AMONG THE TROTTING DEAD

Twilight listened to the winds blowing through the snow-covered trees. It was eerie hearing nothing but tree limbs dancing with the winds. Watching her breath dissipate, she adjusted her… Blaze’s jacket as she turned her gaze from the trees to the ground below at the barren tilled soil.

“At least we jarred what we could.”

Twilight looked over her shoulders and saw Cadence walking up to her. “We’ll need to find some more food if we want to get through this winter though.” She looked at the foal snugly wrapped in a cloth that’s strapped around Cadence’s chest. “How’s Flurry Heart doing?” She walked upped and nuzzled her niece.

“She’s doing alright.” Cadence sighed. “She just fed.”

“This winter looks like it’s going to be worse than the last.”

Cadence and Twilight looked up at Iron Wing who flew down and landed beside them. Shaking off the snow that clung to his body, he took off his goggles and gave them a toothy smile. “How’s the little one doing?”

“Snug as a bug in a rug.” Cadance smiled back.

“Oh, brother….” Twilight rolled her eyes.

“What to corny?” Iron Wing laid a foreleg over her shoulders.

Twilight blushed from his touch and looked away trying her best to hide her embarrassment. “Yeah…” Feeling the soft fur of bat ponies was alluring. Swallowing the knot forming in her throat, she turned her eyes towards the visitor center and saw the silhouette of an earth pony stallion sitting at one of the lounge’s windows. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized the stallion’s figure.

Sitting on the window’s sill within the lounge, Blaze watched Twilight’s mannerisms. Feeling a tight sensation in his chest, he looked away and stared at the stick he was wedeling away. Hearing the crackle of fire, he looked up and saw the others huddled around the large central fireplace.

“Damn it’s getting cold.” Copper grumbled as he put his hooves to the fireplace. Pinkie laid against him, trying her best to keep him warm. But in all honestly it was just an excuse to be close to him.

“Well, get used to it.” Marely sighed. Hearing the door open he looked up and saw Cadence, Twilight, and Iron Wing stepping inside. “Unless you’re them, they seem to like the cold.”

“It was getting rather stuffy in here.” Cadance hummed a tune as she adjusted Flurry Heart’s wrap. “Besides it’s her first snow.”

“Well, I’m not looking forward to winter.” Sweetie Belle huffed.

“Why?” Applebloom gave her a raised brow.

“Well, last winter we had lost our last home.” Sweetie Belle huffed as she laid down on the floor and stared at the ceiling two stories above them. The thought of Irons’ Ridge tickled the minds of some.

“This isn’t Iron’s Ridge.” Shining retorted as he motioned for his wife to sit beside him. “We will not let that happen again.”

“At least we don’t have to worry about some of us turning out to be jackasses.” Opal adjusted his jacket. Soarin frowned as he remembered one of those jackasses pointing a gun in his face.

“Let’s not dwell on the past dears.” Rarity hummed as she ran a hoof through her sister’s mane. Her words stung at Blaze’s heart as he looked down at his stick.

“You alright?” Twilight asked, noticing his mood.

“Uh…” He looked at her. That look she gave always made him blush. Always concerned for her friends. “Yeah.” Was he a friend… Something more, he looked at Iron Wing. Or a ticking time bomb, like… last time. “My mind is wandering that’s all.”

“Wandering in what direction, towards what?” Iron Wing asked, his tone slightly sounding condescending.

Getting what he was implying, Blaze kept his cool. “Just mindless thoughts.”

Twilight could feel the tension and let out a cough. “Well, I’m going to go over the supplies and see what we need.”

“I’ll go with.” Iron Wing gave her a smile.

“Same!” Spike sat up, not before looking at Applebloom. She smiled and waved for him to go as she returned her attention back to the sets of cards in her hooves. Iron Wing was somewhat disappointed but put on a smile to mask it from the others. Except for Blaze who saw through the thin façade.

“Just like old times.” Spike put his hands in his jacket’s pockets as they walked up the steps to the room they were using as storage.

“Just like old times.” Twilight looked at Iron Wing. “Except for our plus one.” She gave him a playful smile.

“Just pretend like I’m not here.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

Twilight shook her head as they got to the second floor. “How can I when you two are all over me…” She froze as she got to the third door on their left.

“I’m not all over you?” Spike crossed his arms.

“I…” She looked at Iron Wing and noticed how flustered he looked. “That’s not…” She looked at Spike and saw his ever-present pestering questioning stare. “Never mind.” She threw open the door and stepped inside. Iron Wing’s lips were stretched out in an uncomfortable facial expression as he followed her. Spike stared at the two as he chewed on his right cheek. Shrugging his shoulders, he followed after them.

Placing his hand on the light switch, a deep click sounded off, but the lights above struggled to stay lit as they dimmed on and off. “That sucks.” He sighed. “Looks like the waterwheel is struggling to stay unfrozen.”

“Something we’re going to have to get used to.” Twilight looked at Iron Wing who was looking over the crates of canned goods.

Feeling her gaze, he looked up as he picked up one of the cans. “We’re going to have to plant more vegetables next spring if we don’t want to live off of canned goods.” He said to change the subject.

“Hopefully Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane find some more on their next run.” Spike stated wanting the tension to fade as well.

Like if someone heard his prayers, they heard hoofsteps down the hall. Looking over at the door, they saw Rainbow Dash, who wore a dark-blue jacket, googles and a red scarf around her face, entering the room. Seeing them, Rainbow Dash threw down two saddlebags onto the floor. “Hey.” She pulled down her scarf. “What are you doing up here?”

“Taking inventory.” Spike sat on a crate, crossing his arms as he gave Twilight and Iron Wing a look.

Seeing Spike’s questioning glare, she slowly caught on and blushed. “Well…” She felt her throat tighten up. “I don’t have much.” She opened one of the saddlebags. “We didn’t have much luck.” Pulling out four canned good and some medical supplies. “I think we picked the nearby town clean.”

“It was a small town to begin with.” Iron Wing picked up one of the bags and looked inside. Twilight stared at the rest of their supplies and frowned. Hearing the windows rattle, she looked up and saw the storm has gotten worse.

Twilight stood in a room that was once the manager’s office. Her eyes stared at a map of the park and the surrounding areas. Picking up a red marker with her magic she crossed out the nearby town of Mellow Brook. Capping the marker, she bit her cheek as she scanned the map looking for more looting opportunities.

“Anything that has potential?” Applejack asked as she stepped into the room.

“I thought you were getting supper ready?” Twilight kept her eyes on the map.

“My brother, Zecora, Pinkie and Derpy are taking care of it.” She stood beside her friend.

“Looks like the map served its purpose.” Twilight sighed, turning her attention to the window watching the redwood trees sway with the winds.

Applejack watched the trees as well. “We’ll figure it out.” She watched one of the tree’s limbs shake violently, throwing snow that clung to its branches to the ground. “We might have to ration our food.”

“Or we can go further.” Blaze commented as he walked into the room.

“Go further?” They questioned.

“Send out two teams to cover more ground.” He pointed at the map. “One team goes north, and the other one goes south.”

Twilight glared at the map as she mulled over his idea. A smile worked its way onto her lips. “Great idea.” She gave him a smile. He felt a tight sensation on his chest and slowly nodded his head in response. Noticing his flustered expression, her smiled left as she looked at the map. But her mind wasn’t on the large piece of paper on the wall, it was on Iron Wing and Blaze. ‘Those stallions are going to be the death of me…’

“So, we need to go further out, in this weather?” Poppy commented, before taking a bite of her tomato and bean soup.

“If we don’t want to ration our food.” Twilight stirred her meal.

“That’s a good point.” Fletcher smirked, causing Poppy to return the gesture with a frown.

Granite looked out the window watching the snowy haze that consumed their surroundings. “I’ll go, who’s with me?” Limestone lifted her hoof in the air.

“We’ll go with.” Pinkie pointed at herself and Copper who looked at her with a raised brow.

“Pinkie…” Maud started to protest.

“We’ll be fine.” Limestone interrupted her. “We need to do our part.” Muad’s lips puckered as she tried to form a rebuttal, but a hoof on her shoulder from Spitfire calmed her worries.

“I’ll go again...” Rainbow Dash jerked as her wings flinched.

“I think that’s your cue to take a break.” Spitfire commented as she watched Thunderlane rub her back.

“I’ll go as the second group.” Macintosh lifted a hoof. “And Zecora can tag along if she wants too.”

“Can I go with if she doesn’t?” Applebloom gave a sheepish smile.

Zecora and the other’s laughed. “I will go with. I am sorry dear.” Zecora gave Applebloom a warm smile. Applebloom sighed as she laid down and resting her head in her crossed forelegs.

“Then its settled, we have our teams.” Soarin smiled. “When do you colts and fillies want to leave?”

“We can leave in a few days.” Pinkie finished off her bowl. “Hopefully the storm will die down by then.”

“Perfect.” Soarin smiled. “Sounds like a plan.”

“Since we’re done with that conversation, could one of you get more wood.” Rarity tossed in another log.

“I’ll go.” Marley stood up.

“Iron Wing, Blaze. Go with him.” Twilight looked at the stallions in question. Both stallions looked at each other, then at her, confusion clearly on their faces. Rarity looked at Rainbow Dash with wide eyes. Rainbow Dash felt her throat tightened as she wondered what her friend was up to. “Go.” Twilight waved a hoof. Both stallions stood up and followed Marley out of the visitor center.

Hearing the doors shut, Cadence looked over at her sister-in-law. “I think we just need a couple of logs.”

“More the merrier.” Twilight sighed. “Besides, they need to hang out more.” She slowly sipped her hot cider. Rarity and Rainbow Dash gave each other knowing looks. Twilight noticed, but didn’t bring attention to it as she kept her eyes on her cup.

“What’s with playing matchmaker?” Fletcher asked with a laugh. Twilight nearly choked on her cup. Wiping her face clean, she stared at the stallion then the others, before standing up and walking up the stairs. “What did I say?” He asked the group. Rarity looked up at the top of the stairs and shook her head.

“What’s wrong with Twilight?” Shining asked Rarity.

“Private matter darling.” Rarity stood up and walked up the stairs. Getting to the top of the stairs, she saw Twilight looking out one the windows that lined the hall. “Twilight are you alright?” Twilight didn’t answer. Letting out a sigh, she sat beside her and looked out the window as well. Seeing Marley, Blaze, and Iron Wing picking cut logs from a large pile by the fence. She let out a sigh as she rested against her friend.

“What do I tell them?” Twilight sighed as she saw said stallions talking to one another.

Rarity sighed as she watched Marley lit a cigarette. “Tell them?”

“Yeah…” Twilight bit her lower lip. “I just don’t know how.”

“You have feelings for both don’t you?” Rarity studied her friend’s demeanor.

“I…” Twilight watched Iron Wing shake his head. “I do.” She saw Blaze rolling his eyes. Deep down she hoped she didn’t make a mistake.

Rarity felt her friend tense up. “You choose one or you choose none.” She laid a hoof over her friend’s shoulders and pulled her into a hug.

“Is there an option to choose both?” Twilight blushed.

Rarity’s eyes went wide as she pondered her friend’s question. “Um…” She blushed just thinking about it. “I… I would be lying if I denied that I loved the intimacy of two stallions making love to me, but making it work as a relationship would have only been a life of constant problems.” She placed a hoof under her friend’s chin and made her look at her. “I’m sure that would not be a wise thing given our current situation.”

Twilight closed her eyes and nodded. Letting out a sigh, she looked out the window at the stallions below… Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Blaze tackle Iron Wing. “Shit!” Running down the stairs, she ignored her friends’ questions as she ran to the front doors…

They burst open before she could even lay a hoof on them. Iron Wing and Blaze came in tumbling across the floor. Landing on top of the earth pony, Iron Wing brought a hoof up and punched Blaze across the face. Blaze growled and bit his left foreleg.

“STOP!” Twilight’s horn lit up. A burst of magic aura shot out of her horn and knocked Iron Wing to the floor and threw him and Blaze across the floor. Thinking fast, Soarin and Macintosh put distance between the fighting stallions.

“What the hell is going on?” Applejack spat as she walked up to Blaze and Iron Wing.

“Them morons got into a fight!” Marely answered as he stepped into the visitor center. Seeing Twilight’s weakened state, he walked up to her and helped her on her hooves.

“Fighting about what?” Applejack asked as she saw some magical discharge dripping down Twilight’s horn.

“Her.” Marley pointed at Twilight.

“Oh, fuck me!” Applejack spat as she looked at the two stallions. “Are we back in high school?”

Iron Wing rolled his eyes as he sat up and rubbed his head. “No…” He looked up at Blaze. “Just made a statement.”

“What kind of statement?” Shining asked as he wiped the discharge from his sister’s horn. Iron Wing let out a sigh as he stared at the floor. Blaze glared at the stallion as he held a hoof to his right side of his jaw. “What was the statement?” Shining glared at the bat pony.

“He wouldn’t be good for her.” Iron Wing sighed.

“Why is that?” Fletcher asked as he comforted his brother who was shaken up by the fighting. The rest of the kids looked at the scene, concern on their faces, except for Spike who looked at the stallions with a frown.

“Well, given his history.” He sighed.

Blaze grumbled as he stood up, seeing that the magic spell took a lot out of Twilight, he felt ashamed, but as he went up to apologize, her appearance morphed into a mare with canary yellow fur, with a pink mane and tail. Seeing the look the mare gave him a cold chill washed over him. Letting out a gasp, he walked past her and others and down the hall at a brisk pace.

“What’s gotten into him?” Derpy asked.

Twilight stared at the door at the end of the hall, watching it slowly close, her mind ignoring the others' conversations.

-1 HOUR LATER-

“So, what are we going to do about our love-struck stallions?” Shining asked as he sat beside his sister, who sat in one of the couches. A cup of tea in her hooves and a blanket over her back.

Spike stared at the bandage on her horn. “Nothing…”

“Nothing?” Shining glared at his brother.

“I agree with Spike.” Applejack rubbed her head.

“Clearly we have to do so something.” Derpy huffed. “They punched one another.”

“Love makes you do crazy things. With all the chemicals flooding the brain and all.” Dr. Hooves added with a chuckle.

“You saying they went ferial?” Marley tilted his head.

“They let their emotions take over.” He corrected.

“Who cares what happened. What happened is something that could have caused more trouble, trouble we don’t need.” Shining rolled his eyes.

“It was a mistake.” Iron Wing retorted from the other side of the lounge.

“No speaking.” Applejack huffed.

Iron Wing shook his head as he saw Twilight rubbing her head. Feeling a heavy weight on his chest, he looked out the window watching the sun slowly setting behind the horizon.

Not liking the aura that was filling the room, Rainbow Dash ran her hooves across her face. “It’s ultimately her decision.” She placed her hooves in front of her lips. “And whatever decision she makes, they’re going to have to deal with it.”

Shining wanted to protest, but a part of him knew she was right. “Then we will let her decide.”

“You hear that.” Marley laughed. “So, no fighting if it’s the answer you weren’t looking for.” He smirked at Iron Wing. The bat pony rolled his eyes, but he nodded confirming he understood.

“I can’t do this!” Twilight blurted out as she stood up but stumbled from the sudden light headedness she felt.

“You don’t have to decide now but…”

“No…” She interrupted her brother as she shook her head. “I can’t deal with this at all…” She stormed up the stairs.

Silence filled the room. “Well, I guess that’s your answer.” Marley spoke with a long drawl.

“Shut up.” Applejack let out a long sigh. “We do not need this right now…”

Iron Wings stared at the top of the stairs, his sensitive ears picking up Twilight’s hoof-steps as she walked down the hall. A wave of shame washed over him as he leaned forward, resting his head in his hoof.

Twilight sat in a room filled with boxes filled with park flyers and an assortment of paperwork and or junk... Mostly junk. A room the last tenants used as their ‘store and deal with it later’ room. A thing she envied at the moment. Even if she never gave them an answer the tension of an unknown would just cause more problems. Or just drive her mad.

Rubbing her head aggressively, she rested it against the window, letting the cold glass panes to dull her headache. Seeing something in the corner of her vision. She lifted her head and glared through the foggy glass. Seeing something, she rubbed her foreleg across the glass, wiping away the condensation. Seeing Blaze with a saddlebag on his back, she was confused, until she saw his trajectory.

Running out of the room, she made a b-line to the front doors but stopped. ‘The others are in the lounge…’ Looking over her shoulders, she frowned as she ran toward the backdoors near the staff lounge.

Stepping out into the cold, Twilight scanned her surroundings looking for said stallion. “Where did you go?” Seeing a figure near the gate through the storm, her heart skipped a beat. “Blaze!” She ran with all her might. “Blaze!” Blaze turned around and watched her approach him at a blistering pace. Catching her breath, her eyes looked into his, studying his stiff posture. “What are you doing?”

Blaze adjusted his saddlebag as he looked through the bars at the snow-covered road that lead out of the national park.

“Answer me!” She hissed through clenched teeth.

“Leaving.” He said bluntly.

“Leaving?” She scoffed. “Why?” She ran a hoof through her mane. “Wait is this about your fight with Iron Wing over… Me?” He kept silent as he turned his eyes to the ground, watching new snow combine with old snow. “You can’t leave because of that!”

“It will be better if I did.” He snapped back.

“How! How will it be better?” She got in his face.

“Because…” He shook his head as he let out a sigh. “Because it just is!”

“Not good enough!” She returned the glare. He rolled his eyes as he took out a set of keys. “You two are a piece of work!”

He stopped. “A piece of work?”

“You two are all over me like school foals!” She sat down and lifted her front hooves in the air. “Taking turns hanging out with me, making me feel awkward, not caring for how I feel!”

Blaze’s lips puckered up as he stared at her with a judging glare. “How you feel?” He laughed. “I wouldn’t be all twisted up if you were more open and tell one of us, instead of leading us around like dogs on a leash!”

Twilight’s cheeks felt hot as she avoided eye contact. “I didn’t…” She took on a confidant demeanor. “I didn’t...” She grumbled. “I thought we were just friends, hanging out. Like we did back in Iron’s Ridge!”

“Yeah, hanging out.” He scoffed. “Friends cuddle?” He bit his tongue. “You cuddle with him too?”

Her brows lowered over her eyes as she frowned at him. “Don’t you pin this on me!” She pointed a hoof in his face. “You two weren’t helping matters by encouraging it!”

He kept silent as he looked past her at the visitor center masked by the heavy winds and the dying light of a setting sun. Letting out a sigh he returned to putting the keys in the lock.

“No, you don’t!” She blocked him. “You just can’t go when things get tough!”

“I’m making your decision easier for you!” He growled.

“I don’t need your help with that!”

He huffed as he shoved her to the side. “I’m doing this before I do something stupid!”

“Stupid?” She gave him a look, “Stupid? Stupid how?” He didn’t answer as he slid a key into the lock, not finding the right one, he grumbled as he tried another. Anger filled Twilight and her horn lit up purple.

Seeing light reflecting off the fence’s bars, Blaze tuned around and saw the anger in her eyes. “Shit…”

A flash of light engulfed them.

What felt like hours was only seconds as they appeared in one of the cabins. Tumbling across the floor, Blaze groaned as he caught his breath. “Holy hell…” He slowly stood up and turned around and saw Twilight leaning against the door, her horn oozing with magical discharge. “Twilight, you need to…”

“Tell me…” She huffed.

“Twilight…” He walked up to her.

“Tell me!” She spat as she got in his face.

He looked into her purple eyes and saw the hurt within them. Closing his eyes he let out a troubled breath. “Remember when I said I’d tell you why I betrayed Sanctuary… Joined Ratchet’s group.” He could see that she hung on every word he said. “The reason for doing those things…” He let out a troubled sigh.

“What reason?” She asked in almost a whisper.

“I did it for a mare…” He sighed. “She showed up one day… with a colt.” He shook his head. “Father put me in charge of helping her navigate the rules of Sanctuary… And that’s when I fell in love…”

Twilight’s mind began turning as she mulled over his words, slowly her mind began to fill in the blanks. She felt a chill as she stepped back from him. “Was…” She swallowed her emotions. “Was it Fluttershy?”

He stayed silent as he listened to the winds crashing against the cabin. “Yes.”

She shook her head as she processed his answer. “You knew her… All this time?”

“I did…”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” She ran her hooves through her mane, “Or leave with her?” She snapped.

“She was married off to another stallion!” He shot back. “Over a week being there.” He scoffed, slamming his hoof against the floor. She gasped, putting a hoof to her lips. “I couldn’t be near her until she was officially married off! And seeing her not as bothered as I thought she would be, I knew Father’s brainwashing was starting to get to her… Like it did to me when I was young.” He shook his head. “I panicked and left.” He stared out the window. “Ran into Ratchet’s group a couple days later. Told them about my group, thought it was the only way to save her.”

Twilight studied him. “It didn’t go as planned?” He shook his head. “Did you see her during the attack?”

“Yes…” Blaze sighed. “But I couldn't get to her… she was surrounded by the dead that we led into camp. I saw her run into the forest with Father and some of his followers.” He rolled his eyes. “Even if I did get her out, she would’ve been raped by Ratchet’s stallions. Them fuckers…” Twilight saw how much pain he was in.

He bit his cheek as he turned his gaze towards her. “Then I ran into you. Hell, I didn’t expect the outcome that came of it… But it was a blessing…” He smirked. “And after we reunited and settled in Iron’s Ridge, I started falling in love with you.” He picked up his saddlebag that had had fallen off during the teleportation spell. “That’s why I need to leave.”

Twilight saw the hurt in his eyes. “Because you’re afraid of what you’d do?”

“Precisely.” He clipped the strap that ran under his barrel. “I’m sorry I kept the truth from you… I knew it would only cause more problems with the others…”

Twilight felt a pain in her chest she hadn’t felt before. A part of her was furious that he kept that he knew about Fluttershy from her. That he at one time loved her and risked her life to get her back… But on the other hoof, she had feelings for him she couldn’t describe. If there was one thing she could put her hoof on, is that he was rather charming in his own strange way.

Before he could say a goodbye, she slapped him across the face. He stared at her in shock. But quickly her confusing yet understandable action was replaced with another non-understandable one. Her lips pressed against his. Their lips staying locked for a while before they opened their mouths, letting their tongues explore one another.

Twilight pulled away, letting out a heavy breath as she locked eyes with Blaze. He stared at her for a while. Memories of him kissing Fluttershy for the first time filled his mind… Closing his eyes, he held out a hoof, stopping her from proceeding with another kiss. “I can’t…”

“Why?”

“Death follows me…” He rested his head on her forehead.

“You made mistakes.” Tears fell down her cheeks.

“Mistakes that killed ponies.” He pulled away. “I don’t deserve this kindness.” He opened the door, letting the cold winds wash into the cabin. “It’s time I leave…” Twilight grabbed him.

“Wait…” She took off her leather jacket. “You need this more than I do.”

Blaze looked at the jacket and remembered when he found it within one of the stores in Iron’s Ridge. Time went by so fast he thought as he handed the jacket back. “Keep it.” He stepped out of the cabin and made his way to the gate. Twilight watched as he opened the gate. He looked back and gave her a wave as he left the keys in the lock. Twilight slowly walked up to the gate, her eyes never leaving him. Standing at the gate she watched him until he faded into the snow swept winds.

Stepping into the visitor center through the front doors, she walked slowly down the hall, her shoulders slumped and her tail dragging on the ground. Nearing the large archway, she peeked into the lounge and saw a few of her friends resting or entertaining themselves with card games. Letting out a sigh, she walked up the stairs.

“Oh, thank Celestia.”

Lifting her head, she saw Iron Wing at the top of the steps. Letting out a sigh, she walked past him.

“Oh, come on, Twilight.” He sighed as he followed her. “I’m sorry, I let my emotions get the better of me… Woah!” Twilight threw open the nearest door and threw him in. Shutting the door behind her, she slowly approached him. Noticing the scowl on her face, he backed up until bumping up against a desk. “Look I know you’re mad…” She slapped him across the face.

She took a couple of breaths her eyes covered in tears. Letting out a hiss she fell on him and buried her face into his chest. He was taken back by her sudden change in mood, but he slowly wrapped his hooves around her and rocked her side to side. “Look… I’m…” She kissed him, her lips pressing aggressively against his, her tongue prodding to enter. He gave in and let her explore him. She pulled back and took a deep breath… “Twilight?”

“Shut up…” She kissed him a second time as she pressed him up against the wall.

-TWO WEEKS LATER-

Pinkie crawled onto a boulder that gave her a great advantage point of their current surroundings. Below her were Limestone, Copper, and Granite who were slowly trekking down the hill toward another one that was twice the height of the one they just climbed.

“One more hill to climb.” Copper huffed as he wiggled his left hind leg.

“Feeling the burn?” Limestone laughed.

“We’ve been hiking through the snow for the past ten hours.” Copper grumbled, “With very little breaks. On top of all of yesterday as well.” He gave her a frown. “So, yes my legs are killing me.” She giggled at his plight. Rolling his eyes, he looked up at Pinkie and noticed her solemn demeanor. “What do you see up there?” Not hearing an answer he looked at Limestone, who shrugged her shoulders. “Sweetheart?” Still nothing. “Pinkie!”

Pinkie jerked. “What?” She looked down eying the three.

“What’s on your mind?” Copper tilted his head, studying her mannerisms.

“Oh…” She looked at the top of the hill. “Just the hill.”

“That’s a bold face lie.” Limestone said with such sincerity it made Granite and Copper to do a double take.

Pinkie frowned at her sister. “Fine…” She bit her bottom lip. “Thinking of Blaze.”

“What about him?” Limestone raised her brow.

“He chose to leave.” Granite said with a sigh.

“I know…” Pinkie moved some of her mane from her eyes. “There could’ve been another way to work it out.”

“True, but he has every right to leave.” Grante answered.

“It showed he really loved her.” Limestone added.

“How?” Pinkie wondered as she climbed down the boulder and joined them as they made their way up the hill.

“He made the choice for her.” She said bluntly.

Pinkie mulled over her answer. “Well,” She kicked the snow to make a better platform to grip the hillside. “I don’t think she sees it that way.”

Ascending to the top of the hill. The group caught their beaths “What’s done is done.” Limestone patted her sister’s shoulder. “He’s gone. All we can do now is hope he’s okay.”

Pinkie nodded as she looked out at the horizon. Seeing something a few hundred yards from where they stood. She opened her saddlebag and pulled out a pair of binoculars.

“What do you see?” Copper wondered.

“Damn you have good eyes.” Granite squinted at the horizon. “I can’t see shit.”

“What is it?” Limestone leaned in, trying to line up her eyes with what her sister was looking at.

“I see some buildings.” Pinkie pulled the binoculars from her eyes. Looking towards the sky, she frowned at the cascade of deep oranges and reds that filled it.

“You think we can make it?” Limestone looked through the binoculars.

“To see it, yes.” He sighed. “But if it is something big, we’ll need a gameplan.” Granite shivered as he felt the temperature starting to drop.

“Let’s get to it…” Pinkie ran down the mountain.

“Hey!” Copper cried. “Wait up!”

Nearing the location where she saw the buildings, Pinkie found herself near a cliff’s edge. Slowly approaching, she peered over the edge. Down below her, about forty feet was a military base surrounded by a tall barbwire fence, all ten acres of it. Smirking she smiled as she rolled over on her back and looked at her sister, Granite, Copper. “Jackpot!” She sang.

They looked at one another and peered over the edge. Pinkie smirked at their wide-eyed expression. “Jackpot!” She sang again.

“Jackpot!” Limestone hugged her sister.

“Food, medicine, blankets.” Granite smiled.

“Ammo and guns.” Copper added as he looked though his monocular. “But no tanks.” He huffed as he only saw about twenty transport putter-trucks.

“Having a tank is overkill.” Granite rolled his eyes.

“We’ll take it.” Pinkie nuzzled Copper.

“How do we get to it?” Granite scanned around the base. It didn’t help that the trees were thick and made it difficult to spot ponymade features.

“There!” Copper pointed out what he saw in his monocular. “A road near the river's edge…” He sighed as he pulled moved the monocular away from his eye. “Another long hike to the road…”

Seeing the sunlight starting to fade. Pinkie looked at a tree to her right and saw the earth around it was not buried by snow. “We’ll camp here tonight and hit it first thing in the morning.”

“The sweet embrace of sleep…” Copper gave a happy sigh as he stretched out his limbs, giggling about lying in his sleeping bag. Pinkie rolled her eyes as she scooped up some snow and dropped it on his head, causing Limestone and Granite to laugh at his expense.

Zipper looked down at the military base below him. He was a little disappointed in the size of the camp and with the hardware he could see, it was not what he was hoping for. “Shit, the Governor is going to love this.” Cobalt laughed as he scanned the base with his binoculars.

“It could be better.” Zipper sighed.

“Hey, at least the bastard gave us the right location.” Cobalt replied. “Fucker lasted for two days though.”

“We’re here now.” Zipper lit a cigarette. “That’s all that matters.”

“Want to head down now?” Nox, a pegasus asked as he walked up to them.

“No.” Zipper sighed as he watched the setting sun fall behind the tree line. “Who knows what is down there. Trotters are better to deal with in daylight.”

“Ponies are better to deal when its dark.” Nox crossed his forelegs.

“Yeah.” With darkness embracing them, he saw a few lights turn on. “Emergency lights.”

“So that means its occupied?” Nox smirked.

“It means its swarming with trotters.” Zipper stepped back from the cliff’s edge. “Set up camp. We’ll hit it in the morning.”