There have been immeasurable casualties in war. And just as many travesties. From poison gas to concentration camps, from civilian bombing to balefire bombs, no one is innocent of every horrible act possible in war, no matter how they may page themselves as saints or 'the good guys' we are all monsters, and have done monstrous things, even the Ministry of Peace committed experiments on ponies and invented megaspells, delivering them to the zebra's pre-war, I found that on an old memo, but I doubt she intended war, she was naive after all, most of the ministry mares were.

But enough deferring from my point. While war may change it's reasons, it's tools, it's very participants. One thing never will; the travesties committed by both side of the conflict. That does not mean however, that they should be ignored.

This monologue I constructed while we were continuing to walk back to Goodwater the colt tagging along now further away from me after my reprimand of him earlier. Sam wore a worried look on his face as we walked in silence, a small wind whistled across the canyon walls the multicoloured stone making it look like an ancient sea.

"I didn't want to come here." The colt said weakly as he looked up at the canyon walls. "I heard how there was an Enclave base here before and I though this region would be entirely against us but when we got past the border there was just a small town built out of this huge skeleton, they said it was from a SandWinder, a big monster that got killed by the Enclave on a patrol a while ago." He looked forward at us again. "They said they were happy with that, that creatures like that were commonplace and that could still live here, we thought they must be really weak to make it so that normal ponies could be fine down here. Our hubris was our downfall, as it nearly always is." He looked down at the floor as stayed silent for a while before saying weakly:

"We were rejected form Applejacks Rangers at first you know." He paused for a second then followed with, "They had heard about what we did in New Pegasus, didn't want anything to do with us. But we got in eventually, but we were always shunned, after all, how could the group who wants to protect people, fully accept those that were contempt to butcher stallions, mares, colts and fillies just to hold onto some bloody computers at a stupid casino!" He stomped hard on the ground tears beginning to prick on his eyes now.

He turned to me quietly keeping his head low.

"Did they at least have a good reason, was their some good tech there, was it in anyway justified?" He asked, begging.

"No, three terminals, one version 2000 MK IV pip-buck with a damaged screen, and two dozen spark batteries." I looked at him hard "Same as at a dump, less than at a robotics shop." He slumped down further as we continued to walk and I called out to him.

"You were there, weren't you. Not as a soldier, but as a victim. I remember you now, the sickly looking coffee coloured colt, cracked half moon spectacles on your muzzle connected by a rusted gold chain screaming for help. Dragged away by the fleeing Switchboard Rangers, your mother on the ground, gutted and raped, the order uncertain, traces of forced overdose present in many ponies and creatures around her and bullet wounds on those who didn't have them. " I looked up at the sky seeing a outline of a carrion flying overhead, the cockroach of the sky, "Ironic, kidnapped by those who killed and destroyed all you knew and when someone says they were wrong to do so you disagree. " I chuckled quietly and added "Sounds like a corny sitcom plot."

"You shouldn't laugh at that." Sam said chidingly as he looked at me. I turned my head to him boredly and responded;

"I was there, and I wasn't laughing then, it wasn't funny." I looked forward again and started walking "Still isn't"

We continued on walking after this little discussion, the colt hanging back still but his head now hung to the ground, near dragging it along.

"Why is it that up North it is a lot wetter in most places yet here it is arid?" Sam asked, trying to break the silence, he looked a bit overwhelmed.

"The rain collects up in the mountains then falls as rain but it only happens on one side, since we are on the other side there is low moisture and little rain occurs, that happens in some areas for northern equestria, but not always." I quickly responded.

"How do you know that?" The, you know what, it's boring calling him that, takes too much time, Coffee, as that is his name now: asked. I looked at him with a 'really mate' expression and unfurled my wings and gestured to them.

"Pegasus mate, kinda used to control the weather. Till little miss Rash decisions up there decided she would become a giant fucking thorn in our side, and not accept a pip of complaint." I looked back to him and added: "And yes, that was a pun. Shh."

"Oh, yeah. What was that about the Lightbringer? You sound like you don't like her very much." Coffee asked.

"I simply find it ridiculous how a mare can destroy and entire culture dooming thousands to death, then not even considering that she should guide them about what they should do, or morals, she just takes their responsibility away from them, like a bad mother with a struggling child." I was silent for a moment before adding on. "And the fact I hate the idea of heroes and villains. I don't believe in the idea, of 'All good', 'All bad'." I finished finally.

"Eh, makes sense, I appreciate what she did but, really, Lightbringer, sounds like something out of a kids comic book or a old religious text." Coffee agreed.

"I saw her once." Sam put in as we walked.

"Really?" I asked curious as we walked.

"Yeah, when I was out exploring the North, a few years ago, I was bored and wanted to taste some adventure. I saw here at that slaver camp she fought at near New Applaosa, where she fought the alicorn thing. Can't remember the colour though."

"Did you talk with her?" Coffee asked looking at Sam wonderingly.

"Nah, thought she was not long for the world, whoo boy was I wrong." He responded casually.

"Think she died once and then came back to life, or was that Security? They are quite similar sometimes." Coffee asked as we walked now parallel with us, I'll let him have it.

"Security. See I can respect her a little more, but mainly cause she worked as a public servant in her vault and how she acted, plus she had to deal with some hardships a lot worse that that priss up in the tower." I responded.

"Oh yeah, how many times did she die? Four? Five?" Coffee returned.

"Yeah around that." Sam responded.

"Seems a bit gratuitous, you know dying so many times, like a plot in a hero story where the hero never dies no matter what, and come back to life if they do." Coffee said analytically.

"Yeah, but you could say that about us. Always moving from one adventure to the next, no filler, it's like our world is being written by some un-experienced author who has trouble with writing simple casual and slice of life moments." I added.

"STOP CRITICISING ME AND GET ON WITH THE STORY!"

"What was that?!" Sam shouted

"But Sir, how are we supposed to do th-"
"Don't worry about it, I'll deal with it."

We looked down and saw the voices were coming from and old sand blasted intercom, the speaker still crackling waiting for something to announce.

"Oh...well that is...awkward." Sam said as he looked down at the speaker.

"Yup."

"Well let's move on." I broke in, striding forward. Coffee once again began to shuffle behind us.

"It's more annoying when your behind me, just stand up here yah' wuss." I called back to him and he smiled slightly and trotted up to walk beside us.

"Anyway," Sam pushed in "I didn't know that you served outside of the Dusts." He said curiously putting his paw under his chin and adopting a mockingly over-dramatic inquisitive expression.

"Of course, I served lots of places but mainly over the edges of Equestrian borders really never much inland. Though I did once fly over the Zebra lands. Looked like there was some sort of civil war happening over there." I responded flat toned.

"I served up in Hoffington for two weeks before we joined Applejack's Rangers, well they didn't exist then. It was a resource run, but we left quickly, our main Paladin went insane after a short while so we abandoned the site." Coffee said nervously.

"Look at me, surrounded by former Militia members, I feel like a pre-war executive." Sam said loftily a great smirk on his face.

"Not that good." I said quickly,
"Yes quite bad." Coffee added.

"Hey!" Sam yelled to us but we just laughed and he eventually joined in.

We were near a settlement East of GoodWater when we decided to get some supplies. The settlements name was Oil-Cat named after a pre-war biker gang that used to hang around the area, though I am fairly sure it used to say 'Rat' but faded so much it became 'Cat'. It was built out from an old rest stop, old coolant pumps standing rusted in the centre. Vendors cluttered around the edges of the town in ramshackle buildings, made from old skywagon and tank parts and assorted scrap.

It was the last stop for most wanting to be forgotten so lots of their stuff wound up here, though some of it it more questionably obtained. Everyone here was strong enough to not be killed by the others, that is how you survived at Oil-Cat.

"Howdy there strangers!" Yelled a kind southern accented voice. We turned over and saw a white dragon with blonde scales styled in a short haircut, I don't know what it would be called, wearing a clean navy jacket and waistcoat over a clean shirt with similar colored trousers a green belt and white and black leather boots, spurs on the back. A white stetson with scorch marks on one side on his head.

"What brings y'all here ta' Oil-Cat, pleasure, business or are you after someone?" He asked cheerily waving his arms around as he spoke.

"Supplies, that's all." I responded and walked over to a stall. Don't engage he looks like a nutter but if we leave him be-

"Who's askin'?" Sam asked harshly. Noooo! You, idiot!

"Oh, I am the new mayor of this beautiful town." He responded quickly a smile spread across his muzzle showing his ridiculously white teeth, though there were a lot of silver ones.

"No your not! You just came in one day and said you are!" Yelled one of the stalls the others agreeing.

"Tamato, tomato. Anyway, you seem a bit defensive there friend, somethin' botherin' you?" He asked Sam leaning on him a slightly curious look on his face.

"I'm not defensive, I just don't trust random strangers with my business that is the way out here or did you not know that?" Sam replied jerking away from the white dragon casing him to nearly fall over before restoring his balance.

"Can I have some water and food?" I asked the teller as the three stooges decided to continue their discussion.

"Sure, 40 caps for all we have for sale, or you can have it for free if you get rid of 'im." He responded jerking his head to The dragon.

"Get rid of him how?" I asked. He took the hint.

"Just take him with you, he is your problem after that. He's driving us up the wall and he unnerves some of the customers. Bad for business." I nodded and looked back over to him.

"Fine, we'll take him. But I want the food now, not later."

"O'course, here." He dumped some boxed goods and hardtack on the counter and I stored it in my saddlebags.

"So, what is his name then? Never got it." I asked as I arched my head backwards to look at them. They were still arguing among themselves, it was like looking a puppies fight. Deadly survival trained, and military trained in one case, puppies but puppies nonetheless.

"Flowers, odd name I know but most of us just call him 'Vic' saw him wearing a shirt with a tag that red as that so we just kept that." I looked at him flatly.

"That's stupid, he could have took that from a corpse."

"We know, but still." He returned weakly. I sighed and placed a hoof over my face groaning slightly.

"Best to get this over-with." I turned my head to Flowers and yelled; "Hey Flowers, you have been voted out of office, want to come with us? We are politicians, well technically." He looked at me and lit up his eyes basically becoming stars.

"Really?!" He said happily as a huge smile dawned over his muzzle. He lept at me.

"No,no,no,no,no-Argh!" I yelled as he tackled me and hugged me dearly in a bea- dragon hug, dragon hug not bear.

"He,he,hee." He chuckled.

"I regret this immediately, not even a minute in, and I regret it."

"Why are you taking him with us again?" Coffee asked as we walked Sam agreeing with;

"Yeah, I thought you didn't like anyone."

"Just ponies, and we are taking him because it made it so I didn't have to pay for the supplies." I responded matter-o-factly as we walked.

"So I was a coupon?" Flowers asked.

"Yep, but you have been removed as mayor, apparently you disturbed the customers." I responded

"You shouldn't be so blatant with stuff like that!" Sam chided as we walked. I looked at him satarenly and he sighed and dropped it.

"Well, now that that is done, nice to meet you Flowers, or would you prefer Vic as everyone back there did?" I questioned looking to him.

"I don't rightly mind, long as you don't call me Petal. Last jackass 'did that found himself deeper than the worms 'if-fin y'all know what I mean." He responded calmly. I nodded and we continued walking for a bit Sam and Coffee going into a discussion with Flowers over something. Any second now, there will be something any second now, there always fucking is.

I gazed out over the surroundings, it was empty, no stirring of dusts no rumbling of ground. Huh. Guess there isn't anyth-
Now! I internally yelled and whipped my head around. There was nothing I turned my head back around grumbling. We kept on walking for a while the three behind chattering away like housewives.

"So, Sam, what is Miss Light like?" Flowers asked me looking curiously at me occasionally sneaking a look ahead to observe the old pegasus mare in question who twitched when I thought that and succinctly muttered i'm not old. I ignored that abnormality and turned to Flowers to respond.

"I don't know everything, but she is tough, and good at public speaking and quite frightening when she so desires. She openly admits she doesn't like ponies, preferring any other species to them." I returned my gaze to looking ahead from Flowers and continued walking.

"I wonder why that is." Flowers questioned arching his head up and staring up the sky his hat loosening from his head as he did so, threatening to fall off.

"I think I know," replied Scrap, I bet Pilot refused to call him by his name, probably just calling him by his coat colour.

"Really, what do you think is the reason?" I asked Flower nodding with me curious.

"The New Pegasus massacre, as she was telling you about Sam, before Flowers came along. The Switchboard rangers came and slaughtered everyone there, including my mother apparently, and kidnapped me, she watched me get taken away but was told she was not allowed to assist any of the survivors by her superior, I think that is where her loathing comes from."
Scrap finished on looking morbidly towards the leading mare ahead.

"I heard about that whole thing," Flowers said in a level tone "Enclave got blamed for years before AppleJack's rangers admitted it was some of their ranks a few years ago when the formed, they said the Switchboard did it as well." He finished declaratively "Must have been hard, getting blamed for something for so long even though you came there to stop it, turned into a symbol of monstrosity even though you came to help, guess that prob'ly is the reason why she is as she is."
Flowers finished his vice thoughtful. We all looked forward at the mysterious mare ahead, she had her cards so close to her chest you could say they were sewn into her skin, or maybe welded into her metal ribs.

"She is still tough as coffin nails despite all that." Scrap commented as we walked. I chuckled and responded;

"You never know she might be made of them." I replied cheekily. This drew odd looks from the other two.

"What do y'all mean by that?" Flowers asked incredulously. I looked back to him a little play of realisation and mirth playing on my face.

"Ah, you have yet to see that area of bad assery she holds, you see a little while ago one of her enemies ordered someone to kill her, she was shot 76 times point-blank almost died so one of our friends Digit replaced most of her organ with mechanical parts and then gave her some magic projection thing to make it so she looks normal." I replied dramatically, leaning over the each of them.

"Shit." Flowers said aghast looking over at Pilot a speck of fear and awe in his eyes.

"I kind of expect it from her." Scrap said monotonely. This drew mine and Flowrs attention.

"What do you mean?" I asked him, after all he had only just properly met her today.

"Well anyone you ask around here in the Enclave or most of the members of AppleJacks Rangers who worked near the edges of Equestrias borders have probably met her and she was the highest authority of the New Marexico Enclave Specail forces, she was second only to the President after all." He admonished calmly.

"Huh guess your right." I responded satisfied.

"Sing my praises some more why don't you" I yelled back to the three of them making them all flinch.

Author's Note

I can do Slice of Life, hah!

Ps so sorry I haven't posted in ages I'm doing GCSEs at the moment and I was moving so pretty stuffed full on time.