Fallout Equestria: The Ashlands Timeline

Tuesday, 10/25/2287, The Day Twilight Arrived in the Future
POV: Tranquil Melody
Stable 27

Tranquil Melody loved her wife Crimson, but it was the love of an abused dog for her master, lacking the romance and affection to go any deeper than the surface.

Now Tranquil lay in bed, staring at the ceiling and hating herself with a burning passion. Crimson always got her into it; she’d programmed Tranquil well. But afterward it left Tranquil with an empty void inside her, guilt she didn’t dare express aloud. If she did, it’d be right back into cryo-rehab until she was a better-trained pet.

“Damn, the expression on little Silk’s face,” Crimson said, lying next to Tranquil in the bed. The way she spoke, one would think she was fondly remembering a family get together, not discussing a murder she committed.

“Mercury’s in for a bad time,” Tranquil commented with a sigh, but forced a smile. “She’s expecting to receive a trophy for creating a painless gender-shifting potion.”

“I left Silk Strand on her bed; that’ll have to do for a trophy,” Crimson shrugged. “Then we can claim her own potions made her crazy and discontinue them. Seriously, who wants painless shifting potions? What’s the fun in that? Besides, the last thing I want is ponies enjoying having a dick too much; that can't be healthy.”

“No fun at all,” said Tranquil, continuing to stare at the ceiling. “Then Mercury goes into the cryorehab, I guess.”

“Jealous?” Crimson chuckled. “Don’t get a knot in your twat. I thought you liked geeky mares.”

“It’s not that, you know I like Mercury,” said Tranquil. “And it feels weird being your only wife, anyway. I don’t even care that you’ll have her kill me eventually.”

“You are so delightfully broken,” laughed Crimson, then her tone waxed serious. “Too broken. I should have left your corpse on Mercury’s bed instead.”

Tranquil finally looked Crimson in the eyes. “Aren’t you worried someone will catch on? You’ve gotten more obvious over the years, and all your recent wives getting rehab just prior to marrying you is the least of it. Chrome suspects.”

“I’m bored,” sighed Crimson, staring at the ceiling wishfully. “This whole place is boring me. There’s an exciting world out there, but I’m stuck here at player start.” She stretched and chuckled, “The only reason I haven’t re-hab’ed Chrome is to break the monotony of having no resistance. Besides, she won't do anything. That buffoon has…”

A buzzer at their bedroom door interrupted the pillow talk, followed by banging on the door, followed further by the door intercom activating.

“Let us in, Overmare,” Chrome’s voice shouted through the door intercom.

“Incredible comedic timing!” Crimson sat up in bed. “Seriously, you’d think this was a bad comedy sketch.” She used her magic to press the intercom button on this side, her voice seamlessly changing from creepy to pleasant. “Whatever do you need, dear Security Chief? If somepony stole a sweet roll, I hereby authorize you to use lethal force.”

“No games,” Chrome answered. “I had Solar hack your terminal in the Archives.”

Chrome didn’t have to explain further. That was where Crimson kept recordings of her escapades, and after 200 years, there were a lot. Tranquil knew; part of her cryo-rehab had been to relive memories of Crimson’s earlier victims until she shattered.

“That’s distressing,” sighed Crimson after releasing the button. She hopped out of bed, still chipper about the whole thing. “Well looks like you called it; I’ve been getting sloppy, and not just in the fun way! How bout we take a walk outside?”

“Outside?” asked Tranquil.

“As in outside of Stable 27,” Crimson grinned as she yanked Tranquil out of bed. “Let’s go play the game at a higher difficulty level.”

“You said leaving the stable meant certain death,” Tranquil said as she stumbled to her hooves. “Like quick death, not fun death.”

“I also told them that their security override would work on every door, including mine,” Crimson said, motioning towards the stuck door. “And that only the wearer can remove Stable 27 pipbucks.”

Crimson’s telekinesis unlatched Tranquil’s pipbuck and tugged it loose. She then unlatched her own pipbuck, placing it on Tranquil’s leg and taking Tranquil’s for herself. Tranquil wasn’t sure why Crimson switched them, but she always had a reason, even when it was bananas. Crimson turned the one now on her leg off to keep it untraceable for the moment.

“Lucky for you, I have this planned out,” Crimson whispered. “Probably. First, we get you a blinder suit and head to the atrium. Then, I take the cameras offline and you head out the stable door with my pipbuck. Just follow the arrows that General Slimestone or whoever made, they probably lead to her place, and she’s the least frightening thing out there.”

Tranquil tried to take it all in, but it was difficult because Crimson rattled it off faster the longer she talked.

“Anyway,” Crimson continued with a whisper. “Chrome will think I was the one who left because of my pipbuck signal being outside, so won’t think to guard the soul recycler. I’ll grab the recycler and head out with you when I can. Then I’ll save you from Slimey or whatever is killing and/or raping you. Or I’ll help them, depending on my mood. I never claimed to be a saint!”

A lot of things could go wrong with this, not even counting Crimson who was already wrong with this. If they hacked Crimson’s terminal, the other tech in the stable wasn’t necessarily under Crimson’s control.

“You have supplies stashed, right?” asked Tranquil.

“There are probably plenty of centuries-old rations in the city,” Crimson said, as if that should put her at ease. “That stuff is good forever. And if there isn’t, I can always eat you. Not in the fun way, in the very fun way. Come on now. Chrome won’t take more than an hour to override the door.”

The door opened a fraction of a hoof before ceasing again.

“It does that sometimes,” Crimson said, undeterred in her estimate. “No reason for happy-fun-panic-time yet!”

"I meant in your Crimoire," Tranquil clarified. She'd seen Crimson trap ponies in her magic book, or ‘Crimoire’ as she called it, as a discreet way of snatching them. Tranquil had even been inside the book herself plenty, and it was only logical that she could stash supplies too.

“You know I kept meaning to,” said Crimson. “But like we discussed, I’m getting sloppy!” Crimson picked up the book from beside the bed as if almost forgetting it, though Tranquil knew she never would. She spoke to the Crimoire before putting it in her bag, “Okay Paper Cut, we’re going on a potentially violent trip. Sorry if I jar you around!... you’re right, I’m not sorry at all.”

"You have to have something in there, right?" asked Tranquil. "Aside from those two… things."

"Did you hear that? She called you two things," Crimson said to the book in her bag, then turned back to Tranquil. “I think you made one of them cry.”

"Crimson!" Tranquil tried to get her to focus as the door creaked again.

"Look, honestly I’m not sure what all I have in there," Crimson seemed unworried. “I do make a mess.”

Crimson was much too happy about this, even by psychotic standards. Tranquil wondered if Crimson allowed someone to catch her because she thought escaping would be fun. She watched Crimson remove a panel on the back wall, motioning to a crawl passage hidden behind it.

Tranquil glanced between the door and Crimson, tempted to open the door for Chrome instead.

“Oh-ho,” Crimson chuckled. “Look who’s having second thoughts about our relationship. Come on now, don’t break your owner’s heart.”

Crimson didn’t try to stop Tranquil. Instead, she crawled into the passage ahead of her. She knew Tranquil too well. Tranquil would choose certain death outside to living the rest of her life here. Ponies liked her now, but being the best entertainer in the stable wouldn’t do much once everypony found out she had been Crimson’s killer-in-training. No amount of rehab would get them to treat her normally again.

“Come on, trust your master!” Crimson called back.

Tranquil sighed and crawled in after her.

“By Midnight’s kinky riding crop, you trust me,” Crimson laughed as she looked back. “I thought for a moment that you were smarter than that.”

POV: Limestone Pie

Today felt right. Through her scope, Limestone saw the strange energy in the Canterlot Archives glowing brighter than usual. Something big would happen today.

While she watched though, something less expected happened. Limestone’s pipbuck beeped, showing it found a new radio frequency. That had happened only three or four times over the last few centuries, so Limestone looked to see what it was.

She stared at the name of the new frequency: Stable 27. If she was picking up the Stable 27 frequencies, which shouldn’t get through the shielded stable walls, it could only mean one thing: They’d opened the door.

Limestone turned her scope towards the Stable 27 door, adjusting the x-ray to see the area around it. She looked just in time to watch the door close again, a single pony having emerged. It was hard to tell what they looked like since they had a blinder suit on, but the head shape was a mare’s and the bulge on the back indicated wings. That must be rare, since Limestone was sure they gave pegasi a hard time getting in.

More notable, the suit was all the pony had. No supplies, no weapon, no rations, and no support. This wasn’t an explorer; this was an escapee, or perhaps a banished.

The pony paused to admire the corpses in the grand hall like it was an art show, then headed out. Once outside, the mare stared at the sky like its existence confused her. Limestone assumed that came from spending her whole life inside.

Once the mare recovered from the sky, she noticed the arrows, the ones that Limestone had painted on the pavement to direct anyone that exited the stable to her domicile. Sure enough, the mare followed them.

The thing Limestone most got out of it was that this was potential social interaction. Limestone could have never guessed she’d be so starved for that, and the chance to speak to a living pony that didn’t want to fight to the death was too much to resist. She rationalized that a few hours wouldn’t hurt anything.

Limestone put Ashmaker back over her shoulder, hefted Marble up onto her back, and galloped back to her little home. Limestone knew how she’d appear to a sheltered stable dweller, so it was best she greeted her there rather than rushing her while she was on her way.

When alive, Limestone often greeted guests to her home by warning them not to cross her, but not anymore. This was the first pony guest she’d had in… well since she died. Not even Muffins had been to her house to visit. Limestone wanted to make sure she didn’t frighten the new visitor, so tried to remember what living ponies thought was normal.

Mister Tea suggested tea as always, saying he pitied the foal that didn’t like tea. It made sense, so that’s what Limestone did. She set out the tea set, filled the cups with water, and scrounged up an extra chair for their guest to seat herself. Marble, Ashmaker, and Madam le Sour sat at their places at the table, then Limestone waited impatiently at the door.

Sure enough, the mare from Stable 27 walked right up to Limestone’s door and knocked. It was a stupid thing to do without at least peeking in first, but Limestone didn’t expect her to have military instinct. Limestone trotted to the door and cracked it open a hoof.

“Hi,” Limestone said, voice quivering. “You’re from Stable 27? I’m Limestone Pie.”

It was the friendliest greeting she’d ever given, but her cracking dead voice probably ruined it.

“Oh,” the mare said, stepping back when the door cracked. “Um, yes, I know who you are. Sorry about the… not opening the door. Security thinks you’ll… contaminate something. I’m Tranquil Melody.”

“Come in, Tranquil Melody!” Limestone tried hard to hide her excitement, but having a pony to talk to that talked back was incredible. “I’ll open my door now, please don’t be scared. I won't attack you.”

“I hope so,” Tranquil said with a nervous chuckle.

Limestone smiled as not-scary as she could, which was likely still frightening, and opened the door. She trotted to the tea table and sat, motioning to the new seat. “Have a seat, uh, this is Ashmaker, Mister Tea, Madam le Sour, and my sister Marble Pie. Say hi everyone.”

Everyone said hi, but Tranquil only stared as she walked inside Limestone’s home. Eyes wide, she trotted to the extra seat and sat as if afraid not to. The chair creaked, near breaking.

‘The new mare isn’t very nice,’ commented Ashmaker. 'Please point me at her.'

‘Sort of bitchy,’ agreed Sour. ‘She didn’t even say hi to us!’

“Guys, don’t buck this up for me,” Limestone shushed them, then looked at Tranquil. “Don’t mind them, we don’t get many guests.”

“Don’t mind who?” asked Tranquil, tilting her head.

“Here,” Limestone stammered, pushing a tea cup over to Tranquil.

“I... don’t think I can drink this,” Tranquil stammered right back as she looked at the pink glowing water. She took a moment to make sure her blinder helmet was secure, as if worried Limestone might try to force it down her throat.

“Oh right, I forgot,” Limestone sighed. “Wow, I’m just as horse apples at being nice as I always was.”

‘Can I murder her now?’ asked Ashmaker.

“No, I already said before, no killing guests!” Limestone snapped at Ashmaker.

“Um,” Tranquil stepped back from Limestone, chair flipping over backwards and then breaking when she tripped over it. “You know I’m the only other one in the room, right? The things in the chairs are only things… and a corpse. Like a not-moving corpse.”

“No, no, these are my friends,” Limestone explained. “And Marble is my sister. She doesn’t move yet, but we’re working on it. Soon, I'm sure of it.”

Marble slumped out of her own chair, the vibrations of Tranquil tripping over herself causing the body to topple onto the floor. Limestone rushed to pick her up again, sitting her back tall.

“Marble you silly mare,” Limestone chuckled as she put Marble back into position and placed her hoof back on the tea cup.

“You poor thing,” Tranquil said, sounding as if she were crying. “You’ve been alone so long… this is… nice to know I can still feel pity, I guess.” She tilted her head, “You have a soul gem… It’s blinking.”

“Huh?” Limestone felt the back of her neck, which Tranquil saw as Limestone was helping Marble up. “Oh yes, I got it for being a war hero.” She’d point that out as much as possible to the stable dwellers that wouldn’t let her enter. “It’s blinking?”

Limestone hadn’t directly seen the gem since the fateful day. If it was blinking, she wouldn't have noticed it over her own glow, and she didn't enjoy looking in mirrors.

“Yes, blinking,” Tranquil said. “Like it does when… the wearer dies, to signify that your soul uploaded, to put in a soul recycler.”

“What? No,” Limestone shook her head. “My soul is still in me. Obviously.”

“But it’s…”

“I am conscious and aware!” Limestone screamed, the implication surging emotion within her that hadn’t been tapped in centuries. “I am a real pony with mind and soul!”

“I’m sorry, I saw it wrong!” Tranquil backtracked, edging her way to the door. “I think it was just reflecting light from your glow, or something.”

“Don’t leave,” Limestone calmed, shaking her head. “I’m sorry I got mad, please don’t leave me alone again.”

Damn it. Limestone could tell that Tranquil would, but she didn’t want her to go. Meeting a living pony like this for the first time in so long was too stressful. She knew what she should do, but couldn’t keep control enough to do it.

“You registered at another stable, right?” Tranquil said as she stopped next to the door. “So why did you stay in Canterlot? Why not go there?”

“I can’t,” Limestone explained. “I have to get Marble to move, and my other sisters are almost here. If I can bring them home, my parents won’t be as angry.”

“Limestone,” Tranquil stared at her. “It’s been over 200 years. Anyone you left there that didn’t have a crystal is dead…”

“N-no,” Limestone shook her head slightly, holding to her delusion.

“B-but their descendants could still be there,” added Tranquil, concern on her face again. “Why don’t you come with me and my wife and we can go there?”

“Why isn’t your wife already with you?” asked Limestone.

“She needed to get something I…” Tranquil paused.

“Would she like me?” asked Limestone, looking around the room, ashamed at her inability to make eye contact.

“Yes, but she’d want to…” Tranquil took a deep breath. “This is wrong. Why am I even waiting for her?”

“Because she’s your wife?” Limestone guessed, but it sounded complicated. She hated not having enough information to deduce an answer, and her mind was foggy with emotion.

“Can you show me where your home is?” asked Tranquil, raising her pipbuck. It looked similar to the model 3000 Limestone wore, probably specific to Stable 27. Tranquil punched the controls and pulled up the map of Equestria on the screen.

“Here,” Limestone moved a hoof to the map. She scrolled southward on it, showing Tranquil. “If you go, at least let me find you a weapon and rations.”

“I’d appreciate it,” Tranquil said, still crying. “Listen, Limestone. You’re a war hero, in history books and everything. If there are descendants there, they’ll know of you. I’ll go there, and at least send someone back to get you, okay?”

“Why would you do that?” Limestone asked. “Why leave without your wife?”

“Because I’m done living in Crimson’s cage,” Tranquil answered. “It’s hard to explain. Just watch yourself and don’t trust her when she comes out. Okay?”

“You’ll die if you leave the city alone,” Limestone said. “Stay here, wait for my sisters with me. They’ll be here soon I swear.”

“Yeah, I might die,” Tranquil chuckled, moving her face shield up long enough to dry her eyes. “If that happens, it’s fine too. I won’t have to live with guilt any longer.”

“Fine,” Limestone grunted, realizing there was no way to convince her to stay. “I’ll get you a weapon and rations, maybe a cart.”

Helping Tranquil took a great deal longer than Limestone hoped. The remaining ration warehouse had collapsed, so Limestone had to dig her way through several crumbled passageways to get Tranquil a few weeks’ worth of food. She also needed to find sealed uncontaminated water, which took just as long.

Limestone didn’t want to take time away from watching the anomaly, but she felt like she should watch Tranquil go. So, once she left, Limestone followed her through Ashmaker’s scope for a while, on her way with a rickety but solid cart behind her.

Tranquil didn’t get along with the rest of Canterlot’s residents like she did with Limestone. She ran from the other residents rather than attack them though, so Limestone wasn’t forced to gun her down. That was a plus at least.

By the time she went out of sight from Ashmaker’s scope, Limestone realized that half a day had passed. It was always so hard to keep track of time. She turned Ashmaker back toward the Canterlot Archives, looking with practiced precision toward the strange energy.

The rift wasn’t there. Neither were the guards.

Oh wait, the guards were there, they were just dead.

“Bucking useless Sense!” Limestone growled at herself. The one time she’d spent a significant amount of time without checking in and they came back! Limestone had never wanted to break everything more than she did at that moment.

Limestone turned the scope to Stable 27 to find the door wide open. Very wide open, as in ripped out of the wall. What happened there now? Limestone took Ashmaker, leaving everything else, and rushed outside.

Or would have if there wasn’t a mare standing there when Limestone opened the door. A white unicorn with pink hair and more mane and tail ties than she cared to count. Her left ear notably had the tip sliced off. A magical radiation shield surrounded her, even if it flickered from being poorly cast. Instead of a blinder suit, she had regular stable barding with gold trim and a saddlebag that held a single book.

She seemed... familiar. Very familiar.

The mare had been about to knock when Limestone opened the door on her, at which point she just grinned widely. Limestone twitched. Centuries of nothing and then everything happened in one day.

“Hey, Living Dead Mare!” the mare said. “Nice place; the Enclave soldiers piked outside are a nice touch. Is my wife here? And you know… not half eaten? Because I’m looking for her and am a tiny bit late. A certain somepony wasn’t as dumb as I thought, so I had to resort to the backup to the backup plan.”

“You look familiar,” Limestone grunted. “And sound familiar....”

“I’m Crimson Prose, and that’s a distinct possibility!” the mare chuckled. She seemed a little nutty, far too calm for a stable dweller talking to a ghoul. “My voice was on the sprite-bots before some rude shiny took over the broadcasts. Also pretty sure we chatted during the Breaking. So, wife? Here? Not dead? At least still warm enough for a final go?”

Of course. This was the Minister of News, the one that had been in charge of Canterlot when Limestone had arrived to protect the city. She’d fled into Stable 27 before everything exploded and had a soul gem, so it figured she’d be alive.

“She left,” Limestone had no time for this. “I’m Limestone. Stay here with Marble, Mister Tea, and Madam le Sour. I’ll return with Ashmaker and I hope my sisters, then we can talk about your wife. Or I can kill you if you’ve broken anything.”

“Oh THAT was your name, but aside from that, yes, I know who you are,” Crimson stepped in and looked around the room with fascination. She waved toward Marble. “Hello, Living Dead Mare’s friends! ... assuming your friends are the things you've put in chairs... you are just so delightfully broken... like actually mentally ill... not just evil and pretending to be crazy like me.”

Yeah, she seemed okay. At least she didn’t ignore Limestone’s friends, and she registered as an ally or at least someone not likely to attack. Despite Tranquil telling her not to trust her wife, Limestone figured she could trust Crimson enough to watch the home front for a few hours.

“Anything you can tell me about what’s happening at Stable 27?” asked Limestone.

“No idea. Something ripped off the door and my security forces were shooting at me,” Crimson said, sitting down in Limestone’s seat at the table. She picked up a tea cup of glowing water and took a gulp, then fell out of the chair onto the floor. “Nightmare’s Holy Moon Pie that is some bomb ass tea.”

‘Please don’t leave us alone with this mare,’ begged Mister Tea.

“Sorry,” grumbled Limestone before shutting the door and racing off towards Stable 27.

Limestone was cautious as she arrived. If security was shooting at Minister Prose, something weird had happened. Probably not just a coup, since that wouldn't explain the door ripped out. When she arrived at the hall of stained glass, she scanned the insides with her scope before entering.

What she saw left her breathless. Figuratively at least; she was already literally breathless.

They had assembled a cage within the hallway with several occupants wearing blinder suits, though their heads were visible through the clear glass. Limestone immediately picked out Pinkie and Maud; they were finally back! Limestone hadn’t been crazy; they had really been on their way! And they both looked to be in perfect health!

There were others in the cage with them. One was Starlight Glimmer, which wasn’t unusual since Limestone ordered her sisters to guard her, but the others were confusing. The one looked like Midnight Sparkle, but could it be? She was in the same cage and nopony seemed aggressive toward her, so Limestone suspected there was more to her. Was she the one she saw before that Marble shot at?

Limestone almost missed Kamikaze bundled up on Maud’s back. Someone had dismembered her completely, so she could be a captive of the captives, but that seemed unlikely. Maud and Pinkie would have just killed her, and Maud definitely wouldn't be carrying her so comfortably, so she must have come to terms with them somehow. It seemed likely that she'd redeemed herself by throwing herself at something dangerous and losing her final limbs.

But none of that confusion mattered when Limestone’s sisters were there. She forced herself to ignore the urge to shoot Kamikaze and Midnight-pony in the head, putting Ashmaker on her back, she rounded the corner into the grand hall, and broke out into a gallop.

It was short lived as the three stable guards near the cage fired. One hit her square in the chest, pain jolting through her body as she staggered back and turned to run back out. Limestone stumbled onto the ground outside, looking back to make sure they weren’t following her.

‘Get a hold of yourself!’ Limestone thought to herself. ‘You’re missing obvious things!’

Limestone heard the guards and captives talking. She couldn’t make out what they said, but she heard Maud speaking in her ‘time to die’ tone. Limestone picked up Ashmaker, aiming toward the inside and using the x-ray scope to see them, but grumbled. The guards were on the other side of the cage, and she didn’t trust her aim enough to not hit someone she shouldn’t.

She lowered the gun, ignoring the pain in her chest as she limped to find a spot outside where she could line up the shot. Perhaps she could take more than one down to decrease the chance of one getting away or harming the captives.

Limestone found her spot, but had to enter another building and climb to the second floor to find a place where she could line up all three guards. She peered through the scope, her SATS activating and targeting the nearest guard’s head. But once locked on, pulling the trigger wasn’t as easy as she wanted. They were in stable barding and she had spent so many years protecting the stable entrance.

But they had her sisters in a cage and wouldn’t even let her even speak to them. Why were they so cruel to their own heroes? It was like they were taunting her now. After everything she’d given up to keep them safe; bucking unbelievable!

Her hooves shook as she lined up the scope, gritting her remaining teeth so hard that one cracked. After a few long minutes, she forced herself to pull the trigger. One ear-splitting bang later, the two guards fell, one diving for cover.

Damn it, she was sure she’d lined it up better than that! She moved the scope to find the third one, then growled when she realized they’d taken cover behind the cage again. She tried to lock onto them again, only to nearly scream when she found her gun pointing at Maud. Maud waved at her, pointed at the guard, and shook her head.

If Maud didn’t want to kill them, they must have agreed to not stop them, and Limestone didn’t particularly want to kill them either. She’d already felt an intense pain of guilt at having shot the first ones, who were probably little more than civilian security. Trying not to think about what she’d done, Limestone put the gun onto her back and headed back to the stained-glass tower, walking more easily as the wounds healed.

When she arrived, her sisters were exiting the hall with their supplies and a few more ponies. Limestone didn’t care who the new ones were. She forgot how much it hurt to run and galloped to her sisters.

Maud and Pinkie came close, and she hugged them together. They pulled Limestone close, not shying away from her cold body as she feared they might. Their warmth of living ponies against her felt amazing, the best thing she’d felt in centuries. For the first time since they were foals, Maud and Pinkie’s eyes glistened with tears of joy.

“You’re both alive!” Limestone would cry for joy too if she could. “I love you both… I was always such a bitch to you and I never forgave myself.”

“There is no need for sappy apologies,” Pinkie said as she hugged. “Pinkie loves her sister’s bitchiness.”

“You are the best bitch we know,” added Maud.

“Bucking ruin the moment will you,” grumbled Limestone. “I should ram Ashmaker so far up your plot that you taste the bullet.”

They succeeded in making her feel better though. Just a normal conversation with her sisters, and making a friendly death threat, gave her more joy than anything.

“That’s more like it,” grinned Pinkie, ruffling what was left of Limestone’s mane. “Yes.”

“I’m sorry,” Limestone took a deep breath, even if she didn’t need it. “I couldn’t save Marble, or her soul crystal.”

“That is not your fault,” Maud said, though her face creased in emotional pain. Few others could see things like that on Maud's face, but to her sisters it was as clear as day. “We are together now and will fight on in Marble’s name.”

“Bring us to our sister,” Pinkie hugged Limestone hard enough that she wouldn’t have been able to breathe if she needed to. “We will take her home together and bury her with honor. Yes.”

“Home,” Limestone stared for a moment as she released the hug. It’d been so long since she even considered it. Did she dare go with Marble still not moving? Maybe it was time.

“Limestone,” Starlight said, placing a hoof on Limestone’s shoulder, but then jerked it away from the chill of her dead flesh, gasping more than she probably intended. “I am so sorry they left you out here. I swear, had we made it into the stable, we would have found a way to let you in. But we’re here now, and we’ll do everything we can to make things right. For everypony.”

Starlight always had a way of making her feel better, even if she never admitted it, and wouldn’t start now. She didn't even care that Starlight was obviously talking out her plot hole to manipulate Limestone. Having an important pony to protect was a relief; it’d been too long.

“I’m on board,” nodded Limestone. “Crimson Prose is waiting at my house. Were you looking for her too?”

“Is Tranquil there?” one of the new ponies hopped as she asked. “Oh um, sorry, I’m Mercury Shine. This is my friend Solar Flash. We’re… on board too, I guess.”

“Tranquil left,” Limestone said. “I told her to wait, but she didn’t want to. I think she wanted to leave before Crimson found her. I’m not sure why... though I probably should. My faculties are a bit rusty, and I guess emotional matters escape me more than military ones.”

“She’s all alone?” Mercury asked, eyes widening slightly.

“I gave her a weapon and rations,” Limestone said. “But I don’t think she’ll last any longer than you two would without us guarding you. We should try to catch up with her.”

Limestone turned to the Midnight pony who was lingering further away than the others. She stared her down for a moment.

“Um, hi,” Twilight answered the stare. “I’m Twilight Sparkle, from another timeline. Not evil.” She sounded tired of saying that.

“I believe you,” grumbled Limestone, making her bitterness clear. She added when Twilight blinked at the response. “You threw my sense off by arriving out of nowhere during the final battle. Had it not been for you distracting her, Marble could have downed the squad that leveled most of Canterlot.”

“Oh…” Twilight trailed off, face going slack with shock. “I’m sorry… I was trying to save you all from this, but the blast destroyed the scroll we needed.”

“Whatever,” Limestone growled. “I know you exist now, so you won’t throw me off again. Is the Kamikaze on my sister’s back a different one? Because she feels the same.”

“Nope, I’m still me,” Kamikaze answered. “Sort of kicking myself for some things I did.”

"Figuratively, of course," Maud commented.

Pinkie snickered, but then added, “We trust them for now. Yes.”

Limestone nodded. If her paranoid sisters trusted them, Limestone would go with it. They’d need all the help they could get. As she turned and headed toward her tower, Limestone beckoned the others to follow her.

“Do you know the status on Stable 11?” Starlight asked, moving up to trot next to Limestone, but still clearly not wanting to risk touching her, then added more quietly. “You are… a bit pinker than I imagined.”

“It wasn’t hit that I know of,” Limestone answered, ignoring the part about her unfortunate glow shade. “The NLR launched a balefire bomb into the base, but it didn’t detonate on impact. Probably never did, unless some idiot poked it.”

“The rock farm may still be there then,” Twilight pondered.

“Definitely the next place we should head,” agreed Starlight, then looked back to Mercury and Solar. “Are you sure Crimson is safe to have with us, or should we think of other options?”

“Of course she’s safe,” said Mercury.

“Not exactly safe,” said Solar at the same time.

“What other options?” Twilight asked, a warning in her voice.

“We’ll keep an eye on her,” Starlight said, then smiled at Twilight. “Nothing violent.”

Limestone tried to clear her head, her senses in a jumble from having to use it so much in a short time after going so long without. All she could tell right now was that while Twilight wasn't a danger to them, she didn’t seem like a team player either. Limestone would have to watch her.