"G-Good morning Commonwealth! Er... This is Travelling Miles at Diamond City Radio... well you know that I guess. Anyway, welcome to another day in the wasteland, I um.. h-hope everyone made it through another night. In a bit of news though that seems kinda unlikely... There's reports of a lot of explosions and gunfire coming from the balefire crater outside Hexington last night. Contact with the folks in Hex has been spotty with the bridge closed, last we heard here there was some kinda church? Um... one sec... yeah, Church of Balefire, that's weird huh?

I think I remember seeing one of their members preachin', outside the gates to D.C. of course... Those types are p-pretty unwelcome round here, w-whether you agree with it or not. Anyway... er... yeah, something happened where their little church in this neck of the woods is... was? Dunno, lots of smoke still in sky this morning from that direction so... make your own guesses. M-maybe the goddesses didn't appreciate the competition huh? All the talk about.. er... Luna's wrath... the S-Shroud running around out there in the wastes, maybe not so crazy as it sounds? We'll let you know when we do folks, meantime how bout a little music to start the day?"

Gliding into the town of Hexington invisible let us avoid a lot of bothersome questions at the gates, the guards were actually pretty alert today and there was a buzz in the air even this early in the morning. Ponies and zebras ate meager meals around small fires in barrels and prepared for another day of scavenging, trying to use every last bit of daylight to scrape out as much as they could. We touched down in an alley and I heard conversation from a nearby crowd outside the narrow lane.

"Saw it myself! Goddess herself just plopped right down in tha middle of town!"

"Sure, sure... all the whiskey had nothin to do with it right Sour?"

"Yeah, can't even get yer facts straight either, Goddess Luna was blue alright but her mane was dark and all... sparkly... an' long. Not short an' pale!"

"I seen what I seen! Was to pale! How you even know what she looked like huh?"

"Really... yer really asking me that..."

"Oh... yeah... sorry, ferget the whole you bein' around back then thing sometimes Muffin... but still I seen it!"

The gravelly voice of a ghoul chortled and the group moved on, fading away as I walked visibly to the exit and looked back, Jade was still not there though. Don't tell me she ran off again! "JADE!"

"Sssssh! I- I am here Fast..." her voice whispered right behind me, still just invisible then.

"So... why not where I can see you? I like seeing you."

"You heard them... I seem to have c-caused quite a scene. Could we not just go to the others this way? Please?"

I sighed and relented, she didn't like attention and was bound to attract it after the display she put on, even in the dead of night. One tends not to forget a giant alicorn landing right in the center of town and taking off again. "You have to be seen eventually though... you want to help everyone here right? Can't do that if you hide Jade."

"I know... just let things get a little less crowded? Is that not ok?" I would continue, but feeling thin air nuzzle against you while walking up the street was distracting, I veered in surprise and ran into a rusting streetlight. "F-Fast! Oh dear..."

I scrambled back up darting glances around, hoping no one saw that seemingly unmotivated display of grace... of course I caught a few stares. Sure, I randomly ran into blunt objects for fun, that's it. Beating a hasty retreat, I trotted to Rusty's Salvage Emporium, trying to sneak by the doctor's office on the way, the owner wasn't happy with me right now.

Once we got there, I was heartened to see the dark Sentinel bot humming outside the doors, damaged but still whole. I had hoped it made it back, be a shame to just lose the rolling tank, though it would need some repairs. Seemingly at the thought, the Sentinel noticed me and turned.

COMMANDER RETURNS. UNIT REQUIRES SERVICE AND RELOADING

A gasp sounded from Jade at the booming robot, "This is the robot you spoke of Fast? It... obeys?"

"Yeah this is one of them, this is the standard one though, not the weird one. He listens really well, nothing to worry about Jade. Um, I'll get to fixing you as soon as I can ok Sentinel? I dunno about the reloading thing, have to find ammo you can use somewhere, so just sit tight."

CONFIRMED

My inspection of what I'd need to fix up the trusty tank was interrupted by a small white blur slamming into me and knocking me to the ground. Little hooves were pounding against my sides as I gasped up to see Glitter frowning at me, "Daddy! Where have you been!?! Why'd you leave again! How come you didn't wake me! Where's Miss Jade!!!"

"Ow! G-Glitter! She's right..."

"Ahem..." Jade's nervous cough from the door to Rusty's caught the foal's attention sparing me from the assault. She was peeking out from inside the doorway, looking down at the both of us. "Hello Glitter, I am here. A-Are you alright? When they took me you must have been..."

Whatever she was going to say was cut short, Glitter leapt from me and Jade got a chance to be tackled this time. Though I noted with a grumble even her best wasn't enough to knock the alicorn to the ground.

"Miss Jade! You're ok! I was worried! Did they hurt you? I... I tried to stop them!"

Surprised blue eyes softened at the silver maned filly clutching her legs, Glitter had been scared when the Children of Balefire kidnapped Jade alright. I felt bad having to leave her here, but was very grateful to Rusty and Copper for watching her and keeping her away from that horrible place.

"I am fine little one, they did not harm me, see? I was more concerned for you, but Fast informed me you were safe once he came for me. I am sorry that happened, you were very brave from what I hear. T-Thank you very much dear,"

Joining the two inside, I ruffled the foals mane and sat beside them, noticing AssaultJack watching silently from the corner, still guarding the Glitter. "See, promised I'd bring her back right? Couldn't wake you up just to say I hadn't now could I?"

She eyed me dubiously for a moment, but I did get a hug instead of more pounding hooves, so that was an improvement. "You should'a! I fell asleep watchin' you on the map, when I woke up you two were somewheres else an' Auntie Val told me you left me alone again! Bad poppa!" I only got a small frown before she turned on Jade with wide eyes, "Were you really all great big Miss Jade? You look fine now, Val wasn't makin' stories up, was she?"

Jade flushed a bit, looking to me before answering in embarrassment, "Er... y-yes, I was... the griffon was telling the truth. That can happen to me sometimes. I... did not wish you to see me that way though."

"Awwww! Why not!? I bet it was really cool!"

The alicorn filly's discomfort was only added to by Rusty speaking up from behind the counter, with his wife Copper coming down the stairs behind him. "Oh aye, was one hell of a sight little filly. Like seein' one of the goddesses come down to Hex. Very impressive there Miss Jade, caused quite the buzz around town, everyone's talkin' bout it."

Watching the Jade shrink and hide behind her wings was almost comical, her wide blue eyes peeked up to the ghoul, mortified. "T-They are? Oh no... e-everyone?"

I hugged her cringing shoulders before she got the idea of just vanishing again. Glitter prancing around in excitement wasn't helping, but it also wasn't the fear I was sure some part of her was worried about. "But I missed it! No fair! Do it again Miss Jade! Pleeeeeease!!! I wanna see! Could you like, smash a building? Ooooh or step on the mean doctor! He wouldn't shut up bout the medicine dad took for hours!"

That got her attention and she looked between us quizzically, "I... cannot do it again just when I wish Glitter. If it happens again I... I will consider letting you see, I will not smash things or step on ponies however. Now what is this about taking medicine Fast?"

Crap.

"Ummm.... you had most of the healing stuff.... we were going to the crater and had to have it. Val said he was overcharging for it, so she just paid fair price, but I told her to. I don't like that doctor, I maaaaay have kinda... sorta... threatened him... a little... I told him we could talk about it when I got back though!"

Well she stopped trying to disappear anyway, a disappointed frown crossed her face now that her wings folded back again. "That was bad Fast, you must make amends and pay the doctor."

"But... he's a jerk! He's overcharging for meds the ponies here need badly! I had to have them to go after you!"

"And what kind of example is that?" Jade huffed and nodded to Glitter watching the exchange, "That might makes right? Are you no more than a bully or raider Fast? Why bother paying anything then, you took things against his wishes, yes? Stealing is still stealing, whether you paid some of his price or not. We will go together."

"But you don't like him either! The way he treated you... he deserved it!"

"No, I do not like him. I disagree with that doctor quite a bit, but he is a fellow medical pony, he does help others. I would hope to work with him somehow still. Doing wrong is not ok just because the other party is rude and unlikable." She stood and stamped her hoof, she was getting her way on this... dammit.

"Fine.... ugh..." I didn't want to deal with the pissy doctor, I wanted to go to sleep actually, with the sun up I was tired from everything last night. "Rusty, Copper, thanks a lot for watching Glitter for me, we'll get out of your mane now."

The ghoulish couple smiled and Copper Coil shook her head, "Not at all Fast. Was a delight to have her, glad you got your mare back as well. Good to see you back among us Miss Jade. You could collect your griffon though, good thing we ghouls don't really need sleep, not sure how your foal managed though with a buzzsaw at her bed."

That's what that noise from upstairs was... I had assumed it must be some of Rusty's industrial equipment...

With a yawn I started trudging to the stairs and the source of the racket looking to Rusty, "Sorry about that, I'll get her. Once I've had a chance to get some rest I have some things to talk with you about Rusty, if you two are free for lunch maybe?"

"Oh we'll clear our busy schedule Fast. Got a few parts out for that robot of yours out front too when you like, already planning a run back to Watt's to pull out some more stock. Hafta keep it quiet though, don't want just anyone finding out that place is open now."

More to think about.... bah. I was glad the ghoul was handling all the details of making caps from our adventure, beyond surviving and taking control of the place, I had no idea what to do about it. I nodded gratefully to both of them and walked up to wake a sleeping griffon, before she rattled the junk from the walls.

I think I ground my teeth enough to cause sparks as I sat and listened to the old doctor rail at me... I guess I sort of had it coming, but I really didn't like him. Having Jade and Glitter to either side of me in his dingy office helped me keep my temper though.

"Just come in and intimidate me! Send yer griffon to take what'cha want! Common thief pushin' me around, see if I ever help you if'n you need it. Don't s'pose you even brought any of it back did ya? I charge a lot for that stuff cause there ain't much of it! Course we need it here, but you didn't think of that did ya? Went and got yer big blue filly back so yer happy, who cares bout ol' Doc Scalpel eh? Take yer sorry and stuff it! Where's the balance of what you owe?"

Val had sensibly stayed outside, but glared through the window, hanging upside down from the now completely shredded awning. She held most of our funds and refused to contribute to paying this nasty doctor, unlike Jade she had no moral qualms with what we did. I put what allowance I was given from the griffon along with a lone packet of Rad-Away and a few tablets of Rad-X on the counter sheepishly, hoping it was enough.

It wasn't... "This is it!? Come in here and rob me some more!"

Glitter at least wasn't held back by the patient blue gaze to my right, she jumped up, thumping her hooves on the counter and scowling at the doctor. "That's fair! You should be happy he's tryin'!"

"Excuse me... perhaps we could work out a trade doctor..." Jade cut the oncoming battle between the foal and old pony short, stepping forward and floating Glitter back to me. "I fear we have gotten off on the wrong hoof Dr. Scalpel, you are correct there are certain things I may be... naive about, and you have a great deal of experience I would learn from. I suggest I work off Fast's remaining debt here today, I am quite sure my magic reserves far surpass your own at the moment. This would give us a chance to talk and should be fair yes?"

Doc Scalpel grumbled and stroked his wispy beard, glaring at me, but considering the alicorn in front of him carefully. Finally he relented and leaned around Jade to grouse at me, "Fine, yer lucky yer filly friend here is coverin' for you young buck. Considered goin' to the Mayor an' havin' you arrested! Not that it's all that likely to get him to do anything worth a damn..."

Even the nasty doctor didn't like the Mayor huh? Interesting... "Look, doctor... I am sorry, I was panicked and I don't like certain things about Hexington, including Mayor Lash. I plan on opening the bridge to Diamond City back up, which should increase trade and business, so that will help right? I may be coming into some caps soon too, give Jade and her ideas for the Followers a chance, I'll try to find a way to make them work so you can make caps and help everyone. We should both try to be better ponies don't you think? I'm trying right now, very hard..."

The old stallion grumbled and stared, but didn't automatically slip back into insults and screeching. "We'll see, not likely to happen, but the bridge bein' clear would help things. I'll give yer filly a listen, happy?"

Glancing behind him I did have one thing to add, "Sure sir, one more thing though. If Jade's going to be working with you today she should look the part right? I notice you have an old lab coat hanging back there... Could she have it? Er... add it to my tab?"

Scalpel turned back to the garment and looked back between Jade and I groaning, "Tab! I don't run tabs... Whatever, don't wear the thing myself anymore, everypony here knows I'm the doc. Yer payin' for it though, not her. Guessin' that's how you want it anyway? Not much of a gift if'n she's workin' it off."

"Umm... yeah, please. I'll pay, thank you doctor." he huffed and rolled his eyes as I got rewarded with a kiss on the cheek from Jade for my poor bartering skills.

"Thank you Fast, that is very sweet. I do miss my coat..." the quick glance back to her blank flank told me why too, the fall air didn't seem to bother her in the slightest. "You stay out of trouble, alright? I will see you all soon, you mentioned lunch? That would be lovely, make him get some rest for me Glitter, he has been awake all night."

Glitter nodded happily and gave her long legs a hug before bounding off to follow me out. Val landed softly as we left and the AssaultJack robot followed from her post at the doorway. Walking up the street in the bright morning sunshine just made me sleepy and Val yawning beside me didn't help, she at least got some sleep... Glitter was leading the way towards the Dreary Inn watching all of us over her shoulder.

"C'mon pop, you heard Miss Jade, bedtime. Get some sleep so you can tell me everything that happened!"

Valkyrie blinked drowsily over and smirked, "Yeah boss, interested in that myself. You were gone quite awhile... Blue seems awful lovely dovey this mornin' too, what did you two get up to? Givin' away my pay?"

"N-No! er... none of your business! We... talked, it took awhile for her to get back to normal ok?! S-Stop teasing Val, I'm tired an' we have stuff to do here yet."

"Oh? Fun stuff boss? I can see the wheels turnin' in yer head, what are you up to?"

"You'll probably like it yeah... just... stuff right now. I need to talk to a few folks when I get up, hopefully over lunch if I can get them all together. We'll need somewhere kinda private to talk too, don't want to be overheard just yet. I have to go talk to the mayor's assistant and the zebras, at least Rusty already agreed." Thinking was hard right now, but muddled plans were sort of coming together. I had to have a conversation with all of them at once somehow. Tempting as just taking the mayor out of the picture was, Jade had been right, I wasn't a common raider right? The Shroud was supposed to have a code, to be better, I should try.

"I can go ask em while you sleep daddy! I'm not tired an' I have AssaultJack with me, right? Can I help? There's a dining room in the hotel too! Lemme do it pleeeeease!" Glitter pouted prancing in front of me. I didn't really like the idea of her roaming around by herself while I passed out, but she was right too. She dealt with ponies better than I ever could, and now had the deadliest robot I could imagine shadowing her. She wasn't defenseless either, she wanted to help and would be bored waiting in the hotel with us. Ugh...

"Alright.... if you're very careful I'll let you handle this ok? Oblige Heart and Elder Zin, they both know you're my daughter so they should listen. Get us that room for lunch from the hotel ghoul, invite them both to come, tell them it's important. When you're done come back to the hotel alright? I know it's boring, but it's safer, I don't like you being out here by yourself, even with AssaultJack."

That got a wide smile and a hug before she trotted over to the gleaming robot, "We'll be fine daddy, isn't that right AssaultJack?"

"Shore is little filly! We'll be jus' fine Master Fast, ain't nothin' gonna harm a hair on her head a'tall while Ah'm on the job!" Hearing Applejack's voice I vaguely remembered from TV coming out of the killing machine was still jarring, but she had a point. I still shuddered remembering just what this robot could do when it wanted.

"Alright, sounds like a...." a wide yawn interrupted me as we entered the hotel, "...plan... right. Be careful ok?"

"Right! We will, thank you dad! I'll do a good job!" with that she bolted off on her mission. I smiled watching her go and trudged up the stairs, Val had simply flown up to the second floor through the open area above the lobby and opened her door as I reached her. She tromped in and flopped to the bed as I followed. I had a key to the other one somewhere, but we were the only ones sleeping and I really didn't feel like digging it up. I shut the door and stumbled to the vacant mattress, collapsing on it in a heap still wearing my armor, cloak and bags.

"What, I don't get a little pony to cuddle boss?" Val muttered half asleep across from me.

"Nnnn... not moving... come over here if you want, sleeping..." I was too tired to even rise to her ribbing at this point, we had been through a lot between Watt's and the Church of Balefire, it had all come crashing down at once now that we were all together and safe.

"Bah... may take you up on that boss... when I don't feel like brahmim dung... Rad meds work pretty good but they still take it out of ya huh? Least we ain't spewin' from both ends though, right?"

Yes, considering we had charged right to the heart of a balefire bomb detonation and weren't shedding hair and feathers along with teeth and skin, the medicine I... borrowed... had done its job well. I felt a bit bad for taking it, but it had been necessary. Jade was paying that cost now though, which is the main reason I felt bad, not because I did it or who I took it from.

"Thank you Valkyrie, for going with me to do that, for everything. I'm glad I met you." I was already slipping to sleep. but that needed to be said, I had really grown to rely on the fiery griffon.

"K-Knock it off boss... no fair... be cute later, too tired right now..." the red griffon could get a little redder after all,. Well, only fair considering how much she enjoyed messing with me.

"I'm serious Val, I don't know enough about you, don't know why you took the contract with me, but I really count on you. Least I could do is tell you so, I'm happy we're friends."

She ruffled a bit before turning a violet eye on me softly, "That's why I like you boss, you don't know nothin'. Treat me like anybody else... Maybe I'll tell you stuff about me sometime, just... for now... Look, I was down to takin' contracts from raiders when I met you, think I liked workin' for Crank? The shit they got up to there? Was seriously evaluatin' where I was, waitin' on him to pay me for kidnappin' folks in the rain, when you just show up outta nowhere, offerin' an open contract of all things. Sorta thought... what the hell, gotta be better than this, right? Glad I did now, yer fun boss. Now hush up an' lemme sleep, fore I come over there an' make ya."

At that she just huffed and rolled over, putting her back to me and grumbling. Val masked everything with her normal joking and playing around so it was hard to think what she might be hiding with it. I made a mental note to keep working on her, she had become family out here.

"Thanks Val, I love you too," I muttered over to her, but just got met with loud snores, though I'd swear they sounded a tad fake. Either way, they weren't enough to keep me awake.

A few hours sleep did wonders, I woke feeling much better to find Glitter siting at the end of my mattress, playing with the stuffed Applejack from Mr. Watt's insane collection and Val still snoring across the room. As soon as I shifted the foal spun on me happily, leaping up to stand in front of my face as I rubbed my eyes.

"Daddy! Bout time! I been sittin' here waitin' and waitin' for you to wake up, I went an' talked to everybody you asked for!" her boisterous greeting interrupted Val's snores and she snorted on her bed.

"Good job Glitter, what did they say?"

"They both said okie dokie! The mayor's assistant said she was busy, but I told her you asked for her an' said it was important, then she said she'd make time. The zebras wanted to talk to you anyway, so they said they'd come, they asked me to tell the one workin' downstairs an' he said he'd get us the dining room for noon. Didn't I do a good job?"

A pat of the head made her beam ecstatically, I had to find some way to break her of always wanting to earn her way, but she was usually right. "Yes Glitter, great job, thank you very much. You haven't been too bored have you?"

"No! Umm... m-maybe a little... but it's ok! I got this new toy now so I was just playin', thank you pop!"

Val groaned and cut my reply off, tossing the ratty pillow across the room, nailing me right in the face. "Nnnnn! Sleeping room! Go be a good dad somewhere else boss, wake me when there's actually somethin' to do."

We both decided to heed the warning before she found something else to throw and escaped the room, hearing fresh snores start up as the door shut. I checked my pip-buck for the time, still an hour left to putter around... Well, the Sentinel still needed work and I'd want it back in top condition. Flipping through the menus. I arrived back at the current mission I was still mulling over;

Mission- 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 choices are what the arcano-tech device had volunteered. I still had no idea how it came up with this weird system that tracked what I did or should do, but I was curious how flexible it was now. Getting all three of them together and discussing things would help me decide what course of action to actually take.

"Glitter, want to help me fix the big robot? Learn a little about being a repair-pony maybe?"

"Umm... o-ok... that stuff's kinda... boooring though dad...I'll help though!" I should expect as much, but part of me wanted to share what I knew with her, teach what skills I could pass on. Judging by her reaction though, I doubted her cutie mark would suddenly appear as we worked on the Sentinel together.

"You don't have to, just wanted to do something together I guess. I forget not everypony likes this stuff like I do is all."

"Oh I wanna do stuff with you! Just... c-could I make it pretty instead? It's awful big, an' dark, an' ugly...

A short chat with Rusty later got not only the needed parts, but some spare paint Glitter set to applying to the robot happily while I worked. Checking on her progress as I pulled my head out of the bulky robot's chassis after doing what I could, I noticed the Sentinel now had flames painted up each thick leg. She had moved on to painting a copy of my own cutie mark on the side of its' torso, hanging off the legs to reach the brush in her mouth up to the surface. Apparently the flames were to make it go faster according to Glitter, seeing my own mark on the tank was odd, but she insisted.

Hopping down from the Sentinel, I shot another glance across the square. Doc Scalpel's clinic had attracted quite a crowd. Word must have spread the alicorn everyone was talking about was working there today, Jade had to be terribly uncomfortable. While I watched the gathering of ponies and ghouls, the doctor himself pushed his way through the door, shooing them away gruffly.

"Go on, get! She's not here, come back later, bring caps ya lookie loos!" he shouted down the disappointed crowd as they started to disperse.

I kept waiting for Jade to exit the building, he said she was gone and it was nearly lunch, so where was she? While I stared a quiet cough interrupted my concern and I turned to see the mare in question hiding in the doorway to Rusty's again. She had found a floppy hat and sunglasses somewhere and was trying very hard to be inconspicuous, hiding her wings under her coat, though it wasn't working well. Seeing her in the getup I had to ask about it.

"I... borrowed these from Copper, I thought perhaps I would blend in more? The doctor's office quickly became swamped with ponies wanting to... see me... He was quite upset, but eventually put me in the back and started charging for er... h-he said 'personal care from the g-goddess'... Though he does seem satisfied about your debt Fast, it was very disagreeable but I seem to have brought in quite a bit of business."

The thought of putting Jade up as a premium service, taking advantage of everyone wanting to get a look... I really didn't like that doctor... She must have noticed my scowl towards the old stallion still clearing folks away though, she slunk out of the door and joined me, drawing my gaze away from him.

"I-It is alright Fast, I do not mind and we did speak some. I do not think he will join the Followers anytime soon, but we may be able to work out some compromise. I taught him how to make potions for my kind, which are effective on ghouls as well, and I tried to work on his bias against zebras. Telling him of Mama Xara's potions and their efficacy seemed to catch his attention. Try not to be too cross with him, he has led a long life filled with seeing a lot of pain and suffering, trying to do something about it and only seeing more. He is jaded and cynical, but still a good pony underneath."

Getting a nuzzle to go along with her soft words helped, but I wasn't going to like him anytime soon. "Alright Jade, if you say so. I'm sorry you had to do that because of me, thank you for that."

"Think nothing of it, though I do hope you will refrain from bullying and stealing in the future Fast... Now then, Rusty and Copper mentioned meeting others for lunch? I thought it would be just us, what are you up to?"

"Umm... yeah... I invited a few extra guests, sorry... Er, there's a reason though. M-maybe we should head that way and I can tell you with everyone?" Being unable to lie to her was annoying at times and I really didn't think she'd like my thoughts on the mayor here. I had backed away from just removing him from the equation the easy way at least, at her urging to do better, but this probably wouldn't be peaceful either.

Glitter spared me from the curious frown, "Yeah Miss Jade, I went an' invited everyone! I made him sleep like you said, so don't worry! See how I made the robot better?"

That distracted her while she took in the new paintjob and praised the foal's artistic skills. She kept darting dubious looks to me, but Rusty and Copper exiting their shop pushed her questions further back. The pair were actually dressed up, Rusty had a ratty suit and Copper wore a fairly nice yellow prewar dress that complimented her remaining coat and mane well.

"We don't zactly get invited out for lunch with folks often, thought we'd make a production of it a bit..." Rusty scratched at his wispy mane and shuffled, it was a little sad a simple lunch was a big deal for them. I felt a little underdressed now too, I had my Stable barding back on under my cloak, which was admittedly a little better than my battered armor, but not fancy.

Together we walked down the street towards the Dreary Inn. Even with Jade's silly looking disguise and her slinking as low as she could beside me, she was attracting attention. At least it was only wide eyed looks and whispers, no one was charging up to her when she was obviously trying to hide and surrounded. She really had made an impression on the residents here, as she passed the dour and depressed expressions I had grown used to in Hex brightened in her wake.

That made me think of my plans to open the bridge tomorrow, using the whispers about the Shrouded Stallion to try to scare the raiders into being better. Image... image could be useful. I was using a negative image, but maybe I could use a positive one too, though Jade reeeeeally wouldn't like it. Watching her dash into the hotel gratefully I was sure of that, but if it was to find a peaceful way to change things? I filed the idea away for the meeting we were heading towards.

The private dining area looked to once be a meeting hall before the war, somewhere for guests of the hotel to hold private functions and conferences. The wood paneling had held up well and even the plush blue carpet wasn't that ratty, a long table took up the bulk of the room, facing a raised platform at one end with a tattered projection screen. Unfortunately I didn't have slides or charts for this meeting, just a few vague ideas.

Once Glitter had retrieved Val and all of our guests arrived eyeing each other cautiously, the waitress from the lobby took our orders and returned shortly with the meal. Jade sat next to me at the head of the table, with Glitter happily munching snack cakes and avoiding the canned carrots I made her order. Val stood near the door on guard sipping at the drink which was all she ordered. Elder Zin and Zed sat stoic on one side of the long table across from Rusty and Copper, while Oblige Heart had taken a seat across from Glitter with a confused but polite expression. It was an awkward meal, minor attempts at small talk fell flat mostly and they were all waiting on me... I hated talking...

"A-Alright... I guess you're all wondering why I asked you all here," best to get this thing over with.

"Was a might bit curious bout that Fast, wasn't expecting such a varied guest list." Rusty smiled down the table while his wife nodded her agreement.

"We wished to speak with you regardless little pony, though now I am curious what you have on your mind. We are all glad you were able to bring your filly friend back, we thank you for your help and care Miss Jade and are happy to see you safe." The Elder of the zebras nodded sagely to Jade, getting a happy smile in return.

"Er, yes I was curious Mr. Times. When your foal asked me to a meal with you I expected something a bit more... private," Oblige glanced around the room anxiously, before looking back to be pinned under Jade's suspicious gaze.

"Right, sorry about that. I wanted you all together at once to talk to you about something important," I took a breath, here we go, the room was closed and AssaultJack guarded the door. I was taking a chance on the gathered guests here, trusting them all. "I want to remove Mayor Lash."

I didn't get immediate rejection and no one tried to bolt from the room to alert the mayor, so that was good. There were some thoughtful and worried looks, Jade looked the most shocked and was staring at me, while Val just grinned from her post. Oblige sputtered and was the only one to speak for now though.

"R-Remove! Fast are you crazy? Do you know what will happen if he found out what you just said!? H-he's the Mayor here!"

I put my hooves on the table and leaned forward, trying to adopt a little of the Shroud to get through this. "Well he shouldn't be! He doesn't care about the residents of Hexington. He has plenty of caps for things he wants, but not enough for clean water that you all need! He treats the ghouls and zebras like dirt! I plan on opening the bridge to Diamond City tomorrow, but I don't want to open it with him in charge. It will just give him more caps and power. I want him gone."

"Fast... how do you plan to do so? What did I say about bullying and acting as a raider would?" Jade was concerned and just yesterday she had good reason to be, but I was trying now.

"If you remove him, who takes his place Fast? You?" Rusty looked as though he was carefully considering the idea while his wife Copper seemed to like it, she really didn't care for Mayor Lash.

"Me?! NO! no, no, no, no! I don't want the job, I wouldn't know what to do. No, that's why I asked all of you here. I... er... I get suggestions on what I should do from my pip-buck for some reason, right now it says all three of you would be a good mayor and I agree." Ok, the looks I got at that, like I was a crazy pony raving at them, wasn't helping... I didn't say I heard voices telling me to bray at the moon, just that my pip-buck told me things... damn...

Best to move on to more sane reasons quickly. "Oblige does all the work to keep this place running with no help from the Mayor, and cares enough to sacrifice herself working so hard for the residents here. Rusty takes care of the ghouls here, using his own profits to help them, buys their salvage and hammers out deals to get them work. Elder Zin does all he can for his people who are pushed aside and discriminated against, they have to work harder for less and that's not right. Any of you would be a good mayor, my pip-buck thinks I should pick one of you, but... I don't think it's that simple."

"I don't know why it does the things it does, but things are more complicated here than what it's offering. Hexington is a place of ponies, ghouls and zebras, as good as any one of you would be, none of you represent everyone and there'd be resentment. I think there's a different option, you should be a... like a council? All of you should be in charge, cover for each others weak points, help each other and everyone in Hex."

The three parties in question considered each other carefully for a few tense minutes. I laid it all out, any of them could bring the mayor down on me now. There was some muttered conversation between Rusty and Copper, the same between Elder Zin and Zed, Oblige sat silently thinking while I waited.

Finally Copper broke the silence thankfully, "Well I for one think it's a fine idea, never liked having a damn former slaver for a mayor and things have gone from bad to worse since he took over. My Rusty's partnership with Fast has worked out well so far, no reason not to give him a chance here too." I really hoped slaver didn't mean what it sounded like...

"If... and I mean if we were to agree to this... I agree with your friend there Mr. Times, how do you intend to remove the mayor from power? Most of the guards are loyal to him, they will not take kindly to having their meal ticket taken away. Things are most comfortable for his inner circle, which is how he remains in place. Would you use force? Bring violence to our streets?" Oblige asked cautiously, she didn't reject it out of hoof anyway and her concerns were in the right place.

"Er... well I'd like to avoid that yeah. I was hoping for some thoughts from all of you about to do it peacefully. I had an idea... sorta... If all the citizens here were to rebel against him, demand he be removed, wouldn't that help?" Here was the hard part, with the robots I still had command over I could do this the nasty way, but Jade was watching me carefully, I had to try.

Oblige sipped at her ordered wine thoughtfully, adjusting her cracked glasses before answering. "If enough of the residents joined together then it would put them in a tough position. I think many on the fringes would give up and go with the change, those closest to him though... Not to mention Lash himself, he will not go peacefully. I would not have the residents put in danger, plus you'd play hell getting them all to call for him to step down. No one likes him but... most here just want to live another day, they don't dare hope for better. It would be hard to get them to believe such a thing was possible."

"She's right there Fast, tryin' to give these folks hope? Tall order, if ya got em stirred up like that then I can see it workin to a point, like Miss Oblige said. The ghouls are none to happy with the way things are that's for sure, they'd be behind a change and they make up half the guards outside." Rusty spoke up giving me a little encouragement, that left the zebras and I looked to them, curious which way they'd go.

Elder Zin and Zed conferred quietly a few moments, back and forth between each other in whispers before the old zebra finally nodded to his guard and spoke. "My people are unhappy as well, our position is precarious here, so speaking up about it has always been viewed as a danger. Zed tells me the little pony is trustworthy enough, his mare tried to help us, we will take a risk on them. If we can improve things for my kind, work together instead of being shoved aside... it is worth a try. So long as we do not stand alone."

Phew... so everyone basically agreed. Still a lot of details in the air they started working out between themselves, each promising to talk to the groups they represented and spread the idea things needed to change. That would go a long way, but eventually they got back around to the sticking point, how did I plan to give them something to rally around and take a chance for something more? A spark...

Gulping. I looked to Jade watching everything with interest. Once I caught her attention, I leaned up and kissed her cheek to whisper in her ear. "Sorry... You're reeeeally not going to like this..."

I watched the sun sinking lower from the windows in Rusty's Salvage Emporium, sitting outside Rusty and Copper's restroom waiting patiently as time was ticking away. If we were going to do this we had to when the streets were getting crowded with salvagers returning from another hard day of work.

Glitter and the ghoul mare came in and out repeatedly over the last hour or so, dashing out to grab accessories or make purchases before running back in, but I was exiled to the hall to wait. Finally the pair came out with a satisfied look and nodded to me, but it was still just the two of them. I cocked a questioning eyebrow at them, waiting for the guest of honor.

Copper smiled and gestured to the closed door, "All done, she might take a bit of convincing though..."

"She looks really pretty daddy! Dunno why she won't come out!" Glitter was happy with their work, so that was a good sign.

Looking between the two for confirmation, I walked up to the door and knocked gently, "Jade? Umm... all set in there? Getting kinda close outside..."

A soft whimper answered through the door, "F-Fast... I do not like this plan... C-Can we not do something else?"

"It's the best I can think of Jade, you want to do this with as little bloodshed as possible right? Mayor Lash should not be in charge, he's causing suffering here, things could be better. You want to help, right?"

"Y-Yes.. but why me?"

I knew she'd hate this plan, it revolved around making her the center of attention. "Because, better or worse everyone's talking about you, you saw what happened at the doctor's place. They want to see you, you give them hope I think. I'll try to keep you out of it as much as possible, you just have to stand there and look pretty, no talking ok?"

"I- I look silly..."

I seriously doubted that, I waved the others off and went to open the door just to see for myself. "I'm coming in Jade, I'm sure you're just being..." once I entered the small room however, whatever I was going to say died on my tongue at the sight of her.

She most definitely did not look silly. Copper and Glitter had spent a good deal of time styling her mane and tail, finding just the right dress and accessories, I stood in the presence of perfection and my brain shut off for a moment. Copper's largest, most flowing white dress was a bit tight here and there on her in a most appealing way. They had taken apart some silken white shoes and strapped them to her hooves with white ribbons laced up her long legs. The small tiara from a nightmare night costume in her carefully coifed mane was a bit tarnished, but the effect came together perfectly. Even with her trying to hide behind her wings again, she was stunning, I only regained speech to cut off that concerned look she was getting watching me sit there slack jawed.

"P-p-perfect..." I managed to squeak out.

She blushed brightly, but her wings went back down as she took another critical look in the mirror, "It... it looks a-alright? It will work?"

When she turned back I couldn't help lunging forward for a long kiss, which did relax her as an added bonus. "I don't care if it works or not, you look perfect to me. Really, absolutely amazing Jade. It will work though, I can't see how it wouldn't. You look like a princess for real."

"T-thank you Fast, I am still nervous about this plan of yours though..." I wished I had more time for the warm embrace and to reassure her, but I could hear the crowds growing outside, this was the best we'd get.

"It's ok, you'll be fine. I'll do the talking and you know how much I hate that, right? I'll see you out there alright?"

She gave a determined nod and disappeared, heading to her spot in this little production. If the residents of Hex needed something to motivate them to hope for something better, I was going to give it to them. My own part was simpler playing opposite the glorious alicorn, but I'd have to do some public speaking, not my strong point. Thankfully, it was playing a character I knew well, being the Shroud in public wasn't nearly as daunting as being me. I hugged Glitter on the way out, she wasn't happy, but understood she was to stay inside and off the street for this. I did have to allow her to watch the opening act from the windows to get her to agree though.

Copper and Rusty followed me out and slipped away into the crowd, meeting other ghouls coming in or waiting already. As I approached the statue in the town square, I spotted Oblige speaking with a cluster of ponies and the zebras filing out of Little Roam. Making a final adjustment to my cloak, I climbed on top of the soapbox the Children of Balefire had vacated and went to give my own sermon to the gathered mob.

"EXCUSE ME EVERYONE!" That got a moment of attention from most of those in the square, had to use it before they decided I was just another nut. "Everyone's talking about what happened here last night, about one of the goddesses coming to Hex! I know it's on a lot of minds and many went to see her today at Doc Scalpel's, but I want to give everyone the chance to be introduced!"

Now I had some real interest, folks making their tired way back home dejectedly stopped and paid attention to the dark pony at the statue. With a flourish, I bowed and gestured to the top of the Applejack statue behind me, grinning with my head down as I heard the crowd gasp. I couldn't resist a quick peek back to see Jade now that she had become visible atop the statue, wings spread and white gown fluttering around her.

"Sweet Celestia ya weren't lyin!"

"A goddess? Fer real?!"

"Thought you said she was bigger?!"

"Look, it's her!"

An excited wave ran through the town, the crowd pressed together excitedly below my perch looking up to the alicorn above them smiling radiantly. I could tell the expression was forced and she trembled just a bit, but held her ground well. Best to move this along quickly before Jade lost her nerve.

"Fillies and Gentlecolts, ghouls and zebras of Hexington alike, if I may introduce Princess Jade of Sanctuary!" Oohs and aahs rang out at the mention of 'princess'. Checking the crowd, I saw plenty of wide eyed, reverent stares, along with the skepticism. Oblige Heart caught my eye and nodded, things were going ok so far.

"That's right! The humble princess has tried to keep a low profile and help here in Hexington. I'm just her simple knight and have come in her service and at the behest of the Minutemares. You see the Princess' home of Sanctuary came here hoping to help you fine folks, we have clean water to alleviate the sickness so many of you suffer from. The Princess herself is a powerful healer and wishes to cure all those in need. In her service I have worked with Rusty Clank, who many of you know and hold in high regard, to bring caps to our home and yours. The Princess asked me to open the bridge to Diamond City again too, and come tomorrow that will be done as well!"

Heartened cheers and mutters ran through the crowd, taking another look back at Jade trembling up on her perch, I spotted just who I wanted, Mayor Lash looking out his window for the source of the excitement below.

"However! The Princess' kind offer of the water you so desperately need was turned away! Caps is what rules this place, and apparently there's not enough for water for you folks, but plenty for drugs, alcohol and mares for the pony on top! Mayor Lash sent me, her emissary, away! Saying there's not enough to care for his subjects, after I had to walk through his den of inequity to offer! I found it so hard to believe, I spoke to the only pony there that really seemed to care and work for you all, Miss Oblige Heart, who told me that was not true! That in her diligence, she had set aside funds for just such a chance, caps that the mayor would keep for himself instead!"

Angry grumbles rolled through the crowd and Oblige spoke up at just the right point, stamping her hoof and straightening up under the attention. "T-That's right! I have kept caps on hand to pay for water specifically! If the mayor turned down such an offer, it wasn't because we couldn't pay!" Good... now the hostile muttering intensified.

"Disheartened, the Princess offered her healing services, but they were unwanted, since she would give them away instead of charge for them! Instead, she went to the zebras who suffer the most, not caring who they were, but only wishing to help! Her efforts were interrupted by the cultists of the Church of Balefire who kidnapped her, as I'm sure many of you saw yesterday. Did Mayor Lash make any effort to stop their attack in the zebra part of town? Did he lock the gates to keep them from getting away? Did he chase them after they attacked your home and spirited away my princess? No! He let them go without lifting a hoof! Only thanks to the help of those same zebras, was I able to rescue her and return her here!"

Now it was Elder Zin's turn and he didn't disappoint, surrounded by his guards, the old zebra's deep voice rang out over the growing ire of the gathering. "Yes, we repaid the pony who helped when others would not. Several of my kind suffered from the attack that took her, but only the... Princess' 'knight' there did anything, the guards left us to suffer."

Alright, here came the real sticking point, they were worked up but I wasn't sure how this would play out now. "That's right! The zebras live in miserable conditions thanks to the mayor, but they helped when I needed it! Their potions and knowledge could help all of you here if you'd just work together, but the mayor keeps you apart! Listen to me you fine people, I don't live here, this isn't my home, it's yours. It's not my place to say this, but I feel I must, a mayor that cares only for himself is no leader at all!"

"You don't have the good fortune to have a princess like I do, but you have good ponies and zebras here that would do a much better job! If it were up to me, I would just remove Mayor Lash and put someone else in his place, but that's not for me to do for you, it's for you to do for yourselves! Things can be better, we can be better together. If you rise up and demand a change, I will do all I can to make it happen! You can be allies with the Princess' kingdom, trade between us and Diamond City will flow, life can be more than this! All you have to do is stand up for it and we'll stand with you!"

The guards nearby looked nervous at the roaring cheer that rang out. The sight of a shining princess above them and the right words had got them to hope again, now to make sure it didn't die once more. Mayor Lash's hoarse shout from his window threatened to do just that, but his wrath was focused on me, not them. Just as it should be.

"What the fuck is all this then! Who're you to get my subjects all worked up little pony!" Even the anger didn't entirely mask the fear hiding behind his shout from above, good...

I walked around the raised edge of the statue unhurriedly to face the town hall and Lash, giving my best glare up to his window. "Me? Why... I'm the Shrouded Stallion... and your time is done you corrupt evildoer. Goddess Luna has passed her judgement on you, step down now and this need not be violent. The residents of Hexington deserve better."

The buzz that ran through the town square at that was the kicker, a lot of shocked glances turned my way as Lash fumed and pulled a large revolver out, pointing it my way. "KILL THAT LITTLE BASTARD!"

Lash and many of his guards fired down on me and the crowd indiscriminately, the suddenly blazing blue shield covering the gathering stopped them all short though, and further awed the crowd looking up to the blue alicorn providing it. Scowling up at him, I floated my weapons out and gave a hard smile, "That... was a mistake."

Not all of the guards had opened fire at Lash's order at least. A good number had looked confused and unwilling, so they were spared. Every one that had shot at a crowd of innocents to hit me however, just started dropping to the ground squalling as they were sliced to ribbons by a passing blur. AssaultJack had been more than willing for this part of the plan, waiting at the edges of the mob, hidden and waiting.

Anything red on my E.F.S. right now was fair game to the deadly machine and was being dispatched to growing horror among the guards loyal to Lash. This was only worsened when they saw the Sentinel roll out from Rusty's and start bulldozing his way through them. I hadn't found ammo for him yet, but just as well, his weapons were kind of overkill and dangerous in the crowded square.

Lash himself kept firing against the shield, trying to shout down more orders before a stream of red magic energy bolts streaked down and forced him to leap away from the window. Val blasted through the air raining fire on the window before it closed with a slam, the best target taken away she joined AssaultJack in taking down the guards out here but many in the crowd had beat her to it. They were standing up for themselves...

I hopped down from the statue and started towards town hall, a cluster of red on my E.F.S. waited within, but they were too spooked to charge out and attack the crowd. Gathering them all together for the speech had let Jade's shield protect everyone, she'd have to stay with them to keep them safe, but Val landed beside me at the doors. Time to clear out the mayor's nest and change things here. I gave him the chance for this to be peaceful and he fired first, now I was free to do what the Shroud in my head wanted.

Bursting through the doors to the town hall, a horde of guards waited for us on the other side. Val and I had to dash forward to Oblige's desk to take cover from the amount of fire already coming in. The main thing that saved us from just being taken apart as soon as we entered was the fun times these guards were engaged in when we interrupted, drunken, drug addled shots weren't all that accurate...

Peeking above the desk to match the marks on E.F.S. to where the guards were actually taking cover, I had enough sense to be a little concerned my first thought went to the last vial of Dash in my bags... I knew perfectly well how dangerous the stuff was medically, but the urge to just take it and zip through all of them was there making me itch. No... that last vial was for an emergency, this was an inconvenience. Besides, even without it, I was plenty quick enough and had a griffon merc to back me. I nodded to the left of the desk, letting her take the right and dashing out as Val laid down cover with her red M.E.W.

Three S.A.T.S. guided shots from my pistol harassed the ponies who popped up hoping to catch me sprinting towards a side office, dropping one on the spot while Val took the rest reeling from the hits or near misses. The burly guard in the room I was entering was quick enough his sawed off shotgun managed to pepper my side with buckshot, stinging through the armor, but not slowing me enough.

Best Served flashed as I dove in the room and ripped through his side, leather armor was no match for the crazy knife. Rolling to the side, I took up the guard's lost cover and floated the Terrible Shotgun out. Heavy slugs started chewing through the desks and thin walls of the partitioned offices, while Val moved forward under my cover.

As I watched her advance, a guard in heavier armor at the stairs tossed a grenade towards her, apparently she was the bigger threat in their eyes. Grabbing it out of the air in my magic was a lot easier when it wasn't coming right at me. I hoped to avoid tearing this place to shreds completely, but tossed it back to the stairs, it was already done anyway. The resounding crash shook the building, but gave me cover to move again, jumping a desk to deliver a shotgun blast to the mare hiding behind it before throwing myself flat in her place.

Eyes Forward Sparkle showed several more red dashes right on top of us, but the boom of Val's pistol put down the last I saw on this floor. I really wished it was a little more clear on elevation, the others must be above us with the mayor with the scattered green marks. His mares up there... damn, I hoped they'd run or hide once the shooting started. They were clumped up here and there at least, so hopefully they were taking cover. Val and I moved to either side of the stairwell and I looked over to her, a little blood ran down her leg staining her dark claw, but she wasn't complaining.

"Val, there are mares up there, er... entertainers... We gotta be careful, let me go first and draw their fire on me."

She scowled at me, not liking the idea. "Not how bodyguarding usually works boss... lettin' you go make yerself a target an' all."

"I've been up there before right? I know where stuff's at." I was wringing my brain trying to actually recall the layout now that I said it, but she didn't need to know that.

Val still didn't like it but rolled her eyes and shooed me forward up the stairs, she started grumbling at how slow and careful I was being though. Let her, I learned my lesson about just blinding trotting up stairwells, I was practically bug-eyed looking for a shimmer of tripwires now. Fool me once... These ponies weren't as clever as the raiders in Thundega at least, no booby traps waited to blast me into uselessness for several days.

Cautiously looking over the last step reminded me of the setup in the party room well enough, couches served as cover and the green on E.F.S. matched the bed in the corner. I looked back to Val for one last unhappy glower before dashing in the room, luckily the guards up here were even more inebriated. They should have had me no problem as soon as I hit the narrow doorway, but they weren't ready for me to just run right in. Their surprised scramble let me trigger S.A.T.S. and have a wealth of targets. I had to use most of the spell charge, but the pistol put down nearly all of the surprised guards in a flurry of silenced shots, Val following behind me finished the remainder.

The mares were hiding behind the large mattress and slowly sticking their heads up to take in the slaughter. Even through the Med-X haze. the pink earth pony that had tried propositioning me earlier looked shocked at me standing among all the dead. I raised a hoof silently to the gaggle of scantily clad mares, turning to Val and the door to the mayor just as it burst open. The burly personal guard behind it opened up with a submachine gun, spraying the room. Diving for the mares and their limited cover behind the bed didn't spare me a random round just below the ribs, landing on this many attractive fillies would be more exciting if we weren't all bleeding and under fire.

The shot to my side burned horribly as I scrambled out of the pile of mares to aim my shotgun, but Val had beat me to it. A stream of red magical energy beams scorched the guard to a pile of ash before I could fire. Hissing, I downed a healing potion still behind the awkward cover and passed another couple out to the most wounded of the mares, they'd need care soon but should be ok for now. E.F.S. showed only one more red mark among two greens, Mayor Lash hiding in his office, his last defender drifting through the air of the doorway.

"Celestia's rainbow ass! Thank you sweetie!" The shaky pink mare swore up at me, some common wasteland expressions struck me as a bit blasphemous, but I could hardly blame her at the moment.

"All of you stay put, keep down. This is almost over, ok?"

A young looking grey unicorn in very little red lace clutched at me before I could leave, "Wait! What about Sugar and Tart! They're in there with him! P-please, don't..."

"I'm not here to hurt any of you, I'll save them ok? Just take care of yourselves, help is coming soon." The filly was bleeding from her hindleg as the potion slowly closed the wound, but still showed concern for the others. There were good ponies even up here at the heart of Lash's empire.

I had to pull myself free of the frightened mares to join Val at the door, we nodded to each other and stormed in for Lash to find him waiting behind his desk. An open safe behind the desk and the strewn caps around it showed what was weighing his saddlebags down. The stallion's greasy mane fell lankly in front of his crazed eyes, his heavy revolver pointed at the head of a terrified teal mare struggling in his grip. A pale blue earth pony mare cowered behind his fancy bed behind him, her amber eyes wide as we skidded to a halt.

"You little son of a bitch! Come in my town, wreck my racket! Turn my subjects on me! Goody goods like you are all the same though, now back off or I'm redecoratin' my office with this bitch's brains!"

I had to wave Val off from just vaporizing him on the spot, I couldn't see a way to take the shot without killing the hostage. As my weapons floated back to my bags, he started slowly coming out from behind the desk and angling for the door out.

"Alright Lash, this doesn't have to go this way... just let her go and you can leave. I wanted to do this peacefully anyway, you're not in charge here anymore, but nopony has to die here."

The former mayor sneered around the grip of his revolver, "Oh you'll die, take my town from me!? This isn't over, I'm walkin' outta here with this cunt, but I'll be back twerp! Now just keep backin away if you want her in one piece!"

He meant it, I could see the hammer of the large revolver quivering, only a hair more pressure would set it off. My mind was racing, I had to find some kind of way to save the mare, she might have been part of Lash's entourage, but she was an innocent still... mostly. Any move seemed likely to make him fire though, my eyes locked on that trembling hammer, it would fall and her head would just explode before I could do anything.

Wait... the hammer... guns were just simple machines. I had good fine control, especially with machines... I kept staring at the hammer, mentally cataloging it, seeing how it worked in my mind and trying to gesture to Val inconspicuously. This would happen fast. Hoping she got the idea, I focused my telekinetic field of magic on the weapon in a sudden burst, feeling it fight my grip as soon as the glow appeared, but unable to move while I held it.

"NOW VA..."

BLAM!

The griffin's pistol blew a S.A.T.S. assisted round right between Lash's eyes before I even finished, she was quick on the uptake thank Luna. The mare lunged away as Lash's body fell in a heap and we were left with silence. Shivering from the adrenaline and risky gambit, I walked over to the recent hostage shaking on the floor to make sure she really was ok, while the other watched from her hiding spot.

"H-hey... sorry about that, are you alright?" It worked out, but I had to put her life at risk, I was mentally preparing for her to rage at me for such a foalish move.

I certainly wasn't prepared for her to tackle me in a shaky embrace as she sobbed, her styled green mane covering my face. I awkwardly tried to pat her back to comfort the terrified pony, then my situation got worse when the other mares decided things were safe and all crowded around to do the same. I really hoped it was just the terror of being in the middle of a firefight and not trying to get in good with the new boss. Either way, being suddenly enveloped in that much pony flesh was a shock.

"Er... I-it's ok... really! J-just umm... y-you're welcome... t-thanks... can I just... er... get loose here? I..." I could feel how red I was turning trying to pull myself free from the grateful ponies, I turned to Val for help but she just smirked. Her expression hardened suddenly as I felt a cold pressure slip between my ribs and her pistol was out and roared, while I tried to figure out what happened.

After all that to save her, the teal mare who was Lash's hostage got her head blown off anyway... The others scattered, screaming from the furious griffon as she yanked me away and shoved a healing potion in my muzzle, never taking her eyes off the dead mare in the floor.

"What the fuck is that?" Val still had her weapon pointed at her, even though she didn't seem much of a threat without a head. Looking up from my inspection of the deep wound knitting itself together that was making breathing really hard, I followed her gaze, getting a good look at the mare.

A blade was... attached? near? somehow a long blade was right at her foreleg, but it wasn't held down with straps or any attachment. The longer I looked at the line of matching length bleeding on her leg, the more it looked like the weapon just... sprouted out of her leg? Actually it looked rather like AssaultJack's bladed weapons now that I really got a good look...

Wheezing, I stumbled forward to the body, the potion was doing its best but I could feel a wet rattle in my chest on every breath. Val tried to grab me, but I shoved her claws away weakly, I had to see this. Weaving right up to the ruins of the mare's head, breathing got even harder, where brains should be was... parts... really advanced looking parts, but parts all the same. This was a synth... a synth just tried to kill me and came damn close...

I sat down heavily, feeling the room spinning around me. I hoped it was just shock at seeing the Institute's work here and not from the now burning wound. I pointed a hoof at the remains and looked to Val woozily.

"I-Institute... need to... see it..."

Val didn't share my priorities here though, with a worried look, she snatched me up and took off straight at the window, "Shut up boss! Stupid... lettin' em get close like that! Just hang on! BLUE!" Glass shattered in the frames as the window was thrown open in her path, I could see it tinkling down to the street below.

Things looked like they had settled down outside anyway, I saw Jade turn a worried look up as we flew through the air towards her and everything got fuzzy... Hello darkness my old friend.

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

Reaper Pony's Gallop------------------
---Death becomes you! If you kill a target while using the Stable-Tec Assisted Targeting System, 25% of the spell charge is restored after dropping the spell. This will usually refresh your targeting spell enough to use it again immediately for at least one more attack.

Quest Perk Added!--------------------------------------

Shadowy Shroud-Rank 2---------
----Learning to use the image of your alter ego and its' penchant for theatrics has granted you the ability to use it positively as well as negatively. When playing the Shroud you gain +2 Charisma and +10 speech, making speech checks easier. Only applies when playing the role to the hilt, i.e. in costume and in character, and only with ponies who know of the Shroud's reputation.

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

Hexington--Idolized
---Bringing together the residents of Hex and giving them hope, plus removing the corrupt Mayor Lash, has made you liked by all groups calling Hexington home. Your little production to do so made an impression too, the story of the Princess of Sanctuary and her knight the Shrouded Stallion will only spread. The darker elements of town may not like you for rocking the boat but they're no longer in the majority and you're friends with the new rulers of Hex. Hexington is now available as an ally settlement and you can set up trade routes with it.