Fallout Equestria: Wasteland Jewel

by Ruin Queen of Oblivion

Five years after the adventures of Littlepip, Stable 26 is opened and a Medical Pony named Ruby Starlight leaves on a mission for her Stable. She is thrust into one of the worst wars Equestria has seen in centuries. Can she come out of this alive and with her morals intact? Or will the Wasteland swallow her?

7. Storm

Hey there everypony, well, I've gotten pretty far into this fanfic so far, so lets get going with chapter 7.

I hope you all enjoy as we finish up our first Story Arc of Wasteland Jewel, because things are just going to get even more intense from here. I hope you all enjoy. This will, hopefully be really good.

Disclaimer: I don't own My Little Pony, Fallout, or Fallout: Equestria.

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CHAPTER 7:

STORM

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He wanted us to take out the Crimson Empire's main base of operation in the Northern Fields? I wasn't sure if I was up for another battle or infiltration mission, and I was about to say so when Midnight spoke up.

"The soldiers aren't ready for another battle today," Midnight said. "We'll defend the captured camp, but a full on offensive is out of the question."

Goldmane didn't look too happy about that, but he begrudgingly agreed as he trudged off. I breathed a sigh of relief, I was glad that Midnight was able to talk him down so easily, but I didn't like what this might mean for tomorrow.

Midnight came up to me and Bluesky as we where assigned to one of the captured tents, there where more tents being set up around the camp in preparation for the night.

"I wanted to thank you both for your help," Midnight said. "No one's asking either of you to help with the attack on the Imperial base tomorrow, but we could use everypone we can get."

I had to think long and hard on that one, if I agreed to participate, then I would be putting myself in a position where I could possibly hurt other Ponies again. But on the other hoof, if I didn't then I wouldn't be in a position to help if I could.

I looked at Bluesky who was checking the guns on her battle saddle. "I'm always up for a good fight, but if Ruby doesn't want to go, I'm out too."

Wow, I didn't think a Pony like Bluesky would be so willing to stay out of a fight just because I didn't want to fight. The thing was, even though I was far from a soldier, I wanted to do everything I could to keep the Wasteland safe.

This was a difficult decision to make, but I knew that I only could make one choice in order to do the right thing.

"I'm in, but I want to do medical work like I did earlier," I answered, Bluesky nodded in agreement.

"Good, we'll be glad to have you both," Midnight said and trotted off.

I watched her go, I still had to wonder if there was something else she was hiding from us. There was something, strange about that Mare, even if she was nice and helpful, it was like she kept something from everypony else.

"Is she always like this?" I asked Bluesky.

"Sometimes," Bluesky said with a shrug. "Midnight is nice, but she's still a soldier so she has a job to do. She's a good commander, probably one of the better ones in the NCR, but this is a war, so she has to do her duty as well as help Ponies."

I nodded and opened a metal box that had been left behind by the previous inhabitant of the tent. There was a few random items, but it also held a piece of paper and a memory orb.

"Hey, what's that?" Bluesky asked as she picked up the note and straightened it out as we looked it over.

Cold Star,

Keep this close, but don't access it yourself. Our contact in New Pegasus is going to pay us a lot of caps for this Memory Orb, but insisted that nopony access it before him. Once the battle with the NCR is over, take this to the Crystal Palace Casino in New Pegasus for our payment.

Veris.

"Huh, somepony in New Pegasus wanted this?" Bluesky asked as she looked at the Memory Orb. "I wonder what could be on this thing."

"Well, it, might be worth checking out," I said. "Do you think I have time?"

"You should, I think they'll be serving dinner in a bit, but you should have time," Bluesky answered with a nod. "I'll keep an eye out for you."

"Thanks," I said and tapped into the Memory Orb with my magic, my vision went black as I started reliving the memories of a Pony.

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I tried to get a feel of where I was, it took me a moment to realize that I was staring at a terminal screen that was listing information on a Pony.

Name: Octavia Philharmonic
Hometown: Ponyville
Gender: Mare
Tribe: Earth Pony
Marital Status: Married

"Doctor Jasmine," a mare's voice said, my host turned to see Scootaloo walking into the room. "What's your status?"

"We've gotten most of the medical data, ma'am," my host said. "And the materials are coming in tomorrow, we're just waiting on the information from the list for stables 29 and 112."

That made me pause a little, why was Stable-tec looking into getting medical information and genetic material on Stable dewellers? Come to think of it, why would anypony want access to this Memory Orb? It was just a conversation between two Ponies, and honestly it didn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

"Good," Scootaloo said with a nod.

"We're going to need a bigger facility though at this rate," my host continued and gestured to a map. "Maybe the Stable-tec offices in Neigh Orleans."

Now I realized what I was looking at, I was looking at a map of Stable-tec facilities in and around Neigh Orleans. I could see one right where Stable 26 was, there was also lables in the mountains, Stable 20, and several others scattered throughout the area. My host pointed a hoof at one that was marked as the main Stable-tec facility.

"Well, I'll have to talk with Apple Bloom, but I don't think that will be a problem," Scootaloo said.

"Good, if we're going to make these Stables work, we're going to need this database," my host said with a nod.

"Good, this project is going to be important for the future of Equestria, so keep up the good work," Scootaloo said and headed back out the door.

My host turned back around, but my vision turned dark once again, the memory was over.

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I woke up with a start as my vision returned to normal, for a moment I still questioned the interest in the memory orb, the only thing that might be of interest is whatever was put into the Neigh Orleans Stable-tec building.

I looked outside, only to realize that it was raining again, the eerily beautiful Firerain fell even harder than it had before. I looked over and saw Bluesky was eating a meal with some supplies lying next to her, probably meant for me to eat.

"Glad you're finally awake," the blue Pegasus said with a smile. "Come on, join me for dinner."

I realized how hungry I actually was. I walked over to Bluesky and started eating the supplies she had set out for me.

"Thanks," I said with a smile," I said with a nod.

"No problem Doc," Bluesky said with a smile.

I tapped my Pipbuck and the sound of music from the radio started playing again. I sighed and listened to the music as I kept eating. After a few minutes, the voice of Melody echoed over the radio again.

"Hey there Fillies and Gentlecolts out there in Pony Post-Apocalytpia," the mare's voice sounded. "Well, I've got some good news from the Northern Fields, it seems that the NCR has managed to push back the Imperial Interlopers that tried to take their base. That's right my little ponies, the standoff between the NCR and the Crimson Empire in the Northern Fields has been broken. On top of that, I've got it on good faith that the Jewel of the Wasteland herself was involved in the taking of the command camp for the Empire. Well done Jewel, well done to you and all our brave mares and stallions on the front lines."

Bluesky looked at me with a grin while I blushed, I really wished that Melody would stop singing my praises so much already. But at least she mentioned the NCR troops and their actions this time.

"In other news from around the Wasteland," Melody continued. "Troops carrying the banner of the new Redeye have been seen moving south. While they haven't encoutnered the NCR yet, its unknown exactly what their intentions are."

Bluesky was concerned by that comment, the usual cheery Pegasus was definitely shaken by that announcement. I turned off the radio again so we could talk, I wanted to learn more about this.

"If the new Redeye's forces are moving this far south, that could be a problem," Bluesky commented. "Usually they're too busy dealing with things up north, its practically unheard of for anypony working for him for him to come south."

"Defecters from his army maybe?" I suggested.

"I don't know, but I don't like it," Bluesky said with a shrug. "His forces are always trouble, I've had some run-ins with them up north."

"Have you ever met Melody?" I asked Bluesky out of curiosity, I wanted to know more about this mare that we listened to on the radio.

"Well, no, but nopony has really," Bluesky said. "She's based out of Neigh Orleans, that much we do know, but I don't know anypony who's ever met her."

That was odd, was it possible that Melody had something to hide, so she didn't want to be publically known? That was, kind of odd honestly, why would she want to keep her identity a secret?

"Why do you ask?" Bluesky asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"curiosity mostly," I said with a shrug. "Maybe someday we could head that way, maybe she could help us out or something. I want to know more about what's going on around here, and she might be a good way to start."

"Ah, I see," Bluesky said with a shrug. "Well, maybe once things calm down here, we can go there next."

"That sounds like a plan," I said with a smile. "Lets hope things calm down soon."

"Well hey, if we can take out the Empire tomorrow around here tomorrow, we'll be just fine," Bluesky said and gave me a hug. "Bluesky and Doc, it'll be fun."

I blushed a little at the close contact with the Pegasus mare. I wished I could tell her how I felt. I was about to say something as suddenly Midnight came in, interrupting me before I could say anything.

"Ruby, Bluesky, come with me," she said.

I exchanged glances with Bluesky, why where we suddenly being called away? We both got to our hooves and followed Midnight. I could only hope that whatever she had in mind for us this time wasn't too bad.

I was to be dissapointed.

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Midnight took us to the main tent, the firerain having stopped by now. Midnight didn't say anything as we walked, going past soldiers who where getting the camp set up for the night. At least I assumed it was night, Celestia's sun was still covered by the clouds that covered the sky.

"What do you think she wants that she couldn't talk about in the tent?" I whispered to Bluesky.

"I don't know," Bluesky admitted. "But I'll bet it has something to do with the battle tomorrow."

"Yeah, probably," I said with a nod, though I wasn't sure exactly how I could help with that. Bluesky I could understand, she was a soldier after all and she had a lot more experience in the wasteland than I did. "But I'm not sure why she wants me then."

"Hey, don't sell yourself short, you're one of the best ponies I've ever met," Bluesky said and ruffled my mane with her hoof as we kept walking.

"Are you two lovebirds going to keep talking back there, or come inside?" Midnight asked, we had reached the entrance to another tent.

"We're not..." I started to say, my face turning redder again, this just got a giggle out of Bluesky. "Oh forget it."

Midnight just laughed as we entered the tent past two guards, Cinnamon Apple was waiting inside along with another member of the Applejack's Rangers. They where standing around a table that had been set up in the middle of the tent.

"Are we all here?" Midnight asked, Cinnamon Apple nodded. "Good, we should be secure here."

"Okay, so why are we here?" I asked as Midnight levitated a map out of her saddle bag and laid it out on the table. It seemed to be depicting a complex, or maybe even a small town. "Is this the main Imperial base?"

"Yeah, its in the ruins of a town called Alpony," Midnight said with a nod. "Its about a mile from here, on the southern end of the fields. Its where Goldmane wants us to attack tomorrow."

"Tha problem is that there is a lot of potential for colatteral damage," Cinnamon Apple said.

"Which is why we're going into the base tomorrow morning," Midnight said. "We're going to need to try and get as many of the non-combatant slaves out of the base in order to keep them safe."

I was starting to understand a bit exactly why she had asked us here. I cared enough about ponies that I would try and keep as many of them alive as I could, so the two of us made sense I guess.

"I don't know, they don't look like they can do this," the other Ranger said. "The Pegasus maybe, but this one doesn't exactly look like she's up for a fight."

"Ruby doesn't kill, Viola," Midnight said, directing the comment at the armored pony who I guess was named Viola. "She's a medical Pony, she'll be coming along for medical support."

Viola looked like she was about to say something when Cinnamon stopped her. "She's comin' with us, Ah wouldn't argue with tha Colonel."

"Yes Knight Cinnamon," Viola said.

"Then you all better get your rest tonight, tomorrow, we attack," Midnight said. I nodded and left the tent with Bluesky.

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"So, you never told me what was on that Memory Orb," Bluesky said as we settled into the tent. "Or for that matter why somepony would want it."

"I'm not sure why somepony would want it honestly," I admitted. "It was about medical files being sent to the Stable-tec main facility in Neigh Orleans. Not, actually sure why it was even recorded."

"Well, the Ministry of Peace did some screwed up things during the war," Bluesky said with a sigh. "Some ponies, even civilians, had issues so their minds where... changed, memories removed by Unicorns working for the MoP."

The Ministry of Peace? That was the Ministry that was run by Fluttershy during the war, something about that felt weird, why would she do that to Ponies? The world outside the Stable was certainly different, and I got the feeling that I had a lot to learn.

"Bluesky, can I ask you, kind of a weird question?" I asked.

"Doc, no question you could ask me would be weird," Bluesky said with a yawn.

"Are you, you know..." I started to say, but paused, I wasn't sure how to finish that sentence without giving away how I feel about her, but I managed to squeak out, "Into Mares?"

"Umm... maybe a little..." Bluesky said. "Oh hey look at the time, we've got an early morning tomorrow, good night!"

She didn't say another word, I guess she fell asleep, wow she really does fall asleep fast. I looked over at her, she had her back turned away from me and my eyes ran over her shapely flank, imagining what I could do if...

Goddesses, was I really thinking that? Yes, she's beautiful, but this wasn't the right time to think about this kind of thing. Besides, she didn't say yes, that could mean that she was into stallions after all, but she did dodge the question, so, I wasn't even sure.

I fell asleep not long afterwards and pulled the blanket over me.

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My dreams where filled with images of the wasteland as I soared over them. For a moment, I thought Bluesky was carrying me, but I looked to the right to see my Pegasus friend flying.

"Don't worry Doc, you've gotten the hang of it," she said with a smile. I looked back and realized I was flying under my own power with two wings grown out of my back.

"How am I flying?" I called to Bluesky.

"Don't you remember?" Bluesky said with a giggle. "You..."

I was suddenly woken up by Bluesky shaking me awake.

"Come on Doc, its time to get up," she said. "Midnight wants us both ready to go in 30 minutes."

"Okay, okay, I'm up!" I said and got to my hooves as I shook my head as I slipped on my Pipbuck and checked the time. "0630? Who gets up this early?"

"You're in a war Doc, you'll have to get used to getting up early," Bluesky said as I ran a brush through my mane and tail. "Besides, we're going to have to get there before the NCR does, so we'll have to get going soon."

"I guess that makes sense," I said with a shrug as I checked and cleaned my guns, making sure that the non-lethals where loaded as I put my pistol back in its holster. "Look, about last night..."

"Don't worry about it," Bluesky said as she preened her wings. "I'm just, not very comfortable talking about that, you understand, right?"

Wow, that was kind of ironic, the Pegasus who enjoyed teasing me about being attracted to her wasn't comfortable talking about it herself. I was tempted to tell her how I felt right then and there, but the words where caught in my throat.

I sighed and finished getting ready, soon enough we where out at the entrance to the camp with Midnight, Cinnamon, and Viola.

"Are we all ready?" Midnight asked.

"I'm ready," I said, and the others nodded and we trotted out of the camp and into the wasteland.

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There wasn't any sign of other ponies as we walked along, it was quiet, eerily quiet. Last time we had made a trip like this, the sounds of battle and bloodshed had echoed across the fields. This time it was quiet, and somehow that felt even creepier than anything else I had experienced before.

I put in one of my earbuds and started listening to the music Melody broadcast. I sighed, trying not to think about the coming mission. My compass was pointing me almost completely south as we kept walking.

Eventually Melody started talking again over the radio, "I've got a new report in from my old friend Voice up in Crystal City. It seems the Cybermare herself has been made the Mayor of Crystal City. For those of you who aren't familiar with her, she's the one that was involved in dealing with the Enclave Remnant a couple of years ago. Kudos to you Cybermare."

Who the heck is the Cybermare? I had to remember to file that away to learn about later, I was still new to the Wasteland, so its not like I knew everything. The Wasteland was strangely empty, there wasn't even corpses from the battle yesterday.

"Something on yer mind, Ruby?" Cinnamon asked as she came up next to me.

"Just thinking I guess," I said with a shrug. "How about you, that symbol means you're from New Pegasus, right? You're, kind of far from home."

"Ah came south with tha other Rangers," Cinnamon said. "Ah only joined last year, so Ah understand what yer goin' through."

"What's New Pegasus like anyway?" I asked.

"Ah didn't spend much time there," Cinnamon said. "Its not exactly tha most pleasant place in tha Wasteland."

"I see," I said, I was about to inquire more when Bluesky flew down, she had flown ahead to scout out the area we where heading towards.

"What's the situation?" Midnight asked as we kept walking and Bluesky joined us.

"It doesn't look good, they're holed in really good in Alpony," Bluesky said and shook her head. "It looks like they've gotten a couple hundred ponies holed up there."

"Great..." Midnight said and shook her head. "What about the slaves?"

"They're scattered through the town, I'm not sure how we're going to free them without taking on a virtual army," Bluesky said.

"Don't worry, we have a plan fer that," Cinnamon said and nodded to Viola who took out several explosives. "We'll provide a distraction, and at the same time we can take out some of their forces."

"Sounds good," Midnight said, I nodded in agreement, it was as good a plan as any, even if it would kill ponies, but it was the best plan we had. "Okay, lets get going then."

We continued walking until the walled town was finally within view. I gulped, this was going to be a difficult mission, but we had a job to do, no matter how hard it was. In the distance from the direction we came from, we could see the NCR army on approach..

It was time to end the battle for the Northern Fields once and for all.

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The two members of Applejack's Rangers circled around to the southern wall of the town while the three of us approached from the east. The three of us had switched to Imperial uniforms that Midnight had brought so we could blend in in the Imperial Camp. At the gate where two ponies dressed in the armor of the Scarlet Guard, that wasn't a good sign at all.

"Great, that might mean that Black Sun is here," Midnight whispered. "He's the only member of the Inner Circle this close."

Great, something else that was my fault because I had accidentally attracted the General to this part of Equestria. I suddenly felt even more guilty after that, but it was a moot point by now.

"How long until they blow the wall?" I asked.

"Any minute now," Midnight said as she levitated out a rifle with a scope on it as she examined the base.

I shufffled nervously, getting into the base wasn't exactly going to be easy, even with a distraction.

Before I could say anything though, there was a sound of an explosion that shook the ground. The guards at the gate turned towards the sound and all but two ran into the walled town.

Two quick shots from Midnight's rifle hit the Scarlet Guard soldiers in the head and they crumpled to the ground.

"Lets get going before they notice they're down," Midnight said and galloped forward towards the game with me and Bluesky close behind.

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There where more sounds of explosions and gunfire around us, but we where at least away from the fighting, for now.

"Geez, when Applejack's Rangers provides a distraction, they really go all out don't they?" Bluesky asked as we ducked into an alleyway to avoid a group of soldiers I had picked up on my EFS.

"Some of that gunfire is coming from the north," I pointed out. "I think the NCR has arrived."

"Figures," Midnight said as she swapped her sniper rifle for a pistol. "What's your EFS read, Ruby?"

I looked at the compass on my EFS and turned around in a circle to get an idea of where any ponies could be. There where a few red marks, but most of them where far enough away that we wouldn't have to worry about them, at least most of them. At the same time, there was a group of friendlies not too far away to the west.

"This way," I said and unholstered my pistol. "There's friendlies this way, they could be the slaves we're here to save."

"Right, lets get going," Midnight said as she trotted out and we followed close behind.

There where several soldiers in the Crimson Empire that ran past us, but they never gave us a second look as they ran towards either north or south to fight against the invading NCR. The ground shook as explosions racked the city.

"They're really going all out in this attack aren't they?" Bluesky asked as we went down another street.

"Goldmane is in command right now," Midnight said with a growl. "He's going to use the NCR as an all out attack against the Imperial forces, without caring about collateral damage."

Great, we where not only in the middle of a warzone, we where in the middle of one where our own allies where just as likely to fire on us as anypony else. Could this possibly get any worse?

I just had to ask that, because as we turned down another street we went past a hole that had been dug into what looked like it had been the front lawn of a house years ago. A foul, unpleasant spell hit my nostrils, and when I looked over I saw something that will haunt me for the rest of my life.

The hole was filled with corpses, Ponies, Zebras, even a Griffon here and there... they where all killed and thrown into this, mass grave by the Empire. I couldn't hold it in, I threw up, Bluesky and Midnight where easily disturbed, but at least they kept their composition.

"Bluesky, help her up, we need to keep moving," Midnight said, the anger in her eyes was obvious.

"Come on Ruby," Bluesky said, the Pegasus mercenary helping me start walking again. "Its going to be okay."

"Why would they do that?" I asked, my voice hoarse.

"The Empire only cares for Ponies that can be of use to them," Midnight said with a growl, the hatred dripping from every word she spoke. "I, heard rumors that they where doing this to the slaves they didn't deem worthy..."

Goddesses, why would the Empire do this? I hated the war, but this was insane, it was like they where just butchering ponies for no reason.

"Ruby, are you okay?" Midnight asked, the other two Ponies where looking at me with a worried look on their faces.

"I'm sorry... I just, wasn't expecting that," I said as I looked at my hooves. "Maybe I should go back, I'm not going to be any good to anypony here."

"Ruby, its okay," Midnight said. "Nopony would blame you for reacting like that, you're going to be just fine, but its your choice whether or not you want to stay."

I paused, I had to decide if I really wanted to stay or leave, if nothing else this just made me even angrier at the Crimson Empire. There where Ponies in the town that needed help, and I was going to help them, even if it killed me.

"I'm staying," I said. "I'm going to save more Ponies from being killed by the Crimson Empire."

Midnight and Bluesky nodded with a smile. We started walking again towards the group of friendlies to the west.

This was going to be a long day.

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We finally reached our destination, an enclosed pen where there where ponies inside. Even with the base was under attack, there was still a group of 4 Ponies keeping the pens guarded.

"Figures," Bluesky said. "Of course it didn't get them all away, that would be way too easy wouldn't it?"

"Don't worry, I've got a plan," Midnight said. "I need the two of you to get in there, I'll take care of our exit."

"Yeah, but how do you..." I started to say and turned to see that Midnight had vanished. "How did she do that?"

"Hell if I know," Bluesky said with a shrug. "Come on, we've got a job to do."

We trotted forward, and I remembered that before Midnight had been able to sneak into a guarded Imperial camp without much problem. Did she have a StealthBuck maybe? No, that couldn't be it, she didn't wear a PipBuck.

I remembered the history books from before the war mentioned that Zebras could turn invisible, did Midnight have a similar ability? I didn't have long to dwell on it as we reached the pens, the soldiers glared at us as we approached.

"State your business," one of the guards said.

"We're, umm," I started to say, I had to come up with a lie quick.

"The doctor here is here to check the slaves," Bluesky spoke up quickly, good old Bluesky saving my flank again. "Orders from the General."

The lead guard looked me over, I tried not to look nervous and held my head hard, trying not to let him intimidate me.

"Fine" the leader said as he nodded to the other guards. "Make it quick, we don't need medical supplies wasted on slaves with the NCR on the warpath."

I didn't reply, I just walked forward as the pens where opened, trying not to make eye contact with the guards. I hoped that whatever Midnight had planned wouldn't take much longer, this felt weird.

I trotted up to the first slave, an Earth Pony mare with yellowish fur that recoiled as I got close to her.

"Please, don't hurt us..." She said.

"Calm down, I'm here to help you," I whispered to her, the slaves where shackled together, that wasn't a good sign. I looked at Bluesky and nodded to her while my horn started glowing and I started using my telekinesis to unlock the chains. "What's your name?"

"I-I'm Dew," Dew said nervously as I carefully unlocked the first set of shackles and moved onto the second. "Are you with the NCR?"

"I am," I said with a reassuring smile. "Are any of you badly injured?"

"No, we're okay, they, wanted to keep us intact, most of the time," another mare said, I frowned a little at that, it was obvious exactly what these Ponies where being used to.

"Hey, what are you doing?" The voice of the head guard demanded as I turned around to see him pointing a rifle at me.

Crap, I really should've seen that coming, I reached for my pistol when suddenly the guard's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he falls over with a knife sticking out of his neck. The other guards charged at us, but they where quickly cut down by Bluesky's battle saddle.

"You two can't just stay out of trouble can you?" Midnight's voice said from nowhere, then with a flurry of motion she threw off, some sort of cloak to reveal her standing there. "How often am I going to have to save your flanks?"

"How did you do that?" I asked as I went back to freeing the slaves. "And don't say its a tribal secret again."

"This isn't really the time to discuss that, I'll tell you later, Bluesky, cover us," Midnight said as she galloped to the far wall.

I had to work quickly, but lockpicking wasn't exactly my strong suit, I had to strain my telekinetic abilities to get them all done. There was another crack of Bluesky's battle saddle, great, just what I needed, even more pressure to get the job done.

"Thank you," one of the slaves, goddesses she couldn't be much older than 14, said as I freed her.

"It's going to be okay," I said with a smile as I unlocked the last of the locks. "We're going to get you all out of here."

"Get back!" Midnight shouted as she ran forward, it didn't take long for us all to get the message as we ran forward, after a few seconds the wall exploded. "Get out of here, all of you!"

The now freed ponies nodded and ran through the hall that was made in the wall, leaving the three of us behind.

"What now?" Bluesky asked.

"Now, we go after Black Sun," Midnight said as she levitated her pistol and started out again with us close behind.

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As we ran through the streets of Alpony, the sounds of battle where getting closer, by now the NCR had breached the outer wall and where fighting the Crimson Empire in the streets. On Midnight's insistence we had discarded our uniforms so at the very least we wouldn't be killed by our allies.

We finally found Black Sun, he was dressed in the same armor I had seen him in, only this time his head was covered with a helmet. He was boarding a transport with others as we ran up.

"Another time, Colonel Midnight, we will meet again!" He said with a laugh as the transport took off. Midnight drew her rifle and tried to fire at the fleeing transport, but missed as it flew off towards the south..

"Damn him to Tartarus, he got away again!" Midnight shouted as she threw her rifle to the ground in anger.

"Midnight, calm down, we got the job done," I said, though I was starting to get the feeling that she had some sort of past with Black Sun. "You'll get him next time."

"The coward, he knew he was losing so he fled," Midnight growled as she put the rifle away again. "Come on, lets help finish up here."

The battle didn't last much longer, most of the ponies from the Crimson Empire didn't put up much of a fight with Black Sun gone. Within half an hour we had rounded up most of the troops for prisoner transport.

The battle for Alpony was over, but for me the war was just beginning.

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Crimson Apple and Viola had done their job, once the wall was blown they helped the freed slaves get to the NCR lines for a full medical check-up. Thank Celestia they where all going to be okay.

Goldmane wasn't happy that we had ignored his orders again, but apparently someone higher in the chain of command had shot down any of his attempts to have Midnight court martialed, which just made him angrier.

"You're lucky I don't just have all three of you shot on the spot!" He snapped at us. "But luckily for all of you, somepony in the NCR seems to like you for some goddess damned reason. Colonel, your new orders and assignment."

He levitated a piece of paper over to Midnight who opened it and read it.

"It seems the NCR wants to keep a closer eye on you, Ruby," she said with a growl, she clearly wasn't happy about this. "They're assigning me as the 'Liaison officer to the new Stable Dweller.'"

It didn't require somepony who knew a lot about the way the NCR ran things to know that was a nice way of saying that she was my problem now.

"General, Midnight's a fine soldier, but she can be a greater asset in command of her Rangers than with me," I protested.

"President Grimfeathers disagrees," Goldmane said and shook his head, that caught me and Bluesky offguard. While I hadn't heard of this, President Grimfeathers before, the title sounded important enough. "The order came from her, not me, there's a lot of concern over a new Stable Dweller, especially one getting involved in NCR affairs, so Junction Town wants somepony to keep an eye on you."

"Fine..." Midnight said, but it was pretty obvious that she wasn't happy with this. Goldmane trotted off and she turned to look at me. "What's the plan, Ruby?"

I checked the time on my PipBuck, it wasn't even 1200 hours yet, I made a decision and nodded. "We get all the supplies we can, then we're setting off for Neigh Orleans."

Midnight and Bluesky nodded and we all went our separate ways as we started looking around the captured town.

00000

We got the supplies we would need for the trek to Neigh Orleans, had a quick lunch, and we where once again on our way. Midnight had at least seemed to lighten up a little, and was more than willing to share the secret of her invisibility.

"Its called a Zebra Invisibility Cloak, its a relic from before the great war," Midnight said. "The old family legend is that it was a gift to my ancestor from a friendly Zebra who was sympathetic to Equestria."

Wow, I had to admit that was pretty cool, too bad I didn't have one of those. I turned to look at Bluesky when I realized she had taken off her goggles to stare at something in the sky.

"Bluesky, are you okay?" I asked.

"You might want to look at this," she said, and pointed in the direction she was pointing.

My eyes followed her hoof, and I gulped, in the distance, visible as it got closer with every second, was a massive dragon.

And it was heading right for us.

Days Left: 359.

LEVEL UP!

Perk Received: Liberator.

Description: You've gained a reputation in the Wasteland as a liberator of slaves and friend to the downtrodden. You get an increased chance of passing a speech check with certain Ponies.

00000

Well, the Northern Fields Arc is over, Midnight has joined the crew, but who is this dragon that's on approach?

All this and more will be answered next time in chapter 8, "Revelations."