*Drip* Ava’s eyes twitched at feeling a sensation of wetness on her forehead. *Drip* She grunted and tried to lick the drop of unknown substance off her nose, but her tongue felt swollen and dry. *Drip, Drip* She shuddered at feeling two more drops on each of her nipples. *Drizzle* Ava gasped at feeling the warm and soothing fluid being drizzled from beneath her breasts, down the canyon of her six-pack abs, and down to her groin, before drops were then spread down her legs. ‘W-what’s going on-oh~!’

Then it was the hands, the amazingly gentle and petite hands moving the fluid about her torso with practiced and professional skill. Rubbing the aromatic and oily substance into her black crystalline skin and massaging her abs. {W-whatever is happening...it feels good~....} Crescent echoed in her head, which she absolutely agreed with, this massage was divine~.

“Yes poor thing. Relax. Let the mineral oils calm you gem-child.” An older mare’s voice cooed gently, helping Ava further relax as her masseuse moved her oiled-up hands to her great bosom, gently and smoothly rubbing the oil into the boulders on her chest, making her moan with how rather than pleasurable, it was beyond soothing as the mare seemed to know exactly where to press into the orbs to elicit a sensation of zen to practically flow through her.

‘Oh gosh...have to get this mare to massage our mares….’ Ava mused as once she felt her breasts were thoroughly coated in the warming oil, the mare actually began spreading the drops of oil from her nose and forehead over her face, massaging into her skin the sensation of peace and wellness.

“You have survived a terrible ordeal child. Know that you are in safety now.” The mare soothed as she finished spreading the oil around Ava’s head, down her neck, and into her shoulders and the parts of her arms she could touch. “Now this may be hard, but I need you to roll over dear.”

‘Of course….’ Ava turned over, not noticing that the binds that were on her earlier were removed, and then she sighed at feeling the drip/drizzle of oil once more start on the back of her neck, in a canyon down her back, and then dripped onto her bubble-butt and down her long legs to her hooves, the older mare’s hands returning to work first at her neck.

“When we found you, you had been a skinless corpse. We were astounded when you were breathing, and visibly growing back your outer filaments. So we had you restrained in case you were a monster, but I and the others decided that anypony who would fight against such a creature was no monster themselves.” The mare helpfully mentioned as she spread the oil across Ava’s back, down to her butt, and then began kneading her large rear, making Ava grunt in pain. “Apologies dear, but the buttocks are always quite sensitive.”

“No problem….” Ava mumbled into the thick pillow, only now realizing that the mysterious bed had somehow squished inward to accommodate her gigantic boobs. ‘Must be a cloud somehow, no way any other bed can do this.’

“There. All done.” The mare announced once she finished massaging the frogs of Ava’s hooves, getting her to moan unhappily that the therapeutic massage was over. “The oil will help restore your skin’s luster and help it fight off any infections you may have gotten from being covered in dirt when we first found you.”

“Thank you….” Ava mumbled, drifting off.

When next she awoke, it was to a feeling of being genuinely well-rested, and she pushed herself off the heavenly bed with a grunt, stretching herself out like a cat with a yawn. “Wow...whoever that mare is, I’ve gotta hire her to work on the gals.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I do not accept payment beyond what the State pays me.” The older mare’s voice intoned, getting Ava to jump a bit and turn around to see the source. A petite and rather oddly short elder mare was the one who had spoken. She wore a thick white robe of crystal fibers that seemed intended for both cold weather, and to inflate the wearer’s visage. Something it completely failed to do with the 4-foot amber-coated crystal pony as she pulled her hood back to reveal her short-cut graying mane and her surprisingly fierce ruby eyes that made her slightly wrinkled face seem much younger. “It is my pleasure to provide my healing services free of charge, even my more therapeutic treatments. And I am pleased to see how well you have taken to the oils.”

Ava blushed as she quickly wrapped her shiny almost liquid-black arms over her similarly shiny liquid-black boobs. Whatever the oil she used was, it made her original luster pale in comparison to now, even with the oil having dried/been absorbed into her crystal skin. “U-um...who are you? And where am I?”

“I am Mineral Mender, but most just call me Minnie for obvious reasons.” The older mare snorted in self-depreciating amusement. “As for where you are, you’re in a guest room of the Seam Family Estate. Your battle with the ballista-rod wielding beast was on the opposite side of the village, and what few guards did respond immediately to the commotion were never found. We were hoping you could inform us of their fates.”

Ava wilted sadly at the reminder of what happened. RIP murdered several Crystal Guards without a thought just because he decided to use such an indiscriminate shield. “They were melted ma’am. If there were any puddles of acid...that was what became of them….”

Minnie blinked in shock, but surprisingly retained her composure. “Well, it is best that you put the beast down and saved others from similar fates then.”

“I’m afraid not Mineral...the monster; RIP, is nigh unkillable. I’ve already killed him before. This is his second attempt on my life.” Ava informed despondently. ‘He’s definitely respawning, but where? If I can figure out where he spawns, I could destroy it and keep him from coming back and claiming even more innocent lives.’

{It sucks he has that Feral Nature power that allows him to coat himself in acid. With that, trying to restrain him in anything other than a force-field is nearly unfeasible.} Crescent mused as the healer sighed and rubbed her temples.

“It can never be so simple, can it? It is just as well you survived him again then. I do not envy you that beast’s wrath. Are you feeling well enough to get out of bed dear?” Minnie asked gently, and Ava nodded easily. “Then I will get you the clothes that restored themselves as well as your unusual weapon. Both were in tatters when we found you, but oddly reconstructed themselves over time just as you have. Once you’re garbed and armed however, we ask you to give a statement of the events.”

“Of course, procedure, I understand.” Ava nodded, watching the petite healer leave the room, and she then realized upon inspection why she was warm despite her bed not having any bedding. ‘Another example of non-unicorn magic. I can see the enchantments on the veils of the bed’s drapes.’ Ava then looked down at her bosom, and flushed as she hefted the spheres up by their undersides, enamored with the reflective quality of her skin. ‘Whoa...I think maybe I’ll keep the crystal skin….’

[ $ ]

After being fully garbed in Vaga, who still remained silent, and pocketing Chiappa, Ava gave her statement to the Captain of the local Crystal Guard contingent. While she was completely forthright with the events and RIP’s motivations, the Captain still did not like that she brought trouble into his soon-to-be-a-town village, and asked that she make reparations.

This led to her asking Gem Seam for permission to temporarily have claim to any unmined gems under the town for exactly one minute. And exactly one minute later, Ava was completely forgiven for bringing trouble to Seam due to her dumping several days worth of various gems out of her coat. It also helped her define that yes, her powers still worked within the barrier, but not anywhere outside it.

“I apologize for Captain Twinkle demanding reparation like that, but losing several good stallions in an instant is usually enough for any commanding officer to want something to make up for the loss.” Gem Seam, the essential owner of the whole village, stated from behind her luxurious crystal desk in her equally luxurious office. “I mean, after all. Most of the gems you gave us will be used to arrange for the compensation to the deceased guard’s families.”

Ava couldn’t stop staring.

“Miss? Are you alright?” Gem Seam asked curiously.

‘Don’t jump her, don’t jump her, don’t jump her.’ Ava mentally chanted, trying not to give in to her urges now that she and the sex-on-legs mare across from her were alone in a room.

Gem Seam was a supermodel of a mare. Her face was beyond beautiful, her unique multi-colored crystal hide was just as shiny and smooth as Ava’s, and if that weren’t enough, she was practically a carbon-copy of Ava herself in proportions, current height, and her incredibly muscular build under her formal victorian-era dress. Not to mention her rainbow-striped mane and tail were beautifully coifed into a lady’s spiral of sorts and was just as lustrous as her skin, and her similarly multi-hued eyes were beyond captivating.

Minnie warned Ava that Gem was an obscene rarity among Crystal Ponies, having the luck of being the one-in-a-thousand born with the recessive genes of the original Prism Ponies. “Miss Ava, if you cannot stop ogling, I may think you have intentions for me.” Gem teased, fluttering her beautiful eyes at the Fertility Goddess, who bit her lower lip and grunted as she failed to remain professional.

“Okay, I won't beat around the bush. I’m a Fertility Goddess. You’re an obscenely rare winner in a genetic lottery that I cannot ignore.” Ava stood, rounded the desk, yanked Gem to her hooves with a yelp, and began dragging her down a corridor. “You’ve gotta get makin’ foals! Pronto!”

“B-but I’m only 19!” Gem flushed, not expecting this scenario even with the foreknowledge of knowing her guest was a sex-related deity of sorts.

“Even better!” Ava beamed madly, the potential of gifting the mare’s recessive genes to being completely dominant exciting her at possibly allowing Prism Ponies a full return to the world.

[ $ ]

“Okay, avoid this place for a while….” Ava mumbled with a blush as she continued her way north away from Seam. ‘Maybe hitting Gem with what amounted to a ‘fuck-me’ Blessing along with all the boosts to her genetic potential of her and all her foals Only rearing Prism Ponies along with the fertility boosts was just too much.’

{By the time we managed to muster the will to leave, we’d already devolved her manor into a one-mare orgy. I’m impressed that she outpaced us for a while.} Crescent commented as they continued trekking north into the frozen tundra of the Empire’s region.

‘I’m honestly surprised that she was actually cool with it. I guess she had a libido she’d been suppressing due to her position in life.’ Ava mused as she sighed. Considering how she would go about finding the emitter of the Null and Misdirection barrier now that she was within the Empire proper. ‘Seam was a bust thanks to RIP ruining my chance at getting any info, but since I wasn’t killed or detained for long, it’s likely Die Leucht hasn’t had much time to get settled in.’

“You look troubled.” Ava froze at hearing the familiar husky voice. “Oh, come now. Don’t be so surprised. You think you’re the only Green-Collar causing trouble?” Ava turned towards the source, blinking in confusion at the sight of a custom M1126 Stryker ICV. Custom since the extra AC unit indicated it might’ve actually been an M1130 or M1133, but it lacked the comms suite those two models were known for.

Then again….

“So...I’m not the only Displaced that rat fuck dropped on this mudball huh?” Ava asked of the man standing out of the driver’s side hatch. Drebin-893. “Because I can honestly think of no other reason a human, let alone a very specific human like you, would be here.”

“Hm. I recall a man, dressed much as you. With an accent rather spot-on with yours. Offering me a Little Grey plush I couldn’t pass-up on. Next thing I know, I’m sitting in my cozy little camper here, with some very insistent and rude yaks banging on my rear hatch.” Drebin-893 said as he easily pulled himself up to sit on the rim of his hatch. “Sorry about my last customer. Usually I don’t make a point of bothering with the intents of my clients, but in this case I think it’s safe to say it’d be in my best interest to not deal with him again.”

“What’ya know. A Drebin with some actual sense of decency. Not gonna inject me with FOXDIE are you?” Ava asked skeptically as she wandered towards the vehicle, only to freeze at seeing the Protector turret on top of the troop transport spin and sight-in on her.

“Oh no, not at all. I checked to see if I had a stock of nanomachines or FOXDIE as soon as I realized what happened. Thankfully, it would seem that I don’t have those deadly things from the beloved MGS series. Then again, I highly doubt that this is the only world I’ve been to as well.” Drebin-893 said as he accepted a can of Narc from Little Grey as the naked monkey climbs up to sit next to him, sipping it’s own Narc. “I mean, it seems the navigation systems of my Stryker know just where I need to be. One moment, I’m selling guns to a pony version of Solid Snake. The next? I’m selling munitions to a desperate band of griffon mercenaries in a post-apocalypse. Then? Well, anywhere or anyone is a potential profit.”

“So...you’re basically a Void-Travelling loyalty-free weapons merchant? Lucky bastard. I’m stuck here, trying to save the world instead of just being a Merchant like I’d love to be. And when I do travel, it’s almost always for business. The few times I’ve done it for pleasure rarely worked out either.” Ava said as she backed away, the Protector turret no longer focusing on her once she was a certain distance away. “I’m not going to hold RIP having one of my friend’s better designs in his possession and almost killing me with it against you. Business is business.”

“Which is precisely why I’m here with an offer.” Drebin-893 said as he took out a white handkerchief, and put it over his extended fingers. With a grin and a wave of his free hand, he yanked the cloth away to reveal an apple-sized grenade-like orb, that was oddly, clearly not a grenade. “Here, have this nav beacon. It’ll let my Stryker home in on your location. I don’t do combat though, so save it for when you want a transaction for something you can’t otherwise obtain yourself.” Drebin-893 said before he tossed it the fair distance to Ava, where she easily caught it.

“Thanks. Just so long as you being a visitor means I don’t have to deal with a variant of the Patriots, or Metal Gears in general, I’m good with having a resource from outside my dimension that’s strictly business so I don’t have to bother my friends with favors.” Ava said as she stashed the metal orb in her coat, and then pondered if the barrier was also blocking her token. ‘Dear gog I hope not, if it is I won’t be able to answer any calls for my help while I’m inside one of the damned things.’

“Well, with that, I bid you farewell. I ain’t got a reason to linger here. Unless you’d like a lift? I don’t generally enjoy playing taxi, but if you’ve got the coin.” Drebin-893 suggested as he rubbed his fingers together in a universal gesture for money.

“Not as of this moment. I just need to get to the next town into Empire territory, try to poke around for clues of what’s going on up here, and maybe where I can find the source of the Null and Misdirection crap blocking anyone from entering the region normally.” Ava said, and Drebin hummed as he reentered his Stryker, and shortly after the rear hatch opened as the one above the driver’s side closed.

“You’re in luck. I have a map of the region, and my beauty can get you close within minutes.” Drebin-893 called out as he stepped out onto the ramp. “Of course, the ride will cost ya.” Drebin-893 grinned, and Ava sighed before she prepared to grab her gold. “Oh no, I don’t think gold would be much of a price from one such as you.” Drebin-893 folded his arms as he tapped a foot with a hum. “How about...a sample of your mutagen?”

“What for?” Ava asked harshly, getting the man to shrug with a smirk as he leaned into the side of his transport. “My mutagen isn’t something to just let out casually. I’ve learned the hard way how dangerous it is. Just ask that asshole you sold that gun to. He didn’t used to be that big.”

“And that. Is precisely why I want some. It’s a Deus Ex Machina lady. It can do almost anything to living tissue. Who’s to say I can’t find somebody who could use it to say, synthesize something from it? Make more? Or even better, make a counter-agent to immunize against it. There’s all kinds of reasons I want some to make a profit. Besides. Business is business, right?” Drebin-893 asked cheekily.

“A taxi ride one deadly vial of mutagen is not worth.” Ava growled before turning north.

“It is when there’s a few hundred miles of freezing swamp between here and your next stop.” Drebin-893 snarked with a grin, getting Ava to pause. “Oh well. I guess you have so much time to walk the width of the state of California through freezing cold swampland, considering you can’t so much as sprout wings without potential enemies catching on.”

Ava grit her teeth as she clenched her fists. ‘Gog...damn it….’ “If I find out you’ve swindled me-.”

“Never.” Drebin-893 interrupted seriously. “If there’s one thing I value, it’s my integrity as a businessman.”

“Alright then. Give me one of those Narc sodas.” Ava demanded as she stomped up to the ramp and ducked into the vehicle, Drebin-893 chuckling as he joined her, the ramp closing up and moments later the Stryker started up and began driving, shimmering out of existence.

Author's Notes:

Not much in this chapter, but I wanted to get things going and there wasn't much Ava could accomplish in Seam since the border village/almost-a-town isn't currently occupied by Die Leucht.

As for Drebin-893, I've decided he's a traveling Displaced of convenience. If someone already has him, please inform me, otherwise I'm going to start abusing him as Ava's only major resource within Die Leucht "deadzones"