"The times have changed, just accept it."
Time. Does it really heal all wounds? Do things really get better with it? Maybe if enough of it has passed. Sometimes, though, ponies just don't have enough time to see a change. I'd like to meet the pony who invented the clock. How did they know what time it was? I'm pretty sure the concept of time has raised more questions than it has answered. My grandfather told me a story about the ministry mare, Twilight Sparkle. How she managed to time travel, once, before the war was even thought about. Could we time travel, now? If we did, would we be able to change anything? I believe our fate is set in stone. I don't believe we'd be able to change anything. Besides, if time travel did exist, somepony surely would have went back to try to change the fate of this land. One hundred and sixty years after the war, the wasteland has not seen anymore change than I have seen a two-headed cow.
Sometime during the night, I awoke to the sound of crying and murmuring. I jolted upright, looking to Redd. He was still sleeping, oblivious to the sounds. Rotating my ears, I listened for the sound. The fire had burnt out, leaving barely any light except what was coming from the coals.
It's just your imagination. Just, relax.
I slowly laid back down, shutting my eyes. I nearly dozed off again, before I heard the same weeping as before. This time, it was louder, like it was closer to me. I stayed on my belly, inching backwards towards Redd. I shook him. "R-Redd. Wake up."
He batted my hoof away.
"There's something here!" I hissed.
"It's probably just a nightmare." He mumbled, still half asleep. "If you want, you can sleep here." He patted the space next to him, wearing a sly grin.
"-elp me, please."
I started trembling, "Redd, there is something here!" I hissed, louder.
He ignored me.
A shadow passed behind one of the stands. I hid behind Redd, covering my eyes. Chancing a peek, I looked just over his side, seeing the shadow pace. It was walking like it was hurt, but I didn't see pony. The only thing visible was a shadow. Suddenly, it let out a horrible scream that echoed through my ears. Redd jumped to his hooves, not noticing I was under him until a few seconds later.
"What is it? Why'd you scream?" He looked back and forth.
I didn't answer right away, only stared in terror at the, still pacing, shadow. "It wasn't me. D-do you see it?" I pointed to the blackness behind him.
He turned, scanning the stands. "See what?"
The silhouette was gone before he looked. I backed up, tripping over a brick and falling onto my back. I couldn't breathe! When I closed my eyes to fight the panic, I only saw the scary apparition, so I opened them again. The stallion bent down next to me.
"What's wrong?"
"G-gho... Ghost." I squeaked.
For a second, I saw the doubt and pity in Redd's eyes. That is, until he looked behind him just as the shadow flew by. He jumped back, throwing his guns over him. I hid behind him. The figure came to a stop between two piles of what used to be kiosks. Two white, glowing eyes peered at us.
"Who's there?" Redd yelled.
Inaudible whispering echoed through the darkness.
"Shine your Pipbuck light." He instructed.
I, shakily, pushed the button on the side of the cuff. It lit most of the market. To our horror, the shadow disappeared, only to be replaced by a translucent mare. She moaned, as if in pain. Her head lolled around.
Redd became paler than he already was. "Holy shit."
"They killed me." She whispered. Her lips didn't even move as she spoke.
"Who?" He asked, stepping closer to the phantom.
He is brave, I'll give him that. That, or just really stupid.
I grabbed his hoof. "Don't be an idiot! I'm not losing you, too!"
He stopped, looking towards the mare. She didn't move, just kept whispering.
"Let's get out of here, Redd..."
He cautiously narrowed his eyes. "She isn't attacking or anything."
"It. Is. A. Ghost." I hissed with so much frustration, I probably could have melted him with my voice.
"A translucent figure can't hurt you. It would go right through you." He said, flatly.
I rolled my eyes. "Have you heard of possession?"
His turn to roll his eyes. "You believe in all that?"
I waved my hooves around. "You're looking at a ghost and asking me that?!"
Suddenly, the apparition let out a bone chilling screech. Her body turned to white fog that seemed to teleport right in front of my face. The sheer terror I felt was unreal. I think Redd called for me, but I wasn't sure. For a split second, I thought I could feel what she had felt. She regenerated in front of me, again, her dead face watching me. I felt... sad. Alone. Oddly, my fear had long gone away. I longed to be at peace. My hoof slowly rose to touch her face. I tried to stop, but it's like I wasn't controlling my body.
"Stop!" Redd shouted.
A gust of wind blew the stallion backwards. He landed against the wall, putting a hoof to his head. Mist obscured my view, the milky haze smothering me. My surroundings disappeared and darkness overcame me. I gasped for air, but couldn't catch my breath. My hooves flailed, trying to catch something solid. Unfortunately, wherever I was, there was nothing to grab.
oooOOOoooOOOooo
As quick as it came, the darkness receded. I opened my eyes to see the market. Well, the nicer version of the market. There were no piles of rubble or wood. All the kiosks stood, neatly, in rows. That isn't what got my attention, though. Ponies. Healthy, happy ponies walked around, browsing the goods like nothing had ever happened. The delicious-looking fruits and vegetables were piled onto each table. My mouth watered as the scent of food entered my nostrils. I continued to hold my breath as I turned to look outside. Lush, green trees and grass grew around the market. Beautiful birds fluttered about, waiting for crumbs to fall from a filly eating a freshly baked muffin. Non-mutated butterflies stopped at the colorful flowers growing along the walkways. The beauty of it brought a tear to my eye. Whatever this place was, I wanted to stay forever.
"Thank you! Please, come again!" A mare's voice dragged me out of my day dream.
I followed the cheerful voice through the crowd. A stand at the far left of the decorated awning held several, beautiful jars of preserves. I stopped, dead in my tracks. It was her. The ghostly mare that haunted the market. Except, she wasn't ghostly, anymore. She was alive! Her cool, blue coat stood out from the rest. Her mane was a paler blue, almost white. I stared at her cutie mark. A jar with a ribbon around it stood out on her flank. She smiled, sweetly, taking the prewar bits from an elderly mare.
"This is the best peach jam you'll ever put in your mouth!" She claimed, proudly.
"Thank you, dear. I can't wait tah eat this with mah toast." The elder smiled back at her.
I watched the exchange from a distance. What is going on? Am I trapped in a memory? I stepped back, only to realize I was walking through a nearby unicorn.
"Sorry!" I told her.
She ignored me.
"Hello?" I waved my hoof in front of her.
The mare kept chatting away with a group of traders. It was like I wasn't even there! I backed away, puzzled. When I turned back to the ghost mare, again, she was gone. She left a sign on her table that read, "Back in five." My eyes darted around, searching for her. I galloped to the stand, searching around.
"Please! I don't have your bits! I can only make so much from the farmer's market!" I heard her voice. Her whimpers were elevated over the crowd, like she raised the volume for only me to hear. I assumed this, because nopony else bothered to acknowledge it. Like they were deaf.
I followed her voice to the back of the marketplace. Nopony else was around except for a group of formally dressed ponies. They had her cornered.
"Sky, let's be real for a second." A unicorn mare grinned, maliciously, at the pony I now knew as Sky. "You took out a loan to start your peach orchard. Do you know what a loan is?"
Sky fearfully nodded.
"Good. Then you know you need to pay us back."
"The orchard is only now starting to catch up on business. Please, I just need a couple more weeks. I have more than half-"
"There's a shipment going out, right at this moment. That ministry mare ordered for something valuable to be delivered." She hooked a forehoof around Sky, pulling her close and gesturing with her other hoof. "It's so valuable, the princess let her borrow a couple of guards to transport it. Do you know what that means?" The pearls. Deep down, I knew that's what they were after.
Before Sky could answer, the unicorn interrupted her. "It means that I will be rich if I can get whatever it is. Now, I know one of the guards. He's willing to help me out, for a piece of this wealth. Unfortunately, he needs a little... down payment. That's where you come in."
She pushed Sky to the ground and poked her. "Your loan money was supposed to be that down payment."
Sky's eyes widened. "I-I..."
"Save it."
"I have two foals! Please..." She cried.
"Leave her alone!" I rushed over, trying to knock into the mob boss. I went right through her, falling to my face.
The mare gestured to her henchbucks. The two stallions in fancy attire proceeded to slam Sky's head into the dirt. I could only watch, helpless, as they kicked her. Tears streamed down her face.
Scream! Call for help! Do something, Sky! You can save yourself!
One of the stallions head butted her. The terrible sound of her skull cracking almost made me vomit. Blood poured from her nose as her body fell to the ground. I closed my eyes, praying for the nightmare to end. The mare nudged the unmoving earth pony with her hoof. "I'm disappointed in you, Sky. Your peach orchard was going to be the talk of the town." She shook her head. "But let me tell you something: Don't get in the way of my bits."
The mare grinned. "Let's go."
"You monsters!" I screamed through tears. I knew they couldn't hear me, but I still wanted to hurt them.
The blood curdling yell of an air raid siren echoed through the land, shutting me up. The eerie silence between each blare sent shivers up my spine. Ponies, including the mob, looked up to the sky. Fear. I knew that look. Every one of them wore the same look of absolute horror. I followed their gaze upwards. The sky had suddenly darkened, much like the wasteland would be in the future. A huge explosion shook the ground, rattling the glassware in the market. When they realized what was happening, the population started screaming and running for their lives. I grabbed my chest, trying to focus on breathing.
"Stop! Please, take me back!" I yelled over the chaos.
Another explosion boomed. I looked up to see a catastrophically large fireball erupting. The shock wave blew back the flora around the market. I could see small fires, raining down in the woods. The trees burned. The grass burned. Everything burned around me. The flames soon spread to the decorations and stands inside the awnings. More screams and glass breaking almost made my ears bleed. I chanced a look where the megaspell had went off. The glows were blinding.
"Run!" A buck screamed.
Somewhere, gunfire filled the air. I flapped my wings, hovering above the crowd. Squinting my eyes, I could see a wave of camouflaged ponies galloping towards a muddy field. I blinked, only opening my eyes to see that I was right next to the battle, watching. The soldiers yelled as they bombarded the war zone. I looked to the direction they were headed. Zebra. An army of the striped terrors clashed into the ponies. Many of them fell as soon as they made contact. The zebra had these lances that tore apart the, already bloody, armor of the pony soldiers.
"Shit!"
I looked next to me at whoever had said that. A mare and stallion sat in a trench, loading guns. They were out of breath and frantically trying to survive.
"Why didn't that megaspell kill anyone? What the hell is goin' on?" The stallion screamed.
The earth pony mare yelled something into her radio, then paused. I heard the garbled sound over the frequency, but couldn't understand it. She dropped the black communicator in shock. "It wasn't a destructive spell."
"What do you mean? Petunia, what the hell are you talkin' about?!" He shook her.
She backed away. "It was a healin' megaspell! Fuck! Everyone who was killed is back! The zebra we eliminated..." She stared at the buck, eyes wide. "We'll have to fight all over again."
Confused, I scanned the battlefield. Sure enough, ponies and zebra, alike, were awakening from death. I gasped. I had never seen anything like this. Worse yet, I didn't even know who would do this. Bullets zoomed past as I watched the encore of the fight. As soon as they were being healed, they would just die all over again. Some screamed in agony as they were torn apart with bullets. The mare and stallion that were next to me were ran out of their hiding spot, now fighting hoof to hoof with three zebra.
I closed my eyes, tight, but when I opened them, I was back at the market. The situation was no better here. A mare knelt over the body of a burned stallion. She wept, desperately trying to wake him. The stallion was lost, though. His blackened hide looked more like a large piece of coal than a pony. I looked away from the appalling scene, only to find a worse one. Across the burnt stallion, was a mare and her young foal lying dead under the weight of a large storage shelf. The foal was just a baby. She looked like she was still nursing. My heart tore to pieces. I covered my ears at an attempt to block out the screams of the ponies and sirens. Wails muffled through, begging for mercy. I began to shake, furiously.
My blood turned to ice as I tore my eyes open at the sound of a mare screaming bloody murder. A beam from the awning collapsed onto a group of ponies. Blood sprayed the dirt as their bodies were crushed. I had to force myself to run back to Sky. She lay, lifeless, in a pool of her blood. I kept my eyes on her so I wouldn't have to look at the havoc behind me. She was still alive, but barely. I threw my hooves around her. They didn't go through her!
"Sky!" I blubbered. "Get up!"
Her haunting stare stayed on the disarray around us. She was basically paralyzed, being forced to watch as her home and the ponies she loved were destroyed. She was struggling to breathe. My shoulders shook, some more.
"Sky? Can you hear me?" I asked.
No response. Gurgling came from her throat as she choked, blood spurting from her muzzle with each horrid cough. She was drowning in her own fluids and there was nothing I could do. When her final breath escaped, I gently touched her. Her eyes glazed over as she died. What a horrible way to die. A terrible, horrible, awful way to die. I collapsed beside her, squeezing her hoof in mine. She didn't have to die alone. I was only an audience for a memory, but I wanted to think she had me with her.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I sniffed. "Please... Take me back."
oooOOOoooOOOooo
I suddenly felt this weird pulling sensation. It was like my very soul was lifting into oblivion. The memory of the past faded into black as I went. The same market slowly crept back into my vision, except it was post-war this time. Dazed, I looked around. No rain. Redd was standing over something. I recognized the spot where Sky had expired. I started to float downward.
"Redd!" My voice echoed.
He didn't look at me. Like he couldn't hear me. Then, my heart stopped. He was standing over me.
My body lay over a pile of bones, sobbing. My eyes were lifeless, having no color. Redd just watched in bafflement. A rush of wind dragged me towards my body. My eyes closed, but when they opened, again, I gasped. I fell onto my back and sucked in air. My torso flew upright, startling Redd. I quickly lifted my hooves and looked over them. I was back in my body!
"Sia?" Redd said, quietly. Fearfully.
"I'm back!" I said, panting. "I'm back!"
"Uh... So, where were you?"
I clasped my chest. "I was in a memory or something. Sky..." I sniffed, looking over to the pile of stained bones. "I saw her death."
From the corner of my eye, I saw the alley behind the awnings. A pair of glowing, white eyes watched me through the shadows, sadly. I stood, took a breath, and walked over to the silhouette.
"I... saw what happened, Sky." I said, softly.
She kept still. The ghostly aura around her swirled.
"Nopony should have to go through what you did. Those monsters..." I looked at my hooves. "All because of those stupid pearls."
"Their hunger for power caused suffering for so many. It didn't only start with the ones who did this to me." She spoke telepathically.
I let that sink in. She was talking about all the corrupted ponies before the war.
Wait, she had foals!
I jerked my head up. "Your foals..."
"They grew up without a mother. Though, the generations did not stop with them."
I brightened. "You have living descendants?"
Her gaze moved towards the clouds.
I shared her gaze. Then, it hit me. "The Enclave.... Your grandchildren were-" When I looked back down she was gone. "Pegasi."
In her place, an envelope sat. I looked back at Redd, who only stared, still shocked. For once, I wasn't the one who was scared. Trotting over, I picked up the note and opened it. The paper was worn around the edges, but I could clearly read each word.
Mom,
How have you been? It's been years since we spoke. Where do I start? I guess I can start by saying this: You're going to be a grandma! Exciting right? Piper and I are happy as can be. She'll have to go home for a while, but she should be back before our little colt or filly is born. I'm hoping he or she will be a pegasus like their mother. Unfortunately, Pop won't be around to see his grandfoal. He died last week, Mom. Ginger was so upset. I just had to remind her that you both raised us to be strong. We miss you guys, so much. Even as I'm writing, I'm tearing up. I know you're out there, somewhere. I hope that, somewhere along the way, you find this letter. Ginger always says you're really gone. I don't believe her, though. When that megaspell hit, it was supposed to heal everyone. I like to think you were one of the ones who were healed. I know you had problems with your knee. I still visit the marketplace, sometimes. That place is abandoned. I'll probably leave this note on your kiosk. Or, what's left of that old stand. They never found your body, so that is good news to me.
I'm in Luna's army, now. Even though there's so much going on, I still try to find ways to be happy. You taught us to always be positive. Besides, I'm going to be a father! How can I not be happy? I'll be on duty in Canterlot, soon. Hopefully, I'll be back before she goes into labor. Oh, I have to be in Canterlot because there are rumors of some kind of Zebra weapon being developed. Something about a deadly gas. It doesn't sound too deadly. They say it's pink. Pink. Sounds more like laughing gas. Lemon Lime said it would be a shame if something as simple as a cloud destroyed Equestria. Oh, yeah! You don't know Lemon Lime. That's Ginger's husband! She got married a few months ago! She settled down with a Steel Ranger. Pop cried enough for the both of you at the wedding. He said he didn't cry as much for me, because he wants his only son to be strong. I'm rambling, again. Anyway, Lemon Lime is gone all the time, but Ginger doesn't mind. She says it gives her extra time with her quilts. I never understood that hobby.
Anyway, I guess I should be going. I can hear Piper coming through the door. Mom, wherever you are, I think about you every day. I'll never forget you or Pop. I love you.
Peach Grove
P.S: Piper just told me we are having a filly! Her name is going to be Sky Breeze, after you.
I wiped tears from my cheek. It was probably the last letter he ever wrote. Surely Sky wanted her great, great, great (or something) grandchildren to have this. I'd just have to add that to my list of things to do.
"Wow." I jumped at Redd's voice right by my ear. "I wonder if we know her descendants. Sorry to read over your shoulder."
I shrugged. "Maybe. I'd put my money on Major Fruit Salad."
He chuckled. "Or, you or I could be her descendant."
I shook my head. "Doubt it. My family tree was all Enclave officers. Well, except my grandpa."
"In any case, we have barely gotten any sleep. And we probably have only a couple hours until daylight. Let's try to get some rest." He said, heading back towards his "nest".
I neatly folded the letter and put it back inside the envelope. On the outside, was a tiny, drawn heart next to the words, "World's best mom". Carrying it under my wing, close to my heart, I went over to my bag and gingerly put it inside. In that moment, I made up my mind. My hoof found the necklace under my barding and held it. Those pearls had to be destroyed. They only brought pain and torment to everyone. Hope would be no better than those mob ponies. Her foolishness would probably take out the rest of the wasteland. They were hurting ponies for hundreds of years.
I shook my head. I'd think about it when the time came. Exhaling slowly, I lay my head over my crossed hooves. I definitely was not going to be able to sleep. So, I waited until Redd started snoring before I flew up to the roof, sitting to let my hooves hang over the edge. It felt kind of nice to have a perch. To be able to think clearly. I didn't feel tired. I didn't feel anything, really. There was some kind of desire that nagged at the back of my mind. For what, I don't know. Probably a desire to have my friends back. To leave the wasteland. I thought I just wanted my life back.
The more I thought about it, though, the less it seemed true. I wasn't really going to go anywhere with my life back home. I'd be a part of the Enclave for the rest of my life. Probably wouldn't even get married until old age. There was no chance in Equus I would even have foals. I was too... nervous. Sky had lived a good life before her tragedy. Peach Grove said she had taught them to stay positive. That meant she had to have been an optimistic mare.
I scoffed to myself. "Stay positive. That's next to impossible in this place."
"Well, it certainly could use a few rainbows."
My heart dropped to my stomach, then climbed back up my chest and dropped, again. It can't be. It just can't.
I laughed, nervously. "Very funny, Rarity. You can pull me out of the dream, now."
I heard hoofsteps behind me on the tin roof. "So, you're saying I'm dreamy?"
I almost fell off the roof jumping up to face him. "Nico?"
He smiled. "I make quick comebacks, Princess."
My eyes filled with tears that I didn't think could even be formed again. He was there! He was really and truly there! I galloped to him, throwing my hooves around him. "You're alive! Oh, my goddesses, you're okay!"
He cringed, but hugged me back. "A little bruised and battered, but I guess I can say I'm okay." He returned the embrace.
I forgot to breath, so I dramatically inhaled. "How? What happened?!" I looked him over. He had scratches and bruises and the bandage was no longer on his leg, revealing the prominent scar. It would probably be permanent.
"I managed to run through the horde before I actually threw the grenade. When it exploded, a lot of the ceiling came down, crushing every single one. Leaf was right about the tunnel. I found the way out through an underground warehouse not far from Walkerton. I went back to the town to look for you guys, but Leaf had said everyone thought I died, so you and Redd kept going. I walked for a while, before I finally saw Redd flying in the distance. I didn't see you with him, though. I thought... I thought something happened to you. Thankfully, I followed the direction he was flying, anyway. It took me a while to get here because I had stopped to rest and take those bandages off. I was planning to stop here, for the night. Looks like you guys beat me to it." He smirked. "I kind of missed you, Princess."
I was so relieved to have him back, I didn't even mind the stupid nickname.
He frowned, looking over my face. "What happened?"
I touched my cheek. The cut stung a little. I'm sure I had bruises, too. "It's nothing. Everything is under control."
He straightened his mouth. "Why didn't I see you with Redd?"
I sighed. "I was with Redd. He had to carry me back here because we helped some ponies get away from a few slavers and I fainted after the fight. Like I said, everything is okay. We got them away, just... got a little roughed up in the process."
His expression softened. "I'm glad you're okay."
I blushed a little. "I'm glad you're okay, too. Should we wake Redd?"
"Nah. Let him sleep. I'm sure doing my job for me is exhausting."
"What's your job, exactly?" I furrowed my brow.
"Coming to your rescue." He winked.
I rolled my eyes. "I seem to recall coming to your rescue, once." I lowered my voice, dramatically. "You have some of me inside you."
He coughed, awkwardly. "Touche."
I heard the flapping of wings. Redd landed next to us. "Welcome back."
"Thanks. Miss me?" He grinned.
"Not entirely. Though, I guess it's nice to have more firepower on our side."
"Maybe we should get going." I looked at the slightly brighter clouds. "It's early morning, now."
"Couldn't hurt." Nico said. "But you need to get your things."
I perked up. "Oh, I have your bag, too."
He brightened. "Thanks for grabbing it."
"I may have used a bobby pin and a match, but nothing else is missing."
"I'll put it on your tab." He chuckled, heading back down towards the marketplace. I watched as he hopped down stacked boxes and junk. Redd and I followed, gathering our things and getting ready for the rest of our trip as the sky gradually became a lighter shade of gray.
This had been an eventful night, to say in the least. I was now content, though. Even if the strange desire buried itself in my thoughts, I was just happy to have something given back to me.
Level Up!
S- 3
P- 3
E- 4
C- 2
I- 4
A- 3
L- 2 (+1)
New Perk!
Hoarder - Finding supplies/loot is now 25% easier when you are with your companions.
Nico is now your companion.