A train whistle blew as an old steam engine rattled down the rails of the lands outside of the once sprawling metropolis of Manehatten. Tall skyscrapers loomed in the distance, once proudly reaching for the sun. Now, they stood alone, and abandoned in hulking collections of rotting iron and steel.

Lonely testaments to a bygone age when ponies made money, went about their daily lives without a care in the world, not knowing of the looming thunder that lay ahead on the horizon.

“This is your president, Winter Breeze,” a familiar voice crackled over a Pipbuck. “Now, you know I only want what’s best for Equestria, for all of us. Sadly, some ponies disagree. This message goes out to the NCR, and anyone who supports them.

“Just give yourselves up peacefully, and we can end this little firefight once and for all. You’re already spending way more resources and throwing more bodies into this war machine than you need to,” Winter said sadly. “Ask yourself, is it really worth fighting both me and Stormy Skies' Enclave when you have to show up on a child’s doorstep to tell them that their mother or father isn’t coming home? Just let me guide you to a brighter future. If you ally yourself with me, the rewards will be plenty. A partnership with me will bear fruit, I promise you that. Only together, we can drive back and exterminate that religious extremist who calls himself Equestria’s new savior and began to repair Equestria, and bring it back to its former glory.”

The odd thing was that to the listener, one President Regina Grimfeathers of the New Canterlot Republic, Winter Breeze did sound like she did practice what she preached for lack of a better phrase.

Honestly, she had to admit that she’d been getting rumblings amongst her own troops that between this war, the one with the ‘Grand Edginess Enclave’ as it had been starting to have been called, and all the other Enclave reemergences over the past decade, that they were starting to grow tired of the constant fighting. Privately, Regina couldn’t say she blamed them. With both Redeye and the Goddess gone and what remained of the Enclave driven back during the days leading up to the Day of Sunshine and Rainbows, the Wastes were supposed to have been at peace.

Sadly it seemed, the Wastes, like war itself, never changed.

“Up for a game of cards?” a raspy voice asked, and Regina immediately reached for her pistols as soon as she heard that voice. In the shadows at the back end of the train car, a pony clad in black with a stetson covering most of his facial features -the ones that weren’t obscured by the shadows anyways- rested with a lit cigarette in his mouth. “...Honestly, don’t know why I even both smoking these damn things anyway,” the pony muttered to himself. “Not like I can get any particular pleasure from them. Old habit I guess, one I can’t break.”

“Who are you?” Regina asked, keeping her pistols trained on the pony who simply tossed his cigarette away and began shuffling a deck of cards.

“Me, just an observer... Somepony who likes to help when needed. And honestly, you need all the help you can get Regina Grimfeathers. How goes the war effort?”

“You here to be funny, or do you actually have any help to offer, you old buck?” Regina snapped.

“I know where you’re going, who you’re trying to convince to lend his aid. But that’s not going to be easy, and even if by some miracle you do get his aid in your bloody civil war, it’s not going to be enough and you know it. Something’s coming, a storm on the horizon.”

With that, the Dealer fished out two cards from his deck, one that looked to depict three interlocked triangles, and the other depicted Celestia’s sun.

“No offense, but pretty sure Rockhoof and Celestia aren’t going to be aiding us anytime soon,” Regina deadpanned.

“I wasn’t referring to them as individuals. Ask your friend Scootaloo about the meaning of these symbols sometime, their other meaning. She knows all too well what they mean… That mare, keeps far too many secrets for her own good if you ask me.”

“...Anything else?” Regina deadpanned and the pony -If that’s even what he was- seemed to smirk before fishing two more cards out of his deck. Both sent Regina realing. One card was an ace, and the other a queen of spades.

“I’d suggest you start looking for more help, even if you don’t like whom I have to suggest.” the card-dealing pony remarked. “Also, keep an eye on Tenpony Tower. If you’re as smart as you claim to be, then you should figure out the meanings of at least one of my cards Ms. Grimfeathers. I bid you a good day.”

With that, the pony seemed to vanish into the shadows with a tip of his hat, and the only traces that he was ever there were the cards he’d left and the burnt cigarette. Regina shuddered, she didn’t know why, but she felt just even looking at the pony, she was looking into her own grave.

“One that they may very well be digging sooner or later if all goes sour, or if I even follow that pony’s advice…” Regina thought to herself. She knew very well whom she’d just spoken with, even if he was supposed to be a legend.

“Hmph, seems Blackjack wasn’t lying about the Dealer being a real force in the Wastes…” Regina continued to muse. “Maybe she’s not as crazy as she looks. After all, if I just saw him, who knows how many other Wastelanders did. And how many of their stories are more than just hogwash…”

She thought back to a few days before, where a pony had come to her office claiming some sort of wild story where the stallion had appeared before him and told him to deliver a message to Regina. When she’d asked what the message in question was, the pony simply had nervously fished out a playing card depicting a shield with a purple starburst encased trophy inside.

She’d dismissed it at the time, just as a pony trying to play a joke on her and sent the soldier on his way after tossing the card. It seemed the Dealer wasn’t happy with his messages being ignored or being taken as malarky and had come to deliver his ‘wisdom’, if one could even call it that, personally.

A door opened, and Calamity stepped in with his sniper rifle on his back. (Oathsworn, if she’d remembered the name of it correctly) He bore a battle saddle with two Novasurge rifles attached to it as well.

“Almost there, Madam President,” Calamity informed, before he noticed the look on Regina’s face, and the general state of her. “Ya alright Madam? Ya look a mite shook up,” he commented.

“Comments on my appearance, save them and keep them to yourself Calamity,” Regina replied. “But thanks for the information. Get your troops ready, because if this all goes so-”

“Begging yer pardon ma’am, but ya don’t look in any shape to negotiate with this “Wheeltreads” if yer asking for mah honest opinion.”

“I wasn’t, was I?” Regina snapped, beginning to get annoyed.

“Just sayin’, Madam President. Call it concern for ya,” Calamity replied. “Forgive me for speakin’ mah mind, and speakin’ plainly, but… This war, it’s putting the pressure on all of us, Ah know, but we need to keep ourselves from fallin’ to pieces,” he said. “Ya look like ya took several steps to the edge of the abyss, and looked down. And it looked back.”

“May just have…” Regina muttered, far too quietly for Calamity to hear. The pegasus meanwhile, noted the burnt out cigarette resting on the floor.

“Thought ya quit smoking, gave it up,” Calamity commented. “Not one to judge, Ah suppose. Celestia knows we all have our own vices. Can’t blame ya if you decided to start up again. Hell, thought of turnin’ to the bottle mahself a few times with how things have been going lately…”

“Did I ask for your opinion on things, Deadshot?” Regina growled, and Calamity took a few steps back from her tone.

“No… No, you didn’t. Sorry if Ah overstepped mah boundaries, Madam President. Just sayin’ though, ya need someone to look out for ya, that’s all.”

“Calamity, if I wanted you as my personal shrink, I would have asked for your help,” Regina barked out. “Now just get your troops ready, and make them know what they might be in for.”

Calamity raised an eyebrow as he picked up the Queen of Spades card.

“Didn’t know ya gambled either,” Calamity mused aloud with an almost knowing smirk. “But nuthin’ wrong with that. After all, Ah ain’t one to judge…”

“Calamity!” Regina barked out once more. “Now!”

“Yes ma’am, Ah’ll get right to work,” he replied, sensing it was probably about time he shut up and took his leave.

Eventually, the train pulled to a halt at a nearby station.

“Leave your troops on the train, Wheeltreads doesn’t like a whole squad invading his home.” a guard said gruffly as a greeting. Calamity growled, but Regina shook her head and gestured all around them. The Element of Loyalty’s eyes widened.

On the nearby rooftops, and in guard towers, they sat. Each held various rifles, perfect for sniping any runaways or unwanted visitors. Calamity’s eyes narrowed. Raiders, by the look of ‘em. The fact that the general attire of what the guards wore looked like a hodge-podge if you will of different materials and just barely held together was a big hint. Another was the sheer smell, the guards smelled like they hadn’t bathed in days really.

Calamity sniffed his armpit, and his nose wrinkled up. Neither had he, actually now that he thought about it. In the background, the guard continued, “Not to worry, long as your troops don’t do anything stupid, or you for that matter, we won’t fire. Under orders.”

“Gee, Velvet really must love the smell of sweaty southerner. Au De Swamp Dweller really must be a good turn-on for her.” Regina deadpanned, noting Calamity’s reaction to his scent.

Calamity rolled his eyes at her and thought to himself: “And ponies wonder why our dear president is still single after all these years…” he dryly remarked. “Still, a good night with a stallion or a mare would probably loosen her up a little… God knows she needs less stress in her life…”

“Calamity, if you’re thinking of matchmaking me with someone from the NCR, don’t bother okay?” Regina drawled out as they started into the camp, and Calamity’s jaw dropped in shock. “And if you’re wondering how the Hell I knew what you were thinking right then, I know your wife and her love for shipping ponies and griffons. If I wanted a sex buddy, or any sort of companionship, I would have taken somebody long ago. But this life… Doesn’t leave much room for love I’m afraid, not when you’re constantly worried about if you’re going to make it to the next day.” she continued, with a trace of sadness in her tone before she quickly lost it and became Madam President once more.

The two continued to walk the streets of the old POW camp, eyes still on them and their troop with every step. Thunder rumbled in the distance, as clouded gray skies covered the outskirts of Manehatten. A prelude to an afternoon summer storm.

“Ya’d think they’d crack a smile, or something,” Calamity muttered to himself as he looked at his many watchers. “It’s unnerving, not seeing a Raider grin… Even a sick, twisted little psychotic “Gonna kill ya now” smile would be nice right ‘bout now...”

“It’s fear, that’s what it is. Somebody’s keeping them in line… Or something,” Regina replied. “That fear, you can see it in their eyes if you look close enough.”

“Now Ah know Raiders get afraid, in their very nature to be cowards and get going when the going gets tough… But for them ta be this organized, and yet afraid and not turn on each other?” Calamity pondered. “It’s really starting ta unnerve me. Don’t like admitting that, but it does…”

They didn’t have to wait long for an answer to exactly why the raiders were so afraid. In front of them was a cave leading downwards. And above the mouth of that cave, hanging by a meathook in his mouth, was a ghoul.

Calamity and Regina shared a look. What in Celestia and Luna’s names had they stepped into?

Mount Pleasant Island: Somnambula's Light

The small filly -Abnormally small, Midnight noted, probably due to a lack of food or some other disorder- took one stumbling step, and then another out of her cryopod. Some sort of small device was strapped to her head, and connected to the inside of the pod by a thin cord. She stumbled forwards a few more steps before falling forwards. Before she hit the floor, Nimbus caught her in his forelegs.

“I gotcha, kid… Don’t worry…”

“Who… Who are you?” the filly whispered in a raspy voice, sounding like she hadn’t spoken in years. Midnight soon corrected himself, she had been fed, as nearby the pod was a container of magical energy with a cord connecting the two. An unusual method of supplement, to be sure, but if this Starlight was as big of a genius as she was supposed to be…

“Good question really…” Iron mumbled to himself softly, too soft for anyone else to hear. “Probably should be asking you the same question, actually…”

“Starglow… Starglow Starhoof,” the filly coughed out.

“Easy kid… Gonna have to find you some water or some sort of liquid sooner or later, but I sure as Hell ain’t giving you any whiskey, not at your age. Got to wait at least a decade before I’m letting you have that.”

The small filly zapped him with a small magenta-hued magic blast with her horn, making Iron yelp a little.

“What was that for?” Iron asked, wincing in pain as Midnight sniggered. Feisty little thing, she was. “...Got half a mind to take you up in my wing and smack you across your flank for that…” the storm gray pegasus muttered to himself.

“Mommy taught me never to say any naughty words, and to reprimand anyone who did!” Starglow reprimanded.

“Great, so you’ve got a little Velvet Remedy on your hooves!” Midnight cackled. “How do you feel about being a daddy?”

“And how do you feel about being shot in the bloody head, you wan-OW! Celestia’s sakes!”

Starglow had zapped him again during the middle of his remark, causing Midnight to only laugh harder.

“...Why I oughta…” Iron grumbled, thoroughly put off by this filly already.

Starglow, at about that moment, finally took notice of her surroundings, and her eyes widened in fear.

“Where… Where am I?” she began to stammer out in fear. “It’s… It’s cold and it’s dark, and I don’t recognize this place! W-Where’s my home in Ponyville?”

Midnight and Iron shared a look, something was definitely weird here.

“Remind me to have a little talk with Twilight Sparkle when I next see her and that little Spirit-Bot of hers,” Iron growled out before looking squarely at Midnight. “Also, and if I ever meet her in person, punch her in the face for not telling us we’d be retrieving a little filly!”

Quietly, Midnight shared those sentiments. Iron’s eyes shot up towards the vents above them, he could have sworn he saw a medium sized shadow -Lizard-like in form- dart across the grating above him before vanishing.

“That Eyes Forward Sparkle System… Blackjack, if I ever meet up with you, I swear I’m socking you across the jaw for having the NCR get rid of the damn thing…” Iron thought, before he looked back down at the little filly.

“Where’s… Where’s Ponyville? Where’s my parents?” Starglow asked again, this time her voice beginning to quiver as her eyes began to tear up.

“In a pile of rubble, and as for your parents, de-” Iron began, before Midnight shot him a very nasty look.

“...Sorry, was I being rude or insensitive again?” Iron asked, and before Midnight could even open his mouth, Iron changed his mind. “Sorry, really don’t actually care. Honestly, she deserves to know the truth!” he hissed out towards his companion.

“Sure, and then we tell her that Equestria’s an irradiated wasteland and there’s a civil war going on!” Midnight hissed back at him. “How well do you think she’ll take that?”

Iron opened his mouth to answer, but seemingly thought the better of it. Then, a small beeping sound caught both of their attentions and they turned to see part of the wall open up to reveal a small little magical energy pistol glowing with a bright orange light and a Pipbuck.

“Give those to her, now.” Iron stated, without the slightest bit of hesitation.

“Excuse me?” Midnight asked, an eyebrow raised.

“Like you said, considering where we are… She’s going to need them sooner or later.” Iron replied, and with a sigh, Midnight took both items and handed them to Starglow.

“Why… Why are you giving these to me? What are they, some kind of toy?” she asked in curiosity. Midnight sucked in a deep breath, before sighing.

“Yeah… Yeah, that’s what they are. Your own personal toy laser and portable mini-terminal.” he replied, while shooting Iron yet another nasty look. Starglow seemed content on waving the energy pistol around and making small ‘pew-pew’ sounds to amuse herself for the time being. It was sorta cute, in a way. Still, Midnight and Iron both winced. They both knew sooner or later, she’d probably be firing that thing for real much as they both hated the thought of it.

“Celestia-Fucking-Damnit, Twilight Sparkle, when I get my hooves on you…” Iron mentally growled.

“Let’s just go find the others, okay?” Iron said, as he took another look up towards the vents. “Sooner we get out of here, the better in my mind…”

Back in the main laboratory, Riptalon was starting to get tired of waiting for Iron and Midnight to come back, and spun around in his chair in boredom.

“Hey, found something,” Target stated as she walked back up carrying a bag in her hoof. “Found this stashed in a locker. Looks to be a cache of old holotapes.”

“Might as well have a look at what’s on them, maybe then we can figure out a few more of the mysteries surrounding this place…” Henri trailed off as she pulled one out of the bag. She then turned to Twilight’s Sprite-Bot. “With your permission of course.”

“...Not like there’s anything I can really do to stop you.” Twilight’s voice continued. Hoofsteps pounded against the ground, sounded like she was running.

“Hey, you alright?” Henri asked in slight concern.

“Fine, just fine!” Twilight replied as the sounds of magical energy being let loose were heard and something screeched in pain in the background. “...Just dealing with the locals, that’s all.”

“Mirelurks?” Henri asked, with a knowing tone.

“Mirelurks.” Twilight confirmed. “Close to your location now, I’ll be able to join you shortly. Meantime, might as well get yourself settled. See what else you can dig up. I admit, I’m somewhat curious as to what else my student got up to there…”

“What do you mean by what else?” Henri asked suspiciously, getting the feeling they weren’t being told the full truth. Twilight never answered and Henri groaned and muttered something rude (And quite blasphemic, truth be told) about: “...Secretive Ministry Mares and their need to know based ideas…”

In the meantime, Target inserted the first of the holotapes -Or what she assumed was the first, it wasn’t like she could really tell- into her Pipbuck. Then, everybody’s eyes widened as along with Starlight, a mare everyone knew all too well appeared as a hardlight formation.

“Honestly Starlight, I know you wanted a child and all, but don’t you think this isn’t quite the time for such a thing?” Trixie asked and Starlight rolled her eyes.

“Now or never I suppose, considering the war’s waging and if we don’t survive, at least I want to leave a legacy behind.” Starlight whispered sadly, and Henri felt a pang of sympathy go out to the mare. She did have to wonder what life could have been like for the two had none of this ever happened. Just another life cut short by the horrors of war, she thought as a tear slipped from her eye.

Trixie put an arm around her wife. “Hey, you got moi and your legacy as Trixie’s ever so dazzling stage assistant right? That’s something at least, isn’t it?”

“I meant something more meaningful than that, really.” Starlight replied with a small wistful smile, and a good-natured roll of the eyes.

“But a child growing up in wartime? How do you know she’ll even live to see his or her teenage years? No, how do you even know she’ll live past her toddlerhood?” Trixie accused, her eyes narrowing.

“Because I’ve thought ahead. Heard rumors some Ministry pony approached Twilight, and the rest with an idea of a magically created child. ...I thought about doing the same honestly, if my ethics weren’t screaming out about how wrong it was…”

With that, the holotape ended.

“Play the next one,” Henri told Target, rather curious about where this was going. And so the sniper pony did.

This time, Trixie and Starlight were joined by another pony, one with a scruffy burnt orange mane with matching goatee, and light orange fur. He wore a dark grey suit, and reading glasses.

“So glad you volunteered for this Sunny,” Starlight said. “If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do this right.”

“Hey, anything to help an old friend…” ‘Sunny’ replied, with a slightly nervous laugh and a visible flush on his cheeks. Nobody needed to guess why he was flushing, given the prior discussion.

“Sunburst, remember. Just your… stuff into Starlight and that’s that, okay? She’s my wife, not yours, remember?” Trixie hissed, pulling Starlight closer to her in a jealous fashion. Sunburst rolled his eyes.

“Honestly, it’s called sperm. This is science, so we’re going to call it by its scientific name and that’s the end of it,” Sunburst sighed, taking off his glasses and rubbing his temples with a hoof. “You’re such a child Trixie, and besides I would never dream of taking away your wife from you. She was just a childhood crush, and that’s that! All you need to do is donate a little bit of your DNA and we’ll mix it with my own and Starlight’s and you’ll have your, or well our child.”

“Our child, not yours,” Trixie snapped, more than a little impatient for Sunburst to just do what he needed to do and leave. “Remember that, okay?”

She then hoofed over an old Playpony mag, one with a mare named Fizzlepop Berrytwist on the cover to Sunburst. “Here, that should get you going… Celestia knows she seems to have an effect on every hot-blooded stallion (And Twilight, if you believe the rumors) that lays eyes upon her.” Trixie muttered to herself as Sunburst took the magazine and left the room. Riptalon, as he watched the projection, had to wonder what Trixie was doing with a Playpony mag anyways.

“Really Trixie, Sunburst’s right. You’re acting like a child about this…” Starlight commented. “He’s not going to just take our child away from us as soon as he or she is born. He just isn’t! He knows how much this means to me!”

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right…” Trixie admitted, hanging her head in shame, and Starlight nuzzled her affectionately. Target let out a small “Aww…” at the sight. “Trixie’s just… well, can you blame a would-be mother for being protective of their child? ...Child, I’m going to have to get used to that word soon, considering you’ll by carrying mine around for the next nine months.” she whispered, still not believing the idea that she was soon going to be a mother if all went well.

Of course, right about then, Iron and Midnight re-entered the room bearing the fruits of Starlight and Trixie’s labors.

“Somepony want to explain something to me? Like right now?” Iron asked angrily, his eyes narrowed as he gestured to Starglow. Henri’s, Target’s and Riptalon’s eyes all collectively widened in shock.

When Iron had heard what had happened, or at least how Starlight was conceived, he was in no better mood than he was before. If anything, Riptalon’s mood was far worse after he’d heard (And seen) Starglow had been given a gun and her own personal Pipbuck.

“You want to explain to me what the Hell you were thinking?” Riptalon asked him, pulling him into a nearby corridor out of earshot. Normally, if he was in a better mood, Iron would have made some crude joke probably.

“She’s in a war zone, we’re in a war zone. You do the math.” Iron said bluntly, seemingly passing this off as just something normal to him. Riptalon knew that chances are Starglow would have to defend herself soon enough, but that didn’t mean he had to like it one bit.

“I know where we are, thank you very much,” Riptalon snarled. “What, are you just naturally that cold? Did getting back some of your Enclave memories flick a sensitivity switch off in your brain and you think of us now as expendable toy soldiers?”

Iron wrenched himself away from Riptalon’s grip and started to walk away. He turned to look back at him, eyes narrowed.

“I’d suggest you keep your mouth shut and not refer to me as a member of the Enclave. That’s behind me now.” Iron snarled out, pure venom in his tone.

“Funny, doesn’t seem to be behind you. You sure have the attitude of an Enclave soldier, not caring one jot about who’s under your ‘command’. You’re as bad… you’re as bad as Stormy Skies!” Riptalon shouted furiously, and almost instantly he regretted saying that as he was socked across the beak by Iron.

Rubbing his beak in pain, Riptalon muttered: “Oh, so that’s the way you want to play it eh?”

With a roar of rage, he charged towards Iron, one of his arms pulled back and socked him across the jaw as well.

The two friends now fighting like animals circled each other. Both their eyes looked directly at the other. The muscles in their bodies hard as rocks. The sound of the hooves while they walked around the griffin. The griffin twisted and turned his body. The power behind each movement made their bodies and hearts sing.

Before Riptalon could strike Iron turned quickly around to do an apple family style buck. But Riptalon had a better plan.

Riptalon backed up a bit before the hooves hit. Grabbing the poor pony with his paws. But the issue with doing that was that Iron is a pony after all. So with one swift movement of his body, Iron twisted his body a bit and smashed a hoof in Riptalon’s face.

Riptalon let out a small snarl and headbutted Iron in retaliation making him stumble back.

Dropping the griffon, Iron stumbled back onto his hooves. His left foreleg above the hoof dripping a little bit of blood. But just enough to get Iron’s heart to beat like a drum. The two start to circle each other again. Their hooves and paws making the drum of a battle.

Riptalon rushed in quickly to try to get the upper hoof. But again with Iron being a stallion he would have the most easy way to dodge him and his blows. Hoof and paw smacked together causing both fighter’s pain in their legs

Anger, hate, and the ever-present brutal nature of both wishing to see the other either dead or at least in pain. Riptalon charged the pony again. Claws extending from the paws and with one quick swipe cut the flesh on the side Iron’s face. Fresh blood poured from the wound.

Before either fighter could do anything further, something smashed through a nearby wall with a loud shriek. It was long, serpentine in form with dark scales. It, for neither Riptalon nor Iron could think up a good name for it sprouted two legs and a long whip-like tail. It wore a giant skull atop its head. No, that was incorrect. That skull was it’s head, as shown when it shrieked again revealing its gaping maw.

Iron and Riptalon, forgetting their past quarrel, shared a look.

“Run?” Riptalon asked, going for Lawgiver. It barked several times, and the creature hissed out in anger and pain.

“Run.” Iron confirmed.

Author's Notes:

Well, like we didn't know that fight scene with Iron and Riptalon was coming somewhere along the line. On that, thank you so much to Megaskullmon for helping me write it out and for the usage of his character of Wheeltreads and company.

Also, as ever, Ruinqueen for her permission to use the characters of Survivor's Guilt and Somber for allowing me the usage of the Dealer AKA Johnny Cash Pony.

Actually, on credit going where it's due, thank you Twilightace for allowing me to take inspiration from your commission of Alicorn Twilight to use for my description of her in-story.