Morning comes and I wake with Magpie on one side and Badger on the other. Badger Kisses me on my neck, then my muzzle. “Good morning love, I have missed this, the three of us that is.”

I put a hoof alongside his face, “Have you? I did too, believe it or not? I was so worried about both of you when I was out there.”

“Mollygirl, is it alright if I spend the night with Sutures at medical tonight?” he asks.

I smile at him, “Of course, thank you for asking though.”

“I am trying dear, I really am. Archer has helped me to realize a thing or two I had not realized I was missing. I always liked him, but he has surprised me so much. I am finding I really like having him around too. I missed having him to talk to after dinner tonight.”

“Dear, most of what I have done with both him and Sutures was just be there for each other. Sometimes that is what we need most. That is part of what I miss about Ivy so much. She was always there for me.” I tell him and I feel a tear start to form as I think about her.

I hear him sigh, “I am sorry Moll, I wish I could have been there more for you. I should have been there more for you.”

“Badger, I will be honest with you. I love you. You are getting a second chance, and so far, you are proving you deserve it, please keep it up love.” I tell him, then I bury my face against his chest.”

I feel his hoof squeeze me tight as he says, “Thank you for giving me a second chance. I know now how badly I let you two down. Now I have a larger family then I ever imagined and I cannot do that again. I can’t let any of you down.”

From behind me, I feel Magpie shift and she says, “I am glad to hear that Badger, I am glad you realize you have hurt us. Please don’t do that again. I do love you, but I can’t take it again.”

Badger nods his head and gets out of bed. He walks to her side of the bed and kisses her, “I love you too Mags, I am very sorry I hurt you. Please forgive me.”

“Badger, I will forgive you, but that does not mean I will forget. We do have some work to do on us right now, but learning from Archer seems to be helping.” She tells him.

I see him close his eyes and put his head down. Then he asks to no pony in particular, “I wonder how he learned to handle relationships so well.”

I answer that for him, “Badger, his father was always there for him along with his mother growing up. They had a good relationship. He has told me it was not always easy, but they worked through the rough spots. That is where he learned. Maybe we can all learn from him.”

I see a half-smile on his face, “Well at least that means my being screwed up isn’t all my fault.”

Magpie looks him in the eyes, “No, but it also means you do not have to remain that way dear. We can all be better ponies. Now let’s go get breakfast so we can get to work,” she tells him. Then as an afterthought, she tells him, “And I think it is a wonderful idea for you to stay with Sutures tonight. You really should get to know her better. She is such a sweetheart.”

I smile at both of them as they get up and get dressed. “Have a good day you two. Mags, I will see you tonight dear. Badger, see you later, either at the stable or when you come home next. Now I am going back to sleep,” I tell them as I roll over and cover my head with the blanket. Soon I am deep asleep again.

I wake a couple of hours later to the feeling of Ginger jumping on the bed next to me. “Ma, time to wake up Mama Sumac has bacon and eggs ready for us.”

“OK, ok, I am up dear. How about a quick hug then I will get out of bed?” I tell her.

She stops bouncing and lands next to me. She rolls over and gives me a hug, which I reciprocate. “So, I guess my young mare is doing well today?”

She nods her head, “Yes, I get bacon to start my day. That is a big plus.”

I laugh as I tell her, “Ok Ginger, I can understand that. We better get up; we have a lot to do today.”

As I get up out of bed for the day, I watch her jump up and run into the kitchen. Oh, how I wish I had that much energy anymore.

After breakfast, I put my uniform back on, and without thinking I put on my holster. I give Sumac a quick hug, “Thanks for breakfast. I really appreciate it.”

She smiles at me and says, “No problem Mollygirl, besides bacon really is not that bad. I may not eat it that often, but it is pretty tolerable.”

I smile and laugh as I respond, “Remember Sumac, it is a gateway food.”

“So, I understand,” she says chuckling to herself. The grease from it does add a certain flavor to the eggs that is different from butter, that is for sure.”

As we head out the door, Ginger looks at me and sees my pistol, I see her looking at the SIR on the rack. “No Ginger, you can’t”

“But Ma, how come you can and I can’t?” she asks.

“Dear, it is more acceptable for me as an officer to carry it, and I will just say it is for radhogs. You know just in case.”

I see the look on her face and can read the disappointment, “But ma, I am just as good as the next pony with it.”

“Ginger, speaking of that, did you clean your SIR after using it yesterday?”

She looks down, “No, but Xochitl did while we were over at Trouble’s farm. He said he used it, he should clean it.”

“Ok, but when we get home, I want you to double-check it. I am sure it is fine, but it is your weapon and your life may depend upon it someday.”

“Alright Ma, I will do that. I just trust Xochitl is all.”

“Dear, I understand, but I would double-check my weapon even if it was Archer or Badger who cleaned it.”

I see her eyes open wider, “Really ma?”

“Yes dear, if we were still in the valley wouldn’t you have already checked it?”

"Well yeah, sure, but that is different, isn’t it?” she asks surprised.

“Nope, not at all. Always check them, dear. Even when you know you were the last one to clean it,” I tell her as we are walking down the road toward the stable. On the way back I want to slide by Emerald Grove to visit Choo Choo and George if they are home, ok?”

I see her smile widen, “Sure ma, I want to see them too.”

Once at the stable, we head straight to medical. I see one of the ponies from H-troop standing guard this time. She waves to both of us. I look in to see Sutures and see Archer is still with her, I tell them both, “I will be back in a bit.”

I then go back over to Tar’s room. I see she is awake and while she does not say anything, she waves me in.

Ginger follows me in and she jumps on the chair next to the bed and puts her forehooves on the mattress as she says, “Hi Tar, it is good to see you awake this time.”

I see her have a questioning look on her face, so I tell her, “Tar, Ginger was with me the day we found what they did to you.”

“Yeah, we have been worried sick about you cousin Tar.” Ginger adds.

I ask her, “Are you ok? Are they treating you good?”

Tar nods yes.

I then ask, “Still can’t talk?”

She shakes her head no.

I then ask, “Do you think you could write?”

She looks at me like I am an idiot, then points to her mouth.

“OH, yeah, I forgot sorry Tar.”

I see her rubbing her foal slowly and with a worried expression on her face. So, I tell her, “As soon as they brought you in, Sutures got out of her hospital bed and came over on three legs to help treat you and make sure your foal is ok.”

I see her eyes go wide and her ears forward, she then points towards one of her legs.

I nod my head, “I forgot you never found out. Tar, Sutures lost a leg from that grenade back in the valley. She is doing good overall, but still healing up. She is in the room across the way.”

I see her close her eyes then nod. Then she sighs.

“Tar, just so you know, they have relieved the stable chief of security pending the completion of the investigation. Taser has taken over. The guards for you are to protect you also. They are all volunteers from H-troop. They are doing this during their own leave time. Tar, they think that highly of you. You are cared about and have not been forgotten.”

I see her eyes tear up and she wipes them away with her forehoof.

“I have told Trouble, but I did not tell him who the suspects are yet. He would come to visit you but he lost his clearance to the stable once we got back. He also is setting up a farm out by Sumacs. Several of the caravan civilians are working on it, as well as some other nearby farms to reclaim them,” I explain to her. I see her nod her understanding, then I ask, “Is there anything you would like to read? Magpie works at the library in town now, perhaps I can have her bring something in for you to read?”

She nods her head and attempts a smile that ends in a grimace. So, I ask, “Do you like poetry Tar?”

In response, she holds out a front hoof and see-saws it back and forth a bit. I then tell her, “In Manesville there is a copy of a book of poems by Cloud Seeder, I could have her bring that to you.”

I see a questioning look on her face, “You don’t know who Cloud Seeder was, do you?”

She shakes her head, and I smile as I tell her, “He was one of our pegasus ancestors that made it into the stable on the last day. He was Millie’s Great Grandfather. He not only was a weather warden but a poet.”

I see a look of surprise on her face and ask, “Would you like to read his works then?”

I see her nod her head yes, “Good, I will see if Magpie can drop it off tomorrow for you to read. I hate to say it, but I should go see Sutures for a bit too. I will talk to you again soon Tar,” I tell her and I lean in to give her a hug. As I do so I hear her crying lightly and sniffling.

Then Ginger tells me, “Ma, is it ok if I sit with cousin Tar for a while. I think she could use some company and I have missed seeing her too.”

“Is that ok with you Tar,” I ask. When she nods, I tell Ginger, “Ok, then but do not bother her too much ok.”

“Ok, ma,” she tells me and I see her climb up on the end of Tar's bed to talk with her as I leave the room to go over and see Sutures and Archer.

As I enter the room, I see Sutures rubbing her forehoof through Archer's mane as he sits in the chair beside her. “Good morning my loves, how are you two doing?”

I see Archer look up as Sutures stops rubbing his mane, “Hey sweetheart how are you today?” He asks.

I Smile and kiss him on his forelock, “I am doing ok, I missed you both last nights. Sorry I did not make it here yesterday Sutures.” I tell her as I kiss her on her muzzle.

“That’s ok, Mol, Magpie kept me company for a bit in the morning and then last night I got to spend time with our Archer. Thank you for letting me get to spend time with each of them alone. It makes it where I can get to know them so much better. By the way, where did our little mare go?”

I laugh lightly as I tell her, “She is visiting Tar. I had not realized how attached she became to her.”

Sutures smiles, “Mollygirl we became her family out there, all of us. I saw her talk to Tar quite a bit. Even before Serenity Valley.”

“Why did I not notice that?” I ask.

“Mollygirl, you had so much on your hooves, I am surprised you had time to notice me and Archer much less anything else.”

“Yeah, I guess you are right. It’s just that she is so important to me too and I did not notice her talking to Tar that much either, it makes me wonder what else I missed.”

Archer puts a hoof on my shoulder, “Mollygirl, don’t beat yourself up over it. Seriously, we kept an eye on her for you when you could not. We needed your head concentrating on bigger things at that point.”

“I guess so. I just feel I let her down a bit there too.” I tell them.

It is then I hear Ginger behind me, “Ma, you never let me down, you were always there for me when I needed you. Even when my mother died. You were there for me.” She tells me as she walks up alongside me.

I put my hoof around her and hug her close. “Ginger, I will always try to be here for you. If I am not, you have a whole family now who cares about you.”

“I know ma, I know. By the way, cousin Tar is asleep again. I didn’t mean to but I think I hurt her when I got her to laugh telling her about the radhog hunt yesterday.”

“Oh Ginger, never get a pony who has broken or cracked ribs to laugh. But what Radhog hunt are you talking about?” Sutures ask.

I watch the surprise and humor on Sutures face as Ginger tells her all about it, and then how Stir Fry taught us to butcher it. I also notice her licking her lips a bit. “It’s too bad you could not bring any of that to me, Ginger, that sounds really good.” Sutures tells her.

Ginger then smiles, “Well Mama Sutures, I just happen to have some in my saddle bag wrapped in a rag, if you would like some,” she tells Sutures.

I am almost laughing at this point, then one of the medics walks in, “What are you ponies eating?” he asks. Ginger smiles as sweet as she can and tells him “Bacon, would you like some?”

I watch as he puts his hoof over his mouth and runs out of the room. Ginger just shrugs her shoulders and in a serious tone of voice says, “Some ponies just don’t know what they are missing.” That is when I can no longer hold my laughter in.

The next couple of days pass quickly between trying to get things done at the farm and spending time with Sutures at medical in the Stable. The investigation into the incident with Tar has gone slowly as her jaw still takes several days to finish healing. Ironically it is Ginger who she first talks to after she has healed enough.

I arrive at medical shortly afterward. Ginger had come in with Magpie to visit both Sutures and Tar. I notice that Sargent Peach Pit was standing the guard this time. I nod to her as I get ready to enter Sutures room when I hear Tar ask Ginger, “Did you really get that radhog to chase you just so he could shoot it?”

I hear her reply “Yep, I knew it was the quickest way to get it close to the house, besides Xochitl is a better shot than me.”

“You really must trust him Ginger,” Tar tells her.

“I do cousin Tar; he is really special to me.” She tells her. At that, I smile to myself and go into to see Sutures and Magpie. “So how are my beautiful mares doing,” I ask as I go up and nuzzle them both.

I see Sutures smile as she tells me, “They started to fit me for my prosthetic today, so I will be home soon dear.”

“I am so glad to hear that. By the way, we should talk to Sumac about adding at least one or two more rooms to the house. We are going to need a nursery with all these foals. I tell them laughing.”

I see a smile come over Magpies face as she tells me, “You know you are right about that Mol, we should get them ready before we start dropping the foals.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, let’s not talk about dropping foals, my hooves are not that slippery now,” Sutures jokes with us, which earns a groan from me.

“So, Sutures, have you and Archer talked about having a foal yet?” Magpie asks her.

I swear I see Sutures blush, but it is so hard to tell with her midnight black coat. Then she looks up at both of us with a shy expression on her face. “Actually, we have. We are going to wait a bit to see how my body handles the prosthetic first. But after that. By the way Magpie, he did express interest in you too after you have this one. I know I don’t need to tell you Mol, that he would love to have one with you also,” As she adds the last part, I see a look of sadness on her face and I can tell that part of her is mourning for me.

I force a smile on my face and pat her on her hind leg lightly, “That’s ok dear, I guess it was just not meant to be,” I tell her, “At least I will have one, plus Ginger. Speaking of Ginger, I best go get her and give Tar a break.”

As I enter the room, I see Tar is sitting up and talking with Ginger about what all has been going on. At this point, she is telling her about Trouble’s farm and the new settlement they are slowly building up there.

Tar sees me and when Ginger pauses to take a breath says to me, “Hey Mollygirl, good to see you today. By the way, thank you for checking on me and getting me help. I had almost given up.”

I sit at the end of her bed. “Tar, I am just sorry I could not have gotten there sooner. I will say I am glad to see you up and talking again.” I tell her.

She smiles at me and adds, “Well what can I say. By the way, I really need to figure out how to thank Sutures for helping me so much. Ginger has told me all about how she hopped over here on three legs to help me.”

“She did, I think it helped her regain some of her self confidence, to tell the truth. She was really shaken up by what happened to her.”

I see Ginger, tilt her head as she looks at me, “Ma, what do you mean she was shaken up? I thought she was doing good.”

I smile at Ginger, but I also feel a sadness as I explain to her, “Ginger, it took a lot out of her both physically and emotionally when she lost her leg dear. A lot of ponies would give up after an injury like that.”

I see the light go on in her mind then. “Oh, so that is why she was so quiet at first. I thought maybe I had done something wrong.”

“No, you did not do anything wrong dear. She just had to realize that life for her had changed, but was not over.” I tell her.

Tar then tells her, “Ginger, lots of things can change a pony’s life. Myself, I will be lucky if they only put me in prison. But either way, my life is going to change.”

I see a look of confusion on Ginger's face as she asks, “Tar, what do you mean if you are lucky you go to prison?”

“Never mind Ginger, you don’t need to be worrying about me,” Tar tells her.

Ginger gets up close to Tar and all but yells, “What do you mean if you are lucky you will only get prison? Tar what happens if you are not lucky? What are you not telling me Tar?”

I see Tar almost breakdown into tears. I put my hoof on Ginger’s shoulders and tell her, “Ginger, please, come with me, you are upsetting Tar.”

She shrugs my hoof off of her shoulder and spins to look at me, “No! What are you not telling me?”

Tar is trying to hold back tears as she tells Ginger, “Ginger, I betrayed the Co-op. I am a traitor, they could hang me or shoot me. I only hope they let me have my foal first.”

I see Ginger’s eyes go wide, “NO! THEY CAN’T DO THAT! YOU CAME BACK ON YOUR OWN!” she screams.

Tar looks down at the floor tears in her eyes and her voice, “Yes Ginger, they can. I hope they don’t, but they can. I made the mistake. I acted out because I felt betrayed and I let a stallion I thought could love me, lead me astray. Ginger, please dear, don’t be like this I messed up.”

Ginger is crying now as she climbs onto Tar's bed and buries her face in Tar's fur. “Tar, they can’t, they can’t take you away. Were family. I can’t lose more family.”

Tar wraps her forelegs around Ginger and hugs her. “Little Cousin, I know how you feel. Your right we are family, I finally have family other the Trouble that makes me feel loved. I don’t want to lose that either.”

I stand there watching this and then put my hoof on Tar’s shoulder and tell her, “Tar, I will do everything I can for you. Don’t give up hope yet, please.”

She sniffles back tears, “Thanks Mollygirl, I will try not to, but it just gets to me sometimes, the not knowing.”

“I understand Tar, I do understand,” I tell her and I give her a hug. I then tell Ginger, “Dear, let’s let Tar get some rest, I know Sutures and Magpie would like to see you too.”

“Ma, I don’t want to leave Tar though. I don’t want her to be lonely and think we have forgotten about her.” Ginger tells me.

Then Tar squeezes her in her hug and tells Ginger, “Ginger, I do not think you will ever forget me. Please go with you ma for now, besides I want to read some more of this book on poetry that Magpie brought by for me, ok.”

Ginger, tears still in her eyes, sniffles back a runny nose and looks at Tar, “Are you sure? I really do enjoy being with you Tar.”

Tar smiles at her and tells her, “Yes, I am sure Ginger, I really enjoy spending time with you too.”

Ginger then gives her one more hug, then pats her belly and climbs down, “Ok Ma, I am ready. Please don’t let the others know I was crying like a foal.”

“I won’t dear. I won’t,” I tell her as we leave Tar’s room to go see Sutures and Mags. However inside, I too feel like crying like a foal. I only hope I don’t let Tar down.

Before we leave Sutures that evening, I am surprised to see several members of the second squad of the Door Kickers come to visit her. They are led by Sergeant Broken hills and I see the surprise on Ginger’s face when she notices he has a couple of bottles of Old Overmare sticking out of his saddlebags. So, Magpie and I both share in a sip as they begin their visit with her and then we excuse ourselves. As we pass Tar’s room, I notice that Bailey Bridge is there visiting her.

On our way home that night I make the diversion to visit Choo Choo and George. It does take a bit of time to get there but it should be worth it. I miss seeing Choo Choo all the time. Besides Magpie has told me she has a surprise for her.

Once we are at the cave entrance, I knock three times and call into the cave. “Hello, George? Choo Choo? Is anyone home?”

Then I hear hooves and claws on stone coming towards us. I smile when I see Choo Choo and George come to great us together. I notice right away that George is wearing her new glasses. Before I can even greet them Ginger hops off my back and is off to give a hug to both of them.

“Hi Major,” George greets me.

“Hi George, I hope you two do not mind us making a social call?”

Choo Choo smiles, “Oh, not at all Major, not at all, it is so good to see you all again,” She tells me as she finishes giving Ginger a hug with her wings.

George then extends a forefoot towards her cave, “Please come in, all of you. Would you like some tea?” she asks.

Magpie then answers, “I would love some George; besides, it has been too long since we all have been able to just sit down and talk over tea. I have missed your visits dear.”

George smiles back, “I have missed yours too Magpie. Unfortunately, with duty and all, I don’t get that much free time anymore.”

We follow them into the portion of the cave that is their kitchen and we sit at the table. While we wait for the tea to steep, we continue to talk.

Finally, Magpie tells Choo Choo, “Dear, I have a surprise for you.”

“Really, what is it?” she asks back.

“Well, it seems that during the expedition you ran into your old fiancé and he gave Ginger the names of your Daughter and her family. Did you know that he had bought them tickets for the stable here in Manesville?” Magpie asks her.

I see Choo Choo’s eyes get wide, “No, at least I don’t remember if he told me.”

Magpie smiles and continues, “It seems that your daughter and her foals made it into the stable. In fact, several of the unicorn and a couple of earthpony families are descended from you.”

I see her jaw drop in surprise, “Really, I have family still alive here?”

Magpie smiles, “Yes dear, you do, in fact, you even know some of them. Dear, it seems Sutures, as well as Paper Work and Specs, are all descended from you. Well, at least genetically from the old you.”

I see her smile, then she frowns a bit. “That is great, but,” she says as she looks down, “I had started to really like Paper Work.”

I see George reach over with a wing, “It’s ok Choo, we can talk about it later. Just be glad you have family still.”

“Oh, I am George, it just feels strange that I know them and did not even know they were family, I guess I can see that my family turned out good ponies.” Choo Choo tells her.

I smile and tell her “Choo Choo, I am proud to have you as a friend and now I guess that would make us related in a fashion when Sutures and Archer marry into our family,” after which I take a sip of my tea.

I see her smile at that as she sips her tea and thinks a bit, then she tells me, “That is not such a bad thing. I really do care about Sutures, Magpie, have you told anypony else this yet?”

I see a surprised look on Mag's face and she tells Choo Choo, “No, I wanted to surprise you and let you be the first to know.”

I see Choo Choo close her eyes and smile, then she nods her head. “Thank you so much Magpie, I really do appreciate it.” Then Choo Choo looks at me, “Mollygirl, have you thought about what I have said yet?”

I look at her and ask, “Do you mean about your signing up?”

She nods her head, “Yep, I am still serious,” she tells me.

I nod my head back and tell her, “I talked about it with the Colonel the other day, He said he had hoped you would consider it.”

I see the surprise in her face, “The, the Colonel was asking about me?”

“Yes Choo Choo, Chappy really wants you in the First Regiment,” I tell her.

Then I hear George say, “Uhhh, I wanted her with me in the Second.”

Then Choo Choo looks at George and tells her, “I understand George, but the First regiment are the ones I have lived and fought alongside of for so long.”

I see George thinking and I watch her as she rubs her one front foot against her other foreleg. “Yeah, but still, I really like flying with you Choo.”

“And I with you George, but George, the 1^st needs fliers too. Besides, I am really used to working for Sunset and have more fun as a scout then just a combat flier.” Choo Choo replies.

Then I see a smile form on George's face as she says, “You know this could really make training exercises fun. Sort of like a big game of tag between you and me.”

That gives me an idea about how to hone both units’ skills that I want to talk to both Colonels about. I find it interesting where we can get ideas at times.

We continue to chat for a while more, then I notice the time and realize we need to get home. I see George smile, “Mollygirl, I have brought my harnesses home, as I usually do not use them in the line of duty. If you would like I could give you and Magpie a ride home, and Perhaps Choo Choo, could do so with Ginger.”

As she says this, I see a look of almost horror come over Magpie’s face and of sheer joy over Ginger’s. before I can say anything Ginger says “Sure, that sounds great to me.”

George notices the lack of response from Magpie and tells her “I promise to take it easy. The harness is just to make sure you feel comfortable.

Magpie looks between me and Ginger and lets out a sigh tells us, “Oh, ok, but Mollygirl and Ginger, you both owe me big time.”

George goes out and grabs her harness and we help her put it on. Then I help Mags put on her personal harness as she does mine. Once we are all ready, we step outside the cave and George lays down so we can climb on her. I help Magpie clip on and once I am done, I look to see if Ginger and Choo Choo are ready. George has already put on her goggles instead of her glasses and we make a gentle ascent into the air.

It feels so good to be in the air with George again. I smile as I feel my foal kick a bit like she is reminding me she is here for the ride also. I look back and see Magpie has her eyes closed, but she is smiling as the wind rushes through her mane. Over on Choo Choo, I see Ginger smiling from ear to ear. The sun is just setting and the moon starting to rise as we continue to fly the short distance home. Once there we land in the farmyard. I hear Xochitl then yell, “Ginger, that is not fair, you got to fly and I did not.” As he approaches flanked by both Woofers and Tweeters.

She gets off of Choo Choo’s back, gives her a hug and tells her thank you. Then turns to Xochitl, “It was just luck that I got to. Maybe sometimes Choo Choo will give you a ride again too.”

She says this and looks back at Choo Choo who smiles and nods as she says, “Yes Xochitl, perhaps another time, but with your parents’ permission.” Then she gives a quick scratch to the enfields who are rolling around at her hooves.

As I climb down from George, I help Magpie down and then we remove our harnesses and hang them back on George’s so they do not get lost. I go back up to Georges head and tell her, “Thank you, my friend, I really appreciate it. By the way, I really have missed flying with you.”

She smiles back and gently puts a foreleg around me and tells me, “I missed flying with you too Mollygirl. We need to do it again sometime.” I smile and agree with her. Then she and Choo Choo take off and fly back to their home.

Ginger, Magpie and I all head back into the house, Xochitl following along with us. Once we are inside, I head to the Kitchen along with Magpie to find Sumac. I notice that both Ginger and Xochitl both head into the parlor and lay on a couch together. He is behind her with a forehoof and his head on her back as she quietly talks to him about something.

As I enter the kitchen, I smell fresh bread baking as well as I see Sumac making a fresh salad for dinner, “Anything I can do to help Sumac?” I ask.

She turns and smiles at me, “How about doing dishes after dinner for me?” she asks.

“Of course, I just appreciate your cooking most of the time,” I answer her.

She smiles at me and lets me know, “Mollygirl, it is good to feel appreciated, and even better to feel wanted. By the way, Trouble stopped by today, he said Sunny is enrolled in school and will start next week too, he was wondering if Xochitl and Ginger would be willing to walk with him to school.”

“What did you tell him?” Mags asks.

Sumac still smiling tells us, “Well I said we would have to ask them but after Ginger asked to go see him the other day, I figure the answer will be yes.”

Then Magpie asks the million-cap question, “Are any of the other caravan children going to be attending the school?’

“To be honest, I did not think to ask, and he did not tell me. I am just looking forward to having them as neighbors now. He had Blondie with him, she seems like a good enough sort, even if a bit quiet,” Sumac tells us.

After the way Blondie has treated me in the past, I find it hard, but I still smile and say, “I am glad you finally got to meet her Sumac. She does seem the decent sort, and I know she really cares about Sunny. By the way Sumac, most of what you said about the Water family seems to be true. Tar and Trouble really are the exceptions.”

I see her look at me slightly funny and she asks me, “You really got close to those two, didn’t you?”

I nod my head, “Sumac, not only did we talk to each other a lot, but we were there for each other. We got to really know and trust each other. Sumac, Tar and Trouble both saved my life at different times.”

I see Magpie’s eyes open wide, “You really mean that, don’t you?”

“Yeah Mags, yeah I do. You remember how it was for the Battle of Manesville. Now imagine that every day for several months. That was what it was like. Magpie, when we slept next to each other on the expedition, it was usually just to keep warm, or to feel the comfort of another pony next to us. We ate what we could to survive. I, I can’t tell you, no, forget I said anything. I don’t’ want to remember that.” I tell them as I start to feel my hooves shake at the memory of that barn, the slop I had to eat, and then what happened afterward.

She puts a hoof on mine, “It’s ok Moll, it’s ok.” She tells me.

Without thinking I pull my hoof back, and almost yell, “No it’s not. It will never be ok. Damn it, you have no idea how far from ok it will be. WE WERE FUCKING HUNTED! Hunted like goddess damn animals and driven into a death trap. Do you understand that? Can you even imagine what it is like? I had to get them home,” I point my hoof towards me, “ME, Not Archer, Not Bailey, not Balance Books, ME. Damn it and I lost so many of them. I FAILED THEM!” I tell her with tears in my eyes and my breathing coming in quick breaths.”

I see the shock on both of their faces. Then I hear hoof steps running toward the kitchen and the door swings open behind me, without thinking I dive for the ground. Then I hear Ginger tell me, “Ma, it’s me Ma, Ginger.” I feel her come up to me and as she hugs me, I smell her scent and I relax.

It’s not fair to any of them, but I can’t help it. I tried to control it. Finally, I get myself back together. I look up at them, I am so embarrassed. I look at Magpie and Sumac first, “I am sorry, I, I don’t know what came over me,” Then I hug Ginger back and I rock with her in my forehooves, “I am so sorry dear, I am so sorry, you should not have to do this for me.”

I see her smile, with tears in her eyes, “It’s ok ma, you’ve done it for me before too.”

I feel another hoof on my shoulder and I turn to see Xochitl and he tells me, “Major, we are here for you when you need us. You never let us down, and we will not let you down,” he looks at the floor, “even my father has had nightmares since we have been back.”

Still sniffling, I swing out one of my forehooves and drag him into a hug with Ginger and me. “Thank you Xochitl, I needed to hear that,” I choke out.

I let both of them go from the hug and I get up off the floor, I go to sit at the table and as I look up at Sumac, she smiles and says, “SO, would it be ok if we had Trouble and his family over for dinner tomorrow?”

I can’t help myself at that point, I just have to laugh. The laughter then spreads from one to the other until all of us are laughing.

“Thank you, Sumac, I needed that too,” I tell her once we all stop laughing.

“Your welcome dear,” she says, then she looks at Xochitl and Ginger, “Let me know if you two ever need to talk, I may be old now, but I have a lot of experience.” As they leave the kitchen for the parlor again.

I see a smile break across Magpies face as she looks at Sumac and tells her just loud enough for the three of us to hear, “Well, the boys did say you were an experience, but they certainly do not consider you old.”

I again break out in laughter as I see Sumac blush. From the other room, I hear Ginger call out, “What? What’s so funny?”

Dear DJ Pon3,

Recently several members of my family have returned from the Expedition. They have all been changed, some more than others. But none of us expected these changes. I feel like a part of me is dying as I don’t know how to help them. For them and all those like them please play Hallelujah Veterans Version.

Thank you

Sumac

Manesville Co-op

The cost of battles and fights transcends the physical damage that we can see. Often times it remains unnoticed and can rear its head when we least expect it. We also get to see how family ties can evolve over time and how strong they may become.

This chapters dedication songs YouTube link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msYPbjFC50w