Chapter 14: The Shimmer of Shadows

“This ain't for you, to kill a man tied up. It's for work like this, you bring along a man like me.”

— Black Dow, The Blade Itself.

Burner Boy Territory, Lunar Commonwealth: Ginger Snaps

Once we are back out of the tunnels our team splits up. Choo and Sunny fly the Doctor back to the Fluttershy Medical Center on Choo Choo’s back.

The rest of us escort Tinder, Kindling, and the other Burner Boys with us back to their home territory. Once there we go with them back to what we consider to be their local headquarters in the old firehouse. Once there we are met by a skeptical-looking Naphtha. She stands there leaning against the frame of the main door and asks, “Well?”

Tinder nods to her and tells her, “Yeah, we got payback and then some boss.”

“Really, how did you do that?”

I find myself asking her, “Naphtha how about we take this inside to the training room and we will give you a full run down.”

She looks us over and replies, “First, where are your fliers, Big Blue and Wild P?”

The rest of the team looks at each other and smirk, Wild P, oh that one is going to stick.

I tilt my head slightly as I tell her, “Heading over to Fluttershy Medical Center. They will either meet us here, or back at Mega Mart.”

As I am talking, I see her looking at us and noting some of the bandages we are wearing. “Tough one, eh?”

I shake my head negatively and tell her, “Not particularly, a quick recon, then a snatch and grab.”

She nods and then says, “Ok, let’s go inside.”

We follow her back inside. Once there she has us all sit, then she asks, “Ok, give me the low down.”

I begin to tell her about the operation with Tinder and the others occasionally adding to the details.

I watch her nod her head and occasionally she stops us to ask questions. Finally, she asks, “So do you know who these pegasuses were who got there when you attacked?”

We all look at each other and I see Epona nod she simply says, “We don’t have any names, but I know I saw some of them at the university campus. The Volunteer Corps has an office set up there.”

Naphtha then asks, “So why do you think they were there?”

I think about it briefly then I tell her, “Naphtha, I really am not sure. They had a cart with the typical Volunteer Corps stuff on the back. A few wooden crates, cases of food, and some blankets tossed in haphazardly.”

She nods her head and then asks, “Do they know who hit them?”

This time Epona answers, “I don’t think so. But the flamethrowers may have clued them in that the Burner Boys were involved.”

She looks at her group, then back at me, “Did any of you drop anything?”

They shake their heads and she asks, “Did you use your names?”

Again, they shake their heads. “Were you the main attackers?”

One more time they just shake their heads. “Ok, good. There are lots of ponies that could have found a couple. They won’t know for sure who it was then.”

Next Smoldering Phase ads, “Besides boss, after the fires inside that place and then ol’ Salt over there bringing down most of it, not much they could find I figure.”

She finally smiles. “Good, good. I am glad to hear something has gone right at least. While yous were gone, we got hit again. They got another one of ours, but I think you made up for the numbers.”

Naphtha looks at the clock on the wall and offers, “It is getting late, and it has been a long day. We have some spare beds if you want to use them.”

I know how tired everyone is, as well as sore. When the adrenaline is flowing a pony can really overlook getting hurt, but afterward. That is when the real aches and pains happen. I look at my team and I tell her. “Yeah, if you don’t mind. I think we will.”

After this she tells her people, “Go get something to eat, then I need two of you up on the main gate to back up the guard for the night.”

I watch as Tinder and Kindling nod and Kindling tells her, “We got it, boss.” They then turn to us and tell us, “Take it easy and see ya next time. And Salt, thanks for teaching us a few new tricks.”

When he says this, I see Naphtha raise one eyebrow and twitch an ear. Then after they leave, she tells me, “Cookie, while the rest of your team settles in for the night, could I see you in my office.”

I tell the others, “Go grab yourselves some ration packs and I will see you in a bit. Epona, you got the team.”

Once we are in her office, she has me sit down across from her at her desk. Then she asks, “Ok, straight goods. What really happened and how much heat are we gonna feel from this little foray?”

“Honestly Naphtha, I am not sure. But only two of the flamethrowers were used at a time. One of your people provided overwatch for our demo specialist and another actually watched and assisted Salt in setting up the charge.”

“Charge? An explosion so big that we heard it clear over here was only one device?”

I nod my head and tell her, “Yeah, but it is a nasty type of device. I had it explained to me by one of the ghouls back home who served in No Mares land that it was called a poor ponies balefire bomb.”

She raises an eyebrow and I tell her, “Equestria stole the tech from the zebras. It seems it was based on the experience they had with coal dust explosions in their mines and uses a double explosion. The first one vaporizes and spreads out the fuel, the second one happens when this fuel is ignited.”

I watch her put a hoof over her mouth as she says, “I used to read some of the old fire reports. That sounds a lot like what happens during granary fires.”

I nod my head, “Similar but not the same from what I understand, but I do not know all the particulars.”

“And my people learned how to make these?”

I shrug, “I think so. Salt explained it to them and then showed them how to set up the charge.”

She nods her head, “And you are not afraid we would use this technology on you?”

I grin at her, “Mare, if you knew my family and clan, you would understand why I am not. Besides, Salt may have taught them some of what he knows, but I can guarantee he did not teach them everything he knows.”

“You’re a bit cocky, aren’t you?” She asks.

I shake my head, “No, not really, but then again, I know what we are capable of and all of us have seen combat. Even before today.”

She tilts her head as she looks at me as if seeing me again for the first time. She then nods her head the asks, “This friend of the clan thing Big Blue talked about, how’s that work?”

I keep my expression serious, even though I want to smile at her question. Then I tell her, “Basically it means you are in good standing with the clan. We consider you as a friend we can count on and will help as well. Like if you were considered a friend of the clan and got up to Manesville, we would help you find a job, and shelter at first, and get a start. If someone gives you trouble, well, we will try to help as much as we can. An example is Big Blue is a friend of the clan and she got transport for her and the non-clan members of our team at a discounted rate on our riverboat the Baltimare Colt.”

She puts up a hoof and stops me, “Your clan seriously has a riverboat.”

I smile, “No, we have multiple riverboats. Most haul cargo. One we turned over to the NCR government to be seed stock for the riverboat flotilla out of Manesville. Cousin Rough Water is still in charge of her.”

She shakes her head. Then asks, “Just how big is this clan of yours?”

I smile again, “Including youngsters? Probably about one hundred twenty to one hundred fifty. But we are a bit spread out now, and several are in the military.”

“So, in the case of the friends of the clan, does this mean if your clan gets in a fight, the friends have to automatically jump in?”

I shake my head, “No, but if they are nearby, we appreciate the help, or if they let the clan know what is going on.”

“And does the clan do the same for their friends?”

“Yes, but to us, that is just the right thing to do,” I tell her.

“We’ve never had that kinda set up before with outsiders.” She says as she rubs her chin, “How often do you plan on being in Hoofington?”

I shrug my shoulders. Then I answer, “Honestly, I am not sure. That depends on the jobs we take I guess.”

She nods her head, “Well, I best talk about this with my boss, but I like the idea. Also, thanks for helping us balance the books some.”

I smile again and tell her, “Glad to help. Besides, it helped us as well.”

She smiles again, “Glad we understand each other. Now I need to go eat, and if I was you, I would do the same.” She tells me as she gets up from her chair and moves toward the door of her office. I get up and begin to head that way just ahead of her.

The rest of the team is just finishing eating when we hear a bit of a commotion outside. My team grabs their weapons and follows the few Burner Boys inside to go to defensive positions. As we are running, I suddenly hear Choo’s voice over the radio, “Cookie, this is Big Blue, Black Bird and I are up high above the BB territory. I see two groups attacking you, one from the north, the second is just moving up from the west.”

“Roger Big Blue,” I reply then I see Naphtha and tell her what I have just heard from Choo. She nods her head and asks, “My people can hold the north side pretty easily, could your team help the west team?”

I nod my head in affirmation and then I tell my team over the radio sets, “Ok team we are moving to the west side to assist in the defense. Flower, you are out front. Tater, you are our backdoor. Danger, I need you to be the assistant gunner for Salt, Let’s move people.”

As we go, I notice a hesitant zebra there. He then asks, “What do I do?”

I quickly look at him and tell him, “Your choice Tek, you can stay here, or you can come with us and fight.”

I see the fear in his eyes, but then I hear him say, “OK, I go with you, my friends.”

I can’t help but smile when he says this and I tell him, “We are glad to have you with us Tek,” then I return to concentrating on getting my people into position.

As we approach the western barricades I can hear gunfire as well as the occasional blast from a flamethrower. We are only about one hundred meters from the gate when I see some of the Burner Boys falling back and the gate gets blasted open. I quickly tell my team, “Into the building on the left.”

We all go inside it and take cover. I watch as we see Thermite, behind another barricade, providing cover fire for Flameover and Smoldering Phase as they run back and jump the barricade and form on him.

He is looking around quickly and I can tell when he sees me as he grins evilly and nods to me and I back to him. I then see him point to the opposite side of the street, say something to them, and the two with him go into an alleyway on that side. Then I see him set what looks like a bottle on the ground next to him. Soon I see another one and he throws it, just in front of the oncoming attackers.

After the second one is thrown, he leaves the third and falls back to where several more of his gang members are. Dodging and weaving as he falls back to the next set of barricades that his people now are on as well.

Seeing them fall back I hear one of the attackers yell, “Theys running. Let’s get ‘em.”

The rest of them follow him at a run and they have just passed the spot where the first bottle broke when I tell Xochitl over the radio, “Flower, hit that puddle now!”

He quickly fires a three-shot burst from his zebra carbine and I watch the rounds go down range and strike the flammable liquid starting a blaze behind them. Then I call out, “Weapons free, independent fire.”

The shock of us first cutting off their escape with a wall of flame, then opening fire from cover while they are in the open stuns them. I watch as they try to decide what to do. They choose to take their chances and continue to run forward towards the barricade that Thermite had abandoned. They are almost there and I see two jets of flame come out of the alleyway on the opposite side of us. The flamers catch two of the attackers who begin to scream in pain. The rest look around with wide eyes like trapped animals then I see them begin to panic and then instead they run back towards the gate. We are still firing at them having taken another couple down when I see Thermite wave at us and draw a hoof across his throat. He either wants us to kill them all or cease-fire to give them an out. I tell my team, “Check your fire. But keep weapons ready.”

Our fire stops except for the MG which is firing continuously, then I hear Cowlick yell, “Danger, break the links, I got a runaway.”

Right after this the MG stops firing and I hear him say, “Ok Mash I need your help with the MG.”

“Salt, this is Mash, Roger.” I then hear Tater getting up to go to help Cowlick and Twinks. I know he is going to take a bit to find the problem. But we can’t have another runaway. That is just too dangerous.

From my radio, I hear, “Cookie this is Big Blue, they are falling back from both sides.”

“Roger Big Blue, Meet you at the BB command post.”

As the Burner Boys begin to come back up and repony the gate and barricades my team and I grab our gear and begin to head back to the firehouse. As we go, I see Thermite. He nods at us and I hear him say, “Thanks.”

I nod back and say, “Glad to assist.” Then I lead the team back listening to them as they rehash what we just saw and did.

*****

Former Hoofington Municipal Firehouse #1, Lunar Commonwealth: Xochitl

After we return to the firehouse, we hold a quick debriefing with their leader Naphtha. Afterward, Ginger stays up there talking with Naphtha while the rest of us are led by some pony named Bank Down. His coloring is rather interesting as he has a very dark gray mane and tail. His coat seems to start high at that color and gradually fades to a lighter gray down his body until it comes to his legs, which again have dark gray on them.

As he leads us to the bunk section he tells us, “Any bunk without a blanket on it is fair game. Pick one and throw your stuff on it. If you want to eat with the rest of us, go ahead, but it will cost you a cap each. If not, feel free to use the chairs and table up here. No cooking mind ya.”

We all nod then Epona tells him, “We have some cold ration packs with us, we will just eat them. Besides, we need to start cleaning weapons again.”

He nods his head and tells us, “Ok, be back in a little bit.”

We first break down our weapons and begin to clean them. Once done with that we break out our ration packs. I am amused to see everyone begin to try and trade for their favorite items. I am just glad I did not get mystery fruit again. I mean they are sweet as they were packed in a heavy syrup, but I still cannot tell you what kind of fruit was in the syrup. This time I get apple slices with cinnamon. I can live with that.

Soon Ginger returns to join us. She has just taken a few bites of her meal when we hear gunfire in the distance. We grab our gear and put our radio headsets on as we head to defensive positions in the firehouse along with the Burner Boys inside.

We watch as Ginger puts her hoof to her ear and we hear Choo tell Ginger what is going on. Next to Ginger is the Burner Boy lieutenant, Naphtha. They quickly talk, then Ginger tells us over our headsets, where we are going and she reiterates what our team assignments are.

Then I lead the way as we run down the stairs and head out the main door that the fire wagons once used. I am running on all four legs with my carbine at the ready and bit in my teeth as I had put my battle saddle back on when we got back to the station. I stop at the first barricade, look over it, and then wave the rest forward. We are almost to the second one and only about a hundred meters from the gate when we see a bright burst of light and the gates blow inwards. We see our attackers, a mix of twenty or so unicorns and earthponies, most with civilian-type weapons but what looks like a few military ones are mixed in, run through the gate in our direction through the dirt and dust.

Ginger yells over the radio for us to go into the building on the left, which we do. I go inside and kick open the door of an apartment, and head for the front window to provide cover for the others. Behind me, I hear a noise and I see a family in shabby clothing staring at me, the stallion putting himself between me and them. I tell him, “Get your family to shelter quickly, we are being attacked.”

“Who are you?” he asks in a stunned voice.

“Friends of the Burner Boys, now move, quickly,” I quickly respond.

I hear him shuffling off as Ginger comes into the room. Outside on the stairway, I hear the heavy hoofs of Cowlick and the lighter ones of Twinkle Hoofs running up the stairs. Over the radio, I hear Ginger say, “Ok team, take positions, but hold fire until I give the word.”

We all quietly acknowledge the order with a quick click of our mics. Then we wait. Below us in the street I watch as one of the team leaders for the Burner Boys lobs what I realize must be Molotrot cocktails unlit down the street. Then he leaves one behind the barricade, quickly nodding in our direction before he falls back to the rest of his troops.

He leaves two of his gang members behind but has them shift to an alleyway across the street and slightly back from us. I see them grinning at me as we exchange nods.

From the direction of the gateway, I hear the attackers yelling and screaming as they run down the street into the kill zone in front of us. Then I hear Ginger tell me, “Flower, hit that puddle now!”

I know what she wants as my rounds will most likely ignite the fuel. I fire a quick three-round burst and watch as one of the rounds glows and when it hits the puddle it lights the fuels trapping the attackers from behind. They become slightly confused, then one of them yells for them to move forward and as I target them, I see a round that must have come from above strike the leading pony.

Ginger then gives the orders, “Weapons free, independent fire,” and all pandemonium begins to break out with them. Many of them try to engage us as they continue to move toward the first barricade.

I hear several bullets strike the brick building near me. At the window next to me I see Tek with his eyes wide open and ears laid flat against his head but with his pistol in his mouth taking shots as he can.

Then they are hit by the flamethrowers that the Burner Boys in the alley have with them. I can almost see their aggressiveness dissolve and the fear take over as they panic, break, and then run for survival toward the gate. Ginger calls for us to cease fire and we let them go.

I remember the Colonel at the Valley ordering our troops on the flank to allow enough of an opening so some of Silver Spite’s forces could retreat through it. Later that night I’d asked her why, and she told me, “Because that allowed them to have hope that they could survive and escape, which meant they would not fight as hard out of desperation.” It makes sense, and I am glad to see Ginger understood that lesson as well.

After the rest of us stop firing I can still hear Cowlick’s machinegun firing without pause. Then he calls out for Twinks to break the links so it runs out of ammo and quits firing. Once she breaks it Cowlick calls for Tater to help him to inspect the MG to find out what is wrong with it.

As Tater leaves his position in the first-floor doorway to join the others upstairs, Tek takes his spot. Ginger, still watching out of the window, comes over to me and gently lays a hoof on my shoulder as I look out the window and I hear her sigh slightly.

It seems like only a few minutes later we hear from Choo over the radio telling us she would meet us back at the firehouse. Ginger gives the order and we all grab our gear and begin to fall back there. As we walk, we keep an eye out for trouble, but we also begin to talk about what happened.

On the walk back Ginger then asks Tater, “Did you find out what caused the runaway?”

Tater nods his head, “Yeah, the trigger has a broken sear spring inside. I will replace it once we get back to the firehouse.”

“Is there any way we could have prevented it?” She asks.

He shakes his head, “No, not really, I think the old girl has just seen a lot of action over the years. The spring finally gave way to fatigue.”

Ginger nods her head as do I, “Ok, thanks Tater. Next question is, can we find a replacement so we have another spare?”

I hear him sigh, then he says, “Maybe. If we are lucky, we can find one at Mega Mart or another merchant. If not, maybe we can explore a bit in No Mares Land. I mean, I would love to get my hoofs on some of the stuff there.”

I find myself nodding my head, but Ginger tells him, “I am not sure we want to go there. But we will have to talk to the boss first.”

As we arrive back at the firehouse Choo and Sunny are just landing, and we see her drop a pony in front of her. Choo then waves a wing to us and we all fall in around her.

*****

Fluttershy Medical Center, Lunar Commonwealth: Choo Choo

The sun is starting to get low in the sky as we begin to land at the Fluttershy medical center. The doctor has his hooves wrapped around my neck as tightly as he can. Next to us is Sunny, who lands just after I do outside the emergency room doors.

Several members of their staff as well as two security members and even a member of the Brood come out the door and surround us. As the doctor gets off my back, shakily he tells them, “It’s ok, they rescued me.”

One of the orderlies and a nurse come to assist him. The leader of the two security guards as well as the Brood member approach us and ask, “Who are you and where did you find him?” I smile as I tell him, “We are just a couple of concerned citizens who felt we should bring him back here as soon as we found him.”

He cocks his head and says, “Really? You don’t say?” He then looks at Sunny and says, “You were here the other day with that caravanner, weren’t you?”

Sunny nods his head, “Yeah, I was helping to bring him here to see his granddaughter. Why am I in trouble?”

He shakes his head, “No, but it is not often we get members of the Volunteer Corps here helping out like that is all.”

Sunny looks at me and I look at him. Then I tell the Security guard, “I am an employee of Trader Jewel, the one you mentioned. If there is a reward for returning the good doctor, please put it on his account.”

The guard looks at Sunny and asks, “How would the Volunteer Corps feel about not sharing in the reward?”

Sunny smiles and answers, “Just give us a bit of credit in the official write-up, so that others here in Hoofington will know we are here to help.”

The security guards and Brood official look at each other and shrug. Then the Brood official tells us, “Alright, have a good evening, folks, and thanks again.”

They then begin to turn and head back inside. Sunny and I look at each other, shrug our wings, and then we turn and begin to fly back towards the main base of the Burner Boys.

As we fly back in the darkening sky, we close to the area of the city that is the Burner Boy territory. I then notice a lot of movement of ponies on foot sneaking towards it from both the west and the north side, at least twenty to thirty from both directions. I point them out to Sunny and he tells me, “Yeah, that is odd Choo. Let’s go to that cloud down there,” he says as he points downwards and to the left of us.

Once on the cloud, we begin to look at them, and then I see the gunfire begin. I quickly call Ginger and let her know what is going on. Soon we watch as two groups come out of the firehouse. The first runs north towards the barricades on that side, the other, my team, and a few others are running towards the west side gate.

Once my team begins to fire Sunny provides fire support from up high for them. I had not planned on this type of combat so I had left my weapons back with the caravan this morning. I had thought my magic would be enough today. I was wrong it seems.

I look to the north side and I can see that the defenses are doing pretty well there. But the attackers seem to have more automatic weapons on that side as well. Looking back to the west, I see the attackers have not only breached the gate but have run right into the killing zone of a perfect ambush site. Soon they begin to run for their lives, and our side stops firing. To the north side, the gunfire begins to die down as well.

Then I realize that we do not know who these ponies are, so I tell Sunny, “Cover me, I am going to grab one as a prisoner.”

I hear him tell me, “Gotcha Boss,” as I jump off the cloud and dive for the ground. When I catch up to those who are running away, I notice that they are not looking up. I swoop down and grab one of them by the collar of the barding he is wearing and he screams as we fly higher into the air. Several of those below us are firing at me as we fly away until I hear one yell, “Ya idiots, you hit her, she drops them and from that high up, you killed him just as well.”

Suddenly they stop shooting and begin to run again. The one I am carrying screams his mouth still gripping his pistol as we fly higher into the sky. Finally, he gives up and lets it go, and just screams. Sunny flies up next to us and I hear him tell our prisoner, “Will you shut up? If not, I will have her drop you.”

I begin to dive back down for the entrance of the firehouse still holding the screaming pony. As we land, I drop him the last couple of meters and he hits hard and is stunned. Several of the Burner Boys quickly surround us. I quickly check out our prisoner to make sure he is not badly hurt. Sunny keeps his rifle on him the whole time. I then use my TK to put him back on his hooves just as Naphtha comes out and asks, “What you got here Big Blue?”

I grin as I tell her, “Not much, just figured we would want a prisoner to question about this little attack.”

She grins and then she says, “Choo, did you notice the broken clock around his neck?”

I shake my head, “No, I had not, perhaps he needs to be taken inside so we can ask him a few questions.”

Before we can go inside the rest of my team returns. I realize this when I see Sunny wave a wing at those behind me. I turn my head and see them approach, as they get closer, I notice they all are relaxed and I see the curiosity on their faces as they see the pony we have captured.

That is when Naphtha suggests, “Let’s take this inside.”

Once inside, Naphtha has the prisoner searched, then tied to a brass pole that comes through the ceiling. I tell Ginger, “Take the team upstairs, clean your weapons and get some rest. I will be up in a bit.” She acknowledges the order and they head up the wooden steps tiredly.

Then Naphtha asks him, “What’s your name?”

“What’s it matter to you?” the pony asks defiantly.

Naphtha smiles and tells him, “I just want a name to put with a body is all.”

He still has that smug expression on his face when I step forward smiling evilly, “We can do this the gentle way or the fun way. You see I was not always an alicorn, in fact, I used to be a unicorn with the Ministry of Morale before the last day. I still remember my memory retraction spells. It has been a while since I used them, so they may be even more excruciating than normal, but I am sure you have heard how us Pinks used to be during the war.” I lie to him. Then I continue by telling him, “I so loved doing those types of interrogations back then, I miss the screams,” I muse.

As I speak, I see his eyes start to go wide in panic and then I add, “You know, back in the day, we would occasionally have a pegasus with MoM carry a zebra traitor higher than you were tonight and drop them. I have not done that since I got my wings,” as I rub my forehoof under my chin I continue, “But I bet it would be so worth it. I wonder if I will hear the splat?”

“You, you wouldn’t dare do that, Key Wind and Tight Spring would make you pay for that.” He says in a shaky voice.

“Actually, not only would I, but I have before. But then again, I even have some nice glass memory orbs to place your memories that I remove into. It is quite painful I might add. If I do this, you will at best have major gaps in your memory. Worse, you will have the mind of a young foal in the body of a grown stallion. Can you imagine what that would be like, to try and find out what you even are, then who you might have been and who you will be? Always having a memory just at the edge of being retrievable, but always just out of reach. To see those who you once loved, but do not know who they even are. To no longer even remember you were once a Broken Clock." I pause and rub a wing under my chin then continue, "Hmm, they would probably even throw you out. That would be rough too. Blood in, blood out, but not even knowing why. But I am sure that would not bother you, would it?”

I notice he is starting to breathe more shallowly and rapidly. He is almost panicking. Now it is the time to strike the iron, I light my horn as if to cast a spell as I say, “Ok, we do it the fun way.”

He begins to scream. Then as I move closer, he yells, “I’ll talk, I’ll talk. For the Goddesses' sake, I’ll talk, just don’t make me forget everything.”

I see Naphtha raise an eyebrow and give me a brief nod. I turn my horn out and tell him in a disappointed tone of voice, “Ok, we will do it your way, but, if we feel you are lying to us, well, then I get to have fun.”

Then we begin to ask him again, “What is your name?”

I hear him cry slightly, then he says, “Tic Tock,”

“Ok, Tic Tock, why did your gang attack us?”

He looks at me, “We were told to attack the Burner Boys. We weren't told they had an alicorn in their gang.”

This gets me to nod my head slightly, and we continue our line of questioning. When we are done we leave him under guard and go to her office where I ask her, “What do you want to do with him?”

She shrugs, “He doesn’t know much, could drop him off somewhere, or we could just snuff him out.”

Then I grin, “I got an idea. This could be real fun and play with their minds a bit.” I then tell her what I have in mind.

When I am done, she looks at me and asks, “You really did work for the Ministry of Morale, didn’t ya?”

I shake my head, “No, they scared the Tartarus out of me. But I am a quick study and had some good teachers when I started to regain my memories.”

She looks at me funny, “So you really do know what that is like, ya weren’t just giving him a hard time?”

I shake my head no, then I tell her, “Naphtha, I even met the pony who I was going to marry at one time and could not remember him until he showed me some old pictures.”

She looks at me with her head twisted slightly, “How long ago was that? Other than ghouls I don’t know of any that old.”

I smile sadly at the memory of Side Track and how he helped me begin to remember who I was and my family. If he had not been a ghoul, perhaps things could have been different, but…

I shake my head, “Yes, he is a ghoul. I have seen him a couple of times over the last ten years. He is now with another mare who we were both friends with. And he even knows my stallion back home. But I do mourn the life I had hoped for and never got.”

She smiles ruefully, “Yeah, I bet. So, when do you want to do this thing?”

I grin at her now. This is the kind of fun I realized I enjoyed when I was still on the Expedition. I then tell her, “Tomorrow night, when the moon is full, I think my team can rest here and help if they try anything again.”

“Yeah, they could, but I think we gave them a real hoof to the teeth tonight.” She tells me. “But yeah, that sounds good. I will see if I can scrounge up some paint for ya.”

*****

University Campus, Hoofington, Lunar Commonwealth: Ball Lightning

Morning comes and I wake up to the sun shining into my eyes. I use my forehoof to block the light and as my eyes adjust, I see Air Burst pulling the curtains back. I notice the others on my team all beginning to wake up as well. He grins as he announces, “Well I hope you got enough sleep. After I reported last night, I decided that we all needed a bit of rest. Today we will visit some of the local settlements and do some minor good deeds. Lieutenant, you and your people are welcome to come along, in fact, I would appreciate it after yesterday.”

From across the room in his bunk, I hear the Sergeant Major say, “Sir, that may not be a bad idea. First, it helps us to blend in more and to become more of a part of the community. Also, sir, I really do worry about them going back out there after yesterday.”

“I guess that means you have us today too. We will be down in a bit.” I tell Air Burst.

He closes the door on his way out. We give him a few minutes to be out of hearing range before I ask Funnel Cloud, “OK, I think I know, but what has you so concerned about them?”

“Sir, that gang from yesterday may try and take out their frustrations on us. That or the gang that attacked them may come after us too.”

“You really think so Sergeant Major?”

“Sir, if it was me, I would. Just on suspicion because we arrived as they attacked.”

“Yeah, you're right. Damn, ok, let’s move it, people, they are going to need us.” I tell them as I start to get up and dress for the day.”

After we have put on what clothing we are going to wear and grab our gear and weapons we head downstairs. “Ok, put your weapons on the table over there and grab some breakfast. A couple of members of the team made enough for all of us today.”

We sit down and join those of the Volunteers who are still eating. Alto looks at us and tells us, “Thanks for yesterday, I don’t know what would have happened if you guys weren’t there.”

I glance quickly at Sundancer and she nods slightly and twitches an ear slightly. I catch her meaning and simply say, “Your welcome Alto. How are you feeling today?”

I see a look of pain on his face and he quietly says, “Tolerable, I can make it.”

I nod my head. I really hope he can. Even if we are not knowingly going into a fight, we don’t need him falling out on us. So, I ask him, “Alto, are you sure? You took a heavy hit yesterday; most ponies would have been in a hospital for a couple of days minimum after that.”

He looks around with his eyes and I can tell when he sees a worried-looking Sundancer looking back at him. He closes his eyes slightly and tells me, “Yeah, I will be fine.”

Ok, I decide, it is his funeral. If he says he can hack it, then he better do so. “Ok, glad to hear it, Alto,” I tell him and even give him a bit of a smile. To which he replies with a weak smile.

Soon we are all ready, or so we think. Then Air Burst tells us, “Ok, each of you grabs an extra pack. No cart, so we haul instead.”

I hear some of the others grumble, and while I feel like it, I know it not only will not do any good, but it has to be done. As I have Funnel cloud and Guntur assist me by tying my extra pack to the middle of my back. I then help them do the same.

Once we are all ready, we begin to make the rounds. Our first stop is a small settlement close to the river. As we approach, I notice the condition of the village and its inhabitants. They are what I would consider filthy. They are dressed in rags and their homes are built on the remains of two barges that were washed ashore long ago.

When one of them sees us, he stops working on the net he is mending, stands up and waves a forehoof at us, and yells, “Good to see you again Fire Works. Come on up.”

I see Air Burst smile as he leads us up the ramp onto the old barges. He calls back, “How are you doing today, Hawes Pipe?”

The older, blueish-green, earth pony stallion waits until we have reached the top of the stairs and are on the main level of the barge village. He then shakes his head which makes his light green main swirl slightly and then he answers, “Doing well enough. Just repairing these nets Deep Diver recovered last week.”

“Sounds good Hawes, we just came around to check on ya, and see if we could help ya at all.”

“We really do appreciate the help you have given us recently. Fishing has not been as good as it was for a while. Well, that and some of us are a bit nervous about going back on the river since Lead Line got eaten by that Gulper fish three days ago.”

I see the look of concern on Air Burst's face, “Damn, I remember Lead Line. How is his family taking it?”

Hawes Pipe shakes his head, “Not good, his foals are losing weight as his wife has lost almost all interest it seems in even living. Makes me wish I had taken up your offer for one of those fancy guns last time you came through. The Friggin thing just shook off the .38 and 9mm rounds like they were nothing, as for the spears and knives, well you can imagine how that went. I wish we had something with a bit more punch to it.”

I see Air Burst and a couple of the other volunteers all nod their heads. Then I ask, “Uh, Fire Works, what’s a Gulper Fish?”

This time Hawes Pipe answers me as he looks at me as if he just realized I was even there. “Your new down here aren’t ya sonny?” He turns to Air Burst and tells him, “You really need to get an extra copy of the Wastelands Survival guide, especially the Hoofington edition.” He turns back to me, “Seeing your new down here I will have to tell ya. There are many different types of critters living in the water hereabouts. The Gulpers are a type of catfish. Family history says they used to be a lot smaller. These here ones, I have seen up to ten feet long. They can swallow a pony whole if they are not careful. The worst thing is they have small sharp teeth that are angled back so they catch whatever they are eating and keep it from getting away. When they eat, they tend to gulp whatever it is down whole.”

I am horrified at the thought of such a death and notice several of the volunteers as well as Gunter and Anan looking sick to their stomachs at the thought of dying such a death. I hear Air Burst sigh and he tells him, “I know it is too late for Lead Line, but my offer still stands. All I ask is that you let us know what is going on down here along the river, the same offer as before. Also, I have some canned mares’ milk that I can provide for those youngsters.”

Hawes Pipe looks relieved and tells him, “Yeah, I think we can do that. It just goes against the way we river rats tend to live. Usually, we just want to mind our own nets and let others mind theirs.”

Air Burst puts a hoof on his shoulder and tells him, “I understand that Hawes, I really do, but sometimes we have to look out for each other.”

“Yeah, I guess you're right. I just wish we didn’t have to learn it this way. Oh, where are my manners, why don’t you and your people come on inside and take a load off.”

He leads us to an open-sided roofed pavilion that has a couple of pots over a fire. From one I can smell what must be fish boiling, the others well, that just seems to have hot water in it. One of the mares from this village scoops out a cup for each of us and places some leaves in it. I watch how it is done by Hawes Pipe and Air Burst. They both let the leaves sit in the hot water until it has turned the liquid a darker color and then they drink it.

I try it and it is a bit bitter, but not too bad. After my first couple of sips, I begin to feel a bit better and smile to myself as I feel a bit of a burst of energy. The same as I get from coffee. As we are drinking the tea, I begin to notice other ponies here and there among the buildings. I also see several coming and going on the stairs we came up. Then I notice one group get into a small sailboat along with a net as they head out on the water to fish.

When they are near the center of the river, I see them put out an anchor and then throw the nets out. I am nearly done with my tea when I see the sailboat lurch and roll almost onto its side. This has my attention. Then I see a large mass moving at it again. I hear Hawes Pipe say, “It’s a Gulper.”

When he says this, I run over, grab my MEW rifle and leap into the air to help those fisher ponies. I see one of them fall into the water and the gulper swims towards it. I begin to aim my weapon at it. It then leaps into the air as it goes to strike the poor fisher pony struggling in the water. Just as it leaps, I hear a rifle fire on fully automatic from the direction of the settlement. I watch as its eye is struck by a bullet, followed by the rest of the magazine’s rounds hitting it all in the approximate location of its head. Small holes going in, but large holes coming out the other side. The giant fish actually staggers mid-leap and sinks back under the water. The swimming pony makes it back to the sailboat and is pulled in by the others.

With that, I fly back to the barges and as I land, I hear Funnel Cloud say, “And that is why every settlement should have at least one fully automatic weapon. For situations like that.

I then walk over to them and nod my head as I tell Funnel Cloud, “Good shooting Funnel,” Then I return to my pack and return my weapon to its sheath. As I do so I notice the Sergeant Major going to his kit and cleaning his weapon quickly.

While he is busy cleaning his weapon, I see Air Burst get out almost an entire case of canned mares’ milk for the foals. After turning that over to the locals he then goes to one of the cases he has with us and when he opens it, he takes out an M10 automatic rifle along with two magazines that are already loaded, and then he goes and gets another two boxes of .308 bullets for it. He takes them to Hawes Pipe and tells him, “Here. This is for your and your people. Funnel Cloud over there knows more about this than I do, so if you have any questions about it, go ahead and ask him before we leave.”

Hawes Pipe takes the offered items and I see him look it over and put the rifle to his shoulder looking down the sights. He then calls out for another of his villagers who trots over and he tells them. This one is wearing a small metal star that says constable on it. “Double Tap, this is for you to use if we need it like we did today. Go ask the Volunteer over there cleaning his rifle any questions you may have about it,” He tells him.

Soon the pony is over talking with Funnel Cloud as he teaches him about the care and upkeep of the M10 as well as its operations.

Shortly after those two are done, Air Burst calls out, “Ok Volunteers, time to grab your gear so we can keep moving.”

Less than ten minutes later we are loaded and, on the move, we wave a wing goodbye to them and head back into the remains of the city nearby. Visiting several other small settlements on our way.

By the time the sun begins to set, we find ourselves returning to the offices on the University Campus. Soon we settle into what seems to be a normal routine for the VC team in the evenings.

The next day we make the same type of trek to other settlements that are less than a half day's travel from the campus.

While we are gone on this trek, two others of the regular Volunteers travel back to the skyport office and are able to procure a new cart for them. The first time I see it is when I notice it parked out front of the office. This cart is painted white with Volunteer Corps in large Blue Letters on it.

My team and I stop to look it over on our way over to the pub for a couple of pints that night. It is after midnight, and we are all well into our cups when we are on our way back to our room when we hear a thumping sound from inside the cart. We all look at each other and Gunter and Anan open the back tailgate of the wagon while Funnel Cloud and I stand there with our pistols in our mouths, just in case.

As the tailgate drops, I am greeted by the sight of a dark yellow earth pony stallion, hogtied, laying on his side with his eyes open wide in fear.

I holster my pistol and tell Anan, “Better go get Air Burst.”

He nods and tells me, “Yes sir,” and he trots inside.

Soon he returns with Air Burst who looks like he is still half asleep. Air Burst then asks, “Ok, what have you got for me?”

I point to the back of the cart and he climbs in and has me join him. Once there I hear him begin to cuss again. I then ask him, “What’s wrong Air?”

He then points at the trussed-up pony and I then see two things. The first a broken clock hanging around his neck, the second a mouth-painted sign that only says, “We know the truth now.”

As I am shaking my head, he pulls the gag from the pony’s mouth and asks him, “Ok, Tic Tock, who did this to you.” This alone lets me know he knows him.

The pony moves his head towards the tailgate and replies in a near panic, “She did, it was her. Don’t let her erase my mind.”

We both turn to look behind us and, in the sky, I see the silhouette of an alicorn flying straight up into the sky with the moon behind her.

*****

Hello to all of you out there in the HOOF listening range, that last song was another prewar favorite, Viva Las Pegasus. Today’s news is rather quiet locally after the last couple of days. However once again we are being asked by the council to remind everypony that we are back into breeding season for both the rad-scorpions and gulper fishes. Try to avoid those locations as the Brood and the Zodiacs do not have the resources right now to deal with these threats.

For our next tune coming up, we have for you, When the Wolves Cry Out

Author's Note

I would once again like to thank KKat for creating the universe of FoE and so many others who have added to this universe as we continue to share our visions of it. Thank you for the entertainment and the brief escape from the real world these stories allow.

Also, I would like to thank my friend crossfire who on Twitter is DES_Arts and Discord is Desarts#1673 for the commission piece he has done for this chapter of Ball Lightning. If you like it and its style and want an OC of yours commisioned I am sure he would be glad to do so.

The second piece, while not as good as the first is one that I did myself.

For those who would like to listen to this chapter's dedication song, the YouTube link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okogUxJ0l-4