Ashes and Fairy Tales

by RoccoRoccs

Rating: teen
Tags: Violence, Death, Narcotics, Roseluck, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Limestone Pie, Profanity
Length: 6219

Sequel to Falling Down, Ashes and Fairy Tales follows Chance as he looks for answers as to what happened to the world after the bombs fell.

Sequel to The Long Road Home

After finally finding happiness and a home in Stable 12, Chance is tasked with finding answers to what happened to the world outside after the bombs fell. Against his own wishes, he is sent into the Equestrian Wasteland to uncover valuable data for the now defunct OIA. His thoughts soon turn towards the sky and the fact that the cloud cover had yet to recede but his prying questions and unwanted presence would soon lead to trouble. With a his small team in tow, he searches the wasteland for answers to the questions that plague his thoughts.

Published 2019-04-14 22:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2019-04-16 03:11:40 UTC

Chapter 1: Hearts Far Apart

Music played as I trotted into the office signifying yet another Monday morning for Stable 12. You know, you would think now that the world had ended as we know it that things would at least be slightly interesting. But no, other than the cheerful music playing and the odd data file to de-frag, this place was as dead as the world outside. We were all in need of some fresh air, but such things happened rarely for us and usually involved work of some sort. Other than the terrible singing of wrong lyrics in harmony coming from Click and Clack, there was little to do on Mondays

"These ponies 'round here, wear beat down eyes sunk in rad soaked faces, their resigned to what our fate is! But not us! No, not us! No, never! We are far to young and clever! Too ra loo ra too ra loo rye aye! You'll hum this tune forever!" They both sang together in perfect terrible harmony.

"Do you two ever do anything productive?" I said as I flopped down into my chair and put my hooves up.

"Hey, we'll have you know that we are working on our singing career!" Click said with a hoof to the desk.

"YEAH-YEAH! We are going to be so famous! Tens of thousands of ponies are going to love us!" Clack affirmed.

"I think you mean tens of ponies... Their aren't but a few hundred ponies down here."

The two of them took a moment to do the math, for two of the brightest hackers out there, they sure were bad at math. Before long the two of them began to twitch with confusion as to why they would not be famous singers to thousands of ponies in a Stable with at the most 300 ponies in it. Then, they started singing again.

"Uptown mare! She's been living in her bombed out world! I bet she's never had a sunny sky! I bet the rads made her skin fry!" They both screamed.

"I HATE THAT SONG!" I shouted in protest

"Everypony quiet!" The Overmare shouted as she trotted through the door. "Honestly, just because the world ended doesn't mean that you all can just ignore office decorum! There is still a lot of work to be done!"

"Overmare, we have done everything already. Click processed the last file yesterday and I just finished encrypting and uploading the last data drive from the office... there isn't anything left for us to do." Clack said as she shuffled the papers across her desk.

"Good. Then since you all have so much free time I suspect that you all won't mind a new assignment then..." She said with a sharp tone that rarely ended in anything good for us.

"YES-YES-YES! Please!" I shouted. Anything to get out of this bull pin of crazy singing and staring at monitors. If I had to listen to those two make up the lyrics to one more damn song I was going to crack my own skull on the desk.

"Good... Well then, pull up a chair and listen close..." She started by sitting down. "With all the files uploaded to the mainframe we can finally get back to work."

"Madam. What doe you mean, what work exactly? The world is GONE. There is nothing left to snoop into apart from the odd trash can." I said in confusion.

"Exactly! The world as we knew it has ended... But what we don't know is why."

"Fluttershy went Flutterbitch and sold us out to some striped bastards who blew our flanks into the stone age. The world outside is icky and gross now." Click said flatly.

"Watch that tone young lady. To you all it may seem as cut and dry as that, but it isn't. We know that Golden Blood got to Fluttershy before we could. We should have suspected as much would happen considering their... involvement. There was a 48 second window when we were completely locked out of everything. Video surveillance, audio surveillance and even two of our team members were taken for debriefing by the OIA proper. Months passed before the bombs fell, leaving nothing but questions behind for us. I want the answers to those questions."

"Overmare, if I may..." Clack began. "If there are answers out there for this, and that's a pretty big if, what good would they do us now? Even if we did find something, who would care?"

"I would. Golden Blood didn't act alone in this. There is no way he could have without somepony else, or someponies. Even if they did not know what they were doing at the time, even if they didn't know why they were there, they still stayed silent and it was the death of us all. One day this world will spring from the ashes and have it's second chance, I want to see to it that the mistakes of yesterday will not only not be forgotten, but also not repeated. We all lost something, some of us more than others, but we all lost one thing together."

"Our stuff?" Clack asked?

"My pet hamster, Katchup?" Click asked.

"My morning coffee?" I asked. Everypony else was saying something stupid, why not me too.

"No... Our home. Equestria has fallen, make no mistake of that. There isn't some song and dance that will bring this back! There is no 'Nuclear Winter Wrap up'! Just dust and ash and a lot of lives lost. So even if it means digging into this for generations to come, I want answers. I don't want this loose end to remain unraveled. I want justice, even if it means breaking down a Stable door to bring who ever is responsible for this to their knees in a pool of radioactive slime!" She shouted. Ok, she's not playing around. Limestone was pissed!

Rightfully so, she lost everything in the blasts. Her whole family was effect. Even Pinkie Pie, the ministry mare for the MOM had gone stark raving made on something called Partytime Mentals, claiming to see the future. Limestone was no such mare as her sister, she was sharp and motivated at her lowest points and that mare can hold a grudge like noponies business! So it stands to reasons with her in a position of power and leadership that she would do something like this, even if it was fool-harted.

"Madam, What do you want us to do exactly? We have poured of the data and found nothing! Every scrap of evidence we had was either torched or been looked at for so long we started seeing things that were not there at all!" I asked.

"Exactly. We have everything we have, what we need is what we don't have."

"Madam, you are not making any sense."

"What we need is out there. So, I have decided to open the Stable doors again, this time for exploratory missions for as long as needed. Chances are that somewhere there is a data trail leading right to the source of all this mess and I want you to find it. Canterlot would be my first guess, but early reports held nothing good about the state of the place. With that pink fog there it is off limits until it clears. Therefore, we have to seek out the OIA hubs from the surrounding cities and outposts. With any luck, maybe those two morons of your's can find a way to hack the terminals and find us something."

"Madam! That's insane! You can't really expect us to go out there and just kick rocks until we find something! Chances are all the OIA hubs have been destroyed and it will just be a waste of time and resources! Even still, it could take weeks just to get to a single station on hoof." I protested.

"This topic is not up for debate. We have arranged a way for you all to fly to the locations... Well, ride, for two of you. The seven-ten rule dictates that by now the surface should be inhabitable for weeks if not months at a time even nearing the blast craters. This could finally be our chance to not only sniff out the details of what happened to set the record straight, but also a chance for us to gain valuable data about the damage. It will be needed one day, hopefully soon. Chance, you have given so much for your country, do you really want to see it all bleed away in vain?"

"No Madam."

"Good. You three will be briefed about your first mission to the outside at 8 A.M. sharp in my office. I suggest you all get plenty of sleep because it is going to be a long day for you all tomorrow. We have made arrangements for your equipment and rations for your first excursion." Limestone said as she trotted out of the office and on to the observation deck.

"Oh this is so COOL! We get to go out exploring, don't you think that's awesome Chance!?" Click said.

"Yeah... woohoo... I only have a foal on the way... Rose is due in a few months! What are the chances that I wont be here when the time comes!? that sort of thing is important after all."

"Gee... We didn't think of that." Clack said.

"Yeah-yeah! We kind of... forgot. Sorry Chance."

"It's ok. Your enthusiasm is not a cause for guilt. If anything, I want out of this office too. I thought working in the real world was bad enough, but being trapped down here? Honestly, this Stable is four floors and some two million square feet but it feels like a shoe box. I'm sane and it's getting to me, so I could imagine how you two feel."

"It is pretty boring..." The two of them said together.

"Well. No since in sitting here putting off the bad news... If I sit here and stew over it I will only go through it twice." I said as I gathered my things to leave.

"Chance! Work? You know, that thing we do everyday?" Click said pointing at the monitor.

"What work? You two have been finished working since this morning. You said so yourself."

"Oh... Then, what do we do now?" Clack asked.

"I don't know. Go get drunk or something. We have the day off, might as well use it." I said trotting out the door.

I trotted down the narrow hallways in search for my room. I have been down here for months now and I still didn't know my way around to save my own life. Then again, I had a lot on my mind to keep me distracted. I can't believe we are going back out there, exploring no less! As cramped as it was down here, I rather liked not dying for the sake of vengeance and validation. I was much less than interested in figuring out 'who shot first' and as much as I wanted to be mad about everything, I had moved past it all.

All I wanted was to work, come back to my unit and spend time with Rose. There was no way this was going to be met with anything less than a hurricane when I tell her what was about to transpire over the next few months. I would not be surprised if you went straight to Limestone's office and tried to start a fight with her over it. She already hated me having to leave everyday, now she was going to be separated from me completely! If something happened to her or the baby, I was going to be miles away and would have no way of knowing at all!

After much searching, I finally found our block. Room 19B, located on the second floor of the 'Family wing' was not much, but I gather few rooms were much more than others down here. But being a family suite did afford us extra space and a second room. Also there were other fillies and Colts that Rainier could play with and stay occupied through out the day. It was nice, peaceful even, but seeing so few other families in this wing was rather depressing. It always lead my thoughts to wonder if so many of the families that were meant to come here had not made it.

I trotted through our door to a eagerly waiting Rose. She was always just so happy to see me, it felt great to come home to somepony's waiting embrace and love. But today was not going to be one of those 'sit and make jokes while we cuddle' kind of days. No, today was going to go south, I just knew it.

"HUNNY! Oh I missed you!" She shouted as she ran to me.

"I missed you too, Rose." I said, faking a smile and trying my best to hide my own nerves.

"What's wrong? Rough day?" She asked, eyeing me.

"Hunny, sit down. We have to have a talk."

"Oh no! You are not leaving me!" She shouted as she grabbed the lamp off the table.

"ROSE! NO!" I shouted as I darted into the bathroom. Rose had been... tense throughout the pregnancy. lot of anxiety, mood swings and what not. So, If you were wondering how I knew today was going to go south, now you know. "BABE! I'm not breaking up with you! I swear! Stop jumping to conclusions like that!"

"Y-you're not?" She said, peeking around the corner at me. Ah, back from whence we came!

"No, just... sit down. This is going to be a bit of an explanation." I said, taking the lamp from her and tossing it in the hallway. It was her preferred weapon of choice when I had done something that I hadn't actually done. The two of us took a place on the couch and I, laboring under the delusion that I could somehow spin this into something less than terrible, began to hyperventilate.

"Rose, I have to leave for a while."

"YOU SAID!-" She started by grabbing the other lamp from the other table.

"I KNOW WHAT I SAID!" I shouted back, trying to save our last lamp from being bashed across my head. We only had two and I'm pretty sure I just broke the last one when I tossed it in the hallway."I know what I said and believe me, this is not my choice. I being ordered topside to evaluate the damage from the bombs. I also have to go on scouting missions to some of the surrounding cities to gather some lost intel. That's it."

"That's it? You just have to do a few missions? To a few close by cities?"

"Yeah! That's it!"

"Which close by cities... exactly?" She said narrowing her eyes at me. I was now trying to sink as far as I could into the couch to get away from her. I love Rose, make no mistake, but she scares the hell out of me sometimes.

"Oh you know... Ponyville, Hope, near Cottonwood..." I started as if it were nothing at all... then coughed out the others under my breath. "Mariepony, Baltimare and Canterlot."

"CANTERLOT! BALTIMARE!?" She shouted as she began hitting me with a pillow.

"Rose! It Ain't like that! I was ordered to go!" I begged.

"I DON'T CARE!"

"I CAN'T IGNORE ORDERS! WE COULD BE KICKED OUT!"

"I DON'T CARE I'M MAD!" She cried. Angry with the situation and the stew or hormones brought on by pregnancy, Rose was sobbing and beating me half to death with a pillow. Somehow, I managed to bare the assault long enough to get in close and deploy a tactical hug on her. It was very effective, but nothing would stop the tears.

We both knew what this meant, it was as near a death sentence as I was going to get outside of official punishment. It wasn't as if I was being killed off with this mission, but it sure felt that way to me. To Rose however, it was an act of pure evil. She knew what all I had been through, she knew I had been spared from topside investigation for the most part over what happened in Ponyville. But none of that matters when the overmare wants answers from places beyond reach and you are the only pony with wings. She cried for what felt like hours. At one point so did I, just falling apart together as though I had lost my family all over again, because in many ways, I just did.

"When?" She asked, refusing to let me go.

"Tomorrow morning I report for briefing. After that, we say our goodbyes and head out."

"I don't want you to go. I almost lost you once. I can't..."

"Yes you can. Even if the worst happens, even if I can't see, I'll find my way back to you. I promise. I limped in here nearly dead, I can do it again." I said with a smile.

"I wish I had your confidence..."

Wow, it had been a very long time since I heard those words. I couldn't help but wonder if this was another sign that I was fully recovered from my ordeal or not. I may have been over things as it were, but my life was forever being quantified by the actions of my past now that things were going well. I hated being left to wonder about stuff like that, no clear answers, just best guesses. All I knew was that at this very moment, I wanted nothing more to hold on to this crazy mare and not let go, even if it was going to be for a brief amount of time.

"Chance? Promise me something?"

"Anything."

"Promise me that you will be here when it's time?" Rose said with all the hope in the world resting in her eyes.

"I promise, I have no idea how, but I will be here."

Chapter 2: Nightmares And Daydreams

I woke up long before I should have. Visions of the nightmare I had just had was still playing tricks with my eyes and had a firm grip on my pulse still yet. Rose was fast asleep beside me, her hoof still softly reaching under the covers for me in in the still darkness of the early morning lighting. I sat at the edge of the bed, frantically trying to get myself together so I could fall back asleep next to her for a little longer. But to no avail, I had to get up, my body was dragging me forward in search of something to clam my fractured nerves.

Not wanting to leave her side, I took perch next to the bed in the chair and rested my hoof on her side. I wanted to be close to her but at the same time I wanted nothing more than to just... fly. I wanted to burn off all this energy and throw myself to the mercy of the wind so I could scream the fear away. But there was no wind down here, only the stale cool air and low ceilings to tease me further. It was as if the world around me was closing in on me just to let me know that I was trapped from respite.

I was being torn between the mare I loved and the relief I needed, I hated it. I just wanted to go back to sleep for a while and forget all this was happening, but how could I? My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest at any moment! I had dreamed that I was born aloft with Rose on my back, the world below us was fire and smolder. Just as I found a cloud to hide us both away, Rose fell. I flew after her, but one of my wings just... disappeared. That feeling of... hopelessness. I had not had that feeling in so long that I had nearly forgotten just how much it hurt.

It all happened so fast, yet felt like an eternity in my mind. When I woke up, I had to be careful not wake Rose as I clung to her. But no matter how close I got to her, it was never close enough to calm my nerves. Why did I have to have that dream, on tonight of all nights? I just wanted to enjoy my last few moments with her before we were flung into the Wasteland. But here I sit, patiently waiting for the time to come that I have to go. If nothing else, it would give me time to watch over her a little longer.

By the time that my alarm rang, I had already taken a shower and started a pot of coffee. The Stable lights were just beginning to brighten up for the day and Rainier was already stumbling around half asleep, looking for food. The poor girl looked dead on her hooves as well, but her's was from staying up all night chatting up the buck in the atrium. Mine was from stress. She trotted to the counter near the coffee pot, eyes still closed and began pawing at the counter for a cup. After a few tense moments, I slid one in front of her where she eventually found it.

"Morning." I said flatly.

"Mor-aahh-ahh-ahhing."

"Sleep well?"

"Coffee..." She said as her hoof found the pot and began to poor the black elixir... right passed the cup and onto the floor.

"Yes. Coffee... And it goes in the cup, sweetheart." I said as I guided the pot over the cup.

"That's nice..." Rainier said as she trotted back to her room.

What an odd mare. She's so sweet and kind, like her sister was... But a morning pony she was not! I have no idea how she gets around here with her damn eyes closed like she does but somehow misses the coffee pot inches from her face. I love her like a daughter I never had, but that also means I sometimes want to give her a good bell ringing to get her head on straight... like the daughter I never had.

I grumbled away as I poured Rose her morning cup and placed it near her bedside before returning to clean the mess. At this point I was looking for anything and everything to distract me from the hurricane inside my chest for a little while longer. As I went to toss the dirty rag into the clothes bin, I was greeted with sleepy yawn of a mare sipping away at her coffee. I swear, she could be in a coma and the scent of coffee would wake her right up.

"Morning, hunny." I said as I tossed the rag in the bin.

"What am I going to do without you around here..." She said with an eager grin.

"I don't know, probably kick Rainier out and sleep in?"

"We can't do that... After all, you are the one who found her. If not for you, she would not be alive."

"I know... I just wished she would show it more, you know? I mean she's a good kid and all, but very messy and kind of disrespectful."

"Chance... She's a teenager for one. For two she's farm bred and raised. They tend to be more honest and forward about things."

"Yeah... I guess you are right." I said, crawling back into bed beside her.

"Bad dream?" She asked as she laid a hoof on my leg.

"Yeah... I guess it was to be expected."

"Chance. I've been thinking. I know you don't want to do this, but... This mission you are doing, could it help us get out of this place one day?"

"Yeah, it could. I think once the details of what happened are known and the extent of the damage measured, we might get to live a normal life again."

"Then I want you to do it. I want you to go and get this done as fast as you can and get back here." Rose said as she curled up to me.

"What? Just a few hours ago, you were planing to murder me with a lamp, now you want me to go?"

"If it means us getting back on the surface, yes. I don't want our baby to grow up down here, I want her to smell the flowers and see the sky. Not... this." She said with more passion than a mare who had just thought of it.

Truth was, I had been thinking it too. I would never want a kid to grow up in a place like this. It was cruel for them to never see the sun or moon and even more so for them to not get the chance to just run and play in the summer air. Depending on what we found out there, there was a great chance that we could make a life for ourselves even after life had ended. Her passion and mine were one in the same, but it was going to have to be me that found out first hoof if it were possible.

Before long it had come time for me to be briefed for the mission and I had to leave. Neither of us wanted to let go, even if we both knew that I was coming back before I had to disembark. It felt like one slow step away from her at a time, but what must be done, must be done. Even with order, I hated to go. Rose had promised to take a shower and meet us at the Stable door in a few hours to see us off. Rainier on the other hoof... She might show... Maybe.

Click and Clack were quick to join me as I trotted towards the overmare's office, the two of them looking eager and ready to go. Click, in true Click fashion, was still brushing her teeth and combing her mane for the day all the while humming a tune that she had made up. Clack however... Lets just say that she had mastered the art of sleep trotting to the point of being a functional narcoleptic. As the three of us reached the overmare's door, a though came over me to the tune of needing to speak it aloud.

"Girls... Listen. I have no idea just how far she is going to push us off this cliff, but know this... We will make it back home. I won't let her put us in a situation that will get us hurt or keep us away. I know you are both excited to go outside, but just remember that we are doing this for everypony, not for her. Got it?" My little speech done, I looked to them for affirmation. A spit of toothpaste and grin from Click and a sleepy nod from Clack. Perfect. "Let's do this."

"Chance, Click, Clack... Good morning." Limestone said flatly.

"Morning, madam." We all managed to get out.

"As you know, your mission is to observe and report. Nothing more, nothing less. Your mission is to verify damage, gather intel over the matter at hoof and report back with your findings directly. This is not a sight seeing trip! Chance, I suspect that you will be happy to hear that I have granted your request for time off and you will need to report back here one day prior to the date you set."

"Thank you, madam. It means a lot."

"Yes, well... Your little filly will be the first born in this stable, we hope to see this occasion to spur many more like it some day. It is after all, important." She said with a hard tone. "As I was saying. This data will be of the upmost importance to us and the survival of our kind in the world. Accuracy is top priority, that is why I am granting Chance the access codes to the stable door. This is a huge responsibility, if somepony were to find this code, I don't have to tell you that the out come could be less than ideal."

"Yes, madam."

"Now. I have uploaded the mission criticals to your pipbucks, it would be best if you all made your way to the armory to get suited up, you will be leaving as made ready."

And with that, we were ushered out the door and down the hall to the Stable armory to get geared up. I was still plenty upset about what was happening and my role in the matter, but even I was feeling that oh so happy feeling of excitement. I got it anytime we got to go and do field work, but this time I was not a lacky, I was a team leader! Even though I had to leave Rose behind, I could not shake the feeling of butterflies in my stomach from the excitement.

The load out that we were receiving was anything but typical... Sure there were the standards for a field analyst... Laser ruler, note pads, forms, pencils, clip boards and what not... but I never remember wearing armor this thick and I'm pretty sure we were never issued firearms. Three 10mm pistols and one assault rifle were issued to us along with a health amount of ammunition. I had not clue what they thought or expected us to see, but the list of munitions was putting me on edge.

"What's with all the guns?" I asked.

"Loaded as requested by Limestone. Field reports have stated that some of the local wildlife has turned hostile due to habitat loss. There is also the threat of robbery from one of the roaming gangs in the area."

"Gangs!? I expected wildlife, but gangs?"

"Yeah! After the bombs fell, ponies started to gather in packs so to speak. After the shelf stable rations ran out, some ponies resorted to robbing other groups to keep their stomach full."

"Just a few months in and we are already set back thousands of years."

"It's a real shit show out there, sir. Best stay frosty." He said as he cinched my vest tight.

Click and Clack were enjoying the treatment from the bucks hooves doing up the various straps around them. I never bothered to ask, but judging by the looks on their faced, they both had a thing for a buck in uniform. Especially one that had their hooves all over them. Great, I was going into the Wasteland with two hot and bothered, well armed insane mares. What could go wrong!?

The gearing up completed we disembarked for the Stable door. Click and Clack tailed close behind as we passed by the various confused ponies in the hallways. A Stable FULL of ponies, but because I had wings I was was pre-selected for a suicide mission with two crazy mares. The weight of the armor and weapons was well noted with every step of the hoof on the steel floors. The Stable residents looked on in wonder and confusion as we trotted to the land platform were our loved ones awaited us to say god bye.

"Chance. Click. Clack." The overmare started in a loud commanding tone. "It is no secret to anypony here what lies beyond this door. Many of us have seen the devastation with out own two eyes, some of us lost more than we can bare to recall. With your work you three will see us through this hardship and into a bright new tomorrow. It is my dearest wish that you return to this Stable safe and sound with the information we need to move forward with our lives.

As an old story once told... Look around and count thee among the mighty, fore you are of sworn duty and strength. through your might, your will be done and through your knowledge the doors before you opened. Tread swiftly through the shadows of death and fly high on the winds of this world. Ad astra per aspera!" She finished with a shout. The grand gesture was met with cheers of excitement and eager stomping as the crowd of onlookers carried on.

"Chance! Pst! Chance... what does that mean!?" Click said from the side of her mouth.

"It means, through difficulties, to the stars... It's the motto of the MOM's Search and Investigation branch... The branch you worked for?" I said in complete disappointment.

"Now! The time has come for your moments alone with your loved ones. Please, take a moment to be with them before you leave on this journey." Limestone said as she trotted from the platform and over to the control room.

Click and Clack took turns hugging each other over and over again as they said their tearful goodbyes to one another. Ridiculous as it was, it was also ironically fitting for those two to be doing such a thing on the eve of such a dangerous assignment. I turned to Rose who had dawned her favorite white dress for the occasion. Lashed across one shoulder and held in place with the rose pendant I had given her long ago when I had asked her to marry me, she stood regal and strong. She truly was my daydream come true.

She was going through so much right now, so much that the universe just kept asking for more of her, yet she stood strong against it all. It was only in private that I ever saw her truly break down before me, but out here was different. No out here she had to show me that she was strong enough to bare the burden of everything while I was away. It was just another way she showed her love for me. She kept my mind clear of worry by force of will just so I could think straight for a little longer. It was one of the things that told me that she truly was my one and only, if not the second mare in my life who could do such a thing. I was proud to know her the way I did.

"I guess this is it. You're all packed up. I see they gave you some armor..." She said avoiding eye contact.

"Hey now... none of that. Look at me." I said taking her hoof in mine. I watched as the tears in the corners of her eyes began to grow and glisten in the amber lights above me. As strong as she was, no mare or buck was strong enough for this.

"No- No! I can't Chance, no!" She whimpered as she tried to look away.

"Rose I know you want to be strong right now for me, but right now what I need is to see those green eyes of your's."

"Chance..." She started as she made contact with me once more. "Please hurry back." Her last words came out as little more than a squeak as she hugged me tight one last time.

"I will, Rose. I will."

With a sharp jolt, the platform between us began to fall away, pulling us apart from our embrace. I had to wonder if the overmare was just sadistic or if she knew I had no plans on letting her go. I watched as the platform pulled her further and further away from me back into the bright lights of the Stable. I did everything, I bit my lip, I chewed my tongue, anything to keep from crying in front of her. It looked like It was my turn to be strong for her. I had to be if I wanted to make it back alive.

Just as I thought I could still make her form out, I watch that giant cog roll its way back into its place, sealing us away from the ones we loved. I turned to Click and Clack expecting more of their usual stupidity, I could really use some comic relief right now. But I was nearly swept from my hooves as the two of them ran to me crying. The two of them wrapped their hooves around me and refused to let go.

"I'm so sorry Chance!" Click howled.

"Yeah-yeah! I promise we will do everything we can to get you back safe!" Clack affirmed.

It was only then I realized that the two of them had done something I had never seen before, the two of them stopped what they were doing and paid attention. I was both shocked and overcome with pride that I had finally taught them something after all these months. I know I rag on them all the time, but honestly, it's so that they better themselves. But through their crazy antics and mindless mare dribble, I saw something just a bit more of them. They cared about me.

Even if the job we were given seemed insurmountable, I think we can pull it off if we try hard enough. These girls might not have much to come back to, but maybe, just maybe if I try hard enough, I can give them something to come home to one day. Maybe we three can, together.