From the look on his ghoulish face, I didn't think Rusty Clank ever expected to see any of us again. He did break out in a wide grin as all of us walked back out of the swinging doors from the service department, into the sales floor of Watt's Consumer Electronics. As soon as I spotted him running up, my pip-buck gave a fanfare in my ear;

Mission Completed!- Quality Assurance

Objective-
--Investigate Watt's Consumer Electronics
--Gain access to the service center
--Investigate Loot
--Return to Rusty Clank

Optional Objective-
--Find a Deep Range Transmitter Relay for the Brotherhood

At his approach, I saw Rusty's eyes widen as he noticed our new companions, the Assaultron modified to look like Ministry Mare Applejack sauntered behind me and a huge Sentinel Bot rolled through the double doors bringing up the rear. "Sweet Celestia! What in the hell is that thing?!" he yelped, scrambling back from AssaultJack and pointing a shaking hoof at it... her?

"Well Ah never! Ah'm not a thing ya know! Well not so much anyhoo, AssaultJack at yer service, Mr. Clank Ah'm guessin'?" The strange copper and gold robot answered back, her voice a mimic of the Ministry Mare she was modeled on.

"It's a long story Mr. Clank, the short version is we did it... We now own this place and there is all the treasure you could hope for back there," I tried to calm the old ghoul.

We had come here as part of a deal with him for salvage, money for Sanctuary, trade to help my home grow along with trying to bring the ponies of the Commonwealth together. We had actually managed our part, so now it was the trader pony's job.

Rusty blanked a moment taking it all in, his milky eyes even teared up and he wiped it away. "You did it... you actually did it? Everything back there? It's all still there then?"

I nodded at the memory of a storage warehouse full of boxed parts, components, appliances, robots... it would take weeks to even sort through it all. The shining AssaultJack following me had guarded this place so perfectly, that Rusty was basically the only scavenger to take anything all these years, and only because he paid the clerk up front. Now that the robot mare was on my side, all the booty within was up for grabs.

"Sure is! Take a look for yerself if you want Rusty! We are gonna be rolling in caps, it's amazing back there! Never seen so much prewar junk in one place before!" Val bounced in place, rubbing her claws together, even her greed wasn't a match for what actually just sat back there.

We had gone back to inspect the warehouse and find the part for Steel Dance and Summer Wind before returning. The two Brotherhood ponies were looking quite happy at their acquisition, bundling it up carefully and stowing it in Dance's armored storage.

Rusty brightened and practically leapt forward, "I can?! I-it's safe?"

"Safer than outside that's for sure," now that we were up front I noticed the large number of red marks on my E.F.S. still outside the front doors.

The horde of zombies that had chased Dance and Summer here were milling around aimlessly out there. That made getting out again a little difficult, though I had a thought on that. Needing no further encouragement Rusty dashed forward, pausing a moment at the swinging doors before crossing the barrier with a gulp and trotting down the hall.

Exhausted, I slumped against the counter and dug around in my inventory for a Sparkle Cola, looking up to Val padding along to join me. She frowned at the carroty beverage and snatched it away before I could open it, replacing it with one of two beers she pulled from her own bags.

"No boss, you don't celebrate with that nasty orange stuff, do it right," she thumped down beside me and popped the top on her own, taking a long drink happily. Personally I just wanted something wet, beer was fine too, as long as I took it easy. I had some more repair-pony work ahead of me.

I glanced over to the two Brotherhood ponies by the exit, they plainly wanted out, but a cautious peek out the door showed them how unlikely that was at the moment. I took a drink and looked over to AssaultJack standing idly in the salesroom, I needed to clean up the weird programming Mr. Watt's had wrote for her too. No time like the present, I wanted to get back to Jade and Glitter as soon as possible.

"If you two can wait, I think I can help clear the way a bit," I called over to the Brotherhood duo.

Dance turned back with interest, glancing at the robots awaiting orders, "Yes I imagine you could... between the two of them they could easily clear a swath out."

"No. Sorry but... the folks in Hex count on those zombies for protection, if I let these too off the chain they'd start wiping them out alright, but probably put a significant dent in the population too. I can't weaken a whole town just because it's convenient, without something to replace them."

Dance sputtered in indignation, "They're zombies! Ferals! It would be a mercy! Such abominations need to be cleansed to atone for the mistakes that birthed them!"

Considering the ghoul we had traveled with currently taking stock of the inventory in back, I didn't like that sentiment. Undead ponies were hard to get over and yes the feral ones outside probably were best laid to rest... But not at the expense of others and not all undead ponies were the same.

"I have an alternative. You don't like it, feel free to figure something out on your own, or wait till we leave."

The Steel Ranger huffed and sat near the door with a clank against the tiled floor, his scribe Summer Wind at least looked a bit embarrassed. Well, let him stew awhile. I took another sip and stood, patting Val on the shoulder. "Get some rest ok? I have some boring robot stuff to do in the service rooms. Keep an eye out here for me?"

She smiled and raised her bottle in salute, "Aye, aye boss! Don't take too long."

Crossing the room back to the swinging doors, I paused at AssaultJack and the Sentinel, "Ok, Sentinel... hmm have to come up with a name for you huh? Anyway, for now just guard right here ok? AssaultJack, come on, I need to tinker around in your head for a bit."

"CONFIRMED, GUARDING..."

"Wooo, Yessir Master Fast, gettin yer' hooves on mah chassis sounds pert nice!" Yes... had to clear that up now. She followed along loyally at least as I headed to Repair Bay- A, where I had found the Sentinel bot.

Some time later, the robotic mare was much less seductive. It took some digging around in Mr. Watts' code but I eventually tracked down most of his more... exotic... additions and managed to shut them all down. I was reeeeally glad I hadn't even asked out of curiosity, Mr. Watts had pretty bizarre tastes and most of the subroutines seemed terrifying or painful if they were carried out by the sleek killing machine.

Most of the nastier bits had been piled on top of the core programming though, the simulation of Ministry Mare Applejack's personality. Considering she already looked that way, I didn't see any harm leaving that much, it made her unique and more approachable than something like the Sentinel, more like Cogsworth.

With the rewrite completed she simply sat in the repair room with me quietly, while I worked on my first withdrawal from the storage warehouse in the back. A half dozen practically brand new Sprite-bots were on the workbench before me, their faded boxes littering the floor around me. I was going down the line and reprogramming each one to do what I wanted, their default blaring oompa music should make a nice distraction. I'd send them out, let them draw the ghouls away and follow the route I programmed, before going silent and returning here. I had made some adjustments to the security in the control room as well, making sure this place stayed secure when we left, it was going to take a lot of trips to clear it out.

Concentrating on the code before me, I didn't notice one of the round metal bots float up until a voice crackled out of its speaker. "Well, well... I see a bunch of new bots show up on the network and who do I find? Hello again 111, Fast.."

I didn't jump completely out of my skin, the cable attached to the current Sprite-bot held me down... "Watcher!?"

"Who else? No, strike that, a pony here or there has been known to pull this trick before too I guess. Yeah it's me. So... how are things in the Commonwealth? I've noticed a shiny new town spring up where we met, you've been busy."

"Sorta yeah. I followed your advice, found some friends."

"That's always a good thing Fast, friendship is magic after all. I have a lot of pans in a lot of fires and breaking through to the Commonwealth isn't exactly easy, heavy interference and all, but I do keep an eye out, if I disappear don't take it personal ok? I did some digging though, have access to Stable-Tec archives nowadays, so 111... stasis Stable... You're from before the war huh?" Was that a wistful twist to the toneless voice? It was hard to tell.

"Yeah, I was just a foal though."

"So, how has the adjustment been? I've seen it over a long time, curious what it's like hitting you all at once. You getting caught up? There are things that happened you should probably be aware of... that filly friend of yours for example..."

Jade... even without any inflection, I didn't like how he said that. "I've been managing. What about her? She's the reason I went and did what I'm wondering if you didn't try to trick me into in Poncord. I care about her, I still had some questions about that for you."

The floating robot hovered back and gave a static filled sigh, "Yeah I know, old habits are hard to break. They needed help, I didn't know what you'd do alright? If I told you..."

"I would have helped them."

"So I believe now, maybe you would have joined the raiders after them though... maybe you would have done nothing even knowing... I didn't know. Instead I watched, was happily surprised. Though it took you running across that blue one..."

I could feel anger start burning in my eyes, he had something against Jade alright, toneless voice or not. "If you have a problem with Jade you've got one with me Watcher! I guess I can accept your reasoning, I don't like it but I get it after being out here. I will not accept speaking ill of her though, got it?!"

Watcher bobbed back and forth a moment before continuing, "Right... sorry... She's a Follower, I know... they've been doing good. It's just... I have personal issues with them ok? Blue ones in particular... tricksy Trix-... nevermind, sorry ok?"

AssaultJack had silently slid behind the Sprite-bot as soon as my voice rose, she beat even it at sneaking up on others. "Ya'll want me to scrap this floatin' hunka junk Fast?"

The winged ball spun on the spot and zipped backwards, bobbing crazily, "A-A-Applejack?!? No... what the hell is this!?"

"Why's everypony keep on sayin' that? Ah'm AssaultJack twerp, mind if'n I buck it ta bits Master Fast? Don't like these little critters..."

Watcher spun and floated right in my face, "What is the meaning of this!? Applejack was a friend of mine! I don't appreciate this- this thing! Looking like her, talking like her! Is this your doing Fast!?"

I held my hooves up in the face of the furious little robot, a friend of Applejack? Who was Watcher anyway? Little Pip's book mentioned him early and more than once so far, maybe she found out, really had to work on finishing that somehow. "I didn't have anything to do with it Watcher. The pony that owned this place, Mr. Watts did it. I just took control and stopped it from killing everyone that came in here, that was worse right? Besides, I just finished cleaning up the code, you reeeeally wouldn't have liked it before."

"Watts.... that stalker pony... no wonder. If I knew he had done this... if Applesnack had! Ugh... don't suppose he's a ghoul or anything so I can hurt him a little? Be worth a trip out and through to the Commonwealth if I can manage it..." Even without any inflection, I could practically feel the anger baking off the little robot. Well, I understood, considering what Mr. Watts' obsession led to from what I had found, I wouldn't mind a little time with him either.

That reminded me, while I had the weird connection open I had to ask. "Sorry, he's gone. AssaultJack isn't the worst of what he wanted, I think he helped make something much worse that is making things bad in the Commonwealth. Watcher, what do you know about the Institute?"

"The Institute? You mean the school or... what I hear whispers about? Guessing the second huh? Sorry, not much, one story about... Wait... you mean Watts...." the robot looked back and forth from me to the modified Assaultron, slowly getting it. "He... he wanted? He helped!? HE MADE THOSE THINGS?!?"

"Robots that look, and most important to him, feel like real ponies? Yes. He inspired them, I think anyway."

"Oh that son of a... GRRRAHHH!!!" hearing a Sprite-bot try to roar was almost funny... a few moments passed while Watcher calmed down. "Sorry... I can guess what he wanted out of it, at least he didn't get to take advantage of his efforts I guess. So that's how it got started... well, you've given me something to chew on Fast, I should return the favor best I can. The Institute was a school once, there was a lot of back and forth with the Ministries though, O.I.A. dealt with them.... that's usually not a good thing."

"Whatever they turned into I don't know, but I do know the kind of things they got up to during the war. They came up with great... or horrible ideas, depending on who you asked. Twilight would go out there often to speak with the professors or give lectures. The things they worked on were beyond cutting edge, theory mostly, they didn't produce a lot, but they thought it up. You could kinda think of them as a darker version of the Ministries, no Ministry Mares holding them back at all, but similar areas of focus. Students from there were funneled into the Ministries when they graduated."

"I know that whatever they've become is responsible for a lot of the way the Commonwealth is now, but ponies living there don't know anything about them, I can't get much more info than them. I know the different departments had deals with local businesses and facilities scattered around the Commonwealth, Watts' was one such place they dealt with, now I know what came of it. One of the worst rumors from before the end was that they used those contacts to... experiment on ponies, secretly... Lots of weird occurrences and product recalls following accidents in the papers I could just see them being behind. From what I know now, they've gotten worse."

"They're crazy Fast. If something caught their interest they'd just start playing with it, no sense of whether it was right or wrong, whether they should or not, only if it was interesting. There are things in the Commonwealth that don't exist elsewhere that bear their hoof I'm sure. Just keep in mind, anypony you see, any creature, any town or city, any ruin, if they think it's interesting to experiment on they'll meddle with it, and not for reasons that make any real sense to anyone else."

"Look, this window is closing... I have to think, talk to some friends here. Your little town is closer to the edge than you are now, it's easier to communicate there. I'll try to be in---" with a squawk the Sprite-bot cut out and hovered silently, waiting to be told to go on the mission I assigned it.

AssaultJack tilted her head and adjusted her floppy hat, puzzling over the now quiet robot, "That was right peculiar. Seemed a touch offended at me, didn't he? Friend o' mine? Applejack's ah mean... funny. Welp, ya'll 'bout done Master Fast? Been coolin' mah hooves here a long time, lookin' forward to stretchin' out a bit."

I sighed looking at the Sprite-bot, still not much to help out, a little more info than what I had. I returned to finishing up the last bit of reprogramming and disconnected my pip-buck, Watcher tried anyway, it was just that like most things, the Commonwealth was on its own. No rebuilt Equestrian Army was going to come marching in and save the day, let alone find what happened to my Stable. That was on me.

With my new parade of Sprite-bots and AssaultJack bringing up the rear, I walked back to the salesroom and toward the exit, catching Dance and Summer scrambling up anxiously. Nodding to them, I crept up and cracked the door enough for the round robots to hover through and out into the lot, hearing the loud music start up as I shut it back again.

"There, give them a little while and they should lead the zombies away, ok? Sorry I can't do more than that, but for the time being this is the best I can manage. I hope you make it back wherever your going with your part safe." I really did, for the most part I liked the pair. Accepting their offer to join them was out for now since I didn't know anything about them really, but maybe we'd meet again.

Steel Dance seemed to think along the same lines, "No, thank you Fast, Miss Valkyrie. Scribe Wind has convinced me your assessment is correct, this seems the wisest course of action right now and I believe we can return safely. I meant what I said about joining the Brotherhood, we have our mission to think of right now but the Institute... we are aware of them as well and share your apparent disdain. I hope we can work together towards that end in the future, for now we'll be returning to Manebridge, come visit us in the old police station there if you are out that way and we can talk more, alright?"

The heavy helmet of his armor slid back up, covering his pale grey head with a hiss as it locked back in place and he turned to the door, presumably watching the armor's E.F.S. system track the zombie's red marks dispersing outside. His scribe Summer Wind shuffled forward and looked up with her light green eyes from under the brim of her red cap, "T-Thank you again Fast, I'm glad we met! I hope you visit, Paladin Dance is a good pony but... having another repair-pony to talk with is nice, he doesn't understand machines like us..." she lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper and giggled at the last.

She glanced around a moment before tossing her short brown mane and reaching to her holster, drawing the boxy magical energy weapon she carried. "H-here... a memento in case we don't... meet again... I have other weapons, don't worry! I-I'd just like you to have it ok? Come see us in Manebridge!"

Turning down a well offered gift seemed wrong, so I picked it up from where she placed it on the ground in front of her, cocking an eyebrow at her curiously, but just getting a blush and nod. I didn't have the heart to say I was totally unfamiliar with magical energy weapons, guns were fine, these were different. Well, I'd hold onto it as what she said, a memento of the first pegasus I had seen on the surface, easy to remember as I saw my pip-buck label it "Righteous Authority" in my inventory. I was glad it was such a nice one I met, pretty helped too, though she wasn't Jade.

Dance peeked out the door again and turned down to his scribe, "Alright, that's enough fraternizing Scribe Wind... looks clear enough now, we need to get back and you have to get this installed. Fast, Valkyrie, Mr. Clank... pleasure to meet you all, hope to see you again." With that he gently pushed the door open and slipped out, Summer gave a final wave following in his wake and we were left alone again.

"Oh I have to tell Blue about this boss... I think you have a thing for feathers!" Val hooted, waving her drink around happily.

"Wha?" where did that come from?

Val narrowed her violet gaze at me a moment before it widened gleefully, "Ha! You don't even know! That Enclave... alright former Enclave... the feathery filly likes you boss!"

"What!? We just met, we've known each other a couple hours, most of which was under threat of death... She's not Jade. You're teasing me again Val."

That just got fresh gales, "Oh come on, you really are clueless aren't you? Jeez boss, life and death situations been known to get folks frisky ya know. I figured you were doin' stuff like this on purpose, had you pegged as a smoooooth operator, hell was considerin' takin' a ride myself! Still may actually... hafta get over the disappointment that you're just blundering your way through it on accident though. I mean if you're not tryin' then gotta reevaluate a little... wait... the whole innocent thing ain't a bit is it..."

"C-Conversation over Val. Come on Rusty, l-let's get back to Hexington huh?" I looked for the quickest retreat and had to put up with Mr. Clank's ghoulish smirk as he started gathering the small first load of salvage we intended to take with us.

"Oh my Gawd! You haven't..." Val was goggling at me, before she got a strange predatory expression and started prowling torwards me.

"I HAVE KILLER ROBOTS!" No, we weren't getting into this. The embarrassment did clear up all the morose thoughts from coming so close to the Institute and just being left with nothing much, but I could think of better ways to do that, beer for example, getting back to Glitter and Jade for another.

Both the Sentinel and AssaultJack snapped to attention at the mention, I was joking but humor was lost on them. If I said so whatever was the target would quickly just cease to be. Val did look mollified for a moment and raised her claws in surrender, "Oh fine... fine... sure thing boss. We'll pick this up later... Totally unrelated but virgins are valuable right? I mean they are the go to sacrifice an' all, vampires want their blood most in old stories right? Gotta be valuable...."

"I-I'm going to go hide in the cart... come get me when it's time to go. Robots, let's move out, escort duty right?"

I could feel myself turning red as I stomped out, I wasn't getting into my experience or lack thereof here, it wasn't my fault. There was only a dozen or so mares near my age in the Stable on my shift and I only got along with Sunset, just not that way. Charismatic stallions like Grizz could 'make the rounds' as he explained once, that kind of thing wasn't for me though. Thinking on it, I guessed it wasn't that way up here, ponies lived short lives filled with danger, if Val wasn't completely teasing and danger stirred ponies up like that...

I remembered the mares selling themselves in the Mayor of Hexington's office too, a complete revelation to me at the time but treated as totally common. This was apparently a major blind spot for me. I experimented with flirting with the Mayor's assistant Oblige Heart, but mainly towards my own goals that didn't include bedding her, more killing her boss. Could I have? Or with Summer? No... it couldn't be that easy, could it? Jade was a different matter, I did think about that with her privately, but hadn't been in any rush. She had her own issues, while I was used to just not thinking about it for the most part out of necessity.

Things worked differently up here though, I'd have to start trying to think of this stuff I guessed, or I was going to get in trouble somewhere. At least I understood robots, nothing nearly so complicated to them, they didn't tease like Val as they followed me out the doors and over to the cart cautiously.

Watching the bulky Sentinel rattle down the stairs, I considered the trip ahead, "Sentinel... we're trying to be quiet on the way back to the town we're going to. No big explosions or miniguns if we can avoid it ok... Just nod!" That booming voice was the last thing we needed, it obeyed and nodded back, powering down its primary weapons and rolling over to the cart as silently as it could manage. I didn't think I needed to say anything to AssaultJack, silent death was her whole thing already.

Reaching the battered cart, I climbed in the back under the old tarp and buried myself in the back. The trip back would let me think anyway, and being silent to avoid a horde of undeath at least left me free of any further teasing, for now... Ugh... Val was going to be unbearable.

Spotlights and some tense shouts over the huge Sentinel rolling up to the gates of Hexington greeted me when we arrived and I climbed out of the cart. AssaultJack was nowhere visible, so they couldn't complain about her yet at least, Rusty's status in the community finally opened the way and we entered the town together.

As we rolled into the town square I noticed something seemed off. The bedraggled residents seemed tense and watched us carefully, clearing the way mostly. Some of the guards bore fresh looking wounds and kept a close eye on us as well, a now visible AssaultJack and the Sentinel probably contributed to that, but it still didn't seem right.

Val landed beside me swishing her tail, "Alright boss... hotel... I want my pay, now! Thought about it an' I'm takin' it before Blue does, let's go!"

And so it begins... I groaned as she kept bumping into me, fluttering her eyelashes, keeping my head down and hoping my dark coloration hid some of the blush as we walked towards the statue of Applejack in the square. We headed for Rusty's shop to find a burly zebra outside the door, the guard from the Dreary Inn, he looked to be waiting for us since he called into the store at our approach.

I had a moment to be confused at the situation, before Rusty's wife Copper Coil came running out, a white filly charging behind her, her silver hair, pink dress and red coat, along with a lot of tears, streaming behind her as she screamed, "DADDY!!" Both robots tracked the foal as she tackled me, making sure it wasn't an attack given the speed she hit me with.

"What?! Glitter, what's wrong? Are you ok!?!" If something here hurt her... I had two death machines at my beck and call, I'd raze this entire town to the ground if needed, the dark Shroud in my head was readying the order as she sobbed into me.

"T-They took her! M-M-Miss J-Jade! They t-took her!"

What...

"B-Bad ponies! They t-took her! I-I-I tried daddy! I tried but they took her awaaaaaaay!" she dissolved into tears, burying herself in my cloak.

Copper caught up along with the zebra stallion, gasping when she got a look at my face. I was holding one hoof to Glitter to try to comfort her absently. The other was shaking too much, I was staring straight ahead, feeling my red eyes blazing at no target yet. Somepony was about to suffer, the poor ghoul and zebra approaching just happened to be in the way.

The dark Shroud in my head took over as the rest of me was completely numb, whispery voices up there were shoved aside. I lifted my free hoof up and started clicking through the pip-buck, bringing up Jade's locator tag, there it was... not far, right in the center of the balefire bomb crater. Well... that place was already destroyed in fire once, another time wouldn't hurt...

"Be Kind..."

shut up...

"Be Strong!..."

SHUT UP!

"Be Dark..."

Yes....

Val seemed to notice something wrong, she was no longer playful but got right in my face, taking the glare. "Boss! C'mon boss.... calm down! Yer gettin' kinda scary there, take it easy ok? Gotta be cool so we can get her back right?"

Glitter peeked up from her sobs and for a moment looked stricken with fear, like she suddenly found herself hugging a Hellhound. Maybe she thought I blamed her... That was enough to get myself back under control at least, I shook my head and gave her a real hug back. "It's ok, I know you tried. It's not your fault alright? Don't think that, we're going to get her back and go home and everything will be fine. Here... I got you something while I was gone..."

Floating the stuffed Applejack toy to her broke that pained expression for a moment, she clutched it to her side as she resumed crying into me softly. "T-t-thank you dad... I'm ok... j-just get her b-back, please..."

"I will."

Looking up, I saw Rusty comforting his wife and whispering back and forth quietly, the zebra still stood there, stern expression set in stone. I turned to Copper, she had been watching Glitter, she knew what happened, I wanted answers. Now.

"Who?"

Copper broke away from her husband and looked bad kindly, "Those religious nuts... she was in the zebra section of town, helping... A group of those robed bastards walked up, talked to her and did something to her, what I hear she passed out or something. They grabbed her and ran for the gates. Your foal there or Mr. Zed her can tell you better, I just got it second hoof. I'm sorry Fast, we'll do whatever we can."

The zebra stallion finally stepped forward to speak. Looking him up and down, he was intimidating. Not big and bulky, but strong looking, lean and muscular. His jacket and tie were abandoned now that he wasn't working it seemed, instead he wore strange bangles around his forelegs, made of some heavy looking green material, a thick necklace of bone and various types of metal was draped around his neck, over a brown leather chest piece.

"You should come with me, the elder wishes to speak with you little pony," he had a deep sonorous voice and waited patiently.

"I don't care, I want answers, then I'm leaving."

"If you want answers you should come with me. We have one of them..." Alright, that got my attention.

"Let's go."

I stood and started walking towards the dark side street the zebras inhabited, the strange stallion pulling ahead and leading the way. Glitter huddled at my side and Val brought up the rear, with both robots following. Walking through the entrance to the small section of town, I looked up to a ramshackle sign crossing the street above in an arch reading; "Little Roam"

This part of town was somehow even more depressing than the rest, candles flickered in windows, power wasn't run here except in a few rare spots I could make out. A couple of strangely decorated shops were down this way, but they did little business. Smaller versions of the shops out in the square catering to zebras, somewhere they could barter among themselves fairly I guessed. This 'Zed', as Copper called him, was leading us towards a ruined post office down at the end of the street.

I tried not to pay attention to the numerous zebras huddled together around fires on the sidewalks, sharing meager food and watching distrustfully while we walked by, a pony in their midst, along with two deadly robots made specifically to kill their kind. Hard to blame them for the concerned glances really. Several of them looked sick from significant radiation poisoning and were being cared for as best as they could manage.

Even with Jade the primary concern, the darker part of me was taking notes, I didn't like any of this. Jade had been trying to help these zebras because of the miserable conditions they suffered under. I briefly considered giving AssaultJack a description of Oblige as the only non target, then just sending it off to the mayors office to clear it out. First things first though.

Inside the crumbling post office were quite a few zebras of varying ages, several carried spears and other melee weapons, a few held assault rifles and other guns, acting as guards for the aging stallion sitting in front of a low fire in the lobby. This one had decorations similar to Zed's, but much more ornate. At our approach he nodded sadly and gestured to sit down, I stood waiting.

"You are the friend of the one who helps? The alicorn? I am sorry for what happened, please sit, let us speak. I am Elder Zin, we wish to help and repay the doctor."

None of the zebras moved, simply waiting for me to take the offered seat. I didn't have time for this, I needed to go now, to do something! Grumbling, I finally forced myself to sit, holding Glitter in front of me as she focused on her new doll.

"Talk fast..."

The older zebra nodded and started speaking in his low voice, commanding the attention of everyone around him. "Your filly friend was here, offering her healing freely and tending the sick. I am ashamed to admit we were reluctant to accept the help at first, but she is not like most of the ponies here, she is kind. She had attracted several patients when they came, the Children of Balefire... They preach their strange religion here occasionally and rarely entice one of our kind to their ranks.

We do not like them, but they have been harmless, those that choose to join them are free to do so, but we encourage the Children not to come to Little Roam anymore. This group was different, larger than normal and not here to preach. They were led by a large pony under a more ornate green cloak than they usually wear. This leader walked up to the doctor, they spoke a bit, she seemed surprised but not fearful. Suddenly she simply fell to the street, whether a faint or an attack I do not know, though Zed has said he spotted a glow of magic under the hood."

"As soon as she fell, the Children grabbed her and started to leave. Your foal stood in their way to stop them and was shoved aside. She is very brave. Many of those who had received treatment came to her defense, including Zed here. Things escalated quickly, the confrontation turned violent... they used strange magic weapons of your kind and normal guns, fighting their way out and through the guards who were alerted by the gunfire. Once it was clear they were leaving however, they let them go, clearing the streets of violence and returning order, while the Children left with the doctor."

So Mayor Lash's guards just let them go, only getting involved when things spilled outside of the zebra section and not giving chase or locking the gates down. We were going to have a talk very soon... The religious ponies too... I bucked myself internally, I saw them stare at her but merely thought it was because she was so striking, not because they were marking her. I knew where Jade was, I had to guess this was where the strange group was based out of.

"Where's your prisoner?"

Elder Zin sighed and waved to the left, alerting a spear wielding guard to retrieve his charge. He dragged a weakly struggling stallion in a tattered green cloak, bound tightly. "I am afraid you are unlikely to get much of sense from this one though, whether mad to begin with or after Zed's attack we do not know. We tried a truth potion on them, but their answers remained insane."

Val had already crossed the room, gesturing to me to stay right where I was holding Glitter, one dark claw shot out and grabbed the cultist by their robe at the neck, drawing them up to her view. "Start talkin' ugly or I start peeling bits off..."

"I fear not pain! I have been touched by the holy glow of balefire! I shall be reborn in the image of the mother! You fools meddle where you should not! We merely returned the blue back to her proper place!! We---" the mad raving cut off when the yellowing eyes of the sick pony fell on me. "DESTROYER! NO! Keep him away from me!! Don't let him take my place from me!!!"

Well... that was easy, he was already scared of me. I kept my place, but floated out Best Served and watched it drift lazily toward the cultist, his eyes growing wider at its' approach. His hood fell away in his struggles, but Val wasn't letting him go anywhere, now that I could see I could tell this was a very sick pony. Oozing sores covered his exposed pale green hide, wisps of his purple mane were all that remained, the rest having fallen out. He was dying of radiation sickness, yet somehow even his presumably rotting brain viewed me as a threat.

The gleaming knife stopped in front of his face and bobbed back and forth, his eyes tracking it as he shook. The zebras in the room were all also locked on the blade, shocked expressions on their faces and some were backing away, I absently heard one whisper "star-" star something? Didn't matter. I checked Glitter and was reassured she was focusing intently on her toy, she knew enough not to watch.

"You took my friend... I don't like when that happens, bad things result... or are going to. I want to know why, and about where exactly besides the bomb crater. I don't know why you're scared of me, but I'm not above taking advantage of it. I will take your place from you, whatever that means, if you don't start telling me what I want to hear."

The mad pony struggled and whined before gibbering an answer, "We rescued her from you! You are a disciple of the Destroyer!! You came to this place wearing her vile garb! We could not leave a member of the family in your company! We took her to the church to be returned to the fold, brought back to us through the holy glow of bale! You will never reach her, my brothers and sisters will never allow it!"

Destroyer disciple? Garb? When I last saw these religious nuts, what was I wearing? Pretty much everything I had on now, except for my blue Stable barding... that's what was setting him off? Ooook.... didn't matter, the main points I took away were there was a church somewhere near this crater, and the occupants were not going to be friendly. Much as I wanted to just take this ones head on the spot with the knife floating in his face, Glitter was here, plus it wouldn't help and would probably spook the zebras watching avidly. They had tried to help and given me more information than I had, I'd rather not repay that by eviscerating the cultist in their home. I satisfied myself by yanking his ratty green hooded cloak off, revealing the very sick body beneath. It may come in useful.

I floated my knife back and gave Glitter a nudge as I stood, waving Val off, she tossed the shaking cultist to the corner and returned to my side. I turned back to Elder Zin, noticing he, along with every other zebra, following the progress of Best Served until it disappeared into my packs. "Thanks for your help, I appreciate it. Do whatever you want with him, I'm going to get her back. I'm sure she'll come see you again once I do and keep trying to help, I will too... in my own way."

"We would do more... or one of us would. Zed..." at the Elder's nod, the tough zebra stepped forward and joined us. What?

He just stood there, looking at me passively before finally deigning to speak again, "I have my own reasons and dislike of the Children of Balefire. I will accompany you, I know their church and defenses. What they have done here calls for retribution."

Alright.... now I had a zebra as part of my growing entourage? "Er... you don't have to do that, I'm sure we can..."

"I am going little pony. Accept it."

Even with the kind of destruction I could bring down on this place right now, having those icy grey eyes glare down at me was intimidating. Whatever, he wanted to come, let him come. I shrugged and turned to leave, barely glancing back as he just silently fell in line with the others. I wanted to spend more time to get to know the zebra community when I came back, this hadn't been the best meeting though.

I did get some initial impressions anyway, I liked the Elder, he said they liked Jade which was a major check in their favor. He was doing the best he could with a bad situation, being marginalized and taken advantage of. Something else to fix... My pip-buck agreed, offering its' opinion;

Mission Updated- Troubled Waters
-Objective
--Broker deal for water shipments with Hexington
Optional Objectives--
--Reopen the bridge to Diamond City
--Replace Mayor Lash
------Make Oblige Heart Mayor
------Make Rusty Clank Mayor
------Make Elder Zin Mayor

Three groups living here, three options. Something to think about for later. Busy now.

Heading back to the square, I started trying to think constructively. We were going to the site of a balefire bomb detonation, the radiation would be extreme... So, Glitter was staying right here and we'd need anti-radiation medicine. Considering Jade held most of our medical stores... that left us sorely lacking, she made all of us carry a couple Rad-Aways at all times, along with a tablet of Rad-X, but I had the feeling that wasn't nearly enough. I assumed there was only one place to get more too.

"Val, please go to that doctor pony's office, we need radiation drugs. All of them. Pay for them, or don't, but we are getting them, right? You may want to impress on him that things are going to change around here, better he gets in on the ground floor."

The griffon merc gave a wicked grin, "Got it boss! I'm gonna enjoy this," and with that she flew over to the tattered awning over the doctor's office and barged in.

Ahead of us Rusty and Copper were still outside, Rusty was unloading his cart, but Copper merely waited, watching us approach. I didn't want to impose, but Rusty and I were partners now, Copper had already cared for my foal, hopefully she wouldn't mind doing so a little longer. I wasn't sending her back to our room in the hotel, even properly guarded as she was about to be, she needed more than just physical support right now.

"Copper, Rusty, I'm sorry to ask, but can you please watch Glitter for me, I'll be back soon." Both ghouls started to reply, nodding before being interrupted by the foal in question.

"NO! I wanna go!! I wanna help get Miss Jade back!!! D-don't leave me again!! Please d-daddy!!"

I softened a bit looking at her wailing to go, but it wasn't happening. "Glitter, going there will make you sick. It's worse for foals than adults. It's going to be too dangerous too. I am getting her back, but it won't be pretty ok? If it's alright with them, I want you to stay with Rusty and Copper, I'm not leaving you alone though ok? AssaultJack!"

The gleaming robotic mare trotted up at my call, "Yessir Master Fast? What can ah do fer yah!"

"I want you to stay here with Glitter, guard her, do what she asks. If anyone tries to hurt her, eliminate them by whatever means necessary."

AssaultJack practically quivered at the prospect, "You got it Fast, Why it'll be like watchin' Applebloom! Ah can handle it no problem! We'll have lots o' fun little filly, pleased ta' meetcha!"

Eyeing the gleaming robot dubiously, Glitter looked back to me, trying the puppy eyes trick. Good, but not enough right now. "No. I'm sorry Glitter, but no. You stay here, you'll be safe and I'll be back as fast as I can, with Jade. Here... I- I have another present for you, but you have to promise me to be careful with it, alright?"

Hearing how the small foal had tried to protect Jade and was rudely shoved aside had made me accept some hard truths about the wasteland. Seeing the bruise on her blank flank decided me, even if I didn't like it. Going unarmed out here just wasn't safe, even for foals. Until I could get her back to Sanctuary safely, I wanted to be sure she could protect herself in an emergency. I floated out Righteous Authority from my bags and down to her. From what I knew of energy weapons they didn't have any recoil, which would help if she had to use it. It was made to be small and mouth operated too, so the earth pony foal shouldn't have a problem. I hoped Summer wouldn't be too upset I gave away her gift, but it was for a good reason.

"This is not a toy Glitter. This is dangerous. You are not to play with it, you are only to use it if you absolutely have to. That shouldn't come up with AssaultJack guarding you, but I want you to have it. Promise me you'll treat it for what it is, deadly. Understand? Promise."

She sniffled, but finally seemed to accept it reluctantly. With a nod, she took it from my magic and stashed it in her faded red jacket. "O-ok.. I promise. B-but you hafta promise you'll come back! With Miss Jade, right?"

"Right, I promise. Be good ok?"

Copper and Rusty came up slowly and the ghoulish mare gave the foal a hug, "Don't worry Fast, we'll take good care of her. Treat her like our own, always wanted foals of our own just... we can't really now." She gestured to herself and Rusty, I supposed being dead put a crimp in having children together.

As a last ditch attempt at making her feel better, I showed her how to bring up locator tags in her pip-buck. She could track exactly where Jade, Val and I were on her map. She couldn't go with us, but she could see where we were and when we got to Jade, rather than just wait here unknowing and worried. That seemed to make her feel a little better and she hoofed at the device absently, staring at the screen.

I gave her one last comforting hug and watched AssaultJack take up her position at the foal's side. After fighting the modified Assaultron, I almost felt bad for anyone who even tried to hurt Glitter in any way. Ruffling her mane, I pulled away and tried not to look back. This must be awful for her, but she was as safe as I could make her and I had to go.

My mind was screaming to get moving, to do something! Anything! Getting a rein on those thoughts, I walked over to the doctor's office with the Sentinel and now Zed still following. I closed in just in time to see Val burst out, a handful of orange packets and a small bottle of pills in her claws and the doctor screeching behind her.

"You come back here! You didn't pay my price for all that!! Those are premium items, you know what they're worth here!?!" The old doctor was raging as she sauntered away, ignoring his fit.

"You're chargin' waaaaaay too much, takin' advantage of all the folks that need this stuff. I paid fair price, don't like it, talk to the boss." she stowed the new acquisitions away and pointed a dark claw to me and the tank rolling behind me.

"You!!! What, yer filly friend runnin' around healin' the stripes wasn't bad enough? You gotta send yer griffon in to rob me!?"

Fighting the impulse to float a weapon out to his face, I just unloaded the worst of my burning scowl on him, making him stop sputtering a moment so I could quietly reply. "Doctor, I understand your position and have considered what you said to Jade earlier. I don't wish to drive you out of business, I see you have to make caps in order to provide your services and I guarantee you will not go poor. I will make sure you continue making caps and have all the support you need, we can even revisit this purchase when I get back."

"However.... taking advantage of the residents here is going to stop. Charging the zebras more for the same services is going to stop. Extorting the people here for these radiation drugs, when they need them desperately is going to stop. Profiting off of suffering in general is going to STOP! Things are going to change around here doctor, do we understand each other?"

He scowled and sputtered, but finally choked down all the responses whirling in his head. He hated me, but I had a Sentinel and griffon looming over him. We had attracted some attention from the residents as well, I saw whispers and darting glances, but no one came to his defense. It seemed he wasn't so popular around here and was just now realizing it.

"I... You!... Gah!! Yer gonna settle up when you come back! G-Get outta here!" he huffed and gulped down all his indignation, trying to make a respectable retreat back to his office under the watching eyes of the residents of Hex.

We walked to the metal gates and the guards paused, unsure what to do. A good glare got them moving again and we passed out into the ruins surrounding Hexington, the marker at the bottom of my vision showing me just where Jade was. I was coming for her.

Creeping through the ruined streets from one bit of cover to the next was slow going. Maddeningly slow considering I had to hold myself back from just running flat out toward the arrow I was following on my compass. Still, we had managed to avoid most entanglements with the zombies in the area pretty well. A good deal of the reason was the brusque zebra leading the way.

Once we left the gates, Zed had pulled out an earthen pot of some foul zebra brew from his own strangely decorated saddlebags, smearing the dark goop on himself liberally before turning to me. Some kind of potion that made us much less attractive to the zombies, he did explain that it was zebra magic that created them, they understood certain aspects of the zombies very well. Smell apparently was a big thing for them, the smell of living pony flesh. With the gagging concoction applied to my armor, they weren't sniffing us out at least.

Trying to engage him in whispered conversation hadn't been going well though, whatever his reasons were for insisting on going to this Church of the Balefire place were his own and were staying that way so far. Just watching him as we moved through the ruins, I learned a thing or two about being sneaky, he put me to shame. Watching him come out of his latest hiding spot and waving me forward, I made another attempt, anything to keep my mind off Jade.

"So... Zed, you're really good at this sneaking around..." I ventured quietly.

"Easier when not talking.."

"Er... yeah... but still, you do this a lot?"

He glared back at me for a moment near a rusted carriage he could duck behind, "We are not free to roam like the ghouls. If we wish to make a living here, we must be cautious. We must work harder under more difficult conditions to survive. We are better at it."

"Makes sense... umm... I don't think that's very fair though, I'd like to do something about it if I can, after we get Jade back."

That hard expression of his twisted for just a moment, rejection then caution. "You are friends with the alicorn who tried to help. Perhaps you mean that pony, experience says not. We will see."

"I do! So, come on, why are you coming with us? It'd help to know something..."

Zed groaned softly moving up the street again, looking back at the Sentinel trailing far behind as quietly as it could. "My brother."

"Your brother? You have one?"

"Yes. He was sick, we could not afford medicines to help him enough. I took up work at that hotel place to try to earn it, but it was never enough, he grew sicker each day. He started listening to the Children of Balefire and their blasphemy, desperate for a cure. Over time he began to believe as they do, then he joined them..."

Zed's brother was one of the ponies... cultists, we were going towards? I could see the brightening glow ahead, we weren't far from the crater now. If he was there, I had to update my plans, indiscriminate slaughter was out... for now. "You want to get him back?"

"I have tried, many times. I know this church and their defenses from my repeated visits. On my last visit I was told he was gone, taken somewhere for his ascension they said, his cure. I have not seen him since and have been barred from looking for him there. If they are lying and he is there or has died, they will pay. If he is not there, they will tell me where he is, then they will pay. If he is there and he was part of this, he will pay."

Wow... the dark Shroud in my head loved this zebra. Though personally the part about making his own brother pay was a bridge too far for me, could Better do anything that would make me feel that way? Thinking about my baby brother hurt, more so in the face of having one more pony I cared about taken away. I could find this one though. I'd get her back, then I'd find a way to get Better back, and mom and dad, and everyone. I tried to search through my thoughts about my own brother and express them to the zebra, but he hushed me before I started.

"We are here, the rim is ahead, beyond those ruins. We are near enough to see the church without being spotted, if you are careful. Stop your robot."

Right, I didn't feel like being subtle so I brought the tank like Sentinel bot instead of AssaultJack, but no reason to play my hoof to early. I held a hoof up for it to stop and it complied, waiting down the street, powering up its weapons. Zed and I crawled forward into the shattered face of a multi story factory, only this one wall remained, but it gave cover to hide behind and look down into the huge crater beyond. As I peeked up through a gaping window, Val landed quietly behind us.

"Don't look good boss, you can see her though..." she whispered and I nearly lunged through the window frame.

My pip-buck was chattering angrily at me this close to the hellish crater, my personal radiation count was moving away from the blue and green end of the rainbow colored gauge, edging into yellow and orange beyond. I swallowed a Rad-X tablet to slow the rate I was absorbing the radiation and sipped a foul tasting orange Rad-Away, looking down on the crater.

It was a huge bowl shaped depression in the city that still burned with scattered green balefires. Brackish green water collected in the bottom and an army of ghouls roamed about, soaking in all the radiation. Right in the center, a walled enclosure made of scrap and junk was built in a circle, enclosing the point of detonation and leading away in a long avenue towards the edge.

As the walled path hit the steeper incline, a series of stairs and platforms with rusty shacks made their way up, to the open back of a ruined church building. Somehow half of the building had survived, the entryway and tall steeple facing away from the crater leaned quite a bit, but were reinforced and enclosed as well. Such places were to offer thanks to the Princesses Celestia and Luna, the Goddesses now... they were not meant to be in such a state, the sun and moon decoration on the top of the steeple was charred and bent.

What caught my immediate attention though was the center of the pit. A large tent had been put up, but its tattered form only partially hid what was underneath. Some kind of shrine? A large structure of yellow barrels stacked atop each other forming angled walls of a sort, some kind of decorations were on the the main face ponies would worship at. Right in the center of it all was the sleeping blue form of Jade...

She seemed fine from what I could make out at least, I could see nothing wrong with her other than being unconscious. Being right in the heart of all that radiation was actually good for her, she had to be in perfect health from what I understood. Half a dozen small foals were in front of her and the shrine in a semi circle, bowing and praying? They had to be ghouls to be able to just sit right in the middle of all that radiation, ghoul foals? What a horrible thought...

Seeing her right in front of me though... I was glad Val had grabbed my tail and held me in place. My first impulse was to just leap down the steep slope and start running right at her. I forced myself to calm down and took stock of the complex. It was big, well defended by all the presumably feral ghouls outside the walls, some glowing brightly green for some reason. There were more shacks and tents all down the walled path from the ruined church to the pit as well, there were a lot of them down there then. Some of the hooded shapes moved with purpose, patrolling guards. The wall had walkways and the odd guard tower down the length of it here and there. The direct approach wouldn't work then.

Zed seemed to grasp what was going through my head, "You cannot simply charge ahead blindly, despite what you see. You will not make it. The only path is through the entrance at the edge, the church building. It is defended as well, they are generally not aggressive, but I no longer trust that after tonight."

Dammit... the long way then. Unless... "Val! Can you just swoop in and grab her?"

"Er... no boss... no way I can lift that much pony. Stripes is right, from what I saw above, the only way through is the front, walled up there too, gunner's nests and sniper in the steeple. They don't want company."

Alright... some way to get in. E.F.S. showed nothing but green looking their way, but that could change. Based on the reaction of the one I talked to, it probably would, they didn't like me in particular. I had taken that ones hooded cloak though... "Can you get me over the wall Val? Without them noticing?"

She grumbled and fluffed up, but considered it, "Probably, you won't stay undiscovered long though. Don't like putting you in there alone either."

I pulled the green cloak out and put it on over my heavy black one, a bit bulky, but I didn't want it touching me directly. Pulling the dark hood down, I looked to Val. "This will probably help, right?"

"I guess... don't like it though boss." She had filled her contract to Glitter already, making sure I returned safe to her, her reservations now had to be her own, which was a warming thought.

"Neither do I, but if I can sneak in I can get to Jade. It doesn't look like she's chained down or anything, just asleep. If I can wake her up, we can just fly out."

"An' if you can't? If she won't wake up? If you don't even get close?" her violet eyes were narrowed, she didn't like this plan either. Best to give her something to do she'd like.

"If things go wrong, if you hear anything at all, then you're the cavalry. You come in guns blazing with the Sentinel, lay waste to the whole place. I leave it to you. Sentinel! This is Valkyrie Bloodtail, my.... lieutenant. In my absence you obey her, got it?"

"CONFIRMED, CHAIN OF COMMAND ESTABLISHED" it lowered the volume at least, but the tone was unchanged.

She was still grousing to herself, but looked satisfied at the prospect of being in command of the hulking robot and getting the chance for mass destruction. "Alright, alright... fine. I'll get you in, I think anything's fishy though, I'm goin', got it?"

"Right Val, counting on it."

Zed had been watching the exchange, coughing for attention. "I am going in as well."

"But..." I didn't have another of these green hoods to hide him under.

"I will not be seen. I will not interfere with your attempt. I have my own areas to investigate and will remain unnoticed. If things go poorly I will be there to assist. I will make my own way in, without your griffon. I am not asking."

If he insisted I couldn't really stop him I guessed. Having someone else in there with me in case things went bad was good too. Alright, this was the best we were going to get and I was going in one way or another. We'd try subtle first, if that failed, the Sentinel and Val were waiting.

Roaming through the compound of the Children of Balefire, I tried to keep my head down, letting the tattered green hood hide my unblemished features. The bulk of wearing it over my own black cloak helped give the impression there were things wrong with my body it was hiding, but I was in the minority for having a clear face...

Val had blasted down from high above and deposited me in the camp in a flash, my stomach lurched at the insane dive and sudden stop, but she got me in unnoticed and got away again. She was out there now, watching carefully I was sure, it was a comforting thought now that I was down here and surrounded.

As soon as my hooves touched the ground inside the perimeter, my pip-buck gave an informative flash; Discovered Location- Church of Balefire in case I didn't know... As I walked, a hooded mare nodded to me, her glowing eyes shining under her own hood. "Blessings of the Balefire too you brother."

That seemed to be the go to phrase around here, parroting it here and there let me go freely as I approached the front of the church. More tents and shacks were up here in the walled area around the front of the old edifice and I had to weave around ponies roaming around with purpose, they were worked up about something alright. Zed had made his own way in and I didn't know where he was, though I swore I could see the odd blur of black and white out of the corner of my eye sometimes.

Walking toward the church entrance, I joined a growing crowd of hooded ponies, all making their way to the rotten wooden doors. As I fell under the shadow of the steeple, I risked looking up to take it all in, a strange symbol had been painted just below the bell tower where a sniper rested now. Yellow paint had stenciled it on from the look of it, drips ran down the stone walls from the three crescents overlapping each other from three directions, their points facing out. I tried to mark it for future reference, the symbol of the Children of Balefire.

Swept along with the throng, we entered the double doors and walked into a vast chamber, open all the way up to the roof and looking out to the crater ahead. A couple small rooms were to either side of the entrance, and doors led off the main chamber to the sides. The left room here at the doors had stairs leading down to a basement I assumed, while the right led up. Either side of the large space ahead had walkways at the second floor and hooded ponies stood up there as well, looking down on the gathering crowd.

The main draw was here on the ground floor though, the moldy hardwood floors were covered with rows of pews still, all facing the pulpit ahead, framed by the open back half of the church looking down on the pit below. I had to admit, even if I didn't like it, that was a good set up to preach from. The blasted hellscape beyond bled green light into the chamber, backlighting the hooded figures on the raised platform. Two ponies stood there, the one behind the lecturn watching the crowd file in was tall and lean, a fancy version of the normal robes embroidered in golden symbols like on the church itself covered their features completely. Behind that one and to the left was a massive bulk covered in green robes, it stood unmoving at the first's side.

Things were quieting down as everyone found a seat on the pews ahead, not wishing to draw attention, I joined them. I wanted through this room to the open pit beyond the preacher pony, but this was a lot of bodies to go through to reach it. Taking my seat, I consoled myself, maybe I'd learn a thing or two about these nuts, I could at least look around inconspicuously, trying to memorize the layout and look for points of interest, who was armed, where to start...

While I was making plans the tall... mare, yes mare from the commanding voice floating down from the pulpit, from the shape of her hood she must be a unicorn as well. "Welcome, welcome children, please be seated and quiet yourselves!" How could that sound gentle yet menacing at the same time?

The gathered crowd did as she commanded immediately, you could hear a pin drop in the church now. Joining the others in their devoted attention, I had to hold a gasp in, was that blur of stripes up on the rafters above? I had to learn from Zed when I got the chance, he was a practical ninja.

"This is a joyous night children! We have liberated one of our family, even now she dreams of our grand mission, she sees the memories that led us here. When she soon awakens, filled with the holy glow, she will be one of us! She will see the purity and truth of our goals and abandon the foalish ways of these... Followers... We must rejoice and greet her with open hooves! We will honor the sacrifice of those who fell freeing her from her false life and the grasp of the disciple of the Destroyer..."

Keep it together... the Shroud in my head was blazing, she was talking about Jade, about brainwashing her? Making her give up everything she cared so much about to join them? That would never happen. All the cheers and fervent prayers didn't help things, I wanted to pull out Forks' knife and send it spinning right at that pulpit, to just back slowly to the door and unleash my lightning spell, burn this whole place down... No! Jade! With a real effort I turned back to the sermon in front of me.

"Yes, praise to the mother! Such a wonderful night for us all. One day soon, all may be lifted to her status as well, all may be healed and ascend! We grow closer and stronger every day, when she sees our great works there could be no argument. However... I would not have such a happy occasion marred..."

A whisper ran through the crowd, this was off script and loaded with menace. I felt a cold sweat spring up, but I was still undiscovered, just another worshiper here in the crowd. Whatever the mare up front was mad about still sent a chill through the room. The gathered zealots murmured to themselves, waiting to be told what was throwing off their celebration and to end it...

"That is correct, marred! stained! tainted, to use the unbelievers misused term for the holy blood. Even now I feel it, it grates at me, seething from within our midst! A disbeliever! An outsider within our sacred haven! The thoughts of a disciple of the Destroyer burn up to me from this gathered sea of such good ponies, ghouls and zebras alike."

Wait.... thoughts? Could she...

"Yes... I can Destroyer acolyte. I see you."

That hooded gaze fell right on me... shit. I went to bolt from the pew, but was enveloped in a field of green magic and lifted easily into the air, struggling weakly against the incredibly strong grip. She could read minds?!? That was cheating! I could do nothing but bob helplessly through the air, above the angry glares of the gathered flock, straight up to the pulpit and the mare in charge.

Hovering directly before her, I could see her green eyes glaring from the fancy hood, she shook her beautiful head free of the garment and waved her dark mane around her, her long horn glowing brightly. Unlike her worshipers, she was completely unblemished, in perfect health, practically glowing with life and power. Her magic grabbed at me and yanked the tattered robes away, revealing my black cloak and armor to a gasp from the crowd, whispers of "Destroyer" ran through the crowd and my E.F.S. was rapidly changing from green to red dashes all around me.

Scowling with those glowing green eyes, she hissed up to me. "I would not see one of my sisters in such company, I have freed her and you will not enslave her again Destroyer..."

Sisters? As if in answer to the thought, which was actually pretty likely... She puffed herself up, sticking her chest out and standing to her full height. Dark green wings unfurled from beneath her robes and stretched to either side of her in an impressive display.

Another alicorn....

New Perk Added!------------------------------

Blessed by Luna-----------
---You are a creature of the night, fitting for the Shrouded Stallion! You now gain +2 intelligence and perception between the hours of 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM.

Reputation Change!--------------------------------

The Brotherhood- Liked
--After working together successfully and making a good impression, especially on a certain scribe it seems... You are now liked by the brotherhood between the Steel Rangers and the former Grand Pegasus Enclave. You know where they went and they hope to see you again, they are much more likely to offer aid if you need it and hope you'll join their cause.

Hexington- Good Natured Rascal
---You're starting to be noticed by the residents and powers that be in Hex. The residents look on you better after your outburst and actions so far and you have made contact with all three groups that make up the town. Many don't know what to think for sure but the attention you've attracted will get to the Mayor eventually. You may find lower prices in certain shops and more sympathetic folks willing to help, though you may also run across just the opposite.

The Children of Balefire- Hated
---Whatever this church is about they really don't like you for some reason, something to do with your Stable barding apparently.... They are likely to attack on sight and unlikely to listen to anything you say. Luckily right now the feeling's mutual.