Chapter 42 Walk Through the Valley of the Shadow

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” -Winston Churchill

We continue to march north. As we march, we take our hourly ten-minute breaks as usual. The fliers are rotating who is up and when. Using the clouds to rest when they can. We stole the march on Silver Spite this morning, but I am afraid he may try to cut us off if he can.

I spend some more time with the Rangers then work my way back through the column. Star Buck, the trooper who introduced me to the March of the CEF, turns out to have been the one who started it. Since then others in E troop have added to it. He asks me if it is ok to teach it to some of the other companies and I give him permission to as long as they all keep marching. It seems like a good way to build morale as well as to keep their minds occupied on the march.

As I pass the wagons, I see Ginger at the door of the Medical wagon, “Hey Ma,” she calls and waves to me. I trot over to her to talk with her for a few minutes.

“Hey Ginger, how you feeling today?” I ask.

“OK, got a headache still, Sutures says I should for a few days; that and I will have a permanent part in my forelock now.”

I laugh a little amused at the joke. “How are you besides that?”

“I am ok, Xochitl and Xavier brought me my SIR this morning,” she tells me with a smile, “I was afraid I lost it. I really like it and I can only imagine what it cost for one.”

“Yeah, I understand that. I have already had one taken out of my pay this trip.” I tell her.

Her eyes go wide, “Really, they made you pay for that one too?”

“Yep, welcome to the military dear”.

“Ma, can I get off the wagon and come with you for a bit, this is boring,” she tells me.

“Depends on what Sutures says,” I tell her and look at the black unicorn medic who is silently standing behind her.

Sutures looks at me, “LT, I don’t want her stressing herself by trotting and cantering yet. However, if you want to let her ride for a bit then bring her back before we canter again, I have no problem with that.”

“Sounds good Sutures, thank you, again, thank you for everything you have done,” I tell her.

She smiles tiredly, “No problem dear, just be careful for both of you.”

“I will. By the way, have you gotten any sleep yet?” I ask.

“yes some, an hour or two. The other patients are sleeping right now and have been taking care of for the morning, so I might take a short nap.”

As we continue to move, I come close enough for Ginger to climb onto my back. Once she is there, I fall back from the wagon a bit. “Sutures, please get some sleep, if not for you, then your patients, ok.”

She smiles, “Yes ma’am. I will, now that it is quiet in here. Thank you,” she tells me then turns and heads further inside the dark wagon.

I then continue on my way back through the column my next visit is with the artillery. Archer sees me with Ginger on my back and raises an eyebrow and shifts one ear quickly back then forward again. I hear him let out a slight puff of air too. Then he asks me, “Mollygirl, are you sure you should be carrying her with you in your condition and all?”

“I’ll be fine Archer, it’s not like we are cantering or anything.”

“OK, but why don’t you both hop up here and join me for a bit then.” He tells us.

So, I move alongside the caisson and Ginger hops off of me and onto it.

Then I swing myself up onto it also and sit next to them. Without thinking we both give each other a quick hug. Well, the Major had said everypony knew about us before the incident at Two Step, so what the Tartarus can it hurt. Archer then gives a brief if awkward hug to Ginger who is sitting between us.

“Ginger, it is great to see you up and about already, you know you gave us all a bit of a scare last night.” He tells her.

She smiles, “That’s ok Lieutenant, I understand. It gave me a bit of one too.”

Then he looks at me, “How are you holding up dear?”

“I am making it. But I am afraid of them trying to cut us off before we make the rendezvous point.” I tell him.

“Yeah, I can understand that. Mollygirl, if they do that, what do you want to do with my guns?”

“Archer, they run with the rest of us, we can’t have you and your gunners cut off from us. If that happens, we lose all of you, as well as the guns. We may need to hitch more to the teams.” I tell him.

He is quite for a few minutes, “Mollygirl, I have to agree with you on that. I also have an idea for using Nightmare moon while on the move, it may not be accurate, but it will allow us to keep moving and providing some fire support.”

“That is all I can ask for Archer, we must get as many home as we can.”

“I know, I will do my best to help you with that.”

The three of us sit and talk for a while more then Ginger brings up an idea that while self-evident, I had not thought of. “LT, I know we only have a couple of Unicorns in the regulars that are not medics, but couldn’t we form a couple of more combat magic sections to use?”

It is so simple an idea I should have thought of it earlier, but it just did not cross my mind. “You know Ginger, that is a great idea, I only wish I had thought of it. Maybe one section per troop. Thank you dear, any more ideas like that bring up to me also.” I tell her, then I turn to Archer, “I hate to say it, but we best get moving, I want to talk to the other troop leaders about Ginger's suggestion, before our next stop.”

I climb down and am walking next to the caisson as Ginger swings as gently as she can onto my back and we move back to the next troop. Once there I approach Duke and tell him our idea.

“Ya know LT, that is not a bad idea, I got three in my troop right now, I will talk to them and see what we can do.” He tells me.

“That’s all I am asking Duke. Thanks.” I tell him, then we continue to chat for a bit more before I fall back to the Belles and tell Kettle Bell what we are going to do. She thinks about it for a couple of minutes, as she tends to do when she is trying to find fault with an idea before she replies.

“LT, I like it, it may cause a couple of holes in my squads though, would you mind if I transferred them all to one squad and have those, they are replacing, fill their old spots?”

“Actually Kettle, that is exactly how I hoped you would handle it. I put it in your capable hooves now. I best get going, I have to get Ginger back to the wagons before we begin our next canter.” I tell her, then I begin a quick walk back forward in the column again.

It is around noon that I get the word from Sunset that the enemy troops are in sight, they are on a parallel road to the west of us and trying to steal the march from us this time. There is still one more major crossroads to reach before the valley as well as two more bridges to cross. Then I hear a bridge behind us being blown. They are cutting off our line of retreat. A short time later Sunset reports that there are more enemy troops to the east of us. They are trying to drive us.

I fall back from the Rangers and meet with my staff. We hold an impromptu officers' call while still moving to discuss our options. Then I make the call The Door Kickers move to the vanguard. They are to take the crossroads and keep the door open for the rest of us.

The fliers make harassing raids against those troops to the west of us, in an attempt to slow them down. We make one more stop and I have two additional pullers added to each wagon, limber, and caisson. As we march, we are rotating our pace between a walk, a trot, and a short canter. Trying to make our best speed while not exhausting ourselves.

We are less than a kilometer from the final crossroads into the valley when I hear Xavier on my PipBuck, “MG, this if Hoofpad 1, we have hostiles coming in from the west at the crossroads,” I can hear gunshots at this time, “Approximately one to two companies of troops, they are still mainly on the road, but beginning to spread out.”

Damn it, they got ahead of our main body, “Roger that Footpad 1, you have reinforcements on the way,” I then call out over the all commands channel, “All forces, this is MG, at the gallop. Duke, swing the Door Kickers into line to keep the road open as we go past, then fall back at the rear.”

“Rodger MG, this is DK one, will do.”

Immediately afterward I see the entire column begin to accelerate first from the trot we were at, to a canter, then a full out gallop. As we get closer the Door Kickers swing into line and counter-attack. I watch as Kicker leads Nightmare Moon and her crew past the rest of the guns and the wagons, I see two ponies in the trainer’s seats. As they swing into place they do not even drop the stabilizers on the four-wheeled carriage of it and just begin to rapid-fire. One of them drops the rear of the ready ammo box on the caisson and tosses rounds to a fourth crewmember who has jumped up onto the platform and is feeding rounds in as they continue to move forward at a walk. They seem to be using the special rounds which when they detonate in the woods cause additional projectiles of broken branches, limbs and trunks of the trees to splinter and fly into the ranks of the attackers as well the metal from the rounds themselves.

It is then that I watch as the wagons pull past, one of them getting hit by gunfire as it runs past. The rest of the artillery behind them, I see one of the pullers take a hit, and stumble but recover and keep running with the others. The artillery’s medic treating him on the run as best he can with his horn.

As E and H troop go past Nightmare Moon and her crew fall in at the rear and continue to fire, though at a slower rate, as I watch the Door Kickers and scouts disengage and fall back. As they fall back, I see a team of four unicorns stop, turn and all four of their horns light up and I see a series of explosions as the nearest trees to the crossroad explode and fall before the advancing enemy. These four have taken a couple of hits, but are still strong enough that they turn as one and run to the back of the column randomly dropping trees with explosion spells behind them.

Finally, we come to a ridge and the road drops away. Before us lays a valley that is at least twenty Kilometers wide and another thirty long. The ridges on each side are not mountains but are still high enough and I can only see a couple of more gaps through them into the valley easily. Ahead of us is another lower ridge with a river behind it. That must be the rendezvous point.

I have H-troop halt and block the gap we have just come through. “Gunbunny 1 this is MG, have your guns stop 5 Klicks from the gap, I repeat, five clicks, and provide fire support as needed.”

“Rodger MG, Moving now.”

As we move forward, I have the rest of us slow to a walk. Once we are past the artillery, we will begin to leapfrog down the Valley. Before I can say anything more, Bailey Bridge calls me on the PipBuck, “MG, this is Sapper 1, Request permission to lay mines in the gap and to place demo charges.”

“Sapper 1, that is a go, I repeat that is a go. Do it and then fall back with the Belles.”

“Roger that, will comply.”

__________

We continue to fall back down the valley. I am with D-troop and once we have passed Archer and the artillery, we take up a defensive position. The Rangers and the wagons still moving forward.

H-troop is still holding well when I get the report from Kettle Belle, “MG, this is Belle 1, we can hold all day if you want. They have tried twice already to take the gap and been repulsed.”

“Roger that Belle 1, Hold until Bailey is ready, then let us know so the artillery can support you while you fall back.”

“Understood MG, this is Belle 1, out.”

I watch them through my binoculars, looking for movement among the rocks. Higher up along the sides of the gap I can see teams of engineers planting charges of explosives. Suddenly there is a flash of light and I watch as the pack one of the engineers is carrying explodes, throwing up a cloud of dust and debris as well as pieces of rock into the air. When the dust clears there is nothing left to see of the engineer or his partner.

Soon I hear Kettle Bell again, “Gunbunny 1 this is Belle 1, we need support asap two companies pressing us hard right now, they have air support.”

Soon after that I look up and see four of the flying scouts streaking that way.

Then I hear Archer call back to Kettle Bell, “Belle 1, this is Gunbunny 1, make yourselves small, here it comes.” I then hear the rounds outbound for several minutes.

I also hear the chatter of the fliers as they engage the enemy air assets once again.

“Ok, here they come, tighten it up. Shift to a talon 4 formation.”

“There go two of them. Stay with your wingmare, cover each other.”

“Behind you, watch it, Swing left, I’ll get him.”

“That’s it, gently, gently, got her, there she goes.”

“I’m hit, son of a, I am having to land, where are the Belles?”

“Over there about a klick, I will guide you in.”

“Look out there’s one behind you! Break left! Break left! Break left!”

I look up into the distant sky and can barely see them dodging and swirling. Suddenly I watch as two larger fliers fly low above me, climbing for altitude and heading into the fight. Choo Choo and Dull Beak are heading back to help the others. Goddesses how I wish George was here so I could join them. Silently I send up a prayer for all of them.

As the air battle continues above, I watch as the Hell’s Belles begin to fall back from the gap. They are half a klick away from it when I see the lead elements of Silver Spites army coming through. The charges go off higher up and I see an avalanche of rock and debris race down upon them. Those that are left on their hooves continue to try and advance and are met by more rounds of fire from Archer. Eventually, there are not enough of them left to really worry about, so the Artillery stops firing and begins to shift to its next position. The Rangers are already five klicks behind us and have set their positions. Once the Belles pass through us we continue to wait as scouts and pickets from Silver Spite's troops advance. We may not have stopped them, but we have seriously slowed them.

Once the Belles have passed the Rangers, we pull out and begin to fall back also. As we march down the road one of their fliers, a griffon flies over and drops a note tied to a rock. Paper Work brings it over to me and I begin to read it.

Lieutenant Mollygirl,

We both know there is only one way that this can end. You have taken from me that which is not yours and I will take her and you back. For the sake of equinity, you need to end this silly farce you are making and surrender to me and my troops. Yes, your troops will become slaves, but at least they will be alive. There will be no more unnecessary destruction and loss of lives, you have already been marked as a war criminal for crimes against equinity. More troops are still arriving to assist me. No town, no settlement or village will help you now. End this and save the lives of those you care about.

Sincerely

Colonel Silver Spite

I am incensed when I read it. How dare he even try such a stupid ploy on me. I know we can not trust him. Instead of writing a letter back I take the note and write on the back a simple and direct message back.

BUCK YOU!

Sincerely

LT Mollygirl CEF

I then call Sunset to break off the aerial battle and to report to my position. I have him read both messages and my reply. When he reads it, I see his eyes go wide as he laughs out loud. Then he looks at me, “Well I always said you never did things by half, this should really get his goat.”

“Good, Now I want you to take whoever you need to make sure it gets dropped over his troops so they can return it to him.”

“Will do LT, I only wish I could watch his face when he reads it.” He tells me.

“Actually, I have seen him angry, Sunset, I pray you are never around him when he is like that,” I tell him coolly as I remember sitting in that chair and listening to his rant to his subordinates.

He looks at his fliers, “Choo Choo, with me, the rest will hang back over our troops.” Then he takes off and I watch those two fly up over the gap and beyond it. The others taking a break from flying and walking alongside of us as we fall back to our next position.

I listen as we fall back to them talk to each other.

“You ok Serenity?” Dull Beak asks.

“umm hmm, yeah, I, yeah” she replies.

“Look sis, I know you are worried about her, but I am sure she is ok. You heard the Cadet. The medic came right over and started treating her right way.” I hear Fire Fly tell her.

“Yeah, I know, but what if she can never fly again, or if she blames me for her getting shot, I was her wing mare, I did not clear her tail like I was supposed to.”

“Serenity, it was a real fur ball up there, it happens, I am sure she will understand. Heck, I lost your brother's tail a couple of times and the same on his account. It happens.”

“Yeah, but it does not happen to me. I am better than that. I should have protected her better.”

It is at this point that I decide to try and help. “Serenity, it happens in battle. We can’t always see what all is happening at the same time, we can only try and do our best.”

She turns and looks at me, “What do you know about failing and almost losing the mare you love in a fight because you screwed up, you never screw up that bad.”

I see her face as she sees my reaction, It is then that I realize that Dusty is nearby as she takes Serenity to the side and tells her, “You remember that mare that came from the other world right?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Serenity her counterpart on this one was the LT’s Fiancé, she had been brutally attacked along with her daughter. They were dying and used as bait by Silver Spite to lure more of us in. She was the one that found them. She could not save them, she tried but almost died in the attempt.”

“I, I had not realized that was the real story. I am so sorry I said that to her,” she says as she puts her head down while we all continue marching.

“Serenity, your young still, and relatively new to us still, you have a lot to learn yet, so don’t beat yourself up, just don’t jump to conclusions and try to think before you spurt off. And before you ask, yes, I do know that pain all too well,” she says with tears starting to form in her eyes, “I watched my husband get turned to dust by Enclave soldiers at the battle of Manesville. There was nothing I could do. So, you are lucky, Sky is hurt, but she is still alive.”

For a while, the conversation around us dies as we all put our heads down and continue to march north. Once we pass the Belles again, we take up positions and watch them fall back through us as we begin the process all over again.

It is an hour later when we are rejoined by Sunset and Choo Choo. They both are laughing still. “What is so Funny Cadet?” I ask him.

“Well Ma’am, Choo Choo and I took our time to find his HQ. Once there we used Choo Choo’s invisibility spell and we placed that rock and note next to him on his map table. As we were sneaking away, he saw it and boy howdy you shoulda heard him throw a ruckus.”

I Am familiar with the limited range of Choo Choo’s invisibility spell so I have to ask, “UH, Sunset how did you both use her spell to do that?”

I swear he turns redder than my coat, “I, uh, we, uh.” He stammers.

Then I notice Choo Choo is also blushing, oh my, “Well I had him climb on my back like I do with Ginger and Xochitl, I mean he is not that heavy and all,”

I can not resist now, “And?” I prod

“Ok, I slipped some and well it was a compromising position for a bit. Please don’t tell Pages, LT, it was not on purpose.”

“You still had your barding on, right?” I ask with a smirk.

“Yes ma’am,” they both say at the same time.

“Ok, nothing happened then, just relax, I will say nothing more about it.” I tell them.

“Thank you, LT, I appreciate it.” I hear Sunset tell me.

A while later I swear I hear Sunset tell Choo Choo, “Sorry about that earlier, I didn’t mean to slip like that while we were flying.”

Then I hear her giggle a bit, “No Problem cadet, I just now know that Pages will be a lucky mare when we get back.”

I turn my head in time to see him stammer and turn red again at the same time. I do manage to keep the chuckle to myself at least this time. But I will admit it does make me raise an eyebrow at both of them.

Off in the distance at the western gap, I think I see movement, but am not sure. Behind us the troops of Silver Spite are slowly making their way down the valley entrance. More of them are trying to clear the blocked gap so that more forces can come through at a time. It looks like once again Bailey Bridge and his engineers have bought us more time. As I can see they are so far away, I decide that we no longer need to leapfrog down the valley. Instead, we take up our normal pace and continue. Halfway down the valley I see another bridge that crosses a half kilometer branch of the main river ahead, that we need to cross and order Bailey to prepare it to blow once we are across.

“Yes ma’am, just so you know we are starting to run low on explosives ma’am.” He tells me.

I have H-troop cover his engineers this time as they prepare the bridge. Silver Spites forces are still slowly advancing down the valley. I look toward the western gap again and still see no movement so I do not try to hurry things along. However, I do have the Rangers leading the wagons as well as the ground scouts. I have Archer’s Artillery about five more kilometers behind us again, just in case.

We are just about ready to blow the bridge when I start to see the lead elements of Silver Spites forces running towards us. The Belles begin to engage them with their heavy full auto AM rifles. I watch them kick on their tripods as they feed belts of the .50 cal rounds through them. I can only imagine the internal damage, after all, those rounds were originally designed to take out a Steel Ranger in their armor.

When hit by one of those heavy rounds a pony is just knocked clean off its hooves, if not killed instantly. It is brutal but effective. Behind me, Blueberry Crisp starts to wind up her mini guns and fires, just as the first of them reach the causeway to the bridge.

Bailey has finished wiring up the explosives to the detonator and smiles as he hooves it to me.

“I have got to do this plenty of times Ma’am, ya want a turn?” he asks.

I can’t help but smile, “Sure, why not,” I tell him as I take it, I look down at a big red button, on it, above the button is printed do not press till ready to use. This causes me to laugh, then I push it, and watch three sets of charges go off dropping one section just before the causeway on this side and breaking it loose just past the middle span. It drops only part of it in the river, but to use that bridge again will take some time.

I look around, “OK, let's fall back.” I call out.

I watch as the Belles take half of those AM guns off their tripods and place them on the backs of other troopers, then they fold and place the tripods on the opposite side of the same trooper. Other troopers gather the still full cans of ammo and put them in the panniers on their battle saddles. The same is going on with the full auto grenade launchers at the same time. Once we are all ready, I call out to Archer for cover.

I watch as several smoke rounds fall between us and the bridge. We then pull out of our positions and are falling back before the smoke clears. Behind us, our positions are still taking fire. We have taken several more wounded but only one of the troopers from H-troop is killed. Again, we grab his id tags, weapon and gear as we leave him behind.

We continue to march for another hour then we break again. We have caught up with the rear of the column. That in itself is a relief as we are no longer strung out and as easy to isolate. We still have a ways to go until we reach the far end of the valley, but I figure we should be able to make it there now. I just hope that the other forces meet us there too.

I hold another officers call at what I figure will be our last stop before we reach our destination.

“Ok, everyone, I just want to reiterate, once we reach the ridge, we will be taking up positions to defend it if the reinforcements or relief have not arrived. I have not heard anything from Manesville since we informed them about the fight at Targhee.”

I see Duke raise a hoof, “Ma’am are we going to have enough energy, much less time to prepare these positions, once we arrive?” he asks.

“We should Duke. Just before Fancy and Clockwork departed us, they let me know that before they crossed the river they would stop and begin to prepare positions for us there. I had already discussed with her digging trenches, with dugouts as well as some firing positions for the artillery. If we do not like what they have prepared, we can go from there, but it will be a head start.”

Archer raises the next question, “Ma’am, how long are we supposed to hold out if Manesville does not send us help?”

Damn it, why did he have to ask that question? I look at him and answer the best way I can, “Archer, we hold them for as long as we can. Worst comes to worst we try and break out, wether by the bridge or trying to cross that river. Neither one sounds fun under fire.”

Sunset then asks me, “Ma’am, what do you want me and the scouts to do?”

“Sunset, you have a couple of choices, I can disband the scouts and the civilian ones can be paid off and leave. The rest will assume military duties with the rest of us. The other choice is for the scouts to try and catch up with the civilians and escort them further back to Manesville. The third is that all of you simply are blended into the defensive forces. The fliers will overall stick together as air defense. I will maintain the unicorn and alicorn unit as a ready reserve to plug holes and if necessary, create one for a breakout. The earth pony scouts will man the trenches with the rest of us.”

I see his jaw drop, “Ma’am, do you honestly expect any of them to be willing to leave the rest of you behind?”

“Honestly, no, no I do not Sunset, but the offer is on the table. They have done all I can ask of them,” I tell him while I look him in the eyes.

Kettle Bell asks the next question, “Ok Ma’am, I get that we will be arriving soon, where do you want each unit in the lines?”

“Great question Kettle Bell. I want you and the Belles in the center of the lines. The Rangers will be on the flank closest to the bridge. The Door Kickers will be on the west flank and curl back to the river. The map shows a small farm on the backside of the ridge. I will make my HQ there if it is still intact. The barn, if it is still solid, can be used for a mass hospital as well as a location to cook rations for the troops. The Engineers and MP’s will be located near the HQ. This will facilitate their being able to provide security for the HQ also. If there are no further questions or comments you are all dismissed.”

I watch them all go back to their respective commands. Tar comes up on one side of me with her guard. On my other side is Blueberry Crisp, I see the other members of my staff around me, some just shaking their heads. Blueberry removes her helmet briefly and looks me in the eyes, “LT, do you think we can hold them?”

From the corner of my eye, I see that Tar is paying close attention to my answer, “Blueberry, depending on how long it takes Manesville to send help, yes. For at least a day or two. After that, well after that, I will before forced to order a breakout. That way some of us will have a chance to escape.” I see the look of worry in her eyes as she puts her helmet back on.

“Mollygirl, I trust you, do what you need to do,” she tells me and begins to walk away.

Next to me, Tar clears her throat, “Mollygirl, I will stick with you till the end.”

I give her a sad smile, “Tar, if it comes to that, I want you to break out with Trouble and Blondie. They will get you home again. Besides, you have a foal to raise yet.”

“Mollygirl, you have a foal too, don’t forget that, do not sacrifice yourself on this, please. We both know what he is capable of and he wants both of us.” She tells me.

“Tar, If I thought he would leave the others alone I would give myself to him, but as you said, we both know that would not help. The least I can do is if I go down, is to make the cost too high and to let him know that he was in a fight. I will not sell us out cheaply.” I tell her.

As she turns to walk away, I tell her, “Tar, for what it is worth, I am glad we are family. I really wish I had gotten to know you better sooner. Heck, I wish I had known you were family sooner so we could have.”

She gives a tired smile back, “Me too Mollygirl, I always thought you and your family knew. When we get back, I would like to see those journals, and who knows, maybe the memory orbs even someday.”

“It would be my pleasure to show you them Tar, my pleasure.” I tell her, then I look around and give the order, “Ok everyone on your feet. Forward, March.”

And the column begins to surge forward again. From my position, I can see it snake out in front and behind me. From the front of the column, I can hear the troopers begin to sing again. It seems that the March of the CEF has caught on with the other troops now, as I hear them all begin to sing it. Once that one is done, they begin to sing Marey Owen, then The Mare I left behind me and so on. With each one I see the swagger come back into their steps. Even though they are tired I see them gaining some strength and their morale improving. It really does my heart good to hear and see them like this and even better when I join them in singing.

__________

We are only 7 kilometers from our goal when I think to have the scouts investigate it. I call to Sunset on my Pipbuck, “Sky 1 this is MG, be advised I need a recon of the ridgeline ahead as well as the surrounding area before we reach it.”

“MG this is Sky 1, will do,” he replies and I watch as all the fliers available take off in the directions ahead.

Beside me I hear Taser talking to Tar as he escorts her, “You know ma’am hearing what’s going on sure makes me glad that Cookie and Sweets are well ahead of us with the civilian column, I really don’t like the thought of them getting caught up in what we have coming down the pike at us.”

I see her look at him and sigh, “I fully understand Taser, I wish we all were able to just keep marching and join them. I am sure this is not what you expected when you came out of your stable though.”

I am surprised to hear him laugh. “Ma’am, if you asked me nine months ago, I would have had to have agreed with you, but a few months back our stable was attacked by some of those Steel Rangers. I lost several friends in the raid. We were lucky Lil Pip, and some griffons helped us with defending the stable. Several of those rangers changed sides even and helped us. But it gave me the idea that life out here was not easy. Course The three of us could have stayed back in JR-7 if we wanted to along with the rest of Stable 2, but we wanted something different and after talking with your brother Trouble, and the LT, well, this seemed like a good chance.”

I actually see Tar smile, “For what it’s worth, you made a good choice if you ask me. Now that I have seen this side of the wastelands, I realize how good we had it in Manesville. I just hope to see it again.”

“Even if it means going to prison ma’am?” he asks Tar.

She nods her head, “Yes, even if it means that. At least my foal will have a chance at a good life. It’s the least I can do for Broken Dreams. Heck, I wonder how much of this could have been avoided if I had just let him know I was,” and she is interrupted by Taser.

“Ma’am, don’t you go blaming yourself for all this. Sure, you screwed up big time. But from what I understand Silver Spite was already attacking the Co-op and its surrounding areas. Besides, we all know you didn’t do everything he wanted or give him all the information he wanted, otherwise he would have torn us up worse, and I doubt he would have scarred you that way.”

She shakes her head, and lowers it in shame, “No Taser, he was marking me this way on purpose, no matter what I did, he would have done it. Just like the LT, he just wanted to hurt us and leave us with a permanent reminder of him. It was his way of marking us as his, and making sure we knew it.”

I see Taser’s eyes go wide and he looks at me then at her, “My Goddesses, he has gone raider it sounds like.”

“Maybe, I don’t know, but I know he has been bringing in some raiders to rebuild his ranks. I think he is trying to set himself up as a warlord, or something along those lines, but Taser, mark my words, you never want to be tied in a chair with him in control.” I tell him, and beside him I see Tar tremble as she nods her head.

“Taser, take her word for it. I spent several months with him. He started out nice, he made it seem like he cared about me and my foal. Then he changed. Every time something went wrong it was my fault,” She pauses and takes a deep breath before continuing. “Taser, there is something wrong with him. He kills without reason or remorse. I, I saw him torture creatures just for his amusement, and he thought there was something wrong with me for not being like him.”

I watched out of the corner of my eye and see Taser actually have to put a hoof to his mouth to prevent himself from being physically ill. He then looks at Tar and asked, “He made you watch that?”

She nods again “Yes Taser, he did, several times. I felt sick each time but if I showed it, well he let me know his displeasure. To tell you the truth, I am not sure how I am still carrying this foal at times.”

I see Taser’s face go cold when she says that last part, “Ma’am, you may have made some major mistakes and are my prisoner, but if I ever see him, I will do my best to make sure he does not do things like that again.”

Part of me finds it funny, another part finds it sad that now Silver Spite has two stallions that want to kill him for what he has done to Tar. Then I realize, I already do as well with both Archer and Trouble. I can only imagine what Badger would want to do to him. It is then that my thoughts are broken as I hear Sunset calling me on the PipBuck.

“MG, this is Sky 1, MG this is Sky 1, do you read me?”

“This is MG, go ahead Sky 1.”

“Ma’am looks like we have a problem here at the rendezvous site. The civilian caravan is still here.”

“Sky 1, I am not surprised as it was predetermined, they would prepare the site for us.”

“MG, you do not understand, the bridge is down already, they are stuck here with us.”

I look at both Tar and Taser all three of our jaws have dropped. Then I respond, “Your right, that is a problem.”

__________

Dear DJ Pon3, I have been kicked, beaten, shot and spit on. They have lied about me and my troops and blamed their actions on us. They have lied once again to try to get us to surrender. With this in mind, could you play I Ain’t Backing Down as a personal message from me to Silver Spite and those who are still following him?

Sincerely

LT Mollygirl

Commander CEF

Author's Note

Thanks again to Kkat for this universe of FoE. I also want to thank so many others who have shown us how much more there is to explore, and those who continue to do so.

Several of my test readers were very angry about the civilians being cut off and trapped. If you are also, that means you too can understand how Mollygirl and so many others of the CEF are feeling at this point. Remember though the show isn't over till the fat mare sings, and the same goes for the CEF and the civilians with them.

For those who would like to listen to this chapter's play request the Youtube link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdQgjNB6_T0