Summary, Part I

Zach, Twilight, Spike, and Rainbow Dash go into the Fallout universe, finding it to be threatened by a being known as The Master, a very potent psychic mutant creature that sought world domination. The team, with the assistance of an association known as the Brotherhood of Steel, infiltrate The Master's abode, and Rainbow and Twilight are temporarily mind-controlled, and attack Zach. Zach destroys The Master just in time, a narrow escape. Zach recieves superficial wounds from his bout with the ponies. They leave the universe. Zach gains a laser rifle and army-issue combat armor.

Part II: Chapter Eight: Spare Time

The next morning, my black eye was already starting to fade. I explained my adventure in detail to my parents before I went to school, and they probably thought I was nuts. They knew I had regular contact with beings outside of this universe, but they didn't know for sure what the limits of my abilities were. Admittedly, neither did I. Where couldn't I go? I didn't want to abuse my ability. I could go anywhere and disappear without a trace, I could steal anything, and not get caught, I could even kill dozens of people and get away with it if I really wanted to. But I'd never steal, and I'd never kill unless something tried to kill me and other options were unavailable. I was a good kid, and being able to move between universes at will wouldn't change that.

The day of school went by rather slowly, with many people inquiring about my black eye. my stock excuse was that 'I fell'. Saying that I'd been beaten up by Rainbow Dash wouldn't be believable, after all. Only my close friends and family knew about my ability and my interactions with the ponies. To anyone else, I hadn't done anything but miss a few days of school for no discernable reason, which didn't impress my teachers. I still had good grades, fortunately. When I got home, I found a letter from Twilight in my room.

Dear Zach,

Princess Luna was pleased to hear that we were successful in returning the other human to your universe and that we saved that world from the mutant army. She'd like to speak with you again whenever you're ready, so send me a letter when you're coming. There's no rush, I let the Princess know that you were hurt, and she says you should take your time.

Your friend, Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight had always been so nice to me, but she was nice to everyone. It surprised me that she'd taken note of my minor injuries from the battle, even after I said I was fine. I realized fully at that moment that I really could consider her my friend. She'd gone with me through dangerous adventures, and stood by me in the face of danger, and had even saved my life. Rainbow considered me a friend as well, and went with us through the same thing. The ponies were true friends to me, like only a few other humans had been. My human friends didn't really know much about my powers, I didn't talk about them much. They never asked me to take them anywhere, either. I decided I wouldn't keep Luna waiting for very long. I wrote Twilight to tell her I was coming, told my parents I wasn't going to be home for supper, and went to Equestria.

I walked into Twilight's library. She greeted me as I closed the door. She was reading some really thick, old book.

"Hi, Zach. How've you been?" Twilight stood from her sitting position, closing the book after inserting a bookmark.

"It could be worse. Are you and Spike okay? The whole mutant thing wasn't a very 'light' event, was it?"

"No, it wasn't, but we did what we had to do, right? Besides, as you said, they would have killed more humans if we didn't stop them. I think we did the right thing... even if it was terrible. Spike is okay, but I decided to let him sleep in today, it's been a long few days for him."

"It's good that you're holding up, it can't be easy to accept killing when your society isn't comparatively de-sensitized to it like mine. After all, that universe was part of a game I played."

"That's true, but Princess Celestia told me long ago, when I was young, that lives were always worth saving, even if ending the lives of others was necessary to do so, as long as the number of those saved outnumbered those lost."

"'The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few'. The Princess is a wise pony. If only human rulers were so wise. Though, no human ruler is thousands of years old. I wonder how long ago she learned this lesson, and what had caused her to do so. She must be very strong to deal with the memory of the many ponies she's had to accept the deaths of over her long life. That's why I don't want to be immortal."

"I'd never thought of it that way. I wonder how long she's been alive, just how many students she's had over her lifetime. I wonder who will wield the Element of Magic when I'm gone."

"I wonder if my Element is going to be around after I die. After all, it was created for me, like yours only revealed itself when you brought your friends together. And I'm not even from this universe. I still have years ahead of me, I'm only an adolescent, as you know. You still have years to go, too. Probably more, because you're clearly healthier than I am."

"I thought you were an adult because of how big you are."

"Nope, I'm still in school, believe it or not. I go to something called a 'high school', kind of like Cherilee's schoolhouse, but much larger and teaching more advanced stuff. I can do math pretty well, I can write, I know some science, a lot of things. I'm in what's called 'ninth grade', ninth out of twelve."

"Wow, what did you have to do to be allowed to take such a complete education? Everypony gets some math and reading and writing, but sciences are usually taught by tutors or books."

"Nothing, there's no requirement in my country."

"Wow," she said again.

"We aren't as morally refined as you ponies are, but that's subjective, so is intelligence."

The door opened, and Luna entered. The Princess had a more casual air about her this time. We kneeled customarily, and she quickly gestured for us to stand again.

"Hello Twilight, hello Zach. Your injuries are quickly healing, I see. It is good to know that you are well. Congratulations on completing your mission, it must not have been easy to get to this beast you called 'The Master'. You destroyed him and his army is routed, I presume?"

I nodded.

"If what Twilight tells me is correct, you've done the citizens of that world a great service, just as you have ours. We are still searching the multiverse for the other missing human, but it is vast, and while we cover a lot of ground each day, it may take a long time to find the right one. I suggest that you bring your team to other universes in the meantime, I'm sure they'd like to explore the less dangerous ones with you."

"Well, Luna, are you sure it's safe to just use my power at a whim? I mean, what if we upset a barrier again?"

"Your spell is completely safe for the barrier, do not fret. Your actions have only an effect on this universe's barrier, and only while you are here, so far as we can tell. The unicorns of Canterlot and I will continue to monitor the multiverse. Good luck in all of your endeavors. It is good to see you are well, too, Twilight Sparkle. Take care."

Luna left the library and began to fly away. I scratched my head. Where were we going to go?