Chapter 6: Friends and Memories

"To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks." Robert A. Heinlein, The Notebooks of Lazarus Long

As we trot up to the stable, Badger and I see Ivy heading in also. I speed up to catch up with her and hopefully distract her from asking about Badger and my timing. As she turns to talk to me, I see Badger slow down and walk past as nonchalant as he can. However, it was already too late it seems.

“Hey Ivy, how are you and how has Epona been doing?” I ask.

“Hey Mollygirl, a hot night last night I see,” she immediately replies, “I will ask you all about it later, after muster, speaking of which we both need to go get in uniform for it.”

“Ok, Ivy, I will give you the details later, but really it was nothing really spicy, ok?”

“Yeah, right, two mares, one stallion, sure, tell me another one.” She says with a leer on her face, as we both turn to walk to our stall to get into our uniforms.

“No, really Ivy, we just had dinner and then went over to the archives. Magpie showed him around and then we let him watch,” at which point she interrupts me.

“You let him watch, I did not think you two would be into that Moll.”

“No Ivy, let me finish, he watched, err, um, used? a memory orb.” I finished.

“So, then Molly, how come you both are just happening to come back from town together than?”

“Oh, that, well by the time he finished with the memory orb it was getting late, so the three of us just slept there on the floor with a couple of blankets.”

As we reach our stall and the door opens, she then ask “So Mollygirl, how did it feel to wake up between a stallion and a mare?”

“Ivy, I did not wake up between a stallion and a mare, I was on the outside, Magpie was in the,” I tell her as I look up and see both Emerado and Nugget smirking at me. Damn it, Ivy, why do you always do this to me?

As we are getting dressed Nugget looks up at me “Sounds like a good night Mol, been a while since I woke up like that. But I will say alcohol was involved.”

Emerado chimes in with “Heck Mollygirl if all you want to do is cuddle you and Magpie could have invited me. Sure, I don’t want sex, but I am always down for a bit of cuddling, or am I not good enough now that I am a staff pony?”

“Come on Em, I thought you and Bullet would be the ones cuddling after I saw you two come in the other day.” I laugh as I tell her. But suddenly she looks serious “I best get going.” She says and quickly leaves.

“Now what the hell was that all about?” Ivy asks. We all look at each other. Finally, I look at the other two “I better talk to Bullet and find out what is going on.” I tell them.

After we finish getting into our uniforms, we head out to the drill field for muster. As I approach, I see Bullet. He has a slightly apprehensive look on his face. I motion him aside, trying to contain the anger in my voice, “After muster, I want to talk with you, Corporal.” He braces to and looks straight ahead “Yes Sargeant, I understand.”

I pray to Celestia and Luna that what I am afraid might have happened has not. But if it is, I will put a bullet into his dumb hide just on principle and geld him myself. He knows better and taught me to be a better pony than that.

The morning muster goes as normal and today we are assigned to assist the Hell’s Belles with the Stable improvements. Which means most of us will be assisting in clearing out dirt that has been excavated during a tunnel expansion. This will give me a chance to talk to both Bullet and Emerado today, I hope.

I give everyone their assignments and then signal Bullet to follow me. We go to one of the squad bays. “OK Bullet, what has happened between you and Emerado? I saw you both yesterday morning and could smell each other’s scent on you two. Then she could not look at you and today when I was joking with her, she all but burst into tears. WHAT DID YOU DO CORPORAL?”

“Molly, it's not like that really. We have been spending a lot of time together lately and well yesterday night we both had a bit much to drink and well, she said she had never been voluntarily with a stallion and started to make advances on me, and, well, Molly I finally gave in, I had not realized she was going into season, I mean she never does usually, and, well after we were finished she realized she had never had her implant or contraceptives as she is not normally interested in sex. So now she is terrified she may be pregnant.”

I slap him with a hoof upside his head “Damn it Bullet, you are the one who always taught me to use protection and now you screw this up. Well, what are you going to do if she is pregnant then? Have you thought about that yet?”

“Molly, she asked me that and I asked her what she wanted to do. That is when she broke down into tears yesterday. I have never been in this situation before. Molly, I am at a loss. I really like her, but I know she does not have a sex drive normally and I do. So, we may not make a good couple as I will still have my urges, on the other hoof, I really do like her and care about her. If she is carrying my foal, I want to be involved with its life too.”

"Ok, so you did not force her or anything right? Was this the only time you had sex with each other?”

“No, I did not force anything Molly, and yes it was the one and only time.”

“Ok, so we may be putting the cart before the pony then. Odds are she is not pregnant, but we will not know for a bit. So, we make contingency plans for both ways. I need you to think about it and talk with her later about it. Do you understand me Bullet?”

“Ok Molly, Thanks for talking with me about it. I may need to talk some more later with you.”

“Alright Bullet, Now get back to work with the rest of the squad. I am going to go see if I can talk to Emerado,” I tell him as I head off to the Headquarters section of the stable.

As I walk into the HQ area and I pass the Overmare and Overcow’s office the door opens and Archer comes out, behind him I hear voices talking.

“By Celestia madam, I do not trust this Red Eye. I suggest that before we make any decision that we wait to hear from our agent, she should be back soon.”

“Colonel, we have three of his envoys here waiting for answers what do you propose that…”
And with that, the doors closed cutting off the rest of the conversation. I fall in and walk alongside Archer. “Hey Archer, have you seen Emerado, I have something I need to ask her about?”

“Oh, she should be either at her desk or perhaps she is up in the communications center. I know she has been assisting Broadcast and Soundwaves there with monitoring some of the radio broadcast that we are hearing lately.”

“Has there been anything interesting going on than Archer?”

“Molly, I really can not say, but if I hear anything, I will let you know.”

“Thanks, Archer, I appreciate it. Both keeping me in the loop and telling me where to find Em.”

“No problem Mollygirl, I may be an HQ pony now, but I still remember us drinking out of the same canteen all those years ago.”

I give him a smile and a wave goodbye as he reaches his office. I then begin to search the areas he suggests for Emerado. I luck out and find her before too long on her way out of the communications center.

“Hi Em, do you have a minute?” I ask. “I talked to Bullet a bit ago and got his story, now I want to hear your version of it.”

She looks slightly nervous and embarrassed and resignedly she answers “Sure Mollygirl, do you have somewhere we can talk.”

We leave to find an empty office, once we find one I close the door and we begin to talk.

“Emerado, I need to know what has happened between you and Bullet. Did he rape you?”

Her jaw drops open “Oh Goddesses no Mollygirl. I do not think he ever would do that.”

“Ok, Em, so what has happened that has you so upset?”

“Molly, I usually do not have those urges. I trust Bullet and was not worried about him hurting me. So, when that happened the other night, I finally gave in to the urges I had. Because of the way I normally am I never had the contraceptive implant. So low and behold I not only give in, I promoted it, and then I did not make sure he had protection. Molly, I have heard of too many mares getting pregnant their first time. Oh Celestia, what if I am pregnant. How can I be a staff pony if I am not smart enough to avoid an accidental pregnancy?” She says as she starts to cry on my shoulder.

I let her cry on my shoulder for a bit then I look her in the eyes “Emerado, buck up. Whatever happens, we can handle it. I know Bullet would step up and be there. He already told me that if you are in foal, then he wants to be involved in the foal’s life, and if you want it, you in his life also. Think about it Em. Sometimes life’s big events happen even when we do not expect them, or plan on it. Remember, if you want to hear Celestia laugh, tell Luna you have plans.”

“Thanks, Molly, I appreciate it. Please tell Bullet I really want to talk to him later if you would.”

“I will Em. Now on a different note, what is this I heard about Redeye sending envoys to us?”

“Molly, I should not be telling you this, but two days ago we received three envoys and their escorts from Red Eye over in Fillydelphia. It seems Redeye is building an earth pony stronghold there and when he heard about the Co-op, he figured we would jump to be allied with him. Us supplying food supplies and them providing us finished goods and support. We have been keeping them over in Manesville. They do not know about the stable as we have told them that the Co-op is run out of the government building there.”

“Sounds like a lot is going on than. Any idea what the brass is thinking of doing?”

“Honestly, I am not sure Mollygirl. There are some rumors about Red Eye that we still need to confirm. “

“Thanks, Em for the info. I will talk to Bullet for you later, ok”

“Thanks, Molly, I really appreciate you checking up on me, that and I need someone to talk to about this. I am still worried, but it helps.” She says as she reaches over and gives me a hug.

“No Problem Em, I know you would do the same for me dear. I better let you get going and get back to the squad. I will talk to you later.” I tell her as I start to head back to the squad.

Once back to the squad I see Bullet, I go talk to him and let him know that things are ok and that he really should talk a bit more to Emerado and while it is improbable, make plans if a foal is on the way.

The rest of the day seems to go fairly quickly. Dirty, sweaty and hard, but quick. As we were heading back to the stall, I catch up with Ivy. “Hey Ivy, got any plans for tonight?”

“Well, I was planning on going and visiting Epona for a bit, nothing else afterward. Why you want to come along?” She asks me.

“You know, if you do not mind, I would love to. I have not seen her in a while. It has been too long.” I tell her.

After getting cleaned up we head out to Ivy’s mother's farm. Epona has been staying with her since shortly after she was weaned. Ivy tries to stay there whenever she can. The foals grow up so fast it seems. I can not wait to see her again.

Once we finally get there, we enter the yard, and we see a light tan filly with black mane and tail, freckles and a white stripe on her face. I hear Epona yelling from behind the barn. “Mommy” as she comes running to see Ivy. She jumps in the air and gives Ivy a big hug. Ivy grabs her and hugs her back “Hi Pona, how’s mama's favorite little mare?” She replies.

“Mommy, I’m doing good, I was just out pulling weeds like granny asked me to. She is inside cooking dinner right now. I better go get my basket,” she says, then she notices me. Again, a little whinny of excitement as she runs over to me and hugs me too. “Auntie Molly, Auntie Molly, it is so good to see you too. It has been forever since you last visited.” She says to me.

“I’m sorry Pona, I will try to make it a shorter time before I come back dear,” I tell her. Then a smile comes across my face. “Pona, you better get that basket before I tickle you, better run little one, Ahh hahahaah,” I jokingly say as she screams in mock terror and runs to get her basket. As we watch her run, we both smile and then go inside to see Ivy’s mother Sumac. I really enjoy getting to see Ivy with her daughter. Someday, I tell myself, I will have a foal too. While I know it is hard on her not being with her as much as she wants, part of me still envies Ivy having a foal.

Ivy’s mother offers me some dinner but I tell her I am not hungry, instead, I have a glass of tea. I will catch something later, I see how meager their meal is as they were not expecting a guest and I just do not feel right taking food out of their mouths. Next time I have to bring things with me to share in the meal. I am so embarrassed that I forgot my manners.

“So, Molly, Ivy has been telling us you have a new marefriend, is that true?”

Blushing slightly, I answer “Yes, her name is Magpie. She is a real sweetheart.”

“Well, seeing as your momma is no longer around, maybe I need to point out that you are not going to get any foals by being with mares. I know she may be sweet, but you should find yourself a good stallion like my Ivy did.” She tells me. Well, at least I know where Ivy gets it from.

“Mom, she has one-upped me, she not only has a marefriend, but it looks like the two of them are going to have a coltfriend also,” Ivy tells her.

“Oh, for Celestia’s sake. Foals these days. In my day we kept such behavior out of sight at least.” Sumac responds.

“Really mom, like how dad stole you from uncle copper two days before you were to be married, or how there was some question as to who my father really was,” Ivy says with a laugh, and I almost spit out my tea. Wow, that was a surprise. I guess you learn something new every day.

“Well, at least we did not talk about it in public.” She says with a smile and a small chuckle.

“So how is school going Pona? Are you enjoying it yet?” Ivy asks her daughter.

“It is ok momma, we learned all about the stable the other day and how hard it was for the stable ponies when they first came out of it,” Epona replies.

“That sounds interesting, anything else that you learned?” Ivy asks.

“Yeah, stable ponies don’t know nothing,” she tells her. At which point I learn how bad it feels to have hot tea go into your nose.

We continue with the visit until it is time for Epona to go to bed. I give Epona a quick hug and kiss on her forelock. “I will see you again as soon as I can Pona, be a good girl for your momma and granny,” I tell her. I then watch as Ivy puts her on her back and carries her to her room. She tucks her into bed and says a short bedtime prayer with her.

Ivy then gives her a brief hug and kisses her again. “I will see you again tomorrow night squirt, remember, mommy loves you.” She says. With a slight tear in her eye, she walks back out to the living room. “Mom, I am going to head into town with Molly if you do not mind. I will be back tomorrow after work.” She tells Sumac.

“OK Ivy, just watch how much you drink ok. I worry about you girl. I want you to be around to see your grand foals too.” She responds.

With that, we both walk back towards Manesville. “Shall we head to the Trough?” I ask her.

“That sounds good Mollygirl, perhaps we can run into some of the others from the squad.” She tells me.

The Trough is a pub that is closest to the stable. While everyone can visit it, oftentimes it is a place where the troopers and the local roughnecks have some fun and blow off some steam. It is fairly dark as we enter. I see some of the locals there again. Over in one corner at a table I see Bullet and Emerado talking. He has his hoof on hers and does not see us enter. I also see Dusty and Chance. They are playing a bit of pool, or I guess it is pool, as I watch her tease him whenever he tries to take a shot. I have to laugh at that. I have to laugh to myself. Half the squad is already here. Then I do when I look up and see Woodrow and Pearl having a drink together. I am glad he fit in so well, I had thought Pearl wouldn’t be the type to date a mule. But then again, he is one of us, not just a mule, I remind myself. I also see some of the NCO’s from the Hell’s Belles and The Equestria Rangers here that I know. Ivy and I head on over to have a couple of ciders with them.

“Hey Tenderhoof, Can I buy you a cider?” I ask of the older stallion who is the top sergeant of the Equestria Rangers.” He looks over at me an Ivy, smiles and then replies with an amused laugh, “Sure, I will never turn down a drink with a couple of pretty fillies’, but if you want to take advantage of me you don’t need to get me drunk.”

Ivy and I both chuckle a bit at his joke. “How’s it been going Tenderhoof? Hear anything new lately?”

“Mollygirl, I should have known you would buy me a drink just to pump me for gossip, you should know by now I am not that easy, it takes at least two drinks.” He says with a wink. “Actually, a lot has been going on. The group of raiders that escaped from all of you down in Hereford have been raiding some of the outlying farms and settlements. We got a couple of them, but they hurt us too. If they were not raiders, I would swear that they are probing the Co-op. “

“That is interesting. I heard a rumor that the Pony that keeps talking about Earth ponies joining together over in Fillydelphia may have sent some ponies to try and work out a deal with us, but that is just a rumor you know.” I tell him. Next, to me, Ivy is just sitting there, ears alert and drinking her cider.

“You may want to keep your head up both of you, I have heard a rumor that they may call up the militia and will want to season the ranks with some veterans. That would mean a better chance for promotion if a pony wanted it,” he tells us.

“Very true. So how are your troops doing? Everybody still hanging in there?” I ask.

“So far, so good, but there has been some concern among them. With the increased sighting of the Pegasi, all the propaganda out of Fillydelphia, and now the increase in raider activity, both locally and from what we hear on the broadcast by DJ Pon3, they are all on edge a bit more. If it goes on too long it might affect our readiness, I have already talked to our captain about that. You might want to bring it up to your top sergeant and captain also.” He tells me. That strikes me as a very good bit of advice. I will have to do that.

Ivy and I continue to chat with Tenderhoof for a bit then we decide to play a quick game of pool once Dusty and Chance decide they are done and head out the door for the night. Ivy wins two of the three and I end up owing her 5 bottle caps. She tries to talk me into another game, but I really cannot afford to lose much more, so I decline and tell her I am heading back to the stable to get some sleep. After a quick bit of thought, she decides to head back with me.

“You know Molly, I really envy you sometimes,” Ivy tells me. “You have a budding relationship with both Magpie and Badger. Very few ponies have that kind of luck, I hope you realize that.”

“I owe it to you Ivy. Maybe not Magpie, but definitely any chance with Badger. I mean, really, I had no idea how to even broach such a subject.”

She smiles. “I guess I am good for others then, I just wish I could find someone else too. I love Pona, and my mother, but it is not the same.”

I smile back at her. “Ivy, to tell the truth, you do not know how much I wish I still had a mother, much less a foal. I wanted to be a mother for a while now, but between duty and the lack of opportunities to find a good partner before, it made it really hard. I mean, I do not even have a family to take care of a foal if I had one when I had to take the field.”

“I guess sometimes we all have something someone else wants, we just need to think about it.” Ivy tells me then she changes subjects, “Oh, also I picked up some Old Overmare while we were at the Trough, I have it in my saddlebags. If you want maybe we can have a few drinks back in our stall.”

“That sounds good to me Ivy,” I tell her as my eyes begin to feel heavy. I am so looking forward to sleeping on my bunk tonight. But I have a feeling she needs the company tonight too.

Once back into our stall we notice that Emerado and Nugget are both out for the night. We break out the bottle and share a few drinks. Than Ivy cries herself to sleep on my shoulder. I gently lay her down and cover her with a blanket. I quietly whisper “Good night my sister, I love you.”

She mumbles back “I wuv you too Mowwigirl” and swiftly she is asleep again. She is my best friend, my confidant. She is also the sister I never had, but need.

I go to my bed. I read the note from my Magpie again. I slowly listen to Ivy breath into the night as well as the sounds of the stable that are always there but we hardly even notice, then I drift off to sleep.

Come morning I get up early and clean up quickly than wake Ivy to see if she wants to go get some breakfast before muster. After muster, we again help the Hell’s Belle’s and some engineers with the newest expansion. As the day passes, I cannot wait to get off and head into town to see Magpie again. I do spend some time with Ivy and Badger during lunch I see Bullet, Shadowbuck, Ghost, Woodrow, and Pearl all sitting together also. I smile as I listen to the normal banter between the squad members. That leaves me wondering where Dusty and Chance are, but as long as they are back after lunch I cannot complain.

After the end of the day, I quickly change out of my uniform and head into town. I am so excited to be able to see Magpie, and I want to see how she is doing. As I go into town, I pick up a bouquet of Dandelions for us to share later. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask her schedule so I first stop at her apartment than I check out JC Dobbins and finally I find her at the Library talking with Pages.

Pages sees me but says nothing to Magpie as I walk up behind her and hug her from behind. It surprises her enough she lets out a small squeak. Then she notices the dandelions.
She turns around quickly and hugs me and gives a quick kiss. As we are kissing, I notice Page trying to sneak one of the dandelions herself. She quickly snags it and slides it behind the counter. I can tell she considers it a small victory so I say nothing.

“Hey sweetheart,” I tell Magpie, “I hope you do not mind me surprising you like this.”

“Of Course, not Mollygirl, I just was telling Pages here how I hoped you or Badger would be able to stop by.”

“I am glad to hear it,” I tell her. “I hope you do not mind all of us coming in so often.”

Pages than answers “I do not mind at all. In fact, I feel a bit better having someone in here on those late nights when it is quiet. It does not feel so lonely that way.”

Well, Pages, you can always feel free to visit us down there too if you like. If one of us is using the memory orb repeater I am sure the other would appreciate the company.”

"I appreciate the offer, Mollygirl, I might take you up on it sometime but I really do need to get back to work now, I will talk to you more later Magpie, ok dear?”

“Sure Pages, talk to you later, oh, before we go would you like one of the dandelions to snack on?” Magpie asks her.

“Well, if you really do not mind, I will take one. Thank you both very much.”

With that both Magpie and I head down to the archive. Once there we sit down and share the rest of the bouquet. Since there is an odd number of them left now, I let her have the last one. It really makes me feel so good to see her smile at being treated decently.

Then she looks at me. “Molly, I found another box of memory orbs. These were marked the Tenpony Expedition. I am sorry but they are all mixed up, so I can not tell you what order they should be in if you are interested in using them.”

“Hmmm, sounds interesting Magpie. If you do not mind, I might try one tonight even.” However, I want to visit with you a bit first.” I say as I approach her, take her in my hooves and start to nibble on her ears and neck. I hear her nicker lightly in response as she starts to return the favor. After a little bit, she stops me. “Molly, if you want to view the memory orb, how about you do it now and we can continue this later at my place.”

“OH, ok, I guess you are right. That sounds like a plan. Promise me that you will still be interested in continuing later my love.” I tell her.

“Oh, most certainly, you are not getting out of it that easy.” She says with a smile.

We then go over the memory repeater and I put it on. She finishes hooking it up and then puts the orb into it. I smile at her and then I am no longer in the archive.

I am once again in the body of a mare I am descended from, and am finally coming to know. I feel the familiar tug on my right foreleg of the PipBuck. The slow, grinding bite of the early model battle saddle. The weight of the saddlebags, weapons, ammo canteens pushing down onto my/our back, I remind myself that this is not my memory. Once again Millie is out on patrol it seems. She has a small force of six of them, including herself. as they cut across the countryside avoiding the ridgetops and staying in the shadows as much as possible., They seem to be on the side of the mountain. In the distance to the north are more mountains with brown plains below.

There are Three earth ponies, a unicorn and two cows. The first cow is black and white with a golden sun hanging from her right ear I recognize as Mootilda. Millie and she are the two leaders of it, both carrying carbine versions of assault rifles. The yellow unicorn with a blue mane is their medic, one of her saddlebags is yellow with a butterfly on it. The other a standard brown one. One of the Earth ponies is not wearing any standard equipment. He is instead wearing a worn brown hat, a red bandana around his neck and has a civilian double-barrel shotgun on his back as well as a pistol in his holster. The cow other than Mootilda is brown with a white face and a silver cloverleaf hanging from her right ear. She is carrying on her battle saddle an early model Anti Machine Rifle. It’s .50 caliber rounds easily can destroy a robot, light armored vehicle or kill anything short of an adult dragon.

“Hey Moo, let’s take a quick ten. We can check the map and besides I want to see if we hear anything from DJ Pon3.”

“Sounds good Millie,” Mootilda responds. “Hey Whiskers, could you come over here for a minute, I want to ask you about a couple of things on this map. Hoofcrack and Cookie take a load off and rest but I need both of you to keep an eye out for trouble.”

The civilian pony approaches Moo and I. “Ok Moo, Millie, what can I help you with?” I hear him ask.

“Whiskers, I think you were right about avoiding that tunnel back there,” Millie tells him. “How familiar are you with this next section of the route?” She then asks.

He takes a bottle out of his saddlebags, deftly removes the cork and takes a quick drink. Once he returns the cork and the bottle to the saddlebags he answers, “To tell the truth, I would rather go across the mountains. It might take a couple of extra days, but there are rumors of creatures living in those caves that I really do not hanker to tussle with.”

“Ok,” Mootilda replies “Have you made this trek before, or are we all going to be winging it? I do not mind that, I just want to know if we may be surprised more or not.”

“Sorry to say, but this is my first time in this area. Normally we head to some of the settlements to the south, and I have been as far as Maripony. None of us by Emerald Grove have been this way before, in fact, most of us only have stories from our families that tell us about it. If you wanted to head to Ponyville and dodge around the ruins of Canterlot than that is one thing. Heading past the mountains, that is not done so much anymore. In my experience though it is best to avoid going underground to travel unless you have no real choice.” He tells her. “So far though we have been really lucky. It kind of spooks me that we have not run into any raiders or anything bigger than a radgator since we left home.”

“Thanks Whiskers, I appreciate your candor,” Millie tells him.

“Thank you for the vote of trust, I recommended this side because while the trails look to be a bit rougher and less used on that side, that means we were also are less likely to run into something that way. If you do not mind though, let me go ahead and I will scout for a good camp for the night as well as make sure the coast is clear. If I need help or find anything, I will call you on your PipBuck. Handy things these are, I am glad y’ all had a few spares so I could borrow one.” Whiskers tells her.

With that Whiskers heads off ahead of the group. Millie tunes in the frequency for DJ Pon3 and we listen to the music for a while. Much of it is the same as was saved in the stable archives. Then from the PipBuck, they hear “Good Evening Colts and Fillies of the Wasteland, DJ Pon3 here bringing you the news of the wasteland. For those on the road between Ponyville and Los Pegasus be careful and avoid the Everfree forest if at all possible. That Poison Joke is nothing to laugh at. In other news. Fighting has flared up again in the Hoof. It seems the Steel Rangers in that area are skirmishing heavily with several of the local gangs. Last week we mentioned an unknown stable being attacked by the Steel Rangers. If there are any survivors, let us know so we can hear your side of the story. Now back to the Music and here is Sapphire Shores singing Get your Pony On; to that mare from so long ago, you go Mare, you go.”

At this point, Millie turns the Pipbuck back to her normal frequency. Everyone adjusts their kits and they start down the trail again. Before too much longer Whiskers approaches them. He is visually disturbed. “Millie, Moo, in a couple of miles we are going to come around the side of the mountain and will have an open view. You really need to brace yourselves for this.”

“What is it Whiskers? It can’t be that bad, Can it?” Millie asks. He turns around and then leads off again. After they go another couple mile, they begin to see it. In the distance, they can see the tall building Tenpony tower and the Statue of Friendship on Friendship City. Then they start to notice the largest city they have ever seen. It sprawls for miles in all directions. However, they also can all see that it is a dead city, and they can see what killed it. The Mega spell crater could fit all of Manesville in it. The impact of seeing what was once a living city with hundreds of thousands if not millions of ponies lying dead before us is very sobering. I feel like crying from the pain of knowing what was lost and the lives that were ended here. Then I hear it. The others in the group, sniffling, one of them almost sobbing like a little foal.

I hear Mootilda “Them damn fools they destroyed it, they destroyed it all.”

“My Celestia, why did they not try to stop this from ever happening?” Hoofcrack asks.

“When the udder failed to produce milk, the calf could not help but die, for others refused to give up theirs, in case they may have had future need of it. Bovines 17:6” Cookie says behind me. With a sad mournful look on her face.

Millie tries to talk, but she keeps stepping on her words, I feel the sadness as she fights back tears. “How could they do this? All those damned ponies and other species. Dead, snuffed out like a candle on a birthday cake.” She says. Myself, I have seen the damaged west side of Manesville and the Balefire bomb crater caused by the near-miss. Ours must have been a small one. I am stunned. I have never imagined such a scene of death and destruction, and I hope to never do so again.

We retreat back into the woods and find a clearing. “Millie, Moo, I think we should make a dry camp here tonight. No fires. We do not want to be a beacon for anyone to find us. By the way, I think everyone reacts that way when they first see a major city that was hit that day,” Whiskers tells us. In the distance, we finally can start to see the lights appear inside Tenpony Tower, as well as in some of the settlements around the town as ponies fight the dark like our ancient ancestors with fires and flame. Even amongst all this, there are still signs of life. And where there is life, there is hope.

Millie keeps watching the wreckage of the town an occasional tear falling for all that was lost and those who crossed over on that horrible day. She weeps, not for herself, but for a city long dead and a way of life that was no more. “Back to the basics. Friends, Family, Herd,” she says to herself. “Oatie, How I wish I could be in your hooves right now but thank Celestia and Luna that you and Marey cannot see this.” Once relieved from watch she looks into the distance for a while more until she finally falls asleep.

I am back into the archives once again. I see Magpie looking at me with concern on her face. I feel the tears that have run down my face and I do not even know how to tell her about what I saw. I remove the memory repeater and set it on the table. I cross the room, I put my face against Magpies shoulders and I cry into her fur. I never imagined how much we lost and how easy we had gotten off.

After a while of holding me, letting me cry, and running her hoof through my mane she finally asks. "Are you Ok Mollygirl? “

I quietly answer, “I think so.”

“Ok, Molly, let’s go home now.” She tells me. I nod my head, she takes my hoof and leads my home.

Once back to her apartment. I go to her room. We get ready for bed in silence. We lay down together and in the dark, she asks “Do you want to talk about it?” I shake my head no. “Ok, then do you need to talk about it.” I shake my head yes. Then I proceed to tell her what I saw.

Finally, after I am done telling her about it, I lay there quietly. “I am sorry Magpie. I did not mean for tonight to go like this.”

“Mollygirl, I understand and I am just so glad you could share it with me.” Then she gently kisses my muzzle, she nibbles on my ears and neck, and I know I am alive still. Thank Goddess she can understand and that she is part of my life. Now it is my time to make her feel loved and alive. I give her a slight tickle and then proceed to kiss and nibble on her. Eventually, we both are tired. We take each other tightly in our hooves, press ourselves against the other, and fall asleep knowing we are loved.

When I awake in the morning, I find myself alone in bed. Magpie is already up and has breakfast ready for me. She comes over and gives me a brief kiss. “I hope you slept well Mollygirl.” She says to me.

“To tell the truth Magpie, I slept so hard I do not even remember dreaming. I hope you slept well at least.”

She smiles at me “I slept well enough. I always sleep better next to you dearest.”

“Thank you, my favorite little mare, I hope you are ready for our date with Badger tonight.” She smiles at me.

“I am, but I may try a memory orb tonight so you and Badger can have some time to talk as well. At least time away from the stable and the rest of the squad.”

“While that sounds great to me Magpie, please be careful of which one that you chose. You saw how the one last night shook me up.”

“I understand, my Mollygirl, but if I do get a rough one, at least I will have both you and Badger there to help me.” She pauses, then asks, “Do you mind if we bring Badger back here tonight. I really liked waking with both of you, but I am still sore from the floor last time.”

I cannot help but smile. “Of course, that is ok my love, I am just sorry to hear you are still sore.” I hurriedly eat my breakfast, give her a quick kiss and start to head out the door. “Where do you want us to meet you tonight?” I ask.

“Meet me at the archives, I will bring some drinks if you two will pick up dinner and snacks.”

“OK.” I kiss her goodbye at that I am starting to understand why so many of the ponies still use their stall in the stable so much. It makes it a lot easier to get up in the morning and make formation, that is for sure.

Muster goes easily and we are assigned back to work outside the stable today. We are told that we will be assisting with the clearing of an area for the stable, on the side away from Manesville. It is heavily wooded and actually is lower than the stable itself. But still has very good drainage away into a creek. The Hell’s Bells and us are both assigned to it as well as some of the engineers. Not only are we clearing out an area, but we seem to be building an entrance with doors to the cave. I hate doing busy work. But at least the speculation on what it is for is fun.

We have cold rations for lunch so that we do not need to go back to the stable. A block of compressed hay as well as a granola bar of oats, molasses, and some other grains. Not a lot, but it will hold you for now. We all sit around together in groups just talking and enjoying each other’s company before we get back to work. Once the day is done, we head back as a group to the stable. As dirty as we all are, we look like miner ponies.

Badger meets me at the door of the stable after we both clean up and we head into town. We stop at the market in town and pick up some fresh salads, a loaf of bread and some fresh dandelion sandwiches. “Hey Badger, do you mind if I pick up an extra one for Pages, I do not think she gets out much, and I want to show her how much I appreciate her allowing us to come and go as she has.”

“Actually Mollygirl, that is a good idea. I just hope she likes dandelions.”

I smirk and tell him “I am pretty sure that they are a weakness of hers.”

As we enter the library, I see Pages at the main desk. Badger and I go over to say hi to her. Then I decide it is time to surprise her. “Hey, Pages. We picked up a couple of extra sandwiches. We would like to give them to you as a way of saying thank you for letting us use the archives so freely.”

“Oh, Mollygirl, Badger, you did not have to do that. But I do appreciate it. Thank you.”

“Not a problem Pages,” Badger tells her, “We figured you might enjoy a couple of dandelion sandwiches too.”

She smiles widely, "Thank you very much, I hate to say it, but they are my favorites. You guys are welcome any time. Now you two better get going, I know Magpie is expecting you.”

We get down to the basement and after we exchange hugs and kisses with each other, we set up our dinner and break bread together. Magpie has picked up a couple of bottles of cider for both Badger and I as well as a Sparkle Cola for herself. We sit around talking and speculating about the new cave and its entrance. Magpie laughed, “Perhaps it’s a back door. every Stable I have heard of only had one entrance, that would make it less of a trap and give it an emergency access and exit if needed.”

Neither Badger or I laugh. She looks uncomfortable and nervous. Badger looks at me, then at her, “You know that is the best suggestion I have heard yet. Perhaps we better not talk about it any more than.”

“Magpie, you really are a smart pony. No one in the squad thought about it in those terms.” He tells her.

She smiles back. “Thank you love, I appreciate it. I do not seem to get compliments too often, it feels good but weird.”

“Don’t worry, we understand,” we tell her. She then replies, “Now, Last time you were here you asked me if I had ever used a memory orb. I still haven’t, but I want to tonight. Part of that is so if I grab a bad one, I can have you two with me afterward. Ok?”

“Sure Magpie. We will be here for you.” I tell her.

“Ok, let's do this. Besides I really want you two to also spend some time alone together.” She says with a smile. She chooses a memory orb from the box of the Twilight Hope and Bertha’s. We then help her put on the repeater as she sits in the reclining chair. We turn it on for her and watch as she enters the body of another.

“I hope it is a good one,” I say.

“Well, if it is the one you two gave me last time, it would serve her right too. I bet she would be surprised to have those udders and then nurse a calf.” He replies with a smirk.

During the early stages of her being in the memory orb, we begin to look through the files to try and find some information about railroad car consignments from those last days. Badger says he has a suspicion about a couple of shipments that never showed up at the factory, from its records. While we are doing this, we cannot help ourselves. We start to deliberately bump each other’s flanks once in a while, also there are those accidental hoof brushes on each other. Finally, I can take it no longer. I corner him, I begin to nuzzle his neck and run my hoof along him, from his chin to his flank. He begins to return the favor and starts to nibble on my ears, my neck and then we start to kiss. I have not felt like this since I was a blank flank. We continue like this for some time and then realize we should check on our Magpie.

As we approach, we hear her whimper quietly, "No, No, Jonesy no.”

I realize what orb she has grabbed. “Badger, this is the one from when the teams were outside the stable for the first time. Our Magpie is experiencing combat for the first time. Only a skirmish, but you remember how it was your first time.”

“Oh, Damnation,” He says. “The only thing to do is be here for her. We really need to figure out how to identify them.” With that we both go sit in the corner, cuddling each other and waiting out the memory orb.

Finally, her eyes pop open, she is breathing really hard and starting to cry. We both rush over and help her remove the repeater from her head and get her out of the chair. She turns and puts her hooves around both of us, dragging us in close as through her tears we hear her say “My goddess, is it always like that for you when you are out there, I do not know how you can do it. I was so scared, and poor, Jonesy. I know he has been dead for a century and it was not my memories, but still.”

We both stand there for a while comforting her. Finally, we ask, “Magpie, are you ready to go home?” She shakes her head, yes and we slowly disengage ourselves from her. We both kiss her on a cheek as we let go.

Finally, Badger looks at her “Well, I guess you really do understand now how it is for us. Don’t worry, we will be here for you tonight.” With that, he leads us out of the Archives. I grab the now empty basked in my mouth, and turn out the lights with my tail as we leave.

From there we start to take her home. Badger than looks at me. “Mollygirl, will you two wait here for a second,” he says as he goes into one of the local pubs. He comes out a couple of minutes later with two bottles of hard cider, which he puts in my saddlebags.

We then get her home. I see Magda peek out through a window as we come up to the door. She smiles and waves, then closes the curtain. We enter the apartment. We all sit on the couch and we both hold her. Eventually, Badger breaks out a bottle of hard cider and we take turns drinking from it. When it is finished, we start to drink from the second. She seems to be relaxing some now. I ask her “Are you ready for bed now?”

“Yeah, I think so. Thank you both. I never thought it would be like that.”

With that, she stands up and we take her to her room. She climbs into bed, still with tears in her eyes. Badger leaves the room and goes into the restroom. While he is there, I help her take off her dress and remove the red ribbon from her mane. After she lays down, I remove my uniform blouse, then I climb into bed beside her and let her cry against my shoulder. Badger returns and sees us there. “Ok, I best get going.” He tells us.

Magpie lifts her head “No, please Badger, I need both of you right now.” She tells us.

He looks at me and I only nod. He removes his uniform blouse and climbs in on the other side of her, she rolls over and starts to cry on his shoulder. I move closer to her back and hold her from behind. After a while she not only has stopped crying, but I see her nuzzling Badger's neck. He starts to return the favor, and I feel her hoof begin to caress me. Badger looks at me with a worried expression. “Molly, I, Uh,” he says as he looks at me.

I smile as I look back at him “Yes Badger, but remember, I am next. As I reach up with my hoof and touch him on his cheek, then I kiss him, look down at our Magpie and kiss her. I am such a lucky Mare.

In the morning we all take turns in the shower getting cleaned up. Badger and Magpie begin to make a big breakfast for the three of us. I am told to keep out of the kitchen as Badger states with a smile “she could burn a salad Magpie.”

After Breakfast Badger and I, both get our uniforms back on and then get ready to leave. "Magpie, it will be at least a week before we can see you again, I hope you do not mind?” I ask her.

“No Mollygirl, I will miss both of you, but I know you both have your duty. Let me know you are safe when you get back.” She kisses us both than looks at us, “I love you, please take care of each other when I can not be there to do so,” she tells us.

“Will do my love,” I tell her.

Badger looks at her “Of course my Magpie, I will see you again as soon as I can, I know we both will miss you.”

With that, we head back to the stable. Today we both have some extra time, for which I am glad as I am sore in places I had not expected to be today. A few gentle reminders of a very good night. But now we head back to our duty and what might be a meat grinder, depending on how things go.

Dear DJ Pon3, It has been very rough for me lately, the loneliness of the Wastelands is getting to me once again. For me and all of us feeling this way, could you please play Someone Else's Star. Thank You.
Sincerely Yours
Ivy, Manesville Co-op

Again my thanks to Kkat for creating the world of FoE, and those who added to it. I would also like to thank my editing team as test readers.

The embedded artwork is original for the story. It can be seen along with other pieces at:
https://www.deviantart.com/skybound1998