I sighed and brushed my mane back as we moved north. I sighed a little as I thought about what was going on. Something that was starting to bug me a little was that I remembered Xiraia had mentioned there was reports of attacks on caravans near Chapel, something weird was going on around here.

I sighed as I looked back at Blackjack. “What can you tell us about the Reapers? We’ve read what little the NCR has on them, but do you know anything that might be useful?”

A sigh came from the mare’s mouth. “The Reapers, I could tell you everything and you still wouldn’t understand them. But their lead by an old buck named Big Daddy. If you impress him you impress them all. Most best way to impress them beat one of their best in the arena. But the Reapers are mainly of the strongest raiders and tribals.”

“Well, that’s certainly useful information,” I said and looked over at Arc. “The Reapers have already gotten somewhat involved in the war with the Enclave but not in any major capacity and I haven’t heard much about it since the initial report from DJ Pon3. Do you think they might be willing to hear us out? What past do you have with the Reapers?”

Blackjack took a long from the bottle before answering. “I’m a Reaper myself. I also had one traveling with me named Rampage. She and Glory didn’t get along that well. But I beat one..of their best by blind luck on my part and...well became one?” She said with a smirk

“I see,” I said and blinked a little. “Well, hopefully that’ll give us an advantage here. We just have to worry about the rest of the factions, somehow.”

I flipped through the papers for a moment. There was a lot of different notes here and there about what little the Alliance knew about them. I paused a moment when I stopped on a note about Meatlocker.

Meatlocker, I remembered that name from Manehattan when we met with Silver Spoon. She had mentioned Blackjack and had been when I had first heard the name Lighthooves. I had to admit I was curious about what had happened.

“Blackjack, I’m curious, an old friend of mine named Silver Spoon mentioned being involved in what happened 11 years ago, do you remember anything about her?”

The mare chuckled. “The ghoul with glasses? Yes I do I first met her after I left my stable. I was well a fool and got a Crusader killed. But to stop them.. I had to pretend to be her friend Diamond Tiara and hug her to get these ghouls to stop attacking. Then I had to use her again to get into a prison, to rescue Snails for Snips. Sadly Snips died during this. But Snails is at least alright. Then I told her who I was because I felt guilty using her like that.”

“She’s still looking for Diamond,” I said with a sigh as I shook my head a little. “I didn’t have the heart to tell her what happened to her.”

“Whatever happened to Rampage?” Arc asked as she looked over at Blackjack.

“Whatever happen to a mare that can’t be killed now matter how many times you shoot her? She went to the Reapers. I see her from time to time when i got to the arena when I want something to do other than just kill for caps.”

I chuckled lightly. “My PR department would have a field day with this if they were still alive. The Reapers were one of the major rivals to the Horseton Knights during the war and my company owned the Knights.”

I frowned a little and shook my head. Okay maybe not the best joke to make given it reminded me of Sweetie again. I sighed a little as we kept walking.

“Maybe we can get the leaders of the factions to a Neutral location,” Arc suggested. “That might be faster than going to all of them one by one.”

“That could work,” I said with a nod. “We just have to figure out where would be the best place to go.”

BlackJack had a thought she opened her mouth a moment. But went silent going back to thinking. “ I do have an idea..I am sure some of it is still there. But there is an old Mansion that Blueblood owned. I had.to kill him before he killed a sweet fillies mother. But thankfully their both still alive, I think they even live there now.”

“Well, that’s good,” I said and shook my head. Of course Blueblood had survived, we couldn’t possibly have been that lucky. “Well I’m glad you stopped him, good riddance to bad garbage.”

She spoke up again. “That could be the neutral place all the leaders meet. It’s not near anything so it will be very simple to hold it there.”

“Alright, well that should make things go faster at least,” I said and looked towards the sports arena in the distance.

Blackjack took another long drink from the whiskey. “Oh I think I forgot to mention something. We already have Reapers tailing us. Don’t look back it’s not wise. Just something Big Daddy enjoys doing, so keep walking.”

That figured really, of course Big Daddy would send somepony to follow us if we headed that way. I checked my EFS for a moment and noticed there was a mark on it, but there was also several more towards the west.

“Arc, Dazzle, check your EFS, are you getting the same reading I am?” I asked as I looked over at the two other mares.

“Looks like 5, no 6 marks,” Dazzle said as she looked towards the west and then back at Blackjack. “Would Big Daddy send two groups and have them be separate like that?”

“There are two groups?” She looked at her EFS blinking. “Okay I don’t know who the others are.”

I frowned and looked up ahead, something about all of this was weird as I thought more about what we had heard on the radio. Was it possible that these were the ones that had been attacking the caravans? Well, there was only one way to find out and I wasn’t about to let them get the jump on us.

“Alright, here’s what we’re going to do,” I said as I spotted what looked like the ruins of an old house. “We’re going to set up an ambush up ahead, if they turn out to be friendlies then hold your fire.”

“And if they don’t?” Dazzle asked.

“Then we take them out, simple as that,” I said and shook my head. “We need to get done with this as soon as possible so let’s try not to take too much time.”

The others nodded as we changed course and headed towards the old ruined house. I checked my ammo real quick as we headed that way, occasionally looking at my EFS to make sure the marks hadn’t changed direction.

They hadn’t, they were still heading towards us slowly. I just had to hope that we were making the right move here.

It was starting to get a little dark as we set up a campfire in the ruins of the old house as if to set up camp. We had moved into the shadows as the markers on the EFS were getting closer and closer.

Finally we heard the sound of hooves against the ground as a group of ponies dressed in Raider armor came into view. Great, Raiders, so much for the Enclave’s anti-Raider policies huh?

“Where the hell did they go?” One of the Raiders said as they looked around for us. We weren’t going to attack until we were sure that there wasn’t any more nearby. “Where did they run off to now?”

“I don’t know, search the whole house if you have to, the boss wants all ponies on that road taken out,” another pony said, they sounded like they were in charge.

My ears perked up a little at that. Somepony was sending them to attack ponies on the road leading away from Chapel? Okay, that raised even more questions, why would anypony want to do that?

There was the sound of hooves as one of the ponies came towards our hiding spot. Blackjack looked like she was about to take them out but I stopped her and gave Riva a nod as she drew a knife from her sheath and moved in closer.

The Raider was taken out quickly as he rounded the corner, he didn’t even get a chance to cry out as Riva held his muzzle shut and slit his throat with the knife. She pulled him out of view and gave me a nod.

We couldn’t do that with all of them, so now it was a matter of hoping that we could take them out without getting hurt. I released the safeties on my battle saddle and we moved into place just as the Raiders were re-grouping.

“Where’s Skillet, I swear if he ran off to get high again while we’re on a job…” the leader started to say before I lined up a shot on his head with the SOAR and pulled the trigger, sending a burst of energy into him.

The Raiders scrambled to get into position as we fired on them their leader having fallen in the first attack leaving just four of them. I was lining up another shot as Blackjack started to make her move.

Blackjack stood on her back hooves. The metal legs seemed to have interesting features. She brought out the fingers on her forehooves and grabbed her sword. “Time for some fun.” She runs in on her back hooves and smashed through the wall. “OH YEAH!!!” The white mare power rams one of the Raiders forcing the blade into their body with a nasty flesh cutting sound. “ HELLO BOYS!!”

One of the Raiders tried to line up a shot on Blackjack only to be taken out by Arc who gave her a nod. Another one grabbed a heavy pipe and charged right at the cybermare as the last Raider circled around preparing for an attack.

The cybermare parries the first attack of course her mouth is getting the best of her. “Oh come on you can do better than that.” The Raiders movements made it look like they were getting upset and attacked her again with the large pipe. She backed out of the way of course and tripped onto her back. She looked at the floorboard that her metal hoof is on and noticed that it’s under the raider. She stomped her hoof hard into the floorboard causing it to come up and smash right into the underside of the pony, causing them to scream.

“Well, that’s one way to take them out,” I muttered before I shot the last Raider that was taking aim at Blackjack before I called over to the white mare.. “Leave that one alive, let’s see if we can get some info out of them!”

I borrowed Riva’s knife and trotted over to the only surviving Raider who was starting to get to his hooves but I pushed him back down and pressed the blade against his stallionhood and my hoof against his chest. “Alright, if you don’t want to lose your parts permanently, you’re going to tell me everything I want to know, got it?”

“Got it, they don’t pay me enough for this!” The Raider said with a gulp as he looked up at me. “What do you want to know?”

“Who sent you?”

“I don’t know!” He protested as I pressed it a little closer. “I swear, I never got his name, he didn’t speak to me just the boss!”

“What did he look like?” I asked and he gulped a little. “Talk to me.

“He was a Pegasus, he was blue with red eyes, I swear, that’s all I know!” The Raider said, he looked like he was about to pee himself. “Please, let me go…”

I looked at him for a long moment before I removed the knife and pulled away, grabbing his weapons. “Get out of here,” I said and he scrambled to his hooves and ran off.

“Blue with red eyes?” Arc asked as she looked over at me. “You don’t think it was…”

“I think that’s exactly who it was,” I said as I gave Riva back her knife. “These Raiders were hired by General Cloud Chaser.”

“One second.” BlackJack smacked herself. “Okay I am awake...So you’re telling me the stuck up Enclave.. Who doesn't care about the little ponies down here..Are now hiring raider’s? Next you're going to tell me a clown is behind me.”

I was about to say something before a voice from behind Blackjack shouted out “BOO!” which made us all jump. I looked behind her to see the strangest thing I’d ever seen in my life. At first glance she looked like a Zebra only with red stripes and a messed up red mane with armor covering parts of her body.

BlackJack jumped turning around with her sword ready to strike. “Not funny Rampage!!!”

The mare just laughed as we recovered ourselves. “You should’ve seen the look on your faces!”

I just rolled my eyes and looked between the two. Wait, Rampage actually looked sort of familiar, but that was impossible right? While I had known a few Zebras before the war I hadn’t known any that had red stripes personally.

“What’s with the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well wannabe over there?” Rampage asked as she pointed at me and looked at Blackjack. “Hey, take a picture, it’ll last longer.”

BlackJack chuckled. “Oh that’s just her way of hiding herself from those that wish to kill her. Oooo But Rampage meet Scootaloo.”

“Scootaloo huh? What’s wrong, your parents run out of good names so they named you after one of the founders of Stable-Tec?” Rampage asked with a smirk as Blackjack facehoofed. “Because she ain’t that popular around these parts.”

“Why do you even wear that disguise anyway, it's not very good and the fact that you’re alive isn’t exactly uncommon knowledge,” Dazzle said as I facehoofed.

“I just like the look okay?” I asked as I pulled off my hat and Rampage’s eyes went wide. I was not in the mood for another one of these talks. “Look, you’re with the Reapers right? We need a word with your boss.”

“What? Why the hell do you want our help?” Rampage said as she looked at Blackjack. “What’s going on here?”

Blackjack sighed. “Glory is alive Rampage.” She sighed again. “I need to get to her..and you and the other factions are my only way.”

“Is this true?” Rampage asked as she looked between us. “Because if you’ve fed her some story I’ll…”

“It’s true,” I said and interrupted the Reaper. “Grey fur, purple mane, Dashite brand, I saw her in San Prancisco. She helped us out after we helped her, she’s still alive and we have a shot at finding her if she’s in Thunderhead.”

Rampage stomped her hooves in annoyance before she shook her head. “Alright, I’ll have a word with the other Top Tens and Big Daddy back at the arena, but you better not be putting us on!”

“We’re not,” I said with a sigh as we started out of the house and towards the arena once more.

I sighed a little as I brushed my mane back. Something kept bugging me, the Enclave didn’t like Raiders, they had been attacking them ever since the war started, why would they hire Raiders to attack ponies around Chapel?

Was it possible that Cloud Chaser was doing this on his own? The more I thought about it the more it worried me, especially if they were maybe trying to put pressure on the ponies at Chapel. They didn’t seem like they had sided with the Enclave, but if most of the ponies in Hoofington had or were neutral, that worried me more.

“Scootaloo,” a voice said from behind me. It was strange because while it sounded familiar, it didn’t sound like it belonged to any of the ponies.

I turned around and looked for the source of the voice. There wasn’t anypony around other than the ones who were supposed to be here, what was going on?

“Did you say something?” I asked as I looked over at Blackjack.

Blackjack looked behind her to Rampage. “Hello Twist.” She said softly.

“Wait… Twist?” I asked as I turned around and looked at Rampage. I blinked a little, now that I looked at her again she actually did look a little like Twist, ignoring the stripes at least. “But… what? How?”

I had no idea what had happened to Twist after the war. She had been part of Big Mac’s unit but we hadn’t really kept in touch while the war was going on. Great, there was yet another pony who was still alive, how did this keep coming up?

“Yeah Scoots, its me,” Rampage said in the voice I now recognized as Twist’s. “It's, kind of a long story. Though I wasn’t expecting to see you here even if I heard you were alive still.”

“Yeah, well as we told… well, you, or however this works…” I said and rubbed the back of my head, I had no idea what to think honestly. Did she have multiple personalities or something? “We’re here because of the Enclave being active in Thunderhead again, that’s why we’re here.”

“Which is why we need Big Daddy’s help,” Arc added and Riva and Dazzle nodded. “So, exactly what’s going on here? How are you… you know, like this?”

“We’re seven souls trapped in my daughter’s body with some sort of Zebra talisman,” Rampage said and looked at me. “I never thought I’d see you again Scootaloo…”

“Yeah, same here,” I said with a sigh. I seem to be saying that a lot lately, what’s next, did Twilight somehow survive in an Alicorn’s body or something? “Wait, your daughter’s body?”

“Yeah it… lets hug” She said and I blinked, wait, that was a strange thing to say. What was going on all of a sudden?

Before anything else was said Blackjack blew Rampage’s head off with her shotgun hanging over her shooting her more. Then stepped back looking back at the others. “What?”

“You just shot a Pony!” Dazzle protested as we looked at Blackjack in shock. “What just happened here?”

“She told you she has seven souls in her. One of them is a murder. A child murder. She was about to take over and try to kill you. Do you want that or do you enjoy good hugs of death?” Blackjack smirked.

“Well… no, I…” I started to say and blinked as I turned and looked back at the corpse of Rampage. Or, what should’ve been the corpse of Rampage because her head was re-forming and she just shook herself clear, leaving us even more confused than before. “Okay, now I’m really, really confused.”

“Phoenix Talisman,” Riva said with a scowl. “Heard stories, did not know it was here.”

Okay, that made a little more sense, but still it was getting harder and harder to understand. Something weird was going on here, I was starting to get the feeling that there was more to Hoofington than we knew.

“Sorry Rampage, I doubt it would have been wise if Shujaa came out first and talked to Riva here.”

“Heh, just like old times huh?” Rampage said as she cracked her neck a little. “Come on, let’s get going, you don’t want to keep Big Daddy waiting do you?”

“We run into the strangest ponies on this adventure…” Arc muttered to me as we started walking again towards the arena.

“You’re telling me,” I said with a groan.

This was a lot to take in, I didn’t know what was going on or what that talisman Riva had mentioned was. That wasn’t that important right now, we had to get everything worked out and fast if we wanted to have a chance of stopping the Enclave.

I looked back towards the quiet city one more time, I hated not knowing what we were walking into, but right now we didn’t have much of a choice. The fact of the matter was that we were going to have to make sure that everything was stopped here, and I had a feeling that we might have to pay the price for it.

A big price.

Big Daddy was not quite what I expected, he was an older stallion, though he looked to be in pretty good shape. We were taken into his office and he turned to look at Blackjack and me.

“Well, I have to say I wasn’t expecting this,” he said as he looked us over.

“Well hello to you too Big Daddy.” Blackjack Said with a smile.

“And you brought the Wanderer with you,” he commented and looked at me. “What can the Reapers do for you two?”

I looked over at Blackjack, it wasn’t really my place to make the argument since Blackjack knew these ponies better than I did. Big Daddy looked at me appraisingly as if he was trying to figure out what to do with me.

I just hoped that whatever Blackjack had to say would do it.
“Well they need your help Big Daddy. It might be best if Scootaloo explains everything since.. I drank most of the time she was talking.”

I facehooved and looked at Big Daddy with a sigh. “It’s the Enclave, they’ve become a serious threat to Equestria because they’re trying to get access to a Megaspell that… I locked away in a mountain near Hoofington. I don’t know how close they are to getting at the Stable now, but if they get it they will use the Megaspell to keep Equestria in line. It, may also destroy Equestria if it fails and we need the backing of the factions in Hoofington, or at least for them to not get involved if we have to take the fight to the Enclave in Thunderhead.”

Big Daddy looked at me and then at Blackjack as he tried to decide what to do. I didn’t blame him for not being sure what to think about everything we were telling him. If I hadn’t seen all the information on it years ago, I wouldn’t have believed it either.

“Listen Big Daddy if she got me to join in this. I know me the one who went after Lighthooves. But if this Megaspell is real. We can’t allow them to have it, it would be the worst thing ever.” Blackjack said calmly.

He looked at her and then back at me. He sighed and nodded after a moment. “Alright, we’ve already got some of the Reapers getting involved in the war anyway. You’ve got our support.”

BlackJack nodded. “The biggest issue is getting the other factions to help as well. Like it or not this is everypony’s issue in the Hoof.”

“So we need to get as many of them together as we can at Blueblood mansion I added.

Blackjack sighed. “I don’t see that being easy. But we have to try.” She had so much on her mind that it was easy to tell with her features like she was thinking of something.

“I’ll see what I can do, I’ve got ways to get in contact with them and we’ll set out for the mansion in the morning,” he said and looked at Blackjack. “You need to let it go Blackjack, its been eating away at you for years.”

BlackJack blinked and looked around quickly. “Oh look it’s a butterfly.” Suddenly runs out side the room.

“Uh… thanks again for your help, I’ll go talk with her,” I said and headed out after the strange Unicorn mare.

Blackjack sat on her rump looking up at the sky for a moment. Speaking as if i’m near her. “I dreamed for years of seeing the sky, The sun and the Moon along with the stars. But I never wished to see it like I did.”

I took a seat next to her and looked up at the sky. “I always took it for granted growing up, until it was all covered by clouds… do you want to talk about it?”

Blackjack sighed deeply and tossed her full bottle of whiskey away. She turned her head to look at me. “I have been running away from this for years. So maybe if I want to prove to Glory I have grown up. I guess it’s time for me to really grow up.”

“We all have to eventually,” I said with a sigh. “Especially when we find somepony worth growing up for.”

“Love does that to you.. In fact. I gave up so much for Glory. Then I fell back into it.. Because my body wanted it. But that’s not what you want to hear about. You want to hear what happen to 99?”

“Why not, I’ve heard how I screwed over half the other Stables in Equestria…” I said and then shook my head. “Sorry… it’s been a long year.”

BlackJack smiled. “Oh this had nothing to do with you Scootaloo. This was all me.. All me and my stupidity. We found a strange program in our system. EC-1101 it was called. But we had no idea what it was for or what it was meant to be. So I went along with my life being Security like my mother Gin rummy.” She sighed and looked to me. “Would it make you laugh that my real name is Go Fish?”

“You’re talking to a mare whose name is Scootaloo,” I said with a chuckle. “Does that sound like a normal name to you?”

“No sounds like some mare slept with a scooter. But moving on from that. Raider’s came with Deus or who used to be known as Doof.” She softly said.

“Another member of the Marauders,” I commented. “Sorry, keep going.”

“Anyway they blasted up the place. I had to find a way to save us. So I took the program with my friend Freedom Heart. Who at times hated my stupidity. But we got along for a time just the same. But I made it so some ponies could escape. But during a fight in the Overmare’s office I got smacked into a button that released a deadly gas. I couldn’t save everypony so Freedom Heart and I raced out as faced as we can.. With the door closing with Raiders and my former friend’s dying from the gas. I stay listening to those screams of my mother... Of my friends and then blamed myself. All this time.. I blamed myself and the ones that I saved looked at me like a monster.”

I sighed and looked at my hooves and sighed a little. I closed my eyes, while I may not have caused what happened in Stable 99, I still couldn’t help but feel a little responsible for putting ponies in this kind of place.

I opened my eyes and looked over at Blackjack before I spoke up again. “You’re not a monster Blackjack… you didn’t cause any of those deaths on purpose. If there’s anypony here that’s anything like a monster it would be me.”

A sudden hard smack from the metal hoof collides with my cheek. “Never call yourself a monster Scootaloo. You couldn’t have been there for everything. You’re a pony that is trying to fix your life. So buck up and stop calling yourself a monster as well or so help me I will slap you again.” She said In a angry tone.

“You know you’re the third pony to hit me in the face,” I said and rubbed my cheek. “I mean you’re right of course… sometimes it’s hard not to think about all the mistakes I’ve made though. We’re both just ponies trying to make things better aren’t we? I hope you’ll get another chance with Glory.”

“Even if I don’t Scootaloo, I will be happy to know that I tried. I have held myself in self doubt mind most of my ten years in this wasteland. Sleeping with whatever, enjoying the high life.. The night life...The random fact we have someone behind us watching us talk.”

I turned around and saw Rampage and another pony standing behind us and listening to us. “Can I help you two?”
“Nope, just enjoying the show,” Rampage said with a smirk as she took a bite of, something that I didn’t recognize. “Don’t mind us, we’re seeing which one of you has the darker backstory.”

“So far it’s tied,” her companion said.

“Does this normally happen to you?” I asked as I looked over at Blackjack. “You have the weirdest friends, you know that right?”

BlackJack laughed. “Yes yes I know. In fact I am amazed they didn’t kill each other. Since Glory was so strict even after the two of us slept together. Then one time.. Before I went to go fight Lighthooves while Drunk.”

“Let’s, not talk about your sex life, please?”

“Aww, you’re no fun!” Rampage said.

“I think I am going to go get some sleep Scootaloo. I guess I got to be ready to make some speech to all those that we get. Since it’s going to be needed.” She stood up and turned to Rampage. “Before you say anything I am good at making Speeches.” She calmly walks off. “Take care Scoots.”

“You too Blackjack,” I said with a smile as I checked the time on my PipBuck. It was getting late and I should probably get to bed myself given that we had a long day tomorrow. “You two, no taking bets on anything.”

“What about how long it takes for Blackjack to get under your tail?” Rampage said with a grin.

“ESPECIALLY NOT THAT!” I said and blushed heavily at the suggestion. “I’m engaged and in a happy relationship!”

I just ran off towards where I was staying with the others and tried not to pay attention to the laughter coming from the two ponies. I swear, everypony in this part of the wasteland was crazy or something.

I sat down on my bed and took out my journal and finished writing everything that had happened today. I sighed and looked over at the sleeping forms of Arc and Riva before I leaned back in the bed and closed my eyes.

Sleep didn’t come easily for me, I eventually just put my earbuds in and listened to DJ Pon3’s broadcasts as a familiar stallion’s voice filled my ears.

“I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he's a victim of the times.”

I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep. I had no idea what was waiting for me in my dreams, and what was to come.

When my eyes opened up it took me a moment to realize where I was. Looking around I realized that I was in a hospital, probably Ponyville general, seated in a chair next to Sweetie Belle and Sparky.

"Scootaloo, are you okay?" Sweetie asked as she looked up at me. "You kind of dozed off for a minute there, is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said as I wrapped my wing gently around her. I was a little confused, why were we in the hospital? I looked down at Sweetie as if waiting for her to tell me something but she just laid against my withers and closed her eyes a little.

Finally a doctor came out and gave us a nod. "Alright, the good news is that we've managed to stabilize your daughter's condition, but we're going to have to perform emergency surgery to save the baby."

The baby? I blinked a little and looked around, it took me a moment to realize that Cloudy wasn't with us. Was she in labor? What had happened?

"Is she going to be okay?" I asked as I looked at the doctor worriedly.

"She's fine, thankfully she was far enough away from the explosion that she survived, but we're worried about the effects it might have on her daughter," the doctor said with a sigh. "How far along is she?"

"Almost 10 and a half months," Sweetie said softly. I flinched a little, that was early for a foal to be born especially under these circumstances. "What's the chances of the foal surviving?"

"They're not bad if we operate now," the doctor said with a sigh a she looked between us. "Cloudy is currently under sedation, so its up to you as her guardians. What do you know about the father?"

"He's, away right now," Sweetie said as she looked at me. I didn't know what the story was there but there was a pain in Sweetie's voice that told me that something was going on with that. "If you feel its the best course of action, then go ahead and operate."

I nodded in agreement and looked down at Sparky who looked a little worried. "Are you okay Sparks?"

"Yeah, I'm just scared..." Sparky said with a soft sigh. "I don't want to lose my big sister..."

"Don't worry Sparky, the Doctors know what they're doing and she'll be just fine," I said and picked the small Pegasus up and hugged her gently. "Right doc?"

"That's right, you have nothing to worry about," the Doctor said swiftly.

I nodded and watched as the doctor went back into the hospital room. After a few minutes they wheeled Cloudy out to take her to the operating room. I watched her go as tears started to form in my eyes.
I got some of the story from Sweetie Belle as we talked. Apparently Cloudy had been out of the house when a sky wagon crashed in Ponyville and while she hadn't been close, the explosion that followed had worried the doctors about her condition especially given that she was pregnant.

Once Sparky had gone off to get a snack Sweetie was a bit more, candid with what had happened with Cloudy's coltfriend. I got the feeling that she didn't want to talk about it in front of Sparky and I didn't blame her. As it turned out he was a Dash addict who had been off and on the stuff for awhile.

Right now he was off in rehab and Cloudy wasn't sure if she ever wanted anything to do with him after everything. I sighed and hugged Sweetie tightly.

"Scootaloo, I..." Sweetie started to say as tears started to flow from her eyes. "I don't know what I'm going to do to be honest. Do you think we're doing okay with them?"

"Sweetie, you're an amazing mother," I said as I held her close and stroked her mane gently. "We did everything we could for both our daughters and that's all Equestria can ever really ask of us. Yes, Cloudy may have made a mistake with who she got with, but she's not a bad filly. When all of this is done, we'll be a family together, I know it."

Sweetie smiled and backed away a little as Sparky came back with her snack and an Opal Grape soda. I chuckled a little, it was nice to see that my favorite soda company was still around.

"What's wrong Mama Sweetie?" Sparky asked as she looked up at us with those big purple eyes of her's and I picked her up and hugged her.

"She's okay, she's just worried about your big sister," I said and ruffled the filly's mane. It wasn't a total lie, but we weren't going to tell her everything, at least not while she was young.

"Okay," Sparky said with a nod and I wrapped my wing around her gently. I smiled a little, it may not have been real but we were a family together.

And soon we were going to have a new member of our family, I just hoped that everything was going to be okay.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Belle?" The Doctor asked as she pushed the door slowly open and looked out at us.

"Yes, is everything okay?" Sweetie asked as we got to our hooves and looked at her. "Is Cloudy going to be okay?"

"She's fine, we've moved her into the recovery room," the Doctor said. "The filly is going to be okay, but we're going to need to keep her for awhile before she's ready too be taken home."

I breathed a sigh of relief. It was strange given everything that I had been through to think that I was actually a grandmother, I mean I was already a grandmother but I had never gotten to see my grandchild.

"Can we see her?" I asked and the Doctor nodded as we headed into the recovery room. After awhile Cloudy was awake and looked at us with a smile. "Hey Cloudy, how are you feeling?"

"I've been better," Cloudy said as she looked over at the incubator that was holding her sleeping daughter. "How's she doing?"

"The Doctor said she'll be okay, she just has to stay in the hospital for a little while," Sweetie said as she sighed a little. "You gave us all quite a scare."

"I'm sorry, I should've been more careful," Cloudy said as she gave me a soft smile.

"So, what's her name?" Sparky asked as she got up to look at the filly as best she could.

"Jasper," Cloudy said as I walked over to get a better look at the sleeping foal. I remembered that name, it was the same name Cloudy had given to her daughter when she lived in Stable 44. I smiled a little when I saw the filly, she actually did look a lot like me only with a darker shade of orange to her coat.

"She's so small..." Sparky commented as I helped her up as best I could.

I sighed a little, she was smaller than I'd have liked, I just had to hope that the Doctors knew what they were doing. I looked back at Cloudy and gave her a smile. "She's beautiful."

"Yeah, she is," Cloudy said softly as she laid back and returned the smile. "I just hope that I'll be a good mom for her, you know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I know exactly what you mean," I said and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "But you're going to be just fine, you have your family here to back you up, every single day.

I smiled a little as we all shared a gentle hug. It was a nice feeling to be close to your family for even a short time. I knew that it wasn't going to last, but I wanted it to last as long as possible.

00000

I was surprised when I blinked and found myself in a graveyard outside of Ponyville. I sighed and looked down at the gravestone, it was decorated with Equestrian flags and the Shadowbolts symbol with a single cutie mark on it. It was Rainbow Dash's grave, and I was standing here once more.

"Hey mom," I said softly as I placed my hoof on it gently. "I'm sorry I haven't been visiting more but everything's been crazy lately. I'm a grandmother now, yeah... me, who would have guessed an actual grandmother? Cloudy and Jasper came home just a few days ago and everything seems to be going okay, I'm just..."

I sighed and looked down at my hooves, I had no idea why I was saying these things. Was it possible this was part of the dream or was something else going on here? I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"I don't know why I keep seeing this life mom, its like something up there is giving me the life I wanted, but I don't know if its the one I deserved," I said with a sigh. "I don't belong in this world, I belong back in the Wasteland atoning for my sins and my crimes. Why am I here? I'll probably never know, but..."

"But you're going to make the best of it while you can?" A soft voice asked from behind me and I turned to see Sweetie Belle standing there. "Hey Scootaloo..."

"Did you know the truth this whole time?" I asked as I looked at her.

"Yeah, Princess Luna told us," Sweetie said with a sigh. "You've been living my wife's life on and off, but she never told me why. She just said that you were in need of some help and me and Scootaloo agreed to help you out. I can't imagine what you've been through wherever you come from, but I'm glad that you became part of our lives, strange as it is."

"I just..." I said and looked back at the grave. "I miss you Sweetie Belle... every day of my life I miss you. Even if I've found somepony else, I can't help but think about you. Where I come from though, you've been dead for centuries and I'm alive by some fluke of fate."

"Maybe not a fluke, maybe it was meant to happen," Sweetie said as she took my hooves in her's. "Scootaloo, we agreed to this because we knew that you're a good pony no matter the universe, and you deserved a chance at a happy life even if it wasn't yours. I don't blame you for looking for love elsewhere and I don't think your Sweetie Belle would either."

"I know she wouldn't... but it doesn't help that much," I admitted with a sigh. "I just... I wish that I could've seen her one last time."

"I'm sure she felt the same way," Sweetie said and gave me a kiss on the lips.

"Will I ever see you again?" I asked and Sweetie frowned a little. "This is the last dream isn't it?"

"No... there's one more," Sweetie said with a shake of her head. "Luna said that you'd be coming at the major events of our lives together. She gave us a number, and there's still one more."

I sighed and nuzzled her gently. I was sad that it was almost over, but I knew that I couldn't live the rest of my life in this world, I had duties to perform.

"Whoever you found in your world is a very lucky pony," Sweetie said with a soft smile as she wrapped her forelegs around me. "She has the most wonderful mare in Equestria by her side."

I smiled and nodded a little. "I love you Sweetie Belle."

"I love you too Scootaloo," she said and we shared one last kiss before the world around me vanished.

00000

As we walked towards the mansion I remained quiet. Dazzle and Arc were up ahead talking while Riva was talking with one of the Reapers who happened to be another Zebra. I didn’t want to talk very much right now given what I had seen last night.

The dream had been hard for me. They were at times my solace in this world, even given everything that was happening. It had given me some answers about the dreams, but did I want them to end? The war with the Enclave was coming down to the wire, and sometimes it felt like those brief moments with Sweetie and my family was keeping me sane.

But at the same time I knew I couldn’t spend my whole life in that. Maybe Luna had set these up to help me like she had suggested, but I didn’t know why. Though, they did seem to be helping, my nightmares had become less common in recent weeks.

Was it possible that they had helped me? What would happen when they were over? Would those nightmares come back or would I still be okay? I sighed and looked up to see Blackjack looking at me.

“Nightmares hmm?” She asked with a calm smile.

“Not exactly… what makes you say that?” I asked as I looked at her.

“Scootaloo I have seen that look every time I look into a mirror. I know what a nightmare does to a pony.” She calmly wrapped a hoof around me to give a gentle hug. “If you wish to talk about it I am here my friend.”

“It's not really a nightmare… though I’ve had my share of those,” I said as I shook my head. “I, sometimes have dreams of a different life. Where, none of this happened, and the war ended peacefully. I have a wife, a family… I don’t really know why I have these dreams honestly. Last night, I had one where… well… where Sweetie talked to me more directly. She told me that there was some reason behind these dreams, like they’re supposed to help me or something… and Luna is involved.”

Blackjack nodded. “I went through the same thing.. But of course It was a computer generated world at a help place for the mentally broken. I lived through a life of how would have been if I was somepony else. I saw all my friend’s the same way in this dream. It was trying to tell me that what I did is not my fault.. But I didn’t take it as such. Maybe this is a way that your dreams are telling you to move on Scoots. I know that coming from me is hard to understand. But sometimes it’s best to move on. Even if the dreams are so real.”

“Yeah… that’s pretty much what Sweetie told me,” I said with a sigh. “I know they’re not real, but it's still something I kind of wish I wasn’t going to eventually lose. I love Cherry, but sometimes I wish I could still be back with Sweetie in a world like that.”

“Scoots if a mare is willing to change her life for you.. Then yes I would say move on myself. But the past is something that we all need to. But living in the past like I have been is not helpful on the brain.” She sighed. “But if you ever need a good talk with somepony I will sit and listen. I used to do that all the time for Glory.”

I looked at her and chuckled a little. “You know Blackjack, I think you might be smarter than you give yourself credit. Thank you, that actually helps a lot… though I have no control over these dreams and, well, if last night’s is to be believed there’s still one more to come.”

Blackjack held my hoof in her fingers from the robotic hoof. “Listen If you need someone there to talk to afterwards. I am willing to stay awake and watch. Don’t worry I won’t be freaky but I did this for Glory as well. Glory went through hell and back most of her life. But I wasn’t brave enough to admit to her that...I loved her. I just hurt her every chance I opened my mouth. If I could, I would tell her right to her face, with flowers and love and music. Without the bed of course.”

“And I’ll help you get that chance, I hope,” I said with a sigh. “She’s still out there, heck me and my friends are only here because she saved us from Alicorns. I don’t know why she came to work for Winter Breeze and the Enclave, but I don’t think its made her any less of a good pony… maybe we’ll find answers in Thunderhead.”

“I am sure...we...Whoa..” Her eyes opened wide.

“What is…” I said and looked ahead to where she was looking and my eyes went wide. There were ponies gathered, a lot of ponies gathered. I saw members of Applejack’s Rangers, other ponies that I didn’t recognize, a few ghouls here and there (I think I even saw Silver Spoon in there somewhere), and I smiled a little. “Well, looks like we’ve got an audience gathered. I guess you left more of an impact on Hoofington than you thought.”

“Yes looks like it.” She gulps a bit. “Now I just need to think of a speech, and me without whiskey.”

“I’m sure you’ll figure something out,” I said as we headed towards the mansion, I just hoped I was right.

“Are you sure she’s up for this?” Arc asked as we stood off to the side of the rough stage where everything was to go down. “She’s not exactly the most stable of ponies at best, and we’re expecting her to get up in front of a bunch of ponies and give a speech.”

“I know, but what choice do we have?” I said as I looked out at the gathered crowd. “Celestia only knows how many of these ponies would rather have my head, and none of you have the same kind of standing here in Hoofington. Blackjack is our only chance here if we want to convince them.”

“I just hope that they’ll listen,” Dazzle said with a shake of her head. “How many of these ponies sided with the Enclave?”
I paused and looked over the records with a shake of my head. “Most of them are neutral, I don’t even know how many of these groups are represented here. We might have a chance with convincing some of them at least… I hope.”

Blackjack came up to the stage and looked at all the ponies at all the eye’s staring at her. She gulped a moment and closed her eyes as she thought about of what to say. She took a deep breath. “Ten years ago I was nothing. Just a Security pony for another stable. Then I came out to this land of ours, to see the Hoof for the first time in my life. It’s not a simple place to live in, in fact it always wishes to kill us ponies even if we built it. But we all can come together to make sure the Enclave doesn't destroy our land with a Megaspell. Another thing of the past that wishes to harm us. We would be working with the Alliance to protect our...” A voice sounded to stop the speech for the very moment. A very robotic voice.

Iron hooves walked forward up to the stage. The robotic pony that most probably had seen looked out at the group. “Most of you know me as a legend. I was turned on when the bombs fell to see the world end. I have seen what has become of this world through my entire walk of it. But my one question is to one orange mare.” Silver Gunner turned to look at me. “Who is worse the Alliance or the Enclave?”

I felt the eyes of everypony in that crowd on me after he spoke and pulled my hat down over my eyes for a moment.

“See she can’t even answer that question no pony can.” Blackjack countered.

“Of course she can’t. Because she doesn't even know. But that’s not the question. Should we allow a megaspell to survive for any of them to take it? I did the math. If the Enclave held it but never used it. More ponies would die than they ever have. I am willing to follow Blackjack here even if it means I get turned off by a bullet. I’m willing to risk my non living life for this mare.”

Blackjack stared at the robot. Then she regained her mind. “If you wish to join us for this battle like Silver Gunner. Wouldn’t it be wise to do what he says? But we can’t allow the Enclave to do this. Even if we can’t fully trust the Alliance we need to help them. As everyone wishes to see happen. HOOFINGTON RISES!! “ She lifted her hoof up.

There was a moment of silence, I never thought so many ponies in one area could be so quiet. I swear if Pinkie was still around she’d drop a pin so we could hear it. Then a clap was heard, we looked towards the front to see Rampage clapping, then the rest of the Reapers that had come joined in.

I smiled a little as the ponies of Hoofington started to clap. That was a good sign at least, something Blackjack had said must’ve done the trick, or all of it. I felt like I should have said something already, but I knew there was only one thing I could’ve said.

Silver Gunner was right, I had known it ever since I knew the Enclave was after Rockhoof’s Thunder. We were going to have to stop it so that nopony, Enclave or Alliance, could ever use it again.

“Well, I guess our plan worked after all,” Arc said with a chuckle as she gave me a smirk. “Let’s just hope that everything goes according to plan from here.”

Silver Gunner came down the stairs when he opened his back compartment. He would offer to help me up to the stage. “I think you should speak to them.”

I blinked a little but I took his hoof and climbed up on the stage. I honestly had no idea what I was going to say, what could I say that would help now?

“You all know this mare.” Silver Gunner said. Blackjack just watched now she looked worried. “This is Scootaloo the one who helped build those stables. But I am going to be a little blunt with you. What she did is nothing compared to what the Enclave will do. She may have death’s on her hooves. But the Enclave has harmed so many. So please listen to what she has to say.” The robotic pony said.

I was nervous all of a sudden, I had no idea what I was going to say. I was terrified that I might say the wrong thing and hurt our chances.”

Blackjack stood near me placing a hoof gently on my back gently saying. “You can do it. If you can be a better pony then me. You can do this.”

I took a deep breath and removed my hat, there wasn’t any point to wear it at the moment, but I started to talk. “You all know what I did… you all know what I’ve been doing if you’ve been listening to DJ Pon3. Silver Gunner asked if the Alliance or the Enclave is worse, and I’m not going to lie and say that there is any single faction that is good or evil. Both sides from what I’ve seen and heard are capable of both good and evil. The Enclave however has proven itself to be a threat to Equestria, even if they have promises of helping, there is always a chance they will go back to the old ways.”

I closed my eyes and brushed my mane back a moment. There was a lot I could say right now, I wasn’t sure how to put it into words though.

“Over 200 years ago I lived in the early days of the Enclave, they weren’t even called the Enclave yet but the mentality was there,” I said. “There was a lot of lies, a lot of manipulation, a lot of ponies who were willing to follow this mentality. I wasn’t one of them, and I saw what life was like under the Enclave. Is it possible that they may make life better for Equestria? Yes, but at what cost? Are you willing to sell your freedom for that? Sometimes yes, extreme methods are needed, but we cannot lose our souls for a better future. As for the Megaspell, I know everything about the Megaspell they’re after, and I’m going to say this. There are no right hooves for it, or for any Megaspell, I promise all of you that I will do everything I can to make sure that neither side of this war gets to use it.”

I sighed and took a deep breath as I finished. I had no idea if anypony was willing to listen to what I was saying, I just had to hope that I got through to them.

Blackjack patted my back and went down to talk to the ponies. Silver Gunner stood there staring at me. “Now you get my question? The core value of friendship?”

“I think so…” I said softly.

Silver Gunner turned to show me all the ponies. “All of them are the core value of friendship. Not just one thing. The ponies you share it with are the core value. Friendship is always there even if the ponies themselves don’t feel it. So Scootaloo get it now?”

“Friendship is magic,” I said with a smirk. “Yeah, I get it. I don’t know how many ponies we convinced, but hopefully it was enough.”

“I am sure.. But you convinced me Scootaloo.” The compartment in his back opened up and he bowed using the hand as a flourish. Then simply walked back down the stairs and stood back in his spot like he was a guard.

I smiled and returned to my friends. We’d find out soon how well we had done, for now we had to wait.

I sighed a little and looked over a map of Hoofington and Thunderhead as we waited to hear back from the factions. The Alliance force was going to be arriving soon and if they didn’t at least remain neutral the battle for Thunderhead might start right here.

What was going to happen if they didn’t listen? We had gotten a response out of them sure, but we didn’t really know how much of them would be willing to help. I closed my eyes and sighed.

“Scootaloo?” A voice said and I opened my eyes for a moment with surprise, that wasn’t one of my friends but I knew the voice. I smiled a little when I saw Sparky coming in. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine,” I said with a smile. “What brings you here?”

“Well, uh…” Sparky said and sighed a little. “Apple Bloom passed away the other day… I, wanted to help fight I guess, given everything that’s been going on so I traveled here with the NCR forces.”

My heart fell at that news. Apple Bloom may have been a clone but she was a good pony and had been something left from my old life. Now she was gone, I hugged Sparky gently and she hugged me back. We just stood there for a long moment hugging one another.

“I’m sorry Sparky, I wish I could’ve gotten to know her better,” I said softly. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather be back at Sweet Apple Acres?”

“I buried her, and I know you’re going to keep her dream alive,” Sparky said with a nod. “She told me before she died that I should do everything I could tot help Equestria. That, its what my parents would’ve wanted me to do.”

I smiled and held the hug for a long moment. “I’m glad to have you along Sparky, we’ll figure this out.”

Blackjack walked over on her heavy hooves, she looked back to the factions and then to me. “Excuse me Scootaloo. You should listen to this.”

“What is it?” I asked as we walked over to her.

“Silver Gunner has a recording he wants you to listen to.”

I looked over at the robot curiously. “Sure, I’d love to listen to it… what is it?”

Silver Gunner walked over opening his back bringing out a little speaker. “When my creator made me they recorded this. I want you to hear it.” The voice comes on that sounds old and worn. But like a pony I used to know.

“Hello my students... “ The weak voice said as she coughed. “I wanted this to be my last recording.. If any of you survived this...awful end. “ The voice coughed. “When I was asked...to give up teaching because my view on this war..was controversial. I went and made this form you see standing in front of you now. I had to beg many to help me.. But I wanted my view to be remembered to all my students. Though I might already be dead when you hear this. I want my little ponies to know... You all made me proud.” She coughed deeply. “Silver…. Please if you see any pony...that finds the core values of friendship, please…..tell them.” The old voice slowly breaths gently and the entire recording was of shallow breathing to nothing.

My eyes began to water all over again, I knew that voice. There was nopony else in Equestria that could have left that message. Even after all these years, she had still been one of the best teachers I ever had. These were her last words left behind.

“Ms. Cheerilee…” I finally said softly.

“Yes I have lied to many about who created me. Also how I was created. I did so to keep this message alive. Her last and final word’s. Her last final words were at the school. She had to break into them to hide. But that’s where I was secretly built, until the bombs fell.”

“She was my teacher when I was just a filly,” I said with a sigh. “I never really thought about what happened to her after all of this. I, just… I miss those days, a lot.”

Silver nodded. “She was branded as a criminal by the Ministry of image. Because she wanted to teach the way she had been before all this came about. But they didn’t let her, So she had been fired beaten by some ponies and then shunned by all those she had taught.”

“I never wanted to shun her,” I said and closed my eyes. “But I was so busy with Red Racer and Stable-Tec that I didn’t even have the time. I don’t know if there’s anything I could have done, but maybe I should have said something to Sweetie. I’m sorry…”

I don’t know if I said that to Silver Gunner or in some hope that Cheerilee could hear me. I started to cry even more.

“We all messed up… we all were willing to compromise our morals during the war,” I said softly. “Some of us worse than others. I guess, in a way, Cheerilee was one of the best of us, I just, wish I could have told her how much her teachings meant to me.”

“I got one more thing for you.” The robot pony said. The back compartment opened up. In his robotic hand he held a framed photo of my graduation class. “She wanted any pony of her class to have it. So I feel you need it more than I do.”

I looked at the photo. We were all there, me, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon… all of us. I couldn’t hold it in, I cried and more automatic than anything else hugged Silver Gunner.

“Thank you…”

Silver at first didn’t seem to act. He just stood there feeling a his eyes change a bit. He brought out his many arm’s to hold me into the hug. “Your welcome…my little pony.” It sounded like the voice of the old mare just for a moment. Then after awhile Silver Gunner went back to his normal self. He removed himself from the hug.

I brushed the tears away and looked down at the picture again as Arc, Dazzle, and Riva came into the room.

“Are you okay Scootaloo?” Arc asked as I looked over at her.

“Yeah, I’m okay,” I said with a sigh. “What’s the word?”

“Well, we’ve got the Reapers, the Ghouls from Meatlocker, the Zodiacs along with the Collegiate agreeing to work with us,” Dazzle said and Riva nodded. “The rest of them have agreed to not side with the Enclave in the battle.”

I let out a sigh of relief, that was good at least. “Okay, that’s good… let’s do this then. Where’s the NCR?”

“They’re already in position,” Arc said. “Are you ready to go?”

I looked down at the photo one more time and smiled a little. I nodded and put it back in my bag and made sure everything was secure. “Alright, let’s go.”

And with that we headed out, it was time for the Battle of Thunderhead to begin.

LEVEL UP!
Perk Received: Dream Walker.
Details: Your travels in the dreamscape have given you a better understanding of them and of the night. You gain an extra point in perception in the dark and it is harder for enemies to attack you while sleeping.

Author's Notes:

Blackjack is once more written by MegaSkullMon.