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.