“Now we know even the greatest of heroes have their moments of compromise. But in the end, we choose how we live and I need you here right by my side.”

I hadn’t thought this plan through too well.

We’d been walking for nearly four hours, following the same trail toward Dodge that Pred and I had before. It hadn’t been nearly that long into the walk when the snow started falling, slowing our progress tremendously. The countless rolling hills around were quickly covered in a blanket of white, and if not for the compass on my pipbuck, I was sure we would have gotten lost by now.

The freezing air nipped at my coat even through my jacket, and the flames of hope inside did nothing to push the icy numbness back. Worse off, were the others. Pred had a red and black scarf wrapped tightly around his neck and muzzle, but the old overcoat he wore did little to protect the rest of him.

Ficha had his old leather barding that clung to him tightly, and he generally seemed fine. I figured that zebras had some sort of earth pony toughness to them as well, because he pressed on without a care. Gauge on the other hoof, simply pressed on through what I assumed was sheer force of will. She shivered greatly under her Steel Ranger acolyte robes, but refused to slow down one bit. She hadn’t said a thing since we’d left tasteless, and I didn’t want to bother her. She needed time to herself to deal with it, and I’d give it to her.

Gallant however, pressed on even ahead of Gauge. For wearing the bulky old armor he did, he didn’t seem to be impeded by either the cold nor the snow. His… condition seemed to make him impervious to such things. Thinking about it, I should really talk to him about it, to see if he could offer any insights into what to expect against Filius. That, and I had a few other things I was curious about…

“Hey, Gallant.” I called out, pulled myself to a gallop for a moment to catch up to him. As he looked back with a quizzical look, I caught Gauge’s glare as well. Yes, definitely give her some more time... “How do you know so much about the elements?”

He gave a short laugh before shaking his head. “A very long time ago, the elements themselves were nothing more than a myth, a legend. Most scholars thought them as merely a metaphor for the idea that friendship makes pony communities stronger.” The smile across his muzzle faded. “That is, until the discord wars.”

“I remember reading about him when I was growing up.” I blurt out. My parents were scavengers, and they taught me that battlefields were full of dangerous but rewarding things. I knew I was supposed to learn the tactics they’d used, so I could help pinpoint where the best equipment most likely would have been taken or stored. However... I’d always been more partial to the fighting itself. The brave warriors and adventurous heroes of old always held my interest more, which is why they turned towards giving me my Daring Doo collection. I have to wonder now if it was always because I was made to be a hero for Equestria, or if I just always would have liked them on my own.

Gallant cleared his throat, and was staring at me with a look of annoyance.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt.” Another bad idea to tack onto the train of them I’ve had recently. “My parents would find me all sorts of books to read.”

“I see.” He grumbled. “The books you have read would have most certainly had omitted things from his past.” The snarl that graced his muzzle made me sure he didn’t enjoy talking about this. “The wars themselves were horrible acts that destroyed a dozen towns and killed thousands of ponies. Our benevolent rulers, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, sought out the relics. Many claimed that they had merely distanced themselves from the fighting, but I believed in them.” He shook his head and cast me a hopeful gaze. “They returned with the lost relics, and used them to banish the god of chaos to a stone prison.”

“But, weren't the relics lost again after that?” I asked. That part of history was always unclear in the history books. Hell, several of the books contradicted themselves outright on what happened. “If I recall, it was right around the time that Luna had become Nightmare moon.”

Gallant stopped dead in the snow. “I was not around to see Princess Luna's fall. I was at the edges of Equestria when she was banished, I had not learned of the event until perhaps a week after it had transpired. After I woke up, I was delighted to read that she had been redeemed...” After a moment, he began to push forward again. Even more so than before, his grim expression said that it was a sore topic for him. “until I learned that it was the failings of her and her saviors that turned Equestria into the barren land it is today. So much has changed since my time, save the suffering of ponies at the hooves of fools and madstallions.”

“I see.” I didn’t know what to say about that. Gallant was like me, in the idea that he was displaced. A relic ment for a time that feels like it was so long ago. However, I’ve had most of my life to live and learn in the wasteland. I couldn’t begin to imagine how hard it must be for him to come to terms with everything that’s happened.

“As I had been saying.” He continued, turning his gaze ahead of us again. “With Discord defeated, scholars flocked to the heart of the kingdom to study the relics. I, already head of the guard at the time, had the privilege to study alongside Celestia's star pupil, Starswirl.” With a growl, he tensed up in his steps. “However, it had all been a mistake.”

“Why?” I don’t know why I couldn’t control my tongue. Maybe it’s because Gallant is the only hope I have to knowing how Filius works. Maybe it’s because to me, he’s a living, breathing hero like in the books I’d read. Or, more than likely, I was just trying to forget the events of today, and what it’s cost us all.

“Had I spent the time with Filius, rather than shunning him when I knew he needed to be consoled by his friend,” He again looked over to me with sad eyes. “he may not have fallen to the darkness like he had.”

“Woah woah,” I sputtered out. Without hesitation, I trotted in front of Gallant and stopped him. “I don't believe that. You can't change a pony like that, not from who they are. Believe me, if I was 'destined' to bear this power, then Filius was destined to be who he was as well.”

“You're wrong.” Predious called up to me. I keep forgetting how amazingly good his hearing is. “I've been around for a long time, and I've seen many things over the years. I've watched as ponies’ destinies have changed through their own actions, affecting those around them in the process.” As I was about to object to that, he raised his hoof, “Let me pose this question to Galant. How many who fought in the discord wars were soldiers, and how many were civilians?”

Gallant gave a prompt response. “The guard's ranks were bolstered with ponies taken from towns around the brunt of the conflict.”

“That's not what I asked.” Predious said with a dismissive wave. “Of those you took, how many were destined to fight on that field? All of them would be the normal answer if you believe in destiny. However, if this was true, why did they not get a fighting or combat cutie mark?”

“I could explain that through the fact that Discord himself could have changed anything to suit his whims.” Gallant grunted and turned around. “He could snap his claw and change a pony’s destiny forever.”

“But, you acknowledge then that they are moldable, correct?” Predious wore a sly grin across his muzzle as he walked up to Gallant and I. He had a point. Even if it took the god of chaos, Destinies were still moldable. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad, and simply adds more questions rather than solving anything in my own case.

“I see what you are getting at, but I am steadfast in my opinion.” Gallant nodded, giving a small bow. “Had I been there for Filius…”

“I saw him when you confronted him in his tower.” I spoke up, pulling Gallant’s gaze up to me. “He hated you for stopping him from dying, I could see it in his eyes. No. I think he was gone from the moment you took that knife away from him.”

Gallant looked down in thought, contemplating the words. “Perhaps, you are correct.”

“What the fuck does it matter?” Gauge groaned. “That asshole took my father from me, and I’m going to turn him into paste for it.” She trotted forward past us into the snow. “You bitches can stay here and bicker till you freeze for all I care. I’m headed to Baltimare.”

“Gauge.” I spoke up. Quickly, I found Pred’s hoof resting on my shoulder.

“Let her go. She just needs some time to deal with Tasteless.” He shook his head with a sigh. “But she’s right, we have to get to Baltimare. At this rate, we’ll have frozen before we reach the ruins of Dodge, and we need shelter before nightfall.”

“What about that old ruin?” I said as I sat down in the snow. Thank Celestia that my flank was already numb. Pulling up my pipbuck, I hoofed to the map section and scrolled it around. “You know, the one where we fought all the ghouls?”

“Just after we found Shadow?” He nodded, putting his hoof on his chin. “It’s a stretch, but we might be able to reach it.”

As if he had better hearing than Predious, Shadow flared his wings and landed next to us. “What’s up?” He boomed through his helmet as the snow swirl his wings kicked up blew about. “I heard my name.”

“Impeckable hearing.” Predious grumbled. “There are some ruins ahead, past the crash site where we found you. It was full of ghouls the last time we were there. We’d dealt with them, but ghouls tend to find ways of congregating places where other herds have been before. It might have more inside.”

“I can scout ahead if you’d like.” He cheerfully remarked, stretching his wings out again. Lucky bastard all cozy inside his warm power armor…

“That would be fantastic.” Predious replied with a smile. “Keep following the direction we’ve been heading.”

“Okay.” Shadow gave a firm nod, flaring his wings again before he stopped. “Oh, and about my hearing? My family is one sixteenth thestral, so you know.” With that, he hopped into the air and took off.

“Bwah?” I didn’t even know what that was, and with how crazy everything in my life was, I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out. Thankfully, Predious made that decision for me.

“Thestral means he’s part Bat Pony.” He spoke with a smile. “Enclave doesn’t exactly like having mixed blood pegasi in their ranks. They think that since they were guards to the princess who destroyed equestria, they’re as bad as dashites.”

“I heard that!” Shadow called out from a few hundred feet ahead.

“What, really?” I lowered my voice to a whisper.

“He can’t actually hear you. That’s not how it works.” Predious rolled his eyes. “Though, I know your fear when you said he’s such a lousy lay.”

“What?” I snapped at Pred. He gave a giggle and I hit him hard on the shoulder. “I never said that!”

“Case and point.” He simply pointed to Shadow, who didn’t even acknowledge him. “You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve seen a dashite use that on somepony.” He rolled his eyes, ending with them glued to me with a smile. “And you wouldn’t believe how many climbed into bed with them right after...”

“Oh please,” I knew that Shadow was fantasticly sexy, but what I had with him was more than that. He loved be because… well I think because I saved him, but that couldn’t be the only reason, right? I mean, I loved him because…

“He’s exotic, and that’s what makes him so fascinating to you.” Predious sounded so sure of himself. If we could’ve found a hot air balloon somewhere, we could use all that hot air that’s supporting his ego and fly to Baltimare before sunset. “Partially, it’s also why he’s so into you.”

“What? Like you know anything.” I grumbled, trudging through the snow. Predious knew a lot of things, but I’d be a fool to think he knew everything about everything.

“Think about it.” Predious wrapped his hoof around me and pulled me close. “All he’d ever known were other Pegasi, and the few unicorns that are still rumored to be up in the clouds.” Really Pred, floating unicorns? Maybe that curse was just driving him crazy, instead of angry… “And here you are. No wings, no horn.” This is getting far too degrading for me to tolerate.

“Yeah, you should try it some time.” I reached up and flicked his horn with my hoof. “Give me a hacksaw and I can help with that.”

“Ha ha, but I’m serious.” Predious sighed. “I meant what I said, Storm. You’re the best friend I’ve had in a while. I’d just hate to see you two only enjoy each other’s company because you both just find each other mysterious. A lasting relationship goes deeper than just that.”

“I know that, Pred.” I sighed, thinking back to my time with the elements. Shadow wasn’t just loyal at heart. He was loyal to me. “He trusts that I’m the one to get us through this, and I know that I can trust him to be there.” Looking over to Pred, he had a curious look on his face. “Don’t give me that, I know what I feel. It’s more than just curiosity.” I shrugged off Pred’s hoof and nodded softly. “I can feel it in my heart, my soul, every fiber of my being. It all points to him.” Looking to Pred, I saw him give me a sad look, but a nod. “He’s the one I’m meant to be with.”

“So long as that’s what your heart tells you, then it’s a good enough answer for me.” He smiled a sad smile and looked up toward Shadow. “I’ve lived to watch too many bad relationships explode to see anymore. So, if that’s how you feel, you need to promise me that you’ll do everything in your power to make it work with him.” He steeled his look and stared at me. “Deal?”

“Deal.” I nodded and looked up at Shadow. “For better or for worse. I’ll be there for him.”

The light snow that had been falling a few hours ago, had steadily ramped up into a blizzard. The fact that night had fallen on top of that, didn’t make it any easier for us to see. I was glad that we’d followed the highway the first time we came along this way, because if we hadn’t, I’d have gotten lost in the blanket of white that coated everything. Without my pipbuck assuring me that we were on the right trail, I’m certain that we’d wander in circles in a storm this bad.

However, knowing where to go didn’t make the air any less frigid. Sometime about twenty minutes ago, I stopped feeling just about everything on my body. The weather had gotten so bad, that even Ficha looked like he was starting to succumb to it. Luckily, we’d already started to climb the hill towards the old police building where we’d been assaulted by the horde of feral ghouls.

As the weather only took a turn for the worse, the whole group of us huddled closer together as we walked. Even Gauge had pulled back from her lead, but only just enough to still look back every now and again to make sure we were still here. Both Gallant and Pred’s horn acted as heat lamps as they tried their best to keep us warm as we walked. It didn’t do anything noticeable, but I found the thought of the spell providing warmth was distraction enough.

Like an enormous ghost, the ruins of the old police station came out of the night. The old concrete structure was just as I’d remembered it. Coming up to the front, the broken out windows had accumulated a large pile of snow atop them, most of it drifting inside. I really hoped that there would be some sort of back room that was separate, or else it was going to be impossible to stay warm inside.

The piles of ghoul corpses that Predious’ minigun had torn up last time, still littered the snowy front. Only now, they were buried under lumpy white mounds of snow. Even though my body screamed for me to get inside, I did my best to worm around each and every lump in my way. Ghouls were hard to kill, and sometimes they were smart enough to play dead until you got close. I’d been bitten by enough of them over my lifetime to know that.

Carefully, we pushed our way in through the front doors of the station. A few feet in, the whistling winds and snowdrift stopped, and a large reception area greeted us. The decaying wood paneling and rusting filing cabinets that filled the back half of the room were all that met us. The numerous skeletons of old chairs and ponies alike, had long decayed from their previous forms. To each side of us sat arched halls that stretched out, leading to the other rooms of this place.

“We should split up and search this place. I’ll head over to the left for another room we can use.” Predious spoke up, breaking the silence that had permeated the room almost as thickly as the smell of rotted flesh did. “No pony go alone, and watch out for any closed doors. Might be some ghouls in there that we didn’t get the first time around.”

At this, Gauge turned right and trotted straight for the doorway. “I don’t need you to tell me shit and I’ve got my EFS.” She grumbled. “I’ll be fine on my own.”

I looked over to Pred, who simply deadpanned and sighed. “Let her go, Storm.” He spoke up.

“No.” I shook my head and turned after her. “I’m fine with giving her space, but she’s being reckless.” With a flick of my tail, I stomped the caked-on snow from my numb hooves. “She’s done her best to cope with what we’ve had to do, we all have. I won’t have her put herself at risk because she thinks she deserves it. Somepony needs to help her before she does something she’ll regret.”

“Well now,” Predious smiled at me. “and here I thought that I was the one who was supposed to be the most level headed in our group.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Always knew there was a leader inside you.”

“Careful, Pred. I might just put you out of a job.” I looked ahead, trotting under the archway and after Gauge. “This shouldn’t take long.”

There was no way that this would be a quick fix. I knew that I’m not very good at the whole consoling a friend thing, but what I did know, is that she couldn’t be alone. There had been so many times since this all started that I’d wanted to just be alone. Every single one of those times had been made bearable because someone was there to help me, even if I didn’t want them to. Gauge had been one of those ponies, and it was my turn to be there for her.

The whistling breeze blew the snow in through the broken windows of the hallway. My left hooves clacked loudly on the tile flooring, while my right crunched through the snowdrift that had piled up against the wall. The hallway didn’t stretch too far, only having four doorways total in it, each one missing it’s door. Just past the first two, another hallway branched off toward the back of the building. If I were her, I’d want to get as far from everypony else as I could. With that in mind, I turned and trotted down the hall.

“Gauge?” I called out. Almost immediately, I scrunched my muzzle as I noticed the friendly bar in my EFS. Yup, just me being stupid again, forgetting to use the tools at my hooves.

The walls of the dark hallway were rife with patches of peeling wallpaper and black mold. More than a few of the wooden upper support beams that stretched across the hallway had little white mushrooms growing out of them. This place was a health risk even without the ghouls. Almost as I’d thought that, another bar popped onto my EFS right next to Gauge. A red one.

“Shit, Gauge!” Pushing myself forward into a gallop, I ran down the long hall towards her. The closer I got, the more a peculiar hissing met my ears. It changed into a wild snarling as I slammed my hooves on the tiles, pushing myself towards the corner at the end of the hall. I did my best to dig my hooves down against the tile to turn, but instead I ended up sliding across the dusty tile and right into the far wall. There was a sharp snap as some of the old wood in the wall gave way, and a burst of dust shot out from the hole that it made.

With a grunt, I shook my head and coughed a few times until the dust cleared.

“I’m fine.” Gauge grumbled just loud enough to beat out the growling. Opening my eyes, I found Gauge sitting in front of me, facing a large pile of rubble that blocked up roughly half the hall. In said rubble, was a trapped feral ghoul. It was pinned under a piece of the concrete roofing that had collapsed onto it at some point. It’s forelegs were twisted and broken, and the rest of it had various pieces of rebar and wood impaling it to the pile. It couldn’t escape, but it didn’t stop it from wildly growling and snapping it’s rotting jaws at Gauge.

“You’re far from fine.” I replied, slowly walking over to her.

“Why can’t you just leave me alone?” She grunted, turning away from me as I approached. I reached out my hoof for her, wanting to turn her around so she could look at me. “Why did I have to go with you?” Her voice waivered, and I froze where I was. “Diesel was right. I’m a fuckup and I should have listened.”

“Gauge, you couldn’t have known.” I didn’t know how to make her see that it wasn’t her fault. “None of us knew.”

“What? That leaving with you would have killed my dad?” She snapped at me. “I should have stayed in camp and followed orders. If I wasn’t just some stupid foal who still wanted to have adventures or rebel against my brother, then everything would have been alright. Dad would still be alright, and Tasteless...”

“You would have...” I tried to say, only to be interrupted when the snarling ghoul decided that howling was the next best thing to try to kill us. Without any hesitation, Gauge swung her cyber hoof up and slammed it’s head against the ruble. With a squish and a crunch, she’d caved the side of it’s head in, silencing the monster. “You would have never met her.”

“So?” Gauge’s tone had lost a lot of it’s anger. “At least she’d still be alive.”

“And you might not be.” I took her lower tone as a chance to get a little closer. “If you didn’t go with us, you might have been back at your base, right?” My words made her cringe.

“You think that’s a good thing?” The seething anger she’d had crept back into her words. Following them, she turned around and glared at me. “Like, me being alive is worth all those who died there? My home, my friends, all gone. But hold on! It’s worth it because I wasn’t there to die with them.” She snarled at me and shoved at me with her forehooves. “Fuck you, Storm.”

“I’m not saying that it was worth it, but that you’re alive because you met me.” I snapped back at her. “You should be thankful for that.”

“What do you want, a medal?” She got to her hooves and shoved at me again. I back pedled for a moment before standing firm. “Why can’t you just leave me alone!” Screaming at me, she slammed her cyberhoof into the floor again, causing the tiles under it to crack.

“I want you to hate being alive!” I screamed back. “You need to hate it, and wish that you were dead so you can realize that you need to move on!” I too stomped down, and when I did, the blue flames from inside flared around my hooves. “I need you to realize that you’re better off living, because if you die, then their death’s meant nothing!”

“It’s not that easy!” She whined, sitting down hard. With a sniffle, she slumped back against the wall behind her. “You might be strong enough to do that, but I’m not. I’m just the mare who gets those she loves killed.”

Sitting down hard as well, I laughed at that notion. “You think I’m strong enough to deal with it?” Honestly, I didn’t know how to even describe what I felt about everything anymore. “I’ve been so busy running after Filius that until Sunshine City, I hadn’t had the time to think about it. You saw how I dealt with that.”

“Yeah, but you’ve got everypony else around trying to help you.” She looked up to me with tears in her eyes. “You have Shadow. While I…” With a whimper, her words died in her throat.

“I know that it’s hard, Gauge. Losing somepony you love, it isn’t easy.” With a groan, I pulled myself to my hooves. The fire inside me grew as I approached her, and I don’t know if it was that, or just being away from the snow, but I was starting to feel my body again. “You don’t know this, but I lost two ponies who I’d liked a few years back.” Sure, they were brother and sister, and happened to work at a brothel I frequented, but we still enjoyed each others company. “They were killed by a gang of raiders who ran through town. It hurt to know that the ponies I’d spent so much time with were simply gone, but I got over them.”

“You went after the raiders for revenge, like I want to do with Filius.” Gauge watched as I walked over and took a seat next to her.

“Yeah, and it was a mistake.” I groaned as I sat down against the wall with her. “I didn’t care what it took to kill them. I wanted justice.” I remember back when Longbow saw the memory of how I’d acted. Oh, the lecture she’d given me about ‘justice’. “I nearly got myself killed for it.” Looking over to her, I found that she gave off a pleasant, flickering warmth. I think it was hope returning to her, growing as I sat with her. “Even on our journey so far, I’ve made that mistake again and again without realizing it. Not until you all set me straight.”

“Then what do I do?” She sighed sadly.

“You go after Filius, and fight as hard as you can.” With as much care as I could, I hooked my forehoof around her and pulled her against me. “Not for vengeance, but because that’s how you insure that you get to live.” I gave her a soft pat. “And don’t worry. We’re all going to be right there with you.” I spoke softly as she leaned herself against me. “We’re not going anywhere until he’s dead.”

“Thank you.” She whispered as she wiped the tears from her muzzle. “I’m going to miss her.”

“Of course.” I nodded and held her tightly. Tasteless had been rude, foul mouthed, and antagonistic. However, she’d also been a hell of a fighter, as loyal as anypony else I’ve ever known, and a good friend to me. “We all will.” With that, Gauge let out a shiver. “Come on. Let’s go see if the others have found us a place to stay.”

The interrogation rooms in the police building were still plastered with the decaying propaganda of the Ministries. Still, the secluded set of rooms had proved far enough from the exterior to shield us from the frigid storm. Shadow had put his power armor to work, and had brought a couple of the filing cabinets from the records rooms over. Turned out that there really was as use for all those old papers and logbooks in this place. I felt bad for burning the arrest records and crime logs that so many police ponies had worked for, but not freezing was more important than my morals. That, and sleep.

The faded posters from the Ministry of Morale still reminded us that supposedly Pinkie Pie was still watching us from beyond the grave. I knew I was alone in regards to knowing that it was in fact, true, but I did my best to forget it while I slept. It had been a dreamless sleep, and I was thankful for it. I’d had enough of seeing into Filius’ mind, and I knew that if the elements wanted to speak with me again, it would only mean that something new had cropped up for me to deal with. No news, was good news, and I was happy for that.

Waking up was it’s normal affair. However, it turns out that the storm outside hadn’t yet passed, and we were still trapped in here. With the clock on Filius’ final ritual clicking down, there was nothing any of us could do from here. We wouldn’t be able to make it even as far as Dodge before freezing to death, so waiting was the only option we had. We all sat here in silence, watching the fire burn, and basking in it’s warmth. Gauge had even relaxed, having removed her cyberhoof to get it’s internal components dry. Pred on the other hoof, was looking out for the rest of us, as he levitated a few cans of old beans over the fire to heat them up for breakfast.

“You know.” Shadow whispered to me as he leaned over. The warm feeling of his skin against mine was a welcome change from pressing against that armor of his. I don’t care what excuse he has to take it off. I don’t think I’ll ever mind it. “When this is all over, I’m really thinking of hanging up my armor for good.”

“What?” I shot up straight. Okay, I know what I was just thinking, but I didn’t mean for him to remove his armor forever.

He let out a light chuckle and wrapped his wings around me warmly. “I don’t want to go and run around fighting now that I have you.” His smile was warmer than the fire next to us, and I could feel the flames of hope raging in his chest. “I want to be there with you, for you. For our family.”

That made me freeze.

“Family?” I laughed nervously. “Goddesses, I hadn’t really given any thought to it…” This was… awkward. I’d never really seen myself slowing down like that. How could I, when the only way to live in the wastelands was to work? I didn’t ever really think I’d have time for a special somepony, let alone even think about having foals. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea?”

Shadow looked shocked, hesitantly opening his muzzle. “What do you mean, Storm?”

“Don’t get me wrong, Shadow. I love you.” I looked up at him, watching as I could almost see myself crush the very dreams in his head. “And it’s not like the sex wasn’t mind blowingly fantas…” I paused, glancing over at the others as they awkwardly stared back, waiting.

“Don’t mind us.” Pred smiled and dismissively wiggled his forehoof. “Pretend we aren’t here.”

“I just think,” I resumed, looking back over to Shadow. “maybe we should take it slow. Once Filius is dead, I’m not even sure what I’ll end up doing. More so now that I’ve got this thing.” Slowly, I hoofed the clear gemstone from my jacket. It sparkled in the flickering firelight, and I watched at the small flame inside it ebb with the feeling of hope around it. “All I know is that whatever it happens to be, I want to be doing it with you.”

I looked back up at him just in time to find his muzzle planted firmly against mine. The kiss took me by surprise, but my body knew how to react. With a firm grasp, I wrapped my hooves around him and pulled myself close.

“Just as a heads up, Storm.” Ficha chimed up from across the room. “if you want to do whatever with him tonight? Then I’m ready and willing to help!” His smart ass comments normally ruined the moment, but I felt too good to let it get to me tonight. “You know, let’s make it a party!”

With a flash and an arcane snap, Gallant popped into the room next to Ficha. With more effort than anypony should put into it, Ficha screamed like a filly and scrambled across the room. Gallant didn’t look all too impressed with Ficha’s reaction, and dropped an old duffel bag onto the floor by the fire.

“This is all of interest that I could find. I am sorry.” He sighed as he sat down.

“Let’s see…” Pulling the duffle bag closer with his magic, Predious started to pull things out. “Junk. junk. junk.” From out of the sack, he floated by a couple rusted staples, a broken flashlight, and a… paper weight? “Ah, here we go.” He said as he floated a small roll of yellowed tape held together with a cracking rubber band. “Large adhesive bandages. Should be good so long as their adhesive is actually still good. And…” He pulled out a small bottle, shaking it for us to hear a rattling inside. “good ole generic painkiller.”

“Glad we’ve got something,” I sighed, pressing myself against Shadow’s neck, “but is there anything useful?”

“Patience,” He childed, digging around in the bag. “How about this?” As he spoke, he pulled out a syringe of Med-X. It wasn’t much, but it’s a start. “Hmm, more junk. So much junk.” He muttered, still rummaging around.

“There is still much I don’t yet understand about this place.” Gallant grunted. “Equestrian technology has changed much since my time. It is… a lot to comprehend.”

“Oh, it’s quite alright.” Predious said as he streamed most of the rest of the duffle bag over his shoulder and into a pile in the corner. “For example, this is useful!” He held up one of the miniature souvenir guitars that came from the Marewaii islands. I’ve always seen a bunch of them around, but without anypony being able to actually play them, they were normally just more wasteland junk to forget about.

“Ah yes!” Gallant gave a laugh. “It reminded me of the lutes that were played back in my time. I had hoped one of you might know how to play so we could all be entertained for a little while.”

“Nope.” Predious said with a smile. Without any hesitation or remorse, he tossed it into the fire. “But it’ll burn better than most of these books.” I wanted to say it was funny to watch as such a common item destroyed Gallant’s expression, but I only felt bad. He’d been through so much, and to be plopped back into it all in the wasteland of all places… “And lastly in the bag, we’ve got three rounds of ten millimeter… for which nopony has the correct gun to use them in.”

Gallant simply sighed. “I am sorry I couldn’t find anything of use.”

“Hey,” I called over to him, pulling his glance to me. “You do understand that we know how hard it must be for you to adjust to life out here.” As his expression darkened, I think my words hadn’t had the effect I wanted. Come on, Storm. You’re a leader now, and you can at least say something to cheer him up. “Gallant, I wanted to say thank you, for saving us earlier.”

“Save it.” He grunted, his horn glowing. “I don’t ask for your pity, so spare me from it.” He looked around at us. “I know that you mean well, but I just have to try harder to understand.” With a determined look, he stared right at me. “I will return with something useful.” With a flash, he popped out the room again.

“Regardless,” Predious said with a tone of sadness. “unless we have more food, this is all we have.” He looked over to me. “That storm needs to clear up soon, or we might not even make it to Baltimare at all.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that!” The bright and overly happy voice of Pai chirped up from Gauge’s pipbuck. “Also, I’m back everypony!”

“Pai?” Both Gauge and I asked at the same time.

“You’re back?” Gauge snorted, pulling the pipbuck portion of her leg closer to her. “Where have you been?”

“Oh, nowhere in particular. I just latched on to a spritebot that you all passed up yesterday.” She sounded more full of herself than usual, pride bleeding from her words. Would be easier to know if it was had Gauge held her pipbuck out for me to see what color she was. I was really starting to miss having her around.

“You… commandeered a spritebot?” Gauge scrunched up her muzzle.

“Of course not.” Pai giggled. “I couldn’t get anywhere with just one, so I commandeered thirty seven of them!”

“That’s great, but you’re not getting to the point.” Predious jumped in, as on the ball as ever. “Why did you go about doing that?”

“Because I needed to find miss Harmony, duh.” Pai sassed at us. “With the skycart gone, I thought that you all could probably use a ride. She should be here by this evening!”

Predious looked confused. “How is she traveling so quickly?”

“She’s using Short Staff’s motorwagen!” I gasped and laughed. “Goddesses Pai, I could kiss you if you were back in my pipbuck right now!”

“Me?” Gauge asked. “Why?”

“While I love hanging out with Sis and all, she doesn’t really… get me.” Pai said softly. “Not because she doesn’t want too, but… you know how it feels to lose someone you love with all your heart.” She sniffled through the pipbuck. “I miss Iron Will so much.”

That caught me off guard. I knew that she’d cared for him, but I didn’t think he’d meant that much to her. Then again, I guess I’d just assumed that because I didn’t understand their relationship, that it couldn’t hurt that much. Losing Pallet and Skyline hurt, but I can tell you that losing my parents or Shadow would hurt that much more.

“Pai, you’re your own mare. You do what you must to feel better, don’t ever let me get in the way of that.” Looking over to Shadow, I hooked my hoof around his side and pulled him close to me. Without a word, he returned the embrace and ran a warm hoof through my mane. Glancing over to Gauge, I watched as her watering eyes looked down at Pai. “Take good care of her, Gauge.”

“I will.” She smiled through her tears, grabbing her cyberleg and pulling it close to her chest. “Thank you.”

Without the threat of starving or missing the fight to come, being snowed in wasn’t so bad. It reminds me of the sleep overs I’d had with Harmony and Pallet back in the day. The nights we’d spent together giggling and gossiping about the adventures of Sword Mare or Daring Doo. That’s what this felt like, even if the feelings of loss and impending doom hung over us like the storm outside. There’s something to be said about spending time around a fire with your friends, and even without the actual fire, I could tell that with the flames of hope this room put into me, Filius didn’t even stand a chance.