Chapter 32 Down Below

“Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean I'll miss you until we meet again!” -Anonymous

In the morning we wake before dawn, we pack our kits and begin our trek west. I am approached by Blondie, “LT, just to the west of that village is a small farm, I would like to stop at, my son is there.”

“Blondie, normally I would say no, but to tell the truth, if it is not far out of the way, I say let’s do it. Besides, I want to meet the little guy, whether he is family or not.”

At first, she frowns when she thinks I am going to deny her, but then smiles. “Thanks LT.”

Just after this, I am approached by Xavier and Xochitl, “LT, I hear this is an entire village of zebras, could me and Xochitl please visit it?”

“So, what you are saying is that you and Xochitl would like to recon the village for supplies for us. You may also inquire to see if anypony, excuse me, any zebra is familiar with the area leading to the caves under the mountain.”

I see realization come over his face, “Ah, yes, LT, I would like to recon it with Xochitl if I may.”

Then I hear Ginger from behind, “Xavier, could I go with you too? I have never seen a village of all zebras before.”

I can tell he is thinking about it. “Well, that would be up to the sergeant and the LT. But if they do not mind, I have no issues with it either.”

To the rest of the troops, I let them know once are we at Glyphmark, we will pass by it and rest about half a klick beyond it for a half hour or so and then continue on to the farm where Blondies son is. In part, this is so the locals do not feel we are a threat. Once there, I see what looks like an old factory surrounded by shacks. As Xavier and the youngsters split off and head into town, I wave to some of the locals who are outside watching us. Above us, I see Sunset and Choo Choo flying high. Then I notice that Firefly is once again walking next to Dusty and talking with her.

Sunset then calls down to me that in the distance he sees a small caravan approaching on the road from Ponyville to Glyphmark. We fade off of the road and into the brush. As they get closer, we see that they are not so much a caravan, as a traveling show. I notice their unusual coats of black or brown and white as well as manes and tails. They look like someone drew a paintbrush across them. All of them also have a large amount of hair around their feet.

Sunset lands next to me. “Looks like Gypsy ponies LT. Better make sure we do not leave any equipment unattended.” He tells me.

“Ok, what are Gypsy ponies?” I ask him.

“Ma’am, they are rift raft that will steal you half blind given a chance. At least that is what they say.” He answers, then continues, “But they can put on a good show at night as well as do a few things like reading your fortune from cards or the marks on you forehooves. Sometimes they even sell liquor, either homemade or what they have found.”

“Interesting. Should we stop them, or maybe even point them in the direction of camp?”

“My choice would be to let them go to Glyphmark and to avoid them right now.” He tells me, and with which I agree.

After they pass, we get up and continue on our way to the farm. It is located ten klicks away from Glyphmark and sits back inside the woods making it difficult to see from the main road. We make our way to the main house following Blondie. She knocks on the door and there is no answer. I can see her become slightly nervous. I have everypony set up a perimeter. Blondie then goes and checks the barn next, again, nothing, now she is starting to get upset. Finally, from behind some bushes, I see a door leading underground open and out comes a couple along with several foals. The adults are a mare and stallion, both unicorns. They have two unicorn and one earthpony foal. Then from behind them comes bounding a pegasus foal that I can only assume is Blondie's son as he runs over to her and launches himself against her neck, screaming “Mommy!” as he does so.

I see one of her rare displays of gentleness then, as she takes him in her forehooves and hugs him. She then carries him on her back over to me as the rest of the troops come back over to us. I see the look on both Trouble’s and Sunset’s faces. There is a tenderness there.

Blondie then introduces them to her foal, “Sunset, Trouble this is my son, Sunny Water, or just Sunny for short. Sunny these are two of mommies dearest friends, they are the stallions I named you after.”

He climbs off her back and shyly approaches them. He extends a hoof, “It is a pleasure to meet you both.” he says.

I watch as both of the stallions approach and shake hooves with him. I see a tear in the corner of Trouble’s eye. I also notice Sunny’s body color and how much his facial build looks like Troubles. I think her only doubt was caused by his being a pegasus.

After the initial introduction, She introduces us to the family who lives there. I ask the father, “Sir, I do not mean to sound ignorant, but how can you grow crops here so close to Canterlot, while the ground in Glyphmark cannot?”

He smiles. “To tell the truth, I am not sure, but it seems that we are just beyond the dead zone from it. I mean our crops aren’t as good as they might could be, but we get enough to survive on and sell a little extra to the folk over yonder in Glyphmark.”

We talk with the family and I see both Trouble and Sunset spending time with little Sunny. The others are sitting on the front porch relaxing and enjoying the break in routine. After a while, I walk up to Blondie. “I hope they did not disappoint you. They both really seem to be enjoying that little colt of yours.”

She smiles, “Actually, I am stunned at how well both of them took to him. I think I was right to name him after both of them. I only wonder why they left me and if they are going to do it again. I do not want to see Sunny hurt.”

“Blondie, why don’t you ask them. I know it really tore up Trouble when he lost his family before he met you. I still am not sure about whether Sunset ever had family though. He does not talk about it, and I learned a long time ago, not to ask.” I tell her.

“I will do that. He is a good colt, and I would love to give him at least one good father.” She admits to me.

With a slight smile I tell her, “Look at it this way, even if you and them do not get back together, I am sure they will be glad to help raise him.”

Xavier returns to us with two zebras. One is in his mid to late teens, the other is about the age of Xochitl. Xavier introduces them to me, “LT, this is Xenophon” as he points to the older of the two, “And this one is Ximena.” As he says this, I notice the younger is a mare and the older a stallion. Both show scarring and are dirty. However, both have a fierce pride in their eyes,
He continues, "They have agreed to guide us to the tunnel entrance. However, it will require that we pay them also.”

“Makes sense to me Xavier, have you discussed their fee yet?” I ask as I look at both of them.

The older of the two steps forward. “Yes LT, we have discussed it, fifty caps each, and any weapons we find that we can carry.”

I am stunned by this high price and let them know, “That seems rather steep for only leading us a few klicks, and where do you think you will find weapons. You certainly are not taking any of my troop's weapons.”

Xavier steps in, “Ma’am, they will lead us to the tunnel and then accompany us until we return. The weapons they are asking for, they feel will be inside.”

“Ah, so this will allow them to scout out possible supplies also?” I ask.

“Yes LT, exactly, we do not have much yet in Glyphmark, every little bit helps.”

I stick out my forehoof, “Deal, welcome to the herd.” I tell them.

I see the stunned look on their faces and am afraid I have insulted them. Then I hear Xavier, “Mollygirl, I hope you do not mean that lightly, as to us herd is as important as family.”

“Xenophon, Ximena, when you are under my command, you are herd. Once we leave you may feel free to return home, but also understand you are also welcome to the Co-op and my dinner table there.”

It is getting late by now and I notice that we only have another two hours of daylight. Being close to Canterlot makes me want to continue on, but I also do not like the idea of traipsing around in the dark. So, I ask the farmer and his wife if we may stay here, in the barn for the night. They do offer to let us sleep in the house as they tend to sleep more in the underground shelter more as of late. We gladly take them up on this, however, I let my troops know we are restricted to the front room and dining room.

The scouts laying out their bedrolls in the front room and the 1^st squad in the dining room. I notice our two new temporary scouts have bedded down near Xavier and Xochitl. As the sun goes down, we light some candles. One of the troopers puts DJ Pon3 on their PipBuck and I am reminded of a night not so long ago, that I shared with a few of these troopers. I am not sure whether to laugh or cry when one of them breaks out a bottle of Old Overmare and begins to pass it around. When it reaches me, I stop the bottle and raise a toast that I feel is oh, so appropriate at this moment, “To fallen comrades and lost loves.” I then take a sip and pass the bottle on. I wipe a tear from my eye and see Sutures giving me a sad, knowing smile.

A little while later we clear the furniture out from the center of the front room and some of us begin to dance. As Sutures and I share a dance she whispers in my ear, “You still miss her, badly don’t you?”

I sniff a bit and fight back a few tears and reply, “Yea, I still do, I probably always will, sorry dear.”

Then she tells me back, “I understand, I only hope I may mean that much to you someday,” and then she pulls me tight and puts her head on my shoulder as we continue to dance.

I notice a few of my troops are missing and I know that they are on watch. I also notice a few couples that I had begun to see form before, dancing together. I am slightly surprised to see Dusty dancing with Firefly, with her eyes closed and her head leaning against him.

The music is interspersed with news and general tips for the wastelands still. The fighting in Fillydelphia is still big news. They also mention that several parts of Red Eye's army have broken away and have begun to act more as either raiders or as warlords and their followers. Part of me is disappointed to hear no new news about either the expeditionary forces or about home. But I guess no news is good news.

As the night winds down we all find our way to our bedrolls. I smile to see Blondie and Sunny cuddled up together with Sunset and Trouble on either side of them. In the other room, I can barely hear Dusty and Firefly talking. Behind me, I hear Sutures whisper, “Get to sleep little mother, you need your rest.” To this, I have to smile as I shift myself closer to her and gently fall asleep.

During the night I wake a couple of times. The first time I awake to the sounds of Dusty crying in her sleep and hear her mumble about Chance and repeating over and over his name and asking why. I am about to get up and go comfort her when I see a shadow from among my scouts get up, walk over to her and lay down next to her, Then I see a wing lift and gently cover her. Next, I hear Firefly’s voice quietly whisper something I can not understand, to her until she quiets down again.

The second time I am having a nightmare. I am back in the room with Silver Spite, and I am rebranded by him. I can see the joy he is taking it doing it to me and I am screaming in pain. Unfortunately, I scream loud enough to wake everypony it seems and most grab their guns and head to the windows before they realize what is going on. Sutures is there next to me cradling my head against her chest, telling me, “It’s ok Mollygirl, it's ok, your fine, we are all here to protect you. He can’t get you again. “

It was all so real I am thoroughly shaken. My heart is pounding in my chest, I am breathing hard and I am lathered in sweet. I feel tears come out of my eyes as I try to pull myself back together. As I lay there being held, I see the others all going back to their bedrolls to try and grab what sleep they can. I am so embarrassed and apologize to everyone. Eventually, I fall back to sleep.

We wake an hour before dawn. Once we have our bedrolls packed, we place the furnishings back where they were before. With a quick thought, I write a note to the family thanking them for letting us use their home for the night and leave twenty caps to pay them for their trouble, then we are back on the trail again.

Within an hour we come upon a set of railroad tracks. The direction we turn in and follow the two young zebra toward, allows us to see Canterlot mountain in the distance. Down one side of it, we see a waterfall coming from the rubble that was once Canterlot itself. Sunset sees this as he is walking and I hear him growl, “Damn Enclave. Never could let good things just be.”

We had all heard about the destruction of Canterlot by the Enclave during Operation Cauterize, but to actually see it. Behind me I hear Dusty, “Damn LT, makes me realize how lucky were really were. Can you imagine if more of them had shown up, or if we did not have George and you fliers with us.”

I turn my head to talk with her as I continue moving forward, “I know Dusty, I have thought of that a lot. It could have been so much worse.”

Next, I hear Blondie ask Sunset, “What’s she talking about? Who’s George?” I can almost swear I hear some concern in her voice.

“Blondie, I really don’t like to talk much about that day, to tell the truth. But George is a dragon friend of ours back in the Co-op,” he tells her then sighs before continuing. “Mollygirl and another cadet named Emerado rode her, and flew into the battle at Manesville with me and three other pegasuses against a fully armed and ready Raptor.”

She raises an eyebrow and looks at him, “Are you pulling my hind leg?” she asks him.

He smiles some. “No, no I am not, in fact, we all came out of that fight wounded and had one of the fliers knocked down. She has been partially paralyzed and would have died if LT would not have gotten out there to help us bring her back in along with Sutures.”

At the mention of Sutures, I see her get a questioning look on her face, I pretend I am not listening to them talk, but cannot help but overhear her ask, “So what’s up between her and the LT? I mean I thought you all said that the LT was married.”

He laughs a little before replying. “To tell the truth, I am not sure. The LT is married, but from what I could tell Sutures and her stallion Archer were pretty close to Mollygirl and her spouses. I mean I know both Archer and Badger and they are both a couple of good bucks I enjoy having a couple of drinks with now and again.”

A little while later I see Trouble has caught up with them both. Then she asks the question, “Ok, you two, I have to ask, why did you both leave me, especially at the same time. I came back home and you both had just disappeared, no letters, no notes, no goodbyes. Why?”

From the corner of my eye, I see Sunset hanging his head down, and Trouble looking way. Trouble answers first. “Because we both loved you and each other, we both wanted you and the other to be happy, so we left. We never talked about it with each other. The first time I found out he had left you also was when I ran into him back in Manesville, just before the expedition. We both wanted the other two to be happy and instead, we screwed up with all three of us hurting.”

I see Sunset nod his head, “We never meant to hurt you Blondie, in fact, we both missed you. You may be a tough mare, but you are a good one. I am sorry for hurting you and not being there for you and your son.”

I see her flinch a bit at the last part. Then she asks, “So even though he is a pegasus you do not think he is yours? You do not even question if he is your son?”

Sunset shakes his head, “No, before I was exiled and made a Dashite I was a very career-oriented soldier for the Enclave, Blondie. To help ensure my career path would not be blocked by an unexpected pregnancy I had my self surgically sterilized, you know, proud cut. I have not had any surgeries to correct it since and healing potions only work so soon after an injury. I am sorry, he is a fine young buck and I would have been more than proud to have called him mine.”

Then I hear a gasp of realization from Trouble, “You mean he is my son? Really? Blondie, you do not know what that means to me. I mean if you would be willing to have me in both of your lives again.”

She smiles sadly, “We can talk about it later Trouble. Ok, I just wanted him to meet both of you, I was not trying to trap a daddy.”

Then she drifts her way back in the column as we get closer to the mountain. The tracks and railbed rising and falling with the foothills leading up to it. From above me, I hear Choo Choo “See Ginger, look at how the tracks follow the easiest grades and best terrains. I ran this line occasionally during the war. At one time it was the Canterlot, Ponyville & Southern Railroad.”

When Ginger answers back I notice her voice is above me also. I look up and she is sitting on Choo Choo’s back looking ahead. Right behind her is Xochitl. They are only about ten feet or three meters above me, so not high, but it rests all of their hooves.

As we get closer, we can see debris partially blocking the tunnel entrance. All the vegetation down here is long dead and looks like it would burn with just a spark. Just outside of the entrance, we see an old locomotive with several passenger cars attached. “Ok, keep quiet and do not touch anything on those cars, no need to wake any possible ferals,” I tell everypony. Then I notice the destroyed machinegun turrets on both sides of the tunnel. Somepony has been here before it looks like. Well here goes nothing.

Through the windows of the train cars, we can see many skeletons. So far, so good. No feral ghouls surprising or attacking us. Just before we enter the tunnel Woodrow approaches me again. “Oh LT, I almost forgot, we should not use grenades or explosives in the tunnels. Not only because of the noise or the chance of bringing the roof down, but also the rock will help the explosives compress the air more powerfully. Dad always told me that enough concussive force could cause a living body to shut down its entire nervous system at one time.”

“Ok, I will keep that in mind. Thanks, Woodrow. By now we are all at the entrance. I turn to everyone, Remember EFS does not show elevation or distance, only bearing. So, no just shooting in a general direction. Ok, suppressors on if you have them. Turn your light beams on for your PipBucks.”

I watch as we all prepare to enter the tunnels. Then I remember the Major. “Major this it the LT, Major this is the LT over.”

I hear a staticky voice answer back, “LT this is the Major, over.”

“Major we are about to go Uniform Golf, I repeat we are going Uniform Golf,” I tell her.

“Rodger, Good luck and Celestia and Luna’s blessings on all of you.

I watch as first Xavier, Choo Choo, and the foals slide in, followed by Blackberry Pie and Chip. The rest of the scouts enter behind them followed by me, both enfields, and then the 1^st squad. Here we go, underground. No problem I tell myself and just think about the mission.

As we enter the tunnel, the first thing I notice is that it is not like a typical cave or mine. I notice that the walls and ceiling are tiled. There is a walkway with a rail on one side of the tunnel and periodically we notice doors. I also notice that there look to be air vents in the ceiling as well as light fixtures. Most of these are still intact, but occasionally they are damaged and have a cover or the whole fixture hanging down. None of them are lit though.

As we go further in, we start to see some skeletons, most are nothing to really notice but then we see a couple that seem to be fused with the wall. That seems strange, then I remember a briefing I had not too long ago discussing the Pink Cloud and how it was used in Canterlot. What really concerns me is that it made it down here, and from the age of the bones it was when the shields were still up. Wonderful, we may not just come across ghouls, but we may run into Canterlot ghouls.

After a while, I begin to hear my PipBuck click as it lets me know I am picking up more radiation, shortly after that Sutures tells us, “Ok, everypony, I want you all to drink a pack of Rad-away at lunch. Mollygirl, here are some RadSafe pills, I want you to take one every four hours until we are back outside.”

We slowly make our way forward in the dark when I hear a shuffling sound from in front of us. Then I hear Choo Choo ask, “Sidetrack, is that you Side Track?”

From the dark, I hear a low growl, Wonderful a feral, I am starting to ready my weapon when I hear the shadow that is growling ask, “Who said that? Who’s there?”

I can hear a smile in her voice as she says, “Side Track, it’s me Choo Choo. When you see me, I look a bit different so don’t panic ok.”

I hear the male ghouls voice, “Of course you will look different, after this long you are either a ghoul or a, wait, Choo Choo are you an alicorn?” he asks.

I hear his growl deepen, “Do I have to kill all you alicorns to get you to leave us alone. I am telling ya, there is no bucking black book down here.”

Choo Choo replies back, “Sidetrack, I am not here for the black book. I am helping some pony friends of mine out. Please, relax. We were old friends. We both worked the tracks together when we started on the railroad. On the day before the Final Day, you were the track hand that shifted the tracks that lead me to Maripony.”

“How do I know you are not just one of them using another’s memories. I know about your tricks. Learned the hard way we did.”

That is when I call out, “Sir, my name is Lieutenant Mollygirl from the Manesville Co-op. I will Vouch for Choo Choo, she is one of my scouts now.” I say to him as I step forward past Choo Choo. Past her, in the dim light from my PipBuck, I see an older Unicorn buck still wearing his railroaders’ hat and a kerchief around his neck. On his worn flank I see a cutie mark of a long pry bar and an oversized railroad spike.

I hear him suck in his breath, “You, you too were turned away from Elysium. How, can you still be alive and not undead and I can still see the connection?” he asks.

I slump my shoulders and put my head down, “Honestly, other than a great medic and a squad who did not give up and got me to a hospital quickly, there is no reason I should be. And yes, I too know the pain of not being allowed to stay.” I pause and then I ask, “Sir, if I may ask, how can you tell? You are the second ghoul to mention this to me.”

Behind me, I see several of my troops just stare at me after my response. I do not care. It happened, and I have to live my life with that feeling. Then I feel Sutures put a hoof on my shoulder.

Sidetrack pauses to collect himself, “Lieutenant, it seems we ghouls can see almost two worlds at the same time. The living are usually in one world only. Ghouls we can see as a shadow in both. You, you show mainly in the living world, but I also see the shadow in the other one.”

When he says this, I get a chill. “Thank you, sir, that makes more sense to me than any other reason I can think of.”

Then he sees the zebras in our group. His eyes go wide, “You brought them, you brought the enemy under the capital?”

I see his reaction and react, “Sir these zebras are all descended from those that were loyal to us during the war. They are here to help us. In fact, Xavier there is a personal friend of mine.”

He rocks back on his hooves, cocks his head at me and looks at me over his snout, “Lieutenant, you keep might strange company.”

I laugh a bit, “If you only knew sir, if you only knew, I am just glad my friend George is not here, it would be a bit snug with an adult dragon trying to traipse around with us.”

I then see his eyes, as well as the two young zebras, go wide. Behind me, I hear Sunset laugh and tell Blondie. “Yep, she does have that effect upon people.”

After his astonishment subsides, he begins to lead us toward the railyard. I cannot help but hear Choo Choo and Sidetracks talk about old times as well catch up on what happened to them, it is almost heart-rendering to hear them talk about the Final Day.

It seems Choo Choo and her train crew were ordered inside one of the base buildings as the sirens went off at Maripony. They were led into a room with several vats of liquid in them and they were immersed in the vats. Her memory is very fuzzy about the events that day and she is still unsure if she was pushed, pulled or volunteered to go into the chemicals.

Sidetrack, on the other hand, was here when the bombs hit and when the Pink Cloud was release above. I listen as he tells Choo Choo, “I was getting ready to get off shift when the bombs hit. The blasts up topside were stopped by the shield that the princesses put up. Unfortunately, those of us in the yard here, well, we just were not so lucky. We all ended up irradiated. Only a few of us who were down here became ghouls. Most, well most who were here stayed dead. Then the Pink Cloud was released above and some leaked down the mountainside and came in through the tunnels. By then, well, by then it was already too late for all of us.” He says with his head down, looking back at something only he could see.

Choo Choo then asks, “Sidetrack, I remember you some, but to tell the truth, I really have a hard time remembering me. I remember I had foals, and I remember running the trains, but I am missing a lot.”

I actually see the cranky old codger smile. “Well, maybe I can help jog your memory. You left some things in your old locker. Once we get to the rail yard, we can go to the railroad offices and look in your old crew locker.”

As they continue to talk I hear her ask, “So what are you doing down here still after all these years?”

He laughs a bit, “Well I left for a bit, I could not go home really as my family was all gone. I visited down to Ponyville a couple of times, I was not impressed by what has happened there. So, I came back and have just been running maintenance on the equipment here. It’s a bit boring, but it keeps my mind busy. What have you been doing lately?”

I see her look embarrassed a bit. “After the death of the Goddess and the breakdown of Unity, I left with two of my sisters, to one of their old homes up in Manesville. We were living in a cave with a nice dragon named George when the LT over there found us. She was followed by Ginger and Xochitl, the two youngsters there behind the adult zebra,” She speaks trying to gush everything out at once to her old friend.

She stops talking as he looks back, and interrupts, “A dragon huh. I remember you always were fascinated with the ones we would see occasionally. Like that one small one that was always with a purple unicorn mare, going between here and Ponyville. Hmm, I wonder whatever became of those two. I guess it does not matter, after all, they are both probably long gone too. Please go on Choo Choo.”

At which point she does, “Well the little ones reminded me of my foals enough that I finally remembered I once was a mother, Sidetrack you don’t know what happened to my foals do you?’

He smiles sadly, “Yes, I do old friend. You were a grandmother. Your son sired you two grandfoals before he was killed in the fighting down in No Mares Land against the zebras. Your daughter also had two more. However, I cannot remember where she moved to once she got married. I know she moved from Fillydelphia before the ministries were formed.”

I see her stop and sit down suddenly, “I was a grandmother, I, I had no idea I was that old.”

He smiles back at her, “My friend you were old enough that we were going to throw you and me a retirement party.”

I see her smile, “That would have been nice. I am so glad I have gotten to see you again.”

I hear a catch in his voice, “You know I never thought I would say I was glad to see an Alicorn myself, but I am really glad I got to see you too. By the way, your new look suits you.”

I hear her then asks, “Sidetrack, what did I look like? I mean I really do not remember.”

He smiles at her, “Once we get back to the locker room, I will show you some pictures, ok?”

After a couple more hours of walking in the tunnel, Sidetrack stops us. “Ok, wait here while I check things out. I want to make sure it is safe for all of you. We do have a few ferals left that wander through time to time.” We wait in the dark tunnel while beyond it we can see the bright lights on the ceiling of the largest rail yard I have ever seen. In the center is a large building that is carved out of the rock and that does double duty as a support column for the roof above.

We wait there till he returns. “It’s all clear right now, follow me.” He tells us and we move at a brisk trot across the railyard. As we go, I see at least fifteen to twenty steam engines. I also see what looks like a heavily modified steam engine. I point it out to Choo Choo, “What’s that I ask?”

She smiles and excitedly answers. “Oh, that was an experimental engine we were trying. It used spark cell batteries. It was really quiet and all, but it ran through them terribly fast. Only good as a switch engine or short-haul because of it. They were talking about building one with a magic engine in it, but I do not know the details about that one.”

Once to the building we all enter it. We put some guards on the doors just so we do not get surprised. Almost all of the windows are missing, but the broken glass has been cleaned up long ago. I see Sunset, Blondie, and trouble peel off and go looking through some files. Most just find the employees break room and take a load off.

Myself, the foals, and Xavier, we follow Choo Choo and Sidetrack. He leads us to the locker room and Choo Choo walks right over to the area that has one with her name on it. I see her stand nervously outside it. She seems almost afraid to open it. I ask her, “Do you want me to open it for you?”

“No, I need to do this LT. It’s just kind of scary finding out all of this new stuff about who I was.”

“I understand Choo Choo,” I tell her and step back.

Finally, she opens the locker and sees what is inside it. It is then she breaks down in tears. Before I can move forward to comfort her Sidetrack is there, “It’s alright dear, it’s alright.”

Inside the locker, I see a photo of an older light blue Unicorn mare with a dark blue mane and tail that has some gray hair mixed into it. I immediately notice four foals in the picture as well as a Unicorn mare with an earth pony stallion next to her and a lone unicorn mare standing behind two of the foals. What I most prominently notice is that next to the older unicorn mare is a healthy and very happy looking older unicorn stallion that I now know is Sidetrack.

Next to the photo is two train tickets to visit Fillydelphia. Behind us, I see Sidetrack has another photo album and is waiting for her.

I hear Choo Choo choke up a bit and Sidetrack suggests we give her a minute by herself. As we step out of the locker room, I ask him, “Were you two married?”

He gets a wistful look on his face, “No Lt, we were not. We were engaged and were to be married when she got back from the Maripony run. The tickets were so we could go see her son’s family. On the way back we were going to stop and see her daughter’s family in Manesville. I loved those grandfoals like they were my own. I just hope they all made it to the stables. Choo Choo did not know it, but I worked a lot of overtime to help buy her family tickets into the stables. I wanted them to be safe.”

“You know that was very good of you to do that for them,” I tell him.

“Thanks, I did it for her. She really was something. Part of what has kept my mind with my body is the hope of seeing her again one day. After all, we all heard the rumors of what was going on in Maripony back then.”

Next to him, I see Ginger tap him on the leg to get his attention. “Mister Sidetrack, if you could give me the names of Choo Choo’s family we can at least find out if they made it to the stable in Manesville. The LT’s wife says that they have really good records there and we may be able to find her descendants if they are still there.”

I see him raise an eyebrow “Not a bad idea young filly. I will go get some paper and a pen.”

Once he returns, he places the paper with the names on it into her saddlebag. “Thank you, dear. I am sure it will mean more to Choo Choo than you can imagine.”

About that time Choo Choo comes out with a weak smile on her face. She is wearing one of her old engineer hats. She has her horn run up through a hole in its crown. I see her go over and give a hug to Sidetrack, “Thank you so much, and I am really glad we got to see each other again. Maybe you can come up to Manesville sometime?”

He smiles back at her, “I would like that, but know you are also welcome to come back here anytime. I have missed you. I know you may not feel the way you used to with me being this way, but I really would just enjoy your company.”

“I would like that too Sidetrack, but first I have to complete the campaign with the LT and the others. Once they are home, I will try to get back here for you.”

After a bit Sidetrack comes over to me. “Ok LT, now I need to know, what are you really here for?”

“Honestly, we are here to try and find a way to strike Red Eye's troops in the rear or to bypass the gap with the rest of our forces. Why?” I ask back.

“Because I see those others going through the consignment files in the one office and that mare just went into the old O.I.A. office. Ain’t no pony been in there since the war. I have tried so many times it pathetic and yet she gets right in. Ok, pony up and tell me the truth.” He demands of me.

“Well, we had hoped to find some weapons too. But I had no idea about the Office of Interministry Affairs even having a branch office down here. To tell the truth, I am not even sure what they did. Maybe we should go find out from her.”

We begin to head that way when she pops out of the office with some paperwork in her mouth. She takes ahold of it with her magic. “LT, I found something I think we should go look at. It’s in a railcar out in the yard and I have the numbers for the car right here.”

I look at Sidetrack and then her, “Ok Blondie, what is it?”

“It’s something that we could use to write our tickets with. I had a couple of ponies and a griffon contact me while in New Appleloosa about trying to find it. They just called it the Doorway.”

“Ok,” I ask, “So what does this doorway do?” I ask her again.

“LT, it was developed by the Ministry of Wartime Technology and the Ministry of Arcane Science. The O.I.A. was bringing it here to do a demonstration test it for Luna. I guess it created some kind of portal. Maybe it would allow us to travel home more quickly, who knows?” she says.

“Ok, let's go see if we can find this car, also, have you or the others had any luck finding the weapons you had mentioned to me?”

“LT, I am not sure yet, let me check,” she says as she walks down the hall to another set of offices. Soon after Trouble and Sunset come out. They have a couple of files with them.

I look at them, “You two better not have made a mess of things in there.”

They look at each other, “We didn’t LT. That would have made it harder to go back later in case we missed something.” Trouble tells me.

“Ok, so what do you have,” I ask.

Sunset smiles widely, “Well ma’am, according to the records we found there are a couple of trainloads of weapons here. One of which has some captured weapons from the Zebra Army.” At that I notice three zebra and one Zony head pop out the break room doorway.

“Sidetrack with your assistance we will see if we can move some of the weapons to the tunnel entrance we came in from. Also, I would appreciate that while that is going on if you would help us find this Doorway thing. I really do not care what it does but if it is too big, it stays here.”

Sidetrack nods his head, “Makes sense to me LT. I can help some. The tracks will switch easily in here and the cars are ready to roll. I would suggest using that experimental engine if you can. It would be much quieter and make less smoke than the others. Ya know, less chance to attract ferals.”

With that, we all grab out gear and begin to search the yard. We find a car with standard weapons and ammo right away. I am stunned though when one of the cars has twenty cases of the same special ammo that is used in Nightmare Moon. I mean 40 mm rounds are not common to begin with, but having the special E.F.S. rounds. That is too surprising to me, and I even say this to Sidetrack and Choo Choo. He looks at me with a big grin, “LT, with the capital above, and an O.I.A. office at the switchyard headquarters, I know for a fact we moved a lot of rare and unusual things through here. So, nothing would surprise me.”

We then use the experimental engine to jockey cars around so we can get those we want. Choo Choo is in her glory operating it again. I see Sidetrack operating the switches with a look of joy on his face, and I even hear him call up one time, “Just like old times eh dear?”

I ride with her as she backs the cars back down the tunnel. Once we get to the entrance we stop and I make a quick call on the radio. “Major this is LT, Major this is LT, we have found some of what we are looking for. We have several cars waiting for pickup just inside where we discussed going in. This includes Two Zero cases of the special products that Nightmare Moon asked us to pick up.”

I hear a staticky reply with some gunfire in the background. “Roger that, a caravan is already en route to pick it up. Continue mission.”

“Roger, Understood, Out,” I reply as I go back inside. It is then that I notice a flash of lightning and start to feel rain fall on us.

Once inside, we disconnect the cars from the locomotive and I climb up into the cab. Choo Choo moves us forward and heads back to the rail yard. Once we are there we are flagged down by Trouble. “LT, we found the car and are opening it right now, I think you may want to be there for this.”

I climb down and trot with him to where the rest are. I see Blondie picking the locks on the door. Once the last one is opened Sunset and Trouble help her slide the door out of the way. Inside, on one side we see what looks like a doorframe on the other side is a terminal connected to it with wires. Then I see behind the wires and terminal a small magic engine that is heavily shielded. I climb up with the others inside. Blondie goes to the control counsel and begins to push buttons and use the hoof control ball. Behind me I see Sutures, Xochitl and Ginger also climb in. Several of the others are standing in the doorway looking at it.

We can hear a low hum as the machine begins to warm up. Blondie then experiments and toggles another button and I hear her say “Hmm, that’s odd,” followed by “Wow, that is a lot of power.” As she says this, I see a pinkish haze begin to form and swirl in a circular pattern behind the door frame. I move closer and realize it is all inside the door frame, behind it is empty.

As the hum grows, I see the pink haze begin to darken in some areas. I notice a form begin to materialize in it. As I watch the form takes shape into the silhouette of an earthpony mare. Behind her I see the smaller form of a filly trotting up. I recognize the larger mares walk. Without meaning to I speak aloud, “No, No, it can’t be her. I know it can’t be. How?” and then she steps through and it is her.

Dear DJ Pon3,

Recently I have found not only who I was, but I found the love of my life that I once lost. She has changed oh so much, but still after 200 years is still beautiful in spirit as well as form. If you would be so kind as to play for this old stallion, My Love Will Never Die, for me and for the mare I have never forgotten.

Thank you for your consideration,

Sincerely

Sidetrack,

Canterlot, Ponyville and Southern Railroad, Yard boss.

The time has come again to thank Kkat for creating the world of FoE. Again I would like to thank all those others who have also written stories that have added to this world and have shown me how much more could still be added to it.

For those who are wondering, I have chosen to use the Hasbro map of Equestria for the story. I know this was not available to earlier stories so it may not match up fully to them. With that said, I have noticed since the first time I looked at this map that it showed four railroad lines entering tunnels under the mountain that Canterlot sits on. While at first, they may have been simply been two tunnels that cris-crossed under the mountain, I felt that as the war would have gone on it most likely would have been expanded upon. This also gives us more rolling stock and locomotives that could be used at a later time.

To any who were surprised to find out Choo Choo's pre alicorn age, this was planned since the introduction of the character. She has been suffering from severe amnesia causing her to forget so much of her life. With that said, she still has not recovered her memory fully, and may not ever. However, her overall good nature should return in time. Remember she is under extreme stress, along with the rest of the CEF.

For those who desire to hear this weeks dedication song, the youtube link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SvBXEqgu6k