They are so rare to find these days that you cannot help but enjoy them when you find them. I have just bitten into a perfectly ripe apple. The sweet juice is starting to fill my mouth. It is near heaven. Suddenly I am bucked on the side. My eyes pop open and I am looking into the face of a middle-aged yellow pony, with a graying mane, he is my corporal Bullet.

“Come on Molly, time to wake up and get ready to take the watch”. He says as he taps me in the side with his forehoof.

Oh, Celestia how I hate having such a good dream interrupted.

“Ok Bull, I am getting up,” I tell him and he catches me as I start to lay back down. This time he grabs the thin blanket that is shared by those of us in the watch post and pulls it off of me.

“Dang it, Bullet couldn’t you have let me have had at least a few more minutes of sleep?”

“Sorry Molly, but you know better than that, besides what kind of example would you be setting for the junior troopers”.

I slowly get up and start to look around. I see that the sky is its usual gloomy overcast through the window. The room has two mattresses on the floor and a small cook stove in it. The paint is peeling in several areas as well as a poster showing a yellow mare on it. Above her picture is printed the words: War, we must do better than this. But like so much else it seems a large part of the picture is missing.

I walk over to the washbasin next to a broken mirror to clean up, looking in the mirror I see looking back at me a mid-twenties red bay mare with a white snip over one nostril and a star on her forehead that could be seen as either a question mark or dragons head in its pattern. I prefer the latter. It also looks like I need to rebleach my mane when I get back to the stable, I usually do this to maintain a yellow mane with a black stripe through it. I guess a mare has to have some vanities.

I look toward the stove and see the water boiling in a pot and ask “What's for breakfast and how long will it be before it is done?” like all of us on picket duty manning the guard post in our district we take rations with us and cook them as we can.

In a slightly exasperated voice Bullet replies, “Mollygirl, why do you ask that every morning? You know we have not had a chance to scavenge lately so as usual, it is oatmeal.”

Bullet and I have known each other since I was a young foal. He is ten years older than me and at one time was married and had a daughter. His daughter Bee Bee was captured by raiders or slavers and dragged away. He has not been the same since. Like me, he too still had blank flanks when he was drafted.

Over the years he has become like an older brother or to be honest, even more like a father to me. That was also the raid in which I lost my mother. I held her dying in my hooves telling her over and over I loved her and begging her not to leave. That is how he found me. This came after losing my father two years earlier to taint poisoning. Bullet saved me and helped me keep sane during those terrible times.

Perhaps his loss also helps to explain how I was able to advance in the local guard above him even though I am younger. While he is a Corporal, I am his Sergeant. We have always had each other’s back. We have been through a lot together and I was there the day he gained the scar above his right eye and both of us ended up getting our right ears notched, however, mine was much deeper and stands out more.

“Anything interesting happen while I was out?” I ask.

“No, not really. Things are still fairly quiet like they have been the last couple weeks, and that has me worried,” he replies.

“Bull, do not let a good thing worry you. I know you have been on edge ever since you, Badger, and Shadowbuck thought you saw that flight of Pegasi. It has been a very long time since any were seen around here, but still, a few of them had to survive the war. Granted I do not know how they could have survived the destruction of Cloudsdayle, I mean it had to have been hit at least as hard if not harder than Baltimare”

“Molly, I know it’s not as if they are going to just drop down on our heads or anything, it just has me worried that after all these years they suddenly are seen again, and they do not try to make contact. It is almost like they are doing scouting missions or something”.

“Bull, I understand where you are coming from, but if there is anything for us to be concerned about the Overmare and Overcow in Manesville will let us know. Who knows even DJ Pon3 might give us a heads up on the radio. By the way, did he have anything interesting to say last night?”

“No, not really. He mentioned something about a toaster repair pony, which was a bit different for him, but just the usual information, most of it pertaining to around Manehatten or Fillydelphia.”

“Ok, I guess after we finish breakfast you can stand down for a bit before we go relieve Badger and Shadowbuck. We just have to make sure we leave them enough for breakfast and try to keep it warm for them. Any word from the rest of the squad at the other checkpoint?”

“No nothing from them, but I am sure Ivy would give us a heads up, or we would hear gunfire if they had a problem” Bullet replied.

After we have our breakfast, we help each other put on our battlesaddles. Bullet’s has a good sharpshooting rifle attached as well as a pistol. Mine has a carbine instead of a rifle. But I also have a pistol. Being earth ponies, we cannot levitate the weapons like unicorns, so instead, we have learned to use a set of mechanical arms that ended in talons like those that a griffin would have. We topped this off with our helmets and barding, both a subdued brown in color. These display our ranks on the shoulders of them. We also both wear PipBucks, that marvelous invention that puts a computer, a targeting system, and a health monitor on your foreleg. Full battle rattle as those of us in the guard call it.

We leave the shack and walk down the road for a couple of hundred yards to find Badger and Shadowbuck both leaning against one of the barriers that block the road. Both have a bored, disinterested look on their faces. Badger straightens up as we approach and lets Shadowbuck know we are approaching.

As we get closer, I cannot help myself and have to say it “Badger, how many times do I have to remind you to wear your helmet while you are on watch." I pause as he starts to fumble with it, then I continue "One of these days you are going to get yourself either hurt or all of us in trouble if the Overmare or the officers find out”.

“Come on Sarge” he replies, with a bit of a sigh, “Do you really think that she would ever come all the way out to Dairyanne? Besides I had it on most of the night and just took it off a bit ago, go ahead and ask Shadowbuck”.

“Hey don’t drag me into this I have had enough of my own troubles,” Shadowbuck replies back as he tugs at his helmet with his forehoof.

I have to give Badger a bit of a hard time, just for the sake of the game. I know he understands. What I do not think he knows is how much I like him. He is an interesting stallion that while old enough that he has grayed out with his mane and tail becoming a steel gray contrasting his dark gray coat. His cutie mark still intrigues me as it is a crossed saber and wrench. How he is still in the guard also surprises me as since the first time I met him he has been a bit lame on his left hind leg. My guess is it has to do with his being a tinkerer. He likes to take things apart and figure out how they work. That is part of why we have a functioning radio in the guard shack now. The funny thing is, that for some reason I find myself attracted to him. Bullet is closer to my age and all I feel is friendship and a sense of family for him, but Badger… well, that is a pony of another color, I guess.

“Anything interesting happening out here?” I ask Badger and Shadowbuck more out of routine than curiosity.

“Other than seeing a couple of enfield playing down by the creek over that way, not much.” Replies Shadowbuck.

"I think they had something cornered for a bit. I heard them yipping and saw one of them swoop down upon a couple of mice I think. I was wanting to see if anything in that area may have spooked them.” Badger says.

It is good to hear that the enfields are starting to return. They look very much like a fox; however, their front legs are talons like a griffin and they have wings like a pegasus. According to one of the old nature books I found in the stable, they used to be as common as red foxes in this area. If they are coming back, maybe the land is starting to heal itself finally. To tell the truth, I had thought that they had gone the way of the Pegasi, and were either all gone, or were living above the clouds. Of course, from what I understand the Pegasi consider them pests like rats or parasprites, so they did not even like to talk about them.

As we watch a couple of enfield pups come out of the woods and start to play before they are chased back into cover by one of their elders. Usually, very reserved Shadowbuck suddenly looks at Badger and tells him “You know Badger, you better watch out, the next thing you know Memory will be bringing one or two of those things home as pets.”

Badger looking kind of sheepish replies back “Yeah, I know, you'd think she thought she was a descendant of Fluttershy the way she tries to adopt animals. “

I am so surprised by this I look at Badger “No, you have to be kidding me”. This is a side of memory I had not heard about.

“Sarge, I can hardly believe it myself sometimes. I do not care how rough of shape she is in, she still has a soft spot for animals and foals,” Is his reply, then he remembers something and adds, “Oh, almost forgot we had another couple of caravans come through last night on their ways towards Manesville. Nothing major, just some scavengers and a couple of refugees.”

“At least it was not any of those damn slavers again. I am so sick and tired of them thinking we might be interested in doing business with them.” I hear Bullet say and then he spits into the dirt.

We continue to exchanged pleasantries for a little while more, including letting them know that they have a hot meal waiting for them. Both thank Bullet for getting it ready for them as they both know I am not a real cook. I watch them both wander back to the guard shack. That dang limp of Badgers making it easy to tell them apart even when they get into the shadows.

After an hour, we see a guarded caravan in the distance approaching our checkpoint. Bullet covers me from behind the barricade as I approach the wagon. I have my carbine at the carry and put up a single hoof. “Whoa,” I tell them. “Where are all headed to?” I ask the driver of the first wagon.

“Howdy, we are heading up to the co-op in Manesville. Who are you?” The old grizzled driver asks me back.

“I am Sargent Mollygirl with Co-op Guard, who are you? Where are you coming from and what is your load?”

“Well, sergeant,” he says with some disdain “I am Wheeler, and I am carrying some trade goods from Mega Mart down in the Hoof to exchange for some of your cheese and other supplies. I hope that is a good enough answer for you. “

“Do you mind if I do a quick inspection of your wagons sir?” I ask.

“Mind? Sure I mind, but I suppose I would get turned away if I refused. I am not letting Bottlecap dock my pay for that again. So, go ahead, but make it snappy.”

I perform a quick search of the back end of the wagons. I see some food articles, as well as several crates of weapons and ammunition. But nothing that would prevent us from letting them through.

“Everything looks good sir, thank you for your time." I tell him then I call with a wave of my hoof, "Alright, Bullet, let them through."

The wagons begin to move and I watch them pass on into Dairyanne and continue on toward Manesville in the distance. Damn, I forgot to try and trade for a bottle of Wild Pegasus or perhaps one of the bottles of Old Overmare that I saw a case of.

A couple more hours pass with the sky getting somewhat less gloomy. This gives me and Bullet plenty of time to just sit, think, and talk.

“Just think Bullet, only another couple of days up here on the picket line and we get rotated back to the Stable back by Manesville for a couple of weeks. It seems like it has been too long”.

“I have to agree with you there Molly. It will be nice to get back there again. I am looking forward to having meals prepared for us again, as well as showers and a dry bunk. But to tell you the truth, I still just do not feel comfortable going in there at times. I do not know how those poor ponies could have handled being locked in there like they were. Imagine the terror they had to have felt when after a century of being locked in they had to open the doors because they lost their last water purifying talisman.”

It has been over one hundred years since that fateful decision had to be made by our then Overmare and Overcow. They were not the ones who had been hoofpicked by Stable-Tec before the door closed, but their granddaughters. Twilight Hope was that Overmare’s name. Bertha, the Overcow’s. They were stunned by what was found when the stable door was opened, the skeletons of dead ponies and cattle many who had been trying to get in as the magical radiation overtook them from the balefire bomb blasts that hit near Manesville. Others came later as the survivors of those blasts spread out toward the plains and the big river to try and find safety.

Twilight Hope had two teams of her security forces make the initial foray to scout the area and make contact with any of the survivors who may have been in the area. These two teams were the foundation for our local guard unit. Stable 48 was no longer able to function on its own, but instead, become a base of operations and headquarters for the local communities. We blended the stable occupants in with the local populations giving both a needed diversity in their bloodlines as well as binding them together in their bid for survival. This was bolstered by the stable's ability to grow apples, hay, and other foods which it shared with those communities it allied with.

As we continue to stand the watch, I became excited as I see what is all too rare an occurrence for these last couple of centuries. I see the clouds in one section of the sky part, and bright light that must be sunlight shows through. Excitedly I tug on Bullet and point. “Look Bullet, look, sunlight. Celestria have mercy, perhaps the skies will clear finally.”

He quickly turns his head, looks at it, and says “Mollygirl, please do not get your hopes up. That is not normal, look, those clouds are closing up already” We sit there for a couple more minutes and he looks at me than at the ground “Molly, I have a very bad feeling about this”.

The rest of our picket duty goes by without anything of note occurring. Unfortunately, Bullet's feeling of unease also begins to get to me as well. However, I try to not let it get me down, as we are rotating back to the stable just in time for the annual Opening day celebration. This is the day our local communities celebrate the doors of Stable 48 having opened up and our beginning to work with our local neighbors to not only survive but to try and improve all of our lots.

In addition to the typical Overmare, our stable also has an Overcow. This is because about a quarter of the original stable's population was made up of dairy cattle. In a way, it made sense, because if some of our grass stores or grain had gotten moldy, they could still eat it and survive. Plus, we could consume surplus milk and make cheese that way.

Part of our celebration is a big party that includes apple cider as well as a potluck dinner. There will also be a cake box auction, where mares and cows prepare cakes and then the local males bid on them. Most of the time the bucks try to get the one that some little filly they have their eye on, or their sweethearts have made. Other times it is because of who is the best baker.

The best part, in my opinion, is the dance. For the dance, we get some of our local musicians to play for us. Those of us in the Guard will wear our formal attire or the best we have. Most of the Bucks and some of the mares wear their dress uniforms. Occasionally one of the mares will surprise everyone and turn up in a dress that she had found or traded for. I am so looking forward to this. I have a couple of bucks that I have my eye on, and I do love to dance. The rest of our squad will be there and I was always guaranteed at least one dance with each of them.

One thing about Stable 48 is that it was very fortunate when our door shut because we had unknowingly been made a seed repository. We had more bags of bluegrass and ryegrass than you could shake a stick at. Both of which grew well in shady environments. We also had my favorite, fescue, but that requires a lot of light so it is grown inside the stable primarily. I heard there are some drought-resistant types also, but while they might grow in shade or in lower light they just did not grow as much.

The first thing I do when I get back to the shelter of the stable is remove my PipBuck and turn it into the armory along with my weapons.

While the PipBucks are very handy we do not have enough for everyone in the community anymore. Most of them are saved for higher officials such as the Overmare and Overcow and the guard members. We try to baby them as much as possible because whenever one can not be repaired, we lose its use forever. All of our guard officers and noncoms have them. When on a mission and whenever possible when on picket duty we try to ensure all of the ponies in our squads have one. When we return from a mission we always turn them in for maintenance.

Next, I go back to my stall. It is not very fancy, but it is clean. Each of us has a single bed, a large locker, and a desk with a chair and light. I share my stall with three other ponies but only one is there when I get there.

Her name is Emerado. She is currently a headquarters pony. This means she rarely goes out into the field anymore.

Emerado is a light gray and white mare with a red mane and tail. Her cutie mark is three barrels with a guidon crossing between them. She came to us with an adopted son who is now grown. His name is Republic and he visits her now and again but he tends to prefer to work in the hayfields and harvesting grass seeds to being around those of us in the guard.

“Hey Em, how is it going for you, anything interesting going on?” I ask her.

“Hi Moll, things are going ok, the usual," She replies quickly then thinks for a second before she continues on, "Not much going on other than we are getting more reports from the outpost of isolated Pegasus sightings.”

“What?" I ask incredulously, "Do you mean Bullet and the rest of our squad were not imagining things?”

“Honestly, Mollygirl, I cannot say. I will tell you that the Overmare and Overcow are starting to be concerned about something. But enough about that. What are you wearing to the celebration tonight?” she asks to change the subject.

Smiling I look at my friend and tell her “Since this is not really an official function, I found this little black dress with some pink trim. I hope to turn a few eyes if not heads. How about you I ask?’

Shaking her head Emerado looks at me smiling and replies “What else, my best uniform.” You know I really do not care if I turn any heads from the stallions or the mares. “

Laughing lightly, I smile at her as I put one hoof on her shoulder, and tell her “Yes, I know all too well my friend, but I just want to see you happy and enjoy yourself. If that makes you happy so be it. By the way, do you think Republic will be there? I have not seen the young buck for too long. I hope he has been doing well”.

It is then that our other two stallmates, Nugget and Ivy arrive. Nugget is a slender, solid blood red mare. Two fouls and she still has her school horse figure, I really do not know how she does it. She is in a different troop than Ivy and me, so her rotation schedule varies from ours. Ivy has a dark brown coat, with a white blanket on her hindquarters, golden eyes, and freckles, and is a bit heavier set. Ivy is the corporal in the other section of my squad, which is why she has just come back in from the field too. Her section was stationed at a different outpost outside of Dairyanne from mine. Hers being closer to the old railroad tracks and bridges.

As we head into the showers to get cleaned up from our time in the field Ivy asks me, “Mollygirl, have you heard who is representing us this year in the cavalry competitions?”

“No Ivy, all I know is this year I am glad I do not have the duty so I can watch. It has been a while since I last got the chance. Besides, I have come to really enjoy watching the blank flanks more than the old-timers, they seem so much more intense and really try just for the sheer joy of it.”

“Molly, really, come on, you know how many of those youngsters are just hoping that it will make their cutie marks show, after all, isn’t that what brought both yours and Bullets out?”

“Well, I, uh, ok, sure that is how it happened for both of us, but look at Em, it did not bring hers out. Heck, she was just exercising and showing off when she got hers. Besides I waited for how many extra years to get mine?” I so do not want to talk about that. It still hurts having been called a blank flank for all those years and watching the others move on with their lives. Who would have thought it would come when it did. After all, I got mine after completing my training for the guard and during a competition amongst other troopers.

What a night that was for me. Instead of the normal celebration that most foals get, I was old enough they gave me a wetting down party like we had when one of us got promoted. My head hurt for a week after all the hard cider and Old Overmare I downed that night, the first time drinking for me. It was a night of first that was for sure. I still remember the next morning when I woke up and was cuddled up to a handsome buck that I had had my eye on for some time. I still remember Jester and his yellow coat and short cut yellow and black mane and tail. That and his cutie mark of an anvil.

He still is the blacksmith in the next village over and it was almost worth the three weeks extra duty and restriction to quarters when not on duty I got for being late to muster that next morning. I think the only reason I did not get kicked out of the guard then and there was because someone pulled some reins for me and got the penalties reduced, I have always suspected Bullet may have had something to do with that, but was never able to get him to discuss it, much less admit it. Sure, I might have been a draftee, but it sure beats pulling a plow or separating seeds from the grass stalks as far as I am concerned.

Once we get back to our room, we get ourselves back into our best uniforms and head for the drill field. It is here that every year we get to see the new class of trainees take their oath of service to protect our stable and communities. This helps to remind us of our oaths as well as bring them further into the herd of the Guard. While those of us in the guard stand behind them in formation, we are far from the only witnesses. A large part of the local community shows up to observe this ceremony from the grandstands on the side. Ponies, mules, and cows of all ages and occupations attend the beginning of our Opening Day celebration. This has long been a tradition and reminds the locals of our sworn obligation to protect and defend our community.

This year the class is slightly larger than the last couple, but what surprises me is that not only do we have more cows than usual but we also have a couple of mules. While not common, we do have some come through occasionally. Usually, though mules tend to work in our communities in medical and scientific roles or in logistics. Four of them at one time surprises me even more than the 10 bulls and cows that also take their oaths.

After this, next comes a series of competitions that not only involve the Guard, but also the civilians. One of my favorites is watching the local fire departments use a hose to try and push a large ball suspended on a cable and trolley, back and forth with a solid stream of water, until one of the groups are able to push it past the other. Ponies are on the hose and nozzle while others are pumping for the life of them on their pumper wagons to try and get the most pressure out of their hose.

There are also the usual races among the foals that include relay races, hurdles, and even obstacle races such as barrel racing. These are followed by the cavalry completions which include long-range rifle, and pistol shooting, as well as saber and lance use. That last one is how I got my cutie mark. I never imagined I would be so good with a saber and especially with the lance, but my first year competing proved that to all.

Next, the stable Overmare and Overcow, both give the normal Opening day speech followed by the mayor of Manesville. Each year our local communities rotate which mayor speaks, giving each their recognition as leaders in our community. After this speech, we have a brief ceremony of lowering the flag to half-mast for all those who died in the war and since. We read a list of those of our local communities who have passed in the last year and then return the flag to full staff. After this is when the fun really begins, we get to eat the best feast of the year, followed by the dance. In the years that it rains, we hold it inside the stable atrium, but when the weather is clear like it is this year, we hold it by the parade grounds with one of our local bands providing entertainment and music from the same stage that the speeches were given from earlier.

After our big pot luck, I run back to the stable along with Nugget and Ivy. There all three of us help each other get ready for the dance tonight. It is both fun and yet kind of strange to see each other in something other than our uniforms or normal wear.

For me, I had saved bottle caps for months to buy a little black dress with pink trim as well as a pink bow to go with it.

“Nugget, can you help zip up the back of my dress?” I ask.

“Sure Mol, but I will need a hoof too," she tells me.

“Ivy, can you help me braid my mane while I put this ribbon on Molly’s tail?” Nugget asks.

“Sure love,” Ivy replies, "give me a second to finish putting this bow in my forelock”.

All three of us try to help as quickly as we can. Laughing and enjoying ourselves as we make ourselves look as pretty as we can before we head back to the dance. While I love this, part of me does ask, is it worth the hassle. In a corner of my mind I do wonder if perhaps Em is onto something, it would be much easier to just stay in uniform. But Damn, we do look good. Manesville look out, here we come.

This year the band is the Hayseeds. While not the level of quality we normally hear on the radio being broadcast from DJ pony, they are about the best around here. Their music is often a bit different from what we hear on the radio with a bit more stringed instruments and a more backcountry sound to them. Granted they do their best to also play some of the songs that DJ pony broadcast also. Overall it makes for a good time.

We make it back as the band is setting up. I quickly look around to see who all I know is there. Many of the civilians, as well as the troopers, are milling about talking to their fellows. Here and there they are interspersed talking to each other. Over to one side is Emerado looking dashing in her military green jacket and hat, talking to her adopted son Republic.

While I had thought that he too would follow in the “family” tradition of joining the guard, it turns out to be not to his taste. I kind of knew that the day he came in from the fields all excited tugging on Em and hopping up and down, almost screaming “look momma, look, I got it, my cutie mark, I love it.” As he showed her his flank with what looked like a patch of long grass that had gone to seed. While he was officially Emerado’s colt by adoption, he had been almost like our own to all of us in the squad until that time. We all still care about him, but as our paths separated, we drifted apart and just do not see him as often as we used to.

As I watch the scene, I see Bullet stop by with a mug of cider and talk to them for a bit and I consider joining them. It is then that I see Badger show up with Whisky and Memory. It is funny but these three, when not working, are almost always together. Their relationship is a strange one, even for those in the wastelands or on the borderlands, but it seems to work for them. Whiskey is our local apothecary, as well as a volunteer for the local fire team. He is a very light gray unicorn with a dark blue and black mane and tail, which is always immaculately taken care of. He was also at one time a mare. Take note foals, be careful when working with magic, accidents can happen. Badger had been married to Whiskey back then, and she had been known as Tequila. Interestingly enough Whiskey’s gender may have changed, but not his cutie mark, which remained a mortar and pestle.

Seeing Memory hurts in a way that is hard to describe for me. She is now a frail, white, earth pony with a dark brown mane and tail that are starting to go gray. She is also starting to thin. She used to be very full of life and was always trying to help others. Two growing seasons ago she was diagnosed by the Manesville hospital doctor as being terminally ill due to taint. Badger was there when she was told that no matter what they did, magically, or physically, there is no hope of a cure. Even super healing potions are powerless against what ails her. As his sergeant and friend, I have talked to him about this quite a bit. She was once Badger's mate and still remains one of his best friends. She is also what keeps me from trying to be his mare. I know her and like her and do not want to cause her any more pain. However, I have also known Badger far longer and have been attracted to him since before he got with Memory, but by then it was too late. BUCK, ME, why can’t my life be simpler?

Instead of going over right away and talking to them, I follow Ivy and Nugget over to the bar and get a mug of hard cider. Celestia, I feel I am going to need it. It is about then that I also see Jester standing there talking to Shadowbuck. He politely smiles, raises his mug to me, and continues to talk. I begin to wonder if I made a mistake getting all dolled up like a proper mare. Well, I am still going to have a good time tonight I decide.

About this time the Hayseeds are ready to start playing. Their lead singer is a pretty little filly named Lulubelle. She has a medium blue mane and tail with a light blue coat, which sets so well with her dress. They play several of the older songs including some of my favorites. They even try to play one of the new ones that DJ Pony had said is by some mare called Velvet Remedy, it is ok, but does not sound anywhere near as good as when Velvet sings it.

I dance to several of these songs. The first one with Bullet. I miss thinking of him as dad instead of my corporal and friend. I also sneak in a dance with Jester and Shadowbuck as well as Nugget, Ivy, and surprisingly to me, Emerado.

After a while, LuluBelle stands on the stage and says “Mares and Gentlecolts, Cows, and Bulls, if I may have your attention. Tonight, we have a new song that we would like to introduce to all of you. It is based on a journal entry in the form of a letter from the first Overmare of Stable 48, Twilight Dawn to her husband, who was in service and could not get to the stable. The journal entry was found by our friend Magpie as she was going through the archives, and shows how much it affected our original stable dwellers before the came back out. It means a lot to us and we hope you enjoy it”.

A hauntingly beautiful and slow melody begins to play on the string instruments as she sings

Last night I had the dream again, I held you in my hooves,
I had not yet ordered that blasted door closed, A widow not yet made
I can hear your voice, and feel your kiss. I remember your embrace.
But today I feel all 27 years as tears run down my face.

My love you’re not forgotten, in my heart you’ll always stay
My love you’re not forgotten, we’ll meet again someday

The daughter we made is now all grown, a pride I cannot hide.
A piece of you from outside this jail and a present from beyond your grave.
I know she would make you beam with all that she has become
A constant reminder of the sacrifice you had to make that last day.

My love you’re not forgotten, in my heart you’ll always stay
My love you’re not forgotten, we’ll meet again someday

I still can hear the sirens wail, the flashes of light so bright

Once my life was so well planned, I thought I could have it all
Such pride and plans were all consumed in a balefire flaming ball
But those griffins of war leashes we let loose and now we suffer the fall

My love you’re not forgotten, in my heart you’ll always stay
My love you’re not forgotten, we’ll meet again someday

Last night I had the dream again, I held you in my hooves,

I had not yet ordered that blasted door closed, A widow not yet made

After this song, we are all transfixed for a couple of minutes as the impact of what that had to be like hits us. I feel tears in my eyes for poor Twilight Dawn and her beloved stallion that she lost. I can only imagine how she felt knowing she could not leave the stable, no matter how bad she wanted to, because the radiation and the after-effects of the megaspells would kill her and her stable.

At this point, they start to play some higher tempo songs with more positive messages. After a while and another mug of cider, the band announces that the next dance will be a waltz. Oh, Luna how I love a waltz, but who will I dance it with, ok where is Bullet? He is the one who taught me how to waltz originally, but no, here comes Badger.

He comes over and asks me to dance the next one with him and then proceeds to lead me onto the “dance floor” As the music begins to play and we begin to move to the music I recognize the song. It cannot be more perfect to me; Poor Colts Delight begins to play.

It is like a dream to me. Almost too perfect. We continue to dance and to turn in circles under that dark cloudy sky with only a slight bit of moonlight occasionally breaking through. But still, I could not be happier. Then the song ends. At which point I touch my muzzle to Badgers check and give him a light kiss and say, "Thank you."

“No Mollygirl, I thank you, you have done an old stallion’s heart good my dear.” He then reaches out takes my front hoof in his and lightly kisses it then says “I have to go, Memory is getting worn out and I have to get her home”. He then turns and goes over to where Whiskey and Memory are seated and leaves with Memory, helping to steady her as she walks.

My heart both soars and sinks at the same time, but I still have to thank Celestia for giving me the gift of that dance. I stay and dance some more. Several times with a Jack mule who really is named Jack, he is very intelligent to talk to and very sure-footed on the dance floor, I also dance a time or two with Whiskey. However, I am also still drinking hard cider and probably should have stopped earlier as I am starting to feel it. Finally, I dance with Emerado again before I head back to the stables and bed.

In the morning I slowly wake up. I feel someone in bed with me. I see the gray coat and start to nuzzle it, telling Badger "Oh Celestia how I have wanted to do this with you before. You do not know how much you mean to me”.

I then hear a throat clear. My eyes open fully and I am looking up into the face of Emerado.

“Oh, Buck me. I am so sorry Em,” I quickly tell her.

“You should be Mollygirl. For Luna's sake, you come in here drunk, climb into my bed, granted it was nice to have someone to snuggle with, and then you not only wake up nuzzling me but calling me the wrong name. Really, we tried this before and you know it does not work for me. My barn door just does not swing either way”.

“I am so very sorry Emerado, I mean I didn’t try anything else did I, I mean, I …” I stammer. It was then I hear two other ponies trying to hold back laughter, but neither of them can hold it in. Nugget is laughing so hard she almost falls out of her bunk. Oh my Celestia. I am never going to live this down. This is worse than the day I was late for muster. Looking down, at least I still have my dress on.

Hello all my listening fans, this is DJ Pon3. For all my friends in the back 48, this song is for you. Here is Silent Running.

Again Thank you to KKat for Creating the world of Fallout Equestria and Somber and Fuzzy VeeVee for adding to it.

A continued thanks to my test readers. I have since performed some additional editing for this chapter. To my new readers, I hope it makes the story easier and more enjoyable to read. For my older readers, if you are rereading it, I hope you enjoy the minor changes.

New readers, the story starts out somewhat slow as I want to not only introduce you to the characters but to a part of Equestria that was rarely seen, the Heartlands that have since become the Wastelands.

I chose to go with the song dedications at the end of the chapters as one of the aspects of most good games is a soundtrack. This also lets me show some of the emotions and thoughts of other characters from their own perspectives instead of just from Mollygirls. For those who would like to listen to the dedication song at the end of the chapter, the YouTube link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddi2TBnzdPo