I was dumbfounded. My dad had managed to connect himself to this particular location. He had created a line for the leaders of the Equestrian Wasteland and was broadcasting live all over Equestria. That means… anyone listening to the radio was listening in right now. But… not only that…

“Dad… it wasn’t our ancestor that sabotaged that balefire bomb… was it?” I asked suddenly. He said nothing as he let me finish. “Did you… did you use it to catch the attention of everyone in Equestria?” Again he said nothing. He patted his gun on his shoulder before speaking.

“More or less. While it is true about the sabotage our ancestor is credited with, I did however use it to stir Equestira from its’ rest. And now… here we are.” He rasped. I shook my head slowly. No way… he used me again!? I felt my blood boil and I heard Din hum quietly in the back of my mind.

Now this is getting interesting. I was right to have us come here. Din said.

“But for what purpose…” I said. “What purpose are you trying to accomplish from this!?” I waved my hoof in dismissal. “You used me ever since I was filly and abandoned us! I was just no more than a tool. Just like Mom! Lyon! Heart! Stall! You used us all!” I stomped my hoof in frustration. “At least Bell doesn’t have to deal with being a tool… but you are affecting her nonetheless! She doesn’t even know what you look like!! And here you are after all these years… locked away in a Stable near a missile silo… All to finish something our 200 year old ancestor was working on!?” I growled.

“And now you’re threating Equestria entirely by having a balefire bomb on standby. Just what are you planning to accomplish from that!!?” My father coughed again.

“Simple. I have the sleeping beast pointed at the one thing that many hope that can save this land.” He said.

“Wait… he doesn’t mean…” Spike began.

“S-Spike? What’s going on!? Homage? Anyone!?” LittlePip echoed in.

“I… I think he means the…” Homage began.

“It’s aimed right the G.O.E.!!” Spike finished up in a panic stricken voice. I balked. But… if that was the case… if the balefire bomb hit G.O.E… My father nodded.

“Yes. Equestria will be decimated and all that inhabit it. The power within the Gardens of Equestria is powerful to clean most of the land of taint. However, if the very taint collided with the power of the Gardens…” I suddenly aimed Sinful and Malice at him.

“I’m not letting that happen!!” I said venomously. I opened fired at my dad. What was I thinking!? Without so much as a thought I just tried to shoot my dad! Strangely, one of the sprite bots seemed to tether a beam to him and when my bullets collided, they seemed to vanish.

“Are you an idiot!?!” The RCE mare stated. “You must be insane to fire off rounds around an explosive!!” My father didn’t even blink. He aimed up and fired off a burst round.

“Courier!!! Is everything okay!?” LittlePip’s voice chimed in.

“I-I’m fine… I didn’t know what I was thinking…” I sighed and put my game face on. “I won’t let it happen again.” My dad coughed again. He looked sicklier than usual. That was when the other sprite bot tethered a pink beam and I watched as he sighed in relief and stood up. I darted my eyes at the two before speaking. “How did you even manage to survive down here?” My father tapped his gun on his shoulder in thought.

“I had enough provisions to last me. This was a Stable meant for the hope of Equestria.” He said. Right, because suddenly every Stable has an apple orchard. My dad dismissed my sarcastic look. “And besides, I managed to find a little help along the way.” He looked at the two sprite bots. They beeped happily. “When I had vanished… sometime later, I had gotten careless. I found myself on the verge of death. It was thanks to these two that they pulled me from the devastation and nursed me back to health.” He then peeked over his shoulder at the balefire bomb, “That was when I discovered this silo. This place where our ancestor started our lineage. Our purpose.” He said.

“Lineage? Purpose? What are you blabbering on about!?” The AppleJack Ranger mare stated. “Are you saying that the fate of Equestria lies in your hooves!? Preposterous!!” My dad seemed to smirk under that rebreather.

“Then explain why I had that stray balefire bomb set off.” He said. The mare was about to retort when she suddenly faltered and sat back down in frustration. “If I wanted too, I could have just readjusted the targeting parameters to aim at Appleloosa.” The Ranger balked. “Or maybe… Cloudsdale.” The Encalve pegasus grit his teeth. “Hoofington.” The NCR mare looked grimly at us. “The Empire.” The RCE mare bit her lip in anger. “New Roam.” The Legion zebra and the Remnant zebra said nothing as they quietly judged us. “I can easily take out one of you and you will no longer be holding the fate of Equestria. However, I figured that in order to save this land from its’ slumber, we might as well start it off with a…” He looked over to the monitor Spike was on. “Bang.” Spike roared intimidatingly at the screen.

“B-But you can’t just destroy Equestria!” LittlePip echoed. “Innocent ponies will die!”

“LittlePip is right.” Homage chimed in. “What kind of cause are you trying to serve if you are just going to destroy Equestria? You keep saying to save this land from its slumber. But here you are doing the exact opposite.” My father said nothing.

“You’re right… it’s not my cause anymore.” He then looked at me. “Courier… tell them why we are what we are. The ponies we strive to be.” I blinked and suddenly felt all eyes on me. My vertigo came back. I ignored the feeling and stared blankly at my dad, adjusting my hood.

“I don’t know what you are expecting of me to say about the matter. Ponies do just what any other ponies do.” I shook my head. “They start a war, they end up getting the brunt end of it and we are left to clean up after them.” I held up a hoof. “However… that isn’t the case with some. Take LittlePip for example. She was naïve to the Wasteland twelve years ago. And she had given up herself to save this place. And now, I had woken her up somehow.” I rubbed my foreleg. “I guess… I had unintentionally asked her for her help… because deep down… I probably knew something bad was going to happen.” I looked back up at my dad.

“And I was right. If I had known that my own father was trying to reawaken our so called “lineage”, then I was right to wake her up about it. Because in the end, it affects her. She had started long ago and all her hard work has been paying off. And it’s just not LittlePip either! You have someone like Security walking around and helping those in need.” I bowed my head.

“I’m sure that they had their ups and downs on this…” it was Homage that finished it off. Slowly at first.

“… But in the end… they pulled through no matter what.” I nodded.

“And what about me? Well… let’s just say I still have a long ways to go if I ever want to meet their standards. I’ve been a bitter and hateful pony for as long as I can remember.” I then smiled quietly. “And I was lucky enough to meet some decent ponies I can trust and call friends. I even met a special pony I will devote my life too.” My father nodded.

“And yet, you still had to leave them to walk this road. One that you could not avoid.” I nodded.

“Because it’s what you told me. And I guess… I’m glad I did listen… because now… now I can see what you really are.” I unsheathed Compassion. “You’re not the dad we knew once. You’ve become a spiteful pony who has hated this land for what it was. Instead of accepting its’ flaws, you wanted to make it perfect again. And to do that, you wanted to cause a total big bang.”

“As is what has happened to the creation of the universe.” My dad said finishing it up. “Perhaps I was right to pick you to walk this road. You have come far and have reached the end of the road I have laid out for you. You have conquered its’ dangers. You have saved its’ residents as they were lost in an everlasting nightmare. And you have also pulled back the cover of a dire plot right here in this very silo Stable. But that leaves the one remaining question.” He patted his gun against his shoulder again. “What of our ancestor… The Courier One who had started it all?” he sighed. “That is something I am still trying to figure out myself… but I know now that I can leave this world knowing that our lineage is in better hooves.” I waved my hoof in dismissal again.

“Don’t start getting sentimental, old buck!” I stated. “I’m not going to launch a damn balefire bomb! There are other ways to go about this! This isn’t an option!” My father remained cold and dead as he stared at me. As if judging me.

“Lyon thought so too.” He said. I blinked in confusion.

“My… brother?” I began. Lone Road nodded.

“He had also known about our lineage. It has been a while. But the day you claimed he had vanished was the day I showed him our lineage’s true potential. And now, he walks a road that he has created. And he will continue to walk that road as long as he sees fit.” I shook my head.

“Then… why is he trying to find the seven maidens? Why is he trying so hard to stay away from us? His family?!” Lone Road began pacing slowly as he spoke.

“Because he knew that even if he tried, he couldn’t escape destiny.” Lone Road said. “His destiny to follow the road Starswirl had once walked. Years of solitude. Years of abandonment. Years of trying to solve the universe’s greatest mysteries.” Lone Road coughed again, harshly this time. The pink sprite bot tethered a beam for a moment to him that made him stand back up right.

“Starswirl the Bearded?” LittlePip’s voice chimed in. “So… you’re descendants?” Lone Road nodded.

“Indeed. My daughters and sons as well as me are descendants of the once great magical expert of the universe. In fact, each of my children hold something within them that had been distributed to each of them with ease while it took our two thousand year old ancestor over eighty years of acquiring.” He looked at me.

“Lyon… Arcane magic comes to him naturally. He can even combine the spells to create something devastating. Heart… my daughter of shadows. She could always bend hers and other pony’s shadows to her will, creating even the most nightmarish figure if she so chooses.” He then looked at each of the monitors of the leaders as he continued. “Stall… young and spry. Able to levitate the heaviest of objects with ease and not suffer burnout immediately. I hear that the Light Bringer herself admires his ability.” I heard something over the speakers as a gasp.

“And Bell… adorable and naïve. On her way of following the footsteps of her siblings. Hoping to be the best of the best of couriers. What took Starswirl years to acquire was now available to the mind of a young filly. Astral magic attuned to the universe.” He then looked at me. “I need not remind you of what yours is. As I am sure Pon3 has taken the liberty of explaining your own magic.” I furrowed my brows.

“Illusion. Able to play tricks on the minds of the weak.” Homage said grimly. “But… she hasn’t been using them for evil. I haven’t heard anything about any of the others using it to their own means.” Lone Road shook his head.

“They have used it for evil means once. Which is another reason Lyon walks the road he is on. Why Heart is afraid of even her own shadow. Why Stall is afraid that he might one day lift everyone into space. And why Bell is frightened of herself for seeing into the future of ponies.” His gaze continued to stare into my soul. “And why you are afraid of killing everyone with the potential your magic holds in destruction.” He then peeked over to the balefire bomb. “But are you really as afraid as you make yourself out to be?” With a flick of his head, I saw something being tossed at me. I caught it in my magic and noticed a detonator. I arched a brow.

“That is the key you need to decide the fate. It is time for your coming of age, Courier. Let us see if you are going to be its’ Savior or Destroyer.” He then motioned to the monitors. “You now hold the very means of eliminating one of the threats that plague this land. Or you can outright save it entirely by aiming for the G.O.E.” Spike roared.

“Don’t be ridiculous… Courier would never do that!!” Spike said. I frowned and nodded.

“What kind of pony do you think I am, dad?” I stated.

“Because you have yet to throw away the trigger.” Lone Road said without skipping a beat. I blinked and looked at the detonator in my magic. It had a lever on it that I wiggled slightly. I noticed some of the lights on the monitors where the leaders lie watching us flash. The lever was picking who I should kill. I furrowed my brows. “Courier… tell each of your opinions to those that believe they are deemed worthy of Equestria and who is not.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!!” The RCE mare stated. “If you so much as press that button, girl, you will have the full wrath of the RCE and everyone come after you!!” She then smirked. “Yes, that’s right. We were the one to put out the bounty on your head. You have indeed shown the Empire what kind of pony you are capable of.” The NCR griffon blinked.

“Wait… so you’re vouching for the fact that she can literally kill anyone of us without the bomb?” she stated to the RCE mare. The RCE mare nodded.

“If you were listening to the radio, you would understand entirely. She was the sole reason we are where we are. She caused the terrorism that enlisted the gang wars. She provoked the Empire into war with the other gangs. She even has expressed her distaste of the RCE.”

“That’s because you act no more than a ganger.” I said suddenly without so much as changing my blank look or blinking. I then looked up to the mare and wiggled the trigger to light up the RCE monitor. “You force yourselves into the lives of ponies. You even believe that you can save our dying Empire from the twisted anarchy you make out most of the residents to be.” I frowned. “I was there when you had stationed RCE near the border of the Strip and the Empire. It was through your authorization that your men were killing ponies whenever they deemed a threat.” The RCE mare waved a hoof in dismissal.

“Smugglers and thieves have no right to even be in our presences, let alone gangers.” She banged her hoof on the table. “Do you realize the damage they have caused to not only our Empire, but all of Equestria!? Why, The Family that serves as the right hand of Mr. House started out as nothing but chem addicts, cannibals and murders! And he lets them rule parts of Las Pegasus!?” she growled. “That makes Mr. House no more than a raider himself!” I nodded.

“While you are right about the history of The Family. I’m not so sure about Mr. House. So let’s ask somepony who has. LittlePip?” The RCE mare balked. There was silence before LittlePip chimed in.

“I… I’m not…” she began. I spoke up.

“LittlePip. You are the only pony in years to even speak to Mr. House personally. You know what he looks like. You have collaborated with him. You even helped him upgrade his poorly maintained Secure-a-ponies.” I said, remembering arriving at Las Pegasus for the wedding. “I saw the devastation they left as they had fought off a wave of Fiends. But even then, the bots couldn’t tell from friend or foe.” I shook my head. “Mr. House is a tyrant himself. And no one would think twice because his “good deed” was reforming a pack of raiders to become civil and allowed them to keep order as long as it doesn’t go against his ways.” I heard LittlePip swore quietly. 'I’m sorry, LittlePip, but if we are to arrive at any conclusion to this, I have to know what your thoughts were.'

Then, she spoke.

“I… I did indeed speak to Mr. House personally. And… well… I can say that he doesn’t leave a very good impression.” I waited for her to finish. “He is rude, uptight and even all around cynical. He… tested his bots on a family that he deemed were “regressing” back to their old ways.” I arched a brow.

“And was that the case?” I asked. LittlePip was quiet for a moment before finishing.

“All he said was that order needs to be kept. That he would do anything to save his Las Pegasus. Even… if it means killing he deems regressing or a threat.” She suddenly banged on what I believe to be a desk based on the sound of it and swore loudly. “I should have done something about it!! But in the end I went along with it because I was trying to…” she sighed. “Because Sombra was proving to be a problem.” I nodded.

“So, what you are saying is that Mr. House is no more a tyrant than a hero. Reminds me of a certain group.” I said looking at the RCE mare. She was practically fuming now.

“You… you little bitch!!” She banged her hoof on her desk. “Don’t think you can get away with this!! We’ll see to it that Mr. House is brought down and the Empire is under RCE order!! And we will start by staking your head!” she hissed venomously. I smirked and waved the trigger in my magic. That got her to sit back down and fume quietly. My dad watched me with cold dead eyes as I moved onto the next one.

“Now, for the Encalve…” I suddenly felt my blood boil. “I could care less of what you have done to me. But you keep acting like you’re the saviors of Equestria. That you would serve the greater good. You all have vanished from Equestria because LittlePip had saved it. However, since her influence hasn’t reached the North region of Equestria, you saw it fit to make yourselves comfy here in the Empire. You feel as you are given a chance to start back up.” I growled.

“But then you authorized a full on mare hunt of somepony I love…” I grit my teeth. “Cloudwing… I hope you rot inside that mind of yours Lyon tainted. I hope Viper Strike remains in a coma. Goddess forbid her from even walking around as an excuse of a pony.” I heard Din smile evilly at the comment. I’m pretty sure she was enjoying the fact that I had hoped the vessel of Acerbus would rot in hell. “But I digress.” The Enclave stallion blinked.

“Hmm… I did hear that we had lost a prison carrier holding more than a thousand ponies. All of them being a mix of pony, zebra and griffon. I had heard from the commander of that fleet stating that a fiery creature erupted from within the carrier and literally decimated it, forcing the rest to retreat.” He then looked at me. “So, you are the mare responsible for that?” I nodded.

“And I hope that it serves as a reminder as to not who to fuck with.” I said. I was letting my personal anger get the better of me. I bit my lip and sighed, easing my rage. “You have detained me in that carrier for several weeks. All that time I had planned my escape since day one. I played as a mute, gathered information of the people that were imprisoned there and when you least expected it… I took action. I got the three gang heads of the carrier to work with me in taking it down…” I then bowed my head.

“I do regret releasing Din’s rage on the carrier. I could have killed everyone. If it wasn’t thanks to a pretty cool mare, I probably would have.” I smiled softly. Then, I turned to a serious expression. “And what gave me an edge was one of your commanding officers, Cloudwing. That bastard has been plotting under you all for years.” The Enclave looked at me with a questioning brow. “He was the one that gave me that override card so I can set my plan in motion. He… he showed me what you were really working on. Project Eternity as Viper Strike called it.” The Enclave stallion suddenly looked pale. The NCR griffon blinked.

“Project Eternity? You… you have continued something the Ministry Mare dismissed years ago!?” The griffon suddenly bristled. “So… you are the ones that keep sending those damn super soldiers after us.” I blinked and looked at her.

“You mean… Cloudchasers?” The griffon blinked and looked at me. Well this was going to get awkward. But I continued. “B-believe it or not… I’m in a relationship with one of them.” I said. There was silence. “But… that’s where I stand on my point. Silver Iris, the mare I love, is one of the many clones that the Enclave have worked on. But… she isn’t bad. She had left the Enclave years ago! All because she found out about Project Eternity. What it was doing to her and her ancestor!” I stomped my hoof. “The Enclave have many more of them. The carrier I was imprisoned on had more clones of her that were “malfunctioned” to the Enclave.” I bit my lip and wiggled the lever to light up the Encalve monitor.

“And now she is suffering even more so that you bastards keep trying to brand her Dashite! Well, I say fuck you, Enclave. You so much as even touch my mare… or anyone dares to threaten her, I would so much as to not blink and end the Enclave and those that hurt her entirely!” I bit my lip. “I… I love her to death. I would do anything to make sure she is a free mare. To see the world without anything holding her back. Even… even if that means forgetting me.” I felt a tear suddenly. I wiped it and continued. “Silver Iris… the mare I love and the Enclaves only “Prefect Super Soldier” isn’t a bad pony. I hope she has a better life without the Enclave breathing down her back.”

I was suddenly tempted to press the trigger. The detonator wavered in my magic. I felt two ponies kick me in the head. I sighed and lowered it.

“But… I have a feeling you won’t be around much longer anyway. You have already dug your graves. I don’t need to hurry it up.” I saw the Enclave stallion ease a little, but he remained stoic and pale. I already have a plan for them anyway. And it involved a pretty cool mare that I hope hadn’t heard what I said. I didn’t want to make her out to be a bad pony. But she really can’t deny herself to be a clone. 'I’m sorry Iris… it needed to be said. But I know that you can be a better pony. Show the world that you are not just some damn clone.' I then turned my attention to the NCR.

“The NCR… I have only heard about your uprising only recently.” I said. The griffon looked questiongly at me.

“Only recently?” she asked. I nodded. She then sighed.

“Well, if you must know. We are the New Canterlot Republic. It is our duty to maintain the law and order in central Equestria. We are hoping to branch over into the Northern and Southern regions. But it seems if we do so, we will enact a war with the RCE.” The griffon looked over to the RCE mare who was still quietly fuming.

“And what kind of law and order are you planning?” I asked suddenly. The griffon sighed.

“We are hoping to bring back the order that was once in place to Equestria.” She nodded. “An egalitarian society.” I arched a brow. Equality? That seems a little too farfetched here. But maybe somepony else can fill me in. I didn’t even have to mention it before LittlePip chimed in.

“Gallian.” LittlePip said. The griffon blinked. “You need to stop lying to yourself. You know damn well what your commanders are asking you. I’ve even seen their work first hoof. It isn’t about equality in the slightest.” Gallian seemed to open her beak, but closed it. “The NCR isn’t taking over the duty of watching over Equestria. That is my sole duty. I won’t let anypony say otherwise. I’m only here to help Courier with Sombra. Because she is right. No matter which way I look at it, Sombra is proving to be a problem. And everything me and my friends worked so hard to accomplish. The sacrifices that we had made. It would all be for nothing. And I also want to help a pony in trouble in any way I can.” I heard Homage nicker.

“My toaster repair pony.” She said. I heard LittlePip shift slightly before speaking.

“I-in any case. The NCR is deriving from what you believe it to be. They are only using you, Gallian. Using you to the point of where they are keeping you in the dark. The NCR is no better than the RCE at this point.” Gallian brought her claws together over her beak and seemed to be lost in thought. I sighed. I felt bad for the griffon. She was definitely in the right state of mind. But the actions she was ruling over were doing more harm than good. Her monitor flashed up as I wiggled the lever. But then I moved it over to the Remnant now.

“Let’s not forget the Remnant.” I said. The scarred Zebra looked at me with judging eyes. “Twelve years ago, in the eastern coast of Equestria, your lot has been sighted and causing mayhem in order to bring about a new age. Only ruled by the zebra. Everypony in this room can express their disgust with the Remnant.” I shook my head. “But… that isn’t the case, is it? Most of you don’t even realize what you are causing.” I saw another zebra next to the one on the screen whisper something in his ear. It seemed he was simplifying what I was saying into zebra.

Suddenly, the zebra spoke in a language I couldn’t understand. But that was why he had a translator.

“The king Lanius, while amused by this confrontation, deems you not worthy of his time.” The translator said. The zebra on the monitor, Lanius, kept speaking while his translator spoke for him. “He could care less if any of you were brought out of the picture. However, he has a mission to free his people from the reign of the ponies that had caused the war in the first place.” The RCE mare balked.

“That we caused!? If I’m not mistaking, it was the damn stripes that invaded Equestria!” she hissed. I shook my head.

“But then again, neither were the ponies are innocent.” I looked over to Lanius. “two hundred years ago when the bombs fell, you’re ancestors have indeed invaded Equestria, causing a Cold War and tactical espionage to ensue. However…” I motioned to all of us. “I doubt you wanted to have us drop bombs on you. In fact, we could have avoided it entirely. If only the world wasn’t so damn greedy I guess.” I said. The zebra spoke.

“Coal was in short supply. My people did what was necessary to ensure our survival.” Lanius looked grimly as his translator spoke for him. “Our crops were dying. Our population was beginning to increase and we were running out of options. My ancestors did what any other normal being would do.” I finished it up for him.

“Survive.” I looked at my father, who was still waiting for me to give my opinion on the matter. “A word we hear constantly in this world. Survival of the fittest. When it all comes down to it, we are no more than just following the cycle of life.” I shook my head. “We just went about it in a wrong way two hundred years ago.” The translator spoke for Lanius and the zebra seemed to look interested in me saying this. I quickly followed it up. “But what about your branching clan, The Legion?” I looked over to the other zebra who was displaying the same look as Lanius. I noticed this zebra didn’t have a translator with him.

“I take it you are the Ceaser the zebra have been talking about?” I asked. To my surprise, the zebra nodded.

“I am indeed.” He said. I was impressed he was also fluent in equestrian. “I led my people to the Empire, hoping to spread the influence of our great nation, the mother Roam.” I shook my head.

“Like what you did in Tipson?” I asked. Ceaser blinked at me.

“Last I heard, a certain courier burned the town to the ground.” He responded unamused. I nodded.

“Right, I wasn’t myself at that time. But that doesn’t excuse the fact that you were there before me and had utterly butchered the citizens.” I grit my teeth. “You even let one person go because he “won a lottery.” I’m guessing all the others weren’t so lucky.” Ceaser held out a hoof in a motion.

“I gave them their rites to live.” I shook my head.

“Bullshit!” his monitor flashed up. “Giving them their lives and freedom to live in the form of a lottery? They were living their lives in the way they saw fit before your little scouting party invaded and terrorized them! They were living normal lives like any of us. And they all got it ripped away when you fuckers decided to think it was good idea to play with lives.” Ceaser sighed. His calm demeanor was starting to piss me off.

“You have to understand. We are also following what our mother Roam had tasked us to do. Survive.” I immediately took out Malice and fired at the monitor. A small crack formed, covering the now distorted face of Ceaser.

“So, you think that you can toy with people’s lives, all for the namesake of Roam? Or are you just a power hungry tyrant like all the rest?” I asked. Ceaser smirked.

“While I do not deny that ruling and conquering is a pleasant feeling. I too am doing it for my people. The Legion is strong as is our mother Roam. We would go to hell and back for our land. And we will do so by spreading her influence.” I shook my head again and looked at Lanius.

“Perhaps you should focus on the problem you have with the Legion.” I stated. The translator spoke for him. He took a moment, which I am assuming he was summing up the conversation I had with Ceaser. Lanius seemed stoic as he spoke with the translator.

“Perhaps you are right, Destroyer. While we do not intend to cause any more bloodshed, I cannot say the same for our cousins. However, doing so will enact a war in our own land in Roam. And that is the problem.” I sighed and nodded.

“It seems fighting for peace is still a dream after all.” I said outloud, having everyone hear me. “No matter what we do, there are always going to be bad apples. The corrupted RCE, the soon to be non-existent Enclave clinging onto their influence, the gilded government of the NCR, the survival of the Remnant and the influence of the Legion.” I then looked at the Apple Jack rangers. “And last but not least, the AppleJack rangers.”

The mare snorted in disgust at me.

“Speak what you want, filly. The technology is even more so of a threat.” She motioned around the room. “It’s also another reason why the war has started! They abused the technology so rightfully given to them in hopes of maintaining the betterment of Equestria. And look at where you stand now. Holding the fate of Equestria in your hooves.” She then looked at my dad who was still stoic, coughing here and then. “A pony who went out of his way to rebuild the very thing that had poisoned this land from the beginning. The technology used to create such a thing shouldn’t even belong to you.”

“And yet, you have no qualms of keeping it for yourself and studying it?” I chimed in. “Or perhaps you just want to try and use the balefire energy to create a better Equestria.” I suddenly laughed louder than I had originally planned. “Do you honestly think that it would turn out well for anyone? The very thing you so want to study and keep away from society in the hooves of Rangers who haven’t really been keen on maintaining a well-rounded reputation?” I shook my head. “My dad wasn’t kidding when I had pulled back the curtains of a dark plot in this silo.”

The Ranger balked.

“The ponies that were working here were also trying to uncover the better use for balefire energy. However, somepony who was tasked with it decided to turn around and use it to “save” his kind.” I pointed at myself to my ripped up barding. “Let’s just say, it wasn’t what anypony would have wanted. There is a whole colony of thestral ghouls here on this island.” I furrowed my brows. “No pony wanted any of that… They all wanted to be the “hope for Equestria.” The very thing they strove to accomplish.” I looked blankly at the Ranger. “And now one pony ruined it all by turning the balefire energy into a mutation and have them become literal nocturnal predators.” “So what makes you think that there isn’t somepony in any of your groups that would turn your ambitions into something else?” I looked at the leaders on the monitor. “The NCR is already being hit by it, but what makes you think that the Rangers don’t have that one bad apple. The RCE? The Enclave already have one and he has been a damn nuisance. The Remnant too has the Legion. So all in all, we all have bad apples.” I looked at my father. Spike’s monitor flashed up and he looked at me with confused awe. I hadn’t moved the lever. It was defaulted to land on Spike’s monitor.

“And that leaves with us, dad.” I said. My dad remained stoic and serious as he watched me. “I would say that our lineage is no better. I have no idea what ambition drove our ancestor to work on something like this. But I don’t think he wanted any of this either.” My dad said nothing as I continued. “What if he was just trying to deliver packages and not be bothered? Hell, I would kill for that life. But I guess you can’t really ignore someone who has the skills and abilities to outmatch a foe in the battle. He’s an unintentional piece on the board.” I furrowed my brows. “And I really think you are going about it the wrong way. If you definitely wanted to better the people of Equestria… wouldn’t you have just helped out the ponies dedicated to it?” My dad coughed more as the pink sprite bot tethered him.

“My daughter.” He began as he stood up. “I have walked many roads. All leading to one thing. War. You even stated yourself to the leaders. It’s just war in another form. Survival.” I shook my head.

“But that can’t be all there is!” I said. “There has to be another way!” I faltered a bit before suddenly realizing. I then frowned. “What if… you had just turned back.” I looked at him. “You could have stopped walking the road. You could have taken an alternate route. And if you had indeed walked all those roads. You forget that roads connect from point a to point b.” I sighed. “What I’m trying to say is… if you had just stopped walking and turned around, those roads you have walked would have lead you back to… home.” My dad said nothing as I continued.

“You were considered a hero to us. They even welcomed you with open arms. And yet, you kept walking. You wanted to continue on. Because why? Why did you want to so badly to keep walking on this road you had created!?” My dad lowered his submachine gun and coughed.

“What strives a pony to do what he does?” my dad began. “Is it ambition? Glory? Striving to be a better pony? Do what you think is right or wrong? War never changes, Courier. It is through war that I have kept walking this road. And I have continued to walk it ever since I was a foal.” I waited for my dad to finish. “I have conquered so much in the short time I had been a courier. But even then, I continued to walk. Was it to strive to be a better pony? No. Was it ambition? No. Was it all for the sake of saving this land? Yes.” He looked at me. “I continue to walk this road, because it is what Equstria has deemed us to walk.” He pointed at me.

“It has been deemed the moment you gain your cutie-mark.” I blinked and looked back at my flank, seeing the two die with a one and six. “Our cutie-mark not only tells us our destiny. But it also what makes us who we are. The identity we have been given in the form of a mark on our flanks. Destiny’s incarnate.” He looked over to his. I looked to see my dad’s cutie-mark. A white flag. “Our cutie-marks represent us. But that comes down to what we do with it.” He looked over to me and motioned to the monitors. “The flags that each of these souls bear represent their destiny. What they strive to be. But what about you, Courier? You have stated that people can change. You have even pointed out the flaws in their ambitions.” I said nothing.

“Tell the world, Courier. What do you represent? What makes you the pony you strive to be?” I bit my lip. My mouth quavered as I thought long and hard about this. I looked up and saw the Equestrian flag. The two regal sisters with the sun and moon. The very flag that represents Equestria as a whole. The independence they have laid out on equal grounds. Our egalitarian society that have been around for eons. I then held my hoof to my chest in a salute. I looked at the flag.

“I represent the land of Equestria.” I stated. “We have once strove to be the ponies of tomorrow. But that doesn’t mean we can’t today. We go by the motto of war never changing, but people can. It was a motto way back during the three kingdoms. Even to this day, we still abide by it. Equestria isn’t perfect. But with the hard work and dedication of people, we can see this land evolve into something that we can dream of. A place of equality. A place where we can live as one. A place where…” I suddenly smiled. “We can call home.” My dad, in a brief moment, shifted slightly. But I could see the smile on his face. The leaders watched on, waiting for the conclusion. I then noticed his smile falter.

What took me even more by surprise was him suddenly aiming at me with the submachine gun and firing. I felt my shoulder get nicked, but I immediately dove to the side and over into the terminal and server floors. I landed with a thud and shook away the daze.

“What the hell!!? I said stop firing around an explosive!!” The RCE mare echoed. I looked up to see everyone on edge at the sudden conflict.

“Someone please tell me we have the positon of where they are!?” I heard the Ranger state.

“Still trying to pinpoint, sir!” I heard a voice say through it.

“Courier! Are you okay?” LittlePip asked worriedly. I stood up and blinked, dabbing my shoulder and seeing the blood. He got me good. I took out a health potion and chugged it. I then heard my dad speak outloud.

“I applaud you, Courier. You have definitely grown to be the decider of this land. However… you must remember that there will always be opposition.” I heard his hoofsteps walking over to me. I crouched low and moved through the terminals and servers. “While your ambition is followed by your courage, can you really put it in motion?” I bit my lip in frustration. The hell was my dad even trying to get out of me? I had done everything he has asked. So what more does he want from me!? I looked up and noticed him standing above me through the little slits in the cat walk. He then suddenly aimed down without looking and fired. I yelled in pain as I felt myself getting pelted in the back. I quickly rushed out of the hail of bullets, chugging a potion before bolting out of cover.

I conjured two clones and had them rush out on both sides up onto the catwalk. I pulled out Sinful and Malice and waited as my dad confronted the two clones. I could see from their eyes. My dad stayed where he was, unmoving. He glanced at the two clones as they suddenly aimed. But before they could do anything, my dad crouched low in a spin, swinging his submachine gun horizontally and blasting my clones in the heads. I then jumped up on a terminal and heaved myself over the railing, firing Sinful and Malice down at my father. Lone Road was quick to react.

He pushed himself away and pivoted. When I landed, I suddenly felt a pain strike my horn. He had used the butt of his gun and bashed me on the horn, causing me to lose my grip on the guns. But he wasn’t finished. He followed it up by flapping his duster tail at me, causing me to stagger a bit before he planted the barrel of his submachinegun into my chest and burst fired. I felt the wind leave me as I was sent sailing back. I hit the railing and limped forward, coughing and spatting blood.

Thank goddesses for star metal bones. My dad titled his head slightly as I groaned and crawled over to Sinful. He then quickly dashed forward and planted the barrel of his gun to my cheek before firing.

“Courier!!?” I heard LittlePip call out. Well then… I guess it was time to accept fate. My dad had backed away as my mangled corpse winked at him, vanishing. I bolted out of hiding and aimed Courage up through the catwalk.

“Perks of being an illusionist.” I said before pulling the trigger. My dad grunted in pain as the blast from the gun sent him staggering. He gripped his chest, blood dripping from him. The pink sprite bot and the grey sprite bot quickly tethered him. But I wasn’t done. Two more copies suddenly sprang up behind the bots and with point blank aim, blasted the bots to smithereens. My dad backed away a little. “What did you say to me back then? That I’m stronger than those other ponies?” I said, stalking my father from below the catwalk. My dad readied himself and quickly shot out a hoof into a charging copy.

My copy seemed to spin in a disorient state. My dad followed it by taking her hostage as a meat shield and advanced onto my firing clone. When he got close, he shoved her away, knocking the two together before firing on them. They vanished. I took aim again underneath him and this time my dad seemed to have learned his lesson. He jumped back a little as my shotgun missed. He then took aim and fired back. I quickly galloped and dodged the bullets. He seemed to be following me pretty well. But I had managed to escape his line of sight.

He suddenly pulled out a health potion and chugged it through his rebreather. He sighed in relief before laying his gun on his shoulder as he walked down the catwalk. I sighed and shook my head. Why is my dad so fucking complicated? I emerged from my hiding spot and moved up the stairs and over onto the catwalk. We were about a good distance away from each other.

“You have come this far, Courier. I have nothing left to teach you.” He then tossed aside his submachinegun. “It is time you finally walk your own road. And this time, with all of Equestria following you.” I sighed and casually unbelted my weapon magnets. I levitated up my arsenal before placing them to the side.

“Equestria is never going to follow me.” I said. “I’m just one pony. But that doesn’t mean I’ll never walk with her.” I smiled. “I’m just opening up routes for eveypony to walk on of their choice.” My father seemed to smile again.

“Then I can also assume to trust the spirit inside you?” he asked. I nodded, feeling Din was also watching me.

“All in all, Din is also just going along with the law and order of the universe. But this time, she’s going about in a different manner.” I shook my head, chuckling. “Doesn’t mean I do approve of her ideals. But if we are to even make it bearable for both our lives, we have to have some sort of understanding.” I heard Din hum quietly. My dad said nothing.

“Then show the world. Equestria has stirred from her slumber and will now either walk with you or against you.” It was my turn to remain stoic. We took a brief moment before both of us suddenly galloped at each other. I reared back and socked my dad in the cheek. But he quickly grabbed my foreleg and with his free hoof, planted two good jabs at my chest before swiping a hind leg under my hooves and causing me to slip. He then swung around, bringing my body around and tossing me. I recovered by rolling and standing upright. I grit my teeth, sending two clones to rush him while I followed in behind them. My dad ducked and weaved under my copies.

When one of my copies planted a good hoof plant to his chest, he reared back, locking his leg around my copy’s. He then ducked, catching my other copy’s leg and he brought them together, making them bash their horns and causing them to stagger. He then followed it up by wrapping his forelegs around my copy and breaking her neck before planting a hind hoof into my copy, sending her crashing over the railing and being impaled by an antenna on a server. I reared back and faked a punch, causing my dad to hold up his own legs.

This time, I locked my foreleg around his and brought it behind him, causing him to stand upright as I applied pressure. What I wasn’t expecting was him suddenly backflipping over me and wrapping his legs around my neck. I found it hard to breath. I gasped for breath before feeling new energy envelop me. I forced myself to go forward, landing on my hooves and bucking him off of me. He rolled and suddenly drew out the submachinegun. I had tossed him over to it. But I dove quickly to my own gear, pulling out Courage and taking aim.

Time seemed to slow. I looked up and noticed something red sticking inside the wall. I smirked and aimed past him. Pulling the trigger, my dad sidestepped and was about to retaliate, when suddenly a loud deafening rumble reached my ears, causing me to shield my eyes from the brilliant green light. But not before I saw my father suddenly blasted off of his hooves and went sailing over and down the catwalk. Good news, I was alive! Bad news. I had detonated a small warhead and it was causing a chain reaction.

The Stable suddenly blared to life with alarms and a message over the speaker began blaring.

“Warning. Balefire energy detected in central control room. Stable compromised. Know that your sacrifice will not be in vain. Stable locking down.” More alarms sounded. “Error. Error. Stable door override protocol disabled. Contacting Stable Tec.” I blinked and shook away the ringing in my ears. I looked up and clipped on my arsenal before walking to my dad. He was slowly standing up. I was about to move over to him when I suddenly felt myself being blasted off of my hooves.

“You idiots!! You doomed us all!!” I heard the RCE mare shout over the speaker.

“Courier!! What’s going!? Spike!?” I heard Homage exclaim. I then heard Spike say something, but I couldn’t hear over the sound of the alarms and the explosions that were causing the ground to shake. I groggily stood up and staggered, using the railing to support me. I winced in pain. I could feel blood trickling down my head. The nasty gash I had gotten above my brow trickled down to the catwalk. I looked over to my dad who was also supporting himself. But he was limping over to the balefire bomb. I staggered more as I tried to stand up. I fell to my stomach and groaned in pain. My body was aching all over. But I did my best to ignore the pain and crawled a bit of ways before forcing myself onto my hooves and limping over to my dad.

I noticed him suddenly reaching for something. The detonator. It must have been dropped and thrown around during the fight. I limped over to him quickly and when I reached him, I fell onto him. He grunted in pain as I took hold of his mane in my teeth and forced him back. He kicked me off, causing me to stumble back. I could hear the leaders conversing with LittlePip and Homage.

“…maybe we can override the coordinates! Make them turn into a dud and stopping the launch entirely?” LittlePip suggested.

“But what about Courier!? She’s still in there!” Spike said.

“Who cares!? They both are trying to kill Equestria so why not just rid them both!?” The Ranger mare exclaimed. I grabbed hold of my dad again and this time, I avoided the kick and delivered a punch that sent him rolling away and down the catwalk stairs. I reached for the detonator and held it up. I then closed the glass case and with a heave, tossed it down into the hatch of the balefire bomb. I watched as it vanished into the darkness. I then felt something hard strike across my side. I rolled over, grunting in pain. I looked up to see my dad brandishing a flag pole that I noticed had the Equestrian symbol. The two regal sisters.

He rolled up the flag and brought it around in a strike. I quickly unsheathed Compassion and blocked it. My dad pushed down and I pushed back. I then conjured one more copy and she came up behind him. She hit him across the head, causing him to lose his grip and fall forward. I rolled over, brandishing the flagpole over me and holding Compassion to his chest. I was tired, exhausted and feeling… strange. I wanted to stab Compassion through my dad. But… something was holding me back. It wasn’t anyone else. My dad looked weakly at me.

“Courier… I am proud… to have you as a daughter…” he said suddenly. I blinked and looked at him. “I always…” he coughed again. “I always had high hopes for all of you… and I do regret… not being able to be around to see you all grow up.” I blinked in confusion. Why was there tears suddenly falling from me? I found myself struggling, Compassion wavering in my grip. I then heard Spike whoop in excitement.

“Aha! That did it! We sabotaged the warhead! Courier, we did it!!” A brief moment of silence before he spoke. “Courier?” I hadn’t noticed it, but I felt like someone was watching me. In the corner of my eye, I saw the sprite bot Spike used. I grit my teeth and closed my eyes. What is wrong with me?

“What’s going on?” Homage asked. Spike seemed to hesitate but he spoke.

“I… I think Courier has won…” he said.

“Indeed she did.” My father coughed again. “My fate lies in her hooves now. Courier… my daughter…” I suddenly felt myself sobbing a little. I tried so hard to keep my composure. “My road… is at an end… but yours… yours is something that everyone in Equestria has to look forward too…” He slowly raised a limp hoof and placed it gently on my cheek. I was baffled. I couldn’t do anything. Compassion hung over my father’s chest and here I was crying my eyes out. “You need not to cry… Courier. Stand tall… walk the road… If you turn back on this road… then all we have done is for nothing…”

“D-dad…” I sniffled. Then, he did something that sealed the deal. He removed his rebreather and he leaned forward, kissing me on my forehead. I looked to see him smiling. His eyes were no longer cold or dead. But they were faint. And his smile… it was… charming. The battered and bruised buck laid under me, his fate resting on my hooves. The very buck I call my dad.

“Walk tall, Courier… Walk proudly along with Equestria…” I then bit my lip and with a painful cry I slid Compassion into the chest of my dad. I was crying. Crying like I hadn’t cried in before. My dad smiled and rested his hooves on his chest as I brought Compassion out. I stumbled back and fell to my rump. He let out one last breath of relief. “I go now to the stars…” I bawled. I suddenly felt myself becoming a little filly again. I was crying. Crying for the loss of my dad. The dad I had killed with my own hooves. The same dad I haven’t seen in years.

“Courier…” I heard Spike say. I sniffled more, trying to control myself. I still had to get out of here. The whole place was beginning to shake. I looked up to the warhead, drying my eyes but still feeling the pain of killing my dad. The flag of Equestria. The two regal sisters. Displayed magnificently across the warhead. I picked myself up off the ground and using the flagpole as a crutch, I started to limp towards the metal door leading out of the Stable.

As I did, I noticed the leaders of Equestria watching me. I heard Homage over the speaker.

“My children… what you have heard today was Equestria finally opening its’ eyes for the first time…” she seemed to quaver. “Our savior… the lone Courier… had saved us all… The leaders of today witnessed it. We all have heard it. And it has me wondering… Are we really ready to face the consequence of setting this land back to what it once was? We have just heard two ponies fighting for what they thought was the better of all of us. For the land of Equestria…”

I kept limping towards the exit. The shaking was increasing. I noticed the monitors of the leaders going offline. But they each were giving me a look. Was it a look of hate? Was it a look of respect? Or was it a look of having to be shown up by two ponies they had never knew existed till now? Either way… I had indeed won. My goal out strove my dad’s. But was it really a victory? I had reached the exit of the Stable and looked back. I saw the lights turning off, but the voice of Homage still being broadcasted. I pulled the lever and the Stable door began the slow closing.

“Equestria… a land we can call home again. For over two hundred years we have been living in a tainted land with nothing but survival on our minds. We are negligent to what really makes us afraid. Afraid for not only us, but for our own home.” I sighed and limped away. I then stopped in front of the flagpole. I hadn’t noticed it at first. But the flag was still there on it. Albeit torn and tattered. But I could see through the wrinkles the two regal sisters. I planted the little flagpole to the ground beside me before raising the flag.

“Home… what is home really to all of us? Was it a place where we can just lazily relax? Was it a place we can conquer and live in glory? Was it a place for ponies to live in peaceful harmony? That answer is something we have to strive for…” I heard Homage sigh. “They are right about this. Equestria needed to be woken up. We needed to see what this land could really be. I have told each and every one of you to fight the good fight. And you have all taken it to heart.” The flag was at half-mast and I kept there for a bit.

“Today, we have listened and watched as the fate of Equestria was juggled between two souls. Souls that were brave enough to face the darkness we have created. They pulled backed the covers and exposed us to the dark truth. If we are to truly fight the good fight… we need to be the better ponies. We need to not only fight for her… but stand beside her. And we have one Courier to thank for opening up the road we need to take in order to walk with her. Our land Equestria. Our home. The home that we had so foolishly closed ourselves off too.” I then raised the flag fully. It poked high over the island. High enough that Homage even seemed to notice.

“Look to the east, my children. No… my people of Equestria. The two regal sisters that had once given us a chance. A chance that we threw away.” I stepped back and looked back at the Stable. The ground was still shaking. But I also was still feeling the pain of killing my dad.

Walk tall, Courier.

I gapped. I saw a figure standing in front of the Stable. The grey stallion with the golden eyes and the charming and caring smile. I said nothing. He then nodded to me before turning around and vanishing along with the wind. I blinked and noticed a door had appeared with my insignia on it.

All roads lead to home.

I darted my eyes in thought. I plucked the flag pole my dad had and laid it on my shoulder, locking my right foreleg around it as I stepped through the door that was opening.

I blinked and found myself standing in front of Pleasant Town. However, I appeared to be at the back gate. I furrowed my brows and felt Din appear beside me.

Well done, my vessel.

I said nothing. Din flapped her wings.

Now that that matter is handled. Shall we continue on in walking down this road you have opened for the land?

I nodded. It was the only logical thing I could do. And so I did. I limped, but I kept walking. And when I did, I noticed that the town had stirred. Stirred from the busy market area. Stirred from the center of the town. I said nothing and stopped, feeling the pain suddenly course through me. I fell forward in a gasp of pain, the flag pole clattering.

“Courier!” I heard someone shout. I said nothing as I held up a hoof to stop whoever was trying to assist me. I winced and fumbled a bit before forcing myself up, grabbing ahold of the flag pole and balancing myself with it. Once I got my footing I looked to see my family looking at me. Heart and Bell along with Post Box looking worriedly at me. I took two deep breaths before sucking up my pain and continuing on. And when I did, I heard the hoofsteps of ponies.

Everyone that I had walked by. Everyone that has known me. They followed me. Followed me as I arrived at the northern gate. Two RCE agents stepped aside, not saying anything. But they watched me. Watched as I limped up the road. I stopped a little as I exited the town. I looked up to the hill and saw a figure in a tattered duster and a straw hat staring back at me. I looked back to see my friends now in the crowd of ponies. Their expressions were a mix of concern and respect. I readjusted the flagpole on my shoulder and looked ahead to walk up the hill. They followed.

The climb up the hill was painful at first. But the more I got closer, the more I felt myself growing more confident. I had reached the top and my brother, Lyon, looked at me. I met his gaze and we said nothing for a good moment. I noticed a rune hanging behind him and he stepped aside.

“It’s time, Courier.” He said. “To be forgotten to the present and relive the past. The threat of Sombra is still a problem.” I nodded. I then took the flag pole and unrolled it. The two regal sisters. I then heaved and struck the pole into the snowy dirt ground. The wind up on the hill caused the flag to suddenly flap elegantly, displaying the two sisters.

“Courier, wait!” I heard a voice call out. I looked to see Silver Iris push aside the crowd and gallop over to me. I smiled weakly and stopped her as she was about to hug me. She fumbled with her words before completing a proper sentence. “Don’t leave us… Don’t leave… me…”

I giggled a bit before meeting her gaze.

“Silver Iris. I have done what I can to correct my lineage. And now that the matter is solved…” I faltered a bit. “We still have to stop Sombra from trying to destroy all we worked for.” I felt a tear leave me but I put my head to hers. She kissed me and I kissed back. “It’ll only be a while.” I looked to see Bell pushing aside ponies and rushing to me. I stopped her as well.

“B-but Curry…” she began. I noticed the tears sliding down her face.

“Bell… I kinda envy you, you know? But don’t look at this as a way of showing your destiny.” I winked at her. “You have to walk that road yourself.” I looked at the crowd of ponies and my friends. “You all have too. My dad and I have opened it for you all. And while… Lone Road won’t be around to see us walk it… let it be known… that he wanted all of us to strive for the land of Equestria. He wanted me to show the world what we have been doing wrong. And now… I have to leave you all with the choice of walking with Equestria or against her.” I looked at the flag as it flapped magnificently in the wind.

“Pleasant Town is not just my home. Home is where you make it to be. And my home is here. In Equestria. And I will do whatever it takes to make sure that I will stand beside her.” I felt more tears fall, but this time, they were full of hope. I was happy. No… I am happy. Happy to have such great friends and a caring family. And while it wasn’t the perfect home I wanted. It was the home I would walk towards to make it a dream. I looked at Lyon. “I’m ready.” Lyon nodded and walked through the rune. I was about to follow after him when I felt myself being stopped. I looked back to see Iris locking her hoof around mine. I felt saddened and sighed.

“Iris…” I began.

“I love you, Courier.” She said. I blinked. “I can say it now. What I truly mean. I love you, Courier. And I mean that with all my heart.” She gripped my hoof tighter. Her resolve showing in her eyes. “And I won’t stop. I may forget you, but I know that I will never stop loving you.” That reminds me. I smiled and looked at her.

“Iris… You are not a bad pony and you are not just another clone. The Enclave is slowly fading. You can save them, however. Save them from their own downfall. Make them realize what they are doing wrong.” I looked at Bell. “Bell… our family may be complicated… but in the end… we always seem to care for one another. And while… you may not see dad ever… know that he had high hopes for you. For Lyon. For Heart. For Stall. And for…” I faltered a bit before beaming. “For me.” I looked at Post Box. “Take care of mom for me… In fact… take care of everyone here. Know that they are not only the citizens you protect… but ponies you can call comrades. Friends.” I nodded. “Home.” And with that I turned. I was about to step through when I stopped and faltered.

“What can I say?” I said suddenly out loud. The rune began glowing. I stepped in and looked over my shoulder, my hood no longer on my head thanks to the wind. But I can leave these ponies. Knowing that they will walk the road to redemption. The road that will make Equestria what it once was.

“You guys… are the best.” The rune flashed and everything was quiet.

Two years later

An adolescent filly stood on top of a hill overlooking a small quiet town. Although, it has seem to be getting more and more traders by the day. Which is something this quiet town she called home needed. The loosely filled streets were now bustling with activity.

'It seems Post Box has finally gotten the word out about the Express.' The adolescent fully giggled at the thought. 'The old buck could really use a lot more help. I'm just glad he hasn't stressed himself too much.' The adolescent raised her left foreleg and pressed a couple of buttons on her PipBuck. Scrolling through the tabs, she stopped at the one labeled messages:

Congratulations on graduating from your class, number Sixteen. Within the top twenties, you have full access to higher claimed deliveries. We hope you continue to prove the Crystal Express can beat the rest. - Tabletop

The adolescent smiled quietly to herself.

'Today is the day I finally get my first high stakes delivery. Gee... almost kind of nerveous.' She hadn't realized the slight shaking she was doing. Writing it off as nothing but the cold frozen waste air, the adolescent adjusted the muffler over her muzzle and nuzzles it, taking in the sweet, familiar scent.

'Heart... I hope you are doing okay. Taking care of mom must be real tough for you.' She smiled. 'And I bet the twins are more tiresome for both of you.' The adolescent heard her PipBuck bleep. She looked to see a cartoonish pegasus carrying a letter in her mouth. She opened the message:

Hey sis. Heard about your graduation. Sorry I couldn't see you off on your first high stakes delivery. Just remember to be calm and know your surroundings. - Stall

The adolescent chuckled. She typed out a reply:

And you better make sure you don't go running off for adventure instead of focusing on your deliveries. - Bell

When she pressed the send button, she looked up and felt her heart almost escape her throat. A lone made in a tan tattered duster and a matching colored desperado hat stood in front of her. Then are smirked underneath the hat before tipping it up.

"Well howdy, stranger. What's a lone little filly like you doin' here?" The mare asked. Bell sighed with relief and smiled.

"Just admiring the view. How have you've been, Crack Shot?" She replied. The vanilla colored made with a chocolate mane and tail sniffed once, a small habit Bell remembers her having as a sense of casual banter. Her violet eyes met hers as she spoke:

"No worse for wear. Heard about your graduation. Proud of ya', shrimp." She said with a smile. Bell puffed her cheek out in a pout.

"I'm not a kid anymore!" Bell retorted. Crack Shot skillfully unholstered her revolver with her magic and faced the barrel towards her and levitated the gun over to Bell. The adolescent cringed and batted away the gun with disgust. Crack Shot chuckled.

"Can't handle a firearm means yyou are still a kid in my eyes." She spat to the side and looked past the pouting filly. Her gaze meeting the magnificent flowing flag of the two regal sisters. Bell furrowed her brows and turned to face the flag. "Still thinkin' about that mare?" Bell said nothing and continued to stare at the flag.

Something about it gave her a sense of calm and understanding. A haunting reminder of what the land used to be. She could feel the compassion, the courage, the sacrifice, the preserverance and the hope emitting from just a quick glance. This lone flag has stood here for two years under the care of the residence. Bell found herself smiling at the many questions she had received from strangers and passing caravans about the unusual lone old world flag.

'It is a symbol of what we strive for.' She would reply. But she would be hit with a sudden strange feeling of nostalgia. As if some pony she knew long ago had told her something.

Bell... I kinda envy you, ya' know? But don’t look at this as a way of showing your destiny.

The voice had some truth as the adolescent ran this over her mind. And yet, she couldn't help but think.

'Maybe I can find out who said those words through this delivery...' her thoughts were interrupted by something soft being placed on her head. The desperado hat being too big for her, fell in front of her eyes. She adjusted back on her head and saw Crack Shot grinning widely.

"Well, you've come this far. Better not get cold hooves, ya' hear?" Bell was at a lost for words. This courier has done so much for her during her rookie deliveries. And to see her walk down the hill and parting with her favorite hat, Bell couldn't help but tear up a little. She turned to look back up at the flag.

'The symbol for what we strive for. It seems so close. But I know we still have a link by way to go.' Bell found herself trotting down the hill. Her PipBuck signaling that it was time for pick up. Making her way to the gate, she stopped and looked back up at the hill to get a final good look. She tapped when she noticed a faint figure. This pony was hooded, bearing an unusual insignia on her barding's back. From the physiche of the figure, it looked like a mare. This figure stood at the base of the flag pole, staring at its magnificent presence. Bell took a moment and rubbed her eyes when the figure seemed to look her way. However, she didn't quite get a good look at the face, she did however notice the eyes and mane. Gold as the sun's brilliant rays and a mane of fire. Bell darted her eyes, when the figure was no longer in sight. She sighed quietly to herself.

'Someday... I'll know when you'll be back. But for now, I have a delivery to make. Have to make ends meet and all."