Manehatten: 2000 hours

“Scootaloo…?” Nimbus breathed out in shock, lowering his weapon.

The old Dashite lowered her own rifle and nodded to her companions. “Well, seeing as how you’re not trying to shoot me I’ll take that as a good sign. What are you doing here? President Grimfeathers only sent one team into the city.”

“For however long she’s President…” Wind muttered to himself. Nimbus shot him a look, before speaking.

“Officially,” Nimbus replied. “And I’m not sure you can call myself, a medic, and a tongueless soldier a team.”

“Right, because the Wanderer alongside two vault dwellers -one of whom is pregnant- totally counts as a team,” Wind Spirit deadpanned. “I’m surprised, you allowing a mother with child into battle.”

“Hey, I keep out of the line of fire,” the pink-furred mare said with a sigh. “I’ll be fine, I’ve lasted this long.”

“Cherry and her foal are fine,” Scootaloo said and took a deep breath. “I know it seems strange or even dangerous, but it’s her choice to be here. Her home Stable is working with the Enclave and she and a few others managed to get out, we make sure that she’s not put directly in harm’s way.”

“See, this is what I’m talking about,” Wind Spirit commented. “Regina, if she can’t keep one Stable in line, and keep them from joining up with Winter, what makes you believe she’s cut out to be President?”

Scootaloo glared at Wind.

“Oh, did I forget to mention? The medic, he’s totes a Winter Breeze supporter on the down-low. Shoot him if you like,” Nimbus remarked, before quickly adding: “But only after I shoot Winter Breeze.”

“That’s your assignment here?” Scootaloo asked, she looked like she was thinking about something for a moment. “I see… that’s not going to be an easy prospect if she’s well protected. And there may be repercussions.”

“Self-given assignment, really. But if it were easy, everybody would be lining up to do it. And right now…” Nimbus commented cocking his rifle. “I’m not giving a damn about repercussions. I’m only giving a damn about the thousands of Equestrians Winter’s pointed a gun towards, including the residents of Junction Town. Just ask yourself, what if she were to fire? That’s what I’m thinking of. That’s why I’ve got to stop her, before Celestia One is fired.”

“Look, that’s why we’re here too, there’s really no getting around it she needs to be driven out of Manehattan,” Scootaloo’s other companion, a blue-grey mare with an orange mane said. “But the focus needs to be on retaking Tenpony and driving them out of the city.”

“Killing Winter may seem like the best option, but if we do that it’ll just send the Enclave into chaos and make things worse,” Scootaloo said with a sigh.

“Okay then, two things. Ask yourself, if Winter’s really all about bettering Equestria why does she want a Megaspell? And secondly…” Nimbus remarked. “Why not take advantage of that chaos? Send a couple of Ranger squadrons to wherever the Enclave hides, as they fight for leadership and then just kill them all off in one clean stroke? Wipe all the enemy players off the board?”

Cotton signed something with his hooves, which Cherry translated roughly as to: “You’re crazy.”

“Well, I suppose I can’t really deny I may have taken one too many blows to the head…” Nimbus murmured to himself.

“Winter is the only thing keeping the Enclave from coming back in full force as they did 10 years ago,” Scootaloo said with a sigh. “There are ponies in the Enclave who don’t agree with what she’s doing, and if given the opportunity they will take over.”

“Yeah, I got you there. I’m related to a few of them. My uncle… Right nutter,” Nimbus muttered. “There’s a reason I got out of there when I could, Stormy Skies aside.”

“I’m not saying Winter is perfect, and she is our immediate enemy, but sometimes it’s better the devil you know,” Scootaloo said with a sigh. “Yes, we need to drive them out of Manehattan, and that is our goal here. But plunging the Enclave into chaos will just result in more death and destruction than what’s already happened.”

“I think in the here and now,” Nimbus replied. “And maybe killing Winter would result in chaos, maybe it wouldn’t. But I’m far too set in my ways to be stopped now. I’m just stubborn like that.”

Cotton signed something again, and Cherry translated. “He’s saying common sense would say to detain or kill you before you do something stupid. So what’s stopping us from doing that?” she asked. “Ask yourself that.”

Nimbus visibly flinched at that.

“I… I suppose you’re right. Maybe I should clear out of the city, and let you do what you have to. But… But I need to find my friends first. I doubt they’re quite as enlightened as you are. They’re liable to shoot Winter if they found her, stick to the original mission plan. I doubt they’ll listen to me, given I’m not exactly the first pony you’d trust for fairly obvious reasons, but if they’re even alive…” Nimbus fought back a sob. “There might be someone they’d listen to. You haven’t happened to have seen a griffon, mostly white with blue markings? Carries a set of pistols, fairly quick-tempered?”

“I… I assume you mean Henri? She’s here with you?”

“Well, she was. I’m just banking on the assumption she’s alive.” Nimbus sighed, and Scootaloo shook her head.

“No… No, I haven’t.” Scootaloo replied.

“Then I’m sorry Scootaloo, but what happens here on out… well, it’s beyond your control. Right now, I’ve got some friends to avenge.”

With that, Nimbus ran off back into the tunnels, Wind Spirit and Cotton following.

“That’s not good,” Cherry said with a flinch as she looked back at Scootaloo. “What should we do now?”

“Continue with our mission,” Scootaloo said with a sigh. “And hope that we get to Tenpony first, there’s not a whole lot else we can do.”

The other two mares nodded as they headed down the tunnel together and towards Manehattan proper.

Manehatten: 1600 Hours:

As for Riptalon, Jabari and Twilight, they’d managed to make it through the night. As predicted, the storm drains had managed to hide them from Enclave patrols. For how long, that was another story entirely, so Riptalon had ordered the group to split up so to decrease the likelihood of the whole squad getting captured.

Riptalon and Jabari, they’d managed to find themselves in a massive room, with pillars stretching high up to the ceiling, catwalks curling around the area leading to the upper levels. “Geez, when Manehatten builds them big, they build them big…” Jabari joked.

“And to last, evidently. I’m surprised this place is in as good condition as it is,” Riptalon noted, as he began climbing a ladder upwards with Jabari following. “I’d have thought with age, something would have given.”

“Like you said, built to last,” Jabari grinned, before a shot rang out as they reached the second level. “...And there goes the peace and quiet…” he muttered as he heard hoofsteps ringing out from somewhere above them.

Shouts rang out as well, voices crying out for Riptalon and Jabari to give themselves up. Another voice in the din cried out: “Suck it, grounders!” and fired off a shot at the two. Riptalon and Jabari just barely managed to scramble upwards and onto another catwalk before the shot connected. Riptalon craned his head to the left, and saw soldiers dressed in insect-like power armor, with scorpion tails. He let out a groan. Between the insult, and the armor it wasn’t hard to guess who they were.

“So, two Enclaves in two days, never knew I was quite so well off,” Riptalon deadpanned. “Or so well loved.”

“Just don't let it go to your head okay?” Jabari replied as he ducked to avoid a sniper shot. It just barely missed him, grazing the top of his mane.

“Banter? Well, you’re certainly growing in confidence. That’s generally Nimbus’ thing!” Riptalon teased, before he took to the skies, as Jabari hid behind a section of pillar. Riptalon swooped in close, and used one of three tactics to deal with the snipers. He A, used his claws to knock them down to the floor below, B, stuck his knives in their skulls or C, just blasted their heads clean open in a shower of gore.

Sadly, what he didn’t see coming was soldiers armed with shotguns heading towards Jabari’s way, and even as he swooped around to meet them, another sniper shot rang out forcing his attention back to them.

“Damn it!” Riptalon hissed under his breath. “Either I go help Jabari from the CQC troops and risk getting shot, or I go after the snipers and risk Jabari getting killed!”

Thankfully, help was at hand. In another part of the tunnels, Nimbus’ group had heard the shots and had appeared, high atop another catwalk. Nimbus pulled out his pistol and blasted open a hole in an Enclave soldier’s head. Cotton just tossed another over the side. Nimbus took flight down to Jabari’s level, and fired another shot into a CQC Specialist’s head before grabbing another soldier and tossing him down to the floors far below. He didn’t bother looking at whatever bloody mess that the sewer waters would wash away anyhow. Ducking behind cover, Nimbus pulled out Songbird, and lined up another shot. Three quick presses of the trigger and one soldier was kneecapped, and another dead via a shot to the heart.

“Come on, let’s move!” Nimbus whispered, and both he and Jabari began to hoof it. They probably would have made it to the exit on the other side of the room, along with the rest of the company had fate not intervened.

With a flash of light that lit up the entire room, a massive form clad head to hoof in power armor appeared, and whispers and gasps filled the entire chamber as the snipers suddenly removed their hooves from the triggers. Ponies parted, and Riptalon and Nimbus’ eyes widened in unison as this mare, arctic blue in fur color with a gaze to match stepped into view.

“No… It can’t be…” Riptalon murmured.

“No, it’s her,” Nimbus whispered and tried to make himself look decent even in spite of the fact that he was covered from head to hoof in bullet hole-ridden armor. Riptalon gave him an odd look, which Jabari followed up with. “President Winter Breeze.”

“Madam,” Nimbus said with a small little bow. “It’s an honor.”

“What are you doing?” Riptalon asked in a low tone.

“Trying to treat her with some ounce of respect,” Nimbus whispered back. “Maybe then she won’t decide to shoot us outright. Or have you forgotten, we’re NCR troops in what’s right now her city?”

Riptalon stayed silent, conceding his point.

“Wish we could have met under better circumstances,” Winter replied with a small smile upon seeing her old friend/former alumni. “Or in… better conditions,” she remarked, eying the massive storm drain around them.

“You mind taking the guns off us for just a moment?” Nimbus requested, gesturing around the room with a hoof. “Sorta makes it hard to talk when you’ve got… oh, a few dozen snipers aimed directly at your head.”

“Long as you promise not to shoot any more of them,” Winter replied icily, befitting her name.

“Kill or be killed, what can I say? Wasn’t given a whole lot of choice in the matter,” Nimbus replied flatly. Wind Spirit, for his part, looked like he didn’t want to move one inch. Nimbus found that a small comfort, at least that way he could keep an eye on the little bastard. Personally, he wouldn’t be surprised if Wind Spirit took his chance, and teleported himself -quite literally, given his race- right over to Winter’s side.

“Could have hacked a sprite-bot, plenty of those little bastards flying about these days -Take a cue from Spike’s book- and talked to us that way, if you were really so eager. Less likely to get you shot. Right now, I’m holding back… But the rest of these guys? Eh… I’m not quite so sure about, to be honest.” Riptalon added in before Nimbus held up a hoof for him to be silent. Winter simply laughed.

“Could have, probably should have, but meetings between old friends should be much more personal, I think…” Winter trailed off, looking directly at Nimbus. Riptalon, Jabari, and Wind Spirit all followed her gaze and their eyes went wide at the implications.

“W-Wait, you know her?” Riptalon sputtered out in disbelief.

Nimbus fought back a sigh. “What did I say about being silent? But yeah, we’ve met. Grew up in the same city together. This surprises you why?” he deadpanned in the face of such obvious stupidity. He saw Wind Spirit reaching for his pistol, and knocked it out of his hoof, the weapon falling to the floor far below them and clattering when it hit. “And you, if you’re going to call me a traitor, don’t pull a pistol out right now when you do so. Even a small little homunculus like you should understand why that’s a bad idea right now,” Nimbus lectured before muttering to himself: “...I swear, the quality of soldiers these days.” as he wiped some sweat from his brow.

“Yes, they do need better training don’t they?” Winter remarked. “Surprised you haven’t started on that. Was your job back at Coltumbia and all… Might be able to reign a few rabid dogs in.” she commented looking towards Wind Spirit. Said medic looked quite offended at the implications, sputtering out insults till once again Nimbus had to raise a hoof to keep him silent.

“I'm surprised Nimbus, you... You're going after me, when the real source of your rage isn't even in Manehatten. After all, considering what he made you do…” Winter whispered sorrowfully and sucked in a breath upon seeing Nimbus' reaction, or lack thereof. Her eyes widened in horror, and then she fought back a tear. “You... You don't really know, do you? No, that's not right. You've just forgotten....” she whispered, giving him a look of what could only be described as pity.

“Can we just get to the point?” Nimbus asked. “Are you here to talk, surrender, or more preferably, commit suicide by cop?”

“I’m not here to surrender, you are hardly in a position to negotiate terms for it,” Winter said with a shake of her head. “I am simply here to talk.”

“Yeah, you’ve been doing a lot of that lately,” Nimbus replied. “Been hearing your voice all over the radio as of late. Nice as it is to hear an old friend’s voice, I’d ask would you kindly clear out of Tenpony Tower, and then Manehatten in general actually. Emphasis on kindly. I’d hate to get ugly. Quite a mess to clean out of the sewers, if things get all bloody.”

Winter sighed a little as she shook her head. “You still don’t see it, do you? I’m not some comic book villain or warlord like Red Eye was. Equestria is on the verge of falling apart again. It’s...”

“Stop, don’t say it!” Nimbus interrupted holding up a hoof. “You were going to say it’s teetering on the edge of a knife, weren’t you? Listen, I know you’re not the villain, but using force? Scaring Equestria like this, holding a gun to the head of the world? That’s not the way. You’re well-read Winter, you remember what that old saying is, the one about the road to Tartarus.”

Winter paused a moment and narrowed her eyes at Nimbus. “Tell me Nimbus, do you know what’s been hidden away in Tenpony Tower since the war? You don’t see it, do you? The fact of the matter is that it can be used to end this war here and now before more lives are lost. I’m not here to destroy, I’m here to create leverage to dictate terms of surrender so Equestria can heal again.”

“Okay, say you win. Say you take control over Equestria, what’s to stop you from dealing with the next revolution, lead by troublemakers… like, say me? What’s to stop you from killing them? Because once you start killing -and believe me I know what I’m talking about here- and saying it’s all for a good cause… Hell, once you start killing in general, you lose a part of yourself,” Nimbus replied. “Just a question for you to ponder, just a little thought experiment for you to run over in your head.”

Winter paused a moment and shook her head. “You’re not wrong, but the truth is that we live in extreme times. You may not like it, but Equestria is balancing on the tip of a knife. The NCR for all their bluster is too young to provide a proper unifying force to Equestria. Push them too hard, and they will fall apart and Equestria will be right back to the Wasteland it started as.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Nimbus noted a green flash and saw Wind Spirit teleport over to Winter’s side of the room. He grumbled a small curse under his breath and sighed.

“Maybe it's up to me to do what the good ponies can't. Or maybe there are no good ponies. Maybe there are only good decisions.” Nimbus muttered under his breath, reaching for Songbird and pointing the rifle directly at Winter.

“You’re going to shoot me then?” Winter asked with a frown. “Are you really willing to follow through with that?”

“Might do. A good life would probably be taken, but then again another mess would be cleaned up. Equestria doesn’t need the Enclave, it never has. Winter, I’m sorry, but I’m doing what must be done.”

He looked at Winter, in her suit and just for a moment in her place he saw his old friend in her younger days, the ambitious politician and the kind soul. He swore to himself quietly, he’d encouraged this. He sowed the wind, and now he was reaping the whirlwind in a way. But Winter… she had to be put down now. For the greater good.

“For the greater good…” Nimbus murmured to himself, his grip on his rifle loosening before with a sigh of disgust he tossed it aside with Tornado catching it in her magical aura. No, he couldn’t do it. As much as he liked to believe he was some emotionless sword that could be pointed at the NCR’s enemies… what could you do when your enemy was an old friend?

“Words win wars indeed,” Nimbus muttered as two unicorns clad in Enclave armor cuffed him.

“I’m sorry it came to this, Nimbus,” Winter said softly as she looked down at him and closed her eyes for a moment. “You always were the better of the two of us, but I need to do this… for everyone’s future, and for the greater good. Equestria needs more of a future than factions squabbling over territory and threatening to collapse into chaos every day. Our foals deserve a future where they can live without fear of being taken away by Slavers or mad cultists, and I’m going to give them that future.”

She looked back at Nimbus’ companions for a moment and shook her head. “Let them go, everyone but Nimbus.”

“Ma’am?” One of the soldiers asked.

“They’ve lost two -three maybe, if those rumors about Twilight Sparkle in the skies are true- of their number, let them limp back to Junction Town and give the President a message,” Winter ordered, motioning for the snipers to hold their fire. “Manehattan will not leave Enclave control, and no matter who she sends that won’t change.”

With that, Tornado teleported her, Nimbus and Wind Spirit away.

Tenpony Tower: 1800 hours

“Hello Manehattan, this is your President speaking. I've come with some good news for my little ponies, as we continue to wait for the surrender of the NCR the Enclave will begin to set things up to help this city as we have promised. The Enclave will be helping set up schools, farms, and clinics around the city to give all the full benefits of Enclave Citizenship to those that have come to us only recently. We've been through a lot as a nation, but the long night is finally almost over. I hope that we'll be able to work together towards a brighter future together, all ponies, all species, all together under one flag. This is the vision we have, where we will no longer have to fear for our future and that of our children. I swear to you as your President, I will make sure that we all have this future together. This is President Winter Breeze, signing off.”

Target groaned as she found herself awakening in a suite, looking outside to the ruins of Manehatten as Winter’s voice broadcasted over a nearby radio. The evening light set over the city, the setting sun illuminating the once proud and tall towers of glass and ivory that had made this city a beacon.

“Well, that was a fairly genius idea,” Target deadpanned as she threw the covers off herself, noticing small bandages covering her body. She groaned out in pain but managed to clamber out of bed all the same. “Yes, quite intelligent. Sending up a flare to alert the Enclave to our location. Well, guess I'm out of one spot of trouble… to another.”

“It was the only way, ya know,” Apple Tart said as she opened the door, wearing this sparkling red dress, having tossed aside her armor. Or more likely, her armor was taken from her upon arrival. “You were bleeding out, and we didn’t have any medical supplies. Told Gabby to send up a flare, didn’t say why at the time. Mind ya, didn’t think Ah needed to. Suspected she knew what she had in mind.”

“So you went and turned tail towards the Enclave,” Target replied, her voice mixed with a small amount of pride in her disgust. “Never knew you had it in you, but then again I suppose I brought it upon myself, suggesting we appeal to Winter’s better nature.”

“Strange times,” Tart replied. “Wasteland’s changing Quartermane, and Ah’d suggest you change along with it. Besides, Rangers never leave other Rangers behind. And Ah wasn’t about to let ya die.”

As much as Target wanted to raise a voice against that or say Tart should have left her to die, she knew better. And to be frankly honest, given the situation she probably would have done the same.

“At least… At least tell me the civies, the ones inside Tower Sinclair, they’re alright.”

“Yeah, that they are,” Tart replied. “Winter might be a bit of a bitch, but she’s not cruel. Ya actually have her to thank, she’s the one who patched ya up. Provided Gabby with a hell of a lot of Aqua Cura as well, for the road.”

“Corrupted generosity…” Target thought to herself. “So, did Winter provide you with the dress as well?” she snarked towards Tart.

“Well, she did figure all visitors to her place of operations should at least look like they belonged there… Check the closet, sure there’s one for you as well. She’s nothing if not a generous host.”

Sure enough, when Target did so she found a similar dress. She didn’t put it on. Doing so would say she was a part of the Enclave’s control now.

Target sighed and grabbed her coat before stepping out into the hallways. Her eyes widened when she reached a large open space, probably just a floor above the broadcasting station/Winter’s base of operations. Amongst the usual Enclave security guards, clad in a black suit with a red feather as his lapel was Nimbus. Some sort of guard dog resembling a shepherd, cybernetically modified in one eye was at his side.

“What the Hell are you doing here?” Target demanded, marching up to Nimbus even as he adjusted his tie. “Is this some sort of joke? You were supposed to kill Winter, not get all cozy with her!” she shouted, noting how the security guards didn’t actually seem to mind Nimbus being there.

The dog growled at Target evidently not liking the words “kill Winter’, but Nimbus muttered something to it, and it sat on the tiled floors.

“Yes, well… plans change. I had to adapt,” Nimbus replied in a tone of possible self-disgust before chirping out: “Oh, look lively Target, Winter is coming!”

“Nimbus,” Winter said as she entered the room with her usual bodyguard escort. She eyed him for a moment and looked at Target. “I’m not interrupting something am I?”

“...Please don’t tell me you’re sleeping with her.” Target muttered, eying Winter with an expression that could only be described as thinly veiled disgust. “...About the only explanation, I can think of why you too are so cozy all of a sudden.”

She knew the NCR had a few rats working for the other side, was it possible Nimbus was one of them?

“Hardly,” Winter said with a shake of her head. “Nimbus is not really my type, we’re not sleeping together.”

“Then what’s his deal? Last I checked, you were number one on his hit list, right ahead of only Stormy Skies!” Target exclaimed, throwing a hoof up in the air in frustration.

“I have my reasons,” Winter said with a snort. “And I don’t have to explain them to you.”

Nimbus, in a tone only Target could hear, uttered: “As I said, I had to adapt to the situation. I’m putting all my faith in Scootaloo now,”

Target’s eyes widened at this. “S-Scootaloo, she’s here?”

“Yeah, met her down in the tunnels below Manehatten, the ones old Zebra smugglers used to use, back before the war. She’s in the city, we just have to hope she gets her job done. Plus,” Nimbus murmured. “This position isn’t entirely disadvantageous…”

“Well, you do have a good shot at Winter… Excusing all the bodyguards of course. You could end the war in one simple stroke if you were so inclined,” Target whispered back as the threesome walked, presumably towards Winter’s office.

“Forget about it,” Nimbus stated, looking back to the guards flanking them on either side. “My weapons were taken from me, and stealing a weapon from one of those big guys… Out of the question, unless I want to kill myself. No, I’m going to bide my time. Wait for an ample opportunity, see what develops,”

“Basically you’re saying you have no plan,” Target replied.

“Well, ye-No, I do have a plan. Right now though, I’m more concerned with getting Stormy Skies’ troops out of the city, as they’re the bigger current threat to Equestria despite all evidence to the contrary. Anything regarding Winter is sidelined for the moment.”

That wasn’t to say, Nimbus mentally added, Winter wasn’t a concern. She still was. But right here in this tower, he could gather a lot more information directly from the source rather than if he was on the ground. Might as well make something out of his screw-up.

“Damn you and your revenge…” Target cursed herself. “You’re always putting that first, ahead of anything else!”

She didn’t quite realize it until Winter spoke anyways, but she hadn’t whispered that last part.

“Excuse me, exactly what are you putting ahead of everything else? And what else is there?” Winter asked with a frown.

“Oh, revenge against Stormy Skies for ruining his life, taking his brother away from him. The usual crap. And as for that what else, pretty sure that’s doing away with you. You’re either crazy or stupid Winter. You’ve basically put more than a few of your enemies right in the same room with you.” Target remarked.

“Revenge, the most worthless of causes…” Winter uttered largely to herself before she looked at Nimbus. “Stormy Skies is a dangerous pony, I think we all know that, revenge or not. And as for being crazy, I’m well protected and you’re unarmed. I’m hardly in any position to be threatened by either of you.”

“Say I manage to somehow free myself, and find my way down to the control rooms for the Celestia One Megaspell, what then?” Target proposed. Nimbus facehooved. He was trying to stay in Winter’s good books, and not get executed on the spot. Target wasn’t making that any easier.

“You’re in the most heavily guarded place in Equestria, you’d not make it 5 feet out that door,” Winter said as she took a step back. “Go ahead and try, I’ve got guards out there that will shoot you without hesitation.”

“For once Target, please display some of that Applejack’s Ranger training that saved the lives of those in Tower Sinclair, and just restrain yourself,” Nimbus lectured, stroking the head of the Belgian Malinois that guarded him. At Target’s look of shock, he continued. “Yes, I do know about that. Gabby saw fit to inform me of what went on down there.”

“G-Gabby?” Target whispered. “Is she… Is she fine?”

“Bit pissed at me, which is entirely understandable but yeah… she’s fine. Again, Winter, thank you for the Aqua Cura.” Nimbus said, turning to his old friend.

“Of course,” Winter said with a soft smile. “Nimbus, I would hope that in time you come to realize that what I’m doing is necessary. I don’t like what I have to do either, but I believe in the end we all have to be judged by history, whether or not it will absolve me is up to future generations.”

“Wish times were different Winter, wish the situation was different,” Nimbus sighed, sounding almost wistful. “If they were, we might still actually be friends. You were a good mare once, and in some ways you still are. It’s just the way you’re going about changing Equestria I can’t justify...”

“If it is what is needed to save Equestria, I will plunge my hooves into the muddy waters even if there is no way to come up clean,” Winter said with a sigh. “Equestria needs to recover from the Wasteland, we’ve all seen it. I just… I have to do what I have to do, otherwise, things may just get worse.”

“...For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatever disease he had.” Target muttered, sorta seeing Winter’s point of view, even if she didn’t have to like it. Nimbus looked at her in shock, although if it was from the biblical quote which everyone knew he hated or Target being agreeable… it was impossible to tell.

“Target, first you were saying to some effect I was drinking Winter’s Kool-Aid, now you’re agreeing with her? What the fuck…?” Nimbus asked. He briefly wondered if something was in the air or the water, then remembered Winter was just that charismatic.

“Look, I’m just saying, I sorta see where Winter’s coming from loathe as I am to admit it. She’s right, the Wastes do need to change. We’ve been stuck in this same old cycle for years and years. The Massacre of Bittersweet Springs was proof of that. Now, do I agree with Winter’s methods? No. No, I don’t. But I do agree something’s got to change.” Target explained.

“Nice to know we’re on the same page in some format at least. I know it’s hard to understand, but sometimes extreme times call for extreme measures,” Winter said with a sigh. Her facade dropped. Right now she wasn't President of some all mighty empire, just one very tired mare determined to do right. “There are reasons I have to do this, the Enclave needs to change but there are always those who fight against change. I’ve done as much good as I can too, we’ve fed and medicated Settlements that the NCR didn’t help, we’ve dealt with Raiders and Slavers that have been terrorizing ponies for years, the Enclave is on the mend after Sunshine and Rainbows and lives across Equestria have gotten better…”

“You’ll have to excuse me if we’re not entirely buying what you’re selling, after Thunderhead and quite a few other incidents,” Gabby remarked, making her presence known. Somehow, when the guards weren’t looking she’d sneaked into the room. “Look, I’m asking for change for the Wastes as much as the next inhabitant -if I wasn’t, something would have to wrong with me- but a Megaspell, really Winter? Celestia One? Megaspells, and correct me if I’m wrong here but they’re the reason Equestria’s as fucked up as it is!”

Winter sighed a moment as she shook her head. “They are, and if I have my way it will never be fired. I want to end this war, it’s lasted too long already. Celestia One will simply ensure the peace.”

“If you say so…” Gabby muttered and walked out of the room following after Nimbus and Target. Winter held her back and pressed a button locking the door and silencing the room.

“Can… Can you keep a secret? Look, you may not believe me, what I’m doing is right, but I know a way that might convince you,” Winter said softly, stroking Gabby’s head feathers tenderly. “Can you keep a promise? An important one?”

“S-Sure…” Gabby stammered out nervously, not entirely sure if Winter was about to ‘silence’ her. Gabby knew that someone equipped with a Stealthbuck -something Winter had noticed, given she was eying her arm- was a dangerous threat. So killing her was a prudent course of action.

“Cross your heart, hope to fly?” Winter asked, and Gabby was rendered temporarily mute.

“How… how do you know that phrase? Only the CMC, and Twilight’s friends knew it…” Gabby stammered out, once she’d finally regained the power of speech. Her eyes then widened in realization. “Are you… Are you…?”

“My ancestor kept surprisingly good journals,” Winter said softly as she closed her eyes for a moment and sighed. “As well as a robot based on one of her friends, I’ve learned a lot of things from them. They helped me make me the mare I am today, for better or for worse.”

In hindsight, Gabby would realize that was the moment she started trusting Winter. If asked, she would label that exact moment in history as when she honestly started believing in Winter.

As for Target and Nimbus, here they were trapped in the most heavily fortified building in Equestria, and with a wealth of information at their hooves. They just needed to figure out how to survive long enough to get at it.

Manehatten: 1900 Hours

“For he who sheds his blood with me on this day, shall be my brother,” Riptalon muttered to himself as he emerged from the sewers, and looked back up at Tenpony Tower, knowing that’s exactly where Target and Nimbus were now.

He knew Target was a captive of the Enclave, it was the only possible explanation for why he hadn’t seen her since the crash-landing. If the rest of the squad could survive -He knew something as simple as a crash-landing couldn’t kill off that tough bird Henri- then he knew Target was the one who helped send up a flare at Sinclair Towers.

“Question is… How do I go about rescuing them?” Riptalon asked. No, he wasn’t mad at Nimbus for betraying them, a little pissed at first sure but Winter was his friend. It was to be expected, as you always put your friends first.

“Well, I might have a few ideas about that...” a female voice remarked, and Riptalon turned his head towards the ruins of an old building where a very familiar face -albeit caked in blood- was sliding down towards the group. Riptalon broke into a smile.

Henri.

Tenpony Tower: 2000 Hours

Back in the glory days of Equestria, Target remembered, Tenpony was well-known for its luxuries, and even after 210 years of Hell that really hadn’t changed much. Ponies were still finding ways to uphold the glory of Manehattan. What did they call it, she mused. The city that never sleeps? She chuckled, even as she walked into a restaurant in one of the few areas that Winter actually allowed her in. They should have called it the city that never died.

Sure, she could see society alicorns flying about the windows, but the city… it always found some way to get by. It always did. Target would know, she was born here after all. Sure, it was in some small clinic that was hidden away somewhere, but down in the city below, that was her home. Apple family member by distant relation -probably a member of the Orange clan if she had to guess- but Manehatten would always be her home, even when she was far and away from the city lights and the ponies.

Target settled herself down at a table, soft jazz music playing through a radio. Even if Winter had control over the airwaves, she wasn’t always preaching her views on how to make Equestria better. She still did play music on occasion, just to fill up the airtime. Target recognized the tune, vaguely anyways. Old number, called “You Don't Know What Love Is” if she remembered her recordings correctly. Target had always loved Jazz, so soothing and relaxing. Seemed Winter shared the same tastes, given that it was the only music that seemed to play throughout Tenpony. Either that or Winter believed that even in the midst of war, Tenpony should still exude an aura of class and refinement.

“Ya still show up for dinner, and yet you don’t even bother to dress for the occasion. The shame of it, really…” Apple Tart remarked, walking into the bar still in that red dress.

“Well, you’ve managed to fit right in haven’t you?” Target remarked. “You look like some sort of high-class socialite. All you need now is the little purse with the little yapper in it.”

“...Listen, Ah don’t like this as much as you yerself do,” Tart sighed to herself. “But we need to consider our position here. Winter’s got control over Manehatten, and we can’t fire a single shot against her.”

“So, that means you’re giving up basically,” Target muttered, and when Tart couldn’t meet her eyes Target smirked a little in satisfaction. She had her. “...Thought so. I’m so glad Winter stripped you of your armor, you’re not worthy to bear the Ranger title.” she muttered in disgust.

It seemed Tart had heard her, as she fought back a sniffle.

“W-Well, what was Ah supposed to do? Holly was dead, you were near death and there was no way to get those civilians out of Sinclair without runnin’ into Stormy’s forces! Ya said it yourself, we had to align with Winter, just for the time being!”

“Yeah, that I did I suppose…” Target muttered, taking a sip of her wine. “Suppose I did bring it upon myself. One more sin to atone for really…”

“Strange times, right?” Tart asked. “If… If it makes ya feel any better Target, Ah’ve been trying to justify my actions again and again over in my head since we ended up here. And there is no justification. It was just cowardice, plain and simple. Pure and simple cowardice.”

“No, it’s not just that,” Target sighed, as one of Winter’s Dust Devil gunships shot down several Society aligned alicorns. “You said it yourself, it was for the civilians and nothing else. That’s a Ranger’s job first and foremost. To protect those who can’t protect themselves. We lost sight of that over the years, and just started hoarding technology. You remember, right? Hell, we even attacked a Stable! A Stable! We’ve fallen far from our original ideas. Not hide away underground and let those around us suffer, but to actually make something of ourselves. If we have to align with the Enclave… then so be it.” Target surmised.

“You’ve… You’ve changed, you know that Target? Yeah, ya definitely have changed,” Tart sighed. “I remember what you were like, before Bittersweet. Loyal to a fault, never raising a voice against orders no matter what they were. Some of us said you lacked ambition,” she chuckled. “Oh, how wrong they were. Seems to me, you’re one of the most ambitious of us all…”

“No, I’m just trying to secure a better future for Equestria. That’s all…” Target replied, before closing the gap between them.

In the background, taking a shot of Wild Pegasus Whiskey, Nimbus smiled. At least someone was happy around here. Getting up off his seat, he then walked off, whistling for his dog -Lovac as he called him- and headed off towards Winter’s office.

Gently knocking on the door, Nimbus heard a voice say: “Come in.” alongside the shuffling of papers.

“So, I’m just asking. How do you plan to drive Stormy Skies’ forces out of the city. Unlike you, they’re not so inclined to spare innocents. Sinclair was proof of that.”

Winter paused a moment as she set her papers down for a moment and sighed. “We’re doing everything we can to find Stormy Skies’ forces in the city but he’s not making it easy. We can only dedicate so many forces to the search and often we’re stuck reacting to the situation more than finding him.”

“So? Check Megan’s Churches. He’s a religious fanatic, he and churches -Well, any remnants of old Equestria really- go hoof and hoof together.” Nimbus shrugged.

“We already hold the largest church in the city, it was turned into a trading post some time ago,” Winter said with a sigh. “So much for the preservation of historical sites, hm?” she laughed sadly.

“Listen… Uh…” Nimbus replied, shuffling his hooves nervously. “I… I just want to apologize for our altercation down in the sewers. You know, trying to shoot you and all.”

“Nimbus, I’ve done some terrible things over the past 10 years, either directly or indirectly,” Winter said with a sigh. “I’ve given up on any possibility that my soul isn’t already damned a hundred times over because I did what I had to do. And for all you knew, Tornado had killed your friends, and even when you met up with the last remaining members of your squad I was trying to put them down. You were just protecting those closest to you, right?”

Nimbus nodded. “Oh, suppose you like to think you’re unforgivable. Well, here’s the unforeseeable, I forgive you. For every crime you’ve committed against the Enclave,” Winter continued before hugging him briefly. “You’re just following orders, trying to better Equestria in your own way. Even if that means killing any immediate threats, and to you, I suppose that means me at the moment.”

“Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind…” Nimbus muttered. “Still suppose I’m doing that now. Listen, you’ve got feelers out all over Equestria, right?”

“Most sophisticated intelligence network in decades, that’s right,” Winter said with a nod. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“I’d just like to know, if you’ve heard anything… and I mean anything about traitors to the Enclave, anything that might point me towards my brother. Make no mistake, I want to kill Stormy Skies, but more than that I just want to see my brother again. Even the tiniest hint… Just anything to set me on a path towards him.”

Winter once again gave him a look of pity, and if Nimbus didn’t know better she knew something he didn’t, and wasn’t keen on telling him. “Any… any rumors at all?” Nimbus pleaded, looking close to tears.

“There’s an encampment well to the south of Manehattan -old junkyard- that may have a prisoner there and from what we’ve been getting he sounds to be an important one but it’s well guarded with Stormy Skies’ ponies and Alicorns,” Winter said with a sigh. “If you went there, it would be tantamount to suicide.”

Nimbus swore loudly, and punched a wall with a hoof, cracking it slightly. “Celestia… Just Celestia damn it!” he muttered. “Every… every time I get close to Stormy Skies, or get any information on my brother, it all turns out to be all for naught!” he whispered, fighting back sobs. “Every time…” he whispered. “He could be being tortured for all I know, and I can’t do a thing about it! It’s a brother’s job to look out for their kin, and… and I…”

“Nimbus, calm down,” Winter said as she placed her hoof gently on Nimbus’ shoulder. “You’re going to get them eventually. I’m sorry that I don’t have more concrete information, but Stormy’s operation is not the easiest group to get an operative into. Your brother is out there somewhere, and I know that someday you’ll be able to find him… just, keep trying.”

“That’s what I’ve been doing… trying! But… But just once, I’d like to come up with something other than leaving a path of death and destruction in my wake! I’d… I’d just want him in my arms again. I… I just want my family back…” Nimbus sobbed. Lovac licked his cheek, trying to comfort him with Nimbus showing very little reaction.

“Nimbus, I know you want your brother back, but don’t forget the family you have now,” Winter said with a shake of her head. “Your companions are just as much your family as your brother is even when you’re not related by blood. You’ve fought together, shed blood together, and that makes them your family.”

“Yeah, doubt they’ll forgive me now, since I’m aligned with you,” Nimbus muttered to himself in possible self-disgust before looking back towards Winter. “You know, that last bit? Sounds almost something Scootaloo would say.”

“Yeah, I suppose it does…” Winter murmured to herself.

“Suppose you would know, given your… relation. I’m not stupid, I saw how you reacted when that bastard Autumn Leaf burned effigies of her and Rainbow back home, right before he went on his campaign.”

“And you can understand why I never told anypony,” Winter said with a sigh. “I wouldn’t have been able to make it as a teacher, let alone as a politician if anypony found out. I have no shame in who I’m related to, but I know what other ponies will think.”

“And I promise you Winter, I will keep your secret. And… and thank you. Thank you.” Nimbus said, before he walked towards a window, watching a Dust Devil fly by, and looked out to the Southlands. “I swear brother, I’m coming to find you,” he thought. “And when I do, no force on this planet will be able to stop me.”

Author's Notes:

Okay, a few things to note. The military time. Bit of a personal experiment for this chapter, just wanted to see how well it worked. May drop it in later chapters.

Secondly, the storm drains. They exist actually, in the real world. Just not in Manhatten. For anyone who's played Mirror's Edge -Great game, if you haven't already go check it out- this should be a treat.

https://www.nag.co.za/2013/07/01/the-incredible-japanese-storm-sewer-that-inspired-mirrors-edge/

Finally, Winter. As I guessed, I'd need her original creator for this chapter considering she was a large focus in it, and so RuinQueen -You rock girl!- gladly gave up some of her precious time to bring Winter to life, along with her version of Scootaloo. Now, the key thing we had to keep in mind, aside from explaining away why nobody could just shoot her and be done with it was making Winter human, if you catch my drift. Yes, she's one of the big bads -at least in Ruin's stories- but she's not a comic book villain. She genuinely believes what she's doing is right.

Anyways, as ever... comments, thoughts, criticisms. You know what to do with them by this point.