It was strange having to arrive back at my home after walking through a door I had created in my mind. We went from the dry barren and withered desert fortress to a snowy plain with light snowfall. When we had stepped through, we looked to see that the door had vanished, leaving my companions to look at me. I furrowed my brows and looked down at Pleasant Town. Comp then trotted up next to me, his look the same as mine.

“Home…” He said. I nodded.

“The place where it all began…” I said out loud. They gave me concerned looks. “I think I get it now… What they meant by where it all began.” I shook my head. “I thought, for the longest time, that it was someplace in Equestria that I haven’t been too. That no pony has really seen in centuries. But maybe… what if it was right in front of us?” Colt Comp stood on my other side.

“Courier. Home is what you make it out to be. It can be anywhere.” Comp said. His words had some truth to it.

I know where I come from.

Comp’s words rang through my head. I heard Din hum softly in the back of my mind. I looked to older Comp.

“Are you ready?” I asked with a concerned look. Comp sighed and nodded.

“It’s time I stop hiding and start making amends… Courier…know this may sound a tad bit selfish but… do you think maybe you can help me get everypony to understand why I had to do so?” I gave a small smile and patted his shoulder.

“It’s what friends do, right?” I looked to my companions and they nodded in agreement. Comp smiled now.

“Thanks…” he turned to his own companions. “You know… I would also feel better if… you guys could come along-“

“Of course!” Gretel chimed immediately, making Comp arch a brow in surprise. The others looked at her with questioning looks. She flushed and rubbed the back of her head before clearing her throat and regaining her composure. “I-I mean… we’ve already been through so much. Daring escapes from raiders, sneaking into Remnant Camps, almost dying at the hands of a hydra and then taking out a castle full of changelings.” She then looked at colt Comp and waved her hoof quickly as she flushed. “I-I don’t mean any offense!” Colt Comp shook his head.

“It’s alright.” He sighed and walked forward a bit to stare down at my home. “Home is what you make it out to be…” He turned to the older Comp. “You told me that a long time.” Older Comp rubbed the back of his head before beaming in recognition.

“Oh yeah! When we first met!” He said. Colt Comp smiled.

“Listen… I’m… sorry I just left you there…” he said. Older Comp ruffled younger Comp’s mane.

“Please. I couldn’t let someone like you get taken because I had mistook you for my client.” He winked at him. “It’s probably why you subconsciously changed into my younger self. You were pretty desperate to get away.” Younger Comp nodded sadly.

“But… they could have done some horrible things to you… I mean… my brother was no walk in the park.” He looked at me. “And I…appreciate you trying to save him… but he was already lost long ago.” He sighed. “And now that mom is dead… I guess that makes me the only living changeling to roam the Wasteland.” Star chimed in.

“Well, whatever it was worth, we would have done it many times over.” He said. Young Comp arched a brow. “Think of it this way. You’ve gone at least a month and a half before you started regressing back to your hunger. What did you do the first time?” Young Comp rubbed his temples, trying to remember.

“I… I don’t know. All I remember is me leaving the castle and meeting Comp. Then after that… it was just a haze… wait…” He gapped. “That voice…” I arched a brow.

“Voice?” I asked. Young Comp balked and looked at me.

“Courier… what kind of voice did your father have?” he asked. I furrowed my brows in worry. I knew where this was going. And the expression I gave told everyone how quickly I caught on. But I decided to fill in the holes.

“Well… It was… serious. He was stern most of the time but whenever he was referring to any of us, he would have a relaxed and calm voice.” I sighed and looked at my PipBuck. I pressed a few buttons and brought up the message Chester had sent me several weeks back.

-Encoded- ;) – Chester

I had pondered this slightly. But now that we were back home. Back to the place where it all began. Maybe I could… I looked at Comp.

“If dad had sustained you with some sort of spell, then maybe we can recreate it.” I said. Younger Comp shook his head.

“But… how can we do that?” he asked. I looked at the message again. I then looked up to my home.

“We go home. That’s how.” I said. I began to walk down the hill. My friends following close behind me. Pleasant Town. Home. I twitched my ears. No gun shots. No chatter. It was as if the town had gone to sleep. But I noticed something… different about Pleasant Town. The town’s folk did a great job of cleaning up the raider gore and vulgar paintings of the town, but what I noticed more was the mingling of ponies over by a radio. When we entered into the town gate and headed over to the area, some ponies looked up and gasped as they saw us.

“I-It’s her…” one of the town’s folk said. The crowd quieted down. My companions seemed on edge, but I took the first step. I threw back my hood and darted my eyes between the group. It was almost like half of the town had gathered around over one radio.

“Rail Grinder.” I said. There was silence. Then, a gruff looking buck shambled through the crowd and looked at me with a stern look. Rail Grinder, the voice of the citizens. And a friend to my uncle. He studied me.

“You seem to be making more than a name for yourself, kid.” He said. I arched a brow before speaking.

“That isn’t news to me. But I am curious. Why is half the town looking at me like I had just been through hell and back?” I asked. Despite it being true, I was feeling a little uneasy. I had a small flashback of when I had almost burned down my home and the town’s folk giving me cold shoulders. Rail Grinder sighed.

“Well… them radio talkers have been speaking of almost all your endeavors.” He said. I sighed and nodded.

“Yeah, they just don’t know when to quit.” Rail Grinder arched a brow.

“Like, you taking on an entire army of Fiends? Taking out an Enclave carrier and utilizing thousands of people to make it as a base of operations? Siding with Snow Dogs and to give a small time fisher town that was about to be abandoned a new hope?” He then followed it up with shaking his head. “And don’t even get me started on taking out an entire changeling castle and killing their queen.” I balked a little and looked to my friends.

They seemed just as surprised as I was. How in the hell did word about that get out so fast!? Our expressions seemed to cause Rail Grinder a suspicious look.

“More importantly… they said it had just finished. So… how did you get here so fast?”

“I can answer that.” We heard a voice say. I gapped seeing Uncle Post Box walking next to Heart, Cheesy Chester and Bell. And I tilted my head to see a bobbing floating spritebot. Uncle Post Box tapped on the metal head of the bot. “Or maybe… perhaps let this thing answer.” There was silence as everypony, every eye, was looking at me and the sprite bot. I narrowed my eyes.

“Watcher?” I said. There was a small moment of silence before we heard a buzzing.

“You’ve been busy, Courier.” Watcher said. I sighed and nodded my head sadly. “Is something wrong?” I bit my lip and rubbed my foreleg. I then felt a wing drape around my shoulder. I looked up to see Iris give me a reassuring smile. I then noticed that the rest of my friends had stood next to me. I gave a small sad smile before speaking.

“I’m actually… fine.” I chuckled lightly. “It’s funny… My whole life I had been… different. Secluded. And just now… I had tried to save somepony… but only to fail in the end.” The sprite bot bobbed a little as Watcher spoke.

“Well… it’s like I told Security. You can’t save everypony.” He said. I looked at the bot with a concerned look.

“How is LittlePip doing?” I asked. Watcher was silent a moment before speaking.

“They had recently left the Crystal Castle. They had a strange box with them. She told me that it was of great significance to what the prophecy foretell. About the Maidens of the Stars.” I was quiet as I listened to him speak. “She then said that you were a pony that was destined to carry out the prophecy… whether you liked it or not. But in order to do so, she mentioned something about reliving the past and be forgotten to the present.” I blinked. Mother Dandy had said those exact words before.

“And what about The Family? My Followers? Glaciael?” I asked. Watcher was quiet again before speaking.

“The Family are doing okay. Back to the day-to-day ordeals. However, they are trying to recuperate for the loss of The Pride. Without a third head, the area The Pride ran in disbanded and it became a residential area. As for your Followers?” he was quiet again for a brief moment before continuing. “They have been spotted throughout the Wasteland. Clearing up raider and Fiend encampments and freeing slaves. However, the freed slaves seemed to be joining the fight with them. And that’s not all.”

“Bale fire bomb?” I asked, hearing surprised gasps from our audience. Watcher sighed.

“Unfortunately, yes. They had managed to obtain the very thing that had devastated this once peaceful land. Which brings me to Glaciael.” I heard him clear his throat. “The town of Glaciael had quickly developed into a settlement for traders. The fallen carrier is now a mint conditioned housing facility for thousands of people. People that you saved. Popper, Guillotine, Xenos and Bubble Pop are basically running the place now. The Snow Dogs are still aiding with the recovery, but all is doing okay over there.” I felt relieved. But something was missing to this. I then stomped my hoof to the snowy ground and gave Watcher a serious look.

“And how long have you’ve managed to watch me?” I asked. Watcher seemed to bob in place for a bit in thought before speaking.

“Well, I’ve been through and through the Wasteland. So I’ve watched plenty of people come and go.” He said. I shook my head.

“You were there.” I said. Watcher grew quiet. “You were there when I had delivered that bomb to the gangers. You set me up for it.” Watcher seemed to bob in place in a panic before speaking.

“N-no! You got the wrong idea! I didn’t set you up for it! I was told to set up a way for you to carry out!” he said. I grit my teeth, feeling my blood boil. It all made sense now. I knew it all along. Deep down in the back of my mind, I’ve known. I’ve always wondered why everything had suddenly come out to get me.

“You spurred me on. You told me what I only wanted to hear. You’ve been watching me ever since that…” I faltered. And then I winced, my eye twitching. I felt sick all of a sudden. But it was all flooding back. An image of my father. Standing there with a grim look at me. Next to him was… Watcher. “No… he… planned this?” I asked. Watcher bobbed sadly.

“Courier, I… I’m sorry. He left me no other choice. I had to or else-“ I abruptly chimed in his speech.

“Or else what? That I would just be some damn every day courier who would be lost to the Wasteland? That I would follow in his hoofsteps?” I girt my teeth. “That bastard used my trauma to get the better of me!! He told Lyon to make me forget!” there were murmurs from the crowd and Heart looked questiongly at me.

“Curry? I don’t mean to interrupt but… who are you talking about?” she asked. I didn’t skip a beat.

“Lone Road.” I said. Now the murmurs went to surprised chatter of shock and awe. Post Box balked a little at this while Heart gave me a concerned look. “My father… He set me up! He used my trauma to get me to be who I was. A bitter, spiteful pony. A pony who would only walk a road by herself… because it is what our ancestor 200 years ago did!” I looked at Watcher. “The one courier that was used as an asset to the war on the Crystal Empire. The one courier who vanished at the climax before the bombs fell. He went underground and off the charts after that. And to this day, his homage is following us. After 200 years, we are left to pick up where he left off.” Iris arched a brow.

“Ermm… left off of where?” she asked. I sighed.

“To finish the purging of this land.” I said looking at Watcher. Watcher was quiet and sighed.

“So you knew?” he asked. I nodded. It all makes sense now. All these memories coming back to me. I couldn’t believe it.

I was sitting in the medical area. I was a filly again. Only this time… it was a few minutes after that whole incident with me. I was cut, bruised and had been violated. In front of my whole cadet class, they sang around me as a colt had his way with me and they cut me with knives. A sick, sick game. I was in shock. My mother sat next to me with a worried look. She turned to the nurse.

“Abacus… please tell me why she is like this? Why did she state that a colt had violated her!?” she asked. It was strange. The memories of my childhood. Seeing mom legitimately worried about me. Doctor Abacus sighed and looked at her.

“I’m not sure what spurred on that level of hostility and action. But I can assure you that we took the necessary medical precaution and had her body purged of the bodily fluid. She will take some time to recover from the cut wounds, however.” He stated. I was still in shock. I wasn’t moving. I was shivering. Watching as my mom and the doctor argued a little about my mental health.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Road. But your daughter is going through a traumatic state of shock… It’ll take some time for her to recover from that as well. In the meantime, I want to prescribe her anti-depressant pills right away.” The door slid open.

“That won’t be necessary.” A gruff voice said. I looked to see a lightly grey colored well-buffed unicorn buck with a tattered brown duster with a faded logo of what was once the symbol of Equestria. His straw hat pulled down over his eyes, although he peeked out from under the hat, his golden eyes looking at the doctor.

“B-but, Mr. Road. I must insist. Your daughter is suffering from PTSD! It’s best if we combat it now and not damage her mental health any further!” doctor Abacus said. My father shook his head.

“If you insist on prescribing her medication that will only delay the inevitable, you are going to regret the decision.” He said. Doctor Abacus was about to protest again when my mom spoke up.

“Lone, Courier had just been raped by a colt! Are you just going to not do anything about it!?” she asked, bristling a bit. Lone Road looked at her before turning his gaze to me. He tipped his hat before speaking.

“Lily, I would like to have a little chat with Courier. I would like it if you give us some space.” He said. My mother was about to protest when my father had given her a look. I recognize that look. He always gave us that look whenever he was dead set on getting his point across. My mom gave a defeated sigh and nodded. She tenderly grasped my hooves into hers and gave me a determined look.

“Curry…you know we wouldn’t let anything like this get the better of you… Just please… have faith in us… we will see to it that punishment will be brought…” she said. My mother stood up and walked out of the room with the doctor following behind her. When the door slid closed, the room fell silent. I was still in shock. I looked at my father with a daze. Lone looked at me.

“Do you understand now the meaning of this land?” he asked. I said nothing. “You see what some ponies would do, just for the sake of pleasure. To harm you? To use you as a tool for their own game?” He pressed a few buttons on his PipBuck and it made a blip sound. “Courier… you are destined for something greater. Something you must climb for. We couriers risk our lives everyday to deliver a small brown package that could contain nothing. We live a life in this poisoned land that it is survival of the fittest. However…” He looked at me. My daze look staring back at him.

“I will train you. Teach you how to survive. To fight. To walk a road and change it in the way you see fit. It is time for the prophecy to be revealed to the world. Our lineage. What our ancestor started 200 years ago.” I examined his complexion. It was almost… sickly. But he put a hoof under my chin and made me look into him. “I will start the process. However, it will be unto you to decide the fate of this land.” I couldn’t move. I was entranced. His golden eyes seemed to be flashing a little. As I looked closely, I could see numbers. Almost as if counting down in a rapid motion.

Then, the numbers stopped.

16

I felt a sudden pain in my head and I wanted to scream out in pain. But I couldn’t. I was mesmerized. My father had me in a trance like state as he began prodding into my head. I could see him. Watching him as he soared through a black abyss towards a light. He then held out his legs and seemed to land gracefully on nothing. He narrowed his eyes at the burning ball of fire.

“So… I finally get to meet the maiden who picked my daughter.” Lone said. Out of the fire came an alicorn face I knew all too well. Din gave him the evil smirk.

I sense my vessel in a lot of pain. Such a poor fragile heart… Lone Road said nothing as he let the spirit continue to talk. Such agony. Such distress. She then looked around and hummed in an upbeat manner. I like this abyss she has created.

“Maiden of Fire. You are asleep, yet you still can speak to me?” Lone asked. The alicorn blinked and smirked.

Tis but a consciousness. Inside my prison, I slumber. Waiting for the day when I shall create this land with my beautiful fire. The alicorn then blinked. Hmmm… you are a strange presence yet familiar. Give me your name, trespasser. Lone Road tipped his hat up a bit, revealing a stoic and calm look.

“Lone Road. Courier One of the Crystal Express and father of three. You are residing in my youngest child’s mind.” He said. Din blinked again and titled her head.

Hmmm… I understand that. But who are you really?

“So, you can sense the last guardian’s presence but you do not know that I am the new one?” Lone Road stated. “Then perhaps, you have much to learn about our world today.” The fire seemed to brighten more, rising ever intimidatingly high as the fiery alicorn head barked out in frustration.

I do not need a common rat to teach me of my own world!! This is my domain! And you will learn to respect it!!

It seemed as if Din was about to start something with my father. But Lone Road kept his demeanor before speaking with a hoof raised.

“I do respect the balance you and your sister’s uphold. But that doesn’t mean you should be ignorant of our ways.” He said. Din seemed to ease a little, which took me by surprise. Lone Road continued. “Many changes have happened to the world you set your eyes upon. It is grieved with poison and the harshness it has will laugh upon your world. Or maybe perhaps welcome it to nothing.” Din seemed to ponder this.

You’re words… I do not know why but… they do have some truth to them…

Lone Road tipped his hat to hide his eyes.

“Because I know what’s out there. I’ve walked many roads. Each ending with a path or decision. It is up to us to decide which one we take. Most ponies go for the one less traveled by. But I… I go to the one that hasn’t been created.” Lone Road stared challengingly at the alicorn. Din hummed quietly now in thought.

A road… that hasn’t been created yet? How interesting. So instead of taking an alternate path that most don’t use, you decided to take into your own hooves and create your own path…

Lone Road nodded.

“This land used to be a saving grace for any creature. Then… ponies who were so caught up in their greed… their fame… their lust… their advancement in technology and delving deeper into the minds of others, experimenting… developing… creating and destroying opportunities of the lesser known.” Lone Road tipped his hat again. “All roads lead to an ending. But there is one thing about this road I travel on. One that I had created for myself. And one I hope my daughter will travel on as well.” Din hummed again with a mischievous smirk.

Then pray tell… what are you hoping for in this road you travel on?

Lone Road didn’t skip a beat.

“A chance for redemption. To make this land that had its eyes closed by the veils of war. One that I shall create. And it shall be walked on by another. My daughter, Courier Road.” Din listened patiently, much to my surprise. “What has happened to her will strike the fire that dwells inside her. She will know this pain. She will live with it. Learn from it. And when that times comes, she will be ready to walk that road.” Din laughed.

Oh, do tell me more. You can’t hide those thoughts of yours from me. Tell me… do you really think my vessel will walk that road you created? Will she have the courage and strength to accept what has happened and will happen to her?

Lone road turned his back on her, causing Din to arch a fiery brow curiously with a smirk.

“She has too. I’m giving her the will to live. The incentive she needs to use that fire to her will.” He peeked slightly over his shoulder. “She will live. She cannot die in this poisoned land. I will teach her. Train her. Condition her mind. She will be a force to reckon with. And when she has decided on her path… she will find herself walking the same road that I have created.” He started walking off into the abyss. Din chuckled.

And what will be waiting her at the road of the road I wonder…

Lone Road kept walking, but spoke in reply.

“In due time, Maiden. You must work with her until she is able to grasp her power and your own. When she does, she will be ready to reach the end of that road.” Din smirked again.

I’ll hold your word on that, guardian. Till then, I bid you good health. There was a brief moment of silence. Din vanished into the fire. You amuse me. To think that your own health is a sore spot.

There was a flash of light and I found myself blinking out of my daze. I looked around. We were standing on top of the hill that overlooked the town. My sight fell to Lone Road talking to a bobbing sprite bot.

“…you really are giving me no choice in this matter, are you?” I heard the voice of an annoyed Watcher. Lone Road remained stoic as he spoke.

“The ponies of the Old World will face their redemption. One way or another. I have chosen my path, Watcher. Are you still uncertain about yours?” he said. Watcher said nothing as he just bobbed there in place. Then he sighed and spoke.

“Alright, fine. I’ll set up the delivery and date. But don’t think I am going to go all for this idea.” Watcher said. I balked a little. My father smiled.

“I’m looking forward to it.” He said. The sprite bot popped and vintage music started playing again. As it bobbed down the hill and onto the road heading to Route 15, my father peeked over his shoulder to look at me. “It is time you begin your conditioning, Courier. You will live. You will not die. You are to survive. For that is what you are. A survivor. A courier. One who will decide the fate of this poisoned land. It was foretold by the stars and it was set in motion by our ancestors.” It took a moment for me to utter a word. But I managed to speak.

“Yes, dad… When do I begin?” I asked. It was surreal. I wasn’t thinking about it at that time. But I guess I was really out of it.

When I finished explaining my new found memory, everyone was silent. Some pony’s jaws were agape. While others talked frantically in murmurs. The Watcher bobbed silently. My sisters looked shocked. Post Box grimly looked at me. Iris was doing her best to comfort me. But I sat there, with my head bowed and feeling even more depressed than usual.

“By the stars… Lone… You didn’t…” Post Box said. Bell looked questioningly, still trying to catch on.

“But… if daddy set everything up… does that mean he set up Curry too with that incident?” Bell asked. I shook my head and smiled at my younger sister.

“That was just naivety and poor judgment skills. It was after the fact that he trained me… well… my mind… to be that pony.” I looked at my friends. “The pony you once knew me as… The bitchy, over selfish and maniacal sociopath.” They said nothing as they gave me worried looks. I knew it all along. I knew it, yet I was blinded thanks to the efforts of my brother and the events that were started by my own father. Rail Grinder broke the silence.

“So… little Curry was just a victim to her dad’s own agenda? Some town hero he turned out to be.” I wanted to retort, but I remained silent. I didn’t know what to think about my dad anymore. He was labeled a hero here in the Empire. A legend among the local and traveling couriers. He was feared by raiders and gangers. He was sought for by the heads of gangs and even Mr. House himself. But in all that, he had an agenda. And he was willing to follow through with that to the end… and the end being me

I stood up now and everypony looked at me.

“I have to follow through…” I stated. Heart furrowed her brows.

“Curry, you don’t have to do this. If daddy wanted to set this in motion from the get go and it involved you, you can stop it.” She said. I nodded.

“You’re right. I can stop it. Which is why I have to follow through with it…” I said sadly.

“But surely, there must be another way?” Chester chimed in, startling me. I totally forgot he was here. I looked at the grinning mask and shook my head sadly.

“This is something I… I have to do…” I looked at my friends, feeling even more depressed and sad. “Alone.” It was Iris that seemed to give me a questioning look.

“You honestly expect us to just stay here and wait for you? When you know for a fact that your father may be willing to kill you?” she said. I smiled quietly at her.

“He conditioned me not to die… remember?” I sighed. “I’ve cheated death multiple times. I even outran it twice. And yet, I still pressed on.” I looked at her and she furrowed her brows into concern.

“Courier, please… think about this…” she said. I again smiled at her and pecked her forehead.

“I have… I’ve thought long and hard about this before hoof. I may not have realized it, but I remember now.” I said. I noticed her eyes welling up a bit. She seemed to be struggling with her own thoughts. I looked over to Post Box. “I would like to put in my resignation from the express.” My sisters and my uncle along with Chester gapped a little (Chester striking a pained poise).

“Y-you’re resigning? Just like that?” Heart stated. I gave her a reassuring smile.

“I have too. My father may have been written off as a courier, but with his own agenda, I doubt he saw himself as one. And… with an evil spirit inside my head and being the great, great etcetera granddaughter of Starswirl the Bearded, I can’t afford to come back…” I bowed my head and said aloud as best as I can. “At least… not until this matter is settled.” Bell suddenly bawled and hugged my foreleg.

“Curry, please!! What about the years of working hard for? What about us trying to get our names out, but be ninjas!? What about all our family gatherings!?” she sobbed again. I smiled and stroked her mane soothingly.

“Bell… you must understand… that when a pony makes a decision… whether they like it or not… they have to set it in motion. Otherwise… big consequences will happen to not just you… but everypony you care about.” I said. Bell hugged tighter, almost stopping the blood running from my leg.

“No! Don’t go, Curry!!” she said. “I don’t want you to leave… I don’t want you to disappear like Lyon! What about mom!? She will be asking about you!? What are we going to tell mom?!” she said. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I felt tears leave my eyes. This feeling… I know it all too well. The feeling of loneliness. The feeling of longing.

I don’t want to leave everypony… I don’t want to leave my job… I don’t want anypony that I care about be hurt like this… But I had too. It was the only option I can take. I felt another presence hug me. I looked to see Iris hugging me sadly. Then, young Comp. Then, Brick. Then, Goldenlee. Then, Star. Then, older Comp. Then, Heart. Then, Chester. Then, Rex. I let my tears fall, sniffling a little. ‘Oh, karma… why do you do this to me? There must be some way I can convince you to have me look the other way?’ The two ponies on my shoulders didn’t respond.

We hugged… my friends… my family… we sat there in a group hug… each of us trying to ease the pain of the other. Post Box sighed and did his best to hold back his own tears, his eyes glistening before he spoke.

“Courier… know that… even though you may not have the best track record outside of home… you are by far one the best damned couriers I had the privilege of caring for… I… as mayor of this town and your boss… and as your guardian… You are resigned of your position and rank in the Express. You can keep any items you have on you, but Express property will be…” he choked a little. “Will be a non-negotiable situation. You are to return your PipBuck and your stable barding as they belong to…” he faltered. I looked at him sadly, waiting for him to finish.

He sniffled a little before swearing quietly to himself.

“As they belong to this town and its’ residents. This is non-negotiable.” I nodded. I unclipped my PipBuck and unstrapped my duster, taking off my stable barding before putting back on my duster and folding up the stable barding and then laying the PipBuck on top of it. I then levitated the folded up barding and PipBuck over to my uncle, who took it in his own magic. He seemed to be at a loss for words. His eyes were darting in thought as he looked at my stable barding and Pipbuck. I felt… naked a bit. My modified duster felt a bit lighter and snug. Thankfully, I still had a bit of protection on me and my weapons were still magnetized on.

But what was also strange… the feeling of not wearing a PipBuck. I wore that thing everywhere I went. I even took it in the showers with me. It was kinda like a traveling companion that could map out your locations, organize your inventory and even display your physical health.

The compass and the EFS were no longer there. I was so used to it that I felt even more lost without. My PipBuck and barding almost felt like a second skin in sense. Post Box sighed. He then looked at everypone around us.

“Alright… that is enough mingling now… return to your stations and daily routines… I would like to spend some time to think about all this…” he said. I looked at him sadly as he gave me a worried look before walking off back to the Express building. Heart looked at me worriedly before speaking.

“I… I’m not so sure what to do… I mean… I’ve stopped you many times from doing dumb things… but this…” I nodded to her.

“Dad had set it in motion long before we knew about it.” I said. Heart sighed and put a hoof over my shoulder.

“Maybe that’s why Lyon left. Why he did what he did. He wasn’t trying to find daddy. He had already and daddy did something to him. He was just trying to warn you… warn us what daddy was vying for.” She said. I sighed and nodded. Heart looked at my companions. She then spied older Comp and blinked in recognition. She then nodded to us. “Well… don’t be strangers. I’m sure after what you’ve all been through, please do rest up at the hotel.” She said. “Courier.” I looked at her. “If you have any unfinished business, attend to them now. Better to get it done before you start…” she faltered. But I gave her a reassuring smile and nodded before motioned for older Comp to come talk and walk with her. Bell gave me one last tearful look before sadly walking off after our sister.

I couldn’t help but smile when Gretel seemed a tad suspicious of Heart and decided to follow them. Hansel sighed and shook his head, going after his sister. Gorge and Killer looked around.

“So… how about we lighten the mood a bit with a drink?” Killer asked Gorge. Gorge nodded with a small smile.

“Then, maybe find some odd jobs around here. Could use the caps to get us some new barding.” He said. They trotted off away from us, leaving me to turn to my companions. I opened my mouth to say something, but closed it. I found myself struggling… They looked at me as I did my best to say what I wanted to say.

‘C’mon, dammit… why is it so hard to say this!?’ I thought to myself. I looked at them, tears welling in my eyes.

“Guys… I…” I choked again, but they waited patiently for me to finish. I then sucked it up and managed to speak. “I’m sorry… about not holding up on fixing your problems…” I said. They remained silent as they studied me. “I… I so desperately wanted to help you all… I wanted to do better… be a good friend to you all… but I still… still dragged you all along to deal with something else… So I… I’m sorry.” Brick nodded with his eyes closed before opening them and smiling at me.

“Courier… I know that you may not be the most level headed at times. And you do get distracted by some things. But in the end, you have done some incredible things that I wouldn’t believe myself to be doing.” He said. I looked at Brick as he spoke. “Sure… that lead was a false hope. But… I guess it did some good… you now know the identity of Shiva. But… that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up looking for her.” He then gave a salute. A familiar salute. One that me and my siblings use as a way to tease Post Box. “It was an honor being able to call you a friend and a pony I can trust with my back.”

“Hear, hear.” Goldenlee said. “While I do find you to be a tad bit hot headed, no pun intended, you do have a way of making me hone my surgeon skills.” I couldn’t help but chuckle a little at this. “But you know… maybe it is better to let things go.” She sighed and gave the same salute with a smile. “If Dusty is out of business, then I will make sure that he is well taken care of. And I am proud to call you friend.” She said.

“I have to agree with them.” Star spoke up. He cleared his throat. “Now that you know what your father is really planning, I can only pray that you find the peace you need to come back to us in one piece. There are still so many places I want to show you. I figured maybe getting a bit of fresh air wouldn’t hurt. And it’ll be thrilling and exciting just to survive the dangerous traps and discovering relics of the Old World. Then, perhaps we could find a place to store all of it. Make a museum to-“ Goldenlee rolled her eyes and planted a big kiss on his lips.

“You talk too much, sweetie. Best let it sink in for now.” She said. Whatever Star was going to say was completely lost after that kiss.

“Or… you know… I can also help around the office?” he said. Goldenlee giggled and tickled his chin a little.

“You are such a gentlecolt, Shiny.” She cooed. I smiled at the two. It was Comp’s turn.

“Courier… look, my brother and mother… may have not been the best of ponies. I can understand why they had such ambitions like that… and I don’t hold it against you… But that doesn’t mean I won’t forget where I come from.” He rubbed the back of his head. “Comp seems to not mind if I take on his younger self as a means of disguise. But being the last remaining changeling now… I think I know where I can start so I can sustain myself without having to subconsciously feed off of everyone.”

“So… Chi’xa is your real name?” I asked. Comp blinked and flushed before nodding and bowing his head.

“Y-yeah… kinda weird name huh? I mean… it’s not bad, but I feel conflicted if my name would continue to be Comp. So… what about Chip?” I arched a brow.

“Chip?” I asked with a smile. He flushed and immediately stated.

“W-well, I mean my name can be pretty weird to pronounce so I figured I could… you know… take one part of my name and take the last letter of Comp’s name and combine it? I mean, it’s a mix of who I am and who I can be… I think…” I just smiled and nodded.

“Either way, you are not just a changeling or Comp’s unintentional younger self. You are a friend. Remember that.” I said. I looked at them as my companions started heading to the hotel. I then looked over to Iris who was still sitting beside me.

She seemed to still be struggling with her thoughts. I then nuzzled her cheek, breaking her thought trance.

“So… I guess this is good bye?” she asked. I shook my head.

“It’s never good bye. I still have ends to meet here… I’m just… going to be going away for a while.” I said. Iris bowed her head.

“To relive the past and be forgotten to the present…” she said. I nodded sadly. Iris and I sat there quietly. I couldn’t’ find the words to make conversation. But it was Iris that broke the silence. “Courier… you know how you said that you wanted to be selfish about me?” I arched a brow coolly at her. Okay, liking where this is going. She opened her mouth before closing it. She seemed to be putting the words together in her mind. When she nodded, she spoke. “Look, I know we’ve had somethings happen to us in the past. You were… raped and I was consented into the act. In the end we both had only thought of ourselves.” I nodded.

“Go on.” I said, keeping my smile as hidden as possible. She bit her lip before continuing.

“I was just wondering… maybe… I can be selfish about you?” she asked. I arched a brow again. “I mean… don’t get me wrong. I do love you. You are the best mare… no… best friend and mare-friend I could be with. Which I wasn’t sure about myself. I didn’t think to be into mares, but go figure.” I chuckled a little. “So… I was thinking… before we can’t see each other for a while… maybe we can spend one more night together? Just the two of us?” I bit my lip in thought, just to tease her.

When she flushed and rubbed the back of her head, I smiled and pulled her in for a kiss. I pulled away after a few seconds and winked at her.

“How about we get a drink first. Just so that our moods don’t really become one sided.” I suggested. Iris perked up a little. I put my muzzle to her’s and nuzzled it. “I’m also not going to be holding back about tonight either. So you better be well prepared.” She flushed even brighter than before, but I locked my foreleg around her’s and we walked off to the bar.

I wanted to spend every moment with my pretty cool mare. And I was going to make the best of it. We each got our drinks, took a few pulls and chatted for a bit. We talked a bit about what lead up to this point before the alcohol started kicking in and making us get sidetracked. Once we had our good pull of drinks and paid the bartender, we stumbled slightly as we laughed and chatted before entering the hotel. Thankfully, my room was reserved since I was a resident. And since I’m only going to be spending the night here, I might as well go all the way.

I found my room and realized that they had patched up the wall. I shook my head and unlocked the door before turning and locking us in the room. What followed after was pure music to our ears.

Author's Notes:

Two chapters again. Figured we get right on it.