Death, destruction, pain… we made our way through the streets of Thunderhead towards where my map marked the Alliance’s temporary command center. The problem was that it brought us right through the area that had been devastated by Celestia One.

Blackjack looked around. A great amount of anger was on her face. “I’m sober and i’m starting to understand how some felt when I was around. Who ever wished to use it... I want to break their neck.”

“I don’t blame you… I might even help you…” I said I was livid as we passed by a home that had been grazed by the ray but was left in ruins. There were ponies digging around it including a large Pegasus pony dressed in makeshift Power Armor that looked like it had been pieced together from scraps.

Blackjack stared at the the pony in the trash armor. “Okay, I have seen everything now.”

The ponies pulled the debris out of the way to uncover a Pegasus mare who was shielding two crying foals. They were carefully taken out of the ruins of their home and escorted away, hopefully to safety.

Now I felt even angrier, there were still civilians in these buildings? Somepony had actually fired into an area of the city with civilians?

Blackjack took a deep breath looked at me with a great amount of anger. “Whoever did this really needs a good smack a hard smack..with the end of my gun.”

“Why would the Alliance do this?” Sparky asked as she looked back at the ruined building. “This is all so… so…”

“Senseless?” Dazzle finished with a shake of her head. “War drives ponies to do horrible things sometimes. We saw that first hoof 211 years ago, didn’t we Scootaloo?”

I looked down at my hooves for a moment and sighed. “Yeah… but still, this is insane, we have to get answers from the Alliance, and fast.”

The white mare nodded. “Let's hope whoever is the leader. They have good protection from me… and you Scoots.”

We walked on in silence for the longest time as we just looked at the scorched ruins of what had once been a thriving part of the city. There was the sounds of ponies crying, we went past a pony helping with foals as she gave us a look as we went past.

I sighed and closed my eyes a little, tears started to fall down my face a little. “Why are we doing this…”

“Uh, because the Enclave needs to be stopped?” Arc suggested.

“No, I mean why us?” I said with a sigh. “We’re not soldiers, we’re not even mercenaries, we’re just a bunch of ponies stuck in a fight that’s way over our heads…”

Blackjack spoke up. “Because fate wishes us to see the pain that we caused?”

“Or maybe because we’re the only ones who can set it right,” Arc added softly. “We’re here because we believe that it’s where we need to be. Because nopony else in Equestria will do this the way it needs to be done.”

“Yeah… maybe,” I said with a sigh. “I, just hope that we’re doing the right thing. We’ll stop the Enclave, I hope.”

“I just want answers right now.” Blackjack said.

I nodded and we kept walking to the command center.

The Alliance Command Center was built from an old Movie studio on the outside of the town. There were ponies dressed in NCR uniforms, Applejack’s Rangers Power armor, and Celestia only knows what else.

There was at the same time a sense of urgency and shock, I frowned a little, something about all of this felt weird. We were directed towards the main command center and as we approached I heard a loud voice shouting out from inside.

“GENERAL!!!” The voice sounded extremely robotic and angry. Another softer voice spoke out.

“Silver… Calm down.”

We entered to find Silver Gunner being held back by a lanky looking ghoul that looked like Fleur de Lis. On the other side of the desk was a visibly shaken Midnight who was trying to explain the situation.

“We didn’t order the use of Celestia One,” she managed to get out finally.

The lanky ghoul turned her head to look at me. She waved her hoof. “Hello.. Forgive Silver..”She smiled weakly.

“I don’t blame him,” I said and gave Fleur a nod, yeah that was definitely her, figures. “What happened here?”

“The Twilight Society fired it,” Midnight said. “They acted unilaterally and without the approval of anypony in the Alliance.”

Silver finally relaxed. “Why? It makes no sense they would do this act. There are foals here still.” Fleur shook her head sighing.

“Silver you don’t have emotions. Think like them for a moment.” Fleur added.

I paused a moment as if waiting for an answer. Midnight didn’t seem sure if she wanted to answer it before I spoke up. “It was because of the occupation of Tenpony Tower wasn’t it? They don’t want to be subjected to Enclave rule again so they did it out of desperation.”

“Yes, that’s what they said,” Midnight said softly. “We never would have ordered a Megaspell to be used, especially not in an area that may still hold civilians.”

Silver sighed robotically. “After the Enclave reprogramming me 11 years ago and placing the others in cages as they slowly died. Yes I understand. So yes if logic demanded it. I would have done the same.”

Fleur nodded.

“We’ve agreed to a temporary ceasefire with the Enclave to look for survivors,” Midnight continued. “They’ve even stopped digging for the Stable, given the situation but its a temporary measure at best. If we don’t…”

“Excuse me, Madam General?” A familiar voice said from behind. “The reports of the digging for the stable are highly exaggerated, if anything the digging has sped up since the attack. Worst yet, there are new names on the playing field, there is an Enclave hardliner looking for blood after this attack and moving to use the stable against Ttenpony as soon as they have access as revenge.”

“Wait, you let him in here?” I said and pointed at Spectra. “You let an Enclave Elite Commander into the HQ?”

Midnight sighed and looked behind me at Spectra. “He’s not loyal to the Enclave or their ideals, just to one pony, who happens to be their President.”

The voice of the hiding mare Blackjack behind a stand. “Well ain’t that silly.”

“If you knew Winter, you would know why I am only loyal to her” Spectra said, shooting a look in the direction of Blackjack’s voice. “Anyway - The reason I am here is the Enclave higher ups are furious, and they are like sharks in the water, They are only obeying the cease fire because Winter told them to.”

“So, what do you suggest we do?” I said and shot a look at Spectra. “The Alliance agreed to this ceasefire, if we break it it’ll just give the Enclave an excuse to attack.”

Silver spoke up. “Give them the ponies who wished to do this very attack. Logic dictates that we should give them those ponies to be put on trial for what they did.”

“These higher ups don’t give two shakes of a tail about Logic, they want blood - not law.” Spectra said, stepping up next to me. “This problem is a problem to the Enclave as much as the Alliance, there are already signs of a second civil war coming.”

“The Alliance admits that the Enclave’s forces under the control of anypony other than Winter Breeze is dangerous,” Midnight said with a shake of her head. “Scootaloo, are you sure that the Hardliners won’t be able to access the Megaspell without the right pony?”

“Positive,” I said with a nod.

“Except you don’t get it!” Spectra said, slamming his hooves down on the desk. “ There is already a movement to have Winter removed from presidency and exiled. Not only that they’ve taken Winter’s daughter captive.”

“Wait, WHAT?” I said and looked at Spectra with my eyes wide. “She has a daughter?”

Silver spoke up. “Fleur call Peach Blossom back from the field please.” Fleur nodded lifting up a trash looking talkie and spoke into it.

My mind was reeling, I had been working under the assumption that if we could stop Winter it would keep the Enclave from getting access to Rockhoof’s Thunder, but if the hardliners had Winter’s daughter that changed everything.

“That, changes everything,” Midnight said with a sigh as she looked at Spectra. “How many of the soldiers in Thunderhead are still loyal to Winter?”

“From my understanding, most - but if the movement to relieve her of power happens, I cannot say how many of them will stay loyal for long.” Spectra said with a sigh. “Only time will tell what the results of this war will be, I fear that if not stopped sooner rather than later, we are all going to be in a serious pile of you-know-what sooner rather than later.”

Midnight closed her eyes and thought long and hard about what to do. I could tell the pain in her face as she tried to make the only decision that could be made at this point. She finally opened her eyes and spoke up. “Scootaloo, you and your friends are to go to the government district and continue with your part of the plan. Get to Winter Breeze and the science team behind this operation, we need to secure them before its too late.”

I nodded and looked at Spectra, I glanced down at his hoof and my eyes went wide when I saw a golden PipBuck on it. I didn’t have time to question it, but I filed it away for later.

“Spectra, I know you’re not part of our command structure, but we’re going to need your help,” Midnight continued. “Get the Enclave soldiers in Thunderhead still loyal to Winter together, if you have any friends the digging process for Stable 102 try and get them to slow it down. Right now, stopping the Hardliners is our number one priority.”

“Can I have my armor back first? Your gate guards insisted I get out of it before they’d let me in. Feeling kind of naked right now” Spectra said with a joking chuckle.

“Right, we’ll get it done on your way out,” Midnight said with a sigh. “Everything’s going to Tartarus fast. I just have one question Spectra, will Winter be willing to listen to us?”

“Does a Pegasus have feathers?” Spectra said before turning and leaving the room, before exiting the door he turned to say. “May Celestia have mercy on us.”

“Indeed,” Midnight said and sighed.

I paused a moment before following Spectra out the door. I was going to get answers now, at least I hoped so.

“Spectra, can I talk to you?” I asked as we left the command tent and I caught up with the rainbow maned stallion.

“Sure kiddo, what do you want to know.” Spectra relied “Bet you’re wondering why you keep running into me, or why I am playing two decks.”

I was pretty sure I was older than him, but I wasn’t going to point that out. “Actually, I was wondering about that,” I said and pointed at the golden PipBuck on his foreleg. “How in Celestia’s name did you get one of the Elements of Harmony?”

“Is that what this is? I found it in a marketplace from a admittedly shady pony. Asked 200 caps for it - thought it was a steal.” Spectra replied.

“Can I see it?”

Without hesitation, he popped the latch and gave the PipBuck to me. “Sure, I just liked the paint job - not so many PipBucks out there that look so shiny and new, felt it fit my personality a bit more than the rusty one at home.”

I looked at him strangely but shrugged and took the PipBuck. I was about to say something when there was a flash of light blinding me for a second, when I blinked and looked down again the PipBuck was gone from my hoof and there was the strange sensation of something around my neck.

“What the…” I said and looked down to see a golden necklace with a red gem shaped like a lightning bolt. “Okay… that was unexpected. So, the question now is, how did a merchant get this from Calamity?”

“Guess it really was a steal, wasn’t it - just not the kind of steal I thought it was. Well that’s 200 caps down the drain.” Spectra said with a chuckle.

I was still in shock at the whole thing. Why did the Element of Loyalty reacted to me? Actually better yet, why did it change into Rainbow’s necklace? The only thing that made any sense was the possibility that it was because of the enhancements from Whitehome or something.

I looked over at Spectra again and frowned a little. There was still something about him that bugged me, and we didn’t have a lot of time. “Can I ask you something else before you go? I was wondering about your mane… I mean, I’ve only really seen it before in Rainbow Dash’s family.”

“If you can keep a secret between you and I, I’ll tell you. If you can’t then you my never know.” Spectra replied.

“Spectra, I’ve kept my fair share of secrets in this war, I think I can handle one more,” I said with a nod. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anypony.”

“Fine, bet you didn’t know Rainbow had a brother, or that her brother went on to have a several foals, who eventually would lead down to me.” Spectra said, almost sounding a little disgusted with himself.

“No… I certainly did not,” I said and blinked. “I kind of lost track of my adopted grandparents after the war. But, that explains a lot.”

“Well, they kind of fell off the radar once they knew what the Enclave was up to with the SPP Towers.” Spectra said with a sigh. “Only one pony else knows my true heritage, and when she isn’t president anymore I doubt I am going to keep my rank and position”

“Spectra… I promise that I’m going to do everything I can to make sure Winter makes it out of this alive,” I said with a sigh. “And her daughter too, you have my word.”

“You better hope so, because if they don’t - There is no hope for the Enclave, and like it or not - that’s bad for the rest of Equestria.” Spectra said, stopping at a door and looking back to me. “Promise me this, Scootaloo - If the Enclave isn’t stopped, you’ll make whoever takes command pay for what they will do.”

“I promise,” I said with a nod. “Take care of yourself Spectra.”

“I intend to.” Spectra said, looking back with a smile “Make your adopted mother proud, I bet she had her reasons for picking you over everypony else.”

I nodded and turned to head back to my friends. I took one last look back towards where Spectra was and sighed. I wish I had known about Rainbow’s brother, but that was in the past now and I had no choice.

For now, I had a promise to keep.

“Are you okay Blackjack?” I asked as I looked over at the white Unicorn. We were heading back towards the government district under the dim light. “You kind of hid when we met up with Midnight.”

Blackjack sighs. “With what was going on. I didn’t think Midnight wanted to see me. Besides we didn’t leave each other on the best of terms. She said if I ever saw her again. She would do everything in her power to kill me.”

“Well, I think she has more on her mind than killing you right now,” I said with a sigh. “I just hope we’ll be able to stop this before it’s too late.”

Blackjack was about to reply back. When a large armored pony landed in front of us. The armor the pony wore looked made of trash and various other parts. It had large pipes for gun’s on either side. The ammo had teddy bear’s with spikes and in the other had glass and nails.

I blinked a little at the strange combination of armor and weapons. “Uh, hello?”

A voice came from the helm it sounded female. “I’m only protecting you because Silver asked me to. I will only listen to you. Because of that, if you try to order me around. I will turn around and in the name of The junk reaper’s I will kill you got it?”

“Got it,” I said with a gulp.

The large mare nods. “I’m Peach Blossom. Silver told me that the only way I can get home to my wife is to help you.”

“We all have our reasons for being here,” I said with a nod of understanding as we started walking again. “We just need to get to the main offices in the Government District and we’d be glad to have an extra hoof around.”

Blackjack nodded and was about to speak. But the large mare spoke up. “If that mare known as Blackjack makes one crass commit to me. I will rip her tongue out. Got it Blackjack.” The white mare nodded quickly.

“Zippp of course…”She said shaking a bit.

“Blackjack is here to try and find somepony, don’t worry about her,” I said with a nervous chuckle. I glanced at Peach Blossom again and noticed a familiar brand on her flank. “I’m sorry you got exiled Peach.”

The mare stared at me. But since she had a helm on. I couldn’t fully tell. But she took a deep breath. “My nieces lost their mother and father. The rest of the family dead as well. So that’s why i am here. I was sent here to rescue them from this battle then Celestia one was fired. I can’t go for revenge my leader calls it bad for business. But let's get going.”

I nodded and we kept walking. I sighed a little and looked over at her for a moment. “You know, there’s a chance they’re not in the city anymore. They may have been evacuated with most of the civilians.”

She gave a nod. “I can only hope. This is like friendship city all over again, Children dying for no reason. What got me to turn on the Enclave.”

My heart went out to the mare. I sighed a little and shook my head, I wished there was some way that we could help her look but we had a mission to do. I gave her a reassuring smile. “Look, if after we’re done with our mission you haven’t found them, we’ll help you look.”

The mare chuckled softly. “I got to help you first Scootaloo. For now I need to protect you ponies. Even you. “ She lifted her hoof to Blackjack.

Blackjack chuckled nervously. “I um… Scootaloo can we go please?!” She looked like she was scared to death of this mare.
We walked on in silence as we entered the Government District. I took a deep breath and looked up at the towering building that made up the Enclave’s main government offices in Thunderhead before I looked at the others.

“Are we ready for this?” I asked in a voice that sounded like I wasn’t sure.

“Glory is in there…I have been ready and we have miss giant.. To help us.” Blackjack said looking back at the large mare.

“We’re as ready as we’ll ever be,” Dazzle said with a nod.

“Then, let’s go I guess,” I said and we headed into the tall building, and into the unknown.

As we entered the lobby it was empty. There hadn’t been a fight here, so it looked like it had been evacuated of all non-essential personnel, which probably meant all the guards were in essential areas and guarding the VIPs.

“Alright, start looking around, lets see if we can find a directory or something that’ll tell us where to…” I started to say before the speakers around us activated and started playing the by now familiar music. “You know, I’m getting really tired of that song.”

“Well, you have to admire her grace under pressure,” Sparky commented.

“My fellow Equestrians…” Winter’s voice came over the radio and it made me pause. This was no longer the strong, confident voice we had come to expect from the mare, instead it was tired, almost beaten down. “This is a dark day for us… not only for us but for everypony in Equestria. The firing of Celestia One and the senseless deaths on both sides that resulted from it cannot and will not stand.”

Winter paused, the pain in her voice was clear and not faked. She was as angered and saddened by the incident as anypony else was. This wasn’t a speech to rally the troops, nor was it a speech to give up, this was her way of speaking to the ponies who were affected by it.

I looked over at Peach and was surprised to see the Dashite had removed her helmet and was saluting. I guess some words ring true even among us Dashites.

“I know many of you on both sides lost friends and loved ones in the attack,” Winter continued. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry that this war has brought so much pain to you and my heart goes out to the families of all of those who died. We will observe a temporary ceasefire along with the Alliance forces that will last until morning. Mourn the dead, honor and respect those who were lost on both sides, and hope that this war will not cost us more good beings. This is President Winter Breeze, signing off.”

Peach placed her helm back on. Blackjack stared at the mare not sure what to say.

“Peach, if I may ask, why did you salute?” I finally said and looked over at Peach.

The large mare turns her head to look at me. “The Enclave may have forsaken me for having a soul. But I would never forsake the Enclave. Winter has given me hope that I will finally see an Enclave worth saving.” She looks away. “Does that answer your question Scootaloo?”

I nodded in understanding. “I understand. She’s, not like the other Enclave leaders at all, I just hope that this will work and we’ll be able to convince her…”

The sound of Peach Blossoms armor cocking it’s large gun’s. “Just in case.. I have to protect you ponies after all.”

“Yeah, I know,” I said and checked the wall where I found a directory. “Okay, looks like the governor’s office, which I’m guessing Winter has taken over, is on the top floor. Now, where would Morning Glory be…”

“She would be were she can do the most good.” Blackjack said.

“Well that rules out the local IRS office,” I said with a chuckle.

Blackjack just stared at me with an un-amused look. “Really Scootaloo.” She said with a roll of her eyes.

“Right, sorry, not the time,” I said and checked the directory again. “Okay, let’s see here… hmm… hey Blackjack, what was the name of that group Glory used to be a part of with the Enclave? I think she mentioned it once…”

“Volunteer corps” She softly said.

“They have offices in here, that might be worth checking out,” I said and looked back at her. “What do you think?”

“Maybe might be best to split up. I will go where you go Scoots.” Blackjack said. She looked very focused. Was it me or was she thinking.

“Oh… this is just great,” Peach said. “I was warned, if she got that look.”

“Alright, we’re going to divide into two teams,” I finally said. “Blackjack, you and Sparky are with me, we’re going to investigate the Volunteer Corps offices. Riva, Dazzle, Arc, and Peach you check the second floor. If one of us finds anything, use your PipBuck to send a message, understood?”

Peach gave a nod. “My PipBuck is kind of trashed. I will see if i can use it like that.”

“If you can’t, use Arc’s,” I said and nodded to Riva who held up her PipBuck. “We’ll meet up in an hour here. If we don’t find her, we head straight for the top, I’m Sorry Blackjack but stopping Winter has to take priority and its all we can spare.”
Blackjack nodded. “I agree but if I can just see her… talk to her...Then I will be happy.”

“Don’t worry Blackjack, I’ll make sure you get that chance,” I said and placed my hoof on her shoulder.
She looked up at me. “Thank you Scootaloo. You gave me more of a chance than ever.”

“Because everypony deserves a chance, I was given a second chance at life, and everypony deserves that chance,” I said and gave her a smile. “Come on, our hour is wasting.”

She nodded and we headed for the stairs, next stop, the Volunteer Corps office.

“Why do you think this place is so quiet?” Sparky asked as we moved down the hallways of the third floor. “You’d think they’d have it swarming with troops or something.”

“The ceasefire is still in effect,” I said with a sigh. “And all the officials are probably home at this point or evacuated. The only ponies here are the ones that need to be here, and hopefully that’ll include Morning Glory.”

Blackjack didn’t even say anything she kept to herself.

We walked down the corridor in silence and checked every door that we passed just to be safe. Sparky was about to say something when I raised my hoof as we were passing another door and my ears twitched.

“I hear something behind here,” I said softly and pushed the door open as quietly as I could, but it still let out a creaking sound and two Enclave soldiers snapped to attention and pointed their rifles at us. “Crap…”

“Halt, identify yourselves!” One of the soldiers said.

Blackjack used her magic to push my hat off.

The soldiers narrowed their eyes and looked at us for a tense moment. I was actually afraid that they were going to disregard the ceasefire and open fire on us anyway.

“You’d better not shoot in here if you don’t want the whole place to go up in flames, if you want to violate a ceasefire please do it outside,” a familiar mare’s voice said from inside. “If you’re not going to, at least come inside.”

“Well, that answers that,” I muttered and headed inside after picking up my hat and looked at Blackjack. “After you.”

She looked at the Enclave with the guns and then at me. “Oh you’re so kind Scootaloo.” She smirked and walked inside.

“I was trying to be nice…” I muttered.

Morning Glory was seated at a desk working on a terminal with her back to us as we entered. She turned around and sighed as she saw Blackjack standing there. “Well, I’ve got Scootaloo, the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well, and a Blackjack impersonator in my office.

Blackjack sighed. “You don’t have to listen to me Glory. But can I at least try. But I would have to look in your eyes to do so. Are you willing to trust me enough for that?” She asked.

“Look, I’ll humor you, you’ve at least got the look and voice better than…” Glory started to say as she looked Blackjack in the eye and stopped in mid sentence.

Blackjack walked by the two guards and turned Glory’s chair to look into her eyes. “Those eyes are like the Rising sun that was your cutie mark. I remember it the first day we met after you shot me.” She smirked. “But I look at you now, I see that beauty has grown so much. I have dreamed of seeing you, just dreamed of holding you..” She looked away then back again. “If you don’t think I am the real Blackjack. I understand just seeing you has removed all my pain over the ten years”

“Are you sure you’re the real Blackjack? She wasn’t nearly this charming,” Glory said with a smirk.

Blackjack covers her mouth with a hoof just for a moment. “Boo misses you so does Rampage. I had a lot to think about the past ten years. Destroying my life with booze and sex. But.. “She looked at me. “Scootaloo came to me while they had ponies trying to help me. I promised you, when I came back from taking out Lighthooves I would change for you.” She said

Glory’s eyes watered and she hugged Blackjack tight as she broke down crying. “I waited for you… I waited for months for you just in the off chance you survived the explosion. I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have left you…”

“Glory I was lucky to live. Boo was with me, she pulled me out. Thanks to the explosion. My legs were broken beyond repair, so I had to be given these. I thought you died for so long. But…” She paused a moment. “Just that hope you were alive.. Kept me going. When Scootaloo came to me I gave up drinking and random sexual intercourse with others Because I want to be better for you.”

“Is this true?” Glory asked as she looked over at me and Sparky.

“I saw it with my own eyes,” I said with a nod. “Blackjack’s been through a lot, but after I told her you’re still alive she wants to do better. She’s also been sober, which has lead to a few breakdowns…”

“Breakdowns?” Glory asked and looked at Blackjack. “Are you okay? What happened?”

She sighed and looked away a moment. “I thought Scootaloo was Scotch and Laucane. Then when we were in the city.. I attacked some civilians by mistake thinking they were Lighthooves troops. But Scootaloo stopped me by a shot in the flank. Then I let it all out.. Everything. What I did to my stable.. What happened to you, turning into Rainbow Dash... Losing your wing…”

Glory smiled sadly and wrapped her wings gently around Blackjack. “I’m sorry you went through that.”

“I did see your father...He um...decked me.” A deep sigh came from her. “I asked for his blessing for something Glory. But maybe before.. I tell you that..what happen to you these ten years?” Then she looked at the photo on the desk. “Cute kid who’s kid is it?”

Glory looked down at her hooves for a moment and sighed. “Blackjack… do you remember that night we had together, the one before Lighthooves’ death?”

She thought a moment. “I do remember waking up after but..I don’t remember much else. I remember I got drunk you did to.”

Wait, was this going where I thought it was going? I have to admit I wasn’t expecting that

Blackjack takes another look at the photo on the desk. She reached out with her hoof the finger’s coming out to hold it. Looking at it closely. “This filly looks like the mix of you and…” She stared at Glory. Then back at the photo. “This little one...is ours ain’t it?”

Glory sighed and looked down at her hooves. “She is, you were the only pony it could’ve been during that time. I think, while we were drunk you used that spell you found from Twilight’s books.”

Blackjack set the photo back down with her magic. “Whats her name?”

“Go Fish,” Glory said. “I, thought you were dead so, I named her after you. I missed you so much Blackjack...”

Blackjack looks around. Looking back to Glory. “Where is she Glory?”

“She’s…” Glory said and her face fell for a moment. “She was at the governor’s mansion, with Winter’s daughter.”

My heart fell, the Hardliners had taken Winter’s daughter, what if they had taken Go Fish too? I was really starting to hate them right now.

Blackjack took a deep breath. She didn’t want to get angry. “Glory we are going to go save them…”She stood up. “But there is something I want to ask you before..I don’t get the chance again.” But she thought of something else. “Glory why did you join the Enclave again.. You told me you would never join them again.”

Glory paused a long moment and picked up the picture of her daughter for a moment. She stood there in silence and looked down at the picture and then up at Blackjack. I felt like I knew what she was going to say, but Blackjack needed to hear it.

“I couldn’t raise her in Hoofington, not alone,” she said softly. “I had met Winter before she was even the President when she traveled around Equestria with the Element Bearers. She came back to me in the early days of her presidency and offered us a place to live in safety. She didn’t even offer me a job, just a place to raise my daughter and that she’d keep them from going after me because I was a Dashite. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse, and Winter, she’s not a monster, she’s just in a difficult position.”

“Yeah, we’re getting that impression,” I said and rubbed the back of my head.

“Glory.” She softly said holding her hooves with her metal hooves. “You did what I would want you to do. Now I got a question for you. It’s something I wanted to ask before..I went to go after Lighthooves.” She looked at me with a smile. “Scootaloo and your father helped me gain the guts to do this.”

“Oh?” Glory asked and her ears perked up a little in curiosity. “What’s that?”

“Since I learned that..I have a daughter with you it makes it easy.” Her horn glow’s bringing out a little box opening it up showing it to her. “It’s not much but well I asked all the mares and stallions i knew and some random one’s I met what would be good for.. A beautiful pegasus mare that needed to smile.” She smiled. “So my question is when we get out of this craziness marry me?”

Glory’s eyes went wide as she looked down at the ring and at Blackjack as she went over what she was going to say in her mind. I smiled a little and leaned back against the door as I looked at the time, we didn’t have a lot of time left sadly.

“Yes!” Glory said and kissed Blackjack deeply for a moment. “Yes I’ll marry you you crazy mare.”

She chuckled and used her magic to place it on Glory’s wing and stand back up. “I have a feeling that Scoots and I need to get going. I will find Go fish and Winter’s daughter and bring them back.” She stands on her hooves. “I will be back this time I promise. It would take more than death to keep me away.” Blackjack said as she walked to stand by me.

Glory looked at me with a smirk. “You better make sure she comes back this time Scootaloo or I’ll come deal with you myself.”

“Noted, I’ll make sure she comes back,” I said with a nod. “Take care of yourself Glory, we’ll get them both back alive.”

“Good,” Glory said and turned back to look at her terminal. “You’ll find Winter on the top floor. She’s not a bad pony Scootaloo, I just hope that you’ll do the right thing and give her a chance.”

I paused a moment before I nodded. “If she’ll listen to us, there won’t be a need for bloodshed,” I said softly and we headed back out.

I activated the broadcast function on my PipBuck and tuned into the frequency we had settled on. “Arc, Peach, we’re done here, we’ve found target 1 and are ready to move up. What’s your status?”

Peach Blossom speaks but it sounds full of static. “W...e..” She said one word and it cut off.

I paused a moment and then looked over at Blackjack and Sparky. “Come on, let’s get down there,” I said and we headed for the stairs.

As we headed down the stairs into the second floor we could hear the sound of gunfire echoing through the halls. I checked my EFS as we cautiously moved forward, there were the four friendly signatures I expected but there were also a group of hostiles.

“Come on, this way,” I said and directed us down one of the halls as the sound of guns firing echoed through them.

We came across a group of Enclave soldiers dressed in the more standard power armor who were firing towards a group on the other side. They weren’t paying us any attention at the moment and I glanced over at Sparky and Blackjack with a nod.

Two large gun’s made a woosh sound. While the sound of glass and squeaks from teddy bear toy’s it’s whatever their being fired at. A voice yelled, “ALTIUS VOLANS!”

“Yeah, I’d say that’s probably our friends,” I muttered and entered SATS as I took aim at the nearest Enclave soldier and sent an energy bolt flying into him. The energy knocked the soldier down as his armor locked up, but didn’t do much else.

“You know, I’m starting to think you need to stop shooting with the SOAR first,” Sparky said with a roll of her eyes as some of the soldiers fired back towards us sending us diving for cover.

“Well, at least my weapon has the range,” I said and fired a shot with my normal energy rifle to take out the one I had crippled. “Blackjack, don’t you have anything other than a shotgun?”

Blackjack turned to look at me with a smirk. “OH I do.” With a quick movement of her magic she placed the shotgun into it’s holster before pulling out two .45 caliber revolvers. She gave both guns a kiss before lifting them up to fire at the targets in front of them.

I grinned and gave Sparky a nod before I lined up my shots and kept firing towards the Enclave soldiers. The fire from the other side continued before a thought occurred to me. “Hold up, I want one of them alive!” I said and lined up the SOAR and took out one of the last two as Blackjack shot the other one.

Blackjack blinked and looked at me. “Is that wise?”

“We’re under ceasefire and they attacked an Alliance team, I want to know why,” I said and ran over to the Enclave soldier and pressed him against the ground. “Alright soldier boy, talk, who sent you and why?”

“He’s not going to talk.” A familiar voice from behind. “They weren’t here to attack you, they’re here for somepony else. Somepony they don't realize isn’t here anymore.”

“Winter Breeze,” I said with a growl as I looked down at the soldier. “Let me guess, Tornado teleported her to a bunker or something?”

Spectra took the opportunity to buck one of the downed soldiers in the stomach. “Yep, chances are they are going to be assaulting her bunker at any moment.” He said and looked at me “I’ve got to get going, these guys were pinning me down - thought that they’d get her before she could get out.”

“Right,” I said with a sigh. “We need to get to her, wherever she is. Can you help us?”

“Well, if Tornado got her to the location she is supposed to be taken to in this situation - She’s outside our reach.” Spectra said with a sigh. “Chances are she’ll be taken before we can get to her even if we tried, but if we can get out - head west south west, there is a hotel on the city limits, if they don’t know she’s there yet…” Spectra sighed, and looked to the disabled soldiers before lining up a shot with his battle saddle. “I’ve said too much, none of you can live now, I’m sorry.”

I nodded in understanding and looked towards the others who approached us. “Alright, we have a plan. Spectra, lead the way if you don’t mind, you know the city better than us.”

“You guys go first… I don’t want you to have to watch this.” Spectra said, not taking his sight off the soldiers. “If any of these guys get their radios working, they will be able to radio out what I just said, and then we’ll have no chance at all, None of them can be allowed to do that, and I don’t want you guys to have to see me do what I must.”

I nodded. “Morning Glory is one floor up with her guards, she’s safe but I don’t know for how long if the Hardliners are sending teams here.”

“There is no connection between Morning Glory and Winter as far as they are concerned, she’s safe for now. Somepony should stay with her and get her out of here if push comes to shove.” Spectra said. “You guys go, I’ll catch up once I’m done here.”

I nodded and we headed down the stairs back towards the lobby. I paused and looked back at Blackjack for a moment. “Go to Glory, we can handle this on our own.”

She looked up to me. “Are you sure about this?”

“Yeah, I’m sure,” I said and placed my hoof on her shoulder. “We’ve made it through the worst the Enclave can throw at us. You should be there with your fiance, head for the Alliance camp and meet back up with us as soon as you can, okay?”
She nodded and looked towards the way back up then back at me. “What about Go Fish?”

I paused a moment. “She’s probably not in the city if the Hardliners have her, she’s likely aboard the Nimbus or something.”

“The filly that was with Winter’s daughter? I believe they left her at the mansion, not sure - but chances are she’s either there or with Calypso on The Nimbus.” Spectra spoke up “I don’t think they’d take Glory’s daughter though - they don’t need leverage with her.”

I paused a moment in thought before I spoke up. “Unless they didn’t know which one was the right filly, did Winter ever make her daughter’s existence known to the rest of the Enclave?”

“That would be a no, only a hoof full of ponies know about her, and that's because you can’t hide her from your personal guards without disowning her entirely.” Spectra said and sighed. “Chances are these guys are just the typical jarheads, probably couldn't tell their face from their flank on a good day.”

“Alright, Blackjack, see if you can get General Sparkle to send a team to the mansion to check, but right now it’s fair to assume that they were both taken,” I said with a sigh. “Take care of your family Blackjack, I promise we’ll save her and you’ll be right there with us.”

Blackjack took a deep breath. “Well you have promised me Glory was alive. You were right about that. Soooo.” She quickly turned to me giving me a tight hug. Then pulling away. “Later Scoots come back alive please.”

“I will,” I said with a smile and hugged back. “I’ll see you soon, okay? We’ll save your daughter together.”

Blackjack nodded before rushing back upstairs. I smiled and looked back at the others before we started down the stairs and out of the lobby.

I just hoped we were going in the right direction.

As we got close to the Hotel that was marked on my EFS, Peach came in for a sudden stop as she got a message. “Is everything okay?”

She looked at me. “No all of Reaper Fields is on high alert. Silver is asking me to head back home to reinforce the four factions that live there. One of the leaders is worried that the Enclave will come and attack them for helping the Alliance.”

I sighed a moment and gave her a nod. “Go ahead, and take care of yourself Peach, I want to see you back in one piece, okay?”

“Oh don’t you worry Scootaloo. If there is a final battle to this war expect me to bring some friends. Because their raiders and their well tired of so much peace.” She chuckled. “Oh.. one last thing.” She reached into her armor offering me a strange device that looked like a bomb.

“Uh, what is it?” I asked as I looked at it.

She chuckled. “I am friend’s with mutated rats that make these. From how they told me they worked, they’re like a glue bomb. If you need to stop some pony in their tracks toss this on the floor and they will be stuck. Keeps things from getting to messy like body parts flying and so on.”

“Good to know, thank you,” I said and put it away in my saddlebags. “I’ll see you around Peach, thanks for all your help.”
Peach nodded and flew off. I sighed and looked back at my friends. Here we go again, just us as we headed to another dangerous battle. This time, we had to save the pony that we had been fighting for so long.

“So, if Winter’s been keeping her daughter a secret, how did the Hardliners find out about her?” Sparky wondered out loud. “If she’s been keeping it secret that’s not something you can just find out easily.”

Sparky had a point, Winter was a smart pony who knew how to cover her tracks so how did they find out about her daughter? Was there a leak in the upper echelons of her government or had a pony she trusted been captured and tortured.

I didn’t like this, even if we convinced Winter it meant that Rockhoof’s Thunder was a threat. Actually, it meant that it was even more of a threat than ever. Winter didn’t strike me as the kind of pony that would actually use the Megaspell unless she had no other choice, but I didn’t think I could trust the Hardliners to do the same.

Actually no, I knew I couldn’t trust them to do the same. They weren’t any better than the Enclave of old probably, and they would misuse it. Now we had even more of a reason to stop them.

“Honestly I can’t say for sure how they did it, but I get the feeling this had been a long time planned,” I said with a sigh. “You don’t just throw a plan together like this, I think they’ve been waiting for the right opportunity.”

“That makes sense,” Riva commented. “The Enclave are cunning, they would not do something like this without a plan.”

“The question then becomes, who’s behind this?” Dazzle said and we all glanced back towards the mountain where Stable 102 was.

The Nimbus still held vigil over the mountain, it had remained out of the battle for this long which I found odd. The Nimbus was the Enclave’s Flagship, why had they stayed out of the fighting?

I didn’t like this, but we didn’t have a lot of time to dwell on it as the hotel was coming up. It had been far enough away from the battle to remain untouched by the attack. It was quiet, so that at least meant the Hardliners hadn’t reached it yet.

“Well at least…” Arc started to say and we stopped when an energy bolt hit the cloud in front of us. “I really need to learn to keep my mouth shut don’t I?”

“Hold it right there, we have snipers that will take you out if you make another move,” a mare’s harsh voice said as a mare dressed in the now familiar armor of an Elite Enclave soldier. “We have orders to shoot anypony who tries to approach.”

“We’re here from the Alliance,” I called back. “We’re not here to cause trouble, we just want to talk.”

“Who are you?” The mare demanded as she raised her rifle at me. “What could the Alliance possibly want to talk about in this situation?”

“I’m Scootaloo Dash, I’m here to negotiate with the VIP you and your ponies are currently guarding inside the hotel,” I said calmly. The mare flinched a little at that, I didn’t blame her, she was probably supposed to be on high alert for anypony.

“How the hell did you know where to find us?” She demanded. “This is a secret location only known to a select few. The Alliance is not privy to that sort of information.”

“Commander Spectra told me,” I said with a sigh. It figured, the one time he didn’t show up randomly was the time we really could’ve needed him. “If it’ll make you feel any better I’ll go in unarmed. You can search me if you want, I don’t wish any ill will against her.”

The mare paused a moment and then sighed as she looked back. “I will have to consult with my commander,” she finally said and headed back inside.

“That would be Tornado probably, of course she’s here,” I muttered to Arc. “Let’s just hope she’s willing to listen.”

“The head of the Enclave Secret Service listening to you? Well, I guess we’ll have to find out,” Arc said with a chuckle. “If we’re lucky she’ll be polite when she says no and laughs us away.”

I sighed a little, Arc did have a point but right now it was our only chance. We couldn’t just sneak into the hotel and we couldn’t attack it or we’d be breaking the ceasefire, this was not a good position for us to be in.

Finally the armored mare came back out. “Alright, you can come inside but you’re to give your weapons over to us before you do so. Ms. Dash is to be searched and will not be allowed to bring any of her equipment into the bunker with her. I’m sure you understand we are just taking the necessary precautions to protect our charge.”

“Understood,” I said and glanced to the others. They didn’t look that happy about it, but they all nodded in agreement. “We’re all on the same side here, there’s no need to go crazy and attack anypony.”

As we moved into the hotel we gave over our weapons as we had agreed. I gave over the rest of my equipment as well as my coat and hat, which just left me in my armored undershirt, tie, and the Element of Loyalty as I looked at Tornado.

“Everything,” she said simply as I sighed and pulled off the tie and shirt, she stopped me when I reached for the Element. “That you may keep, for now.”

“Okay,” I said with a nod. “You really go all out don’t you?”

“The President’s safety is my top priority, it is my duty to her,” Tornado said and eyed me from behind her helmet. “You’ve got a lot to learn about the Enclave Scootaloo.”

“Yeah, I’m starting to get that feeling too,” I said with a sigh. “I’m just here to talk like I said, I just hope she’s willing to listen.”

“Come with me,” Tornado said and I followed the Alicorn along with the soldier from before down a set of stairs into a small basement area. Tornado pressed a button on the wall and spoke into a concealed microphone. “Tornado and Dusk requesting entry into the bunker along with a guest. Code 1-Delta-7-Omega.”

“Access granted,” a smooth mare’s voice said.

And with that the wall slid open and revealed a large metal door that opened next. Tornado looked back at me and I gulped a little.

“Come along,” she said and we walked into the bunker together.

The bunker was like nothing I had ever seen before, the best thing I could compare it to was maybe the war room in Junction Town, but the technology in here was way more advanced. There were ponies here and there that were working around a map of Equestria along with one of Thunderhead proper and what looked like a plan for a Stable.

“You should be honored, we don’t normally let Dashites in here,” Dusk said with a growl as she pushed me forward. “Whatever you need to talk to the President about had better be good.”

“It is…” I said softly as I looked around. “How long has this been here?”

“It was built years ago and has been maintained ever since,” Tornado said. “This was the emergency bunker for the leaders of the Thunderhead Enclave until Lighthooves’ coup attempt and the Civil War.”

“Now now Tornado, what would Winter say if she knew you were giving the history of a secret bunker that does not officially exist to the enemy?” once again, a voice so familiar said from behind. “Surprised you made it here, it’s not exactly obvious.”

“Thank whoever at Robronco programmed the PipBuck to track stuff,” I said with a shrug. “And also I studied maps of Thunderhead going into this fight. This was the only hotel that met your description.”

“I suppose, anyway” Spectra said with a chuckle. “Now for you Tornado, You ever going to tell Scoots here?”

“This is not the time for your jokes Spectra, we are in the middle of a serious situation,” Tornado said as she turned and looked at the Rainbow maned Stallion. “Besides, I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Right right, you don’t remember still... “ Spectra said with a chuckle. “Soon enough though, I think this situation is going to bring something back.”

Tornado just snorted and looked at me. “The President will see you now,” she said and turned away to walk through the bunker.

I glanced at Spectra before I followed Tornado. I couldn’t help but stare a little at the towering Alicorn. What had Spectra meant by that? Was he just being weird again, or did he know something about Tornado that I didn’t?

I sighed and paused as I looked back, I had no idea what to do, what to say.

“Equestria has big things planned for all of us, just hold on and stay strong. Things will all work out and make sense soon.” Spectra said with a chuckle. “That or we’re all going to die in a massive fireball.”

“Spectra, stop trying to help,” I said with a groan.

Tornado shot a look at Spectra from behind her helmet before she turned and pushed open the door that bore the symbol of the Enclave. I sighed and looked inside for Winter, she was seated at a desk looking disheveled and barely looked up when I entered.

“Madam President?” Tornado asked, Winter barely reacted. “Winter? Scootaloo is here to talk to you.”

“Right, of course,” Winter said as she straightened herself out as best she could. The once proud mare looked tired and like she had been crying, I didn’t blame her. “Welcome Scootaloo, please have a seat. I’d offer you a drink but we’re running on rations down here until we can go back topside.”

“Of course,” I said and took a seat across from her. “Winter, I know this can’t be easy for you right now. I heard your radio broadcast earlier.”

“It’s all my fault…” Winter said softly as tears started to stream down her face. “All of it… their deaths, the destruction of homes… I brought all of this on because I thought I was doing the right thing.”

“Winter…” I said softly as I looked across the desk at the mare. “None of this is your fault, you couldn’t have predicted that the Twilight Society was going to repair Celestia One and use it on Thunderhead.”

“But it is my fault!” Winter said in a loud voice as she stared me down. “I started this war with Equestria, I sent ponies to their deaths. I ordered the occupation of Tenpony Tower that pushed them to do it in the first place! And for what? Some, twisted altruism? I’ve done nothing but make Equestria worse when all I was…”

She trailed off and lowered her head as she looked over at a framed photograph that was sitting on her desk. She was crying at this point, she reached out with a trembling hoof as she touched the picture.

“You did it for her didn’t you?” I asked and Winter nodded softly. “You did it all to give your daughter a better world to live in than the one you did. You told me and Cherry that your reasons were ones we’d understand.”

“Because you’re both mothers,” Winter said as she held the picture close to her. “I did everything I could to keep her safe. I’m not a liar Scootaloo, I wanted to build a better future, a better Equestria. I was willing to…”

“To sacrifice the best parts of yourself to do it?” I asked with a knowing nod. “To plunge your hooves into the muddy waters when you know that they won’t come up clean? I’ve been there Winter, I’ve been where you are now because I am you.”

“I know,” Winter said softly. “Does it ever end, the guilt? Knowing that you’ve done so much wrong that you can never be forgiven for it?”

I paused a moment, and in that moment it hit me. I had sometimes wondered what my own virtue might be, I may be wearing the Element of Loyalty, but did that mean it was loyalty? I placed my hoof gently on the necklace and shook my head.

I wasn’t Rainbow Dash, I may have idolized her and tried to be like her, but I wasn’t her. I wasn’t defined by Loyalty, even if that was part of who I was. I had done what Winter had done, I had been willing to sacrifice my own morality in order to save lives. I had given everything that made me who I was to give Equestria a chance. And now, I was able to help others that did the same as me.

Empathy, that was it.

“Winter, I forgive you,” I said softly and Winter looked up at me. “You’re a good pony Winter, everything you’ve done was for the good of Equestria in your own way. You asked me if the guilt ever ends, and I’m afraid the answer is no. You’ll always carry that guilt with you for the rest of your days. But, you can alleviate that guilt, you can do everything you can to make up for your mistakes.”

Winter looked at me and then she smiled a little. “You have quite the way with words, you know that?”

“Well, I try, and it helps that I’ve been in the same position,” I said with a smile as I reached over and hugged her gently. “So, what do you say?”

Winter looked at me and then down at the picture once again. “When I was a little filly, I was raised in an upper class family in Coltlumbia. My parents, they wanted me to go into the military or politics or whatever. But, I had a little pony who helped teach me that there was a better way. Well, sort of a little pony, more like a family heirloom, passed down through my family since my ancestors were taken out of Stable 46.”

My ears perked up a little in curiosity at that. What was she talking about? The only thing I had left with Cloudy was…

“Sweetie Bot? Sweetie Bot, survived?” I asked in astonishment. I had made a robotic version of Sweetie Belle using leftover parts from a Robronco robot and whatever I could piece together, I had done everything I could to make her like the real thing.

Yeah I know its sad, the war had just ended and it was before I met Sky Walker. I had given it to Cloudy as a companion in the Stable, I had no idea it had survived this whole time.

“Yeah, she’s been fixed up more times than I can count, but she’s still kicking, at least she was last time I saw her,” Winter said with a sad smile. “But, she told me stories, so many stories of this wonderful mare named Scootaloo. Your adventures, what you did, but more than anything else she told me about how kind you were. How you were willing to do anything to help Equestria.”

“And that shaped who you were,” I said as I reached the conclusion. “You grew up on stories of me, so you did everything you could to help Equestria.”

“It’s why I became a Schoolteacher,” Winter said softly. “In those days, I didn’t care about politics or war. I wanted to teach students, my cutie mark even reflected that, the snowflake, no two are alike just like no two students are alike. But as I got into the job, I started to realize that the Enclave used the schools as a form of thought control. Raise the foals to believe a certain ideology, and they will follow you to the death.”

I really hated the Enclave right now even more than I already did. I couldn’t imagine what it must’ve been like for Winter though, being raised in that kind of environment.

“And so I entered politics, I was good at my job so after the requisite military service the High Council put me in charge of education,” Winter continued. “I started to change things, slowly so I didn’t raise suspicion. I did everything I could to make things better for the school system, and I was making progress until…”

“Until the Day of Sunshine and Rainbows,” I finished. “And then the Enclave Civil War made you a refugee. I remember, your friends never gave up on you Winter, they still held to the belief that there was good in you.”

Winter nodded and hugged me. “Scootaloo… I don’t know what to do to be honest. I, can’t let Rockhoof’s Thunder be used, I can’t even use it like I planned, not anymore. I was going to dismantle it you know, once everything was said and done, I was going to dismantle it and any other Megaspell I found. Now because they have Callie, Cloud Chaser and his goons have everything they need to take it and use it to subjugate Equestria.”

“Then we’re going to stop him,” I said and Winter blinked a little. “You, me, my friends, and the Alliance. We’re going to stop him together, you still have a lot of ponies loyal to you here and across Equestria. End this war, tell them to stand down, maybe even some of the ponies under his command will listen.”

“And what about the General himself?” She asked.

“Simple, Madam President. A General without an army is no more than a speed bump.” Spectra said as he walked up beside me. “We get Callie back, we end this war, and we make Cloud Chaser wish he never crossed us, simple.”

Winter looked at him and nodded. “Alright, Spectra get a team together, and get my armor ready. If we’re taking the fight to Cloud Chaser, I’m not sitting on the sidelines while my daughter is at risk.”

“I am sorry Madam President, but you cannot be allowed to risk yourself, there is no point rescuing a filly if she doesn’t have a mother to come home to - that, and I’m pretty sure Tornado would kill me.” Spectra said with a nervous chuckle.

“Are you refusing an order from your President?” Winter said and looked at him.

“Winter, he’s right,” I said. “And that’s not even going into what he will do to you if you’re caught. You need to stay here, I’ll accompany the team to save her and Go Fish if I have to, but your place is here. Please Winter, don’t do this.”

Winter looked between us for a moment and then sighed. “Alright, I’ll defer to both of your judgments on this matter. But bring her back alive, she’s all I have…” she said softly and looked down at her hooves. “Promise me you’ll do that.”

I placed a hoof on Winter’s shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile. “I promise, you’ll see her again before you know it.”

“Alright then,” Winter said and gave us both a nod. “Thank you, both of you, you don’t know how much this means to me. Now, I am still the President and I have a duty to attend to. Scootaloo, would you be there with me by my side?”

“It would be an honor,” I said with a nod and looked over at Spectra. “Commander, I, wanted to thank you for all your help. I’m sorry if I haven’t seemed that grateful, but you’ve helped me and my friends a great deal.”

“Oh, no big deal.” Spectra said with a shrug “You’re welcome, I suppose - Just doing my job, don’t really need or expecting a thanks.”

“Well, still, it means a lot,” I said as we followed Winter out of her office. She was straightening herself back up and she gave me a smile before she turned her attention back to the command center.

“Patch me into the all-clear signal,” Winter said as the bunker fell silent. “You heard me, it’s time for one more broadcast.”

There was a scramble as they got everything together, finally a microphone was set up and Winter took a deep breath as she looked at it and then back at me and Spectra. “I’ve never felt so nervous about a broadcast before…”

“Before you do” Spectra said turning his attention to me. “Set us into the Alliance’s frequencies too, I think everypony needs to hear this.”

Winter nodded and the technicians set it to broadcast over the Alliance frequencies. Winter took a deep breath and started to speak into the microphone. Her confidence and commanding voice was back, but there was still a twinge of regret to it.

“Ponies of Equestria, this is President Winter Breeze,” Winter said into the microphone. “For awhile now I have come to you with words of hope and promises of a better future brought by the Enclave. I still bring that message tonight, but I bring more than that. As the leader of the Enclave, I have done everything I can to make this world better, I have done what I can to help ponies across Equestria. But I made a mistake, I chose the path that lead to war, to death, to destruction. Good ponies that just wanted to live their lives in peace died because of my mistake. Tonight I’m here to try and rectify that mistake. I have done everything I can to make the Enclave better, now the time has come to step back from this war. All Enclave forces currently engaged in battle with the Alliance are to stand down immediately. This is an order from your President, the war is over. Now we have to rebuild, now we have to work together with our brothers and sisters on the ground to build a better Equestria. Because that bright future, its still there. Its still possible for our foals to live without fear. Not by fighting one another, not by threatening others into submission, but by coming together. The Equestrian spirit has not died, we are going to make it stronger than ever. This is President Winter Breeze, signing off.”

There was a moment of silence in the command center as Winter finished her broadcast. Then one pony started clapping, soon they had all joined in. I smiled a little, Winter really had done good by the Enclave and changed them for the better, they were still willing to follow her after all of that.

I just hoped that we were able to reach more ponies.

“Spectra,” Winter said as she looked at the Rainbow maned stallion. “How quickly can you get your team together?”

“Yesterday, ma’am.” Spectra said. “They are already ready, waiting for my signal.”

“Good, accompany Scootaloo and friends out of the bunker, and give the signal,” she said. “Move swiftly and get in and out as fast as you can. We may have just declared war on Cloud Chaser and his forces.”

“Understood, Scootaloo - I hate to say it, but you may need to call all your friends in - and I mean them all.” Spectra laughed some “Even if they get here late, any help coming is better than what we got now.”

“Understood, I’ll do it,” I said with a nod. “I’ll get as much help as I can here. And Winter, thank you for listening.”
Winter smiled and nodded. “Thank you for talking to me Scootaloo. I’m glad to have met you.”

I smiled and nodded before looking back at Spectra. “So, shall we?”

“Oh, way ahead of you missy.” Spectra said with a smirk, a chirp from his radio going off in his helmet. “Situation blue, Emergency level Alpha, Assemble at my current location.”

I nodded and we headed out together. It was time to take the fight to Cloud Chaser.

As I made it back to the Alliance command center with my friends, the first signs of morning were peeking up over the horizon. I yawned a little, I hadn’t realized that we had been out all night, but maybe it was at least a sign that things were looking up.

I checked in with Blackjack and smiled a little. She and Morning Glory were fast asleep in an embrace with one another. I didn’t want to bother her so I just gently shut the door and headed over to the radio room.

If there was one thing I had gotten from my travels it was friends. Good ponies across Equestria that were interested in fighting the good fight. I looked back at the rising sun and leaned back in thought.

This world was a harsh place, I had learned that over and over again at this point. But there were still ponies, good ponies who wanted to change that on both sides. I kept thinking about everything I had learned about the Enclave over the past day, that they weren’t all bad ponies.

And in that respect Winter had already won. She had done what she set out to do and changed the Enclave, and Equestria. Whether or not it was for the better remained to be seen, but I was getting the feeling that it was.

And then I started making the calls, sending messages out across Equestria to everypony who I could reach. The call had been sent out, I even sent some messages to settlements that had sided with the Enclave that I had been given the frequencies for.

When you’ve got Winter Breeze watching your back, you’ve got a long reach. And they said they would come, the war was about to get a whole lot bigger. Cloud Chaser was going to have to fight all of Equestria if he wanted to win.

And that’s when everything came crashing down.

A screen above me flipped on and after a moment of static the cold face of General Cloud Chaser appeared on it. He stared at the camera as if he held contempt for everything that was watching him right this moment, but he didn’t care.

“Ponies of Thunderhead and the Enclave,” he said in his cold voice that sent chills up my spine. “I’m sure by now you’ve heard the latest speech given by our dear President Winter Breeze. She has come to you with promises of a better future, but only if we become a doormat for the savages and mutants of the world below. The Enclave does not exist to help, it does not exist to serve this, so-called Equestrian Spirit. The future of Equestria will no longer be dictated by spineless cowards who would sooner sacrifice the power the Enclave has than use it to do what we have a right to. Equestria belongs to the Enclave, you have two choices now ponies, submit, or die.”

I watched in horror as Cloud Chaser looked to his right and the camera panned out. My heart stopped when I saw who was bound to a table, I don’t know how he did it, but they had captured Winter.

“This mare, the so-called President, has been tried and found guilty of high treason,” Cloud Chaser continued as he picked up a hot branding iron with two familiar looking marks on it. “As punishment for her crimes, she will be branded and executed for all of Equestria to see. This is the future for those who wish to oppose us.”

I couldn’t bear to watch what happened next, but I couldn’t miss the sound of the brand burning fur and flesh and the cry of the mare it was administered to. You don’t forget that kind of thing when it’s done to you.

I couldn’t stand to watch anymore and threw the door open and ran out into the camp as more ponies were starting to gather and try to figure out what was going on. I moved forward until I got the best look at the Nimbus I could, it was still hovering in place just like it had been last time I looked.

I hated myself, I had lead Winter to her death just because I wanted to help her. I wouldn’t even make it to her in time if I put on the necklace and flew to the Nimbus, there was no way I’d get there in time.

There was a gasp from somewhere behind me and I turned around and saw Winter falling. Her wings were pinned to the sides of her body, probably paralyzed by some agent.

“Hold on Winter, I’m coming!” Spectra cried out and before I could even blink he dove off of the edge of Thunderhead.

I watched as Spectra picked up speed as he flew to catch the falling mare as it looked like his armor was falling away as he flew. For a moment I thought he wasn’t going to make it just as he put on an extra burst of speed and caught Winter in mid-air.

I let out a sigh of relief and was about to turn and check on the others when there was a loud BOOM! For a second I thought the Nimbus had opened fire on Spectra until I saw it, and my jaw dropped.

Spreading out from the point was a shockwave of rainbow colored magical energy. It shook the cloud beneath my hooves as the Nimbus was pushed back. The shockwave spread out across the sky as we all stared up in wonder at it.

A Sonic Rainboom.

Maximum Level Reached.
20% Cooler: Seeing the Sonic Rainboom has inspired you and given you the drive to do better and follow in your adopted mother's hoofsteps. You get an extra boost to agility while in the air and your speech stat gets a boost of +15.

Author's Notes:

Yeah, all the previous disclaimers still apply, I'm not Disney buying up the rights to characters here.