Fallout Equestria: The Ashlands Timeline

Wednesday, 11/2/2287
POV: Twilight Sparkle
San Palomino Desert, Southwestern Equestria

They now had two covered wagons full of supplies to give to Holder, confiscated from the raider camp. They kept two devices that Starlight explained were AIEs, the same type of device that disabled her magic when the raiders took them. They were a very rare type of explosive outside of Unicornia, so she had Pinkie keep them.

At least the road was significantly less bumpy. They also had a great many bottle caps from the camp. Twilight was incredulous when told bottle caps were currency, but all three of their new friends confirmed this.

Pinkie and Maud pulled the wagons. The raider captives were in one wagon securely bound and watched by Xander, while Twilight and Gloomy were in another. Xander was putting the finishing touches on the concoction he’d started earlier in his wagon, but still wouldn’t let anyone help or make it in the same wagon with Gloomy. He’d spent most of the time while they were packing the wagons attempting to find substitute ingredients for it.

Twilight would have rather been helping with negotiations back at the raider camp, but knew that was impossible. Maybe one day she could meet Midnight muzzle-to-muzzle and come to terms, but that was a long way off.

She had her stable suit and blinder barding packed. Instead, she wore even more sweaty leather armor they’d taken from the raider camp, one that hid her wings so long as she had on saddlebags. She had a gas mask she was to put on as well to hide her face, with a horn slot to show everyone the broken horn. The idea was to say she was a raider victim, and the broken horn would help sell it.

Though she wished that she wasn’t resting in the cart with the drugs. They said some had medical purposes, but as Twilight sat amidst boxes of things like ‘psycho’, ‘dash’, and ‘touch’, she doubted that.

But the medical supplies were in this cart too, so it was where Gloomy needed to be. He was healing fast thanks to Xander’s efforts, but it was still best to have them close. Perhaps it would have made more sense for Xander to sit with him, if only he would. The zebra had a religious dislike for Nightmare and Midnight which also transferred to bat-kind in general.

Twilight hadn’t met many bat ponies; most of Luna’s Night Guard only looked like bat ponies due to enchanted armor, since the real ones didn’t like living in big bright cities. She wasn’t sure what to discuss, since talking about his homeland might be painful if it were overrun or destroyed, and that’s most of what she’d read about them.

Gloomy still showed instinctual fear of Twilight. He looked at her nervously, sprawled on his back since that hurt the least with his injuries. He had his NLR armor again, since that was the least suspicious thing he could wear, but didn’t have it on as he rested his injuries. He did, however, have the necklace that he had taken from his dead comrade, Blinding, which made Twilight feel a pang of guilt.

“I would give you back that memory sphere,” Twilight tried to start a conversation. “But I’m afraid that was left with some of our supplies when we abandoned the old wagon at Everfree.”

“That’s… too bad,” Gloomy looked away. “I have no desire to look back at that part of my life, but at the same time… there were some memories with Blinding I might want to see again.”

“Sorry,” said Twilight. “I hope I’m not making you nervous being here.”

“I know you’re not like her,” said Gloomy. “I’ve been close to her and you don’t feel the same. Doesn’t keep it from being creepy, but I'll get used to it. Believe it or not, you’re not the most nonsensical new friend I’ve made recently.”

“It’s fine,” said Twilight. “Regardless, we shouldn’t miss a chance to get to know each other better. Who is your other nonsensical friend?”

Gloomy sighed, “Honestly not sure of how much I can say. I wasn’t fully briefed on everything, so I'm not sure how to interact with you.”

“Well, then do you want to ask me questions?” asked Twilight. Maybe she could get him to open up that way.

“I heard a lot about you at the camp from your friends,” said Gloomy. “Might not have believed it if I hadn’t seen you arrive myself. You’re definitely something new, so maybe you can help. Watcher certainly thought so. I really need to contact her again, but she’s hit or miss with taking control of those sprite-bots.”

“Can you use my pipbuck to contact the other base?” asked Twilight. She noted that he knew Watcher’s gender, which she hadn’t been sure of, but didn’t draw attention to it.

“No,” said Gloomy. “Those things record transmissions and encryption keys. Even if I trusted you, I couldn’t take that chance because your pipbuck may network with others.”

“I understand,” nodded Twilight.

As he sprawled out there, Twilight found her eyes looking him over more than she should. She told herself she was examining a body structure she didn’t see often from scientific curiosity, and tried to prevent her mind from wandering into lewd territory. He had a bit of a filly-ish figure and head structure, so Twilight wondered if he’d transitioned to male; she wouldn’t bring that up unless he did. There was something else though that she would comment on.

“Your cutie mark,” said Twilight. She hadn’t gotten a close look at it before. “It’s a shield covering… what’s that?”

“What?” asked Gloomy. “Oh right. It’s a shield over Midnight’s cutie mark. I’m not proud of it, but it should divert suspicion at least so no one in Holder will think to turn me over to Midnight.”

But it wasn’t Midnight’s cutie mark; it was Twilight’s. It had the same five stars around it in the same positions, which Midnight’s didn’t have. But how could that be? She wasn’t even from the same timeline. Could destiny transcend timelines like that?

Probably not. It seemed impossible for something like that to account for someone that might or might not show up, and plenty of ponies ended up with the same or similar cutie marks. She decided not to speak further on it, lest Gloomy get the impression she would grasp anything to gain his trust.

“That’s nothing wrong with your mark,” said Twilight. “Maybe it symbolizes you protecting others from Midnight, rather than the other way around.”

“I never thought of it like that,” Gloomy peered at his mark, then smiled as if he felt better. “Thanks.”

“Whatever your new friends do,” says Twilight. “I realize it’s very important. So even if you can’t introduce me, let me know if I can do anything on the outside to help, okay?”

“Sure,” Gloomy nodded, though he likely wouldn’t know that himself as of yet.

Gloomy blushed and looked away from her. It seemed an odd thing to do, so she hoped he didn’t think she was trying to flirt with him. Or maybe she was and didn’t realize it; she was still repressed.

“You should keep an eye on your new friend,” a mechanical voice from the other end of the wagon made them jump.

Twilight calmed when she saw it was only a sprite-bot that had hovered in through the open back of the wagon. It was good timing.

“Hello Watcher,” said Twilight, thankful to have a source of potential new information here, but also confused. “Why should I keep an eye on Gloomy? You recruited him as well.”

“What?” Gloomy asked. “Have I done something wrong?” Gloomy seemed strangely devastated that Watcher expressed disappointment in him, like a foal whose mother slapped them.

“Forgive me,” Watcher said. “I did not mean you, Gloomy Shade. Even if I recruited you to remain on friendly terms with the Paradox, I have no reason to believe you to be disloyal. I refer to the one you were both with before. Dyo.”

“You two already knew each other?” Gloomy looked back and forth from Twilight to Watcher.

“Why should we watch him?” asked Twilight.

“Dyo claims he will assist in the situation with Tenwhinney,” Watcher says. “Yet he dreams of a home there. He would take extreme action for a place at that tower, even betraying his home and beliefs. Do not trust him to assist in your rescue.”

“How would you know?” asked Twilight. “Wait… dreams? Is it you? This is how you’re contacting me now?”

If Gloomy realized too, it explained why he was so devastated when he thought he’d disappointed her. It also explained why he’d turn on Midnight so easily, especially if Luna proved her identity by touching his dreams as well.

“Watching a dream takes almost no energy,” Watcher confirmed Twilight’s suspicion. “But interacting with the dreamer takes quite a bit. I spent a lot of energy in my initial contacts with you, Paradox, so you would believe who I am, but now we must speak this way.”

“You trust this mare?” asked Gloomy.

“I do,” said Watcher. “You will help her, so long as she swears to not reveal my identity to her friends. They may distrust my advice at a critical time if they know who I am.”

“As you command, Princess,” Gloomy bowed his head.

“I understand, Princess,” nodded Twilight. “You can count on me.”

Gloomy smiled, perhaps happy that Twilight referred to Luna by title as well.

“I am pleased I caught the two of you alone to speak,” Watcher continued. “And that I found you unharmed, Gloomy. We worried when you did not make your contact on time.” Watcher turned to Twilight. “I tire, but we shall speak more, I am sure. I have found out most of what I need to know now from observing your friends at the raider camp.”

The voice clicked off, and the crystal anthem played as the sprite-bot buzzed away. It was a brief contact, but it would ensure that Gloomy would entrust her with more information. Twilight wanted to ask how Luna was controlling the bot at all, apparently in a fashion that used less energy than dream-walking. She didn’t ask though, because she knew it’d be unwise of Luna to tell anyone and expose a potential weakness.

Besides, Twilight wanted clarification on something else that made little sense to her.

“Gloomy?” asked Twilight. “Isn’t Midnight part of the same group that Luna was? Are they opposed now?”

“Nightmare Moon’s former student is no longer in her favor,” said Gloomy. “She can do nothing about it from where she is, so trusts others. She can’t reveal her presence to bats at large, because they would abandon Midnight en masse, which would give Trinity too much of an upper hoof. Not even most in Statera know Watcher’s true identity, viewing her as a successor rather than Nightmare Moon herself.”

“Statera?” Twilight asked. “Ah, the name of your new friends. She believed you were trustworthy enough to reveal it to, that’s quite a compliment.”

“I appreciate the thought,” chucked Gloomy, blushing. “But I think it was more that I refused to trust her enough to join until she told me that, and she wanted to be on your good side by not harming the one you released. Thanks again for that… but you’re the one that should be taking her actions as a compliment.”

“Eh…” Twilight blushed as well then, but turned the conversation back away from herself. “Do any of them know where she is though?”

“They don’t,” sighed Gloomy. “She won’t tell them for fear they’d harm themselves in an attempt to save her. Apparently, she is gathering data and will inform us when she has a plan that will not risk too many of our lives.”

Twilight smiled. It sounded like this ‘Nightmare Moon’ was closer to her Luna than to her Nightmare Moon. She looked forward to asking more now that he would open up to her, but another arrived, cutting off further conversation.

“We’re nearing the gate,” Xander said as he stepped into the back of the wagon. “However, I wished to speak with the two of you before we arrived. I have already spoken to the Pies, and they felt it prudent to inform both of you.”

She got the impression that Xander didn’t want to inform them, as he’d made it clear that he was only doing so at the Pies’ request. He must have trusted them since he could absolutely verify that they were not changelings through their soul crystals; Twilight wondered if he had a particular reason for being paranoid.

“Certainly,” Twilight nodded, though regretted ending her current conversation. She nodded to Gloomy. “We’ll talk later?”

“Right,” sighed Gloomy, then whispered. “I trust you, but can’t give others details.”

Xander moved to sit next to them, but then opened his saddlebags. He pulled out a jar full of a green slimy substance that Twilight immediately recognized. So that was what he had been making.

“This may sound odd,” said Xander. “But before I tell you this, I’d like you to…”

“Rub that on our faces?” Twilight nodded. “Yes, I recognize it from another timeline I was briefly trapped in. Zecora used it to tell if ponies were changelings.” She looked at Gloomy, who had raised one eyebrow in confusion. “Go ahead and let him.” Twilight found it interesting that her book had the substance in it, since to Twilight’s knowledge, this Zecora hadn’t known about changelings. It must have been a general potion to find the hidden or unnatural.

“Indeed it is,” Xander tilted his head, looking momentarily confused but then nodding. ”Ah, you were informed, that explains why you understand.” His tone said that he didn’t think they’d be smart enough to have figured it out without being told. It was the same pretentious mentality he had at the raider camp.

He popped open the jar, dipping a hoof into the substance and starting on Gloomy’s face. Gloomy tensed up and let him, but the substance seemed to have no reaction, so Xander moved to Twilight next.

Twilight was worried that she might glow when it was applied on her, as she did with Zecora’s substance due to her being from another timeline. She wasn’t sure how Xander might react to that. As Xander applied it however, she did not, so she wondered how many substitutions he’d had to make.

Xander seemed satisfied, so he must have been confident that it would work.

“I did not mention this before, because Dyo was present,” Xander said as they toweled themselves off. “I suspect that Trinity may have already infiltrated the settlement. I am uncertain if he and his sister Kyo are changelings, but it would make sense since they refuse to heed my warnings.”

“What makes you think that?” Twilight asked. It was a threat she definitely took seriously.

“I admit, it is the reason I am not entirely welcome in Holder,” Xander said. “I have made a number of changeling accusations, but the leadership refuses to take them seriously. Eventually I was banished outright, though I think I’ll be allowed in with my present company. I’m hoping now that I have this recipe, I can prove my suspicions.”

“This far into Midnight’s territory?” asked Gloomy. “I don’t think the Trinity Hive has the range.”

“Perhaps,” Xander said. ”But do we really have any way to know what her range is? Trinity would be wise to leak intelligence indicating it is lower than it is, and I am concerned they may attempt to replace you once we arrive.”

“Why me?” Gloomy blinked.

“Because Midnight would not normally allow her soldiers to visit Holder alone,” Xander said. “They would jump at the chance to get a spy into the Nightmare Child’s ranks, and would have no reason to suspect you are no longer faithful. Careful of the brothel too. While it perhaps seems, ‘too obvious’ for a changeling to be hiding there, it would be a convenient way to get ponies alone to be replaced if one of them was.”

“Is Trinity’s the only Hive in the wasteland?” Twilight asked. “Chrysalis was never captured, correct? And there is a chance she might still be alive.”

“From what I know of her, that would not be better if it were the case,” Xander said. “Perhaps it would be worse.”

“Right,” sighed Twilight. “We’ll play coy and do a little investigating.”

The conversation was cut off again as the wagons stopped.

“I believe we are here,” said Xander, shutting the jar he had used and passing it over to Twilight. “Good luck.”

Twilight felt a little less depressed after talking to Gloomy, but now it was back. As Xander exited the back of the wagon, and Gloomy put the jar of detection goo in his saddlebag, Twilight put her gas mask on, making sure none of her mane showed. Gloomy slipped on his NLR armor, and Twilight flattened her wings as much as she could within her leather armor.

The Holder gate guards would want to see all of them before letting them in, so the two exited the wagon and headed towards the front. Twilight looked around, though she couldn’t see most of the settlement.

There was a large wall in front, about thirty hoofsteps high. It was covered with thick steel sheeting from surrounding ruins, though the base was solid stone. It was much better made than Twilight would expect from a post-apocalyptic settlement, but then again the rock farm probably had no shortage of stone workers. In front was a large gate, big enough for one wagon at a time. The gate could roll upwards to open, but was currently closed.

The sky above was clearer than Canterlot had been. The result was that the ground was about the same temperature even though they didn’t get as much sunlight here. Twilight could imagine how cold it got further south. Much of the world was likely uninhabitable now.

One thing that drew Twilight’s eye was a poster plastered on one side of the door. It was an advertisement that read in big letters at the top ‘The Plots Up Brothel: Anyone you want!’. Covering the rest of the poster were images of various ponies, including ‘historical’ figures that Twilight recognized like Pinkie and Daybreaker.

At the bottom it read:

Offering real life sensual encounters with anyone your heart desires! Including historical figures long gone, or just that guy that won’t go out with you. No matter what the request, thanks to a revolutionary shifting potion by our resident mage Olivia, you can now experience a truly eye-opening experience you won’t soon forget!’

Well that was… interesting. Twilight assumed that was the potion they’d give her to hide what she looked like later, and she wondered if they’d part with the recipe. A potion they could use regularly long-term without causing unpleasant side effects seemed unlikely, but then again they’d had plenty of time to figure it out by now.

As Twilight looked about, a male griffon wearing black-trimmed Stable 11 security barding landed at the gate to meet them. The barding was much the same as Stable 27 barding save for the different number. He wore a pipbuck with an attached electronic pad and carried what looked like a crystal-powered energy pistol. While it didn’t look powerful, it didn’t look old or cobbled together either, so perhaps the gem mines allowed them to manufacture new ones.

He tensed fearfully as his eyes met Gloomy’s, then sighed annoyedly when he saw Xander.

“Didn’t expect you,” said the griffon, but didn’t turn Xander away outright, instead glancing at the others. “You made friends?”

“Greetings, Ginger,” said Xander. “And yes. I also acquired extra supplies: Provisions, weapons, medicine, chems, three raider prisoners, and rescued slaves. The supplies are a gift to the city from my new friends.”

Xander motioned to the Pies though Ginger’s eyes stayed focused on Gloomy.

“This bat has injuries that may be infected,” Xander explained. “I intend to bring him to the hospital.”

“Right,” said Ginger. “I’m not about to risk causing the death of one of Midnight’s favored, but if you want to be allowed to stay, I suggest you don’t cause any grief.”

Ginger produced an electronic tablet, connected to his pipbuck with a cable, and passed it to Xander as if he’d know what to do. Xander took a metal quill on one side of the tablet and wrote, signing them in. The griffon didn’t pay much attention to the others, seeming to only want to finish. Perhaps he wasn’t putting much effort into his duty, or maybe he wanted to escape Gloomy lest the bat find a reason to report him to Midnight for some trivial misdeed.

When Xander finished, Ginger flew off with the tablet. He flew to the top of the wall, disappearing for a few minutes. Twilight wondered if he would notice the names Maud and Pinkie Pie in the list or if he was too preoccupied with Gloomy’s presence. Or maybe if they were famous, it wasn’t unheard of for ponies to name their foals after them. Either way, it was best they get inside before making a ruckus so Twilight could more easily keep attention off herself.

“He is surprised I saved a Midnight guard,” said Xander. “He knows my kind despise the Nightmare, so may suspect I am being coerced. He’ll probably talk to his superiors to warn them.”

“You hate us that much?” asked Gloomy and sighed.

“You show impressive character by resisting the Nightmare’s influence,” Xander said. “But can you blame others for judging you given the things you have no doubt done?”

Gloomy eyed Xander, and Twilight wondered how Xander would react to finding out that Gloomy worked for the Nightmare now rather than the ‘Nightmare Child’. That would be hard to explain.

Finally, the metal door opened with an unpleasant grinding noise. Twilight covered her ears from the screech of rusty metal gears.

On the inside, buildings lined the sides of the main road, much like Appleloosa in Twilight’s time. Except, of course, that everything was constructed from stone or brick. They were quality-built, looking as if they ranged in age from years to centuries old.

“Much less of a shantytown than most settlements,” commented Gloomy, as if he hadn’t been here before.

“Pinkie is offended that this surprises the fanged one! Pie family engineering could make toilet paper from rocks! Yes! Pinkie...may need such!” Pinkie peered around as she started to trot a bit awkwardly.

“Right, I guess it makes sense they’d be good with rocks,” Gloomy chuckled nervously.

There were homes, businesses, and market stalls with hoof-painted signs, though one stuck out unnervingly. The sign on the building said ‘Mortuary’, with a rather large sign next to the door that read ‘All corpses will be processed for meat and other resources, with waste cremated. Caps will be returned based on fair market prices, deducting for labor costs. The head may be buried (5 caps) or preserved (2 caps) instead of cremated.’ Through the window, she briefly spied a griffon butchering meat from a deceased pony, then quickly turned her head. She came to the realization that Stable 11 likely couldn’t provide enough food for the entire city, and cannibalism might be a thing in a world with so little means of food production. Suddenly the 200-year-old rations seemed a lot tastier.

Twilight was unnerved even more to see a guillotine on a platform next to the Mortuary...with a sobbing pony in it, though said pony was dressed in raider-like armor. A bored-looking dragon ghoul acting as executioner had just finished reading a list of charges, even though no ponies were watching, Twilight had to assume this was fairly routine here, making her shiver.

“Stop whining,” the dragon grumbled at the soon-to-be-executed. “If you were hungry, you should have begged in the market instead of attacking a food caravan.”

“Pinkie will pull the lever!” Pinkie shouted from behind Twilight, before rushing over to the guard acting as executioner.

Twilight was sure Pinkie was about to cause a scene, but to her shock, the guard seemed unfazed as he replied “Sure have a blast. Nice Pinkie cosplay by the way… fucking loon.”

Twilight winced as Pinkie eagerly pulled and the blade came down, but became utterly sick to her stomach on seeing Pinkie taunt the dying head by shaking her rear against its snout and saying “Holder rules, raiders drool!”, while the guard chuckled. Thankfully, Pinkie’s bladder prevented her from doing it for very long. The moment the guard began to gather the two pieces of pony to take to the mortuary, Twilight decided it best to catch up with the rest of the group and try and look at things further away.

Large rock fields visible behind the buildings on one side appeared to still be in operation. Twilight’s understanding of rock farming was that they used ‘earth pony magic’ to replenish the fields, so they’d never run out of rocks and gems if tended correctly.

“Does Midnight get gems from here?” Twilight asked curiously. “None of the bats we fought had energy weapons.”

“Yeah, they’re required to give her half of their yield,” Gloomy confirmed. “Most of the crystals go into explosives and increasing ballistic yield on conventional firearms, since laser weapons aren’t effective on many of Trinity's forces.”

“Stable 11 is on the opposite end of the road,” said Maud. “A lot has been added. There was only a barracks on the outside before, which used to be our family home.”

Twilight saw it at the other end of the main road, with the older-looking buildings closest to it. The one tallest and nearest to the stable entrance looked like an old barracks as Maud said. Twilight could barely see a large-print sign that read ‘Pie Sisters Museum’ on one side of it.

Near the center of the town between the gate and the stable was a large statue carved out of a single stone. It was of all four Pie sisters, posed heroically, an Equestrian flag waving on one side.

“Midnight lets them fly an Equestrian flag?” Twilight asked curiously.

“Yeah,” Gloomy said. “She’s not a stickler about that, probably as a ‘buck you’ to Trinity, since she claims to be the remnants of the Equestrian government. It’s surprising some of the things she lets her settlements do so long as they cooperate in her main conflict with Trinity.”

“She has to. Neither bats nor Twilicorns could run these farms like the Pie family can,” Maud said, a hint of pride in her voice.

On the side of the statue opposite the flag was a large bomb implanted half-way in the dirt. Twilight knew there was an unexploded balefire weapon here, but hadn’t expected them to have built a monument next to it. Perhaps they kept it here as a reminder of their good luck.

If it was like conventional magic explosives, the chemicals or spell would be too weak to ignite after so long with no maintenance. She hoped that was the way balefire worked, at least.

What Twilight noticed more was the residents. She’d expected them to be mostly earth ponies, and they were, but it also had a lot of diversity. There were unicorns, donkeys, griffons, diamond dogs, though she saw no bat ponies or pegasi. There were also some species that Twilight had never seen. There were even anthropomorphic fish, despite how far they were from the ocean, but she supposed that was irradiated anyway.

Speaking of irradiated, there were a few ghouls as well, including the dragon she saw before. Twilight was glad to see the docile ones weren't treated like monsters everywhere. It seemed likely that many of these were descendents of refugees arriving later, which was likely why they didn’t have room for them all in the stable.

Only a few had pipbucks, guards and the more important looking citizens. They either weren’t able to build new ones as Stable 27 did, or kept them limited for security. Twilight imagined the Canterlot stable would have been the best equipped. She wondered if Stable 11 had been another control stable or if there was some horrible experiment they survived.

There was a crowd of creatures near the Statue of Pie though, and soon Twilight realized all was not well. Several guards had their guns trained on an earth pony who was pointing a gun at another earth pony with their hooves raised.

Twilight knew she shouldn’t draw attention to herself, but she would not stand there and watch a pony get shot either. She rushed towards the mess ahead of her friends.
POV: Kyo Pie
Holder

Not this again.

First, Dyo was nowhere to be found when she awoke this morning. Then just as she was about to relax in a warm bath with a giant antique dildo, her pipbuck buzzed with a message from the guard out front.

“Rock Sovereign Kyo,” Ginger said. She hated that title. She’d hated it ever since her father died and passed it to her. “One of Midnight’s flunkies is at the gate needing medical attention. Xander wants to help take him to the hospital. Should we let him in?”

It was odd for Xander to help a bat, and she wondered if he’d really go that far to get back in the gate, but there was another, bigger problem: All the doctors would be terrified to be the one that worked on him because they all knew if he died under their care, Midnight would want their heads. But if none of the morons would help him and he died, Midnight might execute them all. Kyo had to make sure things stayed sane.

“Not like we have a choice,” sighed Kyo. “I’m on my way.” She tossed her favored toy aside and headed out of the bath.

Walking out of the Plots Up Brothel while soaking wet got her more than a few looks. Kyo was a hit even before her sudden elevation to leader. Perhaps it was because the unicorn’s color scheme was very much like a certain Minister of Morale, Rarity, before the punk makeover she got just before the Breaking.

Though her green eyes, cropped fluffy tail, and short parted mane set her apart. She also had the cutie mark of a pen drawing a cat face to set her apart. It wasn’t the cutie mark one would expect on a brothel madam or the leader of the city, or maybe it was just a pussy pun, she wasn't even sure herself. It didn't matter; in today’s world there weren’t enough ponies for everyone to do what they wanted, and art didn’t make nearly the money.

As if her day wasn’t already ruined, she couldn’t get to the gate due to a crowd gathered in the marketplace next to the Statue of Pie. Several of the city guard had their guns trained on one of the local earth pony merchants, Cola, who himself had a gun trained on his brother Bottle Cap.

What was this? Those brothers couldn’t have been closer!

“Don’t move, changeling!” Cola snarled between teeth that held the trigger of his pistol. “What have you done with the real Bottle Cap? Where’s my brother?”

“I swear, I’m not a changeling!” Bottle Cap begged, standing on his haunches with front hooves in the air. “Don’t shoot! For Pie’s sake, we’re family!”

Damn it, not these horse apples again. She knew Cola was paranoid about changelings, but he’d never gone to Xander levels with his paranoia. All the same, she looked at her pipbuck to make sure none of the spa workers had wandered into town and impersonated someone. She forbade them from impersonating citizens, but sometimes they got hungry for social contact outside of their normal work.

They hadn’t, thank Pie.

“Put the gun down, now, Cola,” Kyo said.

“He’s a changeling!” Bottle Cap shouted at her. “He’ll kill us all!”

“There are no changelings in Holder, hear me?” Kyo shouted to both Cola and the crowd. “Just you folks and your damn paranoia! We scan every creature that enters or leaves!”

Just when Kyo feared the guard might end up shooting him though, another pony rushed in. A swift kick to his chin sent his pistol flying up into the air, and a second on top of his head sent him straight down into the pavement, face-planting hard. A moment later, the pony caught the gun in her muzzle before it hit the ground. She tossed it aside.

“I just got home, and I am peeved already,” mono-toned the pony. “I will not have ponies killing each other on my front lawn.”

“Cola!” Bottle Cap rushed to his brother to make sure he was okay. “He pulled a gun on me… my own brother.”

Cola didn’t look seriously injured, which was surprising given how strong the intervening pony looked. She must have held back.

Xander leaned down next to Cola, apparently already this far into town. She didn’t want to make a scene, but would also need to ask him to leave again as soon as she could more discreetly. While Kyo was sure he meant well, he was a complication she didn’t need here right now.

If Cola kept this up, he might end up banished just like Xander. She was about to tactfully remind Xander that he wasn’t welcome for long, when he pulled a strange jar full of green goo out and started smudging it on Cola’s face. What in the…

Kyo wasn’t sure what that was, but immediately advised the others to retreat to the brothel if they were currently outside of it. She’d have to try to get some of that goo for study.

She put him out of her mind and looked at the pony who saved the day. It was a boring colored earth pony in a rock soldier uniform from the early war. Where had she seen this pony? Kyo looked at the Statue of Pie, then back to the pony, then back and forth several more times. No way!

Kyo had never seen such an accurate cosplay of Maud Pie!

“This statue is carved from the sacred boulder of our ancestors!” a Pinkie cosplayer looked up at the statue as she trotted to stand next to Maud, then awkwardly seemed to dance in place. “Our Sister Superior will have the freak-out of doom upon witnessing this! There will be no survivors! Yes.”

That one might have been even better. She’d heard Pinkie’s odd accent from videos in the archive, but it had to be hard to duplicate, not to mention the awkward potty dance. What a thing to be known for, though.

“Not more changelings,” whimpered Cola, afraid to stand.

“Calm yourself,” Xander told Cola. “Your brother is not a changeling. I checked, and neither are these.”

“Nice costumes,” Kyo said. “Whoever you are, you saved the day, so you can have one on the house at the PUB.”

“Pinkie is not safe when drunk,” Pinkie said. “She becomes the destroyer of worlds! Yes.”

“I do not favor pubs either,” said Maud. “They often put ice in my drink when I ask for it on the rocks.”

“The pubs in Holder will give you proper drinks,” Kyo said. “But I actually meant the Plots Up Brothel. It’s the best brothel spa in the wastelands!”

It was odd if they didn’t come for the brothel. That was usually why ponies visited from neighboring settlements, and the whole reason she made the offer, hoping they’d run to partake and forget the commotion. Kyo had figured they were cosplaying because they wanted a spa worker to portray another war figure during play.

“Is it the only brothel in the wastelands?” asked Maud.

“Pardon?” Kyo asked, somewhat taken off guard by the strange question. “Of course not, but we offer services no others can, and I can guarantee that unlike some settlements, our workers are consenting, well cared for, and love their job, making them all the more enthusias...”

“Please cease your advertisement,” Xander cut her off. “These are no costumes.”

Xander moved a hoof to the back of Maud’s neck, pulling up her mane to show the gem embedded there. A deathly silence fell over the crowd and a chill ran through Kyo.

“They are genuine soul crystals,” said Xander. “It is known no changeling can duplicate one. I believe these are none other than your legendary heroes.”

Could it be? The Pies left over 200 years ago. Most believed they died in Canterlot’s destruction, though the more loony in Holder believed they ascended somehow. Why had they taken so long? And why did their uniforms look relatively new?

“They will now follow our every whim!” Pinkie blurted out. “Pinkie demands…your finest toilet and a bath. Her body is as filthy as her mind! Yes.”

“Calm down Pink,” said Maud. “You will scare the sane ones.”

It definitely sounded like what Kyo had heard of them, and she took a moment to choose her next words. She didn’t see them as the goddesses that many citizens here did, only getting into it for the sake of her obsessed daughter Custard. All the same, she didn’t want to say the wrong thing. Especially to Maud, who would be her however-great grandmother.

“What delayed you so long?” Kyo asked. “We thought you were dead.”

“They have ascended to immortality!” somepony in the crowd shrieked before they could answer, as if they hadn't just been shown the soul gems. “Praise to the Pies!”

“Oh no, please tell me they don’t,” sighed Kyo.

They did. The more devout of the crowd chanted ‘Praise to the Pies’ on repeat.

“This is good news,” said Maud to Pinkie. “There are fewer sane ones for you to frighten than I feared.”

“Pinkie feels awkward,” said Pinkie, crossing her rear legs. “She hopes they will not do this during her bathroom activities.”

“I do not know about that,” said Maud. “I wonder how they would react to our showers.”

“That is for sisters only!” Pinkie said as if the idea angered her. “Yes.”

“I’m sorry,” Kyo said, noting their obvious discomfort. “I can get you a private room where you can bathe and rest, but first I have to deal with… oh. You two have to hide! One of Midnight’s soldiers is here, and if he sees you…”

“I’m with them, actually,” another voice said. “Call me Gloomy. This beside me is Clover. They uh, saved us from slavers.”

Kyo hadn’t even seen him with all her focus on the Pies. Behind them was a bat in NLR armor, standing in the shadow of a building as if trying to not stand out. Next to him stood a mare in leather armor and a gas mask. She had a broken horn that looked relatively recent, poor thing, but Kyo had no time to console her.

“With them?” Kyo asked, playing off her words the best she could. “Ah, um, I was not aware that we were in the presence of a chosen, and was only concerned that you might be offended. I should help you to the hospital if you have wounds to tend to.”

Gloomy rolled his eyes when she called him chosen. That was odd; Midnight had demanded Kyo call the NLR soldiers such, so he should be okay with it.

“I should see a doctor eventually, but it’s not life-threatening,” said Gloomy. “I’d rather stick with the Pies, especially if they’re bathing.”

“Hm?” Clover tilted her head.

“I mean because I want a bath too!” clarified Gloomy, blushing. “Not because I want to bathe with them…”

“It’s okay, Gloomy,” Clover assured him.

He seemed nice for a Midnight guard, and oddly open-minded as his tone indicated he might be crushing on the maimed unicorn. All the same, Kyo wanted to avoid any of Midnight’s goons being inside the spa-brothel if possible, or in the city itself longer than needed.

“Is it okay if I ask why you are here?” Kyo asked Gloomy, keeping her voice even and a smile on her face.

“Peaceful reasons,” said Gloomy. “I only want treatment and to join your talk with them. I swear on Her Divine Shadow’s honor.”

He wouldn’t dare break that vow, but one had to be careful with the wording, especially if not coming directly from Midnight. Kyo ran what he said and the context through her head a few times for obvious loopholes, then nodded and turned to lead them away from the chanting crowd. Now that they realized a bat was here, a few dared to chant ‘smite the evil one’, something they’d never dare if Midnight herself was here. It was best they leave now to avoid any more problems.

“Very well,” Kyo said. “I’m Kyo Pie, current rock sovereign. Are your other sisters coming? If so, I should have them met at the gate so they aren’t accosted by admirers.”

Kyo jumped as Maud and Pinkie came closer to either side of her and each wrapped her in a hug as soon as she said her name. It was touching that they were happy to see distant family, though also frightening as their legendary strength could crush her into a pulp if they became too affectionate.

“Pinkie is done with pleasantries! Show her to the restroom or face the flood of doom!” Pinkie shouted far too loud as she hopped from leg to leg once again.

Kyo gestured to a guard, who led her as she continued to shout about her needs, a portion of the crowd trying to follow before the guard shooed them off, and Kyo was glad they’d stuck to using the less devout as guards. Kyo breathed a sigh of relief and hoped that future interactions were less awkward.

“Marble is in the wagon and needs to be put to rest,” Maud said. “Limestone was sold to Tenwhinney by slavers and requires rescue.”

So not all the Pie sisters survived, and Kyo assumed Limestone survived as a ghoul, as Tenwhinney only bought ghouls. That also meant she would be slated for an arena match.

“What?” Kyo asked. “Oh my… we can bury Marble in a place of honor. Do you know how long Limestone has before an arena match?”

“We will bury her when Limestone is here to see her put to rest,” said Maud, then looked at Clover.

“Starlight said there’s at least two weeks before Limestone goes to an arena match,” Clover said. “But was not entirely sure that she heard it correctly.”

“Minister Starlight Glimmer?” asked Kyo. “You have contact with her?” She added in a whisper so only they would hear. “Trinity?”

She was certain that the Trinity was what was left of Starlight, so this was strange. She hadn’t let too many know what she knew. It’d invite questions, but she had to find out if Trinity had deceived them somehow.

“It’s… more complicated,” whispered Clover, seeming to understand the desire for secrecy on the matter. “Starlight ripped out her soul crystal before transforming, this Starlight came from that soul gem. I suppose we should keep our Starlight on the down-low. Some ponies may not understand that.”

“So, a copy from before she went mad, interesting,” Kyo whispered. She still wondered how in Equestria they got a hold of Starlight’s soul crystal, but went with it for now. “That explains why she was also listed as having died at Canterlot. Few know they’re the same, and I’d rather you not spread it around. Either way, this gives us time to make a plan for Limestone. I’ll check with my contacts and try to verify the time table.”

“If few know, how did you find out?” asked Maud.

Kyo pretended not to catch that. There were certain things she wouldn’t tell even the Pie sisters yet, lest she put them at risk, and certainly didn’t want to continue the discussion in public. Maud narrowed her eyes but didn’t ask a second time.

“Starlight would have been next in line,” said Kyo. “Does that mean she’s princess?”

“Well she calls herself Empress now, but yes,” Clover said. “Minister Crimson Prose is also with us but not here, as well as your brother and a few others from Stable 27 in Canterlot.”

“Either they will arrive sometime tonight or tomorrow,” said Maud. “Or they will be dead. Since they went to have diplomacy with Midnight Sparkle.”

“Oh dear,” Kyo rubbed her forehead with a hoof. This could end badly, though perhaps not since she’d heard on the news that Stable 27 was spared. “Dyo is okay for now at least. Thank you, since I’m sure you saved him from himself somehow.” She sighed. “Since it’s late, I think I’ll get you to a private room where you can bathe and sleep without being pestered by followers. Hopefully the others will arrive by tomorrow and we can start a plan.”

“Thank you,” nodded Clover, though her voice became somewhat unsure. “One more thing. We’re looking for a pegasus named Tranquil Melody that might have come this way. She’s from Stable 27 too, Crimson’s wife.”

“Tranquil Melody?” asked Kyo. “Oh right, her and her twin Peaceful Melody arrived the other day. I’ll try to track them down.”

“Twin sister?” asked Clover, tilting her head.

“Yes, they were traveling together,” confirmed Kyo.

“That’s... interesting.” mused Clover.

Was Clover really an escaped slave? She seemed knowledgeable and both Gloomy and Maud watched her respectfully while she spoke. If she didn’t know better, Kyo would have assumed that she was the leader of the group.

This feeling intensified when Clover stepped closer, motioning for Gloomy to come beside her. She glanced around as if to be sure she could whisper without being overheard, and Maud moved to their side to make it easier to do so.

“I don’t mean to alarm you,” whispered Clover. “But Peaceful Melody is a changeling.”

“I’m fairly certain she isn’t,” Kyo smiled. “We scan all visitors, as is required by her Divine Shadow, to be sure they are not changelings.” Except for the exceptions built into the system, but she didn’t go into that. “What makes you think she’s been replaced?”

“Because there is no such pony as Peaceful Melody,” whispered Clover. “Tranquil doesn’t have a twin, but we suspect that she may have encountered a changeling as they were escaping from Midnight Castle on their way here.”

Kyo blinked. But their detection system should detect any changelings that Olivia hadn’t specifically altered to be undetectable. Had Trinity figured out a way around the detection system too? This could be a problem, but it wasn’t time to panic. If Trinity sent a spy, it wouldn’t just blow the whole place up. She’d be wanting to figure out how they had hidden their own changelings from conventional detection, and wouldn’t likely strike until they knew. That gave them time to investigate, so she had to stay calm.

“I’ll acquire the two of them,” promised Kyo, smiling wider to hide how ill at ease this made her, but worried how unconvincing it might be. “I’ll be discreet about it, and peaceful if at all possible, so they can be properly questioned. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Perhaps you can give our guard more details as you bathe, if you don’t mind? We shouldn’t talk more than necessary out here.”

“Of course,” Clover nodded.

“Foofles?” Kyo motioned to the nearest guard as she raised her voice again, a diamond dog. “Please show them to the General’s quarters at the old barracks, and take a report of everything they tell you… and make sure to gather Pinkie before she breaks anything else.” She made the assumption she had already broken something.

Foofles nodded and turned to their guests, motioning with a paw. It was best to have him help them since a dog wouldn’t fawn over them as much as a pony would, and he was aware of certain things that would give the report perspective.

“This way, ponies,” Foofles said. “Foofles will show you to a quiet room where no crazies will bother.”

As they walked off with Foofles, Kyo looked to see Xander still kneeling with Cola. It was unlikely either heard the conversation due to their distance from her, but she hoped neither caught wind.

“Since you’re with them, Xander,” said Kyo, walking closer so he could hear. “You may stop by the PUB if you wish, but I expect no strange accusations.”

“I have no time for leisure activity,” Xander’s answer was expected, but Kyo hoped the offer would deter any suspicion he might have toward the brothel. “Instead, I ask that I be allowed to use this concoction on those I suspected of being changelings before. Once I prove my accusations, I expect to be let back into the city.”

“Fine,” sighed Kyo, certain that he’d never accused a real one, or fairly certain after finding out about ‘Peaceful Melody’. He probably thought the workers at the shape-shift spa were too obvious to suspect. “I’ll have a guard escort you to do so if it will calm your fears, and I’ll even give you another chance here if you remain fully cooperative and stick to non-disruptive methods.”

“That is more than agreeable,” smiled Xander, a slight sneer as if he thought he was about to say something clever. “However, given your previous reluctance, I would like you to be one that I test it on.”

“Certainly,” said Kyo. “It wouldn’t be right for me to order citizens to take your test without taking it myself.” More importantly, he’d be giving her a sample, which she could then take back and confirm if it worked on her own. He seemed confident that it did, but knowing him the confidence could be based on nothing more than his own ego.

At the very least, he seemed disappointed in her lack of reluctance. She wondered sometimes if he really cared, or if he just wanted to uncover a high-profile changeling so that he could become a hero. Most other solitary zebras stuck to medical or charity work, and as far as Kyo was concerned, that was all the hero one really needed to be in this world.

‘I’m returning to the PUB shortly,’ Kyo spoke mentally over her hive link. ‘There is a bat in town and he may come over tonight or tomorrow. He swore on his master’s name that he is only in town to rest and talk, so be ready to evacuate, but don’t panic.’

The hive-mind felt wary, but it was better if they heard it from her than from the first changeling that saw Gloomy. Without context, they’d be more likely to panic, and managing a panicked hive was like herding anger bunnies.

‘Midnight gave the bat permission to visit our brothel?’ Kyo’s assistant Olivia asked, her confusion plain over the hive link. 'The hive is under the impression that Midnight wishes the chosen to create more bats rather than waste their seed in prostitutes.'

‘No questions on that yet,’ answered Kyo. ‘I’m just letting you all know not to panic if one of you sees him. I have other more important news that we’ll discuss when I get there.’

‘Of course,’ said Olivia.

‘We won’t disappoint you, my Queen!’ Daydream responded as well.

‘Calm down, Daydream,’ Kyo said. ‘And don’t call me Queen. You’re not in HER hive anymore.’

‘Right, sorry,’ Daydream blushed hard enough for her to feel the emotion over the link.

There was no reason for embarrassment; they all seemed to slip up like that. The fact that he was one of the oldest members and had still slipped showed how helplessly obedient they had to be under her rule. But for now, Kyo pushed the hive’s increased chatter to the back of her mind again. She had a lot to do today and more tomorrow.

In a way, Kyo appreciated Gloomy’s presence. It meant Midnight couldn’t accuse Holder of hiding the Pies should things go sour with their talks. Still, Kyo hoped the ‘diplomacy’ with Midnight didn’t end with Midnight coming here for the Pies too. She didn’t want to be the rock sovereign that gave them up.