As I turned in the bed my body ached all over, I slowly opened me eyes. And closed them again, I really didn't feel like waking up or getting out of bed. Sometime later I opened them again, and something was wrong. The light was coming from the wrong side of the bed. I turned my head and squinted. That wasn't a stable night light, and this wasn't my room.

"Wha... where?"

I tried getting out of bed and fell on the floor with the blanket falling over my head. I rose to my hooves and fell over on the spot. So I laid there for a few moments, trying to remember where I was and how I got here. My mind came up blank, I remembered a weird dream. Not how it ended or where this was.

Noticing a window I struggled towards it, I raised myself up and looked out into the alien nightscape that loomed before me. It should have been pitch black as I peered out of the window but there was a strange ice blue light pulsating out there. The houses and cliffs cast shadows that danced in impossibly stretched shapes and then returned to a form that made at least a bit of sense. I couldn't make out the light source though, and just stood there staring for Luna knows how long. Then a glowing pillar slithered up above the highest cliff and ripped apart the cloud cover. Then... it slowly died down again as the gentle light of the full moon covered the area as well.

"Nooope."

I turned away from the madness outside and looked around the room. It was a bit smaller than my room back at the stable, a bed, a small table and an mostly empty bookshelf. Whose room was this? Where was I even? Still in Equestria or in some other nightmare world?

Walking up to one of the doors, I found it locked and it looked remarkably sturdy. Tried knocking on it, no response. Might have been due to it evidently being in the middle of the night. The other door led to the bathroom, which was somehow fully functional complete with a mirror. Further evidence that I wasn't in the wasteland.

"Wait, a mirror??"

I turned up the pipbuck light and lifted my mane. There was a spot where the coat had been burned off, suggesting that either the dream wasn't a dream or I hadn't woken up yet. The spot was swollen but as I squinted it looked like it had seven sharp points. There was a soft sense of safety as I looked at it, but it felt alien and some part of my mind shouted that I had no idea what was going on. And I hate not knowing what is going on, it is almost always somepony playing some game or having some scheme.

Then the boredom set in, I walked around the place a few times until I bashed my head on the table in frustration. Turning my head I hoped my pipbuck could help alleviate my situation. Was wondering what I should browse for when I noticed the title of a text entry I definitely didn't add. Why do people keep adding stuff to my pipbuck?? I should put a password on this thing.

Windstriker, you are currently in the Citadel of Dusk. Bringing you here meant that I broke several rules, but you are not considered a prisoner. Please be patient and do not create a scene, I will be checking in on you regularly to see if you have awoken. And don't worry about the Aurora outside, the radiation is harmless at this distance.

Crusader Raspberry Tart

"Steel Rangers huh? Why in Luna's name would they build a fortress HERE?!"

It took minutes, maybe even an hour before I remembered that I was bored. So I started fiddling with the radio. Which was frustrating as neither Radio New Pegasus nor DjPon3 were in range and Black Hoof Radio was just playing repeats at this late hour. The weird channels were still not making any sense.

Fun fact about pipbucks, if you know what you are doing there are manual overrides to all sorts of things. In the case of radios you can tune the frequency yourself without having to rely on the signal detection spell. Turned out there is a reason to why nopony wants to do that though, as some frequencies were just inequine screams and others were just recordings on a loop. Then I found a proper channel, it was a bit fuzzy and broken at places but it was a proper station and as I listened the sound became clearer.

...hoover radio and now it is time for the latest news on the war and other happenings in Equestria. The advance of the 96th imperial legion has been stopped and through the combined efforts of the army and the 5th royal cloud fleet the stripes have been driven back to red mountains and the jungle area. Unfortunately, due to the terrain and and the arrival of several dragons our heroes in uniform were unable to completely route the zebra forces. Princess Luna has recognized the extraordinary heroics of the Las Pegasus regiment of Steel Rangers who held the army forces together despite massive losses when the dragons arrived, and a ceremony for the fallen is expected to be held within the week... Hm... To be honest, I had intended to go into the more trivial and lighthearted news but let's take a short break with some music first. Here is the latest track I picked up from Canterlot, I believe they call the genre wubstep or something.

For a few moments I thought the signal was breaking up again, or my radio was malfunctioning. Then I realized that it was probably supposed to sound that way. It was most certainly not music I had heard in the wasteland before, and I wasn't sure what to make of it. And as I was trying to make heads or tails of it the radio pony got back on.

Aaaand I am back. Sorry about that, I needed a moment. Anyhow, back to the news. Duke Amethyst Van Hoof has promised the M.O.I. that the incident with the dragon will not be repeated, but rumours suggest that Minister Rarity refuses to set hoof in Vanhoover again and will instead send over a representative to handle further discussions regarding the new ministry hub. And the contract regarding which company will be responsible for supplying government offices in the region with terminals and maneframes has NOT gone to Stable-Tech as was expected but to EAST Corp. A company more commonly known for its zeppelins and other airships. Coordinator Icetear has neglected to comment as to why this decision was made. Speaking of said mare, the Coordinator and Ministry Mare Sparkle have commissioned the Starlight Institute for a program concerning weaponizing lunium, details are of course classified. And and the final piece of news is that the much beloved Ice Fair up north will be smaller than previous years. This as an unprecedented amount of frost ponies have signed up for the army, with the only motivation that I can find is that miss Iceatear managed to rise to such an esteemed position in Princess Luna's government and the frost ponies simply followed her example. Hopefully, they will give the zebras some good thrashing...

"Huh, must be some old recording from the war. Neat."

Since I was bored I decided to listen until it looped around. It didn't. At least not as far as I could tell, and I listened for hours on end. I turned it off when I heard knocking on the door.

"Windstriker, are you awake yet?"

"Yeah, just come in."

The door was unlocked and a young beige mare with a purple mane walked in.

"Care to explain what mess you have gotten yourself into this time?"

I blinked in confusion.

"Wait, who are you?"

"What do you mean, I'm Crusader Raspberry Tart. This is the third time we met, fourth if you count when you crash landed. You are lucky we were in the ar-"

"But you are a mare! And cute!"

"Wha... wai... I'm not... I'm a range'! Range's aren' CUTE!"

"Uh, yes you are? You are adorable!"

Seriously, I thought I had been talking to some battle scarred veteran buck. Not this blushing filly. Her coat was clean, her mane was just long enough to reach her neck and she had the fuzziest ears I had seen. I couldn't even see a scar anywhere!

"Ya can' just say that to a ma'e! The'e are rules to this sorta thin'. I mean, how would'ya reac' if I had said that to ya out o' the blue?!"

At this point I was barely following the accent, why couldn't it be something simple like a southern one?

"I would probably ask you out for a date?"

"Ya would WHAT?!"

There was an expression of utter shock on her face. When I opened my mouth to clarify she fled out the door shouting something that sounded like she would be back. This time it was my turn to stand there with a baffled look on my face, as I tried reconcile the image of the fierce steel ranger officer with the embarrassed filly that couldn't handle a compliment.

She did return, eventually. Her face dripping with cold water as she clearly had attempted to calm herself down. As she led the way towards the dining room in this... castle would probably be the best word. They had evidently spent several years building it out of rock and concrete, with the intention for it to last. A mountainside fortress as a statement to the region, and I realize that it was probably a statement towards Goldstar as well. It didn't have much in the way of windows, and seemed to be designed with function over form, something that fit well with the rest of what I knew about the rangers. Despite the fancy titles, the power armour and their pride, they were very pragmatic when it came down to it. Earth pony culture I suppose.

That said, I had more pressing issues to think about.

"Look, Windstriker. You are technically not supposed to be here, I have already been relieved of command just for saving your flank. So please try to not start any fights or create any problems?"

"...uh sure."

"Are you listenin'?"

"Uhm yeah?"

"Stop starin' at me like tha'!"

"Can't help it! How am I supposed to handle a pretty mare dropping into my life out of nowhere?"

"An' stop sayin' stuff like tha'!"

"What? Why?"

"Because its distractin'!"

"Look! I ran away from home, got visited by some random alicorn, got ambushed by some... I don't even know?! Changelings? Pegasi? Next thing I know I wake up here, there is some freaky shit outside my window and now you are suddenly a mare?? Have I gone nuts? Is that it?!"

"...what did ya just say?"

"I was asking it if I had gone nuts?!"

"Nonono, the stuff about an alicorn?"

"Yeah, that was the weirdest part. I pray to Luna and then a blue alicorn shows up. I have no idea why or what or if I was just dreaming it?! I know my alicorns... or at least I thought that before I discovered Twilight Sparkle was one. And there was some other pink thing. I don't even know anymore!"

My voice began breaking towards the end, and my legs gave way as I collapsed to the floor. Covering my face with my wings I desperately tried to shut out the confusing world around me on a vain hope that things would start making sense again.

I felt a hoof on my shoulder near the base of my wing. A careful, soft touch.

"Look, Windstriker... This is real. You're not insane, just stressed."

"..."

"Everypony reacts to wartime stress disorder differently. Trust me, I know. Do you have anything that helps you through it? Medicine? Alcohol? Music?"

I just shook my head.

"Need a hug?"

I nodded.

So she hugged me as I laid there, shaking and crying more than I care to admit. I didn't know if I was cursed, traumatized or if the world around me really was breaking apart. And the worst part is that I really didn't want to find out, which left me in this state of muddled hesitation and cold fear. I couldn't trust my mother, I couldn't rely on my childhood friend, I no longer had a home and the princesses were silent.

Bit by bit I had learned to see the wasteland and the world for what it was, as much as I had hated it... it was reassuring to know that there was something solid, something real before my eyes. Things made sense whenever I discovered something new. I could feel there was the equestrian wasteland waiting to embrace me like so many others, a world where violence and hatred ruled.

However, this last night there was something else I had realized. There was something else, something that stood apart from the radioactive graveyard that was old Equestria. It hadn't been just my imagination, there had been something calling me, ever since I stared at the night sky and the star that gleamed brighter than any other.

I had strayed too close to the star touched city, and it called me home.

At the same time the old kingdom and the millions damned cried out for me, for someone to hear them. To mourn, to remember, to rebuild. Stuck between the two I could feel my soul waver, and as I laid there I realized something else. It didn't matter which choice I would make, I would never feel the calm tranquility of a proper home again. Regardless of which way I went, a part of me would tug and nag until I went the other way.

Still...

I was not all alone.

Lifting my wings I looked at the mare beside me.

"Feeling better?"

"..."

My voice didn't cooperate but I nodded.

"Let's get something to eat, we can talk over things then."

Slowly I tried to rise, my legs unsteady but I had help.

"As for the alicorns, the Ministry of Arcane Sciences was working on some form of super soldier program towards the end of the great war. The technical details are classified but I do know that it was minister Twilight Sparkle's personal project and that it involved creation of artificial alicorns."

I nodded intently as I was listening, finally somepony was telling me what was going on. Oh, and food also helped. Not that the stuff we were served was tasty in the least, but I was hungry and needed something to focus on. Tart continued with her not so boring lecture.

"While there has long been rumours that they existed, it was just a few decades ago we actually confirmed their existence. As for what they are... short answer is monsters, straight and simple. They are vain, violent and very unstable. We have had to put down a few of them over the years."

"And you think I was visited by one of those?"

"Most likely, yes. There are three breeds. Purple, Green and Blue. They are all telepathic though and seem to be controlled by some mad entity calling itself 'the goddess' or some nonsense. Used to be that they were just a minor nuisance with all the other dangers in the wasteland. Then Red Eye appeared and somehow got them to work for him, now they are everywhere back east. First time I have heard of one this far West though, will have to report it to my superiors."

"What the heck did she want with me though?"

"Pony sacrifice most likely."

"WHAT?!"

"Ponies captured by the alicorns are never heard of again, but that is the rumour."

"Should I be worried?"

"Not as long as you are here. If you run into one again, don't trust it."

"I suppose that explains that picture of Sparkle with wings and what not."

"That... I have never heard about before but it wouldn't be impossible given the context."

I took a few deep breaths, and got a deja vu when I looked around the room. We were in a large mess hall inside of a concrete building, and everypony was busy pretending that we didn't exist. Might just be my messed up head or fractured perspective of reality, but it was eerily similar. Even the room layout was like in a stable.

"Uhm... So how much of a trouble are you in?"

The mare in front of me scratched her neck, a bit embarrassed by the question.

"Less than I could have been. I kind of have... had a lot of goodwill built up over the years for exemplary service. Might have thrown it to the wind, but at least I won't get thrown out. At most I will get demoted and live with a stain on my record. Fortunately, Head Scribe Sapphire was positively ecstatic when we brought in several suits of power armour. Which means I got two out of five of the senior council backing me up, so most likely I will just be sent back to Fort Borderhoof whenever they decide you aren't a threat."

"More Steel Ranger politics! Why do you have to be so complicated? And why does it matter that I'm here? Is it just the stripes? Because that would be horse apples! I am an at most one eight zebra, and besides! I'm a stable zony, we're Equestrians!"

Her face turned serious all of sudden, and she looked like she was trying to decide something. Then she gave a very audible sigh, took a long dramatic sip from her drink and locked eyes with me. Now looking determined.

"I guess an outsider wouldn't understand. And you probably have to know this... You up for another history lesson? Because this is going to be a bit complicated, and I do realize you got the attention span of a gold fish."

"What's a gold fish?" I asked in complete honesty, fish I knew of but why would they be gold?

"I... don't actually know. Anyhow, care to listen a little more?"

As I was feeling better and adjusting to the whole situation, I tried to have a flirty voice as I answered.

"Depends, will I learn more about you?"

Again, she blushed. And coughed dramatically.

"I'll take that as a yes. Chronologically speaking we should start with the Canterlot reclamation campaign. Partly due to symbolic reasons and partly practical reasons led to one of the most disastrous military campaigns the rangers have taken on since the bombs fell. There are countless secrets hidden in the old capital. Research data, hidden military bunkers, weapon stockpiles and what not."

"Stable locations?"

"No, Stable Tech was technically a private corporation so we got that info from their headquarters in Manehattan. Anyhow, despite the chemical weapon the zebras detonated on the royal mountain it was well worth any risk. If we could manage to secure it, clean it out and so on it would be the ideal location for organizing a major campaign across all of Equestria. And as such, the ranger faction dedicated to reestablishing the old kingdom spent decades in the ruin."

"So what you are saying, is that you're from Canterlot of all places?"

"erm... No, I'm from Manehattan. But I was getting to that. The whole thing ended up as a catastrophe. Despite having all the right gear for the mission, they couldn't keep the poison entirely out. Bit by bit ponies died and as they barely could get any volunteers from other ranger contingents they ended up having to abandon the ordeal eventually. Elder Stardust and Star Paladin Overdrive then led the survivors to the east coast."

"Aaand this is where you enter the story?"

"Yes? Although I was just a filly at the time. The failure of the Canterlot regiment had lasting political consequences, with Elder Stardust technically only being a paladin at the time and the survivors merging with the Manehattan regiment. However, as Elder Cottage Cheese was of the opinion that we had wasted too many lives on an endeavor of romantic dreaming instead of pragmatic survivalism... Basically, he cares more about hoarding military materiel than saving actual pony lives. There has always been a rift in the steel rangers, at least since the bombs, but... Supposedly Stardust had gathered enough supporters to plan a coup, even planning on arresting their seniors for neglect of duty."

"So what happened?"

"Two of the senior officers in Fillydelphia had gotten wind of it, and after some argument or such Star Paladin Autumn Storm decided to bring a group of volunteers to Vanhoover as an excuse to avoid a full blown civil war. Not sure how, as elder Stardust is famed for being idealistic to a fault, but he somehow convinced the Canterlot remnants to go along with the plan. And as my mother was one of Stardust's supporters I went along with them as we crossed the country."

"Wait... are these military ranks working as I think they do?"

"Ah, yeah. They do. Technically Autumn Storm was the most senior officer but he insisted Stardust take the title of Elder for some reason. Although... Having listened to her, Elder Stardust has quite an inspiring charisma. And the moment she took the title of Elder the volunteers were reformed into a new steel ranger regiment, one without a name. At least until we reached Vanhoover."

"So where do the idiots from New Pegasus come into the picture?"

"Later, we incorporated the entire population of stable 84 before that. And don't give me that look, we didn't force them! There was this slaver fortress that we took out and they happened to be captured and were relieved to see some remnant of old Equestria. They all volunteered and ended up becoming the majority of our scribes." Her voice became quiet as her face went blank for a moment. "That was my first real battle."

She had gone silent and seemed distant.

"You OK? Hey, Tart!"

"Wha-? Uhm... Sorry. Where was I?"

"New Pegasus, and that Earthquake buck."

"Oh right. The Las Pegasus regiment had been defending the place against zebras, dragons and worse since the days of the war. However, with the fall of the old regime their reputation dropped. Increased threats meant increased militarism, having to fight ponies as well... the wastelands grew wary of them and the rangers ended up having to fight the very ponies they were supposed to protect, after two hundred years of service. They lost their elder in an ambush and Star Paladin Earthquake had enough of the struggle. It was about then that we got a messenger from them. We ended up absorbing them despite them technically being the larger group."

"OK... That sounds rough, you sure I can't just talk to the stallion and sort things out? My stable had nothing to do with any of that, so maybe we could just sort this out?"

"I doubt it. This is just hearsay but it seems that he had been in contact with your stable decades ago. They had already planned on moving north to Vanhoover but the previous Elders refused to abandon a fight while a zebra legion still stood on Equestiran soil."

"Hold on... my grandfather, the director of the Institute and Stable 33 just told me that my uncle had been killed by a steel ranger down in New Pegasus. Why was he there in the first place?"

"No idea... One thing I can tell you is that the whole west coast is a mess. Conspiracies on top of conspiracies... Between the zebras, the wastelanders and the changelings. You can't really trust anypony out here. We even had your blood checked to confirm you were a po-... a zony."

"Tell me about it... So is this whole mess between the rangers and my home caused by an accident or a misunderstanding?"

"More like a set up. It isn't that difficult to get a hold of a suit of power armour if you know what you are doing. Not saying that the pony killing your relative wasn't a ranger, but for all we know the culprit might not even be a pony in the first place. Back during the war the zebras did a lot of false flag operations like that."

"And whatever the case, some rangers might have reasons to distrust us zonies... Still. Can we solve it now that I am here? I mean, you ponies haven't kicked me out or have me killed yet so there is some sort of plan right?"

This time she looked stunned and stared at me in surprise.

"Well... yes. Yes there is. Whenever you are feeling up to it, Star Captain Steelheart will want to talk with you. Partly about what you have found regarding Goldstar. And also about your encounter in the clouds and... what we can do about this situation. If we could get a diplomatic contact established with your stable, we could begin some form of cooperation. We have the firepower and integrity to guarantee your safety, and we can always need more engineers and scientists."

"About that... I did kind of run away in the middle of the night."

"Of course you did." She shook her head in disbelief. "No matter, I am guessing that is nothing out of the ordinary for you. There is however another issue that complicates the problem considerably."

"And that is?"

"Mega spells."

"Eh?"

"More specifically the projects your Institute was involved with during the war. Weaponized lunium, Equestria's answer to the balefire bomb. As I understand it, one such research site was sabotaged and the bomb was detonated. I believe you have already seen the result."

"Wait... The Aurora? You mean that freaky glowing thing outside my window? I thought that was done by zebras."

"Yes, but the bomb was Equestrian. The star bomb wasn't supposed to do that, and our scribes have still not figured out exactly what happened. But that goes for the balefire bombs as well. That radiation should have died in two or three decades and the craters are still glowing."

"... And you think my family has a stockpile of these mega spells?"

"You have the research notes, raw materials and the expertise. It is a possibility that can't be ignored. Now... Do you understand just how dangerous your presence is? One wrong move from your side and a ranger with a grudge might attack you, and if you were to die..."

"It would be the end of the world all over again."

"And as your mother has relations with Goldstar, the first shot fired could end with mega spell detonations all over the region. We can't rule out that the so called princess already has a stockpile of star bombs at her disposal."

I covered my face with my hoofs as I began to understand just how big of a mess I had gotten myself into.

"Mum... what have you done..."

Talking mostly to herself, Raspberry Tart made a final comment on our discussion.

"We traveled across Equestria, only to find ourselves at yet another power hungry warlord with an arsenal that would make wartime armies pause in hestitation. I guess Vanhoover isn't any different when it comes down to it."

As we walked up the stairs I got another sense of deja vu, she was leading me to yet another senior officer for a debriefing. Were they trying to recruit me? Certainly got that impression at times. Not sure I would fit in well with the military life, as I would probably end up beating the crap out of a superior officer and get kicked out. It did result in some pretty nice mares though, I must admit.

"You're staring at my flank again."

"Well, it is a pretty nice flank."

"Are you this way with all mares you talk to? You act like a teenager!"

"I am a teenager!"

"Wait, really?"

"Yeah, I'm 19. Why?"

She muttered under her breath.

"That explains a lot..."

"Your turn!"

"What?"

"Your age."

"First off, you don't ask a mare that. Secondly, I'm 24."

My mind began trying to process the numbers and got stuck on something, not the ususal math issue but I noticed something. Either the numbers didn't add up or...

"How many years ago has it been since you left Manehattan?"

"11, I was 13 at the time. Why?"

"And you mentioned your first real battle was while you were travelling. So, you were just a filly when they put you on the frontline? Or did I misunderstand something?"

She froze up and just stared ahead. Then she closed her eyes and talked in a low voice.

"Look, I don't want to talk about it OK?"

"... Yeah. Sure. If you do change your mind, I would be willing to listen. All right?"

"Thanks... I'll keep that in mind." Her voice became stern as she seemed to focus on the present. "Please do not make a fool of yourself in front of the Star Captain, she doesn't like having you here and she has the authority to get us both shot if she gets the excuse."

"You think she would do that?"

She hesitated a little before she replied.

"I don't know... Usually not, but I have never seen her so furious before. She really didn't like me breaking that rule, if you hadn't already talked to Overdrive then she would probably have thrown us both out. Without any gear, or medical treatment in your case."

The mare in front of me most definitely wanted to have me shot, which was not a reassuring thought with the two heavily armed rangers sitting like statues behind me. When I had entered I noticed just how elegant and ornate their power armoured suits were, and that unlike all other rangers I ever seen they had magical energy weapons attached to their battle saddles. Disintegration rifles if I wasn't mistaken.

I wasn't entirely sure why the grey ranger with the pink mane was staring at me like that when I entered, although I suspected strongly that it had something to do with my stripes. After a few moments she looked away and the atmosphere in the room went from hostile to merely stern.

"So, you are the zony who is playing double agent. Why?"

"Because I don't want to see my stable being massacred by an army of steel rangers? Because a certain megalomaniac unicorn is confirmed to be utterly insane and up to no good? Because you rangers are the closest thing to actually honest ponies I have met thus far? Take your pick."

"Really? Did you bring any data of note?"

I did a quick check at my pipbuck, and all the stuff I had copied over was still there.

"Yep, got it all here. There is a memory recording in there by the way, so you will need a pipbuck or equivalent to watch it. It is arguably the most important part."

"Copy it to to my terminal, so that I can confirm."

It was an order, not a request. The tone made that clear, and the ponies behind me backed up the statement. Wait, disintegration rifles. After I transferred the files they could just melt me to ash and there would be no evidence I ever was here. I looked at the officer in front of me and remembered the stares she gave me mere moments ago.

"Any guarantees that you won't just kill me afterwards?"

"We saved your life."

"And I have information you want. What you have are two heavily armoured ponies with weapons that leave little evidence and possibly a hatred for anything with stripes. Oh, and a reputation for being ruthless. Not exactly friendly circumstances."

She frowned and seemed to take offense at the remark, but she didn't order them to shoot me.

"Very well. Leave us."

I glanced back at the armoured suits that rose, made salutes and left though the door.

"Now, the data. Please."

Walking up to the desk I extended the cord from my pipbuck, and connected it to the terminal. Then I got several security warnings, I raised an eyebrow at the grey mare, she typed in a passcode and they went away. Realizing that I was connected to the steel rangers data network I was very tempted to copy anything I could from their maneframe, but I decided against it. So instead I just pressed copy and sent the appropriate files over one by one, which took a while.

As I disconnected my pipbuck she began typing, navigating the files and then starting the most recent recording, the one where Starlight had suddenly appeared inside of my stable. It was slightly embarrassing to listen to with the ranger officer in front of me, even if she did had a remarkably bored expression as she listened. Hold on... She is like the ponies at Goldstar. Oh horse apples...

"Interesting, wonder what she need engineers for. Although I have my suspicions. Either way, this is genuine. You are free to go whenever you feel like it, preferably earlier than later though. I will talk with the Elder and have you officially designated as a private contractor, steel ranger outposts will be open to you from now on."

"And the rest of the Institute?"

"You do realize that this is damning evidence that they are working with Goldstar aren't you? And that ties their fate with the pretender's. Unless you got something else that proves their innocence then I am afraid we can't tolerate it."

"They are basically being threatened, and the director really doesn't trust her."

"Prove it."

I began scrolling through the files on my pipbuck once more and started the recording I had made of my conversation with my grandfather. Turns out that my earlier paranoia had paid off. She listened intently and was silent for several moments after the recording had ended.

"Well, is it good enough?"

"Yes it is. And I think I understand why you are working with us. You have my condolences, that is a messed up family situation you have found yourself in." She paused for a moment and looked at me with pity. "What about your mother? Even if we manage to get a peaceful solution with the rest of the Institute she will most likely still stand against us. And that includes against you."

This was something I had actively decided to not think about, I expected to have some loud argument with her at some point. But I seriously doubted it would help, we would most likely end up going separate ways eventually. I had already lost nearly all trust I had in her, even if she was still my mother.

"Honestly, I have no idea. If she ends up dying because of me I will probably never forgive myself, but the same goes if she ends up damning us all over some old romance she had before I was born. On that note, what is going to happen to Raspberry Tart?"

"You are a contractor, have been since you talked to Star Paladin Overdrive. I just confirmed it, and as such she hasn't broken any rules bringing your here. She will return to her post and be given back command to her squad. After you have left of course, she is currently assigned as your guide and as your contact."

That was the most ass backwards argument I had heard in my entire life. Steel Ranger politics I tell you, they make absolutely no sense. Still, there was something on my mind that I had forgotten to ask said adorable mare.

"The ponies or what not that attacked me, who are they?"

"I hoped you wouldn't ask that question."

"What? NOW you have to kill me?"

She raised an eyebrow in a confused look.

"No. It is however classified information."

"So you are just not going to tell me then?"

"As you are most likely going to get involved with them again if we don't explain why you shouldn't, and you have convinced me that you are trustworthy enough to keep military secrets. Well, this one at least. I'll tell you, on the condition you don't talk to anyone outside of the rangers regarding this subject."

"Sure. I promise."

"They call themselves the Enclave, a traitorous remnant of the old equestrian Skyguard. A highly militant, xenophobic and isolationist organization, there are entire towns they have razed just because somepony caught wind of their existence. And yes, they have enough firepower to do that. If you fear for your home, then avoid them at all costs."

"So they are pegasi then?"

"Yes, as far as we know they are all pegasi. And are the reason to why there barely are any pegasi in the wasteland, anyone they find are either indoctrinated or executed. In fact, you are the first confirmed pegasus we have encountered that wasn't part of the Enclave."

"Hold on, that can't be right? New Pegasus-"

"Is filled with changelings."

"WHAT?!"

"You didn't know? We have considered it an open secret, there is a reason to why the New Pegasus regiment couldn't secure the town. How do you wipe the bugs out if you don't even know who they are? And the locals refuse to cooperate? They are however less of a threat than either the mad mare at Fort Goldstar or the Enclave. Whenever get control over Vanhoover we can return and clear that place out properly."

"This is even more of a clusterfuck than I thought..." Then I had an epiphany. "Anything I can do to help?"

"Can you extract top secret project data from the Institute's maneframe network?"

"Ehhh.... I kind of left on bad terms and they never let me touch any of the important stuff. Even before I threatened the head of security and the head of robotics... So short answer is no. Any other way I could help, preferably something involving a thrilling adventure?"

For the first time in our discussion she smiled.

"There is, although I will have to confirm it with the Elder first."

They didn't let me wander the citadel unsupervised and Raspberry Tart really didn't want to show me a tour of the place. So apart from the mess hall and medical we mostly ended up just being in the room they have given me. Which would be utterly boring and slightly terrifying if I didn't have an apt distraction.

"Well, one thing is for sure. I understand why you are scared of her."

"Please tell me things didn't get out of hoof."

"Nah, went pretty well I think. No one shouted, no weapons fired, she even said straight out that she trusted me."

"She said what? Can't be right."

"Why not? Sure, she was hostile, stern and so on but she was a lot more tolerant after I showed a recording of me arguing with my grandfather. Guess she wanted to know why I was doing this."

"Honestly, she was probably thinking you were doing it to get my attention."

"What, why? What does she even care? Doesn't ponies like that have more important things to worry about?"

"She IS my mother."

"She WHAT??"

"And as she knows i prefer mares, she probably thought you were distracting me from my duties. It was fine when I was just trying to get the Star Paladin's attention, but then you showed up, I ended up breaking sensitive rules and well... You know the rest."

"So... What you are saying..."

"Yes?"

"I have a chance?"

The beige mare in front of me blinked in confusion. Then her cheeks flushed as she began realizing what I asked. Her voice was hesitant and meek as she answered.

"Maybe? If you grew up a bit."

The next morning she was staring at me curiously, and after breakfast she led me to the basement levels of the place.
Needless to say I was very interested in whatever had happened, and since she wasn't bringing it up I asked. Her answer sounded unsure and slightly irritated.

"I have no idea what you told the Star Captain but whatever it was, you have managed to give high command some dumb idea. The orders I got was to report to the Head Scribe for special equipment, get you your stuff back and then report back to my mother when ready."

"Huh? Hold on, what is going on?"

"Not sure, but it probably involves me escorting you somewhere is my guess."

We ended up in some large workshop filled with robed ponies working on all sort of tech, yet another deja vu in a short while. What drew my attention however, was the glittering blue stallion with a pipbuck on his leg. Standing in front of what appeared to be a winged suit of power armour that my assailants had worn.

I whistled as I walked up to the table it was suspended over.

"Oooh, so there is power armour for pegasi. Can I have one?"

"Ask your mother for one" Tart replied in a humorous tone.

"She would never let me have one!"

"Well, these are ours. My squad brought them down."

She turned to the crystal pony that I realized was an anomaly, they shouldn't exist outside of Stable 33 or the crystal empire as far as I knew.

"Crusader Raspberry Tart, sir. The zony is Windstriker, the private contractor."

He was for some reason quite amused by the whole situation and was the most relaxed steel ranger yet.

"Pleased to meet you miss Windstriker, quite a nasty fall you took back there. Your battle saddle got a bit mangled, we had to replace one of the gun barrels and tweaked the guns a bit. How in the world did you come across two antique trottingham machine guns? Of the Mk. 1 variety even!"

He was shaking my hoof more than a bit enthusiastically.

"Err... At Goldstar, and thanks for fixing my stuff. But... I got to ask. Who are you, how are you a crystal pony, where did you get the pipbuck from and what happened to the Crystal Empire??"

"I am Head Scribe Sapphire of the Vanhoover regiment of Steel Rangers, I was born one, I got it as a foal in the stable and I have absolutely no idea. Speaking of ideas, how did you know what a crystal pony is?"

"My childhood friend is a crystal pony, we got a whole bunch of them at home. What stable are you from? I didn't know there were any other places with crystal ponies outside of the Starlight Institute and the Empire."

"Stable 84, in the ruins of Liberty City. There were hundreds of crystal ponies living there during the war, for some reason it ended up being something of a popular place to settle down among those of my kin who didn't want to return home up north. The stable has been abandoned for over a decade, we all joined the rangers after that mess back a decade ago."

Raspberry Tart made a dramatic cough, the buck turned towards her.

"Yes?"

"The Star Captain is waiting, could you please arrange for us to get our gear ready?"

"Oh, it is in those lockers over there. The junior scribes can help you with ammunition and what not."

"That locker doesn't fit a suit of power armour, so where is it?"

"Being maintained and stored elsewhere, you aren't getting it at the moment."

Her eyes became thin and she sounded downright scary.

"Why not?"

"Special orders I am afraid, you will have to ask your superior about that. You are getting a Mk II combat armour and a pipbuck as a replacement. I took the liberty of replacing your AC 30 with something more practical for the occasion."

When we opened the lockers i was quite pleased by the sight of my machine guns, there wasn't a battle saddle but they were straight out giving me a new one for free. After scrounging out the stuff I looked into Tart's locker and wondered what she was distracted by. It was a gun, a very big gun. Easily the same size as that tall pegasus mare back at Goldstar was carrying.

"That is certainly something."

"A bit smaller than my preference, but it will have to do. Hopefully we won't run into something too durable."

"Hold on? It is freaking huge?"

"Not by ranger standards."

When we were fully suited up she insisted we went gun range (seriously, why did they have that indoors?). As they were giving us all the ammo we could carry and then some we were free to practice. It was then I noticed something, that rifle was belt fed. With seriously over sized bullets.

"That thing is a machine gun?? How are you supposed to carry it, all the ammo and fire without power armour?!"

She just smiled confidently at me, turned towards the targets and let loose a roar of gunfire.

When I was done covering my ears I looked at the targets, all of them decapitated at an even line by the throat.

"Not very practical." I pointed out.

Then she proceeded to somehow fire singular bullets with a machine gun and put one in the heads of each target.

"How?!"

"Practice. Now, let's give it a try with S.A.T.S. as well. Can you help me get this thing to work?"

I just stared at the black screen on her foreleg, the pipbuck had been off the whole time.

My companion was remarkably stiff and tense when we were back in her mother's office. Me on the other hoof, I was getting used to talking to scary mares in authority positions. So asked the question Tart hesitated with.

"So what in Celestia's name did you come up with that meant she can't have hear power armour?"

"A black ops mission."

"A what now?"

"Off the records, secret, against the rules."

"What, you need us to assassinate someone?"

"No, I need you to break into the M.A.S hub in Vanhoover, although the Van Hoof tower is also an option. We already have the M.W.T. hub under our control and the M.O.P. Hub is located in Tall Tale. Whatever the Ministry of Arcane Sciences worked on however, we only have vague names and rumours. Even the Canterlot hub only had limited data."

Huh, so that is what it was.

"And why do you think the two of us could do it if your entire army failed to reach the M.A.S. hub after a decade?"

"Because you are a local, and as far as anypony knows: Not affiliated with us. The local raider gangs are well supplied and never seem to throw out of fresh bodies to throw into the fray. You however can actually talk with them and infiltrate hostile territory, find a way inside, gather all data and any prototypes you find and bring them back."

"Care to tell us what we are looking for?"

"Project: Lightbringer. Any and all of them are relevant and helpful, but that one in particular. The project is a series of prototypes of next generation of weaponry, according to what we found in Canterlot it could have won the war if it had lasted a few years longer. And before you ask, we need it to get an edge on the Enclave."

"And my payment?"

"Name it."

"A suit of that power armour the enclave ponies had."

"Not a chance. We have spent years trying to get hold of Empyreal power armour."

"Then, nothing. At least at the moment. You will just have to owe me one."

Her eyes became thin as she grew very irritated at me in that moment. I wasn't going to back off though.

"Hey, you got nothing else that interests me. I got more than enough bits and caps, I don't need any weapons. Only thing I need is that I can trust you if my friends or family are in danger. Even from you. One favour, in case I need you to spare somepony or otherwise."

She facehoofed.

"Civilians... I rather get you the armour, but under current circumstances I can't."

"Hey, you're asking us to risk our lives doing some illegal zebra shit. And isn't the elder in on this?"

"All right, one favour. Just remember that there are limits to what we are willing to do."

It was about then we heard frantic knocking on the door. Tart looked worried, Steelheart was unphazed and clicked on the intercom. I couldn't make out what they was saying but then the door opened and a ranger in armour walked up, saluted and handed over a holotape. Then he just left.

"It seems that Steelhooves finally grew a backbone."

"Who is Steelhooves?"

I asked in confusion. Raspberry Tart was just as confused but seemed to recognize the name at least.

Then the older mare put the holotape in some add on to her terminal and I recognized the voice of DJPon3.

"...he civil war among the Steel Rangers rages on, from Trottingham to Baltimare. The bad news is that the rangers are the main obstacle for Red Eye's forces in Fillydelphia, so we can expect an increase of slaver activity on the east coast. The good news on the other hoof is that the Outcasts have established themselves properly and more than a few ponies have decided to lend a hoof. The Stable Dweller being one of those ponies of course, so they are well supplied and under the command of Elder Steelhooves they are expected to last. Remember kids, rangers in black and red are friendly. Rangers in grey are not."

OK, now that sounds like big news.

"... Does that mean what I think it means?"

"No, it does not. It is definitely an issue, but fortunately Star Paladin Earthquake is stationed as far from the region border as possible so he will most likely not learn of it until we call him here. By then you two will be far out in the field."

She looked at the mare by my side with the gentlest expression yet (which wasn't saying much).

"We knew this was an eventuality since before we left Manehattan, leave the politics to the senior officers."

The two of us had left the main building complex and walked down a slope, the night air was cool and gentle. Looking around I noticed they had really turned the place into a fortress with it being surrounded by concrete bastions with artillery guns and machine guns everywhere. As we walked down from the mountainside we had to walk on a really slow slope that snaked itself down and was covered by bastions manned by steel rangers. We went past dozens of the armoured ponies, and while they gave us looks nopony stopped us on the way out.

Enjoying the fresh air as I was finally out on the road again, no longer alone.

"Hold on a minute, did your mom just set up a date for us?"

The pretty mare next to me stopped in shock, stared at me for a whole minute.

"Not a chance! Nope, no way. Didn't happen!"

Then she began galloping down the road.

Reputation gained: Steel Rangers - Liked