The Book of Blackjack
Part 1
By Numbername
There is always a bit of truth in legends
Velvet Remedy Groaned a bit as the Skybus descended toward the land before, even after years of taking air travel she had never gotten used to the feeling of taking off and landing, her few crashes probably added to such a fear. But as the griffon carriers landed she held her breath as to not worry her followers.
Getting to her hooves she looked around at the ponies and zebra with her. They wore lab coats and some carried medical packs with them in case of a problem, and considering the area of the wasteland there were in, that was a wise choice. Stepping out of the bus Velvet was greeted by the sight of four ponies in front of her, each wore the typical wasteland appeal, various sets of leather clothing and hats were worn by them with the only exception being the pony in the middle. A yellow coated mare wore what looked like a strange blue uniform that had a tag on it reading BOTTLECAP in large letters.
As Velvet and her followers walked up the yellow mare with glasses bowed to greet them, “Miss Velvet Remedy I presume? Nice for you to visit the Hoof, your Followers have been a great help here.” She talked with respect and the voice of some pony who’d sell you anything. “Hope you find Megamart to your liking.” They had landed on the roof of a large pre-war shopping mall, surrounding the mall was a large gathering of tents and shacks where ponies sold and bought various items, surrounding even that was a large wall of boxcars that had been repurposed for defense with guard towers and gun turrets filling in cut off points in the wall. A large glowing sign set out of the town saying, Megamart Finders Keepers.
“A pleasure to meet you miss Bottlecap, I’m glad my followers have been able to provide aid to the Hoof after the war.” Velvet bowed her head, she had always prided herself on making a good impression when meeting some pony of importance. Acting as a semi diplomate of the newly formed New Canterlot Republic, these types of the meeting became commonplace for her. “But I have come for more than diplomacy and aid it’s on a more personal level that I wish to discuss with you about the Security Mare.”
That got looks from some of Bottlecap’s group but she simply nodded.“Right then. Come miss Velvet we have much to discuss in private.” With that, the two groups walked toward a doorway leading into the building. The mall itself was much like the outside, ponies buying and selling goods, expect only the ground of the mall had tents and shakes, upper levels used the old stores as their means of conducting business with the higher levels selling better products. Bottlecap watched it all from the window of her office room, the room was sparsely furnished with only a few chairs, bookcases, monitor screen, and of course Bottlecap’s desk taking up space. Velvet sat in one of the chairs waiting as Bottlecap made drinks in the next room.
“I hope you like the heavy stuff miss Velvet, Hoof ale and rum is all we have here.” Bottlecap brought the drink on a small table balanced on her back, Velvet took the glass into her magic and gave a sip then curled up at the sourness of the beverage.
“I see everything in the Hoof has a kick to it.” Bottlecap laughed at the joke as she took a seat behind her desk, then glazed at the mare with a more professional look.
“Now on to the matter at hoof, Security.” She winced the name. “Why do you want to know?”
Velvet cleared her throat and gave an honest answer. “I wish to know the true story of Blackjack, EC1101, and The War of the Hoof. More importantly, I need to understand what happened to Blackjack, and Does EC1101 still exist?” she said hoping the yellow mare had the answers she sought.
Bottlecap sighed. “Thirteen years later and ponies are still debating what happened. While I make it my job to be a trader in all things information included that is something that has no clear answer.” The answer made Velvet’s heart sink, she had been so close. “Blackjack disappeared after the final battle, and EC1101 was destroyed by her before hoof. Now the projects, Steelpony, Chimera, Phoenix, Horizons, and Rebirth are either destroyed and inactive, only the factories of the core still work. Really now Ms.Velvet you must have known this.”
“I wouldn’t have come here if I thought it was useless.” Velvet brightened up and with confidence in her words. “We have reports of a cyber unicorn both matching Blackjack’s description and abilities being spotted in the mountains of Baltimare and the islands off the coast. Were not sure but the Lunar Rangers have film of such a mare.” Velvet pulled out a holodisk from her saddlebags and placed it on Bottlecap’s desk, the front was written in bold letters HIGH OFFICIAL EYES ONLY. “I believe this could help in our search.”
Bottlecap was skeptical of Velvet’s claims but took the disk anyway, placing the disk into her terminal and downloaded the files, When the video started playing on-screen Bottlecap was unimpressed as a mare in a black robe traveled along a dirt road when she saw the features of the mare. She was a purple and red striped mane and tail, a lavender coat and bright pink eyes, one could barely make out the horn on her head obscured by her mane. The mare seemed like the standard hermit living in the mountains away from the dangers of the wasteland, but this mare was different. Her steps seemed less pony more machine and her eyes grow a hue of red.
The mare walked a far distance unlit stopping completely and looking to her side, from a hillside east of the road band of ten ponies clad in what looked like raider appeal stepped forth, carrying spears and hammers in their mouths. The robed mare in an unnatural fast speed quickly pulled a gun out with her magic and began fasting, Within seconds three were dead.
The mare then stood on her hind legs, not like a pony but like a creature that walked on two legs. Her forehooves then produced talons that grabbed two more pistols from holders around her flank and began firing, almost every shot landed with most hitting the eyes or chest of the attackers.
Bottlecap stared in shock as the attack lasted only a minute, yet the mare simply got back on all fours and kept walking like it was nothing. She turned to face the pony filming her and glare
though. After the recording ended, Bottlecap sighed and rubbed her forehead, she gave a questioning look. “You said this mare was spotted around Baltimare?”
Velvet nodded and added. “The NCR scouts have reports of bandit gangs being destroyed and dangerous wildlife decreasing around that area and areas around it. We believe it’s this mare’s doing.” Using her magic Velvet physically lifted a few pairs of photos from her saddlebags. “We’ve even captured photos of her with different coat and mane styles, but the facial features and body remain the same. We’ve tried to search that area for her but there’s never a trail or trace of her except her fights, and she stopped appearing around there a few months ago.”
Bottlecap looked inquisitive at the photos laid on her desk, narrowing her eyes and giving a tired sigh. “Ms.Remedy let’s say this is Blackjack. If after 13 years of hiding, what makes you think she wants to be found now?” Bottlecap laid back into her chair folded her glasses and gave the mare a stern look. “For what reason do you need Blackjack?” She pointed a hoof at the dark mare.
Velvet Remedy cleared her throat and gave Bottlecap a reassuring look “Two reasons, one important and one about making things right.” Bottlecap raised an eyebrow at that, tons of ponies wanted Blackjack if she was alive, some for revenge others to meet the hero who saved the Hoof. “ The main reason is that she is Goldenblood’s only descendant who can open I.M.A hubs and labs without advanced hacking. The Followers want her to open a lab in Manehattan that contains research into plant engineering.”
“And the NCR?” Bottlecap was no school filly, she knew the Followers and the NCR were almost one.
Velvet knew this part may get some flack. “The council wants her so they can begin work on Phoenix and Steelpony again.” She noticed Bottlecap’s body language changed from a listening pony to one about to ask her to leave. “But! They simply want it as a means to help soldiers and injured ponies that normal medical practices can’t help!” Bottlecap’s look didn’t change but she kept listening to the mouthpiece of the NCR, Velvet took the fact she wasn’t thrown out as a good sign.
“The second reason and more importantly to me is I want to tell her story.” Velvet got to her hooves and placed a hoof on Bottlecap’s desk. “ She saved me a few months after the war with the Enclave, and I’ve seen how her name has been demonized and glorified by the Hoof and the rest of Equestria. I want to learn the truth of Blackjack, her real story and what happened to her leading up to the battle of No Pony’s land.” She wanted the world to learn Blackjack’s side of the story, unlike Pip, Blackjack didn’t have any pony left after the dust cleared to get the facts right, no pony to tell truth from fiction. “I plan to make the Book of Blackjack and release it alongside the book of Pip.”
“Ms.Remedy, your goal is noble, but Blackjack is still hasn’t been seen. How do you plan to find her?”
“That’s why I came to you.” the answer confused Bottlecap making the mare question Velvet’s tracking skill. “I need you to tell me all the people, pony or otherwise, that Blackjack met in her travels. Where she lived, traveled, and what they all thought of her. Most importantly I need to know if any of her friends are still alive.”
Bottlecap knew this was a fool’s earn but decided if it helped fix Blackjack’s name it couldn’t hurt. “Find, I will help you, the Finders will contact all of Blackjack’s allies, enemies, and friends to see what we can learn. And we’ll give you records of her business with the Finders and our partners, however, this requires a large trade-off for such a request.”
Velvet smiled and nodded, she was getting closer to her goal anything was worth it. “I knew there would be a trade-off, name your price.”
“I want Followers aid in all Finder’s Keepers settlements, also I want access to some of the pre-war technology your Followers have found.” The Followers had been successful in gaining old-world tech but only giving it out to those they’d trust or using it themselves in their effort to help ponies.
“Deal! For this, it’s not too much.”
“Good.” Bottlecap stood up and placed her right hoof out. “I hope you’re successful in finding her. And if you do then please tell her Bottlecap sends her thanks.”
Velvet took her hoof and shook it, sealing the deal. “I will. Thank you, Ms.Bottlecap, you’ve been a great host.” Velvet got up and began to leave. “Now if you excuse me, I need to perform another reason I was called here.” She brushed her white mane and cleared her throat. The citizens of Megamart had seat up a stage in the old movie theater when they heard Velvet Remedy was coming to town, and she never failed to perform for her loving fans. With that, she exited the office to meet the crowd.
Author's Note
Criticism is deeply wanted, I wanted to do for this story is write my take on the PH story with Velvet going around finding information on what happened. This shouldn't be viewed as me trying to write over the original it's just a reimagined version. This story came from the original FOE and how point of view can change a story.
What remains of old friends
What remains of old friends
Seeking the truth no matter how bad it hurts
Velvet looked down at the passing landscape before her, the morning sun brightening the Hoof showing the bright green forest and lakes that made up the land. Hills and plains were everywhere with mountains dotting the horizon. The restored beauty of Equestria always made Velvet’s heart skip a beat. She and her friends had done this, all they had worked and fought for had paid off in the end. While the remains of the wasteland such as raiders and warring factions remain, restoring the land was a big step in bringing back Equestria.
“Ms.Velvet are you listening?” The words tore Velvet from her wanderlust and back to the Zebra mare sitting next to her. “Mistress I know the land looks beautiful from this view but please pay attention.” The zebra was a strange mare Velvet had ever met one, she was one of the Zebras Velvet had met in her travels around the south. Down there zebras were more numerous then they were in the north, with Velvet meeting several communities in her journey with her husband. During the war zebras in the south had been relocated to a town called, Happy Tails, where they were isolated from the rest of Equestria. When the bombs fell their area wasn’t hit due to the fact how far away from civilization made it the safest place in the whole country.
After the end, the zebras used lessons learned from surviving their own harsh homeland passed down for generations to easily survive the Equestrian wasteland. Keeping to themselves and scaring away any trouble makers, the zebra’s manage to keep their cultural roots intact. When Velvet and the Followers put out a call for any zebras to join their organization to help in restoring cultural history, the tribes sent one of their historians as a gift of goodwill. “Sorry Musa, I was thinking of how everything has changed.” Velvet closed her eyes and laid back into the seat. “Ten years ago this was all wasteland.” She pointed out the window. “And this area was probably the worst of it. Now it’s a thriving mini country.”
“Well Ms.Velvet you should take pride in your work, but there’s still more modern problems to discuss.” Velvet looked at the mare, her long black mane done into a ponytail, and the strange colored orange glasses covering her eyes as she gave Velvet an annoyed look. “We need to go over the medical shipments to the Hoof before we can return to Junction town.”
Velvet gave a long sigh, the job of an administrator was not easy. Talks of monthly balances, trade routes, the economic situation of both the Followers and NCR had driven Velvet from a happy mare full of life to one that just wanted to sleep for a week. “Yes, yes I know. But we can discuss that after our meeting today Musa.” While the shipments were important, the real reason she had come out this far was more personal. “After we get more information about Blackjack I promise to get the paperwork done.”
“Mh, fine we shall discuss it later.” Musa gave a hump and pushed up her glasses with a hoof.
Velvet breathed a sigh of relief, Musa could be pushy but she knew when to back off. “Now tell me everything about this village we’re going to.” Velvet turned her head back to the window, the land below got closer as the Skybus descended from the heavens.
“From what we’ve gathered the town is called Boardwalk, it was a fishing exporter before the Enclave war but after it opened relations with Sanddogs it started exporting scarp from around the Hoof. After the war in the Hoof they took on refugees from a nearby Stable, they got along with town’s folk well enough but there was always a divide. The Stable ponies seemed to practice a form of caste system where roles are assigned to you based on your mother’s role from birth.” Velvet winced at that, she too had known the burden of familiar legacy with her great grandmother's talents and role being forced upon her, and while she did take too well she was never allowed to have a life of her own. Such a burden drove her to leave the Stable and start her journey so many years ago. “Along with that fact male Stable ponies are treated like servants by the mares has lead to refugee area being called Maryville by the locals.”
“And the mare’s named is Midday?”
“Midnight and Marmalade Ms.Remedy.” Musa side with a hint of annoyance at Velvet’s question. “Midnight is the town’s technician, fixing a lot of salvage tech around town, and Marmalade is a guard.” Musa didn’t know what to think of Velvet sometimes, for as kind and worldly she seemed she always missed the finer details.
“Thanks, I don’t know what I’d do what without you Musa.” Musa just smiled a friendly smirk at that.
“Probably dead if that business in Vanhoover is anything to go by.” Velvet Remedy just rolled her eyes, you get a bounty on your head from an angry a warlord and now all of a sudden your idiot.
“Just make sure you’re taking notes when we interview them.” she said as she turned her attention back to the passing landscape below her. “This part of our search is the most important. To learn about who Blackjack is and where she went we need to find out where she started.”
The settlement of Boardwalk was a seaside town built on a larger boardwalk that looked like it had seen better days. While most of the bore the post-war look of grimy ruined buildings and objects that had not been clean in two hundred years, a certain section of town looked brand new with buildings made out of fresh-looking wood and metal. This part of the town held ponies who wore stable-tec appeal and the all too common Pipbucks around their left forehoof, these ponies also seemed more well kept than the rest of the town’s radiated, often having a custom made hairdos and clean clothes.
Velvet felt kind of at home when she and Musa rolled through this part of town, while she wasn’t fond of her life in the Stable but the civilness of its denizens compared to the rough nature of most Wastelanders was welcoming to say the least. Velvet and Musa passed multi shops and houses both took note of one detail, most of the ponies who did anything in this part of town were mares, no shopkeeper, guard, or fisher pony was a stallion. In fact, the only bucks they saw were inside houses, like they were kept away from the rest of society.
As the two mares trotted up to a building with the sigh ‘The Wreck Room’ They both were hit with the sweet smell of fresh pine. Entering the building the scent increased tenfold as if some pony had special candles made to hide the usual bar stretch. As they entered they were greeted with the cleanest bar one could hope to trot into, the room looked less like the typical wasteland bar and more like a cafe from before the war. Instead of wood the bar and tables were a pestle metal, red phon seats were nicely set up around the place, the floors were a square pattern of white and black. And to top it all off there were no signs of rot anywhere, the usual rot of the wastes wasn’t here.
Like the rest of the area, this bar was full of only mares, who paid the duo slight glances as they entered. The welcoming calmness of the establishment gave Velvet a sense of nostalgia, it was like trotting into Stable 2’s bar except without the stage where she performed. The thought passed her mind that these ponies had probably ripped parts of their stable out and moved it here, that would take a lot of horsepower, tools, and outside help to do it. These ponies were committed if anything to preserving their way of life on the outside. Even the ponies of Stable 2 didn’t go this far Velvet thought to herself.
“Do you see your contacts, Musa?”
“Well from the description the Finder’s gave I believe that’s them over there.” Musa pointed a hoof to a corner of the room where two unicorn mares sat around the enclosure, one looking bored while the other devoured a plate of greens like it was candy.
One was a midnight blue mare with black mane who fiddle with a device Velvet knew all too well, a Pipbuck. The other was a honey-colored mare who was on her third plate of food as Velvet and Musa neared them, she only broke away from mad dining when the duo’s shadow stood over her. She looked up with a confused expression that quickly turned into a welcoming smile. “Oh your that singer the Finders told us about.” She reached out a friendly hof to greet them. “Hi, I’m Marmalade.” She said ecstatically making Velvet wince a bit.
Velvet took her hoof anyway not wanting to offend, she only reeled a bit when the honey-colored mare shook her hoof vigorously.
“Eh? Yes, nice to meet you Miss Marmalade. I’m Velvet Remedy and this.” She pointed to the zebra beside her who bowed respectively. “This is Musa.”
Marmalade got up and quickly started shaking Musa’s hoof, the zebra gave a happy smile while Velvet stared at the dark blue mare. “And you must be?”
“Midnight.” She was the reverse compared to her partner, she almost seemed to fade into the background rather than greet them. “So the Finders told us that you wanted to know about Blackjack?”
Velvet cleared her throat, it was now time to get down to business. “Yes, we’ve come here to learn all we can about her. Most importantly what was life like in her Stable?” Velvet frowned as she saw that she got an unwelcoming look from the dark blue mare.
“Blackjack is a sore topic around here.” Midnight said coldly. “Most mares from Stable 99 want to forget her, but you're here asking about her. Can I ask why?”
The barely hid anger in her voice warmed Velvet of a minefield of responses that could end this interview real quick if she answered wrongly. “I simply just want to set the story straight about Blackjack that’s it.” Velvet said with conviction hoping this would be enough. “I want to give Blackjack the same treatment Little Pip got. I want to tell her story, her real story unbiased and alter by the ponies who knew her the most.” She looked at Midnight hopefully yet wanting eyes. “Please Ms. Midnight I need you and Ms. Marmalade, I will give you anything just to hear this story.”
Midnight gave a tired sigh, looking away from the charcoal unicorn. Marmalade who had retaken her seat was beaming at this. “You want to help out Blackjack!” She shouted, gaining several other mares in the bar's attention at the name. “Any pony that wants help out Blackjack is a friend of mine.” the honey unicorn mare couldn’t be more happy-making her companion stare at her in an angry expression. “Blackjack was a good pony, I don’t care what the mares around here say. I will help”
“Thank you Ms.Marmalade, you're a big help to a great cause.” Velvet needed a way to get Midnight on aboard so she went with an ace in the hole. “For your help, I will see to it that you can get a position in the Followers as a guard. You can have your own house in Junction Town completely free with no taxes for it.” That made the honey-colored mare light up in surprise, she’d dream of leaving this place for years but never could find a way.
Velvet’s gazed turned toward the corner of her eye, seeing the somewhat surprised looks Midnight gave the offer. She knew she had won when the dark blue mare groaned. “Okay I will bite, I will tell anything you wish to know, however,” she said with a tone express there would be no barging. “I want out of here, I want to leave the Hoof.” Marmalade looked at her like she grew a second head, about to say something but Midnight cut her off. “I don’t want to be here anymore, all this place has is bad memories for me. I want a technical job if you have any open?”
Velvet’s face lit up like a filly getting the toy they always wanted, she tried to shake the mare’s hooves but Midnight reel back feeling a little put off by her excitement. “You won’t regret this Miss Night, we will see you get a position in the Followers along with Miss Marmalade here. All you have to do is come with us for the interview and fact-checking, is this alright with you?”
Midnight just nodded her head, the unsure frown stilling showing that she was not sure she made the right choice, but she kept any displeasure at the situation to herself as the pair began to leave.
“I know this is a hard subject for you miss Night, so I will make sure I get the record straight about Stable 99.” Velvet stared back with conviction in her eyes. “The story of Blackjack and her life will be told as truthfully as possible, even if it reveals she was a monster under it all.”
Marmalade looked around the meeting room Velvet Remedy had chosen for the interview, it was mostly empty, say for herself, Velvet, and that Zebra she traveled with. All three sat with chairs facing the opposite end of the room where a white screen sheet had been placed. A crown-like device sat on the mare’s head with a strange black orb sitting in the middle of it. Marmalade tried to pick at it but Velvet assured her it was safe.
“Now Ms.Marmalad this device is designed to simply show us your memories.” She paused when the honey-colored mare looked surprised at that. “Think of it as a memory film, it broadcasts your memories to the screen that’s all, it won’t hurt a bit” that made her calm down as Velvet floated a recorder in her magic grip right next to the honey-colored mare, Musa held a notebook in her forehooves while keeping a pencil in her mouth. “Now I want to ask you a question, and I need you to focus on this one.” Marmalade nodded. “How did Blackjack get her Cutie Mark?
As Marmalade closed her eyes and focused, the orb began to glow, energy radiating from the crown as a beam light shootout toward the screen. Images formed into being, a pic of a table with three fillies sitting around it holding cards in their hooves.
“Finally it’s all coming together.” Velvet starred in joy as she laid back in her chair, she had come far but the answers she sort were here. She would learn about her hero, savior, friend, and began pulling the pieces together. But a lump of fear tighten in her stomach, what if she found out something horrible, what if Blackjack was truly the Hell Mare some called her, and she just saw the friend, the good image in her mind. Velvet shook her head, it didn’t matter she would tell the truth no matter how bad it hurt, those words were one she took to heart from a good friend.
