I headed back to the room where Gambit was being kept. I didn’t want to leave the house without knowing that she was on her way so I had to make sure she was safe enough to move.

I sighed and pushed the door open. I hated that Winter had somehow managed to make it through to Gambit, who knew how many other ponies she might be able to convince. What if we hadn’t managed to get through to her? What would’ve happened then?

I sighed and looked over at where Gambit was. She was currently unconscious given her state before and Crow was watching over her while we were getting ready. I sighed and looked down at the unconscious Alicorn.

“I’m sorry about everything Gambit,” I said softly as I looked at her. “I dragged you into this, I should’ve been there for you. Your friendship means a lot to me, more than I could ever tell you, I’m sorry that we wound up on opposite sides of the war even for a short time. Maybe you were right and we should have stopped the war to negotiate…”

Crow landed beside me he stared at me for a good moment. “From the writings in my old hive. You did try, but some ponies were so full of hatred that they undermined it at every turn.”

“History repeats itself… only this time I’m the one who did everything I could to undermine the peace,” I said with a sigh. “I saw what the Enclave wanted as a threat to Equestria, which it is. An end to this war should be something all sides can live with.”

Crow’s eyes had a look of uncertainty in them. “Scootaloo you seem to forget something. The Enclave only cares about ponies. What about those who aren't? I think you’re fighting for those who are different beyond a pony. There is a reason the friend that saved us hated ponies. Because all she saw was ponies even the ones trying to save it as her words. Creatures that would just fall into hell again. Not worth the time of civilized beings. Purge the ponies and bring forth real peace. She even had ponies following her believing in this.”

“I don’t know to be honest, Winter Breeze is… complicated,” I said with a shake of my head. “Maybe it’s not that simple, it never seems to be with her. I don’t think she should win of course, but I’m not sure she’s as simple as just being focused on ponies.”

Crow nodded. “Yes of course our friend’s heart softened after she met a little filly that she found alive in the pile of corpses. A little fillies who parents were former raiders and who is missing right now..” He sighed.

I was about to say something when there was a flash of purple light behind us. I grabbed the trigger bit on my battle saddle and Crow turned into a bear as we turned around to see a group of Enclave soldiers dressed in a slightly more elaborate version of the normal Enclave Power Armor.

“What do you want?” I demanded of them, preparing to shoot as I moved between them and Gambit.

“By order of our President, we have been dispatched to secure and protect a miss “Gambit” from any threat, be it external or internal.” One of the enclave soldiers said as he stepped forward. “Miss Scootaloo, you are relieved - we will handle the situation until she can be returned to Chapel.”

“How do I know I can trust you?” I demanded of the soldier. “She was lied to and used by the Enclave, how do I know you aren’t just going to take her back to the President?”

“Our orders supersede any standing Enclave order. You are not in cuffs or being taken away to a prison now, are you?” He said, taking a seat and reaching up and placing hooves to either side of his helmet, lifting it off with a hiss as the seal broke. “I should not need to explain to you why you should trust us - You all could of been dead or arrested if we had alternative motives.”

I was about to say something when I froze in mid sentence. The stallion underneath had a white coat and sapphire blue eyes, that wasn’t what drew my eye however. His mane was cut short and had a rainbow pattern to it.

Every time I tried to open my mouth and say something nothing came out. I was just standing there in shocked silence at the pony that bore a striking resemblance to Rainbow Dash.

Crow looked at me. “Um Scootaloo you look like you saw a ghost.. Having sex with another ghost.”

“That is… quite the crass way to say it, but I suppose you are right - she does seem like she recognizes me.” The soldier said and looked to me curiously. “Don’t tell me we’ve met before, somewhere else? I don’t recall you but I can’t always remember everything”

“Your mane,” I said simply as I shook my head to try and get over the shock. “You look like…”

Crow sighed. “I should pay more mind to Deep Thoughts teaching on the past..I would know what this stallion reminds you of. Him and the past is like candy. The racism the tactics the projects.” He shook his head

“What does that even mean?” The soldier said “Anyway, You can call me Spectra, that’s all you need to know right now. As for Miss Gambit - She will be looked after and loaded onto an Enclave Vertibuck as soon as possible and sent back to Chapel and her friends.”

“Alright, but under the condition that Crow goes with you,” I said and looked at Crow. “I’m still not 100% sure about this and right now I trust you more than I do the Enclave.”

“I cannot make any promises as to the safety of any… creature, that we are tasked with watching with. Primary VIP is sleeping beauty over there, any extra baggage cannot be guaranteed.” Spectra said but giving a nod “The… creature, will be transported with her, but if space does not permit I cannot promise anything.”

Crow smirked and turned into a small little bird. His voice sounded chipmunk-ish . “This good enough?”

“The alternative is that Crow here leaves with her alone and you risk them getting caught in the crossfire of the battle,” I said, some confidence returning to my voice. “That wouldn’t look good to Winter now would it? You’ll part ways when you drop her off. Is that going to be a problem?”

“Hmm it’s rare to see ponies respect my kind.” Crow said looking up to me and landing on my shoulder. “Sadly I was born in this day and age.”

“It’s not about what you are, which I am guessing a changeling, by the whole - changing shape thing.” Spectra said, “It’s about who you are, you aren’t hurting anypony so I have no reason to not treat you with respect. Something a lot of ponies could stand to learn.”

“We’re in the middle of a war, if we were the ones escorting one of your ponies to safety wouldn’t you want somepony to come with us?” I pointed out.

Crow nodded. “By logic I should be hunting every pony down. For what they did to the Queen of my hive. But I won’t, I don’t see the point of bloodshed.”

“Would you prefer I treat you like any other pest of an insect and squash you under my boot?” Spectra said, shifting his gaze to Crow. “If that is what you expected and you’re disappointed by my lack to do just that, I can oblige if you so desire.”

Crow smiled. “No sir. I was mostly here to watch Scootaloo and they failed with getting caught interesting show there too.“
“I think you need to work on your… talking skills.” Spectra said before turning his attention back to me. “So, are you going to stand there staring like you’ve seen a ghost, or you going to do whatever job it is you are here to do.”

“Right,” I said and started out of the room. I stopped and took one last look back at Spectra for a moment. Rainbow manes were, pretty rare outside of Rainbow’s family, was it possible he was related to her somehow? Or maybe it was a coincidence, right now I didn’t have time to worry about it.

I pushed the door open and shut it behind me, it was time to get going.

I sighed and headed out into the main room where everypony else was waiting. “Alright, we have to get going. Gambit’s going to be fine, I hope.”

“I wish you could stay longer,” Caramel said with a sigh as she looked up at Arc. “Stay safe all of you, okay?”

“We will,” Arc said and gave Caramel a quick kiss on the lips before she got to her hooves. “I’ll see you soon Caramel, I promise.”

I smiled a little and looked over at Blackjack who was busy cleaning her shotgun. “Are you ready to go Blackjack?”
Blackjack looked like she had much on her mind. Her eyes darting back and forth. She softly said. “I will be ready Lacunae, you and Scotch go on ahead.”

I blinked a little and looked at the others. “Uh, Blackjack… who is Lacunae? And we need to get going as a group.”

She blinked her eyes a moment and looked up. “Oh I’m sorry Scootaloo just memories. Lacunae was an Alicorn that.. I grew very close to.. She died because of my stupidity.” She said with a sigh putting her gun back in the holster. Standing up. “Lets go.” She said sadly. Tears gently went down her face as she walked out of the house.

“Is she going to be okay?” Sparky asked as she looked over at me.

“I, honestly don’t know if Blackjack’s been okay for a very long time…” I said with a sigh as we got up and headed back out into Thunderhead proper.

I looked out into the distance over the buildings and saw smoke rising from where the battle itself was going on. They were still a good distance away so we at least didn’t have to worry about getting caught up in the fighting, yet.

Thankfully it looked like there were ponies who had listened to Winter’s broadcast as there were civilians being directed to craft for evacuation by the military ponies that weren’t already involved in the fighting. It, actually was nice to know that the Enclave was keeping their word there and was getting the civilians to safety.

“Are they going to be okay?” Sparky asked as she looked over at the ponies. “They’re not going to be shot down are they?”

“I hope not,” I said with a sigh. “If they follow the right path away from the battle, they should be fine.”

We started walking again. I checked the map option on my PipBuck, Thunderhead was a decent sized city and we had to head for an area that was a pretty good distance away from the fighting if we wanted to reach the government offices.

“Are you feeling okay?” I asked as I looked over at Blackjack.

Blackjack stayed silent she looked in her own little world at the moment. She turned to look at me. I could see hatred in her eyes. She spoke softly. “Are you sure these ponies don’t work with Lighthooves Glory? I could pick them off one by one if they do.” Her eyes clouded over like she wasn’t fully there.

“Blackjack what are you…” I started to say, then it dawned on me, she was having flashbacks to when she was in Thunderhead before. Okay, maybe taking her back into this city was a bad idea, but we couldn’t take it back now. “Blackjack, come back to me, its Scootaloo. We’re not fighting Lighthooves, Lighthooves is dead.”

The white mares eyes stared at me for the longest time looking close at me. The cloud vanished from her eyes her gentle smile returned. “What are you talking about Scootaloo of course Lighthooves is dead. Come on let’s find Glory.”

I frowned a little, I was getting worried about Blackjack, well more worried than I already was. I was about to say something to her when I blinked and realized she was gone. “What… where did she go?”

I hear the sound of screams and the sound of a shotgun cocking. A very angry mare saying. “WHERE IS LIGHTHOOVES?! I am going to give you a fucking chance.. One….Two.”

I bolted forward, my enhanced speed automatically kicking in in the panic. I followed the sound of the screams and spotted Blackjack, she was holding a couple of Pegasi civilians at gunpoint with a crazed look in her eyes.

She was sobbing and crying but also laughing. She was losing it the gun dropped from her magic. But she tried to keep it lifted. “NO! No, no pony should leave me.” She stood on her hooves the metal ends turning into fist. Clenching them, I could hear the sound of the metal crunching and bending. “The dealer...I see him...He speaks to me… Even now..” She was shaking aiming her gun and got ready to pull the trigger.

I didn’t hesitate, I lined up the SOAR on her flank for a moment and closed my eyes and pulled the trigger. The energy bolt fired from the rifle and I heard the sound of impact and crackle of energy followed by a WHUMP sound and a cry as Blackjack fell forward onto her face as the cybernetic legs failed from under her.

I opened my eyes and saw her sprawled out before I looked at the two Pegasi who were holding each other and trembling. “Get out of here, please, get to safety.”

The two ponies scrambled around the collapsed cyberpony and ran off past my friends. I moved forward and looked down at Blackjack cautiously. “Blackjack?”

She was sobbing hard. “All of them...are dead...because of me... Because i wasn’t fast enough... Better, I hear them, I see them... Gasping for air. I see my friends screaming for me to come, but I couldn’t leave just staring at the door. Gunfire coming at me.. Glory’s wing, hurt because of me. It fell off it fell off because of those damn tunnels. The pain I see in her eyes. Rampage... I treated her so bad. But... Freedom Heart. I just treated him like he was a stallion for my pleasure... I didn’t care for his feelings. He tried to kill himself, he hung himself, I deserved it… he blamed me..” She sobbed hard so much coming forward.

I pulled the Unicorn in close. “Just let it all out… you’ve been holding it all in for so long… but you’re going to be okay. What happened in Stable 99 was an accident, nothing you did was your fault.”

She started to cry harder. “No...No I did it..I pushed the button. I didn’t smash into it. I pushed it.. I felt..I felt...It would save me and my family and friends. From being harmed by the raiders.. But..But..I heard the screams. The awful screams..I was trapped in there….Trapped. I wanted to let it take me...But I had to get out...I had to run.. All i have done is run! Then Glory turned into Rainbow Dash for a time and the Killing Joke turned me into a mare that blew up everytime she walked…” She sobbed but she wasn’t done.

I sighed and looked at Blackjack for a long moment as I tried to decide what to say next. “Blackjack…”

What I was about to say was cut off when there was the sound of hooves as Arc came up to us and hugged Blackjack tight. I was surprised for a moment but smiled a little as the others joined in.

“Blackjack, you’re going to be just fine,” I said softly. “We’re all here for you.”

She cried deeply tears streamed down. She had one last thing to get out. “The goddess she...Controlled me...To kill Pip… I could have warned her..I could have said something. But I couldn’t… I saw… I saw Twilight looking at me... In that...evil.. She wanted me to run.Then I rushed and the balefire bomb went off. I was there… Lacunae stood in front of me, risking her life, for me. Then when it all let up... She grew, she grew so large... She gave herself up... Because of my stupidity. She gave Psalm her freedom. Now i no longer dream of what she did either.” Her tears slowly stopped coming and she takes a few deep breaths.

“Are you okay Blackjack?” Sparky asked as she looked at her worriedly.

She looked up with a weak smile. “ I will be okay kiddo. This is what happens when you drink for a long time and don’t allow yourself to empty it all. Also Scootaloo good shot..My ass is burning thank you.” She chuckled she tried to move her legs but no luck.

“Oh, sorry, here let me take a look at that,” I said and checked her hind legs. “Sorry, I’ve never tried shooting a cyberpony with this thing before…”

“It means we are close friends now Scoots you did what every other pony did when we met. Shoot me in the ass. Now I have to get married to you and dance the hula.” She said jokingly.

I just rolled my eyes and got to work, but I couldn’t help but chuckle a little. “Well, it’s nice to see your sense of humor wasn’t damaged, but it might still need some fixing,” I said with a shake of my head. “Okay, looks like it’s just a brief disruption in the cybernetics, you should be fine in a minute.”

“Well if anypony can fix it, it’s your orange ass.” Blackjack said smirking “But joking aside…” She sighed. “I would be lost without you guys. Riva i may not know you well, but you’re kind and gentle. Arc, we may have not gotten along at first.. But I consider you a close sister… Dazzle.. For a ghoul you're pretty sexy.“ She smirked. “Oh and Sparky, you’re a cute kid.”
“I try my best,” Riva said with a smile.

“We’re a family here Blackjack, a, rather crazy at times dysfunctional family,” I said with a chuckle and looked at Dazzle with a nod. “You two are new to our little family, and we may not be complete, but that’s what we are. And we’re going to be here for each other, and that includes you.”

“That’s right, and don’t forget it,” Arc said with a smile. “And, that means a lot to me.”

“Anyway ahem, I know this is a lovely display of kindness and friendship. But ponies are staring.” She looked to the ponies watching them. Her cheeks turn red with embarrassment from this.

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer!” I called out to the ponies as we released the hug. I offered a hoof to Blackjack to help her up as the cybernetics started working again. “Sorry for knocking out your legs like that.”

“Eh I was going nuts, it was needed Scoots. Now I need to do something that I have been needing to do since we met. “ Blackjack pulled me into a tight hug. Whispered softly. “Thank you for saving me. I owe you one.”

I smiled and hugged back. I looked up towards one of the rooftops and blinked for a moment, I could’ve sworn I saw a pony dressed in purple power armor with a hat and cape for a moment, and then the figure vanished.

I blinked, what was that about? I shook my head, I had bigger things to worry about than a strange pony right now.

“Come on, let’s get going,” I said and we picked ourselves up and we started walking again.

As we made our way through Thunderhead I couldn’t help but think about the strange pony I had briefly seen. We were starting to see less and less civilians and more military personnel that we had to avoid.

I looked over at Sparky and smiled a little, she was talking with Blackjack, I turned my attention back ahead of me and looked ahead for any sign of trouble. Thankfully right now the Enclave was more focused on the attacking Alliance, but I didn’t know how long that was going to last.

Blackjack spoke loud enough to Sparky from behind me. “Well how I won in the Arena.. I don’t remember much of that battle but the one i was fighting. Had a chain around my neck so I had to use some drugs like dash and Hydra. Then I beat them in a blind rage.”

“That’s quite the story,” Sparky said, she sounded impressed, not that I blamed her. “And that got you the respect of the Reapers?”

“Yes I did. Even when I was broken and lost. They tried to help me. But all I could think about is.. Drinking and having congress with every mare and stallion I saw.” She said with a sad voice. “Being lost like that...Is, well it's hard to deal with. That’s all I cared about then I see one like you. I feel I need to clean up my act before...finding Glory.” She said in even sadder voice.

“Blackjack…” Sparky said and sighed a little. “You’re doing just fine, heck you’re doing better than me. I’m just kind of a tag along at this point and I’m not really bringing anything new to this, but I’m here for my family because its the right thing to do.”

Blackjack chuckled. “If you want me to be blunt you’re bringing the cute back to this group. I am sure you could draw the eye’s of any mare or stallion. Not Scootaloo she is just an old donkey.” She said jokingly. “But still she did save my flank.”

“Hey, I’m only 43!” I protested which just got a giggle from Sparky. “Real funny you two, you’re enjoying this aren’t you?”

“Yep!” Sparky said with a giggle. “Come on, we can have a little fun with you can’t we?”

Blackjack snickered. “Hey at least we aren’t getting shot at right now.” She shuts her mouth a moment. “I think i am going to regret that later.”

I was about to say something when an energy bolt flew past our heads and into the wall of a building behind us. “Darn it Blackjack, you just had to say something didn’t you?” I shouted as we ducked behind a bench as we looked out at the approaching Enclave Soldiers.

“I’m guessing they’re not friends or the fact that these could be remnants of Lighthooves ponies. But that would be a little crazy.” Her horn glows keeping the shotgun out of sight for the time being. Blackjack spoke up. “Hey we mean you no harm!! So please stop shooting at us. With sugar and strawberries and some beer on top?”

They just shot her a strange look and then continued firing at us. I facehooved and returned fire on the Enclave ponies.

“Uh Blackjack, you do realize we’re in the middle of a battle with the Enclave, right? They’re not our friends right now!” I said.

Blackjack sighed. “Can’t blame a mare for trying. Here I am going to try something I have an idea.” She stood up rushing quickly to the side her Hoof getting caught on the leg of the bench causing her to roll a bit.. Her gun to go off and the bullets to start bouncing of various places. While she rolled she smashed into a strange rope system that held a piano. One of her stray bullets caused the piano to fly off the rope. Then it flew to the enclave soldiers and knocked them out.

“Okay… that is not what I expected,” Riva said and looked at the rest of us. “Is that possible?”

“I really have no idea,” I said with a sigh. I was about to get out of cover when there was another shot, more soldiers had been attracted by the sound of the fight and were moving in on our position. “Crap… just what needed right now.”

As we started to fire back at the Enclave soldiers it was starting to become clear that these weren’t the run of the mill soldiers. I ducked out of the way of another shot and looked over at Sparky who was shaking a little.

“Are you okay?” I asked her softly and she nodded. It occurred to me that this was the first time she had seen actual combat. I reached over and put my hoof on her’s and gave her a nod. “You’re going to be okay, I promise.”

Sparky smiled a little as she picked her rifle back up, looking at it again I recognized it as the same one Apple Bloom had threatened us with. She positioned herself and fired at the Enclave as best she could, though it was obvious she wasn’t used to fighting anything other than monsters or Raiders.

I sighed, this wasn’t the best cover but we couldn’t leave it to find better cover. After a moment though the sound of gunfire started to die down, I gestured to Arc who used her telekinesis to pull the unconscious Blackjack closer to us.

“Why did they stop shooting?” Dazzle wondered out loud.

“Now now boys, can’t you see these ponies aren’t your enemy? I mean - look at them, they couldn’t hit you even if they tried. Just some scared Civilians who took up their arms to protect themselves, nothing more.” A familiar voice said, “Why don’t you move on to the actual battleground and I’ll get these scared fillies to a transport out of the city.”

I looked up and facehooved at the sight of Spectra. I wasn’t going to ruin the distraction though, I gestured to the others and we started moving again slowly and quietly.

“But sir, they’re Alliance infiltrators,” the head soldier said as he looked confused at Spectra. “We have standing orders from the President to deal with any infiltration team.”

“You’re mistaken, these fillies aren’t infiltrators - Just look at them, do they look like highly skilled alliance special ops? I don’t think so. Wouldn’t want to hurt them and get yourself in trouble for killing a civilian.” Spectra said, motioning back to us.

Okay, this was getting weird, I mean I had been face to face with that stallion about an hour ago. For a moment I swore I saw the same purple figure out of the corner of my eye as it moved along the rooftops, but I was more focused on getting us out of there.

“Sir, um you do know they’re um getting away. I mean they’re right there.” The other enclave soldier said.

“Would you rather have a charge of insubordination along with whatever they try and get you with for killing civilians?” Spectra said and smirked “If you want to have that on your record, or be branded and thrown from the clouds, fine - that’s on you, can’t blame me for trying.”

“Any idea why we’re being saved by an Enclave Commander?” Arc whispered to me.

“I honestly have no idea,” I admitted as we rounded the corner and away from the soldiers. “Come on, we have to…”
I stopped mid-sentence as we came face to face with the same pony I had seen before. Now that I saw them close up though, I swear there was something familiar about the way they looked.

“Who are you?” I demanded of the armored pony. “Why have you been following us?”

“Come with me if you want to live,” the armored pony said in a distorted and slightly gravelly voice before she turned down an alleyway.

“What should we do?” Arc asked as she looked between us.

Blackjack sounded like she was slowly waking up. A deep groan coming from her mouth. “Follow...the strange pony… Ow.”

“Do we really have a choice?” Riva said as she looked back behind us.

Well, I couldn’t argue with her there, but we were walking into a dead end alleyway. “Lets go,” I said finally and we followed the strange mare down the alley. “What now?”

The armored pony didn’t reply, instead they hit a panel and a secret door opened up. They looked back and looked at us before jerking their head towards the door. “Get inside, now.”

“But…” Arc started to say.

“Lets not argue with the power armored pony,” I said as we quickly headed through the door. I took one look at the strange pony and noticed a symbol on its armor but they herded us into the door before I could question it and shut the door behind us.

I was surprised, I didn’t know that there were tunnels like this under cloud cities like Thunderhead. We were somewhere under the city at this point, I didn’t know where, but it was something at least.

“Where are we going?” I asked as I looked at the strange armored pony.

“You’ll see,” they said as they pushed ahead of us.

Blackjack groans. “Let me down please Arc.”

Arc eased the Unicorn down. The armored pony glanced over at Blackjack and shook their head. “I should’ve known you’d be in the middle of all of this Blackjack.”

“Well lovely to see you again. At least this time we don’t have to worry about them trying to show that Glory is a clone of Rainbow Dash.” She said with a groan shaking her head.”What the feather happen?”

“You had really strange adventures, you know that right?” I commented with a chuckle. “Then again, I keep running into clones and ponies with some weird connection to me…”

“Hey!” Sparky said.

“I meant ponies other than you Sparky,” I said and facehooved.

“Bull hockey I picked the wrong time to stop drinking. Anyway thank you again. Miss Mare-do-well.”

“Wait, you’re the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well?” Dazzle said as the armored mare looked back at us. “I thought you were just a myth.”

“Wait, you’ve heard of her?” I asked and looked at Dazzle then at Blackjack. “And you’ve met her? What’s the story here?”

She blinks trying to remember. “OH yes well when we came in here..We all got caught but not me… Soooo to get away I removed the spell and fell through the the clouds.” She smirks remembering that wonderful moment of her stupidity. “But Mare-Do-Well saved my flank. I landed on her by pure luck or that's what my mind thought at the time.” She thought more. “Then I asked her helper to give me all the whiskey don’t remember everything else truthfully.”

“Do you have any idea how long it took me to clean up last time she was here?” The Mysterious Mare-Do-Well commented and shot a look at Blackjack. “No alcohol this time around, understood?”

“I don’t drink anymore. I want to be clean for Glory. So don’t worry I will be fully clean.” She said with a smile.

We walked a little further until we reached a large chamber that likely served as the Mare-Do-Well’s HQ. There was equipment strewn here and there along with different weapons and a large computer up against the far wall.

As I looked around I saw a few pictures here and there of different ponies. That was strange, why would there be so many different ponies here? I felt like I was missing the piece of a puzzle or something.

“Well, Scootaloo, I have to say I wasn’t expecting to be graced with your presence,” the Mare-do-Well said as she removed her helmet and shook her mane free. She was an older looking mare with a dark grey coat and a short white mane. “You’re quite the legend around these parts.”

“Hello Thunder Strike,” She spoke softly.

“Blackjack,” the now named Thunder Strike said and looked between us. “So, it looks like Winter’s finally bitten off more than she can chew.”

“Let’s hope I don’t get blown up again.” She sighed. “ I knew I should have brought Boo. But well I am only here to find Glory. If I can help take care of this thing with Winter I will, but she is too smart with her words. She’s respectful, but she falls by ignoring the issues of other races.”

“Winter Breeze isn’t like the old High Council,” Thunder Strike said with a shake of her head. “She’s hard to get a read on even for me and I don’t like it.”

“Umm, can I ask a question?” Sparky asked as we looked over at her. “What exactly is the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well?”

Thunder Strike raised an eyebrow and looked at the Pegasus teen curiously. “Ah, you’re ground born I’m guessing. We’ve been a pain in the Enclave’s flank for over a hundred years, fighting the good fight and giving them Hell… at least, that’s how it used to be.”

There was a pain in her voice as she said that last part. Had something happened? The mare sighed and closed her eyes. “I’m sorry, I just don’t have it in me to keep fighting… as hard as it is to admit it.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked.

“Excuse me Arc since.. This might take awhile. Up for a chat?” She asked as she walked away from me turning back to give a soft smile and then went farther away.

“Okay,” Arc said and headed off to talk with Blackjack.

Riva and Dazzle went off next, Sparky was going to join them but Thunder Strike stopped her. “If you’re who I think you are, you should hear this too.”

“Okay?” Sparky asked as she looked over at me and I shrugged. “Alright, what do you want to talk to us about?”

“Well like I said, the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well has been around for a long time,” Thunder said as she pulled off her armor. She was an older mare, that much was obvious, but she looked in pretty good shape for her age. “It goes back over a hundred years when a mare named Windy Willow came across this place. We’re on the outer edge of Thunderhead, the best we can gather is that it was a Ministry of Awesome facility to go with Shadowbolt Tower.”

“I see,” I said in understanding as I looked around. That name sounded familiar somehow, like I had heard or read it before but I couldn’t remember it. “So, you’re a legacy, you pass the title and training down over the years right?”

“Yeah, that was the idea,” Thunder Strike said and looked over at Sparky. “But all of that changed 10 years ago.”

“Wait, did Blackjack…”

“No, no, this was after the destruction of Shadowbolt Tower,” Thunder said with a shake of her head. “Solar Wind was a good pony, she was an orphan who I found here in Thunderhead and raised with the intention of passing the title on when she was ready. And then the Civil War happened, we were involved as best we could of course. We were hunting this Enclave assassin named Cricket at the time, a Canterlot Ghoul like your buddy Dazzle, but… much meaner.”

“Didn’t she shoot you when you first met her?” Sparky whispered to me.

“Yeah… wait… did you say Cricket?” I asked and blinked a little. Okay, that could be a coincidence, it had been 200 years after all, there might be another pony out there named Cricket.

“Yeah, she was a Shadowbolt during the war that started working for the Enclave years ago,” Thunder Strike said with a shake of her head. “The way I’ve heard it, she lost her kids during the destruction of Cloudsdale and, well, it broke her. She wound up working with the Enclave in the early days and has been doing their dirty work ever since.”

“Okay, yeah that is the same Cricket,” I said with a sigh.

“She killed Solar Wind in the fight,” Thunder Strike said and closed her eyes as she picked up the helmet and looked at it. “After that, I couldn’t keep fighting. Solar Wind had trusted me, she was the closest thing I ever had to a daughter and I lead her into the slaughter.”

“Oh come on now, I did you a favor!” A voice from the dark echoed through the chamber. “The brat had what was coming to her, she couldn’t fight - the only reason there isn’t a pony worth the cape, is because you got emotional about a polishing a turd. Polish it all you want, it’ll still be a turd.”

“What the…” I said and looked around for the source of the voice. “Who are you?”

“Cricket… you didn’t have to kill her!” Thunder Strike snapped as she tried to steady herself. I could tell that she was shaken up by the sudden voice. “Show yourself and fight me you coward!”

Blackjack looked around during the conversation with Arc. She sighed speaking out. “HEY ENOUGH!! There is already enough crazy mares in this world. Go be crazy somewhere else!”

“Now now Lambchop, Why would I do something like come down and fight? It is fun to stay up here and watch how you twitch and squirm.” Cricket said with a laugh.

“Check your EFS, I want to know exactly where she is,” I said and checked my EFS and looked around, raising my Battle Saddle to get ready to fire at wherever the psycho mare was. “Don’t listen to her Thunder, she’s just trying to get under your skin.”

“Cricket, you’re wrong!” Thunder said as she tried to keep herself calm. “Solar Flare was a good pony, one who you cut down before she could really shine. You’re just a monster, what would your foals think of you if they could see you now?”

“I think they would be proud of me, standing up for myself and what I think is right.” Cricket replied and soared down from the upper regions of the cave. “Did you think that would hurt? Bringing up my children?”

Blackjack just stared at the mare in power armor. She spoke gently. “I understand you as well, but this tiff between you two a good idea with the war outside? I know old grudges are hard to take away, but you have to let go sometime.” She said softly

“I have no intentions of fighting any of you, I already handled my target, I thought i’d pay an… Old friend, a quick visit.” Cricket said and stifled a chortle. “Trust me, if I wanted any of you dead, you wouldn’t have the chance to even say my name.”

I lined up a shot on the flying mare with SATS, it wasn’t a clean shot but I had to take a chance. I pulled the trigger for the SOAR and fired an energy bolt right at Cricket.

“Typical energy weapons, you think I wouldn’t have figured out how to handle them in what… 210 years? Come now… use something more original.” Cricket said, simply dodging the shot. “Surprised to see you here, you don’t even look like a ghoul - Tell me, how did you survive all these years, Miss Scootaloo.”

“And why would I tell you,” I said with a growl as I watched her. “The important thing is I’m alive isn’t it?”

“Ah, I see, Don’t want to give up spoilers? Afraid that maybe the big bad Cricket may have a way to go back and get you in your little pod?” Cricket laughed.

“Not that it would do you any good, it’s out of power,” I said with a roll of my eyes. “And Celestia only knows where any more of them are.”

“Do you want anything other than to remind me of the worst time of my life or are you done?” Thunder demanded.

“No no, I mean not to remind you of that - It’s more that I’d like to just drop in and say hi really.” Cricket joked “Just so happened that you had to bring that up and give me an opportunity”

“Then get the hell out of here!” Thunder said as she glared at her. “Or I’ll come up there and escort you out myself!”

“Come up where buttercup, I’m standing right here.” Cricket said with a laugh. “Not going to even ask how I got in here? Not that I’d tell you. Anyway - Fine, I’ll just be going then.” With that, she took back off and disappeared into the dark.

There was a long moment of quiet as we all just looked at each other. Then after a long moment, Thunder Strike collapsed.

“What’s she looking like?” I asked Riva as she finished checking Thunder Strike.

“She’s in bad shape,” Riva said with a sigh and a shake of her head. “She’s in no shape to fight, I don’t know what’s keeping her together.”

BlackJack had a worried look on her face. She trotted off yelling. “SPROCKET!!”

A pony made their way into view with greying fur and looked at Thunder Strike with a shake of her head. “I go away for a few hours… what happened here?”

Blackjack was still running in the hall’s calling for Sprocket so she was to far away.

“Blackjack, she’s back here!” I called after the Unicorn and facehooved. “You can come back already!”

The white mare came running back into the room. A slight blush on her cheeks stroking the back of her head. “Ahem sorry.”

“Look, Thunder Strike isn’t as young as she used to be, she’s been under a lot of stress since Solar Wind’s death,” Sprocket said. “I’ve been doing my best, but she’s not going to be much help to you right now. I don’t know why you’re even here, she’s not supposed to be out in the city.”

“Sprocket she was trying to tell Scootaloo something.. Then some mare named Cricket swooped in here.” Blackjack said.

“Yeah, that would do it,” Sprocket said with a shake of her head and looked back towards Thunder Strike. “She’ll live at least, but the legacy will die with her.”

“No, it won’t,” Thunder Strike said with a groan as she slowly sat up and looked over at me and Sparky. “I brought you here because this is part of your legacy Scootaloo.”

“Wait, what?” I asked and blinked a little at that. “What do you mean part of my legacy?”

“Windy Willow, the first of us, was your descendant,” she said

Blackjack blinked. “Damn Scoots your descendants get around.” She said with a chuckle.

“Blackjack, you’re not helping,” I said and facehooved at the strange mare’s behavior.

“How did she become the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well if I may ask?”

“Ironically, that would also be connected to Cricket,” Thunder Strike said with a shake of her head. “Willow was a soldier in the Enclave and, well she didn’t really know about her heritage until she got an assignment working with that psycho. They were tracking a Dashite named Sapphire Skies who was in Hoofington back when it was even more a hellhole than it is these days.”

I raised an eyebrow but listened curiously. It was kind of strange to think of a pony related to be serving the Enclave, but then again Winter was the leader of the Enclave.

“One night towards the end of the search, they find themselves in this seedy bar following up on a lead,” Thunder Strike continued. “Willow didn’t really know what happened, but as they got settled in for the night Cricket, started talking about what sounded like a bunch of nonsense to her. She said that she had been in Canterlot after the Pink Cloud formed and did something to sabotage the fans in the Stable there because of the royals and let it get flooded with Pink Cloud.”

My eyes went wide, that was not something I had ever expected to hear. Sure I knew that the fans in Stable 1 had failed, but sabotaged? Cricket had actually sabotaged them so that they failed?

“Wait, what?” Dazzle said as she shot up. “You’re telling me that Stable 1 was sabotaged by that… thing?”

“That’s what she said yeah, it was revenge for the war and her family being killed in Cloudsdale,” Thunder Strike said with a shake of her head. “Willow asked why she was telling her this and Cricket told her, ‘Because you’ve got Scootaloo’s blood in you. The pony who built that place to save lives and I turned it into a deathtrap. I know it’s not the same, but I wanted to say I’m sorry for screwing it over.’”

“That, couldn’t have been easy for her to accept,” Arc commented.

“Yeah, well after all that Willow left the bar to clear her head,” Thunder said and shook her head. “And then she met Sapphire Skies, she was a doctor that had been caught sneaking down to the Wasteland to help ponies, nothing very threatening. The two of them got to talking and Willow started to realize that Sapphire was right about everything. So they ran off together, found this place, and eventually Willow passed the mantel on to another pony, and so on and so forth, until me at least.”

“Scootaloo…” Dazzle said as she looked over at me.

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry about before…” she said with a sigh. “I always blamed you for what happened to Stable 1, but… I shouldn’t have blamed you. You still saved us, even if you locked us away, and that’s what really counts.”

I nodded a little. “Apology accepted Dazzle,” I said and turned to look back at Thunder. “Thanks for telling me Thunder.
“You’re welcome,” she said.

“So, you hoped me or one of the others would take up the mantle? I’m not exactly in the best position to do that either, I’m already too high profile.”

There was a long silence as we tried to figure out what to do. Finally Sparky spoke up, “I’ll do it.”

“Are you sure?” I asked as I looked over at Sparky.

“Yeah, I can fight, I got an idea of how Power Armor works from when we were disguised, I can do this,” Sparky said with a nod. “Look I… I’ve been kind of unsure of my place here, if I can help ponies by being the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well, I’ll do it.”

Blackjack had an unsure look. But slowly walked to Sparky giving her a hug. “I don’t know you so well kiddo. But..” She looks for the words her eye’s going back and forth. “But from my talk with you. You’re a strong young mare. I promise I will come and see you from time to time.. When all this is said and done.. But stay strong..” She pulled away and stood beside me.

“You do know she doesn’t have to stay here right?” Thunder Strike pointed out. “Look, normally I’d train you but given the situation… you’re going to have to be on your own for now. Maybe after this war is over we can meet back up.”
Blackjack facehooved. “Damn I must look like a fool now.” She said.

“Now?” I snarked and shook my head as Blackjack smacked my side. “Sparky, are you sure about this? It’s not going to be an easy job, but we’re here for you, we all are.”

Sparky nodded as she looked at the purple power armor for a long moment as if deciding if she had made the right choice. I didn’t blame her, this was a difficult decision. I gave Sparky a hug and a smile.

“Don’t worry Sparky, I have faith in you,” I said. “You’re going to be just fine.”

“Thanks, mom…” Sparky said and I blinked a little. While Sparky had been the daughter of a clone, I never thought of her as my daughter for some reason. I smiled and hugged her tighter.

“Come on, let’s get you into that armor,” I said with a smile as we headed over to where the armor was resting.

Sparky slipped into the armor, thankfully it seemed to fit her pretty well as she fit the helmet on along with the hat, leaving the mouthpiece off a moment. She flapped her wings a little as she tested them out in the armor. She looked over at me and smiled a little.

“How do I look?”

“You look good,” I said with a smile as I took a step back to see her better. I wondered who had made this, if this had been a MAW facility then it might’ve been made for Rainbow Dash, but who knows. “How does it feel?”

“Not that bad,” Sparky said and looked over at Thunder Strike who gave her a nod.

“There’s a radio broadcaster in the helmet, if you need anything just let me know,” she said and gave her a nod. “Stay safe Sparky, you’re the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well now.”

Blackjack thinks a moment. “So is this Mare-do-Well Beyond?”

I just rolled my eyes and laughed as we headed out after saying our goodbyes to Sprocket and Thunder Strike.

00000

We exited the tunnels only to hear the sound of the battle getting closer. As I checked the map on my PipBuck we took a turn towards where the government office was. The streets of Thunderhead were empty at this point as we went past empty buildings.

I sighed as we kept walking and brushed my mane back a little as I checked the time on my PipBuck. It was getting late, the sun would be going down soon, I just had to hope that we wouldn’t run into any more distractions.

Which lasted all of 60 seconds when my ears perked up as I heard a raspy stallion’s voice singing.

“And you could have it all,
My empire of dirt.
I will let you down,
I will make you hurt.”

Blackjack’s eyes go wide. “I know that voice.”

I knew it too, actually it sounded like the stallion who sung on the radio, but it didn’t have the same sound to it. I almost swear it sounded like somepony was singing it, but there wasn’t anypony around, was there?

As I looked around however, there was somepony who hadn’t been there before. Hunched over a table outside of a cafe was a stallion dressed in a beat up old cloak and hat playing with a deck of cards.

“Uh, does anypony else see that?” I asked as I looked back at my friends.

Blackjack went right to the table and sat down. “Hello Dealer.” She said in anger. “After all these years you bug me again?”

“I’m not just here for you Blackjack,” the Dealer said in the same gravelly voice as he looked at me from under his hat and gestured me over. “Just the three of us, your friends can stay behind.”

I glanced at the others before I sighed and walked over and took a seat next to Blackjack. “What do you want this time?”

“I see things, some things that are known, some things that are yet to come,” the Dealer said as he set two cards down. The first was of a pony that bore a resemblance to Blackjack hanging upside-down from a tree while the second looked like me holding a lamp and looking down. “Things, that you must see and understand the both of you.”

Blackjack sighed. “I thought I was rid of you after I got rid of EC-1011.” She takes a look at the cards. “What no coming into my head yelling Ante up?”

“You should know by now that the Wasteland works in mysterious ways, Blackjack,” the Dealer said as he looked at her. “We’re always playing the game, and you’ve got your part to play in the days to come.”

Blackjack gets ready to move from her chair. “I don’t need this.”

The Dealer didn’t speak for a moment, instead he drew a card from the top of his deck and placed it on the one of the hanging mare. It was faced away from us and depicted an Alicorn with 10 swords impaled through her back.

“A card of new beginnings, you’ve given ponies a chance at a new life through sacrifice,” the Dealer said as he looked at Blackjack. “A curious card for you.”

Blackjack stares intently at the card. Tears stream down her face. “I don’t deserve the praise that you give me for this. Lacuane’s death is what did this. I just was in the way. But why show me this?!” She slams the table staring intently at the dealer. But after awhile she calmed down and back down crying to herself.

“You have had more of an impact on this world than you know,” the Dealer said and then drew another card and set it down over the card of the lone figure. This one made my heart fell, it was of Sweetie Belle, Rainbow Dash, and Sky Walker’s cutie marks with three swords through them. “Ah, a card of grief and painful separation.”

“Okay, now I’m getting a bit fed up with this,” I said with a growl. “Yeah, I’ve lost a lot of ponies, you don’t have to rub it in. Why are you showing us these?”

“To know one’s future we must understand their past, these cards are your pasts,” The Dealer said calmly. “Blackjack, you’re a mare who was forced to leave her home and in your wake you brought more than just death. You brought change, a chance for the Hoof and Equestria to have a new beginning. You changed things, the world may have forgotten what you did, but your impact on it never went away. What about the foals? Waiting there for cures that would never come, you showed them more mercy than the world did.”

Blackjack’s eyes opened in horror. Something snapped she screamed with anger and sadness. “Those… twenty little foals...Locked up since the war...I” She laid her head on the table sobbing softly. “So many young minds, ended because of me.” She sobbed covering her head.

“Blackjack…” I started to say, I didn’t know what to say honestly. I placed my hoof on her shoulder and spoke as reassuring as I could. “Blackjack it’s okay, I’m sorry you had to do it, but… we can’t let our mistakes define is, just learn from them. I’m here for you.”

Blackjack took a few deep breaths. “Yes I know Scootaloo just it hurts remembering all I did. I wish It didn’t, but it still hits me..” She wiped her eyes with a hoof.

“And you Scootaloo, you lost everything dear to you, but you still do what you can to help others,” the Dealer said as he looked at me. “You’re not any more defined by your mistakes than anything else, but you want to atone for them. Your past future is always defined by difficulty, but you comfort those who need it. That’s what matters to you, helping others more than anything.”

The Dealer drew a fifth card and placed it in between the two piles. I blinked a little in surprise, this one depicted me and Blackjack shaking hooves while we both held a cup. “Uh…”

“A card of partnership, harmony,” he said as he looked between us. “You two were brought together for a reason.”

Blackjack looked at me. “I would still be in star house screaming for Glory and crying without Scootaloo. Of course I am surprised it took her till now to shoot me.” She said with a smirk.

“And she’s helped me just as much,” I said with a smile as I looked at Blackjack. “She’s helped ground me a bit better, given me a lot to think about, and she’s been just a really good friend. I’m glad I met her.”

Blackjack chuckled finally calmed looking back to the dealer. “I guess I did need you to show up.”

“Now we’ve reached the present, it is time to gaze into the future,” the Dealer said as he shuffled the deck once more. He looked at me and then at Blackjack. “I cannot promise you that what you learn will be happy, will you listen?”

“I will if she will,” I said with a nod.

Blackjack looks to me. Then to the dealer. She said with a bit of reluctance in her voice. “I will too.”

The Dealer nodded and drew the next card and placed it down on the table. This card depicted Winter Breeze seated on a throne holding a sword and a scale in balance. “Curious, a card of balance, fairness, and law. Curious, but not entirely unexpected.”

He drew another card and set it down on top of the one of Winter. This one was of an Enclave soldier staring down at 5 cups, it was faced away from us once more. “Ah, it’s reversed, curious, very curious. Someone may have to come to a point of acceptance, who knows what side this is for though.”

He drew another card and we gasped when he set it down. It depicted a skeletal pony dressed in armor with a battle saddle and a ghastly looking smile.

“Wait… I know that, that’s the Death card isn’t it?” I said and looked at the Dealer. “Death is coming?”

Blackjack said softly. “With me around death always comes.”

“You two know little about Tarot, Death does not mean death it means change, change is coming,” the Dealer said. “The question now is, what kind of change? What future awaits you both and Equestria?”

He didn’t say more, instead he drew the next card and frowned as he set it down. The figure on this card was not as clear, but it looked like a stallion dressed in a Wonderbolt General uniform standing on the bridge of a cloudship. Once more it was faced away from us. “He is reversed, a sign of domination and rigidity. That’s, troubling.”

Blackjack looked at me then at the card. “Huh I could see you being a stallion very handsome. Very demanding. Also i am sure you would have to beat the mares away with a giant stick.”

“You keep your mane cut short for decades and you never hear the end of it,” I said and facehooved as I looked at the Dealer. “Was she like this when you met her before?”

“She was worse,” the Dealer said with a throaty laugh.

He picked up another card and placed it down below the one of the stallion and frowned. This one depicted Shadowbolt Tower up in flames as it was destroyed from within. “Disaster is coming… great and terrible disaster.”

Blackjack stared at the card. She started to shake the poor mare was trembling the fact that.. She even saw this put so much dread in her very soul. She grabbed the table with her metal hooves holding it tight enough to crack it.

I knocked the card off the table. “Blackjack, calm down, it’s just a card… please calm down…”

Blackjack looked at me. So much sadness in her eyes. “To you...it’s a card Scootaloo. But I lived it. I would have died in there if it wasn’t for Boo. I asked her not to follow me.. Because I didn’t want her to get hurt, but she did anyway. Lighthooves broke me during the fight. I was able to get the tower to blow up. But that was after...he broke me.” She sighed deeply looking at her legs. “Because of him and the explosion I needed these.”

“Blackjack, I’m sorry,” I said and hugged the Unicorn as I started to cry. “You’re okay Blackjack, Lighthooves isn’t here anymore. You can’t let his ghost haunt you forever or he’s going to win. You’re going to find Glory, I know it.”

Blackjack looked at me. She had a gentle charming smile form on her face. “You’re right just it’s been hard most of these years for me. Because those ponies that wanted to help me. Never truly tried to help.” She pulled me into a gentle hug. “Thank you Scootaloo.”

“You’re welcome Blackjack,” I said and hugged back.

I looked back at the Dealer only to find him gone. There were however two cards left laying on the table face down. I looked over at Blackjack for a moment. “Do you think we should look?”

Blackjack’s horn glowed in her aura turning the cards over and looked at them contently.

Curiously I looked forward and smiled. One of them was of Blackjack and Morning Glory in an embrace together and the other was of a makeshift town with a cloud above it and four long sticks pointing out of the ground.

“I, think we’ve seen all we need to see,” I said and looked over at Blackjack. “What about you?”

She had a smile on her face, a real smile. “Yes we do.”

We headed back to meet with our friends. I looked back towards where the Dealer had been before and shook my head. No more distractions, we were going to go now.

I sighed as we walked down the street towards the government offices. It was a pretty decent sized building that dominated most of the Thunderhead skyline in this area.

“So, what happened back there with that… whatever that guy was?” Arc asked. “You looked pretty shaken up.”

Blackjack turned her head to look at Arc. “Many told me I was crazy. But during my journey. I kept seeing a pony in a cloak and hat. A ghost or something that I called the dealer.”

“Yeah, and me and Gambit saw him back during the battle of Manehattan as the Enclave fled the city,” I added. “Though he wasn’t nearly as talkative back then, he just said ante up and threw playing cards at me.”

“Huh, I wonder why I didn’t see him back then,” Arc said with a shrug.

“Spirit,” Riva said and we looked back at her. Our Zebra friend looked notably shaken by the experience. “That was a spirit, I don’t know what kind though.”

I looked over at Blackjack. I didn’t know a lot about Zebra culture, but they seemed to believe in some form of spirits that inhabited the world. Was it possible the Dealer was one such spirit? Maybe some sort of, spirit of the wasteland or something?

“Okay, that raises even more questions,” I said and sighed. “Just what we need, more things to worry about. For now, let’s just get going, we’re almost there.”

I glanced up and frowned a moment. The sky above Thunderhead was mostly covered with clouds, but something was weird. Part of it had been pushed away, I looked back towards the setting sun for a moment.

“Scootaloo, what is it?” Sparky asked as she looked where I was looking. “Is something wrong?”

“I, don’t know but we should get going,” I said and we started to walk faster before there was a sound behind us.

A beam of concentrating light hit the other side of Thunderhead, searing part of the city as it paved a path of destruction through the city before it came to a sudden stop.

Blackjack looked on in horror. “Why would they use Celestia one?!”

“I… don’t know…” I said in just as much horror. “But we’re going to find out.”

Maximum Level Reached.

Author's Notes:

So in addition to all the others from the previous chapters, we've got two new ones.

Spectra and Cricket were made and written by TheLittlestofPips.