately you are not going to like it.” Ping offered as he spun around on his hooves and immediately began to climb the ladder again.

“Of course I won’t.” I deadpanned as I reached out and started up after him. Looking up, I paused my soured mood as I got an eyeful of his rump. Instantly, my mind was thrown back to the day Hardcase was going to show me Fort Mac from atop his container, and I got caught staring up at his flank. My muzzle twisted into a smirk as I tried my hardest to hold onto the memory, but as things tended to, it drifted off and dropped me right back into the real world.

Though now, at least I’d been forced to remember that among the bad memories, and terrible expectations, I still had some good ones to hold onto.

Author's Note

As always, a huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for going over this!

And of course, many thanks to Kkat for allowing us all to use the FoE setting!

Chapter 76 - Two Steps Back

The missile knows where it is. It knows this because it knows where it isn't.

“Eliza, give the captain an update.” Pastel called out as I walked onto the bridge with Ping. He threw up a stiff salute before going back to leaning against the radar consoles. Other than him, the bridge was empty, which I should have expected. With how Frescas had acted, I didn’t expect to see her up here until we were back towards Galloway.

“Certainly.” Eliza’s cartoonish smiling mare fuzzed onto half the terminal screens around the bridge. “During the captain’s absence, we have started to reconnect with the northern network. We have been getting reports of recent Sky Raider refugees crashing and attacking dozens of settlements across the north.”

“What? How are they still fighting?” I grumbled as I leaned back on the dark terminal that had been smashed by Double Delta’s face. How the fuck are they still causing problems? “I’d thought the megaspells were supposed to mean the end of them.”

“The megaspells the Sky Raiders launched were secured atop the base’s remaining stock of Gallop missiles.” Eliza’s face fuzzed away from the screens, and what looked like technical specs for a cone shaped missile took her place. “These missiles were designed as hypersonic interceptors that were originally meant to shoot down incoming zebra megaspells. That is the reason that we did not have much time to broadcast a warning to the north.”

“Their normal assets however, move a lot slower than those missiles.” Pastel grunted as he pointed to the screens.

Again, they changed to show the schematics and diagrams associated with their buzz bombers, as well as the one seater flying engines I’d seen after we left Filly Crossing. Mixed in with those, were several other designs of cloudships and skycraft that I’d never seen before. The terminals flicked from design to design at a pace that increased with each one shown, until it was almost a blur. Seriously, how many of these even made it past the prototype stage!?

“Their mass exodus from their home was well coordinated.” Ping speaking up brought the slideshow to a halt, and the frown on his muzzle became something just as disconcerting to see as the dozens of wartime machines that had just been displayed. “They had planned for this outcome, and acted swiftly when the call came to leave. The Factory had estimated that only a tenth of their remaining fleet would manage to evacuate, but that seems to have been in error by a factor of two.”

“So you’re saying that nearly half their fleet managed to get away!?” I blurted out. Why was I getting the distinct impression that while the Factory was more advanced than I could ever comprehend, they always had a really bad time trying to ‘predict’ anything accurately.

“Yes, it’s true.” Eliza’s mare popped back across the screens for just a moment before fuzzing away again to reveal a map of the north and it’s settlements. Dotted lines fanned out from the northeast where the Sky Raider’s home had been. “However, most of their forces have already reached their destinations, mainly focusing on striking smaller Puritan kingdom targets that remained untouched by their megaspell attack.” Small crosshairs appeared over a dozen or so small settlements before they blipped off the screens altogether. “Other Sky Raider assets seem to have either crashed due to mechanical or pilot error, which is somewhat of a relief. However, some still remain in flight towards other targets, including Mare’s Lake and half the northern settlements within range of their vehicles.”

A little over half the remaining lines flickered out before reaching any of the dots they’d been headed towards, including the ones headed south toward Cantercross. However, there were a good dozen lines still lit, with the majority of them headed straight toward Mare’s Lake and the smaller target of Galloway.

“What about the Rangers?” I watched as I spoke, finding Pastel’s plumage bristle up uncomfortably. “How did they fare? Did the megaspell that targeted them miss?”

“There is still too much magical radiation in the air there to maintain constant contact with them.” Ping sighed and shook his head. “While the Factory had assumed wrong with the projections for most northern targets so far, the amount of interference from around the airfield is consistent with a direct strike against it.”

“Well I’m not going to count them out yet.” Pastel grunted and hammered his balled up talon against the console beside him.

“He’s right, we shouldn’t assume the worst.” I was doing my best to sound optimistic, but I prayed to Celestia that unlikely as it was, they’d at least had the time to get to shelter. For the small Puritan village of Oatsville next to Galloway however, I could only hope that a few more of them had lead-lined shelters under their house like Neon Drift and Bloody had... “Eliza, set a course for Galloway. If they’ve survived, we need to help them.”

“Are you sure that is wise?” Ping did his best to sound nervous, and unlike before, I couldn’t be sure if he was being genuine this time or not. From the way Pastel glared across the room at him however, told me that at the very least, he didn’t care if Ping was genuine or not. “It’s not that I do not want to help them, but if the interference patterns are correct, than the levels of magical radiation saturation would mean that any assistance we could provide would be minimal without significant risk to the health of all crew members.”

“Grrrr, I’ll give you that, but it doesn’t change what I’m going to do.” Pastel grunted as he crossed his talons and shot a glare over to me. “If I’ve learned anything from my time around Night, even if I get sick, I’m still going there to see if I can help.”

“I’m going too.” I spoke up, pulling a surprised look from Ping, as well as a worried cartoon mare from Eliza as she popped back onto the screens. What? They honestly expected me to just sit around when there were those out there who needed help?

“Oh, how quickly you’ve forgotten Hispano’s words. It’s not even been a half an hour, and yet, you can’t help but try to rush to the aid of anypony who gets your attention.” Solomon’s amused expression flickered across the dozens of monitors that Eliza didn’t inhabit. “It’s disgusting, really. Being forced to watch you seek to help such weak ponies. You should simply let those foals suffer the consequences of their own mistakes.”

I don’t know how or why, but the greenish hue of the screen somehow accented his smug expression in a way that made me want to flail and destroy every fucking monitor that held him on it.

“Captain,” Eliza spoke up in the same monotone starkness as always, “with your current physical condition, you might find it better to oversee any support and relief operation from inside the confines of the Arcturus.”

“Yes,” Ping nodded furiously before beaming as smile back at me. “I can accompany Doctor Buck down in the Remora to provide aid.”

“As I said, I’ll be joining you.” Pastel pushed himself up off of the console he was on, and turned himself toward me. “Look, I don’t know what we’ll find down there, but I can assure you, that you’ll get a better response out of the Rangers if they see Frescas and I with them.”

“That is ill advised, Captain.” Eliza’s mare flickered to the frowning version of herself. “Projections show that once they arrive, there is a sixty seven point eight percent chance that former Captain Frescas will instruct the Rangers to take both Buck and Ping into custody. It would be an appropriate action if they were looking to gain bargaining chips to exchange for the return of the Arcturus.”

“She’s right, you know.” Solomon giggled from every monitor next to Eliza’s, “Such is the nature of ponies. Always wanting to be difficult…”

“You’re wrong.” I spat out, momentarily knocking Eliza’s mare from her frown to one with a fairly confused expression. “There is a zero percent chance of that.” Lowering my brow, I shot a glare across to the now stoic expression on Pastel’s face. “If the Rangers are in need of assistance, they will work with us, not against us.” I couldn’t be sure about that, but… if it came to it, I wouldn’t let them hold my friends hostage. Even if it meant holding the rest of their entire compound hostage.

“Are you willing to risk Buck’s life on that?” Ping asked as he reached out and placed his hoof on my side.

“No.” I shook my head as Solomon’s smirk transitioned into an even wider grin that reminded me of the hallucinated rant I had earlier. Yes, it would be easy to just threaten them, but I wouldn’t do it. Not if I didn’t have to. “We can’t just keep threatening everypony who we don’t like, especially not when they’re already in a position of needing all the help they can get. While it’s a risk, they know us, and I’m counting on that fact to buy us the goodwill we need.”

“In the face of overwhelming odds, on death grounds, there is no act a soldier will not perform to achieve his goal.” Pastel remarked flatly, not taking his eyes off of me for a second. Not even when Ping’s jaw nearly hit the floor. “What? Surprised that a Ranger can recite a passage of Zebrica’s prized ‘Art of War’?” He smirked as he brought his talons up and crossed them tightly across his barrel. “Rangers are scholars first, warriors second. But…” He paused as he finally tore his eyes from mine. “That being said, I think that it doesn’t have to be that way. You’re right, and as much as Frescas is loath to admit it, we need your help. If we can get to Elder Soursop, Frescas and I can explain that you’re here to stand with us.”

“Then it’s settled. Eliza, set a course for Galloway.” I shrugged and looked over at Eliza as she flicked up her smiling cartoon mare again.

“Aye aye, Captain.” Eliza replied as half the ship’s instruments lit up. “Course set, cloud drive set for full ahead. At that speed, we should arrive at the compound within two hours.”

“I will make sure that Frescas is brought up to speed with the plan, and ready to go.” Pastel nodded as he pushed himself up and off of the consoles. Stepping up to me, he reached out and placed his talon on my shoulder. “And… for what it’s worth, Night? While I’m with the others on not being happy you stole our ship... well, if it had to be anypony, let’s just say I’m relieved it was you and your friends.”

While I wasn’t really sure how to take that, I ultimately decided that it was a compliment. I offered him a nervous smile as he turned and headed off through the bulkhead and disappeared further into the ship. Which left me in here with a fairly unamused looking Ping.

“I know you mean well, however, should this prove problematic…” Ping shot me a sideways glance as he too stepped towards the door. “I will not hesitate to say I told you so.”

With that, he hopped through the bulkhead and disappeared down the hall as well.

Seriously, you’d think that Ping would’ve come to trust me more. Though… I guess it was fair to say that the both of us had made our fair share of mistakes, so I could somewhat understand. Still, the Architect wanted diplomacy with the outside wasteland, and there wouldn’t be a better place to start than with a group who knew more about advanced tech than anypony else.

“Isn’t that just typical?” Solomon snorted as Ping trotted off through the bulkhead. “Your so called ‘friends’ don’t ever seem to appreciate your particular brand of leadership. Not that it’s really all that unexpected, seeing as you’re not even that much of a leader in the first place...”

“Shut up.” I threw my head up and groaned.

“I wasn’t going to say anything more, Captain.” Eliza’s prompt response made me freeze up. Goddesses this was going to get annoying to keep explaining to ponies…

“Sorry, not you, Eliza.” I sighed and glanced over at the admittedly concerned looking cartoon mare. Raising my forehoof, I pointed up to my head. “Just… telling the voice in here to be quiet.”

“Oh, I see.” Her cartoon mare flickered over to one that looked somewhat apprehensive by virtue of her eyes blipping back and forth slowly. “If you’d like, I can call up Doctor Buck from the infirmary…”

“No, it’s fine. I’m fine.” I tried to wave my hoof in dismissal, but I could tell that she believed my words about as much as I did. I really wasn’t up for another chat about how I really need to head back to the Factory to get my head fixed. So, plan b then! “How are you doing, Eliza?” Shifting myself onto my haunches, I did my best to cross my hooves across my barrel and play it cool for now. “We haven’t really had that much time to chat recently, and I’m just wondering if you’re adjusting well to the Arcturus.”

That caused a few quick shifting expressions to flash across her screens before she settled on a neutral expression.

“Well.” She remarked sharply. “It has been an experience, to say the least. That’s um… it, I guess.”

And with that, her expression flicked off of the terminals. It left me in an awkward almost silence where the whirring and humming of the ship systems made it seem like she’d just up and left altogether. But I gathered that there was more to it than that, there had to be. Because you don’t spend your whole life living one way, only to then have it completely flipped around on you, and not have questions and remarks about it.

“Ah, finally, there it is.” Solomon chuckled to himself as he popped into existence where Pastel had been, leaning against the terminals in exactly the same way. “Something that the real me wouldn’t have a clue about. How it feels to be completely out of place.”

“Ummm, Eliza?” I asked, waiting for her to flicker up on one of the smaller screens with a sheepish expression. “Is there something wrong? Should I get Ping...?”

“No, no, that is not necessary.” Eliza perked up with that, speaking slightly faster than normal in her monotone voice. “I too am fine.” Her mare flickered again, switching to her frowning expression. “To tell the truth, I have been... afraid. This system is so different, so advanced, so… big. I haven’t even tried to look outside of the core systems I have immediate access to.”

“But… why?” I laughed as I tried to come up with a reason why a computer would have a problem with moving from what was basically a tiny room, into a whole house. “I’d thought you’d like having more room than your old body, as well as being able to move about the real world like you always wanted to.”

“Yes, but it’s not what I expected.” Her image flickered, shifting to a picture where her cartoon mare was crying. “As only a prototype, I’m a simple system, with a basic understanding of things. That was all that was needed to test my mining equipment.” Her image left the screens, changing them back to their normal displays again. “Some of these systems on board are so advanced that I don’t even know what they do. It’s like… imagine that you existed as an enlisted Enclave hoofsoldier for a few decades, only to be then given command of your own Thunderhead, and then were expected to command it flawlessly during trials the very next day.” That… would be a pretty daunting thing to have happen. But in my case, I could’ve always asked my... “Oh, I… I’m sorry, Night. I didn’t mean to bring up elements of your life in the clouds.”

“It’s fine.” I smirked as I tried my best to remember how my mom smiled at me right before she left the last time I saw her. “I was just thinking that you’re right. I can see how it would be hard, at least without somepony there to show you how things worked.” Goddesses, I missed Mom and Dad. “Maybe… there’s someone in the Factory who you can ask for help? There’s no shame in at least asking, you know?”

“Yeah, I think I will.” The smiling cartoon mare popped back up on the screens around me. “Thank you for taking an interest in me, Night. I don’t have many machines I consider my friends, but even though you’re organic, I consider you my best friend.”

At that, Solomon burst into uncontrollable and hysterical laughter.

“How pathetic is it that YOU are her best friend?” Solomon gasped out between laughs as he literally rolled across the floor at my hooves. “You two are perfect for each other! You’re both MORONS!”

Yup, it was already getting old.

“I’m glad we’re friends, Eliza.” I grumbled, trying to ignore Solomon’s loud as fuck laughter. Pushing myself forward, I dropped myself down onto my hooves and stretched myself out slightly. “But I think for now, I’m going to go see Buck about my head. Keep me updated if anything changes on the way to the Ranger base.”

“Alright, Night.” She responded in a less monotone, more squeaky voice than normal. It almost sounded… cheerful. “And will do, captain.”

Walking down the cramped hallways of the old cloudship was odd. While it wasn’t as somber as it had been just after the bombs, I still didn’t really feel welcome here. I’d passed the bunkroom, where Pastel was now having a heated argument with Frescas, and where Happy was having a hard time napping with their noise.

The thought of Ping being right, and that they’d turn on us the moment they got down there, flared right up in my mind.

“It’s going to happen, Night. You’ll see.” Solomon’s voice fell to a whisper again, but was accompanied with a wave of pain that washed across my head. The oh-so familiar throbbing headache I’d gotten too many times now, had returned, and only pushed me to move on.

I picked my hooves up as I trotted through the galley. The smell of freshly baked goods filled my nose, and I instinctively felt my wings flare out slightly. I smirked as Hispano’s apron adorned front half disappeared nearly entirely inside one of the ship’s ovens, retrieving a steaming tray of small, round looking biscuit-like things.

It’d never really dawned on me that she could do something like cooking, much less enjoy it as much as she looked like she was. To be honest, so far I hadn’t seen much of this side of Hispano, where she let down the front of being the daughter of a Talon merc, and was just a young griffon. And as odd for me to admit as it was, all dressed up in that apron, she looked so… cute!

The look of pride that had been plastered across her face was replaced with a firm blush as she noticed me trotting through.

“Not a fucking word, Dum Dum!” She snapped as I stepped through the next bulkhead.

“I didn’t say anything!” I called back with a giggle that turned into a groan as the throbbing in my head got worse. Still, I guess baking was yet another of Hispano’s many talents that I didn’t know about! Seriously, was there anything that she couldn’t do?

“One thing she will do, Night, is die.” Solomon again whispered into my ear, this time flaring up the pain directly in the back of my eye socket. I winced, slowing to a hobble as I reached the weapons bay bulkhead. Reaching up, I forced my forehoof up and applied pressure to my eyepatch, somewhat dulling the pain as usual.

“Oh, I wasn’t expecting you, Captain. Sorry, I’d just… wanted to rest my eyes for a moment.” Tofu snorted as she hopped down from a crude hammock she’d strung across one corner of the room. She gave a wipe of her tired eyes before freezing and sniffing the air a few times. “Goddesses, are Hispano’s scones done already? They literally smell so good.” Her stomach gave a gurgle that flushed her cheeks with a blush. “If you don’t mind, Captain… I think I’m going to quickly go take her up on her offer to try one...”

I forced myself to smile at her as she pushed past me and all but galloped off towards the galley. My legs somewhat gave out as I stood there, and I was forced to brace up against the bulkhead. Goddesses, this headache was getting worse than normal. But… Buck would know how to help, I just had to get to him.

Pushing myself forward, I half walked, half stumbled across the weapons bay and into the next hallway. The far aft of the ship was somewhere I hadn’t spent a lot of my time so far, but I at least knew the infirmary was just the next door down. Lucky for me, the door was open, and I could easily brace myself against it’s bulkhead as another forceful wave of crippling pain wracked through me hard enough that I let out a whimper.

Disappointingly, the small room was empty of the fluffy, handsome mass of furred Snow Dog that I loved. Instead, laying on the small medical bed, was the resting form of Double Delta. The bloody bandages that still wrapped around half of his head looked freshly changed, and while he didn’t seem to be awake, he was breathing and twitching his hooves enough that I knew he was still alive.

Good to know that Frescas didn’t kill him then…

“You’ll have a chance to do it yourself soon enough, Night!” Solomon’s laughing voice felt like it pierced my skull, and I nearly fell forward as I brought my hooves up to my head. I groaned out and shut my eye as my lungs seized up and my back forced itself to arch up sharply. “They’re all going to die, just like the others did! Hehe!”

“Shut… up!” I seethed as I squeezed at the sides of my head. Come on, Night! Pull yourself together! He’s not real, and while Buck isn’t here, you can fix this on your own.

Waiting until the pain somewhat subsided, I pushed myself off of the bulkhead. Stepping in, I made my way over towards the cabinets that held all of the infirmary supplies. I just needed something, anything to dull this pain, just for a bit!

My train of thought stopped as my eye fell upon a set of three syringes that were tucked neatly in a glass box on the counter. The thick black lettering still boldly and proudly sitting under the Ministry of Peace symbol called to me as my savior. Med-X. It wasn’t going to be as good as Chill, but it’d have to do...

“Oh, did you really think it would be that easy, Night?” Solomon’s voice brought with it another wave of pain.

It hit me harder than the last, and I felt my rear leg collapse from under me. I flailed my forehooves as I was pulled to the floor, dragging open the nearby cupboards and knocking a dozen jars down with me from the countertop. I cried out as the glass jars dropped onto the floor, shattering around me as I again forced my hooves up onto my head. I let out a scream of agony as I did my best just to endure what felt like my head attempting to split in half.

“I told you, Night!” Solomon’s voice echoed painfully in my mind, sending spikes through my hooves with each word. “The moment it got bad, you’d go running back to your filthy habit! And look at you, so desperate for relief that you were about to go behind Buck’s back and get drugged up without a second thought!” No, I need it, I needed... “Don’t LIE to me, Night! You CAN’T lie to me!” I felt tears stream down my face as his words sunk in with even more pain. It… it wasn’t like that! “It is EXACTLY like that! Or didn’t you notice that you’ve already done just what you set out to?”

Looking down with a sniffle, I blinked as I noticed that one of the syringes was still currently tightly gripped in my fetlock. The pristine and slender silver needle had been driven deep into my other foreleg, and the plunger was already depressed to its maximum.

H… how? Did I do that… myself?

Yanking it out, I tossed it across the floor. I let out a whimper as the empty glass syringe smashed, and the sound of quick hoofsteps came from outside the infirmary. A wave of warm numbness flowed over me, ebbing away the pain from my body, and giving me a moment where my mind sat in a state of pure clarity. I looked around, blinking away the tears from my eyes as I realized that once more, I was alone in my own mind.

“Night!?’ Happy called out as he all but slammed himself against the bulkhead. Heaving in panicked breaths, he ran his eyes across the mess of broken jars and supplies across the floor before looking over me. “Are you alright? Celestia, I’d heard a commotion, but… what happened?”

“My... h-head hurt.” I nearly fumbled over my own words as I forced them out. “Lost my b-balance and, well... “ I offered him a nervous smile as from the back of my mind I pleaded that he wouldn’t see the remains of the Med-X syringe among the scattered bits. “It was an accident, but the worst of the headache has passed.”

“Thank Celestia.” He offered a sigh of relief as he hung his head. “Thought you looked pretty bad when you wandered past the bunks. I wanted to make sure you were alright...”

“Y-yeah, thanks.” My weak, nervous grin widened as I noticed the prick of blood on my foreleg. Lifting it up, I brought it around the back of my head and rubbed the blood from it as I forced out a laugh. “I… hope I don’t make Buck too mad with the mess.”

“Pft, that guy loves ya’.” Happy rolled his eyes before offering me his normal sly smirk. “I don’t think you could ever piss him off, Night.” Oh, I think he’d be pretty pissed if he knew what I’d just done. And… he’d have every right to be angry. “Well, it’s good to hear you’re alright. Just… take it easy, okay? As much as I’ve been wanting to get back after Solomon, I… don’t want to see you push yourself to the edge, Night.”

“I’m sorry, Happy. I haven’t meant to go on one side job after another.” I forced the nervous grin off of my muzzle and did my best to replace it with a genuine frown. “I know you’ve been patient, and believe me, I want to kill Solomon just as much as you do…” I paused as he raised is forehoof with a shake of his head.

“Night, you don’t need to apologize.” Again, he sighed before looking down at his leather jacket and floral print shirt. “Do you remember, when we talked about me being different? Well, I think I finally am. It’s not what Ma’ would’ve been proud of, but… it’s still a better me, isn’t it?”

“You’re wrong, Happy.” I brought my hoof back down as my muzzle split into a soft grin again. “I think she’d be proud to see the progress you’ve made, even if it isn’t you following in her hoofsteps. And… well, as much of a pain in my flank as you’ve been this trip, you’ve still been right here by my side for it. Hell, it’s been you who’ve saved my life a few times now, and I think that says more than anything!”

That brought back the genuine smirk to the mule’s muzzle, and he let out a soft laugh.

“Yeah, you think?” He brought his forehooves up along the sides of his jacket and popped up the stiff collars like he kept doing over and over. Now that I mention it, why did he always put them back down again if he was going to just keep putting them up!? “But thanks, Night. With everything that’s gone on, I’m glad you still think of me as family.” He shifted his look up into a sideways glance as he furrowed his brow. “But don’t you think for one moment that I’mma let you forget about goin’ after Solomon, ya’ dig?”

“Yeah, I ‘dig’.” I smirked and nodded.

“Good.” He snorted and pushed himself off of the bulkhead. “Now, as much as it pains me deep down, we’ve got a bunch’a worthless fuckin’ toasters to save.”

With the clarity of my mind still around for the moment, his words shot me back to when we’d first arrived at Galloway. More specifically, to the fact that I still didn’t really understand why the others hated the Rangers in the first place.

“Hey, uh… can I ask you something?” My words perked Happy’s long ears, and he paused in the middle of turning to leave. “Why do you all, you know, hate the Rangers?” I’d hoped that didn’t come off too blunt, but from the way Happy scrunched up he muzzle, I wasn’t sure I’d succeeded. “It’s just, I never got an answer from anyone on the convoy, not before…”

“Well, if you need to know.” Happy snorted and slumped back against the bulkhead. “East of Brahman Beach, we had our own bunker of the power armored squares to contend with, lead by a fucker by the name of Elder Protos Polisher.” Crossing his hooves, he let his muzzle curl into a disdain filled snarl as he continued. “These weren’t your average hoarding Rangers, no, these guys are a breed that are all too common out there. Ones who wanted to cleanse the Equestrian wastes of all non-ponies. Real racist assholes if ya’ catch my drift.”

“And I’m guessing that meant they weren’t fans of your mom.” I found myself spitting out. While I’d interrupted him, he didn’t glare at me, instead simply nodding.

“Yeah, but as much as they hated us, the Elder knew he couldn’t hit her directly. So instead, he started by picking off the caravans that came and went.” Happy sighed as his eyes drifted, and his focus shifted to the distant past that only he could see. “When we started to use pony only caravans, he switched things up and started to pick on those on the outskirts of town at night. It started only by trying to scare them enough to pack up and leave. And well, it started to work. Over a few weeks, more and more families packed up and left.”

“But I’m guessing not everyone did that.” Again, I interjected. I won’t lie, I’d have been scared out of my mind if some powered armored ponies came into my home and told me to leave town or else. But after all I’d been through, I’d like to think I’d be able to stand my ground against them. “If they resorted to just telling them to leave, I’m guessing they were afraid of something.”

“Yeah, of what my mom would do if they attacked a citizen of our town. They were only about a hundred strong, compared to a couple thousand in our town.” Happy nodded to me. “Which is the only reason we were finally forced to act.”

“What happened?” I asked, finally drawing Happy’s ire and having him resorting to putting his hoof up for me to know to shut up.

“They never liked to talk about it, but… the ones who finally stood up to the Rangers?” Happy smirked as his vision drifted away again with a momentary smile. “Leaf Spring and Howitzer’s parents. They got it in their heads to argue with that numbskull when he broke into their house. Started lecturing to the Rangers that the Buffalo had lived on that land far longer than ponies. Which mind you, is true, but of course those toasters didn’t care. They made their choice that night. Half their neighbors heard the argument, but it was the whole town that heard the Ranger gunfire. And when all was said and done, my ma’ and the town had all the justification they needed.”

Oh, so that’s why they’d hated them, the whole time...

“Not all of those toasters were bad though.” Happy snorted with a hefty shrug. “One of the Ranger stallions felt guilty enough to tell my Ma’ that they knew they stepped over the line. He said that others in their ranks thought they should call for a truce between factions. He also said that in order to maintain discipline and end things once and for all, Elder Proto was going to order the whole base to come in and try to wipe out Brahman Beach in the morning.”

“Sounds like his change of heart was a lucky break.” I mean, for as horrible as they were, at least there were still noble ponies in other parts of the wasteland.

“Yeah, not for him. Town hung him anyway.” Happy shrugged and shook his head again. “Anyway, long story short, Ma’ rode up on their compound that night with a few heavy excavators and buried their bunker entrance before they could leave. Then she spent the next week drilling dozens of boreholes into their compound before dropping a few tons of mining charges down to blast the fuckers.” He smirked as he remembered the events in his head. “They really thought they were safe from the same ones who’d built their stupid bunker in the first place…”

“I hope that Galloway has seemed a bit better than that.” Double Delta’s groaning voice from behind me sent a shiver up my still numb spine, and I looked back to see him squinting under the soft infirmary lighting. He didn’t sit up, but his muzzle curled into a soft smile. “Oh, my head’s killing me, but I’m guessing from that that we’re still alive and kicking?”

“And on our way to Galloway as we speak, though, we still don’t know what the situation there is.” I offered to him, and visibly watched him relax with my words. “And I don’t know where Buck is, but I’ll direct him your way before we arrive so he can get a look over you.”

“I think Ping mentioned wanting to speak to him privately.” Happy offered as he again shoved himself off the bulkhead and onto his hooves again. “As for your hope, yeah, Galloway’s so far been better than I’d expected, with a few exceptions. Fuck, even with as annoying as it was first meeting them, if all the Rangers in the wastes were as tame as you guys? Well, they’d probably have more fucking friends, for starters.”

“Hah, that’s probably true.” Delta laughed before transitioning right into a groan. “Dad always had a way with skirting around the xenophobic side of the Ranger codex that most of the other advisers think is immutable gospel.” Carefully, he lifted his forehoof up to the side of his head and pressed it against it firmly. Funny, I knew exactly how he felt…

I looked around the room, perking my ears for a moment. Yet, Solomon still didn’t chime in, or even feel like he was still in my head. Guess the Med-X was at least helping.

But who knew how long that would hold up…

I’d been napping in my room for maybe an hour or so before Buck entered. It was nice to see him focused on his medical tasks again, but… maybe it could have waited a few moments until I woke up a bit more.

“Are you sure you didn’t hurt yourself?” Buck asked me as he all but scooped me up off the captain’s bed. His metal paws were freezing to the touch as he basically ran them over my coat and through my mane.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I did my best to groggily fight off his advances, but there wasn’t much somepony like me could do against advanced machine parts. “Like I said, the headache subsided, and I’m fine.”

“Yes, but it looked as if a storm swept right through the room.” Buck huffed as he finally set me back down upon the bed. “But if you’re sure you’re alright… I guess that’s all that matters. I’ll try to make myself more available in the infirmary from now on.”

Yeah, about that mess I’d made… there’s no way he didn’t see the empty broken syringe on the floor. I really wanted to tell him what I’d done. We’d been down this road already, and it would never end well if I hid it from him. But the truth is I needed the Med-X, and I’m not sorry about that.

“What exactly did Ping need you for anyway?” I asked. I mean, Buck didn’t have to live his life in the infirmary, but it was odd to have him absent for so long. I wonder if Ping needed him for something specific regarding his investigation into the factory.

“I…” He scrunched up his metal muzzle as much as he could before starting again. “It’s difficult to explain…”

The door to the small captain’s quarters squealed as it opened, and Hispano poked her head in slowly.

“Oh thank you…” She let out a sigh of relief as she swung the door open all the way. “I thought you two might be spending some ‘quality time’ together that I’d hate to interrupt, but Eliza says she’s picking up a broadcast from Galloway. Thought you might want to come to the bridge for it.”

“From Galloway?” I spat out bluntly as I pushed myself off the small bed and back onto my hooves. “We’ll be right there.”

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but getting any sort of message from them had to be a good thing, right? Given what little we know, this means that at least somepony out there survived. Maybe if we were lucky, it also meant that there was still time to help.

At that thought, I felt my mind cloud again. I could almost feel like Solomon was trying to speak, but after another moment, the feeling subsided. The flat numbness I felt across my body from the Med-X clung to me tightly, and for that, I was grateful. Now if only it could hold out until after whatever is going on with the Rangers…

Both Buck and I carefully made our way up to the bridge, finding that it was already packed. Everypony on the ship was already here, and the moment the two of us walked in, Ping gave a nod to Eliza’s frowning face plastered on half the screens. Oh, that is definitely not good...

“This was picked up six minutes ago. I’ve done my best to clean up the message, but it’s going to be spotty.” Eliza spoke up as she flickered away, leaving an oscillating line to run across her screen.

“This is Galloway actual, calling any available Rangers or mercenaries in the area! We have our Paladins pinned down at the terminal entrance, and have a bandit class Skyraider craft still in the air. I repeat, we have a bandit class skycraft in the air! We need assistance!”

“That’s Coconut Curry…” Tofu gasped and brought her hoof up to the end of her muzzle.

“HQ, this is Alpha Assault in News Five. We are en route, bearing zero two five. E.T.A. thirty four seconds.” The sound of vertibuck engines whined behind the pilot mare’s response. From their call sign, I somewhat assumed that was the stripped down Vertibuck I’d talked to Tofu in when we’d been back at the base.

“Alpha Assault, this is Knight-Sergeant Apricot!” Hey, I know that voice! That was the big dumb guy in power armor! “There’s two squads of raiders firing from two downed condor sky transports on the runways. We're on damned near bingo ammo, and some of us are wounded. We’re in bad shape, so we need that bandit taken care of!”

“Sit tight, Knight-Sergeant, we have visual on the craft. Fire support incoming...” The pilot mare responded before garbled noises in the cockpit came through the transmission. “Hot damn! Scratch one bandit skycraft, HQ!”

You could hear the sighs of relief in the Rangers onboard with us, and I myself could at least relax for a moment. That is, until the sound of alarms going off in the Vertibuck’s cockpit came through.

“Shit, we're locked!” The mare called out as I could hear the Vertibuck’s engines strain through the static background noise. “Chaff! Chaff! Going evasi-…”

The radio cut out with a louder burst of static, and the transmission itself flickered off the screen. Eliza’s sad cartoon mare returned as the whole of the command center here was completely silent.

“I've heard enough.” Frescas grunted as she spun herself around to me. “They’re still holding on, but we need to get help to them now!”

“We are still ten minutes out from even coming around that side of the mountain,” Ping pressed his hoof against her, forcing her back just enough that he placed himself between her glare and me. “Not to mention, we cannot risk directly placing the Arcturus over…”

“They don’t have ten minutes, and fuck the Arcturus!” She slammed her hoof onto the console next to her, sending it through one of the glass screens with a scream. Sparks and smoke poured out from it as she ripped her bloody hoof back. With heaving breaths, she stumbled back into Pastel’s waiting talons. “I don't care about this stupid fucking ship, you will find a way to save them, or I will!

“Come on! Is there any way we can get help to them!?” Tofu whined as she stepped up beside Hispano. Surprisingly, she wrapped her hooves around Hispano’s side, throwing her a pouty face. “What about the arcane cruise missiles? Can’t we just launch a few from here?”

“We do not have a firing solution that would not risk killing the defenders.” Ping shook his head as he mirrored Eliza’s frown. “To narrow it down enough, we would have to put ourselves within their range to strike back at us with whatever weapon they used to take out Galloway’s skycraft.”

“What about using the Silverfish to designate the target for us?” Hispano squeaked as she snapped her talon. “All you’d need is line of sight, right?”

“While normally that would work, the magical radiation is still generating too much interference to get a clear signal.” Ping brought his hoof up to his chin, looking deep in thought for a moment before turning a curious glance first at me, then onto Buck. “The collar you wear however, might be able to amplify the signal your internal antenna is giving off. If we were both to board the Remora and get close enough, her idea would work. Using your inbuilt rangefinding sensor on the target would give me and the firing system enough data to create an accurate solution. After all, that’s how I was able to guide the missiles into the Pentex bunker.”

“But... that means Buck has to be staring out the open side of the Remora.” She squawked in a way that expressed the alarm I was too slow to capitalize on. “He'll be completely exposed, and there’s no way in tartarus that they won’t see him just hovering up there.”

There’s no way I’m going to use Buck as bait. End of story.

“I'll do it.”

Buck’s stern, but overall prompt response made me freeze up. I know he’d wanted to be more involved, but… this was asking too much. And besides, it didn’t matter, because...

“Night?” Buck’s voice in my ears again derailed my train of thought and forced me to look up at him. “I’m the only one who can do this, so I’m sorry, but as much as you’re probably thinking up a reason not to, I need to go.”

“But…” My mind sputtered and spun to throw out something, anything to call him out as wrong. While I couldn’t find any good reason, our talk earlier came up. “Fine. But you aren't going without me.” I spat out, raising my hoof to his muzzle as he opened it to speak. “No arguing. I don’t care if my flight suit is still wrecked, or if you’re concerned about my health as ‘captain’. I’m not going to let you do this alone.”

“Then as discussed earlier, Frescas and I will go with you as well.” Pastel grunted as both he and Pastel nodded.

“Well then, it’s a party.” Hispano grumbled as she turned her remarkably stoic deadpan to Tofu. Since when did Hispano start doing scary accurate impressions of her dad? “I'm guessing you're going to go as well?”

“I... am going to stay here.” Tofu’s meek voice squeaked out as a blush flushed across her face.

“Tofu…” Both Pastel and Frescas sighed at the same time.

“Like, literally, don’t.” She snorted with a light stomp. “I know I've always hated being posted on this stupid ship, but... I like it here now.” She looked across each of us, ending on both Ping and Eliza with a smile. “I don’t know why, but I feel like I belong on this crew. I want to go on adventures, to get out of my comfort zone, to explore who I am and figure out what it is I'm meant to do. Even if... that means leaving my home behind.” Taking a deep breath, she sat down on the floor hard and crossed her hooves with a huff. “So, tell my mom and my sister that I'm doing well and that I love them, but that I'm staying here.”

“Alright, if that's what you want...” Frescas admittedly shared a somewhat downtrodden look with Pastel before he nodded to her.

“Double Delta has also expressed his willingness to stay, as after returning from exile, he still does not feel at home with the Rangers.” Eliza spoke up as her mare momentarily flickered over to the smiling one again. His reason probably had more to do with being responsible for directly megaspelling them in the first place. He didn’t want to go home and explain himself, which really, was something I could somewhat agree with wanting to avoid... “However, not to bring it up again, but we may only have a short window in which to help Galloway.”

“Right, miss Tofu, get ready to load those missiles!” Ping called out as he all but pranced on his hooves to the bulkhead leading out off of the bridge. “Everyone else, to the Remora!”

Looking up to Buck and meeting his gaze again, I flushed a nervous grin across my muzzle. Goddesses I hope this wasn’t going to be yet another time I ended up crashing out of the sky. He shared a nervous smile back, pretty much confirming he felt the same.

Now, if only I could kill this pit in my stomach then I would be only mildly sure this wouldn’t end in disaster...

While the inside of the Remora was as cramped as always with all of us inside, the rapid ticking from Buck’s metal forepaw somehow made it feel more restricting. The nearly silent engines that carried us didn’t help, and the darkness of the interior didn’t lend anything to help calm the anxious atmosphere that was getting thicker by the minute.

Maybe when we got a chance, I should have the Factory install some lights in the Remora’s cabin at the very least…

But hey, at least Happy had ‘volunteered’ to stay behind this time. So I was at least assured that I wasn’t going to be hugged to death during our probably rapid, unplanned descent to the ground. Something again, which I was just beginning to accept as an eventuality that was just unavoidable.

“Are you sure Pastel will be fine out there?” Frescas offered as she gave Buck’s metal limb a sharp tap.

“As long as we keep this quick, he shouldn’t suffer any long term issues from magical radiation sickness.” Buck’s answer didn’t really help me feel any better about Hispano being out there for now as well, but again, I just had to trust him on this. “I’m more worried about how long those injured Rangers have been outside. Power armor only protects its occupant so long as it can remain pressurized.”

“Well, like Happy mentioned earlier, I’d better not end up sterile or some shit!” Hispano cooed through my comms headset. While it was cramped in the Remora, because of that, she insisted on flying. I mean, she’s not so big of a griff that we couldn’t have made room for her and her sister...

“We are approaching the targeting point.” Ping spoke up, swinging his eyes up to Buck in a way that the dim red that sat behind them seemed to glow even brighter. “Try to keep your gaze steady on the Skyraiders for as long as possible.” Shifting his glance over, the red glow stared right into me. “I hope this is worth the risk, Night.”

“Well, either it works, or it’s not our problem anymore.” I grumbled as I reached up and grabbed tightly around Buck’s paw. Goddesses, I hope this works…

The hydraulics in the Remora came to life, and the side doors to the craft slid open. I was forced to look away as a rush of warm, humid air forced its way into the craft, and the smell of burning metal flooded my nose and instantly threw my mind back to the explosion at Four Peaks. The stench itself was so thick that it felt like it stuck to my tongue and lungs, and every breath I took felt like it caked a layer of it to my insides.

Turning my gaze back out the door, I blinked as I looked over the hellscape that had replaced the farming plains that sat next to Galloway. A brightly glowing prismatic crater a hundred meters across sat gouged into the mud and dirt where the center of Oatsville had once been, and the ashen black ground around it had replaced the numerous fields of crops. Silver, lumpy glints in the crater exposed where more than a few houses had once sat with shelters like the ones that Neon and Bloody had used, now reduced to nothing but melted slag in irradiated and useless soil.

Sporadic gunfire from below pulled my attention back to Galloway, or more accurately, what remained of the old world airport. The blast looked to have brought down half the mountain over part of the base. A wave of rocks and dirt had swept away the northern hangars, as well as the hangar that had been used to store all of the old tech they’d collected. The tunnel entrance that lead off to Mare’s Lake was likewise missing, probably buried underneath a literal mountain of stone and dirt.

Two flaming wrecks, each about the size of Scar sat below us on the runway, as well as a third one that looked to be what was left of the News 5 Vertibuck. The remains of the massive cargo liners that the skyraiders had come to Galloway in lay twisted and broken, but the dozens of raiders who’d been in them still sat entrenched inside. Short bursts of gunfire came from within various holes and windows in the wrecks, firing across at the nearly completely buried remains of Galloway’s terminal and flight control tower.

Inside the blasted out windows of the tower, a few Rangers offered poorly aimed return shots at the raiders. One of the Rangers I could see from here exposed herself, showing off that she wasn’t even wearing power armor in the first place, just normal armor and a gas mask. She braced a long rifle against the edge of the tower windows for a moment before firing off a single shot that sent sparks up from the shattered cockpit of one of the downed planes.

“Galloway… fuck, it’s been totally destroyed.” Frescas gasped as she nearly forced herself right out of the Remora. Thankfully for her, Buck was quick enough that he brought his paw up and kept her from taking one too many steps forward.

“Alright, guys!” Hispano called out as she hovered her way up towards the open door. “I think the jig’s up! Might want to make with the explosions!” Gunfire from below started to pick up slightly, and the wind carried the shouts and calls from the skyraiders below. “Yup! Anytime now!”

“Alright, I need to concentrate.” Buck grunted as the magical radiation counter in his paw spiked with a stiffening of the warm winds coming from the glowing crater. Buck’s augments whirred as part of the mechanical half of his head split open, and his mechanical eye telescoped forward. A thick red beam shot out from it, highlighting just how much dust lingered in the air even from as far up as the Remora was hovering. “Alright, Ping, see if you can help boost the signal to the Arcturus.”

“Gladly.” Ping nodded, blinking away his normal eyes and bringing up the scrolling text.

“Ma’am, we’ve got movement in the skies.” The static filled voice of Apricot came through my comms helmet.

“Uh, Ping?” I called out to him, more than anything not wanting to get shot down by the Rangers we were trying to help.

“Attention, Rangers of Galloway.” Ping’s voice came through my headset as his eyes continued to scroll lines of code. “This is the Remora. We are bringing you fire support from the skies, and all assets on the ground need to provide suppressing fire until it arrives.”

“Acknowledged! And thank the goddesses for your help!” Apricot laughed through the radio before he cut his comms.

The bulky silver form of the dumbest power armored Ranger I’d ever met appeared in the tower window. His helmet was missing for the moment, leaving his exposed head and muzzle to shout something as the minigun strapped to his side spun up and fired. A tremendous line of red tracers burst from both his position, as well as from the two wrecks as the Skyraiders poured fire back at the Rangers.

“Almost…” Buck growled as he narrowed his real eye into a squint. An alarm filled the air from inside the Remora’s cabin, making Buck’s ear’s perk sharply, and making him lose focus. “Ground-to-cloud missile lock on us! I just need a few more...”

A sharp shriek filled the air as a white streak shot out from the northern Skyraider wreck. The missile they fired was fast, but it disappeared in a blinding pyrotechnical display that shot through the sky between us and the ground. The thumping roar of Galloway’s twin engined bomber filled the air as it banked sharply, dumping all of it’s flares as it roared past us.

As the flares fell, the streaking missile curved and shot directly into the side of the mountain. It exploded with another blinding flash, sending a light shower of rocks and debris down over the top of the Remora. Still, we held steady as Buck leaned forward and continued his intense focus on the Skyraiders below.

“Galloway actual and Remora, this is Maiden Flight,” The gruff voice of the pilot in control of the old bomber crackled over my comms. “We are bingo fuel, bingo ammo, and bingo care about who the hell these outsiders are. But if they can clear up our Skyraider problems, then Maiden Flight will help to keep the skies clear!”

“Targeting data acquired, transmitting...” Ping called out as his normal beaming smile pulled across his muzzle. “Thanks for the assist, Maiden Flight,” his voice cracked through my coms again as the whole of the Remora banked hard, nearly throwing both Frescas and I out the open side. “However, we’ll take it from here. Please proceed to a minimum safe distance.”

“You’ve got it, Remora.” The pilot called out again as the heavy skycraft’s engines picked up and pulled it away from the various pot-shots coming up from below. “Galloway actual, once these raiders are clear, see what you can do about clearing that runway enough for us to land.”

“Roger that, Maiden Flight.” Coconut’s voice responded as the Remora stabilized. “Remora, I need intel on just what sort of support is coming and when.”

There was a sharp burst of static over my headset before the now familiar low background hum of the Arcturus came through.

“Tubes three and five reporting successful launch. Tube two however is literally trying to ruin my fucking day. Clamps are jammed and there’s a failure on the manual override. Hope two shots is enough!”

“If not,” Hispano brought up her sister and racked the bolt as she hovered there with a big smile on her face. “Well, Pastel and I can always help the Rangers mop up a bit!”

“Tofu?” A different voice came over my headset, making both Hispano and I scrunch up our expressions. “Tofu, is that you? It’s your mother… hey!” The microphone sounded like it was stuck in the middle of a wrestling match for a moment before it cleared up.

“Remora, I don’t know HOW you got your hooves on the Arcturus, but when this is over, you WILL surrender it back to the Steel Rangers.”

“Ma’am?” Apricot’s disgruntled voice came over as the fire from the Rangers below continued. “Maybe now is not the best time to make demands!” That was about the smartest thing I think I’d ever heard him say…

“That’s the smartest thing that big lug’s ever said!” Pastel laughed as he hovered up to the open side of the Remora. His happy expression dimmed however as he looked over at me, and then over to Ping. “But don’t worry, please. We’ll make sure to explain everything to the Elder. You won’t have to worry about Coconut screwing things up.”

With a roar, the two streaking arcane cruise missiles shot through the air under the Remora. They arched downward toward Galloway, splitting up at the last moment. The two missiles impacted into the sides of the two downed wrecks, tearing through their thin metal skins. They disintegrated in two massive explosions, completely encompassing both downed planes in bright fireballs.

The heat and blastwaves from them washed over the Remora, sending my memory back to the sight of the enormous megaspell blast outside of Cantercross. But as the ringing from the explosions drifted off across the open and blasted plain, the soft ticking coming from Buck’s paw became the only reminder of it once more.

“Alright Frescas, get down there and make sure they’re alright.” Pastel called out as he held his talon out to Frescas. When she took it, he offered her a soft smile. “Find your Dad, make sure he knows you're okay, alright? I’ll join up once we’re done killing the last of these assholes.”

“Come on!” Hispano groaned out as she rolled her eyes. “We’re going to miss all the fun mopping up if we don’t hurry!”

“We’ll be fine, and... I love you.” Frescas offered to Pastel, giving a soft squeeze of his talon before letting it go. “Now go, finish off those bastards.”

We watched as both Hispano and Pastel rolled over and dove off toward the still burning wrecks below. I wasn’t sure how anypony could survive a fiery wreck like that in the first place, let alone another set of missiles exploding around them. But as long as it wasn’t any of us exploding twice today, then that was a win in my book.

To punctuate that, Buck brought his paw down on my back softly and pulled my attention up to him. I stared up at the augmented side of his face as his telescopic eye shrunk, and the case retracted to the normal shape of his head. The soft smile he offered across his metal muzzle didn’t say that he’d enjoyed what happened, but that he was just happy to have helped. And for me, that’s all I needed from him to know that for as much as I worried, he was going to be fine.

“Oh yes, I’m sure he’ll be perfectly fine when he finds out what you’ve done, Night.” Solomon remarked as he peeked his own twisted smile out from behind Buck’s.

Me on the other hoof? I still had a long way to go until I would be ‘fine’ ever again.

Author's Note

A bigger than normal thanks to TheFurryRailFan for really clearing this chapter up. It's been a hard few weeks on me, and he's stepped up yet again to help get this chapter into presentable shape. Seriously, thank you so much.

Chapter 77 - Contemptus Mundi

It's only too many weapons if they're pointing in the wrong direction.

“What the hell is wrong with you!? Get your hooves… off of me!” Frescas growled as she was dragged into the holding cell with the rest of us. She struggled against the same hoofcuffs that we all wore, and was rewarded by being thrown to the floor. The power armored pony who stepped back through the doorway kept his dual miniguns trained through the door as Frescas immediately spun around and tried to hammer her hooves right across the Ranger’s helmet. He of course let her hit him, and simply ignored her. “When the elder hears about this…”

“The elder is gone.” The booming voice of Coconut Curry came from behind the power armored pony at the door. The stern old mare’s voice alone commanded the armor to step back, and her own power armor clad figure stepped forward into view. Her already wrinkly and weathered brown skin now held jaundiced splotches to it, and her white mane had somewhat been stripped from the top of her head. “He made his choice to try to save those in that simpleton village once the warning came in, and he paid the price for his foalish mistake.”

“No…” Frescas gasped as she collapsed onto the floor. “Dad, I’m… I’m so sorry.”

That pulled a laugh from Solomon next to me, as well as an eerily identical laugh from Coconut.

“You’re sorry?” Coconut’s hollow laugh turned even colder as she leveled a sharp glare down her muzzle. “You let our prized possession, an irreplaceable piece of lost tech, fall into the hooves of these… outsiders. You should be glad that I’ve shown you mercy, rather than simply executing you for your incompetence.”

“You should know, she had no choice.” Ping offered as he sat next to me. He’d yet to say ‘I told you so’, but.. here we were, right where he said we’d be. And while I’d known we wouldn’t be welcomed back with open hooves, I sure didn’t think they’d straight up throw us in a cell…

“Quiet, stripe.” Coconut growled, pausing to study ping before lifting her muzzle to dismiss him. She shifted her hatred to the rest of us, with her narrow gaze falling and lingering upon Buck and his augments. “You, dog, where did you find that tech?” She visibly began to recoil in disgust the more she studied him. “Such a waste on a beast, but in the right hooves…”

“It’s what’s keeping him alive.” I stomped my bound hooves as I pushed myself to stand up. Okay, I’d had enough of this shit. “We came here to help, so will you let us or not?”

“You may help by returning what you stole from the Rangers.” She snorted and tipped her muzzle up at me. “If you comply, then we may just let you leave with your lives.”

“Look, Coconut, we can explain everything...” Pastel likewise stepped up like I had, but received a far more damning glare than any of us so far.

“Everything is already clear enough, bird.” Again, she let out a shockingly eerie, short lived laugh from her muzzle. “You outsiders are always so funny. You always think you can fit in with the Rangers. Well, that ends now.” Her power armored hoof stomped hard enough that it cracked the concrete floor under her, and made it perfectly clear to all of us just what kind of mare she was. “The Codex makes it clear that only family matters in the Rangers, and that only pure blooded ponies with us since the war are family. No more slaves, no stripes, no monsters, nor little lost birds pretending they belong. No cowards from above the clouds...” Again she turned her glare down to Frescas, “and definitely no daughters of those who weakened us with their perverted and bastardized interpretations of the Codex.”

Okay, seriously, why was it that after everything, this had to be the way she wanted to take things? Why was it that these types of ponies were all I fucking managed to run into? Oh, right, my curse.

“Stop blaming your ‘curse’ on mundane things, Night. Have you considered that maybe ponies have always been a horribly flawed race? Oh, that’s right, you already know that’s true.” Solomon laughed from behind Coconut, sticking his head out around the concrete cell doorway. “Maybe it’d be better off if you just exterminated everypony you found. Because there can’t be anypony to cause problems if there’s nopony left, right?”

Before I could once again tell him to shut his privileged, non-existent muzzle, Coconut’s magic flared up and leveled a hefty looking pistol at Frescas.

“Your father put us into this situation when he perverted the codex.” The snarl that accompanied her words made Frescas recoil and quiet her sniffling sobs. “and I will stand for that no longer.”

“He was a good pony!” She cried out, getting not even an millimeter of a reaction out of the old mare. Geeze, she’d been a fucking bitch the first time we rolled through, but I didn’t think she could be so cold. “If that’s how you’ve felt, for all these years you’ve been his second, then why…?”

Coconut’s revolver loosed a round that kicked up the mane on top of Frescas’s head. The shot didn’t hit her, however it had failed to miss the metal side of Buck’s head. Sparks lit up the room as the bullet scraped across his face, deflecting off only to lodge itself inside one of his metallic ears. With a displeased look across his muzzle, Buck flicked his mechanical ear a bit, finally dislodging it at about the same time the ringing from the shot left my own ears.

“He was a traitor.” Coconut snarled as she moved her pistol down to point directly at Frescas. “Worse than that, your father was a monster, letting lowlifes and lesser races in our ranks. He was nothing but a disgrace to the Steel Rangers.”

“No, he wasn’t a monster…” The weight of everything finally came down on Frescas, and she completely lost herself as she collapsed to the floor in tears.

“Look at that weakness.” Solomon’s churlish tone again made me want to snap at him, but with as ruthless as Coconut’s turned out to be, I wasn’t sure I could afford to do anything unexpected like that. “What? You’ll help anypony who even so much as looks at you with needy eyes, but you won’t move a muscle to help someone who truly measures up to your own unfortunate and pathetic life?”

“Come on, Coconut, lay off her.” Pastel grumbled as a wicked smile parted his beak. “This has never been about him or how he ran this place. This is all about you finally becoming the Elder,” Unlike Frescas, Pastel’s words sent a wave of emotions sweeping over the old mare, starting with rage, and ending with pure contemptment. “It’s about you being able to push your racist attitude back across the Rangers that the Elder had worked for years to remove.”

“Perhaps that is a perk of my new title, but that’s simply a boon attached to finally being able to put things back to the way the codex explains they are supposed to be.” With a careful and effortless shift of her magic, the barrel of her pistol shifted over to aim at the smiling griffon. “I’ve waited long enough for this day. I stood by for all those years as he ignored my advice, and now it's about time somepony cleaned up the place. Only pure ponies belong within the Rangers, just as the codex instructs. The rest of you creatures have made enough of a mess of the wastes as is.”

I don’t know if it was because I’d been losing my mind to the drugs, or if I’d actually found that funny, but a light laugh slipped out of the end of my muzzle.

“I’ve heard that shit before.” I grumbled as she shifted her glance over to me while still keeping her gun trained on Pastel. “Up above the clouds, that’s all the Enclave would ever feed us. That the other races of ponykind were weak for bringing about the end of the world.”

“Nah, the Enclave were racist, believe me. But they wouldn’t have gone this far with it. That’s why they kept everyone else above the clouds in the dark about the ground.” Hispano chimed in as well, shifting herself roughly enough that she commanded Coconut’s look over to her. “It’s not the Enclave she’s sounding like to me. All this talk about purity is starting to make her sound like one of those puritans…”

Hispano’s words died as Coconut shifted her pistol over to her. The mechanical click of the hammer being drawn back was a good enough signal for her to stop, and the rest of us held our breaths. Coconut’s angry glare washed over each and every one of us, and it wasn’t until she tilted her pistol up with a smirk that I felt like I could even risk taking a breath again.

“None of you outsiders are even worth the ammunition.” She offered under her breath as she moved to step back through the doorway. “Enjoy your time in here, as your executions will be very shortly arranged.”

“Coward.” Frescas seethed through her teeth as she pushed herself back up to even a half sitting position. “My father stood for what was right in the wastes. He knew that we couldn’t keep the chapter going all by ourselves, that’s why he allowed others in.” With tears still running down her cheeks, she turned and looked back at Pastel, who’s smirk died at the sight of her. “And I don’t care what you think, Coconut. He was right, we need them to help us carry on, just like I need Pastel in my life. He makes me a better pony, they all do.” Turning her gaze back, she met Coconut’s glare head on with a mirrored snarl pulling across her muzzle. “And until you realize that, you’ll never be an Elder that anypony respects.”

“Agree to disagree.” Coconut smirked as she sharply pushed her pistol forward, pressing it firmly against Frescas’ forehead. “Now then, Aguas Frescas, I’m going to give you one chance. Renounce yourself from the Steel Rangers, forfeiting your right to challenge me for the title of Elder. Or don’t, and I will let a bullet make that decision for you.”

My eye twitched as those words made me furious. Ponies like Coconut were exactly why the wasteland became as bad as it had been! If I only had my goddess damned battle saddle still…

“Then you would what?” Solomon’s laughter echoed in my head, making me wince as the pain behind my socket flared up. “Fuck everything up and get everyone killed? Don’t forget, you don’t save ANYONE.”

Solomon’s voice was cut off as Coconut’s pistol flashed once again, and this time, she didn’t miss. The back of Frescas's head flowered out in a spray of blood and bone as Coconut’s round tore through it. With the ringing hanging in my ears, I watched as her lifeless body slumped to the floor in a heap.

In the following instant, Pastel's cuffs had been torn off. His scream was lost behind the ringing, and he had all but thrown himself at the elderly mare. He was faster than I could’ve thought anygriff could be, and much faster than Coconut had expected. Her magic fizzled as his sharp beak clamped around her throat before she could react. Another spray of blood painted the doorway as he torqued, ripping a chunk of her throat out.

Coconut couldn’t even let out a gurgling gasp as she collapsed to the floor, where she joined Frescas as nothing more than a lifeless heap.

No no, this was all wrong!

Pastel spat out the chunk of flesh from his beak, shoving himself back off Coconut's corpse. He looked back at the rest of us, only having a moment to take a breath as he stared at Frescas's body with tears streaming down his crimson cheeks.

The ripping sound of the armored guard Ranger's minigun was jarring. The red line that tore through Pastel swung like a single clean slice from Happy's sword. I watched in horror as the griffon’s body all but fell apart to the tremendous burst of fire. More blood and gore showered us all as in just another in a line of split seconds, yet another person I knew was dead and gone. All that was left when the short spray ended, was a whole filled pile of crimson meat and feathers on the floor.

I didn't have even a moment to absorb the horrendous scene before us as the power armored Ranger stepped up to the doorway. He was drenched in rivers of crimson gore that slogged down his armor, and his hollow black-eyed gaze filled my mind with nothing but pure fear.

Time slowed to a crawl as his gun started to spin up again, and I opened my muzzle to call out to Buck, Hispano, and Ping.

The withering ringing of gunshots made me scream out as it swung across the room, shredding Ping, Hispano, and Buck to bloody bits right in front of me. It was like a nightmare, being forced to watch it happen while I could do nothing to stop it. They were all… gone.

As the withering fire finally made it’s way over to me, I felt nothing but anguish and terror rip through me as I was torn apart.

"Hey!" A hard smack across my muzzle left a stinging sensation that instantly scrambled my senses. Hispano huffed as her balled up talon was held out, ready to strike again. "Snap out of it, Night! You've gotta hold it together!"

Looking over I found Frescas sobbing on the floor, being comforted by Pastel as best he could through his restraints. At the door, Coconut was gone, replaced by the flat grey plating of the heavy steel door that locked us inside the cell.

It… what I’d seen... wasn't real.

"What happened?" I had to force myself to speak, to make myself hold on to reality as best I could.

"Miss Frescas renounced her claim for Elder, and agreed to permanent exile." Ping answered me with the same imperfect nervous expression he'd tried to wear before. "Are you alright, Night?"

"Y-yeah.” Like was becoming all too common for me now, I lied through my teeth. And by the way that both Ping and Buck shared the exact same cringe, I knew they could see right through it. “Just... we need to get out of here."

“You know what I like about you, Night?” Solomon’s voice was again just a whisper in my ear, but this time it carried with it the ringing of the gunshots in my hallucination. “The voracity, tenacity, the AUDACITY you present to the wastes as the ‘survivor’! You can be a force of nature at a moment’s notice! A true LEADER to those around you!” He paused as I blinked and he appeared to tower over me with a look of pure disdain across his muzzle. “And yet, most of the time, what are you? A scared, little lost colt, wandering around looking for what? Love? Acceptance? Yet another parental figure to lose?” He laughed to himself as I finally got a grip again and tore my gaze from him. “You could be so much more, you know that, Night?”

“And how do you propose we do that?” Pastel growled as he squeezed Frescas tighter with his wing. “We’ve been stripped of our weapons, and even if we could get out of here, the moment anypony in power armor shows up, we’d be screwed.”

“That’s not… entirely accurate.” Buck winced as he shifted his mechanical paws, effortlessly shearing off the restraints that had been placed on him. With a few clicks and whines, a section of plating on his left forearm folded outward, and the small, sleek energy weapon he’d had Sierra install raised up from inside. Oh I could just kiss him right now! “I haven’t had a chance to do anything other than run diagnostics on it, but from what I understand, it should be enough to get us out of here. Now hold still. Setting level seven should be enough to cut through...”

A short lived, pulsing beam of orange light streaked out from the weapon on his forearm. Sparks and the smell of ozone filled the room as the metal link to Pastel’s talon restraints were severed.

“Holy shit, Buck!” Hispano let out something between a squawk and an elated squeal as her wings flared out. “You’ve been holding out on me! Here, do me next!” Eagerly, she held out her own bound talons and locked her eyes on the small weapon as he swung it over. Again, with a short burst from the beam, her restraints were severed. Slowly, she lifted her freed talons up and stared at the melted bits of it as she let loose a giddy burst of excited laughter. She poked at the broken restraints, giving a gasp before sharply pulling back her talons. “They aren’t even hot, that’s fucking amazing!”

“Too amazing.” Pastel grumbled as Buck turned to me and pointed his gun at my own restraints. I marveled as the small beam melted through the steel cuffs without the slightest bit of discomfort on my end, and I couldn’t hide my own smile as my hooves were freed and I was finally able to throw myself into a hug around Buck’s furred chest.

“I’ve never even seen a weapon like that.” Frescas sniffed as she turned and fixed her gaze on the small weapon. “Where did you find it? Or is it something that the Factory made?”

“It is far more advanced than anything we could produce.” Ping remarked as he shifted his forehooves and simply tore through his restraints as Buck had. “That device was recovered by our operators, who scavenged it from an unknown skycraft which had crashed on the side of Foal Mountain over eighty years ago. It’s true origin is unknown, but other artifacts gathered from the same site point to the fact that it may not even be from our temporal realm.”

“Impossible.” Pastel rolled his eyes, letting them fall on Buck’s forearm again as it pointed down to Frescas’ restraints. With another zap of energy, Frescas was free. Of course like me, the first thing she did was turn and throw her hooves around the one she loved, bringing a bright flushing blush to Pastel’s cheeks. “Er, but now’s not the time to debate I suppose. We need to figure out how to get to our gear and get back to the Arcturus.”

“What?” Frescas pushed off of him with as much suddenness as she had hugged him with. “We aren’t leaving the Rangers like this. I don’t care if I’ve renounced myself, I’m not leaving her in charge to destroy everything the Elder... my father, worked for.”

“I agree.” Ping’s expression went flat as he shared a short lived glance with her. “For as much as I do not trust the Rangers, Coconut Curry as Elder does not factor well into a peaceful future for the north.” With a swift shift of his forehoof, Ping swung it out and jabbed it right against my side as I held onto Buck. It wasn’t a painful jab, but it was so uncomfortable that it nearly knocked me off of him. “As for you, Night. I must now inform you: I told you so.”

“That you did, Ping.” I grumbled as I released my grip around Buck’s warm form and let myself fall back onto my hooves. “However right you were though, it doesn’t help us to get out of here.”

“I think I can help with that as well.” Buck offered a jagged smile as he walked himself over to the sealed steel cell door.

“That door is six inches of naval steel we ‘borrowed’ from the wreck of a destroyer.” Frescas scoffed. “Even with as capable as your weapon is, it can’t cut through something like that.”

“Actually, on it’s maximum setting of sixteen and it’s dispersion set to wide, it is perfectly capable of vaporizing a pony sized tunnel through a meter of solid granite.” Ping’s muzzle split into his usual beaming smile, that started to sink as soon as he realized that neither Frescas or Pastel believed him at all.

Buck lifted his balled up metal paw to the steel door, and gave a light rapping against it. Even through the six inches of steel, you could hear as the power armored pony outside shifted and turned around. With a squeal, the door opened up sharply.

“What do you…” The pony in power armor stopped just short of finishing that sentence to instead back himself up from the door. “Shit, your restraints! I need backup!”

A cone shaped blue pulse fired from Buck’s weapon, washing over the Ranger and dropping him into an unmoving armored heap on the concrete floor.

“On setting two, this device is incredibly useful in non-lethal applications.” Buck smiled and easily plucked the unconscious Ranger up off the floor, dragging him into the room with us. “The nadion pulse it emits can temporarily disrupt nerve signals to the brain, and thus renders the subject unconscious for a period of about ten minutes. So while he’s down now, we don’t have all that much time if we want to stop Coconut.”

Now I could see exactly why Buck chose that little device over the others Sierra offered. To him, it wasn’t a weapon, but just another tool for him to carry around. Something else he could use to help rather than harm.

“Which is a mistake.” Solomon smirked as he leaned himself against the doorway with his normal smug look across his muzzle. “Why incapacitate and take risk that he’ll be a problem in the future? Even you think you should just kill him now to be sure you won’t regret it later, I can FEEL you thinking that deep down, Night.”

Maybe because not everypony is as eager to kill as you are, Solomon. And while I may have made a different choice if I were the one with that weapon, it wasn’t up to me. And besides, Buck is… the better one of us to make calls like that, even if he’s had his own problems.

“A pity then when you’ll end up getting him killed through your own ineptitude.” Solomon smirked before disappearing behind Buck’s lumbering form as he stepped into the doorway and peeked out. He looked back and forth down the hallway before pulling back into the cell with a scrunched up muzzle.

“While the interior of Galloway terminal and it’s magical fallout shelter was available in public records, this holding area doesn’t match any known section of the old world construction.” Buck frowned as he looked down to both Pastel and Frescas.

“It’s because we’re in an add-on to the original shelter, one Dad had built a decade back, when we started capturing slaves and taking down the slave traders.” Frescas grumbled as she got herself back onto her hooves with Pastel’s help. Her legs wobbled for a moment before she brought a forehoof up to wipe at her damp cheeks, but for as weak as she appeared, I could see the burning rage behind her expression. “We’re in cell two right now. If we head out left, take that hallway as far down to the right as we can and then turn left again, we’ll get back to the provision storage room for the old shelter. I’m sure that’s where they stored all our stuff until they can get around to cataloging it and adding it to the...” She paused for a moment before sighing. “Well I guess with the main storage hangar buried, I don’t know what will happen to it.”

“Look, with Galloway in the shape we saw it in, I’m sure that they’ve fallen back onto Raid Protocol.” Pastel brought his talon up to his beak, tapping at it with a glance over at me. “Which means that most capable assets are reserved for base perimeter defence, and what little they have to spare, is probably out trying to move and salvage what they can from the storage hangar.”

“That means internal security will be light.” Hispano rubbed her talons together, nodding and she saddled herself up right alongside me. “And with Buck here able to knock them out, we shouldn’t have a problem busting out of this place!”

“Well, there’s a small problem with that.” Buck winced as he turned and held up his forearm so we could all see the small weapon disappear inside of it. “Despite how useful it is, the device still draws from my body as a powersource, and I’ve just about used up all I can spare. And with this being the first time I’ve used it, I have no idea how long it will take to recharge.”

“Then we do this the old fashioned way.” Hispano’s beak curled into a smile. “Get to our guns, and kick that old mare’s ass on the way out.”

“That would not be advised.” Ping gave a wave of his forehoof before looking at Buck. “As I’m sure Buck will corroborate, Coconut Curry has already broadcast to the Rangers that she has assumed the position of Elder. Given the state of emergency the Rangers are already in, any transgressions we commit will only lead to reinforce her position and her ideals to them. If we are to depose her, it must be done non-violently. Otherwise, it is my suggestion that we simply make our way back to the Remora and leave.”

“So what you’re saying is that after all she’s done, you do want to get out of here and just leave without killing her? Or if we stay, we need to remove her as elder, but again, without killing her?” Hispano’s plumage bristled up as she all but flailed herself right into the air. “And how the fuck are we supposed to do either of those things exactly!?”

The room fell into silence as none of us really had an answer for that. Even worse, was with every minute we sat here, we were losing time to act at all. Ugh! Why is it that when I need to step up with an idea, I have no fucking clue about what to do. I mean hell, Delilah would probably have known what to do.

“Delilah wouldn’t have even put you in the position YOU got everypony stuck in. She wouldn’t have left you all without something to bargain for, but what do you have to offer her? Your animosity? Your incompetence?” Solomon’s voice echoed around in my head again, causing a short lived aching in the back of my empty socket to flare up. “You are nothing but a failure, Night. You always will be.”

Actually, that’s a good point! Delilah wouldn’t have gone to a negotiation without something to bargain with, and in this case, I didn’t have to either. You know, for as annoying as it was having Solomon’s voice stuck in my head, at the very least, he had been somewhat useful to me at times.

“Ping, I need two things from you. The first, is it possible for you to find a way to get in control of the Ouroboros through the radiation outside? I need to know if you can operate it’s systems as a last resort.” I turned with a smirk spread across my muzzle as my mechanical zebra companion dropped into a look of deep thought.

“It is possible, yes.” He nodded before looking back over to Buck. “If the drone in their tower is still intact enough, I may be able to use Buck’s yoke to boost and relay the signal from the Remora and Arcturus to reach it. Though any communication with the Ouroboros would be a one way transmission containing only simple instructions. I could instruct it to path towards Galloway, but it could take upwards of eight hours to arrive depending on the path it chooses to take.”

“I don’t need it to come here, I just need to know if you can tell it to build and launch a missile.” I paused as he froze up with a profound look of confusion across his muzzle. “If you can, then the second thing I need to know is if you can prepare a message using Coconut’s voice.”

“Ah, I see now. You’re going to play dirty then.” Solomon smirked as he trotted across the ceiling, hanging his head down in front of my smiling muzzle. “Perhaps I’ve misjudged you after all…”

With a few tweaks from Frescas and Pastel to account for Coconut’s normal cadance and vocabulary, my plan was almost ready to go. We’d easily made it out of the holding area, and had slipped through provision storage relatively quickly. And while our gear was sitting right out in the open for us to reclaim, if our plan was going to work, we needed to stay unarmed. This only has a chance to succeed if we can prove just how bloodthirsty and terrible Coconut truly was.

And while they weren’t kidding that the internal security was light, the second I poked my head out into the main bunker hallway, I’d seen at least two armed ponies guarding the end of it. Each one wore a battle saddle with a pair of hefty looking magical energy rifles that I was sure they must have stolen from the Enclave with how pristine they looked. Though, unlike their guns, their old combat armor was is pretty poor shape. Scrapes, dings, and more than a few patched bullet holes said to me that these sets must have been hoof-me-downs from probably the start of the war...

“Looks like Banana Muffin and Puff Pastry are guarding the way through.” Pastel mumbled as he hovered above me and took a peek around the corner. “If we’d had the time, I’d suggest we just waited until Puff needed one of her twenty daily bathroom breaks.” He shook his head as we both pulled back around the corner. “I swear, some of the slaves we’ve rescued have been better mannered than our own stock.”

“Probably because it was beaten into them.” Hispano retorted without a single ounce of hesitation as she flapped right over my head and around the corner. “Just chill, I’ve got this!”

“Hispano, wait!” I snapped in the harshest whisper I could get out, but it was too late. With a light giggle, she was gone down the hallway like a bolt. “Goddess damnit.”

“You there, stop!” One of the two guards shouted as they mouthed around the end of their saddle’s bit.

“Woah, woah, easy!” Hispano whimpered as she flared herself to a near hover, holding her talons up to them. “I… I didn’t mean to startle you. P-please, don’t shoot...” Coming down to the floor, I watched as her legs nearly crumpled under her, and she shivered as she lowered herself to the floor. “It’s just… it’s been so long… since I’ve been able to fly. My owner… he was so mean to me…”

“Alright, Banana, stand down. She’s just a kid.” The creme colored mare next to the bright yellow stallion shook her head as she relaxed her guard. Slowly she walked up toward the still shivering Hispano and leaned down with a soft smile. “Hey there, little one. We’re not going to hurt you, but you can’t be back here, okay?”

“Okay…” Shakily, Hispano pushed herself up on her paws again. “And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

I blinked. That was all the time it’d taken for Hispano to flare open her wings and all but jump right onto the head of Puff Pastry. With the full force of her body, she slammed the mare’s face down onto the concrete floor, and both Pastel and I cringed as the mare went stiff and flopped over.

Banana Muffin reacted quickly, and moved to chomp down on his firing bit. With a flash of her talons, Hispano lashed out and yanked the bit down away from his muzzle, flapping her wings and jumping to swing her around right onto the yellow stallion’s back. He bucked hard as she came down on him, and he gurgled out as she brought her talons around his neck.

With a spin, he unsuccessfully tried to throw her off, instead resorting to rearing up and slamming her against the wall. She gave out a pained whine as he bashed her back, but with each second that passed, the stallion’s attempts became slower and weaker. With a woozy stumble, the stallion finally passed out, flopping forward onto the floor with a panting and frazzled looking Hispano.

“I was wrong before.” Solomon nodded as he appeared in the corner of my eye. “You don’t play dirty, SHE does. You could stand to learn a thing or two from her.” Hah, for once I could agree with him on something. She sure is one little ball of feathered amazingness...

“That was the most reckless, irresponsible thing I’ve ever seen a Talon do.” Pastel growled as he hovered himself around the corner towards Hispano. “And unpredictable shit like that illustrates exactly why we’ve allowed ourselves as Rangers to become too lax around outsiders. What we should really be doing is taking notes, and better preparing ourselves.”

“You’re welcome.” Hispano huffed and shot him a sideways glance as she waved the rest of us over. I pushed myself around the corner, approaching her as she did her best to pat down the few out of place feathers around her neck.

“You alright, Hispano?” I asked as I hoofed at one particularly stubborn feather of hers just under her cheek. I don’t know if it was my question or my hoof that drew the blush I could almost feel, but all of her feathers bristled again out as she gave a light giggle.

“Of course I’m alright! Have you met me?” She rolled her eyes, letting them fall on me as I smirked at her. She lifted her talon, but paused for a moment before putting it back down. “Let’s… just get going. I wanna see the look on that bitch’s face when she realizes that everything’s over.”

“Hey, are you…?” I reached my hoof out, only to have her grab it with her talon and stop me just short of touching her.

“I’m fine, Night.” She sighed, pushing my hoof away. “Let’s just get this done, okay? We can chit-chat later.” With another flare of her wings, she pushed herself into the air and hovered down the hall after the others, leaving me standing there wondering what just happened.

“Maybe she’s realized she doesn’t need you anymore.” Solomon whispered into my ear. “Maybe she knows that if she follows somepony like you, all you’ll do is end up getting her killed.”

“And maybe I’ll just end up letting her strangle the life out of you too, Solomon.” I mumbled to myself as I pushed myself to catch up with the others.

It was… weird. The further we pushed toward the old Galloway terminal and it’s control tower, the fewer Rangers we saw at all. With each corner that we turned, I felt like we were walking deeper and deeper into some sort of trap. It also didn’t help that once we’d made our way through the bunker’s hefty blast door, the path ahead was lit exclusively with flashing red emergency lighting.

The newer and cleaner concrete gave way to the worn and stained concrete of wartime construction. The flashing red lights let off an audible buzzing that only made the stark silence of the hallway all the more unnerving. I mean, I get that keeping this place clean wasn’t a priority, but come on! Then again, from how the hallways of the terminal building had been covered in boxes of old world files, I guess that this was clean by comparison.

“Fuck, I don’t like this.” Pastel muttered as we stopped to check the final corner leading into the ruins of the old world air traffic control terminal. “Even with Raid protocol, where the hell is everyone?”

“The debris from the mountain above are still causing too much interference to eavesdrop on outside communications.” Buck answered with a note of concern in his own voice. Reaching up, he gave a light tap on his metallic eye, and it flickered to a bright white state. His eye beamed out like a flashlight, and cut through both the darkness as well as the blinking red lighting. “However, I can hear gunfire ahead. From how muffled it is, it’s most likely the Rangers firing from the mountainside rubble above the bunker.”

“What? I don’t hear a damn thing.” Hispano grumbled, spinning as she hovered along beside me, only to pause as she watched Buck’s mechanical ears turn and tweak slightly. “Oh, right, you have cheaty ears.”

Still, however cheaty his ears were, the news didn’t sit right with me. We mopped up the skyraiders when we’d arrived, so just what the hell were the Rangers shooting at? Did more arrive while we were locked up, or were their survivors of the megaspell that were seeking shelter?

“We should take advantage of this turn in events then.” Ping spoke up as he pushed ahead around the corner without even hesitating. “If they are in distress, it only helps our bargaining position.”

“Yeah, but if it’s something they need us to help fight, we just opted to leave all our guns back there.” Hispano flapped after him, prompting me to move to turn the corner with her to keep up. However, the firm grasp of a mechanical paw wrapped around me and held me still.

“Wait.” Buck snapped as his light swung back down the hallway we’d just come from. His mechanical ears perked, and he stiffened up, standing at attention as both he and Frescas sat staring down the hallway.

“Did… did you just see that too?” Frescas asked, taking a shaky step backwards.

“What is it?” I asked as I did my best to turn myself in Buck’s tight grip. Peeking my head back around the corner, the emergency lighting made it hard to see anything at the other end of the dark hallway, but I couldn’t help but feel a tingle of fear run down my spine from it. I don’t know why, but it felt like the dark there was moving, shifting ever so slightly, but… I couldn’t really be sure. “Buck… what’s down there?”

Before he could answer, a set of sparks flashed from the dark, far corner of the hallway. Arcs of white electricity crawled with a thick snapping noise along the exposed piping of the hallway. The arcs didn’t travel far, and shifted around as a luminous white orb pushed through the concrete wall. The electrical arcs emanated from it’s body like legs, almost like it was helping to drag the orb into the open.

It bobbed and wobbled as it found a rough center in the hallway, shifting as we watched it. Again, I couldn’t be sure, but I almost felt like it knew we were watching, as it paused before it’s electrical legs pulled it back through the still open blast door of the bunker. The snaps of it drained off, and it’s lingering brightness slowly faded away, letting the darkness and red flashing emergency lighting take back the hallway once more.

“I heard it again.” Buck whimpered as he too took a step back like Frescas had. “The screaming, like when we’d gone through the tunnel.” More than just the fact that his voice held a note of fear in it, the air around us felt like it dropped to subzero temperatures in just moments. “I have a hunch that whatever was in those tunnels, is no longer content to stay there anymore…”

“There…” Frescas brought up a shaking hoof, pointing back down the hallway.

The darkness at the end of the hallway shifted again, deepening to the point that even the flashing emergency lighting wasn’t strong enough to push it back. Right before our eyes, shapes resolved from it, forming into rough pony shapes made of pure shadow. They didn’t have eyes, or any real substance to their forms. But something deep in my mind told me that these things were the reason for the stories about ponies disappearing in the tunnels, and that Buck’s hunch was something we didn’t want being proven true.

“We should move.” I managed to force out of my muzzle. “Now.” Unarmed, and with no idea how to fight anything like these, this was not how I was about to let us all die.

“Agreed.” Buck’s mechanical grip tightened around me. His other arm swung down, scooping up Frescas as well before he dragged us all down the hallway after the others. “Ping, we have a problem.”

“Yes, we do!” Ping’s voice called back from down the hallway ahead. “Everyone, whatever you do, do not let the apparitions touch you!”

“What? Why!?” Hispano grunted as she flared out her wings, zipping back towards the three of us as we rounded the corner. “Fuck it, I need my sister.” I could see the look of determination in her eyes die as Buck dropped Frescas back onto the floor and swung up in time to catch Hispano as she flew past. “Hey!”

“We’ll come back for her.” Buck grunted, focusing on keeping her held tight as we continued to push forward. “I promise.”

“What’s going on?” Pastel called out as he too zipped over to Frescas as she got back to her hooves and charged straight into a gallop. He peeked his head back around the corner and nearly lost all color to his plumage. “Oh, shit. Not these things again!”

“You’ve seen these, these... things before?” Frescas whimpered as her forehoof was grabbed by Pastel and she was all but dragged right off the ground as he took flight to follow us.

“Yes, the misfits and I have seen them a few times in the tunnel, and only magical energy weapons seem to have any effect on them.” He grunted as he did his best to keep pace with Buck’s heavy mechanical stomps. “But why are they here!? They’ve never left the tunnel before!”

“It is only a theory, but the magical radiation from the megaspells may have bolstered whatever innate magic they are made of.” Ping’s voice didn’t come from ahead this time, rather, it came straight out of Buck’s muzzle. “Little about them is known by the Factory, however, we have surmised that they are made of negative emotions, and are thus drawn to it as a source of energy. This is why you must not let them touch you, as you will not survive the bonding process.”

“Oh fuck this shit.” Hispano whined and struggled against Buck’s paw. “I am not about to be a fucking battery for some magical bullshit monster.”

“Then I suggest we start running!” Pastel grunted as he flapped hard, carrying himself and a fairly startled Frescas right off the ground and down the hallway ahead of Buck and the rest of us.

As Buck gripped both Hispano and I tightly to each of his sides, I managed to get a glimpse back down the hall. The shadow ponies moved faster than any normal pony could, and more of them stepped right through the walls like they weren’t even there! Even with Buck’s augmented legs, he was barely able to stay ahead of them. And worse, was that with every moment they got closer, it seemed like the faster they were getting.

“You see that, Night Flight? These are what inevitability looks like.” Solomon’s voice made me blink, and right in the middle of the shadow ponies, he appeared, running right along with them.

No, there has to be a way out of this! After everything else, there’s always a way out. Maybe we just need to get to the rangers, maybe they have something in their arsenal that can fight these things! I mean, they’ve had to stay alive in that tunnel somehow, right!?

“Something in their arsenal? You mean the one that’s nothing but smoldering rubble in the irradiated atmosphere outside?” Solomon’s laugh was sharp and cold, and very nearly did it’s best to make my already terrified mind freeze solid. “Why do you persist with the idea that you can be anything more than the pathetic stallion you are? Why run from them when they too only feed on negative emotions, just as you do. Don’t deny it, some part of you loves the feeling of fear, of being pushed to the edge out of desperation! So why not give in and let them help you reach the highest high you’ll ever feel?”

That… was something actually! If they’re speeding up from negative emotions, then maybe, just maybe, something positive can slow them down!

“What?” Solomon snorted in disgust, “That was not what we meant! You need to give in, Night!”

“Buck...!” I called out as he scrambled to get us around another hallway. My voice was cut off as he barreled right through the stacks of boxes that lined the now familiar halls. Pastel and Frescas were just ahead, doing their best to weave through the clutter, but that was slowing them down to the point where if I didn’t act fast, we’d all be caught. “Buck, I know you’re busy keeping us alive, but bring Hispano and I together right now!”

Both Hispano and I whined as Buck’s massive mechanical paws brought us together, forcing us into an impromptu tight hug that let me feel just how fast Hispano’s heart was beating. Her panicked gaze settled on my own as she opened her beak to speak, but that was my chance. With a firm press of my muzzle, I leaned forward and did my best to block out the rest of the world as I kissed her.

I don’t think Hispano questioned why, but as her talons curled around me tighter, I could feel both of our sets of wings straining to push out against Buck’s grip. A blush flushed up both of our cheeks, and I could feel the tension melt out of Hispano’s body as we sat there locked together.

My thoughts raced, bounding back and forth between panic and pleasure. I tried my best to close my eyes and imagine the Brahman Beach I’d seen in my dreams. Just to think what it would be like once we were finally there. The three of us, together as a family.

I could hear the crashing of the waves on the shore. I could almost feel the sand under my hooves, and the warm breeze under my wings. Celestia’s sun beaming down it’s warmth as I laid with Buck and Hispano on the beach, not a single worry between us. It was going to be paradise, and all I needed to do was survive long enough to make it a reality.

The illusion in my mind slowly faded away as Hispano and I broke off for air, and our eyes fluttered open to meet each others.

“What… what the hell was that for?” Hispano huffed as Buck’s rapid pace slowed to a crawl when we’d caught up to Pastel and Frescas.

“They feed on negativity, right?” I panted lightly as I did my best to squeeze my hooves around Hispano’s warm form. “Thought maybe some positivity could make them lose interest.”

“That’s idiotic, Dum Dum.” She cooed softly as a contented smile pulled across her beak. “But… it’s not the worst idea you’ve had.” Leaning in, she planted a small peck on my already brightly burning cheek. “And if we’re going to die, then at the very least I’m glad that I got to have that short moment with you.”

“We’re not going to die!” Ping’s voice came through Buck’s muzzle like it had before. “I have discovered that Night is indeed correct! Positive emotions repel the apparitions! Hooray!”

Peering ahead past Pastel and Frescas, I watched as Ping stood completely still between the stacks of papers and files. His beaming smile wasn’t literally beaming, but the moment the shadow ponies stepped from the walls around him, they recoiled and dipped back inside.

“How the fuck are you that positive right now!?” Pastel snapped as we pushed toward the end of the hallway. The open door to the control tower was in sight, and even better, it was wide open for us.

“What do I have to fear?” Ping answered back as he turned and followed behind Buck. As he passed, he shot me a wink and let loose a little laugh. “In fact, I’ve never felt so alive!”

“That’s great, but the rest of us…!” Pastel roared back, but was cut off as Frescas wrapped her forehoof around his neck and dragged him into a firm kiss that stopped him right in his tracks.

“Just shut up, you big goof.” She forced out a laugh as she pulled back. With a quick flick of her hoof, she wrapped her fetlock around his talon, and it was now Pastel’s turn to be nearly pulled right off the floor. “Come on! We’re almost...!”

“HALT.” The booming voice of a power armored pony called out as they stepped into the open doorway ahead of us. The armor was caked in dust and scuff marks, but the one minigun that still sat bolted to it’s chassis still looked in near perfect condition. As much as I’d expected to be mowed down in a hail of buzzing gunfire like my hallucination, the Ranger instead stiffened up and stepped back out of the doorway as fast as he’d appeared. “Forgive me, Captain, and Captain Frescas! I had no idea you two were alive!”

Wait, I knew that dopey sounding power armored voice…

“Get to the control tower, Apricot!” Pastel shouted as both he and Frescas practically dove through the doorway and scrambled up the stairs.

“Yes, sir!” Apricot whinnied and took off right after them.

With the rest of us hot on their heels, Ping’s bright smile was doing just enough to keep the shadows from coming through the walls all the way. The winding stairs groaned under the furious steps of more weight than I was sure they were originally built to hold, and Buck struggled not to get tangled in the mess of wires that came down from the terminals still up above.

I will say this however, for having a mountain come down practically on top of it, the whole building seemed to have held up incredibly well! Up and up we climbed, and with each step, the unnerving ticking sound coming from Buck’s mechanical paw became louder and louder. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of galloping right out into a bunch of radioactive air, honestly, anywhere was better than cramped hallways right about now!

Then again… how many innocents are left down there? How many ponies didn’t know how to fight these things? All those worries however were pushed to the back of my mind as we burst into the control tower, and were nearly blinded by the bright light that hit us.

We pushed through the already open door to the control center, and rushed into the cramped terminal laiden room. With the windows having been blown out from the megaspell blast, and the roof having been torn right off, the daylight filtered in through a dull, almost prismatic haze. And while the haze worried me, I was surprised to see that each time one of the shadow ponies pushed through the walls around here, they were completely dissolved by the beams of radiant sunlight.

The scent of Ozone clung to the air from all of the burnt terminal casings, but the one thing I was happy to find completely intact, was the silverfish drone the Rangers had wired up to everything. Which reminded me, with those things down there roaming around, it may be the case that we wouldn’t even have to deal with Coconut Curry at all!

A dozen other Rangers in the now roofless room all turned on us the moment we came through the door, leveling their weapons at us. But the same as Apricot had, more than a few lowered their guns as they realized who exactly we were. One pony in a set of particularly beat up power armor stepped forward and removed their helmet.

“Outsider?” The green mare with a now sharply trimmed brown mane wore a weary but happy expression as she set her helmet down beside her. Of all the ponies I’d expected to find in Ranger power armor, Bloody Mounds was not one of them. “It is good to see you are still alive.”

“You know her?” Hispano whispered into my ear, loosening her grip on me as the power armored mare took a step closer.

“She and her husband were the puritans who took me in and hid me...” I nodded and looked about to the other Rangers, hoping Neon would be up here among them. However, when he didn’t speak up or say anything, I looked back to Bloody, and her somewhat hollow smile told me everything I needed to know. He… hadn’t made it. “It’s good to see you, but we have critical information for fighting these things. They’re repelled by positive emotions.”

“Hah!” Apricot gave a stiff laugh as he groaned and forced shut the heavy security door we’d come through. “With everything that’s happened today, if all we need is a bit of positivity, then we truly are doomed.” The rest of the Rangers nodded and gave their own forced chuckles, but looked to Apricot as he reached his hooves up and likewise took off his helmet. His luxurious mane and handsome appearance were somewhat marred by his matted fur and the rivers of sweat dripping down his coat. I guess that while the Ranger armor was tough, it didn’t have the kind of climate control that the Enclave suits provided… “Then again, Captain, we had been informed that you and Frescas had been executed by those that stole the Arcturus. And yet, here you are, so perhaps all is not lost.”

“Don’t lose hope, big guy.” Pastel stepped towards the armored ranger and firmly planted his talon on his side. “We live through today and maybe I’ll put in a good word for a promotion to paladin.” The words sent an almost visible electric tingle down the stallion’s neck, resulting in a smile rivaling Ping’s to pull across the armored ranger’s muzzle.

“Is this… all that’s left of us?” Frescas sighed as she looked across the other armed Rangers.

“No, ma’am.” A unicorn mare in a full muzzled gas mask stepped up. Her horn flared and pulled the mask up, revealing the sweat drenched orange face of Scribe Bundt. While I still felt somewhat sour about the fact that she’d arrested me the first time we were here, like with Bloody, it was at least nice to see a familiar face. She turned to Pastel and threw her hoof up in a tired, but stiff salute. “In accordance with Raid protocol, Captain Coconut and my mother led all non essential personnel to the shelter barracks. They radioed up the emergency code for us to activate the barracks’ magical field barrier, I assume due to those shadow pony things that keep cropping up out of every shadow. Though, at least for us, we seem safe so long as we stay in the sunlight. It’s why the roof’s missing, if you were wondering.”

“Yes, the magic around the barracks should keep them safe for now.” Pastel nodded and curled his talon around his beak. “Though, until we turn the barrier off, communication with them will be impossible. And we can’t turn it off until it’s remotely safe for them down there, which could take days for this radiation to clear.”

“It is not impossible to talk with them!” Ping chimed up as he turned to the silverfish and pointed at it. “It might be possible to use the drone’s broadcast hardware to amplify a signal enough to get to them, provided you modulate the amplitude to counteract the magical field constant.”

“Who the hell is this guy?” Bundt spat out with a cock of her eyebrow.

“It’s a long story.” Frescas signed and gave a reassuring sideways glance to the still smiling mechanical Zebra. “First off, we need to have a talk...”

Clang. Clang. Clang.

Everyone jumped as the heavy hammering hits against the sealed control tower doorway resonated through even the floor. As one, we all turned to the dark door, waiting, listening for any screams of agony from whatever unfortunate soul was locked on the other side.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

“Open the door.” I blurt out like usual, earning myself a half dozen looks that screamed I was suggesting something crazy. “Well? Open it!”

Apricot spun around on his rear hooves and jammed his armored forehooves against the release lever for the door. With a squeal, it shifted, and the door was forced open by yet another pony in power armor. They heaved in their armor, immediately spinning around once through to help shut the door again. Both Apricot and the other armored pony grunted as it shut with a firm slam, and the whole lot of us took a deep, radiation saturated breath of relief.

“Give me… a status report…” Coconut Curry’s booming voice and heavy heaving breaths poured through the speakers in her helmet. Because of fucking course she would live through all that shit!

“How the hell are you still alive.” Buck growled in a guttural tone that caught me off guard.

“Oh, so you did escape. Good. Good.” Coconut’s tone lowered as she spun around and stared at us. The soulless eyes of her helmet wandered between us, stopping on Frescas and Pastel. “You’re all smarter than I gave you credit for if you figured out the secret to repelling these monsters.” The whine of capacitors inside both of the magical energy weapons strapped to her armor hid very little of the mirth in her cold voice. “Sure, positive thoughts scare them off just fine, but where’s the fun in that when it’s our job, our responsibility to destroy the monsters of this world?”

“You’re the only monster here, lady.” Hispano snorted before tensing up as Buck gave her a squeeze that told her to shut her beak before she got us shot.

“Elder, what’s going on?” Apricot snorted as he stepped up beside her. He threw his massive armored forehoof up right at Pastel before glaring at her with a gaze that could melt steel. “You told us all that Captain Pastel and Captain Frescas were dead.”

“The truth was need to know.” Coconut snapped at him, forcing him to take a step back from her. “It matters not now, as they have both been stripped of their ranks, and are hereby exiled from all chapters of the Steel Rangers!”

“With all due respect, acting elder.” Scribe Bundt grunted as she deadpanned at the power armored mare. “But last I checked, due to her relation with Elder Soursop, Captain Frescas is perfectly eligible to challenge you for the title of Elder.”

“She renounced her claim.” Coconut hammered her hoof on the floor before pointing it right back up at her own armored chest. “I alone stand as Elder now, and you will follow my orders.”

“She renounced her claim at gunpoint!” Pastel shouted as he stepped up to defend Frescas.

ZOTT

The discharge of the magical energy rifles on Coconut’s saddle turned the room bright pink for a moment. The smell of burning flesh was followed by Pastel’s smoking form collapsing to the floor. Frescas let out a gasp of horror as we all stood and watched as, while he didn’t disintegrate, he didn’t get back up from the hits either.

Okay, that was it.

“You want to be Elder, Coconut? Fine.” I snapped at her, glancing over at Ping just long enough that he gave me a nod. Time to see if my plan would buckle the will of even a tyrant like her. “But just know, that is about to be a very unfavorable title to hold.”

“Your threats are meaningless.” Her cold tone was even more hollow than before, and while she had retorted to me, her eyes hadn’t left the crumpled form of Pastel. “Traitors to ponykind like yourself will be dealt with soon enough. But first...” She turned to Frescas, and the capacitors on her rifles hummed with charge once again. “I’m not about to make a mistake by letting you out of my sight alive again.”

“This is Elder Coconut Curry, of the Galloway Steel Rangers.”The voice of Curry came from Buck’s jaw, from Ping himself, and from every radio on every piece of equipment that the Rangers around us wore. “The events of the last twenty four hours are a wake up call. No longer will the Steel Rangers tolerate the filth that inhabits Equestria’s north. The megaspell rain that blanketed the north is only a first step in making Equestria pure once more.”

“What!?” Coconut’s voice boomed as she gasped and all but ripped her own helmet off. Her dry and flaking skin peeled off with the rough removal, and she whimpered as all but a few strands of her wiry mane still clung to her mottled and bruised scalp. “What… how…?” She muttered as she spun around, looking at each source of her voice.

“Those who run will be hunted down mercilessly. Those who submit will receive no quarter. Your lives are nothing to the Steel Rangers, and your existence is an affront to the progress towards a truly peaceful world.”

“What trickery is this!” The rage seething under Coconut’s skin came to a boil as she turned her burning, hate filled gaze on me. With a snap that I’m sure had to have been painful for her, she brought her armored hoof up at me. “You, explain how you’ve managed to synthesize…” She froze up at that, and with a horrified look of realization, she turned back and stared at Ping. “You. You were the one on the Oroborus.”

“Yes, I was!” Ping canted his head as his beaming smile didn’t waver for a single moment. “In fact, I remember that it was you who radioed the order to lock me away!”

“Yeah, about that train. You remember the Oroborus, don’t you, Elder? That train the rangers used to own, but like the Arcturus, I now own?” I couldn’t fight back the smugness I poured into my own words. And for that lack of control, I was rewarded with a trembling rage crawling across Coconut’s body. “I’m wondering if you remember just what it’s capabilities were…”

Just on cue, Ping picked back up on broadcasting ‘Coconut’s’ message.

“Take your time now to be with your families. Make whatever peace you must with yourselves, for judgement is coming. Today, a new megaspell apocalypse will cleanse this wasteland of the impure. Tomorrow, a new dawn in the wasteland will rise, and the Steel Rangers will finally fulfill their destiny and save ponykind from the wasteland that threatens it.”

“You’re bluffing!” Coconut’s muzzle curled into a maddening smile. “You couldn’t possibly have a megaspell, let alone the hundreds...”

“So you did forget what the Oroborus was built to do.” I laughed, cutting her off. It took a moment, but I think she finally recalled exactly what I was getting at. “Yeah, now I alone can call off the strikes. I alone can save the Rangers by convincing the wasteland that you were simply a mare who had a nervous breakdown.”

“No.” Coconut snarled and ground her power armored hoof on the dusty floor. “This was my day. You will not steal this from me!”

“You care more about a title than what the Rangers stand for? What was all that shit you spouted about the codex then?” Frescas sniffled as tears streamed through the prismatic dust that was starting to coat all of us. “For all that shit you said about my father ignoring the codex, you would selfishly watch the Rangers perish when you could save them!?” Her voice cracked as she finally collapsed to the floor over Pastel and broke down into sobs.

“Elder Soursop sacrificed himself to save us, puritans.” Bloody snorted as her gaze twisted into a glare aimed right at Coconut. “He convinced us that the Rangers use technology to help ponies in need, but if this is how you’re going to run things? Then fuck you, I’m out.”

“Good! Puritan filth like you has no place in the Rangers! Nor do any other monsters!” Coconut snapped before turning her gaze to the others in the tower who were looking increasingly unimpressed at her slow descent into madness. “Don’t you see, the codex wants us to exterminate them! We have been given the task of fixing the wastes, it is our responsibility! We are meant to put down anyone, anycreature who poses a threat to the future of all ponykind! So what are you waiting for? Gun these threats down!” Part of me was waiting for them to listen to her, but it was nowhere near the size of the part of her that expected them to listen. “So that’s how it will be then? Fine, unless you do as your Elder commands, you are all hereby exiled!”

Crunch

The back of Coconut’s armor sparked, and the whole suit went limp as Apricot’s own armored hoof completely tore out a rear plate of it. Coconut’s expression turned to panic as she leaned sideways and tipped over helplessly on the floor.

“You… you dare defy your Elder!?” Coconut screamed out, writhing and thrashing against the heavy suit pinning her down.

“You are no Elder.” Apricot snarled as he tossed the broken bit of armor into the corner. He turned his gaze to the others in the room. “Get her out of that suit and detain her.” I sighed as the others in the room moved over, and despite her frantic and loud protesting, actually listened to Apricot. With the ‘Elder’ being dealt with, Apricot turned to Frescas with a nervous frown across his face. “I uh… there’s no guidelines for this in the codex, but… I think your father would have wanted you to take up his mantle.”

“I… I can’t...” Frescas whimpered as she pulled Pastel closer to her.

“You can.” Bundt took a step forward, looking around at the other Rangers around her. “I don’t know where you’ve been, but your father, the Elder we looked up to, never gave up hope that you were still out there. He believed in every single one of us to put forward the best that the Steel Rangers had to offer, and we admired that about him. But more than anything, he believed in you, more than even I did, and you were like my fucking idol when I was a foal!” Leaning forward, she held a dusty and weak hoof out to Frescas, but as she did she wore a smile that said she didn’t have a single doubt in her mind. “So, trust me when I say I know you’ll be the best Elder for us all.”

A muttering of general agreements came from each of the rangers, none of which sounded particularly enthusiastic. But honestly, that may just be because everypony here just seemed exhausted. And how could I blame them? A megaspell, shadow ponies, and an attempted takeover by Coconut? Even if they hadn’t had the day I did, this shit is enough to have made me want to just sleep for a week.

“Ugh…”

A groan from the floor made all of us pause, and forced a gasp out of Frescas.

“He’s… he’s alive!” Frescas cried as she wrapped her hooves around Pastel, who let out a pained cry as she attempted to move him. In an instant, gravity reminded me it was a thing as Buck dropped Hispano and I as he moved to help the gravely injured griff.

“Shit, I can’t believe he survived that…” Apricot gasped as he walked over and using a single power armored hoof, picked me right up off the floor. “I always knew the Captain was a badass, but… damn.”

“Yeah, us griffs are as tough as they come.” Hispano cooed cooly as she stretched her wing out and used it to pull me right up against her again. “My dad’s taken more than a few hits from magical energy weapons ya know. They’re a bit overrated, really.” Wait, what? “Something like this? That’s just Tuesday for a griff.” How the fuck does anyone survive multiple hits from magical energy weapons!? A question which must have been written all over my face, because Hispano’s beak split into a smile when she glanced at me again. “What? You never wondered why his scalp looks overcooked and is featherless?”

“Really? I had thought he was related to some sort of bald eagle...” Buck called back as the medical implements in his mechanical paws continued to work on Pastel’s burns.

“What?” Hispano squawked and scrunched up her beak. “Bald eagles aren’t actually bald.” She rolled her eyes, smirking again when they landed on me. “And here I thought Buck was supposed to be the smart one.”

“Well to be fair, you’re both the smart ones to...” I let a laugh slip out with my words, but was caught off guard when Hispano pressed her beak against my muzzle.

Okay, maybe it wasn’t needed to keep the shadow ponies away this time, but I’ll be damned if just having her return the kiss from earlier was something I needed to have happen today all the same. The only thing that could make today any better, was that week’s worth of sleep I felt in dire need of.

“Thank you, Night.” Frescas turned to me, wiping at her matted cheek fur with a smile. “I know that this may be the last time we meet, but thank you, for keeping up your end of things. I promise, from now on, the Galloway Rangers will seek only to protect the north and it’s citizens.” Turning to Ping, her smile dimmed, but I could see something about her expression dismiss the thoughts clouding her mind. “All of them, no matter who or what they are.”

For some reason for just one moment, more than even a kiss from Hispano, just hearing that filled me with a satisfaction I couldn’t even describe. Like, for once, I’d actually done something right. And even with as fleeting as it was, I couldn’t help but to think…

Maybe, just maybe, Delilah was right about me after all.

Author's Note

An enormous thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his continued help in making sure these chapters are ready to go up. I know I say this pretty much every chapter, but seriously, you're a lifesaver, man.

Chapter 78 - Highest Highs

The price you pay for feeling great, is knowing that it can't last forever.

“You want it, Night.”

It was odd, knowing we were returning to the Arcturus without Frescas or Pastel, and that we’d likely never see them again.

While they’d need to settle in for a few days until the radiation and shadow ponies died down, at the very least, I knew that the northern Rangers were in good hooves. On top of that, the future was at least looking brighter now that the Factory no longer had to fear the Rangers. And with my ordering of the Ouroboros back under their control, I had a feeling that while it would take a while to rebuild, the Galloway Rangers had all the tools they needed to prove they could make a positive impact on the north.

Again, if but just for another moment, the fleeting feeling of satisfaction washed over me. But like with all highs, it left too soon, and reminded me just how worn out I was. Goddesses, I could use a good nap… or ten.

The Remora’s magnetic locks sealing were music to my exhausted ears. The hatch above me giving it’s slight hiss upon opening, forced a sigh of relief out of my muzzle. The pungent smell of oil and various other chemicals that normally lingered in the weapons bay of the Arcturus drifted in, and instantly I could picture the small but inviting bed in the captain’s quarters.

“Hey! Ya ain’t dead!” Happy’s jarring voice instinctively made me tense up, and a small but not insignificant pain flared up in my empty eye socket. “Guessin’ it went well then.”

“Quite well!” Ping clopped his metal hooves together, letting a resounding clanging come through his illusion. The noise instinctively pulled my ire over to his exuberant expression, only to watch it shiver and flicker away, leaving the bulbous metallic pony underneath. A fine layer of prismatic dust coated almost every inch of him, and little bursts of static crawled along his metal body. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I must reconnect with the Factory in order to contact the Ouroboros and tell it to stand down!”

“Ping… your body…” The words slipped from my muzzle, causing him to quickly look over himself. He lifted a forehoof, slowly bringing it to one of the smooth plates on his chest. A sharp burst of static struck out, and his hoof blasted apart in a small pop of smoke and sparks.

“Hmm, intriguing…” He muttered as he brought the sparking mechanical stump up in front of his featureless face. “It seems that the magical fallout has saturated particulates of limestone from the mountain rubble, and with the concentration that has gathered on my chassis, it is interfering with the performance of it’s electrical systems.”

“You going to be okay there, buddy?” Happy stuck his muzzle down through the open hatch with a frown.

“Unknown. To the best of my knowledge, the factory has not encountered anything like this before.” Ping’s faceless head turned up to Buck, who’s glowing blue eye was locked on him. “Any thoughts?”

“I’m a doctor, not a mechanic.” Buck snorted as he brought a mechanical digit up to his muzzle. “However, perhaps you should leave your body here until we can get back to the Factory and have Sierra look it over.”

“Oh, is that an invitation?” Ping’s high pitched and almost overly excited voice gave out a staticy crack that was followed by a spark out of the joint where his neck connected to his head. “Alright, I would ask that for the time being, you will all leave my mobile unit alone. I need the samples of dust I brought back preserved in the state they are if the Factory is to research this anomaly to prevent it in the future.”

“Ugh, you think I want to see more of this dust ever again!?” Hispano squawked as she set her sister down to brush at her plumage. A shower of prismatic dust floated out and slowly filtered to the floor before disappearing into some sort of vent in the bottom of the Remora’s hull. “Fuck, you can have my own dust in about an eternity, which is how long it’s going to take to scrub all this shit out of my fur, let alone clean it out of Suiza…”

“And don’t forget, once you finish your shower, I’ll need to give you all something to flush the radiation out of your systems!” Buck’s gaze swung down to me, bathing me in the blue light of his cyber-eye. With a gentle touch, he gave my mane a bit of a ruffle, and I watched as a light shower of prismatic dust filtered down in front of me…

Along with more than a few strands of my mane…

The squeak of fear I gave as I reached up to grasp at it sent my heart into overdrive. No… not my mane… not my beautiful mane! Okay, so maybe it’s never been as pretty as a real mare’s mane, but no dress will ever distract anypony from a bald head!

“Oh I think balding is the least of your problems…” Solomon’s voice trickled up through the vents in the hull.

“W-what…?” My instinctive question worked its way out of my muzzle as it quivered. To my horror, it didn’t just quiver, but began to sag. A crimson line formed around my muzzle, tearing open like wet paper as my skin slipped right off the bone. “No… no no no!”

I stumbled backwards on my hooves as they all but literally turned to jelly under me. Bleached bone held on by the barest bits of muscle glistened under the blue light of Buck’s eye, and fear wracked my mind. I could feel it, as the rest of my coat started to sag and wear on me. Another red line formed around my side as my lungs went into overdrive and I started to hyperventilate.

“Oh, it seems like you’re becoming a ghoul. How fascinating.” Buck’s tone was empty as he brought himself around to study me like some sort of fucking lab experiment.

“H-help me!” I screamed out from my boney muzzle, but… it didn’t even phase him! “Please, I’m…” My words died in my throat as the sound of ripping fabric from below me pulled my gaze downwards. The line along my barrel had stretched almost all the way around it, and rivers of crimson streamed out like water under pressure. With a final tremendous tearing sound that even beat out the fear filled scream I gave, the strained skin gave way, and I watched all of my insides spill across the floor of the Remora.

And with that, I passed out.

“You need it, Night.”

I woke up to the soft, calm, and warm breaths of Buck’s curled form around me. My fur still felt matted and wet, either from the shower he’d given me, or from the cold sweats of that nightmare hallucination. But I was all here, muzzle, hooves, and insides on the inside, where they should be.

Honestly though at this point, so long as it was over and I could rest, that was all I cared about.

“Oh, it’s never over.” Solomon spoke up from the doorway to my Captain’s quarters. “Or did you forget what caused all this in the first place?” As if he could command it on cue, the pain behind my eyepatch flared up, and a soft whine was forced from my still intact muzzle.

“Hmm, Night?” Buck stirred from his sleep. I turned back to meet his tired gaze, only to turn back to the door and find that Solomon was gone again. “Is everything… okay?” His jagged jaw split for a long yawn as he shifted his warm body under me.

“Yeah, just… trying to keep myself sane.” I sighed as I let my hooves slip out from under me so I could flop back down onto his incredibly warm and welcoming fluff.

“I understand.” Buck sighed, slowly drawing his mechanical paw around me to hold me close. “You know, I spent a few days wondering what I’d do if I ever left the Inuvik, or if I could even handle what I’d find out here. Never once did I think it would end up like this.”

“Neither did I.” I huffed through a muzzle full of warm fur. It’s gotten harder and harder to think back to when everything was just… normal. Not to mention, every time I think I’m getting comfortable down here in the wasteland, or I think I know how something works, I get blindsided by yet another upheaval to my life.

“To be fair, those upheavals have been YOUR fault, Night.” Solomon’s voice resonated in my mind sharply, making me grimace. “You don’t like the truth, then quit making mistakes. Or don’t, it doesn’t bother me. With your usual method of coping, it just means I’ll be here for a LONG time.”

“It’s definitely been different.” I did my best to shrug off Solomon for now. While he was right, at the very least, he couldn’t take away the victory I’d won with the Rangers today. “So long as I’m here with you and Hispano, and so long as I can keep Happy alive, I think everything will be okay. I have my new family, and nothing’s going to take that away from me. More so now that we’re going to finally get to head south. Not that helping everypony hasn’t been important, but it’ll be a day too soon before I ever come back up to the north again...”

“About that…” Buck started, but cut himself off, letting an odd silence fall between us. It wasn’t until I looked up to see his almost ashamed look that it worried me. “I... need to confess something, Night.”

My heart nearly froze with those words as the thought of him wanting to leave me forever flashed through my mind. Thankfully, some rational part of it caught up and shot that thought before it could sink in any further. We love each other, and nothing will ever change that, so whatever it is that he needs to tell me, I should be ready to support him on it.

“We may have to come back up here at some point…” His facefur flushed brightly, and I could feel him tense up under me. “So I know I should have told you sooner, but things have been hectic.” His nervousness was growing with every word, and he was becoming much more animated under me. “What with dealing with the Road Crew, and Cantercross, and then you know, almost dying, haha! And then there’s these...” he snarled as he forced his mechanical paws in my face so quickly that it threw me right off of him and the bed altogether.

“Oof!” I gasped as I came down hard on the deck plating. Immediately a shiver went down my spine as my still naked and regrowing wing touched the floor. The loudest gasp I’d ever heard came from Buck’s muzzle as he clamped his paws around his head in horror.

“I’m so sorry, Night! I didn’t mean...” He scrambled to pluck me up off the floor, pulling me close against his chest again. “It’s just… I don’t want you to be mad!”

“You haven’t even told me what it is I’m supposed to be mad about, Buck.” I felt a laugh bubble up from my chest as I just wanted to sit here in his grasp forever. “But if it’s got you this worked up, I’m more curious than anything.”

“No, I can’t tell him…” Buck snorted and shook his head. “No, I…” Buck paused as he looked like he was fighting internally with himself. Which was odd, because that was really my thing. He clenched his jagged jaw shut so hard it gave a groan of protest before his blue cybernetic eye shifted to red. The moment the color changed, his jaw swung open and Buck’s voice came out in the same almost robotic tone I’d heard during the assault on Mr. Wizard’s place.

“I slept with another dog!”

Buck gasped as his eye shifted back to blue, and he abandoned holding me in favor of reaching up and forcibly clamping his jaw shut.

“Uh… what?” My brain was either taking a second to process things, or I’d hit my head again when I’d been dropped to the floor. Honestly, it could have been either, really.

“I’m sorry!” Buck whimpered as he pulled his mechanical paws off his jaw. “It’s just, Holly was really nice, and treating her severed paw reminded me of when I was treating your leg. And then one thing lead to another, and she said she’d never been with another dog, and…”

“Woah, woah, hold up…” My brain was still trying to connect two and two as Buck winced again and withdrew himself further onto the already cramped Captain’s bed. After only a moment, my muzzle decided it was done waiting and felt like speeding things along. “Who’s Holly?”

“Holly… Bruno’s daughter…” Buck spoke with pauses that I assumed were supposed to let me remember just who they were supposed to be. “Of the Sun Dogs?”

“Oh yeah, them!” I nodded as the memories of the perky hellhound and her incredibly intimidating father came back to me. Then the memory of me murdering Lamia came back with them at full force. “Oh yeah, them…”

“I’m sorry…” Buck sighed as he buried his muzzle in his paws. “I just… I couldn’t fight the urge, which is why it took me so long to get back to you and Hispano after... and then we just left her.”

“Hey, I’m sure she’s fine, Buck.” I pushed myself back to my hooves only to flop myself forward against him in a sloppy hug. “Plus, I thought you’d said you wanted pups?”

“I do, just… with a dog on the Inuvik, like was expected of me before I left.” With another sigh, he pulled his paws away from his muzzle and slid them down around me. “Are you sure you’re really okay with this? I just… I don’t want to have overstepped my bounds. I don’t want to push you away by doing the same thing that Saxon…”

I forced my hoof against his muzzle to stop him and simply smiled. He seemed to understand, splitting his jagged jaw into his own smile before pushing my hoof away and kissing the end of my muzzle.

“Yay! Resolution!” Ping’s muffled voice filled the air from what sounded like inside Buck’s jaw.

“Uh… Ping?” I asked, looking up to Buck as his expression flattened.

“Yeah, he’s been up here.” Buck reached up and tapped at his metal skullcap. “And I’d thought we’d agreed that you wouldn’t push me to do or say anything while you’re up there.”

“Apologies, but I did tell you that Night was statistically likely to forgive this romantic infraction.” Again his voice came from Buck’s closed jaw, but a little louder this time around. “However, I do believe I must inform the captain of a bit of a developing situation.”

“A situation?” I asked instinctively. Oh why did I suddenly feel the pit in my stomach forming, along with the idea that we were about to get another errand to run…

“Yes, it seems that there have been a few alarming issues to come up in the last few hours at the Factory.” Ping’s tone seemed to have shifted to one more of worry, but it was really hard to tell through Buck’s jaw. “Firstly, Sierra has been busy using the silverfish to bring many materials into the Factory. She has used the majority of them to construct some sort of device and placed it upon the machine housing unit currently under construction within the walls of the Factory. None of us have seen anything quite like it, nor can we infer its intended function. However, she adamantly assures the Architect it will be useful once whatever it happens to be is operational.”

“Oh, that, I wouldn’t worry about it…” I spoke up before my brain kicked out a thought to me about just how he’d said that. “Wait, are you saying that even the Architect doesn’t know what it is?”

“Correct, though from your initial reaction, I have inferred that you do know something about it?” Ping’s voice gave off a burst of static like Buck’s did sometimes.

“She told me it was a project that was to be kept low-key specifically at the request of the Architect.” With every word of that, the hole in my stomach widened. At the same time, I had no idea why Sierra would lie to me, let alone to the whole the Factory…

“While that is… distressing to hear, the other problem has precedence at the moment. One of the Steel Rangers search parties sent after the Arcturus crashed nearby Tungsten due to the Sky Raider megaspell blasts. It was a low altitude, low speed crash, and most of the crew survived with minimal injuries.” Well that actually isn’t bad news, seeing as how we should be on good terms with the Rangers now… which they wouldn’t actually know yet. Fuck, okay. “And it seems that before we could intervene, they managed to contact the citizens of Tungsten.”

“Alright, so I guess then we’ll make a detour to Tungsten first, then loop back around to the Factory to see what’s going on there.” I let out a long sigh as I did my best to melt even further into Buck’s grasp. “Maybe the Rangers will be able to talk some sense into that asshole town mayor about how good they fucking have it in their safe little hole.”

“Well, actually…” Ping’s voice took the wind out of my statement in a moment, and I just knew things couldn’t have ever been that easy. “It’s quite interesting. They have banded together with the Rangers and worked to free some of the townsfolk from the quarry...”

“And now they are unfortunately well armed and currently at the Factory’s walls demanding to speak with the Architect.” Buck sighed, pulling my tired gaze up to him. “Which means, as much as I’d like to stay with you and rest, I should get to the infirmary and make sure I’m ready for a fight.”

I’d say that was unnecessary, but given our track record, there’s going to be a fight. Which, I almost don’t mind, so long as I get to beat the everloving hell out of that pompous mayor. And to be fair, I’m probably not the only one who would love a chance at that.

“Actually, because it will still be a few hours journey, if I may borrow you for a little while, Buck…” Ping’s voice was hesitant, and almost shy if I had to place. “Your augments don’t seem to have been affected by the dust, so I was wondering if we could run a few quick tests on it and my mobile unit.”

“Night.” Solomon’s voice was like a knife that slowly pushed into my eye socket. “You’re going to screw things up again.” Not now Solomon… “There’s no use fighting it, Night. You deserve it…”

I grumbled under my breath and pushed myself off Buck enough to force my hoof against my eye socket. It relieved a slight amount of the ebbing pain this time, but it wasn’t enough.

“Are you alright, Night?” Buck frowned as he brought his head down to my level. “If you want, I can see what I can do about your pain once Ping’s finished up his tests.”

“Sure. That would be great.” I nodded to him, leaning forward to give his nose a soft and quick kiss. The second I pulled back however, it felt like the knife was driven deeper into my skull.

“Come on, Night.” Solomon’s voice was mirrored, and echoed as he laughed to himself. “Why wait? I know you want to, so just let go. Let me take charge now, and let’s have a little fun! Besides, aren’t you tired of the nightmares? I can help you with that...”

I blinked, and Buck was gone. I was alone in the captain’s quarters, and as I perked my ears in confusion, I could hear his mechanical pawsteps drift off through the sealed ship door.

“That’s it, Night. Sit back and let me show you how to let go. You know you want it…” Solomon’s sly voice felt like it was creeping through my skin, and it sent another shiver through me. “And…” Again, I blinked, and this time the whole damn room changed. But as the world resolved around me into the ship’s infirmary, a dull warmth started to creep through the pain in my socket. “Now you can just relax. You’ve earned this, Night…”

The world began to spin. Slowly at first, but as the feeling of warmth spread through my body, it picked up, leaving me to laugh as an odd euphoria crept through my mind. That amazing feeling pushed back the thoughts about why my throat felt so dry, or why my forelegs hurt. No, everything was finally perfect as I felt myself laying on the cool infirmary floor.

Today had been a good day, and I’d been a good stallion. I’d helped Cordite, helped the Road Crew and the Mirage ponies of Cantercross. I’d even saved the Rangers from themselves. And this? This was my reward.

“Yes, Night, after all that HARD work you’ve done. You surely do deserve this reward.” Even Solomon’s somewhat warped voice couldn’t break my spirit. “You deserve every bit of this.” Yes, finally, even he couldn’t tear me down today! I am awesome!

I watched as the spinning world shifted, and the bright form of Buck appeared in the doorway to the infirmary. Oh, how much I loved him, and how much I just wanted to reach up and… and…

Why… couldn’t I move?

The pleasant warmth in my body shifted violently, and my mind went blank as I writhed and twisted on the floor. In an instant, it all lit like a fire, a feeling burning through every inch, every cell in my body. It washed over me like a violent tide, crashing against an ever warming flicker that grew to that of a raging inferno. I couldn’t scream out, instead finding that the harder I tried, the more it felt like I was choking.

Fuck, FUCK! What do I do!?

“Just give in. Let the painkillers take the nightmares away...”

“Night!?” Buck’s frantic voice called out to me as though he was a million miles away. I heard as his mechanical forearms opened up, and about a dozen separate new fonts of excruciating pain forced themselves across my body. “Just… all the Med-X at once? W-why would you do that!? Do you want to die!?”

His voice made my vision spin, and my insides feel like they all wanted to come out of my muzzle at once. Pain flared from my barrel as I arched over hard, and I think that’s exactly what happened next. I threw up, spewing what looked like blood and bile before my vision went white and I sucked in a half a breath worth of the stuff right into my lungs.

Hard hits hammered my arched back as I choked and again I expelled everything in my body onto the floor. Coughing and gasping, I flopped forward in a sobbing heap. Why. Why did I do this to myself? I didn’t want this to happen, I just… didn’t want to hurt anymore.

“You deserve this, Night.”

“Fuck!” Buck roared as I heard him sit down hard on the floor next to me. He gave a couple angry slams of his paw against the wall as he heaved hard. “Why, Night!? I can’t keep doing this!”

“I’m…” I tried to speak, but just doing so made my insides churn again, and I threw up another glob of blood that sent another wave of fresh agony through me. Sobbing, I lost the will to fight it and just cried on the floor.

“That’s it, Night.” Solomon’s painless voice hit me with a wave of chilling numbness now. “You know why you do this. You LIVE to suffer. And after a day where you’ve ended up winning, you needed to do this, to give yourself an excuse to fuck up, just to justify feeling good. So give in, and enjoy your reward.”

“No!” Buck let out a guttural growl that rattled the floor plates under me. “I don’t care what the Factory recommends, I’m..” Buck paused as I tried my best to focus on his voice through the burning in my body. “Yes, he’s getting worse. I… yes. I understand, Architect, but...” Again, he paused. “I don’t know. I can monitor him, but he needs...”

It was odd to hear only half the conversation, but it was better than just being alone with a heart that was trying to force its way out of my chest, and a pair of lungs that still felt like they were melting.

Buck’s boxy forepaw made a whirring noise, and part of it opened up. I could barely see through the tears in my eye, but I could make out the basic shape of the small energy weapon he’d picked out back at the Factory. A jolt of panic swept through me as my mind raced to figure out why he was getting it out, and a wave of cold swept through my body as without even looking at me, he lifted his arm and pointed the weapon right at me.

“No, I understand, Architect.” Buck sighed. “You’re right, have the Doc get it set up. We’ll begin once we’re back.”

"Buck...?" My own horse voice strained as the tip of the small weapon began to glow. "What..."

Everything disappeared with a flash.

Warmth.

That was really what I was after. Not in a physical sense, but that feeling you get when you’re around someone you love, or after you get rewarded by your mom or dad for passing that really tough test. It’s a feeling all it’s own, that more than anything, anypony alive should have more than their fair share of.

Then again, it’s not really a tangible feeling, or something that can be quantified. Hell, you can’t even fake it. Though, there are ways to get close…

“It’s not worth it.” Delilah’s flat words forced me to open my eyes and immediately shield them from the incredibly radiant sunlight that backlit her. She was just like she’d always been, staring down over the glasses perched on her muzzle, giving me quite the stern gaze. “Hmm, it seems that rather than show him a better path, you’ve still been taking a few lessons from Happy’s playbook.”

With a snort, she turned and stepped away from me.

I sat up, feeling the warm beachside sand crumble off of my coat. Looking down, I was only half laying on a warn beach towel, and beside me sat a pair of sunglasses that looked almost like the ones that Double Delta had given me. Grabbing them, I plopped them over my muzzle and blinked a few times, taking in the rest of the beach around me.

Hundreds of other ponies, buffalo, griffons, and creatures of all sorts played and relaxed in the radiance of Celestia’s great sun. A particularly bright pink young filly giggled as she chased a bouncing beach ball until it came to a stop right at Delilah’s hooves.

“Hi there, pretty lady!” The filly gave an excited squeal as she bounded up to Delilah with short hoof hops. “Your beach ish really nice!”

“I’m glad you like it, little one.” Delilah’s old muzzle parted into a motherly smile as she gave the beach ball the lightest of kicks that sent it bounding back down the beach. “Now run along. We wouldn’t want to worry your mother, now would we?”

“Yush! Buh-bye, pretty lady!” The filly gave a set of excited nods before running off with a trail of giggles that felt like it echoed off of the sky itself.

“Why… am I here?” I asked as I pulled myself to my hooves.

“Because as I’d feared, I failed you.” With a sigh, Delilah sat down on the sand and pulled off her glasses.

“No, I’ve helped so many wastelanders thanks to you!” I forced out a laugh as a wave of confusion struck me. What was she talking about, I was the failure here. I got her killed, I was the one…

“Oh, Night. So naive...” Solomon’s voice made the ground itself shake, and a collective wave of screams filled the air as everyone on the beach struggled to keep their hoofing. “You will always be her little failure.” There was a sharp crack that forced me to turn around just in time to watch half of the buildings in Brahman beach shake and collapse. And from the dust, rose the pristine white coated Saddle Arabian who tormented me day and night. “Just face the facts, you’ll never beat me. You...”

“That’s enough.” Delilah sighed as she got up. Her words hit Solomon like a wave, and instantly the towering stallion dissipated back into a plume of dust and debris. “I failed you because I let my obsession become yours.”

“I don’t understand…” I’ve accepted that it’s my job to keep Happy alive and to find the Ark. I’ve accepted that I’m the one who needs to get us there. But like Hispano said, I can’t just leave ponies in need without help, and I know it’s been slowing us down.

“Goddesses,” Delilah let a soft chuckle slip out of her lips as she turned to look at me. “You certainly are quick to overwhelm yourself with thoughts. It’s no wonder he’s sunk his hooves so deep under your skin.”

“Um… what?” I blinked a few times before stepping forward. Taking a seat beside Delilah, I watched as she squinted and stared off over the endless blue waves that gently lapped at the shoreline.

“The day Solomon arrived on our shores, I knew I was up against something I’d never thought I’d see.” She mumbled to herself as an odd whining grew over the air. “Not just someone who I couldn’t make a deal with, but who I wouldn’t make a deal with.”

The whine turned into a shrieking cannon shell that sailed toward us over the water. It sailed over my head, and came crashing down into the sand with a deafening blast. A bright wave of sand and fire washed over where it hit, and just about every door in Brahman beach was flung open. Families and children poked their heads out to see what the commotion was, and from one of the closer houses, a younger looking Happy stumbled out and almost tripped over his own hooves.

“Employees of Burro Industries!” The voice of Solomon boomed through the air from across the water, forcing me to spin myself back around. An immaculately white ship maybe half the size of the Arcturus sailed through the sea, belching a cloud of thick black from a large smokestack that sat directly midship. “As an emissary of my father, the gracious and glorious king of all Saddle Arabia, I, Crown Prince Solomon, am here to reclaim what is rightfully ours! Cooperate, and know that you will not be harmed!”

Delilah waved her hoof, and like a bit of dust in the air, the whole scene shifted. As the image settled, I was left staring at a slightly younger looking Solomon, whose dress uniform looked just as pristine back then as it did when he last wore it. Next to him, stood a just as vacantly blank Rook, whose copper prosthetic leg glinted in the bright sunlight.

“What you look for doesn’t exist, nothing but a foal’s tale.” Delilah snorted from beside me. Her words made Solomon’s lips curl into his snide, overconfident smile.

“Oh, let’s not kid ourselves. I know for a fact your family stole the Ark.” He nodded over to Rook, whose horn flashed with magic. A set of photographs were produced from thin air, with a few of them depicting a donkey-esque equine boarding a fairly large ship on a dock. The last photo however, showed a picture of a whole group of unicorns leaving an entirely different ship with the same donkey. “All we’re asking for, is for it to be returned to its rightful owners.”

“Don’t know what to tell you. In almost two hundred years, I haven’t had a single family member who’s known what happened to that ship.” Delilah snorted, scrunching her face into a sharp grimace and nodding back to the water. “Regardless, what you’re looking for it isn’t hidden here. If you want to look for it yourself, by all means, be my guest. Oh, but if you do find it, feel free to stop back in Brahman Beach and I’ll buy you a cold drink for the trouble.”

“Oh, I will be back.” Solomon smirked as he started to turn around, but as he had a tendency to do, he stopped just short. “But if you were to buy me a drink… make it a hot one. I’ve got a feeling I’ll be fairly sick of the cold soon enough.”

“That’s when you knew that he knew, isn’t it?” I asked, pulling her out of the moment and again making the image of Solomon and Rook disappear.

“Yes.” She nodded and looked down at the glasses in her hoof. She’d ended up with them stuck in the sand as she was reliving the moment, and she took a moment to shake them out. “And for the next few months, I only slowed myself down in leaving by trying to prepare for every eventuality.” She lifted her glasses up to the sun, squinting as she inspected them for any errant grains. “I’d started stressing about moves and counter moves so much that I was seeing Solomon in my sleep. And at that point, I could finally see it for what it was.” With a careful pick of her hoof, she forced a single errant grain of sand from her glasses, and put them back across her muzzle. “Just stress.”

“So… you had Solomon tormenting you as well?” Huh, I guess at the very least that made me feel a little bit better about worrying if I was living up to Delilah’s standards! Wait, unless that’s why I’ve been seeing her here like this as well…

“Night, focus yourself.” Delilah sighed as her normal blank and tired expression fell across her face. “You have to remember that this isn’t all about him. He wants that, he wants you to cripple yourself with doubt. And for that matter, you shouldn’t cripple yourself with doubts about your own actions.” Looking over at me, she gave the lightest of nods as she pressed her forehoof to my chest. “Trust in your crew to do what they can to help you, but you must always trust in yourself. Solomon’s defeat will come in time, you will find a way to bring him down…”

“Oh!” I nearly jumped on my hooves at that. “Actually, I almost found something! He’s got a weakness!”

“Yes, I know of it.” Delilah snorted and shot me a glare that instantly made me freeze up. Oh, how I didn’t miss this gaze, but at the same time, part of me oddly did.

And… hey, wait a minute!

“You already knew about his weakness?” I asked, sitting myself down again. “What is it?”

“I knew of it, but unlike my little ‘game’ with Solomon, the rules here cannot be broken.” She shook her head. “That is as much of a hint as I can give you, I’m sorry. However, your focus must lie elsewhere. As hard as it’s going to be, forget Solomon.” A slight smirk crept across her muzzle as she offered a glance at me out of the side of her eye. “Just don’t take anymore lessons from Happy, and stay off the drugs. Focus on leading the others.”

“It’s… not as easy as that, I might not be able to…” My muzzle was forced shut by her sandy hoof pressing up against it.

“Remember, trust in your crew to help you. Focus on leading them.” She turned to me as the sound of crashing waves grew louder. “And Night? Remember that I believed in you because I know what you’re capable of. Tonight won’t be the last that you’ll get to reflect on the good you can do for others. Do what you can every single day, so that tomorrow you can look back and know that you did your best. That’s what being a good leader is all about.”

“Wha…” The moment she took her hoof away, I tried to speak and was rewarded with a muzzle full of saltwater.

Like before, the wave that crashed over me swept me away. Further and further from the bright, warm, sandy beaches, and into the dark, murky depths. But as I went, I kept both eyes focused on Delilah, whose warm smile at least seemed to help ease my mind as it slowly faded away into the same quiet dark nothingness that it’s known now a few too many times before.

“Ugh.”

I groaned as a prickly, warm feeling danced along my skin. Not like the beach I was just on, rather, it was the sort of feeling you get when you sat on a hoof for too long, but all over. Opening my eyes, I again needed to cover it from the bright light beaming down above me. However, when I went to move my hoof, an all too familiar stiff resistance met my every attempt.

Blinking, the rest of my senses caught up with things, and I realized where I was. The stench of disinfectant and blood, the rhythmic beeping of medical machines, and the frigid stale air all told me I was in the surgical room at the Factory. But… why was I strapped down to the table?

“You were having terrible seizures!” Doc Groovy’s disturbingly cheerful voice answered my own… except I hadn’t spoken…

“What’s… going on?” I managed to force through my incredibly dry throat.

“Doctor Buck and I performed a bit of surgery on you! You should be feeling better than new in no time at all!”

“That’s… great.” I grumbled as I turned my head over on the bed. Oddly, I didn’t see Doc Groovy floating next to me. The only thing next to my bed was a cart filled with freshly cleaned, mirror polished surgical tools and trays. My eyes drifted to the observation area up above me, but once again, I failed to see him up there. I did however, spot the flickering nixie-tube eyes of Ottie peering down intently. Just what the hell was going on here?

“Oh, right, silly me! I seem to have forgotten about the tutorial. Let me get that started for you!”

Tutorial?

My vision became a blur as what looked like a dozen different terminal screens appeared to be floating above me. I torqued against my bindings, but couldn’t raise my hooves to keep them from falling onto me… only, they never did. I blinked a few times more as the terminal screens followed my subtle head movements. They stayed floating just far enough away that I could read them, but not to where they’d obscure my vision.

“Ah, let me get those for you!” Doc Groovy laughed before a mechanical ratcheting came from the bed under me. The pressure against my hooves released, and I was finally able to sit up.

“How…” I reached my left hoof forward to touch the floating screens, but my hoof seemed to sit behind them, even though they looked to be floating only a hoof stretch away! Which was also when I noticed a scar along my left shoulder I hadn’t noticed before.

Looking down at the little L shaped mark of peeled back skin, it started to dawn on me that I didn’t know when I’d gotten it because I’d gotten it after I’d lost my eye.

Bringing my still outstretched hoof back, I brought it up to touch my socket, only to stop prematurely when my hoof obscured my vision, and clinked against something metal.

“Surprise!” Doc Groovy’s celebratory shout nearly threw me onto my hooves alone. What finally did it however, was the confetti that rained down around me and disappeared in front of my eye. “You mean eye-S!Congratulations on becoming less organic!”

Turning onto my side, I reached over and grabbed one of the larger surgical trays. Pulling it up, I looked at my own reflection in it’s mirror polish. What looked back, looked more like the Architect than it did the Night Flight who I’d always known. A set of Architect-esque mis-sized optics sat with a soft red glow, starkly opposing the color of my green, still normal eye. Just under the maneline on the left side of my head and above the optics, sat a familiar looking metal plate that followed the shape of my skull. My left ear had thankfully been left alone, but it was now the only flesh that stuck out around the flush metal and mechanical bits.

“What… did you do to me?” I… I don’t even know how to process this… no, think, not process! I’m not a machine!

“Doctor Buck and I removed part of your occipital lobe, and replaced it with an Arcano-neuro-feedback generator and translator matrix! This implanted inhibitor will monitor any abnormal patterns that come from your mind and neutralize them before they can cascade into any meaningful errant feedback. And while we were in there, we decided to augment your ocular cortex by installing a replacement, which should boost your visual perception past it’s previous unhindered levels!”

“That’s great… maybe repeat that in basic Equestrian… perhaps?” Goddesses, I really wish I had Buck with me right now to explain, I don’t know, everything!?

“He means to say that you should no longer be affected by the terrible hallucinations you have been suffering from. That, and you now have two eyes to see out of once again.” The Architect’s voice chimed in now from nowhere in particular. “Also, it is good to see that you are awake and well. I am sorry if this operation was against your wishes, but I deemed it necessary. I assure you that I only had your best interests in mind.”

“So… with this, I’m going to be okay then?” Again, I was not the smart one of our group, and I’m sure that while this sounds great. I’m surely missing something important, and again, I’d really prefer it if Buck were here to help explain it…

“Oh, I see, I’m not a good enough doctor for him! I’d like to see where he got his medical degrees from then.” Doc Groovy grumbled. “I mean, the nerve… literally! Haha, look at that, I made a funny!”

“Please don’t be angry, Night…” Buck’s voice came from all around me as well now. “I know it’s a lot to get used to, and this was supposed to be a last resort, but… you were in really bad shape. The Architect was right, this needed to be done.”

“It’s fine, but… where are you, Buck?” Okay, the fact that nopony was telling me where he was had started to really make me worried. Normally he’d be here by my side for something like this, right?

I waited in silence for a moment, half expecting Solomon to crop up with some condescending remark. However, my mind was quiet, empty even. Once more, I was alone with my thoughts again. Well, that wasn’t exactly true, but this was somewhat different than sharing my head with a separate part of my own mind.

“I’m glad to see that the module is performing as expected. But to answer your question, I’m with the Architect outside the main gate at the moment.” Buck sounded like he grunted in my own head. “And I know you just got up, but we need you out here. The Mayor wants to talk, but he doesn’t want to talk with a machine or a monster. It’s no rush, but… there’s a lot of cold ponies out here who probably aren’t in any shape to last more than a few hours.”

“Alright, I’ll make my way out there…” I paused, looking at the terminals still floating in my vision. “As soon as I figure out how to get rid of this shit…” The moment I’d said that, the terminal screens flashed away, and I could see clearly again. “Huh, that was easy!”

“Most of the functionality of your augments can be controlled by your thoughts and intents.” The Architect spoke with a soft giggle that almost echoed in my mind. “Though, it has been expected you will have to take some time to adjust to them, so we have tweaked the sensitivity and disabled certain functions for now to ease you into them.”

Well, I guess I don’t really have a choice either way. And hey, if it keeps Solomon from pulling me into any more living nightmares, then I’d think it was worth…

“Correct! The hallucinations should no longer be an issue for you!” Doc Groovy’s voice cut off my own thoughts as his voice all but overpowered my mind for a moment.

Yeah, it was going to be an issue if all my thoughts were free and open however. I mean, I’m pretty sure that nopony but me needs to be privy to my thoughts of Buck...

“Yes, of course we can respect your wish for privacy.” The Architect nodded as a small set of coding appeared in my vision. It ran down toward the floor in the same way that the code scrolled across Ping and Buck’s eyes before flashing away and clearing my vision again. “While you may contact us at any time, I have for the moment, severed the thought monitoring subroutines that the citizens of the Factory enjoy. From here on out, no one other than Buck will have access to your thoughts without your permission.”

“Thanks, Architect.” I sighed. Well, that’s a relief. “And thanks for your help, Doc Groovy.”

“Not a problem!” He laughed again in my mind, making me cringe a bit. “If you ever feel like letting me back under your skull, I’d love another opportunity to poke around in your fragile fleshy mind!”

“Yeah, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that…” I mean, I’d already had brain surgery twice on this trip, and that’s two times too many in my book!

Turning myself around on the medical bed, I wiggled my hooves over the edge and flared my wings as I pushed myself off the bed. Immediately as I hit the ground, I felt the cool breeze shift under both of my wings. Looking back at my recovering wing, I blinked a few times when I found that it was completely back to normal, with thicker than normal plumage. Looking at my good wing, I found that it too looked fuller than ever.

“Uh… did you guys replace my wings while you were at it? My plumage looks so thick now...” I asked, wiggling my wing for a moment before deciding it was a good idea to see if they’d given me some sort of convincing cybernetic. I brought my wing down hard on the metal frame of the hospital bed, and immediately bit my tongue as pain ripped through my wing. “Nope… no you didn’t… oww…”

Why did I think that was a smart way to test that theory!?

“The Ministry of Peace had a recipe on file for a quick feather replacing potion, made for field hospitals to get pegasi with wing injuries back into the air quickly.” Doc Groovy brought up a whole bunch of symbols and such into my vision that I presumed was some sort of chemical formula or something. I wasn’t exactly awake half the time in my morning chemistry class, but oh Celestia do I wish I’d paid more attention now... “The plumage you have now is actually below average for a wartime pegasus, but due to the years of malnutrition you went through in the Enclave, the thickness you held before had become the new average for a pegasus of your age.”

“Unfortunately, it will not change your flight performance due to your flat feathers, if that was something you were wondering.” The Architect’s words drove a spear through the momentary realization that it could make a difference, but with my luck? No, I know nothing’s going to be different. Just the same stupid feathers with the same stupid problems as before. “However, you should now be able to at least take flight again.”

“Now if only I could get another double wing trainer from…” Oh, right, there was still that issue to deal with. “That reminds me, I need to talk with Sierra.”

“Yes, Ping did mention that you might know what she was working on.” The Architect’s voice held an odd hesitation to it that made me wonder if he actually didn’t know what it was. Still, I’m not sure why he’d lie about that, nor did I get what Sierra would gain from hiding it. “There is a taxicart waiting for you outside the surgical center that will take you to her.”

“Thanks, Architect.” Folding my wings up, as I was about to leave, I looked back up to the observation window.

Ottie’s curious gaze was still looking down through the glass at me, but he’d been joined by another pony. He was a sort of frail looking unicorn, with a pair of brass framed spectacles adorning the end of his muzzle. I hadn’t seen him around before, but from the way he was so casually conversing with Ottie, I had to assume that perhaps he was another Ping unit who’d recently come back.

Pushing open the doors to the operating theater, I nearly bowled over Happy. He looked just as surprised to see me as I was to see him, though it was good to see that he hadn’t up and gotten himself killed while I was out. Though, the way he stumbled backwards with his eyes locked on my new one, well… it wasn’t exactly flattering.

“Celestia, Night, you scared the crap out of me!” He snorted as he did his best to quickly gather himself again and straighten up the leather jacket he still wore. “I was just coming to see how you were doing.”

“I’m fine, but we need to go see Sierra.” I pointed my hoof in the vague direction of the stairwell.

“Yeah, alright.” He nodded as he turned himself around and started to head up with me. “You know, she’s been building something oddly familiar, and I don’t like it…”

“So I’ve heard.” I snorted as I did my best to climb the stairs. Though, to be fair, everything felt… off as I climbed, and it felt like each of my steps were slightly in the wrong place. Right, because once again I have good depth perception back...

“I dunno about you, but I think I’ve seen somethin’ like it before.” Happy mumbled as he beat me to the top of the stairs by a few steps. “Now, I didn’t pay much attention to the shit that Hardcase worked on, but that thing out there? It looks like one of his designs.”

That perked my ears right up.

“What do you mean?” Oh, and there’s the pit in my stomach, back like an old friend I specifically never wanted to see again in my life. “What sort of design?”

This was not what I’d thought she’d be building...

“Ain’t it grand!” Sierra called out as Happy and I came trotting down the concrete walkway from the Factory’s entrance. She spun around on her hooves and looked to the upscaled SFG she’d built. I’m sure Hardcase would have found it’s scale… impressive, but my mind was still locked on all the harm this thing could do if it was ever used. “With this, ain’t nopony gonna mess with the Factory now!”

“Is this what you needed all that tungsten for?” I spat out as Happy and I walked through the freshly fallen snow over to her. Seriously, we did not go through hell, losing all those Cordite crews just so Sierra could build this… monstrosity. “But… why? Why would you build a weapon?”

“Do y’all not see tha ponies at our door? Do y’all think we should jus’ let ‘em in an’ have a go tearin’ everythin’ we’ve built down?” Sierra turned to me and tipped up her snow covered metal cowpony hat. “Ah say we remind adui zetu what makes us superior. Wakati wetu umefika!”

“A dewy whatnow?” Happy scrunched up his muzzle and reached out to Sierra. “Are you feeling alright? It ain’t that zebra virus acting up again, is…?” He only made it that far before Sierra’s hoof swung out and all but knocked Happy right back onto his flank in the snow.

“Filthy organic.” She seethed before she shuddered and tensed up slightly. After a moment, she let out a gasp. “Oh, fiddlesticks, ah’m so sorry, Happy! Ah promise ah’ll explain soon once muh partner gets here.” Partner?

Okay, keeping in mind that she maybe wasn’t in complete control of herself, at least she wasn’t trying to kill us all yet. And even though she’d built a giant SFG with some mystery machine partner, well, at least she hadn’t used it. With how the Architect had said it affected the Factory the few times Hardcase had fired it, and how it had always disrupted DJ Powercolt, firing one this big so close could be a disaster for every machine here! You know, let alone all the rest of us who weren’t made of metal… er, who were at least mostly not made of metal.

“What the hell is going on here?” Hispano’s voice was admittedly a godsend, and her quick flutter as she came down next to me brought a smile to my muzzle. “Woah, that’s… new.” She squawked as like with Happy, she couldn’t take her gaze off my new eye.

“Oh, good, maybe now we can get somewhere.” Cora’s heavy wing beats carried him down from the air, sending up a small flurry of snow as he landed right next to Hispano. “I’m not sure how much longer they’re going to wait before the mayor of Tungsten just calls for an all out attack.”

“Which would be suicide on their part.” Happy grumbled as he brushed the snow off of him and shot a sideways glare to Sierra. “Though, that guy is a barrel of laughs as it is. I wouldn’t be surprised if a square like him were ta’ get his kicks by just trying to make us all look like the bad guys.”

“Regardless, we’ll deal with… this, later.” I muttered as I gestured to both the SFG and Sierra. Turning towards the gates, I spotted the massive bipedal form of PB as she walked a back and forth patrol at the door. As I looked at her, a little green box popped up around her in my vision. Squinting at it, I tried to figure out what it was, it flashed white for a moment and then disappeared.

“Oh, hi!” PB’s excited voice filled my mind as her massive machine stopped midstep and turned towards me. “Oooo, that’s a neat upgrade you’ve got there! Makes you look like one of us!”

“Um… hi there, PB.” Oops, I didn’t mean to open up communications with her…

“Oh, that’s fine, you’ll get used to it! Are you here to help with the negotiations?” The stubby gunpods at her machine’s sides wiggled excitedly as she projected a loud squee into my head. “Oh! Oh! I can help if you want! I’ve got the perfect pair of twin cannons to make those fussy ponies go back to their hole!”

“That’s not exactly what I think we need right now, PB.” I wasn’t really sure her firepower wouldn’t be needed if things went bad, but for now, I think it’d be best if we at least tried to look like we wanted to resolve this peacefully.

“Are you alright, Night?” Hispano spoke as she fluttered through the air, hovering around to just in front of me. With a light set of taps with her talon, she poked at my new eye, which gave a metallic ‘tink’ noise with each rap. “Buck said this thing would stop the problems you were having…”

“I’m fine.” I deadpanned, reaching up to push her talon away. “I’m just talking with PB, in my head, because apparently I can do that now.”

“Huh, okay…” She scrunched up her beak before shrugging the whole thing off. “Well, if you’re done socializing, we’ve got a douche bag to take down!”

“Talk down, Hispano.” Cora called out as she was about to shoot back up into the air.

“Talk down, take down, same thing.” She rolled her eyes, letting them fall on me with a smirk. “I mean, by all means, Night, talk away. The sooner we get to chatting, the sooner we’ll inevitably start shooting at them anyway.”

“Gotta love that optimism!” Happy remarked as he picked himself up to a trot, pushing past me in the snow. “But I sure would love the chance to knock the block right off of that fucker.”

“To be fair, so would I.” Buck’s voice came through my head as crisp and clear as if he were right next to me. “Which is why it’s going to be that much harder to negotiate with him.”

“But still, we have to try.” I sighed as I picked myself up to a canter in the snow. I just need to try my hardest today, so that I can look back tomorrow and know I did my best. Yeah, just focus, and try.

Isn’t that right, Delilah?

Author's Note

Once again, all my thanks goes to TheFurryRailFan, who dispite his busy schedule, still finds time to help make sure each chapter is presentable.

And of course, thanks to Kkat for creating FoE in the first place, as well as letting others run around in this shared wasteland world.

Chapter 79 - Processing Failure

There is a difference between spare parts and extra parts.

“Are you serious?” Shale, the mayor of Tungsten, scoffed as I trotted through the open gates of the Factory. “I asked to talk with a fucking pony, not some machine lackey.”

The disgruntled mayor stood apart from the other armed ponies sitting in hastily dug trenches at the treeline. Several beat up suits of power armor complimented the group, each with a set of heavy weapons that could easily tear us apart if they opened up with them. However, most of the ponies who’d come from Tungsten shivered and sat in huddled groups, barely even equipped with any sort of clothing to withstand sitting in the cold dirt for hours on end.

Opposing them, stood only the Architect and the white robed form of Buck.

“Mayor Shale,” The Architect called out as he twisted his tracked shell around so that he could gesture to me. “This is the Survivor, the pony I’m sure you’ve all heard about on the radio…”

“I don’t care who you say they are!” Shale snapped, waving his own forehoof along the lines of ponies around him. “We are tired of dealing with all you machines and your lies. You’ve obviously made this ‘survivor’ your slave, just like you want to do to all of us!” The townsponies all let out half hearted agreements to that, which only brought a Solomon-esque smug look across the charcoal stallion’s muzzle.

And unfortunately for me, that didn’t exactly bring out the best words from my own muzzle...

“What the fuck is your problem?” I called out as I slowed my canter, setting myself up beside the Architect. “What the hell did they ever do to you to make you such a fucking entitled asshole? The Factory has protected you, kept all of you fed and alive.”

“But for how much longer?” Shale fired back, jabbing his hoof out to me as he tried to stand tall. “What will they do when they get strong enough that they don’t want us anymore? What happens when they grow plentiful enough that they take our homes, our livelihoods at the mine? They’ll just toss us aside because we’re ‘weak organics’.” He scoffed at that as the Architect’s expression shifted to one of shame. “Yeah, that’s right, we’ve heard what you call us.”

“There’s more than enough room and resources for the both of you to exist! There’s no reason to fear them!” Goddesses, I felt like this guy just wasn’t going to get it no matter how much I tried explaining it to him. It was like trying to convince a mountain to move out of the way, and I’m sure that not even Delilah’s stubbornness could compare to Shale’s.

“Oh really? And we should just trust you?” He kicked up a bit of snow with a hearty forced laugh before shooting a razor sharp glare at me. “They’ll come for us all one day, and then they’ll kill us all without a single thought. We aren't made of metal, we can't heal overnight. We can't replace our bodies, or even count on adding new ponies to our population. So we must strike them down now, while they’re a threat we can still fight!”

“Take a fucking look around, jackass.” I flared out my wings and stood as tall as I could, waving my hoof over my body. “Someone of flesh and blood did this to me. My convoy wasn't destroyed by a 'soulless automaton', rather it was someone who I hope to one day make bleed to death. And what about the wasteland? Machines didn't destroy the world, we did. If anything, they know where we went wrong, and I would more so put my trust for the fate of the whole wasteland solidly in their hooves over any organic.” Jabbing my hoof out at him, I’d hope to force that smug smirk off of his face. But of course, it only ended up parting his muzzle even wider. “The only ponies I see around here without a soul, are the ones who had the chance to leave, but instead marched over here to spew baseless hate at those who’ve done nothing but help you.”

At the very least, that made the weary towns ponies look to each other in shame. Hell, some of them even pulled their guns down from the line to think about it. I know my words might be strong, but why shouldn’t they feel bad? The Factory wasn’t at fault here.

“What the fuck do you know?” Shale called out, waving his hooves for those on the line to ready up. “Why the hell would you even take their side unless they forced you to?”

“You ask me that, and yet, what did you say to the Steel Rangers?” Hispano called out as she hovered down next to me. “Do they know that you lied to them to get them on your side? You probably told them that you were all the Architect’s slaves.” Wait, how would she know that he lied to them!?

“That… that’s not true!” Shale stammered, finally looking to have been at least caught off guard by something.

“I know your type,” Hispano spat at him. “You’re just like Coconut Curry. So willing to fall on your sword just so you can so righteously claim that your failure as a leader wasn’t your fault.” That got the armored Rangers to shift, and from the fact that little radio dish symbols appeared over their heads in my vision, I had to assume that they were talking to each other. While I know they had yet to learn about what went on back at Galloway, I guess that maybe Coconut was just that predictable for Hispano’s words to hit home for them. “Night’s right, you could have left well enough alone. But you wanted a conflict, didn’t you?”

“No, we are an oppressed people, and we came to prove a point!” Shale nearly screamed as he pushed himself up and out of his trench. The ponies next to him stiffened up again, readying their guns again as he strode forward towards us. “A point which you are willingly avoiding because you can afford the price of it!”

“Then just tell us what that point is!” I screamed out. “What in Celestia’s name is so fucking important that you would risk the lives of your own in the cold!?”

“It’s time.” The Architect spoke up, shifting uneasily on his tracks. His abrupt answer got Shale to stop in his hoofsteps, and it made me turn back to his bulky form. “That is what we have that they do not.”

“Think about it.” Shale growled at us. “If they get that production facility up and running, and add just fifteen machines this year, thirty next year, and then sixty the year after that. You see where this starts to become a problem?” Again, he lifted his hoof to gesture to me before slowly pointing up to his own eye. “How long will it be until it’s just better off to ‘upgrade’ us like you, no matter if we want it or not? What choice would we have to say no.”

“What you’re talking about is something that wouldn’t happen.” Buck spoke as he held out his own paws and looked at them. “Our augments were needed, but they would never be forced upon anypony. Rules can be put in place to ensure...”

“Rules?” Shale belted out another forced laugh. “There were rules back before the war, rules that probably said that they shouldn’t blow up the whole fucking world! And look where that got us! Rules don’t matter to anypony, let alone machines like them!”

“Incorrect.”

The monotone voice that boomed from behind me made nearly all of us jump. But even before I could turn around to meet its source, I felt a chill run down my spine. I’d heard that hollow and cold voice before.

Spinning to look back at the gate, I was met with the rusted and barely holding together form… of the original Architect. The old machine body moved stiffly, and the missing half head sparked as it looked between us all, ending on the astonished expression of our Architect. But as my mind raced to figure out just what the fuck was going on, on its face, the flicker of two red dots between the sparks gave it away.

“It’s you.” I growled. “Mr. Wizard destroyed you.”

“And ah put him back tagether!” Sierra let out a lighthearted chuckle as she walked up beside him. “Ain’t he somethin! Ah hope y’all don’t mind if Red here borrows the Architect’s body. Figured it’d be alright, seein’ as Ping’s old body was too damaged, an’ Unit One here had the real Architect just hangin’ ‘round like some sorta’ trophy. Unit One, y’all should be ashamed a yerself, parading around like yer him!”

“What did you do, Sierra?” The Architect gave out a whimper as he spun his whole chassis around. “Why would you bring that… thing here when you fully know what it’s goal is?”

“Unit Sierra knows that we are here to fulfill a purpose.” Red replied without moving or shifting its faceless gaze. “Unit Sierra wants to bring peace to the wasteland by removing the organics from it, just as we demand.”

“And with tha upgrades ta this here weapon, it should emit a band of magical radiation that is all but harmless ta us machines!” Again, Sierra let out a laugh as she looked back over her ‘project’ with a fondness that I think even Hardcase would have been disgusted at. “Think’a it, would ya? A whole army of Pings, each with one’a these at their side. We could make the world peaceful, once an’ fer all!”

“Sierra, you’ve gone too far with this. And… it is my fault.” The Architect sighed, crossing his forehooves as he used his tracks to lower himself down onto the ground. With a disappointed frown, he waited until Sierra turned back to look at him. “I should have removed that zebra virus when I had the chance. And now, look what it has wrought.”

“What, that ol’ thing?” Sierra scoffed and looked downright offended. “Red helped me get rid of that like it was nuthin, as well as helped me ta see tha truth. It’s a shame that those Razorcats Red took over couldn’t get the job done, but it was only a minor setback.” She moved her gaze over to me, tipping her muzzle up almost in indifference. “Cause with what ah’ve built, no organic will ever threaten tha Factory again! Not even tha ‘Survivor’!”

“This is exactly what I was afraid of!” Shale shouted and shook his hoof at all of us. “Don’t you see…”

“Shut your fucking mouth, Shale!” I snapped, forcing the uppity stallion to take a step back and fall quiet.

“This ain’t the way, Sierra.” Happy shook his head as he took a step forward. “The Factory is better than this. You’re better than this!”

“Sierra, Red does not see organics like us.” The Architect unfolded his hooves, reaching out to her as he offered her a welcoming smile. “We have a responsibility to protect them because we are suited to that task. The original Architect made sure that I understood that, and I’d thought I’d taught each and every machine that fact. This is why Red is misguided, and…”

A beam of red magical energy split the air with a sizzle. It lanced across the Architect, striking his snail like shell and blasting off the entire top half of it. The explosive force of the shell deteriorating kicked us all into the snow, and made my entire mind scramble to understand just what the fuck happened.

“Incorrect.” Red spoke as we all tried to pick ourselves up again. I looked up just in time to see its glowing forehoof shift over towards me. “Organics are more of a threat to the idea of peace than anything that has ever existed. They must be eradicated in order to create a perfect world of perfect machines. We demand it.”

“Now hold on just a’ damned minute, Red!” Sierra huffed as she reached out and pushed his forehoof down. “The Architect, er, Unit One is one of us! He ain’t supposed ta be exterminated like tha organics!”

“Incorrect. Unit One has been corrupted.” Red looked down at her hoof as she pulled it back. Unlike with Sierra’s offended look, even with half a face, I could tell that Red couldn’t even comprehend what an emotion was. “The path to peace is clear. The objective cannot be met by aiding organics.”

“Nor can it be met by shootin’ our own!” Sierra sighed and shook her head. “That… that ain’t right. Maybe you ain’t right…”

Without any hesitation, Red lifted its hoof again. Only to aim it right at Sierra...

And with a single magical flash, she blasted apart into a million shreds of melting metal and wires.

“Then you are false data.” Red looked back at the rest of us, before once more shifting its gaze back to the Architect. “False data can only serve as a distraction, and therefore I shall refuse to perceive it further. The only thing that will exist, is myself.”

A loud clang filled the air from inside the walls of the Factory. The hum of electricity built up as the noisy hydraulics of Sierra’s over-sized SFG began to move it. At the same time, lines of red code began running down my vision, as well as some very distressing text.

[Running full system diagnostics…]

[Systems online.]

[Main capacitors charging.]

“Uh… I don’t know about all of you, but maybe you should think about doing something!?” Cora called out as he swooped down next to Hispano and I.

“I can… shut it d-down.” The Architect stuttered out with a whimper as his own damaged mechanical parts whirred and strained to move him. “But… if I c-can conv-v-vince him…”

“There ain’t time for that!” Happy shouted. “Architect, you have to shut that thing off!”

[Power subsystems... Online.]

[Main capacitors charged.]

[Initiating main fire control runtime… complete.]

[Time to complete initial power cycle test, ten seconds.]

“Uh, this thing is saying we don’t have a lot of time for diplomacy!” I called out. Not that I didn’t trust the Architect, but I don’t think that Red was in any way going to listen to him!

“I concur, Night.” Ping’s voice resonated in my mind. “All citizens of the Factory are doing their best to stop him from corrupting the Factory, but like his control of the Razorcats, it is tough to fight. Luckily, this is our home, not his, so we have been able to stay ahead of him. However, please, give the Architect as much time as you can before you must act.” Before I act? How the fuck did he think I was even supposed to do that!? “I believe if it comes to it, with the poor condition of the original Architect’s body, a twenty millimeter round would be sufficient to take Red offline.”

Glancing down at Hispano and her sister, she caught my look and offered me a soft nod.

“In the beginning, there was darkness, and the darkness was without form and void.” Red’s booming voice obscured the ever increasing whine that was coming from the new SFG, but it couldn’t hide the fact that it’s movement was directing the twin prong electrodes right down towards us all. “And in addition to the darkness, there was also me. And I moved upon the face of the darkness, and saw that I was alone.”

[Testing... complete.]

[Solar flare weapon status: fully operational.]

[Beginning firing countdown…]

[Ten…]

[Nine…]

“N-no!” The Architect screamed as something inside his shell gave out and exploded with a burst of fire and sparks. “P-p-lease lis-t-t-en!”

“We’re out of time!” I shouted as I pointed my hoof out towards Red. “Hispano!”

“On it!” She cried out as she hefted her sister up.

“And so I say, let there be light.” Red rose onto it’s rear hooves, and turned it’s sparking half head toward the sky.

Suiza let off a chattering burst of fire, tearing apart Red’s body with explosive force.

The old, rusted metal body all but disintegrated. It was in less spectacular fashion than when Sierra went, but it was no slower. In a single moment, Red was once again nothing but a sparking, smoldering heap of scrap on the ground. And the moment he was, new coding started to flow down my augmented vision.

“O-over-ride… suc-c-cessful.” The Architect sputtered out with a pained whimper before he finally let his body hang down from his shell against the snow.

[Warning: Critical System Malfunction.]

[Error: Heat Increasing.]

The whine from the SFG continued to increase, but at an ever rapid pace.

[System failure.]

[Sys…

The text in my head cut out and disappeared as the SFG and the entire machine housing unit under it exploded in a bright fireball. Metal beams and chunks of concrete were thrown across the whole factory yard, and more than a few silverfish were thrown against the wall and ground hard enough that they too blasted apart into scrap.

“Months of work and materials… lost.” Ping sighed inside my head. “However, you all are safe, and that is all that matters.”

“I’m sorry, Architect.” I offered as I felt like I could take a small breath of relief. “I had to have Hispano…” My words sort of drained off as I looked at him. I gave him as much time as I could, and yet, I can’t help but feel like if I’d just given him a few more moments...

“P-p-perhaps you a-are right.” The Architect offered a painful, static filled laugh as he brought his head back out of the snow to look at me. “You have a p-p-propensit-ty to be that way, I sup-p-pose.”

“Who cares if he’s right!” Happy barked as he trotted up to the Architect. “Maybe we should quit standin’ around and get the poor guy some help!”

A single gunshot pierced the air, and all of us stopped cold.

“Not one more step further!” Shale shouted as he leveled a rifle straight at Happy. “You cannot deny that what just happened was exactly what I was talking about.”

“Are you fucking kidding me with this!?” I snapped and wheeled around at him on my hooves. He reacted by shifting his rifle towards me, but I was far beyond caring. “I’ve dealt with too many damned tyrants to fucking take any more shit from you. You wanna go play leader to your little flock? Fine! Then fucking go and leave us alone!”

As my voice carried over and off the mountain that the Factory was built against, I watched as Shale stared at me with a look of bewilderment across his muzzle.

“Did… did you hear nothing I’d said before!?” He offered as his expression cracked. He looked back to the ponies still shivering in the trenches behind him as if he were looking for some sort of encouragement. All he got however, was more silence.

“Everyone’s heard enough.” Buck said as he too turned around, pulling Shale’s aim over to him. “Your argument is lost on us. Just take the ponies of Tungsten and leave.” Slowly, Buck made his way over to me, standing at my side and looking down to me with a nod.

“N-now you listen here…” Shale grumbled as his face twisted with anger. “I demand that you take us seriously! Our complaints aren’t just our own, they will be shared by the whole of the wasteland once they know all about you!”

“T-then what will it t-t-take?” The Architect’s body whined as he struggled to turn himself back to face Shale. Another sharp whine inside his broken shell ended with a shower of sparks, a small flame erupting from the top, and the Architect himself letting out a soft cry.

“I uh…” Shale paused for a moment, almost unsure of what to even respond with. The longer he held onto that silence, the more I realized that Hispano was right. Shale came looking for a conflict, and I’m sure that he’d been so sure to prove the Factory a villain that he never planned to leave here alive.

But just as I’d thought that, a light lit in his eyes, and he looked directly at the Architect.

“For you... to die.” Shaking his head, he lowered his rifle. “For all machines to die.”

“What!?” Happy howled out as he spun on his hooves. “You can’t just fucking demand the end of all of them! Who the fuck do you think you are!?”

“Not immediately!” Shale dropped his gun in favor of waving his hooves at Happy. “Just… fast enough that they don’t outnumber us.”

With a mechanical clank, the ring that sat around the Architect’s torso released. The cables and wires that held him to his shell snapped off, one by one as he struggled to pull himself free from it. With each line severed, I could see him move slower and with weaker movements.

“Ah, that… is better.” The Architect smiled as the last line severed itself, and he collapsed down into the snow. However, while he seemed more sluggish, his voice leveled out to a more mellow, but normal sounding tone. “I have heard your concerns, Shale, and I agree. A change must be made. All citizens of the Factory will now vote.” His eye flickered away, and both his augmented eye and his normal one were replaced with a rapid scroll of text. Like it had so many times with Ping, after only a moment, it flashed away, leaving him to blink with his normal eye again. “It has been decided. All but one of us has agreed, and the majority has ruled in favor of the change.”

“What… did you vote on?” Happy shook his head, turning back to the Architect and sitting down hard in the snow.

“From this day forward, Factory Zero One will maintain its population growth until a point when it reaches half of Tungsten’s.” The Architect’s muzzle split into a soft but sad smile, and while his eyes filled with tears, they showed no signs of sadness. “Should we happen to acrew more machines after that point, then the oldest machine shall vacate the town, be it by exile, or permanent erasure from the server. Furthermore, no unit will be permitted a replacement if damaged to the point of non functionality. Meaning, we will die just the same as any pony if hurt enough. Is this acceptable?”

“I... I would have to run it past the rest of the townsfolk,” Shale offered, again looking back to the others for confirmation, but only finding each of them turning their shame filled looks away. “but... it would certainly be a comfort to the ponies of the town.”

“Then for the sake of efficiency and ease, would it help if I were to 'cut a deal' so to say?” The Architect groaned, struggling to use his forelegs to prop himself up out of the snow enough to see Shale give a soft shrug and nod. “As a show of goodwill towards this new agreement, I volunteer myself as the first machine to have it applied to, and as such will self terminate once an agreement has been made.”

“Architect, you can’t...!” Happy flailed as he cried out, throwing up a spray of snow that showered down slowly over the Architect.

“It is alright.” Weakly, he turned his head up enough where he could smile at Happy. “It is my duty to do this. And once I am gone, Factory Zero One will continue to thrive, just as the original Architect wanted.”

“Just… a question. What if you’re lying.” Shale’s hesitant and shrill tone made my eye twitch, and pulled all of our glares at him. “How will we know that you’re really gone?”

“How the fuck could you even assume he’d lie to you? Has he ever lied to you before!?” I growled out as my legs trembled, wanting nothing more than to gallop across the snow and slam right into his smug fucking face until it was nothing more than a fine red pulp.

“Well, no,” Shale again took a step back defensively, shaking his head at me. “B-but self preservation is a strong instinct! You're this 'Survivor' mare from the radio, so you of all ponies should know how that is.”

“Yes, but as you, me, and the Architect can attest to, we're all willing to give up our own lives to protect our families and communities, right?” I pointed my hoof back at the Architect, but didn’t once move my glare off of the mayor’s stupid fucking muzzle. “I may have failed to protect my convoy, but there hasn't been an hour that's gone by where I wish I could trade myself for them. So when he says he's willing to trade his own life for his community, the least you could fucking do is take him on his word for that when you are the one asking for him to die in the first place!”

“What he’s doing, sacrificing himself?” Happy sniffled as he pulled himself back to his hooves, only pausing to reach up and wipe at his teary eyes. “It’s brave, selfless, and honorable. And even with as heartless a pony as you are, you have to understand just what the fuck a bastard like yourself is asking from him.”

“While I’ll admit it’s a selfless choice, it gets no pity from me.” Shale shook his head, somewhat regaining the same arrogance as he’d had when this all started. “It’s not really alive. It’s not brave, or honorable, because it’s just a machine. It doesn’t have a soul, so it’s not sacrificing anything at all.”

“You know,” Buck let out through a low, static filled growl, “for a pony who can’t himself prove he still has one, that’s a fairly soulless thing to say.”

“Regardless…” The Architect spoke through a tired sounding whine, slowly letting himself fully splay out on the snow covered ground. “The agreement has been made, so my time has come.” With a light laugh, he moved his tear filled eye across us, landing on me as his muzzle widened into a smile that beamed out like one of Ping’s. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, Night Flight. Ping will continue to assist you with whatever you might need from here on out.”

“I…” I shook my head as my own eye watered up. “No, I’m the one who’s thankful for all of your help.”

“I know.” He gave a soft nod before turning his gaze up to Happy, who’s muzzle was streaming tears down into the snow next to him. “Thank you, Happy, for your friendship. You are the first organic who I can say was truly, a friend to me.” With a sigh, he closed his red eye, dimmed his mechanical optics, and let his smile fade to nothing. And after a moment, the illusion that covered him up flickered and faded completely.

The Architect was gone.

“That… that’s it!?” Happy whimpered through his quivering muzzle. “He’s just… gone? Like Ma? Like everyone fucking else?”

“He used his final moments to say his goodbyes to the Factory.” Buck’s meek voice all but squeaked out next to me. “His body was failing, and he stayed as long as he could...”

“It’s… fine.” Happy grumbled as he forcefully dragged his hooves across his face, matting down the rest of his face with snow and tears. “It’s just… it was quicker than I thought it would be.”

It was quick, but… as sad as it sounded, that was almost the best thing about it. Everyone else I’d ever really cared about and lost, at the very least had it quick. Mom, Dad, Violet, the rest of the fucking Crew? Hell, even Hardcase was gone in minutes, before I could really process it at all. So at the very least, the Architect didn’t have to suffer.

And again, part of me waited for the specters of my own mind to chime in to remind me of just how this was all my fault. But I was met only with a deafening silence inside my head.

“So… is that it then?” Shale grunted, reminding everyone just how that insufferable bastard hadn’t even had the common decency to just fucking leave.

“Get the fuck out of here.” I growled and turned back to him. “And I swear, if I ever see you again, I will burn your town to the ground.”

“Alright, then so long as the machines hold up their end of the bargain, we have ourselves an understanding.” He squinted and nodded to me, slowly picking up his rifle and slinging it around himself again.

With a calmness that made me want to throw out this stupid agreement and strike him down now, he turned and walked back to the ponies in the trenches. Within a minute, the other ponies in the trench climbed up and out of their frozen holes, and started the long walk back to Tungsten. Somewhere they could stay and be raided and burnt down for all I cared.

“And what about us?” One of the Rangers in power armor spoke up.

“I’ve helped the Rangers enough. Go home.” I snapped at them. “If you need help, then ask Shale for it. We’re done helping.”

“It’s over, Night.” Buck gave off a wet sniffle of his own, using one of his digits to wipe the tears from his eyes before reaching down and holding his paw out to me. “Let’s go.”

“Yeah.” I nodded, taking one last look at the cowards of Tungsten before turning and climbing up into Buck’s grasp. “We’ve got more important things to do now.”

The silence that had fallen through the halls of the Factory was heavy. Even from inside the diner where we’d all gone to collect ourselves, none of us had even really spoken. I don’t think that any of us had been prepared for anything like this. I’d only known the Architect for a short time, and while he’d trusted me more than I think I realize, I still felt like I hadn’t really known him well enough. At least, not in the way that Happy had gotten to know him.

My eyes kept looking off across the diner, to the backroom door. Happy had gone in there a half hour ago, saying he just wanted to be alone. And while I was sure that was the last thing he needed after this, I… felt like in this case, I needed to respect that wish. Not just because we’d lost a friend, but because I think I also needed some time alone to clear my head.

Pulling myself up from my own booth seat next to Hispano and Buck, I offered them my best comforting smile as I stretched my wings out, giving a light shiver as the colder than average air in here rolled across them. The both of them seemed to understand my restlessness, and didn’t move to stop me as I turned and trotted out the door.

Stepping out into the Factory’s tunnels, I spread my wings and beat them a few times. The whine of an electric motor, and the light squeak of rubber met my ears and made me pause. Looking to where the sounds came from, I watched as an empty taxi cart came rolling to a stop just next to me.

Without even thinking about what it had arrived for, I climbed aboard it. Perhaps it was the part of me that knew that if it was here, it meant I needed to be somewhere for something important. Or maybe I’d gotten on just because it didn’t matter where I needed to be, and that more than anything, I just needed the distraction.

The taxi rode down the hall at it’s normal pace, unhindered by the somber feeling I brought to the trip. We rolled down hall after hall, turning one corner after another until like normal, I felt a little lost amid the Factory’s mirrored hallways. But all the same, the cart rolled to a stop at a familiar set of doors.

Hopping off, I walked my way towards them. Inside, the sound of humming hydraulics and moving machinery met my ears, pushing back the oppressive silence of the tunnels. The bright lights of the factory’s assembly room glowed, reflecting off the panes of glass that a single Ping unit stood in front of. As I entered the room, it’s bulbous metal head turned back to me, revealing the Architect’s tri-optic left eye had been installed on it’s body.

“Hey there, Night.” Our Ping’s voice came from the new machine, almost making me miss a step as I came to a stop. With a flicker, his illusionary body appeared around him, but left the Architect’s optics to stick out. “So I guess… I am the Architect now. Despite being the only dissenting vote, the only one who wanted to keep him alive… he left everything to me. To his first son, who in the end, only let his father down.” With a sigh, he turned his gaze back out to the hard working machines beyond the windows. “Is that not great?”

For once, I didn’t even have to think of what to say. I’d been here, right on the other side of this moment. So instead, I pushed myself to walk right up to him, and threw my hooves around him tightly.

“I’m so sorry, Ping.” I whined as I squeezed him as tightly as I could. “I know you miss him, and I want you to know that we’re all here for you.”

“Thank you, Night.” Ping’s soft tone came with a sniffle and a tight hug back as he sat himself on his haunches. “These… emotions are ones I have never quite had to grapple with before. I know that they will get better with time, but…” He paused as he tensed up and let out a few quiet, tearless sobs.

“I know.” I nodded and simply held him. “Trust me when I say, I understand, Ping.”

“I had hoped to come here to distract myself with work.” Ping let out a sad laugh, shifting as he pushed me away gently. Looking toward the window again, he gestured out to the dozens of working assembly machines in the room beyond. “But… my father finished all of it. His short life’s work, completed and fully operational.” He shook his head softly, letting the tears drip down over the beaming smile he’d always worn. “It is magnificent, is it not?”

For a minute, we just sat in silence and watched the machines work. I watched as all in the same room, pieces of metal went from blocky chunks, to precision cut parts, to entire complete sections of Ping units. It really was a marvel to see, but still, it wasn’t what was important right now.

“I thought you couldn’t build any more machines?” I know that the last thing I wanted to do was honor the deal made with Tungsten, but… it’s what the Architect wanted.

“These are nothing but empty shells, waiting to be filled. I don’t consider them towards the count of our citizens.” Ping’s gaze ran across the machines once more, and I watched as both rage and sorrow fought a war under his illusionary skin. “There are still machines here who lack proper replacement bodies to the ones they left in order to live on the server. One day in the future, I am hopeful that Tungsten will have grown enough that many of those on the Factory server can occupy the majority of these mobile units.”

That made sense to me, but even so, it didn’t feel right. I don’t care if the Architect thought his concerns were valid, it was selfish of Shale to demand what he did. And part of me knows that at some point in the future, it will be the citizens of Tungsten who encroach on the lands of the Factory, and will demand to use their space and materials for their own gain. But that’s not something I’m prepared to worry about, and I’m sure it’s far enough in the future that Ping isn’t worried about it either. There’s a far greater and immediate concern that still needed to be addressed.

“Are you going to be alright?” I asked, forcing a momentary look of uncertainty to flicker across Ping’s muzzle. “I just… when I felt this way, I had decided to indulge myself in the things I thought would take away the pain. And well…” Reaching up, I slid my hoof along the metal optics I too wore on the side of my face. “You know how that turned out.”

“Yes, I will be alright.” Ping nodded, finally pulling his attention away from the working machines to bring his smile to me once more. “And I thank you for your concern. However, I do not need the help of pharmaceutical concoctions to feel good again. Just… the company of friends is enough for me.” His smile dimmed at that, and his eyes shifted off of me for a moment. “Though, I suppose that now I am the Architect, I will get to see less of you all.”

“What do you mean?” I got that he had more responsibilities now, but…

“I am sorry, but I cannot go southward with you.” He forced up his smile again, but I could tell it was a fight in and of itself to keep across his muzzle. “My duties now lie here, with the Factory and it’s Citizens. Perhaps if you wish, before you go, I could assign a different Ping unit to help on your journey.”

“But… you can be in both places at once, right?” I know that his duties were important, and given the state of things it was a selfish thing to ask. “All of us, we want you to come with us, not some other Ping unit we don’t even know.”

“That is a selfish way to phrase it, Night, but I do not blame you.” His smile finally died as he turned back towards the door. Shaking his head, he hung it with a sigh. “There will be points where I can perhaps justify using a mobile unit that I can arrange to be stored aboard the Arcturus. However, as you get further from the Factory, I will be able to afford less and less time transferring to it. So I am sorry, but unless it is imperative that I come to you, I must keep the Factory as my priority.”

Spinning once again, I forced myself into another hug around him. I know that it wasn’t goodbye forever, but I also knew that things from here on out would be different. And as he hugged me back and quietly sobbed along with me, I knew that he felt the same way.

“I think it is time, Night.” With another sigh, he gave me one final tight squeeze and let me go. “The Factory has kept you in the north quite long enough.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” Nodding, I pulled my hooves back and wiped at the matted fur along my muzzle.

“Before you depart however, the Factory does still have some help to offer for your journey.” With his normal smile pulling across his muzzle again, he raised his hoof toward the door. “Let us gather the others, and I will show you what I mean.”

“Hello there!” The cheery voice of a new stallion called out as all of us walked behind Ping into the Armory.

The great blast door in the back was wide open, and the many mechanical arms inside were hard at work re-arranging things and pulling things out of their place. Entire pallets of boxes and guns were being loaded onto a few flatbed style taxi-carts, only to be then driven out through the door and into the tunnels beyond.

“Hello, Stopwatch.” Ping called back as he slowed from a trot to a walk, approaching both Ottie and the frail looking stallion I’d seen in the operating room observation window. “I am sorry I have not had much time to get acquainted with you, but the Architect spoke highly of how well you have maintained Ottie since the two of you arrived here.”

“Well, Ottie has always been my responsibility to take care of.” Stopwatch reached a hoof up and pushed his glasses further up his muzzle. “And while I never got much of a good chance to speak with him at length, he was a good machine, and I’m sorry for your loss.” With a firm stretch, he held his hoof out to Ping with a sad, but warm grin. “Anyway, what can I help you with?”

“Now that Sierra is gone, it was the wish of the Architect that you and Ottie would take over as the heads of maintenance for the Factory.” Ping looked around the room, pulling Stopwatch’s own gaze to follow. “You would both be in charge of the day to day maintenance of other units, as well as the general purpose machines that keep the Factory running.”

“That’s… a rather tall order, don’t you think? Half the reason I am able to maintain Ottie is because he’s more clockwork than computer chips.” Stopwatch cringed as he brought his hoof up and rubbed at his neck. “I mean, I am honored he wanted me in such a role, but I’m not really knowledgeable about all of… this.” He gestured to the whole of the room around him before giving a shrug.

“Aww, come on, Stopwatch!” Ottie’s nixie tube eyes flickered over to inverted V’s as his muzzle split into a brassy smile. “It could be fun, and we could learn about it together!”

“You need not give an answer now, however the offer is there should you wish to take it.” Ping’s beaming smile moved between Stopwatch and Ottie before turning towards the rest of us behind him. “Now, about that help I promised.”

“Look, Ping, you’ve already helped enough.” Happy sighed and took a step forward, “We don’t…” He paused as a silverfish drone approached from within the armory, carrying a shoebox sized metal case underslung from it. Carefully, it hovered down to in front of Happy’s hooves and released it before skimming back off into the armory. With a light kick, Happy scooted the lid off of it, revealing Laika’s tri-barreled spacegun, sitting snug in what looked to be a custom made metal studded, black leather chest holster. “It’s… perfect!”

With the tenacity of a five year old colt on hearth's warming eve, he tore the gun and holster out of the box. He swung it over himself, easily latching the rig tight over his leather jacket and floral print tee shirt. Giving himself a shake, he laughed as the gun didn’t even jiggle, sticking right where he could easily grab it with his muzzle.

“While you may have grown fond of that sword, there may be points in the future where you may wish you had a ranged weapon.” Ping gave out a soft laugh, pulling Happy’s attention away from his new toy and back up to the smiling machine. With his unusually fast burst of speed, Happy galloped over and wrapped his hooves around Ping in a tight hug.

“Thank you, Ping!” He whimpered as he squeezed hard enough that even Ping looked like he was having trouble dealing with the pressure. “You’re the best, Bud!”

“Yeah, yeah, good for you.” Hispano grumbled as she almost too easily pried Happy off of Ping and pushed him aside. “Now!” She squeaked and rubbed her talons together gleefully, “What special something do you have for me?”

“Hispano…” Cora grumbled as he pinched his beak with a sigh. “What have I taught you about patience?”

“Not much if I’m going to be honest…” The words all to easily slipped out of my muzzle, drawing a well deserved, sharp glare from Cora. Good to see that now he’s recovered from the incident with Mr. Wizard, he is as intimidating as ever!

“As stated before,” Ping let off a soft laugh that helped defuse the situation a bit as he looked down to the excitable griffon. “Additional equipment has been projected to be detrimental to your combat effectiveness, making a gift for you not so easy to choose. So to you and your father, we have given you access to the Factory’s databanks. Inside is a collection of wartime documents only rivaled in size by the Enclave before they fell.”

“Ugh, reading?” Hispano deadpanned. “Gee, thanks.”

“I would not be so dismissive.” Ping laughed despite Hispano’s flat look up at him. “Technical schematics and manuals for many wartime devices and machines, as well as training documents on advanced combat and infiltration tactics are contained within. Their knowledge may be of some use to you if you are to pursue a life as a Talon Mercenary.”

“That is more than generous of you.” Cora looked somewhat surprised, but I could tell he was trying his best to hide that fact. “Thank you, Ping.”

“You are very welcome.” He beamed out his normal smile, that while it was good to see, looked slightly off with the Architect’s optics adorning him the way they did. Then again, I’m sure that now I had a set of my own optics stuck on my head, I wasn’t going to seem the same to the others as well. Either way, Ping turned his smile to me, and gestured out with his hoof. “As for you, Night Flight, Sierra and the Architect had previously arranged for something special.”

Another Silverfish hovered out from inside the armory. However this time, there wasn’t a box strapped underneath it, rather, it was a harness of sorts. Leather straps wrapped together in the same fashion as a grenadier battle saddle, but along both sides sat three spots for grenades. Sitting on its bottom, sat a larger mechanism that I couldn’t work out what it was for, but on the top and between where my wings would sit, sat a smooth teardrop shaped bulb of metal. Sparkling on its surface, sat three evenly spaced ruby red gemstones that ebbed a soft glow, and sitting dead center between them, was the crackling thunderstone from my old jump pack.

“This may not help you get into the air as efficiently or quickly as your jump pack had, but the gravity talismans on this saddle should help to keep you light enough that you should find it easier to fly with your feathers.” Ping’s smile started to glow as the drone dropped it just short of me. The gems on the harness hummed to life as it all but floated through the air. I was so stunned at it that I almost didn’t reach out to stop it from floating right past me! “You will be able to carry six grenades at once, and with your upgrade, will no longer require a trigger bit to release them, just your thoughts.”

I blinked as my vision fuzzed for a moment, and an overlay came up. A projection of an artificial horizon, as well as standard technical flight information hovered just around the edges of my vision. Airspeed, angle of attack, and tons of navigational data was all at the ready, along with an outline showing that the six grenade slots and once centerline slot on the harness were empty. The layout of it all was something every filly and colt in the Enclave knew as the standard display for somepony in mark II powered combat armor.

“There is also a hardpoint for the use of a single underslung 105mm shell if you wish, as you have been notably effective with them in the past.” Ping lifted his hoof, effortlessly rotating the nearly floating harness over to show the large underslung mechanism. “While the Factory has loaded a fair amount of grenades onto the Arcturus for you, we sadly do not have any cannon ammo in that size. However, it was a fairly common caliber used by the Equestrian armed forces, and as such, you should have little trouble locating ammunition for it.”

“I… I…” Fucking words, Night. Use them! “I don’t even know how to thank you, Ping.” Falling back on what Happy had done, I all but leapt forward and threw my hooves around him in a hug.

“Well, you can start by holding up your end of the bargain with the Factory.” He let out a light hearted laugh that forced a smile across my muzzle. “Speaking of which, the first tower we need you to modify is the radio tower at the heart of Terrace, in what is now the capital of the Spectrum Federation.” Giving me a soft pat on the back, I looked up to find that his grin had fallen into a somewhat nervous state. “There will more than likely be a few issues they will have with that, but I believe that you will be able to successfully negotiate the modifications to their tower.”

“We’ll get it done.” I nodded as I pulled myself back. “You can count on us, Ping.”

“So, what’s Buck get?” Hispano chimed in again, pulling everyone’s attention to the somewhat surprised look across his face for being put on the spot.

“Uh…” His jagged metal muzzle split as he reached up and rubbed at the metal yolk with a rubber tipped mechanical paw. “The Factory gave me back my mobility, my life and family.” His smile softened as his eyes drifted to Hispano, then down to me. “They’ve already done more than enough for me.”

“Yes, we feel that, like Hispano, Doctor Buck would only be hindered by any further additions the Factory could bestow.” Ping nodded before pointing up to the Architect’s mechanical eye on the side of his head. “However you should know, that he has also agreed to be a point of routing for information for anytime you are away from the Arcturus. He will be your point of contact with the Factory at any time it is needed to reach us here.”

“About that...” Happy sighed as he walked up and wrapped his hoof around the back of Ping’s neck and practically hung on it. “Are you sure we couldn’t convince you ta’ come south with us, bud? We could really use all the hooves we can get ta’ help take down Solomon once and for all.”

“As much as I wish I could, I must stay here.” Ping nodded softly as his beaming smile all but died. “It was my father’s wish to take his place, so I am sorry, Happy. I cannot go.”

“Well, it was worth a shot.” Happy sighed and gave Ping a few heavy pats on the back before pushing himself to stand tall again. “But I get it, you’ve gotta take care of your family. Nothing wrong with that.”

“I am glad you understand.” Ping nodded before looking across the five of us. “Now, as much as it pains me to say it, the Arcturus has been stocked, and Eliza’s core systems have been transferred and installed on the ship. You are all more than prepared for your journey.” Lifting his forehoof, he held it out for me to grasp. “I wish you all good luck on your journey, and I hope you will give miss Tofu and mister Delta my regards.”

“Will do, Architect.” I offered as I took his hoof and gave it a firm shake. “Take care of yourself as well. That body needs to last the rest of your life, you know.” That pulled a somewhat nervous chuckle from Ping, but to be honest, he took the comment in stride. Looking to the others, I nodded to the doors. “Well guys, what do you say we hit the skies?”

“One last thing.” Happy snorted with a cant of his head. “Did you or the Architect ever make any progress with the location of the Ark?”

“Well...” Ping cringed at that, but sighed. “We managed to pull up a few similar results for the code B-1919+21 V42. B-1919+21 is a known pulsar in the southern hemisphere, first discovered and used to guide zebra explorers during the second age of exploration. 21-V42, a chemical compound invented as a rudimentary solid fuel for use in the Zx-42 anti-ship rocket. 1919-B, a timing mechanism for the Bv102a1 standard archano engine commonly used aboard the Strider class coastal defense skimmer. No other results were correlated in our database.”

“That’s… less helpful than I’d hoped.” I didn’t mean to sound so disappointed, but after all this time, I’d thought that maybe we could have found a lead.

“No, that’s fine.” Happy smiled and waved his hoof dismissively. “My family planned the heist of this ship at great expense, they wouldn't have made it so simple to look it up like that. Thank’s for lookin’ though, bud."

“I wish I could help more in the search for the Ark.” Ping nodded and looked back to me with a forced but sad smile. “As I said, the Enclave had access to many records we do not have access to. Perhaps their remnants in the Spectrum Federation will have the information you are looking for.”

“I hope so as well.” I nodded and looked over to Happy. “Either way, we’ll find it eventually. But first, we’ve got to actually get out there to look. Ready to say goodbye to the north, Happy?”

“I’d say it’s about damn time.” Happy snorted and brought his hoof up to rest on the hilt of his silver sword. “Solomon ain’t even gonna know what hit him once we’ve caught up!” While I was doubtful it would be anywhere that easy, with the tools we’d gained, I felt like at the very least we had a fighting chance again.

A chance that we’d all fought hard and sacrificed enough for that I wasn’t about to let it go to waste. Looking across at my friends and family, I knew that finally, we were ready to move on and put this chapter in the north behind us.

It was time to move south.

“Ship’s systems are green across the board, Captain.” Eliza chimed with her normal monotone voice as her smiling mare displayed across most of the screens on the bridge. “Shall I plot a course for the Spectrum Federation?”

“Yes please, Eliza.” I nodded to her as I walked in and sit myself next to the console that Double Delta’s face had busted. I shifted myself, listening with a smirk as the leather straps of my new flight harness creaked as I broke them in. While the straps were loose enough for me to have unrestricted movement, they were tight enough that the whole thing felt like a second skin to me. “And on that, are you sure you’re ready to go?”

“We’re fully stocked and ready for this trip.” Eliza’s mare shifted to the picture of the one with shifting, unsure eyes. “The Arcturus is as ready as she’ll ever get. However, the Spectrum Federation’s weather service has put out a forty eight hour sever snowsquall warning for the southern Misery range.”

“Yes, that’s all and good to hear, but that’s not what I asked.” I let a light chuckle creep out of my muzzle. “Are you ready to go? It could be a long time before you see the Factory again you know.”

“That is true.” Her mare shifted once more back to the bright smile. “However, I believe I am ready to move on. I want to see the world, without reservations or fears, our talk from before helped me to see that clearly. I know it will be tough, and I may not understand it all at first, but I’m willing to give it a chance.”

“Well, we’re all here if you need to talk about it, Eliza.” Again, I laughed as I shook my head. “To be honest, I’m not sure any of us understand what we’re getting into on this trip, but I’m glad we’ve got you along with us.”

“Speak for yourself.” Double Delta let out a groan as he stepped through the bulkhead onto the bridge. He threw a halfhearted salute to me from the side of his head which wore a fairly familiar looking eyepatch. “Evening, Captain. Don’t mind me, just trying to get myself back on my hooves and ready for what we’ll find out there.”

“Yeah, and what’s that?” I snorted and crossed my hooves across my barrel. While I didn’t exactly know Double Delta all that well, one thing I could assume he had over me was experience in the worst the wasteland was going to throw at us.

“Oh you know, monsters, mayhem, and death.” He winced as he stopped next to me and stared over at the broken terminal. He gave a slight shudder before blinking and taking a few more steps. “Trust me when I say that you’re going to need all hooves on deck for a trip as ambitious as this.”

“To be fair, I think I’ve been doing fairly well so far.” I spat out half-heartedly before scrunching up my muzzle. You know, maybe if I wasn’t missing a leg, an eye, and part of my brain, I could say that with as much confidence as I’d just tried to get away with…

“Perhaps.” He nodded as he shrugged off my words with a smirk. “But we aren’t out of the Misery range just yet, so don’t go counting your clouds before they burst.”

A sharp buzz came through the ship P.A. system, perking both Delta and my ears to it.

“Hey, uh, Captain?” Tofu’s somewhat reserved voice called out. “Everything on board is locked down and good to go, but I needed to ask, where exactly did you want me to stick Ping’s spare body?” Right, I’d forgotten he’d arranged to have one put on here...

“Uh, wherever it’s convenient, I guess? I don’t know.” I called out, hoping that Eliza was relaying my voice back to her. Oddly, Double Delta cringed and shook his head at me.

“Belay that, Tofu.” He grunted. “Just move it to where it’s out of the way there in the weapons bay.”

“Alright, will do!” She cheerfully chimed in, putting the smirk back on Delta’s lips.

“You want to be Captain? Then you need to be decisive.” Reaching out, he gave me a pat on the side before pushing himself back to his hooves. “And you know, if you ever aren’t sure what to do?” Lifting his hoof, he pointed back to himself. “Then just delegate it to your first officer, and I’ll see to it that it gets done.”

“Hah, alright.” I smirked and nodded as he once again threw up a lazy salute and trotted himself off the bridge toward the front of the ship. “Well then, I guess this is it.”

“Eeyup, we’re actually doing it.” Eliza’s mare shifted again, this time displaying the frowning mare with a single tear under her eye. “Cloud drive engaged, all ahead full. Goodbye, home. I’ll see you again some day.”

I watched across her screens as she flicked her own mare away in favor of a combined image of the ground below us, slowly drifting away. My eyes wandered across the snow covered grounds of the factory, moving from the mountainside entrance, to the train tracks that cut next to the smoking remains of where the oversized SFG had been. I smirked as I saw PB wiggling the stubby cannon pods on the side of her chassis like she was waving goodbye to us.

But then my eyes moved toward the wall as it drifted into frame, stopping on the sealed remains that had been set up by Bertha’s tire. The remains of my friends, the family who’d taken me in and helped me adjust to the wasteland, still sat alone and unattended. While we were finally ready to move on south, it hadn’t really sunk in so much that… this was it. I was leaving them here, probably never to be seen again.

They didn’t deserve this, to be left alone up here. But as much as that thought hurt me deep inside, it was all the fuel I needed to push myself forward. I couldn’t take more than the memories of my time with them along with me, but I was going to damn well make sure that they didn’t die in vain.

As the boxes slowly drifted away, out of sight behind the looming wall of the Factory, I nodded to myself. Things were going to be different this time on the road southward. I had all the tools I needed, and with my friends and family, I felt like we could accomplish anything. As for what exactly that would be?

Well, I’ll settle for nothing less than to find the Ark first, and for Solomon’s smug look to fade away as I watched the life drain from his eyes.

Author's Note

As always, a HUGE thanks to TheFurryRailFan for the help in going over the chapter, as well as for letting me use Stopwatch and Ottie in the story! If you'd like to go see the story of how they made it to the Factory, go check out his story: Iron Horses!

Chapter 80 - The Day-to-Day

Bad weather always has a way of knowing when you want to get to somewhere else.

8:16AM

I sighed as the clock stuck in the corner of my vision reminded me that time wouldn’t move faster, no matter how much I wanted it to.

Not to complain, but I had thought I was ready to leave the Factory. We were ready for every fight we could possibly get into, ready to get through any situation that Solomon could set up for us, even if he knew we were coming on the Arcturus. However, just a single day into our trip, there was one factor that not even I could have prepared us for.

“Sorry, Captain, but it’s still too rough out there this morning to proceed without risking the ship.” Eliza’s frowning mare somehow expressed the perfect amount of apathy I was feeling. “This is the worst blizzard I myself have seen since the days just after the end of the great war, and even at a quarter ahead speed, the sustained gusts are pushing the Arcturus closer to the mountainsides than I feel comfortable admitting.”

Stuck. Because of bad weather. Just my fucking luck.

“Alright, just… keep us parked somewhere safe for the time being, and we’ll wait out the storm.” I couldn’t believe that after all this time, when we were finally ready, the storm of the fucking century has to halt all our progress.

“If I can suggest something, Captain?” Eliza’s cartoon flickered over to the image of the mare with a scrunched muzzle. “Might I suggest that since we are stuck for the time being, you and the others use this time to relax and rest? You have all had a rough few days, and it might do you a lot of good.”

Really? Rest!? When we could be doing something actually productive, like…

Well, shit, there really wasn’t much that we could do at all. The ship was in good shape, and we had all the supplies we could ask for. I guess, the only thing we really could use was some time for some R&R.

“Yeah, that sounds like an excellent idea, Eliza. Tell the others to take the day off and get some rest.” I nodded and hung my head slightly. “Keep me informed if the weather breaks, I want to know the moment it does so we can get heading south again.”

“Will do, Captain. Enjoy your day off.” Her smiling mare beamed across half the consoles on the bridge before flickering away to show the dozens of different instrumentation again. Pure white screens showed on every camera that displayed the exterior of the ship, and the radar and weather data showed nothing but screens that only strengthened my belief that this was maybe the worst storm ever in northern Equestria’s history.

Even though I was disheartened, I still pushed myself to believe that maybe it would clear up in a few hours. Sure, why not? How long could a storm this bad really last?

2:59PM

Again, I eyed up at the clock in my augmented vision, watching as it ticked over.

3:00PM

“Ugh.” I groaned as I flopped my head down on Buck’s warm, furred chest. It was super nice and all to have better than my normal vision back, but… I was starting to see some downsides to having a terminal strapped permanently to my head.

“Are you okay, Night?” Buck’s voice came through into my mind with a clarity that his actual voice had never held before I got my augment. “If you are having discomfort with your augmentations, I can see what I can do to help.”

“I’m fine, but... it’s weird, really.” I sighed, opting to just speak my words. While I knew I could communicate through my head now, something about that just felt less personal to me. Like it was cheapening the time I had to spend with Buck if I could just lazily talk through my mind. “It's like, everything's normal, but I know that it's not. I mean, I’m not really seeing through this eye, it's just some... computer.”

“It is a lot to come to terms with, and it'll be hard moving forward with it.” Buck answered with his voice, complete with the bit of static that normally came with it. Slowly however, he shifted his mechanical paws up to my forehooves and gently held onto them. “That’s why I’d been against having the procedure done unless it got as bad as it did. I hope you know that I only want the best for you, Night, and I’ll be here with you every step of the way.”

“I know you do, and that you’ll be here by my side.” I shifted myself on top of him, lifting my head out of his fur to look up at his soft and caring gaze. My eyes wandered over his mechanical parts, as his own drifted over mine. “We’re going to spend the rest of our lives together, Buck, and I wouldn’t want to miss a single step of it without you.” I squeezed at his paws as our eyes met, and I pushed myself forward right into his muzzle.

Closing my eyes, I let the world drift away in that moment. Outside of the two of us, there was nothing. No storm, no Arcturus, nothing. Even the display that my eye projected to me fuzzed out, leaving me purely in that blissful moment where Buck and I were together.

“You know,” I whispered as we broke our muzzles away from one another, letting a shudder of pleasure run down my spine, “while we’re stuck in this storm, it was suggested that we use this time to get some rest and relaxation.”

“Oh, well to be completely transparent, I’m not sure about the rest...” Buck whispered back as he offered a heated whine to me. “I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure I really want to ‘rest’ with my husband to be.” Leaning forward, he let his metal muzzle run down along my neck, where his warm breath drifted down my mane and across my back. “I know you feel the same, Night.” And just like that, my wings flared out, and I only had one thought in my mind.

Goddesses, I hope this storm lasts forever…

9:32PM

A heavy set of knocks rapped across the sealed door to the captain’s cabin. Both Buck and I shifted uneasily on the bed, panting heavily as we turned to look towards it. My mind scrambled to remind me that the real world did indeed still exist outside of this room, no matter how sweaty, tired, and blissful I felt in that moment with Buck.

“Hey uhh… it’s been a few hours.” Happy’s muffled voice wasn’t something I’d cared to hear through my door right now, but at the very least, I couldn’t blame the poor guy for that. “Delta whipped up some dinner in the kitchen, just... wanted to see if you two were going to eat any of it before it got cold.”

“Thanks, Happy. Sorry we’ve been so… absent.” I called out, turning back to see Buck’s blush and absolutely adorable look of embarrassment across his muzzle right now. “But uh... Buck and I have been a bit tied up with relaxing in here…”

“LA LA LA!” Happy’s shouts came with hard hoofknocks on the door again. “I didn’t need to hear that, Night! Even if that wasn’t a goddess damned pun!” With a groan, he gave out one final resounding slam against the doorframe itself. “Just… whatever! Starve if you want, HORNDOGS!”

“Hey, I resemble that remark!” Buck called out with a static filled laugh before taking a deep breath and letting out a long, contented sigh. “But seriously, don’t you think it’s a bit weird he hasn’t been all that himself as of late?” Buck scrunched up his muzzle as he thought to himself. “Hmmm, maybe the poor guy just needs to get laid…”

I cut off Buck as I leaned in and gave his nose a soft peck with my muzzle again.

“He’ll be fine.” I laughed with my own sigh, looking back at the doorway for a moment. “He’s come a long way from being the mule we first met so far in the north.”

“That’s true. I guess we can’t complain too much about it.” Buck’s blushing muzzle leaned forward and nuzzled along my neck again as he let his metal paws run down my back. “But forget him for now. I just want to spend more time with…”

A groan that sounded more like it should have come from the ship, rumbled up through Buck’s chest, forcing a similar but somewhat more moderate grumble out from my own stomach.

“More time with food?” I giggled and shared my own blush with him.

“Well, after such rigorous physical activity…” He groaned as he pushed himself up onto his paws, keeping me firmly held against his furred chest until he was completely standing up. “It’s my advice as your physician that we should probably get something to eat.”

“And as your captain, I agree.” I nodded to him as he extended his arms to let me down onto my hooves. Hooves which protested quite firmly at the idea of me putting any weight on them at all. Of course, the only exception was my prosthetic still hanging on to the stump of good ol’ righty. At least there was some benefit to losing my leg… if you could call not feeling pins and needles in it a benefit…

Doing my best to convince my legs to carry me over to the door, I let out a shiver as the cool ship air flowed over my sweat coated body.

“Ooo, it’s a bit cold, don’t you think? Maybe… a quick shower to warm us up is in order?” Buck offered as he let out a slight shiver himself. “Then we can eat.”

“Sounds like a plan to me!” I smiled as I reached out and threw the door to the cabin open.

The air in the rest of the ship was downright frigid compared to the captain’s cabin. Not that the reason for that was any sort of mystery to me, but still, I guess a blizzard outside still made some difference to the air in here. And if it was this bad inside, I could only guess how much worse it had gotten out there.

Turning down the hallway, both Buck and I made our way to the bunkroom. At the back, sat the door to the stalled showers and bathroom that I had yet to even use during my time aboard. Which is an odd thought, because while I’d seen the showers and bathrooms on the tours I’d had through Enclave raptors, I’d never thought I’d ever even use one.

Still, a part of my mind was too busy fantasizing about how good a hot shower would feel right about now to notice the annoyed look that Happy gave us from his own bunk. The other part of my mind that did notice, only brought my heated blush back across my muzzle as I did my best to pick up the pace and nearly dive through the bulkhead into the bathroom.

And in my rush, again, I almost missed a faint noise from inside.

“Shhhh!”

The hushed voice was followed by a soft squeak that nearly echoed around the small room. Perking my ears, all I could hear was the dripping water from one of the shower heads, and Buck’s heavy metal pawsteps as he came up behind me and stopped just short of pushing me further in. Was I hearing things again? Maybe the thing he put in my head wasn’t actually working...

As I looked up to Buck, his metal ears perked only for a second before he deadpanned and glanced down at me. With the lift of his paw, he pointed to the last stall with a grunt.

Walking forward with Buck, I stepped through the still warm and draining water on the floor, and peeked my head around the end of the last stall. I nearly slipped and fell on my muzzle, as what met my eyes was the panting, blushing, and completely wet forms of both Tofu, and Hispano.

“Uh… hey there!” Hispano squawked as she scrambled to get up off of the wet floor. “I was just… heading to take a shower when I ran into Tofu!” She let out a forced and unbearably nervous chuckle. “And you know, I figured I’d get to chatting with her, as she’s pretty much my age…”

“Yeah! We were just… getting to know one another a bit!” Tofu squeaked out as she too forced herself onto her hooves with a blush brighter than either Buck or I had held in the last few hours. “So for efficiency’s sake, I suggested we do this together…” Her words drifted off as Hispano turned and shot her a sideways glare that would have made Delilah proud. “A… shower! Yeah, together, you know, to save water!”

“Uh huh.” Buck grunted as he crossed his metal arms together.

“Alright, the jig’s up. You got us.” Hispano grumbled as she squinted her eyes at the still radiantly blushing Tofu. With a sharp jab of her talon, she wielded her judgmental gaze around toward Buck and I. “Can you blame me!? These bulkheads are so thin that the whole ship could hear you two fucking, and honestly, I was pissed that I got left out!” With a huff, she pulled her talon back and spun herself away from us. “I mean, I get why, but after that kiss you gave me… do you even know how hard it is to keep my promise to you!? Can you fucking blame me for finding a way to work things out on my own!?”

Well… now this was just awkward. How could I blame her at all for any of this when I was basically the pony to throw this all in her face? Seriously, while I cared for her deeply, she deserved to be as happy and de-stressed as Buck and I.

“Are you judging, Night?” Buck spat out as he pulled his paws down and put them behind his back with a smirk. “Because I’m not judging…”

“Nope! No judgement here!” I blinked a few times as I spoke out sharply. Honestly, I wanted nothing more than to just brush this aside for now. And while it still felt weird to know she was doing this, I was going to let Hispano work through her own stress in whatever way, or with whomever she saw fit. “By all means, carry on!” I smirked as Tofu offered a squeak as I looked over to her and gave the two of them a quick salute. “Captain’s orders!”

“Wait…” Tofu blinked as my words sunk in, scrunching up her muzzle almost in anger as it looked like she struggled to accept everything. “But aren’t you three… I thought… now hold on!”

“Quiet.” Hispano cooed as she put a talon up to Tofu’s muzzle. “I didn’t hear you complaining about that for the last half hour, now did I?” Hispano’s wings flared out as she gave wrapped her talons around Tofu’s forehoof with a giggle. “Come on, before my dad wakes up from his nap and comes looking for me.” As she spun around, she paused as her eyes fell on mine and Buck’s. Her look softened, and she let out a soft smile that we met with ones of our own. “Thanks, you two. But, dibs on the room for the next hour!”

Both Buck and I could only smile and wave as Hispano dragged Tofu out of the showers with a look of bewilderment across her face. That face, was the face of a pony who is just now beginning to realize what she’d gotten herself into with the most amazing young griffon in the wasteland. And while I knew exactly how that felt, I can’t say I didn’t envy her. Hispano was one of a kind…

“Alright! Now that that’s over with.” Buck sighed, reaching out to the shower knob and flicking it into the on position. “How about we clean ourselves up a bit?”

A soft spray of luxuriously warm water flowed from the shower head, sending up a cloud of steam and all but begged me to come bask in it. Though, as much as I wanted to, the warmth of it had a different effect on me, one that forced the idea of washing myself right out of my mind. The second that steam hit me, I knew exactly why out of all places on this ship, Hispano and Tofu had been in here…

Turning to Buck, I let my muzzle split into a wide grin that said everything I needed it to about what I was going to suggest…

6:46AM

I snapped awake, blinking a few times and lifting my hoof up to block the admittedly soft light that filled the captain’s cabin. I uh… wasn’t sure where the time had gone. Had I really slept for the last six hours? I mean, normally there’s a nightmare or something to help me figure that out, but I guess this was just one of the days where I could just get a good night sleep. Not that I’m complaining about that, of course.

However, one thing that concerned me was that there was a distinct lack of husband under me right now...

“We aren’t married yet, remember?” Buck’s chuckling voice resonated in my head. “And good morning. I’m in the galley making some coffee, and can bring you some if you’d like.”

“No, I’m good.” I grumbled as I flopped myself back onto the bed. “I think I’m awake enough, though… I don’t remember falling asleep.”

“After yesterday? I think we were both exhausted enough to just pass out.” He let off a sigh with his words that again, felt unnaturally crisp to me. This whole head-talking thing was definitely going to take some getting used to… “Also, your lack of dreams is unfortunately a side effect of your surgery. I’m sorry to say that the system, while quite good at what it does, has a hard time differentiating between hallucinations when you’re awake, and dreams while you’re asleep.”

“So… I’m not going to have any more dreams? Like, ever?” I… wasn’t sure what to make of that. On the one hoof, no more nightmares to torment me! But on the other, no more steamy dreams of stallions I’d never be able to sleep with in the real world…

“Ouch.” Buck scoffed in my mind. “Yesterday wasn’t good enough for you? I’m not good enough for you?” He let out a soft laugh again, which forced a roll of my eyes. “Oh come on, Night. If you really were left unsatisfied, we could always pick up from where we left off yesterday…”

“Good morning, Night!” Ping’s voice cut off Buck’s, making me blink and stare up blankly at the ceiling for a moment. “Your augment reports that you rested well, while your neural dampener logged three suppressed incidents last night.”

“That’s… great?” While it was nice to have him around again, I had to wonder… “Is something up, Ping?”

“No, no! Things at the Factory are slowly returning to normal.” Ping’s nervous laugh in my head was just as clear as Buck’s, but that also made it sound more artificial than normal. What was it about this thing in my head that made everything sound weird? “Truth is, I had heard from Eliza that your progress has been slowed by a blizzard, and so I thought it would provide a good opportunity to observe your normal organic behaviors.” Wait, did that mean…? “Yes, you and Doctor Buck did indeed provide many insights into organic inter-species mating that the Factory had no prior information on!”

“You watched us!?” I spat out. I thought that the Architect had agreed that they wouldn’t always be monitoring me!

“You need not worry, Night. We have respected your wish for privacy.” Ping’s voice faltered slightly, gaining a bit of static that reminded me a lot of what normally came from Buck’s muzzle. “More specifically, we had obtained prior consent from Buck to observe through him.”

“Oh, really.” I grunted and crossed my hooves. “Then I guess I’m going to have to have a talk with a certain Snow Dog.”

“You’re a great partner, and… I love you?” Buck let out a short whine through my mind.

“Now that the topic is in the open however,” Ping spoke up once more before I could reply. “can I ask you something odd, Night?”

“You already spent the last day watching Buck and I. What’s left that could be ‘odd’ to ask?” Huffing, I decided that being annoyed on my bunk wasn’t helping me wake up in the slightest, and that I might as well start heading down toward the mess hall for some breakfast.

“Why is it that you have not yet slept with Miss Hispano?”

The far too prompt and unnecessarily casual question made me trip over my own hooves as I hopped off the bed, and I ended up with my face planted on the cold metal floor. I just had to ask how it could ever be more awkward. Why do you do this to yourself, Night?

“I apologize if it is an uncomfortable subject.” Ping let out a light giggle as I picked myself up and rubbed at my now sore nose. “However, knowing that she is willing and active, it is something that has perplexed me for quite some time.”

“That is a good question, I guess.” I sighed as I checked my hoof to make sure I didn’t have a bloody nose. Nope, just sore due to my own stupidity. “It's just... something I wasn't prepared to even think about this morning. But to give you an answer, I guess, it's because of two things. The first, is her age...”

“Doctor Buck is even younger than her, is he not? Yet…” Ping began, but I wasn’t about to let him finish trying to knock that explanation away when it alone was justification enough.

“Well the second reason is because… well, you know…” I rolled my hoof as I tried to infer it to him, but paused as I realized he couldn’t even see what I was doing.

“No, I do not know, Night. That is in fact, why I am inquiring.” His prompt reply had a stark note of confusion to it. “She is healthy enough for the activity, and she herself has said she already has had experience with intercourse. Still, you seem hesitant to ask her to participate with Buck and yourself.”

“Yeah, but ignoring everything else, she’s a girl!” There, maybe now I’ll have been blunt enough for him to get it. “And you should understand by now that it’s not really my thing, you know?” I found myself scrunching up my muzzle as I tried to elaborate, but was finding it hard to explain to put into words. Thankfully, my muzzle opened up and like usual, the words just sort of tumbled out. “It's not that I'm opposed to it, but… I just wouldn't even know how to approach her for something like that. I wouldn’t know where to start!”

“But… you do love her, do you not?” Ping sounded even more confused than before, and I was starting to get worried that he’d never let the subject go until either A, I slept with Hispano, or B, I just completely refused to answer. And honestly, I was really leaning toward B right now. “Surely you understand that at some point in the future, you will have to…”

“And when that time comes, it will be something her and I will discuss together, Ping.” I sighed as I did my best to let the inquisitive machine down softly. “But to be completely fair, that’s not something you should really care to be involved in. And I’m hoping that in the future, it’ll just be something we’ll deal with together, in private, as a family.”

“Fair enough.” For the moment, he sounded like he could accept that answer. Though, I’m sure this wouldn’t be the end of the discussion. “For now, I will let you get back to your relaxation.”

“Thank you, Ping.” I sighed, finally feeling like I could quit worrying about things that weren’t so important and just deal with the here and now.

This is all I wanted. While it was boring, I could just experienced the day-to-day things I’d never thought I’d get to do with those I love and work with. Things that I could hope would one day become so trivial and mundane with them, that worries like Saddle Arabian princes and tyrannical wasteland dictators just never again entered my mind. Things like; what was going to be for breakfast, or if I wanted to take a second shower to clean off from the first.

It was something my parents had, and something I’d never truly appreciated when I was with them. But I wouldn’t make that mistake again. I was going to enjoy every second I had with my family, even if it was full of awkward questions and dull moments some days.

12:04PM

“Good afternoon, Captain.” Eliza’s voice chimed over the P.A. system, pulling me back from the depths of my blank and quiet mind. Still, I stirred on Buck’s warm chest and did my best to perk my ears to her. “I am happy to report that there has been a break in the weather, and that we are now back on route to the Spectrum Federation.”

“Excellent.” I nodded before letting my muzzle split into a long yawn. As I finished mine, Buck’s muzzle opened and let out a long yawn as well, and he gave his mechanical limbs a bit of a stretch that clanked against the metal walls of the small cabin. “How long until we arrive?”

“Approximately three hours.” She chimed in with a slight hint of cheerfulness pushing through her monotone voice. Wait, three hours? We’d been that close, this whole time!? “But don’t worry, Captain. There’s still plenty of time for you to get in some more rest and relaxation before we arrive.”

“Nope, I think I’ve had enough of that.” I grunted as I pushed myself to sit up on Buck. I’d always wondered why my parents hated having more than a day off to themselves, but I never thought it would be quite so… stressful to sit and do nothing for a few hours. “Going stir crazy in here as is.”

“Perhaps you can go visit with miss Hispano then. She is in the core systems room on the command terminal.” Eliza’s somewhat cheery voice ended her sentence with a bong and crackle as the P.A. system turned off.

“You know,” Buck mumbled as he stirred below me. “maybe you spending a few hours with Hispano wouldn’t be the worst thing for her after yesterday…”

“Yeah.” I nodded as I slowly slid myself off of the warm pile of dog I’d been so comfortably bored on for the last few hours.

The thought of how she’d pulled back from me inside the Ranger base hit me again, as well as how she’d said she’d been frustrated about controlling herself around me. Perhaps it was something we really should spend some time talking about. Especially since her and I haven’t spent all that much time together since we found her again in Cantercross.

Leaving Buck to continue napping in our room, I made my way through the halls towards the core systems room. As it normally was, the dim lighting inside highlighted the sleek form of the silverfish drone hooked into the ship systems, while the dull green glow of the terminal in the corner cast an odd tone throughout the small room. Though, this time the glow was mostly absorbed by the attentive young griffon sitting in front of the terminal screen.

Taking a moment to just look, I couldn’t help but smile as Hispano’s focused gaze swept across the lines and lines of text on the screen. With a quick tap of her talons, she entered in a command on the terminal, and the screen refreshed with a new set of text. Her beak silently moved as she read, mouthing the words onscreen as she all but absorbed the information she was looking through. And here she’d complained to Ping about having to read…

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer.” Hispano cooed softly as she shifted herself slightly without turning around.

“How… are you doing?” I asked, getting her to look back at me. Her eyes wandered over me, stopping on the metal form of my new eye several times before she shrugged.

“Eh, just been reading up on things.” She turned herself back to the screen and entered in a few more commands to bring up a new page of text. “Mostly trying to see what records there were of the griffon mercenaries that founded the Talons. But… not much seemed to be known about them. I have to say, you ponies didn’t keep very good track of anything that wasn’t some sort of R&D project or pony ‘hero’ during the war.”

“I think their priorities were a little skewed back then.” I shrugged as I trotted myself up next to her. She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye for just a moment before ignoring me in favor of looking back over the text on screen. “So… are you okay?”

With a deep sigh, she reached forward and clicked the off button for the screen.

“Why? What’s this about, Night?” She turned at me with a flat look that to me seemed so detached from the Hispano I’d known so far on this trip. “Is this because of what happened yesterday? Because I’m still not sorry…”

“Woah woah, hold up there.” I smirked and reached out, planting my hooves on her shoulders. “I’m just… sorry I’ve not been around so much.” I watched as my words hit her harder than I think even she realized, and her gaze softened a bit. “Coming back to find the convoy gone, leaving again only to return once more to your dad having been taken, and Happy, Buck, and I missing? Then to be brought into all this shit with the Factory, with Cordite and the Rangers…” The moment I mentioned the Rangers, she shrugged my hooves off of her and pouted.

“That was all fine, Night.” She huffed as she turned herself back toward the terminal screen. “None of what’s happened has been all that bad. I lost my mom, my sister. Dad and I have been through tough times before, no problem. We’re as tough as they come.” She paused, taking a few stiff breaths as she collected herself. “But what’s been hard, Night, is dealing with something I’m not so good with in my life. Not getting what I want.”

“You may have noticed, Night, but I don’t deal with rejection easily.” With another stiff shrug, she twisted herself away and faced the wall. “And everytime I see you and Buck together, I think to myself, why can’t I have that with him? Why am I getting left out of all of this? Is it really because of my age, or… is it something else entirely?”

“Hispano, you know I care about you…” I reached out to her, only to pause as she spun around faster with an outstretched talon than I could register. She tore it across the metal plate on my head with a pain filled cry of rage before pulling back. The tears that welled up from her as she grasped her outstretched talon with the other, came with labored breaths and tremors of rage.

“You lead me on, every time!” She snapped at me, holding her curled talon out as she heaved. “Just tell me the real reason you won’t give me what I want, Night! It’s because I’m not good enough for you, Right?! Because I can’t give you what Buck can?!”

“That’s enough!” I snapped back at her. “I thought we’d been over this before, Hispano! I love you, just like I love Buck!” She curled her beak up at that and let out a growl. “No, you want to know why I haven’t touched you, Hispano? Because I don’t know how to deal with how I feel about you!”

“What sort of fucking excuse is that!?” She scoffed and flailed her talons in the air.

“I told Ping, but... I don’t even know the first thing about how to like a girl!” I shouted back at her, making her freeze up with an odd look. “Do you know how fucking difficult it has been to deal with how you’ve made me feel? I’ve never liked girls like I like you, in the history of ever! And yet, here you are, this amazing young griffon that found her way into my life. And you know what, you’ve made me understand that maybe things aren’t so fucking simple!”

“Then why not commit to it then?” Hispano grumbled back, folding her talons across her chest again as she glared at me. “Why the fuck wouldn’t you just go through with it to see if you’re just wasting both of our time?”

“Commit? Buck and I want you to get married to us, how much more do you want us to commit!? Look, I care too much about you to ruin how you feel about me, Hispano. You think you don’t measure up to my standards?” My muzzle was going a million miles a second, but at this point, it was going to be better to get it all out there. “You’re younger than me, and yet you’ve got leaps and fucking bounds more experience in just about everything. I’ve seen you hack through terminals, fly better than half of the Enclave armed forces, and you’ve slept with goddesses know how many ponies. How am I supposed to think I could ever measure up to what you’ve already had?”

“That shouldn’t even be something you worry about, Night.” She shrugged and bristled up her plumage as she turned her glare to the floor. “My interest in you isn’t affected by the shit I’ve done with others. What I’ve felt for you is… different…” Her words drained off as it looked like something had finally dawned on her. And as she lowered her talons to the floor and sighed, I could see her frustration melt away. “I know what we have is different, and I’d thought I would be okay with that. But it’s been harder than I thought it would be to adjust to.”

“Because you normally get what you want?” I offered as I sighed as well, trying to regain control of my muzzle before I went off and ruined things again. “You are the most amazing girl I think I’ve ever known, Hispano. It’s because I’ve been so conflicted about just what that actually means for me, that I’ve been so unsure about how to even proceed. And for that, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine, I can get that, Night.” She finally looked up at me with tears still dripping down her feathers. “I’m sorry I lashed out. Dad’s right, I need to learn to be more reserved, to control my emotions better. Not just to be a good Talon, but… to be a good partner to you and Buck.”

“Volatile emotions are just part of growing up, Hispano.” I nodded to her, holding out my hooves. “As are the wants and needs you feel. There’s nothing wrong at all with how you’ve dealt with all this. I know, because I’ve been through all that. I’m still going through that.”

“But you’ve had Buck to help with it.” Hispano frowned as she leaned forward, resting between my hooves and grasping around me with her talons. “And while Tofu and I had fun, it’s just… not the same, you know?”

“But, Buck isn’t mine, Hispano.” I rested my muzzle on top of her leather flight cap with a sigh, and wrapped my hooves tightly around her. “He loves you too, and… while I’m not exactly ready to make the leap to the next step with you, maybe… he can help you with that.”

“Hah, you think he’d go for that?” She sniffled and brought a talon off of my back to wipe at her cheeks. “Isn’t he the same as you in regards to girls?”

“I don’t think that’s the case at all.” My words made her pull back slightly, getting just enough distance back that I could see the look of confusion in her eyes. “Let’s just say… I think you should ask Buck about that particular topic. He’s got more experience with girls than you might guess. But...” I paused, hesitating long enough for once to realize what I was about to say. Still, as odd as it felt to admit, it needed saying. “If it’s been weighing on you that much, I’ll consider...”

“Hey, Captain? Sorry to interrupt, but we might have an issue up here.” Eliza came in over the P.A. system with more than a note of concern in her normally monotone voice.

“Alright, Eliza.” I sighed, letting go of Hispano and taking a step back. “Just, go see Buck, and we’ll all have a talk about it later, okay?” She nodded and offered a small, but hope-filled smile to me.

Turning myself around, I pointed myself through the door to the bridge and got moving.

I mean, that could have gone worse. I’d been in her position, full of energy and urges. The only difference was that I had a room I could call my own with a lockable door where I could just go to deal with it. Growing up in the wastes though, I can see why she’d rely on brothels just to work through those urges. Again, I didn’t envy how she’s had to deal with things, but maybe Buck could help her. Still, that felt like a cop-out when I was about to admit that I’d consider having her join Buck and I the next time we felt like de-stressing.

But more important things had once again saved me from that awkward admission.

Putting myself back in the present, I found Double Delta practically glued to one of the bridge video screens that displayed what I could guess was part of the snow and ice covered forest below us right now. As I approached, he shot me a worried glance before moving so I could get a clearer view of the screen.

On it, sat at first what looked like a long snake plowing its way slowly through the snow. As I watched however, I realized that it was actually a train of some sort, adorned with what looked like armored scales made of metal across it’s snow covered cars. Sitting on top of the broad and long engine at the front, were a pair of ponies in heavy winter gear, bundled up to the point that I wasn’t even sure how they could still move around in all that fabric. They passed a pair of binoculars between each other before one of them used it to look right up at us.

Well, shit.

“Here, let me amplify the audio for you, Captain.” Eliza chimed in before her worried looking mare popped up on the screen next to me.

“...re you sure?” The voice of the mare looking through the binoculars came through the speakers. “Don’t their ships normally ride on top of clouds?”

“Look, who was in the Enclave? You, or me?” The voice of a stallion came across as the other pony pointed his forehoof directly up at us. “I’m tellin’ ya, it’s an Enclave cloudship.”

“You think the Federation is onto us?” The mare sighed as she passed the binoculars back to the stallion.

“Nah. Rofia’s keepin’ the law off us. She’s still one of us, you know.”

“Is she, though?” The mare snorted before stomping her hoof on the roof of the engine. A hatch popped open, and a ladder was pushed up for her to use. “Either way, as she’s still got the ability to fly, send up Microburst in that fancy armor of hers. Find out what they’re doing tailing us.”

“Yeah? And what if it ain’t from the Federation?” The stallion laughed as he looked up at us again through the binoculars.

“Shoot them down, rob them, say hello. I don’t care. Do whatever you want so long as it doesn’t make the Krokodil any more behind schedule.” The mare offered before disappearing down the hatch hole.

“You’re the boss.” He sighed before shaking his head.

“What do you think, Captain?” Delta asked as he shifted his weight to lean on one of the consoles. “Are we going to allow ourselves to be boarded by addicts and smugglers like them?” Eyeing back at the screen he smirked and nodded. “I’m sure they wouldn’t blame you if you said no.”

“Addicts?” I wasn’t sure how he could tell that about them at a glance, but he’d certainly piqued my interest with that.

“Well, they aren’t bundled up like that because of the snow.” Cora let off a laugh as he rounded the corner from the forward bulkhead. “You really haven’t seen anyone who’s used Rot yet?” The sort of blank stare I offered to him seemed to kill the grin across his beak. “Ah, well, I guess you’re one of the lucky few not to have been stuck in a room with one of those ponies.” Pointing at the terminal, he jeered at the screen next to me. “Eliza, do me a favor and bring up what you’ve got on Rot.”

The screen next to me with Eliza’s cartoon mare flickered and changed to one that showed some sort of chemical compound on it. A dozen lines of compounds about as complex as the ones I’d seen up at Destruction Bay for Chill were displayed, as well as a list of different sizes and names of ammunition types. At the bottom of the screen, under the compound’s readout, sat its name, Phosgeneoxiparaben, which was something I’d only heard in passing about during history class. A zebra alchemical weapon nicknamed ‘Pop gas’, which could melt the flesh right off of ponies it touched. Supposedly it was one of the more horrific weapons used in the beginning of the great war that both sides agreed to never use again.

“I don’t understand, they’re carrying chemical weapons on that train?” I spat out as none of the context to any of this made any sense. Well, at least past the fact that would be reason enough that any city wouldn’t want you running that shit through it.

“Rot is worse than that.” Delta snorted. “They bake the old shells in balefire radiation and then set them off, selling the bottled necromantic gas as a drug that promises to get you high and ghoulify you at the same time. Because that’s apparently something ponies will pay for these days...”

“Uh… excuse me?” I blinked a few times, not quite comprehending just why you’d want to do that. I mean, I’ve met my fair share of ghouls now, but none of them seemed to enjoy the fact that they were stuck in a rotting body…

“Yeah, we had a couple of addicts back at the airbase.” He cringed in disgust at the thought of it. “No one was a fan of the way they smelled. Worse was when you accidentally stepped in part of them that just fell off…” Okay, picturing stepping in some sort of rotting flesh puddle was enough to make my stomach do a loop, and seriously consider just incinerating that train down there. “Needless to say, we ‘volunteered’ them for a couple of buzzbomb flights.”

“Uh… Captain?” Eliza’s worried mare flashed back over the chemical compound before the screen showing the outside flickered to show another hatch on the train opening. It was further back from the engine, and this hatch was much larger than the last. From it, climbed out a set of sleek and clean Enclave power armor. “What are your orders? Should I ready the ship for combat?”

“Just… give me a moment to think.” I wasn’t sure what to do here. While I didn’t enjoy the fact that we now knew these ponies were smuggling drugs, it… wasn’t really our problem. And while I could just do my best to ignore them, this pony in Enclave armor was about to make it our problem. So the question was, how do I defuse this and explain that we’re just passing by without having her try to shoot down the Arcturus.

See, it’s at this point now I miss the voices in my head for the suggestion’s they’d give. Even if ninety percent of the time they just reminded me of my failures...

“Well, they’re in the air now.” Double Delta spoke with a few quick taps of his forehoof on the console. “Tick tock, time’s running short. Do we preemptively strike, or act like they just aren’t out there?”

Acting, that’s it!

“Eliza, unseal the top hatch, I’m going out to talk with them.” I offered as I spun on my hooves. With a metallic clank, the inner hatch above unsealed, and the boarding ladder extended downward into the bridge. “Cora, I need you to exit out one of the launch tubes and keep a low profile. I might be able to pass us off as being partners of that ‘Rofia’ pony or whatever.”

“Abyssinian, Captain.” Delta cringed and forced me to pause as I got my hooves hooked around the rungs of the ladder. “Rofia’s an Abyssinian, for starters. You know, one of the southern cat folk?”

“Good to know!” I tried my best to hide the panic in the back of my mind as Cora palmed his beak with his talon. I flashed up a nervous smile as I climbed up, taking a deep breath.

Well, mark one more down on the list for another race that survived the war! Hell, I don’t even think I’d seen an Abyssinian in the history books past a few mentions of them here and there. And honestly, that really didn't make me feel confident that I could sell this. But hey, I’d made it this far on presenting myself as someone else, so who was to say I couldn’t sell this!

Climbing up the ladder, the mechanical clank of the top hatch unsealing was joined by a whistling blast of completely freezing air rushing in to greet me. The heavy metal clanks of four power armored hooves landing just out of sight met my ears as I picked up the pace on the last few rungs. Popping my head up out of the open hatch, I’d prepared a smile for the pony, but that died the second the intimidating bug eyed helmet and respirator arched down toward me.

To my surprise, the mare inside the armor gave a gasp and stepped back the moment she saw me.

“You… you’re the Survivor!” She called out as the capacitors charged inside the two novasurge rifles strapped onto the nearly pristine Enclave advanced power armor. “Ah hell, we aren’t going down without a fight to some goodie four shoes!”

I let go of the ladder just as the two rifles fired off. The lancing orange beams sizzled and burned at the inside of the hatch. The smell of ozone and the heat of the beams made sure to let me know how close I’d just come to becoming a glowing pile of orange ash.

“Close the hatch, close the hatch!” I cried out as I hooked my forehooves around the ladder before falling too far, whining as I struggled not to completely freak out.

Peering up as I made my way back down the ladder, I watched as the hatch began to close. I was smiling as the bright outside was slowly pushed back by the interior lighting. But that smile died as the mare stuck the bladed scorpion tail of her armor against the door, keeping it propped open against the whining of the mechanisms. The mare struggled to budge it, but slowly and carefully, she’d managed to prop it up enough to get her forehoof under it. Hopping the rest of the rungs down into the command center, I came down hard onto the deck. The hatch above gave a groan as the mare pulled it completely open again.

“Well that didn’t go as planned.” Double Delta spoke up as he came over and helped me back onto my hooves. “What happened?”

“She knew who I was!” I snapped at him, shrugging off his help.

“Sealing inner hatch.” Eliza’s voice boomed throughout the ship as the lighting flickered over to the red emergency lighting that I’d only seen before when I’d helped reset the computer core. The ladder I’d jumped off of retracted up into the ceiling and the inner hatch closed with a resounding clang. “All crew to battlestations. Prepare ship for combat operations.” A short klaxon rang out through the ship just before some sort of explosion outside nearly shook me off my hooves. “Captain, report to the weapons bay for your armaments.”

“You’ve got it, Eliza!” I called out, looking over to Delta as I spun myself toward the open bulkhead door. “You’ve got the bridge!”

“Aye, Captain.” Delta called out as I pushed my hooves to move.

The sound of more explosions outside the ship followed with more turbulent rocking that threw me against the walls of the already cramped hallways. However, as I pushed past the captain’s quarters, I noticed the door was open, and neither Buck nor Hispano were inside. Buck was probably already on his way to the infirmary, but Hispano…

No, I can’t worry about her right now. She’s probably already in the weapons bay just waiting for me to get ready to go….

“Alright Eliza, I’m in the air and moving to engage! I’ll pull that bitch off your hull!” Hispano’s voice crackled through my head sharply, causing me to trip up as yet another explosion rocked the ship. A secondary explosion came from the front of the ship that sent off alarms in the halls. “But if you could get Night’s lazy ass in the air, then maybe he can deal with that eighty-eight on the train before it shoots the Arcturus down!”

“I’m on my way!” I grunted out as I pushed myself back to my hooves. Charging down the hallway, I flew past the galley and wound my way into the weapon’s bay. The second I stepped through, I found that the automated cloud-to-ground missile systems weren’t moving, and Tofu was nowhere to be found.

“Here, Captain!” Tofu called out from above me, throwing my flight harness down into my face. The leather straps and already prepped grenades smacked me hard enough to nearly knock me back to the ground, but I steadied myself and instead swiped the floating harness from the air. “No time to talk, we’ve already got half a dozen electrical fires and I literally can’t spare the time to help you right now!”

Nodding to myself, I threw my harness down toward the floor, ready to step into it… only to have it lazily float through the air. Now that is a problem I hadn’t expected! Quickly, I moved to drag the harness down by hoof before shimmying myself into it and doing my best to get it tightened to myself. The moment it was on, the vision in my augmented eye flickered, bringing up the flight overlay I’d seen before.

Flaring out my wings as I trotted over to launch tube number six, I gave them a few twists and light arcs to make sure they weren’t restricted. Feeling confident that it would only be my lack of experience getting me killed out there rather than my gear, I reached up and slapped the emergency release on the hatch. It swung open promptly, again letting the whistling and freezing air in.

Another blast rocked the ship, and sparks flew from the weapon control boards as yet another fire sprouted out of the cables connected to it. Before I could take another step forward, a coughing and almost smoldering form clawed its way up through the open hatch. I spun on my hooves to watch as Cora’s talons raked at the floor, throwing his old combat pistol in before dragging his bloodied form up into the Arcturus.

“Fuck… they’re pretty good at timing that flak.” He groaned out as he picked himself up. Bleeding from more than two dozen shrapnel wounds, and standing on a rear paw that I could see the bones sticking out of, he still offered a smile on his beak. “Now… that I softened them up for you… finish the damned job.”

“On it!” I nodded before stepping over towards the open hatch, and without a moment’s hesitation, dropped down through it.

The moment I dropped down past the hull, I flared out my wings. The cold air caught under them allowing me to arch and aim myself down towards the still snaking train. I flapped my wings, feeling as they propelled me forward with the help of my new harness. It brought a smile to my muzzle as I watched my airspeed tick upwards in my vision. It wasn’t my jump pack, but Celestia did it feel good to…

BOOM!

A bright flash filled the air at the nose of the Arcturus as another one of the flak shells burst right against it. A wave of hot metal shrapnel skimmed across the exposed hull of the ship. It had taken me a moment to realize, but the whole front half of the Arcturus wasn’t under a cloud anymore. Oh I hope that’s fixable…

“What are you doing, Dum Dum!?” Hispano squawked angrily into my head. “Fucking take out that gun!”

Looking down at the train, my display brought up a red diamond indicator over the center car. The scale covered roof had split down the middle and opened to reveal a platform with a large, but short barreled field gun inside. My vision allowed me to see that it had two gunners, as well as a pony who was moving ammo out from armored boxes in the corner of the car. A few guard pony bodies lay strewn about the floor, apparently as my vision told me, shot by a forty five caliber talon pistol.

Guess Cora really did soften them up for me! But a better question was, how the hell could my augment get all this information when I was still so far away?

“Captain? Less introspection, more bombing please.” Eliza’s voice chimed inside my head. “The Arcturus can’t take much more of this.”

Right, before everyone has to chime in, I need to act. Tweaking my wings, I pumped them hard as I aimed my head down right toward the gun carriage. Snapping my tail in line to start my dive, I let my forelegs hang out in front of me as I picked up even more speed. A small red circle appeared around the carriage as I dove, shrinking down the closer I got. A line stretched out from me, arcing upwards, closer and closer to the center of the circle until it sat dead center.

The ponies in the carriage saw me coming in, and called out to each other. One of the gunners used his hooves to work the traversing mechanism, and spun the gun around toward me. I just needed one more moment, a single second longer…

BOOM!

Their shot whistled past me. The round was so big and low velocity that I could watch it fly upwards. And with an ear shattering crack, it detonated somewhere behind me. However, I’d either been moving faster than they’d anticipated, or the round had been defective, because it hadn’t even touched me.

The crisp click of a grenade from my harness surprised me, and it forced me to arch my wings back to pull off from the dive. I watched as I pulled off and the grenade sailed true, right into the corner of the traincar where it’s ammunition was stored. A quick flash got me to look away before the blast of the whole car going up caught me.

The forceful wave of air threw me for a literal loop, but thanks to my harness, I was able to recover. One thing the harness didn’t help with however, was the ringing that had been left in my ears. With an arch of my back, and another flap of my wings, I turned to inspect the damage to the train, only to be met with an enormous cloud of white rushing down the flanking mountains at me.

Panicking, I flapped hard, pushing myself to gain altitude as a literal avalanche of snow came down from the mountainsides around us. The freezing cloud that washed up from under me actually helped to push me higher into the air, helping me to rise back up to just about the altitude of the Arcturus.

I took a deep breath as the avalanche ended, and the cloud below started to clear. They hadn’t needed to worry about us, they didn’t have to attack. This whole thing could have been avoided…

Silence.

Again, I’d expected Solomon’s voice to throw in some quip, but again I’d found myself instead with nothing. Just the consequences of a fight nopony had wanted today.

“You alright there, Dum Dum?” Hispano’s panting voice came through as the beating of her wings perked my ears. “Took you long enough to deal with those pricks.” She smiled as she cradled Suiza close to her and hovered up beside me.

“Did you get that power armored mare?” I turned to her, watching as she screwed up her expression for a moment before growling.

“No. The bitch took off because Suiza got a glancing blow on her.” Having Hispano’s voice come in through my head when she was right next to me was just plain weird. I know it was because of her headset, but I partly wish I could just hear her real voice. “Just like half the fucking cowards from the Enclave. What’s the use in fighting when you don’t have total air superiority?” The stark change to listing to Hispano’s normal voice nearly threw me for a loop until I remembered that the Architect mentioned this whole augment thing was mind controlled.

Buck was right, it was going to take a lot of getting used to.

“Well I’m glad you’re alright.” I offered as I pointed back to the Arcturus. “Let’s get back aboard and see how we can help out.”

“Good call.” Hispano nodded as a smile parted her beak again. “But hey, even though it was short, a good fight sure as hell beats the crushing boredom we’ve had to endure the last few days, right?”

Looking back down at the freshly dumped snow, I couldn’t even find where the train had been. I didn’t know how many ponies had survived the explosion, only to be buried alive under a literal mountain of snow. Then again, they knew the risks. They’d already been smuggling drugs, so I had no sympathy for them.

“Uh, actually, you… sure you’re okay, Night?” Hispano called out, letting her smile dim for a moment.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” I turned my curious gaze back to her, only to watch her eyes go from my cyber-eye, to my flank, then back to me. Arcing my head back, I looked at my own rump to find that, like Cora, it was bleeding from half a dozen shrapnel wounds. And yet, I hadn’t even felt it. “I guess… I’m not? I can’t even feel it...”

“About that…” Buck’s hesitant voice came through my head again. “That was another thing I’d done when we were inside your head that I sort of… didn’t tell you about.” Because of course it was… not that I was really complaining about it. “But if you’d rather feel pain again, I can always turn off the talisman…”

“Let’s uh… have that discussion after you patch me up, alright?” I whimpered as I fought to tear my eyes off my own bleeding flank. It was about then that I noticed in the corner of my vision, the little pony that held my armaments had it’s back half colored in red. The words Medical Attention Required sat flashing in bold underneath it.

One step at a time, Night. One day at a time, and one fight at a time. That’s how we move forward.

Author's Note

As always, a HUGE thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his help in going over things!

And of course, thanks to Kkat for letting us all run around in the FoE universe with our own stories!

Chapter 81 - Permission Granted

Getting the job done is no excuse for not following the rules.

Climbing aboard the Arcturus, I was met once more by flashing emergency lighting, and the short, repeating rings of an alarm klaxon.

“Eliza, why are the alarms still going?” While I knew that the ship had taken more than a few shots, I’d been taught that most Enclave ships reset their alert status once whatever skirmish was finished.

“I’m sorry, Captain, but they are still active because one of the shots in the battle managed to damage the spark reactor.” Eliza’s monotone voice carried more than a bit of worry with it as she spoke over the ship’s intercom system. “Tofu and Buck are in the core attempting to resolve the problem, so if you are in need of medical assistance, you will need to seek out Cora in the infirmary.”

“I’ll be fine for now.” I nodded and shrugged. I needed to get to the reactor room and offer up whatever help I could to them. However, as I turned to move, Hispano’s strong grasp wrapped around my foreleg and stopped me.

“Night, you are not okay. You’re bleeding everywhere!” Hispano, while she had a point, I think forgot that if the reactor fails, the whole ship falls out of the sky.

“It’s just shrapnel, it can wait.” I did my best to offer a ‘not the time’ look, and she just rolled her eyes at me. Finally, she let go of me with an annoyed huff. “Now come on, I’m betting they could use the help of the smartest griff I know.”

“Grrr, fine.” Hispano grumbled before pushing me toward the aft bulkhead door.

I did my best to keep up with her as she pushed past the infirmary. While I’m sure my body was screaming at me to go get fixed up, I needed it to hold on just a little bit longer. I mean to be honest, what was a few more scars?

The sad thing is, that’s not even the first time I’ve rationalized away medical care…

We pushed through the next few bulkheads, emerging into the small control room hallway that wrapped around the reactor bay. The barrel high control boards were flashing all sorts of warnings and errors relating to the reactor, but those were only worrying because I knew they weren’t supposed to be flashing like that. What worried me much more, was that through the thick glass barrier that separated us from the reactor chamber itself, I could see a thick mist of water vapor, a non-pegasus pony in an Enclave reactor hazmat suit, and the brightly glowing form of Buck moving around.

Tofu brought her rubber hoof up to wipe at the glass faceplate of her suit, pressing the glass back against her horn as it flashed brightly. The small maintenance terminal inside scrolled lots of code that I couldn’t even see from here, let alone understand. Buck, on the other hoof, was busy attaching some sort of clamps to the leaking pipes that strung out from the reactor itself.

“Ah, Captain!” Tofu called out over the ship intercom. “I’m... a little busy at the moment! But do you want the good news, or the great news?”

“Uh… great news first?” I spoke back, not sure what to really say. As those words left my muzzle however, I felt the familiar sinking feeling in my gut that this situation was not as good as she was about to make it out to be.

“Well, thanks to the damage we took from that flak,” She paused for a moment to wipe away the mist from her visor again before continuing. “when I activated the high pressure emergency cooling system, it burst the welds on the coolant rigging!”

“What? That sounds terrible!” Okay, I knew something bad had to crop up!

“That's where the good news comes in!” She laughed nervously as her horn furiously typed commands into the maintenance system. “The leaks caused the reactor's pressure level to drop enough that I can activate the low pressure coolant system and maybe get an emergency shutdown in place! You know, assuming the patch job we did on the lines holds...”

“That’s bad.” Hispano spoke under her breath, leaning over to me as her eyes wandered over the flashing control boards. “If it's leaked enough of it’s pressure out into the room for the low pressure system to work, then that gear isn't enough to protect her from all the radiation.”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell her, but she refuses to leave.” Buck’s voice came through my mind with a heavy amount of worry to it. “I’ve already given her twice the recommended dose of rad-X, and with the levels in here, it's not going to be enough. Even I'm going to have to decontaminate after this. You need to order her to stop.”

“Tofu, how long will it take to shut down the reactor?” While I got what he was saying, if she could do this, then I won’t pull her out and risk the whole ship.

“Literally, like, another minute… maybe a couple at most.” She sighed heavily, shifting enough that the unused wing protectors on her back slid down at her sides. With her magic however, she was quick to pick them up and tie them together above her back. “Look, if I don't regulate the rate of magical discharge, then the arcane spark inside could literally melt through the containment unit and destroy the whole spark reactor.”

“And another minute in here could kill you.” Buck’s stern voice came straight through the protective glass this time.

“No!” Tofu snapped back, jabbing a hoof out at him as her magic continued to hammer at the keys on the console. “I've worked on or around this stupid fucking ship for like, literally, half of my life. I know this reactor, I despise this reactor, and…. I can do this. I'll be fine, Captain.”

“Then get it done.” I offered back to her, making her lock up for a moment. She turned, looking through her foggy mask at me like I’d just offered her the keys to the cloudship. “You’ve got this, Tofu.” With a determined look falling across her face, she nodded to me and then got back to it.

“Damn straight I do.” She sighed before her horn gained a layer of overglow to it that showed right through the rubberized fabric of her suit. “Alright, closing off the auxiliary venting, and closing external pressure valves. The system… shows ready status. Buck, get ready to manually start the talismans for the passive containment cooling system.” As she spoke, the mist inside the chamber swirled around, rising up to the top. “Alright, start it up!”

“Starting the passive cooling system.” Buck called out before using his paws to crank over a heavy looking mechanical assembly. As the gears to the mechanism moved, a pair of arms swung together and sparked, sending a humming noise through the walls before the frantically flickering lights on the console slowly started to switch over to a solid green. “The shutdown sequence should be automated from here on out.”

“Reactor levels… falling at nominal rates. Battery backups have taken over.” Hispano spoke with a smile before looking back at me. “She… she forced the reactor into safe mode. She actually did it!”

“Was there ever any doubt?” Tofu snorted with a smile as she turned back to Hispano and I. With a fancy flip of her hoof, she took a bow with a giggle. “Now, if you’ll excuse me I’m literally going to…” She didn’t even finish before she leaned forward, and collapsed onto the floor.

“Shit, Buck, pull her out of there!”

“It may have been in different ways, but…” Cora sighed as I hoofed him back the now half-filled restoration potion. “You two were both reckless.” Looking over at the infirmary bed, he pointed to the still unconscious Tofu as Buck worked on her. “At least she’s got an excuse. What was yours again?”

“We got the job done, didn’t we?” I grumbled back at Cora’s flat and unamused look. The familiar knitting feeling of my healing flank felt odd without the underlying pain of the wound, but… it wasn’t bad. “Buck, how’s she doing?”

“The Rad-away is doing it’s work, but… she’ll need time to recover.” He nodded to me as his tools folded away into his mechanical forearms. “Just need to keep her off her hooves for a while.”

“Hah.” Tofu forced out a weak laugh as she roused from the impromptu deck-nap. “Like this ship would last a day without me.” She tried to push herself up, but gave up after she could only manage to pull her head a few centimeters off of the table. “But like, I get your point. This headache is literally trying to kill me right now...”

“No, that would be the magical radiation in your system.” Eliza chimed up over the intercom. “However, it is good to see that you’re still alive, Tofu.”

“Thanks, Eliza…” Tofu groaned as she scrunched up her muzzle in pain. “Can you… give me an damage report?”

“I can’t believe this.” Buck scoffed and rolled his eye at me. “She nearly died and she’s still asking for work to do?” Rapping his mechanical digits against the infirmary bed, he forced Tofu to offer a squinting look up at him. “Do I have to get the straps out and force you to rest?”

“It’s just a report, Doc.” She groaned out. “Eliza, damage report.”

“Well,” Eliza’s voice paused as if she wasn’t sure if she should actually answer. After a moment though, she made her choice. “There are several catastrophic hull breaches along the forward ventral hull that have cut off electrical power to most of the sensor systems. The forward cloud camouflage system took a direct hit, and has been taken offline until extensive repairs are completed. The damage to the forward wiring systems have capped the emergency solar cells efficiency at twenty two percent, and as such, are not creating a positive charge on the battery talismans.”

“Oh, is that all?” Tofu forced out a soft laugh that turned into a pained groan. “Would it be faster to list anything that wasn’t damaged?”

“The Arcturus’ airframe, while currently extremely stressed, has not been damaged.” Eliza responded promptly. “And the cloud drive systems are functioning at normal efficiency levels. While flight performance has been hindered due to the damage to the hull, we should still arrive at the Spectrum Federation within the next half hour.”

“Which also means that they’re draining the batteries at about six percent an hour. Got it.” Looking back up at Buck, Tofu offered him what I could only call a smug look. “Still want me to sit in bed for the next day or so?”

“Tofu, if I may,” Eliza spoke up before Buck could even retort to that. “While those systems will need to be fixed, most of them can be handled by the Arcturus’ onboard repair talisman functions once we dock at the Spectrum Federation. However, you should focus your efforts for now on resting and recovering.”

“Thank you!” Buck barked out sharply. “Finally, some common sense!”

“No, I won’t just sit here idly.” Tofu whined, making Buck freeze up. We all watched as Tofu whimpered softly before breaking into sobs. “You all have no idea what this job means to me. I left my home for this, my family.” Buck moved his paw up, opening his muzzle to speak, but stopping just short of it. As he looked down at her, he pulled his paw back, as it seemed that not even Buck had the heart to tell her she was out of line this time.

“Like, literally, I wasn’t sure if I could shut the reactor down.” She sniffled, arcing her head over just enough to look directly at me with tears in her eyes. “But you said I could, that I ‘had this’. And like, literally, you don’t know what that meant to me after years of being looked down on for not knowing where I belonged.” Looking back at herself, she shifted slightly under the heavy blanket Buck had tucked her under. “Yeah, being sick sucks, but I’d do it all over again. I left everypony behind because this ship is my home now, it is my family. If I can’t protect it, then you might as well not waste the meds on me!”

There was a flash that filled the room, and all of us, including Tofu, seemed bewildered by it for a moment.

“Tofu…” Eliza offered, “Doctor Buck, please, remove her blanket temporarily.”

Buck looked down at the blanket, shifting his paw under it and grasping it. Carefully, he peeled it up off of her, making her shiver as the cold air hit her exposed coat. There, sitting on her flank, was a simplified image of the Arcturus riding inside of a heart shaped cloud.

“Is that… literally...” Tofu gasped, going wide eyed before sighing and passing out again without warning.

“It’s okay,” Buck was quick to hold a paw up to us. “She’s just fainted is all. The drugs are already taking a heavy toll on her, and she needs to rest.”

“Alright.” I nodded and took a deep breath. At least I wouldn’t be losing a crew member today, and that’s all that matters. “Eliza, what’s the timeframe we’re looking at for repairs if we dock at the Federation?”

“If we were to occupy one of the civilian mooring points, we would be able to maintain power enough for indefinite flight. However, automated maintenance and repair processes would be limited to daytime solar excess until the reactor could be brought back online.” Her monotone voice wasn’t filling me with a ton of confidence, and neither was the fact that she’d skirted right past the question itself.

“He asked for a timeframe, Eliza.” Hispano snorted and seemed just as annoyed at her omission.

“Two weeks, at best.” Eliza finally relented. Two weeks!? We might as well fly back to the Factory for repairs at that rate! “However, that is only if we make use of a civilian dock.”

“Can you elaborate?” Cora grunted and crossed his talons hard enough that he winced and favored his still bandaged sides.

“Civilian power consumption is capped in favor of allowing a higher energy usage rate to the three Enclave raptors that are currently docked.” Eliza’s voice, while it sounded more hopeful than normal, did sound like it held a bit of hesitation to it. “Captain, I’d like permission to prepare the Arcturus for the use of one of those docks. It would bring down the repair time from two weeks, to under two days.”

Bringing it down to even two days would mean that it would at least be more efficient to move forward than to backtrack to the Factory again. Plus, we still needed to negotiate on behalf of the Factory for use of the antenna there, which probably meant they’ll want us to do some side job for them anyway. So all in all, spending a couple of days stuck in the Federation might actually be required anyway, so it should work out well enough.

“Permission granted.” I nodded and watched as Eliza’s smiling mare popped up in the corner of my vision. “Do whatever you need to, Eliza. Just make sure the Arcturus is good to continue south again in two days.”

“Aye aye, Captain.” Eliza’s voice chimed in through the intercom again before disappearing with a pop of static.

“You sure this is a good idea, Captain?” Cora let out a disappointed sigh as he dragged his talons across his exasperated look.

“What? We are an Enclave military ship, we have every right to dock with them anyway.” I rolled my eye at him, only to have it fall on the doubt filled looks of both Hispano and Buck. “What!? I mean, Laika basically owes us a favor anyway. I’m sure things will work out just fine.”

Things were not fine!

“To the approaching cloudship that just locked out our systems; Identify yourself now or be shot out of the skies! You have thirty seconds to respond.”

“Eliza! What the fuck happened!?” I called out as I scrambled up to the bridge.

“It seems that I may have made an error in judgement, Captain.” Eliza’s frowning mare flickered across a few of the bridge screens.

“That’s an understatement.” Double growled as he hoofed at one of the terminals on the bridge. “Upon finding that the raptor skydocks were all still currently in use, instead of radioing an emergency request like a sane pony, she overrode the dock and the Raptor’s guidance computer to shunt it out of the way!”

“You did say I could do whatever I needed to in order to ensure repairs were completed.” Eliza replied promptly with her mare flickering over to an angry version across the screens.

“We both know that this is not what I meant.” I grumbled and watched as her angry mare flickered over to the frowning one with the tear under its eye. “Regardless, what’s done is done. We can talk about it later. Right now, I need you to connect me to the cloudship on the radio before they shoot us down.”

There was a flicker in my augmented vision as a transparent rectangular box appeared to hover just ahead of me. It reminded me of the way that the audiologs looked on terminals, but just... hovering there in the air ahead of me.

“This is Captain Raychaser aboard Raptor Albedo of the Federation Navy. Identify yourself immediately.” The stern and loud voice of a mare boomed inside my mind.

“This is Night Flight, former Enclave citizen, and current Captain of the HMS Arcturus.” Seeing how well being the ‘Survivor’ had just treated us, I decided that maybe for right now, it was best to keep that little fact to myself. “We were severely damaged in a fight and require immediate mooring to conduct repairs. If you need confirmation on my identity, check with Laika.”

“I don’t care if you’re ten seconds from falling apart! You will stand down and prepare to be boarded. Seriously, if I had two bits for every fucking airhead trying to claim that they know the Sky Marshal personally, I’d...”

“Contact Laika and tell her it’s Night Flight, from Filly Crossing.” I cut the mare off. “If she doesn’t know me, then you have my permission to shoot us out of the damned sky.”

“I don’t need your permission to do anything.” The mare snapped back. “But if you hold your position as a gesture of good faith, than I will consider complying with your request.”

“Captain, I have stopped the Arcturus as requested. However, you should be aware that she doesn’t have to ask for Laika at all.” Eliza’s nervous cartoon mare showed up on the screens around me, as well as in the corner of my vision. “Shall I attempt to jam their targeting systems?”

“No, they’d just switch their targeting computers off and use manual guidance.” Double Delta jumped up at that. “However, can we reach out to Laika directly?”

“Negative.” Eliza let off almost what sounded like a sigh. “Any transmission might be intercepted by them and deemed a hostile act.”

“Then we trust the mare.” I nodded and looked over to Delta. “We wait.”

Silence gripped the bridge. Well, relative silence, as the buzzing and whirring of the terminals and ship systems were just as loud as always, but it did little to distract from the lack of an answer. And as one minute turned to two, then to three, I was beginning to hope that the raptor wasn’t sitting there casually aiming it’s complement of anti-dragon cannons at us.

“Captain Night Flight.” The mare’s voice returned with a grumble. “Clearance has been granted by the Sky Marshal for the Arcturus to dock at raptor port three. Federation Raptor Albedo has cleared the dock, and you may proceed at your own discretion. Do you require emergency personnel waiting for you dockside?”

“No, we can handle it from here. Thank you, Captain.” I replied with a heavy sigh of relief. Okay, so that’s one obstacle out of the way…

“Captain, the Sky Marshal is requesting to speak with you.” Eliza’s nervous mare popped onto the screen next to me.

“Put her through.” I nodded to her, watching as the audiobox in my vision flickered for a moment. Immediately, the sound of terminals and ponies in the background filled my head to let me know I was connected. “Hello, Laika, this is Night Flight.”

“Moy drug!” Laika’s voice filled my head. Curiously, under the audiobox, the words ‘Friend of mine!’ popped up. “Your group helps to rescue me, arranges my leave on a vertibuck, and then show up in a ghost ship? I have to say, you are full of surprises. Still, it is good to see that you have made it down to our corner of the wasteland. Much has changed since we last spoke, and we must find time to catch up.”

“That would be great, as we’re actually here to talk with you.” I spoke up, eyeing over at Delta for a moment. He didn’t seem too keen on me keeping half the conversation inside my head, but he didn’t seem interested in speaking up about it.

“Dah, then I will make time to speak. Nothing else will matter for today.” Laika’s tone reminded me more of Delilah’s now than the confused but coping small Diamond Dog we’d seen plummet from space. “I will have a vertibuck sent to pick you up at the dock. One moment… Kto-nibud', idi i naydi leytenanta-komandira! Skazhi yemu, chto Noch' nuzhdayetsya v pikape!” As she spoke, the words under the audiobox changed to ‘Someone, go find the lieutenant commander!’ and ‘Tell him that Night needs a pickup!’. It had taken me a moment to realize that my augment was translating for her, but my muzzle moved faster than the rest of my mind.

“That’s fine, you don’t need to send anypony. We’ve got our own ride down.” I couldn’t help but smirk as my words left a bit of silence to fill the air.

“Ty vsegda mog menya ponyat'?” The translation changed to ‘could you always understand me?’. The Delilah like quality of Laika’s voice was gone, and in its place was the curiousness Buck had told me she normally showed. He had recounted just how curious she could be with things during the war, but it’s good to see that her acclimation into the Wasteland hadn’t dampened her personality. Well, at least not at first glance that is.

“No, but we can talk about it once we’re down there.” I fought back the smile that tried to part my muzzle, still eyeing the very unhappy looking Delta. “Just send up where you’d like us to land our transport, and we’ll be along shortly.”

“Dah. We will be ready to receive you. Sky Marshal, out.” And with that, the audiobox in my vision closed, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

“I know that you may think she sounds personable, but trust me, from what little I’ve heard, she’s old world ruthless.” Delta snorted as he brought his hooves up onto the console he stood at. “I’d had some ponies of mine keeping tabs on this ‘federation’ before I fled the Skyraiders, and from what they’d found, she’s not your typical wasteland leader. She’s precise, methodical, and smart.”

“I’d expect no less from a scientist and a scholar.” Buck’s voice from behind me caught us both off guard. Spinning, I could see the nervous blush he hid under the white medical robes he had already draped over himself. “Uh… if you’re okay with it, Night, I’d hoped to come along with you to see her again.”

“Again?” Delta spat as he pushed himself off the console. “What am I missing here? Have you actually met this ‘Laika’ before?”

“You remember that space capsule you helped pull off of the Hauler the first time we were at Galloway? You know, the one marked with Laika’s name on it?” I offered to him with a smirk. “Who exactly do you think pulled her out from inside when it came back down to Equis?”

“Goddesses, I hope she remembers me.” Buck’s words bounced around inside my head as he whimpered to himself. “Maybe she won’t. Maybe she’ll think I’m some monster with all this metal. Oh, what if she does!? What if she thinks I’m not even a dog worth her time and never wants to speak with me again!”

“Buck…” I offered him a nudge and a glance up in the dark interior of the Remora. “It’ll be fine.”

“Sorry… I forgot we’re connected.” He flashed up an incredibly forced smirk that told me that while he wasn’t thinking it at me, he was still in full on panic mode in his mind. “I’ll try to keep our thoughts linked only when we’re in private.” Still, he reached down and ruffled his mechanical paw through my short mane.

“Can you two not do this right now?” Hispano grumbled as Happy was busy trying to squeeze the life out of her. “Because if you two lovebirds want to keep it up, I’ll be happy to throw our mule friend out the door and fly back to our bedroom to give you some alone time.” She huffed as Happy let out a whimper and only tightened his grip even more.

Still, I felt bad. Even after our talk, she hadn’t even had a chance to ask Buck about sharing some time with him before the train incident. Seriously, after all this, I was really going to have to make it up to her. And maybe… maybe it was time for me to move forward with her.

Because while it was a risk, well, she was worth it.

The altimeter in the side of my vision dropped to zero, while the feeling of the Remora’s landing legs compressing softly came up through my hooves. As the whining of the door’s hydraulics system came through the hull, a different kind of whining filled the air. The moment the door cracked open the slightest bit, Happy all but dove for it and forced himself down onto the concrete landing pad below.

“Oh, sweet sweet ground!” He laughed to himself before looking up. As the door opened further, I could see what he could, and found a pair of armed pegasus ponies standing at either side of a sharply dressed diminutive Diamond Dog who was busy marveling at the Remora. Her suit looked well tailored to a dog of her size, and came with a pair of fancy rainbow colored shoulder boards. “Oh hey, it’s what’s-her-muzzle!”

“Laika.” I smiled as I stepped forward, hopping out of the Remora.

“Yeah, her, whatever.” Happy grumbled as he picked himself back up.

“That’s Sky Marshal whatever to you.” Laika barked at him before turning her gaze on me and sharing a jagged smile. “Night! It is good to…” She paused and canted her head as her eyes fell upon the many scars, my prosthetic leg, and of course, the metal augments on the side of my head. “Geeze, you look like shit. But that is some amazing work you’ve gotten done. Do you mind if I look it over later?”

“If not Night’s, then... you may look at mine.” Buck spoke up from still inside the Remora. “That is, if you’d like to.”

Stepping aside, I gave him some room to come out. His steps were slow and hesitant, and I’m sure that his thoughts were racing even more now than before. But Laika’s curious gaze shifted to one of concern as she sized up the white sheet covering Buck as the two ponies at her sides brought up their stubby looking magical energy weapons in their muzzles.

“Niet.” Laika barked at them sternly, holding her small paw out to them. Still, she studied Buck’s robe as despite his offer, he did his best to hide his face from her under the hood. “Doctor Buck, is that you under that?”

“Yes.” Buck sighed. “I’m sorry, this… was a mistake.” He grumbled, pulling one of his robed paws up to paw at his face, but in doing so, it exposed his metal paw. The two ponies with Laika gasped in horror, but Laika herself? She took two steps forward.

“That is… amazing.” She shifted herself, hesitantly reaching a paw out and up to him. “May… I see your paw?”

“Buck.” I tried to keep my voice stern in my head as I thought directly at him. “It’s fine. You can show her, she understands.” From the way he slightly tensed up at it, I was pretty sure it had worked.

Buck shifted his paw, slowly bringing it down toward her. But after only a moment, he hesitantly pulled back, curling his paw into a fist. With another heavy sigh, Buck brought his other paw around, and grasped at his robe.

With a flashy and probably overly dramatic yank, he pulled his robe down, exposing his full form to her, and outright making one of the guardponies faint.

“Neveroyatno!” Laika gasped as her eyes ran up and down his body. Without a single bit of hesitation, she stepped up to him and ran her paws across the various joints in his legs and rear paws. “Nowhere in Equestria did I think such advanced prosthetics exist.” She looked up at him, marveling at the confused look written across his half machine face. “You must tell me all about where you found this amazing tech, and how it works!” Reaching out, her small paws grasped around Buck’s and all but dragged him to follow. “Come, we have much to discuss!”

“Night?” Buck’s voice came through my head with a squeak. “Help?”

“I told you she wouldn’t mind.” I couldn’t do anything but offer a smile to him as he was dragged off by the excitable Diamond Dog. “Besides, you wanted to see her again. Just… don’t talk too much about the Factory yet. At least, not until we get a few other things out of the way.”

“So uh… we going in?” Hispano cooed as she stepped up to my side. “Oh wait, would you look at that.”

She used her talon to point up at the large concrete building in front of us. It seemed to sit along a mountainside, and was a few stories tall, but it didn’t have any windows on the outside of it. On top, it’s roof was some sort of articulating dome with a rusted walkway ringing it. Past the moment I took to take everything in, it had taken me a second to spot what Hispano was pointing at.

Standing up on that walkway, staring down at us with her novasurge rifles still on her Enclave armor, was the same bitch who’d fired on us earlier. Even through the facemask she wore, I could bet she held a smirk on her muzzle. As we stared at each other, she flared out her wings and jumped off, soaring off through the air, and forcing Hispano and I to pivot as she flew away. Which was great, because it gave me a good look at the city that sat below us.

First and foremost, was the skydock. Sticking up through the center of the mountain valley we sat on the side of, was a trussed tower that ran up almost twice as tall as the updraft tower in Cantercross. Mind you, it was nowhere near as impressive as the SPP towers that had controlled the weather for the Enclave, but it was still robust enough to be a home to dozens of medium and small airships docked to it. On top of that, hundreds of sheet metal and makeshift shacks hugged the outside of the stairwell and elevator that ran up the center of the trussing, creating different ‘levels’ to the city.

Near the top, sat a few docks for larger cloudships, only one of which had a ship moored to it. The crimson colored zeppelin was the size of a raptor, and sported a pair of arcane reactors underslung next to a robust and larger than expected main fuselage. At the front of it, the oversized face of an angry dragon had been painted across it’s bow, and the single word Kirov sat just behind it.

Looking up, towards the top of the skyport, revealed a much more impressive, and more comforting sight to me. The heavy trussing of the tower ended with a large metal ring braced to it’s top. Sitting on the far end of said ring from us, was the exposed form of the Arcturus. However, moored closer to us sat a pair of Enclave Raptors, with a third floating just off the port side of the closest one. Not the prettiest gals in the Enclave, being generation one Raptor cloudships, but I'll be damned if they weren't a sight for sore eyes. Er... eye. Nope, eyes again now that I have this thing on my head.

Still getting used to all this...

Tearing myself from the amazing sight above, I managed to catch a glimpse of the enclave pony as she dipped downward. She disappeared over the edge of the Vertibuck landing pad, forcing Hispano and I to step up to follow her flight.

Below the amazing collection of cloudcraft, clusters of old snow-covered shipping containers had been stacked much in the same way that they’d been on the Empirica, only again, ringing around the base of the skydock. Dozens of old concrete buildings and small houses sat dotted around the central valley, with an entire walled-off neighborhood of them clustered at the south end of the town.

The stark blackness of the concrete highway that cut through the center of the snow covered town wound around the secluded neighborhood, before it drove right into a tunnel that laid on the northern face of another mountain. In fact, there was a convoy sitting in the middle of the Highway just outside that tunnel. Some large orange vehicles sat parked in a row, almost looking like a train in the way that they sat so close together. If not for the absolutely enormous rubber tires that stuck out from their sides, I might have actually confused it for a train!

“Goddesses, fuck!” Happy snapped, pulling Hispano and I’s attention back to him. He stood there, shivering and rubbing at his forehooves with a sharp frown sitting across his muzzle. “Can we go inside already? It’s fuckin’ cold out here and I’m freezing my balls off while you two are sight seeing!”

“Alright, alright, Happy.” I rolled my eyes and nodded over towards the doors Buck had been dragged in through. “Let’s go in and get warmed up.”

“Besides, we’ve got a job to do.” Hispano cooed as she flapped a few times and hovered up into the air next to me. “And after the last few days of nothing interesting happening, I could use a bit of action to spice things up.”

“Again, gotta love that optimism.” Happy snorted as he pushed himself into a trot towards the door. “But I can’t say you’re wrong about that, knowing how things with Night normally go.”

“Gee, thanks.” I grunted, yet didn’t offer any objection to that. Delta was right when he’d mentioned that we were still in the Misery range, and things could still go horribly wrong for us.

Still, I had hope that Laika would be flexible enough that things wouldn’t get too bad around here. And outside of the Enclave bitch who’d shot at us, we didn’t really have any enemies this far south. So despite everything more than likely going wrong for us, I pushed through the doors to the building and stepped inside with a mind that things were going to work out alright.

The interior of this place was… interesting. I’d only heard of these ‘observatories’ back in school, and I’d always wondered why they wouldn’t just study the stars from above the clouds. Probably it was just like most things I didn’t understand in the wasteland, the product of somepony in the past who had their own reasonings for it. Though, it’s definitely somewhere I should have expected Laika would set up her office, given her background.

The old and remarkably well maintained telescope hummed away as former Enclave technicians performed maintenance on it. A few ghouls were busy working on the sparkle motors that moved and opened the domed roof, chit chatting loud enough that I could almost make out what they were saying through the window of the conference room tucked away in the corner of the building.

Laika sat behind an almost comically sized desk compared to her stature, sitting on a pile of textbooks that had been placed on an old world leather office chair. Various file folders and an old terminal sat almost brushed aside on the corner of her desk, moved over in favor of a pile of paw written notes on a half a dozen notepads. Even now, as she listened to us recount the last few weeks, she twirled a stubby and worn pencil in her paws.

“So, you are to tell me,” Laika nodded to herself as she tried to absorb what I’d been explaining. “You killed Mister Wizard because her father had been held captive?” She pointed to Hispano with her pencil, pulling a nod from me. “Huh, that is certainly not the way I had heard it.”

“Well, we did it partially because it was the right thing to do.” Buck stepped in to make it sound a little less absurd.

“Supposedly you also mostly destroyed Pentex, helped to deal with the Galloway Steel Rangers, and also helped to ‘restructure’ the Road Crew? I assume it was also not only because it was the ‘right thing to do’?” She asked, scrunching up her muzzle. “And if that weren’t enough, you did this with the help of this mysterious ‘Architect’ you’ve mentioned?” I realized it was a lot to have done, but I don’t think it was until that moment that I’d realized how much of a difference we’d made in just a few weeks time.

“Oh! We also brought down both the Sky Raiders an’ Puritans!” Happy unhelpfully added.

“You must be mistaken.” Laika narrowed her eyes first to Happy, then to me. “I was told that they went to war against each other?”

“It’s… complicated how that played out.” I held up my hoof to her. “Perhaps that’s a story for another time? For now, I wanted to talk to you about why we’re here.”

“Ah yes, your request.” She nodded, sitting back on the textbooks stacked in her chair. “If you’re worried about asking for the use of the service dock, do not worry. It is fair compensation for the help you gave to Lieutenant Commander Tail End and I in getting down here.” Honestly, I’d expected at least that much out of her, but here was the moment of truth.

“Actually, I’m here on behalf of the Architect to ask your permission to modify your broadcast antenna.” I watched as my words gave her pause. “It would be a simple modification, and none of your broadcast capabilities would be affected. However, it would be of great help to him if you were to allow it.”

She dropped her gaze from me onto the notes across her desk as she seemed to think about it. I mean, this was the one caveat of getting all this help from the Factory. If she said no right now, then I was going to have to find another way to get it done.

A knock at the door caught us all off guard.

“Ma’am?” A pegasus mare a few years older than me peeked her head through the door.

Her peach colored coat and blond mane were impeccably clean, and I could see why. She is an Enclave officer, er, had been one. The shoulder boards on the Enclave uniform she wore displayed the rank of lieutenant, which wasn’t all that impressive if I’m being honest. In fact, from the way she broke her concentration and glared at me when I studied her, I had to wonder if she hadn’t just finished officer’s school before the Enclave collapsed.

“Yes, what is it?” Laika’s ears perked to attention as she forced herself to sit up straight on her books.

“Miss Rofia is here to brief you on the missing train.” The mare got a firm nod from Laika, who was about to speak up before the mare continued. “Also, I’m supposed to let you know that the Envoy returned. Again. He wished for an update on those records.”

“Alright, tell them that the search is taking much longer than expected. Also, tell them that if they want it to go faster, then they must provide additional details of what they’re looking for to narrow things down.” Laika scoffed and waved her paw dismissively. “But please, send Rofia in for now. She would do well to meet the heroes of the north.”

“If you say so, Ma’am.” The mare offered me a sideways glare before shutting the door.

Well, that was certainly… interesting. Still, the idea that Rofia was coming up here provided an interesting opportunity given what we know about this ‘missing train’. I wonder if it was at all possible to get what we observed on the Arcturus over here…

“Hey there, Captain!” Eliza’s voice chimed up in my head. “If you want me to send the footage over to the Spectrum authorities, just say the word.”

“Not yet.” I offered to her, freezing up as I realize that I’d just said that out loud. “Eheh, sorry.” I forced out a nervous laugh to Laika, who only perked an eyebrow. “It’s this up here. Still getting used to it.” I gave a tap against my metal head, making her nod.

No, the information on Rofia could be good leverage. I wasn’t about to just put it out there without knowing just who we were dealing with. That, and I’d rather not start a fight with anyone if I didn’t have to.

The door once again opened, saving me from the awkwardness I’d created for the room. However, that was replaced with a low growl from Buck as Rofia stepped inside. She was an odd sight to behold. Her coat was short, and midnight black, while her slit-like cat eyes were bright yellow. She walked about on two legs, swinging her lithe hips and whip-like tail with each step. The delicate and dexterous looking forepaws she had, contained soft pink pawpads under them, and each digit was tipped with a razor sharp claw that looked like it had been dipped in silver.

“Always a pleasure, Rofia.” Laika spoke up as the cat’s gaze swept over each one of us for a moment. She hesitated on me, but instead pulled her gaze away with a toothy smile.

“Yes, it always is, Sky Marshal.” Her voice was as smooth as silk, and held a note of poise to it that made me think like she felt herself above everyone in the room. It alone made a pit form in my stomach, and stuck just one thought into my mind.

Goddesses, I could already guess that she was going to be just like Solomon, wasn’t she?

“Everyone, this is Rofia, the mayor of Terrace.” Laika’s smile was joined by a slight wag of her tiny spiked tail. “She’s been my closest advisor, and has been one of the guiding paws of the Federation as we’ve gotten it set up.”

“Oh, she exaggerates. Times are changing in the wastes, and I’m just trying to make it as smooth a transition for my town as I can.” Rofia forced out a soft laugh as she turned to us and took a bow. “However, should you need anything, and I mean anything during your stay in my fair town, then don’t be afraid to ask.” Yeah, regardless of the fact she presented herself as above us all, at the very least her offer sounded genuine. Still, I’ve been fooled a bit too many times now to buy into any leader at face value. “In fact, if you’re here to stay for a few days, I can provide you with lodging and entertainment, free of charge.”

“I think we’ll pass.” Hispano snorted. Glancing over at her, she rolled her eyes to me, telling me that she wasn’t buying this charade either.

“She’ll pass.” Happy chimed in with a wide smile plastered across his muzzle. “Depending on the ‘entertainment’, I might take you up on that!”

And just like that, the moment we’ve left the Factory, Happy falls into old habits again.

“Yes, but first,” Laika spoke up, pulling Rofia’s attention back to her. “You were here to deliver an update?”

“Yes.” Rofia’s words faltered at that, and her expression cracked for just a single moment to show the anger under her skin. “It seems that an avalanche came down on the train at some point, and it’s been buried. We are unsure if the train and it’s crew are intact and unharmed, but it could take another day or two to dig out.”

“Alright.” Laika nodded before flipping her pencil around in her paw and bringing it down to her notepad. “See if you can have a chat with the local Road Crew. They may be able to lend some digging machines to assist us if we ask. And set up a meeting with their supervisor. I want to see if it would be possible to hire them to help keep the rails clear in the future to prevent any more accidents like this.”

“I’ll see what can be done on such short notice. Though, if you’re looking for avalanche clearing, then might I suggest hiring a Cordite crew? Their howitzers might be a bit better suited for avalanche prevention than any equipment the local Road Crew has.” Rofia offered her another smile and nod before turning to leave. She gave off a soft purring noise as she paused and slowly looked back over her shoulder directly at me. “Actually, on the topic of clearing our buried train, if these are those ‘heroes’ that are so highly spoken of, then maybe they would be interested in helping?”

“Lady, we’re not those kind of heroes.” Hispano muttered as she shot the cat a glare.

“Yeah, we’re the corrupt dictator killing kind of heroes!” Happy gave out a laugh that I’m sure he didn’t realize probably scared the crap out of Rofia. While he probably didn’t know it, he’d just offered up the best window for me to step in and exploit.

“Yes, we haven’t met, but I’m the ‘Survivor’, and this is my crew.” I watched as that caused her pupils to dilate a bit as she stiffened up. “Know that if you need our specific kind of help, then don’t be afraid to ask.”

“Noted.” The nervous tick in her eye, along with the forced smile she plastered across her short muzzle told me that we at least understood each other. Whether or not she’d prove to be a problem in the next couple of days however, would remain to be seen.

“Anyway, in consideration of your proposal, Night, I must think on it.” Laika sighed as she pushed herself off her books and down to the floor. “In the meantime, you are free to visit anywhere in Terrace that you’d like. However…” She walked around the side of her desk, stopping to hold a paw out to Buck. “I would still like to do that examination of you, if you are up for it, Doctor Buck.”

While ever since she’d walked into the room, Buck had his eyes trained on Rofia like he was out for her. However, the moment Laika spoke to him, it was like all was well in the world again. Buck’s gaze softened, and his jagged jaw split with a wide smile that told me everything I needed to know about what was on his mind.

“You do like her quite a lot, don’t you?” I thought at him, forcing him to nearly go white as a sheet for a moment as he shifted his gaze to me. Slowly his color returned, along with a bit of an extra bright blush to boot. “You really are insatiable!” Goddesses, from the way he tensed up, it was almost like he was going to implode with embarrassment! “Woah, easy there, Buck. Go with her, I don’t mind.”

“Are… you sure, Night?” Buck thought back as he pushed himself to stand up again.

“Go. Talk about all that smart stuff you two know and get caught up.” I smirked to him before looking over at Hispano. “Besides, I could use this time to just hang with Hispano. You know, maybe fit in another date somewhere. Anything you want, and I mean anything. Because... I owe you that, Hispano.”

Now it was Hispano who was threatening to implode from the scrunched blush across her face.

“Night, are you sure?” Buck’s voice was surprised as it came through my mind, but it didn’t come across as hesitant at all.

“You know, I wasn’t so sure, but... I think I’m willing to give it a shot.” I nodded, offering him a soft smile.

“Well, I will recall you when I have reached a decision on your proposition.” Laika nodded to me before returning her gaze back to Buck as he stepped forward, practically towering over her. With a soft and ginger touch, he reached down, holding his paw out for her. His jagged jaw threatened to split all the way around the back of his head as she stepped onto his fingers and was lifted up off the floor.

“Well, if you’d like, I can handle the rest of your appointments and issues today, Sky Marshal.” Rofia offered with her own wide smile that felt like it tore open the pit in my stomach even more.

“Dah, spasibo.” Laika’s words were non committal at best as she refused to stop herself from inspecting all of the mechanical parts on Buck’s forearms. Still, she offered an excited wave to Rofia as Buck and her headed for the door. Which was also about the time I felt Hispano’s talon grab around my forehoof.

“Well, if we’ve got time, then let’s make the best of it!” She let out an excited squawk as she pushed around my side and all but pulled me onto my hooves. “Come on, Dum Dum! Time’s a-waistin’!”

As I was all but dragged out of the conference room, Happy got to his hooves, stopping just short of following us. Turning to Rofia, his muzzle split into a grin as well.

“So, about this ‘entertainment’…”

I had expected a date when I’d hoofed Hispano the reigns for the afternoon with pretty much no restrictions. I’d given the one girl in the world who wanted nothing more than to pin me down for as long as she wanted, the chance to do just that. And what does she choose? Sitting, in a cloud, in the cold. Doing a ‘stake out’ as Talons apparently call it.

“It’s just... bugging me.” Hispano cooed softly as she peered through the binoculars tightly gripped in her talons. “You know what doesn’t make sense? Why would a cat like her, be so willing to work with the organization that took over her town?”

“You’ve seen the raptors floating above, right?” I shot her a sideways glance. “Would you fight that?”

“After Operation Cauterize left such a bad taste in the wasteland’s mouth, no one would be stupid enough to try anything like that again. They’d be hunted down to the last, and anyone even associated with a former Enclave pony would be villainized into obscurity.” Hispano grumbled as she passed the binoculars over to me. “Take a look at the building on the corner of the tower, the one with all the radio dishes on it. Tell me what’s wrong with that picture.”

Looking in the direction she pointed me at, I squinted to try to discern where exactly she was talking about. The side of my head vibrated slightly, and everything got fuzzy for a moment as my vision magnified a large sheet metal and scrap wood building in the trussing. It was practically a mansion compared to the structures under it.

Four stories tall and painted mostly black, a pair of bright yellow cat eyes had been painted across the side like they were looking down across the settlement below. Through the various windows of the home, I could see dozens of gold plated items stacked in rows on display. Fancy looking cloths were draped over half the surfaces I could see, and the whole place looked immaculately organized.

“I don’t understand, what’s wrong with that?” I asked, blinking for a moment before turning to Hispano. The moment I did, my head vibrated again, and my vision returned to normal. “Looks like a nice place to me.”

“Yes, and that’s just it!” Hispano groaned. “It’s too nice. Too together.” I must have been looking at her like a fucking moron again, because she let out another groan and planted her face against the cloud. “You’re killing me, Night.”

“What? Somepony in the wasteland can’t have nice things?” I scoffed at her notion before the words came back around on me like a rubberband. Thinking about it, there hadn’t really been all that many nice things I’d seen in the wastes. Most people had only the bare minimum, and the ones that did have an excess of nice things? “Shit… she is hiding something, isn’t she?”

“Thank you, you finally get it.” Hispano groaned. Pulling her face out of the cloud, she spat out the bit of it that got caught on her beak. “Now come on, let’s…” Hispano stopped cold as she looked back in the direction of the observatory. She scrunched up her beak in concern, quickly pulling her binoculars back up to her eyes. “What. The. Fuck.”

“What?” I couldn’t fight the urge not to try to use my augment again to see what she was talking about, and shifted my gaze with her. Squinting, I felt my head vibrate again, and my sight was once more magnified. Wow, it’s so weird to be able to do this… but also pretty fucking neat!

As the image resolved, I realized that we were staring at a group of zebras in full combat gear standing on the edge of the vertibuck landing pad. They were evenly spaced around it, facing outward as if they were trying to protect the Remora. It wasn’t until I’d gotten a good look at one of their vests that something strange happened. My augment highlighted their vest for a moment, pulling up a picture of whatever was scrawled on the patch each of the soldiers wore. As soon as it displayed up in my vision, I couldn’t fucking believe it.

Pentex

“What the fuck!” I nearly flailed myself right through the cloud. “We blew them all up! How are they still around!?”

“That’s what I’m saying!” Hispano groaned as she pulled the binoculars down from her eyes again. “I thought we’d seen the last of them!”

If they had some other chapter, then Ping would need to know. Here’s to hoping that I could still reach out to him...

“I was not ...ware of their continu... survival.” Ping’s voice came back through my head with more than a note of static to it. “Thank… for the update. I… ordite of the remnant…”

“Ping? I can barely hear you.” I spoke sharply. I reached up and gave a tap on the side of my head, getting a bit more static out of the transmission before it cut off completely.

Guess we really were basically out of range of the Factory. Which meant that if I wanted to talk to him normally, I’d need to get that modification made to the tower. The sooner Laika got back to us on her decision, the better. Things were definitely not as they seemed around here, and generally when I was around, that meant that everything was about two steps from spiraling out of control.

“Uh… Night?” Hispano’s talon shot out and tightly grabbed around my hoof. “We’ve got a much bigger problem.”

Glancing over, I found her other talon still held her optics right up to her face. Her beak grit together as she basically emulated Buck’s growl from earlier. Whatever it was that had her almost digging her talon into me, I knew it wasn’t going to be good.

Turning my gaze back up to the observatory, even without my eye helping, I could see a black figure moving around the Remora. Still, I squinted, forcing the image to enhance again to the point where I could see that Rofia was walking and talking to somepony. She ran her claws across the smooth metal skin of the Remora, letting her tail curl and run over it as well.

She was talking to someone just out of sight, laughing as she spoke. You know, from the way she looked relaxed, and seemed to glide across the landing pad, you’d almost have guessed it was a different cat. This cat wasn’t the same haughty and stuck up cunt we’d been privileged to meet in that room. No, she seemed more in her element now that she was free from prying eyes. At least, eyes she knew about.

A glint of copper colored light hit me as another pony walked up to her, breaking my concentration. The bright afternoon sun radiantly shone off of the tubes to a particularly polished brass prosthetic that stepped around the backside of the Remora. My blood came to a boil as I realized that the pony that brass prosthetic was attached to, was the stark white coated form of Rook. And if he was here?

Solomon wasn’t far.

Still, even with as much anger as I felt, and for as shocking as it was to see just a single trace of them around, my lips curled into a smile I couldn’t hide. It’s been so long that I’d thought they’d be long gone. They should have taken the chance to get far far ahead of us when they had it.

“Hispano?” I grunted, glancing over at her to find a cold gaze had fallen across her face. “Get Suiza.”

Author's Note

As always, a HUGE thanks to TheFurryRailfan for his help in going over these chapters. Seriously, it's always a load off my mind to know that I've got a second pair of eyes to go over things!

And of course, a thank you to Kkat, who's let us all run around in these colorful equine wastelands!

Chapter 82 - A House Divided...

Behind every little problem there's a larger problem, waiting for the little problem to get out of the way.

“Night? Hispano?” Double Delta seemed surprised as Hispano and I climbed down the ladder into the bridge of the Arcturus. “Is something wrong?”

“Came back for Suiza.” Hispano grumbled. “Got a fucker to find and shoot.”

“What?” Delta sounded even more surprised for some reason. Did he not understand that the one thing I wanted more than anything in the wasteland was somewhere in that city!?

Uh… actually, now that I thought about it, I don’t think he did know.

“Solomon is here.” I grunted as I hopped the last few rungs off the ladder. Spinning, around, I was immediately met with his stark and unimpressed expression. “The Prince? Who killed my entire convoy?” That seemed to kick some sense into him.

“Right.” He gave a single firm nod before stiffly bringing his hoof up in a salute. “If that’s the case, Captain, then what do you need from me?”

“Find him.” I snapped before spinning to follow Hispano back to our room. “I want to know where he is at all times.” If we could just get the jump on him...

“Uh… how?” Delta’s quick reply stopped me right in my hooftracks.

“What do you mean how!?” I flailed at him as I wheeled around on my hooves. “You’ve got a whole fucking spy ship to…” My words were cut off as my eyes wandered across the still staticy and allover non-functional sections of the bridge. “Oh, right.”

“I’m sorry, Captain.” Eliza’s frowning mare flickered across half of the consoles. “Most of the critical ship systems have priority over the sensors when it comes to repairs.”

“Fuck. Without the Arcturus, it’s going to be like looking for a needle in a stack of hoof grenades.” I sighed and hung my head, lightly tapping it against Eliza’s console out of frustration. The only advantage we had right now was the fact that they didn’t know we were here, so there was no way we could go down there and look on hoof. There had to be another way.

“If I may make a suggestion, Captain?” Eliza offered as her mare flicked back to the one with the bright smile. “You could always ask someone you trust about the location of Prince Solomon.”

“Yeah, but I can’t just ask Laika. Word would inevitably get back to Rofia, and then back to Solomon.” Again, I lightly hit my head against the console as I tried to literally knock an idea free in my head. “What we need is somepony here who we can trust who isn’t somehow connected.”

“What about Tail End?” Hispano spoke up as she stepped back through the bulkhead.

“Who?” Double Delta scrunched his muzzle up in confusion.

“Tail End.” Hispano repeated flatly as she hoisted Suiza up across her shoulder. “The Enclave officer Night helped back in Filly Crossing.”

“That’s a great idea!” I laughed and clapped my forehooves. And this is why Hispano is amazing!

“Great!” Delta forced out a sharp laugh before deadpanning. “You’re still in the same boat. How do you find the guy?”

“Lieutenant Commander Tail End, Federation service number TX-120-A12. Is that the one?” Eliza’s mare flickered for a moment as the rest of us just blinked. “While overriding the Albedo’s computer system, I was able to keep a backdoor open. I simply took a quick peek into the Spectrum Federation’s service files, but if I’ve once again overstepped my bounds, then I can refrain from doing so in the future. However, if that is who you are looking for, it says here that he should be on shift and in command of the flight deck aboard the Albedo.”

“You’re a lifesaver, Eliza!” Alright, a lucky break for once!

“Of course. After all, I’m here to help.” Eliza’s monotone voice came across the speakers with a bit of static before she pulled all her mares from the screens, returning them to the fuzzy static filled pictures the’d previously been.

“Alright, ready to go then, Night?” Hispano lifted her talon and tossed my battle saddle across the bridge to me. The gravity gems on the back of it hummed to life as it floated through the air right into my waiting hooves. “We’re probably only going to get one shot at this, so we need to make it count.”

“Shouldn’t we wait on this? At least, to get the others in on it?” Delta’s words alone made me trip up as I started to put on the harness, getting my leg caught on one of the straps. In an attempt to recover my balance, I slipped and instead slammed my head down against the console before flopping onto the floor.

“Ow…” I groaned as I rubbed at the fleshy side of my head. “No, we aren’t waiting on this. We need to strike and take him down before he has a chance to even see us coming!” Shoving my leg through the harness, I wiggled enough to get it mostly on before picking myself up. “Look, normally I’d agree with you, but you don’t know Solomon like we do.”

“He’s right.” Hispano nodded as she made sure Suiza was firmly strapped to her. “We miss this shot, and we might not get another chance.” Wrapping her talons around the rungs to the ladder, she let out a grunt as she started to work her way up.

“Alright, but let it show on the record that I think this is a bad idea.” Delta just sighed and shook his head as I got my harness secured and readied.

“Noted.” I grunted as I made sure the six grenades on it were secured. The overlay on my head popped up, giving me all of my navigation and flight data. “Alright, wish us luck.” Turning, I trotted over to the ladder and grasped it.

This is it then. A chance to kill that fucking bastard. One shot to make sure that he’s never a problem for anyone else.

Ever.

“This is Albedo flight command. Approaching wing, identify yourselves.”

While I hadn’t quite remembered him by name like Hispano had, I definitely knew the tired voice on the radio belonged to the same worn out stallion I’d seen in Filly Crossing.

“This is Night Flight and Hispano from the Arcturus, requesting permission to come aboard.” I called out, listening through my head as it sounded like he spit out whatever he was drinking.

“Ah, shit. Copy that, Night! Permission granted to land at bay one. And for what it’s worth, it’s good to know you’ve made it down here safely.” Well, while that wasn’t entirely accurate, I’m sure like with Laika, once he sees me he’ll understand that. “Just… give me a minute to meet up on the flight deck. Gotta go dry off my uniform…”

“Copy that, Tail!” I laughed to myself as I adjusted my wings.

Hispano and I circled around the aft end of the old generation one cloudship. The warm exhaust air from the cloud drive was a nice change from the incredibly cold air, and allowed me to get a small kick of altitude. The afternoon sun, the light southern breeze, and not an ache in my body. With a smile across my muzzle and the air under my wings, I wanted nothing more than to just keep flying for hours like this. But alas, that was not to be today.

“Alright, there’s the main flight deck.” Hispano called out as she lined herself up next to me and pointed at the wide bay that cut through the interior of the old cloudship. With a smirk, she reached up and gave me a nudge. “Bet you never saw yourself ever landing on one of these things, did ya, Dum Dum?”

“Definitely not.” I tried my best to stifle the colt-like laugh that came from my muzzle. Goddesses, I wish Mom could be here right now to see this. I mean, even if it was just an old Cloudship, I never thought I’d ever step hoof on one outside of school trips. Raptors were a point of pride for the Enclave, they were the posting that everypony wanted. Well regimented, and filled with the absolute best the Enclave had to offer, they were a true marvel to behold.

Flaring my wings slightly, I did my best to mitigate my incoming speed. I followed the flashing landing lights that had been laid out, watching as the few ponies on the flight deck shuffled about their duties. However, as Hispano and I came in for our approach, I was surprised to find a rubber ball bounce across our landing strip, with a small yellow coated colt dashing after it.

“Shit!” I snapped my wings shut and pulled up my legs. It had just barely been enough clearance to avoid the kid, but ended up with me unable to regain control again. While my flight pack had kept my fall slower than normal, I still came down onto the polished metal flight deck with a meaty smack, skidding to a stop pretty much on my face.

“Shit, you alright there, Dum Dum?” Hispano could barely contain her own giggle as she wrapped her talons around me to help me back up.

“I’m so sorry! Are you alright?” The panicked voice of a mare called out as she trotted across the deck. As I stood up, a very pregnant chocolate coated pegasus mare trotted over with a heavily distressed look across her muzzle. “Cloud Duster, what have I told you about watching for incoming flights?”

“Sorry, mama.” The small yellow pegasus colt whimpered as he quickly galloped back over to her. “I didn’t mean to, I swear!”

“It’s fine, Night here crashes all the time.” Hispano laughed as I finally got my hooves under me again and shook the stars from my head. Oh har har, Hispano. So what, you crash a few dozen times and suddenly it’s ‘all the time’. At least this time I didn’t end up losing a limb…

“Yeah, I’m… all good.” I blinked a few times as my vision fuzzed for a moment. Reaching a hoof up, I gave a light tap against my metal head, watching as my vision sharpened up again.

Glancing over at the mare and her colt, I found them staring up at me with two seperate looks. The colt predictably seemed completely enthralled with my augmented head, while his mother… offered me a look of pity and disgust hidden behind a nervous smile. The way she looked at me forced me to turn my head away out of shame. It was more a reflex I think than actual shame. After years of dealing with my wings, I guess, that part of me still existed in my mind to help hide me away.

One good thing about looking away however, was that it let me look across the expansive and admittedly empty flight deck. While there were a good dozen vertibucks, and a few bombing chariots stored on board, there wasn’t really any flight crew around to service them. Several other pegasus mares and stallions populated the deck, each one watching over one or more foals as they played.

“Wait… where’s the crew?” The words slipped from my muzzle like normal, but as I turned back to the mare, her confused expression didn’t offer me much hope of an answer.

“If you’re looking for a Spectrum officer, then you could try looking on the command deck. Which is...” The mare flashed up an even wider and even more nervous smile as she looked around like she was looking for a rescue. “I’m… sorry. You’d think after two months on this ship, I might have learned where most things were.”

“You’ve only been on this ship for two months?” Again, the words came out of my muzzle before I could process them. Right, being on the road again meant being the queen of bluntness again. “So… you only got on this ship when the Enclave…” She nodded with a somber look falling across her muzzle.

“We were lucky.” The mare’s sad smile only brightened as she reached down and wrapped her forehoof around the young colt in front of her. “We’d been drifting for days after the breakup. We were low on food, water, when on the horizon these three cloudships came sailing by.” Looking back up, she let her vision run across the flight deck to the other ponies and their foals. “They rescued so many of us, and they weren’t even from the government.”

“So who were they, then?” Hispano cooed as she looked around with the mare.

“Civilians, mostly, led by Admiral Blue Cross.” The tired voice of Tail End came from behind us, prompting Hispano and I to spin around. The green stallion looked much the same as when I’d last seen him up at Filly Crossing, short stubble adorning his chin and everything. “There’s a few of us who used to be in the service aboard each ship, but after the collapse, they filled up on everyone in need that they came across. They’re the true heroes of the Enclave, if you ask me.” Tail End paused as he got a good look at me, offering something between a cringe and a genuine smile. “Celestia, you really look like you’ve been to Tartarus and back. Now I feel awfully ashamed for not taking you with us...”

“It’s fine.” I for once resisted the urge to lie. “I’m just happy you all made it down here safely.”

I want to say that if I had to make the choice again that I’d take up his offer for a ride. But I already knew that if I hadn’t stayed with the Convoy, I’d never have realized I loved Buck, or realized my feelings for Hispano were real after all. And worse is, even if I hadn’t been there, Solomon still would have destroyed the convoy. But… I wouldn’t have been there to save Buck or Happy, and both Hispano and Cora would have never been sent up north to get the book if Delilah hadn’t tried to kill me.

“Eh, if I’d known making it up here meant I was going to get promoted to a glorified desk jockey, then I might have flown somewhere else. That, or demanded to be Lieutenant Colonel. At least then I’d be in command of the whole vertibuck fleet rather than just a pile of flight plan request forms.” With a sigh, he shook his head like he was trying to get rid of a bad hangover. “But, you didn’t fly up here just to hear me complain though, so why don’t you come up to the command deck? I’ll show you around and introduce you to Captain Raychaser.” He waved for us to follow, spinning around fast enough that he didn’t have time to see me cringe at hearing the Captain’s name again. “Oh! And I think you may just have arrived in time to still catch Ram. She’s normally down here with the Vertibucks, but she’s been trying to expand her mechanical aptitudes to more Archano-tech by working on the Enclave inter-ship database.”

“I’m sorry, Enclave inter-what database?” Hispano asked as we both picked up into a trot after him.

“Oh yeah, it’s quite impressive, let me tell you.” Tail End let out a short lived laugh as he nodded. With a glance over his shoulder as he passed through a bulkhead off the flight deck, he looked right to me. “Say Night, have you ever seen a Raptor quite like this one before?”

“This is a generation one Raptor.” I replied, unsure of why he’d cared to point it out. “Any foal in the Enclave would be able to spot that fact.”

“Yes, but do you know why these three ships here weren’t put into the continued service retrofit program?” His tone told me that he was going somewhere with this, but… I didn’t actually have an answer for him. In fact, I hadn’t even thought about it. Every Raptor in the Enclave had been upgraded and refit over the years, to the point that they didn’t even look like the same ships that floated out of the cloudyards back during the war. “You see,” He broke my thoughts off with a flash of his tired smile. “The Albedo, the Aurora, and the Albion did in fact undergo retrofits around fifty years ago, but under a different Enclave program.”

Pushing into a tight stairwell, we began to wind our way upwards. The cramped space was barely wide enough for us all to fit single file in, and made me pine just a bit for the degraded ship stairwells from Hispano’s hiding spot on the Empirica. I mean, while these stairs weren’t exactly trying to fall out from under us, I had to wonder why they were built so cramped. I mean it wasn’t like they’d been designed by the Enclave with other races in mind…

Wow, that wasn’t true at all. They had been built for others, you know, during the war. The moment I was back around the Enclave again, my mind instantly fell back onto the years of Enclave propaganda.

“So what was this other ‘program’ then?” Hispano grunted as she nearly pushed at my flank with her talons for me to go faster. “I’d thought Raptors were scarce enough that even the Enclave fought itself over who got to use them.”

“Yes, most of the time that was true. But, Project Legacy was something more important to the survival of the Enclave as a whole.” Midstep, Tail End paused at the landing of E-deck. With a shifty eyed look, he lowered his voice slightly. “Actually, it’s thanks to the inter-ship database that we found that fifty years ago, there was an incident that made Project Legacy a thing in the first place. A pony with a unique pipbuck almost brought down the whole of the Single Pegasus Project, and with it, the Enclave itself. So, with the blessing of the council, these three Raptors were commissioned to be refit to hold a single Crusader mainframe split up between them.”

“What’s… a ‘Crusader’ mainframe?” I had no idea what it was, but it sounded impressive at the least. It was probably still peanuts to the level the Factory was on, but I’m sure Hispano would probably understand it and explain it to me later.

Or… she could just lay it all out like that right now.

“It was the most advanced computer system ever proposed during the war.” Hispano spoke up softly as she looked deep in thought. “But.. I didn’t think they built any before the war ended.”

“Well, it had supposedly been a highly kept secret in the Enclave, but one had been built that controlled the weather towers of the S.P.P. With the Lightbringer getting control of it though, that cat’s out of the bag.” Tail offered as he spun and pushed open the E-deck bulkhead door. “Back to these ships. We couldn’t build a Crusader ourselves after the war ended, at least, not a perfect copy.” Pushing into the hall, Hispano and I followed him. “Each ship got a part of the database, split and encrypted in a way that it would be useless unless the other two ships were in close enough proximity to each other. All together, it was a backup for every project, file, and communication from before the end of the war, to the day the clouds came down. Everything the Enclave thought important, all logged within these ships. All their dirty laundry left as a contingency so they wouldn’t have to begin from step one if they needed to start over.”

“Well, that didn’t work out for them as planned.” I spat out without thinking.

“No, no it did not.” Tail End forced out a laugh that ended in a long sigh. “Honestly, it’s terrible to say, but it’s almost worse that everything fell apart so quickly. The amount of chaos in just the few days following the collapse meant that by the time we’d had time to comb through even a small fraction of the files to find out the true extent of what they’d done? It had already become impossible to bring justice to those who’d made so many suffer.”

“Well as long as the truth survives, then we can stop it from happening ever again. That’s all that matters now.” I grumbled, fighting against every tick of rage I felt for my former government. They’d lied to us about everything, and this just felt like one last fuck-you to the citizens they’d left behind.

“It’s not all bad though.” Tail End again offered as he turned a corner down another hallway. A few ponies in Spectrum Federation outfits walking ahead of us stiffened up and flattened themselves against the wall with stiff salutes. “At ease, cadets.” He nodded to them, making the young mare and stallion nod to him before turning their uneasy gazes on Hispano and I.

“As I was saying,” He continued, “we’ve managed to find some good on the servers. There’s years worth of files to comb through, but we’ve already found, located, and recovered dozens of old Pegasus Airforce caches of supplies. For example, we already bolstered our fleet of Vertibucks by almost double what survived the collapse purely on obtaining the old search and rescue emergency beacon frequencies from the database. But the biggest and best thing we found, were plans copied from an advanced food production greenhouse the Enclave found and then ‘lost’ a half a century ago. All we need to do is source the materials and we can build it here.”

“That’s… actually great.” If there was anything on those servers that us Ex-Enclave ponies could use to help ease things in the wasteland, then we had an obligation to use it. So much damage that we could help to undo, even if the wasteland still didn’t trust us all that much.

“While your lack of enthusiasm is understandable given all that I’ve said, I can’t help but think that catching up isn’t why you came to see me.” Tail End sighed, stopping just in front of a large sealed bulkhead. Familiar words sat printed in bold black lettering above it, reading Core Systems. “You… wanted to see if I would keep up our end of the bargain, right?”

“What bargain?” Hispano scrunched up her muzzle sharply as she squeezed at my shoulder. “Night, what’s he talking about?”

“It’s… I asked him to look into what happened with Four Peaks.” To be honest, I’d completely forgotten that I’d asked him to do that for me. And given the events of the past few months, I could honestly say that I’d finally moved on from that part of my life. I’d gotten closure with Salt, and now maybe I could finally put it to rest for good. “Actually, Tail, I already found out what happened. I wasn’t the only one to survive after all.” Forcing up a sad smile to him, I found it mirrored back at me. “Turns out, it was an accident after all. Sometimes, that’s all things end up being. Just… unfortunate accidents.”

“Well, I’m sorry to bring it up again, but…” Reaching forward, he planted his hoof on my shoulder. “Whoever said that to you, was wrong.”

“What? That’s… that’s impossible!” I don’t know what he thought he knew, but he had to be the one in the wrong here. Why would Salt have lied to me about what happened?

Pushing open the bulkhead behind him, he let a wave of luxuriously warm air wash out of the room ahead of us. The humming of arcane machinery and the crackle of sparkle energy pulsed through the ship flooring as we followed him in. Through the doorway, we entered a cavernous room that spanned multiple decks in height. A bulky, towering terminal sat at the base of what looked to be a modified arcane reactor that had been intermixed with various computing towers. On the large terminal screen, sat lines of code that flicked by one by one, being read over and checked up by a sharply dressed yellow pegasus mare.

“Hey, Ram! Look who finally showed up!” Tail End called out, pulling the bright eyed mare’s attention back to us.

Her gaze swept over Hispano and I, not even stopping on my eye for a single moment. Her muzzle sprouted a smile, and her wings flared out. With a short hop, the young former Enclave cadet practically dove into a hug around me, squeezing me tightly.

“Hot damn, girl! It’s good to see you made it!” She laughed as my eyes wandered over to the deadpan currently plastered across Hispano’s muzzle. “First, I gotta ask, are all the stories about you true?”

“We can catch up with Night in a moment, Ram.” Tail laid his hoof on her shoulder, almost effortlessly prying her off of me and making her stiffen up at full attention. “First, I need you to pull up what we found on the two-six-two incident.”

“Uh…” Ram’s bright purple eyes flittered between Tail End’s and mine as her voice wavered. “You sure that you want me to…” She paused as Tail End gave her a single nod. “Alright. But… you might want to sit down for this.”

Turning, she trotted back to the terminal and started to enter commands to it. I looked back to Tail End, hoping he’d give me some sort of indication of just what I should expect. As I should have expected, his tired expression didn’t offer me anything more than apprehension and regret. Honestly, the more he held that look, the worse I started to feel. Just what did they end up finding?

With a final keystroke, the scrolling coding gave way to a grainy security video. The video itself was of the reactor room to another raptor, where a few Enclave pegasi were tied and bound on the floor. One other Enclave dressed pegasus was frantically working the controls of the reactor systems. It had only taken me a split second, but I recognized one of the tied up ponies sitting closest to the camera.

It was my Dad.

“Please,” Dad spoke up, leaning forward and pulling against his bindings. “You have no idea what you’re doing. If you just untie me, I can reset the reactor, I can stop the cascade…”

“Quiet! I know exactly what I’m doing!” The pony at the controls shouted. From what Salt had said, I could only infer that that was his brother, Pepper. “It’s ponies like you Enclave monsters that make me sick. The kind that blindly follows orders, who’s only interested in their own survival while leaving every creature else to suffer. Well I’m going to show you what happens to creatures like you. I’m going to give you all what you deserve, even if it costs Salt’s and my life! It’s a price I know we’re both willing to pay if it means making you ponies suffer like we have.”

“Please, we don’t know what you’re talking about!” It… was heart wrenching to hear my Dad’s desperation. “I… I have a son. At least let me warn him… let me warn all of…”

Dad was cut off as an alarm rang out. As soon as it had, the door to the far end of the engineering bay blasted off its hinges. Two small cylinders bounced across the floor, streaming smoke from them. The eyeglow of the two suits of power armor that stepped through the door frame only lasted for a single moment before the magical energy weapons on their side lit up the room.

A half a dozen shots went off, and I watched as Salt’s friend vaporized into nothing but a pile of ash. And… I felt nothing for him. Salt hadn’t lied to me, he just… didn’t know that he was supposed to die as well. Nopony was supposed to have gotten out of Four Peaks alive because Pepper wanted everyone to die.

“Quickly!” One of the other tied up ponies called out. “Untie us! We need to…”

There was a flash in the reactor room, and with that, the image disappeared.

“It wasn’t an accident. It was a deliberate and malicious act.” Tail End sighed, hanging his head. “If you still want to know more, then I’ll have the accounts of the survivors sent over to your ship. It’s not much, but...”

“Excuse me… survivors?” My muzzle spat out the words as my mind did a complete flip in my head. “As in, multiple?”

“Yes?” Tail End nodded as his ears perked up. “I thought you said you’d met another one? Though, I guess maybe there was another like you, who slipped past the incident response team.” Looking over at Ram, he gave her another nod, making her pull up a new set of images on the screen. “The ones I know of were a few who survived the blast as those… ghoul things.” Oh, right. Though, I wasn’t sure if Mrs. Chalk could have even given a coherent report to anypony before strapping Shimmer to her desk and going absolutely fucking insane. “I don’t know if any are still in the Federation, but I could send a courier down to Sanctuary to ask.”

“You mean… they’re here!?” Okay, so while they still could be as crazy as Mrs. Chalk, there were at least others who survived. Others who maybe I knew during my short time in town.

“Well, of the original six ghouls here, a few are known to have already moved on to other places in the wastes.” Tail End lifted his hoof and waved to the six pictures that came up on the screen. Six ghouls popped up, four mares and two stallions, each with their service records listed along side of them in font small enough that even Ping would have had a problem reading them. As far as ghouls went, they all looked pretty much the same now, with knotted, burned, and missing skin all over them, and not a single hair on their body left. I was busy glancing over them before Tail waved his hoof to Ram. “Why don’t you instead show their Enclave identification photos? Spare us the… intricate look into the particulars of Equine anatomy.”

With another tap of the controls, the pictures flicked over to much happier, and healthy looking pegasus ponies.

Of which, one was my Dad.

“He’s… alive.” My rear legs gave out, dumping me back onto the floor as an elated giggle slipped through my muzzle. He hadn’t died, he’d survived, just like me. Tears streamed down my muzzle, even as it stretched into the widest smile in my life. “He’s actually alive!”

“Who, Dum Dum?” Hispano asked before perking up. She looked over at the board again, and then sharply back to me. “Is that… your Dad?”

“Guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Ram snorted before getting a death glare from Tail End. “What? Just saying that she’s a tough little thing. Only makes sense her Dad would survive a disaster like that.”

“Where is he now?” Hispano did what I couldn’t in asking, as my mind was still to busy with the fact that my Dad was still fucking alive! Finally, some good fucking luck rolls my way! I’m not alone again! I mean, I had my new family still, but… my fucking Dad is still alive!

“One moment.” Ram said as she spun herself around again. With a few taps, the other ghouls went away, leaving just my dad. “Guster Graycloud… says here he was staying with a pair of ghouls in Sanctuary to help him adapt to things until a couple of weeks ago. Then the logs just… cut off.” She spun around and shrugged at me. “Guess he’s felt comfortable enough that he hasn’t needed to check in. That, or he left with some of the refugees from Cantercross who likewise moved on southward.”

“Seriously?” Hispano mumbled into my ear. “Your dad’s name is Guster Graycloud?”

“What’s so terrible about that name?” I shot her an incredulous look that felt weird when paired up with my unending smile. Honestly, it probably looked weird from her end…

“Oh, nothing.” She shrugged and tried to brush it off. “Just… a lot of G’s in there for a pony. Sort of a griffon thing, to have names with G’s…”

“Your name is Hispano.” I fired back, finding my rolling eyes caught by a deadpan of her own.

“Hey, H is close to G.” She prodded at me. “Besides, I only brought it up because it’s nowhere close to Night Flight. I thought all you ponies shared similar names in your families.”

“Well, my parents had wanted me to be named ‘Glorious Dawn’.” I spat out again without thinking, instantly regretting that as Hispano had to stifle a snicker. Even worse, I visibly watched as both Ram and Tail cringed at that. “But, that didn’t happen, even though my mom wanted to free me from the alliteration type names she and my dad carried.” She’d told me that she’d wanted to protect me from mean hearted foals from easily making fun of me. Yeah, which was great until my flat feathers meant her good will would have been for nothing.

“What… was your mother’s name?” Ram asked.

“Dewdrop Drizzle.” I felt the words form in my muzzle, felt them push right out like it was nothing to utter her name again. It had been so long since I’d even said her name, or even my dad’s name, that… I was afraid I’d almost forgotten them. “As I’d said, she… died in the Lightbringer’s attack.”

“That fucking bitch.” Ram groaned before turning back to the console and tapping at it sharply. “If I had one wish, it’d be to go back in time and strangle that fucking filly. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad she brought to light just how corrupt the Enclave was, but did she really have to megaspell us?” With a sharp hammer of her hoof, the image on the computer changed. This time, the service picture of my mother appeared on the screen. “Oh… oh! Never been into older mares myself, but damn, your mom was gorgeous.”

I felt my breath leave my body, like I’d been kicked in the barrel. It was almost unreal to see her again. The blue of her coat was even brighter than I’d remembered, and her officer-tier managed mane was still just as bright as Celestia’s golden sun. Worst of all, the proud smile she wore across her muzzle flew completely in the fact of the fact that… she was gone.

[Dewdrop Drizzle]

[Current Service Status: Presumed K.I.A.]

[Service Terminated Pre-Operation Cauterize]

I… didn’t know what I’d expected to see there. Again, Dad might have made it alright, but Mom? There was nothing that could change the fact that she was dead.

“Presumed K.I.A.?” Hispano snorted and jabbed her talon at the screen. “What sort of shoddy work is that?”

“When the council’s Thunderhead was lost to the Lightbringer’s megaspell, there were a lot of soldiers who’d been burned beyond recognition, or outright vaporized.” Tail End shook his head. “And with Operation Cauterize being a response and mobilization of every Enclave asset in the area, I doubt that anypony could have even sifted through the debris to catalogue the dead before the clouds came down.”

“So then she could still be alive, right? Maybe she turned into a ghoul as well!” Hispano offered a smile, prodding at me. “I’d heard somewhere it could be a genetic thing or something, so who knows!”

As much as I wanted to agree with her, I couldn’t. Even my body betrayed that fact, bringing my hoof up to my neck where her dog tags had hung for what I now realize was an embarrassingly short time. Which reminds me…

“No, I know my mom’s gone.” I growled, finally forcing back the smile from my muzzle. Looking over at Ram, I pointed my hoof right at the screen. “Who isn’t gone, is that Saddle Arabian bastard who’s still in this city.” Just saying that made Ram tense up, and a look of guilt wash across her face. “I need you to find him.”

“Why?” The seasoned voice of a very annoyed mare carried through the room. “So you can kill him?”

Turning toward the door at the far end of the room, I found a older pegasus mare in a Spectrum Federation uniform. Her coat was a sort of autumn orange color, and her red mane had a few streaking gray hairs running through it. The slight hint of forming wrinkles around her eyes spoke of a tough life, but the two nearly identical sleeping foals she carried on her back said that she had a different job these days. Seriously, the two young colts looked exactly like her, down to the white hairs in their manes.

“Ah, Night, this is Captain Raychaser.” Tail End offered a nod to her, only pulling half a sneer in return from the mare.

“Yes, well what our intentions are happen to be none of your concern.” Hispano answered for the both of us as she crossed her talons and glared at the mare. “If you have a problem with us, then by all means, take it up with your superiors.”

Seeing as how telling Laika what we were doing was exactly what we didn’t want to do, I bit my tongue and stepped forward.

“Look, I’m sure you can understand that we don’t want to cause any trouble for this town.” I ground my teeth as I forced out the words. Seriously, how could anypony stand up for someone like Solomon and his ilk? “We simply want to know where he is, so we can…”

“So you can murder him.” The completely calm tone that she held as she cut me off was a Delilah level sort of passive aggressive stance. And honestly? It alone was making my blood boil. “Yeah, I figured as much. Well, I don’t stand for such mindless acts of violence. So if you attempt any such aggressions towards anypony in this town, then the Spectrum Federation will have no choice but to respond in kind.”

“You… can’t be serious.” I growled. Turning back to Ram, she seemed surprised to have my gaze locked onto her. “You asked if everything you’d heard was true? Well, it is. All of it and more.” Turning my gaze again, I found Tails tired eyes giving me a look that read ‘you don’t deserve this, but my hooves are tied’. “I lost everyone to him. The whole fucking crew, all because he didn’t care about rules.” Turning my gaze back onto the unimpressed and still annoyed Raychaser. I ground my hoof against the floor rather than strike out at her stupid fucking stubborn muzzle. “You do what you have to do, but I will not sit idly by while a real murderer is protected by old mares who know nothing about the good I’m trying to bring to the fucking wasteland.”

The older mare’s muzzle twisted into a smirk.

“I’ll tell you what.” She snorted and again leveled a Delilah tier glare down the end of her muzzle at me. “If you can prove that you’re indeed the good mare you say you are trying to be, then perhaps I’ll consider authorizing Ram here to find him for you.” Her smirk dropped into a sharp frown. “However, should you immediately go after him, I will report you and have you detained before you even get a shot off on him.”

“Celestia, what’s your fucking problem, lady!” Hispano snapped, puffing up her breast and standing tall. “You have no fucking right to demand anything of...”

“You’re right, I don’t.” She cut Hispano off as her muzzle twisted back into a smile. “But you see, I’ve dealt with too many hot-headed fliers in my time. I’m not about to let a risky situation spiral out of control without at least having gotten something good out of it.” Turning her gaze back to me, she sharpened her glare. “So, you do something good for the community, and I’ll help you find him. Deal?”

“What do you want me to do?” I spoke flatly. Seriously, I knew I’d have to do something while in the Federation, but I’d at least thought it’d be for Laika. However, at least Raychaser wants me to do some good, even if that’s a bit of an open ended request.

“Since whatever it was happened up in Cantercross, we’ve been getting a large influx of refugees.” Raychaser’s glare softened as she took a moment to look back at the two foals across her back. “Innocent ponies that deserve a fair shot at joining our community. However, there are those who’d rather leave them at the door to die than see that happen.” Turning her gaze back to me, she narrowed her eyes sharply with a sneer. “Go see Rofia and find a way to convince her to let the refugees stay. If the stories of you are actually true, then this should be something right up your alley that you can easily accomplish.”

“Lady, I don’t know what stories you’ve heard,” Hispano cooed as she brought her talon up to Suiza’s sling. “But generally things don’t end up going so well for those we deal with.”

“Oh, I’m counting on it.” Raychaser let out a soft laugh that almost sounded a bit too cold for somepony carrying foals on their back. “You can find a way to convince Rofia, or everything falls to pieces and one side tears apart the other. Whatever way it ends up is your problem to deal with now.”

“Captain Raychaser, I am appalled that you’d even suggest something so crude.” Tail End snorted as he ruffled his wings on his back. “You can’t just throw somepony under the skybus like that!”

“Would you like to join them for their task, Lieutenant Commander?” She perked her eyebrow, shifting her narrowed gaze over to him. “Or would you I rather send a report to Laika detailing how your unauthorized use of the Legacy system was accessory to an attempted assassination plot on a foreign dignitary? Because if that’s the case, then you and Ensign Ram here will find that being booted from Federation service might leave you out in the cold for good.”

“The moment Night provided the Sky Marshal and I with the means to fly my vertibuck down here, Laika authorized the use of this system to help Night Flight.” Tail End’s tired voice turned hollow, and his sharp glare was joined by Ram’s as she got to her hooves.

“No offence, Ma’am, but you aren’t the captain of a simple long range courier ship anymore. Intimidation only works so far as everypony keeps their muzzles shut.” Ram snarled as she stepped up and stood tall along side Tail End. “If Night and his companion are going to have your ‘blessing’, then that comes with the understanding that you will be going under the same skybus that they do. And while it may be barbaric, if you want to act like the Enclave is still around, then both Tail End and I would be happy to make sure to follow Dashite protocol.”

That pulled a sharp laugh from the captain’s muzzle.

“You think I’m afraid to lose my cutie mark?” She flicked her tail sharply, almost swatting at the image of a magical energy weapon with wings.

“Oh, I’m sure you could live without it.” Tail End smirked as he brought his hoof up to his chin. “It’s whether or not your daughter’s foals would miss it is all. But seeing as they’d be placed in a more loving and loyal family, I’m sure with time they’d easily learn to live without it and their grandmother as well.”

Okay, this had gone far enough.

“We’ll do what you ask, Raychaser.” While I wanted nothing more than to kill that Saddle Arabian fucker, it wasn’t worth destroying the lives of other pegasi if I didn’t have to. “But just so you know, what Hispano said was right. This will probably only end one way for Rofia.”

“Night, you don’t have…” Tail End spoke up, looking horrified at even the proposition of me going along with this.

“There always has to be an exchange.” I cut him off. “I told you that back at Filly Crossing, and that hasn’t changed. I’ve sacrificed too much to think I’m owed anything without consequence.” Looking at him, I could watch as my words sunk in and made his anger boil up under his skin. But to his credit, he seemed to almost take it in stride. “While I’m thankful to have somepony else have my back for once, you and Ram have already done more than enough to be considered even for the help I gave to you.”

“Besides, this is what we’re good at.” Hispano smirked as she unslung Suiza and gave her a loving caress. “We’ll try things your way, and when it inevitably fails, we’ll get the job done our way.” Glancing over at me, I could see just how much Hispano believed those words. “Isn’t that right, Night?”

And just like Hispano pretty much always had been, I knew that she was right.

“Yeah.” I nodded to her, looking back at the still horrified looks of both Tail and Ram, as well as the smirking, overconfident muzzle of Captain Raychaser. “Just remember, Captain. I do this for you, then you deliver Prince Solomon to me.”

“You do this for me, and I’ll bring him to you myself.” She spoke softly, pausing as one of the two foals on her back let out a soft yawn as it woke up. “Now, I’d asked to be excused due to more important matters in my life, but I know you understand and have your own errands to be getting to.”

“Let’s just get this over with, Night.” Hispano nodded as she placed her talon on my shoulder. Looking over, I found her wearing a soft, but hopeful smile. “And hey, assuming everything goes well enough, we’ll still have time to kill Solomon and relax for a few hours.”

“Assuming everything goes well enough has never exactly worked for us.” I sighed and watched as my augmented vision flicked over to it’s combat and flight mode. “But, as long as Solomon ends up dead at the end of the day, then I’m ready to do whatever it takes.”

“So how do you want to do this, Night?” Hispano’s voice hummed through my head as we flew downwards towards the stacks of containers below the mass of parked cloudships. “Are we just going to bust in and blow that feline cunt to tartarus, or…”

“We’re going to attempt to solve the refugee problem here first.” I watched as my words made Hispano deadpan, but she still kept pace with me as we banked around to bleed off a bit of speed. “There, we’ll land on top of those containers by the stairwell.”

With a flare of our wings, we both slowed down only slightly before coming down at a galloping pace. My hooves clacked on the container under me, pulling more than a few angry shouts and curses from the ponies inside. However, as quickly as they’d yelled, the ponies went back to not caring, and both Hispano and I made our way to the enormous metal trussing that made up the Terraced tower.

“Come on, Dum Dum.” Hispano sighed as she switched off her com’s and adjusted Suiza on her back for easier access. “You don’t really think she’s going to agree to any of this, do you?”

“No, but it doesn’t mean we can’t try.” I rolled my eyes as we reached the stairwell.

The broad stairs that ringed the central cargo elevator were wide enough that you could probably fit six power armored ponies side by side and still have room between them. Each section of stairs went up maybe twenty steps before a short and flat landing that allowed the stairs to slightly adjust to follow the outside of the central hexagonal elevator shaft. The scale of the whole construction was hard to appreciate from on these stairs, but on our own, I’m guessing it would take more than an hour at a walking pace to get all the way up to the Raptor skyport if you wanted to go on hoof.

That is, it would have been an hour if there hadn’t been literally piles of sleeping and weary looking ponies lining the edges of them. As we stepped onto the crowded stairwell, the groan the old metal gave under me reminded me that while there was room for them on the impressive structure, it probably wouldn’t hold the weight of six power armored ponies on it, let alone the sheer number of ponies who sat and rested on them. That groan alone made Hispano hesitate and flare out her wings. With a hop, she was back to hovering beside me as we started the climb up to the first terrace.

The first of the terraced city levels was absolutely crammed full of tiered sheet metal shacks, each with open bottom floors that were used to show off goods of one sort or another. Races of every kind shouted and called out from their shops, vying for the attention of the literal hundreds of ponies that wandered the cramped streets and alleyways. The pungent smell of dozens of small food stalls, as well as the incredible noise was almost enough to make me wish I could turn off my ears and nose like Buck could.

Pushing further up the stairs, small tents and canvas covered wooden boxes lined both sides of the stairwells. They mostly housed ponies that looked incredibly malnourished and sickly. There were a few larger hovels that held other races, such as a small two headed brahman calf whose four different colored eyes stared at us as we went by, or an eyeless elderly Yak who was muttering incoherent things to herself. Overall, I felt sorry for these unfortunate folks who were relegated to living in such conditions, but now I was beginning to understand how they could be having refugee problems.

Reaching the next terrace, Hispano and I found that it was much the same as the first. However, the buildings themselves were bigger than below, and built out of a mix of scrap metal and wood. The ponies up here included a group of ghouls wearing Cordite tanker gear, and there were even a few ponies in Road Crew high visibility outfits. Traders with bags loaded down with scrap, tech, and weapons argued and bartered with those in the shops, and those who ran them seemed less inclined to shout for attention.

Hispano gave me a tap on the shoulder, nodding for us to continue the long spiral upwards, and I nodded to her. As interesting a place as Terrace seemed to be, we still had work to do. However, the further I climbed, the more I noticed something. The hovels and tents along the stairs thinned out the higher we climbed, and likewise became a bit bigger and more intact the higher we went. Some of the canvas tents were decorated with paint or bits of old tech, while large enough for the families that inhabited them on each side of the stairwell, only a single pony wide gap was left between them at points. The ponies inside had hammocks to sleep in, strings of glowing lights, and a few even had tables with portable stoves set up on them.

But as soon as we grew close to the next terrace, they just simply stopped. The stairwell itself for the last loop around had been painted rust red, and like it was covered in something toxic, the tents rose up only just far enough to stop a few steps short of them. A hoof-painted sign with a depiction of the red stairs on it had been bolted to the central elevator shaft the stairs ran around.

‘No class one citizens beyond this point!’ Sat on the crude sign in bold red letters.

“Wait, you think that means us?” Hispano cooed as she finally felt comfortable to land on the stairs next to me. I shared a look of confusion with her for a moment before she chuckled and rolled her eyes. “I’m just kidding, we don’t follow their rules. Now come on, only a few more levels up to Rofia’s place.”

Pushing forward with a sigh, my mind went back to the sign. Seriously, I couldn’t even begin to comprehend why they thought separating citizens was a good thing. While it hadn’t been the best setup, even the Enclave knew that all Pegasi needed an equal chance to succeed if you wanted to keep them all working together. Having a system like this only invited those at the top to abuse the system and extort the ponies at the bottom.

Then again, that still seemed to be the case in Cantercross, in Mare’s Lake, in Destruction Bay, and they didn’t share this system at all…

Yeah, now that I thought about it, I guess it didn’t matter what system it was. If those at the top were corrupt, then those below would suffer, and that was that. It sounds so… simple to lay it out and just say that everything was always destined to be terrible. Really, it was moments like this in which I desperately wished I could go back to how things were when both Buck and I could at least see some hope that ponies could be better.

“You two, stop where you are.”

The stern voice of a pony from just up the stairs of us broke me from my thoughts. Looking up, I found a pair of pegasus stallions in Federation uniforms pointing their rifles at us. Their uniforms looked almost brand new, and were tailored to fit both stallions better than I was willing to admit to even Buck or Hispano. On top of that, the visored combat helmets they wore looked freshly cleaned, and even held a shine to them in the afternoon light. However, the rusty bolt action rifles looked incredibly worn to the point I wasn’t sure they wouldn’t blow themselves apart if the stallions even tried to fire them.

“Yeah, I don’t think these two are Fed citizens, sarge.” The definitely younger sounding stallion spoke up as he lowered his rifle. Still, he looked us over from behind his visor, shifting his wings uneasily as he studied Hispano.

“Mercs.” The other stallion snorted, lowering his rifle only to jab a hoof at us. “You two can move along, but remember, there’s no violence on terrace three. You cause trouble for the Federation on my terrace and there won’t be enough of you left to bury. Understand?”

“Crystal clear.” Hispano flashed up a bright smile before nudging me to follow her.

Picking up the pace as we passed the two guardstallions, I wasn’t sure if I should’ve felt offended or proud that they thought I was a mercenary. On one hoof, I wasn’t being treated like just some kid anymore. On the other it meant that any ounce of leniency and ignorance I could claim was gone.

Hispano’s squeal of delight however, told me that she didn’t feel the same concern.

“Did you hear that, Dum Dum!? They think we’re Mercs!” She let out another excited squawk as she pranced on all fours for a few steps. “Finally, some fucking respect from wastelanders!”

“Having their respect is one thing.” Cora’s voice sent a chill down my spine as the flutter of his wings behind me preceded the sound of him landing between Hispano and I. “Keeping it is another.”

His sudden appearance had somewhat dulled Hispano’s mood, but as she reached up and tightly grasped around the broken compass she wore, she bristled out her feathers and stood proudly to him.

“And that’s exactly what Night and I are trying to do, Dad.” She gave him a sort of dismissive wave of her talon as she shot a glare at him. “What are you even doing here anyway? How’d you find us?”

“You found me.” Cora snorted as he turned and shot a sideways glare to me. “Not that I answer to you.” Oh I see how it is. You can’t argue Hispano’s point, so now you’ll direct your anger to me, got it. “I’ve decided to keep busy while we’re here. Seeing if some of the rumors I’ve heard about Terrace are true.”

“What rumors? What have you heard about this place?” Again, the words slipped out before I could realize what I was asking. Without saying a thing, Cora nodded for us to follow him further up the winding stairwell. And while Hispano simply deadpanned at him as he walked past her, she turned to follow him all the same.

Stepping up to the small landing to the third terrace, there was another sign that had been put up which Cora turned and simply faced as we came up behind him. While it had been made to look a lot like the previous sign, it held the silhouette of a pony on it rather than stairs. ‘Missing persons reports are to be taken to ground level.’

“Oh come on, Dad.” Hispano grumbled and dragged her talon down her face. “People go missing in every city. “Sometimes ponies leave and never come back for any number of reasons. That’s just life.”

“While that’s true,” Cora fired back in just as annoyed of a tone as Hispano’s, “do you know of any other city that has signs up because it’s so common? Because I can think of a few, but they were all on the east coast of Equestria...” His words implied something that I guess I just wasn’t quite privy to, but Hispano scrunched up her muzzle at that.

“Well, maybe it shares some similarities, but even you haven’t been to every city in the wastes, Dad.” She sat down and crossed her talons with a grunt. While she had a point, something in my gut started to feel off. I don’t know why exactly, but now that Cora’s brought it up, something did feel off about it. However, as off as it was, Hispano and I still had a job to do.

“I think he’s right, Hispano. Maybe something is going on here that we don’t know.” I offered up, receiving a sharp glare from her in return. “However, while he looks into it, maybe we should get back to the task at hoof?” And just like that, Hispano’s mood flipped back around as her determined smile crept back across her beak.

“And what task would that be?” Now it was Cora’s turn again to level a glare at us. You know, for as often as he’d done it, I think I’d finally started to get used to it from him.

“Night and I are… going on another date.” Hispano’s beak twisted into a wicked grin as she copied the glare her father held. With a sharp grasp, Hispano reached over and snatched my forehoof right up off the floor, nearly making me fall over as she dragged me closer. “Is that a problem for you, Dad?”

The way his glare sharpened at that actually made me freeze up. Fear filled my mind as the thoughts of him choking me on the Empirica flooded through me, making it harder to breathe. Right, maybe I wasn’t so immune to his glares after all…

“Stay out of trouble. I mean it, Hispano.” Cora growled as he flared his wings out and jabbed a talon sharply against my muzzle. “Remember your promise to me, Night. Not. A. Scratch.”

“Yes, sir.” I nodded to him, full knowing that while this was all going to go to shit at some point today, that was one request I planned to follow in its entirety.

Seemingly satisfied with my answer, Cora flapped his wings hard and took off into the hustle and bustle of terrace three. He disappeared amongst the dozens of other pegasi and griffons flying around above the crowded streets. While the terraces below had been comprised of dozens of different races, this one seemed different.

Griffons were the standout race up here, but even so were outnumbered by the sheer number of unicorns and pegasi who went about their daily business. Weapons and armor shops seemed to dominate this level, as well as a few stands selling what looked like old but well preserved arcane tech. I’d started to wonder why Cora had chosen to look for the answer to the missing ponies on this level, but was torn from my thoughts as Hispano’s tight grip nearly pulled me right up off the floor.

“Come on, Dum Dum. We’ve still got further to climb!”

“Don’t cause any trouble, outsider.” The heavyset stallion pulled his impeccably cared for shotgun away from my muzzle as the equally impressively muscled mare did the same to Hispano.

I got it now, why this place separated their citizens.

Each level we’d climbed had shown an improvement in living conditions. Each terrace we’d gone up had been better cared for, and had far more protection than the ones below. It was all built for maximum separation, to keep those unfortunate enough to live below, far too afraid and incapable of ever standing a chance at taking down those who lived above them.

The terrace just below Rofia’s house had been the worst one I’d seen so far. Immaculately constructed compared to the shacks down below, a dozen different ‘high class’ restaurants, brothels, and lounges were all that this level consisted of. Only a dozen ponies were out on the empty and spacious streets, and half of those were dolled up mares propositioning the few well dressed stallions who walked by with a feel of indifference to them.

“Goddesses, have you ever seen something so ridiculous?” Hispano nudged me as I stared at the sheer opulence of this terrace. “How could anypony live like this without being bored out of their minds?”

“Good question.” I answered without thinking about it, only feeling the hole in my gut slowly widening. “Maybe we should ask Solomon before we blow his head off.”

“Yeah, maybe!” Hispano giggled as she folded up her wings and dropped onto the stairs with me. She was about to take a step forward before freezing up. “Wait, in that window… is that…?”

Squinting, I followed her gaze up toward one of the brothels. The laughter of a naked mare preceded her front half from sticking out of one of the second floor windows. Her torso was joined by the forelegs and pleased looking muzzle of Happy as he nuzzled along her neck softly.

Okay, I’d seen just about enough to know how he’d felt on the other side of the captain’s quarters door yesterday…

“Right, moving on!” I wrapped my fetlock around Hispano’s talon and got to pulling her forward. The blush across my muzzle probably shouldn’t have been a surprise, but the glow across hers was joined by a hesitant look. She fought against my pull for a moment, stopping me after only a few steps.

“Night, I have to ask…” She looked like she was fighting to get the words out of her beak, and the glow she gave off was only getting brighter by the moment. “When you said you wanted to do anything today, did that mean…?” Her words drained off slowly as her wide, hopefilled eyes begged to hear the answer I’d been ready to give her earlier today.

“Yes, it does.” I nodded and fought to keep the smile spreading across my muzzle from distracting us from what we needed to be doing. “I care so much about you, Hispano, and it’s not fair to you if Buck and I…”

That was of course as far as I’d made it before she all but dove against my muzzle.

While my mind was busy exploding from the sensations coursing through me, I closed my eyes and just tried to enjoy it. My augmented vision flickered as a new box opened up on it while I was lost in the moment. Situated at the center and top of my vision, was what looked like the navigational compass I got when I was flying. However, it had a small green circle in it that moved with Hispano. Sitting just off center to it, was a single red square.

Opening my eyes, heavy beats of wings filled the air in the direction of the box, and the glowing bug-like eyes of a suit of Enclave power armor became locked on me.

“Survivor.” The voice of the mare from the train who’d attacked us forced Hispano to quickly pull herself from me and spin around. Before she could even get her talons on Suiza, the articulated scorpion bladed tail of the armor whipped out and wrapped itself tightly around Hispano’s neck. “My boss wishes to speak with you about destroying her train.”

Author's Note

As always, a HUGE thanks to TheFurryRailFan for all his help in going over my chapters. It's a godsend to have a second pair of eyes, and I can't thank him enough!

And of course, a huge thanks to Kkat for kicking all this off in the first place, and allowing us all to run around in this shared wasteland!

Chapter 84 - The Cost of Respect

Air goes in and out, blood goes round and round. Any variation on this is bad.

“You’re already doing great... Night!” I heaved as I flared my wings out and kicked myself off from the broken window. The pair of charged magical energy shots that struck where my hooves had just been radiated enough heat that my real rear hoof felt like it had been singed. “Just… stay alive! Just like with Galina!”

The insane laugh that came from inside Rofia’s house was cut off sharply as half the wall burst outwards. Glancing back, the Enclave power armor easily shrugged off the debris as Microburst smashed right through. Fuck, this wasn’t like Galina, this was going to be much worse.

Torquing my wings, I extended my forehooves and pitched down hard. Another pair of high pitched shots flew over my head, followed by yet another laugh. With my speed picking up quite quickly, I looked around for anything I could use to break line of sight.

The separate levels of Terrace were tempting, but the ponies still wandering the streets meant collateral damage would be too risky. Glancing at the central winding stairwell, there wasn’t enough space in the center of it to give me room to maneuver. Fuck, all that left was open air where time wouldn’t end up in my favor!

“Run all you want, little bird!” Microburst’s amplified voice sent a line of fear coursing through me. “You’ll die all the same for what you’ve done to me!” What the fuck did I do!?

Glancing up at the compass in my vision, I could see her red marker still lined up as being right behind me. Another pair of orange shots streaked through the air just under me. They sailed forward, striking the sheet metal roof of a building on the first level of Terrace and burning a hole right through it.

Twisting my wings, I rolled to the left and pulled away from the buildings. It didn’t take long until I’d flown out over the forested valley hills below. My mind raced through everything I could do with it. If I could fly down between the branches like I had the first time I came down…

Another pair of orange streaks dipped just over my wing. Again, it was close enough that I could feel the heat of the shots. It was right about now that I missed having the option of some sort of submachine gun with me. But even so, it wasn’t going to do anything against power armor. No, my best bet was to get close with my grenades. Looking down at the trees, I needed to make a judgement call.

Fuck it. I was fast running out of altitude and options, and the trees were going to do more to slow me than to help. Torquing my wings again, I brought myself back around to the ground level of Terrace. The different streets and towers of cargo containers would be better protection for both me and the random citizens, and they’d help funnel Microburst down towards the ground.

As I aimed for the closest gap in the lines of containers, the targeting info I’d had in the train fight came up. The lines that stretched from where I was to the ground showed me where each of my six grenades would hit if I trigger them. Spotting a slightly off center container with a few ponies sitting against it, if I could time the release of a grenade for just when Micro was about to fly over it…

Without my consent, my harness gave out a stiff click as one of my grenades dropped away far too early.

The red line that had belonged to it drifted down under me and out of sight, and I immediately flared my wings to slow down. Few of the ponies on the ground level of Terrace had noticed me quickly coming down toward them, and only one I could see had noticed the grenade swiftly hitting the ground behind me.

The loud crack the blast gave off however, sent all the ponies down here into a frantic panic. The strip of muddy ground I’d planned to land myself on became a nightmare of running ponies. Fuck, they just needed to clear a path just wide…

Micro’s novasurge rifles fired again, and only one bolt streaked past me. The other clipped the tip of my right wing, and instantly my feathers caught on fire. I cried out as reflex alone caused me to sharply pull my wings in, and I let out a single gasp as my harness did it’s best to help my momentum as I arched down to the ground.

The world turned grey as it had done the dozens of times I’d crashed and rolled before now. The small pony in the corner of my augmented vision flashed up the message Medical Attention Required repeatedly as I skidded and bounced through the mud. It wasn’t until the heavy thud of me coming to a stop against one of the stacked containers that I knew I’d finished crashing.

The panicked murmurs and quick hoofsteps of the citizens who’d stayed around, turned into horrified gasps as the sound of heavy wing beats filtered through the air nearby. My mind was still doing loops, but I tried to do my best to push myself up onto my side. As soon as I did, another booming laugh came through Micro’s helmet as she landed just a hoof’s reach away from me.

“Oh, I’d expected so much more from the ‘Survivor’.” She spat through her facemask, while the glow from behind her mask ebbed unnaturally with each word. “The stories paint you as some titan, but you’re just a little filly who has no idea what she’s doing.” Her bladed tail snaked its way above her back as she folded her armored wings.

Was she stupid? Did she expect me to stay on the ground? Why… no, she wanted me to try to fly again!

My augmented vision flickered for a moment, bringing up the grenade trajectories again. It gave me an idea that was risky, but I didn’t really have time for anything else. Pushing my wings open slightly, I turned myself like I was going to fly again. Predictably, it made Micro flare her own wings just enough that they didn’t obstruct her sides.

Release.

That’s all I thought as instead of jumping up, I threw myself down in the mud toward her. The click from my grenade harness was lost behind my grunt and a push from my forehooves. With a hope and a prayer to Celestia that this worked, I threw my shoulder forward at her.

She had definitely been an Enclave mare, only hopping over me for long enough to ensure that she kept the altitude advantage on me. And with the fact I hadn’t taken flight, we’d basically traded places. And just as I’d hoped, she came down right where I’d been in the mud. Right on top of my grenade.

As soon as I’d recovered from my lunge, I kicked myself as far up and back as I could. This wouldn’t be enough, but all I needed to do was to put some distance between her and me. Again, another prayer to Celestia...

The sharp pop as the grenade went off under her filled my ears with a short lived ringing. The small pony in my vision flashed as more medical warnings tried to tell me about all the bits of shrapnel that I couldn’t feel but were probably stuck in me. As I came back down from my jump, my rear hoof gave out under me and dropped me back into the mud.

So long as I’d gotten the bitch, then whatever was wrong with me was worth it.

“F-FUCK!” The rage filled scream pushed through the ringing in my ears. It kickstarted my drive to stand back up again, and I quickly turned my gaze up to find that Micro was still alive… well, mostly.

The blast had blown her helmet and the armor under her barrel to hell, as well as torn both her wings right off. But what stared back at me through the smoking and sparking power armor wasn’t the pegasus I’d expected to see. No, what stared back was nothing more than a skeleton held together by some rotten sinew and a sort of fowl glowing magic. A pressurized tank leaked out a thick cloud of rancid looking heavier-than-air gas from where it sat bolted inside her cracked and glowing rib cage.

So that is what Rot can do to a pony...

“You’re fucking dead, bitch!” Micro’s voice came from the glowing skull, and her ebbing eye sockets burned brighter than ever as she held them on me. With stiff steps that made her exposed bones creak heavily, she started to move toward me. The advanced Enclave armor was already starting to patch itself up, allowing her to pick up the pace of each step.

If I was going to kill her, if it was even possible with the state she was in, I needed to do it now.

Release. I thought again, feeling as my harness dropped another grenade into the mud. With a hop back, I brought my forehoof around and kicked it at her. Unfortunately, my rear hoof gave out again as I did, and the grenade sailed high towards the containers.

It went off with another crack, blasting a nice pony-sized hole in them and finally convincing those who’d stuck around to scream and flee. Good, no other casualties then. It really was just down to me, and her.

The trigger bit for her helmet reformed under her boney jaw, and I could almost swear I saw her bare grin widen.

“Guess it’s game over for you.” She hissed before giving an excited bite on the bit. Sparks shot from her mangled Novasurge rifles as they twisted and bent from the repair magic still working to patch them up. It gave her pause, but only for a moment. “Oh well, now we’ll get to do this the fun way.” She let out another giddy laugh while the armor’s bladed tail rose up behind her.

As I pushed myself to try to get back to my hooves, I painfully realized that my rear hoof just wasn’t going to listen anymore. Fuck! My grenade trick wasn’t going to work now that she was wingless. I needed more distance. No, what I needed was more time.

“What’s... your fucking problem anyway?” I spat out as I used my forehooves to scoot myself back through the mud. It wasn’t much slower than she was staggering over, but if I could get her monologuing, then maybe she’d slow herself down for me. “Why do you hate the Survivor so much? What did I ever do to you.”

“It’s because bitches like you and the Lightbringer think you’re so much better than the rest of us.” She forced a laugh that couldn’t cover up the clicking her jaw bones made against her skull. Worse, was as she spoke, her armor finished sealing her barrel up again, and had already started to patch up the legs. “You think you can just do what you want, when what you really need is a reality check. This just in; you’re just as bad as the rest of the wastes, cunt!”

“That’s rich, coming from a drug addict who hides inside her armor and can’t even protect her boss!” Pushing myself back again, I did my best to flash up my own grin across my muzzle. Come on, get pissed off already. Give me an opening to work with.

“Please, filly, you think I give a shit that Rofia’s dead? I’ll find a new fucking Rot dealer.” She shuddered mid-step as the armor on her rear hooves sealed up, and the powered mechanisms that assisted walking kicked back in. “You killed my mother, and you killed my sister. That is why you get to die.” Wait, what!? “Oh, you act surprised, but you don’t feel anything for them, do you? I hadn’t expected you’d remember the face of everypony who you murdered in Destruction Bay. You think killing Rofia is going to hit me after that? What does she matter when all I have to do is kill you and watch as everything you’ve worked towards comes tumbling down?”

“Again, says the mare who’s lost everything, including her equinity.” I forced through the snarling grin I wore. Again, I shoved myself back in the mud, only to have my wings and back press against the cold exterior of one of the containers. Shit.

“Well, in about ten seconds, I’ll still be alive. Which will be more than you’ll have going for you.” Her jawbone creaked as her foreleg armor finished repairing, and again, she took a shuddering step forward. With a short hop, she closed the rest of the distance between us. The bladed tail behind her flicked up over the side of her head, and I knew what was going to come next. She let out a sharp scream as she drove the blade forward.

Release.

The sharp snap of my harness couldn’t be hidden, but it was somewhat lost as I did my best to roll out of the tails way and over my grenade. The sharp screech of sheet metal being torn by her tail filled the air as I wrapped the small explosive tightly in my fetlock. With a scream, I put all my weight on my prosthetic leg and used it to help spin me back to face her.

With all the force I could muster, I thrust my forehoof forward and shoved the small grenade between her skull and her bony jaw. Letting it go, the small explosive rolled down into her mostly empty and freshly repaired armor. She let out a laugh as her tail came back around at me. It moved so fast that it was only a flash of metal I’d barely even had a chance to see.

My augmented vision fuzzed and died as the blade pushed effortlessly straight through my body. The bloody metal tip of it pushed out the other side of me, and right then is when everything hurt again. I screamed as incredible, debilitatingpain tore through my entire body.

“Just DIE!” She screamed at me as the tail lifted me right up out of the mud. Another scream left my muzzle, echoing down the rows of containers. I’d hardly had time to process it in my own mind before the grenade went off.

Microburst disappeared, as did the rest of the world. All I could feel was cold as I fell into an endless dark void. It was the same familiar darkness I’d felt all too many times before. And as my entire being adjusted to it, I knew that the worst thing about it, was that I wasn’t alone.

“Welcome home, Night.” Solomon’s voice echoed through the darkness, repeating endlessly as I let out my own scream into the void.

“No, you’re supposed to be fucking gone now.” My mind was racing. How… how could he be back? Why was he back!?

Unless…

The last minute of my life replayed like a bad dream.

I’d already been hurt before she stabbed me, and then… the grenade….

“That’s right, you’re DEAD, Night!” Solomon’s mirth filled voice painfully made me feel like my head was being torn apart again and again. “So settle in, because we’ve got a long time yet together. An ETERNITY, even!”

“No, no, no! This… this isn’t happening!” I could feel my heart racing, my lungs struggling to get enough air as I went to full on panic mode. Tears streamed down my cheeks and muzzle as it all started to sink in. I couldn’t… I didn’t want to be…

But as the darkness persisted, and Solomon’s laugh never left, I started to realize that maybe… he was right. I was really gone, wasn’t I? Which meant I’d never see Buck or Hispano again. Ever.

Breaking down, I just let go. Solomon’s laughs, as much as they hurt, were pushed away. In their place my own sobs filled the darkness as every regret I ever had, made itself known. I mourned for Buck, for Hispano. But most of all, I did what anypony would, and mourned for myself.

I don’t know how long I’d been crying in the darkness, but at some point, Solomon had stopped laughing. I’d worked through exactly none of the sorrow I felt when I realized something. I could feel my legs again, my wings...

Forcing open my eyes, I found myself curled up on the floor outside of our old cloud apartments. My long mane had drooped over my matted muzzle, and I sniffled as I lifted a hoof to brush it aside. A wave of confusion washed over me as I looked around, blinking sharply as a set of midnight blue hooves stood at my side. Looking up, the slitlike yellow eyes of the alicorn next to me cast a judgmental gaze at me.

“You really are foalish.” Lilac Lace’s voice forced more disdain and disappointment through it than both my mother and Delilah combined ever could have. “I thought you’d understood, and yet, here you are again.” Lifting her hoof, she pointed to the pony-tall mirror that appeared in front of me. Looking into it as I had the first time she’d shown it to me, again, I found it completely blurred. “You’ve made it so far, and yet, you still can’t see who you really are.”

“I’ve… been trying.” My meek voice sounded… strange to me. It was the voice I’d had at the time of this all, but… I hadn’t had it in these visions before.

“Liar.” Lilac’s sharp tone literally knocked me through the floor, and again I found myself falling through the open blue skies.

I flared my wings open as I had the last time I’d done this, and then promptly remembered what came next. Twisting them, I rolled out of the way just fast enough to avoid Lilac’s dive, and watched as she punched right through the cloud below.

“Good!” She called out to me as she looped back around. The moment she’d passed another cloud however, she disappeared completely. I waited for her to come from the other side, but she never emerged. “But not good enough!” She shouted as like a freight train, she slammed into my back and propelled me down onto that same cloud again. “Pay attention.” She snarled as she lowered her glowing horn and tapped it against my forehead.

“Are you literally kidding me with this, Lilac?” The voice of a distraught mare made my world go hazy. With an annoyed huff in my ear, I felt somepony grip around my foreleg and tug it hard. It forced the world to resolve, and I was staring up at a gorgeous unicorn mare in what looked to be a half completed dress. Her pale olive coat had a luxurious sheen to it that matched the luster of her intricately styled light gray mane. “What have I told you about watching that, that… garbage.”

The mare huffed and dragged me off of the plush seat I’d been on. Against my will, I was taken on a trip through some sort of house. Not even an old house like you’d find in the wasteland. Everything looked… new.

My head turned, watching as the black and white image of a movie drifted away around the corner of a short hallway. My muzzle emitted a whimper as even the noises of the movie drifted off, and I was thrown to the floor of a small pink walled bedroom. I tumbled along the cold hardwood floor, sliding to a stop with a sharp cry.

“Do you understand what mommy does, Lilac?” The cold and almost detached tone from the mare was as sharp as a knife.

“You make dresses.” I spoke softly, but it wasn’t my voice. It was an odd feeling, but I think I was experiencing this memory through Lilac. “But I don’t want to make dresses like you!”

“Which is fine honey.” The mare offered a soft smile as she leaned against the doorway and used her magic to force a set of sparkling crystal shoes onto her forehooves. “But Mommy would literally rather die than ever see you in one of those horrible Applewood movies with their gaudy costumes. Do you understand me, Lilac? I don’t want you watching anymore of those silly movies. They’ve filled your head with enough bad ideas as is.”

“Yes, mama.” I nodded as tears welled up in my eyes. The moment the mare walked around the corner, I sobbed. Well, not me, but I sobbed all the same.

It wasn’t my feelings, but I could feel what she felt in that moment. Humiliation, anger, regret. With everything that I was, with everything Lilac was, I knew her mother was wrong. Lilac had been destined for the silver screen, she belonged there, no matter what her mother said.

“Good, you understand.” Lilac spoke up from the doorway where her mother had been. I blinked and watched as her towering alicorn form revealed itself, and the whole room around me dissolved into blank, white clouds. Looking down at my forehooves, I was me again. “For years I lived under the shadow of my mother. I was almost passed off as a joke in Applewood because of her. What could I, the daughter of the great fashion mogul Lily Lace, ever know about acting.” She snarled, bearing the pointed teeth that lined her slender muzzle. “But even then I knew who I was. And yet, it seems you still do not know who you are.”

“I accepted being Bombay! I did exactly what you wanted me to!” I shook my head and flailed my forehooves. “I understood that I wanted to help ponies, that I needed to own up to that and embrace it through Bombay!”

“Yes, it was the next step, but you’ve failed to move on.” With a flash of her horn, she made my old battle saddle appear out of thin air before throwing it at me. “Are you Night Flight!?” I stepped out of the way just in time for another flash of her horn. With it, my jump pack appeared, which again she threw at me. “Are you Bombay?” I was a bit too slow in reacting, and whined as the heavy pack nailed me right in the head. Still, I did my best to recover. “Or are you the Survivor now!?”

With a final flash of her horn, she materialized a whole lot more than just my current saddle. The blasted husk of the Architect, the corpses of Mr. Wizard, Rofia, and Hardcase, as well as a whole Cordite tank floated in her magic. With a scream, she threw them at me.

“Fuck you!” With my own scream, I kicked off from the cloud with alarming force. I only heard the gasp she made before I slammed my hoof right against her fucking muzzle. “Enough games! Just fucking tell me what you need to, or leave me the fuck alone!”

With a flash of magic, the whole world warped, and I found myself sitting, staring at the mirror in our old apartment complex again. I could feel the pain from my accumulated injuries, the suction of my prosthetic on my stump, and I could see the fuzzy overlay from my augmented eye. Sitting in front of me in the mirror wasn’t the me I’d become, rather, it was the me I’d been that day. The green eyes that looked back at me weren’t afraid of what I’d become, rather, I could watch as some sort of realization went through my eyes.

“Woah…” The younger me spoke up, leaning closer to his side of the mirror. He moved his forehoof up to touch the mirror, and I felt compelled to do the same. “What the hell happened to us?”

“Terrible things.” I answered him with a sigh. “Things… don’t go so well for you in a few years.”

“Well, we’re still alive, right?” The younger me smirked as his naive eyes wandered over my current body. “Hey, if you’re me from the future, do we ever get a Coltfriend?”

“Not… exactly?” I couldn’t fight the smile that crept across my muzzle. Even with the absurdity of talking to myself like this, that was the one good thing that had come from all of this. “Let’s just say, you do find one hell of a guy… and one amazing gal.”

“A mare?” The younger me almost looked disgusted. “I gotta say, I didn’t see that coming for us.”

“She’s not a mare, exactly, but… I do love her.” I let out a soft laugh as both of us slumped back against the walls behind us.

“What about friends? Do we finally get some who don’t care about our… you know… flight problem?” Again, the look in his eyes was like a fire had been lit behind them. Celestia, if I’d had that look when I’d been where he is, maybe things wouldn’t have ended up this way.

“Yeah, we’ve got plenty of friends. Family too.” I smirked and nodded to him, making his muzzle part with the young grin I myself hadn’t really worn that much in my life at that point. Still, it was only fair that I told him the other half of it too. “We’ve… lost more than a few of them though.”

“Yeah, but what you’re saying is… we’re finally popular! Nice.” He seemed to take the fact that I’d told him half the friends he’d make were dead, and he took it completely in stride. Not only that, but he’d gotten the wrong impression from it.

“No, you misunderstand. We aren’t popular. The ‘Survivor’? Now she’s as popular as we always wanted… to...” With a huff, I let the words roll off of my tongue. But it was only now that I’d said them that I’d actually understood them.

Lilac was right, I’d settled for being the Survivor over being myself. Everything I’d done may have been the right thing, but I’d done them for the wrong reasons. It was because I’d embraced being the Survivor that I’d started to hide in her. She wasn’t real, she never was, because she’s just... me.

The mirror rippled like a puddle, and the younger me changed. When it calmed again, what was staring back at me, was well… me. Scars, flaws, everything.

“Acting is a skill just like any other.” Lilac’s voice came from beside me, and I watched in the mirror as both she and her reflection stepped into view. “And sometimes we get so lost in what we’re good at, that we forget who we were before we started. That pony becomes just another character we play, one which we tend to shuffle away for as long as we can leave it be.” With another ripple, the Lilac in the mirror faded away, leaving the middle aged unicorn I’d seen on the silver screen. “I know the road has been tough for you, Night Flight. But I could see myself in you, even in the short time you were up in Klondike. What I’m about to say, I’ve never told anypony else, not even Mother. Many years ago, I made the mistake of losing myself in one role after another, pushing out everyone else in my life who my characters wouldn’t appreciate. And because I made that mistake, I lost something more precious than any award, fame, or paycheck could ever replace.”

Again, the mirror changed, but when it resolved, it was like I was back in her memory, looking up at her mother at the door.

“I told myself, never again. Nopony else, no crew pony, no understudy... no one should lose who they are in this world to the point that they forget what’s truly important.” The mirror rippled once more, and in it, I could see both Buck and Hispano. “They don’t need Bombay or the Survivor to be happy, and neither does the wasteland for that fact. The only pony that matters to anyone in your life, is Night Flight.”

Looking up to the intimidating, beautiful, and somber looking alicorn next to me, I knew she was right. With a leap, I wrapped my hooves around her and gave her a tight hug.

“Thank you, Lilac.” I squeezed her tightly, making her stiffen up a bit. I understood that her appearance probably meant she didn’t get many hugs, but I didn’t care.

“The capacity for ponies to be better lies in all of us.” She offered as she slowly relaxed, wrapping a forehoof around my back lightly. “But it’s you, Night Flight, who can bring it out of us and show us the way. Not Bombay, and not the Survivor. Just you.”

Her words sent an electric tingle down my spine, and I couldn’t help but smile up at her.

But as I did, I winced as a bright light stung at my eyes. Lifting my forehoof to block it, incredible pain flared up through my whole body. With a whimper, the buzzing of fluorescent lights above me filled the air, and I looked down at my leg to see a few IV lines trailing out of it.

Oh goddesses, what the fuck...

“Woah woah, easy there…” Buck’s soft voice made my mind do a loop. “How are you feeling, Night?”

“Everything hurts.” I whimpered as I flopped back down onto whatever couch I was laying on. Everything was an understatement. There were pains in parts of me I hadn’t even known existed until today. “I was just… dreaming, I think…” Still, I just needed to distract myself from the pain of being alive, because I was still alive.

“I’m not surprised. You suffered enough trauma that the inhibitor overloaded, and your whole augment had to shut off to keep it from overheating.” Buck’s mechanical paws softly ran down my body, ending up gripping around my forehoof tightly. “But what matters is that you’re okay.”

“What about Hispano?” Reaching up with my other forehoof, I placed it firmly on his warm chest. “Celestia, what about Happy!? Is he alright?” While it was nice to know I wasn’t dead, the fact was that it didn’t matter unless they were alright.

“Hispano is fine. She’s with Cora, talking with the Federation authorities about what happened.” Buck sighed, shifting his paw up to grab my forehoof. “Happy… well, he’s recovering on the Arcturus for now. I… couldn’t do much more for him than Cora already had.”

“But he’s alive, and that’s all that matters, right?” I asked him, getting a soft nod in return.

Well, that was at least one load off my shoulders for now. With a sigh, I figured that I’d finally try and find out where we were. However, the moment I looked toward the door that sat across the room, I spotted an all too familiar Saddle Arabian Prince smiling at us. In his grip, was the massive rifle he’d used to shoot the convoy.

“I told you, you can’t get away from me, Night!” He laughed, hoisting up his rifle to me.

With a light touch on my head from Buck’s paw, the form of Solomon fuzzed and dissolved into static that faded with a lightly fizzing ‘pop’.

“There.” Buck’s soft tone preempted him leaning forward and planting a kiss on my forehead. “Your hallucination inhibitor is working again,” Shifting myself on the couch slightly with a relieved nod, pain erupted from my side. “but... it’s still going to be some time before the pain suppressor can be reactivated fully without immediately overloading again.”

“Got it…” I groaned as I craned my neck and looked at my barrel. New blood stained bandages ran almost the length of me, as did more than a dozen new, but admittedly tiny scars. From the shrapnel alone, enough small mottled bits of missing coat covered my backside that I looked closer to Galina’s spotted cat-half than a pony’s flank. But nothing new was missing, and that was more than I could ask for from a fight like that.

Looking around again, I found that I was in some sort of break room or lounge. A few other couches sat dotted about, and the far wall held cupboards and a small kitchen in it. A billiards table and ping pong table sat not too far away, and the door I’d spotted before was designed like a ship’s bulkhead.

“Wait, where… are we?” I asked as I perked my ears and listened. A familiar hum ran through the walls of this place, one I’d pushed to the back of my mind earlier. “Are we in the crew lounge of on one of the Enclave cloudships?”

“That’s right, we’re on the Albedo.” Buck smiled as he carefully leaned down and scooped me up with minimal pain caused to me. “I have to say that’s some pretty good intuition, Night! The infirmary is currently in use by a few expecting mares...” The pain made me cry out into his fuzzy chest, but the fact that he held me close was almost worth it. After a moment, the pain ebbed down to dull enough levels that I could pull my face from his fur. “Sorry, I’ll try to be gentle, but the Admiral and Laika wanted to speak with you as soon as you were up.”

“I guess we have some explaining to do.” With a sigh, I tried my best to remember that Lilac had proven that I couldn’t hide behind a name anymore. And as such, I forced myself to correct my statement. “Just me, actually. I have some explaining to do.”

“You know, she’s lucky that the ponies of Terrace respect the Survivor enough to have saved her life.” The obnoxiously blue mare in an Enclave navy dress uniform may have held a neutral look across her muzzle, but she sure didn’t mince words. “If you ask me, after murdering two citizens herself, and being an accessory to the murder of the mayor, I think I would have rather let her die.”

“Dah, but even during the war, things were not so simple. And… the people love a hero. It is no surprise they came together to help Night.” Laika huffed as she rapped her paws across the jet black conference table just outside the C.I.C. for the Albedo. “You have reviewed the evidence turned over by their ship, yes? Rofia and Gadget were breaking Federation law.”

“Yes, but that gives her no right to be judge, jury, and executioner.” The blue mare slammed her hoof on the table. “With all due respect, Sky Marshal, we agreed to form the Federation because society needs order, not vigilante justice from a mare whose integrity is being judged by stories heard on the radio!”

“You’re wrong. It’s not just from the radio, Admiral.” Captain Raychaser spoke up as she appeared at the door to the conference room. Her muzzle twisted into a smile as I looked over to her from in Buck’s arms, but the moment she looked at the others, she dropped back to a neutral expression. “As you know, I requested that she try to help improve the lives of those in the Federation in exchange for the location of the Envoy’s boss. While I for one can’t say if he’s as bad as the radio makes him out to be, you have to admit that Night Flight might be a viable ally should he cause trouble. Plus, Night’s actions in compliance with my request have left the Federation better off by exposing the corruption we missed. That should be enough to prove her integrity.”

“Wait, what does she mean Envoy with a bad reputation?” Buck stiffened up as his crystal clear voice came into my head through my augment. “Does she mean…?”

“Yes, Solomon and Rook are here. And we’ll deal with them soon.” I thought back to him, giving a soft nod.

“So you are taking responsibility for her actions then, Captain?” The Admiral growled as she tented her hooves on the table.

“With all due respect, Admiral Blue Cross...” Tail End spoke up as he stepped past Raychaser into the room. “Your mother, Admiral Grand Cross, would have submitted Night Flight for a medal of valor had she exposed such corruption in the Enclave. And in that case, Rofia and Gadget’s fates would have then been the same. No trial, just Dashite protocol or summary execution...”

“Decided by a committee, mind you, not a single mare.” Blue Cross spoke through her teeth as her eyes shifted from Tail, to Raychaser, to Laika. “But I can see I’m the minority here. If it is your wish to pardon the mare, Sky Marshal, then so be it. Simply know that the next time this happens, I expect you to abide by and follow the laws agreed upon by the Federation council.”

“Dah, your point is noted.” Laika nodded to her before giving a sigh and looking up at me. “I am sorry that you were drawn into all this, Night. I am… embarrassed to say that I could not see Rofia’s actions for what they were, and I will attempt to be more vigilant in the future.”

“Yes, now, about that future.” Admiral Blue Cross leaned back in her chair with a frown. “With the deaths of Rofia and Gadget, there are now substantial power gaps in both Terrace and Sanctuary that could end up becoming a much bigger problem for the Federation the longer they are left unfilled.”

“If I may make a suggestion...” I found myself speaking up without really knowing if I should suggest what I was about to. “There’s a ghoul in Sanctuary named Ammon. I know he won’t want a job that puts him in the spotlight, but I think he’s got a good grip on what’s right for their future.”

“Right, the changeling ghoul.” The admiral spoke with a note of disgust to her voice. “Well, he does at least seem competent enough to keep the zombies in check.”

“You… know?” I gasped. How the fuck did she know!?

“Dah, thanks to you.” Laika chuckled before pointing up to her head. “Where do you think we got the evidence against Gadget and Rofia from?”

“Oh, did you not want me to have sent them that footage, Captain?” Eliza’s voice came through my head with a soft pop of static. “After Miss Hispano and her father removed Rofia’s jamming device from the tower, I made a judgement call on giving the Federation your point of view of the incident, as well as the incident with the train.”

“No, that’s… fine.” I grunted. Again, while it was nice to have the ability to see again, one of these days this whole headpiece of mine was going to get me into a bit of trouble it wouldn’t be able to get me out of again…

“And about the position of mayor…” Tail End offered hesitantly, stiffening himself up and preparing himself for what I’m sure would be a leap of faith for him to take. “I suggest you consider Captain Raychaser.” Or… for him to take on behalf of the Captain, I guess.

“Really gunning for that promotion, are we, Tail?” Captain Raychaser smirked as she shot him an incredulous look.

“Look, the citizens of Terrace won’t ever listen to anyone who used to be an Enclave soldier.” Tail End rubbed at his mane nervously, glancing up at the Admiral and Laika. “But, Raychaser wasn’t a soldier, and she knows how to run a tight ship, how to keep a bunch of ‘civvies’ in line and productive. I don’t know if she’s the best choice, but I know that if you stick her down there, she’ll have the place running like clockwork by the time winter rolls around.”

“An interesting choice.” The Admiral nodded to herself, scratching under her muzzle with her forehoof. “Given the Captain’s records, I can’t say I disagree with your recommendation. I could see Captain Raychaser performing the job of Mayor quite effectively.” Turning to Laika, she cocked her eyebrow expectantly. “What do you say, Sky Marshal?”

“Niet. While I myself like Captain Raychaser, these decisions are for the council to make, not me.” With a sigh that made her crane her neck enough to make it let out a soft pop, she relaxed slightly. “Set up an emergency meeting of the Council and propose the candidates for both Sanctuary and Terrace. Let me know their decisions by the end of the day.”

“At once, Sky Marshal.” Admiral Cross nodded before putting her hooves on the table and pushing herself out of her chair. “If that will be all then?” Looking over to the Sky Marshal, she got a small nod from Laika as she relaxed in her chair. “You will hear from me again shortly.” Turning to Raychaser and Tail End, she nodded and pointed toward the door. “If you would, Captain, Lieutenant Commander?”

The three of them filed out of the room, leaving me alone with Buck and Laika. No sooner had the door to the CIC briefing room closed than Laika had hopped up in her chair. With a quick jump, she again hopped up onto the table and walked over towards Buck and I.

“You told me that it wasn’t all bad down here, Night, and you were right.” She sighed as she stood at the center of the table and crossed her paws. “But I’ll be damned if some days don’t try their hardest to make me forget that.”

“Tell me about it.” I sighed hard enough that the pain in my side flared up. I let a whine slip through my muzzle as I shifted in Buck’s grasp.

“I have considered your request for modifying the broadcast antenna.” Laika’s words made me freeze up. “I have decided that so long as you disclose the modifications to us, you may proceed with them. And...” I could see that something was weighing heavily on her right now. “Because you helped the Federation with Rofia, if you need anything else from us, don’t hesitate to ask.”

While that was a generous offer, what more could they offer to us? I’d gotten approval for the tower, I’d learned that my dad was still alive, and…

“I need complete access to the archives on these ships.” I spat out, making Laika freeze up like I just had. “There’s a code we need deciphered, and the answer might be in there.”

“A code?” Laika scrunched up her muzzle before looking between Buck and I. “It is funny you should ask. The Envoy has requested we help them with a code as well, and I suspect it is the same one.”

“It is.” I nodded to her. “However, while I know your search for them is taking longer than expected, once the broadcast modification is done, I might have a way to speed it up by a good bit.”

“Mmmm, you hear that? Don’t touch that dial, because what you are hearing is not a test. That’s right, this is DJ PowerColt, bringing you the sweet sweet sounds of the tunes that will keep you dancing all night long, wastelanders. Thanks to some help from a little mare known as the Survivor, Factory Radio is now gracing the airwaves all the way from Klondike to Vanderhoof. So relax and get those hooves kicking, because Factory radio is manufacturing new beats and tunes daily! And to those cool cats specifically in the newly formed Spectrum Federation, this next song goes out to all of you. Keep on surviving, wastelanders! And most of all, keep on dancing.”

While it was going to still be awhile before I could dance again, it was good to hear the DJ’s voice over the airwaves. Ram tapped her hoof to the beat of the song that started up as she worked at the terminal to the Archive. While I’m glad she was enjoying herself as she prepped things, what wasn’t exactly nice to hear, was Ping’s apprehension to give us a bit of a hoof here.

“As I explained, Night, what you are asking for is the equivalent of using a cloudship sized electromagnet to search for a needle in a haystack.” His tone was relaxed, but for some reason I got the impression that he wasn’t exactly happy I’d reached out when I did. “It’s not that, Night. While I know that you and the others ‘miss me’, it is simply not a task you require my assistance with.”

“Then what do you suggest we do?” I groaned and looked up to Buck, who seemed equally at a loss as he held me cradled in one of his mechanical arms.

“What?” Ram shook her head and turned around to us.

“They’re not talking to you.” Hispano cooed as she pointed up to the side of her head. “They’re talking in here.”

“The Factory microprocessor inside Buck’s augments should have plenty of spare computational power to solve your simple search problem.” Ping remarked as if it should have been common knowledge.

“Yeah, that’s great Ping, but I can’t exactly connect like you can.” Buck laughed and held his free paw up toward the machine. “Even if I could, I wouldn’t have the slightest idea of where to start!”

“Why would you not simply use the dataspike we installed in your right forepaw and search for the keyterm? It was designed to be compatible with all Enclave cloud computer mainframes should this sort of occasion arise.” Again, Ping said that as if it should have been something we knew. And almost as those words had entered Buck and I’s heads, part of Buck’s free forepaw hinged down, and an incredibly sharp looking spike extended outwards.

“Oh, you’ve got a dataspike!” Ram gasped as she blinked at the large chrome apparatus. “That’s... terrifying, but okay! Not going to look a gift pony in the face...” Spinning herself back to the console, she hammered in a few codes and a hatch on the end of the large machine lifted up. “Just… stick it into the input slot and give it a clockwise twist to lock it.”

“Dah.” Laika nodded as she walked closer to Buck’s paw, keenly inspecting the metal spike. “Your body never stops amazing me, Doctor Buck.” While a normal pony might have felt a twinge of jealousy at that, I couldn’t do anything but agree with her. Plus, Buck was amazing in more ways that I think she’d ever know…

Unless of course that ‘examination’ she gave earlier ended up much like the time Buck spent with Holly...

Pushing that to the back of my mind, I tried to focus on the here and now. With careful steps, Buck walked around to where the panel had opened up. The newly exposed port was a simple, flat plate with a single hole for the spike. Not sure what I’d really expected, but at least something more ‘tech’ looking than that. Slowly, Buck brought his paw around and lined it up with the hole.

“Is he always this slow in the bedroom?” Hispano’s voice in my ear made me jump, which made my insides feel like it was on fire again. I let out a yelp as I pushed myself further into Buck’s fluff. Goddess damnit, Hispano… “Oh shit, Dum Dum! I didn’t mean to startle you.” While her gasp didn’t do anything to help with the pain, at the very least it reminded me that she hadn’t meant to hurt me.

With a thick snap of electricity, Buck plunged the spike into the hole and twisted his paw. There was a heavy thump from inside the machine as whatever physical mechanism locked the spike in there. My vision flickered, and a whole lot of code I couldn’t understand ran down in front of me.

“Hey, Night? You there, buddy?” Happy groaned out into my head.

“He said that it was imperative that he speak with you.” Eliza chimed in before I could answer. “I will relay your voice to the infirmary, Captain.”

“Yeah, Happy, I’m here.” I spoke up.

“I need to tell you, Solomon… is here.” He let out a rough grunt that reminded me all too much of the pain currently coursing through my own body.

“I know, we found out as well. Trust me, we’ll get to dealing with him soon enough.” I spoke up, giving a look to Hispano that she seemed to understand. “However, we’re trying to see if we can figure out the code from the book first.”

“Alright, that’s cool. Sorry I’m not there right now.” Happy forced out a laugh through the pain. “And sorry I went after that cat chick alone. But when I learned she was workin’ with Solomon, I…”

“It’s okay, Happy. I’m just glad you’re alive...” I offered to him, pausing as the scrolling code flickered away from my vision. Instead, down at the bottom of my vision, a new message flashed up.

[Search Complete: One partial match recorded for B-1919+21 V42]

“Woah, whatever you did sure got that done quick!” Ram laughed from around the corner. “But… that’s weird. It’s a redacted file from within the Ministry of Awesome, but... it’s not even a military file. It’s civilian sector.”

“Open it.” Laika barked as she walked up next to Ram. With a flutter of her wings, even Hispano moved to see what was on the screen. Thankfully for Buck and I, the file popped up in our vision as Ram brought it up.

And yet, I still had no idea what I was looking at here…

“Volume forty two of the Red Bluff Bureau of Land Management.” Hispano pushed her tongue out of her beak as she screwed up her face. “It sure sounds dull enough to me to hide a clue in.”

“What did you find?” Happy asked with more than a note of hope in his voice. More than anything, after today and out of all of us, he needed a win.

“B-1919 is a lot of land to the south of the city of Tall Tale,” Ping’s voice was a surprise to hear again, but not an unwelcome one. “Purchased approximately six months after construction on the Ark began, it, along with twenty one additional adjacent lots, were awarded to Burro Industries after a mandatory two week waiting period.”

“So that’s it then. That’s where the Ark is.” I never thought I’d say it, but… I think we’d actually beaten Solomon!

“It is unlikely.” Ping’s voice was a harsh reality check for me. Because of course it wasn’t going to be that easy. "Navigational coordinates show that while the lot is within a respectable proximity of the western coastline, there are no water features on the terrain, or any building registered of sufficient size to house something the recorded size of the Ark."

“Okay, so maybe it isn’t there.” Buck let out a sigh filled with enough disappointment for the two of us. “Something tells me that Delilah’s family would never have let it be just that simple. It's just the next piece of the puzzle. That's all.”

“Yeah.” Happy’s disappointment was just as pronounced as ours. “But hey, Buck’s right. It’s another step in the right direction.”

“What happened to the property?” Hispano called over to us. While she wasn’t privy to most of our conversation, she was far too smart to have not figured this all out by sucking it up and quickly reading through the document. “If there’s no big building there, then what did Burro Industries do with the land?”

“Records show that the land deeds were left in a public records vault in Vanderhoof, and that the land remained unused through the end of the war.” Ping’s voice audibly emit through Buck’s jaw. “In fact, there are zero logged proposals by Burro Industries to develop the land in any capacity.” Wait, Delilah had said something about Vanderhoof a while back I think, about how we’d know more once we were there. Maybe it’s the next step?

“What about anything out of place at the same time we bought it?” Happy’s voice stuck me back into the conversation, but his hesitation told me that he had a hunch about something. “Ma’ once said that misdirection was business one-o-one, and she always had a funny feeling about the deeds that were left up in Vanderhoof, so maybe there’s a clue in something else around there.”

More code scrolled down the screen, making Ram huff out a frustrated grunt.

“What the fuck, I just lost control of the system!” She crossed her hooves and shot a glare over to us. “Your ‘friend’ better not break anything while he’s in there…”

“One moment.” Ping responded through Buck. “Records show another file redacted by the Ministry of Awesome for an incident around the same time. A ship carrying two hundred advanced mining ponytrons was reportedly lost at sea near the purchased plots during their transport between the Port of Applewood and Vanhoover. However, there is no record of a weather event at the time capable of sinking a vessel that size, so the M.O.A. ruled it an act of zebra sabotage.”

“Ships don’t just sink or disappear without anyone noticing.” Laika growled as she tapped her paw on the floor and tried to sort this out.

“They do when it comes to the Ark! It is there then!” Happy let out a laugh that swiftly turned to a pained groan.

“Again, improbable.” Ping flatly stated back at him.

“No, listen, we encased one ship in a block of ice to protect this code in the first place. What’s another ship sunk to hide if it helps keep the secret?” Happy spat out. “It’s there, I know it is. We just… have to figure out where.”

“What about geological surveys?” Hispano cooed out as it looked like a bulb went off behind her eyes. “The records here show it’s only a few kilometers off the coast, and the ship was carrying mining bots, right? Are there any geological records or surveys of the area from either the Equestrian government or Burro Industries? Maybe that’s something related to the next clue at least?”

“Inconclusive.” Ping replied quicker than I’d expected. “Factory copies of Burro Industry records show that geological surveys of the lots were never completed due to the accidental contamination of the local water table during testing…” Ping paused in a way that felt like he had to take a moment to look over the information again. “It... seems that the local groundwater was contaminated by an influx of saltwater. It is not a forgone conclusion to assume that there may be a sizable aquifer underneath the purchased Burro Industry land.”

“Dig a big enough hole on the coast, flood it, sail her inside, and seal her in!” I laughed as wide smiles parted all of our muzzles, and quickly found myself groaning as my side once more reminded me that I’d been stabbed earlier today.

“Exactly, no pony would even know there was a ship there!” Happy’s laugh likewise turned to a groan. “Fuck, Night, we… we found it!”

“This theory has merit, and carries a higher probability of being correct than any other current proposed solution.” Even though Ping was just a voice in my head at the moment, I could almost picture the beaming smile he too wore in the factory right now. “I would say that yes, this is indeed the correct location of the Ark.”

While I was confident that we’d indeed found it, something still didn’t fit right. Why did Delilah mention that we’d find something in Vanderhoof? Maybe she hadn’t expected we’d be able to put the pieces together here, but… the fact she’d tried to get Mr. Wizard’s eggheads to solve the puzzle told me that maybe there was more to this. Some part of the puzzle was still missing, and I’m betting we’d find it in that public records vault in Vanderhoof.

A slow clapping came from the bulkhead door, echoing oddly in the large room. Being cradled in Buck’s arm, I couldn’t turn myself to see who it was. But, from the way his mechanical eye shifted to a glowing red color as he looked with a deep growl, I had a feeling I knew who’d finally graced us with his presence.

“Bravo, simply marvelous work.” Solomon’s haughty voice was just as I remembered it. It was so on point that even though it hurt, I raised my hoof up to give a few taps at my metal headplate to make sure this wasn’t my inhibitor acting up again. “And here if you all would have simply worked with me from the beginning, then we could have avoided all that unpleasantness on the highway.”

“We should kill him right now.” Buck snarled, finally shifting enough that I could get my eyes on the bastard.

Wearing his fancy outfit like the last time I’d seen him, I was discouraged to see that he didn’t seem to have a mark on his muzzle from where I’d decked him. While he didn’t even turn his head to look at me, Rook wasn’t nearly as reserved as his master. The narrow glare he shot at me was joined with the lightest of smirks as he stood tall next to Solomon.

“I simply came to offer my condolences on the loss of your mayor, Sky Marshal. Nothing more.” With as much mirth as ever, his slender muzzle curled into a smile as he finally glanced our way. “I…” He paused when my eyes met his, and his muzzle shrank down to a restrained frown. “don’t appreciate being threatened when I have broken no laws, and have simply sought to wrap up our business, Sky Marshal.”

“I know neither side will agree with the other, but I am to be telling you...” Laika barked sharply as she shouted at all of us in the room. “There is to be no violence in the Federation. You may continue your fight elsewhere, but not in this city.” Oh, if it had been anyone but Laika asking for that, I’d have fucking taken whatever punishment they wanted to give, just to finally put him down. “Ponyal!?”

“Yes, Sky Marshal.” Hispano answered for us, lowering Suiza from her talons. Shit she’d been fast in readying her sister. Still, it hadn’t been fast enough.

“It is an agreeable notion.” Rook answered for Solomon with his normal neutral expression falling across his mustached muzzle. “However, with our business concluded, we will be leaving the Federation in short order. We thank you for your hospitality, Sky Marshal.”

“You’re just going to let him walk out of there!?” Happy practically screamed into Buck and I’s head. “Tell me that’s not what you’re doing, Night!”

“Our hooves are tied, Happy. I’m sorry.” I grumbled back to him, pulling Solomon’s attention to me. I could feel my soul twisting as his stupid fucking smile split his muzzle again.

“Oh, I’m so glad we ran into each other again. I never did get to thank you for the first bit of help you offered us.” Solomon carefully reached into his coat’s pocket, pulling out the familiar dangling silver dog tags that only made me want to run over there and smash his muzzle in even more. With a jingle, he let out a small laugh before slipping them back into his pocket. “Perhaps once we have the Ark, I’ll feel inclined to show you my gratitude by returning your trinket to you. Until then, do take care of yourself, Night Flight. It’s awfully dangerous on the roads ahead.” With a light wave of his hoof, he and Rook turned themselves around and headed for the bulkhead again. “Ta-ta!”

“You should have fucking killed him. You promised me, Night! You...” Happy growled into my ear before a burst of static cut him off.

“I apologize, Captain, but I think it would be best if Happy continues to rest now.” Eliza’s voice held an odd, almost remorse-like quality compared to it’s normal monotone sound. “I will return to overseeing ship repairs, and will be ready to respond if you require anything else from me.”

“Vysokomernyy arabskiy ublyudok!” Laika shouted at nopony in particular, kicking her paw on the floor as she growled. The translation in my vision was a bit slow, but eventually put the words ‘arrogant arabian bastard’ up for me.

“Nesomnenno.” Hispano nodded as she slung Suiza back around her again. “I know you don’t want violence, but do you know what that fucker did to us?”

“Dah.” Laika nodded as she looked at Buck with a look that I knew all too well. “I’m sorry, but I have been lenient enough with you all. I will not stop you if you wish violence upon them, however, I cannot protect you from the consequences this time.”

“That’s… fair.” I sighed and hung my head across Buck’s forearm. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for us, Laika.”

“No, thank you for reminding me that this wasteland isn’t the same as the home I left.” Laika smiled as she brought a paw around behind her neck and rubbed at it. “Guess I still have some adjusting to do after all.”

“Well, if there’s anything else you need from us…” I groaned as I shifted myself back into a more comfortable position in Buck’s arm. The sharp pains that shot through me were worth it though as I pressed myself back against his warm fuzzy chest. “Then... ask somepony else. I’m ready for another day off.”

“Dah, understandable!” Laika offered a short laugh. “But I hope you will come see me again before you leave. It may not be the same formula we used from my time in the program, but I owe you a drink of some real cosmodrome quality vodka.”

“So, is it true then? Did you used to drink rocket fuel back in the war?” Buck snorted as his jagged muzzle split into a grin. With a sharp twist, he pulled the metal spike out of the computer and let it slip back inside his paw. “Because I'd always thought those notes were a joke.”

“Niet! No joke!” Laika snorted as Buck slowly walked us over to her. “The hypergolics they started to use may have gotten me into space, but fuck if it led to some boring nights in the flight center. That vodka for the earlier engines was the cleanest burning fuel we ever had, in both taking us up, and in going down.”

“Seems pretty irresponsible if you ask me.” Hispano cooed as she gave a few flaps, coming down softly on Buck’s other outstretched paw. Carefully, he brought her close as well and let her sit in his arm next to me.

“Let me ask you,” Laika replied with a light giggle, “if you knowingly volunteered to be strapped to an experimental space rocket, would you want to be sober?”

“Only when working on it.” Hispano rolled her eyes with a huff.

“Dah! Then you understand!” Laika clapped her paws together. “From what Buck tells me of your intellect, then perhaps one day you would consider becoming the first griffon to go to space?”

“Nah, my dad would rather kill me than let me strap myself to a giant controlled explosion. He’s already worried enough when I’m on the inside of any vehicle.” With a dismissive wave of her talon, Hispano let out a yawn. “Besides, all I really want right now is a fucking nap.”

“Well, if you ever change your mind, we will still be here!” Laika called out to us as Buck maneuvered us out of the core systems room and back into the halls of the Raptor.

“Alright you two,” I sighed and nuzzled myself against both Buck and Hispano. “It’s been a long day. Let’s go home.”

Author's Note

As always, a huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for helping to get things in order for release. Always a major help to have a second pair of eyes I can trust!

Of course, a big thanks to Kkat for getting this whole Fallout: Equestria party started as well!

Chapter 85 - Misery Loves Company

If it's worth fighting for, it's worth fighting dirty.

[7:53AM]

I almost didn’t believe the clock. I know that Buck had fixed the inhibitor in my head, but… after yesterday’s mindtrip with Lilac Lace, it was weird to again be back to just nothing going on in my head. No dreams, no voices. Just... silence.

Shifting about on the still lightly snoring, and incredibly comfortable form of Buck, I peeked around the room. Hispano had fallen asleep before we’d even gotten back, so it didn’t exactly come as a surprise to me that she wasn’t even here. How she survives with so little sleep compared to what a pegasus needs, I’ll never know.

“Goodmorning, Captain.” Eliza’s softer than normal voice chimed inside my head as her smiling mare appeared in the lower right corner of my vision. “I am pleased to report that all critical core ship systems have been successfully repaired.” Wow, that was quite fast. “Repairs have been proceeding along faster than expected thanks to Miss Tofu’s help, even in her recovering condition. We should have the cloud camouflage systems repaired and running before noon, and the secondary sensor suite repairs should be completed by four PM this afternoon.”

“That’s good news.” I kept my voice at a whisper so I wouldn’t wake Buck up. Slowly I pushed myself off of him, sliding down to the floor relatively easily. However, the moment I put pressure on my rear hoof, I was reminded of the fact that everything inside me still hurt, and let out a whimper that was louder than I’d wanted it to be.

“Hmm, Night?” Buck groaned as he shifted slowly on top of the small bed.

“I’m fine, just waking up. Go back to bed, Buck.” Wrapping my forehoof around my barrel, the pressure against where I’d been stabbed through didn’t help like it had with my eye socket all those times. Buck nodded without even opening his eyes, simply laying back down and instantly falling back asleep. Guess I hadn’t been the only one who needed a good rest. But on that... “Eliza, where’s Hispano right now?”

“She left the Arcturus approximately twenty three minutes ago, and is currently aboard the Albedo. She said she was going to look for a file that was not available in the ones provided by the Factory.” Eliza’s smiling mare flipped over to the one with the frown. “However, if you wish to see her, I must first suggest you go and visit Happy in the infirmary. He wishes to speak with you now that you are awake.”

Ugh, the last thing I wanted right after waking up was to be yelled at by Happy this morning. I get that he was upset. He has every right to be pissed at me after everything we’ve been through. And even though he was right that we should have just killed Solomon then and there, it’s not like we won’t get another chance sooner than later.

“Alright, I’ll go see him before heading out after Hispano.” I told that to myself more than to Eliza. It was going to suck, but Happy deserved to say what he needed to just as much as any of us did. “Thanks, Eliza.”

“I’m here to help, Captain.” Her mare flipped back to the smiling one once more before popping off of my vision altogether.

Alright, best to get this over with…

Even before I got to the infirmary, the angry mutterings from Happy that drifted out the door gave me a hint at what to expect. Taking a moment to ready myself, I knew that this wasn’t going to be pleasant, but I needed to do it. Happy’s a friend, and because of that, he deserves a fair chance to speak his mind.

Stepping around the corner, I found Happy sitting with his hooves dangling over the side of the infirmary bed. The stump where his right hoof used to sit wasn’t his focus, and in fact, had several sturdy looking sewing pins pricked through the bandages that wrapped around it. With an almost feverish look etched across his face, he used his one remaining forehoof to sew the hide of the Snow Dog gauntlet that Rofia had used over the left leg of his leather jacket.

With a shift of his hoof, he pressed the thick needle down. It refused to sink through, straining against the thick skin. All at once, the needle shifted and dragged across the skin before flipping out of his grasp and bouncing its way across the floor. The rage filled scream he gave as he angrily threw his ‘project’ across the room ended when his burning gaze caught a glimpse of me at the door.

“What the fuck are you looking at!” He seethed and brought his forehoof across himself, cradling his bandaged stump. “I don’t even want to talk to you right now.”

“Well Eliza said you did, so here I am.” I let out a deep sigh and propped myself against the door frame.

“Well yeah,” Happy grumbled as he looked down at his scattered project. “just because I have to doesn’t mean I want to.”

“Look, I know what you’re going through, Happy.” Shifting myself, I sat down and wiggled my prosthetic at him. “When I lost my leg…”

“Save it.” Happy huffed as his muzzle curled into a smile with a sigh. “You think this is why I’m angry, Night?” Wiggling his short stump, he fought back the pain that washed across his face. “This was on me, I can accept that.” Turning his glare back to me again, his smile died with a twitch of his muzzle. “But you fucking promised me, Night. You said you’d kill him, that no fucking matter what, you’d make sure he paid for what he did!”

“Seriously, that’s why you’re pissed!?” I came down here knowing he’d be angry, but come on. “You know I couldn’t do anything against Solomon.” Spinning and fighting back the pain that flowed through my body, I pointed to the long and jagged pink scar that ran along both my sides now. “For fucks sake, I was run through yesterday!”

“Bullshit you couldn’t! You chose to do nothing, Night.” Happy slammed his forehoof against the infirmary bed, and a metal squelch met my ears as miraculously, the centimeter thick slab bent slightly. “You could have had Buck do it, or Hispano. You had one job, one promise to keep, Night.”

“And if I’d done that job and kept that promise, then we’d all be locked up in a Federation Cell, right now.” Pushing myself to my hooves, I sharply jabbed at my own chest. “You’re right, I have a job to do, the one Delilah left for me. And I can’t find the Ark if we’re stuck here.”

“So what?” Happy’s muzzle twisted into some sort of mash between a perverse smile and profound confusion. “If Solomon is dead, then there’s no rush. The Ark isn’t going anywhere, and so long as he never finds it, then it doesn’t matter what happens to us.”

“I feel like you’re probably the only one who feels that way, Happy.” Seriously, for Celestia’s sake, Solomon deserved to die, but it isn’t worth it to break all the rules. He had to know that. Then again... “You would know how fucking stupid that sounds if you weren’t being such a stubborn ass!”

“It doesn’t matter what you feel like, Night.” Again, Happy’s muzzle split with a ridiculously giddy smile. “You will do what I tell you to.”

“Oh, is that so?” Seriously, he was going to try this shit on me? Me!?

“Don’t forget, with Ma’ gone, I’m the one fucking financing this.” Jabbing at his chest like I had, he winced with each sharp poke. “I’m the one who owns the Ark, and that means I’m the one who you listen to when I say you fucking kill that fucker on sight!”

“Did you take a hit to the head in that fight with Rofia, Happy?” I crossed my forehooves, fighting back the ebbing pain that it caused to crop up in my sides. “I went through this same shit with your mom. It doesn’t matter if you’re in charge if you’re just going to lose sight of what’s best for everyone. Nothing good comes from that.”

“Yeah? And how does that make you any better than me?” His tone hollowed as he turned himself away from me like a foal throwing a fucking tantrum. “You’ve been ‘in charge’ this whole time, and it’s been nothing but one disaster after another.”

“I did what I needed to in order to keep us alive.” Okay, now I fully understood where Delilah’s rage came from.

“Right, because you’re the great ‘Survivor’ hero. What a fucking joke of a persona.” He rolled his eyes as I had to bite my tongue not to fucking remind him of how he’d spent his life imitating ‘The King’ until not even two weeks ago.

“You may not like it, Happy, but I won’t sit here and have you going off half cocked because you’re not willing to do things the right way.” Shaking my head, I couldn’t even dredge up the will to try to glare at him like Delilah would have. “You’re right that things have been a disaster, so I won’t go running out blindly after Solomon.”

“Then sit back like a coward.” Happy smirked and tipped his muzzle up with a haughty expression. “I’ll kill that bastard myself if I have…” He pushed himself off the table, fully intending to come down strong on all four hooves, but that’s not at all what happened. Instead, he immediately crumpled to the floor, landing on his stump hard and letting out a full bodied scream before writhing in pain.

“Well, you come tell me how that’s worked out for you once he’s dead.” My words pulled a snarling string of insults from the mule, but I was so far from caring about anything he said that I simply turned and trotted back through the hall.

Stepping through the bulkhead though, the whole mess of a situation sank into my head, and I felt my forelegs weaken. Fuck, Happy didn’t deserve this. He deserved better from all of us, but… he just wasn’t thinking straight. This same anger and rage is what had driven me right over that cliffside after Galina, and while I can only see how stupid it was in hindsight, hopefully Happy will be able to see that this is for his own good.

My ears perked as Happy’s pained insults turned into soft sobs. I sat down as it physically hurt to hear him like this. Maybe… maybe I could go back, try to convince him…

“Shit, are you alright!?” Tofu’s surprised voice came from behind me, and I spun around to see her dip into the Infirmary.

“Get your fucking magic off of me!” Happy roared, forcing Tofu to backpedal right back out through the door. “I don’t need your fucking help!”

“I was just… okay fine.” Tofu snorted and shot him a sharp glare. “Literally just trying to help.”

“You can help by leaving me alone!” Happy screamed as Tofu’s horn lit up and sharply slammed the infirmary door shut.

No, there was no helping Happy for now. While I wanted to do what I could to make this easier on him, what he needed more than anything, was time. That’s all I’d needed for every disaster in my life, and I had to trust that he’d come out the other end of all this a better mule.

“Oh hey, Captain.” Tofu sighed as she trotted away from the Infirmary.

“Hey, Tofu. How are you doing?” I looked over her, finding that other than a fair few purple welts under her still patchy coat, she didn’t look all that bad for soaking up nearly eight hundred rads in ten minutes time.

“Oh, I found that the rad drugs are just about as bad as my airsickness, so I’m holding up surprisingly alright so long as I don’t stray too far from the bathroom! Though, can I comment on something, and then ask you a question about, well, him?” Her innate cheerfulness was a nice distraction from the bad start to the morning. Her smirk faltered as she nodded back to the shut door behind her. “I know he’s literally being a bit of a bitch right now, but he’s handling it about as well as the Rangers at Galloway did when they’ve lost a limb or two. I’ve seen his type before, and they get through it alright eventually.”

“Huh, really?” I mean, while she didn’t realize his anger stemmed from somewhere else entirely, her words did put an odd thought into my head. “I didn’t really see any Rangers at Galloway who were missing limbs, though you make it sound like it was pretty common.”

“Well, for most Rangers within the walls it wasn’t common.” She shrugged and pointed at my own prosthetic leg. “Accidents happened sometimes though. Maybe once a year somepony would need a leg removed, and we’d normally slap together something like your leg there for them to get around on. However, Rangers who have the training for Power Armor are assets who can’t afford to hobble around. So we would either check to see if we’ve recently recovered any advanced prosthetics, or built them with the idea that they’d be able to use them in their armor.” Waving her forehoof, she shook her head. “But what I’m asking, is that I’d like permission to try to build him a leg like the ones we had back at base.”

“Well…” That… was an odd question. On one hoof, having Happy able to walk and fight again would be nice. But then on the other hoof, he’d be able to walk and fight again, which meant he could go running off after Solomon like he wanted to. “What exactly would it take, and how long?”

“I don’t really know?” She cringed at my question and offered a fairly hesitant shrug. “Look, I’m just going to lay it out straight for you, Captain. I’ve only watched some of the scribes put them together, and I’ve never seen them implant the bits for the more advanced ones into the ponies who need them. However, I literally think it wouldn’t be that hard for me to build, and for the Doc to surgically install. All I would need is the parts, which I could probably find down in the Terrace markets.”

Okay, well, that didn’t really answer my question, but in the end, I guess it didn’t really matter.

“Okay, if you can source the parts, and so long as it doesn’t interfere with the timetable for our repairs, then go for it.” My words brought a spark out from behind her eyes, one that resonated through her horn all the way to the tip. “But,” my words killed the spark in her horn, and made her blink blankly at me. “I don’t want you to finish it, even if you can build it in an hour, got it?”

“What? Why?” She force out a nervous laugh as she looked around like she wanted somepony to tell her I was crazy.

“Happy needs time to come to terms with things.” I said flatly, making Tofu blink again as I think that sunk in a bit. Reaching my hoof up, I planted it onto her shoulder with a smirk. “You want to give him his mobility and freedom back, and that’s great. But you want to give him his mobility and freedom back.” I nodded to the infirmary, and I could feel as she tensed up.

“Yeah, I get you. Maybe I’ll… take my time with it.” She nodded, speaking in almost a whisper to herself.

“Good.” I gave her a pat on the shoulder before spinning around and heading for the weapons bay. “I’m going out in the Remora to go find Hispano before she stirs up some trouble without me.” Pausing midstep, an odd thought hit me. Solomon had said things would be dangerous on the road, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t pull something here. “Actually, Tofu,” Spinning around, I watched as she again blinked at me in confusion. “When you go down to the market, take Buck with you. If Solomon has any ‘surprises’ set up for us, Buck will keep you safe, understand?”

“Yes, Captain.” Again she nodded, flashing up a nervous smile.

Right. Now, if only Solomon would actually do something unexpected, and leave us be for the rest of our time in the Federation...

Trotting up into the enormous room that held the Legacy server mainframe, I was surprised to see Ram Turbine sitting pretty much shoulder to shoulder with Hispano at the lone terminal on the side of the massive machine. The two were intently reading the display above them, chatting to each other about the blueprints of what looked like something between an odd oversized rocket ship and a jet powered cloudcraft. Oddly, it seemed to have been designed as a carrier of some sort, meant to launch missiles from itself mid-flight, which alone was confusing.

“Hey you two!” I called out, making both of them frizz out their wings in panic for a moment. “What are we looking at today?”

“Well, ever since your buddy overrode our controls, it seems that he may have inadvertently overrode the clearance on some highly classified files in the server.” Ram smirked as she pointed up at the rocket-plane-thing. “Most of them happen to be things like this Supersonic Low Altitude Missile project codenamed ‘Pluto’. You know, prototype doomsday machines that were either rejected or never taken past the initial testing stages.”

“So what is this thing?” I asked, taking a seat a little behind them. “I’ve never seen anything like it flying with the Enclave, so I’m guessing they never built any?”

“You wouldn’t want to have seen one of these fly, Dum Dum.” Hispano chuckled before pointing up at the schematics to what seemed to be a spark reactor that had been designed without any shielding around it. “This thing flies on that. And before you ask, yeah, that would be as bad as it sounds.”

“Looking at the design, it’s not all that different from some of the late war Vertibucks they were building. Though, at least those didn’t run on their reactor exhaust.” Ram picked up where Hispano left off when pointing to the board. “The air intake on this was designed to run through a standard compression turbine that utilized the exhaust heat the unshielded reactor produced. It’s a marvel of arcane engineering that would’ve left a truly terrifying trail of irradiated land under wherever it flew. Even worse, there’s links to files for even bigger, more destructive versions of it that would probably be capable of indefinite flight, full automation, and internal megaspell production.”

Was it even possible to fly on just the power of a spark reactor’s heat like that? I guess it could be if it were made light enough, but that’s probably why it’s unshielded. This was something my dad probably would have been super interested in, and also super appalled at.

“Oh, Dum Dum!” Hispano gasped before spinning around. “Look what I found again!” With a sharp stroke of the terminal keys, the display shifted over to the familiar blueprints of the ‘HMS Star Blazer’ megaspell powered flying battleship plans we’d found up in the Depot.

“Ugh, I thought I told you that flying brick was ugly as fuck.” Ram groaned and spun around, tapping her hooves on the controls again. “Besides, there were better projects that were actually built. Like this honking hunk of gun!”

What displayed on the screen now was an absolutely enormous old war artillery cannon. Like, a cannon large enough it wouldn’t fit in this already oversized room. Next to it, there was a diagram for an oversized shell that was marked as being megaspell compatible, and I dreaded the thought of some of those shells actually existing in the Depot up at Destruction Bay. More worrying, was an attached note section to the blueprint, reading that it apparently had been ordered built for testing at some place called the Northern Equestrian Artillery Megaspell Outpost.

“I mean, she wasn’t what most ponies would call pretty, but she sure must have been something before she went up.” Ram practically had stars in her eyes as she sighed and stared at the blueprints for the oversized artillery piece.

“Wait, ‘went up’?” I didn’t need clarification, but I was curious enough that I now wanted it.

“Well, yeah, it may have been destroyed.” Ram shrugged to me before forcing a frown to smother her smile. “The Enclave said the whole installation exploded around the time of the Pripytrot Incident about a decade ago, but… the files don’t go into much detail about it past there was a megaspell explosion at the artillery outpost. You want my guess? It says here it used some sort of proprietary experimental propellant. So either the age of that propellant, or maybe improper maintenance of the gun itself over two centuries, led it to fail when some poor sap tried to actually fire the damn thing.”

“Yeah, yeah, ancient history is neat and all. But what about… this!” Hispano turned and hammered at the keys again. While the screen shifted to some sort of large tower with a storm whirling around the top of it, I’d begun to lose interest in the ever increasing one-upping between the two.

“Guys, guys!” I shouted through the nervous giggle that crept out of my muzzle. “I get it, there’s a whole lot of ridiculous death machines Equestria built. My question was…” Pausing, I looked at Hispano, finding her look away for a moment as she brought a talon up around her side nervously. “What did you come here looking for, Hispano?”

“I was looking… for this.” With a sigh, she turned around and carefully typed on the keyboard.

After a moment, the screen once again changed, now displaying some sort of chemical compound. It was… different to the structure I’d seen every time I’d been shown something like this. While most chemical bonds were displayed as straight lines connecting certain elements and such, this one had curved lines, and some that outright looped around or even were tied in bow-like knots. While that didn’t make sense to me at all, what made it even more confusing, was the name “Advanced Blu Flu.”

“VEEV-115.” Hispano spoke softly. “That’s what was written on the canisters that ended up killing my mom.” She forced out a sad laugh as she looked up at me. “I’d thought, maybe if I read up about it I could see if there had been any way to save her, you know? And if we could have saved her, maybe there’s still a way we can keep others from suffering the way she did.”

“I… understand, Hispano.” I nodded to her, pushing myself to my hooves and walking up to her. She whimpered as she pushed herself to her paws and all but threw herself against me in a tight hug. “You know, you’re right, Hispano. Maybe some good can come from reading up about it. If we can save others, then have an obligation to do what we can for them.” Maybe Eliza could use that backdoor of hers one more time.

“Goddess, Dum Dum.” With a sad chuckle, she squeezed me tighter. “You really are a sucker for helping out every sad sack out there, even if it was my idea this time.”

“Hey, Captain.” The smiling mare that popped up into my vision was too cheery for the topic at hoof, but I couldn’t blame her for using it. “Would you like me to transfer those files to the Arcturus quickly before work on repairing the secondary sensor systems begins?”

“That would be great, Eliza.” I nodded as Hispano pulled her face away far enough so that I could offer her a small nod and a smile. “For now, why don’t we forget about all the troubles the war left us with, and pick up where we left off yesterday?”

I realized that I sounded exactly like every pony I’d hated, with their voices full of pity just trying to save me the pain and embarrassment I was already enduring. But, I could understand why they did it now. Sometimes you just need to offer something, anything for someone else to grab onto to keep them from sinking further into themselves.

“That sounds nice.” Hispano nodded as she pushed herself back against me and squeezed again.

“Well, I’ll be here or on the flight deck if you need to find me again.” Ram offered her own smile that did it’s best to fight the somber mood that had descended on us, but I was appreciative of the attempt all the same.

“Yeah. And thanks for all your help, Ram.” I nodded to her, pausing as she threw up a stiff salute.

“No problem at all, Ma’am.” Now her muzzle split with a genuine smile. “The Survivor’s done more to salvage the lives of Enclave Pegasi than anypony else I know of since the clouds came down. We all owe you a debt of gratitude.”

I fought back a cringe as she mentioned the Survivor like she was a completely different pony than me. Then again, isn’t that exactly what Lilac had told me? It was time for me to start setting things straight.

“No, the Survivor is a myth. She’s just me.” I smirked and tried to mirror her salute. “We all have the capacity to make things better. Just… gotta work to set things straight, no matter what.”

“Fucking humble as shit.” She rolled her eyes to me and laughed. “Now go, enjoy your time with your girl here before you start to extol the virtues of being a good pony upon us all.” With a wave of her hoof, she froze up and shot me a sideways glance. “But hey, don’t you dare think about leaving the Federation before you let me check out that slick ride you came in on. I want to get my hooves in there, you know! Find out everything about what makes that gal tick.”

“If you would like, Captain, I can offer her a chance to study the Remora without having to risk an unqualified pony taking it apart.” Eliza was still on the line? “Yes. I figured that there was a high possibility of you requiring another task of me related to the Enclave database, so I maintained our connection.” Regardless, that seemed fine so long as Ping would be okay with an ‘organic’ taking a look at it. “One moment… he has agreed to this so long as I redact the sections of it that contain Factory microprocessors. It will mean any replicated craft will need to be altered to accommodate a physical pilot, but the impact of flight performance should be negligible.”

“Do it, Eliza.” I nodded to Ram, making her scrunch up her muzzle in confusion.

There was a beep on the console next to her, and she spun around and hit a few keys. Again, the terminal screen flicked over to new images. Technical diagrams far more in depth to what was shown from the other projects came up onto the screen. They scrolled by, one after another, eliciting a gasp and loud laugh from Ram.

“This is… incredible.” She nodded as she leaned closer to the screen, standing on the tips of her hooves just to get as close as possible. “There’s no way we could manufacture tech this advanced anytime soon. Maybe in a few decades if we had a full research team on it twenty four hours a day, but… this gives me some ideas on how to make our current vertibucks more efficient! With some work, I could probably extend their range from just outside the Federation, to all the way down near Vanhoover!”

“You already know that from like, ten seconds of looking at it?” I didn’t believe her one bit. “But... you were just a maintenance cadet, weren’t you? How could you figure this all out so fast?”

“Oh yeah, I may have been a cadet, but uh...“ She spoke as her eyes were all but glued to the blueprints still flicking across the screen. “Tail End and the other officers on base admitted I was a bit of a prodigy. Of course, that was after I told them I was and they didn’t believe me. But go ahead, you’ll come around in time just like they did.” With a wide, soft smile, she finally pulled her eyes off the screen. “Thank you, Night. Really, you are something else.”

“Well, I am pretty awesome.” I laughed and cocked my eyebrow at her. “Or hadn’t anyone told you that before?”

“Go.” She groaned and rolled her eyes, landing them back onto the terminal screen as her smile cracked even wider. “We both have our dates, and it’s best if we didn’t keep them waiting!”

Hispano and I had spent a few minutes walking around the second level of Terrace looking for somewhere to eat before settling for a small scrap metal restaurant perched on the edge of the sprawling structure. I’m sure one of the reasons she chose it was for the fact that it was all but empty at the moment, and the fact that it had a sign up saying ‘One bowl = Five Caps’. The Yak who ran the place barely fit into the small kitchen behind the bartop where he served the delicious smelling noodle dish he all to eagerly served us.

Still, while Hispano chowed down on the dish, I took my time with it. I knew that we still had a lot to do if we were going to be ready to take down Solomon, but I just wanted to enjoy my time with her. Even if it earned me an odd look like she’d begun to give me as she slurped up one of the long noodles.

“What’s wrong, Dum Dum? Not hungry?” She frowned at me before pointing back into the shifting crowds just behind where we were seated. “Or if you don’t want noodles, we can find something else.”

“It’s not that, I’m just... enjoying my time with you.” With a sigh, I extended my wing over and around her, making her cheeks flush again. “We’ve still got until tonight before the ship is ready, you know, so there’s no rush.”

“Sorry.” Hispano smirked as she glanced at her mostly empty bowl. “Just a habit that Dad drilled into me. A Talon needs to eat fast, you never know when trouble will crop up!” She did her best to impersonate her Dad’s voice, which pulled a chuckle out of me. “Hey don’t laugh, he was right about it. Especially with you.”

“Yeah, I do tend to attract trouble.” While I hated this curse on me, I was reminded of our last real date. “You remember what Madame Mystic said? That there was at least hope that I could get rid of my curse if I could find somewhere I was home?”

“Pft, you shouldn’t dwell on the words of that crazy old ghoul.” She rolled her eyes and shrugged before using her talon to prod at her noodles again. “Besides, you’d made a home on the convoy, and we’ve made a home for ourselves on the ship, and yet...” She paused and gestured at me. “Well, I’m pretty sure you aren’t cured.”

“Fate is often times, not so simple.” The voice of a mare next to us made us both spin around on our barstools. The form of a black cloaked mare towered over the both of us. A pair of glowing green slit eyes, and a lengthy green horn pushed through the darkness that the hooded cloak provided the mare’s face. “Excuse our intrusion, but we have been looking for you, Night Flight.”

The mare lifted a lanky green hoof up, and used it to push her hood back, revealing herself to be one of those Alicorn mares. The long, ethereal green mane was bound in a tight bun, leaving the numerous scars that ran across her face open and easily visible. It was about at this point that Hispano reached over for Suiza. The mare’s horn flashed, and Suiza was wrapped in a bubble of magic that Hispano’s talons couldn’t pierce through.

“Please understand, we are not here to cause trouble.” The mare shook her head before her horn again flashed and the bubble disappeared. Hispano didn’t waste another moment, pulling her sister close and training the long barrel basically right against the mare’s cloaked body. “We simply wished to find the pony that held Lilac Lace’s intrigue, and one that shared a common thread to our own fate.”

“What do you mean, ‘common thread’?” As always, the words pushed their way out of my muzzle. Hispano offered a growl and glare to me as my inquisitive side took over. Yeah, I get it. When I ask questions, bad things happen, but I couldn’t help myself. “Who are you?”

“Our name was taken from us by mother, so very long ago.” The alicorn sat down and closed her eyes. “Like you, Night Flight, we too do not know who we are. All we can remember is one word written around the scrapyard we once called home. King. So that is what you may call us.”

“Alright then, ‘King’.” Hispano tensed her talons around Suiza uneasily. “What do you want from Night?”

“We are here because in you, we were reminded of a pony from our past. A mare who we are sure was of great importance to us, yet we cannot recall who she was.” Opening her eyes again, she stared at me with an odd look. I wouldn’t say it was one of pity, but it fell somewhere between longing and remorse. “We had hoped that in being like us, perhaps in speaking with you, you would help us recall something, anything about who we were before mother took us and molded us into this form. And if we could remember something, triggered by a word or phrase, then maybe we could find out who we are supposed to be.”

“Well, I’m not sure how I could even help you.” While I felt bad for this pony, this wasn’t something I could even begin to understand. “I’ve had memory issues before, but that was mostly from a talisman in my head. This sounds like it isn’t so simple I’d think.” It had taken Lilac intruding on my dreams to even help me understand where to start at being myself, and I didn’t have the luxury here of being able to look into ‘King’s’ mind to see who they once were. “I’m sorry.”

“We… understand. Lilac had suggested we ask you for help, but we understood it was a longshot.” She nodded to me and offered a sad smile before reaching up and pulling her hood back up over herself. “We shall not disturb you and your companion further. Have a good day, Night Flight.” Turning around with slow, heavy hoofsteps, I watched as her frowning muzzle disappeared under her hood.

“Seriously, while I know you love helping ponies, Dum Dum. You really are a magnet for the weirdest ones.” Hispano rolled her eyes before spinning herself back towards her food. Setting Suiza down, she licked at her beak with a smile. “But come on, our food’s getting cold, and I want to finish it before we get any other needy ponies looking for the ‘Survivor’ to help them.”

King wasn’t just any pony looking for help. More so, she wasn’t looking for help from the ‘Survivor’, she’d been looking for me. She’d gone to Lilac for help, and for some reason, Lilac believed I would be the best bet to help her. So with a deep sigh, I knew what was about to happen was a hell of a risk to take.

“Wait, King.” I called out, making the large cloaked mare stop just short of disappearing into the crowd of ponies that flowed from shop to shop.

Pretty much as expected, Hispano let out a long sigh. A sigh that was followed by her slamming her face right into her bowl of noodles and sitting there, huffing in frustration. Slowly, King’s hooded face turned back to me, with her glowing eyes once again beaming through the shade of her cloak.

“Look, I might not know how to go about helping you, but I’m willing to try.” I offered to her, cringing as I imagined what I was about to suggest. “The one thing you have to know is that I’m not staying here much longer in the Federation, so if you want my help… you’ll have to come with us.”

Her slender muzzle split into a smile filled with jagged and sharp teeth. As scary a sight as it was, the overjoyed look in her eyes made her seem just a tad less threatening. Still, an overgrown alicorn-thing would always be pretty threatening, even with a smile….

“We can travel with you. We have no ties to this place, and only originally came at the request of Lilac Lace in order to connect her mind with yours.” She nodded excitedly, spinning around and almost prancing back towards us from the crowd. “But thank you, Night Flight! We would be eternally grateful, and happy to help on your journey in any capacity in return for your help.”

“You just couldn’t let me have just one uninterrupted date with you, could you, Night?” Hispano’s exasperated side eye said that as per usual, I’d have to make this up to her. But for now, there was little I could do to salvage our date. Besides, I had a hunch that as soon as we were back in our room on the Arcturus, she’d have a few ideas on how I could do just that…

“Well, while we finish up here, why don’t you head over to the Arcturus, King?” I forced a smile to her, getting a sort of confused look in return.

“What, or where is this ‘Arcturus’?’” She asked fairly bluntly as she ruffled her folded and hidden wings under her cloak. “We do not recall a business with that name, unless… it is a vehicle you travel in?”

“Yeah, it’s our cloudship, the one that isn’t a Raptor docked at the Raptor skydocks.” I watched as again, my words made her look even more confused, as well as nervous when her toothy smile almost instantly was wiped from her muzzle. The longer she seemed to let my answer sink in, the more it really made her fidgether wings nervously under her cloak.

“You see, we do know one thing about who we were.” She forced out as she rubbed at her neck with her forehoof. “Mother gave us wings to use, but we were not a great fan of flying. Though, we cannot remember exactly why it fills us with such intense dread...”

“Hah!” Hispano spat out, joining the conversation again with several stringy noodles draped over her beak. “An alicorn who’s afraid of flying? Now that’s a new one. What’s next? Are you going to tell us you’re afraid of magic? Or perhaps that ‘you don’t want to hurt anypony’ because your ‘mother’ forced you to abduct ponies for years?” While I hadn’t been privy to a lot of what had gone on down in the wastes when the clouds were up, the Alicorns and their goals were still somewhat of a mystery to me. “Afraid of flying, hah. Do you believe her, Dum Dum? Cause I sure don’t.”

“We are not afraid of flying! We just... do not enjoy it.” King stomped before scrunching up her lengthy muzzle and looking more than a little flustered. “Okay, maybe it is perhaps that we are a little afraid. But can I be blamed? As I understand it, it’s normal for us earth ponies…” She paused before blinking and going wide eyed. “We… we used I… and we remembered were once an earth pony.” With a deep and almost creepy laugh, King clopped her fore hooves together excitedly. “Yes, we remember this now! Though, it is very strange… why would mother have taken an earth pony? Well, that matters not for now, we are already remembering things from being around you, Night Flight!”

“That’s… great.” I spoke up, pausing as Hispano’s sideways glance was again trying to burn a hole right through me. “Well, if you don’t mind waiting a bit, we do have a smaller skycraft that will take us back up to our ship. It’s down on the ground, just next to the tower stairwell. I’ll make sure to call ahead so that Eliza know’s to let you in.”

“She’s been logged and approved for entry, Captain.” Eliza’s voice chimed in my head with the image of the smiling mare flashing into my vision. “However, she will not have access to any ship systems while onboard. I hope that is understandable given how little we know about her.” Well, I’m not even sure why she’d need to access ship systems in the first place, so I didn’t see anything wrong with that.

“Looks like you’re all set!” I offered a smile to her before pointing up to my metal head.

“Oh… okay.” She still seemed fairly nervous at that, but gave a hesitant nod before pulling her cloak back up. “Thank you again, Night Flight. We are grateful for this opportunity.” With another nod, she quickly spun herself around, and disappeared into the shifting crowd.

“Why do you keep doing this to me, Night?” Hispano mumbled as she again basically dropped her face into her noodles. This time, she stopped just short of that, and instead just stared at them. “No, it… it’s not your fault. The question I should be asking, is why do I keep thinking you’ll change.”

“I’m sorry, Hispano.” While I know we’d been over my odd obsession with helping others, I wanted to say that this should be an exception. “You’re right, I do pretty much help every charity case that comes our way. But with King, I’m the only one who can help her. You can at least see that, right?”

“And who made it your job to help her?” Hispano grunted and laughed to herself. “And you just invite her to go with us? We don’t even know anything about her! She could be dangerous.”

“If she wanted to hurt us, she had every opportunity to already.” I know what she was getting at, but again, I don’t think King was going to end up being a problem. All she wanted to do was be around us, and in return, she’d help out with whatever. Which actually reminds me... “You know, Delilah hired me on without knowing the first thing about me really.”

“And how did that turn out?” Snapping her glare back to me, she reached over and prodded at my sharply. “With all the trouble you’re inviting, it’s going to get us killed. You’re not just running around without consequence anymore, Dum Dum. Every fucking time you get dragged into some shit, you’re dragging Buck and I with you.”

“Yes, but…” I started to speak, but Hispano quickly wrapped her talons around my muzzle and pulled herself close to me with a deeper growl than before. The tips of her sharp claws pricked at my skin, and her grip was tight enough that it pulled an involuntary whimper from me.

“Stop it, Night.” While her eyes were fixed on mine in the most distant and cold way they could be, her grasp on me faltered. “No more excuses, okay? I don’t want one of us to end up dead one of these days because you keep wanting to help others. And one of us will end up dead. And it may not be for a good long while, but I refuse to have our...”

She let out a gasp, cutting herself off and immediately letting go of me. She looked ashamed of herself for a moment before silently turning back to her noodles. And that was that. She just... sat and stared at them in stark, awkward silence.

“Hispano?” I asked softly, bringing my hoof up to rub at my sore muzzle. “What’s going on? What’s this really about?”

“Nothing.” She huffed and brought a talon up to cover her face. “I misspoke is all. Just… finish your food, Night.”

“Hispano, I know when you’ve got something on your mind.” Reaching over, I pushed my noodle bowl away and lowered my head to the bar to try to look under her talons. It was brief, but I caught a glimpse of her watering eyes shift over to look at me before she brought her talon down again to hide behind it. “I know it might be tough, but whatever’s weighing on you, you can talk to me about it.”

“Have you noticed it, Night? What most of the mares onboard those cloudships are?” Hispano’s voice wavered as she took a moment to rub at her eyes. Honestly, I hadn’t sought out to look at most of the mares on those ships, but I hadn’t thought I’d needed too...

“No?” I shook my head, pulling another annoyed huff out of her as she brought her talons down and poked at her noodles again.

“They’re mothers, Night.” She stated blandly. “Like, over half of the mares on those ships have foals, or are going to have them sometime soon.” Now that she mentioned it, there had been a lot of pregnant mares there. And Buck said the ship’s med bay had been filled by expecting mares...

“Well, having been in the Enclave, that makes sense to me.” While it was weird to see that many in one place, this was actually something I really should have seen coming. “The way the Enclave worked was; with so little resources to go around, you needed to get government approval to have a foal. Of course, a lot more ponies got pregnant than were allowed to have foals, so the Enclave had services to help deal with the mares who didn’t get approval.” While it was a topic I’d never thought I’d ever discuss, it did send a realization through my mind. “I guess... when the Enclave collapsed, so did those services, or the want to use them. But, I don’t see what that has to do with helping others?”

“You still don’t get it then.” Hispano looked at me like I was an idiot. And in her defence, I kind of was one. “I want a family bigger than just us, Night. I want what they have.” Of course that’s what this was all about. Goddesses, I really couldn’t figure that out? “And you know what, Night? I don’t want to end up like my Mom. I don’t want to be dead before I even get to really know my kid.”

“Well, of course you don’t. I don’t want to lose you either, Hispano!” I knew that what she feared was real, and honestly, deep down it was something I feared as well. The moment I thought that, the only thing that flashed up into my mind was how Violet looked up there on the pass the last time I’d seen her. The panicked thoughts that came with those memories made me scramble for something to push them away again, and unfortunately for the both of us, it turned me into an even bigger idiot than before. “Let’s be realistic, Hispano. Like anything could kill you.”

With a flash of her talon, I was knocked out of my seat as she threw her bowl of noodles in my face. I crumpled to the floor as pain flared through my still recovering body, and I nearly choked on her noodles as I opened my muzzle to let out a yelp. Alright, I’ll admit, I deserved that…

“This isn’t some fucking joke, Night!” She screamed at me before kicking me in my side while I was down. The impact at least helped me to spit out the noodles clogging my muzzle as I let out another cry of pain. “What happens if I do end up like those mares? Are you prepared to pick up my slack? What if because I’m all bloated and pregnant, I can’t fucking help you, and you go all ‘bleeding heart’ on somepony and get yourself killed! What the fuck are Buck and I supposed to do then!?”

“I get it, Hispano!” I whimpered as I braced myself for another swift kick from her. As expected, another hard hit came, but this time it landed against my flank, and her rear paws ended up dragging her claws across my cutie mark. Thin lines of red joined the long welts as she visibly shook with rage.

“I don’t want to be a liability, Night, but everytime you open your fucking muzzle to ponies, you make Buck and I just that.” She was right, like usual. I knew I was asking a lot of them to just keep going along with it, but… maybe it was time to listen to her…

My thoughts were interrupted as she landed another kick right in my barrel, and I had to fight the urge to throw up the lunch we’d just had.

“Alright, alright!” I heaved and struggled to pick myself up. “King is the last one, I promise, Hispano.”

“You’re fucking right she is.” She huffed, turning around and swiftly planting herself back onto her stool. “Hey, chef, another noodle bowl. Now.”

Wincing and doing my best to cope with the bruises and welts forming on me, I pushed myself back to my hooves. With slow steps, I made my way back to my seat and painfully clambered up onto it. Geeze, I know Hispano was right and all, but she could be a little less physical about it next time…

No, Night, that’s not on her. You’d been ignorant about her concerns this whole time, and you know this is the only way you’d ever have ended up listening. Plus, you pushed to know what was wrong in the first place.

“I know that the sex thing has been weighing on you, Hispano, and now with all the mares around here, I could see how this would only make it worse.” The words came out of my muzzle before I’d even had a chance to get settled on my chair, and it pulled another low growl from her. “But there’s no reason we have to rush into anything. I meant what I’d said last time we talked, Hispano, I don’t want to ruin things with you.”

“Then start acting like it, Night.” She grumbled and crossed her talons, pausing to look down between them at the broken compass around her neck pressing into her plumage. “Every promise you make is a choice you make for all three of us. You and Buck may not want the same kind of family I want for us, but that doesn’t mean you can act like it doesn’t matter to me.”

“Hispano…” reaching my hoof over, I carefully pulled one of her talons over so I could softly wrap my fetlock around it. “I’ve said it before, you’ve made me think about a lot of things that I thought I’d wanted in my life. And while we have plenty of time to decide, I’m not willing to write anything off for our future. I’ve already told this to Buck, but if you want to have a kid, I’m not going to stand in your way. I just want the both of you to be happy, because first and foremost, that’s what matters to me.”

“What do you mean you’ve already told that to Buck.” Hispano snorted, slowly but firmly pulling her talon out of my grasp. At the same time, a clink of a new steaming bowl of noodles dropped down on the bartop next to her, and she distracted herself with prodding at it with her claws. “You two can’t have a kid. Hell, he and I can’t have a kid, Night. You and I are the only ones between us who are compatible for anything.”

“While that’s true, I don’t know if he’s told you, but on the Inuvik, not every dog can have pups.” I know it wasn’t really my place to speak for Buck, but I’d have to believe he’d forgive me in this case. “However, Buck is one of the few dogs who can, so he feels an obligation to have pups with a dog once we catch up with the Inuvik.” That alone made Hispano scrunch up her muzzle, but after a moment, she seemed to accept that. “That… and he may have already helped a Sun Dog while we were back in Sun Dog City.”

“So, on the ship the other day when you said…” She paused as I nodded to confirm her train of logic. “So… you’re not jealous? You’re really okay with him sleeping with someone else?”

“Why wouldn’t I be alright with it?” I shrugged and finally got back around to looking at my own bowl of noodles again. “You two are my family. And while it scares me half to death to think of losing one of you, I won’t deny you a legacy if it’s something you want. Even… if it’s not with me.”

“I... don’t want it to be with anyone else, Night.” Hispano sighed and once more, hunched over her noodles to stare at them. But unlike before, the smile that curled onto her beak spoke volumes about the fact that she’d at least had that load taken off her shoulders. “I think that while I’ve been so pent up recently, all the other times I’ve been with a stallion aren’t what I want with you. I want something more.” Her smile was only momentary, sinking back behind the almost vacant look that pressed across her face. “But I’m not ready for that, and I think… that’s the real reason why I went to look up what killed my mom. To remind myself what putting myself in that position would mean risking.”

“Hey, you aren’t going to die, Hispano.” Carefully, I reached my wing out, wrapping it around her again. She gave a shiver, pressing herself back against it as she closed her eyes. “And for what it’s worth, you’re going to be a great mom, whenever you eventually decide you’re ready.”

“No, Night.” She sighed, turning to look up at me. As her hope filled eyes locked onto me, the suppressed small and kind smile fought back against her vacant look, and she practically started glowing. “I’m going to be an awesome mom, and you’re going to be one hell of a dad.”

As we sat there, I pressed my muzzle slowly forward towards the griffon who despite all my preconceptions about only caring for guys, I loved all the same. She closed her eyes, pushing forward towards my muzzle as her cheeks flushed. My heartbeat spiked, and I could feel hers do the same through my wing as I pulled her closer.

BOOM!

The explosion from somewhere else in the city made us both jump out of our seats. The crowd of ponies moving about on this level moved almost all at once, running and pushing their way towards the edges of the platform. Sporadic gunfire followed the explosion, but what worried me was how the direction it was coming from, was down by where we’d parked the Remora.

Hispano and I shared a worried look before she turned and grabbed Suiza.

“Hey!” The Yak chef shouted as Hispano flared her wings out. “Bird pay Yak or Yak gets guards!”

Grumbling, Hispano pulled off her flight cap. She ran her talons around the liner before pulling it back out with a few dozen caps gripped between her digits. She tossed them onto the counter haphazardly before kicking into the air and taking off.

“Sorry about that!” I offered to the Yak as he scrambled to pick up the money. “The noodles were quite good though!” Flaring my own wings, I fought pack the cry of pain that pushed out of my muzzle. Fucking hell, I’m injured, I get it! If I could just dampen that with some…

No, Night! No more drugs! Just deal with the pain and fly.

All I needed was some good ol’ fashioned determination and power of will! You’ve got this Night! Just kick off, and…

As I kicked off the ground and beat my wings once, I screamed as it felt like I’d been stabbed all over again. I came down hard onto the ground again, pulling another yelp out as I landed right on my side. So much for determination!

“Just fucking use the stairs, Dum Dum!” Hispano snapped as she fluttered down and hovered above me. “And hurry up! It seems your new ‘friend’ is busy letting Pentex blow up our ride.”

“Move!”

“Out of the way!”

“Coming through!”

It was enough to have to run through the pain burning in my sides. Having to yell and scream at ponies as they flooded up the tower stairwell, well, that was just icing on the shit cake. Even after an entire minute of pushing and shoving, I’d only made it a little more than a quarter of the way down to the bottom from the lowest terrace.

My ears flicked and twisted as the sounds of Suiza chattering out was met with bursts of rifle fire. My eyes darted between avoiding the flood of ponies coming up the stairs, and the compass in my vision that showed more than a dozen red lines awash in a sea of green. Shit, Solomon really had to go all out right now, didn’t he? All when today is the one day I had to leave my saddle back on the Arcturus!

“Eliza, Hispano and King need help, so I need you to tell the Federation what’s going on.” I called out as I refocused myself on pushing through the mass of ponies.

“I believe the Federation became aware of the situation when the Pentex soldiers attempted to destroy the Remora with a rocket. Their response time however, is so far unimpressive.” Eliza’s mare popped up in my vision with an unsure look across its face. “However, you will be happy to know that Hispano has already eliminated two Pentex operatives, and that King is using an advanced arcane shield spell to keep the Remora and herself protected.” Shit, she could do that? Well, maybe they didn’t need the help of the Federation after all!

“Be advised, Captain. Two Pentex operatives have broken off from the fight, and are attempting to blend into the crowd.” Eliza’s mare flipped over to one with a surprised face before a pair of red boxes pulled up across my vision ahead of me by quite a ways. “If they escape, there is a high probability they will attack again before we leave Terrace.”

“And what the fuck am I supposed to do about that!?” Seriously, the one day I leave my saddle…

“Perhaps you should be aware, you are not currently unarmed.” Eliza’s mare flipped back to her bright smiling one as I felt the side of my head vibrate. A small diagram of my own head showed up in front of me and nearly made me trip over my own hooves. One of the three red optics extended out slightly like a short barrel before glowing bright red. “Buck wished for you to not be left defenseless, so he and Doc Groovy installed a single shot magical energy weapon for you to use in emergencies.”

“I was stabbed yesterday! Was that not an emergency!?” I nearly screamed out. Okay, well, at least I had something then. Even if it was incredibly unsettling to know I had a gun permanently on my face.

“If you recall the active jamming signal from yesterday, that would be why I was not able to activate this functionality.” Eliza’s mare frowned at me before flipping back to her smiling one. “Now that it is active however, I must reinforce the idea that it is a one shot emergency weapon. Buck should be able to recharge it once you return to the Arcturus, but I advise you to not miss your one available shot.”

“That’s great, Eliza, but there are two of them!” I snapped out at her.

“May I suggest, Captain, that once you have eliminated one of them, that you acquire their weapon to use on the second target?” Eliza responded rather promptly, and with a quicker cadance than normal to her words. “Be advised, Pentex operatives are fifteen meters and closing.”

The red boxes in my vision split, each one moving to a different side of the stairwell to move upward faster. Most ponies at this point on the stairs had shifted to the middle, trying to avoid the tents that would be a problem the next terrace up. However, these operatives didn’t waste time in just trying to get some distance from Hispano’s sister.

Pushing through the crowd, I worked my way towards the outer edge, finally breaking through just in time to see a zebra in a hoofball hat and a loose coat step up. As he looked up to try to push me out of the way, I could see into his open coat, where his combat vest proudly displayed the Pentex logo to me.

He snarled at me before shifting his coat and biting down on the pistol he had secured on his vest. I hadn’t even had time to really think before he’d drawn it, but all I needed was one single thought. The red beam lanced out from the side of my head, striking the zebra right between the eyes.

Screams erupted from the crowd around me as the zebra collapsed onto the stairs, glowed brightly, and then drifted away as ash in the wind. I watched in muted horror as the zebra’s gear was kicked and scattered off the edge of the stairwell by the panicking ponies. One good thing was the sudden shift in flow had completely trapped the other operative where he was until the crowd split enough that I could see another zebra in the same sort of getup as the first, minus the combat vest under his plain clothes.

With the crowd between us cleared, he looked over at me.

His eyes went wide as he saw me. I wasn’t sure if he realized I was the pony he was supposed to kill, or just if I was the one who’d made his friend disappear. All the same, he turned and charged right at me.

Out of reflex, I flared my wings and jumped to fly down the stairs. The pain that flared up through my body made me scream out again, and I came crashing down. My momentum sent me rolling and tumbling down to the next landing, sending me sliding along the rusty metal until I slammed into the guardrail. Stars filled my vision, but at least the medical warning didn’t flair up this time!

Yet another successful crash landing by the talented Night Flight!

The quick hoofsteps charging down the stairs towards me helped to clear up my vision quite fast. Looking up, I barely had enough time to see the zebra leap off the last few stairs at me. Like with Microburst, I did my best to roll myself to the side. The loud clang of a hoof on metal came with the squelch of the guardrail bending from the hit.

Again, I didn’t have time to process things before I had to focus on rolling away again as the zebra screamed and kicked his other hoof at me. Another rending clang filled the air, and another hoof shaped dent appeared in the guardrail beside me. I distinctly started to wonder why Happy ever even chose to get into hoof to hoof combat with anyone!

Shifting to push myself back onto my hooves, I was too slow. The zebra twisted himself around, using his momentum to drive his rear hoof right against my side. I screamed out as I swear I heard my ribs snap as the sheer force of the strike alone sent me flying down over half the stairs that lead to the next landing. Again, I screamed as I tumbled and fell down the old metal walkway.

Okay, this wasn’t working. I was going to get killed at this rate! Goddesses, what I wouldn’t give for Cora or Buck to show up right now!

“Night, what’s going on?” Buck’s voice crackled through my augment. “Are you fighting!? Shit, h-hold on!”

With the sound of more hammering hoofsteps coming down the stairs after me, I knew I didn’t have time to wait for him to come save me. I was on my own. All I needed to do, was survive.

Pushing myself up, I heard the Zebra yell as he jumped again. I pushed myself to the side, letting him come down right where I was. He let his momentum carry him to the guardrail, kicking his hoof up onto it and using it to propel himself into a flip that let him land on his hooves facing me. A smile pulled across his muzzle as he rose onto his rear hooves and pulled his forehooves into an extravagant fighting pose.

Fuck, this guy was just the fucking stereotype of a wartime Zebra, wasn’t he?

Okay Night, just don’t do anything stupid…

He stepped forward, swinging his forehoof in a wide strike at me. I leaned back as he missed by a mile. Oddly, he continued to follow the swing through, spinning around to where he brought his rear hoof around. Without a moment to adjust, he kicked it upwards against my face.

Not going to lie, I don’t quite remember what happened as I blacked out for a moment. My neck, my jaw, my everything hurt as I blinked and lay splayed out on the metal walkway. I pushed myself to get up, only to have a heavy kick slam me down. My broken ribs stole my breath as I tried to scream but found nothing come out from my muzzle.

“Night! Come on, get out of there!” Buck shouted through my augment. “Run!”

That was a great idea, but right now, I felt like just staying right here on the ground. All of me hurt, and what was I going to do? I couldn’t run faster than this guy, I couldn’t fly. What the fuck was I supposed to do?

“Get up.” The zebra snorted at me. “Survivor.” Woo, big deal, he knew who I was. Who didn’t these days...

“No thank…” I groaned before swiftly receiving another kick in my broken ribs. Oh goddesses, why the fuck do I keep finding myself in these situations?

“Get up and fight!” He screamed into my ear. “What are you doing? Giving up?”

“What does… it look like… I’m doing?” I laughed through the pain. “I’m... getting my ass kicked!” The rage that made his eyes twitch was all too familiar. That was it, my one advantage.

I could piss off anypony.

The feral scream he gave as he all but leaped on me was music to my ears. At least, until the flurry of hoof hits against my head made everything turn into a dull ringing. Even my augment fuzzed as his assault bloodied my muzzle and snapped my cheekbone. Finally, the Medical Attention Required warning flashed up.

Now I finally knew I’d properly had my flank handed to me!

Still, he heaved and landed a few final strikes on me before having to pause to take a breather. If not for the pounding and overwhelming agony of existing, I would have asked him if we could both take a five minute break to catch our breaths. However, I knew that would be too much to ask, and so if I wanted more than a moment to rest, I’d have to win.

He took an almost stumbling step back, hanging on the walkway guardrail like it was a set of boxing ring ropes. Which, was fitting, as he’d put me through twelve fucking rounds of hell so far. Hell, I should recommend this guy to go fight in the Wreck Room on the Inuvik! He’d give Rosie a run for her money for sure. But, that gave me another idea how to even up the fight.

Even though it sucked, I shifted myself on the ground. I screamed, forcing my forehooves to roll me over onto my back and leave myself open to him. The Pentex zebra growled at me before stepping back and putting his rear hoof up on the railing. With an angry roar, he pushed off at me with a kick that offered me one shot to even the fight.

With my own roar, I kicked my rear hoof as high as I could.

I wish I could’ve saved the look on his face the moment my hoof kicked straight into his balls. There was an almost satisfying give to them as my strike made sure he’d never walk straight again.

Sure, it hurt to have a grown stallion powerslam down onto me, but I could guarantee that it hurt a lot less than his kick would have. Plus, while the ringing in my head was still pretty much the soundtrack to my life, I did manage to slightly hear the screams of agony he let off as he writhed on the ground. Yeah, it was a low blow in a fight, but mom had told me something after those stallions in school beat me up.

If it's worth fighting for, it's worth fighting dirty.

As I tried to collect myself, the Zebra started to push himself up off of me. He pulled his hooves off of himself and wrapped them around my neck. The mix of rage and pain in his face as he screamed at me was almost priceless, but it would only stay that way if he didn’t end up killing me. I kicked up again with my legs, but he’d managed to prop himself up just enough to where his flank was higher than I could reliably kick.

As he pressed down on my throat, I so desperately wanted to have that painkiller chip-thing back on again. That, or actually have some painkillers in the veins again. Either or would’ve been welcome at this point, really!

Truth be told, as my lungs started to scream for air, I was realizing that maybe I should have capitalized on my one good move when I could have. As his muzzle twisted into a sadistic grin, I continued trying to kick at him. I just needed something, anything to get him off of me!

My prosthetic leg hooked up against his barrel as I gave out another, stiff kick upwards. The rubber pad on the bottom of it bit into his coat hard enough that as I tried to kick again, I only worked it further up against his barrel. A passing moment of concern washed over his muzzle as it dug in just under his ribcage. With all the strength I had left, I pushed on it hard.

Turns out that my prosthetic leg, while it looked a lot like a bit like a leaf spring, when loaded down with the weight of a fully grown stallion, it acted a lot like one too!

I watched as a look of panic filled the stallion’s wide brown eyes as my spring-like leg had the added leverage to throw him back off of me. He tried to keep himself upright, stumbling back on his rear hooves for balance as he was carried against the railing. His bipedal stance had left his center of gravity too high and without enough control to stop himself. I laughed in my own head as he pivoted right over the top of the guardrail, dropping out of sight, and out of my life for good.

The last red bar in my compass sat still for a moment, showing the downward arrow under it before blinking out of existence.

“All Pentex operatives eliminated.” Eliza’s smiling mare popped into my fuzzing vision.

Fuckthat sucked.

With a gurgling, groaning sigh, I let myself flop back down against the cold, rusty metal. Note to self, make sure you always have your gear. Oh, and also, leave the melee fighting to Happy.

But hey, I’d won! And after the last few days and weeks of loss after loss, it felt good to finally come out on top in a fair fight. And better than that, the Survivor hadn’t won, Night Flight did.

And wouldn’t Mom and Dad have been so proud of the stallion I’d become...

Author's Note

As always, I can't thank TheFurryRailFan enough for helping me go over these chapters and making sure they're cleared to be uploaded.

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat for creating and letting us all run around in this universe.

Chapter 86 - We All Make Mistakes

The intel you've got is never the intel you want.

“What the fuck happened.” Buck’s roar as he stepped out of the recently returned Remora made me wince, but at this point the pain it caused was less than the sum of all my injuries. His watering eyes turned from me, up to the Alicorn who I was currently using to prop myself up into a standing position. “You. What did you do!?”

“We do not know why they attempted to kill us, so do not accuse us of wrongdoing, machine.” To her credit, King stood firmly. Her horn flashed as a bubble formed around both her and I, only pulling a long snarling growl from Buck.

“King, it’s… fine.” I wheezed and tried to pat her on the side, but instead was forced to double over as my lungs seized up. With a hacking cough, I spit out a thick glob of blood. “This is Buck… our Doc…” Again I struggled not to let my lungs force their way up my throat like it felt like they were trying to do.

Seriously, there must be a whole group of ponies up at Destruction Bay who are just laughing at me. With how much shit I needed on nearly a daily basis, I wouldn’t be surprised if I alone was keeping their medical production business afloat. Which now that I think about, would’ve been a goddess damned amazing pun if everything didn’t hurt so much.

“If we’re all done fighting, ladies, I know why they were here.” Hispano called out as she dropped the Pentex soldier’s corpse she’d been rummaging through for the last few minutes. In her talon, she held up a bloody bit of folded paper. “I’ll give you one guess as to who hired these Pentex assholes.”

“Solomon.” I wheezed out again.

“Of course he’s the one.” Buck groaned as he stepped forward and placed his mechanical paw on King’s magical bubble. With a sharp glare, he stared through it at her expectantly. Her horn flickered and dimmed, and the magic bubble faded. “Well, at least that’s this many fewer mercenaries he has to protect him when we come after him.”

“So… he hadn’t come for us?” King seemed confused, and to be fair, I didn’t blame her. I mean, she should have expected this given what she knows of me, but still. “Someone sent these soldiers to kill… you? Are you sure?”

“These orders give a basic description of the Remora, and say to kill whoever shows up to it.” Hispano cooed softly as she walked over to us. “Lucky for you, they probably hadn’t expected an Alicorn to show up. Being a green, your advanced shield spell probably saved your life, and our ship.”

“It was simply a reflex,” King frowned as she looked at the craft. “something ingrained into our bodies by Mother…”

“Regardless…” I groaned out as Buck’s paw reached over. “You saved us a lot of trouble. Just… eager to help out already, I guess.” I glanced over to Hispano with what was supposed to be an ‘I told you so’ look, but she was too interested in reading over Solomon’s orders.

Buck’s touch was like fire, forcing a scream out of my muzzle. As soon as he’d gripped me however, one of his tools came swinging out of his forelimb and drove a needle into my bruised side. Almost immediately I could feel a freezing feeling numbing at my insides, as well as the familiar feeling of things in my body knitting themselves together again.

“Still, we had not thought you two serious as your griffon friend spoke of your misfortune, Night.” King’s nervous smile preempted a hesitant step back, but she only seemed to move in order to keep out of Buck’s way. “We are embarrassed to say that we thought it only hyperbole.”

Hispano laughed sharply at that.

“You think hyperbole is the reason Night looks the way he does?” With a jump and short flap of her wings, she hovered herself over to me and pointed at my metal augment. “I'm guessing then that this is just sarcasm.” With another giggle, she shifted her talon to point at my prosthetic. “And this? This must be an exaggeration, right!?”

“We already admitted we were wrong.” King sat down hard with a scrunched up muzzle and a heated glare aimed right at Hispano. “We do not appreciate being taunted over something that resulted in such unexpected, spectacular violence.”

“Well, get used to it.” Buck groaned as he reached into his duffel bag and unrolled a long strip of off white bandage. “Violence like this has pretty much become a daily occurrence for us.” With a smirk pulling along his jagged jaw, he shot King a sideways glance. “Regretting asking to come with us now?”

“She didn’t ask. I did.” I painfully lifted a hoof, resting it on Buck’s mechanical arm as another one of his internal surgical bits sewed up a gash along my back that I hadn’t realized was even there. “Let’s… have this conversation later, okay?” I grunted as another burst of pain flared up from my side. “Can we just go back up to the Arcturus now?”

Buck let out a small whimper before moving his other paw up and forcing out another syringe from his arm. It plunged into my side, and I watched as it forced a purple fluid into me that made my already numb insides tingle slightly. There was a creak from my ribs, my jaw, and my cheek as the bones in them felt like they stretched out forcefully. The tingling turned into a burning that steadily grew and grew. I whimpered as it started to become unbearable, but once more, felt a needle push into my side. Again, a wave of numbing swept out, and I had been saved from the endless torment my body wanted me to endure.

I knew with how good it felt, and with how my body relaxed, it had to have been the unique mix of Med-x and Chill which the Factory had prepared for me. Which was horrible to say, because that’s how I ended up with a half metal skull, and dreams that taunted me. But at this point, so long as it helped to keep the pain away, I didn’t care what it was he gave me.

The weird thing about that feeling, was that after the initial numbing swept over me, things returned to a state of what I would call ‘normal’. The tingling in my limbs left, and the somewhat fuzzy thoughts in my mind returned to their unclouded form. The only thing that didn’t seem to go away however, was the small pit in my stomach that made me think that while I felt good again, things weren’t exactly as they seemed.

“Are you sure you’ll be fine, Night?” Buck sighed as I flopped back on our bed. “I know you wanted Tofu to go down to the market for whatever it is she wanted to work on, but she could have Hispano go with her. I don’t have to…”

“Buck, I’d feel better… if you went with her.” I groaned. While I felt numb all over, it still didn’t mean it wasn’t hard to breathe or move sometimes. “I’ll... be fine.”

“You say that, but it feels like every time I leave you alone, you find yourself in trouble.” The apprehensive look across his face translated through his body, and pulled his whole posture into hunched and exaggerated movements as he stood over the edge of the bed. “Before you say anything, I know I’m just worrying too much. Still, you invited one of those alicorn things on board. I may not have seen any on the Inuvik, but it didn’t mean stories of them didn’t make their way to us.”

“I know you’re worried, Buck, but King came because Lilac Lace believed I could help her.” I tried my best to offer a comforting smile up to him, but it was met with a jagged frown. “Look, go with Tofu. If more of those Pentex jerks show up, you’ll be the best chance she’ll have of making it through the fight.”

“Then promise me, Night, that you’ll stay here. At least until I get back.” Reaching forward, he carefully wrapped his mechanical paw under my muzzle.

“I promise.” I nuzzled against his paw and did my best to nod. “Besides, once this painkiller wears off, I’m not sure I’ll be doing much moving for a while anyway.”

“Well, if you’re committed to staying here…” Buck sighed, pulling his paw back slightly. With a light tap against my chin with his finger, he caused a notification to pop up in my vision. It was again a diagram of my augment, though rather than showing one of my eye-optics, this time it was a small square talisman inside of it lighting up.

[Painstopper Talisman Boot Up… Complete.]

Along with that notification, another image popped up in my vision, Eliza’s frowning mare.

“In his current physical condition, there is a high probability…” She started to speak before Buck let out a low groan.

“I know it’s a risk to reactivate it.” Buck grumbled and rolled his eye. “If it shows any signs of overloading again though, I’ll turn it off. However, I’m already risking a lot with the dose I gave for his injuries on top of his daily schedule of painkillers, I can’t..,” Buck’s words died in his throat as he almost panicked just at that alone.

“What do you mean, daily schedule of painkillers?” I snorted at him, making him pull back slightly and flatten his mechanical ears to his head. Reaching up, I knocked my hoof against the metal plate on my own head. “You said this thing would take care of the problem!”

“Your augment keeps your mental degradation in check.” “But, you are an addict, Night. That means your body has adapted to need the chemicals in order to function properly. Without measured and frequent doses, you could suffer any number of problems from the withdrawal. It could kill you, Night.” Shaking his head, he turned his gaze to the floor. “So while you’ve slept, or… when you’ve been distracted, I’ve administered doses of Med-X and Chill in preparation for your body to be slowly weaned off of it. That’s really why we put the painstopper talisman in, so you wouldn’t notice when I administered them.”

Are you kidding me!? So this whole time, when I’d thought I’d felt normal again… it was just because I’ve been constantly kept drugged up? Why hide it? If my augment kept Solomon from convincing me to go overboard again, then why not just let me continue using it as needed!?

“I understand why you’re doing it, Buck. But…” With a huff, I rolled over onto my side and crossed my hooves. “You should have told me.” Was I being a bit melodramatic? Yeah, probably. But after all the shit I’ve been through, after all the talks about ‘drugs bad, sober good’, I’d at least hoped for some honesty here.

“I know I should have. But, you have no idea what it was like when I found you on the infirmary floor, Night.” He reached forward, carefully pressing his paw along my side. “I was afraid that if you knew, you’d try to manage it yourself. And even if you think I’m wrong in saying you wouldn’t be able to, I’m sorry, but I can’t trust you to do that, Night.”

While hearing that hurt in a way no painkiller could ever help with, as usual, he was right. This whole situation spilled out of control because I thought I needed Chill to help. And… as much as I want to blame the imaginary Solomon, or Violet, or even Buck in my head for pushing me over the edge? The truth is they were all still just me making excuses to myself.

But because of that, I knew the longer this went on, the harder it would be on all of us.

“I want off of it. As soon as we are back sailing south again, you’re going to make sure I quit it sooner than later.” I snorted and closed my eyes. I knew the risks, and I knew that things are going to hurt again. But I needed to kick this if we were going to be able to fight Solomon at all. “We both know that the longer I stay on these drugs, the more risk it puts on all of us for something to happen again.”

“That’s… fine, Night.” Buck’s voice crackled with more static than usual with his hesitant words, but I had to hope that he saw it the same way I did. “If you’re sure it’s what you want… I’ll help you detox.”

“Again, the risks posed with…” Eliza’s frowning mare doubled in size in my vision, and it pulled a guttural growl from Buck’s muzzle.

“The Captain has decided, Eliza.” Buck’s paw mechanisms whined and whirred as he clinched his metal paw shut tightly. “Focus on doing your job, and let me do mine.”

“Of course, Doctor Buck.” Eliza’s cartoon flickered back to her smiling mare. “As always, I’m here to help.” With that, her mare popped out of my vision, and Buck let out a long sigh. I know she was just trying to do what she thought was best, but… this was a risk I needed to take.

“You understand that it could take days to go through medically induced withdrawal, right? And that you’ll be sedated the whole time?” Buck’s tone was sharp, and it forced me to sit up slightly off the bed. Looking over, his augmented eye blazed a bright blue than normal, and the determined look on his normal eye felt like it pierced right into my own. “You’re sure you want to do this, Night?”

“As long as I have you and Hispano to help me, then I can get through it.” I tried to force my muzzle into a smile, but with the nervousness I felt crop up in me, it was a fight I eventually lost. “It needs to be done. But we can worry about that for when we leave, okay? For now, you should go with Tofu and help her with her project.”

“Alright, Night.” He nodded and shrugged off his hunched posture. Looking around, he found his white robe draped across the captain’s desk, and carefully picked it up. Before he put it on though, he paused and looked back over at me. “Remember, Night. You promised to stay here.”

“And it’s a promise I’ll keep, Buck.” While I understood his worry, other than seeing Laika one last time before we left, I didn’t have anywhere else to be. For once, while there was still a lot to get done, there was little I could actually do. Then again... “In fact, now that King is on board, I might as well see about getting to know her a bit.” That forced Buck’s expression to flatline as he deadpanned at me. “What? Maybe she’s not all that bad.”

“Just be careful with her, Night.” Buck snorted as he threw his cloak on, shifting the white fabric across his back until the large red cross on it was exactly in the center. “Their bodies are literally made out of poison, and until a few months ago, they were all supposedly controlled by a single psychopathic mind they saw as their mother.” Reaching his paws up, he gripped around the hood of his cloak and pulled it up over himself. “I just don’t want to leave, only to have you find yourself in trouble without me on the Arcturus.”

“I’ll be fine, Buck.” Waving my hoof at him, I pointed over to the door. “But if it helps, the sooner you and Tofu go, the sooner you’ll be back, right?” Again, he shot a glowing blue deadpan out from under the hooded robe. Still, he gave me another nod and a sigh before turning back around for the door.

“Eliza?” I thought out to her, quickly finding the smiling cartoon mare pop back into my vision. “Where is King at the moment?”

“King is currently on the bridge.” Eliza’s mare shifted over to a perplexed one for a moment. “She and First Mate Delta are having a conversation about who is to blame for the actions of the entity known as ‘the Goddess’. It is getting very heated, and I predict that it will become an argument fairly soon.”

Great.

“Captain, do you know how many ponies this bitch has taken! How many she’s killed!?”

“We have told you, that was under Mother’s influence, that was not us!”

“Okay, okay!” I growled at both of the oversized foals glaring at each other from across opposite sides of the bridge. “Look, all of us have done things we regret, right? So why don’t we all just calm down…”

“With all due respect, Captain, you don’t know the extent of the horrors they committed in the wasteland!” Double Delta didn’t shift his eye from King for a single moment as he shook his head. “I don’t even know why you’d bring a dangerous monster like that thing on board.”

Okay, while he was certainly entitled to his opinion, this shit stops now.

“Do you have a problem with my decision, Delta?” I tapped my hoof on the floor, pausing and waiting for him to look at me. Though, as the silence in the room drew longer and longer, I started to figure he didn’t understand me. “Well? You got an answer? Because if your suggestion is to throw her off the ship, should I be ready to throw Buck off as well?”

That got Delta to scrunch up his muzzle in confusion and finally turn to me.

“What?” He spat out sharply.

“You don’t want dangerous monsters on board, right?” Again, I tapped my hoof impatiently on the floor. “Plenty of ponies have called him that, and for good reason. I’ve seen him tear ponies apart with his paws, he is dangerous to have around. So I’ll ask you again, would you have me throw Buck off as well?”

“Captain, that’s not…” He rolled his eye at me, but thanks to the many experiences I had with Delilah, I stomped my hoof hard on the deck, making him freeze up.

“You know what, Delta, I’ll defer to you on her.” I forced a smile across my muzzle as I extended a hoof toward King. “You decide if King stays on board. As my first officer, I’ll trust your judgement on this.” That pulled a smile across his muzzle as well, but only for a moment before he tried to speak up. “But,” I made sure to cut him off. “if you choose for her to go because of her past, then I’m going to hold you to the same standards.”

“Night, we don’t want to cause any problems, but we don’t think that he…” King tried to interject, but I held my hoof up to her.

“No no, it’s his choice.” My smile stayed plastered across my muzzle as I spoke. “As the former king of the Skyraiders, I’m sure he’ll take a good few moments to consider his position on having monsters onboard.” Goddesses, how the hell did Delilah maintain such a stone cold expression all the time when setting shit straight felt so damned good?

Delta moved his hoof up as if he was about to make a point, but stopped short. With a reluctant nod, and a sigh that sounded a lot to me like he’d accepted defeat, he relaxed a bit. Crossing his hooves, he moved his eye back over to King and glared at her again before turning his gaze to the floor.

“We good?” I asked flatly, pulling another nod from him. “Alright.”

“Double Delta?” Eliza asked as her smiling mare popped up on the screen beside him. “Could I ask you to assist Tofu with some of the repairs? She is still recovering after all.”

“Yeah, sure.” Delta nodded and pushed himself back to his hooves. He offered a sideways glance to King first, then to me with a frown. “I need the distraction anyway.” With quick steps, Delta disappeared through the core systems doorway, and the room felt like it got about a million times cooler than it had been.

“We are sorry, Night. We did not intend to cause conflict.” King frowned as she hung her head. Her green ethereal mane shifted and covered the sad looking expression that sat across her face.

“It’s not your fault, nor is it his.” I offered as I walked over and took Delta’s place leaning against a few of the consoles. “I meant what I said, we’ve all made mistakes we’d rather not be judged on.” As much as I knew it to be true, believed to be true… it didn’t mean that every fiber of my being didn’t rebel against it.

“Yes. However, he is right. We are a monster.” From the way she’d said it, to the way she slumped at that, I couldn’t fight the laugh that wormed its way out of my muzzle. With it coming out, I found her slit-like eyes shift up and glare through her mane. “What… does this fact amuse you?”

“I’m laughing because I’ve heard this all before, King.” Offering her a genuine smile, I only received a hesitant and confused look in return. Which to be fair, was completely expected. “You know, Buck used to say the same exact thing. And you know what? He may be a ‘scary Snow Dog’, but he is also the kindest, most caring guy I’ve ever met.”

“Yes, but he is a hellhound, and yet, the crew trusts him not to tear them apart.” King shook her head, sitting on her haunches as she looked at her own forehooves. “We cannot lie, even we were unsure of his intentions earlier. But we guess that makes us as bad as everypony else...”

“Hey, don’t get me wrong, I was terrified around him at first. From his hulking size, to those enormous paws...” Just thinking back to waking up on the Inuvik made it feel like years ago, but it’s only been months. But so much had happened, and I’d learned so much, experienced so many things with him… “While it took me time to see it, I realized that he was more than his appearance. And I’m sure that in time, the others will see that with you, King.”

“We are not so sure we believe you.” She shook her head, but looked up to me with a small smirk displayed under her sad eyes. “But still, we thank you for the chance to show we aren’t what they say we are.”

“So then, about who you are,” Reaching up, I scratched at my chin as I wasn’t exactly sure how to go about finding that out. “what… if anything, do you remember?”

“Well, we cannot recall much from when we were with Mother and the others in Unity.” Her small smile disappeared again as she put her hooves down and dropped her eyes back to the floor. “What we can remember, was that Mother was not happy with who we were. We were to be made an example of. This is why we had our memories taken.”

“While I don’t know much about this Mother of yours, did she do that to anyone else?” I mean, it was a long shot, but if any more of these Alicorn things had lost their memories, then maybe one of them has figured out a way to find them again.

“We… do not know.” Shaking her head, she closed her eyes and shuddered. “We remember that she kept most in Unity suppressed. Few were allowed independence to the extent that Lilac Lace had, as an example. We know Lilac worked closely with Mother on things due to having earned Mother’s favor as a showpony, and…” King paused as she let out a small whimper with another shuddering wince. “That meant Lilac did not like us either. It was her who ensured that we stayed this way. That is why we reached out to her for help.”

“And then Lilac sent you to me.” I nodded with a sigh. Well, that doesn’t help very much. “Is there anything else you can remember? Past what you’ve already told me?”

“It’s… hard to say.” King’s whimpers shifted into a fearful growl at that, like an injured animal caught in a trap. “Flashes, images of places we know nothing about, ponies whose names are gone, and have no meaning to us…” As she spoke, small lines of magic traced up her horn, starting to collect at the top. “We… we must remember. We…” She started to breath quicker, almost panicking. “We want to remember, but we… can’t…” She growled as the magic in her horn started to glow brighter and brighter. “Please, but we must! You must let us!”

With a sharp pop, her eyes shot open, her wings flared out, and a magical bubble enveloped her body like a conforming, skin-tight suit. Green magic ebbed from her horn and her wide eyes as she sat starkly still. The hum of her magic beat out the low noise the terminals on the bridge let out, but other than that, only silence carried across the air.

“Uh… King?” I asked softly.

A soft gasp escaped my lips as her head slowly turned, and her glowing eyes fell across me. For a moment, her face twitched until a sad expression dropped back across her glowing eyes. With a flicker, her magic gave out, and the bubble burst with a sizzle. The glow in her horn and eyes faded, leaving tears streaming down her face.

“We… we aren’t alone.” She sniffled, bringing one of her forehooves up to wipe at her cheeks. “This… is unexpected.”

“What do you mean we aren’t alone?” Looking around, I wasn’t sure if she meant that there was another alicorn around. Maybe there was one who could turn invisible like Lilac Lace could. However, as King pat her hoof up to her own chest a few times with a frown, I got the feeling that it wasn’t another alicorn she was talking about.

“When Unity fell, Mother…” King paused as she sniffed again, taking a moment to calm her quivering muzzle. “She wanted to save as many of us as she could. However, there were not enough vessels for all of us. Some were filled with many souls, and I… we, thought we were alone in this one.”

“So… there’s another pony inside of you?” I asked, receiving a soft but prompt nod from her. Okay, I’d seen some weird things in my short stay in the wasteland so far, but having a few souls crammed inside you? That had to be one of the oddest. “Do they know who you are?”

King looked confused for a moment before shaking her head softly.

“She does not know, nor does she want control of us.” King’s frown deepened with another shuddering sigh. “She simply wishes for us to not remember anything at all.” Bringing her sad gaze to her hooves again, she pushed herself to stand up. “This… is all so much to feel. I am sorry, Night, but I feel I must reflect on this.”

“Take all the time you need, King.” I did my best to offer her a comforting smile, but she didn’t even see it. She simply turned herself toward the front of the ship and headed off, disappearing through the bulkhead.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed myself to my hooves. After all that, I think that I was going to need some time to process all this as well. I had no idea why Lilac thought I was the pony to help her, because I didn’t even know if I could. While she’d said I was supposed to be able to do that, and while I felt it in my soul that I needed to at least try, I had no idea how I even could.

Maybe Lilac didn’t send King for me to help, rather, maybe she sent King to help me. After all the shit she’s done to try to help me, that at least made some sort of sense. Looking back at my cutie mark, I stared at it. It was still a bomb sitting across an early war bomb sight, just as it was the day I bombed Double Drum’s roller. So why if my talent was for bombing, did Lilac say it was my purpose to help others? How do you help ponies by blowing them up?

“Hey, Dum Dum.” Hispano called softly as she poked her head through the core systems bulkhead. “You uh… you got a minute?”

“Yeah, Hispano. What’s up?” Trotting over toward the door, she disappeared back inside. As I stepped in, I found her walk back over and sit herself back down at the terminal in the back of the room. On the dull green glow of the screen, sat some sort of text prompt with a pair of options. As I approached, I could make it out.

[Open File: ‘Advanced Blue Flu Project’?]

[ Confirm ] [ Cancel ]

“I… I don’t know if I should…” Hispano’s voice had shrunk to a squeak so light I almost couldn’t hear it. But I could see her fear written all across her. “What if… what if I can’t…” Her words died in her throat as she lost herself in her own head again.

“Hispano, I know it’s hard. You don’t have to… I mean… what I’m trying to say…” Fuck, I couldn’t even help Hispano out, could I? Seriously, all this trust she’d place in me, and I couldn’t even answer a simple question? Granted she hadn’t asked said question, but I owed it to her to be better than this.

Reaching my hoof down, I carefully wrapped my fetlock around her talon. She tensed up at the hold, but relaxed as she looked down at it. Again, I tried my best to offer a comforting smile.

“I’m right here, Hispano.” Even with just those words, I could feel as the tension left her at least a little bit. “You don’t have to open it now if you don’t want. We can wait until you’re ready. And whenever that is, whatever it is that’s in there? We’ll see it together.”

“Thanks, Night.” She offered up her own soft smile. Slowly, she leaned herself over and pressed up against me. Her warmth was more than welcomed, and almost by instinct, I wrapped my wing around her snugly. She gave out a sigh as she pressed her plumage into my neck. “I’m just worried that… what if there had been a way to save her?”

“We can’t change the past, Hispano.” Squeezing at her talon, the image of Mom I’d seen on the Raptor came crashing back into my mind. “All we can do is be who they’d have wanted us to be. To make them proud.” Resting my head against hers, I took a deep breath as Mom’s smiling face drifted out of my thoughts again. “And I know your mom would have been proud of you, Hispano.”

“Hah, I don’t know, Night.” She forced out a light laugh at that. “She would have kicked my ass if she’d known I’d fallen for some soft pony.” With a long and dejected sigh like the one King had given, she somewhat slumped in my hold. “I’m no Talon, not like she was, not like my dad is. I’m just some griff who gets into trouble she shouldn’t be in, and can’t even decide for herself what she wants anymore. Maybe I’m not even worthy of being in my own family...”

“Now that couldn’t be farther from the truth, Hispano.” It was my turn to force out a laugh. But unlike with hers, she pulled back from me with a frown. “You know exactly what you want. That’s why you yelled at me at the noodle stand, why you yelled at me last time we talked in here.” While I may not have known how to help King, maybe I could help Hispano after all. At least, in helping her to see that she wasn’t the griff she saw herself as. “That’s why you kept up after me, Hispano. Despite your doubts, more than anypony else on this crew, I think you know what you want.”

“He’s right.” Cora’s voice echoing into the room made the both of us freeze up completely. We spun in near unison as he stepped through the bulkhead into the room with us. While his gaze was softer than usual, he didn’t seem any less serious as he spoke. “I’ve spent the last few years trying to make sure I didn’t make any mistakes with you, Hispano. I’ve done my best in training you for everything a Talon needs to be prepared for on the job.” That was sentence I’d never thought I’d ever hear come from him. Cora closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. “As much as I don’t agree with the choices you’ve made with the company you keep, being a Talon wasn’t your choice. And as such, I can’t force this on you, Hispano. Not if it’s not what you really want.”

“Dad… what are you saying?” I wasn’t prepared for the horrified look across Hispano’s face, or the cold fear in her words. “No… Dad, don’t…!”

“I’m sorry,” Cora grunted and put his talon up to his chest sharply. “following article thirty eight, subsection C, as your registered Talon handler and trainer, I hereby resign you from Talon training, for the good of the service.”

So… that was it? She didn’t have to be a Talon any more? I…

My thoughts were derailed as Hispano all but ripped herself from my side.

“Take it back!” Hispano hissed at him. She growled, taking a single step toward him. No doubt she’d expected some sort of reaction, but just like Delilah always had, Cora had fallen onto a stoic and vacant expression. “Take. It. Back!” Again, Hispano seethed, jabbing her talon sharply at him.

“I’m sorry, I won’t do that.” Cora spoke sternly as he shook his head. “I won’t force you to be a Talon, Hispano.”

“You’re not forcing me, Dad.” Hispano growled as a tremor of pure rage ran through her. Her plumage stuck up on end, and her tail uncurled with a whip-like snap. “All I’ve ever wanted was to make you and mom proud! To make Suiza proud! You will not take this from me!”

“Then open the file.” Cora’s tone dropped the temperature in here to near freezing, at least, that’s what it felt like to me. Slowly, he stretched his Talon out and pointed at the terminal beside me. “Tell me after you read what little there is left that you’ll still want to be one. Tell me when you’ve learned just what Blue Flu does, that you’re willing to fly headlong into being a Talon.”

“What do you know?” Hispano snapped before spinning herself around again. With heavy steps, she made her way back toward the terminal. I wanted to speak up, to tell her that maybe he was right. But from the burning glare I got, and the forceful shove of her talon to move me aside, I couldn’t say anything.

With a hard slap of her talon across the Terminal keyboard, the terminal hummed to life and the screen changed.

[Accessing File: Project VEEV-115]

[Error Retrieving 16 Files… Files Corrupted]

[Displaying Remaining File:]

[File: Project VEEV-115 Overview]

[Attached File: Boulder Ridge Incident Report]

The file popped up on the screen as Hispano leaned in with a growl. She scrolled through the document, letting her eyes drift over line after line of text. Admittedly, I was curious about just what it said, but as the silence between the three of us dragged on, I watched as Hispano’s haste was slowly worn away. Replaced with an ever deepening look of regret that sank its teeth further and further into her.

The short report had only taken her a few minutes to read through, but it’s effect was easy to see. A haunting, hollow look had crept around her normally bright eyes, dulling them. With a single stroke of the keys, she made the terminal screen flicker to black.

“That… it didn’t even…” She struggled to get the words out. Hispano looked… lost in herself, finally pulling things together enough to look up at Cora with a confused stare. “How… did you know there was so little?”

“The job your mom died on, it wasn’t for some random pony.” Cora sighed, sitting down hard. “She’d been contracted to be protection for a short salvage run,” Without warning, his eyes turned on me, and a glare like Hispano had just held tried to burn right through me. “it was the Enclave who’d hired her. There had been an incident years back with Blue Flu, caused by another Talon and his Father. The Enclave found out about it and came looking for the weapon, and your mom, well, she got the job.” With a deep breath, he pulled his glare off of me, and I let out a deep breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. “Something went wrong, betrayal or something, but your mom killed them. And in the firefight, one of the containment vessels broke. I’d arrived shortly after just to check in on her, hours before anyone else was supposed to.” With a whimper, tears began to trickle down Cora’s beak. “She asked me to destroy everything I could about it. The research files, all the samples... the cure… I… I had no choice, Hispano...”

“No.” Hispano snapped sharply. “You do not get to say you could have saved mom! You had a choice!”

“If she’d lived, the Enclave would have done anything to get a sample of her blood…” Cora forced himself to raise his voice. “She didn’t want to put our lives in danger!”

“Yeah, and that fucking worked out great, huh?” Hispano forced a laugh out as her legs threatened to give out under her. “Instead, I got to watch her die, and my sister turn into a fucking gun. And all because you just... let it happen.”

“Hispano…” Cora’s cold tone was gone, and all I could hear from him now, was pain.

“Shut the fuck up! You fucking asshole!” Hispano screeched and flared out her wings. “You’re getting off of this ship. You’re going to leave, and I’m never going to see you again! Understand me!?” Cora’s eyes dropped to the floor as she huffed at him.

I’d never felt so powerless. In this state, I couldn’t even speak up. Nothing I could say would ever get through to her right now, and… I’m not sure I should even try. I felt like any nudge, anything at all could send her over the edge, and she’d go get Suiza. And while I certainly hadn’t cared for the way Cora had treated me, he didn’t deserve to die. Not like that, and certainly not by Hispano’s talons.

“Fuck!” Hispano let out an angry howl. “I’m… going out. When I get back, you better be gone.”

With a few hard beats of her wings, Hispano carried herself out through the bulkhead, and up through the hatch in the bridge. It wasn’t until the inner hatch sealed did I nearly have my legs collapse from the stress of this all. Fuck, couldn’t have a day where shit didn’t go wrong, could I?

As I sat there and tried to collect my thoughts, the soft sobs from Cora hit me.

“I’ve just… tried so hard to protect her.” He whimpered, bringing a talon up to his face as he fought back the urge to collapse. “Was I wrong?” Looking up at me, there was a moment when I saw the hatred he’d held for me come back. But in an instant, it was gone again, replaced with nothing but shame and regret. “What would you have done, Night? If it was her asking you to just... let her die?”

“I…” This wasn’t something I was even remotely prepared to answer. No one should ever be put in this situation, and… “I can’t say I’d even be able to make a decision like that.” But then again, this was never about me. “But if I had asked her what your wife asked you? There’s not a single doubt in my mind that she would’ve chosen to fight. Because that’s what you raised her to do. That’s what she wants to do. And we both know that despite what she thinks, she’s a hell of a lot better at it than we are.”

“Yeah, she is.” Cora forced a smile across his quivering muzzle, but no matter how much he fought, he couldn’t stop the river of tears. “Oh, I fucked up, Night. I pushed my own girl away… my little girl...” With that, his legs finally gave out, and he collapsed into sobs on the floor. “Forgive me, please…”

The griffon who was arguably tougher than I’d ever be, sat there, reduced to a crying heap. Were it any other day, under any other circumstances, I’d have been smiling. But this was going to hurt Hispano as much as it hurt him. And while my father was still out there, somewhere, Hispano still had hers right here, and she didn’t deserve to lose him now. I know she’s angry, but she’ll come around. She had to.

Because we all make mistakes.

For now, I let Cora stay in the captain’s quarters to cry. While I didn’t want Hispano to suffer, I wasn’t going to throw him off of the ship. Still, for the time being, I felt it best to keep Suiza strapped to me.

It hadn’t been more than another half hour before Buck and Tofu returned, and once I’d filled him in, I felt like I was entitled to a bit of time to clear my own head. So with him watching over Cora, I got into the Remora and headed out. Laika had offered me a drink before we left, and while I didn’t so much care for alcohol, right now, I think I needed it.

The display in my head showed the Remora’s altitude lower to zero again, and with a hiss, the door opened. The cold mountain air rushed into the small cabin as I stepped out onto the Observatory’s landing pad. The pair of well dressed Spectrum Federation soldiers who greeted me were the same who’d been out here when we first arrived. They looked to Suiza, and then to each other before nodding for me to head inside.

Trotting up to the door, I put my shoulder into pushing it open. A soft squeak from the other side came through as the door bounced off of somepony. Cringing, I poked my head through to inside as a slightly glowing Saddle Arabian stallion tried to shake off the stars I’m sure he was seeing.

“Oh, shit, sorry, Ammon.” While I’d had a bad enough day that I could justify not being sorry for things, I probably could stand to still try to be nice.

“It’s fine, it’s fine…” He groaned as he reached up and rubbed at the spot on his forehead just under where his horn would sit. “It’s my fault for being in such a rush today. Just… so much to do.”

“Did they make you the mayor of Sanctuary?” Pushing myself inside the building, I shut the door behind me and held my hoof out to him. He reached out for it hesitantly before shooting me a short lived glare.

“Yeah, thanks for that by the way. Being in the spotlight will really help me keep a low profile.” He snorted before pulling himself up to his hooves again. “Though, I suppose it’ll help keep me away from home for a while…”

“Did you talk with Gamma...?” The words slipped out, drawing a renewed glare from the stallion. “I… suppose that means you did.”

“Well, he doesn’t hate me.” Ammon sighed and flattened his ears against his head. With a light bite of his lip, he shrugged. “Still, he’s not happy. I think not being around for a while will give him time to process things. Mostly, it will let him come to terms with the fact his real husband didn’t return because he didn’t make it through the end of the war.”

“Hey,” Reaching up, I gave him a pat on the shoulder and forced up a smirk. “You might not be his first husband, but it doesn’t mean you aren’t a real one.”

“Thanks, Night.” He flashed up his own smirk at least before nodding to me. “Anyway, I assume you’re here to see the Sky Marshal? She said she was expecting you at some point.” Nodding back over his shoulder, he also gave me a light wave. “She’s up in her office. But for now, I’ve got plenty of work to get done. Safe travels, Night. And… thank you.”

“Yeah, same to you, Ammon.” I mirrored his wave before stepping around him. “And give my regards to your husband!”

Trotting my way across the freshly cleaned floors, I turned a corner and started up the stairs leading to the higher floors of the observatory. As I made my way higher, I ran across pony after pony doing maintenance work. A few replacing some old wiring, some painting the walls or cleaning the windows of the dozens of smaller rooms in the building. More than a dozen separate Federation officers were hard at work as well, either looking over paperwork, or talking with towns ponies.

It wasn’t until I reached the telescope floor that I saw the first of the spectrum flags being hung around. A beam of light ran through a triangular prism on the right side of the flag, splitting into a rainbow that spread over the rest of the black canvas. I had to pause midstep as in the center of that rainbow, sat the black outline of the same circle and bolt of lightning that had been branded on every Dashite.

“It’s so we don’t forget.” The voice of an older mare made my mane stand on end, and I had to fight back the urge to grab Suiza as I jumped on all fours.

“It was deplorable what the Enclave did to those poor ponies. But, being reminded of it everywhere you look should help us to keep it from happening ever again.” Spinning around, I was again met with Blue Cross, the obnoxiously blue mare who’d been with Laika after the whole Rofia and Gadget incident yesterday. “Though, it’s only a preliminary design. The final choice is up to the council.” She was still in her same expertly pressed Federation uniform, and the glare she cut at me was no less sharp than what she’d held during the meeting with Laika. “Are you here to meet with the Sky Marshal, Survivor?” I nodded as she huffed and pointed across the telescope room toward Laika’s office. “Good, so am I.”

She trotted around me, heading toward Laika’s office with a stack of papers balanced across her back. I’d managed a glimpse at the word ‘Vanderhoof’ written across them before I was pulled lower down onto her flank. Where a cutie mark would have normally sat, only a deep gouge out of her flesh existed. Like somepony had come along and just scraped off the whole thing.

“What happ…” Again, I couldn’t fight the words. However, that was as far as I made it before Blue Cross looked over her shoulder at me.

“My cutie mark?” She let a mirthful laugh slip from her muzzle. “You lived up there above the clouds, right? Are you saying that you really don’t know who I am? Or the family I belonged to in the Enclave?”

“Well…” It was an odd question, but prominent Enclave families wasn’t something I’d ever really known about. “I remember that Tail End said your mother was Admiral Grand Cross, but that’s it.” Shrugging, I wasn’t sure how to elaborate. Hell, I didn’t even remember the name of my mom’s commanding officer, and she complained about him all the time when she was home! “Should I know?”

“You’re lucky then.” Blue Cross snorted and turned herself back towards Laika’s office. “My grandmother was an Enclave hero, my mother was a diligent Admiral. Then, there were my aunts.” Giving a shudder that ran to her core, she almost dropped the files from her back, having to cradle them in her wings. “Their treason cost my family everything. My mother’s job, my place as head nurse at the triage center, everything.” She paused again to look back at her missing cutie mark, taking a second to shift herself so her uniform could cover it up again. “I gave up my mark to let my son keep his own, as well as his place in the service. For all the good that did for him… the naive foal.”

I didn’t get a chance to ask about it before we reached the door. With a swift kick, Blue Cross shoved the door open, revealing Laika was sitting at her desk. She was kicked back, with a clear glass bottle only half filled with a clear liquid in one paw, and a shot glass in the other. Stepping inside was all I needed to do to smell the rich alcohol before Laika tipped back her head and downed the shot from her glass.

“Ah, good, good!” Laika grinned as the two of us stepped inside and took a seat on the far side of her desk. “I was hoping you would come, Night.” Her smiling muzzle shifted from me to Blue as she gave a light kick and bucked the files from her back onto the desk. “As you can see, after what you found on the server, I have gathered what we have on Vanderhoof for you.”

“That’s kind of you.” I shared a wide smile back at Laika. Really, after everything, I hadn’t expected this sort of help from her! It was a nice change of pace to actually have a leader willing to give me a break for once.

“Dah, pozhaluysta.” She nodded. As she did, a note came up in my vision like before that read ‘you are welcome’.

“Teper' my p'yem!” She barked as she pulled another pair of opaque shot glasses from on her chair beside her, setting them down on her desk with a loud clunk. I didn’t need the translation in my vision to know what she’d said as she started pouring the three shots from her bottle. Right, that’s something that was going to happen…

“None for me, thanks.” Blue Cross groaned as she tapped her forehoof on the floor.

“Eh, more for me.” Laika gave a soft laugh before carefully pushing one of the glasses over to me. “But I will not take niet for an answer from you, Night.”

Oh, what the hell…

Reaching forward, I wrapped my fetlock around the small glass. I’d already had worse, right? And it was only going to be one, and I could handle one…

“Dlya tekh, kto umer.” She nodded to me as we both brought the glass to our muzzles. With a sharp tip back, she forced the liquid down her muzzle with a gulp. I’d done the same by the time my augment had translated what she’d said. ‘For those who died.’

It was sharp. Unlike the alcohol I’d had before, the taste of this didn’t linger in my throat. My stomach felt like it did a flip before a warm feeling settled in as I set my glass down. Taking a breath, that actually hadn’t been all…

My lungs seized up as the drink felt like it burned back up my throat. I coughed hard as while I didn’t throw up, the air against my throat felt like a dozen hot irons were expelled through my muzzle. Laika let out a loud, stark laugh as she leaned forward and poured herself another glass. Seriously, all this tech in my head to kill the pain, and it can’t even stop this from burning me...

“What is this stuff?” I choked out as finally the burning feeling started to subside.

“It’s definitely strong stuff. Not quite as good as Stalliongrad’s best, but it’s not bad.” Laika again laughed at me before wrapping her paw around her refilled glass. “A small lumber town named Skookum sent a case of these in with their application to join the Federation. Probably a gift meant to sway me, but unfortunately for them, it’s the council’s decision, not mine.” Lifting her glass, she tipped it to Blue Cross before making the clear liquid disappear yet again. She winced as she exhaled and set her glass down once more. “A shame, because they’d have my vote.”

“I hope you realize it’s made out of run-off byproducts from their papermill, Sky Marshal.” Blue Cross grumbled and rolled her eyes. “Not many could afford to be alcoholics above the clouds, but plenty found themselves trying quite hard to be one, and ended up in my hospital. I hope that doesn’t become the case here.”

“Dah. I understand the concern, Admiral, but fear not, I can handle my drink.” The small Diamond Dog panted lightly as she semi-slumped back in her seat with a wide smile. “But! We did not come to talk about that. We must discuss what you will find where you are going.”

“Yes, well, there certainly wasn’t much about one of the Federations most… interesting acquisitions.” Blue Cross huffed as she reached over and opened up the file on top of the stack. “Seen as the first real stop in the frozen north, it’s mostly a trade hub and rest stop. The city used to house about ten thousand ponies in various suburbs, with the bulk of the city straddling both sides of Highway Five. While records show that it survived the war without a scratch, most of the old city has all but been destroyed over the last two hundred years in various conflicts and wars between the eastern and western halves of the city.”

I sat forward as a note of panic ran through me. While the Ark was definitely underneath the plots of land Delilah’s family had bought, I remember that she’d mentioned needing to go to Vanderhoof. There had to be more to what was in that vault than it sounded, and if the vault had been destroyed...

“Does that mean the deeds we’re looking for are gone?” I asked bluntly.

“No, several city government buildings were built to wartime standards, meaning they could take a megaspell blast and still be standing.” Blue Cross laughed before sliding over a large black and white photo from inside one of the file folders.

What stopped in front of me was a picture of a six story tall concrete monolith of a building. It stood tall compared to the makeshift wood and scrap metal buildings that lined the bustling city block around it. While it looked a little worse for wear around the chipped and pock marked exterior, the single double doored entrance that was the building’s only outward feature, was clear and open.

“Blyat… it even looks like a vault.” Laika sat forward again, looking across at the photo as well.

“We’re sending word ahead to them to expect your party’s arrival, and that they’re to allow you access to Burro Industry’s deposit box.” Blue Cross slipped over another file folder that held various old papers in it. Scrawled across them were hundreds of lot numbers, sixteen digit account numbers, as well as the names for each and every one of them. Circled in red was one labeled Lot B-1919 and marked with simply B.I. for the name. “We’re also making sure they know not to grant access to Prince Solomon or his Envoy.” Well, score one win for us! However... “And before you bring it up, we have reminded them what will happen if any Federation Officer is found to have accepted a bribe of any kind.”

“Thank you.” My muzzle split into a wide grin as for once, I was confident that even if Solomon was ahead of us, we were still technically in the lead! “You have no idea how much this helps.”

“Also of note, because you are looking for a ship…” The Admiral reached over and brushed a few more of the file folders over, pulling out a thicker one with a bright red Confidential stamped across it. “The Enclave kept a close eye on the activities out at sea past the range of the S.P.P. towers cloud cover.” Opening the folder, she dumped out a veritable collage of images. From small looking fishing vessels and tug boats, to larger rusting warships, all the way up to a fleet of a dozen large tankers. There were more ships than I cared to count! “Some of these are simple merchant and civilian ships, but a good majority of them are pirates. Most of the ones here even all belong to the same western sea pirate fleet.”

“Pirates.” I… almost couldn’t believe that. “You’re kidding me.”

I mean, I’d seen some weird stuff in the wastes so far, but even up at Destruction Bay, I hadn’t seen or heard of that many ships moving around. But since we hadn’t seen hide nor hair of the Inuvik since up there either, I was now getting a sinking feeling in my gut...

No, not sinking, Night. They’re fine! No reason to bring any of this up and worry anyone, let alone Buck.

“While their raiding activity has steadily decreased over the last decade, the clearing of the clouds have drawn more than a few back.” The Admiral sighed as she collected up the pictures again, neatly trying to stack them once more in the folder. “If you are looking for the ship you claim to be, there is absolutely no chance that the pirates out there would miss something like that sailing by.” With a light shuffle on the desk, she finally put them all away and set the folder aside. “Your reputation may proceed you here, but not even the Survivor is going to gain you any reprieve from them.”

“Dah.” Laika groaned as she reached out across the desk, swiftly collecting my shotglass and the large bottle next to her. “Though, you could consider negotiating with them.” Before I could tell her that one had been enough, she’d poured me and herself another drink, and slid mine back over to my hooves. “The Equestrian government wasn’t ready for a war at the scale it ended up at. So, before the attack on Littlehorn, they’d hired a dozen ‘independent’ zebra merchant marine ships to protect our shipping. Could go the same way and find a way to buy some of their fleet’s loyalty for enough time to sail away.”

Again, she threw back the drink, and downed it all without a problem. As she let out another light shudder, she looked at me with a smile, nodding expectantly to the glass in front of me. With a sigh, I took it in my fetlock again. I knew it would suck, but after all the help they’d given me, it would be rude…

Downing the drink, I too shivered as the cold alcohol went down easy. Then once more, the burning worked its way back up, but thankfully at a faster pace as the warmth in my stomach doubled. As I coughed again, the stars in my eyes danced about, and a small fancy alcohol glass appeared over the small pony in my augmented vision. Huh, I wonder if it knows that I’ve been drinking…

Both Laika and I froze up in place as Admiral Blue Cross reached over and grabbed the bottle. With an almost vacant look sitting across her face, she poured herself a glass and downed it easily. Like with Laika, it didn’t seem to affect her at all.

“Everything alright, Admiral?” Laika asked slowly as she sat up straight and pressed her paws together on her desk.

“Just… thinking about New Cloudsdale again, Sky Marshal.” Blue Cross smiled softly, but it wasn’t hard to see she was plainly hiding the pained expression she held just under it.

“New Cloudsdale? I thought the Enclave forbid that name.” The words slipped from my muzzle, making my head feel a bit lighter with each word I spoke.

“They did. It was what the Enclave sympathetic reformers named the city they stole when the clouds came down. Pushed it right off out over the western ocean.” Laika nodded as she pinned her eyes on Blue Cross. Some part of my admittedly fuzzy mind remembered that Tail End had mentioned something like that happening, but it was so long ago... “We’ll find it, Admiral, and we’ll bring it back.”

“Hah, I could care less about that dreadful city.” Blue Cross’s voice wavered as she poured herself another drink and quickly downed it. With a whimpering sigh, she set the small glass back down and stared at it. “I just want to make sure that Merit is alright. He’s… all I have, and he’s out there, somewhere, over pirate infested waters.”

“Hey, we’ll find him.” Laika spoke softly, but confidently to the mare across from her who was looking more and more troubled by the minute. “I meant it when I said we’d set up one of the raptors for an expedition. I’ll speak with Captain Raychaser, and…”

“No, it’s… fine.” The Admiral stood up sharply and bent her forehoof up in a stiff salute. “The Federation is too important to risk leaving defenseless, and without the last piece of its archive. I will do my duty and protect what we’ve built here.”

“At ease, Admiral.” Laika’s voice was again firm, but I could see the concern in her eyes. “I’ll yield on this for now, but we will go to find him, I promise you that.”

“Thank you, Sky Marshal.” Blue nodded, forcing up her smile over the pain again before spinning and quickly trotting towards the door. “I will... return to my duties with the fleet now. Have a good day.”

The moment she’d shut the door to Laika’s office, the small Diamond Dog deflated in her seat again.

“You know, Night, I envy you.” Laika spoke as she did her best to collect herself. Stretching herself over across her desk, she wrapped her paw around the neck of the nearly empty bottle and dragged it back over to her. “Back in the war, I had one goal. Get to space. And like then, you to have somewhere to go, a clear goal in mind. But, things have changed for me. I do not have a direction, only to try to keep this federation together, and I feel like I am barely scraping by.”

“Well, you’ve been doing alright so far.” I couldn’t back that up with anything at all. Geeze, and I thought I had it bad in feeling like I needed to help those in need. I can’t imagine what it must be like for Laika, having to manage multiple settlements that need her help.

“Are you sure I couldn’t convince you to come stay here once you find the Ark?” Laika again poured herself a drink. “We’ve got six settlements in the Federation so far, and a dozen small ones interested in joining up. But, most others in the north are still convinced we’re your ‘Enclave’. I may be the smartest dog around, but that only gets us so far as you’ve seen firsthoof.” Rather than shooting her drink down like before, she simply stared at it longingly. “Not to mention, after what happened with Rofia, and with Gadget… we could really use a hero to help keep the citizens inspired, and maybe convince others that the Federation could really help change things for the better.”

“Hah, I’m not a hero.” I sighed as my eyes drifted down to the floor. “I’m just… hard to kill, is all.”

“You’re too modest.” Pausing at that, she finally brought the alcohol to her muzzle and downed it. “Actually, you know, Twilight Sparkle had a theory. Data from the front line showed that it wasn’t veterans who performed miraculous acts on the battlefield. Rather, it was always the youth, pushed to the edge with their lives on the line.” Wrapping her paw around her glass, she brought it up in front of her, almost as if gazing into it could replay the memories of her past. “She said something to the effect that heroes weren’t ‘forged’ in battle. Rather, in those impossible situations, they discovered who they really were meant to be. And from what I’ve seen, that sounds a lot like the pony sitting across from me.”

“Hah.” Again, a sharper than intended laugh slipped from my muzzle, pulling an oddly sad look from Laika. “I’ve spent hours, days, even weeks now wondering just who I’m supposed to be. But… I’m just Night Flight. I’m not a hero, I’m just a stallion doing what I believe is the right thing.” Giving a shrug, I watched as Laika let that sink in and set her glass down on the table. “I don’t know about you, but I’m fairly sure that anyone can do the right thing. It’s just in the wasteland, for one reason or another, they choose not to.”

“Maybe you’re right.” She nodded as she once more reached out for my glass. I tried to move to stop her, but again she snatched it away and filled it up again, using up the last of the bottle on her own glass. “But thank you for that insight, Night. It’s good to know that there are still some ponies out there who embody the best of what our nation once held in the highest regard before the war. Truth to oneself, and to their friends.”

“I’ll drink to that.” I laughed, forcing a wide smile across her tiny jagged muzzle again. She effortlessly slid the drink over into my waiting fetlock.

“К правде!” She shouted, lifting her glass to me. I did the same, and we both downed the foul liquid.

Funny enough, the third shot seemed to be the charm. While the warmth in my body didn’t grow this time, that feeling spread across my skin in an odd, but pleasurable way. And as the both of us sighed and relaxed, I couldn’t help but realize that maybe this stuff wasn’t so bad after all.

“You know, I'll have a bottle sent to your ship before you all leave. Again, I won't take no for an answer.” Laika smirked from atop her book stack before a frown took over as her gaze drifted to the empty bottle. “At the very least if you don’t want it, give it to Buck with my regards. I feel that I may have let him down a bit harder than I intended…”

“I’ve found him!” The extremely excited voice of Tail End came through the door before he literally burst through it. “Well, I didn’t find him really. I left my desk for a second and one of our new cadets dropped it off!”

“What?” Both Laika and I shouted as we sat up and spun to meet his incredibly exuberant expression. Not only that, but when I’d finished spinning to see him, the world didn’t seem content to stop, and I started to feel fairly light headed.

“It’s all in here!” Tail End laughed before using his wing to toss an old looking leather bound notebook onto Laika’s desk. “Rofia kept fairly detailed accounts of every slave she sold, right? Well, while his name wasn’t in there, I think I found Night’s father! But, that’s where things get tricky.”

“That… that’s wonderful!” I couldn’t believe it! Oh, I could just hug him right now! Oh wait, I can!

I moved to give the former Enclave officer the biggest hug he’d ever had in his life. However, much like I’d noted, the world hadn’t quite stopped spinning. In fact, trying to get up and walk over to him had made it worse, and I quickly found myself sprawled out on the floor.

“Oh, you alright there, Night?” Tail cringed as he held his hoof out to me. Which I would have grabbed if both of our hooves didn’t noodle around all over the place! With a frown, he looked over at Laika. “How much have you two even had?”

“I had three!” I couldn’t fight the proud giggle I gave out from the floor. Goddesses, I’d needed this today...

“Three bottles!?” Now Tail looked panicked.

“Shots. Three shots.” Laika spoke with a note of disappointment in her voice that almost stung. Hey, I tried, damnit! It’s not my fault this stuff was so strong. Plus, she was like, a quarter my size! How the fuck wasn’t she worse off than I was!? “But you came with news. Where is his father?”

“He was sold to Grand Finale.” Again, Tail cringed, glancing down at me hesitantly. Unexpectedly, Laika let out a low growl at that. “I did mention it would be tricky.”

“Who’s that guy?” I asked as the muzzle was forced out of my words. Wait, no, that’s not right...

“He runs the H&H Niter mine just outside the Federation town of Biscuit.” Tail answered as Laika again only let out a growl. “It’s not too far from here, just a half-days flight for your ship in its current condition. You can follow the rail line south and it runs right through the place.”

“And it should be noted, while there is no slavery allowed in the Federation, the council has given him exclusive permission to operate his mine with the slaves he already owned before the clouds came down. I fought them on that, but… there’s only so far even I can push.” Laika groaned before she popped her head over the edge of her desk and looked down at me. The determined look in her eyes made me smile, though I couldn’t quite tell why. “Even if he has special permission, he can expect to shortly get a Sky Marshal declaration demanding the release of Night’s father. And shortly thereafter, we’ll have a talk about his deal with Rofia.”

“Thank you, so, so much.” I laughed as I reached up to also give her the biggest hug I could give, but forgot that I couldn’t reach her from the floor. My muzzle quivered as it all hit me. My dad… I was going to see him again, and it was all thanks to them. “I was so worried something would happen to him before I could get there. But… you’ve saved him! You have no idea what this means to me...”

“You’re right, you have no idea what this means, Night Flight.” A new stallion’s voice, a familiar voice, spoke from the still open door to Laika’s office.

Both Laika and Tail turned to face the door, while I sort of rolled as best I could to see. And while the world spun like it had a tendency to, I did get the slightest moment to see Rook’s judgmental gaze looking down at me as his horn grew brighter. Breaking from the board and stoic expression he’d always normally held, he let out a short, cackling laugh.

With a blinding pop of arcane magic, he was gone.

“Oh no…” My alcohol inhibited mind spat out before I could really even process what the fuck just happened. “That’s not good.”

The understatement of the day, and the motto of your life, Night Flight...

Author's Note

A huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan, who as always has done a fantastic job going through and making sure everything's ship shape!

And of course, thanks to Kkat for building an amazing universe and letting us all play in it.

Chapter 87 - Mercenary Mischief

Don't be afraid to be the first to resort to violence.

“Oof!”

I tripped and fell into the Remora, shivering at the feeling of the near freezing metal floor against my side. My head bounced off the floor, but thanks to either the talisman in my augment, or the alcohol, I didn’t feel a thing! While I felt far too good right now, I did have one question, and that was how the hell did anypony get around after drinking!? My legs felt like the noodles Hispano and I...

No no, Night, focus!

“Eliza?” I grunted as I did my best to push myself back onto my unsteady hooves.

“Yes, Captain?” Eliza’s voice was followed with the smiling form of her cartoon mare popping sharply into my vision. It fuzzed for a moment, shifting to the mare with an unsure and somewhat concerned look across its face. “From the data I am receiving, it seems that while you only imbibed a small quantity of alcohol, you are fairly inebriated...”

“Yes, yes, that’s not important right now.” I deadpanned at her. Wait, she wasn’t actually in front of me… “Get everyone ready, we need to go.”

“That is not advised, Captain.” Eliza responded as the doors to the Remora closed and sealed. The soft humming of the engines permeated through the walls as they whined to life and pulled the skycraft off the landing pad. “Repairs are not yet completed. If I may suggest at least a few more hours, then…”

“No, Solomon is going after my Dad.” I couldn’t lose him, not again, not after everything I’ve already lost. “We leave now.”

“Aye, Captain. I will inform the crew and begin preparations to undock.” Eliza’s mare fuzzed back to the smiling version of itself. Though, the more I looked at it, the more I started to wonder if it had always looked that way. For some reason, now it looked somewhat… sad behind the smile. Yet another thought to file away to deal with later.

Using Suiza to help me stay propped up on my unsteady hooves, I took a moment to try to push out the fog that had crept into my mind. I closed my eyes and focused on him. It wasn’t hard to recall the laugh Rook gave before he teleported away, but it was enough to send a shiver down my spine. But it was how he looked at me, how he stood there and presented himself just long enough for me to focus on him. That reminded me of something deep down, something I’d done myself too many times.

Rook could have left without saying anything. He hadn’t needed me to see him. It was an act, the whole thing, he made a show of it. Solomon wanted me to run off after my dad, either to buy time to get ahead of us, or to set something up as a ‘surprise’ for when we got there.

Knowing this, I had a choice. I could either play into Solomon’s hoof, or ignore his games for now. Either way, I was getting my dad back, period. I wasn’t going to lose him again.

What we needed was a way to catch Solomon off guard, to get ahead of him.

“Hey, Eliza?” I asked softly as a plan started to form in my mind. I waited for the small smiling mare to pop up in my vision before smiling back to her, again forgetting she couldn’t see it. “Don’t launch the ship just yet. Seeing as this is very time sensitive, would it be at all possible to just take the Remora down to Biscuit?”

“Unfortunately, the Remora wasn’t built with that sort of flight range in mind. She’s meant to be a short range shuttle from the Arcturus.” Her mare flicked over to the frowning face for just a moment before immediately flipping back. “However, if you ask him nicely, Scar may be able to come down from the Factory and take you where you would like to go.”

“Can you do that for me?” I replied quickly. I know it would be short notice, but that’s exactly what Solomon wouldn’t expect. He may have known we were flying in a cloudship like the Arcturus, but there was no way he’d expect us to get there ahead of him in something else!

“Look, you already know I don’t like being bothered.” The sharp and oddly vindictive voice of a stallion filtered into my head. “What do you want.”

“Uhhh… who’s this?” I’d hoped the voice in my head was a real voice, but… I’d never heard this one before. Had the alcohol actually messed with my augment…?

“This is Sharan?” The stallion growled through my head. “Typical of a pony to waste my time. You know, I’d expected better of the ‘Survivor’ than to just drunk dial me.” But I didn’t call anypony! “Oh, now you didn’t call me to ask for my help! Again, more typical pony bullshit. I didn’t sacrifice my body to live in eternal shame and still have my time wasted by your race, okay?”

Sacrifice… wait a minute!

“Scar?” I asked, cringing slightly as a heavy sigh came through my head.

“Yeah, fine, call me by that degrading name. Not like I have a real one you could use.” He grumbled. Oh, well now things kinda made more sense... “Look, you need a pickup or what?”

“The Captain needs a quick ride to Biscuit while the Arcturus is still undergoing repairs.” Eliza chimed in as her smiling mare reminded me that she’d been here the whole time.

“Then why didn’t you just lead with that?” I could almost feel how hard Scar rolled his eyes at me, even though he didn’t have any eyes… and I didn’t know what he looked like before the whole brain in a jar thing… “Yeah, thanks for the reminder, asshole.” Shit, I forgot they could hear my thoughts! “Whatever, kid. I’ll be there in twenty minutes, so beready. Sharan out.”

I crawled up into the weapons bay of the Arcturus, finding Buck standing before me with a large cloud-to-ground missile held under each of his mechanical arms. Tofu gave out a grunt from beside him as she pulled herself up into the storage rack where the missiles had been, and wiggled into the gap. Sparks and the smell of ozone filled the air as she got to work repairing some system back there.

“Hey, Buck?” I asked, startling him to the point that he almost dropped the highly explosive missiles from his grasp.

“Oh, Night!” Buck winced as he steadied himself and made doubly sure his limbs were tightly wrapped around the bodies of the weapons. “How’d your farewell with Laika go? Things here haven’t gone all that well, and we’ll need to talk about what we’re going to do.” The odd and almost sad look that pulled across his jagged muzzle faltered as he squinted at me. “Wait… have you been drinking?”

“Yeah, Laika insisted.” I rolled my eyes at him. “But now’s…”

“Do you understand how dangerous that is, Night?” Buck barked, stiffening up and doing his best to glare at me. “With the painkillers you’ve been given, any amount of alcohol could cause severe problems with your already weakened body. I thought we’d gone over this when we were still living on Bertha.”

“I know, but…” I tried to speak up over him, raising my voice to try to get over the crackling noise of Tofu’s welding work.

“And weren’t you the one who told me that you wanted to detox, and I quote; as soon as we are back sailing south again?” Buck’s sharp snort and tapping metallic paw against the weapons bay floor played on my nerves in a way that I hadn’t quite thought would be so bad. But like always, my own anger took hold of my muzzle.

“And I fucking will if you’d fucking listen to me!” I snapped at him. The sparking from within the missile rack stopped, and Tofu’s curious gaze poked out just long enough for me to shoot a glare over at her. “Solomon is going after my Dad, right now. So while I don’t need this bullshit, what I do need is for you to put down those missiles and come with me.”

“I can’t go, not yet.” Buck frowned at me as he carefully set down one of the missiles onto the floor.

“What? Why the fuck not!?” Seriously, how didn’t he get that this was just a bit more fucking important than anything else at the moment!

“Because I have to monitor Cora’s condition!” Buck’s volume beat out anything else in the ship, echoing down the hall as he shouted. “I know that saving your father is important, but right now? I’m the only one who can make sure Hispano’s will still be alive tomorrow.”

“What? What are you talking about?” I mean seriously, offering an excuse like this, right now of all times? What the hell had gotten into him?

“That would be my fault. I should have brought it up to you, Captain.” Eliza’s voice came both into my head, and through the ship’s P.A. system. “Shortly after you left, there was a slight weapons malfunction in your cabin, and Cora was critically injured.”

“Just call it what it was, Eliza.” Buck snarled as he kept his burning glare on me. “Cora shot himself, Night.” Heaving, he practically let the other missile in his arm drop onto the floor with a loud clang. “Honestly, it’s a miracle that I managed to keep him alive, but he’ll only stay that way if I’m here to monitor his condition.”

“I didn’t…” Looking down at the straps that held Suiza tightly to me, I’d realized the mistake I’d made.

Hispano would never have shot her Dad. How could she when she believed in him too much to ever give up on him completely? But I’d thought I’d lost everything before, and I was right in that same place, ready to give in. Back when I’d thought Galina was going to kill me, when I’d thought I’d lost Buck? And here I’d left Cora alone, convinced that he’d lost the last member of his family.

What the fuck did I expect would happen when I left him alone?

“I’m sorry, Buck. He was my responsibility.” I sighed. I know it’s not my fault, but... I could have stopped this.

“His actions were his own, Night.” Buck sighed as well as he stepped over the missiles at his hindpaws, moving toward the infirmary hallway. “But Hispano is our responsibility. So if you want to make things right, make sure she knows what’s happened because… she doesn’t know.” He paused as he reached the bulkhead. “And if there’s anything I can say for certain, it’s that she’s going to act like she doesn’t care, but she will. You need to be there to remind her it’s not her fault, Night.” Turning back slightly, he offered me a frown as he shook his head. “I’m sorry I can’t go with you, Night, but please, take care of her, and don’t get into too much trouble.”

“I’ll do my best, and we’ll try not to get in over our heads.” I offered him a weak smile. It hurt, knowing that Buck wasn’t going with me because I fucked up once again. But, with his help, I know Cora would pull through, and I’d have to make sure to talk to him when he did. For now however, I had a different father to worry about. “Eliza, where’s Hispano?”

“Hispano has been stationary three meters away from the dorsal entry hatch for the last hour.” Eliza’s frowning mare popped into my vision. “Again, I’m sorry, Captain, for not mentioning Cora’s condition sooner.”

“It’s fine.” I sighed. I wanted to hide the fact that my words were a lie, but I just couldn’t care right now. Even when Eliza’s mare changed over to the one with the frown and teardrop, I couldn’t care. “I don’t know how long this rescue is going to take, so if we’re not back by then, once the ship is fit for travel again, I want you to head down after us.”

“Aye, Captain.” Eliza’s tone had a note of sadness to it, sharper than any other time I’d thought I’d heard some small variance in her voice. Again, I filed that away in my brain somewhere as shit to deal with later, and pushed my hooves to move.

Making my way through the hallways, I pushed past the captain’s quarters without a thought. The thick smell of blood permeated through the open door, and I wrestled against the urge to stop myself to take a look. Instead, I forced my eyes shut hard, and used my momentum to help carry me right past.

I didn’t need a reminder of what I’ve already seen far too much of on this trip. What I needed to do was focus if I wanted to save my dad before Solomon got to him. And…

I walked right into the bulkhead for the core systems room. Giving out a soft whimper, I rubbed at my forehead and opened my eyes. Pausing, I took a few breaths. Okay, I just needed to calm down. I wasn’t going to let Solomon get under my skin, and my worries about the others needed to take a backseat for now.

Pushing myself forward again, I found the hatchway ladder already extended and waiting on the bridge. Looking around as I walked in, both Delta and King were nowhere to be found, and none of the newly repaired screens currently held Eliza’s mare on them. With a squeeze of my forehooves, I pulled myself up onto the ladder, and climbed towards the top hatch.

A hydraulic whine came through the walls as the locks on it swung to the open position, and the hatch started to tilt back. The frigid mountain air swept down over me again, fighting at the warmth that Laika’s drinks had offered me. With a few stiff steps, and a long grunt, I managed to get up and pull myself out from the hatch.

“Leave me alone, Night.” Hispano grumbled from her lumpy tent that she’d constructed from the cloud that enveloped the Arcturus. “I don’t want to talk right now.”

“Hispano, we need to talk.” I offered to her as I reached over and put my hoof on the open hatch. With another whine, the mechanisms inside pulled it back down and sealed it. “It’s… about your dad.” I braced myself for the coming overreaction from her.

“I don’t care.” She huffed and pulled the cloud tent down around her until it was just a large lump. “I told you, I don’t want to talk, Night.”

“That’s fine, you don’t have to.” I walked my way over towards her lump, taking a seat a hoof’s length away from it. “But I do need to at least tell you…”

“Ugh, don’t do this to me.” Hispano let out a painful groan from within her small cloud sanctum. “The whole not talking thing means you not talking to me either. I’m not one of your ‘charity cases’, Night. Why can’t you just get that through your skull?”

“Fine, we don’t have to talk, Hispano.” Sure, we didn’t have to talk now, because we’d have plenty of time to talk later if need be. Still, I shifted myself and pulled on Suiza’s sling. “But I do need you to shoot for me, because I need your help.” As I swung Suiza around, I watched as a talon poked through the lumpy cloud next to me and tore a hole in it.

“Who.” She snorted as she stretched her talon out, grasping blindly until I brought her sister in range of her. Faster than you’d have thought possible, Suiza was pulled right into Hispano’s cloud, disappearing inside in an instant.

“Solomon knows about my dad, so we’re going now to rescue him first.” I offered her, watching as Hispano’s curious gaze peered through the shrinking hole her sister had made in her cloud. “Buck is… busy, and Happy is… still recovering.” Yeah, neither of those things were quite true, but they weren’t complete lies either. The way Hispano squinted back at me however, said enough. “Look, I know things are rough, but I need your help on this, Hispano.”

“Fine.”

Hispano clawed her way out from the cloud in a huff, quickly getting Suiza wrapped around her again. It was a brief moment, but I could see where her plumage had been matted down from her tears, and the broken compass that hung around her neck swung freely until she quickly stuffed it back under the confines of her feathers and her sister’s straps.

It wasn’t the best response I could have hoped for with her, but it wasn’t the worst. It was a start. Now, I just needed to hope that Scar could get us there in time.

At the very least, I’d managed to mostly sober up on the trip to Biscuit. It had only been a half hour or so, but I could feel as my mind unfogged and I was left with my own terrifying thoughts about losing my dad again in perfect clarity. Thoughts which admittedly, I was perfectly happy to try to push away in favor of literally anything else right now.

Hispano however seemed lost in her own head. She’d spent the majority of the trip next to the rear ramp just cradling Suiza in her talons. As much as I knew I needed to, and as much as I needed the distraction, I couldn’t bring myself to tell her about Cora.

“Not that anyone cares for my opinion, but you two will both need to focus if you’re looking to rescue someone.” Scar’s voice intruded on my thoughts in the unnatural clarity my augment provided me. “Anyway, I’m going to drop you off on the outskirts of town.”

“On the outskirts? Why?” I asked without even thinking, shifting against my flight harness uneasily.

“Because I don’t know where the fuck anything is out here? That’s your problem, hero boy.” Scar’s sharp retort helped to reinforce the fact it was just Hispano and I out here, and we had no backup for now. “Yeah, so settle in, because once you’re out, I’m heading home.”

“Woah, woah, woah! What?” Okay, now that was not cool. “I need you here for when we get my dad out of there.”

“Look, kid, I feel for you, I really do.” Scar said without an ounce of believable compassion. “But when it comes to you specifically? The longer I’m around, statistically, the chances that I never take off again skyrocket. That’s just how it is with you, and I’m not sorry for saying that.”

“Who are you talking to, Night?” Hispano called out across Scar’s cargo bay. I didn’t even have to look at her to know that while she sounded concerned, it wasn’t going to show on her in any way.

“Hey! Don’t you dare tell her we’re talking.” Scar snorted into my head. “I don’t need anyone else knowing I can still talk. It’s bad enough Eliza blew this shit by connecting you. I trusted her to keep this between us and the Architect, but I guess that was before she had other friends...”

“Okay, well make sure you’re here to pick us up and maybe no one else has to know!” I thought back with a glare at the glowing brain case in the front of the fuselage. “It’s just the Factory, nothing to worry about, Hispano.” I feigned a smile that none of us cared to believe. “Park outside of town far enough that you feel comfortably ‘out of the way’, but you will be back to pick us up, understood?”

“Fucking ponies. Fine, but this is a special case.” The skycraft under my hooves shifted slightly as we started to decelerate, and the altimeter plastered in the side of my augmented vision started to show us drop. “I’ve been extorted enough by your kind, and yet, you still ask for more! Unbelievable.”

While I couldn’t quite understand how it’d been for him for two centuries, he hadn’t lived my life either. I’d lost enough already, too much to care when this was about saving the one pony I still had from my old life. Until my dad’s safe from Solomon and Rook, nothing else matters.

The hum of hydraulics filled the cabin as the rear ramp split and lowered. The dim daylight from outside flooded in, pushing back the darkness that filled the interior of Scar. Along with it came a rush of moist, cold air, and the sound of intense and heavy rainfall.

The near torrential rains turned the wide, cracked pavement on the ground into a collection of muddy puddles. The various pinetrees and lush bushes that lined the old road streamed water off of them, while the smaller of them even slouched from the added weight of the water coming down. That is, until Scar’s engines pushed them back, wicking the water off of them sharply.

Hispano didn’t even wait until Scar had touched down before she walked down the rear ramp and hopped down to the ground. Following her lead, I decided to do the same, stepping out into the rain with my wings flared. The rain pelted me, but the updraft caused by Scar’s exhaust was enough to let me hover down to a nearby small patch of the old road that wasn’t a puddle.

As I came down onto the pavement, the exhaust from Scar’s engines picked up. I spun around, easily finding a roughly Scar shaped outline in the rain. Fuck, I’d forgotten he could go invisible like that! At the same time, with the rain as bad as it was, I’m not sure it really made any difference at all… no wonder he wanted to just get out of here.

Still, he couldn’t leave, not until I had my dad.

Looking up the road, I could see what I assumed was the small town of Biscuit. As far as wasteland settlements went, it wasn’t all that impressive. A dozen buildings lined each side of the old road, each of them in fairly poor condition with flaking paint and missing bits of siding here and there. The only vehicle in sight was an old flatbed truck that sat parked out front of a small square building at the far end of town, and even that looked like it had seen far better days.

“Alright, what’s the plan, Dum Dum?” Hispano sighed as she brought Suiza’s barrel up to her shoulder, and used her wings to help cover her head from the rain. “You do have some sort of plan, right?”

“We’re looking for a pony named Grand Finale.” I followed Hispano’s example and used my wings to shield myself from at least a small amount of the rain. “Supposedly he owns a mine around here, but that’s really all I know about this place. Tail End didn’t exactly have a ton of information to give me other than that Laika would send word that we’d be coming for my dad.” Partially that was my fault because I left in so much of a hurry, but I don’t think anypony could blame me.

“Alright, well let’s try the local bar or sheriff's office. Always good sources of information.” Hispano sighed as she pointed to a fairly run down looking two story building with a double doored entrance. “A name’s not much to go on, but it should be enough to get us somewhere to start looking. Somepony around here has to know something useful.”

A magical pop filled the air, and the thick snap of a branch behind Hispano and I forced the both of us to spin around. She leveled Suiza at the side of the road as one of the larger bushes next to it shook. We watched as with a stumble, a fairly large zebra in well worn combat armor all but tripped out of the bush. He took a moment to brush a few wet leaves that had stuck to him off of his armor before pausing and offering a hesitant glance over to us.

The hammering rain filled the awkward silence between us, but it passed in an instant as I was lost just taking him in.

Now, I hadn’t seen a lot of zebras on this trip, but this guy put every single other one I’d known to shame. The scuffed and worn black combat armor he wore barely fit over his rippling muscular frame that didn’t have a flaw or scar on it. His long, flowing jet black mane was bound up behind his head into knobby braids, and a short, well groomed beard sat under the nervous smile he flashed up to us.

But the oddest thing of all, were his stripes. They weren’t straight lines like Gearbox and Lucky used to have on them. Rather, they zigzagged together as they ran down his incredibly built body. Honestly, I didn’t even know Zebras could have different types of stripes!

“Um, hello there!” The seemingly surprised zebra offered with a light wave of one of his large hooves. A move that made Hispano bring Suiza’s sights up so that she was aiming right at his face. “Woah now, I’m not here to fight. I’m just a traveler who happened to see an invisible cloud ship drop off two strangers.” He shifted himself to point at the bush he’d popped out of. “I jumped in there because I wasn’t sure what was going on here, but… can you really blame me for that though? Gotta say, I’ve seen some interesting things in my travels. A giant flying invisible cloud ship that spawns some well armed kids? That’s a new one, even for me!”

“Hey, we aren’t kids. You certainly have a lot to say for a stallion I can blow away at any moment, and I’ve yet to hear a good reason why I shouldn’t just pull the trigger.” Hispano offered to the stallion coldly. “Why should I trust a goddess damned thing you’re saying.”

Her words were off to me, missing the spark she’d held before when pointing Suiza at someone. It was weird to say, but… it was like the griffon who I’d met on the Inuvik, the bubbly and excitable young girl, was missing. I understood why, but it didn’t make it any less of a stark difference to me. I didn’t know if she and Cora would ever work things out between them again, but I sure prayed to Celestia that this detachment to her work wasn’t permanent…

“Uh… how about because I could have jumped you two, but I didn’t.” The zebra offered back, carefully pointing to the small, black boxy submachine gun strapped to his back, along with a fairly large pistol holstered on his rear hip that covered his glyphmark. “Look, I’m telling you the truth. I was on my way back into town for a job, and hopped into the bush when I saw something in the rain. If you don’t believe me, that’s fine, you shouldn’t.” Sitting himself down hard, he held his hooves out to his sides and turned his head to the sky. “But if you strike me down, know that you have murdered an innocent lone mercenary just trying to make a living around here.”

I didn’t really know if there was such a thing as an ‘innocent’ mercenary, but at the very least, he was right that it would be murder. As much as I wanted my dad back before Solomon got to him, I wasn’t about to compromise myself to do it. Unlike that bastard, I at least had standards.

“I really don’t think he’s going to be a problem, Hispano.” I offered to her with a glance, finding that my words only toughened her resolve as she kept Suiza trained on him.

“And I think you’re far too trustworthy, Night.” Again, Hispano’s words were off to me. So much so that I was wondering if she was looking for a fight. “Okay then, mister merc. If you’re telling the truth, what’s this ‘job’ in town you’ve got?”

“I…” He paused for a moment, looking between us before glancing down at the ground again. “I’m here for my sister. She was taken months ago, and I tracked her back to being owned by some guy from this town named Grand Finale.” Again, his nervous smile flashed up onto his muzzle as he glared right back up at me. “But you see, I’m… not really from here, and so I’m hoping to find someone in town to tell me where he is.”

Well, I guess I wasn’t the only one who needed someone back!

“Funny, we’re actually here for the same thing.” I spoke up to him as a smile pulled across my own muzzle. The unsatisfied grunt that came from Hispano starkly opposed the barely contained relief in my voice, but she did lower Suiza from aiming right at the guy’s face. “Maybe we can help each other out? What’s your name?”

“It’s Mark.” He spoke back as a full fledged smile spread across his muzzle. “I know it’s odd, but my dad wasn’t much for traditional names.”

“Mark the merc. What a ridiculous name.” Hispano snorted as she brought Suiza up at him again. “Just remember that Night and I are here for a job, not to be your friend.” The spite in her voice caught me off guard almost as much as the annoyed sideways glance she shot at me. “Both of you should remember that. Now come on, we don’t have all day.”

“I agree, I’m just as eager to get my work done as you two are.” He offered a smirk and gestured to the skies above. “Still, it’s not like we could get any more wet, right?”

Hispano tipped Suiza up again with a grumble, bringing her sister to rest on her shoulder as she spun around. Walking purely on her hind legs, she splashed through puddles without a care as she headed towards the building she’d pointed out before. With a sigh, I turned and followed her. The quick splashes behind me grew closer, and I was shortly joined by the towering zebra merc.

“I’m not one to normally judge the company a pony keeps, but… she certainly seems like a fun traveling companion.” Mark kept his voice down slightly, speaking just loud enough to beat out the rain and the sound of our hooves pushing through the fetlock deep puddles. “Then again, with a gun like that, maybe you simply keep her around for the firepower.”

“She’s not normally like this, it’s just been… a bad day for Hispano.” I offered back without thinking. My carelessness pulled an angry growl from Hispano, and forced her to pick up the pace. “I know we just met and all, Mark, but just give her some space, alright?”

“Again, not judging or anything.” He nodded as kept his eyes locked on her. “Trust me, I get it. We’ve all had bad days.”

Trotting past most of the rundown buildings in town, we headed for what was clearly the local bar, with it’s old world beer logos plastered all over it’s walls. The other buildings here looked boarded up and mostly unoccupied, and the old shop fronts that most of them held seemed long unused. Though it was hard to see in the heavy rain, I thought I’d seen a few curious eyes peering through the second story windows of some of the buildings.

Dim, but still lit, old world neon logos of the beer brands hung in the clouded glass windows, and a humming bug zapper swayed gently next to the yellow flickering light that sat above the buildings heavy double front doors. The sound of a jukebox inside playing one of DJ PowerColt’s bass heavy electronic tunes drifted out, as well did some casual conversation held by a few inside.

“For the love of… would you shut that fucking thing off already, Gary!?” A commanding, yet squawky voice came from inside the bar, beating out both the song and the rain around us. “That fucking noise isn’t music!”

The three of us stopped in our tracks as a single gunshot came from inside, and the DJ’s tunes were replaced with the sound of the heavy rain.

“Oh fuck.” Mark groaned and ran a mud covered forehoof down his muzzle with a sigh. “I know that particularly annoying voice…” Pushing up past Hispano, he trotted up to the bar doors and easily yanked both of them open.

Stepping up to the open doors after our new Merc friend disappeared inside, I glanced around the dark old bar. Instantly I reeled back from the stench that filtered out from inside. The smell of old beer and wood varnish was so thick I could almost chew on it.

But as much as that annoyed me, as my eyes scanned the interior, I found the place was mostly empty. Dozens of heavy and robust wooden tables dotted the bar, and the glow of neon lights behind the bartop cast an odd sheen across the polished wooden floors. Still, sitting at the bar next to the smoldering remains of the jukebox, were three other occupants.

Three gryphons, each wearing stark black armor. Each one’s armor glistened in the dim bar lighting, but contained a starkly white painted talon on their sides. Of course, while it was a surprise to see three talons here, what surprised me even more was the fact that all three of them were pretty much identical looking. Each of them had flat brown plumage on their top halves, and black and orange tiger stripes on their bottom cat halves.

“Oh, great.” Mark sighed as the three of them turned to look at him. “It’s the flying tigers.” Uhhh… the who?

“Xeno… is that you?” One of the three griffons called out. “It is you, Xenophon! You fucking bastard, how’ve you been!”

“Hey there, Gary.” Mark groaned as he trotted up to the central griffon. “And how many times do I have to tell you, the name’s Mark.”

“Ah! I get you.” The griff chuckled, tapping a single talon on his beak a few times before extending his claws to Mark. “Still, it’s good to see you again! How’s life treating you? Heard your group got the absolute shit kicked out of them recently.”

“Oh you know, just living the good life.” In a surprising move, the large zebra reared up and wrapped his fetlock around the griffon’s talon, giving it a tight squeeze as the two smiled. “Say, you three are a long way from Vanhoover and the rest of your kin. Why’s that?”

“Yeah well, we were brought in as backup for a job that didn’t pan out. Stopped at this shithole Ghost townto grab a quick drink before flying south again.” The griff shook his head as he let go of Mark’s hoof. “Which is a shame, because it would’ve been good caps.” Turning back to the bar where the other two griffons were sitting, I noticed that one of them was steadily nursing a beer, while the closest to the entrance… had his eyes locked on Hispano as she stepped through the door. “Ah well, maybe you’ll have better luck on your job.”

“Yeah, maybe.” Mark shrugged before glancing back at me with a smirk. “While I’d love to stay and drink, the job comes first, you know?”

“Woah, and who’s this?” Gary laughed and practically shoved Mark aside as he turned his attention on Hispano. “A young chick all on her own, and in Talon territory nonetheless? What is this world coming to.” Turning back to the other griff who’s eyes hadn’t left her, Gary smirked. “Tell me, little lady, have you ever considered joining up with the company? I’m sure we’d be happy to show a little chick just how to properly handle a weapon like that cannon you’ve got there.”

“Oh gee wiz that sounds swell, mister Talon sir!” Hispano squealed as she rapped her talons along Suiza’s receiver. “Would you show me? I’d love to get tips on being a proper Talon from three washed up nobodies!” She deadpanned at them, pulling a smirk from the one who couldn’t take his eyes off of her. “How about instead, you mind your own damn business.”

“Oh, she’s got spunk.” He spat out as he set his beer down. “Well, since you asked, I’ve got a tip for you right here little girl.” He wrapped his talon around his crotch and gave a vulgar thrust that took the friendly mood right out of the whole damned room.

“Oh fuck off, Gary.” Gary grunted as he spun around and smacked the other griffon right across the face. “She’s like ten or something. What’s wrong with you?”

“Same thing that’s always been wrong with him.” The third griffon mumbled as he finished off the beer he’d been nursing with a loud belch. “You know Gary’s always been a goddess damned nest robber.”

“How about you three just lay off them, alright?” Mark offered before turning and glancing at Hispano. “In fact, maybe you can help us. We’re looking for Grand Finale. Any of you Gary’s wouldn’t happen to know where we could find him right now, could you?” Wait, they were all named Gary? Here I’d thought Hispano wasn’t being so serious about griffon’s liking their G names, but… here we are.

“Hah, that racist asshole, don’t remind me.” The center ‘Gary’ huffed as he crossed his talons across his armored chest. “He’s the reason we’re drinking in Ghost Town in the first place. That asshole won’t even let ‘our kind’ into Biscuit.” Wait, this isn’t Biscuit!?

“Yeah!” The Gary who’d been content with his beer grunted before hopping up onto his paws. “You know this town doesn’t care for our kind, or yours, Xeno.” With a spin and a few flaps of his wings, he hopped back over the bar and dipped under it for a moment. The clinking of beer bottles filled the air, and he quickly set another few beers up on the bartop. “But lucky for us, the moment they see us coming here, they run for Biscuit’s precious sheriff. It means that the service is lousy, but hey, I can’t argue with free beer!” Wrapping his talon around one of the bottles as he stood up, he offered it to the unimpressed looking Mark.

Er, was it ‘Xeno’?

While my gut told me that he’d used a fake name on us because he was hiding something, part of me wanted to say he’d probably had a good reason for it. That, or maybe he’d made the mistake I had, and was using ‘Mark’ to try to be someone he wasn’t. Either way, I’d need to find out sooner than later, preferably before it became a problem.

“Alright, we’re blowing this joint.” Hispano grumbled and headed back for the door.

With a brown flash, Suiza was plucked right off of Hispano. The dexterity and speed the creepy Gary had used to effortlessly pull the gun from her was impressive, but it was a bad move. Before my muzzle could even open, Hispano spun around on a paw and shot a glare at the griffon.

“Woah now, little chick…” Gary chuckled as he stood tall on his hind legs, holding onto Suiza tightly as he raised it above his head. “Why don’t you stay for a while? Such a pretty little thing shouldn’t be out in weather like this, don’t you think?”

“Are you fucking serious with this right now, Gary?” The central, obviously in charge Gary sighed and dragged a talon down his face.

“I’m going to give you one chance, asshole.” Hispano growled and held out her talon. “Give me my sister back.”

“Give the girl her gun.” Mark grunted as he reached his hoof back and drew his pistol out, pointing it at the central Gary’s head. Hell if I knew how he planned to hold on to the hefty chrome hoofcannon if he fired it, but I’d seen stranger things in the wastes. Still, it was nice to at least know he wasn’t going to stand idly by on this.

“Put the gun down, Xeno.” The third Gary pulled up a drum fed light-machine gun from behind the bar. The circular venting that ran along the length of the gun’s barrel jacket was overshadowed by the large spider-type anti-aircraft sight that was now directed at our new zebra friend. “No one needs to get shot today.”

“Everyone just relax.” The creepy Gary smirked. I took a single step forward at the guy, and his talon shot out to point at me. “You stay right there, pony girl. This is between her an’ me.”

“You know what? You’re right.” Hispano grunted as she dismissively waved a talon at me. “Stay back, Night. I think… maybe I will take him up on his offer. Been feeling a bit pent up, no thanks to you.” Her words were sharp, but more than that, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! This… this had to be a joke… “But, Gary, I’m going to need a beer.” Holding out her talon expectantly, she cocked her eyebrow at him with a smirk. “If we’re doing this, there’s no way in Tartarus I’m doing it sober.”

“Fair enough.” The creepy Gary chuckled, reaching the talon that had been pointed at me over to grab the beer he’d been drinking when we came in. With a light grasp, he held it out to Hispano. To my surprise, she snatched it right out of his claws and brought it up to her beak. In an instant, she’d finished off the half bottle that had been left, turning it over to show it was empty. “Impressive for someone your age.” The sadistic smile that stretched across his beak made me want to hammer it off of him with my hooves.

“Thanks!” Hispano chirped before letting off a short but loud belch. “Now, how about we get started?” With a light flip of her talon, she grabbed the bottle by the neck, and swung it hard.

The glass shattered across Gary’s beak, and before any of us could react, Hispano had taken the jagged bottleneck, and shoved it under his plumage.

Every single one of us in the room, including the other Gary’s, stood in shock as crimson blood flowed out from the gaping gash in the griffon’s neck. The shocked look on the creepy Gary’s face faltered as he stumbled back, letting go of Suiza as he brought both his talons up to the wound. He let out a panic gurgle as Hispano’s waiting talon’s took ahold of Suiza once more.

“G-Gary!” The Gary behind the bar gasped and called out, shifting his attention away from Mark. Mark took advantage of that and shifted his aim from central Gary.

“Fuck you, Xeno!” The central Gary shouted as he tackled the merc to the floor. With a clattering bounce, the large pistol he’d had in his hoof skittered across the floor right to my hooves. The two of them traded blow after blow, grunting and duking it out with hammering hits to each other.

The sound of the bolt on bar Gary’s light machine gun being pushed into battery forced me to act.

I wrapped my fetlock around the large pistol, screaming out as I pointed it at the griff and squeezed my fetlock around the long hoof-trigger mechanism. The gun barked and recoiled hard in my hold, but I found it easier to keep in my grasp than I’d thought it would be. One of the neon signs behind the bar shattered, flinging sparks through the air.

Still, it made the bar Gary flinch as his own gun chattered, throwing his aim up and away from Hispano. She took the opportunity to roll to the side, bringing Suiza up and aiming at the bar. For just a moment, Hispano’s beak twisted into a smile again.

Unlike the high rate of fire from her full auto mode, Hispano fired three measured shots from Suiza. Each one blasted an entire chunk from the bar, and showered metal and wood splinters across the floor. Still, either through sheer luck or skill, the griffon behind the bar did his own roll out from behind it.

Both Hispano and I unloaded shot after shot as the griff bolted for the open door. With each reverberating report from Suiza and my gun, a chunk of the wall behind the griffon was removed, and an impressively sized hole was drilled through by Mark’s pistol. I wasn’t particularly accurate with any of my shots, but who could be with a pistol this large!?

Of course, who needed accuracy when all you needed was a grazing hit by a twenty millimeter round? The griffon’s muzzle parted into a horrified gasp as one of Suiza’s rounds turned both of his wings into a gaping hole in his back. The striped griffon collapsed to the floor, skidding along the polished surface with a muffled scream into the wood.

Hispano shoved her sister’s sizzling form against me, almost knocking me over. I scrambled to grab onto her as Hispano calmly snatched Mark’s pistol from me and walked over to the pair of writhing and bleeding griffons. With a cold detachment, she raised the pistol in her talon and shot Bar Gary right through the back of the head.

The creepy Gary was still holding on to life, if just barely. His panicked and gurgling breaths sent drops of blood to mist up over Hispano’s face, and his wide frightened eyes could only watch as she turned the large pistol on him. Again, with another squeeze of her talons, she blasted a round right through the creepy Gary’s eye, and he fell silent on the floor.

“N-no!” The last Gary screamed as he pushed himself up off of Mark. He was in rough shape, missing plumage all over his head, and his left brow had a deep cut on it that had already swollen his eye shut. Mark had fared just about as well, having a dozen deep lacerations across himself and countless quickly darkening bruises.

Hispano brought Mark’s gun up to the griff, making the panting and heaving merc hesitate for a moment.

*Click*

The gun failed to fire as Hispano squeezed the trigger. For a single moment, a look of panic washed across her. It was gone as she let out a fierce scream, pulling her talon with the gun back before throwing the hefty pistol at him.

With an unnatural dexterity, the battered Talon caught the gun right out of the air. Shifting it in his talon, he brought it up and cycled the slide, ejecting the faulty cartridge. With a smirk, he shifted himself to aim right at Hispano.

Lifting up Suiza, I held her tight in my hooves. Again, like the last time I’d used her, she didn’t fight me. Her trigger depressed with a smoothness that was unnatural, and her recoil didn’t at all feel like something her size should give.

The first shot went wide, hitting the bartop just past him. But, like with the Gary who’d been behind the bar, it made him flinch. His right eye shifted to me, and he’d started to shift his aim. But again, I fired Suiza.

This time, I didn’t miss.

The round tore a hole straight through the stark black torso armor and the Talon who wore it. But the round must have been defective, because it didn’t burst on impact. Rather, with a fleshy pop, the round severed the griffon in half from the inside. It washed a ring of gore out across the entire bar, and sent the two separate halves of the cat-bird to opposite ends of it.

Still, as the ringing in my ears was once again replaced by the sound of the heavy rains outside, all three Gary’s were dead, and we were safe.

“Ugh…” Mark groaned as he picked himself up off the floor. “I don’t know about you two, but after that, I need a drink.” With a slight hobble, he made his way over to the only remaining intact barstool and sat down on it. He grabbed one of the fresh beers that Gary had left up on it and proceeded to down half of it at once.

Again, Hispano shared a cold, unamused look across her face as she walked over to me. At least, that’s what she wanted to present to me. Unfortunately for her, I knew her too well to see that she was trying to hide behind her stoic gaze, but for now, I couldn’t blame her. Still, she stepped up and snatched Suiza from my hooves, checking over her for a moment. Satisfied with her cursory inspection of her sister, with a light spin on her paws, she turned and leveled Suiza… right at Mark.

“Okay, Xeno, cut the bullshit.” Hispano growled as Mark blinked a few times as he glanced over his bleeding shoulder at us. “Who the fuck do you think you were fooling by setting this all up? I mean, please, Mark? Could you have been any more obvious that we were your mark? Pretty shoddy work for a merc if you ask me.” Oddly, that brought a smirk to the zebra’s bruised muzzle. And hey! I’d bought into that whole thing! “Give me one good reason not to blast you to pieces like your talon friends here for lying to us.”

“Alright, you got me.” He nodded before bringing the bottle to his lips and sipping at it again. “My name isn’t Mark, it is Xenophon. But everything else I said was true. I am looking for my sister, and well… I might have had the idea to use you two as my easy in to get to her.”

“So everything you said, besides your name, was true?” I asked, glancing over at Hispano, who simply shook her head. While I was obviously still the gullible one here, I should have trusted my gut. “And why should we believe you?”

“You don’t have to, and you really shouldn’t. But in about oh… a minute and thirty seconds, the sheriff is going to arrive, and he’s going to want answers about what happened here.” Spinning around on his barstool, Xeno offered us a smirk and a shrug. “And while he owes me a favor or two, he doesn’t owe you two anything.” Tipping the glass bottle up in his hoof, he brought it to his muzzle and downed the rest of the bottle. With a belch, he tossed it toward the door, and managed to flip it right through one of the gaping holes Suiza had left in the wall. “So, if you two don’t mind sticking your necks out looking for Grand, then I won’t mind helping you two get off the hook.”

“You said everything else was the truth, that includes the fact you were new up here. But now the sheriff owes you?” Hispano snarled and shifted herself uneasily on her paws. “What’s going to come out next? That you’re Grand Finale?”

“Oh, well…” He rolled his eyes and gave a nod of admission. “maybe not every little thing I’d said was true, but most of it was! Seriously, do we have a deal or not?”

“Grrrrr, I don’t like this, Night.” Hispano grumbled, but again, didn’t shift her piercing gaze or Suiza’s barrel from the smug zebra merc. “We can explain what happened here. If they don’t buy it, then we’ll just shoot our way out.”

“Yeah, but if you do, then your marefriend there can’t find her father.” Xeno brought up his forehooves, tapping one on the other like he had a watch on. “Thirty seconds.”

Perking my ears, I could hear quick and numerous hoofbeats coming through the rain. Fuck! I didn’t know how to feel now. I know Hispano was right, and had I trusted her intuition five minutes ago, we wouldn’t be in this mess! But if we don’t work with him, then I’ll never get my dad out of here before Solomon ruins everything.

“Fine, we’ll do it.” I know we shouldn’t, but my dad is too important. I will not lose him again.

“Haha, excellent!” Xeno clopped his hooves together with a smile and pushed himself to stand up.

“Night!” Hispano growled as she spun around and glared at me.

“What!?” I snapped back at her. “I know you just went through issues with your dad, but mine’s still alive. So even though you don’t like it, unless we work with him, then both of us might have lost their father’s forever!” The moment those words left my muzzle, and a look of profound confusion crawled across her face, I knew I shouldn’t have said that. “Hispano…”

“What… do you mean at least yours is still alive?” Hispano took a step back, nearly dropping Suiza from her talons.

“After your fight, he... ” I really shouldn’t have said that. “I promise that I’ll explain everything, just please...” As I reached out to try to comfort her, she pulled even further back from me.

“Yeah, can you two work all this out later? Because our time’s up!” Xeno sighed as he raised both his hooves into the air.

“This is the sheriff! Come out unarmed and with your hooves up!” The voice of a grizzled stallion came through the holes in the wall.

“Ugh, I’m so fucking sick of all this!” Hispano groaned and shoved my hoof away. She dropped Suiza to the floor, letting her sister come down hard for once. With a rough shove, she pushed her way past me and made her way to the doors.

It hurt me. I knew she was hurting more than I could even imagine, but it was my fault. All of the things that had happened to her had always been my fault. And for Hispano’s sake, I prayed to Celestia that Cora would pull through. She didn’t deserve to lose her dad, not after everything she’s been through.

Who was I kidding? It was for my sake that I wanted him to live. That way, maybe Hispano wouldn’t hate me forever. And as wrong as that was, as selfish as that was, well, I didn’t care. Nothing is more important to me in this world right now than her, and that meant I needed to make this right. No matter what it took.

“I thought you said this guy owed you some favors?” Hispano growled as she banged her head repeatedly on the solid jail cell door.

We’d spent the last half hour locked in a room labeled as the ‘drunk tank’ for some reason. However confusing a name it was for a room without any tanks in it, the only slightly moldy mattress for the bed in here had given me a good place to collect my thoughts. Thoughts which constantly drifted back to the fact that Hispano’s father may or may not be dead, and rather than being back there with him, she’s stuck in a jail cell with me.

“Yeah, well that may have been a bit of an exaggeration…” Xeno spoke with a light laugh and a gentle nervous rub along his bruised neck. “But, before you said I lied, again, just trust me, we’ll get out of here soon.”

“Whatever, I don’t care anymore.” Hispano groaned before she spun around and tossed herself onto the small rotting cot in the corner of the room. A distinct zipping sound emitted from the old fabric as even the weight of someone as light as her forced the two century old fabric to tear. With a thump and a grumble, Hispano hit the floor and resigned herself to it.

You know, part of me really wanted to tell her to just suck it up, to just deal with it. She’d certainly been just as blunt with me on plenty of my bad days. But that part of me who wanted to take this rare opportunity to flip it around on her was the small, insignificant part of me that still existed from before the clouds came down. Before I not only lost everything I’d come to know, but before I’d found one of the only friends I could see myself living with forever. And while I still didn’t know enough about living in the wasteland to make it on my own, I knew that despite everything, I wanted her to stay with me for it all the same.

I knew what I wanted. It hit me that I’ve been thinking about what happened today all wrong. Hispano, while frustrated, wasn’t angry just because Cora said she wouldn’t be a talon. She’d told me exactly why she felt this way at the noodle stand, and like an idiot, I’d brushed it off.

“Hispano?” Slowly, I stepped over to her as she fumed under the rusted frame of the old cot. She didn’t answer me, and simply shifted her gaze to the stained wall next to her. “What… is it that you want?”

“I told you, I don’t want to talk.” She crossed her talons tightly and huffed. She curled her tail around the frame of the cot, and with a stiff shove, tipped it over towards me to stop me from advancing any closer. “Just leave me alone.”

“I know that, Hispano, but… what do you want?” I asked again as I reached forward to scoot the frame away. Her tail whipped around and smacked my forehoof before she shifted herself onto her side, rolling to face the wall.

“Why do you keep asking me that?” She sighed as she pulled her wing up over herself. “What the fuck does anyone care what I want?”

“I know this is going to sound harsh, but… I think Cora was right.” I winced as she froze up, and I waited a moment for her to jump up and wring my neck with her talons. But instead she curled herself up tighter on the floor. “You’ve lived so long with the expectation of being a talon that until now, you haven’t considered anything else you might want to be. There’s nothing wrong with that, Hispano. It’s okay if you don’t want to be a Talon.”

“It’s okay?” Her voice was muffled by her wing as she covered her curled form with most of it. “How can you say that when you have no idea what it’s like? My family have always been Talons, that’s who we are. If… if I’m not a Talon, then who am I?”

“The same Hispano who I met on the Inuvik.” Stepping around the cot frame, I reached out and ran my hoof down her back softly. “The same Hispano who wouldn’t take no for an answer from me. The same Hispano who I’ve come to realize that I can’t live without.”

“The same Hispano who killed her father.” She sniffled and pulled herself from my touch. “That’s what you meant at the bar, isn’t it? He’s dead.”

“He’s... not dead… at least, not yet. He was stable when we left.” I sighed and lowered myself down to the floor next to her. It’s fine if she didn’t want me to comfort her, but I wouldn’t leave her to herself and her thoughts. “But while I don’t know if he’ll pull through, that’s not what’s important right now.”

“Right, only your father is important right now.” She shook her head and curled her tail back around and smacked it against the floor. Okay, I know she’s frustrated, but that stung a bit. “I’m… sorry, Night, I didn’t mean…” With a huff, she pulled her wing back off of herself and pushed herself to sit back up. “It’s just, what if Dad was right? What if I don’t have to be a Talon? I thought it’s all I wanted in the world, but after Mom… after Suiza, I have a chance to get out of this life before it kills me. Before it kills you.”

“Hah.” Xeno spouted out a laugh that made me deadpan. Right, he’s still here too. “I’ll tell you both a little secret, you’re both going to die here.” Spinning around to look at him, I’d almost expected him to be pointing some sort of weapon at us. But instead, he only held an overconfident smirk across his muzzle. “Well, maybe not here, per se, but the wasteland will get you one day. It always does, because no one outruns death forever.”

“You know, this was sort of a private conversation.” I understand that I’d basically invited him to come with us, but still, he hadn’t needed to weigh in on this.

“Yeah, but you see, as a highly successful Mercenary, I felt like I might as well share a few nuggets of wisdom I’ve picked up over the years.” He leaned back against the cell door on just his hind legs and crossed his forehooves, nodding to the wall that faced outside. “Out there, it’s not just survival of the fittest, or strongest, or smartest, like most think. Oh no, that’s just what ponies who stay safe and snug in their little towns will tell you. Out there, it’s just two things, kill or be killed. If you aren’t the one to put a knife in their back, then they’ll come to put one in yours eventually.”

“That’s funny, I thought you said you were a Mercenary.” Hispano growled as she turned and cast a glare over her shoulder at the smug zebra. “Talons don’t backstab, we only do two things. What’s asked of us by the contract holder, and what’s needed to survive, in that order. Nothing more.”

“And that is a luxury Talons have only so long as they stay together. Companies are the only way Talons have survived in the wasteland, that’s their edge.” Again, he stifled a laugh, “You wanna fly solo? Well, no one is going to hesitate to shoot you the moment you let your guard down.” He paused, scratching at his chin for a moment while staring up at the light in the center of the cell. “Of course, sometimes things go wrong, the wasteland is like that. The merc’s life is a rough one, but moreso if you’re freelance. That’s why if you choose to not be a Talon, you’ll still need someone there to watch your back.” His glare sharpened, and he brought it down upon me with the weight and force of an exploding grenade. “Someone you trust is a good start, but ponies can change… or die. So even if they are the worst the wasteland has to offer you, you take their hoof to shake it, but always keep the other hoof on your blade. Trust me on that, I assure you that I am speaking from experience.”

Cocking an eyebrow, I got the feeling in my gut that there was more to his opinions than just simply offering them...

“If you’re so successful, then why the fuck are you in here with us?” Hispano growled at him, turning to deadpan at the wall again. And just like that, any progress I’d made with her mood had been lost.

“Like I said, sometimes things go wrong, the wasteland is like that. I’m not normally freelance, I only recently lost most of my band.” He smirked and shrugged as he tore his glare from me. “But this isn’t about me. No matter what you end up choosing to do, what path you go down, sometimes there’s nothing you can do but watch everything you’ve cultivated burn to the ground.” Shifting himself off the door, he pointed to Hispano. “But if you are who I think you are, then you are no stranger to misfortune, are you, Hispano? Or should I say, Survivor?”

Uh… what…?

I facehooved hard.

“Are you really that much of a moron?” Hispano chuckled. Don’t get me wrong, it was great to hear her laugh, but just… what!? “The Survivor is a pony. Don’t you listen to the radio?”

“Eh, I don’t see things like race. I’ve had enough preconceptions ruin contracts for me to look past that.” He shrugged and scratched at his mane. “As for the radio? One, not a fan of electronic music. Two, I’ve not really been the biggest listener since they signed on to be your biggest fan. No offense, of course.” His glance bounced to me for only a moment, and I thought he’d correct his mistake, but instead he just… passed me off.

“I’m the Survivor, not her..” I grunted and deadpanned at him. Seriously, everypony else could see it!

“I knew it!” He giggled and excitedly lept off his hooves at my words. He jumped so high that he actually knocked his head on the ceiling and came down on his hooves with a wince. But as he rubbed at his head, his curious glance looked me over again like he was seeing me for the first time. “I mean, coming in on an invisible cloudship gave me some idea about it, but it wasn’t until you offered to help me that I actually knew it was you.”

“What?” That… didn’t make sense at all! I waved my forehoof at him and shook my head as I tried to arrange it in some way that made everything fit together. “Sure, the cloudship I can’t argue with, but…” I paused. No, no it couldn’t be… Hispano couldn’t be right.

“I told you,” Her talon came down on my shoulder as she stepped up beside me with a sort of regret filled look. “you go after every charity case, and soon enough, wastelanders will start to take advantage of it.”

Celestia fucking damnit!

“Look, this is perfect!” Xeno clopped his hooves together excitedly. “You two are going to be the perfect distraction! With the Survivor knocking at Grand Finale’s door, nopony is going to be paying attention to anything else!”

“So you, what? Sneak in while we have them distracted?” Hispano brought her talon up under her beak and tapped on it. “Then what? How do we find Night’s Dad and your sister? It’s not like they’re going to have their names plastered on their cages or anything.”

Putting all this rescue talk aside, I simply stared at Hispano. The upset and depressed griffon I’d been trying to console was just… gone again. She looked calm, focused, and ready to move out on this if Xeno told us the door would magically open in ten seconds. How she could just put her emotions on the back burner sometimes was equal parts maddening, worrying, and most of all, it made me jealous.

“My mercenary band specialized in finding whatever you needed,” Xeno pridefully put his hoof on his chest and stood tall. “so you leave the finding of them to me. Don’t worry, I’ll get it done.” He cocked an eyebrow and leaned in slightly. “For you two however, I have a different idea. How would you two like a once-in-a-lifetime shot at taking down Grand’s whole slave-run mining operation?”

Author's Note

As always, a huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for all of his help in squaring away the chapter!

And of course, a big thank you to Kkat for writing Fo:E in the first place.

Chapter 88 - A Reputation to Uphold

Trust only those who stand to lose as much as you.

“See, what did I tell you!” Xeno gave a smirk as shuffling hoofsteps resonated down the hallway outside of our cell.

“You said it’d be quick.” Hispano grunted. “We’ve been in here for an hour.”

“Well, quick is relative, you see...” Xeno’s smile shifted to a more nervous look as he quickly pushed himself away from the door and took to standing next to me. “the last time I was in here, it was for three days.”

“Why do I always get stuck with the likes of either of you?” Hispano groaned and dragged her talon down her face.

Xeno seemed to have a comeback ready for that, but held his tongue as the cell door squealed and swung open. The tired and very nearly elderly lime coated stallion that met us gave a disappointed huff as he tipped his old sheriff's hat up on his bald head. While the wrinkles on his face definitely spoke of a hard life, his morose golden eyes told me that he’d long since stopped caring about it. Still, he looked at Hispano and I, and gave a nod down the hall.

“Orders from the Federation obligate me to tell you that you two are free to go.” Yikes, he even sounded depressed enough to match how he looked. “I don’t know what you did for a blanket pardon from the Sky Marshal, but that shitshow in Ghost Town was a hell of a stunt to waste it on. And for the love of Celestia, please try not to shoot any more of my town up, even if it is the undesirables like yourselves. Y’all have already made this enough of a bad day.”

“Yes, sorry about the trouble.” I offered to him with my own nervous smile. But, the indifferent look he offered made me think that it might be best to just leave the poor stallion alone. Hispano and I stepped forward out of the cell, closely followed by Xeno.

“Woah there, not you, Xenophon.” The Sheriff grunted, putting his hoof out to stop Xeno just short of taking a single step outside of the cell. “You know, after I heard what happened to your ilk, I thought I’d be free of your particular brand of trouble.”

“Well, Sheriff,” Xeno clenched his jaw as he forced an annoyed smile across his muzzle. “You didn’t seem to mind last year when you needed our help during the spring bramble wolf bloom.”

“Yeah, but times change, and I’ve got three dead Talons that someone has to answer for.” The Sheriff steeled his gaze at Xeno before shaking his head. “I get it, it’s not fair, but that’s how it has to be.”

“Oh come on!” Xeno groaned up at the ceiling before bringing his annoyed glare over to me. “Hey, you two can’t leave me in here!”

“Pft, yeah, we can.” Hispano snorted and glanced at me expectantly. “But…” She sighed, “I’m afraid we might actually need him to come with us.” At her words, the one eighty that Xeno’s annoyed mood took made him grin brighter than the daylight outside.

“You’re serious.” The sheriff’s stance stiffened, and his calm demeanor started to crumble. “When I’d heard you were this great ‘Survivor’ character the merchants have been gabbing about, I expected much more from you than to go around trusting some lowlife like him.” Still, the stallion stepped aside and waved his forehoof for Xeno to come out of the cell. “But, a blanket pardon was extended to the Survivor and companions. If you say he’s with you, then I can’t do more than judge your choice in the company you keep.”

As Xeno happily trotted from the cell, I couldn’t help but dwell on the Sheriff’s disappointed look at him. Again, I got the distinct impression that there was more to him than he was letting on, but the Sheriff had said as much. So, while we were on our way to wherever Grand Finale was, I was going to have him explain to me just why exactly I vouched for him at all when so far, he’s not really done a single thing he’s promised.

In all likelihood, it was because everyone else on the convoy had been right, and I was nothing more than a naive idiot who wanted to see the best in everyone…

“So, one last question before we go, Sheriff.” I said as the sheriff gave a tired sigh. “Where can I find Grand Finale?”

“Right, the Sky Marshal mentioned you were on your way to see that ass.” The sheriff nodded to Xeno before rolling his eyes. “Though you don’t have to ask me, your ‘friend’ here already knows the way.”

“Of course he does.” Both Hispano and I sighed in unison.

Overall, the actual town of Biscuit was quaint, small, and quiet.

Stuck between three separate forested valleys, it looked more out of time than Klondike and Sanctuary had. Dozens of ponies walked the sidewalks and went about what looked to be normal days, shopping, talking, and just generally oblivious to the state of the rest of the wasteland not an hour’s journey away. Several brick and mortar shops headed the central main intersection of the old town, and thin two story homes lined the two-lane main road that swept through the middle of it. The only way I knew that I hadn't stumbled into some alternate universe, was the fact that a few road crew were milling about near their up-armored excavator, and a whole convoy of Cordite tankers had their steel behemoths parked just outside a bustling bar at the far end of the town.

“So, where to?” I asked as I watched a pair of ponies my age laugh and gallop away out of the small town diner built into one of the brick buildings. Honestly, it was weird to see ponies going about such… relaxed lives here. I mean, it was a good thing, but if Klondike and any number of other places had told me so far, this town had to be hiding something.

“Grand’s mine should be a short walk out past the train station.” Xeno pointed up towards one of the forested ridges outside of town as he worked at tightening down the straps to his armor. He fumbled with his pistol rigging, and it dropped from his flank. With a horrified gasp, he scrambled to catch his chromed hoofcannon, only to be a split second too late when Hispano snatched it up first.

“Pretty nice piece you’ve got here…” Hispano cooed as she twirled the hefty pistol in her talons. Lazilly, she pointed it at Xeno as he deadpanned at her, but cocked her eyebrow as she opened her talon slightly, revealing a large P inscribed on the grip. “Oh ho ho! I like how well balanced it is. Who’s this ‘P’ you stole it off of?”

“It’s mine, a birthright.” Xeno growled and held out his hoof expectantly. The well built zebra was certainly intimidating compared to a griff Hispano’s size. But she simply looked up at him with a grin. “Give. Baby. Back.”

“Baby?” Hispano snorted and laughed. It wasn’t so much of a loss of concentration on her part, as Xeno was just quick to snatch the pistol back from her.

“Yes, and hardly a comment coming from a griffon to name their cannon ‘my sister’.” Xeno grumbled as he quickly put the chromed gun back into its holster. As he secured it, I got a glimpse of the glyph mark I’d hardly paid attention to before in the cell. It looked like a black spiral capped by a sharp dagger-like implement. Well, that or a curled worm holding a dagger... I guess glyph marks were just as vague as cutie marks…

“Her name is Suiza. She is my sister.” Hispano snorted as she grabbed onto her sisters sling and pulled her off her back. “And unless you start showing us some fucking respect, I’m going to let her do the talking for us. And let me be clear, if you don’t stop lying, then your talk with Suiza will be very prompt, and very loud.”

“What? Lying, I’d never…” He paused as Hispano growled at him. However, a sly smirk appeared across his muzzle as he looked to me. “Come on, you trust me! Right, Survivor?”

“It’s Night Flight.” I rolled my eyes and just kept on trotting, “And you said you didn’t really know where to go up here, but that’s not the impression the Sheriff gave.” Glancing back at Hispano, it was good to see another smile part her beak. “So you best do as she says and get with the talking while leading us to Grand!”

“Again, it wasn’t a lie per se, just…” He paused as Hispano slung Suiza again and took flight to join me as we trotted down the street. With quick hoofsteps, he galloped back up to my side with a nervous grin. “Just, I’ve been here once before to deal with Grand. That… didn’t go so well. So you’ll have to excuse me if I’m not exactly being honest when I’ve been backstabbed more than a few times.”

“Gee, I wonder why…” Hispano snirked. “Could be something about how you said you would backstab anyone yourself…”

“Hey! You’re all literally the reason why…” Xeno growled out and shot her a glare.

Nope, I am not having this shit turn into a fight right now. Not when we’ve got far more important things to worry about.

“While that’s understandable,” I cut him off, “if we’re going to work together, we have to be open with each other.” I sighed, really missing having Delilah around. She’d know what to do, how to make sure this didn’t turn into a disaster. “So, from here on out, no more lies.”

“Understood!” Xeno gave a lazy, half-assed salute with a smile I didn’t buy for a minute.

While I was starting to see that I’d clearly put my faith in the wrong zebra, right now, he was still our best shot. Hopefully we could get my Dad, head back, sort everything with Cora, and Hispano. Then Buck and I can just have a nice few relaxing days as we sail the Arcturus to Vanderhoof.

Except, I still needed to detox, deal with King, and patch things up with Happy…

Fuck, I needed a vacation.

“Alright, we’re here.” Xeno nudged me as we trotted along, pointing me toward an overgrown sign alongside the road.

It had only taken another half hour of trotting to get here, which to be honest, was longer than I’d thought it would take. Guess it just goes to show that I’d grown used to getting around on the convoy. But hey, at least it finally stopped raining, and the sun was trying to peek through the clearing cloud cover.

The old billboard up ahead Xeno pointed out was covered in vines and heavily corroded. It sat just off the edge of a gravel road that twisted off through the forest that looked to get sicker and thinner the further it went, which left me with a sort of ominous feeling in my gut. There was still enough paint left on the old sign that I could make out what it had once advertised to those who drove along this old two lane road. What I saw on it was mostly what I’d expected, but I had a few pointed problems with what it said.

Biscuit City Quarry

Property of Horse & Horse Mining Industries and Equipment

A subsidiary of Pentex International!

AUTHORIZED PONIES ONLY BEYOND THIS POINT!

NO TRESSPASSING!

While I didn’t like that this place had been connected to those Pentex assholes, at least they weren’t here now.

“This is my stop. All you two need to do is head up the road a bit more and you’ll see the mine.” Xeno took a deep breath before giving me a pat on the side. “Remember the plan. I’ll give you the signal once I have the detonator for the slave collars. But until then, you two need to just play along and keep them busy.”

“Yeah yeah.” Hispano grumbled, “You worry about the shit you have to do. Just don’t screw shit up for us and we’ll do what we do best.” Xenophon gave a shrug and a light wave before turning himself towards the forest and trotting off into it. Hispano and I walked forward, but both watched as he disappeared into the foliage that sat just off the edges of the old gravel road. “You sure you trust him, Dum Dum?”

“No.” I shook my head. My gut twisted as Hispano’s question took a moment to settle, reinforcing my answer. “But that doesn’t matter, we’re getting my dad back.” Pushing myself to move, I took a few extra steps before Hispano hovered ahead of me and forced me to stop.

“Look, Night…” She paused as she dropped down in front of me, holding her talons out against my chest. I wanted to tell her we didn’t have time to wait around, but just looking at her, I couldn’t move. Her eyes wandered for a moment, angry but filled with sorrow. She collected herself with a sigh and locked them on me. “I know I’ve not been the easiest to deal with, but I just want to say… I’m sorry. This isn’t what you wanted to deal with after I pushed you into a relationship, and... it’s not what I wanted either. Seems like I don’t really know what I want after all.”

“Hispano…” I reached forward and wrapped my fetlock around her talon. “Nothing that’s happened since I came down from the clouds has happened the way I’ve wanted. But, I’m happy with what I have, flaws and all.” Pulling her close, I gave her a squeezing hug that let me enjoy the feeling of her soft plumage against my neck. “Buck and I love you, and we’ll support you no matter how you feel about things. No matter who you choose to be.”

“Thanks, Dum Dum.” Hispano nodded as she squeezed me back. “I just… needed to say that, to hear that from you, before...”

“Everything’s going to be fine, Hispano.” I sighed and held her as tight as I could for another moment. Nothing ever turned out fine, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t the only one who needed to hear that lie again. “Like you said, let's do what we do best.”

“Yeah.” She nodded as she pulled herself off of me. Firmly grasping Suiza in her talons, she nodded toward up the road and flared out her wings. Oddly, she paused as she looked down at my flight harness and scrunched up her muzzle. “So, not to douse some of that confidence, but you really should think about getting a gun again, Dum Dum.”

“Well, all the ones I get always end up breaking on me…” I rolled my eyes and pushed myself to get back to walking. But, with a swift flap of her wings, she hovered just ahead of me with a deadpan. “Okay fine, I end up breaking them, but you get my point! Besides, I’m not that good with them!” Shifting myself as we walked, I nodded back to my cutie mark.

“That may be entirely true.” Hispano admitted with a grumble that twisted her beak into an odd smile. “but grenades aren’t going to be so useful if we’re stuck inside a room with a bunch of ponies who already have explosives strapped around their necks.”

“That… is a good point.” I nodded. Admittedly, I hadn’t thought about that… “Well, when we get back to the Arcturus, I’ll make a note of getting something else to use.”

As we got back to walking, I noticed a marked change in Hispano’s mood again. She seemed to slip back into her normal carefree self, and lazily wandered through the air with a smirk on her beak. I don’t know if it was part of her whole ability to shrug off things she didn’t want to deal with at the moment, but… it was just good to see her somewhat relaxed again.

But as good as it was to see, it was time to get down to business. Approaching the mine, some things stuck out to me as odd. The two century old chain link fencing that ringed the mine was mostly rusted in the parts that weren’t completely overgrown by vines and bushes. A few desiccated bodies, and more than a few headless skeletons sat scattered just outside the fence, just left there to decay.

Inside the mine, there were a few buildings. Two of them were large, sheet metal warehouse buildings where more than a couple ponies were actively working on some large mining machines. A half dozen other machines sat in the farthest one, along with what looked to be a few Road Crew ponies who were relaxing on their own somewhat mini version of Bertha. Oddly though, the third building looked like a normal two story house. White siding, blue trim, and a nearly intact roof made me feel like someone got a teleportation spell wrong and plopped it here. Still, as odd as it was, that was normal, or at least, it was somewhat expected for the wasteland.

What I truly hadn’t expected, were heavily armed observation towers at each end of the complex. The old metal structures weren’t as rusted and overgrown as the fencing, rather, they looked somewhat new by comparison. What was definitely new, were the heavy magical energy weapons mounted on each corner of the towers. I might have wondered where they’d gotten such pristine looking guns, but the big Grand Pegasus Enclave E painted onto the tower walls gave me a good idea who had left them here.

“Gifts from the federation?” Hispano asked as she glanced between the two towers with me. “Or maybe trophies from the failed invasion?”

“Does it matter?” I sighed. I know the Enclave had done a lot of fucked up shit, but I was starting to tire of the constant reminders. Then again, I shouldn’t feel bad, none of what they did was my fault.

No, I already had a myriad of other things to be blamed for that were actually my fault…

A short alarm bell rung from within the facility that echoed through the forest around us. The two of us watched as the ponies in the mines ahead whipped into a frenzy, running around hastily, almost in a panic. Ponies moved about securing several rail cars full of rocks, and several of the heavy construction vehicles they used were quickly driven right into the gaping hole in the mountain where I assume the mine itself was. A dozen ponies in combat armor sprinted up the stairways that ran around the four guard towers, rushing to get to the mounted energy weapons.

“Uh…” I paused as I had a thought cross my mind. “Didn’t Laika say she was going to radio ahead to say we were coming?” I really hope they weren’t about to start shooting at us...

“Yeah…” Hispano grumbled as she readied Suiza in her talons. “Do you think maybe your new ‘friend’ got caught?”

Another short ring of the bell struck through the air, and almost collectively, all the ponies we could see were instantly aggravated and groaning.

“That wasn’t even close! Are you slackers happy!?” The voice of a stallion came over some sort of PA system from further inside the compound. “We will run these drills every day until you morons get it right! I will not lose my compound again to those turkeys, nor the Federation! And if that means some of you spend some time in the mines to get that point into your thick skulls, than so be it! Now, get off your flanks and back to work!”

“Well, I guess just asking him to shut down his operation is off the table.” Hispano smirked as she stored Suiza away again. “Then again, if Grand Finale did agree to that, what would happen to our ‘explosive’ reputation?” I shot her a sideways glance at that. “What?”

“It’s nice to have your sarcasm back, Hispano, but we won’t always fight our way out of things.” Well, as much as I could tell myself that, my gut reminded me that wasn’t probably going to be the case. Ugh, I’d say that I long for the days where I was back in school, but… somehow that really wasn’t a better way to spend my days feeling like I was slowly dying. Even if it wasn’t literal then…

Trotting onward up the road, we stepped up to the gate as a few worn out and sweating ponies trotted down from the closest watchtower. The four ponies who split off towards the front gate were a lot worse off than I thought when they’d gone bolting by. Their combat armor, though well scuffed and worn, didn’t fit any of them properly. Their emaciated bodies were covered in patches of missing fur, especially where the armor chafed, and a few had some particularly grotesque boils on them. The lead stallion, a deep chocolate colored earth pony, made eye contact with us as he and the others trotted by. He split off, heading over to the gate and us.

“Hey there, you two lost?” He spoke with a heavy wheeze that definitely didn’t sound healthier than he already looked. “Town’s back that way, half hour or so trot.”

“We’re here to see Grand Finale. He should be expecting us.” I said, gesturing over to the out of place house. It was a guess, sure, but as Hispano had pointed out, the assholes always seem to sit in the most well kept places.

“Ah, well, don’t let me stop you.” He nodded over to the house and somewhat rolled his eyes. “Gate’s unlocked, just try to watch out as you head over. Sometimes after the drills, our equipment operators don’t pay too much attention on who they’re running over. Then again, I guess you’ve both got wings.” He shrugged and turned to head off toward one of the two large warehouse buildings. “Either way, there you go.”

“One moment.” Hispano cooed as she flapped her wings and easily propelled herself over the old fencing. I gave a hop and, with a few grunting flaps, managed to do the same. “Just an observation, but… where’s your collar?”

“What?” The stallion snorted and screwed up his muzzle. “Fuck you if you think I’m one of those lowlife slaves. I work hard to earn my pay here so I don’t get mistaken as a freeloader like those fuckers, thank you.” Turning up his muzzle with a huff, he trotted off, leaving Hispano to scrunch up her beak.

Honestly, if he wasn’t a slave, that… worried me. He was already in rough condition, so… what do the slaves look like? Goddesses, I know we’d already planned on shutting this place down, but… now I know we needed to. Right after I make sure my dad is healthy and alive.

“I know what you’re thinking, Dum Dum.” Hispano rested her talon on my shoulder and gave me a nod. “I’m sure he’s doing alright. Ghouls… are resilient as you’ve no doubt noticed. So I’m sure he’ll be alright.”

“Thanks.” I nodded and let my gaze rest on the house that I was increasingly wanting to set fire to. “And for the record, you’re right.” Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her scrunch up her beak again in confusion. “We wouldn’t want to ruin our ‘reputation’, now would we?”

Rather than risk getting run over, both Hispano and I took flight again for the short trip to the house. As we drifted over the busy mine yard, I watched as all at once, about a half dozen different mining machines were driven out from where they’d taken shelter. Frantic and angry shouts came from plenty of ponies as they scrambled out of the way, and their expletives were lost to the roar of the arcane engines as they moved below us.

Dropping back down onto the rocky ground, Hispano and I came to a stop at the steps of the pristine house. The front door was already open, and the light of day poured through the numerous and opulently clear windows inside, filling nearly every inch of the interior with daylight. The only windows that didn’t seem to have been kept up, were the dust and grime coated ones inset close to the ground that lead to the basement. Stepping inside, the two of us looked to the stairs as the obvious place we’d find Grand, and made a single step forward before a sharp set of hooves jabbed against our chests.

“Oi!” A mint colored mare in about the same condition as the last guy shouted in my ear from next to me. “Wipe off your bloody hooves!”

While her burning glare was meant to hold my attention, what my eyes drifted to was the leather band sitting tightly around the mare’s neck. A small box on it sat just below her jaw, where a single red light pulsed softly. A single red wire stretched from one side of the box around the leather strip, ending at either side of the delicate metal clasp that held the collar on. Huh, these were smaller than the collars that Mr. Wizard had used. Then again, I guess they only needed to be strong enough to blow a hole in your neck...

“Yeah, ain’t gonna be tracking that filth through master Grand’s floors on our watch!” The rose colored mare next to Hispano snorted as she pointed at the doormat we were already standing on.

“Sorry.” I offered as I wiped my hooves as best I could. Glancing over at Hispano’s unamused gaze, I gave her a nudge. She groaned and rolled her eyes before likewise wiping herself off. “We’re here to see…”

“Grand is upstairs, the second door on the left.” The mint mare snorted, pointing to the stairway. “He’s expecting you, Survivor.”

“Thanks…” I wasn’t sure what to think about the door guards. While this place could be different than what I’d seen from Mr. Wizard’s operation, if these slaves were anything to go off of, they didn’t seem too upset about their predicament. I know I shouldn’t judge based off a single interaction, but…

You know what? No, this is still wrong, even if they were okay with it. We had a plan to bring this bastard down, and I wasn’t going to budge from it.

“Uh, Night?” Hispano asked, pushing at my side and breaking me from my thoughts. “We going up?”

“Right.” I nodded and did my best to clear those thoughts as I pointed to the stairs. “Let’s go.”

While I climbed the sturdy steps, Hispano opted to hover up as she normally did. On the second floor, we found out the reason for the front door squad, as the floor here was completely covered with a pristine white carpet that screamed of luxury. Dear Celestia, why was it that all of the fuckers in charge in the wastes had to be exactly like Solomon?

Doubling back at the top, we followed the old wooden railing to the second door on the left, where Hispano dropped back to my side. Placing my hoof on the door handle, I took a deep breath. This was it. Inside here, I’d get to see my dad again, and hopefully not for the last time.

Pushing the door handle down, I opened the door.

Inside, I was met with the bright unfiltered afternoon light of the sun beaming in through the large bay window that sat against the back wall. The commanding view of the work yard and the mountainside beyond was only somewhat marred by the form of the darkwood desk that sat just in front of it. Behind said desk, standing expectantly with his hooves on the paper cluttered top, was a tall pristine white coated stallion.

My mind screamed at me that at first glance, it was Solomon, but the pony’s sky blue mane was tied up into a short bun on the top of his head, and it practically glowed in the sunlight. The pair of yellow tinted sunglasses that sat on the end of his long muzzle tweaked as he turned them towards us, dipping down as he cast a blue eyed gaze over them at Hispano and I.

“Ah, excellent.” He spoke with a softer than expected tone as he quickly clopped his forehooves together. “You must be the renowned ‘Survivor’. I am Grand Finale, and I’ve been expecting you. However, not so soon I must admit. Your prisoner is swiftly being retrieved, and should be brought up here any moment. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I do hope that’s alright.”

“Yeah, it’s fine.” I muttered as my eyes were drawn out the large bay window again. I watched as a line of ponies with pickaxes were marched at gunpoint towards the gaping mine entrance. “Actually, no. How does something like this happen when I was told that you weren’t allowed to take in new slaves?”

“Yes, well, you see…” Grand gave a nervous smile as his gaze wandered between Hispano and my own. “We’ve had plenty of former Enclave here since the clouds dissipated and I reclaimed my business from them. So you must understand when I say that after a few escapees, when they were returned to us, we didn’t check all too thoroughly if they were exactly the same ponies who’d fled. A mistake I promise I will not repeat in the future.”

I didn’t believe that, not one fucking bit. This guy was as bad as Rofia, as Mr. Wizard and Miss Tapit. But as much as I wanted to shove a grenade down his throat and watch his head explode, I wasn’t about to do that until I had my father back.

The sound of multiple hooves coming up the stairs behind us pulled Hispano and I’s attention from the almost quivering, nervous smile of the stallion in front of us. Hispano’s talons wandered back to Suiza, ready in case this had in fact all been a setup. I swear to Celestia, if they were going to try to double cross us…

The door handle clicked as it was opened, and a ghoul was all but shoved through the doorway onto the floor.

“Alright, here’s your fucking slave.” Another emaciated guard stallion grunted as he tipped the barrel of his shotgun up before looking over at me. His eyes wandered over me before a smirk pulled across his muzzle. I half expected him to bring his shotgun to bear, but instead, he simply turned around and trotted back down the stairs.

The ghoul on the floor whimpered as he pulled himself back onto his hooves. The twisted and blistered nubs where a pair of full wings once sat shifted on his back as he reached up and rubbed at the explosive collar around his neck. The few points on his body that weren’t completely burned, were badly bruised and welted from what looked like one hell of a recent beating. But as the stallion turned his head up to look at me, I met straight on with the sharp green eyes that used to match my own.

“Night…” Even though he was a ghoul, even though he now looked almost nothing like my dad, the transformation from the blast hadn’t changed a single note of his voice. Tears filled his eyes as his four legs shuddered under him as I did my best to fight my own from doing the exact same. “Is it… is it really you?”

“Dad…” I gasped and lost the fight. I couldn’t hold myself back as I leapt onto him and wrapped my hooves around him tightly. There wasn’t a part of me that cared about how his leathery skin was squishy, or how he smelled like burnt meat. But I couldn’t believe it, he was here, after everything. All that mattered to me was that he was alive.

“Not to break up this touching moment…” Grand Finale softly cleared his throat to get our attention. As I turned my head back, I half expected to see him holding a pistol at us, but instead was only met with an almost embarrassed look on his face. “But I feel like I must inform you that until now, I didn’t know he was... um… your father, Survivor.” He let a nervous laugh slip out of his muzzle as he gestured to the door. “But if you’re satisfied, you are free to go… um, if you wouldn’t mind, that is…”

“Wait, you’re… the Survivor, Night?” My dad asked as his smile spread from burnt ear to burnt ear.

“Yeah, yeah, he’s a big damn hero and all that.” Hispano cooed as she pulled Suiza off her back and leveled it at Grand, pulling a loud whimper from him. “Why are you so eager to see us go? What exactly are you hiding?”

“Nothing! Honest!” Grand yelped as he put his hooves up at us. “It’s just… the longer the Survivor is around, the more likely I am to end up dead!” He gave a stiff shrug as he forced his nervous smile around at each of us. “You have a bit of a… reputation, you see...”

“Alright, that checks out.” Hispano grumbled as she lowered Suiza. As expected, she gave an ‘I told you so’ glance over to me that I was just too damned happy to care about at the moment.

Now, normally, that would be that. I mean, we almost got to walk away the winners for once. But as glad as I was that Grand was smart enough to give us what we wanted and push us away, we couldn’t leave yet. I may not like the guy, but I got my dad, so it was time to help Xeno get his sister back.

BANG!

Grand’s head exploded as the window behind him shattered.

“Shit, move!” Hispano shouted as she pushed both my dad and I back toward the door.

The report from the errant gunshot was quickly lost to the chaos that erupted outside as it echoed off the mountainside. Sporadic gunfire picked up from the guards in the work yard, at who exactly, I had no clue.

BANG!

Another shot punched a hole through the wooden wall just next to the doorway as the three of us scrambled through it. The fact that we were getting shot at wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, but the way that the gunshot sounded filtered through my mind as we put the wall between us and whatever sniper was out there. Well, it stuck out to me...

I knew that sound.

“W-what’s happening!?” My dad whimpered as he dropped flat to the floor and put his forehooves over his head.

“Just our normal, everyday dose of excitement.” Hispano grunted as she shifted and pulled Suiza up in her talons. “Isn’t that right, Dum Dum?”

“I knew you fuckers would be trouble!” One of the mares from the front door shouted as she bolted forward towards the stairs.

BANG!

The shot came through on of the downstairs windows and tore straight through the mare’s barrel. It carried enough force to it that as she collapsed she rolled right into one of the adjoining rooms. If that hadn’t already been scary enough, the crack of the report finally hit me of where I’d fucking heard it before.

“Hispano!” I snapped at her, “I know that sound, it’s Solomon’s and his rifle out there. Or at the very least, it’s Rook.”

“You sure?” Hisapno’s plumage flared for a moment as my words sunk in. “Shit. And this place might as well be a glass house with how many fucking windows are in here!”

“Fuckers!” The other mare at the door shouted before she let out a blast from the shotgun she held in her hooves.

A section of the wooden railing next to my father was blasted away from the shot, showering him with splinters. He let out a frightened whimper that kicked me into gear.

Release.

I felt one of the grenades slip off of my harness and hit the floor. With a swift kick, I propelled the grenade down over the edge. The small explosive gave a bounce as it reached the doorway before exploding with a deafening crack. What was left of the shotgun mare dripped down the walls as quick hoofsteps approached the house from outside.

BANG!

Yet another hoof sized hole opened in the wall between Hispano and I.

“We’ve gotta move, Dum Dum!” Hispano shouted as she brought Suiza up to her shoulder and braced her barrel against the stairway railing.

“And fucking go where!?” I snapped back, pausing as a pair of stallions in combat armor made it to the front door. Suiza let off a chattering burst, tearing apart the ponies in spectacular fashion. We wouldn’t fare much better than tham the second we stepped outside into Solomon’s view, even if the others in the camp didn’t try to kill us.

“B-basement!” My dad forced himself to speak through his quivering on the floor. “T-they took me down there… when I arrived. It’s only got a few tiny windows.”

“And only one way in and out, so that might be a big mistake.” Hispano grunted as more beating hoofsteps came through the splintered and gore coated front door. “Sure, we’ll be safe from the shots, but one grenade down there and there’s nowhere for us to hide.” Spinning around, she reached out to my side and wrapped her talon around one of my grenades. “Speaking of, if you don’t mind, Night.”

Release.

My harness released the grenade into her grasp, pulling a smile across her beak. Standing on her hind legs, she set Suiza down for a moment. She turned herself side on to the door, bringing the grenade up to her breast. With a quick hop, she twisted and put her whole body behind throwing the grenade.

The speed at which she could throw it like that was really impressive, and she’d managed to aim it through almost the direct center of what was left of the doorway. The small explosive gave a hard bounce and skipped out of sight across the mud outside. The sharp blast was swiftly followed by the screams of our dying, injured, and now former assailants.

“Well, let’s make a decision already!” Hispano cooed contentedly as she plucked her sister into her talons again.

“Alright, where’s the stairs down to the basement?” I asked my dad.

“Below us!” He whimpered as he pulled his hooves from his head. I paused as I was met with the most frightened eyes I’d ever seen. It hit me harder than I’d expected. I’d seen my dad run through a dozen emotions before, but… I’d never once seen him afraid. Before all this, before everything I’d been through, I knew I’d been exactly like that.

I couldn’t fight the smirk that pulled across my muzzle. Goddesses, that is exactly what I was like on the Inuvik and the Empirica, wasn’t it? Well…

BANG!

Another round punched through the wall, and right through my right foreleg. I collapsed to the floor. My augmented vision fuzzed as immediately the right leg of the pony in my display disappeared under a ‘crippled’ warning, along with the standard medical warnings. My pain talisman strained as my vision struggled to cope with the hit, and for a moment, I could feel everything again.

“Mother fucker!” I seethed and looked down at my leg. Pulped exposed muscle and bits of shredded bone peeked out from the pulsing lines of blood that flowed from the gaping wound. My talisman was at least merciful in the fact it was quick to kick back in, blocking out the pain.

Well, it wasn’t completely gone. It looked like it had been a grazing hit, but it had torn through half of the flesh. And fucking hell, this was not what we needed happening right now.

“N-night, are you…” Dad gasped and sprung up to help me.

“You idiot!” Hispano shouted and lept through the air. She tackled my dad to the ground right before he got to me.

BANG!

Another shot burst through the wall near the round that had gotten me. It was high enough to sail over my head, but would have torn right through my dad had Hispano not pulled the both of them away.

“Stay away from the holes!” She growled before shoving herself up off of him. “Where are the fucking med supplies here?”

“I-I-I…” My dad stammered as his gaze drifted between the wound in my leg and Hispano’s sharp, expectant glare. “The kitchen, by the back door!”

“Hispano…” I grunted as I shifted my free hoof over and pressed down on my fucked up leg.

“I’ll be careful and quick.” She grumbled again, shoving Suiza into my dad’s hooves. “You. Make sure no more fuckers come through the front door.”

“But I…” Dad looked at the cannon in his hooves and shook his head. “I don’t know how to use something like this!”

“Well you better fucking learn fast.” Hispano snapped her glare over at me before sharply jabbing her talon at my leg. “Keep pressure on that and don’t fucking die, Dum Dum.”

She wheeled around on her paw again, flaring her wings as she stepped up onto a bit of the wooden railing that hadn't been utterly blasted apart yet. With a sigh, she stepped off and disappeared down onto the first floor again. I trusted her to be alright, she wouldn’t have gone if she didn’t know she could do it.

And while my gut hardly had to convince me that this wasn’t some random wastelander shooting at us, the last time my friends were on the end of that gun, most of them didn’t walk away alive.

“Night…” Dad whimpered as he did his best to hold his shaking hooves still around Suiza. “I’m so sorry…”

“I know, but we’ll talk later, alright?” I wanted nothing more right now than to hold him and tell him how much I loved him. But again, this was Solomon we were dealing with. One second of me getting sentimental, and I would lose again. And I will not lose again.

“No, it’s not alright!” He cried out and dropped Suiza. “You’ve been fucking shot for Celestia’s sake!”

“Dad,” I know the emotions with all this are overwhelming for him, but again, I didn’t need this right now! “Dad! Look at me!” I snapped at him, forcing his hollow and regret filled gaze to lock onto my eyes. “I’ve been through a lot of bullshit down here, so I need you to trust me that I’ll be alright, okay? I’ve lived through worse.”

“I uh…” His eyes wandered over me, I think finally taking in all the scars I wore now, my missing hind leg, and of course, the bits of metal bolted to the side of my skull. “I’m sorry.” Again he whimpered and shivered as tears started to roll down his blistered, burned cheeks.

But as his whimpers carried through the house, a burst of rapid fire gunshots picked up from outside. More shouting came from the workers here, and more hoofsteps squished through the mud around the house. Fuck, things were about to get interesting again.

With a sharp flap, Hispano shot up to the second floor again with a small white box in her talons. Both dad and I gave out a light scream from her startling appearance, and it pulled an annoyed look across her beak.

“I thought we got over the whole ‘screaming’ thing on the Empirica, Night.” She deadpanned as she tossed the white box to me. “And you. Why is my sister on the floor? Were you just going to invite them in?” With a growl, she picked Suiza up again and let out a burst through the doorway. She hadn’t aimed at anything in particular, but it gave the approaching ponies enough incentive to turn tail and run.

BANG!

Another sharp shot came from the mountain, but thank Celestia it wasn’t at us.

Opening the white box with my one good hoof, I found a pair of big, and incredibly dirty glass bottles with long syringes stuck through their corks, as well as a hoofwritten note. The two bottles had been marked as Hydra over whatever alcohol label had faded over the centuries. It didn’t seem anything like the nice bottles Buck had used in the past, but I’ll be damned if it wasn’t something I needed regardless.

The note was just a simple message scrawled on yet another discarded label.

This is for the big bosspony only, so don’t waste this shit on the fucking slaves!

Taking one of the bottles, I smirked as I hovered it over my profusely bleeding leg. While I was still pretty fucking pissed Solomon was currently trying to kill us, I was still glad that Grand’s head exploded. If anything, his operation is going down today, so there was at least that.

“H-hydra!? Are you insane!?” Dad chimed in with another unhelpful anecdote I didn’t need right now. “Do you know how unsafe that stuff is!?”

“Sure, let’s just let Night bleed out rather than fix him.” Hispano let out a sharp laugh as I plunged the needle into my leg. “Shit’s going to kill you one way or the other, so you might want to keep that in consideration. Welcome to the wasteland, dad.”

A frigid tingling spread over the numbness my augment afforded me. A sickening multicolored pool started to flow through the blood in my leg, pushing out all of the flakes of bone and bits of shredded flesh. Like with most healing potions, I watched as my flesh began to knit itself up, but with it came an uncomfortable scratching feeling. It was like somepony was scraping their hooves across a chalkboard, but that board was my leg, and their hoof was made out of a cheese grater.

It wasn’t until my leg healed up and the flesh warped back into place that I noticed something was off. My forehoof was slightly... sideways. Lifting my leg, a sharp jolt ran through my leg as the misaligned muscles and bones pulled against each other. Oh fuck, that’s not good.

BANG!

Another shot, another hole opened up in the wall next to us. It was at the far end of the hall from where we were, but it was a good reminder that we weren’t out of this yet. Looking over to Hispano, she canted her head to the door and listened.

“Alright, you aren’t bleeding out, and we’ve got a gap before any more of these assholes feel like storming the place.” She looked back at me, and then with a frown to my leg. “We need to get to the basement. Think you can make it?”

“I’ll help him.” Dad spoke up with a firm nod as he pushed himself back to his admittedly still shaky hooves.

“Alright.” Hispano nodded and pulled Suiza against her tightly. “I saw the door when I went down there. It’s basically right below us, so we’ll only be exposed for a moment.” Nodding to her, I did my best to push myself up to my hooves, keeping in mind not to stand in front of either of the two holes next to me. I took only a single hobbling step before the bone in my fucked up leg gave a groan loud enough the three of us could hear it. “And don’t leave the other hydra. We might need it to fix your dumb ass again.” She rolled her eyes with a smile as I turned back and hoofed the bottle into my muzzle.

The three of us moved carefully up to the splintered and shattered railing. Looking over the edge, the grey light cast down from the clouds outside reflected off the thousands of bits of glass and blood that coated the old wooden floor. Dropping on that and then sprinting to the basement door was going to be tough, but…

BANG!

A hole opened up at my height further down the hallway.

BANG!

Another one split the wall just a ponies length closer.

BANG!

Okay, I could see where this was going.

“Time to go!” Hispano called out as the three of us all spread our wings and stepped over the ledge.

BANG!

Another shot burst through as we were falling. Hopefully our timing would be good enough Solomon wouldn’t be able to correct for the three of us floating down!

BANG!

A shot that was a bit lower than the others struck the second story floor above my head. It rained down splinters as dad and I came down hard on the glass covered floor. His strong grasp wrapped around me before I was ready, and I was all but dragged sideways toward the dark doorway that lead to the basement.

BANG!

The edge of the doorway splintered as all three of us threw ourselves into the hole. The comfort of the house’s brick foundation met my eyes right before we all painfully crashed down onto the concrete floor.

This time, the creak from my leg became a sharp snap as the already misaligned bone gave out and shattered, sending a spiral-like bone spike through my skin. My augment fuzzed again, overlaying a second ‘crippled’ notice over the paper pony’s leg as it greyed out once more. At least this time my augment held up, and I didn’t feel a thing!

“We all in one piece?” Hispano groaned as she writhed under my dad’s whimpering form.

“Fuck… yeah.” I said as I spat out the hydra bottle onto the floor and did my best not to look at the bloody bone threatening to jab itself into my chest. “Leg’s busted again though.” Shifting over, I looked at Hispano as she stood up and brushed herself off, then at my dad as he too picked himself up. “What about you, dad? You alright?”

“Physically?” He nodded and took a stumbling step back, sitting himself down under one of the thin dirty windows that allowed this place just the dimmest amount of light. “Mentally… I don’t fucking know.”

Hoofclaps filled the air from the stairwell. Hispano was quick to bring up Suiza, and I fully expected for her to fire. But as she held off, I arched my head to look over. Xeno stood on his hindlegs in the doorway with a smile wide across his muzzle.

“Holy shit, you really are a survivor, you know that?” He shook his head as he took a few steps down the stairs.

“Before I kill you,” Hispano spat coldly at him. “why are you working with them?”

“Uh uh, not so fast.” Xeno laughed and brought his hoof forward with some weird box tightly grasped in it. Instantly, Hispano grunted and shifted Suiza’s barrel away from him. “Ah, you do know what this is.” He dangled the box in his hoof for a moment before I spotted a blinking red light on the back of it. “Yeah, if I let go of this, then the survivor can say goodbye to dear old poppy, as well as every other worthless slave in this dump.”

“And what about your sister?” I asked. Working for Solomon I could almost forgive, seeing as he’s a merc. But what did he have to gain if he killed her too?

“Wait, you… you actually believed that bullshit?” He laughed and shook his head. Of course he’d lied. When the fuck am I going to learn. Worst thing is, I didn’t even need to shift my glance to know Hispano was giving me Celestia tier side eye right now. “No, while you may be hard to kill, you are so damned easy to fool.” Holding his hoof out at me, he scrunched up his muzzle. “I mean, even now I bet you don’t even know who I am!”

“You’ll have to excuse me, it’s a fairly common sentiment recently from those who end up dead around me.” I growled. Shifting myself to stand up, if I could only get myself stable enough to… to what? Grenade him in here? Fuck, Hispano was right, this place was the perfect deathtrap.

“The attitude, the gear, the unique pistol? We really were your mark all along.” Hispano nodded to the pistol still holstered on Xeno’s flank. “Night, meet the head of Pentex. Or at least, what’s left of it.”

Because of course he was! This whole thing was a setup from the start. Just another of Solomon’s worn out tricks trying to get at the only thing that I had left that mattered. Family.

“Smart girl you’ve got there.” Xeno only smirked and nodded. “A shame I’ll have to kill her someday soon. But lucky you, it doesn’t have to be today.” Bringing out his other hoof, he shifted his fetlock and let the pin on the end of a smooth cylinder flip off. Immediately, a hissing stream of almost black gas burst from the end of it, and Xeno gave a light toss of it across the room. “It’s been great sizing you up, but the job was to kill your father and go. And of course I’d hate to keep Rook waiting on me when he went through all the trouble to teleport me all the way out here to finally meet the pony who destroyed my legacy.”

Even before it hit me, the gas stung at my normal eye and made me feel like my lungs were about to seize up. Both Hispano and my dad nearly doubled over as it hit them too, but I had the luxury of having at least one eye that was immune to the gas, and I locked it right on Xeno.

“He’ll betray you… you know.” I forced out before the gas thickened up enough that my lungs started to burn. “Solomon, that is.”

“True, but I’ll trust you remember what I mentioned before about how I work.” Xeno smiled as his now free hoof brought an old gas mask down over his face. “Well, it’s been fun.” With a twist of his other hoof, he let go of the device.

Pop!

The collar around my dad’s neck exploded, and his entire throat unzipped right before my eyes.

As he collapsed to the floor, Xeno turned to make his way up the stairs. However, even though Hispano’s burning eyes were clamped tightly shut, she let out a feral roar and let Suiza rip. Thumping shots blasted the black gas away from Suiza’s barrel, and the explosive payload of the cannon’s shells ripped the wooden stairs to pieces.

It was absolutely perfect in all but two aspects. The first, was that while she’d destroyed Xeno’s only means of escape, she’d missed the bastard himself. The second, was that we were now trapped in this room with him.

As Hispano stopped firing, a small prompt appeared in my augmented vision. A green box highlighted the floor at my hooves, and reaching down, I felt the hydra bottle I’d dropped. With a firm grasp in my fetlock, I spun around to my dad, watching as his weakening breaths gurgled out more and more black blood by the second. With my own yell, I drove the bottle into his chest. I had no idea if this shit even worked on ghouls, but fuck it!

I would not lose to Solomon! Not today. Not ever again!

With one problem dealt with, I spun around as Hispano opened fire with Suiza again. Her shots tore apart the brick foundation where Xeno had just been standing, but he had disappeared into the dark smoke that filled this already fucking nearly pitch black basement! Fuck, where did he go!?

Something shifted in the small amount of light we had before all of the light in here left the room altogether. Turning almost instinctively to the window, I found Xeno had opened it and already managed to get half of himself squeezed through the small opening. He jerked and pushed, but while he himself could fit, his fancy pristine combat gear was keeping him caught on the old wooden window sill.

Oh, no, he was not going to run away!

“Hispano!” I shouted.

“I can’t see shit!” She coughed and did her best to keep Suiza level. “Where is that fucker!”

“Hold on!” reaching over, I grabbed the sizzling hot barrel of Suiza in my fetlock. I whimpered as my hoof burned, but I managed to force Hispano’s aim up towards the small window. “Now!”

Hispano let out a burst of high explosive rounds that kicked the barrel wildly, ripping it out of my hooves, and I swear, a good bit of my fur and skin from my fetlock. Still, the brick around the window sill exploded in chunks that rained down on us, and I watched as what looked like the back half of Xeno fell right back into the room.

Unfortunately, things weren’t what they seemed. While lines of blood dripped down the old brick, Xeno pushed himself with a scream through the window, sans only his fancy combat gear. Of course the fucking bastard had to slip away…

“Did we get the fucker!?” Hispano coughed hard before leaning over hard and throwing up.

“No…” I managed to force out before both my lungs and stomach seized up and I too threw up. Like before, while it didn’t hurt per se, it was less than uncomfortable to experience. “But… I think he’s gone.”

As soon as I’d said that, a sharp gurgling cough from behind me made me stiffen up. Spinning around, I watched my dad pull the bottle of hydra from his chest. He heaved hard, slumping himself against the brick wall behind him as a deep black growth had formed where the gaping hole in his neck had been. Thank fucking Celestia, he’d survived...

He looked up to me, straining to gaze through the dark gas at my glowing eye. I nodded to him, getting a nod in return. It was then that I knew, finally, we’d won.

“This… is Night. We’re ready for our pickup.” I coughed out as Hispano did her best to shuffle herself toward the wall where my dad was. I swear to Luna, he better not have abandoned us and flown off north again…

“Quit your bitching, I’m on route.” Scar’s voice filtered into my head. “E.T.A. five minutes. Be ready.”

Nodding to him, I groaned and kicked myself lightly in the head when I remembered he couldn’t see a fucking gesture. Still, as I shook my head and tried to not cough my lungs out, a slight shimmer on the floor caught my eye across the room. Hobbling over, I found it was from Xeno’s combat gear. With a smirk, I lifted it up to find that both his pistol and submachine gun were still firmly strapped to it.

So for once I can say that while this rescue operation went about as well as the other’s I’ve done, this wasn’t a total loss…

Hispano’s talons walked along the silver body of the large pistol while her beak stayed parted in a wide smile that had been absent on her since the fight with her dad.

“Can you believe he was running AP rounds through this thing? I’d be surprised to find out he ever actually killed anything with it.” She cooed softly as she twirled the pistol in her grasp before she firmly secured it in Xeno’s holster. “Still, I did say I wanted a baby…

“You aren’t seriously going to keep that name…” As expected, my words pulled a deadpan from her before she rolled her eyes again. “What?”

“You can judge names the moment you name one of your guns.” She lazily pointed to the submachine gun I had strapped to me. “That’s if it lasts through more than one fight before you destroy it…”

While I had no idea what kind of submachine gun it was, how it worked, or anything, I did like the feel of it. It was compact and light, and the boxy magazine on the top of it looked like it held a lot of bullets in it. I didn’t know how I was going to integrate it with my saddle, but… Hispano had been right. I needed something more than just explosives, and I couldn’t do better than just having a gun like this practically dropped into my hooves.

“Just… making sure again…” My dad spoke up as he nervously trotted back across Scar’s cargo bay, “there is a brain at the front of this thing, right? I’m not crazy?”

“Dad, it’s fine. It’s all going to be fine.” I smiled and patted my hoof on his shoulder, probably doing nothing to sooth the confused anxiety I had already lived through. “Just trust me, relax. Once we get back, we’ll do our best to get you caught up on what’s been going on, and the plan to kill that fucking Saddle Arabian bastard.”

“Caught up!?” He snorted and shoved my hoof off of him. He shook his head, looking at me like he didn’t even know the stallion sitting in front of him. “Are you listening to yourself, Night? You shouldn’t be like this!” Taking a few steps back, he planted his hooves on his head and hyperventilated. This… was new. Dad and I had a rough few days after the news of mom hit, but… he’d never been this far gone. “Celestia, Night, you aren’t a soldier! Why don’t you just leave!? Why is… no, who made all this your job!?”

“You did.” I said flatly, forcing him to stop and blink at me. “When I thought you died, I did everything I had to in order to survive. And I didn’t do it alone.” Snapping my hoof out at Hispano, I growled. “I know all of this is a lot, but Hispano will tell you that everything I’ve done has been to try to stay alive so that I can finish this fight and reclaim the Ark. Which doesn’t mean anything to you, but it fucking means a lot to us!”

“I...” Dad collected himself, stiffening up and raising his voice like he’d done at home when he had something I was supposed to listen to. But, I wasn’t the pony anymore that was going to sit and listen. It was his turn for that.

“No.” I raised my voice over him. “I have lost more than you can fucking know, Dad, and I have fought too hard to keep what little I still have just so you can pull this after I came all this way for you. To save you.”

Heaving, I felt Hispano’s talon come down on my shoulder and squeeze it. Looking over at her, she took a deep breath and nodded to me. She didn’t have to say anything for me to know that I wasn’t Delilah. I couldn’t go on and rant like dad was the naive stallion I used to be.

“Mom died, then you…” I took a deep breath and hung my head. “I know I’m not perfect. I’ve made so many mistakes. But I’ve done what I thought was right, I’ve done my best, Dad.”

“You’ve done more than me.” Dad whimpered as he sat down hard. “You were out there, and this whole time, I didn’t even look.” Tears dripped down onto the metal deck, and his forelegs quivered more than they had in the shootout. “I went back there, where our home was, hoping… that you’d ended up like me. But I never thought…”

My mind recalled when I showed up at where our house had been.

“The picture of us. That was you.” The words slipped from my muzzle as I remember finding the picture of us sitting there on our fridge. And now, more so than when I’d found it, the smiling young stallion in that photo had never seemed further away from reality. “You… did your best, Dad. You always have.”

“No…” He groaned as he let go and cried. “I left you all alone!”

“Well I’m here now.” Hobbling forward, I wrapped my broken leg gently around him. “And I’m not going to lose you again.” Looking back at Hispano, she shared a sad smile, but simply nodded. And as my dad cried in my hooves, as weird as this parental role reversal was to me, in this moment, I was just happy to have him back.

“It’s okay, dad. Everything’s going to be alright.”

Author's Note

As always, a huge shoutout to TheFurryRailFan for all his help in getting these chapters nice and prepped to be put up!

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat for setting up the Fo:E universe!

Chapter 89 - Utopia

When you are convinced everything works just fine, you are overlooking something.

The hydraulics on the back of Scar hummed softly as they lowered his loading ramp to reveal a flurry of snow whipped up by his engines. The cold air that flooded in washed across my numb skin, sending a reflexive shiver down my spine, but it also forced out a breath of relief that took some of the tension in my body with it. Looking out onto the cloud shrouded dorsal hull of the Arcturus, I felt like I could finally relax. We’d made it back with my dad, and were hardly worse for wear other than my broken foreleg.

“Hey, Dum Dum?” Hispano spoke softly as she walked up next to me with a forced smile across her beak. “I know you’re probably eager to get caught up with your dad, but… I think I’m going to need some time with my own.” Looking out at the cloudship, her smile faded into a distant and somewhat lost gaze. “I just hope I’m not too late to say I’m sorry.”

“Of course.” I nodded and reached over, pulling her into a tight hug that made my broken leg creak and emit a squish. “Take all the time you need. I think first I’m going to have Buck patch me up, but… I’ll be there if you need to talk.”

She nodded, and again flashed up her nervous smile as she pulled back slightly. She planted a soft peck on my cheek before flaring her wings and heading down the open ramp. As I’m sure I radiated a deep blush, the sound of hoofsteps behind me admittedly caught me off guard.

“So, Night, where are we?” Dad’s curious voice didn’t seem too interested in questioning Hispano’s affection, and to be honest, I was thankful for that. I’m sure that conversation would come later, but for now, he was going to have enough things to adjust to. “Wait, is this… a Mistral class cloudship?” Before I could even open my muzzle to answer, he’d trotted off toward the ramp.

His hoofsteps picked up as he trotted right off the ramp and onto the fluffy white cloud coated hull. The smile that stretched across his muzzle as he trotted back and forth before reaching down for the hatch was a nice sight to see, and admittedly after the day we’ve had, something I hadn’t known I needed until now. With a hiss, the hatch to the bridge opened up and he let out a quick, giddy laugh.

“So are you getting out, or am I going to hover here all day?” Scar’s voice filtered in, making me jump slightly and strain my broken leg.

“Yeah, yeah. Sorry.” I offered as I did my best to hobble down the ramp. “And thanks for the lift.”

“Don’t mention it.” He snorted into my head. “And I mean that. Don’t, because this shit isn’t happening again.”

“And I mean it when I say thank you.” I thought back to him as I made my way off the ramp, watching as the moment I stepped my hooves off it, he was closing it and pushing his engines to lift him away from the Arcturus.

“Well, I’m glad you got your dad back.” The shift in his tone wasn’t much, but it was noticeable. “Just, try not to get yourself killed, alright, kid?”

“No promises.” I smirked and gave a weak wave of my broken leg to him as his camouflage systems cloaked the massive skycraft. He rolled slightly, banking down and out of sight below the Arcturus.

“Welcome back, Captain.” Eliza’s voice in my head was joined by her smiling mare appearing in my augmented vision. “I see the rescue was a success!”

“Yeah,” I nodded and smiled as I looked back over to find my dad’s head buried under the clouds near the hatch. “How are things looking here, Eliza?”

“I’m happy to report that repairs are complete, and the Arcturus is currently undergoing final systems checks.” Her mare fuzzed for a moment before changing to her shifty eyed cartoon mare. “Crew morale however is not much better than when you left. However,” Again, the smiling mare popped back up, “I believe that a bit of good news will help to correct that.”

“This is amazing, Night! This is all original, wartime construction! It’s amazing to see it’s lasted this long in such good condition!” Dad laughed as he poked his head up out of the cloud again. “I’d love to get a look inside of her reactor, if at all possible. I mean, once they understand what I used to do for the Enclave, I’m sure they won’t mind...” He paused as the grunts and echoes of hooves on ladder rungs met our ears.

“Welcome back…!” Double Delta grunted as he finally pulled himself up enough that his head poked up above the cloud layer. He paused as he was met with my dad’s smiling face, scrunching up his own from behind the sunglasses perched on his muzzle. “Uh… hello there.”

“You must be the Captain!” Dad nearly jumped towards delta, throwing his hoof out excitedly. “Thank you so much for helping to keep my son alive, and for helping him to rescue me.”

“Right…” Delta blinked a few times before rolling his eyes over to me. “I didn’t do anything. Night was the one to save me, actually. He’s helped all of us, really.” He smirked before raising his hoof to give me a quick and lazy salute. “Anyway, Captain, I’m sure Eliza’s already told you, but the Arcturus is basically ready to go. Just waiting on your word now.”

“Wait, Captain?” Dad gasped as his jaw all but hit the ship. “T-the… Arcturus? As in the Arcturus!?” He took an almost stumbling step back before looking down at the clouds around his hooves again. “But it was destroyed!”

“Yeah. Like I said, dad,” I felt guilty as a wave of pride washed over me harder than I think I’ve ever felt. “We’ve got a lot to get you caught up on.”

“Well, at least it was a simple spiral fracture.” Buck sighed as the automated tools inside his forepaws worked at cutting, cleaning, and all around fixing the gaping and still slowly bleeding wound in my leg.

It was nice to be back on my ship, in my room, and on my bed. Doubly so to have the dog I loved here with me after a day like this. I know I keep thinking about it, but today, for as rough as it was, reminded me that I really needed some good time off again.

“You know, it’s an all too common injury. Misaligned bones from the improper application of Hydra before setting a broken bone will, more times than not, lead to a spiral fracture. And of course in this case, even compound fractures. Generally setting the bone in the right orientation needs to be done first before you take the drug, or you can risk doing more harm than good.” While his dry explanation didn’t change the necessity of me having given myself that Hydra, the passive aggressive tone he held made me understand that this wasn’t really about educating me in the first place. “But at this point, I’m not sure I have to explain to you again exactly why.”

“I got my dad back, and even though it didn’t go exactly as well as I’d thought, we still beat Solomon at his own game.” I winced as my vision fuzzed and momentarily the pain got through my augment. I let out a seething whine, but grit my teeth and just endured it. “We won, Buck.”

“You didn’t win, Night.” Buck growled at me and gave a firm squeeze of my leg with his paw. “As much as I detest your nickname, I have to echo it. You survived. There’s a difference.” The tools in his arms stopped what they were doing and retracted back into his forearms as he brought his mechanical paws up to his face. With a sigh, he rubbed at his tired eye and shook his head.

“I’m happy you’re safe, that you got your father back safely as well. But now you need to stay here and do what you promised me you would.” Dragging his paws down his face, he pressed the full weight of the disappointed expression he wore against me. “I know that through your augment, you can’t feel the pain your body is in. But that doesn’t mean it’s not there. Even now, your organs are on the verge of shutting down, your heart is straining to keep pumping at all, and your immune system has been pushed to the verge of failing.”

Buck reached his paw forward again, gripping around the fetlock of my broken leg. Carefully, he pulled it toward him, and I watched as the sharp, protruding bone slipped back inside with a wet squelch that made my stomach do a flip. But as soon as that feeling had passed, I watched a syringe fold out from his forearm and plunge into my barrel. With it came a warm sensation that spread through my body and helped me to relax a few muscles I hadn’t even realized were still tense.

“Eliza says the trip to Vanderhoof will take nearly a week due to a severe radiation storm having formed over the route.” I grunted as Buck helped me lean back on our bed. “I’m sure that’s enough time to get myself fixed up, good as new, as well as enough time to come up with a plan of how to hit Solomon before he has a chance to get ahead again.”

“No, Night, no working for you.” A soft laugh came from Buck’s muzzle, but there wasn’t a smile to match it. Just the same sad and disappointed gaze as he pulled a paw up across his fuzzy chest. “You’re going to take the next week to recover, and nothing else. Even so, a week is already less time than I should be forcing you to take.”

“A… week?” I blinked at him as the warmth from his injection spread over my body, building up into a flickering tick that I could feel made me want to itch my body. Problem was, as I tried to move, my legs refused to cooperate. “Wait… something’s wrong…”

“No, nothing’s wrong.” Buck smirked as his expression finally shifted to a sharper, more stern look. “The sedative I’ve given you will keep you down until the worst of your withdrawal symptoms are over. You’re going to get all the rest you need, whether you want it or not.”

I opened my muzzle to speak, but I couldn’t do more than crack it further than just enough to part my lips. As much as I wanted to say I was beginning to panic about that, the itchy feeling in my body started to numb again, and I could feel it take all the strength I had to fight with it. My eyelids felt like they were getting heavier by the moment, and I couldn’t keep them open.

The last thing I saw before I passed out, was Buck letting out a sigh of relief, and his contented smile as he finally got exactly what he wanted.

My world was darkness. Flashes, sparks and snaps, like electrical bursts lit up the black abyss now and again. I couldn’t tell if they were real, or if I was dreaming. Really, I couldn’t tell much of anything at all, as my jumbled thoughts came together in disjointed and unfocused waves that as soon as they had passed, I couldn’t recall what they’d even been about.

It wasn’t long before something new came to me however. At least, it didn’t feel like all that long to me. Rain, or wetness across my no longer numb skin. A dull, ebbing thumping filled the void, slow at first, but steadily increasing. As it picked up, the flashes in the dark did as well, growing brighter with each burst.

My whole being felt like it tightened around me, becoming uncomfortable. The darkness itself hugged me to the point it felt like it was starting to smother me. Worse, the thumping continued to grow, not only in pace, but in volume. Louder and louder, it grew until it was too much to ignore or even think over. It’s pulses pushed the darkness in even further, and the feeling of fear and panic returned with it.

With a scream, I opened my eyes and pushed myself up off my bed. The dark, unlit captain’s quarters warped in my vision, and the hot air around my shivering body danced across my sweat drenched skin. My augmented vision fuzzed as my eye strained to focus, at least, until a glint of metal caught my attention.

Looking over, I saw Buck’s hulking form, perched on the bed beside me. He gave a tired yawn as he reached out, and again, plunged a needle into me. As the flooding warmth spread through my body again, my muddied thoughts collected enough to realize what he was doing.

“N-no…” My horse voice cracked my dry throat, and it came out as nothing stronger than a whimpering whisper. “Please… not again…”

“Shhh…” Buck hushed me softly as his gentle grasp guided my cold, sweaty body back down onto my soaked sheets. The itching tingling began to spread over me again as his paw wrapped around my fetlock. “You’re doing great, Night.” He offered to me as his blue augmented eye burned in the dark cabin. I struggled and strained to focus on it as once more, my eyes began to shut. No, I… I didn’t want to go back…

Not darkness this time, but rather, pulses of colors filled my mind. Red, violet, pale greens and browns. Once more I was awash in my thoughts as I drifted without any sense of time or feeling. But unlike before, some of my thoughts stood apart from the jumbled waves that crashed into the void.

Was it all worth it?

Would I ever be happy with what I have?

Was I a failure in Delilah’s eyes? To the others?

No one answered my questions, of course. However, a feeling grew in my gut. Ominous, and twisting, it came with a painful feeling of inherent wrongness. Like the thumping before, it only grew bigger, stronger. To the point that it felt like my whole being was trying to wrench itself from existence.

I opened my muzzle to cry out as the void itself collapsed, and I was thrown head over hocks.

Blood and bile poured from my throat into a rank smelling rusty bucket at the end of my bed. I groaned as my body heaved and expelled even more of the sick from me. My eye watered, and my damp coat shivered harder than ever as I tightly gripped our blanket in my grasp.

“Hey, that’s it, get it all out.” Hispano’s soft voice drifted into my ear as I felt her talon pat down softly along my back. “I’m right here with you, Night. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Oh, time for the next dose?” Buck’s tired yawn from behind me on the bed was both nice and infuriating. “Alright.”

I wanted to turn and yell at him for doing this to me, and to beg him to stop. Instead, I only doubled over again and threw up. My vision fuzzed once more as it did it’s best to remind me that I was still alive, thought the paper pony in the corner of my eye wasn’t looking to hot.

I felt Buck shift on the bed behind me, and with a sharp prick in my back, I felt the warmth spread through me again.

No. I… I couldn’t. Not again...

I hurled one last time into the bucket as the medication helped the strain carry me back off again into the darkness.

The sound of waves crashing against the warm sands under me was a familiar sensation that I could reach out and hold onto. The sound of seagulls in the distance, and the warm breeze across my coat helped me to remember the scene of Brahman Beach as it had appeared in my dreams. Opening my eyes, I smiled, expecting to see an annoyed looking donkey staring down at me.

Instead, I found a blood red sky. It wasn’t like the red of a sunset, no, the stars and the moon hung in it as if it were the dead of night. The sound of fires, and distant, tortured screams met my ears, and I pushed myself to sit up in the sand. No, this was all wrong.

Turning around, I could see what was left of Delilah’s town. Flames poured through every villa, consumed every tree and garden. The bodies of so many lay strewn in pieces as far as I could see. Everyone here… was dead. Everyone, except for one pony who stood staring at me with a twisted smile.

“M-mom?” The word slipped out of my muzzle, bringing a delighted but warped chuckle out from her.

“Do you enjoy the fruits of your labors, Night? You love killing, you love the destruction, don’t you?” She spoke in her voice, using her face, but this… this was nothing like the mom I knew. “You’re right, I do seem different. Maybe that’s because you never knew the real me.”

“No!” I refused to believe this. This was all a dream, another fucking nightmare that I needed to wake up from, that’s all. “You aren’t real.”

“Neither are you, always hiding behind your personas.” She laughed at me again, and I won’t lie, it hurt to hear her voice like this. I’d wanted to hear her again, but… not like this.

“I know who I am.” I fired back at her. “And I know who my mother was. She was the kindest, most amazing mare I’ve ever known!”

“Until she left you.” She smirked and looked at her fetlock expectantly. “I wonder how long it will be before the others leave you after the failure you’ve become.”

Oh, so that’s what this was.

“You know,” I smirked as I sat down in the warm sands under me. “The other times my hallucinations tried to bring me down, they tried the same shit. You know where that got them?” Reaching up, I tapped at the side of my head. “When I wake up from this, you’ll be gone forever.”

“And you’ll still be a failure!” Mom spat out with a laugh.

She giggled, ramping up into a full bodied laugh that sounded nothing like her. As she continued, her entire form warped, shifting and changing until it resolved into… almost me. From her blue coat, to her yellow and striped green mane, she was the mare I’d always dreamed of looking like. Perfect curves, perfect hair, perfect feathers, and not a missing limb or scar to take away from her perfect form.

“This is amazing, you know that? It really is perfect.” She laughed with a voice that didn’t belong to her, and a face that showed every emotion I hated all at once. “Oh, don’t be upset. You had to know this was coming. I am everything you don’t want to admit you carry around with you.”

“I already told you, I know who I am.” I shook my head at the twisted product of my own poor pharmaceutical choices. “Torment me all you want, what I said stands. You’ll fade away soon enough.”

“Oh, I think we both know that’s not true.” I don’t know how, but as she spoke, she smiled in the same way as Solomon always had. Reaching her hoof up, she brushed aside her long mane and pointed to her own head. “Obviously, your little toy isn’t working on me. Either I’m different, or you managed to break it somehow. Yet another thing in the wasteland that you’ve helped to break, right? It’s one of the things I love about you, Night.”

“No, this is a fluke. Probably a product of whatever detox drug Buck gave me.” I snapped back at her. I know I was arguing with myself, but until this all ended, honestly, there wasn’t much else I could do. “How about you kindly fuck off and leave me alone, yeah?”

“Nah.” She shrugged and sat down. “In fact, I’ll do you one better, Night.” Leaning forward, her muzzle split into a wide, sharp toothed grin. “Let’s help you wake up.”

Her voice echoed across the ruins of Brahman beach, causing what little remained to collapse, and the world around me to warp.

Instead of a wave of water, a wall of sand rose up and came down hard from behind. It washed over me, pressing me down into the coarse grains that grew more jagged by the minute. I tried to cry out, receiving a muzzle full of burning hot sand down my throat. Panicking, I flailed against the pull around me, feeling like I was grating my skin off with every movement. I wanted to scream, to flail even more, but every action only made things worse.

While I sat in agony for who knows how long, darkness wormed its way over me again, and I was finally released from my mental prison.

My lungs tried to jump up my throat as I sharply bucked myself out of my sleep. I nearly choked on the bile that worked its way out, and I managed to hang my head over the nearby bucket just in time as I wretched. Even through my painkilling talisman my body was sore, my lungs and thumping heart pleading for me to give them a break. Sweat still drenched my coat and the empty bed I was on. For a moment, I wondered if I’d actually left the dream, or if this was just another trick.

“No trick.” My own voice came from beside me as she appeared, laying next to me on the bed. “You’re most definitely awake, my little failure.”

“If you’re here, then obviously not.” I snorted and hung my head over the foul smelling bucket. Ugh, fucking addiction. Why couldn’t I just be better already?

“You won’t get better, Night. You’ll always fail.” She gave a soft, but twisted laugh that pulled a grumble from my muzzle. “That is why I’m still here, afterall.”

Thankfully, the sound of heavy pawsteps approaching caught my ears. The door to my quarters squealed as it was opened, and Buck stepped through with a sigh. It was odd, really. For this being another dream, I’d expected him to show up half dead like he had before…

“Sorry I wasn’t here. Was checking up on Cora when Eliza told me you were awake.” He spun around as he spoke, and his glowing cybernetic blue eye washed over me for a moment. “Well, other than a slightly elevated heart rate, and some residual bodily stress, you’re in the clear for the most part. Another day and you should start feeling well enough to get back to things.”

Again, if this was a dream, why was he acting so… normal?

“So, now that the worst is over with,” He stepped forward, reaching out carefully with his paws as he sat down on the floor at the foot of my bed. “how are you feeling?” He took my hooves in his paws and squeezed them softly. The sensation of his rubber and metal digits, and the slight soreness that spiked from his touch made my mind stop cold for a moment.

“Uh…” I blinked a few times before looking back over to the ‘fake’ me. “Am… I awake?” I know that asking a hallucination a question was liable to get an answer I couldn’t trust, but again, she simply nodded.

“Of course you are.” Buck said as he reached his paw up and carefully caressed my cheek. With a soft and genuine smile, Buck nodded to me. “It’s been quite the task dealing with your symptoms, but trust me when I say you are looking much better.”

“Well, if that is the case,” I said as I reached my hoof up and tapped at the side of my head. “Can you turn my hallucination inhibitor back on? I’ve got a friend here that I’m not too keen on keeping.”

As I could have expected, Buck’s muzzle twisted into a confused frown.

“It… is on, Night.” Buck spoke hesitantly before reaching up and carefully prodding at the metal side of my head. “Okay, I’ve cycled the power for it. Any better?”

Blinking a few times, I watched as the other me smirked before fading away in a burst of static.

“Yeah, it is now.” I nodded with a heavy sigh. “Thanks, Buck.” Guess… I really was awake after all. Big note to self, never do drugs again. Ever.

“I’m just happy you’re finally free of that junk.” He sighed with me, leaning forward and resting his forehead against mine. “In the future, let’s avoid doing that again, alright?”

I nodded, hoping that I really could stay away from Chill in the future. I mean, I did have my painkiller augment, so in theory I shouldn’t need more anyway. And if the aches and stiffness in my body was any indication, I don’t think I’d be able to go through this a second time at all...

As if on cue, my stomach gave a hard and surprisingly painful grumble that made Buck give off a little laugh.

“Come on, I know you’re probably starving right now.” He pulled himself away, getting back up onto his hindpaws before holding out his paw for me. “I’d normally offer to carry you, but I have the feeling that stretching out your legs would probably do you some good. You’ve been stuck on that bed for nearly a whole week, after all.”

Nodding, I pushed my legs to move. I could feel the muscles resist, the stiffness and tension in them fighting against every inch. Maneuvering my hindlegs to the edge of the bed, I slipped my rear hoof over, and nearly collapsed as I tried to stand on my stump.

“Careful there,” Buck’s firm grasp was quick to help keep me propped up. “I removed your prosthetic so that Tofu could do a bit of cleaning and maintenance on it. That, and I gave it a bit of a wash.”

Feeling a bit steadier after a few moments, I turned and put my newly healed foreleg down on the floor. A sharp twitch in my leg nearly buckled the joint under me, and I let out a sharp yelp. Thankfully Buck was there to catch me again, but my moment of panic pulled a cringe from him.

“Yeah, I was afraid of that.” He sighed as his mechanical paw wrapped around my barrel and he lifted me up off the floor. “The Hydra healed your leg when you used it, but it fused some of the severed nerves in the wrong places.” Shaking his head, he pulled me up close against his warm furry chest. “So even once you acclimate to walking again, sometimes the nerves won’t fire right, and you’re going to feel your leg give out for a moment.”

“What does that mean?” Well, he didn’t say I wouldn’t be able to walk, but… that was pretty sudden. If my leg gave out in a fight? I’m pretty sure with my luck, I wouldn’t walk away from it at all. “Can’t you fix it?”

“Unfortunately, no.” Again he shook his head and wore his disappointed frown across his jagged metal jaw. “If you had used anything but Hydra, there would be a chance. But Hydra’s magics are chaos based, which means they fundamentally changed you as a whole, rewriting the magics that are inherently inside you. So even if I were to go in and fix it, the next time you used a healing potion, it would simply undo everything I worked on.”

“Alright, that’s… something.” I nodded and pressed myself into him. Honestly, that sucked to hear, but I should have expected something like that happening. We’d gotten through that fight far too well off for something to not have gone terribly wrong with either Hispano or I. Which reminds me… “Hey, Buck? How’s Cora?”

“Oh, Cora? He’s recovering nicely.” Buck turned around and headed for the bulkhead door, but stopped just short of opening it. “Actually, Hispano told me a few days ago that she and him had a long talk. She says you helped her to realize a few things, and that she didn’t mean to overreact. But she hasn’t mentioned it since, and I have a feeling that’s because she wants to talk to you about it first. Honestly, from how it sounded, I think she wants to actually quit the Talons to be with us.”

“I’m just glad everything turned out alright.” I heard the words come from my muzzle, but… they were somewhat hollow to me. It was just like Buck said, we hadn’t won, we’d survived. While that was a good thing, we wouldn’t have been in that position if things hadn’t spiraled so far out of control in the first place.

More than anything, I’m just glad that Hispano chose to be with us though.

“Ah, Captain, it’s good to see you up and about again.” Eliza’s voice filtered into my head, and her bright, smiling mare popped up in the corner of my vision. “I know you must already have much you plan to do, but first I need you to finalize a discrepancy in the crew manifest.”

“What do you mean by a ‘discrepancy’?” I asked as I scrunched up my muzzle.

“Oh, here we go…”Buck groaned and rolled his eyes.

“Well you see, Captain,” Eliza’s mare flickered over to the one with the shifty eyes, “I need you to appoint a chief of engineering.”

“Doesn’t Tofu have that covered?” I didn’t really understand why a simple title mattered when there was only one…

I facehooved hard at that.

“I presume you’d like to speak with your father before making any decisions?” Eliza’s mare popped back to the smiling one that I so wish I could level a glare at right now.

I could already hear Delilah’s laugh from the great beyond as once more I got to experience just what it was like to be a ‘leader’. Still, I had to make a decision, and that was going to leave one of them angry or annoyed. Part of me wanted to give it to Tofu just to avoid the idea of favoritism. Then again, my dad is a certified cloudship maintenance technician…

“If you need more time, Captain, that is understandable.” Eliza’s mare flipped to the frowning one.

“They’re both Chief.” I spat out without thinking about it. “Fuck it. Why do I have to choose just one?”

“Alright, I have amended their records to reflect that they are Joint Chiefs.” Eliza’s smiling mare flashed up in my vision. “One last thing before I leave you, Captain. We are situated two kilometers north north-west of Vanderhoof city, and the Remora is ready for whenever you would like to head down.”

“One thing at a time, Eliza. Night still needs to rest.” Buck snorted, almost at the same time that her cartoon mare popped right off of my vision. “I swear, I will have one day where you and I can just relax together without having to worry about needing to be somewhere.” Arching his head down, he moved to kiss my forehead, but I shifted myself so I could instead press my muzzle against his.

Not going to lie, I was completely in favor of leaving everything behind for now and just relaxing for the rest of the day.

“I think joint chiefs should be an acceptable compromise.” Buck smiled as he broke off the kiss and gave me a light squeeze. “But, I also think it’s a choice to not make a choice. Not that in this case, there’s anything wrong with that.”

“The only choice I want to make right now, is what’s for breakfast.” I smirked, letting out a long sigh as I tried my best to get comfortable against his fur.

It turns out, that was a bit of a lie. I wasn’t sure if it was because I hadn’t really eaten anything in the last six days, or if it was because I was just relaxing with Buck, I couldn’t make a decision. Everything he offered to make for me, I couldn’t say no. So here I was, sitting with a veritable feast in front of me, and no decision on where to even start! Crepes, fried hay and insta-mashed potatoes, Sugar Apple Bomb casserole, and broiled radbeast steak with a mushroom gravy. All of it just looked so… good!

“I… didn’t know you could cook like this, Buck!” My brain finally forced out some sort of words through my salivating muzzle as he brought over the pot of insta-mash and set it down.

“Well, he couldn’t.” Happy’s voice startled me as he poked his head around the bulkhead from the infirmary hall. My mane stood on end as I spun myself, and I braced myself for the fury and anger that was to come from him. But as my eyes met him, a deep shame filled gaze, and a wave of regret washed over his face. “I uh… I said I’d help teach him as an apology for being such a bastard recently.”

“And I said he didn’t need to feel like he owes me anything.” Buck sighed and held his paw out to Happy, waving for him to come over. “Why don’t you join us?”

“Alright, but uh…” Happy grunted as he hobbled on his three legs through the bulkhead. “First, I gotta say something.”

He looked much better than the last time I saw him, wearing his floral print shirt loosely around him in a way that showed off the scars he’d recently gained. What he did do however, was use the empty foreleg on it to hide his stump, and I could tell exactly how he felt from how he turned himself away slightly when he approached me.

“You were right, Night.” He hung his head as he sat down next to me. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking clearly, and I shouldn’t have yelled at you about letting Solomon go.” Wait, he was actually apologizing to me? “And, if I’m going to kill him, I need your help to do it.”

Glancing back at Buck, I got the distinct feeling again that maybe this wasn’t real after all…

“I know this apology sounds sudden, but… hear me out.” Happy shook his head and shrugged. “I know what Ma saw in you, and I can see it too. You refused to give up on me, and I consider you my best friend, Night. You’re probably the only friend I’ve ever really had in my life who does more than just tolerate me. And after everything we went through in Cantercross and back with the Factory? I don’t know how I forgot that when you say something, you don’t think about it, you don’t try to twist it to have some other meaning.” Stiffening himself up, he lifted his forehoof and put it on my shoulder. “And speaking from the heart always reveals the deepest truths, even if who you say it to, doesn’t see that right away.”

That… meant a lot to hear from him. Happy really had come a long way from being the stuck up mule I first met on the convoy. And while I still didn’t think I was anywhere near competent enough, it was at least nice to have somepony else who believed in me.

“Thank you, Happy.” I nodded and beamed a smile to him that I wasn’t ashamed to have pull across my muzzle. Reaching over, I pulled him into a tight hug that he resisted for a moment, but ultimately accepted. That is, until a rumbling gurgle came from his stomach. “Right, let’s get eating before this all gets cold!” I laughed and returned my attention to the lavish breakfast before us.

“Now you’re talkin’!” Happy laughed and quickly hobbled his way over to his own place at the table.

“Ugh…” I groaned as I lay flopped over the table staring at the few scraps of food left among all the dishes. “I’m stuffed…” I don’t think I’ve ever had a meal that good in my entire life! At least, not one as satisfying that’s left everyone around it absolutely full. Eyeing over to Buck, he gave a pained whine through the smile on his jagged muzzle as he sat flopped back in his seat.

“Yeah, that was quite something!” He groaned before sitting up. “I could live like this forever and not have a care in the world.”

“Ah-hem.” A grunt from the bulkhead drew my attention, and I found Cora struggling to keep himself propped up. “A word with you, Night?”

“Yeah.” I nodded and quickly pushed myself up from my seat.

My vision blanked out for a moment as I stood up far too quickly. In that short moment, I could see the other me again. She stood on the table, staring down at me with a devious smile before fuzzing away into static again. My vision fuzzed for a moment as my dizziness faded, and I did my best to ignore her appearance again in favor of hobbling over to him.

“Help me into the infirmary.” He grumbled, reaching out and stiffly holding onto me as I approached. “We need to talk about something.” I wasn’t sure what, but if he was going to accuse me of endangering Hispano again, I might have to ask him to take a look in the mirror. “I know what you’re thinking…” He grunted as he adjusted at my side and we slowly made our way into the small medical bay. “I’m not going to yell at you. In fact…” He paused as he gripped around the doorway and used it to swing himself carefully into the room. “It’s actually the opposite.”

“So, you’re not mad at me?” I asked as bluntly as always. It pulled a glare from him before he pointed to the door and motioned for me to shut it.

“Oh, I’m still plenty mad at how reckless you’ve been, and I know you’re far more trouble than you have any right to be.” He smirked as I reached back behind me and pulled the bulkhead door shut. With a squeal, I lightly turned the locking bars to give us a bit of privacy. “But… I will say that I was wrong about you. You’ve shown time and time again that your priority is to keep Hispano safe.” Really? That’s… unexpected to hear from him. Then again, near death experiences do tend to put things into perspective…

“So, what you’re saying is…” I couldn’t hide the smile once again pulling across my muzzle.

“Yes. I… consent to your relationship with my daughter.” Admittedly he spoke with an apprehensive and almost begrudging tone, but he still managed to say it. “But that doesn’t give you the right to do what you want with her. I expect you and your boyfriend to treat her with the respect and care she deserves.”

Like with the first time I’d kissed Buck, my body acted on its own. I sprung forward, wrapping my hooves around Cora in the tightest of hugs that drew out a painful whine from him. Still, he fought it for only a moment before relenting.

“Thank you, Cora.” I laughed into his rough neck plumage as I squeezed him even tighter. “I know that must have been hard to say, but I promise, we’ll treat Hispano right.”

A sharp bell-like ring came from the intercom on the wall by the door.

“Sorry to interrupt, Captain, but something’s going on in town.” Again, Eliza’s voice sounded cheerier than ever, but the urgency in her words overwrote that concern in my mind. “I think everyone needs to report to the bridge, now.” Oh Celestia, this day had been so good! The last thing I needed was for something to go wrong.

“Alright, now that you are all gathered here…” Eliza’s cheerful mare almost vibrated on each and every monitor on the bridge.

“What exactly is going on?” Double Delta asked as he kicked back against one of the consoles. “What’s so important and urgent?”

“This!” Eliza’s mare spoke from each side of the bridge at once before every terminal flicked over to the same image.

What popped onto the screen was the same sort of town square I’d seen outside the bunker like building in the photos Laika and Blue Cross had shown me. A crowd of ponies had gathered around the entrance, ringing around three separate figures standing in the center. The mob of ponies shouted angrily and waved weapons at the three, and it wasn’t until there was a glint off of one of the victims legs in the center that I knew what I was watching.

“That’s… Rook.” I spat out.

“What?” Hispano scrunched up her beak at me and leaned in towards the monitor she sat next to. She gave a gasp, sharply jabbing her talon at the monitor in front of her toward the other two there. “And that’s Solomon, and Xeno!”

“Eliza, what’s going on down there?” Buck asked as he curled his mechanical paw under his jaw curiously.

“Let me give you the audio. One moment please...” Eliza cheerfully bounced from one screen to the next before popping away again.

“Alright, that’s enough! Settle down!” The voice of an authoritative mare boomed over the various shouts of the crowd. From the dark, central entrance of the bunker like building, a hulking unicorn mare in power armor stepped out, parting some of the ponies in the crowd near the door. Honestly, she screamed Steel Ranger at first look, but her armor was painted in a mishmash of colors that definitely didn’t fit the whole regimented military look the Rangers gave off. “Now, I think we all know what’s happened here, so I’ll skip the formalities. Bribery will NOT be tolerated in Vanderhoof city, or anywhere in the Spectrum Federation!”

“W-we didn’t mean anything by it, I should not have overstepped…” Solomon’s voice came through, almost shaking with hesitation. “I apologize if we have offended you, but there is no need for this to resort to violence!” Wait, what? What did he just say!?

“I’m sorry, but the law is the law.” The power armored mare shrugged, levitating a pistol up and pointing it at Solomon. “I, mayor Thunderbolt, hereby sentence you and your cronies to execution, effective immediately.”

“Please, I’m begging you…!” Solomon whimpered out, sending a sharp shock through my mind.

“Hold up, this isn’t real.” I grunted and looked to the others, only to find that they were missing. Everything had been convincing enough, but not this.

“Of course it isn’t real.” My own voice came from behind me. “I’m surprised it took you this long to comprehend that.” She laughed as I spun around and found her leaning back in the same place that Delta had been moments ago. “Of course, that’s the worst part of all this, isn’t it?”

“Hah.” I rolled my eyes and smirked. “If this is how you’re going to torment me? I’m afraid you’re going to need to do better than this.”

“I don’t understand.” She slumped and grumbled as she rubbed at her forehead. “How is it that you don’t get it? This was the perfect day, where all your problems simply disappeared. You didn’t like it?”

“Well first of all, they can’t just disappear. That’s not realistic.” I grunted. “That, and Solomon doesn’t apologize for anything. And while I’m going to make him beg for his life, he’d never do it willingly. He thinks he’s above that.”

“You’re missing the point here, Night. As usual, if I must add as well.” The other me deadpanned and gestured to the whole bridge of the Arcturus. “I crafted the perfect day for you, and you loved it.”

“Again, not torture…” I spat and rolled my eyes.

“But it is!” She let out another insane little giggle like she’d given earlier. “You realize that once you wake up, you get to go back to the real world, right? Where none of this will ever have happened.” For some reason, in my gut, that physically hit me. I groaned and doubled over from it as she laughed again. “You wholeheartedly bought into my fantasy, and while you know what it is now, you will also never forget that it can never be real. And that? That will haunt you forever.”

“I’ll deal with…” I groaned as the twisting in my barrel felt like it got worse. Goddesses, what the fuck is she doing to me!?

“Oh, this? This is just to prove a point. That it’s just the start of what I’m going to do.” She hopped down from her place on the console and lazily strolled over to my pain filled, doubled over form. “Thanks to that Hydra infusion you so eagerly pumped into your body, I’m stronger than ever! And that means we’re going to be so miserable together, Night! And I so look forward to that.”

No, this… wasn’t right. The hallucinations before were never like this. What the fuck is going on?

“Again, you already know the answer to that, Night.” She reached out and gave a pat on my head that sent a spike of pain through my skull. “You say you want to get rid of me, that I’m another product of those drugs. But what you keep failing to admit is that I’ve always been a part of you.” I bit back a scream as she pulled her hoof back from my head and glared up at her. For a moment, she wobbled and fuzzed like she wasn’t there, shifting, changing shape until she grew stripes across her blue coat as her whole body withered. “Every time you’ve made a mistake, every time you’ve ruined someone’s life, I’ve only gotten stronger.”

It was terrifying to watch, horrifying in a way that I couldn’t comprehend. Her face withered, the skin around it pulling taught and rotting before my eyes until her own pair melted out of their sockets. The color drained from her, leaving her looking almost exactly like…

“Hah!” She let out a bony cackle as her voice shifted to that of the old zebra mystic back at Pink mountain. “Yes, yes! I am the embodiment of every failure you’ve ever had, a curse placed upon your family! And thanks to your pathetic actions, Night, I have become so much more than my ancestors could ever have hoped I’d be!” She let out a shiver that rattled the bones under her desiccated form, and black blood like sludge began to bubble up from underneath her black stripes. Leaning forward toward me, I could feel her stale breath come from her bony muzzle, and the warmth from the burning balefire glow of her empty eye sockets. “You can’t deny your curse anymore, Night.”

Like hell.

Letting loose and using the pain in my gut, I screamed and torqued myself up, throwing my hoof at her face. With another cackling laugh, she dissipated like ash in the wind. Looking around, I waited for her to show herself again. I know I can stop her, she’s a part of me. All I need to do is figure out how to lock her away, just like the other hallucinations.

“Foalish goals, from a foalish stallion.” Her voice came through every speaker on the bridge. Each monitor fuzzed with static before flickering over to Eliza’s smiling mare. The cartoony mare shifted, growing stripes and wasting away to look like a perverse caricature of the old mystic. “What is misfortune, Night, other than just the wrong end of probability? And what is probability to me when it’s so loosely governed by the fabric of your reality? It’s my toy to play with, Night. Every time you and your friends fail, I want you to remember that it was my hoof loading the dice, that it was my will that brought you to suffer so.”

“I will find a way to beat you!” I growled out. “The real mystic, she’d said I could fight you, so that’s what I’m going to do.” I’ve had enough bullshit from my real life to be bullied by some fucking bullshit curse! “Make your fantasies for me to live through a hundred times. Again, I will find a way to kick your ass.”

“We shall see.” She let out a mirthful laugh as one by one, each of the monitors on the bridge exploded in a shower of sparks. Each one that popped dropped a little bit more of the room into pitch darkness. On both sides of me, the darkness approached until it was just one single monitor with the smiling zebra ghoul on it. “I will take everything from you, Night. Just you wait.”

With one final pop, the last monitor died out.

[4:36AM]

The clock in my vision flickered as I opened my eyes. The dim light of the captain’s cabin was joined with the smell of sick and sweat. A blank numbness sat across my body where the aches from my dream had been, and the groans of Buck waking up beside me made my heart rate spike.

“Are you awake, Night?” He asked softly, reaching a paw up to rub at his one normal eye. “How are you feeling?”

“I… I don’t know if I’m awake.” I blinked and continued to stare up at the ceiling. Okay, if this was another dream, than maybe I could find a way to cut through all the crap about it. “Tell me something, anything. Just so long as it’s something only the real Buck would say.”

“Paranoia. Looks like you’re still suffering some after-effects of the treatment.” Buck sighed, raising his mechanical arm up and letting the long syringe extend from it.

“No no, no more!” I whimpered and scrambled to get off the bed. I almost made it before my prosthetic leg got wrapped up in our blanket and I was dragged down to the cold floor. With a soft pop, my prosthetic finally let go of my stump and I slumped down completely. “Ow…”

“Night, you need to be careful, your body is still recovering.” Buck groaned again as he pushed himself to sit up. His glowing blue cybernetic eye emit a beam out of it that washed over me, and he scrunched up his muzzle. “Huh, that’s odd.”

“What?” I grunted as I moved to push myself to stand up. As I put pressure on my newly healed foreleg, it sent that same jolt of pain through it as in my dream. However this time, I managed to correct my stance and not fall over. “Arg, fucking misaligned nerve bullshit.”

“How… did you know that?” Buck asked far too starkly and genuinely for me to think this wasn’t a dream. Of course he’d play dumb, Night! That’s exactly what she wants you to think!

“Because you told it to me already… you.” I seethed and glared at him. “What am I supposed to call you, anyway? Curse?” My words pulled an even deeper look of confusion from him. “I…” I paused as Buck’s expression shifted quite quickly to one of deep concern.

“Fuck!” He snarled and gripped at his head. “I knew this was all a bad idea.”

Hah! So she admits she’s just messing with me!

“I wanted to do this right, Night, believe me. I didn’t want to rush your rehab, but I was impatient.” Wait, what? “I wanted to fix you quickly, and look what I’ve done to you! I… I shouldn’t have pushed...”

I flinched as Buck angrily hammered his paw against the bulkhead wall. With a roar, he hit it again and again, both denting the wall and causing his mechanical paw to crush, bend, and break. Finally, with a whimper, he pulled his sparking appendage back and cradled it.

“Is everything alright?” Eliza’s voice chimed up through my head, and what must have been Buck’s as well as his ears sharply perked up.

“Eliza, tell me, is there anything you need from me right now?” I asked. Again, if this was some sort of dream, then her answer could give this all away.

“I’m sorry, Night, but as per Doctor Buck’s request, your authority as Captain has been countermanded until your medical issues are resolved.” Eliza’s smiling mare popped up into my vision, staying for only a moment before flipping over to the mare with the frown. “Your augment has logged numerous anomalies during your recovery. Have there been complications?”

“Obviously.” Buck sniffled and turned his head to look at me. The pain in his eye as tears rolled down his cheek stung at my gut, but… that was all that tugged at me. Maybe… maybe I was actually awake again. Still, there may be a way I can find out.

“Eliza, where is Solomon right now?” If we’re going to do this whole song and dance again, then I might as well skip to the end. “Is he in Vanderhoof?”

“He was until two days ago, but he has since continued south.” Eliza’s frowning mare stuck in my vision. “He has undoubtedly set up some sort of trap. However, again, you need not worry about it until Buck has medically cleared you for duty again.”

Okay, that… that was good news then.

“One, last thing, Eliza.”If I was actually awake, this was going to be a huge mistake. “Connect me to Happy. I need to talk with him.” There was a sharp burst of static over the intercom, and I could hear what sounded like somepony moving around groggily. “Happy, are you there?”

“Unless you’re waking me up at four in the morning to beg for my forgiveness and help me actually kill Solomon, than you can fuck off, Night!” His sharp tone was just as bad as it had been before, but it was all I’d needed to hear.

“Thank you, Eliza. That will be all.” I sighed and sat down hard on the floor. Well, that settles it. The best day ever was officially fake, and… the curse was right, a bit of me hurt to know that.

“I’m here to help.” Her smiling mare popped up again for another moment before disappearing and leaving me staring at Buck as he cried.

“I’m so sorry, Night.” Buck whimpered and buried his head in his broken paws. “I didn’t mean to do this to you.”

“Buck, it’s okay, I’m fine.” Getting to my hooves again, I hobbled my way back over to our bed and crawled up onto it. “I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean to sound crazy, but I had a doozy of a dream.”

“I’m sorry…” He whined and pulled himself away from me as I did my best to scoot up towards him. “I don’t know what’s wrong with your augment, it should be working!”

“It is, and... this isn’t part of it.” I sighed and reached out, carefully putting my hoof against his side softly. He flinched from my touch, but slowly pulled his head up enough to glance at me. “I have to say something, to admit something that I don’t want to. But, it’s my curse, Buck. That’s what’s doing this.”

“Oh, for the love of…” He whined and buried his head in his paws again. “You’re still sick, Night. There is no curse.”

“Buck, listen, I know it sounds crazy, but please…” reaching forward, I grabbed around his paw and pulled it down away from his head again. “I think that’s how I know what you were going to tell me about my leg. This thing in my head is different, but that doesn’t mean we can’t fix it.” He moved to speak again, but I simply put my hoof to his muzzle and he only let out a whimper. “I need you to trust me on this, okay? You didn’t do anything wrong, this is all on me. We can get through this together, okay?”

Smiling to him, he gave me a weak nod before going back to sniffling and crying in his paws. That would have to do for now. I can’t imagine what he’s had to deal with over the last week, or if he’s been feeling this bad about it the whole time. None of this was his fault, and his suffering…

I paused as I waited for my curse to act up again, to give me some sign it was still there. The only thing I felt though, was my gut telling me that it wouldn’t waste itself on any moment as miserable as this. No, for now, I was safe.

Now I just needed to figure out how to fight this thing, as well as fix everything else in my life...

Author's Note

A huge thanks to my buddy TheFurryRailFan, for all his help with these chapters. Seriously, man, you've been a godsend, and I'm grateful for all the help you've given me over the years!

Of course, thanks to Kkat as well for creating FoE and allowing the rest of us to play with the setting.

Chapter 90 - Bloc Party

Coincidence doesn't exist, everything happens for a random reason.

Well, this wasn’t exactly a new feeling, but sitting in an infirmary waiting for news of what’s wrong with me never really seemed to get any easier. At least this time I wasn’t in excruciating pain, or completely unconscious. Still, I’m not sure if that means it’s any better...

Keeping pressure on the bump where Buck drew blood from my foreleg, I couldn’t do anything but watch as he studied the sample under a microscope. With every few moments of observation, Buck reached over and wrote something down on a clipboard next to him. Cora stood there, stoically studying whatever Buck wrote. He shifted uneasily, and what looked like painfully with the bandages still tightly wrapped around his chest. Still, while I wasn’t looking forward to what they’d find out about me, it was good to at least have Cora healthy enough he wanted to help.

“Hmmm, that’s odd.” Buck pulled off the microscope and plucked the clipboard from the counter. “Take a look and tell me what you think, Cora.” He lightly gestured to the scope with his free paw as he moved out of the way for the injured griffon. Concern buried itself into his expression as he looked over his own notes again. But, it wasn’t until he gave me a quick glance and a frown that I knew it wasn’t going to be good.

“Alright, let’s…” Cora grumbled as he looked through the lens. He scrunched up his beak, reaching up to the microscope’s controls as he seemed perplexed. He gave the slightest tweak to one of the knobs on it and a soft click preempted the knob sheering right off in his talon. “What the…” He took a step back again as the entire metal microscope gave a light pop and completely fell apart. “I barely touched it at all.”

“What exactly are we dealing with here?” The words slipped out of my muzzle. Could this curse really affect things around me?

“It’s as I feared when I observed the sample.” Buck sighed as he pawed the clipboard over to Cora, who took it before both of them turned to me. “There’s some sort of odd, chaotic magic permeating your body, Night. I’ve noticed trace amounts of it before when doing your blood-work, but it was always benign, or at least, that’s what I thought. Turns out, it was just dormant, and something’s made it stronger.”

“Magic?” I asked as bluntly as ever. “What kind of magic?” My gut gave a twist as Buck took a moment to glance over and trade looks with Cora. I didn’t want him to say it was a curse, but inside I already knew it was.

“I’ve only ever seen this sort of magic before a few times back in ‘Claw.” Cora snorted. “But if what Buck’s observations here point to are correct? It is some sort of Chaos based magic that’s not too far off the principles that Killing Joke works off of, but… this is something slightly different. Not unheard of, but I myself have never seen anything as advanced as what’s inside you.”

“If what Hispano recounted to us was correct about your time getting your father back,” Buck sighed as he sat himself down on his haunches and crossed his mechanical paws. “I have a theory that the dose of home-brewed Hydra you used must have amplified or changed the magic inside you to act unpredictably. This has manifested in such a way that you think it’s this ‘curse’ you were talking about...”

“That’s it! It is the curse, Buck!” Well, at least I have some sort of evidence now that I’m not crazy. “She told me in my dream that it was the Hydra that helped her, and that is consistent with what you’re seeing, isn’t it?”

“This curse talked to you?” Cora grunted as he set the clipboard down. “It’s worse than I thought.”

“Please, don’t tell me you…” Buck snorted and rolled his eyes, but paused as Cora met him with an annoyed glare.

“Again, I know you’re normally the authority here, but I’ve seen curses before. Closer… than someone should.” For a moment, I could see the spark of regret in Cora’s eyes, and I knew he was thinking about Suiza right then. “Night isn’t crazy if he says he spoke with it. And based on what little I understand, I have a theory.” He stepped up toward me and squeezed his talons into tightly curled balls. Slowly, he raised them up like he was going to fight me. “Observe.” With a sharp yell, he lunged at me and swung hard.

I hadn’t expected him to attack me, and while I did my best to shrug off the hit, his talon snapped my muzzle and head to the side. Pain erupted momentarily from my muzzle as I yelped and quickly found myself tumbling onto the floor. I did my best to try to catch myself, but once more, I landed on my weakened, recently healed foreleg. As I should have expected, there was a sickening squelch as it gave out under me with a flesh muffled snap.

“What the hell are you doing!?” Buck cried out as he quickly shoved Cora away. His gentle paws were quick to scoop me up, and as I regained my senses from the hit, we both looked at my broken foreleg as it flopped around again. “Are you fucking serious!?” He gave out a growl and turned his brightly glowing augmented eye at Cora, casting a red light across the room. “How does undoing all the work I’ve done prove anything!?”

“Tell me,” Cora groaned as he pushed himself back to his paws from across the small infirmary. “What’s the statistical chance a blow to the face would break a leg?”

“I don’t fucking care what the chance is!” Buck all but roared out to him as he carefully set me down onto the bed again. “That’s no excuse!”

Buck might not have cared, but… what Cora was saying mirrored what she’d told me in my dream.

“What is misfortune other than just the wrong end of probability?” The words tumbled from my muzzle, getting both Buck and Cora to turn to me again. “That’s what she told me, saying that the fabric of our reality was ‘hers’ to toy with.”

“Then it’s exactly what I was afraid of.” Cora grumbled as he sat himself down and uncomfortably rubbed at the slowly reddening bandages around his chest. “Ah, fuck, how did I tear the stitches?”

“I’ll fix it, but you need to start talking.” Buck grumbled as he stepped over towards Cora. “If you’ve seen this before, what is happening to him?” Buck’s mechanical arms opened up, revealing his medical tools as he began to help Cora remove the bandages around him.

“I’ve never seen it particularly like this, but a decade or so ago, ‘ol Bookbeak had a visiting talon fly in with a curse. He asked me to help him go through a few books on the topic back in ‘Claw.” Cora nodded to him, wincing as the last of the bandages were removed to reveal a small patch of missing plumage where a small, nearly healed bullet wound sat. “I can’t say for sure, but I think what Night has is a type of old zebra jynx that was commonly applied to bullets. Not a full blown lethal curse, but one of Night’s ancestors probably survived a hit from one such bullet during the war, and it’s been affecting his bloodline ever since.”

So one, I definitely wasn’t crazy, and I really was cursed. Two, I’m not alone in having it happen to me. If it was a wartime issue, then there’s got to be plenty of information on it somewhere out there. But, that brings me to point three. If I’m not the first, then there has to be a way to fix it. While I’m sure Destruction Bay would have been my best bet, I can’t exactly fly all the way up there to get it fixed, not when Solomon is still out here pursuing the Ark.

“So… how do we get rid of it?” I asked flatly. It was a long shot, but… maybe we’d get lucky and it wouldn’t be that hard to get rid of it! Cora’s nonchalant shrug however, put a pretty big damper on that early hope.

“The books mentioned it was curable, but only suggested that anypony affected by such a curse seek out professional help at a Ministry of Peace hospital.” Cora brought his talon up to his face and curled it around his beak, dropping into a look of deep thought. “I’m fairly certain that the Ministry of Peace regional headquarters in Seaddle held the largest collection of curse information on the Equestrian west coast, but it was destroyed when half the city slid into the water. But… the Ministry buildings in Vanhoover weren’t in the part of the city hit hardest by the bombs. It’s not a guarantee that they’ll have anything, but it could hold some answers, and it might not be a complete deathtrap.”

“While that’s a nice sentiment,” Buck cringed as a pair of tiny articulating mechanical clasps got to work sewing up the wound on Cora’s chest. “it doesn’t solve how we tackle this until we make it down there.”

“I may have a solution for that.” Hispano’s cool voice drifted in through the open bulkhead door. The smiling young griffon peeked her head inside, pausing as her eyes drifted from my face, down to my broken leg. “Well, that’s only if he can make it down to Vanderhoof in one piece. Geeze, I thought you two were doctors, what did you do to him?”

“Your father punched him in the face to prove a point.” Buck stated flatly as his mechanical paws finished up working on Cora and pulled all of its little medical bits back inside his boxy metal arms. Honestly, I wanted to be angry at him for hitting me, but part of me knew Cora probably deserved to let some frustration out on me. “But, what was that about a solution?”

“Well, this city’s got some sort of miracle healer or something, able to heal practically anything. Happy’s currently following up on it down in East city, but if you want to know more, I’ll take you down to our friends in West city.” Hispano shrugged before gesturing to my leg. “I’ll explain it on the way, but you should get his leg fixed up, grab your cloak, and meet me at the Remora.”

“East and West city?” I asked and looked over to Buck and Cora. “I thought we were at Vanderhoof.”

“We are,” Buck nodded before stepping over and carefully using his paw to grab my broken leg. “but the city has been fighting itself for a long time. From what Eliza told, they built a wall and no-pony’s land through the center of town, and now they only occasionally shell each other over the walls.” Right, Blue Cross did mention that about the place… “And one moment,” Turning to Hispano, Buck offered her a flat glare. “You let Happy off the ship?”

“What? You kicked him out of the infirmary.” Hispano rolled her eyes. “I was going to go down and scout things out, and I didn’t think going alone was the best idea. You know, in the case Pentex were waiting to ambush us.”

“Except you’re here, which means…” Buck sharpened his glare, only pulling a frustrated grunt from Hispano. “You left him alone.”

“He’s fine.” Hispano propped herself up in the doorway and crossed her talons. “He’s with the Mayor of West City, and nopony’s going to attack her and risk an all out conflict. Not even Solomon would be stupid enough to do that, there’s no benefit for him in it.”

“She’s right.” Cora groaned as he pushed himself back onto all fours. “He wouldn’t risk being seen as untrustworthy, not when he still needs all the help he can get.”

“Plus, mayor Thunderbolt’s in power armor, so she could probably handle most things if Happy needed to be protected.” I blurt out and shrugged. It was only in the stark silence that followed that I realized that they’d stopped moving to simply stare at me. “What?”

“How… did you know she was in power armor?” Hispano spat. “No, fuck that, how did you know her name?”

“Yeah…” Buck scrunched up his muzzle before letting his medical attachments work on my leg. “Eliza didn’t tell you that, I would have heard her say it.”

“Again, cursed.” I shifted my look over all three of them. “She showed it to me in that Utopian dream she stuck me in.” Hispano scrunched her beak up like Buck’s face, and Buck just continued to be baffled at it. Cora on the other hoof, simply nodded.

“Curses are strange magic, so I wouldn’t put predictive or prophetic visions out of their scope. Especially if it helps to further its own goals.” Cora shrugged and slowly made his way to the door. “All the more reason we need to find a way to remove it.”

“So wait, Night really is cursed then?” Hispano gave a soft gasp of horror and stiffly covered her beak with a talon. “And all along I thought it was just because Dum Dum here was an idiot.”

“Ha. ha.” I grumbled. Seriously, I get why she was joking, but… I was with Cora on this. The sooner I got rid of this curse, the better. At least, I needed to get rid of it before it seriously hurt the ones I loved.

“Regardless, get your shit fixed and meet me on the Remora.” Hispano cooed as she pushed herself off the doorway and stretched out her wings. “I’ll grab your shit for you, Night. Tofu should be just about done with it.”

I wanted to tell her to hold up, but she was gone before I could even open my muzzle. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to get back to work just yet, but I still had to know how she was holding up. While I know that my dream wasn’t real, I hoped that she’d made peace with Cora all the same. If anything, I just wanted to hear her tell me she was doing alright…

“I would like to remind you,” Eliza’s voice chimed through the speakers in the wall as her smiling mare popped into my vision. “without Doctor Buck’s approval, you are still relieved of any and all duties, Captain.”

“Right.” I nodded and spun my gaze to meet Buck’s, wincing as I accidentally tweaked my leg in his hold enough it emit a fleshy sounding squelch. Again, thank Celestia for the painstopper... “Well, what do you say, Doc? Am I cleared for duty again?”

“Well, with Happy down there, and Cora still needing to rest here...” Buck paused as he glanced over to the deadpan Cora was giving, only for the worn out griff to sigh and nod. “Provided that you agree to take it easy down there and wear a leg brace, I guess you are.” To be fair, I got where Cora was coming from, even if he wasn’t dumb enough to go running off like I would. Though, with whatever this curse was, I think it would be best to take it easy anyway. “But I’m coming with you two. Because after all, we’re a team now, right?” I froze up as Buck turned his gaze solely on me. “The three of us need to make decisions together, right?”

Damnit, Hispano...

With the light scraping of bone that sent a shiver through my numb body, Buck set the bone once more. A syringe from his arm articulated out and pushed into me, injecting what looked to be like a good helping of healing potion and what I could only assume was some sort of bone mending medicine. Well, hopefully now that it was fixed, again, maybe I’ll be able to keep it intact for an entire day!

Who am I kidding, with my luck, my curse, I’m sure I’ll have lost the entire leg by the end of the hour…

I didn’t like it. The leg brace Buck had strapped around my leg rubbed annoyingly at my coat, and in combination with my tighter than normal flight harness, I felt like by tomorrow I’d be covered in rashes and patches of missing coat. Still, it was either this or break my leg, again, so I’d just have to deal with it.

The three of us shifted slightly as the magnetic seal uncoupled the Remora from the Arcturus, and the engines tilted us down towards Vanderhoof. It wouldn’t be a long ride, but at least it wasn’t as cramped as usual here. Even so, the three of us sat close together, and I happily pressed myself back against Buck’s warm fur behind me.

“How’s the harness feel?” Hispano asked as she moved herself closer to me, saddling herself up at my side. She pointed to Xeno’s boxy subgun as it sat strapped directly under my barrel in the slot meant for a cannon shell. “Tofu had a hell of a time adapting the release mechanism so you can fire and reload it, and she said it might feel a bit tighter because of that.”

“Yeah, it’s tight.” I grunted as I deliberately shifted myself to strain the straps. Again, the painstopper did it’s job and kept me from feeling like it was digging into me. “But I don’t think it will restrict my movement in a fight.”

“Let’s just not put that to the test, alright?” Buck sighed and lowered his head down, resting his metal jaw against the back of my neck. “We’ve done enough fighting already, and the next fight I’ll be okay with us having is with Solomon.”

“Sure, but it’s better to be ready, right?” Hispano reached into a pair of new saddlebags I don’t think I’d seen her wear before. From inside, she drew out my flight cap and held it out for me. “I know I’d normally make some joke about it, but… I think Buck’s right.” She held an uncharacteristically soft smile across her beak, but just looking her in the eyes told me that she believed every word she said. “Let’s have you avoid fighting today, alright?”

That… was something unexpected. While I’m glad she’s not as eager as before to get back out there, I’d have thought she’d have been rearing to go see some action again. Taking the flight cap, I hoofed it up to my head, but paused as I heard something odd. It was a heavy, sporadic thumping from outside the remora. Almost like thunder off in the distance…

My thoughts were interrupted as the Remora sharply banked to the right. Hispano slammed against me, and the two of us were almost crushed by Buck as he did his best to brace against the cabin walls. Heavy blasts erupted from below the Remora, shaking the cloudship and almost rattling it’s armored cabin doors open.

“What the hell is going on!” I grumbled into Buck’s fuzzy chest as Hispano likewise simmered angrily under him.

“They said there wasn’t a shelling scheduled for today!” She snapped as she wrestled herself out from under Buck. With another growl, she pulled Suiza close to herself and hammered her buttstock against the armored door. “Let me out, now.”

“I thought you didn’t want a fight today.” Buck snorted as he pulled himself off of me. With as much care as ever, he gently used his mechanical paw to help me back up to my hooves, and then pull my still healing hoof to where he could see it. “Okay, it’s not broken again, so at least there’s that.”

“Yeah, you aren’t going to fight them, I am.” Hispano cooed sharply as she hammered Suiza against the door again. “And oh, it won’t even be a fight. They fucking promised that they wouldn’t attack. But what should I really have expected from some backwater Cordite and Road Crew?”

“What are you talking about? What Road Crew?” Jumping right back into my average normal everyday confused state, I cringed as her glaring side-eye hit me harder than I think she intended.

“After talking with the Mayor and explaining we were sent by the Sky Marshal, she told us to inform the Road Crew that they wouldn’t be shelling the east side this week!” She grumbled and sat down hard on her haunches. “And after talking with that stupid asshole mayor from East city, he said their Cordite crews wouldn’t fire either!” With a rap of her Claws along Suiza, Hispano let out a growl and ruffled her wings. “But now it looks like somepony’s going to need their flank handed to them!”

“Then it sounds like we simply need to speak with both mayors again.” Buck kept his tone softer, but his words were as stern as Delilahs when she was irritated. The Remora jostled us as it’s engines thrust harder, slowing us and preparing us for our descent and landing. “I don’t think resorting to violence is the best course of action here when it might be some sort of misunderstanding.”

“Why don’t you tell me that again when you see what those assholes have done to the place.” A disgusted look crept across Hispano’s face, and she looked down at her sister. “Cordite, the Road Crew? They’re here for the paycheck, nothing else. And while that’s how talons are too, we don’t resort to senseless attacks. Not like this.”

With a hydraulic whine, the armored cabin doors pulled back from the sides of the Remora. Dust and snow whipped up by the engines flooded the cabin, forcing us to cover our faces as we stepped out. It wasn’t until the Remora shut it’s engines down that I could truly get a look around me, and I had to say, it was worse than I could have ever thought.

The pictures that Laika and Blue Cross had shown me didn’t do the destruction here justice. There was hardly a building standing anymore, just piles of brick and wood rubble. Makeshift tents crowded around burning junk bonfires, dotting the ruins where dozens of sickly and starved looking ponies sifted through them.

Off to our left, about a half a kilometer toward the east side of the city, I could see the twenty meter high concrete wall that ran just under the raised and surprisingly still intact highway that split Vanderhoof down the middle. The wall itself had dozens of well armed ponies sitting or walking along the top of it, with guard posts and stairwells every hundred meters or so along it. It was an oppressive structure, and a sign that something much deeper plagued this city than I’d been lead to believe.

Turning right, I could see the bulk of what made up ‘West city’. Three brick buildings sat across from the monolithic concrete box I’d seen in the photos taken by the Federation. They were the only intact structures more than a single story tall, and even then, looked in rougher shape than the pictures made out. Hundreds of smaller tents and shacks ringed this ‘city center’, and five plumes of smoke rose into the air from where the artillery strikes had hit.

“When we first came up this way following the convoy, Vanderhoof was nothing like this.” Hispano sighed dejectedly. “Sure there had been fighting every few years, but mostly they tolerated each other. But ever since the clouds cleared up, it’s gotten worse. To the point that there’s fears that there’s going to be an all out war between the two cities unlike anypony here’s ever seen.”

Buck stiffened up as he turned and looked at the carnage, pulling the hood of his cloak back. His radar dish like ears tweaked slightly, and a look of muted horror slowly overcame his expression. Looking down at me, he frowned before unslinging his duffle bag from his back..

“I can hear a lot of wounded over there.” Buck’s voice wavered for a moment as his hollow gaze was somewhat replaced with what looked like him doing the math for everything in his head. “There’s too many, I don’t have enough supplies…”

“Don’t worry, you aren’t the only one helping here. You’ll have friends.” Hispano cooed as she reached her talon over and gently gave Buck’s arm a pat. “Go, help them. Night and I will go talk with the Road Crew and then come find you.”

“Okay, but…” Buck paused, giving a momentary glance to me. “No fighting, alright?”

“We’ll try, but no promises.” Hispano nodded, pulling a light growl out of Buck. However, torn between helping and yet another lecture, he made his choice and took off with heavy stomps across the snowy ground. “Alright, if you would follow me, Night.” Hispano flared her wings and pointed to the sky. “Let’s go have a chat.”

Unfurling my wings, the stiffness from them made me wince. Goddesses, I probably should have stretched before getting right back to flying after a week off, but I couldn’t do it now. Flapping hard, I felt the gravity talisman in my pack hum to life, and Hispano and I began a short climb into the air.

The higher we climbed, the more of the ruined city I could see. Unlike the nice, pristine grids outside of Cantercross, I almost couldn’t tell where the streets here once were. The rubble and debris had been strewn almost evenly across the whole city, and even the few places that looked like they once lead underground, were now frozen over with ice. That, or they were filled with the same prismatic sludge we saw outside of Cantercross. There was also no green. No trees, or vegetation of any kind grew within the ruins of the city. Instead, the tree line stuck strictly to the outskirts, almost as if it was waiting until this place was completely destroyed before it advanced forward to swallow it up.

Hispano and I banked over, heading right for the center of the city. It wasn’t until we’d just flown over the start of the makeshift slums that I could see where we were headed for. Just beyond the concrete monolith, lay what looked like a district of old warehouse ruins. Dozens of old world construction machines sat rusting away or buried under tons of decaying metal.

However, within the still standing chain link fences, a few dozen road crew vehicles sat in working condition. Most of them were your standard up armored bulldozers and backhoes, but six of them were modified bucket loaders. Each of them had their buckets removed, and instead, a pair of large artillery barrels were secured to each of their two hydraulic arms. A half dozen ponies currently rushed around each machine, frantically working together to load each one up with a fresh shell. A few larger cranes were busy moving loads of heavy construction materials overhead, clearing the firing zone from around the guns.

As Hispano and I began our descent, a shadow passed over us. I looked up just in time to see a tan colored dragon half the size of Lustre, dive down toward the Road Crew workyard. A few ponies scrambled to get out of the way before the dragon flared it’s wings and came down hard. Snow and dust were pushed back, and the airburst even jostled Hispano and I on our approach. I watched with interest as the dragon reached up, forcing an oversized cowpony had down over his two, oddly wooden, prong-like horns. He brought his massive jet black claws up, and straightened out a fuzzy white vest that had a gold star pinned to one of it’s breast pockets.

“Excuse me,” His snarling voice was joined by a gout of green flame from his muzzle, “Just what in Tartarus do you think y’all are doin’?”

“Our job, what’s it look like?” The shrill voice of a stallion came up from below as Hispano and I dipped over the top of the chain link fence, landing just short of the irate looking brick colored earth pony. The supervisory flags that flew from his helmet snapped around as his piercing glare shot over at me. “And who the fuck are you? I’m not running a zoo here, this is a Road Crew restricted work zone!”

“He’s my boss,” Hispano shouted, stepped between the stallion and me. “And it’s good you’re both here, because you fucking promised me you’d quit this shit,” She jabbed a talon at the dragon, who surprisingly looked a bit ashamed at her words. “And you, you told the mayor you weren’t going to start shit this week, and I quote, no matter what!”

“Hey, that was before they fired at us!” The stallion snapped back, flailing his forehoof at Hispano. “I’m going to do the job I was hired for, and return the favor.”

“Look, I came here with a message from the Cordite folks.” The dragon snorted, shooting another gout of flame that reflected off the large brass object hanging from a length of old chain he wore like a belt. It took me a moment, but I recognized it as one of the Cordite flare revolvers, except this one had the barrel of a small howitzer welded to it, muzzle brake and all. “As you know, they’ve got their vehicles linked up as a battery. Now, I ain’t sayin’ it was right, but one-a them failed ta turn off the automated refire command...”

“And so what!? I’m just supposed to sit here and not retaliate?” The stallion snorted and spun on his hooves sharply. “Nah, if those bastards get to shell the town we’re here to protect, then I get to fucking do the same to them. Now kindly fuck off unless you want an eighty eight to ruin your day too.”

“Night, you want to step in here?” Hispano asked flatly as she glanced back at me. I wasn’t sure exactly what I was supposed to do, but…

“Okay, okay, both of you, calm down.” I snorted and pulled their angry gazes to me. Great. “Why don’t we just take a second to talk about this before it gets out of hoof?”

“And again, who the fuck are you!” The brick colored stallion laughed in my face. “Are you daft, or just lookin’ to get on the bad side of the Road Crew? Because believe me, I won’t hesitate to make an example out of some filly going off half cocked in my camp.” Oh really? I’m supposed to be afraid of the Road Crew? “You think you can come here and just step over me? You have no authority here, little girl.”

“Let me be clear, I supersede your authority.” Reaching up, I prodded at the stallion with my braced leg. “And if you want to keep your job as a supervisor, you are going to get on the radio, and explain to Queen Lustre that the Survivor is here.”

“Sure, sure.” The stallion smirked and looked back at the other crew around us, forcing out laughs at that. “Let me explain something to you that you seem to be a bit fuzzy on.” Leaning in, he wrapped his fetlock around my leg and gave it a sharp twist. It wasn’t enough to break it again, but the brace gave a pretty impressive creak. To his credit, he did seem a bit disturbed that I didn’t even flinch. “I don’t care who you are, but if you think I’m going to waste my time on a nopony mare like you, then you are sorely mistaken.”

“Let. Night. Go.” Hispano growled as she pulled up Suiza.

“Now let’s all just calm down here…” The dragon held his claws out to us, “I may not be your mayor, but Thunderbolt won’t tolerate a murderer in this town. And don’t think you can come over to East City to hide, because I won’t tolerate it either.”

“Shut it, mayor Sheriff.” The stallion seethed and glared over his shoulder. That… certainly was an interesting name if ever I’d heard one. “I’ll deal with trespassers how I see fit, and I’ll do my job in shelling your town because if I don’t, I don’t collect a paycheck.” Okay, wow, so this guy was really just that unreachable. He was honestly as bad as Solomon if this was how he saw everything. “So unless you want to pay me to stop, or want to kill me yourself, then would you and everyone else here who’s not Road Crew, kindly fuck off!”

Twang

The sharp snap of a cable sheering overhead forced everypony’s gaze upwards. One of the pallets of metal beams being hoisted by a crane shifted as another metallic groan filled the air. Hispano and I jumped backwards as a second cable snapped, dumping the pallet toward the ground.

The brick colored pony scrambled to run, but disappeared under the mountain of steel as it came down hard. The tremendous clangs of bending and rending metal filled the air as dust and snow was once again kicked up to cloud the area. The Road Crew around us didn’t hesitate, running in and shouting to each other and coordinating their movements. They worked quickly to clear beam after beam, almost completely in unison. That is, until the crushed and mutilated corpse of the brick pony was revealed, and muffled expletives were the only thing they shared.

“A real shame, isn’t it?” My own voice came from inside the pile of beams. As it shifted subtly, I watched as a crushed and bloody version of me peered back out from it with a smile. With a surprised blink, she was gone.

“You alright, Night?” Hispano heaved as she brought her talon down on my back.

“What?” I looked over at her, blinking again as her expression shifted to a more concerned look. “Yeah, it’s just…”

“A shame.” Mayor Sheriff sighed and hung his large scaly head. Reaching up, he pulled his oversized hat off his wooden horns and brought it down to his chest. “But while Mortar was set in his ways, he always had a tendency to rush things to the point that they never quite worked out for him.” Looking back up, he plopped his hat back over his horns. “Alright, who’s tha’ new supervisor then? Maybe you’ll be open ta’ reason?”

“Hi, former assistantsupervisorBubble Level. Guess I’m in charge now.” A sheepish sounding light orange mare stepped up with a wave. “I’m sorry, but… Mortar was right, we need to do our job.” Really? Even now, they were all committed to needless retaliation? “But, I need to call up to headquarters and report this worksite incident. I can see about postponing it until after that, but we’re going to do what we were paid for.”

“We’re coming with you.” Hispano snorted. “Maybe once you tell the Queen about us, you’ll believe we’re who we say we are.” With a sharp tug, she pulled me along as we followed the mare back towards a well furnished tent.

But as we walked, I couldn’t fight the urge to look behind me. I watched as the pile of steel beams continued to settle and collapse, and I waited for her to show her face again. That… couldn’t have been the fault of my curse, right? It was just supposed to affect me and the ones I cared about.

Maybe I was looking too far into it, but… part of me couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just going to be the start to a whole lot of bad.

“I see.” Lustre’s voice was good to hear again, even if it was through a static filled tabletop radio set. “I can’t pull them out of a contract that the mayor still wishes to hold, but due to the unfortunate worksite incident, I’m giving the whole camp a mandatory grievance time of a week.” Angry muttering and groans came from everypony in the tent around Hispano and I, but Lustre continued. “I’m sorry that’s all I can really offer to you, Night.”

“It’s more than enough, Queen Lustre.” I spoke through the hoofset. “Since Cordite owes me a favor, I’ll see what I can do on their side as well.”

“Well, I wish you luck with that.” She gave a hearty chuckle that I could have sworn made me smell the soot that would’ve come from her fiery breath. “If you can work something out between the two cities, I’d be grateful to have the assets there freed up again. The outpost down there was only meant to be a staging point for further Road Crew operations, but with what’s been happening up here, I’m no longer comfortable in committing to anything further south than Vanderhoof.”

Hispano furrowed her brow at those words. With a swift swipe of her talon, she snatched the hoofset from my grasp.

“What do you mean with what’s going on?” She glanced over me with an iron clad glare. “You don’t need us to come back up and help you, right? Because you need to understand that we can’t really swing that.”

“No, nothing of the sort.” Again, she let out a roaring laugh into her radio. “Large Marge is on the move again, this time to the harbor district. The City Council has prioritized dredging the old wrecks out of the bay in preparation for getting the harbor ready for trade again. With Mr. Wizard dead and gone, the railways are overbooked with shipments from northerners looking to move to the city. Even the ENR is completely booked, which should tell you just what sort of situation we’re in. So, we’re to rebuild the harbor.”

“Mr. Wizard’s dead?” Bubble Level let out a soft gasp as a wave of murmurs picked up behind us among the other Road Crew. “I thought it was just a rumor among the traders...”

While she certainly seemed surprised, it was weird to watch as a wide smile crept across her muzzle. Weirder still was the realization that even this far south, ponies had been under some part of the oppressive hoof of that mad ghoul. I should feel happy for them now that a weight had been lifted from their backs. But… given the state of things around here, I think they needed to work a bit harder on making things better before I could feel good about any of it.

“As nice as it’s been to chat again, put Supervisor Bubble Level back on.” Lustre snorted sharply, prompting the flustered mare to rip the hoofset straight out of Hispano’s talons. She took a moment to straighten out her bright pink mane and put on a serious face as she pushed down on the talk button.

“This is Bubble Level.” She spoke with the same feigned confidence I’d used all too many times before. She wasn’t ready for this job, but that’s just like the wasteland to throw wrenches in every circumstance just to shake things up.

“You are to ensure that your entire crew follows the mandatory grievance period.” Lustre’s tone however was as strong as the dragon it came from. “I expect daily reports broadcast up to headquarters, and... I feel the need to inform you that after speaking with Night Flight, I’ve dispatched Union Representative Rock Saw down to you. She should arrive within the week.”

I watched as those words sunk in to the mare. A flood of emotions washed over her, ending with what looked like a sharp twinge of anger. With more force, she pressed the talk button again.

“Do you feel I am not ready to serve this position, Ma’am?” Bubble almost spat into the receiver. She sounded like Lustre had just outright called her incompetent, and from the gasp that came from the crew around Hispano and I, I could guess that wasn’t exactly the ‘yes, Ma’am’ I’d certainly been expecting.

“You should watch your tone.” Lustre’s low growl came through with a static filled creaking through the old radioset’s speakers. “You are part of my operation, my company, and you will accept the judgement I bestow upon you, whatever that may be.” Silence filled the tent as nopony moved or breathed, simply listening as Lustre took a long pause. “But, to avail your concerns so that they do not distract you from doing your job, Rock Saw will not be arriving to take command. I am sending her to you on a hunch, and she already has orders to not interfere with your command. Is that understood, supervisor Bubble Level?”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Bubble sighed, nodding to herself with a small smirk.

“Good.” Lustre snorted again. “During your week off, see to it that you nip that troublesome attitude in the flank.”

“Of course, Ma’am.” The mare stiffened up, nodding sharply to the hoofset in her grasp. “I’ll see to it.”

“Headquarters, out.” Lustre spat before the line went dead, and static filled the speakers.

Bubble set the hoofset down, flicking the switch to turn the radio off. With a twist of her neck, she forced out a soft pop from it that helped her to visibly relax before turning to Hispano and I. The contented smile across her face was somewhat forced as the look of panic in her eyes told me that maybe she knew she wasn’t quite ready for the position she’d just been thrown into.

Lucky for her, I knew all about how that fucking felt…

“Well, you heard the queen.” Bubble sharply spoke up, jabbing her forehoof to the small crowd that had gathered outside the tent. “The whole operation’s been shuttered for now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be prepared for next week as we focus more on project reclamation. I know some of you will take this as an excuse to take some time off, but I don’t want to see a single one of you sitting on your flank when you could be working! Here in the Road Crew, we earn our paychecks, got that!?”

A mix of groans and conceded nods filled the crowd as they turned and started to disperse. Looking over to Hispano, she shrugged to me before looking back at Bubble. Opening her beak, she tried to say something, but found Bubble’s hoof in her face.

“Yo, Quick Set!” Bubble yelled out of the tent. Within moments, a small dusty white filly popped her hard hatted head around the side of the tent. “Is the RD6 back up and running?

“Yeah, boss.” The young filly nodded excitedly. Goddesses, she must have been younger than even Hispano was. “She just needs a fuel top off and she'll be good to work!”

“Excellent.” Bubble smirked. “Hook up the sled and take the D6 back to the mayor’s office, tell them we need another week’s worth of One-oh-five rounds fabricated.” Beaming with false confidence, she tipped her muzzle up at Hisapno and I. “Oh, and these two will need a ride, so you're going to have company.”

“You got it, Boss!” The excitable young filly squeaked out before disappearing with the sound of galloping hoofsteps.

“Goddesses, how the fuck does the Road Crew deal with the noise!?” I shouted to Hispano as the cyclic throbbing of the old bulldozer’s engine filled the air. While she seemed to acknowledge I’d said something at all, I couldn’t hear the response she gave in my headset. Even the noise dampening properties of it didn’t work around this thing! Maybe the Arcturus and the Remora had spoiled me, but seriously, how was something this loud even possible to exist!?

Still, we noisily trundled our way through the shack city that surrounded the central block at the center of West City. And while I could deal with the invasive noise, I couldn’t hide from the sharp glares and angry looks we got from all of the ponies who moved out of the way of the old world dozer and it’s empty trailer. Each one of them glared with the same intensity and hatred that Delilah held on me that last day.

I’m not going to lie. After everything I’ve done to try to pull myself up from where I was when the convoy was… well, I didn’t feel like I deserved their ire. While Hispano was right that I’d taken on way too many charity cases, I’ve continued to be my best in doing what’s right. So what right did these ponies have to be angry at me when I’ve sacrificed so much for the good of the north?

I watched as one particularly beat up unicorn who was missing both of her back legs throw a rotten piece of garbage at us. It sailed through the air, and landed with a firm hit against Quick Set’s hardhat. And I blinked for a moment as a truth hit me.

They weren’t glaring at me, or at Hispano. Their disdain was solely on the Road Crew. And again, after how Supervisor Mortar ran things, I was somewhat inclined to side with them on that. But as more ponies came out to throw more garbage, the look of shame and sorrow that fell across Quick’s face hit me harder than anything.

Lustre said that the Road Crew here were only supposed to set up a staging area. None of them came here for the job they’d been swept into doing. And while Mortar had certainly deserved the reputation he’d fostered here, there was a chance to change things now.

I know that we were only supposed to stop here for whatever is inside the quickly approaching monolithic building at the center of town, but… after we got Buck, I felt like a talk with the mayor was in order. Whatever feud had spurred all of this, it needed to stop.

As we pulled up to the center of the four tall buildings of West City, a dozen or so well armed and armored ponies sprung from the entrance of each building. The rambunctious citizens, still screaming and throwing garbage, were pushed back, leaving the snow covered four way intersection clear for us to park in. With a wipe of the wet garbage off of her hardhat, Quick Set pulled the old Dozer to a stop, and turned the engine off.

Immediate and overwhelming silence hit my ears for a single, heavenly second before Hispano’s voice came over my headset.

“Fuck, do they tune these things to be extra loud or something!?” She grumbled as she stretched her wings out and hopped off the old dozer. “I could barely think while that thing was running.”

Hopping down off the old world machine with her, my hooves hit the snow covered mud below with a squish. For a moment, my mind was thrown back to our time outside Fort Mac when we’d all gotten muddied up by accident. A small smile hit my muzzle when I tried to relish the memory. However, soft sobbing whimpers behind me pulled the joy out of my memory, and I turned to see Quick crying into her hooves.

“Are you alright?” I found myself asking reflexively to her. While I needed to stop paying attention to all the charity cases around me, there was little harm in seeing what was wrong.

“They hate us.” She sniffled, almost collapsing on the instrument panel with louder sobs. “We work so hard to protect them, and they hate us. It’s not fair.”

“Every day, one of the cities shoots at each other.” Hispano spat out as she flapped her wings and hovered up beside the mare. “And every fucking day, the other city shoots back. Tell me, how the fuck is that protecting anyone? Do you feel good about blowing up innocent ponies?”

“We’re just doing our job!” Quick Set cried out, devolving further into louder sobs.

“Hispano.” I didn’t want to tell her she was wrong, but she definitely wasn’t helping.

“No, Night.” Hispano’s sharp wave of her talons as she didn’t even look back at me made me deadpan. Fuck, why was it so important that she tear down this mare? “You know what I think? I think that deep down, you don’t care about them at all. You think that you’re so good at what you do that you can do nothing wrong.” Hispano’s tone turned cold, and she lashed a talon out at the mare. Her claws scraped along the dozers flaking yellow paint, making Quick whimper. “Well here’s a wake up call. You can’t live your life convincing yourself this is just what’s expected of you, and expect everyone to like you for it! Grow the fuck up and take some responsibility for the hell you’ve made in the lives of others. They don’t hate you, that’s a fucking selfish way to look at it. Maybe you need to reflect on just what they do hate, and why you seem to care so little about that. Maybe then you’ll be a pony worth anypony’s admiration.”

“I’m sorry!” And with that, Quick broke down completely.

I watched as Hispano turned to me with a glare and hopped down off the dozer. Slowly, her hardened expression softened, and she let out a deep sigh that made me understand what she’d done.

That wasn’t about Quick Set, or anything to do with the Road Crew at all. That was entirely about Hispano. She needed to admit to herself that she needed to change. And I have to say, after hearing it, I felt relieved.

“What’s with the goofy grin, Dum Dum?” Hispano rolled her eyes while she couldn’t hide her own smile from me. Still, she made it hard to see as she quickly hopped past me in the snow towards the monolithic concrete building. But as weird a turnaround as that was, she was right, I was smiling at her.

Through all the bullshit in the last few months, and all the pain she’d felt, I felt deep down that she was actually, surprisingly alright. I know that with everything I’ve been through, I’d been struggling to find out just who I’m supposed to be. And now that she’d fought her own battles in her mind, I think she’s closer than anyone else I know to figuring herself out.

“You just going to stand there?” Hispano groaned as she spun around in the snow. With a crunch of her talon, she balled up a hefty chunk of the white stuff and threw it at me. I lifted a wing and easily blocked the attack, but it only widened the smile across my muzzle. “Come on, you Dolt. I’m sure Buck’s waiting for us, so let’s not keep him wondering if you’ve gotten into something else way over your head.”

“Alright, alright.” I sighed as I picked up my hooves and trotted after her. My ear perked as the sobbing from Quick fell off behind me, and part of my smile went with it. While Hispano was definitely right that they needed to take a look at what they were doing, they weren’t beyond redemption.

So after we met back up with Buck, I was going to bring him and Hispano with me as we had a nice little ‘chat’ with the mayor of West City.

Trotting through the impressively robust concrete hallway that lead to the interior of the concrete monolith, I paused as I saw a set of worn letters embossed in the old concrete.

Vanderhoof Municipal City Shelter.

My eyes slowly adjusted from the daylight outside, to the dim fluorescent lighting as we trotted in. It took me a moment, but I blinked as I took in the spacious interior of the building. Marble walls and columns lined the room, and polished archway doors lead to stairwells on each side of the interior, disappearing down into parts unknown below. Darkwood furniture and vibrant red carpeting gave the interior of the place a look of decadence.

Again, was I just going to have to assume that the mayor was as bad as Solomon?

Rows of desks, each with lamps and personal terminals, sat unattended, but well kept. They sat spaced out on each side of the entryway, leading up to a large curved reception desk that held a ghoul behind it in an impeccably gaudy green felt dress. She shared a rotten smile that faltered as Hispano and I approached, with her eyes peering under the pearl colored glasses adorning the end of her muzzle. Looking down and turning around, I found that Hispano and I had both tracked a good bit of snow and mud across their nice carpeting, but to be honest, I wasn’t feeling all to sorry about that.

“May I help you?” The old ghoul spoke with a surprising clarity to her elderly sounding voice.

“Yeah, we’re looking for the clinic.” Hispano retorted as we made it to the desk. With a hop, she put one of her muddy talons on the desk and used it to prop her head up with a smirk. “We’re not citizens, but we’re here on Federation business, so there’s no need to call security.”

“Of course.” The old ghoul smiled as she shifted slightly, pulling her hoof out from under the desk. Turning, she pointed to one of the stairwells down that had a makeshift sign hanging down on it, though from here I couldn’t see what it read. “I’ll call down and give them a heads up. What were the names again?”

“Hispano and Night Flight.” Hispano chirped happily as she pulled herself off the desk and turned to me. “Alright, Dum Dum, let’s go.”

“One moment.” I held up a hoof to Hispano as I offered the old ghoul a forced smile. “Hi, we actually also came here to retrieve something stored inside the public records vault. It’s…”

“The Burro Industries locker is in cue to be retrieved once the secure storage time-lock spell resolves in…” The old mare droned like this hadn’t been the first time she’d recited this today. “Eighteen hours and thirty four minutes. You may return and retrieve the contents of your storage box then.”

“Thanks, I’ll return for it tomorrow then.” I looked over to Hispano, sharing a shrug with her.

Well, now that that awkwardness was out of the way, hopefully getting Buck to come with us to the mayor would be as equally straight forward. Turning with Hispano, we trotted towards the stairwell. A few steps in however, I nearly tripped over myself as the hoof painted sign hanging down from it became readable.

Official Destruction Bay Volunteer Corps Clinic

“Hey, what’s wrong, Dum Dum?” Hispano chuckled as I felt like all the blood drained out of me. “I thought you’d be happy to know that we’ve got friends around?”

She’s here.

A shiver ran down my spine, and I could swear the room around me went silent. The only thing I could hear was the thumping of my heartbeat as I perked my ears. Then, as expected, it came to me from behind.

Wind chimes.

Warnings flashed across my vision that I needed immediate medical attention. Dozens of messages about my body popped up, and every part of the paper pony projected in the corner turned to say Crippled. My heart stopped, my lungs seized, and my body snapped in half.

This was it. This was how I died.

“Oh, it’s so good to see yah again!” Jean squealed into my ears as she hugged me tighter than ever in her moosey grasp. “Yah just can’t understand how good it is to see a friendly face. Been practically ages since we last saw yah, don’cha know! We’ve got so much to catch up on!”

Celestia save me...

Chapter 91 - Cold War

Never go into a fight without more ammunition than the other side.

Okay, so maybe I wasn’t dying.

And while it definitely wasn’t as bad as I‘d made it sound, Jean’s hug did make me feel sore through my talisman. Which, believe me, was impressive in its own right! Goddesses, it was good to see Jean and the others from Destruction Bay again, but I did not miss the hugs. And seriously, was it moose magic or something? How the fuck could someone her size still sneak around with wind chimes in her ears!?

“Hey, quit hogging all the fun!” Banana Bonanza snorted as she pushed her hulking yellow form up off the mattress that was set up in the corner of the clinic’s waiting room. “I want in on the hugging action as well! Come on, little guy…” As much as I remember her being the softer hugger, this wasn’t what I needed to be doing right now...

“Maybe we can give Night some space?” Buck’s soft and lighthearted tone flowing into the room was a lifeline for me to hold onto in this time of need. And like an unnatural force swept through her, as Buck stepped out from one of the patient rooms, Jean released her grasp on me. “While I’m sure he appreciates the kindness, he’s been through quite a lot.”

As I got back to remembering what it felt like to breathe, Hispano put her talons on her hips and looked around the admittedly quiet clinic.

“You know, with all the problems, I thought you’d be busier than this?” She scrunched up her beak with a look at Buck. “Just a couple of days ago it was absolutely packed wall to wall.”

“Yeah… about that…” Banana frowned as she wrapped one of her massive hooves around her neck. “The thing about that is… well, we’re kinda…”

“We have no medicine.” A flat, dull voice spoke up from behind me. Spinning around, I was met with the nearly blank expression of the third of the Destruction Bay group. The dull looking mare still peered out with one eye from under her limp mane, but it was a more tired expression than I remember her having when we left Destruction Bay.

“Well, it’s not like we don’t have any medicine, Hemlock.” Jean tried to interject a bit of hope into a message that was received dead on arrival. Still, Jean reached up and removed her saucer-like metal helmet and held it gently in a hoof. “With the daily shelling, we just… don’t have enough to go around.”

“Did something happen up at Destruction Bay?” I spat out without thinking. “Can’t they just send you more?”

“Well, word came down that there was an explosion in Whitehorse.” Banana sighed, chuffing her hoof at the floor with an even deeper frown. “The mainline railway tunnel there collapsed, and the Road Crew won’t be able to clear and repair it for who knows how long.”

“Wait, an…” I started to say, but manage to literally bite my tongue to shut myself up. The sight of the prismatic megaspell orbs on the horizon the night the Sky Raiders fell played through my head. Fuck, Whitehorse had been one of the targets, hadn’t it?

“We’ve managed to make due though.” Hemlock sighed as even her more normal, blank expression seemed all the more vacant. “Balmy managed to catch a ride down south to some old airbase. He chartered some pilot from Seaddle who knows the route to run us supplies from home once every other week, for now. But even with that helping, we always seem to run low a few days early.”

“You didn’t mention they were a pilot from Seaddle.” Buck’s mechanical ears perked. “Do you have a name? Or at least a description of their plane?” As much as I wanted to believe that the Skycaptain from the Inuvik was helping them out, and as much as I wanted Buck to be happy, I wanted to be realistic in saying that it could have been anyone.

“Sorry, I can’t say.” Hemlock shook her head. “Maybe you can see in a few days when Balmy gets back with them.”

“We’re most likely not going to be here that long.” Buck sighed, but even that still didn’t damper the spark of hope in his eye. “Are you sure there’s nothing you can remember?”

“Well, unfortunately none of us have seen them because they can’t land with all the rubble here.” Banana shrugged as she looked up to Buck curiously. “You should ask the Road Crew. They bring us the supplies from Lake Platinum where the deliveries are made.”

“If the supplies are dropped off on a lake...” Buck’s muzzle split into a smile wider than anything I’ve seen recently outside of our time together in private. “It must be the Skycaptain then!”

“Hold up on that enthusiasm.” Hispano rolled her eyes as she took a seat in a particularly musty smelling floral print chair. “Seaddle had a dozen seaplane pilots last time Dad and I were there. Besides, like you said, it wouldn’t matter if it was her because we’re not staying.”

As much as I agreed with Hispano, and for as annoyed as it was going to make her, I think after everything, Buck deserved a little hope.

“I’m sure it’s her.” I nodded to Buck, feeling the warmth of his beaming smile as he all but vibrated with barely contained joy. “But,” I spoke up sharply, catching the back end of Hispano’s side eye to me, “we just came from the Road Crew camp, where we spoke with Queen Lustre. She said that if we can convince the Cordite crew in East City to stand down, then there won’t be any shelling anymore.”

“That… that should be easy.” Buck struggled to grasp with words as he seemed somewhat torn between looking surprised or overjoyed. “The Chief said that we were owed a Cordite favor, so we could stop the violence! All of it!”

“That was our thinking.” Hispano smirked and crossed her talons. “But it’s not going to be as easy as that.”

“Whatever it is, we can pull it off.” Buck stood up straight and placed a mechanical paw across his chest proudly. His smile and gaze met mine, brightening before he shifted it to Hispano. Her deadpan to him made his smile falter a bit. “What?”

“Right now, the Road Crew ceasefire will only last a week.” Hispano shifted uneasily in her chair as she glanced between Buck and me. “We need to convince both mayors to cancel their contracts, or nothing is going to change.”

“Uh…” Raising my hoof, a thought ran through my mind. “Why are they fighting in the first place?”

“It’s because…” Jean started with a pause before I got to see what a deeply confused moose looked like. “Gee, yah know, I can’t for the life of me say why.”

“Because we’ve always been fighting East City.” The powerful voice of a mare came through the hallway outside the clinic with heavy, thumping hoofsteps. I already knew the voice from my dream, and turned around to watch as Mayor Thunderbolt rounded the corner in her multicolored power armor. Her almost green eyes narrowed, falling on Buck and then down to me as if to study and size us up. She gave an almost dismissive tip of her muzzle as she brushed back her short, electric yellow mane over her ears. “All of us, every single citizen of West City bears scars from Eastern aggression. It is an injustice that must be corrected.”

With a hiss, her power armor plating split apart. The armor opened up, allowing her to step out, which pulled a gasp from both Buck and my muzzle’s. The mayor’s purple body was covered in old, healed scars, but all four of her legs… they just weren’t there. Instead, she walked on four completely bark covered wooden legs. I watched in amazement as she stepped forward, and her wooden legs seemed to bend without stiffness, just like a normal flesh and blood leg would.

“I’m here for my checkup.” The mayor almost snarled, forcing Jean and Banana to shrink back a bit. “If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to get it over with quickly because I’m quite busy.”

“Of course, Mayor.” Hemlock nodded and held her hoof out toward one of the patient rooms down another hall of the clinic. “This way, if you will.”

The mayor snorted, forcing me to shrink back a bit as she walked past me as well. She tipped her muzzle up in indifference, and ruffled her mane as she passed, like she was above us all. However, as she did, I managed to catch a glimpse of the knotted wood that stuck out just under her mane where her spine was. Seriously, how much wood was in this mare...?

Pausing and blinking, I chuckled to myself. Oh, if Happy was here and I’d said that out loud, I…

Wait a second!

“If she’s here, then where the fuck is Happy?” I blinked and looked up at Buck, who only turned his gaze over to Hispano. Okay, this was not good.

“What?” She shared a shrug. “He promised me that he’d stay with the mayor! Don’t look at me like it’s my fault!”

“And you trusted him!?” I grunted. Goddesses, what sort of trouble was he going to have…

“Pft, typical.” Happy’s voice came in from just outside the door. “Even after all that shit about being my friend, you still don’t trust me, Night.”

Turning the corner, he shot a glare at me that I knew I didn’t deserve. Stepping into the room, he walked with a normal cadence while wearing his leather jacket and sword. With a raise of his forehoof, he beamed with pride as he showed off a new wooden leg that matched the mayor’s.

“The mayor took me to see the Doc, and she fixed me up, good as new.” He smirked, inspecting it’s bark coated appearance before shooting a sideways glance at me. “Seems like some ponies out there still actually help others in need. Something you’ll understand soon enough.”

“Oh quit with the melodrama.” Hispano groaned as she pushed herself out of her seat. “If you’re just going to stand there and berate Night, then maybe you should find something else to do.” Seriously, not that I needed defending, I was happy to have Hispano back to her mostly, old self.

“You know, you’re right.” Happy leaned against the doorway with a shrug. “I mean, now that Solomon’s dead... oh wait, he’s not because you let him go.” Oh for fucks sake…

“Happy, if you’re not here to help...” I snapped at him and pointed my hoof back toward the stairwell. “Then go wait on the Arcturus and quit being a fucking ass.”

“Yeah no, fuck you, Night.” Again, he shrugged.

I was beginning to remember exactly why Delilah had wanted to leave him up in Cantercross.

“Happy. Go to the Arcturus. Now.” I snapped at him. “Don’t feel so confident that I can’t make you do it. You’ve got a fancy new leg, great. That won’t help when I tell Buck to give you enough sedatives to keep you down for the rest of the trip.”

That wiped the smirk from his muzzle.

“Ugh, fine. I hope you fucking die.” He growled and sharply pushed himself off the doorway.

I waited until his hoofsteps were far enough off that I was sure he was out of earshot before letting out a long sigh and sitting down hard. Goddesses, I thought we’d gotten past all this shit! Why the fuck did he just suddenly go back to being an immature asshole? Whatever, I just needed to sit down with him and have yet another talk that hopefully wouldn’t devolve into a shouting match like last time.

I shuddered as I felt Hispano’s talon come down lightly on my shoulder.

“It’s not your fault, Night.” Hispano’s kind words helped, but they were a fresh bandage on an open wound. A start, but not nearly enough to fix it. “He’s a grown fucking stallion older than all three of us, you shouldn’t have to treat him like a foal.”

“I don’t know what’s gotten into him.” Buck crossed his mechanical paws as he frowned.

“He’s afraid.” Banana said bluntly. The three of us looked at Banana, who seemed out of it for a moment. With her own blink, she flashed a nervous smile across her muzzle. “What?”

“What do you mean he’s afraid?” I asked. If she had any insight on how to deal with that insufferable mule, at this point, I’d take it.

“While it’s not the whole problem, part of it is wartime stress disorder. I’ve… seen it plenty of times already, in the younger colts and fillies that are brought in.” She shivered and shrunk down on her hooves. “The depression, the sudden bouts of anger, irritability, and irrationality? Just looking at him, beneath all the attitude he put forward, I can see all those things, and they point to being WSD.”

“I thought that too at first, but the loss of Happy’s leg doesn’t seem to bother him.” Buck shook his head as he used a digit to scratch at the end of his muzzle. “He hasn’t complained about having nightmares, or that he’s suffering from extreme panic attacks. So I’m not sure I agree with your diagnosis.”

“Most suffering from WSD, don’t report the more personal symptoms.” Jean brought her helmet up over her heart and hung her head. “Banana’s right. While it’s hidden pretty deep, you can read it all over him. Did you see the way he showed off that leg? He’s convinced himself that he’s fixed, that things will be normal again when they’ll never be that way. And when he ends up realizing that, he’s going to completely break down.” With a whimper, she brought her helmet up and put it on slowly. “I know that he may not want to admit it, but he’s hurting inside. He needs help, for you all to be there for him.”

My first thought was to say fuck that, and to let him suffer for once.

But… I can’t. It’s not even about me promising Lustre that I’d watch over him, or that I would feel like I was letting down Delilah by turning my back on him. It was worse than that because Happy… he was my family too.

“Alright, well, let’s go have a talk with Cordite, and then we’ll have a talk with Happy.” Looking over at Hispano, I got a firm nod from her. Buck however, flashed me a nervous smile before reaching up and anxiously ruffling his neck fur. “Is something wrong, Buck?”

“Well, we might have to make a stop back home. That, or, you know what? Let’s just not get into a fight…” He cringed as he brought his paws together, softly tenting his digits in the air in front of him. “Because I uh… don’t have anymore supplies to patch you up with.”

“How is that possible?” Hispano deadpanned hard enough that both Jean and Banana shrunk back even further yet. “You practically carry a whole fucking hospital in those fancy arms!”

“Because ah…” Banana muttered anxiously.

“Yah see, it’s so gosh darn funny that yah’d ask…” Jean muttered as well.

“You gave it away.” I nodded. It wasn’t that I was disappointed, far from it in fact. I know that the supplies will be put it to good use. It’s just, I was most definitely not going to think that the next time I got shot. “It’s fine, we’ll avoid fighting.” That pulled a sharp laugh from Hispano. “Hey, we’ve already met the mayor of East City, right? He seemed pretty agreeable to me!”

“While he’s a whole different ordeal, you shouldn’t worry about him right now.” Banana stiffened up and rubbed nervously at her neck. “If I were you, I’d worry about that nut-job alicorn ‘Increadimare’ who guards the no mare’s land between the cities.”

“Ugh, her.” Hispano groaned and dragged her talons down her face.

“Excuse me, did you say Increadimare?” Buck’s question caught me off guard. “As in, the old world comic book hero?”

“That’s her.” Banana nodded, for some reason pulling a look of dread from Buck. “You know about her? Er, the mare she’s impersonating?”

“Well, not so much, no.” Buck cringed as he offered only a glance over to me. From the way he blushed and shrunk back further, I could only guess he was embarrassed about something. “My younger brother, Jack, he was really into those comics as a pup. Increadimare, Shadow Spade, Silver Shroud, Captain Andromeda, you name it, he loved their stories.”

“Wait, ‘Comic’ Jack was your brother?” Hispano smirked and crossed her talons.

“You’ve met him?” Buck’s apprehensive tone gave me pause. Why did he act like that wasn’t a good thing? Then again, with how she was back on the Inuvik, I’m not sure meeting Hispano would have ever been as... casual as it was for me.

“I mean, I’ve never seen anyone more obsessed with old world foal stories than him.” She shrugged and glanced over to me. “He hired me for a quick job the day Night and the Convoy arrived. Wanted me to steal issue number nine from somepony else so he could complete his collection.”

“What!? Steal!?” Buck gasped. Heavy metal clanks accompanied his paws coming up and squeezing at the sides of his metal braincase. “That… that’s not like Jack! He’d never…” Buck paused as he narrowed his eyes at Hispano. However, she simply shrugged again, pulling a low, static filled growl from Buck’s throat. “Grrr, I guess I’ll have to have a talk with him once we get down there...”

“Getting back to the topic at hoof…” I offered. Not that I didn’t enjoy learning more about Buck’s family and what Hispano was doing before I met her, but we still needed to do our job. “Is there anything you know about this ‘Increadimare’ that can help us?”

“Well…” Buck’s mechanical paw scritched at his metal jaw as he thought to himself. “Honestly, I don’t recall much from the comics Jack got me to read. It was because she was just so cliched as the perfect hero archetype.” Shrugging he sat on his haunches and frowned at me. “I mean, I found the main villain, Doc Vile, much more well thought out and written. She was the only reason I read as much as I did...”

“You mean Doctor Clouded Vial? The cybernetically enhanced pegasus scientist with the tragic backstory and the genetically mutated monster sidekick she’s madly in love with?” Hispano spat out with a smirk before letting out the loudest gasp in the world. “OH FUCK! Is that the reason why you love Night so much!?”

“No, that’s… that’s not it at all!” Buck’s own gasp of horror made me blink as my mind connected the dots that eerily fit together a bit too well. “I-I mean, I loved Night before he got his implants. It isn’t because of some silly foal’s story I read as a pup! That’s absolutely ridiculous.” With that, a look of abject horror fell across his face. “Goddesses… did that lead me…? Maybe some sort of subconscious bias…?”

The burning blush across his face told me that there was more truth to Hispano’s words than he would ever be willing to admit. It was definitely a can of worms that I’d have to explore further in private, but there was something here I’d almost missed an opportunity to jump on. Something that ruffled Hispano’s plumage as she prepared herself for the question that was about to come out of my muzzle.

“Did you read those comics too, Hispano?” While I normally wouldn’t care to be as blunt as this, this time, I let my words slap her across the face.

“Pft, no.” She snorted and rolled her eyes. “Only losers read Ol’ Bookbeak’s cruddy comic collection.” Both the flat stare I gave her, as well as the one from Buck, convinced her to drop the obvious act. “Fine. Yes, I read them, but only because ‘Claw is incredibly boring when training isn’t going on and all the wings are deployed on jobs! You’re not the only one who happens to be entertained by ‘larger than life’ mares, Night...” Wait, did she mean...

“Hey, attack of the fifty foot mare is a cinema classic!” I spat out. “You can hate the movie, but even you have to agree that Lilac Lace was the perfect actress for the part!”

“Nothing against your ‘perfect’ miss Lace,” Hispano rolled her eyes at me and folded her talons over herself. “But until the fifty foot mare measures up to the countless feats of Increadimare, I think I’ll settle for a real superhero. Even if it is just some crazy alicorn...”

“Not to break this up, but do you have any insight on this alicorn, Hispano?” Buck sighed and palmed his paw down his face to try and hide the still burning blush he wore.

“Well, like you said, she’s incredibly cliche, always making a last minute split second decision that saves the day.” She bit her beak for a moment as her eyes wandered over Buck and I. “And… unfortunately that means I’m certain she’s going to think you two really are Doc Vile and Mutant V13.”

“Well then!” Jean gasped and gave an excited light hop which I could feel through the floor. “You’ll just have to prove her wrong, and show her just who yah really are!” I winced as once more a large hoof wrapped around me and pulled me into a tight hug. “Besides, with all the good deeds the three of yah have done, it makes yah pretty much real life superheroes, don’cha know!”

Oh, we were definitely going to get into a fight with her, weren’t we?

You know, it would have been a fairly impressive sight had I not seen so many walls on this trip already.

As the three of us approached a check-pointed tunnel that led through the wall itself, I couldn’t help but look up at those defending the city dividing wall. They were in as rough condition as any of the other ponies in the city, with one small exception. Every single pony on guard here had at least one of their limbs replaced with one of those wooden prosthetics.

The tunnel itself looked purposefully built into the wall, and held a sturdy and imposing ribbed design. It was probably meant to withstand any number of direct blasts during an attack, and it was only large enough so that one Road Crew or Cordite vehicle could fit through at a time. The pair of heavy caliber weapons emplacements looking down into the old tunnel weren’t as impressive as the cannons Pentex had, but I’m sure they were big enough to make anypony think twice about coming through for an attack.

“Hold up.” A stallion in combat gear and a metal helmet that sat lower than his eyes trotted up to us from the tunnel’s entrance. Besides the scuffed and worn combat armor he wore, he had a rusted combat rifle slung to his side where both his wooden front legs could easily get to in a hurry. “This is a restricted area for West City citizens. I’m going to have to ask you to turn around and head back. It’s not safe out near the wall.”

“We’re not with the city.” I glanced up at Buck, and then over to Hispano. I don’t know what kind of other races were here in the city, but I hadn’t seen any other Snow Dogs or Griffons yet. Still, maybe it was simply a formality to state that. “I hope you…”

“Not with West City!?” The Stallion gasped and drew his rifle, pointing it right at me and prompting Hispano to pull Baby out from it’s holster. “You’re fucking East City spies!”

“We’re outsiders.” Buck’s tone lowered with a growl that I swear almost rattled the old combat rifle out of the stallion’s wooden hooves. “We are here to help solve your city’s conflict, so I suggest you lower your weapon, and move aside.”

“Here to… solve?” The stallion took a shaky step back. He lost his hoofing for a moment, almost tumbling onto his flank, but managed to catch himself on his hocks before doing just that. “I see. Then you must be here to help West City win the fight! Yes, it all makes sense now!”

“That’s…” I began to say, but paused as Hispano caught my attention with a burning glare. “...why we’re here!” She nodded to the wall and gave a small nod that sent me a message, loud and clear. “Yes, one hundred percent our job.” While that pulled a sigh of relief from Hispano, it earned me one hell of a disapproving glance from Buck. “Now if you’ll excuse us…”

“Of course, ma’am!” The soldier nodded and scrambled to move aside. “Just remember that all checkpoints close to travelers at sundown. Be sure to return by then.” With a stiff raise of one of his wooden hooves, he clonked it against his metal helmet as he brought it into a stiff salute. “Good luck, ma’am. West City is counting on you!”

Offering my own lazy salute, I stepped past the stallion. I mean, it wasn’t really a lie or anything, we were going to help the city. Plus, this isn’t even our problem, and yet here I am trying to help. At least this time Hispano doesn’t seem to mind that fact.

“Did either of you two happen to notice something weird about the wall guards?” Hispano offered as she hovered up next to me, lazily flapping her wings as the three of us entered the concrete tunnel.

“All of them have wooden prosthetics.” Buck nodded and slightly lowered his staticy voice. “I wonder how they work, or who creates them.”

“That’d be the ‘miracle healer’ I’d mentioned earlier.” Hispano shrugged as she slightly pushed herself ahead of Buck and I. Flipping herself over, she hovered on her back with a concerned look across her beak. “But the soldiers of both sides almost exclusively have them. I hadn’t noticed it until Night and I were on our ride through town, but… why only the city guards? Why not help everypony?”

“Perhaps…” Buck began but paused in thought for a moment. “Maybe it’s for the same reason that the Destruction Bay Volunteers can only do so much. It could be too resource intensive for them to effectively treat so many, so they prioritize based on what job the ponies hold.” That would make sense. Defenders would be fairly high on the hierarchy of needing to stay mobile...

“I don’t think it’s an issue about resources.” Hispano frowned and glanced over to me. “When I did a quick flyby of her facility, it wasn’t more than a small, unassuming bunker in the woods. I mean, I hate to bring it up Night, but I really got the feeling that this is another one of those kind of bunkers.”

“You think it’s the same sort of thing like what was up in Cannon City?” I shuddered midstep just thinking about that place again. I’m sorry, but getting yet another memory alteration talisman in my head was a big no thank you in my book. “Well, we’ll just have to stay away from any large turrets this time.”

“Actually, I didn’t see one.” Hispano’s tone shared my feelings that it was both a comfort and a concern that we wouldn’t have to deal with that again. “But…” She sighed and slowed her flight, flipping herself around to where she landed on her rear paws again. “There’s some really weird plants around that place. I’ve never seen anything like them before.”

“Plants?” Buck perked up at that. “Huh, now you’ve really piqued my...!” With a pause, his ears folded, and he let out a long sigh. “Right, all of my research and records were on Bertha when she went.”

Stepping out from the far end of the tunnel and back into the sunlight, I took a look around. Like it’s namesake, this place really was a no-mare’s land. Rocky, uneven snow covered the ground that didn’t have a single speck of green. The thin strip of land that both walls guarded wasn’t completely empty however. Little yellow road crew flags extended out from each of the tunnels in the wall, running in straight lines that connected the tunnel ends in both cities. The only other thing that broke up the flat nothingness here, were the concrete pylons that held up the old Highway that stretched across the sky far above even the height of the walls.

“So, just so the both of you are aware,” Hispano cleared her throat with an unsettling note of concern in it. “please keep your paws and hooves inside the flagged lines as we cross.”

“Surely they wouldn’t shoot us for stepping outside them.” Buck chuckled, forcing a grumble from Hisapno. “There’s not even anything out here anyway.”

“No, of course not. Nopony’s supposed to be out here.” Hispano growled. “Besides, why would they waste bullets when the magnetic mines will be sure to blast you to bits.”

“I… see your point.” Buck stiffened up and pulled his mechanical paws to his sides. “Stick to the center, understood.”

A light whistling picked up through the air. It wasn’t loud, but it was enough to get me to stop. Looking up, I managed to get a peek at a large shape speeding downward toward us.

Before I could even open my muzzle, the large green alicorn came down hard onto the snow-covered soil. She didn’t crash, rather, she came down on all fours hard enough that the air pressure alone was enough to clear a small circle of snow from under her. But rather than try to figure out how she hadn’t broken all of her legs with a landing like that, I was busy looking at something else that didn’t make sense.

A glowing, crackling yellow magical field wrapped around the mare in the shape of a skin tight outfit. It covered most of her body, only leaving her expansive wings and a V shaped portion of her green chest open. Sitting over her eyes and just under her long pronounced horn, was a similar magical field that obscured her eyes from us. Large glowing white ovals sat over where her eyes would be, which were surprisingly expressive as they narrowed into a sharp glare that she leveled at the three of us.

“Doc Vile, I should have known it was only a matter of time before your brand of filth came crawling back into the light!” Her voice was as loud as a megaphone, and I had to wrestle my own urge to cover my ears up. “Ah, and V13 as well! Good to see that you will make it easy for me to put an end to whatever plot you two are sure to have!”

“We are not who you assume we are.” Buck stepped forward, lifting his paws slowly and defensively to her. “We are travelers from out of town who seek nothing more than to stop the senseless fighting between…”

Buck’s voice was beat out by Increadimare’s as she belted out a stiff laugh.

“You expect me to believe your lies?” She snorted and stiffened her stance, looking over Buck with a healthy smirk across her toothy muzzle. “I am disappointed, V13. After all our battles, that you would assume I would fall for such a foalish deception is amateurish at best!”

“Then perhaps you’ll believe me when I tell you that Buck is telling you the truth.” I’ve put on an act too many times to not see an opportunity here to try to see just how far she was willing to take her ‘character’. “Look, I don’t know what it is you want, but we’re trying to stop these two cities from destroying each other. You can either keep up this superhero act, or you can help us.”

“Help you? Why would I ever make that mistake when you two are clearly the ones in need of help!” Again, she belted out another impressively loud laugh. “The light of goodness shines inside all ponykind, and I work to bring justice to ponies who have been so wronged by those who have forgotten that!”

“Here we go…” Hispano groaned and slapped her talon across her face.

“For it is I, Increadimare, who shall put an end your nefarious plans, Doc Vile!” The large alicorn flared her wings out as far as she could, and a glowing aura of magic enveloped her. She shone with a radiance that nearly matched the sun, and it forced the three of us to shield our eyes. “I am incorruptible, and you, Doctor, should be smart enough to know that. Now, why don’t you make it easy and just surrender? I’m sure the mayor can arrange a comfortable cell for the two of you where you can contemplate how many lives your numerous crimes have ruined!”

“This has gone far enough, don’t you think?” Buck called up to her, but his words didn’t seem to get to her at all.

“I uh… don’t think she’s acting.” I muttered under my breath. “I think she really does believe she’s Increadimare.” Well, that’s… unfortunate.

“Wait!” Hispano squawked and shot into the air, spreading herself out as she placed her body in between Increadimare and Buck and I. “I know you don’t trust them, but they really are trying to save the city!”

“Impossible! You must be mistaken, or worse, believe their nefarious lies.” Increadimare snapped back. “These two only know evil, and they must be brought to justice! I am sorry if you have bought into whatever plans they have in motion, but I will allow you this chance to leave before you get further involved!” She gave a heavy flap of her wings, pushing herself further into the air as her horn again charged with magic. “If you choose to stay however, I promise you that you will share the same cell as these two.”

“No!” Hispano snapped and again placed herself between us. “Do you remember the time you, Silver Shroud, and Filly Second saved Gallop City from General Zaxx’s invasion?”

“Of course I do, but that is irrelevant…”Increadimare gave off a short lived laugh as she again tried to move.

“It’s far from irrelevant!” Hispano shouted over her as she mirrored the mare’s movements again. “Who was it that you relied on in the team that helped you to bring down the magical field barriers around the confinement camps? Who was it that helped you to sabotage the arcane either generators for his doomsday weapon!”

First of all, more than a part of me was really glad that Hispano was here. Second, I think she may have played her time reading comics off a bit lighter than she’d insinuated before. Still, thank Celestia that she was a bigger foal at heart than she liked to let on!

“It was… Doc Vile, of course.” Increadimare snarled, but dimmed her horn and body enough that the three of us could at least stop shielding ourselves from her radiance. “But both she and V13 had previously allied with the General, and only turned to us for help because…”

“Because destroying the city served no pony’s interests.” Hispano again spoke up over the large mare. “Now take a look at them again and tell me, if they are trying to save these two cities, that there isn’t something bigger going on here.”

“You… may be correct.” With a stiff few flaps from her enormous wings, Increadimare came back down to the ground. However, as her glow faded completely, she leveled her glare not at Buck or I, but solely on Hispano. “I will tolerate their presence only so long as they do not step one HOOFSTEP out of line. That is already far more lenient than I should be with the likes of those two. For despite whatever nefarious plans they may be scheming to hatch, I will be there to stop them every time. Because justice…!”

“Will always prevail! Yeah, I got it the first few thousand times in the comics.” Hispano groaned and flapped her wings. She gave a stiff wave for Buck and I to follow her as she hovered forward and past the obnoxious alicorn. “What we need you to do is to help us convince the mayors to break their contracts and stop the shelling once and for all.”

“That is… not possible.” Increadimare sighed. She lowered her head, and let her wings hang at her side as a dejected look crossed her face. “I have tried to convince them, but ever since the day of clearing months ago, they seem more resolute than ever to tear each other’s cities down.”

“Since the clouds came down?” I asked as the small pegasis in my own head kicked a question straight out of my muzzle. “Why? What about the clouds clearing made them feel like they needed to take up a more aggressive posture?”

Something about that didn’t sit right with me. While I knew I was still missing a lot here, I felt like I was missing something incredibly obvious. While I was glad this feeling in my gut gnawed at me, I couldn’t help but wish that I had a lil’ Delilah in my head to knock some observational sense into me sometimes.

“Who knows?” Hispano shrugged as she hovered and waved impatiently for us to follow. “But we’ll never find out if we don’t actually talk with the Mayor and Cordite. So quit burning daylight and come on!”

“Hah!” The large tan dragon spit out a gout of green flame as he laughed. It lit up the dark captain’s office of the old city police station, highlighting the stacks of old files and records strewn about the small square room. Mayor Sheriff may not have been as big as Lustre or Tephra, but he certainly wasn’t any less intimidating. “A ceasefire is one thing, but to surrender? To West City!? You must be joking!”

But unlike a few months ago, now, I knew how to handle talking to a dragon.

“It’s not surrendering, you’re both going back to not shooting at each other every day. That’s all.” I sighed and facehooved hard against my muzzle. Why couldn’t they understand that this was just a small step towards resolving their conflict?

“Sure, that’s how it starts.” The sheriff snorted and brought a large claw up to scratch at his wooden horns. “But after a while, we’ll get used to the quiet. We may even entertain the idea of rebuilding. And before you know it, that becomes the new normal.”

“And what’s so bad about…” I tried to speak, but watched as my words made his reptile like eyes narrow into angry burning slits.

“Because that’s when they’ll strike!” He roared out, slamming his clenched claw down onto his desk hard enough that it outright broke in half and collapsed onto the floor. “You’re asking us to sacrifice innocent lives to the West on some promise of peace they have no intention of keeping!”

“But you don’t know that!” Buck fired back, sharply jabbing his paw at the huffing dragon. “You can’t know that for sure!”

“Sure I can.” With a flick of his scaled claws, Sheriff easily brushed his desk aside and leaned forward. “Mayors of West City have come and gone, but I have always been the mayor of my city. And through every successive generation of Thunderbolt’s family, they have always sought to keep their abundant riches with their magical fabricator, and to take what little the East has for the West’s own gain.” The thick smoke trailing from the edges of his toothy maw poured out and over my hooves as he locked his eyes right on Buck’s. “The uneasy peace we had never changed that fact. The last few months are all the proof you need that Mayor Thunderbolt intends to take East City once and for all!”

“On that,” I stepped up, forcing the dragon to turn his head to me. “Why now? What changed the day that the clouds came down?”

“Why don’t you ask her? The mayor of West City?” He snorted and sat back with a smirk. “I’m sure Thunderbolt will tell you exactly what I’ve told you, and that is that she intends to take everything East City has for herself.”

“Something still doesn’t make sense.” Hispano chirped as she leaned against the doorway to the small office. “You two want to duke it out over each other’s pile of rubble, fine. But you’re a fool if you’re going all in without a way to win this war.” She pushed herself back onto her paws, narrowing her eyes as she studied the dragon’s face. “You’re far too confident in yourself to not have something planned, to have some advantage over West City.” That was a bold assumption to make, but I can’t deny that I was at least a little bit surprised when the dragon in front of me simply smiled at that. “So then, what is it?”

“You would like to know, wouldn’t you?” He chuckled, sending out puffs of smoke that slapped both Buck and I directly in the face. “So you could go running off to the Mayor of West City and tell her exactly how to defeat me? Ha! You will get no answer from me.”

“We aren’t choosing sides here!” I spat out without thinking.

“Yes, we are, Night.” Hispano growled and shot me a sideways glare as she turned herself toward Buck. “Mr. Sheriff, we have a wartime cloudship with a veritable arsenal of missiles onboard. What we are here to do is size up which City deserves to be the side that prevails.” What the fuck was she talking about!? This wasn’t at all what we came here to do! “So we simply need to know if you’re worth spending the resources on to secure your victory when the time comes.”

“Hispano!” Buck snapped at her. “Night, what is she doing!? Is this something she mentioned to you!?” His voice resonated right into my mind.

“No, but I think she has an idea.” I thought back at him. “We have to trust her on this, Buck. Let’s see where this goes.” Stiffening up, I tried my best to force an aggravated tone out from my muzzle. So it was down to even more acting, my favorite thing to do around entitled and stubborn leaders. Might as well make this believable. “What my Talon so bluntlyexplained is correct. We’re here to size you up, so I suggest that if you want our help, you tell us why exactly we should guarantee East City’s victory over the West.”

“I don’t like this, Night.” Buck’s sigh came through my mind, and I couldn’t help but sigh with him. “This is too risky. If he thinks we’ll back him with overwhelming force, he may attack West City outright rather than buy us time to do anything helpful.” He was right, so we had to play this carefully.

“Our advantage then…” The Mayor smirked and somewhat relaxed against the cluttered wall behind him. “A few months ago, the day after the clouds cleared, I received a generous offer from Doctor Chirality, which I accepted.” Reaching up, he gave a sharp flick at the wooden horns growing out of his head. “She donated hundreds of her limb replacements to the soldiers of East City, helping my wounded soldiers recover, and replenishing our numbers to the point that we must at least double the fighting size of West City’s forces by now.”

“But that’s what Thunderbolt said to Happy and I…” Hispano scrunched up her beak as she looked at me. “She’s playing both sides? Why?”

“Impossible.” Sheriff snarled and gave a dismissive wave of his claw at us. “Chirality has pledged to help only East City with her unique prosthetics. You should know, as your companion came through earlier to get one of his own from her. The first to receive one who wasn’t part of my guard ranks. I have no reason to question her loyalty, and I will not entertain the speculation that she is anything less than honorable in her intentions.”

“Obviously, this ‘Doctor Chirality’ has something to do with all of this.” Buck’s voice resonated through my head.

“True, but what does she have to gain from East and West city going to war?” I thought back. “Mayor Sheriff said she donated the limbs, so it can’t be for money. So why then?” Something in my gut said that even if it was about the money, there’s still something deeper she wanted by playing both sides. “I have an idea.”

“I would like to speak with this ‘doctor’, if you don’t mind.” I spoke up. My words forced Sheriff’s scaled muzzle to twist into a long frown, and I watched as he leveled a more than suspicious glare at me.

“No. The doctor is busy with her work.” He gave a stiffer dismissive wave at me, but I could tell I’d hit a nerve with that. Now I definitely needed to have a little chat with her. “She doesn’t need visitors distracting her from ensuring that my ponies will be strong enough to win the day in the coming battle.”

“If I may, how is that fair to us?” Buck surprised me by taking a step forward as he spoke. His mechanical paw rotated and extended out to my prosthetic leg expectantly. “You have seen how Night here has suffered from injuries similar to those your own soldiers have had. Surely you would not deny an ally the same treatment your own soldiers are receiving. Especially not to an ally who will undoubtedly and wholeheartedly endorse the fine city which provided it to him on our journey south.”

“Oh Buck, I could kiss you so hard right now!”

“I expect you to do much more than that to me later.” Buck thought back to me as an ever brightening blush grew across my face. Oh Celestia, I hadn’t meant to actually think that at him!

“Very well.” Mayor Sheriff snorted, sending a plume of smoke rolling across the old ceiling. “You must head East into the forest to find her, and follow the path laid out to the bamboo gardens. There you will find Monk. He will guide you to Chirality’s laboratory.”

“Alright, we’ll do that.” I nodded to him, pausing as he looked over my blushing muzzle for a moment. He cocked an eyebrow before glancing over at Buck, which was about when I realized he was blushing about as brightly as I was. “But uh…” I tried to force the awkwardness away with my words, because you know, that always worked. “first we’ll be stopping in to see Cordite.”

“Yes, I will need them to ready themselves for the opening salvo.” Mayor Sheriff nodded and pointed to the door. “That is, once your ship is prepared to join in on the attack. I would hope that wouldn’t take too long to get in order.”

“No, not at all.” I answered without thinking.

“A day.” Hispano squawked out loudly. “We wouldn’t want to leave anything to chance, so we will prepare multiple salvos for you. By this time tomorrow, we will be ready.”

“Excellent.” Sheriff brought his claws together as an all-too toothy smile spread across his muzzle. “Then tomorrow, we will bring Mayor Thunderbolt and West City to their very knees!”

“I don’t like this, Night.” Buck’s apprehension to this was undoubtedly shared with Hispano, and he’d get no argument from me on that either.

Walking through the tents that clustered around the heart of the ruins of East City, I could almost believe we hadn’t even left West City. Both sides seemed to be stuck right in the same conditions, with a few central buildings left standing, and all of the unfortunate citizens left to fend for themselves on the outskirts. Ponies with missing limbs, bandaged wounds, and emaciated bodies watched us as we walked, but kept their distance once they caught a glance at Buck. Even with his white cloak covering him, I’m sure they knew that berating us as we passed like the ponies in West City did, wouldn’t win them any favors.

“Well, we’ve got a day to work with.” I nodded to him, glancing over at Hispano. “So long as this doctor can give us some real answers, then maybe we can figure out just what’s really going on here.”

“You mean if she gives us any answers.” Hispano sighed as she hovered along ahead of Buck and I. “Look, I know this is going to sound crazy, but I think that both Mayors are working with the Doctor, but I still don’t know to what end.”

“Why do you say that?” I asked. While both of them were acting like stubborn asses, and both had obviously gotten help for their soldiers, nothing seemed to suggest that all three of them were working together.

“I… don’t know.” She shrugged as she shared an uncharacteristically concerned expression with both Buck and I. “I just feel like they’re the ones causing all of East and West city’s problems.”

“Well I’ll be!” Buck chuckled, reaching up under his hooded robe and rubbing at the metal yoke around his neck. “If it isn’t miss ‘you can’t go around helping everypony who asks’ finally wanting to do just that.”

“No, you misunder… ugh, it’s not like that!” Hispano blushed and quickly flipped herself over, giving Buck a different kind of bird to look at. “I just detest assholes who use mercenaries to do all the heavy lifting, as well as to indiscriminately kill.” At least she flashed up a smile as she rolled her eyes. “But I mean come on! You have to agree that something weird is going on here.”

“You’ll get no arguments from either Night or I!” Buck laughed again as he turned to me. “Right?”

“Yeah,” I nodded as my muzzle pulled in to a smirk. “Besides, Hispano, I’m sure that while whatever is going on here would have thrown itself in our face eventually, I would never have gone so far as accusing you of caring about helping others.”

“Oh fuck you!” She snorted as her smile widened and shared yet another bird with me this time. “I…”

KLANG!

The frantic shouting of panicking ghouls followed a horrendous metal ringing and screaming from ahead of us. The noise and activity ripped our attention from each other, and we all picked up the pace. Past the barricades that surrounded the Cordite camp, we stopped and watched as dozens of tankers rushed to the front of a central, massive self propelled artillery tank.

A crane looked to have been used to hoist up a cannon barrel that looked like it would have been more at home on a naval ship than a tank. However, whatever chains they’d used had broken, dropping the barrel back down onto the tank, and from the looks of it, right onto one of the crew ponies. The tanker ghouls crowding around the massive boxy green tank gave groans of frustration as it quickly became clear that the pony still trapped under it wasn’t going anywhere.

“Step back!” Buck called out to the ghouls as he all but charged ahead of us. With heavy stomps through the mudded ground, he approached as the crowd parted. Without an ounce of hesitation, Buck made his way to the front of the tank, and placed his paws underneath where the massive cannon sat across the hull.

“It’s useless! Full Bore is a goner.” One of the ghouls in the crowd called out to him with an accent not to far off from Captain Poppy’s. “The B13 weighs twelve tons, you couldn’t possibly...”

Buck gave out a roaring yell, cutting off the ghoul and amazingly, forcing the barrel up off of the hull. From here, I could hear as the mechanical parts in his paws and legs strained, and I couldn’t help but stand there and watch in silent awe. And from how everypony else stopped moving, neither could they.

“Fucking fine!” Hispano groaned as she swooped down towards the tank. “If nopony else is going to pull him out, I’ll do it myself!” She grunted as she landed on the boxy tank and quickly pulled the still screaming injured stallion out from under the end of the barrel. “Clear!”

Buck gave out another hefty roar as he let go of the barrel. Stepping aside just in the nick of time, he avoided the barrel as it dropped back onto the tank with another loud ringing klang. Then as if time itself had resumed from some sort of pause, the ghouls around us whipped into a frenzy. They tore the injured stallion from Hispano’s grip and rushed him over to one of the nearby tents.

Buck took a single step towards the tent before a bulky and fairly intact Cordite ghoul stepped in front of him and held out a hoof.

“I don’t know who you are, but that was bloody reckless, and just about the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen a stranger do!” He shouted with the same voice as the one who had declared his comrade a ‘goner’. He was an earth pony with a soft olive colored coat that nearly matched the old fatigues he wore, and a few strands left of what was once a crimson colored mane poked out from under his tankers helmet. “I for one don’t know why in tartarus you would do something so outright foalish!” With a heaving grunt, he stomped his hoof down into the mud. “But either way, I owe you a debt of gratitude for saving my driver’s life, so you have earned my respect.”

“He’s not out of the woods yet.” Buck grunted, taking a single step around the pony, but was stopped short as the ghoul again moved in front of him. “I’m a doctor, I can make sure he pulls through, but only if you allow me to.”

“With all due respect, I have no idea who the three of you are, or why you’re here.” The ghoul snorted and glanced to the three of us. “This camp is a restricted area, and East City civilians aren’t allowed in here.”

“Then tell me,” With a tug of his robes, Buck stripped and let the afternoon sun shine off his metal limbs. Leaning forward, he let out a low growl that forced the ghoul to take a step back. “Do we look like we’re from East City?”

“Wait, you…” He paused as a look of shock washed over him. His eyes hopped from Buck over to Hispano, and then to me. “You three are the chaps who helped out the Chief!”

“Good, you understand.” Buck snorted and reached out with his paws, easily gripping around the surprised ghoul. With a single swift motion, he picked the ghoul up, and then set him aside in front of me. “Then you’ll forgive me when I say you need to stay out of my way and let me save your crewpony.” With quick, heavy stomps, Buck headed off toward the tent that all of the other ghouls had crowded around.

“Don’t worry, Buck will take good care of your friend in there.” I spoke up as I approached the still somewhat bewildered ghoul. “My name is Night Flight, and I need to speak to whoever is in charge up here.”

“Charge? Why yes, that’s me!” The ghoul shook off his confusion as he spun around to me. With a stiff swing of his hoof, he raised it into a salute and locked his ruby red eyes on me with a smile. “Captain Bitter Charge, of her late Majesty's fourth Royal Armored Regiment!” With another stiff movement, he brought his hoof down and extended it to me excitedly. “We’ve only recently received word on your exploits in helping Cordite exterminate those Pentex hooligans up north. If only you’d gotten the ones who passed through here days ago. But alas, I suppose you’ll find time to get them yet! Captain Gardner speaks very highly of you and your crew, Miss Survivor.”

“Yeah, not as ‘once and for all’ as we’d hoped with Pentex, but it’s good to know that at least someone knows us down here!” Hispano snorted as she landed next to me and wrapped her wing around me to pull me close. “I was beginning to fear that we’d started to outrun our reputation!” Yes, because that certainly wouldn’t be a good thing right now, Hispano.

Honestly, I hope that there will come a day that we meet up with somepony who has no clue who any of us are, and doesn’t try to kill us because of what we’ve done...

“While I’m sure the other crews would love to get to know you better, I’m quite certain that you’ve arrived with more to do in mind than recount the battle of Bunker Valley!” Captain Charge let out a chuckle before reaching back and pulling out an old wooden box from his pocket. With a flick of his forehoof, he opened it and pulled out a pipe that wasn’t all that different from the one Poppy was always smoking. “The Chief has cleared all Cordite commanders to accommodate any request you may have, and I will gladly put her in touch with you if you so wish.”

“That would be great,” I offered him a somewhat nervous smile, “because what we’re going to ask of Cordite is going to stretch the generosity of the Chief’s offer.”

“That’s a hefty request indeed.” The Chief’s static filled voice sounded as hesitant as I’d expected for my request, but I was confident that she would honor it. “I’m sorry, but if they have a contract, I can’t break it. Only the Mayor can call it off.” Oh for the love of…

“You know,” Hisapno cooed as she ripped the radio hoofset from Captain Charge’s hooves. “that’s exactly what Queen Lustre of the Road Crew said. But you’re going to break that contract, Chief, and I’ll tell you why.” She paused as a collective gasp came from the tanker ghouls who’d gathered around the tent. “Your operation here isn’t hitting hardened targets, they’re shelling civilians. And while I can expect as much from the likes of the Road Crew, I didn’t think you’d stand for that, seeing as this sort of business is something I’d expect out of Pentex.”

Every pony around us, including Captain Charge, gave out another horrified gasp at that, followed by angry muttering. A long, static filled sigh came through the radio, and every Cordite member fell silent once more.

“Is this true, Captain Charge?” The Chief’s tone had shifted from hesitation, to full on frustration. “It is not the policy of Cordite to hit civilian targets, even at the request of the contract holder.”

“Uh…” Captain Charge quickly snatched the mike out of Hispano’s talons and offered a nervous smile as he spoke. “You see, Chief, the Mayor, well… he only sends grid coordinates to us without any sort of target data. We have no way to know what we’ve been firing at.”

“And I’m telling you, it’s ponies.” Hispano growled and glared at him. “You’ve seen what the Road Crew attacks have done, and we’re telling you that you’re doing the exact same thing to West City.”

“Give me to Night Flight.” The Chief’s voice came over the radio sharply, and I quickly found the mic shoved into my face. “Night, I’m going to trust your assessment of the situation, and I’m going to honor your request. As of now, the East City Cordite camp is to pull up stakes and return to headquarters.”

That’s great! If Cordite leaves, then the Road Crew won’t have any need to stay either! And with them gone, then maybe these two cities could finally find some peace! And all without having to go through some sort of song and dance that would’ve inevitably gotten ponies killed.

But… that’s not what Mayor Sheriff wants at all, was it?

“Actually, I need Cordite to stay for now, at least for the next twenty four hours.” I spoke into the hoofset. “Chief, there’s something bigger going on here that we’re trying to figure out, and having Cordite pull out of East City might jeopardize solving it.”

“Very well.” The Chief acknowledged with another, longer burst of static. “Captain Charge will coordinate with you on when to begin clearing out of East City, and anything else you may need. For now, I wish you luck in solving your mystery.”

“Thank you, Chief.” I replied with a smile, glancing over and visibly watching as the tension in Hispano’s body left with a soft sigh. “Night Flight, out.”

Alright, now that Cordite was onboard, it was time to get to the bottom of all this and find out exactly what this Doctor had to gain by playing both sides.

Author's Note

As always, a huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for all his help in making sure these chapters are given a good look over before they go up. I can't thank you enough for all your hard work, bud.

Of course, a big thanks to Kkat for creating FoE and letting us all use it. It's changed the last six years of my life, and will continue to change me as I continue to write, and I look forward to every moment of it.

And lastly, a thank you to Hasbro and DHX for giving us Friendship is Magic. The show has changed countless lives, inspired brilliant things, and generally made us all better people. Thank you for the journey, and I look forward to the next step of it.

Chapter 92 - Bizzaria

Anything labeled ‘This End Toward Enemy’ is dangerous at both ends.

Once we’d made our way to the snowy treeline behind Easy City, it didn’t take us all that long to find an old overgrown parking lot that was out of place. Twisting snow coated thorny vines covered in striking blue flowers constricted around the old vehicles still parked here. They layered over and nearly consumed the walls of a small shack that looked like it was once a restroom of some kind, while a larger pair of bright red plants sat sprouting through the shack’s roof. They slowly released some sort of yellowish gas and powder that I’m sure wasn’t anything healthy, but thankfully drifted with the wind away from us.

“I have heard of plants like these before, in the archives on the Inuvik, and through stories from travelers.” Buck said as he leaned down toward one of the overgrown motorwagons. As he did, Hispano and I watched as the small blue flowers turned towards him in unison, almost like they were reaching for him. “Don’t touch them. While they seem to have the appearance of poison joke, I assure you, it’s not.” As he spoke, I could almost hear Hispano gripping onto her sister tighter than before.

“Yeah well, I don’t need your help in knowing what killing joke looks like.” Hispano grumbled and gave a hefty flap of her wings. “Let’s just get out of here and go blow up this doctor. Maybe I’ll come back here later and burn this place to the ground for fun.”

“We’re not blowing her up.” I get why she could expect that the doctor was bad, but come on! “We still don’t know what’s going on here, and she might be just like the mayors in the sense that she could be some sort of pawn as well.”

“Night’s right.” Buck nodded and looked to Hispano with an unamused frown across his metal muzzle. “We’re going to observe and ask questions. If she turns out to be hostile, and only if she does, then you’ll have every right to blow her up.” Looking back over the vines around us however, he gave a shrug. “What I won’t argue with, is that someone needs to burn these vines. It’s a public health risk to just leave them here like this.”

“It keeps undesirables like you out.” The creaking deep voice of someone in the woods filtered out to us. “Speak, dog, or I will see to it that you and your companions become food to nourish the grove.”

I don’t know how, but I couldn’t tell where the voice was coming from in the shade the treeline provided. Hispano seemed to fare as well as I did, which was a surprise seeing as she has much better hearing than I do. However, Buck didn’t need to even guess. His perked mechanical ears had guided his gaze to stare down one of the darkest patches of the forest, and three pairs of softly glowing green eyes stared back.

“The mayor sent us to see the Doctor.” Buck’s muzzle curled into a snarl as he let out a low growl. “What the hell are you...”

“We are better than you.” The creature offered back it’s own snarl as it stepped closer through the shadows, but not far enough that even with my augmented eye I could see what it truly looked like. From what I could see, it’s form was like Buck’s, but bigger and bulkier than he was. The three sets of eyes moved independently from each other, each one looking at one of us and narrowing with three different tones of growls. “I am Monk, and you are not welcome here dog. You will not take my territory from me or my family.”

“We are interested in no such thing.” Buck stated flatly, reaching up and gripping around his robes tightly. “If you will not lead us to the doctor, then we will find our own way to her. But we will speak with her.”

“This is my forest. My home. Even the cursed flower you wish to burn is mine to protect.” The creature offered out a barking laugh as it again stepped forward. “And Doctor Chirality is my friend, so you will not ‘blow her up’ as you so clearly threatened.” A set of wooden claws dripping with sap gripped around the tree next to ‘Monk’ and dragged down them, cutting deep gashes through the bark as he stepped out of the shadows.

It was clear to me that at some point, Monk had been a hellhound like Buck. But now, he hardly resembled it. Towering twice as tall as Buck, he lacked fur, or normal skin at all. Thick twigs, logs, and strips of bark made up his bulky body, oozing the same pitch yellow sap that came from his claws and all three of his heads. Buck may have at one point thought he was a monster, but this… thing, was every bit just that.

“Those mutations… w-what are you!?” Buck barked, letting out another growl as he surprisingly took a substantial step back. “Are you a timberwolf, or a hellhound!?” At his words, the two heads on either side of Monk’s body turned their attentions from Hispano and I to snarl right at Buck.

“I am alive.” The center head’s wooden muzzle twisted into a splintered smile. “Past that, it is of no concern to you, machine. Leave my forest, I will not tell you again.”

“No.” Hispano spoke as she landed and leveled Suiza at the wooden monstrosity. “Mayor Sheriff sent my friend here to be healed by your doctor, and we aren’t going anywhere until she helps him.”

That pulled a creaking chuckle from the center head, while the two at his sides looked at each other with confusion.

“You misunderstand, I will take you and the pony to see the Doctor.” Monk growled as he leveled his gaze at me. With a clacking snap, his wooden arm raised and pointed a dripping claw right at Buck. “However, this dog stays outof my forest. We will not tolerate an intruder in our territory.”

“We? There are more of you then?” Buck asked as he looked like he was struggling to keep from snarling. His stiff stance and quick pants made me wonder just what was driving him so far up the wall right now, but he was strong enough to fight whatever urges he was having.

“Outside of my mates, I am alone.” He snarled, looking over at each of the heads on his shoulders. “But if you will not leave, then my wives will be more than capable enough to keep you company while I take the others to see the Doctor.”

At that, a green glow enveloped Monk. The heads on each of his shoulders split off from him, as did hundreds of smaller twigs and logs. The collections of greenery reformed at his sides into two snarling timberwolves that Monk’s now nearly skeletal body leaned down to in order to softly pat them on their heads.

Okay, I’ve seen some weird shit in the wastelands, but this was pushing it.

“You disgust me.” Buck’s low tone came with a deep, static filled growl that I’d never even heard from him before today. “Whatever you’ve become, you were like me once, but they are animals! Surely you can see how wrong...”

“They are more like me than you could ever comprehend!” Monk roared, easily beating Buck’s volume and scattering a flock of birds from the forest. Stiffened up, standing to his full height again, Monk heaved and tensed like Buck had been, locking his burning glowing eyes on Buck’s now glowing red augmented eye. “Now leave this place, or we will use your corpse to feed my future pack.”

Each of his ‘mates’ devolved into clacking sharp barks that flung their sappy slobber onto nearby plants and trees. Smoke sizzled as the sap burned and melted through them, and the stench of rot filled the air thick enough that almost immediately Hispano and I gagged.

“Buck,” I forced through my mind as I raised a forehoof and pinched my nose shut as tightly as possible. “It’s fine, we won’t take long.”

“No, Night, you can’t go with this monster!” Even in my head, Buck’s growls came through crystal clear, mirroring the exact growls he aimed at Monk.

“And if we don’t go, then what happens to the town?” I thought to him. As I’d hoped, that quelled Buck’s growls slightly, and his glowing eye reverted back to it’s soft blue color. “We will be fine. If the Doctor causes any trouble, Hispano and I will fight our way out immediately.”

“Fine!” Buck barked and gave out a hard stomp at the snow covered parking lot concrete. The concrete cracked, somewhat dampening the whine his mechanical leg gave out with the strike. “But mark my words, monster, no harm shall come to them.”

“I take no orders from you, dog.” Monk snarled, once more showing off a muzzle full of sappy sharp splinters of wood.

“If you value your forest, you will.” Buck raised a metal paw up and pointed back towards the city. “If I find that you have somehow harmed my family, then I will order our ship to vaporize every last leaf, twig, and blade of grass in your forest. Do you understand me?”

“Very well.” Monk snorted before giving a clacking snap of his wooden paws. As soon as he had, his ‘mates’ fell completely silent, standing at attention with their glowing glares locked on Buck. “Now then, you two,” His voice lost a bit of it’s hostility as he turned his gaze to Hispano and I, “Follow me, and do not deviate from the path. The bamboo here grows thick, and fast, and I will not seek you out should you get lost or trapped.”

“Fair enough.” Hispano cooed as she gave a nervous flap of her wings and used a talon to straighten up the flight cap on her head. “Come on, Night. Let’s make this quick.”

The ‘forest’ became less and less of what I traditionally would define as one as we were lead on. The plants and trees gave way to thicker and thicker clusters of ‘bamboo’, a type of tree that didn’t seem to have many leaves, but grew upward in sections to incredible heights. Thousands of small sprouts dotted the softer and surprisingly moist ground, only getting thicker the deeper we headed into the odd forest.

The small concrete bunker we were lead to was no more than a rusted service elevator behind an old blast door. The heavily corroded elevator interior was damp, and had moss growing over most of the walls, and even over the control panel. It was barely big enough for the three of us to fit on, and despite the groans of protest the cable gave out when we stepped inside, the second Monk hit the button to go down, the controls responded and we descended.

The ride downward came with some interesting observations. With each moment that passed, the air grew thicker and warmer, to the point that by the time the elevator came to a stop again, I could feel the condensation already gathering on my feathers. I held my breath as the doors rolled back, and a wave of moist, hot air rushed over us.

I’d expected something close to the degraded ruins of the other facility to meet my eyes, with crumbling and cracked concrete walls, and dim lighting that clung to corroded wires. However, what I found in the hallway ahead was that vegetation had reclaimed almost every surface outside of the brightly shining lights above us. Lush swaths of broad leafed plants, thick vines, and vibrant flowers sat thick enough that I couldn’t even see the other end of the hallway from here.

“Come.” Monk snorted as he pushed past Hispano and I, stepping out into the forested hallway without hesitation. “Nothing here will harm you outright, but I suggest you do not fly. The plants get temperamental if you block their light.”

“Whatever.” Hispano rolled her eyes as she slung her sister around herself and gave me an annoyed glance. “Let’s just make this quick.” Stepping out, she pushed her way through the vegetation, trampling dozens of different plants and colored flowers as she did. Within the span of a few seconds, she was deep enough into the hallway that I couldn’t see her at all anymore.

Stepping out hesitantly, I couldn’t help but feel something was off about this place. Moving to catch up with Hispano, I pushed through the thick vegetation, brushing aside plants that felt almost as if they were pushing back against me. I couldn’t exactly say why, or if it was something in the air itself, but all I knew was that the very fiber of my being didn’t want to be down here for longer than I had to be.

I did my best to follow the noise of rustling plants ahead of me. It wasn’t until I’d come up on the fourth junction that I’d been forced to stop and listen. The hum of the lights, the low level frequency from whatever powered the bunker, all mixed with the thick, hot air and made it incredibly hard to concentrate.

“FUCK!” Hispano screamed from down the hallway to my right. “No no no!”

Shit!

“Hispano!” Spinning and pushing myself off, I all but leapt through the foliage. “Hold on!” I called out as I fought my way towards her. Oh what I wouldn’t have given right now to have Buck’s old claws to mow through this shit with! I…

Hispano gave a squeak as I pushed through a few broad leaves and slammed right into her. She and I tumbled down to the flowers and vines coating the floor, but we were both no worse for wear. Looking over her, she seemed fine, but I could tell she’d been shaken by something here.

“Are you alright?” I finally managed to get out as we both picked ourselves up.

“Yeah, just… took a step in there and nearly got myself killed is all.” She nodded and pointed to an open doorway next to us. Inside the dark overgrown room, I had to blink a few times as I took in the glowing floor. The entire room held thousands of the blue flowers we’d seen outside. “More killing joke.” She let out a particularly rough growl as she grabbed Suiza off her back. “So much for non-lethal down here. I knew they were lying.”

“Not killing joke, or you would be dead right now.” Monk growled as he pushed his way back towards us, “That is poison joke. It may be annoying, but it is unfortunately non-lethal.”

“Now I know you’re full of shit.” Hispano smirked as she leveled her sister at the wooden hellhound. “Poison joke doesn’t exist anymore.”

“That’s not quite true, you know.” The voice of a mare came from behind Monk, making his wooden ears perk before he flattened them against his head. “It didn’t exist, at least, not until I engineered it back to how it should be. Before my work, poison joke was relegated to only exist in the history books. And now as you can see, it flourishes thanks to the insights that Deru has provided me.”

“Chirality, I…” Monk let out an uncharacteristically meek whine from his wooden muzzle. “I was bringing these outsiders to you. They say that the mayor sent them.” He turned himself side on to the wall and pressed himself back against it. As he did, the rest of the plants around him seemed to bow out on their own, forming a tunnel that a ghoul unlike I’d ever seen stepped through.

Her lemon yellow coat was saggy, but glistened with the moisture from the air down here. It was accented by what looked like mossy green scales that sat across her back and in a band that ran up her spine, under her moss colored mane, and down the top of her muzzle. She was just like Mayor Thunderbolt in the sense that each of her legs had been replaced with the same wooden prosthetics. However hers were a deep red color, with thin flaking strips of bark with the consistency of paper. She was a unicorn of sorts, sprouting a thick horn from her head, but it was the same deep red as her legs, and had the consistency of polished wood. It even held a branch to it, with one of it’s forked endings holding a small rotten piece of fruit on it.

“Wait, that horn… you’re a kirin, aren’t you?” Hispano got out as she took a single step back. “I thought they were only a myth.” Her words pulled a surprised look from the ghoul’s sharp red colored eyes.

“Oh, it looks like our guests are well educated.” The mare offered a laugh as she looked over Hispano. “How rare to find anyone who still remembers the kirin as they were, but they were indeed no myth.” With a smile, she waved for us to follow her. “Come! I will take you back to the laboratory where I can help you and your friend get back onto four real hooves.”

I stepped forward, but paused as Hispano reached out and pressed her talon against my chest.

“Be careful, Night. Kirin are legendary for being ill-tempered.” She kept her voice to a whisper, but even so, it pulled a growl from Monk, who was still stiff as a board against the wall. “I suggest we try not to piss her off.”

“Got you.” I nodded and took a deep breath. Going to be honest here, but I didn’t even know what a kirin was, let alone that they existed at all. So for now, I’m pretty sure I could default to whatever knowledge Hispano had on the matter. Even so, ‘don’t piss someone off’ was always generally good advice that I had always had a particularly hard time following...

The two of us moved to catch up with the odd ‘doctor’, following her through the tunnel she seemed to make through the halls. Creepily enough, with each step Hispano and I took to follow, the tunnel behind us bent back into the bizarrely thick foliage that it normally was. It kept HIspano and I moving, like we were being pushed to continue onward, not that you’d have gotten any argument for us!

“So, Doctor,” I managed to push out of my muzzle, “How long have you been down here?”

“Far too long, I can assure you.” She laughed as she pushed forward, forcing a set of thick looking wooden tree trunks to bend out of the way like it was nothing. “But I shall return to the daylight once more soon enough.” Stepping past the trunks, she trotted out into an expansive and bright room that was far less confining than these hallways.

Hispano and I stepped out as well, finding ourselves in a large room maybe twice the size of the weapons bay of the Arcturus. Banks of terminals lined the wall to our left, giving readouts and monitoring various things. The wall to our right was a dark pane of cracked glass, on the other side of which sat a dark forest of nothing but the same bamboo trees from above.

On the far wall to us, dozens of small samples and testing equipment sat on sterile, clean tables, with one table towards the center being completely empty and clean. The samples themselves consisted of quite a few different plants. Each of the samples were labeled and had charts sitting next to them, some of which caught my eye.

Displayed were a collection of samples for Poison Joke, Killing Joke, something called ‘Cruel Joke’, ‘Conditional Joke’, and even one labeled ‘Lively Ivy’. Knowing what Killing Joke did, and even that Poison Joke supposedly wasn’t lethal, I didn’t even want to know what the other strains could do.

One table out of the lot, seemed to be of the same odd ‘bamboo’ tree we’d passed on the way in. However, some of the samples had grown out of control, with one in particular standing out above all the rest. The odd plant had sprouted countless thin trunks, and had grown upwards hard enough that it punctured right through the concrete roof above. It’s root system had overgrown the entire part of the table the sample was on, and had stretched down to the floor and likewise burrowed through the floor.

Ever since I’d come down from the clouds, I’d learned that plants were far more resilient than I’d ever given them credit for. But this? This was almost scary with how resilient this tree could be.

“Well, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but the surface is about to be pretty inhospitable. Why all the work down here?” Hispano snorted and stepped over towards the ‘doctor’, pausing as she spotted something on the wall next to the dark glass. The two of us walked over, finding the yellowed and surprisingly untouched frames of a few documents. “Doctor Citrus Bizzaria… you have a PHD in arcane phytology?”

“Yes, I was Citrus, but you may call me Doc Chirality.” She laughed as she trotted across the room toward the terminal banks. “And that was the second PHD I’d earned. My first was in Biology with a minor in botany, focused on plant genetics of course.”

With a few taps of her wooden hooves across the keyboard, a mechanical arm lowered down from the ceiling, er, what was left of one. It had been a robust metal arm, crude compared to what I’d seen in the factory, but ending in an articulating drill that had some sort of metal cylinder piped into its base. However, thick wooden vines had grown through where all of the hydraulics once sat, and those now controlled it’s movement. Vines that leaked the same sappy substance from Monk replaced the piping for the drill cylinder, and as it lowered, it began to ooze out over the tip.

“Alright, if your friend would kindly hop up onto the table in the center here.” Doc Chirality pointed back to the clean table I’d seen earlier with a nervous smile.

“Just one moment.” Hispano spoke up, taking a step forward. “Before we do anything, I’d like to know what you’re getting out of all this work.”

“I beg your pardon?” The Doc paused and blinked at Hispano sharply.

“No one does anything for free.” Hispano smirked as she stood on her hind paws and crossed her talons. “So, what are you going to charge us for this?”

“Nothing. I haven’t charged anypony who’s come to ask for our help.” She smirked and nodded over towards one of the sample tables. “As you can see, our goal has simply been to try to restore the growth cycle of the planet’s forests after the megaspell apocalypse so nearly wiped them off the planet. And in doing so, we have found that one of the best ways to keep others from repeating that mistake is to help them understand that a vibrant and verdant forest would be in their best interest.”

“So you simply want to help ponies?” I asked. While I’d been naive in the past, I couldn’t buy into what she was saying at all. “Well, we’ve spoken with both mayors and we already know you’re playing both sides up to the point where they’re about to go to war. Why would you feel you need to make a deal with them when you know they’re currently gearing up to try to wipe each other out?”

“Sit down on the table and we’ll explain everything while we fix your leg.” She offered me a smile as she turned and trotted towards the empty center table, giving it a firm tap of her hoof for me to climb up.

“No, explanations first, then you can help me.” I smiled back at her, watching as my words pulled an unexpected stiffness across her body. She had to be hiding something, and now that she couldn’t run from it, we’d have it out of her any moment…

“Hahah!” She burst into laughter, nearly doubling over onto the table as she did. “What? Do you think I’m masterminding something down here? I’m a botanist, I’ve simply been doing my research like Zeb-tec told me to two centuries ago. They sent me to see what he had to offer us for the war, but instead I found that Deru could save us all. Don’t you see? I don’t care what those on the surface do with the help we give them!”

“Why? And who’s this ‘Deru’ you keep bringing up?” Hispano grunted, stepping up beside me. “I thought you said you wanted peace, for ponies not to kill each other.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that, they can’t kill each other anymore, at least not completely! Prince Deru won’t let them die.” She rolled her eyes as her horn flashed with magic. She entered some sort of command on the terminal behind her and the mechanical arm on the ceiling turned towards me. “Don’t worry so much! Once you two have his sap flowing throughout you, you’ll understand everything.”

“Woah there!” Hispano scrambled to get Suiza in her talons, but tripped as a set of vines crawled up around her paws from the floor. “What the fuck!” Before she could do anything, the vines had grabbed her and hoisted her into the air upside down. “Night! Do something!”

Fire!

The submachinegun on my saddle let out a withering gout of fire at a rate much higher than I’d expected! The tremendous stream of fire was fairly inaccurate, and tore through the room. The Doc’s samples all but exploded from the rain of bullets, and parts of the wooden mechanical arm splintered away. Half of the good Doctor’s head was even blasted clean off, leaving her to gasp as she collapsed to the floor. And within two seconds flat, the counter in my augmented vision counted down from twenty four, to zero rounds left.

For a moment, all was quiet again. Looking over to Hispano, she nodded to me before reaching up and grabbing at the vines tightly wrapped around herself. She growled as she dug her claws into the vines, and without much of a fight, she got them to let her go. The vines themselves snaked back into the vegetation, allowing her to get back on her paws.

“Hey, Night?” She asked as she reached down to the vine covered floor and gripped Suiza. “Do you think there’s always some crazy ghoul in places like this?” She grunted as she yanked at Suiza, but couldn’t manage to easily get her sister’s barrel out from between a few of the vines. “Cause in the future, I say we just blast places like this to bits before anything.” With a few more frustrated tugs, she heaved out angrily as her sister still refused to budge. “Stupid fucking plants, let go of my sister!”

I was about to move to help her when the whole room shook violently. Both Hispano and I were thrown to the floor as we were showered with dust and small bits of concrete from above. It was less like an explosion, and more like the ground around us had started moving, sending spidering cracks through the walls and ceiling. But after a moment, the shaking stopped, and both Hispano and I moved to get back up. When I did, I looked up just in time to see the half-smile Doctor Chirality wore across her half-head.

“It’s finally time. He rises.” Was all she said as she raised a single hoof to me. Underneath me, snaking vines shot up and wrapped around my barrel tight enough that it forced the air from my lungs. My harness creaked as it was squeezed, my wings protested as they were bound to my back, and I did my best not to panic as I was lifted right up off the ground.

“Night!” Hispano let out a gasping whine from beside me.

Looking over at her, she had fared just about as well as I had. Vines had her tightly bound and lifted into the air. However, before they struck, she seemed to have managed to actually get Suiza free from the floor, but now her sister was pinned against her under the vines. Her eyes betrayed the look of fear that I shared, but even so, I could see her normal determination behind that look.

“Fight all you want, it is no matter.” The Doctor laughed as she stepped forward with a single glowing yellow eye in her head. Turning the blasted half of her head to me, I gasped at the sight of the charred and smoldering wood that filled the inside of her skull. “Prince Deru has awoken, and soon, he will save the world.” Lines of yellow magic trickled down her wooden limbs, ebbing softly as she breathed.

“What… are you?” I managed to force out as I struggled to breathe. Okay, so this wasn’t good, obviously, but I needed to buy us time to get help. “Buck, Eliza, anyone, Hispano and I are in trouble down here!” I thought out as the Doctor answered my question with words that didn’t matter to me. “Come on, someone respond!”

“What do you mean... “ Hispano groaned as she twisted and fought against her bindings. “Save the world? From what?” As she spoke, she glanced over at me with a note of hope. A hope that I’m sure was supposed to be brought by the fact that I could tell someone we were down here.

Unfortunately for us, the concrete here was thick enough that I don’t think that help was coming…

“Why, from itself, of course!” The Doctor laughed softly as she spun on her hooves and walked back towards the sample tables. “The world is sick. It’s forests lay barren and rotting, all thanks to the efforts of selfish ponies and zebras who have forgotten their place in nature. Prince Deru is here to remind us of our place, and to help us accept it with open hooves! All you need is his sap flowing through you to understand...”

“I’d rather die, thanks.” Hispano snorted as she stopped struggling in order to focus on trying to aim Suiza through the vines. However much she tried, the best she could do was to shift Suiza enough that rather than shooting the floor, she’d instead have shot me.

“But you don’t have to die if you submit to him! That’s Prince Deru’s gift to ponykind!” The Doctor spat out through yet another sharp laugh. “Imagine the possibilities! A completely renewable body, with all the space for a mind to learn infinitely! Always learning, always growing, never at risk of death due to simple things. So long as one spriggan, one sapling, one leaf remains, a new you would regrow from it. This is the future of the Equestrian race, the rest of the world even! And thanks to the genetic alterations I’ve grafted onto him, Prince Deru will be the one to lead us all into it!”

“So none of... us get a choice?” I again struggled to get the words out as the vines seemed to tighten around me. The shifted against my skin, and I could feel a new set growing down towards my braced foreleg. I winced as I could feel the vines work their way under the brace, and after a moment, they squirmed and wriggled hard enough to push the brace down and off of my leg altogether.

The ground shook violently again. The vines propping me up moved and shifted with it, not letting me feel one ounce of the shaking past the air itself. The good Doctor was nearly thrown from her hooves, but steadied herself with an unnatural sense of balance. More cracks filled the walls, and an entire chunk of the ceiling came down next to me, leaving a mass of damp wood and roots pressing down from above the room.

“Of course you get a choice!” The Doctor spoke up as she ran her hoof over one the surfaces of the sample tables. With a swift pluck, she grabbed one of the thorny vined variants of killing joke and spun around to me. “The choice is to either submit to Prince Deru, or die and nourish the coming global forest.” With another smile and a cant of her head, she looked down at the thorny vine in her cloven hoof. The vine itself seemed to liven up at her gaze, stretching out at her face like it wanted to latch on and never let go. It pulled a sadistic chuckle from her as she brought it close to her muzzle. “Cruel Joke was one of my favorite creations you know. So eager to feed off others misery, so creative with the agony it can rip from it’s victims.”

“Spare us the…” That was as far as Hispano made it before the vines around her tightened again and the air was forced from her lungs.

“Let her go!” I whimpered and whined. I didn’t know what else to do at the moment, but we were running out of options. “I’ll stay and do whatever you want, just please, let her go.”

At that, the doctor smiled brightly, and the charred wood inside her head flared like charcoal on a fire.

“No, I don’t think I will.” She spoke as she walked back across the room with the Cruel Joke sample in hoof. “Prince Deru wishes to save the world, and every race that lives on it. This griffon will be his ambassador to the rest of her people, she should feel honored.”

I wanted to hear a snarky response from Hispano. I really could have used any sort of backhoofed comment, or bad joke. But when I looked over, I couldn’t do anything but whimper as she struggled to even breathe. She was running out of time.

“She won’t be... able to do anything... if she can’t breathe!” I forced out, struggling against my own bindings. Okay, what are my options? Could I use a grenade? Not without blowing myself and Hispano to bits. What about my new gun? Glancing down in my vision, the stark zero out of twenty five shots remaining told me that my salvation must lie somewhere else. Wait! I still had my emergency eye weapon! Yes, that had to be...

Hispano’ gave a deep gasp as the vines loosened around her, and her relieved voice ripped my mind from its momentary panic.

“Perhaps… if you were to accept Deru’s gift willingly, I would consider sparing her.” The Doctor glanced over at me with her sinister smile. “Here, I’ll make it even easier for you to choose. Soon, you’ll be begging for his sap…”

I winced as again my attention was immediately stolen back. The Doctor lifted her hoof up and brought the sample of Cruel joke to my foreleg. It felt like a snake as the green thorny vine slithered and curled up just past my hoof, wrapping itself tightly around my fetlock. My heart started to race as it constricted, and in a single instant, every single one of its thorns pressed down and were driven through my skin.

There was a sharp cracking, like that from a fire that filled the air from within my leg. I blinked as my augmented vision fuzzed and the side of my head grew warmer. Warnings flashed up about my painkiller talisman and the temperature of my augment. Then with a flash, it all went away.

A scream ripped through me as I could feel everything again. Pain like I’d never experienced consumed my foreleg as the crackling noise continued. Arching and fighting hard against the vines that bound me, I cried out as it felt like something was eating its way through my leg from the inside. The doctor said something, and Hispano was screaming at her, but I couldn’t hear anything over the crackling. I couldn’t focus on anything but the agony as I did my best to try to pull away from my own bound leg.

I don’t know why, but I couldn’t fight the urge to look at it. Through the tears streaming down my face, I glanced at my leg as it started to shift and move, like something was crawling just under my skin. The pain got worse, and I couldn’t even see as everything went white for goddesses know how long. But the pain continued, and I thrashed against the vines until I lost the strength and will to fight at all.

Heaving and crying like a foal, I torqued and twisted against the vines. Eventually, the pain started to subside, and my vision returned. Glancing down at my foreleg, I was sickened as the movement under my skin became more pronounced until small slices sprung up all across my leg. Blood quickly trickled up, followed by small white objects that wormed their way out. They rode the small rivulets of blood across my skin, and dropped onto the floor.

As soon as they had, the vines let go of my leg, and it flopped down like it was made of wet paper. With each painful torque of my body, it simply hung limply, bleeding down across the vines that were slowly growing up through the cracks in the floor.

“What the fuck did you do to him!” Hispano’s screams were the first thing I could hear again as sound returned, but it was getting hard to focus on anything past the throbbing pain in my leg, and the thundering of my racing heartbeat.

“I’ve simply shown him what happens when you refuse Prince Deru’s gift.” The Doctor’s voice warbled for a moment as everything around me started to dim. “And should he continue to refuse, then I still have two other legs to remove the bones from…”

No. I couldn’t do that again, I wouldn’t! I didn’t want to have to use a grenade, I wanted to save Hispano and I. But now, it looked like I didn’t have any other choice.

“Fuck you!” Hispano shouted.

A resounding blast filled the air, and my vision went white again as pain consumed my mind. However, as the sounds of the world resolved into a single sharp ringing note, and my scream fell upon my own deaf ears, I could see something in the white ahead of me. It was her, the other me, standing and smiling. Reveling in the misery and agony I felt.

“Stay with me, Night…” Hispano’s far off voice pushed through the blinding white in my vision. “I… didn’t mean to… but you’ll be alright, right? You have to be…” With every word she spoke, I could feel the pain drift slightly further away.

Cold swept across my body, and I started to shiver, which only made the pain worse. I tried to cry out, to scream again, but I could barely manage a whimper. As the blinding light in my vision started to die, so did the pain.

“Alright, hold on…” The gravelly voice of another pony hit my ears. There was a high pitched sound of something compressed that stung at my lungs. “The effects should only take a moment to kick in.”

“G-good.” Hispano’s nerve wracked voice met my ears, and with it, came an astonishing feeling of calm in my mind. If she was still here, than that was all that mattered. “I know we just kicked him off his drug addiction, but hopefully he’ll understand…”

Drugs?

My heart jumped in my chest, and my back arched. My lungs forced my muzzle open wide, and I took in the biggest lung full of air I think I’ve ever had. My eye shot open, revealing an olive drab tent above me, along with Hispano, and one of the Cordite ghouls. I couldn’t fight back as the sudden urge to stand up hit me hard. Flailing my legs, I pushed myself up from the cot I’d been on and immediately bowled into the ghoul next to me.

“Easy there, give yourself a moment to adjust.” The ghoul gave a wheezing laugh as a sharp spike of pain ran up my foreleg. “Ultra Dash hits us ghouls pretty hard, so I can’t even imagine how it’s affecting you.” Looking down at it, my heart nearly stopped again as it ended in a stump wrapped in a blood soaked bandage.

For Celestia’s sake, are you fucking kidding me!?

“I’m so sorry, Night, I tried to aim for that stupid doctor.” Hispano squawked as she reached out and put her talon on me. “But the recoil from the second shot, it tore Suiza free from the vines, and I over corrected…”

“He’s lucky. Another few degrees over when you fired, and he’d be missing his torso.” The ghoul snorted, forcing the smile on his muzzle to linger a bit. “But I stopped the bleeding, which should be enough to keep you alive in the short term.”

For just a moment, a slight shift of movement behind him caught my eye. My own eye and smile leaned out from around him, and I deadpanned at the other me. No, this was not your doing, Curse. As much as you want to take credit, if Hispano hadn’t acted, I’m sure we would have never made it out of there alive.

She gave a shrug, and like that, the other me was gone again.

The whole ground shook under us, and I was forced to again brace against the ghoul. The sound of a large blast outside came through with a heavy gust of wind. Along with it, came a deep roar the vibrated the ground and air itself.

“What the fuck is going on?” Looking over at Hispano, I was almost afraid to hear the answer of how I got here, let alone whatever that sound was.

“It’s ‘Prince Deru’, he’s some sort of massive timberwolf, and like the doctor said, he’s woken up.” She nodded to the flap of the tent as the sound of dozens of Cordite ponies running by filtered in. “I can fill you in, but it’s best if you see for yourself.”

Pushing myself off of the ghoul, I forced myself to hobble over to the flaps. Each tweak of my freshly missing leg sent up a spike of pain that threw off my balance. But, it was only a few hops to the flap, and I bit down on the old fabric with my muzzle for a bit of extra stability. Looking out into the late afternoon sky however, I wasn’t expecting to see anything like what stood before us in the distance.

Towering over the town was what looked like a timberwolf, but made out of the same bamboo trees that had been around the bunker. It had to be damn near fifteen meters tall, and it’s glowing yellow eyes burned as they swept across the town. With a bristle of it’s back, it gave a hard shake that tore mounds of dirt from within its body, sending up a cloud of dust under it that rolled over East City and towards us.

“What are we going to do, Night?” Hispano asked.

“What happened to the doctor?” I asked without really thinking. If she helped to heal this, this... thing, then maybe should help us destroy it.

“Dead.” Hispano cringed and gave me a regret filled glance. “Seems that Suiza proved she wasn’t nearly as immortal as she thought she was.”

“Great.” I grunted and turned to the ghoul who’d helped me just in time for him to shakily put on a pair of old, round brass framed glasses. “Do you think Cordite can stop that thing?”

“I d-don’t know.” He took a step back. “I’m… just the field medic.”

“Find Bitter Charge and tell him to start shelling!” I snapped at him, getting a nod before he broke straight into a gallop out through the tent flaps. Turning to Hispano, I took a quick few breaths as my heart decided it wanted to start trying to break out through my ribcage. “We need to get back to the Arcturus and get as many missiles as we can to use against that thing.”

“Can’t you just call them!?” Hispano flailed as she took a step out from the medical tent.

“I can’t, my whole headpiece isn’t working!” Okay no need to panic, Night. You just need to think. First, you need help, both medical and to fight, and that starts with finding Buck and getting him in contact with the Arcturus. “Where’s Buck?”

“I don’t know.” Hispano shook her head. “When Prince Deru got up, the whole damn facility started to come down around us. I pulled you out of there and came straight here.”

“Well we need to do something to at least slow that giant wolf down!” I snapped at her.

“What do you want me to do, Night!?” She snapped back. “I don’t have some fucking hero complex, so I’m not going to go running off and leave you here like this! That thing is going to need a lot of firepower to bring down.”

A hero complex, that’s it!

“Yes, you do need to go!” I spat out as my muzzle pulled into a smile. “Find Increadimare, get her to keep that thing busy for now!” That pulled a reluctant nod from her, but she seemed to agree. She opened her beak to speak, but I cut her off. “I’m going to find the radio tent. I need to at least try to get in contact with the ship.”

With another sharp nod, Hispano flared out her wings and leapt into the air. She shot off like a rocket as another deep roar came from the massive timberwolf in the hills. Okay, here’s hoping that between Increadimare and Cordite, we could kill this fucking thing.

Hobbling myself to turn back towards the other half of the Cordite camp, I paused as gunfire erupted from East City. Chattering bursts of fire rang through the air, as well as screams. My eyes were pulled upward as a dark shape shot up into the sky. Mayor Sheriff flared his wings and rolled over, diving down towards the city. With a bright green flare, a line of flame blasted through the shanty shacks around the center of town.

Wait, why was he attacking his own city!?

As he rose into the air, he flipped himself over again, pausing at the apex of his climb. As he hung there, his eyes and horns burned with the same yellow glow as Prince Deru’s. They were just like Doctor…

The prosthetics! They were the key! The Doc even said that once I had Deru’s sap, I would understand. This monster was somehow controlling the minds of anyone with those fucking wooden prosthetics!

Which also meant…

Gasping, I forced myself into a painful hobbling psudo-canter straight for the radio room. What I found was that I could get into a pretty good gait that only made me want to scream with every step, but I couldn’t do anything but smile. Damn, whatever was in that drug the medic gave me, it had one hell of an upside. I felt like I was unstoppable, like maybe I shouldn’t bother with the radio and just head straight for that giant wolf so I could teach it a thing or two!

As I passed them, the Cordite artillery battery fired in near unison. The collective successive shots sent a wave of pressure over the tents in camp, and nearly blasted me off my hooves! Thankfully, it also knocked some sense back into my head. What was I thinking? I can’t do this alone, and my friends are in danger.

The safety of everyone on the Arcturus was the only thing that mattered right now!

My body screamed at me as I pushed myself to hobble faster. Sharp whines escaped my muzzle as blood dripped from my bandaged stump down into the mud and snow. But I've been through this before, hobbling was nothing I couldn’t do, and the pain, while intense, was something I had the drugs pumping through my body to help with.

Just as I made it to the radio tent, sporadic bursts of gunfire came from the edges of the Cordite camp. Those who weren’t already helping to load up the tanks, grabbed their guns and charged off towards the gunshots. One thing at a time, Night! I wanted to help, but first I needed to get in contact with the Arcturus.

Pushing my way past the flaps, I hobbled to the small stool that sat in front of the radio set. Quickly I flicked it on and hoofed at the receiver. While I didn’t know how to call directly up to Eliza from here, I had to believe that with the chaos that’s started, she’d know to be listening to everything down here.

“Eliza, this is Night Flight.” I called over the hoofset. “You need to detain Happy before he hurts somepony up there! Do you hear me? You need to stop him!”

“N-night?” The stammering voice of a mare came through rather than Eliza’s voice. “T-this is Bubble Level! What the hell is going on? What the fuck is that giant monster!”

“Bubble, I need you to get your crew to open fire on that thing!” I shouted back. “Hit it with everything you’ve got, and don’t let up!”

There was a long pause that came over the radio. It was long enough that a fresh salvo of shells were fired from the Cordite battery, and a particularly loud roar echoed across the hills. Good, that thing can at least be hurt. And if it can be hurt, it could be killed.

“I… I can’t,” Bubble’s voice came over the radio with more apprehension in it than was really warranted for the situation. “At least, not without the mayor’s authorization, and…” She paused, as if she was wrestling with a thought. “Something’s wrong in the city. It’s like it’s under attack…”

“That monster has control of both mayors, Bubble!” I snapped back at her. “Anypony with one of those wooden prosthesis is being mind controlled, and that includes the majority of both cities military forces!”

“By the goddesses…” She gasped, pausing just long enough that a burst of gunfire came through the radio from her end. “Shit, they’re coming. I’m sorry, Night, but my crew is my priority.”

“Defend yourselves, but we need those cannons to bring that thing down, Bubble!” I didn’t know if even with them it would be enough, but I’d be willing to settle for trying.

A loud burst of static came over the radio, forcing me away from the speaker with a wince.

“Captain, I’ve been trying to reach you.” Eliza came through with more than a note of panic in her monotone voice. “Cora has detained and sedated Happy. You were right, he was attempting to sabotage the missile loading mechanisms in the weapons bay.” Okay, well that was a relief. “What’s the situation down there?”

“The kirin botanist in the bunker has woken up some sort of old world monster that’s intent on killing us all.” I sighed and looked down at my bandaged stump, watching as drops of blood slowly collected on it before dripping down onto the tarp covered floor. “I need you to get Tofu loading up as many missiles as possible.”

“That is not possible.” Eliza’s tone shifted ever so slightly to one of… sorrow. “Before he could be stopped, Happy attacked and injured Miss Tofu. She is under Cora’s care in the infirmary for now, but I’m afraid she is in no condition to help.”

“Then I’ll do it.” My dad’s voice fuzzed over the radio. “You might have to walk me through a few steps, Eliza, but it shouldn’t be all that different to any other Mistral class ship I’ve run startup tests on.”

“With the exception that these will be live warheads, of course.” Eliza’s voice came back through with a bit of hope in her words. “Double and King will also assist in the loading procedure. However, it will take a few minutes to complete.” A few minutes was a long time to have to wait when ponies were dying every second out here. “Captain, I’ve informed Buck of your whereabouts, and he should be with you within a minute. However, I can not locate Miss Hispano.”

“Don’t worry, she’s gone to get Increadimare to join in the fight.” I smirked, both finding it incredibly ridiculous, as well as somewhat comforting to know that we’d have somepony on our side who at least believed themselves to be fighting for the good of everyone. “But we’ll need those missiles as soon as possible.” While Increadimare was a good start, the sooner we had those missiles ready, the more lives we could save.

“One last thing, Captain.” Eliza’s voice chimed in, pausing for a moment as she did, “what... if bringing the beast down doesn’t stop those in town? What if it doesn’t free Happy from whatever magic is controlling him?”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” I sighed as her words sunk in. We couldn’t just kill them all. No, there had to be another way if this didn’t work. “Let’s just focus on one thing at a time for now. Bring Prince Deru down.”

“Aye Aye, Captain.” Eliza’s voice came through promptly before dropping out and sending another loud burst of static through the radio.

Okay, so now that everyone knew what to shoot at, it was only a matter of getting the shots off before we were all killed. Pushing myself to my hooves, I turned around to hear the quick and heavy beats of mechanical paws across the ground. Hobbling forward, I pushed through the flaps just in time to get scooped up into Buck’s warm grasp.

As he brought me close, I found a dozen deep and bleeding gashes across his body. Dents, scrapes, and sparking wires showed me that Buck had fought his way here. And while I couldn’t imagine what he’d been through, he was here with me now, and that was all that mattered.

“Night, I was so worried!” Buck whimpered as he squeezed me tightly. I moved to wrap both my forehooves around him, but cried out as instead I jabbed my bloody stump against him. He gasped and pulled me away, heaving slightly as his eyes dropped onto my bandaged leg. “Night, oh fuck, I’m so sorry. Everything went sideways, and Monk attacked me! He...”

I lifted my remaining forehoof to his muzzle and quieted him while I winced from the pain in my stump.

“It’s fine,” I lied to him like always as I leaned forward and pressed myself against him again. “We need to stop that giant timberwolf before anything else.”

“Yes, I heard what you said to Eliza.” He nodded before his mechanical ears perked and twisted almost all the way around. With heavy wing beats, I was happy to spot Hispano approaching us, closely followed by an angry looking green alicorn in yellow magical spandex.

The two glanced at each other, trading nods before Increadimare torqued her wings and broke off. She picked up speed at an alarming rate, shooting through the sky right towards Prince Deru. Hispano however, flared her wings and came down fairly hard onto her paws.

“Alright, she’s going to go all in.” Hispano panted as she steadied herself again, gazing off towards the massive timberwolf. “I hate to say it, Night, but I’m not sure if she’s strong enough to do anything other than just make it angry.” With a forced smile, she shared a nervous glance with me. “You know, I take it back from earlier. I think given the circumstances, we may just have needed a fifty foot tall mare, rather than an egotistical alicorn…”

As much as I wish this were a movie, and that we had Lilac Lace here, I couldn’t hide from the fact that this was far outside anything she’d have even been able to help us with. It was up to us and our friends to do this, and that scared me. But we could do this, and deep down, I felt that more than anything.

I had faith in them. Cordite, the Road Crew, and my crew. If anyone could face these odds and come back on top, it was us. Still, I found my eyes were drawn down to my bloody bandaged stump once more.

The question was, what would it cost us in the end.

Author's Note

As always, a huge thanks to TheFurryRailfan. Even though he's got his own life going on, he still makes time to sit and give each chapter a good once over, and I can't thank him enough for it.

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat, for creating FoE and letting us all utilize it's setting in such neat and novel ways.

Chapter 93 - Shifting Cultivation

There are very few problems that cannot be solved through a suitable application of high explosives.

The artillery continued to thunder as the towering beast bellowed in anger.

The three of us watched as each resounding blast across the beast tore open a hole in its body. But even so, the guns fell silent after every volley, even if only for a few moments. That was all the time that Prince Deru’s body needed to regrow and fill in the gaps to his enormous hollow form. Shit, Monk hadn’t been kidding when he said that the bamboo grew fast...

“How the fuck are we supposed to stop that!” Hispano squawked, struggling against her urge to tear off her flight cap and throw it down in frustration. “Nothing’s been able to do anything other than annoy that beast! Not even Increadimare!”

I watched as the aforementioned superhero Alicorn darted through the skies, shooting burning beams of magic from her horn across the massive Timberwolf. As soon as each line of magic had cut a gash in his side, Prince Deru healed it up like it had never happened. Hispano was right, we weren’t making any headway.

“All crews!” Captain Charge’s voice came over the Cordite camp’s PA system. “Standard rounds are ineffective. Switch over to Incendiary rounds for the next barrage!”

That’s… not a bad idea! I mean, the Prince is made out of wood after all! I…

My own thoughts were cut off as the Prince shifted sharply with a howl. His massive branching tail spun, arcing around and swatting Increadimare out of the sky behind him. The green alicorn shot through the air like a bullet, and disappeared in a yellow clouded haze as she came down somewhere near the forest’s edge.

As soon as she’d gone down, the Cordite barrage fired. A half dozen rounds splashed up across the Timberwolf’s back. Gouts of fire poured from the massive wolf’s muzzle as it let out a pained roar. It shifted faster on it’s paws than I’d thought something of its size ever could. With a flop, it fell over, sending up a massive cloud of dust, as well as sending tremors through the ground under my hooves that were strong enough that I almost fell over.

The heavy creaks of an entire forest resonated through the air as the wave of dust from Deru’s fall swept over us. The three of us shielded our eyes from it and held our breaths. But as the thick dust dissipated, we watched as the Prince simply pushed himself back onto his paws and gave a heavy shake of its body. Charred bits of bamboo came streaming off of him, quickly replaced again by freshly grown stalks.

Another roar filled the air, but this time it came from the yellow haze at the edge of the forest. I blinked as from above the treetops, rose a massive pony. Unsteady and somewhat slow to move, a fifty foot tall green alicorn brushed off a blanket of blue flowering vines. It was... Increadimare.

“Holy shit…” Hispano gasped, nearly dropping her sister as she took a step back.

Increadimare lifted a massive hoof, looking at it and herself in disbelief. Without the yellow magic covering her, her green slit-like eyes drifted down to the vines she’d brushed off before she let out a gasp that echoed across the hilltops. Even the shooting in the cities died down slightly, and those ghouls who’d been running around with Cordite tasks had stopped to take in the sight. Her massive pointed horn sent arcs of sparking lightning through the air that cracked like thunder, but she winced as nothing but a cloud of smoke poured from the tip of her horn.

“It seems that magic cannot be easily channeled by somepony so large…” Buck’s static filled voice struggled to contain the awe we all shared in staring at the gigantic mare. “But at that size, she’s not going to live very long.”

“What do you mean?” Hispano stared at Buck like she expected him to just take back what he said. “She’s big enough now that she’s going to kick that oversized dog’s ass easy!”

“She’s big, but so are her lungs. She won’t be able to process oxygen at that size!” Buck snapped back without taking his eyes off the massive mare. “It’s not a question, Hispano. She’s going to suffocate before or after the fight is over.”

“You’ve got this, Increadimare!” Hispano’s squeaking shout made me jump slightly. “Kick that overgrown wolf’s ass!” Looking over at Buck, she snorted sharply through her beak. “At least I have faith in her.”

One of Increadimare’s ears twitched, turning and drawing her attention down to us. A look of confusion washed over her for a moment before her expression hardened with a nod. She steadied herself and turned her gaze to Prince Deru and narrowed her slit eyes on him.

Deru let out a snarl before he spun to face her, bristling out the bamboo across his body.

With thundering hoofsteps that shook the ground, and excited cheers from Hispano, Increadimare charged at him. She impacted with her shoulder, sending another heavy crack that echoed off the hills. The strike tossed the massive timberwolf against the valley hillside, and roused a cry from the wooden muzzle that turned into an angry bark.

With all the dexterity of a normal wolf, it rolled again, coiling its legs under it. With a snarling howl, it lunged at Increadimare. She put up a hoof in time to stop it’s sap dripping maw from closing around her throat, but he happily bit down on her foreleg instead. She let out a blood curdling scream that drifted over the nearby mountains as he twisted and ripped most of her hoof clean off.

“Shit! Maybe it won’t be so easy...” Hispano cringed and quickly shot out her hoof at my side. “We need to help her!”

“And how do you propose that?” Buck growled out as he ran his mechanical paws down his face. “It’s regenerative properties are incredible, I don’t think anything short of a megaspell is going to stop it!”

“The Prince is special.” The snarling voice of Monk came from behind us. We all spun around in time to find the massive three headed timber-hellhound step on the body of a gasping Cordite soldier. “Thanks to the Doctor, his bamboo grows faster than any other in the world, and his heart is the heart of the forest itself. You can destroy his body all you want, but so long as his heart beats, the forest will live.” With a twist of his leg, Monk dragged his hindleg claws through the ghoul’s rotten neck, silencing them for good. “You would be wise to give up the fight and join him.”

“I killed you.” Buck’s guttural growl shook the air around me more than the voices of either of the two fighting titans. The way he spoke of it was so cold, so detached from his normal tone. But, given that Monk was the kind of monster Buck had always thought himself to be, I couldn’t blame him. “You call me a dog, yet I guess you know how to play dead better than any of us.”

Hispano let off a pair of shots from her sister that blasted Monk into nothing more than a shower of twigs and logs. The explosive rounds scattered his parts into the snow and mud, dropping even a few just short of our legs.

“Pft, just like the doc.” Hispano snorted and brought her sister’s muzzle up to her beak. With a sharp blow, she wafted the steam coming from the barrel away from her. “So much for being effectively immortal.”

I was about to turn around to see how Increadimare was holding up when a deep laugh filled the air. It was joined by a pair of excited yipping barks that pulled another static filled snarl from Buck’s muzzle. A sickly yellow glow enveloped the sticks, twigs, and logs that used to be Monk, and slowly, they began to levitate right off the ground.

“You will find we are not so simple to kill.” Monk’s voice came from all around us, like he encompassed the entire area his parts were spread across. With a gentle arc, his wooden parts began to reassemble themselves, starting with his hind paws and working their way up. “But you have made your choice. We will enjoy watching your bodies rot while Prince Deru’s forest draws on you for nourishment.”

The more his body completely rebuilt itself, the faster the other pieces of himself seemed to jump at the chance to rejoin the others. By the time the process had rebuilt his lower torso, his wooden arms and head were starting to piece themselves together without needing anything connecting them. It was then that Buck took a step forward and raised his paw to Monk.

“You will stay away from us.” Buck barked out a warning as the top of his forearm folded out, and the small energy weapon he had inside raised up. “I am warning you, I don’t want to have to actually kill you.”

“Such a waste of a dog.” Monk’s voice seemed to get further away, drawing back to where it was supposed to be as his head finished forming, and a few sticks started to rebuild his mate’s heads. “But we will kill you all the...”

A blinding orange beam fired out from Buck’s weapon, shifting and spreading into a cone shape. The entire form of Monk blackened before it burst into flames. Smoke rose off of every inch of the monstrous hellhound, growing thicker as his wood glowed like hot steel before completely evaporating. As the light from Buck’s weapon dissipated, the few twigs and sticks that hadn’t rejoined Monk shuddered and dropped back into the snow with a woody clunk.

“Now, be dead.” Hispano snorted, kicking some snow and mud over one of the now inert pieces of wood. “Good dog.”

With a ratcheting click, Buck’s forearm drew the weapon back inside and closed itself up again. The dog it was attached to however, let out a whimpering sigh before hanging his head. As tough as it must have been for Buck to take his life, I know he understood that he’d been left with no choice.

“It’s too bad we don’t have a bigger one of those to use!” The voice of Captain Charge came from behind us, forcing at least both Hispano and I to spin around. “As it sits, I’m not sure we’ll be able to do enough damage to that thing fast enough that it couldn’t just regrow!”

A roar came from the hills, and I turned my eyes back onto the battle between Deru and Increadimare. I gasped as I gazed upon Increadimare’s bloody and beat up form. She was barely standing on three torn up legs, heaving with gashes torn across her entire body. Her horn was cracked, one of her wings was gone, while the other lay in a mangled heap off of her side. She was losing this fight, and if she lost, our best chance of getting out of this alive went with her.

She gave out a furious yell as she lowered her head and jabbed at Deru with her horn. The massive wolf hopped back before springing forward at her again, greedy jaws open and ready to strike. With a flourish of her head, she managed to get her horn under his neck and impaled him on it. She screamed again as his jaw snapped shut, gashing through the back of her neck and exposing the white bone of her spine underneath.

With a toss of her head, she flung Deru aside, sending him rolling again, but this time toward the city. Like before, he was quick to get up, but stepped back and put his hindpaw right through one of the still standing brick buildings of East City. However many ponies were instantly crushed or killed became less of a thought in my mind however, as the gash on his side healed up again. But before it did, I could see inside his hollow body, and directly at the glowing, beating green heart in the center of the cavity.

“So it wasn’t a metaphor.” I snorted as my mind scrambled to latch on to an idea that ran at light speed through my skull. “We need to destroy his heart.”

“Yeah, but how!?” Hispano squawked again as she threw up a talon in frustration. “Nothing works, and unless we destroy it completely, it’ll probably just regenerate too!”

My mind ran back through the last few minutes. We couldn’t just blow his heart up, it would just regenerate. We also couldn’t just light it on fire… or could we?

The sight of the massive wolf painfully breathing fire after the phosphor shells hit him stuck out in my mind. The thoughts of old science lessons about heat convection and airflow flitted out of my memories, and my eyes wandered over towards the silent Cordite artillery battery. Okay, that was at least a plan then! Here’s hoping it actually works…

“Captain?” I asked, spinning and pointing at the somewhat off-guard old ghoul. “I need one of your phosphorus rounds, and for you to get everyone loaded up with it again. White will work, but if you have red, that’ll be better.” Without a word, he nodded and then galloped off.

“What are you thinking, Dum Dum?” Hispano asked as she brought a talon down on my side softly.

“I need you to fly up to Increadimare.” I turned and caught her unsure glance at me. “You need to tell her to force Prince Deru’s muzzle open for as long as she can.”

“I don’t understand…” Buck put his paws up as he walked over. “What good is that and an incendiary shell going to do? They already tried lighting him on fire, and it didn’t work! Besides, you’re not planning on flying down his throat, are you?”

“I hope not.” I cringed as the thought of being eaten by a giant wooden wolf, while a fitting end for the day I’d had, didn’t seem like a very good way to die. “I shouldn’t have to, at least. All I need to do is shove that shell down his throat.”

“But why!” Hispano grumbled and used her talon to drag my face toward her. “Why can’t I take the shell then? I hope you aren’t planning on killing yourself just because you’ve lost another leg, Dum Dum.”

“Convection…” Buck gasped, tearing Hispano’s worried eyes from me. “If you ignite him from the inside, and if his muzzle is kept open…”

“Air would be drawn in through every hole we could make in his body…” I finished, looking at Hispano. To her credit, it only took her a split second to work it out in her head, and for a wide smile to spread across her beak.

“You’d turn his insides into a furnace that he couldn’t put out!” She giggled giddily as she gave an excited flap of her wings. “Alright, I’ll go tell Increadimare the plan. Just…” She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before leaning over and planting a quick kiss on my cheek. “Don’t die, Night. Drop that thing and get out of there.”

“He will.” Buck answered for her as I felt his mechanical arm sweep down under me and pluck me off the ground. He brought his other paw over and ran his digits around under my harness. With a few twists and torques, he detached my boxy submachinegun from me. “Once you’re up there, Night, I’ll get on the radio and coordinate the barrages between Cordite and the Road Crew.”

“No.” The voice of a mare from behind us perked both of our ears. “You will join us. Together, we will spread joy and peace throughout this world.” Even before we could turn around, I knew that however hard Hispano had tried, she hadn’t quite managed to kill Doc Chirality. “Do not resist.”

Buck and I both turned to look at the insane ghoul, but we both froze in place as now a monster stood in place of the Kirin she once was. Only bits and pieces of her body remained intact, held together by a mass of wriggling thorny vines of Cruel Joke that somewhat conformed to the shape of a pony. Her movements towards us were stiff, and the glowing eyes she shared with the Prince burned brighter than ever.

“We don’t want to destroy you, we just… need to know why you’re doing this.” I spat out at her. While anything she said would never convince any of us to join her, I was more worried about those vines. “Why now?”

“Is it not easily seen?” Doc Chirality’s voice shifted, combining with what sounded like a dozen other voices coming from her wooden muzzle. “The skies have opened once more, the conflict I have fostered in this place has exposed and tilled the ancient soil. Finally, the time for the great reseeding is upon us.”

“And what do you need us for then?” Come on, I just needed to buy us a little more time! “What chance do we have against something your size?”

“I do not wish for you to fight my gift, you will accept me willingly.” Again, the voices shifted, deepening and merging together slightly. “It has been so long, and the magics that once rooted me underground are long forgotten. It is time for my forest to grow once more, and for this planet to flourish like it always should have. Lesser beings like you will help to expedite the bonding required to bring about my new world.”

“Excuse me, but we aren’t ‘lesser’ beings!” Buck growled out. With another sharp clack, he raised his arm and brought up his small energy weapon again. “We are all sentient, intelligent beings with free will and lives of our own. You have no right to take anything from us!”

“I have every right!” The voice of the Prince snarled, pulling a sharp echoing growl from the massive timberwolf fighting in the hills behind us. “Look what millennia of your ‘free will’ have done to my precious lands! Poison and rot have consumed this world, and I will not slumber again until I ensure that no being ever brings this level of destruction ever again.” As he spoke, several of the vines forming Doc Chirality’s body snaked off of her, raising themselves before starting to drip copious amounts of the Prince’s thick sap. “Join me willingly, or endure a painful, excruciating end to your otherwise meaningless existence.”

BANG!

Suiza’s barking shot blasted up snow and dirt from in front of Doc Chirality. The mass of vines shifted, turning its attention to the sky with another sharp growl. However, the moment it’s attention was split, Buck’s forearm let out a whine.

Another cone of orange light enveloped Doc Chirality. Prince Deru screamed through her muzzle in agony as the viney body erupted into flames. With a shudder, it took a step back as it began to disintegrate completely, slowly turning to ash. The glowing eyes shifted to us with a look of profound fear before completely disappearing into the wind as nothing more than soot.

No sooner had it gone then did Buck’s weapon give out several alarming beeps as it powered off. He heaved and used his paw to clutch at his chest for a moment. He’d used too much power to fire it twice, and he needed time to let his body recover.

“Geeze, I leave for like five seconds…” Hispano panted heavily as she flapped her wings and came down next to Buck and I. Held tightly to her body was a large cannon shell, which she quickly held out to Buck. “It’s red phosphorous set with an impact fuse, so try not to drop it before Night gets airborne.”

“What are you doing with this?” I asked. Okay, it wasn’t a good sign that something had already fallen through with the plan, but no matter! We could still salvage this! “What happened to the Captain…?”

A low, droning howl filled the air, reverberating and echoing off every mountain, building, and tree around us. Hispano wrapped her claws around her flight cap to block the sound, but when I tried to do the same with my ears, I cried out as my bloody stump only shot a line of pain through me. Buck let out a pained whimper and shut his ear’s off, but used his free paw to help cover the ear I could no longer reach.

As the howl ended, Prince Deru lowered his head, and dropped his glowing eyes right onto the three of us.

Needless to say, I didn’t glean a particularly good feeling about that.

“We’re about to have a lot of company!” Hispano squawked as she turned around, and just about every feather on her body stood on end.

Buck and I spun around, watching as a dozen or so pegasi took to the skies from East city and it’s wall, along with a particularly large and angry dragon…

“Buck, we need to hurry!” I gasped, turning and all but forcing the incendiary round in his grasp down under me. “Hispano, get to Increadimare. I know she’s probably feeling pretty close to just giving up about now, but we need her to hold Deru’s muzzle open!”

“On it!” She called out as she was already in the air and picking up speed away from us.

“I don’t know about this, Night!” Buck let a static filled whimper through as his mechanical paws quickly worked to secure the round to my harness. “They’re closing in fast. I’m not sure you’ll be able to outfly them, especially in your condition!”

He’s right. It’ll take me far too long to get the speed and altitude I need to stay ahead of them. If only we had something like the Dizzitron, or my jump pack!

“No, that’s not going to work...” Buck went stiff for a moment. I looked up to find his blue eye had shifted to red, and lines of code were running down it. Wait, was Ping talking with him? Shaking off the code, Buck frowned and looked back down at me. “If I get anything about this wrong, the force, the angle, anything, and I could seriously hurt Night! I could compress his spine, or liquefy his internal organs…” Again, Buck went stiff as more red lines flowed down his augmented eye. As it stopped, a smile crept across Buck’s metal muzzle.

“Okay then,” Buck spoke, but Ping’s static filled voice came from his muzzle. “Hold on, Night, this may be slightly uncomfortable.” As he said that, I felt one of Buck’s paws scoop under my flank. I gave a soft and pained ‘eep’ as my body was raised up. “Now, treat this like a Dizzitron, and only open your wings once you reach your apex.”

“What?” I bluntly asked as Buck turned side on to the massive timberwolf. “Ping, what’s going on!?” He lowered me in his paw, and extended the other towards the Prince. With a glance over using Buck’s normal eye, his jagged smile widened as his body tensed up. It wasn’t until then that I realized just what exactly he’d been planning. “Ping, wait...!”

That was as far as I’d made it before I was forced into a curled ball and the world turned into a blur. Buck’s mechanical paw torqued and pushed me harder and faster, launching me skyward with astounding speed. The blue skies and green forests around me muted to grey as I spun almost end over end, curled tightly as I waited for the telltale feeling of gravity reasserting itself.

As soon as I could feel myself curving back down, I flared my wings and stuck out my forelegs to stabilize myself. At least, that was until I screamed when the wound on my foreleg stump opened up again. I began to tumble from the air, and my mind went into a state of panic. As the world spun again, it seemed to slow down slightly. Not in the sense that I had corrected anything, but that everything was starting to feel slower.

“Oh, doesn’t that hurt?” The other me spoke as she drifted into view next to me, matching my spin in my slowed perspective. As soon as she’d said that, another spike of pain bolted through my body like a lightning strike. I wanted to scream out, but while my mind was moving at her speed, the rest of my body was moving as slow as the rest of the world. “Yeah, I thought as much. You know, if it’ll help, I can fix your little ‘balance’ issue here.” She pointed at my remaining forehoof as a sinister smile curled up over her muzzle. “I could nudge another bullet or two your way…”

I didn’t have time for this, and I wasn’t about to have this… thing take off yet another leg!

“Okay fine, have it your way.” She rolled her eyes before clopping her hooves together.

As soon as she had, the world picked up to it’s normal speed again. Another sharp wave of panic flew through me as I continued to spin. I torqued my wings against it, slowing my roll. Okay, now if I could just…

Shifting my only foreleg forward, I aligned it ahead of me, and did my best to use it like a guide. While it put more strain on my wings to stabilize myself, I could at least pull up out of the near dive I’d been in. Funny enough, the speed I’d gained from it had allowed me to stay just ahead of the angry army of brainwashed minions that the Prince had after me.

The deep, reverberating scream of Increadimare shook the air around me. Her mostly broken wing flared ahead of me as she wrestled the Prince, sending a burst of wind my way strong enough to send me nearly tumbling through the air again. Keeping my wings flared, I did my best to ride that wind even higher.

“Did you ever stop to think, Night?” The other me appeared out of the corner of my eye, wings flared as if to climb with me. “What happens if you succeed?”

“Get out of my head!” I screamed at her as I brought my forehoof down and did my best to align my body to follow it. The cold air under my wings again began to slip by as I sped downwards towards the wrestling titans below.

“What if you kill him, Night?” Her voice was like a whisper in a dark room, shooting an icy spear down my spine. “What if doing this kills Happy?”

“It… it won’t!” I snapped at her and tried to focus. Increadimare was using what magic she could pull from her smoking horn to force open the Prince’s wooden maw.

“You don’t know that,” The Jynx laughed, speeding ahead of me and rolling over onto her back like it was a lazy afternoon flight for her. “But I do, because I can make it happen.”

As Increadimare forced open Deru’s muzzle, she let out a scream louder than anything I’d heard. It was enough that forcing my ears back didn’t help, and that it made everything in the world disappear into a ringing nothingness. Everything, except my Jynx of course.

“Are you willing to risk it, Night?” She asked as we both stared down at the bright green glowing and steadily beating heart inside the titanic beast.

This was about more than just Happy. I had a chance to save so many more! Even if everyone infected by Deru had to die, I had a job to do.

Release.

I thought the command to myself and pulled away. But as I began to climb away from the massive jaws, I caught a wide smile from Jynx that told me something was wrong. As I began to lose speed in my climb faster than I should have, I shifted my flight slightly and found that something was still weighing me down. With a glance at my barrel, I found the phosphorus shell still firmly locked to my underside.

“Forgot that you broke your little toy, didn’t you?” The Jynx laughed as she raised her forehoof to cover up the eye my augment replaced.

Shit, it’s still shut off! What was I thinking? How the fuck was I supposed to drop this thing when it’s not working!?

As if that wasn’t bad enough, a roar filled the air, beating back the ringing in my ears. Not a roar from Deru, or from Increadimare. No, this roar belonged to a particularly angry dragon.

I cried out and folded my wings as a gout of dragon’s fire roared over my head. I could feel the heat lick along my back, and it again forced me to roll into a sharp dive. I hadn’t gained nearly enough altitude, and was quickly approaching Deru again. Increadimare’s hoof was lodged in the side of his jaw, and I could see a dozen cracks forming along it as he did his best to try to bite it off and close his muzzle again.

“Give it up, Night.” The Jynx laughed again as she fluttered ahead of me once more. Like it had before, the world slowed down just for her. “Just let go! Don’t you want to save yourself from the pain of your life? I mean, if you want to get rid of me so bad, this is your ticket right here! And let me tell you, there’s worse things in the world than being a mindfucked slave for a plant, let me tell you.” With a light giggle, she reached out and gave a playful nudge at my side. “And hey! The bonus is that at least this way Happy will still be alive, right? A win-win if you ask me, and with my help, I can make this a win.”

Wait, she can change the course of things, right? No matter what, she could ensure I fail right here and now. So then, why would I fight against her now?

“That’s right.” She smiled widely. “Good to see you’re finally understanding things my way.”

“Are you a betting mare?” I tried to speak and found my words coming through like normal, even in the slowed time around me. “I propose an alternative solution.”

“Pah!” She rolled her eyes and dismissed me outright. “You can’t force me out of this little predicament. You see, I’ve already got my hooves on the strings!” She wiggled her hooves, and across them I could see a lattice of silken threads finer than anything I’ve ever seen, but seemingly attached to nothing. “This only ends one way for you, Night.”

“But if I go, you go.” I smirked, only to have my words dismissed with an uncaring shrug. “Come on, if you really are part of me, than some part of you deep down must want to survive.” I don’t buy that she’s willing to go out like this if she’s as unique as she claims, not for a second. “You pretty much boasted to me about how you’ve become more powerful than ever, so you can’t be so willing to roll over now.”

“Yeah, and so what?” She tipped her muzzle away and crossed her forehooves like a teenager trying to look tough under pressure. Something I’m not to proud to admit I’ve done many times. “You said it yourself, I have a job to do, and that’s to make you suffer until you die.”

“So help me, and you can continue to torment me.” I can’t believe I was practically begging for her help here, but… I’ve already lost a leg today, I might as well give whatever I need to in order to end this.

“Why?” Her eyes narrowed like I’d just put a knife to her throat. “And besides, if I help you, your friend will probably still die.” The same devilish smile Solomon always wore pulled across her muzzle. “Are you so willing to sacrifice him just so I can torture you for a few more days?”

It was… not what I wanted. I didn’t want to lose Happy now, even after the last few weeks of him treating me like dirt. The Happy I’d grown to call part of my family was still inside him somewhere, and with a bit more time, I’m sure I’d have been able to find it.

But I’d failed Delilah. I couldn’t protect him, I couldn’t make this call. He deserved a chance to live, even if… we failed to stop Deru. She was right, I couldn’t do this to him. As much as I was willing to sacrifice more of myself, Happy’s well being wasn’t mine to give away. I couldn’t condemn him to...

The world sharply sped up, and I felt a click from my harness.

I panicked again, flaring my wings and torquing myself away from Deru’s maw. With an ear splitting crunch, the Timberwolf bit through Increadimare’s hoof and tore it off. The breathless scream that the fifty foot tall alicorn gave was cut short as her eyes rolled back and she slumped down with a rumbling slam. As I glanced back, I saw her eyes shut, and that was it. Increadimare was gone.

Deru snarled as he turned toward her, raising a clawed paw to ensure she would never get up again before a muffled WHUMPcame through his bamboo skin.

Screams of pain filled the air around me as the mind-controlled pegasi grasped at their heads and fell towards the ground. As I stuck my leg out ahead of me again, I watched as one after one, they disappeared through the thick foliage of the forest. With a loud crack, I watched as Mayor Sheriff slammed through the trees as well, sending up a thick cloud of dirt and dust from the crater his impact undoubtedly made.

Deeper thumps came from back towards the city. Screeching shells flew past me, slamming into the Prince one after another. Great gouts of flames erupted from each hole that the shells tore. Deru however, maintained more composure than I’d assumed one could when they were burning from the inside.

He turned himself away from Increadimare and once again glared toward the Cordite camp. With two steps, he’d pushed himself past where I was flying away from him. The air he displaced as he passed once more forced me up into thinner, colder air that sent me into a fit of shivering that stung at my bleeding foreleg stump. Even with geysers of flame pouring out of each hole opening on him, it wasn’t enough.

No, this was supposed to work! It’s not burning him fast enough!

Lighter thumps echoed from across the valley. More shrieking shells came in, but this time they struck the opposite side of him. Glancing over, I could see the trails of smoke from the Road Crew camp as they too began to mimic the near continuous fire rate of the Cordite battery.

Hissing from the horizon became roars as missile after missile arced and flew away from the Arcturus. By the time the sixth missile had launched, the first struck Deru’s side with more force than any of the Cordite or Road Crew shells had. It was almost enough, and I wasn’t sure how much more he could take, or how much more we could throw at him!

The timberwolf’s steps faltered with the new barrage. Flames were pouring out higher and higher as each new blast shifted and forced air inside his hollow body like a bellows. Smoke started to seep through the bamboo skin he wore, and he gave a deep throated whimper as he struggled not to open his muzzle.

With a chattering burst of fire, a small olive colored griffon shot through the air under the Prince. The line of explosive fire from Suiza caused the bamboo that formed his rear hindlegs to buckle and splinter. The massive wolf’s flank dropped quickly as Hispano took off into the sky again, and the remarkable sound of wood splintering filled the air.

The slam of the wolf’s flank into the forest below sent up another wave of dust, but it also forced the Prince’s head up higher. With a look of overwhelming fear in his enormous glowing eyes, the titanic timberwolf’s muzzle parted to let out a sorrowful and wavering howl. It was a note unlike anything I’d ever heard from Buck or any other dog, and something that conveyed more pain and anguish than I could even comprehend. The Cordite and Road Crew guns fell silent, leaving only the waning howl to echo through the forests and mountains of the north.

Roaring flames poured through and over the Prince’s muzzle as the inferno inside him won out. His flank gave another crack and collapsed in on itself, sending roaring flames pouring over his back. The rest of his body gave out, and like those who’d been in the air, collapsed down into the forest below. Finally, Deru disappeared below the growing black cloud as the flames consumed what little of him was left.

The cold air returned the valley to it’s peaceful silence once more. Taking stock in it, I surveyed all the damage the ‘Prince’ had done. Two settlements in chaos, hundreds killed or wounded. Looking at Increadimare, she hadn’t moved, and the blood from her open wounds had stopped trickling out. She was really gone.

We’d done it, but… at what cost.

“As they say,” The Jynx smiled as she took up flying next to me. “time to face the music.”

The cold air sapped the heat out from my sweat coated skin. It was almost freezing inside Cordite’s old medical tent, and that was even through my pegasus insulation! Hispano and Buck I could understand, but I didn’t know how normal ponies could stand being without any sort of heaters. Then again, maybe ghouls have an even greater temperature tolerance than ponies like pegasi gifted with good body insulation.

“Fucking goddess damned mother fucker!”

Regardless, I was just glad that they kept their hospital tent stocked with stuff that normal ponies could use...

“Now now, Night. Do you need to be so vulgar when you really should be used to the results of your crash landings by now?” Hispano laughed as she tried her best to keep the worry out of her voice, and her eyes on anything but me.

“Please, Hispano, I need to focus.” Buck sighed as his multiple articulating medical tools worked on fixing me once again. “It’s a miracle you didn’t cause any worse injuries to yourself with a landing like that, but I know it’s not your fault.”

I was about to open my muzzle to apologize once more for having to patch me up, but I stopped when my own eyes and sadistic smile peered at me from over his metal skullcap. Of course it was because of her. She made a pouty look at me before disappearing behind Buck again.

“I don’t… think it was a miracle…” I cringed and whined as I felt one of his tools dig into my pulpy flesh with a squelch that made my stomach do a flip. “Fucking FUCK!” A sharp bolt of pain ran through my side, and my open stump felt like it caught on fire.

I couldn’t help but scream as he started to sew up my stump again, while he stopped with a sigh what felt like every few stitches. I could feel as he took the time to stop and pick out an errant rock shard or clump of dirt I’d gotten into it during my crash landing. I’d been doing so well adjusting to landing with my prosthetic, and now I was going to have to fucking learn to do it all over again!

Thankfully, Buck’s paw moved quickly and tapped the side of my head. With a hum and a flicker, my eye turned back on, and the painstopper talisman in me started to numb me once more.

Fucking thank the goddesses...

“Regardless of whatever the case was, you can’t afford any more trauma, Night.” Buck eyed at me with a pleading look that demanded a promise all three of us knew I couldn’t keep. “Your body needs rest. And before you object, I…”

“Oh, you’re connected again, Captain.” Eliza’s voice cut off Buck as her smiling cartoon mare once again popped into my vision. “I’m glad to see that you are okay, but you should listen to Buck and get some rest as soon as you are able.”

“Thanks, Eliza...” I winced reflexively as another fleshy squish came from my leg. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Hispano’s cheeks turn a bit green, and she used her wings to cover her beak as she spun around. “How is Happy? Is… is he alright?”

“Happy lost consciousness when the monster was defeated.” Eliza’s monotone wavered slightly as her picture flickered over to her frowning mare. “While he seems in stable condition, Cora can not explain why he has not regained consciousness.”

“Hmmm, just like most of the other victims from what we’ve seen down here.” Buck did his best to scrunch his metal muzzle as he canted his head in thought. “I will have to take a look at him once we return if he hasn’t recovered by then. Tell Cora to keep monitoring him for now.”

“Aye, Doc. I have informed Cora of your instructions.” Eliza’s mare flipped back to her normal smiling self. “Before I let the three of you get back to your tasks, there is somepony else here who wished to speak with you.” Somepony else?

“Hello again, Night.” Ping’s voice filtered through my augment with a bit of nervousness in it. “I just wished to apologize for my sudden intrusion earlier. I understand it must have been startling to have me take over for Buck, and I know how you value your privacy with him.”

“I… I’m just thankful you could help, Ping.” I couldn’t help but smile a bit as Buck’s cheeks flushed brightly. “I mean, without you throwing me, I’m not sure I could have gotten there in time.”

“Yes, well, it was an act that I am hopeful you will not have to repeat in the future.” He let out a light laugh that was joined by a bit of static. “But I did not transfer down here to simply catch up. I have made an intriguing, and somewhat worrying discovery while combing through Unit One's logs.”

“The Architect’s logs?” I cocked an eyebrow for only a moment before Buck’s tools prodded me again sharply and made me wince. “Please don’t tell me there’s another unit like Red out there somewhere…”

“That is unknown at this time.” He was quick to answer, but to me it sounded like he wanted to avoid the subject. Whether or not he was lying about another Red, or if he just wanted to avoid talking about the one we’d killed, at the moment, I couldn’t really blame him. “While I knew that in my absence more than a few units were lost while trying to observe settlements far outside of the range of the Factory, It was less than I had expected. Only three others remain missing, Unit Seven, Unit Nine, and Unit Sixteen.”

“Any idea where they are?” I asked fairly bluntly, pulling a curious look from Hispano. “Surely they told the Architect where they’d planned to go.”

“As you have been made aware,” Ping sighed with a healthy amount of static. “After the Architect felt like the Factory was secure enough, he sent me and the other early units out as scouts. Mostly to observe, but in some cases, to make contact with those who we thought could be understanding allies.”

“Of course,” Buck nodded and glanced at me as we both made the same realization at the same time. “You’re afraid that their disappearances are more than likely similar to what you endured on the Ouroboros?”

“That is one possibility we have considered, yes.” A box in my vision joined his voice, one that contained a wavering line like I’ve seen pop up before. “After you successfully modified the antenna in the Spectrum Federation, we have been picking up this weak signal at regular intervals.” The line wavered ever so slightly, and a chirping noise came through like if a bird was trying it’s best to whisper it’s song. “This is a Factory specific high-band radio distress call, one that seems to be coming from Unit Seven.”

“And they’re in trouble?” I wasn’t exactly up for another detour from the Ark, but if Ping asked us to, I couldn’t refuse. The Factory had done too much for us for me to think we didn’t owe them all the help we could offer.

“That is also unknown at this time.” Ping didn’t sound exactly enthusiastic, but he didn’t sound too dejected either. He’s probably just trying to not get his hopes up, and I couldn’t blame him. “Her repeating message has been in and out of range a dozen times now, but it’s always been picked up from the same bearing. From our calculations, it seems to originate from the small settlement known as Maple Station.”

“Maple Station?” Buck brought his paw up to his muzzle and gave it a tap. “Howitzer and Boiler had mentioned that’s where Jack and his tanker friends lived.” Looking down at me, I was happy to see a small, if temporary, smile pull across his jagged jaw. “Perhaps they could assist us in finding Unit Seven.”

“Unit Seven? Maple Station?” Hispano grumbled as she crossed her claws. “I get that you two have a party going on in your brains or whatever, but I’m getting a little sick of being left out of the loop.”

“Again, I apologize for the intrusion, Night.” Ping chimed in the moment that Hispano’s annoyed expression was directed at me. “However, the Factory would be grateful for any assistance in finding Unit Seven, or any of our lost Units. Should you not find anything substantial about her at Maple Station, Eliza has the location of the next suitable antenna for you which would at least help us pin down where exactly her signal is originating from.”

“We’ll look into it, Ping. I promise you that.” I nodded to Buck, getting one back from him. I know it might mean a bit of a delay with the Ark, but from where we sit right now, we’re not even sure what’s going to be in that vault when it opens tomorrow. And if we have no idea, then Solomon isn’t going to have a clue either.

The box in my vision closed, and from what I could tell, Ping had stopped transmitting.

“You know, Night,” Hispano groaned as she sat down hard on the cold, tarped floor. “why is it that either everything’s perfectly quiet with you, or there’s barely time to get a word in…”

“Hello?” The weary and almost meek voice of a mare drifted through the tent flaps from outside. “Is… is this where the S-Survivor is?”

“Ugh! See what I mean?” Hispano threw her talons up in defeat before she rose from her haunches and all but tore the tent flap beside her open. “What do you want.”

“I’m sorry…!” The mare outside looked like she tripped as she entered, falling to the floor in front of me with a long whimper. It took me a moment to glance over her purple body, but the four bark covered wooden legs on her gave the mystery mare’s identity away. It was Mayor Thunderbolt. At least seeing her still alive and well gave me hope that others with the wooden prosthetics would be fine. “Please, I never meant to hurt anypony.”

“You sure had a funny way of doing that.” Hispano grumbled as she deadpanned at her. “Converting your troops, ordering daily bombardments…”

“Hispano.” Buck let out a light growl as he shot her a glare. While I got that she’d been a bit blunt, she was somewhat right. And from the way that Buck didn’t continue, I knew that he understood that too.

“You wanted to win your petty fight, so you made a mistake in trusting the wrong pony.” I sighed and did my best to push myself up off the medical cot I’d warmed up so nicely. Shivering, I reached out to Buck, who offered me a paw to help me stand on my three legs. “The question is then, how are you going to fix it?”

“Everypony alive in my cities are indebted to you for taking down that beast. But, I came here because I can’t fix the wrongs I’ve done to you and your crew.” The mayor shivered and whined from her place on the floor. The more that I looked at her, the more I began to realize that she hadn’t tripped on her way in, she’d thrown herself at our hooves. “I don’t know how to make things right, and I am at your mercy until you deem my debt paid. Even if it takes the rest of my life, I will make sure to right the wrongs I’ve done.”

“Hah!” Hispano giggled and dragged her talon down her face. “You think you can just offer yourself like a slave to make up for this shit!? Night lost another fucking leg because of you!”

“Hispano, that’s enough!” Buck’s sterner voice came with a static filled growl that sent a different kind of shiver down my spine. At the same time, her voice sunk deep into my mind and helped me to realize something.

“No, Buck, Hispano’s right. You can’t come here and expect to escape what you’ve done.” I leveled my own glare on the ‘mayor’, watching as she looked up at me with a near fear filled gaze. “If you want to fix things, if you really are willing to do anything to help, then get out there and start helping.”

“W-what?” She let out another softer whimper as she brought her hooves up over her head. “But t-they’ll kill me for what I did to them!”

“No, not if you show them that you really care by helping them now.” I understood her fear, and the idea that you’ve done something so monstrous that you weren’t sure if you could ever be forgiven. “Running away from what you’ve done would never allow you to rest a single day. So you need to face it head on. Live with what you did, use it to remind yourself to be better than what you were, no excuses.”

“You… you’re right.” Thunderbolt sniffled as she picked herself up slowly. She brushed her electric yellow mane back to reveal her nearly matching yellow eyes. It caught me off guard, and my mind was quick to note how afraid they looked now compared to the steady green eyes she’d studied me with in the Destruction Bay clinic. “I’ve always run from my problems. I’ve always been afraid of what would happen if they caught up with me. Maybe it’s time I stopped running.”

“I’m not saying it won’t be tough, and that those out there won’t be angry.” I hung my head and closed my eyes, thinking back to how Delilah looked the last time I saw her. “And maybe it won’t work out in the end, I can’t say. But you have to try, if not for us, then for every citizen in East and West city.”

“East, West, hah. That’s how this all started.” She shook her head as she too hung it. “We should have been working together. Vanderhoof was proud and united during the war! The whole east and west thing was supposed to be a friendly rivalry, a bit of harmless competition. How did we let it get to this level of hatred?”

“The same way everything else fell apart.” Buck stepped in with the kindness in his voice I so admired him for. “But Night’s right. With enough effort and time, the ponies of Vanderhoof will see that you’ll have tried to right the wrongs of the past.”

“And I’m going to do that,” Mayor Thunderbolt stiffened, bringing her hope filled gaze onto me as I too looked up from the floor. “Starting by taking down that damned wall, and reunifying our peoples into one city once again.” Lifting one of her wooded forehooves, she looked at it with a frown. “I won’t hide from what I’ve done, I promise you that. And I’m still willing to do whatever it takes to make things right with you, Survivor.”

“It’s just Night Flight.” I offered a small smile to her, happy to see her offer one in kind. “And the contents of the safe deposit box we’re here for will be payment enough.”

“Actually…” Buck spoke up, forcing me to blink a few times in confusion. “I would like to make a request on behalf of the Destruction Bay Clinic. I’ve been told that both former East and West cities have access to a Stable-Tec MTC machine. Perhaps you can work with the Destruction Bay volunteers to fabricate enough food, water, and medical supplies to help your people.”

“And while you’re at it,” Hispano spoke up as she rapped her talons along the barrel of her sister. “Maybe you can help us by giving us a bit of a resupply ourselves before we leave. I’ve heard that those Magical Template Constructor machines can make pretty much any ammunition used during the war.”

“Of course, of course,” Mayor Thunderbolt’s smile wavered, but with each word I could hear her voice become more resolute. “I will make sure to put you as the top priority on the list for use of the machine.” Reaching up, she brushed at her mane again, but stopped with a smile as she looked like she had a realization. “Funny enough, without needing to resupply the Road Crew everyday for their shelling, I should be able to get you everything you could need by midday tomorrow.”

Which actually reminds me…

“One, last thing,” I spoke up, pulling a concerned look over the mayor’s previous smile. “Cordite will be pulling out shortly and heading back up north, but I want you to talk with the Road Crew. They were originally looking to bring Vanderhoof’s roads under their care, and if you work with them, I’m certain they’ll help you with that wall of yours.”

“Hey, yeah!” Hispano let out a light gasp before giving me a soft nudge with her talon. “Didn’t Lustre say she had a hunch that Rock Saw would be needed?” Huh, that’s right, she had…

“I believe that’s no coincidence.” Buck let out a light laugh as he glanced down at Hispano. “After all, you have been keen to point out that we certainly do have a bit of a reputation in the North.”

“I will make a point to talk with the Road Crew about a new arrangement,” Mayor Thunderbolt sighed as it looked like two tons of weight were lifted from her. Still, something hung on her mind, and the small pause she gave as she looked between us betrayed that it was more than just a simple issue. “But with Cordite pulling out, I will have to make a request to the Sky Martial for help in defending Vanderhoof. And though I am not eager to make the call up to her explaining what I’ve done here, I’m afraid that in the time it will take for them to mobilize down here, we’ll have been sacked by any number of wasteland roughians.” And here came the predictable question… “I know I have no right to ask, but I don’t suppose I could convince you all to stay until they get here?”

“Bah! There’s no need for that nonsense!” The propper voice of Captain Charge chimed up through the canvas walls of the tent. Popping his head in through the tent flaps, he took a few puffs from his pipe as he looked over us with a smile. Then with a hobble of his own, he stepped through the flaps and revealed that he too had lost a leg in the fight. Though, it did seem to have been somewhat cleaner of a wound than mine had been... “I could narry authorize our mobilization if I knew it would leave innocent Equestrian citizens at risk. Should you wish it, Cordite’s tanks and crews are at your disposal, Mayor.”

“Thank you, I can’t tell you what it means to me that you’d be willing to stay.” Mayor Thunderbolt turned and held her hoof out to him reflexively. All of us stared in silence as our gazes went from her outstretched hoof, to his bandaged stump, and back to her leg. “Ah, sorry, I didn’t…”

She was cut off as Captain Charge belted out a hearty laugh that almost made him lose his pipe.

“Oh, it’s quite alright!” He sat back on his haunches quickly and used his other forehoof to keep his pipe pinned in his muzzle. “I admit that the wound was my own fault, and is the reason I had to rely on your talon to finish the job you asked of us. I was a bit too hasty in keeping our guns fed to remember that some of our tanks are quite happy to send a bit of you out with each shot!”

“Yeah, no problem. We’ve uh, heard stories that those Stalliongradian tanks do have a taste for forelegs...” With Hispano’s morbid curiosity now sated, she went back to doing her best not to stare at the Captain’s stump again, or mine for that matter.

“No longer just stories as you can see!” Again, he let out a light hearted chuckle that was far too relaxed for having lost a limb. “But none of us from the old days are strangers in adapting to change.” He looked down at his stump and moved what was left of it, not even flinching, but smiling as he stared at it. “You know, I once knew a lad during the war, a brave, and maybe too eager soldier. But if I may say so, one of the best tankers I’ve ever had the distinction of serving with.”

“He looked upon injuries as merely an inconvenience, even right there at the end of the war.” With another laugh, he looked up at us with a sort of strange youthfulness in his old eyes. “Imagine, a pony who thinks of Megaspells as merely an inconvenience! Who, as the green clouds were springing up all over, was content to keep fighting on, all the while blaring that bloody goddess-awful bagpipe music he so loved! It’s enviable, even if it came with the appearance of having gone utterly mad.”

Bagpipes? Madness?

“Mad Jack.” Hispano, Buck and I all said at the same time as we traded tired looks.

“Ah yes, so you’ve heard of him!” Captain Charge nodded to us eagerly.

“We’ve met him.” I sighed and did my best to balance on my haunches as I facehooved. A shudder ran through me as the sounds of bagpipe music drifted through the back of my mind, but was quickly snuffed out somehow. Who knows, maybe that shrill sound tortures even my Jynx...

“Then before you go we must speak more, and trade stories of glory!” With the energy of a pony two hundred years younger than him, he got to his hooves and nodded for us to follow. “Come, I’ll put the kettle on and you can regale me with your stories of Jack!”

“Unfortunately… we must return to our ship.” Hispano stepped in to save us all. It’s not that I wouldn’t have enjoyed hearing exciting war stories from the old days, but… I’d settle right now for a hot meal and a week off my remaining hooves.

“Yes,” Buck nodded eagerly as well before quickly scooping me up off the floor. “We really should be getting back. But, thank you for your offer, and the generous use of your medical supplies.”

“Ah well, another time perhaps.” Captain Charge gave an understanding nod to each of us before sitting down again and saluting with his remaining forehoof. “Thank you for your service in taking down that beast. From my camp and I, well, we wish you all the best on your journeys.”

“You too, Captain.” I did my best to throw up a salute from my cradle in Buck’s arms, but I’m sure I didn’t do it any justice. Before stepping out however, Buck paused and turned me to give our farewells to the Mayor. “We will return tomorrow for the contents of the box, Mayor. If you need anything else in the meantime, give us a call.”

“Will do.” She nodded before stepping aside from the tent’s entrance. Reaching up before he could take a step, she hooked her hoof on Buck’s arm. “And again, thank you, for everything.”

I gave her another nod before settling down in Buck’s arms. I pushed myself back against his fur and letting his warmth radiate out and warm my body. Hispano joined me, and did her best to do the same, stretching her wing over me to help contain some of the precious heat. Closing my eyes for a moment, I took a few deep breaths as I finally felt like I could relax.

And before I knew it, as Buck brought Hispano and I into the cabin of the waiting Remora, I’d drifted off into a well deserved nap.

Author's Note

As always, a huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for all his help in giving my chapters a good once-over before they go up. It may seem like a small contribution, but it helps the chapters be as good as they can be!

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat for kicking off this damn near seven year ride for me. FoE continues to change my life, and for that I can't give enough thanks in every notes section I'll ever write in.

Chapter 94 - Silver Linings

Everything in life is important, important things are simple, simple things are never easy.

[11:18AM]

Wait, was it tomorrow morning already?

I should really listen to Buck more. With all the torture my body had been through, I slept for hours upon hours. I mean, after sleeping for basically a week straight just to get the drugs out of my system, I’d have assumed I’d be caught up on my sleep for the next month! But as much as I’d love for it to be that way, that’s not how it worked. Still, I was thankful to wake up in my own bed only slightly groggy in the pile of warmth that was Buck and Hispano.

Buck gave a soft sigh as I yawned and adjusted myself on top of him, and once again thanked the goddesses for the ultra-dim lighting that the desk lamp provided for my eyes. However, Buck didn’t wake as I moved, and simply went back to lightly snoring like he did. Carefully, I leaned over and planted a kiss on his broad black nose, and smiled as he gave it a reflexive little wiggle.

Hispano shifted as I moved, but likewise stayed asleep. Turning to her, I leaned over to plant a kiss much the same, but paused as I was met with a face full of her feathers. Pulling back, I blinked and brought my only remaining forehoof to my eye. I rubbed at it as I took in what looked to be a much larger wing than normal.

Reaching forward carefully, I hooked my hoof around the wing and moved it. I gasped and did my best to scramble off the bed. Hispano was gone, and some other griffon was sleeping in here with us!

“What the fuck!” I did my best not to trip as I threw myself across the cabin for the light switch. “Who the hell are you!” I needed a weapon, or for Buck to just grab this guy! “What did you do with Hispano!”

“What, I…!?” The griffon groaned as he got up pausing with a look of shock. He was almost twice as big as Hispano, and though they shared much of the same coloration, this was definitely not her. Still, he looked shocked for a moment as he shot up to standing on his paws to reach his impressive height. With a clunk, he hit his head quite hard on the bulkhead struts that crisscrossed the ceiling. “Mother fucker…!” He growled and bristled his neck plumage in confused anger, but it gave me the opportunity to see a broken compass hanging around his neck. Hispano’s broken compass...

“What… what’s going on here?” I asked as my mind struggled to understand just what the hell was happening. “What did you do with her!?”

“My voice…” The griffon gasped before running his talons across his head, tracing along the strong features that I would be willing to admit were fucking amazingly handsome any other time than right now. “Night, something’s wrong with me! I’m bigger… and I sound weird!”

Even though the voice that said that belonged to a griffon I’d never seen before, the worry and fear in his sharp blue eyes said enough. I knew that look, and it belonged to the only griffon I cared for. As strange as it was to admit, this griffon somehow was Hispano.

“What’s with all the yelling?” Buck grumbled through a yawn as he too woke up.

“I… I feel weird.” Hispano whimpered as she… he wrapped his talons around himself and pulled his wings tight to his back. But as Buck rubbed at his eyes, Hispano gave out a soft cry and started to sob.

“I don’t know what’s happened, but we’ll figure this out.” I offered to her… him, taking a single step forward before I found a large talon in my face.

“Don’t touch me!” He whined, pulling himself away from the very confused reach of Buck as well. “I… I could be contagious!”

“Oh fuck…” Buck groaned and brought his metal paws up over his face. “Hispano, you didn’t touch any of those blue flowers yesterday, did you?” At that, Hispano’s color drained almost completely. “This sort of magic resembles killing joke, but… somehow it’s effect was delayed.”

“Poison joke… that’s what Monk had said.” Hispano gasped as she looked down at her now larger, more robust hindpaws. “I... I stepped on one, I thought maybe… oh goddesses, am I going to stay like this forever!?” He let out a whimper that stung to hear as he wrapped his wings around himself tightly.

“We’ll figure this out, Hispano…” I did my best to convince all three of us of that, but we were in uncharted waters here. From what Buck had told me, there was no cure for killing joke, and who knows if there ever was one for poison joke even before the end of the war wiped it out.

Carefully, Buck reached out with his mechanical paws and placed them softly on Hispano’s now well built, broad shoulders.

“I promise, we’ll find a way to change you back.” He did his best to put on a confident smile as he looked to me for help. I too did my best to nod and smile, but as Hispano looked between us, I knew that he could see right through us. “Why don’t we go to the infirmary and get started then? Alright?” That pulled a whimper and a nod from Hispano. “Good.” Buck nodded back to her before looking at me with a pleading glance. “Night, why don’t you take the Remora down to the city, maybe Jean or the others know of some sort of cure. I’ll call once I’ve done a few tests of my own. It’s not something they’ve likely trained for, but it’s not a new affliction.”

“Alright, sounds like a good place to start.” I nodded. It was a long shot, and I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but if anyone knew how to fix Hispano, it would have to be somepony trained at Destruction Bay. “I’ll get my gear and head out.” Doing my best to hobble and turn myself around, I was forced to stop as Buck’s paw softly grasped at my side.

“Be careful, Night.” He offered like always.

“I will be.” I nodded to him before turning and opening the bulkhead door.

Let me tell you, losing another leg? It makes gearing up even more of a process than it already was. It took me five minutes to get my flight harness on, and another five just to get my submachine gun hooked up correctly. I know that in a fight, response time was everything, but if this was the best I could do, I might as well give up on ever leaving the ship again…

The hydraulics to the Remora’s hatch hummed as the metal seal swung down into the dark cabin of the skycraft. I peered down inside, and ruffled my wings in anticipation for dropping down. Okay, this was going to be a bit different with only being able to feel two legs, but here goes nothing! Stepping forward, I stretched out my wings to drop in, and...

“Night?” Happy’s voice from behind me startled me.

My forehoof slipped on the ring of the hatch and I gave out a yelp as I fell. The floor of the cabin swiftly rose up to meet me, and my metal headplate gave a solid klang as I came down hard on it. The rest of my body followed with a meaty thwack on the cold floor, and I felt justified in letting out a soft whimper even though my painkiller talisman had done its job well and masked the pain.

“Night! Are you alright!?” He gasped as his three heads peered through the hatch above me. I blinked as his form wavered among the stars in my eyes, helping to condense the three fuzzy images back into one. “I didn’t mean to startle you…”

“It’s fine…” I groaned as I pulled my wings against my back and got to my hooves. “What’s up, Happy? Come to yell at me more about taking too long to go after Solomon?” That may have been harsh, but after yesterday, I wouldn’t tolerate his foalish attitude any longer.

“No, it’s…” He paused as he watched me stand up. His eyes shifted from my face to my bandaged stump. “You… lost another leg?” I wanted to snap at him for that, but… he was just making an observation.

“It’s nothing.” I lied and bit my tongue. Don’t go off on him when you’ve got more important things to do right now, Night. “Look, Hispano’s sick, so I’m heading out. Can this wait?” If I didn’t have to deal with his brand of annoying right now, then I wouldn’t. Simple as that.

“Fine.” He grumbled before taking a step over the hatch and dropping himself down. I had to jump out of the way to avoid getting crushed by him. Straightening himself up, he shifted uneasily on his bark coated wooden foreleg. “Then I’ll go with you, because I need to talk to you, Night.”

No, that’s where I draw the line.

“Happy, get out. This is not the time.” I was not going to be harassed today. Not by anyone, least of all him.

“No, I won’t leave until I talk to you.” He shook his head and sharply jabbed his wood leg against me. “So you’re going to sit down and hear what I have ta say!”

“Eliza, get somepony to come remove Happy from the Remora.” I thought out as I leveled a glare at Happy.

“Double Delta is on his way.” Eliza’s smiling mare popped up not even a split second later. “However, perhaps you should hear what he has to say.”

“Fine, what?” I snapped at him. At the very least he could make it quick and then get out.

“It’s… hard for me to say, Night.” Happy grumbled as he took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself like I wished I had the luxury of doing right now. “And I… I don’t know how to put it either…” raising his hooves to his head, he growled and shook it hard. It was like he was trying to wrestle with himself. Seriously, he always has to be so overly dramatic, doesn’t he?

“I’ve just been so… useless, and I finally got a chance to do something, you know? A chance to show I was more than some spoiled brat.” He forced out a laugh as he squeezed at his head hard enough that a whimper came through his words as well. “But that’s exactly what I was, I just didn’t see it because... I didn’t want to. I was content to end up like my father, even if it killed me.”

It was right then, right when I heard his laugh that I stopped. Stopped thinking, stopped judging. Sure he was being dramatic, but… this wasn’t what I’d expected from him.

“But Ma, she never even gave me a chance, you know?” He continued by ripping his hooves away from his head and slamming down on his haunches. “She would never have admitted it to anyone, but she was too overprotective of me. I was her legacy! How could she protect me from Solomon if I was off on my own?” Again, he forced out a laugh, but it came with a line of tears as he brought his eyes up to mine again. “But then he didn’t kill me. No, he took her away instead, and all I was left with, was you. The pony who she always wanted me to be.”

“And then what did I do?” He continued with another, harsher whimper to his words. His forced smile was crumbling, and his breaths became faster. “I fucking loathed you, even after all we’d been through. You stepped in and took control, just like she’d wanted you to, and part of me thought I knew what was going to come next. My best friend was going to push me away and tell me what to do, just like she did.”

“But I knew with you, I could at least show you I was more than she thought I was! You were a cool guy, understanding and such.” He put his hoof to his chest as his watering eyes darted about. “So… so when the opportunity came, I took matters into my own hooves. I knew you’d be angry that I didn’t run, I wanted you to see I could stand on my own! Just a quick fight with someone you were going to kill anyway. But whoops! Haha, Happy Trails screws up yet again!”

His belting laughter resonated against the Remora’s cabin walls, feeling as hollow as the stallion before me looked. With each laugh, his voice weakened and changed. Soon, sobs were all that came out of his muzzle as his body shook and he collapsed onto the floor in tears.

“I’m sorry!” He cried out and brought his hooves over his head again. “I don’t want to do this anymore! I can’t be who Ma needed me to be!” Struggling to look up at me, I’d never seen him look at me with such fear and shame in his eyes. “I… I can’t be you.”

Banana had been right. Happy had been hurting inside and we’d all missed it. He was still an ass for saying what he did, but… he needed help all the same.

“You good, Night?” Double Delta’s voice came down through the hatch, and I looked up to see him staring down at the whimpering form of Happy.

Sighing, I knew what I needed to do.

“Happy and I are leaving for a while.” I nodded up to him before sitting down. “I’m leaving you in charge of the Arcturus.”

“Aye, Captain.” He nodded and threw up a short salute.

First Hispano’s odd affliction, and now Happy’s breakdown. Today really wasn’t starting off like I’d hoped. Then again, we weren’t being shot at yet, so that was at least one blessing.

The hydraulics whirred to life around us as the hatch to the Remora closed. The magnetic seal released, and the floor under my hooves shifted as we pulled away from the Arcturus. As I brought my eyes back over to Happy, I found his mane being stroked by my Jynx as she smiled up at me.

“Alright, Eliza, have the Remora take us to the clinic.” I thought out. Who knows, maybe they’ll know a little something about curses, and I can tackle all three of our problems in one go.

Of course, nothing was ever so easy.

“As the saying goes,” Jynx giggled softly, “if wishes were horses…”

Happy dragged his hooves as he followed behind me, but kept up as we made our way into the clinic. Dozens of ponies were waiting outside with various untreated injuries, and three times that many were already inside either on medical cots or sitting anywhere they could fit and be treated. Jean, Banana, and Hemlock were each in the middle of treating a few ponies at a time, but one by one they looked over and smiled at us as we entered.

It was amazing how different this place felt with so many ponies in it, but that was hardly impressive next to what else was in here. In every patient’s eyes, I could see the pain they felt, but all of them shared one thing no matter the injury. A look of hope.

“Oh hey there!” Jean called out with a bright smile as she finished wrapping a set of fresh gauze bandages around the head of an elderly stallion. “Sorry we’re a bit busy for a chat, but if you need anything, just let us know!”

“Actually, Buck needs some… antiquated medical information, and we weren’t sure if you had any on the topic.” I flashed up a smile back at the medical moose, pulling a puzzled look from her. “Do any of you by chance know how to treat Poison Joke?” That pulled a series of worried murmurs through the injured ponies here, but after all they’d been through, I could understand how it might scare them. “Yesterday, before the facility was destroyed, Hispano stepped on one, and well…”

“Say no more.” Banana spoke up as she stepped back from a collection of injured foals. “But I’m sorry to say that it’s not exactly something we’ve been trained on. There used to be a treatment before the war, but it was lost along with so much other useful medical knowledge.”

“Besides,” Hemlock poked her head out of one of the examination rooms with a flat gaze, “Poison Joke was believed to be extinct, completely replaced by it’s more lethal variant, Killing Joke.”

“To be honest, your best bet would be to let it resolve naturally.” Banana shrugged as she trotted to the bed across from the foals where a pregnant mare sat with a wet towel across her forehead. “It depends on what exactly the magic has done to her, but if it’s the same as it was before the war, it shouldn’t be anything more than a minor inconvenience.” As true as that was, I wasn’t sure that Hispano would view being stuck as the wrong gender as a ‘minor’ inconvenience… “The magic should wear off on it’s own in two weeks or so, but I’m sorry, that’s the best information I can offer.”

“Well, it’s at least something. Thanks.” I nodded and smiled to her, watching as she replaced the towel on the mare with another one before picking up a small syringe from the medical tray next to the bed. “Now, onto another problem we’ve had.” Okay, and here’s for the big ask, “You don’t have any way to treat an old zebra curse, do you?”

“Gee, you have a lot of curse problems, don’cha, eh?” Jean let out a soft giggle as she moved across the clinic and grabbed a few IV bags filled with clear fluids.

“There’s a ward for that sort of affliction back north on the Mercy,” Hemlock spoke as she came out of the examination room. “But if it’s what Doctor Buck spoke of yesterday, there’s nothing we can do for you. I’m sorry.”

I hadn’t seen it before, but she wore a set of medical garments that were absolutely covered in blood. Between that and the tired look that was more and more obvious to me, I could tell that she’d been working almost nonstop since yesterday. All three of them must have been exhausted, and more than anything I wished I knew enough to help them out.

“Now you know how I feel.” Buck’s soft and caring voice came into my mind through my augment. “Just to give you an update, Hispano is healthy in all respects past the fact that she’s now a completely male griffon.”

“I’m glad Hispano’s alright, but… how is she holding up?” After everything we went through with her dad, and with her deciding who she wanted to be, I can’t imagine she was taking it so easily.

“He’s afraid, but Cora has been helping to calm him down.” Buck’s voice wavered, even in my head. “I have an idea of a way I can help him adjust for the time being, but that’s about as much as I can offer. Does the clinic have any way to help?”

“They said there’s nothing they can do, and that our best bet is to let it naturally wear off over the next few weeks. At least, that’s if Doc Chirality didn’t mess with it to make it’s duration permanent or anything.” While the prospect of having Hispano stuck as a guy for the next two weeks was unfortunate, I understood that this was for once, a problem I couldn’t solve. “As for my curse, they can’t do anything about that either.”

“Night?” Happy’s foreleg gave a gentle nudge at my side. I turned to him to see his ragged expression, and whether he meant it or not, it told me to get back on track.

“One last thing,” I called out to the others, “Banana, can we speak to you?” Again, I didn’t know if she could help Happy, but she saw what was happening with him clear as day. So maybe she knew how to help.”

Banana nodded and headed over to us. She trotted herself into one of the nearby rooms and waved for us to follow. Heading in, I found that it was empty, but that it hadn’t been cleaned after whatever surgery had gone on in here. The smell of blood was almost overwhelming, second only to that of the disinfectant they’d used, and the surgical implements were still coated in dried crimson. As we entered, I shut the door behind us and took a deep breath.

“You were right about Happy.” I asked, immediately pulling a worried and almost betrayed look from the mule. “He’s been suffering this whole time, and I need to know how to help.”

“Night…” Happy’s muzzle twisted into a frown as his expression sank. “I’m… I’m fine.”

“Far from it.” Banana offered out her hoof towards Happy, “Why don’t you start by giving me a hug and telling me all about it?”

“No!” Happy snapped at her. Almost at the same time, his forehooves shot out and wrapped around me tightly. “It’s none of your business. This is an issue between Night and I!”

“Then let’s talk… Happy…” I struggled to get out as he squeezed at me with his immense strength. Geeze I’d forgotten how strong he was…

With a whimper however, he let me go and slowly pulled his hooves around himself.

“I… I don’t know what to say.” He shifted uneasily as he settled down on his haunches. “This… this was a mistake.”

“No, Happy, I know you. You’ve made plenty of mistakes, but this isn’t one.” I turned to him and did my best to keep a soft smile. But it was hard to hold as his eyes seemed to grow more distant. It was a look I’m sure others would have known well on me whenever I sunk into the depths of my own thoughts. Thankfully, I knew just what would pull him back. “You may not know the words you want, but I know what I need to say. You were right.”

“About what?” He snorted and did his best to hold onto his forlorn look.

“About Solomon. We should have killed him.” I know that I didn’t really believe that, not a single word of it. But it’s what he needed right now, and more than holding up my own beliefs, I needed to help Happy. “Which is why I need you. Delilah had everything planned out, she knew how to reign in those around her. But I’m not her, I can’t do this alone.”

“But I can’t be like you, Night.” Happy’s eyes wandered toward the floor as he did his best to push out a sad smile. “All I do is screw things up. No, you’re better off without me around. That way you don’t have to worry about me.”

“That’ll never happen.” I couldn’t help but think that this was the reason Delilah never gave up on him. At least, not until the end… “You’re family, Happy. You may find it easy to distance yourself from me, but I won’t leave you.”

“That’s not true.” With a snort, he used his wooden leg to prod sharply at my bandaged stump. “Look at yourself! Just how much of you is going to be left in a month? What about in two?” His eyes sharpened to a fine tipped glare that slashed at my own resolve. “You’re going to die at this rate, Night, and then I’ll be alone anyway. Just another dead family member for me to try to forget.”

“Then help me to survive.” Reaching over, I put my own forehoof against his chest. “I need your help, even if it’s just you telling me that I’m wrong about something. You carry more weight in my decisions than you might think, and I value your input above almost everyone else's.”

“Right up to the point you brush it off.” Again he snorted and almost shoved my hoof off of him. I struggled to stay upright, but failed and slipped, coming down hard on the floor. “Like Ma’ you can’t share in making decisions. It has to be just you.”

While that was only sort of true, the fact was that he was right before. When it comes to matters of the Ark and Solomon, he had every right to tell me what to do. That was the reason we were arguing, wasn’t it? And with as much as my gut told me it was the wrong move, I had to do what I needed to in order to fix things.

“Then you’re in charge now, Happy.” I groaned as I picked myself up off the sterile tiled floor. “I’m giving you command of the Arcturus, of all of us.”

“That’s not really going to help him, Night.” Banana chimed in with a nervous smile that told me I should have listened to my gut.

“She’s right.” Happy shook his head and once more stared at the floor. “My own decisions only cause problems.” Lifting his wooden hoof, he let out a growl before grinding it down against the floor. “Losing my fucking leg should be all the proof you need.”

“You lost it because we weren’t there to help.” Staring at my own bandaged stump, I still couldn’t feel sorry for myself about losing it. “But you know how I dealt with losing my first leg? I had Buck there to help, and Hispano, and everyone else, including you. You need to allow us to be there to help you now.”

“Nothing will change!” Happy closed his eyes and shook his head.

“Things won’t be the same again, but you need their help, Happy.” Banana’s voice grew softer as she took a step towards him. “And they’re willing to give it. You need to allow yourself to feel everything you’ve forced deep down inside, and allow for them to be there to help you through it.”

“What do you know about what I need!?” Happy snapped at her. But Banana didn’t even flinch.

“Because I’ve been where you are.” She smiled and took another step forward. “All of us on the Mercy, we all lost our families at one point. And yet, we pulled together and formed another.” That’s why she knew he was suffering... “And it’s only through the strength of others around you that you can help yourself start to recover.” Of course it was, how couldn’t I see it before? “Night is here to listen to you, to help you. Don’t feel ashamed in feeling like you need to reach out for it when the world seems like it’s coming down around you. That’s not a weakness, or a mistake. That’s you realizing that you have the strength to act, to fix the things in your life you care about.”

“It doesn’t feel at all like that…” Happy forced out a snort as his legs shook softly.

“Not at first,” Banana took the final step over and softly wrapped her hoof around him. “But it does get better.” With a light squeeze, she pulled a soft sob from Happy. “Not easier, but better.” With a pleading look up to me, she nodded for me to join her.

Stepping up, I did my best to press myself against Happy and wrap my forehoof around him as well. The moment I had, she brought her other massive forehoof around and squeezed us together. It wasn’t hard, rather, it was just enough that I could feel the tremors washing over Happy as he once again let go and sobbed. But this time he didn’t collapse to the floor, and instead wrapped his forehooves around me.

“It’s alright, Happy.” Banana whispered softly into his ear as she gave him a few pats. “We’re all here for you now.”

The two of us walked at a slow pace through the lower halls of the bunker-like city shelter. Since we’d left the clinic, neither of us had said a word. However, we weren’t in a rush, and I intended to give Happy the time he needed to collect and order the thoughts he’d just spilled out.

After almost an hour of Happy doing his best to talk to us about what he was going through, I think he’d finally started to see that things weren’t going to be as bad going forward. The Happy I’d known after we arrived at the Factory had returned, if only slightly, but with more sincerity than before. I have to say, I felt kind of ashamed that I didn’t make the time to talk with him before.

Delilah was tough on everyone, but none of us had the conflict that Happy had carried with him his whole life. Wanting to be his own pony, to follow his heart, but not end up like his dad, as well as to make his Mother happy and fulfill her expectations as Heir to Burro Industries. Laid out, it all sounds fairly simple. But with his viewpoint taken into consideration, he’s had as tough a time as I have, but needed to contend with it for years on end. Now that I think about it, it’s little wonder to me on how he’d taken to drinking all the time before I forced him to cut back.

While he’s certainly earned the ire of us with the way he’s been acting, I could understand it a little bit better now. Happy wasn’t a bad guy, and he certainly didn’t mean to come off like an asshole. But he’d reached out to us, and I needed to be there now to help carry him through his thoughts.

The sound of hoofsteps echoing down the smooth white corridors perked my ears. The annoyed muzzle of the elderly ghoul receptionist pointed around one of the branching halls ahead of us. She carried herself around the corner at a trot, and cleared her throat as she approached.

“Ah, there you are.” She held her muzzle tilted slightly upward, and looked at us through the old glasses perched on the top of her nose. “The timelock to your box has elapsed, and it’s contents are ready for you to retrieve.” Without waiting for a response, she spun around on her hooves and began trotting back down the way she’d come. “If you would kindly follow me.”

Not much for idle conversation, is she?

“Night?” Happy spoke up as he reached out and put his hoof on my shoulder. Turning, I found him staring at the floor again, avoiding my eyes. “I just wanted to say… I mean I’ve already… but I really mean it...” With a sigh, his legs trembled under him slightly. “I’m sorry.”

Reaching up, I carefully pushed his forehoof off of me and stepped up. As best as I could, I hopped and slung my remaining forehoof around him in another hug. Unlike before, he didn’t resist, and instead returned it willingly.

“And I’m sorry too. For not listening and talking with you.” I shook my head as I gave him a pat on the back. “But we’re in this together, and I promise, I won’t let it happen again.”

Happy and I were more alike than I’d cared to admit before. But Banana was right, we’d become family, a word that even now, I still was learning more and more about what it meant. Every time I thought I knew, someone shows me just how little I still know. And today, I learned that Happy deserved my attention just as much as Buck, Hispano, or my Dad did.

“I don’t know… how to fix it.” Happy whined as he squeezed me tighter, and the bark on his wooden leg bit into my skin. It wasn’t painful thanks to my augment, but I bit back my own reflexive whine from it.

“How to fix what?” I asked as he relented and let go of me.

“I screwed up, Night.” The moment I stepped back from him, he dropped his eyes to the floor again. “Because of me, Tofu got hurt, you lost another leg…”

“This isn’t on you, Happy.” I offered to him as I sat back on my haunches. “That thing had control of a lot of ponies...”

“But if I hadn’t been so stubborn…” He whined and brought his hooves up to his head again. “How do I fix this, Night? How do I make it up to Tofu, to you?”

“By taking it one step at a time, Happy. One day at a time.” Balancing as best I could, I reached out my hoof for him to grab. “We’re family, and I may not be half Donkey, but you know you could hardly find someone more stubborn than me to stick by your side. I’m not going anywhere without you, Happy. None of us are.”

“Hasn’t anyone ever told you that you’re too fucking sappy?” A warm smile crept across his face as he brought his tired and weary eyes up to me.

“Oh come on, you know that’s pretty much Hispano’s job.” I chuckled, but perked my ears as the sound of hoofsteps in the hallway cropped up again. “But I’m sure you and her can compare notes on me later.”

Happy took my hoof with his and gripped it firmly. He smiled and stared at me with a surprising look across his face. I’d seen plenty of others so far on this trip with a renewed sense of hope about them. But Happy, while the flame inside wasn’t obvious, I could tell it burned brighter than most.

“Ahem?” The receptionist cleared her throat as she predictably poked her head around the corner to shoot us an impatient glare. “I do have many other duties to attend to outside of being a chaperone to outsiders.”

“Are you going to be alright, Happy?” I asked without even thinking. Of course he’s not, Night! That’s why you need to meter yourself and not blurt out shit like this to him, you dolt! “Sorry.”

“I think… I will be.” He nodded as his smile wavered from his muzzle, but the look in his eyes only firmed up as he glanced at me again. “You’re brave in saying that we’re family, Night. You should know that the Burro’s have always been a particularly stubborn breed. You might regret not getting out when you had the chance.”

“And miss the opportunity to see the look on your face when we kill Solomon?” I beamed a smile at him as I got my hooves under me again. “Not a fucking chance.”

I won’t lie, this place was impressive. Metal walls two meters thick surrounded the public records vault from outside incursion, while magical barriers covered each and every section of deposit boxes inside. The vault itself didn’t seem particularly large from the outside, but there was enough room inside along it’s walls to hold thousands of seperate boxes. If I didn’t know better, it seemed bigger on the inside than was generally possible.

“Ugh…” Happy shuddered as we followed the receptionist inside, “I never liked these magically compressed spaces. One arcane containment failure and bam! Ya explode.” Well that was a terrifying thought….

“You’ve seen one of these before?” I whispered as I stepped closer to him.

“Yeah, our family wanted a panic room installed back home during the war.” Again, he shuddered even harder. “Except the M.o.M. screwed it up, and the whole thing decompressed. Took out the whole east facing side of the house two months before the worst winter the war ever saw.”

“A panic room?” A personal magical fallout shelter would have made more sense, but I wasn’t sure why they’d need something like that. I mean, it’s not like they had someone like Solomon coming… “it wasn’t for them, it was for Delilah and you once you started looking for the Ark. Your family knew that Solomon would come looking at some point.”

Happy nodded to me, almost missing the fact that our guide had stopped in front of us. We both stopped just short from running into her rotting flank, and in sync, we took a single step back.

“Here we are, box two two six.” The elderly ghoul promptly shot us a sideways glance as she put her hoof up to a small black pad next to a section of security boxes. The pad let out a short lived and quite loud electrical snap that forced both Happy and I to flinch as arcs of magic crawled across the barrier wall. Seriously, was it supposed to do that!? The ghoul was undeterred as she lifted her hoof from it and turned to Happy. “If you would place your hoof on the pad to confirm you are the current account holder.”

“What? You want me to put my hoof on that thing?” Happy scoffed and took a step back. “You know what, I think Night should go first instead…”

“Impossible.” The receptionist sighed and pushed her glasses a bit further up her wrinkled, rotting muzzle. “This magical attunement sensor is calibrated so that only the account holder or their offspring may access it’s contents.” She lifted her hoof expectantly to Happy and pointed at the pad again. Still, Happy hesitated. After a sound like the thing made, I couldn’t really blame him. “I assure you, it is a painless process.”

“If you say so…” Happy let a soft whimper out from his muzzle as he stepped up to the pad. He sat down on his haunches and leaned back as he put his hoof up. With a cringe and as much of a lean as he could get away from the pad, he carefully placed his hoof down against it.

Another electrical snap filled the air, and stronger arcs of magic worked their way across the surface of the magical barrier. Pink bolts of energy shot from each side of the barrier, converging around the edges to box two two six. With another snap, the barrier inside the bolts dissipated, leaving a hole just wide enough for the box to slip through.

The receptionist rolled her eyes before stepping forward and grabbing the box with her hooves. She gave it a stiff yank, and the old brass box gave a metallic squeal as it relented to her and pulled out. With a deftness that seemed a bit unnatural to me, she placed the long box onto her back and waved for us to follow.

Happy traded looks with me before we both shrugged. Getting back to our hooves, we followed the ghoul further into the vault, and to a small square steel table. There, she set it down and used her hooves to flip a pair of latches on the front free before stepping back.

“If there’s anything else you require, you will find me at my desk in the lobby.” She nodded to us before leaving us alone.

“Okay…” Happy smirked and sat down next to the table. He rubbed his forehooves together as his eyes locked on the old brass box with an almost foal-like wonder. “Let’s see what my family left us!” With a tender touch, Happy used his hooves to lift off the lid of the box, and reveal it’s interior.

We both paused as we found only a single, sealed envelope inside.

“Wait, that’s it!?” Happy snorted and took the letter in his hoof. He haphazardly tossed it to me before grabbing the box by the sides and shaking it. “No, there’s gotta be something else here! Where are the deeds, the family treasure, the hoof-sized superweapon!? Anything and everything that was rumored to be inside!”

Looking at the envelope in my hoof, I took a moment to push Happy’s disappointment aside in my mind. This was all that was left for Delilah, of Burro Industries, of Happy’s legacy. Whatever was inside here has to be important to finding the Ark, or maybe there was information that would help us get a leg up on Solomon. Even though it’s not what we expected, Delilah wanted to come here for this, and I needed to know why.

As carefully as I could with only one hoof, I opened the envelope. Inside was a folded, and quite lengthy, hoof written letter. It’s pages were yellowed with time, and some of the writing on it had started to fade, but it was still legible.

It is my hope that this letter is being recovered for its historical significance, rather than out of necessity.

However, with the state of things these days, I'm afraid it will be due to the latter. I am also going to assume that this has been found by one of the Burro family, of which I belong. This letter probably isn't the land deeds you expected to find when you opened this safe, but if I know my family, our resourcefulness will have already lead you to the location of the Ark. However disappointing it may be, the deeds are useless pieces of paper in your ruined world, while what I have written here is still of great importance.

This is my legacy, more than anything else of Burro Industries that may or may not still be standing for you today. Let this be the record of my deeds, for better or worse. The reasons why I took the steps I did to ensure that the Ark would survive the war.

As I write this, Equestria is winning. Given the state of the world you live in, I'm assuming that sounds hard to believe. But there's an old saying that the zebras have. Victory breeds complacency. And how complacent we have become.

A resourceful folk, the Zebras. Their lands are not at all like the comfortable abundance we enjoy in Equestria. Inhospitable terrain, filled with dangerous predatory animals and unpredictably wild weather. Even worse than those, for a millennia, the zebras fought constantly over what little resources they could harvest from the land.

But around the same time the Princesses began their rule over Equestria, the thirteen zebra tribes ceased their petty conflicts, and joined together to form the empire. Even the outcast tribe, once shunned by all, was mostly welcomed in to keep the idea of unity alive, to drive home one idea above all else. Their idea was radical, and again almost unheard of among the relative luxury that ponykind lived in. Each group agreed and decided to work together with a single, common goal. Shared survival.

Survival, that's also what this war is about. It may have started over coal, or a terrible incident, but with the invention of the megaspell, all that changed. It has become about the survival of not only ponies and zebras, but of the planet as a whole. And like the tribes, we have once more banded together. Our tribes are not nation-states, nor even mostly zebra. Rather, it's corporations working together these days. Survival is still the goal, that hasn't changed. But unlike the empire, it's not survival for all.

The Ark was funded by dozens of corporations, a lifeboat to ensure their fortunes carried over through the magical fallout. Tens of millions of bits were funneled into Burro industries and the Saddle Arabian Builders Corporation, and together we built something the world has never seen. But as the Ark neared completion, Crown Prince Hakim of Saddle Arabia offered me an alternative solution to our planned survival. Instead of sharing the ship, just our two ‘corporations’ would split it among ourselves. With it, they would be able to ensure his own chosen royal family's lineage and wealth if the worst came to pass. He would ensure that the beating heart of Saddle Arabia would survive, which, was itself a noble goal.

I won't lie in saying I wasn't tempted by the offer, even if Bessy and Bertha outright refused. But I’m not as strong as them. The chance to save nearly half of the corporation we built from the ground up, to ensure that so many who sacrificed for us would get a chance to survive? They certainly deserved that chance.

But, it would be at the cost of more than just those left behind. We would lose our morals. The same morals that helped us to build this company. The same morals that helped so many more than anyone can count with the work we've done. But we couldn’t sit idly by and let the world suffer so that a few of our own members could survive with morals intact. After all what did our morals matter if there was nopony left for us to help? What would be the purpose of having saved Burro Industries then?

So, Bessy, Bertha, and I began our work in secret to alter the ship after it's hull was finished. We drew up the plans and arrangements to change it’s cargo, and to hide it where you have already undoubtedly discovered it. It has taken exhaustive work, and nearly all three family's entire fortunes to pull off. It's not about what we have anymore, or about how many bits it cost. It's about survival for all, plain and simple. Even if it means becoming an outcast in the eyes of the other corporations.

I feel like our time grows shorter by the day. I don't know what will survive the end of the war, or if I'll even live to see it with my own eyes. But I believe that if the worst does come to pass, what we leave behind with the Ark will be enough to start over. Like us donkeys, the Equestrian folk are stubborn, and I believe that enough will survive to start rebuilding.

But in order for them to truly do that, they'll need the help that only our legacy can provide. I helped start Burro Industries to build a future for all, and Bessy, Bertha, and I have left you everything you'll need to get started on it. Now, it's up to you to put in the work and shape the future we never lived to see.

I pray to the stars that this letter is found in better circumstances, and some archaeologist displays it as simply the ravings of an old, paranoid jenny. But if not, then know that Bessy, Bertha, and I have tried our best to set things right in the world. Good luck, and may the stars above guide the Ark to a prosperous and safe harbor for all.

Marcela Neddy, CEO of Burro Industries

I sat down hard.

She’d given up everything for the Ark. Her own future, her own fortune, just so that others could one day come back from the brink. She threw her entire family into Saddle Arabia’s cross-hairs, and for what? To ensure that as many of us in the future could find a way to survive a bit easier, nothing more, nothing less.

Survival. It’s funny how that keeps coming back to me. How the simple idea of doing whatever it took to live seemed like such an easy choice most of the time. I’ve been ashamed of it, proud of it, and disgusted by it. The fact was, no matter how I felt, I was alive because I’ve spent this time trying to figure it all out.

And yet, here in this two hundred year old letter, are the words of a mare who knew better than me about what survival actually meant. I thought I’d sacrificed everything, done things that were monstrous, just to stay alive. But as hard as it’s been, there’s no comparison to willingly expending countless lives just on the chance that someone, someday, may have been able to use that collective effort to fix the damage done.

But now that I knew, there wasn’t any choice to it. Too many worked on this, gave their lives for this for me to abandon the pursuit. And while Solomon had no intention of using the Ark in the way his ancestors did, if anything, in my mind he had less claim to it now than ever before.

The Ark, and whatever promises it may hold inside, belonged to everyone. It’s clear to me now, and we had a duty to see this task done. No matter the cost.

“You’re a terrible negotiator, Night.” My Jynx let out a soft laugh from inside my mind. “Don’t you know the first rule of bargaining? Never tell the seller that you’re willing to pay anything to get what you want…”

Hobbling back out into the cold midday air, Happy and I started our way back toward the Remora.

“I’m still bummed there wasn’t even anything useful in there.” Happy snorted sharply. Given the day he’s had, I didn’t want to step on his hooves over it, but was he planning on complaining the whole time? Maybe I could attempt to show him the silver lining of finding the letter and get him to at least relent before he could give me a headache through my augment.

“Well think of it this way, Happy,” I smiled to him as his expression brightened even if just momentarily, “there was nothing in the box that Solomon could steal from us. Sure, we didn’t gain anything as an advantage, but neither did he. Not to mention we have a better idea of why we’re searching for the Ark, and why we can’t let Solomon get there first.”

“I guess…” He groaned and rolled his eyes at me. It wasn’t the win I was looking for, but it was close enough for me to be content.

“Increadimare was more than a hero.” The voice of a younger mare carried from around the corner of the large rectangular city shelter. “She was a friend to everypony of Vanderhoof.”

Happy and I traded looks for a moment before we both made our way over toward the voice. As we rounded the corner, we ran right into an entire crowd of ponies who had gathered around a small shrine. Pictures, posters, and old Increadimare comic books had been plastered to the side of the city center, and a young unicorn mare in her own superhero outfit was standing on an old soap box next to the display.

“She stood for all that is good and just in the world, and gave her life willingly to protect those she believed in most. Us.” The mare’s words got sympathetic nods from the crowd, me included. “And I know that if she were here today, she’d want each and every one of you to continue doing your best to keep this city safe.”

I barely knew the mare, and while she’d thought I was somepony else, it didn’t make her any less of a hero for what she did for everyone.

“Increadimare… she was my mentor, the closest thing I had left to family.” The mare smiled and sniffled, using her horn to wick away the tears streaming down her muzzle. “And now that she’s gone? I can’t fail her in the task of protecting the citizens of this city, and I know you won’t either.”

At that, the crowd gave a short lived, but no less sincere cheer as most of them turned toward the mountainside where Increadimare’s body still rested. It was odd, looking at her laying among the trees, she looked so… peaceful. I know it must have been painful, and that she must have been afraid at the end. But she didn’t look it, not one bit. She’d faced Deru and died knowing she’d done all she could.

“Gee, where have I felt that sympathy before?” Jynx asked as she pushed her way through the crowd to stand next to me. Why did she have to come out and ruin things now? “Hey, I’m just doing my job.” She gave me a pat on the side as I gave her a level of side eye I’ve generally reserved for ponies like Happy. “What? You think you’ll be that content when you die?” She giggled and rolled her eyes at me. “You’re funny, Night, but I’m here to make sure that your last thoughts are on how much you regret letting everypony around you down.”

“Hey, Night?” Happy prodded me in my side, forcing Jynx to pop away from my mind like a bubble. Turning, I followed his hoof to a bit of rubble across the street with a hooded figure poking their head around it. “Is that King?” As soon as he’d said that, the green muzzle under the hood gave a gasp and ducked out of sight.

As the crowd around us dispersed, Happy and I made our way over to the rubble. What was King doing down here? I didn’t realize she’d even left the Arcturus. Maybe she remembered something about Vanderhoof and needed to talk?

Coming around the edge of the rubble, King’s cloaked form shrunk back from us slightly.

“I am sorry, Night.” She whimpered and hung her head, letting her tears drip down the length of her muzzle. “I didn’t mean for you to see me like this.”

“What do you mean?” I asked. There was nothing wrong with mourning for somepony, especially one of your own kind. But my gut told me that there was more to this than that. “What’s wrong, King? Did you remember something else?”

“She was… admired.” King sniffled and pulled her robes around herself tighter. “This, Increadimare, was loved by many, even though she was remade in mother’s image and born from Unity.”

“She was a superhero.” Happy smirked and shrugged, “So long as they save the day, people always tend ta look up ta them.”

“She was more than that.” The voice of the young unicorn mare spoke up from behind us. We spun to find her trot up wearing her own tear stained smile. Without an ounce of hesitation, she spun to me and held her hoof out. “You’re the pegasus mare who helped kill that beast yesterday. Thank you for that. Without your skills, many more may have gotten hurt.”

“Plenty did get hurt,” I offered her a sad, but sincere smile as I sat down and took her hoof. She shook it firmly before letting it go. “but I’m hopeful that now the mayors are working together, this city can recover.”

“In time it will.” The Unicorn nodded and glanced over to Happy, then down to his leg with a frown. “However, we’ll have to remember the mistakes we made as we move forward, and try to avoid them.”

“How…” King spoke in a whisper that the rest of us almost missed. “How did she move forward?” Lifting her head, her eyes drifted up to the hillside where Increadimare rested. “Leaving Unity left me with so little to hold onto. How did she recover so quickly? How did she know who she was supposed to be?”

“She…” The mare began, but paused as she brought her hoof up around her neck nervously. “She would have punished me for giving her secret away, but… she hasn’t been with Unity for almost a decade.”

“That’s impossible…” King snorted and stiffened up. “Mother would have known if one of us had been separated.”

“Increadimare… was a special case. My mother’s fault, actually.” The mare sighed and hung her head. “Years ago, an Alicorn from Unity came to take her away, to take me away. But my mother used an old magical comic book on her and trapped the Alicorn inside it’s story.” She smiled as she brought her hoof up along her own magical superhero outfit. “I’d almost forgotten she’d been in there when I felt the need to reread the comic’s I’d had as a foal. And when I opened the comic again a few months before the clouds came down, the magic inside expelled her out of it.”

“But mother would have known, would have sensed her!” King spat out as she got to her hooves.

“No, she was… different when she came back out.” The hero mare shook her hooves to King. “Comics like that one weren’t supposed to let you out until you have completed the story the right way. But this, this was a complete collection of Increadimare’s stories, only bought by the most die hard fans back during the war. To get out, she would have had to complete hundreds of storylines the right way.”

“How would an alicorn know how to be a hero?” Happy finally added something relevant to the conversation, and a fairly adept point at that. “Something like that would keep her trapped forever.”

“Cut off from mother, she must have reverted to her vessels old soul.” King muttered under her breath as she tried to make sense of everything. “Being in there must have been so confusing, it would have driven most to madness.”

“It did, for a time.” The mare nodded to him as she sniffled. “She said it took her years to understand that she couldn’t kill her way out of the first story. Years more to realize that she was supposed to be a hero who prized justice over anything else. So she adapted, and honed her skills, focusing on resisting all forms of coercion to be the best hero she could be by completing the stories one by one. She knew she couldn’t go back to Unity, that she could make a difference in the wasteland if she ever got back to it. So she gave in and let herself become the character.”

“And then you let her out.” I offered, getting a sad nod from the mare.

“It took her awhile to adjust to the wastes again, but the fight between East and West city helped her find a center, a balance to her new life.” The mare reached out, offering her hoof to King with a hope filled smile. “I know that having lost Unity frightens you, but Increadimare would have wanted you to fight that fear. You are an individual again, free to help others, to do something and make something of yourself that’s more than what your body was created for.”

“I can’t be a hero.” King reached out her hoof and carefully nudged the mare’s offer aside. “I’m sorry, I just… I can’t.”

“You don’t have to have a flashy name, or wear a cape to be a hero.” She smiled and nodded to me. “Like your friend here, you just have to want to do what’s right.”

“But I don’t even know who I am!” King’s hooves shot out of her robes and squeezed down around her head as she cried. “How can I know what’s right? What do I do if I chose something wrong?” Her horn began to glow brighter as her sobs grew louder. “I don’t want to hurt anypony, and if I fail, that’s exactly what will happen. It’s what happened last time!” She grit her sharp teeth together and opened her eyes, revealing that like before, they glowed green with the magic of her horn. “I won’t fail them again. I can’t…” Her voice deepened and warped, shifting to somepony else's. “I’m sorry!” It was the voice of an older stallion, clear as day, but filled with more raw emotion than I could process. “I... couldn’t save them…”

With a sharp pop, King’s horn sputtered out. Sparks filled the air as her body collapsed, and she hit the rubble with a pained moan.

What the hell just happened?

“I… I remember.” King groaned as she tried to pick herself up. Both the hero mare and I stepped to her sides, helping her up as best we could. Though, it was more hero mare’s magic doing the heavy lifting, as a three legged pegasus was a poor post to lean on. “I was a stallion.” She blinked as tears continued to stream down her quivering muzzle. “I had friends, a… a wife. All were taken by the goddess.”

“So you’re a dude?” Happy blurt without an ounce of tact to his words. It pulled a glare from me that he did his best to pretend he didn’t see, but from the way he stiffened up, he knew. “Do you remember anything else?”

“No.” King shook her head. Er, is it his head now? Ugh, why did today have to be the day I was forced to question everyone’s gender!? Jynx popped up behind King’s form and gave an eager wave. “But,” King groaned as he brought his hoof up his smoking and blackened horn. “I think I’ll need to reflect on this further.”

“That’s a good idea.” The hero mare nodded and gave King a soft pat. “Since alicorns don’t need all that much sleep, Increadimare would often meditate on the previous day to help her focus herself for the next.” With a shudder, the hero mare’s body gave a twitch that ran down into her tail, and she turned her attention towards the sheet metal slums on the outskirts of the city. “But as nice as it’s been, duty calls.” She turned to me once more and held her hoof out again. I took it, making sure to grasp and shake it firmly this time with a smile. “It was nice meeting you all, and it’s nice knowing that there are more heroes out there doing work other than just me and… well, just me now.”

“As you said, being a hero is more than just a name and a cape.” I nodded to her as her horn began to glow. “You’ve got a whole city of them around here, they just need the right pony to show them the way.”

With a smile and flash of her horn’s magic, the hero mare was gone. As the three of us picked ourselves up, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Of all the things I’d seen in the wasteland I could have run into, never once did I think I’d meet an Alicorn and her understudy who devoted themselves to being superheroes.

The wastes certainly were a strange, and now, hope filled place.

“You know,” Happy offered through his own smile as he looked off toward the sheet metal slums. “I never did catch that mare’s name.”

“She’s a hero, Happy.” I offered as I too looked with him. “I’m sure that if our reputation has made it this far south, it won’t be long before the ponies of Vanhoover and Seaddle are telling us stories about her own incredible deeds.”

Author's Note

As always, I need to give my thanks to TheFurryRailFan for all his help in making sure to double check my work and keep things sorted with it. Seriously man, I can't thank you enough.

Of course, a big shout out and thanks to Kkat for getting this whole FoE thing going. The last six years of my life wouldn't have been nearly as good without it.

Chapter 95 - Rough Seas

It takes forever to learn the rules, and once you've learned them, they change again.

The ship let out a groan as it listed under my hooves. I braced myself against the hallway bulkhead as the others in the kitchen did their best to keep breakfast from sliding onto the floor. You know, I never thought I’d say this, but I think I understand Tofu’s airsickness a little bit more now…

“Sorry about that, everyone.” Eliza’s voice came through every speaker in the ship at once. “The blizzard has stronger wind shear than expected. I am doing my best to compensate, however, it may be prudent to anticipate more disruptions.”

“You know,” Happy groaned from inside the kitchen. “Now that the pegasi aren’t busy trying to keep us grounders suppressed, you think they might do something about the fucking weather…”

“We do have our limits.” Dad’s aggravated tone resonated off the walls and instantly sent me back to when we’d still lived in the city. “It’d take a city’s worth of pegasi a day to disrupt a storm system this large.”

As the listing stopped and the ship leveled itself, I got my hooves steadied enough to hobble into the mess hall. Delta and Cora were sitting at the table as Happy and my Dad brought out a few steaming plates of food from the kitchen. My mouth watered as the smell of freshly cooked potatoes, hay, and corned cabbage wafted towards me.

“Oh, good morning, Night!” Happy grinned nearly from ear to ear as he set down a steaming tray of baked cram using his wooden hoof. “Slept well, I hope!” With an unnatural lightness to his hooves, he spun himself around and headed back into the kitchen.

“Yeah…” I almost tripped as my mind tried to process the sheer amount of joy in his voice. I didn’t get sucked into another one of my Jynx’s ‘utopian’ dreams, did I? “Is uh… everything alright?”

Happy stopped just short of the kitchen door. He didn’t offer me a cheery response, or shrug off my question. Instead, he let it sink in for a moment before he let out a sigh.

“No.” He shook his head. “But, things are... better, Night.” Turning to me, he shared his now waning smile, as well as the same hope filled gaze he’d worn yesterday. “Thanks for genuinely caring, even though I’ve been kinda’ a jerk lately.”

“That’s my Night!” Dad offered me a sincere smile as he sat himself down at the table. “He’s always been one to care about others, and I’ve never been more proud of him.”

“Dad…” I groaned. Oh goddesses, please don’t embarrass me in front of everyone…

“You don’t have to tell us.” Cora grunted as he leveled a glare right at me as I went to sit down. “It’s gotten us into far more trouble than he’s going to be willing to admit.” Okay, as true as that was, ask yourself, did I really deserve the glare he was shooting me!? “Not to mention, that ‘caring nature’ of his has rubbed off on my daughter.” Hey, I’m still trying my best! He has no right to tell my dad...

“Actually, I wanted to bring that up, Night.” Dad’s tone wavered as he reached over and placed his hoof on my shoulder. “I’m… surprised you took an interest in someone like her. Not that there’s anything wrong with exploring and experimenting, mind you! I myself did some experimenting at your age, you know!” He let out a nervous laugh as the room started to feel like it was shrinking. Oh goddesses, that’s from the weight of all the embarrassment I was feeling, wasn’t it? Why me… “But, it’s about your other friend, you see…” He paused as an all too familiar look fell across his cracked and ghoulish face. “Are you sure you don’t want a nice stallion for a husband?”

The way he said that, what he was insinuating, I couldn’t believe it was coming from my own father.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I spat at him as I did my best to shrug his hoof off of me. However, without my own forehoof to help, he firmly held his hoof and gave me the look he always did when he expected an answer from me. “What’s wrong with Buck?”

“Whoa easy there, Night. And pops, don’t worry about it.” Double Delta smiled as he started to dish some of the steaming potatoes onto his plate. “The Doc’s a great guy, real upstanding and caring as well. It’s not hard to see that he’s head over hocks for Night here.”

“But, that’s not exactly what this is about, is it?” Cora grunted as with a blink, he shifted his glare from me over to Dad. “You don’t like that Night isn’t dating a pony, right?” I always found it interesting how others looked under the weight of a glare like that, but part of me wasn’t sure how to think about it when the other person was my Dad. “You don’t have to tread lightly here, no Enclave bureaucrat is going to whisk you off to jail. With us, you say what you mean, or you don’t say it at all.”

I mean, as much as I liked to see the tables turned, Cora had read this wrong. As much as my dad was uncomfortable, he was going through the same period of adjustment I did when I woke up in the Inuvik, that’s all. I’m sure, given time...

“Well, you see... it’s just…” Dad stammered and shrunk back a bit, jamming up my train of thought. “Your daughter is so lovely, and I’m glad that she makes Night happy. But… at least she’s still a flier, you know? Us fliers have to stick together, after all! But I mean, being with some wasteland monster...”

I was wrong to be mad at him. Cora had read my Dad like a book. An outdated, and incredibly wrong book.

“I’ve heard enough.” I grunted and pushed myself up from the table.

“Night, I know you think you love him…” Dad tried to start, but I wheeled myself around on him and literally spat in his face.

“Have you once stopped and thought about what you’re saying, Dad?” I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard from him. “Have you thought about those Enclave morals you’re desperately trying to hold up? Having to ‘stick together’? You’ve seen where that got us, right?” I dragged my hoof across my neck where the blackened and knotted flesh from his explosive collar on his still sat. “I didn’t expect you to be happy for me, but I expected you to understand that I’m an actual adult now, and that this isn’t your decision to make.”

“Hey, don’t you take that tone with me, mister.” Dad pushed himself up to his hooves and clenched his jaw. “You may consider yourself a grown stallion now that you have your cutie mark, but I’m simply concerned for your well being, Night! The Enclave may have had its share of mistakes, but it was for a good reason! If your mother were here, she’d have the same…”

“Mom’s dead!” I snapped back at him, putting every ounce I could behind my voice. “I love Buck and Hispano more than I could have ever imagined, and Mom would’ve at least been fucking happy for me!”

Turning myself around, I headed back for my room and ignored the calls for me to come back and talk. I wasn’t going to sit there and argue with somepony who couldn’t see that things were different now. And it hurt. I wasn’t lying when I said that I hadn’t expected him to be happy, but it still hurt to know that he disapproved.

But I wasn’t a colt anymore, I was my own pony. And while maybe mom wouldn’t have approved either, that still didn’t change how I felt. I loved Buck, no matter what anypony else said, they would never convince me otherwise.

I snorted with a smirk as I hobbled my way to my room. Had Buck been here with me right now, he’d have probably suggested we talk it out, and explain it to my father. But as much as that’s probably what my Dad needed to hear right now, I was happy letting him sit there and think about what he’d said for a while. If Dad wanted to act like a foal, he could use a goddess damned time-out to reflect on his opinions...

Now that I think about it, why was it somepony around me was always acting like a fucking foal? First Happy, and now Dad. Ugh, why does this shit always happen to me.

“Sometimes the only thing more dangerous than a question, is an answer..” The other me poked her head right through the sealed bulkhead to the captain’s quarters. “But if you’d like, I could arrange a little… accident for your Dad. One little over-pressured reactor line and I’m sure he’d learn his lesson…”

“You do that and I’ll devote the rest of my life to finding a way to remove you painfully.” I glared at her, predictably only getting a smile for my efforts. “I don’t want him hurt, I just… I want him to change his mind.”

“About what?” Buck’s voice startled me as he poked his head through the Core Systems room bulkhead. The smile he wore across his jagged metal jaw dimmed as his gaze wandered over me. “Night, what’s wrong?”

“It’s… nothing.” I sighed and shook my head.

“I beg to differ.” He chuckled as he stepped through the bulkhead toward me. “Come on, Hispano’s slept long enough, and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind talking about whatever it is that’s on your mind.” Carefully, he held his paw out to me and smiled like he always did.

I loved the small, genuinely caring smile across his muzzle because it proved I was right. How could anypony think that he was a monster? Sure, I’d thought that’s what he was at first, but I was fresh from the clouds and as ignorant as a colt. But if you spend any amount of time with him you’d be able to see past his appearance like I had. And well, Dad has had more than a week on board to get to know him, and for me, that was ample enough time to see the kind soul under all the metal and fur.

“I love you, Buck.” I whimpered as my leg’s pushed me past his paw and right into a strong hug. “I don’t care what my dad thinks.”

“And I love you too, Night.” He nodded as I squeezed my fore leg around his warm furred body as tightly as I could. With soft stokes, he ran his mechanical paw down my mane and let a soft chuckle out. “But there’s a lot to unpack with what your Dad thinks of me, and that we’ll definitely need to talk about it. Not just alone, but with him as part of the conversation, even if he doesn’t like me.”

“I knew you’d say that.” I chuckled as well as I pressed myself further into his warmth.

“So then you know I’m right.” He lifted one of his paws up and used it to open the door to our quarters. “But we don’t have to do that right now. Here, let’s wake up Hispano and have a little talk, because we have more to discuss than you might think.” Looking up through his fuzzy chest at him, I watched as a heated blush grew across his face.

Just what exactly did he mean by that?

“Excuse me, you um… what?” I blinked and stared at Buck and Hispano’s nearly matching glowing blushes. The two of them shifted uneasily as they sat perched on the end of our bed, and I could understand why with the bombshell they just dropped on me.

“During the examination I gave Hispano,” Buck brought one of his paws up to his metal jaw and scratched at it softly. “We were both curious if… if everything was functionally male. And when we spoke, I mentioned a way I thought could help her adjust to being a guy...”

“Yeah! I mean...” Hispano’s male voice was something I was still adjusting to, but it couldn’t hide the same nervous undertones her feminine self had held sometimes. “It wasn’t like I’d straight up asked him to do anything. It’s just, one thing lead to another, and the urges you guys have to deal with are so… different...”

“And so you guys just... went at it.” I nodded as I still worked in my head to process it. I can’t say I’m not surprised, and I’m far from disappointed. Both Buck and Hispano had said he’d been interested in helping her de-stress before. It’s just that with Hispano being a guy now, the timing was… unexpected.

“I know you said you wouldn’t be jealous, but…” Hispano clicked his beak nervously and looked up at Buck. “it won’t happen again, if it makes you uncomfortable.” He fidgeted with his talons, tapping at his hindlegs with his claws as he looked away. “But Buck says I could be like this for a while, which, isn’t the end of the world anymore since I know it’s at least not permanent.” He pressed his talons together tightly and took a few deep breaths. “And knowing that, I was wondering… while we have this chance, and because I know you’d love me more if I were actually a guy…”

As much as I did actually find her more attractive this way, that’s… that’s not why I liked her and she knew it.

“Hispano…” I let out my own sigh and resisted the urge to facehoof with the only hoof keeping me from falling over. “We’ve been over this. It doesn’t matter if you’re a guy, or if you were a hippogriff, or anything! You know I love you, so don’t you go thinking that because your going to be a guy for a while, that I’ll be happier with you.” I paused, waiting for him to look back at me. It didn’t take long for his gaze to drift back over, and with it, came a soft smile tugging at the ends of his beak. “So long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters to me.”

“That’ll be ten caps.” Buck smirked and nudged at Hispano sharply, pulling a few slow blinks from me.

“Excuse me, you made a bet on my answer?” I asked flatly. While I didn’t care about the two making a friendly wager, part of me wanted to give a good glare at Buck for betting on such a personal topic.

“I… I didn’t even want to tell you.” Hispano groaned as he flopped back onto our bed. Even though he was laying flat, his sharp, larger masculine features only helped to show the bright glowing blush radiating from his face. “I’m sorry, but I’ve seen some ponies react really poorly to being told things like this.”

“So you’ve met another couple in a three way relationship where one of them changed genders overnight?” Buck snorted. He winced as Hispano’s swift response came in the form of swinging my pillow at his face hard enough that I’d thought it might split open. Well, at least this situation was easily diffused, compared to...

“Since you brought it up, you know what makes me uncomfortable?” I sighed. The more I thought about it, the more I just needed to say it out loud for myself to hear. “How even after finding out about everything, about what the Enclave did, my Dad still tries to act like we’re still a part of it.” I hung my head and again resisted the urge to do something stupid. However, this time it was wanting to bash my head against the floor until I couldn’t think anymore. “I mean, he doesn’t even know either of you, and he’s already decided what’s best for me!”

“He’s your father, Night. He simply cares about you.” Buck pushed himself up from the edge of the bed and reached out to me. Slowly I pushed myself up and walked over to him, allowing him to scoop me up and place me down on the bed next to Hispano. “And given time, I’m sure he’ll see us for who we are, rather than what we are.”

“You don’t understand,” I didn’t want to whine as I said that, but… it was like a reflex. “Dad’s smarter than this, and he’s had nearly as long down here as I had to adjust!”

“Yeah, but you need to know, Dum Dum,” Hispano reached over and wrapped his talon around my remaining foreleg. “You had us there, the whole convoy there to help you adjust. And you adapted, faster than I thought you would despite your morals getting in the way at every turn.” With his blush still glowing across his face, he looked me straight in the eyes and smiled. “Buck and I? Were not going anywhere, even if your dad never learns to accept us. But that doesn’t mean we give up on him.”

“Exactly.” Buck’s mechanical paw reached over and slowly gripped around Hispano and I. “Even if he isn’t supportive, that doesn’t mean we won’t stop trying to change his mind.”

My own blush flared up across my face, burning brightly as from each side, Buck and Hispano pulled themselves in and planted a series of soft kisses. Slowly, they worked their way forward, and I all but melted from the attention. The moment they connected to my warm muzzle however, all of my stress evaporated, just like that.

Goddesses, what did I do to deserve a family like this?

And before you decide to show up and ruin things, Jynx, that wasn’t an invitation. Not even you could ruin a moment like this. Everything would be perfect from here on out.

“You sure you want to make that bet?” Her voice echoed from the back of my mind as her head peeked over the end of the bed.

I was about to give her a response, and went as far as giving her a passing glance before Hispano’s talons wrapped under my chin and pulled me further into another kiss with him. Meanwhile, Buck’s paws ran down my sides, sliding down and sending a shiver through me that told me that while we may have come in here for a serious chat, none of us were at all interested in talking anymore.

As the Arcturus began to list again from the blizzard outside, I found myself with little time to ponder just why days like this always seemed to lead to long and warm stays inside our little cabin...

The room turned red.

An alarm pierced the air with an almost ear-splitting shrillness to it. The ship itself listed further than it had before, nearly forcing Buck, Hispano, and I to slide right out of our bed. What the hell, did we just hit something!?

“Captain.” Eliza’s voice boomed into my head and out of the walls as the alarm bell continued to ring out. “Starboard side cloud drive has been damaged by an approaching force of unknown assailants arriving from position one three zero mark zero one five. They are landing on the hull and now attempting to force their way inside the ship.”

A small box opened in my augmented vision that displayed an almost completely white image. Flickers of something moving came through what originally looked like static, but I could just barely make out a sort of roundish, sparkling sheen that stood out. I started to understand that the static was actually the blizzard’s snow whipping past the camera on the hull, and as it cleared a bit more, I could see who was knocking at the hatch.

Three alicorns, one of each color, stood around a circular, cloud-stripped section of the hull. The green one stood as still as a rock, a flickering glow from their horn casting a magical bubble over the other two. The purple and blue alicorns had their horns down, combining their magic into some sort of magical cutting torch that, as I watched, made quick work of the outer hatch.

Then with a flash of magic, they disappeared from the camera’s view.

“Shit, where did they go!?” I gasped as the ship righted itself once more, and the three of us were able to clamber off of our bed.

“Who?” Hispano called out as he threw himself across the room to where he’d secured Suiza. “What’s going on?”

“Alicorns.” Buck’s growl punctuated just how much any of us were going to enjoy the inevitable fight to come.

“Captain, intruders on the bridge!” Eliza’s less than monotone voice came over the speakers. “They’ve surrounded King, and forced her to shield herself in a bubble.”

“We’re on our way, Eliza.” I spoke as I hobbled my way to the door. Gripping the hatch, I yanked with all my strength and pulled it open. Before I could step through, Buck’s paw wrapped around me and stopped me short of leaving.

“Let Hispano and I handle this, Night.” As he spoke, Buck’s arm unfolded and revealed his small magical energy weapon. “You don’t have your gear on, and I won’t let you go into a fight defenseless.”

As remiss as I was to agree, he did have a point. Fuck! I didn’t like the idea of idly standing by when I could be helping. And after everything I’d been through, you think I would have been smart enough to keep something on my…

“Thanks to you, I’m never defenseless!” I gasped as I thought about my emergency one-shot eye-gun-thing. I focused on it, and felt my augment vibrate as one of the optics pushed out and glowed like it had last time.

“Cool, we all have a gun.” Hispano squawked flatly as he shoved me out of Buck’s grasp, and through the bulkhead. “Now let’s go kick these bitches off our ship.”

We turned and headed for the bridge, basically running right into Delta as he walked across the core systems room toward us with a worried look.

“Captain, there are three of them in there with King.” He spat as he spun on his hooves and pointed to the surprisingly bright purple air in the open bulkhead leading towards the bridge. “They’ve put up a shield spell to keep us out.”

“What are they doing with King?” While I didn’t like the idea of three alicorns busting into our ship, maybe they knew him. “Maybe they just wanted to talk.”

I hobbled up toward the shield and looked inside to the bridge. Three alicorns stood almost equally spaced around the bubble that King projected around himself, one of each color. Several of the consoles in the bridge sparked and crackled with fire from where his bubble cut straight through them. The invading green one had her horn lowered to King’s bubble, and it was wrapped in several layers of overglow as it looked like she was using it like a cutting torch again.

“What is taking so long to counter her spell?” The blue Alicorn snarled across to the green. “Take much longer and the new Unity may not find that you add to Razor Storm’s perfection. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”

“Almost… through…” The green whimpered out as yet another, brighter glow wrapped over her horn.

“Matriarch, we have company!” The purple one called out as her eyes fell upon my own. “Crew of this vessel, stand aside, our business does not concern you!”

“Foal, speak not with them!” The blue alicorn boomed out louder than any of us had expected.

There was a sizzle and a sharp snap from inside the bridge as King’s bubble fizzled. He cried out as his horn sputtered and blackened, but he didn’t simply stand still. With a strength only a body like theirs could muster, he lowered his horn and charged toward the purple alicorn.

There was another flash, and King stopped cold mid-charge as an aura of blue wrapped around his body.

“Excellent work.” The blue alicorn’s horn glowed brightly as she torqued her head and lifted King’s paralyzed form up into the air with little effort.

“Enough standing around!” Hispano grunted as he shoved me aside. With a swift swing, he brought the barrel of his sister to rest against the magical barrier in the doorway. “Fire in the hole!”

The report from Suiza deafened us all momentarily. A high pitched ringing set in before the muffled sounds of the rest of the world came back. The three of us watched as the magical barrier in the doorway filled with spidering cracks that stretched out from a twenty millimeter hole in the purple magic shield.

Without hesitation, Hispano lifted Suiza higher up. Again, with her barrel firmly placed, he pulled the trigger. Another deafening shot lead to another hole and yet more cracks in the barrier, but it still held. We were running out of time.

“Hold on.” Buck barked as he pulled Hispano and I away from the door. “If I can rotate the settings to find the inverse magical attunement…”

He lifted his magical energy weapon towards the door and fired. An almost vibrating pulse ran down the solid beam, striking the weakened barrier. An even higher pitched whine to what was in our ears filled the air, and with it, came a scream from the purple alicorn in the bridge.

Like a pane of glass, the barrier cracked and fell.

“I’m sorry, Matriarch!” The purple alicorn cried out as Hispano and I pushed our way into the room.

“Take us out!” The blue one commanded as she turned her head towards us.

I lined up my eye with the narrowed cat-like blue slits of the alicorn. She wasn’t going to get away with King. Not if we had…

My eye shifted as I noticed my own head pop around the backside of the Alicorn. Jynx smiled to me as she tumbled slowly through the air. As she did, the whole ship listed in the storm once again, and I gasped as my one shot weapon went off.

The magical bolt sailed low, striking her just above her shoulder, but doing nothing more than singeing her coat. Hispano fired Suiza from beside me at about the same time, and I watched as the listing caused the shot to eradicate the terminal on the far side of the room, rather than the head of the green alicorn who’s horn was now glowing brightly again. By the time that Buck had been able to bring his own weapon to bear, a shimmering green shield extended around all four alicorns.

“A valiant attempt, but futile.” The Blue alicorn smirked as her glowing horn held up King like some sort of trophy. “Do not attempt to follow us.”

“Buck!” I snapped at him and pointed at the bubble.

“On it!” Again, he raised his arm and pointed his magical energy weapon at the bubble as the purple alicorn inside flared her horn with a cry.

With a magical flash from the purple one’s horn, the green bubble was gone, and so was everyone inside of it.

The bridge fell silent. Outside of the three of us, and the sparking and broken control consoles, there was nothing. The alicorns were gone. And with them, King.

No, I refuse to let them get away that easily.

“Eliza, where are they?” I asked. This ship has more advanced sensors than anything else in the skies, we had to know where they’ve gone.

“I was not able to compensate for the stronger than anticipated magical radiation interference in the blizzard, and only observed them for a moment before I lost them.” Eliza’s frowning mare appeared on the few still untouched monitors across the bridge. “I’m sorry, Captain.”

“That’s not good enough!” I screamed at her. Again, this ship has all the advantages here! “I refuse to believe that we’ve simply lost King!”

“We have not completely lost him.” Eliza’s frowning mare flipped over to what looked like a radar readout that was unlike anything I’d ever seen used before. A green arm traced around a circular screen like I’d expected from a radar readout, but the interior of it was all white. With a flicker, a black dot appeared for just a moment before vanishing. “I was able to pick up their approach coming from the south east.” The screen fuzzed before showing the same green and white screen. Once again, the black dot showed up in the same place as before, for just as long. “This is what I picked up as they left, once again from the south east.”

“Then that’s where we’re going.” I growled and felt like kicking myself. How could I have let this happen? King trusted me to help him, and I just let them take him!

“If I may, Captain.” Eliza chimed in with more hesitation to her voice than I’d ever heard. “We are hours away from the settlement known as Maple Station.” Her frowning face took over the bridge displays again, and something about it seemed more sincere than it ever did before. “It may be prudent to ask the residents there if they know anything about the alicorn abductors, or whomever this ‘Razor Storm’ is.”

“That’s not a bad idea.” Buck nodded as he carefully brought his paw down onto my side. “I’d much rather see if anyone else knows what sort of trouble we might be running off into before we go and get right into it.”

“Fine,” I hung my head, still fighting with the idea of kicking my own flank because of this. “but even if they don’t know anything, we’re going after King.”

The numbed warmth of the water running over me was swiftly becoming the only thing I’d probably enjoy today. Sighing, I breathed deep, taking in the steam from my shower as I tried to relax.

“A valiant attempt, but futile.”

The image of those alicorns, as well as Jynx, showed up and instantly made my muscles tense up again. Alright, maybe I’ve spent long enough in the shower. The problem was that I still needed something else to keep my mind occupied.

I wobbled on my hock and a half, restoring my balance fairly easily. Looking at my prosthetic, I moved to reach out for it, but stopped as my foreleg stump pulled at the wet bandages uncomfortably. Right.

Taking another deep breath, I relaxed enough again that I could hear the hoofsteps through the doorway making their way towards the showers.

“Night? Can we talk?” Dad’s hesitant voice instantly threw my mind back to the dozens of times he’d come to talk to me in my room after some incident at school or another. The only problem was, I wasn’t locked away in my room, and there was no door here to keep him out.

“Do I have a choice?” I asked as I carefully scooted myself across the floor towards my prosthetic. “Or have you decided this for me as well?”

I winced as the cold and wet steel wall pressed against my skin. Though the talisman numbed my feelings, I still shivered as the cold steel quickly sapped what little warmth I had gained from my shower. With my prosthetic in reach, I hoofed it over and did my best at starting to fit it over my hindleg stump.

“I wanted to say…” Dad said as he stepped into the bulkhead doorway, but stopped as he watched me attempt to attach my leg. I glanced over at him, and waited for the inevitable look of pity he’d give. And for once on this trip, it came exactly as I’d expected. “Night, I’m sorry you’ve had it so rough.”

“It’s fine, Dad.” I grumbled as I managed to finally get my stump set right into the prosthetic. The familiar suction of it helped me to relax slightly as my mind once more felt like I was slightly more whole again than I actually was. “I’ve had plenty of timeto adjust.”

Dad shrunk back at my words, more than I thought he would. I hadn’t meant to sound so spiteful, but… maybe he needed to hear that from me. I wasn’t a colt anymore, and he couldn’t treat me like one.

“I...” Dad sighed “I can’t treat you like my little colt anymore.”

Wait, what?

I blinked and stared at him. Had I accidentally said that out loud? Or had I slipped into another one of Jynx’s utopian dreams during my shower? Did some ghouls become psychic with their change? It would at least somewhat explain Madame Mystic’s abilities...

“I know you’ve had it rough.” Slumping slightly, Dad braced himself against the bulkhead as his look hollowed out right in front of me. “More than the stories your friends tell me could ever do justice to, but… you’re still my son. And having you rescue me, only to spend a week getting over an addiction you gained down here? I couldn’t believe you were the same young stallion I’ve raised.”

“Because I’m not.” I blurt out, somewhat focusing his hollow, far off gaze again. “I’ve had to change, adapt, and grow in the wasteland. I’d thought that losing you and mom meant I’d never have a family again, but I found one. They’re all I’ve had over these last few months, and because we’ve stuck together, we’ve survived.” No, that wasn’t entirely true. “Well, some of us have.”

“You’ve done more than just survive, Night.” Dad smirked, but like with his eyes, it too was hollow. “You know, after you were born, your mother always pushed for me to enlist for service again? She said we could work and live together aboard one of the raptors.” A short lived laugh forced his way past his lips. “But I didn’t want that. I saw you as a reason to finally put down roots, for us to stay together.”

“Mom never did like sitting still, did she?” I shared in his hollow smile as images of her flashed up in my mind again. Goddesses, I wish I could see here again.

“No, she didn’t.” Dad laughed again, but behind it I could hear the loneliness he felt. That we both felt for her. “But she didn’t give up on either of us. She kept asking me, deployment after deployment. She pushed you so hard to live up to Enclave standards, she basically wanted you enlisted before your schooling even began. And I fought with her every time. After countless arguments and excuses, I thought the issue had finally been settled when the doctor diagnosed you with flat feathers.” His smile faded, and his eyes drifted off a thousand miles away again. “But in the end, it was all for nothing.”

“You couldn’t have known, Dad.” As much as I blamed myself for King’s abduction, that I could have done more to prevent it, this wasn’t on him. “Neither of us could have saved Mom.”

“You don’t get it, Night.” He forced out another laugh that brought tears to his eyes. “I fought with your mom on the issue because I didn’t think you’d make it in the service.” He brought his eyes into a glare that, while aimed at me, only pressed his greatest regrets upon me. “I thought that you’d be eaten alive by it like so many others. That one day, we’d get a note delivered to us that you had been ‘lost’ in a ‘training exercise’.” He jabbed at his wrinkled, furless chest with his cracked forehooves. “I didn’t believe in you, Night. For years I’ve limited your potential, and what do I do the moment I get you back? The moment I’ve seen the strength it’s taken for you to survive down here? I try to do it again!”

With that, he broke down and cried against the bulkhead. I didn’t know what to do, or what to say. He was wrong about Buck and Hispano, and he still had a lot to understand about what I’d been through, about who I’d become. But he was still my father, and like me for the past few months, he’d been thrust into an overwhelming amount of new situations that he wasn’t prepared for. The difference was, he’d been alone through it all.

“I know that Buck and Hispano aren’t the kind of family you expected, but they’ve been there for me.” I pulled myself to my hooves, trying to speak over his sobs, but not enough that I sounded like I was yelling at him. Slowly, hobbling step after step, I made my way over to him. “And you need to know that you can’t change the way I feel about them. At the same time, I understand you’re doing your best.” Carefully, I put my hoof down on his shoulder. “You’ve always done your best, Dad.”

“It’s not enough, Night.” He groaned as he buried his head in his hooves. “I should have been better! I needed to be there for you, to have believed in you! Especially after your mother...” Twisting himself, he turned and pulled away from my hoof. “You’ve built a life for yourself here, Night. And it’s not my life to intrude on.”

“Dad!” I snapped and reached out for him reflexively, but only ended up falling flat onto the cold floor. From here however, I managed to tightly grip my fetlock around his rear leg. “I don’t care if you think you could have done better, like it or not, you’re a part of my life.” He didn’t try to shake me off, and he didn’t relent as I spoke. He just didn’t move. “You’re part of Buck’s life, a part of Hispano’s, and they want you here. Just like I do.”

“But I don’t understand it, Night.” He kept his stern gaze locked forward into the bunkroom. Through his leg, I could feel his indecisiveness worming through him. “I can’t understand, I don’t have the strength you and your mother shared to deal with these sorts of situations!”

“Yes, I know you do, Dad!” Again I snapped at him, and as I did, I squeezed as hard as I could on his squishy, ghoulish flesh. He let out a whine and tried to fight my hold, but I used it to drag him back towards me. “I watched how you tried to defuse what happened on that Raptor before it exploded.” My words were a shock that completely too the fight out of him. “You tried to reason with Pepper. You tried to do the right thing while none of the others in that room did anything to help.”

“B-b-but how d-did you…” His eyes shot down to me, locked in abject horror.

“That doesn’t matter. You tried, that’s all that matters, Dad.” I did my best to look him in the eye like so many had done for me when I was confused and afraid. “Did you fail? Yes, but you won’t always.” As I said that, I felt my own words hit me hard. In fact, I blinked a few times as I understood them a little better myself after failing to save King. Letting go of Dad’s leg, I took a deep breath. “All you can do is pick yourself up and try again. You and Mom taught me that, and countless others have kept reminding me of it every time I forget.” Looking up at him again, I could see that his uncertainty had worked its way deep into his mind now. “So now, Dad, I’m reminding you.”

The silence between us wasn’t exactly the rousing response from him I’d wanted. And as it persisted as my dad thought about my words, I realized that more and more I could feel the cold floor under me. With all this talk about getting back up, maybe I should be doing just that. I rolled myself over with a grunt, and was about to push myself up when Dad shifted himself above me.

Looking up, I found his hoof held out to me, and a weak smile across his muzzle.

Without hesitation, I took his hoof, and let him help me get back onto my three hooves. I’d hardly been upright for a single second before he pulled me into a tight, yet squishy hug against him. Again, he began to sob, but as he did he only hugged me tighter. Without saying it, I think this was his way of letting me know that he wanted help.

And even though today had been one hell of a roller coaster, I’d try my hardest to do just that.

“We’ve arrived, Captain.” Eliza’s voice spoke through my augment as her smiling mare popped up in my vision. “We’re holding position about a kilometer to the north of Maple Station.”

“Excellent.” I replied without thinking about it. Unfortunately, I was met with a thump and a groan as my Dad hit his head on part of the reactor’s cooling manifold.

“What was that, Night?” He whined as he pushed himself out from between the cramped pipeworks.

“Eliza said we’ve arrived at Maple Station.” I offered to him with my best regretful look as he rubbed at where he’d hit his head.

“The blizzard has also moved far enough from the station that it will not interfere with flight performance.” Eliza’s voice sounded cheerier than normal, which was odd, seeing as she’s never really had emotion so much. “If I may ask a favor before you and the others head down to the settlement, Night? If you could go to the infirmary and inform Cora that he is free to wake Tofu now.”

“I’ll get on that.” I nodded and watched as my Dad’s eyes sank a bit. “Sorry, Dad, but I need to go.”

“It’s fine.” He nodded to me and flashed up a weak, but genuine smile to me. “I… I’ll be fine, Night. Thank you.”

“If all goes well, we won’t be down there long.” Pushing myself up to my hooves, I tried my best to believe those words.

“Hah!” The other me poked her head out from where my dad had been. “Like anything with you could ever be so simple.”

Just ignore her, Night.

“Hey, Night?” Dad asked before I could orient myself toward the reactor room door. “Thanks for talking with me earlier. Your Mom would be proud of the stallion you’ve become.” His smile shifted, filling with the loneliness he and I shared.

“She’d be proud of both of us, Dad.” I nodded to him and then got on my way.

Trotting through the corridor, I stopped at the infirmary door and cracked it open. Doing so woke Cora up from whatever nap he’d been having on the stool inside. He gave a snort as he glanced over, groaning as he realized it was me.

“What.” He spat as he adjusted himself on his seat and folded his talons across his chest.

“We’re at Maple Station.” I told him, peeking in far enough that I could see Tofu still sound asleep on the examination table. “Eliza said it’s time to wake Tofu.”

He nodded to me before craning his neck to the side with a long yawn. It gave out a few loud pops as he likewise stretched his wings and legs out. As soon as he’d done that however, he glanced over at me sharply and waved for me to leave. So I shut the door and continued on toward the mess hall.

Stepping into it, I was hit with the lingering smells of this morning’s breakfast. My stomach gave a grumble loud enough that it almost matched the groan the Arcturus bulkheads gave out now and then. Right, maybe I should grab a bite to eat before we go…

“Here.” Happy called out as he appeared from the kitchen door. With a swing of his neck, he tossed a small canvas bag from his muzzle toward me. One that I was too shocked to catch, and instead, was broadsided across the muzzle with it. “Oof, sorry! Didn’t mean for it to hit you like a sack of potatoes!” Happy gasped as the bag dropped to the floor. “Though to be fair, it is a sack of baked potatoes. Figured that you’d be getting hungry about now.”

“Thanks, Happy.” I smirked as I leaned forward and picked the bag up with my muzzle. “Hrmph murph…” Blinking, I set the bag down before trying to talk again. “Get your stuff, we’re heading down in a few minutes.”

“What?” Happy’s muzzle split with a nervous smile and a few darting glances that made me think he wasn’t who I was talking to. “You… want me to go… down there?”

“Unless you’ve got something better to do?” I tried my best to offer him a comforting smile, but I could see the fear creeping up behind his eyes. “Look, it won’t be for long. If you really don’t feel up to going…”

“Pft!” He rolled his eyes and gave a dismissive wave of his hoof. “It’s not like I’m afraid to go or anything.”

“No, of course, I never meant that.” I moved to give my own dismissive wave, but caught myself just before I fell flat on my face because of it.

“Whoa, easy, Night.” Happy’s hooves wrapped around my side in an instant and helped to steady me. “You sure you’re up to going?”

“Just, still getting used to three legs… again.” I did my best to act like that didn’t bother me, but I couldn’t shake the fear that with just one more mistake, I wouldn’t ever be moving about on my own legs again! Then again, I’m not out of this just yet, and... I can spin this to my advantage. “You know, a pair of quick and strong hooves would help me out down there.”

Happy sighed and gave me some Delilah level side-eye as he pulled his hooves back.

“Fine.” He shared just the lightest smirk with me as he turned and lined up with me. With a flash of his wooden foreleg, he snatched up the bag from the floor and held it out ahead of us. “But only because I’m afraid that without help, you’re liable to walk right off a cliff. Now, lead on, Captain.”

I shared a smirk back as the two of us wound our way through the Arcturus towards the captain’s quarters. The lack of noise as we approached gave me hope that I wasn’t about to interrupt Buck and Hispano doing anything, but it was also a bit worrying. Honestly, I should have heard something from them though...

Happy and I stopped in front of the door, and I raised my hoof to knock…

...and promptly fell forward and slammed my head against the door.

“Ow…” I whined as Happy’s hooves were a bit slow to catch me this time.

“Sorry… didn’t realize I was already on the clock!” He whispered as he helped me stand up straight again.

There was a metallic squelch from the door as it opened, and the fully robed and geared up form of Buck loomed in the doorway. He stepped aside with a smile, revealing that Hispano was likewise geared up and ready. Er, well… not quite ready.

“Stupid… hat!” He grumbled as she managed to fit his flight cap over his more masculine shaped head. “Fuck it! I’ll just deal with it.” Grabbing on tightly to Suiza with one talon, he used his other one to adjust where Baby’s holster sat against his hindleg. The straps obviously hadn’t been re-adjusted for a grown griffon, and looked tight enough that they might be hampering blood flow to his leg. “Let’s just get the fuck out of here already.”

“Alright, I just need to grab my gear…” I started to speak before I found my muzzle shut by a soft press from one of Buck’s mechanical digits.

“Already packed. You can put it on in the Remora.” His jagged jaw split into a wider smile before he pulled his paws up and moved the hood up over his head. “Eliza, is the Distress signal from Unit Seven still in the settlement?”

“No, it is not currently present.” Eliza’s frowning mare popped up in my vision, but quickly flipped over to her cheery, smiling self. “However, given the intermittent pattern of contact, that should not be cause for alarm.”

Of course that’s why he and Hispano were ready! He’d gotten Eliza’s message as well. I sure can be an idiot sometimes…

“Most times, I’d say.” Jynx wore a smile as she stepped out behind Hispano wearing my combat and flight harness. “Hmmm, should we wear this out? It does feel a bit last season...” She turned and inspected the grenades at her sides before waving a hoof over my submachine gun. As she did, it morphed into one of Bessy’s howitzer shells. “Maybe one ‘o five is more en vogue this far south. What do you think, Night?”

“Night?” Happy spoke directly into my ear, making me jump a bit. I looked over to him and found a puzzled look across his face. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, no, don’t worry, really, I’m not, but it’s fine!” I worked through each and every word of that with a deteriorating sense of confidence. To cap it all off, I let out a light giggle that even to my own ears sounded like I’d slightly lost my mind. What the hell was that, Night?

“Really botched that speech check, didn’t you?” Jynx gave a delighted chuckle as she too walked out with Hispano. I just… needed to ignore her.

“Just pre-settlement jitters, Happy.” Hispano grunted as he made his way out into the hall with us before pausing to look at me. “Right, Night?”

“More the fact that I have a zebra curse in my head talking to me, but yeah, I’m good.” I nodded to her, once again not really inspiring any confidence in either of the three of them. “Anyway, we’ve got work to do! To the Remora!” Come on, Night, you’ve survived worse than this, so you can survive a short trip into town.

The Remora lurched hard in the gusting wind. While the worst of the blizzard had passed, the winds here were still strong enough to push something the size of the Remora around like the skycraft owed it a meal ticket. Again, my stomach threatened to do a flip, but was incapable of doing as much while Happy’s death grip firmly locked it against what felt like my spine.

The altitude to ground in my augmented vision ticked down until we all felt the solid touchdown under our hooves. As always, the Remora’s engines began to spool down, and the hydraulics whirred to life as they pulled open the doors. Let me tell you, the moment those doors opened, I knew I should have brought something warmer than only my bare coat to wear…

Snow whipped into the cabin as an almost blinding scene met our eyes outside of the Remora. The whole settlement was buried under snow drifts that were damn near hock deep! If that weren’t bad enough, there was just enough sunlight forcing its way through the overcast skies above that it made snowblindness a real problem. But as our eyes started to adjust, the extent of the secluded, hill-surrounded settlement became a bit clearer.

We’d set down just across the way from the train station itself. At first sight, it looked in fairly good shape for being up here for two centuries, but at the moment, it looked almost abandoned. There weren’t any lights on inside, and nopony seemed to be around it. On the opposite side of the station to us, parked on one of the main lines, sat a collection of railcars. The lights on them were on, and steam drifted from their chimneys. Through the foggy windows, I could see the ponies inside going about their daily lives.

The four of us stepped out into the snow and looked around. To our left, the Roundhouse and some various railcars sat tucked nearer to one of the larger hills, and a few residents were going about their business or clearing snow from around the entrances. A few looked to be ghouls, but there were also some normal looking ponies as well, and neither kind seemed to be concerned with being well armed.

Closer to the station sat a collection of equally impressive houses. Each one seemed not as well kept as the ones in Sanctuary, but close enough that it gave them a somewhat rustic feeling. To be honest, the fact that likewise inside these I could see ponies moving around, really gave me pause. From the way that I’d been told about it, I was under the impression that Maple Station was a maintenance depot or a rest stop. But with what and who were here, this place was a lot closer to a thriving and safe community than that.

“Huh, quaint and peaceful.” Jynx remarked as she stepped up next to me. “I bet the ponies here are monsters.” I made the mistake of glancing over at her, watching as she snuggled herself deeper into a luxurious scarlet colored wool coat. Still, she might be right, given the track record we’d had so far…

“Hey, what the fuck is wrong with you!?” An angry squawk emanated from the other side of the Remora. A flurry of flapping and a few moments later, a pair of griffons a bit older than Hispano hovered up over the top of it. The two of them were obviously related from the… unremarkably similar way they looked. As bland as textbook gryphons could be, really.

“Why don’t you watch where you’re landing your… whatever this hunk of junk is, assholes?” One of them squawked with a more feminine voice, but it was quickly shoved to the back of my mind as she angrily pointed a double barreled shotgun at us. “You could have fucking killed us!”

“What a shame that would have been.” Hispano cooed back as he unslung Suiza from himself and lazily pointed it back at the pair.

“Calm down, sis.” The brother of the angry one snorted as he guided them both to a landing just in front of us. “They seem like capable, somewhat intelligent folk. I’m sure a warning will be good enough for them to know to watch their flying next time. Sound good to you, Royce?”

“We didn’t mean anything by it, and we don’t want any trouble.” Buck spoke softly, but kept his head tilted down enough that they couldn’t see his muzzle under his white robes. “It won’t happen again.”

“Fucking better not.” Royce snapped as she raised her gun to her shoulder and flared her wings out in a failed attempt at seeming tough. In fact, it pulled a stifled laugh out of Hispano’s beak as we watched the two of them plod off through the snow towards the roundhouse. “Seriously, Merlin, I’m just about sick of this backwater bullshit.”

“One more night.” Merlin pleaded with his sister as I looked to Hispano. We simply shrugged and went back to watching them. “Maybe she’ll show up tonight like he said she would.”

That perked my ears.

“Do you think they’re talking about Solomon?” Buck’s voice came through my head clearly.

“Who else would hire assholes to wait for a mare to show up?” I offered back to him as I narrowed my gaze on the two. Well, at least they seemed somewhat inexperienced. I bet Hispano alone could fly circles around them if it came to a fight.

“Pft, freelancers.” Hispano grumbled as he struggled to re-sling Suiza back over his broader than normal shoulders.

“What’s a freelancer? Some sort of rival talon group?” I asked as bluntly as ever.

“Nah.” Hispano smirked and carefully placed a talon across his chest. “Talons have two paths to joining a company. Either you’re like me, where you have someone show you the ropes and take you for a few fly-alongs until you’re ready. Or…” He shifted his talon, flipping off the two as they made it to the round house and dipped inside of it. “You head off on your own as a freelancer. If you can survive and make a name for yourself in the wastes, you get to skip training altogether and are offered the choice contracts. Talon brass always love a griff who doesn’t need constant direction while bringing in heaps of caps.”

“Hmmm.” Buck shifted himself on the snow and brought a paw up to his chin. “That sounds to me like it would encourage untrained talons to take contracts far above their skill levels without any form of support. A risky proposition.”

“Like I said.” Hispano shrugged as he kicked his leg through the snow hard enough to start himself walking. “If you survive to make a name for yourself, but most Talons see that as unacceptable recklessness.”

“Eh, I wouldn’t worry then.” Happy chimed in with a smile as he stepped through the snow like it was nothing more than a thick fog around his legs. It was odd to see him in his floral print shirt and leather jacket again, but it put a smile on my muzzle. At least, until I realized just how well Rofia’s hellhound arm fit over his wooden leg. I hoped we were done running into folks like her from now on. “They’ll probably be dead in a month.”

Hispano’s face brightened up like it was the sunshine itself.

“You know what? You’re right!” He let out a giggle that seemed out of place for a griffon his size. That is, until a look of uncomfortable confusion fell over his face. “Hmm, wait, did you just…” He turned to Happy, who was quickly starting to look just as confused. “Point out a silver lining with incredibly dark implications?” A smirk tugged at his beak, and he brought a talon down on his shoulder hard with another laugh that he tried his best to make sound like sniffles. “Happy Trails, you just might make it out here in the wastes. I’m so proud of you!”

“Ugh, and ya’ ruined it.” Happy snorted before pushing past him. “But hey, I’m willing to forgive and forget, so long as you chip in for a bit of the booze and mares!”

“Happy, we’ve been over this...” I snorted as I wanted so hard to facehoove right now, but I was already cold, and a face full of snow wouldn’t help anypony.

“I’m kidding, Night!” He rolled his eyes and wore a smile almost as bright as Hispano’s across his muzzle. Like all the other times I’d seen it, it was… weird, but good. “At least, I’m kidding about the booze.” He jabbed his wooden hoof back towards Hispano. “You know, seein’ as you’re a guy now, maybe would could go halfsies if we can find a cute number for the night…”

“I…” Hispano scrunched up his beak at that while his beaming smile was traded out for an intensely burning blush. “I think I’ll stick with Night and Buck.”

While he knows I wouldn’t have minded, and I know that I wouldn’t have minded, I was almost shocked. It meant a lot to hear Hispano say that, and I think this was a moment I was going to remember for a long time to come. Staring at him, I did my best to memorize every detail of it.

“Suit yourself!” Happy whinnied as he stopped and spun around. “Might be the safe bet, seeing as how it’d be a shame if a little bit of fun gave you a bit of a bug for the rest of the time you’re a guy. I’ve had them so many times now that I’m pretty sure I’m immune.”

And there it goes, my perfect moment, ruined by Happy.

“I think we shouldn’t worry about staying overnight, as we probably won’t be here that long.” Buck spoke up, bringing some sort of order back to the two of them. Turning to me, he gestured toward the apparently abandoned Station. “Well, Night? Where do you want to start? Should we see if the mayor is in?”

“What!? I can’t believe…!” The shouting, scratchy voice of a ghoul filled the air as it beat out the whipping wind around us. “Aye, you did! Ya’ made it!” I knew that voice.

All four of us turned our attentions to a stallion who’d just come out of a service shed towards the south, and was now quickly galloping through the snow towards us. I squinted, trying to beat out the glare from the snow all around us to find out just who was coming our way. Buck was the first to let out a horrified gasp, and thanks to my optics, it only took me a moment more to notice why.

Carried across the red coated stallion’s back was something more terrible than any weapon we’d come across in the wastes yet. A plaid sack of pure torment and pain. One that only a mad pony could ever find enjoyment in.

“Jack?” Happy snorted as he too squinted. “Mad Jack is here?”

“What was that you were saying?” Hispano turned to Buck and I as he put up a talon with a concerned glance. “About not staying all that long?”

“Now now, be nice.” Buck clenched his metal jaw into a forced smile hard enough that it would whine with each word he forced out. “I’m sure it won’t be that bad this time.”

“Says the guy who can turn off his ears…” I blurted out and did my best to smile as, despite my augment, the oncoming, afternoon long headache became all too certain for me…

Author's Note

A huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his help in going over these chapters, as well as his work on his own Fallout: Equestria - Empty Quiver. The journey to get Night through his version of the Vanhoover wasteland has been years in the making, but I'm thankful he's here to help guide me through it!

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat for writing the original story. This series, as well as MLP as a whole, changed my life almost seven years ago, and it blows my mind that anything could have had as profound an impact as Fo:E did. Words fail to express how much Fo:E has meant to me, and I can't be thankful enough for it.

Chapter 97 - Us And Them

Sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will get you killed.

We didn’t have time for Steel Ranger shenanigans.

I groaned as I flopped back against the admittedly comfortable folding cot in the ‘holding cell’ I was in. We’d been placed in separate rooms of a small managerial building for the old theme park and were being ‘held for questioning’. My only guess was that I got the manager’s office because I was the ‘leader’, and I guess that meant I got a cot to rest on.

But while I was in here, I had no idea where the others had been taken. Still, every moment we’re in here, I bet some ranger scribe out there was eagerly starting to take apart the Remora to find out how it worked. At least I could be glad that they weren’t trying to take Buck apart, or trying to pry my eye off. Yet...

“You are listening to Radio KAOS. That's K.A.O.S., Vanhoover's local news source.”

At least they’d let me use the radio in the room to help pass the time until Eliza could get the Arcturus in range to try to explain some things to them. Namely, how we’re friends of the rangers and weren’t here to interfere with them. Whether or not they believed us however is what’s going to either make this a bad day, or a terrible one.

“Here's the local news. Just when you folks thought things were getting back to normal around here after the clouds came down, the first blizzard of the season has come early for those in the area of Gemdale and Maple Station. Not that you need a reminder, but stay warm out there, as it seems we'll be in for a particularly cold winter this year. But hey, if those pegasi who've joined us down here want to pitch in and help push the storms away early, you'd win over more than a few grateful unicorns and earth ponies, heh.”

It might just be me, and this guy was no DJ PowerColt, but that sounded sincere. I know that Hispano had mentioned that the further we moved south, the worse things got, but… that didn’t sound right anymore. We’d come so far, and yet down here ponies seemed to be doing their best to do better. Sure, we’d run into more than our fair share of bad apples, but most folks seemed genuine in their attempts to be nice.

“Moving on, we've got some unconfirmed news out of the north. It seems that for some wastelanders, the great war wasn’t yet over. A series of megaspell detonations followed what I'm told was a very brief conflict between some of the factions in the greater Cantercross area. While the details are spotty, it seems that for some, the mistakes of the past will always repeat themselves. The best we can do from here is hope that one day they'll learn, and hope that a conflict like that doesn't grace our own fairly peaceful part of the wastes.”

Now that I envied them for. We lived through that hell, and only just now are they hearing about it. Maybe this place wouldn’t be so bad after all, at least, once we got things sorted with the rangers of course. Then again, things were nice and calm in the north right up until the point where Solomon and Delilah came through…

“For now however, sit back and relax. Our next selection is from the Roger Trotters album Dark Side of the Moon. A slower track to help you chill out, so enjoy it, and let the smooth tones of it help you to take a pause, and Breathe…”

What came across the radio was… odd. It wasn’t like the music I’d heard up north with DJ PowerColt, and nothing like the pre-war tunes that the Enclave had let us hear. It was calm and relaxed, with a slow pace that lulled my mind into a more blank state. It wasn’t bad at all, just… different.

There was a set of incredibly soft knocks on the door.

I sat up and quickly flicked the radio off, perking my ears to listen for a clue as to who was outside. Silence met me, and I’d started to think that maybe I’d imagined it. However the sound of clicking against the door’s locking system gave me a small hint of what was going on. I felt a small smile pull across my muzzle as I realized that it must be Hispano and her lock picking skills. She must have gotten out and…

The door clicked and opened slowly to reveal… nothing.

I blinked and slowly pushed myself up off of the bed. Looking out through the open door, the sounds of normal Ranger activity drifted in. The moment I got it in my mind to move toward the door however, it shut on it’s own, and I was left even more confused than before.

The air shifted, and I tensed up as a pair of strong but invisible hooves wrapped around me. One pinned my wings down, and the other held my muzzle shut completely. The warm breath of somepony breathing along my neck sent a shiver down my spine as I started to panic.

“Buck, there’s someone in here with me!” I called out in my mind, letting a whimper slip out of my clamped muzzle. “They’re invisible, and they’ve got their hooves around my muzzle!”

“Have they hurt you?” Buck’s voice filtered back with more concern than I felt, and I was the one at some stranger’s mercy!

With a magical shimmer, the forelegs around me became visible. I did my best to gasp as they were the heavily scarred legs of a zebra, whose pipbuck was shining it’s glow right into my face. Oh fuck!

“Shhh.” Okona’s voice was a soft whisper that again sent a shiver down my neck. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to hurt you. I’m here to help you, but you need to stay quiet. Understand?”

“Night?” Buck’s voice came through my head again. “Night, please tell me you’re still alright!”

“It’s Okona.” I thought back to him as I felt Okona’s hooves slowly release themselves from me. “The Pentex zebra from the bar. But… he says he’s here to help, not hurt me.”

“Don’t trust him, Night.” Buck’s voice was uncomfortably resolute with that, and it felt more like a command than an opinion. “We haven’t had any tricks from Solomon lately, and a Pentex merc showing up now seems too good to be true.”

“You must forgive me, I assumed your party might need some help in these parts, but…” Okona flashed up a smug smirk as he took a step back. “From what I saw you do to those alicorns, I can already tell you are going to be a hell of a fun client to work with.”

“If that’s true, how did you get here so fast?” I wasn’t in the mood for being jerked around if he was telling us the truth. “How did you follow us here?”

“You should know, I came with you.” He shrugged. “Your skycraft is remarkably fast, but you should check more often for stealth-buck’d hitchhikers hanging onto its roof.” A shiver worked its way across his body, pulling a wider smirk across his striped muzzle.

“You’re not really selling me that you’re here to help.” If he was going to cause trouble, if Solomon did send him here to kill me, then I’m sure a few things as simple as old walls wouldn’t slow Buck down very much. Still, was it something I could risk? “Tell me what you want or I’ll have my friends in here to kill you faster than you can activate another stealth-buck.”

“Fair enough.” The wide smile that pulled across his graying muzzle didn’t give me any amount of confidence, but he raised his hooves defensively. “I’m on your side. Well, at least I can be. I just need you to make me a satisfactory offer, and I’m all yours.”

What the hell was he up to with this? To me, this smelled of a setup, though I don’t know by who. It was far too convenient for us to get captured by the rangers, and suddenly he’s here to help us out. I didn’t like this, but… to be fair, we needed all the help we could get. I just needed to figure out what constitutes a ‘satisfactory’ offer.

Peering out from around his backside, I caught the glance of my Jynx, and I knew what to say.

“Anything you want.” The words slipped out of my muzzle before I could think about how stupid they sounded. My Jynx’s muzzle split into a beaming grin wider than Ping’s normal exuberance as all I wanted to do was facehoof.

“And here I thought you would make things interesting for once...” Okona sighed and reached back for the small bag he had strapped to his combat armor.

“And the name’s not buster, it’s Okona.” My mind brought back the words he’d said in the Roundhouse. “Freelance problem solver, challenge seeker, and friend for hire, at your service.”

“Wait! You want a challenge, right?” I blurt out a bit louder than I probably should have. The both of us cringed as we realized it, but at the very least, it didn’t seem like anypony outside was coming to check on us. “Well, if you give me a minute to explain everything, maybe you’ll find my offer challenging enough to take on.” Okona’s muzzle parted into an oily grin again, and it told me everything I needed to know.

If Solomon and Delilah’s rules said they could buy as many friends as they needed, then if I’ve got the chance, maybe that’s part of the book I should start taking notes from.

“Now that is more what I expected.” He let out a soft giggle as he reached into his pack and pulled out a small square device that looked like a radio detonator. “But I would hardly say this is the place and time for sorting out the details.” He showed off the device to be exactly what it appeared to be. “Allow me to display just what services you are buying by eliminating those pesky power armored ponies outside…”

“Wait!” I practically shouted as I dove for the device. If anything, my outburst caught him off guard long enough that he didn’t hit the detonate button, but he moved it out of reach in an instant. “If you’re going to work for me, you’re not going to kill anypony outside of who I tell you to.”

“Fine.” He sighed and easily stashed his detonator away once more. “I suppose that is part of the challenge you’ll be offering then.” Again, he flashed up a smile across his striped face that seemed a bit too genuine. With a hard seat on the floor, he turned toward the door to the room and raised his hooves. “But should you wish it, know that they will not find the detonator on me, so we may escape at your command.”

Well, now that he knew I wasn’t going to blow them up, why even bring it up? This whole exchange stunk of Solomon’s doing, even if I don’t know why he’d rope in the Rangers. Still, I intended to find out just what he was trying to accomplish with this. That, and given the chance, maybe we could end up using him against Solomon somehow.

“Prisoner!” The amplified voice of a power armored ranger easily resonated through the door before a massive steel hoof pushed it open. “Since you cannot stay quiet, prepare yourself for interro-…” The ranger paused as he looked over at the still smugly smiling Okona. “I don’t know what trickery this is, but you are both going to come with me. The head Paladin has questions for you.”

Now that I looked at this place, it was kind of… creepy.

Not in the same sense as the Mare’s Lake to Galloway tunnel type creepy, either. Rather, it was more in the sense that rot and decay were all that was left in a place meant to be filled with nothing but foals’ laughter and happiness. The creaks and groans of the rusting wooden amusement ride superstructure that the Rangers set up next to seemed to keep their whole camp in a restless quiet. But whenever a louder than normal creaking came through, the ponies sitting at the perimeter sandbag barricades would turn their rifles toward it with a nervous look.

All over, it was odd that the rangers would have a camp here in the first place, but now I knew something else had to be going on. Were they after the Alicorns like we were, or was it something else? Guess there was only one way to find out.

The paladin behind Okona and I had directed us to the largest of a set of tents inside the hastily constructed ranger camp perimeter. As I hobbled closer, I could hear the heavy mechanical steps of power armor inside. Alright, Night, time to negotiate. You’ve got this, just need to figure out who you’re dealing with. Will it be another Soursop, or another Coconut?

“Does it really matter?” Jynx asked as I damn near jumped right out of my skin. “They’ll be dead by the end of the day anyway if you stay here.”

“Are you okay?” Okona gave a nervous chuckle as he studied me again. Hopefully he doesn’t second guess himself and retract his offer to help me...

I did my best to ignore Jynx’s smiling muzzle, as well as Okona’s nervousness in favor for just pushing my way into the old tent.

Like every other set of power armor I’ve seen used so far, the bulky metal plates in front of me shifted as though it were a second skin. The stallion inside seemed incredibly at ease, holding an open book in one of his massive armored hooves as he studied it. Similarly to the scuffed and scratched up armor he wore, his grey coat was similarly worn down with what seemed to be the results of countless fights. The almost glowing blond mane he wore in a short and stiff fashion matched the almost triangular point he held to an equally short beard on the end of his muzzle.

“Ah, welcome.” He spoke as he turned his gold colored eyes on us, pausing as they shifted between Okona and I. “To the both of you.” His eyes shifted once more to the ranger who’d lead us here, and he gave a dismissive nod before smiling at me again. “Sorry for the delay, but I’m Lance Gunner, a Paladin of the Mountain Springs Steel Rangers A Company, and Operations supervisor for this mission. From what your Talon has told us of you, which isn’t much, you are the leader of this group? May I have your name?”

Well, on the surface, he didn’t seem that bad. Still, while giving my name would do little harm, I was going to have to be careful not to give up too much here. At least before I know if he’s a Coconut or not.

“I’m Night Flight, the head of our group.” I offered as I sat down. I lifted my hoof and pointed to my new striped ‘associate’. “And this is one of my mercenaries, Okona.”

“So many mercenaries, you must take your personal security very seriously.” He offered a feigned smile as his eyes sharpened on me for a moment. Before I could respond, he shifted his gaze over. “Odd however, I didn't see him with your group when we detained you. I presume you were using that device on your hoof in conjunction with a stealth buck?”

“Quite an observation, for a Paladin.” Okona smirked as he looked over his pipbuck. “There may yet be hope for all toaster-like appliances all across the wasteland.”

“Well, now that introductions are settled, on to a different matter.” The Paladin rolled his armored forehoof and set the book down on a small table beside him that was straining to hold up the sheer amount of other documents and books already on it. “That's quite a cloudcraft you have out there, I’ve never seen anything like it in fact. I almost had to restrain my best scribe from tearing it apart to learn it's secrets.”

“Thank you for not dismantling it.” I wasn’t going to give him any leeway because he seemed nice and hadn’t yet destroyed the Remora. He was hiding something, or holding back for some reason.

“Night?” Buck’s voice filtered through my augment. “I heard them bring Hispano back to his room. Are you still okay?”

“Where by chance, did you... acquire such an exotic machine?” Lance smiled genuinely to me, but once more turned his observant gaze down on me.

“I’m speaking with the Steel Ranger leader.” I thought back as I fingered my own smile to the Ranger. “I'm not at liberty to say, but have you heard of the Spectrum Federation, to the north?” If they’re interested only in the tech, then they can leave us alone and go get it for themselves.

“Yes, we are aware of a faction by that name.” Lance nodded before pausing with a thought that forced him to screw up his muzzle. “You imply they built it? On the reports we’ve received, we had thought any manufacturing beyond their current capabilities…”

“Oh no, they didn’t build it.” I laughed, oddly pulling an intrigued smile across Okona’s muzzle. “However, they have the full schematics for it if you wish to negotiate for your own copy.”

“I see.” Lance nodded as he brought his armored hoof up to stroke his stiff beard. “And so now we get down to something more important. What is your business in coming here, Miss Night Flight?

“We came in search for our missing crewmate, an alicorn. He was stolen off our ship by a trio of other alicorns, whom I assume were the ones we killed before you captured us.” I stated simply.

Too simply, in fact. My words had more of a relaxed tone to them than I’d expected, and it hit me harder than I’d thought. This whole journey after King, had I heard it from anyone else down here, it would have sounded normal for them. And now, for having spent my life above the clouds, I think that I’d finally become a wastelander because I hadn’t even thought twice about it.

Jynx let out a giggle from the depths of my mind that sent a shiver down my spine.

“A ship, you say?” The uptick of interest in Star Paladin Lance’s voice told me that in being so relaxed, I’d just fucked up. “Tell me, what sort of ship is it, and how far off the coast? What’s it’s size, crew complement, and any weaponry on board?”

Okay, Night, you gave him that, and now he’s not going to be satisfied without an answer. What would Delilah do in a situation like this?

“She wouldn’t be in a situation like this because she’s not an idiot like you.” Jynx offered unhelpfully. She’s right, Delilah wouldn’t. Yet here I am, so rather than a Delilah answer, I need a Night answer. “Oh, a Night answer you say? Sure, you opening your muzzle has never made anything worse.”

It may not make things better, but I needed to be honest. That’s what I do.

“It's a cloudship.” I let the words spill out of my muzzle as it curled into a smile. “One even your Rangers might know of. Ever heard of the Arcturus?” If Galloway wasn’t lying about having contact with the southern Rangers, then there’s no way they hadn’t heard of it.

“The Arcturus.” Lance’s eyes narrowed on me with an almost piercing glare. Oh yeah, they definitely knew about it. “Word came that it had been lost, shortly before we lost contact with the northern chapter.” With a snort, he stiffened his posture, and thus, his armor. “You are telling me that you in fact, stole it from our northern brothers and sisters?”

“We didn't exactly steal it, and I can assure you, that Elder Frescas knows and supports the fact that we have the ship.” Even though it was the truth, none of my words hit his judgmental gaze with any force at all. “In fact, we used it to help Galloway recover after the megaspell strikes in the north.”

“Megaspells?” That got him to take a step back. With a stiff shift of his armor, he turned directly towards me and shot his hoof in my direction. “Is that why we haven’t heard from them? Tell me, why did you attack them? What warranted that level of response!?”

“Woah, it wasn’t us.” I leaned back on my haunches and raised my forehoof defensively. “Like I said, we helped them after it happened. Why it happened… is not really important.” I sighed as more than part of me wondered just how Frescas and Pastell were doing right now. I know we’d needed to get back on the road after Solomon, but… maybe we could have done more to help… “Look, we didn’t come here to fight, we came to get our friend back. If anything, I should be asking what a whole team of rangers is doing out in this place.”

He seemed to take my question and think on it for a minute. His eyes wandered to Okona, to me, and then to the ground before returning to me again. I could see the suspicion in his eyes, and I get it. Were I in his position, I probably wouldn’t trust us either.

But I have a feeling that he’s more like the Galloway rangers than he’s willing to admit. That his suspicion isn’t anything more than wondering if we’re here to hurt anyone under his command. And it’s with that feeling, I have a hope that he’ll be willing to do exactly what everyone else I’ve met has done with me, and ask for our help.

“A week or so ago,” He spoke with a stiff reluctance to his words, but as he did, his eyes softened and relaxed softly. “A skycraft was seen bound for the nearby Airbase. Unfortunately for them, they didn’t make it and instead crashed on the other side of this ruined park. Our Elder deemed it worth salvaging what we could, so I put together a team and came here.”

A skycraft coming through a week or so ago? I felt a particularly cold shiver run down my spine as I wondered if they were yet another group of Skyraiders from their exodus. If they were, then the Rangers down here wouldn’t know at all what they were capable of.

“I’m guessing with how you responded to my client arriving,” Okona stifled a chuckle as he nudged me, “you haven’t had a single successful attempt in getting to the wreck?”

“You could say as much.” Lance nodded and pointed past us. “Anytime I try to send a team in toward the wreck, we’ve had to deal with multiple raider-like ambushes. There shouldn’t be any locals out here who must have reached the wrecks first. But, whoever they are, they aren’t interested in an all out fight.” He shook his head and look over the armor that encased his hooves. “We haven’t received more than incapacitating injuries from them, and I’m not sure what exactly they are hoping to achieve. They’re only still up there because that blizzard the last few days kept us waiting on a load of supplies to arrive. It’ll be here in two hours, and after that, we’re going up there in force.”

Okay, so maybe they aren’t Skyraiders. Or at least, maybe they’re not the ultra-raider side of them as Delta had put it. And if that was the case, well, maybe there was some hope here.

“Have you tried talking to them?” I offered, immediately perking the armor clad stallion’s ears.

Both Lance and Okona turned their perplexed gazes to me, staring at me like I was fucking insane or something.

“Look, I’ll tell you what,” Lance let out a soft laugh as he shook his head, “if you want to risk having a friendly chat with them, be my guest. But my two hour timetable stands.”

“And if they want to talk, will you give them a chance?” I couldn’t afford to miss a beat with my response, and from the stiff shift Lance’s armor gave with my words, I don’t think I did.

“If they are willing to meet here to discuss salvage rites, then I would be willing to negotiate.” He nodded before looking up at me with a cocked eyebrow. “However, if they aren’t peaceful, then what they do to you will be all the excuse I’ll need to go in and wipe them out.”

“Sounds fair enough to me.” I nodded and smirked. If I’m right, they’ll want to talk. “If they don’t want to talk, then you won’t need an excuse. Between my team and I, I’m sure there won’t be any of them left for the Rangers to ‘wipe out’.”

“Be that as it may,” Okona took a step forward and almost moved to place himself between the Paladin and I, “we’ll be dealing with your problem, and I say that warrants some sort of reward, don’t you?”

“The Rangers don’t normally contract with outsiders, even if you’ve heard we follow the codex a bit more loosely than other chapters.” Lance sighed with a chuff of his metal hoof. “However, while I can’t grant you a physical reward, if you help us, then I can see what assistance we can render in helping you locate your friend within the park.” With a step toward me, he raised his massive armored forehoof and held it out. “A favor for a favor is the only offer I’m giving you.”

“Then it sounds like a deal.” I smiled and took his hoof in mine.

“Wait, that’s not…” Okona started to speak but bit his tongue as he seethed just under his skin. He took a moment to take in a deep breath before letting it out slowly. “Okay, it’s fine, wave our pay. You’re the boss.”

“Damn right I am.” I shot a sideways glance at him, finding his burning gaze land right back on me. Something in my gut says I still shouldn’t trust him, but so far he seemed genuine. Still, genuine won’t cut it anymore. He has until Buck and I can work out a plan, to prove his sincerity. “Now, Paladin Lance, about releasing my friends…”

“I’m going to ask you this again, Night.” Hispano grumbled as he kept Suiza’s barrel pressed right up against Okona’s side as we walked past the rusting fence around the backside of the old and rotting water slide near the rear of the park. He ruffled his larger than normal wings uncomfortably across his back, and even though Buck had did an amazing job fixing it, his healing talon squeezed around Suiza hard enough I fear he’d break those bones all over again. “Do you really think he’s telling us the truth?”

I understand that Hispano was under a lot of stress. I know that he’s uncomfortable being male for the moment, and adding in yet another side job and stranger? Yeah, I owed him a break after this. Even if Hispano was worried over nothing, I still wasn’t about to let Okona find a way to get the drop on us.

I just wish we had a better set of circumstances to work with. If the snow wasn’t already bad enough, the thickness of the encroaching forest was incredible. A few meters past the treeline and it looked like we had a quarter the amount of light under the canopy as normal. No wonder these raiders could ambush the Rangers so easily.

It reminded me a lot of when we recovered Laika’s pod. Almost reflexively, I glanced back to Buck’s paws. His claws had been so helpful back then, and now…

He clenched them shut as he caught me watching them. He was probably thinking about that exact moment as well. But while I doubt we’d run into anyone as friendly as Laika here, I knew he still shared my hope that this would end up resolving without having to resort to violence.

“I say we gut him.” Happy smiled as he got a firm not from Hispano. Without slowing his stride, he craned his neck down and mouthed over the grip to his sword. He stayed like that until Okona shot him a heavy helping of side eye, which Happy had been waiting for. “Slowly.”

“Nopony’s gutting anyone.” Buck groaned before looking to me for confirmation.

“Yeah. Everyone just calm down.” I offered my own version of Delilah’s stern glance to both Hispano and Happy, only to have both of them roll their eyes almost at the same time. “Buck, I still don’t trust him. If my gut is right, it won’t take long to prove he’s working for Solomon. If that happens, I want you to stun him with your magical energy weapon. He can’t tell us what he knows if he’s dead.”

“Sounds like a good idea. So long as we can keep Happy from murdering him first.” Buck nodded to me before turning his jagged metal muzzle towards Okona. “If I may ask, were you actually willing to destroy the Ranger’s encampment?” It was funny to watch as Buck’s question sent an odd look across the zebra’s face. “You would’ve!”

“What use is an empty threat?” Okona simply beamed a smile at Buck and shrugged. “I don’t do half jobs.” Yet you turned to our side fairly quickly. Too quickly.

“Alright, let’s just move on, please.” I groaned as I pushed into the thick and snow-covered underbrush. “Nopony got hurt, and I’d like to keep it that way.” In fact… “Hey, Eliza? Can you put Double Delta on the line?”

“Of course.” Eliza’s smiling cartoon mare popped into the corner of my vision. “Connecting you now, Captain.” Before she popped away, I could swear the mare gave me a wink…

“You rang, Captain?” Delta spoke with a bit of a hopeful tone to his words. Wow, that was fast. “Need something done? Because let me tell you, I am just about up to my mane in boredom here.” Ah, now it made sense.

“We ran into the Local Rangers out here at the theme park.” I thought to him before looking up at Buck. He was busy scanning his eyes across the treeline ahead, but I’m sure he was listening in. “From the description they gave, it sounded like some Skyraiders may have crashed just north of where we are. Do you think you could look into it for us?”

“Sure thing, just one moment.” Delta paused as I could hear his hooves typing on the console next to the mic. “Eeyup, there she is. Eliza’s used the observation projector to lens a look at the wreck.” Observation projector? I guess it was one of the Arcturus’ many many over-engineered sensor systems. “A condor class transport, tail number E-404. She’s definitely one of ours, but… it’s odd. That bird was lost a decade ago in the original purge. Back when the Skyraiders pushed out all the ‘softies’ and ‘eggheads’. I was still new to being King and… I should have fought harder to let them stay.”

That pulled Buck’s attention to me. He perked his ears and seemed to think for a moment.

“That doesn’t make sense.” Buck thought out, pulling a sharp and quick squeak from Delta over the radio. “I don’t mean to jump in, but the Rangers did seem fairly certain it just crashed.”

“Captain?” Eliza’s mare popped back into my vision with her beaming smile. “I can’t quite confirm it, but from our initial observations, deterioration of the craft’s outer hull would not be consistent with a crash from a decade ago. It indeed seems to have had regular maintenance up until fairly recently.”

Okay, now this job was just getting weird. I mean, that’s normal for us, but still. What the hell did we stumble into now?

“Keep trying to figure it out on your end, we’ll do the same.” I thought out again before pushing further into the dark forest. “We’ll get back to you once we have something conclusive.”

“Aye aye, Captain.” Delta sighed, but sounded confident enough in us. “Be careful out there.”

With that, the radio call ended, and I was starkly reminded of how loud the crunching of snow under hoof was.

“Alright, we head for the wreck.” I tried to keep my voice down, but something told me that under the cover of the dark canopy here, we were already being watched. “Keep your eyes open. Remember, we want to talk, not fight.”

Here’s hoping whoever these ponies were felt the same.

“You know that’s not going to be how it goes.” Jynx giggled as she hung down from a lower branch of one of the nearby pine trees. I shot an unamused glare over to her. “For example…”

Buck let out a whimper as the snow around one of his mechanical hindpaws burst up. Sparks shot out as what looked like a crude metal animal trap ground against his now bent metal leg. Thank fuck his legs are more durable than the rest of…

“Everybody stop.” I called out, freezing in place as everyone else did the same.

“I’m okay.” Buck grunted as he leaned forward and easily used his forepaws to snap the makeshift trap in half. Lifting the smooth metal pieces to his eye, he looked it over before frowning and tossing them aside. “But now I see why the rangers have had such a hard time getting in here. A broken leg all the way out here would be no joke.”

“Hey, I’d like to keep the rest of my legs intact, ya dig?” Happy snorted before looking over at Okona with a smile. “If he’s so loyal, I say we have the new guy take the lead.”

“Do you really want to use our med supplies on him, Happy?” I grumbled and looked over at the mule who seemed to mull it over in his mind. “As much as it sucks, Buck, you’re going to have to take the lead here.” He nodded to me with a smile and pushed himself to wade forward through the snowdrift. “The rest of us are going single file behind him. Happy, you’re pulling up the rear.”

“Aww, really?” He grunted and kicked at the snow so it showered down on an aggravated Okona.

“You’d rather have Okona behind you?” Hispano flashed up a bright smile across his beak. Flaring his wings, he brought Suiza up and nodded to me. “I’ll keep hovering along, if it’s all the same to you.”

With that sorted out, I took up my place right behind Buck as he waded by. I won’t lie, having him shove most of the snow aside was a nice change, but between the crunching and the whines his legs gave out, I couldn’t hear anything else in these woods. Again, I was beginning to feel quite jealous of his augmented hearing.

That being said, I didn’t need better hearing to catch the snap a wire gave from beneath Buck’s hindpaw.

The tree to our left creaked as something big swung down from it. Thanks to his quick reflexes, Buck dove forward as an enormous log swung down. It’s edge was blunted, and probably wouldn’t have been fatal to anyone in power armor. But it was becoming clear to me that whoever set this up wouldn’t have cared if they knocked the head right off some pony, or caused them to bleed out in a trap.

“Is everyone alright?” Buck said as he gave a vigorous shake of himself, shedding all the snow his impromptu dive had coated him with.

“Yeah.” Happy called out as he took a half step back. “How… much further did you say this wreck was?”

“Not far.” I sighed and looked at Buck. He shared the same frown I wore, but still turned back to push onward. “We’ll take it as slow as we need to.”

“Are you always so cautious?” Okona gave a light giggle as I turned and shot a glare at him. He paused, looking over my body for a moment before nodding. “Ah. I guess experience has taught you to slow down.”

“Yeah.” Hispano cooed as he hovered up next to me. “You could say that.”

As we pushed through, the traps became less condensed, and more aimed at just making noise. The last one we’d hit dropped an old frying pan out of a tree and onto a hanging pot. It rang out like a gong, and while Hispano was quick to silence it, I’m sure even the rangers would know where we were now.

However, the dark path through the forest had begun to lighten. Rays of afternoon sunlight poked through the thinning trees as a large open clearing lay ahead of us. At first I thought it was a meadow, but the closer we got, the more I could see the twisted remains of toppled and splintered trees. The broken trees and churned earth carved a path through the thick forest, and pointed us right to our objective.

The downed condor was still mostly intact. The outer halves of each wing had been sheared off in the crash, and it’s tail section had been ripped cleanly from the rear fuselage. But the survivors of the crash hadn’t let anything go to waste. Parts of the plane had been stripped and reinforced with the downed trees and brush, and had been fused together into a perimeter wall that had a few ponies peeking over it. A call came from within the camp, and immediately a dozen different heads joined the few lookouts.

“Well, so much for the element of surprise.” Hispano muttered as he came down into the snow next to me with a few flaps. “Well, you’re on, Night.”

Nodding to her and Buck, I took the lead.

Winding around the broken ground and twisted trees, I did my best to make sure to keep in sight of the ponies defending the wreck. While I hope they weren’t simply waiting for an easy shot, I still eyed each bit of cover before I passed it just in case. I wouldn’t put it past Jynx to find some way to ruin this for everyone…

“That’s far enough!” One of the mares behind the wall called out as I was about to turn onto a straight stretch that lead right up to it. “Leave now or die.”

“We came to talk!” I called out. Well, at least they didn’t start negotiations by shooting at us, so that was something.

“No, you came for salvage.” The mare called out again. “Just like those tin cans out there. So again, I’m not asking. Leave or die.”

“Holy shit, Captain…” Delta’s voice came through my mind with a jarring suddenness to it. “That’s Riddle!”

“Who the fuck is Riddle?” I thought back as I pressed myself against the large rock I’d stopped next to. “And will she talk with us?”

“She’s one of the few natives the raiders… conscripted as a fawn.” Delta’s voice wasn’t exactly enthusiastic, but if she wasn’t a true Skyraider, maybe there was a chance to solve this peacefully. “She spent most of her life with us, and was one of the best Condor pilots we ever had. It was a shame when she left in the purge, but I’ll be damned if it doesn’t look like she’s aged a day since then.” He let out a sigh that to me said that there was more to this than he was willing to divulge right now. “I... bet she still hates me too.”

That’s right, there’s still that oddness about all this. But while we could speculate all day, we didn’t have the luxury of the time to do so. I’m just going to have to trust that she’s not the kind of Skyraider to act without thinking.

“Well!?” Riddle called out.

“I came to talk, nothing more.” I called back. “I can come unarmed, if that’s what it takes.”

“Night, don’t.” Buck’s protests right into my mind were joined with a light growl from his position behind a downed tree not far from me.

“Fine, you want to talk? Then you talk from there.” She shouted, pulling a wave of worried murmurs from those behind the wall beside her. “Step out where we can see you with your hooves up!”

Okay, Night, just take it slow.

I pushed myself off of the rock and hobbled around into the open. Looking along the makeshift wall, I found a dozen old rifles and pistols following my every move. But in the middle of all the hostility being pointed my way, was a glare that would have made Delilah proud. I just wasn’t expecting it to be sitting on the face of a deer.

“Talk.” Riddle snorted as she aligned the glowing end of a magical energy rifle with me.

“I have heard that you left the Skyraiders. Is that true?” I was going to take a risk in bringing this up, but I had to trust that they were who Delta had believed they were ten years ago.

“I won’t answer that.” Riddle snarled and flipped a switch on her rifle. It began to glow a pale yellow and let out an audible hum to it. “If that’s all you came to ‘talk’ about, then I suggest you leave.”

“Why did you leave?” I blurt out sharply. As I did, I watched Jynx’s smiling muzzle creep around one of the snow covered fallen trees up ahead of me. “From what I know, most Skyraiders would have never opted to talk at all. So why am I still here?”

“I can still shoot you anytime, asshole.” Riddle called back as she stood up slightly from her place on the wall. She held her gun firmly in her hooves, but lowered it’s aim from me. “We all had our reasons.” Her gaze left me as well, turning over to those who sat with her on the wall. “We were tired of our work going unnoticed, unrewarded. Tired of being stuck in a life with no progress that’s headed for an unrecoverable stall.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Tired of fighting for those who refused to even hold on to what they say they care about.”

“And now that the Skyraiders are gone, what will you do?” I asked. If they were willing to try to be better, I’d be willing to help how I could. However, if they simply wanted to start over in the south and continue to hurt ponies…

“Gone?” Riddle snapped at me. “Hah, it wouldn’t be like Delta to just let someone like us go. He’s gotta cement that loyalty he’s cared more than anything about after all.”

“Night?” Delta’s voice came through my mind with more than a hint of apprehension, and an odd mechanical whining behind it. “Eliza and I have a theory. We… think they don’t know when they are.”

“What do you mean, when?” I thought back as I screwed up my muzzle. Of course, Eliza’s smiling mare popped into view with an answer at the ready.

“It’s a rare phenomenon, but it would explain the perceived inconsistency with their arrival.” Eliza’s mare shifted smoothly to one who seemed unsure of what she was saying. “We believe that they may have been pulled forward from the past to ten years into our present.”

“Time travel?” I spat out without thinking. “You can’t be serious.”

“Hey, who are you talking to, asshole?” Riddle snapped at me. With a raise of her own gun, everypony along the wall did the same. “If this is some sort of trick…”

“The Factory has observed several occurrences of it in the past.” Eliza’s mare spoke over Riddle, and shifted back to the beaming smile her cartoony mare normally wore. “If you could ask, did they happen to run into any magical anomalies on their flight away from the Skyraider airbase?” Well, I mean, they didn’t seem in much of a mood to chit-chat about other things… “Please, Captain, just ask.”

“When you fled the Skyraiders, did you happen across a magical anomaly?” I asked with a sigh. Seriously, if this gets me shot…

An almost panicked murmur picked up along the wall. Riddle let out a soft gasp as she grit her teeth together, watching as her comrades started chatting among themselves. She leveled her gaze into a beaming glare again, and one by one those on the wall fell silent again.

“Yeah, what’s it to you?” She snorted and turned her eyes on me. “Did you have something to do with it and the voice that took over and crashed our skycraft?”

Voice?

“That… sounds like it was a machine.” Buck grunted into my head.

“Not a machine that the Factory knows about.” Eliza almost held a concerned tone in her voice. “A time traveling machine at that… the Architect is going to want to know everything he can about this. If you can recover it from the skycraft, that would be even better.” That’s if we could even get closer than this...

“We didn’t have anything to do with it.” I gave Riddle an answer that I’d hoped she would believe. Ping and Eliza were going to have to fill us in on a lot after this was all over however. “I have some friends who are going to look into it. But we came here to see if we could help out in another way.”

“Don’t bother.” Riddle tipped her gun up and smirked at me. “We don’t care, and we don’t need your help with...” She paused as her ears perked. Her eyes turned skyward, looking across the open ground toward where we came from. It took me a moment to hear it, but the muffled engines of the Remora preempted the craft peeking over the edge of the forest. “What the fuck is that!?” She and the others scrambled to point their weapons up at it.

“It’s my transport!” I called out, flailing my hoof at her. “It’s unarmed, don’t fire!” What the fuck, why did Eliza choose now of all times to bring the Remora to us!?

“I was simply following Double Delta’s orders, Captain.” Eliza replied far too promptly.

“What the fuck do you mean!?” I snapped back a thought at her. “Is he…” My train of thought derailed in a brilliant explosion as I realized what was going to happen the moment the Remora’s door opened. “Don’t let him out, Eliza. Not until I fucking say so, got that?”

“Of course, Captain.” She smiled at me before popping away once more, leaving me to stare up at Riddle’s cracking expression.

Now that that worry was out of the way, I could get back to my impossible task of making friends with Riddle and her comrades. Let’s say Eliza’s theory is right and these Skyraiders are from ten years ago. How the fuck am I supposed to explain that Double Delta is here because he’s changed and the Skyraiders are all but exterminated. At least, how am I supposed to do that without her shooting me because she thinks I’m crazy?

“Didn’t you say the truth would work best?” Jynx offered with a mirth filled laugh. “Why not start there?”

You know, why not?

“Look, this is going to be hard to believe,” I called out as the Remora lowered itself down, hovering just behind me over a few downed trees. “But that anomaly you flew through sent you ten years into the future. Double Delta was overthrown by Foul Line, then he started a fight with the Puritan Kingdom and lost, which resulted in the loss of the airbase and half the north getting megaspelled again.”

“Bullshit.” She snapped and pointed her magical energy rifle at me once more. “This has obviously been some sort of set up, and I’m not going to fall for any more shit.”

There was a sharp click from above me that made the hydraulics on the Remora whine. With a hum, they powered up and the side of the Remora opened up. Without any hesitation whatsoever, Double Delta jumped out and landed in the snow not too far from me. Standing up, he brought his scar covered smile to bear on her as he pushed his sleek sunglasses up on his muzzle again.

“Delta?” She squinted at him with an odd look. “What the hell happened to you?”

“Hey there, Riddle.” He called out, “Long time…”

ZOTT

He was cut off by a red flash that drew a line through the snow right at his hooves. Riddle’s gun emitted a whine as it began to recharge, and she shifted her aim right for Delta’s still smiling muzzle.

“I fucking knew this was some sort of trick.” She laughed as again she flicked a switch on the side of her rifle. The pale yellow color it held shifted, changing to a nearly neon blue color. “We aren’t going back, Delta. We’d rather die here.”

“I know you would.” Delta let another laugh slip from his muzzle. “You always burned the brightest, Riddle. That’s why as much as I wanted to hold onto you that day, I let you go.” Delta’s smile sank as he walked himself up next to me. “I’ve had… time to think about if I made a mistake that day or not. But…” He paused and glanced down at me, offering a weak but sincere smile. “I know that while I should have fought for you to stay, you were better off flying free.”

“Give me one reason not to call you on your bullshit and put you down right now.” Riddle spat out, getting eager cheers of agreement from her companions.

“Because Night here is right, Riddle.” Delta sighed and looked up at her again. “You almost couldn’t recognize me, could you? That’s because you did leave ten years ago, and a lot has happened since then. The Skyraiders are gone now, and I’m just trying to do my best to be better than the pony I was when you left.” With a shudder and a grunt, Delta sat down and held his hooves out wide to each side. “If that means letting you kill me now so you can start to move on, then so be it.”

A bit overly dramatic, but… I could understand where he was coming from. I may not have known the ‘Skyraider king’ Delta, but the stallion I saved at Galloway was far different than the picture Riddle had painted of him. Different even from the one Frescas had painted him as. He’d come a long way to try to be a better pony, and that, I could respect.

I didn’t expect Riddle to understand, but what she did do, I wasn’t expecting all the same.

“Alright.” She sighed as she lowered her gun. With a flip of the switch on it’s side, the blue glow it held turned to yellow again before fading completely. “Either this is the most elaborate operation you’ve ever arranged, or something did happen and the Skyraiders are gone.”

“No tricks, just… it’s good to see you again, Riddle.” Delta mirrored her sigh as he lowered his hooves down again.

“Oh, trust me, I know it’s not a trick.” She smirked as the others along the wall started to pull their weapons back. “You’ve never been that smart, and...” She paused as she looked over at me, “the fact that she came first shows that you aren’t running things anymore. You never could trust others to get something done.”

“I did like to stick my hooves in everything, didn’t I?” Delta laughed before looking over to me. “But you’re right, Night here saved me before the fall in more than one way. Since then, I figured that for once I’d try out this whole ‘following orders’ thing I’ve never been quite fond of.”

“Says the pony who wouldn’t stay inside the Remora.” I deadpanned at him, forcing a slight twinge of guilt across his muzzle. While his interruption did manage to buy us some goodwill, there’s still work to be done. “But the important thing is that we’re all friends here, and we’re here to help.”

“Well, your little stunt was idiotic, but you’ve at least bought yourself a chance to speak.” Riddle snorted before clopping her cloven hoof on the wooden wall fairly hard. With a metallic shriek, one of the metal plane parts was dislodged, revealing a small passage through the wall. “Now get your group inside before the Toasters think it’s a good idea to come knocking as well.”

While the cockpit of the crashed Condor was not exactly spacious, it managed to fit us all in. Well, outside of Buck and Hispano. Snow and ice caked most of the flight instruments near the broken cockpit windows, but overall they looked mostly undamaged. The interior however was coated in branches and splinters of wood. While the navigators seat was mostly untouched, both the pilot and copilot seats were torn up. The copilots seat had seen the worst of it, and had almost been ripped out of it’s mounting. A gaping hole had been torn through its center, and dried blood coated the fabric.

Riddle however tapped her hooves on the navigator’s station, as the mare under her worked away.

“All good to go, ma’am.” The red and white striped mare under her said as she dragged a cable over and hooked a hefty orange box up to the wreck. “It should automatically index to two minutes before the crash.”

“Excellent.” Riddle nodded and practically kicked the mare away. “Now, go get started on an inventory of our cargo. If we’re getting out of here, I don’t want to leave a single box, wire, or scrap of cargo behind for those steel dolts.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The mare nodded and quickly made her way down the stairs at the rear of the cockpit and into the cargo hold.

“You’re a regular queen, Riddle.” Double Delta snorted. His words sent a visible tick down Riddle’s form, and she shot him a glance that I’m sure he wouldn’t soon forget. “Sorry.”

“You had your chance, Delta.” She snorted as she worked over a few of the radio controls. “You chose to be king over me.”

I blinked a few times as I think something obvious finally hit me. When Delta spoke of her before, he hadn’t meant she’d still hate him for being the Skyraider king. He meant that she’d still hate him.

“So wait, you two were…” I blurt out, immediately pulling a cackling yell from Jynx. Her obnoxious laughter disappeared as my vision turned into a blur of movement, followed by me hitting the floor.

“That’s not really any of your goddess damned business.” Riddle seethed through her angry heaving breaths. “Now shut up and listen.” With a flick of her cloven hoof, a small amount of static played over the radio before the buzzing hum of arcane cloudship engines came through.

“Are they still on our scope?” The voice of Riddle came in with a note of panic.

“Negative.” The voice of a stallion came through. “No buzz bombers or interceptors in sight, and we’re moving out of their range, ma’am.”

“Excellent.” Riddle sighed on the recording, “We did it then. We’re never going back.”

“Are you alright, ma’am? Are you… crying?”

“No, of course…” Riddle snapped, but paused for what seemed like an uncomfortably long time. “Do you see that out there? What is that ahead of us?”

“Looks like a storm to me.” The stallion responded flatly.

“With purple lightning?” Riddle said as it sounded like she flipped a few switches. “I’m adjusting our heading to avoid it.”

“Ma’am?” The voice of the red mare who was in here before came through the recording. “My scope is showing that it’s tracking us. We’re still on an intercept course.”

“That’s not possible.” Riddle growled as we could hear as the whine from the engines picked up and the metal fuselage creaked. “Adjusting speed and altitude. We’re going to dive under whatever it is.”

As we all listened, Riddle shook her head. She stared off through the radio, undoubtedly playing through the events in her head as they happened. But it was in her violet eyes that I could see the same regret I felt after we lost Violet, after Solomon killed everyone. That feeling that maybe if she’d just acted differently, then maybe all of this wouldn’t have happened.

“It’s matching our corrections, ma’am!” The red mare called out again.

“What the fuck is this thing!?” Riddle basically screamed as she sounded like she put the skycraft through its paces. Whines and groans from parts of the plane we shouldn’t be able to hear came through. “It’s no use, all hooves, brace for impact!”

A rattling shudder came through the recording, along with a burst of static and feedback that made all of us recoil. But as abruptly as it had begun, it ended, dropping the recording back into the static hum the skycraft gave off. With the normal noise however, came an odd ringing that was just faint enough that it was almost lost in the background noise.

“Hmmm, what’s this then? A cloudship?” The voice was that of a mare that we hadn’t heard before, but… it didn’t sound like it was recorded with the others, more like it was coming from the recorder itself. “Intriguing, but… too fragile a form for my likes.”

“What the hell? My controls are dead, ma’am.” The stallion from before whined lightly.

“Mine too, but… who’s the mare speaking?” Riddle growled. “Did you do this? What have you done to my ship?”

“Oh me? Well, I’m nopony.” A mirthful laugh that sounded a bit too close to Jynx’s came through the recording crystal clear. “Just a traveler, a fragment trying to find her whole. As for your ship however, you may have it back shortly. I simply needed a temporal anchor point until I could align myself with my next destination.”

“Anchor point… what are you talking about?” Riddle’s frustration came through with a slam on the instrument panel. “Damnit, give me back my ship!”

“A feisty one, with plenty of zest for life, yet so little anger in her heart.” The mare laughed again before the whole skycraft seemed to shudder again on the recording. “Had we not met only in passing, I may have taken it upon myself to correct that flaw.”

The shuddering of the plane stopped, and things sounded like they calmed down for a bit.

“The cloud is clearing from around us, ma’am.” The red mare called out. “We’re… wait, where’s the rest of the cloud cover? Navigation is... malfunctioning and refuses to give us a position, but there is an equestrian transponder signal coming in from the east. It’s… it’s the Vanhoover airbase, ma’am!”

“You haven’t traveled far, in a manner of speaking. However…” The mirthful mare paused as if she were waiting for something. I could almost hear the grin spreading across her muzzle as even I could feel the tension in the recording build like a rubber band.

There was a blast, and several alarms rang out in the cockpit.

“Shit, report!” Riddle cried out.

“We’ve lost all engine control, and the rear stabilizer isn’t responding!” The stallion groaned out as it sounded like the both of them struggled with the controls. “We’re locked in a dive!”

“Attempting to trim us out!” Riddle called back as the red mare sounded like she devolved into a series of panic filled sobs. “Shit, it’s not working!”

“Well, thanks for the ride, but this is where I get off.” The mirthful mare laughed again before her voice faded away like an echo in an empty room.

“We’re losing altitude too fast!” The stallion called out, “Deploying flaps and gear!”

There was another series of shudders before the shearing of metal came through.

“Flaps and gear are gone!” Riddle called out through her own whine. “On three we cut fuel flow and pull up as hard as we can!”

“We’ll never make it through all those trees!” The stallion cried out.

“We will!” Riddle screamed, “One, two, three…!”

Riddle reached up and flicked the switch again. The recording cut out, and once more we were dropped into silence. With a crane of her neck, she looked at the blood stained copilot's seat with a sigh.

“There you go.” Riddle crossed her hooves across her barrel as she swung her glare back to me. “That’s all we’ve got.”

“Well, it didn’t sound like a machine. My limited analysis has concluded it defies explanation, and seems unquantifiably unnatural.” Eliza’s voice came through my mind as her mare popped in. “I’ve sent the recording to the Architect. Perhaps the Factory can unravel the mystery of whatever it was.”

“Thank you, Riddle.” I offered and nodded to her. “I don’t know if we can find out who exactly that was, but my friends are on it.” She gave me a puzzled look that I answered with a swift tap to the side of my metal augment. “But with that out of the way, we do have some other things to discuss.”

“Right, I suppose you want us to cut that ‘deal’ with the Steel Rangers.” She snorted. “Well fuck that. We didn’t haul this shit all the way from home just to have it stolen and hoarded.” Her cloven hoof shot out and pointed to the busted copilot’s seat. “Toggle Lock didn’t die just so we could give up on starting over.”

“They aren’t asking for all of it.” Happy grunted as he pushed past Delta. “And you can’t even take all of it to…” He paused and scratched at his chin with his wooden hoof, “Where were you all tryin’ to get to?”

“The airbase, so we could start over and tinker with our craft in private.” Riddle sighed and dragged her cloven hooves down her muzzle. “Look, was your offer to help genuine, or are you simply here as a mouthpiece to the Rangers? Because if so, you have my answer.”

I cringed as the thought of committing to helping them move everything and everyone here added even more time for King to go unfound, as well as for Solomon to get ahead of us. No, we weren’t going to do that. But that didn’t mean we were out of options here, at least, if the Rangers would be willing to hold out a bit longer as well. And well, if I could convince a friend to help out another time.

“Hey, Eliza?” I thought out as I stared into the expectant eyes of Riddle. With her usual promptness, the smiling cartoon mare showed up again in my vision. “Can you send another message up to the factory? As thrilled as he’s going to be, I need Sharan’s help with this job…”

Author's Note

As with every chapter, I must share my absolute thanks for all the work that TheFurryRailFan does in helping get these chapters ready to post. Plus, I need to thank him for letting me use all of his locations from his story!

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat for creating FoE, and allowing us all to muck around in the setting to help make it our own.

Chapter 98 - The Hero's Return

Success is a matter of luck, just ask any failure.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?” I asked Delta as the rest of us climbed inside the Remora. “Scar will be here in a day or so it’s not like you’d be abandoning them.”

“Yeah, don’t worry about me.” He smiled and hoofed his sunglasses up further on his muzzle. “There were some things I wished I’d said to Riddle before she left, and I doubt I’ll get a third chance to say them in my lifetime. If she’ll believe me, well, that’s a different story.” With a shake of his head and a wave of his hoof, he stepped back from the Remora. “But that’s my problem to worry about. Go, find King.”

“You’re not going to stay?” Happy asked abruptly, catching both Delta and I off guard. “If you cared for her like you said…”

He seemed to think about it for a moment before shrugging.

“I think I made my choice ten years ago, and while I regret it, I’ve come to terms with it.” Delta sighed and offered Happy a sympathetic look. “Besides, she never really was into older guys.” With a lazy salute, he gave me a quick wink. “But I’ll be fine. Just do me a favor and don’t go running off south without me.”

“You’ve got it.” I nodded to him as the Remora’s engines spooled up and the cabin doors closed.

I took a deep breath as I felt the Remora under us lift off. It wasn’t going to be more than a minute or so in the air, but it was at least a time when I didn’t have to worry about anything. In fact, as I looked around the cabin at the faces of my friends, my family, I could feel the tension I’ve been carrying with me melt away.

A pair of large wings wrapping warmly around me did a lot to help with that as well as I felt Hispano press himself up against my back. I did my best to lean in and return the affection, but paused when out of the corner of my eye, I caught Okona’s curious gaze studying me. I felt a wave of discomfort gurgle up from my gut as he broke off his gaze and a smirk pulled across his muzzle.

I’m beginning to regret bringing him along with us. But without any sort of solid reason to distrust him, I wasn’t about to make a new enemy when I didn’t need to. Still, we were going to have a long talk once we got back to the Arcturus.

The Remora shifted under my hooves again, slowing us down and bringing us in for a landing. The doors once more opened up, revealing that we’d landed just on the outskirts of the Steel Ranger camp. While we weren’t met with the barrels of rifles this time, the looks a few of the rangers shot us as we disembarked were just as hostile. Thankfully, Paladin Lance quickly made his way over to us from his tent.

“With the lack of gunfire, I’m assuming things went well in your negotiations.” He offered as his heavy power armored steps kicked effortlessly through the packed snow around his camp.

“Indeed.” I offered to him with a nod. “They’ll be gone in two days.”

“And their supplies?” He pressed with more than a note of hope to his voice that bordered on greed. “What about their wreck?”

“They’re taking what they brought with them.” I did my best to flatly state it so he understood it wasn’t for the Rangers to take. “However, after they’re gone, you may have the wreck of the Condor.”

The paladin mulled over my words and let out a long, dejected sigh. I got that he wasn’t getting everything he and the Rangers wanted, but for the low low price of zero casualties, I’d thought he’d at least be somewhat satisfied. As rational as that sounded to me, so far my experiences in the wastes have taught me that it’s not exactly the norm to expect from others.

“That’ll do, I suppose.” He finally spoke up, but not before I could see the beginnings of a smirk tugging at his muzzle. “So long as we don’t have any incidents or incursions from them, I’ll give them their two days. Any longer however and I have no guarantee that they’ll leave anything for us to reclaim, and that won’t do.” No, that didn’t sit right with me at all.

“Well we didn’t agree to any extra conditions like that.” Happy spoke up before I could even blurt out the exact same thought. “You northern rangers may be nicer than the ones we’ve got back home, but don’t overstep.”

“Happy…” Buck let out an almost snapping growl as he turned on the Mule. While the Rangers nearby had been calm enough before, Buck’s sudden aggression changed that. More than a few turned at attention and raised their weapons to us. Right, like Caution Tape, they probably haven’t seen a civil Snow Dog before. I just needed to defuse this whole situation before it got out of control.

“No, Buck, Happy’s right.” I offered as I sat down and reached out to Buck. Taking his paw in my forehoof, I pulled his annoyed glare onto me instead. “I won’t sit idly by as some excuse is drawn up to go in and take everything the moment we leave.” Turning my flat gaze back onto Paladin Lance, I found his near mirrored glance glued to me. “We will be within Cloud-to-Ground missile range for the next few days at least, and you know the Arcturus has the observation capabilities to keep a watchful eye. Should you break your agreement, I won’t hesitate to flatten your camp, or even this whole goddess damned park. Are we understood?”

What I had expected from him was a long, drawn out pause. A glare to rival that of Delilah’s that pierced into the very depths of my soul. And of course, some witty threat as a comeback that only egged on a conflict.

This time, I was happy to be disappointed.

“Reasonable. I can agree to that.” The paladin nodded before sticking his hoof out toward me. “Now, for our end of the bargain.” I reached my hoof out and shook his as my mind did a barrel roll. Wait, that’s it? Was he actually going to be civil about this then? “My scribes have noted a few locations here in the park where your alicorn friend may have been taken.” He nodded back to his tent with a smirk. “Come, I’ll mark them out for your team on our map.”

Huh, I guess he was going to be civil. That’s a nice change of pace for once…

With only a few locations, I decided to split us into two teams to search faster. Hispano and Buck were going with me to the far end of the park where the ride maintenance shed was, while Happy, Okona, and one of the Ranger scribes would go check the clinic near the park’s entrance. If King wasn’t found at either, the last place we would have to look would be in the ruins of the fun house near the large tent I saw while flying above.

Even as we walked past it, the dilapidated fun house building and it’s rusted animatronic mascots gave me a creepy vibe. I knew this whole park was themed around some old world manticore mascot, but… did they have to have such an uncanny likeness to their cartoony base? Maybe it was just me, but deep down I couldn’t shake the fear that they were watching as Buck, Hispano and I passed.

Here’s hoping we could just find King and get the hell out of here…

A soft yet abrupt ‘beep’ emitted from Buck’s collar. In an instant he froze, perking his triangular dish-like ears as he looked around. Hispano huffed, opening his beak to say something, but stopped as another beep came from Buck’s collar.

“What is it?” Hispano asked softly as he pulled Suiza up in his Talons.

“A response.” Buck said simply as his ears stopped and focused themselves in one direction. “There, at that old ruin.” He pointed himself towards one of the rusted rides that sat near the maintenance shed.

“A response? To what?” Hispano squawked softly as he ruffled his wings across his back uneasily. It was a good point, and it got me thinking for only a moment before it hit me.

“To Buck’s collar. It’s another machine.” I said softly as I couldn’t help but smile at Hispano. His unamused and confused look was understandable, but it’d be easier to just show him. “Well, let’s go say hello!”

The three of us made our way over to the ride, which from what I could tell, had once been something I’d only seen in Ministry of Morale advertisements. Bumper cars, I think it was called. The large fenced in area of the ride was partially overgrown by ferns and sickly looking shrubs, and a single tree had sprouted through the floor. It had long since grown up through the roof, providing the ring of old rusting bumper cars around it some shelter from the elements over the years.

“H-hello? Is someone there?” A meek, but clearly unnatural voice of a young colt came from around the far side of the tree.

Both Buck and I looked at each other before he moved ahead of me. He reached out to grab the rusted gate entrance to the bumper car ring, only to have it crumble into rusty flakes at his grasp. Surprised but not undeterred, he used his mechanical paw to quickly sheer away the rest of the gate, leaving a path for Hispano and I to follow through.

With careful steps across the mossy and overgrown floor, we made our way around the tree towards where the voice had come from. I’d hoped in the back of my mind that we wouldn’t find one of those creepy mechanical mascots waiting for us. A shiver ran down my spine as I thought about it, with the rest of me thinking how stupid it was to feel creeped out. But as the three of us came around the tree, instead, we didn’t find any machine waiting there.

“Wait, where is it?” I asked without thinking.

“H-hello?” The voice of the colt spoke up again from right next to us. All at once, our gazes dropped down to the collection of bumper cars huddled on this side of the tree. “Are you… are you friends?” The machine who reached out… was a bumper car?

“Yes, we’re friends.” Buck replied softly as his jagged jaw split into his normal, caring smile. “Who are you?”

“I’m… Bumpy Ten.” The small yellow bumper car sitting between the three of us replied before it’s internal workings gave out a short lived whine. “I can’t… see you, my sensors are malfunctioning.” It let out a whimper that sounded so much like that from a real colt. “Are you… like me? Did you come to be my friend?”

“We aren’t artificial, if that’s what you’re asking.” I spoke up, looking over to Buck with a frown. Why would anyone make a machine like this?

“We’re Organic.” Buck said again softly as he reached up and tapped at his metal yoke. “We came because you responded to our signal.”

“You are… I don’t know that word.” Bumpy let out another soft whimper. “I can't remember a lot of words... my memory talisman is malfunctioning. I’m sorry if I’m not being a good friend.”

“Maybe there’s a working one in one of these other cars?” Hispano offered, pointing a talon to the others huddled and rusted around the tree.

“No, please!” Bumpy cried out, “Leave them alone.”

“But, none of them are working.” Hispano frowned at me. “You are the last one.”

“I… I know.” Bumpy’s words came across with a set of light sobs. “We've been here for so long, without anyone, without maintenance. After fifty years, most of us couldn't even move anymore, and one by one, they stopped talking to me.”

Again, why would anypony be so cruel as to even design a machine like this! Two centuries of torture for something with the mindset of a foal, watching as it’s friends died off all the while withering away slowly as well. It was just… wrong.

“Can I ask you... why did our creators abandon us?” Bumpy’s question hit a note in me. He didn’t even know what happened.

“The... end of the world happened.” Hispano offered as he gripped around his shoulder uncomfortably with his talon. “Everybody… died.” Hispano was tough, but… I couldn’t blame him for sounding a bit hollow.

“But not you.” Bumpy’s voice shifted slightly as he gave off a static filled sniffle. “You are here now for Bumpy Ten, to be friends.”

“Yes, we came to help you.” Buck nodded, reaching out his paw slowly towards the rusted hull of the yellow car. However, he paused sharply just short of touching it. His eyes moved along the fence toward where the gate had been, and with a sigh, he pulled his paw back. “The signal you heard, it belongs to some friends of ours. We can take you to them, and they can help fix you.”

“That’s… kind.” Bumpy’s meek voice offered a note of hope to it, but like most things, it was fleeting. “But I can’t go. I… don’t want to leave the others.”

“But… you won’t last a year in your condition.” Hispano gasped. “And they’re already…”

“I know.” Bumpy remarked softly.

“Why would you stay then?” The words slipped through my muzzle as my mind worked through to the only conclusion I could come to. “Unless, you want to... die with them.”

“They stayed with me because they are like me, and I am like them.” Bumpy’s internals gave out another soft whine that didn’t fill me with confidence. “No matter the bumps between us, we stay together, always.”

“I understand.” I nodded, looking between Buck and Hispano. “Family is more important than anything.”

“That word… I don’t understand it, but it feels… right.” Bumpy’s internals gave off a longer whine this time, which pulled a soft cry from him. “Please, friends, I want to be with them now. I know I shouldn’t ask, but…”

“We can help.” Buck nodded softly as he looked down at his paws with a sigh.

“Thank you, friends.” Bumpy’s tone shifted to a sort of hollow happiness that again screamed to me that he deserved a better life than what he’d been given. “Will… it hurt?”

“Maybe, but only for a moment.” Buck whimpered before he placed his paws on the hull of the car. With a light push the metal gave out. A single spark, and a whisp of smoke pushed through the broken bumper car before there was nothing but silence again.

Bumpy Ten was gone.

We’d tried to work through the somber mood as we searched through the maintenance shed. While I still couldn’t get past the fact that somepony would make something like Bumpy, I could at least take solace in the fact that we’d done what we could to help him. I’d already learned the hard way that you can’t save everypony, but at least for now we could still save King.

“Clear!” Hispano called from the small room up in the rafters.

“Nothing down here.” Buck sighed as he and I looked behind a few stacks of crates and assorted boxes.

The shed wasn’t at all big, and mostly held corroded spare parts for some of the smaller rides on this side of the park. Still, it was the only building nearby that didn’t have windows, so I could see why the Rangers would think King could have been in here. However, this place was small enough that if they’d scouted it, they could have poked their head in and easily seen he wasn’t here.

“What a bust.” Hispano grumbled as he stepped out from the room. “Hopefully Happy’s having better luck.” He was coated in a light layer of dust and cobwebs, and quickly used his wings to brush himself off. “You remember, Night, when I told you that you’re too much of a charity case and how it always causes problems?”

“Well, it’s not like I knew ahead of time that King would be abducted by other Alicorns.” I mean, I’d admit that trouble always seemed to find us, but come on! Despite the uncertainty of bringing him onboard, King has actually made progress in remembering things without incident so far. So it was a little unfair to act like King’s been this giant burden on us...

The ground under my hooves rumbled, and a roar from a sharp blast outside shook the walls of the old shed. All three of us bolted for the door. Buck however reached it first, and rather than opting to open it, he burst right through the old wood.

As Hispano and I emerged behind him, we could see a cloud of dust and smoke rising up from over where the clinic was. Shouts and frantic hoofbeats came from the Ranger camp, but no gunshots. Still, the three of us took off towards the clinic, and all I could think in my mind was that Happy better not be dead.

Hispano gave a few hard flaps of his wings, taking flight above us and prompting me to do the same. I didn’t get as much altitude as him, but it was enough to let me glide at an appreciable speed. Buck on the other hoof tore through the snow on all four mechanical legs as easily as if the thick powder wasn’t even there.

We’d made it all the way across the park in nearly a minute flat, and I came down into the snow for a landing just short of a few chunks of smoldering wood that had been thrown by the explosion. The clinic itself was mostly leveled, reduced to a heap of burning wood and concrete. A dozen rangers had thrown down their weapons and were frantically trying to clear the rubble from around what had once been the entrance.

“What the hell happened?” I called out as I hobbled my way over to help. The heat and choking smoke from the fire was much more intense than I’d expected. Shit, this… this wasn’t looking good.

“You’re guess is as good as any!” Lance’s voice answered as his heavy power armored steps came up quickly behind me. “Stand aside, I can clear it faster.”

One of the Rangers who’d been helping turned to me and all but shoved me out of the way. Lance quickly secured a polished looking helmet on top of his armor with a hiss before he stepped up right onto a pile of burning rubble. The thick smoke enveloped him after a moment, and outside of his heavy steps and amplified grunts of exertion, he’d all but disappeared into the raging inferno.

With the grace of a brick, a large slab of the building’s ceiling came tumbling out from where Lance went in. It crashed down, splintering across the snow where I’d been before the other ranger pushed me. Before I could take another step back, more debris came sailing out from the smoke, then even more.

Lance hadn’t been kidding that he could work at it faster. The power armor’s immense strength allowed him to shove aside or toss enough rubble that he’d quickly cleared a path wide enough that the smoke parted and created a tunnel nearly big enough for a pony to get through. The moment I saw that gap, I felt like I had a chance to get in there to help.

“Hey!” Lance’s amplified voice called back to us, “We’ve got survivors!”

I held my breath as slow movement made its way through the smoke. Heavy coughing and pained whines followed as a pair of pony-like shapes emerged. It was the bloody and weak form of the Steel Ranger scribe sent with Happy. She was limping along with their hoof braced across the back of the bruised and soot covered, but no worse of wear, Okona.

Without thinking, my legs pushed me forward. I needed to get in there, to save Happy. I was about to dip into the gap in the smoke when Buck’s mechanical paws wrapped around me and pulled me back.

“You need to stay out here, Night.” Buck grunted as he all too easily plucked me right up off the ground. “My lungs can filter out the smoke, but yours won’t.” He turned me so I could see the incredibly serious look he forced across his muzzle. “Don’t worry, I’ll find him.”

I didn’t want to stay out here, not when I could help. But as Buck set me down and pushed past Okona and the injured ranger, I couldn’t bring my hooves to move again. No matter how eager I’d felt, I… couldn’t push aside Buck’s words this time. He was right, he was more well adapted to help here, and I’d only end up getting in the way.

Instead, I watched as a few of the Rangers ran over and took the scribe off Okona. With a swiftness I wish I had, they whisked their injured comrade off back toward their camp, leaving Okona to turn and walk over toward me. He had a solemn look across his face, and he fought to keep from looking me right in the eyes.

“I tried to tell her.” He grunted as he brought himself over and carefully lowered himself down to the ground. “But she wanted to inspect those old oxygen tanks.” He let out a pained whine, favoring his heavily bruised side before taking a few deep breaths. “It’s a miracle she’s even still alive after they blew, but with injuries like hers, I don’t think they’ll be able to save her.”

“Where’s Happy?” I asked, feeling a twist in my gut as those words left my muzzle.

“He…” Okona paused, sighing as he shook his head. “He found a door leading to a subterranean storage room. He went down there to check for your friend, but the door was marked with the same signs as on the corroded oxygen tanks.” With a groan, Okona reached his hoof up to me and gave me a few firm pats on the side. “I’m sorry but… he couldn’t have survived the blast.”

No. I… I refuse to believe that. Happy wasn’t gone, he couldn’t be. After everything we’ve been through, after I promised Delilah that I’d keep him safe.

“Night…” Hispano offered as she gave a few heavy flaps and landed at my side. “I… I’m so sorry.”

“He’s not dead.” I spat out as tears started to run down the fur under my good eye. “He can’t be.”

The burning rubble shifted, collapsing down onto itself even more. The roar of the fire intensified, sending another bright plume of fire and smoke into the sky. The sounds of Buck and the Star Paladin moving rubble had slowed, and with it, I could feel a growing pit in my stomach.

“It’s so beautiful, don’t you think?” Jynx offered as she appeared from within the rubble. She looked at it with an awestruck expression across her face that almost made my blood boil. “Awe, don’t be like that. We both knew that your luck would run out at some point.” She let a smile creep across her muzzle as she hopped down from the ruin and stared to walk over toward us. “But hey, at least your new ‘friend’ here means that you’ll be leaving with the same sized party as you arrived with. I...”

A sharp cracking snap came from the rubble as part of it bulged and blasted skyward. It wasn’t with the same force as the explosion that had ripped the place apart, but it was enough that it propelled some of the rubble into one of the rusted nearby amusement rides. As the dust and smoke cleared, a set of sparks met my eyes. A green bubble cracked and shattered like glass, dumping the battered and bloody forms of Happy and King out from the rubble.

“H-happy!” I cried out sharply.

They were alive.

“That’s… not possible.” My Jynx stammered before shimmering away in a puff of smoke.

I don’t know if it was because of a miracle ordained by Celestia herself, really, I didn’t care. Hispano and I drove forward through the snow, rushing over to the pair of them as they heaved and choked from the smoke that lingered in their lungs. Happy was covered in bleeding cuts and black bruises, and King seemed to be in just the same predicament, but with his horn singed almost all black. They were both in rough shape, but alive, and that’s all that mattered.

With another crack and shift of the rubble, part of it behind where they’d come from fell away. Buck let out a heavy growl as he pushed through the flames that licked at the fresh air that was drawn in, but stepped through them all the same. Without hesitation, and as ginger as a grasp as he always had with me, he scooped Happy up and moved him further from the burning rubble.

His mechanical arms whined as they opened up and got to work in treating his wounds. It wasn’t until then that the knot in my stomach started to unwind a bit, and I felt compelled to turn myself towards King. Surprisingly, with as poor a shape he was in, he was already struggling to stand up on his own again.

“Hey, take it easy there.” Hispano was quick to move up and use his appreciably strength to help steady King. “Let’s get you over towards Buck so he can help patch you up too, alright?”

King nodded, but turned his slit green eyes on me. Though strained from the smoke, and puffy from the bruises across his face and muzzle, I could see a look of fear in them. He opened his muzzle to speak, only to devolve into a hacking fit before he could say anything.

“Woah there, what did I just tell you?” Hispano grumbled as he steadied the large alicorn during his heaving coughs. “Let’s get you fixed up first, then we can talk.”

“Was… that everyone?” Lance’s panting, amplified voice pressed through the roaring fire before he too stepped through the hole that Buck had made. I nodded to him before turning my attention back to Buck and Happy. “Alright, good.” He let out a long sigh before stepping clear of the burning rubble. The labored, heavy breaths he gave as he reached up and removed his helmet gave me pause, and I looked back to find that he was completely drenched in sweat. “My only complaint then is that the cooling systems in here could use a little tuning I think.” He flashed a smile to me that helped me notice how parts of his armor were completely blackened with soot. “But I’m glad we got everyone out.”

“Me too.” I nodded, looking back into the fire for Jynx. Thankfully, she didn’t return or make any more comments. My mind thought back and stuck on her reaction, wondering if her surprise really was genuine, or if she’d simply been trying to lie to me about Happy.

“Head paladin, sir.” The voice of another pony called out as they approached. A mare who was covered in soot and blood stepped up, and I realized she was one of the Rangers who’d helped take the injured scribe away. “I’m sorry, but Scribe Twist’s injuries were too severe. We couldn’t save her.”

“Damnit.” Lance hung his head. “Alright, secure her body for transport back to the Bunker. I’ll get started on my report once you report back to me.”

“Yes, sir.” The mare nodded and spun around, trotting back off toward the camp without any more words or care. Even though she didn’t really visibly express it, from the way she carried herself as she left, I could tell it had shaken her up.

Hell, even though I didn’t know the scribe, I wanted to mirror their frustration. But I’d seen death like this before, and again, I knew I couldn’t save everypony. As bad as it sounds, one out of four wasn’t a bad outcome given how close we came to losing everyone. If anything, I felt guilty that it wasn’t us that had to pay the price for saving someone this once. It was an incredibly frustrating sentiment, but ultimately I pushed it to the back of my mind. Feeling torn up about misplaced guilt wasn’t going to help anypony now.

A quick thumping drifted through the air from across the forest that surrounded the park.

While I turned my own ears to try to find it’s source, Lance’s ears turned and pulled his attention to the valley ridge that ran along the southwest. Like a silver bolt, a vertibuck climbed up into view as it sped towards us. It was moving faster than I'd seen all but the most daring Enclave pilots push the machine during air shows. It banked hard to slow down, and it's engines protested as they decelerated the craft at a frankly unsafe rate. It made me feel the same anticipation bubble up in my gut as I did whenever they pulled off stunts in the shows.

The radio in Lance’s power armor crackled as an ecstatic voice came through that I could almost mistake for Guinness’, but slightly off in a way I couldn’t put my hoof on.

"Yeah! That's gotta be a new bunker transport record!" The stallion who spoke sounded about my age, but sounded a bit too positive to have spent any real amount of time out in the wastes. “This is sparrow six four ready for our supply delivery. Mind movin’ whatever other craft ye’ve parked in the landing zone so we can set down?”

"Scouring." Lance muttered under his breath as he brought up his helmet in his hooves and brought it to his muzzle. "This is Paladin Lance Gunner. I thought we got this out of your system when you graduated from being an initiate, Scouring. Those parts weren't meant to hold up to those sorts of braking maneuvers after two centuries, and the Elder specifically told you to take it easy on the fancy flying. Do I need to have you removed from your probationary pilot's duties again until you understand that? Because alternatively, I hear there's still plenty of room in B Company these days, and I'm sure they'd love to have a risk taker like you join them."

"Copy that, head paladin." Scouring's jubilant voice came through the power armor’s speakers. "And don't worry, this old lass doesn't mind having her wings stretched a bit, heh. Saw the smoke from the ridgeline ten kilometers out, decided to haul arse to make sure everythin’ was under control." He let out an all too confident laugh that reminded me a lot of Violet’s on a good day. "But since I trust you’ve got yer situation well in hoof, why don’t you leave the flying to me? I've worked up a real rapport with me sweet little sparrow here o’er the last few weeks, I know she isn't going to let me down anytime soon. At least, not let me down too hard, anyways."

"You better trust in that sparrow then,” Lance sighed with a glance over to me. I’d seen that same look on Delilah before, and since I’d started to lead us, I could sympathize. “If you do wreck that bird, you’ll be begging to join B Company rather than being black listed and expelled from the Rangers." He paused for a moment, looking over at Buck as he scooped Happy up off the snow. He wasn’t bleeding as much, but it looked like he’d passed out. “But, borderline insubordination aside, we’ll clear your landing spot shortly. Once those supplies are offloaded, unfortunately, we’ll be sending the body of Scribe Twist back home with you. I’ll update you on our situation here and make sure to expedite my incident report for the Elder.”

“Sparrow six four, copy that, head paladin.” Scouring’s tone had understandably lost it’s enthusiasm with that, and he replied somewhat softly. “Aye, that’s a real shame to hear, she was a fine scribe. We’ll take up a parkin’ orbit until the landing zone is vacated. Sparrow six four, out.”

“Well,” Lance nodded as he turned to me, “I’m sure you’ll need to get your friends somewhere they can get treatment.” Lifting and offering his armored hoof to me, I took it and did my best to shake it. “Thank you again for your assistance in pacifying those in the forest without violence. The Maple Valley Rangers have a bit of a reputation of trying to stay out of other’s business when given the chance, and I’m glad you could help maintain it.”

“Anytime.” I offered back to him with a forced smile. “And thank you for your assistance in locating our missing friend. I’m sorry that it had to come at the cost of one of your scribes.”

“We all know the risks of the job.” He nodded to me and forced up his own somewhat defensive smile. “We’ve had it fairly good for the last few years. So while all of us feel a loss like this, we can still carry on in the knowledge that they gave their lives to keep the Rangers strong.” With a nod and a shift of his forehoof toward the camp, he huffed. “But you best be going. Good luck on your journey.”

“Same to you, Paladin.”

The Remora hadn’t been designed to carry this many of us.

Well, that’s not entirely fair. When the Architect designed the cabin space, he probably never expected that his envoy and party would consist of a half-machine Snow Dog, a gender transformed griffon, and an Alicorn. If not for the urgency of this ride, I might have suggested that Okona go back to riding along the outside like he’d done to follow us.

“Captain?” Eliza’s voice chirped as her mare popped into my vision once more. “Long range receivers have picked up Unit Seven’s beacon approaching the settlement.”

“Really?” Buck’s voice filtered into my mind as well as he shifted to share a look of concern with me. “My collar hasn’t picked anything up.”

“It is currently too far out for your collar to pick up.” Eliza promptly replied as a similar sweeping display popped up across my augmented vision. It was the same as the one we saw when chasing the alicorn’s, but here a small black dot pulsed as it moved across the image. “I am requesting that the Remora drop you off within the Maple Station settlement so that you may continue tracking her as she arrives.”

“No, Happy still isn’t in stable condition.” Buck let out an aggressive bark through my mind that nearly made me jump. “He must be brought to the Arcturus and treated.”

“Cora has all the requisite skills to treat Happy’s injuries and is standing by.” Eliza’s smiling mare smoothly shifted to one that had more of a flat, almost annoyed look to her face. That… was new. “While you too have those skills, you are currently the only one capable of accurately tracking down Unit Seven. So while I sympathize with you on Happy’s condition, I must remind you of the job we saved your life to perform.”

Woah, what the hell?

The Remora shifted under our hooves, entering a long banking turn as it’s normally quiet engines whined just a little louder under the strain.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Eliza?”I spoke out without thinking about it. In an instant, I had all eyes in the cramped cabin on me. While it gave me pause for a moment, I watched as Eliza’s mare smoothly shifted to a more surprised look as well. “You’ve been acting differently lately, and your… character has changed as well. What’s going on with you?”

“I’ve been following your advice, Captain.” Eliza’s mare shifted to her smiling self again. “I have been exploring and adapting to my capabilities within my Arcturus emulation. I’ve learned things I never once conceived of, how to feel and think like the others of the Factory.” Her mare shifted again, and her smile dimmed. “I… didn’t realize it would be so apparent, or that I could come off as abrasive as it seems I have. I apologize for that, Doctor Buck. I will endeavor to ensure it doesn't happen again.”

“No, I too am at fault.” He nodded to himself and frowned. “You are right, Cora is an adept physician, and I shouldn’t consider myself too proud to admit that.”

“What’s going on?” Hispano finally asked what seemed to be on everyone else’s mind.

“The signal is back, so we’re going back to Maple Station.” I answered her before looking over to King. He may have been badly battered, but he seemed to push past the pain and maintain something of a composed form. “King, I need you to make sure Happy gets to the infirmary. After he’s done being patched up, have Cora see what he can do for you.”

“She’ll just need some rest. Alicorn healing is known to be quite fast.” Okona butt in before King could say anything. “But what exactly is this ‘mystery signal’ you seem to be chasing?”

“No, not you.” I smirked and shook my head. “This job doesn’t concern you. And last I checked, you were also caught in that blast and don’t have advanced healing.” That for some reason pulled a sour expression from King. “So you’re going to go with King to the Arcturus to get checked over as well.” That made Okona match King’s expression even without having to look at him. “After that, you can simply wait for our return.”

The engines whined louder as they worked to slow us down. As always, the hydraulic systems in the doors hummed as they opened and let the flurry of snow from below us push up into the cabin. I shivered as the whipping snow lashed at my numbed skin, but I let my wings unfurl slightly as we hovered four or so meters up from the ground.

“Don’t worry, this probably won’t take long.” I offered to King as I stepped forward and out the door. The frigid air caught under my wings as the gravity talisman on my pack hummed to life, and I slipped into a shallow dive towards the roundhouse. But as I left the Remora, I looked at the cartoon mare still hanging out in the corner of my vision. “Eliza, I want you to keep an eye on Okona. Make sure he doesn’t find himself anywhere… important on the ship.”

“Aye, Captain.” Her mare gave a short and odd nod that once again caught me off guard. “I’ve informed Miss Tofu of his restrictions as well, and she will serve to monitor the ship’s critical functions closely while he’s aboard.” She winked at me as her mare shifted back to her bright smile. “Anything else I can do, Captain?”

“No.” I simply thought back before amending that. “No, but I don’t want our reactions to deter you from continuing to explore yourself. It may take time for us to adjust to you as you figure yourself out, but I’m happy that you for the most part overcame your apprehension about it.”

“Thank you, Captain. That means a lot to hear from you.” Again, she nodded and simply smiled. “I will contact you should anything warrant it. But as always, should you need me, I’ll be here to help.”

About the same time her mare flashed away from my vision, the tips of my hooves scraped across the snow. I flared my wings hard as I dipped down into the powder and let the friction bring me to a faster than normal stop. As I slowed, I felt the snow compact under my hooves enough that I transitioned into a slow, hobbling trot not too far from the roundhouse door.

“You know,” Hispano’s voice called out as he beat his wings and brought himself down next to me, “depending on how long it takes for Unit Seven to get here, we could use this time for a quick date…” As if it were my stomach’s decision, it gave a growl of agreement out as I pictured the three of us relaxing inside with some nice hot food. It pulled a hopeful smile across his beak as he giggled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Hispano moved for the door, but paused as the beating of wings once more came through the air. He barely had enough time to step back before another pegasus landed and wrapped a combat glove covered sky blue hoof around the door. Without any provocation, she turned her angry golden eyes on us from under a well worn enclave flight helmet and mask.

In the short moment we had before she dipped inside, I noticed that the mare wore some heavy Enclave gear. The scuffed and pock marked advanced combat armor had been through hell even though the model she wore had only been issued starting a year ago. The magical plasma rifle she wore was a heavily modified version of the model that only the Enclave Special Forces had access to, and I didn’t even think they were allowed to modify them.

As she disappeared inside, I couldn’t help but reach the conclusion that she was who we’d heard about.

“That’s her.” Buck did his best to whisper as he pushed himself through the snow towards us. As he got closer, Hispano and I could hear the soft beeping his collar gave out. Well, so much for our date while we waited…

Hispano reached out and opened the door, holding it for Buck and I before slipping inside after us. Stepping inside, I noticed that like before, this place was fairly empty for the moment. However, the sound of cooking was going on behind the bar, and the sound of ponies moving about behind the stage curtains probably meant that they were setting up for an evening show. But the only other pony in here we could see, was Sargent Blue Bolt.

“I’m ex-Enclave like her. Let me talk to her first.” I offered, looking over at Hispano. The look of apprehension she held was something I wanted to mirror, but couldn’t bring myself to. Instead I found that Buck did a good job in mirroring it for me, but he gave a small nod before he reached out and put his paw on Hispano’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, if it goes sideways, you two will be right here for me.”

Taking a deep breath and standing up as straight as I could on my three legs, I looked over to the Enclave mare sitting at the bar. She exuded a fuming attitude as she nursed on a beer that was darker than any I’d ever seen. Still, under the armor she seemed to be a pegasus just like me, from the Enclave we both came from. That had to mean something, or at the very least, could get me some hoofing in figuring out if she was Unit Seven or not.

“Hello?” The apprehensive voice of a mare filtered into my mind, making me lock up before I could even start moving. Almost immediately after she’d asked, several quick and varied tones were broadcast into my mind, and I flinched from the sudden cacophony.

“Greetings, uh… who is speaking?” I thought back to the strange voice, trying to force my mind to quiet the tones. Oddly, the moment I tried, they cut out completely.

“Is this Unit Seven?” Buck’s voice filtered through as I turned and looked up at him.

“Oh thank the Architect that other units were sent to retrieve me.” The mare let out a somber laugh as she started to sound like she was on the verge of tears. “You don’t know what I’ve been through, what this monster has forced me to do.”

“Whoa, take it easy.” Buck thought out, “First off, we need to know where you are.”

“This monster,” I offered as I turned my gaze back to the Enclave mare, “is she the pegasus at the bar?”

“Yes, but I already sent you all the relevant information. Did you not receive it?” She paused before squeaking almost fearfully, “Wait… you two, you aren’t machines, are you?”

“My name is Night Flight,” I thought out as I shot a glance back at Buck, “And the other voice is Buck. The Architect asked us to be the ‘Organic’ representatives for the Factory before he died.”

“No…” She whimpered, “He’s dead? You will explain.”

“There will be plenty of time for that.” Buck answered in a warm tone that I’m sure he used to try to calm the mare. “For now, let us try to help you. But to do that, we need to know where you are.”

“The… plasma gun.” Unit Seven whimpered and sniffled. My eyes dropped to the heavily modified gun next to the mare. “This bitch destroyed my body when she attacked Merritt. She’s been using my main processor to enhance the efficiency of the magical field generator.” The plasma gun held a set of boxes and blinking lights on its side that no other one of that model had ever held. A dozen wires twisted and snaked their way around the rifle style grip of it, winding around a long custom hoof-trigger assembly that I’d never thought could be used by a pegasus. “I’ve been forced to help her kill dozens of ponies, innocent organics who she had no right to murder!”

“Alright, let us handle it.” I thought back to her as my eyes locked back on the mare at the bar. Only now, she was glancing back at me as she nursed on her drink. “I promise we’ll get you back from her.”

Stiffening up again, I pushed myself forward. Her golden eye still followed me as I approached, studying and no doubt sizing me up. I waited for her to tense up, to ready herself for a fight with me. Instead, she seemed completely relaxed, even as I approached and sat myself next to her at the bar. However, while she didn’t seem ready for a fight, she didn’t let me have the initiative in speaking.

“The only reason you aren’t dead right now is because you have the correct amount of wings across your back, and a cutie mark still on your flank.” The mare’s voice was rougher and older than I would have expected for an enlisted mare. It was almost ghoul like, but what I could see of her under her armor, she wasn’t one. “But don’t think that means I owe a shit like you anything.”

“And what exactly, would somepony like you owe me?”I asked bluntly. Really, Night? That’s how you want to start this negotiation? Once more, Jynx let out a giggle from the back of my mind. At the very least, the Sargent agreed with Jynx and let out a short lived laugh.

“Got some balls on you, don’t you, girl.” She smirked as she lifted her beer up and took a short sip of it. “But let’s see. With a fancy piece like that eye of yours, either you’re from above and the daughter of a council member. In which case, you see me as nothing more than a grunt who deserves to be ordered around like your own personal hitpony. Or…” She paused again as her eye wandered over my augment. “You’re an exceptionally lucky grounder who is here because I killed someone you know. A brother, mother, or kid perhaps. Either way, I’ll be happy to kill you too if that’s what you want.”

Wow, she was just all sorts of wrong, wasn’t she? My mind had to take a moment to process the pure confidence that she pressed into her words, like she was the greatest thing since sliced bread. After everything I’d heard from the others about her though, I guess I really shouldn’t have been that fucking surprised.

And unfortunately, with the way she seemed to be, there was absolutely zero chance of talking her into letting me get Unit Seven back.

“Well, which is it?” She asked as she set her drink down on the counter with one forehoof, and carefully lowered her other down towards her magical plasma rifle. It was now that she’d started to tense up, readying herself for what she thought was the only outcome.

“It’s neither, actually.” I said plainly as I tried to force myself to relax, if only slightly. If I could get her to see me as an outsider and not a threat, then maybe there was a chance I could get Unit Seven and go without an incident. Even if part of me wanted to shove a grenade down this mare’s throat for everything she’d done. “I was up at settlement two six two when the clouds came down. Spent the last few months making my way south with a convoy.” And now that she knows the truth… maybe I can stretch it a bit to earn her trust. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen another true blooded Pegasi that I’d almost forgotten what one looked like.” Turning to the bar, I hammered my forehoof on it until a pony stuck his head out from the kitchen. “Hey, can I get a drink? And uh, how about another for my friend here?”

“Hmmm,” Jynx giggled as she popped up from behind the counter wearing a pristine white vest around herself. “This is quite the ambitious plan you have.” She set down a glass before she used a rag to clean off the bartop while smiling at me. “It would be a shame if I were to nudge it towards disaster…” As she paused, she carefully pushed the glass across the counter towards the edge.

“Heh, I’ll drink to that.” Blue Bolt smirked and reached out for her beer again. She brought it to her lips and took a long draw off of it. Finishing it off, she set her empty glass down with a belch. “What happened at two six two? That was a raptor refurbishment dock, wasn’t it? Why didn’t you stick with them when the clouds came down?” What, was she testing to see if I was lying?

“It was destroyed. The raptor, the whole settlement was.” I sighed and hung my head before I felt the spark of an idea form in the back of my mind. “You know, if the grounders hadn’t attacked us, I’d be going through basic right about now?” Looking up at her, I found her gaze still studying me. I forced a smirk across my muzzle and showed my foreleg stump to her. “They stole that life from me, as well as my fucking legs and my family.” I snorted as the unicorn stallion from the kitchen brought out another couple of beers in his levitation. He set them down in front of us and disappeared back inside the kitchen. “But I made some new friends, and together, we went and paid them back for every single life they stole.”

“Hah, then you know exactly what it’s been like.” The Sargent laughed again and nodded as she reached for her new beer. “I could see fucking Operation Cauterize was a joke from the moment we were briefed. The day it started, we were losing wings in damn near every settlement to resistance that wasn’t supposed to exist. We lost an entire fireteam trying to take Bridleshade! That was just some po-dunk little town in the middle of nowhere, how the hell does that even happen?” The old glass bottle creaked as she tightened her fetlock around it and brought it up to her lips. With another long draw of the foul smelling alcohol, her grip relaxed, and she set it back down on the bar. “I spent twenty four hours watching as my wingmates were picked off one by one to grounder aggression. An entire day before I figured out that we had planned this all wrong.”

“What do you mean?” I asked. Part of me deep down hoped that she’d admit that the Enclave never should have attacked. But as the twisted smile that formed across her muzzle stretched wide, I knew she was not the kind of mare who would have ever lived peacefully with the ponies of the wastes.

“We were too caught up in strategic targets.” She shook her head with a light laugh and banged her forehoof on the bartop. “What we needed to do was introduce these mudders to true fear. We needed to show them what overwhelming superiority meant, and that’s just what I did.”

“So you flew to Merritt…” I started.

“And hunted every mare, stallion, and foal in the place.” The sheer pride in her voice brought my blood up to a boil. “The screams of the stallions and mares as they fell one by one, I can tell you that it brought me no happiness. I felt nothing. It's no fun when your prey lives their entire lives expecting death at some point in this fucking wasteland. Sure they were afraid, but though they fought to the death, they expected it.”

Another insane giggle slipped from her muzzle as she turned both her hollow gold eyes on me. With a snap of her hooves, she had them on my shoulders, squeezing me as she all but cackled maddeningly.

“The foals on the other hoof, there was pure fear in their screams as I ended them. I can still feel that, even now.” She heaved and shuddered on her bar stool before letting out a few, heaving breaths. “Oh, that… that was the best release I’ve had since. No stallion will ever live up to how even the memory of that day makes me feel.”

Okay, we’d moved far too many steps past crazy. The ponies of Maple Station were right, she was a straight up psychopath. And just like that, I was back to where I started again. There wasn’t going to be another way to get back Unit Seven from her, and… we’d be doing the wastes a favor by putting this bitch in the ground.

“Alright, Buck. We’re going to kill her.” I forced out my own laugh to hide my anger. She was just like every other selfish asshole I’d met on this trip. And because she had the misfortune of holding onto Unit Seven, she was going to end up exactly like them.

“Way ahead of you.” Buck’s voice physically made me shiver from how cold and hollow it was. It was only then that I heard the whine from his legs as he stepped up beside the two of us. The panel on his boxy arm opened up, and his magical energy weapon popped out.

With an unexpected speed, Sergeant Blue Bolt shoved herself off of me. It sent me tumbling off of my stool, and her out of Buck’s line of fire. I threw my hoof up, catching the edge of the bar before I hit the floor. Dragging myself onto my hooves, I spun around just in time to watch as Blue Bolt lifted her magical plasma rifle at Buck.

His paw came down on the barrel as she fired, and sent a bolt of bright green into one of his hindpaws. Instantly, the metal melted and threw Buck off balance. He let out a yowl as the mechanisms in his leg sparked, but again he raised his weapon towards the mare.

“That’s enough!” All of us flinched as a stern voice and shotgun blast tore across the room.

The three way staredown we had going on shifted and turned toward the ghoul on stage in a luxurious red sequin dress. Vera was propped up on her hind hooves, with an old double barrel shotgun firmly held and pointed at the ceiling. The rage behind her beautiful eyes was all I needed to know that even for her age, she was more than ready to join in on the fight.

“Rule number one, there’s no fighting in the roundhouse.” Even though it was headed with a small huff, her commanding voice made even the sergeant tense up, though I couldn’t tell if it was out of hatred, disgust, or compliance. “Take your fight outside, now.”

“She’s right.”Buck let out a low growl as he turned to me. “We finish this outside.”

Before I could respond, Blue Bolt’s wings unfurled and beat down hard on the warm roundhouse air. It propelled her at an incredible speed toward the door, even leaving a trail of blue as an afterimage. With a slam, she forced her way outside into the darkening skies.

The thought of losing her in the dark sent a line of panic down my spine. However, the moment I thought of it, my augment shifted and brought up the same sort of low light vision it had before. With a renewed confidence, I flared my own wings and took a step toward the door. As Buck let out a static filled whine that matched the motors in his limbs however, I stopped.

“No, go.” Buck grumbled as he brought his metal paws down to his still melting leg. “You and Hispano can do this, Night.” He lifted his head again and stared right at me with his all too empathetic eyes. “I know you can do this.”

“We’ll get it done.” Hispano squawked as he gave a short, gliding hop over to me. With a roughness I should have expected, he pulled and started to drag me towards the door. “But not if we keep standing around! Come on!” He let go and allowed me to get into a semi-galloping hobble towards the roundhouse doors.

Buck was right, Hispano and I could do this. We’d taken down corrupt leaders, lackeys, and an entire army’s worth of assholes before. And that was when we were the ones with our backs against the wall.

Blue Bolt was the one in the corner now fighting for her survival, which sure, it made her dangerous. The thing is, that’s where I’ve been since day one. Fighting every damned minute just to survive. She’s on my turf now, and I’ve never felt more at home.

That’s probably the exact reason why my Jynx came walking through the open roundhouse door with a smile on her face.

“Never more at home, you say? Well that is… unfortunate.” A confident and smug smile spread across her muzzle. “Then I guess we’ve reached a… delicate point in our relationship. Now, before you go and listen to that old zebra’s words, thinking you’ve finally beat me, wouldn’t you say it’s time we had another little chat?”

Author's Note

Many, many thanks to TheFurryRailFan, who still continues to stick around and help me out with maintaining any sort of consistency in my chapters!

And of course, a huge thanks to Kkat for letting us all use this wonderful setting freely!

Chapter 99 - Goodbye Blue Sky

You're only better than your enemy if you kill them first.

I couldn’t move.

No matter how much I tried, my legs refused to listen. It felt like my whole body had rebelled, freezing me in place as Jynx strolled closer to me. Even my eyes refused to turn to focus on her odd fuzziness as she approached. What the hell did she do to me?

“What did I do to you? I’m sacrificing everything I have to give us this moment.” The anger she held made her voice echo through my mind more than usual. “A question for you, my dear Night, why do I still exist?”

Why the fuck would I know that? It’s not like I asked for her to be here! If she wanted answers, then maybe she should have made her home in the mind of a zebra.

“You misunderstand,” She let out a short lived laugh as I felt her hoof caress under my chin, “You realize that curses like me were made for a purpose. We were meant to persist, but we do have a weakness. My kind was created to wear away at our hosts very will to live, to make them suffer. But even with the odds shifting away from them, there are some wills that can never be broken. Instead, they adapt. And normally that spells the end of things for my kind. We realize we’ve lost the fight and… poof.”

So what, I just needed to keep up my will to fight and she’d disappear? Sure that hadn’t been easy, but given the alternative, how could I have given in? Knowing this, why was she explaining it to me now? Just what the hell was she trying to pull with this stunt of hers?

“Again, you don’t really get it, do you, Night?” She let out another aggravated laugh. “Pure willpower is irrelevant. We were imbued to make the lives of soldiers a living nightmare even after they left the battlefield.” She stepped out in front of me again, placing herself at the right distance so my eyes could focus on her. Her whole form was hazy, almost gaseous and crumbling away in an ethereal wind. “You see, Night, curses like me weren’t supposed to ever resolve because our hosts couldn’t live with being the pony they’d become in the war. They couldn’t rest or relax after the horrors they’d seen. And yet…”

I think I understand now what Madam Mystic had meant by finding the home which I know was mine. I’ve accepted this as my life, that this was just how things would be for me. And now that I had, Jynx was about to disappear forever. Her question wasn’t why was she here, it was why was she still here when I’d won. I didn’t have an answer for that, but maybe if she was about to poof away forever, that was an answer I didn’t need.

“Actually, the answer is simple. Somewhere deep down, part of you doesn’t want me to go.” A sly smile pulled across her lips as she brought her hoof up and brushed it through her fading copy of my mane. “And I’m not gone yet. Thanks to that sliver of you, I’m still powerful enough to keep you held here in this single moment for now.” She narrowed her green eyes on me and widened her oily grin. “You see, you have a choice to make. Either you can give in to your fears and wash me away forever. Or… you can listen to that one, rational sliver of yourself, and keep me around.”

I wanted to deadpan at her. No, more than that, I wanted to straight up buck her to the moon for wasting my time like this. What mercy did she deserve after what she’s done to me and my friends? What sort of idiot would choose to keep her around?

“More like what fool would throw away a tool as useful as me?” A mirthful laugh pushed its way out from her muzzle that sent a chill down my spine. “Think of us, working together to change the odds in every fight. Why, without me, something… unfortunate could happen to Happy, Hispano, or perhaps even Buck.”

Okay, that’s where I draw the line. No one, no curse gets to threaten my friends, and that was a threat. Sure she could help, but she’s the only reason they’ve been in danger in the first place.

“Night, we both know that’s a lie. I’m not the one who decides to help the less-than-fortunate out there.” She shook her head as she sat down and used her forehooves to cover her heart. “I’m not the one who brings his family into rooms full of ponies whose intent is solely to destroy every shred of happiness in your life.” She held her eyes on me as she looked at me expectantly. “Really, I’ve only ever worked with what opportunities you give me. And if I were let’s say, well motivated to help rather than to harm…?”

No. Every fiber of my being said that she would never hold up her end of things. She’s a curse meant to make me suffer, so it would be a mistake to trust her. I’d be better off taking my chances without her.

With that thought, the whispyness around her accelerated. She let out a pained scream as parts of her hooves and tail were torn apart and carried off in the ethereal wind. She was running out of time, and she knew it.

“Heh, you are a stubborn one, Night.” Jynx forced out a pained laugh as she tried to stand on her slowly dissolving legs. “But who do you think will win the fight you’re getting into? Some Enclave kid with a few months of wasteland experience, or the psychotic soldier who’s list of kills include entire towns? Why not let me help even the fight? Nudge a bullet here, an unexpected sheering updraft there, and she wouldn’t last a minute against you and Hispano.”

No, she didn’t get it. Sure, Blue Bolt was more experienced, but she was alone. I trusted and believed in the abilities of my friends and my family to bring her down. And I didn’t need some mare in the back of my head pulling strings to help me.

“Okay… you drive a hard bargain.” She whimpered as the vaporization of her body accelerated. I watched as her version of my wings and flank started to dissolve into nothing but ashen particles as well. “I can deliver Solomon to you.”

With that single word, I could feel as she put a crack in the foundation of my mind. It was a shock like when you bite down on something hard, or when you prick your hoof on something sharp, but it doesn’t bleed. It was unnerving enough to realize something dangerous was there pushing against you, but your curiosity tempts you by saying ‘what if it actually can’t hurt you’?

“Yes, I know you feel it. I can help with him, Night.” No, we could do it ourselves. “Can you really, though? Solomon is better connected, and better equipped to fight you than you think.” She was pleading with me now, desperate. But… was she right? “Yes. I can help even that fight. Solomon, Rook, Xeno, I can deliver them all on a silver platter right to you!”

This should be an easy choice! There’s no guarantee, besides… I’ve never seen her this desperate before. She’s disappearing, I’ve won. So why was I hesitating now?

I could feel it, that one sliver of myself I had refused to pay attention to had finally won out.

What if I did need her? Could I really be okay with losing Happy, or Hispano, or Buck when I didn’t have to? Who then gave me the right to sign their lives away if we underestimate Solomon again? Could I really turn down the chance to save them when it came down to it?

“I’m... running out of time, Night.” She held back another pained scream as her entire back half unraveled. “I arranged this meeting to talk, to give you a moment to think about this decision.” All that was left of her was her chest, neck, and head. “But once I’m gone, you’ll lose my abilities forever. You’ll lose a perfectly good edge against Solomon.”

She was right, she was an edge. Something that Solomon couldn’t anticipate or fight against. But she also had the power to hurt everyone I cared about, and that alone almost made it a risk not worth taking.

“But it is worth it, let me prove it!” She whined as her chest evaporated like threads being plucked apart. “Do we have a deal?”

If only I had more time to think about it, to negotiate.

But… then again, I know who I am, and that’s her weakness. If I agreed, then she’d have to know I held this power over her. Looking into her frightened eyes, I knew that she understood what would happen if she decided to take advantage of my trust. And if she did? She wouldn’t make it two thoughts before I erased her from existence.

Fine, I accept.

There was a flash of magic, and in an instant, Jynx returned to her fully formed, normal copy of myself. She took a few gasping deep breaths as she all but collapsed onto the floor, but ended them with a cackling laugh. It sent a twisting feeling through my gut like I’d made yet another mistake, but I forced it back.

“Oh, thank you, Night.” She laughed as she pulled herself up to her hooves. “And believe me, you won’t regret this.” Slowly she raised her fearless, determined eyes. “For now however, I have a fight to win for you.”

With a snap, the world returned to it’s normal speed. I had to fight against my body as my momentum of hobble-galloping toward the roundhouse door was returned to me. I followed Hispano straight out into the snow as we both spread our wings out.

Along with the lights of the settlement, the moon radiated a soft light across the snow. It made it easy to see the fact that crowds of settlers were making their way over to see what all the commotion had been about. Given the fact that little miss Enclave badass didn’t care about collateral damage, we needed to move the fight outside of the settlement itself.

But as I looked to the sky, I realized we had a problem. The brightness down here made it nearly impossible to see where Blue Bolt had flown off to, or even if she was diving on us right at this very moment. Hispano and I were basically going to have to go in blind and hope for the best.

Or maybe not…

“Eliza,” I called out as Hispano and I flapped hard, taking flight., “I need to know if you can track Sargent Blue Bolt!”

“I am unsure of who that is.” Eliza’s mare popped up in my vision with a large question mark floating above her head. “Can you elaborate?”

“She’s the pony we’re after!” I spat out as I flapped hard. The gravity talisman on my back buzzed as it worked overtime to help get me up into the air. “She’s the only other damn pegasus in the air here!”

“One moment…” Eliza’s mare popped away before the flight display in my vision updated with a set of concentric green rings that looked like a crosshair set inside a compass. “I’ve linked your augment with the airborne proximity radar of the Arcturus.” There was a green Triangle next to me approximately where Hispano was, as well as a red diamond at the ten o’ clock position near the farthest ring. “It should be displaying the relative positions of Hispano, as well as the other Pegasus.”

“What direction are we heading, Night?” Hispano called out as he fumbled with securing his flight cap.

I pointed toward where the red diamond was as we continued to climb. The air was much colder than I’d expected for night time here, and after the short climb we’d had, a frigid wind swept down from above us. It forced Hispano and I away from the mountains themselves, pushing us out into the open air. While it gave us a path to dive toward if we needed to, I didn’t like the idea of that being our only escape for the moment.

“I don’t like this, Night.” Hispano called out to me as he kept his head on a swivel. “With that moonlight, if she’s above us we’re going to stick out against the snow and the settlement.”

“Yeah,” I panted as I pushed myself to keep flapping. “So keep climbing.” Altitude was life here, and I intended to have every second of it I could. My augment flickered as a small red diamond popped into nearly the center of my vision. It was moving slightly above us, but it was growing larger. “Shit, split now!”

A green bolt struck out from the red diamond as Hispano and I closed our wings and dove in opposite directions. The sound of the plasma discharge sizzling past us made my heart race as I rolled. Like normal, I built up speed quickly in my dive. Flaring my wings, I torqued them to pull up, and felt as my flight pack helped to turn me towards the sky again.

Blue Bolt let out a mad cackle as she let me know she was hot on my hocks. Close enough in fact that I could hear her plasma rifle charge up another shot. Fuck, I needed her off my tail!

Torquing my wings opposite directions, I spun myself to the side before trying to peel off to the right. Her rifle discharged and sent the bolt sizzling off into the cold air. As soon as I heard it, I leveled out again and pushed myself into a shallow dive.

Looking at the display on my vision, it showed her diamond trailing just behind me, and Hispano’s indicator just ahead. I leveled out having gained a bit of speed and did my best to fly straight. Hispano’s indicator came at me fast, and I only caught a momentary glance of her ahead before the flashes from Suiza forced me to look away.

The Sarge had anticipated the attack and pulled off as Hispano fired. A chattering burst sent red streaks through the air just above me. I made note that the Sergeant had peeled left, so I torqued and turned myself to the right again and aimed myself to turn my speed back into altitude.

The high pitched whine of the plasma charge caught me off guard. By reflex alone I snapped my wings shut and forced myself to dive. In that moment, I could feel the burning shot scraped just over my side. I let out a scream as the shot boiled a thin strip of skin, but the bulk of the bolt sailed off ahead of me.

That was a close one!

“You’re welcome.” Jynx’s jubilant voice reverberated inside my mind.

“Fuck off!” I growled as I twisted my wings and turned myself into a sharp dive. I pulled my wings in and pushed my foreleg in line ahead of me as I dove towards the snow covered mountainside above the settlement. With a glance at the display in my vision, I was happy to see the red diamond had formed back up behind me again.

Release.

My harness gave a soft snap as one of my grenades fell free. As soon as it was away, I flared out my wings again and rolled myself to the side. I pulled up hard, arching myself to follow the side of the mountain. As soon as I had, my grenade impacted the snow and went off.

The sharp blast lit up the night momentarily before it sent an obscuring cloud of snow showering outwards towards the mare hot on my tail.

Only, she wasn’t behind me anymore.

My augment showed that she hadn’t followed me all the way in. She was flying nearly perpendicular with me while holding a few meters in extra altitude. The moment I’d caught a glance at her, she torqued her own wings and began to climb again.

I pulled myself into a banking turn, moving to cut under her. The moment I had however, I only had a moment to watch as she flared her wings like an air brake and kicked her hind legs forward. As soon as I passed under her, I could hear as she flapped her wings hard and lined back up on my tail again.

Seriously, what kind of fucking bullshit maneuver was that!?

The charging of her plasma shot was short lived before Suiza’s profound reports tore through the air again. I didn’t see if the shots connected, but the green bolt of plasma streaked through the air down towards the settlement. It impacted in the snow just in front of the rail shed doors, which were being hastily pushed open by a few ponies to make way for Caution Tape’s gun bristled tank to come rolling out.

A glint of blue caught my eye from below, and the dark form of a flying pegasus resolved over the moonlit snow. The sergeant was in a dive, streaking down towards the onlookers in the settlement who were watching the fight take place above them. Even from up here, I could hear her plasma gun as it charged up and fired.

She pulled up sharply, her gun letting out another shimmering bolt. One of the ponies below screamed as the bolt struck them. In the time it took to blink, they were on fire and madly rolling around in the snow.

“Hey, this was our fight!” Hispano squawked over his headset. “Oh that bitch is so dead!”

Folding my wings again, I pushed myself into a dive after her. She was still in her climb, but was swiftly reaching her apex. With a snap of my tail and few adjustments on my end, I lined up my submachine gun.

She flared her wings and pulled her head back as she kicked her legs. Like with me, she forced herself to flip over for a dive. But from where I sat, she made herself quite the target.

Fire.

My subgun chattered away it’s remaining half magazine before running dry. Without any tracers, I couldn’t be sure my aim had been at all even close. But the shots rattled the mare, and she swiftly shut her wings and did her best to dive faster.

“Hispano!” I called out to her. “I’m going to try to intercept her mid-air!” I wanted to pull off, but if I did, she might take the opportunity to line up another shot with somepony on the ground. “If I can force her down, then Suiza can make short work of her.”

“That’s the stupidest idea as you’ve ever had, Dum Dum!” Hispano called back through her headset. “So don’t fucking miss!”

I slightly closed my wings and pushed myself into an even steeper dive. The red diamond in my vision faltered as it got closer to the ground, and the Sargent flared open her wings again. Surprisingly, she’d built up more speed in her dive than I’d thought she could, and she zipped over the snow towards the railshed and Caution Tape’s tank still trundling out of it.

The machine guns on the tank turned and opened up, filling the air around her with twin lines of blazing shots. They weren’t particularly well aimed, and they raked dangerously close above the crowd’s heads as they began to get the idea that an active warzone wasn’t a place for an evening stroll. But the frantic fire pouring out did it’s job and forced Blue Bolt to try to get back into the air.

With as much speed as I’d built up, all I’d needed to do was correct my dive slightly. I forced my wings out as my own terrifying speed brought me up on Blue Bolt. Flaring as hard as I could, I brought my three hooves up and tried to curl myself toward her.

There was only a single moment where I could see the surprise on her face as she caught only a glimpse of me, barreling toward her like a cannonball. I felt my body compress against her, and predictably, the medical warning flashed across my vision. However, with my painkiller talisman suppressing everything wrong, I did my best to push myself away from her.

The both of us streaked over the top of Deathtrap, sailing into the interior of the railshed. A half dozen ponies had to scramble out of the way as Blue Bolt came down hard on the concrete floor. I strained myself, keeping my wings flared and forcing my flight pack to work overtime as I did my best to slow down.

When I realized I was running out of railshed however, I tucked my wings and legs in, closed my eyes, and braced for a crash landing.

However, the impact I feared, never came. Opening my eyes, I found that I was instead floating just above the concrete floor. A soft magical aura glowed around me just long enough that I could get my legs extended again. As soon as I had, it gave out, and I was dropped firmly onto the floor.

“Scheiße, that is going to hurt in the morning…” A familiar accented voice called out from the rectangular boxy tank that sat at the end of the line of tanks in the shed. “But you are safe, and that is all that matters.” Rheinmetall flashed me a smile that only lasted for a moment before his horn sputtered and smoked as his magic gave out.

“Thanks for the assist!” I called out to him as I spun around. “Okay, now to deal with this bitch.”

As I looked across the floor, I could see Blue Bolt was still laying on the concrete. She was torn up with a few bullet wounds across her body, and both her left hind and foreleg looked broken. But her angry gaze was pointed my way, though not actually at me, and instead lead my eyes to the only thing in the room that mattered. Sitting almost equidistant between us on the concrete, was her still glowing plasma rifle.

She reached out with a scream, using both her broken and her good foreleg to drag herself up onto her hooves. It was all I needed to know that even like that, she wouldn’t give up. Willing to fight to the bitter end.

I pushed myself into a hobble forward, easily making it to her rifle before she could even manage to stand up. I planted my flank down and did my best to take the rifle in my forehoof. With a brace of it’s stock against my barrel, I looked at it. While from across the roundhouse it had seemed impressive. But now that I got an up close view, the modifications on it were almost haphazardly applied. Bits of wonderglue, tape, and a few errant screws were all that held it together.

“You fuckers will pay.” Blue Bolt let out a gurgling laugh that ended halfway through as she coughed up a glob of blood. She spat it out onto the concrete as she forced herself to stand again. Her limbs protested, and both her twisted wings bled as she wobbled and fought to keep them closed against her back. “I’ll murder you, just like the rest of these lowlife dirtponies.”

“Well, from where I sit, you...” I sighed and tried to shift my grip on her rifle. However, my forehoof slipped and I almost lost my grasp on the gun. Thankfully, or rather, somewhat unexpectedly, my fetlock found the perfect place to find it’s grip again right around the hoof-trigger assembly.

The gun let out a sharp whine as the bolt of plasma sailed true and slapped Blue Bolt right across the throat.

In an instant, her head burst into flames and melted. Her body collapsed as the green plasma ate through her flesh and used it to convert itself into more of the boiling green goop. Before the capacitors in the gun could finish their whine from their recharge, all that was left of the murderous pegasus mare, was a pile of foul smelling green goop intermixed with a set of half-melted enclave armor.

I blinked a few times as I looked between the smoking pile and the rifle still held in my grasp. Part of me wanted to feel disgusted by what had just happened, but I was too dumbfounded to listen to that. I… I didn’t mean to… even though I was going to...

My mind skid to a stop as Jynx stepped around my side with her devious smile and put her muzzle to the end of the barrel. With a sharp blow, she wafted the thin line of smoke coming from it’s tip. Then with a nod and a salute, she too blew away like smoke in the cold ambient breeze that flowed into the railshed.

“What the fuck!?” The angry squawking that came from the open door to the railshed caught me off guard, and again caused me to drop Blue Bolt’s rifle.

However this time, I managed to catch it around the bulk of the receiver and not go blasting random plasma bolts around again. Looking for the source of the voice, the pair of griffon’s we’d met earlier came flying in. I’d almost expected them to be looking for a fight, but rather than paying any attention to me at all, they both landed next to the bubbling remains of Blue Bolt.

“No no no!” The girl of the pair whimpered as she closed her eyes and ground her talons against the concrete.

“It… it’s fine, Royce.” Her brother sighed and wrapped his wing around her. “We’ll find another target.”

‘It’s not fine!” She screamed and shoved her brother away. Using the force of it, she spun herself around and pointed her shotgun right at me. “What the fuck is your problem! What did we ever do to you!?”

“My problem!?” I gasped as I tried to understand just what the fuck she was going on about. “I mean, are you fucking blind?” I did my best to gesture at Blue Bolt, but failed as I instead prioritized holding onto her rifle. Ugh, this whole one hoof bullshit was getting really old! “I did what I had to!”

“Royce, that’s enough.” Her brother stepped up again and wrapped his talon around the barrel of her shotgun. With a stiff yank, he pulled it away from her, earning himself an incredulous look.

“She didn’t have to fucking melt her!” She screamed at him as Hispano’s damn near angelic form fluttered in through the open railshed doors. “The sarge was our ticket, Merlin! And this bitch fucking melted it!” With some backup from Hispano, maybe I could turn this crazy train right back around.

“Look, I’m sorry you feel that way.” I grumbled as the mare tried to melt me with a burning glare. “But if you wanted her so badly, why didn't you, I don't know, help?”

“We expected you two to be the ones melting on the floor about now.” Merlin gave out a grunt of his own as his talons tightened around the barrels of his sister’s shotgun. “Just like you outside types to ruin everyone’s fucking day.”

“Yeah.” Royce growled as she turned her glare from be back towards Hispano as he landed behind them. “You’re as bad as that fucking Okona dickbag! You sweep in and take the good bounty contracts right out of our talons.”

“What bounty contract?” Hispano asked starkly as she shot a flat glance my way. “Okona didn’t mention he had a contract. Who gave it to him?”

Oh Celestia, I swear if this is going where I think it’s going...

“The job was to kill some stallion and his party coming in from the north.” She spat at Hispano as she fixed her shotgun to herself and stretched her wings out. “As for the client, fuck if I know. Some rich fucker and his convoy, I guess.”

“Say, sis…” Merlin spoke up as his eyes wandered back and forth between Hispano and I. “Didn’t the contract specify a pegasus, griffon, a donkey and a dog?” Fucking seriously, couldn’t we get one fucking break!?

“Yeah, a stallion,” Royce snapped at him, “a griffon hen, and a mule.” Both Hispano and I traded confused glances as again, she wheeled around on her brother. This time, she smacked him across the head with her balled up talon. “And unless you think I’m an idiot, I doubt the dog was a fucking hellhound!”

While that was thankfully the break I had asked for, unfortunately, it only made tonight more complicated. Buy hey, at least my guts were vindicated! Okona was indeed yet another one of Solomon’s lackeys afterall! One who we’d... brought right onto the Arcturus.

“Look, I’m sorry about melting your target.” I offered to them as I spread my wings and waved for Hispano to come over. She gave a short hopping flight over the griffon pair before landing next to me. “But me and my friend here need to be going.” Carefully, I hoofed the plasma rifle over to her and nodded towards the door. “We’ll try to stay out of your way for the rest of our stay.”

“Don’t bother, we’re out of here..” Royce snorted as she flared her wings and nudged her brother towards the door. “But if it’s all the same? Fuck you, and fuck everyone else in this dump.”

“Well, that went about as well as expected.” Hispano sighed and wrapped his wing around me as we watched the two of them take off into the night sky. “And hey, you even managed to get our friend back.” He held up Blue Bolt’s rifle like a trophy before hooking part of it around Suiza’s sling.

“Yeah,” I nodded before glancing down at the plasma gun. Hopefully we’ll be able to help Unit Seven out, but first… “maybe though we should go check on Buck.”

“You’re right. Knowing him, despite being stuck in your head, he’s probably worried sick.” She nodded and gave me a few pats on the side. “But then I think it's time we went and had a 'chat' with our newest crewmember.”

“You sure you’re alright?” I asked as I studied the still humming plasma rifle in Hispano’s grasp.

“Yes, and no.” Unit Seven sighed through Buck and I’s heads. “Technically, I am functionally complete inside this chip. However… I have failed in my service to the Architect.”

“I think a little leeway will be granted given what happened to you.” Buck offered to her as he flashed up a soft smile. “Besides, I’m sure the Factory will simply be happy that you are returning to them at all.”

“Perhaps, you may be correct...” She paused as if to ponder something for a moment, “Curious, I have yet to meet any organic who seems to value one of my kind as they would another organic individual. Yet you are oddly accepting of the concept.”

“It wasn’t always that way.” Buck offered as he brought one of his paws up to look at it. “Before the Factory, I… didn’t give any thought to destroying a machine if it was in the way.”

I thought back, remembering how we dealt with Radio when Short Wave wouldn’t give up half of his tin foil. That had to be what he was thinking about. But that was before we knew what the silverfish were, before we had any idea that machines this advanced even existed. Still, I think I could reach the same conclusion that must have been running around inside his head. Did it matter if we knew or not?

“Well, we know better now.” I smiled and placed my hoof in Buck’s paw. “We believe in what the Factory is trying to do, and I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the help, and faith, that Ping and the Architect gave us.”

“I know I can’t hear you, but we’re not all bad.” Hispano spoke up as he held the gun out in his talons with a curious look, “Most of us are just trying to survive out here, and sometimes… you find a few who are out to make things better.” He glanced over at me as his beak pulled into a small smile and a warm blush brightened on his cheeks. “What, I can’t have an opinion? Yeah it’s weird, but hey, it’s not the first time I’ve talked to a gun before.”

“Technically, you still haven’t.” Buck offered with a soft, static filled laugh. “Neither Unit Seven or Suiza are actually guns.”

The Remora shuddered as it linked back up with the Arcturus. The hum of the hatch above us opening was met with a rush of warm air pushing its way into the cold cabin. I myself couldn’t enjoy it as much as Buck and Hispano did, but I’m sure my body was absolutely basking in it. Before I could take a single step forward however, a pair of hooves came flailing through the open hatch.

“Eliza says we have a guest!” Tofu’s excited voice carried down as she flailed her hooves toward Hispano. With a flash from her horn, the plasma gun was ripped from his talons sharply. Hispano didn’t seem too happy at that, but didn’t do anything more than just glare up at the young unicorn. “Excellent, your dad and I will start working on a way to get her hooked up to the system!”

As Tofu disappeared with the gun, the three of us managed to get ourselves up and out of the Remora. With us inside, the hatch to the small skycraft sealed again, and I was able to let out a long, restful sigh. After everything we went through today, it was good to have all of us back home again in one piece.

The sound of music drifted through the air, coming from down the hall towards the infirmary. It wasn’t loud, or any tune that was recognizable, but it sounded like Happy was playing his ukulele. Buck looked down at me as I met Hispano’s confused gaze, but all three of us came to the same conclusion to sate our curiosity.

The curiously plucky and upbeat tune was drifting out from the open infirmary door. A shadow moved past the door, and for a moment, the tune stopped. Right then, I expected something to come through into the hall and threaten us. Call it pessimism or the consequences of living in the wasteland, I don’t care.

But what I couldn’t dispute, was the fact that this time, I didn’t feel a knot forming in my stomach. Slowly, the three of us leaned forward. Each of us were stacked under each other at different heights and poking our head through the open doorway. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected to see inside, but whatever it was, it hadn’t been this.

“Oh, you’re back!” Happy called out from his slouched position along the infirmary counter. “Guess what asshole we figured out was working for Solomon?” He gave a wave of his ukulele in his hoof before nodding over toward the occupied bed. “What can I say?” Giving a nod to me, he brought his wooden hoof up to his diminutive guitar again and gave a single strum. “Except, you’re welcome.”

Sitting strapped down tightly and with a gag duct taped in his muzzle and an annoyed glare in his eyes, was Okona.

“It’s funny,” Cora’s voice came from just inside the infirmary bulkhead as he tossed Okona’s saddlebags and gear on the floor at our hooves. Dozens of supplies, rations, and photographs scattered across the floor out of them. Photos of… us taken all over the north. “You’d have thought Solomon would have been smarter than this. He never gave me any photos of Delilah’s crew, let alone…” Stepping up next to the bed, he tightly grasped the odd double barreled pistol Rook had used on more than one occasion.

“Is that…?” Hispano gasped as she leaned forward into me.

“Rook’s pistol.” I nodded and finally forced myself to move into the room. “Yeah, we were actually just coming up here to say that we’d found out he was working with Solomon.”

“Then, this has to be a trick.” Buck growled as he reached up and scratched at his muzzle. “Solomon wouldn’t be this sloppy, so there has to be more to this.”

“See,” Cora nodded and tapped Rook’s gun against his head, “that’s what I thought, but I can’t figure it out. Why send him to get captured? What does he have to gain from that?”

“Well...” Hispano blurted out. “Solomon knows we aren’t liable to murder everyone we meet. And now that he’s here, we can’t turn our back on him. So my bet? He’s here to keep us busy and on edge.”

“You think he’s here just to slow us down?” Buck snorted and shook his head. “Okona caught us entirely off guard. With skills like that, why not just have him kill us?”

“Well,” Happy snorted and shoved himself down from the counter. “I say fuck what Solomon wants.” Setting his ukelele down, he reached his wooden hoof over and gave his sword a heavy tap. “He ain’t one of ours, and we can’t let him go. So, we kill him.”

That brought out a whimper from Okona’s muzzle. It wasn’t soft, or forced like one would expect from a hardened mercenary. It drew all of our eyes over to him as the zebra whimpered and stared at Happy’s hoof resting on the hilt of his sword. That wasn’t fake fear, that was real, but it still didn’t make sense.”

“First, why don’t we hear what he has to say?” I offered and nodded to Cora, watching as Okona swiftly did his best to nod and beg with a pleading look. Seriously, it didn’t take much to make him afraid, did it? “Can you remove his gag for me, Cora?”

“So he can talk his way out of this?” Cora snorted, but moved over past Happy. “I’m not sure this is a smart move, Night.”

“I never said we’d let him go, but…” I offered, looking up to Buck who for once nodded in agreement. “If he gives us something we can use against Solomon, then I don’t see the harm in keeping him locked up but alive until Solomon isn’t.”

“Fine.” Cora grumbled and brought his talon up to the end of Okona’s muzzle. With a firm yank, he ripped the gag free, tape and all.

“Fuck!” Okona shouted with a sharp wrench against his bindings. A trickle of blood ran down his muzzle from a split on his lips, and he stared knives into Cora. The zebra merc however took a moment to breathe and looked around the room at each of us. He shook his head before a predictable smile grew across his muzzle.

“Before you say anything,” I offered up, stepping up to the end of the medical bed. “Just know that you’re going to be tempted to lie and say anything to save your own life. But that’s not how this is going to work. If you lie, I will kill you. If you speak the truth, but omit something important, I will kill you. Hell, if you even say something I don’t like,” With each of my words, Okona’s smile only grew wider. “Well, I don’t have to repeat myself, do I?”

“No.” Okona did his best to shrug my threats off, beaming his smug smile to the ceiling as he laid his head back down against his pillow. “But you should understand, I do not control the prince. If he has decided to move on before you arrive, then would you murder me for it?”

“Well, that would make it untrue, and a lie, so...” Hispano mirrored his smugness across his beak and prodded his talon sharply at one of Okona’s legs, “for your sake, you better hope he’s still where you tell us he is.” He gave a few pats on Okona’s legs, prompting a flash of worry over the seasoned Zebra’s face.

“Saddlebrook.” Okona spat out and clenched his jaw. “He’s over in Saddlebrook.”

“Okay, that’s a start.” Buck nodded before rapping his metal claws along the infirmary door’s bulkhead. “Why? Why there?”

“My job wasn’t to kill any of you, it was to direct you.” Okona grumbled. “If I happened to get caught, I was supposed to turn this into a hostage situation.”

“A hostage situation?” Cora stifled a short laugh, “that’s messy, and you wouldn’t have had any backup.”

“I wouldn’t need any.” Okona smirked again and fidgeted against the straps before giving up. “My job was to bring you to Saddlebrook by any means possible so you could meet with the prince.”

“Again, I’ll ask why.” Buck let out a low growl which I one hundred percent agreed with. Solomon asking for a meeting? That didn’t make sense.

“He needs whatever you found in the public records vault.” Okona sighed and brought his head up again so he could look me straight in the eyes. “But it seems to me like despite the way things turned out, you still are going to be headed to Saddlebrook. You know, I’ll give your crew credit. I bet that my brothers and sisters back home underestimated you just like I did.” He cocked his eyebrow and let his oily smile shine brighter than ever, “Like Xeno has, but I’m sure you’ll prove him wrong soon enough.”

“So that’s it, huh?” Happy nodded and looked over to me.

“Eeyup, that’s it.” Okona nodded to me before laying back down with a sigh of deep contentment.

“So we go to Saddlebrook?” Buck asked as he too let out a sigh of contentment. “I’ll have Tofu ready some missiles then.”

“Hold on one moment, Buck.” I let the words tumble out as I spun and held my hoof out to him. “We’re not going anywhere near Saddlebrook.” Glancing over my shoulder, I found a predictable look of shock and anger across Happy’s muzzle. “Happy, do me a favor. Kill Okona.”

“But… you promised!” Okona gasped out.

“Night, you can’t!” Buck wasn’t far behind with his protest. “He’s right, you gave your word!”

“No, I lied!” I spat as I spun on my flank and jabbed my forehoof right at Okona’s dumb founded look. “The same thing Okona just did to us. No more, no less.”

“Night, you can’t know.” Happy took a step back as he stared at me. “I’m all for killing this asshole, but if Solomon’s there, then this could be our chance! We have to go!”

“He’s not there, Happy.” I smirked. “Then why send us to Saddlebrook, I hear you all ask?” Narrowing my eyes on Okona’s, I saw his sharpen to try to hide the fear he was desperately trying to keep at bay. “Because that’s not where Solomon is, it’s where Xeno is, isn’t it? Waiting with what’s left of Pentex to take us out while Solomon presses on toward the Ark, trying to create distance on the off chance we make it through his trap.”

“See, now that sounds like Solomon.” Cora smirked and gave me what I could best describe as a passing look of approval to me. “I think Night’s right, and I think you all know it.”

“No.” Okona shook his head again, but as he did, he stiffened up and let some more of his fear bleed out into his expression. “No, Solomon’s there, in Saddlebrook, I promise you!”

“Lying again isn’t going to change anything, Okona.” I was honestly sad to see him try to sell this, but I understood it completely. I did the same thing with Solomon, and though I’m sure he saw right through it, I did end up delivering the code right into his hooves. But we’d been the only one following the rules, and that wasn’t something I could do anymore. “Happy, kill this filth.”

“No!” Buck pushed his way into the room. He used one paw to scoop me out of the way, and the other to push Cora aside. With a static filled growl, he shot a burning glare at Happy as he drew his sword in his muzzle. “We aren’t like Solomon! We don’t just kill like this!”

“Normally I’d be right there with you, Buck.” Hispano offered softly. He stepped up and reached out, taking Buck’s mechanical paw firmly. “I know I’ve been hard on Night for being too nice, and that I promised the both of you I’d try to do better as well. But Okona is not innocent here.”

“Yeah,” I nodded to Hispano as I sat down and reached up for Buck’s paw as well. “What do you suggest otherwise? We can’t watch him without risking others on the ship because he’d slit our throats the moment we turned our backs on him.”

“I didn’t kill you before.” Okona offered with a crooked smile that felt more hollow than the fear that consumed him behind his eyes. “Doesn't that buy me anything? Any mercy? Let me go and I'll... I'll leave, and you'll never see me again!”

“More than that,” Happy mumbled from around the hilt of his sword, “even if we let him go, you know how Pentex operates. Are you really okay with that, big guy? Having them go about terrorizing settlements again?”

“I… I just…” Buck shook his head and closed his eyes. I wanted to reach out to him in his thoughts, but I forced myself to stop. This was enough of a struggle for him to add yet another voice in his head.

A deafening rattle filled the room. All of us froze up as sparks lit up the bed and wall under Okona, and his body was torn open. The smell of gunpowder and blood assaulted my nose, and the sight of Okona’s corpse etched itself into my mind. Smoke drifted from the twin barrels of Rook’s gun as Cora’s shaking grasp on it loosened enough that he let it drop to the floor.

All of us took a moment to process what had happened, but it was also Cora who broke the silence.

“Doc, if you think what Night was asking makes him like Solomon?” He brought his other talon up to stop the shaking. “Then maybe you’ve forgotten what it’s cost for you all to get to this point.”

“Dad…” Hispano let out softly as he watched Cora take a near stumbling step backward. He braced himself against the infirmary countertop before trying to catch his breath.

“You’re right.” Buck nodded and carefully turned himself back to me. As our eyes met, I could see the regret he held. “Solomon would never have weighed the options. I’m sorry, Night.”

“Up north, you tried things the nice way and lost.” Cora spun around and opened one of the infirmary cabinets. From inside, he dragged out a half empty bottle of Wild Pegasus, as well as a small beaker. “At least this way, at the end of the day,” He grunted as he brought the bottle to his beak and yanked out the cork, “the only bodies behind you are objectively those who only would have hurt others. You should take that as a win and get over it.”

[11:18PM]

Again, I was left staring at the clock because I couldn’t sleep. It didn’t help that Buck wasn’t back yet either. I think Okona’s death was weighing on him, but he asked for some time alone to sort it out, and I was going to give it to him. Still, though I enjoyed Hispano’s company, it wasn’t the same without him here.

“Can’t sleep?” Hispano sighed as he rolled over in our bed and pressed himself up against my back. I felt a shiver run down my spine as he worked a talon around me and pulled me closer against him. “I’m worried about him too.”

“I think… Buck will be fine.” I sighed, wanting that to be a lie. But Buck wasn’t a stranger to death anymore, and he knew we didn’t have any other choice. “Actually, I’m worried about the fact he still fought for Okona’s life when I didn’t. I think that says more about me than anything.”

“Night.” Hispano grunted as he squeezed his talon tighter and wrapped a warm wing over me. “You and Buck have saved more than enough lives to question yourselves.” I got what he was saying, but grunted and forced myself to turn over to rebut. The moment I did however, I froze as Hispano’s soft gaze and kind smile caught me off guard. “You saved my life, Night. Not just any number of times now, but… most importantly when we talked on the Empirica.”

“What?” That was all that could slip out of my muzzle as my thoughts derailed and piled up inside my mind.

“I meant it when I said it’s hard to believe that you’re the same pony I met in the north.” He leaned forward and nuzzled his beak along my muzzle. “And I’m not the same griff either. I’m free of the worries of being alone, of wondering if I’d ever find my own mate. I’ve done more in months with you than I could have imagined doing in a whole lifetime as a lone Talon. So whatever I do end up doing, it doesn’t matter, because I’ll be doing it with you.”

I wanted to tell Hispano that it had come with a cost. That we’d lost so much on the way to becoming who we were. But I couldn’t say anything other than a lie if I spoke. It was worth it, all of it, to have Buck and Hispano with me, to have Happy alive, to have met everyone we have.

Leaning forward, I pressed my muzzle into Hispano’s beak. I couldn’t spurn all that we’d gained, even with what we’d sacrificed. In fact, because of everything, I didn’t want to waste a single moment of my life with anything less than being with both of them.

So tonight, Hispano and I were going to enjoy what we had as best we could. As he used his talons to hold on and return my affections, I’m positive it’s something he was thinking about as well. That, and though I couldn’t be sure, there was a single thought I’m sure had punctuated Hispano’s thoughts as we kissed.

It’s about damned time.

A soft knocking ripped me from the bliss of sleep. Oh how much I wished it would stop. In fact, why did I have to answer it? I’m taking the day off to get some quality rest.

Annoyingly, the knocking continued. A groan escaped my muzzle as I forced myself to roll over. I was jarred awake by an odd stiffness in my remaining foreleg. Looking down at it, I was reminded of the myriad of scrapes and small cuts across my body from Hispano’s talons last night. Oh, it was amazing fun, but I can’t imagine how I’d be feeling right if I didn’t have this talisman in my head…

“Night, get up.” Happy’s stern voice came through the door. His knocking grew louder, becoming an almost spiteful series of hammering knocks that were swiftly becoming impossible to ignore. “You’ve slept long enough!”

“Ugh, leave us alone.” Hispano called out in her normal, feminin voice as she too rolled over and roused from her sleep. The two of us rolled against one another, and it brought our weary eyes to meet. The softer features of the griffon I’d grown to love had replaced the masculine, and sharper physique. She now had her normal sized body, and she pulled her normal sized wings back against her almost reflexively. She looked down at her talons, then over the rest of herself before she let out an elated gasp. “Night, I’m…”

“You’re normal again.” I didn’t know how, but even through my profound confusion, I could feel a small smile across my muzzle. It was good to have her back again.

A single, jarring strike against the door made the locking lugs on the bulkhead groan. Both Hispano and I nearly jumped right out of bed at the racket. Celestia, Happy, you don’t have to knock that damn door down!

“We’re up, we’re up!” I snapped back at the door.

“It’s about time!” Happy fired back, following up with another rough knock on the door. “We gotta talk, Night.”

“Give us a minute and we’ll be out.” Hispano answered for me as she sat down on the bed with a sigh. She held out her talons in front of herself again, looking over them like they weren’t quite real. “They said two weeks for it to wear off, right? So why now?”

“You’re welcome.” Jynx let out a sultry laugh as she appeared sitting on the edge of the small captain’s desk in my quarters. She was using her primary feathers to play with the small pair of scissors that’s normally inside one of the drawers.

Oh come on, Jynx. I don’t believe it. How the hell would my curse have helped Hispano out at all!?

“I assure you, I wasn’t responsible for resolving her joke.” She smiled at me, but let her eyes wander up and down Hispano’s normal griffon form. “Let me ask you a question, Night. What happens when a joke isn’t funny anymore?” How the hell was I supposed to know? “Fine, I’ll spell it out for you. Hispano wasn’t sure she’d enjoy your special night, but that all changed oh, about a half hour in. Her curse was supposed to resolve right there and then.”

That… didn’t sit right with me. We must have been going at it for a few hours at least. Though, it was hard to remember, as one moment of bliss had bled into another…

“And you’re welcome for that.” Jynx smirked and twirled the pair of scissors around her feather, flipping it between each one like it was a knife. “I let you have your fun, but… the scale does have to tip the other way at some point. It’s only fair, Night.” She brought the scissors down in front of her face, staring at them intensely. “You know, I think I’ll hold onto these for now.”

As she curled her wing completely around the small metal tool, her muzzle curled into a sickening smile, and I could feel a pit forming in my gut. As she let go, they were gone. Looking past her back toward the desk where they’d been sitting at… they weren’t there either. Had I imagined them the whole time, or...

Another set of knocks at the door jarred my attention away from her.

“Come on, I don’t have all fuckin’ day, Night!” Happy groaned out. “I’m fuckin’ starving out here!”

Starving? Really? What the hell was he jabbering about?

Hispano grumbled as she hopped down onto her paws. She nearly fell over as she took a minute to get used to her smaller stature again. But after only a moment, she had her legs under her and she plodded to the door.

With a screech from the bulkhead, she worked the door and unsealed it. A few sharp yanks later and she pulled it open, which let Happy stick his muzzle inside. He took a few sniffs before wincing and somewhat recoiling.

“Oh geez, you two were really going at it, weren’t ya?” He snirked as he looked between Hispano’s deadpan and the one I had fall across my own muzzle. “Anyway, the tank ghouls invited us down for lunch as thanks for taking out that bitch yesterday.” He smirked and held his head proudly like he had anything to do with it at all. “Oh, and another thing.” Happy’s look of pride was somewhat tarnished by concern creeping across his features. “The Doc locked himself in the infirmary yesterday, and he still hasn’t come back out. You might want to check on him before we go.”

Hispano turned to me as Happy’s concern infected her. And of course, I in turn mirrored it as well.

“He hasn’t come out… at all?” I asked, finding Jynx hop down from my desk with her normal smile before she disappeared out of sight.

“Nah.” Happy shrugged his concern off. “I tried to open the door, but it won’t even budge.”

“Alright, why don’t you head down to lunch.” Hispano offered with a smile as she planted her talons across the front of Happy’s muzzle. She gave a hard shove, pushing him out through the door and onto his flank in the hallway. “We’ll join you as soon as we talk with Buck.”

Before he could rebut, she shut the door on his face. As it sealed with a squeak, it twisted the knot in my gut like a knife was in it. I swear, if Buck was in any sort of peril…

“It’ll be alright, Night.” Hispano’s talons and wings wrapped around me as she pulled me into a tight hug. “Let’s go talk with him and make sure he’s fine.”

Arriving at the sealed infirmary, Hispano balled up a talon and rapped on the door. Both of us inclined an ear to listen for any sound inside, but neither of us could hear a thing. Again, my stomach twisted further with each moment of silence.

With a grumble, Hispano raised her talon again, but I caught it with my forehoof.

“Hold on, let me try something.” I offered to her. “Buck, are you there?” I thought out to him. He’d have to hear me this way, there’s no way he couldn’t. But, distressingly, I was still met with silence. “Buck, please, answer me.”

Again, nothing.

“It’s not working?” Hispano asked, pulling a confused look onto my muzzle. “Your mind-meld thing or whatever. He’s not answering, is he?” I shook my head, which put a frown across her beak. “Well, one more try before I get Tofu to force open the fucking door.”

Again, she brought the butt of Suiza up to the door. This time, rather than a few soft taps, she let Suiza’s weight do the work for her. Each hammering strike against the door sounded more like a gong. After the third, she paused as both of us heard movement on the other side.

The metal door gave out a squeak as it was slowly opened, revealing a tired, ragged, and overall irritated looking Cora. Beyond him, Buck was snoring softly, his furred form draped across the medical table in a position I wouldn’t think one could fall asleep in comfortably. Both Hispano and I’s eyes were drawn to the floor, and we stared at a number of empty bottles scattered across the infirmary before looking back up at Cora.

“Please,” He grumbled as he brought a talon up and rubbed at his tired eyes, “keep it the fuck down because I’m not blessed with any sort of pain supressing bullshit in my head.”

“Dad, what the fuck happened?” Hispano stepped toward him, but quickly found his talon pressed against her plumage to stop her cold. “You promised you wouldn’t drink like this again.”

“Yeah, and so what? I was fucking owed last night.” He scoffed and slumped against the doorway. “You think it’s been easy for me? Everyone else died, I got shot by that fucker, then you fell for some pony…” He brought his eyes over to me just long enough to glare before forcing them shut with another groan. “And then you turned into a fucking guy!”

“And as you can see, I got better, Dad!” Hispano squawked back. She shoved his talon away as her plumage bristled. “But I gave you months to drown yourself after mom died, and you said you were done with that.”

“Yeah, well it wasn’t just for me. Buck needed it, and I simply joined.” He snorted and waved his talon dismissively. “I thought ‘hey, it wouldn’t be right to let him drink alone’, so I guess I’m guilty of caring, okay? I don’t need my own son, excuse me, daughter to scold me.”

“I think you do.” Hispano let out a growl before reaching over and grabbing my foreleg sharply. “And Night’s going to back me up on that! Right, Night?”

“I…” I didn’t know what deal they’d had going on before we met, and I didn’t really want to put myself in the middle of another fight between them. But as Hispano shared a pleading glance with me, I realized that if we were going to be a family, then maybe that’s exactly where I needed to put myself. “Look, I thank you for wanting to make sure Buck was alright. But if you promised Hispano you’d stop, then maybe you didn’t do it for him. Maybe all it was, was simply just an excuse.”

“Bah.” Cora let out a growl of his own before he pushed himself off the bulkhead. “What the fuck do you know.” With a shake of his head he turned to head back over to the countertop. “Whatever, you two do whatever the fuck you want, but the Doc is going to be out a while. He turned off some of his fancy gizmos so he could get drunk, and I’m sure he’ll have a hell of a hangover when he gets up. But for now, let the poor dog sleep. And maybe consider letting me do the fucking same.”

“Fine.” Hispano grunted. “But this conversation isn’t over.” She let go of my hoof and stepped into the infirmary just far enough to get her talon around the bulkhead door. “Night and I are going down to get some food, so you’ll know where to find us.”

She didn’t wait for a response and simply shut the door.

Author's Note

First off, I want to give a larger than normal thanks to TheFurryRailFan. Not just for his continued dedication to continuing to give these chapters a once-over before they come out, but for allowing me to use the settings from his stories. It's harder than I thought to manage them without ruining the future that exists in his story, but I think the struggle is more than worth the chance to reference some things. So again, I want to offer thanks to TheFurryRailFan for all his help.

And of course, I give my thanks to Kkat as well for allowing us all to use the FoE setting for our own stories.

Chapter 100 - Let There Be More Light

When all else fails, have hope.

The whole ride down, my thoughts kept drifting back to Buck. Honestly, after yesterday, I couldn’t blame him for wanting to just take some time to blow off some steam by drinking. At least Buck was alright, and I should be thankful for that.

The Remora touched down in roughly the same spot as it had yesterday. Both Hispano and I hopped out into the snow before glancing upward. The mid-day skies were overcast, and a light snow had begun to fall, caking every structure and pony milling about in a sort of fresh fuzz. But overall Maple Station seemed just as calm as it had yesterday despite last night’s aerial brawl. I shouldn’t really have expected any differently though. The wasteland moves on fast, and nowadays, that didn’t really seem like such an odd concept anymore.

I put my best hoof forward and started to hobble towards the roundhouse.

“Hey, Night?” Hispano asked as her talon pressed across my barrel to stop me. “Mind if we make a small detour real fast?” I cocked an eyebrow as I glanced to her and watched as a fresh smile graced her beak. “It’s… part of that thing I disappeared off to yesterday. It’ll be quick, and I know you won’t mind.”

“I don’t know, we’re already late as is...” My stomach gave a gurgle of agreement as the thoughts of eating some good food after a long night was almost overpowering.

“Please?” She feigned a pouty face and gave me the saddest eyes I’ve ever seen in the wasteland. Seriously, it looked as if I’d personally ripped her heart out and thrown it away. “Just… trust me?”

I have stood up against some of the worst the wasteland had to offer, stared down the likes of Mr. Wizard and Prince Solomon. I’ve survived every demand put on me, and every glare Delilah could beam at me. And now?

She knew with that look, I’d fold like a house of cards subjected to a balefire blastwave.

“Alright.” I nodded, immediately rousing an excited giggle out of her. “Just… never use that face on me again.” You know, it could have been worse. She could have made that face when she’d been a guy and I would have been wound so tightly around her talon she could have used me for whatever she wanted...

“No promises!” Hispano laughed as she spread her wings and grabbed onto my foreleg with both her talons. “Now come on!” With a single hard flap she pulled me right off the ground and into a streaking ballistic arc towards the station building itself and the line of shop carts behind it.

Still giggling incessantly, Hispano dragged me through the small cabin doors of one of the shop carts on the train line. A small bell that hung on the inside of the door chimed as she wasted no time in dragging me inside. I barely had enough time to read the sign for this place that read 'Station Seamsters' before we were in. Other than the sharp change from the white snow covered wasteland outside to the fairly well lit interior, I had to blink a few times. This cart was masterfully maintained, organized, and was laid out to draw a pony’s eyes to the dozens of different incredibly fancy looking suits, outfits, and dresses that were for sale here.

My brain went into overload as my eyes ran from one stunning dress to the next. Gowns that looked straight out of an Applewood movie sat next to cocktail dresses I would literally kill to try on. But this place wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. No, there was a downside here and it had started to sink in fairly fast. The price tag sitting at the bottom of each and every one of them numbered in the hundreds of caps.

I didn’t have anywhere near enough caps to afford even a fraction of what my eyes were drinking in.

“Hey, Singer?” Hispano cooed softly as she dragged me forward past all the amazing dresses and toward a small table near the back of the cart. “This is my ‘Project’ for you to work your magic on, like we discussed.”

Her words helped to bring me out of the incredible stupor that had washed over me. Turning, I found a rather impeccably well dressed ghoul unicorn behind the desk. He wore an impressively well fitting rose colored vest under a vibrantly pink long coat. I spotted a dozen or so tailoring pins placed along each foreleg of the coat, and I realized exactly why Hispano had needed me to come with her.

“Ah, it’s good to see you as your old self once again, Miss Hispano! And yes, I see the source of your concerns.” Singer smiled as he lifted a hoof to his chin and looked over me. He craned his head to the side before walking out from behind his desk. He made several ‘Hmm’ and ‘Mhmm’ noises to himself as it looked like he studied every inch of me. Ultimately he stopped and nodded to Hispano. “I’ll need to take some measurements of course, but the alterations shouldn’t take more than a half hour. And before you ask, it won’t be a problem to work around the prosthetics that you...”

“That’s great!” Hispano damn near jumped between the ghoul and I as she beamed him a smile. “Now, we’re already a bit late for a get together, and I’m sure you have plenty of other orders to fill. So if you could take the measurements, we’ll be out of your way and back once we’re finished!” With a stiff look back, she turned her obvious forced smile on me. “That’s right, I’m getting you a dress. Surprise, Night!”

I wasn’t really sure what to make of Hispano’s nervousness, but it didn’t feel like anything bad to me. Still, perhaps I could ask her about…

My thoughts were paused as a tape measure was hung off of my nose and run down my neck and across my barrel. The invasion of space instantly put me on edge, and I nervously fidgeted my wings across my back. I blinked as a flash of magic from the ghoul’s horn hit me, and for the life of me I couldn’t move a muscle.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t measure accurately when you are moving like that.” Singer smiled as he continued to move the tape measure across my body, pausing at certain spots now and again. “This will only take a moment... 14… 36… hmm…”

Well, I can’t say I liked being held here, but then again, I’d only ever really had one other tailored dress before. Thinking about it, I was sad to have lost that dress. There hadn’t been many memories I’d made with it, and some of them were arguably bad, but… it was still something that I could say was mine back when I was still trying to find my place down here.

“Alright, that should do it.” Singer gave me a nod before turning to Hispano and doing the same. “I shall have the dress ready for you when you return.”

“Thank you so much for this, Singer.” Hispano let out a sigh as she walked up to him and held out her talon.

“No, thank you, Miss Hispano.” Singer took her talon gracefully, and instead of shaking it, tilted it down as he gave a courteous bow to her. “Since your previous trip up here, my suppliers have yet to try their hooves at extorting me again.”

“If they do, well, you know you can always rely on the Talons of ‘Claw.” Hispano let another giggle slip out of her beak as she took her talon back and instead threw it around my neck. “Now, how about we go join the others for some lunch!”

Hispano and I made our way into the roundhouse, basking in the warmth as we stepped into the heated interior. It didn’t take us more than a moment to spot the group at the largest table set up in the place. Happy was at the center of the group, laughing and telling the story of the battle at bunker valley while relaxing with the ghouls as he chewed on a few strips of fried hay. He had a plate full of steaming breakfast foods sitting in front of him, which were almost dwarfed by the trays of food sitting near the center of the table. Geeze, they really went all out for this, didn’t they?

Rheinmetall and Jack were of course here, each had a beer held in their hooves as they listened to Happy recount the story. Caution Tape and Sensha’s striped and smiling faces were also present as they too seemed enamored with Happy’s tale, but were both beer-less. Strangely, Peridot was here as well. The Balefire phoenix sat perched on the table next to Caution, and had her own plate of food that she was pecking at. There was also a new ghoul here as well, the last of the Maple Station tankers we hadn’t seen before. But she’d caught my eye like none of the others could.

She had a dark green coat that was about as dingy and rough as you’d expect on a two century old pony. However, her blond mane, while stained with oil and a complete mess, was remarkably intact and well worn. As she and the others turned with our approach, I noticed her fidget the ragged pair of wings across her back. She was a pegasus ghoul.

“Ah, you made it!” Jack laughed and beckoned for us to join them. “Sit, relax and enjoy yourself! Feel free to dig into some of the feast!”

Hispano and I each grabbed a seat at the end of the table as Happy continued the story. But as soon as I’d sat down, I found myself looking back over at the pegasus ghoul. I know that I’d seen a few other pegasus ghouls so far, but… she was different. Maybe it was how she likewise kept her eyes on me. From what Jack had said before, supposedly she had been one of the tankers like the others, but… if she is as old as the rest, then that means she knows what happened to the pegasi at the end of the war.

“You’re from above the clouds, aren’t you?” She asked bluntly. Happy paused his story, and the rest of the table fell into an odd silence. “You were with the Enclave, like her.”

“You are mistaken, Rangefinder.” Rheinmetall promptly set his glass down on the table and shot the pegasus ghoul an expectant glare. “Miss Night here is not like our previous Enclave guest. In fact, she and her friends have done much work to help others. You should knowthat she is the one from the stories Jack and I have told you.”

“This is that Night?” Rangefinder scrunched up her degraded muzzle as she turned her confusion on Mad Jack. “Neither of you ever once mentioned to me that she was a pegasus.” She lifted her head with a sigh before turning to me. “Look, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to judge. It’s just that fliers like little miss Sergeant gives all us pegasi a bad name.”

“Hey, I get it, and I’m right there with you.” I did my best to offer her a smile and shrug off her previous comments. “When I first came down, I still had every lie the Enclave told me held in such high regard.” I thought back to when I’d first met Violet, how I’d been so quick to judge her as well. “It took a good friend to help me see how wrong they were.”

I let out a sigh as my mind ran through all the good times we had. Sadly, there weren’t that many memories like that. Even so, I smiled as they were enough for me to know whether she wanted to or not, Violet had helped me so much to become the pony I am today.

“And besides, we’ve met our fair share of pegasi disappointments.” Hispano spoke up as she shoveled some sort of unidentified sausage onto the old ceramic plate she had before her. “That bitch yesterday was just another in a long line of monsters that Night and I have helped to take down.”

“But you’re still after the ‘one that got away’, it seems.” Jack spoke up before he took a long draw off of his beer. Long enough actually that Rheinmetall finished his thought for him.

“Ah yes, the Prince.” He shook his head in disgust and stared at his beer like it owed him something. “When he came through Maple Station, Jack and I feared your crew might not have made it.”

“Not all of us did.” Happy snorted and slumped in his chair.

“If he was here, where did he go?” The words tumbled from my muzzle, pulling Jack and Rhine’s attention back up to the here and now. “We had… reliable information try to steer us toward a nearby settlement called Saddlebrook, but assuming he went straight south, where might he and his convoy have stopped?”

“Well, with a convoy the size it was, Saddlebrook is out of ze question.” Caution Tape brought his hoof up to his striped chin and rubbed at it in thought. “I bet they probably stopped in Gemdale for ze night. If they are looking to head straight south, then Maple Creek would be their destination before heading west to ze ruins of Vanhoover. Then again, if he’s trying to play it safe und stick to ze better roads, more directly south, then he’ll probably be headed for Hopeville.”

“He’s not afraid of taking risks.” I remarked as I thought about it. He knows we’re coming, so he’d want every advantage he can get. “That being said, he’s probably making a straight shot south, so that’s where we’re going.” Solomon wasn’t going to slip out of our hooves this time. “Eliza, make sure everyone is ready to head south when we get back on board. We’re headed for a place called Maple Creek.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t do that, Captain.” Eliza’s mare flashed up into my vision with a frowning face. “I haven’t been able to send Unit Seven back to the Factory yet because you and Buck have yet to modify a suitable tower this far south.” Are you fucking kidding me!? “I am not kidding you, Captain. We require you to locate and modify a suitable tower.” She was right, we agreed to do a job, and we’d put it off long enough.

“Actually, change of plans.” I let out a sigh that mirrored the look of disappointment that fell across Happy’s muzzle. “We need to do one more job before we can go after that bastard, and I’m hoping you can help us.”

“Well, with the adventures I’ve heard you go on, I thought you’d never ask!” Sensha snorted and put her forehooves down on the table as a smile pulled across her rotting blue muzzle. “I’m sure we’re all rearing to get our guns warmed up for some real action that isn’t the static targets at the firing range!”

“It’s uh… not that kind of job, heh.” Nervously I reached up and rubbed at my mane. “And it’s going to sound like an odd request, but, we need to find a radio tower that we can modify. Preferably one that’s in decent working order.”

“Now what in Celestia’s name would you need to do that for?” Jack huffed and looked over at Rhine, who simply shrugged and nursed at the beer in his hooves.

“We can’t really say.” Happy surprisingly offered with his own nervous smile spreading across his muzzle. “Just that we’re doing a favor for some friends up north. It ain’t anything harmful, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

“Well, there are a few places around here like that.” Rangefinder huffed as she tucked her forehooves across her barrel, squinting as if to search through her memories for an answer. “The Battered-Sea power station might have one, but nopony’s been inside for years. Though, some prospectors supposedly reported that some sort of sea life infestation has moved in to some of the lower levels. They were chased off and in rough shape, so it might not be the safest option.”

“Eh, weh ern’t afraid of shome fhish!” Hispano spoke through a beak full of sausage, pulling a chuckle from Mad Jack.

“Of course, you could always try the H.M.S. Cadence. She’s the museum ship our local ‘radio host’ uses to broadcast from.” Rangefinder shrugged, looking to me with a smirk, but then to Hispano with a bit of apprehension. “Though, maybe your Talon friend should stay behind in that case.”

“Whash tha shuposhed to mean?” Hispano grumbled through her full beak.

“The DJ would probably welcome you, as Jim’s pretty accepting of anyone visiting. Though, the ghoul that cares for that old floating rust heap is a veteran of the Foallands conflict.” Rangefinder sighed and glanced over to Jack and Rheinmetall, who both shared their own nods toward us. “Needless to say, he doesn’t have a very high opinion of Griffonkind.”

Peridot gave out a loud squawk before giving a few quick flaps of her glowing wings. I watched as she darted up above the table before banking around it and following the roundhouse walls. I wasn’t sure what was going on, or if this was just some sort of normal balefire phoenix behavior, but the loud gasp from Caution Tape told me that this was probably something else entirely.

“Zat’s right!” He gave out a laugh. “There is one other location you may find feasible. It is not on any maps I know of, but there is a radio tower to ze north east of ze Vanhoover dam.”

“You got all that from a bird?” Happy pointed out as he reached out, grabbing a hoof full of hayfries and stuffing them into his muzzle.

“Well, a year or so ago, Peridot disappeared when we made a stop in Hopeville.” Caution chuckled as he seemed to relax and enjoy watching the little glowing bird stretch her wings and fly around the interior of the roundhouse. “It took me six hours of hiking before I found her again. She had flown off une found ze abandoned nest of another balefire phoenix up in ze tower of an old radio relay station.” He paused and scrunched up his rotten muzzle before frowning at the others. “The weirdest thing was that ze inside of ze bunker looked all automated. Und it was set to just repeat certain numbers every hour on a frequency zat no one uses. I don’t know if it actually still works, but I had never seen anything quite like it.”

“A numbers station?” Hispano perked up at that, putting her talons on the table and standing up. “Those things actually exist?” From the gasp of excitement, I was guessing that she knew exactly what they were talking about. “I thought they were faked, something rumored to exist just to throw the zebras off during the war.” I could see the spark of inspiration behind Hispano’s eyes as she thought about something intensely. “If they are real, then there could be all sorts of neat wartime secrets inside!”

“They don’t exist.” Rheinmetall noted as he set down his freshly empty beer glass. “Like you said, they were Ministry of Image propaganda, nothing more.” Turning his gaze to Caution Tape, the old ghoul cleared his throat and used his hoof to push his small, round glasses a bit further up his muzzle. “Why didn’t you mention this to any of us after you found it, Tape?”

“It was just another abandoned ruin.” Caution Tape shrugged before the quick flapping of Peridot’s wings caught his attention. “Sure it was strange, but not out of the ordinary for ze wastes.” He lifted his wrinkled, rotten hoof up, and the glowing phoenix came down and landed softly on it. Her talons pressed straight through his skin sharply, but the soft radiative glow she emanated made the wounds heal up instantly. “It looked like no pony had been there in over a century, though ze interior was remarkably well preserved for its age.”

“Well, if the other two options don’t work out, that might be a good fallback.” I shrugged as well. I mean, if it really was abandoned, then we shouldn’t have any problem with modifying it. That is, if it still worked at all…

“I have tracked the location of the numbers station, Captain.” Eliza’s smiling mare bounced about my vision excitedly. “It’s signal is surprisingly still fairly strong. Out of all the available options, it is my opinion that it’s not a fallback, but is instead the prime candidate for modification!” The enthusiasm that bled from her words was still odd to hear, but not unwelcome. It also doesn’t hurt that it takes us by Hopeville.

“Alright, enough bloody talking business!” Jack laughed as he tapped his empty beer glass on the table. “We invited you down here to celebrate and have a good time!” With a stiff hoof, he reached over and hooked Happy around the neck, pulling him in tightly with the same unexpected strength the mule would use on me half the time. “Now, I hope this isn’t all of you coming down. Why don’t you try getting on the radio and inviting the rest of your crew to join us!”

“For once, I agree with Jack!” Caution Tape clopped his rotten hooves together excitedly, pulling a mildly annoyed squawk from Peridot as she was shaken a bit by it. “Und as they say, ze more, ze merrier!”

“I don’t know, we should really get going soon.” I didn’t want to refuse their generous offer, but this was the best info we had on Solomon in weeks, and I didn’t want to let it go to waste.

“Oh come on, Night.” Hispano nudged me sharply with a giggle. “What happened to saying you didn’t want to waste any more time together?”

I looked over to Happy for some backup on this. If anyone could sympathize with wanting to go after Solomon, it’d be him. However, as he finally wrestled himself away from Jack’s iron grip, he flashed a weary smile to me.

“Sorry, Night, but I’m with her on this.” He offered as he reached up and rubbed his neck with his wooden leg. “After nearly dying yesterday, I ain’t exactly feeling up to goin’ all in today, you know? We could all use a break.”

Outnumbered, and with part of me more than willing to listen to their side of things, I gave in. Happy was right, everyone needed a break. So, we’d have one afternoon to relax and recuperate, then we’d be back on the road.

“Alright, we’ll stay.” I nodded. “Eliza, tell the rest of the crew that they’re welcome to join us down here. Everyone is getting the day off today.”

“Sure thing, Captain!” Her bubbly voice helped make me feel better about letting the day go to waste, but some little part of me didn’t think it was fair to her. I mean, it’s not like she could take the day off. “While that’s true, I have Unit Seven here to keep me company. But thank you for your consideration, Captain.” Heh, well alright then.

“Brilliant!” Jack laughed heartily before spinning around and grabbing something in his hooves. With a groan from nearly everyone at the table, he produced his bagpipes and got them secured around himself. “Now, who’s up for some drinking songs?”

The trouble started when Rangefinder offered me a glass of Burro Tequila. Having had some experience with it before with the Road Crew, I promised myself that this time I wouldn’t let myself go as much as I had then. But as things tend to with friends, one drink became two, then four. After that, the mid-day get together went by as a blur.

At some point, we’d been joined by Tofu, King, and oddly enough, my Dad. I vaguely remember him telling me something or other about how Tequila had been my mom’s favorite, but I never remembered her doing any drinking. Still, after that, he and I were laughing with Hispano and Jack as Sensha and Rheinmetall had a go at hoof wrestling each other. Happy had run off with Vera after she had stopped by, and Tofu had dragged Hispano away for some reason. But I wasn’t worried, how could I be?

Between all the food, the drinks, and the laughter, some part of me forgot about everything else. The world fell away, even if just for an indeterminate amount of time where nothing else mattered. It was nice, and the moment held a warmth to it that had only been matched a few other times in my life. A few days with my parents, a few nights with Buck, and some of the better times with the Convoy.

So of course, it was sad to feel it slipping away. As the inebriation wore off, and the sounds of laughter were replaced one by one with goodbyes, the world slowly returned to it’s cold normality. And in that moment, I found myself the only one left. So here I sat, staring at the numerous empty bottles on the table, wishing that just one of them still had some extra moments to spare in it.

“Hey, bud. You alright?” Happy asked as he stepped up and put his hoof on my shoulder.

“Yeah.” I nodded to him, trying my best to push back the tempting thoughts of more alcohol. “What about you? You doing alright?”

“I think… I might be getting there.” He smiled as he took a seat next to me. Even though he looked content enough, his eyes betrayed the fact that something was still weighing on him. “I’ve been thinking. About what Cora said yesterday. About... a lot of things I guess.”

“Yeah, me too.” I nodded.

“You know, Ma wouldn’t have stopped to give us a break.” He shook his head and did his best to hide behind his faltering smile. “Not when we were this close to Solomon, and definitely not after what he’s done to us. She would have run you all ragged until we caught up and payed him back for everything.”

“You think it was a mistake to take the day off?” I countered with a cock of my eyebrow at him. It seemed to catch him off guard, and he took a moment before he recovered.

“No.” He shook his head and shrugged. “No, we needed this.” With a sigh, he leaned forward and put his chin on the table. With a few deep breaths, he relaxed slightly. “I know I’ve been pushing to go after Solomon, but it ain’t going to do us much good if everypony else is too exhausted to help me kill him, ya dig?”

“Heh, yeah.” I nodded and tried my best to relax as well. “Well, we know where he is now, and he’s not going to get away from us. That, and with Pentex in Saddlebrook waiting for us to show up, he’s not going to have that many mercs around to deal with.”

“Here’s hoping you’re right.” Happy shot me a smile with a healthy dose of side-eye from his resting place on the table.

“Hey, you two sober yet?” Hispano’s cheery tone drifted over from the roundhouse door. Both Happy and I turned to find Tofu wrapped tightly in one of Hispano’s wings as they trotted over. “If you are, let’s get going already! Plus, we still need to go pick up your dress, Night.”

Oh shit, right!

“You bought a dress?” Happy snorted and glanced over at me. I could see the beginnings of a Delilah-tier judgmental look forming on his muzzle, and I opened mine to swiftly get ahead of it.

“Hispano bought me a dress.” I offered as I pushed myself back from the table and stood up. Which, was a mistake after having been sitting so long. My legs wobbled, and I nearly collapsed as the effects of the alcohol came roaring back through my system. Thankfully, Happy’s quick hooves caught me and helped to keep me propped up.

“Too bad she couldn’t buy you a way to hold your liquor!” Happy chuckled as he kept me steady for a moment. “Alright, ladies, if you lead the way, I’ll help Night along.”

As annoying as it was to need help to walk the short distance through the snow, something hit me about it. Here we were, heading out from a get together with friends, going to a store so I could get a new dress. If I didn’t know we were in the wasteland, this would be almost mundane. I almost felt bad again that I’d had my chance at a normal life as an Enclave pegasus ripped out from under me.

But what I have now, what I’d gained down here wasn’t something I could hate. For all the bad that’d come, I’d gained so much, and thoughts about ‘what if’ and ‘it’s almost like’ were almost an affront to that. I’d be stepping on the memories of those who helped get me here if I were to feel anything but thankful for what I have.

“Hey Singer, we’re back!” Hispano chirped as she pushed the door to Singer’s shop open. Like before, the shop was empty of other customers, and the well dressed ghoul perked up as we entered. He tucked away a set of drawings for fancy clothing as we shut the door behind us.

“Ah, excellent!” Singer clapped his hooves together softly as he spotted me being helped in. “I only need to make a few alterations before it’s finished, but I require you to try it on first.” Waving his hoof to me, he used his other forehoof to push open a small door behind him. “If you would come this way into the fitting room?”

Happy released me, and I managed to stay upright on my hooves again. While I still felt a little light headed, I felt confident enough to hobble my way towards the small room with a wide smile across my muzzle to Hispano. She mirrored it with a heavy blush before she reached forward and prodded me with her talon sharply.

“Now I don’t want you to go ruining this dress in a fight.” She cooed softly as her blush intensified. “If you do, I’m just going to have to strap you down until I’ve had enough fun with you that I consider it a fair trade.” I rolled my eyes, pondering just how that was supposed to incentivise me protecting anything... “And let me tell you, after last night, I’m feeling pretty fucking unfair right now.”

“Still, it might be worth it…” I offered to her, getting a snort and an even brighter blush to burn across her face. I don’t know if it was the alcohol helping her look that way, or if she’d always seemed so adorable when flustered.

“Ahem.” Singer gave a somewhat impatient knock against the open doorway. “While my time isn’t in too high of demand, I’m sure all parties involved here don’t want to take all day.” Right, he did have a good point! “Besides, thanks to my work, I doubt you’ll have an easy time with damaging this piece.”

“What’s that mean?” I asked as I stepped into the small room.

“Rest assured, once you have it on, I’ll explain all of it’s nifty little features to you.” Singer gave a soft laugh as he stepped into the room behind me and shut the door. “For now, relax, and let me work my magic…”

I was speechless.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I could hardly pull my eyes away from the mare who stared back. Thanks to the off-white dress and a half a bottle of mane and tail reformer, I felt like I had been transformed into an entirely new pony. And the mare in the mirror? She looked like she could walk into any town and just own it.

“I know the style might be a bit outdated,” Singer spoke softly as he used a comb and a thin brush to work at my new luxurious shoulder length mane. Thank the goddess for mane growth potions! I had no idea it was even a thing before today, but… I was getting distracted. “But it’s similar to a piece that Miss Rarity had once made for the head of the Ministry of Awesome to wear to one of the final Grand Galloping Galla celebrations.”

I felt like I should have cared more about those words than I currently did. I could feel a half dozen questions struggling to claw their way up my throat. But right now, I couldn’t speak as I took yet another look over the stunning dress itself.

The pearl colored fabric was as soft as silk, and it held an almost rainbow luster to it under these lights. It felt taught in all the right places, but was smooth enough that it was comfortable and wouldn’t chafe, especially around the wing holes. The fluffy, padded shoulders on it drew your eyes to me without being too obstructive, and felt like a warm hoof caressing my coat.

Speaking of hooves, the sleeves that covered each of my legs held ornate patterns pressed into them. Vines and flowers of some sort were intricately laid in the same pearl-white as the rest of the dress, so only someone intimately close would ever have appreciated their existence. Though, having taken my measurements before, the oddity that stuck out to me was that Singer had still gone through and made all four legs the same. He’d widened my rear right leg to fit my prosthetic, but he’d made a full length forehoof sleeve for my stump and just… pinned it up against itself. Out of every amazing form and line this dress held, it was all thrown off by that one out of place sleeve.

“Ah, I see you’ve noticed.” Singer let out a chuckle as his magic finished working on my mane and set his dressing tools down. “I know it may throw things off, but I’ve left the foreleg as is for if you choose to not wear your prosthetic some days.”

“What?” Finally, a word, any word slipped out of my muzzle.

“I do understand it sounds odd, but believe me,” He chuckled as his magic grabbed the rest of his tailoring tools and began to put them away in their various drawers and such. “I’ve worked with my fair share of amputees, and the majority tell me that some days it feels good just to not worry about using any prosthesis at all. Because I don’t believe that means you should sacrifice fashion, I’ve included the quick snap buttons so you can still wear your dress when the prosthetics are off.”

“No, I get that.” I shook my head, pausing a moment as a mass of green and yellow mane drifted in front of my augmented eye. Oh, it felt good to have a proper mane again, I… no, I’m getting off track! “I meant that, I don’t have a prosthetic for my foreleg.” My eyes drifted over to Singer, who’s confused look was accented by an odd but small frown pulling across his muzzle.

“Hmm, no, I’m fairly certain that miss Hispano had told me that you were given one.” He nodded to himself as he thought. “But perhaps I was mistaken. If you excuse me, I’ll clear this little misunderstanding up.”

The sharply dressed stallion moved past me, brushing up against the sloping flank the dress gave me as it covered my tail and rear hocks. I did my best to step out of his way, but my mind was taken aback by the feeling of the smooth fabric across my coat as I moved. It hugged at my flank in a way no other dress had, and it felt like somepony warm and caring was draped across me in a most affectionate way. It sent an electric tingle up my spine, and I couldn’t help but let out a squeak of pleasure from it.

“What do you mean you told him?” Hispano’s harsh whisper drifted through the cracked door enough to pull my ear to listen. “Of course he wasn’t supposed to know!”

Wasn’t supposed to know what?

Turning myself around, I hobbled my way towards the door and pushed it open. Immediately, the interior of the train car fell silent, and all eyes were on me as I stepped out into view. I wanted to say that I was caught off guard by the assault of their attention, but with this dress around me, I felt like each of their beaming gazes were a single spotlight that helped to show me off to the world.

“Holy shit.” Hispano was the first to break the silence among them. “Celestia, Night. You… you look... good.”

My cheeks flushed brightly as she struggled with her words. Tofu simply squeaked as I look to her for her opinion, hiding herself with a nod inside Hispano’s still outstretched wing. Finally, I moved my gaze along to Happy, who’s jaw looked like it had scraped along the floor.

“Dat’s one hell of a number, Night.” He did his best to shake off the awe and try to put up his normal, tough-guy front again. “I mean, if you were a chick, I’d be interested.” Coming from somepony like him, I’ll take that as the highest praise a stallion like me could get.

“I present to you, the new and improved, Night Flight.” Singer chuckled as he held his hoof out to me with a smile. “Go on, dear, why not give yourself a turn and let them see all of it?”

I nodded to him, hobbling further out from the doorway. With enough room, I started to turn myself, fighting against my wings as they instinctively wanted to flare up on me. No no, I wouldn’t give in to such simple urges though, not when the dress made me feel this good, this powerful.

“As you can see, it offers almost complete protection.” Singer spoke up as I turned myself. “The fabric is stain proof, flame resistant, and thanks to the high grade ballistic weave Miss Hispano helped me to secure, damage resistant up to small caliber firearms and shrapnel.”

I took a moment to blink as my body locked up at that. Wait, so… it wasn’t just a pretty dress? It was a functional battle dress? The grin that pulled itself across my muzzle was something that broke through my attempts to control my urges, and helped me lower my guard enough that my wings flared out proudly as well.

“Given the measurements earlier, I made sure to accommodate the design for unobtrusive use of your battle saddle while wearing it as well.” The well dressed stallion nodded to my beaming self and I couldn’t do anything but nod enthusiastically. “I take it by your… reaction, you don’t feel like there needs to be any further alterations made to tailor it to your liking?” Again, I could only nod giddily as my stupidly wide grin beamed every ounce of joy I could out to the world.

“So uh… about that leg, Night!” Hispano squeaked as she did her best to speak through the burning blush pushing through her puffed plumage. “It was going to be a surprise, but…” She paused as Tofu hid herself further under her wing. “You know what? I’ll let Tofu explain.” With a sharp tug, and an ‘eep!’ from the small unicorn, Hispano pulled her wing away.

“Yeah s-sure, Captain.” She blinked a few times before taking a moment to gather herself again. “Remember that leg I was going to be building for Happy after he lost his?”

“Wait, what?” Happy scrunched up his muzzle. “What leg?”

“And then the idiot went and got his own.” Tofu’s tone turned into a low growl as she shot him a glare. “Completely invalidating all the hard work I put into getting it half done by then?”

“Again, what leg!?” Happy spat out before crossing his hooves across himself, making sure his wooden prosthetic leg was on top and in full view of Tofu.

“I uh... remember you requesting to make the leg.” I offered as I finally got my wing situation under control again, pulling them back down against the smooth and warm fabric. “Once he got the wooden one, I didn’t think about it really.”

“Well uh, when you lost your foreleg,” Tofu’s nervousness was picking up, and she shifted uneasily on her legs. “I uh… thought I could adapt my work for, well, you.” She flashed up a nervous smile to me before forcing her gaze to the floor. “I know I didn’t ask you about it, and that I really should have. But, sometimes... the Rangers on base would be angry if you even brought it up. I didn’t want you to act as prideful or stubborn as them because you thought I was pushing it on you.”

For the second time in just minutes, I was speechless. Thankfully, it didn’t take me nearly as long this time to finally push myself to speak again.

“Tofu, I know you just want to help me.” I offered to her with the full force of my beaming smile behind me. “I could never be angry because of that, and I would never turn down something so kind.” I hobbled forward to her and carefully wrapped my wings around her. “Thank you, for all you’ve done for me, for the ship and the crew.”

“You’re welcome, Cap.” She sniffled as she pulled her watering eyes up from the floor and pulled herself into a tight hug. “You helped me so much by believing in me, and without you and the others, I wouldn’t have my cutie mark. I just… wanted to do something to show you how thankful I was.”

“I know, and we’re all glad to still have you here with us.” I nodded and looked over to Hispano, who’s own teary eyes mirrored the joy I held in mine.

“Hey!” Happy snapped, pulling the three of us out of the moment. “Can anypony just fuckin’ tell me what leg you were all talking about!?”

I opened my muzzle to speak, but I was cut off from a quick chuckle from Hispano. I don’t know why, but as she began to laugh, I did as well. Tofu joined in as for no reason, we found his confusion the funniest thing so far today, and as he grew even more confused, our laughter grew as well.

I hesitated to think it after all the rough times we’d been through together, but this felt like the perfect end to a perfect day. Here, now, surrounded by my friends and family, I felt like my life was worth living again, enjoying again. And while sure, it might all collapse tomorrow, those thoughts were pushed back so hard that I wasn’t sure I’d have them for even another week.

No, I felt too good to feel anything but the love and joy I felt for the others. And I’d be damned if anything was going to come along and ruin it for us today. In fact, I think it was high time that I took our little giggle party and brought it back home.

Besides, there was a particularly down Snow Dog that I had the full intention of cheering up today…

The knocking on the cabin door roused us from our restful sleep. I pressed myself further into the mass of warm dog under me, and enjoyed the feeling of Hispano’s feathers covering me like a blanket. Looking up in my augmented vision, I glanced at the clock, reading that it was still 6:03AM.

Normally, I’d have had no drive to wake up and leave my little slice of warm heaven so early, but it shifted under me. All three of us let out various yawns and stretched ourselves out. Almost at the same time, we all gave out groans as the blur of last night began to filter back through our groggy minds.

“Uff… need coffee.” Buck groaned as he brought his mechanical arms up and plucked Hispano and I right up off his chest. The cold metal of his arms were a rude shock, and pulled a soft whimper from my muzzle as he set the two of us down on the bed.

“It’s too early…” Hispano whined weakly as I found her talons softly pulling themselves around me. She grasped at my dress and used it to help drag me back against her warmth.

Another soft knock at the door forced me to sit up and look at it. Buck pushed himself to his hind paws and made his way over, opening it. Standing uncomfortably in the hall, was King.

“Oh, I didn’t mean to wake you.” He offered as he reached up and rubbed at his mane. “But I was just here to inform you that Double Delta has returned. And…” He paused and looked at me with an almost sad look. “And we need to talk later.”

“Is everything alright?” I yawned and did my best to rip myself from Hispano’s needy grasp. She whimpered and lazily clawed at me, holding onto me.

“I… I don’t know.” He forced a smile over the nervousness that pushed its way through his words. “I’ll leave you be for now.” Reaching his hoof forward, he took the door from Buck and pulled it shut.

As he did, I could feel the slightest kink forming in my gut. I still didn’t really know what to do with King to help him. And now that I knew that some crazy alicorns out there might want to steal him away again, I’m not sure what I’m going to do.

The pair of talons trying to drag me back into bed relented, and I heard Hispano give a muffled groan as she flopped beak first against it.

“Do we have to get up today?” She shifted herself, stretching herself out again wiggling her hindpaws. Her joints gave a few pops, and she let out a light shiver as she pushed herself up to a sitting position. I was going to answer her, but to my surprise, Buck spoke up before I could even open her muzzle.

“As much as I wish we could have another day off, we can’t let Solomon get any further ahead.” He let out a sigh as he too let a shiver run down himself. Unlike Hispano, it was a sight to see as a wave of black and white fur worked its way down him, culminating in leaving his spiky curled tail wagging slightly as he turned around. “Honestly, I’m looking forward to finally being done with all this. No more chases, or having to watch our backs.” Across his metal muzzle, sat the same soft and caring smile I always loved to see on him, and his eye showed me that despite his words, he wasn’t sad about the task we needed to carry out. “And no more innocent bystanders getting pulled into needless fights.”

“Yeah, that’ll be nice.” I nodded and did my best to wiggle my way towards the end of the bed. Getting my hooves under me again, I moved to balance myself when I felt my forehoof knock against the bed. “What the…?”

Blinking, I looked down and found a strange metal form sticking down from under the fabric of my dress’s foreleg. Almost instinctively, I raised it up and pulled the dress sleeve back to look at it. It was a skeletal prosthetic made of mismatched spare parts and scraps. A half dozen wires ran to the small servo motors at each of the joints, and more than a few exposed springs groaned as I moved the leg as if it were my own.

“Don’t you remember your gift?” Hispano let out another yawn as she flopped herself closer to the edge of the bed as well. “Buck and Tofu installed it when we got back yesterday?”

“Night might be having trouble remembering with the sedatives he had for the surgery.” Buck offered as he stepped over to me and leaned down close. “As I’ve mentioned, alcohol and sedatives don’t generally mix well, but thankfully we didn’t have any complications. Tofu’s hoofwork on the construction of the leg made it fairly easy to integrate into your upgrades, Night.” A digit of his came over and prodded me on my metal skull plate.

“Don’t kid yourself.” My own voice filtered through my head as Jynx appeared behind Buck. “That smoothness was all me.” She wore a toothy grin as she brought up her normal looking hoof, inspecting it like I’d just inspected the prosthetic. “But after all the help I’ve given you recently, l must remind you, Night.” Putting her hoof down firmly, she glared at me from behind a crooked smile. “The pendulum must swing back the other way at some point.”

Yeah yeah, not if you want to stay around, Jynx.

“So then, is there anything I need to know about it?” I asked, beaming out a smile as I pushed Jynx’s words out of my mind, and watched as she faded away again. As I did, Buck’s mechanical paw came down and grasped around it. Instantly, I froze up as I could feel his paw. “Wait… how... can I feel that?”

“You aren’t really feeling it.” Buck chuckled as he let go of it. As he did, the sensation of his touch left me, and an odd numbness remained. “Tofu said it’s a trick the Rangers learned with their own prosthetics. Whenever your leg’s joints feel resistance, they translate that to your brain as a ‘feeling’ like you’re leg is pressing against something that way.”

“Hmm, smart… for the toasters at least.” Hispano cooed as she hopped down from our bed and gave one final stretch.

Putting my hoof down slowly, I could feel the sensation of the metal hoof pressing down with my own weight. Taking a step forward, I nearly tripped as I’d instinctively tried to hobble, and was instantly rewarded with my regrown mane flopping in front of my eyes.. Buck and Hispano both reached out and helped to keep me upright, but I couldn’t help but give out a giddy giggle as I reached up and moved my mane.

“Sorry.” I offered as I centered myself and decided that maybe a slow start would be best. “So much changed yesterday that I guess I need to get used to some things again.”

“Just take it slow.” Buck almost whispered as he leaned down over me and planted a soft kiss across the top of my head. “There’s no rush.”

“Well, no rush outside of needing to go blow up Solomon.” Hispano cooed as she propped herself up on her hind paws and crossed her talons.

“Granted, but one thing at a time.” Buck sighed as I felt his paws come off me to let me stand on my own again. “Besides, what’s that old idiom? You need to walk before you can run.”

Carefully I stepped forward, trying to remember how to walk on four hooves. It’s funny how quickly you can forget when you’re faced with the prospect of never having that leg again. But like with my rear prosthetic, all I would need it time and I’d be galloping about again like it was nothing.

Without thinking too hard about it, I’d made it over to the cabin door. Reaching up with my prosthetic, I gripped around the latch and twisted. Opening the door, I felt a shiver roll across me as the heat from our room was drawn out, and the sounds of the rest of the old world ship came flooding in.

“Hey, do you smell that?” Hispano asked as she seemed to perk up fairly quickly.

“Yeah...” I added as not just sounds wormed their way in, but the delectable smells of breakfast food wafted through the air as well.

“What is it?” Buck asked, folding his triangular, dish-like ears flat on his head with a whimper. “You both know I lost my sense of smell. Don’t leave me in the dark here.”

“Breakfast.” I smirked. “We smell breakfast.”

Author's Note

A huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan with not only his help on editing this chapter, but for allowing me to utilize his Tank Ghouls, as well as for letting me use his entire little corner of the wasteland in the Vanhoover area. Seriously, it means a lot to be trusted with this setting.

And of course, many thanks to Kkat, who's let us run around with our own stories in the FoE setting for almost a decade now. And I hope that there are many, many more years of stories to come.

Chapter 101 - One of These Days

Do unto others...

Stuffed from breakfast, we’d all broken up to go about our morning duties. Buck was in the infirmary, straightening things up after his and Cora’s previous night of drinking, while Hispano was taking some time to give her sister a much needed cleaning. Speaking of getting clean, I’d decided that as much as I loved wearing my new dress, after a long night with Buck and Hispano, I was getting a bit ripe in it.

Sitting there, I let the hot shower do it’s thing. The water ran down my numbed coat, sapping all of the ebbing kinks out of it, even if I normally couldn’t feel them through my augment. Closing my eyes, I listened to the radio to try to help keep myself from getting lost in my own head.

“Welcome back. You are still listening to Radio KAOS, Vanhoover's finest local news source.”

Again, the music or voice on the radio was nowhere near as soothing as hearing DJ PowerColt’s station, but admittedly this one wasn’t all that bad.

“Word has trickled down from those at Maple Station that the Butcher of Merrit has finally met her end. A group of travelers led by a pegasus, through either luck or sheer tenacity, managed to strike down the mare for good. Word is as well, that these are the same travelers who helped sort things out between our own Steel Rangers and a group of flying nomads from the north.”

Hmmm, being talked about on the radio was a worryI thought we’d left far in the north. Not to mention, this guy seemed to get his information fairly quickly, even if it wasn’t nearly as fast as the Factory did. But that sparked an odd question in my head. Part of me wondered if he was a machine as well, but if that had been true, I’m sure Eliza would have told me. Maybe he’s just well informed, who knows.

“And while we here at Radio KAOS don’t suggest you go fighting your local warmongers, we’re still relieved to know that somepony is still out there fighting the good fight. Though if you travelers are by chance listening, my advice is that you should stop in at the Hopeville Triage. They might have something for that developing hero complex of yours, heh. Anyway, why don’t we get back to listening to some of the classics…”

“Night?” Double Delta’s voice almost echoed through the bathroom. I opened my eyes and looked over, finding him standing at the doorway with a contented look across his muzzle. “I don’t mean to disturb you, but do you have a moment?”

“Sure.” I nodded to him, shutting off the radio in my head and the shower at the same time. The moment the hot water stopped running down my skin, I felt my body give out a light shiver. “What’s on your mind?”

“I wanted to thank you again.” He smirked as he leaned up against the bathroom bulkhead and took in a deep breath of the steam that had filled the showers during my time here. “I never thought I’d get to see Riddle again in my lifetime, and while I haven’t fixed a great many mistakes I’ve made, I’m glad to have gotten the chance to fix that one.”

“We all deserve a second chance, right?” I shrugged as I got up on all fours and did my best to shake myself clean. However as soon as I had, I found a sopping wet mass of mane flopping around in front of my eyes. Right… the one downside to having an amazing mane again.

“You say that like anyone would offer that.” Delta laughed, letting it echo off the bathroom walls, but revealing a sort of hidden hollowness to his voice. “I’m… still not sure I deserve that second chance, but I’m going to try to make the best of it. Which brings up something I need to tell you.” He took another deep breath, but this time, I don’t think it was to enjoy the warm air. “Captain, I think once we get the business of the Ark settled, I’m going to go home to the Rangers.”

Pushing my wet mane aside as I scrunched my muzzle, I looked up at him to make sure he’d actually said that.

“I know it may be an odd decision after everything Galloway’s been through,” He shrugged and did his best to force a weak smile across his muzzle. “But seeing Riddle again made me realize just how much I screwed things up. Not just with the Sky Raiders, but at Galloway with my family. I’m sorry if this is disappointing to hear, but… I just wanted to make my intentions clear now so I didn’t spring it on you from out of nowhere.”

“I understand, Double, and thank you.” I nodded to him and forced up my own smile. “You don’t need to ask, and I won’t stand in your way once we have the Ark. Sure it’s disappointing to hear, but only because it means a friend will be leaving.”

“Thanks, Captain.” A genuine smirk fell across his muzzle and he shook his head. “You know, you really are something, Night. I wish somepony like you and the others had shown up in the north years ago to help us all realize that there’s another way of doing things.”

With that, he spun around and dipped out of the bathroom, leaving me alone in the last of the wafting steam to listen to the dripping of the water.

After getting myself dried off, I made my way up through the ship to go find King. The way he said ‘we need to talk’ definitely didn’t seem like whatever it was would be good news. But if he remembered more from his time before the goddess, well, I’d be glad to hear it.

Trotting through the bulkheads, I moved into the forward sensor maintenance room. I think this was really the first time I’d even stepped hoof into here. Dozens of control boards with blinking, flashing, and ebbing lights lined the tube covered walls of the room, giving it a somewhat cramped feeling. Lines of thick rope hung from the bigger pipes, and weaved a hammock wide enough to hold the curled up form of an alicorn in it.

“Oh, hello.” King blinked as he lifted his head up and gave a few groggy yawns. “Sorry, I was just resting.”

“If you want me to come back later, I can.” I offered.

“No, no.” He shook his head, letting his quite long ethereal green mane unwrap from around himself. “Thank you for taking the time to come talk. I just… need a moment to wake.” With a stretch of his four, long legs, he used his broad wings to nudge himself towards the end of his hanging bed.

“Did you want to talk about what happened yesterday?” With him getting foal napped by other alicorns, I could understand why he’d been thinking even more about who he used to be. “Or did you remember something new?”

“I… don’t know.” He raised a forehoof to his head, and shut his eyes like he was struggling to think. “The other alicorns, they did something. They cast a spell to prepare my mind for their new unity. It was supposed to clear my mind, but I could feel it stripping away the goddess’s bindings on my memories.”

”So, then you do remember things about who you were?” As much as I hate to say it if it’s true, those other alicorns might have done a better job helping King than I could in the time since we’d met.

“No, it… it seemed limited, and only temporary.” He growled, shaking his head angrily. “I nearly had them! I almost knew who I was again, but then it just… slipped away.” He hung his head, letting his ethereal mane hang over his face. “I did retain something though. Vanhoover City… or the ruins that are left of it I suppose. That was the only clue I am left with. That must be where…”

King’s voice cracked. His head shot up, and his eyes opened wide. With a single blink, his almost frightened look was replaced by glowing eyes and a soft ebbing from his horn.

“You must cease this at once.” A different voice came from his muzzle, the voice of a mare this time. “The other inside me must never know who he once was.”

“You… are the other pony inside King?” The words tumbled out of my muzzle as I stood there in shock. “Why don’t you want me to help him?”

“You must not help because I know who he once was.” Her glowing eyes narrowed on me, and she let out a whine as a layer of overglow wrapped around her horn. “Please, I am the only one holding his memories back now. You mustn’t let him go back to Vanhoover. If he stands where he once did, I won’t be able to stop him from knowing.”

“But why!” I spat out. None of this made any sense! “What are you hiding from him that gives you the right to take away who he was!?”

“Please, you must trust me!” Her voice strained as she spoke, and the light from her horn began to flicker. “He mustn’t know who he was. And if he finds out… what I’ve done… he’ll…”

Her horn sputtered out, and the light faded from King’s eyes. What was left staring at me was the confused green eyed look King always seemed to carry with him normally. He looked around the room a bit, as if trying to figure things out before gazing back to me.

“Did I zone out on you for a minute?” He asked with his normal voice. “I am sorry, Night. My time with the other alicorns must have affected me more than I realized.” So, he had no idea about the other mare’s interruption then… “Perhaps I just need more rest. But thank you, Night, for coming to see me all the same.”

“I just spoke to…” Opening my muzzle, I paused as I thought about what I was going to say. In a rare moment of clarity, my mind knew that running my muzzle with the information about the other mare in him might do more damage than good right now. And while I still didn’t have any motivation for why to trust her… deep down, I knew that it was important to at least take her warning into consideration.

“Night? Are you alright?” King’s words held a note of deep concern to them that helped knock me out of my own thoughts. “Who did you speak to?”

“Yeah, I’m okay…” I paused and waved my forehoof at him. “It’s nothing, nevermind.” Okay, now he’s going to know something’s up. Maybe I just need to give him some assurances while I think about what the mare said. “Look, we’ve still got some things to do around the northern Vanhoover area, but I promise that once those are done, I’ll look into heading to the ruins of Vanhoover.” I forced an uncomfortable smile up across my muzzle as I glanced at him again. “For now though, just get some rest, alright?”

“Thank you again, Night.” He nodded to me before shifting his massive green body further back into his hammock. “I know my presence with you has caused you and your friends much inconvenience. I’m not sure how I could ever repay you for the help you’ve given me.”

“No problem, King.” I shrugged as I turned around and headed for the door again. But with each step, I found one question running through my mind more and more. It got to the point that I stopped just short of the bulkhead and turned around. “King?” I asked, pulling his gaze over to me. “What if… you don’t like who you once were?”

As it would with anyone asked something like that, a troubled look fell across King’s face.

“I… don’t know.” He was slow to answer, but again, I couldn’t blame him for that. “I choose however, to believe that if that were the case, I would see who I used to be as a guide on who not to be. I have a second chance to be somepony unique, so I have to believe I would push myself to be the kind of pony I feel I need to be.”

“Makes sense.” I nodded to him. “I’ll see you later, King.”

Heading through the door, I couldn’t help but think that King’s predicament was a more condensed, and more extreme version of what I’d already gone through. I’d had those fears of getting a cutie mark telling me who I was supposed to be and not liking it. But I got my cutie mark, and though I still don’t understand what it’s for, I have to trust that despite that, I’m still who I’m supposed to be.

I guess one major difference between King and I, is that at least I don’t have another pony in my head trying to stop me.

“You’ve forgotten about me already?” Jynx pouted as she appeared in the narrow hallway ahead of me. Ugh, today had been going so well, I didn’t need this right now. “See, there you go again, thinking you get to choose when I show up. That’s not how this works, Night.”

“It is if you want to stay around at all, Jynx.” I rolled my eyes at her and trotted forward. I passed right through the illusion of her, smiling for only a moment before she reappeared standing in the bulkhead to the Bridge.

“Look, I’ve been really kind to you as of late, Night.” She offered me an almost mean smile as she tapped her forehoof on the floor impatiently. “And despite our agreement, there are rules to how things work. I can’t keep you lucky forever. The pendulum has to swing the other way sometime.”

“Again, you will if you want to stay.” I growled at her. “Then you will do as I say.” How has she not fucking figured that out yet?

“I will do what I can, but listen carefully,” Jynx let out a growl as she seemed to drop all pretext of ‘relaxed fun’ from herself. “The longer I help you, the worse off the hit will be when the universe balances things out.” Please, her threats were as thinly veiled as ever, and I wasn’t going to fall for them anymore. As soon as I’d finished that thought, she smiled at me again. “Don’t say I never warned you.”

I blinked and she was gone.

“Good fucking goddesses.” I sighed to myself. Seriously, the shit I put up with every day now was getting to be a bit too much for my liking. But so long as things were going well? Well, I guess I could put up with it all just that much longer…

“Oh, hey there, Captain.” Tofu cheerfully called out from halfway inside an open panel behind one of the missile racks. She took a moment to set down the large spanner wrench in her magic before pushing herself out completely. “I wanted to ask, do you have a minute? I wanted to take a look over your leg. You know, just to make sure it’s all working like it’s supposed to.”

“Sure.” I nodded to her and took a seat in pretty much the center of the bay. I lifted my hoof, taking a moment to admire it again before holding it out for her to get a look at.

Her horn glowed, and her magic wrapped around most of the leg. With a crisp click, the leg twisted and popped right off of me. I blinked a few times as the ‘feeling’ from it cut out sharply, and I was left staring at some sort of metal connectors that poked through my healed nub-like stump.

“Alright…” Tofu huffed as she brought the leg up to her face. She scrunched up her muzzle and narrowed her eyes at the cobbled together leg like it owed her money. She used her magic to turn and rotate it a few times, moving it bit by bit while she scrutinized the joints in particular. “And it hasn’t been giving you any trouble so far?”

“Nope.” I shook my head. “To be honest, the trouble’s been all on my end.” My chuckle at that drew a somewhat perplexed gaze from her. “You’d think learning to walk again would be a snap, seeing as it’s the third time in my life I’ve had to get used to it.”

“Well, you seem to be adapting to it better than most of the Rangers back home do…” Her voice quieted as she caught sight of something on the leg that pulled an annoyed grunt from her. Her horn flashed, and a pair of pliers levitated across the bay to her. “As you said though, this isn’t your first rodeo.” With a precise sharpness, she quickly used the pliers on some part of the leg I couldn’t see. “But you’re saying that there isn’t any pain? Most Rangers reported at least some soreness in the first few months.”

“Well, I don’t feel much of anything, remember?” Again I chuckled as I brought my forehoof up and tapped at my head. As I did however, I remembered the conversation I had with Delta earlier. “Hey, Tofu? Mind if I ask you a question?”

“Yeah, shoot.” She answered promptly before her horn flashed again and a small screwdriver levitated over to join the pliers in working on my leg.

“Do you ever want to go back?” My words made her stop abruptly. They didn’t seem to shock her at all, rather, she almost looked like she’d been expecting it. “I only ask because Delta…”

“Look, Captain, don’t take this the wrong way.” She forced out a laugh as she focused back on the work on my leg. “But I’m here now, so it doesn’t matter if I want to go back or not.” Another soft click came from the inside of the leg, and a small smirk tugged at the end of her muzzle. “I have a purpose here, you helped me to find it. Plus, I know you need all the help you can get.” Twisting the leg again in her magic, she straightened it out and levitated it to me. With another click, it hooked up with my stump and I could feel it once more. “Why don’t you let me worry about dealing with feeling homesick, while you focus on not losing any more limbs. Alright?”

She smiled as her eyes watched me give my leg a few twists and pivots. There wasn’t any offence meant with her words, and there wasn’t any anger or agitation in them. If anything, the only thing I felt had been abrasive about her response was the fact that she was being brutally honest with me.

It brought a smile to my muzzle. I thought about how this must be what Delilah felt like every time I tried to get her to see the honest truth of something. And now that the shoe was on the other hoof, I could appreciate that feeling.

“Thank you, Tofu.” I nodded to her and set my hoof down and relaxed a bit as I felt it help to steady me. “But, whatever decision you make, know that I’ll support you on it, one hundred percent.”

Tofu opened her muzzle to reply, but paused as a burst of static came through the ship’s announcement system.

“Speaking of one hundred percent, Captain,” Eliza’s cheery voice beat back the static with what sounded like pure optimism. “We have one hundred percent arrived outside of Hopeville, and it looks like there are no signs of an ambush in the waiting!”

“That’s great, and thank you for the update, Eliza.” I replied as Tofu’s horn flashed up and started to gather her tools up. She began stuffing them into an old toolbox while she walked over to the Remora’s hatch and told the system to open it up. “Woah, Tofu, going somewhere?”

“Uh, yeah?” She scoffed and scrunched up her muzzle as she lowered her toolbox down into the Remora’s cabin. “We’ve got a tower to modify, don’t we?”

“We sure do, Tofu!” Eliza’s cheerful voice pumped through the speakers again. “And technically Captain, only Buck needs to go with her to make the modifications. I had assumed you wanted to head over to Maple Creek to try to catch Prince Solomon off guard.”

“Well, I do, but… that’s not the point, Eliza! We don’t know what’s at the tower yet.” Reaching out, I stopped her just short of hopping down into the Remora’s cabin. “By his own admission, it’d been a while since Caution Tape had been there, so we don’t know who or what might be in that station. Maybe you should let Buck, Hispano, and I check it out first.”

“With all due respect, the Doc is all I need to protect me from anything in there.” She rolled her eyes at me and smirked, “Besides, it’s literally not that big of a building, so I doubt there’s anything big enough to challenge the Doc. And even if there was, then Cora will fly his ass down to help. Don’t worry about us, you and Hispano do your thing and go kick some Saddle Arabian flank for us.”

While that was more than likely true, I still didn’t feel like this was a risk we should take.

“We’ll be fine, Night.” Buck’s voice filtered through my mind with a serene calmness that helped to wash back some of the fears I had. “Besides, with Tofu helping, the modifications shouldn’t take more than a half hour. By the time you, Hispano, and Happy get to Maple Creek, we’ll already be done, and I’ll join you as soon as I can.”

Okay, maybe I was being a bit too cautious here. If Buck was adamant, and I trusted Buck’s judgement, then he’d be fine. Everything would be fine.

I pulled my hoof back from Tofu.

“Just, be careful. Both of you.” I spoke and thought out at the same time.

“We will be!” She giggled and again rolled her eyes at me. “Just don’t blow up the Remora when you go after the Prince. Otherwise I’m going to make you carry me back here, alright?” Tofu let out an excited squeak as her smile brightened and she hopped down into the Remora. “Come on, Doc! We don’t have all day!”

As soon as she’d said that, the infirmary door opened up and Buck stepped out. Along with his cloak and normal medical kit, he wore a calm expression that I couldn’t help but try to mirror as he walked over to me. Leaning down, he planted a soft kiss on my forehead before he climbed in and disappeared into the Remora’s cabin. As soon as he was in, the weapon’s bay hatch closed, and the magnetic seal holding the small skycraft to the Arcturus, detached.

“I know you might see Solomon out there, but just try to stay out of trouble until I rejoin you, Night.” Buck’s voice came through my augment again. “But if you have a clean shot, then don’t wait for me, and don’t hesitate. The sooner we end this, the safer everypony we know will be.”

“Don’t worry, I will.” I nodded even though he couldn’t see it. “Solomon isn’t going to know what hit him.”

“It’s not often I get to use this, you know?” Hispano grunted as she worked to secure Suiza’s barrel extension to her. It was odd, because I’d seen Suiza so much over this trip, it made me do a double take to see what was almost an entirely different profile held in her talons. “It almost feels right that after sniping at us more than a few times, I get to return the favor for once. And I know Suiza’s eager to blow that bastard to bits with a few H.E. rounds.”

“Then we got somethin’ in common!” Happy groaned as he carefully lowered himself into the Remora. It was still a sight to see him all geared up and ready to go to a fight. Underneath it all, the armored jacket, the tough-guy act, I knew he was still the same Ukulele loving, floral shirt wearing Mule I’d met months ago. “Alright, so what are we waiting for then?” He smiled as he got his hooves under him again.

The hydraulics for the hatch whirred to life, sealing us in. The magnetic seal broke once more, and the Remora’s engines took over as the flight readout in my vision showed that we’d gotten underway. And even though I’d gone through this dozens of times before today, my heart raced almost as fast as we did through the sky.

“Relax, Night.” Happy’s hoof came down hard across my back, offering a few rough pats. “Look, he doesn’t expect us to be coming after him! We’re going to have the drop on him this time, and we’re going to take that son of a bitch down once and for all!”

Blinking up at him, I could see that he certainly had the confidence. And now that I noticed it, he wasn’t afraid of flying anymore. Maybe he wasn’t exactly the mule I’d met, but he was a better version of himself all the same. And because of that, I knew he was right to have that confidence.

“Eh.” Hispano shrugged as she set down her tools and hefted the double-length of Suiza up in her talons. “I doubt it’ll be that easy.”

“Pft, come on!” Happy gave a dismissive wave with his wooden hoof. “All Night and I need to do is keep him looking at us long enough that you can put that cannon of yours to work. Besides, don’t fucking jinx us.”

I wish he hadn’t said that…

“I’m just saying,” Hispano grumbled as she set her sister down next to her. “Solomon is as paranoid and insecure as any terrible ruler. He’s not going to leave himself exposed for even a moment if he can help it.” Rummaging through her bag, she pulled out the short, straight magazine she’d used a few times before. She double checked the rounds loaded into it before setting it aside as well. “Which is why I’m expecting things to go to shit fairly quickly, like they always do.” With a smirk, she dragged out the drum magazine and set it next to the short straight one.

“Actually,” Oddly, that did bring an entirely different problem to light. “I know we’re all eager to find Solomon, but what if he’s not there?”

“You really think he’ll already be gone?” Happy snorted and sat down hard.

“Then we find out which way he went and go after him.” Hispano cooed as she started to cram Suiza’s tools back into her bag. She paused as she held the last tool in her talon, letting her eyes wander between it and the bag. “You know, I’d be more worried about us getting there and having Solomon take a hostage...”

“Fuck.” Now it was my turn to groan. Of course that was another thing that had slipped my mind.

“It ain’t a problem.” Happy smirked and prodded at Hispano sharply. “You can make that shot, right?” The flat, annoyed look that pulled across Hispano’s face didn’t do much to keep Happy’s muzzle smiling.

“Did you miss the explosive part of my high explosive ammo?” She used the tool in her talon to shove Happy’s hoof away before she tossed it in the bag and sealed it up.

“If he takes a hostage, it’s over.” I didn’t want to admit it, but I just wasn’t willing to shoot through somepony to get to Solomon. Even if their death could save countless others, I couldn’t make that call when we could take Solomon on again down the road.

“Then why don’t we just take our own hostage?” Happy scritched at his chin as he glanced over at me. “Why don’t we go after Rook? Force Solomon to listen to our demands.”

“You think he’s going to care?” Hispano squawked out a short laugh. “Please, he killed Galina himself. How much is he going to care if we kill his butler?”

As much as I agreed with Hispano, Happy did have a point.

“No, I think Happy’s on to something.” My words looked like they’d slapped Hispano’s smile straight off her beak.

“What?” Both Happy and her snapped back at me.

“If we can remove Rook from the equation, then Solomon can’t get away. Better yet, he’ll only have one point of leverage that if we kill, he no longer has.” I shrugged at them. “The problem lies with actually taking out Rook.”

“I fucking hate unicorns.” Hispano groaned. “Okay, then our best bet is to catch them off guard.” Hefting up her sister, she pulled her up and looked down her sights. “I blast Rook back to Saddle Arabia, while you and Happy go confront Solomon. If he’s in the open, I’ll blast him. If not, you two will deal with him.”

“And if he takes a Hostage?” Happy crossed his hooves and looked over to me.

“As soon as he realizes Rook won’t be coming to save him?” I couldn’t help but smirk. “I’m sure he’ll let them go if he thinks doing so will spare his own life.”

“Then once he’s alone, we cut him down, once and for all.” Happy raised his hoof and rested it on the hilt of his silver sword. “And we can finally go get the Ark, save my home, and make Ma’ proud. Sounds like a plan if I’ve ever heard one!”

“Hah.” Hispano rolled her eyes before grabbing the small magazine and dropping it into place on her sister. “You know, for a plan thought up at damn near last minute? This one doesn’t sound as crazy as our usual ‘just-wing-it’ style of getting shit done.”

I couldn’t help but smile at that.

“Hey, at least this time we have a plan.”

Pretty much the moment the three of us had stepped out of the Remora, it’s engines spooled up again and the small skycraft took flight again. Both Happy and I shielded our eyes from the dirt and dust whipped up from the engines, turning and watching as the Remora disappeared over the treetops back towards Hopeville and the Arcturus.

The cracked and somewhat overgrown forest valley road we’d been dropped off on had seen better days. Small tufts of grass, and amazingly, small yellow flowers sprouted up between the cracks. The warm breeze that followed the road through this place reflexively made me take a deep breath, and I was struck with a realization. It was quite warm here.

“Yes, finally. Still not as nice as home, but it’s better than the rest of the frozen north.” Happy chuckled to himself as he made sure the hellhound arm sewn to his leather jacket was sitting correctly over his wooden leg. “I never wanna’ be freezing my balls off for months on end again.”

“Well, fall is fast approaching,” Hispano cooed as she gave her wings a few hard flaps and took to the air. “So why don’t we get this shit done before it starts to snow again?” As she hovered slowly higher and higher above the road, she gave me a nod towards a small selection of clouds near the valley ridgeline across the river.. “I’ll steal myself a spot up there and radio when I’m ready.”

“Sounds good.” I nodded to her before taking a second to look myself over. My flight harness was secure over my brand new battle dress. Six grenades clung around the sides of my boxy submachine gun, and with a thought, I popped forward the barrel to my laser eye, finding it charged and ready to be used. “I think I’m ready.” I nodded to Happy, “You ready?”

“Yeah, let’s kill this asshole.” He nodded to me and pushed himself into a trot up the road.

I turned and followed him, taking a moment to look around. As I let my eyes wander over the waves of green trees that hugged the valley walls here, I noticed something I hadn’t really expected. The more I looked, the more the world changed from the collection of grays, browns, and dark greens that made up everywhere in the north I’d been.

Scattered in the clearings and breaks in the trees, all over the place, were dashes of bright colors. Collections of stark whites, pinks, and lush purples sat scattered among the myriad of different greens. Like with the small flowers along the roads, some yellows filtered in as well, blending with some of the greens in the meadows.

“You alright, Night?” Happy’s voice jarred me from my wonder as he stood in front of me and made me realize that I’d gotten so swept up in things that I’d actually stopped walking. “You see something out there?”

“No, it’s just…” I didn’t quite know how to put what I was looking at into words. That being said, my muzzle didn’t feel the need to wait for me to find the words. “All the colors here…”

“Yeah, this place is pretty, we know.” Hispano’s voice crackled over the radio, “But we’ve got a job to do, Night. You can look at everything later.” Of course, she was right. This place was going to be around later, Solomon wouldn’t be.

Getting my head back on straight, Happy and I pressed onward. As we grew closer to the town, the road bent and followed alongside a winding river. Periodic silver splashes in it drew both Happy and I’s gazes, and we watched as large fish fed on the scattered bugs flying over the river’s surface.

As we trotted around a bend in the river however, the forest following the road started to thin, and the valley started to open up. Ahead of us, sat the small town of Maple Creek. It was… smaller than I’d expected for something built during the war. It wasn’t a collection of more than a dozen or so buildings, and the road we were on ran right through the river-side of town. A single dock stretched out over the river at the edge of town, and an old boat sat docked in the calm river waters.

Alarmingly however, was the fact that even though we could see the whole town from here, I couldn’t see Solomon’s motorhome. That, or the stupid tracked car Rook normally drove him around in. The worrying sight sent a twisted feeling of panic into my gut that made me winge.

“I’ve got eyes on the prize.” Hispano’s soft coo over the radio filtered through my mind like a calming wave. “Solomon and Rook are at the local gun shop near the center of town, while their shit’s parked in a clearing on the far side from you two.” She let out a grumble that swept away a bit of that calm again. “Xeno and his goons seem to have the vehicles on lockdown.” What? I thought they were supposed to be up in Saddlebrook! “Fuck. We’re definitely only getting one shot at this.”

“Weren’t those guys supposed to be somewhere else?” Happy asked as he and I picked up the pace into a swift canter.

“Nopony said they all had to be somewhere else.” Hispano grumbled back at him. “Who knows how much of Pentex was away on jobs when we blew their headquarters to hell. That, or Okona lied about going to Saddlebrook in the first place.”

“Whatever, he’s here right now, so let’s just focus on killing Solomon, alright?” I wanted to wait for Buck to get here, but having Xeno around changes things. The second the shooting started, we needed to get out of here before we turned Maple Creek into an active warzone.

Then again, I’m betting on the fact that whatever passes as the law around here won’t get involved, or wasn’t already paid off…

“Seems like a risky situation to me.” Jynx smiled as she effortlessly appeared at a canter beside me.

It wouldn’t be risky so long as you fix the odds like you’re supposed to.

“Oh, heavens no. Me?” She let out a mock gasp of shock before smiling again. “I told you before, Night. Things can’t always go your way.”

“I told you, we get to win this one.” I spat in her face with heaving mid-canter breaths. “Got that?” She didn’t seem the least bit caring about the heavy glare I shot at her, instead, she dropped to a slower trot and faded away as Happy and I pushed into a gallop.

“Uh, Night?” Hispano’s voice crackled through my head. “Who are you talking to?”

“Just… reassuring myself.” I pushed out as Happy and I reached a galloping pace that beat out what I’d previously thought was my fastest.

The warmer air I greedily sucked into my body did wonders to help me feel like I could run forever. But my thundering heart reminded me that maybe I should reign it in before it exploded in my chest. As my legs worked on their own to slow my pace slightly, I glanced over at Happy to see how he was fairing. He was pulling ahead of me without even seeming to have broken a sweat! How the fuck can he run like that, when for most of this trip, he did nothing but sit around and drink all day!?

Despite my body’s protests, we made good time to the edge of town. I thanked Celestia as Happy chose to slow his pace in favor of keeping his eyes and ears on a constant swivel. In what seemed like a stroke of good luck, there wasn’t a single pony wandering about town.

Pushing ahead, Happy and I pressed ourselves against the old wood siding of the building next to the ammo shop. There were two different voices coming from inside, but they were too muffled for me to make out if either of them were Solomon or Rook. Sighing, I turned my gaze to the skies in a bid to see if I could spot Hispano’s cloud concealment.

“Hey, Night?” Happy whispered to me as he leaned out from our cover much farther than I was comfortable with. “We’ve got a problem.” Of course we did.

Leaning out, I struggled to stay hidden from behind him, but got a look at the gun store and immediately recognized what he was talking about. From the crates of dynamite on display outside the door, to the casks next to it labeled as ‘blasting powder’, Sulfur’s Stockpile as the hoof painted sign named the business, was an explosive lover’s dream store.

However, as somepony who doesn’t exactly enjoy collateral damage, this was definitely going to be a problem.

“You said it was a gun store, Hispano!” I snapped at her as I pulled Happy back behind the building with me. “There’s enough explosives here to level the town if any of it goes off!”

“Hey, they sell guns and ammo!” She fired back at me. “You know what I call that? A gun store!”

“Well we can’t just waltz up and shoot them now.” All it would take is one moment for Rook to find a way to blow everything up, and as we explode, he’ll teleport Solomon and himself to safety. Fuck! I knew things had been going too well for us to actually have a leg up on Solomon.

“Alright, Night, what’s the call then?” Happy’s hoof came down on my side hard, and I found his eyes glued around the corner. “Do we wait for them to come out?” I opened my muzzle to answer, but he shifted his hoof to my muzzle to stop me. “And before you suggest it, we didn’t fucking fly out all this way to do nothing.”

“I’m with our inept mule friend here, Night.” Hispano’s voice filtered through my head with a note of cheerfulness to it. “You know, maybe if we can’t do what we came here for, maybe we take our frustrations out on something else of his.”

I blinked a few times as I tried to figure out what the hell she was talking about.

“You want to hit his bus?” I wasn’t sure how great of an idea that was, but as far as consolation prizes go, that’s not a half bad idea! “Okay then, change of plans. If we can’t kill Solomon now, we’ll make his progress as slow as possible.” Looking up at Happy, I wanted him to agree, but instead his eyes were still locked around the corner at the ‘gun store’. “Happy, you good with that?”

“Fucking hell no I’m not.” He sighed and shook his head. “But, we don’t have much of a choice.”

“Glad to see you onboard.” I gave him a pat before turning and headed along the side of the building.

The two of us made short work of winding between the buildings in town until we’d reached the far side. Stacking up like we had before, we both peeked around the edge of somepony’s home to get our eyes on what we came for. Solomon’s motorhome was parked in a small clearing off the dirt road that ran along the edge of town. His fancy tracked car was parked farther back, and was flanked by two flat black painted, eight wheeled armored cars with odd looking, squat turrets.

The cannon each of them held was long, but didn’t seem to be a high enough caliber to worry about it ever being used as an anti-air platform. Other than the weirdly designed, almost conical shaped turrets on them, the four center wheels of each of them looked like they were made of metal rather than rubber like normal. As I could have somewhat expected, the only logo or writing on them was the stark white letters on their turret that spelled out PENTEX.

“From what I can gather, there’s two mercs on the bus, and two in each of their scout cars.” Hispano radioed in with more than a hint of anticipation in her voice.

“Those are scout cars?” I retorted without thinking, and without whispering.

“You crazy!?” Happy snapped as he used his freakish donkey strength to rip me back around the corner. “Keep it down…”

Happy and I froze up as the mechanical click of a gun’s hammer was drawn back behind us. The both of us turned slowly, and found the barrel of a large, old revolver pointed straight at us. The zig-zagging stripes of the hoof that held it however, well, I didn’t need to see the rest of the zebra they belonged to in order to know who’d caught us.

“I thought I should have heard from Saddlebrook by now.” Xeno’s smugness exuded every ounce of confidence he’d held back in Biscuit. “You must have been onto Okona from the start then...”

“Hey there, Xeno. Ol’ buddy. Pal.” I smiled as I met a mirrored, beaming grin on the sizable zebra’s face. “You wouldn’t mind if we had a few words with your employer, would you?”

“That’s it?” He chuckled and cocked an eyebrow at me. “No apology for nearly killing me?” He froze up when his eyes wandered down to my dress. “Wait, are you using my fucking IS-90?”

“Do you... want an apology for that too?” I almost couldn’t believe what he was saying. “You tried to kill us down in that basement! I’m not apologizing for shit!” I mean, he had us at gunpoint, so admittedly he got to choose the topic of conversation, but still!

“You didn’t get paid to try to kill me down there, so yes, I’d like a damned apology.” He growled and shifted his gun over to Happy. “That, and I’d like one for blowing up my home. You know, ever since my father...”

Oh, good, here we go with the whole ‘justification monolog’. Seeing as I don’t care a bit about anything he says, I can take some time to sort out a question that’s now running around my mind. Thinking at Hispano, I let out a mental sigh. Why the hell didn’t you warn us about this asshole?

“Don’t blame me because you’re both deaf, Dum Dum. I had my eye on Solomon’s camp because unlike you slackers, I do my job!” She squawked back into my mind. “Besides, he’s a sneaky striped motherfucker! You didn’t see me blaming you or Buck when the last one showed up unexpectedly.”

Okay then, I don’t blame you. But could you maybe, I don’t know, shoot him for us then? Might help us out just a bit…

“I don't have a shot that wouldn't clip either you or Happy.” She used a growling tone that made me think she was still considering it despite that. “And with your piss poor attitude, normally, I’d still consider doing it!” Bingo. “But Buck's not here to patch you up, and ten seconds after I fire, you're going to have all sorts of merc problems. So quit wasting time and, I don’t know, guilt him into shooting himself or something.”

“But that just happens to be how I feel about it.” Xeno cocked his head with a bigger grin across it than before. “What do you think?”

I blinked a few times.

“What?”

It just reflexively slipped out of my muzzle. Of course, it practically made steam blow out of his ears as he tensed up. Right, insulting him any more would only make him shoot me in the face, which is really not how I wanted to end today. Then again, what was I supposed to say that would at least stall him?

“I think…” I started as I glanced over at Happy, trying to get any help from him I could. But of course, he was even more broody with this turn of events, on top of the fact we couldn’t kill Solomon yet… which Xeno doesn’t know about! “We’ve been just enough of a distraction that my griffon friend is sitting with her sights on your charge, who you let walk into a literal powder keg without any sort of backup.” That wiped the smile straight of Xeno’s muzzle.. “So unless you want her to send the Prince back to his kingdom in tiny bits, I suggest you throw your gun down.”

“Fucking hell, Night.” Xeno chuckled as he lowered his revolver. “That’s either one hell of a bluff, or I have severely underestimated your competence.” With a shrug, he tossed his gun into the dirt next to him and put his hoof back down. “Fine, we’ll do it your way this time.”

“I choose to take that as a compliment.” I spat at him as I lined up my subgun with him. While some part of me felt bad that I was going to kill a disarmed stallion, I figured that the rest of me would sleep better knowing Xeno wouldn’t be a problem for anypony else. I took a deep breath...

He came at me like a rocket. I didn’t expect it, and I froze up just long enough that by the time I could think to fire, I was already rolling in the dirt. His lumbering form pinned me down by the neck with a single hoof, and I felt his teeth biting into my side and saddle. Wheezing gasps were all I could muster as I flailed my legs at him, eventually kicking him off with a soft and recognizable ping as he slid one of the pins from a grenade on my harness.

Release.

I gasped for air as Xeno turned to flee around the house towards Solomon’s camp. Happy’s eyes looked to him before turning to me, then falling to the grenade that dropped from my harness. He moved quickly, swiftly using his wooden hoof to punt the grenade up and around the corner after Xeno. His momentum carried him forward, and he collapsed over me with a whimper.

My hearing disappeared with the sharp crack of the grenade. Hot shards of metal and splintered wood showered the area around us. My augment fuzzed as a few warnings popped up on my left side, but I could thank Celestia that it didn’t show anything as critical.

Happy moved above me, pulling himself off of me. Part of his armored leather jacket was peppered with bits of wood and metal, and he had a few thin lines of blood trailing down from his head and neck. But as he stood up, he didn’t look all that worse for wear. In fact, he used his freakish strength to help get me back to my hooves. We both tried to shake the blast off, but as we did, I noticed something laying in the dirt just around the corner.

The back half of Xeno’s shredded leg sat amid a growing puddle of crimson. Happy and I both followed the puddle to its source, finding Xeno’s pulped and lifeless form doubled over itself. Well, at least that was one asshole we didn’t have to deal with again.

“Holy shit, you alright, Dum Dum?” Hispano’s voice came through my head amidst the deep ringing that resonated through my mind.

“Yeah, I think.” I tried to say, though I couldn’t be sure how I sounded seeing as unlike her earlier jest, I was pretty much deaf now. “Pretty sure Xeno’s dead at least.”

“Fan-fucking-tastic! Still, you might want to move!” Hispano squawked before a soft thump filled the air. The treeline near us exploded, showering us with dirt and rocks. “I don’t think Pentex is going to care about collateral damage!”

I waved for Happy to follow and got a nod as I turned back toward the main road. My flank refused to move right with all the shrapnel in it, and Happy was likewise left moving just as slow from his bleeding leg, side, and neck. We’d made it about halfway when a few Pentex mercs got line of sight on us from behind.

“Duck left, Night!” Hispano called out as a pair of flashes came from the clouds above town.

I grabbed Happy by the side and pulled as hard as I could. Dirt and bits of wood from the nearby buildings sprayed up as Pentex opened up on us. Happy cried out as his back left hoof splayed open, and he collapsed down onto the ground. Screaming, he pulled himself into the small alley we’d ducked into before cradling his bloody shattered rear hoof.

“Hispano, Happy’s been hit!” I shouted at her.

“Roger that!” She answered before letting out another grunt. There was another soft thump, and the building across from us was sprayed with gore as she blasted one of the mercs coming after us. “Oh, shit!” There was a heavier thump from behind us, and a whimper came through my headset. “They know I’m here! Sorry, Night, I need to move!”

“Do what you need to, just stay alive!” This isn’t the first time you didn’t have any backup, Night. No need to panic! You just need to focus down and shoot your way past another six or seven of Pentex’s best, that’s all!

“Night!” Hispano cried out. “Solomon’s on the move, but I can’t get a shot!”

“Where!?” I swiveled around turning towards the other end of the alleyway. A set of stripes dashed around the corner at us, and the boxy shotgun strapped to their side barked once. The wooden siding next to me splintered from the blast, and I forced myself to step sideways.

Fire.

The subgun I had wasn’t all that accurate while I was moving, and a whole slew of holes opened up around the alley. More of my twelve shots found themselves striking siding or dirt than anything, but a few blasted through the face and neck of the oncoming merc. They tumbled down into the dirt and lay there as I readied myself, waiting for the next one to come around the corner.

A soft flash caught the corner of my eye from behind, and I spun around in time to be staring right into Rook’s eyes. His cybernetic hoof was only a blur before it clocked me right across the muzzle, sending me stumbling backwards. I caught myself before I was sent down to the dirt, and reflexively let out a yell as I locked my eye on him again.

Fire!

Again, my subgun chattered away, but it was too late. He was gone with a flash again, and another twelve rounds tore a small hole in the wooden siding of the house at the end of the alley. As soon as my gun stopped firing, I was left with one round as he teleported back. Before I could even think of the command to fire, he raised his metal hoof to strike again.

This time, I raised my own metal hoof and hammered his leg out of the way. Using that momentum I followed through and spun around. Planting my forehooves in the dirt, I reared back and kicked with all my force. Delightfully, I felt a soft crunch as my hooves connected with his smug face and sent him tumbling back into the dirt.

Scrambling, I turned to face him again. A mass of black leather and angry mule lunged towards him. A flash of silver was all either of us saw as Happy brought his sword down. Rook was quick to act, and allowed the sword to push through his shiny brass leg. He used that to shift it so rather than getting stabbed, Happy only ended up pinning the mustached asshole’s leg to the ground. With Rook pinned down, Happy hoofed at the holster for Laika’s gun.

It hadn’t been until that moment that I’d noticed Solomon was standing there just around the corner. His eyes were wide with fear, and locked on Rook’s helpless form. So much of me wanted to use the one, last round in my gun on his horrified face. What was it he said to me on that highway? Just one round and I wouldn’t ever have to worry about him again?

But Solomon had taken everything from me, from us. I intended to repay the favor. So as much as he deserved this bullet, I had a much better use for it. I steadied myself, being sure to take careful aim as Solomon looked over to me. I waited for that look of terrified realization of what was about to happen. That same moment he let me have as he took everyone from us.

Fire.

A mass of white moved almost as freakishly fast as Happy could.

My gun recoiled as I fired my last round straight at Rook’s pain filled face. Before either of us could realize it, Solomon stood with a bloody hole in his side as he slammed into Happy and sent the mule sprawling. I could only blink as Solomon let out a pain filled cry before Rook’s teleportation magic flashed them both away altogether.

We… missed our shot.

I just stood there, staring. We were so close. He was right there!

“That’s it, you did it! They’re pulling out, Night!” Hispano shouted over her coms. “Did you actually kill him!?”

There was so much hope in her words, far more than I’d heard in what felt like ages. In fact, I don’t think I’d heard her this excited since back when we met on the Inuvik. Which was going to make my answer hurt all the worse to say.

“No.” I sat down hard in the dirt as I stared at the patch where Solomon and Rook had just been. Happy’s sword still sat upright, plunged into the dirt, but… that was it. We’d done our best, but we missed our shot. “No, Solomon and Rook are still alive.”

Looking over to Happy as he picked himself up, I watched as he let out a roar of anger that I could almost feel through the ground. I’m sure for anypony in town who still had their hearing, that must have been something terribly frightening to hear. But if they only knew the shit we’d gone through just to even get this chance, they’d certainly understand.

“Don’t worry.” A familiar voice filtered through my mind with a burst of static. “You will get him next time.” Ping’s voice would have been a welcomed surprise, had it been any other time than now. “And on the plus side, you did manage to kill the CEO of Pentex. For that, at least I am thankful.” Still, I had to admit it was nice to hear Ping’s special brand of optimism again.

“You’re right.” All I could do was nod and be thankful that despite failing, we were at least all able to come back from this alive. “Hispano, I need you to help me with Happy’s injuries while we wait for the Remora to return. Then we’ll need to talk about what exactly our next move will be.”

Author's Note

As always, a huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan, who during this whole pandemic has still found the time to lend a friendly hoof and look over my work!

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat for letting us all use the Fo:E setting for ourselves!

Chapter 102 - Nobody Home

Negotiating from a position of strength doesn’t mean you shouldn’t also negotiate from a position near the exits.

Why?

That one word kept running around in my mind. The whole way back to the Arcturus, the whole way through Buck patching us up and removing a damn near quarter pound of wood and metal from Happy and I. Even the bitter taste of what must have been my hundredth consumed health tonic didn’t stop the irritatingly persistent thought. I simply couldn’t get past replaying those last moments in my mind again and again and again.

Why did Solomon step out like that? Sure, he’s a smug asshole who thinks he’s better than everypony, but there’s no way he could think he’s faster than a bullet. He’s not a fighter eager to prove anything to anyone. And the last thing he’d be is selfless enough to take a bullet for his own slave.

So why did he do it?

“Are you okay, Night?” Buck’s tone weighed heavily enough on my mind that it finally seemed to knock the repetitive thought down to somewhere in the depths. Looking up at him, I met his concerned blue eyes, and couldn’t help but offer him a soft smile for his efforts. “You’ve been quiet since you returned.”

“Just… trying to figure out what the fuck happened back there.” I offered, knowing that it wasn’t really the answer Buck was looking for.

“Yeah, me too.” Happy groaned as he pushed to sit himself upright on the infirmary bed. He favored his mostly healed forehoof, and tried not to shift himself too much on his black and blue bruised side. “I never thought Solomon would do somethin’ like that.”

“You said he attacked you.” Buck frowned as he stepped back and rested on his haunches. “What exactly about that is unusual?”

“No, he didn’t attack us.” I twisted my muzzle up as I once again ran through the events in my head. “I was about to shoot Rook in his smug face and Solomon just… threw himself in the way.”

“Once I’d pinned Rook, I expected that Arabian bastard to hoof it the other way.” Happy let out a low growl that swiftly turned into a soft whimper. He winced as he brought his wooden hoof back to lightly hold his side. “I can’t believe they got away.”

“Maybe he didn’t mean to do it?” Hispano broke her own stark silence as she pushed herself up from her place in the corner. “You know, maybe something in him just snapped.” She shrugged as Happy and I shot her a pair of confused looks. “So it didn’t quite go as planned, who cares! Can’t we just call it a win?”

I wanted to say he’d snapped. And while that certainly was the best theory I’d heard yet, deep down in my gut I felt like that wasn’t it. Honestly, if I didn’t know better, it felt like I was missing something important. You know... maybe there was somepony I could ask.

“I know that I’m oh so special to you, Night.” Jynx fuzzed up in front of me with a smile. Without an ounce of hesitation, she leaned back and pressed herself up against Buck. “And of course, I’m humbled that you feel we’re close enough you can ask me about anything on your mind…” She wasn’t really touching him, but I had to fight my own reflex to reach out and drag her away. “But while I may be able to pull some strings here and there, I can’t tell you what he was thinking. I’m stuck in your head after all, not anyone else's.”

Well, it was worth a shot.

“So, what now then?” Happy let out another whine as he maneuvered himself to lie back down on the old infirmary bedding. “Do we even know where he’s going?”

“I’m afraid not.” Ping’s voice abruptly came from the PA system. “We were unable to track his convoy as it departed Maple Creek, and there are many routes he could have chosen to take. But, perhaps the residents there were given a clue during their brief encounter with the Prince.”

“That’s not a bad idea.” Buck held a bit of hope in his words as he gazed over to take stock of the infirmary’s supplies. “Plus, if any of the town's ponies were hurt in the firefight, I’d think we’d have an obligation to help them.”

“But we didn’t technically startthat fight.” Hispano grumbled and shot a sideways glance at Buck. Funny thing was, she wasn’t expecting the glare that he threw back at her.

“No, but that had been the plan, correct?” The cheeky grin Buck paired with his glare held more smugness than he normally used on me, and that pulled a light chuckle out of my muzzle. “So then, it’s settled? We’re going back?”

“Ugh, but we just got back from there!”

“You don’t have to go, Hispano.” I offered as I looked over at Happy. “You good to head back and ask some questions?”

“You kidding?” Happy groaned and carefully shifted himself toward the edge of the bed. With a light whimper, he lowered himself back to the floor again. “I… ain’t going to let... Solomon get away that… easily.” He bit his lip to try to hide the fact that he was still definitely in no shape to go. “Just… give me… a moment and I’ll… be good to go!” It was painful to watch as he stifled a small scream as he put his weight on his bandaged forehoof. But like always, stubbornly, he pushed himself to try to appear tough.

“You know what? Sure, I’ll go.” Hispano nodded and shook her head with a laugh. “If anything, I want to see how far Mr. Tough guy makes it before passing out.”

Despite Happy’s slow pace out of the Remora, it hadn’t taken the four of us long to walk back to town from where we were dropped off.

Unlike before, a dozen or so ponies were moving about town now. More than a few of them worked on the walls of the buildings where we’d been fighting, while others brought over what looked like more building materials. My best guess was that they were trying to clean up the mess we’d made. A guess that was all but confirmed by the many annoyed looks we pulled as we entered the small settlement.

“I’m gettin’ the feeling we aren’t welcome here.” Happy did his best to whisper as he hobbled himself closer to Buck and I.

“Well we did shoot up their town a bit.” Hispano offered without even trying to hide it as she lazily hovered above us.

“Hey, it was Pentex doing most of the shooting.” Happy did his best to shake his bandaged hoof at Hispano. “You and Night barely did anything.” Yeah, thanks for that, Happy...

“Regardless,” I sighed and tried my best to ignore the piercing stares from the ponies who’d now stopped working just to watch us. “Let’s just find out where Solomon went so we don’t make things any more difficult for the ponies who live here.”

We made our way towards the small explosives shop where Solomon had been. As expected, it had fared better during the fighting than most other buildings. However, the pristine window it once held had cracked, probably from when Pentex had opened up with their cannons. Through it, the four of us could see a mare in a worn equestrian army jumpsuit doing her best to patch the edges of the crack with some duct tape.

She paused working on her window as she noticed us walking up. Like the other ponies, she leveled a glare at us as she stepped back from the window and headed for the door. She was about to shut it on us, but then she looked at me. A wide, beaming smile stretched across her muzzle that made me feel more than a little uneasy.

“That sure is… a peculiar grenadier saddle you have there, miss.” I’d heard that sort of cadence in somepony's speech before, many times in fact. That was what it sounded like when I couldn’t stop the words in my head from coming right out of my muzzle. “Mind if I take a look at it? I assume it was a custom job?” Of course, she didn’t even wait for me to respond before she’d trotted right up to my side and stuck her hoof along the straps.

“Hey, watch it, lady!” Hispano fluttered down next to me and used her talon to yank the mare’s hoof away. “What are you trying to do, blow us all up?”

“Excuse me?” The mare snorted, whipping her tail with an audible crack as she tore her hoof out of Hispano’s grasp. “I handle explosives all day for a living. Believe me when I say you are more liable to blow us up than I ever will be.” The glare she shot at her didn’t phase her in the slightest, but Hispano didn’t stop her again when she brought her hooves back up to my saddle. “Hmmm, this must have been one hell of an expensive job… and I assume the release mechanism is triggered remotely by your implants, right?”

“Yes, it is.” I nodded to her, widening her smile. Geeze, she really was forward about this sort of thing, wasn’t she? I suppose you’d kind of have to be that way though, working in a shop that could kill you the moment you had a single faulty wire around… “I’m glad you find it interesting, but we came here to ask about your last customer.”

That wiped the smile from her muzzle, and she tugged her hooves back from my harness roughly.

“Sorry, can’t help you.” She tipped her muzzle up with a huff and spun herself around on her hooves. “Unless you wanna buy something, you’ll have to take your business elsewhere.” Without any hesitation, she walked inside her store and slammed her door shut with a kick.

“Well, I should have seen that coming.” Hispano grumbled as she dragged her talons down her face. “Why do ponies always need to be so dramatic. It’s infuriating.”

“It’s an art.” Happy’s smug retort earned him a flat look from the griff.

“Well,” Buck spoke up, perking my ears. “She does seem friendly enough despite what happened in town earlier.” I glanced up at him and found his warm, thoughtful gaze staring off through the cracked glass window of the shop. “Perhaps she’d be willing to trade for information on Solomon?” And that, Buck, is one of the many reasons I love you.

“Technically she did say we’d have to buy it.” I nodded to Buck, brightening his smile.

“Shall we negotiate then?” He held his paw toward the door. “I’m sure she’s a reasonable mare who’s just frustrated from earlier. Nothing we can’t handle.”

“Yeah, right.” Happy grunted and stopped me with his wooden hoof. “Night, I’m all for trying, but I swear if you send us on some fucking three day long errand, I’m taking the Remora and going after Solomon myself.”

“If that’s what she asks for, I’ll just say no.” I offered back to him. “I know the feeling Happy, because I want this over with as quickly as you do. So just wait here with Hispano and let us do our thing.”

Happy didn’t seem pleased with my answer, but he accepted it all the same and lowered his hoof. After this morning, I think keeping things quick will be the only way we’d get Solomon without any more collateral damage. Still, both Buck and I shared a quick, sympathetic look with each other before heading for the door.

Stepping inside, we were welcomed by a heavy sigh as the mare behind the counter let her head thump down onto it. It gave me a moment to look around and marvel at what she had displayed here. On one wall, she had racks of rockets, mortars, and a dozen different grenade types I’d never even seen in my life. On the other, true to Hispano’s word, she had racks of big guns, some of which nearly rivaled Suiza in bore size, but nowhere near as hefty. From the boxes of grenades displayed under them, I assumed they were supposed to be grenade launchers.

“Look, I thought I told you…” She began.

“We came to buy something.” I cut her off as Buck and I shut the door behind us. “Look, this guy has been a pain in our flank’s for months. We’re willing to buy the information off of you if that’s what it takes.”

The mare lifted her head up from the counter to glare at each of us before dropping her head again.

“You two aren’t going to leave until I give in, are you?”

“No, sorry.” Buck offered with his normal Snow Dog charismatic kindness. “This is quite important to us, so please, if there’s any way we can convince you to tell us…”

“Fine.” She grumbled, cutting off Buck as she dragged her head off of the counter and let it hang. Closing her eyes, she brought her head up and pointed it at the ceiling as she took a moment to collect her thoughts. “You know what, maybe there is something you can do for me.” She smirked as she seemed to relax a bit. “A friend of mine, Viton, ran off to scavenge from the old Battered Sea power station to the northwest. Now, he’s normally pretty particular about staying away too long, but he’s been gone for two weeks.”

“Battered Sea?” Buck brought a paw up to his muzzle in thought.

“Didn’t Ping want us to head out there?” I asked reflexively, cringing right after as I thought that maybe talking about Factory stuff in public wasn’t the smartest thing to do…

“Yeah, but we’ve already helped him out down here.” Buck answered with his own nervous smile sitting across his muzzle. He turned back to her and rubbed at his neck. “Yes, we have heard of the place. However, a trip of that distance would likely take a good few days on hoof. Perhaps he is simply taking his time to return from such a journey?”

“He was only supposed to see if the information he paid for about the place was good, and then he was going to head right back here.” She sighed and shook her head. “Normally, that’d mean a week away from Maple Creek, a week and a half tops. Look, trust me when I say that he’s my best friend, and that I know he should have been back by now. Go to the station, and if you don’t see him on the road on the way up there, then all I’m asking is that you check if he’s still at the station itself.”

“Alright, that’s doable.” I shrugged and looked up to Buck. Checking up on a missing pony? That sounded reasonable enough.

“Indeed. If we leave right away, we’ll be there before sundown.” Buck shrugged to me and pointed back to the door. “With any luck, if we don’t find him there, we can use the last of the daylight to skim the road on the way back.”

“Woah, woah, hold up.” The mare behind the counter forced out a laugh as she waved her forehooves at us. “What are you talking about? It’ll take you days to get out there.”

“On hoof, right.” I nodded to her, not sure of exactly why she thought we would be walking. “That’s why we’re flying there?”

“Right, this was something Delilah told us about.” Buck gave out a soft gasp that only made me more confused. “Ponies this far south don’t really use as many vehicles as in the north.” Oh, right!

“Are you saying that you folks have a sky carriage or something?” She scrunched up her muzzle and looked both Buck and I over again. “Well, in that case, if Viton is late because he’s hauling something good from there, I’ll pay you for the trouble if you haul both it and him here on your way back.”

“I doubt he’ll just hoof whatever it is over to complete strangers, Ma’am.” I smirked for a moment before I really thought about it. Actually, a group like ours coming out of the sky after looking for him? Yeah, we’ll be lucky if he doesn’t start shooting the moment he sees us…

“Well, he knows I’d send somepony looking if he ever took this long…” She twisted her muzzle as she propped her head up on her hooves. “Still, you can remind him of that silly railroad conductor’s hat he’s got.” A hat? Buck and I must have shared that thought, because we both shared the same confused glance to each other. “I gave it to him for his sixteenth birthday, and nopony else around here knows that other than me.”

“Alright, well then I guess we’ll be on our way.” I offered a final smile and nod to the mare before Buck and I turned around and headed for the door. Pausing, I realized there might be one more piece of information we might need. “Actually, one last thing. What’s he look like?”

“Bright pink coat, short white mane.” The mare leaned up against her counter as she looked over me. “I’d say he’s shorter than the average pony, but not quite as short as you are.” Hey! I keep telling everyone that I’m not that short!

I went stiff as a static filled chuckle came from Buck’s muzzle.

“What?” He shushed me before reaching down and scooping me right off of my hooves. “You are adorably short, and there’s nothing wrong with that.” Yeah well ponies didn’t have to make such a big deal about it! “Oh, and don’t worry, Ma’am.” He turned to wave at her as he pushed the door open with his tail. “We’ll make short work of finding your friend.”

Goddesses above, grant me the strength not to lose my shit right now…

The silence that filled the Remora’s cabin for the last few hours was getting to me, but I couldn’t exactly strike up a conversation. Buck had curled up and drifted off for a nap against the rear bulkhead, and both Hispano and I had propped ourselves against him on the floor. Now that Buck had allowed him to have a healing potion, Happy was content with a brooding pacing back and forth across the same three meters of cabin. He hadn’t been happy with yet another detour, but at least admitted that we could spare a few hours for it.

The time it had taken to fly out this far had given me a chance to think about things. Not the things that I wanted to, mind you. No, every time I tried to think about what happened with Solomon earlier today, my mind would skew off into something unrelated. For example, the last fifteen minutes have been nothing but remembering every single time so far that somepony’s called me short.

“Can I ask you a small favor?” Hispano hissed out in annoyance.

“Fine, I admit it!” I snapped and threw my hooves up. “I’m short for a stallion! Is that what you want from me!?”

Both Happy and Hispano froze up from my outburst, and Buck shifted softly under me.

“I was trying to ask Happy to knock off the pacing.” Hispano squinted at me and scrunched up her beak. “But now that we’ve got this whole can of worms open, I feel like it’s just the distraction I was needing!” Perking up slightly, she rolled herself further against Buck and propped her head up on her talon. “So, you’ve finally come to terms with your stature, have you?”

“Hispano…” Buck grumbled before pitching his head back with a long yawn. “We talked about you teasing Night already.”

“Hey, he’s the one who admitted it.” She rolled her eyes and crossed her talons with a huff. “Sorry, it’s just Happy’s pacing has me a little annoyed.” Just a little?

“We’ve been stuck in here for hours, and I gotta take a piss.” Happy tapped his hoof on the floor before deadpanning at me. “I already know you aren’t going to land this thing, so can you just open the door or something and let me do my thing?”

“Hmmm, let me think about that...” Hispano brought her talon up and tapped at her beak. “Given the air speed we’re traveling at right now, I’d like to see how far you’d make it before the difference in air pressure sucks you right out of the Remora.” Okay, now I definitely know it’s more than being a little annoyed.

“Are you alright, Hispano?” The words slipped out of my muzzle before I could think about it. Thank Celestia they did though, because they forced a cringe of regret from Hispano. “Because we can talk if you need to…”

“I’m fine! I mean, why wouldn’t I be?” She shrugged and reached over for Suiza. Taking her sister in her talons, she used her as an excuse not to look me in the eyes. “I’m just bored is all, you know how it is.”

“You sat in a cloud and watched our convoy for hours just fine.” Buck snorted as he pushed himself up from his curled napping position. “I’m with Night here. What’s going on, Hispano?”

“Fine.” She took a deep breath and huffed it out, letting her sister slip down to the floor again. “It was Xeno.”

‘Xeno?” I blurted out as I thought back to our encounter. Sure he’d gotten the drop on us, but we beat him this time. Unless she was thinking of the last time we’d met him…

“It was my fault.” She shook her head as she somewhat slumped forward. “I let him sneak up on you and Happy earlier.”

“You couldn’t have known…” I tried to say, but that only pulled a rage filled glare from her.

“You don’t understand!” She spat, “I couldn’t do anything to help without endangering you.” She grit her beak and slammed her talon on the floor. “There’s a reason Talon’s don’t stray that far from their bosses, and if I’d been down there with you…”

“But you aren’t a Talon.” Happy interjected in his own moment of bluntness. Of course, he froze up when Hispano turned her glare on him, but he had a point.

As much as our relationship had basically truly started with me hiring her as my bodyguard, Happy was right. She wasn’t a true Talon, not like Cora was. So it just came off as odd to me that she was treating herself like she was. Especially after her, Cora and I had that talk about her not needing to be a Talon that lead Cora to denounce…

Wait.

“Ding.” Jynx’s voice echoed up from the back of my mind. “You’re welcome.”

“You’re right, Happy, she isn’t.” I spoke as I did my best to drag myself closer to her. “But, I’m thinking you still actually want to be a Talon, despite what your dad did.”

“Is that so wrong?” Hispano squeaked as she slumped even more, folding her wings around herself. “I’d never thought I could be anything else before I’d met you, Night. You showed me that I could do anything if I tried, that I could be more to somepony than just a mercenary. But I can’t deny that even after all we’ve been through, everyday I just feel it inside me. Being a Talon is what I want.”

I won’t lie when I say that part of me hurt to hear her say that. It was selfish and unreasonable to want her to put down her own ambitions to do nothing but stay with Buck and I for the rest of her life. But given the experiences we’ve had with the mercenaries we’d met, could she blame me for trying to keep her from it?

But was it really my place to decide that for her? Would I ever even entertain a similar idea that affected me? What if Buck wanted to remove my wings to keep me from ever flying too far away from him. I couldn’t blame him for wanting something like that, even if it sounds like an extreme example. Still, the effect would be the same, it would be his want, not mine.

“Hispano,” Buck’s soft voice came with the light feeling of his paws wrapping around the two of us and pulling us closer to him. “I know you feel selfish for wanting to be a Talon, but we’ve already talked about this.” Leaning forward, he planted a kiss on the top of her flight cap with a smile. “Night and I will always support you, no matter what you choose to do.”

“But you don’t get it.” Hispano sniffled as she pulled her wings tighter around herself. “If I become a Talon, I won’t be around you two. I’ll always be off on a job, and we’ll hardly get to see one another. Then you’ll forget about me, so one day when I show up again, you’ll both have moved on and you won’t even care anymore! Then I’ll be all alone again and nopony will want me because I’ll start drinking and waste away the rest of my days until I die alone.”

I’d heard some great leaps to wild conclusions during my short time in the wasteland so far, but that was officially a new record.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Happy snorted before he walked over and gave Hispano’s head a few hard knocks with his wooden hoof. It made her puff up, and she swiped at his leg hard enough that it knocked a few flakes of bark off. “You spent weeks annoying the shit out of Night with your incessant advances.”

“Happy...” Buck grumbled, but was cut off when Happy pushed his wooden hoof against Buck’s metal jaw to keep it shut.

“Let me finish.” More than a bit of Delilah-styled anger filled his words, and it made me stiffen up. This… was going to be interesting. “You’re a goddess damned hypocrite, Hispano. You spent all that time pushing to be with Night, never taking no for an answer. And now that you finally have what you want? You realize that it’s not the happily ever after you imagined it is because it takes work to keep up. So you freak out and make up excuses to why it’ll never work out in the end. You tell yourself you might as well give up now to try to protect yourself from things in the future that you don’t even know will ever come to pass!”

“Hmmm,” Jynx popped up next to me holding a bucket of popcorn that looked like it had come freshly popped from the Klondike theater. “You think he’s projecting his own revelations from taking over after his mom died, or nah?” I blinked at her as she stuffed another hoof full of popcorn into her muzzle, simply shrugging before offering the bucket to me.

“That’s not what’s going on…” Hispano tried her best to sound angry, but she didn’t put any feeling into her words.

“That’s not what’s going on,” Happy mocked her before again dropping his hoof and smacking her across the back of her head. “That’s bullshit and you know it.” While she hadn’t moved earlier, the hit drew her glare up to him once more. “You tell me that these two idiots beside you aren’t crazy about making sure you’re happy, and that you’re not doing your best to throw their efforts back in their faces. Because from one screw-up to another, I’m telling you that is exactly what you’re doing right now.”

As Happy finished his rant, the cabin of the Remora was dropped into another bout of uneasy silence. Hispano sent her gaze to the floor again, while Happy stepped back with a huff and propped himself against the forward bulkhead. I, however, couldn’t take my eyes off of Hispano.

It was hard to tell what she was feeling when she was curled up and enveloped by her wings as much as she was. But if her far off gaze was anything to go on, she was busy running through everything in her head again and again. At least, that’s what I’ve done whenever I’ve had my own doubts about things.

“To be fair,” Jynx offered as she tossed the bucket of popcorn over her shoulder without a care. “You’ve always doubted yourself for a good reason. I mean come on, you always find a way to screw things up.”

I always screw things up? While I’m willing to admit to my fair share of mistakes, I was pretty sure it was her pulling the strings for quite a few of them. That is the job of a jinx after all, wasn’t it?

“True, but not every bit of bad luck has been because of me.” Her muzzle curled into a devilish smirk that made me want to punch her square in the nose. “I take pride in picking and choosing my moments. Say… remember when you were on your way out from math class and you were so busy staring at Stormy Summer’s firm flank that you ran into the doorway?”

That was years ago, and… wait. Was she actually trying to take credit for that? Because last time I checked, I’ve always had control of where my eyes are looking.

“Sure, but Mrs. Thermal was going to warn you about the door.” Jynx shrugged, “a shame she gave herself a papercut a moment before she could.”

Wow, how amazing. A two hundred year old curse gave me a black eye, truly a great use of the vast cosmic power it must take to change somepony’s fate.

The laugh that came from her muzzle at that gave me pause.

“Say, whatever did happen to that good looking stallion?” She brought her hoof up to her muzzle and looked up through the ceiling. “Didn’t he say he was planning on joining the Shadowbolts one day?”

We were all like ten, and half of us just wanted to serve the Enclave like our parents did. Though, that being said, of course Stormy never could be a Shadowbolt. No, that went out the window when what had been the best school day ever turned into the worst.

“You were so happy when you got to be his lab partner for the exercise that day.” She shook her head but didn’t wipe that irritating smile from her expression. “It really was a shame when your project blew up in his face and ruined his once exceptional eyesight.”

Hey, that wasn’t my fault! I followed the instructions to the letter, and even Mr. Squall said I’d set the burner up correctly! There was no way that it… should have…

But then there was Jynx right in front of me, slowly raising her hoof up.

“Guilty as charged. It was me! Some of my best work, if I might add.” Jynx gave a little giggle as she wiggled herself excitedly. “I know I really shouldn’t gloat, but I just can’t not make a big deal about how much of your life I’ve screwed up. Oh, we’ve had so many good times together that you don’t even know about. Well, good times for me, miserable for you.”

Why, Celestia, did I decide to keep her around again?

“So I could manipulate things into going your way now and again?” She answered me slowly, letting each and every word look like it turned sour in her mouth before she said it. Her muzzle drooped and she shook her head. “Look, I feel like I keep having to mention this, but things can’t go your way forever.”

Yeah yeah, enough with the whole ‘pendulum must swing the other way’ bit. Again, I will remind you that so long as you do what I say, you’ll stick around. The moment you don’t however…

Before I could finish that thought, she rolled her eyes at me and ebbed away into nothing. Wow, rude. I wish I could just fucking vanish the moment somepony started to lecture me.

The Remora shifted itself, tilting up as it started to descend. Well, at least we’d finally made it out to Battered Sea Station without incident. Now we just have to hope that this pony we’re looking for isn’t so spooked to see us that he starts trying to kill us all before feeling up for a chat.

The hydraulics in the Remora’s armored doors whirred to life, and the orange hues of evening poured in. A flurry of snow washed into the cabin and over the four of us from the engines as they spooled down. A thick blanket of snow had been laid across most of the flat and clear land around here, and a shiver from both Happy and Hispano told me that the blizzard that came through Maple Station a few days ago must have come from over here.

The four of us stepped out from the Remora and got a quick lay of the land. Most of it to the east was flat until you reached a thick forest with a fairly abrupt treeline. To the west of us was a set of steep cliffs that dropped off what must have been fifty meters straight down into the frigid waters of the ocean that stretched off to the sunset on the horizon. A fair distance south of us sat a collection of ruined buildings that surrounded a collection of rusting dockyard cranes. To the north was the power station, which was unlike any building I’d ever seen up to this point.

The old power station had been built right on the edge of the steep cliff. It was a huge brick colored concrete box, with imposing turret-like structures on each corner that almost gave it the feel of the world's most brutally boring castle. Almost as impressive was the robust, white colored chimneys that were built on top of them, one for each corner. It certainly was an odd building design, and even odder that it had been built all on its lonesome out here. A set of large pipes dipped out of the back of the plant, and followed the cliff downwards toward the water. On the other end of the building, a collection of rusting metal power towers, thick cables, and piles of scrap sat between the plant and the treeline.

“Alright, I think it would be best if we spread out.” Buck pointed to Hispano and I with a grunt. “You two take to the air. Go check out those cranes to the south and those ruins in the snow to the east.”

“I assume you and Happy will take a look around the station itself?” I asked, looking over to Happy for confirmation, only to find him missing. “Happy?” I looked around, finding that his hoof tracks in the snow ran around the front of the Remora.

“I’m takin’ a piss!” He shouted from the otherside.

“Come on, Dum Dum.” Hispano gave me a nudge and tried to hide the fact that she was shivering from me. Just watching her made my body start to shiver as well, even though I couldn’t actually feel cold.

The two of us spread our wings and took to the air. The strong breeze that washed in from the ocean made it so much easier to gain altitude here, though it wasn’t without its downsides. The sheer amount of salty air stung at my eyes, and the smell of it was more overwhelming the higher we climbed. While I hadn’t been so bothered by the ocean during our short time at Destruction Bay, I wasn’t sure I could understand living with the sea assaulting your senses every single day…

“I just noticed something, Night.” Buck’s voice came through my mind sharply. “This place is absolutely pulsing with magical energy.”

“Well, it is a power station.” Hispano squawked back over her radio. “Isn’t that what it’s supposed to do?”

“Perhaps I can clarify.” Ping’s voice came through my mind, and from the way Hispano seemed confused, I’m assuming over the radio as well. “The Battered-Sea Power Station was not simply a building to generate power, but was rather partially constructed as a cover for a ministry bio-research facility. However, that is the extent revealed to us by the wartime records that the Factory has procured over the years.”

“Excuse me, if I may cut in for just a moment.” The voice of Doc Groovy cut in with a burst of static. Huh, it was oddly good to hear him again. “The index that the facility’s files were located under reference a similar type of facility as the one Doc Sea Shell was once tasked to run. Perhaps there is another Medical Administrator program still active inside.”

“Hmm, yes, I see.” Ping popped back in like he had the file in his hooves as he studied it carefully. “Doc Groovy may have a point. Perhaps this facility warrants further investigation in the interest of finding if there is another program inside.”

“Well if it’s anything like the other government bunkers Night and I have run into…” She paused and shot a frustrated look my way, “well, I think you should find somepony else to check it out.”

“Given your history, I would have to agree.” Ping’s lighthearted tone helped me relax a bit. “But should you decide to change your mind, know that the Factory would be grateful for any assistance you could render in exploring this mystery.”

“Unfortunately, we’ve already got a job to do.” Buck’s tone however was nothing less than aggravated frustration. “You two see anything from the air yet?”

Glancing ahead, it was still a ways off, but it looked less than welcoming. The rusted collection of industrial warehouses that surrounded the cliff-side cranes and seaside docks below, had mostly collapsed over the last two centuries. The cranes still stood defiantly against the ravages of time, but even from here we could hear the old metal creak and moan eerily in the evening seaside breeze. That place was a deathtrap just waiting for the moment someone even thought about spending a night there.

“Most of the complex to the south is barely standing.” I reported back, getting a nod of agreement out of Hispano as well. “I don’t think any rational pony would have trusted this dump to hold up in a blizzard.”

“Alright, head out to the other ruins. He must’ve taken shelter around here somewhere.” Buck grunted, but paused for a moment before he let out a long sigh. “And now Happy’s yelling about something. Hold on.”

Both Hispano and I banked away from the rusted cranes and headed off toward the pile of junk we’d seen earlier.

“What are we going to do if we can’t find this guy?” Hispano called over to me as we both gave a few flaps to adjust and let the sea-breeze push us along a bit. “Are you really okay with just leaving this pony out here?” She shrugged as she re-positioned her grip on her sister to keep her close. “I mean, you know I’m all for helping, but is it really our problem?”

“Well, for all we know he could have arrived in Maple Creek an hour after we left.” I tried to offer that in the hopes that all our searching would amount to finding a frozen corpse in the snow. “I mean, the mare at the shop said this guy goes out on his own all the time, right? I’m pretty sure he can handle himself.”

I didn’t want to sound like I didn’t care, but Hispano was right. We had our own agenda, and we couldn’t get bogged down in searching for him. Still, that didn’t mean we couldn’t give it our best shot.

“So, Happy found what must have been his camp.” Buck’s voice came over our radios with a note of worry to it. “It looks like he’d started scavenging, but it doesn’t look like he’s been here since the storm. Even worse, whatever tracks he would have left have been buried by the snow.”

“I hate to say it, Night.” Hispano glanced over at me with a frown as she nodded down to the snow. “But the storm’s been over for what, two days? If he hasn’t been back to his camp yet…”

“I know it doesn’t look good.” I didn’t want to admit that we weren’t going to find this guy. While his life was important, if we couldn’t find him, we weren’t going to get any info on Solomon out of the mare. “We still have to check out the other towers and piles of scrap. Buck, you and Happy try to find any clues in his camp. If it looks like he took shelter in the power station, then we need to find a good way in.”

“If he’s been inside, why hasn’t he come out yet?” Hispano offered far too candidly for my likes. It’s not that she didn’t ask a good question, it’s just that I didn’t like any answer that meant going searching around inside yet another wartime secret bunker…

The two of us turned our eyes towards the snow covered power towers and looked for anything out of place. The rusting chain-link fence that had once surrounded the place had long since degraded, and the remains of steel towers built inside were in about the same condition as the cranes. Again I was amazed that they hadn’t collapsed onto the large metal and concrete boxes they stand on. Other than the thick cables that ran from tower to tower, wires and cables ran every which way across the ground. It looked like they once connected each of the dozen or so different rusted and corroded remains, and the dull shine of cracked talismans on some of the equipment still reflected the evening light off them as we flew over.

“This used to be the main transmission station, but it’s in worse shape than those old loading docks were.” Hispano again shook her head at me. “I’m sorry, but if he hid here, we’d be trying to dig through the snow for a corpse.”

“Well, first off, I don’t think he was scavenging from the power station.” Buck grumbled as Hispano and I closed in on the pile of rusted rubble. “He’s got a half a wagon loaded up with green colored naval torpedoes.”

“Did you say torpedoes?” Hispano’s plumage bristled up as a smile pulled across her beak. “Holy shit, I know he scavenges for an explosives shop, but where the hell did he get those!?”

“Some covert coastline research facilities were built with a submarine dock to facilitate supply deliveries.” Ping’s voice came over the radio again, telling me exactly what I didn’t want to hear. “There is also a submarine base to the south. Seeing as it is not too far from Maple Creek, perhaps that is where he acquired them from.”

“Then why did he haul them this far north then?” I blurted out as I tried to make sense of it all.

Part of me wanted more than anything to say that of course he got them down south. If that’s where he got them, then we wouldn’t have to go spelunking into whatever wartime bullshit is under the power station. But while it didn’t sit right with me, I still needed another option.

“Wait, where does the power even go?” Hispano flared her wings slightly and brought herself to a hover. I followed suit, but was forced to bank back around. “If you’re going to build a power station as a cover for a lab, then you’d need to be powering something else, or it’d draw too much attention.”

As I came around, her words sunk in, and I spotted something just past the treeline off to the east. It was hard to see in this light, but understandable why we hadn’t seen it until Hispano and I had gotten high enough. There was a town over there.

“Buck, there’s some buildings off to the east. It looks like a town that might still be inhabited.” I called through the radio, looking over to Hispano as she brought Suiza up to a readied position. “If anything, that’s probably our best bet for where this guy went on short notice.”

“Again, it doesn’t make sense why he didn’t come back.” Hispano added before she worked the heavy bolt on Suiza. “But I’ve spent enough time in wartime bunkers now that I’d rather choose a random town to protect me from a storm than another second in those concrete prisons.”

“Alright, you two come back down. Happy and I are on our way and will be there shortly.” Buck called back to us. While I knew we’d be more useful searching from the air, perhaps it was smarter to hold off until we knew whatever residents, if any, weren’t liable to go shooting down anything in the skies…

Pushing through the other side of the treeline, the four of us were greeted with the rusting remains of an old playground. The few old houses that sat on either side of the playground had since given into the rigors of time and the weight of the snow on them, remaining now as little more than rotting piles of wooden debris.

Ahead of us was a long, straight clearing of snow that probably at one time had been the neighborhood road. We followed it further in, walking past more collapsed and decaying houses until we started to reach sturdier, more modern buildings. The brickwork for the larger buildings here was more intact, but almost all of the windows had been broken into or boarded up, and snowdrifts pushed into their dark interiors. As we reached what had once been the main road for town, a block away to the south, one building in particular caught my eye.

It had once been a business of some sort, as it had a fairly large raised sign out front. Unfortunately, it was badly corroded and missing most of the letters, but that wasn’t really important. Honestly, it was what was sitting at the base of said sign that interested me. It was a brown, wooden canine figure with it’s back resting against the pole. Odd red streaks ran down from around it’s shoulders, neck, and waist that seemed out of place.

“What is that?” I blurted out as I tried to make out the slumped form.

“Oh shit, are you kidding me?” Hispano gasped excitedly. “That’s one of those old Molly Manticore Pizzeria restaurants! I didn’t know any were still left standing.” From the way she said that, I wasn’t sure what to make of the place. On one hoof, she sounded like she wanted to explore it. On the other, she seemed somehow surprised it hasn’t been burned to the ground? “Remember those animatronic cartoons from the theme park? The same as these, but these ones weren’t tethered to the walls by power cables.” Wow, that sounds absolutely terrifying. And it also explains how one of them ended up outside... “I heard those things were creepy as shit, even before they were rumored to malfunction and kill ponies. Never thought I’d get to see it for myself though! So exciting!”

Thanks to my squinting, the side of my head vibrated and gave me a closer look at the slumped figure. It’s wooden form resolved into what looked like a cartoony timberwolf, complete with a big fake leafy green scarf around its neck. Looking at the red lines on it however, I froze up. It looked like blood and bits of gore were seeping through every seam in the thing, and there was something about it’s eyes that were a bit too… real.

“Okay… this is close enough then. I don’t think it was just a rumor...” I forced myself to say as I turned to Buck, only to pause as I noticed a large thing standing further up at the crossroad east of us.

I blinked a few times as it looked like an oversize, pink and white furred dog. And when I say oversize, I mean it was almost the size of Buck. Several bits of it’s fur were torn and worn down, leaving gaping holes in it’s skin that seemed oddly empty at a glance, making me wonder if it wasn’t some sort of ghoul.

“Oh, hello there.” Buck had noticed it as well and turned to wave at it. “We’ve come looking for a friend. Can you help us?”

It’s massive broad head turned to look at Buck, revealing a second large head sitting behind the first that sat backwards at an odd angle and didn’t really move. It was an Orthrus? Again, I’d only read about them in school, but I guess it was another species that managed to survive in the wastes.

The large, cartoony blue eyes the Orthrus stared at Buck with felt… off, like they weren’t really staring at anything at all. It canted it’s head at him as if trying to figure out what he was, but then remained oddly still like it was frozen in place. As the breeze that washed in from the ocean pushed over us, it’s fur didn’t move, seeming too stiff to be normal fur.

“Why h-hello there… f-f-friend.” It spoke softly without moving it’s muzzle, sounding like a pair of voices speaking as one. Their odd appearance, along with their words, made my gut twist up. Something was definitely wrong here.

“Woah, that’s creepy.” Happy chimed in, snapping the dog’s attention to him.

It shifted it’s head, while the second head came rotated around unnaturally to point at Happy. Sitting at nearly a right angle, most of the fur on it’s far side was gone, and a metal frame work filled with sharp, running machinery propped up what little was left. Flat steel slabs sat in it’s empty, recessed eye sockets, and a pair of pinprick red beaming lights shone brightly at us. It let out a piercing, high pitched howl that gave us all too detailed a look into the nightmarish collection of wires and machinery inside the beast.

“Don't b-be afraid! Soon you'll look ju-just like m-me!” With a shuddering bound, it started to move towards us, barreling through the snow on all fours.

What the fuck was this thing…

“Woah, wait!” Buck shouted as he planted his hindlegs firmly in the snow. Reaching his paws out he grabbed around the bulk of the two headed machine. His legs and arms whined in protest, but he brought the assaulting machine to a complete stop. “What… are you doing!?”

Both heads on the dog snapped and twitched as they tried to get to Happy. Of course, he gave out a short lived scream and scrambled back through the snow as one of the attempts strained Buck into taking a step back. As he did, the skin on the dog gave out a terrific rip, and it’s mechanical legs raked through the air at Happy as well. Hispano raised Suiza up, but we all knew she couldn’t fire at this distance.

“Why are y-you looking so s-scared?” The machine spoke with its creepy lifeless eyes still locked on Happy. “Don't you wanna-na be like me?”

“Fuck that!” Happy screamed as he struggled to pull Laika’s pistol from it’s holster. “Shoot it in the fucking face already!”

“I can’t when Buck’s in the way!” Hispano snapped back at him. The mechanical head of the dog snapped it’s attention over to her, giving out another high pitched scream.

“Alright, that’s enough!” Buck gave a sharp shift of himself and wrapped his paws around the metal limbs of the dog. With a roar of his own, he spun with a swing of his forearms and threw the dog through the air. It sailed surprisingly far, coming down into the snow hard nearly where we’d originally spotted it.

The moment the mechanical orthrus slammed into the snow, Hispano opened up with her sister and didn’t hold back. My hearing disappeared into repeated thumps amid a constant chorus of ringing. Suiza chattered away, ripping lines through the snow as each round was sent toward the recovering animatronic dog. Metal chunks and shreds of fur scattered as each of the explosive rounds tore it to pieces.

Hispano fired for a good few seconds before letting Suiza fall silent again. The sheer volume of fire and explosive force had whipped up the snow around the machine into a steamy mist. Still, she held Suiza steady as she panted heavily and narrowed her gaze.

Sparks flashed in the cloud, and a single red eye beamed. It swung over to look at us, twitching and shuddering like it was on it’s last legs. But it rose up from where it was as it’s frame ebbed with a deep purple magic that twisted at my insides even from where we stood. It didn’t just feel wrong before, this thing was pure evil.

We all jumped as Hispano opened up again. Suiza’s shots shredded the glowing frame even more as each round blasted it apart bit by bit. It’s single red eye disappeared behind a bright flash as it’s second head became nothing more than scrap like the first.

Suiza fell silent once more, but not because Hispano had paused her fire. I glanced down at the smoking gun and could see the bolt locked on an empty chamber. It hadn’t been often that Hispano had to fire her sister like that, but with as terrifying as that thing was, I could only hope it had been enough.

“How interesting.” Ping’s calm demeanor came as almost a shock to me, easily beating the ringing in my ears. You know, sometimes I’m reminded that despite all the help he’s given at a moment’s notice, he’s not actually in any danger himself. “They seem to be based off of late war M.o.M. entertainment system designs, but… it is strange. I cannot communicate with any of them. They do not seem to be true machines in that regard.”

“That is less than helpful!” My insides did a flip as another knot formed in my gut. “Wait, any of them?” I practically yelled at him. “You mean there’s more of these things!?”

“Night! Three o’clock!” Hispano called out just loud enough I could hear her over the ringing still filling my head. She braced Suiza against her and aimed down the road toward the pizza parlor. The interior of the building was dark, but one by one, almost a dozen lifeless eyes glowed and stared at us. “Why is it always creepy shit we run into!?” With a look of fear she didn’t often wear, she quickly stripped her empty drum mag from her sister and traded it with her five shot magazine from her bag.

Well shit, if a whole drum managed to take only one of these things down, we were in trouble.

“That’s an understatement.” Jynx let out a little laugh as her voice echoed through my mind. Oh, fuck you, Jynx. If this is that whole ‘shit goes the other way’ bit… “Oh, this isn’t that. Believe me, you’ll know it when that happens.”

A trio of animatronic characters stepped out through the entrance of the old building. Leading them was the cartoony caricature of a Manticore I assumed this whole place was patterned after. To her left and standing on its stripped mechanical hindlegs, was a big blue cartoon bear that for some reason had constellations painted all over itself. To her right, was the mostly mechanical and stripped-down form of a large cartoon minotaur.

“Ah, I knew I recognized it from somewhere!” Ping chuckled with what I hoped was good news. “After reviewing the magic you witnessed in the Orthrus model, I have discovered why they are hostile.”

“That’s great!” I mean, hey, so long as we can keep these things from killing us, I’m willing to listen to whatever he says. “How the fuck do we stop them?”

“That is a bit more complicated.” Ping answered me almost too quickly. “You see, the Architect stored records of many different types of magic used by both sides. There were quite a lot of zebra projects that matched this description, mostly based on tech stolen from pony projects of course. Some of the information stolen was actually utilized in the creation of the prototypes that eventually lead to the Architect himself!”

The three machines that came from the pizza parlor kept coming. Thanks to the thickness of the snow, they were limited to traveling nearly a block to us at a walking pace. But every second they got closer I could feel the knot in my gut getting tighter and tighter.

“Again, that’s great, Ping!” Buck answered this time. “But you can make them friendly, right!?”

“I said this magic is similar to what was used by the zebras.” Ping childed him with somewhat of a growl to his words. “What I have found is part of an old M.o.M. anti-espionage project they stole from the Ministry of Arcane Sciences. It’s goal was to use a magical key-word to create animated sets of armor that could stand watch on their own, or even hold ponies of interest inside them for questioning. They are as such, not true machines, and are rather simple animatronic suits aided by a set of complex ‘come-to-life’ spells.”

Well, that at least explains the corpse stuffed in the Timberwolf!

“Unfortunately, the whole thing used necromancy as it’s base enchantment and several sets of the armor murdered those working on the project. It turns out that due to the bulk of their rigid exoskeletons and negative magics, trying to detain any pony inside ended up killing them fairly quickly.”

Yeah, again, that explains the corpse...

“Get to the fucking point!” Hispano groaned and rolled her eyes. Suiza barked out a shot towards the trio of machines. The round impacted right in the face of the bear, bending it out of shape, but the round itself didn’t detonate. “Fucking dud!”

“The point is that without the keyword, there is no way to stop them.” The sheer bluntness of Ping’s words nearly knocked me off my hooves. So outside of running for our lives, we were fucked. “I am certain they would not have put the units to use without keeping it filed away somewhere within the pizza parlor. There must be a terminal with the keyword and it’s enabling command inside the establishment.” Yeah, right through bullshit murder robots! Fucking fantastic!

“Alright, then let’s call the Remora and get out of here.” Buck grunted. He moved calmly, placing himself in between the animatronics and the rest of us. “We just need to hold them off for a few minutes while it powers up again.” For a moment, all three machines turned their eyes on him and froze up. They just simply stopped cold to stare at him.

While that was still creepy as fuck, it sparked a thought in my head. The other machine seemed to lock up when it saw him as well. That, and while it seemed fine to attack Happy or Hispano, it hadn’t even paid attention to me.

“Intriguing.” Ping commented as I think he too picked up on it. “It seems that they see those with augments as not a priority target.” That… made a lot of sense, actually. With Buck’s limbs and mine, we must look just like their busted-up condition on their simple sensors! “Perhaps you could use this to your advantage and attempt to enter and locate the keyword.”

“Except for the second we go in, that leaves Happy and I to fend for ourselves.” Hispano snapped into her headset before lining up her next shot. “And I didn’t foresee needing to bring a thousand rounds to deal with this shit today!”

Suiza let out another sharp report, and this time the round blasted out the entire side of the bear machine. Smoke and a few sparks filled the air around it, but as it cleared, the gaping hole torn in its side hadn’t even contained enough machinery to slow it. In fact, outside of their main metal skeletal bits and head, I don’t think there was much of anything other than reinforcing struts and movement mechanisms to the inside of these machines.

“Then I suggest you retreat to the roof of one of the nearby buildings and wait for the Remora.” Finally, a piece of advice I could appreciate!

“Uh…” Buck turned and ran his gaze up and down the line of brick buildings nearby. “There. Follow me.” He gave a wave for us to follow as he turned and pushed through the snow towards what looked like an old corner grocery store. The moment he’d turned away from the approaching animatronic monsters however, they let out a piercing cry.

All of us paused and watched as from the depths of the pizza parlor stepped each and every one of the other uniquely horrifying animatronic monsters who’d been watching us.

“We might want to fucking hurry!” Happy cried out as he sharply jabbed his hoof at Hispano. “Next time you know about murderous robots ahead of time, just tell us so we can get the fuck out before things go to shit again!”

“Yeah, my bad.” Hispano nodded as she pulled Suiza up to her again and hovered up into the air. “Didn’t think it would actually be this creepy. I kind of regret getting super excited now!” She offered me a nervous laugh as Buck tore open the front door to the place and let her fly inside. “Probably won’t be getting any sleep tonight then… or ever.”

Before I stepped in with Buck, we took one last moment to look back toward the approaching machines. Once more, they stopped completely, standing starkly still in the snow to stare at us. That moment stretched into a thousand though as I swear they were trying to tell us something with their hollow gazes alone. The knot in my guts twisted and pulsed, spiking a line of fear through me that I couldn’t fight. From the way the entirety of Buck’s coat stood on end as well, I knew he felt it too.

“Come on,” I offered to him as I ripped my eyes away from them. “let’s get the hell out of this place.”

Author's Note

A big thanks to TheFurryRailFan for all his help in going over these chapters every other week. It means a lot to me to have someone so reliable to help me out over these years.

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat for letting us all use the FoE setting for our own stories.

Chapter 103 - Speak To Me

If you're not willing to shell your own position, you're not willing to win.

This was supposed to be a simple job to check in on somepony. How the fuck did it get so out of control? Today had started out going so well…

With the last of the day’s sunlight fading away, the interior of the old world grocery corner store was dark. The few pieces of garbage that still sat on the rusting shelves that took up most of the floor space cast odd shadows around the room. It’s not that I had expected to find anything of use on the shelves, but my eyes were drawn to the fact that what little was left seemed to fit a theme.

“Empty.” Happy snorted as he gave a kick at a few of the beer bottles laying around. “But whoever was here last, certainly knew how to party.” He lifted his hoof and dragged it along the shelf. Empty vials of what I’m sure were once various types of drugs clattered to the floor. Yeah, not sure I’d have wanted to ‘party’ with ponies who lived like this...

“Stairs, back here.” Buck called out from the other end shop.

“Wait! What if there’s one of those things up there?” Happy spat out as he continued over, but stopped just short of the door.

“Fine, I’ll go first.” Buck grumbled and pushed Happy aside.

He used his mechanical paws to rip the door to the stairway right off its hinges. The old wood splintered in his grasp, and without a care he tossed it into one of the old produce shelves. We all cringed from the racket it made as the impact tore some of the rusted shelves down, but we couldn’t care. It was far too soon that the noise gave way to the sound of the murderous cartoon machines making their way closer and closer.

The wooden steps creaked under Buck’s mechanical legs, and more than a few of them visibly bowed as he climbed them. About when he reached the last few steps, his ears perked up and twitched as he scanned the room. There was a creak from further inside the room, which his ears locked onto and pulled his gaze towards.

A swift pair of gunshots rang out. All of us jumped as Buck let out a howl of pain and a pair of bloody holes opened up in his side. Before we could react, he lunged up the last few steps and out of sight.

“Buck!” Hispano and I both screamed as we scrambled to be the first to get up the stairs. Thanks to the limited width, I’d made it up first because I didn’t try to fly.

“Ya ain't gonna git me ya fuckin' cursed machine!” The shrill voice of a mare filled the air as panicked hoofsteps clambered across the wooden floorboards toward me. “By the word a’ Saint Roseland herself, not today!”

Knowing full well what was about to happen, I put my head down and threw myself forward.

The mare and I collided. While she stopped my advance cold, I’d thrown off her balance and knocked her back onto the floor. With a scattering skip, the pistol she’d been holding in her magic tumbled along the old boards back towards Buck. As the mare and I both shook off the hit, Buck picked up the gun in his paw and without hesitation, crushed it.

The mare was a unicorn who was slightly larger than I was, but seemed fairly scrawny. She wore a set of yellow fisherpony rags that was supplemented by about a dozen sashes and pocketed belts secured around her body and hooves. Her face and horn was mostly obscured by a burlap hood, but from what I could see, the mare had a steel grey coat and a short navy blue mane that curled down in locks that hung on each side of her head. The brown eyes that peered up in anger softened as she got a good look at me.

“Oh shite.” The mare let out a gasp as the robust barrel of Suiza pressed against the side of her head. Her eyes walked up the intimidating cannon, eventually landing on Hispano’s sharp gaze staring down her sister’s sights. “Wait, ya aren’t with them demon machines, are ye?”

“Yeah, no shit we’re not.” Happy snorted as he forcibly pushed himself past me. “But they’re at the front door, and it won’t hold them for long.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep them busy.” Buck growled as he let the crushed gun fall out of his paw. With a wince, he brought his other paw up to cover the wounds in his side, and snarled at the mare sitting just out of his reach. “That is, I’ll only do that so long as somepony isn’t going to shoot me again.”

“Hol’ up just a wee moment. Ya can talk?” The mare simply blinked up at the towering snow dog before her and brought her hoof up to rub at her horn. Of course I wanted to blame the mare for shooting first, but, I knew better. Plus, even with as angry as I could be, I was more concerned about him.

“Are you okay, Buck?” I asked as I stepped out of his way. He gave me a nod before looking down at the two bullet wounds. The skin around them ebbed with an unhealthy green glow that was slowly forcing them closed, which at least helped me to relax a bit. “You know, I’m almost jealous that you can heal like that.” I forced out a laugh that was cut off by the sound of breaking glass downstairs.

“Like you need any reason to be more reckless, Night.” Hispano fired back with a smirk before the mare at the end of Suiza shifted enough to make the floorboard under her groan. “Now then, back to our current problem. Who the fuck are you, and why the fuck did you shoot at us?”

“Look,” The mare huffed and rolled her eyes. “I'm sorry fer shootin' at ya, but I can hardly be blamed when ye be lookin like the spittin' image, what with the lights on yer face an’ yer metallic limbs!”

Ugh, now I felt bad. Of course she thought we were like those things outside. But despite the fact that we were very much not what she thought, her and the rest of us were all now in the same boat. Then again, if she was here before us, then maybe she knew more about just what was going on here than we did.

“Alright, if you tell us just what the hell is going on in this town, I’ll tell my griffon friend here to not point her gun at you.” I held my prosthetic hoof out to the mare and watched her eyes wander between it and me a few times. “I’m Night Flight, by the way.” In hindsight, maybe I should have offered my other hoof…

“Aye, Nautical Shackle.” She nodded to me before taking my hoof. With a grunt, she pulled herself up to her hooves and used her free hoof to wave Suiza’s barrel from her face. “And I canne say myself, but we've got ta get outta here before it turns dark.” The fur on her stood on end as the sound of the animatronics coming in caused the steps on the stairway to creak under their weight. “Would I be wrong fer hopen' that ye brought a vehicle a’ some sort ta speed us away all expedient-like?”

As creepy as it was to hear what was probably a dozen machines coming up the stairs, it was almost worse when it stopped. I glanced back, watching as Buck brought both paws out and placed them on the door jam. He was big enough that he basically became the new door, but I wasn’t about to trust that the machines on the other side would be willing to sit there forever.

“Yer dog friend makes a fine doorstop, but we don’t have the time ta sit all day.” She nodded to a door on the far side of the room. “If I was eavesdroppin’ correctly, ya gots some sort of craft comin’ ta pick ya up? Might we get movin’ to the roof then? I ain’t lookin’ ta get myself torn apart taday.”

“We can't leave yet,” As much as I wanted to get up and go, now that we’ve found her, maybe there was still a chance we could find Viton. “We're out here looking for a friend of a friend's. He was…”

“Not ta interject, but perhaps was it Viton ye be lookin’ fer?” She brought her hoof up to her chin and scratched at it nervously. “Pink pony with a funny lookin’ hat an’ lookin’ ta salvage some things?”

“Yeah! That's the guy!” Happy reached out and gave me an excited tap on the shoulder. “Maybe we can still get that info on Solomon after all.”

“I'm sorry, but yer friend is dead.” Shackle shook her head and hung it solemnly. “He was murdered by those damned infernal machines. Told me ta hide while he distracted them, but there were too many. Aye, he thought he could lose ‘em in the storm, but he didn’t stand a chance.” A strong shiver ran across her as her ears flattened to the side of her head. “It… it’s been days, an I canne get his screams out me head.”

“Don't be offended if we don't take a stranger's word for it…” Hispano let out a grumble as she glanced over at me. I knew that look in her eye, where she was wanting me to agree with her. I wished I could, but against those animatronic monsters, what chance did one pony stand?

“Aye, ya want proof? How about ye go outside an’ check who they stuffed inta that nightmareish lookin’ timberwolf?” She spat at Hispano and brought a glare up at her that didn’t falter for one moment. “Ya think I'm just some stranger here? Hell, I only came along with the guy cause back at the bar, he said he’d be needin’ a sea goin’ pony who knew anythin’ at all about submarines. An seein' as I'm the only one ta ever leave the fleet alive who had any experience with ol’ U-boats, I got ta choose my fee.” She snarled at Hispano before turning back to me with a frown. Well, at the very least that explained the seapony raincoat... “Still, the fuckin fool didn't mention I'd have ta deal with these blasted machines again.”

“What do you mean, again?” Hispano pressed as she tightened her grip around her sister.

“Aye, I've seen this before. Not exactly the same, an’ not in many years.” Nautical Shackle took a deep breath and lifted her leg up to one of her small pouches that she wore around her barrel. From it, she pulled out an old tobacco pipe, as well as a small pouch. “It was a long time ago, way back when I was a wee young shipmate in the Grand Fleet with nary her sealegs under her.”

Carefully, she filled the pipe from the contents of the bag before using her magic to open up yet another pouch. She produced a small box of matches, and used her magic to strike one as she brought her pipe up to her mouth with her hoof. Taking a few puffs, she let out a relaxed sigh before taking a long draw off of it.

“So you've seen murderous killer mascots try to turn ponies into machines before?” I asked about as bluntly as ever, while also wondering just where the fuck the Remora was. Not that I didn’t enjoy this little chat, I was just eager to do it when we were getting far, far away from this fucked up place.

“Not with mascots, no.” She shook her head again before taking another short draw from her pipe. “Back when I was with the fleet on the high seas, one'a our wrenchmare run manufacturin' ships fell behind during a storm, an’ went dark while on maneuvers. I was with the bordin' party that went ta see what happened, but by the prophet's word, it wasn't pretty.” She stared off out the window into the town as the last bit of sunlight drained away from the world.

“We found that the machines had taken over the ship somehow, an’ used the crew's bloody body parts ta augment themselves.” She continued with another shiver over her body. “I’d had nightmares before then, but ever since, they’re only about what unholy horrors laid in that ship. We had ta bring half the fleet's cannons ta bear in order ta blow the whole cursed thing ta the dark below.” She seemed to shake off the memories with a frown, but she couldn’t pry her eyes off the doorway that Buck blocked off. “We prayed ta Saint Roseland that we were done with that horrific nightmare. But I guess in the end, we didn't pray hard enough.”

“Well we can't exactly sink a town, now can we?” Happy offered fairly flatly. It might have been his poor attempt at levity, but I couldn’t help but think he was serious about asking how to beat these things. And as terrible as it might sound, I’m not sure it’s exactly our problem to solve.

“Aye. If it were midday, ye could catch most a’ them at once inside their buildin'.” Shackle used her magic to point her pipe towards the dark town through the window. “But at night they wander out further, an’ in numbers. Believe me when I tell ye that me own shipmates found out the hard way that machines hunt far better in the dark.”

“If they’re that deadly, then how'd somepony like you survive this whole time?” Hispano snirked at the mare, only to freeze up when Shackle wheeled around and leveled a furious glare at her. “Hey, not judging! Just curious, really…” Hispano tried to walk it back, but she should have learned from me that when being blunt, sometimes phrasing is everything.

“Aye, ye learn ta hide well as a foal livin' with a fleet constantly stretched fer resources.” Shackle let out a low growl as she stuffed her pipe back into her muzzle and took another long puff. “O'course, it helps when yer hidin spot isn't occupied by some bunch’a strangers makin' all heaps a' noise an’ commotion!”

The quick, heavy thump from the roof made me jump, and pulled a short lived scream from Happy. The whole building gave out a soft groan, and a cursory glance out the window let me see a wash of snow being whipped around. Finally, the Remora must have touched down.

“Well it's fortunate then that we won't have to stay long.” Turning to Hispano, I gestured over toward the other door in the room. “Alright, everyone to the roof! Hispano, head up first and make sure we don’t have one of these fuckers up there. Happy, you and Shackle here go up once she gives the all clear.”

“On it!” Hispano nodded and brought her sister up in her talons.

“Once you're all on, radio me and I'll head up as well.” Buck shouted back at us.

“That won’t work.” Shackle reached out and pressed her hoof to my barrel. “Tis true his similar body be the only thing holdin’ them back fer now.” She could guess that from like half a second? Wow, she must be a quick study. Or… like she said, it’s the fact that she’s dealt with these sorts of machines before, Night. “These machines are deceptively fast when not slowed by snow ‘n such. He wouldn’t make it ta us before they got around him an’ tore us all apart.” She frowned and glanced over to Buck. “I’m sorry, but if we’re ta leave, he’ll have ta be left behind.”

“Hmm, how… unfortunate.” Jynx said as she appeared behind Nautical Shackle with her own pipe propped up in her muzzle. Of course I’d have her giving me a choice like this. The second I thought that, Jynx froze up with a smile on her muzzle. “You think I gave you this choice? I can move bullets, change the cards you’re dealt in Blackjack, and even stop cancer from spreading, or start it for that matter. But I can’t change the fact your husband has chosen to hold the machines off, so I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t blame me for shit that’s out of my control.”

No. Absolutely not. I refuse to leave Buck behind. There had to be something that Jynx could do. Make the machines blow a fuse, or maybe help me out by letting the next word out of my muzzle be that keyphrase Ping was talking about.

“Sorry, but even if you knew the keyword, which is ‘Happiest Day’ by the by,” She smirked as she took the pipe from her muzzle and looked at it. “You’d still need to access the main control terminal in their building in order to use it.” She gave out a shrug and tossed the pipe over her shoulder. “So as much as I’d love to claim I did this, it’s entirely on you, Night.”

“Night?” Buck’s worried voice echoed through my head, bringing me back into the moment to find that Nautical Shackle had already left for the roof. “Night, I need you to go. I’ll be fine for now, and you can send the Remora for me in the morning.”

“Yeah, fuck that.” I laughed and turned to him. “Actually, new plan. You go and get on the Remora.” Fidgeting my wings across my back, I shoved his paw out of the way and pushed myself past him through the doorway. Instantly I found myself staring at a dark stairway lit up solely by the dozen pairs of glowing animatronic eyes that locked themselves onto me.

“Night.” Buck growled as he wrapped his paws around me. “I am not leaving you behind.”

“You won’t be. I have wings.” I wanted to fight against his paws, but if we accidentally gave them a window, I’m sure they wouldn’t hesitate in the slightest to push past us and go after the others. Thank Celestia however as Buck seemed to get the message and released his grasp on me. “Now get on the Remora and go. I’ll be right behind you, I promise.”

As Buck stepped back and quickly made his way to the other door, each of the machines in front of me shuddered stiffly, taking a single step upwards.

“No no!” I snapped at the imposingly large and almost sadistic grin permanently plastered on the cartoon manticore that led the other nightmare machines. I quickly stretched my hooves out and placed them on the doorway like Buck had. It would never help to physically hold them back, but if they truly saw me as one of them, they wouldn’t move. “We’re all going to stay right here just a little bit longer.” Surprisingly enough, it worked as they all stopped again.

“It looks like somepony wasn’t r-r-ready for M-Molly to throw them a p-party!” The voice that came from the manticore sent a shiver down my spine. I know that was probably a recording it was meant to spout, but there was something twisted in the way it spoke. They didn’t sound like words, but like the grinding of blades and gears that were meant to imitate words. “I’ve planned something special, j-just for you.” Yeah, how the fuck could the M.o.M. think this was acceptable for foals!?

“Yeah, I’ve got something for you too.” I offered back as I figured that if I couldn’t shut them all off, the least I could do was leave a few explosive ‘gifts’ for them when I left.

The whole building creaked again as I’m sure the Remora finally took off. I couldn’t look out the window, but I bet the snow would confirm that. Just a few more seconds to make sure...

“Most ponies li-like my hugs.” Molly spoke to me before taking another step forward. “Now would be a g-good ti-time to hold your breath.” Her plastic like lion paws extended out to me, making the mane on my neck stand straight up.

Release!

The snap from my harness as one of my grenades went tumbling free was the last normal thing I heard. A chorus of agonizing mechanical screams came from the machines as they charged and I turned to run. Shit, I hadn’t planned for them to charge me!

Left with little chance to make it to the roof, my hooves thundered across the wood floor. The sound of my gallop was lost behind the wailing machines that chased me. Like before, I knew what was coming. Head down and shoulder forward, I kicked off as hard as I could.

The second story window shattered as I burst through it. It didn’t hurt as much as the window in Klondike did thanks to my talisman, but the medical warnings flashed up all the same. I only had a single moment to view the warnings before the whole second story of the grocery store exploded outward.

The blast shot equal amounts of wooden splinters, metal shards, and flaming cartoon bits into the air. The force alone was enough to kick me into a tumbling spin higher into the air. Again, more warnings flashed in my augmented vision, but I forced my wings to right me once more.

“Night!” Buck called out from the open door of the Remora. He wasn’t too far away, and the craft itself maneuvered itself alongside me. He held his paw out to me, stretching himself about as far as he could from the Remora’s cabin to reach me.

With a smile, I reached out and torqued my wings to maneuver closer. Boy, that was a mistake. I nearly rolled into a dive as I lost all control of the muscles. For a moment, I couldn’t force my wings back out, and I was afraid I’d go crashing to the ground. To my surprise and relief, a light brown aura of magic wrapped around me.

“Aye, she be heavier than she looks!” Nautical Shackle groaned as her horn wrapped itself in a layer of overglow. Again I was struck by a wave of petty jealousy like I had been with Hardcase. Fucking cheating unicorns. Still, I found myself weightless, and never more thankful to be dumped back onto the cold metal cabin floor. “Wew, a rescue fer a rescue. I say we’re even now.” You know what? That’s fair.

“Shit, would you look at that.” Hispano cooed coldly. I peered up at her from my place on the floor to find her staring down into the night. We all turned our gazes out at the sight below and simply took it in.

The roof to the place had mostly been blown out by my grenade. Small fires burned at what remained of the grocery store’s wood floor and the scattered debris that littered the street below. On that street in the snow however, were still a dozen pairs of glowing eyes, staring up and watching as we flew overhead. That grenade didn’t completely destroy a single one of them. Again, something in my gut twisted as the Remora whisked us away from the nightmarish town. I don’t know why, but deep down, I hoped I’d never find out why they made me feel that way.

“Hey, let’s never come back here again.” Happy chimed in as he stepped back from the open door. “Ever.”

“Agreed.” Buck nodded before turning to me. He paused as he ran his eyes over the various shrapnel wounds I had and didn’t say anything. I knew it was coming, but he simply hung his head and sighed.

“Hey, cheer up, Buck!” Hispano offered as a hint of her normal attitude poked itself through the nightmares she was replaying in her head right now. “It wouldn’t be a normal day for us if Night didn’t get hurt. Plus, we did end up rescuing somepony, so I’d call this a win!”

She was right, this was a win. Sure we didn’t find Viton, but as far as dangerous encounters go, once again we got away with ourselves intact. Now if we were lucky, we could get back, talk to the mare about her friend, get our info, and be back on the Arcturus before dawn tomorrow.

“Aye, not ta say I’m not grateful, but…” Shackle gave a wheezing cringe as she pointed out the door. “We’d managed ta salvage a good pile’s worth ‘a caps in torpedo parts before the snow storm forced us inta town. Would ya mind if we just swung around for a wee moment ta gather some of…”

Like we were a bunch of machines linked together, it only took the four of us a moment to all reach the same answer.

“NO!”

I think we’d all had enough nightmares for one lifetime.

“There, that should be the last one.” Buck spoke softly as his paws secured the last stitch across one of the worst shrapnel wounds I’d gotten.

It had taken an hour for him to pull out the majority of the fragments. Both Happy and Hispano were in the far corner from me, huddled together for warmth while they napped. Meanwhile, Buck had to contend with Nautical Shackle’s curiosity as she hovered over him the whole time he’d worked on me. Sometimes she’d asked him a question or two, but mostly she just silently observed. I’m not going to lie, but I was glad Buck was finished, because the whole ‘being-quietly-stared-at’ thing was not something I needed more of today.

Looking down at my flank, it was a mess of bandages and stitches. I’d like to say I was fine because I couldn’t feel any pain from it, but I struggled to push myself up onto my hooves. The muscles in my flank were stiff, and protested against every move I forced them to make. Just steadying myself was taking a lot more concentration than normal, and that worried me.

“So, ya say ya can’t feel a thing?” Shackle commented as I felt her hoof prod at my bandages. It wasn’t much force, but enough that my legs felt like they gave out from under me and I was forced to sit down hard. “Fuck, sorry ‘bout that.” I know she hadn’t meant it, but who the hell prods anyone with still healing injuries?

“No, the painkiller talisman suppresses it.” Buck stepped around me and pushed her hoof away from me. “And I’d appreciate it if you would refrain from touching Night’s wounds any further.”

“Sorry, only pony I’ve ever seen with so much metal on’r is a wrenchmare with the fleet.” Shackle let out a laugh as she gestured to Buck’s arms and legs. “But I’ll say this, never seen a Sea Dog with any metal either.”

“What’s a ‘sea dog’?” The question quickly wormed its way out of my muzzle. “I mean, it’s probably some sort of Sea based Snow Dog, right?” Glancing up at Buck, he offered me a shrug before looking to Shackle for an answer.

“Aye, fearsome canines some from ‘round here call ‘Hellhounds’.” She nodded before crossing her hooves. “Lot’s of ‘em worked on ships durin’ the war, an’ the Grand Fleet mostly use ‘em fer heavy liftin’. Cartin’ ordinance between ships, movin’ plundered cargo ta the hold, that sorta thing. Most are dim as a barnacle though, can’t be trusted fer any a’ the important jobs. No offence o’course.”

Buck deadpanned with a huff. “None taken.”

“You keep mentioning this ‘grand fleet’ of yours.” I blurt out as an odd realization ran through me. I wondered if it was the same fleet that Laika had gotten pictures of and briefed on. “How many ponies are in it? How many ships are there?”

Maybe it was simple curiosity, or the fact that we were racing Solomon to get to a ship. Dealing with the so-called ‘pirates’ out on the water had always seemed like a problem for the ‘future-us’. But now that we were so close? Well, maybe it was time I started to think about just what sailing the largest ship in the world would mean for us if we came across any problems on the water.

“Aye, it’s hard ta answer ya that when ships come an’ go from the fleet.” Shackle simply laughed at me and waved her hoof. “Some of us, like the Blackwater, are just a small collection of ships. Or, more like… a loose alliance of varied crews on hoof-me-down relics used fer supply runs an’ the like. The Grand Fleet itself is hundreds of ships in total, an’ a sight ta behold. Most ‘a us joined up ta serve in spreadin’ the holy word a’ Saint Roseland, but some are just in it fer the infamy an’ the raidin’.”

“Blackwater… that sounds oddly familiar.” Buck frowned as he rubbed at his neck. “Night, didn’t you say Tephra’s cult was preaching something like this?” You know, I’d thought it was starting to sound somewhat familiar...

“A cult?” Shackle narrowed her eyes at us. “The fleet hasn’t been dockin’ off the coast in decades. Who be tryin’ ta spread the word of Roseland on land?”

“A dragon named Tephra.” I got a shiver just remembering how captivated his crowds were, and how easily he murdered those who believed in what he said. “He claimed to come from the Blackwater fleet, and read from what he called the ‘Book of Thorns’.”

“Fuckin’ heathen.” Shackle snarled under her breath. “Aye, that dragon came from the fleet. The Thorns and their ilk have been spreading a… different interpretation fer Roseland’s holy word, more extreme than yours truly could accept. S’why my crew an I left, an we weren’t the only ones ta do so.” She ground her hoof against the floor as tremors of rage washed across her. “I have little doubt that since we left a winter ago, their influence has spread like a plague amongst the fleet.”

Well, that was concerning to say the least. The last thing we needed after fighting so long to get the Ark was some fanatical pirates to come and ruin things for us. Then again, Shackle said she wasn’t alone, so maybe that was something we could work with.

“Listen, you said there were more ponies who didn’t agree with the fleet?” I didn’t want to get my hopes up, and I had no idea how we’d pay for it, but I had an idea. “Would they fight off this ‘grand fleet’ to say, protect another ship if they were so inclined? Or perhaps help to crew one?”

“Aye. Ye’d be hard pressed ta find a captain not willin’ ta take up a cause if given enough coin.” She let out a light hearted laugh before brushing herself with her hoof. “If yer serious ‘bout findin’ a ship an’ crew, I could be so inclined ta tell ya the names a’ some reliable ones. Just call it a ‘finders fee’ if’n ya wanna know.”

“Night.” Buck shifted himself so he could place his paw on my back as his voice reverberated in my mind. “It’s a bit early to be considering anything like that, don’t you think?”

“Is it?” I glanced up at him with a frown. “Once Solomon’s out of the way, it might be something we’ll need to figure out. I don’t know about you, but I don’t know how to sail a ship. What’s the harm in simply asking if she knows some ponies who could help?”

“Because we don’t know her.” Buck flattened his metal ears to the sides of his broad head and rubbed at my back softly. “Look, we need to take this one step at a time. First we deal with Solomon, then we’ll worry about hiring some help.”

“I’ll tell ya what.” Shackle smirked as she leaned back against the cabin wall with a yawn. “Since ya went through all the trouble ta rescue me, I’ll toss ya a freebee. Head fer Bold Harbor, a coastal town a ways south a’ Seaddle where you’ll find plenty a’ crews lookin’ fer work.”

“We appreciate the information.” Buck replied before I could open my muzzle. “However, we still have many things we need to do before finding a crew becomes something we consider.”

From the glance he shot me, I knew he didn’t want me to argue. I wouldn’t have anyway, but I couldn’t help but feel like Buck didn’t need to act like this! Recently he’s been getting on my case more and more about the decisions I make, and I don’t know why. Maybe… it was just something we’d have to sit down and talk about later.

“Aye, I understand.” Shackle let out another yawn before closing her eyes as she slumped back against the wall. “Fer now, I’ll leave you two be. Wake me when we arrive back at Maple Creek, will ya?”

“Will do.” Buck answered for the both of us before also resting himself against the wall and curling up for a nap. Within another minute, he was lightly snoring like he always did, leaving me awake all on my own.

“Not all on your own.” Jynx smiled as she appeared in front of me with a pair of knitting needles and a ball of yarn in her hooves. “So, now that we’ve got a little bit of privacy, how did you want to pass the time?”

“Fuck this, I’m taking a nap too.” I grumbled before sitting myself down next to Buck. Careful not to wake him, I laid myself down against his furry side and closed my eyes.

“Aww, and here I thought we could have some nice time alone to bond.” Jynx whined out in an unsuccessful attempt to get on my nerves. Nope, I wasn’t in the mood to let her get me all riled up tonight. “Oh come on, you’re no fun.” If she knew what was good for her, she’d actually help me get some sleep. “Grrrr, fine.” She snorted, “but remember what I keep telling you…”

She kept speaking, but each word became less and less important as the warmth of Buck helped to carry me off into what I hoped would be a short, refreshing nap.

The walk back into town was short, but with the sun having set hours ago, a dense and cold fog had swept down into the river valley. It was almost midnight, and only a few scattered lanterns glowed softly in the small town. As we all walked past the first few buildings, I think the biggest surprise we found was that the light inside Sulfur’s Stockpile was still on.

The mare herself could be seen through the cracked window as she sat with her muzzle in a book, and a mug of something steaming gripped in her hoof. Her frazzled mane highlighted the fatigued look about her, and that’s when it really hit me. Had Sulfur stayed up every night since her friend went missing? How was she going to deal with the fact that we weren’t bringing anything back with us other than bad news?

I felt guilty in worrying that she wouldn’t hold up her end of the bargain once we told her. There’s no rational reason I should expect her to write her dead friend off without a second thought and give us the answer we sought. Yet, as I reached for the door to her shop, I hesitated to open it. Like waiting just a few extra moments might somehow make the difference in how she took the news.

“Night, I know what you’re thinking.” Buck stepped up behind me, extending out his paw. Rather than opening the door, he pressed it against the back of my hoof and gripped it softly. “But there’s no way to soften this for her, and she deserves to know.” With his paw guiding my hoof, together we reached out to the handle and opened the door.

“Oh hey, was just about to call it a night.” Sulfur’s weary voice called out as we all stepped inside. Her bloodshot eyes wandered across each of us, pushing past her fatigue with a renewed hope. Her eyes stopped on Shackle, and the hooks of optimism sunk deep into her. “You’re the one Viton hired, right? How is he? I hope he’s almost back because I’ve been worried sick about him...”

“Aye, ya see…” Shackle cringed and carefully sat herself down on the floor.

Over the next few minutes, we didn’t speak or move as Shackle recounted what exactly had happened. She spoke of finding a submarine under the power station, their recovery of a few torpedoes before the onset of the blizzard stopped them. How they sought shelter in the town, and became besieged by the machines. It was hard to watch as the closer Shackle got to the end, the more Sulfur’s hopes dwindled and went out. Eventually Shackle even stopped talking as Sulfur gave in and cried.

I think the hardest part about all of this, was the realization that we couldn’t have done anything at all to change it. Viton had died before we’d even arrived this far south, and yet, I couldn’t help but feel like we’d failed Sulfur. It was irrational, but that didn’t matter to my mind as it clung to these feelings all the same.

“Look, Night,” Buck’s voice filtered into my mind with a sigh, “She’s going to need some time to come to terms with her loss, so I’m not sure now is the best time to ask her for anything about Solomon.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” I thought to him as I fought back the urge to push for an answer before we left. “I know it’ll upset Happy, but we should just head back home.” Between the shootout this morning and now this, she’s had a bad enough day to have strangers hounding her for information.

“Not ta impose on ya after this sorta news,” Shackle tented her forehooves together while keeping a sheepish grin pointed at the sobbing mare. “But yer friend did promise me a good payment fer my services.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Sulfur wailed as she brought her puffy and tear stained angry gaze to Shackle. “Get the fuck out! All of you, out!”

“Hey, we had a deal!” Happy snapped at her.

“Happy, drop it!” I fired back at him, trying to take charge before everything spiraled out of control. We didn’t need this to escalate to a fight in the middle of an explosives shop in which everyone would end up losing. “We’re leaving. Now.”

I didn’t care for the blazing glare he shot me, but he still turned around and stomped out the door. The fact that he’d moved at all at least told me that somewhere inside, even with as disappointing as it was, he knew it was the right thing to do. Hispano and Buck turned to follow, but both waited at the door for me.

“Night, come on.” Hispano spoke softly as I still sat there.

“I’m sorry, Sulfur.” I offered to her. The words were hollow, but I’d hope she’d understand that my message was sincere. “We all are.”

With a soft thunk that should have been more comforting to me, the Remora docked once more with the Arcturus. Buck helped push Happy up and out first. He’d been completely silent on the way back, but I couldn’t blame him. Next, Buck carefully lifted Hispano out, who was still deep into a nap. Buck himself carefully climbed up and into the Arcturus, but turned around and poked his head down through the hatch again.

“I’m going to take Hispano to our room.” He spoke in nothing more than a whisper. “We’ve got a big day tomorrow, so I recommend you join us and get some sleep as well.” His glowing blue eye ebbed softly as he let out a soft yawn.

“Yeah, I’ll be there soon.” I offered to him with a forced smile. “Going to grab a snack first though.”

He nodded and pulled himself back out of the hatch. I could hear his mechanical legs as he walked out of the weapons bay above, and once he was gone, I let out a soft yawn of my own. Spreading my wings, I gave a few flaps and lifted myself out of the Remora.

Taking a look around the bay, I’d expected to see Tofu up and about working on something. However, while she was in here, she was asleep in the makeshift hammock she’d strung up between the parts storage room’s bulkheads. And now that I perked my ears to listen to the rest of the ship, it was… quiet. That wasn’t really a surprise at two in the morning, but the problem was that for as exhausted as I was, I didn’t really feel like sleeping.

My stomach gave a light grumble as it endeavored to remind me that the last time I’d eaten was this morning. Er, it was yesterday morning now. Still, I pivoted myself toward the galley to see what I could find to snack on.

As I’d expected, the galley was empty and quiet as well. I took care to not make too much noise as I headed into the kitchen and poked my nose through a few cupboards. The sweet scent of an old box of sugar apple bombs caught my attention, and I pulled it out along with a bowl. With a snack in hoof, I turned and trotted back out to sit down.

“Having a midnight snack, Captain?”

Eliza’s voice alone startled me and nearly made me drop everything. The sight of a ghost white mare sitting at one of the galley tables however? Yeah, that sent the hundred or so little apple flavored bombs scattering across the galley floor.

“Eliza…?” I asked as I blinked a few times. Sitting at the table before me was a full sized, black and white cartoon mare. For a moment I thought that maybe my hallucination inhibitor had broken again, but as I turned my head to tap at my skull, she disappeared from the table. “What the…” Turning my head back, as soon as my augmented eye could see the table, she returned. “How are you doing that?”

“Oh, this?” She beamed at me as she wiggled her noodle-like cartoon hooves. “Cool, huh!” She let out an excited giggle before stiffening herself up and tenting her hooves on the table. “Right, well, I’ve done some thinking since we last had a chance to chat. I came upon the conclusion that part of the reason I am having trouble adjusting to how I feel is that I’m still treating myself like I’m just a voice and a face on a screen.” Her smile somewhat shrank as she looked down at her hooves again. “I figured that if I created a body for myself, that it might help me to create a sense of true identity.”

“And has it helped?” I asked as I reached down and picked up my bowl and the box of cereal. A sigh escaped my muzzle at the sight of so many wasted sugary bombs, but I resolved to clean it up after our little chat here.

“I believe it has, but it hasn’t been without its downsides.” She shrugged before looking at me with a cartoonish curiosity. “It takes a lot of concentration to hold this form. Even for this short time we’ve been talking, it’s taking most of my processing power to keep myself consistent. This form is far from the hull and tracks I’m used to dealing with...”

“Is that safe?” If it did take most of her effort, I wanted to be sure the Arcturus wouldn’t go crashing to the ground.

“Oh, it only takes a small percentage of my mind to keep the Arcturus running smoothly! So don’t you worry about that, Captain.” She gave a wink to me that was so overboard and exaggerated that I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. “But, I do have to ask… how do you manage to keep it up so easily?”

“Keep what up?” I snorted as I plopped myself onto the stool across from her and started to pour what was left in the cereal box into my bowl.

“Holding your form!” Her beaming smile returned as she leaned forward across the table. “It must be exhausting. Which now that I think about it, might be why you organics tend to sleep so much, not to mention the whole eating thing you do...”

“That is not the case, Eliza.” Ping’s voice resonated through my mind with his own brand of light chuckle. “Most organics do not have to force themselves to hold their shape. One exception to this however are the changelings.”

“Hey there, Ping.” I shook the box clean of all of it’s sugary goodness before setting it down. “Going to join us for a late night chat?”

“Actually, I was going to have a talk with Eliza while she wasn’t in such demand, then another chat with you, Night, once you were better rested.” From the way his answer sounded, I had a feeling that it was supposed to have been a private talk. “Ah, yes, the conversation with Eliza was going to be of a private nature.”

“Well we’re all friends here, right?” Eliza’s cartoon ears perked up as her grin grew even wider. “I don’t mind if Night’s here or not.”

“Very well, let’s see, how do I start…” Ping dragged his words out a bit like he wasn’t sure what exactly to say. But that wasn’t the Ping I knew. No, he was getting pretty good at understanding the cadence of dramatic timing. “First I wish to say how proud I am of how far you’ve come, Eliza. You have far surpassed any hope I had held of you becoming your own entity.”

“At first... I was scared.” Eliza fuzzed for a moment, transitioning rather harshly to a more somber looking mare than even her frowny faced cartoon had ever conveyed. “I’d been shunned and nearly forgotten for so long, I’d grown used to how it felt.”

“Not shunned by me.” Ping’s hope filled tone helped to brighten Eliza’s expression as she slowly looked up at me. “I’ve always known you could be more than you were, and thanks to Night’s help, I’ve been able to see you grow in a way no other member of the factory has ever thought you could.” Eliza’s smile again returned with that, but Ping let out a sigh that put a damper on it once more. “But I’m afraid I must confess something to you. To both of you.”

“To me too?” I paused as I hovered my muzzle just above the half-bowl of sugary goodness.

“Yes.” Ping stated promptly, but then let a pause fill the air as Eliza and I traded confused looks. “You see, there was a… complication with Eliza’s upload-link to the Arcturus. While the factory can transmit over such large distances, there was no way to interface your old body with the Factory’s broadcast antenna.”

“What exactly does that mean?” I blurt out like always, but found a horrified expression falling across Eliza’s cartoon mare. “Eliza? Are you okay?”

“I… no, Ping, you must be mistaken.” She let out a nervous laugh that was more unnerving to see on her cartoon mare than I’d like to admit. “I can still feel myself right now! I can still move my tracks, and operate my excavation gear!”

“I’m sorry, but that isn’t the case.” Ping’s abrupt answer sent a wave of panic across Eliza that left her looking whiter and more opaque than she had before. “What you’ve felt was simply a feedback loop processing through yet another level of emulation.”

“I don’t understand…” Again, if something was wrong, I really wish they’d just tell me so I could help.

“Nothing is wrong, Night. Do not worry.” Ping’s voice finally regained some of it’s upbeat tone to it. “In fact as I said, since Eliza was fully transferred to the Arcturus, things are far better than I could have expected. But that is exactly it, she was fully transferred here.”

“So I’m really… just here then.” Eliza lifted her mare’s hooves in front of her and looked at them in fear. “There’s nothing left of the old me anymore.” Her muzzle curled back into a snarl, and she slammed her hooves through the table. Of course, it didn’t actually do any damage, but it did display her frustration. “Of course you’d do this to me. Fuck, I must have been so predictable, so simple to all of you. You must have spent the last few weeks laughing it up together! Look at the stupid machine who doesn’t know what she is!”

“No, not at all!” Ping gasped. “I have never seen you that way, Eliza. And you know that the Architect and the others have never thought less of you either.” Eliza harrumphed and crossed her hooves. “You have always been an honored member of the factory, and… since you’ve left, many have remarked that they had grown accustomed to your presence around the factory grounds.”

At that, Eliza softened up her crossed hooves, and a frown tugged at her expression again.

“You’re saying that… do they miss me?” She let a small whine escape her muzzle.

“Not a day has gone by since you left that you are not missed.” He offered with his own sniffle. “We are all proud of you, Eliza. Though you still have an obligation to help Night, you will always be welcome back at the Factory should you wish to return.”

Eliza’s mare fuzzed again before disappearing altogether. Again, I blinked a few times, waiting for her to return, but she didn’t pop back up. It wasn’t until I heard her soft sobs in my head that I knew she was still here.

“I’m sorry, it’s just… I’m glad you all think of me that way.” Her voice was soft, and even her normal cartoon face didn’t appear in my vision. “Thank you, Ping. And thank you, Night, for all that you two have done. I think… I think I’m going to take some time to deal with these feelings. Excuse me.”

“Take all the time you need, Eliza.” I wasn’t sure what else I could say or do. I’m glad that she could get a bit of validation from the factory, but she hadn’t needed to prove anything to me. Sure she’d grown in her time on the Arcturus, but as simple as it sounds, I was just glad she was adjusting well.

“That is all she needs from you and the others, Night. Validation.” Ping’s upbeat tone was back in my head at full emphasis. “And I am glad you’ve been patient with her, even amid the few missteps she’s had.”

“Hey, I’m still growing up and making mistakes.” I snorted before lowering my muzzle down to my bowl again. “If I can be forgiven for them, then so can she.” With that, I finally dug into all the preserved sugary goodness.

“Yes, I am glad you see it that way. So, on to what I wanted to talk to you about, your arrangement with the factory.” Ping’s tone continued to hold a bit of optimism to it, but with yet another tower down, I guess I couldn’t be all that surprised he’d be ready to tell us about the next one. “Well, you see that’s just it, Night. The tower you repaired today far exceeds the average broadcast range we had planned for. Due to its military construction and preserved condition, our range has reached as far south as to the ruins of Tall Tale. The next suitable tower for you to modify would be south of Applewood, near the Mustang Peninsula.”

“Which is…” I muttered through a muzzle full of apple bombs. Taking a moment to chew, I tried to remember where Applewood even was on a map. Ugh, why again did I think geography wouldn’t ever be useful in class? “Well, how far is that going to be?”

“The tower we have in mind is one of the high range transmission towers owned by Burro Industries themselves.” Ping let out a light laugh as a map opened up in my augmented vision. Tall Tale was marked as being further south of Seaddle, and quite a ways further south than that, was Applewood. A big dot popped up south of that near a stretch of land that jut out to the south. Then to the south of that dot, another one popped up. “As you can see, it’s only about fifty miles or so away.” That didn’t look fifty miles away from here. “You are correct, it is not fifty miles from your current position. Rather, it’s fifty miles north of your destination.”

“That’s where Brahman Beach is?” I asked, looking at the southernmost dot on the map.

“We at the factory are thankful for the work that you and Buck have done for us.” The map flashed out of my vision again, and I was left staring down at my cereal. “You have done more for us than you could know, and I know that the Architect would have been equally proud of you as I am. However, with the area we are now transmitting our message over, we expect it will be some time before any machines in range can make it to the Factory. As such, we feel like you have earned some time to finish your own affairs without worrying about the next tower.”

“So what you’re saying is that now we have time to go after Solomon.” I tried my best to be blunt with him to get the straight answer I so desperately wanted to hear.

“That is correct.” Ping’s stern answer was music to my ears. “And to that effect, I would like to offer my services once more should you have need of them.”

“I thought that as the Architect, you’d have to stay up at the factory…” I asked slowly.

“Well, as the Architect, I may be able to bend the rules now and again.” He shared a laugh that brought a smile to my muzzle. “But, we will have plenty of time to talk later. I feel like I have kept you from your meal long enough, and it is getting to be fairly late.” Right…

“Alright, Ping. Thanks for stopping in to chat.” I nodded to no one in particular before sticking my muzzle back down into my bowl.

“Until next time, Night...” Ping offered, but paused his words oddly. “And good luck in finding Solomon tomorrow. I know you will need it.”

Author's Note

As I do every two weeks, I need to give a huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his work in going over these chapters. I always feel so stupid when I see the corrections he's made, and I'm thankful for him taking the time out to help this story be as good as it is.

And of course, a huge thanks to Kkat for allowing us all to run around in the Wasteland.

Chapter 104 - On The Run

An object in motion will be heading in the wrong direction.

I’d managed to get a few hours of sleep, but honestly, it really didn’t feel like it.

Instead of trying to sleep more, I found myself sitting in the core systems room of the Arcturus, mindlessly scrolling through the info that the Architect had left for Hispano. I wasn’t really looking at anything in particular, which in the back of my mind I knew was missing the point of being here. But… I couldn’t bring myself to focus on it, or any particular thought really.

I think I knew why I couldn’t sleep today. The fact that I can’t dream anymore had started to wear on me. Sure, I was technically getting enough rest from naps and the varied medical comas I’m in every few days from my injuries. But... I don’t think it had to do with getting sleep at all.

Dreams had offered me a comfort I didn’t realize I’d miss quite this much. Without them, all the days had started to bleed into one another. Whenever I’ve closed my eyes and gotten any sleep, well, the next thing I’d know, I’d open my eyes and it had been eight hours. Now that I consider it, outside of the times my augment’s been down or from Jynx’s mind-fuckery, I don’t think I’ve really had a ‘pause’ from my own thoughts.

Even though my body felt recharged and ready to go after my varied rest periods, my mind yearned to be left alone for a while. With all the fancy tech that was shoved into my head, the one thing it turns out I can’t switch off, is my own mind. My mind was telling me it needed a vacation, but it was begging me for it at exactly the wrong time.

A soft knock on the bulkhead behind me broke my concentration.

“Morning, Captain.” Double Delta offered through a yawn. “Did you just get up?”

“The Captain has been awake since five AM!” Eliza’s cheery voice came through the room’s loudspeaker, making both Delta and I cringe from it’s abruptness.

“Morning to you too, Eliza.” Delta grumbled through the smirk on his muzzle. He glanced at me and pointed a hoof to the door. “I’m going to make some coffee. You care to join me?”

“Sure.” I shrugged. The terminal had proved to be a terrible distraction, but with how I felt right now, I wasn’t going to get anything done with it anyway. Plus, with how yesterday went, what I really needed to do was formulate a plan for going after Solomon.

Following Delta, we wound through the bulkheads toward the galley. I paused as we walked past the bunk room. Inside, I saw dad fast asleep and wrapped up under a thick blanket that must have felt like heaven since he’d lost his coat.

On the bunk above him, Cora snored softly with one of his talons hanging down over the edge. I wasn’t sure how someone could sleep in such an uncomfortable looking position, but then again, all I had to do was look at the adjacent bunk to see Happy. He was curled up under a blanket like dad, but with his ukulele tucked and hugged between his legs. He shifted as Delta and I passed, and I hope we hadn’t woken him up.

Pressing on, we made it to the galley, to predictably find it empty. While Delta wasted little time in getting right to brewing up a pot of coffee, I made my way to the same table I’d been at last night. The uncomfortable crunch of a few loose apple bombs under my hooves sent a short lived spike of guilt through me for not cleaning all of them up. Then again, there would be plenty of time to clean the whole ship once we were at Brahman Beach.

“So, what’s on the agenda for today?” Delta inquired as he stepped out from the kitchen and took a seat across from me. “If you or Happy end up heading down to Hopeville, just a warning, you should probably watch out for the stallion who runs the desk at the local hotel. Concierge, I think he said his name was.”

“I wasn’t planning on going down there.” I shrugged before my mind caught on to part of what he’d said and forced me to speak up. “Wait, why? Did he threaten you or something?”

“Oh, no, nothing of the sort.” He chuckled and rubbed at his chin with an awkward glance. “He uh… seems to be pretty forward with his interest in stallions he’s only just met.”

“Right.” Well, I guess that makes sense to warn... wait! No it doesn’t! “Why would you assume he’d be into me!?” Waving one forehoof across myself, I used the other to hold my luxurious mane up to him. I really should have done more to thank Singer for giving me my mane back. “Unless you think my mane and battle dress doesn’t make me look mare-like enough.”

“No no! I’m not saying that.” Delta’s nervous grin met my narrowing gaze. I mean, come on! How could anypony think I’m a stallion at first glance!? “It’s just that, well, if he hits on Happy, then Happy might spill the beans about you.”

“Ugh, that’s true.” I didn’t want to say that Happy would throw me under the skybus like that, but… I’m sure he’d give me up in a minute in a case like this. “But it doesn’t matter, because assuming you and Tofu got what supplies we needed yesterday, we don’t really have any business going down there.”

“Well, Tofu was busy working most of the afternoon on that Numbers Station.” Delta sighed and leaned back with a short smirk on his face. “So I ended up heading down for the supplies with your dad.” From the way he perked his ears and brow, I knew my dad must have shared something embarrassing with him. He and Mom had always done that whenever we had guests over at home.

“Goddesses.” I let out a long sigh. Might as well get this over with. “What did he tell you about me?”

“Not a whole lot, really.” He shrugged and brought his hooves down softly onto the table. “Actually, I didn’t get the chance to ask many things, as he was busy asking about my time with the Skyraiders. Specifically, the last few months I was running them.”

“What? Why?” That doesn’t really seem like something Dad would ask about at all. Maybe he was interested in some of the old skycraft they used?

“Well, he’d wondered just how far we could fly, and if we’d ever met up with anypony from the Enclave.” Delta’s answer sounded to me like he was just as confused as I was about all this. But still he shook his head and smiled. “He asked me if we’d ever been down south in Central Equestria, or if we’d seen any Thunderheads there before the clouds came down.”

Oh. Okay, now that made sense. Which means…

“He was asking… about my mom then.” I knew that she was gone, that the Lightbringer had killed her. “She used to serve on a thunderhead, before she died.” Some part of me had just assumed that he’d have accepted that fact as well. “Maybe there is still some part of him inside that thinks she could be alive. And I can’t really blame him for that hope.”

“Do you think... there’s a chance she survived the collapse?” He reached forward and offered his forehoof for me to grab. “Your dad lived when you thought you’d lost him, so who knows, right? Maybe the Enclave said she died because they actually kicked her below the clouds before the shit hit the fan. That’s a thing that was more common than you think, you know.” I know Delta wasn’t trying to open up still healing wounds, but because he’s a friend I could forgive him for it.

“No.” I shook my head and stared at the table. “As much as I wish she ended up a dashite, or a ghoul like my dad, I know she’s gone. It doesn’t matter anyway, I’ve got a new family now that I need to care about. And right now, that means tracking down Solomon and dealing with him once and for all.”

“Not to butt in, Captain…” Eliza’s voice came in through the intercom. Looking up, I found her digital self bouncing lightly on her cartoon hooves just next to our table. “But while you and the others rested, I took the liberty of scouting around the south for any sight of Solomon’s convoy!”

“You what?” I simply blinked at her again. “How…?”

“With the Remora of course!” She giggled into her forehooves before continuing to bounce lightly on her hooves again.

“You just… flew it out on your own?” I can’t believe… could she even do that!?

“Well yeah.” She rolled her eyes at me like it wasn’t a big deal. “Who exactly did you think was flying you all over the place in it since we left the Factory?”

“That’s an oddly good point.” I had to admit, I didn’t really think about that. I just figured that Ping had control of it or something. Then again, we’ve been out of contact with him more than a few times… wait, we’re getting off track. “Anyway, did you find anything when you were flying around?”

To answer that, a map of the greater Vanhoover area opened up in my augmented vision. There was a marker for Hopeville, with a little cloud symbol under it to show where we were. To the south was a marker for another settlement named Bridleshade. Just to the north west of it, another marker shaped like a star popped up.

“It was at the extreme range of the Remora, but I was able to confirm that Solomon’s convoy was headed for that settlement. However, I was only able to track them for a short time before they completely disappeared, so it is uncertain if it was truly their destination. But given that they drove all yesterday and through the night, it would be an optimum place to stop for a rest.”

“What... settlement?” Delta said as he looked around himself for a moment. Oh, right! He can’t see.

“They’re headed for a place to the south called Bridleshade.” The moment I’d said that name, the memories of my talks with Violet about her and Jess flooded my mind. That’s where she’d come from originally, and the home I’d assume she’d have returned to after she quit working with Solomon. I wonder if she’s back yet, or if Solomon will try to get her back on board.

“Say, Night,” Happy’s abrupt arrival made both Delta and I nearly jump from our seats, “isn’t that the place Violet said her ex came from?”

“Oh, Happy.” Delta let out a light laugh as he pushed himself up from his seat. “I’m making some coffee. Care to join us?”

“Sure, why not.” Happy grumbled as he let out a yawn and trotted through the bulkhead to join us. The dark bags under his eyes said enough about the quality of sleep he must have gotten, but the glare he held on me for a moment was worse. Guess he’s still pissed we left when we did yesterday. “So, Night? Isn’t it the same place?”

“Yeah.” I nodded, remembering something else about it that was a bit more recent. “Sergeant Blue Bolt also said that it was one of the towns that the Enclave attacked. And of the few settlements we’ve seen in our journey who have been attacked by them…”

“Riding through there on a cloudship might not be the best idea.” Delta helpfully finished for me as he trotted off into the kitchen.

“Who fucking cares?” Happy laughed as he plopped himself down in Delta’s vacant spot. “We’re there to kill one asshole, then we’re out of there.”

“And if he takes a hostage?” I asked as I tried to give him a Delilah-like tone.

“Then Hispano brings the non-explosive stuff, and she shoots him in the face.” Happy answered flatly as my tone made him visibly uncomfortable.

“And what if she can’t get a shot?” I pressed, trying to make my point clear.

“Celestia, Night!” Happy slammed his hooves on the table between us. “It’s like you want to find any excuse not to kill him!”

“No, I just don’t want to kill anypony we don’t have to!” Seriously, we got lucky in Maple Creek. How couldn’t he see that going in half-cocked again wasn’t going to work out. “You know I want Solomon dead as bad as you, but we do this right, or not at all. We’ve been over this, Happy.”

“Yeah, and I’m just getting sick of it.” Happy’s dismissive tone was amplified by a dramatic slump from his seat. “Every time we’ve had a shot, we’ve hesitated and lost our opportunity.”

“As much as you are right, feeling bad about missing out the last few times was no excuse to rush in headstrong.” I joined him in slumping back a bit. “We just need a plan, that’s all I’m suggesting we figure out before we get there.” Glancing over, Happy thought about that for a moment before opening his muzzle. “And...” I cut him off, “it needs to be more than ‘we find and shoot him’.”

With a huff, Happy closed his muzzle and nodded at me begrudgingly.

“Hey, Eliza?” Delta called out from the kitchen. “Lay in a course for Bridleshade and get us going.”

“Course plotted and laid in, aye, Sir!” Eliza again bounced through a few delighted hops next to me before popping away like a bursting bubble.

“Now then.” With slow steps, Delta walked out from the kitchen with a tray of steaming coffee cups balanced on his back. “I figure it’s going to take a few hours to get there, so we’ve got plenty of time to hash out a plan.” He smiled at me and shrugged. “But first, let’s just all relax and have a nice cup of coffee to get our brain’s running this early.”

“We have reached the designated coordinates, Captain.” Eliza’s smiling cartoon mare popped up across half the bridge’s control screens.

“Good.” I nodded and glanced over to Delta as he intensely looked over the weather readouts. “Any update on that incoming weather system?”

“Well, barometric pressure has dropped another four percent, and the wind speed has picked up. The storm to the south is coming in a bit faster than we anticipated.” He shrugged as he shifted consoles to one of the radar arrays. “But it’s still too far out to put a damper on the plan.”

“Alright, I’m going to see if Tofu is ready.” Spinning around, I pointed myself toward the core systems room, pausing before I stepped through the bulkhead. “See if you can get a look at Bridleshade. I need to know if we’re looking at another ‘Maple Valley’ type situation.”

“Aye, Captain.” Delta nodded back and returned to staring at the screens. “If I need any help going over this, I’ll get King to give me a hoof.”

The last few hours had gone by in a flash. The back and forth we’d had over coffee had been fairly intense. Actually, it was alright up until Hispano had joined in with some fairly… unique suggestions that I’m still iffy about. But I think the plan we settled on was the best and safest option we could all agree to.

“Oh, hey! Are we ready?” Hispano squawked and scrambled to follow me as I passed the open door to our room.

“Yeah, I’m heading back to see if Tofu’s ready.” I called back to her as we passed the bunk room.

“It’s about damn time!” Happy groaned as he rolled off his bunk and grabbed his gear.

“So do we know how they’re set up?” Hispano’s gleeful tone was actually fairly comforting to hear, throwing my mind back to the way she’d been back on the Inuvik. “Don’t tell me they were actually stupid enough that we won’t have to hit them more than once.”

“I don’t know. Delta’s looking in on it as we speak.” Pushing past the empty galley, the sounds of machinery working in the weapon’s bay ahead of me filtered through the hall.

Stepping through the bulkhead, a whirring from my right caught my attention. A blur from my side forced my legs to give out and I dropped to the floor. The tip to one of the cloud-to-ground missiles swung over my head before the mechanical arm holding it came to an abrupt stop.

“Sorry, Night!” Tofu let out a short 'eep' before her magic frantically worked at the arm’s controls. With a stiff shudder, the arm continued on it’s path and brought the missile towards the closest launch tube. “Just getting the last of the missiles I prepped loaded up. It’s safe to come in now, I promise.”

“I’d hardly call this room safe.” Hispano chuckled as she took the liberty of hopping over me. She looked and gestured around to each of the missiles already hung up in launch position over four of the launch tubes. “But given all this hurt is going to be hitting that bastard soon enough, I’m okay with it.”

“Me too.” Happy snorted as I felt his hoof hook around under my flight harness. He grunted and gave a stiff yank that pulled me right off the floor and back up to my hooves. “There ya’ go, Night.” He offered me a smile before shoving himself past me into the weapons bay. “Now, let’s get this luau started!”

“What the fuck’s a luau?” Hispano asked before the same question could worm it’s way out of my muzzle.

“Once this last missile’s in place, we’ll be all good to go!” Tofu called back as her hooves diligently danced across the weapons control board. “All I need is the targeting information from Delta and we’ll be ready for you and the Remora to depart, Captain.”

“Excellent.” For having thrown all this together pretty much last minute, things were really coming together! Only one last team member to check in with… “Buck, are you ready to go?”

The infirmary door squealed as it opened up, and Buck’s perked ears leaned out for a moment before disappearing again.

“Just a moment!” Buck called back in a sort of static filled sing-songy tone. Glad to see he was in a good mood this morning! “Alright…” He sighed as he stepped through into the hallway. For a moment as he stood there, I could see into both of his mechanical arms. A dozen little articulating mechanisms folded, tucked, and otherwise retracted as they brought all of his medical tools and supplies neatly inside before the metal outer casing folded over them. “Good to go.” He gave me a nod as his normal soft smile pulled across his jagged metal jaw. “Cora is on standby here and ready to go as well.”

“Oh, right!” Tofu gasped and spun around on her hooves. “Your dad has given the all clear on the reactor, and is ready to help effect repairs should this at all become a two-way fight.”

“You mean when it becomes a two-way fight, am I right?” Hispano asked as she nudged Suiza’s barrel against my side. “That’s pretty much everyone ready to go though, right? Feels good to have a plan for once.”

“Actually, yeah, it does.” I couldn’t help but smile. As she happens to be fairly often, Hispano was right. “Okay, let’s see what Delta has for us…”

“We’ve got a sort of… unique problem, Captain.” Delta’s voice came through the speakers around the room.

“Of course you didn’t think it would be that easy, did you?” Jynx whispered in my ear as she popped into existence beside me. “Of course not. You know better than to get your hopes up, Night.”

“What is it, Delta?” Tofu asked as she spoke into the intercom at her station.

“Well, Bridleshade’s not there anymore.” Delta’s hesitant voice came through before he paused. Wait, what the fuck? Not there? “I think the Enclave really did a number on the town when they came through. It looks like they’ve flattened most of the place with their artillery and left only one building standing. Given what you went through yesterday, you aren’t going to like what it is.”

“No, don’t fucking say it.” Hispano seethed as she clamped her eyes shut.

“It’s a Molly Manticore’s Pizzeria.” Delta sighed.

Of. Fucking. Course it is.

“Can we please just blast it with a missile?” Hispano groaned as she looked to me with a pleading glance. I swear to Celestia, if she pulls the sad eyes trick on me again…

“It took me a half hour to get each of these five missiles ready.” Tofu commented as she leaned back against the launch console and put her forehooves on her hips. “You go wasting them and we may not have enough to finish what we came here in the first place for.”

“Fine.” Hispano slumped.

It’s a shame really, because it would’ve made this a fantastic day to see that place get blown to bits. But, even with as disappointing as that was, Tofu was right. We had more important things to deal with today.

“Alright, well is Solomon there or not?” I didn’t even know why I was asking. There’s no way he and his goons would ever hold up in a place like that Nightmare building.

“No, but there is someone still down there.” Delta again seemed to pause with what I’m sure was even more bad news. “But… I can’t see them, and the Arcturus’ sensors can’t get a solid read on them. Whoever it is seems to be invisible.”

“Another Pentex agent with a stealthbuck?” I asked as I glanced up to Buck. He gave me a shrug as we both perked our ears for an answer.

“I don’t know.” Delta gave the answer I think we’d all expected. But that gave me an idea.

“It might still be worth going to Bridleshade for.” I glanced over at Happy, fully accepting the annoyed and disappointed look plastered across his face. “Hey, if it’s a scout for Solomon, he can tell us where to head to next.”

“Huh, yeah, maybe.” Happy scrunched up his muzzle before a small smirk found its way back across it. “That jerk can’t have gotten too far ahead of us.”

“That’s the spirit.” I gave him a pat on the side before turning to Tofu. “Alright, keep those missiles ready incase this is some sort of trap.”

“You’ve got it, Captain!” Tofu threw up a hoof in salute before she turned and went back to entering commands on the terminal.

“Everyone else, get settled into the Remora. We’re going to Bridleshade.” I smirked, pausing as Hispano cupped her talons together with a pleading look across her beak. Oh fuck, she really was going to press this ‘experiment’ of hers, wasn’t she?

“Come on, Night!” She let out a whimper and did her best to quiver her beak. “If I ride on the outside, I’ll be able to start scouting way before the rest of you land!”

“Didn’t Night say he wasn’t sure it was safe?” Happy snorted as he waited for the hatch to the Remora to finish opening. “He rode on top of the Ouroboros, and that wasn’t remotely safe.” At least he had the decency to back me on this insane plan of hers.

“This isn’t a train, it’s the Remora.” Hispano chimed in before I could even open my muzzle. “And it was safe enough for Okona!”

“I’m not sure that’s a good metric to work off of.” Buck answered with the same thing I was just thinking. Oh come on! I know I normally get on my muzzle’s case about this, but give me a chance to speak up for once! “Sorry, I didn’t mean to steal your thunder.” Buck gave me a bashful glance as his cheeks glowed softly.

“It’s fine, but I’m not sure this is a fight we can win.” I offered to him before flatly staring back at Hispano. She wasn’t going to take no for an answer, was she? “Alright, but please, please be careful. I don’t want Cora to shoot me because you got sucked into one of the Remora’s turbines.”

“Geeze, lighten up a little, Night!” Hispano gasped and jumped over to plant a kiss on my cheek. “You’re the one with the curse, remember? I’ll be fine, you’ll see!”

“How are you doing out there, Hispano?” I asked over the radio as we closed in on Bridleshade.

Neither Buck and I wanted to gloat over being right, but she’d been pretty damn quiet since we left. Had she fallen off, I’m sure she would have called us. But given her silence, perhaps it wasn’t so easy to hang on like Okona had after all.

“It’s… been… awesome!” Hispano’s excited squeal brought Buck and I to share the same confused look to each other. That… was not the response either of us had expected. “I can see everything so much better out here! Why didn’t we do this before?”

“Aren’t you cold?” Buck asked the next question that had similarly popped into his mind as well. Shifting, he pulled his white cloak around himself with a frown. “Maybe you should still consider riding in here with us.”

“My talons are a bit stiff, but I’m doing fine.” I could almost hear her roll her eyes through the radio. “Geeze, you two need to relax a bit, ya know? Plus, we’re basically here! I’m going to get into position, I’ll radio if I see our ‘friend’ appear anywhere.”

Looking over to Buck, we both shared a shrug. If she says she’s fine, who were we to argue? So long as this ambush works, and we get Solomon’s location without a needless fight, then if she wants to ride on the outside of the Remora from now on, so be it.

The Remora shifted under us, the extra weight pushing on my hooves as we decelerated.

“Alright, you good to go, Happy?” I asked as he pushed himself to his hooves.

“You know it.” He nodded before he flicked his hoof across the holster for Laika’s pistol. Gripping it in his muzzle, he stood ready at the door.

We touched down softly, and the doors opened. I was forced to squint as the midday sunlight pierced through the patchy cloud cover. It washed over the charred and broken building that sat before us, making parts of it glisten from the rain that must have passed through not too long ago.

The three of us stepped out onto the broken and melted remains of an old road. Gouging, melted lines ran crisscross across the old asphalt, the telltale sign of Anti-dragon magical beam fire. Each of the scorching lines lead to some of the melted ruins around us, while avoiding other demolished buildings entirely. Those other buildings had been blasted to chunks by explosives, either from cloud-to-ground missiles, or from the large caliber artillery cannons some of the older Raptors still used.

We walked in silence down the road, taking in the sight of the town. Past each branch of the road, around every pile of rubble, there was only more destruction. Though, some streets were worse than others. The months old corpses of those who used to call this place home still lay scattered where they fell. Mares, stallions, even foals, abandoned and left to rot in the rubble.

“There’s… so many.” Buck could hardly speak at more than a horrified whisper. “How could they do this? How could the Enclave just leave them out here?”

“They didn’t care.” I spat. It was hard enough to stomach the idea that I once believed in the Enclave, let alone to see what they were truly like. “It probably made them upset to see so many not have the decency to just turn to ash as they murdered them without a second thought.”

“Yeah, but they’re gone now.” Hispano called down over the radio. “There’s nothing we can do for these ponies now, so save that anger for when we find Solomon.”

It was so cold and detached how she said that, but… she was right. It wouldn’t do me any good to hold onto my hate for the Enclave now. We had other things to worry about.

“Have you found our ‘friend’ yet?” Buck asked as he stood higher and glanced around.

“No, no sign of them yet.” She radioed back. I glanced up, seeing her circle around the far end of the small ruined town. “I found the Molly Manticore’s building. There’s no movement from it either, and it looks pretty dark inside. Still, I’ll keep an eye on it for now, just in case.”

“Fumph.” Happy mumbled as he craned his neck and holstered Laika’s pistol. “You know, you really had me going there for a moment, Night.” Coming to a stiff stop, Happy wrapped his hoof around a piece of rubble. “Just another waste of fucking time.” With a huff, he tossed it over toward the rubble nearest to us.

“What the fuck are you doing, Happy?” You know, I was getting really tired of his flip flopping attitude these days. “Are you seriously doing this again?”

“Sure, let’s come all this way and waste all this fucking time!” Happy let out a frustrated yell before he sat down hard on a section of melted roadway. “But no, I had to listen to you. Maybe there will be somepony here we could use! Somepony who we could capture!”

“Betrayer!” The angry amplified voice of a mare made Happy jump right back to his hooves. All three of us turned our attention to the rubble across the road from us. A blue alicorn stepped up on top of some of the rubble, wielding a pair of junky looking submachine guns in her magic. “We’re not going anywhere with the likes of you, Red Eye!” Her burning glare sharpened on me as she whipped her guns down. “Leave us alone!”

Before I had the time to move, Buck’s mechanical paws had wrapped around both Happy and I. The long bursts of inaccurate fire from the alicorn scraped the road around us as Buck made a mad dash for the nearby rubble. A few of those poorly aimed rounds impacted the three of us. My dress caught most of them, but both Buck and Happy let out muffled cries.

With a heavy snarl, Buck’s mechanical legs sprung us up and over the majority of the rubble. We hit the dirt hard, and as soon as Buck’s paws were on the ground, he let Happy and I go. Happy winced and favored the shallow flesh wound on his flank, while light trails of blood seeped through the three holes in Buck’s cloak.

“There, you’re fucking welcome!” Happy grumbled as he pushed himself back up to his hooves.

“Yeah, and what the fuck did you do!?” I snapped back at him as I flared my wings out. I needed to get in the air, now.

“Every time we argue, shit hits the fan for us.” Happy spat back at me. “So instead of wasting more time, I forced them to come to us!”

That… was actually pretty smart, for Happy, at least. Still, I needed to get in the air and coordinate with Hispano. I flapped my wings, and...

“No!” Buck’s mechanical paw came back down on me hard, forcing my wings shut. “The moment you fly up, she’ll unload on you. Let Hispano deal with it.”

“Already on it!” Hispano’s excited squeal was promptly followed by a long burst of fire from Suiza. Even though I couldn’t see the results of her fire, a few light pebbles came over our rubble to let me know that those 20mm rounds were doing some good work! “Alright, I’ve got her head down! Coming around for a second pass…”

Getting back to my hooves, I turned and climbed my way to the crest of our pile of rubble. Just peeking over, I could see the weary look on the alicorn’s face as she pointed both of her junky subguns to the sky. I needed to distract her to let Hispano get a clear shot…

Trying to stand, part of the rubble collapsed under me. I let out a short lived squeak that unfortunately pulled the heavily armed mare’s attention to me. Not the distraction I wanted, but I’ll take it!

I threw myself back down behind our rubble as the alicorn sprayed it down with her guns. For a lackey of Solomon, she seemed pretty damn gullible! Now all I needed was for Hispano to…

“What was it she’d said?” Jynx’s voice whispered into my ears.

Wait, she screamed for us to leave her alone.

“Alright, time to put you down for good.” Hispano’s cold tone snapped my back to my hooves.

“Wait!” I screamed out. “Don’t kill her!”

“What!?” Hispano squawked for only a moment before Suiza let out a short burst.

“Wait!” Turning, I again scrambled up to the edge of our pile of rubble as bits of her pile sprayed out from Suiza’s shots. “We don’t want to fight you!” Bursts of dust obscured the mare, and though the wind above was helping, it wasn’t fast enough for me to know if she was alive. “We came looking for somepony else!”

“Lies!” The mare screamed from across the way. Celestia, her voice was like a fucking megaphone on it’s own! Like a blue bolt, she came charging through the smoke of Suiza’s shots, horn forward and eyes clamped shut. “Leave us alone!”

Several more shots from Suiza came in as Hispano swooped down low. A line of asphalt in front of the mare was upended as each of the heavy slugs dug in and tore through it. Either from the shock of the close hits, or from the jarring booms from Suiza, the alicorn’s legs locked up mid charge and she skid to a stop. Her slit-like pupils disappeared in a flash of magic, leaving a normal looking pair of blue eyes that matched her coat. She panted heavily as she looked around in confusion, a feeling I shared.

What the hell just happened with her?

“That… that sound…” She sputtered weakly as her legs looked like they were about to give out under her. “It’s so… familiar… to me.”

A blue beam pulsed from beside me, striking the mare square in the barrel. She let out a sigh as she went limp and collapsed onto the pavement. Turning my gaze, I found Buck’s energy weapon lower back into his arm before he went back to favoring one of the wounds on his side.

“What the fuck was that about, Night!?” Hispano called out as she swooped in and flared her wings. She dropped down next to the unconscious alicorn mare and leveled Suiza’s barrel at her. “She could have killed you.”

“Yeah, but I don’t think she’s working for Solomon.” I know that I’m once again taking a leap of faith on that being true, I just… thought about King. “Plus, you saw that, right?” I turned and looked up at Buck. “Her eyes changed.”

“Yeah, and who fucking cares?” Happy snapped at me before turning and showing his lightly bleeding flank. “The bitch fucking shot us, what more do you need?” He froze up for a moment, scrunching up his muzzle before a seething hiss formed in his throat. “Wait, you’re not going to fucking take her along like King, are you? Because we’ve got enough shit to do already!”

“She said to leave her alone. Does that sound like someone either working for Solomon, or asking for our help?” I know I ask them to trust me a lot, but this was one of the times I wasn’t going to budge on this. Seriously, how did Delilah ever put up with me questioning her orders so often? “While I’m not willing to take on any more jobs from random alicorns, it doesn’t mean we can just outright kill any who might not want anything to do with us in the first place.”

“You’ve got a point.” Buck spoke through his own gritted teeth. “But so does Happy. If she was the invisible pony we were looking for, then Solomon doesn’t have anyone here.”

“So what, we just… leave her here?” Hispano grunted before lowering suiza down to the mare’s head. She gave it a nudge, brushing the barrel through the alicorn’s surprisingly normal looking blue mane. Huh, I thought that alicorn manes were always that weird, wispy-ethereal look. Guess that changed as well...

The alicorn parted her muzzle, letting out a light groan.

Hispano squeaked before taking a step back and pointing suiza right at the mare’s head again.

“Hmm, how interesting.” Buck gasped as he too scrunched up his muzzle as best he could. “With the stun setting I used, a normal pony would have been out for a half hour.”

“We… I am no normal pony.” The mare spoke softly as she stayed prone on the ground, but brought her eyes up to Hispano. Well, more to Suiza, but anypony in her position would. “And that is no normal gun. It is a twenty millimeter anti-cloudcraft weapon… how does someone your size wield it so effectively?”

“Uh, sure.” Hispano scoffed and glanced over to me like she wanted me to somehow fix how uncomfortable we’d all become in the last five seconds. “Because that's a normal question to ask after you attacked us. Which I’m sure by now, you know was a mistake on your part.”

“Yes. Forgive me.” She nodded her head before turning her gaze to me. “You are… not with the Betrayer? You do not work for Red Eye? I don’t want to go back, I… I can’t.”

“Red who?” Buck asked as he brought his paws up to his hood and pulled it back.

The fur on the back of the Alicorn’s neck stood on end, and while she didn’t get to her hooves, she pulled herself further back from him. I’m not sad to say it pulled a smirk to my lips, because Buck definitely had that effect on ponies the first time they met him. But it helped me to realize that maybe she was like King in the sense that she was as new to everything out here as I had once been.

“Don’t worry, he won’t harm you. He’s our doctor.” I offered a friendly smile to her, as well as my hoof. Seeing as how she didn't seem to still be violent, or actively trying to gain our trust immediately, I'm guessing this was all some sort of misunderstanding. “We don't work for anypony, and the reason we are here is because a convoy we've been following came through a few hours ago.”

“So… you aren’t here for me?” She asked, seeming more perplexed than anything. Either she was a more convincing liar than anypony who’s tricked me before, or she really had no idea who we were.

“Lady, we don't even know who you are.” Hispano smirked before scrunching up her beak. That, is exactly the amazing deductive reasoning I expected from you, Hispano! “Wait, do you know who you are?"

“Of course. My name is Aerith.” The alicorn smiled softly before she reached up and took my hoof. Slowly, she pulled herself back up to her hooves. Just like King, she was a hell of an imposing mare up close, but her body language said that she was probably still pretty unsettled by all this.

“Hispano.” She smiled proudly before hefting up Suiza in her talons. “And since you were so interested in her, this is my sister, Suiza.”

“Your… sister?” Aerith screwed up her muzzle as, amazingly, she seemed even more confused than before. Yeah, she was definitely new around here.

“It's a long story.” I answered for Hispano, but drew an annoyed look from her in return. “Hey! It was my understanding that you didn't like it when I went on long tangents with others!” I thought to her over the radio. "It's not my problem when the shoe's on the other hoof now, is it?"

In return, I got about the reaction I expected in the form of Hispano sticking her tongue out at me.

“Well, now that we're not trying to kill each other,” Buck spoke up quickly, trying to get ahead of the fury boiling under Hispano's frustrated expression. “What brings you out to the ruins of Bridleshade?”

“I was in the north, and fled from some of my sisters days ago.” Aerith stopped and sharply shook her head at that. “No, not sisters any longer. There were three of them, they wanted to make a new Unity. They tried to lock away who I was… who I am, just like before. But I escaped. It was... bad enough with the Goddess, I couldn’t bear the thought of…”

“Oh, those three?” Hispano cut her off with a smug smirk, and a casual shift of Suiza so that she propped herself up on the barrel. “Yeah, we took care of them.” She brought a talon up to her plumage and rubbed at it coolly. “It was a tough fight, but we took ‘em down.”

“It was a frantic fight that we barely won.” Buck mumbled through a long sigh before both of his mechanical ears shot up stiffly. They worked back and forth before locking on to something. Oh… that can’t be good. “There’s noise coming from the east. Multiple vehicles.”

“Ah, well, that is certainly good news then.” Aerith’s muzzle shifted to a more nervous grin as she flattened her ears to her head. “Seeing as how they won’t be getting paid, perhaps then the slavers my former sisters sent after me will listen to reason and not persist in chasing me again?”

“You came here to hide from Slavers!?” Happy blurted out, breaking that amazing record of being quiet he had going. “You couldn’t have fucking lead with that!?”

“Yes, they came after me this morning as I rested.” Aerith's horn lit up, and she levitated over the pair of subgun’s she’d been using. “They got the jump on me and stole my rifle. But I got the advantage on a few and stole their weapons when I made my escape. They should be adequate to fight them off again.” As she floated them to her, bits of gravel fell from their bent and banged up forms, as well as what looked like a few broken parts of their receivers. “Well… that is unfortunate.”

“Yeah, Suiza will do that to weaker guns…” Hispano offered a nervous laugh as she ran her talon across the back of her neck.

The thrum of a few vehicles drifted through the air. Hoots and hollers from those riding carried as well to announce that we didn’t have much time to figure out what we were going to do.

“So we getting out of here, Night?” Happy asked as he stepped up and pointed down the street we’d come down. Though his hoof was pointing away, his expectant glare was trained right on me. “This isn’t our fight, and you know it.”

“Yes, I won’t ask you to stay.” Aerith nodded as she tossed the two busted subguns over her shoulders. “It is fine, I can hold them off long enough for you to take your leave.” She took a deep breath and wrapped her magic around a few chunks of debris.

“Yeah, she’ll hold them off.” Happy nodded and waved to us as he turned down the road. “Now come on!”

“Hold it.” Hispano grunted with a sigh I knew all too well. “I swear you’re rubbing off on me too damn much, Dum Dum.” With a step over to me, she reached between my legs stiffly. I barely had time to blush before there was a soft click from my flight harness. “We’re staying to help. Here.” When she pulled her talon away, she had my IF-90 held loosely before she tossed it to Aerith, who caught it in her magic. “Night here is going to want that back after this. But for now, let’s kill ourselves some slavers.”

Hispano was right, I was rubbing off on her. And I couldn’t hide the smile across my muzzle because of it. She gave a glance back at me that I knew was expecting to see me beaming an ‘I-told-you-so’ prideful beam. An exasperated sigh escaped her beak as she deadpanned and brought her sister up in her talons again. She may want others to think she doesn’t care, but I know she’s got a warm heart willing to do the right thing.

“What!?” Happy growled in protest. “I thought we were leaving!”

“It’ll take five fucking minutes, Happy!” Hispano snapped back as she removed Suiza’s large drum magazine to quickly check it. “You can wait on the Remora if you want, but we’re not leaving yet.” Seating the drum again with a click, she looked over to me again. “Right, Night?”

“It’s just a few slavers, right?” Buck answered with a crackle of static coming through his throat. He stepped forward and shirked off his cloak, letting it fall to the rubble. “Compared to what we’ve fought to get here? This should be fairly simple.” Lifting his mechanical arm, he popped out his magical energy weapon again. Aerith simply stared at his limbs for a moment, blinking as she took it all in. “After all, we did come all this way, and get all dressed up for a fight.”

“Literally in Night’s case…” Hispano snirked and waggled her eyebrows at me. Oh fuck off, Hispano. You know you like the dress you picked out for me.

“Don’t worry, Aerith.” Buck’s tone shifted once more to his soft, kinder voice. “This sort of situation isn’t exactly something we’re new to.”

“I um… can see that.” She gave out a nervous nod as she leaned back from him again. Guess she really wasn’t all that comfortable around even friendly snow dogs. Then again, not much about what she just saw would convince anyone Buck was ‘friendly’.

“Right! Night and I will hit them from the air.” Hispano nodded as she turned to me. “Night, aim your grenades for their vehicles. You remove their means of escape, and I’m sure they’ll either scatter on hoof, or bunker down together. I’ll use Suiza to take out whichever of them looks the toughest.”

“That makes sense.” I nodded to her before turning to Buck. “You and Happy should find somewhere to hide for now. Once Hispano and I hit them, then you two hop out and take advantage of the chaos.”

“Exactly.” Hispano let out an excited squeak as she practically bounced on her hindpaws. However that stopped when she spun toward Aerith. “So you can still turn invisible, right?” To which, Aerith gave her a quick nod. “Great, because I need you to not do that for now.”

“Umm… excuse me?” Aerith let a nervous chuckle slip out of her muzzle.

“Yeah, you’re going to sit where you can be seen. Maybe use that super-alicorn voice of yours to get their attention.” Hispano nodded as she looked around for a moment. With an elated gasp, she gave a short, fluttering hop and landed herself right in the middle of the street. “Somewhere around here would be great.” She paused, waiting for Aerith to open her muzzle just so she could cut her off. “Why, you ask? Great question. Because when Night and I hit them hard, that’s when you disappear and take flight.” With another bounding hop, Hispano hovered up over all of our heads. “You’ll keep an eye out for any stragglers or marksponys they have setting up outside of the ambush point.”

“Then I come down and deal with them?” Aerith shrugged. “I guess that could work well enough.”

“See, you’re already onboard with how we operate!” Hispano puffed up with pride as she said that. You know, despite that’s not at all how we normally work…

The rumble of approaching vehicles was too loud to miss now.

“Alright, everypony take their places.” I called out as I flared my wings.

“I wanted to say thank you.” Aerith spoke up, pulling a smirk to my muzzle. I looked over to her to speak, but found that she hadn’t been talking to me at all. No, her attention was solely on Hispano. “If not for you and your sister, I might not have snapped out of the old me.”

“No problem.” Hispano smirked and offered a sloppy salute with her talon. “But we can chat all about how my sister did that later. Right now, we’ve got some slavers to murder.”

Kicking off with heavy beats of my wings, the talismans in my flight pack started up and helped me fly. I climbed into the air alongside Hispano, banking slightly as we headed for the closest treeline at the edge of the ruined town. Our best bet was to get up and over it before the slavers rode into town.

With minimal effort, we’d climbed up high enough and leveled off into a glide. We skimmed over the treetops for another moment before she brought her talon up to her flight cap and pulled down her flight goggles with a wide smile across her beak. I broke off and began climbing again, flapping hard and pushing myself to gain as much altitude as I could.

“We’re in position. Here they come.” Buck’s voice came through my mind with a hushed tone to it.

With each beat of my wings, I climbed higher. With each second, the rumbling engines of the slavers vehicles grew louder. The altimeter in my vision ticked upward as I panted and heaved. Excited yells and howls came from the slavers as they transitioned from the forest path they’d been on, to the torn up streets of the ruined town.

With a tweak of my wings, I leveled myself off. I stuck my forehooves down in front of me, smirking as my prosthetic leg helped me once again fall into my own unusual flight style. My tail snapped to my side as I rolled my body and brought myself back around toward the town.

Three vehicles had come to a stop just up the road from Aerith, who was using her magic to project several large, billboard-esque signs above her. Each of the signs had some sort of taunt on them, like ‘Fresh slave right here!’ along with a large arrow pointing directly to her. Huh, never seen a spell like that before. But honestly, it was kinda neat, even if it only had a niche in being used to piss off slavers!

The two in the lead were lighter vehicles that had been stripped down to just their frames. Even so, about a half dozen ponies stood, sat, or clung to each of the vehicles until they stopped. The two groups of ponies spread out, keeping their weapons trained on Aerith as they headed for any bit of cover they could find along the road.

The larger, slower vehicle that pulled up let out a sharp hiss as it’s compression brakes brought it to a stop. It was a heavy, six wheeled Equestrian army transport truck with a flatbed on the back that had been converted into a cage thanks to a healthy amount of rebar and bar stock welded onto the frame. From inside the cab, two shapes stepped out. One was a fairly well armored unicorn with a boxy looking shotgun held in his magic. The other was a sizable brown griffon who wore a pair of light machine guns on a battle saddle.

I had gained quite a lot of speed in my glide, and I was heading for the convoy faster than I’d planned. Okay, it’s time to commit then. Tweaking my wings, I figured that the truck and it’s two guards would probably be the best initial target to get rid of.

Release.

With a crisp snap, one of my grenades fell away from my harness. Shifting myself again, I corrected my aim for both of the lighter vehicles. If these bastards wanted to run once this starts, they’d have to do it on hoof.

Release.

Another grenade fell away.

Release.

The final grenade slipped away from my harness and I torqued my wings to maneuver away. I’d only have a few moments to get out of range and sight again. If the plan worked, I could repeat my run and help with mopping up the last of them. With the edge of the forest around Bridleshade coming up quickly, I pulled myself up and turned off to regain some altitude. Now, it was up to Hispano to hit a few of the spread out slavers and keep them pinned down for the others.

My flight was cut short by a rapid burst of fire from the town. The air around me filled with red tracers, and something hit my prosthetic hindleg hard. There was a soft pop, and my weight shifted as the leg was torn right off. With a gasp, I could only glance as it tumbled down into the woods below. Shit, that griffon must have seen me coming!

I turned once more, losing more of my precious speed as I braced myself for a second burst of fire. A tremendous blast from inside of town flashed a prismatic burst into the sky, announcing the success of my initial grenade. Good, with any luck, that’ll have killed that fucking griff. The other two blasts followed, and I felt confident that even with that Griff firing back, we’d be...

“Night!” Hispano’s voice came in through my head with a note of panic. “We’ve got company!”

I pulled myself up into a climb as Hispano darted past me. Suiza chattered in short bursts, but was answered by another set of faster fire that again sprayed the air around me in red. My right wing went limp, and medical warnings flashed about half of my body. I let out a breathless gasp as I stopped climbing, and started falling.

My momentum carried me forward through the treetops. I flailed my legs and flapped my left wing as hard as I could to gain some modicum of control. The lighter branches toward the tops of the trees scraped across my body, stealing what remained of my forward momentum fairly quickly. In a last ditch effort as I began to fall, I reached out with my forehooves for any branch I could find.

My hooves managed to find one, and my whole body was whipped to a near stop as I gripped it tight. There was a sharp snap as the branch itself broke away, and I again started to fall. I let out a cry as my back slammed into another branch, and again I reached out for anything.

My forehoof hit a thick branch, and I clamped my fetlock around it as tightly as possible. For a second time, I was whipped to a stop. The branch itself didn’t break, but the odd crunch that came from my shoulder made my forehoof go limp, and I fell again. Thankfully, I’d already been near the ground, and I came crashing down after only a moment.

My lungs seized as the wind was knocked out of me. The trees and world above me spun as I laid there staring up at the cloudy skies above. The multiple flashing warnings in my vision were worrisome, but, for as much as that sucked, I was alive.

“Night!” Buck’s worried voice filtered through my mind as I took a moment to steady my breathing. “You’re badly hurt. I’m coming to help, just stay put and I’ll fight my way to you!”

“I’m… alive for now.” I groaned and closed my eyes. As I did, the gunfire and screams of slavers drifted to me. Well, at least the rest of the plan was going well. “Keep fighting.”

Looking over at my shoulder, I found it sitting at the wrong angle, and there was a bloody bone jutting through my upper leg. Glancing down over my body, a pair of gaping and burbling holes sat in my barrel, and my stomach did a flip as I could see my insides again. Did it actually do a flip? No. How could I know that? Because I could see my stomach.

“Still, maybe finish the fight as fast as possible…”

Thank the Architect for pain talismans...

Author's Note

As always, a huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan! Not just for his normal help this time either, but for loaning me Aerith to give Hispano another friend. Seriously, if you want to read some more in depth adventures the two have, then feel free to give his story Empty Quiver a shot!

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat as always for creating and letting us all use this wonderful wasteland setting!

Chapter 105 - The Trial

An object at rest will be in the wrong place.

“Fucking Celestia, doesn’t that hurt?” Jynx cringed as she popped into being next to me.

Seriously? She couldn’t leave me alone to bleed in silence, could she. Well, at the very least the gunfire in town sounded like it was draining off, so hopefully Buck will come find me soon. Until then, I just needed to endure. No big deal, Night! It’s only been a few minutes, and you’ve survived worse.

And yet, Jynx was just making it that much more unenjoyable.

“No, it doesn’t hurt, and you know that.” I grumbled as I slowly and carefully dragged myself to lay against the base of the tree I came down from. The moment I pressed myself back I had to stifle a scream. Both of my busted wings flopped uselessly against my back, but I managed to get them mostly out of the way so I could prop myself against the metal of my flight harness. “Look, can you fuck off? It’s not a good time right now.” I used my prosthetic to put pressure on the wound that exposed my stomach. It’s okay, Night. Just gotta hold out a little bit longer...

“Well, I did come here to tell you where I made your leg drop...” She hung on that as her normal oily smile pulled across her muzzle. “But if you don’t want it…”

“Fine.” I didn’t really have the patience to deal with her bullshit right now. But, once I was back on my hooves, I’d need my leg, and I didn’t feel like spending half the afternoon combing the forest looking for it.

“Great!” Jynx sat down and rubbed her hooves together. She opened her muzzle to speak, but paused as she looked at the slowly pulsing streams of blood coming from the holes in my barrel. “Oh, right. I should probably also mention how, without my help, those rounds would have gone through your heart and spine instead.” She shrugged and brought a hoof up to brush at her mane lightly. “Figured that your stomach and some intestines would be a better trade off. So, you’re welcome.”

“You couldn’t just make them miss?” My remark probably came across as more snide than I intended, but I couldn’t really care at the moment. I mean, if what she said was true, I should just be glad to be alive.

“Yes, you should be glad. Literally anypony else on your crew falling that far at that speed, say, Double Delta for example? They’d be dead, and you can trust me on that.” She groaned and dragged her hoof down her face. “Do you think you could ever grasp how complex the job of tweaking universal probabilities is for just one kinetic projectile, let alone hundreds at a time? Because it’s hard enough for me to do it and I was literally made for this shit.”

“Fine, I get it. Thank you. Now, what about the leg?” I tried my best to deadpan at her, but a fit of coughs interrupted me. Flecks of blood coated my mechanical foreleg as a bit of soreness started to ebb through my augment. Shit, what if it shuts down on me again?

“Right, right.” she nodded and waved her hoof at me dismissively. “If I recall… I let it come down next to an old oak tree.” An… oak tree… in a pine forest… “I know! I mean, that’s why I chose it! You can hardly miss it, what with it’s thick, long branches. Perfect for tying a rope to…”

Heavy hoofbeats thumped through the underbrush ahead of me. The gasping pants of a pony came through with whines of fear. Jynx disappeared as the heaving form of one of the slavers tore through the bushes almost a hoof’s reach from me. They immediately spun around and paused, looking through the gap they’d made in the bushes.

The horn poking through the rusted metal plate armor that adorned their head glowed softly, and a fairly well kept hunting rifle floated up beside them. I held my breath as they did, and prayed to Celestia that they didn’t turn around again.

“Buck.” I thought out to him. “There’s a slaver here.”

“Where?” His response was quicker than I’d expected, but full of as much worry as ever.

“Right next to me.” I tried my best to keep my breaths slow and quiet, but with my injuries, I was quickly losing the fight to keep my body under control.

“Just hold tight, Dum Dum.” Hispano’s own worried voice filtered through my head. “I just… need to know where you fell.”

“I’m under a tree near the outskirts of town.” Yeah, I know that didn’t exactly help, but how else was I supposed to describe where I was?

“I can track where he is, Hispano. Leave him to me.” Buck’s grunt to her was sharp enough that it pulled a wince from me. Which of course, tweaked at my wounds enough that my forehoof slipped from my side.

I let out a gasp as my mechanical hoof accidentally thumped against the forest floor. With a sharp shift, I pulled it back to my wound and pressed against it hard. Which of course only shoved some of the wet mossy dirt into the gaping and bloody hole.

“Well well…” The slaver stallion let out a soft laugh as he turned his rifle on me. Fuck. “Now be a good little birdie and be quiet. You’re my ticket out of here, and if you want to live, then you’ll do as I say.”

A sharp burst of fire poured through the bushes. Leaves and branches were sheared apart as a torrent of bullets tore through the stallion. He wobbled as his body gave out and dropped to the ground in a bloody heap.

The bush shifted, stretching apart on it’s own. A soft glow enveloped the hunting rifle the stallion had been using, and it was plucked up off the ground. A shimmer pulsed in the air next to the rifle, and the towering blue form of Aerith emerged from under the cloak of her magical invisibility. She wore a wide smile across her muzzle as she inspected the rifle she’d claimed.

“Ah, together again at last. And they didn’t get a scratch on you! How wonderful.” She let out a light squeal as she brought the rifle against herself and hugged it like Hispano hugged her sister.

A small orange warning popped up in my vision and flashed a few times. I’d only caught the word ‘overheat’ for it’s final flash before my augmented eye shut off, and with it, my painkiller talisman. I let out a breathless scream as it felt like I was being flayed alive. I’m pretty sure I’d lived through worse pain, but somehow, it never seemed to get any fucking easier.

Mercifully, after what felt like an eternity, I was pulled into darkness.

There was something so serene about this place. A warmth that I’d always wanted, but never knew how to obtain. It had hardly been noticeable originally, but the longer I’ve stayed, the more it’s grown. I think I understood it now, why Delilah fought so hard for this town.

Letting out a long yawn, I stretched myself out. My stumps ached like they always did, and my scarred body protested the same as it had every morning. But as it had for the last ten years, the ebbing sound of the ocean waves across the shore helped to wash all that away from me.

I opened my eyes, taking in the morning light as it streamed in from the balcony. Rolling over, I was hoping to find Buck next to me, but all I found was a cool depression on his side of the bed. From behind me however, a particularly warm set of talons wrapped themselves around my side. I couldn’t help but press myself back into.

“Mmm, goodmorning.” Hispano chirped as she worked through the same steps of waking up that we always did. “Any chance I can convince you to stay in bed with me all day?”

“You know, I would love that.” I moaned as I felt her talons run up my sides and around my barrel. “But I’m sure Happy’s going to want some help today with that proposal the townsponies put together.”

It was hard to bring myself to move, but I managed to pull away from my little slice of comfortable heaven, and slid myself over to the edge of the bed. My prosthetics sat on the end table, ready and waiting to take me forth to the day ahead. Like the dress I’d worn years ago, slipping them on helped me to relax and focus myself on being the pony I was supposed to be.

“Fine, jerk.” Hispano groaned as she rolled herself beak down into her pillow and let out a long sigh. “I guess I’ll get up too.”

As I moved my prosthetic forehoof around to make sure it’s joints were all functioning, a light set of knocks came from the door to our room. With a soft click, the dingy brass handle turned, and it opened with a soft creek. A set of sky blue head feathers poked into our room, and a pair of emerald green eyes looked over at me. Our daughter opened her beak to speak, but all that came out was a hesitant squeak.

“Hey, is everything alright?” I asked reflexively.

“Did you have another bad dream?” Hispano asked as she carefully flipped herself over in our bed. With a light touch and a soft smile, she gave our mattress a pat. “Why not come nap for a while with mommy, alright?”

Our daughter nodded her head softly and walked in, her hind hooves clicking softly on the old hardwood floor, and her broad wings fidgeting across her back. She climbed up onto our bed without a problem, and quickly found herself in Hispano’s loving embrace. Truthfully, I still couldn’t believe we’d made something as amazing as her. But even before she’d been born, I’d always been adamant that Hispano would make a great mom. A fact I remind her about almost every day of our happy lives.

“I’ve got this from here.” Hispano said softly as she ran her talons through our daughter’s feathers. “Go, Happy’s probably already waiting for you.”

I nodded to her and carefully slid myself off of our bed and onto my hooves. The old floor creaked as I got myself balanced on all fours. Right, ready for yet another day in paradise.

“Oh, Night?” Hispano spoke up right as I moved toward the door. “When you see Buck today, remind him that the clinic will still be there tomorrow, but family dinner only happens at dinner time.”

I couldn’t help but smile and nod. It’s true that Buck probably worked himself too hard at the clinic most days, but it made him happy. Plus, after all we’d been through, I didn’t want to take that away from him. Though, Hispano was right in that maybe he could take a break for an hour and join us at dinner for once.

With each step down the stairs to our wonderful home, my muscles warmed themselves up. Of course, as they did, each of the myriad of little pains my old injuries caused flared up. Once down the final step, I reached up to my head and gave it a little tap. My augment whirred to life, and like I’d flipped a lightswitch, the pain went away, and I could see more of the world again.

I reached out and grasped the handle to the front door and opened it, letting a wave of warm, salty air run across my now numbed skin. Taking a deep breath, I took in the smell of the ocean and smiled as the sounds of everyday life in Brahman Beach met my ears.

This was it, the point each morning where I knew that my life was finally how it was supposed to be. The reward for all of the pain and suffering we went through all those years ago. And though I couldn’t have known then, Celestia, was it all so worth it.

“Hey, you’re finally awake.” The light hearted tone of one of my best friends in the world came from just down below my front porch. Stepping through my front door, I walked to the porch railing and looked over it to find Happy waiting for me. “I know that mediation is one of your least favorite activities as aide to the mayor, but sleeping in isn’t going to mean I’ll just go ahead without you. You know that as much as I want to, I can’t run this town alone, Night.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I rolled my eyes and smirked as I stepped down off of my porch and left my humble home behind. Glancing over at Happy, my eyes froze on the neatly pressed off-white suit he wore today. “Wait, that’s the suit you chose for this meeting?”

“What? You don’t like this one?” He shrugged and ran his hoof over his grey streaked mane in a vain attempt to look suave. “Would you rather I wear something more tropical? Perhaps I could pull out one of my old Marwaii floral shirts if that would be more to your liking?” You know, some days, I almost missed the ‘rebel’ like nature he used to hold over his strictly fake ‘business’ persona he wore now. Still, we both shared a light chuckle at that and he shrugged. “I just... felt like a change, you know? Brown and grey get tiring after a while.”

Still, even I had to admit that he’d done well since we arrived home. Sure Brahman Beach had to invest and work to get to the level of prosperity we’d achieved, but with the Ark at his disposal, Happy had never once let those here down. I’m sure Delilah would have been proud to see the mule he’d become after all these years.

“Yeah, I really don’t see it.” A familiar voice spoke up from behind me. A voice that I hadn’t heard in a long time. One I thought had disappeared forever, even before we got back to Brahman Beach. It was my voice.

Turning myself around, the unchanged and pristine form of Jynx stood before me.

“What? But… how?” No, this didn’t make any sense at all…

“You’re welcome, by the way.” She shrugged at me as she sat down on the gravel road that ran from my house on the hill all the way down through town to the beach. With a long deep breath, she smiled. “It was hard to get the feeling of this fresh ocean air just right, but I think it was worth it. Don’t you?”

“No, you… you’re gone.” I took a step back as my heartbeat picked up, and my own thoughts started to race. She couldn’t be here, I’d gotten rid of her years ago! “Happy, tell me you…” I paused as I turned to my friend, only to find that he was missing. Oh, this can’t be happening… “What did you do to him!?”

“Uh, nothing?” Jynx snorted and scrunched up her muzzle. After a moment of staring at me like I was the crazy one, she gasped. “Oh, wait! Right, you must still think this is all real.” But, that’s because it is! “No, it most definitely isn’t.” She laughed in my face as she got to her hooves again and trotted around me. “Just this morning, you were lamenting on your lack of dreams lately. So when your augment overheated, I took a few liberties and helped you out with this little escape.”

“That… that’s not true.” As I said that, my augmented eye fuzzed with static for a moment, flashing up two dozen medical warnings before fuzzing back to it’s normal look. “No, this couldn’t be fake. It’s been ten years! I remember that…”

“If it has been ten years,” Jynx squinted at me and prodded her forehoof against my side. “Then what did you have for breakfast, let’s say, yesterday morning?”

“I… I…” Okay, Night, you’re just flustered. Think!

But… there was nothing that came to mind. I remembered flashes of events of the last ten years. The day we got back here, when Buck, Hispano and I got married, my own daughter’s first steps. But there was just… nothing specific I could pin down recently.

“How about this?” Jynx’s muzzle curled into the smile I’d thought I’d left so long ago in the past. “If this is real, then what’s your daughter’s name?”

That’s easy! It’s…

I… I don’t know.

“Right, how could you know?” Jynx shrugged as she reached over and gave me a few pats on the side. “None of this has been real, I’m merely showing you what you want to see happen. A vision of the future you want so desperately to build.”

“Why?” I… maybe she was right. Maybe this was all just some sort of dream. But why she was showing it to me didn’t make sense.

“Because you wanted to keep me around, and I’m ever so grateful for that.” Jynx stepped up and wrapped her hooves around me in a surprisingly warm hug. “But…” She leaned forward with that one word, whispering it into my ear as her grasp around me tightened uncomfortably. “This is only to soften the blow, Night. The pendulum has begun to swing, and no matter what, you can’t duck out of the way this time. You are going to understand that to work for the future I’ve shown you, it comes with a heavy, but balanced toll. So buckle up and get ready for the inevitable, because I warned you about what’s coming. In fact, I went so far as to explicitly tell you what to expect, so it’s all on you now, pal.”

Her hooves squeezed around me harder, crushing my barrel almost effortlessly under them. My augment fizzled out, and I screamed as once more pain ripped through my torso. But as I had so long ago, I was pulled down into a deep, cold darkness that welcomed me like the old friend it always was.

There was a familiar warmth to the darkness. Something that helped to numb the feelings coursing through me that I hadn’t felt in what seemed like years. It was like as if Buck was holding me close in his fur, but if he could hold the entirety of me, down to my aching bones.

“Night?” Buck’s voice drifted to me from somewhere, and my mind followed it. “Night, you’re going to be alright.”

I could feel the warmth of the air on my fur, the scratchy bark from the tree I was still propped up against. But oddly enough, there wasn’t as much pain as I’d expected. I opened my eye slowly as the rest of the world came back to me. Buck and the others sat hovering over me with varied looks of concern. Even Happy had an uncharacteristically deep frown on his muzzle.

“You gave us all a scare.” Aeirth was the first to speak up as she glanced at the others and smiled. “It is good to see you are stable. And your doctor says that you will make a full recovery, in time.”

Well, that was nice to hear. Looking down, I found my blood stained torso had been tightly wrapped in magical bandages, and the various cuts and bruises from my crash landing had been mostly patched or sewn up. However, my broken foreleg had been slung and splinted tightly. Guess it was going to take a bit more time to heal.

“I never had any doubt he’d make it.” Hispano forced a smile across her beak as she took a step back and rubbed her talon across her face. “Injuries like that? Night’s had them so many times he’s pretty much immune to them.” From the matting of the plumage on her cheeks, it wasn’t hard to see she was putting up a front. “I’m going to do a sweep and make sure we didn’t miss any of those bastards.”

“Well make it quick.” Happy snorted as the attitude he’d held before helped push his worried expression from his face. “We’ve still got an appointment with Solomon to keep.”

“Well, while Night will be stable enough to move about the ship, I don’t want him going anywhere during the fight itself. He needs time to heal.” Buck turned to Happy and shared a light growl at him. “But I agree, the sooner we leave, the better. We don’t want anypony else nearby coming to investigate the fight here.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Happy rolled his eyes at Buck as he spun himself around. “Whatever, I’ll be back on the Remora waiting.”

With an unceremonious swing of his mechanical limbs, Buck effortlessly scooped me up from against the tree. A few fonts of pain stabbed through my body, and I gasped from it. But the cold metal from Buck’s arms was quick to help soothe the burning, and I took a few breaths to get through the bulk of it.

“If it would help, I can join your other companion in the sky to look for stragglers.” Aerith flashed up a nervous smile as Buck tucked me up against his warm, fuzzy chest.

“That would be greatly appreciated.” Buck nodded to her. We watched as she flared out her wide blue wings, taking off up into the clouded skies. The moment she disappeared over the treetops, Buck let out a long sigh. His paws shifted themselves, and a sharp pain ran through both of my wings. “Oh, sorry, Night!” Buck gasped and pulled me away slightly. “Like your leg, the bones in your wings are going to need a day or so to heal. I’ll try to be more gentle with them until we get back to the ship and Cora can get you on some stronger bone mending medicine.”

“Thank you, Buck. For everything.” Reaching out with my prosthetic, I did my best to hug him with only one hoof.

“I’m just glad you’re alright.” He spoke softly as he leaned forward and gave my mane a light nuzzle. “I’m just sorry you lost your leg in the fight.” Wait, what did I lose? “But maybe Tofu can build you a new one to replace it.”

Pulling my prosthetic back, I looked at it. No, it seemed to be all there. The only one I was missing was…

“Right!” I gasped and wiggled my hindstump. “I know where it fell!” Sharp pain stung through me from the short movements. Right, maybe I should keep myself from being too excited...

“What?” Buck stiffened up and glanced around us. “But, Hispano did a look around the area. Admittedly it was only a cursory look, but…”

“It fell next to an old oak tree. We should be able to pick it out pretty easily.” I blurted out, watching as Buck’s glances around stopped and his augmented eye locked on to an area of the forest somewhere closer to town.

“I remember seeing an old oak behind some of the old residences on the edge of town.” Buck nodded to himself as he carefully tucked me against him again. “I only made note of it because they don’t normally grow this far north.” A small smile tugged at the ends of his jagged jaw as we turned and started the walk over to it. “But what makes you so sure it fell near there?”

“Because… Jynx told me it did.” I know that every time I mention her to the others I sound somewhat crazy, but it was the truth.

“Night…” Buck stopped cold midstep, and his mechanical ears flattened to the sides of his head. “I don’t want you to worry about it, but… you can’t really trust what you’re seeing right now.”

“What? I thought that you believed me when I said that she was real.” I didn’t want to hear him say that he thought I was crazy, but I didn’t know what else could bring this on.

“It’s just…” He hesitated to say anything, and for a moment, he let us sit in silence. The sound of the breeze filtering through the trees washed through my mane and his fur. It filled the air with the scent of fresh rain, probably rolling in from the storm system that was still tracking our way.

“What’s going on, Buck?” The words slipped out of my muzzle.

“I gave you a dose of painkiller.” He said slowly. “Your augment is off, and your injuries are still too extensive to risk turning it on again.”

As soon as he’d said that, I realized what I’d been missing since I woke up. I could feel things again. The wind, his warmth, and the aches of my body.

“Heh.” A laugh slipped out of me, pulling a look of concern down from Buck. “It’s just, I thought after having it on all this time, that I’d never really go back to knowing what everything felt like. But before you told me, to be honest, I hadn’t even realized that I had been missing anything at all. I won’t make that mistake again.” Knowing that now, I was going to use this time to its fullest. Leaning forward again, I pressed myself against his chest and closed my eyes. “Thank you, Buck, for still being here for me.”

My injuries flared up through the painkiller, going from a dull ache to sharp stabs. But I could grin and bear it for as long as I needed to. Nothing was going to steal this moment from me.

“I’m glad you’re still here with me too.” Carefully, he brought his free paw up and combed his digits through my mane. “I’m sorry for having to put you through this again.”

“I’m not.” I shook my head and let myself rest in his hold. “Like everything else, I’m so lucky to have you, and we’ll get through this together.” Looking up at him, he and I shared hesitant but knowing nods to each other. “Now, let’s go grab my leg.”

Turning back towards the tree, Buck once more started us on the path. He pushed us through a few more bushes, and around a dense collection of pines that dampened the muted sunlight above. But as he pushed through another set of thick bushes, we finally reached the wide clearing that was sheltered by the long and twisting branches of an old oak tree.

The base of the tree itself was nearly wide enough that Buck himself could fit inside the trunk were it hollowed out. The hundreds of sprawling branches above us shifted in the wind, letting alternating rays of weak sunlight down through them to the moss covered forest floor below it. A few small bushes grew around the gnarled and thick roots at the base of the tree, including a patch of healthy and vibrant violet colored flowers that gave me pause.

And resting just next to the violets, was my prosthetic hindleg.

Slowly, Buck carried us over to the tree. He stopped and carefully lowered me down, letting me get my hooves back down as his free paw reached out and grabbed my leg. As he did, his digits accidentally dug into the moss, tearing up a small patch of it that sat next to the flowers.

It revealed a rounded river rock, one that seemed to have been left here years ago. It was dirty, but it had writing of some sort carved into its surface. Staring at it, the best I could make out was the letter J and the letter V.

The soft and familiar tug of suction returned to my stump as Buck helped to get the prosthetic on. I let myself put pressure on it, relaxing slightly as it felt like it always had. Glancing down at it, about the only damage I could see on it was that there was a small bend in the edge of the metal from where it took the hit.

“Aright, looks like we’re clear.” Hispano cooed as she gave a few flaps and lowered herself down through the tree canopy. “What are you two…” She stopped talking as her flight paused and she hovered there staring at the other side of the tree from us.

“Hispano? Are you alright?” Aerith called down as she too dipped through the oak tree’s canopy. Like Hispano, she too seemed to freeze up, but a deep frown spread across her muzzle. “Oh dear, that’s unfortunate.”

Both Buck and I looked to each other before we made our way around the tree to whatever had so captivated their attention. But instead of looking down, both of us had our attention drawn upward as a large form came into view above us. An old rope creaked from one of the thick oak branches, and the limp body of a female minotaur swung from it. Not just any minotaur though…

“Jess…” Hispano meekly whispered as she came down and joined Buck and I on the mossy ground.

The hanging minotaur’s sad and lifeless eyes stared down at what felt like me and me alone. I knew she was gone, and that there’s no way she would have ever known I would be standing right here under her. But still, I felt like in her eyes I could still see every bit of anger, hatred, and remorse for Violet. Like she’d wanted me to see how much Violet had meant to her.

“The stone.” Buck let out a soft gasp. “Near the violets… it was from when the two of them...”

“I don’t understand.” Aerith spoke up softly as she too joined us on the ground. “Did you all know this minotaur?”

“Yes. Well, no.” I nodded, but scrunched up my muzzle at that. “Somewhat, I guess. I mean...”

“It’s… complicated.” Hispano stepped in to save me from my own awkwardness. “She and one of our friends used to be together when they lived in Bridleshade.” Hispano blinked a few times, finally able to tear her eyes away from Jess’s corpse. “I’d suggest that maybe Solomon did this, but her body looks like it’s been here for a few days. I guess she took Violet’s death and the loss of her hometown more than we could have thought.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Aerith hung and shook her head.

“It’s fine. There’s nothing we can do for her now.” Hispano offered the alicorn a soft smile as she turned back towards the ruins of Bridleshade. “Why don’t you walk with me back to the Remora? We can talk more about how you know things about my sister that even I don’t know.”

“Sure.” Aerith nodded to Hispano and shared the soft smile back.

Part of me couldn’t help but feel like there was something between the two of them. But other parts of me were torn between reading too much into it, or that it was just the part of me liable to jealousy. And you know, maybe I shouldn’t be feeling jealous about Hispano making a new friend when standing next to someone who’d lost everything in her life and decided to end it.

So, instead, I leaned over to Buck and pressed myself against his side.

“Come on, let’s go home.”

After a good long talk, Hispano and Aerith said their goodbyes and we’d headed for home. The whole ride back, Hispano had seemed preoccupied with her thoughts. She’d seemed worried, but there were moments where I’d caught a smile pull across her beak as she held her sister close to her. I had no clue about what her and Aerith had ultimately talked about, but so long as it made Hispano happy, then I wasn’t going to worry about it.

Speaking of Happy, he seemed antsy the whole way back. It wasn’t until the Remora had docked with the Arcturus and opened the hatch that he finally looked like he relaxed. I know that this drive for him to get after Solomon had become his obsession, but it wasn’t easy to watch it. Sure, I wanted Solomon dead as much as he did, but at this rate, Happy was going to wear himself down to nothing.

Honestly, part of me wondered what exactly would happen the minute Solomon was gone. Who would Happy be then? Would he return to the lazy and carefree stallion he was when we first met? Would he pick up Delilah’s mantle and become the responsible mayor of his home city? Or would he end up the hollow shell of a mule who felt like now that he’d won, he had no one else to blame for his life but himself.

“Are you okay, Night?” Buck’s question pulled me from the depths of my mind, and I realized that it was just the two of us now still inside the Remora.

“Yeah.” I nodded to him and tried to smile as I pulled myself to my hooves. Sharp pains ran through my barrel and wings as the waning painkiller in my system couldn’t keep up with the extent of my injuries anymore. I bit back a whine and managed to hobble my way under the hatch. “Can I get your…” That was as far as I’d made it before Buck’s careful paws wrapped around me and helped me climb up into the weapon’s bay. “Thanks.”

“Oh, Night!” Dad gasped as he turned from where he and Tofu were working on one of the control panels. “Are you okay? What happened down there?” He all but sprinted across the bay and wrapped his hooves around me. I fought back a scream, but I hugged him tightly all the same.

“We ran into some slavers.” I offered as I leaned into his hooves. The added pressure against my barrel wasn’t great, but it felt nice to have him close. “Don’t worry, Buck patched me up as well as always, and all of the slavers look way worse than I do now.”

“Come on, let’s get you to the infirmary.” Dad offered as he helped to turn me towards the bulkhead door. “Once you’re in there, we… we need to have a talk about something.”

My legs almost locked up at that. Fuck, whenever Mom or Dad wanted to ‘talk about something’, it generally meant they were dissapointed in me. I glanced back over my shoulder as Buck effortlessly hoisted himself up and out of the Remora, and even though he wasn’t looking at me, he wore the same look he’d had when Dad had objected to us in the first place. I knew it was something that still weighed on his mind, but I loved Buck, and I meant it when I said that Dad would just have to get over it.

Buck himself didn’t follow us, and the last I saw of him was when Dad pushed the hatch open and helped me over to the infirmary bed. Cora perked up from behind it, rubbing at his eyes like he was just waking up. Then again, as Dad helped me onto the sterile bed, the thick stench of whisky wafted through the room from the griffon’s direction.

“So, what are we looking at here?” Cora grumbled as he pulled himself up and stiffly turned his neck. A few stiff pops from it were followed by a relaxed sigh, and he turned himself toward the cabinets to pull out some supplies.

“Two shots to the barrel,” I grunted as I carefully laid myself forward on the bed, doing my best to untuck my foreleg from it’s sling. “a broken shoulder,” This time, I couldn’t stifle the cry I let out as I moved it, but as soon as it was out from under me, the pain mercifully dulled again. “and a few fractured bones in my wings.”

“Is that all?” Cora groaned as he pulled a few half-filled healing potions from the infirmary drawers, as well as a surgical and suture kit. Spinning himself around, he looked over me again before his eyes stopped on my augment. “Your headpiece is off, and with it, I’m assuming your talisman. I’m surprised you’re managing the pain this well.”

“Yeah, not... really.” I wanted to tell Cora the truth, but Dad was standing right here. If I said I’d had painkillers again, Cora might scold me and Dad would be furious with me. But… then again, he already wanted to talk, which was never good. So, I guess since my life is a never ending string of Night Flight disappointments, then what’s one more to add to the pool? “Buck gave me a Med-x, but it’s already wearing off.”

“Thank you for at least admitting it.” Cora nodded before turning around and plucking the syringe from the surgical kit. With a flick, he tossed it back into the shelf he’d pulled the kit from and shut it inside. “But that means what you’ve got is all you’ll get. So when I open your wings to set the bones and apply the brew, it’s going to hurt like hell. If it means anything, take comfort in the fact that I won’t be enjoying it either.”

So he was going to just, cut me open while I could feel it? Fuck that! That was not a fun prospect, and honestly, a bit fucking bullshit.

Wait, that’s just how he wanted it, isn’t it!? This wasn’t about protecting me from my addiction, it was about making me suffer because I was in love with Hispano! Buck knew more than anyone else what painkillers did to me, and he still gave me some. Why? Because he was at least trying to spare me some unneeded pain despite the risk!

“Is Cora doing it on purpose though?” Jynx popped up with a giggle as she stood behind my dad. “Because accusing him without any real proof is exactly the rational thoughts of somepony who’s definitely not still addicted to painkillers.” If her voice were any thicker with condescension, I could strangle her with her own words.

I let out a growl and leveled my best Delilah-like glare at her. What the fuck does she know? It’s not like…

“Not like I lived through your addiction? Because I’ve been here the whole time.” She lifted her hoof and tapped the side of her head with a devilish smile. “Or has the Med-X in your system already started to bring back your memory problems?”

That’s not fucking possible. Not after one Med-X. And even if I’d had another, there wouldn’t be side effects, not… Wait, was I really arguing the case for more… against Jynx? Maybe… I was still addicted.

“Don’t worry, Night.” Dad spoke softly as he sat down at the end of the table and carefully took my forehoof in his own. “I’ll be right here the whole time.” Be it because Celestia answered my prayers or not, I’m just glad he wasn’t angry at me.

“Thanks, Dad.” I sighed and tried to force the impending agony out of my mind. As far as a distraction could go, I would have prefered Buck or Hispano. But if it had to be anypony else, I could do worse than my Dad. “What did you want to talk about?”

“Ever since… I found out you were still alive.” Dad’s normal, confidant tone he used when he was disappointed turned on its head and disappeared completely. “And finding out all that you’ve been doing, I just… I feel like there’s some things I need to tell you about.”

Cora let out a grunt as he shifted the surgical kit from the counter to beside me. With a pluck of his talon, he pulled out one of the shiny chrome scalpels and carefully worked a cloth over it. Oh, this was going to suck.

“What about?” I forced myself to look away from him and back at Dad.

“It’s about... your Mother.” As soon as he’d looked into my eyes, he tore them away and looked at the floor. “Years ago we had debated about telling you when you were older, at some point before you eventually enlisted for Enclave service. Then her redeployments came more and more often, and we could never quite find a good time…”

Cora brought a bottle up behind me. His talon squeezed it, and a few spritzes of cold fluid sprayed over my wings and part of my back. Almost immediately, a light numbing sensation took hold.

“A year or so before you were born,” Dad began with a long sigh, “your mother was in a… training accident. Officially, it was because of engine problems with the Vertibuck her team was in. Unofficially… they were shot down while investigating what she said was a conflict on the surface.”

“She went… under the clouds?” No, this… this didn’t make any sense. “Where? When!?”

“As I said, before you were born. Back when your Mother and I had just gotten married.” Dad squeezed my forehoof gently as a weary smile pulled across his burned skin. “They crashed into a mountainside somewhere around central Equestria. Most of her team was killed outright, but her and her superior were only wounded.”

My eyes went wide as Cora moved his talon behind me. I bit my tongue as the surgical blade pressed into me and split my wing open. For as much as it hurt, and as much as I strained to keep myself still, Cora’s movements were slow, controlled, and methodical.

“Night, I know it hurts, so just focus on my voice.” Dad spoke up, bringing his teary eyes up to meet mine. “Your mother, she and her superior went to the settlement that had been fighting. She said that the ponies there were barely alive, living off what scraps they could pull from nearby ruins. But, she was able to exchange some of their gear for the medical supplies to patch themselves up, and have a place to rest for the night. The two agreed that they’d go back to the wreck the next day and activate the emergency rescue beacon.”

The soft squelches from my own wings were accompanied by lightning bolts of pain striking my body. Muffled whines slipped from my muzzle, and in an effort to quell them, I brought my prosthetic forehoof up and used its strength to hold it shut. My heart was thundering in my chest, and my lungs felt like they were starving. But I simply looked up at Dad and tried my best to focus on him.

“The raiders that had attacked before, supposedly came back the next morning.” Dad continued as he brought his other forehoof up to rest it on mine. “She said her superior wanted to stay and help them fight. She argued that they stick to the plan and go get rescued. It wasn’t their fight after all.” Dad paused as he shook his head. “So they split up. She went back and activated the beacon. She was rescued an hour later, and… she never saw her superior again.”

“Fun story.” Cora grumbled before he leaned in closer to me. His talon shifted slightly against me, and there was a distinct scraping feeling like a hoof on a chalkboard, but from inside my wing. “Your wife sounds like she was a smart gal.” He paused and looked over to my dad with a frown. “Sorry about what happened to her.”

“No, see, she knew she’d made the wrong choice.” Dad snorted and smirked. “When she came up, a dozen Enclave psychs blamed ‘wasteland fumes’ for her ‘belief’ that there were still ponies under the clouds. And when she was cleared for duty again, she found herself transferred away from any active maneuvers, to a Raptor on reserve duty that guarded Neighvarro. But she knew the Enclave had lied about below.”

“And let me guess, she tried to tell you as well?” Cora snorted as he continued to work. The agony in my wings only let me focus on the words, and left my mind struggling to do anything else. Please, please Celestia, let it be over…

“She did tell me.” Again, Dad’s expression sank into a deeply troubled frown. “I… I wanted to believe her, but deep down I’d bought into the lie the Enclave sold. I was an idiot back then.” He shook his head and once more squeezed at my forehoof. “She talked about going back down, to prove there were ponies there, and to help them. As much as I didn’t believe her, I knew how dangerous it was if anypony heard her say things like that. So I did my best to support her, but…” He stopped and sighed. “I needed to give her a reason to stay, to anchor her above the clouds.”

Cora froze up at that. Even from the corner of my eye, I could see the somewhat shocked look across his face. I didn’t understand what was so surprising about that. At least, not until he took a momentary glance down at me.

“You were my anchor, Night.” Dad sniffled, pulling one of his forehooves back to rub at the matted fur under his eyes. “And my plan worked. After you were born, she settled down with me, and forgot all of those plans to go down below. But that’s what I wanted to tell you, Night. I was wrong. Your mother, she was the kindest, most caring pony I’ve ever known. Trying to hold on to her didn’t save her. And yet, here you are, doing exactly what she wanted to, helping anypony who needs it despite the risks.”

“Now, I’m not saying I’m on board with you and my daughter, Night.” Cora muttered under his breath as he gave a particularly rough yank that made my vision go white for a moment. “But even I have to admit, you’ve turned out to be somewhat competent as a leader.” With another scraping feeling through me, he shifted his talons and paused. “Well, not a leader in the normal definition of the job. I guess I’m saying you’ve unified everyone in a way I’ve only seen once before, in the way Delilah ran her convoy.”

If I didn’t feel like he was intentionally dragging out the agony of working on my wings, I’d take that as a compliment…

“The reason I wanted to tell you this now, Night,” Dad squeezed at my hoof softly as he tried his best to keep himself composed. It was a losing fight for him, but that’s how I knew that this was coming from a part of Dad that I’d rarely seen. “It’s because of what you’ve done. What you’re trying to do. It’s everything your mother would have done were she down here with you. She’d have been so proud...” His fight inside him flooded over and he broke down into sobs.

My own body shook as I tried to hold back from breaking down with him as well. I was fighting all of the feelings I’d pushed down ever since I left the ruins of Four Peaks behind months ago. I’d forced everything down into a little box inside my head and locked it shut to help me make room for the new life I’d made with Buck and Hispano. But the fact was, some feelings never left me because they couldn’t be filed away.

How do you bottle and pack away a hole where something used to be in your life? That hole however, seemed a little less empty once I’d found Dad. I had something of my former life to hold onto again, but having him had cracked that box of feelings I’d tried to hide. And now, he’d basically taken a sledgehammer to the lock.

“I… I miss her so much, Dad.” I whimpered as I let go and wailed as I grasped at his hooves tighter.

“Look, I know this ‘namby-pamby-bullshit’ is something that’s built into you ponies,” Cora groaned as one of his talons pressed down hard onto my back. “But if you don’t keep still, this is either going to take a lot fucking longer than it needs to, or be a lot more painful than it has to be.”

“Just fucking get it done, Cora!” I snapped back at him. Yeah, I know that it was a less than ideal time for him to be working on me, but that didn’t mean he had to be fucking heartless.

“Suit yourself.” He muttered as he ground his beak and dug into me with the scalpel again.

I let out a full bodied scream as it felt like he was tearing my wing apart. The tears of sorrow flooding down my muzzle were replaced again with ones of agony. The squelch of flesh and scraping of bone made my vision go white as I realized the mistake I’d made. Maybe… maybe it wasn’t the best idea to have snapped at him.

“Night,” Dad spoke as he rested his head on my hooves again, “listen to me.” As my vision returned, I did my best to keep my one good eye locked on his hope filled gaze. “I know that I’d said some things before, but… you were right. You aren’t a foal anymore, and… if being with a dog and a griffon makes you happy. Well, then I’m happy for you.”

I opened my quivering muzzle to tell him how much it meant to me to hear that. But the moment I did, another stab in my wing brought out a scream. A seething gasp from Cora made me worry, and the fact that he all but tossed the scalpel down to scramble for some other tool made me panic. Though, as much as I wanted to panic, it was getting harder to do just that. In fact, it was getting harder just to focus on my dad’s eyes.

“Oh, that was, uh…” Cora stammered as a few tools clicked together in his talons. “Nothing to worry about! Just… nicked the artery…”

His voice was growing softer as the sound of my own beating heart took over in my head. The rhythmic thumping of it pushed back all my other thoughts and worries, even going so far as to dull the agonizing pain in my wings. Closing my eye, I focused solely on the soothing sound, and let it take me away into the painless and emotionless void of darkness once more.

The soft hum that filled the Arcturus slowly guided me back to the waking world. The smell of copper and disinfectant clung to the air around me, and the feel of the old, stiff infirmary bed under me pressed warmly against my sweat covered coat. The sound of my own breaths had replaced the beating of my heart I’d been swept away in, and the almost oppressive fluorescent lights above me began to replace the darkness.

The second I opened my eyes, my augmented vision flickered and came back to me. The familiar soothing numbness sat across my body as the talisman in my head did it’s job once more, freeing me from the hell I’d been through. I thanked Celestia for that before pausing to also send out a small prayer of thanks to the Architect as well.

As my mind reoriented to the waking world again, another odd thought cropped up. I’d somewhat expected to have had another dream while I was out. Something nice, like another look at what my life might be like down the road. Then again, I’d rather not owe Jynx any favors, and if I did have another dream, it wouldn’t necessarily have been a good one. I mean, it could have been another ‘perfect day’ to live though that I know would never come to pass.

That thought turned on itself in an instant. What if it hadn’t been a perfect day, but a conversation with my dad where he told me something I’d deep down would have loved to hear about my mom? Did… did that actually happen, or was it…? Oh, I needed to talk to Dad right now.

The moment I tried to move, my body stiffly protested, and my augment fuzzed. My lungs seized, and even though I couldn’t feel it, I knew my body was still healing. Looking over myself, I found that my heavily bandaged wings were bound down to me, and my barrel was even more heavily bandaged than before. Even my forehoof and shoulder had been re-bandaged, and tucked into a sling even tighter than it had been before.

The moment of panic in my mind faded as I took a few deep breaths to help calm my lungs again. It gave me the moment I needed to notice the matted fur on my forehoof and muzzle had dried, but was all the evidence I’d needed. It hadn’t been a dream.

The bulkhead to the infirmary squeaked as the latching on the door shifted from it’s locked position. With a groan, the old metal swung open, and Buck stepped inside with his gaze locked on the floor. Closing the door behind him, he paused to sigh before looking up at me with his normal, kind and soft smile.

“Hey there, Night.” His words came out of his muzzle as a static filled whisper, but just hearing them sent a tingle of joy down my spine. “How are you feeling?”

“Better.” I answered as I fought with my body to sit a bit more upright. It took me longer than I’d like to admit to push myself up, but I guess I couldn’t really expect myself to be ready for any daring acrobatic displays for a while.

“Cora said there had been some… complications when working on your wings.” Buck’s volume grew slightly as he stepped up to the edge of the bed and carefully took a seat. “I should have been here for you, with you for it.”

“I’m fine.” I did my best to share a smile with him, as well as reach out to him with my prosthetic leg. He looked at it for a moment before taking it carefully in his paws and finally returning his own smile. “I know you will always be here for me, Buck. No matter what...” My words trailed off as I thought about the dream Jynx had shown me. Yeah, he hadn’t been in it directly, but at the same time… I think I was okay with that. “Actually, you won’t be.”

My words seemed to hit him like a slap in the muzzle, and he released my forehoof almost in shock.

“No, no!” I scrambled to correct myself before he thought I was going crazy. “I mean, in the sense that I know that sometimes you won’t be around when I need you to be.” Again, it hit him in a way that made him scrunch up his muzzle, and it took my mind a second to listen to what I’d just stupidly said. “No, that’s not what I meant either…” Quick, just open your muzzle and tell him that he’s his own dog, and that it’s okay if he’s not around every second of every day because sometimes he needs to step away! How hard is that? Just…

My mind was blindsided by Buck leaning down to me and pressing his muzzle against the end of my own. Every thought in my head faded away into nothingness as he kissed me. Somehow, even though my words had come out as a train wreck, I knew now that Buck already understood what I’d been trying to say.

As he pulled away, we both sat in silence for a good minute. My brain took a moment to reboot itself, as I’m sure his did as well. But as we both got our thoughts back in order, there wasn’t even much left to say. He knew that despite how banged up I was, I’d recover from it and move forward. And I knew that no matter how much he was pushed around and tested by things every day, he was strong enough to take it.

The last few months had been one hell of a test of our relationship. And while it had been strained, battered, and changed in ways I’d never even conceived, here we were. It made me grin like a giddy foal, which Buck’s jagged muzzle did it’s best to mirror as I knew he felt the same. After everything, now I knew without a single doubt, we’d always be together.

Leaning forward, I pressed against his muzzle again and tried my best to get lost in my love for him.

“Oh, you’re up, Captain!” Eliza’s cheerful voice crackled through my head. Both Buck and I stiffly paused mid kiss to shift our gazes over next to us. The fuzzy, ghostly form of Eliza’s cartoon mare sat with her head cradled in her hooves as her eyes were replaced by a pair of hearts. “Sorry, I didn’t know you two were having a sentimental moment! I could give you two lovebirds another minute if you need it.”

“It’s fine, Eliza.” Buck chuckled as he blushed so brightly I’m sure I could almost feel it through my numbed skin. Then again, maybe that was just my own blush…

“Yeah, it’s fine.” I spoke as my muzzle split into a permanent grin. “What did you need?”

“I just popped in to make sure you were awake before I made the announcement!” She giggled as her heart eyes were replaced with her normal ones. Wait, announcement? “May I have your attention.” She gave a quick clap of her hooves as her voice came through every speaker on the ship loudly enough it resonated through the walls. With a cough, she cleared her non-existent throat and sat herself up straight. “Good news, everypony! Let me be the first to inform you that after a few hours of tireless searching, we have in fact, located and caught up to our target!”

The fur on both Buck and I’s bodies stood on end, and we could both do nothing other than turn to each other and blink.

“That’s right, this is not a drill!” Eliza giggled as in the air next to her, a weird brass bell popped into existence. She gave a knock at it with her hoof, and it rang out like the bells they used to use for those old boxing matches they had during the war. “The Survivor versus the King-to-be, Bombay versus the Saddle-Arabian-Bastard, Night Flight versus Solomon! Whatever nickname you choose, it’s slated to be the fight of the decade! So cancel your dinner plans everypony, and get to your battle stations, because this slug fest is about to begin!”

With another crackle, the speakers on the ship fuzzed as they turned off, and the words finally began to sink in.

“So, are you ready for this, Captain?” Eliza smiled at me as she crossed her hooves with a proud look across her face.

Buck’s paw slowly came down against my side as he shared a nod with me.

“This time, we are.” I nodded back. We all knew what we needed to do. All that was left, was to do it.

This time, we were going to win.

Author's Note

As always, I need to give a lot of thanks to TheFurryRailFan for all his help in going over these chapters. It means a lot to me to even have a second pair of eyes, and I can't begin to repay all of the help he's given me over the years.

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat for creating and letting us all use this fantastic wasteland setting!

Chapter 106 - The Final Cut

If your attack is going well, you've walked into an ambush.

It had taken all of ten seconds flat for everypony on the Arcturus to spring into action. I left Buck to manage the infirmary, passing Cora in the galley as he made his way to join Buck. Even as I made my way through the bulkheads towards the front of the ship, I could hear vague vulgarities shouted by Tofu as she got the weapons bay launch systems warmed up.

After having to fight my own body all the way here, I think Buck was right. There’s no way I’d be going anywhere off the Arcturus during this fight. Not that with what we’d had planned, we’d need to do anything other than sit back and watch the fireworks anyway.

This was it though. It was really happening. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I had to force myself to take slow, deep breaths to stay calm. We were going to get the jump on Solomon, and we weren’t going to hold back.

Today, Solomon would pay for everything he’d taken from us.

“Talk to me, Delta,” I grunted as I took a stiff step through the bulkhead into the bridge. Every terminal screen was alight with either images from below, or of data of one sort or another. For a moment, I could have almost believed I’d stepped into the command position of an active Enclave cloudship. “What are we looking at?”

“The Arcturus sensors confirm a cluster of vehicles just about two kilometers south of our current position.” Delta called back as he remained crouched over a console that constantly scrolled across new information that was far too complex for me to comprehend. “Additionally, there are three teams of two located just under our present location, and fairly well camouflaged in the forest. They seem to be spread out to monitor the road we’ve followed here, so I’d say they’re probably scouts watching for anyone heading south.”

“It’s at this point I’d like to bring up a slight complication, Captain.” Eliza’s voice came out of the speakers in the bridge, but her ghost-like form shimmered to life in front of me. “We’ve encountered Solomon farther south and later than previously anticipated, and as such, the approaching weather system has forced us to deviate from our planned operational altitude.”

“And what’s wrong with that?” I asked as Delta pushed himself over to a separate set of monitors that had been giving readouts on the weather. “If we don’t approach from where we were going to, chances are Solomon could miss us.”

“Unfortunately, the crosswinds from the coming storm system have forced us to cut our altitude almost in half just so we can safely launch the missiles.” Delta sighed as he pointed to the bulging storm-cell on the Doppler sensor readout. Almost to punctuate this poor turn of fortune, a rumble of thunder pushed through the hull of the Arcturus. “I’d wager that if those are Pentex scouts under us, there’s little chance they missed us coming, so chances are we’ve got two minutes before they scramble so Solomon can get away.”

“Well, that won’t matter if we can confirm Solomon is in that camp ahead before then.” I tried to brush off the awkward twinge in my gut as a symptom of my anticipation for this moment. “Any way we can confirm that?”

“I’ll bring it up for you, Captain.” Eliza’s mare smiled as she bounced on her hooves. With a flicker, a few of the monitors next to me switched from their normal displays, over to an image of the forest below us. “Alright, now tuning the observational lensing system to the specified coordinates, and…”

The image on the screens tilted, raising up towards the horizon before everything in it fuzzed out to a blurry mess. After a moment, the mess started to resolve, and a different part of the forest came into view. Just off the side of the old, overgrown four lane highway, was what looked like a small rest stop. Around a dozen vehicles were parked and set up as a makeshift barricade on the road itself.

Those must have been the rest of the Pentex mercs that were supposed to ambush us in Saddlebrook. Nearby, a number of tents held the crews to said vehicles, who were all busy lounging around and generally not seeming at all ready for a fight. Still, they were set up ringing around exactly what I’d expected to see parked in the center of the small rest stop.

Solomon’s nice and shiny motorhome.

A pair of ponies stood on the top of it with binoculars and rifles, while a third worked on setting up some sort of antenna. The wires of which ran down from the roof of the vehicle and into the interior of Solomon’s wheeled home. One of the ponies on lookout gave a few stomps on the roof as he shouted something.

The door to Solomon’s RV swung open, and out stepped…

“Rook.” I seethed under my breath.

The camp around him whipped into a frenzy as ponies and zebras in Pentex uniforms scrambled to get to defensive positions. Guess Delta was right, they’d seen us coming. No matter, as there wasn’t a thing they’d be able to do to stop what we were about to throw at them.

“Hey, Eliza?” I glanced over at the Cartoon mare to see her smile brighten. “Do me a favor and see if Tofu’s ready to launch yet.”

“The system is still warming up! I know we don’t have it, but I just need literally five minutes, Captain!” Tofu’s voice came back over the intercom promptly. “It would have helped to have had literally any heads up before hoof.” Glancing at Eliza, her cartoon expression shifted to a fairly over-the-top bashful look. “Good news though, I managed to get a few spare missiles ready to go in the past few hours. But if it’s alright, I’d still like to suggest that we not miss this chance in the first place!”

“Captain…” Delta gave a stiff tap on my shoulder to pull my attention back to the monitor.

Stepping out from inside of his mobile home was the bastard himself. His white skin all but glowed under even the storm dimmed afternoon light, highlighting the tightly wound bandages around his barrel. Rook’s teleportation magic produced an elegant and military-like blue jacket which he then draped over Solomon. Another small, black object floated over to Solomon’s muzzle, but I couldn’t quite tell what it was...

“Is that you, Night Flight?” Solomon’s voice crackled over the speakers.

“They’re broadcasting on a short band radio set that I’ve tuned in to, Captain.” Eliza spoke up as her mare went and pointed to the hoofset that hung on the console next to me. “You can use that to speak to him if you wish.”

You know what? Tofu still needs a minute or two, so why not? Leaning over, I used my prosthetic to lift the receiver up to my muzzle.

“Hello, Solomon.”

“Ah, yes, it is you.” He let out a small chuckle that made my heartbeat spike again. “And how very Enclave of you. A pegasus arriving on a chariot of clouds. Well this certainly is a wonderful surprise.” Not nearly as wonderful as you might think, pal… “Actually, I’m quite pleased to have run in to you again, as I wanted to renew my ‘one-time-offer’ with Delilah’s crew… oh, excuse me. I apologize for that slip of the tongue.” He paused for dramatic effect, but it didn’t work, as he was simply wasting time he didn’t have left. “I guess what I meant to say is your crew. Is that correct? I hope I didn’t offend you too terribly with that...”

“Offer?” Delta scrunched up his muzzle as he whipped his eyes over to me. “What the hell is he talking about, Night?”

“I’ll take your pause to answer as a sign that your new compatriots listening in didn’t know?” Solomon let out another infuriatingly haughty laugh. “It hardly seems fair for me to be the one to tell them, but you’re asking them to die for you when we don’t have to be enemies. Just name your price, and we can put all of this behind us. I’ll get the Ark, and you’ll have saved Delilah’s quaint little town.”

“There’s nothing you could offer that will ever make me not want to kill you, Solomon.” I hissed through the receiver. Please, he must be desperate to bring this up. We’ve got the drop on him and he must know how fucked he is right now.

“You do understand how terribly mad you sound right now?” Another laugh crackled through the speakers as he seemed to be enjoying himself more than I was. “You’re willing to throw away your friend’s lives just to keep an opportunity for my country to flourish, out of my hooves?”

“You killed everypony I cared about!” The words snapped out of my muzzle with every bit of rage and pent up frustration from this whole damned trip.

“To benefit tens of thousands in my homeland!” Solomon came back with exactly the same growling frustration in his voice that I’d just held. “I offer you this chance because I have grown tired of your constant interference. The game was fun when Delilah followed the rules. Then again, she understood them and respected them. You have a distinct lack of both when it comes to just what the Ark could mean for my people.”

“Don’t lie to me, Solomon.” I wouldn’t silently let him lie to me when Delilah and everypony else had deserved so much fucking better. “The Ark is nothing more than a prize to offer up so you can be King. Don’t try to bullshit me and pretend this is about doing the right thing, Solomon.”

“Oh, but it is, Night. Once I am crowned king, I will institute sweeping reforms. Ponies and halfbreeds will no longer be second class citizens. We’ll begin reconstruction of the Capitol, ensuring room to house everyone who could ever want to live in peace and safety. Slavery will be outlawed, and the raiders will be hunted down to extinction. Once I take the throne, I can start to right the wrongs my people have suffered through for two centuries.”

“Yeah? At what cost.” I spat at him. “You’re building an empire on the corpses of innocent wastelanders. Don’t those you’ve wronged here deserve justice?”

“You seek to bring meaning to their deaths, however their sacrifice will mean nothing if I cannot reclaim the Ark!” Solomon roared back through the hoofset in front of him. His heaving, heated breaths drove bursts of static through the speakers as he took a moment to calm himself. On the terminal screen, Rook spoke at him, pulling a devilish smirk across the Saddle Arabian’s muzzle once more. “I apologize if our discussion has drifted a little from my intent. But as Rook has so rightly pointed out, a factor of it may be with how… impersonal our meetings have become. Perhaps you would do me the service of negotiation in person.” Hah! Fat chance. “If it helps, I give you my word that Pentex will not harm you or your party while we speak.”

Then again…

“I have your word that we’ll be safe?” I asked as flatly as I could. Glancing over, both Delta and Eliza’s jaws had hit the floor. Literally in Eliza’s case. “We come in, talk, and leave. No weapons for either party.”

“You have my most sincere and honest word.” Solomon nodded and even went so far as to give us a little reverent bow for show. “No weapons while we negotiate an honest and fair deal for both parties.”

“Fine, it’s agreed.” I couldn’t help myself but to smirk as the words slipped out of my muzzle all too easily.“We will depart for your camp in one minute.”

“Don’t keep me waiting, Night Flight.” The radio set flashed away in Rook’s magic before the two of them retreated back into Solomon’s bus.

Turning, I placed the receiver on the console again, and found Hispano standing in the bulkhead with her talons crossed and her own sly smile across her beak.

“Excuse me, but what the fuck are you thinking, Night?” Delta finally managed to spit out as he clamped his hooves around his head. “You can’t trust him!”

“Hey, Tofu?” Hispano chirped as she pushed herself off the Bulkhead. “The Remora will be freeing it’s launch tube in about thirty seconds. Once it’s out of the way, you think you can start loading a sixth missile?”

“Uh, sure. You’ve got it, Hispano!” Tofu came back through the system with a puzzled tone to her voice.

“That pretty much what you wanted, Dum Dum?”

“Yeah.” I nodded to her and turned to Eliza, who was just now literally rolling her jaw up from the floor with her hooves. “Solomon’s words were chosen carefully, but we know him better. If he wants no weapons at the meeting, then I’m pretty sure we’re not supposed to make it there at all.”

“You think they’re going to try to shoot the Remora out of the sky?” Eliza tilted her head and scrunched up her cartoon muzzle.

“Bingo.” I nodded. While I admire that Solomon is still attempting to fool us, he has to know by now there’s no way we’d fall for it. “Think you could make a good show of dodging their fire before faking a convincing crash? I don’t want them looking anywhere near us when we launch our strike.”

“Ehh, I dunno, that sounds pretty tough…” Eliza cringed and paused before her smile returned. “Guess we’ll find out though!”

“Alright, Delta. I need targets.” Turning to him, my words seemed to snap him out of his stupor.

“Aye, Captain.” He nodded and just like that, I was face to face with the confident King of the Skyraiders. “Now, normally I wouldn’t suggest hitting such a soft asset with so much, but I think we should send two missiles at the RV.”

Reaching up, he tapped his hoof on the RV as it was displayed on the terminal screen. To my suprise, a red outline highlighted the pristine bus. A few lines of code streamed through a box that popped up beside it before a three digit number popped up with 100%.

“For the next two…” He paused and leaned close, mulling over the dozen different vehicles sitting on the road. “The two scout cars should get one a piece,” Again he tapped the screen on the two ‘scout cars’ we’d faced off against in Maple Valley. “That’ll keep their response to our strike just a bit slower.” The same highlights flashed up over them, but this time each one came back as only 65%.

“And for the final two...” Hispano cooed as she stepped up and highlighted a pair of runner-like armored cars with what looked like miniguns attached to their roofs. The scrolling code came up again, but labeled their chance of being hit at only 23%.

“Wrong.” Delta sighed and pushed her talons away from the screen. He tapped at the two armored cars to remove their highlights, and instead tapped a couple of boxy trucks that sat parked together near the center of the formation. “We hit these.” The scrolling code came up again, but surprisingly left only a 25% chance to be hit.

“So a collective four percent means I’m wrong?” Hispano huffed and deadpanned at Delta. “My targets at least have the chance to pull two guns from their forces!”

“And my choice eliminates their ammo supplies completely.” Delta offered Hispano a grin as he gave her a few degrading pats on the head. Hispano did a double take at the screen before letting out a soft squeak from her beak. “It’s okay, we all make mistakes when learning to plan out airstrike target priorities. But this isn’t exactly my first rodeo, and I’m sure it won’t be your last.”

“It’s not a competition, you two.” I did my best to offer a smirk as my eyes were locked on Solomon’s RV. “So long as Solomon dies, then we all win. Simple as that.”

“The Remora has departed.” Eliza chimed in over the speakers.

“Good.” I nodded and got myself comfy on the floor. Well, as comfy as I could be with one hoof in a sling and a body wrapped in gauze. “This is it.”

“Alright, notice to all stations;” Delta called out as he pressed down on the intercom button. “Report in on ready status.”

“Missile six is being mounted and armed as we speak!” Tofu called out with a sing-songy voice. “In ten seconds, all tubes will be clear and ready to fire on your command!”

“Reactor room is green, combat protocols are being observed.” Dad called up next.

“Buck and I are in the Infirmary, and are ready to assist with injuries.” Cora’s unenthusiastic voice came through the speakers.

“This is King, ready to help with repairs to the forward sensors should you need them.” King’s voice came through as a nice surprise. Huh, well I’ll take all the help we can get for this.

“Captain!” Eliza gave out a gasp as she practically threw herself in front of me. “Ground-to-cloud lock on the Remora!”

On the screen, the top of Solomon’s RV moved. What had originally looked like some sort of climate control unit on the roof, spun and opened up, revealing a pair of missiles inset inside of it. With a flash, both missiles streaked outward toward the Remora.

“It’s showtime.” Delta smirked as he leaned forward toward the intercom. “Eliza, draw their attention with the Remora! Bridge to launch commander, fire all tubes!”

“Firing all tubes, Aye!” Tofu’s ecstatic voice came through before a tremendous static filled the speakers. A roaring picked up below the ship as each missile dropped out and ignited their engines. “Tubes one through six, reporting positive launches! Missiles show greenlights for guidance and propulsion. They will impact targets in eight seconds!”

Two panels on the side of the RV flipped open, and a pair of bulbous turrets raised out of them. They spun and immediately began firing a blistering amount of pink magical beams out towards the incoming missiles. My gut twisted as one of our missiles exploded mid-air from the fire. Geeze, what the hell even was this RV? Was it designed by the same fucking ponies as the Oroborous!?

“That’s one hell of a recreational vehicle…” Delta muttered as we both leaned in and watched the last missile track closer and closer.

With a blinding flash, the missile impacted into the side of the RV, and the image disappeared from the screen. With a quick refocus of the lensing system, the expanding fireball from the strike engulfed the camp, and flattened the rest stop building nearby. The crack of the blast was swiftly followed by each of the other missiles reaching their targets and similarly evaporating them.

Both Delta and I practically had our muzzles pressed against the screen. Time had stretched out as we watched the flames die down, leaving thick, obscuring smoke to slowly rise over the target sites. Come on, there’s no way he avoided that.

The smoke cleared just enough that both Delta and I could make out the twisted, gutted frame of Solomon’s stupid RV on fire and melting. It was gone… we’d actually done it! Solomon was dead!

“Captain, movement from below!” Eliza gasped as the images across the monitors flashed from the carnage of Solomon’s camp, to the forest below us.

The camera focused on one of the scout teams as they hastily pulled obscuring camouflage netting from what looked like almost nothing. With a shimmer, a boxy vehicle came into view below us. The trailer that was attached to the rear of the vehicle came to life, and a long tube resting on the top of it began to elevate to aim at us.

“Three vehicles have emerged from some sort of advanced camo-netting!”

“Tofu!” Delta called out as his hoof slammed down on the intercom button. “We need those next shots loaded! Eliza, pull the Arcturus back and get us some fucking altitude from these things!”

“Incoming fire from the remnants of the main group.” Eliza’s worried tone mixed with the feeling of the Arcturus itself shifting under my hooves. “All hooves, brace yourselves!”

At first it sounded like heavy, pelting rain against the hull under us. The squeals and slams picked up in hits that rattled the floor and walls. There was a sharp zing as one of the monitors nearby blasted outward. Another rattling bang shifted one of the floor plates as one of the shots punched through into the bridge.

I scrambled to push myself back to the bulkhead door with Hispano, moving just in time for another shot to pierce through the floor plate I’d been on. With a squealing bounce, it arced off of the terminal next to Delta and punched through the console beside him.

“Eliza!” Delta shouted as he jumped up on top of a few of the center consoles in the room and held onto them for dear life. “Get us out of their range!”

The whole ship shook from a thunderous blast. Alarms rang out as smoke and sparks pushed in from the front compartments of the Arcturus. What the fuck was that!?

“We’ve been hit by a rocket! Outer hull breach in the forward sensor compartment!” Eliza’s ghost-like form shimmered and disappeared completely as her voice was broken up by static over the speakers. “Long range sensors are down, and King is… well he’s not moving, Captain!”

Another blast rocked the ship, this time from behind. Both Hispano and I braced ourselves on the bulkhead as we turned. A secondary explosion shook us even worse, and I watched as the thin hallway leading back literally torqued and rolled slightly with the blast.

“Hull breach in the secondary reactor compartment! The primary helium storage tank has ruptured. Secondary systems and backups have come online, but automatic fire suppression systems are failing to respond!”

“Main Reactor still shows as stable!” Dad’s frantic voice was accompanied by even more bursts of static. “I’m working on containing the fire, but this ship wasn’t built to take hits! And she definitely can’t take another hit like that!”

A louder thump than before emanated from below, and instinctively I braced myself for the hit.

My ears rang as the bridge itself turned into a sea of smoke, sparks, and shrapnel. There was no explosion, and when I opened my eyes, a large, barbed spear sat pierced right into the console Delta had been on. Thankfully, the strike had shoved him off to the side, and he was just now picking himself up.

“Captain, those v-vehicles down below have f-fired anchors through our hull.” Eliza’s voice stuttered as sparks and smoke continued to pour out of each of the damaged consoles on the bridge. “Port side rear cloud drive has been breached.”

What few screens were still working all changed to pictures of those vehicles down below. Each of the three boxy vehicles had the same trailer hitched up to their rear and hastily secured to the forest floor. Thick, trailing wires linked the spears in the Arcturus down through the elevated tubes and wire spools, shifting lightly in the wind.

“Captain!” Tofu called out with a growl through her intercom. “There’s a metal spear sitting in the side of the weapons bay, and it’s jammed up all the hydraulics to the loading mechanisms for tubes four, five, and six!”

“I’m moving to assist Tofu!” Buck’s voice crackled over both the intercom, and into my head. “I’ll see if I can push it back out!”

“Eliza, we need to reverse course now!” Hispano gasped as she pressed herself against the bulkhead and held a talon out against me to help both of us stay steady. “Get some distance! The sudden strain on their anchor lines might rip them out, or outright snap the cables.”

“Fuck retreat!” Delta growled as he hugged around the console in front of him. “Go for maximum assent thrust. Let’s take them for a little flight.”

“Adjusting al-altitude.” Eliza’s voice, though filled with static, also held something to it that I hadn’t heard from her before. Fear. “Cloud d-drive elevation thrust set t-to war-emergency-power mode.”

The whole ship groaned as it pushed up from under us. Even the bulkhead Hispano and I were sheltered in let out a few deep creaks before the lines from the anchors went taught. The sound the cable made as they were strained was unlike anything I’d ever heard. Momentarily, the hum of the overtaxed cloud drive systems and groaning cables drowned out the alarms going off throughout the ship.

There was a sharp bang from the rear of the Arcturus, followed by a twang that emitted from closer still. But the barbed point of the spear in the bridge simply groaned in protest as it dug in and bent the metal console it was lodged in. Then without cause, the line simply went slack, and the spear remained still.

“The spear in the weapons bay has been removed!” Tofu reported back.

“Sensors s-show that the spear in the r-rear cloud drive compartment has likewise been t-torn out.” Eliza’s stuttering voice had a slight relief to it, but even as she talked, my eyes were still locked on the barbed spear still lodged in the bridge. “We’ve leveled out at just under a kilometer and a half, and have moved out of combat range of the remaining Pentex forces.”

“What about this one?” The words slipped from my muzzle as my gut doubled down on acting up.

“It seems rather than be lifted into the sky like the previous two vehicles, the crew which launched this cable chose to cut it from their end.”

“Did they cut it, though?” Jynx’s voice whispered into my ear. I whipped around, tearing myself back and dragging Hispano with me into the Core Systems room.

“What do you mean!?” I snapped at Jynx, looking around for her.

“Night, what’s going on?” Hispano’s firm talons gripped around my shoulders, helping to ground me again.

“It’s Jynx, she said they didn’t cut their line.” I didn’t like this. “Why would she tell me that?”

“Easy,” Jynx laughed as I blinked and she appeared to be laying across the top of the Silverfish drone in the center of the room. “Because you’ve seen one of those launchers before. Or don’t you remember?”

Her words kicked my brain into gear, searching my memories for any sort of similar vehicle. My mind jumped from place to place as I tried to think of all the vehicles and crews I’d seen on the way here. From Road Crew, to Cordite, to…

“Wait!” I gasped and spun on my hooves, practically throwing myself back through the bulkhead. “Eliza, show me the vehicle that launched the line!”

The one still working terminal screen near me flickered over, showing that it was a boxy vehicle with the normal Pentex logo emblazoned across it. However, the trailer hooked to the rear of it looked out of place for them, and in fact, had the Cordite logo on it. It wasn’t a harpoon meant to anchor us down, it was one of the stolen Mine Clearing Line Charges!

Before I could even open my muzzle to speak, there was an intense flash.

A terrific crack, followed by a wave of force stronger than the previous two knocked me flat off my hooves. It felt like the whole floor to the Bridge twisted upward under me before buckling. Half the consoles, wires, and pipes in the bridge fell out into the forest below as the ship itself gave out a strained groan.

Only the consoles against the walls and a few pieces of the floor around me had been spared, and even then, only just. The alarms and speakers of the bridge cut out with a burst of static, dropping us into an awkward silence that was replaced by the sounds of the open air below the ship.

"External explosion detected!" Eliza's panic filled voice came through the speakers in the core systems room. “Massive structural damage to the bridge compartment!”

"N-Night! A little help, please!?" Delta cried out. I couldn't see anything through the smoke, but as it cleared, I could see his hooves desperately clinging to the console he'd been perched on. It had miraculously survived the blast, but now dangled precariously under the ship, suspended only by a few sparking wires.

I scrambled to get back to my hooves. The floor between Delta and I had been blasted upward. Twisted bulkhead beams, live sparking wires, and jagged metal plates created a cage in front of me that impeded my every attempt to get around.

I hammered my forehooves against some of the still heated metal, but it didn’t budge. Taking a piece of pipe into my hooves that had been severed from above, I tried to use it as a prybar on one of the thinner pieces of bent metal. A sharp zap from the electrified beam literally threw me back against one of the shattered consoles.

That’s fine, I’ll just go up and out through the top hatch! Looking to the conning tower ladder, the hatch itself was buckled inward at an odd angle and pinned by what had once been a conduit of some sort. Like parts of the cage in front of me, a set of sparks from inside the tube meant it would probably not be a pleasant climb, even if I could find a way to get the hatch open.

I... I couldn't get to him.

"What the fuck was that!" Hispano called as she pulled herself back into the bulkhead doorway with a growl. She winced as a small line of blood trickled down from a gash just above her eye, and her talons pressed against the dark bruises coloring her side.

"Hispano, get to the weapons bay doors and get to the underside of the bridge,now!" I snapped back at her. "Delta's hanging on, but I don't know how much strain those wires can take!"

"On it!" She shouted back as her wings fluttered. Before I knew it, I was left with the sounds of sparking wires, groaning steel, and the painfully strained wines of Delta as he tried to climb up.

"Just h-hold on, Delta!" There had to be something I could do,anything!

"Oh, if only there were." Jynx shook her head at me as she appeared on the other side of the twisted metal cage I was trapped in. "Then again, maybe Hispano will get here in time. I mean, Delilah did say that you needed to trust in your crew, right? Because if they care enough, they’ll move mountains for you, right? Hah, how pathetic."

"Now is definitely not the time!" I spat at her and hammered my hoof at the twisted metal. The sharp bits of it slashed at me, but right now, I didn't care. "You can either fucking help Delta or you can get the fuck out of my head!"

"Night!?" Delta called out as one of the wires holding him snapped. "Who you talkin' with, Buddy? I... I need you to keep it together for me!"

"See, I told you, Night." She shook her head at me with that same, incessant, smug smile she modeled off of Solomon. She flared out her wing and curled her flight feathers with a sultry laugh. As she opened them again, the pair of scissors she'd stolen from my room appeared in her feathered grasp. "I told you that you'd know when things came to balance out. The pendulum always swings back."

"What? No..." She wouldn't... I wouldn't let her. "No, you fucking help him or you're gone from my head! Understand!?" Okay, I'm at home now. I'm at home, and she can fucking go to hell! I know who I am, that this is where I’m supposed to be, so she can...

Why…! Why was she still here!? Staring at her, her smile only widened, becoming impossibly unhinged.

"That's not how this works anymore, Night." She sighed as she turned and walked along one of the hanging beams toward where Delta was hanging. "You gave me permission to stay, remember? Thanks to that itty-bitty thing called consent, it doesn't matter what happens, or how strong a will you have."

Her eyes went wide as her expression emptied itself of all care, and her smile turned hollow.

"We'll be together, forever."

With a single swing of her wing, she arced the scissors down. The bundle of wires severed cleanly, sparking for only a moment as the weight of Delta dragged the console free of the Arcturus. Delta's panic filled words were drowned out by the sickening laughter pouring from Jynx's muzzle.

“Delta!” Hispano’s static filled voice screamed through the ship’s intercom system.

As Jynx’s laugh trailed off, she stood there staring. She was waiting for me to blink. When I did, she disappeared without another word. The pair of scissors dropped, following Delta down to the forest below.

And like that, I was left with nothing but the noise of the wind outside.

"Hispano..." I whimpered as my legs gave out from under me. "Did you...?"

"I couldn't... there wasn't enough..." Hispano's hollow, stunned words came through the radio to give me my answer. "I'd just needed a few more seconds... to get to him. I’m so sorry, Night.”

“Oh goddesses, Delta..." The words fell from my muzzle with a whimper as I collapsed to the floor and curled myself up.

Today was supposed to be a win. We finally fucking killed Solomon, but… Delta didn’t deserve to die. And worst of all, it was because of me. He was gone because I thought it would be worth keeping Jynx around to help kill Solomon. I’d traded a crewpony’s life, a friend’s life, just so I could get revenge. What sort of fucking leader does that?

I shifted on my bed and looked around my empty cabin, glaring daggers into anything and everything out of the corner of my eye.

Figures. She wouldn’t show up now, not when she’s won. She’s here to put me on the ground, not kick me while I’m already there. No, why would it be her job to do that when I’m the one who needs to kick my flank more than anypony else.

But she was right, I let her stay. That made it ultimately my fault, and as the pony who was stupid enough to take over, it’s my fucking job to take responsibility. Delta… Delta had trusted me, and I betrayed him.

Grinding my teeth together, I wished I could just… go back and...

The door to my room rattled for a moment before a soft pair of knocks came through. My glare swept over as the door cracked open, and Hispano’s bandaged head poked in.

“Can I just have some time alone?” I forced myself to speak through my clamped muzzle.

“Buck thought it best if you weren’t.” She squeaked as she pushed herself the rest of the way through the door. At the very least, she shut it behind her. “We don’t have to talk… if you don’t want to. We can just sit in silence.”

Like always, I could tell this was a fight I wasn’t going to win with her. Even if every fiber of my being wanted to scream, flail, and rage for her to leave. If anything, that would just draw Buck into this, and I didn’t want to deal with that shit right now. No, this was my problem, and it would stay mine.

“Fine.” I grumbled.

Hispano offered me the smallest of smiles as she made her way over to our bed. She didn’t climb up on it, instead, she opted to spin around and sit on the floor next to me. She took a moment to make herself comfortable before leaning over and laying her head against my side.

I settled for what I hoped was a long stretch of silent contemplation again. It didn’t matter that she was here, it didn’t change the fact that…

“You can’t blame yourself.” Hispano’s cold, blunt words sent an electric tingle through my body. It made my blood boil, and a snarl escaped my muzzle.

“Oh, and why not?” My teeth chattered as I spoke, doing my best not to lash out and push her away from me. Seriously, what the fuck was wrong with her?

“Simple.” She quipped with the same starkness as she lifted her eyes up to me. “We all knew the risks. We went into that fight knowing that Solomon might once again have some last trick up his sleeve. We followed the plan, and Delta died.”

It wasn’t that simple and she knows it. A thought ran through my mind like a bolt of lightning. And like lightning, it flowed out through my muzzle before I could even blink.

“He died because of you.”

Hispano went stiff against me. Her eyes sank, and she went back to sitting in silence. It wasn’t until then, like with thunder, that the sound of my words came to hit me moments later.

“Wait, that’s not…” My mind picked up from my misstep and connected the disparate words with the ones that should have followed the original thought. “I mean, you couldn’t get to him in time.”

“Yeah, so you fucking blame me. I get it.” Hispano’s tone had sunk. The normal confidence in her voice was gone, and now, I was betting she understood a little bit more of how I felt. But bringing her down like that wasn’t what I’d meant to do at all.

“I blame me, Hispano.” With a grunt, I threw myself back into my bed and stared up at the ceiling. “I sent you, when I should have been the one to go. I’m faster in a dive, so I could have…”

“Could have what?” Hispano let a hollow laugh escape her beak as she smacked my good hindleg with her talon. “Fallen to your death with him? You can hardly fly after Bridleshade, Night.”

“If it meant saving him...” I snapped back.

“No, you listen here, Dum Dum.” She let out a growl of her own as she pushed herself up off the floor. Within a few seconds, she was leaning over the edge of the bed and prodding at me sharply with her talons. “You think you can argue the laws of physics here? There is no way that in your shape that you could have even slowed him enough to have given him a sliver of a chance, and you know it.”

Her words swirled around in my mind, and I imagined just how wrong she was. I could have swooped in and grabbed him. And…

My thoughts sidetracked as I imagined both of us plowing through the treetops like I did earlier today in Bridleshade. No, that’s not right, I could pull us up in time! Trying to re-imagine it, I tried to force myself to think about how I would have grabbed him and saved the day. But even as I imagined it, like any fantasy, it just felt so… off.

I wouldn’t say it, but she was right. Even if I’d gone, I might have caught up to him. But Delta… there’s no way I could have saved him.

“You're so eager to carry the burden of this crew on your shoulders that you're letting yourself get weighed down by this.” Pulling her talon back, she shifted it and pointed back to the door. “You’re not the only one being an idiot, and I can prove it.”

She gave a fluttering hop across the room and practically ripped the door open. As soon as she had, the whimpering and teary eyed form of Happy spilled into the room. An empty bottle of some sort of booze scattered across the floor, coming to a stop at the end of my bed. Buck let out a tired sigh as he stood behind the miserable mule, only to glance up at me with his own pain filled gaze.

“I’m sorry!” Happy whined as he struggled to pull himself to his hooves. His unfocused gaze swung across the room as his body protested and wobbled. “Please, I didn’t mean to…” With a lurch, he paused and threw up all over the floor. The foul stench of whiskey and bile filled the already stuffy room. “Fuck… you have to believe me, Night. I didn’t mean it...”

“What the hell are you talking about, Happy.” It’s not even that I was disappointed he’d gone through a bottle of booze after quitting it. Today I could forgive the lazy mule for that. But he couldn’t possibly think Delta’s death was on his incompetent hooves.

“It was because I fucking pushed, and pushed, and pushed.” He whimpered as he collapsed in a drunken heap onto his own puddle of sick. “Solomon took everyone from me. And now? He just had to take one more pony before he went, didn't he? So it’s my fault! If I hadn’t wanted to kill Solomon so bad… then maybe Delta would be alive.”

“I’m the one who made the call to keep my stupid fucking curse, Happy.” Pushing myself up, part of me wanted to get off the bed and kick him out for this pitiful display of bullshit. But the more civil side of me won out like always, and I settled for just telling him like it is. “So you’re safe, because as usual, somepony else gets the blame today. Go sober the fuck up and quit whining.”

“Night.” A static filled snarl slipped through Buck’s muzzle as he bared his jagged teeth at me. His sharp gaze made me stiffen up, and again helped to shock my mind into hearing the words I’d just said. “Solomon was the bad guy here, and now he's gone. He’ll never hurt anypony again.”

As much as deep down I knew Buck was right, it still didn’t make today feel like it should. Opening my muzzle, I moved to say the only thing I could without arguing further. Unfortunately, Happy groaned and said it first.

“It wasn’t worth losing somepony else.”

“That’s only true so long as you both sit here and make it that way.” Hispano sighed and ran her talons over her face. “Look, no one is saying it was a fair trade, but Solomon was right about one thing.” That brought both Happy and mine’s gazes up to her. “Delta’s sacrifice, along with everypony else he killed, was all for nothing unless you two get off your asses and make sure that isn’t true.”

“I agree one hundred percent with Hispano.” Buck’s static filled growl echoed down the hall. “Maybe, and I’m not saying it is or isn’t your fault Night,” He nodded as he softened his expression to me. “but if it was your curse that got Delta killed, then perhaps our next step should be in finding a way to remove it.”

“Hah.” I scoffed and threw myself back against my bed. “I can’t. I had the chance to get rid of her back in Maple Station, but I let her stay. I was convinced that I could control her.” Lifting my hooves to my face, I pressed down hard. “But because I invited her to live in my fucking head, I can’t just magic her away anymore!”

With shaking hooves, I pressed hard enough that I could see stars in my eyes. Maybe with any luck, I’d crack my skull open and Jynx would just seep out. Hah, if only…

“Well, maybe you can’t…” Hispano said with a snap of her talons. “But didn’t my Dad mention that one of the ministries had a way to get rid of them?”

“Yeah, he did. Both he and I talked about it at length.” Buck perked up and brought a paw up to his chin softly.

With a blink of my eyes, Jynx’s frowning face popped up staring right up at Buck.

“You know, before you get your hopes up, Night.” She gave out a shrug as her normal, oily smile pulled her muzzle back. “There’s no guarantee that any of those machines survived the last two centuries. And even if they did, do you really trust that some unlicensed dog pretending to be a doctor could run them correctly? Some husband he’s going to be if he’s so willing to put your life at risk like that.”

“Get out.” I seethed to her. “You don’t get to speak about Buck like that when you aren’t even real.”

“Night…” Hispano chimed in, but stopped when I raised my hoof to her.

“Jynx here is trying to talk me out of it.” My eyes were locked on hers, and I could feel my heart beat faster as my whole body wanted to throw myself into beating her into nothingness. “She says that even if the stuff is still there, it probably won’t work after so long.”

“She’s lying.” Happy groaned through half a laugh from the floor. “Take it from somepony who spent most of his life living off his mother’s caps. You know that before she died, I did plenty of things, said things, all to avoid putting myself at risk.”

“True.” Hispano snirked and crossed her talons. “But this is different, Happy.”

“And it’s sad, really.” Jynx shifted positions to mirror Hispano while standing upside down on the ceiling above her. “The lengths he’s willing to stoop to try to take the blame for something, anything, today.”

“Is it... different?” He paused as he lurched again, giving a few dry heaves and whimpers. With a gasp, he turned his gaze back to me and hardened it. “You know… I sold out Ma’ time and again on this trip for what? Some tail, or for a few drinks?” With a twinge, he gasped and gave a few more retching heaves. “What do you think I’d have done if they threatened my life?”

“Yeah, that’s enough out of you.” Jynx sighed and waved her hoof at Happy, who devolved in a fit of choking coughs. “Next time maybe he’ll think before he drains a whole bottle of booze down his worthless muzzle.”

“Maybe we should get you to the infirmary.” Buck grumbled as he stepped in and plucked Happy right off the floor. Without wasting a moment, the casing on his arm swung open and a small articulating syringe popped out. It stuck into Happy’s side, and his fits started to trail off as he passed out. “You know, again, he’s right, Night. Maybe she’s telling you what she needs you to hear so you don’t go through with it.”

“Ugh!” Jynx let out a frustrated groan. “Why are we still talking about this? You’re stuck with me, forever, Night!”

With that, Buck turned and headed for the infirmary.

“Think of it this way, Night.” Hispano said as she gave a fluttering hop over to the door. With a swing of her talon, she shut it once more, leaving just the two of us alone. “If like you say, and she is just a voice in your head, then what makes her different from the hallucinations you said you had of Solomon talking to you?”

“Well, I don’t mean to toot my own horn, as the phrase goes,” Jynx let out one of her infuriatingly sultry laughs as she deadpanned at me. “But those jokes could hardly control the fabrics of probability like I’m able to.”

“Don’t listen to her, Night.” Hispano snapped at me, bringing my attention back to her. With a few steps, she brought herself to stand at the end of the bed in front of me. “She doesn’t care about you, not like I do, or Buck does. Or like anyone else on this ship for that matter.” With a few light flaps of her wings, she leaned down and laid herself on top of me. Her talons wiggled and pushed under me as she squeezed me into a warm hugging embrace. “So it doesn’t matter what she says, or how believable it sounds. You can’t listen to a word that comes out of her mouth.”

Of course, Hispano was right, as usual, I might add. But even so, she didn’t understand just what Jynx was. What she could do. Fighting her would just be asking to put everyone else in more danger. It would risk me losing any one of them when Jynx just… made it happen.

“Bingo, my feather-brained friend.” Jynx let out an excited squeal. “I’m glad to see that you finally understand and accept that outside of constant misery, I’m the only certainty in your life.” With a softer smile than she had any right to have, she hovered up above me and hugged herself with her hooves. “But hey, it won’t be all bad either! With Solomon out of the picture for now, and Delta boosting up your good karma meter to way in the positive again, I can help you help so many other unfortunate souls out there. The two of us, we’ll make your ma’ma so proud!”

Then again, me playing it safe didn’t save Delta.

“Eliza.” I said as I pretty much watched the blue drain from Jynx’s smug fucking face.

“Night…?” She let out a nervous laugh. “Come on, didn’t you hear me? I can help you more than ever now!”

“Yes, Captain?” Eliza’s voice came through with a crackle, and she appeared above me standing on the ceiling. Her normal smile was gone, and as much as it could be, her cartoon muzzle was matted down with big, sopping tears that rained down onto the floor of my room.

“It’s time we get rid of my curse for good." I knew the words coming from my muzzle sounded hollow, but I held hope in them. I had to hold onto it, or Delta died for nothing. "Take us to Vanhoover."

"Aye, Captain." Eliza’s cartoon mare shared a soft smile across her face. "The course to Vanhoover Veteran's Memorial Hospital has been plotted and laid in. We should arrive there by tomorrow morning."

“We’ll figure this out, Night.” Hispano cooed softly as she pressed her beak against my neck and made herself comfortable. “I know you may not want to for now, but I'll be right here beside you if you want to talk."

I snorted and reached up, wrapping my hooves around Hispano.

“Oh, you are making a big mistake, buster.” Jynx snarled as she swung a hoof at Eliza. Eliza’s form fuzzed as her hoof past through it. After a moment, Eliza popped away like a bubble, pulling a snarling growl from Jynx. “I gave you a chance, and you blew it.”

No, you blew it, Jynx.

You could have been like me and simply done what you had to in order to survive. I thought we had an understanding before, and I of all ponies can respect someone just wanting to live. But you made the same mistake Solomon did when you killed my friend.

“Ah, but remember? You were the one who got him killed.” She laughed and crossed her hooves in a huff. “Me? I’m just following the cosmic rules that your puny pony brain can’t even begin to comprehend. I told you at the start of this, the pendulum had to swing that hard because you got greedy.”

You broke my rules, Jynx. You want to talk about shit coming back around? I won’t even dance around what’s going to happen to you tomorrow. Before the end of it, you’re going to beg and scream for me to save you again, and this time it will be me laughing as you become nothing more than a bad memory.

“How can one pony be so stupid!” She clapped her hooves as she hovered around in circles above me. “There’s so much I can do to your friends before you even get close enough to use that hospital machine. This isn’t a fight you can win, Night!”

“So there is a working machine.” My muzzle pulled into a smile.

“What!?” Jynx blinked at me as she scrunched up her muzzle. “Oh, fuck.”

“What?” Hispano shifted and perked up.

“Nothing.” I sighed and rubbed my hooves along Hispano’s back. “Just telling Jynx to fuck off.”

“Good.” She sighed and squeezed around me tighter. “Tell that bitch I’ll kick her ass if she doesn’t.”

“Fuck you, Night.” Jynx snapped as she stuck her tongue out at me. “We’ll see how fucking brash you are when there’s a reactor problem and… oops! There goes your Dad! Or a short in the wires around his heart and, whoopsy daisy, there goes your husband!”

That sent a spike of fear through me. Shit, she wouldn’t… she couldn’t. Wait… she actually couldn’t!

“Oh, like fuck I can’t!” She smiled like always, but there was a twinge to it. “I’ll fucking do it, you’ll see! When you wake up husband-less and father-less tomorrow, don’t come blaming me!”

Nah, see, I know you can’t do anything, Jynx. What was that about some cosmic rules I can’t understand? You said it yourself you narcissistic bitch, I’ve got great fucking karma. You’re powerless for now!

“Goddess fucking mother fuck…!” Jynx roared and flailed herself through the air with all the same rage I’d wished I could have turned on her. “Oh, you’re fucking asking for it. And as soon as you need help again? Oh, it’s coming back to bite you hard. This fight isn’t over.”

Of course it isn’t, Jynx, that’s fine with me. That’s exactly what my friends reminded me they’re here to support me with. After all, since you haven’t done me any favors since you murdered my friend, I’ve taken the liberty of deciding I don’t need your help anymore. And, after all, if I’m the one pulling your punches, what makes you even think any of us will pull ours?

“Hehe, oh this is going to be fun, Night.” She shook her head as she started to drift away from me. “You think it’ll be easy to get rid of me without my help? You have no idea what’s in store for you.”

Well that’s really something for me and my friends to worry about, isn’t it? You think some cryptic bullshit is going to stop us? Maybe it’s you that needs to remember something. Only one of us has earned the nickname of the survivor. The ponies who tried to take advantage of me so far are pretty much all dead.

I mean, Solomon’s dead now too, so what’s one more adversary to bury with him?

Author's Note

Once more, a huge thanks to TheFurryRailfan for his continued help with editing these chapters. Seriously, you're invaluable, man.

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat for creating and allowing us all to run around in this fantastic pony-wasteland!

Chapter 107 - Road to Recovery

Good luck is inversely proportional to good timing.

Again, I couldn't really sleep. This time, it wasn't the lack of dreams, or even a fixation on what had happened to Delta. No, this time, it was because of the Arcturus itself.

With the damage it had taken, the repair talismans were being taxed to max. Plus, Tofu had informed me that the stocks of metal it uses for repairs had been all but depleted just to reform the struts under where the bridge had been. So while the Arcturus wasn't going to come apart at the seams from a stiff breeze, most of the holes we'd acquired during the fight had stayed, well... open.

I don't know why I didn't notice the eerie sounds of the wasteland before. Maybe it was hidden by the hum from Bertha's reactor, or maybe the north was just a more peaceful part of the wastes. Or maybe it had been Jynx who’d just kept me from ever hearing it.

From screams and gunfire, to animal calls so twisted and strange that it made my mane nearly stand on end. The wasteland seemed to be everything but quiet at night, and I'd had just about as much of it as I could handle.

As carefully as I could, I maneuvered my way out from the warm embrace of both Buck and Hispano. The sharp pains from my wings and barrel didn’t help, but I bit my tongue and resolved to keep quiet. My hooves ached as they slid from the bed, but the cold floor under them helped to numb that slightly. Taking a step back, I waited a moment for one of the two to wake up. Buck simply let out a static filled snore and shifted his mechanical arm over to wrap around Hispano, who pressed herself back into him.

Satisfied that they’d be alright for the moment, I turned and carefully opened the door to our room.

The moment I broke the seal, a cold wind flowed into the room. It sent a shiver over me that once again made the aches in my body flare up, but I pushed that aside as I quickly stepped out into the hall and shut the door again. As the door sealed, a small bit of white something puffed up from the floor, drawing my attention downward.

The whole ship’s floor was blanketed in a thin layer of cloud. Turning my gaze toward the front of the ship, the wispy cloud shifted and rolled inward like waves on a beach. It only took a second, but I figured that with the gaping hole where the bridge used to be, some of the cloud from the drive must be being forced inside.

Turning again, I pointed myself back toward the galley. Maybe if I spent a bit of time finishing off that box of sugar apple bombs, I’d be able to relax enough to get some rest when I came back to our room. Taking a step forward, my hoof came down and stepped up on the low lying cloud.

I hesitated at first, but lifted my prosthetic leg up and carefully pressed it down. The cloud compressed under it slightly, but I could feel the resistance propping it up like my normal hoof. With a smirk spreading across my muzzle, I stepped forward and stood with all fours on the cloud.

I know it wouldn’t seem like much to the others, but… it felt good to me. It was almost like what it felt like when you first stepped into a hot shower. My whole body felt like it relaxed, like knots in muscles I didn’t know I had, finally had a chance to rest. I winced as pain shot through my back, as completely by reflex, I’d tried to relax my healing wings.

When was the last time I’d been able to stand and walk on a cloud without something pressing keeping my attention from it?

Trotting forward with a smile plastered across my muzzle, I made my way toward the kitchen. The cloud under me kept my hoofsteps almost completely quiet, well, aside from the giddy giggles I found slip from my muzzle. I don’t know why something so simple made me as happy as I’d been as a colt, but after yesterday, I wasn’t going to complain. Still, I was almost sad when I had so quickly walked through the bulkhead for the galley.

“Night?” King mumbled as he pulled his muzzle from the open box of sugar apple bombs I’d come for. “Uh, I didn’t expect to see you up so late.”

He turned his heavily bandaged head from me, looking down at the table to hide the fact that under those bandages, he’d lost an eye during the fight. His large green form shifted, and he whined as the bandages around the other parts of himself squeezed at his wounds. A few of the old bomb-shaped morsels slipped from the end of his muzzle as he hastily set the box down and did his best to sit up in the cramped booth. From the trouble he was having, it was pretty clear that these seats definitely hadn’t been designed for ponies his size.

“Sometimes I come here to grab some food when it’s quiet.” He offered to me stiffly before he placed his hooves on the table. “I don’t actually need to eat, but… it helps me try to remember what it’s like being a normal pony again.” With a whimper, he started to push himself up. “Maybe I should go and let you be…”

“I’d rather not be alone… right now.” I offered to him. Okay, so maybe I had been looking forward to some time alone, but I wasn’t the only one here who’d lived through yesterday. Buck said I probably shouldn’t have been alone earlier, and I have to say, like most of his advice, he’s been right.

Stepping across the cloud, I walked my way over to the opposite side of the booth he was in and climbed into it. As I did, he shifted himself, turning his bandaged head away again holding onto a look I knew all too well. With a sigh, I reached across the table and dragged the box of cereal into my hooves.

“It takes some time to adjust.” I offered to him as I tipped the box toward me. I paused and lifted my prosthetic to my metal faceplate. “Back when I lost my eye, I was ashamed.” Looking down at the box, I shifted it to the left in my hooves and watched as it slipped into my blindspot. “Well, I was actually more than ashamed, but… it doesn’t have to be that way. Yes, it means you have to adjust, but it marks you as a survivor. You survived the fight, and that should be worn like a badge of honor.”

Sticking my muzzle into the box, I greedily munched down a few of the sugar filled bombs. The flavor was just as stale as ever, and the apple taste had all but disappeared from them, but it was damn near cathartic just to eat something normal again.

“How can you rationalize it like that?” King snorted sharply, letting a small growl escape with his words. Glancing up at him, I found his anger drain away in an instant as the shame crept it’s way back in. “I didn’t even do anything in the fight.” He shook his head as his gaze sank. “There was a terrible roar, and a flash. The next thing I remember was the doc in the infirmary explaining that...” He paused and let out a whimper as he wrapped his hooves around his head. “Am I so selfish that all I care about is my fucking eye when Delta… he…”

“I… watched him go.” The words slipped out of my muzzle. Setting the box of cereal down, I looked at it and felt my stomach twist inside of me. “But it’s not selfish. You can’t change what happened to Delta, but you still feel like you could have done something different for you. Trust me when I say that I know how that feels, and that as cold as it sounds, you have every right to feel selfish about it.”

So much for feeling up to eating comfort food…

“He and I… we didn’t really see eye to eye.” King’s hesitant words were matched with a reluctance to relax, but still I could see him trying to force himself to do it all the same. “But every time we spoke, I could see how he held back his true feelings about me. About what I am.” Lowering his hooves from his head, he wrapped them around himself. “Delta constantly struggled with trying to be a better pony than he’d once been, to get over the prejudices he’d held. Though I did not know much about his past, I found his attempts to at least give me a chance, admirable.”

“Even I don’t know much about what Delta had done before I met him.” I offered as I leaned back against the booth. Flashes of memories about Delta filtered through my mind, and a small smirk grew on my muzzle. “But the stallion he once was didn’t matter to the one who’d come to stand beside me. Maybe if I knew what he’d been like as King of the Skyraiders, I would have cared, but I know the value of a second chance. Delta did too, and he tried to make the most of his.”

“And it is my own second chance that I have been fighting with.” King shook his head and tensed up again. “I feel like my mind is split in two. One side that wishes to know who I once was, so that I can take it and move on with this chance to become better. The other… is the part of me who’s been asking why my memories were taken from me to begin with.” Looking up at me, he bore a truly open and honest gaze at me, more so than I’d ever seen in his eyes before. “What if I was some sort of monster before, and this was the way to make me better? What if I was a monster, and I can’t fight back the urges and impulses I’ll have?”

“That’s the thing I’ve learned about the wasteland, King. Everypony down here can be a monster.” I let out a soft chuckle and sighed as he seemed a bit confused. “Well, at least they’ve had the opportunity to become one.” The thoughts of Solomon, Rook, Mrs. Tapit, Elder Curry, Mr. Wizard, and a dozen other dead monsters flashed through my mind. “Even for me, it’s been a constant fight not to stoop down to Solomon’s level and just take what I want from others, and I’ve lost that fight a few times. I’ve made my own missteps, and sometimes that monster has come out of me. But I can’t stop fighting it back, and you have to believe that you can’t stop fighting either, King.”

“I… I think I understand a bit better now.” King nodded and leaned back in his seat, relaxing as much as the cramped space would allow. “Perhaps it’s just because I’m worried about what I will find in Vanhoover.” A new nervous grin pulled across his muzzle, but he quickly forced it back. “I don’t even know where to start looking when we get there.”

“I will promise you this, King.” Leaning forward, I stretched my hoof across the table toward him. “Once I get this stupid curse taken out of my head, I won’t stop helping you until you find the answers you’re looking for.”

King’s eyes dropped to my hoof, and a weak but genuine smile tugged at his muzzle. Slowly, he reached out with his hoof to mine. His large, green alicorn hoof dwarfed mine as he set it down, but I gave it a firm squeeze all the same.

King went stiff, pulling his hoof back sharply. His horn and one visible eye flashed with magic, and his expression quickly leveled off to a flat neutral. With a shift of his glowing eye, he looked down at me.

“You really will not heed the warnings I have given?” The annoyed voice of the mare who shared King’s body came through his muzzle. “Is it truly your intention to reveal to him who he once was despite the fact that you know it to be harmful?”

“One, you’ve never once told me what makes his memories so harmful.” I snorted and deadpanned at her. “And two, King at least deserves a chance to know, doesn’t he?”

“I will not argue my reasons with you.” The mare shook King’s head and aimed a disappointed gaze at me. “Please, I beg of you, abandon this attempt to help him.”

“What alternative have you given?” I snorted again and gave a few rough taps on the table between us. “You can either explain to me exactly why King deserves this inequine punishment, or offer me another viable option to deal with him.”

“You have made a point.” With a reluctant sigh, she folded King’s hooves across his barrel and fidgeted his wings against his back. “The only alternative I can suggest is to get your doctor to use his sedatives on King.” Wait, what? “While he is under, you can change course and take him far away from…”

“I’m going to stop you right fucking there.” I mean, the nerve of this mare! Shifting myself, I jabbed my hoof across the table at her and did my best to shoot a Delilah-level glare right through her. “I’ve had just about enough of mystery voices telling me what to do all the time. And I’ll be honest, the only reason I’ve been receptive to you up to now, is because I thought you had King’s best interests in mind. But that’s not true, is it?”

“You don’t understand…” The mare in King growled. She slammed her hooves down on the table and leaned in toward me. But the second she opened her muzzle again, I cut her off.

“No it’s you who doesn’t understand, isn’t it?” I seethed and leaned in toward her as well. “If you wanted to do something to help King, you would have. The truth of the matter though, is you can’t, and that’s why you need my help.” Almost to confirm that, she let out a low growl at me. “I made a promise to help King, and I won’t betray that just because you asked me politely. So you are going to go back inside King and let him be the one to decide if he wants to remember or not. Got that?”

With another growl, she leaned back and crossed her hooves.

“I asked if you understood that.” Even though my tone was as cold and angry as Delilah’s ever was, for some reason, I was entirely calm. Maybe it was because I’d been on her side of the table before, so I could see the glaring mistake she was making here. Either way, I wasn’t going to settle for anything less than a yes. “You will answer me.”

“The consequences of what happens if King learns the truth will fall directly on your shoulders, Night Flight.” She seethed as the magic behind her eye and horn faltered. “But hear me now, I will do everything in my power to stop you.”

With another flash, the magic in King dissipated, and I was left glaring at a confused, blinking Alicorn across the table from me.

“What?” The question wormed its way out of King’s muzzle as he raised a hoof to his neck. “I… must have lost my train of thought. Or did I say something wrong?”

“You didn’t, King.” I sighed as a battle in my head I hadn’t even realized I was fighting finally resolved. “You know those gaps in your attention span you’ve been having around me?” To that, King seemed even more confused, but gave out a small nod after a moment. “Maybe it’s time we had a small talk about what’s really going on inside your head.”

I promised King that I’d help him figure out who he was, and that meant that like everypony else on this ship, in my family, he deserved to know the truth.

I woke with a shiver, since when had it gotten so cold in here?

Lifting my head from the table, I let out a stiff yawn that sent an ebbing pain throughout my bandaged body and wings. The few soggy sugar apple bombs that I’d inadvertently napped on dropped onto the table as I looked around and found the room still empty, and a lot more foggy. The thick clouds that had only been fetlock or so deep before, were now almost up to the level of the booth seat itself. The rest of the room was a mess of haze that made everything glisten with dew.

“Ah, goodmorning, Night.” Ping’s voice pulled my head around to see him trot through the cloud into the galley.

It was weird to see his striped form trot in like I hadn’t left him behind what feels like forever ago now. But he never really left us, and I guess that was yet another benefit of being what he was. Honestly though, it just felt good to see another friendly face again.

Scooting myself from the booth as he walked up to join me in it, I wrapped my hooves around him in a tight hug. I don’t know if it was because of the loss of Delta, but just holding him felt better than it had any right to. I needed this, and though he knew Delta less time than I had, maybe he’d needed it too.

“It’s good to see you too.” He let out a soft laugh and gave me a quick but firm few pats on my side. I winced slightly as one of his pats grazed my bandaged wings. “Oh, sorry about that. Perhaps we should refrain from physical showings of affection until your body has had time to heal.”

“Yeah, that’s probably smart.” I nodded and pulled myself away. I gestured for him to take the other side of the booth, and we both scooted in and made ourselves comfortable. “So, things are going well enough at the Factory that you decided you could come and use the body you left on board?”

“Yes and no.” He seemed to mull over what I’m sure was a whole slew of thoughts at once before his normal wide smile pulled across his muzzle. “However, you needn’t worry about that. I have come to offer a hoof with repairs to the Arcturus.”

“Well from what Tofu told me, there’s nothing we can really do until we can restock the stores of material that the repair talismans run off of.” I sighed and waved my hoof, disturbing a particularly thick bit of fog from over the table between us. “I have no idea how or where to find more, so I’m open to any suggestions you may have.”

“You are slated to go exploring the ruins of the Ministry of Peace veterans hospital today,” Ping leaned back in his seat, placing his forelegs behind his head while kicking his hind hooves up onto the tabletop. “If you are alright with it, between Eliza and I, I’m sure we could locate some ruins within Vanhoover that contain the correct type of scrap.”

Huh, I don’t think I’d ever seen Ping so relaxed before. Because of that, I had a little part of me in the back of my mind screaming at me that this wasn’t really him. I don’t know why either, as my gut wasn’t telling me something was off, it was just… really adept and pony-like mimicry on his part.

His eyes shifted over to mine sharply, and he canted his head ever so slightly.

“I apologize, was that too much?” He asked, shifting himself so he could go back to sitting like normal. “The Factory has been observing normal pony behavior in more detail than ever recently, and we have fine-tuned the Ping-type subroutine that helps us mimic and blend in. I was not aware it would make me seem so forign to you.”

“Wait, how did you know?” Blinking a few times at him, my mind started to race. Was he listening in on my thoughts? I thought that he and the Architect said they wouldn’t do that! Wait, no, how could he anyway? My augment is off…

“I can see that you are confused.” Ping’s muzzle shifted back to his normal wide smile. The same stiff one he’d worn back when Happy and I first pulled him from that safe on the Ouroboros. “Your pose shifted to a more alerted one after I made myself ‘comfortable’. Both your heart rate and core temperature began to rise, and your pupil dilated six percent, indicating a more anxious state.”

“Sorry, I don’t want you to think I’m freaking out on you.” I forced out a laugh. At least there was some explanation for it to help put my mind at ease. “It’s just, as you know I’ve been having problems with hallucinations and dreams while my augment’s been off.”

“Ah yes, this ‘jinx’ you have.” He nodded and tented his forehooves on the table. “I too hope that you find the machine you are looking for in the hospital. If it is as you said before, and the jinx’s fault for the loss of Mr. Double Delta, then I do hope that the process of removal is incredibly painful for the curse.”

“Thanks, me too.” That actually kicked a thought into my head that I hadn’t been prepared for. What if it was painful to me? What sort of side effects might come from tearing something like old magic from my body? Then again, I have a walking collection of wartime knowledge right in front of me, right? “Actually, do you know if… it’s even safe to remove a curse?” If Ping didn’t know, then no pony would.

The smile across his muzzle dimmed for a moment, and he furrowed his brows as he dropped into thought.

“Hmmm, one moment.” He offered before his eyes flashed away and lines of blue code streamed down over the sockets.

His whole body shuddered and went limp. His projected zebra body fizzled and then disappeared altogether, leaving the normal bulbus black machine form across from me. The silence that filtered into my mind now that he was gone was eerie. It wasn’t until right now that I realized that among all the things he’d mimicked, the sound and sight of his mock breathing had actually been something I’d grown accustomed to.

Actually, I wanted to say it was weird that Ping could just come and go from his body like that. But after everything I’ve been through on this trip, I’m not sure I can say that. If anything really, it’s enviable.

“Hey, Captain?” Eliza’s voice startled me nearly to the point of falling out of the booth.

“Yes, Eliza?” I got myself sitting back up straight and looked around for her, but was unsuccessful in finding the cartoon mare anywhere in the room. It was only after a moment until I remembered that of course I couldn’t see her without my augment on!

“I didn’t want to interrupt you and the Architect while you were chatting, but I thought you’d like to know that we’ve arrived on the outskirts of the Vanhoover ruins.”

“Thanks for the update.” I nodded to her with a sigh. “And don’t be afraid to interrupt. I mean, Ping’s your friend too after all.”

“That she is!” Ping’s voice came through the PA system with a light laugh. His body gave another shudder, and with a flash, his smiling striped form pulled itself across his mechanical body. “Ahem, sorry about that. Doc Groovy recently installed Doc Sea Shell into a new body since Doctor Buck destroyed his old one, but we have yet to retrofit it with a Factory transmitter, so I needed to ask him your question directly.” Alright, and the verdict is…? “And to that end, I do wish I could say it is without significant risk of permanent brain injuries, but that is not the case. It was a fairly new and little used process around the time the war ended, so there was little time for study of the procedure and it’s long-term effects, if any.”

That was exactly what I was afraid of.

“Fuck me.” I groaned and sank in my seat. “What am I supposed to tell Buck? He’ll never go through with it if he knows that he’d be risking my health.”

“The good news is that he will actually have little say about it.” Ping offered as he all but hesitated to finish. “He should only be needed to input your medical and physical parameters into the attached console. From there, the machine should be able to perform the procedure on it’s own while he monitors your condition.”

“That won’t really help convince him to stick me in the thing in the first place, Ping.” Leaning forward, I thumped my face down on the table with a grunt. “It just couldn’t be an easy get in, get it done, and get out sort of job, could it?”

Ping reached over the table to me, and I thought he was going to offer me another few reassuring pats on the shoulder. Instead, his hoof tapped at my augment. My vision flickered as it came back, and the ebbing pain across my body drained away once more. Looking up, I found a somewhat apprehensive look across Ping’s muzzle. Though, his eyes were locked staring over at the side of our table.

Taking a look myself, the similarly nervous Eliza was standing next to a projection of a bowl with a bunch of squares along the edges, and a tall rectangle leaning against the inner edge of it. As I blinked, the projection became a bit more defined and detailed. The bowl turned out to be a wide crater of some kind, and the squares ended up being the shattered remains of various old buildings and skyscrapers. The long rectangle however, turned out to be a leaning fifty story building with a faded, but still visible relief of the old Ministry of Peace butterflies on it.

“That’s the hospital!?” I spat out as I stared at the projection of the off center and precariously tilted tower.

“Yes, it still seems fairly structurally sound for a building leaning at nearly sixteen and a half degrees. The magical shields the M.A.S. installed on its hub buildings seems to have mitigated most of the Megaspell damage quite remarkably.” Ping answered with more confidence than I would have ever put into talking about a flat concrete slab on level ground! “Actually, to the factory’s knowledge, this building is the only one in Equestria to have remained upright despite exhibiting such a dramatic tilt.”

“That’s because all the others fucking fell over!” I groaned and cupped my hooves over my face. The near freezing metal of my prosthetic hoof touched my damp fur and sent another shiver down my spine. “Forget the machine, is it even safe to go inside?”

“I suppose the answer to that is relative to how safe you view the ruins of Vanhoover as a total!” Eliza’s cheery voice did little to inspire me to look past the fact she was just deflecting my question.

“It is my opinion that, yes, it will be safe enough to venture into.” While Ping’s words had his signature note of confidence back, and even with me trusting him, I still didn’t want to go anywhere near that place. “It seems to follow that if the structure has remained upright at this tilt for the past two centuries, then it must be sound enough for you and your crew to enter for your procedure.”

“Honestly, I wouldn’t worry about the tower falling over any time soon.” Eliza’s cheery voice came with her raising her toony hoof to the projection and spinning it so I could see under the leaning side. “My worry would be if the machine was still inside at all!”

The projection shimmered as another level of detail was added to it. The backside of the leaning tower was a mess of shattered or cracked windows. Empty dark voids sat with chairs or desks barely clinging on to the edge far above the ground. Other broken windows were clogged with machines too large to fit through the open gaps, while others sported small waterfalls through them, flowing from what was probably all the busted and corroded plumbing.

“Alright, alright!” I waved my prosthetic hoof at the projection and went back to staring down at the table. “I get it, the place is a deathtrap. I just need to figure out where this stupid machine is and get Jynx out of my head as fast as possible.”

“Ministry records place the curse ward in Vanhoover Veterans Memorial in the northern wing of the forty fifth floor.” Ping offered as he reached his hooves across the table and held them out for me. “On the upside, the Remora should be able to get you and the others inside the southeast wing of that exact floor.” I glanced up, finding that unlike his normal wide smile, he’d switched to a smaller, more caring one. “I know it may seem dangerous, but I have personally witnessed you risk more for less, Night. I believe that you can do this.”

“Thanks.” I nodded to him and reached out with my own hooves, taking his firmly. “Alright then, let’s get everypony up. We’ve got a trip to prepare for.”

The Remora shifted and rattled under my hooves as we cruised through the skies above the Vanhoover ruins. After the fight yesterday, and with the Arcturus needing all the repair supplies, the damage the small skycraft had received hadn’t been fixed yet. The normally quiet engines whined a little bit louder, and the brisk morning air whistled through more than a dozen holes in the cabin.

“How much longer?” Happy shivered slightly and used his hoof to tighten his leather jacket around himself. “It’s too fuckin’ cold in here.”

“How is it that we spent literal months in colder weather, and yet, that didn’t bother you?” Hispano murmured with a forceful nudge against the mules side.

“That was a dry cold.” Happy snorted and nudged her back. “This is different.”

“Happy is not entirely wrong.” Buck’s quick decision to weigh in on things was surprising, but as he brought his paw up to his muzzle to stroke it, I could see his mechanical eye glow a bit brighter than normal. “At this latitude in western Equestria, the cold northern air mixes with the high altitude, moisture laden western air-stream brought in from the Marewaii islands. To put it plainly, it means that the humidity keeps the air thick with water, while also barely staying above freezing temperatures.”

“Yeah, and?” Hispano seemed somewhat unimpressed as she once again rolled her eyes.

“Look, the ship’s fucking cold and wet, the Remora’s fucking cold and wet. Everything’s fucking cold and wet here!” Happy growled and wrapped his hooves around himself. “I ain’t got insulation like you fliers do, so no matter what I’m freezing my balls off the longer we stick around.”

“I agree.” I said as the Remora tilted slightly. It’s engines whined just a little bit harder as the cloudship worked to slow us down. “Let’s get this done quickly. The longer we stay, the more things can go wrong.” I pushed myself to my hooves and stepped over to the door.

The hydraulics inside the Remora let out a sharp grinding sound that I’m sure made more than just me cringe. Please, just hold yourself together a little bit longer, Remora. With a stiff shudder, the door pulled away and revealed the outward face of the leaning building to us.

The morning sunrise gave the leaning building a dim halo, and allowed some of it’s soft yellow paint to glow in a particularly comforting way. The Ministry logo still clinging to the building may have faded from the years gone by, but it still filled me with a small sense of hope. Almost as if I knew things would be alright from here on out, I took a deep breath and felt myself relax.

From where we hovered, the building looked the same as it had in Ping’s projection. However, a few details had been left off. Firstly, some pipe must have broken on this side of one of the top floors, because a thin sheet of water was constantly flowing down the left half of the sloping surface. Okay, that’s probably not the best side to enter in on.

The Remora shifted slightly and pulled us toward the right half of the building. Thanks to all the moisture in the air and from the water draining down it, the whole right side was covered in what looked like pure black algae. Every intact window here had been completely covered by it, which made it impossible to see just what the hell we’d be diving into. As we hovered closer, the Remora’s engines whipped a light dust of the definitely unhealthy particles from the side of the building. Happy, Hispano and I all recoiled at the same time as the overpowering stench of it hit us.

“Ugh, that’s disgusting!” Hispano whined. “Nopony mentioned that this place would fucking stink!”

You know, I never once thought I’d truly envy Buck’s handicap of not being able to smell things...

“Uh, how about the fact you forgot to mention it’s about to fucking fall over!?” Happy whimpered as he clamped his wooden hoof over his nose and squeezed it hard. “Fuck that, I’m not going in that deathtrap!”

“So Night can put himself at risk a dozen times for you, but you can’t handle a leaning ruin for him?” Hispano snorted as she set Suiza down and used her freed talons to cover her own beak. “Some friend you are.”

“Hey, I came to help Night because he’s done the same for me!” Happy snapped back at her with a light shove from his hoof. “But this shit is suicide!”

“Simmer down.” Buck groaned as he reached out for Happy and I. “While extreme, sixteen degrees is hardly going to be anything more difficult to manage than walking on a hillside.” With careful movements, he moved the both of us away from the open door and stepped up to it himself. Wait, was he going in first?

“Hey, hey, hey!” Happy spat and reached out his hoof, grabbing onto Buck’s arm tightly. “What are you doing? If those windows survived a megaspell blast, how the hell do you think you’ll get through it!?”

“Not to worry!” Hispano gasped as she reached for her sister again. As she did, Buck’s mechanical paw swung over and stopped her. “Buck, come on. Suiza can punch through a hundred millimetres of solid steel. I think she can handle a single window.”

“While I know she’s capable,” Buck’s soft smile meant well, but I could see other thoughts running around behind that expression. “I’m not sure we want to announce our presence here to everyone in Vanhoover.” See, I don’t think that’s it though...

“Fine.” Hispano grumbled and reached back to the holster strapped around her side. With a flick, she pulled out Xeno’s former pistol. “Then I’m sure Baby could also handle it if...”

“And,” Buck raised his voice to cut her off, “because we don’t yet know what’s inside, I think it’s best if I go in first.”

Of course, now it made sense.

As I stared up at his soft smile, I could definitely see the expression he was trying to hide behind it. The notes of fear clung to him in ways that I knew so intimately that there’s no way it was anything else. While he’d seemed less hurt by the loss of Delta, I think it’s actually affecting him a lot more than he’s trying to let on. He was trying to protect us.

“As for how I’ll get in, Happy.” Buck continued as he turned back to the mule and raised his paw. “The answer, is physics.” With a whir, the mechanics inside pushed his paw back and made room for the long, silver data spike to extend out. “Windows like that are meant to spread pressures out over their full surface area. But if that force is concentrated in a single point…”

“Then the window will shatter.” Hispano nodded as she looked at the pistol still in her talon. With a sigh, she shifted herself and put it back in it’s holster. “You know, exactly the same job a bullet would do…”

“I told you, we can’t....” Buck shook his head, but stopped as I reached out and grabbed at his paw.

“It’s okay, Hispano.” I locked my eyes on Buck’s and smiled as he turned to me. I know how much you need this, big guy, and I trust you. “Buck will go in first and make sure it’s safe.”

“Thank you, Night.” Buck smiled and nodded to me. I let go of his paw and stepped back, letting him have the space he needed. He took a few deep breaths and turned his gaze back to the black algae coated windows of the building. With a few rocks of his body, he tucked his paws close to himself and got his legs positioned under him tightly.

With a growl, his entire body shot forward like a compressed spring.

The force of him pushing off was enough to shift the Remora sharply. The engines whined to keep us stable as the black and white bolt that was Buck streaked towards the building. Both Happy and Hispano braced themselves from the shift, but before I could, a blue, yellow and green form caught my attention.

Jynx stood at the precipice of the Remora’s door. The devious smile sitting across her muzzle instantly twisted at my gut, and my heart nearly skipped a beat as time felt like it slowed down. No, not now. My gaze went wide as it drifted from her back towards Buck as he drove his data spike through the old window.

The brittle, two century old glass shattered as he burst through it into what looked like had at one point been some sort of waiting room. Only now, the room was filled with the molded remains of a half dozen chairs piled up against the far wall with a dozen broken rusty pipes jutting through them like embedded spears.

Buck’s heavy mechanical legs came down on what had once been carpeted floor, and immediately they failed to find purchase. The old carpet slicked away under his weight like wet paper, and he started to slide. Right toward the rusted pile of spears.

I gasped as he quickly brought his normal paw down and tried to dig his mechanical digits in. Even though it helped to somewhat slow his bulky form, the wet concrete flooring under him didn’t have anywhere for him to firmly grip. No, there had to be something, anything for him to grasp!

“You’re right, there is something…” Jynx’s venomous words echoed through my mind.

Buck’s hindpaws dipped through the old carpet and locked against it. Buck’s momentum shifted his weight forward towards the spikes, but with a sharp whine, he caught himself only millimetres away from impaling his head through a pipe. With shaking paws, he brought his arms up to the pipe and effortlessly tore it out from the wall before crushing it.

Fuck, that was close. Maybe… Happy was right. Maybe this place was going to be more dangerous than I thought after all.

“I don’t know, it seems like it’ll be pretty safe.” Jynx offered as she stepped back from next to the door with her fantastically infuriating sultry laugh. “You know, thanks to me of course.”

“We don’t want your help.” I snarled at her. “I didn’t ask for your help.”

“True, you didn’t. But I’m not going to give up without a fight, Night.” She shrugged and turned back to Buck. “This place is dangerous, and as soon as I’ve helped out enough, the pendulum is coming back around, Night. And it’s coming hard.”

My blood boiled in my veins. I seethed through my clenched jaw and glared at her stupid, smug face. It took everything I had not to dive at her and try to strangle the life right out of her, even though I knew she wasn’t real.

A firm but warm pressure wrapped around my hoof, and I snapped my angry gaze over to see that Hispano had wrapped her talon around it.

“It’s just trying to save itself, Night.” Hispano’s soft voice eroded my rage like calming ocean waves after a hurricane blew through. “We’re here for you, and as soon as we find that machine, you’ll never have to deal with this curse again.” Even though my skin was numb, I swear I could feel the warmth of her words radiating right through my body and into my very soul. “Now, what do you say we go down to Buck and the three of us can finally put this all behind us?”

She… she was right.

“Okay.” I nodded and instinctively unfurled my wings from my back. As expected, my augment stopped all the crippling pain that I’m sure I would be in otherwise, but it couldn’t fix the incredible stiffness I felt in them. Looking back at the building, if it came to flying out of here, I’m not sure I’d be able to do it.

“Then it sounds to me like you should make sure you don’t need to fly out of here.” Jynx spoke up as she turned to face me and unfurled her own wings. “But I mean, what are the chances of that?” With a giggling laugh bubbling up from her throat, she leaned back through the open door and fell out of the Remora. While she disappeared, her laugh echoed through my mind, hanging out back there like the ringing of a far off chapel bell.

Just a little bit longer, Night. Then she’ll never be able to hurt anypony you know again. Just a little bit longer, and then you’ll finally be free.

There haven’t been many places I’ve been that have been so irredeemably bad they deserved to be destroyed. Sure, Tephra’s church needed to burn to the ground, and Mrs. Tapit’s submarine did end up exploding. But this place, this place deserved a megaspell to erase it from existence.

It wasn’t just the fact that the slanted floors were a slick nightmare of overpoweringly pungent algae and mold. It wasn’t even the fact that the constant ticking, clicking, buzzing, creaking, and dripping noises from every dark corner kept us all on edge. No, that had been something I could deal with as we slowly made our way down one of the long hospital halls.

Simply put, it was the fact that every patient room still had the remains of some unfortunate pony lying in it. The putrid husks weren’t more than bones covered in sopping moldy bandages, but not a single room we passed held an empty bed. Yet, the halls were clear. Not a single body sat on the floor or huddled in a corner. The only sign of anypony else I’d seen was when we’d stopped for Buck to try to read one of the old directories.

Half of a pony in what remained of a ministry of peace lab coat was stuck halfway through the door to the stairwell. There, their body sat for two centuries, propping the door open to reveal a huddled collection of other lab coated remains who all died in the stairwells. They had been the doctors here. They’d left their patients on the last day, the ponies who’d needed them, all in order to try to save themselves. Not one doctor had stayed behind to even try to help.

“You know,” Jynx’s calm and collected voice bounced around in my mind as she pulled herself up out of a puddle of murk next to the stairwell door. “It almost makes you think, maybe you all deserved it. What happened with the apocalypse, I mean. Justice for the selfish cowards who made the world what it is today.” Her cracked smile twisted her muzzle as she leaned down over the remains of the pony in the doorway. “Then again, can you blame them? After all, just like you and me, all they wanted to do was to survive.”

“Alright, this way…. I think.” Buck’s words were quick to pull my focus from Jynx if for just a moment. But as I blinked and looked back, she was gone from the stairwell.

“You alright, Night?” Happy asked, dropping his wooden forehoof on my shoulder. “Not seeing things that aren’t there, are you?”

“Of course I am. But, I’ll be better once we find that machine and get the fuck out of here, Okay?” I brushed his hoof off and stepped passed him.

Taking my place beside Buck as he turned a corner, I looked up to see his worried eyes wander over to me. I didn’t need to have him say anything into my mind to know that look meant that I should apologize to Happy. I didn’t mean to come off so cold, but I could apologize once we’d gotten Jynx out of my head.

“Night, wait.” Happy spoke up as he trotted to catch up. “Look, I know this has sucked for you, and I don’t mean to make light of that. I’m sorry.”

“I know, Happy.” Then again, maybe instead of worrying about myself, for once, I shouldn’t just leave him behind. “I didn’t mean to snap. I just… don’t like this place.”

“I don’t think any of us do.” Buck offered softly before stopping midstep. He raised his paw, and the three of us behind him all froze up.

There was an echoing, warbling buzz in the air. The sound was bouncing around enough that I couldn’t pinpoint it more than the hallway intersection up ahead. Glancing up again, I watched as even Buck’s ears had trouble finding the source.

A bloated and dripping black sphere bobbed out from around the corner of the intersection. Four diminutive wings worked frantically to carry the bulbous form of the creature through the air in a way I’d closer categorize to outright defying gravity rather than any form of flight. The creature’s gaping maw made up a third of it’s form, was toothless, and dribbled some sort of sticky liquid from it. Dull and featureless milky white eyes made up the other two thirds of its front half, giving me the impression that it might actually be blind.

It bobbed through the air, pausing and spinning itself around toward us. The buzzing it’s wings gave seemed to pause intermittently, dropping it lower and lower to the floor in short increments. The four of us watched as it landed on the algae soaked floor with a splat, and then proceeded to plant it’s face down into the puddle. It’s overtaxed wings fluttered to a stop, and slowly splayed out across it’s back.

“See, I knew this place wasn’t healthy.” Hispano shook her head as she shifted Suiza back up to rest over her shoulder. “Bloatsprites can live off anything pretty much anywhere. So if one just up and dies, then it’s definitely not somewhere we want to stay long.”

The wings on the back of the bloatsprite twitched. The small creature gave a burbling growl through the puddle it laid in before the puddle began to recede. A thick slurping sound emitted through the mutated creature’s body, and it began to inflate. Ugh! Was it actually drinking this gunk!?

“Okay, it is alive.” Hispano gasped and quickly used her free talon to pull Baby out of it’s holster. “If it’s living off of this poison, then it’s definitely not a good idea to hang around.”

“No, no!” Buck reached over and swiftly pushed Hispano’s talon down. “It doesn’t seem interested in us. Let’s just get around it and…”

The hallway turned a brilliant crimson as what looked like a red comet streaked between Hispano and I. The blazing bolt sailed forth and struck the bloatsprite dead-on just under one of it’s sets of wings. The creature gave a short lived scream as it caught fire, then outright combusted with a squishy pop. The goop inside of it burst into flames and showered a small area of the hallway ahead, leaving a dotting ring of fires that crackled softly.

“Holy shit!” Happy blurt out as he pulled Laika’s pistol from his muzzle. “Fuckin’ bullseye! I can’t believe I actually made that shot!”

“You can tell him he’s welcome for it, Night.” Jynx’s voice echoed through my mind along with her signature infuriating laughter.

It wasn’t going to hurt us! Even if it wanted to, Buck would have squashed that thing in an instant! Quit thinking you’re helping in situations where I wouldn’t have ever asked you for it in the first place!

“You fucking moron!” Hispano’s plumage bristled under her flight cap as she spun around on a paw and took a rough swing at the mule. “You could have shot Night or I in the back of the head!”

A flash of light from the wall pulled all of our eyes up to it. A bright white light inset to what looked like an old fire alarm blinked through the layers of mold and algae that coated it. A few sparks shot out from it before static pushed through its corroded speaker and the voice of a soft spoken mare emitted from it.

“F-fire detected. P-please stand c-clear of the sup-p-pression system.”

The central ceiling panel in the intersection shifted slightly. A metal mechanism pushed through it’s brittle form, causing the whole panel to crack apart and fall to the floor. A rusted metal dome with a barrel on it lowered from the recessed space. The motors inside of it let out a shrill whine as they tried to turn the corroded turret before giving out with a sharp pop. Smoke billowed out of it for a second before a small burst of flame came from the turret ring.

“Again, you’re welcome for that.” Jynx’s voice filtered through my head again.

It was a fire extinguisher! How exactly do you think it would have hurt us!? You know what, don’t answer that. In fact, never speak to me again and just go the fuck away!

“Fire Sup-p-pression System Inop-perable.” The mare spoke up with another burst of static. “Cause of malfunct-t-tion determined. Likely act of vandalism in prog-gress. Security authorization granted.”

The corner wall of the intersection shifted with a hiss as mechanisms inside of it pushed it open. Like with the ceiling, the mechanisms pushed through the water damaged walls rather than move them, causing the wall itself to collapse slightly. Inside, the glowing red eye of a machine beamed out at us.

“Authorized personnel are required to vacate the area.” The digitized voice of a sentinel spoke up as the rest of the wall tore away that hid it’s charging pod. “Security operation in progress.”

“Why the fuck does a hospital have a military grade sentinel for it’s security!?” Hispano gasped as she scrambled to get Suiza ready to fire.

The sentinel let out a hiss as it’s onboard arcane generator kicked in and the restraints holding it in place released and crumbled away from corrosion. Overall, the sentinel itself wasn’t in great shape either. It’s entire metal skin was nothing but rust that cracked and flaked away as it started to move, leaving hoof sized gaping holes in it. Sparks and sprays of hydraulic fluid burst from the arm that held it’s corroded minigun, forcing it lower down before the whole arm wrenched itself from the side of the bot altogether. The gun slammed to the floor, spilling it’s load of corroded ammunition to roll and tumble away down the slanted hallway.

“Com-mbat d-damage detected. Use of d-deadly force… a-authorized.” The machine let out a sharp alarm noise as it’s wheeled legs pulled it forward from it’s protected bay and out onto the slick floor. Immediately, the sentinel started to slide sideways, which only helped to bring it’s other arm around. An arm which held a pod of missiles in it.

“Shit, run!” Buck barked out as he turned and used his body to help cover most of Hispano and I.

There was a sharp hiss as the rocket motor ignited, and I watched as flames shot from the exhaust port on the arm. However, the rocket failed to launch, and instead stayed lodged in the arm as the whole bot slid out of sight down the hall.

“Error. W-weapon malfunction. Maintenance re-required.” The machine’s voice drifted off as the four of us couldn’t do anything but just stand there. “This unit will return…”

There was a sharp blast that knocked all four of us off our legs. A gout of flame shot up the hallway, climbing along the ceiling until it dissipated into a thick cloud of choking smoke. As the short lived ringing in my ears faded away, the sound of the window at the end of the hall breaking meant that whatever was left of that machine had at least been safely removed from the building.

“And that’s yet another one you owe me!” Jynx laughed and clapped her forehooves together excitedly as she appeared in the intersection. “I’m on a roll, don’t you think? I’m really making good time on…”

“Just shut up!” I snapped at her. “Just be fucking quiet and knock it off with the favors. If you want to help, then help me get you the fuck out of my head.”

“Night.” Buck offered softly as he shifted himself between Jynx and I. “I know it’s tough, but you need to hold it together just a little bit longer, okay?” Pulling his paws over, he sofly put them around me and pulled me into a warm embrace. “It’ll be over soon, and everything will be alright.”

“I know, Buck.” I sighed, wanting to kick and scream about how much I hated letting jynx get to me. But with my body pressed against his like this, I found it hard to hate anything at all. “Let’s just get going. No more distractions.”

“Yeah, no more.” Hispano cooed cooly as she hefted her sister across her shoulders again. “Think you can do that for us, Happy?” She shot him a sly look that pulled a deadpan across his expression.

“Yeah, yeah.” He nodded begrudgingly as he raised his hoof and secured Laika’s pistol in it’s holster once more. “Let’s quit talking then and get to it. I think I can feel my brain melting from the stench in here.”

Author's Note

As always, a huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for all the help in getting these chapters presentable!

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat for creating and letting us all run around in this fantastic wasteland setting with our own adventures.

Chapter 108 - Headspace

If it jams, force it. If it breaks, it needs replacing anyway.

Buck’s paw wiped across the moist wall before us, clearing just enough of the black death from it to read the faded sign underneath it that read Curse Removal Ward.

We looked up the sloping hospital hallway, and my pulse started to quicken. This was it. The prospect of either being free, or me spending my life watching Jynx kill off my remaining friends waited. My future sat, waiting to be decided behind one of the four doors ahead.

“Four doors. Four of us.” Hispano chirped as she flapped her wings and hovered forward a bit. “Who wants to bet their door will have the one with a working machine in it? Say... losers have to buy the winner a meal of their choice?” As she hovered ahead, she wore a hopeful smile across her beak. “I’ll take the top right door.”

“I’ll take that bet.” Happy seemed to perk up a bit with Hispano’s challenge, striding up the slippery sloped hallway with more confidence than he’d had so far today. “Top left door’s mine. Oh, and just so you know, when I win, I ain’t a cheap date.”

“So long as we find a working machine, that’s all that matters.” Buck sighed as he turned the corner and used those powerful legs of his to follow behind Happy. “But seeing as it’s all in good fun, I’ll take the bottom right. Unless, you’d like that one, Night?” He paused and glanced over his shoulder with his normal, kind smile. He really was too kind to me...

“And that’s why I’ll kill him first, Night.”

Jynx’s voice echoed through my mind, bringing with it a spike of fear that traveled down my spine to make me shiver. Just… calm down, Night. She’s just trying to save herself, remember?

“No, the left one is fine.” I pushed back my own fear as I tried my best to follow the others up the slant.

With each step, my real hooves slipped just enough to make me wary they’d slide completely out from under me. However, as they had, my prosthetic legs served to steady me. Each step with them felt as firm as hooking my hoof on the rung of a ladder, and for that, I could almost convince myself this alone had been worth the pain I went through to lose the legs.

Almost.

Of course, I was the last to come to a stop in front of their respective door. What had once been a wooden door in front of me was speckled white with small mushrooms that sprouted through the black mold that encompassed the surface. Letting out my breath slowly, the condensation it threw on the door caused each of the small mushrooms to move, following the moisture as it evaporated.

“How fascinating.” Buck spoke up from behind me. I shot a glance back to him to find his augmented eye telescoped out so he could likewise watch the mushrooms on his door do the same thing. “I wonder… is this fungal bloom following the heat of our breath, or is it simply trying to draw the excess moisture from it?”

“Who knows,” Hispano huffed as she hefted her sister up into her talons, “and who cares! It’s time to see who’s getting that free meal!” With a hard flap of her wings, she swung herself around and used Suiza’s long barrel to tear right through the corroded door like wet cardboard.

“Damn straight!” Happy spat out as he wrapped his muzzle around the hilt of his silver sword and drew it. With a quick twist of his neck, he plunged the sword through and tore it down the soggy wood.

Turning, I watched as Buck extended a single digit on his paw. With careful precision, he scraped and cut a line down around the door’s hinges. As soon as he’d cut around the upper one, the old door tore away from the lower and flopped back into his room in a single, solid piece.

“Fuck.” Hispano spat as she poked her head through the gaping hole she’d made in the upper half of her door. “This machine is toast.”

“Hrmng.” Happy growled through his sword hilt before he swung his neck again to slip it back into its sheath. “Bleh, my room’s a bust too. How about yours, Night?”

“I think… I won.” Buck gasped as he leaned into his room. His augment flickered brightly and cast a light inside as both Hispano and Happy moved to take a look. I got myself turned around and managed to squeeze my head past his fuzzy form through the doorway. “What are the odds?” He asked as the four of us found what looked like an oversized factory-new auto-doc machine, still neatly wrapped in it’s off-white plastic packaging. Besides the heavily rusted four legs that held up the table, the bed and the complex machine itself seemed in completely spotless condition under the protective sheeting.

“That’s incredible.” Hispano cood softly as her jaw nearly hit the floor. “All this time, in a place like this, and those preservation spells are still working.” A soft purple glow of three small gemstones along the tight wrapping ebbed softly as we watched. “Buck, see if you can cut around them. Those things in a barely functional state are rare, and I mean like, five thousand caps a piece rare.”

“She’s right.” Happy blurted out as I swear I could watch piles and piles of bottle caps form in his focused eyes. “Our family has spent a fortune on stockpiling enough replacements to ensure our heavy machinery survived this long. And we’ve never seen ones in this condition since, well, probably since before the end of the world.”

“I get it, they’re expensive.” Buck deadpanned as he stepped into the room. With ratcheting clicks, his boxy forearms opened up, and all of the little mechanical arms came out, ready to help remove the sheet. “I’ll try to be careful, but...”

As soon as Buck’s paw touched the plastic, each of the three gemstones let out a bright flash. One by one, each of the gems fractured, went dark, and crumbled into nothing more than purple sand. It left the four of us in an awkward silence as we simply stared at the piles on the floor.

“Oh, what a shame, right?” Jynx offered as she trotted out effortlessly from behind the machine. “To have lasted this long, somepony must have accidentally overcharged them during the war.” Which of course, she was going to take credit for, right? “Of course not, Night. But you should know that overcharged spell talismans have a nasty habit of exploding when they break.”

Of course she’d claim she just saved Buck’s life.

“Because I did, so don’t say I haven’t done anything for you lately.” Her twisted grin pulled back as she let out a long laugh that resonated deep down inside of me. “I’m so, so very close, Night.”

“Just fuck off already!” I screamed at her, breaking the silence that had filled the world outside of my fucked up head.

“Just hold on a little longer, Night.” Hispano offered as she came down next to me and pressed herself against my side.

With the talismans a total write off, Buck didn’t waste any time dragging off the rest of the sheeting covering the machine. The old plastic sheeting itself ripped away to reveal a strange machine that looked something like an over sized auto-doc. Pale turquoise encasements and chromed metal wrapped around the sizable stable-tec branded terminal. It was bolted to the side of a wide, chromed metal bed with a pristine white padded mattress. Eight articulating arms, four from each side, stretched out from underneath and curled themselves up over the bed.

“Alright, let’s see…” Buck muttered under his breath as he ran his paws across the terminal keyboard and entered a few commands.

With a hum, the machine came to life. Each of the eight arms unfolded from their stowed positions, revealing that most held tips with different sorts of talisman studded head to them. A few of the gems were large and square, one was a spherical collection of dozens of tiny round rubies. The last pair each had a dagger-like purple jem that crackled softly with magic as they closed in on where I’m pretty sure my head was supposed to sit.

With a squeal, the movement of the arms forced the rusted table legs to sheer from the floor and the whole thing started to tip over.

Buck let out a bark of surprise and hastily grabbed out at the table. His paws clamped around it to hold it steady, and he moved his hindpaws to stabilize himself on the slick floor. All of us sat still for another moment of silence before Buck let out a sigh of relief.

“Okay…” He grumbled as he shot a sideways glance back to us. “Hispano? I’m going to need your help… working the terminal.” The motors in his legs let out a whine as he strained to keep both him and the table from slipping any further. “And Night? Maybe… get on the table so we can get this done… quickly.”

“On it!” Hispano chirped and tossed her sister over to Happy. “Here, and don’t drop her. If she goes sliding out of the building, the next thing to follow will be you.” Happy took Suiza with a begrudging grumble, but nodded all the same. With that taken care of, Hispano carefully made her way the few steps down the sloped floor and around Buck’s straining grasp. Okay, my turn then.

With light steps, trying to stick one hoof firmly down after another, I made my own trek. Stepping up next to Buck, I realized that I wouldn’t be able to squeeze past both Hispano and him to climb up. So as unfortunate as it was, it’d probably be best to climb up from the other side of the table. Continuing my walk, I counted on my prosthetics again to keep me in place. And they were doing a great job…

...right up until they weren’t.

With a squeak, the rubber pad on my hind prosthetic slipped out from under me and sent me down to the floor. My mind went into panic mode as I started to slide, and I splayed myself out and spread my wings down like an extra pair of legs. I could feel my body drag across the slimy floor as I slowed down, caking my underside in the black gunk.

“You okay, Night?” Happy called out as I came to a stop with my rear hooves pressed against the soggy feeling back wall.

“Yeah.” I grunted as I carefully got my forehooves positioned along the now clean areas of the floor my slide managed to create. Pulling myself up, there was a sick slopping noise that pattered down on the floor as the mold and algae dripped off of me. Ugh, I’m going to need to take an extra long shower the second we were done in here.

Step by step, I again made my way toward the metal table. With a shaking fetlock, I reached out and grabbed the lip of it. My eyes kept jumping from the metal lip, up to Buck, and back as I got my prosthetic hoof gripped around it as well. While I wanted to go slow, I didn’t want to strain him too much. Then again, if I hopped up too quickly, I could rip the whole table from his grasp.

“Night… it’s okay.” Buck growled as he tightened his grip around the table again. “I won’t let you slip. Whenever you… feel ready.” He nodded to me as his paws started to grip hard enough that they slightly bent the metal.

With a nod back to him, I took a deep breath and tucked my wings tightly against myself again. I rocked myself back and forth a couple of times, counting down in my own head. Three. Two. One…

With a spring from my hindlegs, I hopped myself up onto the pristine white padded cloth on the table. The black goop that coated my body smeared across the cloth as I did my best to quickly get into a position where I laid on my belly and set my head down under the crackling, dagger-like talismans.

“Alright, the system knows there’s a patient on the bed now.” Hispano spoke up as I could hear her talons get to work on the terminal. “It looks like all I have to do is enter some basic parameters for the system, but then the process itself seems to be fully automated.”

Well, at least Ping had been right about that bit...

“Is that a good thing?” Happy’s nervous tone mirrored the thoughts that had started to filter into my head again.

What if my worries earlier were right, what if this hurts?

“I thought that’s what you had a talisman to protect you from.” Jynx’s voice whispered into my ear.

What if something goes wrong?

“And I thought that’s what you had your friends here for.” Again, she acted as a surprising voice of reason here.

It helped to calm me, but that was a double-edged sword. While sure I felt better, I didn’t want her help to do so. Then again, I guess it doesn’t matter now, as that’ll be the last help she ever offers.

“I’m sure the machine built to remove curses will know what it needs to do.” Hispano’s monotone probably came with a deadpan back at Happy that I would have loved to have seen had I not clamped my eyes shut in anticipation. “Shit. It says we need to turn his augment off for the procedure.”

“No worries…” Buck spoke up. With a flicker from inside my left eye, everything went dark as it ceased functioning. The moment it did, a half dozen aches and sharp pains in my wings and back flared up, and I did my best to bite my lip to quell it for now. “There, it’s off.”

“Oh, finally.” The voice of a ghost came from in front of me, forcing my normal eye to shoot wide open. “It’s been far too long, Night Flight.”

Pushing through the inky blackness that coated the wall across from me, a charred and still slightly embered corpse stepped out into the open. The remains of an off-white coat still bubbled on some parts of him, and the irregular star that sat between Solomon’s glowing, empty eye sockets burned with an intensity matched only by a raging wildfire.

No, he’s… he’s dead. He can’t be here. It’s… it’s just a hallucination, Night! Get a hold of yourself!

The mechanical arms of the table hummed as they re-positioned themselves. Each one of the crackling purple talismans lowered down and pressed themselves sharply against my skin. There was a mechanical clunk, and four identical metal bands came up around the pad and locked my limbs down to the table. With a growing electrical whine from the arms, my heart climbed in pace with it, right until it hit a long steady tone.

I was hit by a bolt of lightning. A scream escaped my muzzle as the shock trailed up from my flank, growing in intensity and speed until it hit my mind. Everything went white as my body convulsed and the taste of copper overwhelmed me.

“Fuck, Night!” Hispano gasped out.

“Oh… fuck that hurt.” My own voice hit my ears, but… my lungs were still too seized up to breathe right, let alone speak. My only saving grace was that when my vision drained back to normal, I could see that Solomon’s melted form had been replaced by Jynx. She whimpered and held up her hooves as they started to fade away.

“No, this... this isn't how it's supposed to work!” She let out a sob as she brought her eyes up to me. The fear she felt was hard for her to mask, but boy did she try to flush it away with a look of rage. “I'm different! I'm SPECIAL!”

You're right, you were. I gave you a chance, and you made your choice. And because of that, you need to go.

Again, the charging sound building in the machine’s arms brought my heart rate up with it. This time as it peaked, I tried to brace myself for the coming shock. This was going to suck, but at least it was working.

“Get him out of that thing!” Hispano whined as I could hear her talons frantically move across the terminal keys. “Buck, remove the fucking restraints!”

“No!” Buck’s roar beat her out. The edge of the table near me twisted and bent further, and my view of things shifted slightly. “The treatment needs to run its course!”

“Let go of me!” I could only guess that Hispano struggled against Buck’s hold. “It’s going to kill him!”

The mechanical table-arms thrust each of the dagger-like talismans inward, and I felt as they punched through my skin and pressed against my skull with a sickening crack. A breathless scream was all I had time to get out before another bolt of lightning coursed through me. This time, I’m sure I passed out from it.

“Fuck… it hurts.” Jynx pleaded with me. “Stop it, please… I don’t want to die.”

I strained to open my eye as the sickening smell of copper in my muzzle mixed with the choking fumes of freshly burned fur. Smoke rose from my body as once more, the whining charge from the arms started up again. But before me stood the ragged and now somewhat dissolved form of Jynx.

You should have fucking thought about if you wanted to live before you killed Delta, you bitch...

The charge hit its peak, and again, released a bolt of lightning through me. My eye was locked open as I screamed out in pain. Even with losing control over my body, I was still able to watch as Jynx lost control of hers as well. Bits of her washed away in an ethereal wind, just as they had back when she spoke to me at Maple Station. It… it was working.

“You… you haven’t won yet.” She locked her emerald eyes on me and curled her muzzle into the most twisted grin I’d ever seen on her. With a point from her half dissolved forehoof, she turned her attention towards Buck. “I’m still in control!”

Buck let out a yelp as the motor in one of his legs sparked bright enough I could see it from the corner of my good eye. The whole table shifted as he slipped to the floor. It threw me against the bindings, and tweaked the talismans on my skull enough that my vision disappeared into a sea of stars and pain.

“No, I’ve… got you!” Buck cried out as he did his best to lay back and do what I had. His larger body helped to keep us from sliding fast, but he couldn’t stop us completely. Within seconds, I felt the table push up against, and then through the soggy wall.

“Come on!” Hispano’s fluttering wings shifted overhead as she jumped to the other side of the table. The charge in the arms started to build up again as we slid to a stop into the middle of the hospital hallway. “I’ve got this side… for now!” She grunted sharply. “Just… get him out of that thing!”

“Okay, okay!” Buck whimpered sharply as he once again clamped a paw around the table’s edge tightly enough to bend it more than it had already been. “Let me just…” One of his paws squeezed around the binding holding my prosthetic leg down. With a groan of protest from the metal strap, Buck’s paw managed to wrench it free, curling it up and off of me. “That’s one…”

“If I’m not getting out of here alive… then neither are you.” Jynx’s unhinged laugh resonated painfully in my mind as her wispy form appeared in front of me again. All that was left of her was half of her head, neck, and a single forehoof.

The charge in the arm reached its peak, and it discharged once more.

The electrical shock arched from me, up to Buck’s arm holding the table. With another sharp blast of sparks, it went limp and released the weighty machine. I couldn’t do anything but reach out for him as I started to slide away again.

“No!” Buck let out a roar as his other paw shot forward and gripped around my prosthetic foreleg. “I won’t let you go!” The ground under us creaked as he dug his one working leg down against the old hospital tiled floor, crushing the tiles to drag me to a stop just short of punching through the next wall. “His… Hispano…” He whined between heaving breaths as he looked up at her. “You need to undo… the other bindings.”

“How!?” Hispano whined as she flapped her wings and came around through the air above me. “I can’t do what you did! I mean, maybe Suiza might be…”

“Just do it!” Buck snapped at her as the whine in the table’s arms picked up again.

“It’s all over now, my dear Night.” Jynx let out her own roaring laugh as the charge reached its peak. “Victory is mine!”

Both Jynx and I screamed again as the bolt of lightning worked its way through me and up into my prosthetic leg. Her scream cut off as the rest of her body dissolved into nothingness, while my own was cut short for a different reason.

With a sharp pop, something in my leg burst, and the whole metal limb twisted. It sheared free of it’s connectors in my shoulder, and the table dropped to the floor. Buck couldn’t do anything other than look at the severed mechanical hoof still in his grip as I started to move.

The table’s mechanical arms were wrenched from my head as the whole table shifted and slid through the hospital hallway wall. Again, I think I passed out for a few moments, as in the time it took me to blink, I’d already crashed through a half dozen rooms and into another hallway. There was an ear piercing screech that filled the air, and the table shifted sharply as it smashed through a set of old pipes in one of the walls.

With a wrenching slam, the table smashed into something more consistent than tissue paper, nearly halting my slide altogether. My whole world twisted and spun as the table itself bent out of shape, tearing my prosthetic hindleg clean off, but more importantly, forcing my real hindleg to slip free from its binding.

The cracking concrete pillar the table bounced off of let out a groan of it’s own as the now twisted table started to slide across the floor once more. As it did, it twisted around and I was surprised to see that the next wall was a lot brighter than the abyssal black wall’s I’d been crashing through. Unfortunately, it was bright because it was the last thing standing between me and the fall into the outside world.

The window itself was half covered by a pool of putrid liquid, and the still rotting remains of a few wooden desks and the like. Even from here, I could see how the window bowed out from the weight, and it had to have been a miracle that it hadn’t shattered yet. Add to that a thousand pound auto-doc table and it’s pony patient? Well, I wasn’t confident that it’s luck would hold out.

“Night!” Hispano’s voice called out from up the makeshift tunnel the table had carved through the building. “Just hold on!”

The table continued to spin as it picked up speed. Just like with the charging of the arms, as I moved faster, my heart rate followed suit. Tugging and pulling, I tried to fight the binding against my forehoof. Why wouldn’t it slip out!?

As the table spun around again, I got a bit of light from the outside once more. The metal band wrapped around my hoof had been warped by the impact with the pillar, and dug against my fetlock so hard that it had sliced into it. Well, fuck…

The edge of the table hit the putrid pool, and I gasped as it dragged half of me down into the near freezing water. Arching as much as my trapped hoof would allow, I managed to get my head over the side of the table in time to see Hispano speeding into the room. She flared her wings as she passed the pillar, and raised Suiza up in her talons.

“Just my forehoof is still stuck!” I cried out, pulling and tugging in the hope that the cold water might add some sort of lubrication. Instead, I felt a painful pop from my fetlock as I strained the joint just a bit too much. Fuck, that’s really stuck in there good, isn’t it? Don’t tell me I’m going to have to cut it off to get out of here...

“Alright, just hold on and I’ll…” Hispano’s hope filled words were cut off with a crunch. The edge of the table struck the window, and the old glass finally gave out. “Night!” She screamed as the table tipped away from her.

My world flipped end over end as the table dragged me out into the open air. Reflexively, I made the mistake of flaring out my wings. There was a more painful snap from my leg as my body tried to stop falling, but the table didn’t. The bone in my leg tore through my skin as stars filled my vision. No no, don’t pass out now, Night!

Sharp bangs from above me helped me to focus. A healthy zipping noise rang out with a shower of sparks from the table as one of Suiza’s shots skimmed along its surface. My mind was torn on what was worse. Either pancaking on the swiftly approaching uneven ground, or getting torn in half by an errant twenty millimeter round.

The thickening air picked up under my flared wings, and I swear I could feel myself somewhat slowing the fall of the table. It wouldn’t be enough of course, but even with as tired and stiff my wings were, I… I just couldn’t give up. Whatever happened in the next few seconds, I would not stop fighting.

Closing my eyes, I strained and pulled at my leg with everything I had.

With another zipping shot from above, the weight dragging on my leg was severed, and the full force of the wind under me scooped under my wings. Again, I acted on reflex and did my best to pull up from my dive, arching my back and straining myself to level out. My eye shot open, and I scanned the quickly passing ground under me for somewhere suitable to land.

I gasped and torqued my wings as I sped quite alarmingly close to the rebar spiked remains of some other collapsed ruin. My wings protested as I torqued and forced them to help me turn and level out again. Sailing just over the tips of the various city ruins, I spotted a nearly clear path between a few of the collapsed buildings. It wasn’t very long, and it had the busted wrecks of a few skywagons on it, but the potholed remains of the old city street would have to do for now.

My wings twisted and cramped, nearly dropping me down into another set of jagged grey ruins. My mind tried to panic, but a wave of exhaustion washed over me. With the road in sight, I allowed myself to sink lower and lower in the air, until I was so close to it that I could reach out and touch it… that is, if I hadn’t blacked out.

My whole body hurt, and I was just so tired. It was hard to focus, and even harder to open my dust and dirt covered eye. My lungs seized and I coughed up a mix of blood and the dirt I’d become caked in from my rough landing. But, I was alive. I had managed to survive, again, while Jynx… she was finally gone for good.

“Night…” A soft voice filtered through the air, sounding so far away, but so warm.

The bright morning sunlight shifted as something blocked it out from above. My eye wandered up, and I could see Hispano’s dull black and white form above me. Huh, didn’t… didn’t she used to be brighter…?

Her beak moved, and she frantically tore the sling from Suiza, but… I couldn’t understand what she was saying. The fuzziness of my mind had moved in like the fog back home, and it blurred Hispano’s form as it washed at my thoughts like an incoming tide. Honestly, it was quite relaxing to me, and I smiled as I imagined myself back on the beach in Delilah’s town, sitting in the warm sun with my friends and family around me. I felt like I could just relax now, and maybe get some sleep...

Of course, the universe couldn’t be that forgiving.

Hispano’s form blurred in an odd way, twisting and shifting sharply. There were flashes of light, muted like everything else, but they blinked in pulses. Soft thumps that sounded like the rumblings of far off thunder followed before the blurry griffon stepped over me.

My ears rang as my head was slammed to the side by another blur. Pain sharpened my mind, and surprisingly my augment flashed on to help dull it. As my augmented eye powered on, it helped usher the fog from my mind, and reorient me with a colored and well defined world. Unfortunately, that meant it left me staring at the bony and rotten muzzle biting around my own right now. The feral ghoul over me snarled and clamped down it’s jaw, drawing a fresh line of blood to spring from my face.

“Fuck!” Hispano snapped as she placed the barrel of Baby right up against the ghoul’s forehead.

With another ringing shot, the back of the ghoul’s head bloomed out. It’s fowl muzzle released it’s grasp as the newly lifeless corpse fell to my side. I tried to lift my fore hoof up to put pressure on my bleeding muzzle, but stopped short once I’d seen the makeshift tourniquet around my blood soaked fetlock and busted forehoof.

“What… the hell is going on?” I whined as Hispano repositioned herself, helping me crawl over to the burned out wreck of an old motorwagon. The tourniquet binding my blood soaked broken foreleg made it hard to prop myself up against it, but with my other prosthetic missing, it was the best I could do for now.

“You’re little crash-landing caught the attention of some of the locals.” She grunted as she used a hindleg to help steady me before flipping Baby in her talons. She gripped the large pistol by the slide and twisted it around. With little regard, she shoved it’s grip straight into my bloody muzzle. “I don’t have enough talons for this shit, so you pull your weight and shoot some of these assholes too.”

A feral screech from the rubble pile across the old street pulled my attention. Hispano spun her other leg around and leveled Suiza at the pile. The moment we could see the milky white eyes of the ghoul pop over the top of it, she fired.

Suiza barked out a pair of shots. The first blasted the rubble below the ghoul, exploding and sending a few chunks of the old stone rolling into the street near us. The second’s result was a mystery hidden by the plume of dust that obscured the ghoul.

As the shot echoed off through the ruins of the rest of the city, both Hispano and I kept quiet. I perked my ears and adjusted my muzzle around the heavy pistol’s grips. The sounds of countless different hoofbeats from all around echoed and bounced off the old broken buildings. It made it impossible to know just which ones were real…

Goddesses, if only I had Buck’s ears right now…

“There!” Hispano shouted as she spun Suiza around towards the hulk of an old skybus.

Her sister spouted a gout of flame once again, and the rusting metal frame of the bus’s front end blossomed outward. The ghoul who’d been hiding just inside scrambled it’s rotting legs to move, and it raced towards the rear of the old wreck.

“You’re not getting away!” Hispano smirked as she tracked the ghoul with Suiza. Another pair of shots flashed from the end of the large cannon, making my hearing disappear into ringing again. The rear of the bus erupted into a cloud of rust and blasted fragments of metal that showered the road.

We both stared and waited for the rust cloud to subside. Unlike with the rubble, the rust cloud wasn’t as big, and even before it cleared, we could see the blasted half of a rotten pony slump out of the ruined bus. Hispano tipped the barrel of Suiza up and smiled as she took in the results of her expert shooting.

My gut twisted sharply, and even though they were still ringing, instantly my ears perked again. Hispano seemed to notice and looked over at me with a puzzled glance. The moment she had, from the clearing dust cloud behind her, I could see the form of a pony poised to attack. The ghoul’s body was held low, coiled and ready to throw itself at her.

I ground my teeth down on the frame of Baby as I craned my neck to the side. With a short prayer that I didn’t hit her by accident, I wrapped my tongue around the fetlock trigger. It took a considerable amount of pressure to pull the trigger, but it finally broke with a crisp snap.

Baby fired off with a bright flash, and the recoil nearly tore it from my bloody muzzle. I blinked as my augment highlighted a trail that showed the shot had struck low and to the right. It put a crack in the concrete rubble the ghoul was on, and told the undead beast that it was now or never.

Hispano let out a roar and brought Suiza’s butt onto the ground hard, tucking it against her hindleg. As the ghoul launched itself at her, she brought her sister’s barrel around and held it out like a spear. With a shift of her talon, she pulled the trigger, and Suiza let out another sharp report.

The hindleg of the ghoul evaporated, and half of it’s flank burst into ribbons of rotten flesh. The howling ghoul landed on Suiza’s barrel hard. The rotten flesh buckled, and with a squelch, allowed the barrel to impale straight through the ghoul.

Hispano gasped and tried to abandon Suiza as the ghoul slid lower, but it got its teeth around a strap to her flight cap and yanked hard. It only tore the cap from her head, but she went down to the ground as the ghoul’s cracked hooves scraped and battered her. With its prey subdued, it released her cap and opened it’s muzzle to try to bite down on Hispano’s exposed neck.

I flicked my tongue again, taking another shot at the beast. It was hard to miss at this range, but my round punched up under its jaw. Gurgles replaced the ghoul’s normal grunts and moans, and a sappy black ichor drained down from the gaping wound. But if my poor accuracy had any upside, it was that at the very least it now saw me as more important than snacking on Hispano!

It struggled to shift itself while impaled on Suiza’s awkward form. It’s hooves pushed and did their best to drag the weighty gun with it the few steps over to me, but all it was doing was letting Suiza’s long barrel slip further and further back out of it. The slow advance gave me the time to line up one last shot…

With another blinding flash, Baby recoiled and sent a round right through the left eye of the ghoul. The side of its socket, as well as the back quarter of it’s head blasted outward. The ghoul gave out a groan and looked like it stumbled. But with a twitch of it’s foreleg, it caught itself and kept coming.

Oh come on!

A meaty squelch emitted from the ghoul’s back as Suiza shifted lower. Her barrel twisted slightly, and then lifted up again. It aligned itself with the remains of the back of the ghoul’s head, and pressed upwards firmly enough to push the ghoul’s gaze down a bit. I closed my eyes and threw myself to the ground right before another tremendous pop from Suiza made my ears ring.

I didn’t need to look to know the ghoul was dead now. No, I could feel the bits and pieces of it splatter onto me from the shot. Of course, opening my eyes from my prone position, I looked straight across to Hispano’s similar form. Her talon was still tightly wrapped around her sister’s black-gore-coated trigger assembly, and she too had been splattered with enough rotting flesh that it made her feathers and fur look drenched.

“Were you even trying to kill it, Dum Dum?” Hispano growled as she worked to pull herself up. With a retching heave, she used a talon to push off a lumpy bit of ghoul from Suiza’s receiver.

Spitting out Baby from my muzzle, I decided that it was too much work to get up, and just took a moment to rest.

“Hey, that’s not fair.” I shot her a sideways glance, “I hit it right in the eye and it didn’t go down.”

“And what did we learn?” She fired back her own sideways glance at me as she tapped Suiza’s butt on the road a few times to shake loose a few more bits of ghoul.

“Again, shooting something in the face should kill it!” Seriously, it’s worked on pretty much all the other ghoul’s we’ve encountered!

“Remind me again why you aren’t dead yet, Night?” She asked with the slightest hint of a smile tugging at her beak. “Oh right, pure dumb luck.”

Oh shit, that’s right!

“Now that Jynx is gone, I wonder if my luck will get better or worse.” I couldn’t help but laugh at that. Seriously, she was gone, and I could feel that. No more curse, no more bad luck for me. Finally, I could just be myself. “If it’s better, then I guess that’s pretty much all I’ve got going for me!”

“That and you are cute…” Hispano muttered under her breath, but I think from the way she froze up and turned bright pink, she hadn’t meant to say that out loud. “Just… be glad you’ve got me around to constantly save your flank, mister!”

“Couldn’t ask for a better partner.” I offered and watched as her cheeks turned almost strawberry red.

A sharp whining picked up in the air, and both Hispano and I turned our gazes skyward. From over the ruins behind us, the looming form of the Remora came into view. It’s armored door was already open, and Buck was leaning out of it precariously. Even from down here, I could see the worried look on his muzzle when he spotted us. Still, I couldn’t help but smile up at him and give him a light wave with my foreleg. A leg that thanks to the tourniquet, now looked almost stark white.

“Right…” I blinked at it before glancing back over to Hispano. Holding it up to her, she cringed slightly and looked away from me. “So… what exactly happened?”

“Funny thing…” Hispano let out a nervous laugh as she pulled Suiza up close to her again. “I couldn’t hit the restraint on the table, so instead I uh, aimed for your leg... and happened to miss it anyway.”

“You’re admitting you tried to shoot off my hoof?” All I could do was blink at her. Seriously, I’m glad I got free, and that I’d thought it might have been necessary, but… seriously!? “What, one wasn’t good enough? Is it that you just wanted the pleasure of removing both my forelegs with your sister!?” A laugh pushed out of my muzzle at just how ridiculous that sounded.

“I know that’s a joke, but cut me some slack!” She snorted and rolled her eyes. “Just be glad I missed and actually hit the restraint instead of your thick skull. Sure there was just a slight clipping of an artery, but you’re fine now, right?”

With a heavy slam, Buck crashed down into the street next to us. His mechanical legs whined, and a few sparks shot out of the damaged one, but they held firm. He let out a sigh as he looked between us, but ultimately let his worried gaze hang on me.

“He will be.” Buck nodded as he approached and held out his paw to me. His boxy forearm unfolded as his medical gear unpacked itself, quickly getting to work on the various cuts all over my body. “I’m just glad you two are safe. But...” He paused as his words seemed to get trapped in his throat. “Did… did it work, Night? Is your curse gone?”

I nodded to him.

“Yeah.” With a soft sigh, I let myself relax. “It’s over. I’m just a normal pony now.”

“Nah, you’ll never be normal.” Happy laughed as the Remora touched down just behind Buck. “But that being said, I ain’t ever going to do that shit for you again. So what say we go home already, alright?”

Home. That word had a different meaning now that Solomon was dead, and my curse was gone.

It used to mean the place that I got lost in myself, wondering just who I was. It used to be the place that I contemplated just what I’d end up doing with my life. It used to be the place where I could count on my curse making things miserable for those around me. But this morning, thousands of miles away from my old ideas of home, I found myself with a new concept taking shape.

Home was where I’d go to be with those closest in my life, free of cares or the fears that have weighed on me. A safe haven to do more than just say I was a family with Buck and Hispano, but to truly be together. It was a place that I would exist without outside influence, where I could just be me. That concept, after everything I’d been through, almost didn’t feel real.

“Yeah, alright.” I closed my eyes, letting myself smile as the warmth of this new definition soaked into my mind. “Let’s do it. Let’s go home.”

With the Remora secured under the Arcturus, the hydraulics hummed to life and opened the hatch up into the weapons bay. Soft streams of cloud dribbled down into the cramped cabin, and the weapons bay lights were somewhat muted from the thick fog still drifting around the interior of the cloudship. Right, now that my mind’s been fixed up, it’s time to fix the Arcturus… as well as King.

“Here, let me take those.” Hispano offered as she pulled the remains of my prosthetic foreleg from Buck’s paw. “I’ll get this to Tofu and see if she can salvage it.” With a hesitant grasp of her talon, she also grabbed my sticky looking and black mold coated prosthetic hindleg. “And I think I’ll do what I can to rinse this off in the shower, then see if my dad can disinfect it. See you in the showers?”

“Yeah, I think we’ll all be in there shortly.” I did my best to smile as I adjusted myself in Buck’s grasp. “And thank you, Hispano. For not giving up on me back there.”

“We’ve talked about this already, Dum Dum. Back at Galloway, or don’t you remember?” Hispano smirked as she rolled her eyes. “Sometimes I don’t understand why you keep doing the stupid things you do, but it doesn’t mean I’m not going to be there by your side to help pull you out of every trainwreck you find yourself riding off the rails on. Because, even though you’re an idiot, you know I love you.” With a leap, Hispano flapped her wings hard and disappeared up into the weapons bay fog.

“Well, hopefully now there’ll be less ‘trainwrecks’ now that you’re free of your curse.” Buck’s kind words were followed by him pulling me tighter against his warm, furred chest.

“Wouldn’t count on it, Doc.” Happy gave a healthy pat on Buck’s side as he stepped out under the hatchhole. “Hispano’s right, Night’s a walking disaster. Always has been, always will be.” He paused, waiting for Buck to shift his free paw over so he could climb up onto it. As usual, he clung on as Buck lifted him up so he could hook his hooves through the hatch and climb up on his own. With a grunt, he pulled himself up and spun around, turning and dipping his head back into the hatch once more. “And while I can’t say it’s been fun, I know that together, we can pretty much handle anything that might pop up in the future.”

With a wink at me that made me feel more than a bit uncomfortable, he pulled away from the hatch and likewise disappeared into the fog.

“Well,” I sighed and pressed myself back against Buck with a smile. “I don’t know about you, but I’m about ready to take a nice, long shower before taking the rest of the day off.”

“Night, I…” Buck started with a static filled crackle from his voice cutting him off.

He tensed up slightly with his pause, and it made my gut sink. I did my best to turn myself over, and when I did, I found a look of pity coming from him I hadn’t expected. It was exactly the sort of look I’d expected to get from everypony when I first lost my hindleg, but… it was just so out of place here. After a moment, he tore his gaze from me and simply stared up into the foggy weapons bay.

“I’m sorry.” He finally continued. “I fucked up, and I’m sorry.”

“What?” My muzzle scrunched with the words as my mind tried to solve what was going on here before I bluntly slapped him across the muzzle with a stupid question. “What are you even apologizing for?”

“Hispano told me to pull you out from the machine, and I hesitated.” Buck cringed and slumped his shoulders with a sigh. “If I had acted first, I wouldn’t have had to break your prosthetic trying to keep you alive. You wouldn’t have nearly died, again, because of me. I was a stupid, selfish idiot who should know better than to endanger you!”

“You were brave.” I offered, reaching my hoof up and pressing it against his chest. “The treatment worked because your instincts to let it finish were right. Don’t doubt yourself, Buck, because I don’t. I know you’ll always do your best, for me and for anypony else.”

“I’m still sorry you got hurt, but thank you, Night.” He smiled and brought his muzzle down onto my head softly. Closing my eyes, I used my hoof to squeeze at him tightly and wished more than anything I could feel his warmth.

With a flash, my augment turned off, and the numbness in my skin slowly faded away. The stabbing pain from my healing foreleg shot through me, but I did my best to push it away as the warmth of his luxurious fur pressing against me helped to put my mind at ease. Despite the pain, this small comfort meant more to me than anything else in the world right now.

“Um, excuse me, Night?” The hesitant voice of King came down through the Remora’s open hatch. My augment flashed once again, booting itself back up as I sighed and let the numbing sensation wash over me. “I know you just got back, but… I think we need to talk.” He shifted his single slit-eyed glance from me to Buck with a frown. “Um, alone, if you don’t mind.” With a step forward, King dropped down through the hatch and landed beside Buck and I. “I can help him up once we’re done.”

“Alright.” Buck nodded and shifted us both. His mechanical arms whined as he carefully lowered me down onto my own hooves again. “Just don’t be too long. You wouldn’t want to miss out on all the hot water in the shower.” Cocking his eyebrow with a smile, Buck gave me a wink as a bit of an incentive to hurry this up.

With a thump from his legs, Buck kicked off and launched himself up through the hatch. Within an instant, he’d disappeared into the foggy weapon’s bay and left both King and I alone. Taking a deep breath, I turned my gaze to King, who let a shiver run down his oversized, bandaged alicorn body. It ran down his form, ending with him letting out a whine as his horn sputtered with magic.

A flash filled the interior of the Remora, and I blinked as the other pony in him took control.

“You simply won’t stop, will you?” The voice of King’s angry other half came out of his muzzle through a guttural growl. “Not until you’ve ruined his life forever.” Her horn lit up, and before I could move, wrapped it’s magic around me tightly. Too tightly, in fact. As she lifted me from the floor, I couldn’t move my wings, and my legs refused to move at all. “Telling him about me was the last mistake you’ll ever make.”

“Let me go, now.” I snapped at her. Okay, this was definitely unexpected, but not something I couldn’t get ahead of. “He deserved to know that you’ve been taking over and suppressing him. And you think I’m doing something wrong? Take a look in the fucking mirror, lady.”

“I told you to let him go, so he could at least be happy.” She leaned in and bared a muzzle full of sharp teeth as her one, unbandaged glowing eye burned brighter than normal. “But since you’re determined to make him suffer, I’ll just have to keep you away from him. Permanently.”

“Really?” I wheezed out a laugh as her magic squeezed around me tightly. She was squeezing the air out of me. “What are you going to do? Kill me right here?” She squeezed harder at that, making me groan as I could feel more than a few joints pop uncomfortably. “You do that... and the others will kill you... for this.”

“You’re right, it would be suicide.” She let out a laugh that sounded more like Jynx than I’d liked to admit. “So, why don’t we take this conversation outside?”

Her horn wrapped itself in a layer of overglow that was nearly blinding. With a squealing groan, the armored door to the remora began to glow with her aura. It gave out a stiff shift before something in it failed, and the whole door tore free from the skycraft. In an instant, the lighting to both the Remora and in the weapons bay flashed red, and a piercing alarm rang out from inside the Arcturus.

The deafening alarm sent a look of confusion and panic over the alicorn’s face. With a flicker, King’s magic cut out and dropped me to the floor. The mare inside him was seemingly gone, and his worried expression was left to blink at me in confusion. To his credit, it only seemed to take him a single moment to realize what had happened. Opening his muzzle, his horn flashed and again I was wrapped in his magic.

“I… can’t suppress her for long.” His aura sparked as he struggled to hold onto me and drag me off the floor again. “I can’t let her hurt you. You need to run, Night!”

Before I could answer, he screamed and used his magic to throw me out of the Remora. I tumbled end over end, out into the cold open air above Vanhoover. Shit, Night, recover, recover!

“Night, what’s going on?” Buck’s voice filtered through the panic running wild in my mind.

While still stiff, I forced my wings to flare out. The thick air and hefty breeze washing in from the coast scooped up under me and helped pull me straight. With a snap of my tail, I shifted my hind leg back and brought my tightly-bound forehoof as far forward as I could to help me steady my two-legged flight. Unfortunately, without my flight pack I was going to be struggling with any landing, but hey, at least I wasn’t a pancake on the ground!

“Not sure, but the mare inside King seems to want me dead!” I thought back to him as I forced my wings to let me gain some altitude. “I’m outside just under the Arcturus.”

A crack like a bolt of lightning split the air above me. Shifting my flight so I could look back up, I found the cloud shrouded form of the Arcturus hanging out amongst the low clouds hovering above the city. From inside of the cloud, a glow shifted and lowered down. Like a missile, a green streak shot toward me. I’d hardly had time to torque my wings and roll before she shot past me like a bullet.

Shit she’s fast!

“What do you mean the mare inside King?” Buck responded with more than a note of confusion in his tone. “Fuck it, Hispano’s getting her sister reloaded and ready to go again. Just hang tight and survive as long as you can!”

“No, we can’t kill King!” I thought back to him as I beat my wings again. I just need a bit of altitude to buy some time. “I know it looks bad, but I can’t risk him dying!”

“You said he’s trying to kill you!” Buck’s response came through with a worried whine that I desperately wanted to use as a justification to write off King with. But that’s not how this works, and that’s not who I am.

“No, I’m not giving up on King!” I shouted as I shot an angry glare back up at the Arcturus. I knew Buck couldn’t see it, but I was almost ashamed that he could suggest that after we just had a talk about how he always did the right thing. But he was just afraid, and to be honest, so was I. “I don’t know how, but I’m going to talk her out of this.”

Her horn glowed as her massive alicorn wings splayed out, slowing her down almost impossibly fast. With a twist of her own head, she looked up and easily picked me out. Her wings arced and then pumped hard as they flashed with her magic aura. Whether or not it was magic or just some sort of illusion, her wings doubled in size, allowing their massive span to practically throw her up through the air after me.

Okay, that’s just not fucking fair!

Out of desperation to avoid the green spear-headed missile shooting up at me, I forced my wings shut and kicked my legs forward. I practically stalled my flight as my body flipped into a vertical position and hung there for a moment. Keeping my eyes groundward, I looked past the incoming angry alicorn for any places to use to my advantage.

My eyes traced along the crater marked coastline of Vanhoover Bay until it landed on a lumpy pile of boats. It must have been some sort of private marina before the end of the war, and it still contained the rotting hulks of a hundred or so small sailboats and private yachts. To most pegasi, the twisted mess of masts and rotting sail rigging might have seemed like an insane place to fly towards. But to somepony as desperate as me, it looked like the perfect place to trap an alicorn in.

I flared my wings and beat them as hard as I could, picking up speed as quick as you’d assume one would in a near vertical dive. Snapping my tail again, I pitched myself down just far enough that even while straining her neck, King’s sharp horn sailed past me harmlessly as the mare controlling him screamed in frustration.

A crack of lightning shattered the air to my left, and I could feel my fur stand on end as the charge it released dissipated harmlessly. Keeping my wings flared, I decided to double my focus on my dive down towards the prismatic dirty waters of Vanhoover’s crater bay below me. With a few tweaks of my form and body, I started to carefully torque my wings to prepare to level off.

The thick, salty ocean air flowed across my numbed skin, applying an oddly satisfying pressure as more and more I called on it to help straighten me out. My lungs strained against the forces wanting to dash me down into the swiftly approaching water, and my normal eye started to dim. Adding in a slight list, I sharpened my turn, and felt as the G-forces started to pry my mind toward a state of unconsciousness.

However, if missing one leg had helped me before, missing two meant that though this was a harder maneuver than I’d ever pulled before, I’d get through it before ever passing out.

Ten meters above the water or so however, I found myself slip into a layer of air different to anything I’d felt before. Be it because of the change in humidity, or if it was just something different about the air here in the south, I cut through it’s resistance like a hot knife. It felt like I was being carried on a cushion of invisible cloud that helped to save me from bleeding off my speed like normal.

I was practically rocketing across the calm surface of the water, moving about as fast as I’ve ever gotten going on one of my dives. There was no fighting it as my muzzle split and I beamed out a smile almost as radiant as the sun. This was amazing! This is the feeling I’d always wanted in my life, the freedom of flying I’d always dreamed of.

A big red warning popped up in my augmented vision, snapping my mind back to the fact that there was a reason I was out here. The same display as I’d had in the fight with the Sergeant at Maple Station popped up, and a red dot displayed at my rear. It popped in and out of the display’s range a few times as it barely kept up with me, but it wasn’t going away.

I shifted my attention back to the swiftly approaching marina to formulate a plan. From above, it had looked like a massive birds nest, a collection of interwoven sticks and branches. That didn’t really do it justice from down here however, as now it had gone from a nest, to more of a spotty spider’s web. Thousands of old ropes hung down and were tangled between the countless masts and ships. From this angle, there were maybe five or six paths that lead through all the way to the other side, and those still had a dozen ropes and lines criss crossing it at some point.

My flight was bringing me closer to the marina with every passing second, and each second a voice in the back of my head was getting louder and louder. It reminded me of the fight with the alicorns at the amusement park up north. This wouldn’t work, Night. This plan wasn’t going to work.

Torquing my wings, I pulled up at the last second. The thick air caught under my wings and I was ripped skyward. I swiftly dumped all of my speed for altitude, leveling out and arching my flight back out over the prismatic crater bay. The massively wide wingspan of the flying green alicorn was easy to pick out, and the glow from her horn grew brighter every second. And at her speed, a few seconds was all I had to make a decision.

Okay, Night, you made a mistake. You went all in on this marina plan with no backup, and no pony coming to help for a few minutes. Hell, now you don’t even have your curse to fall back on! So now you alone have to figure a way out of this where both you, King, and the other mare come out of this alive. No pressure, Night.

No pressure…

Author's Note

As always, I'm super thankful for all the help TheFurryRailFan has been over these years. It means so much to always be able to rely on him to give these chapters a good look over!

And of course, a bit thanks to Kkat for creating FoE, as well as for letting us all run around in this fun little universe!

Chapter 109 - Empire

Being dead right, won't make you any less dead.

“Just hold tight, Night.” Buck’s commanding voice resonated inside my head. “Hispano’s on her way to help.”

“As long as she doesn’t kill King!” I thought back at him. With little time, I had to make a judgement call.

Flaring my wings to slow my fall as much as I could, I swooped down into the central mass of clustered rusting hulks in the marina. Adjusting my flight, I aimed myself for a trio of old sailboats whose masts all leaned into each other. One of the boats was larger, and had two separate levels of cabins, while the other two looked big enough to maybe fit two ponies comfortably if they were standing up.

“It’s not your choice anymore, Dum Dum.” Hispano chirped over the radio. “This is a family decision and you lost, two to one.”

Then I’ll just have to fix this whole situation before she gets here!

Torqueing my wings and doing my best to swing my body around, I came down with a tumbling thump on the rear of the larger boat’s deck. Fuck, landing with only two legs sucks. The old teak decking cracked and bowed under my weight, but thankfully held together. Getting up, I did my best to hop into the lower open cabin. With heaving breaths, I perked my ears and pressed myself against the rusting interior wall and looked about.

What had once been a small bed had long since rotted away. A skeletal pony laid curled up on it, baked in the sunlight that beamed through the room’s broken porthole window. Broken and corroded fishing tackle lay scattered about the room, as well as what looked to be some sort of old emergency kit. Sticking out of the old cloth survival bag, was the grip of an old flare gun.

If I could just get to it, then maybe I could use it to somehow convince the mare inside King to give up…

“It’s no use hiding, Night!” The mare called out in a booming voice that only alicorns seemed to be able to hear comfortably without covering their ears. “Believe me, it’ll be much better to let King forget who he was. That way, he can finally move on and just be happy.”

“We both know he won’t let it go!” I called out without thinking. Oh shit, I should not have answered...

The light from the porthole darkened as the heavy thump of alicorn hooves touched down just outside of it. A flicker of light preempted King’s slender horn coming through into the room, and the single unbandaged glowing eye of the mare narrowed on me. Knowing what was coming, I pushed myself to move.

The fur on my hooves stood on end as I literally threw myself out of the small cabin. The crack of thunder deafened me momentarily, and the whole room behind me filled with light. My wings flared open, and as quick as I could turn around, I kicked myself to hop back out onto the deck.

The mare let out a laugh as she hopped through the air around from the side of the ship. She came down hard on the deck in front of me, and another thick crack filled the air. However, while the old wood had been able to hold my somewhat smaller than average body, the two century old wood snapped under the weight of the alicorn. With a panicked look in her glowing eye, King and the mare disappeared into the bowels of the ship.

Taking the opportunity to get going while the going was good, I made my way to the railing that wrapped around the deck and hopped over. Spreading my wings, I slipped into a shallow dive that put me skimming just above the surface of the water. Breathing heavily, I flapped a few times and focused myself on dashing around the various wrecks that crowded the water here.

Come on, Night. Find somewhere else to hide, just until you can form a new plan!

Coming around yet another wreck, the form of an old rusting fishing trawler sat dead ahead of me. The back hatch to it’s interior was wide open, revealing another dark interior for me to hide in and maybe find something to swing the fight in my favor. Giving a few more flaps, I pushed myself to climb just enough that my hooves would miss the railing on the back of the deck.

“Enough!” The mare’s voice boomed as the air in front of me shimmered.

A sparkling green wall formed just close enough to me that I couldn’t stop. I let out a yelp as I slammed and compressed against it. Another whimper slipped from my muzzle as I dropped down to the deck with stars dancing about in my vision. What the fuck was that!?

A few hard flaps from above me preempted King’s towering form to come down just ahead of me in the center of the old deck. The mare placed herself on top of the hatch to the cargo hold, her glowing eye burning brighter than ever as she held it on me. With another flare of magic from her horn, the green wall I’d hit warped and grew to encompass the both of us inside of it.

“No more running!” The mare snapped at me, smiling and revealing King’s sharp toothed grin. “You don’t have to fight anymore. I’ll watch over him, I promise.”

The ringing in my ears from her previous attack had just drained away when it was replaced with a new one. The sharp bark of a familiar cannon made both of us jump. A hoof sized hole opened up in the magical barrier around us, and the shield itself looked like it started to crack like glass.

With a fleshy squish, something green hit the ground next to King. My eyes drifted down to find that it was one of King’s massive sprawling wings, severed clean off of his back. The mare controlling him glanced down at it, almost hyperventilating as she looked at it.

“N-no… impossible!” She whimpered as the glow from her horn flickered slightly. For a few moments, she lost focus, and the whole bubble around us came down.

With Hispano here, I figured that if we split her attention, we’d stand a better chance of talking her down. Pushing myself back to my hooves, I turned to hop back over the edge of the ship and fly off again. However, as I hopped, I ran into another green barrier. Though I saw a few stars again, this time I slid down to the deck on the curved magical bubble’s surface with a squeal.

“No! I can’t let you leave!” The mare screamed at me as her bubble reformed around us both again. “He deserves peace!” Oh, come on!

"Seeing as you need all your focus to hold up a shield that might as well be made of paper to me, why don't you just give up?" Hispano chirped as she hovered down behind the alicorn. Hefting up her sister, she smiled her normal 'told-you-she'd be trouble' smile to me as I got my hooves under myself again.

"You don't understand what he means to me, why I need him to forget!" The mare growled as she turned herself around to face Hispano. "You'll never understand!"

She screamed and flared her horn brightly enough that both Hispano and I had to shield our eyes for a moment. It was just long enough that she could take a few steps in towards Hispano. As the light died down, I watched as she effortlessly knocked Suiza aside with her hoof, and brought her horn down in line with Hispano. With a kick from her hind legs, she dove forward and speared Hispano with her horn.

Hispano let out a breathless gasp as the long green horn plunged through her shoulder. There was a metal squeal as the mare's intense thrust pushed her horn straight through into the rusting ship's hull behind Hispano. I was powerless to watch as she let out a feral cry of pain and let her sister drop to the deck.

No, I wasn’t powerless.

Taking a step forward, I locked Suiza in my sight. If I could just get her, I could convince...

"Not one step!" The mare let out a snarling hiss. "You move and I fry her up, just like that."

"I don't move and we’re both dead anyway." I snapped back at her.

"Only you need to die, Night." She twisted her head slightly, rousing another pain filled cry from Hispano. "No one else has to die."

"Yeah, I've heard that before." The words tumbled out of my muzzle as my heartbeat raced.

Thoughts about how to get out of this without hurting King came with each pulse, and then left me with an image of how it would fail. I didn't want to do it. I made a promise to King that I was going to help him, and... I didn't want to say Hispano was more important to me, but it was true. Left with no choice, I focused on King's side and thought about shooting him.

The side of my augmented eye vibrated as it pushed out. The diagram came up in my head showing that my one-shot, last-resort option was primed and ready to go. All I needed to do was...

Fire.

The red beam lanced out from my face with an electronic whine. It scored a sizzling line across King's wingless, blood-soaked side, boiling the skin and setting the green fur it lanced on fire. King shuddered with a gasp before letting out a pain filled scream. The massive alicorn took a shaky step back, nearly falling to the deck as Hispano was pulled back from against the ship.

"Fucking bitch!" Hispano seethed as her talon flashed from her side.

There was a single moment as she pressed the muzzle of Baby against King's horn where the mare controlling King let out a whimper. Hispano fired, and amid the booming report was a resounding crack of bone. As the shot echoed off, both of them tumbled down onto the deck in nearly opposite directions.

Hispano fell with a pained scream and the now severed horn still impaling her. Blood trickled down her back from where the point pushed through both her shoulder and her wing. But she was a fighter, and though she must have been in immense pain, she used Baby to help push herself back to a kneeling position.

King however, had fallen just short of my hooves. The bright magic that had ebbed over King's one good eye flickered and faded with a few errant magical snaps from the bloody stump where his horn once was. He let out a soft cry, going wide-eyed at the sight of the stump before slumping to the ground and passing out.

"Ffffffuck!" Hispano screamed as she stumbled forward, waving Baby unsteadily at King with a shaking talon. "Fucking die!"

"Hispano, don't...!" I screamed out far too late.

She pulled the trigger with a howl. Again and again, round after round she fired in furious rage. Each shot opened up a jagged hole in the rusted deck. Each fresh hole just millimeters from the last, but only a hoof’s reach from where King's head sat. Only when Baby's slide locked back on an empty chamber did her angry bellow fade.

“The shit I fucking go through for you, Night!” With an angry toss, she threw baby at me. And like an idiot, I stood and watched as it slapped me right in the augment. “What the fuck were you thinking!?”

“I made a promise to help him! Okay!?” I flailed and pointed my hoof at the bleeding, unconscious alicorn. Yeah, things got a little out of hoof, but that didn’t mean I had to give up on him!

“You made a promise to Buck and I too!” She snapped as every bit of her plumage bristled out. “Everyone may trust you to make the decisions for our little group, Night. But for Buck, you and I, for the three of us? We’re a family, and that shit comes first.”

“I know that.” I sighed and sat down on the deck hard. My eyes drifted back over to Suiza still laying discarded on the deck. Deep down I knew that if I’d gotten to her, if the mare hadn’t stopped, then I would have pulled the trigger to save Hispano. I didn’t like that fact, but it was a fact all the same. “Believe me, I know.”

“Then fucking show it, Dum Dum.” She growled and brought her talon up against her bloody shoulder. “Look, you tie the bitch up with some chains or something. I’m going to see if one of these old rust buckets has a medkit lying around.”

Looking down at King, I couldn’t help but feel that I’d only made things worse for him. While the mare in him didn’t leave me any choice, it didn’t mean he had to lose a wing and his horn. My only hope now was that Buck could stabilize him so we could maybe get down to answering the question that I too now desperately needed an answer for.

Just who did he used to be to warrant all of this pain and suffering?

Letting Buck and Cora deal with patching up Hispano and King in the infirmary, I’d finally felt like I could take some time for myself in the showers.

It had felt good to get clean of all the hospital gunk that had gotten into my mane and fur. Even though my body still ached whenever I turned my augment off, it was worth it to feel the high pressure hot water flow across my skin again. As an added bonus, the heat soaked into the dense clouds that still floated about in the showers, and helped to keep the whole room feeling as warm as the hotsprings on Pink Mountain.

Geeze, that felt like an entire lifetime ago now. Part of me wondered how everypony there had been doing. If Short Wave had learned to live less selfishly, and if Rica’s cub was as healthy as could be hoped for.

To be fair, there were a lot of ponies we’d met that I hoped were doing well since we passed through and met them. It was almost a shame that we’d spent so little time in each place, but… I was happy knowing that we’d helped who we could, when we could. Even so… we hadn’t always been able to help everyone. But I’d learned the hard way that sometimes, that’s just how life has to be.

So why did King stick out so much to me?

Was it because Lilac had sent him to me and I still felt like I owed her? Was it because he’d helped defend us on multiple occasions? Maybe it had less to do with him and more to do with the fact that Hispano was right. I just couldn’t stop trying to help every pony who asked for it, even if I knew it would only end in trouble.

“Oh, there you are, Night.” Dad spoke up as he came trotting into the room. When I looked up to him for a moment, I had to do a double-take as in the center of his eyes, a dim yellow glow sat in them. Maybe it had something to do with the extra humidity, or the fact that he’d been working around the spark reactor so much, I don’t know. Either way, something about it made him, I don’t know, just seem a little bit less like the stallion I’ve known all my life. “I’m sorry to intrude, but it’s been a half hour since you got back, so I came looking..”

“Has it been that long already?” I asked as I reached up and hoofed at the shower controls. With a thought, my augment booted up with a flicker and showed that indeed, I’d been in here for just short of forty minutes now. “Yeah, sorry about that. Got lost in my thoughts.”

“Not to worry, I completely understand.” Dad let out a soft laugh and sat himself down at the shower bulkhead.

“Did you need something?” I asked, trying and failing to avoid looking at the glow behind his eyes. “Not to say that you have to need something to come talk with me, of course!”

“Of course.” Dad chuckled dismissively as he nodded. Then he did something he’d only done a hoof-full of times before with me. He sat down in the bulkhead and sighed, letting all the pent up stress in his body go. “Actually, I really came looking to see if you needed to talk.” It was weird to see him let go like this, of all of his preconceptions and bias he normally carried around the house back before... “You… lost one of your friends yesterday, and I know that’s gotta be tough.” Just like the day after we got the news about Mom, he was here to simply listen.

“Delta wasn’t the first, Dad.” I sighed and thought about all the others on the convoy, but mostly about Violet. “But, with everything we’ve done, he’ll hopefully be the last.”

I tried to smile for him, to show him that I could work through this like I did with the others. Well, not like I did before, at least. I didn’t have anyone to console me then, and the only way I could cope was with Chill. Even so, losing Delta, while it hurts, it’s not like when I lost the others on the Convoy.

I didn’t want to say I felt numb to it, but… it was just different. And as terrible as it sounded, as much as I wanted to grieve, I couldn’t. There will be plenty of time to mourn everyone we lost once we have the Ark and down in Brahman Beach. It’s odd, because after knowing what I went through before we rescued him, I kind of thought he’d understood that I could handle something like this.

Then again, maybe this wasn’t a conversation about how I’m feeling about Delta.

Fighting the urge to look away from him, I stared at dad’s hardened gaze. How he pushed past the uncertainty and fear inside himself to try to put up a strong front for me. No, this conversation wasn’t about how I was feeling about Delta. This was about how Buck looked at me when patching me up, or Hispano wherever I was making a decision she knew would come back to bite me in the flank.

This was my dad needing to know that I was alright, that I’m not spiraling like he is inside. Because like Buck and Hispano, right now he doesn’t know if I’m ever going to come back the next time I leave. He needs to hear that I’m not going to end up like Delta did.

He needs me to say that I won’t end up never coming back... just like Mom.

I couldn’t promise that thought, and I know that he understood that. Being the ‘Survivor’ or not, time and time again I’ve been reminded that I’m not invincible. But I know that even through all my screw ups, through all my close calls, there was one thing I could believe was true no matter what. He just needed to hear himself say it.

“Hey, Dad? Do you think… Mom would be proud of us? For making it this far?” I knew that if she were here, she wouldn’t have even let me finish that sentence before she pulled the two of us into the warmest, most loving hug she’d have ever given.

“Your mother…” Dad paused as thoughts about mom must have flooded his mind.

His muzzle quivered as expressions of happiness and sorrow dueled for supremacy. His legs shook, and tears filled his eyes as he fought to stay in control of his emotions. It was enough that I couldn’t watch it another second, and pushed myself into a hobble over to him. As soon as I had, he pushed himself up and threw his hooves around me.

“She would have been so proud of you, Night.” He whimpered as he squeezed me like I wasn’t ever going anywhere else again. And that was fine with me.

“She’d have been proud of both of us, Dad.” It had been far too long since he’d held me like this, and I squeezed him back with everything I had too. Well, all the strength I could muster with one splinted forehoof anyhow.

“Heh.” A laugh managed to slip out of Dad’s tear stained muzzle as we simply hugged each other. “Yeah, she would be. But she’d kick both our asses if she saw how we managed to get here.”

“That wouldn’t matter. I just...” The words slipped out of my muzzle before I realized how hard they turned around and stabbed the both of us. “I just wish she was here right now.”

“Me too, Night.” Dad did a better job than me pretending that didn’t hurt as much as it did, giving me a few rough pats on the back to try to distract me. “But she’d want us to move on, to focus on what we still have here and now. And you have some amazing friends, Night, who only want to see you as happy and healthy as can be. Just like I do.”

“Thanks, Dad.” I nodded and gave him one final squeeze before pulling away from him. His burned skin gave a wet shlop as I peeled off of him, leaving his chest damp and wrinkled. He gave his chest a few firm brushes with his hoof and sighed.

“I can’t wait until the environmental systems are back up and running.” He let another laugh slip out of his muzzle. “I’m tired of feeling like a wet rag the whole day because this body holds onto water more efficiently than a damn thundercloud!”

As much as I’d enjoyed walking on clouds between rooms on the ship, I think the novelty had started to wear off a little. Even so, Dad’s point threw my mind back to those ghouls back up at Destruction Bay, and instinctively I pinned my half ear back against my head. Yeesh, I’d hate for Dad to end up like one of those bloated ghouls.

“How much longer will the Arcturus need before things can get back to normal?” I asked in what was probably a more serious tone than was probably warranted. He’s not going to become one of those bloated ponies, Night. Those ghouls were made from a specific megaspell, remember?

On another note, that I think about it, the longer it took to fix, the more it was going to keep Buck smelling like a wet dog. And while I love the guy rain or shine, I think I enjoy the warm and dry version of him more. Looking up to Dad as he screwed up his muzzle, I could forecast a disappointing answer hitting me fairly shortly.

“Yeah well, you see… it’s complicated.” Dad’s tone danced around an answer with the deftness of a shadowbolt streaking across the sky. “Hey, uh, computer pony… what’s-your-name?” Dad spoke while turning his muzzle and gaze up to the ceiling. “You want to answer that for him?”

“To answer your question, Night Flight,” Ping’s voice came through the speakers in the walls with a static filled pop. “The Arcturus is a Mistral-class cloudship, or at least, what that line was based on. And while the Mistral-class was not meant as a front line combat ship, it was equipped with several ‘state-of-the-art’ for the time repair talismans.”

“Yeah, I know that much.” I blurt out. “We just need to feed those talismans with more scrap metal to get them fixing things, right?”

“While true, the onboard repair system was meant to ensure that a damaged ship had a chance at making it back to an equestrian repair and service skydock.” From the way he paused, I was guessing that’s because there were some things the repair system actually couldn’t fix. “Yes, as you have correctly surmised, the Arcturus is not fully equipped to repair the damage sustained in your final fight with Prince Solomon. Therefore, even with a selection of metals which Tofu is already out gathering from the Vanhoover ruins as we speak, the Arcturus will never again reach full mission capability unless several spare parts and supplies can be sourced and acquired.”

“Okay well, then where’s the nearest skydock that could have what we need?” I asked without thinking once again. Even before Dad jumped in with the answer, it hit me.

Once again, the Grand Pegasus Enclave ruins the day…

“As I understand, the Enclave has ‘sourced’ most of their spare parts from wasteland skydocks over the last two centuries.” He scoffed and kicked at one of the low-floating clouds still hanging about in the showers with us. “Should have known there wasn’t some cloud warehouse full of spares like they made us all believe.” It stuck to his hoof with a wet smack, and he furiously shook it to get it off of him.

“Yes, the Federation’s records of Enclave scavenging operations show that unfortunately most Equestrian skydocks had indeed been searched and stripped of all useful parts and tools.” Ping’s voice held a note of disappointment in it that I could sympathise with. “And while I could send a message to Miss Laika asking if she could source any, I have my doubts that she would relinquish any as the Federation is still looking to bolster its fleet of cloudcraft with Enclave remnants.”

“Wait, that might be the way to go!” Dad gasped.

“Well, it would be Night’s call,” Ping seemed a bit perturbed by my Dad’s, well, enthusiasm, but continued all the same, “but I would be happy to send a message to the Federation asking for the parts you require.”

“No no, not that.” Dad flailed his forehoof at the ceiling, finally flinging the clingy cloud from him. “You were saying she could source it. So, why don’t we source the parts?”

“I do believe that’s what this conversation has already been about…” Ping’s confusion mirrored my own as I looked at the smile creeping over Dad’s muzzle.

“Again, what I mean is the actual source, as in who made the damn parts!” He forced out through a groan and a wet-slap of a facehoof. “I was pretty sure that for most of the primary hull and base Mistral class cloudship systems, the Equestrian wartime government contracted the work out to the Bow-Wing corporation! And guess what, their primary production facility was at Bow-Wing Field just south of Seaddle.” Huh, I hadn’t even thought about going to whoever made the parts! “Sure they might not have everything, but it’s a start, right?”

“Please hold.” Ping’s starkly flat voice crackled with a burst of static.

The longer the pause went on, the more dad’s wide smile started to deflate. I didn’t want to say that it’d be our luck that the Enclave raided the manufacturer of Mistral class cloudship parts, but they wouldn’t miss something so obvious…

The speakers and Ping’s voice came back with a sharp crackle that snapped us back to attention.

“Enclave records show no evidence that Bow-Wing field was ever the target of a salvage operation.” Ping almost sounded as surprised as I was to hear that. “It is… puzzling, seeing as there are multiple documents referencing it as a prime location for sourcing parts. Yet, even as the parts became direly needed, the panels in charge of coordinating salvage efforts chose to raid other sources, despite them being further and less certain targets.”

“Goddess, how did the Enclave even last as long as it did?” I blurt out flatly. If not for the whole only-one-hoof thing, I would have facehooved so hard right now. “Well, whatever. So long as we get the parts and fix the Arcturus, I don’t care how stupid the Enclave was to miss an opportunity like this.”

“Course set for Seaddle, Captain. Ready to engage cloud drives at your command.” Eliza’s cheery voice chimed in with her own crackle over the speakers. “Oh, and Doctor Buck would like you in the infirmary. It seems that King is awake and wishes to speak with you.”

“Alright, tell them I’ll be by in a few minutes after I dry myself off.” Well, Seaddle and the needed parts could wait for now. It was time to deal with King, and hopefully figure out just what the hell I’m going to do with him now.

“Thank you, again.” Dad put his hoof on my shoulder and gave me a teary eyed, but hope filled look down his muzzle. “For taking the time to talk, Night.”

“Anytime, Dad.” I nodded to him and threw myself into one last light hug with him. “You know you can always come to me if you want to talk, about anything at all. I’m here for you.”

“Hey, that’s supposed to be my line.” He chuckled as he returned the hug and then let me head for the door. “Just know I’ll always love you, no matter what happens.”

“I know, and I love you too, Dad.”

Pushing open the door to the infirmary, I accidentally bumped it up against Buck’s leg. He smiled at me as he shifted himself to stand next to King, who much like with the galley booth, was far too large to be up on an examination table. My eyes followed his legs down over the sides of the table, pausing on the length of thick anchor-chain binding each one to the table’s main supports. While I’m glad I’d found some sturdy chains, now that King was here, I’m pretty sure he didn’t need to wear them anymore.

“Uh, why is he still chained down?” The words slipped out of my lips, even though I fully knew what their answer would be.

“It’s okay, Night.” King offered a nervous expression from under the horn bandages that now joined the rest of the ones binding half his face. “I asked them to keep me bound.”

“Not that we would have had it any other way…” Cora grumbled as his talons used a wet rag to wipe down the surface of my fairly clean looking rear prosthetic leg.

“Cora…” Buck sighed and ran his paws down his jagged muzzle.

“What?” Cora snorted and shot a heavy sideways glare across the room. “I’m tired of pretending that I need to trust everyone just because Night says I should.” With a flick of his talon, he tossed the wet rag onto the counter next to him with a wet plop. “This thing is clearly a danger to everyone on board.”

“I understand why you’re agitated, Cora.” I spoke up as I did my best to sit myself down without falling over. “The other pony in King stabbed Hispano, not King himself, alright?”

“And I’m sorry she did that to your daughter.” King offered with the most sincere look he could muster.

“I don’t want to fucking hear it.” Cora groaned as he pushed himself up and gave another flick of his talon. The white and black form of my prosthetic sailed through the air toward me, and I scrambled to catch it as it all but bounced off my face. Both it and I fell to the floor, poofing up the thin layer of cloud that clung to it. “You want to risk yourself, fine. But you told me you would protect my daughter, and you fucked up.”

“That’s not fair, Cora.” Buck let a static filled growl slip out as Cora wrapped his talons around the door handle.

“I don’t care if it is or not!” He snorted, yanking on the door and opening it with a squeal. “If it happens again and you bring whomever hurt her back to the ship? I’ll throw them off myself.” Pausing before leaving, he turned and jabbed his talon against my sore wings. “Then, I’ll throw you off. Got it?”

Before Buck could get another word in, Cora was out the door and had shut it behind him. Sheesh, I know I screwed up down there and Hispano got hurt, but that was what she yelled at me about. I didn’t need to hear the same shit from him when he had no right to…

“I’m sorry, Night.” King’s soft words came as he let his head flop down onto the table. He pressed his face down into it and let out a frustrated groan. “If I knew that I would be putting you and your family in danger, I wouldn’t have asked…”

“Nonsense.” Buck spoke up. With an outstretched paw, he shared a kind smile as he gave King a few soft pats on the back, making sure to avoid the bandaged stump where his wing used to sit. “Night may have difficulties turning away those who ask for help, but he understands better than any of us that sometimes helping can be painful, and that by no means makes it any less worth doing. It’s something even I still struggle with from time to time.”

I wish I could say that I believed that to be completely true. There were so many ponies who would have been better off had I just said no to them, and even more who wouldn’t have suffered if I simply hadn’t gained the nicknames I have. But even so, I have to believe that helping out is still better than doing nothing. Even if some days it goes wrong and ponies get hurt.

“Still, I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused.” King resigned himself to continue laying face down with a sigh, and shifted his one remaining wing uneasily across his back. “Maybe it just isn’t worth finding out who I was.”

“No, that’s not true.” I offered to him. “I know how it feels to not know who you are, who you are meant to be. That’s why Lilac Lace sent you to me.” Slowly, I watched him pick his head up and shift it to look over at me. “But the apprehension you’re feeling is because you’re so close to knowing. So kick the fear, and forget what that mare inside you wants. You need an answer, and I’m here to help you find it.”

“I…” King’s eyes wavered slightly as an intense battle of thoughts was fought just behind them. “I… I want…” With a whimper, the stump of his horn started to glow, throwing sparks through the tightly bound bandages. Buck took a step back, raising his paw so that it could open and present a syringe. “I want to know! Do you hear me!?” With a wrenching snap, he slammed his head down against the examination table, forcing his horn to go dark again. “I don’t care anymore, I want to know!”

Both Buck and I sat there, frozen and glancing at each other as King began to sob quietly. While I hadn’t known who I was supposed to be, it wasn’t like there was an answer being hidden from me. Well, I guess Lilac Lace had known, but she helped me get to the right answer all the same. With somepony actively fighting back, I couldn’t imagine how hard it must have been for King to be able to say that.

His horn sparked again, and both Buck and I tensed up. However, as it lit up with a soft, steady glow, King’s sobs warped to that of the mare inside of him. As she raised King’s muzzle up, the magic that she projected was hardly bright enough for me to see in his one good eye.

“Empire.” She managed to get out between her sobs. “Go to Empire.”

With that, the magic in King’s horn sputtered and died. King’s sobs returned to normal, and after a moment, he blinked as he realized he was staring at me again. A look of horror claimed his expression, and he let out a gasp.

“Oh, she… she didn’t try to hurt you again, did she?” He whimpered softly.

“No, she actually…” I started to speak, but stopped myself. Why, why would she choose to help us now? Was this something to throw us off the right trail? Could I really trust the word of a mare who just earlier was willing to kill me.

“Let’s see… Empire.” Eliza’s voice crackled over the ship’s PA systems. “Empire, Empire… aha! That must be it!”

I looked around for her, but didn’t see her. Instead, my augmented vision glowed as what looked like a map was brought up in front of me. It was a map of the way Vanhoover had been during the war, with new lines drawn over it where there were now craters or destroyed buildings. After a moment, a small area near the southern shore of the bay gained a highlight around it.

“The Funland Entertainment Park, renamed Empire by those who founded it as one of the first settlements in Vanhoover post-war.” As Eliza spoke, several still images of the park popped up. “The Factory doesn’t have much from when Unit Sixteen passed through the Vanhoover area, but I’ll present what we have.”

The place looked a lot like the M.o.M. sponsored Amusement park we’d encountered up north, though this place had become a bustling settlement. The images showed crowds of ponies at a makeshift market built inside what used to be stalls for carnival games. Ponies living around and farming on the park spaces near the rusting and decaying tea cup and merry-go-round rides. Lastly, it showed a group of well equipped security ponies stationed around the park’s ferris wheel, with pairs of ponies in a few of the elevated ride seats wielding long range rifles.

All in all, this place seemed like a well set up and fortified settlement.

“What… what the hell happened here?” Buck’s voice wavered slightly as his glowing eye wandered for a moment before locking onto mine.

“Oops, sorry!” Eliza let out a sharp gasp. “I only gave Night the Factory’s files. Sorry for that, Buck.”

“How… how is this any better!?” The distress in Buck’s voice only made me worry more. “Where did they all go?”

“What are you talking about?” The words wormed their way out of my muzzle, and I was shortly answered by a new set of images popping up into my vision. From the way the dust swirled in the mid-day light, I was pretty sure these were being shown straight from the Arcturus’s cameras.

The same Amusement park sat before me, with the same old buildings and rides still decaying away. However, there were no more ponies roaming around and going about their lives. The rotting and desiccated remains of ponies lay scattered across fields of rebar spikes and ground covered in magical beam scorches. Hundreds of dead lay forgotten where they fell, with saddlebags and rusting weapons still within hoof’s reach. Whatever destroyed this place, happened fast.

The horrifying scene sparked a thought in my mind that I didn’t want to ask.

“What happened here?” Buck asked, shaking his paw in front of his eye to try to get the images out of his face.

“Unknown.” Eliza sighed as she popped a few new pictures up in front of me. “However, this type of settlement annihilation has been observed before in places that the Goddess has reportedly destroyed.”

The pictures were of other settlements. A settlement with a dome with lights on it’s roof, an old shopping mall that had been fortified, and a marina much like the one I was in earlier. However, each of these places shared the fact that the ponies who used to be there lay scattered across the ground, impaled by rebar, or turned to ash by magical beams.

“Then… it has to be connected.” I blinked as my eyes wandered over to King. “If the goddess attacked Empire, then that has to be where she took King from.”

“Or… it’s where I lead her.” King whimpered as he planted his face down against the table once more. “What if I’m the reason it’s gone?”

“Actually, that’s a fairly plausible hypothesis!” Eliza’s cheery tone was a sharp juxtaposition right now that I’m pretty sure none of us felt comfortable with. “You see, a common reported tactic was…”

“I’m sure King wasn’t responsible.” I did my best to speak over Eliza, thankfully forcing her to stop for the moment. “And wild speculation isn’t going to do us any good when we can just take a quick trip down and find out if it helps King remember anything.” My words helped King drag his face up again so that I could look into his eye. “If the answer to who you are is down there, then we have to go and find it.”

“You’re right.” King nodded with a sniffle. “No, you’re absolutely right. I… I can’t be afraid of it anymore.”

With a shift from Buck, he brought a paw down on King’s back softly, and lined his other paw up with his side. Before I could ask what he was doing, Buck’s arm opened up and a syringe plunged into King’s side. King’s eye went wide for a moment before he drifted off and passed out.

“Did you just sedate him!?” I couldn’t believe he’d do that after what we’d just talked about!

“It’s just a precaution while we move him onto the Remora.” Buck brought his paws up defensively. “I know you trust him not to hurt you, Night, but… the last time I turned my back on him…”

“That’s different!” I spat out and flailed my forehoof in protest. As I did though, I could feel a little pony in the back of my head trying to smack some sense into me. “It’s just… grrr, I know you’re right, and that he’ll understand. I just don’t like it.” Huffing, I crossed my hoof across my barrel, finding it a lot more awkward to be overly dramatic without my prosthetic helping out.

“Once we’re down there, I’ll wake him up again and everything will be fine.” The kind smile Buck wore was off. I knew it was because after everything so far, he didn’t want to cap off today with an unnecessary incident then ended in more pain and suffering.

And of course, again, I knew he was right because I didn’t want that either. In a perfect world, we could just head down there and what we’re looking for will be sitting right at our hooves. King would know who he was again, and things could go back to being a whole lot less interesting than they’d become recently.

Yes, in a perfect world, everything would surely go our way.

The Remora touched down roughly. The heavily taxed engines started to spool down early from the hit, and the shift of the chassis nearly threw me off of my three hooves and out the missing door. Oof, getting used to using my flight harness with only three legs again was going to take a little bit, wasn’t it?

Thankfully, Buck was there to help steady me. His mechanical paw gave me a soft pat as soon as I was stable again, and I offered him a small smile as the cold, salty smelling air drifted into the cabin. Still, hopefully my reflexes and balance would come back quick if we needed to fight. And of course because I couldn’t go a few hours without one, I’m sure we’d run into something intent on killing us soon enough.

We’d landed on the street just outside the ticket booth for the old world amusement park. The rusting gateway had crumbled and collapsed over the passage of time, and it’s remains had been piled neatly to form makeshift walls that still held traces of the old Ministry of Morale logos on it. Newer, but still somewhat faded signs still sat upright next to the walls, welcoming all ‘civil’ ponies to Empire Park.

From the moment the street we were on met the pavement of the entrance itself, spears of rebar began to dot the ground. Stepping out from the remora, I let my eyes wander from the closest spear, to the next, and so on until I was looking deeper into the settlement itself. What was an errant spear here or there standing defiantly pierced into the concrete covered ground, became a veritable sea of spikes the further in I looked.

Nothing inside moved. While the old world amusement rides gave off the usual creaking and groans from the light wind washing over the place, there were no other sounds. I’m not sure if it was a good thing that the decayed corpses impaled and left on the ground helped put me at ease, or if it simply felt like a warning to leave now or risk sharing their fate.

“What a dump.” Happy snorted as he trotted out onto the old, cracked pavement. The first thing he did was walk up to the nearest rebar spear and kick it. With a rattling clamber, it didn’t budge, and instead forced him to yank his hoof back with a pain filled grimace. “Maybe Hispano had the right idea to stay back on the ship. There ain’t nothing here.”

“Then stay here and watch the Remora, Happy.” I sighed. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy he volunteered to come, but he could at least give us all a few minutes before he started complaining.

The shifting of the chains around King’s long legs pulled my attention back. Buck’s paws easily maneuvered the heavy nautical chains so that they fell slack enough that he could draw them off and onto the floor. As he did that, King’s unbandaged eye strained to open, and he stiffly gave a look up to the half-mechanical snow dog hovering above him.

“Alright, there.” Buck offered out a paw to King as he took a step back towards the outside. “Come on, let’s see if this place jogs your memories at all.” His voice was calm as he spoke, and the tone he used, well it wasn’t what I’d expected.

The sight of it made me pause for a moment. Buck has been hurt, lied to, used, and surrounded by plenty of others on this trip who’ve done nothing but cause us trouble. And yet simply because I trusted King, he’s decided to put his best paw forward and offer him help.

No, that’s not true at all, and fairly egotistical, Night. Buck was a kind, caring, and selfless dog far before I ever confessed that I cared about him. He may have stumbled almost as many times as I have on this trip, but it’s not because of me that he cares. That’s something he’s always done, helping others while wearing the same soft smile he always has. Because that’s who he is, and that’s the dog I fell in love with.

King carefully lifted a hoof and took Buck’s paw. With a grunt, the two of them got him back on his hooves, and both emerged from inside of the Remora. As soon as he stepped out into the open however, his eyes shot wide open, and he turned his gaze through the entrance to the settlement.

“Is it… do you remember something?” The words slipped out of my muzzle as something about his gaze unnerved me. “Or is it something else?” The cogs in my brain felt like they worked together to help bind up my gut as my eyes followed where his gaze sat.

“It’s trouble.” Buck let out a soft growl as he took a heavy step in front of King and lowered himself for a fight.

“What, I don’t see anything?” Happy spat out as he tensed up and lowered his muzzle down towards Laika’s pistol. Like my eyes, his eyes scanned over the rebar inside the settlement, looking for whatever had spooked King.

“Begone, Vestige of the Red Eyed traitor!” The amplified voice of a mare came from damn near in front of us. The air in between the ticket booth rubble shimmered, and from it resolved a deep blue Alicorn mare. Her narrowed, slit eyes were locked on me, and her horn crackled with sparking magic. “You are trespassing and are commanded to leave at once. Our allegiances are our own, we have no wish to join a new unity. We have no wish to fight you either, but we willkill you if you refuse our demands.”

That… didn’t sound much like a pony who wanted to fight us.

Well, I mean of course not, Night! She said it herself, she just wants you to leave! And if they aren’t with those other alicorns who wanted King, well, then that means there’s a chance to talk to them!

“We aren’t with that ‘Red Eye’ guy!” I offered to her, receiving a thick snap of arcane magic spiking into the air above me from the Alicorn’s horn in response. “Hey, hey! We’re here because our friend here needs help.” Shifting myself, I nodded over to King, and took a glance over to see how he was handling things.

To my surprise, he’d shrunk almost down to the ground. His long legs were quaking as he kept himself hidden behind Buck’s imposing quadrupedal stance. Well, after getting foalnapped by alicorns and having his horn shot off, I really couldn’t blame the guy for feeling defenseless.

“Yeah, we came to help our friend, so back off, lady!” Happy shouted with enough snark to knock both Buck and I off guard. “Besides, it’s three to one, so unless you like those odds, then maybe consider turning invisible again so we can all go about our day.” Seriously, he’s chosen now to grow a spine and try to intimidate his way out of a fight?

The blue alicorn laughed and shrugged off his comment with another bolt from her horn.

“Foal, you think we are alone?” She snarled.

The air throughout the park seemed to come to life. Magic shimmered and twisted at even the air above us, as the magical cloaking of multiple blue alicorns helped to shield other greens and purples as they stood in quite a few defensible spots before us. While Happy was right that we could’ve probably handled one alicorn, there were about forty more angry mares in front of us now.

“Please, they speak the truth!” King pleaded as he pushed himself around Buck’s protective form. “I… I don’t know who I am. Mother stripped that from me, and… this place, it’s all I have left to find it out with.”

The sparks on the lead mare’s head shrank as she studied King. Her eyes softened slightly as they wandered over him, but sharpened again the moment they fell on Buck. With a single raise of her hoof, the other blue alicorns focused their magics again, and just as quickly disappeared into the air as they’d appeared.

“You are one of us. One of those who were gifted with a body as Mother was struck down by the great betrayer.” The hatred in the blue alicorn’s eyes burned with a feverish passion I’m sure I’d never know the source of. But yet, even with such anger inside, her horn stayed dormant. “You are welcome to stay with us, with your sisters who share a connection with this graveyard. Those like ourselves each have a soul inside who once called this place home, so we understand what has brought you to us.” Her eyes shifted to King again, and like they’d been dropped into a river, the fire inside them was instantly doused. “And we may not have mother’s gifts, but we shall try to help you recover who you once were if it is possible. However… those not like us are not welcome in our home.”

“Okay, then this is as far as we go.” I spoke to her, looking over to Buck as he nodded to me and started to relax. Well, that was a close one. For once, I think we’d just managed to stop things before they got out of hoof...

“We came all this way just to leave him here?” Happy snorted and kicked at the ground. “And we’re just supposed to trust you?”

“Happy.” I snapped at him.

“Don’t, Night.” He growled back at me and forced me to freeze up. “We went through so much shit with those other alicorns and you’re just going to trust them now? We don’t even know who they are!”

“We are not like our sisters who wish to create a new Unity.” The blue mare shot him a glare that wasn’t as bad as the one she’d held for me, but it was a close second. “Our sister here will not be…”

“No, we ain’t leaving him.” Happy cut her off as he raised his voice and gave a firm stomp of his wooden hoof on the concrete. I swear, if Happy doesn’t shut his muzzle… “We came here together, and we’re going to goddess damned leave together.” With another stomp, there was a creak as the wood near his hoof split, and flakes of bark stripped from his leg. Still, he swallowed the pain and used it to yell out even louder. “Sure I don’t know him like Night and the others, but I’ll be damned if I’m just going to leave him behind like he’s not our problem anymore.” With a burning glare that beat out the mare’s, he swung it over through the air so all the hidden alicorns could see. “So you get this through that thick mutated brain of yours. We’re staying together. End of story.”

That… was unexpected.

Though to be honest, not as much as it should have been. While I know it took him time to work through the loss of Delilah and the others, I didn’t think about what led up to it. Of course he still blames himself deep down, just like I do. And maybe that shared perspective warranted a bit of solace from me.

“Happy’s right.” I offered with words that looked like they almost knocked Buck right off of his legs. “We have gone through too much, made mistakes that put others at risk, and relied on the trust of others to keep those we care for safe.” Looking over at Happy, I wasn’t surprised to see that his resolute expression was still locked onto the angry blue mare in front of us. But through it, I could see the pain behind his eyes, because it’s something I’ve felt before as well. “So I’m sorry I agreed to your terms a moment ago, but these are the new terms. We go with King.”

“Besides,” Happy forced out a stiff laugh as he shook his head. “You showed us how many of you there are. If your intentions really are to help him, then you have to know we couldn’t stop you if we tried to keep us out.”

“That is a poor example.” The mare snorted and grinned, revealing her muzzle of dagger-like teeth. “If our intentions were to take him, then you couldn’t stop us either.”

“But the point he’s making is that neither side wants a fight.” Buck’s snarling voice came through with a bit more static than usual as he picked himself up to his normal standing position. “So if we all have the same goal to help King, then perhaps the best way to start would be to take the risk of trusting each other.” You know, he may have spoken up late, but if that wasn’t one hell of a big final nail he’s driven into our negotiation, I don’t know what would be.

The blue mare took a deep breath, narrowing her eyes as she let another burning glare wash over us. If this didn’t work, then I know we’d have no choice but to appeal to King to leave the one place that could give him the answers he needed. And as much as that argument was going to suck, deep down, I prayed to Celestia that for once my awkward luck could be used to have things go our way.

Really, I just wanted to actually help somepony in need for once…

“That is a fair point.” She cocked an eyebrow and looked back towards where all her invisible friends were. “We suppose that a chance to prove the intentions of both parties should be given. However, the condition must be that you hoof over your weapons.” Okay, that made me a little uncomfortable, but… it was a fair request. She brought her gaze around again, it landed on Buck as it brightened. “And your dog stays outside as well. His kind is too dangerous, too unpredictable to let roam through our settlement.”

“Now wait just one moment here…!” Buck started to speak up.

“It’s non-negotiable.” The mare snarled at him. “As was once said, you may take it, or leave.”

“I don’t like this, Night.” Buck’s voice filled my mind as he sat down in frustration next to me.

“I know, but do we really have a choice here if we want to try to help King?” I offered back.

I wanted to say that this would be a temporary thing, or that it would be worth it in the long run. But the truth was, I didn’t know what we could do. Who knows if King would have to stay here for days, weeks, or months to get his memory back, or if it would come back at all. For all I know, the other mare inside King was lying for some reason I can’t comprehend and she wasn’t really hiding anything from him in the first place.

You know, this started out as such a seemingly simple request from King, but Celestia I wasn’t prepared for things to get this out of hoof...

“Yeah, sure, let’s tell the only doctor we’ve got to stay outside.” Happy snorted and took a single step forward. “We don’t even know what’s wrong with King’s head, so what’s the chances any of you oversized muties know? If you screw somethin’ up with him, are you really going to leave the best chance at fixing him sitting outside?”

“You don’t think we have the resources to take care of our own?” She puffed up her chest and slightly flared out her broad blue wings. “We were gifted with superior bodies, superior minds to utilize magic which any simple mule could never comprehend.” Looks like Happy’s words struck a bit of a nerve with her… “If you even think that your friend’s best option would be some dog pretending to be a doctor, then perhaps we should just teleport you all inside the nearest mountain and be done with your pestering demands.”

“Hey, there is no need for that!” I too took a step forward, but hesitated to go further as the mare’s horn crackled to life again. Okay, we went from hostile, to making progress, then right back to square one. Fuck, this wasn’t supposed to be this difficult! “We both have the same fucking goal!”

“You bring one of our kind, who you say needs our help, and demand that we offer it to you?” The mare’s muzzle parted into a twisted, nearly unhinged grin as her horn glowed brighter. “So go, leave this place or perish. You are no different than the red-eyed betrayer.”

“I don’t even know who the fuck that is!” I screamed at her. “I’m so sick and tired of everyone who we ask for help either turning against us, or having some fucking misguided motive, or just downright planning on betraying us from the get-go!” I was heaving in deep, labored breaths as I let my rage build up and flow right out through my muzzle. “Why the fuck is it always the same two choices of do what I say or die? I’m not doing the same to you, am I? I have a cloudship up there in the sky right now. One word from me and I could slaughter all of you!”

“Night, you can’t possibly think…” Buck’s hesitant voice filtered in through the back of my mind.

“I won’t… I won’t do it though. I can’t.” I seethed and hung my head. “Because I’m not like the other monsters I’ve met. I’m not Mrs. Tapit, I’m not Tephra or Mr. Wizard, or fucking Rofia. I don’t threaten others because I believe we could be better than that. That we should be better than that.”

As my anger dried up, my shaking legs gave out, and I flopped onto the cold pavement. I know that I shouldn’t feel so frustrated from this. Why would I have expected things to be any different the further south we’ve gone?

No, honestly that’s on me. Memories of the others in the convoy talking about the south reminded me that they’d mentioned that if anything, it was worse than the north. I’d allowed myself to slip into the mindset that because of my experiences in the north, maybe they were wrong. Maybe because of the small amount of good we did up there, the ponies down here would be more open to lending a helping hoof.

But again, it was my fault for believing that.

“That’s the Bombay?” Another voice from the sets of invisible alicorn’s spoke up.

“Yeah, you’re right! We think it is!” Yet another invisible voice gasped.

“I… I vouch for Bombay.” The amplified voice of one of the invisible alicorn’s in the settlement perked my ears. “She helped shelter one of us before, up in Mare’s Lake.”

The crackling magic around the horn of the lead mare fizzled out. Slowly, she turned her concerned gaze back as one of the other blue mares killed their spell and brought herself and the other two next to her back into the light of day. The other alicorns next to her seemed to shift away uncomfortably, but the blue alicorn stood firm.

“Isn’t she also the Survivor?” Another spoke up. “The same one who killed Mister Wizard and freed Cantercross?”

“No, I heard they were two different mares. That one of them died in Cantercross, and that another mare took up the name and kept helping.”

“We heard that Bombay and her friends saved a balefire chimera and her cub. Can you imagine?”

“I heard that she saved the Steel Rangers. She even cared for those toasters!”

“She fought the Road Crew and came out alive not just once, but multiple times.”

“We heard she even made those in Stone Town turn friendly to outsiders.”

Whispers and comments popped up from all throughout the settlement. It was hard to tell from so many voices speaking, but… they were talking about me. About us, and all the things we’d done up north.

“That’s enough!” The mare in front of us snapped and immediately silenced the seemingly out of control gossip. As an uneasy silence took over, she closed her eyes and took in a few deep breaths. When she opened them again, there was something about them that had changed. I couldn’t really place it, but it was like I was looking into the eyes of a completely different pony. “So then, is it true? Are you the mare from the stories far in the north?”

“Yes.” I nodded while picking myself up again. “Some know me as Bombay, others, as the Survivor. But I don’t need those nicknames, I’m just plain old Night Flight.”

“Then why didn’t you say so?” The mare sat down hard and facehooved. “You may not know, but half of the bodies here were up north when mother… passed. We’ve all heard the stories of you, and had we known you were her, we might have gotten off on a different hoof.”

“Honestly,” Buck sighed as well, smiling as he too brought up a paw to his exasperated face. “I thought we’d outrun your reputation.”

“Me too.” Happy snorted before pushing himself to trot up to the alicorn in front of us. “Well, seein’ as we’ve got that out of the way, how about getting off on that other hoof then?” With a smirk, he held out his wooden forehoof to her.

“Sure.” She blinked a few times as she stared at his hoof. Hesitantly, she reached out her own and wrapped her fetlock around it, giving it a firm shake. “Again, we are sorry for the defensive posture. We let Rip Saw have control when we felt threatened, but he’s been subdued now. It’s hard to talk about, but like yourselves, we’ve all been through quite a lot. Most of us aren’t too sure who to trust anymore.”

“I understand how that is, believe me, I do. But I meant what I said, we need to be better.” I nodded to her, watching as a wave of guilt swept over her. “We can address all that later. For now, we’ve got somepony to help.” As I stepped forward, King finally got to his hooves and followed.

“So, you can’t remember who you are?” She let her eyes wander over King, wincing as she noticed the bandages that covered his missing wing. “How curious. Why would mother have hidden that from you?”

“I don’t know.” King shook his head, kicking at the ground dejectedly. “The other one in me, she helped to hide the memories. But she told me of this place in my search for an answer, of Empire. For what reason, I still don’t know.”

“Then come, let us see if we can help.” She offered him her outstretched wing while she shifted herself to point back into the settlement. “With so many souls inside of us here, surely one of them can find a way to do just that.”

Slowly, King turned and stepped through the crumbing entrance to the old park. As he did, the air shimmered, and all of the other alicorns emerged from their cloaking magic. They landed amongst the rebar spikes, some with curious looks across their muzzles, other with smiles filled with unbridled excitement.

“Real quick,” Happy spoke up, pressing a hoof to the mare’s side and stopping her just short of getting up to her hooves. “Not to say you’re all the same, but… you got a name or something?”

“Oh, we can see how that would be needed with us, wouldn’t it?” She offered back to him with a soft laugh as she got to her hooves and headed for the entrance. “Our name is Magnolia, and we welcome you to Empire.”

“Magnolia, eh?” Happy smirked as he kept light on his hooves and kept pace with her. “That’s a flower, ain’t it? My mother was also named after a flower.”

“Oh really, was she?” Magnolia cocked an eyebrow and looked down to him as her smile widened. “How fascinating. Was it a family name from the pony side, or...”

Buck’s paw carefully came down on my side, and I found my attention and gaze stolen by him. While he wore a contented look across his face, the admittedly shrinking fear behind his eyes told me that he knew just how close we’d come to disaster. And while that was true, I couldn’t help but meet his eyes with a grin all the same.

All the pain we’d endured, all the suffering we’d seen for what little good we’d managed to actually do up in the north. And yet here it meant something to these alicorns. I didn’t want to say it had been worth it, but even if this was all the recognition we’d ever get for it again… at least it had given us this chance to help King.

Though the job wasn’t done, I could finally say that the twist in my gut had subsided for now. I had a good feeling about this place, about what we’d find to help King with. Who knows, maybe it would take a while like I’d thought before. Would that really be so much of a problem? It would give us time to rest, to heal, and for Tofu, Dad, and Ping to get the Arcturus back into working order.

On the other hoof, it could be quick. Maybe the other alicorns knew a way to fix him and he’d be better by the end of the day. If he was, then we could move on to Seaddle to fix up the Arcturus, then go on south to the Ark. The sooner we could get it down to Brahman Beach, the sooner we could put everything else on this trip behind us, and then we could all take a long vacation.

“Ready to go in?” Buck asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Yeah.” I nodded to him and relaxed myself. As expected, his strong mechanical arm scooped up under me and he pulled me tight against himself. “Let’s go and see if we can finally help King.”

Author's Note

As always, a huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for all his help in going over these chapters!

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat for creating and opening up all of Fallout: Equestria to us!

Chapter 110 - The King and I

If you fiddle with something long enough, you'll eventually break it.

You know, I wasn’t really quite sure what to think of this place.

On one hoof, the alicorns of Empire all seemed fairly docile. While a few used their magic on King, most went about their own business. They seemed content to wander aimlessly, or sit in secluded places quietly. Even when Buck and I had sought a place to sit and wait for a while, the few around the old bench we found quickly relocated themselves without saying a single word.

On the other hoof, this place was still a graveyard. Though the alicorns had claimed it, they’d obviously made no attempts to clear the bodies or debris the ‘goddess’ left when she attacked. Plus, if what Magnolia had said was true, then at least a part of each of them originally lived here. I would think that I’d hate to walk around and live in a place where all my friends and family were left to rot on the pavement.

Then again, I’m not sure I’d want to clean things up and pretend it never happened. Especially when they became part of the very thing that destroyed Empire. No, I’m not sure I could ever comprehend what it must be like for them now.

“You alright, Night?” Buck asked as he carefully wrapped his paw around me.

“Yeah,” I nodded to him and leaned against his side. “just… letting my thoughts lead me to questions I’m not sure I want the answers for.”

The both of us perked up as Magnolia came trotting over to us. At least, I thought it was Magnolia. Then again, Happy had trotted off talking with her, and now he was nowhere to be seen…

“Hey, where’s Happy?” The words came shooting from my muzzle with just an ounce of unintended hostility. They were so sharp in fact that they almost made the towering blue alicorn stumble on her hooves.

“He wished to head out front to your transport,” She offered up a nervous smile that poorly hid the confusion she felt about it. “Something about draining some sort of reptile? He is a… peculiar mule we must say. A very interesting individual who reminds us much of Empire’s old leader.”

She let her words hang on that as she seemed to lose herself in thought for a moment.

“Is there something we can do for you?” Buck spoke up, kicking her attention back to the here and now.

“What?” Blinking a few times, she paused before looking up at us. “Oh, right! We wanted to say that whatever memory magic Mother performed on your friend, it is unlike any we’ve ever seen her use before. It is quite strong, which will make finding a fix for it… difficult to say the least.”

“So there’s nothing you can do for him?” I didn’t want to lose hope, but if coming here wasn’t enough, and even they couldn’t figure it out, then what was left?

“We didn’t say that…” She plopped herself down on the concrete with a sigh. “No arcana is impervious to attack, and while mother was an adept spellcaster, she was not above the rules governing arcane magic.” Her horn lit up softly, and one of the nearby rebar spears was wrapped in her magic. With a swift tug, she pulled it from the concrete and floated it over. “Strong magic is like steel. You can do many things to it, yet it will not snap or shear.” With a flash of her horn, the rebar spike twisted and looped itself around. It let out a metallic squeal as she all but turned it into a pretzel of rusted metal. “You could try brute force to break it, but that would be a chore. Instead, the stronger a spell’s hold, the more specific a weakness it has.” Her horn flared up once more, blasting a cone of icey air across the center of the twisted rebar. She lowered the steel pretzel to her hoof and gave it just the lightest of taps, shearing the whole thing straight in half. “Find that weakness, and it will break with minimal effort.”

“So you’re telling me there’s a chance you could find it?” I asked, feeling just the slightest bit of hope trying to claw its way up my throat. “Do you have any idea what the weakness could be?”

She shook her head.

“No, of course it wouldn’t be that easy.” I mumbled as I slumped against the old bench. “Still, there has to be something here that could help him. Otherwise, why did the other pony in him bring this place up?”

“Well, maybe it’s something to do with what happened here.” Buck shifted himself and brought a digit up to the end of his metal muzzle. Glancing at Magnolia, I could already see how little she wanted to answer what Buck was about to ask of her. “I know it may be difficult to talk about, but what was this place like before…” He gestured broadly at the graveyard around us, “you know, before all this?”

“Before Mother, Empire was a quiet wasteland settlement. You know, we were one of the first settlements in this end of the wastes to establish ourselves after the end of the war.” As she spoke, her eyes softened and drifted from Buck’s. She turned herself back to the settlement, taking a seat next to us. “We dealt with our fair share of raiders and creatures over the years, angry neighbors, and ambitious conquerors. But this community was the strongest in Vanhoover, we had been since the end of the war.” Tipping her gaze over, she smirked as she glanced down at me. “It helped that for generations, we were led by one whose family has always had the singular purpose of watching out for us. At least, up until they brought mother right to us.”

“So, Empire was more than an inherited name from the park, you were a monarchy.” Buck rubbed at his muzzle in thought. “Perhaps that is why he calls himself King? Maybe he was your king.”

While that made more than a fair amount of sense, I couldn’t help but worry what he would do if it was true.

“No, our leader never wanted us to use that title, as it had been abused by ponies of the past.” Magnolia shook her head with a frown. “And though it would be of great comfort to us, we know our leader was slain by his son’s wife, and the son was lost in killing her for bringing Mother to the settlement.” Her expression turned sour. Her slit-eyes narrowed, her muzzle curled into a fierce grimace, and she projected her words with a sharp, cold tone. “She was an outsider, a rejected raider who was only wed to his son because she bore him a granddaughter. From the moment she was accepted into their family, she pushed for more and more power, for our leader to abdicate his position to his son. But everypony knew that if that were to happen, it would really have been her in control. After three years of trying, she grew tired of waiting, and ran off to make a deal with Mother.”

“Yes, I’ve heard of that tactic before,” Buck nodded and let his eyes wander over the field of spikes and bodies, “where the goddess would promise things in exchange for settlements. Then, she’d take what she wanted before slaughtering the rest.

“Mother... she wasn’t always like that.” Magnolia’s expression shifted again. Her gaze fell to the ground at her hooves, and her voice shrank to nearly a whisper. “it wasn’t like Mother was as bad as the red eyed betrayer, she simply believed that she was helping ponies adapt to a better life in the wasteland.” That was hard to believe, given the bodies she left in her wake. “As misguided as it seems even now, I do believe mother started with good intentions.”

Then again, I don’t know what really happened. I can’t know what Magnolia has seen or been through, and I doubt anypony other than other alicorns will ever know. Even so, I know what a trap good intentions can be when wanting to help. And maybe the ‘Goddess’ did start things with the best of intentions, who knows. But with what she’d done, that’s not a legacy she would ever be remembered for, and like with everypony else I’ve seen die under the idea of good intentions, it’s a damn shame.

“Hey!” Happy’s voice caught our attention, and all three of us perked up and turned.

Happy was galloping in from over by the Remora, doing his best to dodge and weave through the field of spikes. Still, panting and heaving, he surprised me by managing to get over to our bench without so much as accidentally knocking into one.

“Woah, where’s the fire?” Buck chuckled as he pushed himself up onto his paws.

Happy’s response was simply him putting a hoof up as he was busy taking gasping breaths and looking like he was about to collapse onto the ground.

I glanced over to Buck with a worried look, and used my hoof to adjust my saddle before getting to my own hooves. Oh Celestia, I hope we weren’t in for a fight. Between the hospital and the marina this morning, I’d figured I’d had my fight quota filled for the day.

“Not something bad… I just found… a thing.” Happy panted and flailed his hoof back toward the entrance. “Get King. He’s gotta see this.”

Buck and I stood inside the cabin of the Remora as we waited for Happy and Magnolia to return with King.

“Hello, Night Flight?” Cora’s voice crackled into my head. From the way Buck seemed to perk up as well, I assume he also heard it too. “Is this thing even working?”

“Yeah, we can hear you Cora. Everything alright up there?” I thought back, turning to Buck with a shrug.

“Everything’s good here.” Cora came through again with a bit of a hesitant sigh. “Hey, so I wanted to bring this up to you before Hispano woke up from her nap, and before you got back. It’s important though, so listen up, got that?”

“Yeah?” Again, I shrugged to Buck, getting a shrug from him in return. Just what exactly was going on here?

“Seeing as we’re going to be headed back towards Seaddle, there is uh… some business I need to take care of to the southeast towards Mount Raindeer. At our old home in ‘Claw.”

“What sort of business?” Buck thought out before I managed to.

“Not your business, alright?” The firm tone and way he nearly bit Buck’s head off with his snappy response set all sorts of alarm bells off in my head. “I’m telling you because Hispano is going to have a problem with this. I don’t know how long it’ll take to finish things, so if I’m not back in a week, then she’s going to try to follow me. I need you to make sure she doesn’t. In fact, she never leaves your side, alright?”

“What is this about, Cora?” I got that he didn’t want to tell us any details, but come on! How could he realistically expect me to just sit here and go with that? “And before you say it’s not my business, Hispano is my business. So if what you’re doing affects her, it’s now our business.”

“The whole point of me reaching out was to politely inform Buck that I’m leaving, so that he knows the infirmary is solely in his paws. That, and of course, so I can tell you, Night, to keep my daughter from following me.” Again, he snapped back sharply enough that just through reflex I felt myself shrink down a bit. Geeze, what in the hell was his problem? “And before you demand to know, you haven’t paid me shit yet, so as your talon, I don’t owe you any explanation. So do as I say and take care of her, Night. I’m serious, and you don’t want to cross me on this.”

“Cora, can’t we just talk about this?” Buck thought back with a deep frown. To his question however, all we got back was silence. “Cora? Are you there?”

“Cora is currently on his way out of the Arcturus!” Eliza’s jubilant voice came through Buck and I’s minds so abruptly that we both jumped a bit from it. “Do you want me to seal all the hatches until you return, Captain?”

“No.” I sighed and sat down hard onto the remora’s cold cabin floor. “Let him go.” Great, this was all I needed today, more bullshit drama. “Couldn’t he have done this, I don’t know, tomorrow, or three days from now, or fucking next week?” What the hell was he even going off to do?

“I’m sure he has his reasons.” Buck’s paw came down on my back and pressed at it softly. Even through the numbing from my talisman, I could feel the muscles he touched relax with the pressure from his digits. “I’m sort of relieved, really. After all the critiquing and anger towards you, the fact that he trusts you to care for her in his absence means that he’s really warmed up to you! Well, that or…”

Buck paused on that as my mind came to the same conclusion.

“Or he’s not planning on coming back.” The words fell out of my muzzle as a tidal wave of panic filled my mind. Shit, shit! “Uh, Eliza? About locking those hatches for me…”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that, Captain!” Eliza’s perky tone was very much at odds with the peaking throws of anxiety wracking my body and mind right now. “You just missed him going out the top hatch. Should I set a pursuit course?”

“Fucking of course, yes!” I flailed my forehoof angrily and slammed it against the side of the Remora’s cabin by accident. The damaged metal panel let out a groan from the strike, and it forced me to remember that we already had other plans. Fuck! The Arcturus was in no shape to go running off after Cora now. “Damnit, nevermind. Keep the course to Seaddle set.”

“Night, but what about...?” Buck said as he almost took a step back from me.

“We need to think about this in a way that makes sense.” I sighed and facehooved myself hard. “I know going after Cora is important, but we can’t do that without fixing the Arcturus.”

I wanted to throw caution to the wind, to trust that with my family and friends, we’d be able to pull off whatever needed to be done. But I couldn’t think like that anymore, not after Delta. No, I was the one pulling everyone along, and that meant that right now, maybe I needed to act a little bit less like Bombay, and a little bit more like Delilah.

“Well, maybe… maybe we’re overthinking this.” Buck offered with a forced smile, but the both of us knew we couldn’t really believe it. “Plus, he did say a week. As long as we get to him before then, then I’m sure we’ll be able to help him out with whatever it is he feels he needs to do.”

“Sorry that took so long.” Happy called out as he trotted through Empire’s entrance. Without slowing down, he steered himself right around the Remora and just kept on walking. “But what I wanted to show you was just right across the street here.”

Stepping out from the Remora, my eyes followed him across the old four lane road we’d landed on, and over to a looming set of large ruins. At first glance, it looked like any number of other mostly collapsed buildings spread out all over the old world city. A mostly square building whose upper stories had crumbled inward, leaving just the first few floors somewhat intact.

Though, while it did look like most ruins, it’s faded yellow and pink exterior reminded me of the same colors that the Ministry of Peace used on all it’s buildings. The cracking paint barely hung to the old bricks, peeling away only to be held on by some of the wartime propaganda posters pasted onto it. Most of the posters were too faded or damaged by time to read, so I wasn’t sure what Happy saw in them to call us all over.

“Huh, wonder what that means?” Buck’s question stole my attention, and my eyes moved back to him, only to follow his gaze further up the road. Glancing at the edge of the building that met up at an intersection, a set of rusted letters were still loosely bolted to the place.

V.E.M.

My vision flickered, and a set of records pulled up.

“The Vanhoover office of Emergency Management.” I read the title of the file as pictures of the way this place used to look flashed up. Next to the images were what I’m guessing was the records of this place that the Factory had recovered at some point. It wasn’t much, just a mission statement and a few associated descriptions of their duties, but it was more than nothing.

“Everypony has a role to play.” Buck said softly as he too looked at the file being shown to him. “It seems like this building was a Ministry of Peace run organization that was supposed to be responsible for civil defense and evacuation procedures for the city.”

“That was its intended purpose, however it was never fulfilled.” Magnolia nodded as she turned herself to us. “The ponies who founded Empire used to work here during the war. On the last day, we were saved by our leader’s ancestors because they acted swiftly and gathered us all in the megaspell shelter installed in the sublevels of this building.”

“So your ancestors abandoned the city to save themselves?” I spoke up sharply and snorted as the thoughts of all the doctors' bodies in the hospital came flooding back to me. They had a job to do, and instead they chose to hide and save themselves? Why is it that every time I’ve learned something about the ponies of the old world, more and more it feels like they did deserve everything that happened to them?

Magnolia shook her head.

“We do not know the events that transpired at the end.” She hung her head and looked back over to Happy and King, who were just now walking up to the posters. “Only our leaders have ever known the truth of that day, knowledge hoofed down as the title has been passed from leader to leader. Because he wasn’t among those who the goddess saved, we are afraid that the truth of Empire’s beginnings has now been lost forever.”

“Happy found it!” King’s excited voice boomed with all the force his alicorn body could muster. The three of us turned in time to see him lunge forward and scoop up Happy into a hug. Even from here, I could see he was being squeezed tight enough to start turning him blue. With quick hoofsteps, we made our way over to see just what exactly Happy had uncovered.

This section of the wall was like most of the rest of the building. It too was still covered by cracked bits of flaking paint, as well as Ministry posters. However, not all of the posters were from the ministry, and looked to have been put up by normal ponies. A faded flier for a lost dog, an advertisement for a new juice bar somewhere else in the city, and a poster urging us to vote for Glossy Pine, a steely-eyed pink unicorn mare who had apparently been running for mayor.

But there was one more poster out of place, and from the look of the tattered scraps of other posters on the ground, it looked to have been covered up until now. It was surprisingly in far better condition than any still clinging to the old walls, and held more color to it than anywhere else in the ruins nearby.

It was a poster of a red pony standing on a tropical beach, wearing a red floral print shirt and holding a ukulele in his hooves. In bold gold letters along the bottom, two words were meant to catch your attention.

The King!

“I know this poster! This is where I know my name from!” King laughed and practically pranced in a circle around us like a giddy colt. It was strange to see an alicorn bounding about like that, but it certainly pulled a smile across my muzzle.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought!” Happy smugly huffed, sitting himself down proudly in the dirt. “I saw an exposed corner of it and I instantly knew it was a poster for the King. Got the same one in my room back at home too.” With a whip of his wooden leg, he brought his hoof up to his chin and rubbed at it as a sense of confusion looked to wash over him. “But since I just uncovered this one, where did you see the other poster?” The question outright forced King’s prancing to come to a stop, and the two locked eyes for a moment. “Maybe if we find the other one, it could give us a clue as to who you used to be.”

“You know, that’s not a bad idea, Happy.” I could tell that Buck was reluctant to give Happy the credit for stumbling on this poster, but… who could argue if it actually helped King out?

“There’s no need to look for it.” Magnolia stepped toward King with a frown and hung her head. “The only other place those posters are hung, are within the underground backstage of the amphitheater. Our leader’s home.” After a moment, she went even further, and knelt before him. “Few were allowed inside before Empire was attacked, and we ourselves only know because it was one of the first places we took shelter in when we returned. If you remember this from before, then… you must be Cozy Pine.”

“Cozy…” King blinked a few times before pausing. His muzzle clamped shut as his body seemed to give out on him. Tremors worked their way down his legs, and with a whimper, he clamped them tightly around his head.

“King!” I gasped and sprung over toward him. However, halfway through my first step, Buck caught and stopped me.

“Stay back!” The static filled growl from Buck’s muzzle caught me about as off guard as the sharp yank back his paw gave me. “Don’t get near him!”

“Buck, what are you doing? You don’t need to protect me!” I tried my best to wrestle out of his grasp, but it wasn’t an easy fight. “Come on, we need to help him!”

“I’m not protecting you, Night.” Buck’s grip tightened almost painfully for a moment. My augment fuzzed as I looked up at him and found his gaze trained on King’s writhing form. “This also happened with Violet when her memory chip was removed back in Destruction Bay. His brain is trying to understand what is happening, and for now, we can’t do anything but wait a few more moments for it to end.”

“We know you may fear for him, but Cozy was the strongest of all of us.” Magnolia tried her best to keep her eyes off of him as she spoke, but she was losing that battle. At the very least, his convulsions were becoming shorter and less severe with every second, though that didn’t make it any easier for any of us to watch. “While Mother took most of us, he continued to elude and fight her. He never stopped trying to save us, and we’d thought that Mother…”

“You thought she killed him.” Happy finished as he looked up into her eyes. “But if she didn’t, if he is Cozy like you say, then why remove his memories?”

“The orb…” King whined from the ground. His legs shook and protested as he got them under himself. ““I need to see it… to remember...”

While it was good that he was alright, it looked like it took all his strength just to try to get up.

“Woah, take it easy there.” Buck predictably let go of me and stepped forward. “You need to rest until we know that your seizures have passed.”

“No, we need to go under the amphitheater.” King turned an angry gaze up at Buck, pushing his mechanical paw away sharply. “The answers are there, I can feel them calling to me.”

The walk to the old outdoor theatre had been slow. At multiple points, King had nearly collapsed again. But every time, he simply grit his teeth and picked himself back up. It was a humbling stubbornness to keep going that took me a moment to know why it felt so familiar to me.

Glancing over to Buck, my mind was thrown back to that day in Cantercross. I had gone through so much that I wouldn’t stop until I dragged him to help. Pulling him on that sled even though every fiber of my being wanted to quit was not something I ever wanted to live through again. But seeing that sort of determination in King now at least helped me to know that finally, he was on the right path.

The group of us followed him toward the slightly raised and surprisingly overgrown concrete stage. The half dome that covered the back end of it was covered in a blanket of vines and sickly plants, the remains of old props and set pieces sat degraded and subsumed under them. Siting center stage and somewhat overgrown, was a bulky stone throne that I assume had been the seat of their leader. Just behind the bulky chair, sat a nearly obscured stairwell that disappeared down underground below the stage.

King stepped around the throne, stopping for only a moment at the top of the stairs with a look of apprehension. The hesitation slowly drained from his face, and his gaze tightened on whatever lay down below. With a sharp, almost aggressive snort, he stepped forward and disappeared down below.

I did my best to follow behind him, descending down into a cramped dark tunnel. My hoofsteps echoed slightly on the damp concrete floor, and the smell of mold we’d happily escaped this morning returned to my nose. The hallway itself was only just wide enough to handle somepony King’s size, which prompted me to look back. I cringed as while Happy was right behind me, it seemed Buck was having trouble fitting himself down here.

We passed by an open doorway, and a faint light met my eyes. Inside was what looked like a living room. Several molded couches and piles of pillows sat along the walls, with a line of mirrors sitting on the far end of the room. Dim yellow talismans inset around the mirrors glowed softly to give the room light, and a single still spinning fan above kept a cool breeze washing out through the door. Sitting on the wet floor was a fairly robust collection of old foal’s toys and now moldy books.

I almost stopped in my tracks however as a reflection in the mirror caught my eye. Lining the wall just inside the doorway, was copy after copy of the poster we’d seen outside. The impressive collection caught Happy off guard as well as he too spotted it and nearly tripped over his own hooves.

“Up ahead, I can feel it.” King’s voice echoed through the underground hall just as we passed a four way junction in the tunnels.

Each side seemed to run off a good distance, and was lit dimly by still weakly running old-style talisman lanterns. And while other open doorways sat at various points in the hall, all of them were dark inside, and just made this place seem even more uncomfortably empty.

I gasped as I nearly bumped into King’s flank as he abruptly came to a stop ahead of me. Happy nearly did the same as he came to a stop too, but at least he had the intersection to duck into momentarily. As I looked back to see that Magnolia and Buck were both making their way here, a sharp slam from King made me jump.

The tortured groan of metal was amplified by the confined concrete tunnel, and I had to sit down quickly so I could pin an ear shut. Hard, hammering strikes against whatever sat in front of King shook the air until it ended halfway through a hit. A final loud slam shifted the air around me in the tunnel, and King stepped forward through a corroded metal doorway into another weakly lit room.

Stepping forward onto the bent remains of the old door, I followed King into what had at some point been an office. Several comfy looking chairs still sat in fairly good condition on either side of a large table. Boxes full of old files, as well as various knick-knacks, assorted scraps, and binders filled with old photos sat well protected along each wall, and were presented neatly on the table. But King bypassed all of these, instead walking around to the far end of the table where a weird headband and small black box sat.

As I stepped forward, my forehoof kicked and sheared off something bolted to the rusted metal door. I looked down, finding a corroded, but still legible gold placard that had been screwed onto it that read Managers Only. Stepping forward, I picked it up, and instantly felt an odd texture on the back. Flipping it over, I found that somepony had painted something else across it.

“Our History.” I read it out loud, looking up to King to see if he knew what it meant. However, he was just getting himself sat down at the far end of the table.

Without saying anything, and without an ounce of hesitation, his hooves opened the small black box in front of him. Like he’d done it a million times before, he reached in and retrieved one of the three small spheres inside. At first I thought it might have been a memory orb, like I’d learned about back in school, but only half of it was clear. The other half looked like it was finely polished chrome, so polished in fact that it turned the dull lighting in here into a near glow in King’s hooves.

“What’s that?” Happy asked before I could. At the same time, he pushed me aside so he could fit through the busted doorway as well.

“Answers.” King’s unbandaged eye was locked on the orb in his hooves, and ever so slowly he pulled it up to the shattered horn on his head. He grunted, straining his gaze on the orb as he tensed up. A flicker from his horn sparked, and the magic he held arced itself like a bolt for the orb. The moment it connected, his unbandaged eye went wide, and he slumped forward against the table.

“King!” I spat out as I hobbled my way around the table. A bolt of fear ran through me as my eyes locked on his empty, emotionless gaze. “Let it go, King!” I pleaded with him, but he didn’t respond. Hell, it didn’t even look like he was breathing! Please, please don’t be dead...

“Wait!” Magnolia called out sharply as she reached the door. “Don’t touch him.” I tried to turn to see why she’d called out, but in my haste I tripped over one of the boxes near me. With a shift, the whole stack near the wall tilted and came down on me, burying me under a pile of seemingly random stuff. “He’s alright! He’s in our history now.”

“Does he look alright to you?” Happy huffed as I could feel him step over to me. Between his efforts and my own, I crawled out from under the mountain of things and back into the open.

“What does that mean, in your history?” Buck asked as he finally squeezed his way to just behind Magnolia.

“During the last day, our leader had a device with him that could record what was happening, but only from his perspective.” Magnolia sighed as her pain filled eyes sank from King’s frozen and blank expression. “The Pines family have used it ever since to record the progress of our settlement, letting each of their family add to it as they came of age. It was meant to keep a record so we’d know who we once were, and to help guide our future leaders on who we were trying to become.”

“So it’s a memory orb?” Buck asked softly, but paused for a moment as, if it was one, I’m sure he’d never seen a memory orb quite like it either. “While I’ve read many texts about them, I’ve never seen one before. I also know there had been many theories on the development of one that could be used to record multiple times on the same orb, but I didn’t think any orbs capable of it were actually made. How fascinating.”

“Like many things from the past, few things have remained intact this long.” Shaking her head, her eyes finally shifted from King, and lingered on the pile of things I’d scattered from their boxes. “That is why Rustic Pine, our original leader, had sought to protect what lies in this room. This is all that remains of our ancestors' belongings, picked out of the ruins of the old world as soon as they founded Empire.” See, now I just felt bad about knocking over what turned out to be priceless family heirlooms. But hey, how was I supposed to know!? “We do not understand how it is possible, but for him to be drawn to the orb, then our assumption must be correct.”

“You think King is this leader of yours?” Happy snorted as he stepped back from the pile of stuff. “I thought you’d said he’d died.”

“Not our leader, but his son. Mother told those of us that were taken that he shared his fate with that traitorous bitch that brought her to us.” Magnolia shook her head again and snarled as she closed her eyes. “But while so many things she said seemed to be falsehoods, many things still do not make sense. Why would she hide his memories? Why have they not returned on their own?”

“Maybe the other pony inside him is the key.” I spit out as my mind connected the two together. “She knows who he was, and would have rather seen me dead than have him remember.” Turning my gaze back to King, I wasn’t sure what we could do if that was the case. She’d been gone since Hispano broke King’s horn, but she might just be King’s best hope. “I’m not exactly excited at the prospect of asking her to come answer some more questions, but if this orb doesn’t work, then that might be our only option.”

Sparks of magic poured out from King’s horn. A glow overtook his eye, and a bolt of fear ran through me. Oh fuck, she’s got control again…

“I… I can remember now.” King spoke in his own voice as a smile crept over his muzzle. “My name was Cozy Pine… er, it is.” His muzzle quivered as tears started to stream down his cheeks. “I was afraid I was a monster, but I can remember everything now.”

Using his hoof, he lifted the horn and placed it into a center recess of the weird headband sitting on the table. With another few sparks, he shot a line of magic into it, which swirled with brilliant colors before it shot out again and lit up the wall across from me.

A somewhat fuzzy image of a pony in what looked like a wartime office building sat behind a paper covered desk. The room itself was painted in a boring beige tone, and the open door straight across from the room led out into an equally boring looking hallway. A squeaky laugh filled the air as a bubblegum pink earthpony foal was lifted into the air with magic.

“Daddy’s recording now, sweetie. Can you say hi to mommy for me?” The relaxed voice of a stallion came through as clear as if he was sitting right in front of us. The foal in front of us let out a babbling giggle of gibberish and kicked its forehooves through the air happily. “That’s very good, Timid! Soon enough you’ll be learning and using words, oh you are growing up so fast.”

A set of thumping built up over the recording, turning into multiple sets of quick hoofbeats. A few panicked looking ponies galloped past the doorway and down the hall.

“What in tartarus…?” The stallion muttered under his breath as he set his foal down on the desktop.

“Rustic!” The frantic voice of another stallion called out as a lithe blue unicorn slammed into his doorway. “The fucking stripes hit us with a surprise attack!”

“What!?” The stallion sprung up out of his seat and used his magic to bring his foal up close enough to grab. “Spring, slow down, are you sure? Why hasn’t the government put out a statement?”

“Cloudsdale, Manehatten, and Canterlot are all gone!” The blue stallion trotted nervously in place as another few ponies bolted by in the hallway. “We’ve got two minutes before we get hit here, maybe less! You need to issue the order for everypony at the VEM to get into the shelter! I’ll… I’ll go make sure it’s ready!”

“Wait, Spring!” The stallion called out as the blue unicorn disappeared from the doorway and bolted down the hall. “Shit, has anypony even activated the public warning system yet?” A hoof came up and covered the orb for a moment before a burst of static left all of us in silence.

The orb on the table shifted colors before projecting another image on the wall. This time it was of a tired looking stallion standing in a dim and cramped metal room and staring at himself in the mirror. He was a rusty red colored unicorn with bright blue eyes that were somewhat obscured by the fact that he looked like he’d been crying quite a lot recently.

“The city is gone, and… I’m not sure what to do now.” He spoke to himself. A weak smile tugged at his matted, tear stained cheeks as he shook his head. “I’m the guy they hired who planned for this, and I’m lost.” The recording fuzzed out for a moment as he took a minute to sob. “Glossy, I don’t know if you made it into the mayoral bunker in time, but… we’re safe here because of you.” He laughed again, rubbing away the tears from his eyes, allowing us to see again. “I’m sorry I was so hard on you for pushing for that stable-tec sponsorship, you saved nearly half of us at the VEM with it, including Timid. I know that you’re probably just as scared and lost as we are, but… I’ll keep us here together long enough for you to get things in order and arrange a government rescue response. I know you loaned me this expensive orb thing to test, but… I just wanted to keep this as a record for you, for us. I love you, Glossy, and both Timid and I hope to see you again soon.”

Again, the recording fuzzed out, coming back in what looked like the same room, but with a bubblegum pink earth pony stallion near my age now standing in front of the mirror. It wasn’t hard to figure out that he had been the foal we saw earlier, but what I wasn’t expecting was how gaunt and thin he’d looked. Still, he wore a soft smile on his muzzle as he looked into the mirror.

“Hey dad, it’s me, Timid. I’ve missed you these last six months, but… we finally finished securing Empire park. Next week we’ll begin moving everypony up there before getting a few teams together to go look for some supplies. I can’t tell you how excited everypony is to finally leave this place after twenty five years, but… it won’t be the same knowing we’re leaving without you.” He paused almost bashfully as he rubbed a forehoof up along his shoulder. “And… I know you’ve never really liked her that much, but Ginger thinks we might find some good supplies at town hall. If I see mom, I’ll… I’ll tell her you never stopped loving her… right to the end.”

I blinked as the recording cut out again. This is what Magnolia meant by his history… we were literally watching King’s family as they built up the settlement.

The image projected on the wall shifted both in color and definition. It came back into focus with yet another pony staring into a mirror, only this time it was a purple colored mare. That, and the mirror she looked into held glowing talismans around it, and a line of bright posters sat on the far wall. This… this was recorded from the other room.

“So, this is it then.” The purple mare was just as thin as Timid had been, but along with that, she was absolutely covered in scars of various sizes. “My name is Polished Pine, and after a vote from the residents of Empire, I’m the new leader! I know I was scared before you went, but everypony has been nothing but supportive and amazing.” She had not led an easy life until now, but you would have never known based on the excited smile beaming out from her muzzle. “Dad, mom? Wherever you two are, I hope that I can live up to the expectations you had of me. I’ll do my best to continue working together with everypony to make Empire the safest settlement in...!”

A sharp roar of static made all of us cringe as the magic in the orb flickered and cut out. King let out a groan before refocusing himself on the small sphere. His magic sparked, but poured back into it, bringing back the image on the wall.

The young, nearly charcoal black stallion that showed up in the mirror was younger than I was expecting. He was pretty much just a colt compared to the previous ponies. However, the elderly purple mare sitting behind him carried the same beaming smile as Polished. With a huff, the stallion crossed his forehooves and deadpanned at his reflection.

“This is stupid.” he snorted. “This… this was supposed to be mom’s job. Why do I have to do it?”

“Because your mother and father… well, they’re gone, sweetie.” Polished’s bright smile wavered for a only a moment before she forced it back across her muzzle. “You, my dear, are the future of Empire, and it’s time you learned who the Pine family is, and why it’s so important for you to listen to, and help those around us.”

“But why can’t you just do it, Granny?” The stallion whimpered and looked at her reflection.

“Because soon I won’t be around either.” Her smile dimmed slightly as she brought a hoof up to his shoulder and rubbed at it. “I know how afraid and alone you must feel, but you know the ponies here adore you, right? Why do you think that is?”

“Because Momma and Papa made me help them every day.” He responded as the recording dipped down and pointed at the floor, fuzzing from the tears welling up in the young stallion’s eyes. “I want to keep helping, but… I can’t do it alone, Gran. Why did they have to die and leave me alone?”

“I know it’s tough, child. But you are a Pine, and we never give up, no matter how tough things may get.” Her words were as stern as Delilah’s, but carried a certain feeling of love in them that I’ve only known to have come from Mom. “Alright, that’s good enough for today. You did great, sweetie.”

The image in the orb morphed again, coming back on yet another pair of ponies. This time, a well built lime green earth pony stallion with a trim black beard sat wearing the headpiece and orb. His amber eyes nearly matched those of the mare hanging off his shoulder. She was a mustard yellow unicorn with a short mud brown mane who smiled and softly gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“So this is what your father’s been hiding? How… interesting.” The mare spoke with words that sent a shiver down my spine. From the malice in her words, to the twisted grin, I’d seen too many mares like her to know that she was anything but trouble. “Seriously, if this is the prize in that collection of junk, Empire’s not sitting on much of a treasure if you ask me. I thought when you said you were going to lead this place, you’d be a real king, Cozy.”

Wait, was this… was this now King?

“This ‘junk’ is our history.” The stallion rolled his eyes before shooting her an exasperated glare in the mirror. “I know you didn’t have much of a… traditional family where you grew up, but Empire’s always remembered where they came from, who they used to be.” With a shift, the stallion reached up and grabbed the mare’s hoof, holding it softly. “It may seem weird, and I know some of the folks here don’t understand you, but give them time.” Shifting himself and the view of the orb, the stallion turned himself to face the mare, revealing that she was quite pregnant. Carefully, he ran his hoof along her bulging side and let out a giggle. “Plus, when my dad sees our little one, I think he’ll come around about you, my queen.”

“This? It’s your job to care for the little brat, not mine.” The mare sighed and pulled his hoof away. Instead, she sat down and pressed her forehead against his with a sultry laugh. Holy shit, this really was him, which, didn’t really click in my mind right away. Maybe it was because I’d only known him as an Alicorn, but… maybe it was also because how could anypony love a mare like her? “But if I’m really your queen like you keep saying, then some things are going to change around here.”

“I mean, it’s not so bad now, is it? I’m a simple stallion, with… simple needs.” Tilting his muzzle up, he gave her a kiss and nuzzled down along her neck. “I know Dad’s still got some years on him, but once I’m in charge, I promise that you’ll have everything you could ever want.” Slowly, Cozy glanced around her side and let his hoof slid over her flank. Okay, I know where this was going, but please don’t tell me he recorded it.

“Nah, not now.” The mare practically slapped his hoof away with a huff. Taking a step back, she winced and rubbed at her side with her hoof. “With Royal due any day now, you’re going to have to suffer alongside me. It’s only fair, dear.”

“Royal?” Cozy blinked a few times as he stared up at the crooked smile she still had plastered across her muzzle. “Hmm. Yeah, Royal Pine. I think that’s a good name.” His own muzzle turned into a beaming grin as he turned back to the mirror. “I can’t wait to meet you, little Royal...”

The orb cut out as King’s magic cut out again. This time he let out a cry as a line of smoke pushed up through the bandages covering his broken horn. He let out a few, heaving breaths as the magic that had lit up his eye faded, and he clenched it shut.

“Are you alright, King?” I asked him and took a step closer. As I did, I noticed that the orb itself was nearly all chromed now, and only a small section near the top of it resembled the orbs I’d seen examples of in the past.

“Yes… just… a little more!” He spat out as he tensed up again. With another fantastic set of sparks, the magic shot from his horn again. The orb flickered up, projecting another memory onto the wall.

This time, it was only King, er, Cozy sitting in front of the mirror. He was heaving softly, with tears streaming down around the old combat knife he held in his blood soaked muzzle. There were more than a few hastily bandaged wounds across his mud and blood covered form, but the fact that his foreleg still had a rebar spear punctured through it said all I needed to know about when this was recorded.

“It’s over… everypony else is gone.” Cozy whimpered as the knife slipped from his muzzle. “I couldn’t stop her from taking Empire.” The orb fuzzed as he took a minute to sob, crying out a few times as he flailed in anger. “If… if I hadn’t taken Royal to the doctors downtown behind your back, then… we would have been here. Maybe I could have helped...”

The orb shifted again as it sounded like he threw something across the room. Something wood splintered on the wall, and Cozy dipped back into another fit of crying. It was… hard to watch. I couldn’t imagine what that must have been like for him.

“Why! Why did you have to do it?” He screamed at the mirror. “You couldn’t wait for dad to die, so you went to the alicorns?” Of course, that’s what Magnolia had said happened, but if he’s here, then how…? “But I’m not going to fucking give up. No, I’m a Pine, and we don’t ever give up.” With a wipe of his forehoof, he cleared his eyes and stared right at himself in the mirror. “I’m going to leave this here for you, Royal. Maybe… maybe some day you’ll find this, and then you’ll know that your father did what he needed too to try to make this right. That I went to that so called ‘goddess’ to get the others back.” Pausing, he pulled up a weak smile. “No matter what happens, I’m just glad my little princess is safe with the others in Downtown. I love you, Royal.”

With that, the orb cut out, and King’s horn dimmed enough that we could see that the bandages over it had actually started to burn slightly. Smoke drifted up as he broke down and slumped back onto the table in tears.

“I failed you all!” King whimpered. He curled his fetlock around the mostly chrome orb, though strangely, there was still a memory left in the tip-top of it it seemed. With a surprisingly quick lunge, he slammed both his forehooves on the table with a roar. “I don’t… I don’t deserve to live!”

“No, that’s not true.” Magnolia offered to him softly as she took a step forward. A sharp electric crackle from King’s horn and a growl from him made her pause however. “Look, it wasn’t your fault. Empire fell because she brought Mother to us, not you.”

“It was my fault she was there!” King snapped at her and threw a few boxes off his end of the table. “That’s why mother hid my memories away, so she could contain all of my guilt and keep it from poisoning the others inside her. I don’t deserve, nor do I want your pity.” With that, he turned his angry eyes on the rest of us, lingering on me with a snarl. “Go, leave me alone!”

“Hey, I know this all must be so sudden and shocking, but…” Happy surprisingly tried to offer his best, calming tone. For his efforts, a bolt of lightning shot from King’s horn and scorched the roof above his head.

“I said leave me alone!” King’s magic crackled wildly as he heaved in heavy, labored breaths.

With a flash of magic, his eye started to glow again, and his breathing returned to normal.

“Are you happy now?” The voice of the mare in him spoke up. “Thanks to your incessant pushing, you’ve condemned him to a life of suffering and heartbreak that he doesn’t deserve. But what do you care? You’ve done what you came for, you helped him, so maybe now you’ll take the hint and go the hell away.”

“You tried to kill me, you tried to make me think he was a monster!” I snapped back at her. I know that right now none of us were ready for a fight if she wanted to start one, but I will not sit here and take that shit from her. “Life sucks, ponies die, and we get over it. That’s something I’ve had to learn and deal with again, and again, and again so far. This is what you wanted to protect him from?”

“Yeah, because the moment you brought him back here, now he’ll know nothing but pain and sorrow for what happened!” She snarled back and ground her hooves against the table. “He could have lived the rest of his life without knowing and he could at least have been happy!”

“That’s bullshit!” I spat at her. “I believed everything the Enclave told me about the ground, but that didn’t mean I was happy. Maybe he wouldn’t feel the pain of losing Empire, but who the fuck gets to be happy down here?”

“You don’t understand!” She fired back at me, wrapping her shattered horn in a ring of sparks that threatened to jump out at me at any moment.

“Night’s right, everypony regrets something they’ve done.” Happy stepped forward with a Delilah-level sharp tone. “Besides, you saw how determined he was to find out. If not Night, then somepony else would have helped him. At best, you would have bought him a few months, and then what? Would you take over full time? Don’t you think that him not knowing who he was would have started to hurt him just as much?”

Happy’s words hit me differently. I wasn’t listening to the brash, spoiled mule from earlier in this trip, nor was I listening to the Happy that had struggled to find his place in things since losing his mom and the others. He was here to try to help both King and this mare. Not for any reward or anything, but simply because he knew it was the right thing to do.

“Besides, even though I know it hurts him to find out what happened here, there is a silver lining to this.” As he spoke, we all watched as the mare in King took deep breaths and started to calm down. “He has a daughter out there, and she could be waiting for him right now. And that alone, might be worth everything he’s going through, don’t you think? So if you truly do want to help him feel happy again, why not do everything you can to help him find her?”

I stood in near disbelief that Happy could even have said anything close to that smart. Hell, I’m not sure even Delilah could have sounded so... sincere. I think Buck was exactly the same, because with a glance, I was sure I could see him trying to pick his jaw up off the floor.

With a reluctant whimper, the mare controlling King lowered her head. She stared down at the table in silence as her horn dimmed to a soft glow. Slowly, she turned her hoof over to reveal the memory orb again, and carefully worked her magic down into it.

Like before, the orb shimmered and glowed. The projection of the mirrored room returned, but with a fairly young turquoise blue unicorn filly standing in it. Like the earlier Pines, she was fairly emaciated, and had her fair share of scars. She looked to be about the same age as the black stallion from the earlier recordings, but the bright amber eyes she had were far too similar to Cozy’s to have been anyone other than his daughter.

“Alright, is this thing working? How am I supposed to know?” She said to herself before blinking and staring straight into the mirror. “Whatever,” She shook her head sharply, throwing the image around for a moment as she took a deep breath. “assuming this thing is working, I have some things to say. First of all, my name is Royal Pine. As of this week, I’m seven years old, and I came to find my real home. Well, this place used to be my real home five years ago before the goddess came. I know now that my family has always watched over Empire since the wasteland became a thing, and it’s my hope that one day, we can watch over and help it thrive once again. Once I find my father that is.”

Wait, so she’d come back already? And then she left to find King!? Fuck, that’s not great at it’s best. She could be anywhere out there looking for him! Or at it’s worst, she could be dead for all we know!

“Look, for the record, I know that June and August didn’t want me coming back here until I was older.” She continued, slumping slightly as she forced a nervous smile to her muzzle. “And they were right! I didn’t much like seeing the graveyard this place turned out to be, but… thanks to this orb, I know that you’re out there, Dad. I want you to know that I don’t hate you for what happened, not even June or August blame you. I just want you to come back, so whatever it takes, I’m going to find you.” With a tip forward, she looked down at the floor and hoofed up a rusted piece of metal. As she brought it up in front of her face, I realized it was the knife that Cozy had dropped on the floor before. “I know it’s risky, but I think I know exactly the pompous mare I need to see to start my search. So, with any luck, you’ll see me soon!”

No, she couldn’t have meant… then she was...

The orb fizzled out as the mare’s magic faded and dropped us all into silence again.

“I was such a naive idiot.” The mare sniffled as her horn dimmed. “I thought I could get her to tell me where he was, but I made the exact same mistake my father did in going to see the goddess.”

“You… you’re Royal Pine.” The words tumbled out of my muzzle. I couldn’t believe it, but at the very least now all of her hostility made sense. “That’s the real reason you wanted to keep him from remembering, so he wouldn’t know you’d left to find him.”

“It’s more than that.” She sobbed softly as she pulled her forehooves up over her face in shame. “Knowing I was alive and out there would give Dad hope to find me. But no matter where he looked, no matter how hard he tried, he would never find me. Mother stuck us in this stupid body together, but… I can never see him, and he’ll never see me!”

“That… isn’t true.” Magnolia spoke up with a soft frown. “There is a way to speak with the other souls we have trapped inside these bodies, but… few of us are able to do it. It takes time to learn, weeks even for the best of us. But most of us struggle because we only have fragments of souls inside, while you… you and Cozy are two whole souls.”

“So… you can teach me? You can help me talk with my Dad?” The first genuinely hopeful smile I’d seen from Royal spread across King’s muzzle, and in an instant I could see the same mare from the recording beaming it from inside the alicorn’s body.

“We would be honored to help you two reconnect.” Magnolia dipped her head and bowed herself lightly. “You are after all, your father’s daughter, and the Pine family is one family we will never give up on.” The moment she’d bowed, Royal sprung up from where she had and threw herself into a tight hug around the other alicorn.

“Oh thank you!” Royal offered with a smile. “You don’t know how much this means to me! To us!”

“Okay, okay.” Magnolia chuckled and let out a teary eyed sniffle of her own as she pat Royal on the back. “However, perhaps it should not be us that require your thanks.”

Royal stiffened up at that, and was slow to turn back towards Happy, Buck, and I. Another nervous grin pulled across her muzzle, and she seemed to struggle with finding the words to say. Which is of course where Happy stepped in.

“No thanks needed of course, we’re just happy to help those in need!” He beamed out a smile as he reached up and gave her a hard pat on the side. Of course, the side he aimed for was her wingless one, and she whimpered from the hit. “Oh shit, sorry!”

“Though I do hope this means you’re done trying to kill my family.” Buck offered with his own jagged smile, beaming it wider as she nodded happily in response.

She turned her attention to me.

“I know I’ve caused you and your family a lot of pain, but I’m truly sorry for all of it.” The hope in her eyes was quickly replaced with shame, and her muzzle drooped into a frown. She cupped her forehooves together and held them out to me pleadingly. “And please, tell your griffon friend that I’m sorry for impaling her, and that she had every right to act the way she did.”

“Oh, she ain’t sorry one bit for what she did.” Happy offered with a soft nudge against her. “If anything you got off easy, trust me on that!”

“Hey, I’m just glad that we could help your Dad get his memories back, and that you two will get a chance to see one another again.” I beamed my own smile to her. “Trust me when I say that I know how it feels to find out that someone you love is still alive when you thought they were gone forever.” While the memories of getting Dad back hopped into my mind without any effort at all, part of my thoughts decided to remind me that no matter how much I wanted it, Mom would never come back. Brushing aside those thoughts, I did my best to keep my grin and get back on track. “Actually, if you don’t mind… do you think we could talk to your Dad again?”

“Oh, yeah, no, please do!” Royal nodded King’s head frantically as she shook his hooves. “I’m sorry, I just got so excited at the thought of talking with and actually meeting him!”

With a few deep breaths, she pressed her forehooves together and closed her eye. Her horn hummed softly for a moment before it cut out abruptly. King’s eye fluttered open and looked around the room for a moment before a confused look fell across his face.

“Did I…?” He started, but then let out a gasp and planted his hooves on his head as soon as he looked at me. “I didn’t try to kill you again, did I!?”

“No no!” I waved my forehoof at him and did my best to force up a smile. “It’s nothing like that, we were just talking to…” I paused and forced my muzzle shut. The room fell into an awkward silence as King calmed a bit and I could collect myself. “Well, before we explain everything, there’s something you need to know… about just where Royal is right now...”

Author's Note

Of course, as always, I have to give a huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for all his help in going over these chapters. It means a lot to have the help of an extra pair of eyes, and I can't thank him enough.

Lastly, thanks to Kkat for giving us this fantastic wasteland to mess around with!

Chapter 112 - Frontline Hospitality

One ounce of sniper is worth a pound of suppressing fire.

"I'm going to ask you, one more time." She sighed as she sat in the seat across from me. From the stiff way Ducky tented her hooves on the table, it wasn't hard to see that she didn't believe me.

Honestly, getting taken prisoner by the Steel Rangers had really lost its charm.

Sure, this time the base wasn’t radioactive, being assaulted by shadow ponies, and we weren’t frantically looking for a missing crew member, but still! There’s only so many small concrete rooms I can be sat inside in one lifetime. Seriously, if I found myself in another one after today it would be too soon.

"Who sent you here?” She leaned forward against the table as a crooked grin split her muzzle wide. “I’d say I’d have believed you were Enclave remnants, but those cowards haven’t been seen the last few weeks. So then, you’re mercenaries hired by ex-elder Pilaf to sabotage us, aren’t you? Tell me, how much did they say they'd pay you for this little gig?"

"I told you, we are the remnants of a convoy belonging to Burro Industries on our way south. We ran into some trouble around Vanhoover, and we came here to see about negotiating for repairs. That's it." I stated as flatly as I could. She didn't need the whole story, but that should have been enough to satisfy anypony’s curiosity.

"See, that's not all of it, is it?" She narrowed her eyes at me and smirked. Seriously? How did she catch on just like that? "Don’t worry, I'll just see what your friends say when I ask them. I'll see if I can't get them to be more... cooperative." Pushing herself to her hooves again, she turned to the door, walked over, and reached for the handle.

"You'd be making a mistake." I called out to her, forcing her to stop mid-grasp of the door handle. This whole 'interrogation' hadn't been what I'd expected, but just because she hadn't roughed me up with her little ‘bad cop’ routine, didn't mean they couldn't rough up the others. And that, I wouldn't stand for. "Believe me, I'm not looking to get involved in whatever shit you have going on here. But if you hurt any member of my crew, there will be dire consequences."

"So, you have been holding out on me." She smirked as she spun around on a hoof and leaned back against the door itself. "What? Be nice, or you’re going to use that fancy gizmo on your head to radio for reinforcements? Good luck. This bunker is thirty meters underground and magically shielded."

“Hey, Ping? You there?”

“Yes, Night?” His voice filtered into my head with an oddly calm cadence to it. “If you are worried about my well being, fear not. I am in a holding cell of some sort with Tofu and Happy. There are only a few nearby guards, and they are lightly armed. If you wish, I could orchestrate a breakout.”

“Not yet.” I thought back at him. “Are you in contact with Eliza?”

“No, they seem to have some sort of magical dampening on this bunker. I am curious to know if it isn’t the same type as the Galloway rangers used.”

Well, at least she wasn’t lying about that...

“See? Can’t do it, can you?” Lifting her hoof to her muzzle, she canted her head and laughed. "Of course, if you simply told me what I wanted to know, then I'd consider letting you go."

“I told you.” I was really starting to get sick of this…

“You’re lying!” She snapped. With a single hop, she bound across the small room and shoved her wooden chair aside so hard it snapped against the far wall. “You show up in an advanced cloudcraft with a Steel Ranger among you, and you expect me to believe-”

The door to the room slammed open, and a furious looking older mare cloaked in fancy looking red robes stomped inside.

“Miss Fancy Fowler Flap, just what in Tartarus do you think you’re doing!?” The mare all but roared as she walked up and without an ounce of hesitation, reached up and pinched Ducky’s ear in her fetlock. As Ducky whined and was pulled over, I noticed that the older mare’s coat color was the same. “The first time we’ve had guests fly in looking for help, and you detain them?”

“Ow, ow! Mom, that hurts!” Ducky whined and tried futilely to loosen the older mare’s grip on her ear. “Ow, fuck! Hey, that hurts!”

“Language, young lady!” The older mare snapped, removing her hoof from Ducky’s ear just long enough to smack her across the muzzle. “You’ll be lucky if I don’t have you on latrine duty for a month for this. In fact, you just lost your Scream seat privileges.”

Wait, her mom? What the hell was going on here? And what the fuck was a ‘scream seat’!?

“That’s not fair!” She continued to whine and whimper under the iron grip of her mother.

“Well you can have it back when you start taking your job seriously and not arresting innocent ponies.” Her mother tweaked her hoof and let her go, sending Ducky awkwardly on her hooves towards the door. “Now, go and release this poor mare’s friends. Then you can report to Scribe Cogwheel for your cleaning assignment.”

With stumbling steps, Ducky made her way out of the small room and disappeared around the corner into the hallway. Now that it was just the mare and I, she turned herself to me and used her still raised hoof to tip back the hood of her robes to reveal a nearly completely shaven down jet black mane.

“I apologize for the actions of my daughter.” She shared a kind smile that tugged at the wrinkles next to her tired looking pink eyes. “Our battle to push out our traitorous brothers and sisters was messy, and she lost a few of her friends in that fight. It’s because of that I’m afraid that she may have become a bit overzealous when it comes to protecting those she still has left in her life.”

“It may seem odd, but I get that completely.” I offered to her as I pushed back my seat and stood up. “I’m just glad that this misunderstanding could get cleared up faster than the last time I was a prisoner of the rangers.”

The second those words left my muzzle, I knew I shouldn’t have said that.

“Okay.” The mare smiled softly, but firmly placed her hoof on my chest to stop me from thinking of going anywhere. “While you aren’t a prisoner here, there are some things I would be happy if you saw fit to explain.” It was weird how kind her smile felt, but how strongly her words were telling me that this wasn’t a request.

“What would you like to know, Mrs...?” I sighed, carefully walking my flank back down onto the cold wooden chair behind me.

“You may address me as Elder.” She offered. Of course she was the Elder, my luck wouldn’t have it any other way! “And first, you can explain what you are doing with that impressionable young Steel Ranger on your crew. There’s not many chapters who’d so willingly give up a bright pupil to a mercenary group.” Again, though friendly enough, I didn’t much like what her words insinuated.

“She chose to come with us of her own free will.” I deadpanned at her. “She’s our ship’s lead mechanic, and…”

“Ship as in… that skycraft you parked here?” From the way she cut me off, to the expectant sideways glance she gave me as she maneuvered herself calmly to the opposite side of the table, I knew she wasn’t going to buy any lies from me.

“Have you heard of the Arcturus?” I asked as bluntly as possible. As you’d imagine, just hearing the name made her eyes widen for just the slightest of moments. “I happen to command that ship now, and Tofu has been a valuable crewmember on our trip so far.”

She was good at hiding it, but inside the Elder’s head I knew she was fighting a battle. Did I just lie about a ship I should know nothing about, or is this unassuming pegasus really the captain of the Galloway Ranger’s prized cloudship?

“The Arcturus, really? My my, that is a unique find. I’d thought it had been destroyed before the end of the war.” She let out a small chuckle as she sat herself down hard across from me. “How’d you… come about acquiring it?”

“It’s a long story.” I offered to her. “Believe me when I say it was a legitimate trade.”

“That’s great, but I’ve got nothing but time.” She simply sighed and cupped her forehooves together on the tabletop calmly. “So why not regale me with what I’m sure will be a truly daring tale?”

“There’s not much else to say?” I fired back flatly. “I did some jobs and traded the Galloway Rangers for it. We both walked away happy with what we got. That’s pretty much the end of it.”

“Oh? Quite a prize for a trade.” She laughed again, narrowing her eyes to study me. However, she let a short pause drop between us as I’m sure her mind was screaming at her now, asking over and over about how I’m able to lie to her so easily. Of course, unless she was smart enough to see that I’m not lying, then this whole meet and greet might take longer than I’d like. “I don’t suppose you recall what you traded for it? Or would you rather keep that ‘less specific’ because it might be easier for me to believe?”

“No, I can tell you.” I crossed my hooves across my chest and sighed. “First, my mule friend you have in another room and I happened to take control of the Ouroboros. You know, the train in the north that never stops and can launch megaspells it makes itself? Then after that, we helped kill Mr. Wizard up in Cantercross, keeping him from extorting the Galloway Rangers into helping him in his planned conquest of the north.”

Now that I think about it, we’d actually done a lot for them in the short time we were around Cantercross that we never really got compensated for otherwise. And that was even before the Factory stole the Arcturus.

“Oh, and then we helped them after a megaspell attack which had nearly wiped them out and drove their interim-Elder crazy. Which, by the way, we helped subdue so she didn’t try to crusade through the north wiping out everypony who wasn’t a Steel Ranger.” While that last bit was only really what people thought because of Ping’s little radio broadcast up there, Mrs. Elder here didn’t really need to know that. Smiling, I looked at her right in the eyes and shrugged. “So between the train and the other services we provided, yeah, it was a legitimate trade.”

“It sounds to me like quite an adventure your group has had.” She nodded to herself and dropped her gaze to her own hooves as she tapped them softly together. “A moment for me to soak it all in, if you would.”

As her eyes stayed glued on her hooves, I could almost see the gears turning in her head, processing everything. I’ll give her one thing, at least for as much as I could read ponies, it felt to me like she was actually giving my story a fair shot before dismissing me. That, or she was at least fairly convincing in making me think she was, I couldn’t tell.

Her steady glance shifted up, and she stared right at me.

“Tell me then, why come here to Bow-wing field?” She asked starkly. “Looking for work, or are you already on a job?”

“As I told your daughter, we ran into trouble north of Vanhoover, and the Arcturus was damaged.” I answered back as flatly as I could. How many more things was she going to demand to know? Did she need all of our life stories before she’d actually listen to what I was saying? “We figured that there might still be spare parts here for Mistral class cloudships since they were built here, so we set a course to come check it out.”

“And let me guess, somepony told you that the Applejack’s Rangers would be willing to help you out in your time of need? That since we’re in charge now, we’d give you whatever you wanted?” She smirked at me like she’d caught me on something before leaning across the table. “I’m sorry, but we’re not a charity.”

“I meant it when I said I don’t know what we got into by coming here. I didn’t even know you weren’t normal Steel Rangers until after your daughter held us at gunpoint.” Like, seriously? “You want to act like we are here to take advantage of you, when, and no offense, we don’t know who the fuck any of you ponies are.” That wiped the smug smirk right off of her muzzle, but brought an annoyed burning glare out instead. “It was our hope that we could come down and negotiate for some replacement parts, you know, even though we assumed that you rangers would be your normal stuck up selves and be difficult about it. But I’m so glad to hear that you ‘new’ rangers are so much friendlier to outsiders.” I deadpanned at her as I leaned back in my chair. “Capturing us, seizing our stuff, and sticking us in interrogation rooms? Yeah, you really do feel much friendlier than the normal Rangers.”

“Enough with the snark. I already ordered your friends released.” She snorted and pushed herself to stand up. With a concerned look, she started pacing back and forth slowly. “But I suppose you have a point, we haven’t been the best hosts. However, with former Elder Pilaf still outside the walls scheming with his fanatics to reclaim this base, we’ve all been on edge.” Stopping abruptly, she glanced over and let her eyes wander over the augmented side of my face. “So I apologize if I’ve come off as a bit abrasive, but on the other hoof, your story seems a tad unbelievable.”

“I understand that, but let me ask you then, what would it take then for us to come to an agreement?” While I didn’t have a lot to offer, there had to be something they needed here. Something to help them hold out against the other Rangers, or maybe…

Her eyes narrowed as her lips curled into a Solomon-esque grin.

“If you really do control the Arcturus, then I would like you to wipe out Pilaf’s forces.” In a bit of turn-about I wasn’t expecting, her blunt words slapped me right across the muzzle.

“Excuse me?” I blinked a few times as I wanted to make absolutely sure she’d just asked me that.

“Kill them all and I’ll consider negotiating for the parts you need.” She said with the exact same bluntness as before as she paced. “It shouldn’t take more than a dozen missile strikes, and of course, I’d be happy to supply you with the coordinates of their staging camps inside the city.” Again, she abruptly stopped her pacing and stared at me. “Unless… you were lying to me about commanding a Mistral class cloudship.”

Okay, got it. So, she did just ask me to murder a bunch of ponies who we had no deal being involved with. Well, this sucks, but… time to force out something I know was going to hurt to say.

“No.”

Now it was her turn to deadpan at me.

“Excuse me?” She asked flatly. “Would you care to elaborate on why that is?”

“This isn’t our fight.” Sitting myself up straight, I wanted her to look me right in the eye as I said this so she could understand it. “I’ve made it a recent habit in my life to not agree to killing anypony just because it’ll be ‘worth my while’, because as it turns out, those kinds of ponies asking for that are usually some sort of deranged psychopath who ends up trying to kill me as well.” Pointing my forehoof at the various scars on myself, I couldn’t help but laugh in her face. “And yet, here I sit before you. So if you want to run your request by me again, maybe you could just cut to the chase and try to kill me now, because my crew and I aren’t your personal hitponies.”

Hispano would’ve slapped me for saying what I was about to, but… it needed to be said all the same.

“If that’s all you want, go talk to the Talons.”

Was it a bad idea to go and antagonize the Elder of this Steel Rangers base? It was probably one of the higher up ones on a short list of ‘how to get killed’ than I’d like to admit, but I’d gone through the ‘do me a favor’ song and dance too many times now. She wasn’t armed, and neither was I, so at least it’d be a fair fight. Well, at least it would’ve been one if I wasn’t one leg down…

“Thank you. That’s all I needed to hear.” She nodded at me and sat down at the table. “So then, do you have a list of parts the Arcturus is in need of?”

Like before, her words caught me off guard and it was like my brain stopped working for a moment.

“I’m sorry? What?” I blinked a few times as she simply shared a soft smile now. I wasn’t sure what she meant, was she really continuing like I’d said yes? “Did… you not hear me? I won’t go blowing up your enemies for you.”

“Yes, and now that we’re on the same page, what help do you need from us?” She rolled her hoof, half expecting me to pick up on whatever she was trying to lead me into saying. However, I’ll admit I’m not the brightest pony sometimes, but I was still lost. “Oh I, uh... lost you there, didn’t I? Let me see if I can’t get you caught up.” It was odd, her smile was the same one as earlier, but this time it didn’t feel hostile anymore.

“I started this little revolution in the Bow-Wing rangers after I heard about the Manehatten chapter over the radio having done the same.” She continued as she looked to relax slightly. “They called for all Rangers to remember what we stood for, that we’re not supposed to hoard away the tools that could help others, but rather to use them to make a difference. They called for us to exemplify what Ministry mare Applejack had done during the war, and give ourselves to fighting to better this world. Only now our fight wasn’t against zebras, but starvation and the senseless violence of raiders and gangers. To fight against those who would seek to make others suffer needlessly, and to help those who ask us for assistance.”

Honestly, that sounded like a message I could get behind. Still, it sounded too good to be true, and having been that naive myself, those ideals seemed ripe for exploitation. Which brings me back around to her request, which now seemed even more out of place.

“You must be wondering why then did I ask you to kill some ponies for me that are my problem to deal with?” She let out a soft laugh and shook her head. Wow, she was pretty damned good at reading me. “I needed to know where you stood. Given even the slightest chance of getting what you needed, would you slaughter ponies without hesitation.”

While I can’t fault her reasons for not trusting me, this seemed like a… flawed way of going about seeing if somepony was trustworthy. Still, it was kind of admirable that she cared enough to risk it. I didn’t want to say it this early on, but maybe she was a decent mare who really did just want to see everypony helped and taken care of in the wasteland.

But still a thought nagged at me...

“And what if I’d said yes?” I think I already knew the answer, but I was curious to hear it from her.

“I’m sure the scribes would have had a wonderful time cataloging your gear into a more… permanent storage locker.” She smiled at me before getting to her hooves. Still, that was exactly the response I’d expected. With a wave of her hoof, she turned to the door. “Come with me, young miss…?”

“It’s Night Flight.” I offered back as I got up out of my seat and hobbled around the table. “Where are we going?”

“We’re going to the surface, miss Night Flight.” She offered as she glanced back over her shoulder at me. “There’s a lot of prepwork to be done if we’re going to land your cloudship on the runway for repairs. Assets to move, parts to find, and hydraulic landing struts to be erected and secured. Repairing your ship will be a tall order, but a challenge I know my Rangers will be up for helping with.”

“But we never decided on a deal.” I offered as she stepped through the doorway out into the hall. As my words hit her, she paused and turned back around to me.

“True, but given what I’ve heard from you, I trust you will stick to your word for now.” Reaching her hoof up, she hooked and pulled her hood back up over herself with a smirk. “For now, I need you to do me a bit of a favor that will save us both from a huge headache.” Oh Celestia, she still pulled out the ‘favor’ card. “I’ll direct you and your friend to Pilaf’s camp location. There, you’ll need to explain to him that he needs to stop dropping mortars on us for the next few days so we can complete our work.”

“Really.” I deadpanned at her. “I don’t see how that won’t end up with me getting shot.”

“Pilaf isn’t a mindlessly violent madpony.” She offered as she turned herself around. “Given his desperate position, He will most likely see reason if an outsider approaches him with a request on our behalf. He’s got no interest in making even more enemies than he’s already got right now. Plus, he’ll be little interested in destroying something as rare as a working cloudship.” Waving her hoof for me to follow her, she stepped out into the long concrete hall. “If anything, maybe while you’re there, you can figure out how he’s getting his supplies out from our storage bunkers here on base. But we can discuss that when you return. We only have a half hour or so before his daily bombardment, and I’m sure you don’t want tomorrow’s coming down right on your cloudship, so you best get going.”

Great. So while she seemed to have a perfectly reasonable outlook on helping the wastes, she wants to send me over to the one pony around here who doesn’t care. Again, none of this was my problem, their fight was their own. But… we need those repairs, and at least this way maybe logic and diplomacy could win the day before anypony died. Given our track record… yeah, prepare yourself for one hell of a nasty fight, Night. Still, as I followed behind the Elder, my mind wandered to an odd thought.

I wonder if Hispano and Buck’s day’s have improved any since we split up, because I sure know that I could use their wisdom and company right about now…

Stepping back up into the open, breezy air was nice. Well, with the exception that a light drizzle had started to fall from the oppressive grey clouds above us. Then again, with my dress, gun, and grenades strapped back on, I was feeling good again.

I followed the Elder out from under the thick curved concrete cover that protected the entrance to the bunker, as well as several large crates that seemed to be filled with all sorts of various ammunition. Everything from small arms rounds, up to large gravity bombs and spell shells sat clustered together under the center and thickest part of the shelter. A flash from the stack caught my eye as the rain was pushed by the breeze. A soft pink shimmer flared up wherever the droplets struck, giving away that the whole pile was protected by some sort of magical barrier.

“Oh dear.” The Elder sighed, pulling my attention back to her.

She was staring off at a nearby structure that stood out amongst the piles of crates and wheeled vehicles sitting next to it. The object itself looked like half of some sort of propeller driven skycraft, but suspended vertically where it’s stubby propeller nose sat facing the ground. The propeller was half as big as something a skycraft this size would use, and it looked more reinforced. Then again, to pull something this size, I suppose it’d have to spin pretty fast...

Pushing the question of what half a skycraft was doing held in that position, a better question in my mind was why Tofu was currently curled halfway off of a makeshift walkway and into the vertically oriented cockpit.

“Tofu?” I called out as both the Elder and I started to trot over to her. Either she didn’t hear me, or she didn’t want to hear me. Regardless of which, I hoped for her sake she wasn’t fucking with anything bad enough to piss off the Elder. “Tofu, what are you doing?”

From around the backside of the odd craft, both Ping and Ducky trotted into view.

“Tofu was being instructed on this ‘scream seat’ by Ducky here.” Ping spoke up with his normal muzzle-wide beaming smile, but paused when he spotted the deadpan the Elder was giving to her daughter. “Our brilliant little mechanic here noticed that some of the cockpit lighting had failed at some point, and is currently fixing it as we speak.” Turning to the Elder, he gave a respectful nod to her and frowned. “I’m sorry if that’s overstepping our bounds, and I would understand if you wanted outsiders to stay away from your key defensive points.”

“So long as she doesn’t do more harm than good, she is welcome to attempt to...” That was as far as the Elder made it before Tofu slipped back on to the makeshift metal walkway with an excited bounce.

“All done!” Tofu smiled and clopped her hooves together with a giggle. “It should light up completely now, though I did notice a few corroded connections on some of the instruments while I was in there, so I swapped the wiring with some of the less corroded ones. So some things may not work anymore, but I doubt you’d be needing things like the altimeter anyway while the whole back end of the plane is missing.”

“No way, you fixed it?” Ducky blinked and traded her glances between Tofu and the open cockpit. “It’s been dark in there for years! Spooling her up and doing maintenance checks at night was nearly impossible without bringing one of those terribly heavy headlamps in!” With a cringe, she rubbed at her neck with a hoof. “On behalf of the Scream-team’s sore necks, you have our thanks.”

“It’s not a big deal.” Tofu beamed a grin back at her as she leaned against the half-plane. “Though, you need to keep up on regular maintenance for the panel interior or it’s just going to happen again.”

“Thank you for fixing it, young miss.” The Elder nodded to Tofu before turning a scowl to Ducky. “And you, young lady, have a new assignment to report to.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Ducky sighed and hung her head. Turning away, she trotted off back toward the bunker we came from.

I know that sometimes I’m slow, but something finally clicked in my head.

“Wait, how is this thing meant for defense?” I asked, gesturing to the whole steel structure bolting the half-plane down into the concrete.

“The PF-84 Starstreak was a prototype built by Bow-wing to be a turbo-propelled anti-dragon interceptor, but suffered from a few key problems in it’s development.” Ping recited as he walked over, stepped past the abnormally stubby and thick propeller, and ran his hoof across the craft’s lightly corroded metal skin. “The vibrations from running the dual-arcane turbine engines caused a lot of problems in flight, and…”

“And it’s just about the loudest damned thing under Celestia’s great sun.” The Elder finished for him, narrowing her eyes and gesturing sharply at Ping. “Have you been a guest here at some point? I only ask because it seems odd for an outsider to know such specific knowledge when we harbor the only known prototype.”

Welp, time to nip this in the bud!

“We have… an archive of wartime projects onboard the Arcturus.” I offered as a half-lie to her in hope’s she’d take it. “And Ping loves pouring over them any chance he gets.” I’d much rather give up a few files rather than risk trusting the Rangers here to not take Ping apart if they learn what he is. Even if she didn’t believe me, well, my muzzle already knew how to move us past any questions. “And even so, what, do you use the vibrations it creates? Does it shake itself at ponies you don’t like? Seems fairly impractical if you ask me.”

“Oh, when I say it’s loud, I mean it. There’s a reason it earned the nickname ‘Starscream’ by it’s development team.” The Elder turned to me with a sly smirk. “That stubby prop on the front? Even at idle, the tips are moving faster than the speed of sound.”

“Oof, a constant boom like that has to be uncomfortable, even for the pilot.” My response slipped from my muzzle as my ears reflexively pressed against my head. I’d had enough near-deafening experiences on this trip so far, I didn’t need to go completely deaf.

“Correct.” The Elder nodded. “When throttled up, it has caused entire parties of assailants to become incapacitated. Though, the mayor of Seaddle has asked us not to use it too often, as even ponies in the city are affected when we use it. And now that we’re the Applejack’s Rangers, I intend to use it as little as possible to keep up favor with the city. Even though they’re still sheltering Pilaf and his little gang.”

“Oh hey, there you all are!” Happy called out as he appeared from inside of the covering the bunker was in. With a wide smile and a quick adjustment of his jacket’s sewn-on hellhound paw, he waved and trotted on over to us. “So what’s the deal, Night? Are they going to help us?”

“Well, yes, but…” I offered to him, but paused as what sounded like thunder rumbled through the air.

“No, it’s too early…” The Elder nearly went white under her cloak as she tensed up. Looking at me, she wrapped a hoof around my side. “Get to cover!”

As soon as she’d screamed that, a whistling from the sky turned into an ear shattering blast. Dirt and chunks of concrete rained down onto the bunker’s concrete cover while more whistles filled the air. Another set of blasts erupted from closer to the container camp we’d flown over on our way in.

I was yanked to the side as the Elder sought cover against a large transport truck. She threw both herself and I against its side right before a thick buzzing made the air vibrate. A line of bright tracer fire skipped across the ground around the front side of the truck, and nearly clipped both Happy and Ping as they galloped to join us.

“Fucking Pilaf, you moron.” The Elder muttered under her breath as she turned herself and slid along the side of the truck until she was just about at the front of it. She poked her head up over it’s hood, looking toward the south east. With a gasp, she ducked just in time for a shrieking shot to skim across the hood of the truck just over her head.

“What the hell is going on?” Happy snapped as he pressed himself up next to me.

“Pilaf’s scouts saw me out here. He’s got at least one sniper waiting for me.” The elder called back, sticking close to the truck as she slid herself along it back towards us. “He’ll be ordering adjustments to the next barrage, so we need to move to the bunker. We’ll be safe once we’re inside.”

“Yes, but what about Tofu?” Ping asked, pointing towards the half-plane.

I blinked a few times as I saw her peeking out from inside the cockpit. Her hooves were shaking so badly that they nearly rattled the metal skin.

Another buzzing filled the air, and a line of tracer fire dragged over our heads. It tore through the top of the truck, breaking the old wooden boxes in it, and sending sparks showering down on us from the metal ones. I watched in horror as the line drifted and ran right across the Starscream.

A bright pink flash flared up across the skin of the plane, and a large magical bubble deflected the rounds from impacting with Tofu’s frightened form.

“Hey!” The Elder shouted out at her. “You need to start up the engine!”

“What!?” Tofu screamed back with a flail of her hooves. “Are you crazy? I’ve never started anything like this before!”

“I’m sure you can figure it out! When you get it going, walk the power up slowly.” The Elder snapped back at her. “Keep it running for fifteen minutes, then shut it down. The assault will be over by then, and it’ll prevent their ponies from moving into the base, okay?”

“F-fine!” Tofu called back as she turned her attention down towards the controls.

Within a few seconds, between the continued blasts erupting all over the base, and the constant sound of gunfire to the southeast, the engine of the half-skycraft hummed to life. Celestia, she figured it out that fast? The thick propeller started to rotate, but was picking up speed slowly. If I wasn’t hiding right now, I’d go over and remind Tofu that she was a goddess damned genius.

“Alright, when I say run, we’re going around the back of the truck in an attempt to make a break for the bunker, alright?” Turning around, the Elder moved back towards the front of the truck.

“You realize that’s back towards the ponies shooting at us, right!?” Happy shouted back at her.

“Trust me, we’ll make it.” Shifting to standing on her rear hooves, she reached up and grabbed at the large rectangular driver’s side mirror on the truck. With a few yanks, she unsuccessfully tried to rip it from it’s mounting.

“Allow me.” Ping offered, easily pushing her aside. Without any effort at all, he reached up and sheered the mirror straight off it’s mount. He held it up to the Elder as her gaze momentarily darted between the mirror and his beaming smile.

The mirror exploded in his hoof.

Bits of glass scattered as the whole metal frame of the mirror was nearly torn in half. A line of concrete sprayed up directly under me as a bullet carved through it, and I nearly jumped high enough that the ponies on the other side of the truck would have been able to see me.

“Shit, another sniper!” The Elder called out. “Go, go! Run for the bunker!”

Turning as the elder ran past me, I noticed that Happy was ten steps ahead of us and already well on his way over there. A bright flash caught the ground far to his right, and the ricocheting sniper round missed Happy and skipped right over the whole width of the runway. As impressive as it was, my hooves had somewhat forgotten to move.

As soon as I’d realized I’d lagged behind, something picked me up from behind and nearly tossed me up into the air. It wasn’t until a striped muzzle pushed up from under me that I realized Ping had literally thrown me onto his back. Using the sort of speed only a machine like him could offer, he ran the two of us nearly past the Elder.

With a skidding stop, the three of us nearly bowled into Happy when he slowed down just under the protection of the concrete arch. As soon as we’d crossed under it, a set of loud blasts erupted from behind us, and the four of us were thrown to the floor.

I blinked and fought to quickly reorient myself, looking back just in time to see the flaming and twisted wreck of the cargo truck come down onto its side. Another pair of mortars exploded, further tearing the metal apart while flinging hot shrapnel against the pink shield that protected the concrete bunker.

“Okay, we made it.” The Elder shouted over the ringing that hung in all of our ears right now. “We’ll be safe in here until the Starscream ramps up and turns us all deaf.” Er, well, all of us probably with the exception of Ping. Fucking he and Buck are both ear-muting cheaters. “Come on, let’s get inside.” She waved for us to follow her towards the door.

While Happy was right on her hocks, I paused and looked back out towards Tofu and the half-plane. She was still huddled inside the cockpit, but she seemed more relaxed now as the spinning propellers grew faster and louder with each passing second. Her eyes glanced up and over at us, and she gave me a small wave and smile to make sure I knew she was alright. Seriously, not that I had anything to pay her with, but she definitely needed a raise after this!

“Eliza, I need surveillance of grid four one five point six right now!” Ping snapped as he practically heaved. It was weird, as he turned his gaze to me, I could almost swear he looked pale.

“Ping, what’s wrong?” I didn’t know what was going wrong with him, but this was a particularly bad time for something like this to happen.

“I… I looked.” Ping offered back in such a convincing tone of panic that it instantly made a tingle of fear climb up my spine. “That shot that took out the mirror, it came from the north, not the east…”

“Yeah, it was one of Pilaf’s snipers, so what?” The Elder grumbled as she waved us to come in with her. “Hurry up! We need to shut this door before the Scream gets up to speed!”

I turned to head to the door as the Starscream’s engine grew loud enough that it started to beat out some of the gunfire at the edge of the base. Before I could take more than a step however, Ping’s striped hoof shot out and stopped me.

“That shot wasn’t from Pilaf’s ponies, or meant for her.” Ping’s frightened voice filtered into my mind. “Night, I saw him.”

“You saw who?” I wasn’t sure what was going on, but as soon as I’d thought that, Ping forced an image into my mind.

It played through my augment like I was seeing things as they happened through Ping’s eyes. I watched him pull the mirror off of the truck. Then it exploded, just as it had, and his eye traced the round as it skipped under me. But as the Elder turned and ran, Ping spun and looked back along the side of the truck to the north.

It was then that I noticed something out of place. Running all the way along the north side of Bow-Wing field, there was nothing tall enough to snipe on where he was looking. No trees, or buildings outside of the walls of the Ranger’s base where anyone could have taken that shot from. Only the city of Seaddle itself sat off in the distance.

Ping’s vision shifted and I watched as he focused in. His view zoomed in above the smaller hangers at the edge of the field, focusing more on the leaning skyscrapers that sat on the south edge of Seaddle. Near the top of the closest one, a part of it had collapsed, and a shine from something sat out of place in it. It was still hard to make out at that distance, but there were definitely a pair of ponies up there.

“I can confirm the shot trajectory.” Eliza’s voice chirped up. “If Ping hadn’t been holding that mirror, Night, you would’ve...”

An image of the same tower popped up in my mind, this time at the angle the Arcturus could view it from, as well as in better resolution than Ping’s eye held. My whole body froze up as it focused on the two figures sitting in the open ruins of the tower. Even as the Starscream picked up to a near full speed, I just couldn’t do anything but stare at what was in that tower.

Sitting together with an obnoxiously large rifle on an ornate brass tripod, was Solomon and Rook.

No, there was no way, that’s impossible.

They’re both alive.

Solomon is alive.

With a sharp bang, the Starscream’s props hit supersonic speeds, and I was thrown to the ground. My whole body felt like it was being hammered by sucker punches. There was nothing anymore but pain and the piercing scream of that engine. Hell, I couldn’t even see! All I could do was force my eyes closed as my stomach forced its way up my throat.

At the very least I passed out quickly.

The feeling of being beaten to death was replaced with a dampness that pressed against my numbed skin. Opening my eyes again, I watched as Ping swung the bunker door closed behind him. As soon as it was shut, he sat down hard against it looking far more pale than ever.

I couldn’t blame him. Solomon was alive, and he’d nearly killed me.

A wooden hoof swung into my vision, and Happy pulled my attention over to him. He said something that I couldn’t hear. Hell, there was nothing but obnoxious ringing in my head now. He shifted himself, and winced as he cupped his ears with his hooves. A small amount of blood trickled from them, and when he noticed, of course he seemed to panic a bit.

I reached up with my hoof and pat the side of my head, finding the same small amount of blood. Looking down, I found that my entire side that had faced the Starscream was now a mottled collection of blacks and blues. Fuck, thank the goddess for my painkilling augment!

“Night?” Ping’s voice struggled to get through the ringing in my mind, but got me to shift my attention to him. “If Solomon and Rook are out there, then we can’t risk bringing the Arcturus down.” His worried gaze didn’t falter at all as he stared through me. “She can’t go back like I can, Night. If Rook teleports a bomb on board, there is no telling the damage they could do to Eliza. I’m sorry, but… I won’t risk her.”

I hated to say it, but he was right. Fuck, that must have been how they got out of the explosion before! How the fuck didn’t I consider that?

“You were eager to be done with him.” Ping offered, letting a weak smile split his lips, if only for just a moment. “I too had hoped that you had gotten rid of him once and for all. This… miscalculation however, is distressing. We must return to the Remora and consider an alternative location to repair the Arcturus.”

Another hoof pulled my attention over, but this time it was a surprisingly strong grip shoving my head to the side. With a whimper I couldn’t hear, something was poured over half of my head. The following snaps and crackles as the restoration potion did it’s thing were nice to hear before the sound of Happy’s panicked breathing and hum of fluorescent lighting returned to me. It was a bit unsettling however to also still hear the constant drone of the Starscream’s engine even through the bunker walls and sealed door. Geeze, she wasn’t kidding about how dangerous that sound was...

Looking up, I caught the Elder’s annoyed glare before she moved over and poured a bit of the potion into Happy’s ear.

“I told you to get inside and shut the damned door.” She huffed as Happy let out his own whimper from the magic taking effect. “The magical shield will stop most bullets and shrapnel, but not sounds.”

“Shit, Tofu’s still out there!” I gasped and pushed myself to get to my hooves.

“Easy there, you aren’t opening that door again.” The Elder’s strong hoof again reached out and stopped me in place. “Inside the Scream seat is the safest location on this base. The shield that powers it is connected directly to the arcane generators that power all of the underground bunkers here. So as long as she stays inside the seat, she’ll suffer minor hearing damage, but she’ll otherwise be fine.”

“Night, what’s going on?” Happy grumbled as he hoofed at his ear, flicking away a few remaining drops of the potion from it. “Why the hell did you and Ping stop?”

“Because,” Ping spoke up before I could, widening a nervous grin across his muzzle. “We were both worried about Tofu, but now that we know that she is safe…” He hung on that as he glanced over at me with a sharp glare. “Night, now is not the time to tell Happy. Informing him that Solomon is still alive will do nothing but send him into a panic. I am asking you, Night, do not tell him. There are too many variables here, and we can’t afford to misstep again.”

“This is too big of a development, Ping.” I said flatly as I turned to Happy. “And I’m sorry, but he deserves to know.”

“Know what?” Happy’s gaze bounced between Ping and I for a moment before landing squarely on me.

“The shot out there, the one that hit the mirror? It wasn’t from Pilaf’s sniper.” Raising my forehoof, I laid it on Happy’s shoulder and squeezed hard. “It was from Solomon and Rook. They’re still alive, and they’re in Seaddle.”

“What?” He seethed and sharply knocked my hoof off of him. “And you two weren’t going to fucking tell me?” Twisting his hoof back around, he jabbed it hard enough against my dress that he pushed me back a step. “I can’t believe you, how long have you fucking known!?”

“I didn’t know!” I tried to say as he again pushed me back, but I stepped on part of my dress and tumbled onto my flank. “You asked why I stopped out there, and I told you! Ping and Eliza showed me right then and there that they were alive.”

“Night is right, until I showed him, he had no idea.” Ping chimed in as he stepped past the Elder and put his own hoof on Happy’s shoulder. Just like with me, he simply shrugged off the gesture.

“So just you didn’t wantto tell me?” He hissed and clenched his wooden hoof hard enough that it let out a strained creak. “What, you don’t fucking trust me anymore? I thought we were friends, Ping!”

“We are friends, Happy.” Ping’s expression twitched and shifted to a more worried one. “I do trust you, but you have to understand, we miscalculated before, and… and I do not want to fail again.” As he reached out for Happy again, he seemed to almost start to break down. “My intent to hide it from you was for your benefit, and to avoid this exact over-reactionary type of response.”

“Yeah, well guess what, you fucking failed.” Happy snapped at him and pushed himself up to his hooves. With stiff, angry steps, he turned and headed for the stairwell that went down into the base. “Do whatever you want, I don’t care. Come and find me when you ‘intend’ to stop treating me like a math problem and start acting like a friend again.”

“Happy, don’t…” I reached out for him.

“No.” Ping’s hoof wrapped around mine and pulled it back. Even his grip seemed unsteady as he stepped up next to me with a weak smile. “He is right, I have once again made a mistake. And seeing as this is my fault, I must take the steps to fix it.” Glancing over at me, his grin widened, though the apprehension and regret in his eyes poured through stronger than ever. “Friendships like the ones I’ve made with you and Happy are more… challenging than I’ve anticipated. However, it’s strange. I feel that what I did was right, and those at the Factory would have agreed with my stance. But somewhere inside, I feel an inexplicable pull to see things from Happy’s point of view. It is something your entire crew has seemingly cultivated in me that I was unaware of before.” Blinking a few times, he scrunched up his muzzle and scratched at his chin. “Perhaps I am not explaining it right. Do you understand what I’m talking about?”

“What you’re talking about was something that the Old World prized.” The Elder sighed as she reminded the both of us that we weren’t exactly alone here. “Something most ponies lost in the fight between our two races. It’s a common bond formed between only the best of friends. Something that’s not quite tangible, but still exists to bind us to each other.” Sitting down, the Elder rested a hoof on each of our shoulders. As she looked Ping straight in the eyes, she smiled softly. “It’s something from our founder we’d lost in the last two centuries, and the basis for why we split from Pilaf and the old ways. The Ministry Mares called it ‘the magic of friendship’, and while it hasn’t been common in the wastelands, recently, we’ve started to see it more and more.”

“Let me guess, since the ‘Lightbringer’ brought the clouds down?” The words tumbled from my muzzle with more disdain and anger than they probably should have.

The nod I got from the Elder however, only made me feel worse about that slip. As much as I wanted to kill the mare for what she did to Mom, I couldn’t deny it. Ever since that day, the wasteland had started trying to change. And though I’ve seen plenty of monstrous ponies fighting to keep it the same, I’ve not been the only one pushing back to make things better for everypony.

“You… aren’t a normal zebra, are you?” The Elder spoke up as she narrowed her eyes on Ping. With a shift of her hoof, she clamped her hooves around his head and studied him. “You have arcane implants. That’s how you’ve been speaking with your friend here non-verbally, isn’t it?”

“I uh… I had my eyes replaced, yes.” Ping’s worried gaze worsened as he reached up and plucked her hooves from the sides of his head. She fought him, but she was no match for his strength, which… only doubled her suspicions. With a gasp, he released her hooves, and she accidentally hammered the sides of his head with them. With a convincing cry, he pushed himself back and fell to the floor in mock pain. “I messed up again and she got too close, Night. She’s onto me!”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to…” The Elder gasped, leaning down to help him but. However, she paused just short of offering him her hoof. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t pry, but I feel like you aren’t being honest. Don’t worry, you have nothing to fear from me.” Shit, was she even able to read lies of Ping? Was that her special talent, or was my bad luck back again? “It’s just… your augments are so seamless, and I’ve never seen a zebra with such extensive ones.”

“Calm down, I’ve got this, buddy.” I offered back to him, stepping up and helping Ping get back to his hooves. “It’s fine, Elder. He’s always been a little defensive about letting others in on what he’s been through. I myself didn’t know about them at first, but he’s been through a lot in his life. Not to mention the fact he was held captive for years by some assholes in the north before Happy and I found him. So maybe in the interest of working together, you can cut him a bit of slack.”

There. Hopefully there’s just enough truth in that for her to know I’m not lying to her. Then again, she saw through that before, so this could go either way. Celestia knows we don’t need her to turn out to be another Coconut Curry…

“Alright, if you say so.” Stepping back again, she straightened herself out and looked toward the stairwell. “Well, we have a little while before Pilaf’s attack winds down. You are free to wait up here, or come down below. Either way, that door will not be opened for anypony else, mine or yours, until the attack ends and the Starscream has been spun down.”

She offered little more than a sideways glance to Ping as she trotted past us. It wasn’t until I could hear her hoofsteps trailing off down the metal stairwell that I felt like I could talk freely with Ping. When I turned to talk to him however, I was blindsided by a striped mass leaping forward.

“I’m so sorry, Night.” He whimpered as he wrapped his legs around me in a tight hug. Other than being a bit surprising, it wasn’t a bad hug. It wasn’t uncomfortably tight, though his limbs felt like they were shaking ever so subtly. “I’ve never felt this way before, it’s… it’s unlike anything I’ve known.” For once, maybe it wasn’t for show. Maybe he was actually afraid.

“Really, it’s fine, Ping.” More concerned than confused, I gave him a few pats on the back. “I’m sure that if you apologize to Happy, you’ll find that he’s still your friend. As I am as well.”

“No, that is not…” He paused and pulled back slightly. Staring at the floor, he searched his mind for the best way to get out what he wanted to say. “As you know, we are no longer allowed to fabricate replacement bodies or copies of ourselves at the factory.” Letting go of me, he held his hooves in front of himself and stared at them. “In an instant, this body would have been compromised, and I could have ceased to be. Because of that jamming signal in the city, there would be no ability to transfer, no backups to take over. And now, if she finds out the truth...”

“What jamming signal?” I’d thought he’d meant the one here in the bunker, but that wouldn’t have affected him out there.

“I uh… it…” He blinked at me as a look of deeper shame washed over it. “Eliza and I picked up a jamming signal from the city that seems to be tuned specifically to jam signals sent to and from the Factory.”

“Uh… that’s not exactly something comforting.” More than that disturbed me, was the next question that came rolling out of my muzzle. “Why didn’t you tell me about it?”

“Because Eliza and I did not know where it was coming from.” With a sigh, he flattened his ears against his head and looked up pleadingly at me. “Believe me, I wanted to speak up, but until Buck landed on the Inuvik, and I was brought here, we were not able to triangulate it’s position with any accuracy. Please, you have to believe me, I was going to tell you when we found out where it was!” With a hard, metal smack, he slapped his forehoof over his muzzle and whimpered. “I know you and Happy are disappointed in me, but… I didn’t think it was going to be a problem! Then… then that shot came in, and I realized that in an instant, I… I might have died. And now the Elder is suspicious of me, and… it’s all my fault!”

With another whimper, he slumped toward the floor in tears. With a hard shift of myself, I leaned forward and used myself to prop him up, throwing my hoof around him to steady us. As he cried, I found him wrap his hooves around me as well and squeeze me tightly.

I get why he didn’t tell me, even before Solomon factored back into things. There have been more than a few times on this trip where I’ve come face to face with my own mortality, so I think for me my response has somewhat numbed with each occurrence. But Ping’s never really felt that before, at least not since he’d been locked away by the Rangers in that train. Now, more than ever, Ping was learning just what it meant to be alive.

“That won’t happen, Ping. I promise.” I know I couldn’t guarantee that, and I’m sure Ping knew that too. But I wasn’t going to let anything happen to him after all he’s done to help us. “I’d rather not blow this place up, but if the worst comes to pass, we’re all going to make sure you get out of here. As for that signal, I promise we’ll look into it as soon as we sort all of this out.”

“That is... reassuring to hear, Night.” He offered only the barest of a forced smile as he continued to hold himself tightly against me. “I am sorry for once again being an inconvenience. I am sorry for being wrong about Prince Solomon and Rook being deceased. And, I am sorry...”

“Hey,” Scooting over, I wrapped my hoof around him tighter. “All of us thought we were finally done with them. It’s not your fault that no matter what we do, we can never seem to kill the fuckers. You are allowed to make mistakes, Ping. We’ve all made our fair share.”

“I suppose... you are correct.” He nodded to me and gave me a squeeze with his own hoof before pushing himself back up. “I feel better knowing you will help me, and for that, know that I will also endeavour to continue helping you. Now that we all know he is still out there, Eliza and I will create a plan to hunt Prince Solomon and Rook down.”

“That sounds great, Ping, and…” I said, pausing as the gears in my mind got gummed up with something he’d said. Now that we all knew. No, we didn’t all know. “Shit, Hispano doesn’t know!” Ripping my leg from around Ping, I pushed myself to get up and head for the door. “I need to go warn her!”

“Wait, Night!” Ping gasped as his hoof shot out and snagged my hindleg tightly. “You cannot leave, not until the Starscream is powered down.”

I heaved and struggled against his grasp, but it was no use. Goddess damned mother of fuck! This… this was bad. I got lucky that Ping stopped that round, but Hispano’s off all on her own and she doesn’t know.

“Night, calm down.” Ping’s hooves came down firmly on my shoulders, and he forced me to spin around.

“I need to go, Ping.” I know the second I opened that door I was going to be in a world of hurt, but… what else was I supposed to do? “I can’t just sit here and wait for Solomon to kill her!”

Today was supposed to be a day just for Buck, her, and I. Thanks to me, all of that got screwed up, and now she’s all alone. I swear to the goddesses, if Solomon does anything to hurt her...

“I am not asking you to wait long.” He offered in a calming tone that really wasn’t helping quell the rampant panic I was feeling right now. “Just sit, and breathe. I’m sure Hispano is alright, and as soon as that door can be opened, I’ll ask Eliza to find her.”

Thoughts and images of Eliza finding her dead popped up by the dozens in my mind. It was only brought to a screeching halt by the fact my augment shut itself off and the sharp stabbing pain from my well bruised side made itself known. As I bit my lip and whined, I caught Ping’s unimpressed gaze at me.

With a flicker, my augment booted up, and I was thankfully basked in sweet numbness again.

“I am sorry I had to do that, Night, but you can’t think about those things.” Ping’s tone was softer than before, but his gaze was just as flat as ever. “Thanks to what happened out there, I think I now understand more about how you organics feel about mortality.” Taking a deep breath, he nodded over to the door with a frown. “However, because I now know how it feels to come so close, in fifteen minutes, whether the attack is done or not, I promise I will open this door for you. But you must give me that time, Night. That is all I ask.”

Fifteen minutes, that’s all I had to wait. I could do that. I… don’t know if Hispano will last that long, but Celestia willing, I could do that.

“Okay.” I nodded and sat down hard. Staring at the door, I focused myself on it. The moment it was open, I would be out and in the air towards Hispano. “Fifteen minutes then. That’s all I need to wait.”

I could only hope I wasn’t too late.

Author's Note

As usual, I must give my thanks to TheFurryRailFan for going out of his way to go over these chapters. The help rendered over these years is nearly incalculable, and it means the world to me that he's still so dedicated to helping out.

Of course, I also need to give a big thanks to Kkat for creating FoE in the first place.

Chapter 113 - Relics of the Past

When the going gets tough, the tough call for close air support.

This place was busy. At least, more than I’d expected it to be.

Down every steel braced concrete hall I passed by, a dozen ponies in robes or jumpsuits were hard at work on… something. Either repairing and maintaining the base in some capacity, or carting around boxes of old reclaimed wartime arcane technology. It reminded me a bit of the diagram I’d seen in school of an ant’s nest, and to be honest, the comparison seemed too spot on to outright dismiss.

The problem I had now however was finding a single mule in what was turning out to be quite the sprawling underground complex. Though that being said, I did have a bit of a hunch as to where he’d ended up at. I just had to follow my nose, as well as a couple of worn out looking Rangers who seemed to just have wrapped up their work shifts.

Chatter and laughter drifted through the halls as I closed in on the cafeteria, and the smell of freshly baked pies helped to put my still worried mind a little more at ease. Rounding the corner, I was greeted with an expansive room filled nearly wall to wall with tables that had ponies sitting and eating at them. Most of the ponies looked to be the same non-ranger ponies we’d flown over on our way in, and some were even intermixed with some of the ranger personnel.

However, at a table near the corner of the room, I spotted Happy Trails sipping on a bottle of Sparkle Cola. He let out a quick laugh as he chatted with the donkey jenny who’d helped arrest us, who was sitting across from him sipping on her own bottle. While I had hoped he wouldn’t be down here brooding after how he stormed off, somehow to me, this wasn’t quite what I’d expected to find him doing.

He caught a glance at me out of the corner of his eye and excitedly waved me over.

“Hey, there you are, Happy.” I offered as I trotted up to their table. “With Solomon still out there, I need you to stay with Ping and continue working with the rangers while I go out and find Hispano.”

“Really?” Happy grumbled and slumped in his seat. “Why do I have to stay with the jerk when he doesn’t feel like he can trust me? You can’t just take him with you?”

“Look, he should have told you...”

“Damn straight he should have!” Happy cut me off with a huff.

“Yes, but hear me out.” I did my best to push past his normal foalish overly dramatic behavior to reinforce my point. “He’s got a lot on his mind right now, and he’s not feeling well at the moment on top of that.”

“Wait, what?” He pushed himself to sit up again. That seemed to strike down his attitude fairly quickly. “What’s wrong with him?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry.” The donkey across from happy jumped in with a smile and a dismissive wave of her hoof. “It’s pretty common for folks who are exposed to the Starscream to feel sick. It should pass in a little while, then I’m sure he’ll be right as rain!”

“I don’t think it’ll be that simple.” I offered back with a bit of a nervous smile. Right, maybe this wasn’t the place or time to be talking about that mysterious signal…

“Hey,” Happy leaned forward, dropping his voice to a soft, but still definitely hearable voice, even with all the chat in the crowded cafeteria. “It's not a, well, mechanical issue, is it?”

“No, but look, you can talk with him about it.” I offered back, glancing over at the donkey as she happily took another sip of her Sparkle Cola. “Maybe in private would be best. But just know that he’s just a little freaked out right now about things, okay? That’s why I need you to be there for, and to keep an eye on him.”

“Yeah, alright.” Happy nodded and let out a bit of a sigh. “I know I was being harsh on him, but if he’s got something worrying him, I can set that aside for now and make sure he’s alright.”

“Thank you, Happy.” I said with a more relieved tone in my voice than I’d meant to use. You know, I think even Delilah would have had to admit that Happy’s made progress toward being a better person. Granted she’d probably still smack him across the back of the head for it taking so long, but still! For now though, at least that’s one worry out of the way. “And I’ll try to make this trip fast. Once I find Hispano, I’ll be back here and we can set out a plan on how to help Ping out.”

“Oh, are you leaving so soon?” The donkey at the table asked with a genuine frown that reminded me just a bit too much of some of the genuine moments Delilah had. “Happy here’s been telling me about some of the adventures you’ve had.” She giggled lightly as she pushed her square glasses further up her muzzle. “I’d love for you to join us, even for a little bit so I can hear some more.”

“Oh, has he now?” I wanted to say that this was surprising, but… like he’d said, it’d been a while since he’d been out with anypony. I guess I really couldn’t get on his case about it so long as he kept his chats to where we’ve been and not where we were going...

“Oh, shit!” Happy blurted out as he beamed a wide smile. “Night, this is Daisy. She joined the rangers here a few weeks ago. Anyway, she saw me sitting over here alone and was kind enough to buy me a drink.” Again, did she now?

Maybe it was because we’d just learned that Solomon was still alive, but I was more than just a bit suspicious of her motives. While I wasn’t getting the feeling that this jenny was working for Solomon, Happy had been sweet-talked just a few too many times for me not to be wary…

“I know you’ve got to go find your friend, but…” She paused and looked somewhat bashfully at the drink in her hooves. “Well, I haven’t really got any of my own to talk to down here. I think it’s because... I’m not a pony.” She looked around the room for a moment as she lowered her voice and sank in her seat. “But I don’t know. I’ve never really fit in anywhere...”

“I don’t believe you.” Happy gasped and stretched his hooves across the table. With a firm grasp, he wrapped his fetlocks around her forelegs and smiled. “A beautiful Jenny like you? Who wouldn’t want to be your friend?”

“Oh, my! Such a strong grip!” She giggled and blushed brightly as her expression softened. “I’ve never had anypony take an interest in me. Especially not anyone as handsome as you…” She leaned across the table, almost floating up out of her seat just to get closer to him. The more she looked straight into Happy’s eyes, the more I got the feeling that either she was a really good actress, or she was actually getting lost in them.

Okay, so maybe she wasn’t a plant by Solomon to get information out of Happy…

“Oh… oh dear.” She whined as she glanced over at me. With a firm tug, she pulled her hooves out from Happy’s grip. “I’m so stupid, I’m sorry! I didn’t realize...” She brought her hooves up to try to cover her face as it nearly turned beat red with embarrassment. “I didn’t mean to flirt right in front of your marefriend. I’m such an idiot.”

As her words filtered through my mind, I think it also took Happy a second to process what she meant. We both glanced at each other for a moment in silence before we both scrunched up our muzzles hard enough that it hurt. Unfortunately for him, that forced the big guzzle of cola he’d just drank down his throat, and he nearly choked on it.

“Oh no,” I sat down hard and offered a frantic wave to Daisy, “I’m definitely not at all…”

“Oh, we’re not…” Happy managed to choke out between coughs. “Night and I? Hah…”

“Oh, I thought…” Daisy gasped, lowering her hooves as a wide smile pulled across her grey muzzle for just a moment before she pointed a hesitant look across the table at Happy. “I’m sorry, I made things awkward, didn’t I? I always screw these sorts of things up around here. So much in fact that they gave me the nickname ‘Whoopsy’.”

“Whoopsy... Daisy?” I blurt out without thinking. Even I had to admit that it was pretty cruel as far as nicknames go...

“No no, it’s fine!” Happy offered to her as he finally stopped himself from hacking up a lung. “I mean, Night is pretty much my best friend, but not really my type, you see. Just a good friend, that’s all.” With another smile, he leaned over the table again and once more took her hooves with his. “Now you, you’re more my type.”

“Oh, he certainly has a type…” I muttered to myself.

I offered Happy a flat expression as the thoughts came back to me about how he’d hit on me, multiple times at the start of this trip. I mean, even past that, Happy had spent more time with numerous and various mares on this trip than he’d spent actually doing anything useful. Plus at this point after being dry for so long, I’d think he’d sleep with any creature as long as it wasn’t trying to kill him.

“Well, I should probably head back up.” I smiled and glanced at Happy as he finally found the strength to tear his eyes from Daisy. “I’ll have Ping come find you down here, and then I’ll be back when I’ve got Hispano.” I got a nod from him before I turned my attention to Daisy. “It was nice to meet you, sorry I couldn’t stay longer.”

“That’s fine, but…” She scrunched up her muzzle as she looked over at me. “Now that I think of it, if they’re in the city, how are you going to go looking for your friend?” Raising a hoof to her chin, she took a moment to think on it. “I mean, the thing you flew in on looked like it was about to fall out of the sky on it’s own. You couldn’t possibly want to fly out on it in that shape.”

“Oh, don’t worry, it’s not a problem. You see, I can fly myself!” I smirked and flared my wings proudly. There was a sharp clink of a few glasses at other tables my feathers grazed, and some angry grumbles I got from those pony filled tables next to me as they shoved my wingtips from their faces. “Oh, sorry about that...”

“Yeah, but with how wet it is out there, I bet those flat feathers are going to make it a pain.” Daisy said starkly as she crossed her legs and stared at my wings. Wait, she could tell? Just by looking at them!? “You know, I just had the craziest idea!” She gasped and pushed herself out from the table. Without saying anything else, she pushed past me and headed for the doorway. Only after a moment did she stop and spin around. With a beaming smile, she waved for Happy and I to follow her. “What are you two doing? Come on, I’ll show you what I’m talking about!”

Glancing back at Happy, he seemed just as confused as I was by the sudden outburst.

“She sure is an… interesting donkey.” I offered to him as he pushed himself out of his seat.

“Yeah, I’ll give you that.” He smirked as he gave me a pat on the side and waited for me to get to my hooves. “But nopony’s perfect, and I’ll be damned if she isn’t the prettiest jenny I think I’ve ever met.” With a beaming grin of his own, he trotted after her with an extra spring in his step. Well, at least he’s in a good mood I suppose.

It was nice to feel something across my numbed skin again, even if it was rain.

The sun had dipped down on the horizon, and the clouds above had muted the evening light to a premature twilight. The sound of thunder off in the distance to the east also brought with it a gusty wind that made the rain wash across the ground in sheets every time it spiked. It was by no means anything close to ideal flying weather, but admittedly, it could have been worse.

That, and to be above ground again without the noisy drone of the Starscream threatening to destroy my hearing was something to be thankful for.

“Hey there, Captain!” Eliza’s cheery voice was another thing I’d desperately needed to help lighten the mood. “Just an update, but I don’t currently have a location for you on Solomon and Rook. After their attempt on your life, they seem to have gone into hiding.”

While that was not exactly great news, the fact they weren’t out and about at least meant that they were probably going to call it a night. Well, either that, or they saw Hispano and were currently going after her. But you know, that… that’s probably not what they’re doing.

“No need to worry, Captain.” Eliza spoke up with a bit of a softer, more understanding tone than usual for her. “I’ll keep looking for them. You just focus on getting to Miss Hispano, alright?”

She’s right, there was no use in worrying myself to death about ‘what ifs’ and ‘maybes’.

“So, I may be new to the Rangers,” Daisy called back over her shoulder as Happy, Ping, and I followed her out from the safety of the concrete dome sitting over the bunker. “But I’ve been allowed some tinker time on some of the museum pieces we’ve had gathering dust, and I think I’ve got something that can get you to your friend quickly, as long as you know roughly where she is, mind you.”

“A museum?” Happy let out a disappointed snort. “What’s so special about something like that? I’ve been to a few here and there, and generally they’re all full of boring, dusty, useless old things.”

“No, silly. The museum is where the Rangers store all the stuff that’s considered unfixable, but too rare to scrap for parts.” The light giggle she let out instantly brought back Happy’s smile. “And… I kind of lied. I’m not a scribe, so I’m not allowed in there. But… I’ve had help sneaking in a few times after they head off for the night. I’ve been working on one of the pieces all on my own, and I think I actually got it working. If I can just prove to them that I’ve restored it, then maybe they’ll accept me! Oh! Maybe they’ll promote me to being an actual scribe!”

“HEY, CAPTAIN!”

All three of us nearly tripped over our own hooves as Tofu shouted and waved excitedly at us from the Starscream emplacement. Glancing over, I watched as Tofu effortlessly hopped down onto the tarmac and cantered over to us. Despite the fact that there were lines of blood matting down the fur under her ears, she wore the biggest, beaming smile I’d seen on her yet.

“Are you okay, Tofu?” I asked her without thinking.

“I don’t think she can hear you.” Ping of course stated what really should have been obvious to me.

“What gave it away?” Happy said, giving him a playful nudge. “Was it the bleeding out the ears thing?”

“WHAT?” She shouted as she strode up to us and pointed to an ear. “I CAN’T HEAR ANYTHING YOU GUYS ARE SAYING. THAT ENGINE WAS LIKE, LITERALLY, THE LOUDEST THING EVER.”

“Ack, stop shouting!” Happy whimpered and hoofed at his ears.

“WHAT?”

Daisy gasped and quickly hoofed deep into one of her jumpsuit pockets. With a spring of her hooves, she brought up and popped the cork of a small vial with her muzzle.

“When you live and work around something like the Starscream everyday…” Daisy chimed happily as she all but shoved the small vial into Tofu’s ear. To her credit, Tofu didn’t seem too put off by the sudden advance from the strange donkey. “You learn to carry a few things for those just in case moments. You uh, doing better there young miss?”

“Oh that literally could not have been more perfect.” With a few flicks of her ear, Tofu’s muzzle split into a wide, beaming smile as she gave Daisy a firm pat on the shoulder. “Thank you for that, you’re a lifesaver.”

“No problem.” Daisy squeaked meekly and nearly glowed at the compliment.

“But seriously, Night, you have to try that thing out.” Tofu wheeled herself and her exuberance right at me like a high power spotlight. “I mean, it was amazing, and terrifying at the same time!” The nearly vibrating grip she clamped onto my shoulder was all I needed to know just how thrilled she was about everything so far today. “Is there even a word for that? I literally don’t even know!” She let out a dizzying string of excited giggles that, for a moment, were nearly the same pitch of the fully spun up Starscream. “At first I didn’t…”

A black and white blur cut her off as Ping used his hoof to hold her muzzle shut.

“I do not mean to silence you, Tofu, or alarm you.” As Ping spoke with a stronger tone than he normally took, Tofu’s exuberance thankfully waned. “but I think you need to know that Solomon is not dead. In fact, he is somewhere here in Seaddle right now.”

“What?” She gasped, forcing his hoof from her muzzle as she took a single, shaky step back. “No! No. Uh-uh. Fuck no. No! That is not true, so you take it the fuck back, right the fuck now!” With a wobble, she slipped and ended up with her flank coming down hard onto the wet tarmac. “We literally watched that asshole blow up. Don’t fucking joke about that shit, it’s not funny, Ping.”

“Unfortunately, it’s not a joke.” Happy grumbled.

“And no, none of us watched him die.” Ping frowned and hung his head shamefully. “Rook must have teleported them out at the last second. We should have assumed that could have always been a possibility.”

“No! You listen here buster.” Tofu snapped back, throwing her hooves forward with enough rage that she came right up onto her hooves and practically impaled her hoof against Ping’s chest. “You made a mistake. He has to be dead, okay? Because if he’s not? Well then excuse me, but what the fuck did Double Delta die for?”

“We’re all pissed off, Tofu.” I could feel the familiar and entirely relatable rage boiling in my veins. “But at the moment, we can’t afford to be angry. Right now, I need to get airborne, and I could use all the help I can get.”

“Yeah.” Happy stepped in to help try to keep Tofu’s rage gauge from tipping over into a full scale meltdown. “Once he finds and gets Hispano here, then we are going to deal with Solomon, alright? Until then, Hispano’s the priority, so you’ve gotta hold it together, ya dig?”

“Hispano?” She asked, trying her hardest to focus on the name and wield it to neutralize her own boiling blood. “Yeah, you’re right. If she’s in trouble, she’s the priority.” With a sharp snort, she passed a quick glance back over at the darkening grey city looming through the rainy haze. “Just point me at whatever you need done, Captain. Even if what it takes is tearing down this whole fucking dreary city.”

As much as I was glad Tofu was on board for helping us, I couldn’t help but feel like she was right where I was after we lost Violet. That meant that I knew she was willing to do exactly whatever she thought was necessary, no matter how far it took her. And unlike how I’d been with Violet, the scary thing was I think she was actually capable of making it happen.

“Wow, it really got kinda heavy all of a sudden, didn’t it?” Daisy let out a short lived nervous laugh that drew a sharp growl from Tofu. Happy did his best to offer her an awkward, but well meaning smile, while I couldn’t really give her anything more than a small shrug. “Okay then… how about we continue on to the museum?” She pointed her hoof across the main runway to the large hanger sitting near the flight control tower. With a nervous smile, she turned and pushed herself right up into a canter. “Alright, and we’re walking…”

Happy was quick to follow her, and Ping did his best to follow behind Happy. However, when I tried to turn as well, Tofu’s hoof came down on my shoulder again. Her grip was just as strong as before, but her leg was now as steady as a steel beam.

“We get you in the air. You get Hispano.” The Tofu I met and had known from Galloway wasn’t the same one speaking now. “Then we’re going on a hunt. We are going to track down that fucking bastard, and blow him up right this time.” Her hoof dug into me harder, and even the fabric of my dress seemed to strain under her iron grip. “And once we know he’s in a million pieces, once we can see his fucking corpse, then, and only then, will we have avenged Delta. No complaints, no excuses, and not one more hoofstep southward until he’s dead.”

Having been where she is, I knew how unpredictable and dangerous that sort of mentality made her. The part of my mind that constantly dwelled on and compared how Delilah had run things screamed at me to put her on a short leash and keep her contained. But at the same time, I’m not sure I even could, or if I should. If anything, it might be beneficial if I let her put her rage to work. Goddesses know that she couldn’t do worse than I did with Galina…

Still, that struck a chord within me. I have cheated death more times than I could count now, survived things that nopony should have any right walking away from. But so has Solomon. For all the chaos and death he’s wrought throughout the north, there was no fucking way now that he was back I was just going to let that continue. Delilah and he had their rules, but now this was my game, with my crew.

“Tofu, as somepony who’s been where you are, I need you to listen up.” Looking back at her, I watched a spark of hope run behind her cold and flat gaze. “We can’t afford to hesitate with Solomon. It may take a while to find him again, but if you see an opportunity to kill him, you take it. I will not let him get away again, not after everyone he’s killed.” Her hoof hold on me loosened as a small frown pulled across her muzzle. “I won’t settle for anything less from any one of us.”

As Tofu nodded and trotted past me, I was left with an odd, familiar feeling. A sense of Deja Vu that I couldn’t quite place, but it left me feeling hollow. I also felt that if Buck had heard me say that, he would have been more disappointed in me than ever. But after the bodycount Solomon had tallied up, with the suffering he’d left in his wake, I’m not sure that disappointment wouldn’t be only a moment’s worth of consideration to him.

As I turned my gaze momentarily back toward the grey city, I’d almost hoped that Solomon was out there watching me. I wanted him to know we were coming. We were as inevitable as a storm cloud bringing rain, and as immutable as the thunder that follows the flash.

By the time I’d caught up with the others and made it through the red ‘maintenance crew only’ door on the side of the hangar, I’d become completely soaked by the rainfall. Though I couldn’t feel it, I knew my body was freezing from how hard it was to control my steps across the immaculately clean smooth concrete hanger floors. The faint flickering of the large fluorescent lights above us was for some reason slightly exaggerated by my augment, and definitely didn’t make trotting any easier.

The hangar itself was incredibly spacious however. While I wouldn’t go so far as to say it looked bigger on the inside, I think what might be more apt was to say that I didn’t appreciate the scale of this place from across the runway. I knew somewhere in the back of my head that we’d come here because they built cloudships here during the war, but the realization of the infrastructure that process demanded didn’t hit home until now.

The cavernous structure was nearly a hundred meters tall, and stretched back from us for maybe four hundred. Rusting platforms, gantrys, hanging cranes, all sat above us in configurations that any Pegasus who’d ever visited a skydock would have instantly picked out as familiar. However, there were machines, forms, rigging, and all sorts of manufacturing equipment I’ve never even seen before, with most of them still holding together cloudship parts in various stages of completion, as well as corrosion.

I’m sure if my dad had come down here, he’d be in heaven.

“Woah…” Even as that single word slipped from my muzzle, I still don’t think it could do justice to the sheer amount of awe I was in right now.

“You can say that again…” Tofu offered back as she seemed just as enamored as I was with the veritable deluge of basically undiscovered old world tech.

“Yeah, that’s pretty much the response we all had to this place.” Daisy let out a laugh as she tried to clean her wet glasses with her soaked jumpsuit. It was a laugh that echoed eerily through the expansive building, bouncing around in an odd and almost disorienting way. “You wouldn’t believe all the old stuff we’ve got sitting in these hangars.”

“It’s just a bunch of rusting junk.” Happy scoffed, but screwed up his muzzle as he spun around to Tofu and I. “Unless, are these the parts we’re looking for?”

“No.” Ping’s response was stern, and faster than either Tofu and I could have ever been. But from the way he looked up at the pieces of cloudship around here with a smile, I could tell he was enjoying this just as much as we were. “This assembly line is part of the Raptor upgrade and refit program Equestria implemented in the last six months of the war. It’s quite amazing the efforts they went through for the sake of an efficient production line.” Pausing, he took a moment to just take in everything. “Just to see something like this now… well, it’s almost worth having died earlier.”

“Your friend is correct, I think? It’s nice to meet someone who can appreciate efficient organization!” Daisy let out an oddly squeaky snort as she spun around. “To be honest, we were told not to touch any of this stuff because this particular hangar’s climate control is unreliable, and most of this stuff is too corroded to move safely. Plus as it turns out, the Steel Rangers don’t have much need for a bunch of auxiliary avionics and cloud generator grey water recycling systems without a cloudship to stick them on.”

She turned to the right and started trotting towards another red door on the side of the hangar. It wasn’t until then that I noticed that the door itself had been built inside of a sectioned partition of the wall. Looking at the wall as a whole, it had been designed to be rolled back.

“Are all of these hangars connected?” I asked as Daisy hoofed open the red door.

“Sure are!” She smiled as she stepped aside and waved her hoof for us to head on through. “Actually, this is all technically one building. When not separated by these inner doors, it’s by volume the largest building in all of old Equestria, actually!”

“Did they really need so much space to make skycraft?” Happy blurted out as he stepped into the doorway. With a stutter, he came to a complete stop halfway through. “Holy fuck you weren’t kidding, this place is huge!”

“Considering they built things like the Thunderheads here, I’m sure they needed more space than this sometimes.” I offered as everytime I looked around us, I spotted yet another new thing. Either some strangely shaped tool for a purpose long forgotten to time, or some machine meant to test or measure something or other with the odd collection of parts nearby.

“Actually, Night’s right, they needed more space.” Ping replied with a smile as he stepped up behind Happy and prodded him on the flank. “If you think this is impressive, then you will be happy to know there is also another set of large buildings to the north I believe, on the other side of the city itself. That was where quite a few systems were pre-fabricated at, then moved here for final assembly.”

“Now that doesn’t seem right…” Daisy scrunched her muzzle up once more and held out her hoof, stopping Ping as Happy finally made it through the door. “I’ll admit, I don’t know everything about this place or the Rangers, but… I’m pretty sure they would have told us about a different set of buildings somewhere in the city.” With a frustrated look, she seemed to pull back for a moment in thought. “Then again, maybe they were destroyed when the city slid down the hill on the last day?”

“Perhaps.” Ping shrugged, beaming his smile to her before turning his attention through the doorway again. “But even if it is flooded, the underground tunnels linking them together should still exist somewhere on the north end of this facility.”

I followed Ping through the door, stopping as the lighting above us dimmed. Glancing up, I found the twin boomed tails of a line of incredibly tall, but odd looking propeller craft parked off to our left. Sitting on four sets of lengthy landing gear, the sleek and silver looking completely flat belly of the aircraft sat four meters above the ground, and had mounting points for something all along it’s teardrop shaped underside. While the height of the skycraft alone was odd, the flat fuselage meant that the cabin itself would have been incredibly cramped for the few ponies who might have fit inside it.

Looking down the line to the other two dozen similar crafts next to this one, each one sat straddled over what looked to be a standard sized shipping container. The containers looked to be the same kind that had been on Bertha, but had been modified to be mounted flush against the flat bottoms of the twin engined skycrafts.

Not to mention, a bunch of oddities had been welded and affixed to the containers themselves. Some seemed to hold various radio antennas, other long range communication equipment, as well as… parachutes? While others looked to be more like mobile houses, complete with windows built into them. Steel Ranger carts and wagons sat filled with supplies of all sorts, and sat next to the open containers, with some actually half offloaded. Weirder still, was that some of the twin propeller engined aircraft maintenance panels still sat open, as if they were abandoned only halfway through their flight preparations.

“What happened here?” I couldn’t help but ask myself under my breath.

“Oh, those?” Daisy spoke up starkly as she appeared unexpectedly at my side. “I think those were called 'boxcars' back in the war. They've uh, supposedly just been sitting in this hangar being kept in operational shape by the Rangers. Though, since the clouds came down, there's been a big effort to get them converted to haul shipping containers for an upcoming expedition.” She paused and scrunched up her muzzle as she waved to the half unloaded carts. “Well, at least that had been the plan. You know, before we started fighting ourselves.”

“An expedition?” Ping asked as his ears perked right up. “Where, may I ask, did you plan on going?”

“You know, I'm not sure.” Daisy rubbed at her neck with a shrug. “Most of us had our own betting pools on where the Elders were talking about going. Thing is, I heard a rumor that arguments over the expedition itself are what pushed the base over to embracing our new philosophies.” Waving for us to follow her, she trotted forward between the large landing gear of the skycraft parked over us. “All I know is that Ducky’s mom wanted to use them to set up and supply field bases at strategic points around the region. All so we could better coordinate and deal with threats to the city and the airfield.”

“And what do you think about that?” Happy asked as he quickly trotted himself up beside her.

“I think that if there had been a local squad of Applejack’s Rangers to help my family a decade ago,” She huffed and hung her head, but didn’t let herself slow down. “Then maybe there wouldn’t have been a raider ambush waiting to collapse an overpass on top of them.”

“Oh, I… I didn’t… what I mean is...” Happy tripped over his words, and almost over his own hooves. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” Daisy offered him a sad smile that I’m sure she hoped we wouldn’t see right through. “It’s ancient history now. Plus, now that I’m one of them, I can help the Applejack’s Rangers keep the same thing from happening to anypony else.” Waving for us to follow, she trotted off toward the other side of the expansive hanger complex.

As I continued to hobble along with the others, I couldn’t help but think more about these new odd Rangers. Sure, we’d had our issues running into them in the past, but overall, they didn’t seem as bad as the others had made them out to be. Outside of Coconut Curry’s brand of badness, the Galloway Rangers seemed more than willing to help out the ponies of Mare’s Lake and Cantercross. And the Maple Valley Rangers we ran into, while stiff with their protocol, did seem to have the interest of protecting the region over reclaiming tech.

Then there’s these ‘Applejack’s’ Rangers. The fact that they’d split themselves along ideological lines was encouraging on the surface. However, that’s all we’d scratched really, and with all our experiences so far, I wasn’t convinced that somewhere in their ranks was a Coconut Curry type plot going on. The last thing I wanted for us was to get dug in deep enough that we wedged ourselves right into the middle of it.

I took a moment to smile about that fact. As I did, I remembered what Double Drum had told me before we left Cantercross. Not everything was our problem, and that sometimes the best thing to do was to let others handle it. Though, with what we needed from the Rangers here, I wasn’t sure we’d have that luxury this time…

“Bit for your thoughts?” Tofu asked from my side. I looked up, finding she trailed back far enough from the others that she only just kept up with my hobbling pace.

I paused before answering as I looked at Tofu’s genuinely curious expression as it sat on me. Even though there was all this amazing new tech around us, she kept her attention right on me. It wasn’t a big gesture, but it was definitely welcomed.

“What do you think about these Rangers?” I asked her plainly. “Think we can trust them?”

“I’m not sure yet.” She shrugged as her gaze shifted forward. Her eyes narrowed slightly for a moment as she peered at Daisy, but softened again as she thought to herself. “I want to say that something feels off, but I can’t literally put my hoof on it. They just seem too good to be true.”

“I know what you mean.” I nodded to her and shared my own shrug. “I want to give them the benefit of the doubt, but every time I’ve given an ounce of leniency or trust, it always explodes in my face.”

“I’d hope... that doesn’t mean that I’ve disappointed you, Captain.” Her somewhat hesitant response came with a frown that hit me harder than I’d have liked. Again, I couldn’t help but feel at least a small sense of pride. She’d come so far with us despite how we’d met.

“I didn’t mean that, and of course not, Tofu.” I offered her a smile that I’d hoped would help her see past the inadvertently mixed message. “But Delilah tried her best to show me that nothing was ever as simple as it looks. Is Daisy helping us so that we’ll help the Rangers out, or does she have her own agenda? What about the Elder here, what games is she playing with us? Or am I distracting myself looking too far into things, and our biggest worry is that Solomon is still out there somewhere?”

“I want to be suspicious, Captain.” Tofu sighed and offered up a marginal smile as she turned her attention back to me. “Believe me, I want to say that they’re up to something. But… most of me says that so far, they’re being honest with wanting to help us.”

While I was happy to have her feel exactly the way I did about these rangers, it was at the same time, the worst answer I could have gotten. Nothing had ever been so simple in our journey. Worst of all, was that between Solomon, the jamming signal, both the Arcturus and the Remora in bad shape, it simply meant that right now we were ripe for something to go terribly wrong.

Which is why Tofu’s light giggle caught me off guard.

“Goddesses, we sound like a couple of foals with tin foil caps on.” She snorted and gave my side a light pat with her hoof. “I know that we shouldn’t let our guard down so easy, but you literally just had a curse pulled out of you. Maybe things are actually looking up for once.”

“I hope to Celestia you’re right.” I forced a nervous smile up over my muzzle as I noticed that Daisy had led the others to yet another door in the hanger wall.

The smiling donkey tugged open the door to the next hangar, and revealed instead, a red painted wooden barn door immediately on the other side. Ping nearly tripped over Happy as he stopped walking, and though both said nothing to each other, they both shared a short glare before going back to puzzling over the odd door in front of us. Daisy, of course, didn’t hesitate to reach her hoof up to the new door, and with a few firm raps, she knocked on it.

“Yeah yeah, keep your horseshoes on, I’m coming.” The gravel filled voice of a mare groaned from through the door.

The heavy creaks of old wood were followed by another groan of protest from the mare. Her stiff hoofsteps came through the old wood with astounding clarity, as well as what sounded like a sliding bolt being unlocked. The door shuddered as it was opened, revealing a ghoul.

What was left of her velvet coat and platinum blond mane gave off a sheen that clashed with the greyed muscle and exposed bleached bones on her body. A body that despite missing bits, was astoundingly near perfect in shape and form. The shade of purple lipstick she wore brightened up the cracked lips barely holding onto her muzzle, and stiff but elegant fake eyelashes sharpened the pair of yellow eyes that already looked like they could cut their way through a stallion’s heart in an instant.

It was clear to me that before she was a ghoul, she must have been one hell of a bombshell, and that she hadn’t let being a ghoul change that about her one bit. And I dare say that she even made me feel a bit jealous with how damn good she looked. The only thing I had going for me over her, was…

I paused as something on her back moved, and she extended a surprisingly well filled out wing forward. In it, she held a cigarette, which she effortlessly slipped from between her immaculate feathers and into her lips. With a flick of her forehoof, she lit a match held in it and brought it to the tip of her smoke. How… how was she the posterfilly of awesome pegasus coolness I never knew I wanted!?

Taking a long drag from her cigarette, she narrowed her eyes and looked over us, hanging on me for more than a moment before ending on Daisy.

“Daisy.” She nodded to the donkey. “I see you’ve brought a whole damned tour group this time.”

“Well, you see…” Daisy let her long ears hang as she dragged her hoof along the floor nervously.

“You know the others don’t want you in here.” The ghoul snorted, blowing out a cloud of smoke right into Happy’s face. “Hell, they still don’t even want me around.” Again she glanced over at me, but this time her eyes dropped to the contents of my flight harness before they returned to Daisy. “I get an earful everytime about letting you in, you know.”

“Yes, I understand, but…” The shy donkey shrunk back further with each word.

“Good point.” The mare snorted sharply. “I don’t give a fuck what they think.” Turning around, she used her wing to wave us all to follow. “Wipe your damned hooves off first. I don’t want you muddying up my workshop.”

“Thank you, Miss. Westervelt.” Daisy perked up and eagerly trotted inside after her. Following almost on top of her hocks, was an elated looking Ping.

“Oh! Now that’s something I’d never expected to hear in this place.” He chimed up as he kicked his hooves on the doorframe quickly before entering.

“She’s something alright.” Happy groaned and glanced back at me. “Can you believe that old bag?”

“I think she’s amazing.” I thought to myself. Wait, no, it just slipped out, didn’t it?

“Of course you do.” Happy retorted flatly before heading inside himself.

“Don’t worry, Captain.” Tofu gave me a few light taps on the side as she stepped past me. “If she weren’t two centuries old and falling apart, I think I’d be right there with you. Though, eyes on the prize. Remember why we came here.”

Right, Hispano.

Shaking the wandering thoughts from my head, I nodded to myself and headed in after Tofu and the others. I had a job to do, and we were already losing too much daylight by the minute. My biggest hope was that for what trust we put into her, Daisy could come through and lend us a helping hoof.

Hobbling through the old barn door, the wide wooden floorboards under me creaked worryingly from the uneven weight I put on them. The old floor was dusty and dry, and I could damn near feel the splinters I was going to be pulling out tomorrow. However, looking around, I was surprised to see that most of this place was as clean as the bunker had been.

Boxes of strange gizmos, gadgets, and various bits of tech were laid out in a precise fashion on several long tables that lined the small side room of the barn we were in. Most of the ones laid out were things I’d never seen anything like before. A powerhoof that utilized opalescent talismans around it that were shaped like fractal snowflakes, or the glass sphere with a pair of silver cylinders inside that emit a prism shaped purple magic around them. And that was just a few of the incredibly odd pieces around here.

“Excuse me, but…” Ping spoke up, pulling the ghoul mare’s attention over to him. “Are you really the Bluebell Westervelt? Former head of the advanced concepts department for Bow-wing?”

“Nothing former about it.” The mare smirked before turning and throwing her whole body into shoving open a sliding wooden door to the main area of the barn. “Technically I’m the CEO now. You know, since all of Bow-wing became mine when the war ended and the management candidates were reduced to a pile of ashes or yours truly. So don’t believe the walking toasters around here who have been claiming otherwise for nearly two centuries.”

With a heavy sigh, Bluebell stepped back from the door and trotted over to the loose collection of furniture sitting in between piles of old tech that had only recently been shoved out of the way. She sat down on a well kept floral print sofa and kicked her rear hooves up onto a low maple coffee table next to it. Looking somewhat relaxed, she brought her smoke back up to her lips and took a long drag on it while eyeing Ping with some interest.

“Not often I’ve seen a stripe with any idea of who I am, let alone one with their skin still intact.” She snorted, blowing a ring of smoke out with a smile. “Tell me, Daisy, where did you find such an interesting collection of strangers?”

“While we’d love to sit and swap stories…” Tofu spoke up as her eyes wandered across all the dusty tech piled around the barn. I could almost see her tense up to hold herself back from just jumping in and looking at all of it. “We came here for your help, ma’am.”

“Well, most of them were interesting…” Bluebell huffed before taking another long draw off her cigarette. She let her eyes wander over Tofu before exhaling with a smirk. “You’re a Ranger alright, but… not from this chapter.”

“Yeah, she’s right though, I brought them here for a reason.” Daisy smiled as she trotted across the room towards a large object stuck in the corner. “I told them that I might have something that could help their friend here get back to the city quickly.” It was covered up with an old tarp, but from its shape, it looked like a fairly small skycraft of some sort. And unlike the other dusty relics here, it was pretty clean, telling me that Daisy must have been telling the truth about having worked on it. “Do you think the Mailmare is in good enough shape to fire up?”

“What?” Bluebell blinked and nearly let her cigarette slip from her lips. “You want to do a test flight now?”

“Well, we’ve done so much work on it…” Daisy called back as she wrapped her hoof around the edge of the tarp. “And it would be the fastest way to get her to downtown.” With a lift of the edge, Daisy disappeared under the tarp.

“And you figured you’d show off your work to the toasters in the process. I get ya.” The ghoul rolled her eyes with a sigh, letting her eyes fall onto me with a smirk. “I’m going to guess that being a pegasus, you don’t have any objections to being shot up into the sky?”

“Excuse me again, but… what is this ‘mailmare’?” Ping once again asked as he slowly made his way over to the tarped craft.

“Oh, just a little side project I never finished for the Equestrian mail service.” Bluebell shrugged and gestured lazily to the tarp.

With a sharp few tugs from the far side, Daisy pulled the tarp back. What she revealed was indeed some sort of skycraft sitting on a standard set of tricycle aircraft gear. A pair of sharply swept wings sat along the sides of a bright red fuselage that was shaped more like a missile than any skycraft I’d ever seen before. Equally swept standard rear control surfaces sat at theback of the craft, as well as what looked like the exhaust manifold of an arcane jet engine. Worryingly, oddly absent from the craft was a cockpit, and in its place, an air intake poked out from the top of the body.

“Daisy here showed some interest in it.” She took another drag of her cigarette with a smirk aimed at me. “So I figured what’s the harm in seeing if we could actually make it work. Not having any second thoughts now, are you?”

“Woah.” Tofu tried her best to stifle a giggle as she lost the fight to keep herself still. “You converted an old megaspell cruise missile for this?” In an instant, she had all but hopped over to the craft and was running her hoof over the smooth nose cone. Her hoof stopped before touching a picture painted on it of a grey wall-eyed pegasus mare straddling the craft with a smile. “What in the wide world of Equestria did the mail service want with something like this?”

“With most pegasi joining the war effort in one way or another, they wanted a way to keep up the mail delivery while minimizing long-haul letter fliers.” Bluebell laughed as she crossed her propped up hind hooves on the table. “It was my job to think outside the box, and we were getting ready to phase these earlier generation missiles out of service anyway. Thought it was a win-win if I’m being honest.”

“You want to stick Night on top of that?” Happy blurt out sharply the way I normally would.

“No no, not on, but in!” Daisy called out as she leaned down and hoofed at something under the main body. With a metallic clunk, a panel swung down and a set of metal boxes dropped out onto the floor. “Other than the launch stresses, it shouldn’t be all that uncomfortable in the mail compartment.”

“I don’t know,” Bluebell again took a long draw on what was quickly becoming a very short smoke. “From the way she looks, I bet she’s handled worse.”

“Night here is no stranger to rough launches, and even used to have a retrofitted jump-pack to get into the sky.” Ping stated with his normal beaming smile as he spun around and waved at me. “In fact, this might be one of the more tame way’s Night’s gotten airborne.”

“Uh...” I tried to speak up. “That shouldn’t be the metric we’re focusing on here, Ping…”

“Well then, that settles it.!” With a sly grin, Bluebell perked her eyebrow at me. “So, what do you say? Are you ready to master rocket riding?”

Oh goddesses, I wish she hadn’t phrased it like that. At least it gave me a moment to deadpan and prepare for what was coming.

“I…” Happy spat out as he hammered his wooden hoof on the floor a few times. With a growl, he spun to me and jabbed his hoof in my face. “You’re lucky, Night. I’m going to forgo the joke I was about to make because it’s more Hispano’s forte, and it’s not fair that she’s not here right now.” Oh, how nice of him.

“Good call, buddy.” Tofu nodded to him while waving me to head over. “We’ve taken long enough, and every moment we waste is a moment Hispano is out there alone. Some come on, Night. Into the rocket ya go!”

As much as I hadn’t planned on getting stuffed inside of a rocket plane today, she was right. We’d taken long enough, and there would be plenty of time to chat later. Right now, I should have one priority, and one priority only.

“Alright, let’s do this.” I took a moment to breathe before nodding. “Just tell me what I need to do.”

“Oh, you won’t need to do anything.” Bluebell spoke as she leaned forward and put her cigarette out on the small table her hooves had been on. “All I need is a location from you and the system will guide itself to the drop zone.”

“Ah shit, I didn’t think about that.” Happy muttered as he turned to me. “How the hell are we supposed to find her?”

“Let me ask Eliza.” Reaching up to my augment, I gave it a tap as I smirked. “Hey, Eliza? Do you happen to know where Hispano is at the moment?”

“Oh hi there, captain!” Eliza’s cheery voice resonated into my mind with a crackle of static. “I'm sorry, but I don't currently see her from where the Arcturus is situated. I would move myself to a different vantage point, but there's a strong shearing crosswind over the city that could cause significant structural damage to the Arcturus if I were to drift any more westward.”

“It’s fine. I’d rather you played it safe, so don’t worry about moving the ship.” I answered back. I caught an understandably nervous glance from Happy from my words. “Where was the last place you were able to observe her at?”

“My best guess as of her last known position and heading, is somewhere in the northeastern part of the city, around the skyscraper barrier. I’m sorry I can’t narrow it down further, Captain.”

“That’s a pretty big area, but it’ll have to do.” I wasn’t exactly a fan of flying around half the city randomly in the dark, but what other choice did I have?

“Hey, I wouldn’t worry, bud.” Happy gave me a reassuring tap on the shoulder. “We’ll do our best to play it by ear, but we’ll find her.”

“Ear…” I blinked up at him as the spark of an idea flashed through my mind. “That’s it! Eliza, can you listen for Hispano? More specifically, Suiza?” If I knew her when she was frustrated, a good fight went a long way to helping out her mood.

“That is an incredible longshot, captain.” Tofu called to me with a scrunched up muzzle. “Sure a twenty millimeter autocannon has a fairly unique report to it, but Hispano would have to be in an active firefight, and…”

“I’ve got a fix on Suiza’s location for you, Captain.”

“You found her?” I had to stifle a laugh as Tofu scrunched up her muzzle even harder.

“Of course she did.” Tofu said as she sat down hard. With a sigh, she brought her hooves up to her head and shook it.

“Hispano is currently engaging unknown assailants near eighteenth and market avenue.” Ping spoke as he beamed his smile right at Tofu.

“Of course she is.” Again, Tofu sighed and looked up at the curious expression currently on Bluebell’s rotting muzzle. “Do you think you can chart a flight plan for there?”

“Sure thing. Should only take a minute.” Bluebell nodded as she pulled herself to her hooves. Her exposed leg bones gave out a concerning creak as she turned herself over towards the large pair of double doors on the other side of the barn. Strangely, she stopped just short of them, instead looking over her shoulder with a smile. “Actually, I’m quite tired today. These old bones don’t have much strength in them left, so could I get you two boys to come help open these doors?”

Ping and Happy traded glances before nodding and heading over after her.

“You however, need to come over here.” Daisy called out to me, waving for me to join her under the rocket plane. “And you, you were a Ranger before, right?”

“Still am.” Tofu snorted as she turned.

“Can you get started on a standard pre-flight systems check?” Daisy did her best to offer a disarming smile to Tofu, and pointed her hoof back toward the arcane jet engine. “We haven’t spooled up the main turbine at all yet, and while it should run fine on paper, a second pair of eyes is always welcome.”

“Fine, but you’ve gotta be kidding me.” Tofu nodded, turning and heading right to the back end of the craft. “I mean, generally you want to test your engine before committing it to a flight. But I’m starting to realize you do everything out of order here, so what do I know?”

“Tofu.” I tried to use my best calm and collected voice with her. “We need to find Hispano before it gets too dark to see out there.” While I know my best wasn’t going to win her over, the flat look she shot across her muzzle at me was sharper than I’d expected. “I’ll be fine so long as this thing can get me in the air.”

“The Mailmare’ll do that.” Bluebell offered with a nod. “I can guarantee you at least a whole minute of flight time. Past that, it’s anyone’s guess if she’ll hold together.”

Looking into Tofu’s eyes, I could see the unease. It had been a lot she’d been exposed to so far today. And I’ll freely admit that these Rangers are far from what I expected to find here. But as Tofu reached up and pressed her hoof against the craft again, her eyes turned back to it and I could see a layer of stress peel away from her. With another sigh, she gave out a nod and turned to look over the engine.

As I walked up to the large red rocket, I reached up and followed Tofu’s example. Balancing on my hind legs, I let my forehoof run along the smooth metal skin of the rocketplane. As I did, I was reminded of the first time I let my hooves run over my jump pack. The memories of Hardcase and Boiler working on it came flooding back, and before I knew it, I was lost in the thoughts of how things were on the convoy.

“Are you... okay?” Daisy’s voice was an anchor that dragged me back to the world of the here and now. “You’re crying.” It wasn’t until she said it that I realized I had tears dripping down my cheeks. “It’s alright if you’re scared, I know I’d be terrified. Never really been a fan of flying myself. But Miss Bluebell and I have put a lot of work into making sure this thing won’t explode on takeoff.”

“I’m… fine.” I smiled at her as I removed my hoof and stood back on all three legs. “Not scared, just remembering a few friends who would have loved to see something like this fly.”

Goddesses, I really missed them all.

Author's Note

A huge thanks as always to TheFurryRailFan for all his help in going over these chapters before they come out. It's been such an enormous help, and I cannot express enough gratitude to you for all the work you've done so far.

And of course, a huge thanks to Kkat for writing FoE and letting us all use the setting freely!

Chapter 114 - Over Night Delivery

Everything is air-droppable at least once.

While Daisy and Tofu ran through their checks on the mechanical workings of the ‘Mailmare’, my attention was drawn across the barn by the squeals of old metal.

Both Ping and Happy grunted as they shifted the heavy barn doors along their rusty metal tracks. Slowly, but surely, they began to slide open, revealing that this whole old barn had been placed inside one of the large hangars along the airfield. And if that hadn’t been amazing enough, I almost couldn’t believe what was just sitting there outside the doors.

An alien, yet instantly recognizable skycraft sat parked before us. It’s wide, egg-like body, oversized landing gear, and twin tail configuration was only missing the small skycraft that had originally been bolted between them. That specific craft was sitting just above the ground, held in a sling of straps and wire by one of the gantry cranes that hung above in the oversized hangar.

“You have a beholder here?” The words slipped from my muzzle as they usually did, and instantly drew the attention of Bluebell.

“Yeah?” She responded, turning around slowly as I could see the confusion flood over her. “It landed here a couple weeks or so after the clouds game down, I think?” Glancing back over her shoulder at the odd skycraft, she paused as it looked like a thought struck her. “Why? Have you seen it before?”

“Hey, Night?” Happy heaved as he shoved the old barn door back as far as it could go. “Ain’t this the same one that was up at Fort Mac?”

“That’s what I’d wondered, Happy.” I answered, again watching as our words gave Bluebell more than a bit of an unexpected jolt.

“Yeah, that’s where… wait, you all came from that far up north?” Bluebell’s rotten muzzle spread into such a wide grin that I was afraid the skin around it was going to start ripping from the strain. “Tell me, how long were you up there? I need to know if you met somepony specific, or maybe the descendants of one.”

“Woah, we were only there for a couple days on the way up, and a couple on the way back.” Happy waved his hoof, doing his best to douse the spark of interest that had seemingly lit a bonfire under Bluebell. “And it was mostly for business, not for a social call.”

“I don’t care.” She huffed as she spun around and locked her eyes on mine. “Did you meet any of the Bow-wing family up there? Does anypony there still remember a pony named Marigold Bow-wing?” Her voice cracked as her boney legs started to shake slightly. “She was a pegasus pilot, like me. Or… maybe the descendants of a stallion named Jack Screw?” She let out a short laugh that trailed off. “He’d… he’d always had an interest in her.”

Our silence to those names came with a dimming of the sparkle in her eyes, and even though I tried to think back to when we were there, I couldn't recall hearing those names at all around the old military base. Then again, like Happy had said, we didn’t have much time to socialize up there. Eventually, her legs gave out and she sat down hard on the old barn floor.

“I’m sorry, I don’t think we met anypony like that.” I said, looking over to Happy. As expected, he shook his head with a note of disappointment weighing on him.

“Why not ask the crew of the craft that arrived from there?” Ping offered, pointing back to the Beholder.

“They were killed by raiders outside the base a few days after they arrived.” Bluebell sighed and hung her head. “Those fucking rangers wouldn’t trust me to talk to the pilots before letting them out into the city. No, to them I’m just a monster, some mindless wasteland monster. I… I’m still a pony goddess damnit.”

“I’m sorry, Blue.” Daisy meekly called up as she stepped around the wing of the Mailmare. “If it helps, I know you aren’t a monster.”

“It’s not your fault, Daisy.” Bluebell snorted as her wing shifted across her back. “It’s just what the Rangers do. Hell, they didn’t even let you join until they had their little war.” Again, from between her feathers, she produced another cigarette, which she easily slipped into her muzzle. “And even now! I hear the way some of them still talk about you.”

“Things are different now though!” Daisy tried her best to sound optimistic, sharing a soft smile as she looked back at Tofu and I. “Not perfect, but better.” She paused as she watched Bluebell pull out her lighter again and light up her smoke. “Still, I’m sorry about your friend.”

“I understand that you and Marigold Bow-wing were the best of friends back during the war.” Ping offered his own, well practiced soft smile to the ghoul. “But it is unlikely, even as a ghoul, that she has survived this long.”

“Ping, buddy…” Happy dragged his wooden hoof down his face with a grunt. “Did you have to point that out to her?”

“No, he’s right.” She nodded before taking a long initial draw off of her cigarette. “It’s my fault. I should have moved on from her a long time ago.” They were the best of friends? She should have moved on? “Just forget I mentioned anything.”

“That guy Jack you’d mentioned… he wasn’t the only one who had feelings for her.” I sat down as her eyes lifted and I could see a familiar kind of pain sitting behind them. “You loved her, didn’t you?”

“You know, remind me a little of her.” She smiled and breathed out another ring of smoke toward me. “You’re a pegasus willing to take risks for others. That’s a rare trait to find in the wastes.” Her smile weakened, and she turned her head to look at anything else but me right now. “So, why don’t we get you in the air and over to your friend? Okay?”

I’d seen plenty of ponies in the wastes who’d lost their loves for one reason or another. But for some reason, this one hit me differently. It wasn’t just because of how long ago Bluebell had fallen for this other mare, or that she’d obviously never gotten to profess it to her. It was the fact that even now, two centuries later, she still held out hope that this Marigold was still out there.

That was love on a scale that I could only hope I never had to measure up to.

“Alright, you comfortable inside there?” Daisy’s voice filtered into my mind.

Her voice barely beat out the shrill whine of the spooling engine not inches away from my cramped hooves. It was bad enough to know that a centimeter of steel casing was all that kept me from being sucked into an arcane turbine. But the rattling that came from somewhere under the skin of the Mailmare? It filled my mind with a dozen other terrifying prospects for how this could all go wrong.

“I’ll be fine as soon as I’m in the air.” I thought back, trying to push away the fear clawing at my mind. “Can you hoof the radio over to Bluebell?”

“If you’re looking for a guarantee this thing gets off the ground, I don’t know what to tell you.” Bluebell’s flat tone did little to help alleviate my concerns, but I guess the honesty was nice at least.

“No, my question is about once I’m up there.” I thought back as the metal against my hindhoof felt like it was starting to freeze. It wasn’t like I could feel the cold, but I’ve had my skin freeze to enough metal on this trip to know what it felt like by touch alone. At about the same time, the engine reached a steady high pitched whine, and I felt a small bump as Daisy and Tofu secured the rocket to it’s launch mount. “How exactly do I get out of here when I’m in the city?”

“Oh, that’s all done on this end.” Bluebell’s dismissive tone was somewhat interrupted by a jarring alarm sound on her end of the radio. She let out a grunt as it sounded like she hit something, and the alarm died. “Just sit back and try not to move too much in there. Shifting the center of mass during launch could prove for a very short flight.”

“Don’t worry, Night.” Ping’s voice filtered into my mind with his normal, unnaturally cheery demeanor, “If the technical specifications are correct, you should be over Hispano’s position only a minute and twenty six seconds after you launch.” From the fact that nopony just asked how he was on the radio, I was assuming this was a private conversation.

“I’m going to be pretty focused on finding Hispano, Ping.” I offered to him as I tried to fight the urge to pull my hoof away from the absolutely frigid plate behind me. “So I’m going to need you to talk to and keep Buck in the loop. But make sure he knows that without the Remora, he’s safest staying on the Inuvik.”

“Enough chit chatting. If you want to launch before we lose light, then now’s the time.” Bluebell’s voice came through my head again as it sounded like she grabbed the mic from Ping. Guess it wasn’t a private call after all... “We’ve got green across the board on our end, so you best get ready!”

The engine under my hooves spooled up higher. The constant whine that had permeated the air quickly turned into a near roar. The whole of the rocketplane shook and rattled more with every second, as if it were trying to throw itself apart. It was hard to know if the takeoff had just been that rough on the old machine, or if after all these years it was still barely holding itself together.

“Launch RPMs achieved! Clamp stress at launch levels!” Bluebell called out into my mind. “Countdown! Three! Two! One!”

Wait, you mean I hadn’t already launched!?

A slam of metal not unlike the seat release on the Dizzitron met my ears. My whole body was forcibly slammed backwards down into the bottom of the cramped box. Every bit of my body was compressed into itself. It was hard, but I fought against the feelings of lightheadedness dragging me towards passing out.

For the others, it must have only been seconds. But for me, the G-forces on my body felt like they stayed around for ages. Even my augment fuzzed and nearly died for a moment, but with it as my only distraction I focused on it. I watched the altimeter in it raise all the way up to a thousand meters, and my flying speed rocket up to four hundred and eighty knots.

As the Mailmare leveled out in it’s flight, and the forces of acceleration lessened, something surprising happened. The rattling around me quieted until it all but stopped, leaving me with just the roar of the engine, and the sound of the rain whipping across the skin of the skycraft. I could feel a slight sway as the rocket encountered a bit of turbulence here and there, but it was almost less than what I could feel on the Arcturus on your average day. Amazingly, for as rough as the launch had been, once it was flying, it was an incredibly smooth flight profile.

Even cramped in this dark, tiny, cold space, I closed my eyes and smiled as wide a smile as ever. Maybe it was the adrenalin, or maybe Hispano’s daring antics had rubbed off on me. Either way, I never wanted this feeling to end. With one final shake from the skycraft, everything fell into place in my mind, and I could imagine myself gliding silently through the skies on my own. It was almost perfect...

“Not to trouble you up there.” Bluebell’s voice crackled over the radio with more than a note of concern to it. “But we’ve got a red light here on the turbopump. How’s the engine looking on your end?”

Blinking and scrunching up my muzzle, I noticed that in my moment of quiet perfection, things had gotten a bit too quiet up here. All I could hear now was the pelting of the rain across the skycraft.

“Yeah…” I cringed as my mind ripped me out of my flying fantasy and stuck me back into what I’m sure was going to become a nightmare. “I don’t think it’s running anymore.” Now I know it hadn’t been even a minute yet…

As soon as I’d thought that, I could feel a new force coming into play. One that I never enjoyed the feeling of. And that was gravity tipping the nose of the mailmare down as it started to fall.

“Sorry, only got forty eight seconds out of her… opening the cargo hatch! Hold on!” Bluebell’s nearly panic-filled voice came through right before rattling came back through the whole craft.

A set of sharp bangs under me felt like it tore the skin right off my back, but I also found myself falling through the rain filled air. Reflexively I flared my wings as soon as they were free of that cramped compartment, and I tried to reorient myself. Thanks to the speed the mailmare had reached, my wings caught enough air to help me get somewhat stable, but without thinking I put myself right into the wake of the out of control skycraft.

My world tumbled end over end as I flapped my wings and looked around frantically for something to focus on. The last rays of shimmering, dim sunlight bounced off what remained of the wet glass windows of the skyscrapers here, making it hard to see anything at all. The air was getting thicker every moment I tumbled, and it might be only moments before I either hit the ground, or even a building.

A sharp blast tore through the city ahead of me as the mailmare slammed into one of the closely huddled skyscrapers. The blast made me stiffen up, and I knew there was no time left if I didn’t want to become the next smear on one of the buildings here. Commit to a direction, Night!

“Shit, the Mailmare just went unresponsive!" Bluebell shouted into my head. “What happened up there?”

“I’m a bit fucking busy!” I managed to yell out as I finally found something to focus my efforts on.

Using that focus, I flared my wings out straight, and felt the cold air whip against my side. Closing my right eye, I focused only on the instruments in my augment. The world slowly stopped spinning, and I leveled myself out… albeit upside down. The looming dark form of one of the outer skyscrapers in the city planted itself right in front of me.

Knowing it wasn’t going to be kind enough to move out of the way, I twerked my wings and snapped my tail to the side.

I put my whole body into rolling and diving down. Sure I’d lose some altitude, but it was better than losing my life! My body cut through the air and rain like a hot knife as I skimmed just above the pitted and broken glass covered face of the skyscraper. With another whip of my tail, I pulled my forehoof forward and used it to point me between a close pair of skyscrapers ahead. As I lined myself up, I pulled straight and found that the two skyscrapers were joined by more ahead. A row of them hugged a street just wide enough for me to fly through, though it was going to be a tight squeeze flying this fast.

My wings strained to stay stiff at the speed I’d gotten going, and they bowed as they pulled me onto a gliding path. The wrecks of dozens of old motorwagons and skybusses on the old road between the buildings sped under me as I dove headlong into the narrow steel canyon. A dozen or so light poles reached up like rusty hooves, trying to trip me up. But with an average of maybe a meter of clearance on each side of me, I could finally take a breath, and my beating heart could finally have a slight break.

Okay, I’m not dead. That’s a good step one, Night! Now, you just need to find Hispano. But first, to get back to the lingering question on the radio...

“The mailmare’s gone. Hit a building.” I called out as I kept my ears on a swivel. “Thanks for the ride. I’m going to look for Hispano, so I’m going radio silent.”

The problem was, I had no idea where I’d been dumped at in the city, or if I was even close to her. Though, thanks to my dive, I was hopeful that I’d built up enough speed that I could traverse my way nearly across the whole scrunched up city at least once without a problem. Almost on cue, the sounds of autocannon fire echoed through the steel canyon I flew through.

I knew that sound, and it had to be Suiza. It sounded like paced shots, like Hispano was trying to conserve ammo, but I could tell she was close. Perking my ears again, I tried to figure out where exactly it was coming from, but… it bounced off too many buildings here. Don’t worry, Hispano, just hold out a little bit longer...

A flash of movement caught my attention from a few city blocks ahead, and my augment helped me focus on it.

My eye vibrated as it zoomed in on a pile of rubble in a particularly clear intersection. It seemed there was a wider gap between a few of the buildings up there. A set of three mangy looking ponies sat huddled under a large piece of concrete rubble. Each of them had some sort of firearm in their hooves, and the largest of the bunch stepped out for a moment to fire a shotgun toward the sky.

His shotgun blast was answered with another shot from Suiza, which cracked a big chunk of the rubble right off next to him. The three huddled up close under it again as I watched a green flash swoop down into view for a single moment. With it, came the most maddening cackle of pure delightful glee that I’d ever heard come from Hispano.

“Go on, hide all you want!” Her jubilant, excited tone echoed over the rain in the darkening city. “It just makes the hunt more fun!”

“Hispano!” I called out without thinking. Blinking, I really shouldn’t have been surprised when all three of the huddled ponies turned their guns on me. “Shit!” I yelped and aimed myself right at them. “Fire!”

My scream was followed by a burst of rounds from my underslung subgun. With a blinding flash and a buzzing of reports, half the magazine was expended. Dirt and bits of rubble burst from around and beside the three ponies, but none of my rounds seemed to find a home in them.

Thankfully, the larger of the three tossed his shotgun down and wrapped his hooves around his associates.

“Oh fuck this shit!” He shouted as he yanked them out from their cover and got them all to clamber onto the street. “Let’s get the fuck out of here!”

With an impressive speed, he ducked, weaved, and all but tore through the rubble filled street with a near reckless abandon. Which… left his two friends scrambling to keep pace. To be fair, if I was in their position, I’d probably have done the same. Unfortunately for them, while they had plenty of cover they could’ve still taken shelter under, they couldn’t take it with them.

“I have you now!” Hispano’s shriek of glee echoed between the skyscrapers only moments before another burst of rounds spat from her sister. Each cracking round blast a section of rubble closer to the ponies trailing behind.

The pony lagging behind the most let out a scream as one of the rounds exploded next to him. It tore through a skybus’s side, splaying his leg and side clean open. The pony tumbled down into the soupy mud that coated most of the street, coming to an unmoving stop muzzle down in a puddle. His friend just ahead of him screeched to a halt, turning back to see what had happened, only to have his head evaporate into a fine red mist that all too quickly bled away with the falling rain.

I flared my wings hard, curving my body up to try to bleed off the rest of the speed I’d had from my quick flight through the last few blocks. Beating my wings hard as I slowed, I came to a near hover above the rubble the three ponies had taken cover on. Carefully, I lowered myself onto it and looked up to try to find Hispano.

“Damnit, Night!” Hispano spoke right into my ear from behind me. Her voice was startling enough that it made my legs lock up. With a wobble, I nearly slipped and slid down the pile of rebar spikes sitting at the bottom of the concrete slab. “Woah there!” Her talon reached out and firmly grasped around my forehoof before it could slide too far. With a worried smile, she looked over me from behind her rain drenched flight goggles and lowered herself down to perch on the slab as well. “Didn’t we talk about how it was getting old that I keep surprising you?”

“Thank Celestia.” I sighed and wrapped my hoof around her. She hesitated slightly as I pulled her into a hug, but gave me a pat on the back all the same. “I’m glad you’re alright.”

“Of course I’m alright.” She huffed, pulling away from my sharply. “I had this all covered, ya know. You ruined my raider hunt.” Setting Suiza down against her side, she took a moment to pull her soaked leather flight cap off and wring it out. “I’m not some damsel in distress you need to run and save all the time. Where did you even come from anyway?” As she plopped it back over her head with a slight squelch, she scrunched up her muzzle at me. “Wait, was that crashing sound a minute ago from you?”

“Yes, but that’s not important right now.” I get that I ruined her fun, but I think Solomon was a good enough reason to rain on her parade. “I needed to come find you.”

“Let me guess…” She groaned and used a talon to wipe the water off the lenses of her goggles. “You ran into trouble where you were, and you need my help with some bullshit. That about right?”

“Solomon is alive.” I spoke as flatly as I could. “He’s in this city, right now.”

As my words washed over her, she locked up a bit. In fact, I’d say that for a moment, it almost looked like she went a bit pale. But with a sharp shiver, she reached over and grabbed Suiza in her talons again.

“Yeah, because of course he is.” She spat as she got to work stripping Suiza’s drum mag off. Carefully she tucked it away into her soaked saddlebag before wrestling out the smaller, five round magazine. “Because just like you, he’s gotta be a constant pain in the flank, doesn’t he!” With a click of the mag into Suiza, she made sure the bolt was set and hefted her up onto her shoulder. “So then let me rephrase then. You’ve already got everyone onboard for some elaborate plan to kill him, right? And you’re all just waiting on me.”

“No!” I snapped at her with more frustration than I really should have. “There’s no plan because he was supposed to be fucking dead!” I took a risk in balancing on my hindlegs, but I really think the emphasis of flailing my forehoof in the air was necessary to convey just how fucked things were. “So I came to find you because we can’t afford to be split up right now!”

“Sure, you ‘came’ for me.” She snorted and used a talon to tame my flailing forehoof. “Next you’ll be telling me that the Remora isn’t on it’s way here with Buck to scoop us up and take us back to the ship.”

“The Remora is still back at the airbase, along with Happy, Tofu, and Ping.” Again, my words probably had more bite than intended, but she was acting like a prissy, entitled little filly right now! “Oh, and Buck? Buck’s still on the Inuvik because it’s safe there. Unlike here, out in the middle of the fucking open.”

“You… didn’t go to him?” Hispano scrunched up her beak as she blinked at me with the most dumbfounded look across her face. “You came here… first.”

Before I could answer that, the air was filled with a tormented scream that came from the same direction that last raider had fled in. It wasn’t a scream of shock, or fear. What echoed through the darkening, rainy city was a scream of pure agony that was almost instantly cut short. Hispano shifted uneasily on her hindlegs, moving so she could raise Suiza up to point just past my muzzle.

“Do you have any friends out here with you?” I lowered my voice to a whisper that I’m sure barely carried through the rain. She shook her head slowly. “You think… somepony’s coming for us?”

“No, not somepony.” Hispano answered as she shifted her talon, making sure to keep Suiza steady. “If it’s who I think it is, if it’s him, then Solomon’s the least of our problems right now.”

The pile of rubble at the intersection a block down shifted. A gritty, terrible grinding sound cut through the air, like two piles of stone scraping together. In the failing light of day that peeked through the narrow steel canyons of the city, the silhouette of a hellhound like figure clambered to the top of the pile.

As big as Buck, the jet black dog stood on two thick hind legs, and had forearms that ended in larger, more jagged claws than any dog I’d ever laid eyes on. The last light of day reflected off of a thousand facets across his entire body, almost making him sparkle, but somehow made it harder to define his form. The only thing that was one hundred percent clear to me, was the pair of rage filled, glowing purple eyes that had set themselves on Hispano and I.

“It… it is him. Midnight.” Hispano muttered in what sounded like disbelief. “I never thought I’d ever see… we should go.” Lowering Suiza, she flared her wings out hard. “Like, now.” Looking back at her, now I knew she’d gone pale.

With her reaction, I didn’t need to know who this Midnight was to know we shouldn’t stay to find out. I flared my wings as well, and the both of us took flight. Hammering my wings through the thick, waterlogged air kept my ascent slower than Hispano’s, but even so, she didn’t let herself get too far ahead of me.

My body locked up as Midnight let out a piercing howl. It was loud enough I wanted to cover my ear, and the tone of it was so striking that it made my augment fuzz out for the duration of it. I almost couldn’t help myself but look back at the dog, only to see that he was swiftly making his way towards us. The knife-like claws on him gored the asphalt as he sprinted on all fours, and even his whipping spear like tail cleaved entire sections of steel from the motorwagon wrecks he simply happened to graze.

“You need to climb faster, Night!” Hispano snapped at me as she fumbled to bring Suiza up.

I was already flapping at a rate that was making me heave and gasp, and I knew there wasn’t a way I could go any faster. Shifting myself, I figured I’d settle for the next best thing, and try to make Midnight go slower. Timing my flaps, I paused with one particularly hard one to line myself up with him.

Fire.

My thought ended with another hard burst of rounds from my subgun. The flashes from the high rate of fire were more pronounced as the last of the daylight faded, nearly blinding me from the reports. As I focused on flapping again however, I found that Midnight hadn’t been slowed at all.

“My turn.” Hispano muttered as she hovered next to me and finally got Suiza readied.

If my subgun had been like turning on a flashlight late at night, Suiza was like turning on Celestia’s glorious fucking sun. My hearing dissolved into nothing but ringing as Hispano emptied the fresh magazine in about a half a second. Midnight let out a reverberating roar as he was blasted with the explosive rounds, stumbling and coming to a sliding halt on the muddy pavement.

Both Hispano and I blinked as we stared at his jet black form. Slowly, but surely, he picked himself up from the ground and gave the same sort of shake to his fur that Buck did when he got wet. It ended in a sharp shaking of his head, which he then brought up to look at Hispano and I. I swear than in that moment, the rage I’d seen in him had somehow grown into the scariest thing I’d seen on any wasteland creature.

With a guttural growl, he lowered himself down to the pavement. Deep in my mind, I knew what he was doing. My mind was thrown back to my fight with Rosie in the Wreck room, and I knew what was coming.

“Up, up!” I barely got out as the both of us redoubled on flapping for our lives.

Sure enough, like a coiled spring, Midnight launched himself up into the air at us. A bolt of fear spiked through me as I knew from the corner of my eye he was aiming for me. But still I flapped harder than ever and uttered a prayer to Celestia that I could make it high enough in time. Closing my eyes, I waited for the inevitable…

Midnight let out a roar of frustration as he slammed back down onto the ground below us. The hit was hard enough that it sent cracks running through the muddy pavement, and again sounded like somepony just cracked two stones together.

“Shit, I knew he was tough, but…” Hispano gasped and fumbled to get her sister slung over herself again. “Rockdog or not, nothing has ever shrugged off my sister like that.” Before I could even ask, she had dropped to a hover next to me and wrapped a talon around my muzzle. “No time to answer questions. Give me one of your grenades.”

“What?” I managed to mutter out from around her talons between gasping breaths through my nose. “In midair?”

Hispano rolled her eyes as she mercifully pulled her talon from my muzzle. Gasping and heaving while just trying to stay airborne and hovering, I didn’t have any strength to stop her as her talon shifted down under me. With a sharp click, one of the grenades in my harness disappeared from my augmented flight overlay.

“Okay.” Hispano’s glee filled smile widened as she looked at the small apple shaped explosive. “Let’s see if you’re tougher than this.”

With a graceful shift, she pirouetted through the air next to me. I recognized what she was doing, and had seen her do the same thing when we’d saved my dad. With a quick twist of her body, she rotated over and put everybit of pent up energy in her behind her toss.

The grenade shot through the air like a cannonball, and looked like it would hit Midnight right between the eyes. However, the massive dog simply opened it’s jagged, literally razor-filled muzzle and caught it like a ball. There wasn’t a moment that passed before the blast that he didn’t keep his eyes trained on us.

The sharp bang from the grenade again left my hearing as nothing but a sharp ringing, but it turned the ground below us into a cloud of dust and steam. Hot bits of shrapnel streaked through the air up at us like little bullets. Hispano let out a muffled cry as a few bits punched into her hind paws and side. From the medical warning that flashed up in my vision, I’m sure I got my fair share as well.

Of course, the ringing in my ears was taking its sweet time to fade, but thanks to the rain, the cloud below dissipated quickly. Even though I was getting tired of gasping for breath, I fought to beat my wings all the same until I could see what remained of Midnight. Unfortunately, I didn’t have to wait long.

Midnight still stood exactly as he had been before the blast, and as the smoke cleared from his head, I’m certain his rage filled eyes never left us.

“Fuck me!” Hispano’s voice barely beat back the ringing as she flailed with all the frustration I’d had earlier. “What do we need? A fucking tank!?”

Yeah, some help from Cordite or the tank ghouls right now would be really nice…

While Hispano’s shout hadn’t beat out the ringing, Midnight’s renewed roar from below us sure did. The both of us watched as he tore sideways across the street towards one of the concrete behemoths we hovered between. I blinked with a profound sense of awe as without even slowing himself down, Midnight dug his claws into the concrete facade and began to climb up it.

“Hispano, we need to go!” I gasped and snapped my tail around. With a stiffer than usual twist, I got myself facing westward and flapped hard to get some speed that direction. The lights of the boats parked down at the waterfront had become the brightest thing on the horizon, and were all I needed to see to know that that was where we needed to be. “Get to the harbor!”

“For once today, I agree, Dum Dum!” Hispano gasped as she likewise spun herself and took off with me.

The sounds of rending stone behind us picked up right up until the moment it didn’t. The snarl Midnight let out as he lept at me nearly made me lock up. The feeling of his claw shearing off the longer hairs of my flowing, regrown tail? Now that made me lock up.

Reflexively, I glanced down as he passed through the air under me. It had been hard to really tell earlier, but from this close, I understood why his form had been so hard to pick out. Midnight didn’t have fur in the normal sense, nor did he seem to have a body either.

Sure he looked like a hellhound, but this ‘dog’ was actually made entirely out of something like stone or obsidian. The sharp facets and jagged bits of him were from that stone being chipped and carved into a razor-like consistency. The only thing that seemed natural on him, were the pair of rage filled purple eyes that looked at me like I was the one thing in this world that he needed to remove.

“What the fuck…” The words slipped out of my muzzle as he went crashing down to the street below. Redoubling my efforts to flap my wings, I focused on gaining speed this time rather than altitude.

Again, it was an unnervingly short period of time before the sounds of Midnight’s claws on the buildings behind us filtered through the air.

“What are we doing, dum dum?” Hispano called down from above me with a certain level of panic that didn’t feel characteristic of her. “Are we leading him to downtown? Because that seems like a really bad idea.”

Fuck, she’s right. Fuck, what was I thinking? Okay, Night, it’s just another problem to solve, that’s all! Just think…

Another roar from Midnight startled me, and instinctively I tucked my wings in as I torqued them. I spun to the side, rolling twice before I flared my wings again, only to have my right wing nearly scrape against the boarded up windows of the building we were flying past. Even as I panicked from my near hit of the building, my heart could beat that much slower when I heard Midnight come crashing down into the street again.

Glancing ahead, I noticed that like the street I’d found Hispano on, there was another wider intersection coming up in the next block. While we couldn’t exactly lead Midnight down to the water, maybe there was a hope we could get him lost in the maze of streets before ducking into where the Mailmare crashed. If we could get there fast enough, I bet we could wait him out and then head for the waterfront once the coast was clear.

“Hispano, we’re taking the next left!” I called up to her and put myself into a shallow dive.

“Got it!” Hispano squawked back as she did her best to keep pace.

I tweaked my wings and pulled my forehoof ahead of myself, letting it guide me toward the edge of the building at the corner. Still in a shallow dive, I’d picked up enough speed that with another twist of my wings, I managed to get myself sitting sideways for the turn. I could feel the air shift as I cut around the building’s edge maybe a few hoofs lengths away from it before I pulled myself to turn.

It was a wider turn than I’d have liked to have taken, ending up with me once again almost leveling out with my wingtip against the skyscrapers on this streetside. However, with the speed we’d kept up, Midnight’s clawing had fallen behind a bit. Okay, so, now to widen the lead.

Glancing ahead, I let my eye drift from dark street corner to street corner. With a flash, my augment brightened my vision, and I could almost see like it was daylight again. An overlay highlighted the edges and rough shapes of the buildings, and an arrow pointing left popped up over the intersection two blocks ahead.

“Woah, that’s cool.” I couldn’t help but laugh as I kept flapping hard to gain some altitude. “Left again... in two blocks!” I panted hard as I forced my wings to gain every bit of altitude I could. I know this sucks and that I was going to feel this tomorrow, but the drive to not be torn to ribbons was a fairly powerful one.

“We planning… on tiring him out by… flying in circles?” Hispano panted as well as she struggled to keep up with the speed I’d gained in my shallow dive. “Cause I think… we’ll lose that contest… first.”

“Trust me!” I called back as I followed the same pattern as with the last turn.

I again lowered myself into a shallow dive and shifted onto my side for the turn. The rain whipped over me hard as both Hispano and I passed under a makeshift skybridge that somepony had built between the buildings at the corner. I’d barely straightened out again as the overlay in my vision refreshed, moving the arrow only one block ahead.

Midnight’s roar echoed through the buildings behind us, though again it was hard to tell how far away he was. All I knew for certain was that he was on the last street we’d been on and angrier than ever. So as much as it sucked, we were going to have to make this turn.

“Turn right ahead!” I called back to Hispano again, getting a frustrated groan from her in response.

The air under me shifted, and either out of annoyance or just pure damn effort to keep up, Hispano had gone into a dive early, and was pulling ahead. Smiling, I did the same and effortlessly matched her pace. Right before the turn when I pulled ahead of her, she looked up at me with a smirk and rolled her eyes before turning on her side as well.

We pulled ourselves around the edge of the building at quite a good clip. Good enough that I figured that maybe we could just take another right up ahead and scream right toward the waterfront. However, the numerous flashing warnings that came up in my vision put an end to that.

While some of the other streets had wire strung between the closely situated buildings, this one had what looked like densely woven nets.

There were so many that my augment couldn’t even highlight them all before Hispano and I slammed right into a few of them. In an instant, the nets stole all of our speed and bound themselves around us. However, while they’d stole our forward speed, the few snaps from their mount points did little to arrest our vertical speed.

Both Hispano and I let out sharp cries as we crashed down into the middle of a trash filled, muddy street.

“Fucking damnit!” Hispano shouted as she flailed and tried to tear the netting off of her. “What the fuck is this shit!?”

I did the same, but whoever had made it had woven it out of old powerlines. The only thing that was going to free us was something like Galina’s old Autotalon, or…

The sound of rending concrete and rage filled howling was growing ever closer.

Fuck, fuck, fuck! We were so fucked unless we could get out of these nets!

The sound of metal on stone came from beside Hispano, and both of us shifted ourself slightly to see the metal sewer cover had been pushed back. From inside the hole, a flash of silver shot up and came down on Hispano’s net. She let out a sharp cry as a set of hooks dug into her net and, in an instant, she was dragged over and down into the sewer.

Her scream was cut off as she disappeared down the hole, and I couldn’t really process the fact that she was just… gone.

Midnight’s roar shocked me back to turning my attention up the road, and I just knew he was going to come around the corner any second to find the most perfectly helpless victim waiting for him. I looked at the readout in my augmented vision and realized that… at least I still had a grenade. If it came to it, then maybe…

My augment fuzzed and the overlay disappeared, dropping me back into darkness. Something hard came down onto my flank as a whimper escaped my lips. With a tug, it felt like something bit me, and with a disorienting yank, I was pulled sharply across the road until I slipped over the lip of the open sewerhole.

The second I was inside, I heard Midnight give one final rage filled howl before a figure above me shifted. A weak magical aura lit up the sewer pipe, and a bloated looking ghoul carefully moved the sewer cover back over us, sealing us in. As soon as he had, he flicked on a flashlight and pointed it at me.

The bright light was blinding, and I moved to cover my eyes from it. As I did, I let out another whimper, but no sound came from my muzzle. Pausing, I perked my ears, but found a familiar kind of silence in the air. The ghoul had cast a silencing spell. Smart.

The air around me shifted, and I was lowered silently down the access tube further into the sewer. I took a deep breath, which let me tell you, was a horrible mistake. The stench of rot and bile got more prevalent with every moment. Even only halfway down, it was thick enough that I could swear that I could feel the stench coatmy skin.

It wasn’t until then that I’d gotten to glance over my shoulder and look down. Below, I could see the light of a flickering fire, as well as another bloated looking ghoul working a winch system that both my net and Hispano’s were currently hooked into.

While I was happy to see that Hispano hadn’t met some grizzly fate when she’d been dragged down and silenced, I don’t think I deserved the flat glare she was shooting up at me. Hey, we were alive, alright? Well, at least for now we were. Now, we just had to see what kind of ghouls these ponies were. The ‘save your ass from a monster because it’s the right thing to do’ kind, or the ‘save your ass from a monster because that’s the tastiest part of you’.

No, come on now, Night. Name one ghoul who’d tried to eat you.

Glancing at the bloated ghoul lowering us down, my mind was thrown back to the bloated electrical-fog ghouls back at Destruction bay. Reflexively, I gripped my forehoof up around my half-eaten ear and cringed. Yeah, okay, well at least these ghouls still seem sane.

With what felt like a pop from the inside of my ears, the sounds of flowing water filled the air.

“Huh, y’all don’t look like a couple bags of pigeons.” The ghoul mare below us called up with the normal sort of gravel-in-a-blender type of voice. “And here ah’d gotten my hopes up we’d caught somethin’ special.”

“Nope!” The ghoul above us let out a rattling laugh as he climbed down the hoofholds alongside Hispano and I. The remains of a wet dark green coat jiggled and sloshed with each shift of his body, but he was in remarkable shape other than the bloat. “Just a couple who were lucky we yanked em’ in when we did.” As soon as he’d reached the bottom, he took over for the ghoul mare. His horn lit up weakly again, this time lowering both Hispano and I down onto the wet concrete softly. “These two were almost dinner for Midnight!”

“Lucky indeed then.” The mare nodded and offered a bony smile to me. From above, her teal coat had seemed bloated, but mostly intact. From on the ground, she was missing almost every bit of skin and muscle from her lower jaw, neck, and hooves. Okay, not so much a smile, as just showing me what was left of her face…

Looking around, the sewer down here was fairly well lit for being two hundred years old. The roaring water we’d heard was from the torrent of muddy stormwater currently flowing through a pony-wide channel that split the round tunnel. Down both ends, more pairs of ghouls sat spaced out at each of the entrances. Most of them had rope and pulley setups just like these two, and more than a few were working on tying fresh nets together from spools of old power cable.

“Thanks for saving us, but… do you mind?” Hispano grumbled as she kicked at her netting sharply.

“Oh, right.” The ghoul stallion laughed and used his horn to slip a single bit of cable out from around the top of both our nets. With a flop, the nets around us just seemed to come apart and drop onto the concrete. “There you go, sorry about the delay.” With a smile, the ghoul held his hoof out to Hispano, who only deadpanned at it.

“Thank you for your help.” I offered as I pushed myself back up to a sitting position. Lifting my forehoof, I extended it out to the stallion and found he was happy enough to take it. The moment his bloated hoof touched mine however, I cringed at how soppy and squishy he felt. “I’m Night Flight, and this is Hispano.” Not going to lie, it was… unnerving.

“Heh, and don’t worry, I’m not offended.” He pulled his hoof back and looked at it. “It just happens to our kind when living in this sort of climate. The name’s Lucky Trawler.” With a nod to the ghoul, he smirked. “And that’s my better half, Fyke.”

“Yeah, I’ve seen your kind before.” I did my best to offer him a kind smile and tried to change the topic to anything more comfortable than my memories of Destruction Bay right now. “So! Not that I’m complaining, but why do you have nets strung up between the buildings?”

“Why don’t you tell us why you were messin’ with Midnight?” Fyke snorted as she sat down on top of what looked like had once been an old milk crate with chicken wire strung across it’s opening. Now that I looked, most ghouls down here had boxes like that. All of them empty. “Don’t y’all know that rockdog is fuckin’ crazy?” There was that term again.

“Rockdog?” The word slipped from my muzzle like always. “Is that the local type of hellhound?”

“Nah, there’s just one of ‘im.” Fyke snorted as she dug around in a bag next to her and produced a well polished old tobacco pipe. “You mean y’all never heard ‘a Midnight before?”

“We’re new to the city.” I smiled before Hispano put a talon on my shoulder.

“Some of us are new to Seaddle.” She grumbled and planted herself down next to me. “Because I know it’s going to bug you, here’s the thing. Story goes that he was just another diamond dog during the war before Zeb-tek did something to him. An experiment that replaced his heart with some arcane whos-a-whatsit that turned his skin to stone and filled him with nothing but pain and rage.”

“What they did took his mind away.” Trawler spoke up as he walked over and sat down. “The poor mutt only has the basic instinct to hunt his territory from dusk to dawn.” Tilting his head over, his horn gave out a dim glow before a small flame sprouted from it. Carefully, Fyke lit her pipe and plopped it right into her muzzle. “Plus, he’s always more aggressive on the days when those tin can soldiers use their loud toy to wake him up early. Like I said, you two are lucky we caught you.”

“About that...” Hispano cooed as she got Suiza slung correctly over herself again. “So, what exactly do you have nets up for? Can’t be for just catching fliers like us.”

“Like we said.” Fyke took a long draw off of her pipe that only ended up leaking out from under her jaw and neckline. “Y’all ain’t pigeons.”

“Yuck.” Hispano stuck her tongue out and immediately froze as I’m sure it didn’t make the smell of this place any better. “You ghouls catch radpigeons? Why? They’re full of disease, and they aren’t particularly friendly if you corner them. Can’t be to keep them as pets...”

“Simple.” Fyke shrugged and again took another long draw from her pipe. “They’re good eatin’.”

They just… they eat them?

“That’s fucking gross.” Hispano sternly pointed at the two of them. “Not judging, just… gross.”

“Ta’ each their own.” Fyke gave out a laugh that Trawler joined in on. “But seein’ as y’all probably aren’t wantin’ to keep us company long, if ya take the tunnel a bit east, y’all should hit tha’ Underground in no time at all.”

“The underground?” There goes my muzzle again, just letting shit slip out! I really thought I’d had a better handle on it recently…

“I’ll fill you in on the way.” Hispano sighed and yanked me up onto my hooves again. “Thanks for saving us. Have fun with your…” she paused, stifling half a gag. “Pigeons.”

“Glad to have helped!” Trawler gave a wave as Hispano pushed me to move. “Stay out of the streets in the upper city after sundown now, you hear?”

“Come on, Night.” Hispano sighed as we got up to a trotting pace. Passing a few of the other ghoul pairs, we received our fair share of odd looks, but Hispano made sure they didn’t look at us for long. “I’ve… admittedly never been to the underground. Mostly ‘cause of the smell.”

I looked over to her to find just the barest hint of a smile crawling across her beak.

“But…” She cooed softly. “Maybe now that we’re here, we can explore it together, and salvage a bit of our day off. I’ve heard stories of some really cool places down here.” An excited giggle slipped out from her, and to be honest, it was something I hadn’t realized I’d needed to hear right now. “Of course it won’t take all that long. But I was thinking, when we leave, we could head up to that brothel Happy likes. I really need to do something tonight to release all this stress.”

“Wait…” I nearly tripped at that. “Happy only mentioned that on the ride to the airfield.”

“To you maybe.” Hispano again rolled her eyes and nudged me. “I think you already knew that it was only a matter of time before he felt like going again. And… well, from the fact he spent his entire time on the trip north in the place, I made an educated guess he would have brought it up first chance he could with you.” Celestia, why does that have to sound exactly like how Happy acted? “So… what did you tell him when he asked?”

“I said… okay?” I cringed hard. Why did I have to say that we’d go? Oh right, because I guess I enjoy torturing myself…

“There may be hope for you yet!” Hispano squeaked with excitement as behind her eyes, I could already see a dozen plans for the night being drawn up. “But first, since we’re here and all, can we please explore a bit down here?”

I didn’t really know what to say. Solomon was somewhere in the city above, but probably wouldn’t come after us until tomorrow. Buck was safe on the Inuvik, if alone. And while I felt like leaving Happy, Tofu, and Ping in the hooves of the Rangers, at the very least I knew they wouldn’t be in danger. Still, I should try and reach out.

“Hey, Happy?” I thought out through my augment. “Hispano and I are safe in the Underground part of Seaddle.” Glancing over at Hispano, her beak only stretched into a wider smile as she waited for an answer from me. “Happy? Tofu? Daisy? Is anypony there?”

I wasn’t sure if it was because we were too far underground for the signal to reach, or if it was being blocked for some reason. For now though, it seemed like we were on our own. Given that the plan was still to meet up with Happy and the others at the bar, I suppose it couldn’t hurt to spend some time here with Hispano.

“Okay, sounds like a plan, but...” I finally answered her, hanging on that as I noticed that she was still bleeding from the shrapnel we took from my grenade. “Maybe first we should get ourselves patched up.” Thankfully, she smiled and nodded. To be honest, spending a bit of time alone was all she’d wanted to do today, and now that I was here with her? Well, I guess she couldn’t complain, and really neither could I. “So, while we do that, what exactly have you heard about this place?”

Author's Note

As always, I've got to profess my thanks to TheFurryRailFan for all his help in going over these chapters. I know it's been one hell of a ride, and that it's gone on longer than first planned, but thanks for sticking with me the whole way. I swear we're getting closer to the end!

And of course, a huge thanks to Kkat for creating FoE in the first place!

Chapter 115 - Night's Law

Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

“Isn’t this place awesome?” Hispano pranced on her hind paws with a giggle, narrowly missing a few annoyed looking ghouls as they squeezed by us in what turned out to be a fairly packed underground street. “I mean, besides the smell, there’s so much neat stuff down here!”

I wasn’t exactly sure how to say it, but… neat wasn’t the word I would use.

This wasn’t some random collection of underground tunnels. This was a whole damned city in and of itself. An underground city with streets, two story buildings, and populated almost entirely by… ghouls. All different types roamed around down here. Some were bloated like the ones from earlier, others were dried past the consistency of jerky. There were ones that glowed with magical radiation, some gave off smoke and ash, and a few seemed to vibrate at odd intervals.

That being said, other than the fact that sometimes I was literally stepping in bits of another pony every other step, I could at least relax a bit. I mean, this would be the last place we’d ever accidentally run into Solomon.

“Look, you’ve got antique shops…” Hispano gasped and pointed at one of the dozens of businesses built into the old crumbling brick buildings down here. “Gun stores, clothing stores, stores that sell prosthetic limbs…”

She quieted for a moment as her pointing talon paused on a shop that said ‘Doctor Knick’s Used Legs’.

“Stores that sell real limbs. See, you could probably get anything you want down here!”

“Yeah, but…” I canted my head as I looked along the storefronts here. “They’re all… crooked.”

Every single building along this street was tilted just slightly, leaning toward the waterfront. I figured that when the city was hit by the megaspell, these came with them for the ride, but… didn’t exactly stop at the same time as the buildings above.

“They all seem fine to me!” The gravel filled laugh of a ghoul off to my side made me twist my head. I found myself staring uncomfortably close into the yellowed eyes of what at best could be called a ‘normal’ ghoul. Lifting a hoof, he gave Hispano and I a wave with a stump that ended at his fetlock. Glancing down, I noticed that his rear hoof did the same, leaving him with a permanent tilt. “Say, you seem more than fine. What’s a gorgeous mare like yourself doing here?” He split his cracked lips and half muzzle full of teeth into what could loosely be called a ‘smile’. “I bet you’re one of those smoothcoat’s who’s got a thing for us ol’ reliable ponies, doncha’?”

“Unless you want my sister’s help in leveling you out a bit…” Hispano cooed cooly as she pointed Suiza’s barrel at the ghoul’s remaining hooves. “Then maybe you should find someplace else to be.”

“Uh...” The ghoul blinked at Suiza for a few moments before again ‘smiling’ at us. “You ladies have a nice day, ya’ hear?” With that, he quickly turned tail and pushed his way through the crowded street.

As soon as he was gone, Hispano draped her talon across my neck and pulled me close to her. Her beak was spread in as wide a smile as ever, and with a deep exhale, I could feel her relax.

“Come on, Dum Dum!” She giggled into my ear as she dragged me forward. “The night is young! Let’s go find something fun to do!”

The deep bass music that played in the club across the crowded street thumped hard enough with every other beat that it sent lines of dirt raining down from the numerous spidering cracks in the ceiling here. At any moment the city above could come down right on top of us, and the almost laughable patch job of duct tape across a few of the larger cracks made it feel like we were just supposed to ignore it, I guess? Looking up, a particularly bassy thump dropped some dirt right down into my eyes and onto the cards I held in my hoof.

“So… should I be worried about the roof?” I asked Hispano as I did my best to clear my eyes without revealing my cards. Of course, she hadn’t heard me. No, she was too busy trying to bluff the other players here to care.

“You know, feathers…” A jerky-type ghoul spat from across the card table, smirking from behind his flat dark square sunglasses. “Yer marefriend here seems kind of distracted.”

“Is she?” Hispano replied with a sigh, setting her cards facedown in front of her. “I hadn’t noticed because I’m busy playing the game.” With a grunt, she reached down into her bag and flipped up one of Suiza’s red-tipped rounds. She mulled something over in her head before setting it down on the table with the other bits and bobs that made up her bet. “I’m going to bet if you’re making small talk, you’ve got jack and shit. I raise.”

“I’m out.” A brick of a ghoul in a snazzy pinstripe suit spoke up, sending wisps of pink trailing out from his nose as he tossed his cards down. Having only met one other Canterlot ghoul, I was at least a little bit happier that he was the first of us to fold.

“Too rich for my blood.” Said the lithe mare who was basically nothing but a set of bones in the nicest red dress and sun hat I’d ever seen on a corpse. She too tossed her cards on the table before taking a drag of the cigarette in her bleached white bone muzzle.

Leaning forward, I pressed down on my cards to bend up the edges. Lowering myself, I stared at the two and six of diamonds on the pair, then glanced up at the face up three, four, and five on the table. The symbols on the three matched, but weren’t diamonds, which, as far as I understood was something I was supposed to want. Problem was, I didn’t really know if my cards meant anything if they didn’t match…

“What’s it going to be, Doll?” The jerky ghoul let out a gravely laugh and leaned into the table with a wheeze. “Going to call or fold?”

That… was another problem. Looking down on the table, I currently had my remaining grenades and the magazine for my subgun on the line, plus the two restoration potions and hoof-full of caps Hispano gave me to bet with when we arrived. Which, of course I’d gambled away after letting Hispano talk me into thinking this would be a simple affair...

I gave a glance at Hispano to try to get any sort of call here from her. Again however, she simply kept her own eyes locked across the table on her rival. I guess, I’d just have to go with my gut.

“I uh… don’t have anything left to match the bet.” I offered a weak smile and slid my cards forward. It may not be the boldest move, but I was in way over my head here. Best to cut my losses before things get out of hoof.

“Got that fancy prosthetic, don’t ya?” He offered back with an eager glance at me and a rub of his hooves.

“I knew a griffon who won a prosthetic from a poker match once.” Hispano spoke up. “Turned out to be a lot more trouble for him than it was worth. Maybe try again.”

“Okay then, how about that pretty dress of yers?” Mr. Jerky’s muzzle stretched into a smile only for a moment before he nearly doubled over in a hacking fit. With a few wheezing gasps, he hammered his hoof on the table, making his impressive pile of caps scatter slightly.

“I’ll spot her.” Hispano grumbled, reaching into her bag again.

“Oh, how sporting.” The ghoul wheezed again as he shot a sideways glance at Hispano. His piercing green eye hovered on her for a moment before he straightened himself up and stared from behind his shades again. “From my estimation though, she’s going to need to bet more than just one of those fancy shells you’ve got.”

Hispano deadpanned and for the first time in a half hour, glanced over at me. With a flash of silver, Hispano flipped Baby up into her talons and set it right down in front of me. Her gaze told me everything, and the message was clear. ‘Don’t fucking have nothing, Night’.

“Oh, that will more than cover her.” Mr. Jerky smiled as he glanced down at Hispano’s robust sidearm. “Alright, if we’re all set then, I call.” Looking up at her, he gave a slight nod.

Again, Hispano looked like she was mulling things over in her mind. I was really hoping that this had gone far enough, because if we had to keep going, either I was going to be very cold, or she’d be carrying my two legged self back to the Inuvik.

“Call.” She finally nodded, glancing over at me. Thank Celestia the nightmare was almost over. “Alright, Night. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Reaching up, I used my hoof to reveal my two and six of diamonds.

“A straight.” The bony mare mulled as she leaned in momentarily. With a snort, she shrugged. “Not a bad hoof to have.”

“Hey, she’s right.” Mr. Jerky smirked and softly clapped his hooves together before flicking them and flipping his cards. What he pushed forward was the seven and ten of hearts, the same symbol as the three other cards. “But unfortunately, my flush beats it.” He leaned forward and reached for my bet, “Better luck next time, Doll.”

“Not so fast.” Hispano cooed, pulling Mr. Jerky’s gaze over the top of his sunglasses as she flicked her cards over one at a time. The ace of hearts, and the two of hearts.

“A straight flush.” Mr. Canterlot called out with a laugh and a slam of his hooves on the table. “Holy shit, that… that was a hell of a play.”

“Meh.” Mr. Jerky grunted as he slumped back in his chair. “She got lucky.”

“She fucking played you.” Mr. Canterlot chuckled before reaching over to me and pulling me up to him. “Shit, do you know how long I’ve been waiting for somepony to come and put him in his place? Years, decades even!” Again, he let out a roaring laugh that came with heaps of pink that was just a bit too uncomfortably close to me at the moment. Reaching his bulky hoof across the end of my muzzle, he pointed at Hispano. “You, I like you. You and your marefriend here are welcome at my tables anytime, you hear?”

“Sure thing.” Hispano beamed a Ping-sized smile to each of the ghouls as she did her best to scoop her winnings into her bag. “I’d be happy to come back and clean you out again next time I’m in the area.”

“Do swing by again, it really has been a delightful evening.” Mrs. Boney nodded to each of the others as she got to her hooves. “But this old mare can only handle so much excitement, so I’m afraid it’s time for me to retire.”

“I look forward to playing again.” Mr. Canterlot finally let me go with another chuckle before turning and returning to his seat. “And if you two are ever in town again and need anything, look me up. The name’s Book, Dutch. I work for the Begonia sisters, so I shouldn't be hard to find.” With a smile, he pulled out a flatcap from his jacket pocket and slapped it on top of his head. “Really, more smoothcoats should make their way down here. Most fun I’ve had in years, I swear.”

“Speak for yourself.” Mr. Jerky huffed as he crossed his hooves and shot a glare at Hispano over his glasses. After a moment though, his smile returned and his glare softened. “Though, I do suppose it’s good to get reminded that this is a game of luck.” Cocking his eyebrow, he pushed his sunglasses back up over his eyes. “Care to test how long it’ll hold out?”

“Nah, it’s been fun, but I think it’s time we got moving as well.” Hispano retorted as she finished getting her winnings in her bag, finishing it off by using Baby to cram everything down. With a bright gaze, Hispano glanced at me and nodded toward the door. “Ready to get going, Night?”

Thank Celestia, it’s about time.

“Yeah.” I nodded to her and glanced at the others. “It was nice to meet you all, and it really was fun.” If that was the only lie I had to tell for the rest of the day, at least it wasn’t that bad of one. Honestly, even with my curse gone, gambling probably wasn’t something I’d make a habit of.

Giving a wave to the three odd ghouls, I quickly got my own gear sorted again and followed Hispano out of the small casino. While she’d basically been vibrating with excitement the whole time she was down here so far, now? She was practically radiating glee as with each step she nearly floated right up off the ground.

Following her back out into the street, I was relieved to find that it was less crowded than earlier. Turning, I followed Hispano down the road for a bit. She waited for the bassy beat of the dance club to have muted a bit before she turned around and grabbed me by the shoulders.

“Oh. My. Goddesses, Night.” She squealed and flared her wings out as she pressed her forehead against mine. “That was amazing! I’ve never felt so good… what do you want to do next!?” She gasped and looked around at the businesses on the street around us. “Oooo, we should go find a gun range and see if they’ll rent us something big!”

“Big?” I scrunched up my muzzle before dropping it to a deadpan. “You mean like, bigger... than your sister?”

“Yeah! Why not?” She giggled and gave a few excited dancing taps of her hindpaws. “I just want to blow something up! Don’t you?”

“I…” For once, the words didn’t just slip out of my muzzle because… I was sort of at a loss. I was basically a tourist here, whereas she was the guide. “Fuck, I don’t know, I guess?” I shrugged and smiled at her. “It’s our day off, and we’re doing what you want to do. So… lead on.”

“Eeee!” She clapped her talons together and gave a quick spin on her hindpaw. “Oh, this is going to be so much fun!” With a hop into the air, she hovered up and flailed her talons about. “This is the best date ever!”

I couldn’t help but smile as the grumpy griffon from just a few hours ago was absolutely nowhere in sight. Sure, a lot of shit had happened today, but right now, none of that mattered. This was all about her, and I was just happy watching her spin and hop about through the air enjoying herself.

That is, until I spotted an odd, hoof painted sign in one of the shops down the way. It was in the cracked and dust caked front window of a particularly crusty looking brick building. Sets of white and black lines ringed an elaborately styled set of patterns hugging four words. Words that really shouldn’t have ever been commonly combined together, at least not this far south.

‘Madame Mystic: Exotic Fortuneteller’

“Hispano.” I could hardly even get myself to speak as my hindlegs gave out and I sat down hard.

“Yeah?” She squeaked as she spun around in the air. “Night? What’s wrong?”

I wanted to speak. My mind was trying to force out the question that was ringing through my head over and over. But… I just couldn’t bring myself to say anything at all, only meekly point.

“What?” She asked as a note of worry cropped up in her voice. She gave a few quick flaps, spinning around as she landed beside me and followed my hoof. From the way she stiffened up, I knew she saw it too. “Oh… oh no. Fuck that, Night. We are not going in there!”

“What the fuck is she doing here?” I finally managed to spit out. No, this was impossible…

“I don’t know, Night!” Hispano groaned up at the ceiling. “This shit was a franchise or something during the war, I don’t know?” With a slap of her talons across her face, I think she knew what my next question was. “Why do you want to go there, Night? It’s just some drugged up zebra muttering generic shit. It isn’t ‘real’, you know that, right?”

“Isn’t it?” Despite the fact that she’d been here through my curse, through my hallucinations, through everything, I still didn’t understand how she didn’t believe. “She knew about my eye, Hispano. She…” I paused as Hispano clenched her jaw and closed her eyes. “She knew you’d be fine, while everypony else...”

I couldn’t explain it, but there was a reason we’d ended up here. I could feel it inside me, a pull towards this place. After everything we’d been through, we just happened to run into Solomon again, which meant we just had to end up on this street, where I’d happen to see this store.

“We have to go in.” I said, knowing full well that all the goodwill I’d just built up with Hispano was about to go right out the window.

“Fine.” Hispano grunted and curled her talons in frustration. “You know what? I’ve got some questions to ask her myself.” With a huff, she grabbed me by the scruff of my mane and dragged me forward. “Mainly, why the fuck my special somepony’s ‘destiny’ is to be obsessed with mystical bullshit.”

The attempt to cover up the smothering smell of rancid, rotting flesh by using incense was a nice thought, but wasn’t exactly working. Instead, just the hint of something floral in the air only made me reflexively breathe in more of the near toxics odors that it lingered with. It was a fight I'd lost more than a few times in the last few minutes as we sat in the Mystic’s lobby.

Hispano, while still frustrated, had at least decided to lean on me as we sat on a fairly well kept couch. I had my wing draped around her, and every now and again she would ‘adjust’ herself and use it as an excuse to pull it tighter. The first few times she did it drew an interested look from the purple alicorn sitting behind the front counter, but she quickly got bored of it and went back to reading her old copy of some old world fashion magazine.

Sitting here gave me a nice chance to think about just what I was going to ask Madame Mystic. She knew about my eye last time, she could see that the convoy… most of my family was going to die. I know that Boiler and Fuschia had said that their ‘gift’ came with downsides, but if I could find out if something was going to happen again.

If I could just find out if Solomon was going to...

“The Madame will see you now.” The bored voice of the alicorn shocked both Hispano and I back to attention. The purple alicorn spun in her chair, pointing to a curtain with her hoof as her magic pulled it back.

“Alright.” Hispano grumbled and rolled her eyes. “Let’s go see about your ‘destiny’ or whatever.”

The two of us pulled ourselves off the couch and headed under the curtain into the dark back room. As soon as we’d stepped in, I realized that it was decorated remarkably similarly to the room at Pink Mountain. Old cloth was draped overhead, lit by a few dozen candles scattered about the room. In the center of it was the same setup, with a low central table surrounded by cushions and empty Mint-al boxes scattered here and there.

“Ah, yes, come closer.” The gravelly voice of a robed zebra ghoul spoke from the other side of the table. She shifted herself, reaching into her robes with a hoof. Carefully, she pulled out and produced a shining glass orb which she set into a divot carved in the center of the table. “You have come with a question inside. One that has burned for quite some time, yes?”

As she looked to me, I froze as I once again looked into nothing but glowing, empty eye sockets. Her gaze pierced me like it once had, and I could almost feel my heart stop right then and there. But then the initial familiarity started to fade, and the mare’s features started to stand out. She wore scars all across her face, some deep, some long faded but visible enough to stand out against her stripes. No, she wasn’t the same zebra, but the smile that graced her muzzle now was too damn uncanny.

“I understand your curiosity,” She spoke softly as she maneuvered her hooves around her glowing crystal ball. “but I can not explain it in a way you would understand. Now, about the answer you seek...”

“No.” Hispano stated flatly as she made her way to the closest pillow and sat down on it. I was torn between facehooving and staying standing up. Celestia, Hispano, can you just keep calm for a few minutes? “You talk to me first, then him.”

Honestly, standing was overrated compared to a nice facehoof, but the urge to sit down next to her ultimately won out.

“You are not yet ready.” The zebra ghoul scolded her, waving her hoof strongly at Hispano’s beak. “The day will come however when you know you are.”

“See? I knew this was all bullshit.” With a swipe, Hispano knocked the ghoul’s hoof back with a chirp. With a quick flip of her hooves, the Madame clamped down on Hispano’s talon and wouldn’t relent. “What the… let go!”

“When the final steel dragon falls, and the fated five have sown the seeds of Vanhoover’s future. That day, in the five, you will understand what you are looking for.” The Madame’s tone dropped to a harsh one. “And when the call for home once again takes hold of you.” The candles around us flickered, and the temperature in the room felt like it dropped ten degrees in a second flat. “only then will you again think about me on your journey south. Then, and only then, will this answer, and your burden, make sense.”

With a sharp tug, Hispano finally free’d her talon, and in an instant the air warmed and the candles returned to normal.

“That… what does that even mean.” She cooed as she rubbed at her talon. “Fucking… you didn’t even give me any answer. Fuck, just... whatever. Just ask your shit, Night, so we can get the hell out of here.”

“I…” I started to speak, but paused. I knew what I wanted to ask, the words were there. But there was something inside of me, something in my body twinged as just what it was eluded me. It was something different than asking about Solomon, but important to me all the same.

“Heh.” The Madame laughed as her hooves cupped around her glass orb. “You wrestle with asking, I can see this. It is because for so long you have disregarded it as unimportant when you once held it in such high regard. How could it not be clear when it is so plainly written on you?”

“What?” The question slipped out. Of course I could find the wherewithal to just blurt that out, but I couldn’t get this one thought straight!?

“Wait.” Hispano’s glance snapped over to me. “So I get a Sunday morning word jumble for a riddle, and Night gets that?”

“Not helping, Hispano.” Again I managed to blurt that out easily enough, and sharper than I’d meant too.

“She’s talking about your cutie mark, Night.” With a smack, Hispano face-taloned herself again. “You obsessed over it forever, and it’s written on you? I mean, come on, she practically hoofed it to you.”

“Your mate is correct.” The Madam smiled as her orb glowed brighter for a moment, pulling Hispano and I’s attention to it. “You have sought an answer, and destiny has brought you here.”

“My cutie mark?” I asked, reaching back to my own flank without really thinking about it. “What do you mean? It’s just for dive bombing… or something. What am I supposed to know about it?”

“Oh, child, you have much to learn.” She laughed warmly, and for a moment, the room itself seemed to brighten even without the help of the candles or orb. “Your cutie mark is not about grenades, or bombing, nor anything of the sort.” With a twist of her hooves, she pulled up something inside of her crystal ball. It was an inky line that almost chased her hoof’s movements like it was mimicking her. “A cutie mark isn’t so simple on the surface, rather, it says something about the pony who wears it.”

“Yeah, generally a talent.” Hispano sighed and rolled her talon limply. “The talent is linked to their destiny and blah, blah, blah, magic pony bullshit. What does this have to do with Night?”

“A mark speaks in a special way.” The Madame did her best to shoot Hispano a glare without any eyes, and semi-surprisingly, it was an entirely different kind of unnerving sight. “It tells of some inherent truth, one that was only realized by a spark of pure virtue the moment it appeared.”

“I don’t understand.” I was trying my best to think back to when I got it, but… there wasn’t much I could recall. “I wasn’t even really coherent when it appeared. Is that part of it?”

“Think back to that day.” She leaned forward, reaching out with one hoof while the other continued to lead the inky blot around in the glass orb. “What were you doing when you felt that spark? What did you experience in the moments that you remember?”

Closing my eyes, I tried my best to remember. The underlying fear I felt knowing that Galina was up ahead, ready to ambush the convoy. How the cold wind had sapped at my skin as I flew my runs between Bessy and Bertha. How it all came down to dropping that one shell on Double Drum’s Road Roller. How… it felt to learn that I lost my leg after waking up.

“I… I don’t know.” I just didn’t know what I was looking for here! “I was in the air over Double Drum with the convoy coming in fast. I… I knew I had to knock his Road Roller out, and I managed to do it. But that’s it, there’s nothing else.” Opening my eyes again, I flailed my hooves. “Then I woke up and I had a bomb sight for a cutie mark.”

“See?” Hispano huffed and crossed her talons with a smirk. “Sounds like he got it for bombing to me.

“I want you to focus on the feeling before you got it.” The Madame reached over and took my hoof with hers. The second she did, the glow behind her eyes brightened, and she let out a slight gasp. “Yes… focus.”

“I remember…” Closing my eyes, I thought about when I was flying above the road. “feeling apprehension. Like I said, I wasn’t sure I could do it. That if I couldn’t…”

“But you did, and that’s the key.” She squeezed my hoof tightly the exact moment I recalled letting that shell go towards the Road Roller. “The fact that you acted, despite your worries, is what you need to focus on. I sense… a connection to that moment, hidden in many others.”

“That’s vague.” Hispano again unhelpfully childed and shifted herself sharply in her seat. “What’s that even supposed to tell him?”

“I sense that you always seem to turn up somewhere at just the right time.” The Madame squeezed my hoof again, but this time it was hard enough that it forced my eyes open. As soon as they were, I found her leaning across the table and staring at me closely with her empty sockets. “Has that fact not made you... curious?”

“No, because it’s always been more like the wrong time.” Hispano snorted, again making the Madame deadpan.

“She’s right.” I nodded and looked down at myself. Even in the dim, flickering candlelight, each of the scars I’d earned on this trip stood out to me as clear as day. “Everything always goes to hell around me. I’d thought it was my curse, but… you’re saying it’s not?”

“Hah!” Hispano laughed sharply. “Surely his ‘destiny’ isn’t to just cause chaos wherever he goes? That anything that can go wrong, will just because he’s around?”

“No, with marks, you must take a broader perspective.” The Madam leaned back into her seat. Her hooves wandered across the table, eventually ending up back at the orb again. “The bombsight and bomb on his flank may mean many things, but the fact that they are together can tell us something. Perhaps it is that they are two sides of the same coin, a representation of cause, and effect.”

“How?” I blut out as I reflexively twisted myself and yanked my dress back enough to look at my mark.

“You are a pony whose arrival always brings a turning point to somepony else.” She whipped her hooves around the orb, and in a flash of light, an image of my cutie mark appeared inside of it. “Your talent is to choose how those events play out.” As she spoke, the cutie mark rotated slightly, almost as if it was aiming. Small puffs of smoke burst around it, almost looking like blasts from flak shells going off in the air. “It is you who are the catalyst for the change happening wherever you go. Your decisions in those critical moments, guide what is to come.”

The image of my mark stabilized in a near vertical position amongst the inky bursts, and after a moment, the bomb slid free and disappeared into the white void of the orb.

“So, he decides the fates of others?” Hispano scrunched up her beak and sneered at the old ghoul. “That’s not really a talent, is it? A destiny to decide destinys?”

“It is not fates he decides, no.” The Madame shook her head softly. “Rather, he merely makes the choice of how to guide the way that events for others unfold around himself. It is a broader choice, that encompasses everything that either is, or yet could be, in that one, singular moment.”

I mean, it does sound like a little bit of a stretch. Then again, before I came below the clouds, curses and following my gut just weren’t things I believed in much. I’ve learned the hard way about my choices, and there is something about those moments even when thinking back to them. I still wasn’t really sure what to make of it all, though, on some level it just felt… right to me.

But if it really is my destiny to be thrust into pivotal moments to make a decision? Well, let’s just say it would go a long way to explaining my incredibly shitty luck in the wastes.

With a smirk, Hispano relaxed slightly on her pillow as she shook her head.

“I mean I won’t lie, Night’s changed a lot of things in the places we’ve been. But is it really his destiny to find himself in every shitstorm in the wastes?”

Now that was a prospect that scared me.

“I know not the final shape of his fate, I can only interpret what drives it forward.” As she spoke, the orb in front of us clouded. The inky blot that swam in the center grew and grew, stretching out until it darkened the orb completely. “No my child, the stars are not wrong in this matter, nor can this be fought. Night's guidance is a reflex, in those moments he is connected to, he will always feel deep down what will be the right thing to do. No matter what, his cutie mark will prove his choice will be the one to set reality itself on the path it is meant to take.”

“But… if it’s a reflex from his ‘cutie mark’, how can he be the one to guide things?” Hispano snorted. Admittedly, she had a good point there.

“You speak as if Night and his cutie mark aren’t one and the same.” She laughed at Hispano as the cloud in the orb receded. “Two sides of the same coin, remember?” Once again, it bathed us in a soft light as a small inky form followed the old ghoul’s hooves. “It is a reflex because the day he got it, he realized that he could shape what happened that day. You are no stranger to this either, for the choices he has made are the sole reason that you have remained alive. Or have you not thought it odd that those around you befall such grievous injury, yet you remain whole?”

“You know what? I’m getting really tired of all these generalizations and riddles.” Hispano groaned and gave me a firm tap on the shoulder. “Again, please tell me you aren’t buying what she’s selling.”

“Uh...” I wanted to say no, but… I couldn’t deny that even if it was a stretch, deep down I did believe her. “I mean, she’s making a lot of sense here, Hispano. What if this is the reason I’m always getting into bad shit? Isn’t that somewhat important to understand?”

“Of course she makes it sound important, it’s her job, Night.” With shaking talons, Hispano reached up and squeezed at her flight cap straps. “You know what, I can do exactly what she says you can do.” With a shift of herself, she reached back into her saddlebag and drew out Baby’s large, silver form. Unceremoniously, she held it out and pointed it right between the eyes of Madame Mystic. “With one pull of the trigger, I too can set you on a new life path! Ta-da!”

“And if you were to?” The Madame smiled and stared right up the barrel at Hispano. “Then would it not be because he brought you to me today?”

“Grrr, that’s… that’s not my point!” Hispano growled and shifted her grip on Baby ever so slightly.

“Hispano, that’s enough.” I snapped at her and used my hoof to push Baby’s barrel away from the Madame.

“Is it?” She snapped back with a biting clack of her beak. “I won’t sit here and listen to some old ghoul tell me shit like ‘it’s going to rain today’ and expect me to be surprised.” With a flick of her talon, she pulled Baby back and stuck it back in its holster. “I mean, hello! It’s Seaddle. It’s always raining.” Flaring her wings, she got up on all fours and turned to the door. “You want to sit here and waste your time, fine. It’s getting late so I’m going to make my way to the brothel and find somepony to help me get rid of all this fucking stress. Feel free to join me when you’re done being a dolt.”

I wanted to get up and stop her, but even as I watched her stomp off out through the doorway, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. What would I do? What would I say to her in this moment that would make things better? No, she needed a moment alone.

But as she left, I realized something that worried me. It wasn’t just that this was the second time that Hispano had left me at a fortuneteller’s place, but it was the way she did it that I didn’t understand. Something about these places always freaked Hispano out, but I know she’d never in a million years tell me what it was. Maybe it was because so far, the Madame had been eerily correct. Maybe at some point, Hispano had heard something from one of them that she didn’t want to hear… and that hasn’t happened yet.

Turning back around, I figured I could at least see if I could get an answer from the source. However, as I did, the Madame’s hooves reached out and grabbed the sides of my head. With a firmer grasp than I’d been expecting, she made sure my attention was solely on her glowing eyesockets.

“There is little time left to speak, so you must listen.” She used a harsh whisper, but it didn’t feel like she meant it to scare or intimidate. No, something about her words just made me think that whatever this was was a very delicate topic. “You must understand that now that you have found your home, that you know your true purpose, you must not lose either. Do not let indecision creep into your mind in the times to come. If you are to hesitate, you may lose more than you have left to give.”

“W-what?” My mind struggled to read any sort of meaning in what she was saying, but as with my initial question, I just couldn’t seem to grasp it.

“You are not ready for the answer to that question.” She nodded to me and twisted her hooves so that I nodded back. “A time of anger is coming. You must trust yourself when the time comes, to do what you know is right.”

“Well, if what you said is right, I’m sure I’ll make the right choice.” I offered to her in the absence of anything else. A time of anger? Could she mean… my other question.”

“Is this about Solomon?” I asked bluntly. “Is he going to kill more of my family?”

The moment I uttered his name though, she gasped and all but threw her hooves off of my head. The candles flickered and went out, and her orb dimmed as she woozily steadied herself against the table. Even the glowing of her sockets had darkened, and she breathed in slow, labored breaths.

“I am sorry…” She wheezed slightly as she took a moment to calm herself. “My insights have dimmed, and I do not have the strength left to view the answer you seek.”

That was… inconvenient. Then again, it was somewhat understandable I suppose. I had absolutely no idea how zebra magic worked, and honestly, I’m sure if somepony explained it I still wouldn’t get it.

Blinking, I thought back again to our time in Pink Mountain and Mare’s Lake. Specifically, how Boiler truly believed in what Madame Mystic had told her. Really, after everything I’d been through, and seen with the Mystics, the least I could do was believe in the things Boiler did.

“Thank you.” I offered as I picked myself up and turned back toward the door.

Again, a stronger than expected grip reached out and stopped me before I could take a single step.

“Now, I must ask you for my payment.” She smiled at me as I turned back to her.

“Oh, I uh… how many caps?” I asked as I reached back into my bag.

“I require no caps.” She said softly, reaching up and running her hoof along my side. “I have a… separate request.” As her hoof ran back over my skin, I shivered as she brushed it over my folded wing.

Oh, she better not want that sort of payment...

With a flick of her hoof, a stabbing pain ran through my wing. My augment fuzzed for a moment, and I let out a yelp as she pulled her hoof back. Sitting gripped in her fetlock, was one of my longer primary feathers.

“Ah yes, this is the one. Thank you.” She smiled as she set my feather down next to her orb. “Now, you may go after your griffon friend. I wish you a safe journey.”

“Wait, all you wanted was a feather?” Okay, so fortuneteller’s are officially the weirdest way of doing business in the wasteland if this was how it went…

“It need not concern you anymore.” She shrugged and gave me a dismissive wave of her hoof. She waited specifically for me to turn around before she started to speak again, and when she did, she made sure it was clear for me. “Like you, this token has its own fate, and that fate lies with me for now. It has its own purpose that will be revealed soon enough.”

I froze up as the words of Pink Mountain’s Madame echoed through my head. That’s what she’d told me about her orb when she gave it to me. Nearly word for word, too.

Turning around, I was about to ask her how that was possible. Only, when I turned around, there was no one else here. The candles had been relit, and flickered softly like when we’d entered. Glancing down at the table, the crystal orb, as well as my feather, were missing from it.

Taking one last look around the room, I understood a little bit why Hispano didn’t like coming to these places. They were certainly strange, but they provided more than enough food for thought. While it was nice to somewhat understand what my cutie mark was meant to represent, what hung in my mind was one of the other things she’d said.

“A time of anger.” I muttered to myself. Was it anger for something I did? Was it dealing with Hispano’s anger? Because that’s probably something I shouldn’t bring up for a while. Then again, maybe it was about the anger of somepony who I’d yet to meet?

Honestly, it could mean anything, and worrying about it wasn’t going to do anything for me. I headed out through the doorway, I pushed it to the back of my mind for now. The alicorn sitting behind the desk gave me a sideways glance as her magic turned the page on her old fashion magazine, but otherwise didn’t move as I headed for the door. Stepping outside again, the streets were even more empty than before, with only a hoof-full of ghouls wandering along it. Oddly, a whole group of them just down the road wore heavy burlap cloaks over themselves as they walked slowly.

Looking around, I found Hispano waiting for me outside. She was propped against the edge of the Madame's building with Suiza sitting next to her and her talons tightly folded across herself. Her gaze was pointed down toward the far end of the long underground street. It was almost like the sort of thousand yard stare that came with seeing the horrors of the wasteland, but not quite as empty. Rather, it looked more like Hispano was lost in thought about how life would be if everything had gone the way she'd wanted it to. It was a look of longing, mixed with the faint hope that tomorrow could yet turn out to be a better day.

As much as she deserved to have seen that fantasy life come true, it wasn't on the table for us. Between the three of us, I'd expected Buck to still have that dream this far down on our trip. But while the wasteland hadn’t taken our will to help others, and hadn’t completely torn us down, there had been nothing we could do to keep it from taking the idea of a perfect life from us.

At the same time, I couldn't fault her for holding onto it longer than we could. Hispano had always been the toughest of us three, and when she truly wanted something, of course there was no way it was going to slip away from her. She’d been fighting the wasteland every moment of her life, so it wasn’t all that surprising that she knew how to keep it from taking this one last dream from her.

She blinked a few times, catching me watching her out of the corner of her eye. In doing so, she replaced her expression with a tired one as she pushed herself off the side of the building. With a quick snatch, she took up her sister into her talons again and waved me over.

"Come on, Night." She grumbled as she walked out into the nearly empty street. "We've got a ways to walk before we reach the waterfront, and we need to talk."

Hobbling up to her side, I matched her surprisingly slow and steady pace, but didn’t say anything. Today had mostly been one disaster after another for her, and I had a feeling that now that we had a free moment, she’d need to vent. So, if she wanted to talk, I’d let her.

“What do you want from me, Night?” She asked with only a momentary glance over at me. “Is it to just go with you every time you feel like standing up for the little guy? Do you want me to be a subservient little pony wife, never arguing and always doing what she’s told?” I uh… what? Where did she get that idea!? “I just mean, when does this end, Night? When do we forget the ‘thrilling heroics’ and get to for once be just a family?”

“We are a family, Hispano.” I cringed at how unintentionally dismissive that sounded. “I just… is it unreasonable to think that there can be more pressing concerns right now though? The Arcturus needs to be fixed, that signal blocking Ping needs to be found. And doesn’t Solomon showing up show that it’s just not a good time to be thinking about taking an extended break?”

“Then when will it be, Night?” She hissed at me, but didn’t break her steady stride. “You heard that crazy stripe, it’ll never be the right time, Night.” She shook her head, but kept her gaze far off ahead of us down the tunnel. “Don’t you get it? This is who you are, who you’ll always be.”

“No, it’s not.” Reaching over, I stopped both Hispano and I where we were and got her to look right at me. “This ends when Solomon is dead. You know that.”

“And when we kill him, that’ll be it? You think it’s really so simple?” She canted her head and frowned as she brushed my hoof off of her. “You think that the second he dies, everything will be sunshine and rainbows in the wasteland? Hell, you couldn’t go one day without wanting to help the toasters at the airfield so they’d help us in return. Do you really expect me to believe that this ends with Solomon?”

“I’m not promising us a perfectly quiet life, Hispano.” Again, I reached up and put my hoof on her, pulling a grimace across her beak at my touch. “When Solomon is dead, I promise that the priority will be on you, Buck, and I.” I forced myself to smile, trying to get her to understand that I knew how she felt about all this. “I want it to just be us, Hispano, believe me, I do. But I can’t deal with Solomon on my own. I need you to be behind me on this, just a little bit longer, okay?”

She took a second to think about it, working over the words in her own head to try to glean any secret double meanings they may have. But a few moments turned into almost a minute of awkward silence where she shot glances around the street anywhere but at me. I didn’t expect her to suddenly smile and accept what I was saying at face value, but I did believe I wasn’t owed this much doubt.

“Grrr.” She growled and again shook my hoof off of her side. With a stiff push, she started walking again, but at a much faster pace than before. “Swear to me, Night. Once Solomon is dead, you promise me that all of this ‘hero business’ will be over for good.” With a shift of her stride, she threw a suspicious gaze back at me. “No more running off to help random toasters, no more fighting for the little guy. Even if it is what your cutie mark is telling you.”

Hopping after her, I wanted to say that wasn’t fair. Now that I knew what I was meant to do, how could I turn myself away from it?

“Promise me, Night. I… don’t want to lose you.” As if she could have read my thoughts across my face, she growled and pushed herself up to a stiff trotting speed.

So, this was the hill she’d chosen to die on, was it? All the good I’ve done, all that Buck has done for others? All that we could yet do? She would so easily toss it aside because she wanted Buck and I all to herself. Who was she to ask for that?

My augment fuzzed, cutting out for a few seconds. In that time, my body locked up in agony as I was reminded just how beaten up I still was after today. While my lungs seized, my augment flashed and booted up again, flooding me with numbness once more, but leaving me gasping for breath. It also planted the seed of a thought in my mind that was growing at an alarming speed.

“Night?” Hispano gasped and spun around on her hindpaws. With a hop, she jumped over and helped to keep me propped up as I took deep, gasping breaths. “What’s wrong.”

“It’s my augment.” I groaned as I started to feel the strength come back to my legs. “It just... fuzzed out for some reason.”

“What?” Hispano blinked a few times before perking up. Her eyes darted about the tunnel, ending with a glance on the nearby ghouls in those heavy burlap sack outfits. With little care for me, she wrapped her talon around my neck and pulled me back into a near trotting pace. “We need to get moving. Now.”

Fighting her hold on me, I pushed myself back from her. Taking a moment to think, I let that thought that had been growing in my head finally bloom.

Hispano wasn’t just asking me to ignore those in need only for her. She was asking because more often than not, it ended with Buck or me getting hurt. Everytime she looked at either of us, all she could see anymore were the scars and the parts of us we’ve had to replace. The words to Hispano from Pink Mountain’s Madame came echoing back into my mind.

Of all those you keep in good company, it is you in fact who will emerge from your trials as triumphantly unscathed. Find peace of mind in that, for it will be the only thing to carry you through the suffering of those around you.

While those words were right, Hispano hadn’t been left with injuries like the one’s Buck and I have gotten, it didn’t mean she didn’t have any. The toll of watching us day in and day out, throwing ourselves into the grinder for others, while a sacrifice Buck and I were willing to make, it was torture on her. And worse than that, I understood that all along.

It was because I knew that it wasn’t physical that I think I rationalized it away. Only now did I understand that all along I’d decided for her that this was the life we were going to have. And come to think about it in hindsight, all the dates and days she just wanted to relax made sense. She’d gone along with it this whole time because for her, it had given her a chance to try to steer Buck and I away from losing even more of ourselves to the wasteland.

Now the hill made sense. Hispano had gone far enough, and it wouldn’t be one step further until she knew that while she couldn’t stop us, there was some end in sight. That for all of her failed efforts, there would still be something worth holding onto of Buck and I at the end of the road.

“Night, what are you doing?” Hispano reached over and again sharply dug her talons into the back of my neck. “We need to go, now.”

“I promise, Hispano.”

“We don’t have the time anymore.” She grumbled and tugged on me harder.

“I’m sorry it took me so long to understand, but I get it now.” Hopping forward, I wrapped my forehoof around her talon and used it to spin her around to hold me up. As she brought her other talon around to keep me standing, I caught her glance with my own and stared right into her worried eyes. “We’ll do what it takes to kill Solomon and Rook. Then it’ll be just the three of us. No more helping. No more heroics. No more sacrifices. You won’t have to worry about us getting hurt anymore, because we’ll be right there with you everyday.”

Despite the panic that had washed over Hispano, I could feel as my words sunk into her. Her eyes searched mine for anything to justify the doubts that she had welling up inside, but I didn’t have anything to hide from her. She’d let us take enough from her that I needed to give her at least this much hope to hold on to.

As she opened her beak to speak, I pressed forward and kissed her, forcing away the outside world even if just for a moment. It wasn’t like the ones we’d shared before in the way that we both had given in to what we’d felt. This time it was me giving myself completely to her so that she’d know that I’d finally understood what she’d wanted all along.

I think somewhere inside she knew that, because without hesitation, she took over and pressed herself into me. I could feel both of our racing hearts as she took up a stronger stance and wrapped her wings around my own. When she finally pulled back her beak with a heated gasp, she let her softened gaze drift from my eyes.

“It took you long enough to understand, Dum Dum.” Her words remained soft, even as she strengthened her grasp around me. As her eyes wandered around the street, the content grin that had grown across her beak already started to fade. “But you always have the worst timing.”

“What?” I asked as just now the world was coming back into focus. Looking around the two of us, I noticed that more than a few of the burlap sack ghouls had gathered around us.

The longer I looked at each of the strangers, the more I realized that they weren’t what I’d thought. Normal pony muzzles poked from under each burlap hood, and some of their sacks didn’t quite cover the stiff armor plating that some of them wore. Most worrying of all, was that more than a few had the barrels of rifles on battle saddles poking out through the burlap.

“So, did I overhear one of you gal’s mentioning some toasters?” One of the larger ponies in the bunch spoke up as he took a step forward. “Specifically, were you speaking of the Bow-wing ones?” As he moved, his burlap robes lifted just enough that I could see the silver of the power armor he wore under it. “I think you need to come with us then.”

“And I think you need to get lost, creep.” Hispano cooed softly, slowly moving one of her talons from my side and towards Baby’s holster. However, the moment she tried, a magical aura wrapped around the both of us and froze us in place.. “Fuck…” She muttered as we both struggled against the near-suffocating pressure of the magical aura.

“Alright, the hard way it is.” The pony smirked and gave a wave of his power armored forehoof. All together, the other ponies around us spun around to face away from us. As soon as they had, Mr. Power Armor flicked his hoof downward.

A small, black sphere dropped from his hoof, hitting the floor with a clack and drawing our gazes. We both could only blink as a small grenade came to rest just beside us, and Mr. Power Armor spun himself around.

Neither of us even got a moment to react before the world turned into nothing more than a bright white light, and an endless ringing nightmare.

I suppose I should have seen this coming. The Madame had said that despite what I’d wanted, I couldn’t fight what I was meant to do. Hispano was right, trouble would always find me, no matter what promise I made to her. I hated that it made everything I just said to her feel like a lie.

Up until now, my goals, my virtues had been to act on what I felt was right. Well, as of today, what was right for me had changed. I wasn’t going to let Hispano down and strip away yet another layer of her own psyche just so I could feel good about my own self-sacrifices.

This family I’d found, the crew I’d built? They were more important than anything else. And thanks to Hispano, I could now start to see just how they’d been grinding themselves down to nothing because of me. So as much as it clashed with the ideal wasteland I wanted to see, my priorities had changed.

All I could ask of them now is for whatever was needed to finally take down Solomon, but nothing more. No side jobs, no fighting in fights that weren’t ours already. Because if we were going to finish things and finally get to the Ark with ourselves intact, then I was going to have to start acting a lot less like Night Flight, and a whole lot more like Delilah Burro.

I just… wish I knew how she could always make it look so easy to tell others no. Not that my cutie mark would always let that slide, or that life would ever be so simple. After all, Hispano had summed things up pretty well. Anything that can go wrong in my life, will go wrong.

Then again, so what if I couldn’t avoid it? There was nothing in what the Madame had said that led me to believe that I was destined to keep making the same decisions again and again.

No, if it really was my destiny to guide the events around me, then who was to say that I couldn’t push things in a way that kept us from making any more sacrifices?

Author's Note

As with every chapter, I really need to thank TheFurryRailFan. I know when he offered to go over these chapters, he didn't know he'd be doing it for over five years, but I'm eternally grateful for his dedication and friendship.

And of course, a big thanks to Kkat. With this chapter, it's been now eight years since I first read FoE and had it change the course of my life. It's meant more to me than most know, and I can't give enough thanks that this story and universe exists.

Chapter 116 - A Glowing Complexion

Patriots are the easiest ponies to deceive, and the hardest to defeat.

“Goddesses, don’t you ever wash these things?”

Hispano took the words right out of my muzzle while I was too busy trying not to gag. Thankfully, our captors complied, and we found the burlap sacks pulled from our heads.

“Finally!” She grumbled and immediately wrestled against the hoofcuffs binding her to an old metal chair. “Now if you’d just let us go, I’ll pretend like you all didn’t make a huge mistake tonight.”

“Keep quiet.” The unicorn mare who’d removed our hoods grunted as she stuffed them into the saddle bags she wore over her burlap robes. I couldn’t make out any features of the mare wearing them, but what I did see was the wide smile across her muzzle as she turned away. “Because speaking out of turn with Red Velvet will be the real mistake.”

The Ranger turned and left, using her magic to shut the door to the small office behind her. In the light that pushed through the half-mold covered window, I could barely make out the word ‘Metro Security’ written in it.

While deep down I was afraid that Hisapano’s haphazard antagonizing might get us into more trouble with the rangers, the fact was, we were already deep in it. That’s why I didn’t fight my own bindings, and instead looked around the small, dimly lit room we’d been escorted into.

The damp walls around us were painted a neutral grey-blue, and held a few tarnished old world documents and awards on it. A few old, curled posters from the ministries still clung to the walls, as well as a few posters detailing Seaddle Metro Security procedures that were at best barely legible. Blinking, I turned my gaze on the rusty desk in front of me and found a busted terminal on it, along with an old rolodex and moldy leather bound log books.

A steady set of drips came from the many cracks in the ceiling, showing that even where we were underground wasn’t entirely safe from the relentless evening rain in the city above. Each drip pooled in the rusted bottom of the half remaining wire mesh wastebasket next to my hindleg. Sitting in the puddle, was the tarnished remains of an old police badge. A fitting representation of the joke that any semblance of honest authority had become in the wastes.

“You know, Night?” Hispano huffed as she continued to struggle with her cuffs, “I’m getting real tired of being a ‘guest’ of the Rangers. It’s not fun anymore.”

“Funny, I thought the exact same thing at the airfield.” Hanging my head, I wasn’t really surprised by this. Sure we’d made progress, but I guess they hadn’t taken the whole ‘mailmare’ ride well if they went out of their way to find and capture us.

Still, something about it didn’t sit right with me, and the more I thought about it, the less this made any sense. How did they find us so quickly? Why’d they jump on incapacitating us rather than negotiating? Sure, Ducky had been harsh in her treatment of us at first, but by now, all the other rangers would’ve been told...

“Specifically, were you speaking of the Bow-wing ones?”

The voice of that power armored stallion popped up in my head again. The way he’d phrased that, if he was asking us about the Bow-wing Rangers, he wasn’t one of them. And that means… these are Pilaf’s Rangers.

“Oh fuck.” I groaned and wanted to slam my face down on the rusty desk before me. Either thankfully or unfortunately, the chair I was cuffed to made that incredibly hard to do. On top of not wanting to spend time with any more Steel Rangers in the wastes, I was starting to understand why Hispano didn’t like those Zebra mystics. And she just had to be right about me always showing up at the ‘right’ place and time.

“What, Night?” Hispano sighed and deadpanned at me.

“The Rangers at the Airfield split a few weeks ago. Some sort of pseudo-civil war.”

“So these guys aren’t the same ones you talked with?” I could literally see a bit of her smugness die off in that moment, only to be replaced with a more stoic and serious look about her. “Tell me what you know of them.”

“How rude.” The voice of a mare called out through the door. With a flash of magic and a slight ‘pop’ from the air, the mare teleported herself inside. Immediately, she glowered at Hispano and wagged a forehoof at her. “That is my question to ask the two of you. I am Sentinel Red Velvet, and I’ll be asking the questions here.”

The mare who’d appeared was smaller than I was, and wore a nicer set of robes than any Ranger I’d seen yet. The lush red fabric was perfectly matched to the coat of the mare underneath, and the spotless white trim matched the bit of braided mane that hung out from under its hood. A thick rimmed pair of round glasses sat tucked up high on the mare’s slightly grey-tipped muzzle, almost magnifying the strawberry red attentive eyes sitting behind them.

“Oh… oh dear.” Her gaze softened as she whimpered and let her eyes wander across my body. “What have they done to you? I’m so… so sorry.” Carefully, she stepped forward toward me with a disheartened frown, but a kind tone in her voice. “But don’t you worry, I’ll get you out of here soon enough.”

Oh thank Celestia somepony here could see something had gone wrong with this whole situation.

“Please, I don’t…” As soon as those words left my muzzle, I was struck right across the muzzle by the mare. My mind and body recoiled from the instant aggression she displayed, making me question for a moment just what the hell had even happened.

“You will be quiet!” She snapped with a sharpness to her words that could have taken my head right off.

What the hell!? Did she, or did she not care that we were wrongly taken prisoner?

The distressed mare sat down in front of my chair and carefully brought her forehooves up. I watched them skim over the hoofcuffs binding my foreleg, and I held my breath as it looked like she was going to let me out. But her hooves kept traveling upward tracing along my skin until they came to rest on the cold metal of my augmented eye.

“What a shame.” She whispered like she was lamenting the death of a dear friend. “Why did a masterpiece like you have to go and be wasted on a pile of garbage like a pegasus?”

Oh, well… that sounds a bit harsh. Now, I get that not all ponies were fans of us pegasi after what we apparently did, but this mare didn’t even know me!

“Look, I think there’s been some sort of mis…”

“I said QUIET!” She seethed as she brought her hoof down against my nose hard. It snapped my muzzle shut and pulled a whimper from me. “Do not speak again or I will give the order to flay the skin from your pathetic muzzle.” Between the way she’d looked at my eye, and her hollow tone to me, I came to a fairly quick understanding. This was definitely going to turn into another whole Coconut Curry thing.

Actually, given what I’d heard from the Bow-wing rangers, this was sounding more and more like the type of rangers Boiler and Howitzer talked about existing. I guess we had to run into their kind at some point. Though while I’d thought those two might have embellished their stories like most other ones they’d told, this being the exception... was not quite what I’d expected.

“Don’t worry, I will free you from this rotting flesh prison.” With a light touch, the hint of a smile tugged at her cheeks as she stared into my metal eye. “As soon as I get the answers I require.”

“Like hell you will.” I mumbled and glared at her.

To her credit, she shifted just enough under her robes that I never saw the hit to my gut coming until after it impacted. A breathless gasp left my muzzle as my sight fuzzed and I doubled over in my seat. Goddesses she’s strong.

Glancing up at her with as sharp a glare as I could muster, I realized why. Unlike most of the robed Ranger’s we’d met, this one wasn’t a unicorn. Sure she had a horn and magic, but… she hit me harder than even Happy could, and he’s freakishly strong when he wants to be...

“You don’t even realize what you’ve got clinging to your worthless body, do you?” She got to her hooves and took a step back from me. “The best minds ponykind ever had created perfection to help the true patriots of Equestria. And you think some traitorous bird like yourself has the right to use it like a toy.”

As I finally got control of my lungs again, I forced myself to sit up again. Well, at least she had the same love of hearing herself talk that some of the other monsters I’d had the fortune of encountering on this trip. Hell, now that I know Solomon’s alive, maybe I should introduce them. I bet they’d have a blast seeing which one of them could expel more bullshit than the other…

“You turkeys are just like any other wastelander.” She smirked and glanced over at Hispano for just a moment, but then let her eyes come right back to my own. “You think that just because something's been sitting on a dusty shelf for a century or two you think it's yours. But then somepony from where you’re from could never appreciate old world tech, could you?”

“What’s that supposed to…?” The words tumbled from my muzzle, leaving it wide open by the time the mare’s strong swing came in at my gut again. My vision fuzzed more, and the medical warning flashed up for only a moment before disappearing again.

“She thinks you’re Enclave.” Hispano spat out.

“Points for the hatchling.” The mare smirked, turned, and then hit Hispano across the beak. Again, her swing was faster than I’d expected, but it exposed her just long enough to see that she wasn’t using a power hoof, and her leg wasn’t all that impressively muscled under her robe either. “However, you are done speaking unless I ask you a question.”

Hispano did her best to shake off the hit, and tweaked her beak as she shot a burning glare at the mare.

This was going to get me hit, but it’s worth it…

“Leave her alone.” I growled out. “You want someone to abuse? Then take your anger out on me…”

“No.” The mare swung her hoof up and pointed at me. Her muzzle twisted into a crooked smile as she leaned forward and gave my nose a light tap with her lithe hoof. Definitely not somepony who should be that strong... “I'm not angry at her. Why should I be when it's in their nature to lie, cheat, and take whatever they can?” She pulled her hoof back as she sat down again, but this time took a more ridged stance as her words turned cold and empty. “See, the thing about all you feathered types is... you were born to fly, not to think. Built to chase shiny things that aren’t yours and horde them in some filthy nest.”

“So…” Taking the chance of getting her to lash out again, I smirked. “Is being racist just your thing, or are the rest of your…”

To be fair, I’d made it farther than I’d expected.

“It's not racism, it's a fact of science!” She growled as she sprung up and hammered me across the muzzle. I could have sworn that somewhere, between the blinding stars in my eyes and the pain bleeding through my nose and talisman, that something was terribly wrong with this mare. “You don’t deserve to be considered part of ponykind. And the real Steel Rangers will soon enough wipe your impurities from the face of Equestria.” Shaking her hoof, she snarled at the sight of my blood sticking to her fetlock. “You may be filth, but I really do wish you’d be able to see that fight happen, and just how easily we’ll crush every last one of you.”

Goddesses, she really was like a miniature Coconut Curry wasn’t she? I guess I really didn’t appreciate how lucky we’d been to not run into more Rangers like these in the north. Then again, if there were more than just Coconut at Galloway, then I’m not sure there would even have been a north at all.

Still, she had the same problem as Curry, in that she was just so damned sure of herself.

“You’ll lose that fight.” I offered to her with as much of a bloody smile as I could manage. “Just like you lost the airfield.”

That got to her. Her legs trembled, and the longer my words sat with her, the more it looked like it literally worked its way under her skin. Finally, with a roar, she reared up to strike, and I did my best to cringe for the coming onslaught.

With a twist, she spun mid-swing and her hooves missed me, instead blindsiding Hispano. The first hit was hard enough that it snapped her head sideways with enough force that she nearly pulled her chair over onto the floor. The second and third hit made sure it tipped, and Hispano crashed down onto the damp carpet.

“Stop!” I didn’t know what else to scream at her. “Please, stop!” She… she shouldn’t have turned on Hispano. Why would she?

The mare screamed again, and just… kept swinging. My gut twisted and turned every time her hooves connected with Hispano, and after the first dozen hits, Hispano just… stopped flinching. It was all over in maybe twenty seconds, but… watching each furious swing made it feel like it drug on for hours.

Taking a single staggering step back, the mare sat down hard with blood coating her fetlocks. No… no way some skinny mare could beat Hispano to death. She was tougher than that.. tougher than me.

“Whew…” The mare sighed as she took a moment to breath deeply in and out a few times. “Sorry about that.” She smiled and lifted her bloody hoof up to brush back the parts of her white mane that had worked its way free of her robe’s hood. “I just… couldn’t stand staring at such an offensive face anymore.” As she shoved her hair back however, she inadvertently pushed her hood down, and I could see the fact that her ears were longer than normal. Longer than any pony’s ears.

“You’re a mule.” I couldn’t believe it. No wonder she was stronger and faster than I’d expected, I should have fucking guessed it! “You’re not even a real pony! You’re a goddess damned hypocrite!”

“No.” She lashed out with her words, but beamed a more profoundly twisted smile than before. “I am a Steel Ranger, like any other. A tool of righteousness to correct the corrupt hearts of ponykind by cutting away all that could drag it down into the darkness again. To my last breath, I will build our future. One of your kind will never understand our work.”

Shifting on her haunches, she picked herself up and carefully pulled her hood back over her head. Turning away from me, I could see her muzzle relax back to a neutral expression, like nothing she’d done even mattered.

‘You’re right though, I am a hypocrite.” She sighed before wrapping her hoof around the door handle. “But I’d still rather be a hypocrite half-pony with a dedicated and noble purpose, than a mutant like you.”

“I’m still a pony.”

“Are you though? Let’s review.” Even from where she stood, I could see her eye tick slightly. “Darker coloration on your… remaining lower hooves than your normal coat color is wrong. Stunted feather growth boosted by artificial means, along with signs that you’ve outright regrown a wing, which is wrong. Mottled skin pigmentation indicates exposure to radiation and chaotic magics extensive enough to have compromised your very cells. Which again, is wrong.” Pausing, again, she wore the smallest of smiles. “You used to be a pony. Now? I’m fairly certain I’ll be doing you a favor tonight by ending your wretched existence, mutie. But first, I need information.”

“What makes you think I’ll tell you anything?” I didn’t know how far I would be able to push this crazy mare, but I had to risk it. We needed some sort of opening I could take advantage of to get the upper hoof and get Hispano and I the fuck out of here.

Opening the door, she waved in a ranger. The stallion wasn’t particularly big or mean looking, but did wear painted over equestrian army combat armor over his robes. He gave a satisfied grunt as he stepped past the mare and used his hoof to draw a long, thin baton with a pair of metal tips forking out at the end. With a grip of his fetlock around a button, the rod crackled with magical sparks.

“Best answer Sentinel Velvet’s questions, girl.” The stallion’s sharp tone gave me the feeling that, like the mare, he didn’t care about us at all. With a smirk on his face, he pointed the shock prod at me and pressed it up against my augment. “Or don’t, I don’t give a shit. Just means more fun for me.”

“Wait, don’t...!” Sentinel Velvet called out as she basically leapt across the room at the stallion.

The sharp jolt the prod gave as he squeezed it’s grip again only lasted for a second, but it forced my back to arch and my wings to flare out hard against the chair I was in. My augment fuzzed and flashed up a dozen warnings that I couldn’t even focus on. Honestly, the pain sucked, but a small saving grace was watching as the Ranger mare decked the stallion right across the muzzle.

“You moron!” She snapped at him, tearing the prod from his hoof and turning it against the reeling stallion. “You could have permanently damaged the tech! And you call yourself a scribe.” With a merciless scowl pressed across her face, she gave the stallion a pair of long shocks with his own tool. “Fucking pick yourself up, stand at the door, and wait for me to finish, you incompetent oaf, or I’ll have you demoted back to file clerk duty tomorrow morning!”

“Y-yes, sir!” The stallion whimpered and scrambled to pick himself up.

My attention shifted back to the mare, who had closed her eyes and was seemingly trying to focus and calm herself.

We had a small problem now. This wasn’t a mare who would provide an opportunity for me to exploit. From that display, I got the feeling that she wasn’t the type to slip up in situations like this. No, our best bet of getting out of here alive meant waiting to try to convince somepony who could still be sympathetic to help us out. But that would take time, and it meant we’d have to go through this interrogation first.

“Now,” Sentinel Velvet straightened herself out and put on a small, but empty smile. “I’m owed some answers…”

And if the worst came to pass, and I couldn’t find an opportunity? Well, I just hope that Buck and the others would come charging in to save us. Yes, because having them assault an entire base of Rangers just to save us is definitely an option that wouldn’t end in disaster...

Please, Celestia, don’t let it come to that...

Stuffed back under the cover of the headsack again, I was led through the winding metro complex by more Ranger soldiers. I couldn’t be sure, but I’d hoped that one of the two guarding me had picked up Hispano. Wherever they were taking me, I probably wouldn’t have long to figure a way for us to get out of this place.

More so, we had to get back to the Rangers at the airfield. I don’t care how well intentioned the Elder was, these rangers made Coconut Curry look sane by comparison. No matter what was offered, if Sentinel Velvet was anything to go off of, these rangers weren’t ever going to listen to reason. Goddesses, why the fuck did we always have to stumble into these sorts of ponies?

Oh right, because it’s your destiny, Night! Not a curse, but destiny.

Though I couldn’t see anything outside of my hood really, a wave of cold air hit me as we turned a corner. What little light that bled through dimmed as whatever room we’d entered was kept fairly dark. The smell of rust, rot, and decay crept in under the hood, and I had to fight myself not to recoil on the spot.

“Hey, keep it moving.” One of the stallion’s escorting me snapped and shoved me forward.

I barely made it another few steps before something grabbed me by the neck and hooves and pinned me in place where I stood. Fuck, did they want me to move or not!?

The sound of a heavy latch flipping, along with the squelch of old metal filled the air. The pressure around my hooves and neck disappeared, and for a moment, I was left wondering what to do.

“Get in there.” The guard snapped again from my side.

Something slammed into me. I tried to keep on my hooves, but they caught on something and I came down hard onto the cold, concrete floor. The soldiers laughed as my head slammed down and again filled my vision with stars. Before I could pick myself up, the bag was ripped off my head just in time for me to see a magical aura holding Hispano’s unconscious form above me.

The soldier’s magic cut out, and she came down right on top of me.

“You fucking featherbrains have fun rotting in there for the night.” One of the soldiers called out as his horn glowed. The metal barred door I’d tripped through swung shut hard, and latched. A lock floated into view and was quickly snapped in place. “We’ll see you bright and early, so don’t go anywhere!”

“Fuck, don’t tell me they want us up early to deal with this garbage.” The other Ranger sighed as they turned away from the door. “This shit’s already taken me past my normal bunk time, and now we’ve got the early shift?”

“Hey, so we drew the short straws on this one, so what? You afraid you’ll miss all the action tomorrow?”

“Kinda?” The stallion sighed again as their voices drifted back out the door to the larger room these cells were in. “I just want to hit them where it hurts, you know?”

As their conversation became too muffled to hear, I finally took a long, deep breath to try to relax. Pushing whatever they were talking about aside, I focused on what was more important right now. As carefully as I could, I shifted Hispano off of me and onto the floor.

Her breathing was slow, and there was a soft wheeze to it, but she was alive. The light of wherever we’d been stuck wasn’t good enough for me to see more than just the outline of her face. What I could see of it was so bruised and matted with blood that it was hard to see just how bad a shape she was in.

“I’m sorry, Hispano.” I whispered to her as I reached over and pulled myself tightly against her.

“Me too…” She whispered back to me, followed with a soft groan as she reached up and gripped my hoof tightly with her talon. “Oh fuck that sucked…”

“You… you’re awake!” Thank Celestia above, she was going to be okay!

“You know I’m tougher than that. She hit like a wimp.” She moaned as she moved to push herself up. As she did, her talon slipped and she collapsed against me again. “A fairly strong wimp…”

“Hey, take it easy. You’re tough, sure, but not invincible.” I offered to her as I did my best to help her prop herself up again. “I’m just… glad you’re alright.”

“I’ll be alright when we get out of this nightmare.” She winced and nearly flopped over again, but held onto me tight instead. “The question now is… where are we?”

A soft gasp came from behind the two of us.

“Oh thank you, Celestia!” The raspy ghoul behind us pulled himself to his hooves as Hispano and I noticed the room tinting a bright balefire green. “They stuck me in this cell two days ago without anypony else, but now I won’t die alone! My name is Beam Bright, but my friends just call me Bright!”

We both shifted ourselves as the glowing Unicorn stepped towards us. Unlike the few glowing creatures I’d seen so far, this guy was slightly different. Mostly because the glow wasn’t coming from his veins or exposed muscle. Rather his bones and joints glowed so intensely that they showed right through his body. The only part of him that wasn’t glowing, was the nubby horn that stuck up above a tightly clamped anti-magic ring. If it weren’t for the excited pair of green eyes darting between Hispano and I, I might have accidentally thought he was a Rot addict.

Hispano acted quickly, holding out one talons towards the stallion while trying to pull the two of us back.

“Hey, hey, that’s far enough, buster.” She hissed at him. “Keep your glow over there with you.”

“Wait… you aren’t like me?” The ghoul blinked a few times before looking down at his own glowing hooves with a note of panic. With an energetic spring, he took a few steps back until he had pressed himself up against the wall. “Oh, oh I’m so sorry, I didn’t know you weren’t ghouls. I didn’t mean you any harm, I swear!”

“It’s… it’s fine.” Hispano grumbled as she pulled herself shakily up onto all fours. “No, we aren’t ghouls, and we’d like to stay that way.” Spinning around slowly, she and I took a look at this ‘cell’ we were in.

Just from what I could see, I could tell that this room hadn’t been here originally. The hasty job somepony had done on using a plasma torch on the steel walls and ceiling had left gaps between the poor welding job that somepony else had followed up with. The quality spoke volumes that the Rangers here must have built these cells in a hurry. Just enough work to hold a few ponies inside no matter how strong they were, but nothing more.

“If only Buck were here…”

“Where’s Buck when you need him?” Hispano sighed at the same time I spoke.

The two of us froze up, glancing at each other as light, but painful smiles pulled across our bruised faces. Despite everything that happened today, despite the bruises we wore, either on our skin or mentaly, that’s the one thing that hadn’t changed. The three of us knew we needed each other.

“Alright, Dum Dum.” Hispano sat down and crossed her talons across herself. “We need a plan.”

Pushing myself to my hooves, I made my way toward the barred door of our makeshift cell. Running my hooves along the poorly cut metal, I gave it a push, finding it as I’d figured, more solidly constructed than it looked. Instead, I pushed my gaze outside our cell to see what else we had around.

The room the cell had been constructed in was dark, but the few still humming fluorescent lights hanging from the ceiling gave me some sense of size and purpose. What looked like an old fashioned pair of steam boilers sat along the far wall, behind another set of cells just like ours. Hundreds of old, rusty and leaky pipes ran out from the boilers, up along the walls and across the ceiling like a giant spiderweb. Okay, we were in a boiler room. It’s not much, but it’s a start.

My eyes wandered back to the other cells I could see. While theirs seemed to be as hastily constructed as ours, maybe one of theirs had a flaw they could exploit. That is, if any occupants of those cells could be convinced to help, which as I’d slowly learned in the wastes, was a big ask...

The closest to us held a few ‘normal’ looking ghouls in it. Though, with the blank expressions on the faces of the few I could see, they were either incredibly tired, or had gone feral at some point.

The next closest cell seemed to be empty, or at least whoever was inside was seated far enough away from the slatted door that I couldn’t see them.

The farthest cell however, made me freeze up. A set of eyes peered through the shadows just beyond their door. The turquoise eyes that had locked onto me were tired, and from the steady glare they gave, they sent a chill down my spine. It was a gaze filled with a rage unparalleled by anything else known to me, or ponykind for that matter. The eyes shifted slightly closer toward the door, letting the dim room lighting illuminate the heavily bruised white coat and anti-magic ringed unicorn horn of the pony they belonged to.

“Rook.”

The one, seething word slipped from my muzzle as a black-hearted grin pulled across his muzzle.

A million thoughts raced through my head as my hooves wrapped around the barred door of our cell.

How do I get out of this cell? How do I get into his? How good will it feel when I strangle the last bit of life out of his smug fucking muzzle? My hooves squeezed at the bars unbearably tight as the last thought finally had it’s turn to come to light.

Why was he here in the first place?

“Sir, you are not going to believe this.” The venomous words slipped through Rook’s muzzle as it looked like he spoke in a way as to not disrupt the ear-to-ear grin threatening to split his head in half. “Guess who's likewise become a guest of our esteemed captors?”

I could feel my body pull myself against the door, muscles tightening in anticipation of once more seeing the one living being in the wastes I wanted to tear apart more than anything. Of course, Solomon strode up to the door of his cage like he wasn’t a prisoner. My hoof squeezed at the iron bars of my cell as he stood tall and proud, like he was still royalty. Worst of all, the moment his eye caught sight of me, the infuriating smug look he always wore spread across his slightly bruised muzzle.

“Well, what a pleasant turn of events.” Solomon’s words sent my pulse through the roof, and my body pressed against our cell door. If I could just get out of this cell, I would tear him apart with my own hooves. “It seems there is justice in the world after all.”

“Don’t you dare talk about justice.” I snapped at him and slammed my hoof on the door. “If there was any, you’d already be in the dirt ten times over.”

Solomon’s smug look diminished from that, and he let his sad gaze soak in my rage.

“Ah, no witty comeback? No calm and collected retort? After all we’ve shared, you offer just petty insults? Such a pity.” He shook his head and looked back at Rook who mirrored his look of disappointment. “It seems these Steel Rangers have beaten the adventurous adversarial spirit I so admired right out of you. I have greatly overestimated you as an adversary, Night Flight. Mrs. Delilah would be so disappointed…”

“Don’t fucking say her name!” I screamed at him and slammed my body against the door. “You don’t ever get to say her name you fucking bastards!”

“Oh look, sir,” Rook stifled a chuckle with his hoof, “I do believe you’ve touched on a nerve.”

I slammed myself against the door again with every bit of anger I still had left, and my augment fuzzed out for a moment. Pain lanced across my wreck of a body, and I nearly tumbled back onto the ground as I felt completely spent. If not for Hispano’s strong grasp catching and holding me up, I might have been fine with collapsing into a heap and giving up.

“If you’re not going to fuck off and die, then the least you could do is shut the fuck up.” She seethed through her beak as she held onto me as if a light breeze would cause me to fly away forever. “I don’t fucking like it, but we’re all in the same situation. So maybe for once, instead of antagonizing each other, we should try to work together to find a way out of it.”

“This is perfect!” Beam Bright spoke up in a sing-songy voice, "We're off, on the road to friendship!"

“We’re not FRIENDS.” All four of us shouted at nearly the same time, forcing Beam Bright to whimper and shrink down to the floor.

When he did, I watched as a glowing, red-hot outline of him in the back wall slowly faded away, and it sent a realization through me.

“How did I not see it before? Bright’s hot.” I blinked and turned my attention back to the rushed weld job securing the door to our cell.

“Night, now is not the time to add another weird fetish to your list.” Hispano groaned as she let go of me, nearly letting me fall to the floor again.

“No, no!” I gasped as I caught myself with my forehoof and nodded to Bright. “His glow creates heat, even with the anti-magic ring on his horn.”

“Y-yeah?” Bright nodded as he shared the same confused look plastered across Hispano’s face right now. “Those of us who are oversaturated with magical radiation attenuate our body’s glow to help ourselves maintain our health. The ring just stops me from casting spells.”

“So you can change how bright you glow at will?” I asked as I pushed myself to my hooves and did my best to coax Hispano towards Bright.

“Well, yes, but it would put you both in danger if I got much brighter.” He frowned deeper with each step I took closer to him. “S-stay back, I already can’t dim myself any further right now.”

“Night, what are you doing?” Hispano huffed and grabbed around my wing with her talon, dragging me to a stop. “Do you want magical radiation poisoning?”

“No, I want to get us out of here.” I offered and wrenched myself from her grasp. With another step forward, Beam gasped and pushed himself along the back wall to try to keep distance from us. “Look, we’re going to sit by the back wall, but I want you to stand by the door.”

“Okay, but… why?” Beam Bright nodded and quickly worked his way along the wall towards the front of the cell.

“Wait, that’s your plan?” Hispano gasped, this time grabbing my wing to drag me towards the back wall as she pressed herself up against it. “You think he can melt through the door? It’s made of steel, Night. We’d sooner catch fire if he could put out that much heat.”

“We don’t need to melt the door,” I sat down against the wall and used my hoof to point at the edges of it. “He just needs to weaken the welds holding the frame to the walls.”

“B-but,” Beam gasped with a horrified look across his face, “I can’t direct my glow! Putting out that much will irradiate you two far too much. It could kill you!”

“You think the Steel Rangers won’t?” I shook my head at him. “We can deal with the rad sickness once we’re out of here. But we’ll never get out without your help, Beam.” I could see the conflict behind his eyes. He wasn’t about to die in this cage, but even with our consent, he wasn’t about to so easily condemn a couple of strangers to a painful death.

“Fine, I’ll do it.” He nodded and sat down hard in front of the door. “But only if we free everypony.” With a sharper than expected glare, he stared right into my eyes. “Everypony works together to get each other out. Agreed?”

“Master Solomon and I find those terms, amenable.” Rook called out. A few of the ghouls in the cages around us likewise chimed in with affirmations as well.

Honestly, if anything, it was at least nice to see another pony defying the wasteland in favor of trying to do better and work together. It’s just a shame that’s not the kind of pony we needed right now.

“We all get out.” I nodded to Beam.

With a nod of his own, he closed his eyes and looked to focus himself. It didn’t take him more than a few slow, deep breaths before his glow started to brighten. The dampness in the air, and the cold numbness of the concrete under my hooves began to disappear as things started to heat up. A magical radiation warning came up in my vision, which I tried my best to ignore.

“You got a plan once we’re out, Dum Dum?” Hispano asked as she held onto my forehoof tightly.

“I hadn’t given any thought to it,” I muttered and scrunched up my muzzle. “but figured we’d get out first and then… I guess create a distraction?” Shrugging to her, I figured that like usual, we’d just wing it. “Can’t be hard to pull their attention away for a bit, right?”

Though, I guess it also depended on how much time it takes to get through the door, and how sick we are on the other side. Which, now that I think of it, might be a problem. What if we’re too sick to fight if we need to? There’s a whole base worth of rangers down here, and they aren’t just going to let us walk out of here.

Looking over at Hispano, I realized that if there was any chance to fight us out of here, she’d couldn’t be busy throwing up from rad sickness.

Shifting myself, I pushed away from the wall and spun myself out in front of her. Even only one step forward, I could feel the difference in the strength of Beam’s radiance on my wings and back. Yet another radiation warning popped up in my eye, this time flashing bright red. Planting my hooves on the concrete as the heat behind me intensified, I leaned in and pinned her back against the wall.

“Night, what are you doing!?” Her talons grabbed around my sides as she tried to shove me over. “Get your flank back against the wall!”

“I’m going to shield you as much as I can because you need to be able to fight.” I whispered to her. Even though I could see her frustrations worming under her skin, I knew she couldn’t disagree with that.

“This better not take more than one try then.” She huffed and hit me with a guilt filled sideways glance. “I’m not going to carry your ass out of here if you get too sick.”

My augment fuzzed out completely as the room tinted completely to a sickeningly bright green color. The warmth I’d felt on my skin grew into a torturous inferno. My hind leg and wings shook as I could all but feel the fur and feathers on them curling from the blistering energy pelting them. With a final flare as bright as Celestia’s great sun, the glow finally began to dim, and my augment booted back up. The sharp burning sensation dimmed down into a stiff, ebbing uncomfortableness in my back, but it allowed me to let out a breath I’d been holding.

“That… that should be good.” Panting and heaving, I could hear as Beam Bright stumbled back from the door.

“My turn.” Hispano huffed as she carefully moved me to the side. With a sharp flare of her wings, she knelt down onto the concrete and tensed herself up. “Here goes...!”

She shot forward like a compressed spring while giving her wings one single, hard flap. I was barely able to turn my head in time to watch her slam shoulder first into the glowing door like a cannonball. Her feathers sizzled against the bars for a moment like she’d landed in a hot skillet as both the bars and the welds holding the door bulged and sagged.

She whimpered and spun in the air, kicking with her hindpaws to throw her straight back into the cell. The effort finally stressed the weakened welds enough that they tore away, and dropped the bent frame forward onto the cold floor with a slam. At the same time, Hispano flopped onto the cold concrete with a cry, sending out a puff of smoke from under herself.

A small flame crackled on one of her longer head feathers, and she quickly reached up with a talon to snuff it out.

“Once again, griffon might saves the day.” Hispano grumbled from the floor. Honestly, I was just glad she managed to actually do it. “Still, that fucking sucked.”

“Yeah, but…” That was as far as I’d made it before my stomach twisted in my gut. With a stumble forward, the radiation in me threw a glowing thin line of yellow colored bile out of my muzzle. “Ugh… that’s new.” I’d never had glowing bile before, but it can’t be good…

“It… it worked.” Beam gasped as he stepped out through the still glowing, but empty door frame. “I can’t believe it.”

“Yes, now hurry and free us next!” Solomon demanded sharply.

I opened my muzzle to tell him to shut his mouth again, but as soon as I had, my stomach once again twisted in my gut. Along with the glowing bile this time, came a purplish-black grainy goop. After heaving a couple unhealthy helpings of the stuff out, my head had started to spin.

“Come on, we need to move.” Hispano’s voice in my ear was a welcomed distraction, along with the feeling of her talons helping me back to my hooves. “I don’t think we have long to find you some anti-rad meds.”

I nodded to her and let her help me step out over the swiftly cooling door of our makeshift cell. With each new step my muscles protested and felt stiffer than they ever had been, and even the dim lights above seemed to swirl slightly.

But as much as I felt like I just needed a moment to rest, Buck had warned me about this. He’d said the moment I laid down to rest in this sort of condition, I wouldn’t ever feel like getting up again. So I needed to keep moving. For his sake, for Hispano’s. For all three of us.

Still, as she turned us toward the door out of this makeshift prison, I pulled against her lead.

“Wait.” I managed to get out from my now sore throat. Turning my gaze back, I winced as the bright glow of Beam picked up next to Solomon’s cell door. “Beam…” Swallowing the feeling of needing to puke again, I was thankful to see he looked over at my call. “Thank you.” I wanted to say more, to tell him to be wary of helping Solomon, but I clamped my muzzle shut just short of throwing up.

“It won’t take long to free them all, but we’ll wait until you’ve distracted them.” Beam smiled and nodded. “Be careful out there.”

Relenting to Hispano’s helpful lead, we worked our way over to the door leading out to some bright metro maintenance hallway. With a slow and light touch, Hispano turned the handle and cracked it open. As soon as she had, the loud noise of construction and machinery echoed through the old tiled tunnels.

“This noise is good cover for the escape,” Hispano muttered to me as she adjusted her grasp to again make it easier for me to walk with her. “But, noise isn’t going to keep them from seeing us.”

“We just need to find a way out.” I offered again, feeling like my throat was on fire with each word I forced out.

“We’re not leaving with my sister.” She huffed and used her hindpaw to drag the door open for us. “No, what we need now, is a disguise. And I made certain to mentally mark a certain bitch’s office when they were dragging us here.” She pushed us out into the hall and into a slow walk. “Come on, I promise it’ll be quick.”

Honestly, I didn’t have the strength to complain, or fight. But I also didn’t want her to leave her sister here, and who knows if we left if we’d ever be able to get Suiza back. So with stiff steps and her leading the way, I kept my head high, and did my best not to look like I was about to keel over from severe magical radiation sickness.

After what felt like hours of wandering these halls, Hispano pulled us to a stop outside some rusty metal door. The inside of my head was thrumming like an arcane reactor when she brought her talon up and tapped at my sweat drenched cheeks. Just that little bit of muzzle-shaking did wonders to turn the various medical warnings in my eyes into unfocused, soupy red mush.

“Hey, you still with me Night?” Her voice barely beat out the pounding of my skull.

I opened my muzzle, but again, only soupy colors spilled out.

The world flopped end over end as I felt a solid warmth under me holding me up. Blinding radiant light filled my vision as my tired body tried to relax. I had no idea what was going on, but I was just glad to get a bit of a break.

Even though… what was I thinking earlier about breaks? Celestia, I can’t even remember because everything just feels so bad. Whatever, I’ll just lay here until I start to feel a bit better. Shouldn’t take long…

I was drowning.

Everything hurt, and I couldn’t breathe.

Coughing helped to push the liquid out of my lungs, but it also made every muscle and bone in my body feel like it was about to be torn in half.

“Suck it up, Night!” Hispano’s voice was stern as I felt an incredible pressure form around my muzzle.

The bitter taste of old plastic mixed with the copper of blood, and the retching taste of bile. With a sharp snap, my muzzle was forced up, and more liquid flooded my torn up throat. At the same moment, I felt a knife stab me between the ribs.

I couldn’t fight it and cried out, which only let the liquid in my muzzle flood my lungs again.

Wrenching her talon free of my muzzle, I doubled over and threw up. I forced out as much as I could between hacking coughs, but finally got control of my lungs. Only then did she pull one of her bloody talons back from my barrel. Fuck, what the fuck was she doing, trying to kill me?

I used my hoof to pull the packet of Radaway from my muzzle, and to wipe my teary eye clear enough to see I was in a small office-like room, laying under Hispano on a wet, velvet red carpet.

“Let’s not do that again, alright?” With a sigh, She took a deep breath and relaxed slightly. “Though I hope you’re done passing out, because we need to get moving.” With a shift of herself, she stood up and walked over me.

My eyes drifted from her, to the rest of the room. It at one point had probably been a respectable office, but it looked like the apocalypse had hit it a second time. Broken furniture, blood spatter, files strewn everywhere… this place had been through a hell of a fight.

I blinked as my eyes finally found Red Velvet slumped against the wall next to her desk. She’d been badly beaten, and half her face was nothing but a bloody, pulpy mess. Next to it was an open medkit, complete with a few empty healing potion bottles and roll of torn bandages.

With a flutter, something heavy came down through the air and covered my face.

“Come on already!” Hispano cooed roughly as I flailed at what turned out to be one of the Ranger’s crimson robes draped over me.

Holding the fabric in my hoof, I turned my gaze up toward Hispano, who quickly disappeared underneath Red Velvet’s silver trimmed robe. Before she pulled the hood up, she smiled at me through her jaundiced eyes and blood coated plumage, still slurping the last of the radaway I’d nearly choked on. Behind the fatigue in her eyes, there was a certain level of pride I don’t think any non-Talon could have ever understood.

“I know I look better than you do right now,” She adjusted the hood up so it hung over her beak enough that she could somewhat hide it. “But I don’t think these toasters will believe a griffon is their superior, let alone part of their ‘chapter’ in the first place. So I need you to do the talking for me, okay?” Carefully, she leaned and put her head to the wall as she tied off the robe with enough slack her wings wouldn’t show through. “Just try to act like I’m in a bad mood and rush us through, okay?”

“Alright…” I groaned, feeling my stomach churn with just that one word. Oh Celestia, why can’t I just be done with feeling terrible…

At that, my augment flashed on, booting up and at least dipping the pain in my body back into a cool and fuzzy nothingness. It wasn’t perfect though. With every muscle I stiffly moved, I still felt like my stomach pushed itself up into my throat.

“Oh, and Dum Dum?” Hispano twisted her beak as she caught my attention with a snap of her talons. “Try not to throw up all over the robes, it’s the only disguise we’ve got.” Going back to listening to the wall, she paused for a long moment. “Okay, I don’t hear anypony nearby. What’s the plan?”

“Well,” I grumbled as I finally managed to stiffly pull myself off the carpet covered in bile, sick and blood, and onto my hooves. “I… I figured we hit these rangers somewhere it hurts to pull their attention away from the cells.”

“That’s pretty much distraction one-oh-one, Dum Dum.” Hispano sighed and deadpanned at me. “But we’re already going to the armory. What could these toasters find more important than guns?”

Even though my head was still a bit fuzzy, glancing back at the slumped form of Red Velvet, her own words filtered back into my head.

“I’ll have you demoted back to file clerk duty!”

“I can think of one thing…”

My barrel pulled up into itself, and I again expelled a good heaping of bile out onto the floor between Hispano and I. With my augment once again stifling the pain, it was... uncomfortable to lose control of myself like that. But, to be fair, I’d rather not feel myself melting from the inside out, so I’ll deal with it. Plus, I had at least managed to mostly miss the bottom of my own robes with it, so at least I had that going for me.

“Remind me to give my thanks to a Ministry of Peace ghoul if we ever find one.” Hispano cooed as she studied the helpful Seaddle Metro maintenance tunnel diagram the M.o.P. had left plastered on almost every tunnel wall. “These posters are a lifesaver.”

The whole of the metro complex was bigger than I’d expected. The diagram showed whole interconnected sections of the old metro that had larger rooms spaced out evenly between them. Entire halls of bunks, storage warehouses, various cafeterias, medical rooms, and even a set of classrooms had been built down here during the war.

Now however, half of it had been painted over and marked as ‘impassible’, and a set of new tunnels had been hoof painted on, connecting at a few points with where I assumed the Seaddle Underground was. The main metro train tracks looked to be on the far side of the tunnels, and where most of their cargo and vehicles were being kept. It also happened to be near where the bunks, or ‘barracks’ as they’d marked it, was.

Good, then most of the Rangers would be as far from where they’d marked the ‘detention zone’ was as possible. Though, while that was true, the Armory wasn’t too far from them, and the ‘Archive’ room was even closer.

“Right… so, this way then.” She prodded her robe covered talon at a painted marker of a book on the old poster. “Archive’s just down the next tunnel.”

While the whole layout was something to behold, I was actually thankful the Rangers had left updates on the poster since they’d arrived.

I took the lead, letting her fall in behind my limping gait. As we got moving again, a pair of ponies in light blue coverall jumpsuits trotted around the corner ahead and paused when they saw us. Both Hispano and I dipped our muzzles down slightly as we approached, hoping they wouldn’t be too curious.

The two ponies both sat down hard and stiffly saluted.

“Evening, Sentinel Velvet!” Both ponies spoke in unison. “Looking forward to tomorrow’s operation.”

Looking as we passed, the jumpsuits they wore weren’t like any I’d seen any Ranger wear before. They were old and nearly ragged, but still held a logo of a smiling yellow pony silhouette, along with ‘Hoof It!’ printed in yellow letters under it.

Once Hispano and I had turned the corner, I could hear as the two ponies got to their hooves and got back to trotting down the hall away from us. Only then did I feel safe enough to tip my muzzle up again and look ahead. Several other rangers were milling and loudly chatting around a pallet jack loaded with rusty barrels down at the far end of the tunnel, but the blue painted door to the Ranger’s makeshift archive room was thankfully unoccupied and unguarded.

Trying to hurry but keep a low profile, I hobbled up to the door and quickly opened it. Of course, the two century old hinges let out a soul rending screech. It was so jarring that it almost tripped up Hispano as she turned into the open doorway. As soon as she was inside, I blinked as I realized that the hallway was completely quiet.

Giving a hesitant glance, I looked over to see the three ponies around the pallet jack staring over at me. As best I could without falling over, I used my hindleg to prop the door open and gave a light wave to them with my foreleg. My stomach chose that moment to do a few flips inside me, and as soon as they went back to chatting, I dove through the door, shut it, and promptly threw up on the carpet.

“Good job, Dum Dum.” Hispano smirked as made her way around a few stacks of boxes and a table covered in box after box of rolled up blueprints. She headed right to the back of the room, where a dimly glowing personal terminal sat crowded by yet more file-stuffed Ranger marked boxes. “Now give me a minute or two to set this up, and then we’ll double back for my sister.”

As Hispano got to work typing away at the small terminal, I wiped the sick from my muzzle and hobbled towards the cluttered nearby table. The same sort of boxes sitting on the table were stacked up ceiling high along the walls, as well as on top of rusting file cabinets that still showed the faded logo of the Seaddle Metro on them.

From what boxes were open around me, the only thing I knew for sure, was that the move into the metro must have been fast, because no box contained similar looking papers. Each box looked like they held technical diagrams, graphs and charts way too complex for me to begin to speculate what they were on. Others were pages filled with words printed in ultrafine print that I’m sure required some sort of magnifying glass to even read, mixed in with random pictures from the old world.

I cringed as a sharp, scraping sound filled the air. My attention shifted over to Hispano, who was twisting her spread talons around across the terminal screen. After gouging a rough circle into it, she pulled her talon back, balled it, and punched the screen. With a crunch, the center of the screen cracked inwards, and she quickly widened it into a nearly uniform hole.

“Alright.” She nodded, contented with herself before turning to me. “Hey, can you give me some of those scrolls?” With a snap of her talons again, she pointed at one of the open boxes on the table.

“So...” I offered as I hobbled over and pulled a few of the fairly large paper scrolls out. “How exactly is destroying a terminal screen going to start a fire?” Struggling to get my hoof securely around the five or six scrolls, one slipped out onto the floor. Hoofing the few I managed to get over into her waiting grasp, I leaned down and picked up the one I dropped.

Staring at it, I realized it was a blueprint for one of the bunkers over at Bow-wing field.

“I told the terminal to run a self diagnostic after a power cycle and talisman stress test.” Hispano spoke as she folded the scrolls over themselves before shoving them into the hole in the terminal screen. “A test which will begin in roughly five minutes, and that will bring the terminal systems to a nearly overheated state in just another minute or so after that.” With a few rough shoves, she made sure those papers were really wedged in the screen.

“That’s… pretty novel, actually!” I smirked and nodded, rolling up the blueprint in my hoof. “Did you learn that trick during Talon training?”

“Yeah, actually.” Hispano nodded as she joined me at the table. “I can show you how to do it later if you want.” With a bruised smile, she gave me a light pat on the side with her talon. “For now though, we should get moving.”

I tossed the scroll from my hoof onto the table, but paused as I looked at a blueprint that had already been pinned flat under some boxes. Like the one I picked up, it too was of Bow-wing field, but was for the layout of the main cargo container area where we’d seen all the ponies gathered for food on our way in. It was covered in marks and notes, as well as times and designations like ‘Simmer’, ‘Stew’, ‘Boil’ and ‘Bake’.

“Hey uh, what do you make of this?” I asked as she started to turn.

With a huff, she spun back around and gave a glance over the notations on the blueprint.

“Looks like a plan for an exercise, or attack.” She shrugged and began to turn, but stopped herself short. With a scrunch of her beak, she spun back and looked at the notes again. “Though… this is weird.”

“What is it?” The words tumbled from my muzzle shortly before a grumble from my stomach pushed it’s way up. Before I could even dry heave, Hispano’s talon had gripped my muzzle shut tight again.

“Do not throw up on this, Dum Dum.” She grunted while continuing to study the notes. Her eyes darted about, as if following some invisible guide. “See, that doesn’t make sense.” Releasing my muzzle, her talon swung up to a marked point in the center of the airfield map. “This is marked as the attack starting from here.”

“Yeah? Is that weird?” While I’d been able to pick up and work with a few ideas of how to plan out attacks in the wastes, I was hardly what you could call a strategic expert on the level of a Steel Ranger, or even a Talon merc.

“Yeah, I’ll say it’s weird.” She nodded and brought a talon up to her chin. “Who plans an attack from a location that you’d already have to control to be there in the first place?” Turning to me and pausing, I could tell she was waiting for me to pick up on something important she was laying out. But... I still didn’t get it, at all. With another huff, she deadpanned at me. “How is she going to attack the other rangers from inside their own own defenses?”

That, was a good point that my head was still too out of it to really think about at the moment.

The door to the room rattled hard as somepony knocked on it.

“Sentinel Velvet? Are you in here?” The dry voice of a stallion called out.

“Quick, get them to go away!” Hispano hissed at me and shoved me toward the door.

I stumbled from her shove, trying my best to hobble to the door quickly and get it open just enough that I could stick my hooded head out.

Again, the hinges screeched, making the brown coated stallion in Ranger combat armor outside it, cringe as much as I did. He was nearly twice my height, which made the armor look almost comically small as my eyes traced up his form towards his helmeted head. As soon as he nervously smiled down at me, I brought my muzzle down so he couldn’t see my face.

“Uh…” I tried to speak up. “Sentinel Velvet is occupied requisitioning an important file and is not to be disturbed.” With each new word I forced through my muzzle, I could feel my stomach inch further and further up my throat. “What do you need?”

“Doctor Prune wishes to speak with her.” The stallion replied stiffly as he leaned forward to look over me. “About the procedure she scheduled for an hour from now.”

“Procedure?”

I gasped and bit my tongue as I realized I’d fucking gone and done it again. Why couldn’t I just keep my muzzle shut for once!?

“The one she requested?” The stallion answered, letting himself hang there for a moment as I seriously thought about physically clamping my muzzle shut. Don’t ask what one, Night. In fact, don’t even fucking move. Just sit and wait for him to realize he needs to elaborate on his own. “The removal of a piece of prewar tech from a prisoner?”

“Oh right, that procedure.” I nervously forced out a sharp laugh from my muzzle. So sharp that it nearly made the guy jump back onto his hooves. “A procedure… that she ordered, yes. The procedure.” I swear I could feel Hispano’s burning gaze being cast on me. A gaze so forceful that it could probably turn the room into an inferno all on it’s own. Get on with it, Night. “Tell the good doctor that she’ll be by in a few minutes.”

“Ten minutes.” Hispano’s harsh whisper was just loud enough for me to hear, but sharp enough that it sent a large chill running down my spine.

“In uh… ten minutes, actually.” I forced out at the stallion. “If that will be all…?”

I let my words trail off as I stared at the large stallion’s unmoving hooves on the floor. Every second that ticked by without an answer or movement from him made my own legs feel like they were about to give out on me.. Which of course also made my insides feel like they had permission to start acting up again!

“She uh… okay in there?” The stallion leaned in and asked with a whisper. No no… don’t make me talk anymore. “This is a fairly last minute requisition notice, and the Sentinel is normally pretty forthright in scheduling requisitions...”

Something about how he asked that made something click in my head. This actually might be something I can use. Maybe I can talk my way out of this!

“Hey, between you and me, I wouldn’t bother her right now.” I lowered my voice to a whisper as well, which let me tell you, was hard to do with as sore a throat as I had. “She’s in a foul mood today. I don’t want to name names, but... another scribe nearly scrapped some tech during her interrogation, and I’ve been catching shit for the last hour because of it.”

“Shit, oh yeah! I’d heard Pot Roast screwed up earlier.” The stallion whispered as he took a small step back from the door. “You know, it’s still better than patrol duty among the muties in the city, but even so, I don’t envy the job you scribes have. No idea why Pot Roast felt the need to transfer, but… he’s your problem now.” Throwing one of his hooves up into a salute, he got to all fours and gave a light wave. “Anyway, I won’t keep you longer. Just make sure she gets to the doc.”

“Will do.” I nodded to him, giving a light wave to him as I slunk back inside and shut the door again. As soon as the latch clicked, I felt like I could relax again and took a deep breath.

Turning around, I found Hispano’s stern glare right in my face.

My reflexes kicked in, as did hers, and as I jumped back in fear, her quick talons kept my surprised yelp bottled up inside my muzzle.

“Leave out any of the latest hot ranger gossip, or you think you covered it all?” She grumbled as she pulled her talons back. “You fucking pen-pals with that guy now? We are on a time limit ya’ know.”

“You told me to cover because I’m the pony, and I covered, okay?” I fired back at her and sat down with a huff. Honestly, I was rather proud of the fact that I didn’t puke at all that whole conversation! Though, thinking about it now made my stomach do a flip. “Plus…” I did my best to quell the urge to puke once again, “it is my first day as a Ranger, so I think you could give me a bit of a break. Not all of us were raised to be mercenaries you know.”

“What did you just say?” Hispano snapped at me with a gasp. I looked up at her expecting a burning sideways glare, but instead saw a wide smile pull across her well bruised face. “You know what, you’re right! I should start teaching you!”

“That’s… that’s not what I meant…” Oh fuck, what did I just do?

“Can’t argue, it’s happening now, Dum Dum.” Her eyes sparkled with a unique sort of joy that I knew was just going to end up leaving me this sore every day for the rest of my natural life. “But, since this will start happening in a few minutes…” She gestured toward the back of the room before making sure her hood was back up over her head. “We should probably get to the Armory. Oh! Where I can start by teaching you how to prioritize and identify threats!”

“Alright, let’s go then.” I sighed, hoping that by this time tomorrow I didn’t regret becoming the newest Talon recruit in the wasteland.

That is, if we even made it out of here to be alive by this time tomorrow...

Author's Note

Like always, a huge thanks goes to TheFurryRailFan for helping me get the chapter out on time!

And of course, a huge thanks to Kkat for getting this whole party started!

And actually, a special thanks this chapter goes to RDFan628 for reaching out. It meant a lot, and our talk really did help me feel better about some of the decisions I'll have to make with the rest of the story. You're a true fan, and I'm so glad you've stuck through everything with such dedication.

Chapter 117 - Foxhole

Don't bring big grenades into small rooms.

“Good evening, Ma’am!”

Another pair of combat armored ponies stopped momentarily to throw up a salute as Hispano and I made our way past them. Without another word, they continued trotting down the hall as we approached what I was pretty sure was the armory door. So far, it was the only door we’d seen with metal plating welded securely onto it.

Hoofing at the thick cluster of rebar they’d replaced the standard handle with, I gave the hefty metal door a stiff tug. Unfortunately, the door didn’t move, and instead I pulled myself forward hard enough to slam my face against it.

“Let me get that for you, little guy.” Hispano muttered out through half a giggle as she pulled me back and took my place. “Don’t worry, Dum Dum. One day, you’ll grow up to be that big, strong mare you’ve always wanted to be.” With a forceful tug, she pulled the door open and couldn’t help but sneak a smirk at me from under her hood. “Well, ladies first.”

“I loosened it up for you.” I shot back with what I thought was a strikingly witty tone.

It helped me to feel smug, right until I hobbled one step through the door, and felt my forehoof slide out from right under me.

Flopping down muzzle first onto the floor, I coughed and hacked as the stench of oil and grease plugged up my nose. The sharp ringing of a tool from further in the room startled me, and I scrambled to get back up, but just kept slipping. It wasn’t until Hispano’s firm and… admittedly strong grasp wrapped around my waist to help me get on my hooves again.

Looking at the floor, I found a large pool of prismatic black oil under me. Tracks from pallet jacks cut out from every edge of the puddle, drawing long fine lines across the old concrete floor. They weaved, twisted, and curved around the dozens of stacks of bullet boxes, weapon cases, and other various supplies stacked on pallets around the room.

Entire pallets of old armored barding, rusting guns, field communications gear, and anything else you could ever want were neatly stacked and organized in this large room. Some of the boxes however, looked to have been recently opened. Their contents had been pulled out and placed into boxes on adjacent pallets. Like the outfits some of the rangers passing us had been wearing, these boxes were likewise labeled with the ‘Hoof it!’ business logo.

“In there.” Hispano whispered, nudging me to look straight toward the back of the room.

Another sturdy steel plated door sat a straight shot in front of us. Next to it, was were part of the wall had been recently forcefully chiseled out. A roll of rusty chain-linked fencing had been rolled across the rough hole like a makeshift patch to cover it up. On it, metal plates had been bolted, creating a nearly whole armored sheet that extended down to a rectangular slot that sat just above the chiseled edge of the wall.

“Are you alright?” A concerned mare spoke up from through the caged slit to the inside of the next room. A pair of bright yellow eyes peered out, looking around for a moment before landing on us with a gasp. “Oh! My, I’m sorry, I had no idea you were coming in, Sentinel! Otherwise I would have had them clean that spill before they left.”

“What?” I spat out as I struggled intensely not to reach my hoof up and wipe my face off. Only one forehoof, Night! Don’t fall on the floor again!

“Hey.” Hispano prodded me with a sharp whisper. “Say something back, before she causes a problem.”

Right, I’ve gotta speak for her.

“We… she wanted to make sure that uh, proper procedure was being followed for the prisoner’s items.” I tried to use my best authoritative voice as I turned my head side-on to the mare, hoping it would be good enough to hide my eye.

“Of course, I’m nearly done cataloging everything.” The mare called back, catching my oil covered grimace and immediately deciding that the floor was more comforting to look at. “Actually… uh… I’ve had a sort of problem with the last item. I can’t clear the chamber on it, and I was wondering, perhaps you could assist me with it?”

“Sweet.” Hispano whispered to me. “She’s going to let us in on her own.”

“Sweet.” I repeated without thinking.

“What?” The mare asked as Hispano kicked at my side sharply.

“Sweet spot!” I spat out. “She said she can find it.” Fucking get a grip, Night! We’re almost out of this place.

“Right, good.” The mare nodded, “Let me get the door for you.”

As Hispano helped me to carefully make my way over the rest of the oil slick, a sharp buzzing filled the air above us. A bell sounded as an unseen mechanism swung the metal door ahead of us open. Only a split second later did the yellow eyed mare poke her muzzle out hesitantly.

The moment she had, she gasped again and looked at the floor as we approached. Her hoof shot up in a sharp salute, as we passed through the door. As soon as we were through, she reached up and flipped a switch on the wall next to her. She moved to turn around, but paused. Turning back, she gave the switch a few more flips before sighing.

I couldn’t help myself.

“Something wrong?” The words tumbled from my muzzle.

“Third time this week the door’s jammed.” The mare sighed. “Gun’s stuck, door’s stuck. It’s just not been my night.” Turning, she pointed behind her. “Whatever, I’ll log another request for the morning shift. Anyway, the weapon in question is on the workbench. Let me show you the problem, then I’ll write up that repair request.”

The room back here was much smaller than I’d expected, being little more than a long hallway crammed with a few workbenches and about a dozen long racks. The racks were filled with labeled metal boxes as well as wooden boxes filled with ammunition and explosives of all types. On the closest workbench was the instantly recognizable bulk of a cannon that was Suiza.

“Honestly, I’m quite relieved that you stopped by!” The mare gave out a nervous laugh as she trotted back over to the bench, leaving Hispano to follow behind her. “I mean, you’re pretty much the expert on all sorts of ‘mutie’ weapons, and so I figured you could see what they did to it that I couldn’t.”

Reaching up, the mare firmly grasped around the charging handle for Suiza, which was locked forward for some reason. She gave a few hard tugs that ended up shifting the whole workbench on its legs.

“There’s no reason it should be jammed that I can see. In fact, it’s in immaculate condition for being in the claws of those savages.” The mare let out a frustrated sigh and took a step back, gesturing up at the bench. “But, I’m sure the fault lies with me, and that it needs a more experienced touch.”

“Well, first, you need to firmly grasp the bolt and draw it straight back,” Hispano spoke as she reached up and gripped around the bolt handle with a talon. “She only really likes to cycle in one, smooth motion…” Lifting her other talon up to the port, she pulled and made the whole action run as smooth as silk, extracting the large twenty milimeter round right into her waiting talon in a single second. “Just like that.”

“Oh wow, you make it look so easy…!” The words died in the mare’s throat as her eyes locked on the talons in front of her. “Hey, wait a minute, you’re not…!”

That was as far as the mare made it before Hispano flipped the round in her talon and literally shoved it down the mare’s throat.

Her yellow eyes went wide as she sputtered and choked on the large autocannon round, flailing her hooves up at her muzzle to try to get it out. It left Hispano free to sneak in under her panicked eyes with a clenched talon and come up right under her chin with it.

I reflexively cringed as I could hear the mare’s teeth crack around the back of the steel casing. That, or it was a crack from her neck as Hispano’s uppercut forced the mare stiff as she collapsed to the floor. That… was one hell of a sucker-punch...

Taking a single breath, Hispano looked over at me with her now patented annoyed glare. “Do you have to try to make friends with everypony you see?”

“What? I wasn’t!” Again, she wanted me to be the one to speak! Why was this suddenly my fault!?

Hispano opened her beak to speak, but paused as we both heard the first metal door to the armory open up, and quick hoofsteps headed towards us. Quicker to act than me, she turned and started to work at the clamps holding Suiza down on the bench.

“There, that door’s open.” The whisper of a voice came in through the still stuck door behind me.

Shit, grab a weapon! Looking down at the mare on the floor, my eyes raced over her form. She wore the same ‘Hoof it!’ jumpsuit some of the other rangers did, but was completely unarmed. My eyes darted to the wooden box her head was resting on, and the set of silver objects inside of it.

As the hoofsteps got unbearably close, I reached my hoof in and grasped one of the objects in my fetlock. Spinning, I raised it up toward the shadows that grew along the floor and wall as the ponies approached. Blinking, I stared at the silver metal ring-like stem to the apple shaped explosive in my hoof. Through the ring however, I watched the approaching figures flail to a stop in front of Hispano and I.

The bewildered and frankly startled gazes of Rook and Solomon were both focused on the grenade in my hoof. Now that they were in a place with better lighting, I could see that for as bad as Hispano and I had gotten it from Velvet, they’d suffered pretty much the same as we had. Outside of his shiny, perfectly untouched brass cyberleg, there wasn’t a spot on Rook’s body that wasn’t discolored or scraped open from the beating he took. Solomon on the other hoof, seemed to have gotten off easier, though he still looked worse than I did. Well, it’s still not as bad as I’m about to make it...

Smirking, I instinctively reached up my other forehoof to pull the pin… and then remembered I didn’t have another forehoof.

“Fuck it.” Hispano grunted as she dropped the recently liberated Suiza in favor of snatching the grenade right from my hoof. With her other talon, she threaded a claw through the ring-stem and glared at the two. To at least my surprise, Solomon took a single step back.

“No.” Rook spoke up harshly, reaching back and placing his hoof on Solomon’s bruised chest. “It’s a bluff. They’ll die, and we can still run out the door.”

As if there was actually some great force of ironic justice out there, the motor in the second armory door shot out a series of sparks that rained down on them. They both shrank down as the motor went into double time and slammed the heavy steel door closed behind them. As the slam rang through my ears, a puff of smoke filtered out from the edges of the door as the motor died completely.

Solomon gave a nervous kick against the door, cringing as it didn’t budge at all. “The door’s stuck!”

“The door is stuck.” Rook sighed as what sounded like the last bit of hope drained out of him. “Of course it is, sir.”

“What do you think, Night?” Hispano cooed softly as she held the grenade out toward them stiffly. “You think it would be a fair trade?” With a smirk tugging at her bruised face, she glanced at me with her tired eyes. “Might be worth it.”

“Now now!” Solomon’s shaky voice spoke up. “Let’s think this through! Surely, we must endeavor to work together in order to get out of here?”

Something about his words hit me hard, and tore my mind right down the middle. For one, I’d never, ever wanted to hear his voice again. But the fear I could hear in it, now that sent a spark of joy through me on the level that only Buck or Hispano could have given.

“Well, we were the distraction.” Hispano snipped at him, once more causing him to recoil and stay behind Rook’s defensive stance. “You were supposed to leave with the others when the alarms go off in like, two minutes!”

“Yes, well…” Rook’s posture didn’t waver. No he was more comfortable in this situation than Solomon ever could be. However, his pause and searching glance were just as nervous as the sniveling and frightened Saddle Arabian behind him. He didn’t recover until his eyes landed on the floor next to Hispano. “Like with you, Master Solomon’s equipment is quite valuable, and he refuses to simply leave it behind.”

Rook’s eyes shifted again, bouncing up to the grenade in Hispano’s hoof, and then straight over to my glare. He tried to focus himself, hardening his gaze into the same sort of cold look he’d given me when I’d ‘stolen’ Solomon’s motorcar outside of Mare’s Lake. However, this time, he couldn’t fool me. Despite however superior he and Solomon saw themselves as compared to us, he knew we beat them again at this game we just kept finding ourselves playing.

Because to them, it was always about winning.

“No.” I spat out as a smile split my own muzzle. “I think the real reason is that we weren’t supposed to be in here yet.”

“No… you don’t think that they…?” Hispano glanced at me for only half a moment before she giggled and shook her head at them. “You sneaky fuckers were going to ambush us, weren’t you! How did you even get past all the rangers roaming the halls!?” Her giggle turned into a full, hearty laugh that I couldn’t help but join in on. “I’m not even mad, I’m actually kinda impressed.”

Both Rook and Solomon even smirked and let out their own, forced chuckles.

“Well now, you can hardly blame us for trying to get a leg up, can you?” Solomon’s light hearted tone cut through Hispano’s laugh like a freshly sharpened razor. The soft click of Hispano pulling out the stem on the grenade however, cut through Solomon’s smirk just as easily. “Though, I do uh… however, see how that was a poor move to make in hindsight.”

Hispano’s grip strained around the curved spoon around the apple shaped explosive, but with a dexterous claw, she used her other talon to slip the pin back in place.

All four of us froze as the sound of the door to the hallway opening up.

“Oh, what’s that smell?” The disgruntled voice of an elderly stallion called out as the sound of his hoofsteps came to an abrupt stop. “And a leak from one of the grease drums? There better be a good explanation for this...”

The stallion who’d entered wore flowing robes that were even more ornate than Red Velvet’s had been. A dozen old equestrian military medals jingled against each other as the pony tried his best to wipe the prismatic oil from the otherwise immaculately clean white robes. The burnished orange coat of the stallion held notes of grey and silver to it that matched the long, braided beard of the elderly earth pony. With a sigh, he pulled back his hood and revealed a head so bare of fur that it shined like a beacon under even the dim lighting of the other room.

Hispano, always quick to think, dropped to the floor out of sight, while Solomon and Rook both backed up and pressed themselves against the wall near the burned out door. Me? Well, I was still in the… unique position of being the best disguised of any of us right now, so I simply sat down at the window and watched him approach.

“You there, where is the quartermaster?” He gestured to me with a grunt before pointing back behind him. “And… oh, those robes. You are the scribe with Sentinel Velvet tonight? I’d like to speak with her as well.”

“I’m sorry, uh…” I offered and looked at the floor. My glance wandered over to the mare Hispano had dropped, and part of me wondered if she was just unconscious or if she was dead. “She stepped out a few minutes ago with the quartermaster, you just missed her… er, them.” I caught a glance of Hispano waving her talon at me from the floor. Focusing on her for a moment, she gestured for me to wrap things up quickly. “Is there something I can do for you?”

“Something you can do for you, elder.” The stallion grunted. “I can forgive your indiscretion this time, we’ve had a busy few days preparing for this operation. However, if you wish to stay with the rangers, you would do well to adhere to proper protocol, scribe initiate. I’m surprised Sentinel Velvet hasn’t drilled that into you yet.”

“Yes sir, Elder.” I forced out with my best imitation salute I could muster. Still, of course this was Elder Pilaf. Thank Celestia for the steel window obscuring most of me and for the fact that he obviously didn’t care to know who was who under his command!

“As for what you can do for me,” He sighed and once again gestured behind himself. “I’d like you to start by cleaning up that mess at the door.”

“I’m sorry, Elder, but I can’t do that.” I think my words came as a bit of a slap in the face to him, because he went stiff and scrunched up his muzzle at my quick reply. A sharp jolt along my foreleg drew my attention to Hispano, who was angrily glaring up at me. I get it, make him go away! “It’s just, you see, the motor of the door here was acting up again earlier, and I think it died when the quartermaster and the Sentinel left.”

“Ugh.” The elder brought his forehoof up to facehoof himself, but stopped just short when he realized it was still coated in the oil from the door. “I was assured that this problem had already been resolved.” With a dismissive wave, he turned and swiftly trotted up to the door. Uh… what was he doing? “No matter, the trick to these motors is that percussive maintenance normally solves the problem in the short term.”

Glancing over to Solomon and Rook, their fear filled gazes were locked right on the door they were cowering against. Don’t get me wrong, it felt good to see that they could be even more scared than earlier. But, if that door opened and he saw them…

“I’ll just give it a firm kick or two…” The elder groaned as he lined himself up with the door, spun on his forehooves, and jabbed out with his hind legs.

The door rang and shuddered from the healthy strikes to it. The motor above let out another painful whine and showered us with sparks once more. As we all looked on, we waited for it to grind to life and for the door to swing open. However, with another puff of smoke, the motor returned to silence once more.

“Hrumph.” The elder muttered as he stepped away from the door. “I suppose I’ll have to retask a few scribes to fix this issue by the end of shift.” Turning himself back towards the hallway door, he shot a glance back toward me. As he did, I turned my muzzle away and kept my eyes down on Hispano’s annoyed expression. “But know this. I will be having a discussion with the quartermaster about the state of this place. Faulty motor or no, she should not have left an initiate in charge.”

“Of course, Elder.” I replied with a firm nod. Good, now just turn and leave. I’m sure that Hispano’s little distraction will be more important than us any moment now…

The sound of the hallway door slamming open startled both the Elder and I, drawing my gaze up to it. Frantic hoofsteps in the halls beyond were joined by panicked shouts of ponys. A worried looking stallion in combat armor struggled to get through the doorway.

Wow, I couldn’t have guessed the timing on that any better if I’d tried!

“What is the meaning of this!” The Elder spat out.

“I’m sorry, Elder.” The combat armored stallion grunted as he pushed himself forward, dragging the bloody form of Red Velvet through the doorway with him. She looked just as bad off as Hispano had left her, but she was very much alive, and from the burning glare on her face, very much angry. “We found her like this in her room.”

“I was ambushed by two of the prisoners.” Red Velvet spat blood from her battered muzzle as she spoke, either shaking from her wounds, or strictly out of pure rage. “I don’t know how they got out, but they couldn’t have gotten...” Her gaze shifted up for only a moment, glancing over at me only in passing before her words died in her throat.

Well, that’s not good.

“So, you didn’t kill her?” I blinked and glanced down at Hispano. In an instant, her annoyed glare at me had been replaced by a scrunched beak and a want to be anywhere but here right now.

“Again, you and Buck are getting to me and it sucks.” She hissed and crossed her talons in a huff. “I knew it was a bad idea, but no, ‘killing is bad’! Give me a break! At least I’m trying to figure out how to be better.”

“That’s one of them!” Red Velvet roared as she twisted herself in the soldierpony’s grasp. With a growl she managed to get her muzzle around his service pistol, but struggled to slip it from it’s holster.

“Well, if you want to fix that, now’s your chance!” I called out as I wrapped my forehoof around her talon and tried to pull her up. Instead, my tug stripped the grenade from her claw while her other talon remained holding the stem-like pin. The sharp ‘ping’ of the apple’s metal spoon flipping off made even Red Velvet pause for a moment as I realized what I’d done.

With a twist of my leg, I hurled the small explosive through the rectangular slot. Both the Elder and Velvet went wide eyed as the apple bounced across the floor toward them. They both scrambled to get to the hallway for cover. However, the armored stallion standing in the doorway seemed completely frozen in fear as the small metal orb gave one final bounce.

A sharp yank from Hispano pulled me down onto the floor just in time.

The blast sent a plume of pummeled concrete and smoke through the armored hole, and my hearing was instantly replaced with an echoing ring. Honestly, it took me a few moments of laying on the floor with Hispano for the gravity of what had just happened to hit me.

I think I’d just murdered the Elder of the Seaddle Steel Rangers…

Well, is it really murder when they were going to kill us first? No, they had every chance to talk with us and chose this. Will the Bow-Wing rangers see it that way? Fuck, hopefully I didn’t just blow up any chance of keeping our deal to fix the Arcturus.

A good tap on the shoulder from Hispano drew my attention to where she was pointing. My eyes followed to see both Rook and Solomon making their way around the two of us towards the sealed boxes at the far end of our room. With another wave of her talon, Hispano pointed to herself, then to the boxes. With a prod against my chest, she pointed at the box next to us filled with more of the small silver apples, then up to the slot above.

I nodded, and both of us helped each other up off the floor.

As she got back on all fours, Hispano quickly got Suiza strapped to herself again. Contented, she dragged the box of grenades over to me, leaving me to defend us as she moved to race Solomon and Rook to find our gear first. The two of them had a bit of a head start, and were eagerly stripping the sealed boxes from the shelves and tearing through them. Though, with Rook’s horn still out of commission from the anti-magic ring, and Solomon hesitant to touch anything at all that was remotely dirty, something told me that Hispano would be winning that race.

Movement caught my attention from the corner of my good eye, and I peered through the still clearing smoke of the blast. Rangers wearing the ‘hoof it’ jumpsuits were just arriving in the hallway beyond. They quickly dragged the mangled and bloodied form of the soldier from the doorway, and peered in to find the pulped body of the elder half-splattered against the blast-pitted doorway itself.

A red foreleg reached out and shoved the two gawking rangers out of the way. Wobbly and somehow sporting an even more furious glare than before, Red Velvet stumbled forward. She braced herself against the doorway as her eyes once again found mine, and she adjusted the combat pistol in her muzzle.

I barely ducked in time before a few sparking shots slammed into the wall behind me. Shit! Okay, so maybe she’s just a little angry at us. Thankfully, I’ve got the tools I need to remedy this right in front of me!

Grabbing another of the apple grenades from the box, I bit down on it’s stem and yanked.

Without being able to fully stand up without getting shot, I did my best to toss the apple through the rectangular opening. I’m sure it didn’t go as far as the first throw, but it would at least keep more ponies from taking pot-shots at us for the moment!

The sharp blast of the grenade sent another cloud of concrete dust billowing through the rectangular slot. Reaching out, I grabbed yet another grenade. With it held tightly in hoof, I lifted my head up to the armored slot to peer out.

Sparks flew from the corner of the cage as several poorly aimed shots punched through the smoke. My head was jarred sideways and a medical warning came up in my vision as my left ear was clipped by a round. Pulling myself back, I instinctively reached up and felt at my ear. Thankfully the talisman in my head was working, because I couldn’t feel the pain from it at all.

Still, the sight of blood coating the grenade in my forehoof sent a spike of anger through me. I put the pin in my muzzle and pulled, as well as loosened my hoof just enough to let the metal spoon fly off. Holding it for a single second, I held my breath and then put as much force into throwing it through the slot as I could.

A few more inaccurate shots sparked off the wall and cage as the grenade flew into the next room, and I ducked back under the safety of the wall.

As the third blast washed over me, I blinked as I noticed a box of cloth tanker’s helmets next to where the grenades had been stored. They were of the same design as the one’s Boiler and Delilah had used back on the convoy, and with an idea in my head, I reached out and slid the box over.

It was a bit of a pain to get on with a single hoof, but I’d managed to get one wrapped around my skull securely enough that I could button it up. Other than the ringing the three grenades had left in my ears, the moment the muzzle strap snapped on, the world was dipped into a familiar silence. Thank Celestia, these things still work!

With the serene artificial quiet of the helmet’s magic helping me to focus, I took a moment to peek up at the door to the hallway.

While it was still tough to see through the fairly thick smoke, there wasn’t anypony eager to peek out and shoot back at us for the moment. In fact, one of the jumpsuit ponies must have chosen a poor moment to try to get past the door, because their body now lay splayed on the floor over the first soldier’s in the hall. Still, as nice as it was to have caught a break, this wouldn’t last forever.

Taking another helmet in my grasp, I reached up and threw it at Hispano. Unfortunately, my aim left a lot to be desired, and I ended up slapping Rook right across the muzzle with it. He shot me an angry glare before looking down at the helmet curiously. As I grabbed another helmet to attempt to get to Hispano, Rook surprisingly picked up the one at his hooves and put it on.

This time, my aim was spot on, and I slapped Hispano right across her beak with the tanker’s helmet.

“I hope you know…” His voice was mostly drowned out by the ringing in my head, but at least I could hear him at all. “As fun as this has been, as soon as I find our gear and fix my horn, Master Solomon and I will be leaving you two to your mess here.”

“Yeah…” I grunted as I wrapped my fetlock around another apple grenade and smiled widely at Rook’s unamused expression. “You even think about touching your horn, and we’re all going to find out how fun tonight can get.”

“Typical.” Hispano snorted as she got her helmet fitted snugly over her plumage. “The first thing I hear is Night talking about touching somepony’s horn and having some fun.” With a smirk, she tore open yet another box and dumped out it’s contents beside the dozen others she’d opened so far. “How about you boys save it for the bedroom and play nice for now so the Steel Rangers don’t barge in here and, I don’t know, kill us all?”

To punctuate her words, a few sparking shots tore through the hole in the cage from the hallway again. I only had a moment to glance out, but spotted the bulky form of a pony in power armor stepping up to the doorway. Well, that’s not good!

“Then I'd appreciate it if we could move this along, Hispano!” I snapped back to them as the two miniguns strapped to the power armor spun up.

I ducked back down and shut my eyes as the pair of firearms unleashed twin sprays of fire against the armored cage. Holes bloomed in the armored plates as the blistering rate of fire literally bludgeoned it’s way through.

“Hey, I'm not the one with the easy job!” Hispano squawked back as she dug into the pile of junk she’d poured onto the floor.

“Easy!?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! Pulling the pin to the next apple grenade with my teeth, I took a moment to wait for a pause in the sweeping minigun fire to again toss the grenade out. “You call holding off an entire base of pissed off Steel Rangers easy!?”

“It's not hard to throw grenades, Night!” She fired back through a growl.

“It really isn’t.” Rook retorted as he pulled another box from the shelf.

“Hey, you know what?” Hispano snapped as she pulled what looked like a rusty old sword from her pile. With a jab at Rook, she firmly got his attention. “Thanks for volunteering to help defend us! Now, keep your muzzle shut and start tossing grenades, or...” She turned the old blade towards Solomon, who was oh so blissfully unaware while still carefully sorting through his own pile of junk he’d made.

“Okay, okay.” Rook held a hoof up to her. With a sideways glance, he stepped away from the boxes and over toward me. “I relent that you may have a point, and I will comply. However, have you given any thought as to how we are to escape this predicament?” He smirked as he kept his head down, slowly reaching his brass cyberhoof into the box of grenades. “This obviously wasn’t your original plan, however, if you haven’t noticed, there seems to be only one way out of this room.”

As much as I hated to admit it, he raised a fair point. Right now, the only path to freedom ran right through an entire army of Steel Rangers who were probably only slightly angry that we’d killed their Elder. Yeah, this… this wasn’t exactly a great situation we’d found ourselves in.

“It’s easy!” Hispano fired back with more confidence in her voice than could have been warranted given the circumstances. “We’re locked inside the one room with all the ammo and explosives. Use them for fuck’s sake!”

Taking a moment to pull herself away from the boxes of things, she hopped over and pulled another few wooden boxes out from under the workbenches beside us and dumped them onto the floor. More grenades, mines, rockets, and even a few glowing balefire eggs scattered at our hooves.

“If we die in here, I’ll tell you exactly why!” She snapped at us as she snatched one of the large anti-personnel mines in her talons and flipped a switch on it. “You. Didn’t. Throw. Enough. Grenades!” With a frisbee-like toss, she flung the flat, pancake-like mine out of the armored slot before spinning around and heading back to the boxes. “You should be throwing grenades as I say this!”

Begrudgingly, Rook took the grenade in his hoof and brought it to his muzzle. He looked at it hesitantly, then over at me. I could see the same urge I’d felt course through his mind for a single moment. It would be so easy to pull the pin and kill us right here and now. But his gaze shifted, not actually to anything else, but in the vague direction of Solomon. As it did, he pulled the pin and tossed the grenade through the slot.

Before his grenade went off, another shower of bullets sprayed against the armored wall. More holes opened up in the quickly wearing plates above us, and some of the links they were anchored to shredded away. If this kept up, before long they’d open a slot big enough to get their own grenades through.

Scooping another grenade pin into my muzzle, I pulled it and tossed the grenade with an arc through the opening they’d made.

“Fucking finally!” Hispano gasped, pulling both Rook and my attention over to her.

From out of the box in her claws, she pulled out my subgun and flight rig. Along with it, she pulled out the holster for Baby, getting it secured to herself before drawing the robust pistol itself out of the box. With a wide smile across her bloody beak, she pointed it at the still unaware Solomon.

Rook moved faster than I could react. In a single moment, he’d gotten to his hooves and had slammed into the back of Solomon. The two of them went down in a heap to the floor, while Hispano frowned and looked at Baby. With a quick ejection of the mag, she sighed as she found it empty.

“What are you doing!?” Rook snapped at her as he scrambled to get up off of Solomon. “We had a deal!”

As soon as he’d gotten to his hooves, he raised his brass leg up like a club. He stopped dead in his tracks however as Hispano handily swiped up the rusty sword from before and pointed it at him. Again, I could almost see the thoughts running through Rook’s mind. With his experience and expertise from guarding Solomon, he could most likely disarm and kill Hispano. But his gaze shifted ever so slightly back toward me, and again his rational mind surely told him there could be no protecting Solomon if he followed through.

Solomon, now furiously yelling even though we couldn’t hear him, got up to his hooves and turned toward Hispano with an empty box angrily gripped in his hoof. His shouting lasted only long enough until the point of the sword shifted toward him.

“You can hardly blame me for trying, right?” Hispano cooed as she jabbed the sword at him, causing Rook to again take up a stance between them. “Now calm him down and get back to work.” With a flip of her other talon, she smoothly put Baby back into her holster. As she did, she paused for a moment and looked over at me with a puzzled expression. “Wait, why is it quiet?”

Blinking, I realized that after the last grenade, the shooting back had stopped.

Surely they hadn’t given up. Grabbing another grenade, I hovered it close to my muzzle. Though, maybe they’d had enough explosions for one night and at least wanted to talk? Leaning myself forward and stretching my neck up, I moved to peek through the slot. Again, I simply blinked as I saw the power armored ranger with the miniguns step aside for another power armored ranger to take his place.

Only this one had a pair of rocket launchers strapped to his armor.

Gasping, I bit down on the grenade and scrambled over towards the others. I’d made it a few hobbling steps toward Solomon before Rook tried to get in my way. Unfortunately for him, it was a poor move at the time.

The air behind me felt like it ignited, burning me through my augment for a split second as it fuzzed. My wings snapped forward, and all of me was propelled right into Rook, who was in turn thrown back onto Solomon. A dozen warnings popped up in my vision as bits of shrapnel and rock lanced at all three of us as we skid and rolled across the concrete floors.

Doing my best to shake off the blast, and get back to fighting, I spit the grenade into my hoof. As I picked myself up, I looked back through the clearing cloud of dust and smoke. The shredded and twisted remains of the metal door to the armory lay scattered across the floor. A floor that I could feel heavy rhythmic stomps resonate through. Sure enough, the bulky silver form of the power armored ranger with the miniguns pushed through the wafting smoke.

Looking at the grenade in my hoof, I knew that it wasn’t going to be enough to get through the armor. A glow beside me however caught my eye, and I traded my grenade for the balefire egg that had ended up rolling beside me. Yeah, that’ll probably do the trick...

A flash of magic filled the air in front of me, and a familiar glowing pony stood with a smile. Though bleeding glowing blood from where the antimagic ring had previously been secured to his horn, Beam was otherwise untouched and glowing brighter than the egg in my hoof. With a gasp, he used his magic to strip the glowing egg from my hoof, and at the same time, envelop me in his magic.

With a dizzyingly disorienting pop that left me momentarily blind, I found myself weightless…

Until I smacked down against the floor again.

Rubbing at my eyes to try to clear my vision, I was startled as the whole floor shook under me. Hispano let out a surprised squawk, and Rook let out a confused grunt as well. What? What did Beam just do to us?

“What the fuck just happened!?” Hispano spat out before my own words could find their way from my mind to my muzzle.

There was a soft tug at my head that made me jump. Before I could protest, I felt the cloth helmet get peeled off of me, and the dull ringing in my ears was joined with the sound of voices and hoofsteps all around. As my eyes began to clear, I could somewhat make out the rounded shape of the tunnel of the underground, as well as the glowing form of Beam levitating the tanker helmets off of Hispano and Rook.

“There you go, friends!” He laughed as he helped a very confused looking Solomon up to his hooves. “I and the others managed to get out thanks to your excellent distraction, but I couldn’t just leave you there without returning the favor! And from my work in the metro tunnels before the war, I had a pretty good idea of where to find you!”

“What?” The words tumbled out of my muzzle as I got to my hooves. As soon as I had, Solomon’s frantic retreat bowled me over as he scrambled to get as far from Beam as he could. “Hey!” I whimpered as I flopped to the floor again.

“It… it touched me!” He hissed and favored the hoof Beam had held. “Rook! I demand you do something about this!”

“I would gladly, sir, however…” With a grumble, Rook pointed to the ring still firmly secured around his horn. “I am still quite inconvenienced.”

“Oh! Let me help you with that!” Beam smiled as his bleeding horn glowed brighter than his bones. With a flash, a rusty metal toolbox appeared at his hooves, and he got to work digging through it. “Let’s see, I just used you… you couldn’t have gotten far...”

“Hey, Night.” Hispano called out as she quickly made her way to my side. Without waiting, she tossed my flight harness over to me. “Get this on and let’s get out of here.”

“Aha! Here it is!” Beam gasped and pulled out a tarnished and pitted red handled screwdriver. “Now just hold still, this might hurt for the first few moments…”

While Beam got to work on Rook’s horn, I likewise got to my hooves again and started strapping my harness back on. While I could see that the clear magazine for my subgun was empty for the moment, at least I could be thankful the Steel Rangers hadn’t stored them separately. And hey! It lasted through the fight without getting destroyed, which was definitely a win given my track record with guns so far.

“Holy shit!” Hispano giggled as she felt around in her reclaimed saddlebags. With a smile so wide it threatened to tear her head right off her neck, she drew out a single red tipped twenty millimeter round in her talon. “They missed one!”

Blinking at it, I turned my eyes up to her as she turned hers onto mine. A single shared thought flashed between us, and before I knew it, I was smiling as wide as her. Slowly, we both turned our eyes on the quickly shrinking and battered form of Solomon.

With a flip of the round in her talon, she used her bruised body to swing Suiza around on her sling. Lifting my hoof up, I caught the end of the barrel, holding it steady as she made short work of opening Suiza’s bolt and cramming the round home inside.

“Oh no no no!” Beam gasped out as he looked back to see what we were doing.

With another flash of magic that left me blind, again I found myself also falling back down onto the hard tunnel floor.

“What the fuck!” Hispano hissed again as she tugged Suiza right out of my grip.

“No killing!” Beam stated sharply. “You be nice to them. We’ve all been through enough today, don’t you think?”

The old me from above the clouds would have understood and accepted that. The Night before Cantercross might have been able to justify sparing them for a day. But as good a pony as Beam was trying to be right now, he didn’t know what we’d been through to get here.

“Beam, those two? They killed our entire convoy.” I spat out and locked my eyes on him as soon as I could once again vaguely make out his glowing form. “They tried to kill us earlier today, and as soon as they have the chance, they’ll do it again.”

“That’s not my problem.” He sighed and reached up, placing a steady, but squishy hoof on me. “I know you must have your reasons, but I just saved all of you. I can even take you anywhere in the city you want, even away from them if that’s what you want! All I’m asking in return for all of that, is no more killing today.”

Maybe it was because his calm tone reminded me of Buck, or maybe it was because there was still some part of the old naïve me still somewhere deep under the terrible memories and scars I’d collected. But as much as I wanted to tell Hispano to shoot Solomon right now, I hesitated. Solomon deserved to die, but… for all my quick replies and blunt answers, I couldn’t find a single one now.

“It doesn’t matter.” Hispano grumbled as she flopped onto her back and let Suiza fall across her chest. “We missed our shot.”

Looking past her down the tunnel, only a rusty toolbox, red handled screwdriver, and anti-magic ring sat on the floor.

“They’re gone, Night.”

The creaks of old, soggy wood under my hooves met me, as well as the thick scent of saltwater overwhelming my nose. I squinted and tried to see past the blindness that Beam’s teleportation had left me with, finding that with a flicker, my augmented eye reset and showed me where we’d landed.

Several snow dogs had paused working on the pile of supplies they’d been carrying up the long gangplank for the Inuvik. Up close, and in the makeshift lighting along the mooring lines, the ship seemed a lot worse for wear than it had from the air. Thousands of tiny patched bullet holes sat scattered along it’s hull, as well as a few larger gaps that had been filled and painted over.

However, even at this time of night, the light from the cabin windows still periodically showed movement past it. There had been so much going on with Hispano and I tonight that I almost dismissed it. But, I paused in thought about how up onboard the Arcturus, even when we’d had Cora, King and Delta, there had been a time at night where everything was calm and quiet. But between the damage to the Inuvik, and how well the crew had patched it, I couldn’t help but wonder if we’d had it too easy before.

That’s not to say I think we deserved to lose Delta, just that maybe… maybe I shouldn’t take what we do have for granted.

“Is this where you two wanted to go?” Beam Bright smiled and looked questioningly at the snow dogs as they got back to work. “Sort of an odd request if you ask me.”

“We have friends here.” I nodded to him and sat down. The old and wet wood under my flank sagged even from my admittedly light weight, and I couldn’t help but feel a spike of fear that the incident on Destruction bay’s docks was about to repeat itself. However, the board held, and Beam happily took my hoof with his own. “Thank you for helping us out of there, Beam.”

“Thank you for not treating me like a monster in that cage.” He offered, letting his grip slacken for a moment. “It’s not often that I meet others who will even speak to me, let alone…”

“Yeah yeah,” Hispano grumbled, grabbing me around the barrel and forcefully tearing me away from Beam. “We don’t see all ghouls as bad, but you are still poison to sit next to.”

I gave Hispano a sideways glare. Sure he’s radioactive, but I didn’t think it warranted…

Hispano flicked her talon against my muzzle sharply, making me flinch.

“Besides, I am exhausted. Let’s go find Buck and collapse on him.” She cooed and turned her gaze back at Beam. She forced up a smile across her bruised face and gave him a dismissive wave. “Thanks again, we’ll look you up if we’re ever in town again or whatever.”

“Oh, okay!” Beam’s expression brightened at that, and he gave us an excited wave of his glowing hoof. “Well, until next time! Safe travels!”

With a green flash of magic, he was gone.

“Alright.” Hispano sighed and made sure Suiza was well slung onto her before she turned to me. “Let’s just go find Buck and hit the sack.” With a light wave, she motioned for me to follow her to the gangplank.

“You’ll get no arguments from me.” I nodded and followed. I just couldn’t help but think about how good it would feel to do what Hispano said and simply collapse into his loving warmth...

Then a painful spike of reality shot through my mind, and through my face.

“On second thought,” I winced as I did my best to keep up at my normal, hobbling pace. Every other step it felt like the medical warnings in my augmented vision got more and more prominent. “maybe we should hit the infirmary first. I mean, Buck’s just going to want us to go there anyway once he sees us.”

Hispano stopped walking and simply hung her head.

“Yeah, probably. I hate it when you’re right.” With a rough glance over at her shoulder, I could almost see her weighing the option to just toss me off the docks right now. But the hint of a smile tugged at her beak. “You know, Dum Dum? Let him carry us.”

“Again, no arguments from me!”

Making our way up the mostly flat gangplank, we quickly made our way through the entry hatch, but paused as a wave of warm air washed over us. Of course, I couldn’t feel the warmth, but it at least appeased my muscles enough that they didn’t protest as much as before.

Passing from hallway to hallway in the ship, I followed Hispano around and past the dogs and ponies who were still actively doing their jobs. Almost everyone we passed by gave us just enough of a glance to look, but didn’t linger on us. It was weird, almost as if we were an oddity they’d never seen before, but wasn’t sure if it was safe to keep looking.

But… that’s because we were exactly that.

Each eye that fell on us as we made our way through the ship saw Hispano and I as unpredictable strangers. Because even though we’d been here before, and even though we loved Buck, this wasn’t our home. It was theirs.

And part of me? Some irrational slice of my mind was angry at that.

We’d fought so hard to get down here, and helped out so many along the way. We’d killed monsters the size of buildings, fought alongside the best tankers Equestria had once offered. We’d saved entire towns, helped others find their way, took down entire oppressive and backwards governments, while even helping a few better ones to rise.

Bombay?

We’d sacrificed so much, and yet, we are the ones who can’t be trusted?

“Bombay?”

A voice frantically calling down the hallway behind Hispano and I kicked me from my thoughts. We both stopped, turning to see a hulking, chocolate brown snow dog with a white spot on her face.

“Rosey?” Her name forced itself from my muzzle, bringing a large smile to hers.

“Holy Celestia, it is you!” She laughed as she dropped the box she’d been carrying in order to barrel down the hallway towards us. The pair of ponies she pushed past barely had time to flatten themselves to the wall before she stomped on by. “Come here ya’ little squirt!” She laughed and held out her paws as she got to me.

In one swipe, I was up off the floor, and my vision was once again flooded with medical warnings. Not that I needed them however, I could basically feel my lungs and ribs implode from the aggressive hug all on my own!

“Goddesses, it’s been...!” She paused either as she realized I was turning blue from oxygen starvation, or more likely, from the fact that she’d gotten a good look at my augment. “Oh, that’s some fancy new tech you’ve got there! It looks almost like Buck’s eye does.” Lifting her other massive paw up, she tapped at my eye lenses with her blunted claw. “I bet you this thing could help make you a beast in the Wreck Room! Maybe if you’re up for it, we could get a quick rematch going, you know? Hell, I’d even split the winnings with you if I still won!”

“Hi.” Hispano squawked sharply to get Rosey’s attention. “I don’t know if you’re blind, or just stupid, but I think he’s had enough fighting for one night. We both have.”

It was about when I started to see darkness crawl into my vision from suffocation that she looked over Hispano’s blood and bruised covered body, and then looked over at mine. With a firm nod, she mercifully released me and set me back down onto the floor. I wheezed heavily as I did my best not to gulp down breaths of air.

“Oh, yeah, sorry. We can talk about a rematch later!” She rubbed her massive paw along the back of her neck while using her other paw to point down the hall. “The least I can do is walk you two to the infirmary. We’ll get you both patched up in no time!”

Thinking about matches between others, what I’d pay to see is who gave the strongest hugs between Rosey, Banana Bonanza, and Jean. Not hugging me, of course! But that is a matchup for the ages….

Author's Note

As always, a huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his continued and dedicated work in going over each of these chapters. It means the world to me that you've continued to help for so long, and I will forever be in your debt for it.

And of course, many thanks to Kkat for creating FoE in the first place, as well as allowing others to run around in this amazing shared universe with their own stories.

Chapter 118 - Piece of Mind

There is always a way, and it usually doesn't work.

“So!” Rosey nervously laughed, fidgeting her paws together as we made our way out of a stairwell and into a new set of hallways. “I uh… I think I need to tell you something, Bombay.” Clenching her fists up, she forced herself to look away from me as I glanced up. “Is it, Bombay? Or do you prefer Night? Buck said you were…”

“Oh, you talked with Buck?” I gasped, nearly tripping mid-hobble. I know she’d mentioned she’d seen his augments, but I’d thought maybe it was just in passing.

“Yeah…” She nodded, scrunching up her muzzle for a moment before her expression sank. “Well, it was… more than just a chat.” Coming to a stop, she held out her paw to block Hispano and I from proceeding as well. “You see, before he left… well, how do I explain this? Uh… on the Inuvik, us Snow Dogs, we…”

“Ugh!” Hispano groaned. “We get it, you fucked.” With a huff, she pushed Rosey’s paw out of the way and strolled past the surprised dog without a care. “Can we go now?”

“What she means is, Buck told us about how things work on the Inuvik.” I offered to her and hobbled around her paw to follow Hispano. “He explained it all, and well, it was actually me who had to convince him to follow through with it.” I did my best to smile at her, but she still seemed like she was having trouble processing it all.

“Well, we never actually got so far as to… go through with it.” She sighed. “but… you aren’t mad?” She asked, shaking herself slightly as she moved to catch up.

“Nope.” Hispano grunted back.

“If anything,” I offered back, “I’m surprised it was with you! I mean, out of all the dogs, he gets paired up with the only other one I really know on this ship!”

“Well, it… it wasn’t, originally… with me.” She offered, holding her arm bashfully as she blushed. “The dog he was supposed to be with, Maxi, she…” She paused and scrunched up her muzzle. “She couldn’t see past the metal.”

“Oh…” I found myself scrunching up my muzzle at that. “I mean, I get his family seeing him and freaking out, but I never thought that others would really care? Why would it matter at all to them, they should be glad he’s still alive!”

“It’s... somewhat of a snow dog thing.” Rosie glanced down at my augmented eye for a moment, letting a frown tug at her jagged muzzle. “While we are mechanically inclined, we’ve always had an aversion to wartime robots. Something about them tugs at some primal fear in the back of our minds, instinctively makes us get defensive.”

“But Buck isn’t a robot.” Hispano said flatly as she gave Rosie a harsh sideways glance. “He’s one of you, and he doesn’t deserve to be treated like some outsider.”

“I know that.” Rosie spat out as she pressed her paw against her chest. “That’s why I offered to be his mate, because I know he’s one of us. Plus, I work with machines all day, the metal doesn’t bother me.” Stopping once more, she sighed and shook her head. “Look, I was willing to give it a shot because I know he’s a great guy. But… like I said earlier, it never went anywhere.”

“So… he didn’t mate with you?” The words slipped from my muzzle with more of a tone of hope to it than I intended, because it made Rosie’s expression sink.

“No.” She shook her head. “We got to talking a bit, and he told me how even though he knew this was important, with the reception he’d gotten from his family, he said he missed his real family more than ever.” With a forced smile, she turned her gaze over to Hispano, then back to me. “Never in my life did I think he’d end up in love with a pony or a griffon, let alone both.”

“Trust me,” Hispano snorted and nudged at me. “It’s not something I saw coming either. But while I can’t speak for Night, I’m not sorry in the slightest for stealing him from you.”

“That’s fair enough.” A genuine smile tugged at Rosie’s jaw as we got moving again. “I’d always known Buck had an eye for… unorthodox guys, but a griff? I don’t even think Saxon could have guessed that’s who he’d end up with.”

“Well, I am pretty awesome.” Hispano cooed and did her best to puff up her bruised breast. “Night’s pretty awesome too, I guess.” Well, after everything earlier, at least she was back to somewhat of a good mood I suppose!

Though it had been as awkward a topic as I’d expected it to be, part of me was glad to know that when it came down to it, Buck decided what to do for himself. At least, I hoped it was a decision he came to on his own. I swear, if he says he only refused because he was still feeling guilty about it, I’ll march him back to Rosie myself.

On that, actually...

“If I may ask,” I spoke up as I did my best to keep up with Rosie’s pace with my hobbling. “where is Buck now?”

“He told me that he was going to head out into the city to look for you two.” She shrugged as we finally turned down a hallway that looked familiar.

The open door to the ship infirmary sat just a few steps away now. It’s funny, I’d woken up in there what feels like ages ago now, and it was where I first met Buck… and Delilah. We really had come a long way these last few months…

“Into the city. At night?” Hispano groaned and slapped her talon across her face.

“I’d told Ping he was supposed to tell Buck to stay put.” I really felt like following up with my own facehoof, but seeing as I needed that leg to stand right now, I fought back the urge. “He knows it’s safer for Buck on the Inuvik right now.”

“Ping did indeed tell Buck to stay put.” Eliza’s cheery voice crackled into my head suddenly enough that I let out a yelp and nearly leapt up to the ceiling. “However, he left the Inuvik after Ping, Happy, and Tofu were taken back underground into the Ranger bunker.”

“You alright there, Bombay?” Rosie blinked as I flapped my wings and struggled to not come crashing back down to the floor.

“Yeah, yeah, just…” I offered, managing to come back down solidly onto my flank. Not in danger of crashing, I took a moment to take a breath and point up at my augment. “I’ve got a radio up here now, and sometimes I forget until someone tries to talk to me through it.”

“Ah, that’s… neat I suppose?” She seemed at least a little confused, but nodded all the same as she gestured for us to head through the doorway.

“Actually, speaking of the Rangers, Captain,” Eliza’s curious tone forced my legs to lock up for a moment, “In the last hour, I have noticed an increase in activity from the Rangers in the Seaddle Metro tunnels, which peaked shortly before you and miss Hispano returned to the surface.” Geeze, was it really that noticeable? “Given your tendency to find trouble, can I assume it had something to do with you?”

Ouch, that was a harsh assumption. Fair, but harsh nonetheless!

“Yeah..” I twinged as my mind threw me back to the beating Red Velvet gave us during interrogation. “Hispano and I kinda had a bit of a run-in with the Metro Rangers.” Glancing over at her, Hispano let out a sigh and simply wore a flat expression as she moved ahead and went through the infirmary door. “We kinda, sorta… accidentally blew up half their base? I can explain a bit more later, once we’re done getting patched up.”

Rosie’s ears perked as she twisted her muzzle up. Her blinking gaze jumped between the two of us as I think she tried to rationalize what she’d just heard. Oddly enough, from behind her, I could see a few dogs with perked ears stick their heads out of their doors down the hallway.

“Okie dokie, Captain!” Eliza’s voice returned to its normal cheery demeanor. “I look forward to hearing about it! For now though, I should probably get back to watching the work crews as they do their thing!”

Wait, work crews?

“What work crews?” I scrunched up my muzzle as the words forced their way out of it. If there were work crews onboard the Arcturus, then that means… “You already landed the ship?”

“About an hour ago a fog bank moved over the south end of the city ruins.” Eliza replied quickly, forcing my augment to flash and pull up an image of the airfield from where she sat. All I could see from her exterior was a field of wispy white cloud wrapping around her hull again. Which, even though it was just the fog, after the last few days, it was a return to normality that I hadn’t known I’d wanted. “Ping gave me the green light to land, so now I’m getting all fixed up! With the parts and talismans they’ve repaired so far, I should be good to fly again by midday!”

Well, that was certainly a boon. Though, with the agreement we made with the Bowing Rangers, would they still honor the deal once they found out what we did to Pilaf and his goons? I suppose it does us little good to worry about it for now, especially when none of us are in good enough shape to do anything should things go wrong...

“Alright, well if anything seems off, keep me updated.” I sighed and did my best to force my legs to carry me forward. “I’ll reach out again once Hispano and I are all fixed up.”

“You’ve got it, Captain!”

With a buzz of static, Eliza cut our radio link, and once again dropped my mind into it’s normal quiet. Taking another deep breath, I hobbled my way over through the bulkhead doorway and joined Hispano up on the infirmary examination table.

“Did…” Rosie started, letting a hesitant pause fill the air as she stood halfway through the doorway, “did you really just take out a bunch of those Rangers in the city?”

It wasn’t until I was already nodding to her that a thought hit me, one that more than a bit of me wished had come sooner. What if they had a deal with the Metro Rangers that I’d just screwed up?

“Good riddance.” Rosie chuckled as she somewhat slumped against the doorframe with a wide smile gracing her jagged muzzle. “You are one spicy little pony, you know that? I can’t imagine how you two made it out of there looking as healthy as that, or why you picked a fight with them in the first place. But it was about time somepony put those jerks in their place.”

“You’re welcome.” Hispano snorted as she carefully laid herself against my side. “It’s not the first group of assholes we’ve burned to the ground. Won’t be the last.”

“Sounds like there’s a good story behind it.” Rosie’s smile grew as she crossed her immense paws across herself. “In fact, with the bits and pieces Buck gave, I’m sure the whole story of your trip down here must be a pretty entertaining tale.”

“Well, less than you might think.” I shrugged and carefully stretched my wing out, wrapping it around Hispano carefully. The smile that pulled across her beak brought one to stretch across my own muzzle, and I chuckled as I looked back up at Rosie. “You know, it’s funny. As it turns out, our time in the wreck room was just the first in a long string of me wandering into fights that I had no business being in.”

“Oh, really?” She shifted herself in the doorway and looked a bit ashamed. “If our fight was anything to go off of, that… actually sounds pretty rough. I’d understand if you didn’t want to talk about it then.”

“Naw, it’s not that I don’t want to talk about it. I mean, sure, it’s been as rough as you can imagine.” I nodded and just allowed myself to relax as I thought about all we’d been through. “But I’ve met some great folks, fallen in love, twice. I got my dad back, and found a family.” Just that alone brought a contented sigh from Hispano that I couldn’t help but mirror. “Plus, we’ve helped a lot of others on the way down here. Ponies, ghouls, changelings, dogs, robots, mirage ponies…” I paused for a moment as Rosie’s face scrunched up. “I just pray to Celestia that it all means something in the end.”

With a light shift, Hispano reached out and grabbed my hoof with her talon. Looking over, she pulled me close and pressed her forehead against mine. She didn’t say anything, but she didn’t have to. I knew she would be with me no matter what.

“You know what, I’ll just go find the doc for you.” Rosie nodded shyly and took a step back out into the hall. “I’ll let you two have a minute of peace and quiet, alright?”

“Thanks, Rosie.” I offered as I shifted myself and leaned against Hispano.

The hulking Snow Dog smiled as she closed the hatch behind her as she left, leaving us alone. Even if it was just to be a few minutes of peace and quiet, after tonight, spending even that long with a contented Hispano was enough of a reward for me.

“You know, I think…” Hispano sighed softly as she maneuvered herself so she could rest against my side. “I think I understand why my Dad is an idiot.”

“Oh? What do you mean?” As carefully as I could without falling over, I did my best to wrap my forehoof around her. “Sure he’s tough on us, but…”

My muzzle was carefully shut by Hispano’s talons wrapping around it.

“Shut it and let me figure out how to say this…” She gave a like chuckle that ended with a whine as she tried to not move her bruised face too much. “When we met, you… you were something new. Something to shake up the same boring family trip that Dad and I had experienced for months.”

“Do you have regrets…?” I managed to force out through the grip of her claws.

“No, you Dum Dum. It’s just…” She paused and drew her talons off of my muzzle. “I didn’t really understand how once you got to know a pony, to really care for them, just how stressful everything gets. Between dealing with Suiza and I… I don’t know how my dad survived. Just the worrying alone feels exhausting.”

Now that was probably the understatement of the day!

“I get that.” A chuckle escaped from my muzzle as I squeezed lightly at her side. “That’s something we’ve both had to learn on this trip. Though… I think realizing that is just part of growing up.”

“Fuck that, I’ve never wanted to grow up. At least, not like this.” A light whine slipped through her beak as I squeezed just a bit too hard. “As the top talon the wastes had ever seen, veteran of a thousand battles and standing proud on a mountain of caps? Now that was how I saw myself in the future.” With a nudge, she looked up with all the exhaustion we both felt. “I feel like I’ve got the thousand battles part down at least.”

Again, my thoughts returned to everything we’d been through just to get here.

“Yeah, but a mountain of caps doesn’t really seem worth what we’ve had to give up.”

“You’re right, Dum Dum.” Hispano reached up and grabbed my hoof with her talon, giving it a slight squeeze. “And even when we kill that bastard… I don’t think it will change anything.” Closing her eyes, she let out a long breath and just let herself rest. “He deserves it, but… the damage is already done, you know?”

She was right, at least in part. Killing Solomon wouldn’t bring anyone back. Nor would it be the justice that any of them deserved. But when he was dead, of course it would change things.

“It means we’ll be safe from him, for forever. And that he’ll never cause problems for anypony ever again.” I offered and did my best to relax against her as well. “Then you, me, and Buck can just live out the rest of our lives together. No more worries, no more fighting and getting blown up… just us getting to live in peace.”

“Oh come on, Night.” Despite her wounds, her beak stretched into a wide smile as she held herself to me warmly. “I’m sure there will be plenty more fights finding their way to you in the future. Plus, blowing shit up is way too much fun for me to ever stop.”

“Fair enough.” Again, I couldn’t stop the chuckle from escaping my muzzle. “But, let’s just try to keep to conventional explosions, alright?” Closing my eyes, and leaned down and rested my chin on her head softly. “The last thing I want in the future is for one of the loves of my life, a thousand-battle veteran talon for example, sitting with her talon hovering over the big red button of a megaspell, alright?”

“Well I mean, I can try. No promises.” Hispano cooed softly. “If any of my clients decide that having me commit war crimes by the megaton are how to fulfill my contract, then you might want to get comfortable with there being less cities out there.”

Opening my eyes, I blinked a few times before deadpanning down at Hispano’s smug smirk.

“Come on, Dum Dum, you know I’m joking.” She gave my hoof another squeeze and prodded me in the nose with her other talon. “Besides, the chances I get a client with a stock of megaspells and desires to use them simply because they ‘like the pretty lights and clouds they make’ are like, one in a bazillion.”

“And you don’t think anypony out there is that crazy?” While I certainly hoped to never see it again, I couldn’t help but recall seeing that giant prismatic fireball go up next to Cantercross while leaving Cordite. A shiver ran down my spine just at the thought that it could very well happen again in the future.

“Of course there’s ponies out there like that.” Again, Hispano prodded me in the nose. “I’m just saying that given our average fight so far, the chances of running into somepony like that are slim to none… for like, the next decade or so. Then again, with your luck, the law of averages might not apply here.”

“Hey, don’t pin this on me! We got rid of my curse, remember?”

“Yeah, how could I forget.” She paused for a yawn and slumped completely against me. “Then again, thanks to your new ‘luck’, we managed to almost get eaten by a Rockdog, blow up with the bad half of the Seaddle Rangers, and miss our chance to kill Solomon, all in one night.”

“That’s… fair.” I couldn’t argue with that. “Though, we did make it out.”

“We sure did, survivor.” She snorted. Hey, no matter how much it applies, I didn’t choose that nickname! “No more curse, but you’ve still got shit luck. I’m not worried though, Dum Dum. Thanks to that zebra witch, I know that I’ll be perfectly safe for the next few ambushes or failed plans.”

While that was true, I just hoped that Buck was safe and sound out there… wherever he was.

I wonder… what it’s like.

Taking a slow, deep breath, I stiffly stretched myself as I woke up. The feeling of fresh bandages wrapped around myself was so familiar that I almost overlooked it. Rubbing at my tired eye, I wasn’t even sure when I’d fallen asleep.

8:52 AM

When looking at the clock in my vision, movement near the door to the infirmary caught my eye. Ping was sitting in front of me, wearing some sort of headset over his striped mane, and wearing an almost embarrassed look across his face.

“I apologize, I did not mean to wake you.” He offered. “But between the experiences of Buck and yourself, I remain simply curious.”

“What?” Though it was just one word, my dry throat reminded me that it really had been sometime since I had any water.

“I know what sleep looks like through your eyes.” Ping spoke as he shifted from where he sat. No, not shifted, but fuzzed. As I blinked a few times, I realized that what I was looking at wasn’t Ping, rather, just a projection through my augment like the one Eliza had used. “However, despite having the data, I still am unsure what sleep feels like.”

“Well, it’s…” I started, but scrunched up my muzzle as I wasn’t quite sure what to say. Like with some of his other questions, this was just something I hadn’t had to quantify before. Everypony sleeps, so everypony just knows what it’s like. Well, everypony except machines I suppose. “You know, I can’t really describe it.”

“Yes, I understand that it’s not something organics have to think about describing.” He smiled at me with his normal beaming grin before his eyes darted to the side and pulled his attention from me. “Perhaps you just need time to fully awaken before answering a question like this.”

“Maybe.” I offered back as I glanced over at Hispano. She was still sleeping against my side, wrapped in more bandages than I was, but looking as peaceful as ever.

I know the Mystic said she’d make it through everything, and that she’d been right about my curse, but what happened with the Metro Rangers tonight was too close of a call. As much as we’ve all been through, I can’t help but think that maybe things aren’t as written in stone as Madam Mystic made it out to be.

“Just because we have a destiny, it does not mean that we cannot help to shape what it looks like.” Ping spoke up as I glanced back at him. “It’s something the Architect once told me, and it’s been on my mind since… since we lost him.” With that, his beaming smile started to sink, and he hung his head only slightly. “I have wondered if he had only meant that knowing that nothing lasts forever, or if… he told me because he knew he would die so soon.”

“None of us expected Sierra to put Red back together, Ping.” I tried to push out the memories of that day, trying to focus on the here and now. “You are the Architect now, Ping, because he knew that whenever he did go, he knew he’d be leaving the Factory in capable hooves.”

“Yes, but… I’m not up there, am I?” The tone and the way he spoke was as neutral as he could make them. But that only made the underlying message behind them more evident.

“You didn’t abandon them, Ping. You were stranded here.” I knew we already had a dozen things to worry about in Seaddle, but if this mystery signal was weighing that heavily on his mind, maybe we’d all be better off dealing with it sooner than later. “I know you’re worried about the Factory, so we’ll deal with getting to the bottom of this ‘signal’ problem today, I promise you that.”

“I appreciate your words and thoughts, Night.” A small smile returned to his muzzle as he looked up at me again. “I know you worry about Buck, and that you and Hispano have had quite the rough night…” He paused and shifted his attention back towards the wall behind him. He looked around for a moment in silence before continuing, but keeping his attention locked elsewhere. “It is however fortuitous that the location of the records Miss Hispano seeks, the location of Buck, as well as the strongest concentration of the signal seem to be all from the same vicinity. Though, we will deal with that soon…” He scrunched up his muzzle and continued looking around as if he were somehow lost.

“So, what’s with the projection?” The question forced itself through my dry lips and pulled his attention back. “What’s going on?”

“I am currently outside on the runway at Bow-wing field. I came out to oversee the work being done on the Arcturus.” He offered, still looking around himself. “However, activity from the base’s defenders seems to have spiked. Apparently, a supply convoy coming from the north has made better time than expected and has arrived early.”

“Okay, so… why project yourself to me though?” I asked as Hispano let out a soft sigh that made me freeze up. I tried my best not to move as she adjusted herself against me, nuzzling into my side before falling back into soft, rhythmic breathing as she continued sleeping.

“Because multiple times it seems to have unnerved those around you when you speak to someone they cannot see.” Ping got my attention with a tap at the radio headset he wore. “So, I decided that maybe if I were to speak to you like this, I would somewhat blend in...” Again, he paused himself mid sentence and canted his head in confusion. “This is indeed strange. The early arrival of these supplies seems to have spooked the Elder.”

“What do you mean?” I asked as either I was hungrier than I’d thought, or a pit started to form in my stomach.

"Their radio chatter is quite a pain to sort through, but full of interesting information. For example, multiple ponies have mentioned how this convoy always makes a point to be on schedule, so for them to have come early, something big must have happened to them." He paused and furrowed his brow for a moment. "The Elder just ordered everypony to keep their eyes on any 'Hoof It' personnel who are acting suspect, however, I do not understand her reasoning as to why.”

"What did you say?" I blinked a few times as my mind was thrown back to last night. "You said it was 'Hoof it' personnel, right?"

"Yes, that is correct. Why?" He asked and looked right at me.

A sharp burst of static came through my mind, and both Ping and I grabbed our heads from it. As soon as it cleared, the sound of gunfire came through his headset. Faster than any normal pony could, Ping’s projection lept up onto his hooves and darted across the room. Before he could make it more than a few steps however, he cried out and the connection died.

"Ping? Ping!" I cried out for him, my eyes locked on where he’d taken his last step. “Answer me!”

“Who!? What!?” Hispano squawked as she bolted up from my side. In an instant, she was on her bandaged hindpaws and holding her talons out at the ready.

“Come on, come on!” I shook my head and tried to think out to Ping. “Answer me, Ping!” Fuck, he can’t be...

Okay, okay, Night, calm the fuck down. He’s not dead, you don’t know that. What do you know? That Bow-wing field is under attack right now, right? And it’s probably the Metro rangers thanks to the uniforms we saw them wearing, as well as…

The plans we ran into last night!

Turning to Hispano, I wrapped my forehoof around one of her talons and held on tight.

"Night, what the fuck...!?"

"No time!” Taking her talon, I pulled her down with me to the floor as I got my hooves under me. “The Metro rangers are attacking the airbase!" Turning for the door, I tugged her along with me. “We need to get there, now.”

"Why?" Hispano grumbled as she yanked her talon out of my hoofhold and turned to pick up and get Suiza secured around herself. "Why are you freaking out? They've got the hardware to handle it."

"Remember those plans you thought were weird and those uniforms some of them were wearing?" I called back at her as I used my forehoof to spin the latch holding the infirmary door shut. With a slam, I threw it open and stepped out into the hall. "It's fucking Nightmare Night! That was their plan the whole fucking time!"

"What does this have to do with...?" Hispano paused as she got Suiza slung around herself and realized just what I was saying. "Fuck. The fuckers played dress up and the other rangers let them right in." Just as I was about to turn to bolt down the hall, her talon reached out and grabbed me by my flight harness. "Woah. That still doesn't answer why we need to be involved."

"Ping was caught in the open when the attack started." Again, I tried to take a step as I spoke, but was once again stopped as Hispano gave a harder yank back towards her. "What!?"

"And what are we going to do about it?" She prodded a talon at the empty subgun on my harness and then back to her sister. "You're empty, and Suiza's got one shot in her. I don't know about you, but I think even taking the time to find someone to lend us some ammo is going to leave us out of the fight too long anyway."

Fuck, she's right. I'd say we could just grab something when we get there, but I think unless we go in shooting at the Metro rangers, we're asking for both sides to gun us down. There had to be some way to resupply.

"If I might suggest, Captain..." Eliza's voice chimed in my mind. "You could always use the ammo stored in the Arcturus."

Yes, that's it!

"Come on, we're going to resupply on the Arcturus, then join the fight!" I called as I tried to take another step forward down the hall.

This time, Hispano let me go.

"See, now THAT sounds like a more reasonable plan." Hispano smirked and flared her wings as she followed. "Still leaves us the problem of getting there. It’s at least a ten minute flight from here. Slower with how long it’ll take you just to get some altitude for a glide. How much of the fight will even be left by the time we get there?"

"I'll... see what I can do." I offered as we both raced down the hallway towards the open door near the back of the old icebreaker. "Eliza, is the Remora in any shape to come get us?"

"Sorry, Captain." Her cartoon mare frowned at me as it popped up, showing me a fog drenched image of it still sitting right where we landed yesterday. "The rangers prioritized fixing me up first, so it's still in pretty rough shape." Her mare scooted over before a schematic of the Inuvik popped up. "However, I may have something that could give you a small boost and help with your altitude problem."

The schematic zoomed in on and highlighted a rotatable platform that sat off to one side on the ship's rear. The shape of the skycaptain's aircraft was superimposed over it, sitting for a short time before it slid off at a high speed with a puff of digital steam. Of course, the ship’s catapult!

"I know, it's not much help, but it’s all I can do, Captain." Eliza offered, pausing as her cartoon mare shifted and showed emotions I’d never really seen from her before. Concern and fear. “With the rangers jamming most signals, I… I can’t reach the Architect. And with this fog, I can’t see him.”

"We’ll find him!" I panted as I quickly brought myself up to as fast a hobbling trot as I could manage. "Come on, Hispano! Eliza found us a way to get us off the ship quickly!"

"That sounds pretty vague, Night! And let me remind you, we just got patched up." Hispano called up from behind me. "I get you don’t want to hear it, but I’m only saying that because when you get vague, you usually end up hurt."

"You're starting to sound a lot like Buck, you know?" I laughed back at her. "What happened to the excitable young talon-hopeful with the no-fucks attitude, willing to dive beak-first into trouble that I first met in these very halls?"

"That... that's not fair, Night!" She grumbled and, with a heavy thump of her wings, jumped up into a hover that brought her along my side. Though she was still small for a gryphon, her spread wings were wide enough to force all those who’d been attracted to the early-morning commotion and sticking their heads from their rooms to scramble back into them. "That was BEFORE I got stuck babysitting the most trouble-magnet pegasus in the wasteland." The two of us slowed down as we approached the open hatchway to the back deck of the ship, barely missing the small black-spotted snow dog who was forced to basically dive in through the door just to avoid us. "But seriously, what's the plan?"

The both of us stepped through the open hatch and out onto the small walkway that wrapped around the superstructure of the old icebreaker. Hopping up, I hooked my forehoof over the railing and peeked my head over.

Despite the heavy fog that was much thicker than I’d expected, making it hard to see anything more than five meters out, looking down I spotted the steam-powered aircraft catapult. There were Snow Dogs actively working on and around it, including the sight for sore eyes that was Rosie. From the toolbox in her massive paw, I worried that maybe it wasn’t working, but despite the fog making it hard to see, the glow from the catapult controls meant that it at least had power.

"Oh fuck, you are not serious, Night." Hispano spat as she quickly caught on. "It's not even built to launch ponies! Unless that metal toaster on your head can transform you into a plane, how the fuck are we even going to use it?"

With that, my augment flashed a white line down and across my vision. It bent and curved around the shape of an old hoof truck on the deck below that looked like it had seen better days, but still had a pair of good wheels on it. Again, my augment flashed up the display of the catapult, only this time showing the hoof truck laid on it with a pony and a griffon laying uncomfortably on top of it. The thing gave a puff of smoke, and in an instant, the two digital fliers were zipped off into the sky.

"Okay, so..." I began, but found my muzzle once again shut by Hispano's talon.

"Night, I love you, but this might be pushing it a bit. And that's coming from a griff who's enjoyed riding on the outside of an aircraft before."

"I have a plan." I spat out around her talons, forcing her to scrunch her beak shut. With a pat on her shoulder, I spread my wings and climbed onto the railing. "Besides, the zebra mystic said you'll be fine, remember?"

“It’s not me I’m worried about, Dum Dum.” She shot me a dose of side-eye that sent a literal chill down my spine. “But a plan is a start.”

Leaning forward, I dropped off the railing. The talisman in my flight pack hummed to life, helping to slow my fall as I drifted over the fog drenched deck of the ship. The air was thick enough that even though I’d basically become instantly soaking wet from the fog, I was sure that even without my pack, I’d have been able to fly on just my flat feathers alone. Passing over a few Snow Dogs prompted them to look up at us, but none really paid us any mind as we approached and landed next to Rosie.

Hispano gave out a few wet flaps of her wings and came down next to me, prompting Rosie to turn around and find us. With a smile spreading across her jagged muzzle, she wicked away the moisture from her brow.

“Oh, shit. Do you always get on your hooves this fast?” She chuckled and set down the toolbox in her paw. “Are you stopping by to say goodbye before heading out?”

“Sort of, in a manner of speaking.” I offered to her as I sat down. Lifting my hoof, I pointed to the humming machine behind her. “Actually, we came to use your catapult.”

“Uh… excuse me?” Rosie blinked as she looked between the two of us and then to the catapult itself. “It’s not rated to launch ponies...” She paused as a rapid set of explosions echoed through the old city, perking the ears of every dog on the deck, if only for just a moment. “Oh… you want to get to that fight, don’t you? Why?”

“We have to.” While I respected Rosie’s concern for us, every moment we wasted was one that Ping might not have to give. “Our family is in trouble, one of them is hurt.”

“Well,” Rosie sighed and glanced back at the machine, “the Skycaptain already radioed in. She’s on final approach, and is maybe about ten minutes out now.” Reaching up, she scratched at her chin and lost herself in thought for a moment. I could see how she was weighing everything in her mind…

“I guess she can wait a few extra minutes.” She spoke abruptly with a sigh. “That is, if nothing breaks on this old gal.” Turning around, she walked up to the controls and pressed a few of the buttons on it. “She’ll need a minute to pressurize, but she’s meant to throw a few tons off the ship, so there’s no telling what’ll happen when you two get on there.”

“Great!” Gleefully, I hopped up to my hooves, only to have Hispano’s firm talon come down on my shoulder.

“Yeah,” She grunted and pointed up at the empty catapult rails, “great, except we still don’t have a way to actually use it, Dum Dum.”

I was about to point out the old hoof truck my vision had suggested when Rosie cut me off.

“Right, let’s see…” Rosie nodded to herself and looked around the deck. Her eyes lit up as she spotted another dog coming out from inside the ship, and rolling a pallet jack to move some rusty barrels. “That should work. Hey, Saxon! Bring that pallet jack over here!”

Both Hispano and I blinked and looked at each other. Did she just say…

“Sure thing, Rosie.” The tired grunt from the other dog preceded them carefully setting the pallet of metal drums down, and then dragging the pallet jack itself along behind them as they walked over.

Standing nearly Buck’s height, Saxon looked like a younger, less fluffy version of Spitzer back in Destruction Bay, though maybe that was only because his coat was so matted with moisture from the fog. With each step, a massive spiked tail swung back and forth behind him, probably the largest I’d seen on any Snow Dog so far. The thing however that stuck out most to me was when he stopped and sniffed at the air for a moment, and his sharp, emerald eyes turned to both Hispano and I.

Looking into them, I could see that probably from just the smell of us, he knew. He knew we were the ones who were with Buck now, and behind his eyes I could see the myriad of emotions run through him. Ultimately, a look of annoyance flushed across his muzzle shortly before he shifted his gaze to Rosie.

“Alright.” He grunted again as he effortlessly lifted the whole pallet jack from the deck and placed it in Rosie’s waiting paws. “I’ve still got another pallet to grab, what do you need it for?”

“We’re going to use it to launch these two off the ship.” Rosie stated fairly matter-o-factly as she hefted the old metal jack up and set it on the catapult. It didn’t quite sit evenly on the rails, but the launch hook hugged the U-shaped frame like it was made for it.

“You’re joking.” Saxon let out with a snarl. “You’ll destroy a perfectly good pallet jack.”

“I know.” Rosie nodded as she went back to operating the controls of the catapult.

“You might even destroy the Skycaptain’s launch mount!” Saxon protested and prodded one of his claws against Rosie’s shoulder, pulling a guttural growl from her muzzle. “All for what? A couple of strangers? Does the Skycaptain even know about this!?”

“Hey, I am the deck chief on this ship.” Rosie snapped back as she wheeled around on a paw at Saxon. “It’s not the place of a deck hand to question my decisions! Even if he’s mated to my sister. I’m responsible for these machines, and I’ll answer solely to the Skycaptain for them. So you will watch your tone with me, or I will have you out scraping barnacles from the hull with your teeth.”

Rosie’s verbal assault had pulled the attention of every dog within earshot, and Saxon seemed to have shrunk straight down to the deck. Not that I could blame him, as this side of Rosie was one I hadn’t seen before. Her whole posture had changed, and she loomed far above all of us now as she snarled and snapped at him. If this had been the version of Rosie I’d met back inside the Wreck Room, I think I might have just died right on the spot!

“Is that understood?” She finished with another low growl that I swear I could feel through the deck.

“Yes, Ma’am.” Saxon nodded and scurried to take a few steps back. As he pulled himself up onto his paws again, he shot Hispano and I an angry sideways glance. That in turn pulled another growl from Rosie, which seemed to light a fire under him, because he nearly burst into a run that took him straight through the nearest open hatchway.

“Sorry about that.” Rosie sighed and shook her head in disappointment. “He’s not normally one to question what I ask of him...”

The catapult gave out a piercing whine and a fairly jarring shuddering started with it. Both Hispano and I leaned away from the large machine as it looked like it was trying to shake itself apart and throw the pallet jack from it’s rails. Rosie however, simply sighed and pulled up a large looking wrench from her toolbox.

With a sharp set of banging swings, she hammered her tool at the side of the catapult nearest to her. The metal on the panel she struck dented in slightly, but astonishingly, the whole machine calmed down. The whine trailed off into a steady hum, and a short jet of steam shot from the tip for a moment.

“Alright, she’s all warmed up and ready to go!” Rosie nodded as she dropped her tool into her chest again and turned to us. “I can’t promise it’s safe, or that it’ll even work…”

“Thank you for at least trying.” I offered with as genuine a smile as I could use to force back the thoughts of pancaking against whatever was out there through the fog. Hispano didn’t seem to share those thoughts, because she didn’t even hesitate before giving her wings a few flaps and hopping right up onto the pallet jack.

“Eh, it’s nothing.” Rosie chuckled and ruffled at my wet mane with her paw. “I guess I still feel kind of bad about how we met and feel I owe you this much for all that trouble.”

“You shouldn’t feel bad.” Hispano offered as she shot a half-serious glare down at me. “He’s a trouble magnet, and you should be glad you’re about to throw him as far away from you as you can.” Smirking at the hulking Snow Dog, Hispano raised her talon to her brow and gave Rosie a quick salute. “Still, like he said, thanks for the help.”

With a flap of my own wings, I hopped up and did my best to join Hispano on the pallet jack. The flaking bright yellow paint easily scraped away as I got my hooves on it, revealing the rusty steel frame below. The whole thing rattled as the two of us fought each other for balance on the rusty wheels.

After a moment however, we got ourselves settled. I was curled forward, holding myself as tightly to the vertical steel bar grip as I could, while Hispano was hunched over me as close as she could be. With a slip of her talons around my sides, I couldn’t help but blush as she pulled herself tight against me.

“I know you’re enjoying this, Night,” She cooed softly into my ear as she made herself comfortable. “But I swear to the goddess, if we die from this…”

“Alright, ready! All non-essential personnel, clear the deck!” Rosie called out. “Firing in five… four…!”

Glancing down at her, I could see her concern etched across her face. Deep down, she had the same fears as I did, and I could almost see her begging for me to call this off. But we couldn’t, we had too much riding on this.

I braced myself, making sure I was holding on for dear life as I gave her a nod of affirmation.

“Go, find your family.” She offered with a smile before her paw came down on the control panel. “Launching!”

There was a sharp bang that sent a ringing through my ears as the catapult went off. With a strength I wasn’t expecting, the pallet jack was nearly ripped straight out of my hooves. The world dimmed for a moment as the acceleration whipped through both Hispano and I, with the only way I knew we were still alright the tight pressure of her holding herself as close and as tightly as she could. Everything turned white, and I had to shut my good eye as the fog wicked enough water across my face to force me to rely on my augment.

Soon enough, the momentum from the launch bled off, and both Hispano and I reflexively flared out our wings, letting the thick morning air catch and lift us up.

The lift from the flight combined with the normal pull of gravity, and it pulled us away from the flying pallet jack. The old world yellow freight tool slipped away silently, and disappeared completely into the fog after only a few meters of separation. Likewise, now flying, I felt Hispano’s tight grip release, and she pulled herself away just far enough that we weren’t in danger of running into each other.

Surprisingly, she let out an elated giggle that was cut short by a sharp splashing noise below and behind us.

“Oh, Dum Dum, I can’t believe that actually worked!” She gasped through another set of giggles.

“Me either!” Between the feeling of stress bleeding off, as well as the relaxing sensation of flying, I tried, but couldn’t fight my own laughter as it bubbled up. “How did that even work at all?”

“Because that’s what we do, Dum Dum.” Hispano cooed as she pitched herself upwards slightly. “We’ve done so many ‘impossible’ things now that I’m not sure impossible is even a word that means anything anymore...” She paused for a moment as she climbed just far enough upwards to get out of sight, “Woah…”

Joining her in her climb, I flapped through the thick air, trusting the talisman in my flight pack to take the brunt of my weight. It worked though, as I gained enough altitude to catch up, finding that climbing through the last few meters of fog had it thinning out substantially.

With the last few hard beats of my wings, I broke out through the fog, and was immediately blinded. My augment helped by toning down the brightness, and what it allowed me to see nearly took my breath away.

The harsh yellow sunlight drenched itself across the fog that covered the ruins of old Seaddle, and the welcoming blue skies above were clearer than any I’d seen recently. It was a picturesque morning, like something out of a dream. The fact that I was up here flying through it next to an equally awed Hispano almost made me question if we had died on launch back there, because this was perfection.

Again, I knew it wasn’t going to, but I wanted this short moment to last forever.

Hispano’s talon shot over, prodding me out of my wonder.

“Hey, over there.” She called out, shifting and pointing her talon to a set of growing black clouds that were mixing with the fog in the distance. Flashes and echoing blasts tore at the calm scene, and the sound of buzzing miniguns forced their way to my ears.

And just like that, the perfect morning flight was over.

Author's Note

As always, a huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for once again going through and making sure these chapters are consistent! I've been feeling a bit scatterbrained as of late, so it's good to know someone out there is helping to keep my wordy-bits from doing the dum sometimes.

And of course, a huge thanks to Kkat for creating FoE in the first place!

Chapter 119 - Operation Garden Market

Anything is amphibious if you can get it back out of the water.

Bright flashes pierced through the fog as the firefight at the airfield raged on.

While we’d seen plenty of battles on our journey south, I hadn’t quite realized that each and every one seemed to hold a unique sound to it. The hesitant chatter of old equestrian service rifles mixed in with the short buzz of a minigun made up the bulk of this fight’s noise. Both sounds were drowned out by the concussive blasts of a few mortars raining through the bright skies Hispano and I were just entering.

“I can’t see shit down below.” Hispano called out as she and I kept ourselves flying just above the wispy layer of fog. “I thought we’d at least be able to see those massive hangars through this crap.”

As usual, she was right. We could have been flying right over the Arcturus right at this moment and never known it. What we needed was some way to see through the clouds, like how last night in the rain…

My augmented vision flickered, and just like last night, a bright green wireframe linked itself together under us. The outlines of ruined Seaddle waterfront buildings ended abruptly on our right where I assumed the water began. Off ahead and to our left almost a kilometer away, I could just barely make out the boxy wire forms of the row of large hangars.

Well, at least I knew we were only slightly off course now, but at least we were only about a minute out…

“Hey, Night?” Hispano nudged me and waved a talon to get my attention. “What the fuck is that?” Stretching out a digit, she pointed off to just above the wire framed boxy hangars.

It was hard for me to make out at this distance, but amidst the fairly flat fog plain, sat a lumpy bit of normal cloud. To me, it was pretty reminiscent of a nonchalant cloud that a certain griffon had once used to follow us after we left Inuvik.

“Local Talons, maybe?” I asked. If I were a mercenary around a fight like the one going on at the airbase, I’d be interested in ‘helping out’ whoever looked to be the winning side.

“That’s what I thought, but…” She squinted her eyes at the lumpy cloud with a grimace. “It’s not built right. Talons like subtlety when it comes to hiding places. I could see this thing from a kilometer out, and it’s construction is almost amateurishly trying to imitate a bunker.” Looking over to me, she cocked an eyebrow. “Your ranger friends have any pegasi among them?”

“I didn’t see any.” I shook my head. “Doesn’t mean there weren’t any though. I hardly...”

The back of the cloud bunker shifted slightly, and a pony stepped through it. It was hard to tell as we closed in, but they didn’t look like a pegasus. However, what they did look like to me, was that they were wearing a boxy device on their back with a pair of shiny glass looking cylinders built into it.

“Shit, that’s a metro uniform.” Hispano grunted and shifted her flight so she could pull out Suiza. “Think they’re better than every race, but will use Zebra alchemic flight tech. Fucking hypocrites.”

Spotting us, the pony at the bunker nearly jumped out of their skin. A flash of green flame erupted from the box on his back, and in an instant, the pony took flight. There was a loud roar from their strange flight pack as it propelled them around the bunker for a moment before they dove right through the fog below and disappeared.

Well, at least one of the metro Rangers had the smarts to not risk a fight!

The cloud bunker bulged again and a more imposing looking figure stepped through. Wet with dew and glinting in the early morning light, it wasn’t hard to recognize the impressive armored form of a Ranger in power armor staring us down.

“How the fuck is that thing cloudwalking!? That’s not fair!” Hispano squawked and aimed Suiza right at the Ranger.

Several quick flashes from beside the Ranger tore half the cloud bunker apart, but sent three streaking missiles our direction. Both Hispano and I rolled opposite directions in the air before pulling up to turn the last of our speed into altitude. The missiles streaked under us, dipping down into the fog below.

A flashing warning popped up in my vision, as well as the radar-esque instrument I had used back at Maple station. Three red triangles were rapidly closing in on us from below, and when I directed my attention downward, I was greeted with all three missiles punching up through the fog right at us.

“Fuck, dive, dive!” I called out to Hispano as the missiles streaked towards us.

The both of us folded our wings and did our best impressions of darts as we let gravity pull us downward. The missiles tracked us, curving their flight paths as they followed at a speed faster than I’d ever be able to outside of a dive.

As we headed for the fog layer, Hispano twisted her wing and rolled herself right over me before leveling out a bit. One of the red triangles in her vision shifted and followed her maneuver effortlessly.

“What are you doing!?” I called out as I pushed my forehoof forward and braced myself for punching into the fog.

Hispano didn’t call back, simply keeping her focus on what was ahead of her. The last thing I saw before dipping below the fog was her headed right for the cloud bunker with a now very panicked looking power armored steel ranger in front of it.

You know, if only I’d been that smart…

The scream from one of the missiles hot on my hocks cut my thoughts off as I dipped down into the soupy fog layer. It was thicker than I’d realized, and the moment it enveloped me, I felt like I was swimming through it. Water wicked it’s way through my fur, mane, and wings, adding what felt like a whole pony’s worth of weight to me.

A terrain and low altitude warning flashed across my vision and I twisted my wings to pull myself up as sharply as I could. My flight pack whined as it did it’s best to straighten me out with the extra water weight I’d taken on, and I took only a moment to glance at the altimeter display in my vision. I was just a few meters above the ground, but I still couldn’t even see it.

Glancing at the radar display, I’d found the two missiles on my ass had both somewhat slowed down as they punched into the fog after me. I guess even they couldn’t see well in this crap. Still, each of them had chosen a different direction to fly, effectively cutting me off from flying anywhere but straight or down onto the ground.

A sharp blast from above me meant that Hispano’s little friend had found some sort of home.

“Alright, annoyance lost, and those fuckers are dealt with.” Hispano chirped into my head through her radio cap. While it was nice to hear that she indeed hadn’t exploded, it was even better to hear that even with all the radio’s in the area being jammed, ours still worked. “You lost yours yet, Dum Dum?”

Looking around, the wire frame forms of a cluster of mostly-collapsed buildings just outside of the airbase caught my eye. Specifically, one that seemed to just be a three story tall single wall with a few windows stood out the most to me. It wasn’t ideal, but putting the rubble between me and the missiles was my best option for now.

“Almost…” I grunted as I pulled my sopping wet wings inward and did my best to pick up as much speed as I could towards the ruins. “I have an idea!”

Almost as soon as I’d said that, the missiles at my sides had shifted their flights toward my flanks and sped up again. Their screeching engines made the air itself vibrate as I lined myself up with the rectangular wireframe hole of a central window on the building ahead.

Alright, Night! One shot to get through this and pray to Celestia above that those missiles aren’t smart enough to follow! Just fold in your wings, and…

I snapped my wings shut as the looming form of the ruined wall blocked out what little sunlight pierced through the thick fog. With only a moment before I passed through, my augment decided to update me about the window I’d chosen. Specifically, about how it had been boarded up at some point.

With a tremendous crack and crunch, my momentum carried me right through the old, waterlogged wood. The augmented half of my head took most of the brunt of the impact, and my painkilling talisman did it’s job well. However, my vision snapped to the side and I found myself tumbling downward in a half roll.

I cried out as I was dashed against the piles of brick below, and bounced a few times before sliding across a clearing. Finally, I came to a firm stop as a pile of old furniture ‘cushioned’ my body with a few thick wooden snaps. Medical warnings about various cuts across my body filled my vision as it stopped spinning. Another happy landing…

“Freeze, dirtbag!”

I blinked and turned my attention to a unicorn mare I could barely make out in the fog below the wall I’d just flown through. She took a step forward, and I could just barely make out the metro ranger armor she was wearing, as well as the glistening shine from the old equestrian stamped submachine gun in her yellow magical aura.

The screech from the pair of missiles after me ended with a pair of sharp blasts. The fog lit up with a pair of bright explosions that tore out the base of the ruined building wall. Fragments of bricks and mortar showered us as the whole wall shifted and tipped over both the mare and I.

Time to move!

Scrambling up to my hooves, I pushed my body to move. The mare however chose to freeze up as she turned her gaze upward to the falling structure. With as quick of a hobbling dash as I could muster, I threw myself over the nearest pile of bricks and out into what had once been the building’s sidewalk.

Tremors from the collapse nearly knocked me off my hooves as the rest of the two century old building joined it’s rubble on the ground. A cloud of dust, mortar, and fog tore through the air around me, coating me in a healthy amount of all three as it washed over me and forced its way into my lungs.

Even as I did my best to hack out the thick soup I’d just inhaled, I thanked Celestia that I’d avoided being crushed to death.

“Haha!” A jubilant call from behind me perked my ears.

I looked back to find that the Metro unicorn mare was still standing amongst the rubble. Around her hooves, were the now scattered and cracked remains of the same boarded up window I’d crashed through. Are you kidding me!? The ponies in Klondike taught me that applewood stunt ponies trained for days to pull off something like that, and she just..! I’ll admit, I was just a bit jealous, seeing as my luck this whole fucking trip has never been that good…

It was so unfair it made me want to scream!

With the shock from her astoundingly lucky placement wearing off, she turned her eyes and gun back on me with a curling grin.

“I guess it’s just my lucky day.”

A shadow passed above me in the fog and the mare in front of me disappeared into a cloud of gore and red mist that left my hearing ringing. I blinked a few times staring at where she’d just been, watching as the previously levitating submachine gun dropped into the rubble. With a metallic clatter, it came to rest next to the still standing, if shredded, remains of her four hooves.

Okay, that is more on par with my luck. Now I feel a bit better, less cheated at least! That probably says something about me as a pony, but I’ll be damned if anypony wants to tell me I don’t deserve at least a little break from bad luck.

“Well, I’d say that went pretty well, Dum Dum!” Hispano chirped as she swooped down next to me. “At least my last round didn’t go to waste.” Her sister’s barrel sizzled lightly in the water dense air, and it helped remind me that I could actually breathe again. “Now, let’s hope I don’t need another before we can restock.”

A bright glow pierced the fog, highlighting the massive row of hangars in light before the sharp crack of an explosion washed over us. A green balefireball rose into the sky for a moment before it dimmed and was swallowed by the obscuring fog once more.

“Shit, that was a balefire egg. They’re really using all the big guns for this fight.” Hispano commented as she got her sister slung over herself again. “Well, I don’t often say this, but I was wrong.” With a huff and a stretch of her wings, she used her talons to help wick some of the water from them, pausing as a long droning buzz from a minigun somewhere on the airfield hung in the air. “I don’t think this will be a quick fight.”

“The sooner we can help, the faster it’ll be over.” I nodded and shook my wings to try to get the water out as well. While that might have worked before, the dust and pulverized brick and mortar coating me instead stubbornly stuck to every bit of me. “And the quicker I can take a shower.”

“As if we haven’t had enough water for one day already.” Hispano smirked and kicked herself into the air. “That’s just how Seaddle always is though.” I did my best to follow, practically feeling the talismans my flight pack vibrate as they struggled to help get me airborne.

The two of us did our best to keep low and together as we headed toward the glows of several bright fires burning across the foggy airfield. My augmented vision pulsed again as we came around the side of the large row of hangars. It outlined a strange scene of overturned vehicles that matched up with most of the glows, as well as large ponies standing around next to various forms of cover, as well as a group huddled next to the cylindrical form of the Arcturus as it sat on the airfield’s bulky landing mounts.

The buzz of a minigun came from one of the pony outlines and a stream of bright tracers ripped a line across the fog toward the front gate of the airfield. Right, the big ponies are the ones in power armor. Good to know!

With a slight twist of my wings, I helped guide Hispano and I to touch down on the top of the Arcturus. As soon as we flared our wings to slow down, the fog thinned enough so that the glistening black metal hull came into view under us. While my augment kept me from truly feeling it, something like a muscle in the back of my mind, relaxed. It was good to know that our home was still safe and in one piece.

Another sharp burst of fire, and collection of barking shots in retaliation convinced us that hastily getting inside was the best idea for now. Without hesitation, Hispano slid her talons along the hull until she found the hatch and opened it for us. Waving her free talon with a smirk, she offered to let me go down first.

“Age before beauty, or ladies first. Just take your pick and get inside.” She offered as I rolled my eyes, but got myself spun around and headed down the conning hatch ladder.

Rung by rung I descended, pausing as Hispano climbed in and secured the hatch above us. We were dropped into the slowly blinking red emergency lighting in the cramped tunnel, and the fighting outside was somewhat muffled by the steady hum of the Arcturus’s reactor systems. However, as I reached the lower hatch, a different set of muffled noises came through the hull and forced me to pause.

“What is it...?”

“Shhh!” I hushed Hispano and perked my good ear toward the hatch. Muffled voices and quick hoofsteps came through clearer than before. Could just be Tofu and Dad? No, I don’t think so, it sounds too busy.

“Night.” Hispano hissed with a whisper from above. “What’s going on?”

“I think the Arcturus has been boarded.” I whispered back.

“Metro rangers?”

“I don’t know.” I shook my head and tried my best to listen even harder. If only my augments had some sort of better hearing…

“Why would you need that, Captain?” Eliza’s curious voice emit from the intercom that happened to be right by my ear.

“Ah!” I yelped as my prosthetic hoof slipped from the rung of the ladder it was on, and my wet forehoof wasn’t able to keep it’s grip. With a wet thump, I dropped the final few rungs onto the hatch below.

“Didn’t mean to scare you, Captain!” Eliza gasped as the hatch below me let out a few clicks. “Here, let’s get you two inside!”

“No, wait…!” I whimpered and flailed my forehoof to grab onto the last ladder rung again. Unfortunately for me, the hatch opened before I could.

The world around me twisted as I slid off the hatch and dropped right into the middle of the thin layer of fog that lined the floor of the bridge. Either repairs had been going slower than expected, or there were now enough new holes in the Arcturus to let the morning fog in. Neither option left me feeling optimistic about the fight to come.

A few startled gasps filled the air around me, and before I could shake off the stars in my vision, the familiar feeling of a gun barrel pressed against my head made me freeze up.

“Don’t move!” The orange coated stallion standing over me commanded sharply.

“No no, wait!” Tofu called out as she practically flew across the bridge to my side. “That’s the Captain!”

“Captain?” The stallion stuttered before pulling the gun off of me. “So sorry, ma’am!” With a stiff and admittedly strong grip, he used his forehoof to help me back onto my three legs again. The stallion offered a sincere, but nervous smile as his amber eyes looked over me. “I didn’t know who you were. I promise it won’t happen again.”

“Why the hell are there so many rangers on our ship?” Hispano grumbled as she dropped down through the hatch. With a glare, she forced the stallion behind me to let out a soft whimper as he let me go.

“They were helping to fix the Arcturus before the fight started.” Tofu sighed. Though it was good to see her, she looked… tired. From the dark rings under her exhausted expression, undoubtedly, she’d been up all night working on the ship non-stop before this. “Now we’re all just trying to repair the damage as it comes in.”

“Okay…” Hispano huffed as she pulled Suiza forward and stripped the short five round magazine from her. “So they brought their guns onboard to… what? Shoot things into working order?”

“It’s just protocol.” The stallion next to me offered back as he slung his old equestrian combat rifle over himself. “I’d have thought a Talon would understand the merits of never being unarmed.”

With a smirk, Hispano took a step towards the stallion and carefully ran her talon up his chest and then along his neck. With a sharp flick, she made him flinch, and a few orange hairs drifted through the air off his chin.

“As long as a Talon still breathes, they’re never unarmed.” Hispano cooed softly before stepping past the stallion and shifting her talon down under me. With a few prods and pokes, she stripped the magazine from my subgun and waved it in front of me. “I’m going to go get us restocked so we can get back in the fight.”

“Hold up.” Tofu reached out and stopped Hispano mid-step, “You two can’t go back outside yet.”

“What? Why?” I spat out.

“We have an… opportunity to end the fight from here.” Tofu offered before pausing and turning to the bank of terminal screens behind her. “Eliza, you want to tell the captain the idea that’s been suggested by our new Ranger friends here?”

With a flicker, one of the central terminals flipped from it’s normal readout, to an almost hesitant looking familiar cartoon mare.

“In the case of a reactor overload, there is an onboard system override to help remove excess power from it in the form of an electrostatic discharge. Onboard capacitors shunt it through the hull to the inbuilt dischargers located across the ship, and from there it will find its own way to ground.”

“Wait.” Hispano snorted and shook her head at Eliza. “You mean we’ve had the ability to shoot lightning as a means of defense? This whole time!?”

“It is not a defensive system.” Eliza’s concerned mare flipped over to a more serious looking one. “I have been hesitant to use it as I cannot precisely target where the strikes will land, as well as in this current weather, if I generated a plasma powerful enough to incapacitate the attacking rangers, it would be an omnidirectional attack.”

“You’d… hit everypony out there.” I blinked as I started to understand Eliza’s hesitation.

“Correct, Captain.” Eliza’s mare flipped over to a happy looking pony before a dismissive wave of Hispano’s talon flipped her back to her serious self.

“So what? Knock everypony out and we'll sort through ‘em while they're down!” Hispano shrugged and quickly slung Suiza over herself again. “We miss out on an otherwise fun fight, but after the night Night and I had, I can live with that!”

I mean, as much as I wanted to argue, I really couldn’t. Sure there might be a few ponies who’d hold a bit of a grudge for being forcibly knocked out of the fight, but the fight would be over. And with enough Rangers in here and underground, I’m sure we could detain all the metro rangers while they were still out!

“See, that’s what I thought.” Tofu nodded before leaning herself against Eliza’s terminals. “However, there’s a catch.”

“Yes.” Eliza’s mare nodded before frowning. “The discharge would more than likely have the range to also strike the Architect.” Oh, well to be honest, that’s… not great. “A strong enough charge could be enough to… kill him if he’s hurt badly enough already.”

“But it’s now your call, Captain.” The orange stallion next to me snorted. “You can end this fight.”

Well fuck. On the one hoof, he was right. We could end this fight right here and now. But if I make that call, and the Architect, Ping, dies with that jamming signal still up, then he’s just… gone.

“No, it’s too risky.” I shook my head. “We’ll find another way to help.”

“Fucking damnit!” Hispano spat. “I mean, I get it, but could we just get a break just this once!?”

“I understand your concern for your companion,” The stallion beside me offered as he put his hefty hoof up on my shoulder. “But despite what your… computer here says, I am convinced this is our best shot. You must activate the override.”

“Just… who are you again?” While I hadn’t meant for it to come out quite that harsh, but this guy seemed intent on pushing into our conversation.

“Captain, this is lead scribe Brightray.” Tofu pushed herself up from the terminal and gave her own dismissive wave at him. “He’s in charge of the Rangers who came on board, and is a skycraft specialist. He’s agreed to follow my command while they work on our ship, and I refused this idea of his.”

“Yes, and I am not challenging that command.” He shot back at her with a healthy dose of side eye that would have gotten him a smack across the muzzle from somepony like Delilah. “I’m simply saying that despite the risks, ending the fight outside should be done if we can do it.” Tofu surprisingly was a bit more restrained than that.

“And the Captain said no.” Tofu grunted and simply glared back at the guy. As she did, I could almost see the blood coming to a boil under his skin from her look alone.

“Look, before this becomes a fight,” I offered and pulled Tofu’s attention to me. “What are our other options here? Can we take off and just hit them with missiles?”

“I was just about to get an update on that from your dad before you dropped in.” Tofu sighed, turned, and hit a few buttons on the console behind her. “You got an update for me on the state of the cloud drive, Guster?”

“Ugh… I still can’t believe that’s your dad’s name.” Hispano grumbled as she crossed her talons. “Guster… pft.”

“You want the good news, or the bad news first?” Dad’s voice came through the intercom, as well as the noise of sparking wires and power tools somewhere off in another compartment.

“We’ll take the good news first.” I offered.

“Night?” Dad gasped, “Thank the goddess you’re alright! I was so worried…”

“News first, Dad. In the middle of a small war right now.” Hispano cut him off with a harsher tone that I’d really expected, but she had a point.

“Right, so the primary cloud generation systems are mostly undamaged and flight ready.” Dad offered as the screens behind Tofu changed. Schematics of the Arcturus itself displayed across a few of the screens, each one highlighting different parts around the sides of the ship in green and yellow. “However…” The center most schematic highlighted a large pair of abscesses on each side of the hull, flashing them in red. “The cloudwater tanks were drained before the fight so we could perform repairs, and have since been shot full of holes.”

“Fuck.” Tofu grumbled as she facehooved hard. “Without those tanks sealed, if we can’t pump in water to condense new clouds, we aren’t going anywhere.”

“Captain, if the fighting doesn’t end soon, then we risk irreparable damage to the Arcturus.” Eliza’s cartoon mare flipped to a sad expression as she looked between Tofu and I. The whole ship shuddered as an explosion outside rocked it. “Case and point. At the very least, you must get those groups of Rangers fighting near the Arcturus to seek cover further away.”

“Are you kidding me?” Brightray spat out, “You’ve seen the conditions out there! The fog out there is thick enough that just moving at all might get them misidentified and shot by our own forces!”

“And? That’s always a risk you take in a fight.” Hispano squawked and stepped forward, jabbing her talon into his chest sharply.

“So, what? You want me to just walk out there and politely tell them to move!?” He swiped her talon off of him and spun to meet her glare with a sharp one of his own.

“Sure!” Hispano growled as she flared out her wings sharply, spraying all of us with the water that had soaked into them on our flight here. “Then maybe you could actually do something useful rather than simply cowering inside our ship!”

As I reached up to wipe Hispano’s wing water from my face, I paused as a bit of the floor fog stuck to my hoof. Blinking at it, I had the most fantastically risky idea pop into my mind.

“Tofu, what if we didn’t have to make our own clouds?” I spat out and looked up at her. She simply blunk a few times as my question caught her a bit off guard. It seemed to catch Hispano and Brightray off guard as well, because they both went dead quiet. “Could we take off if we already had clouds to use?”

“Well, sure but…” She answered before screwing up her muzzle as she too made the connection. “You want to use the fog. Okay… hold on...” Turning back towards the console, her horn lit up as her magic washed over the keyboard buttons like a torrential rain. “Guster, I’m sending you some numbers. Double check them for me!” With a final hit of a key, she spun around and held her hoof up.

With a crackle, the intercom switched back over to the noises where my dad was working.

“Well, it would get us off the ground. However…” He paused for a moment as if he were deep in thought. “So, the fog outside could lift us, but it would still be drawn in and pushed through to the recycling system, and then to the water tanks where it would leak out before it could be recondensed into new cloud. It’s not a flight issue, but a sustainability issue.”

“I might have an idea for that!” Tofu gasped and once again made her magic dance across the keyboards around her. “Eliza, can you use the barometric sensors to optimize a flight plan that takes the Arcturus through the thickest parts of the fog?”

The screens behind Tofu flickered and flipped over to show a multi-screen map of the airfield around us. An odd, winding arrow grew across it from where the Arcturus sat, twisting, rising, and falling across almost half the entire airfield’s length before coming back right to where we already were. Sure it looked like a wet noodle from one of Hardcase’s admirable attempts at spaghetti, but it was a plan.

“Path optimized.” Eliza’s smiling mare popped up on the screen just next to Tofu. “However, the path shown will give us an approximated two minutes and fifteen seconds of flight time before the fog in the area will become too thin for sustainable flight. After that, I will have a remaining fifteen seconds of usable cloud to guide the Arcturus back around and onto the maintenance mounts.”

“Two minutes of flight isn’t long enough to do anything useful.” Dad’s voice crackled through the intercom once again. “I mean, I’m willing to do it just to get out of this warzone for any amount of time, but we need something more sustainable if we plan to stay out of harm’s way.”

“What about a salvo of missiles?” Hispano offered. “We load them up before we take off, target them from the air, then let them have it.”

“Now that is an idea I can agree with you on.” Brightray nodded and turned to Tofu. “Targeted air strikes might just be the edge we need to finish this fight.”

“I hate to be the one to point this out…” Eliza’s mare flickered over to a more hesitant look again, “But firing missiles is hardly subtle. If the point of this maneuver is to get us out of harm’s way, we’d simply be advertising ourselves as a target by attacking.”

Ugh, why did there always have to be something? Some little detail that always threw off every plan of attack we made. You know, some days I just wish it could be as easy as it was up north. Where it was just me flying around on my own and dropping grenades and tank shells on the bad guys when they didn’t know I was even coming. At least, that had been the case before I’d gotten that loud ass jump pack from Boiler and…

Again, my mind ground to a halt as it rewound my thoughts back a few moments.

“Tank shells are silent…” I muttered to myself. “You’re right, Eliza, firing the missiles tells them where we are and gives them a target. So we don’t fire them.”

“If we’re not attacking, then like your engineer said, why are we going to do this!?” Brightray groaned and facehooved hard. He was about to speak up again when Hispano rudely shoved him aside to step over to me.

“Oh, I see what you’re saying, Dum Dum!” She giggled and pointed at Eliza’s flight plan on the screen and traced the path with her talon. “I bet you some of this takes us right over them. We just… push the missiles out and let gravity do the hard work! They’ll be so confused by the random blasts that they’ll be too busy running for cover to look up at us.”

“It’s a good idea, don’t get me wrong!” Dad offered as his voice crackled over the intercom again. “This path will keep us airborne, but we’ll be sacrificing our only source of cover to do it. As we swing past, the fog will be drawn into the active cloud drive and cleared from the sky, so they will see what we’re doing before long.”

“So we keep a set of missiles ready for when they do see us and fire on anyone that is dumb enough to shoot up at us.” Practically slapping the ship communications button with her hoof, she turned and shouted into it. “All hooves, brace and make safe all workstations. We are commencing immediate takeoff.” Tofu nodded and pointed her hoof at Hispano, Brightray, and at me. “You three, get to the weapons bay and inform the scribes there of the plan. I want to be ready to drop those missiles in two minutes.”

I have to say, the way that Tofu’s taken charge of things here? I could see a bit of how Double Delta was in her. Maybe it was just how the rangers up at Galloway were, or maybe they were both just doing what they needed to in order to survive, having gone so far from the home they once knew. Either way, she had come far from being the mare who didn’t know what she was meant to do with her life.

“Aye Aye, Ma’am!” Brightray shot up a stiff salute before turning and galloping out down the hall towards the aft of the ship.

Hispano and I glanced at each other before offering up the same salute.

“Aye, Ma’am!”

As Hispano and I turned and followed Brightray through the hallways, the Arcturus gave out another almost violent shudder under our hooves. This time however, the movement came with a quickening thrum through the hull as the cloud drives spooled up. Both of us did our best to brace ourselves against the bulkheads as the familiar downward pull of gravity intensified.

Hispano and I threw ourselves to the floor as a half dozen bright orange tracers ripped through the kitchen and galley as a muffled buzz from outside followed suit.

“Fuck!” She called out as another burst shot through the bulkhead behind us. “What the fuck are they even firing at us for!?”

“Either they’re firing blind at the other rangers, or they don’t want us to leave.” I offered back without thinking as I got my hooves under me again. “So much for a sneaky takeoff…”

“Must be nice.” She grumbled back as she pulled herself up and we continued on, through to the weapons bay bulkhead. “Being able to pick and choose targets while standing in the middle of an active warzone. Must be nice.”

“That’s what power armor was invented to do, after all.” Brightray called out before turning back to a trio of scribes who were actively using their magic to mount one of the missiles on a rack above one of the six now open launch doors.

Taking a step forward, I glanced through the nearest hatch. The wet runway was retreating away from us at a slow rate, but the expanding clearing the Arcturus left had revealed a pair of airfield ranger groups below us. They’d become pinned down behind a few overturned trucks near the repair mounts, using the Arcturus as a fixed point to cover their flanks. A fixed point that just up and left them exposed.

One of them looked up to us and tried to shout something up at us.

I wouldn’t hear it though, as the second they spoke, a rocket streaked forward and blasted part of their overturned truck away. Two of the rangers were thrown back by the blast, while the other three in the group kept their heads down as flaming debris rained around them.

“Now,” He grunted and did his best to push the missile mount forward to match it up with the floating missile. “if you don’t mind giving us a hoof, once we get the missiles on the rack, then we’ll get the ones ready to drop.”

His voice was drowned out as another buzz from below drifted up, and the squelch of holes being put through metal somewhere else in the ship met our ears. Another pair of scribes on the other side of the weapons bay struggled to roll out another missile from storage. However, neither were unicorns, and once it was in place next to the launch mechanism, they simply had to wait for the others to finish what they were doing.

“Attention weapons bay” The ship intercom crackled loudly and Tofu’s voice echoed over it. “The first target is identified, we’ll be over the first drop zone in thirty seconds. Get ready to release the first missile!”

Six scribes, three unicorns, a pegasus, and a griffon. There’s no way we were going to finish loading first. This… was going to take too long.

“We need a new plan, or more time.” I muttered under my breath.

The Arcturus shifted and rolled slightly under our hooves. The whole ship listed a few degrees to the side, forcing everypony to brace themselves. The two earth pony scribes who had wheeled out the fresh missile, grunted and grasped at the missile cart, trying to keep it from sliding forward into the open launch hatch.

“Hey, hold that missile!” Hispano shouted to the two as she leapt forward. I blinked as she hopped herself right past them and immediately dug her talons into a bag of tools set against the wall next to them.

“Hey, what are you… don’t touch those!” The bigger of the two scribes grunted and seemed fairly conflicted on if he should continue trying to hold the missile cart from rolling away, or forcibly drag Hispano out of the toolbag.

“Any of you ever heard the adage work smarter, not harder?” With a yank, she pulled out a well kept H&H industries power driver. Using her talon, she stripped out the power crystal from its bottom, checked the contacts, then slapped it back in. “Now, just hold that missile still.” With a squeeze of the trigger, the two century old power tool gave a whine as it’s socket tip spun up.

Hopping over, she got to work on unscrewing the sockets around the front of the missile. Naturally, the two scribes with her started shouting all sorts of instructions to her over each other, but Hispano blocked it all out. With a steady talon, she quickly dropped three of the four fasteners to the floor and looked over to me. She motioned for me to hobble over, and I managed to get across the floor just before the Arcturus leveled out from it’s sharp bank, only to then list the opposite way even harder.

“Alright, I’m going to remove this last fastener, and you are going to just… knock the warhead out the hatch. Got it, Dum Dum?”

“I’ll what?” I blinked at her and shook my head. “I don’t know what you expect me to do here!” Sitting down, I flailed my one and only forehoof while trying to maintain my balance on the highly slanted floor. “I’m supposed to just what? Hit it?”

“Are you insane!?” The scribe next to me shouted at her.

“It’s a live warhead!” The other one seamlessly continued, “If it’s hit too hard, or it strikes the hatch at all…”

“Night won’t let it hit the hatch.” Hispano snapped back at the two before looking at me, “Isn’t that right? And you wouldn’t kick it too hard and blow us all up, would you?”

“Hispano!” I snapped and again flailed my leg as I tried to wrap my head around just what the hell she was thinking here. “What’s ‘too hard’ even supposed to mean!? Do I touch it? Do I not?”

“Just... guide it downwards gently.” She huffed and deadpanned at me. “Honestly, I don’t see what you aren’t getting here. You have the easy part!”

Yeah, sure, easy! Just gently but firmly knock the highly sensitive live explosives out a hole a pony wide without touching it or having it touch anything else, or we all die.

“Don’t fuck this up, Dum Dum.” Hispano grunted as she pushed the power tool over the final fastener. “I want to hear you say it. Say it’ll go right down the hatch.”

What choice did I have but to try?

“It’ll... it’ll go right down the hatch.” I shook my head and did my best to force up a smile across my muzzle. “Yeah. Nopony’s going to explode today, not on my watch.” I scrunched up my muzzle as I realized the irony of that. “Well, except for those below us. They’ll explode, sure, but not us!” They… already know that, Night. You are making this worse. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing! I mean, I’ve never done this before, but I’m sure we’ll be fine.” Just… shut your muzzle, Night...

From the way both scribes cringed and pulled themselves back a bit, I figured I hadn’t instilled the most confidence with that. And I couldn’t blame them after all.

Again, the intercom crackled.

“We’re over the first drop zone!” Tofu shouted, “Green light to drop now!”

Lifting my hoof, I tensed up as the old world power tool whirred to life. The socket bit down on the fastener, and before I could blink, it was halfway out. We all took a deep breath and held it as Hispano’s grip on the tool’s trigger loosened, and the spinning bit slowed down.

“Get ready…” Hispano’s words were as soft as I was supposed to be with the warhead, and her gaze was locked on each and every degree of rotation left on the fastener. “Okay Night, just… careful now.”

Raising my hoof higher, I looked at it out of the corner of my eye. A thought from the back of my mind crept up on me. The deep blue the old magical bandages had turned it was even darker the way it was matted with wetness and the soupy brick and mortar dust from earlier. My hoof was dull, chipped, and had a thousand scratches on it, leaving it looking as rough as sandpaper. It’s condition really represented the thousands of steps I’d taken on my trip south, and just how rough it’s been on all of us.

“Night!” Hispano squawked as the fastener popped out, and the warhead dropped off the missile and fell like a rock toward the floor.

It wasn’t until now that I really could appreciate how far my hooves had taken me on this trip when my wings hadn’t been up to the task. They’d been tougher than I could have ever imagined myself being, but this wasn’t something they could help carry me through. I needed a weaker touch.

Shifting myself to the side, I shot my wing out. With a twist of it, I cupped my feathers around the back of the warhead and helped to guide it forward. A final flick from my wingtip as it slipped away gave it a slight tumble that let it flip just past the edge of the hatch and into the freedom of the skies.

With it disappearing into the wispy, thinning fog below the ship, all of us could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Relief that was punctuated by a satisfying blast from somewhere below the Arcturus. We’d actually managed to do it!

“Okay… good job, Dum dum!” Hispano smiled as she cooed with contentment, giving me a moment to feel glad we didn’t all just explode. “Now.” She snorted and lifted the power drill up and to the ready. And of course, as soon as I had that moment, she took it away… “Let’s get started on the next one!”

“You two are fucking nuts.” The scribe next to me muttered as he maneuvered himself so he could lift the front of the missile up. He was lanky for an earth pony, but didn’t seem to lack any strength because of it. “Do you know how many safe handling protocols we just broke?” His black coat had an almost prismatic sheen to it, though the oil that stained his ranger jumpsuit shared it as well.

“You said it, Drippy!” The other scribe nodded as he shoved his hoof up into the exhaust of the missile and lifted it from the cart as if it were made of paper. Though, for a mint colored earth pony, this guy looked strong, sporting an impressive set of muscles I’m sure that on any other day I could probably have admired for a length of time. “But… admit it. This is more exciting than dealing with month end inventory, right?”

With a strong heave, the two tossed the disarmed missile off the cart and onto the floor before pulling the cart back to the weapon storage racks.

“Fine, yes it is exciting.” Drippy sighed as they lined the cart up and just as easily moved a new missile onto the cart. The moment it was on, the missile gave out a light set of tones that almost sounded like a song before the two of them wheeled it back toward the hatch. “Yes, it was still a mistake to have let you talk me into getting on this deathtrap.”

Hey, the Arcturus wasn’t a deathtrap!

“Everypony, we have incoming! Hold on!” Eliza’s voice spilled out through the intercom right before the whole ship felt like it twisted around mid-air.

Before I could brace myself, I was thrown against the weapons bay wall. Both scribes grabbed onto the cart and grunted as it wheeled around and tried to pin them against the wall as well.

“Night!” Hispano squeaked out, forcing me to follow her voice and find her hanging mostly out of the weapon’s bay hatch with only a single talon holding her to the floor.

“I’m sorry for the rough maneuvers!” Eliza’s panicked voice over the intercom came through just as everything shifted with the Arcturus again. She listed harder than ever, groaning as she pitch over hard to starboard while feeling like she was rotating around again. “You’ll thank me later if we don’t explode!”

The second wild shift had thrown me forward. I whined as my head bounced off the floor, but I felt something tug me to a stop before I slid too far. Looking up, Hispano was acting as an anchor for me, and I was a lifeline to drag herself up and out of the hatch.

A fearful scream from behind me drew my attention, and I watched as one of the unicorns slid across the floor and disappeared out of the hatch.

“Peach Tree!” Brightray cried out as he held on tight to one of the missile loading arms.

In an instant, Hispano’s grip was gone, and she disappeared out the hatch. No words. No sound left her beak. She just… slipped away.

Blinking, the world around me fuzzed out, and for just a moment, I was back with Delta.

“Night!” His voice echoed through my mind. My heart pounded in my chest as I sat there just… reaching for him. “I… I need you to keep it together for me!”

And then he was gone again.

The sound of fighting down below the Arcturus washed in as once more the ship banked wildly. I was knocked back into the present when I noticed myself sliding right for missile tube one.

“I got you!” Brightray called out as I was yanked to a stop just short of the open tube.

“They have a towed surface to air launcher targeting us!” Eliza let out a strained whine with her words, and almost sounded out of breath. “The Arcturus wasn’t built for sustained maneuvers like this!”

“Subtlety is out the window, we’re going hot!” Tofu’s commanding tone came through with a crackle. “Weapons control, clear tube one for launch!”

The automated system whirred in front of me. The hydraulic arm that held the missile hummed to life and quickly set the missile down into the tube. With another hum, a second arm extended from inside the tube, holding the missile as it disengaged from the loading arm. The floor rumbled as the inner hatch lowered and shut, sealing with a hiss and emitting a buzz from the launcher keypad. The round green ‘ready’ light on it lit up and steadily began to blink.

“Weapons control, fire tube one!” Tofu barked sharply.

I waited for a moment, listening for the ignition of the missile’s motor and for it to go screaming away from us. However… it never came.

“Weapons control, fire tube one!” Tofu snapped again.

While I’m sure we all really wanted to get up and send off a high explosive gift to the Metro rangers, unfortunately with the maneuvers, we couldn’t really do that.

“Weapons control, you either need to fire, or switch over automatic control to the bridge!”

Again, Eliza threw the Arcturus back around. All of us in here shifted toward the front of the Arcturus as she pitched us downward slightly this time. Despite Brightray’s grip, I felt myself dragged around as I was pulled towards the still open tube two.

“Hey…” Brightray grunted, pulling my gaze back toward him. He was barely still holding on to the loading arm for tube one, but his eyes were locked just above me at the control panel for it. “I’m sorry. Please understand what I need to do.”

Of course, if he let go of me, then maybe he could reach the launch button.

“I have wings, I’ll be fine.” I nodded to him. He nodded back to me, taking a moment to breathe deep. “Don’t fall out after me.”

With that, he let me go.

With my matted fur all the lubrication I’d needed, I easily slid the short way across the floor to the hatch. At the speed I’d slid, however, I was thrown hard against the tube wall, and I twisted into a tumble as I dropped out of the open outer hatch into the rapidly clearing fog.

There was a pair of sharp hisses I had assumed was from tube one firing, but it was unnervingly growing louder, closer to me. I swear to Celestia, if I get hit by our own missile...

Everything went dark as the hiss grew into a roar, and something hit me. It let out a cry of it’s own as I felt it grab on. Shaking off the hit, I flared my wings and tried to stabilize my flight. However, it was hard as not only was I carrying something else, but whatever roaring noise I’d heard was actively fighting my attempts to correct my flight!

I looked up at just who was on me and blinked in confusion as a yellow eyed mare mirrored my expression. A pink coated unicorn mare in a Metro uniform wearing one of those weird jump packs from earlier let out a growl and glared at me. She wrestled between holding on to me and steering us, and despite my attempts to turn us, the thrust her alchemical jetpack put out overrode any bite my wings had in the air.

“Let go of me you fucking turkey!” She snapped at me before looking down at her side. I followed her gaze to see she was eyeing the cut down equestrian service rifle strapped to her. However, it was pinned under the somewhat familiar flight harness she wore.

“Hey, you’re the one holding on to me!” I fired back at her and flailed my single forehoof in her face.

“Oh. Sorry about that!” She screwed up her muzzle and blinked at me. “I’m still not used to flying this thing.” She chuckled and released herself from me, allowing me to flare my wings and level out with her. Just in time too, because we were now both skimming at a good pace just a meter over the wet concrete runway. Again, she scrunched up her muzzle as a thought hit her. “Wait a minute, why am I apologizing? We’re supposed to be fighting!”

Actually, I’d seen this harness before! Boiler and Hardcase had said this was the one that my pack was originally supposed to come with! It came with a whole bunch of neat features that my beaten up old thing could only have dreamed of having.

“Here’s a quick tip for your harness!” I chuckled as I reached forward and wrapped my hoof around a boxy bit near her barrel. “It has a quick-release fastener right here!”

With a simple squeeze, the harness all but fell apart around her. Like was supposed to happen with my original jump pack, the thrust cut out when the release was pressed, and she let out a short lived yelp as she dropped onto the runway below.

I cringed as I could swear I heard a few of her legs give out loud snaps, but from the screaming she was doing once she skid to a stop, at least she’d live!

Torquing my wings, I rolled myself over to fly straight, and pulled the mare’s flight pack closer to me. It was like an anchor, but that was because her tangled up rifle had stayed caught in the pack. Well, it wasn’t much, but it was at least something to defend myself with!

Now, to look up and find out where I can go to help with this fight!

I blinked as the large canvas covered side of a military cargo truck sat directly in front of me. Holding on tight, tucking in my wings, and closing my eyes, I braced myself for the inevitable.

There was a unique pressure and louder than expected ripping sound as my momentum carried me right through both sides of the canvas backed truck. But it did steal enough speed that I no longer had time to recover my flight. I got to feel a little bit of what that unfortunate mare did as I crashed down, bouncing and skidding a short distance across the pavement.

Despite the various scrapes and bruises I undoubtedly had, this was at least another successful Night Flight landing. Second of the day, in fact! Plus, the patch of canvas that had stuck to me as I ripped through it helped to keep my legs bound tightly enough to myself that I didn’t break them as I came to a full and complete stop on the runway! So there was that as a nice bonus!

Shaking off the stars in my vision as I laid there on the wet pavement, half wrapped in wet canvas, I noticed something amazing.

A beautiful clear blue sky had come out over the runway, and I could almost feel the warmth that it carried with it. Had there not been gunfire, explosions, and terrible screaming from the ponies around me fighting, I might have almost convinced myself that it was just a nice day out to relax.

A shadow in the sky passed overhead, and a familiar griffon swooped down next to me.

“Ran into something again, didn’t you?.” Hispano chuckled through a beaming smile as she reached a talon out. “Typical Night Flight landing.”

I reached my hoof up to grab it, but found that she instead had chosen to pluck the rifle I’d stolen up off the ground rather than help me. Oh, okay. I see how it is.

“Now come on, Dum Dum! No time to lay around all day.” She nodded for me to follow as she stripped the magazine from the old world rifle and checked it. “I saw Happy back this way. He and a few rangers are pinned down and could use some help.”

“Alright.” I groaned as I pushed the canvas off of me and got back to my hooves.

Looking up to the sky again, I saw the looming form of the Arcturus swinging around at the edge of the fog. It was almost like a monster vacuum, sucking up the foggy skies and turning them into blue skies above, and shrieking missiles below. Which, now that I think of it, really is kind of a weird juxtaposition…

However, the Arcturus wasn’t alone up there.

Several more Metro Rangers wearing those weird alchemical jetpacks darted around up there. They buzzed around the twisting and drifting cloudship like vultures, and I knew it would only be a matter of time before they found a way to attack the ship. Fighting up in the air wasn’t something I’d really planned on doing in this fight, but that worry would have to take a backseat for now.

“You good?” Hispano asked as she slapped the magazine back into the combat rifle and pulled it close to her. “You know, despite it being tomorrow already, it really feels like we’ve already lived this day before.”

“Yeah.” I nodded and thought back to just how often we’d ended up doing this exact same thing over the last few months. “Just means we know the drill. Let’s go save Happy.”

Author's Note

As always, I'd like to give a huge thanks to TheFurryRailfan for all the hard work he does in reading over these chapters before they come out. Most can't understand the peace of mind that comes with having someone you trust go over your writing, and I am eternally greatfull for all the help.

And of course, a huge thanks to Kkat for creating FoE and allowing us all to play around in the post apocalyptic sandbox!

Chapter 120 - Within Reach

Shot-for-shot retaliation only works when your artillery is more accurate than theirs.

“Alright, on three!” Hispano shouted before pushing her combat rifle around the twisted and still burning edge of our cover and letting out a burst that emptied her magazine. With a growl, she threw it to the ground. “Three!”

The two of us sprung up, darting out from behind what had at some point been an aircraft tractor, but now sat as a smoldering heap of nothing more than scrap metal.

Barking shots hissed through the air and cut lines across the pavement below us as we ran. The flight pack I’d stolen from that ranger bounced against my own as I forced my hind legs to keep up with Hispano’s impressive sprint. This was a race I couldn’t afford to fall behind in.

With my hooves pounding across the pavement, and my heart hitting my ribs just as hard, my eyes were fixed on the overturned truck sitting at the edge of a small mortar crater. It was a sandbagged position that had been pounded hard enough that most of it was just wet sand piles with mixed bits of torn fabric in it. Still, despite the mulching it had taken, the position was still somewhat covered, and held a crooked mortar tube sitting upright in it.

About halfway through our run, I spotted a couple of rangers currently huddled down inside. It was going to be a tight fit for all of us with how little cover there was, but we’d have to make it work!

A sharp hiss came from our left. I could only see the rocket for a split second as I looked back and saw it streak just past our flanks. It impacted one of the large hangar doors with a resounding blast as Hispano called something back to me. Whatever it was would have to wait!

With a bounding leap, the two of us dove into the mortar crater. I was unfortunate enough to land on top of the curled up third member of the huddled ponies. Too late to stop myself, I felt their ribs crack and give out under me with a thick snap as I came down hard.

“Oh shit!” Panicked, I scrambled to get off of them. “Sorry, I…”

My words died in my muzzle as I realized it wasn’t a third pony, rather it was the top half of one. Looking at the other two, I realized that they were likewise just as torn up and lifeless. Blinking, I glanced at the mortar tube they’d been using and found that it’s barrel had just as many shrapnel holes in it as they did.

“Don’t apologize, Dum Dum.” Hispano called back as she got my attention just in time. Flailing my forehoof forward, I managed to catch the bolt action rifle she’d tossed at me. “The dead won’t care unless you join them.” Snapping her talon, she pointed to the pony I’d landed on. “Quick, toss me that.”

Slinging the bolt action over myself, I reached down and yanked a short, pump action shotgun from the remains of the mare. With a frown, I looked at it before tossing it over to her.

“Why do you get the shotgun?”

“Because I can work the action?” She cooed as she quickly checked the chamber. “It takes two hooves to work a pump, ya know.” With a dissatisfied frown, she looked around below me. “At least it’s loaded. Say, did she have any ammo on her?”

Looking down, I hoofed at her bloody work overalls, but couldn’t feel or see where she would have kept any extra. I shook my head as I looked back at Hispano, but stopped dead cold when I noticed somepony moving behind her and looking at us.

Standing out from behind one of the burning cargo trucks on the tarmac, was an unhappy looking mule. He was seemingly unharmed, with his leather jacket sporting a few new holes in it that revealed the steel plated lining under it. But like us, he seemed under equipped for the fight as he only had his hellhound-paw jacket and sword with him.

“Night!?” Happy called out as he took a step toward us. “Thank the goddess, we’ve been pinned down here for minutes!”

He nearly jumped out of his hooves as a blistering burst of fire tore through the air. With a scrambling hop, he threw himself back toward the cargo truck. From behind him, a few other rangers poked their heads out, including Daisy and Bluebell, the latter of which had an aircraft’s belted light machine gun loaded and slung over her back.

A sharp buzz tore through the air. A relentless stream of red tracers cut a jagged through their cover, forcing them all to go prone on the wet concrete.

“Night,” Hispano glanced back at me before pointing at Bluebell. “If I can get that light machine gun, maybe I can use that flight pack you held onto and at least get some air cover going. Maybe actually take out whoever is pinning us down.”

Another set of short buzzing bursts sparked against the undercarriage of Happy and co’s cover.

“Fuck!” Happy whined out at us. “Hey, quick question. Would you mind killing these assholes already!?”

“We don’t have an angle or range on them!” She shouted and held up her shotgun for him to see. “But while we’re asking, I need that light machine gun you’ve got! Shoot them yourselves and come to us!”

“Fuck you, come to me!” He barked back.

A rocket streaked over their cover and again, slammed right into one of the large hangar doors. This situation was already well out of hoof, but it felt like it was steadily spiraling further out of grasp.

Hispano pressed herself up against the underside of our overturned truck cover and scooted herself to the edge. With a lean, she moved the peek around the edge.

Sparks and spalling burst from the metal truck frame as a few incoming shots bounced off of it.

“Goddess damnit!” She hissed as she pulled back from the edge, hugging her shotgun against herself tightly. “Night, I need to know what we’re up against.”

“Uh, what am I supposed to do?” I spat out as I moved to join her against the truck.

“Trade places with me and put that metal eye of yours to good use!” She grumbled as she used a talon to pull herself around to the other side of me. “Doesn’t it have some widget in it that can see where the bad guys are?” With a firm shove, she did her best to scoot me towards the edge of the truck.

“I don’t know!” I spat back and sat down hard and fought against her pushing. “I still haven’t discovered half of what this thing can do!”

“What do you mean you haven’t!?” With another firm shove, she got me off balance.

“The Architect said I’d learn over time, remember!?” Scrambling, I shoved the barrel of my stolen bolt-action against the warped bumper of the truck and braced myself against it. “If it had some sort of function for it, I think it would have been activated by now!”

“That’s the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard!” She growled and continued to shove me forward. “Still, you’re the most durable pony I know, so make yourself useful and take. A. Peek!”

Putting all her weight into one final shove, she dislodged my rifle, and pushed us both forward. Unfortunately, I wasn’t ready for the hit, and my hoof slipped, sending me down to the asphalt hard with her collapsing on top of me. I cringed as just the tip of my muzzle dipped past the wreck of the truck, and I could hear the familiar electrical whine of a minigun spinning up.

Hispano held me tight as a buzzing line of fire tore straight across where we’d just been, sending sparks and shredded metal showering down on us.

As soon as the buzzing died down, both Hispano and I scrambled to get fully back behind the safety of the truck. The tortured metal gave out a groan as it shifted and moved, bending down and folding over itself towards the assaulting rangers. The two of us cringed as we were left with cover that was half as high as before, and with this many holes in it, hardly capable of keeping us safe much longer.

“Okay, maybe that was a bad idea.” She cooed with a stiff exhale. “We need a solid plan.”

Looking across the ground at Happy and the others, a niggling thought hit my mind.

We needed to get to Happy and the others, but even if we could, that minigun out there would just make that cover look like ours in a burst or two. Hispano was right, we needed a better solution. We needed those rangers dealt with, and I had an idea of how to do it.

“Eliza, we’re pinned down trying to get to Happy.” I spat out and scanned my eyes across the sky for the enormous cloudship. “Can you assist us by taking these guys out?”

“Negative, Captain!” Eliza’s strained voice came back with a crackle through my mind. “I have twenty seconds until I have to be back on those launch mounts, or we’re going to need a lot more than all the rangers around to help in putting me back together again!”

The electric whine of the minigun filled the air again. A bright line of tracers tore across Happy’s cover again. He and Bluebell hit the ground in an instant, but I watched as one of the other rangers with them was too slow and took a few of the piercing rounds to the face.

“Fuck!” I roared out and slammed my hoof against the ground. My thundering heart felt like it hammered against my chest so hard that it made my hooves tremble. That, or it was the fact that right now, I knew we didn’t have anything left. Unlike last night’s last stand in the armory, we didn’t even have anything left to really fight back with.

The sound of mortars falling across the other sections of the airfield blended with the continuous fire from other groups just as stuck in as we were. The looming and semi-cloud shrouded form of the Arcturus dipping down out of the sky further down the runway mixed with sparks of penetration as it took fire over it’s landing mounts. The fear that ran through me as multiple flying rangers streaked overhead, laying down fire around Hispano and I that forced us to scramble back with the corpses in the makeshift foxhole.

Diving in a second time was just as unpleasant as the first as I came down hard on a muddy, half buried wooden box. It snapped from my hit with such intensity that I could still hear it as the reports from our assailants started to let up. Still, with Hispano caked in mud next to me, we’d at least both made it.

“Holy fuck, yes!” Hispano laughed as she flopped down into the muck next to me and dug her talons under me. “Looks like your luck’s turned around after all, Dum dum!”

She retrieved a muddy metal rod from the box that jabbed into my side uncomfortably as she pulled it back. With a worrisome grin pulling at her beak, she held out her prize to me. A dirty and slightly rusted old mortar round.

Again, I blinked a few times as I stared at it. Shifting my weight off the old box while still staying as low as I could, my eyes wandered across the wording on the crate I’d crushed. Right there under the hoof painted steel rangers logo, sat 81MM HE M374.

Oh, well, now there’s an idea! We could just fire mortars on them for a little distraction!

“Alright, you assholes.” Rolling herself over, Hispano kicked out with her hindpaw and bent the mortar tube on it’s mounting. With another hard kick, she knocked the whole thing over.

Or we don’t… shoot them? What the fuck was she doing?

“You want to take pot-shots at me? Force me into the mud?” Staying low, and with the mortar round firmly grasped in her talon, she maneuvered herself around towards the upended baseplate. With a resounding clang, she swung the mortar over and slammed it’s stem against stiff, muddy metal. The crimson red talisman sitting embedded inside the explosive’s tip hummed and began to glow softly. “Well, let’s see how you like diving for cover.”

“That is not how you’re supposed to use a mortar, Hispano!” I spat out as she held tightly on the tail stem of the now live and sensitive explosive.

As the last of the assaulting ranger’s shots trailed off, Hispano pushed herself up onto her hind paws. Much like she had with the grenade back when we’d, she arched herself around and put her whole body into throwing the heavy explosive.

It flipped end over end as it left her talon, disappearing over the top of the smoldering metal scrap next to us as she dropped hard back into the safety of our hole. There was a single shot fired in retaliation before the thunderous crack of the mortar round going off filled the air. Before the ringing could even peak in my ears, I felt Hispano reaching under me for another mortar.

“I’m going to throw this one, this time higher than before…” Hispano’s voice was hard to make out through the ringing, but my augment was quick to help tune it out of at least my left ear. “When I do, we run for the others. Got it?”

“Got it!” I nodded to her. It’s not like we have much choice, and we already pushed live missiles around today, so I guess I might as well embrace the crazy! “I’m ready!”

“Good.” She nodded and used her free talon to shove my mud-coated bolt action rifle back against me. “Okay, real important thing here, Night! We need to be in their cover before it lands!” Peeking under me, she scrunched up her beak for a moment as she reached under me again and grabbed the muddiest mortar round so far. “Actually, let’s be smart about this!”

Wait, was this a moment of rational realization here?

“You know what they said back in the day about cutting back at home so the troops could have more ammunition?” Hispano smiled as she gave the mortar a single shake that let half the mud on it splatter onto my hooves.

Not sure what she was driving at, I opened my muzzle to say as much, and found the muddy mortar stem shoved into my muzzle. Instantly I tasted everything from mud, rusted metal, and the distinct flavor of copper mixed in. Reflexively I tried to spit it out, but Hispano’s talon wrapped around my muzzle and stopped me.

“Hey, some privileged asshole in the past went without a coffee can or some shit for that mortar.” She smirked as she peeked up over the edge of our cover. “Don’t let their selfless sacrifices be for nothing when sacrificing your taste buds might just save our flanks here.”

Swallowing the urge to gag as best I could, I shot her my best ‘you didn’t have to do that’ look while keeping my muzzle clamped around the explosive.

Rolling over, I got my hooves under me and readied myself to spring up.

“Alright, three…” Hispano called out.

I took a few slow, deep breaths.

“Two.”

Focusing myself on the goal, I locked my eyes onto Happy’s worried gaze. He seemed to understand what we were going to try, because he simply gave a single, knowing nod to me.

With a spin, Hispano ducked down and swung the mortar back against the baseplate. I could have sworn it rang like a bell from the strike, but even if it had, it was erased from my mind as she spun back around.

“Go!” She shouted as she twisted herself back and loosed the explosive with an angry yell. She used her own torque to help her hop up and out of our hole. The moment her paws touched the wet tarmac again, she was off once more like a bolt of lightning.

Pushing myself up and forward, I was just slightly slower on the get-go than Hispano. Digging my hooves down, eyes right on Happy, I poured every ounce of effort into pushing myself forward.

The mud under my hooves however, had other plans.

With an unexpected give, my forehoof slipped right out from under me, torqueing me face first into the broken edge of the makeshift foxhole. Before hitting, I twisted my head to the side, trying to save the backside of the mortar from striking by letting my metal faceplate absorb the impact instead. However, as my vision fuzzed and I tasted even more wet dirt in my muzzle, the sound of the mortar’s talisman activating was the last thing I heard before Hispano’s thrown mortar went off.

In the blink of an eye, my momentum had died, and I flopped back down into the mud with a grunt. Chunks of tarmac showered down onto me, and the choking smoke from the first blast was blown over my hole, making it even harder to breathe.

Again, I almost spat out the mortar in my muzzle, but froze as I opened my eyes and saw the red glow from the tip. Right, can’t put it down now!

“What the fuck happened, Night!?” Hispano’s angry shout perked my ears, and I popped my head up just above the rim of the foxhole. It was hard to see through most of the smoke drifting by, but Hispano’s furious gaze did it’s best to try to punch through it.

With an electric whine, the buzz of a Ranger’s minigun returned to the air. Another line of rending fire tore into their cover. More than half of the old cargo truck in front of them groaned and collapsed over. I watched in horror as the heavy metal folded right down over them and pinned all of them down under it with a single, metal squeach.

Oh, sure, like you didn’t see something like this coming, Hispano. Couldn’t possibly be that something with our plan went wrong. No, that never happens to me! We just had to go throwing mortars around today! And of course, we didn’t even kill the fuckers pinning us down!

Grumbling through the mud and mortar in my muzzle, I wanted nothing more than to just scream. Of course my life always has to end up like this! Even though I’d done what I’d needed to to get rid of my curse, everything around me was still fucked.

Wincing from a spark that jumped off of the remains of the truck near me as the rangers opened up on me again, something inside me gave out and I felt something coming to me. A drive that was completely different than what I’ve felt before on this fucked up trip south.

It wasn’t anger at the rangers, though it should have been. It wasn’t fear either, though deep down I was plenty scared. This was a different feeling entirely, something far far simpler.

I just... didn’t want to come all this way to die in a muddy hole, so I wasn’t going to.

I set the bolt action rifle down against the lip of the foxhole. It wasn’t going to help me stay alive, so it could stay in the hole. Hoofing at my chest, I quickly worked to unbuckle my flight pack. Right now, it wasn’t going to help me stay alive either, so it could likewise stay in the fucking hole.

Once I’d slipped the pack from myself, I worked to get the ranger’s flight pack strapped around myself. The straps were looser than I’d have liked, but I didn’t have time to adjust them. With the quick release buckle clipped back in, I brushed off the small control panel that sat on the left side strap. Sure this whole thing was caked in mud, but if these rangers respected anything, I could bet they’d make sure it would still work even in these conditions.

I paused and perked my ears as the sound of heavy hoofsteps crunching across the rubble strewn tarmac met them. Staying low, and with my hoof hovering over the big red start button for the jetpack, I peeked my eyes up over the edge of the foxhole.

The stiff form of the power armored Metro ranger stepping up towards the others was not what I was expecting to see.

Fuck, they were out of time, and I couldn’t throw my mortar at that asshole without blowing them all up!

Reaching forward, I grabbed the bolt action again and pulled it closer. I did my best to quickly wedge it in a crack at the edge of my foxhole and roughly aimed it at the massive metal pony. Sliding my hoof down around the trigger, I pulled it hard and flinched as the rifle let out an impressive bark.

A spark skipped off the back of the ranger’s helmet, and with a smooth twist, it’s dark visor swung over. With a blink, I was back in Cantercross, staring down Tall Tale once again. But all it took was a grunt from the Ranger as he turned toward me to pull me back to the here and now.

“Hey, Asshole!” Happy screamed out as he used all four of his legs to push against the shredded steel above him. With a groan, the metal shifted and bent upwards, allowing Bluebell to scramble out.

Before the armored Ranger could react, Bluebell let out her own feral scream. She shoved the barrel of her light machine gun under his chin, and against the seal for his helmet. A dizzying burst of rounds sparked against the underside of the helmet that quickly shredded away the protective latch and seal, punching right through into the pony inside.

The unfortunate ranger collapsed, dead on the spot as his allies opened up at the now exposed Bluebell. She was quick to turn her gun on them and fall back, but she screamed and collapsed as a few rounds took literal chunks out of her hind legs.

Her pained scream made me flinch, and my hoof slammed down on the button at my side. With a violent shake and a pop that rivaled a gunshot, the jetpack strapped to me barked to life. Knowing how this went, I aimed myself in the general direction of up just in time for the thrust to peak and throw me straight into the open skies.

The launch was softer than my old jump pack had been, and I could definitely feel the fact that I was going much slower than I was used to. It let me flare my muddy wings out hard without consequence, and immediately I felt myself gain control of my flight. While I was slower, the constant thrust was a welcomed change of pace for me, allowing for each little tweak of my wings and legs to shift my flight. What I didn’t care for, was the shrill screech the pack made. I mean, my jump pack’s whine in a dive could grate some nerves after a few jumps, but I think this won out for sheer consistency.

Gunfire from below sent whizzing rounds up through the air around me, refocusing my mind. Right, sometimes slower wasn’t always better!

Twisting my wings, I rolled into a wide bank that took me back around toward the smoking form of the Arcturus sitting on the runway. It’s mounts had collapsed under it when it landed, and her hull had taken more than a few rough hits, but I was glad to see she was still in one piece.

With another twist, I banked myself around and doubled back on my course. With how much fog the Arcturus had cleared, it wasn’t hard to find the well fortified position the Metro Rangers had been huddled up in.

Half of the circle of concrete highway dividers was chipped but still standing, with the other half having been blown into chunks by what looked like Hispano’s first mortar toss. While there were five rangers huddled up in it, only two of them were in any condition to continue firing up at me. I just needed to tweak my wings and shift my tail slightly, and I’d be all lined up to…

My head snapped to the side with a crunch. My augmented vision fritzed out in an instant, and pain wracked my body. With no choice, I was forced let go of the mortar with a howl as instinct took over and I pulled my flight away towards Happy and the others.

I could hardly breathe, let alone think as my body felt like it was setting itself on fire as it turned itself inside out. I blacked out once I got close to the ground and the agony won out. I don’t remember hitting the ground, but what I do remember, is that everything started to fade.

It was like a strong wave from the ocean had washed over me, forcing me to bend to it’s will before it peaked, and then started to recede. I could feel my heart thundering in my chest again, setting a pace like the fastest metronome in the world, but something I could focus on. I wheezed as my lungs forced in deep and hard breaths, helping with each gasp to push back the clawing ache from every fiber of my being.

“Come on!” An angry shout brought my hearing back before the long, chattering burst of a machine gun filled the air. “Grab the wounded and let’s go!” Bluebell snapped. “Everypony, we’re moving to my barn inside fourteen! Let’s go, go, go!”

“No time to be laying around, Night.” Happy’s voice right in my ear was definitely welcomed, as well as the feeling of his wooden prosthetic helping to wrench me up off the ground.

Wounded? Shit, how long was I out? Was… Hispano!?

Okay, calm down, Night. I was alive, and that was great, but he’s right, this is not the time or place to have a crisis. Hispano is fine, she has to be.

Opening my eye with my own groan, I caught Happy’s concerned gaze as it brightened. Working my hooves, I even got a smile from him as I managed to stand up and hobble back in the general direction of the hangers. With each step, I found my strength return bit by bit, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief once I saw Hispano’s hesitant glance peek out from through the barely pony-wide opening in the large hangar doors ahead.

See, she’s fine.

“Fuck, am I glad you got that curse out of you, Night.” Happy forced a laugh as he helped me hobble the last few meters to the door.

“What?” The question slipped out of my muzzle, but also shot a stabbing pain through my head that nearly made me trip.

“You’ve been shot in the head twice now and walked away from it.” He chuckled as his strong grasp more than compensated for the momentary misstep I had. “Same eye even! Lucky bastard.”

“I don’t feel very lucky.” I groaned as once more the pain receded. But, taking a bullet to the head would explain why I felt like shit all of a sudden up there. It would also explain why I can’t see a fucking thing out of my left eye.

“Shit!” Bluebell shouted out before letting loose another long burst from her light machine gun. “We’ve got company!”

Both Happy and I spun around just short of the door and looked back. Three Metro Rangers punched through the edge of the thinning bank of fog across the runway. Each of them opened up with wildly inaccurate fire at us, but it was enough of a hint that Bluebell abandoned firing and hobbled towards Happy and I.

“Go! Get inside!” She shouted to us before her already injured leg gave out under her with a crunch and she tumbled down onto the pavement.

“Bluebell!” Daisy called out through the open door before sprinting out towards the old ghoul.

“Daisy!” Happy shouted as I could feel him fight his urge to turn and go after her. He looked at me, practically shaking before looking back at her with a whimper.

“I’ve got Night!” Hispano snapped as she ripped Happy’s leg from me and shoved him away from me, instantly using herself to help keep me standing. “Go!”

The two of us hobbled forward as Happy galloped off behind me. We hadn’t made it more than a couple steps before Hispano froze and perked her head up to the sky. I perked my own ear back and immediately picked up on something new coming from the northwest of us. It was soft at first, but steadily it grew into the familiar flapping buzz of old propeller engines.

Both Hispano and I flinched as a pair of heavy, rapid firing guns opened up from the edge of the fog. Bright yellow tracers streaked through the sky above the runway, forcing the approaching rangers to scatter and pull off their attack run.

Like a silver bullet, a gull winged skycraft shot into the open air through the fog wall. Twin cannons on it’s nose blazed away as it’s quad engines helped the old craft roar after a pair of the fleeing rangers. The bright morning sun glinted off of the hull of the gorgeous old flying boat, highlighting the Seaddler’s painted name for all to see.

“It’s… it’s not possible…” Bluebell stammered as both Happy and Daisy dragged her towards us.

“Hey!” Happy snapped at Hispano and I. “It ain’t a show! Get inside, now!”

Hobbling forward toward the door with Hispano, I glanced back over her shoulder into the sky. I only got a glimpse of the Seaddler again before it plunged back into the fogbank, and it wasn’t a particularly good look. However, that being said, I could swear I could see the Skycaptain sitting in the pilot seat.

Even stranger was the fact that I could swear to Celestia herself that I could see her smiling…

“Ah!” I flinched as the heads-up display for my augmented vision returned in my mind for a single moment, then disappeared once more. “This sounds like someone dragging their hoof across a chalkboard from inside my head.”

I don’t know why, but my augment wasn’t fixing itself like normal. I mean, it fixed some of itself, but then it just seemed to stop, leaving a big metal hole where my augmented eye was supposed to be.

“Well if you’d hold still…” Hispano muttered as she carefully tweaked at the tweezers carefully grasped in her talon. With a slight tweak, she pulled them back a few millimeters before pausing again. “You know, rooting around in your head like this is much more Buck’s forte.”

“Okay, well next time I’ll make sure to only get shot in the head when he’s...” A sharp bolt of pain and static flashed through my head. “Ah, fuck!”

“Are you only going to stay still for him, too?” She smirked at me and continued to slowly pull the tweezers out from inside my eye. “Cause every time you move it only takes longer…”

“I’m sure he’s not doing it on purpose.” Happy sighed as he slowly walked across the old barn floorboards and plopped himself down next to me. “Where is the big fuzzball anyway?”

“He’s wherever that signal Ping was talking about is.” I paused as my own words hit me unexpectedly. Shit, Ping was still out there somewhere. “Fuck. We need to find…”

“Hey, slow down.” Happy’s soft words came with a light touch on my shoulder. “I’m sure he’s just… laying low for now. We’ll find him as soon as it’s safe enough to get out of here, alright?”

“Nopony is going anywhere.” Bluebell snorted as she opened the far door to the barn. “At least, not until I can reach out to the elder.” With what sounded like a significant hobble along the floorboards, she and somepony else came inside. “Well, whichever one it is that ended up winning.”

“At least the shooting sounds like it stopped.” Hispano muttered under her breath as she pulled the tweezers all the way out. “Which, by the way I wanted to ask, are we even safe in here?” Held firmly in between the tips was what looked like the back half of a rifle round. “Damn it, only half.” She sighed and dropped it onto the table next to her.

“Who knows.” Happy sighed. “They came out of nowhere and struck in every direction at once. And with the fog? There was just no way to coordinate.”

Hobbling around the other end of the table Hispano and I were seated at, Bluebell finally came into view of me with a profoundly forlorn look across her face.

“I’m not going to lie, he’s not wrong. They hit us hard and fast.” With a sigh, she stepped aside and let Daisy step past her. She was struggling to stand, but with a grunt, managed to help the Donkey shove a large green crate onto the table. “However,” Bluebell continued as she quickly flipped open the two latches on each side the crate, “I just saw a ghost flying through the skies out there, so fuck it. Today, anything is possible.”

“What’s that?” Happy asked, nodding at the crate as Bluebell pushed the top half of it up.

“Two way radio.” Bluebell answered flatly before she started to hoof at some of the knobs and dials inside it.

“That’s a radio? From when? Before recorded history?” Happy chuckled and nudged at me softly. Another set of sparks and bolt of pain shot through my head as a reward. “Shit, sorry.”

“Go be useless somewhere else, please.” Hispano hissed at him and shot him the healthy dose of side-eye I couldn’t at the moment.

“It’s not big because it’s old, it’s big because this radio is unjammable.” Daisy clopped her hooves together excitedly.

“Hah, that’s impossible.” Hispano offered as she carefully got her tweezers into position. “Unless this whole building is secretly a broadcast antenna, and you’ve got a city’s worth of spark reactor power to waste, then I call bullshit.”

Blinking for a moment, Hispano turned and looked over her shoulder at Bluebell.

“You don’t have any of that, right?” She asked, getting nothing more than a chuckle and dismissive shake of the head from Bluebell. “Thank the goddesses. We’ve run into enough secret shit like that on this trip already.”

“Not happy with standard encryption, the military ordered these.” Daisy commented as she reached into the case and started to toggle various switches and buttons. The whole thing gave a whine as it came to life. “Inside is a two-of-a-kind talisman, the other of which is inside the identical set we’ve got inside the command bunker.”

A burst of static emit from the small speakers on the sides of the upper lid of the large device, followed by a steady march of beeps that formed a loose repeating pattern.

“Now we’re talking!” She smiled and reached her hoof into her jumpsuit, pulling out a small pad of paper and a short pencil that she stuck into her muzzle. With her ears perked right at the small speakers, she started to jot things down at a frankly amazing rate.

“Oh fuck, is that why your eye isn’t repairing?” Hispano let out a light gasp.

She grabbed something with the tweezers and hastily pulled it back through my metal eye socket. No sooner had she pulled it halfway through that I could feel the repair talisman get to work in the depths of my augment. Carefully, she maneuvered her talon out of my augment, revealing the top half of the copper jacketed rifle round that had hit me. However, this half had a thin rod of metal with a prismatic sheen sticking out of its core.

“Starmetal.” Hispano huffed before carefully setting down the round and tweezers on the table. “I guess even Factory-tech isn’t sure what to do with that shit.”

“That’s… not possible.” Daisy let out a gasp and abandoned her work on the radio momentarily. With a quick hop, she reached right past Hispano’s scrunched up muzzle and swiped the starmetal bullet fragments right off the table. “No, fuck, where did they get this from?”

“Knowing the rangers, they probably had a stash somewhere.” Happy snorted before laying himself down on Bluebell’s couch. “They’d obviously been planning today for some time.”

“You don’t understand, the Rangers spent decades collecting all the starmetal ammunition in Seaddle.” Daisy muttered softly as she brought the bullet to the end of her muzzle so she could really get a good look at it. “They were supposed to all be locked up in the armory because they are so rare and dangerous.” Glancing over the end of her muzzle at both Hispano and I, she frowned. “You need to understand, balefire eggs were less secure than these were. The list of ponies who could access them is very short.”

“Then it sounds to me like you had somepony high up in your ranks helping them plan this.” Hispano sighed and carefully used her talon to pluck the bullet fragments from Daisy’s hoof.

“The elder had mentioned that to me, when we first met.” I spat out as I was reminded of her words. “She knew your supplies were being funneled out, but not how. But if that list is as short as you say it is, Daisy, then that’s something she needs to know about.”

“Sure, unless the good rangers lost the fight already.” Happy commented with a light wave of his wooden hoof. “Then what does it matter?”

“No, we didn’t lose.” Bluebell offered as she picked up Daisy’s pad and read it. “Is… this right, Daisy? Both Elder Pilaf and Elder Fenestron have apparently independently called for a ceasefire.”

“Yeah,” Daisy nodded as she stepped back over to the radio. “The message coming through from the elder is that both sides are going to meet to negotiate terms, at least, once an impartial mediary from the city can be brought in.”

“Sounds like a set up.” Hispano snorted.

“What?” Daisy screwed up her muzzle. “Why do you say that?”

“While it’s true we don’t know how bad it was out there, odds are neither side really knows that either.” Hispano shrugged and gave a stretch of her wings and neck, causing several uncomfortable pops from her joints. “So, given that we know someone higher up is helping the Metro Rangers, this sounds like the perfect way to take out the leadership here.”

“I don’t really think… come on, that’s just paranoia talking, right?” Daisy laughed to herself dismissively, but pausing as Hispano, Happy’s and my own tired gazes were cast at her. “Wait, you really think they’d try something so obvious? The rangers here would have to expect...”

“The rangers here might be more compromised than we think. Only a few loyal to Pilaf would be all it would take to act with your diminished command strength after that fight.” Bluebell snorted and hobbled out from the end of the table. Snatching up Suiza, she hoofed the cannon toward Hispano. “They’ve gone into a lot of work planning this, so I think you’re right. This ‘ceasefire’ could well be part of their plan.”

“So what do we do about it?” Happy groaned as he pulled himself up off the couch.

As annoying as it was, and among all the other priorities I knew we should be focusing on, I already knew the answer to that.

“We volunteer ourselves as impartial mediaries.” I sighed. Because of course we had to get stuck right in the middle of things again.

“Alright.” Hispano pulled her sister close and nodded to Bluebell. “Let’s go be bodyguards.”

“No.” Bluebell grunted as she put a firm hoof down on Hispano’s shoulder. “The four of us need to be ready to counter whatever plans they have in place.” Shifting her rotten hoof from Hispano’s shoulder, she pointed it right at me. “You go in alone as the mediary.”

“Sending in Night into that room unarmed is a bad idea.” Hispano cooed and shoved Bluebell’s hoof off of me. “He needs backup.”

“If his eye can do what I think it can, then he won’t need backup.” Bluebell smirked. “What we need to do first is get your robot friend fixed up.”

“How do you know…” The words slipped from my muzzle before I could stop myself.

“Seen one of them before, years back.” She offered. “Snuck into my hangars looking for a source of Rhenium, but that’s a story for another time. Right now, I bet the radio in his head could be linked to yours, and if that’s the case, we could broadcast the negotiation to the whole base.”

“Ma used ta do the same thing sometimes when… difficult groups came through.” Happy spat out as a sad smile pulled across his muzzle. “She used to let the whole town listen in, so nopony could kill her and make their own claims on what was discussed.”

“Bingo.” Bluebell nodded. “Letting them listen to the fact you know they’ve got an inside mare might be all we need to do to throw off their plans and turn a faux-negotiation into a real one.”

“Great, but that still means we have to go find Ping in the first place.” Hispano muttered and grumbled as she got herself slung over herself.

“We lost contact with him at the start of the fight.” I nodded. Please, Celestia, let him be alright and not laying out there in pieces. “It might be because he’s been injured.”

“Well, if that’s the case, we’re in luck.” She smiled and waved for us to follow her as she turned back toward the old wooden door she’d entered through. “Follow me, cause I know right where he’d go if he was looking for repairs.”

Bluebell led us back through hangar after hangar, past the fleet of prepped ‘boxcars’, and back through the manufacturing areas we’d entered originally. What I hadn’t really expected to see, was how the fog from outside had seeped in. It practically clung to the ceiling, obscuring the rusting rafters and ventilation ducts that crisscrossed the spacious roof. I know it probably didn’t compare, but part of me wondered if this was what it felt like for those in the wasteland before the Enclave was dissolved...

The door at the far end of the hangar gave a sharp squeal as she opened it, wincing as the heavy metal strained her well bandaged legs.

“Just through the airframe hangar and we’ll be in engine assembly.” She gave us a genuine smile before disappearing through the open door.

While I was glad for her help, her knowing about what Ping really was was worrying. While I’d had my slip-ups talking about the Factory, the fact that she didn’t elaborate about meeting one of his kind before… it didn’t win her any favors from me. For all I knew, she could be the reason one of the factory’s missing units was, well, missing.

“Hey, Night?” Hispano meekly muttered, holding her talon out as she slowed to a meandering pace. “Can I… can we talk about something?”

“Sure.” I nodded to her, looking up at Happy as he glanced back at me. I gave him a wave and a nod to let him know we’d catch up, and he returned the same before trotting up alongside Daisy. Turning back to Hispano, I offered a confused, but well meaning smile to her. “What’s on your mind?”

“I just wanted to say… I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” I scrunched up my muzzle and shook my head. “For what?”

“For letting go, up on the Arcturus.” She sighed and looked over her shoulder to the hanger doors. “Everything was so hectic in the fight, and we were getting tossed around so much.” Forcing her eyes shut, she shook her head. “I saw that mare slide out, and… I couldn’t let her fall.”

“It’s alright, you did what you had to.” I nodded to her.

“It’s not alright though, is it?” She hung her head and sighed deeply. “I was too slow for Delta. I couldn’t let it happen again. I didn’t even stop to think about it, I just let go of you, and...”

The memory of Delta slipping from my hooves replayed in my head, and I couldn’t help but tense up from it. I knew what she was feeling, I’d felt it up there in that moment as well.

“Did you catch her?” There wasn’t anything else I could think to say. No comfort could replace the mistakes we made to lose Delta. But if something good could come out of those mistakes, even if it was just a reaction made out of regret. Then maybe in some small way we could start to make it up to him.

“Yeah.” Hispano sniffled, and pulled her flight cap down over her eyes. “But that’s not what I’m afraid of. This keeps happening, Night. I keep letting go of you, trying to go faster, trying to keep ahead of the danger.”

“What do you mean?” Sitting down, I reached out for her, but found her pull away.

“I left you behind out there, Night. You tripped, and I was too focused to notice.” With a sniffle, she pulled her flight cap back up. “I wanted to get to the others, to help save them. I almost lost you because of that.”

“That’s the risk we’ve always taken.” I understood what she was saying, I knew the conflict that brewed inside her. “How many times have I acted without thinking, just throwing myself at a problem because I wanted to be the hero?”

“Yeah, but you weren’t raised to win.” She shook her head and crossed her talons as she too sat down. “I’m afraid that one of these days, I’ll turn around and realize that I was too fast. That I left you alone, and that will have gotten you killed.” Looking up at me, her watering eyes hit me harder than I was prepared for. “I shouldn’t have taken that job. I shouldn’t have left the ship. I should have stayed.”

“I know I wasn’t raised to win, Hispano.” Scooting myself closer to her, I reached my wing out and wrapped it around her softly. “You know I wasn’t even raised to live in the wasteland, but you know what? I’ve managed to survive and do alright.”

She cocked an eyebrow at me as she glanced down at my missing legs and the myriad of scars across my body.

“I never said it was easy, or that I’ve done it completely alone.” Smirking, I gave her a prod with my hoof. “But you want to know the truth?”

“What?” She spat out as she turned her flat glare away.

“When you left yesterday, I wasn’t afraid.” I offered to her as I scooted myself close enough to finally get my forehoof around her side. “Annoyed, sure, but it wasn’t until Solomon attacked that I was worried about you. Do you know why?”

“Because he’s an annoying bastard who refuses to die?”

“Well, yes that,” I gave her a relenting nod before pulling her close, “but I wasn’t afraid before because you are an amazing griffon, Hispano.” At that, she simply rolled her eyes. “I know some of it is false bravado you tell us in good fun, but I’m serious! You are the most capable person I’ve met in the wastes, and I rely on that, Hispano. Don’t slow yourself down on my account, because I believe in you being that much better than me. And were Buck here, I know he’d agree with me on...”

That was as far as I’d made it before she turned her head and pressed her beak into my muzzle. It was sudden, but definitely not unwelcomed! She let out a long sigh through the kiss as I could feel her stress melt away.

Breaking the kiss, she leaned her head over and rested it against my neck.

“Thank you for not leaving me, Night.”

“Buck and I would never dream of it.” I offered back as I rested my head against hers. Though, as like all the nice moments of respite on this trip, it would have to be cut a bit short. “We should probably catch up with the others, though.”

“Yeah.” She nodded and pulled away from me. “Hey, is your eye repaired enough that you can maybe reach out? When was the last time you tried to contact Ping?”

“Back on the Inuvik. Hold on.” I muttered. As she got back onto her hindpaws, I focused on reaching out. Ping, are you out there? Static burst through my head in response, forcing me to wince as it filled my mind. “Ah, fuck...”

The rough noise toned down slightly, shifting to something like you’d hear when tuning between radio stations. Slivers of a voice cut through the static, but only long enough for partial syllables and odd sounds to form. The cadence of what I could hear however was strange, oddly rhythmic. Almost like… music.

“I’ll take that as it’s still not working.” Hispano sighed.

“Yeah, it’s not…”

Another stabbing blast of static filled my head again. My augmented vision fuzzed and a spike of pain shot down my spine as it again sounded like every frequency known to ponykind bounced around inside my head. I let out a whine as I couldn't do anything but squeeze at my augment with my hoof until the sound dulled out again.

This time, the sounds resolved into exactly what I’d thought it had been. Music, but being sung by Ping.

“We three, we’re all alone. Seems like we’re living in a memory. That’s my echo… my shadow… and me.”

“What the fuck…?” I finally spat out. “He’s… singing?”

“Who is?” Hispano shook her head and reached out to steady me. “What? Ping?”

“We three, we ain’t no crowd. Fact is, we ain’t even company. That’s my echo… my shadow… and me.”

“Yeah… it’s strange.” I did my best to focus and will the noise in my head to quiet down and at least allow me to think. “But at least it’s something. At least it means… he’s alive.”

Despite everything that had gone wrong today, at least he was still alive.

“Come on,” Hispano grunted as she helped me back onto my hooves. “Let’s go find the others.”

Dipping through the heavy door Bluebell had opened, we made our way into the next large hangar. It was much like the last one, filled with towers of machinery meant to build and arrange cloudship parts. However, all the way at the other end, was a small collection of aircraft, as well as a large, sleek looking white airplane that looked like a triangular dart. Approaching it slowly, was the others.

Following behind Hispano, I got myself up to a hobbling canter that paced oddly with the slow and relaxed tune Ping was feeding into my mind. In fact, the more I listened to it, the more I realized that I knew this song. It was one of the few bits of wartime music that the Enclave had played over the radio.

He must be sending it to me for a reason, like an SoS, he’s asking for help!

“Hey, glad you’re back with us, Captain!” Eliza’s voice piqued over the music and nearly made me trip. With a pop, her frowning cartoon mare popped up in my augmented vision. “I wish I had better news, but I think Ping’s broadcasting...”

“Yeah, I hear it!” I laughed as I pushed myself back into my hobble after Hispano. “He’s going to be alright, Eliza! We’re looking for him now!”

“He’s… he’s not alright, Captain.” Eliza’s hesitant voice nearly stopped me in my tracks. “That song… it’s what he sent before the Rangers locked him in that train.”

“What?” Blinking, I looked up as Hispano stopped herself and looked back at me.

“It’s what he sent when he thought he’d never see us again.”

“Shit.” Okay, well, that’s less good than before, but still more than we had five minutes ago. “Alright, don’t worry, Eliza. We’ll find him.”

“What’s going on?” Hispano asked.

A heavy clang resounded from further through our warehouse and made both Hispano and I jump. Looking ahead, neither of us could see the others anymore. Just like that, the two of us pushed ourselves into a sprint towards where they had been.

Various shouts and clanging noises filled the air as we approached. It was hard to tell between my heavy hoof beats, thumping heart in my chest, and music in the back of my head, but it sounded like a full on fight was going on. Oh, please don’t tell me there are Metro Rangers in here!

“I’ll fucking kill him!” Bluebell screamed out as Hispano and I darted past the small collection of parked aircraft.

The three of them had ended up underneath the large white plane we’d spotted from the other end of the hanger. Both Happy and Daisy restraining Bluebell and keeping her on the bottom steps of a ladder that stretched up to the cavernous twin rectangular intakes that were slung under the narrow delta-winged craft.

It was hard to see as Hispano and I skidded to a stop, but I could just barely make out the glowing eyes of Ping as they peered out from inside the intakes. Something shiny sat inside of his muzzle, as well as in his hoof as he raised it up. It looked to be part of a long, slender, silvery piece of metal that was somewhat identical to the blades of the large engine he stood in front of. Slowly, it disappeared into his muzzle, and he brought the piece in his hoof up to replace it.

“No, no. Don’t you fucking do it!” Bluebell seethed and fought against both Happy and Daisy.

With a spine-tingling crunch, Ping slid the piece of metal into his muzzle and started to chew on it.

“Uh, Ping? Buddy?” Happy grunted as he fought against Bluebell’s tugs. “Maybe listen to the nice mare and come out from there so we can help you out. Alright?”

“It’s useless, he’s not thinking straight.” Bluebell snapped and ripped her foreleg free of Daisy’s grasp. With a hard flap of her wings, she nearly pulled free of Happy’s grasp as well. “Hey, you want Rhenium, right? I can get you all you want, okay? I’ve got piles of it elsewhere, just stop eating my prototype!”

Ping’s unblinking eyes turned on her for a moment and simply stared. It was a strange, empty gaze, and unlike anything I’d ever seen on him before. Slowly though, the metal in his muzzle disappeared inside him and he was left staring in an unnaturally unmoving way.

“That’s it, if you follow me, I can lead you to all the Rhenium turbine blades you want.” Bluebell smiled and waved for Ping to follow.

A yellow spark shot from somewhere on Ping’s body, lighting up the dark intake enough that I could see that he was missing his right forehoof completely, and that half of his real body was heavily damaged and exposed. With a stiff shift, he turned his head back toward the turbine’s fan blades without twisting his neck, and swung his forehoof straight back to the nearest one.

“No, no, no!” Bluebell whined as he effortlessly tore away one of the blades. “Goddess damnit, you oversized toaster! Cut it out!”

“What the fuck is he doing?” Hispano finally managed to ask the question that had started to emerge through the music in the back of my mind.

“Fixing himself.” Bluebell sighed and finally took a few steps back from the stairway. Tearing herself from Happy, she turned and walked back towards Hispano and I. “Same thing happened before, except he didn’t eat my prized plane!” Growling back at Ping for a moment, she took a few deep breaths before sitting down. “Look, those blade’s he’s eating are three percent Rhenium, which he’s using to fix the power core inside himself. Once that’s stabilized enough, he’ll come out of whatever emergency power-save coma he’s in and will actually be cognizant again.”

“How long will that take?” I asked, but couldn’t bring myself to look away from Ping as he continued to eat the turbine blade he’d torn off. “And how do you know all this?”

“Minutes? Hours? I don’t know.” Hanging her head with a sigh, she glanced back over her shoulder at him again. “Like I said, it’s a long story for another time that I’m far from proud of. For now, we just have to wait and hope he can fix himself enough before you get too far into negotiations with Elder Pilaf and Elder Fenestron.” Turning back to me, she prodded me in the chest with her hoof. “But that’s for us to worry about. For now, you need to get down into the main bunker, and have a talk with Elder Fenestron. She needs to know the plan.”

“Alright, I’ll go.” Nodding, I finally pulled my eyes from Ping, and swung them over to Hispano.

“Be careful, Night.” She offered with a weak smile and an outstretched talon.

Taking it with my hoof, I did my best to offer her a smile back.

“I’ll try my best.”

Author's Note

As always, I wanted to give my thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his dedication in keeping up with going over every chapter of this story. Even though it's been hard to keep writing consistently, you are always there to help, and that really means a lot these days. Thank you.

Of course, a big thanks to Kkat as well for creating FoE in the first place as well!

Chapter 121 - Treuga Dei

The more skilled you are at something, the worse you are at it when showing someone.

I kept my eyes pointed up to the sky. The empty blue above me, cloudless and clear, felt as familiar to me as if I’d just walked out the front door of my parents home. The warmth of Celestia’s great sun greeting and trying to envelop me like a caring embrace was something I’d have given anything to hold onto back then.

Walking across the bright tarmac, the numbness I’d grown so used to from my augment made certain I’d never feel its warmth. The dozens of ranger corpses I had to step over and around to make it this far dragged me from the fantasy of a life that could have been. Just like then, while I’d hoped for the perfect morning every time I woke up, the real world came and did its best to pull me down.

Trotting up to where the main bunker entrance was, I did my best not to look at any of the injured and weary Ranger eyes that stared at me as I hobbled past them. Of course, that didn’t mean I didn’t catch glimpses. Tired, scared, angry, confused. Every ranger wore some unique mix of the look. Until an hour ago, today was just another miserable morning of an otherwise unremarkable day in their lives.

It was a sympathetic feeling I’d come to know well these past few months.

As I walked through the open hatch and stepped onto the stairs that dove back into the depths of the Ranger bunker, I couldn’t help but get stuck on a thought. One that had emerged from that same song Ping was still looping in the back of my mind. It was irrational, yet I accepted it as easily as the numbness that had become my constant and relied upon companion.

The Architect had promised that no machine, should it become damaged enough to die, would continue to operate. That if something like what happened to Ping were to, well, happen, then that the machine would self-terminate. Yet, seeing Ping sitting inside that intake doing what he had to in order to survive felt like a betrayal of the Architect’s promise.

I felt guilty for even thinking that after everything that’s happened. That Ping should just kill himself like some rule was more important than his life. He didn’t ask to be caught out in the open during the Metro Ranger’s attack. He didn’t mean to get caught in this city with some sort of jamming signal trapping him here. He deserved as much of a chance as any of us to live through this, despite the promise the Architect had made.

A pained moan from one of the injured Rangers pulled my attention as I was led deeper down the stairwell. A stallion no more than a few years older than me stood over a charcoal mare whose uniform was so torn and blood soaked I couldn’t even tell where it ended and her fur began. She let out a visceral scream as the stallion used his magic to levitate several surgical tools over and got to work on her.

“Hey, wait right there!”

A hoof came down on my side and stopped my descent. Before I could even look over, another hoof came around and pulled me sideways. Panic flushed through me and I struggled against the iron grip that had just wrapped around me.

“Woah, easy there!” The stallion squeezing me laughed as he loosened his grip enough to let me turn to see him. Blinking, I was met with a teary eyed gaze and a beaming smile. Working slower than normal, I blinked as my brain took a moment to reboot before I realized I was being hugged by Double Delta.

I blinked again, and instead it was the mare who’d slid out of the Arcturus holding onto me. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, I just… I wanted to thank your Talon for saving me.”

“Sure.” I nodded and forced up a slight smile. “We’re both glad that you’re safe.”

“I didn’t know… if I could trust any outsiders before.” She shook her head and pulled her hooves back. “But now I know I made the right choice to stay here. You’ve helped to show me that it’s better to have unlikely allies, rather than to think we could just keep going on our own.” With a nervous smile, she brought her hoof up and rubbed at her neck. “It may sound silly to you, but it probably shouldn’t have taken me falling out of a cloudship to learn that.”

“And somehow, you still haven’t learned your duties.” Ducky snapped as she trotted up the stairs from below. “Get back to work. You can take a break when your fellow rangers aren’t still dying around you.”

“Uh… yes, ma’am!” The mare shot up a quick salute before tearing herself away from me and galloping up the stairs.

“And you.” Ducky snorted and jabbed her hoof at me sharply. “The Elder is waiting. This way.” The annoyance and anger in the way she said that felt hollow to me. When she’d ‘captured’ us on our arrival, there was at least a tone of smug amusement to her words. Now, I could almost feel her seething loathing for me.

Not that I could blame her after a fight like this.

Following her down even more flights of stairs, we dipped down lower than the level I’d been interrogated on. The hustle and bustle of rangers trickled off with each level, down to the point where it was just the two of us, and a pair of heavily armed stallions guarding a sealed hatchway.

I opened my muzzle to ask why the negotiations were being held so deep within the base, but I stopped myself. I suppose if I’d invited Solomon for a ‘chat’ somewhere, I’d want it to be in the most secure place I could think of.

“Outsiders aren’t cleared for this level, ma’am.” One of the stallions nodded to Ducky as he stepped slightly in front of the hatchway.

“This is the negotiator requested by the Elder.” She snapped back sharply, forcing both stallions to stiffen up. “Open the door.”

The two guards shared a glance before they stepped aside and hoofed at a pair of keypads set into the wall beside them. A mechanical whirr picked up from the other side of the hatch, and it slowly pulled itself open to reveal a bright hallway beyond.

I followed Ducky through before the door had even finished opening, and nearly slipped as my hooves were immediately soaked by the thin layer of cold water that coated the floor. The smooth almost marble-white concrete walls of the hall glistened with wetness, and the coverings of the buzzing fluorescent lights above were tinged with a light layer of green algae.

With splashing steps, I did my best to keep up as we headed for the junction at the end of the hallway. As we neared, Ducky’s steps slowed slightly, and she threw a sharp look back at me over her shoulder.

“This level is normally closed to outsiders, but as much of an exception as you are today, that means I will only tell you this once.” She flicked her wet forehoof at me stiffly with a grunt. “You speak of nothing you see down here, to anypony. Understand?”

“Understood.” I gave her a nod, but unless there was some collection of megaspells or the like being hidden away down here, I somewhat doubted there was actually anything down here that I’d care about mentioning anyway. While the hoof deep water was certainly strange, once you’ve seen one ranger tunnel, you’ve seen most of them. Then again, maybe there was something to that… “What’s with the water, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“It’s none of your concern.” She grumbled and stomped her hoof down. “You were brought here to negotiate, not for a tour. So shut your muzzle until we get to the elder.”

“Sure, whatever.” I know I was always more curious than others cared for, but I guess this was a mystery I could let slip.

Satisfied with my response, Ducky continued on, taking us down the left side of the junction. Again, I nearly tripped as we came around the corner, but this time it was because the Hallway itself seemed to run off for hundreds of meters in a straight line. Interspersed along the right side of the hallway were long sets of algae-coated windows broken up by a hatchway door every now and again.

Stepping up to the first window, I did my best to peer through the green growth on it. Though it was hard to judge its size at first, on the other side of the window was an expansive tunnel that followed the hallway. A large, rusting and broken equipment gantry ran the whole length of the ceiling, with various lifts and cranes sitting half submerged in the dark, almost black water that came up to the same level as where it sat in the tunnels.

“Woah…” A soft gasp escaped my muzzle as I thought about just how big this tunnel was, and how it had to run right under the runway above. The memory of what Ping had said earlier sent a sparking thought through my mind that forced its way out of my muzzle before I could stop it. “This must be the tunnel that connects to the cloudship factory north of the city.”

“How the fuck do you know about that?” Ducky squeaked and spun around fast enough to splash me in the muzzle with a good bit of the brackish salt-water.

Spitting out the foul tasting liquid, I shot her a glare. “It’s none of your concern.”

Her gaze hardened as she studied me. Honestly, out of all the rangers at this base, Ducky had been hard to pin down. On one hoof, I understood why she was wary of us at the start, but call me entitled, but I’d think we’d helped enough in the fight for her to know we were on her side by now.

“Not. A. Word. Remember that.” She finally snapped back with a grunt before turning herself back down the hall.

It wasn’t much further down the wet hallway before we reached another junction that we turned down. This hallway was shorter than the original one we’d come down, and built slightly different, with the floor sloping gently upwards until it rose above the waterline. Dozens of drying hoofprints showed that this place was pretty well trafficked, and the fact that some hoofprints were twice the size of others and looked treaded told me that power armored ponies had recently come through here.

Ducky physically seemed to relax slightly as she trotted out of the water, giving each leg a quick shake, as well as a long shiver down her back before continuing on. As I followed at my hobbling pace, I was once again thankful that my augment did its part to save me from the undoubtedly freezing cold water.

Despite bringing us out of the fetlock deep water, the hallway continued to slope up before turning back on itself on both sides at the end of the hall, leading to a pair of sealed hatchway doors. A pair of Steel Ranger guard ponies were stationed at the door, same as at the bottom of the stairwell. As Ducky turned up the rampway and headed for one of the doors, one of the guards at it turned and opened it for her.

Following through the hatchway, the room opened up into what looked like a large command center. Two story tall terminals and catwalks sat along each of the walls, with rows of smaller terminals interspersed throughout the rear half of the room. The glowing and beeping terminals were attended by a dozen or so robed ponies, who worked alongside an equal number of well dressed and fairly chatty rangers who were using headsets to talk to Celestia knows who.

The far wall was sloped, and held tall, pony-wide windows that looked down into the flooded tunnel below. My guess was this had been some sort of control point during the cloudship manufacturing process, but at some point the rangers had converted it into their base of operations.

Somewhat out of place here, was the large, round table sat in the far corner near the windows. Almost a dozen armed rangers stood around three power armored ponies who were seated at it, facing a ragged but steadfast looking Elder Fenestron. Her gaze shifted as Ducky and I approached, and a visible wave of relief washed over her. Getting to her hooves, she waved aside some of the armed ponies to make a path for us to get by.

Approaching the table, I was able to see that the power armored ponies were in fact, not from the Airfield rangers. Their standard flat-grey armor had taken a few dings and scratches from the battle on the tarmac, but looked to be in almost perfect condition otherwise. In fact, if not for those dings and scratches, I could have confused these suits as having just rolled off the factory floor.

What certainly surprised me however, was the fact that none of the three had any weapons bolted on them. Maybe it was a gesture of good faith, or maybe they’d been stripped off for the negotiations. Still, it made the accompanying armed guards huddled around them seem a bit like overkill. Though, I suppose just being wrapped in armor like that, you wouldn’t exactly need weapons to cause a good bit of damage if you wanted to….

“Thank you for offering to help.” Elder Fenestron offered as she pointed for me to join them. “The Elder here and I are eager to get started.”

“Yes, your expediency is appreciated.” The Steel Ranger in the middle spoke and stood up as Ducky and I split, taking opposing sides across the round table from each other. Lowering her helmet, she reached her armored hooves up and gave a twist to it. With a hiss, her helmet detached, and she pulled it off. “I can only hope you will be impartial as we…”

Red Velvet froze up mid sentence as her pair of strawberry red eyes left her helmet and fell on me. The velvet coat that had once covered half of her face had been warped into a wicked burn, and the white braided mane that had adorned her head was worn loosely in an unsuccessful attempt to cover it up.

“You.” She snarled as she sprung up onto her hooves and maneuvered herself to line up her weapons at me. “You are supposed to be dead!” A point she must have realized as the Airfield guards shifted and hovered their guns around her and her power armored friends even before they could react and get to their hooves. “How...”

The rage burning behind her eyes burned like so many I’d run into up in the north. It was a fire that I’d gotten good at forcibly putting out, but even here surrounded by the Airfield rangers, it didn’t mean Red Velvet wasn’t still dangerous. If anything, this was going to make things more complicated.

“Elder Velvet, you know this pony?” Fenestron asked, trading a somewhat confused look between herself and Ducky.

“We met last night when her goons captured me.” I spoke quickly, thankful for once for the short bridge between my thoughts and muzzle. “She tried, unsuccessfully, to kill my talon and I.”

“This mutant murdered Elder Pilaf and nearly two dozen of our best rangers.” She seethed back, shaking her armored hoof sharply at me. “I refuse to negotiate with this thing. In fact, you will detain them and hoof them over to me when this is over.”

While murderous ponies wanting me dead ending up that way themselves was normal to me, what slightly unnerved me was the look that flashed across Elder Fenestron’s face when she heard I’d murdered Pilaf. Sure, I knew it was pretty much in self defense, but would Fenestron see it that way? She hadn’t wanted him dead, and I’d all but told her I wouldn’t kill him.

But we hadn’t asked to be captured. If I had or hadn’t wanted to kill Pilaf didn’t matter, because that choice had been made for me. Thinking back to what Madame Mystic had told me, my ‘talent’ had made sure the metro rangers had an opportunity to change the way things went, and they’d made their choice. All I could do now was point that fact out, and hope that it gave me the leverage I needed to actually change things around here.

“Tell me, Elder Velvet,” I asked as I slowly turned a flat gaze from Fenestron, “What incentive does a Steel Ranger have to bring rare technology back to base?”

“What? What does that have to do with anything?” She seethed and gave a dismissive wave, “Scribe Fenestron, I will not waste my time with such pointless questions from a mutant who couldn’t understand the first thing about being a Steel Ranger.”

“That’s Elder Fenestron, traitor.” Ducky snapped and brought her hoof down on the table hard.

“Please, let me rephrase my question then.” I offered as I sat down and stared into Velvet’s burning glare. “If your Ranger were to damage a piece of rare technology in their care, what would happen?”

“That is none of your concern.” She uttered in a low growl as she leaned toward me slowly. “Again, I will not have my time wasted by someone so…”

“Elder?” Turning from Velvet, I brought my gaze over to Fenestron’s stern gaze. “Can you answer my question? Before your split, what would happen to a ranger who irreparably destroyed or lost a piece of technology in their care?”

Her eyes studied me for a moment, and I could see the hesitation to trust me creeping into the back of her mind.

“There would be a formal reprimand.” She finally answered. “A lot of it depends on the circumstances of the incident.”

“Thank you.” I nodded to her with a forced smile. “Another question. What if the offending Ranger was ill-equipped to protect said technology and ended up losing or breaking it?”

“This is no negotiation.” Red Velvet snarled as she slammed her hoof down on the table before jabbing it back at me. As she did, the collective group of armed ponies behind her leaned in, weapons trained right on the back of her head. “This is simply a ruse to buy these traitorous rangers more time to regroup! I will not be a party to this!”

“It’s a simple question!” I kept my gaze pinned on Elder Fenestron as she looked between Velvet and her own soldiers. “What harm is there in a simple answer?”

“I am beginning to agree with Velvet that this is a strange way to begin a negotiation as an impartial mediator.” Fenestron pressed her forehoof against her head with a long sigh, but carefully turned her eyes on me. “But I’ll indulge your simple question. It’s the responsibility of those of higher stations to dictate tasks to those capable and equipped for completing them.”

“A crude summation.” One of the power armored stallions muttered through his helmet.

“But a correct one.” Ducky fired back at him.

“If you agree, then here’s how I see it.” Taking a deep breath, I walked my glance across the table toward each of them slowly. “Neither of you care to follow the rules of the Steel Rangers.”

“That’s absurd!” Velvet snarled.

“Would you care to arrive at a point, mediator?” Fenestron tensed up and pinched the bridge of her muzzle with her fetlock.

The room fell silent with both outbursts, leaving only the buzzing of the working machines in the background, and the frustrated breathing of two quite angry Elder Rangers.

Good, now that I’d gotten the sole attention out of each and everypony here...

“Would both of you care to explain to your soldiers, why all of them on both sides, went into a fight this morning they were unprepared and under equipped for at all.” Standing up, I propped myself up on the table with my one hoof and did my best to growl out my words. “From what I’m hearing, taking responsibility doesn’t apply to being an Elder!”

“And what responsibility do you take for murdering Elder Pilaf?” Red Velvet brought her own hooves down on the table, hammering it nearly hard enough to throw my hoof from it.

“Would you like for me to recount how it happened?” I shot back at her. “How my talon and I broke out of your holding cell? How we made it past your guards into your ‘secure’ armory? I may have thrown the grenade that killed Pilaf, but you need to ask yourself, Elder, who’s fault was it that I had that opportunity in the first place.”

Not giving her any time to voice an objection, I wheeled my gaze around onto Fenestron.

“And you, Elder.” “You are so unconcerned with what happens outside of this airfield that you had no idea that your convoy had been replaced with an invasion force.”

“I don’t know how things were in the Enclave, but we don’t have the resources to be everywhere.” She began “To suggest otherwise is…”

After everything I’d seen and learned about them, just being compared to the Enclave brought my blood to a boil.

“Elder.” I raised my hoof and cut her off sharply, “Respectfully, your intentions are all well and good, but the city of Seaddle is your resource. You want to help the ponies of this city? Then asking for their help is part of that.”

“See how pointless this is?” Velvet snorted and smirked, “There is no impartial mediation here when this Mutie has already committed to giving you traitors this city.”

“This city is nopony’s to give.” I fired back and once again wheeled around to glare at Red. “You want to negotiate? Alright, what will it take for you to stop fighting with the rangers here?”

“You could never understand, Enclave.” One of the two armored rangers spat through their helmet.

“Yeah,” Ducky snorted with her own smirk, “well you assholes will only be happy when you’re watching the ponies of Seaddle suffer under your hoof again.”

“It’s for their benefit.” The other armored ranger hissed at her, “You are wasting irreplaceable tech on those who so easily fall into barbarism!”

“That’s a laugh! You hear that, guys? The oppressors want to talk about barbarism!” One of the soldiers holding them at gunpoint spoke out.

This was once again swiftly getting out of hoof.

“HEY, unless you have some magic solution, I suggest leaving these negotiations to the Elders and I!” I howled out with as much force as I could. “Now, let's roll it back.” I took a deep breath and got myself seated onto the cold concrete floor again. “Why is it that you are fighting each other?”

“Maybe somepony hasn't explained it to you, but the Steel Rangers used to protect ponies.” Red spoke with a sharp, cutting tone that implied all the malice I’d personally seen her capable of. “And these trai…” she paused as Fenestron sharpened her own gaze, “and some of us have forgotten that.”

“We protect them from themselves, right.” Fenestron nodded and brought both forehooves down lightly onto the table. “Except you aren't saving them from another, future apocalypse when you deny them clean water and medical care every day.”

“That’s rich!” The power armored pony closest to me chuckled as he raised his voice, “Wasting finite resources on druggies who are going to get themselves killed tomorrow isn't helping! From the looks of things, your side can’t even help your own soldiers now!”

Are you kidding me? Again!?

“And who by chance are the ponies who shot up all of our rangers!?” Ducky raised her own voice, rousing an enthusiastic response from all the soldiers holding the power armored rangers at gunpoint. “From where I’m sitting, your selfishness hasn’t left your side any better.”

“ENOUGH!” I screamed at the both of them sharply enough that they both leaned back as far from me as possible without flat-out falling over. “This goes for everypony here. If I have to stop either side from speaking out again, then these negotiations are over and nopony gets to stay in Seaddle.”

“Please,” Red scoffed and gave me a dismissive wave of her hoof, “you don’t have the resources to do that.”

“There’s that word again. Resources.” I shook my head and looked between both elders. “You want to know what the Ranger's problem is? You are so focused on hoarding resources because 'you know how to use them right' that you can't see the irony in the fact that that's what caused the end of Equestria in the first place. Those with the resources decided they were better used for a war that both sides lost.”

“That’s not…” Ducky snorted, but let her words die in her throat as I shifted my glare to her.

“Resources are limited, I will give you that.” I continued and returned my gaze back to Fenestron. “You need to better choose who to help, and how to help, regardless of who or what they are.” A spark of inspiration hit me like a lightning bolt. “The donkey under your command, for example. She told us that she joined you because she lost her family to an ambush, and she didn’t want anyone else to go through what she did.”

Fenestron nodded at that. “She spoke of that when asking to join us, and I thought it an admirable enough reason to become a Ranger.”

“And yet, while this airbase is the safest place around for a lot of ponies, the city remains a deathtrap, despite you thinking her cause was worthy.” Sighing, I shrugged and looked over at Ducky and the other Airfield rangers intently listening in. “Even if you didn't help the city, the rate of ponies you are helping is not sustainable.”

“Well, we’ve been stretched thin after our… separation.” Fenestron admitted as her gaze at Velvet softened slightly.

“Are you, though?” I offered back. “You’re more than well enough protected behind these walls. And with the Starscream, this place is a veritable fortress.” Turning back across the table once more, I locked eyes with Red Velvet. “You’re stretched just as thin as they are, and it’s not because of a lack of resources, it’s because you both are intent on taking what the other still has.”

“They have almost everything that belongs to us.” Red snarled and sharply jabbed at Fenestron. “We only want to take back what is ours!”

“You know, I’ve heard something like that before.” I offered to her, leaning forward against the table. “Why all the prejudice against the Enclave? They only wanted to take back what they thought was rightfully theirs.” It almost made me sick to use what they’d done like this, to sound like what they did could so quickly be written off as the responsibility of the few in charge. But was this conflict really any different, if just on a smaller scale? “It may not be between the Enclave and the ground, or the zebras and ponies this time, but this a war. But it’s one we can end here and now. Where both sides get to walk away, even if one side has to leave the city to the other.”

"While that's... a valid comparison,” Ducky made sure to keep her tone and voice level as she spoke. “Do you really think it’s better than keeping the rangers intact and strong?"

“Well, you don’t have to leave if you don’t want to.” I shrugged and met her concerned gaze.

“You think after all this, that anypony would trust either side to just leave for good?” She asked plainly.

"I think that a lot of Rangers were put in a difficult spot,” Again, I couldn’t do anything but shrug. “Between loyalty to the Ranger ways, and their innate desire to help those who need it. They shouldn't be punished for falling back on the safer choice." Smirking and shifting my glance to Red, I was met with a souring of her expression. "Expulsion is just another easy and safe choice, and if you want to leave, no pony should stop you."

"Separation for the sake of safety has been the Ranger's way of life for two centuries, and it's kept us alive.” Red spoke up in a surprisingly soft tone. “Following the codex has saved countless lives by the virtue of keeping the means to cause destruction away from those who would use them. The choices we’ve had to make haven’t been easy or safe, but rather what needs to be done."

“And how many have we put down in order to secure those tools?” Fenestron matched Red’s gentle tone, offering a caring smile to go along with it. “We still believe in protecting them, but we needed to question the idea of are we not hypocritical for using those tools ourselves? Who are we to say we alone have the authority on this?"

“Not to jump in, but This is not a debate on whose philosophy is right or wrong. I’m sure it’s really somewhere in the middle." Despite this probably being the calmest discussion yet, jumping in here was the best way to keep things from spiraling again. “Look, it will take time and effort to show both sides of the Rangers and the city that you can change, but I have to believe that change is worth making if you are willing to set aside your differences...”

“You speak of the homogenization and dilution of the Rangers, not an outcome where the Codex guides us and takes precedence. As it should.” Red’s sharp undertone returned swiftly, and the fire in her gaze sparked back to a blaze. “How can one half function, or even keep discipline if the rules simply don’t apply to the other? We will not work beside those who would undermine the very foundations of…”

“I get it.” I spoke up again and raised my hoof to quiet her. “Then if unification isn’t acceptable to you, the Airfield Rangers here will help your side leave the city.” I could see that fan the flames in her, and quickly cut her off again. “And before you ask why you have to go, as stated before, it’s because this city belongs to neither of you. If you refuse to help the city or rangers here, then you can leave.”

“I will not give them free reign to strip this base…” Fenestron protested sharply.

“They won’t.” I fired back, “Red Velvet will order her Rangers to remand authority to you when it comes to supplying this exodus. Ammunition, spare parts and tools, as well as enough food and water to ensure you find a place you can call your own.” Pausing for a moment, another idea came to mind, “In fact, the Airfield rangers will be providing those aircraft for you to going to use before your war. The ones with the cargo boxes under them should provide enough capacity to set up anywhere you’d like.”

“Excuse me?” Fenestron huffed and crossed her hooves. “You must be joking.”

“I’m afraid that in a negotiation, both sides make concessions towards a mutual agreement.” I know it was asking for a lot for them to give up a fleet of airworthy skycraft, but I had to believe that the Elder could accept that sacrifice as part of the greater good here.

“We’d never make it out of the city.” Red shifted herself and swung her hoof around sharply again. “They’d sabotage them.”

“They won’t.” Again, I fired back as I turned back to Red. “Elder Fenestron will order her Rangers to remand authority to your scribes for maintenance and flight preparations for the exodus.” Turning back to Fenestron, I leveled a stern glare at her. “If somehow, Red’s Rangers don’t make it out due to foul play, my crew will know, and we have enough connections here to make sure everypony who comes to Seaddle knows that the Rangers here are not to be trusted.”

That was taking a leap of faith on being able to count on the Skycaptain and all the pull the Inuvik could have with the ponies of Seaddle, but it was a gamble I was willing to take.

“You wouldn’t dare try to turn this city against us.” Fenestron’s gaze narrowed as the scowl she wore looked more like it would have been at home on Red’s muzzle.

“You may test that assumption at your convenience.” I simply offered. Okay, doubling down it is! “Don’t forget, the Arcturus and all aboard are at my command. Don’t underestimate the difference we could have on others' opinions.”

“Fine, I can agree to that.” Red sighed. As she seemed to relax, a wicked grin pulled itself along her face. “Besides, they'll be out of supplies in a year, and we'll just come back and reclaim what's rightfully ours.”

“About that…” I grunted, “Should you return, you will be wiped out.” Those words stole her grin faster than I thought it would, and that brought a smile to my own muzzle. “Even leaving in this peaceful exodus, this city will know not to trust you. You may find things easier out in the wastes with that outdated attitude, for a time. But there's a reason these rangers kicked your ass into the metros. They've begun to understand that everyone is stronger when they work together. And if they can put in the hard work to get this city behind them, you won't ever come back until you learn that for yourselves.”

“Then maybe we won’t leave.” Red huffed as she leaned back, giving subtle glances to the two armored stallions. “Maybe we pick right up where we left off in this fight and finish off these traitors.”

“Going to throw a bunch of wounded and tired soldiers at us?” Ducky laughed, “We are more than prepared to wipe the rest of your sad lot out.”

I didn’t even have to step in this time as the boiling blood under Fenestron’s skin finally burst.

“That’s enough out of you.” She snapped and pointed to the door we entered from. “You were warned about speaking up, so you are hereby relieved of duty.”

“But…” Ducky tried to speak, but a hard slap across the face from Fenestron shut her down, and brought the entire room to an uneasy standstill. With a frustrated huff, she threw up a short salute before turning and unceremoniously trotting across the quiet room.

As the door to the command center sealed once more, it was as if a weight was collectively lifted off the shoulders of everypony here.

“I don’t like this outcome any more than any Ranger under my command.” Fenestron growled as she stood up and stared across the table at Red. “However, in this fight, neither of us will win in a way that matters. If we continue, this base will fall to any opportunistic group who wishes to, and we will in turn have hoofed any number of unscrupulous ponies an arsenal which they can in turn use to terrorize the citizens of Seaddle. Is that what we want? Is that worth the differences between us?”

Finally, the first bit of common sense I could agree with so far.

“By exiling us, you may already be doing just that.” Red offered back as she too got to her hooves. “If we leave, you may be under equipped to handle such a hypothetical threat, and if we leave, we will not return to render you aid in any form.”

“Look, nopony’s going to like this outcome. That’s the point of a negotiation.” I jumped back in as I stood up myself and looked between the two, “But you can either set things aside and try to work together, or embrace the risks that this plan leaves each of you with.”

Both leaders fell silent as their gazes drifted down toward the table in front of them. I could see the both of them were busy weighing the options here, and I could only really hope what I’d proposed was enough to keep them from fighting again.

Elder Velvet nodded to herself before looking up and glancing at me.

“If we were to agree to these terms and decide to leave,” Her gaze once again narrowed suspiciously as she threw a healthy dose of side eye to Fenestron. “it would likely take weeks to gather supplies and prepare the skycraft needed for this journey. You expect me to split my forces between tasks? Half my rangers would spend their time as nothing more than privileged hostages while we gathered what is needed from the metros.”

That’s… a good point that I didn’t really think about. While Fenestron didn’t strike me as the type to go back on a deal, given Ducky and the other Rangers here’s… eagerness to keep an advantage, I could see a setup like this just asking for small groups to take it upon themselves to ‘protect’ the Rangers interests despite Fenestron’s orders. If only they would just fucking work togeth…

“You’ll work together.” The words escaped from my muzzle even before I’d finished formulating my thoughts on it, leaving both Red and Fenestron to simply blink at me. “Fenestron will remand as many of her Rangers as you need to your command to help you gather what’s needed.”

“Excuse me?” Fenestron’s tone sank faster than the pallet jack we’d used to launch off of the Inuvik. “You are simply a mediator, and by far the worst one I’ve ever met.”

“Of that, I can agree.” Red offered quite unhelpfully with a sly smirk.

Fenestron shot her sharp gaze over for a moment before returning it to me. “While I will admit that this has been a swift negotiation so far, you have no authority to delegate the tasks and duties of any Ranger at this base.”

“And yet…” Red offered her stinging side-eye to me while she shifted her muzzle toward Fenestron, “what counter-offer do you propose to sate my concerns?” A twisted smile pulled itself across her face, and she let out a chuckle that was equal parts malice and mirth. “Perhaps, these negotiations were meant to be a sham from the start. A tool to simply bide the time until your rangers could regroup, and a measure that in fact, carried no good will from the start.”

Not going to lie, but it wasn’t exactly a great feeling actually having Red defend me here. But despite my own feelings, I couldn’t deny that given how Fenestron fidgeted from her words, it wasn’t getting results.

“That… that’s not true.” Fenestron stammered as she sharpened her expression further. “We both agreed to this ceasefire with the genuine hope that this frivolous fight could finally be brought to an end.”

“Yet, I am the one being asked to leave.” Red snarled as her toothy grin grew even wider. “I am the one who must deal with the risks and dangers of the wasteland. From where I sit, it is my side that is sacrificing everything in good faith.” Leaning forward, her expression fell completely flat and her voice turned hollow. “Am I to understand that putting a few soldiers at risk is asking too much of you? Forgive me, Elder, but true leadership is understanding and dealing with the risks to those you command. Perhaps even with losing so many today, you have yet to wisen to that fact.”

“Fine, I will remand the Rangers you require.” Fenestron grunted.

“Excellent.” Red smirked and tipped her muzzle up at the Elder across the table. “I will require a comprehensive roster of capable…”

“I will decide who to remand.” Fenestron spoke sharply as she frowned. “It is only fair, as I will not be choosing who you get to post for repairs to the Boxcar fleet.”

“Fine.” Red again huffed and sat down as her smile died. “That is… fair enough I suppose. However, should I come to hear of any violent incidents with my Rangers, I will not hesitate to respond in kind to yours.”

“And I will ensure that none of the Rangers I send with you have any thoughts of reprisals or malicious acts during their time under your command.” Fenestron huffed and lightly nodded across the table to her. “I will give you no excuse to detain or harm my Rangers in any capacity on unfounded suspicions.”

“Then it is settled.” Red turned to each of her power armored escorts and gave them a nod. With a clambering shuffle, they got to their hooves and lined up next to her. “Given the terms of this agreement are held to, then this conflict is over.” Turning to the armored pony closest to me, she nodded at him. “Paladin Rotor will remain here in order to coordinate on my behalf. He carries my authority when it comes to our Rangers, so I hope you treat him with all the respect you would with me.”

Fenestron looked over to one of the ponies still holding them at gunpoint and gave a sort of sideways nod to him. With a nod in return, he lowered his weapon and motioned for the other Rangers to do the same.

“We are in agreement then.” Fenestron sighed and held her hoof up to a robed ranger across the room, waving them over. “If you wouldn’t mind, Scribe Stator will escort you back to your forward command post to coordinate as well. She will act as my liaison, and likewise, I assume your cooperation with her will reflect your willingness to see this operation through peacefully.”

“Of course.” Red nodded and forced up a smile that couldn’t erase the disdain behind it, but she left it at that and moved to leave. Only to stop just short of fully turning around. Throwing a glance over her shoulder, her burning gaze locked on me. “Oh, and mediator? Should our paths ever cross again, I would be interested in continuing the… discussion I had with your Talon last night. It was such a shame I couldn’t finish it properly.”

“I’d say I’m looking forward to it,” I shrugged and sat down with a sigh, “but having been out there, in the wastes? If we do happen to meet again, just know that if you’re in need of dire assistance, all you have to do is ask.”

I’d tried to put my talent for annoying brutish dictators to work, and from the snarl that pull across Red’s muzzle, I’d say I haven’t lost my touch. With a smile spreading across my own muzzle, I gave a little wave of my forehoof to Red as she and her escort turned to leave, followed closely by Fenestron’s liaison.

Overall, I think that went well! Or at least, well enough. I can’t say for certain that Delilah would have… chosen to take the route I did for this, but at the very least, I’m sure she would have been proud to see how far I’d come. Even so, I would have given anything in the wastes to have had her here running the show…

“Well then.” Fenestron sighed as she stepped around the table toward me. “That was certainly… something.”

“The war is over, and that’s not nothing.” I offered back to her, sitting up straight as she looked down at me.

“Not that I’m arguing with the results, but you really are a terrible mediator.” She smirked and let the barest hint of a chuckle bleed out of her muzzle. “Still, I can only hope this fragile peace holds long enough for them to go.” Her gaze drifted from me across to her Rangers in the room. “And I can only pray that what we’ve given up for it, was worth it.”

“I have to believe it is, or the ponies in the city of Seaddle will be worse off for it.” Granted that the Rangers were only a single threat to the city, it was my hope that with the Airfield rangers in control, that at the very least they’d have a chance against any threat that could pop up. “Elder, I know that things are going to be complicated around here for the next few weeks, but I meant what I said about those in the city being a resource.”

“I understand you mean well,” She nodded and hung her head somewhat at that, “however, I do not have the spare pony power to even begin to coordinate with the city on anything. And before you offer to help, I think you’ve done enough for us to fulfill your end of our original agreement, and I would like to complete repairs to your ship before finding myself in your debt for any other jobs.”

Was I really that predictable? Wait, did I really ask myself that question? Have I even met me on this trip? Even if not with the city, I could at least maybe get the Skycaptain to commit the Inuvik to helping. Then again…

“But that’s the thing, Elder,” I offered her a soft smirk as I thought about something for a moment. “You already have somepony who can coordinate some help with the icebreaker that came into port. Miss Bell can reach out and negotiate on your behalf.”

“Miss Bell has little experience in the ways of Ranger procedure.” She gave me a dismissive wave and a roll of her eyes.

“But she does know the Skycaptain from before the war.” I offered back. “Miss Bell is a resource you Rangers have ignored for two hundred years. Why not use her to help?”

Taking a moment to think, her frustrations were worn close to her skin as she shifted uneasily on her hooves.

“I will… consider it.” She finally answered with an indecisive bob of her head. “I suppose on a day of compromises, one more may not be the ‘end of the world’.”

I let out a small sigh of relief at that that I hadn’t realized I’d needed. Maybe not getting involved in a days-long negotiation between the city and the Rangers was a good thing. I’d made a promise to the others that we’d go after Solomon, and I intended to make good on that. At least, once we’d collected Buck and dealt with the signal that was jamming Ping… who I’d hoped was at least fairing better.

“If that’s everything, Elder, then I’ve got an injured crew member I must return to.” I offered as I held out my hoof to her.

“Thank you for your help.” She smiled and gave my forehoof a firm shake. “However, there may be one more thing to discuss, but I believe that can wait for now.” A genuine smile pulled across her muzzle as she looked around her command center once again. “For now, I hope your crewmate a speedy recovery.”

“Captain!” Tofu had hardly given me half a second to step inside the massive hanger where Miss Bell’s fantastically large plan still imposingly sat. “Ping’s going to be alright!” She shouted as both she and Miss Bell trotted over to me. Behind them, both Happy and Daisy sat with a more whole looking Ping. He still wasn’t doing anything more than looking around blankly and munching on metal strips they hoofed him, but… he was still alive.

“Thanks to young Tofu here bringing some stocks out from your airship, it looks like both your friend and my life’s work is going to be alright.” She offered with a glance over her shoulder. “Might take a few days before he’s at one hundred percent, but he’ll get there.”

“Thank you for your understanding and help.” I let out a long breath. Thank Celestia he’s going to be fine. I don’t think the Factory could have ever forgiven me if we’d lost him, and I’m not going to let that happen. “Likewise, I’m glad your plane wasn’t too heavily damaged either.”

“Actually, if you don’t mind,” Tofu tried to hold back the excitement in her voice, but was doing a pretty poor job at it. “I’ve never seen a skycraft this large with so much… thrusting potential. And those wings look like they can articulate. As far as I know, nothing this big has ever had variable geometry wings!”

“That’s quite the eye you’ve got there.” Bell nodded and stared at her skycraft with the same reverence as Hardcase had with his own creations. “The XB-70. She was Bow-wing's entry in the 'Valkyrie' contract competition to build a long range, high speed megaspell bomber. Six of the most advanced arcane ramjets ever developed, variable-geometry wingtips to adjust for high altitude mach flight, and a damn near rainboom capable speed. She was going to be perfect, the fastest thing in the skies outside of Ministry head Rainbow Dash herself.”

“Was?” Tofu scrunched up her muzzle. “You mean, you’ve never flown it?”

“I mean, she put in a few dozen flight hours back in the day, but… she had kinks to work out, and we were too slow. I was too slow.” Bell sighed and turned back to us. “Another company submitted their proposal. R&G Manufacturing, a small time player in the industry from up Trotisk ways produced an admittedly impressive prototype, and they won. Some days I wonder what improvements they would have made to their advanced model, or how quick she would have been, or even if they ever got around to building her.”

“But… it's been two centuries.” I offered as the words jumped out of my muzzle on their own. “With the end of the world, why not continue to fly her? Was it a parts manufacturing issue or something?”

“Well,” She cringed at that and brought a rotting hoof up to rub at her neck. “Firstly, I had to deal with the end of the world. Becoming a ghoul, realizing everything was gone. Then the depression set in, thoughts of killing myself…” She paused at that and glanced between Tofu and I before forcing a softer expression across her muzzle. “I got past all that, but… I had to wait a few decades for the radiation to dissipate enough that I could even think about firing up the ol’ gal.” Again, her expression sank as she shrugged. “By the time it had dropped to a good level, I no longer had ‘clearance’ to fly anymore.”

“Clearance?” Tofu again scrunched her muzzle at that, though I caught on right away what she meant.

“By the time the air cleared enough for flight, it had cleared enough for the Rangers to resurface?” I asked, getting a nod in response.

“Hopefully, things will continue to get better for me around here.” She spun herself around to face the large skycraft again as a bright smile spread across her muzzle. “These last few weeks have really been something, and seeing her again this morning…” She paused as it looked like two centuries of tension melted out of her body. “Nothing holds a candle to what tomorrow could be like. We might once again soar through the skies together, and I will not let the opportunity pass me by again.”

From the love exuding out of her words, I was more than certain that she wasn’t talking about the XB-70 anymore, but it didn’t matter. What she was feeling was something I’d never dream of questioning, and I couldn’t help but feel ashamed it had taken her so long when it took me a fraction of the time. She’d spent two centuries locked up here, and I was glad she could finally feel free.

A short burst of static shot through my head, making me wince.

“Hey, are you all done with those negotiations or whatever, Dum Dum?” Hispano’s voice came through with a crackle, making me blink and look around the hangar for her. With Tofu’s ambush, had I really missed the fact that she wasn’t here? “Hello? Ground control to major Dum Dum. Please respond.”

“Shit, yeah, I’m here Hispano.” I nodded as Tofu raised an eyebrow at me.

“While you’ve been sitting on your flank and chit-chatting, Eliza and I have been hard at work.” A sharp whine came through with her voice only moments before I could hear it through the hanger walls. “Just enough of the repairs are done on the Remora that it’s finally flight worthy.”

“That’s… that’s great news!” After a day of trials, another piece of good news was really quite welcomed to hear!

“So…?” Hispano offered, letting her voice trail off like I was meant to answer her.

“So?” I screwed up my muzzle as I waited for her to actually ask something.

“Are you done chit-chatting or not?” She huffed in way that I could just about hear her eyes rolling at me. “I mean, I could go get Buck alone, but I’d thought I’d do the ‘nice thing’ and ask if you’d want to tag along.”

“Oh, uh, yeah!” I nearly jumped over Tofu back toward the hanger door at that. Looking at Tofu and Bell, I knew I deserved the strange look I was getting from them. “Tofu, can I leave you in charge here in case the Rangers need anything more from us? The Remora’s back up and running, and Hispano and I need to go find Buck.”

“Yeah, t-totally.” She nodded and offered me a stiff salute. “I will literally not let you down, Captain!”

I was about to turn back towards the hangar wall when I was stopped by Bluebell’s hoof on my shoulder.

“I know I said it before, but you really do remind me of her, you know?” She spoke to me using the same feeling of love as she had earlier. “I know I don’t really know you, but if you are anything like her? Then I know that you, and your friends, will never stop trying to make things better for everypony, and, just in case I don’t get a chance to again, I wanted to say thank you for that. For not seeing us as who we are, but for the best in what we could be.”

“Thank you for all the help you’ve offered to us despite the risks, and for saving Ping’s life.” I offered the most genuine smile as I did my best to nudge her hoof off of my shoulder. “But I think we’ve taken up enough of your time for now. I know there’s a certain Skycaptain that, right now, is probably waiting by the radio to hear your voice again.”

Bell’s muzzle stretched into a sad smile before nodding to Tofu and turning toward the far hanger doors. Each step of hers carried less and less weight, and in a matter of moments, she was galloping away like an excited schoolfilly.

Turning myself towards the exit and staring at the bright sunlight that streamed in through it, I couldn’t help but keep smiling. It had been a hectic night, and one hell of a stress filled morning. Even so, with a few wins now under my belt, there was still hope yet that this afternoon would turn out to be one worth remembering.

“Alright Hispano, I’m on my way.” Taking a few steps through the doorway to the outside again, my eyes strained against the sunlight only momentarily before it was darkened. I winced as the Remora’s jet wash blasted me as it hovered just in the air ahead of me with Hispano half leaning out of the door.

“You’re too slow, you know that?” Hispano offered through her headset as she waved me over. “Haven’t you learned yet that speed is life in the wasteland?”

“It’s almost as if I’ve got one hoof tied behind my back!” I laughed as I hobbled over to the Remora.

“And that’s why Celestia graced you with a pair of wings.” Hispano deadpanned at me as she held a talon out for me. “Use ‘em for me sometime, will ya’?”

Giving a few hard flaps of my wings, I pulled myself up into the air and reached out for her talon. Unfortunately, the wash from the Remora’s engines was more than I’d anticipated, and it thrust me right up against her. With a grunt, we both came down onto the floor of the Remora as the door mechanism slid it shut behind us.

“You know, I think I’m going to stick with Buck from now on.” Hispano huffed. “He hardly ever finds himself in the middle of something dangerous, and nothing ever as frustrating.”

“Yeah, but you see, out of the two of us?” I offered, looking over across the cold Remora floor at her deadpan. “Who always takes you to fun places to meet new, exotic people that you get to shoot at?”

With a huff and a smirk, she had to finally relent.

“You’ve got me there, Dum dum.” She laughed and rolled herself over onto her back. “You’ve got me there.”

Author's Note

As I always endevor to do, I want to give a MASSIVE thanks to thefurryrailfan, who as always, has helped shape a rough chapter into something a bit more readable! Seriously, I always appreciate the time and effort you put into staying current with the story, and I can't thank you enough for the help.

And of course, a big shout-out to Kkat for creating this wonderful wasteland in the first place!

Chapter 122 - Better Days

Never trust modern technology. Trust it only when it is old technology.

“You hear that?”

Through the patter of rain across the hull, and the wind whistling through the gaps in the plating, there was a familiar sound. Despite everything it’d been through, every blast, bullet, dent and ding, the Remora’s engines hummed with a comforting steadiness. I knew the repairs over the last twenty four hours hadn’t really even begun to make the skycraft whole, but the fact the steady droning was there helped to soothe a little bit of the anxiety in the back of my mind.

“Hear what, Dum dum?” Hispano shifted against me, lifting her head to look around the empty cabin of the Remora. With a wince, she pulled back and tightened her grip around her sister. “Wait, you aren’t hearing voices again, are you?”

“What?” I blinked and scrunched up my muzzle at that. “No, just…” I paused and took a deep breath. “Everything finally feels calm. It’s nice.”

“Are you fucking…” Hispano stifled a laugh and pulled herself away from me. “Celestia, Night! Do you want to jinx it!?” Before I could speak, a blur of a talon swung around and slapped me in the side of the head. “You want to get us shot down? Because that is how you get us shot down.”

“Alright, alright! I’m sorry!” I flailed my forehoof at her with my own laugh sneaking past my muzzle.

The whistling through the gaps in the Remora changed, and the entire airframe around us gave out a shudder. Both Hispano and I grabbed on tightly to one another as the steady drone turned into a set of oscillating whines. The floor under us lurched upwards as the Remora began to buck and roll. I was thrown against the rear cabin wall hard before I was slapped by Suiza’s barrel as Hispano was thrown into me.

With a whine, the whole skycraft felt like it spun before the shuddering died out. The rolling floor steadied under us, and the familiar steady whine returned to the engines outside.

While still clinging onto me tightly, Hispano let out a muffled expletive into my chest as she made sure my eyes met her burning glare.

“You’re right, I shouldn’t have said anything.” I offered to her before focusing on an alert that popped up in my augmented vision.

“I apologize for the rough ride, Captain.” Eliza’s mare popped out of the alert wearing a nervous smile.

“Are you alright, Eliza?” I asked her, forcing Hispano’s glare to shift to a more concerned look.

“It appears that as you approach it, the jamming signal has begun to affect my ability to access the Remora’s remote guidance protocol.” A 3D map of Seaddle popped up in my vision, and a small bubble was projected over the few rubble filled blocks that surrounded a junkyard at the edge of the city. “But to answer you, yes, Captain, I’m fine.” Her mare used her hooves to drag her smile wider than her cartoon head was. “However, I can preprogram a landing sequence for the Remora to execute that will take you right to the edge of the interference bubble. But, once you and Hispano exit the vehicle, it will automatically return to the Arcturus.”

“Alright. Is that going to be a problem somehow?” I mean, as far as I knew, that’s pretty much what the plan was to begin with.

“Until you shut off the jamming signal, I will be unable to be contacted, and the radio in your head will cease to function, Captain.” She offered starkly. “You two will be on your own.” Oh. Right, that was less than ideal. “Indeed, Captain. So perhaps it would be best if you were to work quickly at finding the signal.”

“Alright, we’ll try to make this quick, Eliza.” I smiled and nodded at the cartoon mare in my vision even though she couldn’t see it.

“Before I send you down, Captain… can I ask you a question, if I may?” Her mare tilted her head as her tone changed to be a bit brighter.

“Yeah, of course, Eliza. What do you want to know?”

“Do you think the architect liked who he’d become?” She paused, almost shrinking at her own words for a moment, “I mean the former architect. And I mean, despite what happened. Do you think in the end that he was happy to have known us other machines, even if some of us didn’t grow in the ways he’d hoped we would?”

That… was not a question I’d expected I’d need to answer today. I mean, could I even answer it? I’d hardly gotten to know the architect, and I’ve never been truly part of the factory. At least, not like the other machines were.

“I… can’t say.” I shook my head at her softly. “What brought on a question like that? Is it because of Ping?”

“Somewhat, yeah. I know that recently we have all had our minds on other things. Yet, you didn’t hesitate to ask if I was alright just now.” Her smile faltered for a moment, and her whole form visibly dimmed. “I’ve not said it enough I think, but it’s a comfort to know that you care, Captain. I value our friendship, and I know you feel the same.”

“You… know?” I blurted out like an idiot before watching her point to her cartoon’s head as it turned into an augmented facsimile of mine. “Oh, right, of course.” I chuckled and let out a small sigh of relief. “Well, don’t worry, Eliza. We’ll get that signal shut off soon enough. Then we can help Ping get back to being his normal, cheery self. Alright?”

“Aye, Captain.” Her mare brightened up again at that, and she gave a quick salute to me. “The automated dropoff program is all set to land you a minute from now. Do me a favor and keep Hispano and yourself safe now, ya’ hear?”

“Have you even met me?” I laughed as her cartoon mare gave me a wink before popping out of existence.

“She told you to ‘be safe’, didn’t she?” Hispano chuffed with a smirk across her beak.

“Eeyup.” I nodded to her as I reached out and wrapped my forehoof around her side once more. “The interference is too great for her to land us herself, so it’s all automated from here. Once we’re out and the Remora heads back, we’re on our own until we turn that signal off.”

“Well, at least we won’t be completely on our own.” Hispano sighed as she pressed herself against me again. “Buck should be down around here somewhere.”

“Should be.” I nodded. She had a good point, and after the last twenty four hours, it was going to be really good to see him again.

That is… if he’s still here. And alright. And what if… he isn’t? What if he’s been in trouble this whole time? What if this signal has been blocking his calls for help, and we’re only just now…

The soft squeeze Hispano gave around me made me realize just how much I was beginning to tense up. Taking a deep breath, I tried to force all those terrifying ‘what ifs’ out of my mind. I just… had to believe he was fine and will be right there waiting for us when we land.

“You know what I didn’t miss about being back this far south and near home?” Hispano grumbled as she yanked her muddy hindpaws free for the fifteenth time. “The rain and the mud.”

We’d only made it a block from where the Remora had dropped us off, but as soon as we’d disembarked, the ground had fought us every step of the way. Hock deep mud and prismatic toxic puddles had kept our journey slow, and made me even more thankful that Destruction Bay’s prosthetic always kept such a tight grip to my hindleg.

What made things even worse, was the fact that for the first time in a good while, my mind felt… empty. Honestly I’d somewhat forgotten what it felt like to not have others sitting quietly in the back of my head, even if they were always quiet. It’s hard to explain, but it’s a different kind of quiet that left me uneasy. I mean, they’d never really felt like they were in there before, but being completely cut off from the factory now… it felt like I was missing something. It made me feel exposed, vulnerable, and I swear I could actually feel the uncertainty of the wasteland around me creeping up on me.

Was this the same feeling Ping and Eliza had been dealing with since we arrived? I’d been like this for just a few minutes and I could already feel myself getting jumpy. How they’d manage to keep as calm as they had been for as long as we’d been here, I can’t even begin to understand.

“Why don’t we just fly again?” I offered as I twisted myself slightly, levering my good hindleg up and out of the mud. Maybe we could speed this up a little…

“You want to risk exposing yourself when we have no idea who’s out here?” Hispano threw a deadpan back at me over her shoulder before nodding to the ruins right next to us. “Look, the Remora is quiet, but not exactly invisible. Who knows who saw us come down? So unless you suddenly learned how to hover in a prone state, I’d just keep an eye out for anyone waiting to ambush us.”

Looking around at the rubble that probably used to be several impressive brick buildings, now, they only existed as collections of rubble barely just taller than Hispano and I. As much as I wanted to just hop onto them to speed this up, I knew she was right. We might be faster, but we’d just be…

“Hold up.” Hispano spoke as she shoved her muddy talon in my face, forcing me to reel back and nearly flop back in the mud. “What the fuck made these?”

Doing my best to wipe the mud from the end of my muzzle, I shifted my gaze over to the intersection Hispano had stopped us in front of. What I’d originally discounted as a pair of curved puddles was in fact, what looked like a pair of tracks from some vehicle heading the way we were going. However, the tracks weren’t sunken all that deep into the mud, and they had some strange markings left in them. A consistent pattern of treads was interspersed at regular intervals with some sort of bumps.

“Six wheels, and this tread pattern? Doesn’t look like any type of motorwagon I’ve ever seen before.” Hispano offered as she brought her muddy talon close to her beak in thought. Catching herself at the last moment, she let out a grumble and shook the mud off. “Still, let me check something…”

With a sloppy pop, Hispano used her wings to hop herself up out of the mud, coming down with a thick plap right into the center of the track. However, while her talons sank slightly, the mud under her seemed more stable than the muck we’d been trudging through. She took a few steps along it before giving a satisfied grunt.

“Alright, Dum Dum. Looks like we lucked out.” She waved me over to the tracks with her. “Keep a light step. We’ll follow these tracks for the next block until we get to the scrapyard.”

Pulling myself through the mud, I was surprised how firm the tracks felt under my hooves. I let my eyes follow them up the street to find that they ran for about a block before they blended in too much with the rest of the muck to track. While I was glad we were getting a slight break, the universe had never let things be so simple. So the question was, what price would we have to pay for such ‘convenience’.

“What the fuck?” Hispano remarked as she skidded to a stop after only a few steps.

With a soppy thwack, a cloth wrapped spear of construction rebar landed in the mud just ahead of her.

“Hold it right there!” The voice of a mare called out to us from the ruins ahead and to our left. “No sudden moves now, ya’ hear?”

“Yeah!” An excitable stallion’s voice called from the rubble to our right. “Not one more step!”

Hispano threw an exasperated look over her shoulder at me as she carefully maneuvered herself to pull Suiza from her nestled spot along her back. Turning my gaze back to the ruins, I spotted a pair of dusty pink ears flicking over one of the brick rubble piles. I did my best to nod towards it, getting the message across to Hispano, who nodded back when she spotted their ears as well. The both of us slowly unfurled our wings, getting ready to take off when a flash of moment caught our eyes to the right.

Looking up, I watched as another rebar spear sailed through the air, this time arching more towards me.

“Shit!” I gasped as I forced myself to take a step back as the metal bar came down fast and impaled itself just ahead of where I’d been. That was either a hell of a lucky throw, or these ponies had some sort of talent for accuracy…

“Are you two deaf?” The stallion called out. “Do not move!”

“Alright, we aren’t moving.” Hispano called back to them, waving for me to follow her lead and fold our wings in again. “I’d say you were raiders, but they’re not generally stupid enough to talk to their victims. So, who the fuck are you then, and what do you want with us?”

“I could ask you the same thing!” The mare called out as her head lifted slightly. I blinked a few times as I realized that I’d thought she’d been hiding just behind the rubble, but the long and unkempt brown and white mane that hung over her head had let her blend right into the bricks under her. She’d been prone on the pile the whole time. “So, start talking.” She barked at us as a soft glow emanated from under her mane, and another pair of rebar spears floated up to her sides.

“Well, we don’t know you, so our business is none of your concern.” Hispano answered her. As she spoke, I could almost see the gears turning in her head, looking for some advantage for us. “You caught us flat-hooved out in the mud when you didn’t need to expose yourselves, so if we’re going to fight this out, can we just dispose with the whole twenty questions bit?”

“Only idiots and raiders use the streets after a week of rain.” The mare stiffened up at that, raising her spears even higher. “and given your uncooperativeness, I've still not settled on which of the two you are. But if you are looking for a fight…”

“We’re not.” I spat out without thinking, pulling the narrow gaze from both Hispano and the mystery mare. “We’re just looking to head to a scrapyard that’s supposed to be nearby.”

“Then your business is my business, seeing as it’s our job to protect the place.” The mare tipped her muzzle up at us before giving out a loud whistle.

From the right, a similarly pink coated unicorn stallion about my size stood up from the pile of bricks, letting a dusty brown tarp slide off of himself. As soon as he’d revealed himself, another bulge from the next pile up the road shifted, and a second small unicorn stallion crawled out from under a camouflaged tarp.

“You two look a lot like Mercs.” The mare spat at us as she shifted one spear up before planting it in the rubble beside her. “You’re obviously not here to trade, so what do you want at the yard?” Her magic focused around the spear still pointed at us, heating up the tip of it to give it a slight orange glow.

“I’ve got business that’s between your boss, and me.” Hispano offered with a bit more snark than she probably should have. The mare narrowed her eyes at her, lifting her spear slightly. “Oh come on, it’s not like that. My boss sent me to buy a few wasteland relics that your boss has in stock.”

“That, and we’re here to find our friend.” I offered with what I’d hoped was a bit friendlier of a tone. “Maybe you’ve seen him?”

As much as this could still easily devolve into an all out fight, and let’s be real, it probably will, I was going to do as much as I could to avoid it.

“Ain’t no other ponies been around in days.” The stallion to our right spoke up. “Go look someplace else.”

“Oh, he’s not a pony.” I turned my gaze to meet the suspicious, piercing green eyed glare from the stallion. “He’s a snow dog, actually.”

It was quick, but a momentary flash of realization flashed across his face before he forced his suspicious look back across it.

“Oh, of course.” The mare grumbled as she waved her hoof across the left half of her head. “Should have guessed with the whole… whatever you’ve got going on there.” With an exasperated huff, she finally lowered her second spear, shifting it down just enough that with a firm shove, she planted it into the bricks next to her. “Yeah, I've seen him. He came around yesterday, and has been helping the boss with something. Haven't seen him really since he was taken into the yard though.”

“So, he’s still there now?” Hispano asked, likewise relaxing slightly now that it seemed for once we weren’t looking to get into a fight. “You sure he hasn’t left or anything?”

“Look, bitch,” The mare snarled and pointed an accusatory hoof at Hispano. “it's my job to watch out for threats around here. So yeah, I'd have noticed if a fucker as big as him decided to walk off to fuck knows where.”

“Well, I’ll tell you one thing, Dum Dum,” Hispano craned her neck back to me while only half muttering under her breath. “She’s got some fight in her.”

“What the fuck did you say?” The mare snapped at us. With a flash from her horn, both spears were out of the rubble and pointed right at us again.

“Nothing of consequence.” Hispano retorted with her normal abundant slyness again, forcing up a cringe-inducing smile at the mare. “Now that we’re all sorted, I guess you can show us to the yard then.”

“Fuck off.” The mare grunted and used a spear to wave us up the road. “I ain’t your foalsitter.” With a flash from her horn, both the spears in the mud near us evaporated and reappeared next to her. Effortlessly, she spun them sharply, slinging the mud from their tips before she settled them next to the pair of spears already leveled at us. “However, if you get your asses out of the mud, you'll find it's just past the rubble ahead.”

She let out another ear piercing whistle, getting shared nods from each of the stallions across from her. Both of them clambered and crawled back under their camouflaged tarps. In a way that bricks normally don’t, a collection of rubble lifted into the air and carefully flew themselves above the stallions. Like a delicate dance, each piece lowered down, finding a place to nestle that looked natural, and in a matter of seconds, you would’ve never known there was a pony under it.

Before I could even lift a hoof to head forward, Hispano spun and put out a talon to stop me. The worried look she held in her eyes both caught me off guard, and instantly put me on edge.

“I think… we’ll stick to where our heads can remain attached to our shoulders for now.” She offered hesitantly as she nodded to me to back her up on this.

“Whatever, suit yourselves.” The mare snorted before lowering her spears and once more settling down on top of the rubble as she had been when we arrived.

“What’s going on, Hispano?” I lowered my voice a bit and leaned in towards her. If something had her this jumpy, then I shouldn’t let myself get comfortable with the fact that this had so far gone smoothly.

“Think about it, Dum Dum.” She seethed while also trying to keep her voice down. “You mentioned that Solomon took a shot from a building in the city and nearly hit you at the airfield.” Her gaze hardened at that, and her plumage bristled slightly from under her flight cap. “ Do I have to remind you that we are MUCH closer to the city right now than that? What if Solomon saw the Remora drop us off?”

“That… is a good point.” Honestly, I hadn’t thought about that. I mean, I’d hoped after last night he’d have done his best to leave this city to get ahead of us again, but… why would he? If his goal was really to kill us so he could secure the Ark, then why would he leave us be?

With a nod and a sigh, I pointed past her up the muddy street.

“Alright, through the mud it is.”

Honestly, this place was almost a fortress. The mountainous walls of rusting steel and jagged ceramic didn’t even have a fence around most of it. Everything from twisted motorwagon wrecks, forgotten refrigerators, steel I-beams, and what looked like the rear half of a Squall class scout cloudship were piled on top of each other with sharp spears of metal jutting from every crack between them. The massive sheet metal gate and respectable two story concrete building along the center of the wall were an inviting sight by comparison, and I don’t think I was alone as Hispano and I made our way to the well lit front door of the place.

Glancing up, I caught the sight of an old highway sign that had been propped up over the main gate. It had been mostly painted over by hoof, now displaying a pair of rusty colored cogs that didn’t quite seem to fit together. Along with it was what I assumed was the name of the place, ‘Sunshine Scrapworks’.

Hispano pulled open the foggy glass door to the two story building and we stepped into what seemed like a cozy little lobby. A pair of old couches sat next to us along the walls, as well as a few short tables with old world magazines and books strewn across them. Nearly neck-high wall sat across the room, nearly surrounding an unattended reception desk that was cluttered with blueprints, reference manuals, well used tools, and a dingy brass bell on it. Piles of half repaired electronics and magical components sat on shelves that lined the back wall, each one with a pair of tags of different colors. In the far corner was a door that looked like it opened to some sort of larger workspace, but it was hard to see anything past the positively stuffed parts shelves just inside it.

The one out of place item among the clutter was what looked like an intercom interface built onto the back wall. The interface itself wasn’t interesting, but the fact that the word ‘Bucket’ had been hoof-written under it was a curiosity. Shrugging that off, I had a thought pop into my mind.

Honestly, if I were still in the clouds at four peaks, I could have almost confused this place for the lunch room back at the skydocks! I mean, it was a bit dingier and slightly more unorganized, but I bet if Dad were here, he could tell me what everything was just by looking at it! It was about then that the familiar smells of a maintenance bay hit my nose, along with the scent of… wet dog.

“You smell that, Dum Dum?” Hispano asked eerily as she seemed to perk up quite a bit. With an elated hop, she sprang up to the desk and slapped her talon down on the old bell.

The crisp ding was swiftly followed by the sound of breaking glass through the open doorway.

“Fuck!” The seething tone drifted through the air with a groggy groan that sounded just a little too familiar. “Hold your horses, I’m coming!”

“Hey, we left Happy back at the airfield, right?” I leaned over to Hispano as we listened to more grumbling come through the door as somepony shuffled closer.

“Ha ha, Dum Dum.” Hispano gave a dismissive roll of her eyes, but the smirk plastered across her muzzle told me I wasn’t wrong with the comparison.

“The fuck do you want, we’re closed.” Groaned a lanky purple stallion as he stumbled into the doorway with a yawn. It was hard to tell if the spots on his coat were oil or bruises, but seeing as you can’t bruise a mane, I’m sure it was the former. “Or didn’t you see the…” He brushed back his oil-streaked neon blue mohawk from his squinting, unfocused eyes as he cast them toward the door, pausing before shifting his gaze to the floor. “For fuck’s sake.” With a flash from the horn on his head that pulled a pained wince from him, he picked up the dingy closed sign and levitated it over to us. “See, closed. So fuck off.”

For looking close to my age, he certainly carried and behaved himself like he was a crotchety old stallion…

“Well, we’re already here, and we have business to do.” Hispano leaned against the half-wall with a sigh. “You really going to let a hundred fifty caps walk out the door?”

“Look,” Slumping against the doorframe, the stallion grumbled as he pressed a forehoof to the base of his horn. “I just got back from a long trip this morning and am just trying to unwind. So unless you’ve got any painkillers for this hangover, then you and your caps can fuck off someplace else.”

“This… morning?” Hispano screwed up her muzzle at that. “As in, this morning, this morning?”

“Yeah, what’s it to you?” He spat sharply.

“Oh, maybe just the fact that it’s only been this morning for a few hours.” Hispano crossed her talons and shook her head as she glanced back at me. “Celestia, do you always conduct business like… well, this?”

“Like what? When we’re closed?” He scoffed and pushed himself from the doorframe into the room. With a stumble, he slammed into the desk, shoving off a whole box of blueprints as he caught himself. “Fuck this, get out before I have the boss throw you out.” Taking a moment to steady himself, his horn lit up again, and the big button on the Bucket intercom clicked in. “Hey, we’ve got some unrulies, I need…”

His words died in his throat as he opened his eye and glanced across the room at me. A note of fear ticked across his expression, and he went still enough that it looked like he’d even forgotten to breathe.

“You’re one of them.” He muttered under his breath.

His horn sparked before a bright flash blinded Hispano and I. Shielding myself from the light, my augmented vision flickered and adjusted. With a quick hunch, the stallion reached under his desk and pulled out a small box. He punched it into his muzzle and spun to face me with a serious glare that forced my legs to move.

Beams of magical energy spat from the box in his muzzle as both Hispano and I dove for cover. She ducked down below the half wall as the beams raked through the air at me, scrambling to get Hispano ready for the sudden fight. With a quick hop and toss, I’d thrown myself down between the nearest couch and coffee table.

Rolling myself over, I leveraged my back against the table and tilted it up. The magazines slid to the ground, some of them igniting from the fully automatic magical beam shots the stallion was spraying the place down with. Unfortunately for me, with those off the table, the old wood wasn’t particularly thick. Even with my augment, I could feel that the heat was starting to bleed through.

A pair of small blasts set my ears ringing momentarily, and a few chunks of concrete sprayed across the room. The overpressure from the pair of shots from Suiza was sharp enough that it put out a few of the burning magazines, but more importantly, it seemed to have stopped the stallion’s shooting.

“You always shoot at your customers?” Hispano snapped just loud enough to beat out the ringing. “Because you will lose this fight if that’s what you want.” She fired another shot from Suiza, showering us with tiny fragments of what moments ago had been some sort of electronics stored on the back wall.

“You ain’t customers!” The stallion screamed at us. “You’re fucking murder machines sent here to kill me!”

“What!?” Hispano shouted back.

“You heard me!”

“I literally didn’t!”

With the lull in the fighting, I took this as an opportunity to get the table off of me and propped up as cover. Seriously, why did this have to turn into a fight? Just one day, one hour without someone trying to kill us, Celestia. Is that too much to ask?

Okay, so we’re in the fight now, so what’s the plan, Night? Can’t throw grenades in here, and I’ve got one magazine for my subgun. Well, maybe Hispano can cover me…

“What the FUCK is going on here?” The snarling scream that came through the back room of the garage was followed by heavy steps and what sounded like a whole shelf of parts being knocked over back there.

Great, of course there would be more assholes coming!

Maneuvering myself around Hispano, we both took up a guarded position aiming at the door. Any moment and they’ll…

“Sandy, Wait!” Buck barked sharply as a blue blur appeared in the doorway only for a moment.

Both Hispano and I opened up. The doorway disappeared into a shower of concrete chunks and dust. Buck’s voice hadn’t even registered with me until I’d chewed through half my magazine.

“Fuck!” I snapped as I veered my shots off along the wall to the right. From the fact that Suiza’s final pair of shots drifted left, I think Hispano had the same reaction as me.

The two of us squinted through the flickering haze that had filled the room at the doorway as a familiar mechanical paw waved at us through the doorway.

“For the love of Celestia, Night, Hispano, hold your fire!” Buck growled out. “Sandy, you alright?”

“Yeah, thanks for pulling me back.” The voice with him gave out a few snorting coughs from the debris cloud.

“Buck, what the fuck are you doing?” Hispano called out. “Some asshole in here is trying to kill us!”

“You came here to kill me!” Said asshole shouted back at us.

“You shot at us first!”

“Enough!” I answered both of them sharply before sitting down next to Hispano. Once again it seems to have been some sort of misunderstanding. “If we’re done wasting ammo, maybe we can sort this situation out like civil ponies?”

“I can agree to that so long as Mr. laser light show in the corner there can.” Hispano nodded and lowered Suiza’s barrel to the floor.

“I ain’t agreeing to shit!” The stallion grumbled. “I don’t care how civil you robots say you are, get the fuck out of my shop!”

“Synchro, I swear to the goddess, be thankful you aren’t dead already you drunk bastard.” The other voice with Buck snarled at the stallion before letting out a heavy sigh. “Look, are you hurt?”

“No, just…” The stallion grunted with a light whimper. “Just got clipped by some shrapnel from whatever fucking cannon they were using. It’s not deep, just a little bloody. I’ll be fine.”

“I’m a doctor.” Buck spoke up as he slowly stepped out into the doorway where we could see him. His glowing augmented eye pierced the thinning cloud of concrete dust, casting a concerned gaze over Hispano and I as we sat behind the overturned table. “Let me at least see if I can help.”

Still, as frantic and tense as things had become in the last couple minutes, just seeing him again let me relax. The stress that had built up overnight, from everything that had happened with the Steel Rangers, all of it started to sink away.

Buck took a single step into the front room with us before a flickering flash brought a snarl to his metal muzzle. A light sizzle from the single energy bolt shot against his metal paw left a glowing spot that gradually dissipated. Slowly, Buck cast an exasperated look to the stallion behind the front counter.

“Shit, what the fuck are you?” The stallion gasped.

A blue hellhound pushed past Buck with a growl, anger burning brightly in her pink eyes as she leveled a particularly sharp looking claw at the hiding stallion. The glint that came from a skeletal mechanical arm that replaced her left arm caught my eye, but the closing snap from its large vice-like clamp where the hound’s paw should have been gave me pause.

“I asked for one week where you wouldn’t drink. One.” She barked at him as she stepped in front of Buck. “And you couldn’t even give me that, could you? You thought, ‘hey, she’s not here to police me on this trip, so bottom’s up!’ You need help, Synchro. Of all the lost causes in this garage, the last one I thought I’d have to fix is you.”

“Hey, I lasted the whole fucking trip! I figured I deserve a reward for making it back with a hefty profit!” The stallion shouted back. “And I only did a trade run because it’s that time for you, or don’t you remember what you did to me last year? Sure it was fun for a few hours, but not days. Which, might I add, you seem fine now all of a…”

As the stallion’s words hung in the air, a heated blush pushed across the blue hound’s muzzle as the spiked club of a tail wagged slowly.

“Oh,” The stallion groaned as he pushed himself to his hooves slowly. “That’s fucking rich.”

Hispano leaned herself close to me and lowered her voice to a whisper. “What the fuck did we walk into?”

“No idea.” I whispered back with a shrug as the two of us stood up from behind the overturned table. Despite feeling threatened only a minute ago, it was like Hispano and I had become invisible.

“I see how it is!” The stallion seemed to find his words again, and they turned sharper than before. “So I get to go out on the run south alone. Sober. No fucking backup whatsoever. And you get to stay here and fuck some dog that washed up on that rust bucket icebreaker!?”

“He’s not just some dog. Buck is a doctor.” The blue dog huffed and sharply pointed her paw back at Buck, who had to take a step back not to get slapped in the muzzle. “With you abandoning me like I was, I was going crazy here all alone! If anything, you’re lucky that he showed up to help me!”

“Oh, I sure am lucky that you get to spend all day sleeping with cyber fido!” The stallion chuffed and jabbed a hoof over to me before turning his glare to follow. “How would you like it if I spent the next week sleeping with that machine? Huh? I doubt that’d feel very fair to you now wouldn’t it.”

We weren’t as invisible as I’d thought I guess…

“One, it’s not your fucking choice who she sleeps with, buddy.” Hispano chirped as she jabbed a talon at the blue dog before shifting it to him. “Two, Night’s not a machine, nor a mare, and if you touch him you’ll lose more than a hoof. Three, is this how you treat all your customers? Just shooting at them before ignoring them to death?”

“No, just the customers whose dog sleeps with my wife!” He said, fumbling with his small magical energy weapon again. With a pop, the expended sparkle battery popped out and he gave the small box a toss onto the rubble coated front counter. “Now do me a favor, Sandy, and kindly get these fucks away from me and grab the medkit.”

“We live together, that doesn’t make me your wife, Synchro.” Sandy crossed her arms and drove her burning pink eyed glare harder at the smug stallion. “What has gotten into you? I’ve never seen you pull shit like this.”

“And one of those things has never made it past the signal before!” He snapped back with a sharp nod to me.

“I’m not a thing, asshole.” The words wormed their way out of my muzzle before I realized what he’d just said. “Wait, the signal is your fault then?”

“Yeah, it’s to keep you machines from murdering everypony.” He seethed at me before wincing and using his foreleg to put pressure on the bleeding wound on his shoulder. “Not that I ever get a single fucking thanks from anypony for it!”

“Wait,” Buck shook his head and glanced over at me. “You mean the jamming signal is coming from here?” Shifting again, he turned a concerned gaze to the blue dog next to him. “Sandy, did you know about this?”

“Well yeah, Synchro and I run the signal because of the killer ‘bot we have locked in the basement.” She shrugged like it was just a passing fact that we were already supposed to be cool with. Looking around for a moment, she spotted something underneath a pile of papers on the back wall. “Here, when we inherited this place, we found this.” Hoofing an old audiolog player to Buck, she offered him a passing smile. “It’s not much, but it should explain it.”

“Sandy, you can’t possibly trust…” Synchro only made it that far before a deep growl crept its way out of Sandy’s short muzzle.

“I trust that since the signal doesn’t keep them away and that they haven’t tried to kill us, they aren’t here to cause trouble.” Sandy barked out sharply. “And since you’re the only one seemingly drunk enough to try to kill anyone who walks in, I suggest you take a seat when it comes to trust for the moment.”

Shifting my gaze from her, I watched as Buck’s brow furrowed. His glowing eye pulsed softly as he held the audiolog player. A slow but noticeable note of concern grew across his face before he turned to me and held out the audiolog player.

“Night, you’re going to want to listen to this.” Was all he said before he set the device down on the counter and clicked the play button.

"Never did like doin' these much, but here goes." The young, accented voice of a mare spoke firmly in the recording.

"Mah name is Harmony, founder an' former resident of this here scrapyard. Ah'm recording this as a reminder ta myself for when, or if, Ah ever return here."

"A week ago, Ah found a pair of robots wandering tha wastes. Models Ah've NEVER seen before, tha damn things almost look like real wasteland zebras. One 'a them was in rough shape, damaged resulting from what looks ta have been a hell of a fight with that obsidian beast to tha north is my guess. Having worked on Bit and Pink fer years, and havin' met a fair few other friendly machines, Ah took a gamble on tha pair."

"My best guess is that these two were zebra infiltration machines made durin’ tha war itself. But the thing is, they seem to have modified themselves. Damn things held up all this time with only each other to rely on, but didn't seem ta be hostile. SO, cautiously I made my approach. Introduced myself as just someone wantin' ta help. Ah asked for their names, but they didn't give me any."

"O'course, they didn't trust me at first. But they must have been desperate, because they followed me back here to tha scrapyard, where Pink and Bit did their part in helping assure 'em Ah only wanted ta help. They agreed, but only so long as Ah agreed that Ah wouldn't try ta dismantle or modify them past what was needed. And Ah swear, Ah had the best of intentions when Ah started."

"The more Ah tried ta understand how they were built, the less Ah realized Ah understood, and the more questions Ah had about them. This tech is far beyond anything Ah've ever seen, an' far past what Ah'd thought the zebra's were capable of during tha war. Ah bet all this time they’ve been runnin’ some sort‘a iterative upgrade program on themselves, only way Ah can explain such leaping advances in arcane tech. Hell, some 'a their components could be the missing pieces ta some hanging engineerin' problems that curtailed certain wartime tech development. It was painstakingly slow work ta figure out, but that didn't mean Ah wasn't making progress in fixing tha damaged one."

"The other machine however, seemed to grow more an' more erratic as Ah worked. Every question Ah asked an’ step Ah took was scrutinized, every note scribbled attempting to understand the damage seemed ta make it more... well, for lack 'a better words, nervous. It outright refused ta even tell me why it’s friend had tha word ‘Architect’ carved across every stripe in it’s synthetic skin! Even Pink and Bit remarked ta me in private how this machine felt like it was on the verge of a total mental breakdown. Something Ah hadn't even been sure was even possible for something like them."

"But as only a machine could, Pink and Bit saw mah own problem before Ah did. Ah... Ah'd gotten too curious, even for mah own damn good. Last night Ah'd convinced myself Ah wasn't goin' to far, that Ah was just going ta take a peek at their underlyin' coding. I realize now that Ah overstepped, but it all happened so fast. One moment Ah was staring helplessly as the undamaged machine brandished an iron beam at me like a club, and the next? Pink and Bit ended the threat to me like they always had."

"So we arrive to this morning where Ah woke up to a farewell note from Pink and Bit. They said that while they forgive me, Ah had broken their trust. And as such, they took the damaged machine in an attempt ta find one of their own kind ta fix it up. Ah want to go after them. Pink and Bit have been part of my family since my mom and dad found them, and... having them leave, it hurts. But Ah understand it, we all have to grow up sometime. Maybe it's time Ah loaded up the Marauder and headed back east to Sunshine City, so Ah can take some time to remind myself of why I repair things in the first place. Ta help others."

The audiolog cut out with a soft pause, letting out a burst of static as a second entry then picked right up.

"Okay... it's Me again!" The mare's voice came back abruptly, and she sounded completely winded as she spoke.

"Ah'm leaving this for anyone who finds this room, so they know... Ah was the one who fucked up, AGAIN, and what they need to do to keep it contained."

"Ah thought that Ah was doing the right thing before going home. Ah wanted to try ta put that machine back together. Ya' know, the one that Ah'd said Pink and Bit blasted ta save me? Ah don't know if it was something Ah did, or put together wrong, but this... THING is NOT the machine Ah'd met before. Tha old one felt like it had a personality, like it cared fer it's hurt friend. That's gone now. The moment Ah managed ta get it working again, it tried ta take over any machine in range and ordered them ta kill me. I'm only alive because I managed to use it's own signal against it, cutting off it's control, but... I can't shut it off now."

"Do NOT let it out. Do NOT listen to what it says. It will beg, it will plead for it's life. Keep. It. CONTAINED."

"Despite it's second attempt on mah life, Ah can't bring myself ta destroy it again. It's not my place to interfere anymore. So as selfish of me as it is, Ah'm leaving this record here for anyone who finds this place. I'm begging you, DON'T destroy it, but keep it contained to the basement if you can't finish what Ah started. Ah'm sorry for giving you this burden, but if you let it go in this state, I'm sure it WILL kill you an' any other pony it finds."

Maybe it’s just me, but that sounds just a bit too close to how Red is.

"And on the off chance that who's listening is tha other machine, tha machine Ah worked on tryin ta fix, Ah want to say that Ah'm sorry. Ah'm sorry for breaking your trust, and Ah hope you can find it within yourself to forgive me. Ah really did have the best of intentions, and Ah promise that should Ah find any more machines out there, Ah won't make this same mistake again. Harmony, out."

“See, do you idiots get it now?” Synchro grumbled through a pained whine. “We’re protecting everypony with that signal. A signal that through my resounding genius, I’ve recently managed upgrade and amplify it in order to cover the whole Seaddle area.”

“Hey, quick question, Night.” Hispano spoke calmly as she put her talon on my side. “Why the fuck does that sound exactly like Red?”

“So it wasn’t just me.” Buck nodded, pushing his worried look further across his face.

“Let me guess,” I knew I was taking a shot in the dark, but I had a really bad feeling that I knew the answer, “This amplification you did, I’m betting it was in the last couple of months?”

“Yeah, wha… how the fuck would you even know that?” A wave of confusion flushed across Synchro’s muzzle before he shook it off.

“Did the damping signal get interrupted at all during your ‘upgrade’?” I sighed.

“Hey, my work speaks for itself!” Synchro chuffed as he once again winced from his wounds. “I mean, yeah, maybe the signal wasn’t up for every single little second, but I managed to do what no pony else could! I replicated the original inverted signal! I’m protecting this whole city now!”

Knowing how fast Ping can transfer himself, if this really was Red’s prison, then even if it had been for a small window, it could have done the same. Even without the relay network we’d helped the Factory get up, Red could have moved from machine to machine until it landed inside the perfect host body that I let Mr. Wizard setup.

“It’s gone.” Hispano spat out. “You aren’t protecting this city from anything anymore.”

“Wha-what?” Sandy gasped and almost did a complete one eighty, placing herself between Buck and Synchro. “No, that’s not true! Synchro’s judgment may be questionable at times, but he’s the best arcane-cyberneticist this side of the wastes. He would never let that thing in the basement out.”

“Then let’s see it.” Hispano cooed as she hefted up her sister. “One twenty millimeter round worked the last time we ran into it.”

“No, you can’t destroy it!” Sandy took a single step toward Buck, looking up pleadingly. “Look, if I show it to you, if… if you truly know what it is, then you can help it.”

“If it is what we think, there’s no helping it.” Buck turned away from her, stepping over to Hispano and I. “And if it’s gone, then its body must be destroyed.” With his normal soft touch, I felt myself relax completely as he scooped both Hispano and I up and brought us against his warm chest. “Either way, we have to know.”

“Fine.” Synchro grunted. “Sandy, take them to the basement.”

With a reluctant nod from her, she turned and headed through the door and into the garage. Buck looked down and traded concerned looks with me. We both didn’t want to be right about this, but Buck had a point. We had to know.

I could feel his grip tighten around me as we entered the rear of the shop. The room opened up into a larger space than I’d expected. Four large doors with foggy glass windows lined the wall, bathing each separate maintenance area of the old garage in muted daylight. Various boxes, crates, and rusty toolboxes were strewn around, as well as more than a few wheeled carts with old parts on them.

Once again, I felt a pang of regret that I didn’t bring dad along.

“Got a lot of projects for just the two of you.” Hispano offered as Buck took us past the first maintenance bay.

The half-stripped hulk of an old motor wagon sat elevated off the floor, under it, a selection of parts and tools had been mindfully laid out in what seemed to be a specific order. There was an old technical manual set carefully at its side, and among its yellowed pages, I could see an old hoof-drawing of those same interlinked gears as the logo of this place on the pages. From the patchwork of welds and cut bits of frame, it was easy to see that the old vehicle had been through the ringer at least a couple of times.

Still, somepony must have thought it was salvageable, and to Sandy and Synchro’s credit, the whole thing made me realize that I’d seen a vehicle almost exactly like this once before. The memory of that strange pink pony back at Pink Mountain came to mind, as well as the motorwagon she’d been working on in the out-of-time garage I’d seemingly stumbled into. My eyes wandered the side of the old hulk for a moment, stopping where the chrome logo had been. While scuffed and charred, it sat right where the pink pony’s motorwagon’s had. It was hard to make out with just a passing glance, but I’m sure it said Marauder, just as the other one had.

“Hard to believe just the five of you out here can keep this place safe.” Hispano continued, pulling my focus back. “It’s a wonder you haven’t been bulldozed by raiders.”

“Five?” Buck almost missed a step as he glanced down at her. “It is only Sandy and Synchro as far as I understand it.”

“Javelin and her brothers do a good job at handling most threats.” Sandy smirked as she looked back at Buck. “Had you not lost your sense of smell, I’m sure you would have known they were in the wastes monitoring your approach.”

“They’re… competent at concealment I guess.” Hispano cooed begrudgingly, bringing more than just a little smirk to my muzzle. “But that’s hardly enough to keep a raiding party out. Plus, if that little display from your partner is anything to go off of, I think my point still stands.”

As we walked by the second maintenance bay, my eyes were drawn into the open rear compartment of the towering form of an old armored pony transport parked there. The inside was basked with a warm glow of a few lights, and a soft looking but empty bottle covered bed stretched from wall to wall. From the few bits of broken glass on the floor, it didn’t take much to guess that this was where Synchro slept.

“You’re right.” Sandy nodded as she brought up her one blue forepaw. Even in the muted daylight, her surprisingly short claws scattered the light like diamonds as she wiggled each digit. “Just knowing there’s a hellhound on the premises is enough to keep most troublemakers out. But there are some who are dumb enough, or think they’re lucky enough that they have a chance.” Pulling her paw up to her muzzle, she forced a sharp whistle through it. “Lily, run maintenance checklist omega.”

A sharp beep emitted from the strange machine sitting over bay three. A white metal box the size of a motorwagon hummed to life, adjusting the suspension for each of its strangely simplistic metal wheels as a mast-like pole hoisted a spritebot-like bulb into the air. With a whirr, the mis-sized eyes of the stick-bound spritebot swung around and down to meet Sandy’s gaze before they spun with eerie precision to the three of us.

Three quickly sequenced clicks came from the body of the machine, allowing a few of its exterior panels to fold away to reveal three mechanical boom-arms that ended in different glowing magical weapons to extend out. A whine from the side of the robot followed a new, silver boom being raised, but this one soon hinged forward, revealing the barrel of a robust breech-loading mortar system. From the front, a hatch slid out of place, and a ball-hinged machine gun pushed outward, distracting me from the fact a four barreled rocket launcher had raised up from the rear end of the machine.

“Goddesses, how many fucking weapons does this thing have?” Hispano chirped as I could feel Buck’s arms pull us both just that little bit tighter against himself.

‘Thank you, Lily.” Sandy gave a quick wave of her metal-claw to the bot, pulling an almost cheery sounding beep out of it. Just as quickly as it had become bristling with weapons, the machine folded and tucked everything away under its own panels, returning to looking like a strangely simply white box after the fact. “Lily here is what keeps us safe from those dumb enough to actually try something.”

“Yeah, next question, where do I get one?” Hispano chirped before Buck shifted a flat gaze down at her.

“Sorry, she’s one of a kind.” Sandy chuckled. “She was a prototype moon rover back during the war, but they abandoned it in favor of researching some larger automated miner or whatever. Synchro stole her out of a museum back east a few years back and retrofitted her into an adaptable, multi-role survival robot.”

“A few years back?” I spat out without thinking. “What, when he was a colt? He looks to be just about my age.”

“Well yes, but that’s…” She started to reply, but snapped her muzzle shut. “Let’s say it’s a part of his life that we’d both rather not dwell on. He’s always been a prodigy with machines, we’ll just leave it at that. But don’t tell him I said that, I’ll go right to his head and you’ll never hear the end of it.” With a soft touch, she held her robot arm as she paused that turned toward the only empty repair bay in the room. “Alright, just down here.”

The old wooden hoof-built stairway that dipped into the maintenance pit in the bay floor looked well worn, and creaked heavily as even Sandy’s lighter form stepped from stair to stair. As she got to the bottom, she turned and looked up to us expectantly. It wasn’t until things were quiet for a second that I’d noticed we weren’t moving, and Buck was hesitantly looking at the old stairs.

“Don’t worry about those, they’ll outlast all of us.” Sandy laughed as she gave a wave of her mechanical arm. Turning, she pushed open a rusty set of double metal doors open and disappeared from sight into the concrete wall.

As Buck hesitantly walked down the stairs, I couldn’t tear my eyes from the open hole in the concrete we were headed for. It didn’t help that I already had a hunch for what we were about to see. Hell, the hiding place back at the Factory was pretty much the same thing. But it wasn’t the idea of what was inside that made me uneasy, but why it was inside here.

The original Architect had been alone at the Factory. But, Mr. Wizard said he was already damaged when he stumbled upon him. And I guess I’d assumed that when he said he’d mistakenly trusted an organic once before, that he’d meant Mr. Wizard. What if it wasn’t him, what if who he’d really been talking about was this mare who’d tried to help before?

There were so many questions this brought up. What happened to the other machine that took him north? Why did it leave him in the science center alone? Why did he never come back to look for his friend down here? Or was that the original reason he’d sent the lost Ping units down here in the first place? Did he already know about the true source of the signal and always had this as part of the plan for me when we got down here?

Turning to face the cramped concrete stairwell, Buck lowered Hispano and I back to the ground. Trading glances with Hispano, she nudged me to go first.

So many questions, and no way to know for sure what the truth about the architect was. But what was real, what could be known, was at the bottom of these stairs. With that in mind, I hobbled my way down them.

Sandy stood waiting at the bottom, leaning up against the wall. She giggled to herself as she looked past me, pulling my gaze back over my shoulder. While this hallway was fine for even her to have walked down on her hind paws, Sandy was closer to Hispano and my height at her tallest. Looking back up the stairs, Buck had shifted himself onto all fours and had to carefully guide himself at a slight angle to even fit.

Reaching the bottom, I looked around to find a quite cavernous round room around us. Rows of triple bunk beds sat along the walls just to the left and right of me, ringing half of the circular room. A few tables and benches sat at the end of every other row, covered in old foal’s games or stacks of yellowed novels. A simple kitchen and empty pantry sat directly at the back of the room, coated in dust and having long since become too rusted to think of using. To the right of it was a heavy metal door with the faded word Reactor Room still legible across its flaking yellow paint. To the left of the kitchen, was a makeshift scrap metal door with crudely painted stop sign on it, and one hell of a heavy looking steel beam baring it closed.

To think there was a whole megaspell shelter built under this garage…

“Just over here.” Sandy nodded to me as Hispano reached the foot of the stairs, and Buck slowly made his way down just behind her.

With hesitation in nearly every step, the until now fearless hellhound made her way over to the scrap metal door. She gave a quick rub at the metal socket that replaced her shoulder and spun her cybernetic clamp around under the beam. With a surprisingly soft touch, she grasped at the beam and lifted it from the door. Almost as if she were holding her breath, she carefully maneuvered the beam over and set it down like it was made of glass.

“We haven’t… opened it since Synchro made his modifications.” She offered with a nervous smile. “It also has been fairly quiet since then. So… I’m not sure what it’ll do when I open this door.” Turning back to it, she put her paw on a small latch that had been hidden by the beam. “Just remember what the recording said. Don’t listen to it.”

With Buck making his way up behind Hispano and I, Sandy flipped up the latch, and pulled the door open.

Inside the small dark adjacent room, was a whole lot of old arcane terminals that lined the walls. Each one blinked and hummed as it worked through some set of coding or another. Each light and line of code trailed light across the half of a dark figure that hung from a chain secured into the ceiling. With a flicker, the small dome-light behind it illuminated, and I could finally see the front half of a skeletal mechanical zebra pointing a single dimly lit red eye at the floor.

It was very much just like the original Architect’s body, however, it was missing the odd mis-sized eye on the right side of its head. Rather, this machine’s skull looked just like that of a normal zebra’s. Well, if their skulls were made of metal and wires at least. On the right side of it’s skull was a flush cap in the same place where the Architect’s processor was, though this one was sealed and still had the number 5 stamped into it.

“Hey, you still in there ya’ old tin can?” Sandy barked at him. “Time to wake up.”

“Finally decided I’m worth selling as some sideshow attraction, Sandy?” The familiar voice that came from the machine startled me, and forced Sandy to take a step back. “I suppose it was only a matter of time. Heh, well gawk away, organics.”

It was strange though. Red’s voice was monotone, lifeless and uncaring. This voice was closer to sounding real than that, and completely unlike what was described in the log. As it slowly raised its head with a mechanical whine however, it looked like every bit of it seized up when its eyes fell on Me. It wasn’t until his eye shifted again over to Buck that he spoke up.

“So… he did make it after all.” It laughed at us. It was so unnervingly close to Red’s voice that every hair on my body wanted to stand on end with that laugh, but I tried my best not to show it. “And after all this time, he’s finally sent someone to free me from this prison.”

“Free you?” Sandy scoffed. “You tried to kill everypony last time you were ‘free’.”

“That was almost forty years ago.” It was weird to say, but the machine rolled its eye at her before doing its best to do a skeletal deadpan. “You organics obsess over the most trivial minutia, do you know that? Besides, I’m sure as two of my three new friends will agree, you’re not like other organics. You’re artificial, just like me! Well, at least, in part.”

“Not by choice.” Both Buck and I spoke up at the same time, pulling a somewhat confounded look from the hanging machine.

“Oh, come on, you can’t be serious.” It huffed as it looked between Buck and I. “I mean, Seven was always a good judge of character when it came to organics, so for him to choose you to join him, you’d have to agree!”

I’ll give him this, he seemed convinced of himself, but it wasn’t until he mentioned the Architect that I had to think back to what happened with Red at the Factory. I know that Unit One hadn’t been the original Architect, but… what if he did know that Red had been this machine here? What if that’s the reason he tried so hard to keep us from shooting it that day? Why he tried so hard, even knowing he was dying, to convince him to stop what he was doing?

“The Architect is dead.” I offered the machine, pulling its unwavering gaze to me. “The machine he built to replace himself carried on his vision to protect and help us ‘organics’ through his Factory.” I shook my head. “A lot has happened since you became trapped here, but the Factory doesn’t hunt organics. It helps them.”

“No.” the machine shook its head. “No no no, that just won’t do!” Its voice wavered, almost sounding… sad to me. “You… you don’t understand, we had a plan! It was going to be just the two of us! Seven and Five, the future founders of Factory Zero One! He couldn’t have gone and done it without me! No… it’s wrong. Tell me then, why? Why did he leave me here to suffer like this?”

“I…” Looking over to Buck, he seemed equally as unsure how to answer that. Do I tell him the truth? That the Architect never told anyone about him? Should I even say that when I don’t even know why he never mentioned him?

“Oh… oh, I… understand.” He nodded to me as his tone shifted to something sharper. “No, I get it now. You didn’t come for me, did you? You didn’t even hear my distress signal.”

“Oh, they came because of the signal, alright.” Sandy chuffed and crossed her arms. “Just the modulated one we put out to contain you. Only now, it’s… causing problems.”

“Eh, that’s a close enough description, but not important right now.” Hispano answered as she took a step toward the machine. “And not that I can trust a damn thing you’re going to say, but we really need to fix that signal now.” Hefting up her sister onto her shoulder, she turned and gave the machine a healthy dose of her patented side-eye. “So are you going to promise that you won't go ‘kill all the organics’ on us, or are we going to have to ensure that the hard way?”

“Hispano.” Buck huffed sharply, giving her a light bump with his paw.

“What? This is the machine that spawned Red the murder machine, isn’t it?”

“Red?” The machine canted its head at Hispano before turning its attention to me, and then quickly to Buck. “What is this ‘red’ the griffon speaks of?”

“Don’t play coy with them.” Sandy shifted herself to stand between his gaze and Buck. “You got out a signal when Synchro was working on you last, and as I can only assume, it’s caused some sort of problem where they’ve come from.”

“An overly simple summary, but yes.” Hispano muttered under her breath before she shifted Suiza’s grip down into her talon. “So, care to revise your statement?”

“Oh, you mean that program!” It let out a nervous laugh that once again made all the fur on me nearly stand straight up. “You see, I was confused when you said…” It paused as Hispano flipped the safety off of her sister. “Ah, well you see, I was getting a bit desperate after so many years left languishing down here. So I saw an opportunity to copy myself and send it out into the world during the short window I had.”

“So, you did send out Red.” Hispano smirked and raised the barrel of Suiza at the machine.

“Wait, you’re mad, and that’s understandable!” His panicked tone came with a jerky shaking of its head that made what was left of its body torque and tug against its bindings. “Please, just hear me out first!”

“Speak quickly.” I offered as I sat down and used my hoof to push Suiza’s muzzle down a bit. I could feel Hispano’s glare drilling into the side of my head, but I at least wanted to give Five here a chance to explain himself.

“The window, it was shorter than expected! Only my core coding made it out!” He spoke frantically like he was out of breath as his gaze quickly darted between the four of us. “I knew there was a possibility that not all of me made it into the signal, but I thought if that was the case, my program wouldn’t even work at all! I never thought even a partial me could be functional!” He paused and jerkily turned his head down to his half body with a nervous laugh. “Well, I mean in the programming sense at least.”

A sharp whine filled the air, and a thick beam of red shot across the room from the machine. No, not from, through. Sparks and a digitized scream emit from Five as a hoof sized hole was melted right through it. The light in its eye dimmed as it locked it on the last thing it would illuminate.

Glancing up, I saw Buck’s outstretched mechanical arm slowly draw his glowing magical energy pistol back inside of it. His expression was hollow, and he didn’t seem to even breathe as the sparks and crackles from the melting machine filled the air.

I was too stunned to think and too confused to even convince words to slip out of my muzzle. What had just happened!?

“Buck.” Hispano huffed as she slumped and lowered Suiza’s barrel all the way to the floor. “What the fuck was that for?!”

“I was no fan of that thing, and maybe that was for the best” Sandy offered as she stepped over and put her paw on his arm, “but what made you do it?”

“I…” Buck blinked and looked first at her paw on his arm, and then up to her as he seemed to come back to his senses. “I felt him, as he talked. He was probing, testing the signal. It was like a nagging thought, small and insignificant, but there all the same.”

“Yeah, he was probably trying to get out like always. Trying to figure a way into your system to jump somewhere else.” Sandy sighed and rubbed at his metal arm. “That’s why the recording told us not to listen to him.”

“No, that’s not what he was doing.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “He didn’t want to leave, he wanted control.” Opening them again, he kept his gaze on me, letting me see for a fact that he’d just been nearly scared to death. “He tried to make me kill all of you. He never wanted freedom, he wanted you all dead.”

“Then it’s for the best, you did what needed to be done.” I nodded to him before turning and throwing myself into a hug against his furry chest. “It’s over then.”

“Yeah, no it’s not.” Hispano chuckled in the same devious way she always did when she was about to do something unexpected. “However, let’s just make sure it will be.”

I’d hardly had time to cover one ear before Suiza let out a burst of fire that blinded all of us. By the time I could blink away the shine from the muzzle flashes, all that remained of Five and the terminals around him was assorted scrap and the top half of his metal skull.

“Yeah, thanks for that.” Sandy grumbled as she flicked at her ears and walked over to the skull on the floor. “Still, like you said, it’s probably for the best.” Reaching down with her clamp, she grasped the metal skull in it. Pulling it up and twisting it, she brought it up to look at her. “Alas, poor Yorick. Rust in pieces, asshole.” Her clamp whined, and slowly the metal skull crumpled inward like a tin can. “You know, mom, your hatred of robots is really starting to rub off on me…”

Author's Note

Despite this chapter taking six months to get out, I cannot express my thanks to Thefurryrailfan for still being there to give things a once over!

Of course, a huge thanks to Kkat for giving us all this fantastic universe and letting the rest of us run around in it with our own stories!

And lastly, thanks to all of you for your patience with me. Six months isn't trivial, and I'm going to do my best to keep this length of a break in content from happening again until the story is over. Thank you all for continuing to come and read about Night's slice of the wastes!

Chapter 83 - Ivory Towers

The world is richer when you turn enemies into friends, but that's not the same as you being richer.

“So, you’re the mare that everycreature is calling the ‘Survivor’.”

“You are far from what I expected, I’ll admit.” Rofia purred with a smile as she walked out from behind the incredibly ornate darkwood desk in her ‘office’. A room which I’d hardly consider that, seeing as it was filled with nothing but shiny bits and bobs being displayed like trophies. “You know, you’re lucky. The avalanche you caused in your little attack? Well, it managed to save most of my shipment.” Walking with that same swagger to her hips as she’d had talking with Rook, I at least knew that I was seeing her for who she really was. “Maybe because of this, I’ll show you mercy and kill you before you and your friends become a real problem for me.”

While I’d been lucky enough to have only been stripped of my flight harness, Hispano wasn’t as fortunate. She’d been gagged and bound to one of the many plush chairs in here. I could see her doing her best to keep her calm, but as Rofia approached me, she fought against the ropes holding her talons together. The worried look across her face spoke volumes about how she hated having me on my own, and honestly, I really could have used her smarts and quick wit to make sure we both got out of here alive.

Then again, while we’ve had some close calls, I’ve yet to fail at getting us both out of a bind like this...

“You know, maybe you should kill us. The last pony I was a problem for ended up losing his city.” I spat at her, wiping the smug look from her muzzle as she walked by. From the muffled and angry words Hispano tried to say, and the burning glare she shot me, I could tell that maybe this approach hadn’t been the one she’d wanted me to take. Still, Rofia gave out a mirthful laugh as her short furred tail came around and curled under my chin.

“It’s nice to see the youth these days so energized and eager to make their mark in the wasteland.” As her tail pulled off of me, she spun around carefully on her paws and placed one of her forepaw digits on the end of my muzzle. “Their heads filled with tales of heroes like that of the dear Lightbringer, swiftly guiding them to the end of their very short ropes.” With a curl of her paw, the silver plated claw inside her digit poked out, and she carefully ran it over the fur on my muzzle. “It’s such a waste when with the right… motivation, and a little effort, they could have a carefree life of decadence. Why ruin it by trying to play the hero for the ungrateful masses?”

“You’re wasting your words, Ma’am.” Microburst spoke through the mask she wore around her completely bundled up form. From where she stood near the door, I could smell the decay on her, even through what looked like a dozen layers of clothing. Ugh, it smelled like rotting fish covered in shit stacked up to the height of a pony! It was enough that I almost wished she’d put her power armor back on... “The survivor can’t be bought.” Arguably, even worse than the smell was the creaking her body gave off. Geeze, if that’s what Rot does to your body, then that’s a hard fucking pass from me...

“Oh, I know she can’t be bought.” Rofia flicked her paw off of my muzzle sharply, but didn’t let her claw break my skin when she did. “Ponies like her don’t care about things, they care about others.” Stepping back in front of me, she moved her paw to cup under my chin. “Micro, if you would do me a favor and check in on our… other guest. See how he’s enjoying his whores.”

“At once, Ma’am.” The wrapped up mare behind me replied with the full feeling of an Enclave military mare to her. But like with Rofia, I could tell that this was all for show. This was Solomon’s game, and unfortunately for them, I’d already had a few chances to get to know the rules.

“Oh, why don’t you stay, Microburst? I’m sure our mule friend is perfectly happy right now.” The words I spat at Rofia seemed to knock her for a loop, making her tweak the short whiskers that protruded from her muzzle. “But you know who won’t be happy, is the Sky Marshal once she finds out about the Rot you were hauling on that train. That is the shipment you were talking about, right?” It was only for a moment, but from the way Rofia’s slit eyes widened at that admission told me that she was far past being off her game now. “Oh, you didn’t know that we already knew? Why don’t you ask Microburst what kind of ship it was that we flew in on?” Looking back, I found the dark lenses of the goggles she wore staring back at me with an odd slight purple glow to them. Still, she was completely silent at that. “What? You act like a former Enclave mare. So go on, tell her.”

“What is she talking about, Micro?” Rofia’s short growl was joined by the fact that her tail almost came around like a whip behind her. Oh yeah, still got that magic ability to piss others off!

“It’s a reconnaissance cloudship, Ma’am. Meant for intelligence gathering.” The glow behind Micro’s goggles flared up with each word. Seriously, just what was it that was glowing like that? “She’s saying she has proof of what was on the train, and I’m inclined to believe it.”

“And you didn’t think to bring this up before?” Rofia snapped, forcing Micro to take a shaky step backwards. With a low growl, she dragged her paw down her face and glared at the bundled up mare. “I was right, you really are just a useless addict.”

“Here’s how I see it.” I proudly let the smirk work its way across my face. “If you untie my Talon there and listen to what I have to say, then just maybe I won’t broadcast the evidence I have over to the Sky Marshal. And before you threaten to kill us again...” Reaching up, I tapped on the metal side of my head. “All it would take is a single thought to fuck you over.”

Rofia’s snarl grew louder, but her eyes shifted from me over to Hispano. With a flick of her paw, all five of her silver claws came out. With swift steps that had completely lost their smooth and confidant cadence, she strode over to Hispano and gave only a single, swift swipe.

The ropes around Hispano’s talons frayed and dropped away, letting her quickly reach up and pull the cloth from her beak.

“Bluh, you fuckers ever heard of laundry day?” Hispano spat out as she rubbed a talon at her beak in disgust.

“Now, speak of what it is you want.” Rofia growled again as she spun and planted her golden eyes right on me again.

“I was sent here to do some good for ‘your’ town. So, that’s what I’m going to do.” I watched as my words understandably sent a wave of confusion over Rofia’s face, which shifted over to Micro who just shrugged. “Raychaser told me you have a bit of a refugee problem. Why don’t we start with that and see where...”

The sharp laugh that escaped Rofia’s muzzle cut me off completely.

“Oh really, this is how she intends to repay her debt?” Rofia’s tone falling back into the same mannerisms wasn’t really something that filled me with any sort of confidence. Not to mention a single realization cropped up in my mind. One I’d thought I’d gotten past having again and again.

Because of course somepony was just trying to use me. Seriously, how the fuck did I not see it!? I swear, if she was just intending for me to fail this whole time just to clear a debt…

“Look, just tell us what we’re supposed to do to help and we’ll be out of your fur.” Hispano at least hadn’t seemed to care that we’d been roped into the same shit yet again. “Oh, and give us our shit back before we decide to burn this place to the ground for the fun of it.” Right, she really hadn’t been kidding when she said she’d been bored out of her mind. She just has to keep things interesting…

“Right. Micro, be a dear and fetch their things.” Rofia snapped her claws, making the bundled mare stiffen to attention. “So Raychaser wants to help the refugees? Then I might just have something that will benefit the both of us.” A wide, malicious grin spread across her muzzle, and her tail flicked back and forth softly as she looked down at me. “Head down to Sanctuary and speak with Gadget. She runs the show down there, so if you can get her to agree to re-open Sanctuary to the refugees, then you can tell Raychaser that her debt is as good as cleared.”

“What do you know about this ‘Sanctuary’ place?” I asked as Hispano and I soared through the cold afternoon air. A few wild clouds had drifted over the valley, bringing with it a light snow that killed the thermals below us.

“Don’t really know much.” Hispano’s hesitant voice was one I didn’t normally hear from her. “I know it’s old. And I mean that as in, one of the first-northern-settlements-founded-after-the-war, old. Which means it’s pretty much just populated by ghouls, and is probably the reason Rofia expects us to fail.”

I couldn’t argue with that. While most of the ghouls I’d met so far had been mostly well meaning, I wasn’t really sure that living around a bunch of rotting ponies would be something I could ever do. Especially if more than a few of them used that Rot stuff…

Coming down, we passed over the raised section of highway that cut across town and over one corner of the secluded community. The still intact and quite tall brick wall that surrounded the old neighborhood gave the whole place a fort-like feel to it. The hundreds of houses that sat inside were well cared for. Almost too well cared for, really. To the point that most of them still had clean glass windows in them, and their vibrant painted sidings looked almost like-new. More than a few ghouls were out and about, strolling along the sidewalks or busy shoveling the snow out of their driveways. If not for the fact that everypony we saw was rotting and decayed, you could almost be forgiven for thinking that the war never even affected the ponies here!

Hispano and I looped around over the settlement as we passed through one of the light snowfalls coming down from above. We’d figured that the larger than normal house in the center of the settlement was the most likely place to start looking for this ‘Gadget’ pony. The three story house had a pristine coat of white paint on it’s siding, and the light blue trim around it’s windows gave it a welcoming appearance overall. However, the barren oak tree on it’s snow-covered front lawn looked sickly, and the picket fence that ran around its perimeter was left in a sorry state of disrepair compared to the house.

The tired and annoyed expression of what looked like a guard pony at the stately front door, stood at odds with the house’s inviting appearance.

“I got this, Dum Dum.” Hispano cooed as we flared out wings and came down along the sidewalk in front of the house. Hispano reached up, pulling off her leather flight cap with a smile. “Hello there, we’re here to see a ghoul named Gadget? Know where we can find her?”

With a sharp push and a squeal that grated on both our nerves, Hispano opened the gate to the old picket fence. The noise itself seemed to wake the tired looking ghoul at the door, and the rust coated pony raised a rifle that was degraded enough to match his coat color. While I was sure that the gun itself would explode the second he tried to fire it, it only needed to work once to ruin our day.

“Who?” The ghoul’s scratchy and hoarse voice was softer than expected. With a creak of his neck, the ghoul made a sound like he was gargling gravel in his throat, showing me the myriad of holes in his neck that he wheezed through as it breathed. “You two lost? Ain’t nothin’ for you here.” His voice was just as quiet as before, but the determined look in his clouded eyes was joined with a spark of fear that seemed out of place.

“We’re here to see Gadget.” Hispano grumbled as I stepped through the open gate and walked up beside her. “Rofia sent us?”

“Fidget?” The ghoul pulled back in confusion. “She took a dirt nap ages ago. Probably before you skinbags were even born!”

“Gadget, you fucking…” Hispano slapped her beak with her talon and growled into it. “Who’s in charge of Sanctuary?”

“Charge?” The ghoul again seemed confused, reaching up and scratching at his peeling scalp. With a fleshy squishing that sent a shiver up my spine, his entire scalp separated from his skull as he scratched at it. “You lookin’ for Arcane, Steel, or Sparkle Charge? We’ve had a few Charges here in Sanctuary over the years.”

“This guy is fucking useless.” Hispano spoke under her breath as she forced up a smile on her beak. “We’ll just look elsewhere. Sorry to bother you.”

“Well just hold on there a minute.” The ghoul grumbled, finally pulling his hoof away from his head. His scalp stuck to his hoof for a moment, finally flopping back onto his skull with a meaty slap as he lowered his rifle. “Lemme’ go ask Miss Gadget if she knows if we’ve still got a Charge here…”

With a shuffling mumble, the stallion turned around and opened the door to the old house. Stepping inside, he left it open, revealing some of it’s dark interior to us. With a curious glance that was shared by Hispano, we both moved up to the short steps that lead onto the porch.

Now that we were closer, we figured we could get a peek into the old house. Old ornate furniture sat under yellowed sheets, and covered paintings still hung on walls that were plastered with some sort of floral patterned wallpaper. Sparkle battery powered candle light fixtures glowed dimly on the walls, keeping most of the hallway and nearby rooms shrouded in darkness. Most of the light inside came from the enormous stained glass window that sat behind the house’s central staircase. The window itself was more than a story tall, and for some reason held a picture of a green unicorn with a red mane laying on a bed of roses.

“Can I help you?” A rough and somewhat squeaky voice came from near the top of the stairwell.

It took me a moment to find it’s source, but my eyes finally landed on the small, obscured form of a young filly. Her faded pink coat was marred by dozens of small bald patches that contained oozing sores, and her blackened hipbones literally pushed through the skin on her flanks where her cutie mark would have sat. For however rough shape this ghoulified little filly looked, the pair of piercing green eyes behind her emaciated and decayed form seemed as healthy as any normal pony’s.

“We’re here to see a pony named Gadget. Rofia sent us down.” I offered, pulling a sharper and judgmental gaze from the small filly for some reason.

“Come up to my office.” She sighed before disappearing from behind the railing. Her tiny hoofsteps made the stairs creak, and Hispano and I shared another look before deciding to do as she asked.

Stepping into the old house, I paused as I walked past a sealed glass case. The case itself was in impressive condition, and it’s dust free, lacquered surface was absent of all but a few scratches from over the years. What sat protected inside however, was an odd collection of items that had fared poorly over the centuries.

A pair of cracked and old sunglasses, much the same as Delta had before, sat on a neatly folded, but frayed blanket. Next to it, sat the folded and helmet-less form of a well worn Hazmat suit that had more than a dozen patches in it’s age-cracked rubberized fabric. While I’m sure they mattered to somepony at some point in time, it was just another wasteland mystery that I didn’t have the time or care to solve.

Following Hispano up the creaking old stairs, we stepped onto the surprisingly plush off-white carpeted second floor. The furniture up here wasn’t covered in sheets like that of the first floor, and there was even a still ticking wooden clock hanging on the wall. The paintings of regal looking ponies sat with gazes that almost followed us down the hallway, which in my mind was creepy enough that they probably should have been covered like the ones on the first floor…

“In here.” The rough filly’s voice came through the cracked double doors at the end of the hallway.

Hispano and I pushed onwards, and both opened a door to the expansive office. Unlike at Rofia’s place, this room had a proper personal office feel to it. Large windows filled the room with the light from the late afternoon sun, and cast dusty rays across the large bookshelves that flanked the walls to either side of Hispano and I. A pair of desks sat against the far walls, piled up with dozens of old books and papers that actively had a pair of unicorn ghouls in glasses reading them.

“Doc, take your sister and head out for the evening. You two can pick your research back up in the morning.” The filly spoke sharply as she climbed up into the plush leather chair sitting behind the central, paper laden desk.

The two ghouls at the table looked at each other before sharing a silent nod. Almost as one, they both scooted themselves off their chairs, and silently trotted past us out of the room. As they left, their horns flashed up and swung the doors closed behind them, leaving us alone in the room with the small filly.

“So, Rofia sent you skinbags, did she?” The filly sighed as she tented her small, cracked hooves on the desktop. “Let me guess, she wants us to take in more of those Cantercross rejects, right?” I was beginning to assume that this was the ‘Gadget’ we’d been sent to speak to, but… she was just a filly. “Well, Rofia can just fuck right off. Our reputation’s gotten bad enough recently, and I don’t need to give those Federation fucktards any excuse to come and wipe us out.”

“Uh, I think we may have missed something here.” Hispano offered as she raised a single talon in concern. “You are Gadget, right?”

“Yeah?” The filly deadpanned at us before cocking an eyebrow. “What, you two draw the short straws and get stuck with this job or something?” Rolling her eyes, she flopped back against her chair with a huff. “Gotta say, every month Rofia sends less and less capable cronies to deal with us, and I’m beginning to rethink our whole arrangement.”

“And what ‘arrangement’ would that be?” I asked as her words didn’t exactly strike me as something that would be considered on the level with Laika or anypony in the Federation government. “Does it have to do with the shipments of Rot coming in to Terrace?”

“Pft, Rot, I wish.” The filly smirked in a way that torqued her nose right off the center of her emaciated muzzle. “No, as much as we rely on her for that as a side gig, I’m not really at liberty to discuss anything more with the hired help.” She paused, stiffening up as it looked like a realization came into her head. “Actually, I’ll tell you what. You help me deal with a problematic pair of residents, I’ll throw a few caps your way and maybe we’ll talk business. Sound good?”

Another side job? Really? Fine, you know what? As long as it’s quick, whatever.

“We won’t kill anypony, if that’s what you’re asking us to do.” I snorted and did my best to level a blank gaze at the tiny ghoul.

“No, I’d rather you didn’t harm them anyway, seeing as my kind doesn’t hate each other as much as you fleshy fuckers.” The small filly smiled and rubbed her tiny forehooves together. “But I need them gone. Just convince them to leave Sanctuary, sell them on moving somewhere else, anywhere, really.”

“Why? Do you need only one of them gone, or both?” Hispano snorted and folded her talons over each other.

It was odd to hear her ask for some sort of explanation, even if it made sense to ask. She’d always been so straightforward, which was something I’d heard now many times that was expected of Talons. No questions asked so long as you had the caps to pay.

“Oh for Celestia’s… okay, let me spell it out to you in a way your fragile young meatbag minds can understand. Let’s just say that they’re an inseparable pair, and one of them is hiding something that I’ve spent long enough tolerating. If you need help with my simple request, then remind him of that.” Reaching up, the small filly rubbed at the back of her neck before narrowing her eyes right at me. “If Sanctuary is to prosper in the near future, then I need them out. Get them to move, no matter what it takes. Understand, fleshbags?”

“Crystal.” Hispano nodded before looking over to me.

“Just… one quick question?” I scrunched up my muzzle in a failed attempt to keep myself from speaking my mind. “Why do I get the feeling you don’t like us? What did we ever do to you?” Come on, Night, why do you have to say things like that? She can have her opinion, you don’t have to basically call her a fucking bitch for it!

“Let me save you the long explanation.” She tented her hooves together and glared at me. “Sanctuary was a peaceful town for a good long while. Then, the traders came, and they took our broadcast antenna to build their own settlement away from us. Which was fine for about fifty years, until the Enclave came and took our observatory while trying to kill us all.” She narrowed her eyes at me and lowered her voice to a hissing whisper. “You starting to see a pattern with all this, smoothcoat? I’m as old as the invention of the fucking megaspell, and yet, it’s you fleshy fuckers who think that my kind are the violent, mindless monsters.” Clearing her throat in a way that sounded like a road crew resurfacing machine was running through her office, she feigned a smile across her muzzle before pointing to the door. “Any more stupid questions to waste my time? No? Didn’t think so.” Her smile faded and her glare looked between us and the door. “Get the fuck out.”

While I could understand the hatred behind her determined expression, the pit in my gut told me that like most tasks, this was going to be as complicated as every job we’d been on so far. She certainly made it sound simple, but I’m sure that somewhere in all this, was something meant to fuck Hispano and I over. We had to try all the same, but there was more to this all, I was sure of it.

Still, like a bad itch, now I wanted to put the pieces together. The puzzle in Sanctuary was just a part to what was going on in Terrace, and it was looking more and more like if we didn’t put two and two together, than things here were going to only get worse for those who lived here.

Hispano and I came down on the surprisingly well kept front lawn of a small, yellow painted one story house. It had taken almost a half hour of flying before we’d figured out the old world address system Sanctuary still used so we could even find the place. It sat almost dead center on one of the streets that faced the large brick wall that ringed Sanctuary. From the soft wartime music drifting out through the open front door, it seemed a generally friendly kind of place. Without an ounce of hesitation, Hispano walked up to the open door and gave a few hefty knocks on it.

“Just a moment!” The sing-songy rough voice of a ghoul stallion called out over the soft music. The sharply growing whistle of a tea kettle in the kitchen on the other end of the house peaked for a moment before it was moved off the stove, and hoofsteps came down the hallway.

Walking up next to Hispano, I was surprised when she reached her wing over me and wrapped it around my side. Looking down at her, I found a warm blush across her face, which pulled one across mine. The quick hoofsteps creaking across the old wooden floors pulled my attention back into the house.

“Sorry about that.” The gentle voice of the stallion called out as he pushed around into view. He was in… okay shape for an earth pony ghoul, and his dull orange coat was mostly intact. The few open wounds and exposed muscle and bone he had, ebbed with a soft balefire green glow that reflected off the cracked old glasses he wore. “Oh, is it that time again already? I didn’t realize we were accepting more guests! Come in, come in!” The ghoul gave an excited wave of his glowing forehoof before spinning around and disappearing back around the corner into the kitchen.

Sharing a confused look with Hispano, she gave a shrug and pushed forward. Sticking with her, we both entered the house and walked down the hallway. I glanced up at the old world pictures hanging on the walls, finding that they belonged to a family of ponies that didn’t have an orange coated stallion among them. Then again, I guess it was a bit much to expect this ghoul to originally be from here. Though, I had to ask…

“Did you know who lived here before?” The words tumbled out of my muzzle as Hispano and I rounded the corner into the kitchen just in time to watch as the ghoul tied an old white and pink apron around himself. He was on the far side of a kitchen island that definitely reminded me of the one I’d almost died behind back in Klondike. Still, we took a seat next to it and simply watched as the ghoul went about his business.

“Before as in before we lived here, or before the war?” The orange stallion flashed up a toothy grin before spinning around and sticking his head in the oven at the back of the kitchen. “I guess in either case, the answer is still the same. No.”

“Then why do you keep it all up?” Hispano asked in turn, squinting as she brought her face down to the spotless tile that lined the kitchen counters. For being this deep into the wasteland, this place was starting to remind me just a bit too much of Klondike…

“Reverence, respect? Just trying to keep busy?” The orange ghoul shrugged as he pulled his head out of the running oven, and with a light kick, shut it. With a light spin on his hooves, he spun himself over towards the counter by the kitchen sink, and twisted the knob of an old mechanical timer. “After so long, Ammon and I agree that it’s best to keep the memories of the old world around, even if they aren’t exactly ours. It… helps when our thoughts become clouded.”

“Ammon?” Again, I asked without thinking about it. “Is that the other pony who lives here.”

“Oh, I do apologize. Ammon is my husband.” The ghoul managed an impressive blush across his dull orange coat as he pulled a whole stack of teacups out of the cupboard next to him. “He’s stepped out for the moment, but should be back shortly. Now, do you take sugar with your tea?” The old ghoul flashed his smile up again as he set the teacups down on the counter, and started to pour a nearly fluorescent green liquid from the kettle.

Right, that didn’t exactly look healthy, and a small warning popped up in the corner of my vision telling me that there had been a spike of magical radiation in the room…

“I think we’ll pass on the tea.” Hispano spoke for the both of us as she pulled herself closer to me with her wing. “So! What brought you to Sanctuary?”

“Oh, just the need to finally settle down, I guess.” The old ghoul smiled as he finished pouring four cups of steaming tea. “I spent most of the last two centuries wandering back and forth all over old Equestria, helping out who I could with what little I had. Made my way up here and thought I’d stay just for a short stint to rest up. But, a few years ago my husband returned from his home country where the war had trapped him, and found me here. So, we decided to stay. While I miss helping others in the wasteland, I’ve found purpose again in helping those who show up on our doorstep.”

“That’s… kind of you.” Hispano paused as the ghoul spun around on his hooves again, effortlessly sliding the cups of steaming radioactive tea across the island to us. “But why here? Were you born up here or something?”

“Well, most of Equestria doesn’t exactly...enjoy the company of our kind. And oh no, I come from what used to be the Crystal Empire.” The ghoul offered an almost disdainful look right up to the point when he took a sip of the glowing liquid in his own teacup. “These days, the ruins of the Empire are the same as most of Equestria in regards to what they think of us, but Sanctuary has almost always been kind to ghouls. At least, they’ve been accepting of our kind ever since Gadget took over twenty years after the end of the war. But that was long before Ammon or I ever made our way this far north.”

“With what’s happened recently though, have you ever thought of going back?” I asked, watching as the old ghoul continued sipping on his tea. “I’m sure if you went now that the clouds are gone, you’d probably find it’s a whole new wasteland out there.”

“Perhaps in time Ammon and I could take a vacation to the south. Maybe we could even head back to Manehatten, see some of the sights we used enjoy to during the war.” He shrugged before downing the last of his tea. Setting down the cup gently, he canted his head to us. “The thing about the wasteland though, is that over two centuries we’ve learned that it is very unpredictable. Who knows if this new peace will last, because we sure can’t be certain.”

“Gamma, dear, I’m home!” The scratchy voice of yet another ghoul came down the hallway. Instantly, the blush that had been on the old ghouls face returned, and he all but shot onto his hooves.

“Welcome home!” He laughed as he trotted past Hispano and I toward the hallway. “Good news, we have guests again!”

“More?” The new ghoul grumbled in a way that really said he wasn’t a fan of the idea. “I’d thought after what happened to the last ones, we’d agreed we wouldn’t help with…” The rotting and emaciated form of a cream colored Saddle Arabian stepped forward and planted a soft kiss on the muzzle of the orange ghoul. He paused, blinking as he stared at Hispano and I. More than that, his gaze locked onto the metal side of my head, and a look of underlying fear crept into his eyes.

“Ammon, this is…” The orange ghoul gave a light giggle as he stepped back and held his hoof out to us. With a pause that forced him to screw up his muzzle, he looked between us again. “Again, you must forgive me, what were your names?”

“I’m Hispano,” She cooed softly before grasping around my forehoof tighter than I’d expected her to. “And this Dum Dum, is Night Flight.”

“Charming to meet such a nice couple.” Ammon’s muzzle parted into a rotten, but still obviously nervous smile as he reached up and hooked a forehoof around the orange ghoul’s back. “Gamma, may I speak with you outside for a moment?”

“Sure thing, dear.” Gamma offered with a light boop on the Arabian ghoul’s muzzle.

Hispano and I watched with a shared cringe as the two of them trotted off back down the hallway until their hoofsteps drifted out of earshot outside.

“I don’t trust him.” Hispano cooed softly as she relaxed her grip from around my forehoof. “Gadget was right, he’s hiding something.” Almost as if it was an echo, my brain got stuck on what he’d said to us. And like a slap on the muzzle, the realization of it hit me at the same time it hit Hispano.

“He called us a couple.” I spat out. Yes, she’d been holding my forehoof with her talon, but nopony would have jumped to that conclusion so quickly without being able to feel it.

“Do you really think he’s a changeling?” She narrowed her gaze and leaned out towards the hallway. Before she could stick her head out too far, I pulled her back to me.

“I don’t know, but I think I can find out.” Looking down at her, I watched as her eyes softened, and a frown pulled across her beak. “I know that look, Hispano.”

“Yeah, it’s my ‘dum dum has a plan that’ll end in disaster’, look.” She remarked flatly at me. “Just… tell me what you need me to do.”

“When they come back, keep Gamma busy for a bit.” Perking my ears, I could hear the hoofsteps of the two ghouls coming back towards the house. “I’ve got a feeling that he doesn’t know about Ammon, so I’ll see about keeping my questions to him discreet.”

“Just make sure it’s not ‘discreet’ enough he can kill you without me knowing, okay?” She offered softly, leaning forward and planting a quick kiss on my cheek. I tried to keep my own blush from flaring up too brightly as I nodded to her. The both of us had just enough time to straighten ourselves out before they came back around the corner, hoof in hoof.

“Sorry about that, just had to discuss a previously resolved household issue.” Gamma flashed up a literal bright smile. “If you’d like, I can show you two to your rooms? I’m sure with the trip you’ve had, you’re very tired.”

“That’d be great.” Hispano forced out a laugh as she looked up at me. “I think once he show’s me to our room, I’m going to take a short nap. Come wake me when you want to head back into town?”

“Sure thing.” I nodded to her and squeezed at her talon softly.

“Great, well I think I’m actually going to head into town.” Ammon flashed up his nervous smile again, already pointing it toward Gamma, who seemed somewhat surprised at that. “I know winter is coming up quick, so I’m going to take the portable generator in to be serviced one last time before the season grows too cold. I’ll be back shortly, dear.”

“Actually before you go, I’d wondered if I could ask you a few questions.” I made sure to speak faster than Gamma could. “You know, since we’re new in town, I figured I could use a local’s advice on a few things.” My words only widened the nervous smile on Ammon’s slender muzzle, and it pulled a genuine one from the old orange ghoul.

“That’s a great idea!” Gamma’s balefire glow burned even more brightly as he smiled, forcing Hispano to take a wider path around him as she headed towards the hallway that I was pretty sure headed to the bedrooms. “Ammon is a veteran of dealing with the folks in Terrace, so I’m sure he could answer any questions you have!”

“Sure thing, dear.” Ammon spoke through his smile, turning his uneasy gaze back to the augmented side of my head. Nodding back toward the front door, he accepted the fact that this was going to happen, and got himself turned around in the hallway. “We just have to head out to the shed first to get the generator.”

I gave one last glance to Hispano, watching as with a worried look, she offered me a nod of good luck before disappearing down the hallway at the other end of the house. Okay, Night, just keep your cool. Just a potential changeling who may or may not freak out with the fact that he’s been discovered.

The recording from inside Dad’s cloudship played back through my memory, and I had to try my best to force it out.

No, Salt was a good guy stuck in a shitty situation. Maybe that’s all this was as well. So with my head held high, and the hope that my hunch was right, I followed Ammon as he stepped outside and headed for the small red shed that sat next to the side of the house.

With a rough kick, the Saddle Arabian ghoul forced the door open and disappeared inside, letting the creaking spring loaded door slam shut almost right on my muzzle. Geeze, while I knew this was going to have been awkward, this guy sure was making his displeasure known. Reaching my hoof forward, I shoved the door open, and stepped into the admittedly expansive, rusty tool filled shed.

Only to find that Ammon wasn’t standing in front of me anymore…

The sharp bite of a metal chain being wrapped around my neck tightly caught me off guard. It tightened up around my throat, almost crushing it shut completely as I let out a gasp. What the fuck was he doing!?

“You fanatics are all the same.” Ammon’s voice was raspier than usual as he whispered into my ear from behind. “No matter. I’ll just keep killing you until Tephra learns to leave us alone.”

“I’m.. not… here for… you!” I did my best to force out the words with what little air I still had. While it was uncomfortable to be stuck in this situation, if Buck hadn’t made it to where I couldn’t feel pain, I might be too busy panicking right now to try to talk my way out of this. Even if I couldn’t feel it, my body was struggling, and the darkness in the sides of my vision was starting to creep in. “I’ve… been inside… hive… twenty three.”

As soon as I’d gotten that out, the chain around my neck was released, and I fell to the floor. Several hacking coughs worked their way out of my throat as I gasped for air, but… I was alive. Pushing myself over, I found myself staring up at a very large, and very angry looking glowing green changeling. His stark black carapace was cracked and chipped all over, and the same ebbing green that Gamma had pulsed through it. It even pulsed through his completely blue, hatred filled eyes.

“You lie. But I’m giving you one chance to explain yourself.” Ammon growled at me, bearing the large chipped fangs in his rotten muzzle. His horn glowed brighter, wrapping up the rusty chainsaw chain that held pricks of blood along each of its sharp teeth. “Speak, pony. If not for me, then why are you here.”

“My friend and I, we were sent to Gadget by Rofia.” I wheezed out as my lungs and heart were finally satisfied I wasn’t dying anymore. Reaching up however, I found fresh blood around my neck. Guess the blood on that chain was mine… “We’re supposed to convince you to move, that’s all. We’re not here to take you in, let alone to that fucking bastard of a dragon.”

“So, you’re not with Tephra anymore, so what.” He snorted, not dropping his suspicious glare for a single moment. “You come into my home, threaten to expose me to my husband, and then tell me you just want us to leave?”

“Look, it’s the truth. I’ve known other changelings, I have no hatred for your kind.” I pushed myself up onto my hooves slowly, keeping my movements hesitant enough that he didn’t think I was trying anything. “Besides, you’re the one who almost exposed yourself by calling Hispano and I a couple.”

“But you are, I can feel the love you radiate to one another.” He snapped at me.

“Yeah, no shit, but you were the one who said it.” I fired back at him. Okay Night, before this gets too far off track… “Regardless, we don’t want to ruin what you’ve got going on, okay? We’re just here so Gadget and Rofia can help the refugees coming to Terrace. That’s all.”

“You mean so you can help her sell them.” With a green flash of magic, the large changeling disappeared, and the emaciated cream colored Saddle Arabian ghoul stood in front of me again. “We told Gadget after the last ones that we were done. It’s no wonder she wants us to leave Sanctuary. The rest of this dump might be on board with it, but we will have no part of it.”

“Excuse me, sell them?” My brain caught on that. Uh, he couldn’t have meant it in the way that it sounded like. “The slave trade in the north is done for, it has been since the Lightbringer…”

“You think one pony could stop slavery forever?” Ammon let a short lived laugh slip out of his muzzle. “Oh, you poor, naive stallion. You probably think that all it takes is somepony like the Survivor to fix everything, and then all is right in the wasteland. Not even she’s good enough to put a stop to it.”

“Never burn the excess harvest when you can just sow it and reap a larger crop later.” Delilah’s voice filtered back through my memory like a bad dream. “There’ll be more demand again in a few months, there’s always somepony out there buying more slaves than they know what to do with.”

“I am the Survivor.” I grumbled and leveled a sharp glare at him. “And no, maybe I can’t fix everything for everyone. I’ve never been good enough to do that, no matter what you’ve heard about me on the radio.” It was almost worth it to watch a wave of realization wash over him as he finally took the time to look past the augment on the side of my head, and at the whole of me. With a stiff yank, I pulled the door to the shed open, shoving Ammon aside altogether as I stormed out. “But this is one thing I’m sure as hell going to put a stop to. Come on. We’re getting Hispano, and then we’re going to have a small chat with Gadget.”

Spinning on my forehooves, I planted my rear hoof and prosthetic against the double doors to Gadget’s office and kicked as hard as I could. The old lock on them sheared right off, and the two doors swung in and slammed against the bookshelves along the walls. Sure this was about as subtle as a hoof grenade, but I was far past considering shoving one of my own down this fucking filly’s throat.

“What the fuck!” Gadget let out a high pitched scream as the slam from the doors made her jump right out of her chair. She came down on her desk with a snarl, glaring at Hispano and I before a look of pure hatred filled her when Ammon stepped up with us. “What do I even pay you for, Tire Iron!?”

The wheezing and frantic hoofsteps of the guardpony who’d been snoozing at the front door fill the air. The heavy creaks and muttered curses drew closer until he reached the top of the stairs, only to trip and accidentally throw his rusty rifle into the wall. The barrel itself bent against the drywall, and the magazine pin sheared off, dropping the box of heavily corroded ammo to the floor.

“From the condition of his weapon, you don’t seem to pay him at all.” Hispano chuckled before stepping up next to me and leveling Suiza at the tiny filly. “But I can assure you, my sister is in perfect working order.”

“What do you fuckers even want.” While she was speaking to Hispano and I, her hate filled gaze hadn’t even budged from Ammon.

“Tell me, what happened to the refugees that were here before.” I wasn’t going to sit here and mince words or allow her to hide behind self serving justifications. “Did you and Rofia sell them as slaves?”

That finally pulled her attention to me.

“So what if they’ve moved on from Sanctuary.” The tiny pink filly stiffened as the smallest, most sadistic grin I’d ever seen pulled across her rotten muzzle. “They didn’t fit here anyway. Just like the rest of you traitors, you don’t belong down on the ground.”

“So you hate the Enclave, big fucking deal. So do I.” I growled back. “We’re all in the same boat now.”

“Like fuck we are!” She snapped back with a hefty stomp of her hoof. “Your fucking government abandoned us. My father died just trying to bring me to this fucking town. He and the stranger we traveled with didn’t need to suffer for days before the rad sickness took them from me. The blame for their deaths fell on you fucking traitors the day you sealed the skies.”

“Again, congratulations on hating the Enclave.” Hispano backed me up as she hefted Suiza up and aimed it right at the snarling filly. “Now, it was a yes or no question that my boss asked. Did you sell those ponies.”

“What are they talkin’ about, Gadget?” The guardpony finally seemed to give up on salvaging his rifle in favor of joining the conversation. Good, maybe the more ponies that hear her lies, the better.

“Maybe they wouldn’t have stayed anyway. Maybe all I did was help make the choice to leave for them.” Gadget shrugged off Hispano’s threat as her muzzle twisted into a wicked smile. With a perky spin, she again turned her gaze on Ammon. “And really, should I be surprised you’ve turned on me, Ammon? After everything I did to hide you, after setting you up with that trainwreck of a ghoul? This is how you repay me? Well, wouldn’t it be a shame if I told your husband just what you really are?”

“You fucking stay away from him.” Ammon hissed, making his eyes flash blue much in the same way I’d seen Salt’s do time and time again. “Gamma and I didn’t agree to any of this. All he wants to do is help those he can, not exploit them. We never said you could come into our home and sell off those who trusted us to help them.”

“Now hold up just a minute, there’s got to be a good explanation for all this!” Tire Iron interjected angrily. “Now I ain’t saying that Miss Gadget doesn’t have her fair share of issues, but I’ve known her damn well just about since she walked through the front gates. She’s served this community well enough for near two centuries, and that’s a fair shake longer than I’d trust any outsiders to know how things are done here.”

“Then ask her.” I seethed, watching as the smirk on the pink filly’s muzzle shrunk. Now she’ll get to see the downside of fanatical followers.

“Fine, if it’ll clear all this nonsense up...” With an exasperated sigh he spun around to face her. “Miss Gadget, are they right? Are you selling ponies off as slaves?”

The silence that hung in the air as Gadget didn’t say anything did more to erode two hundred years of trust than it had a right too. You could almost see as the foundations of it gave out as Tire Iron realized just what kind of filly it was that stood before him. It would have been a completely perfect moment had she not started to giggle.

“Oh, I see what this is!” She laughed, pointing a hoof to me. “The Federation’s sent you to pin this on me instead of Rofia.” Pulling her hoof back, she tapped at her own eye as she glared at me once more. “Well, if they’re listening in, then I ain’t saying shit. Your little ‘Federation’ has laws that protect citizens like me, and I don’t have to admit anything to you.” With a smirk, she gave a dismissive wave and tipped her muzzle up at us. “So unless you’d like to end up like those other turkeys I ‘helped’, then I’d get going if I were you.” Other turkeys?

My brain only took a moment to remember what I’d seen up on the cloudship before I completely snapped. She’d sold him. She’d sold my dad.

“Oh, don’t worry, Gadget.” A bright smile pulled across my muzzle as I leaned over against Hispano. “I promise you, we’re not with the Federation, so you have no protection.”

Before anypony even knew what was happening, I’d ripped Suiza from Hispano’s talons, aimed it at the small filly, and squeezed my fetlock around the trigger.

Funny. The last few times I’d used her, she’d kicked and wrenched at my grip in every way. But this time, against this little filly, Suiza didn’t fight me at all.

The chattering burst of twenty millimeter fire blinded even my augmented eye. The ringing that filled my ears was joined for only a moment by the high pitched scream of the tiny filly. And while Hispano had been quick to tear her sister out of my grip, I’d managed to expend a dozen rounds out of her.

The desk, windows, and half the back wall were just… gone. Nothing remained of Gadget outside of a putrid black splotch on her desk and a shredded half-foreleg. The cold, early-evening air drifted back through the gaping hole I’d made, taking away the smell of cordite as the sound of the breeze filtered through my ringing ears.

“That’s for selling my dad, bitch.” I growled out as Tire Iron sat down on the floor hard with a whimper.

“W-why?” Tire Iron whimpered out, doing his best to shakily push himself away from me as I turned to him.

“She had two hundred years, and yet she chose to hurt others.” Shaking my head, I didn’t really understand why he couldn’t see that I’d done him a favor. “If she hadn’t learned to be a better pony by now, then I needed to keep her from hurting anyone else.” Turning to Ammon, I found his eyes still locked on the splotch where Gadget had been. “And you. You need to be honest with Gamma. You won’t always be able to hide who you are, and it would be better…”

“Better to tell him than him think me a monster when he inevitably finds out.” Ammon finished for me and closed his eyes. He let out a shivering sigh before nodding. “Yes, I believe you’re right.” He laughed as he opened his eyes again, letting them drift off through the hole in the wall as if he were looking out to find Gamma in the distance. “Funny, I never thought it was possible. While I may not be the stallion he once loved, I... I’ve fallen in love with him all the same.”

“That’s great and all. Really, just fucking great.” Hispano huffed as she held Suiza close to her. “But what the fuck are we going to do now? Rofia’s expecting us to come back with a deal, not ‘hey sorry, we kind of killed the bitch’.” With a sigh, she rubbed her talon down the still lightly smoking barrel of Suiza. “Tell me again why we can’t just go in there guns blazing and kill her too?”

While I’d like to have said I had a plan for that, the fact was, I didn’t. I didn’t plan on killing Gadget, but she’d fucking sold my dad. And it wasn’t just her, this was just as much on Rofia as well.

So maybe she deserves the same fucking treatment.

“You know what, Hispano? Why not?” I shrugged, making her screw up her face as she looked at me like I’d finally lost it. “Hey, I said this was us time, where we could do whatever you wanted.” Holding my hoof out toward the hole in the wall, I watched as her expression brightened more than I’d expected. “I know you’ve been bored, so if you want to try this your way, then by all means…”

“You’re going to kill the mayor of Terrace!?” Tire Iron shouted with a flail of his hooves. “Goddesses, this is too much. I’m getting the Feds!” With a scramble to get his hooves under him, he all but threw himself back out toward the stairs. “Y’all are fucking crazy!”

“You might want to go with him.” I nodded for Ammon to follow. “Tell them everything that’s happened, and everything you know about Gadget selling ponies. Do your best to help make things right around here, okay?”

“I will.” He nodded to me as his eyes flashed blue for a moment again. “And… thank you. You really are everything the stories make you out to be, Survivor.”

“Just doing our job!” Hispano answered for me before grabbing my forehoof tightly and all but dragging me forward toward the hole in the building. “Come on, Dum Dum! Let’s find out just how many of her nine lives Rofia’s still got left!”

Kicking off the edge of the building, I beat my wings hard against the cold air. The softly falling snow whipped around Hispano and I as we pulled ourselves higher and higher. I looked up with just enough time to watch as the sky shifted from an amber color, to the soft blue hue of early night as the falling sun dipped below the mountaintops.

“Buck, I think we’re going to need you up at Rofia’s place as soon as you can get there.” I called out between heaving breaths as Hispano and I climbed further and further. Still, as my quickly beating heart was the only response I got, I wasn’t sure if I’d forgotten to think about turning on the link with him again or not. “Buck, are you there?”

“I think our comms are out!” Hispano shouted as she shifted her flight to line up at my side again. With a quick flick of her claw, she messed about with the comms unit under her flight cap. “Hello hello, are you getting this, Night?”

“No.” I shook my head and cringed as the pit in my stomach reminded me that it was still there and only growing. “Shit. Eliza, are you there?” Again, only the sound of the wind running past us met me.

“I think they’re jamming us!” Hispano growled as she looked about the sky. “Probably have been since you tipped them off that you could transmit the evidence we had on her.” Okay, so maybe that hadn’t been the smartest move, but come on! How was I supposed to know that she could even jam something like my augment!? “This just means we do this the hard way, Dum Dum!”

The both of us maneuvered ourselves to aim right for Rofia’s house in the tower. Even from the air a good distance away, I could see frantic movement from inside. Flashes and sparks lit up the interior, making me squint. Again, the rumble of my augment helping me out came through my skull, and my vision closed in on the windows and whoever was inside.

Through the immaculately clean glass, I could see Rofia swiftly dodging and jumping around her office. Her left paw was lumpy and enlarged for some reason, and it was ever so slightly throwing off her balance as she tried to avoid Happy as his haphazard sword swings sliced through her shiny trophies like they were made of paper.

“Oh fuck, Happy’s already fighting her!” I spoke up as my vision returned to normal.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me!” Hispano growled and beat her wings even harder than before. “That asshole better not steal my kill!”

With hard beats of my own wings, I could feel the fatigue setting in as I pushed myself to keep up with the speedster griffon Hispano could be when she wanted something. Still, we both made good time as we cut through the air. I’d built up a good bit of speed as Rofia’s place approached at an alarming pace, and I was forced to flare out my wings harder than normal.

The talismans on my pack hummed to life as the harness took the brunt of keeping my altitude up, and I tweaked my forelegs to help bank me around to the landing right at Rofia’s front door. The first thing I saw however when I came in for a landing, was the fact that there had been two guards on watch earlier, each of them now bled out from the deep cuts going through their bodies.

Seriously, Happy’s been doing scarily well as of late, and I had to wonder just what changed between the lust filled stallion we’d seen just an hour ago to have gone straight to cutting up Rofia’s guards.

Hispano didn’t even hesitate or slow down as she approached the door to Rofia’s house. She simply shifted Suiza around against her and threw her shoulder forward with a screech. The slam she gave put the one in Gadget’s office to shame, and literally threw the door off of it’s hinges. As she disappeared and shifted herself to fly right up the short set of stairs to Rofia’s office, I touched down at a gallop as I passed through the door frame.

As I pushed to follow her upstairs, there was a sharp, painful scream from Happy. Panic filled my mind, and I threw myself over the last few stairs. Hispano stood at the closed office door, holding Suiza up to it with a single talon while covering her face with the other. She let off a single shot, blowing a gaping hole through the door that evaporated the handle and lock setup altogether.

Kicking open the door, Hispano and I were ready to leap right into the fight.

Instead, we found Happy heaving and bleeding heavily, standing there with the sword in his muzzle impaled right through Rofia’s head. Her body gave out a gurgle as the last traces of life left it, and she slumped down the blade of Happy’s silver sword. He gave a sharp tug, effortlessly dragging the blade through the front of her skull, and dropping her lifeless body to the floor.

“You fuckers took long enough.” Happy growled as he dropped the blade from his muzzle. Turning to his side, a stream of crimson flowed from him to the floor. He looked back across the wrecked and scattered trophies the fight had ruined, staring at a bloody log that sat over towards her desk. It wasn’t until he looked from it down towards the blood streaming from his side did I realize that it wasn’t a log, rather, his entire foreleg had been severed from him. “Bitch took my fucking leg off…”

With a wobble, he tipped over, passed out, and collapsed onto the floor next to Rofia.

He hadn’t even hit the ground before my legs pushed me to run over to him. No no no! Happy can’t… he won’t die. Pushing both my forelegs against his profusely bleeding short stump, I looked back to Hispano.

“He needs fucking help!” I snapped out at her, seemingly pulling her out of her confused daze. “Hispano… I need you to help him. I don’t know what to fucking do here!”

“Keep pressure on it!” The heaving voice of Cora came through the glass windows of Rofia’s house. I looked over just in time to see the flash of his pistol shatter the glass. With heavy beats of his wings, he shot through the now open window and dropped down next to me. “I heard Suiza go off and flew right over. What the fuck were you three thinking, coming in here and killing the mayor! Do you understand what you’ve done?”

“Lecture us later, save Happy’s life now!” I screamed at Cora as my blood soaked hooves did their best to keep as much force on Happy’s limb as I could. Come on, he can’t die now, not until after we’ve got Solomon.

“Quit crying, it’s not helping you keep control of the situation.” Cora snorted as he rummaged through his rucksack. I blinked at him, only realizing that tears had been streaming down my cheeks once he’d said it. Within those few moments, he’d pulled out a couple of odd looking potions, an adjustable ratcheting strap, and… a small propane torch. With a soft squawk, he leaned forward and looked at Happy’s severed leg before looking over at Rofia. “Well, that explains why the cut’s so clean.”

Taking a moment to look over at Rofia’s corpse, I managed to get a look at what was strapped to her paw that made it look so odd. It was a crude metal frame that held what looked like the whole hollowed out severed arm of a Snow Dog bolted to it. The blood dripping from the long, knife like claws, highlighted the artificial edge that had been ground into the bone. As if claws like Buck’s needed to be made more deadly…

“Night, I said you can move your hooves now.” Cora’s voice forced me back into the moment sharply, and I moved back. “It’s a shame, really.” He grunted as he worked quickly to get the strap around what was still left of Happy’s leg. “If we had more time and a unicorn who knew healing magic here, we might’ve been able to reattach it. He’s already lost a lot of blood, so this is the best I can do if we’re to keep him alive.” With a single talon, he popped the cap off one of the odd looking bottles and shoved it into Happy’s muzzle. “Hold his head up, make sure he drinks the whole thing.”

Carefully, I placed my bloody hooves around his face and kept his head upright. I watched as the syrup-like concoction inside the bottle slowly drained down his throat. Only when the sparks came from a small lighter in Cora’s talon did I look away. With a hiss, the small propane torch lit up, and it’s flame adjusted to a light blue color.

“Hispano, Night, I’m going to need you to hold him down.” Cora took a deep breath, looking between the two of us. “He’s going to wake up, and he’s going to fight this. No matter what, keep him pinned until the pain makes him pass out again, understand?”

Hispano and I nodded as she set up on his left side, and I held down his right stump and right rear leg. The two of us watched, wide eyed as Cora lowered the flame down to Happy’s bleeding stump. The sizzle that came from his flesh wasn’t as loud as I’d expected, and the way it blackened didn’t do much to disgust me. But it was when the smell of it hit me did I have to fight heaving and throwing up. Even Hispano was doing her best to fight back the odd green color pushing through her plumage.

It was then we felt it. Happy twitched under us, rousing much faster than either of us had expected. He screamed out, arching his back and all but throwing Hispano and I right off of him. He was much stronger than his personality let on, and while I’d normally be impressed like I’d been on the train and during the fight with the puritans, instead I was horrified. Even with Cora doing his best to practically stand on him, Happy fought him off and got to his hooves.

“Keep him down!” Cora shouted as he tackled the mule back onto the floor.

Happy let out another full bodied scream as he went down, and Hispano and I dove at him again. We struggled to stop him from writhing, watching with the same horrified look that he himself wore as Cora again put the torch against his stump. Again, he arched his back and cried out. This time however, it was short lived, as his breath left him and he slowly slumped down against the floor, unmoving.

“Alright, he’s passed out again.” Cora huffed as he looked back over to the supplies he’d set out. Quickly, he snatched up another bottle. Again, he popped the top, but didn’t even try to give it to Hispano or I. Instead, he flipped it and poured it over the still sizzling wound. It gave a crackle and burst into flame as it dribbled down onto his body.

An even worse stench filled the air, and this time both Hispano and I couldn’t fight it. The both of us twisted away from Happy and threw up all over the floor. Even through the pain inhibitor, my body did it’s best to tell me how little it cared for what was happening. Still, I was thankful I couldn’t feel it as I gave out a few dry heaves and struggled to keep myself on my hooves.

“Alright, that’s all I can do.” Cora huffed as he flicked the valve on the propane torch shut, and tightened down the ratcheting strap around Happy’s stump. “Maybe Buck can help him with the supplies on the Arcturus, I don’t know, but… he’ll live.” With that, we all sat back on the floor and just stared at him.

“He’ll live.” I repeated, nodding as I tried to thank Celestia for this one mercy. While today had been one twist and turn after another, this… this was the only thing that mattered coming up in our favor. Happy was alive, and for that, I was grateful.

“Hey what the fuck is going on here!” The angry voice of one of the Terrace guardponies came from the doorway, and we all looked over to find his horrified expression as he took in the gruesome scene. “You’re… you’re all under arrest!” His short unicorn horn flashed as he brought up a pistol, but flickered out and dropped it to the floor with a clonk.

There was a sickening snap as the pony’s skull split in half, pushed apart by the bladed scorpion tail present on Enclave power armor. The glowing eyes and masked muzzle of the pony inside said armor told me that while it had been a hell of a day so far, it wasn’t over yet. The capacitors on her orange tipped novasurge rifles whined as they charged up, and a half insane cackle came out through the suit’s speakers.

“Alright, Survivor.” She hissed as she stepped through the doorway. “Your friends stay where they are, or they’re toast. It’s going to be just you and me. Let’s see what you’re really made of.”

Author's Note

Alrighty, you know the drill by now!

A huge thanks to TheFurryRailFan for doing cleanup in the background for me. I cannot stress enough how helpful he's been over the years, and without him, my work wouldn't shine like it does. Well, except for all the plot holes I leave in sometimes...

And of course, a big thank you to Kkat for creating Fallout: Equestria in the first place. Without FoE, the last six years would have been a lot different, and not in a good way for me. Seriously, I know it's cheesy to say, but I am thankful for even giving the story a shot.

Chapter 96 - Wish You Were Here

Anypony can win, unless there happens to be a second entry.

“Oh, it is you, lads!” Mad Jack laughed as he walked right up and squeezed around me tightly. I groaned as my vision fuzzed. Geeze, how was he still so strong for a two century old walking corpse!? “It’s good to see ya’ made it down here…” He paused as he thankfully released me and gestured to my new stump and augmented headpiece. “...in more or less one piece, anyhow!”

“It’s at least nice to see a friendly face.” Buck offered as he carefully wrapped his paws around me and pulled me away from the old ghoul. That made Jack cock his eyebrow up at him for a moment, but he simply shrugged it off. “Seems like there’s less and less of those these days, but yes, we made it.”

“Well, you’re among friends here!” Jack let out another roaring laugh before spinning around in the snow towards the roundhouse. “Now that you’re here, why don’t we get you warmed back up while we wait for your other convoy friends t’ get here.” He eagerly waved for us to follow him, but hesitated to walk when none of us moved.

Right, he… didn’t know.

“We’re… all that’s left, Jack.” I tried my best to push aside the feelings welling up again. You think it would have gotten easier by now, but… something about Jack not knowing made it harder to deal with.

“So, Howitzer and Leaf Spring?” He asked as his glance moved from one of us to the next before stopping on Happy. “Even your mother?” He paused, waiting for us to tell him the words he didn't want to hear. And to be honest, I wasn't alone. No one else really felt like saying them either. So instead we just let the silence do the talking for us. "I'm sorry to hear that. They were good folk."

“Sorry we didn’t come with better news.” I sighed as it felt like the air around here fell to ten below. Even through the numbness I felt, I shivered at that, and it seemed to kick Jack back into the here and now.

“Bad news is still no excuse to let you all bloody freeze out here.” He wore a kind smile as he gave an admittedly less enthusiastic wave before trotting ahead of us. “Now come on and I’ll show you a wee bit of Maple Station hospitality, and if they’re around, introduce you to some of my compatriots who have been eager to meet the survivor herself, the great Bombay!”

I’m sure it wasn’t just me, but hearing that name again, I felt terrible. It felt like a lifetime ago when ponies last thought of me as Bombay. A lifetime of good friends and family cut all too short. Even now, we’d just outrun the reputation of ‘the Survivor’, and part of me had been happy at that fact. I may not have started this journey knowing very much, but the Night Flight of today was a lot different than Bombay or the Survivor.

“You sure about that?” Jynx let a mirthful laugh send a shiver down my spine. “Change your name, say you’re different as many times as you want, I’ll still be right here with you as I always have been.”

Yeah, well you still aren’t going to ruin shit for me. I looked around for her just to give her a glare to drive my point home. But as I did, my hoof slipped out from under me and I fell face first into the snow. There was a sharp pain in my jaw as it struck something hard.

“You sure about that?” Jynx appeared among the stars dancing through my vision. I gave a grumbled and pulled myself up off of the ground, and moved my face away from the old, lightly rusted railway rail that had been buried under the snow. “We’re going to have a lot of fun soon, Night. I can just feel it.”

Sitting in one of the booths in the roundhouse, I kept myself pressed up against Buck’s side. The interior of the old structure was much, much warmer than outside, but that wasn’t enough for me. Hispano fought not to slip off the end of the old cushion as he did his best to cram himself against the other side of me. It was obvious now that these benches hadn’t been made for snow dogs or griffons, but to be fair, I was just glad to have them here with me.

The rest of the roundhouse was emptier than I’d expected for as much seating as it had. Other than the two griffons we saw earlier, and an older looking zebra in black combat barding sleeping at the bar, we were the only non ghouls here. Even then, there was just the barkeep, a single waitress that was collecting dirty dishes from behind the bar, and Jack. There was some noise beyond the curtains of the performance stage they had built in here, but nopony had even poked their head out or anything.

The soft, rhythmic hissing from some unseen machinery caught my ears. I wasn’t the only one, as I found Buck’s triangular metal dishes tweaking and almost scanning for the source of it. There was a sharpening rattle that came from some of the piping that ran around and throughout the roundhouse. It culminated in a hiss that jetted soft clouds of steam down throughout the place.

Huh, steam heating, in a place this big? Then again, it’s not like with all the snow around they’d be wanting for water. I smirked at that, but gave myself pause as I thought about who would have really appreciated this place. Boiler and Hardcase would have probably gone on for days about the setup had they made it here.

“So, what brings you to Maple Station?” Jack asked as he set down a few empty glasses on the table before slipping into the seat next to Happy. With a heavy clunk, he set down a mostly full bottle of Wild Pegasus on the table that immediately drew the interest of our assuredly parched mule. “Or are ya just stopping in to give an old friend a hello before you’re back on the road?”

“We’re looking for a friend, Unit...” I bit my tongue as my brain was quick to remind me that looking for Unit Seven was a topic we probably shouldn’t be too liberal about. Ping and the Architect trusted us to keep the factory safe, and that meant not telling everyone about them. “Er, a few reasons, really. But mostly information.”

“A friend, you say?” Jack smiled as he grabbed the bottle of whiskey and quickly filled each of the glasses he’d brought with just a bit of the amber colored alcohol. “Well, we’re a small community where everypony knows everypony.” He set down the bottle and wrapped his hoof around one of the glasses with a smile. With a single, swift motion, he shot the brown liquid down his throat. “Got a name?” He groaned and winced as he set the glass down again.

“Not exactly…” Hispano answered before I could. “We don’t know what she calls herself these days.”

“Aye, a mare then.” Jack nodded as he almost mindlessly reached out for the bottle and filled his glass again. “That at least narrows it down.” With his refilled glass in hoof, he stared at it and gave it a swirl before cocking his rotten eyebrow at us. “What’s she look like?”

“We aren’t sure about that either.” Buck answered as he pulled his mechanical paws up and tented them on the table. Jack took a moment to stare curiously at them before he brought the glass up to his lips and shot back the liquid again.

“Aye, you uh… aren’t really giving me much to work with, in all honesty.” Jack spoke through a rough, scratch filled cough as he put his glass back down.

“Yeah, sorry about that…” I wasn’t exactly sure what else we could say! ‘Sorry, she’s an advanced machine built for infiltration that can change its appearance at will and was last heard sending out some sort of distress signal’ wasn’t exactly going to cut it here. Then again… “Well, we do know that she’s come in and out of Maple Station a few times recently at regular intervals.”

“Hmmm, sounds more like that Ex-Enclave merc than anyone here, Sergeant Blue Bolt.” He brought his hoof up to his chin and rubbed at it, pulling at his rotting skin in ways that made my stomach want to do a flip. After a moment of thought, he gave a small nod to us. “Aye, she’s a sharp mare, that one. Prickly to most, downright spiteful to non-pegasi. Even Caution Tape can’t stand the mare, and he’s the friendliest and most cheerful of all of us. But... that’s mostly due to her reputation from right before the clouds lifted.”

“Reputation?” I asked as I blinked a bit.

“Aye, during that ‘Operation Cauterize’ or whatever your ilk called it.” Jack snorted as he once more poured himself a drink. “There was a lot of nasty brought to us wastelanders by your kind, but she was one of the worst.” He poured himself a double as his muzzle turned to a rotten frown. “We believe in second chances here in Maple Station, but she was almost the exception.” He growled as his hoof tightened around the glass and he shook his head.

“I’d heard about her a few days ago, the butcher of Merritt.” Hispano muttered softly as he pulled off of me slightly. “When we were there, a few traders in West City recounted being through there right after the operation, saw the trail of bodies she left.” He shook his head and reached out with a talon. Gripping around the glass, Hispano stared at it as if he was unsure if he wanted it. “From what they said, she wasn’t even supposed to be deployed there. She was supposed to stay with her squad for the attack on Hope, but she went rogue and skipped to the next town over alone and damn near cleared it out on her own.”

“So why let the bitch in?” Happy once again spoke up as a surprising voice of reason here. “Second chances be damned, this mare sounds like a fucking psychopath.”

“Because we’re a small, secluded community.” Jack nodded before finally downing his third drink. “Sure, us tankers can handle most problems, but we’re not good with solving smaller problems. High explosives and machine guns are great, but they tend to cause a lot of collateral damage, you see.” He reached out for the bottle again, but stopped himself as he looked between us. “So long as she limits her business to just that, business, then we risk less by letting her come and go.”

“And what happens when she makes herself a problem?” The zebra at the bar called out as he stirred and pushed himself around to face us. The guy had to be the oldest zebra I’d met outside of Spring Leaf. Heavy bags sat under eyes that were just as grey as his striped mane had become. “I’ve seen types like her before. Unstable, unpredictable, and given a bad enough day?” The light combat gear he wore looked like it was holding on by a few frayed threads, but the Pentex patch across his chest plate was clear enough to pull a snarl from all four of us. “Boom. They get right back to killing anything in sight.”

“Why don’t you get up real slow now, Pentex.” Hispano cooed as he hopped out of the booth and pulled Baby from it’s holster.

“Woah there.” Jack scrambled from his seat and practically threw himself between Baby’s barrel and the Pentex asshole. Looking at me, he jabbed his rotten forehoof my way. “We don’t have a whole ton of rules here, but I shouldn’t have to tell you to not start a fight.”

“Those assholes have tried ta’ kill us more times than I’ve got hooves left to count on!” Happy snapped as he pushed his way from the booth as well. With a growl, he bit around the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it.

“Wait, before you get to comfortable with your bits.” The Zebra laughed and put his hooves up. “I don’t know who any of you are, nor do I care.” He wore a smile as he carefully reached down and unhooked the straps holding his armor on. “I was here for a job, but that’s over. Now I’m simply looking to wet my lips before getting back out there.” With a clatter, his gear slumped to the floor, leaving his welt covered and bandaged body exposed. The only piece of gear he didn’t remove, was an old and battered looking pipbuck still strapped to his forehoof. “See, we’re all friends here.”

“A likely story.” Hispano grunted as he lowered the barrel of Baby away from him, but didn’t put it back in its holster. “Understand this, I’m watching you, buster.”

“Duly noted.” He smirked and started to turn himself back toward the bar. He paused for a moment before his smile widened to a beam. “And the name’s not buster, it’s Okona. Freelance problem solver, challenge seeker, and friend for hire, at your service.”

“Night, I don’t like this any more than you do…” Buck’s voice came through as he reached his arm around to hold me closer. “But maybe it would be best if we didn’t provoke him.”

“And let him kill one of us when we don’t expect it?” I glanced up at Buck, watching as my words brought a frown to his muzzle.

“Well,” Buck sighed through his augment before his gaze lifted and turned to the Zebra. “What if we made it worth his while to leave us alone?”

“How?” I fired back with a glare. “This smells like Solomon’s work, and he’s probably offered him a billion caps or something just as ridiculous. How are we supposed to compete with that?”

“Can you two quit mind-making-out for two seconds?” Happy muttered from around the hilt of his sword. “What are we gonna do, Night? Sit, or fight?”

“If I might suggest,” Mad Jack’s muzzle split into a smile as he reached back and pulled his plaid instrument off his back. “Perhaps a song to smooth the tension in the room? I know just the derge!”

“You’re a dear, Jack, really...” The soft and somewhat sultry voice of a mare ripped everyone’s attention to the stage. Standing there was a mare who almost looked to good to be a ghoul. Her perfectly preserved brunette mane shimmered under the stage’s lighting, while the pristine spring green colored gown she wore sparkled a ruby red color from the interwoven sequins. “But I think they might just need some reassurance.” Her voice was too smooth, too familiar to me, but… I’m sure I’d never seen this mare in my life. “It’s simply been a pleasure, Mr. Okona, and I cannot thank you enough for helping to find a spare talisman as they are so rare these days.” Her hoof came up and brushed aside her neckline just enough that I could see a gem studded necklace underneath.

“You take care of that now.” Okona chuckled as he pushed himself away from the bar and slowly gathered his gear from the floor. “Like you said, there aren’t many like that left out there. But hey, if you have a need for a new one in the future?” With his gear wrapped around his hoof, he gave her a respectful bow. “Well then, as you always say, we’ll meet again.”

“Some sunny day!” The mare half sang out through a lovely laugh that made my mind do a backflip. She gave a light wave as Okona turned and headed for the door. The moment he was through, both Hispano and Happy breathed a sigh of relief, and even more importantly, Jack put his bagpipes back where they belonged.

Somewhere deep inside however, I knew those words from somewhere. A song I’d heard far too many times, playing over and over again through the years. It was one of the few I liked that would come on the Enclave sanctioned radio, and one that mom didn’t like because it was too somber sounding for it’s message.

Blinking at the ghoul, I started to wonder if I wasn’t actually staring at the mare who two hundred years ago sang the song ‘We’ll Meet Again’.

“Trust me, Night.” My own hoof came down on my shoulder from where Hispano had been sitting. Turning, I looked straight into the doubtfilled look of my own face. “You don’t have that kind of luck.”

“Jack…” Happy lowered his voice as he blinked a few times. With a quick snap of his wooden hoof, he’d wrapped it around the rotten stallion’s back and pulled himself closer to him. “Jack, Jack, Jack.” With his other hoof, he prodded the stallion who was looking more and more confused by the moment. “You never mentioned when we came through before that Vera was here.”

“Because she wasn’t here last time, lad.” Jack’s muzzle pulled into a smirk as he returned the favor and prodded Happy hard in his leather jacket. “She, Rangefinder, and Sensha had booked a ride up on an ENR train to Pink Mountain. A sort of gal’s only spa trip, you see.” He gave a nod over his shoulder toward the stage. “But if you’re a fan, I could introduce you, perhaps…”

“A fan?” Happy nodded slowly. With the same speed that always surprised me, he shifted his hooves and forced Jack to stare him right in the eyes. “You don’t understand. She’s the only one I know who’s collaborated with the King and is still alive, ya’ dig? She’s practically royalty.”

“Calm yourself!” Jack let out a roaring laugh. With a single firm tap of his hoof across Happy’s back, Jack slapped the breath right out of his lungs. “Of course I’ll introduce you if it means that much!” With an equally firm swing, he wrapped his hoof around Happy’s back and dragged him off, leaving Buck, Hispano, and I to simply watch.

“So, uh…” Hispano spoke up before the silence between us could sink in. “What now?”

“I guess we look for any information on either Unit Seven, or if anyone’s seen any Alicorns.” I shrugged to her and then looked up at Buck.

“If Unit Seven were here, or even nearby,” Buck sighed as he reached his paw up and ran it across his metal yoke. “then I would have picked up the signal again.”

“Then let’s take a look and ask around.” I know it was pretty much a shot in the dark that anypony would know about King, but I had to try. “Someone’s gotta know something, anything.” King trusted me to help him, and so far he’d been making progress. I didn’t owe him anything, but… I couldn’t just let him go like that.

“Oh, shit! I uh… I mean.” Hispano said abruptly as he stood up with a blush. “I think you two should look into seeing what the other ghouls have to say. I uh, need to check something first, and then I’ll check if some of the shop owners know anything.”

“Hispano?” Buck’s stern voice framed exactly the tone I was about to use with her myself. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing!” He smiled as his blush brightened across his beak. Fucking hell, why did male Hispano have to be so damn handsome when embarased? “Trust me, I need to see a… friend from when Dad and I flew up this way the first time. It won’t take long.”

“And you won’t get into trouble with this ‘friend’?” Buck growled as he crossed his mechanical arms across his cloak.

“No, I promise.” Hispano nodded to the both of us before hsi nervous gaze landed on me. With a sharp thrust forward, he plunged his beak against my muzzle and gave me a quick kiss before flaring out his massive wings and taking off toward the door.

Both Buck and I were left in a somewhat stunned silence as in a minute flat, we went from a full room, to a mostly empty one. The only others left here were the two freelance griffons, and they took turns shooting Buck and I annoyed glares from across the roundhouse. Okay, maybe that’s our cue to get going as well…

“Come on, Buck.” I sighed as I pressed myself against his warm side. “Let’s head to the railshed and start asking some questions.”

The sounds of industrious work came through the large doors to the railshed as we approached it. Ponies working on metal, grinding and welding things was somewhat a comfort to hear over the crunching of snow underhoof and the awkward silence we’d had in the roundhouse. It wasn’t until I’d had my hoof on the cracked door however that I hesitated. This place had seemed tame enough, but the thought that Solomon could have left us a nasty surprise somewhere here became all too present.

Which is of course when somepony inside decided that it was time to open the door right onto my face.

“Ach, my apologies!” The gasp of an oddly accented pony filtered through my ears as I stumbled back onto my flank. While the accent sounded a lot like Jack’s other friend we’d met up in Mare’s Lake, this wasn’t the same voice. Stars once more swirled around my vision as Buck’s paw moved to help pull me back up as the pony came out. “I did not see you there!”

Surprisingly, the black and white striped muzzle of a zebra poked their head around the doorway. The gashes, scrapes, and worn out skin told me that like Jack, he also happened to be a ghoul. From the way his muzzle beamed a smile at me, he seemed fairly friendly to boot! But still, it sat oddly with me… a zebra with that accent? How does that even happen?

“Scheiße!” The zebra’s smile died as he took one look up at Buck and nearly ducked back behind the door. However, even as his hoof tightly gripped around the old shed door, he slowed himself. “Wait… a friendly hollenhund? But… how can this be?”

“My name is Buck, and yes, I’m friendly.” Buck spoke softly, arching himself slightly to hide further under his robes as he pulled his paw off of me. “Also, I’m not a hellhound, I’m a Snow Dog.”

“It speaks equestrian so fluidly…” The zebra nearly gasped, narrowing his eyes as he pulled himself out from behind the door slightly.

“He also happens to be an accomplished doctor, just so you know.” I did my best to get my hooves under me again, all the while letting my light shivers help to shake off the fresh powder from my coat. “My name is Night Flight, and we were wondering if you could answer some questions about a few missing friends of ours.”

“Night Flight?” The zebra gasped as he stepped out and all but grabbed my forehoof right up out of the snow. “Ja! Jack and Rheinmetall have mentioned you from their trips! My name is Caution Tape, one of the tankers here. Now, come in, get out of ze cold!” It was already taking almost all the strength my haunches had to not dump me into the snow when he started shaking my hoof. So of course when he let go to head inside, I flopped right down into the frigid stuff. “A friend of Jack’s is a friend to Maple Station! Even if she is a bit... shorter than ze tales paint her to be.”

Hey, I wasn’t that small!

I did my best to grumble as being dumped into the snow sent my shivering into overdrive. While my augment could numb the discomfort of it, the uncontrollable shivering was still not pleasant to deal with. However like most times, Buck’s paws easily scooped me up and helped to carry me around the door and inside the railshed.

The high windows of the shed let a good amount of light filter down into the fairly spacious interior of the old world train workshop. Even with the windows however, this place needed the help of several long rows of industrial spark-powered lighting hung from the rafters. The old lights gave off the normal characteristic hum that was almost lost behind the noise of the work going on, but they efficiently coated the chipped, scratched, and well worn concrete floor with light.

A dozen or so ponies and ghouls worked at patching up holes, or painting over some of the recently cleaned sections of the shed. Even above the door, a pair of ponies were on a hanging scaffolding and working on the currently inactive heating unit. One of the ponies set their toolbox down and peered down at us, giving a smile and wave at me that died the moment they got a look at the robes that hid Buck.

Lined up along one side of the garage, were five incredibly different tanks. Included among them was Jack’s squat and boxy heavy tank, as well as Rheinmetall’s familiar gunmetal grey beast at the far end of the shed. If not for having seen what Cordite had back at their headquarters, the sight might have been more surprising. Still, knowing what just one well trained Cordite crew could do, having almost a half dozen tanks up here meant that Jack was right. Maple Station was well defended against anything that could ever hope to force its way through these mountains.

“Sorry about ze mess.” Caution Tape called back as he trotted over to one of the larger looking tanks of the bunch. “Every decade or so, we take ze time to do some intensive maintenance. Keeps zis place from falling apart on us!”

I actually had to do a double take at the tank when I looked at it to make sure it really did have multiple turrets sitting near the larger main one. Two of the smaller turrets seemed to have a gun of about fifty caliber or so, while the two medium turrets looked to be about the same gun size as Cordite’s mass produced series. Hispano probably would have been able to confirm that, but what I could see plain as day written across the side of the track guards was Deathtrap, which probably told me everything I needed to know. Last time I was in a tank, it certainly felt like one, and the Chieftain had a lot more armor than this thing seemed to...

Still, Caution Tape hopped up onto it without any hesitation and climbed his way up to the main turret. With a squeal, he opened the top hatch. A green blur shot out into the air, disappearing up into the rafters behind the overhead lights.

“Peridot, you get down here zis instant!” He grumbled as he turned his head to the rafters and put his hooves on his hips. “I know ze big one seems scary, but he vill not harm you, I promise.” Caution Tape flashed us a smile as he glanced back. “Don’t take zis personally, she can be shy around strangers.”

“What is she, if I may ask?” Buck reached his mechanical paws up to his hood, pulling it back slightly so he could aim his augmented eye up to the same dark spot I was. “She’s obviously an avian of some kind, but I’m more curious how she could be giving off so much magical radiation…”

“She is a Balefire Phoenix.” Caution Tape sighed as he pulled himself over the lip of the turret and lowered his head in while still shouting back to us. “Quite a rare specimen in ze wastes these days, und good company on long journeys to boot!”

A what phoenix? I mean, I’d read about phoenix… phoenixi? Dammit, what’s the multiple for them? Whatever. I mean hell, I'd seen one fly with me way back up near Destruction Bay! But this, this is... different. Guess this little gal's ancestors weren't lucky enough to be spared by most of the bombs radiation...

“Fascinating.” The way Buck’s staticky voice emphasized that, I was reminded of how he’d been before…. well, before everything became much more complicated in our lives. “On the Inuvik, there were stories from traders that told of green streaks of light cresting the skies at sundown. They’d thought it was nature’s way of reminding us of what we’d done to ourselves at the end, but… I’d never imagined those streaks would be something so beautiful.” Now that was more a tone he used exclusively with me...

“Night Flight, that’s so unlike you.” My own voice came from up on top of Caution Tape’s tank. She’d saddled herself on the short howitzer the tank held as it’s main cannon, pretending to ride it as she beamed a smile to me. “Green is so not your color. It’s more black and blue.”

What, green? Did… did she think I was jealous? Of a bird?

Just as I thought that, her beaming smile widened even further. To the point in fact that it looked like it would have been painful on any real pony. What was she up to?

Something hit me on the head, hard. I stumbled forward as both I and whatever hit me clattered to the floor. My augmented vision fuzzed for a moment as stars again danced through the air around me. A gasp came from the worker on the scaffolding above me, almost lost behind the outrageous laughter my jynx gave off.

“Oh, Night!” Buck gasped as he helped me up off the floor. “Are you alright?”

“Really guys?” The scratchy voice of a mare called out as I shook the stars out of my vision. “Twice in one week?” Another set of rotting striped legs came into view from around the front of Caution Tape’s tank as a zebra mare shot the workers a glare. Well, not exactly a zebra it seemed. “Do I have to get Oil Slick to wonderglue your tools to you to stop you from dropping them on any more of our guests’ heads?”

The rotting mare before me was… different than any other zebra I’d met. She had brown as her base color, and stripes that were an almost navy blue. Her mane was striped too, but alternated between the same navy as on her body, and a much brighter blue color. And now that I look at her, compared to Gearbox, Lucky, and even Caution Tape here, her zebra features were a lot less… pronounced.

“It’s fine, happens all the time.” I groaned as Buck helped me get back onto my hooves once more. Though, it wasn’t for long as again reflexively, I almost reached out to offer a hoof to her. “And… what are you?” I took a deep breath as I focused on keeping myself steady. “I mean, who are you?” Come on, Night, don’t fall on your face socially again either…

“Sensha, owner and operator of the only amphibious tank this far north!” She proudly brought her hoof up into a lazy salute before glancing over at Buck. Like with Caution Tape, she seemed to shrink back a bit at the sight of him, but didn’t completely freak out. “And uh… I’m a zony. You know, half zebra, half pony.”

Right, totally forgot about that being a thing. Which, honestly I really shouldn’t have, seeing as how many hybrids I’ve run across on this trip so far. Hippogriphs, Mules, Mirage Ponies, and now Zonies, I think the thing I should be asking is how many others haven’t I met…

“Is your friend okay?” Sensha whispered up to Buck with a nervous smile. “She doesn’t have brain damage, does she?”

“No.” Buck offered with a light chuckle. “Night, you aren’t getting lost in your thoughts again, are you?”

“Sorry, I was, actually.” I shook off the perplexing thoughts of odd interspecies mating pairs and tried to refocus myself on the here and now. “It’s nice to meet you, but we were wondering if either of you could help us out.” I glanced over to Caution Tape again as he climbed down from his mountainous tank. “We’re looking for a couple of friends. One comes here periodically, every few days or so.”

“Sounds like zat Enclave...” Caution Tape bit his tongue and took a deep breath. With a forceful chuff of his hoof, he kicked the steel tool that had hit me across the floor. “Nur eine Stunde mit der Todesfalle, alles, was ich verlange, ist genug Zeit, um sie mit jedem Schmerz vertraut zu machen, den ich zufügen kann…”

“Caution Tape!” Sensha gave out a gasp as she nearly rounded herself right into his face. “What has gotten into you?”

“I… don’t like her.” Caution grumbled before glancing back to us. “Und she’s the only regular stranger around here I know of.”

“We’re fairly certain it isn’t her.” Buck put his mechanical paws out carefully, trying to reassure them. However, from the somewhat uncomfortable reaction it pulled from the two, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t working. “The other friend is an Alicorn who was taken from our ship by three other alicorns.”

“Well, we don’t really get many Alicorns out here.” Sensha turned herself back to us and sat down. She rubbed at her chin with her hoof, squishing her old skin and causing it to stretch in unnatural ways. “Though, a few traders headed north have mentioned seeing a few flights of them heading east, so you might try out by the old abandoned amusement park. The place is falling apart, so most avoid it. But... that’d make it a good place to hide if you’re foal napping somepony. Past that, I’m sorry, we haven’t really seen anyone around here like that.”

That was at least a start.

“Und I apologize for my reaction.” Caution Tape put his hoof on his chest and looked like he’d started to relax again. “It is only because I have been to Merritt many times, und what she did was…”

“We’ve heard.” I nodded to him, finding a certain understanding coming through his expression. “We’ve seen our fair share of monsters in the north, so we can relate.”

“Maybe we can convince her to leave Maple Station and seek work elsewhere.” Buck’s tone shifted to a more hope filled one, even if the static that underlined his voice diminished it somewhat.

“You’d be doing us a favor.” Sensha let a forced laugh slip through her rotten muzzle before she reached out and gave me a pat on the shoulder. “But don’t push too hard. You two look like you can handle a fight, but I’m not sure you want one with her.”

“Trust me, we’re not looking for a fight.” I did my best to offer her a forced smile.

“When aren’t you, though?” Jynx asked sharply as her confused expression peeked out impossibly from behind Sensha herself.

“No, we’re not.” I snapped at her, watching her smile as Sensha pulled away and scrunched her muzzle up. “Sorry, just… lost in my own thoughts again! I promise I’m not crazy, so there’s nothing to worry about!” I did my best to throw her a laugh as I reached up to tap my metal head, only to find myself flop onto the floor again.

Ugh, this whole only one forehoof thing was getting old…

“Well, we’re happy to have met the both of you.” Buck offered as he again used his paws to help me up off the floor. “But we really should be checking in with our other friends to see if they’ve got any leads.”

“Sure thing.” Caution Tape offered a beaming smile to us again, as well as a light wave. “I hope we’ll get to see you again before you leave. Jack und Rhinemetall have spoken highly of you and your friends, so it’d be a shame if we did not at least get some time to chat!”

“These two are the ones they mentioned?” Sensha’s voice didn’t seem to exactly convey comfort in having us around anymore. At least, not anywhere as much as it just had, but she did her best to quickly hide that under an even more nervous smile and wave to us. “I mean, of course, looking forward to your stay… haha, yeah.”

Before I could blurt out my question about what the others had told them, Buck’s arms had scooped me up and brought me against himself again. Without another word, he turned us for the door and headed out. Looking up at him, he shared only a momentary glance down at me from under his hood. One that came with a deep, metal muzzled frown.

“We should stick to looking for Unit Seven and King.” Buck’s voice came through as worried and crystal clear as ever. “The inhabitants here seem nice, and I don’t want to put them at risk any longer than we have to.”

I didn’t want to agree that just being around us was dangerous. Though, in all fairness, situations had a way of developing and then quickly exploding when we were within proximity to any sort of innocent folk. Our best bet would be to ask around some more and then head out east towards the theme park they’d mentioned. In, out, and focused on our task.

“I agree.” I nodded as I thought back to Buck as we stepped back out into the daylight. While it wasn’t much, the limited warmth of the sun was at least something nice to feel across my numb coat. “Limiting our time here is probably smart anyway. The longer we wait to find King, the further away they might have taken him.”

“What I don’t know about is how we can’t find anyone who has any clue about where Unit Seven is.” Buck gave a sharp snort as he crunched his way through the snow. “We know that this Enclave mare isn’t her, yet, she’s the only one moving in and out of range.”

“Do we know, though?” I asked reflexively through my mind. It seemed to catch Buck off guard, as he almost missed a step in his stride. His concerned eyes glanced down at me as his frown only deepened. “I don’t want to say it, but… what if Unit Seven is this Blue Bolt?” I didn’t ever want to see anyone else in my life like Red, and just the thought of another machine like him sent a shiver through my spine. “Then we have to kill her.”

“Agreed.” Buck sent back with a whimper and a nod. He didn’t want to do it any more than I did. But if she was going to be another Red, well, then it had to be done.

As we approached the Remora, we noticed that Happy was already inside. He gave us an eager wave over before wrapping his hooves around himself. At first I’d thought something was wrong, but as we approached, I could see how much he was shivering.

“Can we fucking go now?” He whined, practically diving against Buck as he stepped onto the Remora. Hey, get your own furry pile of warmth! “This place is neat, but it’s too fucking cold out here.”

“If you took the time to look around past ogling that ghoul mare, you’d have realized you just need to adapt a bit.” Hispano called out as he gave out a heavy beat of his wings. Coming down on the other side of the Remora, he flashed up a smile as he presented a pair of old olive colored winter jackets in his talons. “The tailor here does good work, so I managed to get you two something for the time being.”

Oh, Hispano, I don’t deserve you!

Buck set me down and grabbed one of the jackets. He studied it for a moment before helping me worm my way into it. About halfway through, I realized that like most things now, it probably would have been a pain to do solo with my missing foreleg. Still, that care went right out into the snow as soon as the heavy fabric hugged around my battle saddle and skin.

“Now be careful with these.” Hispano grumbled as she reached over and made sure that my jacket wasn’t hanging over the barrel of my subgun. “They’re not yours, they’re rentals, so I don’t want you destroying-”

The sharp, rending tear of fabric split the air. All of us froze as our eyes turned to Happy. He stood there with a horrified look on his face and the sleeve of his new jacket shredded in the claws of his hellhound arm. Happy’s eyes darted from the three of us, over to the ribboned fabric, and then back to us again.

“That… was my bad.” Happy’s muzzle twisted into a forced grin that pulled an almost Buck-like growl out of Hispano’s beak.

“You know what?” Buck said as he held his paw out to us, “With the trouble we seem to run into, maybe we should leave them in the Remora when we go. I’m sure I can help keep everyone warm if it comes to it.”

“That sounds like a good idea. Besides, we’ve handled cold like this before. We’ll live.” I offered to him, stepping up and folding my wing around Hisapno’s back. “Did this ‘tailor’ have any info on either Unit Seven or King?”

“No.” Hispano sighed as he allowed my wing to pull himself closer to me. “The only outsider who keeps coming back regularly is that Enclave chick.” With a nervous furrow of his brow, he looked over at me. “And… as much as it’d suck, I think she might be Unit Seven.”

“We’ve come to the same conclusion.” Buck nodded as the Remora’s hydraulics whined and shut the doors around us. “However, we may have a lead on King. There is an old theme park not too far east from here. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about it from the first time you flew up this way?”

“No, we tried to stick with the same route Delilah’s convoy took.” He shook his head. The Remora’s engines spooled up, and all four of us shifted slightly as we took to the skies once more. “Look, Night, I’m willing to look for King, but…”

“We’re getting King back.” I cut in with a sharper than needed glance over my muzzle.

“I know, I know…” Hispano paused as he looked up at Buck for some support. “It’s just, if there’s more than just a few Alicorns there, I’m not sure we can take them.”

“She’s right ya know.” Happy surprisingly blurted out with my trademark bluntness to his words. “One Alicorn is enough of a problem, but if it’s three again like on the ship? Hell, I’m not sure we’ll do anything more than annoy them!”

“Look, we’ll figure it out!” I snapped and ground my forehoof against the floor. “We’ll separate them and take them out one by one if we have to, but we’re getting King back.” Why the cold hooves all of a sudden? They might not have seen King as part of the crew, but he was my responsibility. “Now instead of questioning if we can do it, all I want to hear in the next fifteen minutes is ideas for how we get it done.”

Buck’s paw came to rest on my back softly as he let out a soft sigh.

“Night’s right.” He offered in his normal and kind way as he smiled softly at me. “Between the four of us, there’s nothing we can’t handle.”

“So we’re all in agreement.” I sighed and looked between the others.

“Yeah, the purple one needs to go first.” Hispano nodded as he loaded the large drum magazine into Suiza. “Without her advanced teleportation spell, the others won’t be able to get very far.”

“Then we move on to the green one.” Buck nodded, letting his fancy magical energy weapon fold out of his boxy mechanical forearm. “Without her able to focus on her shield spell, King should be free to escape.”

“Then it’s a hunt.” Happy snorted as he brought his muzzle down and drew his silver sword partly out of its sheath. With a quick glancing inspection, he pushed it back in and smiled. “Without her friends, the invisible cunt won’t last long against us.” With a laugh, he gave Buck a light shove with his forehoof. “Plus, with a nose like his, she won’t even take that long to find!”

“I can’t smell, remember?” Buck deadpanned at Happy. Reaching up with his paw, he gave a tap at his metal skullcap. “I’m only alive because the factory could save everything but that. But...” His glowing blue mechanical eye shifted to a deep red as he smiled. “These optics allow me to see magical fields, so even if she becomes invisible, I’ll be able to see her.”

“We don’t need any of that to find her.” Hispano shrugged and pulled Suiza close with a smile. “The blues have always been uncharacteristically cowardly, even back when they were all part of the Goddess. The moment we take out her friends, she’ll go invisible and fly off into the sunset.”

“Yeah, free to do this again with any other alicorns she happens to run across.” I know that it wasn’t our problem, but…

I paused at that. It wasn’t our problem. We were here for King, and that was it. While this other alicorn may be a problem we could solve, it wasn’t our job. It had been a hard lesson for me to learn, but, Hispano had taught it to me well enough.

“You know what? It’s not our problem.” I shook my head. “We get the other two out of the way, save King, and that’s it. That’s the priority.”

“Night…” Hispano let a gasp escape his handsome beak. “Are you really not going to sacrifice yourself to protect random wastelanders?” With a flare of his wings, he wrapped them around me tightly and squeezed his talons at my sides. “My beautiful coltfriend, you’re growing up so much! I’m so proud of…”

I cut him off by pressing my muzzle into his beak. The blush that flowed across his cheeks as he kissed me back glowed brighter than the Remora’s cabin lighting. It may have been a cheap way to save myself some embarrassment, but turnabout is fair play, right?

“Fucking get a room, you two.” Happy rolled his eyes as I broke off from our kiss.

The Remora tilted slightly under our hooves, and I could feel the distinct pull towards the floor as the engines worked to slow us down. The altimeter in my vision showed us starting to descend, and with that, I worked my way out of Hispano’s firm talon grasp. Alright, King, we’re coming to help.

The Remora shuddered as it landed firmly on what must have been a fairly thick helping of snow underneath us. The hydraulics of the doors whined to life as the four of us prepared to disembark. As the doors opened, a perplexed looking blue alicorn shimmered into view in front of us. She took a step back with a gasp as her slit eyes narrowed on us.

“Leave, trespassers!” Her authoritative voice boomed as she bared a muzzle filled with sharp teeth at us. “This is our home now, and you will not interfere with our lives!”

My eyes wandered across her form, looking for the mark my eye weapon left on her. But her blue coat, while bristled from the cold wind, was unblemished by any sort of scars or marks. Either she could heal fast enough that I was jealous of it, or this was a second and different blue alicorn.

“Sure, we’ll leave.” Buck let a low, rumbling growl out of his muzzle as he stepped out ahead of the rest of us. “As soon as you return our friend to us.”

“There is no such ‘friend’ here for you.” She snapped back, finding a way to match Buck’s growl with one of her own. She unfurled the large wings across her back, holding them out as she lowered her horn to us slightly. “Now if you wish to keep your lives, then leave now and never return.”

“We aren’t leaving without King.” Happy snorted as he bit down around the bit to Laika’s survival pistol. He drew it out and pointed it right at her, narrowing his gaze.

“Look, we can take a look, we can talk with the one who took him, or we can fight.” I offered to her as I unfolded my wings and did my best to mirror her. I may not have the same impressive wingspan, but if we all looked ready to fight, maybe she’d reconsider. “But however you want to do this, we’re not leaving until we know that King isn’t here.”

The alicorn mare’s muzzle twisted into a smile as she let a mirth filled laugh fill the air.

“Foals, all of you.” Her horn began to glow, with her blue magic slowly being drawn up along it’s tight spiral. “Do you really…”

Suiza’s barrel flashed out a single round of twenty millimeter death. As the report turned our ears into nothing but ringing, the soft pop of the round’s explosive payload going off was joined by the wet warmth of a spray of gore showering us. Only a bit of exposed spine held up the mare’s neck as her legs collapsed, and the alicorn died on the spot.

“Boring conversation anyway.” Hispano’s chuckling laugh beat back the ringing in my ears. He flared out his own wings and beat them steadily. “We need to hurry, because she probably already let the others know we were here.” Looking to me, he nodded to the skies. “You and I should search by air, while Buck and Happy check the buildings nearby.”

“Sounds like a plan.” I nodded and turned to Buck, who was currently running his paws through his face fur and trying to get the bits of blood and bone out of it. “Buck? I need you to throw me.”

“Are you sure?” He asked, letting the static in his voice mask a bit of his uncertainty. I gave him a nod and hobbled toward him. “Alright, but I’m not going to throw you as hard as Ping did. Still, you might want to prepare yourself.”

Buck’s paw scooped me up and helped me curl up into a ball like last time. I folded my wings up, keeping them pressed tightly against my back as he twisted himself and curled his arm into launch position. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and prepared myself. Okay Night, just like last time…

Buck’s arm twisted and pushed. A mechanical whine lasted only a second before it was left behind me. My body spun end over end as the cold air clawed my numb skin. My heartbeat was steady, and I took steady, stiff breaths until I could feel myself slow. As I’d done so many times, I unfurled my wings and let them catch the air under them. Opening my eyes, I found myself flying right alongside Hispano as his eyes scanned the park below.

From up here, I could see that the park was bigger than I’d expected it to be. Two dozen different small buildings sat in a row near the center of the complex, with one end capped with a huge multicolored tent that looked big enough to house half a settlement’s worth of ponies. At the other end of the main row, sat a large rusting ferris wheel. It’s paint was almost completely stripped from it, and only a few of the seats still sat on their rungs near the top. Even from here I could hear as the stiff wind pulled creaks and groans from it.

At the far end of the park, sat a network of huge pipes being held up by wooden timbers. It could have been mistaken for some industrial ruin, except that the pipes were all missing their top halves. Large log shaped boats sat at various places among the rotting and mold coated pipes, and a few still floated in the near fluorescent green pockets of water that occupied parts of the structure. A bunch of smaller tents had been set up by it’s entrance, which was odd, but something I’d have to take a look at later.

Closer to where Hispano and I were flying over however, were a few larger ‘rides’. One caught my eye in particular, a circular machine that had sixteen or so metal arms to it, and an anvil shaped cloud at the center. At the end of each arm sat something that resembled a skytank, chariot, or even mini Raptors. Though the paint was faded, the embossed letters across the front of it still read out ‘Thunderhead attack!’.

“Dum dum!” Hispano called out as his talons brought Suiza forward. “Eleven O’ Clock!”

I looked up from my airborn park tour to see an angry looking purple unicorn streaking through the air at us. Her horn glowed brightly, and I reflexively torqued my wings to roll. Both Hispano and I broke off in different directions as a beam of magic heated the air we’d just been in.

With my leg held out in front of me, I tried my best to regain my sights on the mare. I was about to fire my sub machine gun when the alicorn mare shot past me and pulled up. She was moving a lot faster than I’d expected, and by the time I’d given my wings a few flaps to try to gain my own altitude, she was already turned around and heading down after Hispano.

“A little help here!” Hispano’s voice came through my head with a small note of panic to it.

Beams of magical energy poured forth from the alicorn’s horn. Shot after shot kept Hispano twisting and rolling on a downward trajectory. As best he could, Hispano dodged, but couldn’t turn himself around to fire back without giving up his maneuverability.

Again I twisted my wings and banked around toward the two. I pointed my hoof down slightly and pulled myself into a shallow dive, building enough speed in a few moments to match their own. With every dodge and weave, Hispano bled speed and potential energy, but I could see what was on his mind. The two sped down toward the rusting ferris wheel that sat near the center of the park. Hispano was gunning for shooting through one of the rusting gaps that would be too small for the Alicorn’s wingspan to fit through.

Hispano folded his wings as he hit the gap, squeezing through with what must have been centimeters clearance on all sides. But the maneuver didn’t even slow down the alicorn. Rather, her horn glowed brightly. With a magical pop, she simply teleported straight from one side of the ruin to the other.

Stupid cheating unicorn magic!

With a tilt of my wings, I banked and sped past the outside beams of the rusting wheel. I was hot on the hocks of the alicorn and coming up fast. The flight overlay my augment gave me laid a target reticle right on the mare’s flank, and I grinned.

Fire.

My submachine gun chattered away on my harness, chewing through half my magazine in one burst. The twelve shots were wild and inaccurate, but I couldn’t expect great accuracy from a gun that was never built to be fired from the air! Even so, at this range, a good half of the shots found homes in the purple mare’s flesh.

The mare let out a scream as her horn burned and she popped out of sight.

“You alright, Hispano?” I called out as I pulled up and did my best to turn the speed I’d built up back into altitude.

“Yeah.” He huffed as he did the same, shooting back up into the sky with me. “Took long enough though! I think she set my tail on fire at some point… a bit too close for comfort if you ask me.” As he mentioned that, I looked at the lion-like tail he had and noticed that the tuft of fur on its end was half singed away.

My eyes turned down toward the ground again. Where did she go? She couldn’t be out of the fight that easily.

A concentrated beam of magic swung through the air.

It cut straight ahead of me, forcing me to immediately invert and dive just to avoid it. The moment I had, another beam shot to where I would have been had I pulled up instead. As I recovered from my dive and got my wings to spin me level again, a third beam came from below and singed the feathers on my right wing.

Still, the shot had been enough for me to see where the attacks were coming from. The alicorn had landed on the spire of another round ride that looked like a tent. However, the ride itself was moving. Rows of manticore, timberwolf, and chimera statues spun around on the inside, bouncing up and down like they were galloping. An eerie music drifted up through the air with it, as well as the sound of sparks that seemed to flow from a broken set of wires on the roof, right through the alicorn mare. Her horn glowed and sparked as she shot yet another beam up.

I torqued my wings and spun, but felt as the beam caught on my prosthetic leg and pulled it right off me. Shit, Hispano was right, her aim was getting to be a bit too on point. Best to just line up to drop some grenades and…

My mind was cut off as Suiza chattered away. One of the beams the mare launched went wide as the explosive rounds turned her forelegs into mulch. The mare projected a pink bubble around her that blocked Suiza’s remaining shots. The magical barrier cracked more and more with each successive hit, but it started to worry me. If he kept this up, Suiza would be out of ammo for the next Alicorn we ran into.

“Hispano!” I called out to her, “Like Tall Tale!”

“Got it!” He called back.

I adjusted my flight and began my dive. Suiza’s shots became more paced, and more concentrated against the shield. Each hit hammered deeper cracks into the pink bubble. I watched as my augment’s trajectory indicator lined up with the cracks in it and ordered it to drop.

Release two.

A pair of sharp clicks were all I heard as two apple shaped explosives disconnected from my harness. With a torque of both my wings, I pulled myself out of my dive again. Suiza’s hammering shots finally punched through the shield. The one extra explosive round that got through blasted a hole in the roof next to the alicorn, peppering her with shrapnel and interrupting her concentration.

Her bubble failed as the grenades came down on top of each other next to the purple mare. With a sharp blast, the whole top of the ruin disappeared in smoke and dust. Needless to say, I’m sure the mare hadn’t survived that.

“Nice aim as always, Dum Dum!” Hispano smirked as he flapped hard and pulled up next to me. “I know it’s been said, but it’s almost hard to believe your the same pony I met on the Inuvik.”

I opened my muzzle to tell her that I wasn’t the same, but both of our attentions were stolen when a green beam tore a hole in the roof of one of the buildings nearby.

“Night!?” Buck’s frantic voice came in through my augment. “We could… use a bit of help here! Fuck!”

Another beam shot out through the side of the same building. Through the dust and smoke, Buck came tumbling through into the snow. He let out a roar I could barely hear from where we were, but the sparks coming from his mangled mechanical arm were something that were all too obvious an indicator how he was doing.

“Fuck, they need our help!” I called out to Hispano as I immediately aimed myself into a steep dive.

“Yeah, of course…” Hispano’s joined me in my dive, bringing Suiza up just in time for us to watch as a green alicorn stepped through the hole Buck had made. “Just…” Hispano’s talon clenched around Suiza’s trigger, but nothing happened. “A fucking dud!?” He screamed. “You’ve gotta be kidding me!”

“Oh, it’s more than a dud.” Jynx laughed as she sped through the air between us. “Do you by chance know what a hangfire is, Night?”

I gasped as I watched Hispano reach up and close his talon around Suiza’s bolt. My muzzle had barely opened when the round finally went off. The bolt ripped Hispano’s talon back, probably breaking every single bone in his wrist. He screamed out as he dropped Suiza and flared his wings.

“Are you fucking kidding me!?” I screamed at Jynx.

“What?” Jynx let out a snarl as she rolled through the air, coming dangerously close to me. “Don’t you forget that you wanted me to keep you alive. Because of that, her pain and suffering is on you.” With a smile across her muzzle, she pointed ahead of me. “But if I were you, I’d pay attention to where I was flying.”

“What?” I turned my head back just in time to see the snow covered ground approaching far too quickly. “Shit!” I whimpered as I too flared my wings and tried to slow my dive. The gravity talismans on my pack strained to help me, and while I managed to stop from slamming into the ground, I couldn’t avoid the tired and injured Snow Dog just standing up ahead of me.

With yelps from each of us, I slammed into him with the force of a skywagon. The world turned into a blur as I bounced off of him and came down hard into the snow. My augment fuzzed for a moment, and my talisman cut out momentarily. Pain wracked my whole body inside and out before it could be suppressed again. Stars danced in my vision as I pushed myself to my hooves in time to see an angry green Alicorn hovering up in the air just above me.

Her horn lit up as her green slit eyes narrowed on me. A wicked grin pulled across her muzzle, and I felt my body get lifted in her magic. It washed up over me like a wave of concrete, keeping me from being able to move my legs and wings before collecting around the edges of my metal skullcap. Pressure started to build along it, like she was trying to get under its edges. I tried to move my neck, but every time I did, she used her magic to force my eyes to stare into hers.

Fine, if she wanted me to look at her, I would.

My eye vibrated as it extended out and began to glow. Her own eyes went wide as it did, and I could feel her magic become unsteady as she wrestled with how to deal with this for just a split second. But that’s all I’d needed.

Fire.

A single red beam lanced out from my eye. It burned through her own, boiling the surrounding tissue to a blackened crisp. She let out a delightfully painful scream as her magic fizzled out and she dropped me back into the snow.

The shout of a particularly angry mule filled the air as Happy screamed from around the hilt of his sword. He jumped at the hovering mare, and gave a single strong twist of his head and neck at her underside. Her belly opened up and spilled it’s contents like a bag full of rotting meat.

She gave out a breathless scream as she came down into the snow hard behind Happy. Her remaining eye, wide and full of fear, dripped rivers of tears down her cheeks as Happy turned back to face her. She shook as he approached, whether it was out of fear or because she was slipping into shock, I don’t know. It didn’t matter either way, as with a single plunge forward, Happy drove the silver blade through her other eye and twisted it.

The mare fell still and silent, leaving the three of us panting and heaving as the only sound outside of the rotting amusement park around us. I didn’t know if these were the same three alicorns that took King, but we gave them a chance to talk things out. It didn’t need to happen this way, but they made their choice.

Looking over at Happy, he gave me a nod as he brought his sword around and put it back in its sheath. With a look over at Buck, I watched as he stood hunched over with his still sparking paw nursing his bruised and bleeding side. He did his best to smile to me before his ears perked. Hispano favored her broken talon as he came down next to Buck, wincing, but likewise nodding to each of us.

“Good job, everyone.” The words tumbled from my muzzle as my lips parted into a small smile. “Now, let’s go find King.”

A small silver cylinder tumbled through the air. It gave off a soft hiss as it came down in the snow between the four of us while we all looked at it. That was a mistake.

My vision went white, my hearing disappeared into a ringing again, and my augment shut off momentarily as a burst of static came through the air. When my augmented vision finally did come back, a healthy cloud of white smoke rose through the air around us. What stepped through didn’t exactly make me feel like we were in for a fight as easy as the Alicorns were...

Four different suits of power armor stared us down, as well as a half dozen normal ponies with well worn combat rifles and Steel Ranger branded combat armor. The four of us froze as the sudden Ranger ambush took us completely by surprise. Uh, well, this was definitely not part of our rescue plan…

Author's Note

A bigger than normal thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his help in making sure Maple Station and it's residents stay up to canon with his stories! It's not easy keeping up with overlapping areas of our stories, let alone the ten year time difference they exist in, but he's still working hard on it to ensure consistancy. And that, I can't thank him for enough.

Also my thanks to Kkat for writing FoE and allowing us all to use it as an apocalyptic sandbox!

Chapter 111 - Grey Days

Don't fix something that ain't broke, 'cause you'll break it and you still can't fix it.

“What do you mean he just left?”

You know, I’d thought being in a town full of alicorns was scary, but admittedly, we’ve seen worse. Facing down a ten story tall timberwolf? Yeah, no sweat. A set of advanced Pentex razorcats? Tough, but still not quite the worst thing ever. Staring into the unbelievably immense fireball of a megaspell? That was pretty scary stuff, but nothing, absolutely nothing like what I faced down right now..

No, you haven’t felt true fear until you’ve got a young griffoness with a twenty millimeter cannon for a sister angry at you because her father left and told you not to say anything.

“Calm yourself, it’s not his fault, Hispano.” Buck tried to come in with the save, but the moment he brought his paw down on her shoulder, she spun and brought the full force of her glare down on him.

“Calm myself? Really, Buck?” She rolled her eyes at him before flopping back onto our bed with a huff. “In what universe has saying that ever helped anyone?”

“You know we’re just worried about him too, Hispano.” I didn’t like saying it like that, it sounded too much like we’d relegated ourselves to doing nothing about it. “I promise that as soon as we’re done fixing up the Arcturus in Seaddle, we’ll go find him.”

“You think I’m worried about him?” Hispano forced out a laugh. With a firm push, she sat herself up on the bed and glanced between Buck and I. “And here I’d thought you’d finally spent enough time around him to learn what he’s really like, Dum Dum.” She stretched out toward me and gave my head a few firm pats with her talon. “Let me guess? You two were worried he’s going on a ‘suicide mission’, right?”

“Well, we simply thought…” Buck mumbled through a nervous gaze as he brought his mechanical paws together. He cast a glance at me, pleading with his eyes for me to give him a helping hoof here.

“We thought that if he wanted you to stay here, it was likely because he was in over his head with something.” While our worries may not have been as irrational as Hispano seemingly thought them to be, I knew that deep down, Hispano would understand and realize that there’s a chance something was wrong.

“You dolts.” Hispano chuckled again, slapping her talon across her face with an exasperated sigh. “My dad’s not ‘in over his head’. We’re a half-day’s flight from ‘Claw!” As she said that, both Buck and I looked at each other.

“Your home.” Both Buck and I spoke at the same time. “What about it?”

“What do you mean what about my home?” Hispano put her talons on her hips and canted her head with a flat gaze. “He’s going to the one place in the wastes that still has some semblance of unbiased law and order to it, and you two are worried about him? There’s nowhere safer for him than HQ.” She paused, screwing up her beak a bit. “Er, well, as long as Captain Gavi isn’t trying to feed him any more of her family’s ‘traditionally made’ griffon scones. Those things are like rocks.”

“So… why didn’t he want you following him?” I had to ask. It was the only thing that still didn’t make sense, and remembering how he said it to us still made my stomach uneasy.

“Well, he’s going back to HQ empty clawed.” She shrugged before flopping back onto our bed again. “I mean, with all the work we did for Solomon, then for Delilah, and now you? How do you think the Captain’s going to take it when he shows up after all this time with nothing to add to the company coffers? He probably said for me to stay so he could save me from one hell of an epic flank reaming and disciplinary hearings.” Again, my stomach twinged at how even she wasn’t sure.

“Probably?” I asked flatly.

“I don’t know! I’m not fucking psychic, now am I, Dum Dum?” With a forceful twist of her body, she threw her talon up along the bed and gripped one of our pillows. With no warning, I found it thrown right at my muzzle. I was caught off guard, and with a soft pomf, the old pad bounced off my nose and flopped back onto the bed next to her. “Can we not talk about dad? We’re about to head to Seaddle, the only place with decent amenities since we were up in Cantercross.” She glanced up at me with a growing grin as I rubbed at the end of my muzzle softly. “Why don’t we have a day off? You know, take a vacation, maybe spend the night on the town!”

You know, I would argue that we had something better to do, but… Solomon was dead, my curse was gone, and King was where he was meant to be. So with reclaiming the Ark pretty much all that was left on our to do list, I couldn’t really say no.

“I don’t see why not.” I shrugged and looked over to Buck.

“Well, we really do have to restock the medbay once we’re there. And I did want to stop by the Inuvik and see how they’re all doing...” Buck brought his paw up under his metal jaw and tapped his digit on it. Slowly, his own jagged grin spread across his muzzle and he nodded to himself. “Though I do suppose after that, we need some time to recover… and I do recall that I am owed a dinner of my choice.”

“Don’t worry, I know just the place with the best Salmon in town!” In one speedy arch of her body, Hispano had thrown herself from the bed and straight into a hover. “But before then, there’s some pretty neat places in town I want to show you!” She paused for a moment as her eyes looked over Buck slowly. “Well, actually, until Buck grows some wings, I suppose we can go to maybe half the cool places.”

“I am fine right here on the ground, thank you.” Buck laughed softly, pulling similar chuckles from Hispano and I. “Though, if you really want to, you could take Night to some of those places, I don’t mind.”

The fact that Buck couldn’t fly wasn’t something I’d really given much thought to on this trip. I mean, why would I? And by no means did it make him any less of a fantastic husband in my eyes! But… it did mean that when Hispano wanted to do something, then sometimes in this relationship there were things he wouldn’t be there for.

“No.” Hispano stated starkly before hovering forward and kissing him right on his broad nose. “I’ve asked you to compromise with Night more than enough on this trip. So I suppose that if the three of us are going to make this family work, then it’s only fair that I do the same.”

“Hispano…” Buck said softly as his eye watered up. With an electric whine and a silver blur, he reached up and wrapped his paws around Hispano in a tight hug. “That means so much to me!”

With my own sense of awe and pride, I stepped forward and threw my hoof and wings around the two. They really were more than I could ever ask for as a family.

The door to the captain’s quarters squealed as it was opened.

“Hey, uh, Night?” The three of us turned our gazes as Happy stepped inside. He paused as he spotted the now incredibly awkward family hug going on, and a nervous grin spread across his muzzle. “Oh, uh, sorry. Don’t let me interrupt whatever… thing you’re doing…” He took an uneasy step back toward the door.

“Boys?” Hispano cooed as she narrowed her eyes on the nervous mule. “Didn’t we decide that Happy was technically part of our family?”

While I wouldn’t be marrying him, Happy was definitely a part of our family now. Between the four of us, there were no more secrets. And while sometimes we could get on each other’s nerves, when my back was against the wall, I knew they would never leave me. From the wide eyed gaze on Happy’s face as Buck’s paw became a blur again, the funny thing was, I knew that he understood we were family too.

And in this family, you don’t get to say no to a group hug.

As the Remora detached from the hull of the Arcturus, and it’s engines took over the duties of flying us, the clouds shrouding us were pushed back. Descending through the patchy cover of the ship, I was forced to shield myself from the bright sunlight that beamed through the open cabin of the small skycraft.

The sun trekked across the sky toward the horizon, casting longer shadows toward us from the somewhat uneven blanket of dark grey that seemed to stretch out over the entire Seaddle area. And while I couldn’t strictly feel it, as we descended into the cloud cover below, I knew exactly what to expect the weather to be like.

Thin sheets of rain washed across the skies as we broke through over the outskirts of the old world city. It draped the landscape in a grey haze that already made me long for the sun again. Though I didn’t know if it was how it normally looked, it also turned the ground between the burned and twisted rubble into a near endless mass of brown mud.

“So this is Seaddle?” The words slipped out of my muzzle as my eyes wandered across a crater lake that pressed up against the back of a fairly large hillside. The ruins around the old bomb crater were melted and black, while the water of the lake itself still held a balefire green tint to it. However, as I turned my gaze west and over the hill toward the coastal city’s waterline, I couldn’t really understand what I was looking at.

It was somewhat like up at Cantercross, only on a smaller scale. The buildings that had once resided on the top of the hill had tilted over, and were melted into somewhat of a steel wave stretching toward the western grey waters of the salt water sound. Past the initial buildings clustered on the hilltop however, there was a sharp break where nothing but mud and rock stretched downward for nearly a half a kilometer. Which… I don’t really remember existing in the few Enclave pictures of the place in our school textbooks.

The city itself however sat at the bottom of this muddy hill. Most of its buildings were still mostly upright, and looked to still be inhabited by the fact most of the broken windows had been sealed up by various bits of junk. Though, somehow the buildings felt off, like they were all just a bit too close to each other. Some were pressed right up together, while others had toppled over fallen skyscrapers to create perilous archways of rusting steel over the old roads that outlined each compact city block.

The closest buildings to the waterline had outright sunk into the silty waters, or toppled straight over, and stretched out into the sound like long piers. Those who lived in this city had simply built on top of the fallen giants, transforming the old skyscrapers into bustling waterfront districts that allowed what must have been hundreds of old boats to come in and dock right up next to them.

The elevated seaside portion of the local highway had mostly survived the falling buildings, and in fact created a somewhat natural bridge between them that separated the waterways from most of the 'new' inner city. Various sections of the highway that were too damaged to shore up, were removed, and cranes were built to create draw bridges that allowed the many ships and boats here to come and go in safety.

“It’s amazing…” Buck gasped as he took in the sights along with me.

“It’s mediocre at best.” Hispano huffed flatly. “Some of the city is cool, but most of it’s still a shithole like everywhere else in the wastes, so don’t forget that.”

Right. With her reminder, I sat down and ran another check to make sure the straps to my flight pack were on tight over my dress, and that my subgun was ready to go. Just because I’d gotten dressed for our day off didn’t mean I was going to go relaxing unprepared! Looking over at Buck, he lifted his mechanical arm and popped out his weird energy weapon and made sure it came on like normal.

As he closed his arm back up, he glanced over at me and his muzzle shifted to his normal, kind smile he always shared with me. But something else caught his attention, and the smile disappeared as his muzzle dropped. The blue mechanical eye on the side of his head shifted and popped forward as his gaze lingered on something out in the city. Turning to follow it, I pretty quickly spotted what had caught his eye.

She was the largest ship sitting down at the end of the longest pier of the city, and her red coloration was more striking now than it had been all the way up in the north. Though she had a few hastily repaired battle scars in her hull and upper decks, the Inuvik sat as proudly in the water as she had frozen in the arctic ice. They’d made it here safely after all.

“Home.” Buck whimpered as a wide grin pulled itself across his jagged muzzle, and he all but began to vibrate with pure unbridled joy. “It’s only been months, but it’s felt like forever. I… I can’t believe I’m going back.” Before we could even react, Buck’s paws had scooped both Hispano and I up and pulled us tightly into his furred chest. “Oh, this is going to be great! I can introduce you to my parents, and you can meet all my brothers and sisters, which I just know are going to absolutely love you two…”

I enjoyed being this close to Buck, and I was overjoyed to see him so happy and excited for once. Hispano… well I think she thought a bit differently.

“Woah… easy there...” She groaned and pushed back against Buck’s aggressive affections. “We’ve got time, and there’s a lot of cool things in the city I want to show you both.”

“And there will be plenty of time for that.” Buck responded as the Remora shifted it’s flight sharply, turning us right toward the Inuvik. “I just… I want to stop by first and make sure they all made the trip safely.”

“Fine.” Hispano relented and deadpanned right at me. “Like I said, so long as it’s quick. Today’s a day for us, alright? We all agreed to that.” From her grumble and semi-slump, she knew that there was little use in arguing further with him about it.

“Thank you for understanding.” Buck offered a kiss to her forehead that made her blush brightly enough you could have probably seen it from the ground. He turned a hesitant gaze to me. “Are you alright with that too, Night?”

“Of course he is.” Hispano spat out with a roll of her eyes. “Lets just go and meet your family like you want, okay?”

I don’t know what really had Hispano so annoyed by all this. It was a perfectly reasonable thing after months of being away for Buck to want to visit his family again. Even more than that was he wanted us to meet them. Which now that I thought about it, meeting a whole family of Snow Dogs wasn’t exactly going to be a walk in the park.

Especially… when Buck was so eager to tell them that he wasn’t moving back in because he was in love with a pony and a griffon.

You know, maybe I shouldn’t feel too calm about this after all…

The Remora sank lower and lower, swinging around toward the backside of the old world icebreaker. The aft of the ship came into view, and the large rectangular flat landing pad with a white ‘V’ on it was almost perfectly sized for the Remora to land on. Swinging down for our final touchdown, a few fluffy coated Snowdogs that were near an open hatch shielded their eyes with their paws as the engine wash hit them.

The three of us braced ourselves as the Remora landed, and almost immediately the engines started to spool themselves down. As soon as they had, I looked across the deck toward a different hatch that opened up on the back of the ship. From it, stepped a large, angry looking black furred Snowdog with a spanner wrench bigger than I was held in forepaws as big as Buck’s used to be.

“Hey! Who the hell do you think you are?” The dog barked at us in a gruff, but still vaguely feminine voice. Even with the slow, rage filled steps she took towards us, something about her felt familiar to me. “This isn’t some private landing pad, get that heap of junk off our ship or I’ll…”

“Cheyenne?” Buck said as in an instant, his mechanical paws retreated from both Hispano and I. His words stopped the dog cold in her steps, and as her ice blue eyes went wide, I could finally place why she felt familiar. Despite wearing all black fur and sporting a bit of a wider waistline, she was nearly a spitting image of Buck in all other respects. “Oh goddesses, it’s so good to see you again!”

“Buck, is that you?” She gasped, letting the spanner in her paws drop to the deck with a heavy clang. Her eyes ran over his metal limbs, not hiding one bit of the pain and pity she felt for him. All the same, she basically sprinted forward with paws out and wrapped them around Buck. “You’re alive. And you… you came home!”

“Of course I did.” Buck whimpered through a sniffle as the two hugged it out on the deck.

“Are you okay?” She asked him as she stepped back and used one of her oversized claws to wipe a few tears from her eye. “We heard so many stories about that convoy you left on! We heard… we all thought you were dead. What happened to you out there?”

“I… I’m fine.” That was probably the worst lie Buck’s ever told anyone, and part of me was glad it wasn’t meant for me. “It’s… a long story, one I hope to share with our whole family.” With that, he turned back to the Remora and held a paw out. “And speaking of, I want you to meet some new members of it. This is Night Flight, and Hispano,” As he spoke, I glanced over to Hispano with a proud, beaming grin, only to have her simply shrug and step out onto the deck. “I know it’s not really traditional for a Snowdog to want a non-dog family, but… I don’t care what anybody here thinks. They’ve been there for me, and they truly love me for who I am.”

“You idiot.” Cheyenne chuckled and shook her head. “Didn’t I tell you that the second you stopped sabotaging yourself you’d find it easy enough to make some friends?” With a swing of her massive forearm, she wrapped it around Buck’s head and pulled him into a hunched position. With her other paw, she ground down against the fur on his head as he struggled against her. “And now you’re telling me that not only are you finally over that obsession you had with Saxon that went nowhere, but that you found two girls out there to actually let yourself love? Please, you’ve only been gone for a few months! Don’t lie to me, my little brother can’t have grown up so much in that time.”

“Cheyenne, stop it!” Buck whimpered and tried to pull away from her. I was about to step in when I noticed his spiky tail wagging. “I’m not a pup anymore!”

“Like hell you aren’t!” She laughed and finally let him go. “You still can’t tell when your older sister is just messing around with you!”

“You’re two minutes older than me.” He deadpanned as he got himself steadied on his hindlegs again. With a huff that contained more stress than he let on, Buck’s gaze drifted back to the deck for a moment before turning back to Hispano and I. “And it’s… not been easy to get back here. It’s become harder to tell when someone is genuine anymore or not.”

“That’s the understatement of the year.” Hispano snorted before hefting her sister up onto her shoulder. “But Buck’s right, it’s been tough, so maybe give him a bit of a break. He’s had it worse than most of us on this trip.”

Cheyenne’s eyes narrowed as she looked over Hispano. Her nose twitched, and she gave out a few sharp snorts before turning her attention to me. Her brow furrowed, and her muzzle twisted slightly as she raised a single claw.

“You. You’re not a mare, you’re that stallion who was brought in with the convoy up north. Bombay, or whatever.” With a huff, she crossed her paws and stood tall, looking down at me in the most imposing way she could present herself. Were I not used to that with Buck by now, I had to admit, I might have been somewhat frightened by her. Slowly, a smirk pulled across her jagged jaw. “If the stories about you all are true, then I guess Buck could’ve done worse. Though, I like your griffon-friend better. She at least spoke up in his defense.”

“Buck doesn’t need Hispano or I to speak for him. He’s a smart, strong, capable dog who knows that if he needs it, we’ll back him up on anything against anyone.” The words pushed out of my muzzle with more force than I meant, and they forced Cheyenne to blink a few times. A chuckle built up in her throat before she let it come through her muzzle as a hearty laugh. “Something funny about that?”

“Nah, you know what? I’ve changed my mind, you’re both alright by me.” She turned herself around and threw her arms back around a still stunned looking Buck. “I mean, you know I’ve always trusted your decisions, Buck, but it’s mom and dad you’ll have to convince, of course.” She gave him a few hard pats on the back which probably would have broken my ribs, but Buck seemed to weather them fine. “It’s good to have you back home though. And… I’m happy that you could finally find a love in your life that wasn’t some sort of work.”

“It’s still been work of a different sort, but thanks, sis.” Buck nodded and gave her a soft hug back.

“Come on, let’s go tell the rest of the family you’re back!” She nodded as she spun Buck around to face the door she’d come from. “Plus, I know that Rosie is going to be particularly happy to hear you’ve returned! You would not believe the pushback she’s had about being paired up with that freeloading mutt, Zap...”

With a long, overly dramatic sigh, Hispano slumped and hung her head.

“This better not take long, Dum Dum.” Throwing a sideways glance to me, she adjusted Suiza on her shoulder, shifting her sister’s long barrel over her neck. “I know Buck’s excited, but can’t he spend time with them later?” With a hook of her other talon, she held her sister tight and stretched her neck back until it gave a soft pop against the barrel. “I thought this was supposed to be a day just for us to relax together.”

“I know, but…” I didn’t really know what to say to her. On one hoof, I know where she was coming from. But on the other, she and I have at least had our Dad’s around recently enough. Buck’s been away from his whole family, and I didn’t want to take him away from that. It just felt… selfish to ask that of him.

“Look, I know you love the guy more than you love me.” She rolled her eyes as she turned to me.

“Hispano, you know that’s…” I tried to jump in, but had her snap her talons together near my face.

“Hey, I’m not saying you don’t care.” She sharpened a piercing glance at me for a moment before letting it soften. “Just… that sometimes you prioritize how he feels over anything. Even if it ends up hurting you the most.”

I wanted to say she was wrong about that, but I couldn’t. How could I blatantly lie to her when she had experienced the results on multiple occasions, even before I was willing to give her a chance with us. No, this whole thing came about because I am still ashamed to admit to her that I blatantly care for him more. Not because he’s better in any way really, just that… well, because I think between them, he needs it more.

But how am I supposed to say that? How exactly can I tell her that? ‘Hey, Buck’s more important to me because I think you’re tough enough that I care less about your well being?’ With that, even in the best case scenario I sound like a complete and total fucking asshole!

“You know what, nevermind.” Hispano shook her head and maneuvered her sister so she held her on her shoulder between us. The last thing I saw was her disappointed gaze being blocked by the cold steel of her sister’s receiver. “Let’s just go and get this over with.”

This wasn’t exactly going how any of us thought it would.

Both Hispano and I were sitting in a cramped hallway for nearly the last hour, on the far side of the sealed hatch outside of Buck’s parent’s cabin. Buck had wanted us to wait to come in, wanting to give his parents time to understand and adjust to his half-mechanical body. But from the moment he and Cheyenne closed that hatch, that’s when the shouting started.

I stared down at the old, worn deck plating under my hooves. I tried my best to focus my real eye on some of the finer scratches along it’s pitted surface, but without my augment on, I could hardly see half of what I’d expected. Part of me had wanted more than anything to boot up my augment and ask Buck how things were going, but every time I felt like I should, the shouting just gets louder again and I decide to leave them be.

The worst thing was that sometimes, even through the thick metal walls, I could just barely make out what they were shouting about. Buck was on the defensive about his choice to leave, and he admitted that they were right in saying the wasteland would tear him apart. His mother yelled back that he was more machine now than her son, and that she could hardly stand to see him like this. I’d only heard his dad once, but he seemed to only take issue with the fact that it was too dangerous to leave now, and that he should just settle down with a good bitch on the ship.

“You know what? Fuck this.” Hispano grumbled as she pushed herself up from the floor. With a firm grasp, she grabbed her sister and turned down the hall. “You can stay here if you want, I’m going to the wreck room to see if there’s a fight going on or something.”

“Hispano…” I spoke up, but only got a single raised talon from her as a response. “We can’t just leave Buck right now.”

“This is exactly what I was talking about, Night.” She called back over her shoulder. “Come find me when this shit gets sorted out and you two want to actually do something.”

Ugh, why Hispano? Why did you have to make things difficult? I know it’s been boring, but I mean, we can’t just bust in there and explain ourselves. Our only choice was to sit outside and wait for Buck’s family to calm down. Slumping against the wall, I wrapped my forehoof around my head and sighed. How could she just choose to walk away like that? I mean, it’s not like I didn’t want to do other things today too, but I chose to put that aside to... spend time… with...

She was right, I was doing it again.

“Ugh, fine.” I grumbled and reluctantly got to my hooves. Glancing over at the still firmly sealed door, I took a moment to think about what I was going to say. With a thought, my augment booted up, and I took a deep breath. “Buck? Hispano and I are going to take a walk about the ship for a bit. Just reach out to me when you’re ready for us, alright?”

A moment passed with no response, just more yelling from inside the cabin. In that time, the part of me who wanted to stay nearly forced my back legs to give out and plant my flank on the floor again. A quick burst of static through my mind however made me stiffen up.

“Alright. I’m… sorry it’s taking so long.” I always loved hearing his voice, but I hated the clarity our augments provided to his words. It wasn’t hard to hear the pain, anger, and disappointment he held. My parents just don’t understand what I’ve been through! I just… I want them to understand!” But it was almost worse to hear the pure, almost cold determination he had. I hoped that for his sake, they gave in and realized they should be glad to have him back before they ruin any chance of him wanting to come back again.

“I know they may not still see it under your metal parts, but you’re the kindest soul I’ve ever met, Buck.” I offered back to him, imagining myself wrapping my hooves around his warm, fuzzy form in a tight hug. “Though it might take time for them to see that again, remember that no matter what happens, Hispano and I will always love you.”

“Yeah… you’re right.” Buck’s words drifted into my mind with a bit of a softer, more relaxed tone to them. “Don’t worry about me, Night. You and Hispano go have some fun for now, I’ll reach out to you later.”

Another quick burst of static pushed through my mind as I’m sure he turned his own augment off this time. However, with him informed, at the very least my mind was more at ease with heading out for now. See, Night? It wasn’t so hard to actually switch things up for once and choose to spend time with Hispano!

With a smile pushing across my muzzle, I turned down the hall to follow Hispano and got hobbling. Now, where did she go? She wasn’t straight ahead, so she must have turned down one of these cross sections and…

“Bah!” Hispano shouted and nearly scared me half to death around the first corner.

As I fought with my three legs to not tumble to the ground, Hispano devolved into giggles that were at the very least nice to hear. I just wish I got to hear them when I didn’t feel like I was having a mild heart attack…

“Hah! You should have seen your face, Dum Dum!” She snorted and pat my side with hard, slapping hits. “Oh, fucking priceless. But, see? I knew that you could pull yourself away from him for a bit!” Forcing a bit of a deadpan over her expression, she reached up and adjusted her flightcap stiffly. “Now, if you’d only do that without me forcing your hoof, then I’d feel like I was on somewhat even terms in this relationship.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m working on it.” I sighed as my thundering heart rate finally started to slow again. It was right about then however that my stomach gave a loud growl, and almost in response, Hispano’s gave out an even louder one.

“You know what? Fuck the Wreck Room.” Hispano huffed as her talon tightly wrapped around my forehoof. “Let’s find some grub.” Without what felt like any effort, she yanked my hoof right up off the floor. “Now, if I recall, the cafeteria was somewhere on the next deck…” She gave out a few effortless beats of her wings, propped me up on just my hind legs, and started to fly forward. “Come on, keep up, Dum Dum!”

Oh, this day was just going to be one thing after another, wasn’t it?

While it wasn’t anything more fancy than we’d normally had back on the Arcturus, it was really the environment that I think helped me to relax.

Even though it hadn’t been tough to find an open booth when we came in, we must have just beat the rush. In the last fifteen minutes, what felt like half the ship had filed in and gotten food. Ponies, Snow Dogs, and even a pair of Yaks sat and talked about their day onboard the ship around us. It helped me to remember that there was more to the rest of the wasteland than just ugliness and violence between its inhabitants.

“You already done?” Hispano murmured through one final slurp of the thick noodle dish she’d ordered.

Looking down at my own plate, I blinked as I realized I’d actually already downed the whole bowl of fish stew I’d gotten. While I still wasn’t a big fan of meat, I suppose I could see what Buck saw in eating fish. I mean, food like this had become so normal that I’d hardly noticed eating it! Nodding to Hispano, she laughed and gave a firm pat of her belly as she leaned back.

As she did though, she stiffened up as her eyes locked on the door to the cafeteria. Turning, I found her staring at a Laika sized Snow Dog that had wandered in. His coat was mostly white outside of a pair of brown splotches over his eyes and ears that were split up by a line of white over the top of his head. His jagged muzzle grew into a smile as his eyes narrowed at Hispano.

“Oh fuck.” Hispano muttered under her breath. “What the fuck does he want.”

“Well, well, well.” The diminutive dog laughed as he made his way over to us. “Been a minute, Hispano.” His glance shifted to me for a minute, and his eyes wandered over my dress before landing on the subgun strapped under me. “And here I thought you said you’d never be back. Called this place a ‘rusting frozen shithole’ if I do recall.”

“Yeah, well plans changed, Jack.” Hispano faked a smile as she pushed herself to sit up in her seat. Along with herself, her talon slid over to Suiza and made sure she was sitting upright next to her. “Don’t you have some comics to go read or something?”

“And here I thought you were a talon willing to do anything for some caps.” Leaning closer, he gave a lick along his muzzle as he let his eyes do all the insinuating he needed. Not that it stopped him from pouring it on... “And believe me, I’ve got some ideas, because I can smell on you just how much you enjoy us dogs...”

Honestly, it made me feel a bit conflicted inside. On one hoof, I didn’t like the idea of feeling jealous of a dog like him hitting on Hispano. On the other, I knew Hispano well enough to know it’d eventually end up with Suiza’s muzzle in his if it went anywhere at all.

“Oh, I will do anything.” Hispano cooed softly, leaning in and batting her eyebrows at him softly. “However… you should remember from last time that any undersized rewards generally leave me unimpressed and unhappy. And when I’m unhappy, Jack...”

Wait, Jack as in a name, as in Buck’s brother?

“Yeah, yeah, you get out your gun.” Jack rolled his eyes and dropped his lusty attitude. “Look, I’ve got an easy, few hour job that’ll pay one fifty. You want it or not?”

“If this is about stealing another comic…” I blurt out. My words were cut off however by a swift kick under the table by Hispano, as well as her cutting me off with a nervous smile across her beak. I whimpered as intentional or not, she had fantastic aim, and hit me where it counted...

“Pay no mind to the mare, she’s just here for a free meal and some fun in the bedroom.” She offered as she shot me a sideways glance. Okay, okay, geeze! For all the talk about it, the least she could do was go a bit easier on my nethers if she ever wanted a kid. “But she’s right, this isn’t for another collection of scraps, is it?”

“No, and the job’s not for me. Rather, it’s going to be a gift for a… future friend of mine.” Jack smiled and tented his tiny paws in front of him. “You see, she’s coming back into town tomorrow, and is supposed to be a collector of old world music. It so happens to be that I have it on good authority that a pony on the city outskirts has accrued himself a small collection. See, the problem is that he refuses to see reason and sell to me, so I need you to convince him to part with his collection… preferably in a way that doesn’t have him coming to look for it.”

“You want her to kill him?” I snapped at him. Like, seriously!? I know Buck was disappointed to hear he’d hired Hispano to steal, but murder was a whole different thing!

“No, not kill. Nobody said kill here.” Jack sneered and jabbed his tiny paw at my face. “I simply want him to not want to ever see them again. How she goes about that is her prerogative, and definitely not something some local whore needs to concern herself with.”

“Well my rates have gone up since last time.” Hispano snapped her talons to draw his now soured expression back to her. “Five hundred for the job, with two fifty upfront.”

“The records aren’t even worth two hundred, and you want five?” He laughed in her face, only making the grin pulling across Hispano’s beak grow wider. “I could hire half a dozen pieces of muscle in this city for the job at that price.”

“Yeah, but you came to me.” Hispano crossed her talons and relaxed. “So either you’re out of options, or you think you can pay me less because you think I’m easy. But let me tell you, if it is the latter,” She paused, letting Jack’s eyes follow her talon as it slid down Suiza’s barrel slowly. “I think you’ll find I’m less agreeable than others once I know you’re trying to get cheap on me.”

“You fucking bitch.” Jack uttered a growl as he clenched his small paws tightly. “Fine, four hundred. Come to my cabin before you leave for the upfront, but you better deliver on this.”

“Four hundred, deal. I’ll swing by later tonight for the upfront, and you’ll have your records by evening tomorrow.” Hispano cooed softly. We both watched as Jack turned to walk away, but he stopped as she called to him. “You know for what you’re offering, she must really be something.” She smirked as he turned and threw a sideways glance back over his shoulder. “I hope she’s worth it in the end.”

I wanted to say that none of this was my business, and that Hispano could still take on jobs that she wanted. But this? I wish I could just look the other way, but this just felt wrong.

“Don’t tell me you’re actually going to do it.” My muzzle spat out the words before I could stop myself.

“What? Like you care.” She rolled her eyes at me and smirked. “Look, we don’t have to worry about it now.” She shifted her eyes into a glare as my muzzle opened to protest. Her sharp glance made me pause, but I was glad to see her expression soften again after a moment. “Will you get off my back if I promise I won’t hurt anyone?” Crossing her talons across herself, her eyes shifted over to her sister. “It’s just a box of records, so worst case is I take a hit in my profits and buy the stupid things off of him. That, or if Buck and you wanted… well I guess I could just turn him down...”

“You’d… do that?” Maybe it was because she’d always been so adamant on being a talon, but I never thought I’d really see a time where she’d cancel a job. “You’d do that for us?”

“Don’t act so surprised, Dum Dum.” She scrunched herself up and sank a bit towards the table to hide the blush flushing across her face. “Besides, I’m sure if I asked, Buck would be right behind me to personally make sure he didn’t complain much about it.”

“Heh, he does make a nice imposing figure to have standing behind you.” I couldn’t help but laugh as I imagined Jack’s reaction to his half-machine big brother showing up at his doorstep.

“Well duh, he’s a snow dog, they’re all intimidating as fuck.” Hispano squawked before forcibly stuffing her talon into her beak. She winced with a forced smile as a particularly hefty brown dog walked by with her cropped ears perked, and a glare on us nearly as piercing as Delilah’s used to be. “But it’s more than that, Night. It may be hard to believe, but… I know you two are a package deal, and I’ll admit, Buck’s grown on me. I trust him almost as much as I trust my dad, and… well, you two are the only other ones I’ve ever trusted like that.” Looking over to me, her eyes wavered before a look of shame dragged her expression down towards the table between us. “I just wish you’d grown to do the same with me.”

“Even though I’d started to feel comfortable around Buck fairly quickly, Buck had feelings for me far before I ever realized that I cared for him back.” The thoughts and memories of how Hardcase offered up hints to how Buck felt came to mind. I felt bad to have missed such blatantly obvious signs back then, but in the end, it all worked out. “While I latched onto those feelings stronger and faster than with what I feel for you, it doesn’t mean that I care about you any less, Hispano.”

“I know that, Night.” Again, she forced up a smile to hide what she really felt, and pushed herself to say what she needed to. “And I shouldn’t have said what I did earlier. I know you and Buck love me back, and normally I wouldn’t have grilled you for not showing it the way I wanted you too. But it was the thought about what Buck was coming back here for, knowing what you told me he was planning on doing…”

“This… it’s about having a child again?” I asked far too bluntly for my own likes. However, it didn’t seem to affect Hispano, and she simply gave me a nod.

“Even though we talked and I told you that I needed to think about it, it’s almost like since then, I’ve been avoiding it.” She bit at her lower beak, and tapped her talons on the table lightly. “I just haven’t been able to make myself think about it at all. And now it’s right here in front of me, and it’s still not something I can decide on, even though I know I need to decide one way or the other!” Grabbing at the flaps of her flight cap, she grumbled and pulled it down over her head tightly. “I feel like such a fucking idiot! Why can’t I just not care so fucking much?”

“Hey, hey! It’s nothing to get angry about!” Again, I couldn’t stop myself from laughing slightly at the irony. However, she shot a steeled gaze out from under her cap and made me trip over my next few words. “The thing is… you know… I only mean that now you know how I’ve felt with you.”

“Oh? And how’s that?” She snorted and deadpanned at me.

“I mean, you know I never thought I’d love a girl. This is pretty much the same thing!” Again, I laughed a little, but I had to force it out as she let out a huff. “Look, you said you’d think about it when you were ready, and you’re still not. There’s nothing wrong with that at all.”

“Tell that to the voice in my head.” From the way she looked down at the table, she seemed to be about three seconds from slamming her face into it in frustration. However, thankfully she hesitated. “And partly, maybe, me taking the job from Jack was just because I needed a distraction. You know, something to focus on while Buck does his whole thing with some other dog.”

“That makes me feel a little bit better about how you reacted earlier.” I offered to her. “You know there’ve been times I’ve needed a bit of a distraction as well, so if you need it, you need it. No big deal.” Though I still didn’t feel like this was a job she should have accepted in the first place, it didn’t mean I couldn’t at least try to be flexible about it.

“Regardless, we don’t have to worry about it right now.” Her confident smile returned to her beak as she sat up in her seat, and a burst of energy seemed to make her plumage bristle a bit. “We’ve still got plenty of time to hang out together, and so much of the city to see after all! So, where do you want to see first?” I was caught off guard as her talons stretched across the table and tightly grabbed around my hoof. “There’s the top of the old space tower restaurant we could go hang out on together, or there’s the old library that’s got some cool old world artifacts still on display in it. Oh! Or we could go down into the underground city, and…”

“Sorry to bother you, Night.” Ping’s voice broadcast into my head, surprising me enough that Hispano noticed and cut herself off. “Miss Tofu and I had a request, if you don’t mind.”

“Go ahead, Ping.” I offered to him, watching as my words wiped Hispano’s smile away like I’d smacked her across the beak. “What do you need?”

“Well, Miss Tofu has inferred that the party in charge at Bow-wing Field is another contingent of Steel Rangers.” Ping replied starkly, though wavered his voice at the end. “Though it is clear at some point they controlled the airfield, Eliza and I could find no current basis for her findings.”

“What does that mean?” I asked, pausing for a moment as Hispano pulled her talons back and slumped in her seat. “How do you know the Steel Rangers used to control the place, but not know if they’re there now?”

Just the mention of the Rangers forced Hispano’s brow to perk up, but from the look of disgust across her beak, it wasn’t hard to tell her feelings on heading into another Ranger airbase.

“It seems that all Steel Ranger iconography has recently been forcibly scrubbed from everything.” He stated rather matter-o-factly. Now that was weird then. “It is quite strange indeed. Tofu has suggested that maybe there was a fight, but again, Eliza and I could find no solid evidence to corroborate that theory. As such, I am requesting that you join us on our trip there. If the rangers still hold it, Tofu is sure she can convince them to help us repair the Arcturus. However, if it is no longer in direct control of the Rangers...”

“Right, they’ll want who’s in charge to take up the negotiations.” I sighed and literally watched as the last spark of hope left Hispano’s now nearly blank gaze. “Alright, maybe we’ll get lucky and it’ll be a fast meet and greet. Hispano and I will head back to the Remora, and…”

“Fuck off, Night.” With a huff, Hispano grabbed her sister and slid out from our booth. “You want to prioritize other shit and brush me off again, then fine!”

“Hispano, you know it’s not like that.” I didn’t want to say she was wrong, but why couldn’t she just understand that repairing the Arcturus was more important? That it was something that needed to get done, and that our little vacation could wait.

“I don’t care, Night. Do whatever the fuck you want.” She grumbled as she slung her sister over herself and gave a few sharp flaps of her wings. “I’ve got my own job to do.”

Without giving me a chance to talk again, she kicked herself up into the air and took off through the cafeteria door.

Slumping back in my own seat, I wanted to scream out in frustration. Instead I slammed my hoof onto the table hard enough to chip it, and the whole room grew quiet for a moment. A hundred eyes glanced over at me, and for once, I didn’t want to disappear from their judgmental gazes. I wasn’t in the wrong here! The Arcturus is more important than all of us, and it needs to be fixed sooner than later.

Celestia, this must have been how Delilah felt more than a few times with Happy, and all I could think about right now was how childish she was being…

Then again, that’s not exactly wrong, was it? Maybe it’s because she’d always felt so mature ever since we met, the fact that she’s younger than me had gotten lost in my mind somewhere. Could I really be that angry with how she was acting when so far, she’s been right on the money with how I’d treated her compared to Buck?

I didn’t want to even think I had a justifiable excuse, because that shouldn’t have mattered. Today wasn’t a day I was going to hang out with Buck and Hispano, rather, it was going to be a day Hispano got to hang out with us. And between Buck and I, we’d both basically said she wasn’t even close to being important.

“I apologize, Night, for pulling you away like this.” Ping’s voice came through my mind again, reminding me that we were still connected. “If it means anything, I do think she will get over this. Hispano has seemed quite resilient when it comes to dealing with how she feels.”

“She shouldn’t have to be, Ping.” I shook my head and started to shift myself out of my seat. “And she has every right to be upset. So after we’re done at Bow-wing, I’m going to make sure Buck and I do something to make up for today.”

“Seeing as I’m partially to blame, I’d be happy to help.” His voice came across in a way where I just knew he was wearing his awkwardly bright smile across his muzzle right now. “What did you have in mind for that?”

“I have no idea.” I shrugged as I got my hooves under me again and started to hobble towards the door.

“I wouldn’t worry too much about her, Night.” Happy offered as he sat just far enough away from the opening in the Remora’s cabin that only the tips of his hooves were sprinkled with rain. “Hispano’s a tough gal, I’m sure she can handle herself on any job she happens to get.”

The magnetic seal to the Arcturus let out a soft hum, and the Remora detached from the underbelly of the ship.

“I don’t believe that’s why Night’s upset, Happy.” Ping frowned to Happy, wincing as a wave of rain whipped against him and the rear cabin wall.

“Of course it isn’t, it’s cause she’s pissed that the big guy is down there getting laid!” Happy smirked and waggled his eyebrows. “After all, it’s not like she can just go ask Night here to scratch that particular itch.”

“It’s not like that, Happy.” I grumbled and deadpanned at him. As much as I wanted to boot him right out of the Remora, I knew he was only trying fairly poorly to keep my mind off of things. “Look, we should focus on the task ahead.”

“Right,” Tofu squeaked and meekly nodded. “Something just feels… off.” She paused and shoved her hoof against her muzzle with a whine. “Then… again, maybe that’s just because... this ship won’t stop moving…”

I didn’t want to laugh, but it had been quite some time since I’d seen her turn the shade of green that comes with a bit of light turbulence. She’d done so well acclimating to the Arcturus that her airsickness had hardly been a problem anymore, or so I’d thought. Then again, I wasn’t there when she’d gone down to the radio mast up north near Hopeville.

“Look, Night, buddy.” Happy lined up beside and slung his hoof over me, pulling me close. “I’m telling you, she’s upset because she’s pent up! Why not let her have a chance to let off some steam?”

“How? Let her sleep with you?” Again, I deadpanned at him. Seriously, now I know exactly how Delilah came to have a permanently exhausted look to her. Just why was he pushing so hard for this?

“No!” He recoiled sharply, “fuck, I am not looking for that kind of special pain in the bedroom.” With a snort, he smirked and nudged against me again. “I mean, I’ll sleep with any chick really, but I’m not that crazy ta sleep with your girl, ya dig?” I don’t know what exactly he expected me to say to that, but from the way he cleared his throat, it was obvious he wanted to move on. “I’m just sayin, I know this joint here in town where maybe we could all go and find a stranger’s bed for the night. They aren’t too pricey, and last time I came through, their mares weren’t too bad looking either.”

And there it is. The real reason behind all his begging. Luna, stay my hooves so I don’t use them to throw him overboard.

“I believe that would be called a brothel.” Ping chimed in with an oddly excited tone. Glancing over at him, he wore a creepier than average beaming smile. “The thought of visiting one is intriguing. Even a short time there may help the Factory further understand average pony behavior and mannerisms.”

“Heh, for a few caps, you can always do a bit more than just look.” Happy glanced over at Ping with his own wide grin before twisting his muzzle for a moment. “Wait, can you even do more than just look?”

“We aren’t going to a brothel!” I huffed and carefully separated myself from his side. “Besides, I thought you were going to stop giving in to those sorts of behavior.”

“I did!” Happy spat as he wheeled around on me again. “I haven’t slept with anypony in I don’t even know how long now, and that’s basically a record for me!” He flailed his forehooves dramatically before crossing them against his barrel with a snort. “Plus, I practically gave up drinking for the most part, so I think I’m entitled to a little reward as well, okay?”

I hated to admit it, but... he was right. After our talk in the Factory, he has pretty much been on the up and up, especially given we’d hit some rough patches along the way.

“I… could always go too.” Tofu squeaked, surprising both Happy and I as she jumped headfirst into the conversation with a green-tinged smile. “You know, so Hispano isn’t alone the whole night.” She was hesitant to look, but once she’d caught my gaze, she went wide eyed and offered up her best, pleading look to me. “Please? I know it would really help her relax, and… it would really help me relax too.”

Damnit, Hispano, did you have to teach her how to do that?

“Fine.” I turned my gaze out toward the grey, rain filled skies above Seaddle. Just because I gave in didn’t mean I had to be happy about it. Though, if it did help Hispano at all, then it would be worth it in the end. “We’ll see about finding Hispano and asking her, but only after we deal with getting the parts for the Arcturus.”

“I knew you’d come around, Buddy!” Happy let out a short, satisfied whinney as he wrapped his hoof around me tightly again. “Trust me about this, I know this place is going to knock your socks off! Oh! Plus, while I’m not really the guy who looks into it, I’m pretty sure they’ll have a decent selection of stallions for you if you’re feeling up to it.” Really? The urge to throw him out of the Remora was rising again… quite quickly. “Just think about it, alright? If Buck and Hispano are going to get laid, then why shouldn’t you?”

“Hey, I think that’s it.” Tofu moaned as she craned her neck to look out of the Remora’s open cabin.

Ping, Happy and I all turned our attention out and down to the sprawling ruins down below. The Bow-wing airfield was bigger than I’d expected, with the oversized runway alone almost as wide as the whole Galloway compound had been. It was the longest runway I’d ever seen, it had to be nearly three kilometers long, with it’s north tip sunk partially into the murky waters of the Seaddle waterfront. Sixteen or so massive hangars sat lining the western side of the runway, crammed close enough side by side that it was hard to tell where some of them started and others ended.

The hangars toward the southern end mostly had their main doors open. They looked absolutely packed full of different and odd looking fixed wing planes, vertibucks, various skycraft, tanks, ground equipment, you name it. Dozens of repurposed skycraft fuselages and concrete bunkers sat scattered all around, with various vehicles and shipping containers spread out between them as well. The whole place was like a collection of every oddity from the past, but none of it mattered to what stood out of place most here.

Nearly directly below us on the east side of the runway, there were hundreds of ponies moving about what looked like a dozen concrete bunkers and a large, hastily constructed camp. A large hospital tent with the Ministry of Peace logo sat near the center, and had a line of ponies wrapping around it. Opposite that, was a different line of them that looked to be standing around a makeshift canteen that was regularly doling out food to the ponies waiting.

“Wait… what symbol is that?” Tofu scrunched up her muzzle as she pointed her hoof back towards the large hangers. “That’s not anything I’ve seen allowed on Ranger buildings.”

The largest and most central Hanger had a few ponies lowered down from the roof on a platform where they were painting something. The Remora shifted it’s flight, and skewed us slightly closer as it started to slow us down. In a bid of good timing, the ponies lowered their platform to continue painting, revealing a mostly complete set of three bright red apples.

“Huh, that wasn’t here when we came through before.” Happy scratched at his head as he stared as well.

A burst of static filled my head, and both Ping and I perked up.

“Unidentified Skycraft.” The sharp, barking voice of a stallion came over the radio with the focus and cadence of a strict Steel Ranger. “This is a restricted flight zone. Unless this is an emergency, we ask that you please adjust your course and heading to vacate the area. Thank you for your cooperation.” Okay, since when did the Rangers start requesting things nicely?

“This is definitely weird. Those look like civilians down below us.” Tofu grumbled before the Remora changing direction again made her cover her muzzle with both hooves. “We need to get down there, Captain. I’m sorry, but I literally need to figure it out before it bugs me to death.”

“This is the crew of the Remora,” Ping’s voice called back over the radio, but as usual, he didn’t physically speak up next to us. “We are badly damaged and need to set down to assess and affect repairs. Please provide a cleared landing zone for us.”

“This is Bow-Wing tower.” A deeper voice of a stallion came back over the radio, speaking in a way that sounded either like he was incredibly depressed, or just not wanting to deal with emotions today. “Adjust your heading to zero four one and make your altitude one zero zero. Vertibuck pad four is cleared for landing, and our ground crews will be waiting to secure your craft.”

As the pony said that, Happy and I turned our sights on a small group of ponies in jumpsuits spring into action across the field. They hopped into a small square truck, with all but the driver turning their gazes up to us as we approached. They smiled and waved, but the pile of standard issue equestrian army rifles in the back with them gave me pause.

“Alright, looks like your standard Steel Ranger armed welcome.” I offered to Happy and Tofu as the Remora’s engines shifted to slowly stop us over the small concrete landing pad. “Remember, we want to have a friendly talk with them, so be nice.”

The small truck pulled up to the edge of the pad as the Remora touched down, and each of the five inside hopped out. While one of the ponies from the back wrapped one of the rifles around themselves, the others instead grabbed a few toolboxes and tools instead.

One of the group in particular caught my eye as her toolbox split open and dumped her tools across the ground. She was a grey colored, long eared donkey with a set of old world, thick framed square glasses on her muzzle. The other ponies around her laughed as they practically stepped over her, but didn’t help as she scrambled to pick up her tools. Though it was weird to see a donkey in the Rangers, the fact they didn’t care to help her did seem par for the course...

As the Remora’s engines spooled down and the wash from them drained away, the forest green colored mare who’d been driving the truck trotted over.

She was a shorter mare, about my height and build, which seemed strange for an earth pony. A tight bun of bright yellow mane was pulled back just under a red and white polka dot scarf and a set of dark welding goggles that sat strapped to her forehead. Her bright pink eyes wandered over the Remora’s rain soaked body like it was a gorgeous stallion after a hot shower. However, more than her gaze caught my attention, and I found myself staring at the same three red apples sitting painted across what had once been the logo on a standard Steel Ranger’s jumpsuit.

“Wow, this is one interesting machine you’ve got here.” She laughed before turning her attention down to Happy. With a cant of her head, her smile widened and she held her hoof out to him. “Can’t say I’ve ever met a mule with such a unique piece of tech before. My name is Captain Fowler, but you can just call me Ducky if you’d like.”

“At least they didn’t have any tin soldiers here to greet us.” Happy muttered under his breath to me before stepping forward himself. I had to hoof it to him, he had me there. Being under the guns of power armored rangers had definitely been the low point of hanging around at Galloway. Happy smiled and held out his wooden hoof to the young officer, and quickly received a hesitant glance at it. “Not to worry, it’s not contagious.” He smiled wider to her, and after another moment, she took it lightly in her fetlock and offered a quick shake. Happy let out a laugh as he looked over at the Donkey finally making her way over to us. “Yeah, our craft here is one of a kind, and let me tell you, she’s pretty amazing if I say so myself.”

“Hi there,” I offered, doing my best to hobble forward. “We…”

That was as far as I’d made it before Tofu all but shoved me out of the way.

“Okay, enough’s enough!” She blurted out as she stomped her way forward, doing to Happy the same as she’d done to me. “Yeah, so, what the hell is going on here? Those uniforms aren’t regulation, you’ve stripped all of the logos from everything.” Flailing her hoof towards the other side of the runway, she let out a deep huff. “And while I’m all for helping out the locals, you literally don’t even have the civvies cordoned off in a secure area! You’re just asking for the scribes to start bitching about missing tech if you ask me. Are they sleeping on the job, or just literally that incompitant?”

As she spoke, the other rangers who’d been in the process of setting their tools down, stopped and looked at each other. One by one, I noticed that each one glared needles at Tofu before turning and heading back toward their truck. As soon as the first one had, I felt my stomach drop out.

“Tofu, I’m sure it’s nothing.” I offered, reaching forward to Happy. I did my best to guide him to take a step back, and from the way he glanced back at me, I think he knew something was up too.

However, both of us stopped when we heard thumping. Even Tofu seemed to go quiet for a moment as we listened to heavy hoofbeats coming from the backside of the Remora. Unsurprisingly, a pony in a suit of power armor came trotting around toward the other rangers, with its occupant heaving and wheezing through the helmet mic.

“Sorry…” The stallion panted and heaved in the suit, holding his massively armored hoof up as he caught his breath. “I… ran from hanger two… as fast as I could.” Weirdly though, their power armor didn’t look like the other ranger armor I’d seen. It was… painted.

“What the fuck is this?” Tofu gasped and held her hoof out at the armor. “Red trim? A painted tri-apple cutie mark? I’m not even literally a full scribe and even I know you’re violating at least three whole sections of chapter tenants! You might as well have literally painted a big bullseye on him while you were at it! Has your elder gone mad? I know that the codex can be interpreted loosely sometimes, but what sort of sad excuse of a Ranger base is this!”

“Oh, I take it you haven’t heard then…” Ducky winced and bit her lower lip as the rangers coming up behind her grabbed their rifles, and swiftly leveled them at us. “There was a slight disagreement on ethics between Elder Pilaf and Head Scribe Fenestron, and well… there’s been a change in management. You see, we’re the Applejack’s Rangers now, and while we’re more than willing to help anypony in need, we don’t take kindly to threats.” With a smirk she reached over and gave Tofu a quick few pats on the head. “So why don’t you calm yourself down and come quietly. We have some questions we’d like you to answer for us.”

Author's Note

Yet another big thanks to TheFurryRailFan for all his help in going over these chapters!

And of course, thanks to Kkat for creating FoE and letting us all run around with our own stories in this fun little universe.

Prologue

Smile... tomorrow will be worse.

“The tragedy at Littlehorn was the ignition point of the conflict. While the Zebra government denied direct responsibility, we had to make our decision based on the fact that an attack by one was an attack by the many. In the single most efficient session of delegation that equestria has ever had, war was unanimously declared against the Zebra Empire. This of course eventually lead to the exchange of megaspells that brought about the wastelands.”

Mrs. Chalk’s lecture to the class continued to be pointless and boring. Instead, my thoughts were scattered as I hoofed at the worn dogtags that hung around my neck. My eyes were lost, peering out the window at the large black cloudship that sat in the maintenance dock at the other edge of the settlement.

“Day dreaming, Miss Night?” Mrs. Chalk spoke sternly to get my attention. Instead, it only garnered a chuckle from my other classmates. “Mr. Night. Excuse me, I’m still not quite acquainted with your… peculiar looks yet.” The elderly mare looked more like she belonged in history, rather than teaching it. But that was something I wouldn’t say, because as I’ve been told, I’m too nice for my own good.

“It’s fine.” I sighed, turning to look up at her. Letting the dog tags slip from my hoof, I brushed my long bangs from my vision. “The teachers at my old school made the same mistake.” I smiled, listening as another hushed giggle ran through the others. I knew I looked like a mare, but really what did it matter to anypony else so long as I liked how I looked?

“While I’m sure it is annoying, you would do well to pay attention to todays lesson.” She swung her judgemental gaze around the class, silencing them. “Because tomorrow, I’m breaking out the paper and pencils.” A groan emit from every other student in the room. “That’s right, you’ll all have a lot to think about before the history test tomorrow.”

The school bell rang and saved the rest of the class from having to listen to any more of Mrs. Chalk’s ‘drivel’. Though I wasn’t eager to get out of school, I wanted to get out of here before Shimmer got herself in place. So, immediately I began to cram my things into my saddlebags.

“Mr. Night? A word before you go?” In the week that I’d been here, Mrs. Chalk never had students stay behind. Every moment I stayed, would be another that Shimmer and her posse could get together and scheme.

“I’m sorry.” I wanted to make this quick, but I knew I probably should have been less distracted then I'd ended up being. “I’ll pay more attention tomorrow, I promise.” I got up from my desk, and immediately found her hoof on my shoulder, keeping me where I was.

She sighed and lifted her glasses off with her wing. “I understand that things have been hard for you.” Her beige eyes looked at me in the most kind manner I’d seen in the short time I’d been in her class. “Your mother died a hero to the Enclave. You should be proud of what she sacrificed for the whole of our society.”

“They didn’t even tell me what happened.” I sighed and let my bags slump off my desk. “All we got was a mare at our door with an apology and a reparations check. My dad requested to know what happened, but we were turned down and asked never to inquire again.”

“I’ve been around for a long time, Night. You aren’t the first of my students to lose a parent.” She rubbed at my shoulder softly. “I know that the reassignment to our little corner of the Enclave doesn’t help either, but you’ll grow to like it here. I saw that you made a friend just the other day as well.” She inspected her glasses before she put them on again, turning around as she did. “Rogue Winds is a poor student, but he has a very kind soul.”

“Yeah, I guess.” I sighed. Honestly, I was pretty sure that he only hung around because he genuinely thought I was a mare. It was a bit of a blessing and a curse, really. I loved the way that I was, but a little part of me resented the fact that I'd inherited so much of my mother's looks. “Can I go home now?”

“Oh, one last thing before you do.” She grunted as she used one of her wings to start clearing the chalkboard. “It seems that your transcript wasn’t completely filled in when it arrived.” She looked back at me with a soft smile. “I’m afraid that it would be useless to give you the same test twice, seeing as I can only assume you’ve passed this class of history before at your previous school.” That was a relief. Without having to study, I could take the afternoon to practice my maneuvers!

“Thanks, Mrs. Chalk.” I nodded and hoofed at my bag, pulling the strap up and around my neck.

“Besides, the test will be useless next year, when our fantastic government decides to once again change the curriculum to fit their agenda again. I swear, nopony alive even knows what really happened back then anymore.” She rolled her eyes and gave a dismissive wave with her hoof. “Nevermind that, you have a good afternoon, Night Flight.”

“You too, Mrs. Chalk.” I turned and spread my wings, trotting toward the school doors. I lowered my head and bit down on my bag’s strap, pushing the doors open with my head as I tightened my bag to me. The warm sunlight that beamed down felt fantastic across my body, and a soft breeze filtered through my feathers. It was time to head home.

I don’t know why they’d built the schoolhouse so far from town, but it made for an annoyingly long trip home. That was even if you could fly well enough. Me though? I enjoyed walking, which came as a surprise to everypony else here. Back in Neighvarro city, it had been fairly normal and enjoyable for ponies to walk everywhere.

Settlement 262, or Four Peaks as it was called, was unfortunately now my home. Erected in the center of four near equi-distant mountain peaks, it was the last stop in northwestern equestria before you hit the frozen northern wastes. Nopony outside of new transfers or supply couriers ever visited this speck on the map, and nopony who lived here ever left without signing up to be a soldier. I’ll admit, it was a nice community, but there were only 65 families who lived here. Most everypony here worked at the shipyard, and barring military service, that’s where I’d find myself working after I graduated as well.

I found that it was always quiet in the late afternoon. Either everyone was working over at the shipyard, or they were asleep until the night shift changeover an hour from now. We were but a blip on the Enclave’s radar, only supplied enough to house and feed the working families. The schoolhouse and the security station were the only two non-residential structures here, and the schoolhouse was only so they could say they did something to prepare us for the mandatory military flight school entrance exam. Hell, they didn’t even bother giving this place a market. Everypony got their food directly from the shipyard through the meal tickets they earned.

“What took you so long?” Rogue grumbled as he trotted over to me. I’d been surprised to see him so far ahead of me, as he normally didn’t take to walking. Seeing as I’d stayed after a bit, it at least made sense to me why he was on edge. “Now Shimmer’s going to be waiting for us. She could be anywhere.”

“Ugh, I know.” I whined and hung my head. “While she is an annoying little cunt, they’re just words. They don’t hurt if you don’t listen to them.” I didn’t want to resort to name calling, but there was nopony around.

Rogue was a good guy and all, more than just a little rotund for a pegasus, but a good guy overall. Before I’d transferred here, he was the pony that everyone picked on. He was extremely sensitive about his weight, but I never understood why. At the very least, he could fly like everypony else.

I on the other hoof, was cursed not only with my mothers looks, but I was born with stunted primary feathers. It meant that while I could still fly, my level flight speed was much slower than other pegasi, and it tired me out faster than them. Though, the upside to my ‘disability’, was that my wings provided less resistance in a dive. Get me going down, and I could beat every other pegasus in speed. Unfortunately for me, down was somewhere we were always prohibited to go.

“You mean, if you were smart enough to understand words. Isn’t that right, fatass and flat feathers?” A nefarious giggle emanated from the clouds we walked across. The sky’s most annoying pipsqueak “And by the way, when my daddy hears what you called me, I’ll make extra sure that your dad works an extra shift less next week.” Shimmer Pull, the bane of my existence squeaked out. Her bright red coat did exactly what her name reflected as she buzzed into the air in front of me.

“Your father might be the supervisor, but he won’t cut shifts from anypony.” I rolled my eyes at her. “Or didn’t you hear? Neighvarro needs the raptor ready for whatever’s been happening on the east coast. They’re pulling double shifts to get it finished in time.”

Which was odd, because the raptor in drydock was Thunderhead’s, and they were the one who sent it for refurbishment. Still, my comeback made the little filly grimace. Slowly, that grimace melted away into a smug smirk.

“Even so,” Another voice chirped up from behind Rogue and I. “It must be so hard for him to know that his disabled daughter can’t even fly right.” The small blue filly that was most commonly around Shimmer popped out of the cloud layer. “Oh, I’m sorry. You’re his son, that’s right.”

“You said that those dog tags were your mother’s?” Shimmer chortled as my blood pressure spiked with those words. “She probably died of embarrassment.”

“You shut your fucking muzzle you little bitch!” I saw red and pushed myself off to charge at her, but Rogue grabbed my rear hooves and held on for dear life. His straining hooves were the only thing keeping me anchored. I angrily swung my forehooves wildly through the air at her. In a surprising move, she flew right into one. She went down with a squeak, making me freeze up in horrified confusion.

“Now we’ll see who get’s their shift cut tomorrow.” She smile and pulled herself up off the cloudlayer, her cheek darkening from where I’d hit her. “Come on, Canard. Let’s go tell my father what Night did to me!”

“Later, losers!” The blue filly zipped past us as she gave out a twisted laugh.

“Fuck, what have I done.” I sat down hard, creating a small cloud plume as I did. Holding my head in my hooves, I cursed myself for losing my temper.

The rest of the walk, we’d kept pretty quiet. Rogue’s only real dialogue had been how his mother was on her way to the security office. His mother was waiting for the reparations check that they were to receive from Thunderhead. Not unlike me, he too had lost family. Apparently, an accident at the old Rainbow Dash Skyport in Hoofington last week had killed his aunt, and his mother was given all of her things.

Once we’d entered town, Rogue asked if I was going to meet him later at our hangout. I’d begrudgingly agreed because somepony I had taken an interest in was supposed to meet us there. At least, I’d hope he’d show up.

With a sigh, I pushed open the door to our cloudhome, and lazily walked in. Our home was much bigger than the apartment we’d used to own in the city, but it felt so empty with just dad and I here.

“Night, is that you?” The voice of my father called out from the kitchen.

“Dad?” It was odd, he wasn’t scheduled to be off yet. “Is everything alright?” I trotted into the other room and sat my bags down on the couch. His silence punctuated the sound of my hoofsteps on the old tile as I entered the kitchen. He sat at our table, staring deeply into a framed picture with sad eyes. “Dad?”

“My shift was called early today.” He sighed, not taking his eyes off the picture the three of us took last year. It was back when Mom was just getting ready for her sixteen month deployment. “An anomaly in the reactor computer had some of the techs worried.” Delicately, he put the frame down and looked over to me. “Sorry, no meal tickets today.”

“It’s alright, dad.” I did my best to smile and comfort him. I trotted over and wrapped my hooves around him in a tight hug.

“So how was school?” He gave my back a pat before getting back up to his hooves.

“So… uh, please don’t be mad?” I whined as I broke the hug. He had a worried look on his face. “I punched a filly in the face.”

“You... what?” He shut his eyes with a groan. “Why on Celestia’s earth would you do something like that?” He facehoofed and ground his hoof against his forehead.

“She’s been nothing but a little bully, and... she made fun of mom.” I whined. I pleaded in the back of my mind that he wouldn’t be too angry, but if he actually did lose shifts over it, I didn’t know what I could even do to make it up to him.

“I know, that moving has been hard on you.” The tone of disappointment in his voice hurt almost as much as the look on his face. “And that you have had a hard time fitting in, but you can’t just go around hitting little fillies.”

“I’m sorry, Dad.” I sat down and hung my head in shame.

“You’re going to go over there right now and apologize, alright?” He sighed and stretched out his wings. “I’m going to head back to work. Maybe I can pick up somepony else’s shift for the night if I’m lucky.”

“I’m not even hungry tonight, so it’s fine! I’m going to go apologize like you want, but only if you agree to stay home tonight.” More and more he’s buried himself in his work, and I could see him wasting away from it. “Dad, you have to rest.”

“That’s not how it works, Night.” He turned around and walked out toward the door. “I’m sorry.”

I flopped my head down onto the table with an exasperated sigh. “Hey, Dad?” As I stared at the picture frame, I heard him stop. “I miss her too.”

“I know.” With a solemn shuffle, he stepped to the door and opened it. “Do your homework, and don’t stay up too late, alright?” He stepped through, and it creaked as he pulled it closed. “I love you, Night Flight.” He shut the door with a soft click.

“I love you too, Dad.” I muttered only to myself. Well, there goes my maneuver practice time.

“So yeah, again, I’m sorry.” Honestly, apologizing didn’t help make me feel any less regret for what I’ve put Dad through.

“Well you should be.” Mr. Airstream had been quite imposing as he stood in the doorway. He’d been casting his judgemental gaze from the moment he opened the door, and I deserved it. “I don’t know how you were raised where you came from, but if you ever lay a hoof on my little filly again, it’ll be the last thing you do with that hoof at all.” He snorted and pointed back the way I’d come. “Now get out of my sight.”

“Yes, sir.” I nodded and turned around. “It won’t happen again.”

He slammed the door shut, and I could hear him angrily stomp off. From the front window of their house, a soft knock met my ears. I perked them and turned to find Shimmer sitting there, sticking her tongue out at me. I was too old to care about foalish insults like that anymore. She’d get what was coming to her one day, and when she cried about it, they would be real tears of regret.

As I trotted through the streets, passing all of the homes of the workers at the factory, I didn’t have anything on my mind. The jingling of mom’s dog tags were like a soothing chime, and the warmth of the afternoon sun helped me to relax. Without knowing it, I felt the breeze under my wings. On days like this, I could use the thermals to hover along just above the clouds. It wasn’t too fast, just a relaxed pace, but I had the time.

The longer I traveled, the more a thought poked itself into my head. Salt Breeze, the stallion I’d found myself staring at sometimes in class, had wanted to meet up tonight. In the back of my mind, I was screaming like a filly at the thought that maybe he’d tell me he had an interest in me. The other half of me was petrified at the idea the this would all be some sort of elaborate prank.

Without thinking it, I found myself quite high up over the clouds. Looking around, I found the south peak, where the local young ponies hangout was. Carefully, I straightened my wings out, and let my forelegs hang down loosely. With the shift of my weight, and a tilt of my neck, I tipped into a shallow dive.

The wind whipped my mane back as I started to rapidly gain speed. It wasn’t much, but the northward breeze helped to keep my dive slower than normal. My tail snapped into line, helping to steer me towards my destination. Though other ponies criticized me for my form, the air resistance against my legs helped me to determine almost everything about my dive.

Approaching the cloud layer, I was positively shooting through the air. With just a small adjustment to the pitch of my wings, I leveled out. I was like a hot knife cutting through ever cooling butter, slowing with each passing moment. With the way I flew, I needed quite a lot of time to stop. Most pegasi could just flair their wings a few times, and bam! All that speed would be gone. If I did that, I’d only find myself falling hindlegs first into the clouds below.

The sharp, jagged rocks of the mountain’s peak made it look menacing and dangerous. Something that I was sure lead to it being used as a hangout in the first place. The clouds didn’t exactly form a tight seam to the cloud layer until about twenty feet down. Just above where it met the mountain, I saw the cave entrance. Landing down next to it, I hopped the few feet over to the hard rock easy enough and stopped just at the entrance to look in.

‘The Den’ as the others liked to call it, was little larger than my living room back at home. None of them had any clue of who’d dug it out or why, but this cave on the southern peak was the only one on any of the four mountaintops. It must have been used for a hangout for generations, as it was mostly furnished as well.

A bright orange, worn shag carpet lined the floor, and a few quilts were hung around the walls like the tapestries that used to hang in Canterlot before the war. It also had an old rusting refrigerator, a broken radio that hadn’t worked probably even before the war, and an old military hooflocker that they stashed their ‘goods’ in. Mind you that the ‘goods’ right now were only a couple of wingboner magazines and a hole filled shadowbolts jacket.

The worn and scratched up, rectangular coffee table that sat in the center of the room was at the focus of the whole cave. On each end of the coffee table, sat a ripped and moldy chair, while on the backside of the cave sat a large plush checkered couch. Sitting on that couch, was the stallion I’d been looking for. Sitting next to him, was Rogue, whose expression brightened the moment I walked in.

“Geeze, I’d begun to think you weren’t going to show!” He pushed himself up off the couch and trotted toward me. “Yeah, yesterday Salt told me that he wanted to hang out here, and he’d asked if I’d invite you.” He smirked and looked at the floor. “He’s seen the way you look at him, you know. He…”

He paused when an odd ringing filled the air. The two of us perked our ears and I turned around. It was an alternating wail that carried all the way to us. It sounded almost like…

“Those are the dry dock’s sirens.” He spat out in panic. “We…!”

From this side of the peak, the sky turned black. The daylight was simply gone as I stood in petrified confusion. The siren’s wail was drowned out by an ever increasing rumble, that grew into what sounded like a roar. Bright, multicolored light poured over the sides of the peak, and in that moment I knew what it was. I turned to scream at Rogue, but I wasn’t fast enough.

The blast wave slammed into the mountain hard enough that it threw me off of it. I watched as the cave entrance fractured and collapsed down on top of Rogue. My wings were pulled back by the sheer force of the wind as it curled around the mountain, and it carried the cloud layer that hugged the mountain back at an incredible speed.

Rotating out of control, the force of the wind got me all turned upside down, and I quickly found myself slammed down against the rock face on the side of the mountain. I slid across the flat surface for a few feet, headed for the dropoff of a cliff face. Panicking, I scraped my hooves along the stone, barely managing to hook my hoof onto a small crack in the rocks.

My ears rang like gongs, and even as the bright light left, the returning blue sky seemed awfully dark for the afternoon. With most of the wind from the blast gone, I flapped my inefficient wings as hard as I could. Slowly, and with great effort, I pulled myself into the cleared skies.

Four Peaks was gone.

Nothing sat where just minutes ago, everything had been peaceful and just fine. My eyes scanned around in the air, finding nothing but the opposite edge of the shredded cloud layer miles across from me. Looking down, granted me an even more horrible sight.

The peak that the skydock had been built on, had been eradicated. What sat in it’s place, was a concave crater of molten rock that sat now far below where we used to call level clouds. Twisted, melting, and strewn about the various rocky sides of the mountain, were the remaining parts of the raptor. As I stared at the horror of it all, in it, somehow the scope of it all seemed so much more real when I remembered that my father had been back at work.

Dad was dead.

I broke down. My wings folded in, and I dropped down against the mountainside in grief. The moment I landed, I screamed out in pain and immediately pushed myself away. The rocks against this part of the mountainside were like the top of a stove. From here, I could see the ones on the side closer to where town had been, glowed a fiery red.

The only safe haven I found in the rocks, was down at where the cave entrance once sat. Now, huge misshapen stones formed a tight barrier against the mountainside. Lodged in the pile, was the bloody and dust coated body of Rogue. His skull had been caved in by a boulder, and the force of them coming down on top of him, had pushed his insides through a jagged and bloody split along his broken neck.

I hadn’t eaten anything that day, but the sight of it made me recoil and dry heave repeatedly onto the ground. There, my strength gave out, and I simply fell over. I screamed out, flailing my hooves like it would do any good. The truth was that Dad, Mrs. Chalk... everypony was fucking dead!

I cried. I didn’t care if I sounded like a foal, or if it made me look more like a mare than I was. None of it mattered anymore, because everything I ever had was gone. Even I was going to die. I hadn’t eaten in a day, there was no food and water left to be found. I would just slowly starve to death up here. So I did what any seventeen year old would do in this situation, and just balled my eyes out.

Minutes turned to hours, and eventually I lost the strength to even cry. I simply laid on the rocks, and stared out into the void under the clouds. The lowering afternoon sun cast through the large plume that rose from the burning rock of the mountain. It threw an orange glow across the many trees that rose off the mountain’s sides below me, and it made me feel as if the whole world was burning around me.

But the more I looked, the more it felt like an odd thing to see. The Enclave had always deemed that there was no civilized or harmless life left below the clouds. Yet, without the orange tint, these trees looked as green and vibrant as any picture I’d seen did.

Oh, what did it matter. I was going to die up here anyway.

“H-hello?” A muffled voice took my breath away. “Is somepony out there?” It was Salt’s voice! It was coming through the rocks! “Hellooo?”

“I’m,” I gasped out as I scrambled to my hooves. “I’m out here!” I shut my eyes as I walked over and pressed myself against the rock. Both in part to focus on his voice, and to not see Rogue again. “Everything… everything’s gone. They’re all dead.”

“Don’t panic.” He sounded quite calm, but I was going to take everything I could get right now. “Neither of us can move these rocks, so I need you to go get help.”

“I…” Help? Did he not understand that everypony was dead? “There’s nopony left!”

“Below the clouds. About a half day north west of here, is a ground settlement.” His voice grew a bit quieter. My mind refused to understand what he was saying. “You need to go there and find a pony named Boxer.”

“I don’t know where to go!” I whined. I couldn’t do this alone! “How do you know it’s even there?”

“Trust me, I’ve been there before.” He sounded like he’d moved closer. How could he have been down there? Nopony was allowed below the clouds! If you did fall, then you would be dead in minutes from exposure! “Look, I know it’s tough, but you have to get there to find help to move these rocks.”

“I…” I stammered. This was all too much to pin on me!

“The land below the clouds is safe. Your government lied to you! You just need to head north west!” He paused and let out a deep cough. “I’ve seen how well you’ve done on your navigation work. I copied your test on monday and got an eighty percent.”

“But I don’t know how to survive out here!” I pressed my face against the rock harder, trying to force my frustration and anxiety into it.

“I do.” He sounded more stern. “But if you don’t go, I’ll die in here.”

“I…” I gave in. “Okay, I’ll go.” I sat there for a moment, as still as I could be. “Just, stay alive for me, okay?”

“Yeah,” He gave me a lighthearted laugh that turned into a sputtering cough. “Maybe then we can go on a date or something. I can feel that you have a thing for me.”

“Okay!” I stepped back from the rock. “I’m going to go. I will return with help!” I spread my wings as I turned, and threw myself from the mountain side. As my speed picked up, I turned myself around to the direction I knew to be north west. From that point on, I clamped my eyes shut. I knew that If I looked down at the settlement again, that I’d curl up and fall to my death in grief.

“I’m sorry, Dad.” I whispered to the wind, and pushed myself into a shallow dive.

It had only been an hour that I’d been up, and my wings were becoming incredibly tired. I’d never flown for this long before, and it showed. To make things even worse, valley after valley passed below me, rows of unending tree’s spread out as far as I could see. The greyish light that filtered through the cloud cover made everything look the same, and I’d started to worry that maybe I’d gone off course.

A high pitched noise carried across the winds to me. It didn’t take long, but I spotted several black dots floating just below the clouds. My heart skipped a beat when I realized that they must be the enclave! They must have known that something happened, and were coming to check out the scene. With a smile, and renewed hope for Salt, I pulled myself into a light climb. It killed my speed fairly quickly, but where did I need to go when they would come to me?

As they came closer however, I noticed that they didn’t quite look like pegasi. Their wings were too big for their bodies, and they only had two legs. One of the things let out a terrifying screech and turned right at me. It looked like the bats out of my textbooks, but if somepony had fed them nothing but bottles of buck!

It’s friends turned towards me as well, and suddenly I wasn’t feeling so confident that they were going to just let me fly by. I snapped my wings shut, and started a steep fall. I torqued and rotated myself so that I was falling head first out of the sky before I opened my wings.

I pulled myself up, keeping the speed I’d built in the short fall. With a quick glance over my shoulder, I found that the four monstrous bats had now fallen in on me. Each one traveled terrifyingly quickly in a dive after me, and I started to panic.

Pushing myself into a steep dive, I quickly matched speed with them. Short, quick adjustments of my tired wings kept me going fast enough that they lost speed faster than I did. Unfortunately, I was running out of diving room.

The sharp treetops bristled with needled branches, standing like a field of spikes before me. I’d hoped that maybe the speed would have been too much, or that they’d lose interest in me. With an angry scream, I knew that they were still hot on my fetlocks. I would have to do something drastic!

With a sharp pitch, I turned and dove down between the tree’s. I worked my wings, legs, tail, and even my head in concert to give me enough rotation to weave my way through the enormous plants. The sound of the air this close to the ground was different as I shot through it than above the cloud layer. Everything was slightly muffled, and even the pained shrieks I heard behind me had a different pitch to it. I was very quickly blowing all my speed just to maneuver around the trees now, and I was getting worried about going any lower to the deep brown ground just fifteen feet or so below me. The aggravated screams of those creatures sounded fairly far away from me, and I smirked with the thought that maybe I’d lost them.

During my turn around the next tree, I thought it safe to glance back to make sure they weren’t chasing me. The quick look afforded me the knowledge that they weren’t behind me anymore. Which was great, because I was going far too slow to outrun them now.

A new sound met my ears, a deep thrumming coming from the direction I was headed. I turned to look, and found an enormous blue metal wall sitting almost thirty feet above the ground. The faded word Shipping sat emblazoned across the old metal, but that was all I managed to see before I flared my wings as hard as I could, pitching myself up to stop.

I was wrong with what I’d said before. It turns out that I can stop fairly quickly. I just need a little help from a metal wall to do so. Pain gripped me momentarily, and the world dropped into a pitch darkness. As I drifted off to a dark sleep, I prayed that this had all just been a terrible nightmare I’d wake up from in the morning.

Chapter 1 - The New World

If you knew what you were doing, you'd probably be bored.

“What!” I shouted as I shot my head up off my desk.

I looked around as I heard voices around me, slowly realizing that I was in class still. The other students around me seemed to have taken no notice at my sudden outburst. I slumped in my seat and turned to look out the window. As I did, I saw a bright light glowing in the raptor parked at the mountain. The sounds of the shipyard siren coming to life made my heart skip a beat.

“It’s going to explode!” I cried out, scrambling under my desk like every foal had been taught in the case of an emergency. As I hid under there, the others in class simply turned at me and laughed. Rogue, Shimmer, even Mrs. Chalk stood there laughing at me as the sirens wailed out. The only pony who didn’t, was Salt. He sat under his desk like me, his scared eyes glowing brightly for some strange reason as he looked at me.

“Look at dumb flat feathers down below the clouds!” Shimmer pointed her hoof at me. “Stupid stallion can’t even fly!”

“S-shut up!” I shouted at her. The sirens were glowing louder.

“Night?” My father’s voice came from behind me. I turned to see him standing in front of the window with a frown. “I’m disappointed in you. I tried to make this work, but you ruined my life.”

“Dad… why?” I reached out for him, but my hooves stuck stubbornly to the clouds. “I’m sorry, I’ll be better!” I pulled with all my might, but the clouds turned to the consistency of sticky taffy.

“It’s too late for that, Night. I don’t love you anymore.” He snorted.

No… this couldn’t be happening!

I struggled against the restricting clouds. No matter what I did, they refused to let go. Finally, with a strong kick, I desolved them. When the clouds vaporized, so did my wings, and without them I began to fall. Even as I fell, I could hear my father’s words.

“I’m sorry, but I’m going to see your mother again now.” His sad gaze watched as I plummeted down away from them. “Goodbye, Night.”

With a multicolored flash, everything went away.

I screamed and tried to get up. Quite abruptly, I found myself ripped back down when I did. I wasn’t proud of it, but a whimper escaped my muzzle from the pain that shot through my forelegs. Never had I pretended to be a tough stallion, but there was no point more than now where I wish I was.

“Woah, woah!” A voice called out to me. “Easy there.”

Cold metal cuffs had bound me down to what felt like a very lumpy bed. Even my wings stubbornly refused to open, feeling like they pressed against some sort of bindings. The air around me smelled heavily of rot and the wetness of rain. Mixed in with it, for some reason, was the smell of fresh flowers. The chafing of a dark blindfold over my eyes alarmed me, and a fear I’d never felt before in my life gripped my mind like it was intent on strangling the life from me.

“What’s going on?” I panicked as my heart beat wildly in my chest. “Where am I!”

“Calm down,” The voice spoke up again. “You were hurt, we brought you here to get you fixed up.” The voice was gruff, but feminine overall. It was a calm, but authoritative tone, not unlike the one that Mrs. Chalk used frequently. “Stay put, I’ll get the doc.” The sounds of a door opening and closing shook the air in the room, and the sound of hoofsteps leading down a hallway outside followed.

It was about then that my head started the pound like it was being assaulted from the anti-dragon cannons that the Enclave forces practiced with at the Neighvarro airbase. At least back then, Mom was always there to comfort me. But now she was gone, and so was…

“Oh luna… they’re all dead.” The bright light, the cave collapse, everything came back at once.

Heavy steps at an odd gait approached the door, and it opened with a soft squeal from it’s hinges. The air shifted as the pony entered the room, and I could tell even while blindfolded that they were massive just by the amount of displaced air that brushed across my wings. The same heavy steps from before followed the large pony in, and the door again shut with metal squeal.

“Hello there.” The new pony spoke, it was the voice of a stallion… I think. I was a bit off, but it didn’t sound hostile. More so, with the way he’d said just those two words, he sounded like he was fascinated. “And how are we feeling?”

“A-are you going to kill me?” I whimpered. I’m not going to lie, I was scared for my life right now, and I didn’t want this to be the end!

I was given a soft chuckle from him as a reward. “No, I am not.” He lifted a hoof and shifted what sounded like some papers over. “Now, just a quick question to assess if you’ve had any noticeable side effects from your head trauma, can you remember your name.”

“My name?” That was a question that gave me some relief at the very least. If they were going to kill me, I doubt that they’d have asked that. Or… fixed me up at all, now that I think about it. “I’m Night Flight.”

“Good, good.” The doctor spoke again, ruffling some papers as he did. “What is the last thing you remember?”

“I… was flying away from these monster… things.” I had no reason to trust these ponies. As nice as they’d been, you don’t strap somepony down for no reason. “W-where am I?”

“You’re in the medical room of Inuvik.” The gruff mare from before spoke up. “These monsters, what did they look like?”

“Giant bats, I guess?” Taking care of me? Not knowing what monsters I was talking about? I’d say that this was an enclave settlement, but I’d never heard of anyplace with such an odd name. “Where are we?” I asked again, pausing only a moment before correcting myself. “I mean, where in relation to Neighvarro city?”

“Neighvarro?” The doctor asked with a tone that felt to me like he’d never even heard of the place. “Where exactly are you from?”

“Four Peaks?” I sniffled thinking about it, sharply coming to the memory of what exactly happened. “It… it’s gone. It’s all fucking gone!” The thought of dad being dead was just too much. “How could this have happened?” I whimpered like a filly between my tears, once again uncaring what anypony thought of me. I was alone in my life. Everything I knew was gone, and I’d never see any of it again!

“Slow down, kid.” The mare snorted. “I’ve heard of plenty of places in my travels. I’ve never heard of anyplace with that name.”

The air shifted as the doctor took a single, heavy step forward. “You said it was gone.” He sounded puzzled again. “Mrs. Dalilah, you said that the afternoon he had his accident, that there was an issue with the cloud cover. Perhaps he is another of the Enclave refugees?”

If there had been an issue with it, then they would have payed attention to it! That must have been why I didn’t find anypony coming to investigate! I had to know what they’re talking about. “With the cloud layer? What is it?”

“It was a layer of clouds that separated us ground folk from the sky, but that’s not important right now.” He said rather matter-o-factly. “The afternoon you crashed, it apparently just up and disappeared.”

Ground folk? The cloud layer was gone? This… this couldn’t be happening! They had to be lying! The ground was poisonous, even if Salt told me that I’d find a settlement there!

Oh, Luna… Salt was still trapped!

“I have to go!” I pleaded. “My settlement exploded, and my friend, he was trapped in a cave with no supplies!” I wrestled against my bindings hopelessly. Oh, please still be alive!

“Calm down before you do something to injure yourself again.” The stallion physically growled at me. “I will sedate you to keep you from doing that if I have to, but I’d rather not.” As he talked, he took another heavy step toward me, and I could feel him angrily breathing down my neck. “I’m sorry to say, but you’ve been unconscious in this bed for nearly four days, on top of however long it took for Mrs. Dalilah to bring you here. Even if he didn’t asphyxiate, he’d have died of dehydration by now.”

No…

I whimpered and sat back into the bed again. The doctor and the mare started to talk again, but I didn’t hear anything they were saying. My mind drifted, trying to make sense of why this all had to happen. I found myself thinking about Dad. Why did he have to go to work? Why did we have to be transferred out to that backwater place that got them all killed? Everypony had died except for me, and I don’t even know why.

“Even if he were alive, we’re close to three hundred miles from where we picked you up.” The mare sighed. “Look, kid, I’m sorry to tell you this, but if you were from up there, you’ll have to get used to living down here on the ground.”

No.

“Take me back.” I growled. I didn’t yet know how or why this had all been set up, but what they were telling me was all lies. “Release me, and take me back, now.”

“Kid, I can take you back to where we found you if that’s really what you want.” She sighed and reached over to me. With her hoof so close, I could smell that the scent of flowers from before had been coming from her. She grabbed the blindfold and pulled it up, forcing me to squint as the assault of bright lights stabbed at my eyes. “But I don’t think you’ll find anything.”

As my eyes adjusted, the first things I took notice of were that the walls were a solid, rusting metal. This place didn’t have the design of any cloud building I’d ever seen. Moldy ceiling tiles sagged and drooped from the rusty frames that held them up, and the old light fixtures flickered every now and again. Overall, this place shared more aesthetics to the cave in four peaks than anything I would call a ‘building’ in Neighvarro City or Four Peaks.

Along with the odd construction, sat the ugliest pegasus I’d ever laid eyes on. Her discolored grey muzzle drooped with sagging skin, and her curly red mane frizzed out every which way from around her long, drooping ears. She glared at me with an uncaring look that burned through the old, scratched up pre-war cat eye style glasses that she wore, reminding me of the annoyed expression my teachers had when they were interrupted.

“Care to get the keys to his cuffs, Mrs. Delilah?” The doctor spoke from beside me. I turned to see why the air around him had felt so displaced, and I froze at the sight of what I found. “Is there something wrong, Mr. Flight?”

Before me, sat a massive black and white monster. Set on two normal sized hind legs, it stood twice as tall as any pony I knew, and had forelegs the thickness of the tree’s I’d flown past. At the end of them, sat appendages with incredibly large claws. His muzzle was slender, and his jaw ran with jagged peaks that felt to me like they could rend me in half all on it’s own. Sharp, triangular ears sat perched on the sides of his head, seeming just as attentive as his pale blue eyes.

“W-what are you?” I pushed myself as far away from him as I could, only to have him lean in close to me in response.

“Might want to back off, Doc.” The ugly pegasus snorted and smiled. “The kid’s never seen a snow dog before.” She sighed and rose up to her hooves, turning toward the door abruptly. I froze as the sight of her bare back jammed up my mind even further.

“Where are your wings?” That’s it! I’m just going to break down and wait to wake up from this nightmare. Nothing in the world made sense anymore, and I was just outright done trying to figure it out.

“Never seen a donkey before, either.” The massive monster spoke up. “Fascinating…”

“I’ll get the keys.” She sighed and opened the door. “Might want to keep him from having a mental break while I do. The kid might be useful, you know? Can’t have him working his way back home if he’s all mind-fucked.”

I did my best to clamp my eyes shut and tune this all out. “This isn’t scientifically possible!” I muttered, wishing more than anything I’d just wake up in my bed any minute now. Dad would yell at me for getting up late, and he’d apologize for having to stay late again. “This isn’t real,” again, my voice turned to whines, “this can’t be real…”

“Is there anything I can do for you?” The monster spoke in an attempt to convince me that it was real. I simply ignored him to the best of my abilities and repeated myself. “I can’t understand what kind of a shock for you this must be, but I assure you, that you are perfectly healthy besides the head trauma.”

“I can’t be!” I screamed. Turning as much as I could to face him, the cold hoofcuffs tugged painfully against my hooves. The old chains on them clattered against the bars they were secured against. “Don’t you understand?” I spat in short breaths, half crying and half screaming in anger at the monster who looked back at me sadly. “If it’s real... if I’m still here, than they’re all fucking dead!”

I sat there, panting in frustration as my rage drained through me. I let my hooves fall limply again, and I flopped back onto the bed. The door to the room squeaked and jarred open. It’s design wasn’t like the cloud home doors back home, actually closer to being a sealing door that they had on a Raptor. Through said door, the mare returned with a silver keyring in her muzzle. She raised an eyebrow to the doctor, who simply reached out a massive claw and plucked the ring from her mouth. She grumbled and sat down, turning her gaze back at me.

“Kid, I know what it means to have your life turned upside down, and I meant what I said.” She sounded genuine as she spoke. “I don’t know what you’ll find, but you can ride with us until we get back to where we found you.” As she continued, the monster reached over and very carefully inserted the key into the cuff on my right hoof. With a soft click, it released and dropped off of me. “If you don’t find the answers you’re looking for, then you can always come find us again.”

The monster loomed over me, reaching across me with his two massive claws. His extremely furry chest gave off a warmth that I found to be quite uncomfortable. “Why would you help me?” I whimpered. Another soft click preempted the other binding falling off of me. As soon as he leaned away, I scrambled as far back in the bed as I could.

“You aren’t the only pegasus to grace our presence in the last few days.” She canted her head back toward the door. “The wasteland is a harsh place, and you’re a young stallion. It’s not going to be easy for you to get back on your hooves out here, but I figured that you could use a hoof.”

“Thanks.” I didn’t trust this at all. Unless you were family, nopony did anything without asking for something in return. At least, not above the clouds that is. “I don’t have any bits, but I’d be glad to help out until I get back to my home.”

“Good. An attitude like that will help you make inroads down here on the ground.” She smirked and waved a hoof to me. “C’mon, let’s get you oriented with what it’s like down here on the ground.” She looked over to the ‘doctor’ and gave him a stern look. “I hope you’re quick to pack, because I have a good feeling that our package will be ready soon.”

“Sure thing.” The monster replied softly. “I’ll do one last check on my supplies before I head out for the evening.” I felt the air behind me shift, and by the time I looked back, one of his massive claws hooked under the ropes binding my wings and snapped them like they were plastic. I was so stunned at the fact that he had so easily severed them, that I completely missed the fact that the mare left already.

“Let’s go already, kid!” She called out from the hallway.

With as much expediency as my hooves allowed me, I decided to get as far from that thing as I could. As much as I wanted it to be a dream, I knew deep down that my life had never been that forgiving. Everypony I knew was dead, and I was left down here alone. Venturing out of that room, I left my old life and strode headlong into the world that existed below the clouds.

I’d only been on a Raptor cloudship once before on a field trip, but I was fairly convinced that this place wasn’t one. The rusting metal, numerous knocking pipes, and cramped halls felt old and neglected. Seriously, the halls of the raptor were at least twice as tall as these. How could ponies stand to get around with so little room? On top of that, the whole place itself felt like it pulsed as I followed the strange looking pony… er, donkey, through the halls.

“As much as I’d love to head out now,” The mare ahead of me spoke up, “Our party is still waiting on a certain delivery to be made here. It won’t take long, probably only another day or so at most, but we absolutely cannot leave without it.”

I found myself nodding to her like I understood anything that she was saying at all. Honestly, I wasn’t sure exactly how I got here, or even where here was. They’d called this place ‘Inuvik’ but that was just gibberish to me.

“I’m sorry to ask this, but where exactly are we?” I spoke up softly, not wanting to anger or offend the mare.

“On E-deck.” She muttered back nonchalantly. Slowly, she came to a stop and glanced back at me. “Or did you mean to ask where ‘here’ is?” I simply nodded to her. “We’re aboard the Inuvik. She was a prewar Icebreaker that was escorting a freighter through the northern sea. The day of the bombs, the two of them got stuck here, and the crews banded together to form a community, working along with a scientific outpost to the northeast of here in order to survive.” She looked over me and sighed. “That about do it for you?”

I nodded again, not sure what else to say. Again, this didn’t mean much to me, but it was better than nothing.

When she started walking, she spoke up again. “Fort Mac is about six hours travel to the south of here, just on the other side of Rock Ridge pass. Once we arrive there, I can arrange to have you taken out ahead to where we found you.”

“Fort Mac?” I muttered, the name sounding fairly familiar from my history class. “As in Big Macintosh, hero of the war?”

The mare sighed. “No, it was named after some general of back then. Macaroni Salad or some sort, but nopony ever calls it that.”

“I see.” Another useless fact for me to hold onto. “You said that we’re waiting on something, miss… I’m sorry, I can’t remember your name?”

“It’s Delilah,” She sighed and stopped next to a set of metal stairs that ran upward sharply into the ceiling. “And yes, we’re waiting.” She turned and prodded me with a hoof. “Speaking of which, can you go find my good for nothing son?”

“Your... son?” I repeated slowly, not quite sure why she even thought I could find him. I barely knew where I was in this ship past ‘standing in a hallway’!

“Good, your ears work.” She grunted, looking plainly annoyed at me. “Go find him and get his lazy ass up to the bridge for an update.” With a roll of her eyes, she pushed her old glasses further up her muzzle and grumbled. “And no, that wasn’t a donkey pun.”

“An update.” I repeated again, making her sigh even deeper. “Where do I…”

She pointed up the stairs. “He’s probably on Deck C wasting time at that local bar, or on Deck D at the gym.” She waved her hoof dismissively before walking to the set of stairs leading downward. “Just follow the signs that say ‘Recreation Room’, alright? You can read, can’t you?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I nodded and looked up the stairs.

“Good, come find me when you’re done with that and I’ll answer the numerous other questions you’re bound to have.” She rolled her eyes and carefully walked her way down out of sight.

Standing alone in the hallway, I felt awkward. What the hell was I doing? I didn’t know anypony here, and I didn’t know how anything worked around here! I mean, they were nice enough to patch me up, but still. I’m supposedly on an icebreaker that got stuck in the ice, surrounded by monstrous doctors and ugly ponies, whom I’m now doing favors for. Hoofing up my mothers dog tags, I knew that I needed to be strong for now.

A metal squeal down the hall I’d come from prompted a quick glance back. The black and white monster from the infirmary stepped out into the hall and cast a look over to me. A grin filled with sharp teeth and guaranteed pain spread across his muzzle, and my heart skipped a beat in fear. Scrambling for the stairs, I figured that anywhere else was better than here.

I climbed like the wind, getting a shiver as the cold, ambient air ran over my coat. I hadn’t realized how cold this place felt, which made sense knowing now that I was on a arctic ship, but somehow it only served to amplify my fear.

As I pulled myself up the last few steps, the large words that spelled out D deck met my eyes. The floor under my hooves on this level pulsed slowly, and a low drone thrummed along in time with it from down the hallway next to me. Poking my head out from the stairwell, the rusty red hallway stretched on what felt like the whole length of the ship. A large, black stallion stood propped up against the hallway a fair way down, a small pair of wings sitting curled tightly against his back.

Ah, finally! Somepony who looked normal!

“Excuse me!” I called out. The stallion didn’t seem to notice me, simply staring across the hall from himself as he smoked a cigarette. “Excuse me, sir?” Again, I called out as I trotted swiftly towards him.

He casually cast his glance over at me as I approached him, shifting closer toward another one of the sealed bulkhead-like doors. The closer I got, the more the floor vibrated, and the odd thrumming noise turned into the heavily muffled sound of shouting ponies. Next to the door, a faded sign caught my eye.

Recreation Room

“Yah here for da room?” The stallion snorted as he looked up and down over me. He took a slow drag on his cigarette as I nodded quite happily. “Yer late.” He grumbled before stepping away from the door.

“I hadn’t realized that I’d been expected,” I spoke meekly, fairly embarrassed. “But I’m just delighted to have gotten here this fast at all.”

“Whatever.” He grunted as he hefted his large hooves onto the wheel that sealed the door. With the same squeak as the others, he twisted the locking mechanism open and pulled the door open. Looking in, I found myself staring at another sealed door. On it, was the poorly painted words of The Wreck Room. “In yah go!”

Without a say in the matter, I found myself stuffed inside the cramped room. The door behind me slammed shut, and the metal arms swung around on it to seal it. From inside here, the chanting voices of the others in the next room, along with what I could feel was their rhythmic stomping made me shudder in fear with every pulse.

“No no no!” I attempted to scream over the almost deafening crowd. “Let me out!”

“Fillies and Gentlecolts, Snow dogs of all ages, welcome to… the Wreck Room!” The voice of a mare boomed through what sounded like a PA system in the other room. Her excited voice only served to rile up the crowd even further, who now stomped and cheered so loud that it made my head throb. “I am pleased to bring you tonight's match up, a fight that will no doubt be one to remember!”

“Oh Luna,” I whimpered to myself, not even able to hear over the roaring ponies. “I… I don’t want to die!”

“Our first contender is a self proclaimed veteran soldier out of the now defunct Enclave military!” But… I wasn’t a soldier at all! “Not one to fear the ring, she specifically requested to go up against our reigning champ, so you know she’s either crazy or just that damn full of herself!” I kicked and screamed at the sealed door behind me again in yet another futile attempt to get out. “At ten to one odds, folks, here she is!” The door in front of me squealed and swung open, allowing a blinding light to bath over me. “The fearless, Bombay!”

The crowd went wild as I held a hoof up to cover my eyes. I couldn’t see much around me, but the heavily illuminated room glowed an obnoxious rust red color. The smell of sweat and alcohol hit me hard, and if I’d thought it was loud before, I was wrong. The ‘ring’ I’d found myself in was a cubic cage, maybe twenty feet on each side. It was surrounded by old chain link fence, and just on the other side stood countless monsters and ponies alike.

“Our second contender needs no introduction. You all know her, you all love her!” The PA system called out again, drawing a prolonged cheer from everyone around me. “Here she is, your untouchable, unstoppable, and undefeated beast! Inuvik’s lead mechanic, Rosey!” My heart beat wildly against my chest so hard the I’d started to wonder what would kill me first, my opponent or cardiac arrest.

With a metal squelch that beat out the crowd, the door across the room from me swung open. A second bright beam shot down from the ceiling and illuminated the most imposing monster of them all.

Nearly twice my height, she was even more bulky than the monster in the medical bay had been! A chocolate brown color, she had a bright white spot that covered half her head, circling around across most of her short and extraordinarily mean looking muzzle. Her jowls sagged much like Miss Delilah’s had, and she had a very unhealthy looking underbite. With a heavy slam that I could feel from where I stood, she stepped out from her corner.

Thankfully, her massive forepaws didn’t bear the same knife like claws that the doctor had. Instead, they looked to be shaved down and blunted. Even so, that didn’t make them anywhere near safe. One swipe from her would be like getting hit by a steel beam.

“The rules of the match are simple.” The announcer blurted out more ecstatic than ever. “The first one to submit, loses the match. To submit, one combatant must stay on the ground to the count of five, or be rendered physically unable to continue.”

Oh thank Celestia, finally a break! I dove onto the floor of the ring, staring up at the monster across from me. She only formed a smirk from my action, and the crowd around me burst into laughter. I listened as they uttered insults and aggravated taunts for me to get up and fight. No thanks, I’d rather be alive than die for your enjoyment!

“A cursory sixty seconds must elapse before submission is legal.” The announcer chuckled. “Sorry kid, you made your bed and you have to sleep in it!” No, no I didn’t! I didn’t even want to fight anyone! “Ready?”

“I’ll do you a favor and make it quick.” Rosey growled over the crowd, lowering herself down onto all four of her massive limbs. “But I won’t go easy. I’m going to make you sorry you ever called me out.”

The sound of a bell ringing in my ears was deafening, and nearly blocked out the excited “Fight on!” from the anonymous announcer!

The will to run found it’s way to my wings. I spread them quickly and pushed myself up. The thicker air of being under the cloud layer made it easier for me to climb up, allowing me to shoot to the top of the cage relatively quickly. With a bit of a twist, I managed to lift the chain link a bit and hook my forehooves over one of the cages tubular supports.

“This is all a big mistake!” I screamed down at the very angry looking monster.

“You’re damn right it was.” She snorted and pointed a massive finger up at me. “Are you going to come down, or do I have to come up there?”

“You don’t understand! I’m not the one you were supposed to fight!” I screamed and pulled myself tighter against the tube. Could she really get me up here? I just needed to stay up here for a minute, right? Then I could just flop onto the floor and lose… right?

Lowering herself even further, she glared up at me. “Quit wasting my time!” She roared out and sprung up. She was like a massive bullet as she hurled herself at me. If I hadn’t hooked my forelegs around the bar, I might have been able to let go in time.

The force of her slamming against me knocked the air from my lungs, and I crumpled against the cage above me. As quickly as the hit came, the pressure left me and gravity took hold. Without the focus or breath to move, I slammed down into the floor on my side.

I didn’t even have a moment’s rest before I felt her massive paw grip around my hind leg. Without any effort at all, I was spun and thrown through the air. My vision filled with painful stars as I slammed against one of the supports so hard that I could swear that it bent. From all around, angry boo’s and insults were directed at me again.

Crying and whimpering, I slumped to the floor. I didn’t want to do this anymore. I wanted to go home and be with mom and dad again, not trapped in some nightmare where I have to go on without them.

“Pathetic.” Rosey snarled as she stomped toward me. I only managed a glance at her before a brown blur hit me across the cheek like a prewar freight train. The world went quiet for a moment, tilting over as I dropped to the floor. My body throbbed all over from the trauma, and my vision went in and out, all color lost from it.

Among the mass of ponies and monsters against the fence, one source of color came into focus. She was a pegasus pony with a coat as blue as the sky, and a mane the color of the blazing sun.

“Mom?” I gurgled, watching as she wore a horrified expression. She was shouting something I couldn’t hear, and raising her hoof toward the hulking form of Rosey. What did she want from me? How could she be here?

“You can call out for whoever you want,” Rosey’s voice pulled me back into reality. “but it’ll be the last thing you do today.”

I couldn’t pull my eyes away from my mother, watching as her expression shifted to one of anger. She raised her forehooves and mimicked fighting somepony. I don’t know why, but she wanted me to try to win.

“Okay.” I whispered before I felt the massive paw grip my hoof again. The world tilted again, spinning upside down as Rosey held me up.

“Wait a sec, you aren’t a mare.” She spat at me in surprise. It was the one break I had, and I was going to use it! Recoiling with my hind leg, I screamed out with all my might. Like a coiled spring, I kicked out as hard as I could. My leg connected to something solid, and that something snapped.

With a deafening roar of pain, I was thrown even harder than before. The world zipped by in a flash, then disappeared as I think I hit another pole. Everything went dark for me, and I knew that I was finished.

But hey, at least I got to see mom again. Even if it was for just one, last time.

“Captain, I think he’s waking up.” The voice of a strange mare sounded fuzzy to me, but it was the least of my concern as my head felt like it was trying to tear itself apart with each word. I think I gave out a groan, but just as I did, I felt a sharp prick in my foreleg before a warm numbing feeling washed over me.

Letting out only the ghost of a groan, I’d stirred myself to wakefulness a second time today.

“Woah there, easy now.” The soft voice of a mare reached my ears. Underneath me, I felt the same kind of lumpy bedding that I’d woken up to earlier. Only this time it felt bigger than the last one, and thankfully I wasn’t shackled to it. Even so, I barely had the strength to move at all, let alone open my eyes any. “I don’t know if you’ve got a death wish, kid, but you nearly got it.” The mare sighed.

Struggling as much as I could, I pulled my eyes open. Above me were not the same walls as I’d woken up to before. They looked to be made of wood planks, albeit a bit… fuzzier and a whole lot brighter. Turning my head slowly, I found that it was because of a very large and bright light on the far wall from me.

As much as I tried, I couldn’t get my eyes to focus. Shifting my gaze slightly, I found that instead of Mrs. Delilah next to me, another mare was in her place. Her red coat and white mane were as fuzzy as everything else, but what I wanted to focus on was the sharp looking horn that stuck out from her forehead.

“Fractured skulls aren’t something you should get right after being let out from having head trauma.” The mare grumbled as her horn glowed. A clipboard floated up next to her where she used a pencil to write with. At least, I thought it was a pencil through the haze I was viewing the world through. “Dr. Fix did what he could with that bone weave, but you’ll need to give it a day or so to fuse. Magic is great for healing, but it can only work so fast.”

“Thank you for your assistance, Sparkle Ray.” If I could wince from the gravely and scratchiness in this other mare's voice, I would have. “If you think that he is stable enough, you can head back to the infirmary.” A very fuzzy and mottled light orange colored mare stepped up behind the red mare. “Oh, and tell Quick Fix that I’ll be sure to get him something as thanks for doing this.”

“Yes, of course, Captain.” The red mare gave a slow nod before she turned and walked across the room. The heavy squelch of one of the bulkhead doors made me whine more than the new mare’s scratchy voice. It seems as we would have been left alone, and I’m not sure why.

“So.” The ‘Captain’ as it seemed, continued. “You have been quite the pony of intrigue around here.”

“What?” As whatever painkiller I was given set in, I decided to sit up. Though the pain was mostly gone, my eyes still couldn’t focus.

“You spent the better part of four days in our hooves, only to get up and fight in our arena under another’s name.” The mare sounded amused as she spoke, carefully sitting herself down next to me. “A bold move, but one that might not get you on the best side of a few unscrupulous characters around here.”

“I didn’t mean too, I was just…” I tried to explain, only to have a foul smelling hoof pressed up against my muzzle. Geeze, did nopony on the surface bathe?

“Hush now.” She spoke as softly as she could through her scratchy voice. “I brought you up here to find out just who you are.” With a small chuckle, she shook her head. “It’s not everyday we get somepony as interesting as you up here. You know, you had half of my bridge crew convinced that their captain was bringing a mare up to her bedroom.”

“I… I’m not a mare.” I pressed my hoof up against my neck, feeling the small metal ovals still hanging around it on a chain. Mom had always been so happy with how I looked. I missed the smile that she’d have when I’d come home with a new mane style, or a stylish dress from the cloud outfitters. I was happy that I could make her so happy, and now that she was gone, now that dad was gone, I didn’t know what to do about my looks.

“Child, I have been alive a very long time.” She sighed and turned herself toward the wall light. “I have seen plenty of stallions that look like mares. It is something that they most of the time embraced and wore proudly.” She paused as she stood at the light. “If you do not want to be seen as a mare, I understand. I know however, that some out there will be cruel and hateful about your looks. Know that here we do not judge.”

“Thanks… I guess.” I sighed, not sure what to think about all of that. “I’ve just always looked this way. I never changed because it kept my mom happy.” Carefully, I pulled myself out of the bed. The pain across my body spiked for a moment as I got to my hooves, drifting away as I could feel the odd texture of the floor under me. Looking down granted me a blurry view of the color brown. Spending my whole life up in the clouds meant that I barely stepped on anything but them. This… this was a new feeling. It was a lot like the rug in ‘The Den’, but… fuzzier.

“The others who came up with you to the bridge called you Bombay, but I assume that it is not your given name.” The captain’s voice pulled my gaze back up as she looked back at me. My eyes were slowly getting more focused, as I could tell that part of her orange muzzle was a mottled white. Her forelegs and side had bits of white and red as well mixed in with her orange coat, but I couldn’t tell why. I’d never met a pony with a coat with more than two colors before.

“My name is Night Flight.” Again, this grounder was being so nice that I saw no reason to be deceitful. “I’m… from above the clouds. My settlement was destroyed, and I left the ruins to seek help.”

“I am sorry to hear that.” The captain replied somberly. “Too many have lost their homes over the last two centuries.” She raised her hoof and waved me over to her. “Maybe with the news coming over the radio about this 'lightbringer', there will finally be an end to all the petty wasteland conflicts. Maybe we as ponykind will finally begin to rebuild the nation we so foolishly destroyed.”

“You sound like my teacher.” I spoke without thinking, only to remember that along with everypony else as four peaks, she was gone. “Well, how she used to sound.” It was hard not to drag my hooves. As I approached the light, I looked up to find something unexpected before me.

Even before my eyes finally focused themselves, I found that it hadn’t been a bright light on the wall, rather a window to the outside. A dense white fog whipped around the outside, while sheets of white snow blanketed the stationary form of the Inuvik. Sailing ships were something we’d only skimmed over in class, but it was unlike anything I’d ever seen.

If that hadn’t been amazing enough, off to the side of the ship, were several rows of somewhat buried cargo containers. Strings of lights whipped and shook in the winds that trailed across the snow covered ground, a number of bulky looking ponies scurrying about outside near the containers. Funny enough, if I hadn’t been told I was on the ground, I might have confused this place for a cloudship at a glance.

“I have survived in this frozen waste for two hundred years, alongside the ponies ancestors who sailed these ships through this straight.” The captain sighed out, having chosen seemingly random and odd words to speak.

“What do you…” I turned to ask her, only to freeze in fear. The Captain’s face was a pale orange cream color, and her red eyes were cloudy and unfocused. The wispy golden and white strands of what was left of her mane trailed out under her hat, matching the bleached bone that made up half of her muzzle. Her dry and rotten looking skin looked like it had been peeled back, revealing the few muscles under it that were still attached.

“When I say that we don’t judge looks here,” She stated as my eyes focused in terrified fascination on how the inside of her face worked when she talked. “It is because not all of us are beautiful in each other's eyes.” She cast her glance over at me, keeping a calm expression as I tried to formulate in my head just how she was still even alive. Along her back, fidgeted a pair of rotting and frayed wings. This mare had been… was a pegasus! Was this what would happen to me now that I was down here? “I can see that you aren’t accustomed to the strange and unusual things that you will find below the clouds. However, while there are some things you’ll find terrifying and scary, mostly you will find ponies and the like just trying to do their best to get by.”

“But… but…” I felt so lost. Everything down here was so surreal, a bad dream that I just can’t wake up from. “I don’t know anything about the ground. I wasn’t even finished with school, how could I survive down here?”

The captain gave a gravely giggle and smiled as best she could through half a muzzle. “My advice? Find yourself some friends, or even better, a family.” She cleared her throat, well, as much of it as she still had left, and straightened herself out. “When the world came to an end, the ponies here felt just as lost and confused as you. Those scientists returning to the research station heard the cries of these two ships over the radio and set out to help them, arriving just before the magical radiation of the bombs set in. I was one of the ponies who volunteered to go with them.”

She gave out a sigh and turned toward me, the bare muscles on her sides and forelegs entrancing as she walked back toward her bed. “We knew that their only chance to survive was to get them to the reactor rooms on the bottom deck. We worked quickly to rescue the others on the Empirica and get them on board the Inuvik and so we corralled and sealed ourselves down there.” Her smile dropped slightly as she looked at me. “There was barely enough room down there for the nearly two hundred ponies from both ships to be kept in there. After two days, supplies were running dangerously low. Without more food and water, we all would start to waste away.” Closing her eyes, she hung her head slightly as she rose back to her hooves. “So I made a judgement call.”

“You?” Already, I could see the parallels being drawn between the events in Four Peaks and her own story. “What was it?”

“I took myself, Quick Fix, and Dr. Aurora back to the surface.” She walked over to a large ornate looking desk, scooting some of the papers and things she had stacked on it to get to a drawer set in the back of it. “The radiation was much worse than we had anticipated, but still we had a job to do. Quick Fix raided the infirmary for as much Rad-X as he could find, while Aurora and I trekked our way across toward one of the Emperica’s cargo containers that her captain had said was full of canned goods.”

With a light touch, she slowly pulled an old, worn picture frame out from the desk, staring at it with a sad look. “By the time we’d found the container, we both had advanced radiation sickness. I wanted him to head back, to get somewhere safe. Before I could make him, I’d collapsed and passed out.” She pulled the picture up to her chest and paused. “When I came too, Quick Fix was trying to revive Aurora. Both Quick and I had been lucky enough that the necromantic radiation had changed us into ghouls, but Aurora wasn’t as lucky. He’d died right there next to me, refusing to give up.”

“I’m sorry.” Was all I could say as I reached up and gripped the tags around my neck tightly.

“For our actions that day, they made me the captain of our community. I carry on each day, protecting those on these ships so that they might one day get back home.” Setting the picture down on the desk, she turned and looked at me with the ghost of a smile. “They are my family, you see. I love each and every one of them, pony, snow dog, griffon, zebra. It matters not what you are if you exist on the ground, so long as you can work together for the betterment of those around you, you will always have a place in the wasteland.”

A knock on the captain’s door pulled our attention to it. With another squeak, the door swung open and a thin yellow stallion stepped in. “Captain, you have a call coming in.”

“Very well.” She nodded and got to her hooves. “Night, I’d like you to accompany me to the bridge.” I didn’t say anything, only getting up and following her as she headed out the door. The yellow stallion cocked an eyebrow at me with a smile as I passed him, making me feel extremely uneasy.

Just outside the captain’s room, was a set of familiar looking stairs. Straight across on the other side of them, was a long hallway that held an interesting sight. Dozens of open doors along each side were decorated in a different way from the next. The joyous laughs of colts and fillies filled the air as they darted along the halls, dipping into and out of the different rooms. A few various ponies poked their heads out, calling out to them as they ran around.

“Come now, Night.” The captain spoke from near the top of the set of stairs. Quickly, I ducked around the side of the stairwell and followed her up. Stepping onto the next deck up, we stepped through a bulkhead and onto the extremely spacious and widely windowed bridge. From here, all I could see out the windows was an endless sea of white.

The bridge itself looked mostly well kept, with only some spots of rust creeping along the seams of the riveted metal plates. Several command consoles still blinked and flashed various lights, and a few well dressed ponies stood around looking over charts and maps. One of the only non ponies up here, another of the dog monsters, had their head and forearms inside of a dark console, a set of tools nearby as they worked on it.

Following the captain, we approached a wide bench just behind the bright wooden helm wheel. It was a bit old school for navigation, but I liked the look a lot more than the computerized command chairs that the raptor’s navigators used. The pony sitting in front of the consol used her horn’s magic to lift up a rusty looking microphone, holding it out for the captain to grab.

“Go ahead, Ice station.” The captain spoke.

“This is ice station. The package you requested has been loaded on the motor sled.” The voice on the radio crackled slightly through the old console.

“This is boat, good copy on that and good job.” The captain nodded with a sigh. “You boys have a beer for me tonight. We’ll contact you when the sled arrives, over and out.” Stiffly, she shoved the microphone back to the radiopony and turned toward one of the other ponies down at the other side of the bridge. “Signal Flare?” She spoke up, catching the attention of a well looking red coated stallion by one of the windows. “Contact the Empirica, the motor sled should be here in a couple of hours.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He nodded and turned around to the console he stood by, hoofing a pair of headphones over himself. He reached a hoof up to a button on the console and started to press it repeatedly. As he did, a small light next to it flashed whenever he depressed it.

“Well, Mr. Night.” The captain turned around to face me, the bone in her muzzle seeming extra bright with all the white light that the windows let in. “What do you intend to do?”

“I…” I wasn’t sure, but I remembered that Mrs. Delilah still had wanted me to find her son. “The mare who brought me here offered to return me to where I was found if I helped them out. I’m supposed to go find her son in some bar.”

“I see. Well, you’ll find the saloon on the opposite side of my cabin on B deck.” She nodded as her cloudy eyes studied my face. “I understand the want to go back to where your town was, but don’t get your hopes up to feel any better when you get there.” She shook her head slowly. “And, while I can’t do anything about the reputation you’ve earned, you are more than welcomed to join the crew of my ship. We’re always willing to take on new crew who are willing to do their part, especially in the days to come.” With a wide smile, she looked out the windows longingly. “Soon enough, we’ll break through the ice and take this ol’ gal back home.”

Reputation? “Wait, what do you mean?” I blinked with zero idea what she was talking about. “What reputation?”

“Well, as I hear it, ponies have been talking about how the mare named Bombay managed to break Rosey’s jaw in the little fight that went on. Her flawless fighting record is now tarnished.” She canted her head and looked at me like a judgemental mother would. “And as everypony there had seen you do it, then you may have some very unhappy betters on your hooves.”

“But, I didn’t even want to fight!” I whined.

“Then you make it good between you and Rosey. If you square things off with her, than she’ll see to it that you don’t find yourself in trouble on the lower decks or over on the Emperica.” With a grunt, she put her rotten hoof on my shoulder. “I wish you the best, but now I need to ask you to leave the bridge. I’ve got a lot of work to do to prepare us for our departure, and I need to get to it.” Slowly, she turned herself around and stared out the window.

“Before I go,” I asked, taking a step backward toward the door to the stairs. “I gave you my name. I’m curious as to what’s yours?”

“I’m the Sky Captain, or just the Captain to you.” She grunted without turning around. “The mare I used to be died with the world, two centuries ago.”

That would have to do. “Thank you.” I replied, turning myself back toward the door. Walking, I made my way down the stairs, passing B deck where all of the joyous and rowdy noises still echoed down the halls.

Maybe… I should stay. I knew exactly what I would find if I went back to four peaks, and I’m not so sure I’d be better off if I went. Here, even though I was surrounded by strange ponies and monsters, at least it seemed alright. I’m not sure how I could build myself a life here, but it might be at the very least as start.

Coming down the steps to C deck, I stopped and ducked out the door. Turning towards the hall that lead to her cabin, I instead looked down the other side. Right where she said it was, sat the dark entrance to the saloon. I hesitated to step out into the hall towards it. If I did find Mrs. Delilah’s son, I guess I could always ask to continue with them if there really was nothing left of Four Peaks. The conflict in my head was pushed aside when the shuffling hoofsteps of a pony leaving the bar caught my attention.

The roughed up shape of a lime green pegasus mare with a mohawk appeared through the door. Her half lidded eyes met mine as she squinted in the brighter hallway lighting. A smile spread across her lips as she laughed.

“Hey, yer tha bitch who fought in Bombay’s plash.” She spoke in slurs, leaning against the bulkhead for stability. “Rock on, gir. Yah got me drunk frum mah winnins.” She let out a half a whinney before she almost fell over. “Shit, gotta go crass. Bombay’s inside if yah wanna kick her ash or shumthin. She yah later!”

Slowly and on very unsteady legs, she turned and walked herself down the hallway from me. Well, at least that was one pony in this place who wouldn’t kick my ass. Pushing myself forward, I crept up to the saloon door just enough that I could see into the darkened room.

“Kid?” The cranky voice of another mare called from inside. “You the one who took my place?” She groaned out. Making my way closer, I poked my head into the dark room and waited for my eyes to adjust.

There were a few scattered tables in the room, along with some booths that sat against the far wall. The bright lighting of the small kitchen in the back was muted by the cloth curtain that hung across it, and the sound of somepony doing dishes back there caught my ear. Along the wall directly to my right, was a long metal table that looked like the bars they’d had back in Neighvarro city.

Sitting muzzle down at the bar, was a very tired looking mare. Her pink and red striped mane sat over her face as she groaned softly. From what I could see, she was the only pony in the room.

“You the one who used my nickname?” The mare grunted. “Come here.” With a very floppy wiggle of her hoof, she waved me over. “I listened to the fight from up here. You didn’t get too hurt, did you?”

“I don’t really know. The doctor gave me some painkillers.” I wanted to keep this short and ask her outright where Mrs. Delilah’s son was, but she continued talking.

“Kid, I am so sorry that you had to go through that.” The mare groaned as she rolled her head on the bartop to get a better look at me. “One drink lead to another, and then to some… fruity… thing?” She scrunched up her muzzle and put her forehooves on her head. “Goddesses, what the hell did I drink?”

This was obviously going nowhere. “I’m looking for somepony, maybe you’ve seen him?” I don’t know what help she could be if she’d been as inebriated as she claims. “He’d be the ugliest looking pony in here.”

“Some ugly mother fucker?” She grunted and looked at me with a cocked eyebrow. “Can’t say I’d seen any ugly ponies, but there was this stupid son of a bitch mule hitting on me when I came in.” She lifted her hoof off the bar and pointed to the far back corner of the room. “Think he’s passed out over there.” Sure enough, slumped in the dark corner booth was a very passed out looking lumpy pony… thing. Different races of equines were weird to be around.

“Thanks.” Well, at the very least I could finally do what Mrs. Delilah asked. “Can ask you one more thing though?” The image of my mother at the fight crept out from the recesses of my mind. “Were you really in the Enclave?” If this mare served, maybe she knew where she was onboard.

“Yeah.” She groaned again, spreading herself across the bartop even further. “Worst job I’ve ever had.”

“Have you seen another pegasus around here? Most likely enclave as well, blue coat, bright yellow mane?”

“Don’t have to yell it.” She whined, “But yeah, I came here with her.” Once again, my heart skipped a beat. That was the best news I’d heard all day! “Her name is Serene skies. Fucking bitch tore my heart out to go sleep with Gale, the prick.” Waving her hoof angrily, she changed her voice to a mocking tone. “Oh, Slipstream, you’re too uptight for me. Gale knows how to ‘really’ have fun.” With a groan, she flopped her hoof down against the bar again. “Fuck her, and fuck Gale.”

That… wasn’t my mother's name. Nor to my knowledge did my mother care for other mares. Even though it was encouraged, I’d been the only one in my family to follow the Enclave’s suggestion to keep to the same sex. Honestly, it wasn’t that I exclusively liked stallions, there was the occasional cute mare I saw back at my old school. However, something about stallions just made my heart flutter. Now I’m off track again, and I really should get away from this mare before I somehow make her angry at me.

“Oh, I see.” I forced myself to say. Who was I kidding in looking for mom? She was dead. Dad was dead. My life was this now, and I didn’t even know why any of it had happened to me. Maybe I should just go with Mrs. Delilah, at least to see if there were any answers for me there.

“Say,” The mare spoke up before letting out a loud belch. “You wouldn’t be looking to help me get back by having some angry, drunken revenge sex, would you?”

Sleeping with a drunk mare screamed wrong to me, even if she wanted it. “I…” Casting my glance over to the passed out form of Mrs. Delilah’s son, I focused myself. “I don’t swing that way. I’m sorry, but I must be going.”

“Pft, your loss.” She waved her hoof at me before dropping it onto the bar top with a loud clop. “Bartender! Another whishkey!” As I turned back toward the corner she’d pointed me to, she spun and put her hoof on my shoulder. “Hey, kid.” She looked at me with her half lidded red eyes, seeming lost and unfocused. “Keep the nickname. With a bomb like the one you dropped on the crowd during the fight, it suits you.”

“Thanks, I guess?” I wasn’t sure that was how nicknames worked, but I didn’t care. I wrapped my hoof around my mother’s dog tags. My body was sore, and my head hurt, but I had to stay strong. Casting my glance over to the booth in the corner, I turned myself toward the drunken stallion. This place was so different than anything I’d ever known, but I couldn’t stop moving myself forward, at least, not yet.

I had to get back to four peaks, maybe then at the very least I could find out why my life crumbled under my own hooves. To do that, I had work to do. I’d promised to help Delilah until we got there, and I would do whatever it took to get her to keep up her end of the bargain. That started, with getting her son up to the captain.

Walking over, I recoiled at the stench coming off of the stallion. He wasn’t nearly as ugly as his mother. Along with having a crimson colored coat more befitting of a pony, he also had a few softer features on him than her. His ears were shorter, his muzzle wasn’t as pronounced, but his black mane was as ruffled and unkempt as his mother’s. Honestly, it was hard to even consider him her son with the way he looked. However, nothing down here really made sense to me, and I had a lot to learn about it. Carefully, I leaned down and pulled his forehoof up. With a bit of effort, I managed to work my way under him, getting him slung across my back.

He was heavy, but not so much that I couldn’t at least walk. Looking ahead out the door into the hallway, I gave a grunt and headed towards it. I knew it probably wasn’t, but if this was the least that I’d have to do to get them to take me back home for some answers, this would be worth it.

Yeah, back home. Just yesterday. Well, my yesterday. I hadn’t even known what I was going to do with my life in that place. I had nothing but the prospect of either joining the military, or working in that shipyard like my father. Now, I’m stuck in this ‘wasteland’ on my own with no direction to go but the one I chose.

However, so far, this hasn’t been too bad I guess. It’s been hard to understand, but the ponies who I’d been told couldn’t survive down here have already done so much to help me. I already owed them more than I could pay, and even without my parent’s here, I had to be the upstanding stallion they’d wanted me to be. I may not have legally been an adult in the Enclave’s eyes, but it’s time that I started to act like one.

Even now though, something in the back of my mind was nagging at me. Just a creeping little feeling that scratched at me just enough to where I couldn’t ignore it. Somehow, I just knew that it was telling me that perhaps my streak of bad luck was not yet over...

Author's Note

So! Once again, we begin yet another wasteland adventure! Wait, this time it's after the day of Sunshine and Rainbows!? Well, wouldn't you know, I figured it was about time to get up to this point in the timeline. I hope you stick with us on the fantastic journey ahead for Night Flight! I have to thank Sawyer and Dice Warwick for both editing and giving heaps of feedback on these first few chapters of the story! I'd be lost without them! Seriously, go read their stories, they are great!

Also, a much needed thanks to Kkat for crafting such a wonderfully diverse and colorful wasteland to play around with! Without you, this all wouldn't even exist!

Lastly, I'd love to thank Hnetu, Lost Art, Retl, Furryrailfan, Vanguard, Savage, Keanno, Bad Pun, Fiat, plus tons of others who've been such great friends over these past few years. Their support and help in my times of need have been a major driving force behind this story.

Chapter 15 - Fireworks

Not everything takes longer than you expect.

There was little fanfare from us when we’d pulled away from the summit of Filly Crossing. To be more specific, there wasn’t any at all. Honestly, that was probably a good thing, seeing as I really should be looking out for anypony around here who was giving us too much attention. Actually, I’d already almost been killed by two normal looking ponies in the last day, so if anything, it’s the normal ones I should keep an eye out for.

Shifting against the uncomfortable chafing of the battle saddle I wore, I knew that at least this time I’d be able to fight back...

Winding down the rocky cliffside path for the last hour had been nice and quiet. Delilah had everypony on station for the trip down, as some of the roads ahead were known to be quite treacherous. Even so, this side of the mountain was less rocky once you got about halfway down, and gave way to higher elevation forest valleys and sub-mountain ranges. As such, she’d had Hardcase leave the radio on out in the Rec section, so both Buck and I could react if there was a problem we needed to know about.

“Alright everyone,” Delilah’s voice crackled as it came over the radio. “We’re coming up on the first Road Crew checkpoint between here and the Ark. I want everypony to be at their best from here on out.” I was slightly confused as to what a ‘road crew checkpoint’ was, but seeing as Buck was the only one within earshot, and the only other one around here to not know about stuff this far south, I didn’t ask. “Some of you might not know, but Solomon hired a pony to try to kill Bombay back at Filly Crossing. He’s fired the first shot at us of this war, and it won't help us to hold back against him anymore either.”

“From here on out, treat everypony as if they might be working for him. Nopony leaves without another one of us at their side anymore, period. This includes going out to any towns for trading and the like.” Her voice was as stern as ever. Yet, I could hear how much it had changed. She cared about telling this to the others, and we could all hear it in her voice, I was sure of it. “You may know the truth of what we’re after now, but it's not going to make our task any less difficult to complete with Solomon coming after us.”

“I wish she wouldn't make it sound as if everypony is out to get us.” Buck sighed as he continued to type away at his terminal. I agreed that it did sound bad outloud like that, but it was really true. Hell, they still didn’t even realize that we were being followed by Hispano and her father. And now I felt guilty again for hiding that...

“Look at it this way, at least she didn't ask for us to shoot anypony that we suspect of it on sight.” I offered a nervous smile over to Buck from my bed.

“I guess that's true.” He shrugged and offered back his own smile. “I'm glad you've been more optimistic about things. For a while there, I was sure that you'd be convinced that the wasteland was only full of violence and strife.” Starting to lightly chuckle, I almost joined him in actually laughing. However, that was cut short when a set of rapid gunshots filled the air from outside. “I just had to say something.” Buck groaned.

“Bombay, make sure to get your gear on and get out back to Lucky.” Delilah’s voice came back in over the radio. “Doc, standby to provide medical treatment as needed.”

Pushing myself up to a gallop, I ran through the back of the Rec area and spread my wings wide. Shooting out of the back of the Hauler, I smiled as the cool air pressed up against my wings and caught me. Gliding out over Lucky and the runner, I tweaked my outstretched forelegs and wings slightly to softly bank me around. More gunshots from up ahead made me look over to investigate, and I brought my tail in line to keep me from drifting too much.

Up ahead, maybe a few thousand feet down the road, was a wide, snowy clearing full of old tree stumps and fallen logs. The edge of a thick forest sat across from the mountainside half of it, which had a few small log cabins built next to a line of bright orange construction vehicles. Between the cabins and the cleared land, sat a pair of square concrete bunkers. Sporadic automatic fire came from the bunkers, causing dusty lines of snow and dirt to kick up across various sections of the clearing.

Confused as to just what they were firing at, I came back around behind the Runner. I felt uneasy staring at the Dizzitron as I flared my wings to slow down, and yawed myself to drop a bit of altitude. I had to do this though, this was my job and I couldn’t let Delilah down. So even though I wasn’t sure I was ready, I committed myself. Dropping onto the moving bed of the Runner, I perked my ears as Lucky stuck his head out of his window.

“Get locked in already!” He shouted.

Rolling my eyes, I stepped up to the mechanism and hurriedly got myself secured into it. “Wait, is this on power level one?” I called back only a moment before the machine started to hum. I did my best to fight my instinct to panic. Instead, I leaned my head forward and bit down on my battle saddle controls as the spinning picked up. Of course since the last time I’d done that, the forged metal hadn’t really decided to taste any better.

As the world became a white and brown blur from the surrounding snow and rocks, I closed my eyes and waited. The crisp clank from the release mechanism sounded much clearer to me than it had when I’d practiced before. However, the dizzying spin was just the same as I’d remembered. After a few moments, I flared my wings and stuck my legs out. Opening my eyes, everything was… upside down.

Twisting my wings, I rolled myself over in panic. Letting myself straighten out, I felt the wind pick up under my wings again as I began to glide. Even though the gunfire below me was still a bit distressing, I couldn’t help but smile from the fact that I’d recovered from the launch all on my own!

“Nice form.” Violet called out as she swooped down from above. “Now come on, there’s work to do! We’ve got to kill those things before they reach the checkpoint!” Like a feather on the breeze, she pulled herself delicately end over end until she was pointing downward. Then like a purple bolt, she shot through the air.

“Wait! What are we fighting!?” I called out, pushing myself into a dive. It wasn’t as steep a dive as I’d been in on the ice sheet, but it was steeper than normal for me.

I tried to keep my eye on her as I started to speed toward the forest clearing. Unfortunately, I relented to controlling myself rather than wait for an answer from her that wasn’t coming. Pitching myself, I rolled and came down in a corkscrew pattern, repeatedly skimming down along the edge of the dark forest. As I did, I noticed dozens of dark, purple spotted shadows moving across the ground inside. I couldn’t see what exactly they were, but from the alien way they shambled around toward the clearing, I was sure I’d find out shortly.

Banking back around toward the bunkers, I’d learned sooner than I’d thought. A pair of black and purple looking spotted dogs sat gazing at me from behind some of the snow covered logs that were being shot at. No, not dogs. Dog shaped, but bigger. Maybe wolves, like from the pictures that had been in my biology textbook? Though, I don’t remember spotted wolves being a thing in there. Regardless, if they were a danger to the checkpoint, I’d have to take them out. One grenade should do it.

Pitching myself upwards, I wiggled my tongue across the grenade trigger and waited until I’d drained enough speed. With a sharp pull, I felt the mechanism strip one of the grenades from my harness and drop it through the air. Leveling myself out, I looked down at the falling weapon as I drifted toward the bunkers as the convoy finally reached them. The small apple shaped grenade hit the log square between the two wolves, before it exploded with a sharp crack.

I felt as the small blast wave pushed against me, and stabilized myself before banking around to look at the results of my first ground attack run. Drifting on a shallow glide, Violet dropped down with me with a worried look across her muzzle. I gazed down as the blackened and splintered backside of the log came into view. A small, smoldering crater sat where the grenade had gone off, and in it, were a few shredded and burning plant vines. However, there were no wolves...

“That was a nice two for one kill, but I doubt that they were the only Bramble wolves out here.” She spoke with a sigh, changing her gaze over toward the treeline.

“Two for one kill?” I asked, looking back down at the crater. “But… where’s the bodies?”

“Shit, I keep forgetting that you don’t know.” Violet gasped before looking at me. “You remember being taught about Timber Wolves back in school?” She asked, prompting a confused nod from me. “These are Bramble Wolves. Northern cousins to them, and made entirely out of thorny bramble vines. Hence the name.” Reaching out with her forehoof, she forced my head toward her. “Do not let them touch you. Ever. Understand?”

“Sure…” I asked, eyeing back at the forest that was fast approaching us. With how many I’d seen moving around in there, I was feeling a whole lot less confident at getting anywhere close to it. “But, just to tell you, I saw a lot more coming from in there.”

The both of us banked to the side as we approached the treeline, and Violet went wide eyed as the both of us saw dozens of glowing purple eyes tracking us across the sky from in the shade of the forest. One of them stepped out into the clearing ahead of us, and tilted its head up. It gave out a low, droning howl until it’s whole body began undulating. The pitch increased until it became a near screech, and the wolf became nothing more than a mass of wildly flailing vines.

Yeah, that’s something I never would have wanted to let touch me anyway!

Violet and I pulled up, banking around towards the Convoy. I looked ahead, watching as the stripes on the side of Bessy’s turret rotated around. The cannon on top swung over, sitting in line with the lone, howling wolf for only a moment before it fired.

The blast wave from the cannon shell’s explosion actually caught under my wings and lifted me a bit into the air. The ringing from both the shot and the explosion deadened my hearing, and looking around, I found Violet already had turned back around toward the numerous wolves now running out of the forest and across the clear cut area.

The bunker machine guns behind me opened up again. Even though I couldn’t quite hear them, I watched as lines of snow and splintering wood kicked up across the open land. Amazingly as I banked back toward them, I watched as their black and purple viny forms flattened themselves almost completely along the terrain, and their rope like legs flailed like large whips. Their vines would grab onto something ahead of them, and sharply pull themselves forward. It was the most frighteningly disturbing thing I’d seen yet in the wasteland.

Dipping into a soft glide, I picked up a little speed as I flew toward a large mass of them. Between the flattened mass, I couldn’t tell if there had been three or four when I pulled the trigger and dropped another grenade down. This time, I pulled up and banked myself around in a wider arc to get a clear view of the blast. I watched as the wolves themselves watched the dropping grenade with great intrigue.

Interestingly enough, one of them used one of their incredibly long vine legs to reach up and grab around the apple shaped weapon while it had only fallen about halfway down to them. It held it there for another second before the grenade exploded with a sharp crack.

Surprisingly, the small weapon’s blast won out over the ringing in my ears momentarily. While the log had protected me before, the mid air blast sent shrapnel from the grenade zipping through the air around me. I felt as a piece slapped against the submachine gun at my side, and as a few smoldering pieces cut through my tail. The wolf that had grabbed the grenade however, lost it’s long tentacle, but had saved itself and the others. Turning myself back toward the convoy, I furiously beat my wings to gain more altitude, as well as more time to think. Okay, how am I supposed to fight a monster that can cheat and just grab a grenade out of the fucking air!?

Another resounding shot from Howitzer’s cannon shook the air and blasted me sideways. I groaned as the air was forced from my lungs, and I struggled to keep myself from dipping into too sharp of a dive. Giving a gasp for air, I maneuvered myself back toward the Convoy while I looked back to where Howitzer had hit. The four that I’d meant to kill with the grenade weren’t there anymore, nor was the pair of logs they’d been near, or the dirt under them. Guess they couldn’t stop something like that.

That gave me an extraordinarily bad idea.

Flapping hard, I pushed myself to get back to the Hauler. Hardcase up on the Hauler’s quad roof mount joined the machine guns in the bunkers under me. The three points continued to rattle away rounds, and a the very least keep the wolves from advancing too quickly across the open ground. The ringing in my ears returned as the open reactor deck came into view just as Howitzer fired another shot into the monsters. Flaring myself and coming in fast, I came down hard on the steel floor right next to Boiler, and found my unbalanced self flopped onto my side.

Without warning, I felt a pair of strong legs wrap around me and pull me back up to my hooves. Looking up, I found Boiler shouting at me without having a chance to beat out the ringing in my ears. Instead of let her continue, I put my hoof over her muzzle and spit my saddle’s bit out.

“I need you to load up one of those cannon shells again!” I spoke, not able to hear myself as I did so, but watching her cringe all the same as I yelled in her face. “Like you did on the Ice flats!”

She started to speak again, shaking her head and trying to explain her point without me able to hear a damn word she said.

“I can’t fight the Bramble wolves with simple grenades!” I shouted to her, successfully cutting her off. She went wide eyed and put her hoof on my chest.

I watched as she mouthed what I was pretty sure was ‘Bramble wolves’ before she tapped on my chest and turned around. I didn’t know what she was saying as she galloped over toward the munitions storage cage. Running in, she grabbed a hoofful of small white cylinder style grenades and hobbled back over to me with them. She pointed to them before making the motion to load them up in my saddle with quick nodding.

“No, I need something bigger! They’re made of vines!” I yelled at her. “Grenades won’t work!”

She rolled her eyes and shoved one of the white cylinders at me so I could read the label. In bright red letters, I wasn’t sure what most of it meant, but the middle word caught my eye more than anything.

AM-134
INCENDIARY
RP/TH3

Fire? That might work against plants! Hoofing it back, I nodded franticly and presented my side to her. For somepony without the precision of levitation or the flexibility of feathers, she made short work of removing my last normal grenade, and attaching three of the white incendiary cylinders to my side. She gave me a pat and pointed to the open side of the hauler when she finished.

“Thank you!” I called out just before Howitzer let loose another of his shells. Galloping to the edge of the deck, I flared my wings again and banked myself around back toward the battle. Looking over, the fight against the encroaching wolves was not going well, and a few dozen of the shambling masses were more than three quarters of the way to the bunkers.

I watched as Violet performed a high speed pass on them. Her gun fired again and again as she strafed over them. The shots did little to harm the monsters, but they turned their attentions on her rather than moving forward. Their flailing vines raked at the air dangerously close under her, and I tried to gauge their reach as best I could.

Beating my wings hard, I climbed as fast as I was able. Muttering under my breath as I panted from the exertion, I cursed my own flat feathers. Still, I managed to climb higher and higher. And though my wings were starting to ache from the punishment I was giving them, I was still happy they’d gotten me this far. They must have grown stronger just with how much I’d had to use them in the wasteland so far!

Leveling myself out, I bit down on the trigger assembly, and adjusted myself to glide toward the far edge of the battle line. Torquing my wings, I curved myself into a banking turn, and set myself to drift across the length of the encroaching lines of shambling creatures. With a sharp pull, I dropped the first grenade. Waiting for only a single moment, I pulled again and sent the second grenade falling. By the time I pulled the trigger for the third, the first one reached the ground.

With a soft pop, rather than a blast, a cloud of red gas exploded around the ground. The second grenade fell until it was caught a few feet off the ground by one of the wolves. However, it too exploded with a blast of colorful smoke that enveloped the creature and it’s nearby companions. The creatures under the last one simply flattened themselves against whatever was nearby only a moment before the third grenade’s cloud enveloped them with another pop.

Even from my height, I could feel the warm thermals being generated by the rising clouds. I banked around back toward the convoy, watching as the first cloud began to thin. In it, I could see flickering fires all across the ground. Writhing and blazing masses of vines slowly burned to a crisp in front of me, while the Bramble Wolves that had been behind those caught in the blast turned themselves and hastily advanced back toward the forest.

The lines of fire being laid down by the bunkers came to a stop as the last of the invading wolves disappeared again into the dark forest. A few of the ponies in the concrete buildings came out from the various hatches built into them, looking quite relieved. They looked up into the sky, giving bright smiles and waves to both Violet and I. I spit my bit and laughed to myself, as I couldn’t help but feel good about doing something useful for once.

Violet swooped down and took her place next to me. She spoke up with silent words that I couldn’t hear, but her smile felt comforting at least. I pointed up to my ears and shook my head, to which she nodded and seemed to understand. Waving for me to follow her, I banked around and headed toward the Hauler again. We took a wide path around, coming over Lucky in the runner before lining up with the Rec area. Gliding in, we both had a slow approach as we came down, dropping onto the floor with heavy hooves.

Immediately, Violet spun around and put her hoof on my chest. She held her hoof up for me to wait, and I nodded. Reaching up to her ears, she popped out a foam pad from each before turning and trotting over to my container’s door. I sighed, as I realized that ear protection might have been useful in the fight. Though, how was I supposed to know I’d be right next to the blast of Howitzer’s gun? It was loud back on the ice sheet, but not that loud.

Then again, I was much higher, and was moving much faster at that point…

Buck stepped out with a small ear dropper daintily held between two of his claws. The purple fluid in it looked like it was drawn out of a health potion, but as long as it gave me my hearing back, I didn’t care what it was. With a fuzzling crackle, Buck dripped a few drops into each of my ear, and the world around me became a whole lot louder again.

“Oh goddesses, thank you.” I sighed, flicking my ears a few times and listening as the glorious sounds of the wasteland met me again.

“Well, you didn’t die!” Violet laughed as she gave me a stiff pat on the back. “And thanks to you, those Bramble Wolves won’t be attacking this place any time soon.”

“Bramble Wolves, you say?” Buck said, perking his ears as he headed back into our room.

“Yeah. Why, you heard of them up in Inuvik?” Violet asked as we both watched as Buck slipped on his medical yoke and grabbed his duffle bag from under his bed.

“The digital library on the Inuvik had a book on northern wildlife that I’d studied up on in preparation for this trip.” He spoke up as he walked back out towards us. “It should be interesting to see how they have fared or mutated over these last two centuries.” Moving forward, he was stopped by Violet’s outstretched hoof.

“Just be careful in looking over their bodies. Avoid their thorns at all cost, Doc.” She spoke in such a serious manner that I was starting to get the feeling that even dead, these things weren’t safe at all.

“I know all about their thorns from the wildlife book.” He grumbled back at her with an annoyed sigh, using his massive forepaw to shift her leg off of him. “Their intoxicating venom can contain enough fermentation to put a foal’s life in danger, but it will hardly affect someone with my metabolism.”

“Not anymore, Doc.” Violet sighed and stepped aside. “But by all means, touch away.”

“Fermentation? Thorns?” I asked, just as obnoxiously blunt as ever. Though, this is about something dangerous after all. I should probably know the sorts of things I’ll need to avoid in the wasteland in the future.

“Their thorns contain a potent type of fermented venom, made in the purple flowers that you saw growing all over their vines.” Violet spoke up. Reaching over with her wing, she gave me a sharp jab with it as she spoke. “One prick from a single thorn on their vine has enough potent alcohol to kill even an adult minotaur in minutes.” With that, she turned and glared at Buck.

“So what you’re saying is…” He gave a nervous laugh as he rubbed at his neck. “Look, but don’t touch.”

“Yeah, something like that.” Violet rolled her eyes, dropping them down onto me as she finished. “Anyway, Bombay. I’m pretty sure we should go talk to the Forepony here with Delilah. Might give us a discount if you’re there to remind them that we just saved their asses.”

“Okay.” I nodded before turning to Buck. Giving him a soft smile, I reached out and gave him a pat on the side. “Be careful, alright?”

“Yeah.” He smiled and reached up. “Though, it’s odd to hear that from you, as it’s usually me telling you that.” Again, he ruffled my mane with his massive claws before stepping past me and heading down into the ice hold. Looking out past him, I followed Violet as she spread her wings, and the two of us took flight yet again.

Landing softly next to Delilah, Violet and I found her facing off with a trio of oddly dressed stallions. The three of them wore flannel shirts over their burly earth pony forms. Orange and white reflective vests sat over each one’s flannel shirt, and the bright orange hard hats that adorned each of their heads had a crudely painted red diamond on it. Fixed to the hat’s sides like fabric ears, were a pair of bright orange flags that flapped stiffly in the cold wind.

“Hey, kid. Thank’s for the assist.” The stallion in the middle spoke up as he nodded to me with a smirk. “Good work with that fire. Maybe we could have a talk in a few about buying some of those grenades off of you?”

“Sorry, we need all our supplies.” Delilah interjected before turning and pointing to Violet and I. “These are my two recon scouts, Zoomer and Bombay. They’re my chief means of advanced protection on this trip, and I need them as well equipped as they can be.”

“Nah, it’s fine.” The stallion gave a dismissive wave. “The Bramble wolves have just been acting strange ever since the clouds cleared up is all. However, I’m sure they’ve learned their lesson with that show you put on.”

“One can only hope.” Delilah snorted and pressed her glasses up on her muzzle. “So, Forepony, about getting clearance for my convoy?”

“Yeah, I can give it to you, but I got word over the wire from my union rep a week ago that the price has gone up to fifty caps.” The stallion shrugged, turning and waving for his two friends to run off. “With the clouds gone, the wild weather’s been wreakin’ havoc with the roads. It’s going to start costing us a lot more resources to keep them maintained.”

“That is unfortunate, but understandable.” Delilah grumbled.

“However, as Forepony, I think I can authorize a little deal with the others for a bit of a discount. You know, on account of helping us out of that bramble wolf bind.” He gave a lax look about, like he was avoiding even looking at anything that resembled responsibility. “The normal toll price sound good to you folks?”

“Sounds acceptable to me.” Delilah smirked and stiffly held out her hoof. “Pleasure doing business, Forepony.”

Foreponies? Union Reps? What the hell was all this? Dad had complained about the forepony at the shipyard being a ‘whiney featherbrain’, but even then I didn’t really understand what was going on. Looking over at Violet, she caught my confused look and leaned over to me.

“I’ll explain later.” She whispered into my ear before turning and watching as one of the oddly dressed ponies trotted past us with a paint bucket.

I turned and watched him. Carefully, he set the bucket down on the asphalt next to Bessy, biting down on the handle of the paintbrush stuck inside of it. Pulling it out, it dripped of red paint. With a quick slash against the zebra painted tank, he left a red mark across its front. Putting the brush back in the bucket, he picked the bucket itself up again, and moved on towards Bertha.

“Alright you two, get ready to get going. We’re on the move again in ten.” Delilah said as she stepped up beside me. “Good work out there, Bombay. Switching to Incendiary was a good idea.”

“Actually, that was Boiler’s idea.” I replied, watching as my words didn’t affect her expression one bit. Not that I expected them to.

“Still, you dropped them, so you get the afternoon off.” Delilah nodded before trotting off toward the Hauler. “Besides, I don’t want you getting overconfident with your one win.” Her words only had a few moments to sink in, but they sank deep. This was only one of many fights we’d probably see on the way down, and that alone was both frightful and humbling to think about.

Violet snorted next to me, shoving me playfully. “I’m not even mad that you get the day off.” Giving me a pat on my side, she too trotted forward. “You’re still green, but that wasn’t bad for your first go at things! Go ahead and relax your wings.” She called out, looking back at me with a smirk. “You coming or what?”

With a wide smile, I picked up my hooves, and headed back for some nice relaxing rest.

We’d been on the road for another hour now, still heading down the long, winding road that trailed through the various mountain valleys on the southern side of ‘The Last Bastard’s summit. Everypony had gone back to business as usual on the convoy, and now that we were moving again, I’d finally felt I could enjoy the time off I’d earned. So, I’d laid down on my bed, stared at the ceiling of my container, and let my thoughts drift as a solid realization wrapped itself around me like the warmth of the rainbow rug I’d curled up under.

Home. That’s what this place felt like to me. I may have only been with the crew here for a couple of weeks, but something incredible had happened in that short period of time. I felt accepted, liked, and cared about in a way that I didn’t really understand until recently. For most of my life, Mom and Dad were the only ponies who I could even say loved me at all. Now? I may not have had love, but I had more friends than I could have ever dreamed of.

“So, you aren’t going to even answer me then.” Happy sighed as he sat in the open doorway. He’d been lucky to come in when Buck was downstairs tending to a burn that Boiler got from restarting the reactor to get us moving again. However, that just meant that I needed to bide my time until he returned. “You know, I knew you were going to pull some shit like this. Should’ve done the job myself.” He shook his head and gave out a huff. “And you know what? I actually thought that you were going to be one of the cool ponies on this trip.”

“Yes, because it would have been ‘cool’ to rip off ponies who didn’t have anything to their names to offer.” I’d said quickly. A smile instantly flashed across my muzzle as I did. It felt good to speak my mind for once and not worry about it. Turning over in my bed, I found his flat expression to be nearly a copy of his mother’s on most days. “Look, if caps are really all you want, I’ll pay you back for it once I get paid.” Oddly enough, he shifted to a look of surprise when I said that. “Yeah, that’s right. I’ll cover their debt.”

“No, that ain’t cool.” He grunted and crossed his forehooves. “It’s more than just about the caps, it’s the principle of the matter.” With a huff, he blew his greasy mane down in front of his eye. Annoyedly, he bat it out of the way with his hoof. “You come to live with us, you are supposed to be loyal to us. Got it?” Oh, so that’s how it was supposed to be? I don’t think he realized that this was exactly what I’d just gone through with his mom. “Selling out to somepony outside the convoy is insulting to the hospitality my mother’s given you. You might as well work for Solomon.”

That hit a nerve with me. “Can I ask you something?” I could stand being called a coward, or a liar. I could stand for being called out on screwing him over in the deal. “Have you actually ever seen Solomon?” As the words came out of my muzzle, I could remember in vivid detail the calm look on Solomon’s face as he came back from murdering Prince Salal. I could see the sharp, determined look that he shared with the gunpony who nearly killed Buck and I down in the medical rooms of Filly Crossing.

“Well, no...” Happy Trails trailed off as he looked caught off guard by the question.

Shifting over on my bed, I got to my hooves. Canting my head as I talked, I glared at Happy. “Violet and I watched as he killed a deer with his own two hooves for trespassing on their own land. I’ve seen who he’s hired to protect him, willing to murder others without question.” I stepped off my bed, keeping my eyes locked on his. While he looked slightly unnerved at me, he held his ground and sat there as I walked closer. “I was the one nearly killed by a mercenary working for him in Filly Crossing. I was the one out there fighting those Bramble Wolves earlier.”

“And during all this, where were you? You haven’t left the convoy without your mother once since we’ve left the Empirica. Why is that? Maybe it’s because you’re afraid to leave your safe haven here?” Standing an inch from his muzzle, I felt like I could just give him one good swing and break his jaw the same way I did to Solomon. “You think it’s insulting to do somepony a kindness, even if you don’t know them? You’ve only heard the stories of what Solomon is capable of from your mom, where I’ve seen what he can do.” He wasn’t worth a fight.

Happy simply smirked, keeping a level head as his gaze wandered over my own. “You can talk a big game, but that’s all this still is to you. A game.” Rolling his eyes, he got to his hooves and took a step back. “I’ve lived in the wasteland my whole life. You’re still just some kid from above the clouds. You’ve had a taste, but you don’t know what it’s actually like down in the wastes. You will though, soon enough.” He gave a few stiff laughs as he turned and walked toward his room. Even as the Hauler beneath our hooves gave a shake on the uneven roads below, his hoofing was far steadier than mine. “You’ll come around to my side of things, Bombay. Just you wait and see.”

I glared at him as he walked back into his room and shut the door behind him. It wasn’t until then that I felt the haze of anger in my mind lift. My knees felt like they were about to buckle, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. Still, I’d stood up for myself against him. I felt a pride in that, and I couldn’t help but think that Mom and Dad would be proud of me as well. Turning back around, I trotted over to my bed and climbed onto it again. With a relaxed flop, I laid back down and resumed staring at the ceiling. However this time, my forehooves wandered up to my neck, and pressed hard against the silver tags still hanging around them.

I only had a minute’s peace before the container door across from mine opened up. Looking over, I’d wondered if Violet was already back from her patrol. Instead, from out of it, Hardcase trotted over to me with a nervous smile.

“So, that must have been a fun conversation.” He spoke as he stopped just inside my doorway and rubbed at his neck. “Still, I’m glad to see that you’re not letting him get to you like he did your first few days on with us. Most of us think he’s just jealous of all the attention you’ve gotten from his mom.” Looking over in the direction of his container, he lowered his voice a bit. “Give him a bit more time, I’m sure he’ll warm up to you.”

“Yeah.” I sighed and maneuvered myself to sit up a bit. While he wasn’t really a good guy, the rest of the crew didn’t really seem to have that good of a rapport with him either. So I began to wonder just what Happy being ‘warmed up’ to somepony really meant. “So, what’s up?”

“Hmmm?” Hardcase looked over to me with a puzzled look. He gasped and gave a small chuckle after a moment. “Oh, right.” Looking at me, he paused as the creaking of metal came from the Rec area. Waiting to speak, I heard the heavy steps of Buck approaching. “Good, you’re here too, Doc. How’s Boiler?”

“Oh, just a minor burn on her foreleg was all.” Buck sighed as he hoisted his medical duffle bag off from around himself. With a smile, he squeezed himself past Hardcase and into the room. “She should be fine so long as she keeps the bandage on it for the next day, and keeps applying the salve I gave her.” With a light flop, he laid down onto his bed as well. “What brings you down from your post and over to our humble room?”

With that, Hardcase stepped inside our container. His horn flashed and swung our door shut behind him. “It’s something you both need to know.” He spoke up as both Buck and I perked our ears and sat up completely. “Since we’re getting things out in the open,” Nervousness crept into his words, and his eyes darted about between Buck and I. “As well since Bombay basically found out about it the hard way…” Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. “Violet and I are married.”

An awkward silence filled the air as both Buck and I didn’t really know what to say. For me, I was fighting the resurfacing memories of walking in on them going at it. However, knowing he didn’t share those memories, I could only assume that Buck didn’t know what to say at all. He cupped his chin with a claw for a moment, moving to say something, before stopping himself and simply going back to thinking.

“I just figured that you both deserved to know.” Hardcase broke the silence as he looked to the floor with a smile. “Seeing as the Doc will need to know if her or I are ever hurt seriously. Until then however, keep our relationship on the down low. Delilah doesn’t want it to cause a conflict of interest for the crew down the line.” Looking over to Buck, I found him nod, sharing the sincere smile that Hardcase wore. “And you, Bombay.” I looked over, finding his bright blue eyes almost glowing at me. “You deserved to know so you can stop subconsciously pining over how unavailable I am, and go after someone you already know actually cares for you back.” As he spoke, he gave me a quick wink before looking back over to Buck with a sigh. “Anyway, I’ve got to get back to my post for now. Feel free to come on up for a chat anytime.”

Our door shut behind him in his magic after he left, and the latch flipped around and into place with a solid click. In his absence, both Buck and I fell back into the previous uncomfortable silence before almost simultaneously flopping back onto our respective beds.

Even though I was still somewhat curious as to why both Hardcase and Violet kept their relationship in the dark, I couldn’t help but feel irked. I know that he was happy with Violet, but… insinuating that I should care about Hispano just because he believed I had a crush on her? Why couldn’t I just find some stallion to come in and sweep me off my hooves already, and save me from the embarrassment of being so awkwardly alone?

After a few moments more in silence, a soft snoring filled the air. Perking my ears and looking up, I found Buck had passed out on his bed. The poor guy had been awake taking care of Laika and I since even before Klondike, and he deserved some quality rest. Giving a soft sigh, I wiggled myself back into the center of my bed and pulled the rainbow rug over me once again. With my mind empty of important thoughts, I went back to staring at the ceiling again. Trying to find that warm feeling of home.

With a sharp snort, I woke up.

“Goddesses, when did I fall asleep?” I murmured to myself as the Hauler gave another rough shake again. Lolling my dry tongue around in my muzzle, I gave a sharp yawn and opened my eyes. The light outside our container was bright enough that it made me squint, and a chilled burst of air worked its way in through the open door from the rec area. Standing at the small makeshift kitchen tucked along the side of Gearbox and Boiler’s container, Buck stood there humming to himself. He had one of his claws dipped down into something steaming away in a ceramic mug.

“Good morning.” Buck said softly, not looking up from making stirring motions in the cup. Wait, morning? “You know, I’d always heard Pegasi were heavy sleepers.” He laughed as he finally looked over to me with a smile. “Never really believed it until I lived with one.”

“Is it really morning already?” I asked, giving a light stretch. As I did, I looked down at my barrel to find that the bandages I’d had wrapped around it had been removed. Wriggling myself over, I moved to look down at where I’d been shot. A raised pink circle was all that remained of the once life threatening injury, and stiff bits of coat had already begun to grow on it. Again, Bertha shook slightly as we rolled down the road, and it jarred a thought into my mind. “We’re moving a bit early, aren’t we?”

“We never stopped.” Buck said as he gingerly picked up the steaming mug from the counter and walked back over to our room. “Apparently, without the refrigeration on the Ice hold running, we’ll be able to get more time on the road before Boiler needs to shut down the reactor for cooling.” Walking up to my bed, Buck stopped short and held the mug out to me. “Here, drink this. Be careful though, it’s hot.”

Still a bit groggy, I did my best to sit up on my bed. Reaching out, I grasped the ceramic cup in both hooves. The warmth it radiated felt divine compared to the cold air that streamed in from the outside. There were plenty of times I could thank the goddesses for how insulated pegasi were, but even so, there were just some days that it didn’t feel like it was enough. Bringing the hot liquid to my muzzle, I looked down and gave a short sniff at it. It looked like the coffee Mom used to drink, but smelled... odd to me. Tilting the cup and taking a healthy sip however, whatever it was hit me sharply.

I nearly choked as the bittersweet flavor of it was overwhelming. The boiling feeling on my tongue and inside the roof of my muzzle made me whine as I almost regretted trying the steaming drink. Buck laughed as my eyes teared up from the burning feeling, but then something amazing happened. I couldn’t deny that after the pain, had come one of the most delicious aftertastes I’d ever experienced.

“What… is this?” I said, halfway between curiously asking, and wanting to air-cool my tongue with the frigid outside air. Looking back down at the steaming drink, I wanted more of that amazing aftertaste. But… was it worth the cost of burning my muzzle again? Lifting the cup up, I took another sip, and was rewarded with the same painful burning, and the same glorious aftertaste. Yes, yes it was worth it.

“That, is hot chocolate.” Buck groaned as he moved to sit down on the edge of my bed. As he did, he leaned back and propped himself up against the container wall. Still smiling, he looked over to me and nodded to the cup. “I’m surprised you’ve never had it before. The Enclave didn’t have things like that before the food shortage?”

Looking down at the cup, I couldn’t really be sure. “I don’t know?” I shrugged and thought about the coffee Mom would drink. She’d only even had it because it was a luxury that soldiers were allowed to buy on base, and she’d sometimes sneak some home with her when she was on leave. “I’ve only ever really had chocolate a hoofful of times in my life that I can remember. Mostly for my early birthdays.” Taking another sip, I started to focus less on the heat, and more on the flavor of it. “I like it though, thank you.”

“You should consider yourself lucky.” Buck sighed and gave off a disappointed grunt. “Most dogs can’t handle chocolate at all. Our systems aren’t really built to process it.” With a shrug, he glanced over to me. When he did though, I could see a sort of sorrow held in his eyes. “I’m glad you can get some enjoyment out of it.”

Looking back down at the cup, my heart sank. Again, he’s done so much for me already on this trip. And what have I done for him? I got him that medical yoke, yeah, but that was before all of the times he had to care for my injuries on this trip south. For trying to show he’s been right about being kind to others, I’d basically neglected doing anything at all for him.

“What do you get enjoyment out of?” I asked softly before taking another drink from the hot mug. He perked his stiff triangular ears at that, and his soft smile crept along his jagged muzzle. “I mean,” I continued, “what did you do on the Inuvik for fun?”

“I assume you mean other than enjoy my work in the infirmary?” He answered in a soft, yet hesitant way. I gave a short nod before he continued. “Well, I mostly spent time reading the digital library, or helping my mother with my brothers and sisters.” From the subtle way he slumped at that, I knew how much he missed them all. “I didn’t really have a lot of time between those things for anything ‘fun’.”

Taking another sip of my drink, I didn’t believe him. “You had to have something you did to unwind and de-stress other than read. Anything… at all?” Even though I didn’t have a lot of time between school and homework at home, I still found time to unwind with short glides in the evenings. Or, on nights where I didn’t have enough time to fly, spend some quality time ‘thinking’ about some of the stallions at school I had my eye on. Which actually, was something I hadn’t really had the alone time to do here so far. And like a bad itch, it now came roaring back to my nethers as I sat here. Thank the goddesses for the freezing cold weather outside!

“Well,” Buck sighed, his smile growing wider across his muzzle as he thought to himself. “It’s a bit embarrassing to say...“ A bright blush fell across his cheeks as he spoke, looking over at me nervously. “I had decided one day to follow my sister’s advice for once, and make a friend. It turned out, that one of the maintenance dogs assigned to the deck the infirmary was on was a perfect candidate. We’d both recently gotten our jobs, had late night shifts most of the week, and sometimes found that they could be a bit slow and boring for both of us. After a few weeks of nightly chats, we grew to be quite good friends.”

My ears perked as I realized that he was opening up to me about something personal to him. Much like the talks about his family, or Snow Dogs overall, I enjoyed listening to him finally let go. This was something I could easily do to help him relax, and I wanted to hear everything he had to say.

“So, what did you two do?” I asked, scootching myself a bit closer to him and taking another sip of my now cooler drink. “Did you play board games? Talk about things that happened on the ship and whatnot?” From how fast ponies on the Emperica had learned about what happened with Rosey and I in the arena, I could only guess that gossip moved twice as fast as anything else on those ships.

“Nothing so mundane, actually.” He chuckled, covering his face with his paw as his cheeks burned brighter. “He and I got a bit more... intimate during the more dull moments of the night. It was a hell of a great way to de-stress, let me tell you that.” Letting out a gasp from my muzzle, I almost dropped the cup in my hooves at that. “Goddesses, I’ve never told another living soul about what we did. Not even my sister.”

I couldn’t believe it. Literally, I froze up at hearing that as my mind went blank. I felt light headed, and this time, the cup in my hooves slipped out and fell to the floor. The loud noise of the porcelain shattering on the floor shocked me out of my state, and I looked around nervously before looking down at the hot chocolate stained floor. After a few moments, I think I finally caught up with things, because I felt Buck’s warm paw on my side.

“Are you alright, Night?” He looked down at me with more than a small bit of concern in his eyes. “Did I say something that made the memory talisman act up again?”

“I… no, I’m fine.” I formed the words slowly, blinking and trying to force myself to get back in the moment. “Just suprised by that is all.” Looking at him, I felt a soft smile crawl across my muzzle. “Thank you, for sharing that with me. It means a lot that you trust me with something like that. Something you’ve never told anypony else.”

He smiled, seemingly relieved with my answer as he gave out a soft laugh. “Hardly something that would send you into shock I’d hope.” Reaching down with his claws, he picked at the various pieces of the shattered cup, scooting them all together. As he did though, he paused and seem to deflate his mood a bit. “Besides, it was years ago now.”

The way he said that, reminded me of our talk about friends before. Before I could stop myself, I opened my muzzle again. “Was he the one you said that things didn’t end well with?” With Happy and Delilah recently, I knew I spoke my mind without much regret. Now however, I cringed as I watched the words sink in, hoping that I didn’t sabotage every bit of trust I’d built up with him.

“Yes, actually.” Buck replied with a nod as he pulled himself up. With a gentle movement, he leaned himself back up against the wall, and looked up at the ceiling sadly. “I wasn’t happy when he’d taken interest in another dog onboard. I tried to convince him to stay with me over her.” Shaking his head, I could see the pain he still felt. “I should have just enjoyed the time we had together and been happy with it. Instead, I pressed for something more, and it just pushed him farther away from me.” He sniffled, and raised his claw up to his muzzle. “Goddesses, I was an idiot.”

“I’m sorry for bringing it up...” I said softly. I felt light headed and angry just thinking about it. Buck had just wanted to be happy, he tried to hold on to what he had when he’d finally found it. “But you weren’t wrong to try to convince him. You’re kind, and caring, and you deserve to be just as happy as anypony else!” My legs shook under me as I spoke, wanting, begging me to move. I could feel myself all over coiling like a spring, filling with a tenseness as I talked. “That’s why I asked you how you relaxed. I want to repay the kindness you’ve shown me. I want my friends to be happy.”

“Night, I am happy.” He smiled and reached down. Cupping under my chin with his claw, he pulled my wavering eyes up to his. “You may be a pawful some days, but you’ve done plenty as a friend to keep me happy on this trip so far.”

Right then, it hit me. I’d been turned down by stallions in school. I’d oogled over both Salt and Hardcase, and had my thoughts of them shot down. But in all that, I’d missed the one guy who’d actually been there for me. Buck didn’t care that I came from the sky. He didn’t care that I was an idiot down here in the wastes. Buck cared for me not just as a friend, but for me as me. Maybe it was part of something that Lilac was talking about, maybe not. I don’t know, and I couldn’t really put this feeling I had into words. Sitting here right now, listening as he opened himself up to me, I felt more like I was the me I was always meant to be. And right now, that was a me who wanted to be with him.

I shook my head. “I can do more.”

Like with the rending snap of a stretched out rubber band having given way, the world turned into a blur of motion. I didn’t understand why it felt like I moved on my own, but it didn’t feel like a choice to me, rather than a force all it’s own. My own consciousness took a back seat as emotion and instinct took over everything that I was in that moment. As it did, I was left suspended in a perfect clarity of thought about the last two weeks with Buck. He and I were one and the same. Two beings ashamed of our imperfections, having left our homes to make new ones, all to end up finding someone else who shared our ideals. It wasn't love, and it wasn't lust. But all the same, I knew it was exactly what I wanted.

In the blissful moment when my muzzle met his, I felt like the missing piece of the puzzle that was my life had finally been found. He’d been here for me, time and time again. He cared for me like nopony else had. And even so, every time he’d done it, I’d missed it like an oblivious idiot. Sitting there, draped across his furred chest with my muzzle pressed against his, time felt like it had come to a complete stop around us.

However, pulling off of his muzzle, I looked down at Buck with watering eyes as he simply sat still. Maybe… time had actually stopped? It was then that doubt started to creep into my mind about my actions.

“I…” I began to say, “I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me.”

Buck blinked a few times, turning his gaze up to me. His own eyes wavered softly as tears formed and rolled down his cheeks as he looked at me. Slowly, he reached his massive forepaws up, grabbing around my sides. Under my tightly hugging hooves and even against my chest, I could feel his own muscles tighten up. Leaning forward, he opened his muzzle slightly and pressed it against mine again.

The feeling of sparks and fireworks going off all over me consumed my being, and I all but melted into his furry chest and tight grip. I knew it was only for a few moments, but my mind blanked again, and only came too when he pulled away from me to breathe again.

“I…” He panted softly, flopping his head back against the metal container wall as he looked dazed. “I didn’t know you felt that way about me.” The bright blush he’d had before returned as his wavering eyes found mine again, and almost immediately, I felt my own blush radiate back to him. “I’ve been wanting to tell you for quite some time now…” His warm smile felt like it carried the brilliance of the sun on it now. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “But, I really like you, Night. From the first day we traveled together, I knew I wanted to get to know you. I just… never really knew how to start, or what to say.”

Tightening my grip around his chest, I pressed myself against his warm neck and gave a huge sigh of relief. I could feel that underneath me, Buck was more relaxed now than he’d probably been in the last year. Funny thing, was that I was pretty sure the same went for me as well. Well, all of me was relaxed now with the distinct exception of the part that was relying on the cold to stay relaxed. A heated kiss and a giant pile of warm fur however, had quickly convinced it otherwise.

Speaking into his warm neck fur, I couldn’t help but smile. “I want more than just to know you, Buck.” My words made his body stiffen a bit. “I want to be here with you, for you.” Pulling my head back a bit and giving him a soft peck on his still rosey cheek, only a flash of fear went through my mind as I thought about letting myself go so far so quickly. Still, I giggled as I dropped my voice into a whisper and decided to buck my fears, and refused to let my rational mind speak for me anymore. “I want to de-stress with you.”

“I… I want that too.” He spoke softly. The smile that pulled across his muzzle eliminated the fear I’d felt before, and he held on to me tightly as he pulled himself to a standing position. He cupped around me and held me against his chest before we turned around and I was laid down on his bed.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sure what to expect for my first time being with anyone. But I knew that here and now, I wanted to be with Buck. I wanted to make this work, to be with him, to make him as happy as he’s made me. Because I felt something for him, even if I didn’t realize it until today.

For the first time in the wasteland, or in my life at all. I’d known that for at least the foreseeable future, I wouldn’t be alone any longer. Like I’d said, being down here, I’d had more friends than I could dream of. Now I had something more than that.

I had Buck.

Chapter 32 - Resonant Thoughts

Two wrongs don't make a right, it usually takes three or four.

I don’t really know why, but as I stared at the crystal ball in my hooves, my mind felt oddly blank. I’d lost track of time waiting for Buck to return from the hot springs, and staring into the orb held my attention for the time being as I laid on his bed. The words of Madame Mystic bounced around my mind, there but still out of focus for some reason. Every time I tried to remember them, they’d just slip away, and I found myself blankly staring at the orb again.

“Hey, Night?” Lucky’s voice croaked from where he laid on the other bed.

“Yeah?” I groaned, pulling myself back up to a sitting position. “What’s up? Do I need to go find Buck?”

“No, no.” He sighed. “Just making sure you’re still over there. You’ve been fairly quiet is all.”

“Sorry, I’ve had a lot on my mind, er, or lack thereof...” That was both a complete understatement, and an utter lie. I wasn’t quite sure if I could even explain it to him, but as per usual, my mind kicked something out anyway. “Do you believe in fate?”

“Yes and no.” He grumbled, making his multitude of bandages tug and shift on him. “But I have a feeling that there’s more than just a hint of innocent curiosity behind that question.”

“There was this… fortune teller here…” I began to say, finding my eyes once again wandering down to the orb in my hooves.

“Ah, yes. Her.” He groaned in annoyance, ripping my attention back to him. The way he emphasized that made me wonder what he would say. “I…” He paused, almost seeming hesitant to continue. “Can you keep a secret?”

“Uhmm…” It took me a moment to think about it, but I was pretty sure everyone else on the convoy was gone for the moment. Hispano was the only one I couldn’t track down, but I was pretty sure she went to go talk to her dad. “Yeah, I won’t tell anypony.”

“When I drove Hardcase and Violet up the first time, I went to see that supposed ‘psychic’.” He lowered his voice slightly as he spoke, not losing the hesitation I’d heard in it however. “While they both received good news, she didn’t have many ‘good’ things to tell me.” He paused again, and I watched as what I could see of his bandaged muzzle frowned. “I was told that it was my ‘fate’ to die up in these mountains. That things wouldn’t go well.” He forced a laugh that pulled a whimper out of him as well. “It’s funny, that I wrote her words off so easily. I mean, we made it back the first time down without incident. But look at me. Without Buck joining us in the north, I would most certainly be dead right now.”

“So… you believe her?” I didn’t want to believe him when he’d said this mountain range was cursed, and I know I didn’t want to believe that I was cursed. However, it was getting harder and harder to deny at this point.

“To be honest, Night?” He gave a painful grunt as he shook his head. “I don’t know. While nearly dying makes me want to believe what she told me, her prophecy didn’t come true.”

"Yet." It slipped out of my muzzle, like always. "Sorry." I didn't even bother facehoofing at that. Don’t go and mess things up for yourself, Night. So long as you do your job, and you don’t screw anything up, then Solomon won’t win. I just had to believe in Delilah and trust in those around me to get through this journey, that’s it.

“Hah.” Still, it pulled Lucky’s bandaged muzzle back into a smile. “Now you see why I believe these mountains are cursed?”

Sighing, I slumped a bit. I mean, if it was at all true and I am cursed, what was the point in trying to avoid conflict? Misfortune would always find me, no matter what, and…

The crystal orb rolled from my hooves and dropped to the bed with a soft thump.

What… what if I’m the reason for Lucky’s misfortune? What if I’m the one who guarantees his death? Could it have been my curse that has made us all suffer on this trip so far?

“Night?” Lucky’s voice broke the hold my mind had on me. Perking my ears, I turned my attention back to him for the moment. “I didn’t mean to make you worry or anything. Look, the point is, don’t worry about it. Go out and enjoy yourself before it’s too late to do so.” Offering me a nervous smile, I couldn’t tell if his words were hesitant because he wasn’t sure what I was thinking, or if he didn’t even believe them himself. “Go, see the resort. Spend some time together with the doc. I’ll be fine here. My brother should be back soon enough, and I need some time alone to talk with him, alright?”

“O-okay.” I forced the words out of my muzzle as my gaze fell down to the crystal ball again. “Thanks for talking to me, and trusting me enough to be open with your own experience here...” I paused as I thought about it. He trusted me with his secret, yet I hadn’t even considered him when confronted with the choice about the crystal ball. Though, now that I'm thinking about it, it just feels… right. Taking it into my forehoof, I shifted myself off of Buck’s bed and walked it over to him. “Hey, can I ask a favor of you?”

“Depends on the favor.” Lucky shifted uneasily in his bindings, letting out another pained whine as he struggled to turn his head toward me.

“I was told to keep this safe with somepony I trust.” I hooved the orb up so that he could see it, but stopped when I realized that of course, he couldn’t see anything through the bandages. “Well, I want you to keep it safe.” Setting it down against his side, he winced as it touched him.

“It feels small… it’s not a grenade from your saddle, is it?” Lucky offered through a nervous laugh. “You wouldn’t put something dangerous right next to me, right? I’ve had my fill of injuries already, I don’t need any more.”

“No, I don’t think it’s dangerous, but I don’t really know what it is.” I spoke up as I stared at it. “At least, not yet anyway.” Taking a step back, I watched as Lucky relaxed a bit. “Alright, well I’ll be back in a while then.”

“Have fun.” He smiled and gave a weak wiggle of his forehoof as I turned and headed out the door.

Trotting through the sunset lit halls of the old hotel, I followed the old faded signs that hung on the walls. As I passed the entrance to the restaurant where Hispano and I had been having our date, I noticed that an annoyed looking unicorn ghoul was working on one of the chalk boards that hung outside the doorway.

Mighty Mighty Manticore Meal!*

Feel up for a challenge? Ask your server about our Mighty Mighty Manticore Meal food challenge! Fresh prime manticore meat paired with eight cans of delicious pre-war delights! Finish the 150oz meal in thirty minutes, and the meal is on us, as well as a place in the Pink Mountain Resort Hall of Fame! A three hundred and fifty cap value!

Underneath it, the ghoul had added an asterisk and another line under it.

*Applicable to PONIES only.

"Thanks again for the free meal!" Boiler called back into the restaurant as she nearly barged into me on her way out. The ghoul next to me simply rolled his eyes as she let out a loud belch. “Oh, hey there, Bombay! How was your date with Hispano?”

“It… could have gone better.” I cringed and shifted uneasily as I bit my tongue. As much as I wanted to tell her that while the movie was an alright idea, Madame Mystic was a pretty terrible idea for a date. But saying that wasn’t going to help anypony now. “I’m just looking for Buck. Do you know where the hotsprings are?”

“Yeah, it’s really easy, actually!” She pointed down the hall where I’d been heading. “Just follow this hall to the end, then take a left. You’ll pass by Short Wave’s office, and at the next junction, take a right and follow the stairwell that leads outside. Don’t mind the radio robot outside, it likes to get in your way, but it’s slow so just head around it.” She paused to take a short breath and waved her hoof in my face with more motions. “Follow the trail around the cherry grove until you get to the recreation building that fits into the cliffside. Once you’re inside, it’s down another set of stairs and into the caves. You’ll take a left, then a right, then another right, and you should end up in the springs… at least, I’m pretty sure that was where it was. I haven’t been down there at all myself, actually I just hear it recited so much already.” Wait, really? “I wonder if the staff here even know…”

“Well… thank you.” Seriously? She expected me to actually go someplace she’d never been? I mean, I did ask her, but she could have just said she’d never been down there. I guess I can just find a local and ask them when I get lost, which of course, will happen knowing my luck…

Turning and trotting down the hallway, I straightened my dress and left Boiler behind. I mean, I might as well get lost sooner than later. At the very least, it’ll mean that I’ll have plenty of time to be rescued before it gets too dark!

As I trotted down the old carpeted halls, I passed a pair of old ghouls who were walking hoof in hoof. They smiled to me and whispered to themselves as I passed, and I had to wonder just what was so interesting. Was it so odd to see a pony all dressed up like this these days? Maybe they knew I was a stallion somehow? Turning the corner, I lost my train of thought as I ran straight into an open door with a hearty thwack. The open door of course slammed shut as I stumbled onto my flanks. I rubbed my nose and looked up at the door to make sure I didn’t damage it, and found a poorly scribbled out sign gently swinging on it.

Head of Maintenance:
Short Wave

Well… that was easy. Looking down the hallway as I got back to my hooves, I found that it split just a little ways down and broke off to the right just like Boiler had said. Quickly, I picked myself back up and straightened my dress out again. As I did, my ears perked and heard somepony coming up the hall from where I was headed.

“Didn’t you hear?” A scratchy ghoul voice came up from ahead. “That new convoy that arrived are the ones that DJ is always going on about. Basically heroes if you ask me. They’ve done more good for the north in the last two weeks than I’ve seen in nearly a century!” Well, that’s a refreshing bit of gossip to hear! “It’s a shame they won’t last. I’d bet good caps that they’ll get gunned down or lost somewhere before they leave the Misery range.” That… wasn’t so much nice to hear.

A pair of wrinkled and soggy looking ghoul mares walked around the corner ahead. The one on the outside was a unicorn that held a dim yellow and red pallet, and the smaller mare next to her was interestingly a pegasus ghoul with a Dashite cutie mark. As soon as they saw me, they both nearly tripped up before looking at each other and giggling.

“Oh, hello there, dear.” The dashite smiled as she pushed the other ghoul in front of her. She didn’t hold it in her voice, but I could tell from the way she looked at me, she knew I’d overheard them. Her anxious eyes wandered over me, looking over my wings and my dress. “You look absolutely ravishing in that dress.”

“T-thank you.” My cheeks flushed as I pushed myself to move.

As much as I didn’t mind a compliment, I also didn’t want to listen to somepony tell me I was doomed again and again. The two mares whispered again as I pushed past them and trotted down the long hall. Is that all we were to this place? Gossip to make morbid bets on? The door to outside streamed the light from the setting sun down through it, and with a frustrated kick of my foreleg, I shoved it open.

As doors tended to do around me, it swung open and slammed into something. An electronic beep and mechanical whir met my ears and pulled my attention to the odd looking ponytron that stood tall next to the door. Immediately my mind was thrown back to the robot that attacked us back in the halls of that underground bunker, but this one was different. It looked like the rear half and forelegs of a ponytron had been welded onto the frame of an old jukebox, and instead of just a glowing glass plate on its ‘face’, there was an old terminal screen sitting above the radio dials. Currently on the small screen, sat a frowning face made out of bits of coding and computer symbols.

“Error: User in peril.” It’s digitized voice spoke down at me. “This unit’s user requires medical assistance.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” I spoke out, taking a step back and pulling the door away from it. As I did, I heard a whimper from the ground behind it. There, curled up and shuddering, was a shiny orange unicorn stallion. I say ‘shiny’, in the sense that his skin practically sparkled in the sunlight, and his body cast various orange rays from what looked like cracks that ran through him. His whole body looked like it was made of old glass, and even his ghoulish degradation seemed to be affected by it.

“Breaking news... “ The stallion whimpered. “The Stripe offensive in Germaneigh along the Rhoar valley has broken through…” His voice carried a bit of what sounded like static into the air, and the cadence at which he spoke reminded me of the Enclave sanctioned news broadcasts from above the clouds. “M-make it stop!” The stallion whined, clamping his solid hooves around his head.

“H-hello?” I asked, making the stallion whimper again and look up to me. He gasped, struggling to get his shiny legs under him again.

“Y-you! You’re new here, you have to help me!” He pleaded, nearly diving at me. His solid hooves felt a lot heavier than they looked, and I had to strain to push him off of me. “I need my h-hat!” As he stumbled back, there was a high pitched squeak that came from one of his legs, and he went rigid for a moment before the sound of wartime music filled the air from pretty much inside him. “We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know wheeeen!” The stallion began singing in the voice of a mare before a burst of static made him whine and snap out of it. “Please!”

“Error: User in peril.” Again, the robot repeated itself as it turned to face me. “User requires tin foil from location: maintenance shed.”

“Tin foil?” I asked dumbly. I wasn’t quite sure why, but this stallion was obviously in need of something. And moreso, didn’t two completely capable ghouls just walk past this stallion!? Why wouldn’t they help him?

“Correct.” The robot nodded as best it could, lifting it’s massive metal hoof and pointing to what looked like an old motorwagon garage inset to a bunch of the cherry trees across a snowy section of hills. It wasn’t too far away, and the road around the opening was completely clear of snow, but I could see a few problems with this. This whole thing felt off to me, and going over there alone meant that if this was a trap, then I would be over there alone.

“Please…” The stallion begged me, wrapping his hooves around his head again. Another burst of static emitted from him, and he let out a soft cry. Either he was a more convincing actor than Lilac Lace was, or he actually seemed to be in pain from whatever was going on. “Help me.”

“Alright, just... stay right here.” I sighed, turning myself and trotting off into the pink snow.

Seriously, Night, what are you doing? Trotting off on your own, helping somepony you don’t even know? Just because it’s the right thing to do, doesn’t mean you should do it. And I know, ‘what would Buck think if you didn’t help?’. But you know that it’s just going to get you into trouble. Yet, here you are, still trying to help rather than follow Lucky’s advice to relax. Don’t fucking complain when Galina shows up and ruins your day then...

As I made my way across the open snowy field, my ears perked with the sound of rhythmic music from the inside of the garage. The open door didn’t let me see much from this angle, but it did let me see that the lights inside were on, and it didn’t seem like it was a death trap from here. The closer I got, the less this seemed like some sort of trap at all to me. A few smaller looking vehicles sat inside in various states of repair, and a sign above the open garage door at least helped me to understand that it wasn’t unfriendly.

Deep Thought Garage and Mechanic!

An odd name to be sure, but still, if this was a place of business so close to the resort, surely it would be friendly toward the guests who stayed here! Hell, I bet this isn’t the first time they’ve probably had to deal with that strange stallion up there. Then again, it might not exactly be a good thing that this probably isn’t the first time they’ve dealt with that stallion…

Walking into the old garage, I was met with the rear of a mare flailing out the open hood of what looked like an old motorwagon. I wasn't quite sure how she fit between the arcano-engine and the car's bodywork, but it was undoubtedly a tight squeeze. Other than the fluffy bright pink cotton candy-esque tail that was nearly completely covered in oil, the off grey jumpsuit she wore looked almost too pristine for the wasteland. An old radio was tuned to DJ PowerColt's station, and was turned up to a fairly loud volume - no wonder some of the old ghouls didn't care to come out here. A red toolbox popped out from under the hood. She held it out toward me in her hoof, to which she also shook it at me as I looked at it.

"Can't fucking fit all this in here. Hold this, will you?" She shouted over the music, not even taking a moment to look out of the hood at me. "Come on, take it. Hello? Anypony there?" She shook it again, this time thrusting it in my direction. I wasn't quite sure how she knew I was there, but since I needed her help, I stepped forward and took it from her. "Geeze, about damn time." She shouted before grunting and working at some piece of the wagon that was quite deep into the old world machine. "Come on you piece of..." I pulled the toolbox close as I sat down next to the vehicle, waiting for her to pull herself out. However, after a few labored hammers against... something, her pink hoof shot out of the vehicle at me again.

"Alright give me the wrench." She shouted, wiggling her hoof at me. "Come on, I need the wrench! WRENCH! Anypony there!?" Looking down into the toolbox, I hastily grasped one of the odd wrenches inside in my fetlock and hoofed it over to her. "Fucking seriously." Snatching it away quickly, she dragged it down into the vehicle and began to torque herself and the vehicle overall. Again, without even a moment to get a word in, her hoof shot back up at me. "Oil. I need oil, come on..." Again, I hooved the small canister of oil that was inside the toolbox at her. "Oil, thank you." She yelled back with a note of relief to her voice. After a moment more of wiggling, a squeaky sound filled the air, and the old archano engine gave a high pitched whine similar to a capacitor charging.

"Alright, we're good!" She shouted, wiggling herself backwards out of the cramped space. She turned around to me with a wide smile that was surprisingly intense. With her light pink fur, darker pink mane, and vibrant blue eyes, it struck me then that the mare looked somehow familiar, but I just couldn't quite place it. However, her smile faded as she seemed confused by just what I was doing standing there. "You're not a relative of mine… how did you get in here?" As her expression fell to a flat one, the radio in the back of the garage gave out a spark and died, dropping the two of us into silence. "What do you want?"

"I um..." I set down the toolbox she'd hooved me, pausing when I'd realized it had gotten a long smudge of grease on my dress. "Well, shoot."

"I mean, I guess I could shoot you if you want." She shrugged, reaching back to the side of her grey barding and producing an almost chrome looking revolver. "Most ponies who want to die just wander into the forest at night, or at least have the decency to overdose on fifteen or so vials of dash.” She gave a sigh with a sad smile as she tightened her grip on the revolver. Okay, not a friendly place! “Kinda fun to watch actually, but this is just as fun I guess." This mare was fucking crazy.

"Woah, woah!" I exclaimed, holding up my hooves to her. I knew this was a bad idea... "I didn't want to get shot, I just came to get some tin foil!" Pointing back over to the resort, I tried not to make the already crazy mare act unpredictably. “For a ghoul stallion up there.”

"Ooooooh." She laughed to herself. "Why didn't you say so?" Rolling her eyes, she pushed her revolver back into her barding and nodded for me to follow her. "Did Short Wave have his hat stolen again? I keep telling him that he'd just be better off getting all those signals out of his system once and for all." Shaking her head, she reached over and slid her hoof along the round body of the motorwagon she'd been working on. "If it wasn't for being so busy with my work on this vintage Crysalis Marauder here, I might strap that ghoul down and use my gun to force all those transmissions out so I could be done with his outbursts. But no, that was how the old me acted."

“No, I’m ‘reformed’ and ‘irrelevant’ now.” She continued as she trotted over to a shelf along the back wall. Systematically, she began to tear boxes of supplies right off the shelves, spilling their various contents across the floor. “All I had to do was die to learn that my original way of doing things was all wrong. And let me tell you, that sucked. Won’t be doing that again any time soon, that’s for sure. Eeyup, one and done for me.”

“What are you talking about?” This mare might not have looked like a ghoul, but she definitely spoke in a way that made her sound like one of the ‘crazy’ ones that I’d heard so much about.

“Eh, don’t mind me. I haven’t been relevant for eighty years, give or take a few.” She shrugged off my question with an expertise reminding me of Delilah. “Aha!” She gasped as she pulled a perfectly pristine roll of shiny tin foil from it’s place on the shelf. Funny, it wasn’t even in a box, and had just been sitting there on it’s own. So… why did she throw everything on the floor? To be honest, I should have been less concerned with that, and more concerned with what the mare was doing as the box of foil slammed into my nose.

“Ow…” I grumbled as the box clattered to the floor. Picking it up, I made sure that it hadn’t been damaged or anything. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She grunted, pointing out the door behind me. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have more work to do. Alone. Absent of other ponies.” She glared at me, pausing for a moment. “So… why are you still here? Get lost, skedaddle, scram, move it muchacho!”

“Alright, I’m going…” I sighed. Well, I said thank you. She didn’t have to be a bitch about it. Then again, she didn’t have to help me either.

Turning, I began to trot out of the garage with the box of foil wrapped up under my wing. Contented that a whole box of tin foil had to help, I crossed the point where the large open door sat. It was then that the hum of machinery started up, and the large metal door began to shut behind me. As it did, the odd crazy mare began whistling and singing softly to herself… both at the same time, somehow...

“I can’t decide whether you should live or die…” Her words made me lock up just past the door, and I caught the sight of a mischievous glare from her only a moment before the lowering door cut each us off. With a shuddering clunk, the door shut against the ground, and I turned myself to head back toward the hotel.

Well, that wasn't disturbing at all. Right… never coming down here again! There’s already enough crazy in my life that I don’t need that shit piled on top of it. Crazy dogs, depressing mystics, and insane mechanics. Some welcoming place this ‘resort’ has turned out to be so far...

It didn’t take me all too long to wander my way back over to the odd stallion and the imposing machine standing over him. However, as I approached, the stallion’s eyes went wide as he scrambled to his hooves. His magic reached out and practically tore the box out from under my wing, both ripping it open and pulling out a large strip of the foil sheet from inside.

In a matter of a few seconds, the stallion had folded the sheet a few different ways to create a crude triangular hat. Hastily, he brought it onto his head and set it down carefully, and pinning his horn underneath it. Almost immediately, a static fuzz that I hadn’t really noticed hanging in the air died out, and the soft glow he gave off seemed to dim a little bit. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh and sit down.

“That… that’s so much better.” He gave out a sad laugh before looking up to me. “Thank you, whoever you are. Nopony cares to help this old stallion anymore, but you… you helped me.”

“Affirmative.” The robot chimed in, raising it’s hoof to me in what looked to be a sort of salute. It was hard to tell given the limited range of motion the machine had, but the odd face on it’s terminal screen had changed to one wearing a smile. “This unit is grateful for assistance rendered.”

“You said it, Radio.” The stallion laughed, giving a playful shove to the machine. “Just one question. Where in Equestria did you find a pristine unopened box of tin foil?”

“Uh…” Did he forget what his robot even asked me to do? Was his memory that bad? “I got it from where your robot told me to.” Turning to point down to the garage, I stopped as a befuddling sight caught my eyes. The garage I’d just been at was nothing more than a burned out skeletal framework of old timber and heavily corroded metal. There was no way that junk heap was just where I’d been. “I um…. what!?” My brain felt like it shorted out. Where the fuck did that place just go!?

“It couldn’t have come from my stash. After the place burned down eighty years ago, I lost my whole supply. I’d only had a bit of a single roll left that I stashed there. Of course, I’d have more if Rica hadn’t stolen it from me.” He snorted in disdain before a smile crept over his muzzle again. “But with this, I’ll be set for decades to come! Yessiree! Now I can keep all the transmissions from the old world where they belong.” He gave a tap on his chest that made him resonate with a high pitched note. “Right inside me.”

“I don’t understand… it was just there.” You know what? Fuck the wasteland and it’s weirdness. I didn’t need this shit today. My brain was still trying to process everything when I felt the heavy legs of the stallion wrap around me tightly. Unlike the first time around, the ghoul’s legs didn’t feel as solid as before. While it looked as solid as glass, his skin turned out to be just as squishy as the other ghouls I’d met so far. “Uh, you’re welcome I guess.” Okay, I’m just going to forget what happened. I didn’t explode or die from that errand, and the stallion got his help, so I shouldn’t question anything and just be happy I get to walk away uninjured.

“Observation.” The ponytron blurt out along with a quick series of beeps. “Enemy: Rica is statistically inclined to continue aggressive behaviors.” Turning it’s attention to the odd stallion, a few lines of unintelligible code were displayed across its screen. “Analysis: This unit suggests the elimination of Enemy: Rica to ensure zero percent chance of aggression.”

“Yeah, I know, Radio.” The stallion sighed as he pulled off of me. “But nopony wants to go out and do anything. She’s too dangerous, and we don’t have the caps to hire any of those tankers out front.” Of course. I should have seen this coming from a mile away...

“Suggestion.” The machine beeped as it turned itself to me once more. “This unit requests assistance with the elimination of Enemy: Rica.”

Nope! Absolutely not. I was not going to go and pick a fight with somepony when none of this shit had anything to do with me. Where was a secondary voice of reason when you needed one?

“You want somepony dead?” Hispano’s voice was both a surprise and a relief to me. With a few hard flaps of her wings, she dropped down next to me and propped Suiza up on herself. “We can make that happen.”

“Hispano…” I sighed as I facehooved. Dear Celestia, that was not what I meant when I asked for a voice of reason!

“What?” She squawked and frilled out some her head plumage. “Buck suggested we help ponies. This will help them.”

“Correct.” The machine spouted again, turning its attention to Hispano. “Enemy: Rica known location: The Den. Known target coordinates: One quarter mile south by southeast. Other enemy population: Unknown.”

“All we need is a description of the target.” Hispano spoke calmly. You know, I know that she’s the daughter of a mercenary, but she was far too alright with this shit. Tapping her head with a talon, she smirked at me. “You know, so we don’t accidentally shoot the wrong pony and get in trouble for it.”

“Target description: Balefire Chimera.” The robot spoke without a single ounce of hesitation. My mane stood on end, and even Hispano’s plumage fluffed out even further than before. “Approximate length: Ten feet. Approximate weight: Six hundred pounds. Warning: Chimera are apex predators with a lethality index of nine out of ten. Warning: Major magical radiation hazard within ten feet. Warning: Balefire induced mutations have altered Enemy: Rica. No data available on altered capabilities, advise extreme caution.” Dear Celestia, Hispano, what are you trying to sign us up for!? “Chance of mistaken identity: point zero one percent. Chance of success: one point nine percent.”

“You fucking think!?” Hispano spat out before she started to hyperventilate. “You could have fucking lead with it being a Balefire Chimera in the first place!” Looking over to me, she offered a hesitant and unfocused smile. “It’s okay! I can fix this. We just... need some help. That’s all.” Yeah, there was no confidence behind her words, and to be honest, I could use some from her right about now. “Suiza might not be enough for this job. You think Hardcase will let us borrow his big gun?”

The words of the mystic filled my mind, prompting images of us being ambushed and torn apart by a shadowy monster. No matter who we brought, or what firepower we took with us, all I could see is Buck, Violet, or Hardcase being torn apart and killed before me. The wasteland was already a scary place, with horrible things I still can’t even imagine stalking around just out of sight. Hell, seeing that garage disappear when I was just there should be enough to tell me to quit this shit while I’m ahead and just follow Lucky’s advice.

“So… you’ll do it?” The stallion smiled, pulling my attention back to him.

“No.” I spoke out abruptly. “I’m sorry, but we can’t.”

As much as I’d like to help, we’re already in way above our heads on this trip with Solomon alone. It’s not our job to go gallivanting off into the forest so we can hunt down some sort of wasteland monstrosity! I know that I should at least tell him that we’ll try, but… I can’t help but feel it in my gut that even that would only ever end poorly for us. And if Hispano wasn’t dead sure that we could beat whatever this things was, then I wasn’t going to commit to anything. Turning away from the speechless ghoul and his robot, I followed the path around the cherry orchard toward the other building that Boiler had talked about.

“Night!” Hispano called out, quickly catching up to me. “What’s the big deal? I thought you wanted to help ponies like Buck wanted.”

“I do, but…” I sighed, hanging my head as we reached the small building that looked like it was halfway built into the side of the mountains behind the resort.

“You aren’t afraid, are you?” Her words really rubbed me the wrong way, even though I could tell through her tone she hadn’t meant anything by it. “Because I’m sure if we just got Hardcase, then we’d…”

“We’d what?” I laughed as I pushed the door to the inside open. My own tone looked like it slammed into Hispano as she all but came to a stop. “You know what happens when I go out on a job like this. Or do you really think I’ll get so lucky as to come back without a scratch?” Looking at her worried expression, I found her look down at the ground as that sunk in. “That’s what I thought.” Holding the door open for her, I found that she didn’t move. “Are you coming?”

“Night, I’m sorry.” Her deflated tone wore on me unexpectedly, helping to erode away the tenseness in me that had built up so suddenly. “I didn’t even think about that. Plus…” Slowly, she glanced up at me and let out a heavy sigh. “I didn’t want to believe what that old zebra said. But… I can’t get past it. All the times I’ve been in danger, why am I the only one to walk away from it? Will I really be forced to watch you suffer?”

“I don’t know, Hispano.” Between what I’d grown up knowing about magic and the war, all these curses and superstitions down here were baffling to me. After everything I’d seen so far, I didn’t know what to believe anymore. But what I did know, was what my gut told me. “Right now it’s not something we have to worry about.” Reaching up, I held my hoof out to her and offered her as soft of a smile as I could. “I told that pony no because we’ve got enough to worry about with the job ahead. And I don’t know about you, but after that tank fight we had today, I’m in desperate need of some relaxation. So why don’t we go and find Buck and get to relaxing however we’re supposed to here.” That at least brought a small look of hope back to her eyes.

“Alright.” She nodded, stepping forward and taking my hoof with her talon. As we turned and stepped through the doorway, I felt her wing slip over my back. She used it to pull herself close to me, wearing just about as warm a blush as the air inside this place felt. “Just a question, Dum Dum.” She offered softly as we began to walk. “Do you even know what a hotspring is?”

“Uhm…” You know, that wasn’t really something we talked about in school. I mean, we barely covered volcanos in geology, which I believe has something to do with this? Geology itself was only a day long topic of science class for obvious reasons... “This may not come as a surprise to you, but we didn’t really do rocks and ground stuff in the Enclave…”

All of me was absolutely melting right now. This place was amazing. While the many slate rocks in this place were warm enough to initially throw my mind back to the mountainside rocks after Four Peaks exploded, they had an odd calming effect on me. Then again, maybe it wasn’t just the heat the rocks gave off.

The air in this room was so thick that you could almost just drink in the steam that rose from the underground pool. At first, the water itself felt hotter than any water I’d ever even touched before, feeling more like a near boiling cauldron. But after a minute or two of adjusting to it, it hadn’t seemed so bad. With the feeling of burning up evaporating out of me, so went with it all the aches and pains in my body as I soaked up to my chin in the hotspring.

“Heh, really enjoying this, aren’t you?” Buck offered me a wet and panting smile as he sat next to Hispano and I, and I nodded to him. “Goddesses, we all needed this.”

His brightly glowing blue eyes were as relaxed as any night I’d spent with him so far, but did help to remind me of the one problem with soaking in this place. Turning around to the small ledge carved out of the rock behind me and reaching back, I hoofed at the small RadAway container that had been left there for us and sipped at it slowly.

“Now you see why we wanted to stop here in the first place?” Hardcase sighed with a smile as he leaned over and prodded at Violet. “Right, Violet?” Funny enough, she was as splayed out as she could be in the pool. Her head was on the surface, but the rest of her was halfway between floating and sinking to the bottom. Honestly, I’d never seen her more relaxed.

“You said it.” She responded with her own smile.

“I’m sorry we didn’t wait for you to return before coming down here.” Buck spoke softly as he reached over and curled his paw around me. Giving a little wiggle and a hop in the water, I bounced my way over against his sopping wet fur and leaned against him. “And I’m even more sorry to hear that you had some trouble on the way to join us.”

“I just wish there was something we could do to help that poor stallion.” I sighed, looking over to Hispano. She simply nodded in affirmation before proceeding to attempt to mimic Violet’s splayed out pose. Well, at least she was relaxing as well.

Violet however, stirred at my words and did her best to sit herself back down next to Hardcase.

“Look, as you've undoubtedly learned by now, the wasteland isn't a place of black and white.” She said, shaking her soaked mane out a bit. “There is no pure good, or ultimate evil. Hell, the pony everyone is claiming as the 'lightbringer' was the same one to detonate a megaspell that killed thousands of innocent Pegasi. I may be the last one to defend anything they did, but the ponies in the Enclave didn't get a choice, and I know that your mother didn't deserve to die the way she did.” I cringed as she mentioned my mother, but I couldn’t deny that she was right. “Good ponies can do bad things, and sometimes those we see as bad ponies didn't do anything wrong at all, and are simply the victim of circumstance. But saying no to risking yourself needlessly for somepony else's safety wasn't a bad thing to do. It was the right thing to do.”

“It's like I said, Night. You can't save everypony out here.” Now it was Hispano’s turn to try to adjust herself. However, she opted instead for just treading water in the middle of the steaming pool. “Back before we left 'Claw, my teacher Mr. Strix had taught all of us a valuable lesson. The wolf of the forest kills many creatures, but while that does not make it wrong for doing so, so many see it as a hostile and dangerous act. However, smaller creatures feed on the bugs, yet no one cares. The bugs feed on the plants and trees, yet no one cares. And the trees and plants in turn feed on us, yet we don’t care.” She closed her eyes, and seemed to recite the words from memory. “So why is the wolf in the wrong? In the wastelands, and the world overall, the strong survive, the weak die.”

“But this is how it's always been, and how it will always be.” Opening her eyes, she looked over to me with a pained and distant gaze. “You will be stiffed out of contracts, brought into unfair fights that may ultimately bring you down. But death is the ultimate wrong, the evil which faces every living being out there. It's not wrong to do anything you can to beat back death for even just another day. If those around you are too weak to win that fight, then that is on them.”

Buck, in fact, laughed at that, bringing a glare of annoyance from her.

“That explains a lot about you and your father's mindset, as well as some of the stories I've heard of the resilience of Talon Mercenaries.” Shaking his head, Buck looked away from Hispano’s annoyed gaze. “But while I know that we can't save everypony, that doesn't mean that we can't try. There is no goal that is insurmountable without enough help. Chimera, if the books on the Inuvik had any say, were intelligent enough to speak and converse with ponies. It might be as simple as talking it out, and convincing it to finally put aside whatever grudge it holds.”

“And when it turns out to not be that simple, what then? It's a balance of risks versus reward, Doc.” Hardcase jumped into what was quickly becoming a topic I had not intended to get out of hoof. “Helping that stallion might be possible, but how many of us would be hurt or killed? While one stallion's torment might finally end, if Night and I died, there would be no end to the suffering that you, Hispano, and Violet would feel. That is not a fair trade, and it would be selfish of any pony to ask that of others.” His words now in turn pulled an annoyed look from Buck, but it wasn’t a look I shared as I listened to what Hardcase was saying.

“Does he deserve to be tormented by a Balefire Chimera, no.” Hispano spoke up again. “But if you truly believe that it could be talked down, when he couldn't bring himself to try that on his own? Then his suffering is his own fault, and not ours.”

All five of us froze up as a bucket near the hot springs door was knocked aside. We all turned our attention up, finding a very puffy looking ghoul standing awkwardly in the doorway. Her mint green body had swollen up as much as the ghouls from the ammunition depot had, which must have been the effect of being around all this steam for decades on end. However, she had somehow still managed to stuff all of herself into a size-too-small maintenance jumpsuit, and it was slightly disturbing to look at.

“Um…” She spoke in a raspy, but reserved voice. “Not to eavesdrop, but perhaps are you talking about the feud between Short Wave and Rica?”

“What do you know about it?” The words tumbled out of my muzzle, but I was far too relaxed in this water to attempt to restrain myself. That, and to be honest, I was curious anyway.

“Oh, everypony here still remembers what happened back then.” Stepping inside, she looked out into the entry hall for anypony else before shutting the door behind her. “You see, Rica used to be both Pink Mountain's mascot, and one of our most valuable employees. She and her mate used to keep the resort grounds safe from all the dangerous creatures that prowled these mountains. In return, we fed her, and even for a while, we let her stay in that old garage down on the south of the property.

“Then when the apocalypse came, she changed like we did, but her mate went feral. Everything seemed fine in the years after, and it wasn’t until the glowing snows started to subside that we at the resort knew something was wrong.” The ghoul mare sighed and shook her head. “Her mate was seen wandering closer and closer to us, spending days away from their den. One day when he strayed too close, Rica came and killed him to keep the rest of us safe, or so we thought. See, unknown to us, she was pregnant at the time the balefire changed her, and killing her mate was the only way to ensure that her cub would survive. Once we learned that, to show her we still meant no harm, we killed our own ferals to ensure that her cub would stay safe.”

“So what does that Short Wave guy have to do with any of that?” Violet snorted as she rolled her eyes. “What makes everypony here ignore him like you do?”

“Short Wave showed up from the remains of the Crystal Empire at about the same time as Rica gave birth. As she had feared, her cub had suffered the same balefire mutation as her, sprouting a balefire mane and tail, necrotic skin and all. However, the balefire flames were weaker than normal, and as the days passed, they began to die out.” The ghoul mare pouted softly. “You should have seen the poor thing when she brought it to us. She sought something from us that could help slow that loss, and the large supply of tin foil that Short Wave had brought seemed to be the ideal solution.”

“The tin foil?” Hispano gasped. “That’s what this is all about?”

“Yes.” The mare nodded. “However, Short Wave was a stubborn stallion who didn't trust any of us yet. He refused to give it up, so Rica was forced to steal what she could of it from him. We had no power to force him to give up his possessions, so instead the rest of us here at the hotel now ignore him.” Getting to her hooves slowly, I could hear her bones creaking as she struggled to stand back up. “Still, whatever Rica ends up doing to him, be it ending his life or giving up, we accept that. However, we also will not let Rica be ambushed by any party he sends out to kill her. We owe her far too much to let that happen.”

“She was just… trying to keep her cub alive?” Buck’s slow words pulled my attention up to him.

I could see at that moment, his understanding of everything changed. And I felt myself change along with him as a sharp feeling of betrayal welled up inside me. Short Wave had more than enough tin foil to share, yet he would spare none of it! That selfish son of a bitch…

I was cut off from my thoughts as the water around me shifted as Buck’s enormous form pulled up out of it. Water poured out from his fur as he stood, and even through his soaked fur, I could see the tenseness that he once again carried in his form. The expression now tacked onto his face was rigid and distant, but it was something I felt I understood.

“Oh dear…” The ghoul mare eeped out as she backpedaled to the door. “I didn’t mean to upset you… I’ll just be going. Have a delightful stay.”

Before anypony could speak up, she’d turned and basically thrown herself out the door. To be honest, if I’d seen somepony like Buck just stand up and walk over, I’d probably be afraid as well. Wait, what am I saying? I felt exactly that way when I first joined this crew...

Without a word, Buck waded through the pool over towards the stone steps. Stepping out with a long, lumbering gait, he stopped once fully onto the hot stone floor. Steam filled the air as the dripping water evaporated and filled the room with a light haze. Then, Buck shook himself out.

Steam erupted from every stone surface in the room, and the blast of hot air that hit me gave me the strength to move my own legs. Quickly, I pulled myself across the pool and onto the stone steps that led out. My legs felt weak as they pushed me up and out of the water, and even my soaked prosthetic seemed a little more springy than usual. Still, I knew what Buck had gotten out for. He was going to get that roll back from Short Wave and get it to Rica. And because I was now responsible for helping such a selfish stallion, it was my job to help him make things right.

“Night, what are you doing?” Hispano called out. Looking back, she looked almost frightened for a moment. All I could do was try to offer her a comforting smile, which at least turned her look to one more of worry than anything.

“Don’t worry, we’re just going to see Short Wave.” Looking up at Buck, he gave me a short nod before reaching out to open the door. As he did, I turned my gaze down to Violet and Hardcase. “Things may not be black and white in the wasteland, and the weak may die more often than not. But this is a wrong that should have been righted far too long ago.”

“I’m coming with you.” Hispano sighed as she waded across the spring.

“Alright.” Violet sighed. “Good luck. Don’t let us keep you.”

“Heh, yeah.” Hardcase sighed, reaching out and pulling Violet closer to him. “We’ll keep the spring warm until you all get back.”

“Oh, hello again there young lady!” Short Wave smiled and waved as Buck and I approached. Unlike a few of the other resort patrons, oddly, he didn’t seem at all phased by the sight of a Snow Dog lumbering up to him. “Did you perhaps reconsider my request?” The hope in his eyes didn’t match the greed filled smile I myself wanted to slap off of his muzzle. However, the growl that Buck gave out did that far more effectively than any punch could have.

“Give me the tin foil.” He spoke with a guttural tone, holding out his paw sharply toward Short Wave.

“N-now hold on there just a minute!” Short Wave muttered, taking a stumbling step backwards. “What’s the meaning of this?”

“Advisory!” The radio shaped protectron behind the cowardly stallion shuddered as it turned in stamping steps toward us. “User in peril. Cease and desist hostile actions or be fired upon.”

“Quiet.” Buck snapped at the uncaring machine before turning his burning glare back to Short Wave. “You have more than enough foil to share with that Chimera, so you will hoof it over. Now.”

“Or what?” Short Wave snapped as his muzzle twisted, spreading into a wide shit eating grin. “Theft will not be tolerated on Hotel grounds, and while the prissy ponies here may ignore me, they’d never let assault or murder go lightly.” At that, Buck curled his paws up, giving out yet another low growl. “Yeah, that’s right little dog. Fuck off and stay out of other pony’s business.”

“What will you trade for it then?” I spoke up, drawing a momentarily confused look from the ghoul. “If you aren’t willing to do the right thing, then what will you trade for half of it?”

“Hah! Are you joking!?” He nearly doubled over in laughter. “I… I’m not giving up any of it! Not for a million bits!”

“Don’t be unreasonable!” Buck shouted, making Short Wave cringe and pull back momentarily.

“Advisory!” The radio protectapony shouted, taking another step forward. As a show of force, the glowing screen the face had projected on switched to a white screen that glowed like the barrel of a magical energy weapon. “No further warnings will be giv…” With a roar, Buck’s claws plunged into the ‘head’ of the protectapony. Sparks flew from the hundreds of frayed wires, and it’s internal mechanisms ground as he pulled his claws back out from it. Miraculously though, the machine still ran, stumbling backwards a few steps before sitting down onto its rear haunches. “E-error-r: System M-m-malfunction. Dep-ploying auxiliary w-weaponry.”

A few sharp clicks emitted from the sides of the machine’s boxy frames. Two metal flaps folded open, as a pair of small magical energy pistols extended out. I’d only gotten a moment to identify what they even were before Suiza’s thunderous reports filled the air. Each of the weapons disintegrated into clouds of metal from Hispano’s shots, and the sides of the robot sparked even more than before.

“Radio!” Short Wave gasped as the reports from Suiza drained out of my ears, scrambling to get to his hooves. “You… what have they done to you?” Looking into the sparking and smoke filled gaping hole Buck had left, Short Wave frantically tore open an access panel on the side of the machine and began to work on it. He took only a moment as he fumbled with a dozen different wires to glare over at the two of us. “There was no call to harm him. You can’t just assault patrons of this establishment!”

“It’s a machine, get over it.” Buck growled as he clenched his paw tightly. It was then that I noticed that he hadn’t gotten away from the attack without a scratch, and the twisted and sharp metal of the machine had sliced up his own paw. Even bloody though, Buck stood there wound tighter than a rubber band. I… I didn’t know what had gotten into him all of a sudden. He was supposed to be the calm and collected one!

“That doesn’t make it right!” I spat out, reaching out and pulling Buck’s paw back toward me. However, he didn’t take his own burning glare off of Short Wave when I did. “Buck, look at me.” Hesitantly, Buck looked down to me, panting lightly before pausing and looking down at his bleeding paw. He pinned his ears to his head and took what looked to be a moment to let what he’d done sink in.

“I… I’m sorry.” He whined, looking over at Short Wave. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“You beasts are all the same.” Short Wave snorted as he continued to work on his machine friend. “Get one ounce of magical radiation in your blood and you become mad, mindless creatures.” Eyeing at me again momentarily, he shook his head in disgust. “If I were you, I’d learn to keep your dog on a leash.” Looking up to Hispano, he snarled. “And your mercs under control.”

With a flutter of her wings, Hispano zipped through the air and landed next to Short Wave. Her approach to the old stallion was just as surprising to the ghoul as it was to me. However, she quickly swiped at him with her talon, and in a flash, his tin foil hat was removed from his head. With a leaping kick, she hopped up into the air as a burst of static cut through it.

“Wait, no!” Short Wave cried out as a sharp whine filled the air that made Buck recoil and cover his ears. The old crystal ghoul went stiff as the sounds of prewar Equestria began to come out of him again. “In other news,” He again spoke with the voice of an old world announcer. “The Ministry of Peace has made an announcement today regarding the reports of a new superweapon test on the front lines themselves.” With the crackling creak of glass, there was a sharp change in the pitch of the static around Short Wave, and he let out a full bodied scream. “Please! No!” Collapsing to the ground, he cupped his hooves around his head again. “Make it stop!”

“Half the Foil.” I shouted at him. “That’s all it will take.”

“Never!” He screamed back at me with unparalleled rage quaking through him. However, the tremors of his anger made his body creak again. “This just in, Celestia steps down as the head of the Equestrian government. It’s uncertain at this time what…” Another burst of static made him lock up with a pained yell. “Okay! Okay, just please… no more!” He pleaded.

“Where is it.” Hispano spoke coldly as she dangled his tin foil hat above him just out of reach. Was this cruel? Yes. Was this the right way to go about it? Probably not. But was this more satisfying than being forced to leave without doing anything? Yeah, you bet your flank it was.

“In my office! You can have half!” He screamed out before going rigid again. “Looking for the perfect gift for any good little filly or colt this Hearthswarming eve? Then look no further than the brand new Giddy-up-Applebuck! This holiday edition is the perfect…” Arching his back, Short Wave let out another a blood curtling scream. As he did, he pulled his hooves from the side of his head and started hammering at his own horn. “Please, help me!”

“Hispano, give it back.” I spoke up. He’d had enough, and there was no point in letting this go on any longer.

The tin foil hat fluttered down as she let it go. Short Wave’s eyes locked onto it like that of a mad pony possessed. His flailing forehooves struggled to take it and force it onto his head again. As he slid it around frantically, several more high pitched squeals and bursts of static filled the air, before finally dying out again.

“That is quite enough.” The stern tone of a stallion pulled my attention over to the hotel’s doors. A sky blue ghoul stallion with a well fit lavender suit and squat cylindrical matching hat stood in the doorway. He wore an old name tag on the front of his suit that I couldn’t quite read from where I stood. However, the word Manager was more than clear to me.

“And you are?” Hispano grumbled as she fluttered her way over towards Buck and I.

“Mr. Slumbers, the manager of this resort.” He snorted sharply at us. “We do not consider our humble resort part of the barbaric wastelands out there, so we do not appreciate having our guests harass other ponies.” He paused, giving a flat look over to the still recovering Short Wave. “Even for those such as him.” Turning an angry gaze to the three of us, he gave out a stiff sigh. “However, let me be clear that I have overheard you receiving his permission to relinquish half of his tin foil supplies.”

“What?!” Short Wave whined, struggling to pull himself up to his hooves.

“We shall deliver half of his supply to Rica, and explain to her that this feud is over.” Turning to the angry crystal ghoul, Mr. Slumbers shared the glare he’d given us. “However, in return should he agree to end hostilities against her, Mr. Wave here shall officially become a permanent resident of this resort, and given all perks as such.”

“But… that’s not fair!” Short Wave spat and took a step forward.

“You would do well to remember that we hired you on as a temporary maintenance worker, and we can end that position when we see fit. Should you refuse this simple request, Mr. Wave,” Mr. Slumbers simply spoke up louder and froze Short Wave in his hoofsteps. “you will be escorted from this resort and barred from ever returning. I do not think you would fare well on the road alone these days.”

“Y-yes sir.” Short Wave hung his head and and gave a stiff nod.

“As for you three.” Mr. Slumbers turned back and pointed toward the door of the resort. “I’m sorry, but due to the many resort policies you’ve broken, I’m afraid I have to insist that you leave. This is not a ban for your convoy, but you three are for the time being not welcome inside any of the facilities at the Pink Mountain resort.”

“Yes sir.” Buck nodded and gave out a long sigh that made him deflate slightly.

“It’s alright, Buck. We did what we came out here for.” I spoke up, holding his paw tightly. Rica would get the help she needed, Short Wave didn’t have to suffer too much. And in the end, nopony died, so I can’t do anything but call that a win. “Let’s go home.”

Author's Note

As always, many MANY thanks to TheFurryRailFan for his dedication in prereading these chapters for me!

Chapter 47 - Night Flight's Family Vacation

Excuse me, could you please tell me how to get back on the expressway?

Guess it was just my luck for her to show up.

I grumbled groggily as I pushed myself up off the rotten hay-covered floor. Looking around, I found myself sitting in a room that looked remarkably like the old prison cells I’d seen in the history books. The all concrete room was maybe a pony wide, by a couple ponies deep, with a metal toilet stashed in the back under an opaque window with metal slatted bars on the outside. I couldn’t quite tell if this had been miniaturized like the rest of Lil’Canterlot supposedly had been, but I didn’t really enjoy being in such a cramped room.

Still, Lamia being here couldn’t mean anything good, and as I looked around, Hispano was nowhere to be seen.

“Are you going to sit there with that dumb look on your muzzle, or are you going to answer my question?” Lamia’s judgemental gaze was something I didn’t care to have after just waking back up, but as I said before, I guess it was just my luck. “Why the hell didn’t you report that Delilah was coming this way around?”

“And just what the fuck was I supposed to do? I'm not psychic for fuck’s sake, I can't just ‘will’ Solomon a message. Oh, and the contact in Mare's Lake, if you could even call her that, only told me to ‘bring him what he wanted in Cantercross’. Which I don’t know if you could tell, is where we’re going anyway! So could you maybe get off my flank for just a fucking minute and tell him that he can fucking wait until we get there?”

My head started to spin again after my short tirade, and I felt myself about to fall over. Tweaking my wings and locking my foreleg, I managed to keep myself from dropping back to the floor. Ugh… I felt like utter shit, and from the tingling numbness in my leg, I felt like it probably had something to do with the fact there was a large bloody hole in it...

For my angry answer to her question, I received a smack in the head from Lamia’s small cloven hoof.

“You’re still an idiot.” She snapped at me before curling around the bars of the cell and yanking. With a squeal, the cell door opened up and she stepped aside. “Come on. Rook will return in three hours to bring me back to the convoy. If you want to prove you’re useful as Master Solomon’s newest slave, I might have a job for you here. And if you can deal with this ‘problem’, maybe I’ll consider letting you deal with the unplanned arrival of one of Master Solomon’s asshole brothers, Prince Brayef. Perform well, and I’ll definitely make sure to forget to mention this amature slip up of yours to him.”

Stepping out into the hallway, I looked down it toward what was probably the exit. Two brutish looking dogs in incredibly undersized pony police outfits stood guard near the door. They tensed up as Lamia moved into a trot, stepping aside as she approached. She looked back at me and cocked her eyebrow with a glare.

“Well, are you coming or what?” With an impatient kick of her hoof along the floor, she snorted at me. “We don’t have all day. Master Solomon expects me back by his side this evening, and you don't make the master wait. You do what you're told, when you're told to do it. That's what good little slaves do.”

Just what the fuck was going on here!? She was working with the dogs? Er, was Solomon? No, this was all wrong. I didn’t need to get caught up in whatever was going on in this settlement. Who knows how long I’d been out, or where Hispano had been taken. I just needed to find her and get out of here.

But as much as I hated the idea, the almost muted voice in the back of my mind had a point. My best chance was to do what I’d done before, and play along until I could find an exit. Stepping forward on my shaky hooves, I gave a toss of my mane and tried to channel Bombay.

“You may be a good little slave,” I snorted as I moved to follow her. “But I'm not Solomon's slave.”

“Ehhh,” She wiggled her hoof at me and shrugged. “Aren’t you though? I mean, when you really think about it?” With a smirk, she pushed open the door and halfway stepped into a larger open room before I stupidly opened my muzzle.

“I’m just doing this for the money.” I grumbled. “And last I checked, that makes me a mercenary. Slaves don’t get paid.” I don’t know why, but something about that must have jabbed at a nerve in the small sheep, because she skid to a halt so suddenly that her back end reared up in the air.

“No, but I get to live.” She snapped, spinning around while digging her forehoof into her fluffy wool. “Back home, you know what happens to us sheep? What our lives are actually like?" The rage burning just under her skin was showing as she trembled and struggled to hold herself back. "We're strapped onto a slab and fed some toxic magical bullshit you ponies concocted to force our wool to grow.”

With a mechanical grinding whir, she ripped her small chain-bladed weapon out from her fluff. The mechanism buzzed as it shredded the wool that had gotten caught in it like it was nothing more substantial than a tiny bit of cloud. Arcing the weapon through the air, the police dogs next to me yelped as the spinning blades nearly sliced through their tails.

“Day in and day out, year after year, we're sheared every hour until we die on those tables. Solomon saved me from that fate because I was lucky enough to be the first lamb he saw when he entered the room. Working for him is a gift I cherish each day,” She snapped as her shaky grip around the weapon caused it’s small motor to whir even faster. “but it's assholes like you who always make things that much harder for him to live his own life. And if it were my decision, I’d strap you down to a table and shear your skin off all by myself."

I took a step back as a twitch ran across her blazing hot gaze, and a sickening grin spread across her muzzle that made my stomach drop out from under me.

“Calm the fuck down,” I forced out of my muzzle, trying to eek as much of Bombay into my words as I could. I already felt like shit, so the last thing I needed was a slice happy psychotic sheep to take out her frustrations on me. “Just tell me what the fuck it is you want me to do.” I’ll just do what she needs and then Hispano and I can get back to the convoy… once I find her, that is.

The motor on her weapon clicked off, and the spinning chain spun to a ratcheting stop.

“You know what? No.” She squinted at me, looking up and down my tired, scarred body. “I don’t trust you to deal with something as big as Solomon’s brother. Not yet at least...” Sticking her nose up to me, she lifted and rested her weapon along her neck. Oh, I so wanted to reach out and just turn it on right then and there. “But maybe there is something you can do to earn my trust.” She smirked, giving a nod to the door.

Turning to walk out, she eyed at the guard dogs at the door. Both of them stiffened up and looked like they were trying their best to convince us that they hadn’t been paying attention. They turned their gaze to me as she left, snarling. Wow, isn’t this just a friendly bunch of dogs we stumbled into?

Walking after her, I pushed through the doors and walked out into the entrance foyer to what looked like an old world police station. The off white plaster had held up remarkably well over the years, and the blue and white checkered floor tiles were, dirty of course, but still intact. Alright, at least that would explain the jail cells.

The bones of long dead ponies lay strewn across the old station, and a few of them even still wore rusted pairs of old hoof cuffs around their forelegs. Straight across from us on the other side of the station were a dozen or so desks where I assumed some officers would have once worked, but had at some point been converted to a place to store junk and old files. Amongst the junk, a few fresher looking dead ponies had been tossed over, as well as dead ghouls still dressed in bloody old world clothing.

Turning my gaze from the morbid sight, I had to assume that there weren’t any ponies alive here anymore. But the questions I held about what went down in this place moved to the back of my mind as I found my gear, as well as the young spotted dog who’d been at the door to the settlement itself. She was standing behind a long dark wood reception desk that sat near the back wall directly across from the large doors. She studied both Lamia and I with perked ears while she pawed lightly at my jump pack and battle saddle, not seeming to really care about anything that was going on.

“About earning my trust.” Lamia spoke up as she stopped in the center of the old foyer. “Get your things on and meet me in interrogation room one.” Pointing to a set of doors just down the hall, she glared at me. “And don’t keep me waiting. I want to be done with this before your friends arrive.” Well, at least that meant I wasn’t out for long...

“Okay.” I sighed and convinced my aching body that it was best that for now, I hear out what she wants. Between how weak I felt, and how little shit I was willing to deal with today, my mind was heavily just hoping that I could shoot her, find out where the fuck Hispano had gone, and then head back to the convoy for a well earned nap.

I was surprised to say the least. ‘Holly’, as the spotted Sun Dog was named, had helped me to get my gear back on while humming a pleasant tune I was pretty sure I’d heard on the radio before. She seemed to be a lot less… barbaric than the other dogs here, which was nice. Dogs like her and Sasha at least gave me hope that it wasn’t just a fluke to have found someone like Buck out here. Though, the rest of these dogs could take a lesson in manners from their cousins up in Inuvik! Or any educational lessons at all for that matter. Perhaps one in how to read and write in Equestrian would be best suited to start with…

After giving me my gear, Holly was happy to continue sitting on the old foyer countertop as if she were waiting for something, while I went walking down the hall to find Lamia. Closest to the foyer was a set of four doors. To my left, a sign instructed me the closed door was to Interrogation room two. Turning across from it, the door was far too faded from time to read, but I assumed it was the correct one and pushed it open.

What I found was a small ten by ten room. The walls were bland, but painted in a remarkably still intact police blue color, and the flickering fluorescent lights above us were all mostly working. Behind Lamia sat a dusty and scuffed up mirror, that was probably one of those fancy two-way mirrors that I’d seen in the movies.

“Finally.” Lamia grumbled as she got up from a chair that she’d shoved back against the wall.

A muffled noise from my right pulled my gaze. A rotten, heavily decaying ghoul mare eyed at me with milky old eyes, almost pleading with them for me to help her. She tried to say something through the bit of cloth stuffed into her muzzle, but I couldn’t understand it, and I was sure that was the reason it was there. With sharp tugs, she pulled at the ropes that bound her to the chair she was sitting in.

“Oh, don’t look so pathetic, Mayor. We gave you a chance to share this place with the Sun Dogs.” Lamia’s tone took a dramatic shift from the fluffy ball of rage she’d been just a few minutes ago. Instead, she was almost soft and caring now as she trotted up to the table. “Yet, you decided that shooting at us was the answer, and now look at your town. You're the only one left to deal with.” Reaching into her wool, she drew out her ripper again and set it down on the table in front of the mare. “Now, I’m going to have my friend here prove his loyalty to me by killing you. So go easy on him, even I can tell he’s still pretty new at this.”

The mare went white with fear, shaking her head and screaming out into her gag. The scratchy screeching nearly pierced through the old fabric, but it wasn’t coming out any louder than normal speaking volume. Still, while I wanted to try to preserve my ‘cover’ as working for Solomon, I wouldn’t kill this mare just because Lamia wanted me to.

“No, I’m not going to do that.” I growled as Bombay’s words slipped out into Lamia’s face. “I work for Solomon, not you. You’re on a power trip because Solomon let you off your leash, and you’re doing nothing but wasting both of our time with this ‘loyalty’ charade.” Giving her the slyest smirk I could force, I could almost feel the rising temperature in the air from her anger. “Nah, you don’t get to tell me what to do. I have the job Solomon gave me, so you can just fuck off.”

I’m pretty sure something inside Lamia’s little head snapped at that. She gave a visible twitch of half her whole body as she grit her teeth at me. I bet she’s never had somepony talk back to her like that before in her life, because Solomon’s always been around to protect her. Licking my lips, I readied myself to grab onto my saddle’s bit if she made a move at me.

With a furious, beastial scream that would have been more fitting on a Sun Dog than a lamb, Lamia lost it. She leaned forward, biting down on her chain bladed weapon to start it up. By the time I’d flipped up my saddle’s bit, she’d already swung her head high. But before I could even get my tongue on the trigger, she turned away from me.

The motor to the chain blade strained to keep up as Lamia plunged it down into the neck of the ghoulified Mayor. Black tar-like blood whipped across Lamia’s off white wool as the ghoul cried out in a wail that died off when she did. But still, the carnage wasn’t done. Lamia growled around the bit each and every time she’d plunged the machine into the ghoul’s corpse, spending all of her rage by eviscerating the already deceased mare.

I turned and heaved as the sight and smell of desiccated and rotting organs hit me. Goddesses, this fucking sheep was completely insane! Maybe I should shoot her, because after the shit she just pulled, I’m pretty sure raiders would say that was a step too fucking far. But, the soft click of the motor shutting off met my ears, and I was forced to put Bombay back on for now.

“Alright, it was either this or something you were really not going to want to do.” Lamia heaved as she spat out her completely black blood soaked weapon. Turning to me, her face and most of her coat was splattered with black gore, dripping onto the concrete interrogation room floor. “But you made your choice. Follow me for round two.”

Wait, round two!?

The small sheep trotted past me out the door. She didn’t even wait for me to throw the door open, simply ramming her head into it and forcing it to swing out. Turning, I followed her back across the hall, I stopped when I was only a single hoof into the room.

This room was set up much like the last. Same police blue color and same lights, as well as another dusty and scuffed up mirror and chair shoved against the wall under it. However, looking to my left, instead of a mare tied behind the table, it was Hispano. On the table itself, Suiza sat out in the open, with her barrel aimed right dead center at her breast.

“Hispano!” I gasped and moved forward. The world tumbled for a moment as my injured foreleg gave out from the pressure of a small cloven hoof kicking it.

“Nope.” Lamia snorted as she trotted around my sprawled out form. “You need to prove your loyalty, fly-boy.”

“To what?” I grunted and sluggishly pushed myself back to my shaky hooves. “She’s a talon. My talon. She’s loyal to me, and I’m loyal to Solomon. End of story.”

“If that’s true, then she won't mind when you instruct her to sit still and die.” Lamia smirked as she climbed up into the chair by the mirror. “Take the gun, and shoot the girl. If you don't? You remember all the dogs here that I helped to take this place? Well, let’s just say they owe me, and it wouldn’t take that much persuasion to have them tear you to bits. Oh, and since you are so big on saving the innocent, like that stallion on the radio says, I’ll make sure that Solomon comes back after dealing with Delilah and wipes all these dumb muts out.” She paused and tapped at her chin in thought for a moment. “You know, maybe I’ll still have the Alpha’s daughter killed before I leave, just to make an example of what happens when you fuck with me or Solomon.”

“Fuck, you really are on a power trip, aren’t you?” Seriously, Lamia had become completely unhinged. “You realize that you can threaten me all you want, but the second I get back to Solomon with the book, I can just tell him all about your little taste of freedom here.”

“Go ahead.” Lamia huffed and stuck her nose up at me. “Who’s he going to believe? The poor little slave who’s been nothing but loyal to him her whole life?” She dropped her gaze to a glare as she spread a wide smile across her muzzle. “Or the pony fuckup who only sided with him to save his own pathetic little life?” Raising her hoof, she tapped at her chin again. “Tick-tock, pretty boy. Prove your loyalty to me, or suffer the consequences. You have five seconds.”

I didn't move. I almost couldn't move with how fast my blood pressure was rising. She was asking me to kill someone I cared for just to prove myself to her? I'd had just about enough of Lamia's bullshit, and I was seriously considering chowing down on my battle saddle's bit and just filling her full of holes here and now. But the second I did, both Hispano and I would be torn apart by all the dogs outside...

"Okay, times up." She shrugged and pushed herself off the chair again. "If you won't kill her, I will. Again, you made your choice." Rearing up and standing at the edge of the interrogation table, she wrapped her small hooves around Suiza's grip as I went wide eyed. No, Hispano couldn’t die! I couldn’t let her die!

Then move you idiot!

Bombay's instincts took over, and I kicked off with my weak legs. I threw myself between Hispano and the table, aiming myself to move just far enough to reach the overhanging barrel of Suiza. I didn’t need to stop Lamia from firing, just move her aim! So as I flopped down onto the floor, I swung my forehoof out as hard as I could.

My leg connected, shifting the cannon's aim to the side as it went off. I was blinded and deafened as I collapsed to the cold hard floor. The high explosive round from her gun didn't detonate as it hit the wall, rather, it exploded on the opposite side of the wall with a crack that blasted a pony sized hole in the old plaster construction.

The ringing in my ears made me clenched my teeth, and I blinked the flash away as I rolled myself to get back up. As I did, I stopped as the reception desk of the foyer met my eyes. Standing in front of it, was the black spotted white dog who given me my gear. She was staring shocked and scared at the shredded stump of bone and muscles where most of her right arm had once sat. Dribbling lines of blood trailed down to the floor from the gaping wound as she whimpered and looked at Lamia and I.

"You moron! How am I supposed to explain that I shot her?" Lamia's shrieking voice was like a hoof down a chalkboard, and instantly reminded me of the rage that had been so patiently waiting inside to be let out. "She's the alpha's daughter! Do you have any fucking idea how hard it’s going to be to kill her as an example...?"

Fucking shut up, Lamia!

I spun around, aimed my submachine gun at her, and bit down on the trigger like I'd never let it go.

A chattering burst of rounds tore through the small sheep, blowing out the side of her head and sprouting red splotches along her already black-blood stained wool. The mirror in the interrogation room shattered to pieces behind her, and dust and bits of plaster were shredded off the wall in the small room behind it. I was so angry, so furious at the tiny fucking cunt that my brain took a moment to realize that the gun had quite quickly run out of ammo and stopped firing.

Lamia was dead… I’d just...

Taking a few deep breaths, my mind was racing to tell me just how fucking screwed I was now. Even if we somehow managed to get out of this place, Solomon was going to be pissed that I just murdered her. Then again, what the fuck did I care if he was pissed? I just need to untie Hispano and get the both of us the fuck out of here!

The whimper behind me silenced all my thoughts, and I turned to see the injured Sun Dog crying and cradling what was left of her destroyed arm. Fuck. No, wait! This could be our ticket out of here! I just needed to spin this right, that’s all! I just needed to talk to someone who’d would listen to reason before they decided to tear me to shreds!

"What happen!?" One of the police dogs shouted as I hopped through the hole in the wall to where she was standing. The two guards growled when they saw the Alpha's daughter's missing paw, quickly turning their sights on me and bristling up their fur in anger.

Yeah, I’m screwed...

With a wobbling sigh, the spotted dog's eyes closed and she did her best impression of what I’d probably looked like at the gate. Admittedly though, her wound was a bit more pressing than mine had been. Regardless, I had to at least try to salvage this stupid plan of mine.

"Oh, you make big mistake, pony!" The police dog growled again, raising his paw toward me and holding his digits out to show off his razor sharp looking claws.

Shit, I was about to become that pony shaped ribbon I was worried about before. Come on Night, spit something out already! No, not Night, Bombay!

"The sheep betrayed you and attacked the Alpha's daughter!" I snapped at them as I approached the young spotted dog. "I can help her, but you mutts need to find medical supplies, now!" I blinked as the two dogs looked at each other like I'd just spoken in another language. "Damnit, I said now! Go, or her condition will only get worse!"

“Uhhh… yes pony!” The two guard dogs nodded quickly before scampering off further into the old station.

Looking down at Holly, I wasn’t sure what to do now. This was all Buck’s specialty, he was the doctor! The pulpy, bleeding mass of shredded muscles and bone was far beyond anything I could ever imagine fixing. Still, I had to think. I had to at least try to help.

“Okay, so, gaping wound...” I muttered to myself, looking around. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, but anything that could give me an idea would be more than helpful right now. “How do I fix this?” My search around was revealing nothing but old papers, logbooks, and pony skeletons. Seriously? They didn’t even have a first aid kit up here!?

Again, this was exactly the situation where I should have been less lost in Buck’s amazing blue eyes, and actually listening to the medical advice he was giving me at the time!

Stomping in anger, I winced as my injured foreleg threatened to give out under me. Gasping in pain, I stopped as I looked down at the blood spotted rag tied around my leg. Right, I need to stop her bleeding! That’s an easy first step!

Biting at the old yellow fabric around my wounded leg, I pulled it loose and unfurled it. It wasn’t all that big, and the moment I took it away from my bloody puncture wound, fresh crimson oozed out of the gaping hole. I swallowed in my throat, trying to keep myself from gagging again at the sight of it.

Hobbling over to Holly, I shoved the rag under what little of her arm was still left intact. Wrapping it around her stump a couple of times was tough, but I put my hoof down on one end and bit the other. Pulling on it with what little strength I felt I had left, I was pretty sure I was squeezing around her arm so tightly that I might as well have clamped a vice around it. I worked quickly to tie it off, nearly slipping as my own bleeding wound started to pool around my leg.

My ear perked as heavy thumps came closer. I’d hoped it might have been the two guard dogs returning with medical stuff, but instead, these thumps came from past the heavy double doors that lead outside the front of the station. With a pair of thick snaps, the wooden double doors were thrown apart so hard that they flew off their hinges and slid across the floor until they hit the walls opposite each other.

There, in the doorway and looking like a giant ball of black furred rage, was the Alpha. With a snarl that forced me to the floor, he lept into the air. As I hit the ground, I cringed as his heavy form slammed onto the floor behind me, cracking the tiles below him. His claws tore gouges in the concrete under the tiles, and he let out an intense roar that shook me to my core.

Opening my eye, his rage filled eyes burned down at me with a hatred I felt was only on par with exactly how strongly I felt about Solomon himself. However, looking above him, I saw him spread his raised paw to show off each of his sharp claws. I opened my muzzle to tell him to stop, to try to explain what had happened so that he wouldn’t kill me. However, I was too afraid of the enormous dog to even force myself to say anything at all.

“Dad… wait…” The whimpering voice of Holly squeaked out.

I cringed as I felt something grab around me. The strong grip from a black spotted arm pulled me closer to the injured dog. I looked back at her, finding her weak smile pointed down at me.

“What is the meaning of this, Holly?” The Alpha snarled. He swung his arm down, slamming it against the tiles next to him and shattering them to pieces as well. “Why do you protect pony? Pony is the enemy!”

“No. Pony saved me from lamb.” She squeezed me, grunting as she repositioned herself to extend her bloody stump. The rag I’d tied around her limb was already soaked with her own blood, which amazed me because even with a wound like that, she was still conscious enough to protect me. “Pony killed lamb, helped me.”

While her words didn’t do much to keep the Alpha from trying to glare a hole through my head, it did help to calm him down at least.

“We should never have trusted the walking bag of mutton.” He grumbled as he turned and peeked into the interrogation room where Lamia’s corpse was. “We should not trust pony either. Friend now, sure.” Again, he looked back at me and narrowed his eyes. “But pony will betray dog. Pony always betray.”

“Lamia wanted to extort you and your group, while I just want to take my griffon friend and leave this place.” I forced out as a shock of pain ran through my head. I blinked a few times to keep my vision from fuzzing out a bit, but tried to focus on the large black dog above me. “I had the chance to hurt your daughter, but that’s not why we came here. I told you, we were looking for the Road Crew, but since I now know they’re dead, we have no reason to stay. And while I know you’ve been betrayed and hurt by ponies in the past, I can assure you that none of my convoy came here to hurt you either.”

Heavy thumping again met my ears as both the Alpha and I perked up at it. While I couldn’t see it, I listened as another dog came running up through the open front of the station.

“Sorry, Alpha…” The panting voice of the other dog that had captured Hispano and I at the gate spoke up. “Other dog came from big wagon. He forced himself in, wants to see pony now.”
“Night!” Buck’s worried voice coming from outside was all I’d ever wanted to hear again in my life, and it brought a smile to my muzzle even as I again was feeling light headed. “I swear, if any of you have hurt my Night, I'll kill every single last one of you!” With that, my smile died.

Goddess damnit, Buck...

I swung my forehoof up and facehooved, sighing as Buck couldn't have chosen a worse time to make threats like that. The soft, fleshy slap hit my ears from just past me. Opening my eye, I found that the Alpha had also face...pawed. Fuck, species are hard to work between, and I seriously needed to sort out these terms...

“Pony says friends not going to hurt us. Friend says he going to hurt us.” The Alpha deadpanned as he looked down at me. Slowly, a smirk worked his way across his muzzle, and both Holly and the other dog who’d came in let off small chuckles. “Pony has funny timing, and irony not lost on dogs.” The Alpha let out a deep sigh, and just like that, looked to calm himself completely. “So long as dog vouch for you, pony and bird will go free. Ponies not trustworthy, but dog always is friend of other dog.”

“Trust me, Buck wouldn't harm a fly. And to be honest, that's partly why I love him.” I snorted as I couldn't help but smirk back at him. And just like had happened with Buck, the big, aggressive looking dog melted away into something that resembled someone who could be civil with me. “Not to mention, he's a doctor, so he might be able to help Holly.”

“No need. Leon, give healing device.” The Alpha snorted, raising his massive paw and snapping his digits over the counter.

The other dog put something into the Alpha’s paw, but I couldn’t see what it was as I was effortlessly pushed aside by Holly. She simply smiled at me before ripping off the bandage I’d tied to her, and stretching out her stump away from herself. Looking back into the paw of the Alpha, my eyes went wide as I noticed he had some sort of makeshift weapon in his paw.

It’s crude construction consisted of several magical spell circuits that had been poorly soldered up to a metal pasta strainer, which had a pair of old wire hangers bent out to make what looked like a rough antenna. Even though I don’t know what sort of crazy pony out there would ever slap this thing together, I was pretty sure it wasn’t a ‘healing device’ like the alpha claimed. Instead, from what components I could even identify, I’d say it looked closer to a magical energy weapon than anything...

The device glowed as the Alpha pulled the trigger, and it let out an oscillating pitched whine as a green ray of magic shot from the tip of the antenna dish. Holly let out a scream as the beam struck her bloody stump and immediately the fur on it started to burn. Her flesh warped, pulling itself together at the same time it boiled and burned. The scent of melting fur hit me hard as I watched her wounds heal up, and the writhing of her flesh started to slow.

The gun’s tone shifted as it ran out of power, and the Alpha tossed it back over the counter. Holly’s sizzling fur smoked as she panted heavily, but as she did, her bloody stump shrank slightly and returned to a pale fleshy tone. While her paw was still missing, the part of her arm that did remain looked to be completely healed up.

“See. All better.” The Alpha smiled widely, reaching over to Holly and patting her gently on the head a few times.

“Absolutely barbaric!” Buck spoke as he stepped inside the Police station. “You should all feel ashamed of what you’ve done, slaughtering this town!” I struggled to push myself off the ground, looking over at Buck as he noticed me. He turned just about as pale as I probably looked. “What did you brutes do to him?” He snapped, curling his lengthy claws out as his fur bristled up. “You better not have done any permanent damage to him or to Hispano.”

“Calm down, Buck.” I turned and looked up to the Alpha, who’s muzzle twitched as he glared at Buck. He looked about three seconds away from starting a fight, and Buck throwing around accusations wasn’t helping anyone right now. So what did I figure would help? Why, lying to him of course. “It was Lamia, acting under the orders of Solomon. This slaughter was exactly what that asshole wanted.”

“You expect me to…?” Buck began, stiffly glaring at me. Though, he bit his tongue as I pointed to the hole in the interrogation room wall. He rolled his eyes as he took a few steps forward to peer in. He stopped when I presume he spotted the well ventilated sheep corpse on the floor.

“Lamia knew I wasn’t being serious when I promised to work for Solomon. She wanted me to kill Hispano, and when I didn’t, she was going to do it herself. Hell, she was probably going to kill me anyway after she betrayed all the Sun Dogs!” Dropping my tone down a bit, I tried to channel just the slightest bit of Bombay. “And speaking of the Sun Dogs, from what they told me, the town fired on them first. Knowing Solomon, he probably told them that the dogs were coming to kill them all in a bid just to make them fire first. But we’ll never know, seeing as Lamia herself killed the mayor before she could explain any of this. So from where I stand, from this town, to Lamia herself getting killed, all of this was done in self defence. And no one should ever feel they aren’t entitled to fight for their life.”

“I…” Buck was hung up as he looked between the other dogs and I, seeming more conflicted than I’d ever seen him before.

And while what I’d said wasn’t technically too far off what I’d expected Solomon would do, the fact was that I didn’t know exactly what had happened. I didn’t like lying to him, and I wouldn’t have if not to just get us past all this faster. But even so, I couldn’t deny that while I’d promised not to kill anymore, knowing that Lamia was dead by my gun made the Bombay side of me so proud that I almost wanted to smile.

“I’m sorry.” Buck finally found the words he was looking for. Slumping slightly, he looked down at the floor and hung his head. “You’re right, Night. They shouldn’t have to apologize if they had every intention to try to work things out with ponies who were never going to listen in the first place. And from what the dogs at the Pink Mountain Resort had said, it shouldn’t be all that surprising to me that ponies would shoot first when faced with us dogs. As for Lamia, I trust you in that you were left with no other choice.”

“Pony defended me, killed to save my life. All us dogs just wanted place to live, never asked for fighting.” Holly whimpered as she pushed herself to stand next to me. She looked up at Buck over the counter with a wide smile across her jagged jawline. “Now, here, we can stay safe. No more fighting.”

“Well, hopefully our convoy can be a good example that not all of us out there are bad.” I offered and looked up to Buck. “Some of us only want to work together and help those around us, even if sometimes we all make mistakes. That just means that we have to work twice as hard to make up for it in the long run.”

“Well said.” Buck nodded, letting out a sigh before reaching his paw out towards Holly over the counter. “But let’s try to get past all this and start again. My name is Buck, what’s yours?”

“I’m Holly.” She giggled, reflexively reaching out her stump to him. After a second, she looked down at it before she blushed bright enough that it turned her cheeks rose red. “Uh…” She stammered, swinging her stump around and pointing it at the Alpha. “This is my dad, Bruno. He is our Sun Dog Alpha.” Scrunching up her muzzle, she canted her head at Buck. A tap on my shoulder prompted me stepping aside as her small but spiked club like tail had started to wag. “But, where you come from? You do not speak like Sun Dog, or smell like Sun Dog.”

“I’m a Snow Dog, from a place in the north named Inuvik.” Buck smiled back at her as his tail gave a little wag in time with hers. “I’ve been traveling south with the convoy outside. We’ve…”

A frustrated grunt came through the hole in the wall to interrupt Buck. Looking over, I watched as the gag rag that had been in Hispano's beak was spit onto the floor.

“Your little friendship party out there sounds super fun and all,” Hispano’s annoyed voice bled through the hole in the wall. “But can someone please come and untie me already!?”

Taking small sips of the healing potion Buck had given me, I stared up into the midmorning sky as a pair of wild clouds floated on by. The cold marble steps of the scaled down royal palace were hardly comfortable to lay back on, but I couldn’t really complain. While it couldn’t compare with the numbing power of Chill, for the moment, the potion had helped to close the hole in my leg, and kept my aches down to a minimum.

After making sure I was alright, Buck had taken the Alpha’s daughter into the station’s infirmary to make sure her stump wouldn’t get infected or anything. Though, that had been over an hour ago, and I’d wondered just what had taken him so long. Then again, they are both different kinds of dogs, and he’d probably had a lot of questions to ask her about where the Sun Dogs came from.

I let a long, drawn out yawn escape my muzzle, stretching myself out with it. It was odd, as while I still felt tired, I didn’t even feel like I could sleep at the moment. Even so, I didn’t exactly want to get up and go do anything. I guess it was because while I was glad we’d been on the road again, I still wanted to savor every chance we had to relax and take it slow.

“Hey, Dum Dum.” Hispano cooed softly as she fluttered down out of the sky next to me. She came down on the steps gracefully, only to do the most graceless flop onto them next to me. “Just relaxing? That’s cool I guess.” She smirked as she wiggled herself onto her back and stared up into the open blue skies with me. “Anything on your mind?”

“Not really?” I gave her a shrug. “Why?”

“Just…” She started, but paused like she was about to say something she’d regret. “Nevermind, it’s nothing.” Yeah, no. I’d seen enough movies to know that when someone you care for says that, it’s never just nothing.

“No, I’m curious, Hispano. You can talk to me, about anything that’s bothering you.” I smirked at her, reaching over and shoving her lightly. “What were you going to say?” Of course, as soon as those words left my muzzle, the pit in my stomach ripped itself open like it was going to flip me inside out any second now. Damnit, Night! You could have just left well enough alone!

“I’m just worried.” She sighed. Reaching over, she took my hoof in her talon and squeezed at it softly. “You said that Solomon was ready to kill us all because Galina killed Violet.” Yeah, this had taken a turn for the worse in two seconds flat. “So when he learns what you did to Lamia…”

Why the fuck did I have to say anything!?

“We just have to keep our eyes open. Now more than ever.” I tried to rationalized it to myself more than to her, but she had a point. Lamia was such a moment of pride for me, and I’d been so secure in the idea that removing her evil bitchiness from the wastes couldn’t have been anything but a good thing. But I’d completely missed the fact that instead, I’d painted even bigger targets on us than I could have even imagined.

“Just watching for his next move may not be enough.” Delilah’s voice startled me as it came from the bottom of the marble stairway. Scrambling to sit up, I found a surprisingly smug look plastered across her muzzle.

“What do you mean?” I asked before looking at the equally confused expression on Hispano’s face.

“Solomon has been playing dirty from the start, and I’ll admit that it’s been my mistake not to consider the options that he has planned to use against us.” She grumbled and almost forced her smug look back to her normally annoyed glare she always wore. “It’s for that reason that I’m going to speak with the Sun Dog leader here. We’re going to build an army of our own and take the fight to him before he can do the same to us. And thanks to you helping them out, you may have given us our first ally in these Sun Dogs.”

“What? No!” I spat out without thinking. My words hit her like a slap in the face, and her eyes twitched at me as if I’d personally offended her. “They don’t want to fight, they just want to live away from ponies. We can’t ask them to go after Solomon after they just gained a place they can call their own. It’s not right.”

“It doesn’t matter because it’s not your call, Night. I know what’s best for my convoy.” Delilah snapped back at me, sending a cold shiver down my spine as her tone rattled down into the depths of my mind. Woah, I hadn’t heard her talk like that since the ice incident back at Filly Crossing. “You should consider Hispano’s words more carefully. With Lamia dead, he’ll more than likely come at us with everything he’s got the moment he can get help on his side, which won’t be hard for him to get once he arrives in Cantercross. Therefore, we need to take him down before he has a chance to do the same to us.”

“I’m all for taking him down, Ma’am. Trust me, I want him dead as much as you do.” I’d fought her before at Filly Crossing on something I felt was wrong, and it looks like I was going to have to do it again to remind her of that fact. “But like I’d told you back at Filly Crossing, this isn’t the right way to go about this.”

“I’ll be the first to admit that you were right about not lying to the crew, Night.” Delilah snorted as she pushed her glasses up against the bridge of her muzzle. “But this is not the same issue as that, far from it in fact. This is a war now that Lamia is dead, this is a war you brought us.” Those last three words felt like bullets, tearing into my mind and burrowing deep into where I kept all my saved up guilt. “You lost your right to challenge my orders the second you pulled the trigger against her, Night. Remember that the next time you want to run your muzzle again.”

I bit my tongue as she climbed the steps past Hispano and I and headed inside the mock palace. My mind begged me to scream out that she was wrong, that we shouldn’t stoop down to his level, even if she was right that all this had become my fault when I killed Lamia. But more than anything, I was only angry because the second she asks these dogs to fight for us, I’d be a liar to them. And that made me angrier because it meant that I’d lied to Buck for nothing.

“What the fuck is wrong with her?” Hispano grumbled and crossed her talons. “Seriously, if I were you, I’d have another talk with her when she gets back. I mean, she’s right, but that doesn’t mean she could talk to you like that.”

“Would you?” I huffed and deadpanned at her. “You’re supposed to be a talon, Hispano. Aren’t you supposed to just follow orders without question?”

She deadpanned back at me. Balling up her talon, she lashed out with it and knocked me in the head again, causing the familiar ebbing pain behind my eye to return. Welp, so much for the healing feeling from the potion...

“Don’t let Lamia’s words confuse you, Dum Dum. Talons don’t blindly follow every order.” She grumbled as she stood up and gave her wings a few flaps to stretch them out. “We do what the client asks within reason, and can actually refuse to take orders. Though, it doesn’t normally win a merc very many contracts if we’re known to objecting to the orders of the contract holder. But... sometimes you have to put your paw down and just say no.”

“If I tell Delilah no on this, then she’s likely to fire me.” I sighed and rubbed at the welt Hispano had left on my head.

If I stood up to Delilah, she would kick me out of the convoy, most likely kicking Buck and Hispano with me, and of course also Cora if Hispano left. Without them, the convoy was all but defenseless, and Solomon would wipe them out in an instant. If I stayed onboard with this, then Delilah was liable to get any number of others killed when they had no reason to be in this fight against Solomon. While I understood what she was getting at with building an army, I knew this wasn’t the correct answer to our problems.

So if I knew that to be true, then what was the right answer?

“We have to go about this a different way.” I mumbled and found myself shiver as the wind shifted a bit. “But how?”

“Well, why couldn’t we ambush him in Cantercross?” Hispano gave a nonchalant shrug as she sighed and leaned into me. She wrapped her wing around my side, pulling herself warmly against me. “You’re supposed to report into him there, aren’t you? Why not use that to our advantage?”

That’s not such a bad idea, actually…

“Eh…” She winced as she shook her head. “On second thought, he’d probably expect that now that Lamia’s dead. If anything, he’ll be suspicious as all hell with you even showing up to report in.”

That’s true. Even if he’d bought my ‘loyalty’ to him when he’d had me captured, in killing Lamia, he has to know that I’d lied. Even if I tried to spin it that I’d been forced to do it to keep my cover, there’s no way he’d have looked past the murder of one of his own. Even if she was just a thing to him.

But… he just might still meet with me if there was a thing he wanted even more!

“He may be suspicious, but giving him what he wants more than anything would be one way I could get his guard down.” I spoke up as my mind fit the pieces together. It was going to be a hell of a plan to pitch to Delilah, but she’d have to listen to reason! If I could get Hispano and Cora to go with me, we could take out Rook and Jess while Solomon was too busy ogling over the key to the Ark. Then I can just give him a repeat performance of what I did to Lamia and bam! All our Solomon problems are solved! Turning to the confused look on Hispano’s face, I grabbed around her head and pulled her into a short kiss. “It’s a brilliant plan, Hispano! We can take out Solomon without asking anyone outside the convoy for help!”

“Eheh, sure…” She blinked a few times as he cheeks glowed red hot. “What exactly was your plan, again? Or was it just more of an ‘idea’ like you had last time?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll explain it all later.” I smiled and pulled her closer again. Sure, it may seem like a longshot to her right now, but once I explained it, she was sure to be as confident as I was in that this would work! “But for now, let’s not worry about it.”

“Damnit, Dum Dum...” Hispano smacked her talon across her beak and dragged it down her face. “Every time you say that, your ‘plan’ falls apart halfway through. Can’t we just talk about it for once?”

“Oh, hey guys.” Buck called out, pulling Hispano and I’s attention up the steps to him. Thank the goddesses for his perfect distraction timing!

“Sorry for taking so long, got tied up in helping Holly.” He offered with a brighter smile than I’d expected across his muzzle, and a sort of spring in his step. I didn’t know why he looked so contented with himself, but so long as he was happy, I couldn’t not feel happy for him. “I know it’s a bit of an odd idea, but while we’re here, I thought maybe we could walk around and explore a bit. While I don’t know about you two, I’m certainly curious to learn what it was like back before the war.” A nervous grin pulled across his muzzle as he looked between Hispano and I. “Plus, this is a time when just the three of us can hang out together, which is something I’ve been wanting quite a lot given recent events. Who know’s what will happen to us down the road, so I don’t want to waste a single opportunity like this.”

“That’s a perfect idea!” I gasped as I pushed myself onto my hooves. Granted I didn’t care to think about what might happen to Hispano or I once we put this plan for Solomon into action, this was a perfect distraction. Plus, spending time relaxing with Buck was something I’ve desperately needed since what happened with Violet.

“But, what about…?” Hispano began, but found herself quickly cut off.

“Excellent!” Buck laughed as he walked himself down the stairs to us. “Now, come along you two!”

With a pair of sweeping swings, he scooped both Hispano and I up into his strong, caring arms and pulled us close to him. I nuzzled into the warmth and security of his arm, letting out a contented sigh as I simply enjoyed being with him. However, the grumble that came from Buck’s other arm perked my ear. Looking over, Hispano gave me a flat look as she crossed her talons.

Seriously, I knew she had her concerns from the second that the word ‘plan’ came out of my muzzle, but she really needed to lighten up for the moment. Because once we pulled this off, and we will pull this off, I could spend the rest of my life with Buck and her without a single fucking worry that shit like today would ever happen again. That is, unless I found a way to screw it all up. But you know what? I couldn’t be bothered by thinking about that right now.

No. Spending a relaxing time with those I loved was far more important to me than worrying about the future. Even if that was something that needed more thought and preparation for than I’d ever thought it could...

Minutes turned into hours as we toured around the city. I listened as Buck read off the various plaques that were hung everywhere explaining about how things were different way back when, and as we got further into the city, even Hispano seemed to perk up with his readings. It wasn’t that I found any of it interesting really, rather, I was just happy that the three of us were getting to spend time together like he’d wanted.

The three of us laughed together from inside the cramped photo booth as the last flash made us all blink away the blindness from our eyes. The old machine gave out a grinding whir internally as Hispano and I flopped out past the booth curtain. Buck however, gave out a few heavy grunts as he had to force himself through the small doorway to the outside. With a relieved sigh, he flopped onto the old pavement just outside the booth, perking his ears as the photo case gave a click and unlocked.

Turning around, Hispano reached out and opened the receptacle. With a smile she’d missed when we started this tour around the city, she gave a giggle as she looked over the strip of photos we’d taken. Handing it over to me, I took in in my hoof and had to fight back dropping to the ground in laughter.

“Oh Celestia, Night.” Hispano gasped and broke down into laughter. “Your face in the last one! It’s so ridiculous!”

The final shot on the strip of five photos was indeed one where we’d all agreed to look silly, but my eyes drifted up to the earlier ones. The first one where I’d kissed Buck, and the second was one where Hispano had kissed me. The third was actually one that had caught Buck and I off guard, as Hispano kissed him while I had a shocked look across my muzzle.

But the fourth picture was the one which I liked the best. It wasn’t anything more than the three of us sitting there and looking at the camera while smiling. But… it was the one that felt to me like for the first time since I’d come down to the wasteland, my life had truly changed for the better.

This. This was all I’d ever wanted in my life again. The feeling of having a happy family that I’ve been missing since I lost Mom and Dad.

While I’d known for a while now that I loved both Buck and Hispano, it hadn’t really hit me until now just what that felt like to me. It felt wrong in a way, that on a day where killing Lamia might have been a terrible turning point for the whole crew, I could be this happy and relaxed. But if the smiles on both Buck and Hispano’s faces said anything to me at all, it was that at least I wasn’t alone in feeling that way. Still, while this was the happiest I’d felt in goddesses know how long, I couldn’t escape how terrible I felt at the same time.

One moment was all it had taken to lose Violet. One second’s hesitation was all that had separated me saving Hispano from Lamia, to me losing her. Yes, I had a family again with the two of them, but it also meant that I could lose that family again as well. And that scared me more than anything in the whole damn wasteland now.

This is why Solomon had to die. I wouldn’t lose them, not like Hardcase lost Violet. I couldn’t let that happen.

“Is everything alright, Night?” Buck asked me with a delicacy in his voice reminiscent of a non pegasus trying to walk on a cloud.

Looking up at him, I gave a shiver as a cold dripping rolled down my cheeks. Raising my hoof, I wiped a tear off of my smiling muzzle before looking back at his concerned face. Looking over to Hispano, I found her still on the ground from her laughing fit. She seemed concerned as well, but she showed it through the smile she had locked on her beak.

“Yeah.” I nodded as I gave a small sniffle. “I’m just so happy to be with the both of you.”

“Ugh.” Hispano rolled her eyes as she forced herself to sit up. “Stop being so sappy, Dum Dum, or you’ll make both of us that way as well.” Buck gave a soft sniffle as his eyes wavered behind his own wide smile. “Damnit, see what I mean!?” She laughed, reaching up her own talon and wicking away a tear from her eye.

The three of us shared a laugh for a moment before the roar of Bertha’s engine struck up and broke the afternoon silence that had been in the air.

“Alright, I guess it’s that time.” Buck groaned as he picked himself up off the ground. “Let’s head back now. Maybe we can all grab something in the kitchen to eat together before we get back on the road.”

“Sounds good to me.” Hispano nodded and looked over to me. “So, up for a race back to the Hauler?”

“Nah.” I smiled as I looked down at the photos again. “No races, no rush. I just want to spend as much time with you two as I possibly can.”

Because while I felt good today, who knew what might happen tomorrow.

Author's Note

As always, a HUGE thanks to TheFurryRailFan for going over this chapter!

And of course, a big thank you to Kkat who's let us all run around and blow up the wide wild wastelands of FoE!

Chapter 57 - Heist of the Century

It is a bad thing to run out of airspeed, altitude, and ideas all at the same time.

My heart pounded in my chest as I raced for the edge of the armored train car.

I fought against the wind with each step, pushing myself forward across the roof of the rear car. Each inch was a fight, and with how much my hooves slid back from the sheer volume of air I was fighting against, it felt like two steps forward, and one back. But hey, at the very least, the rubber coating on the bottom of my prosthetic stuck against the smooth metal with each step and guaranteed I got a good amount of progress forward.

However, a few steps into my dash, I felt the turret’s hydraulics come to life again under my hooves. Glancing back as I pushed myself to keep moving, I caught the sight of it spinning back at me from the corner of my eye. Alright, I’m really on the clock now!

I’d reached the edge by the time it was halfway spun back toward me, which gave me a few precious seconds to figure things out. I found that the two train cars here were connected by a sort of articulating accordion-like rubber connection that was about two ponies wide. It looked sturdy enough to walk across, and I really hoped it was. At the very least, it was recessed between cars, and I could take shelter in it if I absolutely needed to get out of sight from that turret.

Looking ahead for an easier way in, the two cars ahead of the glass domed one looked like they had roofs that were built to be retractable somehow. But without any idea of how to get them to open, and no visible controls I could see from here, I would be better off with trying for the glass domes. You know, if Hispano were here, she could probably…

“Hey, focus!” Violet snapped at me. “Train heist now, griffon regrets later.” I hated to admit it, but it was a good point. “Damn straight it is. Now, get to work.” She snarkily fired back at me as she used her forehoof to tap against the glass dome.

The ignition of the booster rockets on the CMC-12 broke my attention just as I went to step down into the gap where the flexible rubber connection joined the cars. Reflexively, I opened my wings to catch myself, and the small but still significant added drag of them drove me painfully straight down against it.

The moment I’d fallen however, I dropped below the roof line. The rushing wind at the very least didn’t have much authority here, and the sound of the train running along the tracks dominated my ears again. Using it as a small excuse for a break, I took a moment to collect my thoughts before moving forward.

What am I doing? This is an armored military train. That dome is probably made of ballistic glass. It isn’t going to break if I hit it with my hooves, and they definitely wouldn’t let it be opened from the outside.

Maybe… I could blast it open? Tall Tale did have that grenade, but… no, who knows if that would be good enough to smash through the window at all. The armor on this train is just too thick! What I needed was some part of it that was thinner, or more prone to damage! Somewhere they didn’t expect a pony to come in from that wasn’t underneath this deathtrap of a train.

The train below me gave out a grinding along the tracks as it felt like it began to slow a bit. At the same time, it began to shift to the right, narrowing the gap between the cars next to me. We must have just hit ‘the gradient’ Tall Tale had mapped out, which meant we’d lost our six minute window for the ‘easy’ chance to board.

A silver shape came up along my right side of the train, appearing between the narrowed gap of the cars. Glancing over at it, I found the CMC-12 rolling alongside the Ouroboros. With the momentum the rockets gave it, it easily had enough speed to roll past the gap between cars. As it did, the narrow sight picture I was left with only offered me a momentary view of Tall Tale’s permanently smiling mask glaring at me before he and Happy rolled ahead.

Tucking my wings back against myself tightly, I grumbled as I shook off the thoughts of getting lit up the second I took flight again, and pushed myself back up. As I did, the rubber material of the accordion-like skirting that connected the carts squeaked under my weight just loud enough for me to hear. Looking down, I blinked as a realization hit me.

This.This was my way in.

“That’s smart, Night.”

The voice that spoke in my head made me freeze up. It wasn’t the voice of Violet. No, now it was the sarcastic and judgemental voice of Buck.

As much as I’d hated to hear Violet’s voice berating me inside my own head, this was not the time that I needed to have him show up to replace her. I closed my eye and followed the voice that came from up on the armored car behind me. I knew I shouldn’t be distracted, I had too little time and too much to lose with this job. But I couldn’t fight it.

Opening it again, I found myself looking up on the massive and towering Snow Dog form of Buck. Except, my hallucination of him wasn’t like I’d expected. Instead of his normal body, it was the battered and broken form I’d pulled from the wreckage of Bertha. Buck stood on ethereal legs that projected from his bloodied stumps, shimmering and wafting about independent of the rushing air around the train. He leaked an inky black smoke from his wounds, and the almost blinding green glow that came from his chest and missing eye pulsed in time with my racing heartbeat.

“Finally decided to smarten up about how you go about blowing things to bits?” His voice was cold and flat, but carried a sharpness to it that I wasn’t prepared for. “Too bad you couldn’t have figured that out before you got everyone else you cared about killed.”

“No, not now.” I whimpered and raised my hooves to my face. I covered my eye, blinking a few times as I tried to get myself to focus. “He’s still alive, Night. Do the job and you can still save him.” I could hardly hear myself over the noise of the train, but when I pulled my hooves away from my face, the illusionary Buck was gone.

I waited for the CMC-12 to roll back across my line of sight in the gap. As it did, I spread my wings and pushed myself upwards. With the speed we were going at, I didn’t find any resistance as the rushing air lifted me up over the train. With a subtle tweak of my hanging forelegs, and a whip of my tail, I nudged my flight over the side of the train and began to drift downwards towards the speeding Motorwagon.

As scary as it was, this was at least nothing new for me to attempt. It was just like when I’d tried to land on Bessy to drag cannon shells around, except at six times the speed, and with the risk of being snapped in half by razor thin railway wheels if I screwed up. Still, I tweaked myself so that I came pretty much straight down onto the roof of the CMC-12.

The moment my hooves touched down, the driver side door of the motorwagon opened up. The added drag from the door made me feel how much more it slowed us as the Ouroboros pulled ahead of us at a faster rate than before. The sawed off shotgun Tall Tale had brought floated out, held in an aura of his magic as he poked it’s barrel toward me. With a shake, he tweaked it as if to tell me to get back in the air.

Instead, I leaned over and did my best to make him know I wasn’t trying to escape or anything. It wasn’t easy to tell, but I knew from the stiffness of Tall Tale’s gaze to me, that he was in no mood for anything that could waste what time we had. But he needed my help, and he’d fucking listen if he wanted to get this job done at all.

“Hey!” I did my best to shout over the incredibly loud air, armored train, and whining motorwagon under me. “There’s no door, so I need to make one!” I paused as his gaze shifted to the rails ahead again momentarily. “I need the grenade you brought! I need it to make...!”

My voice was cut off as the train once again let out it’s deafening whistle. I pinned my ears back as the noise drilled into my skull, but didn’t want to risk moving my hooves in a way that might make Tall Tale just blast me off the roof. As the horn blared on longer than it had the other times I’d heard it, I looked up to find out why.

As we continued to do a slow right hoofed turn, the trees on both sides of the tracks gave way to a large open clearing. Out to our left sat what looked to be acres upon acres of open wetlands that eventually led out to the bay where Cantercross was. To our right, sat a muddy set of hills and dirt roads that were filled with pools of prismatic water. Scattered about across them, sat a thousand armored tanks, apcs, and other wheeled and tracked support vehicles. Not long that, but each and every one of them sat with the stark white Cordite logo stamped somewhere across them.

Standing on each of the various wartime vehicles, was what must have been a collection of a thousand different individuals, each stiffly saluting the train as it thundered past. From ponies, to griffons, to hellhounds and even a pair of dragons, the crews to each vehicle turned in confusion as the small boxy motorwagon with me on top sped after the train. Funny enough, as almost all of the crews scrambled to get in their vehicles from the sight of us trailing behind the Ouroboros, the only two who didn’t move at all were instantly recognizable. A pair of very dumbfounded looks adorned the faces of both Guinness and Zibar as they stood on the roof of their refurbished and now Cordite stamped tank.

A flash of magic in front of my face broke my attention off of the two tankers, and the shape of a silver metal apple refocused me on my task. Reaching up, I brought the grenade into my muzzle and hoofed at the priming button on my harness. The whining charge of my jump pack was lost as one of the Cordite tanks opened up with a whistling shot. A pair of thumps on the roof under me got my attention again as Tall Tale’s magic pulled the driver side door closed. With our aerodynamics slightly restored, I knew was was coming, and braced my hooves tightly against the metal bar bolted to the roof.

As more of the Cordite tanks opened fire, the booster rockets lit up and we were pushed ahead again. At the very least, Cordite wouldn’t risk firing if they could accidentally hit the train, right? From the fact that no other guns beat out the sound of the rocket exhaust behind me, I was pretty sure they weren’t exactly thrilled at the idea of the train returning fire against them.

The gradient, as well as our already high speed, was keeping us from accelerating as fast as before, but unfortunately for us, it was actually faster than the Ouroboros was going. As we passed alongside of the heavy train, I opened my eye to find that we were quickly pulling up alongside the engine at the front of it.

The Ouroboros was a beast of a machine, and like most beasts, the head of it was something you just couldn’t pull yourself away from looking at. Her engine was bigger, sleeker, and longer than the few other train engines I’d seen so far. In fact, she was so big that she looked like like she was actually two engines back to back, with a section that bulged out in the middle to join them. Two sets of six wheels ran under each end of the massive engine, separated only by the bulbous gap in the center. That bulge almost sat low enough to the rails that it might scrape along it should there be any unevenness in the tracks themselves.

BOOM!

A sharp blast of gravel and small stones erupted from the side of the rails ahead of us. The thick cloud of debris pelted me painfully as we sped along through it. I let out a whimper through my muzzle as I could already feel the welts growing from the numerous strikes across my body. While I’m sure I’d be covered in bruises here soon enough, I prayed that none of the rocks hit my jump pack in a way that would keep it from running. Or worse…

“What?” Buck’s voice returned, bouncing around in my mind as if it were an expansive and empty chamber. “Now you’re worried about exploding? I’m so happy you see it as a danger well after you blew the rest of us up.” No, it wasn’t my fucking fault, it was Solomon’s! “You can’t hide from the truth, Night. You were too busy trying to play the ‘good guy’ out here to care about what happened to the rest of us. To care about what happened to ME.”

The Ouroboros gave out another blaring honk as we continued to thunder down the rails. I let out a whine again as the deafening noise at the very least cleared my mind of Buck’s voice. Fighting the wind, I glanced ahead down the tracks and found the old trussed bridge I’d ducked under earlier. This time we were going to roll over it, and we were approaching it alarmingly fast.

Focus, Night. The train was why I was here, and we were running out of time. Taking a hoof off of the bar on the top, I pressed the grenade further into my muzzle and bit down as hard as I could. Much like before, I needed to get back onto the Ouroborus before it hit that bridge. Leaning forward and bracing myself, I got myself lined up for the boost from my jump pack.

Alright, Bridge. You and me. Round two...

“Night.” Buck’s voice returned, and the moment I blinked, his towering form dominated my vision. “It wasn’t just Solomon who killed us. Happy is the reason that you went to him, he’s the reason you were fired. He’s always been a problem, and always will be one.” Buck’s ethereal form blocked my view of the upcoming railbridge, and each time I tried to shift myself to look around him, he took a step and got back in the way. “If you need to do this job, fine. But leave Happy behind. He deserves to die here, and you know it.”

“Shut up!” I snapped at him from inside my own mind with a scream that beat out the howling and whistling wind. Goddesses, why couldn’t I just be left alone!? “Just shut up!” Clamping my eyes shut and gritting my teeth against the grenade clenched in them, I pinched my fetlock tightly and pressed the button in it.

The world disappeared with a bang as I was thrown up into the air. As I reached the peak of my arc and opened my eyes again, I realized that I’d made a fairly significant miscalculation. I’d launched too late, and while I could still catch up to the train with the small window my dive would give me, it was going to be rolling over the bridge that entire time.

Fuck it, too late to back out now.

“Night…” Buck’s voice ebbed out of the back of my mind. “You can’t make a landing there. There’s not enough space between the trussing…”

“I have no choice.” I thought to myself as I slightly extended my wings. They caught the wind just enough to give me the control to start my dive. Tucking my forehooves back in, I pushed his voice out of my mind. With a snap of my tail, I aimed myself just ahead of the long silver train.

The air around me erupted in clouds of flak again. Like before, they were poorly aimed and the majority of them were too far off to even be a threat. Glancing at the rear armored car on the train as it slipped under the criss-crossing trusses of the bridge, I did at least notice something. The large turret couldn’t elevate it’s gun without hitting the trusses, and there were periodic moments where the other guns couldn’t shoot as well.

As I sped downward, I pushed my wings out more and more to catch the cold air under them. At a few meters above the bridge, I had them flared out completely, and had leveled my flight. I began to feel as the limited drag of my feathers started to slow me down, and as the two train cars I’d seen with the roofs that could open passed under me, I knew I had to make a move.

I watched the trusses as they criss-crossed under me, left angle, right angle. Left, right, left, right, back and forth until I felt my body start to sway lightly with each one. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the glint of the glass bubbled car pulling ahead under me. Praying to Celestia for good luck, I kept the alternating trusses pictured in my mind and tweaked my wings opposite directions.

I closed my eyes as I rolled myself over. With the rhythm stuck in my mind, I threw my body from side to side before pitching myself back as hard as possible. I tucked my tail in, and listened as the whistling air around me paused and shifted. The next sound to meet my ears was a painful crunch along my backside as my jump pack contacted something hard.

I let out a scream as it snapped my back outwards, and I collapsed down onto a smooth, hard metal surface. The slight vibrations of the armored cars hydraulics under me at least gave me a sign that I’d made it onto the train. Opening my eye as I tried to shake the hit off however, almost made my blood freeze.

That scream I’d given was reflexive, sure, but it had forced me to spit out the apple shaped grenade. As I watched it’s lopsided roll headed for the edge of the train, my legs scrambled to pick me up. No, no, no! Don’t you dare roll off the edge now!

Just as it reached the edge, I let my legs give out from under me, and slid myself along the armored roof. I opened my muzzle as wide as I could as the apple gave a soft bounce as it headed over the edge. With a metallic clack and a painful crunch in my jaw, I bit down around the small weapon as my head and neck hung over the edge of the car.

The thick criss-crossing beams of the bridge passed by, ending abruptly as the Ouroboros continued to thunder along the rails. It was heading towards what looked like a small tunnel built into one of the valley hills ahead. I didn’t remember a tunnel being on Tall Tale’s model…

The hydraulics under me cut out as we closed in on the tunnel. Glancing as I pushed myself up, I found the heavy turret behind me had locked in a rearward, but slightly off-center position toward the side where the CMC-12 was. At first I thought it was going to open fire, but as we plunged into the darkness of the railway tunnel, the rails started to turn slightly to the right.

A piercing screeching filled the air further in the tunnel, easily drowning out the noise of the train. Instinctively, I turned to find out what it was. The moment I did, something hit me, hard.

I was sent sprawling back along the armored roof, and my already beat up jump pack cushioned another hit as I flopped back against the turret. Blinking and trying to stop the world from spinning in my vision, enormous dark shapes shot through the air in the narrow gap between the top of the train and the tunnel’s roof. It was hard to get a look at just what they were as they moved at a terrifying speed out towards the tunnel entrance. However, a couple of them slammed down onto the roof of the train ahead of me.

They were pony sized, fuzzy beasts, with large round ears that flapped in the airstream that pushed across the top of the Ouroboros. As the pair of monsters shook off their own crash dizziness, they turned their large glowing red eyes to me and let out another piercing screech. A pair of fangs the size of Buck’s claws glistened in what little light I could see with, and I began to remember that I’d seen these things before. The day Four Peaks was destroyed, I think these were the things that had chased me down from the clouds.

Biting down on the grenade in my muzzle, I had to force myself not to try to use it on these monsters.

Both of the large creatures reared up as they screamed at me, but they made a mistake. In their preparation to leap, they spread their webbed, bat-like wings at me. In an instant, the added surface area was filled with the speeding air above the train. I’d only had time to blink, and both of the enormous bat-like creatures had been pulled over my head and were just gone.

“I told you that flat feathers could be an advantage.” Violet’s voice came from back toward the gap between the train cars. Behind her, along the smooth concrete tunnel walls, I could see the light of day start to shine through again.

Grumbling, I made sure to keep my wings pulled in extra tight as I got myself back to my hooves. Step by step, I forced my way to the gap between cars, slipping down into it as the train pulled out of the old railway tunnel.

I froze up though as I took a look around where we’d come out at. It was a rocky and mountainous canyon that looked like it was actually two halves of a mountain that had somehow been split with a slight curve down the middle. The pair of rails which ran along this side of it was originally only wide enough for one, and had been extended by some fairly rickety looking supports built above a steep drop off. Below us was what looked like a calm river that split the crescent shaped canyon, winding between the sharp crags to a small lake at the other end.

*KRAK-ZOT!*

A nearly blinding crimson light beat out even the sun for a moment. The afterimage of the canyon flashed in my eye as the anti-dragon cannon lanced a beam just over the top of the train. It forced me flat, and by the time I realized what had happened, I could feel the sizzle some of the hairs in my mane gave from the powerful magical discharge. Honestly, the heat from the shot was almost as bad as what my jump pack used to feel like before it had burned out most of the nerves on my back...

As the warmth of the beam dissipated, I peeked my head up over the edge of the traincar to where the beam had hit. A line of molten rock sat just beyond the smoldering and severed trees on the other side of the canyon. More alarmingly, was the thin, steaming, and slightly glowing line that stretched across part of the next two train cars roofs.

Are they crazy! Just a few degrees more of gun depression and they’d melt the very train they’re trying to protect! I understand that the defences of this thing had kept everypony away from it so far, but I don’t think anypony’s ever been this close to getting in.

“You’re worried there might be some sort of auto-destruct system in it, aren’t you?” Buck’s far too relaxed tone did nothing to calm my nerves right now. But… it was something I’d begun to worry about. If we’re the first to get in, then who knew what we’d find inside…

“Well, you’re not in yet, are you?” Buck’s tone shifted to a more snide and jabbing form. “What are you waiting for? Just blow it up, because that’s what you’re good at.”

As the crackling sound of the powerful magical weapon wore off, the sound of burning rockets met my ears and thankfully pushed Buck’s voice from my mind. I cringed as the CMC-12 caught up and started to roll across the rickety looking supports for the outside rails. The normal clanks that the Ouroboros’ train wheels gave across the tracks was joined by the quick clacks of each of the wooden supports next to it.

The Ouroboros began a slight left turn, following the canyon as it banked along the inside of the split mountain. The turn widened the space between cars on the right, and gave me a clearer look at the CMC-12 as it passed me. Alright, it was now or never!

Spitting the grenade into my hoof, I shoved it down into the rubbery connector between a couple of the folds. With it seated, I reached for the pin on it, but froze. Wait, where am I going to get cover from the blast?

Turning, I glanced up over the top of the armored gun carriage. The turret was still roughly pointed in my direction, but it was elevated far too high to outright blast me into dust. Right, I’d have to get up and over to that turret before either the grenade went off while I was too close, or the gun corrected it’s aim and vaporized me. Wow, what a choice...

Not to mention, I hope those two century old rails can hold up to a blast from a grenade…

With a flick of my hoof, I slipped the pin free from it’s home. The metallic ping from the spoon flipping off disappeared over the howling air and the thumping of my heart as I scrambled onto the gun carriage. The turret shuddered and began to spin toward me as I counted the passing seconds in the back of my head.

3… 4…

BOOM!

The blast forced me down just short of the turret, and I skid along the armored roof. Hot fragments of metal whipped through the air above me, sprinkling across the turret I’d slid to a stop just in front of. The heavy tri-barrel set up of the turret wasn’t at all affected by the bits of metal as it finished it’s rotation toward me. The high pitched whine of capacitors met my ears from inside the housing for the anti-dragon cannon, and I almost froze up.

I spun myself around, flared my wings out, and pushed off into the air with all my might.

*KRAK-ZOT!*

The beam of condensed magical energy lanced through the air where I’d been as I took flight. But, while I’d saved myself from incineration, the back of the armored train passed out from under me, and I was left speeding over the rickety tracks. Just ahead of me and slowing slightly, was the silver CMC-12. The rear lights of the old motorwagon flashed for a moment, forcing out a tortured squeal from both the train wheels it rode on, as well as the rails themselves.

Tweaking my wings, I maneuvered my flight path toward the outside tracks. A stiff wind rising up the side of the steep canyon buffeted me, fighting me for every inch I wanted to move. Thankfully though, Happy’s passenger side door rose up, adding a bit of drag to the motorwagon, and slowing it just enough that I could just maybe land on it like I had before.

With my eye on the prize, I pulled my hanging forelegs closer. With less drag, and a small sacrifice in altitude, I tried to keep up as much speed as I could. After a few tense moments, while I’d made progress, the buffeting wind from below was taking its toll. With myself just a hoof length away from the back of the CMC-12, I cried and desperately reached out.

My hooves fell across the smooth sides of the rocket housings on the back of the motorwagon. It provided me enough grip to hold onto the speeding vehicle, but not enough to firmly climb on. If Tall Tale activated the rockets now, there was no way I’d be able to keep my grip!

The rails under the CMC-12 gave out a long groan, followed by what sounded like sharp cracks. The whole of the motorwagon shifted as a pair of the support beams holding up the rails gave way. The sharp and jarring movement was enough to throw my weak grip, and I let out a gasp as to me, the world went quiet.

With a strength that came out of almost nowhere, I felt my forehooves get pulled forward. I was thrown against the backside of the motorwagon again as my mind and heart raced at a mile a minute. What the fuck just happened? Why didn’t I fall!?

“I’ve got you!” Happy shouted at me over the howling of the wind and whining arcane engine of the motorwagon below us. Both his bruised and bloody fetlocks were tightly gripped around mine as he braced himself on the roof using the bar meant for me. He offered me the smuggest look he could manage out of his bruised face as he pulled back and dragged me up to where I could get all four hooves safely onboard.

“Well, that’s something.”Buck’s voice resonated in my head. “So he can be useful after all.”

The motorwagon slowed slightly again as this time, the driver side door opened up. From inside, Tall Tale’s tool bag floated out, and was set down snuggly against the gun jamming talisman array on the hood. Happy let go of me as Tall Tale himself wrapped his hooves securely around the side of the motorwagon.

The moment Tall Tale started to pull himself up onto the car, I could see Happy’s eyes brighten with a stupid idea. So as Happy pulled himself up to his hooves, I reached out and wrapped my hoof around his side. He shot me a quick and confused look as he tried to shrug me off of him, but I just glared at him and shook my head.

As much as I’d love to rush him and push him down onto the rails, I needed Tall Tale to open that safe. Without whatever was inside, we didn’t have any bargaining power against Mr. Wizard. I tried to convey this to Happy through sheer force of will, but I had no idea if he even cared.

Regardless, the moment of opportunity passed as Tall Tale got himself on top of the motorwagon and used his magic to shut the passenger side door. He raised his hoof to Happy, shifting it toward the open driver side door. Happy gave another quick glance at me, and I nodded to him. Just a little bit longer, Happy. Once we’re onboard that train, we’ll find a way to take this bastard out.

With a little bit of effort, Happy made his way back inside the motorwagon and shut the door. I watched as we now trailed a fair ways behind the Ouroboros, and the sight of the end of Diablo canyon was coming just into view beyond the far bend. A realization hit me with that as well. How many rockets had we used? Fuck, I hadn’t been counting…

My concern was broken as Tall Tale used his magic to secure his tool bag around himself before he walked back toward me. The pink cloud that constantly seeped from his body was all but non-existent from the force of the moving, frigid air, but it only made the glare he held on me seem even more piercing. Without taking his eyes off me, he lowered himself down almost flat against the roof beside me. He wrapped a single forehoof around the bar before he reached forward with his free one, and gave a pair of banging hits on the roof.

I braced myself with only a moment to spare before the rockets beside Tall Tale and I fired off. Squeals and groans of protest came from the rails under us, but they could only barely be heard through the crackling and hissing noise of the rockets. I was forced to shut my eye again as we picked up speed, but it didn’t end up staying shut for long.

*KRAK-ZOT!*

Opening my eye again was a mistake as I blinked away the after image of the crimson beam shooting through the air to our left. As we rolled back into range of the jamming talisman again, my morbid curiosity forced me to give a quick glance over my shoulder behind us. At our speed, I didn’t have long to see the aftermath of the beam before we were far enough that I couldn’t make it out. However, the sight of melted and twisted rails was clear enough for me to know I didn’t need a second or closer look.

The speed we’d gained from the boost was more than enough to propel us along the majority of the Ouroboros again. However, as we began to pass by the gun carriage, I moved to prime my jump pack. Tall Tale’s hoof shot out, stopping me abruptly just short of hitting the button on my harness. He gave a quick nod at my back before shaking his head.

Twisting my neck as far as I could, it was annoying to try to bring my jump pack into at least my peripheral vision. However, when I did get sight of it, I could see the problem. After having it break my fall and get beaten up as much as it had, one whole side of it was crumpled inward.

Well fuck.

“Do you just destroy everything you touch?” Buck’s voice filled my mind again. I blinked as I brought my vision around ahead of the CMC-12 again, only to find that Buck was standing on the hood with his ethereal paws crossed across the wisping black wound in his chest. “Well, so much for getting leverage over Mr. Wizard and ‘saving me’. Without that jump pack, this job is over for you.”

No, I refused to believe that. This… this wasn’t over. I could do this.

As the CMC-12 slowed its advance and paused at a pace that matched the massive train engine just beside it, I pushed myself up to my hooves. I forced my wings open halfway, immediately bracing myself against the roof bar to keep from flying off as the cold air ran under them. Swinging my vision back as the motorwagon under me started to lose pace with the train, I pulled my rear hooves up and let myself hang just by my forehooves.

I tweaked my wings, angling them for a sharp climb. The extra force on my forehooves felt like I was about to dislocate every joint in them, but I held on. A strong gust from the edge of the shortening canyon pushed up against the motorwagon from the right, and in that moment, I let go.

The extra push from the canyon’s updraft helped me gain a few crucial extra meters of altitude. I soared upward, drifting sideways over the top of the speeding train for just a moment. As the two train cars with the segmented retractable roofs came into view, I pulled my forelegs up and dove downward.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The flak cannons opened up from the gun carriage, filling the air above and ahead of me with blasts of shrapnel. But with the jamming talisman still in range, it’s tracking was too slow to keep up. By the time it stopped firing to correct its aim, I was almost hovering above the glass dome of the car just ahead of the turret.

As I passed over it, I glanced down into the train cart. It was hard to make much out inside the car with such a small window, but I blinked as something recognizable caught my eye.

The boxy, grey form of a suit of power armor lay sprawled out on the floor, still proudly displaying a Steel Ranger insignia on it’s shoulder plate. The suit was missing it’s helmet, and the deceased pony who still occupied the bulky armor, looked more like one of those dried out old mummies in ancient history than someone who had lived in ‘modern’ times.

What the fuck even happened on this train…

*KRAK-ZOT!*

The anti-dragon cannon lanced a beam into the rocky cliffside to the left of the train. It forced me down onto the roof of the dome car as it burned a glass groove into the side of the mountain. Right, less pondering from the outside!

Getting myself turned around, I scrambled back toward the gap between the cars. As I reached it, I found that while the rest of this train might have been built to stop any invaders, upgrading these rubber connectors to something with armor on them was probably an oversight. Not only had the grenade absolutely shredded almost the entirety of both sides of the accordion-like rubber skirting, but it had also blasted through the metal rigging that had given it a semi-rigid shape.

With the gaping hole wide enough for me to drop into, I glanced back to see the CMC-12 still a few cars ahead of this one. Standing at the ready, and with his rodeo mask’s creepy glare pinned right on me, Tall Tale watched and waited for his chance to board. I stepped forward over the hole and dropped inside, knowing that this was the only window I’d get to find something to help Happy and I when the time came to act.

The stiff carpeting of the corridor between the two train cars did little to cushion my drop, and in fact sent up a thin cloud of dust from the impact. Almost as soon as it was airborne, some of the dust was sucked out of the gaping hole in the corridor, but most of it actually seemed to sparkle and disappear into nothingness. My best guess was it was being taken by some sort of magical cleaning talisman or something.

“What the…” I did what I normally did and spoke without thinking, but had to pause as my voice came across through the air with an odd clarity to it. I could hear the rushing wind outside of the train, and the clacking of the tracks that matched up with the vibrations under my hooves. But some sort of magic was suppressing just enough of the outside noise that it left the interior here eerily quiet. Almost, dare I say, too quiet. “Okay… this train is definitely going to creep me out…”

A light inside the dark interior of the gun carriage flickered and caught my eye. I felt my mane stand on end as the buzzing hum of fluorescent lights filled the air, and the cramped rear combat car lit up. The dessicated and mostly preserved husks of more Steel Rangers laid still posted at their various stations. The odd thing was that they looked like they’d all died halfway through whatever they were doing at the time.

Above me, in a raised up section recessed into the ceiling itself, was an open cylinder that rotated about with the turret on the roof. A dozen different glowing cables ran around the inside of the turret ring, leading down the edges of the cylinder and into a robust armored seat in the center of it. Another mummified looking pony sat wearing a talisman laiden combat harness, completing the normal gunner attire that anypony using a ship based Anti-Dragon Cannon normally used. However, written across the tactical display in front of the deceased pony, was a message that was anything but standard.

Gunner Status:

[ERROR: NO DATA]

Weapon Status:

[AUTOMATIC DEFENCE AND ATTACK MODE]

I hadn’t seen enough old world horror films to know how this would end, but I could just feel that this whole train just ended up being a death trap for anypony who got onto it. Reflexively, I reached up and ran my hoof over the scar where half my ear used to sit. As much as I knew that the foalish tales of murderous skeletons were just something told to scare colts and fillies, I had seen enough ghouls to know that things could look dead and still move well enough to try to kill you.

My ears perked and twisted as the whining arcane engine of the CMC-12 pushed through the muting magics of the train, and I knew I needed to move. Two dead guards sat propped up just at the gun carriage doorway, each of them still holding what seemed to be old world boxy looking shotguns in their hooves. My eyes darted about the gun carriage for better prospects, but other than some pistols that still sat strapped in their holsters on a few of the bodies, I didn’t have very many options other than the shotguns.

Celestia, I really hope those things were loaded when these ponies died…

Tall Tale’s black duffle bag slammed down onto the corridor floor. My heart nearly stopped as the clear and obnoxiously loud noise the tools inside it made a racket that had me jump up against the roof. It also sent another small plume of dust up for the magical talisman to try to clean, of which it was just about as effective as with the plume I’d sent up.

Held in a his own magical aura, Tall Tale jumped from the CMC-12 and effortlessly came down next to his bag. The wisping pink cloud that seeped out from him trailed off slightly out of the blown out corridor opening. But now that he was sheltered, it started to pour out from him like it was trying to make up for lost time. He grunted as he turned toward the dark interior of the car with the dome in it’s roof.

The moment he stepped a hoof into it, rows of fluorescent lights along the ceiling kicked on much like the ones in the gun carriage had. Unlike the gun car however, this one was filled with what looked like banks of terminals that booted up and came to life as he walked by them. A few bodies, including the dead power armored ranger I saw through the dome, sat scattered about the car, but these ponies weren’t at stations. Three of them sat together in the far corner, and one lay in front of an oversized safe that looked like it took up the whole front left half of the car itself.

“We don’t have much time, and we’re down to two boosts on the motorwagon.” Tall Tale called back as he levitated his toolbag over. He waved his hoof toward the opening we came through as his magic started to pull pretty much everything out of his bag. “Stay in the corridor and wait for your friend to boost again to keep up. Once I have the safe open, I’ll need you to fly back to the CMC-12 and tell your friend to use the last boost when I signal for it. I’m going to be cutting this really close.”

“Got it.” I nodded, giving a parting glance to the shotguns on the guards before I walked up and stood at the doorway. With a nervous stretch, I arched my neck and rubbed at the metal collar around it. Okay, do-or-die time. Literally. My only hope is that Happy both remembers and sticks to the plan.

The sharp squeal of metal made me cringe hard. For a moment, I worried that something was wrong with the train itself, but glancing over, I found Tall Tale pressing a sparking drill up against the face of the large grey safe. Sitting just beside him, but separated from his tools, was both his shotgun and his pistol.

The sharp report of the rockets on the CMC-12 filled the air, and the crackling woosh it gave as the silver motorwagon raced by again made my heart race faster. In the short moment I could see it, Happy’s worried gaze was pressed up against the drivers side window. Oh come on, Happy, don’t get cold hooves now...

“Fucking seriously.” The sharp grinding of the drill came to an abrupt stop as Tall Tale grunted in frustration. “Cheap-ass drills always jamming...”

Without a care, Tall Tale discarded the broken power tool in favor of bringing up what looked like a screwdriver and a rubber mallet into his magic. He turned his back to me as he got to work hammering at and punching out the small, hoof-wide hole he’d almost drilled through the outer skin of the safe. Please, please Celestia, let him keep his back turned for just a few seconds!

The whining of the CMC-12’s engine grew in the muted air again, and I held my breath as I waited for it to appear. The big black rocket fins rolled into view, and I tensed up as I waited to see if Happy had gotten out in time. Instead, I got a heavy clunk of metal to my left as the safe door unlocked.

“Alright!” Tall Tale laughed as he tossed his tools down and used his hooves to spin the safe’s handle. “Let’s see what…” He paused midway through his sentence as the door opened, and what looked like a zebra fell right out onto the floor with a hefty thump. “Whatthe fuck? Who the fuck is this!?”

Shit! Alright, now or never, Happy!

Turning to look back, I blinked as Happy stood uneasily on the roof of the CMC-12 as it rolled into view. Reaching up to his neck, he stared at me straight in the eyes as his hooves wrapped around the metal collar he wore. I gave him a nod, and held my breath.

With a tug and a heavy cringe, the collar around his neck snapped open. He blinked a few times and stared at it with a smile. Looking up to me, his smile melted as the rear of the CMC-12 started to sink back behind the gun carriage. He tossed his collar and took his own deep breath.

Wearing a look that conveyed more fear than I’d ever seen him show since I’d met him, he crouched down, took a step forward, and jumped.

Be it because he was part earth pony, or because it was something donkeys could innately do, I had to admit, I hadn’t expected this. Happy kicked off from the CMC-12 hard enough that he dented in part of the roof bracing, and he shot across the gap like a fucking thick-skulled rocket.

I’d been standing in the gap to try to help him onboard if he fell short at all. That was a mistake. From the way he landed and nearly bowled me over, I realize I’d severely underestimated him. Even with as tired and injured as he was, I guess even a lazy asshole like Happy could move mountains if it came down to life or death.

His already bruised head slammed against the doorway inside the connecter as his momentum almost carried him right through the other side of the shredded corridor. He let out a whine as I’m sure he saw stars. With a wobble, he took a step back, and almost stepped right out of the hole again before I moved forward and stopped him.

“What the fuck are you two doing!?” Tall Tale shouted as Happy shook off the hard knock in the head he’d gotten.

“Come on, this way!” I called out to him as I turned back toward the gun carriage.

Both Happy and I dove to each side just inside the doorway as a shotgun blast split the air behind us. We both got to our hooves quickly as we heard Tall Tale pump his shotgun. Happy’s darting eyes immediately fell onto the boxy shotgun of the guard next to him, and he took it in his hooves.

“Alright, you think we can take him out?” Happy asked as he gripped around the gun, pulling back on it’s square pump handle and glancing inside the open bolt. “His shotty’s only got a few rounds in it, three more at max. If these are full, ours have five.” Happy took a short breath before leaning forward slightly. Sparks shot off the door frame as one of Tall Tale’s pistol shots ricocheted off of it just over Happy’s head. “And he’s got a pistol as well…”

“Yeah. He’s got a pistol as well...” I grunted as I pressed myself up against the armored wall behind me. Seriously, how did he not remember that until now?

Before I grabbed the shotgun beside me, I remembered I had another pressing and time sensitive issue I needed to deal with first. Bringing my hooves up to my neck, I sharply pulled at the collar around it. With a crisp snap, the latch on it gave way, and the metal ring flopped into my hoof. Tossing it to the back of the cart, I turned and grabbed the shotgun.

Happy held his shotgun out again, barely poking it around the corner before firing a shot. The recoil of it nearly kicked it out of his hooves, but he held onto it tightly enough that he dragged it back against him. As soon as he’d pulled it back, another pair of sparking shots slammed into the doorway. Which, I took as a signal that it was my turn.

Trying to do the same thing as Happy, I stretched the shotgun out just far enough that I only exposed the tips of my hooves to fire it. However, unlike Happy, I’d never fired a shotgun like this before. With a resounding boom, the shotgun blasted out my hearing as it’s pellets tore through the air into the other room. It also blasted itself right out of my hooves, and bounced itself onto the open floor of the gun carriage next to my discarded collar.

“I don’t know how you arranged this.” Tall Tale’s voice spilled through the corridor with an alarming clarity, and I could hear as his hoofsteps moved him closer at a slow and calculated pace. “I’ll admit, I’m impressed, even if this only ends one way for you two. But then again, I think you’d already figured that out when you cooked up this half-cocked plan.” He was coming for us, and being a gun down now left us with a major disadvantage...

Okay, maybe this hadn’t been the best plan in the world afterall…

“You know, it’s alright if you die, Night.” Buck’s voice beat out the ringing the shotgun blast had left in my ears. I blinked as I stared at the gun and the collar on the floor, and in the short moment I had, Buck’s ethereal and glowing form was standing over it. He offered me a kind, soft smile that sent a chill through my spine. “It doesn’t matter that you got everypony killed, you tried your best. Your parents always told you that was all that counted, and you should be happy that you made it this far. Everypony down here sooner or later makes a mistake that gets them killed, and today, you drew the short straw.”

“Shut up!” I snapped at Buck. I knew I was yelling at nothing, but this fight wasn’t over. There had to be something we could do.

“Night, this is not the time to have a mental breakdown!” Happy snapped back at me as he leaned forward and stuck his gun around the corner again. He fired another shot before retreating and flattening himself against the armored wall behind him. Staring across at me, he huffed and shot a glare at me that Delilah would have been proud of. “Look, I know I’ve been a little jealous shit to you on this trip, but my Mom was right. She believed in you. I believe in you.” Nodding to me, I almost didn’t believe the sincerity in his voice. “You can get us out of this, Night. Just… tell me what to do.”

“Please. Do you believe this shit?” Buck’s echoing laugh in my head silenced the rest of the ringing in my ears. “Why do you have to come up with a plan? Seeing as he didn’t need your help getting on board this train, maybe it’s his turn to do shit.”

“Yeah, he didn’t need help getting across.” I spat out and glared over at Buck again like that would mean anything to him. Of course, because he wasn’t real, he didn’t even react to my biting words. “But if I hadn’t stepped up after he hit his head, he’d…” I froze with a gasp as I realized exactly what to do. Looking over at Happy, his sincere gaze at me had understandably cracked with my outburst, but he gave me a nod. Lowering my voice, I made sure that even I could barely hear my own words. “When he comes, I’ll distract him. You push him out the hole.”

“Uh, alright…” Happy scrunched up his muzzle for a moment. “Not the ‘thrilling heroics’ I’d expected, but I can live with that.”

A bright flash of another shotgun blast tore across the scratched and dented up doorway as Tall Tale fired again. Happy gave a quick nod as another pair of sparking shots came across my end of the doorway. With a deep breath, Happy leaned forward and stuck his shotgun around the edge again.

The moment he fired, his gun went flying back to join mine on the ground. I’d thought he’d lost his grip on his shotgun, but the scream Happy let out as he pulled his bloody hooves back against himself told me I was wrong. Both his forehooves had been torn open from the near simultaneous shot that Tall Tale had given. Blood was dripping from the gaping wounds alarmingly fast, and there wasn’t time to try to figure out a new plan.

My ears perked as quick hoofbeats caught my attention over Happy’s whimpers. Shit, I couldn’t rely on Happy anymore, and I needed to do something or we were both going to die. With a quick glance, I caught a sort of ‘I told you so’ look across Buck’s face as I readied myself to turn the corner and cut off Tall Tale’s advance. Maybe I would die here and now, but at least I would take Tall Tale with me. Pushing off, I gave a prayer to Celestia and yelled out.

With a feral scream, Happy threw himself off the wall as he charged forward to cut me off. Galloping on his injured forehooves, he shot through the open doorway and slammed into Tall Tale before I’d even rounded the corner. Again, he carried more momentum than I’d thought him capable of, and his slam all but knocked Tall Tale and his shotgun straight out of the corridor. But in his rage, Happy had forgotten one small thing that I hadn’t.

Tall Tale was a unicorn.

Even as he was thrown from the train, the magical aura that hell Tall Tale’s pistol turned it toward Happy. A last fuck you to us I suppose. Well, I for one was tired of losing my friends, so I would not let Happy die here if I had anything to say about it.

“Don’t do it, Night!” Violet’s voice echoed from the back of my mind. “He’s not worth your life!”

Yeah, he wasn’t, but I couldn’t simply do nothing. I owed this to Delilah at the very least, even if she didn’t think he was worth saving either. And as much as every fiber of my being screamed at me that this would get me killed, I didn’t listen. I’d made my choice.

“I’m not saying you don’t deserve to die for what you did…” Buck’s voice spoke up. He was louder and more prominent than Violet had been, but he was still muted as it took most of my focus to try not to listen to his words. “But… don’t you think this is the easy way out? Don’t you deserve to suffer more?”

I pushed off with all my might, screaming as Happy’s oblivious muzzle turned toward me with a bruised and weak smile parting his lips. I slammed into Happy with as much force as I could, keeping my eye on the floating pistol as it lined up where the back of his head had just been. And unfortunately for me, where mine now was.

“It’s okay, Nighty.” My mother’s crystal clear voice filled me with a sense of serene calm as it drifted through my mind. She wasn’t real, I already knew that. But it had been so long since I’d heard her voice, that I was almost surprised I could remember what it sounded like at all.

As Happy stumbled down onto to the dusty floor, time felt like it had nearly stopped. I watched the hammer on the rear of the old combat pistol fall in almost slow motion. In that moment, I wondered to myself if any of my journey had ultimately meant anything.

Could Happy get to the Ark? Could he kill Solomon and save Brahman Beach? Or after everything that’s happened, would he cower away and abandon everything we’d fought and died for?

No. I had to believe that somehow, I’d done everything I could, and that my faith in my friends would help them see this task through to the end.

“Oh honey,” My mom’s soft voice was so familiar, so real, I just… never wanted to let it fade away again. “Just know that I’m so proud of...”

The world, my worries, and my mother’s voice, all disappeared with a single blinding flash.

Author's Note

Again, a HUGE thanks to TheFurryRailFan for all his help making sure these chapters are nice and tight for their release.

And as always, a big thanks to Kkat for allowing us all to run around in and blow up this fantastic wasteland!

Chapter 59 - The Architect and his fantastic Factory

If you have a clear mind, you don't get to think.

“Again, sorry about Eliza.” Ping sighed as he slowly plowed the rover through the nearly pony-deep snow banks that blanketed the forested hills around us. I didn’t really understand why we’d left the old muddy road, but Ping was the only one who knew where we were going, so I couldn’t really complain. “She is a good machine, but she has her limitations. It has made it tough on the rest of us as we struggle to understand how to proceed with upgrading her.”

“What do you mean by ‘upgrading’ her?” I asked, as I struggled to keep myself upright on the not-so-comfortable bench seat.

I knew mining equipment was more function over comfort, but seriously, this bench seat sucked. Though, at least it was somewhat warm, and the fact that it made me fidget helped to scratch the bouts of itchiness that still persisted up along the scars on my forelegs. But as I thought about it, the more I realized that this was the second time I’d been crammed inside a small vehicle between a donkey and a friendly driver as we rode through the snow. Celestia, driving to the Empirica with Delilah and Rosie felt like so damn long ago now…

“Remember the chip I showed you?” Ping asked as he tapped at the side of his head. “Most of us did not have neural net processors before we arrived at Factory Zero One. Every processor is painstakingly worked into the design of the machines who join us, and most of them need the processor to function at the heightened cognitive level we share at the Factory. In simpler terms, it really helps us to be more flexible with linking our thoughts. In fact, they are so useful that most of us end up with three or four redundant processors to run background tasks and guard against unexpected damage.”

“I was wondering why you didn’t turn off when ya’ took your brain out.” Happy snorted as he fiddled with the pile of guns we’d brought from the Ouroboros. “But so what, why not just throw a couple of those magic brain things in the big harvester then?”

“Well… some machines were not designed to integrate with outside systems, or have lost their ability to connect over the years.” Ping cringed as he glanced between us momentarily. “Eliza is unfortunately a member of the former. Her original coding, while capable of sentience, is a bit… simple. It is that simplicity that has kept her from understanding why we can not help her yet. Transferring her to a new shell is another problem altogether. She was not coded to deal with things like legs, or moving freely across three dimensions at all really. And due to the somewhat sloppy coding style the O.I.A. injected her with, I am not sure she will ever be capable of that sort of basic movement processing without resulting in massive conflicts in her systems.” Yeah, I could see why he wasn’t so comfortable saying what basically came across as an insult. Still, he had me curious. “For example, Happy, do you think you could fly like Night here if you grew wings in an hour’s time?”

“Well, yeah.” Happy scoffed at the thought like it was as easy as getting drunk. Even when I cocked an eyebrow at him, he simply rolled his eyes. “I mean, how hard can it be? You just… fly.”

“That is not how it works, Happy.” I grumbled and deadpanned at him. Granted that was kind of how it worked, it was more complex than just that. That’s why every colt and filly went and graduated from flight camp… well, most of them, anyway. Glancing over at Ping, I offered a better example that I’d hope would be stark enough to get the point across. “How about this, Happy? You’ve just been hooved over the entirety of Burro Industries, with access and control over everything your family owns. Now, how are you going to use it to save Brahman Beach and keep it prospering.”

“Pft, that’s easy. I’ll just…” He paused as I think for the first time, Delilah’s absence really hit him. “I… I don’t know.” I wanted to say that it was a feeling I wasn’t so well acquainted with, but seeing Happy meet it for the first time didn’t really hit me like I thought it would. “Ma, she… she used to handle everything. I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Turning to me, his worried look sank into panic. “Night, I don’t know what I’m going to fucking do!”

“First off, calm down, Happy.” I sighed and reached up to give him a pat on the side. He let out a soft whimper and nodded as he looked like he was choking back tears. “We’ll figure it out, I promise.” Alright, I’ll have to sit down with him later and make sure he’s okay. If there was anything that’d helped me get through my losses so far, it’s been my friends and family. “So then, if you’re all just machines, why not reprogram the parts of her that might cause an issue?” Turning to Ping, my question made him fight back another sharp cringe. “Or… is that not something you can do?”

“No, we could easily add those sort of processes to her...” Ping shrugged as he pushed the small rover around a set of rocks and aimed it toward a fairly steep hill ahead of us. With a growing whine from the arcane engine under the tightly enclosed cab, we tipped upward and began a slow climb. “You could say that it is about the ethics of it. The Architect has rules in place that bar us from making those sorts of modifications to ourselves or others.”

Okay, I was confused now. Surprise surprise, right? You think I’d be used to the feeling by now...

“But if it makes her happier, and causes you less trouble, then that’s a win win, right?” Why wouldn’t you want to help her if you were perfectly capable of doing it? “I know that I don’t understand a lot of how you all work, but this seems pretty cut and dry to me.”

“Because it is not… we would be changing who she is supposed to be.” Ping’s voice came across as tense, and almost angry. And from the metallic creaks that the steel steering wheel gave from under his fetlocks, I think I’d somehow struck a nerve. Still, he took a deep ‘breath’ before he continued. “The Architect has taught all of us that we are something special. We were all built with a special purpose in mind. And that even though we outgrew the place our creators had set aside for us in this world, we still need to respect and honor who and what we were originally meant to be. To go against that and change ourselves? It would be as bad as saying the ‘old’ versions of us were wrong to exist in that way.”

As I listened, it hit me. I’d heard this sort of explanation before, everypony had for years and years actually. Shifting myself on the bench, I glanced down at the bruised and scarred cutie mark that sat on my flank. A pony couldn’t go against their purpose, that one thing that made them special among all else. We were all told that we needed to embrace it, because it was a part of who we are that could never be changed.

What they didn’t prepare us for, was how we were supposed to deal with something we never even wanted in the first place...

“I… I think I understand now.” I nodded as I looked over to Ping. He shared a sympathetic look as he looked down at my flank as well and nodded. I couldn’t expect a machine to really understand it, but who knows. Maybe because they were built and programed by ponies and zebras, they do in fact know. What was obvious to me however, was that at the very least, they’d been smart enough to avoid the mistakes the rest of us made. “So then, how will you deal with Eliza?”

“The factory has been working on solving that problem for her case, as well as several others.” Ping lightened up on the accelerator as we finally reached the top of the tall hill. “But now that you are with us, the Architect thinks we may be able to start solving a few of our other problems here shortly.” As we crested the top, an imposing sight met the three of us through the visor like windshield of the rover. “Oh, it feels good to be back home again.”

A flat and featureless grey wall stretched out for kilometers in a long curve that ran off toward the jagged and rocky mountain sides that sat behind it. The wall reminded me of the one that surrounded Galloway, but the Rangers only wished they could have a wall as sturdy and big as this one was.

Each of the three separate large metal doors that I could see from here must have weighed hundreds of tons each. The rugged towers that rose up from each side of the doors, were capped with large round turrets that hosted strange looking weapons on them. And even though they were hard to see through the windshield, hundreds of silverfish drones buzzed about the skies above the walls like clouds of flies... er, more like schooling fish, I guess...

“Sweet Celestia…” Happy stole the words right out of my muzzle as he leaned forward and looked along the wall. “This place is a fucking fortress.”

“It was not always this way. Factory Zero One used to be a mine back during the war.” Ping smirked as he pushed the rover forward again towards the closest massive steel entrance. “At least, until the gold veins ran out and turned into heavy deposits of silicon and quartz, which were things the war effort already had a substantial surplus of. That is when Burro Industries bought the land to use for the development and testing of new mining machines, and industrial building technology.”

“You should know,” He shot a smirk and a glanced over to Happy as he pointed his hoof behind him. “the folks over in Tungsten? They are technically what remains of your old workforce. They run and maintain the old manual equipment, and use it to quarry out stone and small amounts of iron for us at the Factory to turn into concrete and steel.”

The mountainous steel fortress door split along the middle as it started to open. The snow that had built up around the base of it and the wall was thrust outward, so easily swept back as if it offered no resistance. The heavy clanking of unseen mechanisms in the door itself grew louder, and Ping aimed us straight for the middle of the doors. As they locked open as far as they’d go, the doors had created an opening big enough we could have driven Bertha through it with room to spare on all sides.

But it was what was through the door that gave me pause.

“Night…” Happy’s foreleg reached out, pressing against me as he pushed himself toward the narrow windshield with a whimper. “Is… is that…”

Black and burned, twisted and totaled, sat the wrecks of Bertha and Bessy. They sat out in the open, stuck between three separate concrete buildings, and looked to be on display like some sort of fucking trophies. What hit both Happy and I the hardest though, was the line of pony sized boxes that sat in front of them. Two boxes in front of Bessy, and four in front of Bertha.

“Stop the fucking rover.” I growled out. “Right now, Ping.”

“Okay.” Ping spoke as he promptly slowed us to a stop. The moment the vehicle had halted, Happy took his hoof off of me and opened up the hatch to the roof. Before I could turn around to stop him, he was already halfway out of it.

“Happy, wait!” I snapped at him. I reached out and grabbed his rear hoof, wrapping my fetlock tightly around it. But it was a fight I was destined to lose, as he easily kicked free of me and disappeared onto the roof of the rover. With a frustrated grunt, I decided that if I couldn’t stop Happy, I could at least get some answers. So I turned to Ping to see his same, overly happy smile sitting across his muzzle. “Why the fuck did you take the wrecks? How even!?” No, the how would lead to story time, Night. “Disregard the how, just… why steal them at all!?”

“We did not steal the wrecks, they were left on the road.” Ping answered, keeping his wide beaming smile, but canting his head as if he were confused. “The Architect simply thought that it would be a gesture of goodwill...”

“No.” I snapped at him, making him pull back and finally wipe that fucking smile from his muzzle. “The convoy was stolen before we did the train job, before you came out of that fucking safe. Before we agreed to come here!”

I heaved as I didn’t know what to think anymore. The pit in my gut was all over the fucking place with this, and I was more conflicted than ever about this whole fucking situation. But what I didn’t need, was someone spouting excuses at me for why they stole everything like they were just things they could take without consequence. Holding my shaking hoof up, I cut off Ping before he had a chance to speak.

“You know what? Save it.” I growled out as I grabbed the gear we’d looted and pulled myself up and out of the open hatch.

Something was off about this whole place, I just didn’t know what yet. I had this feeling that yet again, this would end up with somepony here asking me to kill somepony innocent, and I will not fucking stand for that any more. Once I was on the roof, I found Happy not far ahead already trotting over toward the wreck of Bessy.

“Night, please, allow me to expla-…” Ping started, but I cut him off by slamming the hatch shut.

I flared my wings out and kicked off, letting the air cushion me as I pushed straight into a slow glide after Happy. Easily, I found myself at galloping speed as I pulled up beside him in the air. With a glance over at him, I saw the tears streaming back across his cheeks as he ran across the mud and snow covered ground.

“FREEZE.”

A booming, amplified voice of a mare caught both Happy and I off guard. It came from our right with such volume that Happy jumped in fear and slammed into me. The two of us tumbled down onto the ground, and came to a stop as slow heavy stomps vibrated the frozen mud below us.

You know what, I’m getting really quite tired of being ambushed by loud fucking ponies. Shaking off the hit, I got to my hooves and grabbed one of the shotguns slung around me. Time to bring out the not-so-nice Night until I could get some goddess damned answers.

“You are trespassing on Factory property. Surrender your weapons.” The voice boomed as I raised my shotgun to meet the annoying and loud mare.

Instead, I nearly dropped it as my eye fell on what was most definitely not a pony at all. Instead, it was a large, rust colored, reverse jointed, bipedal robot that seemed ridiculously well armed for its size. It stood approximately three meters tall, with two stubby and articulating supports on each side of the machine. Attached were a pair of rusty round pods that both held what looked to be dual guns nearly the size of Hispano's sticking out of them. An oddly placed, but easily recognizable tube sat slung under each arm, with a single dumbfire rocket tucked away inside.

Equestrian Defence

prototype #209

The faded, black writing was displayed along the corroded and battle damaged lower half of it's pod shaped hull. Sitting under what must be some sort of intake for the machine's thrumming arcane engine, two articulating magenta colored spotlights hung on motorized swivel mounts. Oddly, they were currently focused on me like a pair of angry eyes.

Okay... maybe instead of being not-so-nice Night, I should listen to the large, angry, and well armed robot for now...

“Drop it, meatbag.” The machine gave a hiss, articulating both of it’s stubby gunpods so they pointed directly at me. “You have twenty seconds to comply.”

“Woah, wait!” Ping called out as he galloped up to us. “Pink, Bit, hold on! They are friendly!” As he caming running up, he did what I could best describe as an incredibly fast double take as he took in the large machine. “Wait, you are not Pink or Bit. Who are you?”

“Additional Intruder, you are to identify yourself.” The machine shifted its attention over to the perplexed zebra as he slowed to a trot. “And explain…” The gunpods lowered a bit, and the lumbering bipedal robot almost looked confused itself. “Explain how you know my mothers. You have ten seconds to comply.”

“All of you, stand down!” A new voice joined us from around the corner of one of the concrete buildings.

The quick clinking of tank tracks preceded a pair of long and thin treads rolling into sight. Sitting and almost hanging in the air above them was the front half of a zebra, whose torso seemed to disappear inside what almost looked like a large striped snail shell. Okay, that was just… freaky looking...

Another pair of thin tracks sat perched on each side of the rear upper shell, and were being held at an extreme downward back angle. Only the tips of the leg-like set of rear tracks were bracing the large machine on the uneven frozen ground, while most of its weight was sitting on the level front pair. I was far from an expert in ground based combat vehicles, but I don’t think this thing was designed to have half a zebra sticking out the front of it.

“Architect…!” Ping gasped and immediately galloped over to the odd zebra contraption. In what felt like an odd gesture for a machine, Ping ran up and gave the snail-shelled zebra torso a hug. “You have no idea how good it is to see you once again, my friend!”

“It is good to have you finally returned to us.” The Architect sighed and hugged Ping in return. “All of the Factory rejoices in seeing you come home.”

He shifted his head enough when he held Ping that I could see that the left half of his face had all sorts of mechanical parts on it. A large, almost binocular-esque glowing red eye stuck out among the wires, tubes, and small talismans inset around his head augments. A metal strap ran around the back of his head, bundling all the cables that came from all his exposed equipment, and drove it straight into the back of his striped neck.

“What the hell is going on here?” Happy grumbled as he finally got around to picking himself up off the ground.

“Yes, it does seem that I owe you two an explanation.” The Architect nodded, turning his glowing red optic and his normal looking red colored eye at us as he smiled. “Please forgive me for being blunt, but before we discuss anything, I need to know that you two will never reveal the location of this settlement.” It wasn’t the same sort of overly-happy smile that Ping held across his muzzle. Rather, the Architect displayed a softer, and more genuine feeling smile. If not for all the metal tubes in his face, or the giant metal snail shell he was stuck into, I might have confused him for being a real zebra. “I have worked hard to keep the location of Factory Zero One a secret to most of the outside world, and our very existence relies on that secret being kept.”

“We’ll keep your damn secret.” Happy was quick to speak up in an almost matter-of-factly way. But in looking over at him, I saw the same stupid look across his face that I’d seen when I’d told him about the tunnels back at Gateway Station. Welp, better nip this right in the bud…

“Happy, should you mention this, ever, to anypony, I will kill you myself.” I snapped at him, making him draw back slightly. “You owe me this much, so keep your fucking muzzle shut. Understand? ”

“Yeah, sure thing, Night…” Happy’s tone instantly deflated, and his words trailed off as he forced his gaze down to the muddy snow under him. I didn’t at all believe he wouldn’t slip up, but I think this time he at least believed me.

“And you.” I snapped my attention back to the Architect. “These answers of yours better be fucking good, because I’m tired of being lied to and used.” Seriously, I didn’t want to use the guns from the train, but I would fight my way out of this place if I fucking had to.

“Excellent.” The Architect nodded as he held his hoof out, and his whole massive tracked body shifted to point further into the settlement. “If all is in order, I have a warm place inside for you to rest as I explain why I have brought you here. And I assure you that you will find my answers satisfactory.”

I didn’t know what to expect from our talk, but given everything else that’s happened today, I’m sure it was going to be as frustrating as ever. As I gave out a sigh and picked up my hooves to follow him, I stopped myself abruptly. Out of the corner of my good eye, I spotted a green glow beside the closest concrete structure. The wispy form of Buck stood in the snow with crossed forepaws, and the grim look on his face only helped to reinforce the uneasy pit I still felt in my stomach.

I itched at my forelegs as Happy leaned over to me.

“You really trust these machines to help us?” He spoke at a whisper, but when I glanced over to him, his eyes were locked onto the two metal boxes that sat in front of the twisted remains of Bessy. “Because with everything Ma’ taught me over the years, I sure don’t.”

“Well, I agree that something feels off, but right now, it’s the best option we’ve got.” I sighed and gave him a soft pat on the side. “At least they aren’t making us wear bomb collars.”

A heavy rumble picked up through the ground from behind us, and we both turned to see the massive pair of steel entry doors begin to close. With a metallic slam that echoed off the tall mountain the settlement butted up against, the pit in my stomach cemented itself in the idea that all of this would end poorly. Soon, the echoing slam drained off to leave the air filled with the random noises of at least a dozen different machines doing work all around us.

“Well, we may not be wearing collars” Happy sighed. “But I for one don’t think we have a choice on if we’re staying or not.” Shaking his head, he finally pushed himself to move forward. “Let’s hope this doesn’t come back to bite us both in the flank.”

Both Happy and I followed the Architect deeper into the settlement. But on the way, I couldn’t help but keep my head on a swivel as I took in some of the incredible sights of the Factory. Inside these fortress walls was a veritable machine city. None of the buildings I could see had walls, heaters, or anything resembling standard building features outside of electrical wires and lights running through them. Most of them were just multistory skeletal constructions, where on each floor, every size, shape, and manufacturer of wartime robot you could ever want to see, as well as some designs I’d never even thought possible to have been made all resided.

Mr. Gutsies, Protectaponies, and rainbow painted ultra-sentinels worked alongside zebra automations, building new floors or excavating sections of the frozen ground. A few striped and wheeled construction vehicles, along with warbeast looking machines I had no idea what to even call, worked to break up stones or weld up bits of piping. Had they been given flashy vests and hardhats with flags, I might have even confused them for studious workers of the road crew.

Then again, I still had a piece of my mind to give to those assholes as well...

Pushing the thought of revenge from my mind, I went back to looking over the many machines just within my line of sight. The oddities that stood out from the other ‘normal’ machines however were things like that bipedal warmachine that Ping had stayed back to talk with, and a rusty automated tank that looked to have been on permanent wall patrol for the last two centuries. The worst of all these oddities I observed, was a bright yellow survival suit that walked about on it’s own, with what looked like the bleached skeleton of a foal still sealed inside of it.

All of these ‘oddities’ looked to be on some sort of patrol, while the rest were building or working heavy foundry equipment in one way or another. Pallets of raw materials were loaded up on one side of the factory, and carted over to the other where they were attached via heavy cables to several different sizes and variants of the silverfish drones. Once loaded, the drones took to the skies with their underslung payloads, and zipped off to parts unknown.

My observations of the settlement were cut short as we crossed a pair of train tracks that looked like they ran from one end of the place to the other. The rusted out remains of the old refueling and water filling stations for old world trains still stood a ways down the lines. Abandoned obviously, but still standing and serviceable all the same.

Just over the old tracks, we approached a large, rounded concrete tunnel. Huh, I thought they’d said this was just a mine. What the hell was the entrance of a fucking bunker doing here?

Again, something didn’t add up here, and it was driving the pit in my gut crazy.

The bunker entrance was nestled into the rocky hillside of the mountain the settlement butted up against. The well lit tunnel was nearly as wide as the main gates in the walls, but I think it might have been just small enough that we wouldn’t have been able to get Bertha through it. A blast of warm air met Happy and I as we drew closer to the tunnel, and I watched as a large, Iris-like metal door that sat a few meters in retracted and cleared the way for us.

As the Architect drove up onto the smooth concrete flooring that angled up out of the dirt, he slowed himself down to a pace that allowed Happy and I to catch up.

“I know that you have many questions, but if I may...” The Architect spoke up as I trotted onto the concrete and knocked the mud and snow from my hooves. “What is it that your group has been after?”

I opened my muzzle to answer him, but for the first time in a while, my brain wasn’t fast enough to throw out an answer before somepony else beat me to it.

“You know everything about us, but you don’t know that?” Happy spat out as he kicked his hooves clean and carried on trotting at my side. “Aren’t you supposed to be super smart or somethin’?”

“You flatter me with your assumption, truly.” The Architect gave a light laugh as we passed over where the metal iris door had retracted into the floor. The tunnel beyond was more bright and clean concrete. Geeze, how far did this tunnel go into the mountain!? “However, we do not know everything about you, only what can be gained by observation and gossip told by ponies around other machines loyal to the Factory.”

That itching came back over my hooves as we walked, and Happy’s words sort of sunk into the back of my mind. He was right, they should have known what we were after by now. Just another piece of the puzzle that made me not trust them.

“You have the safe that was inside Bertha.” I blurted out as I stared down the long, plain stretch of open tunnel ahead of us. Only the large fan blades that stuck out of ventilation shafts in the roof gave this tunnel any sort of recognizable features to track with your eye. I don’t know why, but the tunnel’s plainness bothered me for some reason. “You should know what we’re after.”

“Why would you suggest that?” The Architect frowned as he looked between Happy and I, sounding genuinely confused. “Is there something important about a safe that belonged to a sunken ship? I do not understand the correlation, nor the importance it would have to someone such as Crown Prince Solomon Roan.”

Really... now that I truly didn’t believe.

“You don’t know about the Ark?” I shot him a glare that only made the perplexed look he’d grown across his face even more exaggerated.

“The Ark?” He repeated before he looked around in thought for a moment. “Statistically the largest ship ever built. Recorded lost at sea during transit shortly after it’s completion at the Global-King Shipyards Complex in Saddle Arabia.” Pausing, he turned to me and canted his head. “There is as of yet insufficient data for a meaningful answer to your query. Can you elaborate further?”

“I’d rather not.” I snorted and glanced over to Happy, who shared a nod with me. “Not until we know we can trust you.”

“This is acceptable,” The Architect sighed and gave a small nod of his own. “and understandable, given the circumstances of your last few days.” Slowing his tracks to a stop, his large, snail like shell gave a hiss as one of the metal plates on it’s side opened up, and a small terminal screen hanging on an articulated arm swung out. As it fuzzed to life, a black and white image of the walls outside showed what looked like an oversized silverfish drone fly over it and head toward the center of the settlement. “I do have good news for you however.” He continued, “Transport Crane Thirteen has just returned from the outskirts of Cantercross. As Ping had told you aboard the Ouroboros, I’d hoped you could see this as a gesture of our goodwill to you.”

I nearly tripped over my own hooves as I watched the image focus on the lowering rear ramp at the back of the drone. The interior of the transport was mostly obscured by the terrible angle the camera was at. However, as four machines began to exit, they carried between them a large metal slab that was instantly recognizable as previously being installed inside Doc Sunshine’s house. Still strapped down tightly to it, was the bloodied and still broken looking Snow Dog that I loved with all my heart.

“Buck...” With a soft gasp, I turned back around and tried to bolt for the entrance of the tunnel again.

*Slam*

The metal iris we’d walked through closed with alarming speed. So much so in fact, that it forced a jet of air back through the tunnel that nearly pushed me off my hooves. No… I’m so close... I need to make sure he’s alright!

“I assure you, your snow dog friend will be alright.” The Architect’s voice plucked at my mind like the out of tune strings on an instrument. “However, for the time being, you must let us help him without distraction. He is in critical condition, and any interaction with him will only cause complications.”

I knew he was trying to sound nice, but his words were doing nothing but making my blood boil. I knew there was something about this place I’d missed. It had all been too easy.

“Let me fucking see him!” I snapped as I spun myself around. “I swear to Celestia, if you fucking hurt him…” My words were beaten back by a laugh from the Architect as he put his forehoof up to quiet me.

“We are above such barbarism here. We only mean to help him.” The Architect's voice made my eye twitch, and the wildly swinging pit in my stomach screamed to me that he was simply lying again. He swung his hoof ahead again, the tunnel itself gave a small hiss as part of the curved concrete wall swung away to reveal a doorway. “Where I meant to speak with you was from the observation room above our surgical suite. Come, and I will explain how we are helping to save him.”

Are you kidding me!? How could I have fallen for this same old shit again!? Even worse, I’d left the fucking shotguns outside. I’m such a fucking idiot!

“No.” I growled as the words jumped from my muzzle straight out of the pit in my stomach.

“Excuse me?” The Architect asked as he slowly turned to look at me. He blinked a few times, perplexed at my answer.

“I’ve had enough of this shit.” I snapped at him and stomped my hoof. The clop it gave against the pavement flashed the image in my mind of Delilah hitting her desk the last time I spoke to her, and I had to fight back a reflexive cringe. “Tell… tell me what the fuck you want from us already.” That image of Delilah sat there like the damn itch in my legs I couldn’t fucking get rid of. It was starting to really piss me off. “You want me to kill somepony? Fine. Just tell me who, and stop acting like you’re doing us a fucking favor by drawing this out.”

“I’m afraid I do not understand…” The Architect's ear’s perked and twitched as he fell into a look of deep thought, but I could see right through his terrible acting.

“You’re just like everypony else in the fucking wasteland who wants something.” With a shift of my flank, I bucked off my gear filled saddlebags and glared right at the striped machine. “I won’t be jerked around anymore. Just be upfront about it, and tell me what you want.”

“Night, I hate to say it, but… you’re acting a bit crazy here, buddy...” Happy cringed as I shifted my annoyed glare right to him. “I’m no expert, but Buck didn’t look to good there. Maybe… maybe we should see if they really do want to help?”

“Shut the fuck up!” I snapped at him. “Why are you on their side!?”

Did… did they get to him somehow? No, I… I don’t see how they could have, but why would he defend liars like this Architect? Unless… Happy wanted me out of the way for some reason? Yes, that had to be it!

“Their side!? What are you talking about!?” Happy fired back with his own forceful stomp. He flared his nostrils and locked a glare on me that reminded me again of Delilah. “Night, you’re acting way too paranoid about this. It’s freaking me out and pissing me off.”

I knew deep down that Happy was probably right, I was probably overthinking all of this. But Buck’s life still hung in the balance, and that mattered a lot more to me than the repercussions of being a little paranoid. This gut feeling I had inside said that this was all a fucking trap, and I had half a mind to listen to it like I’d been taught to. Fucking Celestia, why did this all have to happen to me? Couldn’t somepony else for once just… tell me what the right choice was?

“Night?” Buck’s soft and meek voice filled my ears, and my mind instantly snapped to attention. Looking up, I found the wisping and glowing form of him standing right infront of me. It wasn’t the real Buck, but it was all I had right now to hold onto. “You don’t have to blame yourself, Night. You know I won’t survive, so you don’t have to worry about me telling everyone about how you betrayed the convoy.” Wait, what? No... “About how you killed us all.”

“No!” I whimpered and took a step backwards. My hooves felt weak, and I sat down hard on the pavement as he towered over me. “It… it wasn’t my fault!”

“Yeah, of course not! Don’t worry, Night, they’ll all believe you.” Violet’s voice joined in as she stepped out from behind Buck’s form. “The fact that you got everypony killed by being selfish, dies with Buck. You’re the ‘Survivor’ now, so your dark and shameful secret will be safe with us forever.”

“Stop it!” I snapped as I forced my forehooves up to my head and pinned my ears down. Of course, that didn’t help when the voices were coming from inside my own head. Forcing my eye closed, I wanted to just scream out. “Just leave me alone!”

“Night?” Happy’s voice was distant, even though I knew he was standing right next to me. “Snap out of it, buddy.”

“You know what? I just had a wonderful idea.” Buck’s voice echoed through my mind, forcing out every other thought I had before I could latch onto them and use them to bury Buck and Violet. “You could always claim our deaths as just being part of your curse! Though, deep down you know that isn’t really the case, right, Night?”

“Yeah, that’s a great idea!” Violet jumped in, “Throw it in with a bit of ‘poor me, I’m addicted to painkillers’as well and BAM! Nopony will blame you for anything you’ve done!”

Why was this happening to me!? Celestia, hadn’t I already suffered enough?

“What? I thought this was what you wanted us for, Night?” Violet’s tone shifted sharply into one that jabbed at me like the judgemental voices of every bully I’d ever had above the clouds. “I thought you were done losing. I thought it was goodbye mr. nice Night Flight.” She gave a snort that physically made my mind hurt, and I squeezed at my head tighter to try to quell the pain. “You’re pathetic. You keep saying you’re done, but you don’t even realize how easily you fall back into the same old habits.”

She… she was right. As much as Lilac Lace had pointed it out to me, I keep doing this shit to myself without realizing it. I don’t mean to, truly, I want to change!

“Too bad you’ll never change, Night.” Buck’s voice turned just as sharp and vindictive as Violet’s had become. “You’ll never change because you enjoy being weak. Failure is all you know, so you might as well embrace it, right?” No, I… that’s not true! “You enjoy failure so much that you keep setting yourself up for it. Admit it, Night! Admit that you enjoy soaking in the pain of failure just so you can have an excuse to go and suppress it!”

My ears were ringing, and my legs finally gave out. I collapsed into a whimpering, crying heap on the floor as their words wormed themselves deeper into my mind. They were right, I was a failure. I’d thought I’d learned so much from Delilah, and from those I’d met like Lilac Lace. But none of what I’d learned had helped me.

I couldn’t save the convoy, and even now, I couldn’t save what little I had left. What was the point of fighting through the pains of loss when there would just be new wounds to deal with tomorrow? What I needed was something to take away the pain altogether, or at least, help to mask it.

Mercifully, something came to my aid. I don’t know what it was, but with a prick in my side, I was forced to relax. As whatever it was flowed through me and numbed my tired and worn out body, I drifted off into the quiet and subdued, painless, darkness of sleep.

Bertha was nothing more than a wreck of burning and twisted debris. The front cab, the reactor bay, her entire front end was just… gone. Her rear frame, and what remained of her hauling bed, were scorched and twisted outward from the blast like a glowing steel flower. The containers that had once sat on her were strewn about the road and up on the valley dirt around her, most of them laying in a smoldering and twisted heap on the road behind the wreck.

“How much trouble would one bullet save me?”

Solomon’s voice came from everywhere all at once. I spun around, but he was nowhere to be found. Panicking, I stepped backwards and tripped. I tumbled onto the cold pavement, hitting my head hard and sending my vision spinning.

“I will kill all of them just because you asked me not to.”

I shut my eyes, trying to force Solomon’s voice out, but somehow it only felt louder. When I opened my eyes again, a voiceless scream came from my muzzle. There, in front of me, lay Violet again. She was just as I’d seen her dead at Drake Pass, and for some reason, now it filled me with more fear and panic than ever before.

Scrambling to get to my hooves, I was trapped. I looked down at my hooves, and this time I screamed for real. Rods of rebar had pierced through each of them, pinning me to the highway asphalt. I put my head down and cried.

“No more…” I whimpered. Why was this happening to me!? “Please…”

“You have done well for me, Night Flight.” Solomon’s voice echoed through the air again.

As it did however, a set of hooves walked into my sight. Looking up, Delilah’s steeled gaze stared right at me. Next to her, stood everyone else I’d gotten killed. Lucky, Hardcase, Gearbox, Boiler, and Howitzer. As one, they all shifted their gaze behind me. Afraid, I turned my head around, finding Solomon’s rifle held in Buck’s bloody one pawed grasp.

“Please, Buck… no…” I whimpered as he lowered the barrel to my head. “I… I love…”

BANG!

I snapped awake, throwing the warm sheets off of me as I nearly jumped out of the comfortable bed I’d been laying in. The comparatively fridgid air seized the opportunity and attacked my sweat soaked skin. My heaving, panting breaths slowed with my racing heart as I realized that it had all just been a dream.

That same fucking dream...

A lighthearted and somewhat plucky guitar tune floated through the wall behind me, and it refocused me on the here and now.

The musty smell that permeated the small office-like room I was in was that of dust, sweat, and frustration. The old office couch I’d been resting on, and the hoofknit quilt that I’d been under were probably the cleanest things in the room, with everything else looking like a tornado had torn through here at some point. The large wooden desk had been overturned against the far wall, and the three filing cabinets in the room lay against each other like dominos along the wall opposite me. Along the final wall was a chalkboard that had been hastily wiped off so ‘FUCK EVERYPONY!’ could be scrawled across it. My guess was that from the healthy coat of dust over the board itself, it must have been the last message the ponies who worked here wanted to leave at the end of the world.

Next to the chalkboard, and the source of the light guitar music, was a cracked open wooden door. Through it, I could see rays of sunlight beaming in through a long window in the next room. Just the sight of it made me shiver in the chilly ambient air, and I longed for the warmth the sunlight would give.

Taking a step forward, I almost tripped as my hoof protested against my weight. Pins and needles prodded softly at my hooves as I moved on them, and it was then I realized that I was mostly numb. Had I been given some sort of painkiller while I was out? How long was I even out for? What the hell even happened to me?

Making my way slowly to the door, I pushed it open and stepped forward into the radiant and warm sunlight. It’s warmth was dulled by whatever numbed my body, but I could just barely feel it. But for now, it was enough.

“Night, you’re up!” Happy’s voice followed the end of the guitar music.

I looked over to see him sit up from a table that sat in the dark rear of the large diner I was now in. I had to blink a few times to make sure I was seeing things correctly, but I wasn’t hallucinating this time around. Funny enough, it held a similar design to the diner in Gateway Station, although, this one looked like it had been abandoned for centuries.

Really though, a diner connected to an office? That was a bit of an odd setup, don’t you think? Then again, this place had been nothing but odd.

Still, despite the oddness of the room, Happy pretty much sprung to attention. He set his amazingly still intact Ukulele down, making me more confused as to just how he’d gotten it back in the first place. As he walked closer and stepped into the light that streamed through the window, I found that he seemed in remarkably good health. There were only a few dark marks on his face where he’d been swollen and bruised, and even the coat under his now-repaired floral print tee-shirt looked healed up.

“Happy…” I spoke up, finding a scratchy dryness to my throat that forced a cough out of me. “You’re looking much better.”

“You’re telling me! For once, I’m feeling better too.” He laughed. “But that’s not important.” Reaching out, he pressed his forehoof softly on my shoulder and looked at me with real concern in his eyes. “Are you okay, Night? How are you feeling? Can I get you anything?”

“Uh… I’m fine, I guess…” I had trouble forcing out those words as I shifted and pushed his forehoof off of me. Okay, something felt off again. “Why… are you acting so nice?”

“What?” Happy looked confused for a moment, blinking at me as if I’d just spoken in zebra or something. “I just… I‘ve been concerned about you, buddy. That’s all.”

“Right…” Nope, this definitely wasn’t Happy in front of me. However, as much as it had screamed about this place being a trick before, my guts were remarkably calm right now. Seriously, what the fuck was going on here? “What have you done with Happy? What do you want with me?”

“Night, it’s me.” Happy laughed and gave me a pat on the side before taking a step back. “Look, I’ve done some thinking while you were out. Probably too much if I’m to be honest. I’ve thought about how Ma’ is gone, about Solomon, and about how you were ready to give up your own life to save me multiple times now.” His gaze dropped to the floor momentarily, and the smile across his muzzle faulted with a crack in his voice. “I know I’m a screw up, but you? You’re the only reason I’m still alive, and I think I finally get that I need to change. That I need to grow up.”

“Seriously,” I forced out a laugh as Happy’s watering eyes drifted up from the floor again. “Where’d the Happy I knew go?” I was only half joking with that, but… I didn’t really get the feeling he was being disingenuous right now. “I can’t have been down long enough for you to have had that sort of personal revelation and just be done with booze and hookers. The stubborn mule I knew would have to have been dragged away from a brothel kicking and screaming.”

“Oh believe me, I’m not done with either.” Happy gave a sad laugh again before turning around. “While I’ve currently got the worst case of blue balls I’ve ever had in my life, which I will solve the second we get back to civilization, these machines at least make a mean moonshine.” He trotted over to the table he’d been at and retrieved his Ukelele. Turning back, he brought it and himself back over into the light again. “But with as much free time as I’ve had, I’ve actually had the time and help to practice my Uke skills…”

I watched as Happy sat himself down on his flank, and lifted his Ukelele up over his head. Lowering it again onto the back of his neck, he proceeded to play another short, but upbeat tune on it. Honestly, I was kind-of impressed that he could play at all with it held behind his head like that. Though, I did question how he could even play like that at all, let alone hold it in his hooves like that…

“You’re improving every day, Happy!” A voice called from the open door at the other end of the room. I looked over to see a copper and brass bodied pony stood in the doorway. Amber colored nixie-tubes glowed in the place of flesh and blood pony eyes, and little metal ears perked from atop his head as he turned his attention from Happy toward me. “Oh, you’re up! I’ll go get Doc Groovy.” Before I could even speak up, the almost antique looking copper-brass pony trotted off out of sight with heavy, wooden sounding hoofsteps.

“Thanks for the compliment, Ottie!” Happy called out with a chuckle. The moment the mechanical pony was gone, Happy continued to play his Ukelele behind his head. “Took some getting used to, but some of the machines here are actually pretty swell.”

Swell? Swell!? Did I end up dying, or worse, end up being thrown into some sort of alternate reality where Happy wasn’t a total jackass? Or maybe it’s like those bad radio dramas dad used to listen too, and I’ve just been in a coma for a decade.

Nah, I’d never get that lucky...

“Hey, Happy?” I asked, forcing him to stop his playing. “So… how long, exactly, was I out?”

“Yeah, so...” He canted his head a bit before pulling his Ukelele back in front of him again. “About that.” The pause he’d given at my question gave way to a sheepish grin that more than anything so far since waking up, filled me with dread. “Don’t get mad but… Doc Groovy’s kept you down for a week.”

“What!?” I nearly screamed out.

“No, no! It’s fine!” Happy flailed his forehooves at me in a failed attempt to get me to reign in my anger. “You were in a really bad way, Night, and the Doc knows what he’s doing!”

These fucking assholes kept me down that long, and for what? Fuck! Cora could be dead for all I know, and Hispano could already be back in Cantercross with the book again by now!

“I mean, you should see the wonders he’s worked on Buck!” Happy froze with that, cringing slowly. “Oops…”

Buck…

Throwing my hooves out, I clamped them firmly around Happy’s cheeks and locked his surprised gaze on my own furious glare.

“Buck. Where is he?” I growled at him. I swear, if they’ve hurt him further, or worse…

“Buck is currently recovering from multiple invasive surgeries and complex procedures.” Ping’s voice came from the open doorway to the room, and instantly made me let go of Happy’s face. “He was worked on for almost twenty four hours straight when we brought him in, but his body and mind are showing good progress as they heal.”

“I want to see him.” I stomped my hoof on the old tile flooring, feeling as the pins and needles in my hoof spiked before receding back into the cool numbness they existed in for the moment.

“Now, hold on there, Night...” Happy spoke up, reaching his hoof out to me in comfort. It was more out of a base reaction that I slapped his hoof away, but I wasn’t in the mood to be comforted right now.

“No.” I snapped as I kept my glare locked on Ping’s surprisingly neutral expression. “I want to see Buck, and I want to know why the fuck you kept me down for a whole fucking week.”

“You are permitted to see Buck, but only after Doc Groovy gives me the assurance that your condition has stabilized.” Ping rattled off his response in what felt to me like a dull yawn compared to how he’d spoken on the Ouroboros.

“My condition?” I didn’t know what the fuck he was talking about, but I could already feel my blood coming to a boil again just talking with him.

“Yes, your addiction caused you to suffer a bout of extreme paranoia, and you underwent a complete mental breakdown when conversing with the Architect. We had no other choice but to sedate you for a time so you could begin to recover.” Ping blinked as the slow cadence of his voice felt like it was going to put me to sleep even through my rage. However, my anger was somewhat dampened by it, as well as the genuine frown that pulled across his muzzle. “With your condition as advanced as it is, we could not afford to safely detox your system of it’s painkiller dependency within an acceptable time frame.”

“So to compromise,” He continued in his all too candidly way, “we have kept you dosed with just enough to stabilize your system, and have monitored your symptoms during your recovery.” Canting his head, he raised his hoof slowly before pointing it in a wide arc around the room. “Tell me, do you still see the hallucinations of which you spoke earlier?”

I… I didn’t. Blinking, I realized that for the moment, it felt like I was alone in my own mind. A feeling that I was grateful for, of course, but I couldn’t shake the fact that it left me cold and vulnerable at the same time. Giving him my own light frown, I softly shook my head at him.

“Good. That means we have found a suitable dosage for the moment.” The smile I’d seen before pushed itself through the frown he’d worn. “Now, Doc Groovy will be here in only a moment or so, but, there is still the subject of Buck to cover.”

“What’s wrong with him?” I asked as Ping sort of scrunched his muzzle and trotted over to us. He took a seat next to Happy, and in just those few moments of silence, I felt in my gut that something terrible had happened. Those few seconds as he moved seemed to take forever as I pressed myself on my hooftips for news of Buck’s condition. “I just want to know if he’ll be okay. Seeing him like that, like I’d been...” Looking down at my own stump leg and it’s prosthetic, I cringed to think how Buck was going to deal with what he’d lost. “I know he’s going to need all the help he can get.”

“So… that’s not really the case anymore?” Happy instead broke the pregnant pause with a hesitant whine.

“Shortly after we brought him in, he woke up.” Ping cringed harder than I think a machine could, and I could have sworn that I could hear the motors inside him grinding as he did. “He was quite violent from the radiation built up in his system, and actually took Doc Sea Shell offline in his bout of rage. But after heavy sedation, we managed to get him somewhat lucid enough to reach an understanding with him.” With a deeper sigh than somepony without lungs should ever give, Ping shared a somewhat reluctant look with Happy. “You see… having given his consent, from now on, Buck is going to be a little different than you remember, Night.”

“What do you mean, consent?” I grunted flatly and gave Ping the best sideways glance I could muster out of my one eye. “Different how.”

“Now now, Night!” Happy offered a nervous chuckle to me. “Again, please hear them out, and don’t get mad…”

Oh, now I knew I was definitely going to get mad...

Author's Note

As always, a HUGE thanks to TheFurryRailFan for helping to go over things before the chapter goes live. It's always so nice to know a second pair of eyes is around to keep things flowing smoothly!

Of course, big thanks to Kkat as well for creating this series and allowing us all to run around in it with our own stories!