Brass is dead thanks to you… Skylines words echoed in my mind as I pushed the carrots on my plate around. You get to live with it Backlash, for the rest of your fucking life!

Six months. That’s all the rest of my life might come down to mean.

“Is there something wrong, Mr. Lash?” Sourdough asked me, showing more concern than he had needed to over me. As it turns out, he was the proper pony who I had traded my shop to for the gems that saved Isaac. He owned and operated the bakery that would have been next door to my shop, had I opened it, instead using my gift to expand his shop. “Is your meal not to your satisfaction?

“You can just call me Backlash.” I smiled and pushed my plate back, looking up to him. “And no, there is nothing wrong. I’m just thinking about things.”

“Ah! I know that look well!” He sounded delighted, which was slightly puzzling. He leaned forward and cupped his chin with a hoof, cocking he eyebrow. “Thinking of a special somepony?” I felt a blush flush across my face as the night Longbow and I spent together flashed through my mind. “Hah! That you are!”

I chuckled nervously, shrugging. “Yup, you got me!” I rubbed at my empty eye socket, the patch that Dr. Fitz had given me made it itch like nothing else. I glanced over at the window, wondering just what Longbow was up to right now. We had been given the night to rest, seeing as Ditzy wouldn’t be showing up until morning, and Longbow had disappeared shortly after Sourdough offered to buy me lunch.

“Wondering what she’s gotten herself up to?” His smooth tone was so solid, not even a hint that it was a guess.

“How did you…?” I scrunched up my muzzle looked at his wide smile, a deep laugh roaring out from him as the entirety of the restaurant around us turned their attentions to us.

“Oh, because I’ve been there myself once or twice.” He wiped the joyous tear from his eye before straightening himself out again. “My wife, Twist Tie, was the most beautiful mare I had ever laid eyes on. Why, the night we met, I felt like we had been destined to be together forever. I was no more than just a foolish young stallion at the time, and I had no idea what she saw in somepony like me.”

“That’s pretty much how I felt with Longbow.” I smiled and shook my head. “She is like no other mare I’ve ever seen.”

“Oh, what adventures we’d had. Running around the wasteland, making a living however we could. But we always had each other.” His gaze softened, staring past me as he reminisced in his mind. His smile dipped off, slowly at first, but noticeable enough that I knew where this was going. “Five years. That’s all we had before last winter.”

I kept silent, not wanting to ask what happened. I don’t want to pry, even if my curiosity clawed at the back of my mind constantly. All I could manage was, “I’m sorry.”

“No, no. It’s quite alright. Her only regret was that she won’t get to see the girls grow up.” He pushed his plate away from him, having lost his appetite it seems as well. “My only regret is that they will grow up without knowing who their mother was.”

“Thank you for the meal.” I forced a smile, knowing full well that both of our moods had dipped into territory that polite conversation could not fix.

“Thank you as well, for your generous donation of your shop space. It’s my hope that one day Sunny Bun or Cinnabun will take over the bakery from me. Your space will go a long way in helping secure my families place here in the tower.” He returned his own forced smile, nodding as he got to his hooves. “Until next time, Backlash.”

“Until then.” I replied softly, watching as he turned and head out the door. I sighed and pushed myself up, walking to the door of the restaurant. I could see the weary gazes of the other diners glaring at me in disgust now that my dining partner had departed. Somewhere deep inside, I wanted to get angry at them. To yell at them, flip their tables, and stomp their bodies until they looked worse than I even did. In my mind, the echo of 42’s laughter resonated as I tried to bury that thought. Even in the silence of my own thoughts, she persisted in trying to tear me down.

I opened the door and headed out into the main hall, finding Skyline was resting back against the wall next to the restaurant. She looked up as I stopped at looked over her, the tired look she held told me that she hadn’t slept since yesterday, but the look of determination made me know that she had no intention of sleeping until whatever was on her mind was settled. She pushed herself up and walked over to me, not even flying like normal. She was worried about me again.

“It’s cancer.” I spoke, guessing at to what she wanted to know. The look of shock, horror, and sadness that ran across her face told me that I had guessed correctly. “Doc says I’ve got six-.”

I was interrupted as she threw her hooves around me, squeezing me tightly as she sobbed into my chest heavily. I put my forehooves around her, using them to comb through her messy mane. I didn’t know what to do. How can I comfort her when she knows that I won’t be around much longer? How do I go about telling everypony else that this is it. That after dealing with 42, things won’t just go back to normal. Skyline prodded me with her hoof as she looked up at me, as sad as I’ve ever seen her.

“You… you promised you’d never leave again!” With everything that I had put her through. With as hard as she had to fight to keep from losing me. I could tell she was on the verge of just giving up. She sniffled as her eyes darted about in thought. “There has to be some way… something that can help.” She gave me a small smile that I could tell she was pouring all her strength into making. “Right? We’ll find something somewhere.”

There was no point in trying to lie to her, and from my silence, she knew I wouldn’t even try. As much as she wanted that lie now, that was not something that would be able to help her.

“It’s alright.” I finally mustered up the strength to speak. “Six months is a long time.” I continued to brush at her mane, shifting my gaze away from her. “Besides, you’ll still have Carlotta. And you’ll have Pallet as well. She’ll need a pegasus to help raise her you know.”

“I just want my brother.” She spoke softly, burying her muzzle into my neck. I pulled her close and lowered myself to the floor as I felt her sink down, sitting on the cold stone as she wailed into me. It was an amazing spectacle to see other ponies walking through the shops, trotting past us happily with little regard for the gravity of what Skyline felt. But this was the wasteland, and sorrow was a stranger to no pony. After a few minutes, her sobs bled off into silence.

“Come on Sky, let’s get you up to bed. We can talk about it more tomorrow.” I brushed her mane from her face softly, mercifully getting a small nod as her teary eyes wavered. “Don’t worry, everything is going to be fine, you’ll see.” I whispered softly as we got to our hooves, giving her a soft kiss on the forehead as we started slowly toward the elevators. “Everything will be just fine.”

I spent an hour sitting outside the room Skyline was put up in, listening as she cried herself to sleep. Of everything that I’ve ever had to do in my life, forcing myself to stay and listen was the hardest. The fact that she was about to lose the only family she’s known after she left hers, was something I couldn’t even pretend to understand. I know that I can’t screw this up now.

The silence that fell through the hallway told me that it was time to go, and as I rose to my hooves, I thought about what I would need to do to take 42 down. The Bucklyn bridge was an odd place for a final stand. I don’t know much about tactics, but I know that to put yourself in a position where you could be attacked from two sides was probably a bad one. I know that 42 wants me to look at it like she screwed up, like it’s something I should take advantage of, but there has to be more to it than just that. I hoofed at the elevator panel, thinking to myself about any way 42 could use the bridge to her advantage. The elevator door opened with a ding, an unarmored Longbow stood inside and smiled as she saw me.

“Oh, I was just coming to find you. The DJ asked if I could meet with him and talk more about cooperating with the Rangers.” From what I could observe, she knew that I wasn’t holding up so well, but didn’t seem to want to mention it. “Would you like to go with me?” Actually, she didn’t look like she was holding up so well either.

I gave her a small smile as I stepped into the elevator, leaning close to her as the doors shut behind me. Maybe when my fight with 42 is all over, Longbow and I can just spend some time here in peace and quiet. Though I don’t want to stop running the Sunshine Garage, I’m sure that Skyline can find a few good teams of ponies to help, of course already counting in Ripcord as the first new hire. As the elevator hummed, and I could feel as we started to ascend, Longbow gave me a concerned look.

“Backlash, when you were talking with the DJ after you woke up, Skyline expressed concern that you might have lied about your mutation.” She frowned as I did my best to now avoid her gaze. “Is… is that true?”

There is little point in lying to her, because at this point, if she loves me as much as I think she does, her concern will cause her to just look through my memories again and find out what really happened. I can’t avoid it, and have to tell her the truth. Even if it still scared me half to death to hear the words out loud.

“I’m fine.” Nailed it. Now she know’s you’re lying. “Sky wasn’t wrong. I didn’t tell you the full extent of what happened, but it’s not severe enough to affect my chances of stopping 42.” The elevator dinged and the doors slid open, revealing the statue in the foyer on DJ Pon3’s level. “My mutation can wait until after this is all over.”

“So, whatever it is, it’s treatable?” There was a glimmer of hope in her voice, and I so badly wanted to hear it in my own.

“Doc says he can help me, yes.” I watched her face brighten as she pressed against me, trotting out of the elevator. As I followed, I listened to my own words as they echoed in my head. No, there was no hope in them. I knew I had it bad, but that was just me. I know that I can stop 42, that way at least the wasteland can have the hope I so desperately want.

“Ah, Backlash, I put in my call to Friendship City.” DJ Pon3 called out as he trotted into the room, a clear tone of resolve forming the foundations of his words. “Their main technician says it could take a few days to disconnect everything safely in order to not fry any chance at restarting the grid some other way, but I pulled in a few favors and got them to agree to hoof it over to you.”

“And what about Ditzy?” This was one thing I needed. If I could deliver the weapons I promised to Strudel, there might be a snowballs chance that I could convince her to fight for me at the bridge. If she needed more than I gave, well, I have the entirety of the the M.o.M. hub bunker to use as incentive.

“She has sent back that she will indeed arrive tomorrow morning.” He let out a sorrowful sigh as he continued trotting past us, hoofing at the door across where he came from, but stopping just short of opening it. His horn glowed as he removed the glasses he wore, levitating a small cloth to them and glancing back over to us. The bags that hung under his eyes were worse than both Sky’s and Longbows were, his expression running even more ragged than I thought a pony’s could. “Sorry Miss Longbow, but we will have to discuss this at another time. My son requires my attention.”

“Hold up there. Are you taking care of him by yourself?” I probably could have phrased that better, and even though I could see his anger form from my careless words, he was too tired to act on it. “If you need help…”

“I’m quite fine on my own without your help.” He barked sharply, slowly realizing that he too hadn’t thought through what he was saying. “I’m… I’m sorry. It’s just been so tough since Kontra…”

“Yeah. I know.” I looked over to Longbow. It had only been a few days since I recovered from the pool. Only a couple of days since I learned my best friend had died. Now? I had watched sorbet and her bunker die, saved Futura, saved Tenpony, and have another mutation. “The only way I’ve lasted this long, is with the help I’ve had. You need somepony here to help you now as well.”

He took a step back from the door, sitting down and dropping his gaze to the floor as I could tell he was tearing himself up inside.

“Listen, you remember that family that you let stay in my room? Tumble is mother to twins, and I know she might be able to help you with your son.” I reached back and hoofed at the elevator call button. “I’ll stop by and see if she’d be willing to watch over him, that is, if you’d like that.”

“Thank you, Backlash.” He smiled and put his glasses back on, only masking the pain of loss he still held in his eyes. “I would be grateful if you could.” The elevator dinged open again, Longbow and I turned back to step in before he spoke up. “Oh, and one last thing.” I perked my ear and looked back as Longbow held the door open. “I got a transmission the other day I wasn’t expecting from a good friend. She told me that if I ever met a crazed, half burnt stallion out there, to inform him that the next episode of her radio play would be done soon.”

“Give her my thanks.” I smiled at that, entering the elevator and hitting the number four button, bringing us to the shopkeepers residence floor. It was time I see how Dipstick and his family were doing.

After getting things settled, both Longbow and I agreed that we could use some sleep. Though Longbow sent me off to bed alone, she had promised me that she would follow just as soon as she discussed plans with Maple so he could get things rolling with Strudel. Even without having to tell her, I think she arrived to the same conclusion that I did, knowing that having the rangers back us up at the bridge would be in our best interest. But, as it had been the last few days, my sleep seemed to be dreamless.

I awoke when I heard the door to the bedroom open, the heavy yawn of Longbow entering made me stretch my legs and smile, knowing that she’d finally come inside. I opened my eye to greet her, finding that the clock in my pipbuck read that it was now eight in the morning.

“Are you just getting in?” I was mumbling, using all of my focus to make sure I got the actual words out of my muzzle at all.

“Yes… no...” She looked around lazily before letting out another yawn. “I had a nap earlier after we got back from base.”

That snapped my mind awake. “Base? What base?”

“Maple and I walked back to Alpha to talk with Strudel. Cause Maple makes me hungry.” She wobbled her way into the bathroom, barely standing on her hooves as she slurred her speech. I struggled to untangle myself from the bedsheets as she caught herself when she misstepped.

“You shouldn’t have gone, you need rest.” I finally freed myself and quickly made my way to her, reaching her just in time to have her collapse. “Longbow!” I brushed her mane from her face as I started to panic. “Longbow, please wake up!” I tapped her cheek lightly until she shuddered and blinked groggily, looking up to me with a confused look.

“Hey, when did you wake up?” She smiled, her words sounding as if she wasn’t even paying attention to what was around her. “It’s time for the cat with the salad, isn’t it?”

“That’s it, I’m taking you down to Dr. Fitz.” I wedged myself under her, shimmying her onto my back before turning and heading for the door. I did my best to canter towards the elevator without having her fall off, but Longbow wasn’t moving much, seeming to become more and more out of it by the moment.

I mashed at the elevator call button for as long as it took the metal box to arrive, quickly getting in as the doors opened. I turned around and repeated my button mashing performance on the lobby key, hoping that my quick taps would somehow make the machine realize that it needed to go faster. From the point when the elevator stopped, to when to doors slid open enough for me to get through, an eternity of time seemed to pass. What they needed was a better maintenance mare around here to keep this piece of shit running. The thought of volunteering for the job after I killed 42 momentarily crossed my mind, but then I shuffled it back into the ‘care about later’ section in my brain until Longbow was alright.

I weaved my way through the dozen or so ponies that were walking through the halls at this time in the morning, annoyed to find that for some reason, they all lined up perfectly at their various paces to get in between me and the clinic. I didn’t even bother with telling them to move, knowing that it wouldn’t be effective, and instead used my considerable weight to barrel right through them. I finally hooked my hoof around the office door as I panted heavily, throwing myself inside.

“Doc! Longbow need’s help!” I screamed out, the sudden burst of activity making him toss some papers in his magic into the air. I didn’t even wait for instructions before laying Longbow as softly as I could down onto the examination table, backing up as I listened to her breath softly.

“What seems to be the problem?” He came out of his office and levitated his stethoscope from the nearby counter.

“She came into the bedroom looking woozy and barely able to stand.” My heart pounded against my rib cage and my legs wobbled as I stared at her, praying to the goddesses that she would be alright. “Then she started speaking gibberish and collapsed.” I hoofed at his face and pressed my forehead against him to make sure he was paying attention. “You’ve got to help her!”

He roughly pushed me back and pointed his hoof to the door. “I will do everything I can to find what’s wrong, but you need to sit outside.” He adjusted the labcoat he was wearing and levitated the stethoscope up to his his ears. Turning back towards her, he waved his hoof for me to go, pressing the listening piece to Longbow’s side. He stopped and looked at me expectantly. “Unless you’ve become a medical expert overnight, I need you to leave me to work.”

I nodded and left, shutting the door without another word and sitting myself back against the wall next to it. A whole lot of bad raced through my mind as I sat against the wall, a minute turned into a few, and a few turned into almost an hour. Had she been exposed to taint as well? Did she have radiation sickness? Celestia, please, don’t take Longbow from me! My ear tweaked as I the door jostled and swung open, Dr. Fitz poked his head out and motioned for me to come inside. I didn’t need a second invitation, and burst past him into the room as I was ready to do whatever was needed to help the mare I loved.

What I found, was Longbow laying awake on the examination table with a smile. Tears of… joy were welling up in her eyes.

“Mrs. Longbow’s problem seemed to be a mix of fatigue and dehydration. Another day of rest with plenty of fluids and she should be back on her hooves in no time at all.” He turned to Longbow with a light sigh. “Though, even though my advice always seems to fall on deaf ears.” He glanced at me abruptly before continuing. “I would advise that just to be sure, she takes the next year off.”

That made me shake my head. “A year’s rest from some dehydration and lack of sleep for the last few days?” I looked over the doctor for any sign that he hit his head a bit too hard. “You wonder why no pony listens to you.”

“Oh, I know you’ve been doing your share of… sleeping, the last few days.” The emphasis he put on that word, the happy tone behind it. He turned and looked over to Longbow. “Would you like to tell him?” Longbow nodded with a laugh as the gears in my head threw out what she told me at the exact same time.

“Backlash?” I could hear every emotion possible stream from her voice, but as she spoke out, the tone that came through the heaviest, was love. “You’re going to be a father.”

“I… uh… you, when?” I stood there looking every part the fool as everything ground to a halt in my head. My body finally took over before my mind caught up, galloping up to her and throwing my hooves around her tightly. Warm tears rolled down my cheeks as she laughed and pat me on the back. I pushed her back down onto the table and kissed her, finding it hard to do when both participants are smiling.

I broke off as the gears in my mind worked overtime to catch up. “Oh, goddesses! I have to tell Sky! Shit, where are we going to put her? HIM!?” I looked back at the Doc as he just chuckled to himself. “Do you know what it’s going to be? Nevermind, don’t answer that, I’ll love them either way.” I looked back at longbow and continued my idiotic ramblings. “Is this even a good idea? Fuck, your mother is going to kill me…”

I was interrupted as Longbow hooked a hoof around me and yanked me down into another heated kiss, making my tense body and racing mind melt into her warm embrace. The gears in my head turned, analyzing my rambling and finding something that I hadn’t been expecting. I had hope in my voice again. I had something I could strive for that went past just surviving in the wastes now, and I didn’t just want to live to see our foal, I had to. No matter what treatment I needed, it would be worth it to see Longbow with our colt or filly.

The Doc tapped his hoof on the floor and cleared his throat. "Though, I'll be the first to congratulate you, I would like to remind you that Longbow needs her rest." He nudged his head in the direction of the door, his horn glowing lightly as he levitated a bottle over to me "She will be perfectly fine in my care, but Carlotta needs to take two of these. Can you please go and give them to her?"

"Sure thing Doc. And thank you." I beamed the brightest smile I'd given in days to him. "For everything you've done."

As I entered the small office that the Doc had set up as a temporary resting room, I realized Skyline wasn’t kidding when she said that Carlotta was strung up looking ridiculous. An old Prewar engine jack had been used as a the base of a system of pulleys to keep her casted legs raised up, but it put her in a very… compromising position on her back. It took everything I had to stop at only smiling.

“Yeah yeah, get it out while you can.” Carlotta grumbled as she crossed her talons across her chest. “First Ditzy has to see me like this, and now you. Can this get any worse?” More than once I’ve asked that question, and as if it were the only time that the universe was listening, it always did. No exceptions.

The flutter of wings behind me didn’t dissapoint me. “Okay sweetums, I brought you something special!” Skyline’s voice was sultry and lustful as she dipped into the room backwards, holding a platter of tasty smelling meat. “When you finish, maybe we can try…” She paused when I had to step out of the way to avoid being hit by her. For a long minute, nopony said anything as we all did our best to keep our awkward gazes from each other, not quite succeeding. The last month has been a horror show of grotesque proportions, so the thought of my sister with Carlotta in bed didn’t seem so bad anymore, just… awkward.

“So… that just happened.” I broke the silence, hoofing the medicine that Carlotta was supposed to take towards Sky. “Doc says she needs two of these, so if you could do that, I’m going to go see if Ditzy’s here.” I hoped that I was conveying enough sincerity in my voice that she didn’t think something was wrong with me. This time there really wasn’t, but I couldn’t tell if Sky’s sad gaze was because of yesterday, or if she thought I was going to try to run off without her.

“She’s already been here, she arrived before the sun even came up.” How did I miss that? She scooped the bottle from my hoof onto the platter before setting it down. “I took her to the garage and we delivered the weapons to the rangers. Didn’t Longbow tell you when she got back?”

“Longbow was…exhausted.” I thought that even though I want to inform the others of this, the first thing they will want to do is go and see her. If the Doctor says she needs rest, then that’s what she’ll get. Unfortunately, I can’t afford to stay here another day while she recuperates. I need to get over to Friendship City. “You wouldn’t happen to know if Frosty and Fruit were done wit the Marauder, would you?”

“Yeah, they apparently worked all night on her.” She laughed lightly, the happy pegasis I haven’t seen for a month showed through her weariness for only a moment. “For the record, I told them not to, but they thought you’d want it.”

I blinked in confusion.

She nodded her head to the door. “I know you are anxious to get on the road. Get the others and I’ll meet you down there in five.”

“Five?” I deadpanned and looked over to Carlotta, who still looked as grumpy as ever. “Far as I can remember, the moaning usually lasts for at least ten.” I chuckled to myself while I was swiftly reminded of how strong Skyline was, finding myself quickly shoved into the hall while the door slammed shut behind me. The only issue was that Sky was going to ask why Longbow isn’t with us, and I didn’t think that telling her in front of the other rangers was any of their business. The gears in my head spun out a way to make it work.

“Sky, I need to do something first, can you get Longbow for me?” I perked my ear as Sky fluttered her wings in annoyance.

“Fine.” She grumbled through the door. “But I’m going to take my time here first.”

I smiled and trotted towards the elevator, off to find out exactly how much had been repaired on the Marauder. With 42 waiting at the bridge, and having Carlotta and Longbow out of the fight, I want to just pack up and go without Sky to keep her safe. But honestly, I need her there. Every other time I’ve left her when I could have waited, shit has hit the fan and I’ve been worse off for it. As the elevator doors opened, the bright yellow slit eyes of Doppler blinked in fear as she scrambled to put her helmet on.

“Sorry!” She squeaked through her speaker as the helmet sealed. “I… um… didn’t expect anypony to get in.” She was about the shyest pony I have ever met, and there was such fear in her voice. Not fear of me, but the special kind of fear that’s part shame. She was afraid others would hate her.

“You know its fine if you want to keep it off. I don’t mind how you look.” I did my best to smile as I peered into the soulless eyes that adorned every Steel Ranger’s helmet. All that seemed to accomplish was her shrinking down a bit from me. “As long as I’m around, everypony else wouldn’t even notice how you looked anyway.”

“That’s not true. I hear what they say.” She spoke with a happier note to her words. “They see you as the crusader. They don’t understand why you do what you do, but I know. I’ve been there.” I raised my eyebrow at that, making her studder. “I… I mean, I haven’t been where you are, but…”

“You don’t have to worry about offending me, so you can calm down.” I spoke slowly, trying to keep her from getting too nervous. “But I am curious as to what you meant.” The elevator stopped and let out a soft ding, opening the doors to the main floor. Both Doppler and I walked out and stopped as the doors shut behind us.

“I… I used to live in a stable, just outside of where Old Trottingham is. The Rangers opened the door when we put out a call for help. I chose to return the favor by joining them to help others.” She had a fondness for the rangers in her voice, her words sound not unlike the same one Longbow used when speaking of them. “You are an inspiration to them. A beacon of hope that the wasteland might one day be a better place.”

“Most of them don’t know that I’m the one who let 42 out in the first place.” I grit my teeth as I thought about how many have died because of me. The citizens of Ponyville, Whinny, the rock farm, the pool, Sorbet’s bunker? The weight of all of their souls is firmly set on my shoulders, and my shoulders alone.

“Which may be true, but I don’t think anypony else would have gone after her.” She had a firm tone behind her voice.

“It’s my responsibility. She is my responsibility.” And every minute she’s been out, the wasteland has been worse off for it.

She growled out in frustration, taking on a tone I didn’t expect from her. “The wasteland is every ponies responsibility, and they don’t do anything with it! Then there’s you, going around and risking everything just to make it a better place!” She advanced with strong steps as I backed away and sat down, those dark eyes on the helmet forcing my body to lock up as she had my undivided attention. “You don’t have the luxury to doubt yourself, not when everypony around here believes in what you are doing. Even if they don’t want to do it themselves! You got that?”

“Y...yes ma’am.” I don’t know what overcame me, but I just couldn’t argue anymore. She had made her point and it stuck, it was that simple. Shaking my jumbled mind back into place, I got back to the task at hoof. “I was just on my way to find Frosted Cakes and Fruit cup, do you know where they are?”

“I… don’t. I’m sorry.” And the force behind her voice was instantly gone, deflating back to the same timid and scared voice I had heard from her before. “I was just on my way to the commander, he’d know.” In a spectacle of perfect timing, the heavy steps of power armor approaching from around the corner gave him away.

“Ah, there you are Doppler” The agitated voice of Maple called out as he came from down the hall. “What’s the word from Command?”

Doppler rubbed an armored hoof at her foreleg. “They say that the weapons Backlash promised have been delivered, and that Strudel wants us to stay with him for now to insure he doesn’t die until the other contingent can make it to the bridge.” Longbow must have convinced her somehow, but wow, I didn’t take Strudel for a pony who would care about my well being. “You know, in case they find one of those shields after opening the facility.”

Should have know that was the reason. “Fantastic. I feel so honored.” I rolled my eye and sighed, getting to my hooves as I caught Maple’s smug look. “We need to get moving in the next few minutes, think your squad can be ready by then?”

“We’ve been ready to go since yesterday.” The snarkiness that was in Maple’s voice when I heard him arguing with Longbow back at Alpha base had once again returned. I wondered what he thought of me now, having been with me the last two days. After seeing what I’ve dragged others into, did he now hate me for what happened to Brass? My thoughts were interrupted by an armored hoof prodding against my chest. “Look, I know that you don’t know how odd it is that the Rangers would even consider working with a pony like you. I don’t know what we are getting ourselves into going after this pink mare, but you should at least respect the fact that we are risking our lives for you.”

“I am grateful that you are, but you must understand that I don’t want anypony to suffer for my mistakes. If there happens to be something inside that orchard behind one of those shields, then it’s going to be my call whether or not I should risk hoofing it over.” I pushed my way past him as his look dropped to one of great annoyance. “Enough ponies have lost their lives from my mistakes, don’t you think?”

As I trot away, nothing but silence came from the two rangers behind me. I didn’t care that I sounded ungrateful, because with 42 still out there, the whole of the wasteland was in danger. Doppler was right, more ponies need to stand up to ponies like her, to fight for their homes and livelihoods. But at the same time, why should they? They are just trying to do the best that they can with what they have.

A sharp pain spiked through my head as I walked, making me wince and bringing the fragile state of my health to the front of my thoughts. I didn’t have all that much time left to stop 42, and I couldn’t spend the next month or two chasing after her. No, the bridge had to be the final fight. No more running, no more popping out when we least expected it. 42 dies there. All I need is another twenty four hours to get everything prepared.

“I dare say she’s better than new.” Frosted Cakes beamed out a bright smile as I stood in confusion, not sure exactly what I was looking at. It was just so… unexpected.

“Don’t… don’t you like it?” Fruit Cup spoke up softly from behind Frosty, his words pulling my away from the thoughts running through my head. Though, my eye was still trained on the weird shape sticking out of the engine. “The blower should help to get you more speed out of it.”

“I… I don’t know what to say.” I blinked a few times and forced my gaze over to him. “How exactly does it help?”

Frosty stepped forward and cleared her throat. “Well, it diverts some of the spark energy to an induction fan that draws in moisture from the air through the intake, converting it with a freezing talisman to distribute over the drive motors in the engine.” She used her hoof to point out the different areas of the process as she continued. “This chilling effect makes it easier for the energy in the spark battery lines to flow quicker, resulting in less power loss throughout the drivetrain, increasing the systems efficiency and providing a boost in available motor torque.”

That all made sense, but what I still couldn’t wrap my head around was, “Why does the induction scoop have to be so high up?” They even cut a hole in the hood for it to stick out of. While I thought it gave the Marauder a more powerful look to her, something inside me just told me it ruined the classic look she once had.

Fruit Cup stepped forward with a smile. “The aerodynamics of the car at higher speeds are going to push the moisture filled air up, so the scoop needs to be raised to continue operating then.”

Once again, makes sense. “One thing I know I can do, is repair the hell out of something. But stuff like this?” I waved my hoof at it in disbelief. “How the hell did you two think this up?”

“I thought it up when those privileged flying pricks came down in their skyship and saved our flanks the other day.” Frosted Cakes patted at her chest proudly and tipped her muzzle up as she spoke. “Figured that sort of system is the only thing that can keep something that big in the air. Then I thought, why not apply it to this thing!”

“I don’t know what to say.” I felt a smile working it’s way across my muzzle, turning back to look over the rest of the Marauder. They had done an amazing job at straightening her out, and only a few crumpled sections went unfixed. Most of the damage that I could see had been cosmetic when she flipped, but as long as she ran well, cosmetics were an acceptable loss.

“You could say ‘thank you’.” The voice of Longbow from behind me made me spin around, the sight of her suited up walking next to Skyline stopped my train of thought quicker than was healthy, causing another spike of pain to course through my head.

“You… Sky, what the hell!?” To be honest, once again I probably could have phrased that better, making Skyline cross her forehooves as she flew into the air and looked offended.

“You told me to get Longbow from Dr. Fits’s office, did you not?” She cocked an eyebrow, her voice full of anger and confusion.

“Yes… but…” I looked to Longbow for help, who simply stood there blushing. “Longbow was supposed to tell you why she couldn’t go!”

“Longbow isn’t coming with us?” Fruit cup interjected, pushing back into my mind that this is exactly what I didn’t want to happen. He swiftly trot over to her and looked her over. “Are you alright? Is something wrong?”

“I’m fine, Fruit.” She smiled softly to him as she spoke softly. She didn’t sound embarrassed, or at all hesitant. “I’m just going to have to take it easy the next few months, that’s all.” Longbow looked over to me again, the expression of happiness melting away all of the nervousness and unease. To my surprise, it was Frosted Cakes who actually arrived at the conclusion first.

“Wait a moment. You and Him?” She traded glances between us with a smirk. “Good to know I didn’t lose sleep that night over nothing. You’re mom’s going to be a bit surprised though, and you know how much she LOVES surprises.”

And with that, not even Longbow’s love could save me from the shiver that ran up my spine. “Wait, why doesn’t she love surprises?” Longbow looked to Frosted for a moment before the two started to laugh. “Oh Celestia, she’s going to kill me, isn’t she?”

“Backlash… is Longbow...?” Skyline asked slowly, the note of hope in her voice hardly missable. I nodded slowly as she too smiled and dove down, tackling me to the dirt in a hug. “You aren’t aloud to die now, you hear me mister? Whatever it takes.”

“Yes sis.” I squeezed my hooves around her, enjoying what might be the last amount of relaxing time I’d get to spend with them. Sadly enough, we needed to get going. “Come on, let’s get everyone in and get moving. It’s only a short drive, but you…” I pointed to Longbow. “You aren’t going to lift a hoof while there. Doc says you need your rest, so it’s strictly bedtime when we get there.”

“But I…” Longbow shouldn’t have been surprised. I knew what she was going to say, so I cut her off.

“I know you want to help, but it’s alright.” I pushed Sky away, rolling back to my hooves. “There isn’t much left to do once we get there, and I promise to come get you if something comes up.”

Surrendering to my words, she simply nodded and walked forward, giving me a small smile as she got into the Marauder with Frosted Cakes and Fruit Cup. After a few more minutes, Maple, Suture, Casserole, and Doppler piled into the Marauder and we were finally ready to go, the new upgrade to the car helping us immensely through the streets as thunder rumbled along the horizon.

“So!” I wanted to use this time to gather ideas on how to fight 42 in the final battle. “Any idea’s on how to go about assaulting the bridge?” The silence that followed made me worried that either nopony heard me, or that there was absolutely no way to go about it, but I was happy to hear Casserole speak up.

“With only two ways in, it’s not the smartest idea to go in head first.” His loudspeaker in his helmet easily cut over the roaring of the engine as we rolled across the rough ground. “I would like to suggest that we have a third armored team assault from the bottom of the bridge and push up.”

“We are only being sent twelve paladins, we cannot divide our armor so thin on the roadway.” Maple spoke up, twisting so he could speak to the back seat. “Doppler, how many acolytes did you say Command was sending?”

“Um… fifteen.” She squeaked.

“All I need is one Paladin to go with me and a few acolytes.” Casserole offered back hesitantly, though, there was still a note of confidence in his voice. “That should be sufficient enough given they brought the correct weaponry.” He scooted up against the back seat and placed a hoof on my shoulder. “It’s risky, but I think it’s something they wouldn’t see coming.” The problem is that 42 always sees me coming. But, even so, with as much force as we are bringing up top, she’d have to be focusing on the enemies at her doorstep.

“I think it’s a sound tactic. We should at least consider it.” I replied, slowing down to make a turn towards the docks downtown. My eye caught something down an alleyway to the left of us as we passed it, the sharp movement of something big was all I could register before the marauder Lurched and spun out. A deafening roar came from the street behind us as I shook my confusion off and looked out the window. The bright red mane of a manticore shook off the strike to the car and was getting back it’s footing quickly.

I threw the marauder into reverse as the others in the car started shouting instructions to me, or to each other. It mattered little to me though, as I was just trying to focus on getting away. I slammed my hoof onto the pedal and spun the tires, turning so we were now advancing down the street backwards, while the large mutated predator had now recovered and was giving chase. Quicker than I would have liked.

“Keep us going straight!” Longbow yelled as she placed her hooves on the dashboard and leveled her guns toward the quick beast. I cringed and flattened my ears to my head as best I could before the report of the Anti Machine rifle attached to her armor fired off, turning my hearing into a dull whine for the next few seconds. A small plume of dust rose just in front of the charging monster, the close shot seemingly not phasing it at all.

Longbow’s Sniper rifle went off sharply, the round visibly punching a hole in the Manticore’s chest. I was about to congratulate her on her well placed shot, but the beast did not stop. I knew manticores were tough, but a well placed, high caliber round to the chest should have stopped it! The shot had only slowed the thing down marginally. Before she could line up another shot, the Marauder hit a pothole that sent us into the air, coming back down with a slam that sent us skidding sideways. I spun the wheel in a desperate attempt to keep us from crashing, only marginally softening our impact against the concrete wall of a prewar supermarket.

Now that we’ve spun back around to the correct direction, I hoofed the transmission back into drive and slammed down on the pedal. The Marauder lurched forward for a moment before the engine sputtered and died. The only thing that kept me from panicking in that moment was the sound of Skyline’s gauss rifles holding the beast at bay.

“Come on Backlash, get this thing started!” Maple shouted as he anxiously watched out the window.

I wasn’t listening, looking for something I hoped hadn’t been lost when the marauder crashed the first time. “Shit, where is it…” A thought struck me and I ran my hoof along the floor under my seat, delighted to find the metal tool sitting underneath.

“Any time now would be great!” Doppler called up, the heavy fear in her words driving me to work faster. I hefted the Marauder’s tire iron between my hooves, slamming it down on the dashboard a few times.

“Percussive… Maintenance… always… works!” With my quick words of encouragement, and my less than caring act of force, the engine came to life. I dropped the tire iron back to the floor and slammed the pedal down, making the tires spin as the Marauder’s roar beat out the Manticores.

We tore down the street as Skyline broke away from the beast. I watched and hoped that it would still choose to go after us rather than take to the air and hunt down Skyline, and was both delighted and horrified to find that it still indeed chose us. Now bleeding heavily from several gaping wounds on it, I think it was only being kept alive on pure adrenaline, pushing itself to make it’s last act that of ripping us all to pieces.

“Uh… I’d just like to point out that we’re running out of road!” Maple spoke up quickly, drawing my attention to the fact that the docks were only a few blocks off, and closing fast.

“Now that we’re facing the right direction, it’s my turn!” Frosted Caked chimed in happily, turning herself around to where her grenade and rocket launcher would point out the back window. “One missile should be all it takes to bring that down.”

“Mind the backblast! Remember, I’m not armored!” I shouted, glancing up into the rearview to see Frosted stiffen up in realization. The swift thumping of her grenade launcher, and the accompanying explosions couldn’t have come soon enough, as I was forced to slam on the brakes to keep us from sailing off into the freezing water. The screeching of the tires as they locked up was the only indication that we were actually trying to stop, but the fact that the Marauder was dangerously overloaded kept our momentum up.

I watched in silent horror as the sliding turned us sideways as we slowed ever so slightly with every passing second. The only comfort I had as we slid, was the view of the decapitated and mutilated corpse of the manticore that now lay strewn about the street. The Marauder lurched as the old rubber tires dug into the pavement of the old waterfront, slowing us just fast enough that I thought that we could make it.

Then we hit the lip of the dock.

For a moment, the marauder tilted up, eager to replay the scene it performed yesterday, and sending us all the fifteen feet down to a watery tomb. But in a small act of mercy, the Car hung for only a moment before slamming back down onto the dock with all four tires. The silence that would normally be accompanied by a moment such as this was shattered as Frosty bounced in her seat.

“Woo! That one was a doozy!” There was far too much enthusiasm in her voice to be considered sane.

Almost all at once, we let out a collective sigh of relief, a welcomed sight catching my eye from further up the waterfront. The small tugboat driven barge that acted as a ferry out to friendship city still sat moored to the downtown docks it normally sat at. With a light touch, I pulled the Marauder away from the edge and steered us back onto the road, lazily rolling us the rest of the way to our destination.

Despite my dislike for boat trips, this one never really felt like one. The heavy barge that was used as the ferry, was so large that a few sheet metal structures had been built on it, and in my opinion, was less like a watercraft and more like a steerable section of Friendship City. The transition was only a twenty minute trip, but I was still anxious to get to the City. The view of the Bucklyn bridge sitting off in the distance didn’t help either. My eye burned every time I looked out the window of the cabin Longbow and I were huddled in facing towards it, reaffirming the fact that 42 was out there, just waiting for me to make my move. She had to know I’d make this play, but I still didn’t know why she had chosen to make her final stand at the bridge. It just didn’t make sense!

“Backlash?” Longbow’s voice broke me out of my thoughts, making me blink a few times before looking over to her. “What do you think?”

“Think of what?” I scrunched up my muzzle in the realization that I had completely spaced out over her talking. “Sorry, I’ve... got a lot on my mind.”

“I know.” She smiled and walked over to me, sitting down in front of the window with me and nuzzling warmly into my neck. This moment would have been perfect, had the bridge that served to be my greatest challenge not been in the picture. “But I think I can make a difference. I know you don’t want me to, but I can help.”

I leaned away from her and looked over her eyes, seeing the fear of rejection and the honesty of her words showing plainly in them. She knew that she could help, and I knew that we couldn’t afford to let anypony willing to help go to waste. But if something happened to her, I don’t think that I could live with myself. Hell, losing Brass broke me so bad, that I hallucinated him. There is no way I’d survive if Longbow died, and I know that 42 will do everything in her power to make that happen.

“I’m the only other paladin with any infiltration training. I should be the one going with Casserole.” She offered. Though her logic was sound, I just couldn’t get the idea that sending a small team from the bottom, while being a sound tactic, would be better if it didn’t include the mare I loved.

I wanted to tell her no. I wanted to scream out exactly why I didn’t want her to go, but as hard as I tried, I couldn’t form the words. I can’t deny her the opportunity to help. I don’t want to sit around and worry about if she was alright. She know’s what she’s doing, and I have to trust that she will be good enough at it to stay alive. When I finally found the strength to talk, the only thing that ended up coming out of my muzzle, was ”Okay.”

The blaring of the tug horn announced that we were now pulling up beside Friendship City, and that we’d be able to disembark soon. I waited for Longbow to say something else, but she instead only leaned back into me silently. I put my hoof around her, holding us close as we just silently stared across the water.

My ear perked toward the door as a burst of shouting erupted outside, the angry shouts of a few ponies bled through the others, but I recognized a few as some of Maple’s rangers. Both Longbow and I got up, heading for the door as a couple of new voices joined the shouting match. Opening the door, the shouting died down as whatever had happened seemed to be at an end. Longbow and I made our way to the origin of the sounds, and I was surprised to see a familiar face among the gathered group.

Maple’s magic had conjured up shackles around both Isaac’s forelegs, and the forelegs to a sea green coated Unicorn. “Now then, why are you chasing this poor unicorn?”

“Because he is in possession of stolen goods, and must be arrested following city law.” Only the slightest trace of anger fanned across Isaac’s face, while his voice spoke more of annoyance than anything.

“Well, I'm sure that city security can get whatever you claim he stole from you.” Maple’s pompous tuner must have been cranked to eleven from the amount of intolerance imbuing his words. I’m starting to think that it wasn’t those gangers outside Tenpony he was speaking so lowly of, rather than the idea of being a Zebra in general.

“I AM with city security.” Isaac was doing an incredible job with remaining calm. I’m pretty sure that with his augmented strength, he could break the shackle spell at any time he chose. Though, doing that might break the spell on the ACTUAL criminal as well. “I am Officer Xellos and this stallion stole from the marketplace.”

“Wait, Xellos?” Longbow’s question quickly perked Isaac’s ears, drawing a smile across his muzzle as he saw us standing there.

“Yeah, I’ll explain later.” I murmured to Longbow, cursing myself for not mentioning this to the others earlier. I swiftly walked up to the group, smiling back as I spoke. “ Xellos? It is you!” I threw my hooves around him in a hug, not having done it before and finding that he was pleasantly warm. “I told you that they would hire you, did I not?”

“Yes, can you please inform this stallion that I speak the truth, I must take this criminal back to the lock up.” Isaac looked up to me as I took a step back, his mechanical eyes still displaying the sincerity of truth behind it.

Maple let out an annoyed sigh. “Of course you know him. Why wouldn’t you.” His horn flashed, removing the cuffs from both Isaac and the Unicorn criminal. “Very well then, you may…”

The sharp sound of shearing metal was swiftly met by the loud clang of a cast iron pipe snapping Isaac’s foreleg, the magical aura of the criminal swinging it again as he turned and ran, bringing it down on Isaac’s head. It happened so fast that by the time I had thought to bring up S.A.T.S., the assailant had leapt overboard and into the water. Maple and I dashed to the edge, watching as the unicorn made a break for it across the open harbor.

“Casserole, get over here and give this criminal a proper send off.” Maple shouted, his words giving me a note of enjoyment from them as he sounded like this was actually fun for him.

“No.” Isaac’s stern voice came from behind us as I could hear him get up. I turned around to see Longbow helping to steady him as his broken leg gave off a few sparks and sad whines. I looked over the damage that had been done to his face, finding that the rusty pipe had damn near taken half of the skin off, leaving the silver and black metallic components to highlight the fact that he was more than most assumed him to be. “The water is freezing and the only place to get out is at river shore or this boat. He has chosen to die by hypothermia, and if that is the punishment he has selected for his crime, let him be at peace with his choice.”

“Now you listen here… whatever the fuck you are.” Maple turned and pointed his hoof to Isaac. “I don’t take orders from a striped primitive, let alone a stripe like you.” The emphasis he put on those words was more than just casual hatred. Maple’s tone ventured into the same territory that Sorbet’s had when she talked about the wasteland. My blood instantly boiled in my veins as I thought about how we already had enough to deal with.

“THAT IS ENOUGH.” I shouted out, causing everypony (and yes, Zebra) to freeze momentarily. “Maple, I would really like to call you a friend, but you are making it DAMN hard to do with this pompous bullshit you keep spewing.”

“H… how dare you!” I didn’t care that he sounded genuinely offended. The only note I could hear clearly in his voice, was that of hesitation.

“How dare I!? Tell me something Maple, do you LIKE the wasteland?” I pointed a hoof to the black half of my face, trying my best to restrain myself from lashing out and just beating at him with my hooves. “Do you LIKE what it does to innocent ponies?”

“Of…of course not!” He looked about nervously, straightening himself out. “The Steel Rangers are doing there best to…”

“Oh well, pardon me then.” I cut him off and held my hoof back toward Isaac. “Racism like that is what got us all into the war in the BEGINNING.” That made Maples face flush with rage.

“How can you say that? Their kind are the ones who did all of this in the first place!” Maple was now shouting back, his words informing me that he actually felt justified in being racist. ”The Steel Rangers are the only thing left in this place that are keeping us from exterminating what’s left of Equestria!”

I was caught off guard when Longbow’s armored hoof swung down hard onto the cheek of Maple, slamming him down against the metal railing that we had been standing next to. I smirked for a moment, thankful that he finally shut his fucking muzzle, only to be rewarded with a hard blow to my own cheek, sending me sprawling to the ground next to him as my head flared in pain.

“You morons too busy arguing to forget that Forty Two is sitting just across the water? The wasteland is bigger then your argument, so suck it up and get back to work.” Her words rang in my ears in the same tone that mother’s had whenever Crankshaft and I fought over something. “Am I clear?”

“Crystal.” Maple whined out, cupping his bruised face.

“Yeah.” I groaned out, trying to shake the stars from my vision. “Sorry, about that.”

“Good. Now pick yourselves up and lets go.” She turned to Isaac and helped him limp away. “Now, let’s find some suitable metal that the repair talisman can use to fix you up.”

“This boat would work.” He suggested bluntly as I found my hooves underneath me again. I rubbed at the side of my face, wincing as the bruise that was there had probably blended into the charred skin and was most likely unnoticable. Maple on the other hoof, didn’t have the luxury of a dark coat, and was going to have one hell of a shiner to show off for the next day or so.

“I don’t think a half eaten ferry boat would be a good way to welcome others here, do you?” Longbow chuckled lightheartedly as they walked slowly across the gangway to the city docks.

I turned to Maple and held my hoof out. “Are we good?” He let out a sigh and wrapped his hoof around mine, letting me help him get back up.

“Yeah.” He looked around as a wave of shame washed over his face. “I didn’t mean to get so carried away. I’m sorry.”

“We both are.” I nodded to him and turned to head toward the docks. Longbow was right. We can’t let ourselves become too shortsighted when we are so close to bringing 42 down. All I could hope to do was to be able to tear down everything she hoped to build before the wasteland started to fight amongst itself again as it always had. Maybe somewhere in the midst of all this, the ponies of the wasteland might realize how close they had come to being wiped out again. And who knows, that ghoul at the pool could be right. Maybe friendship was the way we could actually redeem pony kind. If only the rest of the wasteland would just give it a try...

--------------

LEVEL UP!

+12 Speech

+3 Repair

New Quest Perk: Undesirable Mutation - Lady Luck’s roll of the dice came up short, and now you are running on borrowed time. All of your SPECIAL stats gain a permanent -1, but you now have access to unique dialogue options.

New Perk: Big Boned - All those stories of the larger folks like you were true because you have the bone density to prove it! Your limbs only receive half the damage they normally take against any normally crippling strike.

Author's Notes:

So with this chapter, the start of the final arc in the story begins. An arc where all the risks are worth it, and none of the rewards will ever be, until 42 lies dead.

I'd like to thank Kkat for creating this wonderful setting for the community. I'd love to thank Somber for the incredible story he's put so much time and effort in to. Many thanks to Mimezinga for the funnest story I've read so far in FoE. Thanks to No_One, who's story has been one of my greatest inspirations. Thanks to StonerShy, for making a story that flips my expectations of it right on it's head! I'd like to thank John Colt for not giving up, and in doing so, helping me not to do the same. Thanks to Hnetu for proving that you don't need to follow on the heels of greatness to create a great story.

I'd love to give a shout out to my editor Sawyer (Digital Ink) for doing such a fantastic job on keeping me in line and working on what needs to be done.

Once again, much love needs to be given to Revel Romp, Regolit, and Death Pony for their fantastic feedback and dedication! On top of that, I'd like to give a special mention to dude2976, who burned through this story with a dedication rivaling the names above. You keep on being awesome dude!

And lastly, I'd like to thank all of you, the readers. Just the other day Merchants of Hope hit 400 reads. I know not all of you get this far, but just to see that you all have given it a chance makes this story worth it. You all are amazing, and I am grateful to have readers like you.