Fallout Equestria: The Ashlands Timeline

Wednesday, 11/2/2287
POV: Maud Pie
Slaver Camp

What Maud found in the other room did not surprise her, but did not help her rage issues either. The kerosene container on the floor, Crimson looking annoyed, and Mercury untying kerosene-soaked prisoners… It told Maud everything.

Maud was past her limit. She did not find her sister and comrades, had to put down a dying filly, and now she dealt with Crimson trying to murder the others here for them to rescue. Was Crimson any better than the raiders she’d just killed?

She grabbed Crimson by the neck, flinging her against the wall. Maud’s movements were lightning fast, giving no one time to react as she pinned Crimson via one hoof against her neck.

“You had one job, Crimson,” growled Maud. “One even easier than Solar’s job.”

“I don’t know,” said Solar, perhaps trying to defuse Maud's rage. “I might try failing my job too once we get these guys untied.”

“Does this mean you won’t go on that date with me?” Crimson smiled sheepishly, hanging limply as if the drain of her weird magic had left her with little energy. “Or does it mean you definitely will?”

“They could be dead!” snarled Maud. “Do you not even care?”

Even Crimson blinked at the emotion in Maud’s voice, pausing to consider her answer.

“Half of them were already dead,” Crimson shrugged. “Life is wasted on the living. We’re all just poop factories bucking to make more poop factories covering the world in poop.”

Maud could not tell if Crimson was fearless, stupid, or trying to commit suicide by Maud. It was tempting to give her that wish. It would certainly settle her nerves and it was doubtful she’d face more than severe reprimand. Still, she took a deep breath and tried to push it down.

“I’m about to get a beating, huh,” Crimson said as she watched the calm decision-making in Maud’s eyes.

“You are,” confirmed Maud. “I do not know if I will stop.”

“Well if you go too far,” said Crimson. “I give consent to…”

A spat of blood replaced Crimson’s words as Maud slammed a hoof into her chest. It was not the torso-crushing blow Maud had unleashed on the raider, but at least one rib fractured. Crimson cried out and Maud slammed another hoof into her gut.

Maud thought Crimson would stop trying to talk after a few punches, but she kept opening her muzzle again, so Maud kept knocking the wind out of her. This mare just would not keep her muzzle shut. Maud aimed one last blow towards her head, which might have punched her jaw to the back of her skull had it struck.

“No!” Mercury pulled Crimson’s head aside and Maud’s hoof cracked the shack’s wall instead. “Maud, stop!”

Maud did not feel like stopping, but probably would have had Crimson not reached a shaky hoof to try to boop Maud’s nose. How did she not know when to stop? Crimson shrieked as Maud grabbed the leg, twisting the upper leg until it fractured, in a different place than it already was.

“You broke the same leg!” cackled Crimson. “Hilarious! I thought you’d break the other…”

Maud grabbed Crimson’s other front leg, twisting it around at the knee to snap it without effort.

“Yeah, like that!” Crimson moaned, gagging up more blood. “Ya got me though, this is more pain than I can pretend to like. I’m sorry, please stop.”

“Maud, stop!” Mercury screamed. “Somepony help! Maud is killing Crimson!”

Mercury pushed Crimson to the floor, covering her with her own body and shivering as if she expected Maud to punch right through her to get at Crimson. Solar was quick to cover Mercury with her body, though likely only caring to save Mercury. Either way, seeing innocents so afraid of her pushed Maud back more fully into a sane state.

Maud hated this part of herself. She had hoped her new compatriots never witnessed it.

“Damnit, Mercury,” Crimson gagged. “You’re always ruining my moments with your moments. Could you two stop protecting me now? You’re heavy and I’m broken.”

“Maud!” Twilight’s voice came from behind her. “What is going on here?”

“I may have broken Crimson in three or more places,” said Maud, taking a deep breath to calm herself. “For trying to burn the slaves to death.”

“Wait,” said the earth pony slave. “Maud? Maud Pie?”

The earth pony, free now that Solar untied the prisoners, sat on the bed. Solar moved back to him to help clean some raider gore off, though the pony kept an eye on the pegasus as if making sure she didn’t go for it after what she said before.

“Celestia’s afternoon tea-cake,” swore Twilight, rushing to Crimson’s side.

“Hey that wasn’t bad,” Crimson complimented the swear between gags. “Normally yours are so boring…”

“I have never met a pony that was higher maintenance than you, Crimson, “ sighed Twilight. “And Maud, you will not do this again unless absolutely necessary to stop her from hurting somepony.”

“Affirmative,” Maud said, quieter than typical for her.

Maud glanced at the earth pony that said her name, and he stared at her with a stunned expression. She grunted and turned her head, self-conscious about the tears in her eyes. She backed into one corner of the room.

“Mercury, please tend to Crimson,” Twilight added.

Mercury nodded. Seeing the bag of medical supplies the zebra had, she pulled out bandaging, going about the process of again popping Crimson’s bones back into place.

“I will assist,” the zebra moved beside Mercury. “It’s doubtful you know how to use everything in this bag.”

“Thank you, sir,” Mercury smiled in spite of his condescension. “I’m honored.”

“Break save me!” the earth pony shrieked when Twilight looked at him, deep red eyes wide with horror. “I mean...what I meant to say… I hate Daybreaker! Wasn’t she just the worst?”

“So much for death with dignity,” sighed the bat. “But that’s not Midnight, or a twilicorn.”

“I’m not Midn-,” said Twilight, then paused when the bat said it for her, turning to peer at him. “Wait… you? But weren’t you…”

Maud hadn’t realized herself before when focused on the others in the dim room, but it was. It was the bat Twilight had allowed to live and that they watched the memories of before. If he hadn’t returned to Midnight, perhaps Maud would stand corrected for thinking they should have killed him.

“Gloomy, yes,” sighed the bat. “It’s a long story, but I guess I owe you my life twice now… three times, technically, since I think the others only spared me to stay on your good side.”

“The others?” Twilight tilted her head. “You mean Watcher? Who else?”

“Can I tell it when I have more energy?” Gloomy asked. “I’ve had a bad week.”

“Well that’s...” said Twilight, but nodded. She took a moment as if straining to push down her curiosity before turning to the earth stallion. “I don’t care who believes me, but Midnight wouldn’t lie about who she was. Either way, I’m not here to hurt you. You can help us, or we’ll treat your injuries and send you on your way with what supplies we can. Can I have your names?” She looked at the zebra as well.

“Dyo,” the earth pony sounded barely able to speak.

“Xander,” the zebra said. He slowed his aid of Crimson, as if considering if he should continue now that his life did not depend on it.

“Thank you,” Twilight said. “Please if you would continue helping Mercury with Crimson, sir, I’d appreciate it.”

“That I will do,” Xander said. “But don’t expect enthusiasm.” Unlike Dyo, he seemed to eye Maud with suspicion rather than awe.

“Forget all that,” said Dyo, turning to Maud instead. “Are you really the Maud Pie? How can you be Maud Pie? Are you a changeling?”

“It surprises me that you were smart enough to ask if she was,” Xander jabbed. “It’s not a question you or your sister ask enough.”

Maud grunted, really not wanting attention. She pulled her helmet off and turned her head to flick up her mane to show him the soul crystal embedded there. It was easier than explaining time travel, assuming he knew what a soul crystal was. From the awed look on his face, he did.

“Pinkie is here as well, yes,” Pinkie said as she entered. “And apologizes for her unintentionally-lethal shooting. Ashmaker has more kick than she anticipated, and creates wide tunnels of destruction! He is to blame!”

‘Don’t act like you didn’t enjoy seeing it,’ Ashmaker snarked from Pinkie’s back.

“Pinkie did not say that,” muttered Pinkie. “She…”

Pinkie cut herself off and looked at Maud though. Unlike the others, she immediately noticed Maud’s stress over everything else. She trotted over to hug her; Maud sighed and returned the hug.

“I don’t know what to say,” said Dyo. “Are all the Pie sisters here?”

“No,” answered Maud. “We lost Marble during the Battle of Canterlot and Limestone has been taken by slavers to Tenwhinney.”

“Tenwhinney?” Dyo asked. “I thought they only bought… oh… regardless, I know Holder would be interested in helping rescue her.”

There was an odd look on his face, one that didn’t quite mesh with what he said. He looked away and at the floor and shifted his eyes as if his words made him feel extremely guilty.

“Let’s get the slaves outside where it’s less stuffy and talk there,” said Twilight. “If what the slaver said was true, the slave auction wagon will return soon. I want a word with the ones that sold our friends.”

Maud moved to Gloomy’s bed, hefting the limp bat onto her back and heading towards the exit without further comment. Pinkie moved to help Dyo, who looked reluctant to climb atop her, as if he had been asked to lay his dirty hooves upon a sacred artifact. His awe of them was more than just respect; it felt religious in nature.

“I can carry you!” Solar offered when he looked nervous to climb onto Pinkie, as if she was in any shape to carry anypony.

Dyo cringed as the pegasus plot-waggled at him and crawled onto Pinkie instead. He still eyed the waggling plot though; perhaps he just did not want to be seen with a flirty pegasus in public. Solar sighed and looked heart-broken either way.

“You need to learn subtlety,” Maud left Solar with that advice as Maud turned to head out of the room, leaving Mercury and Xander to tend to Crimson.

Twilight moved ahead, pointing the remaining slaver towards the door. He moved as told, head lowered and not daring to flee. A brighter stallion would have figured out that it was not Midnight by now, but brighter stallions weren’t chem-addled raiders. On the outside, the two other raider mares were on the ground nearby, laying on their sides, hog-tied. They looked at Twilight with the same ignorant fear.

“Crimson, no!” Mercury shouted again from within, no sooner than Maud had walked out the door.

There was a whoosh as half the other room was engulfed in flames. A moment later, Mercury and Xander dragged Crimson out after the others.

“Why would you do that?” Solar asked, exiting along with them.

“Do you have any idea how hard it is to manifest kerosene from a book?” Crimson complained. “I couldn’t let it go to waste after half-killing myself!”

Maud groaned. She counted to make sure everypony that mattered had exited, but let Crimson be for this one, even when she started cackling at the burning building. In this case, Crimson was not wrong to think that burning down an enemy base was quite a delight.

In fact, Maud was about to sit and enjoy watching the fire engulf the building, but another crackling distracted her. It took a moment to realize it was in her head rather than from the fire. Maud looked at her pipbuck, bringing up the map, and sure enough, Starlight’s signal had come into range.

As Maud’s pipbuck re-connected them to the PCB, it gave Maud an exact fix on Starlight and Kamikaze’s locations, up on the hill nearby. It also gave her a fix on Limestone’s, to the west in what used to be Las Pegasus. Damn it.

“Starlight’s in range!” Twilight exclaimed as she realized as well.

“Limestone is not,” Maud gritted her teeth.

“Maud, Pinkie,” Twilight said. “I know you’re angry. You have every right to be. But hurting Starlight will not help. Let’s talk this out, then I swear we’ll do everything we can to get them back.”

“Pinkie will spare her life,” said Pinkie. “But cannot guarantee she will follow the Empress clone’s commands. Yes.”

“I know you’ve lost faith in her,” sighed Twilight. “As have we all, but a power struggle between me and her will not help. Once Limestone is back, we can work to put her in command. Limestone will make a better leader than me anyway.”

Maud huffed, but nodded. “Very well, we will obey her orders until Limestone’s return. Within reason.”

They did not need Starlight’s friendship as Twilight likely believed, but they needed her information. Starlight knew what had happened to Limestone and might have info that could get her back. But if Starlight felt like Limestone would take over the moment she returned, she wouldn’t share that information.

‘Empress?’ Maud asked over the PCB. ‘What is your status?’

‘Peeved and covered in blood,’ Starlight replied. ‘But it’s mostly not my blood; I’m on my way to you with Kamikaze and Marble.’

POV: Starlight Glimmer

Starlight headed towards the group in front of the burning building, limping as little as possible, but the time it took her to walk there was probably telling, even with a corpse on her back and a limbless pegasus in magical tow. In front of the group was Maud and Pinkie, with Twilight behind them. She wondered if they’d told Twilight what she ordered them to do, but asking would only make any fallout worse.

Perhaps the Pies were not as angry as Starlight imagined. It depended on what details Solar gave them. Did Solar tell about Starlight offering to sell her? Even then, Pinkie and Maud might understand. Or they might have taken Limestone overriding it out-loud as a reason they could no longer trust Starlight.

Starlight floated Kamikaze over to Mercury, then Marble to the Pies as respectfully as possible, laying her on the ground in front of them. Maud and Pinkie hugged their deceased sister and looked at Starlight, their faces not betraying any feeling. It was typical for Maud, but odd for Pinkie.

“Maud, Pinkie,” Starlight said. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t save Limestone, but I don’t think she’s gone either. They sold her and Dinky to Tenwhinney.”

“We are aware,” Maud said as she and Pinkie lay Marble in the wagon nearby. “We have secured this compound, apparently named Finger’s Clutch, and questioned the surviving raiders.”

Despite being usual for Maud in most situations, the lack of emotion for Limestone’s loss worried Starlight. It was like Maud did not say much about it to keep from lashing out. Meanwhile, Pinkie only stared at her occasionally, not making her characteristic blunt comments.. Maybe she was incapable of commenting without exploding.

Were they still loyal to Starlight, or had Twilight ordered them to play it cool?

“Secured and half on fire, I see,” said Starlight, trying her best to lighten their mood and not give away her own. “There’s another four dead up the hill. I let a fifth one escape as he released me in fear. Good work with this, I’m forever in your debt, though I fear it might not work a second time.”

“Thank you,” nodded Twilight, seeming a bit stiff herself. “Though I wish you had considered letting more live.”

“Pinkie searched while Twilight questioned the raiders,” said Pinkie as she walked closer to them again. “There are wagons and food, and some subpar weapons and armor, and bombs. Pinkie also saw chems. But the ones she tried were inferior as well, not even making her puke rainbows! They have lowered the quality over the years. Yes.”

“Pinkie!” Mercury stared at her. “That stuff will kill you!”

“You tried them?” Maud peered at her. “Do not make a habit of that, Pink.” Starlight hoped that explained Pinkie’s subdued tone.

“Chems?” Twilight seemed to not know the term, but Starlight imagined there must be some kind of recreational drugs in her timeline. The idea that there weren’t just seemed more suspicious.

“Buck, I could go for some chems right now… some of that Dash stuff that’s named after me...” Kamikaze started, earning a wide-eyed stare from Twilight, and a warning glare from Starlight. “Um...or not; I’m just torn up inside. Maybe Solar can help give me a quick bucking.” She burped a little more and turned back to let Mercury continue feeding her.

Mercury gave Dash a somewhat motherly glance to scold her for the chem request. She was quite protective of her patient after having made herself Dash’s caretaker.

“We’ll take as many supplies and wagons as we can,” said Starlight. “Chems included, they may be useful as medication, or otherwise valuable, so don’t waste any more getting high. If we arrive at Holder with a gift for the settlement, they’re more likely to aid us in retrieving General Limestone and Dinky.”

“You’re more worried about losing out on money if they take the chems?” Mercury asked.

“Their health is a concern as well, which is why they’re allowed to take them medicinally only,” Starlight backtracked slightly.

“Do we have a plan for retrieval?” Maud asked. “The Midnight trick may not work with a smarter audience.”

“General Limestone and I spoke for as long as we could over the PCB as she went into Tenwhinney,” said Starlight. “She and Dinky are slated for some arena games at a celebration. They should be safe until then, so in that time, we need to convince Holder to help us either trade them back or mount a rescue.”

“How long do we have?” Maud asked.

Starlight hesitated. Maybe it was her imagination, but she couldn’t stop analyzing how the Pies acted, and Twilight seemed subdued as well. Solar and Mercury glanced at the group awkwardly from where Mercury was caring for an injured Crimson with some zebra friend they’d made. Meanwhile, Crimson grinned like an idiot as if expecting bloodshed.

Were they planning on replacing Starlight the second Limestone returned? For a moment, Starlight found her emotions at odds. Did her need for Limestone exceed the danger of losing control? That depended on what allies they found in Holder.

“The connection was cutting out when she gave the time,” lied Starlight. “But I heard the word weeks, which implies at least two. Still, we should get it done as quickly as possible.”

“Speaking of Holder,” Twilight said. “It so happens one slave we rescued is from there. A second captive is the bat we released when we were initially attacked, and he might have useful information in repayment for saving his life.”

Starlight was certain that Twilight brought up sparing his life to throw it into Starlight’s face. She couldn’t let Twilight antagonize her though, nor could she afford to seem like she wasn’t listening to or acknowledging them, so forced a smile in front of gritted teeth.

“Good work, Twilight,” Starlight said. “It seems you were right about sparing him then, this could be the break we need to help Limestone.” She paused and turned to the three bound ponies. “I take it the three ponies I see bound are slavers? Fingers also mentioned having children.”

“Yes,” said Twilight. “They cooperated with information, the others were their captives. There were no children, so they must be kept elsewhere, maybe at their original Stable.”

Starlight looked down at the raiders huddled near Twilight’s hooves, who looked back in fear and confusion. She remembered the stallion from when they passed here on their way to Tenwhinney. He’d groped her in passing and promised to do more to her if she returned here.

“Did they turn on their comrades or just provide information?” Starlight asked. “Do they have more information we need?”

“They provided information,” Twilight said. “I don’t think they have more information, but...”

“I see no reason we shouldn’t execute them,” said Starlight.

“Starlight,” Twilight sighed. “You just complimented me for showing mercy to Gloomy…”

“I understand how it might seem the same,” Starlight explained, taking a serious tone but trying to sound understanding too. “But Gloomy is a soldier fighting for what he believes in, which means he can be turned if he realizes what he believes is wrong. These raiders believe in nothing.”

It wasn’t just revenge. She wanted to see who’s side the Pies would take. Atop that, overriding Twilight in front of their new allies would show them that Starlight was in charge despite how Twilight looked.

“That’s why we need to give them something to believe in,” Twilight insisted. “Turning them over to Holder would show that we value their laws and buy favor, perhaps even collect a reward if there is a bounty.”

“You do have a point,” Starlight took another route, turning to the Pies. “You two are military experts. Do you believe any advantage would come of letting these raiders live?”

She clamped the raiders' muzzles shut with her magic as she spoke, not giving them a say in the matter. She figured that verifying with their ‘military experts’ would show that she was listening to her subordinates, but give her the answer she wanted. Even if Twilight had a point, Starlight wasn’t keen on letting them live knowing what they’d have done to her given the chance.

“We should turn them into Holder for justice,” Maud surprised Starlight with her answer.

Pinkie peered at her sister, not seeming to want to go along with that, but then shrugging. “Sister Superior would probably think in this manner. Pinkie agrees.”

Starlight took a deep breath, calming herself but having to concentrate to not show her mood on her face. Perhaps it was more important to show she was understanding instead of pushing the issue.

“Very well,” Starlight said. “You make good points. I’ll allow it. Take them into one of the remaining buildings so we can talk without them hearing.”

Pinkie and Maud nodded. Each of them hefted one raider onto their back, then Pinkie helped put a second on Maud’s back, a load she seemed to easily hold. They headed towards one of the other structures to place the relieved-looking raiders inside.

“Do the slaves know what you are?” Starlight asked Twilight once the raiders were out of earshot.

“No,” sighed Twilight. “They know I’m not Midnight or a twilicorn, I think, but honestly I’m tired of explaining other timelines.”

“Other what?” asked the zebra, rising from next to Crimson and approaching the group. “You do have a strange aura about you.”

“She’s not wrong,” said Starlight. “Explaining it further will make less sense, so let’s leave the answer at that.” She faced the zebra. “I believe introductions are in order, however. I’m Starlight Glimmer, rightful heir to the Equestrian throne. May I have your name and the name of your comrades, sir?”

“Xander,” the zebra said. “The earth pony is Dyo of Holder and the fanged one is Gloomy Shade, who we are not associated with.” He seemed keen on Starlight understanding that.

“Greetings,” Starlight said to the other two. “I’ll give you time to do your work while I put out this fire and safely cremate some of these gore decorations they seem so fond of.” She also needed to bring her emotions under control and flinging around magic might help.

POV: Twilight

Twilight felt better after the conversation with Starlight, who surprised her by being reasonable enough to take a vote. Perhaps she would learn from her mistakes and Twilight could still get through to her. That would definitely be the best result.

Mercury and Xander stabilized the wounded, at which point they all sat down for a meal. They had plenty of food now that the raider warehouse was there, though Twilight wondered if she was eating stolen food. The Pies left food with the captives before joining as well.

Gloomy and Kamikaze sat together, Gloomy much calmer around Twilight now that he knew what she was. They were being fed by Mercury and holding an impromptu burping contest that Kami appeared to be winning. It reminded her of Applejack and Rainbow’s childish competitions, as well as Spike’s constant burping of letters. Of course, almost everything reminded her of Spike…

Unfortunately, they’d have to go even longer without washing up. The camp had an outhouse, but the wash basin could only be filled with a water pump that registered as more radioactive than they were comfortable with. It wasn’t like they could smell any worse than this place, though.

“So, um,” asked Dyo after eyeing Starlight for a moment over the blanket they’d laid out to eat on. “You’re Starlight Glimmer? Like Daybreaker’s protégé Starlight? Do you have a crystal too?”

“I do,” Starlight said. She pulled her mane upwards and turned to show him.

“This was on my mind as well,” said Xander, who had spent a lot of time looking thoughtful. “Do not take offense, but I would like to have a closer look at one of your gems. All of them, in fact.”

“Knock yourself out,” Starlight smiled, but Twilight saw her soul gem glow as if Starlight was holding it with her magic. Twilight supposed she didn’t want to risk it getting yanked out and potentially ending up with a third her running around out here.

“I don’t actually have one,” Twilight smiled politely when Xander looked at her as well. “Unlike them, I’m not who I look like. Can you really tell by looking though?”

“I can,” Xander said. “Soul crystals are partly a product of zebra crystal magic, and I am quite skilled at reading their auras.”

“So, you’re from Holder?” Twilight turned to Dyo as Xander examined Starlight’s gem.

“Right, I’m Dyo Pie,” said Dyo. “My sister Kyo Pie is the rock sovereign in Holder.”

He seemed reluctant to speak. Dyo watched Xander as he moved from Starlight to look at Kamikaze’s gem, perhaps waiting for a verdict. As soon as he said his full name though, the Pies seemed much more interested in him.

“You are a Pie?” Maud paused mid-bite and put down her food. “Are you my descendant?”

“Um, yeah,” Dyo rubbed the back of his head with a hoof. “Something-great grandson.”

Without further word, both Maud and Pinkie moved their plates so they could sit on either side of Dyo, then both hugged him in the middle. He rolled his eyes back as if getting touched by them at once was an orgasmic experience, but also squeaked when they squeezed him too tight. It seemed their strength didn’t make it all the way down the line to him.

“My brother’s name was Dyo,” Crimson commented. “But I killed him. Well… my sister killed him because I told her to.” She added when Twilight stared at her. “I asked her nicely!”

“Did you kill her?” Dyo squeaked, still getting squeezed. He had an idea of what she was about already.

“Not immediately,” scoffed Crimson. “I’m no monster.”

“Crimson has changed a lot since then,” Twilight explained, even if it was perhaps more hope than reality.

Dyo nodded, but eyed Crimson warily all the same. It was no doubt hard to believe the pony that had wanted to burn him to death on sight was ‘getting better’.

“Me and you will get along great, I can tell,” Crimson said to Dyo, then turned to Starlight. “By the way, were you limping? Because I know what causes that kind of li-”

Starlight squeezed Crimson's muzzle shut with her magic, glaring at her. Twilight hadn’t noticed herself, but felt a little sick when she put together the implication. She really hoped not. Starlight continued to hold the muzzle as she changed the subject.

“So you’re one of Midnight’s?” Starlight asked Gloomy. Gloomy had finished eating, but still sat with Kamikaze and Mercury. Kamikaze clearly needed to eat up after her time as a captive, with Mercury still telekinetically feeding her. Twilight would help her, but Mercury seemed to take a lot of pride in her duties, not unlike Spike did with Twilight.

“I was,” said Gloomy. “A lot happened in the last week, but I was told to be careful who I talk about it in front of and honestly it makes as little sense to me as you do.”

“Who told you to be careful?” asked Twilight curiously.

“A faction of bat ponies operating outside of Midnight’s control,” said Gloomy. “I was recruited by a sprite-bot of all things, and probably would have refused if not for the… you know I really think I shouldn’t say more for now.”

“Rebels?” asked Twilight.

“Then the rebel will be pleased to know,” said Pinkie. “That we have successfully crippled Midnight’s cloning facility. Yes.”

“What?!” Gloomy spit his next bite of food out in surprise. “No, tell me you didn’t!”

“What’s the problem?” asked Starlight. “If you really are against her now…”

“That’s the end game, yes,” Gloomy growled. “But destroying only her would put Trinity in control! This group has kept them at even odds for years so that neither comes out on top. Taking out either without the other makes things worse!”

“Because both are less dangerous when using up one another’s resources,” Maud finished for him. “And when they are destroying one another, they are not destroying anyone else. This is why General Limestone opposed the assault.”

Starlight grumbled for an instant before twisting her face back into its previous good-natured smile, however inappropriate a smile was for this conversation.

“Trinity was at the advantage already,” said Gloomy. “They gave me information on an upcoming offensive to take back to ensure I wasn’t punished too harshly for my delay, but then raiders captured me. But that won’t help if you destroyed the pool! What were you thinking?”

“Thinking was not involved,” Pinkie said. “Yes.”

“It’s worse than that,” Gloomy said. “According to my recruiters, Trinity may have found a way to make super-mutants from scratch without pony subjects, which means she’s already about to have a numbers advantage. The main reason Midnight kept her at bay was because making the divine likenesses was easier than Trinity making super-mutants. We’ve always had a numbers advantage, and believe me we need one against those things.”

“Enough!” Starlight growled.

“Gloomy,” Twilight said, trying to diffuse the tension. “Please understand, we couldn’t have known. We’ve been… out of the loop.”

Starlight face-hoofed as if Twilight wasn’t the one she’d like to have defending her, but Twilight wanted to show she wasn’t an enemy.

“They are genuine,” Xander thankfully returned them to the previous subject after finishing with the Pies as well. “Changelings do not have the ability to duplicate such components on their forms,not with an intact aura at least. Though I am surprised to find General Kamikaze with you. Is she your prisoner?”

“We reached an agreement,” Starlight said, not explaining, and for that Twilight didn’t blame her.

“NLR bastards brainwashed me into betraying Equestria.” Kamikaze said with a large belch between being fed.

Twilight pitied Kamikaze more than ever. She knew that deep down, Rainbow wasn’t that different in this timeline, and nothing could be worse to her than forced disloyalty.

“You didn’t check my soul crystal,” complained Crimson.

“And you are?” Xander narrowed his eyes.

“Tsk, you’re just angry because I tried to burn you to death,” said Crimson. “I’m okay, by the way, Empress. I’ve only suffered a few fractures since we last met.”

“That’s Crimson Prose, Minister of News,” said Starlight. “It’s easy enough to figure out how you got those. I’m sure Maud will fill me in on why she had to do it.”

“You’re all real?” Dyo asked dreamily.

“Can we count on Holder’s support?” Starlight asked.

“Absolutely!” Dyo nodded, though looked unsure. “But we’re at a truce with Midnight. If she knows you’re the one that took out her facility… you’re not safe in Holder.”

“Any input on that, Gloomy?” Twilight turned to Gloomy, who turned suddenly away as if he’d been staring at her.

“She won’t come for you for a while, not if she finds out about Trinity’s planned attack,” said Gloomy. “She’ll focus on that, then come after you when it’s over… if she can.”

“How quickly can we get the information to her?” Twilight asked. This wasn’t just important for the reasons Gloomy said. It could be a hoofhold into getting Midnight to behave more reasonably.

“We could do it now,” Gloomy said. “I see you have communicators.”

That was a problem. Even if Midnight was low on resources, she’d still come for them if they advertised their presence with a trackable signal. They had to be careful.

“What if Starlight told Midnight about the attack?” asked Twilight. “I’m not saying we should walk up and knock, but if Starlight contacted Midnight and offered valuable information…”

“I don’t think she’d believe me after I blew up her pool,” scoffed Starlight, caught off guard with the suggestion.

“But you didn’t blow it up,” pointed out Twilight. “The surveillance would have only seen me go to the Mirror Pool cavern. Everypony else was only seen rescuing Mercury and Crimson before leaving.”

“But you helped with that rescue,” said Maud.

“But what if you were deceived?” asked Twilight. “Think about it. What if you were escaping, but I went rogue and attacked? You captured me, questioned me until I gave you information, but then I escaped. Wouldn’t that be a convincing way to find out about Trinity’s planned attack?”

“One of Trinity’s experiments that replaced our comrade,” mused Starlight. “It could work, since that is something Trinity might do… but this would require that Twilight not be seen with us again.”

Twilight’s heart sank slightly as Starlight looked at her. She wasn’t sure if Starlight was making a real point or looking for a way to rid herself of Twilight. Still, Twilight was the one that volunteered, and if being the enemy would save lives in the long run, she had to.

“Wait, that isn’t needed,” Dyo said.

Starlight clenched her teeth, then returned to her smile. Twilight was getting better at noticing those little idiosyncrasies that gave away Starlight’s thoughts.

“My sister Kyo uses a shifting potion at her brothel,” said Dyo. “The prostitutes use them to be more accommodating. Just make sure she’s covered until we get her to the brothel to quaff a potion to change appearance.”

“Whatever we do,” said Gloomy. “We have to get this information to Midnight soon.”

“I assume you’ll be staying here then to go back to her?” asked Starlight.

Gloomy fell silent for a few moments, rubbing his forehead.

“To be honest… I don’t know,” he sighed. “I’ve been delayed long enough now, and have made so many mistakes, that I don’t know what will happen to me if I go back. You providing the info probably is best, and will mean more anyway if you do it on your own.”

“You could go with me to Holder if you liked,” offered Twilight. She had the impression that he wanted to talk to her about something, perhaps without Starlight around. If he’d been in contact with Watcher, that thing could be important.

“I have no problem with that,” said Starlight. “Honestly, if you represent rebels, I’d like to keep contact with them.”

“I feel like I’m being a coward,” sighed Gloomy. “But I don’t have family left for her to punish if I don’t come back, either. I’ll head back with your Midnight.”

“Please, call me Twilight,” sighed Twilight.

“Right,” Gloomy rubbed his forehead with a wing. “Sorry.”

“You should think of a new name,” suggested Starlight. “We can’t call you Twilight or Midnight in front of other ponies anymore.”

“Right,” Twilight sighed again. “Um, call me Clover.”

“I wonder what equipment they have in Holder,” Solar pondered. “Stable 11 might not have the cool stuff 27 did, but still…”

Solar spent most of her time during the meal edging towards Xander, who continually edged away. Xander was listening to the conversation, but mostly busy between bites. Ever since he found out they had Zecora’s journal, he’d asked to see it and was feverishly copying down recipes that caught his eye.

Mercury sat with Xander, asking him questions about some alchemical notations in the journal that she didn’t understand. It seemed most were alternatives to things she knew, but Xander seemed annoyed with the questions. He allowed her to continue asking only when she offered to help him with the copying to get more done, and very begrudgingly listened to some of her advice on what ingredients could substitute for rare ones. The realization that Mercury actually knew her stuff was probably more annoying to the prideful zebra than anything else.

“I guess I should head back with them too,” Kamikaze said. “Maybe Solar could start trying to hammer those wings onto me.”

“No,” said Starlight. “She’ll have found out you’re with us if she talked to Stable 27. If you’re not present, she’ll be upset.”

“I don’t like where this is going,” sighed Kamikaze.

“Sorry,” said Starlight. “But you can tell her you didn’t want to go back at first because her clone attacked you and did this, and you thought she must hate you now. We have reason to believe it wasn’t able to contact her with info before being killed, so Midnight would trust your word for exactly what happened. A guilt trip may work even better on the real one.”

“Aren’t I supposed to be loyalty now?” asked Kamikaze. “This seems sorta underhooved.” It seemed Twilight’s words had affected Kami, as did the realization that the NLR tricked her.

“Kamikaze,” Starlight said. “Please see reason. Besides, if she could program you, perhaps she could repair you.”

“I don’t like it either,” said Twilight. “But at the same time, maybe if you played things right, you could move her way of thinking more in our direction. A little of her current aggression might be from being distraught at your loss.”

“Fine,” sighed Kamikaze.

“I guess you’ll ask me to stay too,” said Crimson. “But I’d rather go ahead to Holder to see if Tranquil made it.”

“No,” said Starlight. “We need you here to confirm our story, and you’re not worming your way out of this either way.”

“I’ll do my best to find Tranquil there, Crimson,” said Twilight. “I promise.”

“Is Dyo staying to represent Holder?” said Gloomy. “Will his sister accept us when we arrive without him?”

“Pinkie or Maud can go with us,” said Twilight. “From the sound of it, everyone in Holder would trust them. Just tell Midnight you sent them ahead to tell Kyo what is happening; I doubt she’d be particularly interested in them.”

“Pinkie accepts this idea,” said Pinkie. “Yes.”

“This is adequate,” agreed Maud. “I am eager to find assistance to recover our sister.”

Starlight nodded, though looked uneasy. Twilight hoped she didn’t misinterpret their choice to go with Twilight, or Twilight suggesting it.

“I will go with them as well,” said Xander. “I have no desire to meet the Nightmare Child muzzle-to-muzzle, but pray that your eventual betrayal of her succeeds, shoddy as you are.”

“I suppose they’ll let you in if you arrive with that group,” Dyo said. “Just… don’t cause any issues please.”

Twilight was about to ask what that meant when Starlight cut her off.

“Then it’s settled,” said Starlight. “Twil… Clover, the Pies, Gloomy, and Xander head to Holder. Take several wagons full of supplies to give them when you get there. The rest of us contact Midnight and offer to meet her here.”

Twilight was reluctant for a moment. She wondered if Starlight might turn her in, though perhaps the Pies being with Twilight would ensure she didn’t. Starlight would definitely not want to anger them further.

“Good,” said Starlight. “Gloomy can give me the relevant data while the others pack up the wagons. Actually, since Xander brought up changelings, let me ask you this… do you know how Midnight detected and captured the changelings they had imprisoned?”

As Pinkie and Maud left to start packing, Twilight lingered to see where Starlight’s question led.

“Ah,” Gloomy nodded weakly. “On accident, actually. On the way back from a supply raid in Trinity’s territory, we came across a group of half-a-dozen zebras. She… isn’t fond of them, and when one had the nerve to mouth off to her, she decided to blast them with Hera’s Scorn, intending to leave them to kill each other.”

“Isn’t that the stuff used to assassinate Daybreaker?” Starlight quirked an eyebrow. “Still in use then, that’s not good.”

Twilight shuddered at the thought. She was still haunted by the memory that they saw through Marble’s eyes.

“Yes, it is,” signed Gloomy. “It used to be effective against super-mutants, until Trinity found a way to inoculate them, and Midnight still keeps some on her. It really messes up someone’s head, and for a changeling, that makes them revert and interrupts the connection to their hive. We found that out because two of the zebras were changelings in disguise, and we got them out of Trinity’s territory to Midnight Castle before she could attempt to stop it. It wasn’t long before Midnight’s demented doctors found and cut out the part of their brain that they believed connected them.”

“It is a pity then that Scorn produces such intense effects,” said Xander. “Else it could be used on restrained ponies to check if they are changelings. In fact, I think I spotted a box of Scorn in the raider storage when I was first brought here.”

“Maybe we should keep it, just in case,” Starlight pondered.

“We can’t possibly do that!” Twilight hadn’t wanted to insert herself into the conversation, but couldn’t stand by if Starlight might use something like that.

“To study and see if the effects can be lessened,” Crimson did her job of trying to make Starlight sound better, even if she could barely speak in her current condition.

“Of course,” nodded Starlight. “Mercury, Xander, you’re both alchemists, do you think that can be done?”

“I’d have to see,” said Mercury. “I don’t think it could be altered, but if we could find a sedative that didn’t react to it, we could just keep the target asleep until it wore off.”

“Altering it would be impossible,” Xander agreed. “And if I say it is impossible, you know it is. As for the sedative idea, it has merit, despite the difficulty of finding a compound that didn’t combine into something different.”

“The two of you split the box between you,” nodded Starlight. “Only test it on living creatures if you are absolutely sure you have come up with a solution though. And make sure they’re… willing test subjects.”

Starlight sounded annoyed that she was forced to append the last bit, and Twilight wondered if she would have if not in front of some who would insist.

“Very well,” said Xander. “But for now, I’m going to spend this time attempting to duplicate a recipe I found in Zecora’s journal. I think it might turn out to be a more useful solution, but I will take the Scorn too in case it doesn’t work.”

“Her detection gel?” asked Twilight, recognizing the idea.

“May I assist?” asked Mercury.

“No,” Xander replied flatly to Mercury. “A pony wouldn’t understand such a complicated zebra concoction.”

Twilight blinked at the sudden elitism, but nodded as he walked off. She pushed down her curiosity since she knew she needed to help get other things ready.

As for the plan in general: It was a big chance, but one that could work.