Chapter 24 Who Are You?

The best way to defeat your enemy is to make him your friend. —Sensei Wu, Ninjago

Good Doer landing, NCR Territory: Ginger Snaps

Our Travel back to Good Doer Landing is uneventful if quiet. It seems we are all lost in our own thoughts from the previous two days. During this time, I have noticed that Double Back spends more time talking with Epona and Tater as they know more about his home territory, having spent most of the Colonel’s first deployment down there with her in the Harness and Hackamore region. I also find myself and the others who were on the expedition talking with Days End.

It seems interesting and also ironic that while Silver Spite’s forces were larger, he hated us and feared just as much for is life as we did. But because none of us revel in the pain they caused the other side or hate them for just having been there, we find this as a common bond of shared misery.

As we arrive at the small settlement Days End approaches me and asks, “So what is the story about your sister and you? I mean I can see the family resemblance, but you both had such different experiences growing up, at least for several years.”

I find myself smiling at him and I tell him, “Honestly, seeing you are now part of the team, I guess I can tell you as you will hear it sooner or later from back home. Before you came to Manesville with Silver Tongue, did you ever hear of the Others?”

He looks kind of confused and replies, “No. Should I have?”

I shrug as I keep walking and I tell him, “Not really, it is common knowledge in the Manesville region, but we tried to keep it from spreading too far. The Others are a group of cattle and ponies that come to our world from another one, where the history was different. They came here through a portable portal. The Epona who was born on this side was killed by Silver Spite along with her mother. During the expedition by the CEF that you fought against, we went under Canterlot Mountain and found a portal machine that we call the Doorway. Day, that was the first time I saw this Epona, same mother, but the LT on her side was the one who was killed by Silver Spite, not her mother. That happened later when Silver Spite won on that side. The Others were the survivors of their dash to the portal and our world. Day, they can never go back.”

He looks at me like I am lying and says, “Ginger, if you didn’t want to really answer me, you didn’t have to make up a story like that.”

I laugh lightly and I tell him, “Don’t believe me if you want to, no skin off my muzzle, but if you want, once we get back to Manesville and White Cloud I will take you to this side's Epona’s grave.”

He looks at Epona and then back at me and asks, “So she has visited her own grave?”

I nod my head as I tell him, “Yeah, many times. Our sides her, was buried with her mother. So, when she wants to visit her mother, she has to.”

“What happened to her mother?” he asks.

I catch myself sighing then I answer his question, “The same thing that happened to my birth mother, she was killed fighting against Silver Spite.”

I see him look down when I tell him this, then he goes silent briefly until we see the stallion that we talked to previously wave to us from his chair on the porch of his store. I nod to Choo and I trot over to him. Once I am close enough, I hear him ask quietly, “Were you serious about helping me get to Manesville to see my daughter?”

I nod my head and move an ear in an affirmative manner as I tell him, “Yes we were serious if you are.”

He grabs a set of saddlebags from behind him and carefully puts them on his back. Then he calls into an open window on the shop's side, “Looks like this is it, partner, I am heading out to meet my daughter.”

From inside I hear a voice that has a female griffon accent to it answer back, “Ok, Corn Biscuit, you take care and if you ever get back this way, you can have your share of the store again.”

I then hear Choo call over the radio, “Sunny, why don’t you make sure the Colt is down below before we head down.”

“Roger Boss.” He says and I see him fly up and then head down to the landing. Shortly afterward I hear him say, “Choo the Colt is here, but we have a message that was given to her to deliver to you personally.”

I hear her sigh, then she answers back, “Tell her I will be right down.” Then she turns to us and tells me, “Ginger, you have the team, for now, bring them down to the colt, and help mister Biscuit if he needs it.”

I nod to her and tell her, “Will do Choo.”

The wiry mule Double Back then tells him, “Sir, I will carry your saddlebags if you would like.”

I see a grateful expression come over the older stallion’s face as he tells him, “I really would appreciate it if you don’t think it will be too much for you.”

Double Back smiles, “Nah, us mules are built for it, we may look thin and awkward, but almost all of us can really carry a load on rough ground.”

“If you say so sonny, thanks.”

Soon we are on our way down the trail to the landing below. As we go, I can still see some of the wreckage below the water line from the bridge that was here. I can also see Choo Choo standing on the top deck of the Baltimare Colt talking to Captain Rust Water. Neither of them looks happy and beside them I see Sunny looking at both of them with a grim expression on his face.

As we come aboard, I overhear one of the crewponies saying, “Boy the captain looks fit to be tied this time.”

We store our kits in our normal area and have Corn Biscuit do the same. Then we wait for Choo to come and tell us what is going on. It is a short time later that Choo appears. Bell Stand is with her and he approaches Corn Biscuit and tells him, “Sir, if you do not mind, would you please accompany me to the mess decks for a bit of coffee while these ponies discuss some business.”

Corn Biscuit shrugs and asks, “Sure, but what is a mess deck?”

Bell Stand smiles and as they begin to walk, he tells him, “That is the area we eat at. The Galley is where our food is cooked.” They continue to talk, but I can hear less and less as they get further away. Finally, Choo tells us, “Close off the berthing and close the doors.”

Once it is done, we see her horn light up and she tells us, “Ok team, we are not going straight home. We have received a special request, from the president herself.”

We all nod or murmur ok. Then she tells us, “Folks we are going back under Canterlot Mountain. We are to recover the Doorway and transport it to a safe location after determining if it is safe or not. Oh, and Sunny, your mother is here so don’t be surprised.”

He looks stunned and tells her, “Choo, Ma said she would never do freelance work like we do again. What is she doing here?”

Choo smiles and tells him, “She caught the Colt when they dropped off their load of cargo and is only here long enough to teach us how to operate the thing. She stays with the Colt.”

“What about my siblings?” he asks.

Choo shrugs and tells him, “I guess your Pa has them for now.”

I see Sunny grin and I hear him say, “Boy I bet mom is sure glad to get a break finally.”

Choo nods to him in affirmation then looks at Twinks and tells her, “I want you and Cowlick to pay close attention to her. I will need you to operate it when we test it.”

I watch as Twinks nods then ask, “So why do you want me and Cowlick to pay such close attention if we are all learning how to operate it?”

That is when Choo drops the bomb on us that gets me to sit down hard, and for Epona, to lose her footing as she tells us, “Because the rest of the main team will be going through it. Days End, Double Back, you will be providing security for them as well.

We all look at each other and then we hear Days End ask, “What are you talking about? What is this doorway you are talking about?”

Choo, Xochitl, Tater, and I all nod our heads yes. Epona simply shrugs and answers, “Yeah it is. The same one Tater and I came through from.”

I see him grimace slightly and he then asks, “Choo, any idea on hostiles we may encounter?”

We all see her shrug first, then she tells us, “Typical feral ghouls, possibly a feral Canterlot ghoul or two,” as she says that she looks right at me and smirks. Then she continues, “Possible Enclave elements as well. Remember, most of the ghouls down there are not only friendly but have known most of us for years.”

Those who have been under Canterlot Mountain before all nod their heads. Then Twinks asks, “What can we expect it to be like under there?”

Choo again gets ready to answer when Epona tells her, “I spent about a week under there when I first came over. It was huge. I mean you would not believe all the rail cars and engines under there. When we left we saw all kinds of lights hanging down and doors along the side that were open.”

Choo nods her head, “During the war, it was the largest in Equestria if not all of Equus. The tunnels are all tiled. Along the side of the tunnels are maintenance platforms as well as equipment rooms. The tunnels were all lit up with magic tube lights. Now, well the place is in a bit less of good shape. The main railyard has a high roof with columns of the mountain holding the roof up. When we get there, we should be able to meet up with some of my old friends.”

Then I hear Double Back ask, “How old of friends?”

This time I give a half smile as I answer, “Well they were co-workers before the last day. Unfortunately for them, they became ghouls.”

This gets Days End to simply say, “Most unfortunate for them.”

Choo then asks him, “Days End, do you have much experience with ghouls?”

He nods his head, “When the CEF led those ghouls into our rear at the gap, was my first time. I have a few times since.”

“Ok, so you have experience with at least ferals, how about ghouls who are still cognizant?” She asks.

He shakes his head at this and she tells him, “For now, when we encounter ghouls, I need you to follow the lead of the others then. Not all ghouls are feral, in fact, we will be dealing with several when we go under the mountain.”

“You’re the boss, Choo. But I have not ever met a ghoul who was not feral,” he tells her.

“Well then, it is about time. Besides, we have a mother ghoul and her filly who live and work in our shop back in Manesville, so you should start to get used to them now.”

I see him shudder slightly and he tells her, “Ok Choo, as I said, you are the boss.”

“Ok, once we get to Two Step Transfer, we will be disembarking. From there we go in on hoof. She looks at Cowlick and tells him, “No cart this time, we go in light and quick, when we leave, we take it with us along with an engine.”

We all nod our heads and she drops the silence spell. Then I hear Sunny say, “I best head up and say hi to my ma.”

Choo smiles as she tells him, “Yeah, you best. She is having coffee with Rust on the mess decks.”

*****

Two Step Transfer, NCR: Xochitl

To say I am surprised to hear Choo say we are heading under the mountain again is an understatement, to say the least. When she says we are going through the Doorway, that about floors me. I am fortunate however in that I keep myself from showing how nervous I am about it.

As Choo briefs us I see the disappointment on Cowlick’s face that he is not going through. Twinks nods her head in understanding, while most of the team sits in various forms of contemplation. I do have to say I take a bit of satisfaction at seeing how nervous Sunny is, not to go through the Doorway, but that his mother is onboard.

As soon as the briefing is done, I watch in amusement as he excuses himself and heads on up to meet her. As he goes, a grinning Ginger asks me, “Shall we go get some coffee and enjoy the show?”

I chuckle lightly and tell her, “Sure, why not. Besides coffee sounds good right now.”

As we arrive on the mess decks, I see Sunny greeting his mother as she sits across a table from Rust. Rust actually looks amused herself. When she sees Ginger, she nods our way and waves a hoof at the coffee pot along the side of the room.

After we grab our cups of coffee, we move over to the table next to Rust and the others. Rust and Ginger look at each other and she nods then flicks an ear toward Sunny. Ginger then moves an ear in an affirmative reply. Then I hear Blondie ask Sunny, “What is this I hear about you sneaking into Thunderhead?”

My mouth drops open and I demand, “Sunny what are you doing opening your mouth about our missions.”

He turns to me with a look of horror on his face and tells me, “I, I didn’t say anything to anyone.”

“Then how did your mother know?” I all but yell at him with my forehooves crossed.

Behind him, I hear Rust saying, “You have got to be kidding me, he couldn’t have done that.”

Choo is just entering the mess decks and her eyes go wide when she hears this. But before she can respond Blondie blows a loud whistle and yells, “Shut up, this is between me and my son.” Then she lowers her voice and continues, “I guess Funnel Cloud and Ball Lighting were telling the truth about that.”

I watch Sunny shake his head quickly and then he asks, “When did you meet them? And where?”

Now she is sitting on her hind haunches with her forelegs crossed as she tells us, but mainly him, “White Cloud. A group of Enclavers were trying to sneak into Manesville and said to the diplomat that had hired them to escort her that they were from White Cloud.”

This time I see him grin as I hear him ask, “So how is aunt Purple doing?”

“Oh no you don’t young stallion, you are not changing the subject this time.”

“Ma, I had to check on him when I found out he was in the hospital, and I wanted to let him know we had done a favor for him that he asked us to do.”

When I hear Blondie tell him where she had heard about it, I have to smile. Good Ol’ Aunt Purple Haze has returned to White Cloud. I am sure Ginger’s little sister Moon Lily will be thrilled to have one of her two mentors there with her.

Choo then asks, “How did you find out about them?”

Blondie smiles and tells us, “From what I understand, they told Aunt Purple they knew Sunny and were friends with and went to school with him when she first met them. She faked forgetting something inside Tenpony Tower, went inside, and had a message sent for us to be ready for them. She used them for escorts to get home to us, then when they stopped in White Cloud for lunch, we caught them and Sirocco had a little talk with them.”

We all nod our heads and I see Sunny smile. “At least he and I are on friendly terms I guess.”

His mother then looks back at him and tells him, “Ok, I guess I understand that. Now how about we finish our coffees and take this someplace else so we can have some more privacy.”

Once we are back in our area of the Colt, she has Choo cast the silence spell again, and then she begins. “I am sure Choo has told you why I am here. Kids, this is not a game. Most of you know what this thing is, but you have to be careful. Do not shut the doorway with our people on the other side or if the dials are moved at all we may not be able to go back and get them.”

This statement gets my attention as I had not even thought of that. I look at the others on our team and I see that they all have the same stunned expression on their faces. Choo then says, “That is why I want a security team on the control side of the Doorway, your role is just as important.”

After this Blondie goes on to teach us what she knows about operating the Doorway. She also gives us what technical information she can on its power connections and what information we have on how it was operated and disabled when the Others came through.

After she has finished Choo drops the shield, then she tells us, “I have talked with Captain Water and we will be arriving after dark at Two Step landing tomorrow night. We go in on hoof. Get what rest you can, and Sunny, spend some time with your mother while you have the chance.”

With that, the meeting breaks up and we go about our normal routine. Later that night as Ginger and I lay cuddled together I think about the route we will have to follow to get to the tunnels, as well as what threats we will have to watch for, just before I fall asleep, I begin to wonder what we will find on the other side of the Doorway.

The next morning, we are joined for breakfast by Sunny’s mother Blondie. As we are eating, she tells him, “You know son, you have a pretty good thing going here. I never got to ride on a riverboat before, and you do this all the time?”

I see Sunny shrug and I tell her, “Not usually, but often enough that we are almost like part of the crew now.”

I see her smile as she shakes her head, “Sure is a leg up on the way I used to have to work,” she tells us, then she asks, “So, anything we should know back home that you have heard about in your travels?”

We look at each other and Ginger tells her, “Sorry Blondie, but really, we can’t talk about what we hear out here. You know operational security and all.”

I see her huff out her chest then she says, “Look I came all the way out here for this and you think I can’t be trusted?”

“It’s not that ma. It is we can’t discuss it with anyone. Not even the Colonel or her husbands.”

She tilts her head as she looks at her son, “Son if there is anything we need to know, tell me.”

“Ma, there is nothing that is a direct danger to home, ok. You can already guess where we have been and ma, keep that quiet too will you please? It could cause both us and some others real problems if certain facts got out.”

She nods her head, “Ok if you want to change the subject, I will. So Sunny, when are you going to settle down and give me some grandfoals?”

I see his face go slack and his ears back, “Ma, I can’t believe you just asked that in public.”

“Well, you wanted to change the subject.” She answers with a devilish smile.

*****

That evening we land at the Two Step Transfer. As I look across the river, I can barely see the banks on that side. In the dark, I can see nothing at all beyond them. Still just knowing we are so close to that place brings back so many memories. Including the time Ginger and I both shared our first hard cider with the adults from the scouts after the First Battle of Two Step. Then I shiver as I remember the Second Battle of Two Step and how it led us to the retreat to Serenity Valley.

Beside me, I feel Ginger shiver some as well. In the lantern light on the deck, we grab our gear and begin to head ashore. I have to smile as I watch Sunny give his mother a quick hug goodbye and hear him say, “I love ya ma. See you back in Manesville.”

She smiles back and tells him, “See you in Manesville son, now all of you be careful out there.”

Once he lands with our team, we begin our trek to our ingress point under Canterlot Mountain. As usual, I am on point, right behind me are Tater, and Epona, because it is so dark, Sunny is with us, in the next group further back is Cowlick with Twinks acting as his loader, Ginger and Choo. Taking Drag are Double Back and Days End.

As we travel, we see the occasional wreckage alongside the roads, twice we see vertibucks and once a Raptor in the distance. By the next morning, we are at the entrance to the southwestern tunnel going under Canterlot Mountain.

When we get there, I look up to the rocks above that we hid in that day long ago on the expedition while the ferals attacked Silver Spites, troops, in the rear. I then look over in the direction of where their lines were and I notice Days End doing the same thing. I then ask, “Did you lose some friends here?”

He nods his head, “A couple from our platoon, most of us were able to run and get out of their way.”

Ginger nods her head but does not say anything, but I can tell she is thinking about something. We take a quick ten-minute break there before Choo takes a deep breath, then she makes the decision and tells us, “Packs on, let’s get this over with.”

When she says this, I see both Tater and Epona look at each other and nod. I also notice the expression on their faces. Not fear, but of discomfort and perhaps a slight bit of anxiety. He puts a hoof on her shoulder and tells her, “We got this Pona, relax, remember the Doorway on our side was destroyed.”

She nods her head and tells him, “Yeah, I know, but it has been a long time since we have been in here.”

Once we are back in line, I turn on the light from my PipBuck to see ahead of us. I only use the one mounted under the barrel of my zebra carbine for actual targets. Then I lead them in. As we enter, I notice the tile walls near the entrance have some pitting from past gunfire that seems to have struck inside of it.

As we go deeper inside, we can occasionally hear the sounds of trains moving in the distance. When we reach a side tunnel about halfway in, we break for lunch. As we are eating off to the side, we notice at first the sound of a steam engine approaching and then the light becoming brighter on the main line we are next to. Soon we see a freight train passing us on the line heading towards Junction Town.

After seeing this I see Choo Choo smile at first, then she tells us, “From now on we walk on the side platforms, we don’t want to get caught on the tracks.”

We finish our rations, taking the waste with us to burn later. After we are back on our hooves, we are slow at first as we let our muscles begin to stretch and get back into the rhythm of hiking again. It takes us another couple of hours to come to the end of the tunnel, as we get there, we can see the ceiling forming a dome high overhead. I am surprised in a way to notice that there are not nearly as many railcars and locomotives under here as the last time I was here.

I look at Ginger and comment on this to her and she smiles as she says, “Where do you think we have gotten all the rolling stock and engines from that we are starting to see all over the NCR?”

I shrug and reply, “I guess I should have known. Sorry for not thinking before I asked.”

Choo then tells us, “Please wait here while I find who is in charge.” Then she takes to the air and we watch her fly towards the tall central building that is the operations center for the railyard as well as one of the vast support columns for the roof. After a short wait, I think I see Choo coming back in our direction along with a ghoul I recognize as Side Track. Though I do not know the others.

Choo has a serious expression on her face as she introduces the team to the ghouls. I am right about the one being Side Track. The others are Fire Box, whom Tater and Epona already knew. The third is Diamond Thrower, whom none of us, except Choo had met before.

As we look, I hear Epona ask, “Where is Pullman Car?”

Side Track, being the leader of the ghouls in the railyard smiles his ghoulish best and tells her, “Sorry Ya missed him. He was on that last train ya saw heading towards Junction town. We are trying to disburse more of the rolling stock after that last incursion by the Enclave.”

This alarms me and I ask, “Sir, what Enclave incursion?”

He shakes his head in disgust as he tells us, “Them damn arrogant feathered bastards have started to try raiding under the mountain for supplies. They found one of the large storage depots two weeks ago. I can only imagine what they will do with those supplies.” He then tells Choo, “I am just glad you are here to get that device out of here. That is why I sent for you through the president.”

This gets both Double Back and Days End to raise an eyebrow in surprise. We all know which device he is talking about though. He then tells us, “We have it off to the side over here, on a mixed passenger freight set up. We will take two trains out an hour apart first, then this one, followed by a fourth all heading to Manesville. That will make it less obvious what we are up to that way.”

I along with several others all nod our heads. Then Fire Box tells us, “We three will be driving the train for your team. We will return when we can for more, but right now it is not really safe for any of us, so follow us, we have the device stored in one of the cars on the train already. Choo, feel free to join us in the cab of the engine.”

She smiles and tells her, “If you are sure, then I would love to.”

Soon we are all loaded onto the train. Twinkles and Cowlick are in the boxcar with the device in it. The rest of us are in the passenger car behind it, except for Choo who as offered, is in the cab of the engine. It is a novel experience for me to ride in a train like this and I am fascinated by how fast the tunnel walls pass us. Beside me, I hear Ginger laugh lightly as she says to no one in particular, “I never thought I would actually get to ride one of these.”

Epona smiles and tells her, “Yeah, I understand that, but it is a nice change.”

From a few seats back I hear Days End asks, “You mean you don’t always travel like this?”

The rest of us laugh and Tater tells him, “Usually it is by hoof or occasionally by the river, but other than that, Nah, but I could get used to it.”

Then I settle in to enjoy the ride. As we finally leave the tunnel into the open air the sun is starting to set to the west, and I think of how that means back home it is harvest time again. Then I hear the steam whistle on the engine sound two times and I have to smile to myself as we continue on as twilight falls.

*****

Wastelands, North of Canterlot Mountain; Choo Choo

As we cross the plains traveling the rails in the darkness, I cannot help but smile to myself. I have always enjoyed driving a train at this time. It is so peaceful and relaxing. It almost feels like old times with Fire Box and Diamond thrower in the cab with me. We stop twice along the rails to put water in the boiler before we stop for the day. As the locomotives crew again fills it with water, oils its wear points, and scrounges for fuel, I head back to the passenger car and tell my team, “Double Back, Days End, you got security for the team, the rest of you, grab your kits and let’s head to the Doorway and see if Twinks is ready.”

As we open the door, I see Twinks and Cowlick both asleep on the floor near the control counsel for the Doorway. They both wake up groggily and Twinks tells us, “Hay Choo, we got the magic batteries hooked back up. I also have checked the movement of the controls, when you are ready, I will start to warm up the electronic and magic circuits and get her ready for you.”

I nod my head, “Ok, then begin the readying process. The rest of you get in here and drop your saddlebags for a bit.”

Once we are inside, I close the door again, and those of us who will go through begin to rest a bit more before we go through. In the background, I can hear them chatting with each other.

I watch as Twinks blows a piece of her mane out of her face visibly frustrated. She soon twists some dials, then writes down the settings in a notepad. Finally, she answers, “It should only be a few more minutes. Sorry, but I am only guessing at where the settings once were at this point."

“Take your time, Twinkle Hoofs. We do not want to rush this. Goddesses know where we might end up otherwise,” I tell her.

As we wait, I hear Ginger ask Tater, “Tater, you ok?”

I see him nod his head, “Yeah Ginger, I am fine. Sorry, just have a few things on my mind today.”

Epona then gets up and puts a hoof on his shoulder and attempts to comfort him by telling him, “It's alright Tater. I understand how you feel, I am nervous about going back to that timeline too.”

He tries to smile as he asks, “Is it that obvious?”

She nods her head, “Yes, it is, at least to me and Twinkles.”

He sighs and says to her, “Sorry, I just still remember what happened when we had to leave home Epona. Chain Lighting and Tail Spin have been great parents but I still miss my birth parents, too.”

Epona gives him a hug and tells him, “I do understand, I really do. Remember I had to get used to several ponies who were completely different from our side to this one.”

As I listen to this interplay, I am slightly nervous about how they will react when we go through, then Tater smiles and laughs telling her, “Yah, you're right. I really didn’t think about how big a change it was for you too. I mean at least I did not have to adjust as much as you did. By the way, have you heard from your moms and dads lately?”

She smiles and tells him, “Yes, the Colonel is talking about retiring soon. But she is not ready yet. She has asked for me, Ginger, and Xochitl to go with the rest of the family during her trade mission to Hoofington. She also says they have tracked down papa Badger’s mother and are going to try to meet her while they are there.”

While I know Lieutenant Colonel Mollygirl has talked occasionally of getting out of service, I really do not think she will for a while yet. What does surprise me is hearing Epona talking with Mollygirl about going to Hoofington and having part of our team go with her. I would have hoped she would have discussed it with me as well.

“That sounds interesting. I wonder what she will think of the size of his family?” Tater responds to her.

As they talk, I hear the machine hum and I see pink clouds form in the frame of the doorway.

Ginger from the side answers him with a smile, “Tater, I am sure she will be amazed. First at how much he has changed since she last saw him, and secondly at the number of grandfoals he has given her.”

I can’t help myself and I whinny a bit at that. Then I tell them, “He certainly is prolific,” I then turn towards the back of the railcar as I tell Twinks, “Go ahead and begin to increase power, let us know when it is ready for us to go through.” Next, I turn to the rest of our exploration team, “Okay it’s about time, saddle and gear up. I want all of you ready for a fight when we get to the other side. We go through as a team, remember, no pony left behind either.”

We all quickly put our kits back on. We adjust our saddlebags, battle saddles, and helmets. I hear them checking their magazines and breaches to make sure they are loaded. As they are doing this the air vibrates inside the car with a loud humming sound. On the other end, I can see what appears to be a doorway or mirror. In its center I see the pink cloud begin to spin.

Eventually, the doorway is completely covered inside by the swirling mist and I hear Twink’s call out, “It’s ready, Choo Choo.”

I look at her first, then to the others I call out above the noise, “Ok, locked and loaded, let’s do this my little ponies,” Then I lead them to the doorway and they follow me into the mist.

*****

As we come out, I first notice that we are in an excellently kept library. To the side, I notice a window framed with crystals set in a stone wall as well as some tables and chairs set amongst the bookshelves. The room is warm and I am struck by the smell of the air. It smells like the Equestria of my youth. This is overlaid mildly by the smell of the books.

Then I spot a lilac-coated unicorn mare with a purple and teal mane and tail. As she turns to look at us, I see her cutie mark is a purple and white star with two blue glimmering streams. In a surprised voice she says, “Uh, you’re not Sunset Shimmer.”

From above us, I hear Sunny say, “No, but I am Sunset Water.”

I see her cautiously looking over our group. Then when she sees me, her eyes open wide in surprise and her ears drop slightly as if embarrassed as she begins to kneel and says, “Princess, I am sorry I did not see you there.”

“Please get up, I am not a princess,” I tell her, embarrassed to have her kneel before me like I am someone I really am not.

“But, but you’re an alicorn.” She answers sounding flabbergasted.

I nod my head in understanding then I tell her, “That is true, but I was not born this way. And please, call me Choo Choo.”

She too nods again then I see her brush her hoof across her face in a nervous manner just before she says, “Oh, okay, Choo Choo,” She turns her head which gets me to look in that direction. There I see a short purple dragon with green spike ridges on his back and along his head that looks just like the one I used to see with the unicorn mare going between Ponyville and Canterlot. I cannot help but smile at the surprised expression on his face as he gives us a slight wave.

“Spike, could you let Twilight know that we, uh, we have visitors?” She asks him.

“Uh, yeah sure Starlight, I know she was expecting Sunset, but who are these ponies?” he responds to her.

I smile as she says, “Spike, I am not sure, but I am sure the princess will want to meet them.”

Twilight Sparkle is a princess in this world? I think to myself. Around me, I hear confused questioning of this from my team members.

Starlight then tells us, “Yes, I did say princess. You know, as in Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship.”

“Don't you mean Twilight Sparkle as in the Ministry Mare?” I ask.

She shakes her head and asks, “Who or what are the Ministry Mares?”

“They are the mares that ran Equestria for the Princesses during the Great War, you know before the final day and the megaspell and balefire bomb exchange,” I tell her as I take a hard stunned seat.

Her eyes go wide and she asks excitedly, “What is a megaspell? Where can I learn how to cast them?”

About that time, I hear a voice from the radio of my youth say, “That is a good question Starlight, but first, who are these ponies?”

As I look, I think I see Ministry Mare Twilight Sparkle, but, but she has wings. My Goddesses, she is an alicorn too. In uncertainty, I ask, “Twilight Sparkle?”

“Yes, now who are you? I thought I knew all of the alicorns.” She asks in an inquisitive tone of voice

Starlight Glimmer then interrupts briefly with, “Twilight, they came through the mirror.”

The princess turns to look behind us. As we do, we look back at what is obviously a very heavily modified mirror in which the center is still a swirling pink cloud. I see her purse her lips as she squints at it. “You did not come in through the Canterlot High portal, then?”

“Where? I never heard of that school when I lived in Canterlot.” I tell her. After a brief pause, I continue, “Princess, we came through a portable portal. I know it is on a different timeline, but I have to ask, “How did the war with the Zebras end?”

We see a complete look of confusion come over Twilight’s face as she asks, “War with the zebras? What war with the zebras?”

“Princess, how long has Luna been the ruler?” I ask so that I may have an idea of what year it is here.

Before she responds she cocks her head back and asks me, “What do you mean how long has she been the ruler? Celestia is the ruler, Luna only helps her. Besides she has only been back from the moon for a few years.”

I am stunned at the implications of this, “Team, this timeline seems to be either progressing at a slower rate, or we not only jumped timelines but back in time. My Goddesses.”

Sunny slowly walks next to me and asks in a worried tone of voice, “Choo, are you sure?”

I nod and flick my ears in affirmation and tell him, “Yes, I am sure. I wondered what all those dials meant that Twinkle Hoofs used.”

“What? You mean your portal has dials to control it?” She asks curiously.

I nod and tell her, “Yes, I guess that is why we are able to come here instead of the doorway we were expecting to go through. Huh, I never expected that.”

“You never expected that? And you still came through? What did you expect?” We hear the purple alicorn ask in an excitable tone of voice.

Beside her, we can see the young dragon has returned as he taps her on the side and we hear him say, “Calm down Twilight.”

He then burps and a scroll comes out of his mouth. From the side, I hear Xochitl snicker some.

Twilight reads it and then tells us, “If you have a bit of time, we have an additional guest coming who would like to meet you and find out more about where you come from.”

I turn to Sunny and tell him, “If you could, go back through the doorway and check on how Twinkle Hoofs is doing and see if we have time. Then return and let me know.”

He gives me a brief salute and then quickly flies back through the portal we entered from.

Twilight introduces herself first to me, then to the rest of my team. As she shakes our hooves, they each tell her their name. When she gets to Ginger, she notices that she is wearing a PipBuck and asks, “What is that you are wearing?”

Ginger grins at the opportunity to talk to the princess and tells her, “Oh, this is called a PipBuck. It is a computer you can wear on your hoof that serves several functions. Everything from monitoring your health, communications, storing music files, keeping track of what you are carrying and it even helps in detecting hostile forces and assisting in targeting them with weapons.”

I see her eyes go wide at her answer, “Oh, sort of like the computers in the library on the human world I saw. A bit bigger than the phones they carry, though,” I see her purse her lips and rub her chin with a hoof, then she asks, “Do these have cameras, too?”

As she says this I first think, what is a human? Then I tell her, “No, they don’t have cameras, Princess,” I put a hoof under my chin in thought and continue, “I am not sure how you could put a camera in a PipBuck or a phone even. Besides, we don’t have many stores of the chemicals for developing pictures from what I understand, so photos and cameras are not used much.”

“Hmmm, interesting. Well while we are waiting, why don’t we all sit down and have some tea.” Twilight says, and I see Spike and Starlight leave the room that is the library.

Sunny as he returns asks, “Actually, do you have any Sparkle Cola?”

Again, we see a look of confusion on their faces as Twilight asks, “Uh, what is Sparkle Cola?”

I am amused by the look on his face when she asks this and I have to laugh into my hoof. After I recover myself, I then tell him, “Sunny, I guess that is a no. By the way, I want my report on what is going on the other side.”

He stands straighter and replies, “Sorry Ma’am, Twinkle Hoofs says everything is holding steady and should be ok for at least a couple of hours. She also says to tell you thank you for making sure that the railroad car was out from under the mountain before we started it. Finally, she sent me back with the team camera, she says it didn’t happen if no pictures.”

“Anything else, Sunny?” I question him.

He laughs and tells me, “Yeah, I almost forgot. We checked my PipBuck and time passes here minutely slower. That would explain the time difference in years.”

I move my ears to let him know I understand.

I can almost feel as well as see Twilight Sparkle's interest in this as I hear her say, “Now that is fascinating, I wonder why?” she pauses and then smiles as she says, “Sorry, I forgot my manners, please have a seat and get comfortable.”

My team removes our kits and helmets stacking them in a pile next to our chairs. As we do so, the others begin to talk with Starlight Glimmer while I begin to talk with Twilight as Spike begins to pour us all some tea.

As I talk, I notice Sunny sitting next to Tater. Next to them are Ginger and Xochitl, with Epona on his far side

I am amused by the memories of my youth when Epona asks, “Do you have any milk to go in the tea?”

Twilight makes a disgusted-looking face and asks her, “Milk? Why would anypony put milk in their tea?”

Then Epona explains to her how we usually drink it that way back home along with honey. Finally, she adds, “The milk is a holdover to our ancestors’ days in the Stable there. Ours was one of the rare ones that ponies shared with cattle.”

Again, Princess Twilight's expression shows confusion but this time so do Spike and Starlight Glimmer. This leads Twilight to ask, “What do you mean by Stables?”

I guess I should explain this one I decide and I take a deep breath, before I tell them, “Your highness, in our timeline there was a great war between Equestria and the Zebra Nation. It became so large the other nations of Equus were pretty much forced to take sides. It lasted for over twenty years.”

I watch as a look of horror comes over their faces as they hear this. Then, in a meek, sorrowful tone Starlight Glimmer asks, “How, how did it end?” then she closes her eyes and gulps.

I feel tears form in my eyes. I briefly hesitate before answering, so Epona does so in my stead and answers, “It ended in less than one day. Equestria and the forces of the Zebra Caesar had an exchange of megaspells and balefire bombs. It destroyed most of Equestria and probably Equus as well. After the destruction of Cloudsdale, the Grand Pegasus Enclave closed the skies, and for almost two hundred years, those below lived in near-constant darkness. Most of those who survived were in the Stables.”

Again, I see a look of both horror and confusion on their faces when she tells them this. Twilight cautiously asks, “So these Stables were some kind of shelter then?”

Epona nods her head and replies, “Yes, they were underground shelters built by Stable-Tec.” She thinks for a short time, then looks around the room and says, “Princess, I can see you are like one of my adopted mothers, Magpie. You have a love of books and knowledge; I have a book with me that tells the story of one of the stable dwellers and her experiences. It also gives a bit of history as to what happened on our side. Consider it a cautionary tale of what could have happened here in your world.”

Epona then goes over and reaches into her saddlebag and carries a book to her in her muzzle. Once close enough Twilight excitedly reads the title out loud, “The Book of Little Pip.”

Ginger quickly turns her head toward her sister and tells her, “Epona, you know you aren’t supposed to risk bringing that book to other timelines.”

Epona becomes defensive and almost shouts back at her, “Why not? Tell me you don’t have a copy of the Book of Daisy Jo in your saddlebags, tell me!”

Ginger grimaces slightly and tells her, “That is different. You know it.”

“Oh, don’t get all high and mighty on me! Just because you and Ma both practice the cattle religion more than I do, Remember I am a goddess parent to both of Buttermilk's calves.” As she says this, I begin to pray that they do not have one of their near-famous sibling fights.

From across the table, Starlight Glimmer asks in a questioning tone, “Cattle religion? Ponies practicing it? A pony, a goddess parent to cattle?”

With both forehooves on her waist Ginger turns to Starlight Glimmer and tells her, “Yes, the cattle religion worships both of the Goddesses Celestia and Luna as well as the all-mother Sweet Cream.”

Starlight scrunches up her face as if trying to decide how to take that before she asks, “Twilight did you know about a cattle religion?” Then I see a look of surprise on her face as she looks over Ginger's shoulder.

“I have never heard of it before, Starlight,” Twilight tells her.

Then from the doorway, we hear another voice. This one is very smooth and gentle, and I had only heard on the television and radio when I was young, say, “I have Twilight. A long time ago, but I will say I have never heard of any of my ponies following it.”

Standing before us is Princess Celestia, and her sister. I am reminded painfully how beautiful they truly were, as well as the size difference between the two of them. I quickly prostrate myself before them on the floor, and I proclaim as I was taught as a child of my social standing to say, “Your royal highnesses. I am not worthy of your attention.”

“Please arise and tell me your name and why you have come here,” Celestia tells me.

As I still look down, I tell her, “Princess, I am but a humble servant of yours from another world and time.”

Celestia turns her head slightly, closes her eyes suspiciously, and asks me, “May I ask, how you became an alicorn if you are but my humble servant?”

By now I have regained my hooves but still do not look her in the eyes. “On the Last Day, I was forced into a vat of chemicals and changed from a unicorn to what you see before you. I am over 270 years old and have had this form for 210 of them.”

“What is this last day you mention? You say it as if it was a momentous day that all should know.” Luna inquires of me.

I look at her and again bow low, then I stand back up as I answer her query, “My apologies, your majesty. The Last Day on our timeline ended a twenty-year war between Equestria and the Zebra’s Caesar. Unfortunately, that end involved a full exchange of Mega-spells and Balefire bombs. Most of those who had not been either in a stable when it happened or converted like I was were killed that day or died soon afterward.”

Sunny then asks me, “But what about the ghouls, Choo?”

I sadly shake my head as I think of so many of them who turned that way, including my one-time fiancé. Then I answer, “Sunset Water, you have talked to enough of them that you should know by now that most of them feel that their bodies are already dead and that they were rejected from Elysium.”

Epona soon adds, “Come on Sunny, how many times have you heard the Colonel talk about that with them? I know she still feels she was, too.

A look of surprise comes over their faces and Celestia asks, “What are ghouls and why would this Colonel feel that way?”

Again, a question that while I wish I did not have to, I must answer so I tell her, “The Colonel they refer to is one of Ginger Snap's and Epona’s adopted mothers, as well as Sunny’s distant cousin. She technically died but was brought back to life and since then I have been present several times when ghouls have first met her and could tell that she too had been dead and returned.”

“This all seems fascinating but again, you have not explained what a ghoul is, or who you all are,” Luna says to me.

I see the expression on Epona’s face change to that of when she has an idea or realization then she says, “Your highnesses, please forgive us, but many of the questions you seek to answer are in the book that I have given to Princess Twilight Sparkle. As for us, well, the New Canterlot Republic uses us to go and fix situations. In this case, we were planning on going to mine and Sweet Potato’s home timeline which we escaped from as little more than foals.” We all see a look of confusion come over their faces at the term New Canterlot republic.

Then Luna asks her, “So you two are not really sisters?”

Epona looks at Ginger, smiles, and answers the best way she can, “Princess Luna, the answer to this is very complicated. The two of us before you were born on different timelines, but on each timeline, we were the other’s half-sibling. When I came over, I was adopted by the same mare that adopted Ginger after her mother was killed,” She shrugs her shoulders and says, “So, yes and no.”

Xochitl smirks at this, then he bows slightly to the princesses and tells them, “That would be a yes, your majesty, even if they came from different timelines, they are most certainly sisters. My parents have even commented on this to me a time or two, as have their moms and dads, much to their chagrin.”

To the one side, Starlight Glimmer appears rather confused and mouths the words “Moms and dads?”

From the side, I notice Spike as he giggles lightly and taps Twilight on her shoulder telling her, “I really wish we had some popcorn to go with this show.”

This gets me to realize that Twilight Sparkle is engrossed in paging through the Book of Little Pip. I see Twilight smirk and blush when he does this and she tells him, “Not now, Spike.” Then quietly she says in a questioning almost breathless tone, “Stable 2 and Sweet Apple Acres? Raiders in Ponyville. In my library.” She puts a hoof over her muzzle and I see a tear in her eye for a history that is not hers.

In response, Spike asks her, “Pretty interesting reading, Twilight?”

She nods her head and tells him in a choking-up voice, “Yes and I am so thankful that it is not our history, just after the little bit I have glanced at.”

As she is talking, Luna and Celestia sit at the table with us, closer to Twilight Sparkle and me. They then begin to question me about my powers and I surprise them as I begin to tell them about Unity and our mother, and how we were changed into alicorns. Then I tell them about what happened to me and my sisters when Unity was broken.

We are enjoying our tea when I see Luna smile a bit mischievously and ask Ginger and Epona, “So which one of you is technically the older sister?” Which gets all of our attention.

Epona answers her, “Well technically, Ginger is by a couple of days.”

“I see and you both have the same parents on both timelines?” the princess asks with a smile.

Ginger smiles at this and tells her, “On both timelines, we had different mothers, but shared the same father.”

Luna raises an eyebrow at this and I hear Spike excitedly telling Twilight Sparkle, “See this is what I am talking about, Twilight, you can read later, you really need to hear this.”

Beside them, Starlight Glimmer’s eyes are wide open, her ears forward and her mouth is in the shape of an o. Ginger grins as she looks at her smiles and shrugs as she tells her, “Sorry Starlight, I guess dad was a bit of a rouge.”

Then Sunny pops off with, “Yeah, almost as bad as your Papa Badger.”

Ginger looks down and giggles quietly. She then takes another sip of my tea before replying, “True Sunny, but overall, he is a good buck.”

After she hears this Luna asks, “Who is this, Papa Badger?”

Ginger sighs and Epona blushes as Ginger tells the princess, “Your highness, he is one of our adopted fathers,” She pauses and blushes as she says, “We also have a second adopted father and four adopted mothers as well. But that becomes even more complicated for Epona because of Papa Badger and Mama Sumac. Sumac was her grandmother on both sides, sooo…”

Luna tilts her head as if waiting for more. Celestia beside her turns her full attention upon Ginger in amusement by this. To the side we can hear Spike laughing loudly as he tells Twilight, “I can’t wait to tell the guys about this at the next O and O night. Even Discord is not going to believe this one.”

I quickly scan the room with my eyes and I notice Starlight Glimmer slowly sipping her tea with a smile on her muzzle as well as a raised eyebrow.

Then my attention is grabbed by Sunny as he reminds me, “Excuse me Choo Choo, but I do have the team camera with me, remember, no pictures it didn’t happen.”

I sigh, then smile shyly as I ask, “Princesses, would you mind us taking your photos?”

Celestia smiles widely, “No, not at all Choo Choo, please, do.”

We take several photos. Including one using the timer that allows us all to be in it. After all of these I realize I may never have this chance again so I ask, “Princess Luna, may I, may I ask that I be allowed a photo with just you?”

Luna looks at me with suspicion and asks, “May I ask why?”

Looking down at the ground first, then back up at her, I tell her, “Because you were always my favorite princess. Ever since your return. I even disguise myself and paint your cutie mark on me for Nightmare Night for the foals and calves around the Manesville area, when we are home.”

Celestia seems slightly perturbed at hearing this, but Luna smiles widely and blushes slightly, “So even in such a world as you come from, you still remember me favorably? Then I would be honored, Choo Choo.”

It is right after the picture is taken, that I see a bright flash on my flanks. In place of my blank spot, we then see Luna's cutie mark has appeared on me but superimposed upon it is a locomotive as if traveling under its moonlight.

I am stunned at first then my heart all but leaps in joy. I have a Cutie Mark again. Both Celestia and Luna look at each other. Then Celestia tells me, “I had not noticed you had not had a cutie mark; this is most; unusual.”

Smiling proudly, I tell her, “Your majesty, I lost my cutie mark, which was just the steam engine when I became an alicorn. I did not know we could get them back.”

“And now with my darkness and crescent moon, what do you think that means?” Luna asks.

Smiling I tell her, “As an engineer on the railroad I took those in my care from place to place. I guess now I do so through the darkness but with your guidance and hopefully your goodwill.”

Both sisters nod to me, then Luna places a hoof on my shoulder, “That you have Choo Choo, that you have. Now it is best that you depart before you are unable to do so. Farewell, Choo Choo.”

Once we have finished putting our kits back on, we head for the doorway. Ginger and I look back and see that they are all watching us. Starlight Glimmer then asks, “You said when you arrived that your group's job is to fix situations, what are you?”

Tater smiles his flirtatious grin at her and tells her, “Ma’am, I guess you could just call us repair ponies.” I wave once more to them and then I lead my team back through the doorway and back into the railcar.

Once we are all through, I see Twinkle Hoofs and Cowlick both looking at us expectantly I give her the cut signal and the machine begins to wind down. Then Twinks asks, “So anything interesting happen?”

We all look at each other and are smiling. I can tell when Twinkle Hoofs sees my new Cutie Mark by the expression on her face and I hear her say, “Okay, you better have pictures.”

Beside her I see Cowlick grinning as he says, “I can’t wait to hear this story.”

Still smiling I tell them, “You will, but we better get moving again. Ok everyone, grab your gear and head to the passenger car, I will meet you there for a team debrief.”

As they head to the rear of the train, I see our security ponies and send them back too. As I do this, I see both of their eyes go wide when they see my cutie mark. I hear Days End say under his breath, “What did we miss?”

Beside him, I hear Double Back say, “I am not sure, but next time I want to be in on it.” Then he begins to laugh in his braying mulish way.

*****

Manesville, Manesville Region NCR: Ball Lightning

It has been two days since we were captured by of all things, a militia unit for the settlement of White Cloud. I am feeling so humiliated right now that I can hardly stand it. I share my cell with the others on our team and have been told we are being treated as prisoners. During the evening the females of Airburst's people are taken to a separate area to sleep. But at least we see each other during the day.

Air Burst is fit to be tied. Yesterday, he actually told me he thought that he and Miss Haze were an item. I don’t know if he realizes it but I think she really did have some feelings for him too. I think back to right after we were taken inside the pub in White Cloud, I saw the sad look on her face as Air Burst rejected Sirocco’s offer to let us immigrate to the Manesville region.

“What makes you think I want to live down here dirtside like a dashite?” He asks Sirocco.

This Sirocco gives him a sad smile and tells him, “Honestly, having spent as much time down here as you have, I had hoped you would have seen it is not as bad as we were led to believe in the Enclave.”

Airburst shakes his head, looking down at the table in front of him just saying, “No, I have not spent that much time that I have gone native.” He pauses and looks up and tells Sirocco, “How can you be happy living down here? I mean honestly, look at what all you have had to give up.”

Sirocco moves his ears in disappointment and then tells us, “Were you in Thunderhead when Nieghvarro attacked us? That pretty much told us we were no longer a part of the Enclave. We fled for our lives and made a new start down here. We even have some cloud farms here in Manesville along with a small cloud settlement next to it. I don’t know if you noticed them as you approached our town, but if you looked up and saw the clouds above, that is part of White Cloud too.”

He pauses and then asks, “Do any of you want a tour of the town and farms around here? I mean it. I will let you look at them. Out here, away from Manesville itself, there is nothing critical that the NCR would not want you to see. But you could see how our ponies and cattle live here. After that, make up your mind.”

Air Burst sits back in his chair and tells him, “Say we go along with you and look at your town and all, what good do you think it will do you? Also, how do we know you won’t just kill us or something like that?”

Sirocco shakes his head this time and then tells him, “If I wanted you dead, you would have been already. This town was settled by the survivors of Serenity Valley. We know how to fight.”

“And if we decide we don’t want to join you, what then?”

Sirocco shrugs one foreleg and tells him, “You become a prisoner until you can be exchanged and repatriated to the Enclave. We don’t kill prisoners for fun.” He pauses then asks, “Oh, which one of you said you were friends with Sunny Waters?”

I feel myself blush and I raise a forehoof. Sirocco smiles and calls out, “Hey Blondie, this here fella says he knows Sunny.”

I watch as a middle-aged unicorn mare with charcoal and yellow striped mane and tale enters. I notice she is wearing a poncho with a gunbelt holding it tight to her, as well as a rifle across her back. She also has a wide-brim hat on her head. She approaches me and asks, “So, how do you know my son?”

I feel myself go pale as I realize this is his mother. I almost groan and I hear Funnel Cloud start to laugh. She turns to him and asks, “What’s so funny?”

Funnel sits there with an amused expression on his face and tells her, “Well we met him a few times dirt side and shared a fire with him and his pals a time or two is all. He told us about this place. Honestly, I didn’t believe him about it, but he did not exaggerate.”

Air looks angry still but says nothing. Finally, Sirocco tells us, “We will take you in groups of three to tour our town if you would like. He points to me, Funnel Cloud, and Gunter first, and tells us, “You three, are first.” He turns to the mare behind the bar and tells her, “Blueberry, would you be kind enough to feed the rest of them lunch? Put it on my tab and I will get you later, oh, and unless they ask for meat, don’t give it to them.” After he mentions meat, I see some of the civilian team members turn slightly green. Then he leads us out of the pub.

It is while we are alone with Sirocco and Blondie that Funnel finally speaks up and tells them, “Sorry, but there were a couple of ponies in that room who I did not want to hear this, but Ma’am, your son thought highly enough of Ball here that he snuck into Thunderhead to visit him in the hospital after we had been wounded by one of the gangs in Hoofington.”

I look at her to gauge her reaction and see her jaw drop and hear her say, “I am going tan that bucks hide.”

Funnel laughs lightly and tells her, “Go light on him, if he has not been home since he still got away from Thunderhead. He is good ma’am, not sure where he learned it, but we saw him in action a few times and he is respectable in a fight, but then again, so are most of that group.”

By now we have walked past several shops as well as what looks like a schoolhouse and are reaching the outskirts of town and I can see a large farm. In the fields, I see what looks like some soldiers working alongside the farm workers beginning to harvest crops.

Gunter looks at the fields and I see him become excited as he fights to keep his wings down. Behind us, one of our escorts tells us, “Yeah, in this area of the NCR our military takes turns helping with the crops too. In fact, everyone including the mayors and regional heads do too. The original ponies here called it working sweat equity. No pony goes hungry here as long as they work.”

Funnel then says, “That sounds wrong, I mean what if you want something better than just the bare minimum to eat? Heck, can you even own anything in a place like that?”

This time Sirocco answers, “Well, the thing is the sweat equity means you won’t starve. But if you want better, you can buy it. Also, here the government does not own everything. If you have the caps, you can buy things and own them too.”

Sirocco looks at the farm and tells us, “Yeah, that farm there is one of the newer ones. We recovered it when we began to set up White Cloud.”

Gunter then asks, “Recovered?”

“Yes, those who have done their initial time in the fields can file with the farm reclamation bureau to recover a farm. This includes rebuilding the topsoil as well as the buildings on the farm. However, the farm must be one of the old ones that are not currently owned by anyone.”

By now we have come to another farm, as we approach it, he calls out, “Hello the house.”

From the larger of the two houses, I hear a mare’s voice call back, “Hello Sirocco, what can we do for you today.”

When I look at the door to the home, I see an older red bay mare with some gray strands in her mane and tale. Behind her, I see what must be her kitchen. Then I see a black unicorn mare look out the window briefly as well, and I hear her ask, “Should I make tea dear?”

The older of the two then asks Sirocco, “Would you like to bring your guest in for tea?”

Sirocco smiles and tells her, “Nah, not this time, we still have several more of their group to give a tour, but I was wondering if your hired hoof might be willing to come out and discuss our community with them?”

She nods her head and I hear her tell someone inside to go get somepony named Xavier. I see a Light blue unicorn mare, who seems to be tired, head to the barn from the back of the house. Soon I see her returning with a zebra stallion with her. As he comes up, he says, “Good afternoon, Sirocco, or should I be calling you Captain, right now?”

“Afternoon Corporal Xavier, just Sirocco would be fine. I have been giving these stallions a tour of our farms and communities and I thought perhaps it would be of some benefit if they were to meet some of our non-pegasus immigrants.”

I see him nod his head as well as lift one eyebrow, “No problem, what would you all like to know?”

Sirocco introduces us to him, then says, “Why don’t you tell them about our immigrant program and how you feel you are treated.”

“Alright, I can do that, well first off, when I started, we had to spend a term of one year working in the fields to build our sweat equity. I did mine here along with my family. Once our time was done, well we had become quite close with the owners and are almost family, in fact, my son is engaged to their daughter.”

Funnel interrupts him briefly, “The owners’ daughter is engaged to a zebra?”

“Well, he isn’t a zebra, he is a zony. But, yeah.”

About this time, I watch as a red enfield flies over and lands next to Xavier. I watch in disgust as he pauses and gives him a scratch between the wings. He then says, “Sorry Woofers, but you need to head on over to the house, I am sure these fellas are not too fond of your kind.”

The way he treats it like a pet surprises me, but what really gets me is when Gunter asks, “Do many of you have them as pets?” and he approaches him and tentatively gives him a scratch with his wing tip.

Xavier smiles and answers him, “Some, even a few of our local pegasi do. To tell the truth, I was surprised by them myself. But Woofers and his sister Tweeters and I have both been at the farm about the same amount of time. They even accompanied us on our expedition and became mascots. Believe it or not, they do make good guard animals as well. We had infiltrators into our camp one night and they alerted us, then when one put a knife to the colonel’s throat, Woofers here attacked him.”

I raise an eyebrow at this and ask, “Your community sent a colonel out for that?”

He shakes his head, “No, she was a lieutenant back then. But she ended up taking over and getting us home when things took a very sour turn.”

When he says this, I see him and Sirocco share a look. Then Sirocco asks, “Any word from Xochitl lately?”

“Nah, he and the rest are out and about again. You know how they are. I know the Colonel and the rest of their parents are sure missing them though.”

“Just so you know, these fellas ran into them and shared a fire a couple of times with them.” Sirocco smoothly says.

The stern-faced zebra nods his head and twist an ear in understanding. “So, you have run into them have you, which end of the gun were you on?”

While I laugh lightly, Funnel stays quiet and Gunter tells him, “Both at different times. We never shot directly at each other, just suppressive fire if needed. The gangs down that way can be a bit of a hoof full you might say.”

I cringe as he tells them this much. But I realize this stallion is the zony’s father. That means this is the home to Cookie and her sister as well.”

I then raise one wing and asks, “Sirocco, the Colonel that he mentioned, is she one of the parents to Cookie and Epona?”

He nods his head cautiously and asks, “Why do you ask?”

“Sir, if the Colonel is one of them, might I suggest you avoid bringing Air Burst here? I owe them that much. Air Burst would try and have this farm targeted if he knew about its high-ranking owner.”

I see both Xavier and him smile and he tells us, “Yeah, that would avoid some problems. But honestly, I would not want to be the one to try and attack this farm. They are all fighters.”

I nod my head at this as does Funnel. Gunter then asks, “So what type of crops are you growing around here?

The zebra smiles and tells him, “Well the south twenty acres is just about ready to be harvested and we have Fescue there this year. Over in the back forty, we have some corn as well as beans and squash being grown. Oh, and up close and to the west of the cemetery, well there we are trying sorghum for the first time.”

“And you do all the labor for this?” Funnel asks.

The zebra waves a hoof and tells us, “A lot of it, but honestly the civilian mares of the family help as much as possible in the fields and the Colonel and both of her husbands when not on duty or deployed help too.”

Funnel then asks, “So you are both a farmhoof and a Corporal in the Militia, when do you sleep?”

Xavier smiles and tells him, “While every male of age must serve in the militia in our area, we only serve when called up for action. Honestly, it does not happen often, and we take turns on who gets called and for what. In a real emergency such as when the Spring Monsoon attacked us on the day of Sunshine and Rainbows, well the militia was fully activated and females of age could volunteer to serve as well. I assume from your questions that you have already met part of our militia.”

We chat a bit more with him, then Sirocco takes us up to the cloud farm and village above us. It is while here that I really notice Gunter paying attention to what is being said and how they do things. At first, I think he is just curious, but eventually, I hear a tone in his voice that makes me wonder if I am going to lose an NCO.

After this, we return to the pub while the next group begins the tour. I do have to say I really enjoy the lunch and surprise the barkeep by knowing of the Old Overmare brand of whiskey. She then smiles and asks, “Would you like to try a bit of our local product? We call it the Three Sisters and it is a blended whiskey.”

As Air Burst is out on his tour at the time, I grin at both Funnel Cloud and Anan, who are seated with me, and tell her, “Yes if you don’t mind.”

We are just finishing our drinks when Air Burst group returns. He does not look happy, but instead very thoughtful. Sundancer and Alto simply nod at me and do a quick eye glance towards the windows outside. I wonder what they too are thinking about this. In reply, I simply shrug my shoulders.

I shake my head and my thoughts return to the present, and the prison camp we are in as Funnel Cloud approaches me as I stand along the fenced-in enclosure, staring out at the area around the camp. He then chuckles slightly and tells me, “They sure thought up the design of this camp well. Even having fencing over the outdoor exercise yard for us flying types.”

I nod my head, “Yeah, they did. I guess that is part of the benefit of them having experience with keeping pegasus prisoners of war.”

He shrugs, “I am not so sure about that sir, one of the guards told me that several years back when they first set up this place they had some guards who had Stable Tech security training. That probably gave them a hoof up if you know what I mean.”

Seeing we have plenty of time to kill, I ask him, “I noticed that when we were first captured Sirocco said it was good to see you again. How did you know him?”

He looks into the distance as he remembers those times and he quietly says, “He was a boot lieutenant for the platoon I was in back when I was only a corporal. We went ground side several times together back then. Mainly raids to find tech and supplies we could use. You know the normal. We did have a really rough fight at one point when we got trapped. In a lot of ways, you remind me of him, sir.”

I smile sideways at him and reply, “I take that as a compliment Funnel. You know if things were different, I really could live in a place like this.”

He looks around and then cautiously tells me, “Sir, we may be here, but don’t let some of the others hear you say such things. They might get you branded if you know what I mean.”

“Sadly, yes, I do know what you mean.”

A short time after he walks off, I am approached by Sundancer and Alto. We have spent a lot of time together the last couple of days just talking and enjoying each other’s company. This time while we are talking and looking at the world through the fence I tell her, “You know, they say that marriage is for better and worse.”

She nods her head and tells me “Yeah, and we sure have been through some rough times together lately.”

Alto standing on her other side nods his head too. I look up at the sky briefly and think of home, then I ask her, “With what all we have been through and with both of us knowing each other’s jobs, would you be willing to marry me when we get back home?”

I see her smile brightly and nod her head. Then she answers calmly, “Yes Ball. But understand, I may still have to pretend I am married to others in my line of work.”

I smile again, and tell her, “Thank you, and I do understand that.”

What I had not noticed was that a soldier who I presume is one of the guards has approached along the outside of the fence while we are talking and overhears us. I see him smile as he says, “I heard ya’all were captured over in White Cloud, and with your question, does this mean you are marrying them both like some of them do?”

I am stunned at his conclusion but then ask, “Who are you again?”

He grins at me and tells me, “Oh, I am the chaplain for the First Regiment, just call me Padre. By the way, if you would like, I would gladly perform the service for you three. You would not be the first I have performed such a ceremony for, and who are you?”

*****

Good evening, listeners you just heard five songs in a row, that lost song was Rainbow by Songbird Serenade. I am DJ Pon3 coming to you live from Tenpony Tower in Manehatten and this is my nightly show bringing music and the truth, no matter how much it hurts to you and the wastelands.

There continue to be more reports of increased tension between the NCR and the reforming Enclave. Among these are reports of more teams of spies infiltrating the territory of the New Canterlot Republic. Of course, these stories are highly refuted by the officials of the Grand Pegasus Enclave.

After this next song, we will be having an interview with a surprise guest as well as more news and tips for surviving in the wastelands. For all of you out there, Here comes Times Like These.

Author's Note

For those who would like to listen to this chapter's dedication song, the YouTube link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIkynbL3brQ