Chapter 5:

Now

“So Sugar,” Ruby started as I got into bed beside her that night, “I was thinking, I'd like to take Candy out to show my parents.”

“To the graveyard at the old base?” I asked, looking over at her curiously.

“Yeah. I mean I know it's silly...”

“Not at all, not at all.” I said, shaking my head quickly, “if I knew where my parents were buried I'd want to take her out there too.” I looked over at the foal sleeping in the crib beside the bed, smiling a little.

“Doesn't Venture know?”

“Nah,” I sighed, laying back slowly, “he was already kind of power mad and when my father accused him of driving me off he cut himself off from them completely. He didn't even take them with him when he locked down the facilities against the fallout of the apocalypse.”

“Oh wow...”

“Yeah, just one of the hundreds of things he's wracked with guilt over now.”

“What about their old home?”

“An irradiated crater a quarter mile wide.”

“Damn.”

“Don't worry about it. We'll go see your parents, you can show them their grand daughter and I'm sure they'll be happy for it.”

“Thanks Sugar.” She sighed, snuggling against me happily as I switched off the lights.

“I still don't like CB taking up residence so far away.” I said in the darkness.

“Oh come on Sugar you had your own room at her age.”

“Yeah, in my parents home, I didn't have my own apartment, we have a secondary suite she could be living in.”

“She's almost 15 I don't think she wants to be with her 'daddy' all the time.”

“Yeah well I don't like the things she can get up to with so little supervision.”

“You gotta stop worrying about that too, she's got an implant just like every other mare that wants one.”

“That doesn't make my feelings on the subject any better.”

“You don't know that they're getting up to inappropriate things when they're alone.”

“They're teenagers, they're always up to, or planning on, inappropriate things, also, I caught them earlier trying to swipe the blanket from your stuff.”

“They what?” She asked flatly.

“Yeah, I took it and put it in a safe in my lab, told the computer if anyone came into the lab that wasn't you or me to send a signal to my pipbuck to alert me and bring up the camera feed on the screen so I could see.”

“Mm, that's my clever unicorn.” She sighed, kissing my horn, how she found it so easily in the dark I have no idea, and then snuggled back up to me.

//////////

My pipbuck started buzzing in the night and I groaned a little before I remembered WHY it was buzzing.

I pulled up the video feed to find CB and Xem quietly closing the door behind them as they snuck into my lab.

I got out of bed quietly so as not to disturb Ruby.

“Your sister is a very naughty girl isn't she?” I asked Candy when I saw her watching me in the dark, the light of my pipbuck reflecting in her big eyes. She was sucking on a hoof and watching me walk around the room. “You wanna come help me bust em?”

Her response was to coo happily and I took that as a yes, scooping her up I started for the door. “Ruby...Candy and I are going to go catch some naughty children.”

“M'kay...have fun, be careful with my baby.” She muttered, rolling over to fill up more of the bed space.

“YOUR baby...” I replied simply, rolling my eyes and heading out of the room.

We walked down the halls quickly, I kept Candy cradled close until we reached the more open hallways and I could float her around playfully without having to worry about bumping into things.

“And where are you two going so late at night?”

“Ahh my dearest Crackshot, WE are going to bust somepony naughty.” I said, looking over at the ghoul and grinning. “Care to tag along?”

“What's the deal?”

“Xem and CB have been...getting physical,” I said, “while I understand that that is a thing that happens to everypony eventually, I'm actually going to catch them in the act of breaking into my lab stealing from me.”

“They're stealing from you?” She asked as we rounded the last corner before the lab.

“Yeah, I caught em trying to swipe the zebra wedding blanket from Ruby's things so I put it in the safe in my lab, you'll never guess what they're doing right now.” I said, holding out a hoof so she could see the video feed.

“What punks,” she sighed, shaking her head, “so what're you going to do?”

“Well that's where Candy comes into play,” I said, holding my little foal close again, “see, she's having trouble sleeping, so I'm going to take her into the lab to listen to some music in the hopes that she'll fall asleep.”

“So you're going to make a show of coming in through the only entrance...”

“And then crash on the couch by the door with baby in hoof, and just stretch out.”

“Which will leave them...trapped in some small uncomfortable hiding place in the hopes you'll leave and they can sneak out again.”

“Which I won't,” I smirked, stopping in front of the door, “I'm used to messed up sleep cycles, I can go no problem, care to join us for a drink? Maybe a movie?”

“Yeah I could go for a nightcap.” The ghoul nodded.

I pressed the release on the door and music chimed through the lab and quietly at the door itself. Sure the harmonic locks were more for show than anything, but I liked them.

“Switch on the sky and the stars glow for you, go see the world cuz it's all so brand new. Don't close your eyes cuz your futures ready to shine. It's just a matter of time, before we learn how to fly. Welcome to the rhythm of the night, there's something in the air you can't deny...” I sang back, intentionally singing a few extra lines.

“What song is that?” Crackshot asked as the door hissed open.

“When Can I See You Again.” I replied, walking into the, now strangely deserted, lab. “By Owl City. It's the theme song to a movie.”

“Oh? Care to show an old mare a good time? Maybe a movie or two?” She asked.

“I dunno. Candy is only a day old, I've heard TV rots your brain.”

“Speaking as someone who's brain is mostly rot, I think it's the radiation that does it.”

“True enough.” I smirked.

Crackshot flopped back into the recliner that sat opposite the couch. “Lemme see the baby while you find us something good to watch.” She said.

“Just don't drop her. Ruby's surprisingly protective.” I looked at the baby and kissed her gently, “you be good for...what's she going to call you?”

“Yeah, having kids does that.” Crackshot said, trying not to laugh. I floated Candy over to her and she took the foal in her legs, the baby fascinated by the strange skin texture and how it moved when she squirmed, very different from living tissue, of course she didn't know that, I'm adding it for clarification, “uhh, I dunno, most kids just call me Crackshot unless they're my descendants...”

“Yeah but Candy is family, just calling you by your name seems...wrong.” I shrugged.

“Mrs. Shot?” She suggested, then burst out laughing. “She can call me Grandmare if she wants. She can call me zombie pony, doesn't really matter to me.”

“I like Grandmare,” I said, cycling through the films, “since she doesn't exactly have any of those herself, and speaking of which, Ruby wants to fly out to the old base so she can introduce her parents to Candy.”

“I think that's a great idea,” she said, nodding, “I think it'll mean a lot to Ruby even if it doesn't mean anything to Candy.”

“So you don't think Brutus will have any issues with it?”

“Not a chance, and if he did he'd find himself on the wrong end of my bad temper. I think it's very sweet.”

“Good because we were going to take her either way.”

“Good boy, don't take crap from a blow hard like him.” She chuckled, poking Candy's nose with her hoof, making the baby go cross-eyed.

“Damned straight.”

“So show me this movie, what's it about?”

“Video games?” I laughed.

“Really?” She rolled her eyes

“Yeah, but it's not like a documentary or anything, it's about characters IN video games, and how they have lives after the arcade closes, it's a family movie, so it's all silly and happy.”

“Yeah I can get behind that.” She nodded, sitting back, pushing out the foot rest and resuming playing with Candy while I started the movie.

We stayed there the rest of the night, watched a few movies, some TV, listened to music and just talked. Candy fell asleep part way through the first movie and just slept against Crackshot the whole time not making a peep, all the while I could see the two green indicators stuck in a cupboard to my right, I'm sure very uncomfortably.

Finally just after 8AM I wandered over and slid open the cupboard. “Well good morning my little ones.” I smirked at the two grumpy looking teens, crossing my forelegs so they could see the monitor on my PipBuck.

“You're an ass.” CB grumbled, pulling herself out of the cupboard. Xem had managed to wedge himself into the corner well and looked like he'd actually managed to sleep in there, but he was just as happy to get out.

“Only 25% on my father's side.” I replied.

“Oh, were you two in there this whole time?” Crackshot asked, faking a good shocked look.

“You know we were.” Xem groaned, cracking his back loudly.

“Well that sucks, because it's time for school.” I said, pointing to the clock on the wall.

“Don't you worry Cane, I'll see em to school.” Crackshot said.

I took Candy from her and the baby yawned, looking up at me tiredly for a minute, then her stomach gurgled, loud enough for all of us to hear and her face quickly bunched up and she started to cry.

“Oh no no, come on my little pony, don't cry,” I said, hugging her close, “we're gonna go see mommy right now and she'll feed you.” I started for the door and opened it, heading into the hallway.

“Alright you two, march.” Crackshot said, following us out and waiting for the two to follow. They headed towards the main area and I closed the lab door and hurried back my quarters, trying to quiet the upset infant.

I opened the door to find Ruby already up and looking like she was getting ready to come looking for us.

“Oh thank Celestia, where have you two been?” She asked, taking Candy from me and laying down on the bed, cuddling her close and letting her start feeding.

“We went to catch Xem and CB in the process of stealing the blanket.”

“That was at 2am.”

“We ran into Crackshot on the way and she thought it would be a good lesson to leave the kids stuck in the cupboard they hid in all night, so we hung out in my lab and watched movies and TV.”

“Well alright, as long as you have a good reason.” She sighed, stroking Candy's mane and just watching her eat quietly.

“Wow you're really mellow.” I said, yawning and crawling onto the bed, laying down.

“Yeah, I'm kind of excited to go see my parents and it's put me in a good mood.”

“So when do you want to go?”

“I'm good to go whenever.” She said, lifting Candy up and burping her gently before laying the foal down on the bed between us and nuzzling her tummy happily.

“Well do you want to go this afternoon? Or tomorrow morning? How long do you want to spend with them? Not that I'm asking you to limit yourself, I'm just curious for logistics sake.”

“I think just an hour or two will be fine. I always get bummed out when I spend too long there.” She sighed.

Candy hiccoughed and a small green magic bubble popped from her horn at the same time.

“Aww her first spell!” I grinned, kissing her horn, “soon you'll be walking on the ceiling and unlocking things to escape your crib and suddenly you'll be my responsibility because mommy won't be able to do anything to stop you. You're gonna be my little wrecking ball.”

“Well she's got a big sister who's pretty good at magic too so I'm sure she can rescue me if I need.”

“Assuming her sister isn't too tired from spending all night wedged in a closet.” I said, yawning again.

“Well look, hows about you get some sleep?” Ruby asked, getting up and pulling on her, non-armoured, baby carrier, and putting Candy into it. “I'm going to go meet Brutus for breakfast and I'll fill him in on what I want to do. I know he won't say no.”

I yawned again and crawled up properly onto the bed.

“Sounds like a plan.” I said, snuggling into the pillows, “mmm, smells like mare.” I said, wrapping my hooves around the pillow Ruby normally slept on and held it close to my face.

“Dude...You're weird.”

“You girls have fun.” I said, watching them leave. “DON'T HURT MY BABY!” I called after them as an afterthought.

I locked the door, turned off the light and promptly passed out, more exhausted than I had realized from my all night movie marathon.

//////////

11 months ago:

We gathered in the hanger bay soon after breakfast. An emerald green buck with a blue mane was loading boxes into the sky wagon with the help of a purple unicorn mare.

“Oh hello.” Ruby said as we came up to them. “Sorry we didn't expect you to be here yet.”

“That's okay, I have been kind of in a panic since I got word this morning so I'm just really desperate to get out there.”

“Of course. Sugar, help the nice ponies with their supplies.” Ruby said, starting into the wagon and beginning the power up sequence.

“Sir, yes Sir.” I said, saluting sarcastically, though I did grab two boxes and put them into the ship.

“You're Doctor Sugar Cane?” He asked. “What kind of doctor are you?”

“Uhh, not a medical one sadly.” I replied sheepishly. “I have a degree in nanotechnology.” I said, simplifying the long title.

“Oh, that's too bad. I was hoping to have another MD along for the ride.”

“Sorry, if you have a sick computer I'm all over it, but ponies are beyond me.”

“That's alright,” he shrugged, “I'm Ghost Pepper by the way.” He added, hauling the last box into the ship. “This is Bolt Ratchet, my assistant and nurse.”

“Nice to meet you Doctor Pepper, Nurse Ratchet” I said, looking up when I heard the chatter of the rest of the team arriving.

“Glad you could join us AFTER the loading prep is done.” I said to them.

“Hey, not my fault, thing one and thing two insisted on getting some books on magical ailments, just in case.” Brutus said, pointing to Xem and CB.

“What? We want to know what we're getting into!” CB said indignantly.

“Just get on board so we can go...”I said, shaking my head.

“Be safe...” Ratchet said, hugging Pepper and kissing him gently.

“I always am. Keep things in check while I'm away.”

“Yes doctor.” She smirked, heading back inside.

“She's not coming with us?”

“No unfortunately not. I already have a few patients here that need tending to, as well as some attempts to grow plants hydroponically to get medicine we can't synthesize anymore and they need to be watched even more closely than the patients.” He said, getting into the wagon and sitting down on a bench.

Xem and CB sat on one of the front benches, CB was resting against Xem and they were both reading through a book that she was holding in her magic in front of them.

Lily hurried up onto the ship. “Sorry I'm late, I was checking in with Mom one last time before we headed out. She's gonna stay here with Crackshot to try and help her with the administrative work.”

“Didn't you two used to run a general goods store?” Brutus asked, smirking a little.

“Closed for inventory.” She said, shrugging and returning his smirk.

“Everypony ready?” Ruby called from the cockpit.

“Hey!” Was Lily's reply amidst a chorus of “Yes.”

“Sorry, is everypony and one overly sensitive Changeling ready to go?”

“Yes.” Lily replied, moving to the cockpit and getting into the co-pilot harness, strapping herself in.

I rolled my eyes a little and looked over at the doctor, “my brother loaded this computer with all the information he had on Cutie Pox in the database. I don't know if there's anything helpful in there but you're welcome to it.”

“Thanks.” He said simply, sitting down in front of the turret and plugging away at the information, comparing it to the books he'd brought, muttering to himself and marking off information in the books and doodling notes in the margins.

///////

We set down on the edge of town with a number of other sky wagons and started to prep to head out.

“Uhh, Lilith?” Pepper asked, looking at the Changeling.

“Yes?”

“You might want to turn into a pony for this trip. The folks here suffered terribly from Changeling bandits a few years ago and they harbor a pretty mean grudge towards all Changelings...”

“Oh. Maybe I'll just stay with the wagon...” She said hesitantly, “I have some paper work to finish anyway,”

“Your loss.” Ruby said, moving out of the cockpit and heading for the door, following Brutus, Xem and CB out of the ship.

“If you change your mind just pony up and head out.” I offered, smiling softly and heading out with Pepper.

A lilac unicorn ran between the others in front of us, tears running down her face and hugging Pepper tightly.

“Oh Ghost I'm so glad you came, I don't know what we're going to do. Nopony knows what to do. We're freaking out.”

“It's okay Belle. Just relax. I'm sure we'll figure this out...”

“But they won't stop.” Another pony said, “they've been doing anything and everything imaginable.”

Gunfire started in the distance and one of the group groaned. “Someone got a markspony cutie mark again.”

We hurried along with the adults into the town square. There were a dozen children, some very young, juggling, singing, building a house, one had disassembled part of a vending machine with his hooves while he was holding a gun in his magic and shooting the juggling balls out of the air, another jumping back and fourth like a ninja and catching them and throwing them at rows of cans along a fence.

It was like a demented circus.

“It's like a demented circus.” Ruby said softly, coming up beside me.

“Wow...I've never been so appreciative for my Cutie Mark.” CB said softly.

“I'm glad there's no such thing as Glyph Pox.” Xem added.

“So, where do we get started?” Brutus asked, looking over at Doctor Pepper.

Footnote: Level up

New Perk Added: Egg Head Level 1: Your knowledge of pop culture and pointless trivia facts is rivaled only by your combined practical and theoretical knowledge of computers. In combat this will allow you to sometimes stun your opponent with temporary confusion when you charge them from behind a rock while shouting “SPOOOOON!!!” This perk also allows for certain geeky dialogue options.