I had seen other alicorns in Jade's memory orb, lots of them in fact. Being directly in the presence of another was still a different experience, being the target of this one's wrath was worlds apart from the blue one I knew. She was beautiful like Jade, but it was twisted by the pony that wore it. Jade's grip when she picked me up like this was a gentle caress, the field of green magic enveloping me now was crushing, making sure I couldn't make a move at all. I tried to struggle fruitlessly as she stepped toward me, scowling up into my eyes with her green gaze.

Angry murmurs were drifting up from the pews in front of the pulpit, from the sick ponies, ghouls and zebras watching avidly. This was a crowd eager for blood, I had invaded their sanctum and angered their priestess, now I was surrounded by a non stop sea of red on my Eyes Forward Sparkle. Not good... I hadn't quite expected to be caught so easily, but really, who can plan for a freaking mind reader?

"You should not have come here Destroyer disciple. You come to reclaim what is not yours and you will suffer for it."

She could keep me in place hovering before her, but she couldn't keep my mouth shut, for now at least. "You're the one that came and took her away! Knocked her out and kidnapped her! She's my friend! I want her back!"

A tittering laugh as she shook her head caused that dark black and green main to swish and ripple around her, as if she found this entire situation delightful. "Friend you say? How amusing, as if your kind would befriend ours. We know of you, we have seen your ilk before and will not suffer it again, Stable dweller..."

As she spoke I started getting flashes in my head, outside thoughts and images I didn't recognize. She was intruding! I could feel her creeping her way into my thoughts, her spoken words echoed there. Pictures... a pretty pale grey unicorn with a brown mane, wearing a blue and yellow Stable barding emblazoned with the number 2 instead of my 111, another equally stunning white unicorn mare with a red and black mane and the same barding, but labeled 99 instead, a red coated earth pony stallion with a dark mane and a glowing red cybernetic eye, charismatic smirk above a barding marked with 101, others flashed by too fast to make out. She really had a thing against Stable ponies, didn't she?

"With good reason, not just Stable ponies either... a certain breed of them has proven beyond troublesome. You are of their ilk, I have seen your thoughts and know them, to leave my sister under your hoof... madness." That strong grip kept tightening as she hissed.

"Not under my hoof! Beside me! I'm not doing anything against her will, I want to be with her, to have her with me, but because I care about her! I'm not some destroyer, whatever that means to you, I just want her back!"

At that she actually threw her head back and laughed, "Not a Destroyer you say? When just your surface thoughts burn with bringing destruction to this place for taking her from you? You perceive her to be yours? That we have stolen from you? Perhaps I had to be a bit... forward..., but she will thank me when she awakens and join us willingly. You speak of caring for her, when I sense such rage from you, let us just see what thoughts you truly hold for my sister, before disposing of you and cutting off any mischief you will inevitably get up to..."

The gathered fanatics below were getting into it, bowing and chanting, "Purge the Destroyer!" Right... no help from there then... I could tell these were very ill and desperate people, but whatever they had bought into here was wrong. This was as far from praising Celestia and Luna as you could get, in this place meant to thank them both.

What had been a slow feeling of being pawed at in my head became a sharp intrusion, she was forcing her way into my brain! How could she do this! My eyes clenched and I distantly heard myself scream at the violation, an outside cloud of green was just billowing it's way into my mind and I couldn't stop it. Memories were coming up unbidden and tossed aside, she was rifling through me like a terminal with interesting files, while her worshipers watched with glee.

The horrible sensation suddenly stopped when a black and white blur dropped down from the ceiling, spinning through the air and bringing down a hindleg with an amazing impact, driving the green alicorn to the ground. Spinning on the spot on his hindlegs still, Zed threw both forehooves forward into her side and tossed her back into the crowd of fanatics just realizing something had happened. Her magic retreated out of my head and let me go, dumping me to the floor where I scrambled up and drew my weapons. 'Sister' to Jade or not, that was not happening again.

I spun the Terrible Shotgun on her as she struggled in the tangle of cultists she landed in, drawing a weapon on another alicorn like Jade though... I paused, which was a mistake. The huge bulk in the green robes that had been standing at her side on the pulpit smashed into me, driving me into the ragged wall at the edge of the pit, the shotgun misfired into the ceiling as I flew, but I managed to keep my grip on it. The hulking pony was following up, driving draped hooves into the wall around my head as I dodged frantically.

Zed had saved me, but didn't seemed inclined to do it again, glaring down at the alicorn and pointing a hoof at her from the pulpit, "You! You have taken my brother from this place, you have stolen from the elder, tell me where both are now!"

"Zebra! You bring a hidden zebra against us, just as the Destroyer, and expect me to believe you are not of a kind?! I need see no more! Your sibling is gone from this place zebra, we told you as much! He is a willing acolyte of the Children of Balefire, what he brought he brought to prove his worthiness, both have moved on to our cathedral! Not that such information will matter to you! Children, purge them both!!"

The green alicorn had made it to her hooves with the fawning help of her followers and scowled between Zed and I. Personally, I thought the order was unnecessary as the huge bodyguard was keeping me pinned pretty effectively. If one of those hooves smashing into the wood around me connected it would be enough, the sea of weapons being brought to bear was overkill.

What should have been a messy death was interrupted by a crashing explosion from above, the steeple and bell tower of the church was engulfed in flames and crashing down into the room with us, raining fire and chaos, the ancient bell landing with a resounding BONG! crushing several cultists. Val... thank you... The single errant blast of my shotgun had brought her down on this place and with her...

INITIATING COMBAT! DESTROYING ENEMY INSTALLATION!

More explosions and the tearing sound of a minigun outside, from the direction of the booming voice of my Sentinel bot waiting out there. Panic was spreading and even the bodyguard above me paused, giving me a bare moment to unload three slugs in his side from the shotgun floating there, driving him off me finally. I leapt up to get away and spotted the alicorn blazing at me, a powerful green shield surrounding her and keeping the raining bits of the church away from her. Right... not going to tangle with her if I could avoid it.

"Zed! Come on!" I shouted over to the zebra wading into the crowd of cultists and knocking them around like tenpins with his deadly hooves alone. I wasn't staying up here with the guard and the alicorn, Jade was just out the open back of the church beside me and that's where I was going. I bolted away as the heap of robes I had just filled with slugs started standing again and jumped off the open edge toward the crater.

So you were supposed to reach the first platform into the pit through the basement of the church, not by just sailing out into open space fifteen feet above it. Crashing through a ramshackle building and rolling to the ground was still preferable to staying up there, I was closer to the bottom of the balefire bomb crater and Jade. My pip-buck flashed medical warnings and increased its angry chattering, I could see the needle on the rainbow gauge climb before my eyes, out of yellow and into orange. I clattered to my hooves and pulled free of the wreckage of the building I landed on, pulling up S.A.T.S. to give myself a moment to think and target the angry cultists down here too.

Taking advantage of the frozen time, I flicked through my inventory, using two more Rad-Aways and another Rad-X, noting where the radiation gauge would be once they took effect, back down to the green/yellow border... better. That done, I took stock of the targets available; six robed cultists on this platform drawing weapons in surprise, Zed in mid leap from the church above, the alicorn swooping into the sky above, and the personal guard looming at the edge I jumped from. E.F.S. showed a horde above and below, in between me and Jade... could I get through that many? If I was fast enough...

The blue alicorn below was all that ran through my mind, whatever cost was worth it. I equipped my 10mm pistol and Best Served alongside the Terrible Shotgun, gave myself one final moment to consider, then selected one of my two remaining Dash containers taken from Mr. Hawthorne's safe back in Sanctuary, I was going straight down and nothing was going to stand in my way. As my final selection for S.A.T.S. I queued up several shots with the pistol against the cultists between me and the first stairs down.

As soon as time resumed, the pistol floated out and began firing, my knife zipped to my mouth and I blurred forward as the Dash took hold, my cloak flapping behind me, just ahead of the bodyguard crashing down where I had vacated like a bomb. Anything in my streaking path that survived the pip-buck assisted pistol rounds, was dropped by the shotgun or my knife as I zipped past. The euphoric speed kept me ahead of emerald blasts from the alicorn's magic trying to grab me again or stop me cold, as I charged down the stairs to the next platform.

Moving through the soup of slow motion let me keep track of Zed as he sprang from the rooftops, actually keeping up with me somehow, he pounced on one robed cultist after another in my path, he was the only thing moving at normal speed to me right now. Stop marveling at the incredible rush, the brightened glow surrounding everything and the tingle in my nerves, I could practically feel sparks flying from my hooves, imaginary arcs of electricity flying behind me as streaked onward like lightning. Dash was amazing, but dangerous, one minute... that's how long I probably had. How far could I get in one minute like this?

A quick glance behind me as I took the next set of stairs, slicing open another cultist as I passed, showed the church was burning merrily and more explosions were shaking the remains. The Sentinel was good at his work... I spotted the strange alicorn diving at me, figuring out what she said with everything slowed down so far was hard, her voice stretched out over long seconds. I caught, "Deeeesssstrrrooooyyyyerrrr... Yyyooooouuuuu wiiiiiillll nnnnooooottttt..." before Val slammed into her, knocking her off course and into a tattered tent.

The hulking bodyguard was still right on my tail, they had not bothered with the stairs and simply flew down from the previous platform... A pegasus? Did pegasi come that big and bulky? Even with my heightened senses, I could barely spot the tiny yellow-green wings from the heavy folds of their cloak, a furious blur but somehow holding it aloft.

No matter, I was sprinting down the stairs to the last platform before the long, walled avenue that led to Jade. I could see her blue form ahead of me in the distance, still surrounded by tiny foals who were just figuring out something was happening. Unfortunately the Children of Balefire on this platform had gotten the idea better and were laying down fire on the stairs as I descended. Blasts of regular firearms and green magical energy weapons, that made my pip-buck give a roaring chatter at their impact, were concentrated on where I was. Most were missing, hitting behind where I actually was but some were finding their mark through luck if nothing else.

Searing lines of fire burned down my sides and against my chest, a rifle round pierced my flank, but the high I was riding made it distant enough to not drop speed. More shots from the pistol and shotgun combo lessened the fire coming in and I lunged forward with the knife in my mouth, leaving a spray of blood in my wake as I hit the last set of stairs. Above me an aerial battle was going on, red lines of magical energy weaponry crossing green bolts of magic, sketched across the dark sky as two dark forms dove around each other. Explosions kept raining down with each pass of the fiery griffon harassing the cultists on the ground. Val always wanted to fight an alicorn, she was getting her wish.

I was practically dancing around the fire coming in at me from the cultists here on the lowest level in the pit, my Dash fueled movement keeping me ahead of them for the most part. Jade was getting closer, I could see her shift in her sleep, frowning and reaching out... wake up! My hopeful view was cut off by the guard smashing into the alley ahead of me, blocking my advance through sheer bulk. The pistol and shotgun both pivoted and started unloading on the obstacle, stopped by a weakly flickering yellow-green shield... what?

Another series of rounds from Val's grenade machinegun above thumped down and engulfed the huge pony in fire, scattering more cultists down my path. I pranced in place anxiously, the Dash was starting to wear off and I had to wait for the wall of flames to die down enough to find a route through, at least I didn't have to worry about... Oh come on! The giant pony loomed in the flames, the inferno had turned their green robes to tattered, flaming rags that sloughed off their scorched form. What was underneath was... hard to take in.

It was an alicorn... but... not? It didn't look like any other I had ever seen and barely met the requirements for the term. It did have a tiny set of wings and a stunted, puny horn on its head, so yes, technically an alicorn. It was not, however, anything like Jade or the strange green one, where they were lithe and beautiful, this was misshapen and ugly. It was mass of muscle covered in rubbery yellow-green hide, no mane and a bald tail at its rear, dull red eyes without a hint of the intelligence found in the others I had seen, just malice and rage.

"Yuz stop right dere puny pony. Lady Virescent say stop, yuz stop..." Even after hearing it, I couldn't tell if it was a mare or a stallion, nothing that really defined either seemed present on this thing, the slurring voice was muddled and deep, but too alien from a normal pony to really say.

More S.A.T.S. guided slugs from the shotgun, it was in the way whatever it was and I was getting by. The tiny horn glowed feebly trying to bring up a shield again, two hit it uselessly, but the next two punctured the field, angry holes opened up in the creature's side as I sprinted forward through the flames. Riding the last of the Dash, I had time to marvel as the wounds started closing on their own slowly, not near Jade's regeneration in radiation like this, but it could do it too... great...

I angled toward it as it struggled and flashed Best Served out, taking a hind leg as I slipped by. It didn't scream or shout, just hovered up on the blur of its tiny wings in place and bucked me with the remaining leg, sending me flying. Crashing through a patchwork tent, I rolled up quickly, not wanting to be caught under that thing again, to see it looking at the missing limb blankly.

"Owww...."

Not the reaction I hoped for after hacking off the leg, I definitely didn't like seeing it already regenerating the wound as well...

No matter, I was past and the path to Jade was open, I was going to get there dammit. I caught glimpses of Zed springing from roof to roof ahead of me, dropping down to dispatch more obstacles before zipping away again. We were going to make it! My joy was overtaken by a smoking griffon slamming to the ground in front of me, followed by the crackling green alicorn that dropped her there, what had that thing said? Virescent...

"ENOUGH!" so she could use the goddess voice too... "YOU WILL GO NO FURTHER! DESTROYER! YOU CLAIM YOU ARE NOT, BUT LOOK AT THE DESTRUCTION YOU HAVE BROUGHT!"

My concern at Val gasping on the ground before me gave her the chance to snatch me up in her magic again and float me up to her in the crushing grip. From up here, I could see the army of zombies in the crater surging around the makeshift walls, they were drawn by all the noise and clawed for a way in. The undead pegasi swooped around attacking the pony and zebra cultitsts, adding to the chaos, but stayed away from Virescent. I caught Zed flying from a nearby tin roof at her, but she was on guard now, blasting the zebra with a bolt from her horn and sending him flying down to join Val. She turned her glowing gaze on me and I felt her invading my mind again, much stronger this time.

The glowing green cloud was pouring into my mindscape, overwhelming everything and consuming it all. "We will rip the memories from you! We will see every dark secret! Everything you hide! We will see your true thoughts towards our sister so we can show her what your kind really thinks of us!!!"

NO! STAY OUT OF MY HEAD!! I could feel her tearing away all my defenses, taking every thought she mentioned casually, closing in on the core of me. I struggled to keep her back, horrified, pushed further back easily from her onslaught. Fighting in vain, I felt myself joined in the conflict, two warm motes glowing brightly against the dark cloud, one light yellow, one a warm orange... "Be Kind..", "Be Strong!" whispered against the raging storm.

"We have seen such interference before! It will not stand against us! Not when they are still divided!" Whatever that meant, she was still winning, pushing back against the three of us and gaining ground. Then another joined...

A dark shadow loomed from behind me, specks of red in the darkness burning back at the invader. The two kindly motes wavered a moment, before the darkness resolved into the Shrouded Stallion himself and joined in, pushing back against the cloud, burning with righteous fury.

"WHAT?! What is this! What do you have inside you!?!?" The voice of Virescent screeched and the internal images faded, dropping me back into the real world. Still held aloft in her grip, but staring at her and not a cloud, a terrified expression on her face. "Y-you... you are dangerous... something is wrong with you... I will end you now before-"

Whatever the alicorn was going to say was cut off by a crackle of magic and a crash below us at the center of the crater, a massive blue shell erupted from the tent covered shrine, pushing everything back and bolting into the air, hovering over the crater nearby. The shield faded and Jade was in its place, crackling with barely restrained power and glaring at... I really hoped at the green alicorn...

I had made some mistakes... When I saw her from above I was so desperate to get to her, I really didn't pay enough attention. I assumed she was surrounded by tiny foals. Val's comment about not being able to lift that much pony out of here made more sense now... She was huge. This is what she meant about 'other problems' with absorbing radiation to use her invisibility more easily to be sneaky. I understood now, she could probably turn whatever she wanted invisible as long as she wished, but being stealthy at three times her normal size would be a little hard...

"THAT IS ENOUGH!" even her goddess voice was bigger, it practically rattled my bones and got her sister's attention quite well.

"Sister! Y-you awaken at last! How wonderful! You have seen the memories now, seen what we have achieved here! Aren't you pleased?!" for all her assurances earlier, Virescent seemed a little worried, hard to blame her considering the giant, angry blue alicorn above her.

"RELEASE HIM!"

At least she didn't argue, we slowly descended back to the ground beside Val and Zed as they struggled back up, staring above in shock as Jade followed. "Of course sister! He is nothing, now that you have returned to us through the power of the glow, surely you see that. We have our own course to follow that does not involve puny males like this, you see the steps we have already taken?" She pointed a hoof at the misshapen yellow-green alicorn hovering up behind us.

"NOT MALE."

"Er.... no... we haven't managed males yet, but this is a step! Gender neutral is not gender female! Our new friends here assure us it is only a matter of time, the memories should have shown you such! In time we will have true mates, we will follow the mother's dearest wish, to live! To procreate and spread! Those Followers you serve have not made nearly so much progress playing with killing joke, a single success in these years? You know this is what she wished of us, I know it is what you wish as well!" The green alicorn was getting a tad nervous, this was not going how she expected.

"NOT FAST."

Watching her lazily flapping above us, I noticed those huge blue eyes fall on me with a glint, most of this conversation was going over my head, but that look made me tingle a bit. Males? They wanted male alicorns and had got that... thing? How?

"Not Fast? Y-you mean this one? You... yes.... you care for this one? You want.... ahhhh... I see... so he spoke the truth? Well it is easily remedied! You may keep him, wait until we have perfected the process, then you may have all you desire! Just as our leader herself!"

Jade hovered there, lidded glowing blue eyes wavering, looking back and forth from me to Virescent.

"He can be ascended if you insist on this male in particular! Allow him to join us, to be one to carry out the mother's will and spread our species!"

That didn't get the response expected... Jade's eyes widened before forming a scowl, glancing at the mutated alicorn below and back to me. "YOU WILL NOT!!! WE WILL NOT ALLOW IT! HE IS MINE!" with a crackle her horn glowed, snatching me from even the green alicorn's grip and picking up Val and Zed below us in a cloud around her. Even while floating besides her head, I could feel healing pouring into me and saw the same with the others, how much power had she absorbed from being down here?

"Sister I do not understand! No one wishes to take him from you if you must have this particular one! I can read your thoughts so easily like this, they are very strong and simple! I cannot comprehend your fixation on this little unicorn, but it is of no matter. I do know what you want, the thoughts swirling through your mind right now... You wish for this one, you wish to do as the mother asked of us with this one, I offer you a path to do so! I have seen his thoughts as well, you should see the thoughts he has of you sister... I think you would be well pleased, allow me to offer a taste."

Virescent closed her eyes a moment and Jade shuddered in the air, wait... she had been in my head and could do it to others... A very sultry look from one large blue eye rolled my way and I flushed under it. "T-that's private! She went in my head! I-I..." well whatever she got shown, she didn't seem bothered anyway. I got floated closer and received a slow lick up my neck and face.

Val coughed weakly behind her as Jade's magic restored her, "Kaff... h-hey Blue... sure this is... b-best timing fer that?" She got a narrowed gaze in return and floated further away, while I got moved to the opposite side, out of the griffon's view, before Jade returned her attentions to me.

"Yes... you see sister! Everything you want! He must simply join you in our new unity and be remade in the mother's image! The green alicorn was getting her cool back after using her plundered mental images to turn the situation, right up until she said that anyway...

A series of very large kisses and nuzzles was interrupted as soon as Jade heard 'remade in the mother's image'. "NO! YOU MAY NOT! YOU ARE WRONG! WE WILL END THIS!"

With that, I got zipped through the air to her back as the others floated closer and her brilliant blue shield formed around her, she scowled at the green alicorn a moment before blasting forward through the air. A blazing beam of magic shot from her horn as we swooped over the crater, destroying the scrap structures leading to the burning church and she plowed directly through the remains of the building, her shield bulldozing the inferno to tinders.

Soaring over the walled yard at the top of the rim, I saw the Sentinel wheeling around, blasting any Children of Balefire that still moved up here and looking for more. It had taken a decent amount of damage, but was still dishing it out without a problem. Screaming against the wind, I shouted down to it, "SENTINEL! RETREAT! BACK TO HEX!" The tank like robot paused, smoking from damage the army that had been fighting it had managed to inflict, I didn't hear it confirm the order, but it started rolling away towards the exit to the compound.

We put the crater behind us and were flying towards Hexington quickly, Val and Zed were still hovering behind my perch on Jade's back, so I couldn't hear anything they were saying back there to each other over the wind, they looked totally healed at least. I hoofed at the long neck above me, trying to stretch up to her ears and felt her shiver under me, "Jade! A-are you ok!?"

"WE ARE... I... I am fine Fast. I will return you to the town."

She could get out of the goddess voice like this, that was good. She still seemed a little off, but we were indeed already descending towards the town of Hexington, she was very fast right now... She took a few lazy loops above before coming in for a landing right in the town square, the only area that could really accommodate her touching down like this. The residents awake at this hour were treated to the strange sight of a giant alicorn floating down from the dark sky and landing by the statue of Applejack in front of the mayor's office, dwarfing it. Valkyrie and the zebra Zed were gently deposited on the street and I drifted in front of her blue gaze.

Reaching out, I managed to hook her head and hug her neck fiercely, ignoring the growing disturbance in the streets below as ponies were woke up by their fellows still awake to see the incredible sight. I didn't care about them, "You're ok! Thank Celestia and Luna! I was so worried!!"

I got a rumbling murmur from her, before I saw her glancing around at the audience she was attracting, "Mmmm... I... I n-need to go Fast... I s-should not stay... like this... I d-do not wish t-to be seen..for y-you to....I-I will return..." and at that she disappeared in my hooves, placing me on the ground in a gale of wind that smelled like Jade as she took off into the night. She was gone again...

"Holy hell boss... you sure know how to pick em... Hafta remember not to piss her off too bad..." Valkyrie groaned nearby, even with Jade's healing, she had taken some serious hits in her fight and her green armor was still smoking.

Zed had not even bothered sticking around, walking back to Little Roam silently by himself, staring at the ground. My thoughts were still consumed with Jade, but he had helped get to her, "Zed! Thank you! Are... are you ok? About your brother..."

"He is elsewhere, I will find him. I must think, speak with the Elder. You may speak with me later. Go to your mare." Alright... zebra of few words, but he knew his stuff, both in his amazing skill getting Jade back and in understanding I was being polite, but was still barely holding myself back.

We got her back, well she sorta just went wherever she wanted at the moment, so maybe it was all pointless... but I didn't think so. She was off somehow, if she had woken alone with that green one that could read her mind, push thoughts into her, ply her with her words... she might have been swayed. She might be free, but I wouldn't be happy until she was back here with us. Checking my pip-buck showed her locator tag, at least pip-bucks automatically adjusted, though I was surprised the magic involved went that far... She was moving towards the river not far from Hex and stopping, she was hiding? That decided me, I told Glitter I'd bring her back, I intended to do just that. Not let her hide alone out there until she felt like coming back.

Since my foal hadn't already come charging out to tackle me in all the excitement, I assumed she must be asleep, a glance over to Rusty's shop seemed to confirm it. The old ghoul was standing outside, looking over to me with an awed expression, at my questioning glance he held a hoof up to his lips in a shushing gesture and pointed back to the shop. Good, if she was asleep AssaultJack was right by her inside.

"Val, are you ok?" I was prancing in place to go in front of the griffon, as she slowly got to her feet again.

"Yeah, sorry bout that boss. Bitch kept knowin' just where I was and what I was gonna do. Nearly blasted her head off, but she looped right out at the last second, hit me with her magic point blank. Least she couldn't get in my head like you, but I got one helluva headache out of it.

"Listen Val, she... she left, she's hiding somewhere I think..."

"Yeah? Figured. Could just leave her boss, let it wear off. Funny stuff happens to them that thrive on it if they suck up enough rads, like ghouls turning all glowy, living stuff gets bigger instead, but any of them that feed on the stuff get stronger." I could have been told this earlier...

"But..."

Val huffed and waved me off, "But you won't, I know... So what'cha want?"

"She's not far, I can find her. The Sentinel is on its way back, I think and Glitter's asleep still. Could you stay here? The bot will listen to you when he gets here, bring it in to Rusty's and be there if Glitter wakes up? Tell her what happened and I'll bring her back soon ok?"

"Alright, alright, go on boss, go find her. I'll hold down the fort, lucky I'm damn tired after that, an' I like that robot, workin' with that thing is fun! I'll be here for the kiddo so she knows it's all good. Just get back soon, gonna go get me a drink to wash down these rad meds, remember to take yours too boss!" She smiled and pointed out the Dreary Inn bar that was still open at this late... early? hour.

I threw my hooves around her neck and actually got the gesture returned. Val did just what I trusted her to do, she came in and saved me when I needed it most. "Thank you Val, where would I be without you."

"Dead is where, c'mon boss... warned you about this, you ain't doin' it on purpose right? I'm too tired an' sore to deal with feelin' frisky. Still the matter of my pay though, ain't forgot ya know. Probably a good idea to wait till Blue's a little less smashy too... to be continued. Now go on, get!"

Sneaking through the dark streets outside of Hex alone wasn't too bad, I still had the goop on my armor from Zed that made me unappetizing to the ghouls and I was a shadow in the ruins. I could see the upraised drawbridge nearby as I closed in on Jade's locator tag, I still had to take care of that to reach Diamond City, but right now Jade was my only concern. I was glad we had slept before leaving for Watt's, it had been a long night and Val wasn't the only one who was tired. Hopefully I'd have another few hours before Glitter woke up since she managed to get to sleep, unlike me she was a day pony and woke early though, I wanted to be there before she did.

Pausing to look around, I slurped down another nasty Rad-Away, considering I had charged right into the middle of a balefire bomb crater I had come out alright. The Rad-X kept me from taking in too much radiation and the horrible tasting Rad-Away magically cleansed the radiation I had absorbed over time, the little rainbow gauge on my pip-buck slowly dipped down further towards the green and blue end of the dial. I'd have to answer for taking the drugs in Hex, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

As I choked the medicine down I took in my surroundings, a series of warehouses here on the waterfront, easy access to load boats nearby. The particular lot where the arrow on my E.F.S. pointed was enclosed in a rusting chain link fence and held three warehouses of faded pink steel, the one in the middle's door was partially opened and matched the arrow I was following, so I crept towards it.

Crawling under the roll up door, I found myself in a vast empty chamber, dimly lit by the holes in the roof and walls, I turned on my light to illuminate absolutely nothing. Still, the arrow said directly ahead so thats the way I went, stepping forward cautiously and running into thin air with a clang, what? Rubbing my bruised muzzle, I reached out experimentally, my hoof came into contact with the air... cold, steel-like air...

"Jade?"

A rustle of movement ahead matched the arrow in my vision moving to a corner of the warehouse, I tried following and made a few steps, before tripping over nothing and falling flat on my face. How much was she making invisible in here?

"Jade, I can see your locator tag, I know you're here."

"G-go away Fast..." a soft whimper from the corner floated out.

"Why? Are you ok Jade? Why'd you run away? I was worried, you seemed off before and all that happened to you..." I tried moving forward again and ran into something else that wasn't there.

"I-I am fine... I wish to talk with you about it all very much... j-just not now. I should be alone... I do not wish for you to see me l-like this..."

Creeping forward with my hoof out, I managed to round a corner and make it further into the building, "Why? Val told me why you're like that, cause of the radiation right? I didn't know that happened, but it's ok, no big deal. Get it.... big deal?"

"T-that is not funny..." Well, there was restrained laughter in her reply for it not being funny.

I bashed into some new invisible obstacle and fell back on my rump, I heard her gasp on that one though. "Want to maybe show me what I'm running into here Jade? I'm just going to keep trying one way or another anyway, I know you don't like seeing me hurt myself, right?"

"N-no..."

I admit that was an unfair tactic, but effective. Walls of rusting shipping containers sprang into existence all around me, junk and empty pallets on the floor, ancient bottles and cans, trash... wow... she was making everything in this place invisible? Well, now I could try to find my way through the maze towards her arrow while we talked.

"Soooo...Really, I don't see the problem Jade. So what if you're a little bigger..." a snort from the warehouse answered, "Ok, a lot bigger, granted. Doesn't matter to me, Val said it wears off anyway right? You're still you, just a lot more of you... which is a good thing in my opinion, can't have enough you as far as I'm concerned."

That actually elicited a stifled giggle that I turned towards, getting closer now. "Y-you should not say such things right now Fast... though I like them...."

Walking towards the soft voice coming from the corner ahead of me, I ran into something soft and warm that wasn't there, falling back against the bouncy surface to the floor, finally. "There, found you, sort of. How bout you make yourself visible now too? I... I really want to see you Jade."

"I.... should not... w-will you be afraid? L-look at me differently?"

"Never."

With a soft sigh, a huddled mass of a lot of blue alicorn appeared in the corner, hiding in her wings and peeking out. Apparently, burning through magic to turn an entire warehouse invisible had been bleeding away some power, she was only a little more than double her normal size now. Hard to tell with her all curled up on herself like that though. I trotted forward and plopped down next to her happily.

"There, that's better. Now, did you want to talk? Or just wait?"

"You... you really don't mind? Me b-being like this?" She squeaked from behind her wings.

"Nope. Fine with me, more of you to love."

"F-Fast! You really should not say such things right now... n-not even jokes." Feeling her ruffle and jump next to me was a little intimidating, but a good reaction.

"Not joking. When I came back and you were gone... you were all I thought about, I promised myself when I got you back I'd tell you. I love you Jade, no matter what ok? Don't run away because you're scared of things like this, I don't care." Hardly the situation I imagined telling somepony this, but it was true. Sneaking my way here just gave me time to get the words straight in my head and not stammer over them.

"R-really?"

"Yup."

Ok, normal alicorn hugs were already crushing, having a giant sized one do it kind of took your breath away, literally. Still a small price to pay to be snatched up and smothered in kisses.

"Oh Fast! I- I love you too! It is new and c-confusing to me... but I do! T-thank you! Thank you for being you! For not caring about... w-what I am, for just loving me." That was a lot of tears for being so happy, but she seemed like she was. Smothering kisses and nuzzles went on for quite some time before she shook herself and stilled, crossing her forelegs to hold me close to her warm chest and sighing happily in the corner.

"Feel better?" I ventured up at her from the enveloping embrace, catching her looking down coyly.

"M-much. I feel I should explain certain things though..." she still had a funny look in her eye I had seen in the crater, but she looked conflicted about it.

"If you want. We can just do nothing if you want too, doesn't matter, I'm happy," really I could just stay like this forever.

She shuffled a bit and furled her wings tighter, keeping back the night chill. "S-So I see. T-talking is good right now though... Er... About what happened, what Virescent said... There are some things about my kind I have not told you about... besides... this..." she gestured to herself with one huge hoof in front of me.

"I figured you would when you wanted Jade."

"Yes, well, I want to. You know there are only female alicorns correct? Only ones matching a limited number of templates; blues like myself, greens and purples, we were made from the mother's image and all follow that pattern. Since we have been... separated from her, we have grown as individuals, more like the ponies we were before unity, but we are still what we are."

"The Goddess' greatest wish was to see her children spread, she made us to be suited to the wasteland, to grow and prosper. However with only females... we could not do so. She tried very hard to find a solution, searching out forbidden magic to try to find a way to make males, but she never succeeded, betrayed by those she sent to help her. When she died, another promised the same, and we followed him for a time hoping to do as the mother wished, but he also fell to the Destroyer."

"Finally, we asked help of the founder of the Followers, a great medical pony who always helped, no matter who it was. She proposed a solution that many labor at diligently back in Equestria and has had limited success. A single birth of a new alicorn has occurred there, thanks to a very difficult and dangerous to make medicine. Another attempt is in the planning stages, it may be years yet though."

Ah, a few things about Jade were starting to make a little sense now, why she liked foals and everything to do with them for instance. "Why can't you just... er.... you know, with regular ponies? I mean mom was a pegasus and dad was a unicorn, different types of ponies can have children together no problem right? Does it have to be other alicorns?"

Having her absently nibbling my ears while I talked made it reeeeally hard to concentrate. I wanted to listen and understand what she was saying, but she was really affectionate at the moment. It took a second for her to shake and return to the question.

"Hmmmm?... Well I am happy you view me as just a different type of pony Fast, but biologically we are different, incompatible... It has been... a-attempted before, both by the Goddess and among ourselves since she died. We may... m-mate with normal ponies... but not for procreation, only for... o-other reasons..."

"Since perpetuating our species has been our driving goal, the last and greatest wish of our mother, to survive... we are fixated on that. Some alicorns have formed relationships with ponies and engaged in such behavior, but nothing comes of it... er... other than p-pleasure. Having desire for personal p-pleasures like that... it is new for us... Only a few have regained enough of themselves since unity fell and found somepony special to engage in such pursuits. I have been told it is pleasant..."

Her large hoof distractedly stroking my chest certainly was, thinking was hard though. So the green... Virescent, was in the Commonwealth trying to find a way to make male alicorns to breed with and had made the mutated thing I fought earlier? She wanted Jade to join her, because she was a doctor? Because she was another alicorn? Who knows, she said she was showing Jade memories while she slept and seemed convinced she'd join her after seeing them. Still, why'd she put her in the crater while showing them? Returned to the family through the holy glow... something like that is what she said. Finally I had to simply ask, Jade had forgotten to continue her story in favor of nuzzling at me, she said she wanted to talk right?

"Oh! Oh my... er, well there is a reason she put me there and made me... like this... while she showed me her memories. She wished to convince me to join her, to help in her mad pursuits here. There are... o-other effects to absorbing this much radiation, besides just the change in size and strength Fast. W-Which is why I told you y-you may wish to stay away...."

"Nope. Happy here." She was going to get this one way or the other.

"Y-Yes but... well... being so full of power is... intoxicating Fast... Y-You saw what I was like when I woke. I believe she planned to entice me while I was under the effects..."

"So, what's it feel like? You always seemed to like radiation, like... a lot. I wondered what it felt like before I knew it did this."

She purred in my ear softly, tickling me with her wings. "It feels wonderful Fast... I feel strong, confident, full of life and power, every nerve tingles... I am in control of myself now... but when I woke all I felt was that rush and cared only for what I wanted. Some of us have been known to lose themselves to too much radiation, growing even larger and more powerful, reveling in it. Generally when the Goddess employed that ability, she kept a green around to keep us under control, they are telepaths as you now know."

"With their powers they could... keep us connected to unity, direct us towards her ends productively. Without unity now, we can easily fall to our base desires, many engage in violence with great joy and can be a terrible force, others simply roam about, satisfying whatever urges strike their fancy for things like food, treasure, domination, o-other things... She did not count on you though, when I woke like that she held what I desired... that was a mistake."

"Well, I'm glad I went then so she couldn't trick you," with her explanation I could see the gist of the plan Virescent had, get her all hopped up on rads and show her whatever memories she had to explain things, then show her just what she wanted when she woke up. "You did look sorta tempted a couple times, what was it you wanted? Er... besides me away from her?"

She kept nuzzling up one side of my neck and down the other, answering softly. "She tried to tempt me with males, there are things I saw in the memories she showed we should discuss in detail when I am... less distracted... But she offered what I have greatly desired for a long time, to procreate, to be a mother myself. For all this time it has been an abstract idea... a goal... but recently it has been more p-personal..."

Feeling her shuffle around me, I glanced up to see her blushing brightly and looking away, her voice quiet even this close. That was more like the normal Jade though right?

"B-Before I did not care about the male involved beyond compatibility. My time with you has made me reconsider... I now understand those that have formed relationships with normal ponies and mate, even without the possibility of offspring. I wish not to merely procreate now, but t-to do so with y-you in particular... She tried to offer both, to... t-to m-mate with you and to produce children... I-it was very tempting... until she said she would change you."

Jade's soft tone darkened at the last and she frowned, looking forward a moment, not noticing me turning bright red in her grasp. She wanted... with me? To do that? With me? Really? Wait... some things were starting to finally click in place, I knew things were going over my head, but I'm new at thinking of this kind of stuff ok? All this power was intoxicating... tingling nerves, caring only for base desires... all the attention she was showering me with...

Jade was usually a little more awkward and reticent when it came to physical affection, she wanted company yes, didn't like sleeping alone yes, but the current ministrations she had just returned to... stroking my chest and nuzzling my cheek? That hungry look when she just woke up and was burning with more power? All the attention wasn't just because I told her I loved her, it was a big part I was sure but... oh boy...

I struggled around in her grip before her probing hooves got any further, looking up at those lidded blue eyes, still sparkling with all the rads... and something else. "Umm... J-Jade... do you want to... I mean... I-I've never...but..." pushing up on her shoulders, I stretched to her muzzle and gave her a kiss, getting a long, low moan as she returned it. When she finally broke it off, that sultry look was at war with anxiety on her face. "Er.. if it's ok that is... is this you or.. just the radiation talking? I w-want to but... with you... c-cause you want to."

Her eyes softened with a smile as she nodded happily, "Yes! er... y-y-yes... very much... It has b-been on my mind even before, but... I-I told you you may not wish to be here right now Fast... I am still under the effects of my... condition. I want to very, very much right now... but I h-hurt you enough by accident already... Like this... i-it is p-probably not safe... T-Though the thoughts Virescent showed me... w-what you think of... I-I am having difficulty r-restraining myself..."

Reaching up for another long kiss, I felt her shudder and smiled up to her nervously when we parted again, "You don't have to... er... we could be c-careful... I don't mind, I want to. I did say just more of you love right?" I watched a very conflicted expression cross her lovely face and stretched up again, kissing her neck to cut it off, sending shivers running through the blue body beneath me.

"Mmm.... l-lower.."

Right, down I went.

Well, that certainly wasn't the first time I had idly fantasized about in the Stable... it was definitely unique though. I grew a bit worried she was going to attract raiders or some wasteland creature with all the noise. Then the danger of her just bringing down the whole rusting warehouse down seemed a possibility, but we got through it with only a few roof panels falling in.

Having her curled around me on the concrete floor kept the chill away, I felt a little bruised and battered from handling that much filly, but it was totally worth it. She cooed and nuzzled, while returning to making most of the ancient junk in the warehouse invisible, slowly bleeding off power and approaching her normal size.

"That was very nice Fast... I wish to do that again when I am... more myself again, among other things...." having her puff and nibble at my ear was a good way to wake me out of the doze I slipped into covered by her warm wings. "You have many interesting ideas in your head..."

"Er... that's hardly fair you know... that other alicorn tore all that stuff outta me. It was just... umm... thoughts... y-you should come up with some yourself too."

"Ohhh... then I shall have to give it some consideration. Perhaps I will go shopping for some different attire when we reach Diamond City? I unfortunately seem to have lost my coat while they held me and need a replacement anyway. Such thoughts you have on the subject of my wardrobe..." She nickered playfully while I flushed, having a telepath shove all your private thoughts into your special somepony's head was not fair at all.

Not all the pillow talk was so lighthearted though, she asked how Val and I's excursion to Watts' had gone and I explained it slowly to her. She gasped a few times at what we faced there, trying to describe the Assaultron attack made her give disapproving 'tsks', cuddling against me fearfully. Explaining how Mr. Watts had been responsible in part for the synthetic ponies that now plagued the Commonwealth made her scowl and grumble.

When I told her how close I came to my first real sign of the Institute only to have it melt away in front of me, she hugged me tight to stop my angry shaking. I glazed over a few bits with the pegasus mare Summer Wind, like squeezing by each other in the ducts and Val's appraisal of her apparent interest, but not well enough I think. Lying through omission was still lying I guessed, thus I was unable to do so with her.

"This pegasus gave you a present?" A silkily dangerous edge to her voice asked.

I gulped, "Y-Yeah... I gave it to Glitter... I dunno why she did, a m-memento she said. They're in Manebridge now and both said they hoped we stopped by..."

Slightly oversized forelegs squeezed tightly as she curled up around me and huffed, "I see... yes, perhaps we will pay this mare a visit then..."

Poor, poor Scribe Wind... I shuddered to think what I had just brought down on her, and she hadn't even talked to Valkyrie yet. Jade frowned above me staring out at the warehouse, but a few gentle licks to the neck distracted her and she giggled happily, shifting over me to lean down and take a long kiss. Breaking off, she smiled breathlessly and gave a smoldering look, "B-be careful... we should return soon yes? If you do that again then we will be... otherwise engaged for awhile. I am close to normal again, close enough I think...I could save a little..." her horn stopped glowing and the invisible bits of the warehouse reappeared.

Yes, I wanted that very much thank you, she was much more manageable now, but still apparently tingling with power. Still... I should try to speak rationally before totally melting away. I had a couple questions yet. I gave her another short kiss she stretched forward to extend before I booped her nose. "Just a minute Jade, still recovering here..."

"I... I did not hurt you, did I?"

Well she had gotten a little energetic, but I wasn't about to say that, bruised flanks were a more than fair price so I wasn't going to complain. "No of course not. I'd do that again anytime, just the way we did if you wanted... Don't worry so much. I just need a little time, maybe you could keep talking to me? What did Virescent show you anyway?"

"Ah.. yes... that. Perhaps I should... show you? I do know memory magic, I could share what she showed me while I slept if you wish?"

Wow, that was pretty difficult stuff, I was impressed. "Kind of goes against getting back soon though doesn't it? You were out quite awhile from what I understand Jade."

Sitting up, she shook her cloudy mane around her and looked down at me, "Virescent deliberately delayed it. Not all of it is relevant for you either, she gave me much more trying to sway me. There are a few things I think you should see though, especially after your own experiences. It will take no longer than the few minutes you say you need?"

I pulled myself up and nodded up to her, "O-Ok, right. Let's do it then."

Watching her lean down and nod her head forward with her horn glowing brightly, I felt a little anxious, touching horns with another unicorn- alicorn... could be pretty intimate too. Not quite so much as what we had just done, but in a different way. But intimacy with Jade was ok, no matter what the form, I brought my own horn up and the magic of the two blended together as everything swirled away.

Inside another alicorn... this was familiar at least. This one looked to be green, but not Virescent, the long mane in front of my eyes was pale green and blue, partially obstructing my view. It was a pretty interesting view too, inside of a ruined skyscraper, enough landmarks in view marked it as within Trotson somewhere. A number of other alicorns were gathered around, outside the windows I caught sight of others flying to another nearby building leaning against this one. This was some kind of... settlement for alicorns? There were beds and occupied rooms, a lived in appearance, there were others here in the Commonwealth then.

The view panned down to a cream unicorn mare with a rose mane tied in a bun, wearing a blue and white lab coat that looked brand new with a high collar. She wore a white armor chest piece over it, similar to the robot in Watts, only without the mark of the Institute. A variety of alicorns gathered around her, but she was focused on the largest, a purple mare with a long white mane and suspicious yellow eyes.

"Greetings! I am a messenger from the great Dr. Dala of the Institute. We have been observing you for some time since you have come to the Commonwealth and even before, we think we may have things of interest to discuss with your kind if you would be so inclined?"

The purple alicorn looked the mare over dubiously before replying, "We wish to be left alone. We have sought out a place we thought private in that interest, we are... finding our place here."

"Certainly, we wish for the same and sympathize, it is actually very rare we make contact with the outside at all. Your own situation and desire for privacy, along with the desires of our own division, have made this a rare exception. You are trying to find your place without the Goddess correct? Your mother?"

That caught the attention of the entire group, though only the purple answered, "How do you know of the mother?"

"Oh we know many things! Even far beyond the bounds of the Commonwealth we have eyes watching... For example, we know your greatest wish. You wish to breed? To procreate? For male alicorns?"

"Yes...." the leader was suspicious, but unable to turn away from the bait.

"Dr. Dala finds your kind to be most interesting and your plight a delightful conundrum. It may interest you to know she worked with Twilight Sparkle herself on the theory involved in your creation. What has come out of the I.M.P. project has been a personal pet to the Doctor. She was most disheartened at the fall of your mother, so much so she has sent me as an envoy to reach out to you poor suffering dears and offer her assistance."

Murmurs ran through the crowd in the ruined office floor, the leader gestured for silence, then waved to the pale mare to go on.

"We are given to understand many of your sisters have gone to some Stable pony in Equestria with their problem, an untrained physician... her solution proposed so far relying on killing joke and... zebra mumbo jumbo... Unacceptable, you were creations of Arcane Science! Alchemy is a pitiful answer to your problem, the correct answer will surely be found from the same source. The Institute has the prototype formula you know... It is not what Ministry Mare Sparkle eventually concocted, but it is a start yes?"

"What's more, the method offered by this Velvet Remedy pony... turning some of you male... rubbish! You do not necessarily need your own kind turned to male versions of yourselves, as a matter of fact that limits your genetic diversity, you're still pulling from a small pool that way. No, Dr. Dala's solution is more elegant, what you truly need is simply compatible males, they need not even be alicorns themselves so long as they can properly mate and produce offspring."

The murmuring grew more excited, heads nodded with interest and the crowd started closing in to listen to the unicorn. The leader hushed them all with a wave and glowered at the mare. "What you say is... intriguing. How do you intend to create compatible males, more specifically, what males do you suggest making compatible? If that is your goal?"

"Oh, well, there are plenty of ponies in the Commonwealth just going to waste aren't there? We are quite sure finding volunteers would not even be that difficult."

"And what would your master hope to gain from this?"

"Advancement of Arcane Science! Of course. The I.M.P. project had great potential that was never seen to its intended course. Compatibility should be a trifle, but Dr. Dala would also continue until the formula works properly, turning ponies into alicorns correctly. Then you could simply choose who you wished to join you! Imagine the variety, no more three types only, but as many different types of alicorns as there are ponies! Stagnation is death you know, adaptation, variety, these are where true strength lies. Dr. Dala is also a great fan of the flesh, the continuation of your species through sexual means is of personal interest to her. This is what you wish for yes?"

Listening to the smooth patter, I remembered Watcher's warning about what he knew of the Institute, 'Anything they find interesting, they meddle with' I doubted this mare was so gracious or benign as she was making out. They found something they wanted to play with when alicorns came to the Commonwealth, nothing more.

"We will consider your proposal... leave us." The leader alicorn brooked no argument and none was offered, the mare simply turned on her hoof and walked back to the somehow functional elevator, leaving the crowd of alicorns to begin open debate among themselves. Many were in favor, the mare I was occupying the most strident.

"You heard her Umbra! The ability to turn any pony into one of us! Imagine it! At the very least to be able to breed with the other ponies of this world? To produce foals at last! This is what the mother wanted!" I felt myself say in the memory, I would never get used to that.

Many other alicorns joined her, stamping their hooves in agreement. Jade was right, they were fixated on this one thing quite a bit. The purple mare in charge gave a resounding crack of bright magic from her horn for quiet and answered on getting it.

"We know your thoughts on this matter Evergreen, and why you feel so. Consorting with other ponies... we do not stand in your way, but we do advise caution, your personal feelings cloud your judgement here, which are still new to us. From what we have gathered since our arrival, these... Institute ponies are not to be trusted. They send a single pony to entreat us and hide in the shadows. We are few and weakened here, finding our way. Following another who could be no better than Redeye just to achieve our aims... no. For now I cannot recommend it."

"But..."

"No."

The memory swirled away directly into another, I was still in the same mare, there was no change in the sensations I received anyway and that light mane was in my vision still. This time obscuring gleaming white metal hallways falling away as the body I occupied walked down them, following the same cream unicorn mare from before.

"We are so glad some of you have expressed interest in our offer, though we are saddened it has caused a schism in your community. I think the holdouts will come along eventually though, after they see our first successes, how could they not?"

"S-so I hope... Am I not to meet this Dr. Dala? I had hoped to speak with her directly..."

"I am afraid Dr. Dala is terribly busy, you will meet her eventually. She also fears her appearance can be a bit disturbing and has no wish to frighten you off. Best to foster a good relationship first, then let it grow closer. Results are what matter in Arcane Science! And results we already have. If you please..." the mare slid open a metal door marked with the sign of the Institute and "Biosciences- Level 5", revealing a dark room beyond.

The alicorn I was in, Evergreen, stepped into the chamber and gasped when the lights came up. Rows upon rows of clear cylinders stretched from floor to ceiling, most held only glowing green fluid, but some held... ponies.. Twisted ponies under some bizarre experimentation, sleeping peacefully in the fluid that held them. In front of our vision was one well on its way to turning into something like the thing I fought at the church, an earth pony? That's what it looked like anyway, it was already bulky and muscular, but still had a mane and tail, a tiny bud of a horn was erupting from their head and little nubs of wings could barely be seen on the back. In the other tubes, I could barely make out other normal pony shapes in the process of twisting into something else, each wildly different.

"It is working? Already?" our mouth sounded out.

"Well, this experiment has been underway some time. With the alicorns created by Twilight Sparkle to examine though, we expect to greatly accelerate our research. Gender unfortunately remains an issue, but we are learning a great deal about the three subsets of ponies and how they can be combined into one form. Dr. Dala agrees with this Redeye on that much at least, certain elements were missing from your creation that have left you as you are. A single gender and type of pony in the recombinant being the primary issue, there is also a great deal of research concerning cutie marks as well by a different division that may hold relevance, but biology is your primary concern at the moment."

"Radiation contamination of our samples has also been an issue, it makes the whole process more difficult. Years of exposure and mutation throw everything off when using wasteland ponies. There are two schools of thought on the subject, one is to attempt to find a source of uncontaminated ponies, or as much so as possible in the wasteland. The Institute has our own.... limited stock of such, but we would not use them until we could be more sure of the results. The second is to test on those most afflicted with radiation, to narrow down the effects and ways to eliminate them."

"The latter option is most promising at the moment, there is no shortage of such test subjects and they are often desperate, making the promise of a better life most tempting. We will pursue both of course, but feel your involvement may help greatly in the second. We are to understand the success with the second group is of interest to you personally Miss Evergreen?"

"I... Yes... I would have it work on wasteland ponies...." Her cheeks were hot... she was blushing? Who was this mare, I assumed the memories Virescent gave Jade were her own.

"Or one in particular, yes? Of course we understand, as I have said, Dr. Dala is a great fan of the flesh and the pleasures it contains. She has viewed your own experiments in such areas with interest, as part of collecting data of course..." A smirk? I really didn't like this scientist mare...

"I... that is private! W-what we do is not experiments!" As hot as her face felt, I could imagine what they were referring to and would feel the same way. Did feel the same way unless I missed my guess...

"Oh of course Miss Evergreen, we simply view everything as data here. We have no wish to intrude, observing you and your.... friend... was actually what piqued Dr. Dala's interest in finding a solution for you. Such a lovely star crossed couple, to never see such a union blessed is most unfair isn't it?" This mare was smooth alright, I really was starting to hate her. The Shroud in my head marked her, just in case I ever saw her out in the Commonwealth...

"Y-yes... yes it is. I would have a life with him, like any other pony."

The scientist mare smiled broadly and waved around her to the horrible chamber, "Just what we would have for you as well! Just what you deserve my dear! Just what you shall have..."

Coming back to your own body under a lot of eager alicorn was pretty startling, it did distract me from what I had seen though. Being able to just not think a bit was nice and the whole thing was a lot less daunting with Jade nearly back to normal, slower and sweeter this time. Lying together afterwards, I let pieces start drifting together in my head absently, not trying to force anything for once.

Dr. Dala, Biosciences, someone who had contact with Twillight Sparkle at one point so... prewar? But still somehow alive after Jade's mother the Goddess died 200 years later. Two other Dr. names had been uncovered at Watts, Professors Klein and Borous who were definitely prewar, could they still be around too? The two subjects were radically different, making robots vs. meddling with living alicorns... What was it Preston said? That the Institute made more than just synths, that sometimes they seemed to work at cross purposes?

A mention in the memory of a division messing around with cutie marks too, which was strictly magic, not science like robots or biology like alicorns. Watcher had told me what he knew of the Institute, that during the war they were like a dark reflection of the Ministries, without the Ministry Mares to hold them back. Ok... Robots = Ministry of Wartime Technologies. Alicorns = Ministry of... Arcane Sciences? Peace? They seemed to be approaching the problem strictly from a biology standpoint, M.O.A. might have made the alicorns, but if I had to guess Biosciences = Ministry of Peace.

The vague mention of cutie marks seemed more like M.O.A., they were magic right? Though magic inextricably linked to a pony's soul. I didn't know of any Ministry that meddled around with things like souls though, that was more zebra necromancy... A passing mention of another division and cutie marks just wasn't enough to go on though. For all I knew, it could be the Ministry of Image, ridiculous as that was. Cutie marks were on your flanks... part of your image... made as much sense as anything. The more I considered, the more I realized several Ministries didn't make much sense with a war on, a Ministry of parties? What did Rainbow Dash's Ministry even do? I was too young to think of this stuff at the time and now it made zero sense to me.

This Biosciences part of the Institute was responsible for starting the strange Church of Balefire, apparently simply to brainwash and gather volunteers with high radiation counts to see what effects it had on their experiments. That followed with what Watcher said too, that they made deals... worked through others to experiment on ponies. They hadn't changed their bag of tricks that much then. That meant not only were there other places out there potentially like Watts or worse, but there were modern versions as well.

None of it related to my Stable that I could see either. Why would they take all the stasis pods and ponies within? If they made deals with companies in the Commonwealth, that may explain how that teleporter got down there, going through the contractors to build it originally... Watcher said they did things for reasons that didn't make sense to anypony else, that they were crazy... Not a comforting thought. At worst, it was possible the Institute wasn't one monolithic evil organization, but a loose collection of nuts, divisions all focused on their own brand of insanity that had to be tracked down separately...

Despite Mama Xara informing me the old school they started from had been picked clean over 200 years with no trace, I was thinking I needed to go visit the place. Ponies looking into the ruins were looking for a trace of the Institute now or just loot, not necessarily information, which is what I wanted. Some of that may still be there.

On top of all this, as if trying to go after such a powerful and obviously bonkers group wasn't enough, were the things I found myself embroiled in out in the wasteland at large. Sanctuary and the ponies living there waiting on us. Preston's Minutemares and trying to rebuild them to bring the Commonwealth together and fight the Institute. The residents of Hexington living in desperate conditions, while their ruler bled them dry for his own benefit. The two ponies I met from the Brotherhood between the Steel Rangers and this former Enclave Val hated so much, who spoke of not liking the Institute either. The bridge barring my easiest access to the de facto capitol of the Commonwealth, Diamond City...

Looking through the holes in the warehouse we hid in and seeing the first hints of dawn in the distance, I thought about that last. That was a problem I could do something about right now... lying here with Jade so comfortably relaxed me enough to even let a random idea on the subject drift up. I heard the radio, I knew the raider colt I spared in Poncord had spread the story of the crazy pony calling himself the Shrouded Stallion... After Thundega the idea was apparently being whispered among all those bad ponies out there.

Thinking of Rarity's Ministry of Image earlier clicked together with the thought. Image could be something powerful, it wasn't a well known or popular Ministry, but they made all those posters still littering the wastes I remembered being new. Ideas could be powerful, they were something used in the war effort I could see making sense as an adult. If Ministry Mare Rarity could do it, couldn't I? Use an idea, the image of something, for a good cause? To change things?

I checked out the holes in the roof again, I had a little dark left outside... I wanted to be back before Glitter woke up anyway and that was usually not long after Celestia's dawn, much to my chagrin. I didn't need to do much now... just set up the idea in their heads, give them a chance to be better...

Reluctantly, I nudged Jade cuddling against me out of her doze. Stifling a laugh at her blinking gaze and mane sticking up on one side. "Sorry to wake you Jade... you look cute..."

"Hmm? T-time to go?" She was actually getting deep rest for once, usually her sleep was more fitful. That made me feel good, seeing her normally nightmare plagued slumber soothed was what she deserved.

"Yeah, I think so. How would you like to help me do something before we get back to town though? It will just take a second..."

Standing on the arches far above this side of the drawbridge leading across the river and to Diamond City I had to admit, part of me had a flair for theatrics... mostly that Shroud part in my head, but still. The sun was growing close to cresting the horizon and I stood in place high above the ponies below blocking off this path to the heart of the Commonwealth, waiting for the right timing. They didn't see me not only because who thinks to look up really, but also because I was currently invisible, along with Jade hovering nearby.

"This is really necessary Fast?" I heard the air whisper to me.

"Necessary? Ummm.... not so much... sort of... It's to scare them a little maybe, but give them a chance to be better though." I wished I could see her expression, but hoped that brightened it, helping ponies be better was a major thing for the Follower of the Apocalypse filly. Before I could ask, a glance at the horizon told me I should do this now if I wanted it to work out the way I wanted, I really wished I could do voice altering spells but I'd manage. "Ok Jade, drop it."

At her request I appeared on the perch above the raiders, black armor obscured by a flapping black cloak in the last of the night's gloom. I should really try to find a hat somewhere...

"GREETINGS EVILDOERS...."

Yelps and frantic activity on E.F.S. followed the announcement floating down from directly above the raiders, I could make out their shouts from here, so assumed they'd have no trouble hearing me.

"Who the fuck is that!?"

"How'd he get up there!?!"

"Wait... is that the crazy pony from the radio?!"

Another glance at the sun preparing to rise, best to get started. "This is the Shrouded Stallion criminal scum! You hold a route innocent ponies rely on and extort them to use what you had nothing to do with making. I find this unacceptable, more importantly, it is an affront to Luna. As you can see, the dawn approaches and my time grows short, so I have decided to offer you a chance..."

"I will not dispatch you on the spot, I will allow you the opportunity to be better... If you were to guard this bridge, protect the ponies of the Commonwealth wishing to use it, I am sure they would offer you what help they could, rather than be forced to pay your toll."

"Should you disregard this single chance... retribution like you cannot imagine will rain down on you and not even by my hoof, but by the very ponies you seek to bleed dry. The goddesses will each watch you once, this day, this night, hoping you change your ways. After that a trader will come with Celestia's next day to use this bridge, a bridge you did not build and do not repair. If you try to extort this innocent... you will suffer.... I would listen if I were you."

Shouts of conversation and jeers drifted up, some sounded a bit concerned though... good. Without moving from my scowling position looking down on them, I whispered to Jade to be ready, the sun was going to come up right about.... now.

Seeing the dark pony promising Luna's wrath simply disappear into thin air as the sun broke the horizon did just what I wanted. They were arguing frantically back and forth, but they were definitely spooked. Feeling myself picked up in Jade's magic I was placed on her back and we made the trip back to Hexington to get back to Glitter and Val. The raiders on the bridge had a chance to do better than they were now, if they didn't take it... they were certainly going to regret it....

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

Rad Resistant---------------
-- Diving headlong into the site of a balefire bomb explosion along with... intimate exposure to a filly that soaks it up has made you more resilient! Grants +25% radiation resistance.

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

Children of Balefire-Vilified
---Destroying their church outside of Hexington hasn't exactly endeared you to the Children, there are more of these cultists out there though so watch yourself in the future.

The Institute- Unpredictable
---You've probably been noticed by this mysterious group by now. Taking away Watt's from their control along with now ruining some of their plans with the Children of Balefire would make you pretty unpopular with most groups, but they simply find you unpredictable, which is basically "interesting" to them...