Chapter 19: Reevaluations

“I stopped fighting my inner demons. We’re on the same side now.” – Darynda Jones

Mega-Mart, Hoofington, Lunar Commonwealth: Ginger Snaps

We spend most of the next day working on weapons for our team. I enjoy watching the effort that Tater puts into that old leaver action he bought for one of his fathers. But what really makes it interesting to me is how Twinks pays such close attention to him as he does it, assisting when he needs it.

As I clean my weapons and my spare magazines, I watch them and the others. Tater has made sure everything is well-cleaned and lubed. I look up when I hear him say, “That’s it Twinks. Look at the guide rails.”

She looks inside the rifle and I hear her ask, “Ok, what am I looking for Tater?”

He says, “See how the guide rails are sloping, they are going the wrong way. That means whoever took them out last got them switched from the proper sides.” I see him facehoof and he says, I can’t believe I missed that.”

Beside him, Twinks grins, “Look, just because you have a gunsmith cutie mark does not mean you can’t miss things.”

I see him look slightly chagrined as he replies, “Yeah, I know, but still.”

Then she tells him, “Besides, it allowed you to get it for a better price, right?”

“Yeah, but still.”

“No still Tater, you found it pretty quick overall and it was something subtle. Next time you will be looking for it.”

He shrugs and then tells her, “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

On my other side, I watch as Xochitl and Tek chat about the local area. As he is doing this Xochitl continues to clean his pistol after he has finished with his carbine. As he goes through this, I notice Tek is watching him closely. Then he pulls out his zebra-striped pistol and asks Xochitl to help him inspect it. As they go through the inspection of it, I hear Xochitl ask Tater, “Hey Mashed, could you take a look at the recoil spring on this pistol?”

Tater looks up and tells him, “Yeah give me a minute.”

After he looks at it, he tells Tek, “Glad you found this now. Yeah, that crack could give way sometime when you are using it. Do you have a spare for it?”

Tek shakes his head, then I hear Tater tell him, “Ok, let’s go inside and see if we can find one.”

“I don’t have the caps for that,” Tek replies.

He smiles and tells Tek, “I got it for you. You have helped us a lot, and honestly, your life may depend on this pistol. So, let’s go.”

I nod my head and tell him, “Thanks Mashed. I appreciate it.”

He simply shrugs and tells me, “Let Choo know where I went.”

I nod my head and tell him, “Ok, see you when you get back. Then I look at Xochitl and ask him, “Why don’t you go with them?”

“If you don’t mind dear, I think I will.”

As I watch them go, I relax and get back to what I was doing before. As we do so I notice Twinks fiddling with her PipBuck. Soon she has it tuned into one of the local stations. The music seems a bit off though to me. Soon I hear the announcer come over the radio, that last song was the Celestial March played by The Grand Pegasus Enclave’s Naval Flying Band. The news will be coming up at the top of the hour. You have been listing to Radio Free Equestria, and my name is Hallowed Dreams broadcasting to you live from Thunderhead to the Wastelands.

For those you living below, remember that the Volunteer Corps are your friends and are here to help you. Among the services provided are food, temporary shelter, and first aid. So, if you need a hoof, don’t be afraid to ask a Volunteer.

Speaking of asking for a hoof for help, if you don’t feel that the local authorities in your area are able to keep the gangs and raiders under control, then contact your local government officials and remind them of the offer from President Winter Breeze still stands and we in the Enclave only want to help our brethren get onto their hooves again so we can change from the Wastelands that are, to the Equestria of old, once again.

At this, I just shake my head and I overhear Choo say to someone, “What drivel. The sad thing is some will actually act on his suggestions and will almost beg for their leaders to call the Enclave in so they can feel safe.”

I see Twinks shake her head also and she tells us, “Sorry about that. I have not seen that bandwidth before.”

I laugh lightly and then Epona tells us, “I wonder if it is a new one It does sound like a propaganda station,”

As the day goes on, I see Sunny wake from a nap. He walks over to Choo and tells her something that I cannot hear. She nods her head and he then tells the rest of us, “I will see you all later, I have a few ponies to look up and visit.”

This gets me to raise an eyebrow as I wonder who he is planning to go see at this time of day. I know that Morning Star and her friends are most likely sleeping at this time. I watch him as he goes almost straight up over the Mega Mart area, then he turns and heads in the direction of the Skyport.

I watch until I can no longer see him in the sky and then I turn my attention back to the here and now as I then hear Jambalaya call out that lunch is ready. With that I hear Rosie call out to me, “Hey Cookie, let’s go get some chow.”

After lunch as Twinks is working on a couple of pieces of equipment I notice a young earth pony colt from another caravan watching her at a distance. Finally, the colt gets the courage up and comes over to her and watches up close. Eventually, he screws up the courage and asks her, “Ma’am, could you fix something for me?”

At first, she looks a bit annoyed at having been interrupted. Then she seems to really see the youngster and tells him, “I will if I can. What ya’ got for me to fix?”

He then turns and pulls a wooden toy locomotive out of his saddle bag. It is in rough shape and has a big crack in its side and one of the wheels has fallen off, and the smoke stack has broken off short.

I watch as Twinks examines in using her TK. Then I see Choo Choo come up and when she sees it, she stops dead in her tracks and asks, “May I see that?”

The young colt looks worried and cautiously nods his head. Choo then uses her TK to bring it closer to her and I see her smile as she looks at it, and I hear her say, “I thought so.” She then passes it back to Twinks and tells her, “I think you can do this on your own, but if you need any help or advice, please ask. I want this to be as good as possible for him.”

She nods her head and tells her, “Will do Boss,” then she begins to first clean it up using a cleaning and restoration spell, much like the one the colt seen her use on the outside of her PipBuck.

Then she makes a new smoke stack for it, and glues it in place, as well as fixes the wheel. When she is done, she gently gives it back to the young colt.

The colt is almost in tears as he looks at it and asks, “How, how, much to I owe you ma’am?”

Twinks shakes her head, “You do not owe me anything young stallion.”

“But that is not how things work, my ma and pa told me that.”

Still smiling she tells him, “That one is on me. It gave me some practice I needed. Besides, I know what it is like to have a toy broken.”

He then tells her, “Thank you very much ma’am.” And I watch him as he excitedly runs back to his caravan.

I watch as Twinks turns to Choo and ask, “Choo, what was so special about that toy train to you?”

She shrugs and tells us, “Did you see the name carved in the bottom of it?”

Twinks nods her head and tells her, “Yeah, it was the same as yours.”

Choo shakes her head slowly, “No Twinks, it was not that same as mine, it was mine. That was my toy train when I was a foal. Now it is his, I hope it continues to bring him as much joy as it did me.” she says with a smile.

Twinks seems stunned and asks, “Really?”

“Really Twinks. It brought back some of my memories from when I was a youngster. I remembered a bit about my family finally. Also thank you for doing such a good job on it for him.”

Later when all of us are just sitting around the fire we see an older unicorn mare approach us. She calls out and ask permission to join us. After it is given, she comes over and sits down. Once she is sitting, she asks, “Which one of you fixed my grandsons toy train today?”

Twinks speaks up and tells her, “I did. I hope that is not a problem.”

The old mare tells her, “No, no problem, I just wanted to thank you is all. You see that toy has been in my family since it was new and has been played with by all the foals in our family since.”

From the side, Choo Choo who seems almost stunned asks, “Could you tell us a bit about your family history?”

The mare looks uncomfortable about this then asks, “Why would you want to know about the history of a stranger’s family?”

Choo seems to think briefly then she says, “Because perhaps, we are not as much strangers as you think.”

As she says this I am quietly leaning up against Xochitl, just listening and wondering if it really could be. That Choo has found more of her family.

With a guarded tone of voice, the unicorn mare asks, “What do you mean?”

Choo smiles in the light of the fire and tells her, “My name is Choo Choo, I was the original owner of your grandfoals toy.”

The mare is stunned and asks her, “How could you be?”

Choo answers, “That is a fair question, but I was not always this way. I was made into an alicorn. I was born a unicorn. At one time I had both a son and a daughter. My family lived in Fillydelphia, but my daughter moved to Manesville during the war. My son,” She shakes her head sadly, “He was drafted and never came home again.”

The mare only nods her head, as we listen to Choo continue, “I found out about ten years ago, that the stallion I was betrothed to had bought tickets for both of my children and their families from Stable Tec. I have since found out what happened to the descendants from my daughter, but never had a clue about my son’s family.”

The mare seems stunned and she quietly asks, “Was your son named Blue Flag?”

I watch as Choo thinks briefly and finally nods her head, “Yes that was his name. Please excuse me for being slow on remembering things, but I lost a lot of my memory when Unity was broken.”

The still stunned mare then asks, “So you are my ancestor?”

Choo nods her head slowly and tells her, “Yes, it does seem so. Now that you know my name and who I am, what is your name?”

The mare looks around and then finally answers, “I am Right Wheel, I drive one of the wagons for our caravan.”

Choo smiles and tells her, “It is a pleasure to meet you. How about I exchange some stories with you about what the family was like in my time, and you can tell me about it since?”

The mare looks back at her caravan and says, “I would really like that, but I only planned on being here for a few minutes, would you mind coming to my caravan and telling me them there.”

Choo stands up and tells us, “You know where I will be. Ginger, if you need me, send a runner.” She then says to Right Wheel, “OK, let’s go. Oh, and do you have any other family with you besides your grandson?”

She nods her head, “A few, I will introduce you to them, Choo. Just so you know our stable opened only 50 years after the war, we have been out a while and.” Soon I can no longer hear them as they move along. As they go into the dark, I cuddle up closer to Xochitl and find myself turning my head into his chest as I breathe his scent and find myself falling asleep in his hooves.

*****

Mega Mart, Hoofington, Lunar Commonwealth: Xochitl

During the night I woke up twice to nightmares, once mine. The second to Twinks. As I sit up, I see Tater go over and comfort her, helping her to calm down and get back to sleep. It seems the raid to rescue the doctor got to her more than I would have expected. Soon afterward I go back to sleep and cuddle up closer to Ginger. As I drift off all I can think of is thank the Goddesses she is here for me.

Most of the day is spent cleaning up weapons and maintaining or repairing our gear. Shortly before lunch Tater and I go with Tek to help him find some parts for his pistol. If we can’t find the correct ones, Tater is pretty sure he can find something that he can make work.

After we have been inside for a while, I see Choo off to the side talking to some of the security ponies. We decide to go over to her and see what is going on. As we approach, I overhear them tell her, “Seriously Ma’am, please keep your distance from Salvage Value.”

I see her smile then I hear her say, “Ok, I promise you will not see me near him.”

The security guard, not knowing Choo, smiles and tells her, “That is all I am asking.”

I then ask, “Hey Choo, what’s going on?”

She shrugs and tells me, “Nothing other than the weapons merchant Salvage Value has requested that the security here keep me away from him.”

“Ah, I see,” I tell her.

The security ponies look at us and tell us, “Purchase Order has told us you work for her. Please keep her out of trouble.”

Both Tater and I smile and I overhear Tek say in Zebracan, “Good luck with that.”

The security ponies look at him and ask, “What was that?”

He then replies in Equestrian, “I said we will.” Then he nods his head.

“Ok, good,” then he tells us, “Alright then, I hope you find what you are looking for.”

We all nod our heads in agreement as we walk off with Choo. Then she grins once we are out of sight of the guards and cast her invisibility spell. Then I hear her whisper, “I will meet you in a bit.”

It takes us a while but we find a couple of springs for Tek’s pistol that Tater feels are good enough. We are just passing Salvage Values stall when I see him rubbing the back of his neck and looking around. He asks one of the others with him, “Did you feel that?”

“Feel what?” the short scaver stallion next to him asks.

“That warm breeze,” Then his eyes go wide and I hear him say, “There it is again, did you feel it?”

The other scavers all shake their heads no. Then I hear Choo giggle lightly and barely hear her say, “Remember Salvage, I can be watching you anytime, and you would never know it.”

I am fighting laughter. Beside me, Tek’s eyes go wide in surprise and I hear him again speaking in his native tongue, "I swear she is a nightmare.” Tater on the other hoof acts like he heard nothing at all.

Once we are back outside Choo reappears and laughs lightly as she trots back to the caravan ahead of us. Tek then looks at me and asks, “Was she always this way?”

I simply grin and tell him, “Let me tell you about the first time I met her and her sisters…”

Later that day we meet what turns out to be some descendants of Choo Choo by accident. What is really interesting is that they are caravanners who make the Manehatten-Hoofington circuit. That night she spends several hours with them, exchanging stories. The next morning after we wake up, she tells Epona and Cowlick, “I want you to go talk to them. They said they would be willing to give us what information they can, especially about Manehatten. Oh, and do not be afraid to tell them about home, that is part of the deal. Besides, I am sure they would benefit from adding in our crops as well.”

Epona smiles and nods. Myself, I am somewhat skeptical but eh, it can’t hurt anything. Besides, it is not like Manesville is trying to hide anymore. Then Epona ask, “Choo, what if they ask about Hackamore and Harness?”

This time I see the consternation on her face as she thinks about her answer. Finally, she says, “Go ahead and admit they have some coal, but nothing, like we know, is there. That we keep quiet on.”

“Got it, Boss,” Both Cowlick and Epona tell her. Then I watch as they meander over to the other caravan to trade information.

As I watch them go, I ask Choo, “Where did you get the idea to exchange information like that from?”

Choo smiles and tells me, “On the trip down here Trader Jewel told me how the Caravanners used to give warning to each other as well as trade information. However, you also have to be careful, as some of the less scrupulous caravanners will sometimes give misinformation to help eliminate the competition.”

Ginger nods her head and then asks, “How do we know they won’t do that? I mean, they may be family to you, but we really don’t know them.”

Choo shrugs her wings and tells me, “Ginger, I heard about the experiments that were run in their stable. I also heard what they had to do to survive since they escaped there. Believe me, you don’t tell others those stories if you don’t trust them.”

At that we let the subject drop. But I think to myself that we will have to take what we learn from others with a grain of salt.

A bit later I am surprised as I see Sunny come flying high up and then diving quickly for the ground. I notice as he skids to a landing, that he has a magical band aide on his side and is missing some fur. He looks worn and tired, but he has a grin a mile wide.

“Hey Cothil, Hey Cookie, where’s the boss?” He asks.

I am kind of stunned and point towards Trader Jewel’s wagon. He nods his head and starts to walk sorely in that direction. I want to ask him what has happened since he left yesterday, but for some reason, I just cannot get the words out.

As he walks away, I see him stretch his wings out and notice several patches of feathers are damaged or missing. But I notice his tail is still high and while sore, he seems very proud.

Ginger looks at me and I at her. Then I tell her, “Oh, I can’t wait to hear the story behind this one.”

She nods her head and begins to laugh, “Yeah, I bet it is a good one.”

I watch as he knocks on the door of Trader Jewel’s wagon, goes inside for a while, then comes back out, walks tiredly past us, grabs his bedroll, and throws it open under a wagon, without saying a word to us other than, “Wake me up in a couple of hours.”

Both Ginger and I simply nod our heads as we look at him, and I tell him, “Yes we can do that.”

Then we both see him pull his blanket with his wings over his head and soon afterward hear him snoring as he falls into an exhausted sleep.

That night Epona and Purchase spend talking to each other and off to the side from the rest of us. Tek has come back to visit with us and I see him watching them also.

Finally, he tells me quietly, “I hope she does not hurt her.”

I nod my head, “Honestly Tek, she will not on purpose. Unfortunately, we will be leaving Hoofington before too much longer.”

I see him nod his head and then he asks, “How long before you return?”

I shrug and answer, “Not sure really. Depends on what jobs we pick up. But Tek, for some reason, I am sure we will be back.”

He nods his head in understanding though he does not look happy. Then he tells me, “Good. I hope it is not too long before we see all of you again.”

I smile at him and catch myself putting a hoof over his shoulder as I tell him, “I am sure it won’t be.”

He then says, “Good, now let’s have something to drink and you can tell me more about your home.”

“Only if you tell me more of what you know about spirits.”

He looks at me with one eye and asks, “What makes you think I know anything about spirits?”

“Call it a hunch, but Tek, I think there is more to you than you like to let on.”

*****

Mega Mart, Hoofington, Lunar Commonwealth: Choo Choo

The day starts off as most do for us. After breakfast, we take care of our gear and equipment. While checking weapons Tater finds a problem with Tek’s pistol and after all the help he has given us, I can’t help but want to assist him with it, so when a couple of my people want to help him to take care of it, they know I would not mind them going inside Mega Mart to find parts for it.

To keep us entertained as we take care of things Twinkle Hoofs starts to try to find some music to listen to on her PipBuck.

As she scans the bandwidths, she comes across one that has a military sound to it. It is not too bad, but after a while, it would get old. Shortly after this, we hear a new DJ come across. As he speaks, he sounds so smarmy that I am reminded of the propaganda broadcast from the war. That or those made by the stallion known as Red Eye. Goddesses how I despised that pony, especially as his actions lead to the death of mother and so many of my sisters.

Finally, we can take it no more and Twinks turns it off and I let them know my opinion of it. Then I decide I should head inside as well. I nod to Ginger and Twinks and tell them, “I will be back in a bit.”

Ginger nods her head and absentmindedly replies, “Ok boss.” Then continues with what she was doing. I pay my caps as I go through the entrance and am shortly stopped by a team of security ponies. They all have their shotguns out but are carrying them in a relaxed manner.

“May I help you?” I enquire of them when their leader holds up a hoof to stop me.

“Ma’am, we have been asked by a member of the Finders to keep you away from his stall because you were harassing him last night.”

I turn my head slightly and as I look down at them over my muzzle I respond, “Oh, I was not harassing anypony.”

I hear him sigh, “Ma’am, I don’t care what you call it, but whatever you did has him pretty shook up. I am telling you that if you want to maintain your status as a valued customer here you need to stay away from him.”

I tilt my head and ask him, “You mean you don’t want to see me near him?”

He nods his head, “Seriously Ma’am, please keep your distance from Salvage Value.”

I notice off to the side Xochitl, Tater and Tek are approaching.

I think of what to say then smile and tell them, “Ok, I promise you will not see me near him.”

The security guard smiles and tells me, “That is all I am asking.”

Then Xochitl asks, “Hey Choo, what’s going on?”

Shrugging I tell him, “Nothing other than the weapons merchant Salvage Value has requested that the security here keep me away from him.”

“Ah, I see,” is all he says in reply.

The security ponies then look at my people and tell them, “Purchase Order has told us you work for her. Please keep her out of trouble.”

I decide then and there that I will have to make a visit to Mister Salvage Value now, but I will keep my word, no pony will see me.

Soon we are again walking down the aisles of shops, browsing the goods that they have. Once I am out of sight of the security guards, I cast my invisibility spell and quietly whisper to Xochitl, “I will be back in a bit.”

Then slowly make my way to Salvage Value’s stall. After all, if he wants to try to keep me away, I need to let him know he can’t. Besides, this will be fun.

I notice he is talking to some scavers near the front of his stall, so I slowly walk past him and look around a bit. In fact, I notice he is so involved with his discussion that I decide to move around a few bits of merchandise to let him know someone was there. Then I overhear him telling the scaver, “That blue thought she could sneak into my stall and eavesdrop on me too. Well, my connections in security have already promised me they will keep her from bothering me again.”

Oh, and he wants to brag too, I think to myself. So, I decide to move just a bit closer, and I breathe lightly on his neck. I watch him rub at his neck uncomfortably and then look around. So, I do it again.

This time Salvage Value asks one of the others with him, “Did you feel that?”

“Feel what?” the short dirty light blue scaver stallion next to him asks.

“That warm breeze,” Then his ears move all around and I hear him say, “There it is again, did you feel it?”

I put my hoof over my muzzle and try not to laugh as the other scavers all shake their heads no. Finally, I can’t help myself and I giggle lightly and quietly whisper to him in his ear, “Remember Salvage, I can be watching you anytime, and you would never know it.” Then I poke him with a wing tip on his other side. Getting him to jump slightly before I take flight and fly over toward my companions who are walking nearby. I then whisper to Xochitl that I will meet them outside.

I then take to the air again and fly near the ceiling until I find a roof hatch. I am so glad that Tater and Twinks modified the programming for Gun II so that it does not target us. I make my way to the roof. Once there I find myself smiling as I look at Hoofington below me. I watch as a new caravan arrives and begins to set up their camp. I then see Xochitl, Tater, and Tek come out the main entrance and I take flight again, landing beside them where I drop my spell. I find myself in an unusually good mood as I let them know I am with them and I trot happily along with them back to the caravan.

We are only back to the caravan for an hour or so when Sunny, fresh from a nap approaches me and proposes that he gain some more information about both Marimare and the Rainbow Dash Skyport. He seems to have it pretty well planned out and honestly, it may give us some more information to trade with others. The final part of his plan is to try and find out if somehow, he can find Ball Lightning and check on him, and perhaps to let him know we rescued those ghouls from the bunker. I then tell him, “Just be careful Sunny, I mean it. Do not take too many risks. I don’t like you going out by yourself on this.”

He waves a forehoof at me, “Don’t worry Choo, I will be ok. Besides, if I need to hide out, all I need to do is find the Thestrals, for some reason they like me.”

I shake my head, “Ok, Sunny, be careful and I will see you when you get back.”

I then watch as he takes off and flies off in the direction of Marimare. While I am worried about him, I do have to smile at how excited he is to do this. I just hope he does what he has told me he is going to do. After all these years of knowing him, I am afraid he may decide to take license and do something stupid.

Once he is out of sight I go and review with Trader Jewel his planned route to the stable in two days. He is concerned about a section that Sunny and I had flown over when we went there by ourselves. “Choo, during our last trip down here, we were ambushed by at least two groups of raiders on our way through. With what all has happened since then we might have to watch for one of the local gangs as well.”

I nod my head, “Makes sense, do you want me to send out some scouts tomorrow to check out the route?”

He shakes his head, “Not yet, I am still thinking we may be best off to keep to our normal travel pattern. That includes you and Sunny going aloft periodically.”

“Sounds good sir,” I tell him. We then begin to just chat, including me telling him what I did to Salvage Value.

He then laughs and tells me, “OK, but Choo, just don’t get in trouble for it. He is an ass, but he is a Finder, so that buys him a lot of stock with the rest of the Finders Keepers.”

“I am not sure how come they put so much faith in him.”

He laughs at this and tells me, “It is not that they have faith in him, it is he is a member of the Finders and he is one of their best weapons merchants. That is what matters. He pays his dues and his rent on his stall on time. It does not help that he has enough connections to find what anypony else is looking for.”

I nod my head, “So he is a competent ass.”

I watch as Trader Jewel throws his head back in laughter and finally tells me, “I could not have said it better myself. But honestly, I don’t trust him much anymore, not after what you overheard.”

I smile and tell him, “That is all I could ask.”

Once I leave his wagon, I notice Twinks repairing an old radio relay that will improve the communications distance of our radios.

I am just short of getting to her when I see a young colt come over and I overhear him asking her if she can fix something for him.

I hear her say maybe and ask to see what he needs to be fixed. As I watch him pull out an old toy train, I notice how even though it is in rough shape, how similar it is to the one that I had when I was about his age. Then I think I see something on its bottom and I ask, “May I see that?”

The young colt looks scared and nervously nods his head. I then use my TK to bring it closer and as I look at it, I can’t help but smile when I see my name carved on the bottom where my father put it, and I quietly say, “I thought so.”

Still smiling I pass it back to Twinks and tell her, “I think you can do this on your own, but if you need any help or advice, please ask. I want this to be as good as possible for him.”

She nods her head and tells me, “Will do Boss,”

Later she asks me what was so special and I tell her. I see the surprise on her face and she asks, “Does this mean they are family?”

I shrug my wings and tell her, “Maybe, or it was found by a scaver and it has found a new family. Either way, that child appreciates it as much as I did at his age.”

She nods her head in understanding and we continue on with our day.

Later that night the foal’s grandmother Right Wheel approaches our fire and after talking with her, I realize she may be descended from me through my son’s line. She invites me over to talk with her and others in her caravan who are her relations.

As I sit around the fire, I begin to tell them a bit about myself and what I remember from before the war. When I mention my son Blue Flag’s name, they all liven up. Then I mention how my former fiancé Side Track paid to get my children into the vaults. When I tell them this, I see their ears perk up.

“Would you like to see a photo of us from back then?” I ask.

I see several heads nod and I reach into my saddlebag and I take out the picture book that Side Track gave me the last time I saw him when I went under Canterlot Mountain with the scouts on the expedition. When I open the picture up to the group shot of my family taken after my son was killed in No Mares Land, I notice Right Wheel looking at the picture funny and she says, “Where are you in the picture?”

I smile and point out the older mare with the light blue coat and dark blue mane and tail. She looks at the picture, then back at me, and asks, “How can you have looked like that then, compared to now?”

I find myself sighing as I tell them, “I looked like that until the last day. That day I was immersed in a vat of chemicals to help me survive the attack. I have looked like this since. To this day I do not remember if I was pushed or jumped into it. Until shortly before the day of Sunshine and Rainbows I was a part of Unity. When Unity was broken, I did not recover all of my memories.”

One of the others then asked, “What is Unity?”

I again sigh, as I try not to think about it. Most of me is so glad I am no longer part of it, but part of me still longs for the connection to Mother and my sisters. I then sadly explain to them what Unity was and how it worked. Finally, when I am done the oldest mare, tells me, “You have shared a lot, perhaps we should tell you some of our family’s past. “Choo, on the final day when we went into the stable things changed for our family. All of the families were broken up and reorganized by the vote of a council on breeding. Every generation after that, until we escaped the stable had their partners chosen for them by this council.”

I shake my head sadly and I tell her, “I am so sorry to hear that for all of you.”

She shrugs and tells me, “Well it was only for three generations. Our stable opened after fifty years and we began to recolonize the surface in that area. Our stable set up a village in the northern ruins of Fillydelphia, our family felt a wanderlust to see what else was out there, so we became traders and formed our caravan. We started with a route that took us to Manehatten from Filly, eventually adding Hoofington to it.”

“What about after Red Eye took over there?”

“Then we abandoned our stops at Filly, including our village. Last I heard, those who remained there were put in shackles and made slaves.”

“So, this is all that is left from that side of the family?”

She grins, “No, not all, some left before hoof. We spread out a bit. Some even set up in Manehatten.”

“Hmm, I know it is getting late, but would you mind if I sent a couple of me people over tomorrow to exchange information with you, about the areas we have been to, and perhaps your people could tell us about the areas you have been through? Understand, I and my team are not caravanners, we only seek information in case we have to work in those areas in the future.”

She thinks briefly and tells me, “Yeah, go ahead. Now as you said, it is getting late, so I best get some sleep. I hope to see you again tomorrow.”

I smile and nod my head, “As do I Right Wheel. Sleep well.”

The next morning, I have Epona and Cowlick go over to their camp to exchange information. While they are gone, just before lunch Sunny finally returns. When he does, I am with Trader Jewel in his wagon for our daily meeting.

I am sipping my tea when I hear a knock on the door. Trader looks at me, sets his cup down, and asks, “Ok, who is it?”

We then hear Sunny say, “It’s me Sunny, I came to report to Choo.”

“Ok, come on it.”

As he enters, I notice he has a magical bandage on his side and he looks in rough condition with several patches of burned and missing fur. When I see this, I raise an eyebrow and tell him, “Ok Sunny, what do you have for me?”

He then begins to tell me about the layout around both the Rainbow Dash Skyport and Marimare military base. He smiles as he tells Trader Jewel, “By the way, they are looking for new caravans to run to the Exchange at the Skyport. Oh, and there is a set of hangers at the Rainbow Dash Skyport that I would suggest we avoid. Not sure who, or what is in there, but I saw a few military types hanging around outside it that were trying to hide their weapons.”

Trader Jewel nods his head and shifts an ear in thought, “That is good information to know, I had not heard about them yet.”

Then I asks, “Sunny, I cannot help but notice your fur and the wound on your side, what happened? Did you get too close to those hangers you just mentioned?”

He smiles broadly and waves a forehoof, “Oh, that happened after the Security forces discovered me coming out of the hospital up in Thunderhead.”

I actually feel my jaw drop, as does Trader Jewels. When I recover from the surprise I calmly ask, “What were you doing in Thunderhead, and better yet, how did you get there?”

He tells me, “Actually, I put on a pair of Volunteer Corps coveralls and hitched a ride on a vertibuck that was hauling cargo. I told them I was going up to visit my cousin who was in the hospital. So, they even gave me directions on how to find the military hospital up there. By the way, it is called the Nightingale Military Hospital. It is toward the far edge of the base.”

I nod my head and I then ask, “Sunny, what were you doing in the hospital?”

“Choo, I went in to check on that officer Ball Lighting. Choo, he is in really rough shape, in fact, they said he was in a coma. I talked with his pa while I was up there, one of the others who were with his team was in the other bed, he lost a leg. I chatted with him for a bit too.”

I shake my head and then I ask, “Did you tell them your name?”

He nods his head, “Yes Choo, I told them my proper name. I even told them I was from White Cloud, they figured it was some small hick pegasus village because of my accent. I did not tell them I was from the NCR.”

I nod my head in understanding, then he tells me, “I then told them to let him know we performed the favor he asked us to do and to tell him we hope he gets better soon, once he wakes up.”

I nod approvingly and tell him, “That is good, I am glad you told them that. Now, what happened there?” I ask as I point to his side with my wing tip.

This time he has the good sense to look embarrassed as he answers, “See that is the weird part. It was easy getting into Thunderhead as a pegasus that was unbranded.” He pauses, “They assumed I was one of them. But when I tried to leave, my goddesses…” he trails off as he shakes his head.

Finally, he looks back up at me and tells me, “Choo, they were going to kill me if they could not catch me it seemed. I’ve seen enough brands back home on the Dashites to know what that means. Luckily once it got dark, I was able to find one of the bat ponies’ safe sites.”

Wait, what? What bat pony safe sites, I think to myself. Then I ask him, “What are you talking about when you say safe sites?” Beside me, Trader Jewel is nodding his head.

Sunny looks first at him, then me, and answers, “By the Thestral’s custom Choo, any pony who seeks aid or shelter after dark is granted it as long as the requester does so on good terms. Morning Star and her pals explained it to me and even told me the symbols to look for as well as what to say to request help.”

I find myself sighing and shaking my head as I ask him, “And why did you not pass that information on to the rest of us?”

“Choo, I only found out the night before last. I was in such a hurry to leave yesterday that I forgot to tell you.”

“Ok Sunny, now my question goes back to what happened?” I tell him.

This time he closes his eyes and tells me, "I got it after I got discovered and I dove for the ground. I had at least a squad’s worth of Enclave security after me. They yelled at me to stop and when I didn’t, they began to shoot at me. Once close to the ground I started to dodge in and around the ruins as well as the forest. I lost a couple of them that way. But most were still on my tail. Then I got hit in the side and crashed. When I looked over, I was near the mouth of a cave with the symbols they told me about. I ran as fast as I could to it and once inside, I called out the password and asked for shelter. That is when I saw the first of the bat ponies emerge from the shadows. As they lead me further inside, the Enclavers arrived and were still trying to catch me. I looked back at one point and I swear in the dim lights of the tunnel I watched as one of the thestrals seemed to teleport from one shadow to another, getting behind them. Then they hit that squad all at once. After that, they took me to a sheltered area where they treated my wounds at. They asked about me, so I told them about me and my home. I also told them I was friends with Morning Star and the others.”

“Ok, that is good information to know Sunny. Thank you for letting me know.”

At this point, I notice he is starting to appear exhausted. I guess the post-adrenaline rush crash is starting, so I tell him, “Sunny, good job, now go catch some sleep.”

He nods his head and catches himself mid yawn to tell me, “Ok Boss. Sounds good.”

After he leaves, I ask Trader Jewel, “Did you know that about the Thestrals?”

He shakes his head and tells me, “No, I have only seen them at a distance. Honestly, I feel a bit uncomfortable around them, especially with those fangs and the featherless wings.” He pauses and then tells me, “Well that should do for today, Choo, like I was saying earlier, tomorrow we head over to that Applejack’s Ranger’s stable.”

With that, I realize I have been dismissed. I get up and as I head out the door I tell him, “Sounds good Sir, I will have my people ready.”

*****

Nightingale Military Hospital, Thunderhead, Grand Pegasus Enclave: Ball Lighting

As I wake up, I feel my entire body ache. I am not surprised by this anymore but sometimes question my decision to throw myself in front of Air Burst. As the nurse brings me my breakfast she asks, “You ready to try walking again today?”

I nod my head, “Yeah, best do that before I try flying again, I tell her.”

She smiles as she replies, “I am glad you understand the steps it takes.”

From the next bed over I hear Sergeant Major Funnel Cloud ask her, “Any idea of what is on the agenda for me today?”

She nods her head and tells him, “Yes, today we will be having you try the prosthetic again. A bit more of physical therapy with it.”

He nods his head. “Good, glad to hear that. The Sooner I get it fitted and used to it, the quicker I can return to duty.”

I nod my head, then he tells me, “No offense sir, but it still feels strange sharing a room with an officer.”

As he is saying this the nurse is leaving the room, once she is out of earshot, I slowly wave a forehoof at him and tell him, “I understand Sergeant Major, but I think it had more to do with our last mission. By keeping us together, the less chance we could say something when on pain meds or in our sleep and having it overheard.”

He snorts slightly and nods his head, “Yeah, your right, but we need to be careful sir, or else we may end up getting drug into intelligence permanently.”

I smirk when he says this and asks, “What, you didn’t enjoy that little stint in the VC?”

He looks around again and smiles as he shakes his head, “Sir, all things considered, I would have rather been wearing my power armor during that last little tiff.”

I simply shrug and tell him, “You know what, all things considered, so would I. Especially after they told me I almost got a new lung because of that last bit.”

He nods his head, “Well, on the positive side you should be getting out in a couple of weeks. As soon as you can walk and fly. Maybe they will give you a week of convalescent leave even.”

I shrug myself this time, “Yeah, but If I do, I just spend it hanging around the bachelor officer quarters or at my father’s place.”

I look at him and see he is staring out the window. He still looks into the distance as he tells me, “Sir, at least you still have that. All I have is the BEQ. No children, no spouse, no prospects even. I made the army my life. Now my parents are even gone. My last cousin, I have not heard from in years.”

“Didn’t you have any siblings?”

He shakes his head slightly, still looking out the window. “No Sir, I did not, my family were not even military. Just farmers, and not very successful ones at that. Part of why I joined up. I got tired of failed crops and going hungry.”

I nod my head, I have heard many stories like that from others, so I can’t blame him.

As we eat our breakfast, I see him snort slightly while trying not to laugh, then he asks, “Sir, did you know that wild pegasus we met at Mega Mart came to visit you?”

I laugh lightly as I did not realize he knew. “My father told me he did.”

“Sir, that took a lot of guts or few brains for him to risk coming up here.”

“Yeah, I understand. I guess our cover was blown, eh Sergeant Major?”

“Sir the funny thing is, he took us at our word about being former military until he got here. But yeah, now our cover is blown. I heard him talking to your father, though first. It seems I found out what happened to some of the pegasuses that came up missing when Neighvarro attacked Thunderhead.”

I raise an eyebrow at that, “Really, how’s that?”

“Sir it seems where he comes from got a big influx of Thunderhead refugees after that.”

“So, you said you found out about some you knew?”

“Yeah, my cousin on my mother’s side, her name is Summer Solstice. Her parents and she made it there. I guess she really went native. Married a griffon even. I am not sure if he was serious or not, but he claimed she had a couple of half griffons, half mare foals.”

I wave my hoof, “He had to be kidding. I never heard of that happening before.”

“Sir, I hope your right, I mean, if we were to fight them, and she were captured, she would be lucky if they only branded her a Dashite.”

I nod my head in agreement but don’t say anything. I am still trying to figure out the mechanics of that kind of couple. I shake my head and ask, “Anyone else?”

He laughs, “Yeah, your father’s cousin Chain Lightning made Sergeant Major with some outfit in the NCRA out in the waste, but he is still kicking at least. Most of us who survived that day thought those who went groundside were deaders. Makes me think a bit, ya know what I mean sir?”

I nod my head, “Yeah, I remember that day still too. I lost my mother that day.” As I say this, I feel like I am forgetting something. But no, I really could not have seen her since.

Funnel Cloud nods his head, “Yeah, your father told me about that. You know he still misses her.”

I move my ears in acknowledgment, “Yeah, I know. I worry about him because of it. I really wish he would find a mare and settle down again.”

Funnel smiles and tells me, “Well, just so you know, not only has he, but she was here with him a lot before you woke up. I think you may get to even meet her soon.”

“So, you think she is decent then?”

I see him shift his ears a bit as he gives me an affirmative answer then says, “Yes, she is and she really likes your old stallion.”

I can’t help but smile warmly, “Good, I am glad to hear it. I know he was talking a while back about one of the mares he worked with.”

He tells me a bit more about my father’s marefriend as we finish breakfast. Once we are done, I look up and notice the nurses come in and I hear them say, “Ok, time for physical therapy.”

When we hear this, I sit up more on my bed and slide closer to the edge. I watch as Funnel Cloud is taken first. Once he is gone the remaining two nurses tell me, “Ok, let us help you down to the wheelchair first."

Once I am in it, they take me to the physical therapy room where I see Funnel Cloud is having the prosthetic fitted and adjusted. Soon they have him first stand on it. Then walk, and finally, I watch as they have him use it to try and lift things.

While he is doing that, the physical therapist has me move my legs while they hold them to give me some resistance. Finally, finally, they feel I am ready to try and walk. With the physical therapist on one side and the nurse on the other, they help me to first stand on my own, then I begin to take the first steps. My legs scream in pain at the now unaccustomed weight they are supporting, but I do it. I force myself to do it. I know it might take me a bit to get back to where I was, but I can and will do it.

After our time is up, I am returned to my room. I am covered in sweat, but I feel better about myself. Besides, I owe a return visit to Sunset Water. I laugh to myself as I think when would I ever get to visit him on his home turf? Then I hear Funnel Cloud asks, “Ok Sir, what’s so funny?”

When I tell him he grins slightly, “Yeah, it would be good to do. But sir, if we do, things might not be so good for their homes, if you know what I mean.”

“Yeah, just got to hope we are not sent in with the likes of Air Burst again.”

He nods his head in agreement. Then he says to me, “Sir, who knows, his cover was pretty much blown and his ops shut down for now. They may send him somewhere else.”

“Yeah, they might, here is hoping anyways.”

He laughs lightly then says, “And here I thought you were his apprentice?”

Before I can answer I hear the cart rattle with our lunches on it, followed by the nurse telling us, “I hope you two are hungry.”

*****

This is Chromed Microphone bringing music to those of you in the Lunar Commonwealth and beyond. In tonight’s news, there has been an increase in the number of raider attacks between the Hoof and Manehatten. Nothing like a few years back, but still enough to cause concern. Remember that an armed society is also a polite one.

In other news, the NCR has requested an exchange of trade delegations with the Lunar Commonwealth. The leadership of the Commonwealth is reported to be debating whether to accept this delegation or to loosen their ties with the NCR in the face of the current situation with the Enclave.

More news will be coming up after this next song. For all our listeners out there, here is Friends with The Enemy

Author's Note

While this chapter is a calm one we still get to see some twists and turns. We also get to see some more of how things are done in Hoofington. This is exemplified by Choo's descendants and how even a young foal knew that everything there had a cost.

For those who would like to listen to this chapter's dedication song, the YouTube link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WJQZfTUooY