Fallout Equestria: Survivor's Guilt

by Ruin Queen of Oblivion

200 years after she was believed to be dead, Scootaloo wakes up from magical Stasis in the Equestrian Wasteland. She has to find her place in the new world while at the same time facing threats to Equestria both old and new.

34. Perspectives

Alright fillies and gentlecolts, I'm gonna be doing something a little different in this chapter.

Unlike before where everything was told from Scootaloo's perspective, I'll be telling this story from the perspective of several characters from the story itself. Obviously Scootaloo is one of them, but we'll get to the others later.

So yeah, this is just for this chapter.

Disclaimer: I only own what stuff I created.

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CHAPTER 34:

PERSPECTIVES

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Scootaloo's Story.

When my eyes opened I found myself staring up at a white sterile hospital ceiling. For a moment I thought I was in Thunderhead or Nomad City but when I looked around I saw Sweetie Belle, Cloudy, and Sparky. I was dreaming again, and my heart fell, this was the last time I'd ever see them.

"What happened?" I asked weakly as I looked over at Sweetie Belle who gave me a weak smile. She looked older than I remembered, but I smiled a little at that, it meant that she had a long and happy life with my counterpart in this world.

I couldn't help but envy her a little.

"You collapsed at home Scootaloo, I told you you've been working too hard," Sweetie said as she placed her hoof on mine. "You haven't been doing too well lately."

I sighed and looked over at Cloudy who was with Jasper. I smiled a little at my granddaughter who peeked up over the bed, she couldn't be much older than 12.

"Hey kiddo," I said with a smile as I looked down at the filly. "How's it going?"

"Okay I guess, I got my cutie mark!" Jasper said with a proud smile, I grinned and noticed that she had a flaming scooter wheel on her flank. "Isn't it cool?"

I smiled a little and ruffled the filly's mane as best I could. "That's great Jasper, I'm proud of you."

I smiled a little and Cloudy picked Jasper up gently and put her on the bed so I could give her a hug. I sighed happily, my body felt old and tired as if the years were finally catching up to me.

"Are you going to be okay Grandma Scootaloo?" Jasper asked, her big purple eyes looked up at me sadly.

I paused a moment, I honestly didn't know how to answer that question. If I was in the hospital, I might not make it. But I looked into my granddaughter's big eyes and nodded with a smile as I stroked her mane gently.

I was happy that Jasper had made it, I had to admit I had been a little worried about her after she had been born premature. Her wings were a little small but she still had the energy I'd expect from a filly her age. She reminded me a bit of myself at that age, I just wished that I could've gotten to know her better.

"Don't worry kiddo, I'm going to be just fine," I said reassuringly as I gave her a nod. "I'm a fighter, I'll just keep going kicking and screaming. Right Sweetie?"

Sweetie just chuckled a little and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "That's right, Scootaloo's stubborn enough she's going to outlive us all," she said with a nod before she looked back at the others. "Cloudy, Sparky, why don't you take Jasper down to the vending machines? Get her an Opal Soda on me. I want to talk to Scootaloo on my own for a bit."

"Okay mom," Cloudy said with a nod as she picked up her daughter and they headed out of the room.

"So, how bad is it?" I asked softly as I looked up at Sweetie.

Sweetie sighed and squeezed my hoof gently. "Your counterpart in this world has cancer. The Doctors say that she's got a year at best. We, haven't told Jasper yet, its not going to be easy for her at that age."

I sighed a little and looked at the door where they had left. "I'm sorry, I wish there was more I could do."

"You've done enough," Sweetie said with a smile. "Scootaloo, my Scootaloo, has been living your life just like you've been living her's. It's not been easy on her either, but its helped her a lot, it helped her get over what happened during the war. I didn't really know the full extent until recently, but you've helped her, and us. Thank you."

"You're welcome," I said with a soft smile. "You don't know how much I've missed you Sweetie… I'm sorry that this will be the last time I'm here."

"Its okay Scootaloo, I'm just glad you were here," Sweetie said and gave me a soft kiss and then smirked a. "So, my Scootaloo has mentioned that you're in a relationship with a mare named Cherry Blossom?"

I blushed a little and looked away. How was I going to explain this to her? I wondered just how much she had been told by my counterpart.

"Well, umm… err…" I said and blushed even more, which just made Sweetie laugh.

"Scootaloo, I don't blame you for it, Cherry sounds like a wonderful mare," Sweetie said and nuzzled me gently. "I wouldn't expect you to spend the rest of your life alone, I'm happy that you found somepony else to love. Just promise me that you'll take care of yourself, okay? I don't want anything happening to you in any world."

I smiled a little and nuzzled back. "Thank you Sweetie," I said softly. "You know, she reminds me a lot of you. She's kind, friendly, funny, caring, and overall a good pony. I, just wish that I had found you, you know what I mean?"

Sweetie shook her head and smiled a little. "Don't worry Scootaloo, maybe someday you'll be reunited with your Sweetie Belle. Maybe in Elysium, or maybe you've already found her somehow, you never know. Love, it works in strange ways sometimes."

I paused a moment, this was the second time somepony had mentioned something like that. Honestly I didn't ever think that much about the idea of reincarnation or whatever, but was it possible that my Sweetie Belle had come back somehow? Honestly it sounded kind of crazy to me.

"Maybe, you never know I guess," I said with a shrug and laid back down, I was starting to feel tired again, that was the cue that the dream was ending. "Sweetie Belle, I love you, more than anything."

"I love you too Scootaloo," Sweetie said and gave me one last kiss as the world around me turned dark.

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"Hello Scootaloo," a mare's voice said and I blinked a little as I looked around. I wasn't back in the real world yet, I was in a dark and empty space looking at…

"Luna?" I asked and looked up at the Alicorn who gave me a smile. "What are you doing here? You set this all up, right?"

"I did," Luna said with a nod. "I am sorry for not telling you ahead of time, but I knew you needed more help than I could give you at the time. This was, something of an experiment to see if it could help you."

"Well, it actually did help quite a bit," I admitted and rubbed the back of my head a little. "I haven't had any dreams like before in a long time. It's just, I don't know really, sometimes I wish I could've seen more."

"You saw what you needed to see," Luna said with a shake of her head. "I could not give you more I am afraid. I am sorry that you couldn't live that life, but I knew that it would at least help you with what you are going through."

"That was real wasn't it?" I asked and looked at her. "That was what would've happened if the war ended peacefully?"

"That was one possible ending," Luna said with a nod. "I chose it because it was the best way it could've ended for you. The thing about history is that the smallest of things can change everything."

She waved a hoof and images appeared in front of us. I didn't recognize a lot of them, there was one where armies of ponies moved through jungles fighting Zebras. Another showed an image of me holding a small filly that I didn't recognize in my forelegs and Sweetie Belle standing next to me. A third showed a blue Pegasus and a red Unicorn dressed in strange gear as they trekked through a snow covered Ponyville.

There were more than that of course, I could list more of them but that would take too long. I looked over at Luna confused.

"Are all of these real?"

"Yes, they are, some of them are alternate ways the war ended, others are realities where your life was different," Luna said and smiled lightly. "And in quite a few of these, you and Sweetie found love with one another. Perhaps it is what ponies call a soul mate, but that is just how I see it."

I paused a moment, I just had one question to ask, it was a weird question but I had to ask anyway. "Luna… is it possible that, Sweetie's soul came back?"

Luna stood there for a long moment as she tried to figure out how to answer that. "I am sorry Scootaloo, I do not know the answer to that question. Perhaps she did, perhaps she did nott, I am sorry that I cannot answer the question for you."

I was about to say something else when the world around me started to fade away. "Thank you Luna," I said and looked at her with a sigh. "You really helped me out back there, that means a lot."

Luna smiled and waved. "Goodbye Scootaloo, take care of yourself."

And with that she along with the strange world around me vanished.

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I blinked as I opened my eyes and they went into focus as I saw a mare looking at me. For a moment I thought I was back in my dream because I was in another hospital room, but as my vision came back into focus I saw Cherry Blossom sitting in a chair next to me.

"Hey Cherry," I said with a hoarse voice as the pink mare looked up and smiled. "Where am I?"

"You're back on Nomad City," Cherry said as she gave me a smile. "You were in pretty bad shape when they brought you in. How long have you gone without sleep?"

"Too long apparently," I said with a sigh and a shake of my head as I looked down at my legs, they were in much better shape than they had been before. I looked back at Cherry and smiled. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you again."

Cherry smiled and kissed me. We just sat there for the longest moment as we shared a kiss, it was good to be back with Cherry after everything that had happened in Thunderhead, I wrapped my forelegs around her gently and just enjoyed the feeling of being close to my fiance.

"I love you Cherry Blossom," I said softly as I held her close.

"I love you too Scootaloo Dash," Cherry said and then gave me a smirk. "Or should I call you General?"

"Cherry, you're my fiance, please don't you start too," I said with a groan as Cherry giggled. "How's Serenity doing?"

"She's been really worried about you," Cherry said with a sigh. "But she's okay, she's somewhere around here but I think she was playing with Winter's daughter and Pure Heart again."

"Well that's…" I started to say when the door flew open and Serenity came in and smiled when she saw me awake. "Hey Serenity, how's it going?"

"Great!" Serenity said as she looked up at me with a smile.

"I heard you met Callie," I said as I looked over at Cherry who nodded a little. "How's everything going with her?"

"Pretty good, she's still kind of recovering from everything that happened in Thunderhead, but she's just happy to be back with her mom," Serenity said with a nod. "Did you really stop a Megaspell in Stable 102?"

"Heh, yeah, I did," I said and leaned back and closed my eyes a moment. "We should just shut them all down at this point. The Megaspells have caused more trouble than they're worth, hopefully if any good came out of the Battle of Thunderhead, it'll be the surviving ones being taken out of service."

"One can only hope," a voice said as Winter came in accompanied by Spectra, Calypso, and a guard. "It's good to see you awake again Scootaloo."

"Thanks," I said with a weak smile as I looked over at Callie. "Hey Callie, it's good to see you're okay.."

"Hi Ms. Scootaloo," Calypso said with a smile, she still looked a little shaken but she put on a brave smile. "Will you be getting out soon?"

"I don't know, I'll have to ask the Doctor," I said with a shrug before I looked back at Spectra and Winter. "How are things going, has there been any more word from Cloud Chaser and his forces?"

"There hasn't been much word I'm afraid, when the Nimbus made it's escape Cloud Chaser made it a point to partially disassemble our intelligence network by taking down some dishes and antenna, wherever he went, he wanted to make sure we wouldn't follow him until he was ready."

"Whenever that will be," Winter said with a sigh. "We'll have to hope he slips up at some point or one of our agents gets word to us before they get disrupted. For the moment he's not making any more moves against the Alliance, but it's probably not going to last though knowing him."

Spectra perked his ears up and was listening as hoofsteps came down the hall, his alarm turned to a soft smile as he looked to me "Ah, I know that sound. You have a couple of very special visitors, Ms. Scootaloo."

"I do?" I asked as I looked towards the door. Cherry and Serenity looked curious as we waited to see who it was. "Who are they?"

No Answer, until the door swung open and Gambit stepped into view. "Hello there, Scoots. I heard you were in rough shape decided I'd come pay a visit. Though, I brought a couple special little ponies with me, they insisted on being able to meet you."

"Oh, and who's that?" I asked curiously as I sat up more in bed. I had to wonder who Gambit might have brought to meet me, it felt like everypony was trying to keep me in suspense with this.

"You will see" Gambit said with a smile, stepping aside and motioning to the door as a young filly stepped into view. She was cream colored, with a mix of pink and purple swirling in her mane, No horn, but perhaps a set of wings.

"Introduce yourself, young filly." Gambit said with a smile

"Cotton Swirl!" She called out, before giggling "I can't beleive I'm really meeting Scootaloo!"

"Anything you'd like to say to the filly?" Gambit asked.

I smiled lightly as I looked down at the filly. "It's nice to meet you Cotton Swirl," I said with a smile, I tried not to frown a little. Her mane reminded me of Sweetie Belle a little. "Sorry I'm not really able to get up."

"Ready for the next one?" Gambit laughed, before another pony burst through the door, a young unicorn colt. Standing proud and looking at Gambit first, then to me. Before he took a bow "It is an honor to be allowed to meet you."

"Why don't you tell her your name."

"My name is… uhm…" The colt said before Cotton Swirl chimed up. "His name is Prance."

"And how about him scootaloo, anything to say to him?" Gambit giggled to herself, she was hiding one last thing.

"Its an honor to meet you too Prance," I said with a smile. "You don't have to be so nervous, I don't bite, much."

"Alright, Final one." Gambit said with a chuckle, cutting off prance, this final pony that stepped in, no wings or horn but carrying something on her back, a large pole with a banner hanging from it, though what was on the banner was still hidden.

"Ah'm Terra, at least that's what mah friend's call me!" The final filly said with a giggle, voice resounding in a almost painfully familiar southern belle tone.

I looked between the three foals and paused a moment. I looked over at Gambit and them smiled a little, I was starting to get the idea of what she had in mind. A Pegasus, a Unicorn, and an Earth Pony all at that age.

They reminded me so much of me and my friends back then.

"We traveled all the way from Neigh Orleans to see you! Gambit flew us here." Cotton Swirl said with a giggle.

"Yeah! Her ship is really cool! And Really fast too!" Prance added.

"That's great," I said with a nod and a smile. I looked down at Serenity who was looking at the three foals curiously for a moment. "So, you three are friends?"

"Half Siblings, actually." Gambit said with a smile as she looked down to the three.

"That was my next guess," I said and looked at the foals again. There was something familiar about them but I couldn't put my hoof on it.

"So, you three, why don't you tell Scootaloo why you're so excited to be here." Gambit said

"When Gambit came and visited our settlement a while ago, she told us stories of three little ponies who thought that they could never get their cutie marks, and… me and my sister and brother here, we haven't gotten our cutie marks yet even though our entire family has… we were worried we'd never get them." Cotton Swirl Started

"But she told us, these three ponies tried everything, never gave up and never gave in, they'd keep trying until they all got their cutie marks." Prance added.

"So we decided ta follow in their hoofsteps, and we re-founded tha cutie mark crusaders!" Terra said before turning to the side, revealing the banner with the CMC Crest on it.

I smiled broadly and gave them a nod. "That's great, I'm happy that me and my friends left that much of an impact on you," I said and took a deep breath. It was nice to know that there was a lot more of a legacy that I had left behind than just the Stables. "It means a lot, especially after everything that happened. Wear that name with pride, you're inheriting a proud tradition from me and my friends."

"I think, if you knew the story of these three and how they meant, You'd probably understand there is a lot more in common between these three and you and your friends, Scoots." Gambit said. "But that, is going to be a story for a different time, when you're feeling better."

I nodded a little as Serenity smiled a little and trotted over to the foals. "Hey, I'm Serenity, I'm part of a group up in the Crystal Wasteland called the Crystal Crusaders."

I smiled and looked at the foals for a long moment and then over at Gambit and the others. There was something about them that felt familiar, I couldn't put my hoof on it still. What did Gambit mean by there being a lot more in common between us?

I looked at Cotton's mane again, it reminded me so much of Sweetie Belle's. Then again maybe it was a coincidence, I shook my head and gave them another smile.

"Is everything okay Scootaloo?" Cherry asked as she looked over at me.

"Huh? Oh, I'm just thinking is all," I said with a shake of my head. "Sorry,"

"Sorry for what." A grizzled voice from the hall said, before stepping in the doorway, wearing tattered old Stable barding with a white lab coat draped over it. "Hope my kin haven't been givin' ya much trouble, they get so excited."

I chuckled lightly and shook my head. "Don't worry about it, they aren't giving me any trouble at all. I'm glad to meet them, actually they kind of remind me of myself when I was that age."

"I'll say this much young miss, that coincidence isn't happenstance." The greying stallion said as he stepped into the room, letting that what was left of a 02 on his collar shine in the room light. "They are distant relatives of two of your best friends missy, just like me."

Cherry's ears perked up curiously and she looked at me and then at the stallion. "Really? I'm distantly related to the Apple family too."

"Well, that does explain a lot," I said with a nod and gave him a smile. "Well, it's nice to meet all of you. I'm glad Gambit brought you this way."

There was something that bugged me a little though. Prance looked older than he should be if their father was from Stable 2. I looked at the stallion curiously for a moment.

"Can I ask you something mr…" I started to say.

"She little miss, what's on your noggin." He said with a smile "Just call me Quartz, I've gone by so many names that I can't remember em all."

"Okay, Quartz," I said with a nod. "Well, I was wondering, Stable 2 was only opened up about 11 years ago. But, Prance looks to be about 14."

"Sharp eye, He is 14." Quartz said with a chuckle, ruffling Prance's mane. "He's my first born, eldest of these three. Was young and stupid then, Hotheaded stallion wanting to find a mare and start a family, problem being - no mare in the stable wanted me, just some lowly apple farmer, there was more important guys 'round."

"So, what, you somehow got your hooves on the code to open the door and left?" I asked and looked at him curiously. That was odd, there hadn't been any mention of ponies leaving the Stable before LittlePip and Velvet Remedy, but it might've been kept under wraps.

"I did some digging, found a access shaft, don't know what it was for, maybe an air vent maybe a emergency exit, all I know is it was partially buried in." Quartz said, shaking his head. "I wanted out, Overmare was crazy putting ponies where they didn't belong. Thought I was to be some apple farmer, I got my cutie mark in the daycare."

"Yeah… the Overmare of Stable 2 was, not very good at picking up on what ponies talents are actually supposed to be," I said with a groan. This actually sounded a lot like what I had read before. "Well, I'm glad you found something of a family, that's the most important thing in the world, always has been, always will be."

I smiled and wrapped my wing gently around Cherry who nuzzled me a little. "Yep, that's right," she said with a nod.

A thought occurred to me as I looked back at the four of them. "So, where are you four living these days?"

"Plantation of sorts down near Neigh Orleans, Growing cotton for clothing, apples and other edibles, Primarily oranges - It's interesting how the balefire interacts with the crops." Quartz said with a laugh.

"Well, maybe we'll visit sometime," I suggested. "I'd like to see it, and I'm sure they would love to see me again, if that's okay of course."

"How 'bout we come and visit you, we got some nasty weather down south, most ponies from up north don't really last in it." He said nervously "Honestly, I'm thinkin' bout movin up north, closer to the stable, maybe see some friends"

"Well, once everything settles down here, we're going to be building a settlement," I said and looked over at the foals. "It's not going to be easy, but we could use farmers and everything, if you want you could help us with that."

Quartz went to say something but got cut off by the three, who together said at the same time "You kidding! We'd love to help!"

I smiled a little at that and gave them a nod. "Well, its settled then," I sad and paused a moment. "Though, its going to be in and around Stable 2 since its been abandoned for years, is that going to be okay Quartz?"

"A little sad to hear it's been abandoned, even if the overmare was a bit loco in the coco." Quartz said with a chuckle. "It's still home to me, born and raised in those walls, may be nice for my youngins to see their old man's stomping grounds."

I chuckled a little and nodded. "Yeah, I get that, we'll also be in my old stomping grounds. How's that sound you three, you'll get to see where the CMC started way back when I was a filly."

"I get to go home!?" Cotton swirl cheered before plonking around excitedly.

"Sounds nice ta me, but… Prance worked so hard making us a clubhouse based on what cotton told us the old crusader club house looked like… It'd be a shame ta leave that behind." Terra said with a bit of a sigh looking to her elder brother, who actually seemed so excited he couldn't find the words he wanted to say, just kept squeaking excitedly.

I smiled sadly and reached over for Terra's hoof. "Hey Terra, I understand where you're coming from. It's hard leaving behind something that you worked so hard on and consider to be your home, that's what the original clubhouse was for me too. It was my home, the first real home I ever had. But your home, it's not just about the place or the building," I said and nodded to her siblings and father. "It's about the friends you make, and your family. That's what your home is deep down."

"Can Ah say somethin', crusader to crusader" Terra said as she took my hoof with a smile.

"Sure, go ahead," I said with a smile. "What is it?"

"Ah always kind of, looked up to you. Even before Ah knew about the whole crusader thing, Ah love listening ta tha radio and hearin' tha stories of your travels and tha ponies you've met" Terra chuckled nervously before smiling "And now, yer a wonderbolt general… and, Ah wanna be a wonderbolt too!"

"You can't be a wonderbolt, you can't fly, you're not even a pegasus!" Cotton swirl said with a laugh.

"So what! Scootaloo ain't able ta fly and she's a General! If she can be a general Ah can be a Wonderbolt!" Terra said back, and scowled at her elder sister.

I smiled a little and gave Terra a nod. "She's right, being a Wonderbolt isn't about having wings or being able to fly. It's about who you are and what kind of pony you want to be. I think Terra would make a great Wonderbolt."

I glanced over at where Winter was standing with Spectra and Calypso. I smirked a little when I saw Spectra gave something over to Winter before the mare walked up to us.

"So, you want to be a Wonderbolt huh?" She asked and looked down at the Earth pony.

"Very much so miss president!" Terra said with a big smile.

"Are you willing to do everything that it entails, to represent what being a Wonderbolt stands for?" Winter asked. "To stand for everything that makes Equestria good and to help make the future bright?"

Terra stood at a attention and gave Winter a salute. "Yes Ma'am!"

Winter smiled a little and held her hoof out. I moved myself to see that she was holding out a Wonderbolt emblem pin to Terra. "Then I'm dubbing you an Honorary Wonderbolt, when you're older, I think we could make it official."

I smiled at Winter who smiled back. "Thank you Winter," I said softly and she just gave me a nod before I turned back to Terra. "Well Terra, welcome to the Wonderbolts."

Terra however, couldn't find the words, eyes wide sparkling with her excitement and wonder that her dream could be so easily realized, and that there are these nice of ponies out in the wastes. Her father moved in behind her to give her a hug and smile as he looked to winter, and to scootaloo "Thank you, both of you, I've never seen Terra smile this much - she's usually got somethin' weighin' on her mind and for the first time in a long time, I think she's got a clear head."

Winter nodded a little and put her hoof on Calypso gently. "I was happy to do it, this world could use ponies with that kind of drive. And, well, I know what its like to have a child that wants something that badly…"

"We're glad to help," I said with a soft smile. "She'd make a good Wonderbolt, I just know it."

"Alright everypony, we need to do some tests on Scootaloo," the doctor said as she stepped into the room. "You can come visit her again later."

"We'll see you later Scootaloo," Winter said with a nod as she and Spectra ushered Calypso and Serenity out. Serenity waved to me before she left.

I sighed and laid back down as the others left. I looked at Cherry with a smile as she got out of the way so the Doctor could work.

Quest Perk Earned!

Name: Dream of Goodbye.

Details: You've gone through the entire life of your counterpart from another world and shared her happiest moments with her family. You get an extra boost to your perception stat during night time.

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Winter Breeze's Story.

"Madam President, its a pleasure to have you here," Regina Grimfeathers said as she shook my hoof. "Are you getting settled in alright? I know this is a change from what you're probably used to."

"It's alright, I'm just glad to be able to try and help," I said with a sigh as I brushed my mane out of my face. "You didn't have to do this, I've done nothing but cause trouble for the NCR and the rest of the Alliance."

"Of course, and I won't lie and say that there won't be problems with ponies who don't entirely trust you or the others," Regina said with a sigh as she looked at me. "But a lot of ponies who's judgment I trust believe that you deserve a chance after everything that's happened. The ponies of the Enclave trust you, and it could be a problem otherwise."

I paused and looked down at my hooves for a long moment before I sighed a little. "I deserve to be punished for what I did. I put Equestria in this position because I wanted to help. I don't blame them for hating me after everything that's happened."

"Winter, leaders have to make difficult decisions especially during times of war," Regina said with a sigh. "I don't know if I would have made the same choices you did, but I at least understand them. I just hope that the war won't last much longer."

"Cloud Chaser is stubborn, he'll be back," I said with a shake of my head. "Wherever he is, he'll be consolidating his power. Likely he headed to where the rest of his fleet is or one of the other Cloud Cities still under Enclave control."

I paused a moment at that thought. Most of the cases of our agents going quiet came from outposts that were heading slowly southwest. Something about all of this was weird, but there was at least a chance that we could stop him before it was too late.

The door opened and two more ponies came in. One of them I recognized as Nova, mostly because she was the only Unicorn I'd ever seen in Applejack's Rangers armor, and the other was a green colored Unicorn mare who gave me a nod.

"Winter, this is Councilmare Jade from Nomad City, and you already know Star Paladin Nova of course," Regina said and I gave the two Unicorns a nod.

"Elder Ironsides is, indisposed at the moment so he asked me to represent the Rangers here," Nova said in her mechanically distorted voice as she looked at me.

"Of course," Regina said and gestured for the two to take a seat next to me. "We need to discuss the current status of our forces in the war. If it comes down to a war with the the Hardliners, we need to know what we're up against."

"Cloud Chaser's always had more backing in the military than among the civilians," I said as I looked over at Nova and Jade. "While we still have most of the military on our side, he has access to a decently sized fleet, and that's not going into the Nimbus itself. There is also the matter of the capital, its…"

I stopped in mid sentence, Coltlumbia was in the same direction that he was heading. I didn't know if that was actually where he was going, but if he did, he could hold himself up there and have one of the most secure locations in Equestria.

"Winter, what's wrong?" Jade asked as she looked at me.

"It might be nothing, we'll have to keep an eye on things," I said with a sigh as I shook my head and looked back at Regina. "Coltlumbia needs to be secured as soon as possible, it's served as the Enclave's capital for the past 10 years."

We all went quiet at that, the capital city had been the best kept secret of the Enclave this whole time so the others didn't know about it. I felt a twinge of guilt at having given its location, but now we were on the same side. And if the Hardliners took over the city, they'd be able to hold many of the citizens that didn't want to join him hostage.

This was going to be bad, Coltlumbia would likely be one of the most important places in the war given that the Hardliners would probably make it a high priority. There were a lot of good ponies in that city and I was afraid that Cloud Chaser would use that to his advantage.

"Coltlumbia is a virtual fortress in the sky," I said and looked at the others. "We've already taken the possibility of using a Megaspell away from them, but its not going to be easy to take them out anyway."

"I see," Regina said with a sigh as she looked at Nova and Jade. "What's the latest status on the Pegasus Irregular Fleet?"

"Rain Runner and the others have gotten everything together as best they can, the fleet is mostly automated at this point, but there's a concern that it might not be enough," Jade said.

"We can help with that," I said with a nod. "Most of the fleet is made up of Enclave ships, but we still have to make sure that everything is in place. We need to try and integrate our forces together, I can also have my Generals coordinate starting with Tornado and Spectra, Scootaloo can join up once she's discharged from the hospital."

"Understood," Nova said and gave me a nod. "I'll coordinate with the other contingents of the Rangers, maybe we can get more here."

"Well, we have everything we need for now," Regina said as she looked between us. "Winter, I just want to thank you again for your help. I just hope that we'll be able to continue working together in the future."

I paused a moment as I thought about it. Honestly with everything that had happened I wasn't even sure if I wanted to remain President after the war was over. Though, finding somepony to succeed me was another question entirely.

"I do too," I said with a smile as we headed back outside. I started to head towards the Vertibuck to take me back to Nomad City when Nova stopped me.

"Can I talk to you a moment?" Nova asked as we started walking forward.

"Of course… look, I'm sorry about shooting you back in Tenpony Tower, how's your shoulder?" I asked and looked at the spot I had shot at.

"I'll live," Nova said with a shrug as she looked at me. "Winter, I kept your secret this whole time because I felt you were right in what you were doing. Was I wrong?"

I sighed a little and looked down at my hooves. As I said back in Scootaloo's account of the Occupation of Manehattan, Nova had saved my life during the Great Schism. She had also been one of the few ponies that were privy to my real identity since I had been using a cover at the time, and she had agreed to keep it secret.

Nova was a good pony, I wouldn't have asked it of her if she wasn't capable of it. Still, it couldn't have been easy carrying that around for so long. Not just my identity either, she knew about Calypso, the only living pony outside of the Enclave that knew I had a daughter.

I sighed a little and shook my head. "You did what you felt was right, that's all you can ask of anypony. Still, thank you for keeping it secret for me. You probably saved Calypso's life by keeping it secret, and speaking for both myself and Spectra, we thank you for that."

"You're both very welcome, I wouldn't wish anything like that on any filly," Nova said with a shake of her head. "I'm glad she's okay after what happened with the Hardliners."

"Yeah, me too, thanks to Scootaloo," I said with a sigh and looked back at the armored Unicorn. "Is Elder Ironsides doing okay? I've heard reports that he's been in poor health recently."

"Right, I forget how good your intelligence network is," Nova said with a sigh and a shake of her head. "We're trying to keep it under wraps but he's not doing well. Given how the war was going, we were trying to keep even the Alliance from finding out. The Scribes are saying that he's probably not going to last much longer."

"I'm sorry, I know he's always been important to you," I said softly and she just shook her head.

"I wouldn't be the pony I am today if it wasn't for him and Rose," Nova said with a sigh and removed her helmet. She was starting to cry and I gently placed my hoof on her shoulder. "First Rose, now Ironsides… I don't know what I'm going to do, what we're going to do."

"Applejack's Rangers has weathered the loss of its founder and a war with the Steel Rangers," I said with a nod. "I don't think its going to be easy, but I know you'll manage somehow. But, that means a lot of pressure is going to be on you. The Rangers still see you as a hero because of what happened in Seaddle, but I know you can handle it."

Nova looked at me and smiled lightly. "Thank you Winter, and yeah there's some word about me becoming the next Elder, but I'm worried."

"Well, what does Gear Shift think?" I asked, I remembered that Nova and Gear Shift had always been close to each other.

"She thinks that if it comes down to it I'll do fine," Nova said with a shrug. "I remind her that she's biased, but she insists. I just hope she's right."

"Nova, you're one of the strongest and bravest mares I've ever met, if you have to become the Elder, you'll do just fine," I said and gave her a nod. "Ad victorum."

"Ad victorum," Nova said with a nod before I headed towards the Vertibuck.

I sighed a little and looked back towards where Nova was standing. I just hoped that I was doing the right thing by encouraging her.

00000

"What's significant is that I know. I know I've struggled across the backs of murdered innocents to save Ponykind, but somepony had to take the weight of that awful necessary crime. I thought you'd understand, unlike…"

"Mommy, what's that you're reading?" Calypso asked as she looked up at me curiously from her spot next to me. We were in a house in Nomad City that the council had given us to live in temporarily.

I smiled down at my daughter, this was a rare chance that I got to spend alone and away from the troubles of running the Enclave. I wasn't going to be able to spend a lot of time like this, but I just wanted to spend as much as I could with my family.

"This? It's just an old pre-war comic book," I said and closed it up before setting it off to the side and pulling Calypso in close and draped my wing over her. "You can read it when you're a little older."

"What's it about?"

"Well, it's kind of a complicated story," I said with a shrug. "Its set during the Great war but its an alternate timeline where masked heroes…"

"Like the Mysterious-Mare-Do-Well?" Calypso asked as she looked up at me curiously and I chuckled a little.

"Yeah, something like that, costumed heroes were really popular in Equestria years ago," I said with a nod. "How about the next chance we get I see if I can find you some Power Ponies comics or something?"

"Okay, sounds good," Calypso said with a smile and a slight yawn as she snuggled up to me. I smiled a little and nuzzled my daughter gently she nuzzled back and looked up at me for a moment.

"Did, it hurt when they branded you?" She asked as she looked back at the brand that had once been my cutie mark.

"Yeah, it hurt a lot," I said with a sigh. "But it didn't hurt nearly as much as it would have if I lost you. I love you Callie, I've done everything I can to build a better world for you to live in. You're probably going to hear a lot of things about me, about what I did, but remember that I will always love you my little pony."

Calypso smiled and closed her eyes as she snuggled up against my side. I smiled sadly and let her sleep there, I just wanted to spend as much time with my daughter as I could.

I looked down at the faded cover of the graphic novel I had been reading. Even after so many years I could make out the yellow cover with the single black oval and red splatter over it. I had found this copy in Kirby Comics in Nomad City and was just enjoying the comic a little.

The comic actually had been published in the Crystal Empire not Equestria. They had to avoid censorship by the Ministry of Image and the Crystal Empire had been a lot more lax in that department.

I set it down and closed my eyes as I held Calypso close to me with my wing. After a few minutes I heard the sound of hooves entering the room and I opened my eyes with a smile to see Spectra walking up to us.

"Hello Spectra, how's it going?"

"Just coming to check on my two favorite ladies." Spectra said with a smile

I smiled a little and nodded down to the sleeping filly. "We're doing well."

"She's a strong filly, a lot like her mother." Spectra said as he smiled down at the sleeping filly. "Too bad she hasn't shown a lot of her father yet, might have to start believing she may just not be mine."

I looked down with a sigh and shook my head a little. "Spectra I'm sorry, I know it hasn't been easy for you to keep it hidden from her for this long."

"Sorry for what? We made the choice together to keep our relationship hidden, I knew what I was getting into." Spectra said with a smile "It was best, for both of you - and I've been keeping an eye on her from the distance, there is a reason I agreed to be your intelligence officer after all."

"Yeah, I know," I said and shook my head a little. "Well, the secrecy has pretty much been shot at this point thanks to Cloud Chaser. Do you think it might be time to tell her?"

"Oh its not entirely shot, I mean - the actual information that we're a thing is limited to a few of your closest and trusted friends, and I can threaten the hospital into keeping the information quiet... " Spectra said with a bit of a laugh. "I mean, unless you call a guard shouting the president's first name as he dives to save her and… actually, I think you're right, it might be entirely shot at this point."

"Not to mention I kissed you in front of a pretty decently sized crowd, remember?" I pointed out with a chuckle. "Yeah, I don't think there's much point in hiding it for much longer, especially not from Callie."

"Hide what from me?" A small voice asked as Calypso woke up and wiped the sleep out of her eyes with a yawn. "Oh hey Mr. Spectra."

"Mornin' sweet pea, did we wake you up?" Spectra said as his attention drifted down to the little filly. "Your mother and I were just having a little talk is all."

"What about?" She asked and tilted her head curiously.

"Well…" I said and looked at Spectra.

"Sweetheart, did you ever hear any stories about your daddy? Like, he might be your guardian angel looking out for you?" Spectra said with a smile as he leaned in close to that little filly.

"Yeah, several times," Calypso said and looked at him curiously. "Mommy said he's always been looking out for me, like a knight or a guardian angel or something. He sounds cool, but I've never met him."

"Would you like to meet him one day?" Spectra said, reaching a hoof out to that little filly.

Calypso looked up at me and I gave her a smile before she looked back at Spectra and took his hoof. "Yeah, I'd love to."

Spectra would happily take her by the hoof before he'd purposely fall back, pulling that filly first into the air, but then down onto his chest "Surprise! You just have."

Calypso let out a surprised eep and her eyes went wide as she was pulled in close and looked at Spectra with wide eyes. "Do you really mean it?"

"Absolutely sweetheart, You have no clue how long I've wanted to tell you that" He smiled to that filly "It's been tough, watching you grow up but never being able to tell you just how proud I am of you."

"How proud we both are of you," I said and got up and moved over next to the two with a smile and gave them both a nuzzle.

Calypso looked between us surprised for a moment and then smiled and hugged Spectra tightly as she sighed happily. "I have a daddy!"

"You've always had a daddy, Daddy just wasn't able to always be known" Spectra said with a happy sigh "But Daddy has always been watching and making sure you were safe, and daddy only failed once - but he isnt going to fail again."

Calypso smiled and rest her head against Spectra's chest. I smiled a little and kissed Spectra gently for a moment. "I love you both, so very much. You're the best family I could ask for, and nothing will change that."

Spectra went to say something before his ears perked, hoofsteps outside of the house, hushing the both of us he stood and moved to the door, just as he reached for the door there was a knock, and the sound of hoofsteps running away.

"This… Might be bad." Spectra said, gulping as he moved to open the door, but he didn't find what he feared, he found what looked to be his helmet that he had lost in the rescue, laying there on the doorstep.

"What's that Daddy?" Calypso asked curiously as she looked at the helmet.

"Who would've brought that?" I wondered out loud.

After a quick investigation, Spectra picked it up and carried it into the room, he was looking at it almost like it was different somehow. "I don't know, but whoever did it - they gave it a new paintjob."

I nodded a little and gave him a smile. "Well, that was nice of them."

He held it out, the face shield of the helmet had gotten tattered through everything, covered in dust and soot, but one feature stood out, the metal under the eyes had been practically polished clean, but the way it looked, it looked as though tears had been running from the eyes.

"How is that even possible… its power armor, it can't cry" Spectra said, perplexed.

"I, have no idea," I said and looked down at Calypso who let out a yawn. "I think somepony is tired. Lets get her to bed and then we can look into this mystery."

Nodding Spectra put down the helmet, exposing something his hoof had been covering, bright rainbow colored letters written across the back, spelling out LOYALTY, overtop of what looked like the dashite brand.

I blinked a bit in surprise at that. "That's, unexpected…" I said and gently picked calypso up and placed her on my back. I paused a moment and looked back at it, something about all of this was weird, but we'd have to see if we could figure this out.

I picked up the comic to put it back away when it strangely opened up to the page I had been reading before and my eyes fell on two panels.

"Wait, before you leave. I did the right thing didn't I? It all worked out in the end."

"In the end? Nothing ends April. Nothing ever ends."

"That's weird…" I said as I put it away before I looked back at Spectra. "So, shall we?"

"Shall we what, my dear?" Spectra said with a soft chuckle.

I just chuckled a little and headed upstairs to the room we had set aside for Calypso and put her in bed. I smiled a little and gave her a light kiss on the forehead. "Sleep well Callie, I love you my little pony."

I looked back at Spectra and gave him a nod as I went back over to him and sighed a little. "Spectra… am I a good mother?"

"Best mother I've ever seen, though I might be a bit bias." Spectra said with a smile.

I sighed a little and looked back at Calypso before nodding. "I've done the best I can, but I'm still worried that everything that we've had to do to keep her safe isn't helping her. Hopefully when this is over, we can make up for all the secrecy and hiding, together."

"Only time will tell, but she's proving to be fiercely loyal like her old man, and strong and smart just like her mom. I think if she keeps on this pace she'll turn out just fine." Spectra said with a laugh.

I smiled and nodded a little before I leaned in and kissed Spectra deeply on the lips for a long moment. "I hope you're right, and I love you Spectra. I'm really glad we finally told Callie, at least that came out of all of this."

"When have I ever been wrong?" Spectra said with a laugh before he went back to where he had left the helm. "This though, this confuses me."

"Yeah, me too," I said and looked at it for a long moment. "Well, I mean there is the obvious connection to Rainbow Dash, but that doesn't make sense. Nopony should know about that."

"No pony knows that, No pony but you and just a small few." Spectra said, placing a hoof to those letters. "My bigger question is, something gets me about this, do you remember that song I found, the one I played when we first got together?"

I smiled a little and nodded as I thought about it. "How could I forget?"

"Cause you know I'll stay with you, that's why they call me loyalty." he said, rubbing his hoof against those letters. "I don't know if that's related or not, but maybe it is."

"Spectra, you're the most loyal pony I've ever met," I said with a smile as I nuzzled him gently. "It's part of what attracted me to you in the first place. Whatever that is for, loyalty is something that will always jump to mind when I think of you. I guess for now, we don't really have any answers unless more items like that show up. Who knows, maybe it references the Element of Loyalty. Lets see if the guards know anything."

"Alright, I mean it's weird that they didn't stop the pony that dropped this off, or maybe… do you believe in spirits?" Spectra said as he smiled to me.

"I've studied the Zebra religion and I've heard reports of a being called the Dealer," I said with a shrug. "I've never seen one personally, but I'm open minded."

"It's these tear streaks. They get me, like - somepony was there with me, urging me just a little faster, push a little harder that, just never give up or give in." Spectra said, running a hoof along those streaks. "A little dash, of loyalty."

I smiled and took his face in my hoof and gave him a kiss. "My gallant knight, coming to my rescue like the brave protector you've always been. If there's anypony in Equestria that represents loyalty right to me, it's you. Maybe some spirit out there recognized that and helped you, you never know."

"Heh, Maybe it was Dash." He said with a laugh before shaking his head. "Doubt it though, Spirits are just some old mare's tale, then again… so was the sonic rainboom."

"Maybe, though, you never know," I said with a shrug. "In my experience, every story has to come from somewhere. Maybe there are spirits out there somewhere. I guess we won't know for sure until we see one face to face."

"Did I ever tell you, that I never believed in elysium?" Spectra said, smirking. "Well, I think now that we've come out, and I can actually be with you like we used to be. I don't need to believe in it, every day with you, is my elysium."

I smiled and leaned in and kissed him passionately for a long moment. I wrapped my wings around him gently and pulled him in close before breaking the kiss after a moment. "You know, I'm going to have to get back to work soon. How about, we shelve this mystery for later when we have more clues, and go spend some time together in, private?" I said and gave him a wink.

"Oh I thought you would never ask" Spectra said with a chuckle, returning my embrace.

I gave him a smile and released the embrace after a moment as I headed off to my bedroom, my tail brushing against his snout briefly as it passed.

Quest Perk Earned!

Name: I am Ozymandias, King of Kings.

Details: You've come to better understand the nature of characters as well as begun to delve deeper into your own psyche. You get an extra 10 points in your Speech stat and a boost to Charisma.

00000

Blackjack's story

I always thought I would never see a battle like this again. But maybe I'm thinking to much about it. But thats all I have been doing since I got sober thinking. I thought about what I would say to Glory, of what I would say to her family. Thinking so much I would've thought it would have hurt my head. I used to be such a simple mare living such a simple life. I doubt a simple life will be what I want anymore.

I laid in a homemade home that well it's not much, but it's best for my little girl. But again while I looked out the window. All I can think of is my friends and hoping Scootaloo will be okay.

Go Fish looked up at me curiously from her spot on the floor where she had been reading a book. "Are you okay Other Mommy?"

My ears perked at the voice. I turned my head a soft smile forming on my face. "Yes...just your mother is thinking."

"Really? Mommy said if you ever did that smoke would be coming out of your ears, I don't see any smoke," Go Fish said and tilted her head cutely.

A soft chuckle came from my mouth. "Your mother and I didn't fully get along when we first met. But I got a friend that is coming to meet you."

"Oh, who's that?" Go Fish asked as her ears perked up a little out of curiosity.

Slowly getting on the floor near beside my little girl. "Her name is Boo. She saved my butt many times. Also is the reason I am even here to see you."

The door opened and a familiar white and grey mare came into the house. She gave me a smile and then looked down at Go Fish curiously. "Hello Boo. This is Go Fish.. well how do I explain this… She's my daughter."

"Hi there," Go Fish said with a smile as Boo looked at Go Fish curiously and sniffed at her a little. "Umm, does she talk?"

"She does but only if she knows she can trust you. She is okay Boo she is not a fake. She belongs to Glory and I." Gently wrapping my forelegs around little Go fish.

"It, nice to meet you," Boo said after a moment and gave Go Fish a smile.

"Did you tell Glory hello before coming to see the two of us?" I asked the white grey mare.

Boo nodded. "It was good to see her again, been too long."

"Good..Her family still doesn't trust me. But I'm going to be marrying her when this is all said and done." Looking over to the window again sighing. Turned my head back to Boo smiling. " I haven't drank anything for along time Boo."

Boo smiled broadly and gave me a hug. "That good."

Go Fish tilted her head a little for a moment as if thinking. "I've never really met my family, are, they going to like me?"

Looking down to Go Fish. I had a worried look on my face. Would her grandfather like her.. Would her aunts like her So many thoughts screaming in my mind. No they won't like her. Yes. they will like her. My face has the look of well unsure and fear in my eyes and of course Boo knew this look.

"Go Fish, if they are family, then they will love you," Boo said and ruffled the filly's mane gently. "Do not worry."

I sighed feeling better since.. Boo was here. "Thank you Boo." Saying very softly to her.

"You're welcome," Boo said with a smile.

The door opened after a moment and Glory poked her head out. "Alright Blackjack, you two can come in now."

I took a deep breath and released it looking back to Boo. " We will be back."

Boo smiled and nodded before she took a seat to wait. Go Fish looked up at me with a nervous smile.

Gently placed the little Go Fish on my back. Slowly walking out of the room. Looking to Glory with a weak smile on my face. "Uh...did they take it well?"

"Well, my Dad and older sisters gave me a long lecture about not doing stupid things while drunk," Glory said with a groan. "But they eventually calmed down at least."

Slowly I followed Glory to the room. My gut danced from being nervous. Normally I would never be nervous to see Glory's family. But the fact that Glory and I had a little filly together. Might anger them. "Um… Glory is it okay if… I stay out?"

"Why?" Go Fish asked as she tilted her head a little.

"Is everything okay Blackjack?" Glory asked as she looked at me worriedly.

"Just..I think your family won't be happy to see me." Looking away sighing. "Sometimes it's hard to give up drinking. All I do now is think."

"Let me talk to them a little bit, I'm sure we can work this out," Glory said with a smile as she gave me a quick kiss. "Besides, I don't care what they think, I still love you no matter what and I'm not going to change that."

A deep sigh released from my mouth. "Thank you Glory. I needed that so much. Take her in first." My horn glowed gently lowered Go Fish near Glory. "Lets allow cuteness to melt your father's heart."

"Alright, come on Go Fish, let's meet your grandpa and aunts," Glory said with a smile as she lead her into the other room. She gave me one last worried look before she shut the door behind them.

As I laid near the door so I could hear what was going on inside. I didn't want to be away from Go Fish she changed me. If my friends could see me now.. Maybe I should retire after this battle is over and focus on my family.

"And who's this?" I heard her father say.

"This is Go Fish, she's, your granddaughter," Glory answered and a long moment of silence that followed as her family probably thought that over.

"She's so cute!" Another voice said that I recognized as one of Glory's younger sisters said. "Hey, I'm your Aunt Lambent, it's nice to meet you!"

There was a lot of chatter as they talked to Go Fish. It at least sounded very positive as they seemed to like her at least. And then the gruff voice of Glory's father said, "And, where is Blackjack?"

I sighed finally it was my time to show up. Using my horn to open the door and calmly walked inside. "Hello sir.." I said nervously.

Sky Striker looked me over with his one eye as he looked back at Glory. "Blackjack, well, you kept your word, this time. Though, this is an unexpected development," he said and looked over at Go Fish who was sitting with her aunts. "Glory has told me about the situation, but what do you have to say about it?"

I took a deep breath. "I am accepting all the mistakes I made in my past. I didn't know about Go Fish myself till I was told she was taken by the hardliners. Now that I got her and Glory back. I am willing to retire and live my life in peace with them sir.." I was waiting for something bad to happen. I looked over to Go Fish and my eyes softened.

Sky Striker closed his eye and sighed a little as he looked over at his daughters and granddaughter. "Blackjack, I'll admit that it's not been easy to accept this. But Glory loves you, that much is clear to me and both her and Scootaloo have convinced me that you do want to change. I gave you my blessing before and I stand by it, but you have to keep your word and if you do anything to hurt either my daughter or my Granddaughter, I will hunt you down and deal with you personally. Do I make myself clear?"

I stood fully on my hooves nodding. "Loud and clear sir! I promise you I will not hurt them or let anypony else hurt them. So you have my word." I said lowered my head to him in respect.

Glory smiled a little and wrapped her wing around me gently and looked back over at Go Fish with a nod. "Don't worry Dad, I'll keep a close eye on her and make sure that she stays out of trouble this time."

"Good," Sky Striker said as he looked at me. "Next time though, try and marry my daughter before you get her pregnant."

"Dad!" Glory said and facehooved.

I sighed shaking my head. "Striker." Looked to Glory to and Go fish. "I'm going to help in this final battle. To help bring a peaceful Equestria for Go Fish."

Glory looked at me for a long moment and wrapped her wings around me gently as she gave me a nod. "Alright Blackjack, just promise me you'll come home safe, okay?"

"I promise. I can't just sit back..and let Scootaloo do this on her own."

Glory nodded and nuzzled me gently. "Alright Blackjack, but for now, lets just enjoy this moment."

00000

Since the meeting went well I felt maybe It was best to let Striker get to know his granddaughter. But of course I was lost, my poor sense of direction did it to me again. Knowing I will make a fool of myself. I stopped a mare walking by.

"Excuse me.. I'm looking for the hospital." The mare just stared at me shaking her head. Lifting up her hoof to something behind me. So I turned to see well I was there already. Oh great…"Um thank you."

I walked inside feeling very stupid. Now I just needed to find the room. I looked around seeing so many rooms and ponies. Again feeling lost I went up to the front desk. "Um..excuse me."

The nurse looked up at me from where she was working. "Can I help you?"

"Yes I'm looking for the room Scootaloo is in."

"Third floor, room 7," the nurse said and directed me towards an elevator nearby.

I took a deep breath. Oh thank Celestia an elevator no stairs. "Thank you." Giving the nurse a kind nod and trotted to the elevator to click the button to head up. The door's opened up for me and I went inside. Clicking the button for the third floor.

I felt the movement of the elevator going up. The music oh that music. But soon enough the door opened up letting me out. Slowly walking to the door with the seven on it. Going to knock on it but I hesitated for the moment before I just knocked anyway.

The door opened and a pink Earth Pony mare with a darker pink mane and tail was standing there. She looked at me curiously for a moment before looking back in the room. "Hey Scootaloo, do you know a white cyberpony with a red and black mane?"

"Oh hey Blackjack," Scootaloo said from her hospital bed as the pink mare pushed the door open to let me in. "Come on in."

Staring at the mare for the moment. Then at her stomach this must the one Scoots told me about, but I will ask later. Slowly walking inside the room. "Well how's miss lucky?"

"Miss lucky?" Scootaloo asked as she looked over at me confused. "Well, I mean I guess it was lucky that I survived that… but I'm fine, my legs are just about healed and the doctor said I should be good to go soon."

"Good because there is only room for one mare with cyberlegs." I said with a smirk. I turned my head to look at the other mare. "You must be the one known as Cherry?"

"Yeah, Cherry Blossom," Cherry said with a smile as she took a seat in a chair next to Scootaloo's bed. "Scootaloo told me about what happened in Thunderhead, it sounded like quite the battle."

"Yes yes it was. Scootaloo I..." I sighed looking to the window. "I wish to go with you for the final battle. To give Glory and Go Fish a peaceful world to live in."

Scootaloo looked at me and then at Cherry for a moment and then smiled a little. "Blackjack, whenever the final fight with the Hardliners come I can't think of anypony else I'd rather have fighting in it," she said and then placed her hoof on Cherry's. "We both have our families to fight for."

I looked at Cherries belly smiling. "I'm sure that's not from getting drunk and a spell?" I bluntly asked.

Scootaloo blushed a little and Cherry shook her head. "It's, not hers. I was a breeder in my home Stable and she's the daughter of a stallion from there," she said and then looked at Scootaloo with a smile. "But, I love Scootaloo a lot, and she's willing to be there and help me raise my daughter."

"Well Scootaloo you have proven again you're a better pony. Of course you didn't know about Go Fish either till Glory told us. But speaking of that I'm in her father's good graces. Unless I hurt them both in some way." I sighed.

"Blackjack, you're a lot better pony than you give yourself credit," Scootaloo said with a soft smile. "If you weren't then you wouldn't have cared about doing better for Glory or wanting to be there for your daughter. You're not a bad pony Blackjack, you've made mistakes, but you're a good pony deep down. I can see that in you."

I wish I could think the same way like she does. I closed my eyes a bit and shook my head to remove those thoughts from my head. "Thank you Scootaloo maybe someday I will believe it myself. But for now I must protect Go Fish."

"You're already acting like a good mom," Cherry said with a light smile. "One thing I've learned since I met Scootaloo is that the first duty of a mom is to keep their foal safe and happy. I think you'll do fine."

"Huh I see why you love her Scootaloo. She will keep you out of your funk. Then plant in that block head of yours not to get your legs broken." I said with a laugh.

"Yeah, she's great," Scootaloo sand with a smile as she leaned over and kissed Cherry gently. "You're lucky too Blackjack, Morning Glory is a great mare, I'm happy you got to find her again."

I nodded and looked back on my life before I met Scootaloo. All the crying all the cussing all the hating of life. "I am sure you told her... I kissed you when we first met."

"She did what?" Cherry said as she looked at Scootaloo who blushed heavily.

"She was, inebriated at the time," Scootaloo said and blushed more. "I mean, it was just the one kiss… and…"

I gave a loud laugh. "Lets just say.. I expected a bit much from her. Then I started becoming her friend. She and I hit it off and all I wanted to do. Is help her after all that. I told her I am a descendant of Twilight Sparkle."

"And you two are, kinda related, really distantly," Scootaloo added with a groan and Cherry's eyes went wide in surprise.

"Wait, seriously?"

"Yes Twilight kind of had a secret love affair with Big Mac. She didn't even tell him she was expecting." I added with a deep sigh.

"Oh, I see," Cherry said. "I, honestly never really thought much about having a family until recently because of how Stable 48 worked. I knew about my ancestors sure, but I guess I never really thought about anypony else I might be related to."

"Well how about this. I call you Cuz and we make Scootaloo deal with it for the rest of her life?" I said laughing. "Think of it this way Scoots. Go Fish will call you auntie." I winked at her.

"That's not so bad, she seems like a nice kid," Scootaloo said with a shrug. "Though now it feels like my family tree is getting more and more complicated and weird."

I chuckled. "But there is one last thing I need to do before I go back to my family Scoots.. I need to fix things with Midnight."

"Of course… we don't even really know when we're going to fight the Hardliners at the moment," Scootaloo said with a sigh. "You might try down in Junction Town, she's usually in the command center past the Memorial Garden."

"Thank you Scoots. Oh before I go may I hug her Cherry?" I looked to Cherry asking if it was alright to hug my friend.

"Go ahead, Scootaloo's kind of huggy, but she's mine, remember that," Cherry said with a chuckle.

I laughed shaking my head giving Scoots a tight hug in my metal forelegs. "Take care also nice meeting you Cherry. I now know she is in good hooves." Moving back I gave them both a wave goodbye and left the room.

00000

Taking a deep breath I had one more thing I needed to do. Fix things up with Midnight. There I go thinking again. I really need to stop doing this. Walking towards Junction Town towards what I guess was.. Looking up I saw a statue of Little Pip a deep sigh came from my mouth.

Good to see that she is getting what she deserves. I screwed up way too much to get one. Eh i doubt I ever really deserved one from the start. Since I may have done so much myself. But I see this now and I'm happy for her.

I sat down on my haunches staring up at the statue. Maybe I could talk to her again but we did meet at a weird time. I shook my head I needed to focus walking into the commander center to find Midnight. I wondered if this was even a good idea at all.

"Hello Blackjack," a familiar mare's voice said from behind me.

I sighed deeply and turned my head. "Hello Midnight."

Midnight looked at me for a long moment and sighed with a shake of her head. "You're looking well… I heard you found your marefriend again."

I sighed deeply trying to think of what to say. "Yes I did, but I came to talk to you. First to the fact I didn't know Twilight had another decadent."

"Yeah, I didn't expect that either," Midnight said and shook her head. "I only knew about my ancestor Eclipse until a few years back."

"I had to see it through a memory orb. But.." I paused a moment. " Look i am sorry for how I treated you back then. I look back now I have a lot of sins to clean even if I can't do them all."

Midnight sighed a little and shook her head. "Blackjack… I honestly don't know what to think. You caught me at a low point in my life because of the anniversary of Blaze's death. I let you get close to me because I just needed somepony to be with. Mind you, it makes things a bit awkward looking back…" she said and blushed a little. "But I forgive you for what happened."

Shaking my head, why didn't this make me feel any better? "Thank you but.. I feel I hurt you Midnight. I know I didn't just I hurt so many. I have so much to make up for. But taking care of Go Fish is helping me forget everything. But not how I treated others." I looked away a moment then back to her. "If you ever need to talk over a cup of well tea. I'm drinking tea now yes..I gave up drinking all together."

"I, might take you up on that offer sometime," Midnight said with a smile. "But for now I need to focus on the war with the Enclave Hardliners. After that, I, just want to get back to my Tribe, this war has kept me away from my family for too long."

"Midnight, you need a break from this for at least an hour. Come with me we will get some tea and talk."

Midnight looked at me and then back at the command center. She went to talk to one of her aides for a moment before she returned. "Alright, that sounds good, but just for an hour."

I nodded. "I can introduce you to Glory and Go Fish ask them to come with us if you would like."

Midnight nodded. "Sure, someday I'll have to introduce you to my daughter."

A soft smile formed on my face. "I would love that Midnight.. Come along." Maybe it's how life is. But I'm not sure how much it would have been. If the past never fixed itself. Maybe someday I will learn who that Dealer really is.. But for now, peace and harmony.

Midnight smiled and nodded before we headed off together.

Quest Perk Earned!

Name: The Things I do for Love.

Details: You've gotten what you've always wanted with your family, now you have to fight for it to make sure it lasts. You get an extra boost to your guns stat while fighting for your family.

00000

Nova's Story

"Star Paladin Nova, the Elder wants to speak to you," a Knight said as I looked up from the terminal I had been working on. "He says its urgent ma'am."

"Okay," I said and got to my hooves as I fit my helmet back over my head. I sighed a little, there was little question as to what the Elder wanted to talk to me about. "What kind of condition is he in?"

The Knight looked down at her hooves and shook her head. That wasn't a good sign, it certainly didn't fill me with confidence over what was hapIpening with Elder Ironsides. I followed the Knight back through the Typhon and to the medical bay where Ironsides was being taken care of.

Ruby Starlight stepped out of the medical bay, she had been brought in to check on Ironsides in hopes that her healing magic could do something to heal him. She looked at me and shook her head a little.

"I'm sorry Nova, there's nothing I can do, even Alicorns can't stop the aging process," she said with a shake of her head. "I've made him comfortable, but he's not going to last much longer at this rate I'm afraid."

"Its alright, thank you for at least trying to help Ruby," I said with a smile as she gave me a hug. "How long do you think he's going to last?"

"It could be a few hours or a few days, its hard to tell I'm afraid," Ruby said with a sigh. "I'm sorry, I really do wish I could do more to help. He's a good pony from what I know about him, I wish that he was going to make it."

"Its okay Ruby, its not your fault," I said and gave Ruby a nod as I looked into the medical center and sighed. "Do you know what he wants to talk to me about?"

Ruby sighed a little and shrugged before speaking in that sweet slight Neigh Orleans accent of her's. "He needs to name a successor but he won't say anything to me. Just try and help him be comfortable okay? Don't do anything to upset him or it might make things worse."

I wasn't sure how things could be worse than him already being on his deathbed, but I didn't question what she meant. I sighed and looked back into the Medical Center before I headed inside. Elder Ironsides was laying in his hospital bed, his dark grey coat and white mane was faded and while it usually made him look distinguished, he looked sad and weak now.

"Hello Elder," I said in a soft voice as I moved next to his bed and he opened his eyes and looked over at me.

"Nova, its so good to see you again," he said with a hoarse voice as I levitated my helmet back off of my head so he could see my face. "You're looking well, you've barely aged since I first met you on the Pier 10 years ago."

"You look well too," I said with a smile as I tried to sound more sincere than I really felt. "Knight Crystal said you wanted to speak to me about something? Is everything okay?"

Ironsides looked at me and coughed lightly before he answered the question. "I'm not long for this world Nova... I know it, you know it, there's no point in us denying it. You're the best pony I've ever had serve under me Nova, you're brave, strong, and you have the strongest sense of justice of any pony I've ever met. I just wish that Rose could've seen the wonderful mare you've grown up to be."

I smiled a little and placed my hoof on his. Ironsides had been like a father to me for years, the only father I had ever really known. "I miss her every day of my life, even if neither of you were my parents by birth, you made me the mare I am today."

"You made Applejack's Rangers stronger, you made sure that we survived against Elder Mandrake and his forces," Ironsides said with a shake of his head. "You gave us a future. You're going to lead Applejack's Rangers with great distinction."

"Do you really think I should be the one to become the next Elder?" I asked with a sigh. "I mean, the others they believe in me and will follow me, but I'm not capable of being the Elder. I made mistakes, I nearly got us all killed during the Great Schism and that's not even going into what's happened since then."

"You're my successor, there's nopony else I could trust with it," Ironsides said with a shake of his head. "Please Nova, you're going to do just fine. I know its something that you don't feel you're ready for, but I know you're ready. Just give yourself a chance to do it. The Rangers need strong leadership with the War going on, and you are the pony that we need."

I sighed a moment and looked back at Ruby who stood in the doorway and nodded. What was I going to do now? I had no doubt that it Ironsides and the others believed in me, and the Enclave war was making everything harder to do. I really only had one decision to make, so I nodded.

"Alright Elder, I'll do it for you," I said with a smile as I looked down at him. I didn't like the idea of being the Elder, but I didn't have much of a choice.

"Star Paladin Nova, do you swear to uphold the traditions and beliefs of Applejack's Rangers? To ensure that our future is secured and that the Rangers protect our allies and Equestria from all enemies both within and without?" Ironsides said as he looked at me.

"I do," I said with a nod.

"Then I name you Elder of Applejack's Rangers, carry this title with honor and distinction," Ironsides said and then laid back on the bed and closed his eyes. And with that he let out a final breath as the monitoring machines suddenly let out a loud beep and an alarm.

I backed up as Ruby and the rest of the medical staff rushed in to try and resuscitate him. Ironside's eyes never opened up again however, he had passed away.

And now I was the Elder of Applejack's Rangers.

00000

Ironside's funeral was small and held just for members of Applejack's Rangers. As he was placed in his grave that had been dug out on a hill just outside of Junction Town, I sighed and looked around at the other Rangers. It felt like almost the entire crew of the Typhon, not to mention ponies from other contingents around Equestria had shown up for the funeral.

It felt like I was burying Rose all over again, Ironsides may have just been my commanding officer but he had done everything he could to help me. He had never treated me differently, even after what happened in Seaddle, he had always cared more about what I was doing.

I looked over at Gear Shift who sighed and shook her head. The Earth Pony mare, Ironside's only surviving blood relative, was still trying to process everything that was going on. I placed my hoof gently on her withers and gave her a smile as she hugged me tightly.

"Elder Nova, Paladin Gear Shift, would you like to say a few words?" The Head Scribe asked as he looked at us sympathetically. "I know you were close to him, if you want to say anything now is the time."

I looked at Gear Shift and gave her a nod as she stepped forward and looked down at the dead body of her Great Uncle as it rested in the grave. She closed her eyes and sighed a moment before she looked around at the others, and then at me, her eyes were filled with tears.

"Elder Ironsides was always a strong pony," Gear Shift said with a sigh as she placed her helmet down on the ground in front of her. "He stood strong against the horrors of the Wasteland and against Elder Mandrake and his followers. I never really knew him growing up, I always just heard about this great uncle I had that had left the farm and had never been seen again. Imagine my surprise when I followed reports of Steel Rangers who had gone against tradition to Seaddle and found him at the Pier. I guess we had some things in common after all, and that brought us together as a family. That was over 10 years ago now, and here I am..."

She looked back at me and gave me a light smile as she nodded down to her foreleg where the wedding bracelet was hidden by her power armor. I gave her a smile and a nod, Ironsides had presided over our wedding a few years back, another good memory with him that was going to be harder to remember without thinking about him.

"Because of him I met one of the most wonderful mares in the entire Wasteland," Gear Shift said with a smile. "I'll miss him, but we all need to focus on the good times we had with him as our Elder. We have to stay the course and make sure that Applejack's Rangers continues to do our job and follow the vision set down by Applejack and Steelhooves. Ironsides would want it that way."

Gear Shift picked her helmet back up and moved back to my side and nuzzled me gently. I smiled a little and kissed her gently. "I'm glad I met you too Gear."

"Why don't you say something? I mean, you're the new Elder," Gear Shift suggested, I was about to protest when she pushed me forward and everypony's eyes fell on me.

I gulped a little, I hadn't really been one for public speaking, and right now wasn't the best time to try and learn how to improvise. I looked behind me at Gear Shift who just gave me a smile and a nod.

"You all know who I am, you all know what I did in Seaddle when I met Ironsides," I said with a sigh. "A lot of ponies see me as a hero even though I just did what I felt was necessary to help Equestria and Seaddle. Ironsides, he never cared about that, he just saw me as a good soldier, that's all I ever really wanted to be. Ironsides wants me to be the Elder, I'm not really sure if I'll do a good job but I do promise all of you that I will do my best to serve you in that capacity."

I looked back at Gear Shift and gave her a smile as I turned back to look at the gathered ponies. I was starting to feel a little better at least, but I was still nervous about this. I took a deep breath and continued to speak after a moment.

"Gear Shift is right, we have to make sure that we keep true to our beliefs and traditions. Ironsides would have wanted that way, and I promise that I'll do everything I can to make sure we don't lose sight of that. will make sure that our future is secured, thank you, all of you."

I moved back and took my spot next to my wife again and gave her a nod. She whispered to me, "You did great, I told you you'd be fine."

I smiled and nuzzled her gently as they started to bury the body. A gravestone had been set up with his cutie mark carved into it. I sighed and looked down at the grave for the longest moment

"Ad victorum, Elder Ironsides," I said respectively before we headed back to the Typhon together.

00000

"Nova, are you okay?" Gear asked as she looked up at me from her spot on my chest. I hadn't moved to the Elder's quarters yet, I wasn't sure if I wanted to, so we were laying in our bed in my quarters aboard the Typhon. "You seem a bit more distracted than usual."

"Huh? Oh yeah," I said with a shake of my head as I leaned down and kissed the Earth Pony mare lightly on the forehead. "I'm not used to being the Elder still and everything that happened to Ironsides."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Gear Shift said with a sigh as she nuzzled my chest lightly. "He was a good pony that gave Applejack's Rangers a chance to be better. I'm glad I got the chance to know him really, he was all I had left of my family..."

I stroked her mane gently as she started to cry into my chest. I sighed a little and held her close, I had no idea what I was going to tell to her. "I'm sorry Gear, I wish he was still here too. But, you still have me, you'll always have me for your family."

Gear Shift brushed her tears out of her eyes and looked up at me. "I know, but sometimes I wish I had more. Sometimes I wish we could have foals together, you know?"

I sighed and closed my eyes. We had tried using the procreation spell before only to find out that because of a rare anomaly in Gear's genetics it wouldn't work using her DNA or cells. We had talked about maybe getting a stallion to serve as a donor, but it just wouldn't be the same.

Though, I had talked to Rain Runner recently and she said that there was another way. I just had to talk to Gear Shift about it. "Gear, what if I told you that there was a way we could have a foal?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, Rain told me about some things that the Project were doing, apparently they were able to work around this problem with other mares," I said softly. "Eureka's notes are all in New Pegasus, Rain said that Corona would be able to replicate it easily, if you want. We can even use a surrogacy spell to carry her normally."

Gear sniffed a little and looked up at me with her red eyes and smiled a little. "They'd do that for us?"

"Yeah, Rain and her friends are good ponies like that," I said with a smile as I kissed Gear gently on the lips. "We could have a little filly... if that's what you want. It probably won't be until after the war is over but..."

Gear thought about it for a long moment and then nodded with a smile. "Lets do it then. I, just wish Uncle Ironsides could've met her..."

"Me too Gear, me too," I said softly and held her close as she closed her eyes. I smiled a little and gave her one last kiss on the forehead before I closed my eyes.

I liked the idea of being a mom with my wife. It gave me a hope that maybe everything would be okay, and that the future of Applejack's Rangers would be secure.

"I love you Gear Shift," I said softly.

"I love you too Nova," she said and sighed happily as we drifted off to sleep together.

Quest Perk Earned!

Name: Applejack's Rangers Elder.

Details: You've been recognized by your superior on his deathbed of your skill and promoted to the rank of Elder, good luck. You get an extra 10 points in science and heavy weapons.

00000

Gambit's Story.

"General Sparkle, the latest casualty reports from the Battle of Thunderhead," a soldier dressed in an NCR uniform said as he passed the report over to Midnight who read it over.

"Thank you Private," she said with a sigh as she set it down and shook her head a little. "And we've lost the Captain of the Orion, just what we needed. First Elder Ironsides dies, now this, we're losing our more experienced cloudship commanders."

"Two things, Sparkle - Like, Twilight Sparkle?" I said with a soft chuckle before looking to the report. "And this, this is why I dislike war, good ponies dying and for what reason? Ideals and beliefs, most likely not even their own."

"Believe me, this is the second war I've been in, I'm not particularly liking it either, I'm starting to see why Goldmane lost it..." Midnight said and sighed a little. "And yes, like Twilight Sparkle, I gave up trying to hide my heritage years ago."

I couldn't help but stifle a giggle. "Oh, So we're distantly related then." I said, my horn lighting up as I let a few peices of armor fall from my side, exposing my cutiemark. A Six pointed purple star overlaying what looked like a compass rose. "I guess, you could say I am her half sister."

"Yay, more distant relatives showing up…" Midnight said with a sigh and shook her head. "Sorry Gambit, it's nothing against you, things have just been a little crazy lately."

"Hey, I didn't even know that my half sister had any family at all, heck until recently I didn't know I had a half sister." I said with a chuckle. "It's a little reassuring, knowing you're a little less alone because you still have family."

Midnight actually smiled a little at that. "Yeah, I spent most of my life being ashamed of it. Twilight was part of the reason all of this happened, and why my mom had to leave Stable 13 when I was a filly. I, guess I never really wanted to face it until, well, that's a long story involving a mirror portal."

"So, uh… Not to bring up bad memories let's just move on from that, the Orion, that ship" I said, taking a deep breath, "It's going to need a captain, and from what I can see - it's not a typical cloudship."

"No it's not," Midnight said with a nod. "Apparently it was built by the Ministry of Awesome to be an escort ship to go along with Nomad City. But since the Last Day happened, none of them were put into service and were just left in their berths until the Enclave found the Orion and used it during the Occupation of Manehattan."

"I thought they looked familiar, back before the last day I was included in some… trials" I said with a sigh. "Of the cadets trained in airship use, I was a prime candidate for captainship of one of these new, as of yet named vessels."

Midnight looked at me thoughtfully for a moment and sighed. "Well, I'll have to talk with the rest of the alliance commanders about it. But since most of the Enclave captains have their own ships and we're hesitant to add more automation on top of the Irregulars, you might be our best option."

"I'll train somepony to captain her, I can't devote my life to handling a ship permanently. There's still a few things I need to do." I said, looking to Midnight with a smile "Should be rather easy, if this one is anything like the one I was trained on - They are easy enough that a foal with a week of training could fly it."

"Understood, well thank you for at least doing that," Midnight said with a nod. "We still have to deal with the Hardliners and we can use all the ships we can get in the air."

"Glad to help, On another note, I saw Winter in Scootaloo's hospital room, you wouldn't happen to know if she's still around, I think it's about time I talk with her." I said, giving another sigh "I want some answers to a few things, and I think she can give them"

"How does the old saying go, speak of the devil and he shall appear?" A familiar mare's voice said from behind me.

"So you admit you're the devil then?" I said and spun around to face the mare. "Winter, You and I have some unfinished business."

"Its just a… never mind," Winter said as she looked me over with a frown. "Yes, I suppose we do, look about before…"

"I'm not surprised that you lied to me, wouldn't be the first time a political body lied to me or tricked me." I said, giving a sigh. "I get it though, you didn't want to hurt me, you just wanted me to see things from your perspective"

"Not, all of it was a lie," Winter said with a sigh. "I was trying to end the war peacefully, that was my ultimate goal with what I did. I, admit that I omitted certain details, and for that I am sorry. And, I'm sorry about what happened to Canterlot."

"Why though, why did you have to go and destroy it, there was ways it could of been cleaned and restored, and Ghouls aren't so bad, I mean - your hide is still safe because a ghoul sacrificed herself down in that stable." I said in retort with a sneer.

"I didn't order it!" Winter said loudly as she started to cry a little. "Operation Cauterize, it was carried out by the High Council and Colonel Autumn Leaf. I never would have ordered such a senseless act to be carried out, at the time I… I was just the secretary of education. I inherited their sins when I took office, and if I had my way I'd turn back the clock and keep it from happening. I'm sorry about Canterlot, I really am, there is no excuse for what the Enclave did there or anywhere else during Operation Cauterize."

"The sins of your predecessors is a burden to carry, but you can make up for their actions and have yet to even attempt." I said, "Operation Cauterize killed who knows how many ponies, and destroyed an entire city, a City I and many other ponies called home. History and culture - gone."

Winter stood there for a long moment and closed her eyes with a sigh. "I can't give you that back, but I can try and make up for it. It's not the same, but we could rebuild Canterlot, the Enclave has access to enough resources that we could make it possible."

"Both of you are old enough to remember Canterlot, Tell me did you at any point in your childhood, look to that mountain, To that city, and felt drive and inspiration" I said with a sigh. "I remember, during the war, any time I felt down or like I was failing, I just had to look to Canterlot, and remind myself that I had greater things to fight for."

Winter and Midnight looked between each other and sighed a little. Midnight spoke up first. "Gambit, the thing is that Canterlot was in bad shape. My mother, Nebula Sparkle, she went to Canterlot some 14 years before Operation Cauterize. There were good ponies in Stable City, such as Twilight Vel…"

My eyes went wide, attention snapping to Midnight. "She survived the stable? Mrs. Sparkle was still alive?"

Midnight flinched a little, she probably hadn't expected that reaction. "Yes, my mother crossed paths with her in Stable City when she traveled to Canterlot. And LittlePip also met her during her trip there to look for the Black Book, I'm sorry."

I couldn't stop the thoughts racing through my head, shaking as I stared at the ground. "I left her, she survived and I left her. How could I have done that? I should of brought her back, I could of saved her."

"I'm sorry Gambit," Midnight said softly. "My mother wanted to get her out of there, so did Steelhooves but when my mother was there Canterlot Ghouls were still mostly unfamiliar to the Wasteland…"

"Wait, how did you know she was in Stable 1?" Winter asked as she looked thoughtful for a moment. "Stable 1-B right? It was connected to Stable 1 wasn't it?"

"Yes, I was in Stable 1-B." I said with a sigh and shake of my head. "We got an alarm from Stable 1, we went in with the stable filled with the cloud - We only got a few survivors out, and of those only one or two actually survived."

"Gambit, I really am sorry about what happened to Canterlot," Winter said with a shake of her head. "I wish I could've stopped them from doing that. Though, Canterlot also had a lot of problems before then and was a hazard to anypony who entered it with the cloud and everything else. Still, we should've at least tried, and I'm sorry for that."

"Just like you're sorry about tricking me? About making me believe that the zebra were the ones to blame for the destruction of my home?" I said, shaking my head "No, I don't believe you are truly sorry, somepony who was sorry would be trying to make up and atone for their past mistakes, not hide behind petty apologies."

Winter went silent at that and looked down at her hooves for a long moment before finally saying softly, "You're right. I need to make up for what we did, what I did, not just to you but to everypony."

"The weight of the crown, so to speak." I said, smiling a little at Winter's admission. "You may not of been in charge of the Enclave during some of the bad things it did, but as president you have power to make up for them."

"And I will do everything within my power to make up for them," Winter said with a nod. "In the end, I just hope that history will be willing to absolve me for what I did. I just hope that I'll be able to make up for it."

"And I suppose, the best place to start, at least - here and now, is Canterlot." I said, with a little smile. At least it seemed that Winter was smart enough to listen to advice when given it, rather then assuming she knew better. Maybe I was wrong about her after all.

Winter nodded a little. "I agree, that would be the best place to start. Given the current situation I don't know how long it'll be until I can do anything, but I will do everything in my power to do whatever is needed. My offer to help rebuild it is still open."

"To rebuild is one thing, but Canterlot needs to not have any specific flag flying over it." I said with a shake of my head. "Just rebuilding it isn't enough, you need it to be free, let it be the shining beacon of Equestria, just like it used to be."

"Canterlot Mountain does fall under Enclave borders, does it not?" Midnight asked and looked over at Winter.

"Officially, yes, though we've never done anything with it," Winter said and looked at me. "Alright, I agree with this. If Canterlot is to be rebuilt it needs to be free, and it needs to be not just the effort of one single nation or faction. We should all work together on this, it would be a symbol of our future. Everyone in Equestria working together for a common cause and a brighter future."

"We heard rumors growing up, that there were large gems and crystals in the mountain's core, maybe with some work we could pull away the earth and carve one of those gems, or maybe retrieve one from one of the old quarries, I'm sure there is still plenty enough left." I said, thinking out loud for a moment.

"That's an idea, I remember that from some old journals," Winter commented with a nod she gave me a smile. "Thank you Gambit. This has helped me a lot."

"Midnight? What say you, Do we have your promise to help with the reconstruction of a free Canterlot?" I said, turning my attention back to the other mare. "Surely it would be of some interest for the NCR to have their namesake return"

"I do agree that we should be involved, but this is a civilian matter," Midnight said with a sigh and brushed her mane back. "I promise that I'll do everything in my power to get NCR involvement in the project, that's the best I can do."

"I can talk to President Grimfeathers as well," Winter offered.

"I get that you are just the head of military, but I think you have more friends and fans then you might be aware of. With your support, I have the feeling the civilian side of things will fall in line, it is part of your namesake after all, though they may not be too pleased to hear that you will not be the ones holding it." I said with a chuckle.

Midnight thought it over for a moment and nodded. "Alright, you have the NCR's support in the reconstruction of Canterlot. I'm sure as long as it remains friendly to the NCR, it won't be that hard to convince them that it's for the best."

"Alright then it's settled," Winter said with a nod. "If we can get Elder Nova and the Nomad City Council on board we'll have the four major members of the Alliance invested. It's a good start, and it'll send the right message."

"Alright then good," Midnight said with a nod and looked back at me. "Is there anything else?"

"Not that I can think of, General." I said with a sigh "Just, need some time to talk with my crew and decide where we're going to park the Quetzal until the new captain for the Orion can be trained."

"Alright, we'll get something arranged," Midnight said with a nod. "I'll talk with Nomad City maybe. I'll let you know what is worked out."

Quest Perk Earned!

Name: Princess of Friendship.

Details: You've brought Equestria closer together and helped rebuild it more by convincing the others to start work on rebuilding Canterlot. You get an extra point in Charisma and more points added to speech.

00000

Serenity's Story.

"Alright Ms. Cream, if you'll just sign here the house is yours," the administration pony said as he gave a piece of paper to Vanilla with the contract.

We had decided to move to Nomad City after Vanilla had tendered her resignation as the Mayor of Crystal City, Aunt Butterscotch would be moving in with us soon along with some of the others who would come to Nomad City.

"Of course," Vanilla said with a smile as she signed the contract and levitated it over to the administrator. "Thank you for getting everything set up so quickly."

"Well, the house's owner recently moved to Junction Town so it happened to be free and you came on a good recommendation from Councilmare Jade and her family," the administrator said. "Its fully furnished of course, so all you don't have to worry about shopping. Welcome to Nomad City you two, I hope you enjoy your time here."

"Thank you," Vanilla said with a smile and shook his hoof before he left the house and we looked around. She looked down at me with a nod and nuzzled me gently. "What do you think Serenity? Are you going to be okay living with me again?"

I looked up at Vanilla and smiled a little. While I had become more comfortable living on my own in Crystal City, ever since we had come to Nomad City I had become more used to being with my family again.

"Yeah, don't worry about me," I said with a nod. "This place is pretty nice too."

"Yeah, we should thank Star and Jade for getting this all set up," Vanilla said with a nod as she hugged me a little. "What about leaving your friends behind in Crystal City, are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah, and its not like I'll never see them again, I mean Nomad City does visit the Crystal Wasteland," I said with a smile as we headed up to where my bedroom was. I put my scooter up against the wall, even if I was going to be able to fly now I didn't want to give it up completely. "I'm just glad Scootaloo's going to be okay, I, don't want to lose her again, you know?"

"Don't worry Serenity, Scootaloo's going to be just fine, she just needs to rest a little before they're ready to discharge her," Vanilla said and hugged me a little. "I'm proud of you Serenity, even if I was a little mad that you ran off without telling me, your heart was in the right place. I know I'm not going to be around forever, so can you promise me that you'll never let this world get to you?"

"I promise," I said with a smile as Vanilla nuzzled me gently. "I'll do everything I can to stay strong after..."

I let that thought trail off for a moment. I didn't like thinking about how Vanilla was going to die in a year or two, she had raised me from when I was just a little foal as her own daughter. I hated that I was going to lose her, she had even been trying to talk with doctors while she was here but they said that her cybernetics kept them from doing anything to get rid of the tumor.

First I had lost my birth parents when I was a filly, then the Crusaders went back home to the human world, and now I was going to lose my mom. I hugged her tight and cried into her chest for a moment before I felt her warm forelegs wrap around me gently.

"Shhhh... let it all out, everything is going to be okay," Vanilla said softly as she stroked my mane gently. "Serenity, I know you're going to be just fine. You're the strongest pony I know, and you're going to be just fine. I'll always be watching over you, I promise."

I sniffed a little and brushed my tears out of my eyes. "I just don't want to lose you. Who's going to take care of me when you're gone?"

Vanilla sighed a little and looked down at me with a shake of her head. "Serenity, you're a very independent filly, but I asked Jade and Star to take you in if you need it. Scootaloo, Cherry, and I'm sure even Winter would be willing to help you out as best they can too. I, know its not going to be easy, but I would never just leave you on your own, there are a lot of good ponies out there who care about you."

I smiled a little and buried my muzzle in her chest as I hugged her. She smiled and held me there for a moment. I just enjoyed the feeling of being close to my mom and sighed happily.

"Thanks mom... I still don't want to lose you though," I said with a sigh and looked up at her.

"I know Serenity, I don't want to have to go, but I promise that I'll do everything I can to be there for you until then," Vanilla said and gave me a smile. "I love you Serenity, you're the best daughter I could ask for."

"Even if I get into trouble?"

"Yes, even if you get into trouble," Vanilla said with a laugh as she ruffled my mane. "You just want to help Equestria as best you can and I'm proud of you for that. I'm just glad that you haven't gotten badly hurt."

"Hey, you weren't exactly staying out of trouble when you fought the Enclave and Sombra," I pointed out with a chuckle.

This just made Vanilla laugh. "Yeah, but at least I waited until I was in my 20's to do that," I just chuckled and nodded as there was a knock on the door. "Oh hey, that might be Sparky, she said she'd try and come by. I have a few things to take care of and I was thinking you could spend some time with her."

I tilted my head a little, Sparky was a good friend and family of course but I wondered what Vanilla needed to do without me. I nodded a little and gave Vanilla one more hug. "I'll see you later, okay?"

"Okay Serenity, I love you," Vanilla said and hugged me back before I headed back downstairs and opened the door to see Sparky standing there with a smile.

"Hey Serenity," she said.

"Sparky!" I said and gave her a hug. "I heard you became some sort of superhero or something, that's cool."

Sparky just laughed and hugged me back as she ruffled my mane gently. "Yeah, that's me the latest Mysterious Mare-Do-Well. I'm still kind of getting used to it to be honest, but ever since we got back here I've actually been learning how to fight more as best we can in the short time I've been here."

"That's cool!" I said with a nod as I looked up at her with a big smile.

"Hey, do you want to meet a real superhero? I'm still in training, but my predecessor came back with us," Sparky suggested and my ears perked up a little. "What do you say?"

"Sounds good," I said with a nod and called back upstairs. "Hey mom, can I go out with Sparky for a bit?"

"Sure, go ahead, just stay safe out there," Vanilla called back down to me. "Have fun you two, be back by 1700 hours okay?"

"Okay mom," I said and we headed out of the house together and down the street.

00000

"Hello Sparky," an older Pegasus mare who was waiting for us in the park in central Nomad City said before she looked down at me. "Who's the filly, your little sister?"

"It's complicated," I said with a chuckle. "I'm Serenity, I'm more like her really distant cousin."

"Yeah, it's a long story, I stopped trying to figure out my family tree awhile back," Sparky said with a laugh as she shook her head. "She's a good kid though, she helped fight off the Changelings apparently."

"Oh really?" The older mare said and looked down at me curiously.

"Yeah, I was with the Crystal Crusaders that fought them off," I said with a nod and looked at her curiously. "Are you really a superhero?"

The mare chuckled dryly at that and offered me a hoof. "I'm Thunderstrike, it's nice to meet you Serenity."

"It's nice to meet you too," I said with a smile as I shook the older mare's hoof. "So, what brings you to Nomad City?"

"Well, I'm here to try and help Sparky here," Thunderstrike said with a nod as she looked over at Sparky. "She's good in a fight but she still has a lot to learn. Though, with most of the Enclave joining the Alliance, things are going to be a bit different."

"Oh, do you normally fight the Enclave then?" I asked with a tilt of my head.

"Yeah, ever since one of your relatives was the first one, but that was in a different age," Thunderstrike said with a nod. "I, have to admit I didn't ever expect the Enclave to change this much. Winter is going against Enclave tradition in ways nopony really expected, so this conflict was really inevitable."

I sighed a little, I had met Winter not long after she arrived on Nomad City. She seemed nice enough and meeting her daughter who was about the same age as me was nice, it was kind of cool to know that I had more family out there.

Still, knowing that I was related to the President of the Enclave was unexpected to say the least. I had seen ponies in the Alliance working with the Enclave soldiers but they had seemed a bit uneasy about the whole thing, not that I blamed them.

The Enclave had left me for dead, I was having a hard time believing that they really had changed even if Winter seemed nice. What was I supposed to think? They had attacked my mom's home Stable and left me behind because I couldn't fly.

I hated the Enclave, I really did. But was it possible that they were able to change? Scootaloo seemed to think so, and I trusted her, I just hoped she was right.

"Do, you think the Enclave really has changed?" I asked softly as I looked between the two older mares. "I mean, I've talked with Winter and she seems to have changed, but… I don't really know. I'm just afraid that ponies will suffer the same fate that I did when I was just a foal…"

"Serenity, it's okay, I understand," Thunderstrike said and placed her hoof on my shoulder. "I lost my parents when I was a young filly to the Enclave too. My predecessor raised me and helped me have a good life, it wasn't easy to lose her when she died either."

I sighed a little and closed my eyes. "I just hope that Winter is being genuine," I said softly. "Scootaloo says she is, and I trust her judgment, but I just don't know."

"Mom is a good pony and a good judge of character," Sparky said and I looked over at her curiously. "That's something that doesn't change between the clone and the original. I think, if she thinks Winter can be trusted then it's probably true."

"And if it's not, she'll be dealt with," Thunderstrike added with a nod. "Don't worry Serenity, you're not the only pony who doesn't trust the Enclave."

"But, imagine if they did change," Sparky said with a shrug. "The Enclave has a lot of technology and information that could help Equestria. I know it's not ideal, but we should at least give it a chance.

We stood in silence for a long moment as we thought over what we were talking about. Sparky was right, the Enclave could do a lot of good for Equestria if they were given a chance, and Winter might give them that chance.

"Excuse me, Ms. Thunderstrike?" A voice said from behind us and we turned to see a messenger pony standing there with a piece of paper in their hoof.

"Yes, can I help you?" Thunderstrike asked as she looked at the messenger who held the paper out to her.

"I was told to bring this to you," the messenger said and Thunderstrike took it and opened it up and her eyes went wide as she read it and looked at the messenger.

"Who gave this to you?" She demanded and threw it to the ground as she stormed over to the messenger who flinched. "Where did they go?"

"I, don't know, it was some pony in Enclave Power Armor!" The messenger said with a gulp. "I didn't get a name, I swear. They just kind of, left after that and I didn't think it important enough to see where they went!"

Thunderstrike calmed down after a moment as me and Sparky went over to the discarded note and smoothed it out so we could read what it said.

"Old friend, I know we've had our differences over the years and, I know I've done some things that I regret. Things are different now though, the Enclave itself has changed to something practically unrecognizable to what it used to be. You've changed, and so have I - This has been a long fight between you and I, you could say that perhaps - it may even be considered a war.

Things have never been more different than they are now, Life has been cruel to the both of us - and I was willing to do things that no pony else was willing to do, I've hurt a lot of ponies, young and old throughout the generations, the Enclave always told me that it's a dirty job but somepony has to do it. I'm starting to wonder if perhaps they may of been wrong.

Through the years, through everything though - even though we may be at odds, I consider you a friend, and a rival. But like I said, things have never been so different, and I think - maybe, just maybe - with this new face of the Enclave, and the death of the ideals I used to hold so dear, and something very important being returned to me, maybe I should let my ideals go, and bury the hatchet, once and for all.

Take care, my old friend. Believe it or not, I wish you the best and hope the skies forever clear for you, for the rest of your time here, and in the time beyond."

Thunderstrike took a deep breath and picked up the letter again as she read it over again. A thoughtful look crossed her face and she looked up towards the sky for a long moment.

"Uh, is everything okay?" I asked and looked at her.

"Cricket's always been angry because she lost her family in the Last Day," Thunderstrike said and then looked back at the paper. "Some years ago, I found out that her daughter made it into Stable 76 out near New Pegasus. If she's acting like this, she may have found out she had descendants, at least that's what I think."

"So, what are you going to do now?" I asked as I looked at Thunderstrike who sighed a little and shook her head.

"I honestly have no idea," she said with a shake of her head and folded the note back up and put it away. "Cricket's not exactly what I'd call a comedian, if she found that then she's likely being honest. I'll give her the benefit of a doubt, but…"

She turned and looked at Sparky who looked down and nodded a bit in understanding. "If she comes back, then it'll be on me to stop her."

There was a flash of aquamarine magic as a pony teleported in next to us. A light purple colored mare stepped forward, wearing an NCR uniform and atop her head, a Red Beret overtop her darker purple mane.

"Major Seren Lulamoon, NCR 1st Recon." She said, offering her hoof.

"Thunderstrike," the old Pegasus said and shook her hoof.

"Uh, have you been spying on us or something?" I asked with a tilt of my head.

"Yes ma'am, we may be far from the battlefield but you two are still high value targets, any Enclave sympathizers that snuck into the city may try and take you out." The Major said with a soft smile "I could get in a lot of trouble for even coming down here, so - off the books, this meeting never happened."

"Oh, okay," I said with a shrug. "So, uh, if you could get into a lot of trouble why are you here?"

"Simple ma'am, you were speaking about my removed several times over, grandmother." Seren said with a chuckle. "I wanted to say, she is no longer a threat to you, or any pony else."

"I see," Thunderstrike said and nodded in understanding. She looked over Seren for a moment and sighed. "Alright, if Cricket is genuine, then there will be no further issue between us. Just, tell her not to expect us to become best friends or something."

"That's actually what she said to me when I spoke to her during the battle of Thunderhead, funnily enough she shot some Enclave soldiers that had me cornered." Seren said, sitting and looking to that old mare. "Said she had to come see for herself, She heard rumors that I might exist, all she asked was to be allowed to look into my eyes, like that's all she needed to know."

"The eyes are the windows to the soul, perhaps she saw something," Thunderstrike said with a nod. "Thank you Seren, that took a load off my withers."

"You're welcome, though one last thing, I know who you are, or, rather who you used to be." Seren said, her horn glowing in her aura, reaching into one of her saddle bags and pulling out a magazine. "Would you mind me asking… would you be willing to sign this comic book I've had since I was a filly?"

Thunderstrike looked a little surprised and took it carefully. She blinked a little in surprise when she looked at it. "Well, I have to say I never expected to see a comic book about myself," she said with a chuckle and took out a pen and signed it.

"Was a special print, only Stable 76 has access to this issue." Seren said with a soft smile "Not many of them are left, most fillies and colts rip them to shreds within a year or two of getting them - last I checked, that was just one in twenty still remaining from the stable."

"Yeah, well, I'm retired I'm afraid," Thunderstrike said and gave it back to her. "Sparky over here is the new Mysterious Mare-Do-Well."

"Well, in training really," Sparky said with a shrug.

"I heard about what happened before, y'know she's actually sorry bout that." Seren said "She plays it off like she meant to, but she didn't - she wanted to make sure the next in line could live up to the standard."

Thunderstrike looked like she was about to get angry again but calmed down after a moment. "Solar Flare was the closest thing I had to a daughter… I don't think my resentment over that will ever fade."

"Just like her resentment of the pre-war government and ministries for taking her family away from her." Seren said, sighing and shaking her head "But the both of you, have a lot in common and really it's a shame that this is how everything has gone. I do think, if the time was different you two could of been friends."

Thunderstrike look thoughtful for a long moment and sighed. "I don't know, maybe. But I'm a mare of my word, I won't give her any trouble as long as she doesn't cause any."

"Neither will I," Sparky said with a nod.

"I know this is going on a tangent, but I feel I have to ask…" Seren said, taking a deep breath. "What was the worst thing that she ever did to you? Was it killing Solar, or was there more?"

Thunderstrike sighed a little. "I'd, honestly say it was killing Solar, but it would take too long to list everything she ever did to me. I honestly don't know what to do about her. It's hard to stop hating somepony after so long."

"Maybe, taking a moment to put yourself in her shoes could help you understand…" Seren said, giving a sigh and shaking her head "I've read her story, it's heart wrenching to even think about it - and, in some ways, it justifies her."

"I'll, think about it," Thunderstrike said with a nod. "Thank you Seren, you've given me a lot to think about. Tell Cricket I, may be willing to talk to her more sometime in the future."

"Can, we hear some of the story?" I asked curiously.

"If you wish, and Thunderstrike allows. This may be all she's heard before, or maybe - something new." Seren said with a smile, turning her attention to me.

"Go ahead," Thunderstrike said with a nod as Sparky checked the time.

"We've got a little over half an hour before we have to get back to Vanilla," she said with a nod. "Let's hear it."

"Well, you know how Scootaloo and her friend there, uh… Gambit I think her name is, are both from before the war?" Seren started "So is Cricket, except she survived it the hard way."

"Yeah, Gambit, she taught me how to fly," I said with a smile as I thought back to that. "Wait, the hard way? Did she get turned into a Ghoul or something?"

"Yep, she's a ghoul." Seren said with a nod. "She's a Canterlot ghoul, trapped in her power armor, it's literally been fused to her, you have skin - she has armor."

"Oh, that's…" I started to say as I tried to figure out what to say. "Terrible, I can't imagine living like that."

"She was married too, during the war her husband was killed on the battlefield, leaving her a single mother of two." Seren sighed. "And then the last day, canterlot is hit, her son saves his sister, gets her into Stable 76 in Las Pegasus. Goes back trying to save other pegasi, and he ends up dying from the radiation in the area."

I looked down at my hooves and sighed a little. "I know how that feels, kind of. I lost my parents when I was just a baby… now I'm going to lose my adopted mother in a couple of years. Nopony should have to lose their family senselessly."

Thunderstrike shook her head. "I, knew some of the details but not all of it. Tell her… tell her I'm sorry. Maybe I should've dug deeper, maybe I should've told her her family survived, maybe I should've done a lot of things."

"I doubt she would've believed you Thunderstrike. Holding the broken bodies of both your husband and son, it does alot to you mentally. She's not bad, or evil, she's just a mare pushed beyond her limits with her spirit broken." Seren said, giving a sigh. "She didn't think the Enclave was bad, they offered her purpose, reason, they told her they were the way to the future, to avenge her family, and she bought it."

"And then Winter came and changed everything," Sparky said. "I see, now everything is starting to make sense."

"Look, thank you for talking to us about this Seren," Thunderstrike said with a nod. "Hopefully we can come to more of an understanding in the future her and I. I'll, think about everything you've told us, but you should probably get back to your post."

"It was nice meeting you Seren," I said with a smile. "Lets hope ponies don't get our names mixed up."

"Most ponies just call me Major, or Major Lulamoon, so I doubt that'll be a problem." Seren said with a bit of a laugh, "And like I said, This meeting didn't happen, alright? I'd prefer not to have to give up a rank."

"Got it," I said and gave a quick salute as Seren teleported away.

00000

As it got close to 1700 hours we headed back to the housing district. I still had a lot to think about when it came to the Enclave and everything else that was going on. I opened the door to find the house was dark.

We walked into the living room and the lights turned on followed by the sound of ponies calling out, "SURPRISE!"

"Happy adoption day Serenity," Scootaloo said from the wheelchair she was sitting in.

I blinked in surprise, everypony was around with a small party having been set up. I had been so distracted lately by the Enclave war I hadn't even realized that the anniversary of when Vanilla had adopted me was coming up.

"Hello Serenity," a familiar voice with a slight accent said from behind me. I turned to see Winter Breeze standing there with Spectra and Calypso nearby.

"Uh, hello," I said softly as I looked up at her nervously. "Can… can I help you with something?"

"I wanted to give you this," Winter said with a soft smile as she reached into her pocket and took out a picture and gave it to me. "This was taken the last time I saw your parents. I felt you should have it."

I took the picture curiously and looked at it. It was of a young Pegasus couple together. The stallion was a light grey color with red eyes and the mare was a darker shade of gold with a long flowing red mane and green eyes.

Held in the mare's forelegs was a sleeping filly with gold fur and a short tuft of red mane. I smiled a little when I realized it was me.

"I was there when you were born Serenity," Winter said softly as she placed her hoof on my shoulder with a smile. "I was always close to your parents after the Enclave Civil War. We were the only surviving members of our family after all, so I looked after them as best I could. Sadly, that's why they were serving under Marigold, I should have had them be transferred to Coltlumbia and my private troops."

She sighed a little and looked down at her hooves as she looked down at the picture. I could see that tears were starting to form in her eyes, she missed my parents a lot. I looked back down at the picture and started to cry too.

They looked happy, it was hard to imagine that just a few months later they would be killed during the battle of Stable 81. I had never blamed Vanilla for their deaths, they weren't her fault, I had always blamed the Enclave and General Marigold in particular for putting them in that position.

"I'm sorry Serenity, I'm sorry that your parents got killed," Winter said as she cried more and looked away from me. "I'm sorry that the soldiers left you behind in the Stable to die. But, I am glad that you found a wonderful family that loves you so very much."

I smiled softly and looked over at Vanilla who gave me a smile before she walked over and put her forelegs around me gently. "And we're happy to have her part of our family."

I smiled a little and looked up at Vanilla and then back at Winter. "I, do sometimes wish I could've known my parents, but Vanilla is a great mom."

Winter just smiled and looked surprised when I gave her a hug. She just smiled softly and hugged me back as she placed her hoof gently on my back. I hoped she was being genuine, I really did.

"Come on, let's get this party started," Vanilla said with a smile as we headed back to get some cake.

After awhile I headed back to where Scootaloo was eating a piece of cake in her wheelchair. I looked at her worriedly for a moment but she just gave me a smile. "Hey Serenity, don't worry, I'm fine it's just for another day or two."

"I heard what happened, are you sure you're going to be okay?" I asked and Scootaloo sighed a little and picked me up gently.

"Serenity, I'll be just fine," she said with a smile. "It'll take more than hurting myself on some stray debris in an incomplete Stable to take me out."

I smiled softly and hugged Scootaloo gently as she hugged me back. I closed my eyes and just enjoyed the moment of sitting with the older mare as she nuzzled me gently. It was a nice relaxing moment that gave me a chance to get away from all the trouble.

"Oh, I should give this back to you," Scootaloo said and reached into her coat pocket and took out my necklace. "I haven't really gotten to use it, but its rightfully yours."

I looked at it for a moment and then back up at the orange Pegasus for a long moment. Then I shook my head a little and patted her hoof. "You can keep it a while longer. The war isn't over yet, right? Maybe it'll still come in handy. I can wait a little longer before I get to fly again."

"Okay, if you're sure," Scootaloo said and looked down at the necklace for a long moment and shrugged.

"Why haven't you tried to use it?" I asked curiously.

"I, don't know, I guess it just hasn't felt like the right time," Scootaloo said with a shrug. "I've spent my whole life on the ground. But, maybe if the need arises I'll use it, and I'll be thinking of you the whole time."

I giggled a little and nodded. I was a little surprised when she put it around my neck and the feeling of magic flowing through my body and wings came to me again. "I said you can keep it a while longer."

"I know, but this is a special day for you," she said and placed her hoof on my chest. "It's the day you were adopted by a great mom. I think, you two should get to fly together as part of it. What do you think Vanilla?"

I looked up at Vanilla who had been standing there and gave me a smile as she offered me a hoof. "I'd love to fly with my daughter."

I smiled a little and we walked out of the house with Scootaloo and Winter watching. I took a deep breath and looked up at the dome that covered Nomad City before I looked back at Vanilla and smiled a little as she finished attaching her mechanical wings.

"Ready?" She asked me and I nodded.

And with a flap of our wings we took off together. We flew together for awhile as we saw Nomad City from the air. It was like nothing I had ever experienced before, flying along with my mom was one of the best experiences I ever had.

I waved to Winter and Scootaloo as we flew back over the house and smiled. I loved the feeling of flying more than anything.

I wished it would never go away.

Quest Perk Received!

Name: Family Ties.

Details: You've come to terms with your family and have become closer to the ones around you. You gain an extra boost to agility and speech.

00000

Okay fillies and gentlecolts, this wound up being a really long chapter, but given that its supposed to be something of an anthology that makes sense at least.

Next chapter we get back to our normal style of chapter as Scootaloo is up and ready to get back in the fight. And the Enclave Hardliners are back and ready for the final battle of the war. Our last story arc begins with earnest in chapter 35, "Dream of the Sky."

Be there!