Chapter 51 New Beginnings

“Love will find a way through paths where wolves fear to prey.”

— Lord Byron

After we go into the house Sumac makes dinner for all of us. Persimmon, Xavier, and Xochitl join us. We eat a large dinner and sit and talk about what has happened since we left. Persimmon gives me an occasional dirty look, but I can deal with that, no need to make a scene. It is interesting to see who sits where. I notice that Badger is at one end of the table and Xavier at the opposite. On Xavier’s right is Persimmon, then Xochilt and Ginger. Sumac is right next to Badger with Magpie next then me and finally Archer on Xavier’s left.

It feels really good to be between Magpie and Archer. It does make me wonder who will sleep where later. But we can deal with that as it comes.

After dinner, I help Sumac wash the dishes. This leaves Archer and Badger with Magpie. I think she needs to begin to get used to the dynamics too. We all have to feel out where we are now in our family. Ginger and Xochitl head outside to talk on the porch. As we are cleaning the dishes, Sumac starts to bake a cake for Ginger, to celebrate her getting her cutie mark.

After the dishes are finished and the cake in the oven, Sumac and I sit at the table with a cup of tea. She looks down at the floor and then back at me and begins to talk, “Mollygirl, I am sorry about this.”

“Sorry about what Sumac?” I ask.

She touches her stomach and then looks at the door to the front room, “Him, Badger. Mollygirl, I never meant to hurt you or Magpie. I am so sorry.”

I put my hoof across the table onto hers, “Sumac, I can’t say I was not upset. It hurt, I will admit it, but Badger should have known better too. Besides if we are going to add another mare besides Sutures in the mix, I would rather have it be you then anypony.”

She sighs, “I know, but damn it, I should have known better too. Besides, my barn door doesn’t swing the same way yours and Mags does. I mean you two are cute and all, but I really only want a buck if I do anything at all.”

I smile at her and laugh a little, “Sumac, it’s ok. Understand that would be rather awkward if you did for me. But I think us mares need to sit down and have a talk with Badger. We need to put our hooves down. No more new partners. This is it.”

“Does Archer and Sutures know about the situation now?” She asks.

I tilt my head a little and my ears come to the side of my head as I answer, “Archer does, Sutures was wounded and medevaced before she could be told. When we saw her in the hospital today, we did not get the chance to tell her.”

I see a look of concern come over her face, “I was afraid that was why she was not here. I heard you all talking about her getting wounded at dinner. Mollygirl, how bad is she injured?”

“Sumac, I cannot lie to you. She lost a hind leg from the knee down.”

Sumac puts a hoof across her muzzle in horror, “Oh the poor dear, and we are here tonight. We should be with her.” She says.

“Sumac, the members of the 1^st Squad of the Door Kickers were visiting her when we left. I told her I would be back in the morning to see her.”

“Good I am glad to hear that. How is she going to handle not being in the military anymore?” she asks me.

I answer honestly, “I think she will be ok; she was planning on getting out as soon as she could to become a midwife. Ma, I mean Sumac, I think she will be much happier doing that. But later tonight, I want to sit down with all of you after we celebrate with Ginger.” After I say this, I feel the foal kick and I put my hoof to my stomach.

She looks me in the eyes, “Are you ok Mollygirl? You are not sick, are you?”

"No Sumac I am not sick. The foal just kicked,” as I say this, I see her eyes open wide and her ears forward, then I continue, “It’s about what we saw under the mountain. I think it only fair you all know, from me and not from somepony slipping and saying something when they should not.”

She is still looking at me, “Mollygirl, your pregnant? When? How? Who?” she asks with surprise in her tone.

I smile again, “It’s Badger’s, the best I can figure is it happened the first time he, Mags and I got together. The how, well you can figure that out,” I say with a laugh.

Soon the cake is done baking and she makes a cream frosting to go on top of it. As she makes the frosting, she tells me, “We got a shipment of cane sugar from someplace out west last week. Goddesses know where they got it. But it makes it easier to bake.”

When she is done frosting it, we take the cake out to the dining room again and call everypony in there. I see Ginger’s excitement as well as Xochitl’s. Ginger looks up at us, “He considers it a bit of celebration for him getting his glyphmark too.” As she says this, I notice that her tail swings over and wraps with his, and he steps a little closer as they both nod their heads.

Sumac raises an eyebrow a bit and smiles, “Of course children, of course.”

After the cake, we clean the table back off and all of us head into the front parlor. When everypony is sitting down I begin to tell them about the portal and what I saw.

I see Sumac begin to tear up when I tell her that I got to meet an Ivy and Epona from that world. I have to stop talking so I can stop laughing at the expression on Archer’s and Badger’s faces when I tell them that the other worlds Sutures also came through.

Then Magpie asks me the question that surprisingly hurts me, “What about the otherworld you?”

I am glad I am sitting as I tell them, “According to that Ivy, I was dead Mags, Silver Spite had killed me and my daughter Millie.” I see a bit of confusion on their faces until they realize what that means.

“So, you and I were not together in that world?” Magpie asks.

I shake my head as I answer, “Actually none of us were. I had gotten married to Ivy eight years earlier after Millie was born. She never said who the father was. But Archer, Sutures from that timeline was not attracted to you, at least until our Sutures told her about how you are here. Badger, I will say neither Their Ivy or Sutures seemed to think highly of you, so I am not sure why. “

I see Badger nod his head, and then he asks me, “Were you tempted to go back with her?”

“No Badger, I was not, but she and Epona almost stayed her. Please forgive me, for not trying to get her to. But she was Ivy, but not our Ivy, and I could not keep her from rejoining her Mollygirl when she dies.”

Badger nods his head and sniffles back a tear, as does Sumac. Xavier then joins in the conversation, “You did the right thing Mollygirl, I know how hard it was for you, as well as for Ginger seeing her sister again.”

Xochitl then says, “It was a bit strange to see a pony talk to themselves like that. Although our Sutures did carry a shotgun, whiles theirs, only a pistol.”

Ginger looks at Sumac and begins “Granny, or should I call you Mama Sumac? Just so you know, their Epona’s cutie mark was three roses twisted into a heart. She got it working in the garden.”

She sniffles back a tear, “Thank you Ginger, I appreciate your telling me. You can call me either one dear, but the choice is up to you,” she says then sighs.

Then I see a devilish look come over all three of the bucks faces and I know they are all thinking of what it would be like to have two Sutures at the same time. I say nothing but I do chuckle to myself.

We continue to talk for a while more than Xavier and Persimmon Tree leave for their home. Ginger and Xochitl have asked if they can spend the night together, this time in front of all of us, so no confusion.

We then begin to heat water so we can all get a bath. Badger goes first followed by Xochitl and Ginger. We then change the water and Archer and I both take a bath. It feels so good after so long to get clean again. I may have to sneak a shower at the stable tomorrow if I can.

Once we are all done Sumac looks at us, “Badger, I know you have to be up early, why don’t you sleep in my room tonight, that way I can get up and make you breakfast before you go to work.”

He nods his head, “Sounds good to me Sumac,” he turns to look at Archer and smiles, “Have fun, my brother.” Then he comes over and gives both Magpie and I a kiss good night, then heads upstairs to Sumac's room. She comes over and gives us all a hug, then I see her think just for second and she gives Archer a very sweet, passionate kiss.

When she breaks the kiss, she smiles at him, “Consider that a down payment dear, I get my turn soon, ok?”

The poor buck, I smile and almost laugh at the stunned but pleased expression on his face as he tells her, “I look very forward to it too Sumac.”

Soon we all head to bed, it is kind of awkward at first as Magpie adjusts to having more than one partner in bed again. But soon she is relaxed again and I hear her whimpers of pleasure and then some. Later that night we are laying there together, I am the big spoon to Magpies little spoon, Archer is laying there facing both of us. I watch as she strokes a hoof along his face and tells him, "thank you for making me your mare too.”

He lightly kisses her and I hear him say, “Thank you for letting me be your stallion also. Magpie, Mollygirl, you are both such sweet mares. Thank you.”

When I wake in the morning, I find myself on one side of Archer and Magpie on the other. Somehow, we shifted positions in the night, not that I am complaining. I smell coffee brewing in the air and I hear someone in the kitchen moving around plates and bowls. As I go to get up, I feel Archer pull me a bit closer, He kisses me on my scar then tells me, “Good Morning love.”

I smile as I look into those gentle eyes of his, “Good morning, how are you today sweetheart.”

He smiles, “As well as any buck who has made love to two beautiful mares can be.”

Behind him, I hear a slight squeak, and shyly Magpie asks, “You really think I am beautiful; you were not just saying that last night?”

He turns to look at her and kisses her before he tells her, “Yes, yes I do.”

I see a very large smile cross her face, as she grabs him and buries her face against his neck, “Thank you.” She says.

Finally, I get up out of bed and decide to do something I have not done in a very long time. I pull out my dress that used to be Ivy’s. It is a little snug now because of the foal bump, but it still fits for now. I put a ribbon in my mane and then leave the other two to finish getting ready for the day.

When I get to the Kitchen, I see Sumac is there at the stove still. From behind, I guess I can see what Badger saw and was attracted to. I just never thought of her in that light before. I grab a chair at the kitchen table and wait for her to notice me.

Soon I see Xochitl and Ginger both enter the kitchen, both look very tired. I am amused as Ginger walks over to the counter and uses a chair to get two coffee cups. Then she fills them and takes one over to Xochitl and keeps one for herself.

I am a bit surprised, then she looks at me, “Ma, sorry but I need this today.”

“Are you ok?” I ask.

Then Sumac turns around, “Um Ginger, I am sorry if we kept you up late last night.”

“No, it’s not that Mama Sumac, I just got used to coffee or tea in the morning,” Ginger tells her with a lopsided smile.

“Thank you Ginger, both for the coffee and explaining to them,” Xochitl tells her, then he surprises me when he looks at Sumac and I and asks, “When do we have to go back to school?”

Sumac looks at both of them and replies, “I need to talk to Miss Blackboard to find out. But not for a couple of days.”

They both nod their heads in understanding and begin to eat as Sumac places bowls of oatmeal in front of them.

About this time Archer and Magpie come in and join us. As they are getting their meals I ask, “Does anyone want to come and visit Sutures with me in a little while?”

All agree, but Xochitl then says, “I probably should stay here with my father and mother. I know mom will want to spend some time with me, and I can help him with some chores today.”

“That makes sense Xochitl, but if you want to come, ask them and see what they say,” I tell him.

Soon after I hear a knock on the door and see Xavier there, he asks, “Is Sumac available? I need to find out what she needs done today.”

“Yes, she is, come on in.” I tell him.

Sumac then asks, “Xavier would you like some coffee too this morning?”

He smiles, “No thank you. I already had some tea; I was looking at the fences and notice a few repairs that needed to be done. I also was wondering what else you wanted done today?”

“Xavier, this is your first full day back. If you want, take the day off and spend it with your family. We can start on the repairs tomorrow, but you have been gone a while,” she tells him.”

He smiles, “Ma, if you don’t mind, I will do that. It’s just strange now, not knowing what needs to be done all the time, with a goal ahead of us. I’m glad to be back and all, but it feels strange.”

Both Ginger and Xochitl nod along with me and Xochitl tells him, “I understand father, it feels strange not out scouting with you, Ginger and the rest.”

I see Ginger nod, “Is it weird that while I am glad to be home, I kind of miss it already?” she asks.

The four of us all look at each other, then we laugh, “I guess not, I tell her.”

We finish breakfast and I help clean up the mess. Xochilt goes with Xavier to spend time with his parents. Then we get ready to go to the stable to visit Sutures. I then notice that Magpie has put on her blue gingham dress and has that red ribbon in her mane that I always enjoy seeing so much. I also notice that Archer seems to like it too.

Once we are all ready, we start to head out the door. I catch her just in time. “Ginger, dear, you need to leave the SIR here. We don’t normally carry them at home, remember.”

I see her face turn a darker red as she blushes, “Sorry Ma, I forgot, I am just so used to it.”

“I know dear, I know, I am too. Maybe we should pick you up a dress while we are so close to town?”

I see her wrinkle her face, “Ma, you know I don’t like to wear dresses.”

I smile when Sumac tells her, “I bet Xochitl would like to see you in one.”

Ginger looks at Sumac, “Really, you think so? Well maybe then,” she says with a wistful smile on her face.

I put a hoof in front of my muzzle to hide the smile that this gives me. Then we all head out and begin the trek to the stable.

Once we arrive, we are all checked at the guardpost. I have to sign Ginger and Sumac in. I am surprised to find out Magpie has access of her own, as in addition to having become a librarian in town, due to her familiarity with the archives she has since been made the Stables official historian.

When she hears that I see Ginger’s head almost spin, "Mama Magpie, I need you to look up a couple of names for me. They were Choo Choo’s family. Sidetrack said that he had paid for them to be able to go into the stable here in Manesville."

This gets a big smile out of Magpie, “Give me the names later dear and I will look them up when I go to work tomorrow.”

As we enter the medical department, we are told to wait a minute before heading into the back to see her. Once we get there, we see she is all sweated up. She smiles at us, “Sorry about that, they had me walking on three legs to get used to it.” Ginger gets to her first and jumps onto her bed with her giving her a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.

The rest of us approach and Archer gets the lead. He goes up first, we all wait as he kisses her gently and hugs her. “Good morning my dearest,” he tells her.

“Good morning love,” she replies, then continues “You missed Badger by an hour, but we talked for a bit, and I am looking forward to receiving the same special treatment that you gave Mollygirl after I left, I bet the other mares are as well.”

If possible, I see him turn a brighter shade of red, “Well, I look forward to it also, I just had not told them about that yet. But I promise to latter.”

I see both Magpie and Sumac look at each other and then me, shrugging their shoulders.

Ginger still sitting on the bed taps him on the shoulder, “What special treatment is that, and why can’t you tell her now.”

As she is asking this, I see Sutures notice her cutie mark and she asks, “Ginger, when did you get your cutie mark? I missed it; I am so sorry dear.”

Ginger beams in pride and does not realize the subject has changed, “I got it last night, just as I got home, isn’t it cool. I really like it.”

“It is, my darling daughter, it is. I just wish I could have been there for it. You have a right to be proud about it.” Sutures tells her and gives her another hug.

Ginger then asks, “Mama Sutures, when will you be able to come home with us?”

Sutures sighs at this, “Not for another couple of weeks. We have to make sure my stump heals fully, then I will be fitted for my prosthetic. They are taking it slow with me to make sure the stump is fully healed. There is only so much healing potions and magic can do for something like this.”

“That’s ok, mama Sutures, I can wait. You just get healed up good ok,” Ginger tells her.

Archer moves a bit and I come up and again I hug her and kiss her, I love this mare so much and I do not want to lose her. I don’t mean to but I sniffle in her ear as we hug.

“What’s wrong love?” she asks.

“Sorry Sutures, I just have been so worried about you, I can’t wait for you to come home.”

“I understand, I can’t wait to come home either. But soon dears, soon.” She says to all of us.

I move and watch as Magpie shyly approaches. She extends her hooves and gently takes Sutures into them. I am surprised as I watch how passionate a kiss Magpie initiates. When they break the kiss Mags tells her, “Welcome to the family. I cannot wait for you to get home either.”

I see Sutures beam, “Thank you so much, I cannot wait either.” She says as she runs a hoof along Magpies cheek.

Then Sumac comes up. She gives her a brief hug and welcomes her to the family also, just not the kiss. Then Sumac tells her, “I am sorry about no kiss dear, but my barn door does not swing that way, I hope you understand.”

Sutures laughs, “Yes, Badger fully explained it and our situation to me this morning. I am just glad we can all be family now,” she tells us.

After a couple of hours more of visiting I tell her, “Sutures, we need to get going for now, but I will keep you company tonight, ok?”

Then I hear Magpie say “I will be visiting you at least on my way home from work most nights until you can come home if you don’t mind.”

Sutures is smiling, “Thank you both. I do appreciate it. In fact, I look forward to it.”

About that time a medic starts to bring in lunch for the patients. We all give her a quick hug and kiss goodbye, and head on into town to grab something to eat and do a little shopping.

Once in town, we stop at the Milkweed for lunch. I have to smile to myself as I remember how it was where Magpie and I had our first date. I see the smile on her face and I can see she is remembering it also. Even with such a large party, we are able to get a table fairly fast.

When we are ordering Ginger looks at the waitress and asks, “Ma’am, do you have any radhog bacon or meat as an option?”

I swear the waitresses yellow coat, turns green at her face, then she tells Ginger, “No young mare, we do not. However, you are about the tenth pony to ask for it today. May I ask if you were on the expedition also?”

Ginger beam at her, “Yes ma’am along with my ma and pappy Archer.”

The waitress looks at us, “Well welcome home than to all three of you. Thank you for your service,” She tells us and holds out a hoof to shake. All three of us shake it, but I feel kind of awkward.

After the waitress finishes taking our order, I see Archer look at both Magpie and I and he asks, “Ok, what are you two thinking?”

I look at him and tell him, “Just remembering how this is where Magpie and I went for our first date. Kind of appropriate that all of you are with us now. However, it would have been even better if all of us could have been here.”

I see him smile and I notice a bit of a blush on Sumac’s face as she thinks of the implication. Oh well, in for scrap, in for a cap. I smile at her, “So dear how does it feel to be on a date with most of your spouses,” I ask her and then wink at her.

I see a pegasus at the next table look at us, shake his head and then go on eating. OK, I should not have embarrassed her, “I am sorry if I embarrassed you Sumac.” I tell her more quietly.

Still blushing she tells me, “It’s ok, I guess that is what I get for sleeping with your husband, now when do I get to sleep with your fiancé?” she says, with a bit louder voice, and a smirk on her face. I see the same pegasus stallions head whip around at that and he openly gaps at us. Ok, she is good, she got me on that one.

I am laughing lightly at that when I hear Archer ask, “Actually that is a good question Mollygirl,”

I look at both Sumac and Magpie, “Well I am sleeping at the medical bay of the stable tonight, you two decide who gets to sleep with him.”

At that I feel Ginger, tug on my shoulder and she say to me, “Ma, can we change the subject, please. You guys are going to embarrass me.”

Magpie looks at all of us, “She is right, we can discuss this later. Besides, I think we about chocked that poor stallion on his lunch.”

I look over at him and he is concentrating very hard on his hayburger, trying to ignore us.

After this, we settle down in our conversation and just enjoy each other’s company. I do notice though that Ginger drinks a second glass of milk. I am glad she is enjoying it.

After we leave, she leans close to me and whispers, “Ma, I think they had some brahmin milk mixed in with the regular milk.”

“Why do you think that dear?” I ask.

She looks around, “Ma after all the time of having cows’ milk, then having brahmin milk back in the valley, I can tell the taste difference ma.”

I smile, “OK, I will take your word for it. Things sure have changed while we were gone haven’t, they.” I tell her as I look across the river at the section of town that is the ghouls. I notice that they have begun to fix up their section of town also.

When I comment on this Magpie looks across the river at it and then tells me, “They started that after they helped us repair the hospital. Many of them have knowledge of how to repair or build things that have been forgotten, now that they helped us in our time of need, they are a bit more welcome by the rest of us. They still live on that side, but you will see them occasionally on this side. It doesn’t hurt that the old pegasus port was on that side of town. They are cleaning it up enough that many of the pegasuses have started talking about moving out toward the old pegasus port after they finish their mandatory farm time.”

“Interesting. I hope things continue to go smoothly then,” I tell her. However, I am concerned now that perhaps all the new refugees that move to that side of the river may try to drive the ghouls out.

“I don’t see that being as big a problem as it once was. They now have a representative on the board of directors. His name is Straw Boss, I guess he was a supervisor in the wagon plant during the war.” Sumac tells me, Then she adds, “The ghouls have started to call that part of town Dead Quiet and the name is starting to stick among the rest of us.”

Very interesting. Then Ginger tugs on my dress and asks, “Ma, when can we go see cousin Tar?”

I feel so embarrassed, I had not thought of her since we got back. “Ginger, let me find out if she is in the stable security lock-up. If so, we will see about visiting her in a day or two.” I tell her.

“Ok, Ma, but I miss seeing her and I know she has to be lonely,” Ginger tells me.

Soon we are outside JC Dobbins and I look at everypony, and ask, “Do you mind if I go inside and buy Ginger a new dress?”

Ginger makes a face at first, and Sumac lifts her chin with a hoof and gently tells her, “Ginger, you are a young mare now. You should have at least one or two nice dresses to wear. That does not mean you wear them most of the time, just for special occasions. OK?”

I see Ginger reluctantly nod her head, “Ok, mama Sumac, I really don’t like wearing them.”

Sumac laughs a bit, “You sound like Ivy when she was your age. Sometimes it’s nice to be able to dress up, especially when you want to look respectable, or to catch that special somepony’s eye.”

Ginger closes her eyes and wrings her hoof back and forth, then agrees.

As we enter, we start to spread out, Magpie takes Ginger with her and I hear her ask, “Would you like me to help you pick one out? I can teach you some of what to look for in a nice dress.”

“Oh, OK, I guess,” Ginger tells her.

After a while, I see she had found a really nice dress. It is a pretty blue dress, similar in cut to Magpies. It really blends well with her coat and her mane. I see her smiling at it. Then Ginger notices a yellow sweater with a blue skirt. I can tell she wants both outfits, but I can’t afford them both and I tell her that.

Ginger then smiles, “Ma, I have my own caps from the expedition, may I use them to buy one and you can buy the other?”

I think about it a bit and then agree. She is very excited about it and even though it is still comfortably warm outside She insist on putting on the new sweater and skirt. As she comes out, she tells us, “I can’t wait for Xochitl to see me in this.”

Archer smiles at her and as if he was her natural-born father lays a hoof on her shoulder and tells her, “I am sure he will love it on you, honey, you look wonderful.”

She leans against him, “Thanks papa.” Then she stands straight and asks, “Are we ready to go now?”

I almost laugh at her eagerness, I look at the others and they all nod, so I tell her, “Yes dear, let’s get you home.”

On our way home, we run into Trouble and his family. “Hi Trouble, how’s the job hunt so far?” I ask.

He smiles and tells us, “Well Blondie and I talked about it last night. We decided to homestead. Seeing as I am already a member of the Co-op, well she can do her time in the fields on our own farm if I decide to reclaim one.”

I see Sumac’s eyes open wide and Archer asks, “So Trouble, did you have any luck locating a prospective farm yet?”

Blondie nods her head and answers, “We found one that looks pretty good just down the road here. It’s on the north side of the main road. The house is in rough shape, but we can work with it. The ground is only slightly irradiated, so not as bad as some closer to Manesville.”

I see Sumac thinking and then she asks, “Is that the one about a quarter-mile down the road from my place?”

Trouble nods his head, “Yes ma’am, I hope you don’t mind having us as neighbors? In fact, we are just going back to Manesville to file a request for it. I figure we can take on some of the civilian caravan’s members as workers, and who knows, maybe we can start a small village out here.”

I see Sumac thinking about this, “I don’t mind you all, but I don’t know any of those others you have talked about. I kind of liked having my privacy,” she says.

“Sumac, they are good people, all of them. I will vouch for them if you like,” I tell her.

Then suddenly we are being buzzed by Sunny, he hovers just in front of Ginger, and I hear him tell her, “Wow Ginger, you sure look pretty in your outfit.”

I am stunned as she bows a little bit to him and says, “Thank you Sunny.”

Then I see him notice her skirt does not fully cover her flank and he can see part of her cutie mark. I swear the little colt squeed as he looks at her with both forehooves on his cheeks, “Ginger you got it, you got your cutie mark.”

I see her chest fill with pride as she smiles and tells him, “Yep, as soon as I got home last night, I got it.”

“Can I see it; I mean all of it?” he asks.

She takes a hoof and raises her skirt just enough to show it all.

“Ginger, that is so cool. It looks like a map.” Sunny tells her.

Then I hear Trouble say after he looks at it, “Actually its more than a map, that looks like the route of the expedition. Well, I’ll be, an adventurer’s cutie mark. Now wasn’t that worth waiting for.” He tells her.

Ginger nods as she says, “Yes it was. I was so nervous about what I would get.”

We talk a bit more then Trouble ask me what time it is. I look at my PipBuck and tell him, He then tells us, “We best get going, we have to make it to the farmers land claim bureau before it closes. Oh, tell Sutures we will be by to see her once she is home. Sorry, but I lost access to the stable once we got back.”

“I’ll do that Trouble; you guys take care now,” I tell them as they head back to Manesville and we turn and head back to the farm.

When we get back to the farmhouse I see Choo Choo sitting on the porch with Xochitl. She sees us coming and waves to us. I can tell when Xochitl sees Ginger as his eyes get big and his ears forward.

When we get close enough Xochitl comes over to Ginger and I hear him tell her, “Ginger you look beautiful, where did you get it?”

She practically beams, “I bought it when we went into town. Do you really like it?” she asks.

I see him nod his head and gulp.

About this time Choo Choo comes back over to me, “Hey Major, I hope you don’t mind. I got bored back at the cave.”

“No, I don’t mind at all Choo Choo, come on in.” I tell her as all of us go inside and I ask her, “Would you like some tea?”

I see her smile, “Sure, that would be great. It seems my sisters are now living on the farm that used to belong to Quick Frost family. They are doing their community service there. And George has been at the stable doing flight training all day,” I see her head go down some, “Major, I’m lonely there now.”

“I understand Train Wreck, I would be too if not for everypony here.”

At that I see Both Sumac and Magpie look at me funny. Then Ginger tells them, “What, that is what they started calling her after me and Xochitl got captured before the first battle of Two-Step. She rescued us from Red Eye’s Troops and Sunset said watchin her in action was like watchin a trainwreck.”

I smile slightly at the dark humor, then I hear both Sumac and Mags gasp, “You were captured?” they ask.

Xochitl then tells her, “Yeah, Father was too. That was right after we first encountered the chitterers. After Two-Step Ginger and I were armed.”

I see the confusion on both of their faces and Magpie asks, “Ok, I give, what’s a Chitterer?”

Ginger seems to take sadistic glee in explaining this to them, “Ok, you know what a tick is right?”

I see both of them nod their heads and Sumac says, “Of course, who doesn’t?”

Ginger then continues, “Now imagine ticks that are two to three feet across, and attack in groups, communicating with each other by a chittering sound.” I see them both look queasy as she continues, “they sucked a couple of our ponies dry before we could save them.”

I see Sumac is shaking some, “You can’t be serious?”

Archer looks her right in the eyes, “She is completely serious. We ran into them a couple of times. The second time we had a former Steel Ranger in her armor set up fake campfires inside the woods with them. It worked almost as well as an artillery barrage, and it really messed with their minds.”

They both look at each other and then back at all of us with a horrified look on their faces. Then Magpie asks, “You, you used them as weapons?”

Both Archer and I nod yes, and I say, "Well, only that one time, if we had the chance we would have more. Mags, you got to understand, it was not like it is here. We used everything we could to survive.”

Then I hear Sumac say, “you mean you would have used feral ghouls even if you found them?”

Ginger looks really embarrassed, “Ok, Once mama Sumac only once for me. The other time Bailey Bridge was responsible.”

I see both of them look horrified, Magpie then asks, “Ginger Snaps, how could you use ghouls on other ponies?”

I see Ginger’s expression change as she remembers. She closes her eyes and tells them in a disturbingly calm voice, “It was the day we saw the other Ivy and Epona. We were being chased out of the tunnels and I was upset. Then I seen we were not only behind their lines, but I saw Silver Spite. I knew it was my chance to pay him back for my sister. So, I got the ferals attention and led them right to him.” Then I see her smile and say, “They almost got him too. Would have gotten me if not for our favorite Train Wreck.”

From next to me I hear Choo Choo tell her, “Your welcome Ginger. I was very afraid for you to tell the truth.”

I see the expression of both Sumac and Magpies faces and I hear Sumac asks, “Ginger why would you do such a thing, you could have been killed.”

Ginger looks at the floor then back up at Sumac, “Because I wanted to hurt him more then he hurt us. I just did not think about what happened to me, I wanted him to hurt too.”

Both Sumac and Magpie just shake their head and Magpie moves to hug her, “Ginger, we are more important to us alive than any bit of revenge. Please remember that.”

Ginger hugs her back, “I know, but I was not thinking of that at the time.

Next to Ginger, I see Xochitl nodding his head, “See Ginger I am not the only one who feels this way.”

We then change the subject of our discussion to things more closely related to home. “So Choo Choo, did you get to see your sisters when you returned?” Magpie asks.

She shakes her head no, “Not yet. George let me know where they were and what was going on before I left the stable last night. George was on duty and was staying in her room at the stable. So, it gave me a lot of time to think.”

“I can understand that. What were you thinking about Choo Choo?” I ask.

She blows some air out of her nose and gives a frustrated noise from her mouth, “A lot of things, I am no longer who I thought I was. I would love to work on the railroad again, but that is not going to happen for the foreseeable future. I thought about Sidetrack and me. I thought about my sisters. Even about what we have done and why.”

I notice the time and that it is late afternoon, I tell everyone, “I hate to do this, but I really should head back to the stable to see Sutures.” So, I excuse myself and go pack a saddlebag for overnight. On a lark, I put my good uniform in there also, just in case I need it.

As I am finishing packing the bag Magpie enters the room behind me. She puts a hoof over my shoulder, “Hi love, how are you doing?” she asks.

I shrug my shoulders, “Ok, I guess. It’s kind of a shock to the system to not be always on the run now.”

I see her nod. Then she asks me, “Mollygirl, do you still love me?”

I turn to her, I notice some tears forming in her eyes, “Yes dear I do. I am so sorry for the entire mess, you deserve so much better Mags.” I tell her.

Then she asks, “Do you love her too? I mean Sutures?”

I take a deep breath I close my eyes and open them and I look at Magpie, “Yes I do, I am sorry but I have fallen in love with her and Archer also.”

I see her smile, “But you love me too? What about Badger?”

I sit down on the edge of the bed, “Magpie, part of me loves him, but he hurt me very badly, and then this thing with Sumac was just icing on the cake. It made me realize, that if things are going to work out, we need to sit down and all of us mares let Badger know, no more new partners, period. This is as big as we get. I am very sorry if I hurt you, dear. I stayed faithful until we got to Serenity Valley.”

I see her nod her head, “How many times?” she asks.

“Only once, the first night we got there. I was with both of them. The second time I was with Archer was last night with you.” I tell her.

I see she looks surprised, “Really?”

I nod my head, “Yes really. Magpie, I wanted to be a good spouse, I was waiting to hear yours and Badgers answer. Everybody in the CEF knew that. They even were making bets I found out about how long I would go before I gave in. Mags, when I finally gave in, I did not think I would live to see you or home again. I felt I was dead mare walking. Even then I would not have just jumped into bed with anypony. I had to love them first. Just like I love you. Please, Mags, I beg you, do not make me choose, please.” I had not realized I have started to get tears in my eyes too.

She looks at me and sniffles a bit. “You still love me that much too though?”

“Yes Mags, Yes, I do. Badger, now he is on thin ice with me still to tell the truth, but I am willing to give this whole crazy expanded family thing a try, and I hope you are too.” I tell her.

She looks at me, and I see a bit of a smile start to form on her face, “Ok, she is cute and a sweet mare and Archer is such a sweetheart too. As for Sumac, her role in our family really hasn’t changed much other than she has kept Badger away from me, and to tell the truth as mad as I have been at him, that has been a Goddess send. By the way, how did you take it when he told you about Sumac?”

I look her in the eyes and sigh, “From what he told me afterward, about the same as you did when you caught them. I just sat there laughing. What could I say, the buck I was married to rutting the mare that had helped raise me, and who I had begun to consider a second mother again? The absurdity of it caught me off guard. If I hurt you that way Mags, I am sorry.”

She smiles weakly at me, “No, it’s ok, really Mollygirl, I just was worried you did not want me anymore. But I say we make this work. Tonight, you spend the night with her, tomorrow I will OK?”

I nod my head, “Ok, sounds good. Dear, I think we have some damage control to do, especially where Badger is concerned. But I think we can make it work, besides, when he was in the hospital at Serenity Valley, I overheard Archer giving advice to Badger on how to start mending fences with me. I think Archer will make a big difference dear.”

“Mollygirl, I think you are right on Archer, and to tell the truth, yesterday I noticed a difference in how Badger reacted. Oh, and by the way, thank you for last night,” she tells me and then she kisses me.

We then talk a bit more while I finish packing my bag and then I head back to the kitchen and say goodbye to everyone. I look at Ginger and tell her, “Now Ginger, I need you to behave tonight, ok?”

“Ma, why can’t I go with you?” She asks.

“Ginger, there is no place there for you to sleep. Otherwise, I would have no problem. As it is I will be sleeping in a chair at best.”

She seems frustrated, and questions me, “Ok ma, but when will you be home?”

“Sometime tomorrow, before lunch probably, besides that will give me a time to check on Tar as well as to stop at your school and talk to them about you and Xochitl resuming classes,” I tell her.

She nods her head and gives me a hug, “Promise me that tomorrow night you will read to me ok?”

“I will dear, I will, I miss it too,” I tell her as I give her a hug.

As I am getting ready to head out the door, I give hugs and kisses to my family and then I hear Choo Choo ask me, “Major, can I walk with you to the stable? I have something I want to talk to you about.”

“Sure Choo Choo, feel free to. I would enjoy your company.”

We enjoy a pleasant conversation as we walk. Then I notice her face get very serious and she asks me, “Major, how long would I have to enlist for?”

She catches me off guard, “I am not for sure right now Choo Choo, but most of the enlistments are for four years at least, why?”

As we continue walking, she looks at me, “Major, I no longer fit well with my sisters, I am too bored, I feel pride in what we did and to be honest, since the trains are not running, I need to find something else to do. I was wondering if I could join the 1^st regiment?”

I stop dead in my tracks, “Choo Choo, why the 1^st regiment? the second has most of the fliers and even George is in it.”

“Major, I saw the regimental paintings at the stable entrance, I saw George on the 2^nd Regiments, well that is good and all, but the CEF was part of the 1^st Regiment before the expedition, and now it is again. Ma’am, I want to stay with my ponies and cattle.” She tells me.

“You know that this may delay the amount of time before you can go back to see Side Track right?”

She smiles at me, “Mollygirl, as one friend to another, we both have abnormally long lives, what is another couple of years. Besides, who knows what our futures may bring.”

By this point, we have reached the stable and are just coming to the main stable entrance. I smile at her, “Choo Choo, I would like you to think about it for a couple of weeks, don’t just jump at this. If after those couple of weeks, you still want to do it, I will see about getting the paperwork ran and I would be proud to swear you in. Deal?” I tell her and then stick out my hoof.

She takes my hoof and shakes it, “Deal Major, It’s a deal.”

“Ok, Choo Choo, I best head inside, I will talk to you later.”

“Ok Major, I will talk to you later.” She tells me and then takes off and flies off back towards Emerald Grove.

I show my PipBuck to the guard as I enter. He is a new one, so he has not seen me before. He passes me on and as I enter the tunnel, I see Dull Beak coming out. “Hey Dull Beak, how is it going?”

“Oh, Hi Major,” He says with some surprise at seeing me, “Just got done talking with some of your staff officers. Kind of an interesting bunch here. You really do have a stable, there were times I actually wondered.”

“Yeah, it is not to bad really. It works well as a base of operations at least.” I reply.”

He laughs lightly, “That it does, first time I ever saw a stable with a rear entrance though. Kind of defeats the purpose doesn’t it?”

“Not really DB, if you think of it, the stable served its intended purpose for one hundred years. For the past one hundred, it has been modified to meet the needs of the descendants of those it saved. We repurposed it. Besides, if you only have one way to get in, you only have one way to get out.”

“A good point, but it is too bad you don’t have better doors down there too.” He points out.

“Oh, I agree, but in time who knows, Besides, George is kind of territorial, and the stable seems to have become part of her territory, I don’t think I would want to try and attack it myself now.”

He nods his head, “Very true, well I should get going, I want to catch dinner and a few drinks before I catch some sleep tonight.”

“No Problem DB. Where are you staying at?” I ask.

“Oh, they gave me a stall in the stable. I am sharing it with Tourniquet.”

“Glad to hear they are taking care of both of you. Well, I best get going, I am heading to see Sutures and I might check up on Tar. I will see you around DB.”

He waves a talon at me, “All right Major, have a good night and I will see you around.”

As he heads out of the stable, I continue further inside. As I get to the Medical department, I see Badger coming out the door.

He smiles at me and comes over and gives me a hug and a kiss. “Hi sweetheart, I hope you had a good day today.” He says with a twinkle in his eye.

“Hi dear, how are you today?”

“I can’t complain,” he says, “it’s been fairly decent. Sutures is doing better today. I got to watch her trying to walk some more. She is getting better at doing so on three legs. I guess she just wants to get out of here and get home.”

“Any new interesting rumors?” I ask.

“No, nothing really exciting. I did get questioned by some of the cadets about the battle at Serenity Valley. They did not seem happy that I could not tell them more than what I did. But I only saw a taste of it, it seems. Oh, and Pages and Sunset are now officially dating it seems. I need to talk to everyone first, but I told them we should have them at the farm for dinner sometime. How about you?”

“Well, I did see Trouble, Blondie, and Sunny today. Looks like we may have some new neighbors. Trouble may be taking up farming and reclaim the farm down the road from us. He was on his way to put in the papers for it when I saw him.”

He smiles, “Sounds like a good day then. Do you want me to say a while longer with you two, or should I just head home for the night?” he asks.

I put a hoof under my chin briefly and think about it and decide, “Best head home, I know the others are expecting you home, but thank you for asking dear,” I give him another kiss, “I will see you tomorrow, go have fun, besides, I think Ginger needs some time with you too.”

He nods his head, “Oh, ok then, see you tomorrow dear. I love you.”

“I love you too Badger, have a good night and sweet dreams dear.”

He turns and I watch him leave, then I head into medical to see my sweetheart. As I enter, I see her smile from ear to ear. “You came back. I was hoping so, but I was unsure.”

“Dear, I will never deliberately let you down. Besides, I have missed you love,” I tell her as I lean in and kiss her, without thinking about time or place I begin to let my forehoof slowly slide down her side and am at her flank when I hear a pony clear their throat behind me.

I stop what I was doing and am embarrassed when I see Triage behind me. She is smirking and I hear a light laugh come from her. “Sorry about that Major. I was just coming to visit and well, my timing seems to be a bit off.” Then I notice her look me up and down, before she says, “You know, you really clean up well Major.”

I feel myself blush some, “Thank you Triage, sorry about that.”

“Not a problem Major, besides, you helped me win some caps back there at Serenity Valley, so were good ma’am”

“Triage, I am afraid to ask what the bet was, and with who,” I say.

She laughs some more than looks at Sutures, “Well it was with Sutures, and she was betting you would not give in until we got back from the expedition.”

I turn to look at Sutures and see she has a hoof in front of her muzzle, “shhh,” she says, “You were not supposed to let anypony know.”

At this I begin to laugh, “Sutures, I am sure most of the ponies and cattle knew, I am just glad you had that much faith in me. I am sorry I disappointed you though.”

If possible, she smiles even more and leans into me, “No, it was not a disappointment dear, I just know how stubborn you can be on things you believe in.”

At this, I notice Triage raises an eyebrow, “Well at least we are all still here to talk about it.” She says.

I step back at this time and take a seat in a chair next to the bed. Triage comes up and gives Sutures a slight hug, “Sutures my friend, you gave me a Tartarus of a scare back there.”

“Sorry about that Triage, but thanks, I really believe you saved my life back there.” As Sutures says this my heart about stops. I realize I almost lost her.

Triage smiles, “Hey its what we are here for and you would have done it for me.”

“That may be true Triage, but you still saved me. I could easily have bled out or gone into shock.” Sutures points out to her.

I sit there quietly as they begin to talk shop. They are discussing a world that is not mine as they talk about sucking chest wounds, lacerations and splinting shattered legs. I have had a basic first aid course, but that was years ago and even then, they go far deeper into it than I ever imagined. After a couple of hours, Triage says her goodbyes and heads out for the night. I notice the time and soon the lights are turned down low for the night.

I sit in the reclining chair holding her hoof as we listen to DJ Pon3’s show on the radio. As we listen to the songs we relax and just enjoy the time together. I move the chair a little closer so I can lean over and nuzzle her while she is still laying down.

“Mollygirl, thank you. You do not know how much this means to me.”

“Sutures, yes, I do, I have been there, remember. Part of what kept me going was when you stopped by that time, and when Archer, Magpie, Sumac, and even Memory would visit. Tomorrow night I will be at home with the rest. Ginger made me promise to read to her, but Magpie will be here instead. Dear, she really wants to get to know you too.”

I see a look of worry come over her face, “Mollygirl you do still love her too right?”

I nod my head and lift her chin with my hoof. I lightly kiss her and answer, “Yes dear, almost as much as you. Funny thing is, she asked me if I loved her too, like I do you. Neither of us is happy with Badger's behavior. It’s nothing against Sumac, it’s just he did not even discuss it with either her or I. She caught them superimposed in the kitchen even. I was going to bring this up later, but maybe we should talk about it now. Sutures, there are six of us now, and most of us already agree, no more partners. Once your back home, I want us all to sit down and tell Badger this, face to face.”

She nods her head, “Mollygirl, that works for me. I would have been happy with just Archer, adding you to us meant more to me than you would imagine, adding the rest is ok with me, I just never imagined it.”

I smile slightly and tell her, “Neither did I dearest, neither did I. Before Opening Day this year, I did not even have anypony on my radar. Now I am involved with five others. At times it is surreal. But to tell the truth, I can not imagine my life without any of you in it anymore.”

She leans over, kisses me and then whispers to me, “I feel the same way about you and Archer, I really like and care about the others, but still need to get to know them better.”

“I understand dear, I do understand. Mags and I discussed it earlier, she is nervous as well, but she is willing to try and make a go of it to,” I let her know.

She smiles and I see she is getting drowsy, so I start to run my hoof through her mane as she slowly falls asleep. Eventually, I drift off also, still sitting next to her and praying that we can make things work as I do not want to hurt anypony, and I will not hurt this one if at all possible. I feel her hoof holding mine and feel safe and content as I fall asleep.

Dear DJ Pon3

I have come back to what I considered home. But so much has changed. It’s not the same and neither am I. I am confused. I feel hurt, happy, sad, angry, and joyful, so many things I want to do and would do differently if I had known the end results. I have several friends who are going through this at this time too, for me and them could you please play Both Sides Now.

Thank You

Choo Choo

Manesville Co-op

Thanks to all those who have built this wondrous world we know as FoE, especially Kkat, who created it. The world of Foe has so many tales of heartache, pain, and regret, but also love and hope and courage. In this chapter we see many of our characters trying to begin the readjustment that occurs whenever one returns from a deployment, or even from a long time away from home.

For those who would like to hear this chapters dedication song the YouTube link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nprjAwB1ASw