Chapter 68 Lessons and Thoughts

“Leaving everything that makes them who and what they are, leaving because it is no longer possible to stay. They will never be the same again because you just cannot be the same once you leave behind who and what you are, you just cannot be the same.” ― NoViolet Bulawayo, We Need New Names

Apple Crisps Farm, Western Mountain Wastelands: Ginger Snaps

It has been two days since we heard the news of the Megaspell attack against Thunderhead. While we are all sick to our stomachs at it, our pegasi and Slip Stream are all taking it the worst. As Sunny has told me, “Cous, while I may not have been from there, I have walked the streets and gotten to know some of its ponies. I know those people and have broken bread there. Yeah, the Enclave government is our enemy, most of Thunderhead was civilian and they were not. They were as innocent as our farmers back home.” I nod in agreement and he continues, “Ginger, we have to do something about this. We. I, cannot let this stand. Those bastards have to be brought to justice.”

I nod again and then hear Choo Choo say, “In due time Sunset Waters, in due time. However, that will be when this war is over. Until then, well, we carry on and do our part to end it as quickly and equinely as we can.”

“I know you have said that boss, but it still is a burr under my battlesaddle.”

“Well, tomorrow we will start moving again and you will not have so much time to think about it.”

“What about Morning Star and her set? I mean, if they are up all night again tonight are they going to be in any shape for tomorrow?” he asks.

Choo nods, “I have already discussed this with the leadership of the three settlements here. They agree that they will have a few people continue looking for others, but as we have not seen any more drop-offs lately, it will most likely be search and recovery, not search and rescue. Because of this, I have told the Lance and the others to stand down tonight and be prepared to move in the morning.”

I nod in agreement and tell her, “Thanks for letting us know Boss.”

She nods again and flicks her ear to tell me you are welcome without saying it. I then ask her, “Anything new from our higher-ups or even from Ball Lightning?”

“No Cookie, nothing since last night. But from the sounds of it, one of the Wonderbolt Generals has performed a coup. He has said that communications between Thunderhead and the rest of the Enclave seem to have been cut off. I do wonder though as he said he did not even know if his family was safe. It seems he was no longer in the Thunderhead and Hoofington region.”

I shake my head sadly at how things are now shaping up. I wonder if his family is okay. Then I think of home and wonder if they are all safe and doing well. At least I have my husband and some of my sisters with me. I laugh lightly to myself as I wonder what Millie and Raven are up to, and I bet they are upset they are not with us. Especially Raven. I swear that filly craves adrenaline rushes as much as we do.

A bit later, after the communal dinner, we are all sitting around talking and I see Snow Song talking with one of the Crisp Farm residents. A bit later she returns with a couple of others and some instruments. I smile when I see Snow Song has a fiddle in her wings with the base of it against her neck as she starts to play along with the others. By now a few of the originally found new Dashites make their way to the sound and I see them watch in amazement as the music is played and we join in the songs.

We sing several songs, starting with the Minstrel Colt, and many others such as The Mare I Left Behind Me, and Mares of Canterlot. Finally, after the sun has set and the fire begins to die down, we sing Red is the Rose.

Come over the hills, my sweet pony mare

Come over the hills to your darling

You choose the rose, love, and I'll make the vow

And I'll be your true love forever.

That is a rough one for me as I know how much it means to both Mama Mollygirl and to Epona as it was her birth mother’s favorite song also. I watch my sister close her eyes and fight back a few tears as she sings with us.

Red is the rose that in yonder garden grows

Fair is the lily of the valley

Clear is the water that flows through Whitetail Wood

But my love is fairer than any.

I open my eyes as I feel a hoof go around me. After which I feel Katie putting her head on my back. I look across the fire and see Sunny with his wing around Morning Star and her head leaning against him.

'Twas down by the wild woods of Everfree we strayed

the moon and the stars they were shining

The moon how it shone on her locks of golden hair

And she swore she'd be my love forever.

I then look over and see Double Back with a hoof around Love Tap, and from her other side is Morning Mist. All three leaning against each other and smiling.

‘Tis not for the parting with my sister Kite

‘Tis not for the loss of my dear mother

'Tis all for the loss of my sweet pony lass

That my heart is breaking forever.

As the song ends, I notice that Moon Lily, Slip Stream, and Frost Glitter are sitting close together with Moon having a wing across both their backs and an expression of pure joy on her face as she sings with us.

Finally, the song is done and many of those who are not on our team begin to drift away. I am surprised when one of the dashite stallions approaches us and tells us, “Thank you. I had no idea that life was like this down here.”

I smile and tell him, “Well it is not always like this, but like everything it has its good and bad. I am just glad you enjoyed it as much as we did.”

He nods, and then asks, “Is what the little black filly said true about where you come from?”

I find myself raising an eyebrow and ask, “Probably as she does not lie, but what particularly are you talking about?”

He looks embarrassed and then tells me, “That your people are civilized and will not hate us just because we come from above.”

I smile confidently as I tell him, “That is very true. We have a decent-sized pegasus population there. In fact, we had a developing cloud settlement going at White Cloud until the Enclave attacked us a few months back.”

He looks at all of us, including Choo Choo, and then asks, “They would even welcome us? I mean we can no longer go home and none of us have any idea of where to go.”

“Yes, Dashites are welcome there too. Some of our officers in the Manesville Brigade are even Dashites. We judge a pony on what they do, not what they are. Does that make sense to you?” I tell him.

“Hmmm, maybe we should consider going that way when we are all ready.”

Choo smiles and I nod as I tell him, “Perhaps, but do not rush it. You are all safe here and welcome for now. That is something. If you are serious, talk to our buck Morning Glen about the route towards the big river and the dangers.”

“I will do that. Thank you for talking to me and I will see you all in the morning.”

Come morning, Choo checks in one more time with Junction Town via radio. After she does so she does not look happy. She comes into the barn shaking her head, swishing her tail vigorously, with her ears pinned back.

This surprises me and it seems to the rest as well as I wonder what has gone wrong this time, so I ask her.

She turns to me and with fire in her voice answers, “Those bastards in Junction town. That is what. They have changed our mission. We are to now recon between Coltlumbia and the big river for the best route of travel as well as to identify the Enclave defenses along the way.”

I then hear Double Back ask, “But what about the Colt?”

She fights to keep her wings down as she tells us, “They got recalled for another mission and are not available to us right now.”

I feel my jaw drop as well as my ears sag at her word. I was afraid of this, but I had hoped for the better. She then tells Flight Plan and his crew, “I guess you guys should be glad the problem with the Hot Shot happened when it did. Otherwise, you probably would have been used for the assault on Thunderhead. In fact, we all should as the initial assault was made by special teams again.”

I am digesting this information when Epona asks, “Choo, any new news about the Megaspell there?”

She nods again and reshuffles her wings as she tells us, “Yes, there is. It was a unilateral decision by the Twilight Society in Ten Pony Tower. The other leaders of the alliance had no idea they would do so.”

I nod in understanding and swish my tail back and forth as I know Aunt Purple is a member of that group, but last I knew she was in White Cloud with family, so hopefully she was not involved. I then ask, “Same plans for this morning Boss?”

She turns to me and tells us, “We leave after lunch instead. Get your gear ready and catch some rest if you can. We are going to be traveling later in the evening.”

I then ask, “What about the Flying Foursome and Hallowed Dreams?”

“They come with us; we will see what is happening when we reach Morvarc'h. That is still our destination.” She pauses then adds, “Morning Mist, I will be leaning on you for your engineering skills during this mission. They want to know the strength of any fortifications or defenses we may find. They also want us to let them know how sturdy the bridges over the river are and if there may be a suitable landing there for river traffic.” She stops again and seeing we are still paying attention she tells us, “I am not sure what they have planned but I have a feeling that little village may become very important.”

As we are prepping for the day, I see the same stallion from last night and he tells me, “Ma’am. I talked with you all last night. And I could not help but overhear about what y’all are going to be doing next.”

I am surprised he heard that and I feel my ears go forward in surprise as he continues, “Well, most of us that were branded have family back in Coltlumbia, mainly Flankton, but a couple of us came from Emporia. We can give you what information you need about that place, but myself and a few others want in.”

I think briefly of what he has told me and I call Choo over the radio, “Big Blue, this is Cookie, I think we have a source of information that we may be able to use.”

“Cookie I am talking with the management here at the big house, please bring it to me.”

I tell the stallion, “Come with me.”

Once we get to the Apple Crisp cabin, I see Choo sitting alongside the old mare. They are talking and enjoying a cup of tea. As I step up on the porch Choo asks, “So what do you have for me, Ginger?”

I point a hoof at the stallion and tell her, “Choo, he heard us talking earlier and knows our mission. However, he wants to tell us what he can about Flankton and has suggested we talk with some of the others who came from Emporia.”

Choo looks slightly irritated when she hears the first part, then she tells him, “I am interested in hearing what you have to say. But how do I know what you tell me is the truth?”

“Well ma’am, because I am willing to go with you. Me and a couple of the others who have recovered more would like to help you. I heard the rumors on the radio about what is going on with the President, and if they are true, well that doesn’t sit right. Besides, it may be the only way we can get home to see our families again.”

I sit there listening and part of me worries about taking him along with us at all, him not only recovering from his wounds but being fresh dirtside and not even having weapons. But the information he has might prove invaluable to us and the alliance. I find myself sitting with my head tilted and my forehoof under my chin as I look at Choo and ask, “So what do you think Boss?”

*****

Western Mountain Wastelands: Xochitl

Once again, Morning Glen and I are on point as we begin to approach the next gap in the mountain range that can be used to facilitate transit to the other side. It has been six days since we left Apple Crisp farm and we have been on the move since. It does not help that we have three of the recovered dashites with us.

I do understand why they are with us, but honestly, I think it was a mistake to bring them unarmed, inexperienced cloudsiders with us for this mission, but it was not my decision to make. I just get to live with the consequences. As it is we almost lost one of them two days ago to a radboar after he followed a radpiglet into the brush. I realized what he was doing when I heard him say, “Aww, look at the cute little one.” I tried to warn him but he just followed it. Soon afterward we heard him screaming as he was being chased by the largest radboar, I have ever seen. I mean this thing was larger than the one that attacked Ginger’s mother Sutures that one time. I guess that taught him a lesson, but it also resulted in us getting some fresh meat as Sunny and I fired at it as it was charging out of the brush.

That would have been bad enough, but when we stopped outside an abandoned village they decided to explore and almost got caught by a couple of ferals. I am still shaking my head and want to laugh at that one. The looks on their faces were priceless as they jumped into the air as the growling earthpony ghouls chased them from the ground. What really embarrassed them was that the flying foursome quickly and easily dispatched them.

As Moon performed her now almost ritual blessing for them, I heard the oldest of the pegasi ask, “What is she doing?”

Flight Plan answered him by telling him and then explaining why she was doing it. I then heard one of them tell the others, “I never expected that of groundbounds.”

To which Flight Plan answered, “Better watch your mouth. You’re a groundbound now too. That brand still means something in the Enclave.” Soon after that, we began moving again.

As we begin to slowly examine the old roadway leading up to the gap, I let out a deep sigh and shake my head at my thoughts.

Beside me, I hear Morning Glen tell me, “This is the same gap I used when I crossed over last time. Back then there were no guards or checkpoints there.”

I nod in understanding and reply, “Well, hopefully, it is still that way. I know those two southern passes seemed to be guarded pretty heavily.”

“True Flower, but we can hope for the best. Besides if we do go through here, we will be back in the low country and plains again.”

Choo then calls quietly over the radio, “Flower, Branches, what is the holdup?”

I key my mic and reply, “Big Blue, we are just checking for movement right now before we advance up the pass.”

“Roger, do you want me to send Sunny up that way with Morning Star?”

“Negative Boss, let me check one more time through my scope and we will begin to move.”

I use my scope as a monocular, checking for any visible dangers or guards. Seeing none I tell Morning Glen, “Ok Branches, let’s go.”

The rest of my set lets us move about fifty feet ahead before they begin to move. Soon the entire team is making its way to the top of the gap. Of the three gaps in the mountain range that we have checked out, this one is the highest and will be more difficult to travel through with wagons, but I guess the Enclave does not feel the need to guard it.

As we near the top, once again we take a break and make sure we do not see anyone at the top. When we reach the top of the gap, the view is breathtaking as the foothills and plains lie spread out beneath us. In the far distance, we can see small lights as the sun begins to get low in the sky behind us.

Choo looks at the view and then tells us, “We camp here for the night. It will be a dry camp so we do not draw any attention.”

Soon we have found places among the rocks and the overhangs from along the summits next to the gap where we set up our bed rolls and can keep ourselves safe as need be.

Before long Ginger has a watch rotation set and the rest of us begin to check our weapons before dark and we tune in the radio to see if we can hear any news.

We can still hear one of the stations from VanHoover, but soon Twinks tells us, “Hey, I found the station out of Ten Pony Tower, shall we see if DJ Pon3 is on?”

Choo shrugs but then tells us, “We might as well. Let’s see what they have to say.”

Hello again to all of you out in the Wastelands and welcome to tonight’s show with all the news and tips that you can use, as well as the best music I can provide.

Starting off in tonight’s war news are reports that relief workers from the Lunar Commonwealth have been allowed to assist with rescue and recovery operations from the recent battle that occurred in the Enclave cloud city of Thunderhead. This is reportedly the first time that officials there have allowed non-members of the Enclave access there. Said teams have stated that the casualties that occurred as a direct result of the battle have been overwhelming. The members of the Followers of the Apocalypse are said to be taking down the names of those missing or killed, in addition to assisting the living.

Forces of the NCR and Alliance are reported to be advancing against the Enclave forces in several locations. However, while no larger battles are reported yet, there have been several skirmishes, particularly south of the Canterlot Mountain.

Later in the broadcast, I will be playing for all of you a recording from one of the reporters embedded with the Baltimare Brigade as they engage the Enclave at a nondisclosed location.

In the NCR news, after confirming that President Grimfeathers was not privy to prior knowledge of the supposed megaspell attack against Thunderhead, the calls for her to step down have been recalled and no further votes of confidence are expected soon.

The news goes on for several more minutes, with nothing of real importance to us before it shifts to several songs in a row. Once it shifts, we begin to talk about what we heard as we wait for full darkness to settle in.

It is fully dark and most of us have settled into our bedrolls before we hear

Now here is a recording that was recently made on a battlefield by our embedded reporter Spear Pen with the Baltimare brigade.

Good afternoon, I am Spear Pen and I am with the NCR forces as we continue our march toward Enclave territory. So far, our advance has been quick since we were dropped off from our river transports. However, it has not been easy as we have been engaged several times by the enemy as they try to slow us down if they cannot stop us. I am with one of the lead recon teams right now.

In the background of his broadcast, we can hear gunfire, the sizzle of magical energy weapons, and explosions. This is followed by yelling.

Enie, Meanie, get that Rocket launcher up here ASAP. Brandywine, I need you to fly back and lead those regulars up here.

Yes ma’am, on it.

Soon the sounds of battle begin to increase, followed by the roar of a rocket launcher firing. And the slap of two hooves as I hear Meanie’s voice yelling, Good shot, took him right out of his power armor.

I find myself grinning in the darkness as I shake my head, at least we know what the Troubleshooters are up to now. We listen for a while more then the night goes almost silent as Twinks turns off the radio on her PipBuck and turns in for the night. At this point, I do too, as I have the next watch and I want to catch what sleep I can. Tomorrow will be another long day, but at least this time it will be downhill.

When I am woken for watch I see a very tired Jelly Bean telling me, “Your turn Flower, I am too exhausted to stay awake any longer.” In the darkness, I can see her point to her right and she says, “Finale and Fog are over that way.”

“Anything moving tonight?”

She nods her head in the dim starlight and answers, “Looked like a couple of brahmin and ponies carrying packs passed through heading west. They were in a hurry too.”

That last part gets my attention as I wonder if something was after them, or if they were just trying to get over the pass before daylight.

“OK, Candy, go get some sleep. I got the watch.”

I watch her shuffle off in to dark toward another set of bedrolls and hear her lay down. I pull down my NODS and briefly make a quick sweep of the area before I move them out of the way of my face and repeat the process using my Eyes Forward Sparkle from my PipBuck. Once satisfied that things are still clear I lean back against a boulder and gaze down into the darkness below.

It is just before Dawn when I go and wake up Ember Rose for my relief. I repeat the process I did with Jelly Bean and just as I am about to head back to my bedroll she points into the sky to our north and asks, “What is that glow over the horizon there?”

I had not realized Choo was still awake and behind us until she tells us, “Ember, that is where the Destroyer killed our mother the Goddess. That is Splendid Valley and Maripony.” I hear her take a long deep breath and then let it out just as slowly. She then adds, “It is further away than it looks, but the glow is the residual from the balefire bomb used there. It still has a lot of magical radiation if it is glowing like that. But it has only been ten years, so what do I expect.”

Ember Rose then asks, “Were you there when it happened?”

Choo shakes her head, “No, not physically, I was away with my two sisters Blue Star and Quick Frost on another mission. However, because of Unity, we felt what the others felt. The fear, the confusion and so many of their deaths. Enough that Unity was broken and we were returned to being just individuals.”

She looks at Choo with a cocked head and a twisted ear as she asks, “You sound kind of sad and bitter Boss.”

“Perhaps a bit, while we gained a lot, we lost a lot. I am still finding out who the pony I once, was. I am still trying to regain my memories. But life goes on.” She then tells me, “Flower, try to catch a bit more sleep. Sunrise should not begin for another hour.”

*****

Front Range Gap Summit, Wastelands: Choo Choo

I find myself still looking at the glow from Splendid Valley mournfully. How many of my sisters died there? How many of us survived? I wonder.

Beside me Ember Rose is standing watch and out of the corner of my eye I can see her scanning the slope below us. After about a half hour, as the sun is just beginning to rise above the far horizon, she quietly asks me, “Boss, Are you okay?”

I think briefly, then smile as I answer, “Yeah, I guess I am. Thanks for asking.”

“No problem, Boss, I know it cannot be easy being this close and not being able to see for yourself.”

I nod and move an ear in affirmation. Then I tell her, “You are right. I have not been there since before it happened.”

She looks through her NODS scanning as she next asks me quietly, “Boss, if I may, what happened in Splendid Vally, and what really was Unity? I have heard you mention it, but I never really heard anyone explain it.”

“Have you read the book of Little Pip?”

She shakes her head, “No, should I?”

I sigh, “Perhaps, it would give you a better explanation of what caused the world to be this way as well as how some of the creatures we face came about. But, in it, she describes the events leading up to the destruction of our mother and so many of my sisters.” I pause, “As for Unity, it was a hive mind. Myself and all my sisters could feel what each felt, see what they saw, and experience what they experienced as it happened. Rarely did we have any independence during that time and when enough of us and Mother died, well Unity was broken and we became individuals again. Some got all of their memories back, some none. Myself, when Unity broke, I was no longer fit to be the team leader of my wing as I lost most of my memories and was almost foal-like. Since then, I have regained many of them, but not all of them. I have also gained a lot of new memories over the time since then and I like to think I am the better for it.”

“I can understand that. I have a few things in my past that I wish I could forget. Things I am not proud of, but I like to think I am better for it now too.”

I find myself curious about her past now, but if she wants to tell me more, she will. It is not mine to ask her, or perhaps bring up bad memories for her. We sit quietly as the sun rises higher into the sky and I begin to wake the others. Once everyone is awake, we quickly eat a cold breakfast and begin the trek again.

It is two days later when we approach the first village. As we walk past it on the main road, we can see several ghouls staring at us from inside their buildings. Others who are outside keep an eye on us and several of them make their way indoors. Beside me one of the older dashites, I have learned his name is Wing Clip, asks, “Aren’t we going to shoot them before they attack us?”

Before I can answer Moon Lily does and tells them, “No, not all ghouls are feral. They may not look pretty but they are still ponies inside. They are watching us like that just because so many others are that way too.”

He seems surprised by this answer and I see him shiver briefly, then seem very surprised when Slip Stream waves a talon at them and a couple wave back. That, combined with our continuing down the road past their village seems to ease them as I notice they seem to relax some too.

Several hours later we came across another village. This time, we can see it has been fenced off with wire and rope. The residents here are mainly earthponies and a few unicorns. We are almost to what is a front gate when one of the dashites starts to walk in that direction. We hear a shot ring out and a voice calls out, “Stay Back and keep moving. We ain’t got nothing you all would want here.”

Wing Clip then asks me, “Big Blue, why did he shoot at us when we were just being friendly?”

In reply, I tell him, “Look at us as a group. We are an organized force. For all they know we are raiders or just outlaws who may want to take what they have. Wing, it is a rough world down here, and oftentimes these ponies are just trying to survive and protect what little they have.”

He quietly asks, “Is it like this everywhere?”

I shake my head, “No, but it is like this in a lot of places. Remember that.”

“How about this Manesville area? I heard that young filly Moon talking up that place and someplace called White Cloud. Are we just wasting our time?”

I smile and shake my head, “No, you are not wasting your time. While not perfect, and still recovering from the Enclave attack it is still better than most.”

After I say this, he seems satisfied. He then starts asking me questions about the wastelands that would probably be better answered in a copy of the Wastelands Survival Guide, but I answer them as best I can. As I do this, I can tell the other dashites are paying attention as well. This is occasionally brought home to me by some of the others starting to ask questions as well. This serves to distract me from boredom as well as give me a chance to teach them how to survive down here.

Soon we come across the double set of railroad tracks that lead up to Maripony and Splendid Valley and begin to follow them towards the major bridge where they cross the river at Morvarc'h. As we make our way along, I occasionally look back behind us. I do this after we pass one village’s abandoned train station with its water tower along the tracks and I momentarily have a flashback to stopping here with my train on that last run. I can almost see the ponies waiting there for us on the platform to unload the mail as we stopped to top off fuel and water for the boiler.

The memory causes me to stop in my steps and Moon Lily asks me, “Are you alright Granny?”

I feel my pulse has sped up slightly as well as my rate of breathing. I shake my head as the memory fades away again and I tell her, “Yes dear, I just remembered the last time I was through here, oh so many years ago.”

Moon looks back at the empty village and nods her head. She then performs her blessing in the direction of the ruins before she moves forward again and catches up with my section of the column. When she does, she tells me quietly, “I could feel some of those who were still lost Granny, I had to do that for them.”

I gently place a wing on her back and tell her, “I understand dear. I just wish that you did not feel it was your burden to carry.”

She smiles sadly, shrugs her wings, and tells me, “But Granny, if not me, then who?”

When we stop for one of our hourly breaks after this, I ask Morning Mist, “Fog, have you been keeping notes on the track condition too?”

He smiles and adds, “Not so much the track condition Boss, mainly the track bed, the bridges and support buildings along the way as well.” He pauses then adds, “I am surprised at how much of the old telegraph lines are still up. I would have thought someone would have salvaged it by now.”

“I have to agree with you on the telegraph lines condition. But then again, with how sparse the population is out here, who would use it, or buy it?”

He chuckles slightly then answers, “Good point. We have not seen anyone since yesterday.”

“Well once we get to the river, I want to write up a report of the track conditions as well as support buildings. Oh, and we really need to go over the defenses of those two other passes. The high pass still seems the best bet.”

It takes two more days before we reach our destination. As we approach it, I can see the village is on the other side of the river. Besides the railroad bridge is another major trestle bridge that was for highway use. We slowly cross them, inspecting the roadway as well as the bridges themselves for possible failure points. After all, they have gone without maintenance for too long, even if they had weather and corrosion-resistant spells placed on them. When we reach the other side we are only a quarter mile from the village itself and I can see what remains of the small station with the village's name on this side hanging by a chain on one end.

I look at the village through my binoculars and see some movement in the streets as well as in various windows. I turn to Ginger and tell her, “Wait here, you have the team, I want to make contact with the locals.”

“Okay boss, but are you sure you want to go alone?” she asks cautiously.

“Yes, Cookie. I think for this it is best I do so.”

As I approach the building along the main street, I notice that all of them are ghouls. Many of them have subtly moved into defensive positions. I slowly approach the first resident I see there and ask, “Excuse me sir, but can you point me in the direction of who is in charge of your village?”

The earthpony ghoul seems stunned and points down the street and tells me, “The mayor is in the bar of the old hotel right now. Why do you want to know?”

“I need to discuss a couple of things and perhaps ask a favor of him.”

He smiles at my answer and then tells me, “In that case, he is right here, what do you want to know?”

*****

Flankton, Coltlumbia, Enclave Territory: Ball Lightning

“Hi, Love.” Smiling, I tell Sundancer as I stand up to greet her and the rest of my family. As I reach out my wings to hug her, suddenly there is a bright flash of light, and in horror, I watch as a single large beam of light sweeps across the city and I watch as my family is incinerated before my eyes.

I scream and suddenly I hit the floor which wakes me up from another nightmare. This is the third one this week. I know what is causing them, but still, they shake me up each time. None of my troopers has heard anything from Thunderhead or the RDS since the attack and there has been absolute silence between Coltlumbia and there since that day.

I run a forehoof over my face and through my short mane before shaking my head a bit. From outside the door to my room I can hear one of my clerks ask, “Are you OK sir?”

In the darkness with what light creeps around the door frame I answer her, “I am fine corporal. Thank you for checking on me.”

I then check the clock on the nightstand by my bed and see that it is only an hour before I was going to get up anyway. With that in mind, I get up and turn on the light. I then go into the little bathroom here and clean up for the day. Once done I put on my uniform and head to the officers’ mess for breakfast. On my way, I am met by Storm Rider. She tries to smile and asks, “You cannot sleep either?”

I shake my head, “No, nightmares again. How about you?”

“Same. I am having a hard time not knowing how Kind Heart is.” She pauses then adds, “I have never experienced something like this.”

I place a wingtip on her shoulder and tell her, “I understand entirely. I feel the same with my family.”

“I know you do Ball. You are probably one of the few in our chain of command who does.”

We are nearly finished with our breakfast when I see Captain Cloud Seeder approaching. I wave him over and he takes a seat. “Good morning, Sir, Ma’am,” he tells us.

“Morning Captain, I am surprised to see you eating breakfast here,” I tell him. Beside me, Storm nods her head as well.

He looks slightly uncomfortable as he answers, “I did not want to wake up my family just for me to have breakfast, sir. Sorry about mentioning my family.”

“Captain, you are in the same position I was before we left the RDS, do not feel bad about mentioning your family to us.”

Storm adds, “I agree with the Colonel on that. How are your wife and foals doing?”

This time he grins, “Well, since you asked, they are all doing well. Millie just made the honor roll in school. Wind Shear, is a bit of a scamp still. I guess he got caught making a storm cloud in class when he was supposed to be learning history.”

Storm smiles and then adds, “I bet your wife is glad to have you back as well.”

He smiles with a wistful expression before he answers, “Yeah, Sunny is really glad to have me back home.”

After we finish eating, we all head back to our HQ and properly begin our day. Today we begin our rotation of patrolling the streets and keeping the peace in Flankton again. Hopefully this time it will be a bit quieter than the last time.

Each company is responsible for a section of the town there, and I allow the company commanders to determine which squads and platoons serve in each subsection of their responsibility. To me, it makes sense as I trust my officers’ abilities and their loyalty.

I think little of this until right after lunch I receive a courier calling me to my bosses’ headquarters. I do wonder what he needs with me as I get up and go to Storm’s office and tell her, “I will be back in a bit XO, hold down the fort for me until I get back.”

She grins and replies, “And if you don’t return, I will avenge you, sir.”

I laugh a bit at her answer and shaking my head make my way out the door. However, I am curious as to what the Colonel has in mind for me.

As I arrive at the Military Police Headquarters for this district, I see the Colonel's adjunct and he tells me, “Good Morning, Lieutenant Colonel Lightning, the Colonel is expecting you. Please go right in.”

I knock briefly on the door and enter. He looks up from his paperwork and tells me, “Have a seat, Lieutenant Colonel.” After I sit, he asks, “Would you like some coffee?”

I nod my head, “That would be nice if it is not a bother.”

He grins, “No, no bother. I figure we will be talking for a while anyway. I usually like to get to know the senior officers for my battalions.” He pauses then pushes a button on his desk and tells a box next to it, “Please have someone bring in a tray with coffee and a few sweet rolls.”

I hear a metallic-sounding voice reply, “Yes sir.”

Then he looks back at me and tells me, “Ball, you and your troops performed very well with the strikes and riots. I do have to commend you on that.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Right after this, there is a knock on the door and a mess steward brings in a tray with a pot of coffee and a cup upon it as well as half a dozen donuts and cinnamon rolls.

He pours some coffee for himself into a cup that is on his desk. I notice it has a battalion emblem on it. He notices me looking at it and tells me, “From my first battalion command. The old 55th MP battalion, but that was many moons ago. She was my first real command and I will never forget it. I am sure you are the same.”

I nod my head, “I am, it is almost like one of my children,” I tell him as I pour myself a cup.

I see him stop in mid-sip and look at me with a raised eyebrow. “How are you and your troops holding up with no news from Thunderhead and the RDS?”

“I am not going to lie sir; it has not been easy for those of us with family there. But we know where our duty lies.”

“Good, I am glad to hear that. If we get any word, I will pass it on to you. Last I heard the President was captured by the NCR and Lunar Commonwealth thugs after they attacked us down there. She has not been heard from since and we cannot trust what she has to say as it is most likely being said under duress.”

I nod my head and take a sip of my coffee before I reply, “That makes sense sir. A lot more than the rumors of a coup and her being branded a dashite.” I have my doubts, but this is something I cannot tell anyone else without risking being branded myself.

He takes a sip of his coffee and then a bite of his cinnamon roll before he tells me, “That is what I thought too when the General told me.”

Wait, was that a quick wink of his eye as he said that I wonder. No, I could not be correct about that. Best to let it pass. I then ask, “So, Colonel, is your family with you on this assignment?”

He nods his head, “Well my wife is. My foals are both grown up now and my son betrayed the family and became a cloudy. He is serving on the EAS Up Draft currently as one of the navigators.”

I nod and think of how Dad would have felt if I had gone that way. Smiling I tell him, “I am not surprised, I hope he is doing well.”

He nods his head, “Last I heard he was. But with the communication mess since Thunderhead, who knows.”

We then chat about our families for another half hour before he looks up at the clock and then tells me, “While I have been enjoying getting to know you Ball, I need to shift our discussion to the main reason I called you here today.”

I nod, “Of course sir.”

“Lieutenant Colonel, it has been brought to my attention that we need to beef up security in the tunnels under Flankton as well as the main entrance from Mount Persius. With as well as your troops have handled themselves, and with your previous record at the RDS, I need one of your companies to take over those tunnels.” He holds up a hoof and adds, “Just one company at a time needs to do so, we will be reducing your area of responsibility topside in Flankton to adjust for the shift in ponypower.”

“Sounds good sir, any particular company of mine that you want to start this rotation?”

He waves a wing, “No, I will leave that up to your capable hooves to decide.”

I grin as I reply, “Thank you, sir. And thank you for the coffee and cinnamon rolls. They really hit the spot. My compliments to your baker.”

This time he grins, “I will make sure they get passed on. Now I need to get back to this paperwork. Take care, Colonel.”

When he says this, I know I am dismissed and I render him a salute that he casually returns before I head to the door and return to my headquarters.

Once there I see the Sergeant Major and tell him, “Grab the XO and come to my office, we have had a few changes in our areas of responsibilities.”

Once they arrive, I pass on to them what the Colonel has told me. The door is closed, so I ask, “What do you two think?”

“Sir, let’s just go with the official party line, that will keep us out of trouble,” Funnel Cloud tells us.

“I agree, any other opinion does not leave this room,” Storm Rider tells me. Then she adds, “Some of the 20th Battalion officers do not fully trust Company A because they are locals, how about we assign Cloud Seeder and his people to start the rotation down below.”

I look at the Sergeant Major and he tells us, “I have heard the same from some of the senior enlisted sir. Perhaps it would be the best course of action to start. You can always change that up later.”

“Ok Sergeant Major I agree so far, but how do you think our people in A Company will respond to being told to go below?”

“Sir, they will do it. They may grumble some, but I get the feeling they may also feel it is a bit of a relief as they will not have to walk the streets and see ponies they know every day.”

“OK, that solves that. XO, pass on the orders to Captain Cloud Seeder and the other company commanders. As for what else we discussed; well that just stays between us. I just hope the official line is the true one. Bullocks what a mess if it isn’t.”

“Sir, what do we do if they are just feeding us a line and it was a coup?” Storm asks.

“Ma’am, an old friend of ours once told us, you do what you have ta to survive. That is it. We do what we must to survive. After that, well we can figure it out as we go.”

“Thank you Funnel for answering that for me. Storm, we do what we must to get us home to our loved ones again. In this case, we bite our tongues and go along.”

She smiles sadly and tells me, “Will do Ball. I just wish we knew for certain.”

“Me to Storm, me too. Now let’s get those ponies moving to their new assignments, and hope we do not get any other big surprises.”

*****

Good evening I am Sound Waves,

And I am Broadcast, and we are the hosts of Cryptids and Mysteries of the Wastelands.

On tonight’s show We will be having some special guest to tell their story and afterwards maybe play us a few of their songs.

They are new to this area and have a story that is unique and I think you, our listeners will find it as interesting as Broadcast and I did.

That is right, Soundwaves. I would like to introduce our guests, please tell us your names and a bit about yourselves.

Well, Broadcast, most call me Dee Dee for short, my pony name is Dew Drop.

Wait, excuse me, did you say your pony name? What do you mean by that?

Yes, my pony name, I changed it after we came through the portal and became ponies.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, I am with Broadcast on this, what do you mean became ponies?

Sorry about laughing at you but, we hear that a lot. Ain’t that right Fiddlers Green?

You know it Dee Dee, but hey, a wasteland is a wasteland no matter which world it is.

Are you saying that you came through a portal? Soundwaves are you hearing this too?

Yeah, I am Broadcast and it sounds like some of the rumors that I have heard over in White Cloud. So, Dee Dee and Fiddlers Green, did this portal involve a machine of some type? Why are you both laughing?

A machine to cause a portal. Come on, really? No, we were following the old Appalachian trail.

Don’t you mean the Applelachian trail?

No, in our world it was called Appalachian, and we were being chased by a deathclaw when we ran through a fairy circle and bang, we were suddenly in the Foal Mountains. Right, Dee Dee?

Yep, I thought we were goners for sure.

So, the names were not the same?

Well Soundwaves, some are the same, such as Emerald Grove. I used to visit my family on that side in a place that was named the same and was near a place called Dairyanne. Well, the locals pronounced it the same but spelled it completely differently.

Hold on Soundwaves, I have to ask them what other differences are you telling us they had on that side.

Well, some of the differences are we called them Vaults instead of Stables. The maps are different too.

Interesting, you said that you were not ponies. If so, what were you?

Fiddler, you still got that picture of us and the band?

Wait you have a picture, and you are saying it will prove you are not from this world?

Yea, I got it, Dee Dee. Let me get it out of my saddlebag

So, do you really have a picture that you can show both Broadcast and me that will prove it?

“Yep, we took it the day we came out of the Vault, right at the Vault door.

Here you go Soundwaves. Please be careful with it, we lost a couple of the people in it before we came over.

Ok, let us have a pea... What the BUCK IS THAT?

Here let me see Soundwaves… Dear Celestia, what are those things?

That is us. I am the blond in the middle. Fiddler is the one with the red hair on the end. I guess you tell the three next to him are here with us in the band, and those two on the far end, well ferals got Ricky there and we are not sure what happened to Jimmy.

But what are they? I have never seen anything that was hairless like that and walked on two legs.

Sorry for laughing again, but we were what were called humans.

Hew Mens?

Close enough, I guess it does not matter anymore.

Hey Soundwaves, have they found that stable yet?

I think so, but I am not sure. I will give a call to Magpie over at the library when we go on break to find out.

So, are you trying to get back home then?

“Oh, no, I am not giving up my horn, and I do not think that Pack Saddle and Thimble want to give up their wings.

I can understand that. So, you are happy here in the wastelands then?

As happy as we can be, I guess. We still have to deal with a lot of the same things, but hey the benefits seem to outweigh the negatives. Besides, who knows if we would ever find it again?

True. Well, we are glad to have you and before we ask more questions, I can see you all have your instruments ready to go, how about one of your songs?

Sure thing Broadcast, here is a little diddy we call Out of Vault 76, let’s go boys.

Author's Note

I hope you are still enjoying this chapter and I thank you for continuing to read it.
I wanted to show how some of the new dashites experienced the wastelands for their first time. As you can tell, they are very much like stable-dwellers, and as foals are all too often known to say, "Stable Pones don't know anything." But they can learn.

Also as we found out from the news report how the war is going in some other places. However we also get to see how it is for Ball and those under him trying to deal with a major disaster at home and not having any contact, so they do not know if their family and loved ones are even alive or not. This will be revealed in a later chapter as well as the implications of what has happened.

Also, I hope you enjoyed the end of the chapter with the runup for its song. I will admit I had a lot of fun with it and I could not help but make it sound like some of the podcasts out there such as Old Gods of Appalachia or Small Town Murder.

For those who would like to listen to this chapter's song, it is a relatively new one and the YouTube link for it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41V_koiAiyI