Fallout Equestria: Mountain Mystery.

"The walk is something that will not happen easily."

200 years it has been. Calm jazz music in the background. I live above the bar... Old newspaper clippings and treasures of my mysteries. I sat there on the old chair. How most of my place stayed in one piece impressed me. The music kept playing and soft music played. As a mare sang.

"Ooooh, under the blue... moonlight... You dance with me... as we walk along the beach... In the moonlight as it's blue." Another pony plays the Saxophone while I looked up to my bed... Seeing a mare that I allowed them to room here. Since I don't sleep and she pays me. She woke up stretching, she was a dark purple earth pony mare with long green mane and tail. I took her in when... She lost her family to raiders. "Good evening Sleep head." The mare chuckles softly.

"Hmm, that stallion was amazing..." I snorted as I drank down some whiskey not feeling the burn. "I heard you two in my study..." She chuckles softly and gets off the bed and gives me a nuzzle on my decaying body... She wasn't scared to show her happiness of being with me. I felt happiness? Could a ghoul be happy? I wasn't sure really. The jazz kept playing below us... So calm. The world may have ended.

"Under the moonlight so calm and gentle night... OH, luna's blue moon romantic it is..." The song keeps playing with the mare singing. Our small area of Wymarnic didn't get hit as hard... The only part was close to the Casano were I died you could say. Smiling at the mare who was a young adult.

"You have any jobs Smoke Pipe?" I looked up and chuckled.

"I have been asked to find an old food caravan from 200 years ago. So I have to walk along the lone roads. To head to Casperen. So I have to walk the old highways." She frowned, sighing.

"Do you need me to go with you again?" I stared at her

"No... Root I need you try harder to get food growing... Ponies are getting hungry." She nodded her name was Root, an odd name for this mare... Her Cutie mark a Root. She sighed looking down and nodded.

"I will ask Zoonie see if she has any more Brews that could help." I gave a nod and put on my Coat and hat, looking to Root. "Make sure you take some water to the guards. It's getting hot out there and guarding those highways is not going to be easy with it being this hot."

She nodded. I headed down to the bar level seeing a lot of new ponies today... The mare singing oh what a doll she was... Her name was Goldribbon. If I was still alive I would enjoy a night with her... But I needed to remove myself from that... I sat at the bar a moment. In an old Bartender's outfit was a mare and she smiled.

"Good evening Detective... Out of whiskey?" I chuckled at the red unicorn mare. "No Moonshine I am wondering if my client gave you any more information on the location of the caravan."

She thinks a moment I swear I could hear the wheels turning in her head

"Ah yes, she said... It's on the way to Blue Stone forest... So that's a long walk. You need anypony to come with you?"

I shook my head and the jazz music played so calmly. With the mare singing another song.

"Oh... we hold our hooves together... As we look into each other's eyes... Ooooh." I looked to the singer and smiled.

"Now... I shall be heading out... If any more clients come looking for..." I went silent as I saw a drunk stallion getting very abusive of his marefriend... My eyes were calm as he was surrounding her with many other drunk stallions.

"Excuse me..." I stood on my hooves and walked to the group who were harming the mare and trying to forcibly rape her.

I looked at them under the brim of my hat. I softly spoke.

"Hey... boys." They stopped and looked at me... I was a bit smaller than them. I just stood there as they held weapons staring at me as the mare was crying.

"What do you... want tiny?"

I smirked and softly spoke

"Treating your marefriend there... very harshly.... hmm?" The stallion laughs

"That's what mares are just sex objects to... be used for sexual intercourse..."

I kept my cool and I looked at their joints it seems they have been on their hooves most of the day... Now the leader of them tries to get me away.

"Now.....how about you mind your own business and let me enjoy my night."

I chuckled...

"I can't let you do that...son..." I kept looking down from the hat and the stallion laughed.

"Look at us we are stronger then you... Do you have a death wish?" I gave a soft chuckle. They started to surround me.

"Boys....boys... I don't think that's a good idea..." I said with a smile. Yes, I had an ego but... I was trained to fight worthless ones like this.

"First.... who are you?" I chuckled keeping my hat down.

"That boy... is what you will learn..." My horn flared and I picked up four chairs and smashed the three beside me knocking them out cold as another attacked me with a large knife and I got out of the way part of my coat getting sliced. I then turned around and did a buck right in his chest making him fly and the leader watched all this and more came at me... As I used my hooves to smack them in the face. ..More falling to the ground and I turned to the leader.

I know I won't win every fight... But when it comes to fools like this it was cake...

"Who are you?"

I chuckled lifting up my hat with a smile.

"Someone who gives a shit about the other ponies in this world." I smiled and he attacked me quick and smacked a hoof across his face quickly and then forced him against the wall with my magic.

"A mare... deserves to be treated like a treasure... a jewel... They aren't meant to be treated like toys and made worthless..." I tossed him out the broken window as the rest of his ponies ran. I removed the mane out of the eyes of the crying mare she looked pretty beat up and Moonshine rushed over. The mare hugged me tightly and sobbed. Again I have made a name for myself in this little town... These ponies were out of towners. We have had a lot of ponies... From other parts of Equestria invading... The reason why the gangs formed because of this...

Their Xenophobic of what they call un-mountain ponies... Only ponies from the mountain range... can live here... Somepony would have to deal with them sooner or later... But it wouldn't be me. One of the guards walked in it was a large stallion... I know extremely well. He spoke in a deep southern draw.

"Detective... we all heard sobbing and crying." He looked down to the mare and looked at how beat up she was... I looked up to him.

"Take her to Zoonie to fix her up." He nodded and helped up the mare as he placed her on his back as she held his neck sobbing softly. I looked to Moonshine and smiled.

"I guess I will buy a bottle for the road." Moonshine smiled and trotted back to the bar as I went to the bar placing down some caps down and I smiled softly at her.

"Please stay safe Moonshine." I walked out of the bar and looked around seeing Buffalo hoof in a bowl of mountains. The mountains nothing really changed. I pulled out my corn pipe from my pockets and started to smoke some... As I headed down the road... To Blue stone Forest.

The roads were very odd basically, there were barely any towns along the way... Just bare wasteland. Of course, sometimes you did past other ponies who have been walking. The caravans that brought food to us now and then to trade... It was rare... But it did happen. The wildlife here didn't become very harsh and didn't normally attack. They normally stayed to themselves. So much wasteland for them to run... You could see herds of creatures always running over the road.

This walk would probably take half the day. Since no working ways to get there... Unless one of the few taxi ponies still used were coming down. Another nice thing about this... No places to hide for ponies or for raiders... But that didn't stop them from making camps... But lucky for me I didn't need sleep but the ponies needed to eat... I can't allow them to starve. Thanks to how this part of Equestria is... I never understood why it was so hard to grow food here...

Zoonie and Root have been trying everything. But she is not giving up... But most time her bed is what sees more fun... Gave myself a chuckle at that... At the last time, I walked in on her enjoying herself with a stallion. Eh, girls got to make money somehow I guess. But now I noticed something not far off. Steel Ranger base made in the middle of the field... I haven't been down this road in a few years. So it's interesting to see them building a base here...

But I just kept going... I am sure they would ignore me and...

"HALT!!" I blinked and sighed.

"Lovely..." I turned to two walking towards me, keeping my hat down.

"How can I help you metal fellas?"

The leader spoke with gestures of their front left hoof.

"Destination and reason of being on the road?"

I chuckled softly.

"That is my business and that is my business... now I am going to go." I started walking ahead of them and I heard their guns and I sighed, turning to them again.

"Look... I don't care who the fuck you are... This place has been fine without your kind here... So now I am going on my way... Go ahead, try to kill me... the bombs didn't kill me 200 years ago... I doubt you could too... Now go back to your commander and suck their balls for me." I gave a sweet smile to them showing that I don't give a shit about them.

The steel ranger's growled and their commander came out and looked to me and removed his helm.

"Ah, detective." I gave a snort...

"Oh, it's you... But will you let me pass? I need to find food that my client is looking for." The commander ..., nodding

"Forgive them they never lived out here like the rest of us... They don't understand."

I gave him a smile..he called himself Paladin Soda Pop whoever named him... was drunk... But he knew me... I knew him... I was there when his mother birthed him... That's how respectful ghouls are in this part of Equestria but truthfully... I haven't even been outside of this area. He has for many years.

"Soda Pop why are you building a base out here?" He looked up to me and sighed.

"We want to try to remove the gangs... I know you're going to say... Good luck with that... I do agree with you... but orders are orders." I nodded

"What gang are you going for first?" Soda Pop looked to me and sighed.

"The Lavender gang... Since they hold Caperin or however you say it... But they hold the factories and mines down there." I sighed shaking my head, I knew it.

"All this for the old factories down there and the mines? Soda you and I both know those Mines are clean..." Soda gave me a nod.

"Yes I know... but who knows... we might find something if we find food... I will call for you to come and get it... Since... I heard what is going on in my old home..." He looks down.

"How bad has it gotten?" I sighed and chuckled.

"We had traders come through a month ago... They gave the ponies there enough... I am heading to find an old Caravan that has food in it..." Soda nodded and he looked at his soldiers and gave them a talk.

I heard him say if he comes back let him through... In fact, if any pony comes through here let them through... He may be a steel ranger but he still had a good heart in him. Normally Steel ranger's don't care. I went along the road seeing a lot of old Pegasi waggons that were used to carry stuff. I started to look through them if I could find any food.

I heard sounds and I looked to see a mare hiding behind a seat. She brought her gun out and seemed to look at me...

"Whoa... I'm not a threat miss... I am just a detective." Suddenly guns started to fire at us from the outside. I looked up to see The Black aces... Ponies that dressed like cards. They fired many weapons at us and I sighed. I brought out my pistol and started firing at them. The mare started firing as well.

"So... I take it they're after you." The mare grew angry and nickered.

"Shut the fuck up and shoot!!" I smirked and kept firing at them and a few fall dead. This mare had a good shot... After awhile from a few shots... The Black aces never really cared to just stay and fight... So I watched some of them run. Why would they chase a mare all the way here? They don't even normally come out this way. I stood back up looking towards the mare finally getting a good look at her.

She was a pegasus. She was in Enclave armour and she had trouble with these ponies?

"So... what's an Enclave pegasus doing out here? Also alone?" The mare looked up to me and gave me a hateful look.

"My armour is broken... I can't work it..." I gave a nod and noticed she had a compartment to hold something in it

"Welp later miss." I walked back out and looked through the bodies of the Black aces gathering their ammo and whatever else from them... She trotted out to me.

"You're just going to leave me out here?" I looked to her from the brim of my hat.

"A pony from the great powerful Enclave doesn't wish to be on her own?" She looked at me looking down then looked back up to me.

"I have something important... that I need to give to the military." I blinked, looking at her.

"The Miltary is dead... girl... look around us..."

She nodded.

"I know.... but this group... is not... ever heard of Blue hats?" I blinked. The Blue hats rumour has it... they're a group of former Miltary ponies that lived in a bunker made to be like a stable. They live deep in the mountains. Near the old camp grounds... But no pony has ever seen them and lived.

"The blue hats are a myth. Nopony has seen them since the war..." The mare grew very angry.

"I have been in contact with them. They want this." She opened the compartment and set down a large box that looks like it would hold a memory orb. I opened it and looked at the orb... I have never seen an orb this big and black and glowing so evilly.

"You want to give them this?" She nodded.

"I found it.... in one of the mines..that the Lavender gang was allowing The Black aces to mine in. I was on a mission for the enclave to learn if... we could help this part of the waste."

I chuckled.

"You mean give them food to force them to be loyal to you. I know how you are... So now... What is on this orb?" She looks up to me and she looked like she was thinking if she should and she sighed.

"It's secret's that during the war... that Equestria itself sent missiles here to attack their own ponies because they refused to take part in the war."

I blinked.

"I highly doubt that Equestria would do that... But they did hate the fact that we never got into the war. But eh..." I gave her the orb back and head out... But she followed me anyway.

"Um... what are you doing? Sir?"

I kept walking towards the way to Blue Stone forest.

"My job miss... I am a Detective trying to get food for the ponies in my town... It's been this way for 200 years. Back then Equestria didn't even care about us and just had to send food to us... because we refused to be part of their war."

She blinked and kept up with me flying calmly beside me.

"How do you know all this?" I pushed my hat up she finally noticed I am a ghoul... My voice was already deep... so it stayed...

"I was there..." She gasped and nodded... As she kept following me flapping her wings... to keep up with me... I never thought I would gain what some would say a follower. She calmly didn't speak but she just looked around her eyes were easy to see. It was so easy to tell she is a mare because of the body shape and the eyes.

We got half way and she stopped panting from flapping too much and I looked down to her...

"It's ten times hotter here than most parts of Equestria... The cloud cover keeps the heat down here... But even before then... This place was a wasteland... Very hard to grow here... So... tell me something... Why is that orb so big?"

She looked to me and sighed.

"From what the Blue hats told me... It holds more than just memories it holds the reason they fired on this part...of Equestria... they want to know... Why Equestria pulled out of this area... and left them in a sorry state."

I chuckled.

"I can tell you that part... We refused them... we kicked them out of every part of this area... The only ones that would come and give us food... were Applejack and Fluttershy... They would come every month and bring us food.." She looked at me and sighed.

"The war didn't bother us... we had Zebras here as well... We still do... They belong in our lands... Even if their war and the pony war was pointless... Oh, look we will blow up in our world... Because of oh look Coal..."

I shook my head and kept walking she stayed by me as quick as she could... I looked towards her..Why is she following me?

"I got a question miss? Why are you following me? I am just a Detective really." She looked around and chuckled weakly.

"I um... don't know... where to go... I am lost..." I sighed, great I have a lost dove following me...

"You want to follow me? Then you have to do what I say... how it say it and what I do you do not question deal?" The mare stared at me and she seemed angry and then sighed.

"Deal..." I nodded and walked along the road and it would just be another few hours before we even got closer.

"What's your name sir?"

I chuckled and looked away for a moment. I looked at the armour it hid how her body was... But I could tell she was just of age to be a mother. She could have been made into breeding for her family. But I moved my hooves and they made soft sounds as we walked along... It was a minute before I spoke up.

"I'm Smoke Pipe..." She blinked looking towards me

"What kind of mother would name their foal that?"

I laughed softly.

"A mother that slept with any stallion that she brought to her bed... I have no idea who my father was. Just to say every stallion that came into my life... Was some sort of father to me... So I am what you say a bastard. But she did love me she did so much for me to make sure I had enough to eat... But when she died I took it hard... But a young mare known as Fluttershy helped me through it... Then I met Applejack... Made friends with them..." I looked down sighing

"Now they're dead... and I died when the world died... but I woke up like this." The mare turned to me and removed her helm it was still connected to the armour... I finally saw her... She was a white mare a pure white mare... She had calm gentle pink eyes and her mane White like her fur.

"I'm Blossom..." She smiled softly and I just chuckled.

"Nice to meet you, Blossom." She seemed to be scared of the world below and walked closer to me.

"How... do you live like this? Why do ponies... not just ask for help." I looked at her with a soft smile.

"Blossom... ponies have been doing this... for years... if they asked for help... like The Enclave they would expect things like pure respect... if the gangs helped... They would protect the ponies from outside... You are an outsider here in this part of Equestria... The gangs won't respect you."

She looked down and sighed. I looked at her and sighed. We kept walking along the path and saw a large broken caravan. It was on the road heading to Blue Stone forest.

"Ah, here we are... Let's see if we can find food."

Blossom looked up at me and blinked.

"How... did this client of yours know about this?" She asked with a calm nicker.

"There are a lot of old invoices that they found recently... Looking through them found one... head down this way."

There was one large caravan to hold the food, I opened the door and went inside along with Blossom.

"What... are we looking for?"

I thought for a moment.

"Anything that is canned... A lot of that would have survived." I opened a few boxes as she did the same. Opening two of the boxes I found an invoice and what they were used for... Inside canned food.

"I found more..." I blinked nodding.

"Blossom do me a favor... could you find or make a small wagon for me and hitch it to me so we can get all this back?" Blossom nodded and went outside... I heard her using her Armour to break something apart as I gathered most of the boxes and I blinked I then found a message to one of the soldiers. {Remove yourself from that area... a branch of the military has taken control of the silos and fired on them, get out of there quickly!}. I blinked at this and folded it up to keep for later.

I walked out with four of the cases with me and she had created a metal wagon for me to hitch to. Looking around to see some of the things from the wagon. I set them in.

"Get in Blossom." She blinked and got in the wagon and sat in it.

"When I ask you to, lay down."

I hitched myself to the metal wagon and slowly started the trek back. It was going to be night time before we fully got back. Blossom looked around as I just kept my eyes on the road to make sure we got there safe. All there was is flat plans. Some rocky mountains but no way's a sniper could get us. It's so open and she gasped as she saw the beauty of this land... it was always like this even before the end... Now some of the creatures just stayed clear of ponies...

They were more scared of us then we are of them. Raider's didn't really come out this way as much... Not much for them to do out here. In fact, if they ran into the gang's they would be dead pretty quick. We watched as another wagon came through. It was a group of ponies.

"OH, Detective." The pony stopped and I smiled to him.

"I see they still have you taking the mail back and forth, you old fool."

The stallion chuckles as he has large packs of mail.

"Yes..." He was a ghoul as well.

"I guess they still need me... hmm?" He smiled.

"How's everything in Buffalo hoof? I am taking food to them." I asked with a calm stare.

"It's peaceful it seems the gangs want it to stay that way... So they refuse to fight over it. since it's a peaceful little town."

I nodded.

"Well you better get going the mail will not deliver itself." The stallion laughed and trotted off. Blossom nickered softly.

"Who was that?" I looked behind me to see her.

"An old mail pony... Ponies give him letters and such and he just walks these roads day and night... Till he's done and collects more... he has homes in every city in this area of Equestria. Basically, I see him hmmm maybe every two months. A lot of ghouls live out there... They feel more welcomed here and the gangs protect them... The Black aces...are very protective of them... The Black Stripes is a Zebra gang... that doesn't really harm anypony they live most in Gelletrot. It's an old mining town. The Black aces live in Sharldin. The chain boys live in an area I have never been to... I don't remember the city and back behind us is where The lavender boys live... The lavender gang normally patrol these roads."

She sighed.

"I was told that the blue world is full of mindless ponies that kill each other." I chuckled.

"Oh that is not far from the truth... but in this area we are family... we try to work together but there are some murders and such to keep... the peace... The gangs don't just murder and kill. It's sadly how things are in this part of the world."

"I heard there... is a sickness that makes ponies raider's." I stopped quickly and turned to look at Blossom staring at her enclave armour she still had on.

"Excuse me? Are you trying to tell me that your Enclave feeds you that load of bullshit? There is no sickness that turns a pony into a crazy pony... It is a choice, there is no such sickness... That's the stupidest load of propaganda I have ever heard from a Pegasus pony... and no you aren't the first one I have met."

She huffed and humph as I kept walking. I could tell it was getting late. As we passed the old caravan that I met her in. I softly whispered.

"Okay... Blossom I need you to lay down and don't move..." We were getting close to the Steel Ranger's she blinked and tried to press why.

"Why..." Then a loud voice.

"HALT!!" She ducked quickly as the Steel Ranger's trotted up to me.

"Ah hello again... I am just head back home I got what I needed." The two look at each other and sighed... They remembered who I was.

"Now can I go or will we have to get soda pop back out here hmm?" I smirked. I could tell I angered them and I loved it. The just grunted and allowed me to keep going... As we got farther away I laughed softly. Blossom stood up and looked back at them.

"Wait... why did they let you pass... They never let anypony pass." I gave a laugh.

"Eh, I don't care who they are... they're just ponies in high tech armour that think they're all that and a bag of hay." It was getting to be the middle of the night... The bugs buzzed not far from us but left us alone.

"So Blossom do you buy everything the Enclave said about the world below?" Blossom seemed insulted.

"Of course... not... I mean.... yes.... yes I do..." I looked at her with a gentle smile.

"I can... tell you none of that is real... child... They probably brought some ponies down here... and then saw all this and they made it up... To keep them in power. Look, Blossom, you seem to be a smart mare... Don't let them control you like that... You need to prove to them that you're better than that... We need to move on from all this propaganda all this worthless hate... All of that is the reason the war lasted how it did... and why it ended like it did.."

She sighed and layed back down she slowly fell asleep... I looked up at the sky seeing the clouds... As if I could remember the past. I closed my eyes for a moment and started to remember. Oh, the days I could just enjoy a moment a mystery and now... not much need for a Detective but I still used my skills for kidnappings and other things... Oh, the taste of whiskey, the taste of anything I missed...

Then I was brought out of my dream as I walked with Blossom wrapping around me and seeming to lay on my back. I looked at her, she had her armour off... I got to see her cutie mark a Rose blossom. Her wings soft white feathers. She wrapped around my neck. I don't know why she did this...

"Blossom what are you doing?"

She hmmed and nuzzled my neck.

"I'm enjoying the company of a ghoul that is very sweet and kind. But also a bit of a jerk... But I am alone down here and need a friend."

I sighed I knew I would make a friend... After awhile we finally made it back... It was starting to get light again. As I came down and the guards stood up and they had smiles on their faces...

"Get everypony out of their homes and let them know I got food for them." They nodded and trotted off and I stood by the bar it was just opening up since... Moonshine lived in the apartment beside mine. She came down the stairs and opened up the bar and gasped

"Your back!!" She rushed out and noticed the boxes and then looked at the mare on my back and she chuckled softly.

"Oh... Smoke Pipe are you hitting on mares again?" She giggled, I rolled my eyes. "Funny Moonshine funny... Be careful of what's in the back."

She blinks and walked to the back gasping seeing the armor.

"She's... Enclave?!" I nodded

"Don't worry, she helped me." Blossom woke up and got off my back.

"Moonshine, will you take her in and introduce her to Root... if she is not in the arms of some stallion." Moonshine nods and walks to Blossom with a soft smile.

"Come miss Blossom... It seems you get to stay with Smoke pipe for a while." She blinked and followed Moonshine taking her armour with her.

I leaned on the wall taking out my corn pipe and lit it to start smoking...Waiting for all the families to get here. Moonshine got into the cart and when the sun came up from behind the clouds. There was a long line of ponies. Moonshine gave each family one can. It sadly is all we could do for them until we could grow food. After a while, all the ponies got what they could.

Moonshine took the extra box in for patrons that would come into her bar. I walked through the road watching ponies go into their homes. Some old stores were turned into apartments, some homes were shared. It's how this small area was... We all worked together. I went to go see Zoonie in her office. I walked into to see the Zebra mare who oddly wore glasses. She looked to me and smiled.

"What do I owe this meeting Detective?" I walked to her and removed my hat setting it down to bow my head to her... She deserved it, she helped so many ponies in this little town. I looked at her she didn't wear anything like the others did... I saw every stripe on her body... Her beauty and she caught me staring at her and she spoke gently...

"Smoke Pipe your staring at me again." I blinked and chuckled if I could blush I would be, I coughed and smiled

"I wish to know how the formula is coming along." I asked with a gentle smile... Zoonie frowned and looked to the brew.

"The brew works... but only for Carrots... I made it to the point that... it will only grow carrots and grow them every two months... I doubt that will really help... But it's all I can do... Unless somepony could find me seeds... then maybe I can make it so all the seeds will grow every two months..."

I nodded and she blinked, giving me a hug.

"Thank you Smoke Pipe for making me feel welcomed here... when I came to town." I nodded and walked out as I did I saw a group of Steel ranger's passing the guards and moving down the road to head to another one of the towns... I am hoping they don't even try to stay here... I went inside and sat at the bar. As it started to rain.

I watched as the ponies carried their gardens outside to get them to grow. Root brought hers down and Blossom stood beside me watching. As Zoonie used her brew to help grow what she can... As they did this they just sat there in the rain watching. I looked to Blossom who had tears in her eyes.

"Their suffering... How long has it been like this?"

I sighed.

"For 200 years blossom... The military forsake us because we refused to be in their war. The princess abandoned us... because we stopped calling them Goddess and they just left us to rot here... We have been like this way before the war even started and they never cared... if they cared they would have helped us all."

Jazz music softly played.

"I am from one of the Stables... we were taught at birth that the Princess abandoned us... along with the Military for we are just worthless to the outside... just that we are still suffering but we will live on... Even if we have to find more ways to get food." Moonshine calmly nickered and said.

As the Jazz played, Gold started to sing.

"Oh... Luna.... why did you forsake us... Oh Celestia... why did you abandon us... We see our sorrow in the rain... That comes from the sky... Oh please show us... that you care... For you have given us no hope Princess... We see that your blessings are for nought... We see that our path has lead us to here... A war that made us forgotten... a land... That barley grows... but we shall endure till the sun... rises again... and we see our hearts... Grow."

Blossom started sobbing in my coat... She was starting to learn I thought... That this place of sorrow is how it was way before the war... Even during those six mares, that tried to save the world. Fluttershy tried so hard... So did Applejack to get help out here... But all we saw was politics the war is more important than helping some ponies in a forsaken place in Equestria... I am sad to say... if they're dead... I hope they're not... but if their dead... They deserved their fate.

I wrapped my hoof around Blossom and gave her a hug and let her cry. It was hard to see ponies suffering yes... everypony in the world suffered but just to see it like this... Would break the heart of any heart cold heart... I saw a Steel ranger bringing out a garden as well. He removed his helm. It was Soda Pop's other rangers of his brought gardens and they sat with the ponies.

We normally disliked the Steel rangers and I watched as Zoonie used her brew on their gardens... She then went back inside and the Steel ranger's I could hear them speak as I let Blossom go so Moonshine could hold her.

"Why.... don't they just leave?" One of them asked.

"There is more out there... then this..."

Soda Pop softly spoke.

"This is their home... Even the gangs will have gardens like this... The Goddess forsake them in their minds... I feel if we do this... they may let us pass here more often and we can rest here... But not set up a base here... I would never allow it. These ponies are suffering, they would suffer more if we set up a base here."

"They didn't even fight in the war... Why did they get hit then?"

Soda Pop shrugged

"I know one who was in the middle of that... he was the Detective you allowed to pass along with the Mail carrier there are more ghoul ponies in this area... Since they're welcomed here..." Root blinked and stood up.

"Soda...." Her eyes fill with tears... Soda stood up seeing her... They rush and hug... As she seemed to sob softly.

Blossom walked to me and nuzzled me softly... "What happened?"

"Soda and Root are siblings... They haven't seen each other in a long time. They haven't seen each other since this city was seized by a raider gang... Lucky for us The lavender gang came to our rescue and pushed them out and helped us bury the dead... They said we owe them nothing just to call them again if something like this happens. You see Blossom your Enclave can believe what it wants to... This area of Equestria... is all family..."

She seemed sat by me sighing... I looked at her with a gentle smile removing my hat. I was not like every ghoul I still had flesh and all that... I didn't crack as much... I still kept my charm... Blossom looked at me and smiled.

"Smoke Pipe... I want to stay with you and Root... I can't go back... I need to see this through. I need to find the Blue hats. But... I will do it when you can." I gave a smile.

"That's not going to be easy, getting up there will take some time... and it will be a long walk... But for now... I feel we need to stick around here... Unless that Orb brings unfriendly folks around here." I put my hat back on and set down some Caps for Blossom.

"Have something to drink and eat..." Suddenly the new band showed up one was a Zebra and on Saxophone was a Griffin. We didn't have many of them here but they were welcomed another unicorn on the horn and mostly just played jazz here... Gold was given another song... As I sat there watching her but I kept look at the outside as The Steel ranger's started to leave... leaving their gardens in the rain... Soda and Root hugged as she came back in and sat beside me.

"Root I got a question for you." She looked to me with a weak smile.

"Do you care if Blossom stays with us?" She blinks looking to the Pegasus. Root leaned into to me to whisper something.

"Do you trust her?" I gave a nod and Root smiled.

"Then I trust her as well." I sat there watching the band and the singer... The song was calm and soothing it reminded me of the past again... But I kept looking at the Gardens and the ponies staying there... We didn't even get the news out here... But at times we would see traders that would tell us what is happening.

Not really much to do during this time Blossom sat beside me as well Moonshine brought me my normal whiskey and I drank from it. The two looking at each other I wanted them to be friends... But Blossom seemed a bit shy. But my client finally showed up. She was one of the rich of this little town... I stood up and went to her.

"I got as many cases as I could." She smiled and nodded.

"Thank you, Detective..." She gave me a bag of Caps. I knew this mare very well she didn't like being rich... But she used her influence to help this little town... She wanted to build a wall around it. She set it down in front of me and I looked up and smiled.

"I am happy to help." She nodded and she offered her hoof I took it and gave it a gentle kiss.

"Thank you kindly Ribbon." She smiled and walked out as she spoke to the townsfolk and reassured them that she will make sure they stay protected.

I knew her as well... Another one from the stables that used her mind to get rich and then used it to help this little town. Moonshine was the same... she was a teen when she came to this town... I offered her the bar and she used the old whiskey that we stored here so long ago... To keep ponies happy. It was something I was hoping to see more of... Ponies helping each other... I walked back to Root and Blossom. Root taking the bag from me and looking through it.

"Hmm we got enough here... to see if I can send out the Lavender gang to find some seeds for us." I looked over to her, nodding.

"I think we should use it to help Moonshine with the bar... But if you feel that getting more seeds will help." Root gave me a look.

"What you what to keep your stock of Whiskey going? Then we better be growing the brewery may have ponies looking through it... But they won't be finding whiskey and such forever for you or others... We need to start growing food." I nodded. As I looked back to the band and the singing and I felt a tap on my shoulder... I looked up and it was the mare I saved from those stallions the other day.

"Ah excuse me..." Blossom whispered something to Root and they both giggled.

"Feeling better?" I calmly asked the mare. She nodded.

"I am going to head back home... tomorrow... I just wanted to thank you for dealing with my Coltfriend... he normally is a nice guy... But when he's drunk he starts trying to hurt me... So I am going to move on and find another..." I gave a nod.

"I agree with you on that... You take care the inn is open. I am sure old Lady Fruitberry is still awake..." She nodded and walked to the inn. I went to the bar and got a cup of whiskey and started to talk to Moonshine.

"Moonshine, I got a question you have ears in every part of this area... Have you heard of the Blue Hats?" She blinks thinking a moment cleaning cups.

"Ah yes... I have heard some things... That they send ponies strange messages telling them to find artifacts of the old world... Military to see if they can find out what went wrong at the end... I do know that some of them live in rock edge mountain. It's a mystery why they would live in there... Maybe you could head up there sometime... But I could send out one of my birds with a letter to the other bars and see what we can find for you." I gave a nod. She started to write a letter with her magic and went to the back and a large strange ugly bird was on her hoof.

"Please take this to every bar alright?" The bird nodded and spoke...

"If they write back, send back?" She nodded...

"I will try to remember." The large bird creature flew out. I forgot it spoke... I forgot that freaky thing used to be a parrot. I chuckled.

"That thing always gives me the creeps... I forgot he can talk as well. What do you feed that thing?" Moonshine gave me a smirk.

"Meat... of course there are a lot of rats in the basement so I give him all those he can eat because he does this stuff for me." I sighed nodding and looked back out to the gardens some ponies just staying there... I figured it was time for them to go home... I went out and softly whispered.

"Okay... go home, rest, and dry up, these will be here tomorrow." They all nodded and I looked at a little filly who stayed by hers and her mother nuzzled her. As they both stood up and went inside. The sorrow of our blight is full but we would never stop ourselves from loving the world. I may be bitter about what happened in the past... But I am sure down the line we will learn what happen to us... For it is a Mystery and I love them. It was getting late I sat at the bar again watching as it got dark outside the guards stayed and guarded the gardens...

It's all they had food is a scarce thing... I wish I could help them more... But I do what I can do... I looked through the reports that Moonshine writes up for me.

"Hmm, another kidnapping a meeting of all the gangs... Hmm normal, normal... huh?" I looked through it and found something interesting.

"Moonshine what is this?" I showed her one of the reports...

"Oh that is from Soda Pop, he was telling me that the old war memorial ponies are vanishing he sent some of his ponies in there and they vanished. He said that ponies live in there and he wanted to make contact with them. But he heard nothing. He is wondering if something is wrong..." I gave a nod and looked through it more. A good amount of caps, oh my food enough. The caps a look again and nodded.

"Let him know I will do that tomorrow, I need to make sure Root doesn't take another stallion to her bed tonight." Blossom and Root were speaking as they giggled and laughed drinking from the whiskey. It seems Root made a friend. I smiled but then felt that something bad would happen...

"Hmm, I got a question Moonshine, has Root ever flirted with you?" Moonshine looked up to me very surprised look.

"No.... why would she? She basically sleeps with every stallion she can wrap herself... around... Hell, she would sleep with you if you weren't a ghoul." I laughed.

"Oh I know but I am sure I can get her mind on other things." I drank another cup watching them and a stallion sat beside me and I knew his voice...

"Hello, Detective... I see 200 years have been kind to you." I looked to the Pegasus.

"Rolex..." He chuckled.

"Now, now... I am not a gang leader anymore, I am more of a nothing. I just came to see you... about something important... I heard you wish to go to the old war memorial." I nodded.

"Please do... there is something going on there that has interested me... as well. I feel it has something to do with why our area of Equestria was given no help." I looked at him blinking.

"What makes you say that?" He looked to me and sighed.

"Let's just say some of my boys saw the Military go in there with strange machines and blocked it off from ponies. Some of my boys think there was a mega spell set off in there. But I am not truly sure... Our chase was wonderful Detective maybe again someday... Because we will be living forever... But for now... this mystery is something that is needed. Also keep an eye on the Enclave mare... They can't be trusted... I know you my old friend... I know you well..."

I snorted laughing.

"Yes, old friend... I know what you mean... The chase was fun... and amazing the long nights of trying to kill each other... Oh, how fun that was..." He laughed.

"Oh, I am sure it will happen again... But you have a mystery to solve Detective..." Root stood up looking to Rolex and she backed away from him she knew him well... From my stories.

"Root what's wrong?" Root hid behind a table as Blossom went to her.

She tried to help her and see what was up. I heard them both say.

"It's him..." Blossom looked over to me.

"Him who?"

Rolex chuckles and stood up.

"Ah yes... everypony..." The band stopped patrons looked up to him.

"I am Rolex... The former gang leader of the purple coats... I was just talking to my old friend the Detective... who chased me for over 50 years and then lost me the day he and I died... Our chase was so much fun in the past... Sexual intercourse, death... murder and mystery. Oh, textbook poetry you could say."

I just watched him.

"But sadly those days are over... Now ponies get back to your gardens so you can enjoy your life..." He smiled and paid Moonshine and walked out of the bar. Ponies went back to what they were doing finding it odd.

"Soooo that was the great Rolex?" Moonshine giggled.

"Oh, Smoke pipe he seemed to be a fool." I smirked and laughed.

"Oh you would think that but he did some pretty nasty things to ponies... But the past is the past... and the fun may come back someday... So we start our hunt again. But for now, I got more important things to do." Root came out of her hiding place. As her and Blossom came over to me and Root hugged me.

"He has a bigger ego then you said he did Smoke..." I chuckled and just patted her back.

"You will be fine Root, I won't let him hurt you." She nodded and rushed out to get her Garden and she carried hers back upstairs. Blossom sat beside me and looked to me...

"Smoke Pipe... I got a question for you... you can say no..." She looked down.

"But I was talking to Root she said you and her are like partners, may I be one too? I don't wish to go back... I wish to help." I thought about it for a while and looked to her.

"Yes you can I am going to need you both tomorrow so please get some rest... I will be down here for a little while longer." Blossom nodded and headed upstairs. I went outside and did my rounds in the rain... the lights came on since we did have some power I still have no idea how we had power... But we did in some parts of the streets... I walked along the path were the guards normally went and found nothing out of the ordinary

I calmly walked back to the bar and I sighed feeling that this night would be peaceful. But then like clockwork...Those stallions from earlier came back... With more... I sighed looking at them all there was like ten. I sighed.

"So back for more boys and you brought friends... I see." Moonshine came out and watched shaking her head.

"We are going to kill you... ghoul." I laughed and smiled.

"But you're just ten... now if there was more of me then you would have a chance... But there is just one." Blossom landed beside me in her enclave armor.

"Make that two!!" Root came and broke through the stallions and stood by me...

"Make that three." I chuckled. Oh, a good ole fashioned brawl... The guards were near us as well. They would probably put a stop to this.

Then Rolex landed beside me...

"How about you make that four Detective... and this is the only time I will be helping you." I laughed softly and started to run my mouth off.

"Listen boys... you will be fighting two veteran fighter's two mares one an Enclave and one a former guard of Friendship city. Now are you willing to do so?" Suddenly Zoonie dumped one of her brews on the stallion and he screamed falling to the ground thinking he was burning and rolling.

Rolex rushed into the fight and used his wings and hooves to hit and smash into the stallions it was an all out brawl and it was amazingly fun the ones that he went after didn't take long for him to take them down and he would keep smashing their faces with his hooves and he laughed enjoying it so much.

Zoonie was not just a doctor she was also trained fighter some went after her and she was able to take them out with no issue at all because well they were just thugs and thugs never trained their skills to fight... She kept doing interesting dances to get out of the way of their attacks and she giggled she may not be young anymore but she could hop around like a dancer... Smashing her hooves into them and making them fall back.

Root may be an earth pony but she was a former guard... She fights dirty. She grabbed a chair with her mouth and smashed it across one of the stallion's face and knocked him out and then kept attacking with the chair trying too hard to get them to run away from her... She had so much happiness on her face. She likes to fight even more than having sex it seems... But still, I am sure she would bed one of these stallions later. If they forgave her for beating their ass.

I watched blossom fly into the air and smash into them with her metal hooves on her armor she didn't wish to kill them but knock them out. She was enjoying this laughing with Giddy as she never had fun like this before. She kept into the air and we all danced in the fight... The jazz music playing... it was like a music movie... Oh so lovely... Just the pure art of old ways to deal with things... Hooves in the face... It was something I missed most of all.

Then I removed my coat and hat and they were on the ground getting soaked as I danced around the gun strapped to my side... As I laughed and kept dancing on my hooves loving this fight and then after a while all that was said and done... We all laughed and after the fight, Rolex flew off.

"Later Detective..." he flew off and I laughed as the guards came and arrested the stallions dragging them off. It was so amazing and fun... I was watching Blossom who was so happy and Giddy she rushed up to kiss me in the moment and she planted a long kiss on me... I was surprised I could oddly feel it but she just kissed a ghoul she opened her eyes and backed away.

"Oh... my I am sorry.... Smoke Pipe..." I laughed and patted her back...

"No harm done... my friend... It was the moment it happens." She nodded with a smile and flew up back into the room. Root giggled.

"You sure it wasn't more Smoke Pipe?" She gave me a wink and I rolled my eyes. Moonshine laughed softly and shook her head... I walked back into the bar after picking up my hat and coat with my magic looking to Moonshine.

"If you find any info on the Blue hats let me know please." Moonshine nodded. I went upstairs and hung my wet coat and hat and Root went right to bed so did Blossom I sat in my study taking out one of my books. I started to read... it was a good day... I found my hunting partner again Rolex I made a new friend and I helped the town heal a little more...

All and all... for a ghoul of old... In a town that suffers it's all we can do... just to sing...

Jazz music softly played.

"Oooh, the blue moonlight... shines through the clouds... as we see the night... In the darkness of our hearts... Oh, please Moonlight come and free us from this pain.... For we see the night... and all we can see is our hope."

Hope yes hope is what we have... and hope will be needed for the journey ahead... For a mystery is a hoof.