"What are you doing in my Stable! What have you done!?" The hateful unicorn mare glaring at me shouted and shook like a spoiled filly, I suppose if she came in following the trail of death we left coming into this place she may be a little concerned. Good...

"What have I done! What have you done! You're supposed to be the Overmare, to protect all these ponies! You let all this in, turned them into slaves to build your little drug empire! What in Luna's name is wrong with you!?!" I really just wanted to put a bullet between those green eyes scowling at me, but part of me honestly had to know. How could this have happened?

She stamped her hoof and fumed over to me, covered by the large white griffon acting as her bodyguard and the dozen gang members who had filled that side of the atrium. "That's right, I'm the Overmare! It's MINE! I can do what I want with it!"

A nervous looking unicorn stallion around the same age had entered and hid at the doorway up to the entrance behind her, even from here I could see the dapper blue suit he wore over his pale coat was a cut above the regular gang members. He glanced around at all the drawn weapons and whispered to the mare throwing the temper tantrum. "Umm.. Fancy dear, what is going on? I thought we were just picking up a shipment and returning to proper civilization."

In what looked like a supreme effort of will the crazed Overmare twisted her furious grimace into a sweet smile as she turned back to him. "Nothing to worry about Neighson sweetie. Just some unwanted guests, Freya will take care of them for us, won't you hon?" As soon as she said his name my pip-buck distracted me with a notification;

Mission Updated- Benign Intervention

Objectives-
---Discover the source of Dawn and Dusk
---Investigate Stable 114
---Uncover the drug dealers
--- Return to Dr. Swab

The pale griffon's sneering reply was cut off by a muffled crash from behind them, drifting down the stairs and halls leading up to the entrance of Stable 114. The stallion in the doorway yelped and wheeled around, staring up the stairs. "W-What was that!?"

"That... was probably your latest shipment going kaboom..." I grinned over at the couple, watching with great satisfaction as the Overmare practically blew her top. It had been worth the time to set mines in those containers of drugs, whatever gang members she had up there to collect it weren't going to be coming down to reinforce her.

Several of the Trigger Jewels looked over at her wide eyed, darting glances to each other and to the door. One managed to speak up with a grimace, "The boss was up there Miss Fancy... is he..."

If looks could kill the gang stallion would have dropped on the spot, she scowled at him and threw a full on fit. "It doesn't matter! You work for ME! KILL THAT BASTARD FREYA!!!"

The snowy griffon needed no more than that, she streaked into the air of the tall atrium and zoomed right at me, that whining rifle ratcheting up in pitch. Val blasted into the air next to me and met her above us in the middle of the room, red lances of M.E.W. fire etching the air and slamming into the griffon's blue combat armor. The flat crack of that weird rifle preceded another shot going right through Val's own green armor in a spray of blood. Whatever that thing was it punched holes straight through anything, and she was a dead shot.

I left the griffons to their aerial battle and dashed across the open atrium floor towards all the red on my E.F.S. There were enough there to stop me before I got close but I was counting on some help and a little luck. A couple of the fastest to fire found their mark and I grunted feeling a machine gun stitch my side, slowed by the armor I wore enough to keep going. The amount of incoming fire was cut short by Nick Hearts n' Hooves blasting away with his gleaming revolver from the diner.

Zed only added to the chaos on that end of the room when he sprang from the walkway above and behind the gang members, dropping right in the middle of them and proceeding to tear them apart with his bare hooves. Even sprinting towards the battle, I had to marvel as I watched the zebra actually deflect what would have been a lethal pistol shot with the heavy looking green bangles on his forelegs.

"Boss! Dodge left!!" Val's shout was enough for me to obey immediately, barely evading a streaming cloud of white mist that chilled the air next to me.

I looked over my shoulder to see a rime of frost all over my cloak on that side and a large patch of ice where I had just vacated. Freya was focused on obeying her orders to take me out specifically, even with my own griffon mercenary right on her tail. The weird, wide barreled blue weapon under her wing sprayed a flume of freezing white mist like a flamethrower. I had to scramble to the side before Val caught her and dug her claws into her fluffy white neck, causing them both to veer away.

Freya managed to slam Val into the railing of the walkways above and looped back at me, the light machine gun under her other wing opening up and pinging off the floor in front of me. I skidded and tried to adjust my course, the frost coating the ground in wide swaths was conspiring against me though. Even when it missed that freezing weapon was making things difficult.

"BOSS NO!" Val screamed and launched herself off the rails, diving right into the path of fire zeroing in on me. I caught a glimpse of her shuddering in the air as a number of rounds hammered into her as she returned fire with her M.E.W. and pistol, I was past the two of them and back on floor with traction again then.

Val couldn't use her grenade launcher in this enclosed space with the rest of us around and the fight wasn't going well, the initial shot from that rifle had slowed her down just from what I could see. If things kept up like this she may be in real trouble fighting another griffon with the weapons this one had, I knew of one way to make the mercenary stop though.

Focusing on the raging unicorn mare ahead I poured on the speed and brought up S.A.T.S. as soon as I was in range. She was covered by the gang members surrounding her and I could see the stallion with her running back up the stairs behind her to escape. I took advantage of the frozen time to check on Val, things were bad up there. Both griffons were bleeding profusely from a number of claw marks and bullet wounds, Val was in the process of diving out of a white cloud from Freya's freezing weapon as the snowy griffon lined up that rifle of hers.

Nick was ducking out of the diner doorway to fire again, I was heartened to see a couple of the Stable ponies behind him had taken up weapons and were trying to help. Jade had a bright blue shield covering the doorway to the medical lab and the rest of the Stable dwellers within so they were safe. Zed was to my right just ahead, delivering a spinning blow with his foreleg that looked like it was going to break the neck of the gang member receiving it when time resumed.

It would take most of the spell charge and the entire clip on my pistol, but I queued up two headshots each for six nearby gangsters in my path and accepted the sequence. As my pistol started adjusting its' aim and firing rapidly I heard Freya's rifle crack again and Val screech, three gang members were dropped so far. I had avoided shooting near Zed so the ones on that end were his to deal with. The pistol kept blazing away as both griffons crashed to the ground nearby in a tangle.

I turned from the last shots taking out two more ponies to see a frost covered Val cough up an alarming amount of blood under the white griffon, that rifle was making the high pitched whine again and Freya gave a wicked bloodstained smile. Only one gang member stood between me and the Overmare now, I dove forward with my knife in my mouth, flashing out and tearing a bloody gash as I passed, trying to beat the gloating white mercenary.

Tackling the mare too busy throwing a hissy fit to realize she was in danger, I floated Best Served to her neck and shouted to Freya just as she was aiming the weird weapon at Val's head. "Freeze! Hurt her and your boss loses her head!"

"You can't! I'm the Over..." The former Overmare screeched as I grappled her by the neck between me and her panting bodyguard.

I let the insanely sharp knife draw a long line at her neck with only the lightest touch and hissed in her ear, "You're not anymore... Call her off or die, right here, right now."

Actually figuring out her own precious hide was in danger made the unicorn in my grip start gibbering, her guard glared at me woozily without moving. "Kill her and the traitor dies, then you without her around to protect your puny ass."

Even in her condition Val laughed at the other griffon, spattering her face with blood. "Boss won't go down that easy bitch. Take a better look around... you ain't leavin' here alive if he don't want it."

"I- I- I demand you l-let me go! Freya make him let me go! I order you!!" The unicorn in my grip tried to struggle for a moment before the deeper cut reminded her what a bad idea that was.

Really, if she kept moving it would be harder not to kill her than it would to let the knife do it. Zed seemed to think it was evil and wanted to kill ponies, the care I had to exercise keeping it close to the mare without severing something important almost supported his strange belief. She might be completely out of touch with reality but her bodyguard wasn't at least, she had taken stock of all my friends and her definite lack of support and not liked what she came up with.

"Say I do back off, you'll let my employer go like she wants?" Freya obviously didn't like this but there weren't many options, if she was like Val her duty was to her boss first.

"Toss the rifle, take your boss and go. Promise not to return here, you're an honorable griffon right? Hold to the contract? Give your word, you'll take this crazy pony, leave and never come back here."

Former Overmare Fancy screeched in my grip and nearly got herself killed again, "NO! This is MY Stable! I won't..."

"Not anymore Fancy! You did all this to us, you're not in charge here anymore!" The Stable doctor Crystal led a small cluster of ponies in blue and yellow barding holding captured weapons, cautiously entering the atrium behind Jade to face their tormentor. None of them looked too happy with their old Overmare now that they weren't under the spell of the drugs she had been forcing on them.

I enjoyed whispering in her ear before calling to her guard, "See... like they said, not anymore... Feel lucky there's a way for you to get out of this alive period, I really would like to kill you after what I've seen here. Be grateful I care about my friend more, tick tock Freya, she needs help now and I'm getting impatient. If Val bleeds out this is going to get messy for both of you."

Freya shook and hissed down at Val bleeding on the floor under her, "Your boss will honor this deal? We're free to go if I take her now?"

"Kaff! U-unlike that bitch... b-boss is a good pony, helluva better boss than you got... you two.. deserve each other..." Jade was getting anxious watching Val growing faint, her horn already glowing with healing magic and shifting nervously on her hooves waiting to get to her.

The bloodied and burnt white griffon groaned and tossed the weird rifle away with a clatter, flapping weakly over as I shoved Fancy into the stairs leading out of the Stable. As soon as she moved the alicorn medic sped over and started pouring healing magic into Val, worrying over the thick frost coating her.

Freya paused at the door for a moment, eyeing me with an appraising look before snatching her employer up and storming up the stairs. I could hear the spoiled unicorn yelling at her to kill us all and take back her Stable, but she didn't know much about her bodyguard and griffon honor. We had a deal, Freya was going to stick to it. If she insisted on returning it would be without her muscle.

I listened staring up the stairs for a minute before rushing over to Val on the ground, she looked weak but the blood flow was slowing. She groaned and rolled a lidded violet eye up to my worried expression. "I could'a taken her... should'a c-cut that bitch's head off boss..."

Grabbing her frosty neck probably wasn't smart but I couldn't resist the urge to embrace the griffon, sniffing back a tear. "You're more important. S-Shut up and let Jade heal you, that's... that's an o-order right?" She came way too close for comfort for me, I couldn't help thinking she probably could have taken the other griffon in a straight up fight, but she had been protecting me the whole time.

Val grumbled but stroked my mane as her eyes slid shut peacefully, "Y-yeah... yeah... yer the boss... g-glad you are..."

Jade gently pushed me aside and lifted the griffon in her magic, her horn glowing brightly as she trotted towards the medical lab. "She will be fine Fast, give her time to rest. I am concerned for her as well." She stroked my cheek reassuringly with her wing as I trailed them and nodded, leading Val into the medical facilities to care for her.

With the rest out of my hooves I sat down with a thump and dug out a healing potion for my own wounds, staring around at the carnage and frightened ponies in the Stable atrium. Now to deal with the mess the old Overmare had left behind...

"Ugh... which one is this again? Right... 114, jeez can't believe we're takin' suggestions from that rabbit... Sorry, greetings Overmare and department heads of Stable 114, this is Vice President Scootaloo of Stable-Tec, forgive me, I've done a lot of these now. As you know your Stable is meant to be a bastion for ponies to survive if the worst happens and the bombs do fall. They're also a way for us to try to figure out what went wrong and make sure we don't repeat the same mistakes though. To that end each Stable has an experiment to try to make things better, to be better than we were that led to all of... this...

I'm sure you've noticed the extra large orchard and attached facilities along with the seeds and samples waiting. Those pretty flowers are called.... here we are... 'Crystalline Dream Flowers' an... outside consultant... discovered they can be refined to a compound that acts as a mood elevator and reduces violent tendencies, something I'm sure you'll agree ended up being kinda a big problem for us. Now you ponies in charge will need to be inoculated so you don't fall under the effects and can act as a control, we haven't had time for long term studies on this stuff so if anything goes wrong knock it off right away, got it?

For the rest of the Stable though there are detailed instructions on growing and processing the flowers into two variants of the drug and distribution systems in the air handlers. We've had some real concerns about what living underground for generations may do to the mental state of you folks, from our tests with this stuff it should alleviate a lot of those worries. You'll have to be the odd ponies out while those you care for remain pretty happy, but it's a sacrifice worth making don't you think?"

Back home I never would have dreamed of actually sitting at the Overmare's circular desk, but here I was listening to the Stable 114 version of Scootaloo's recording. I felt a little guilty being in here like this, worried someone would barge in any second and start lecturing me for daring to sit here, tell me to go back down to my room or my job in maintenance... back home.

I had the office to myself though, I tinkered with Freya's strange rifle on the desk in front of me and flipped through more entries on the Overmare's terminal. My pip-buck had identified the weapon as "The Last Minute" but a little prodding revealed it was a gauss rifle, kind of a cross between a regular gun and a magical energy weapon. It used magic to magnetically accelerate metal slugs to near sonic rainboom speeds. I usually wasn't any good with M.E.Ws but this was close enough to a regular rifle I thought I could manage. It was devastatingly effective, and it was pretty fancy and technical, I liked that.

Leaning up in the cushy chair I could see through the round window out into the atrium, it was becoming crowded with ponies who had undergone treatment and were now free from the effects of the drugs that kept them in a daze for months. Thankfully none of them were all that clear on details of what had happened to them, some were pretty upset and remembered enough to scar them, many were suffering a number of physical ailments that would need treatment.

Jade was being kept pretty busy over the last few hours so I hadn't got to see her much. I had spent time down there in medical with her and Val but apparently I got underhoof too much, eventually being shooed out gently. Zed had made himself scarce after the fighting, guarding the exit, refusing to stay inside the Stable when he didn't have to. Despite her dislike of the zebra Jade had insisted on checking him but he didn't have a scratch. I still wanted to try to find some way to be friends with him somehow, but at the moment I was fine with him doing whatever he wanted, I was just too exhausted to deal with his attitude.

I wandered around a little while, trying to luck into finding a secret passage somewhere in 114 like I found back home in 111, this place was way too big though. If I had weeks to search and the same intimate knowledge of this Stable as I did of 111, maaaaybe I could find it, if there was one here, as it was it seemed hopeless. I had mentioned it to Crystal though who was basically the de facto new Overmare, the other department heads who had been immune to the drugs were all killed when Fancy took over. She did promise to look for anything like I described, maybe they'd have luck over enough time.

The Stable doctor had pointed me up here to wait and I took her up on it, taking the opportunity to go through the Overmare's terminal. The first thing I did was lock Fancy's pip-buck out of the system, if the Stable door was shut she couldn't open it again and come back to cause mischief. Even if her griffon wouldn't come back with her she could still be a nuisance I'd rather avoid. After that I had amused myself going through the files and rummaging around up here.

Unfortunately reading the descent into madness detailed in the latest entries on the terminal quickly became too frustrating to occupy me. A spoiled brat of a mare, forced into stepping up to do an important job, and throwing a fit the world didn't revolve around her to make her happy when the drugs stopped working. Maybe Val was right and I should have killed her on the spot.

In some ways reading what she had raved about here was like reading an opposite version of my experiences after leaving the Stable. She had all the ponies she grew up with here and rejected them, I lost all of mine and was trying to get them back. She was apparently pretty charismatic and sweet talked her way into getting what she wanted, cajoling and convincing the gang in this area into working with her. I still had problems with the most basic of interactions with other ponies when I met them, though I liked to think I was getting somewhat better. She did one of the things Watcher said he worried about when trying to trick me into helping out in Poncord, joining raiders instead of fighting them. She purchased her griffon bodyguard's services where I had a partner and friend.

Going over it all just upset me more so I gave it up. I did manage to unlock the safe in here, uncovering a small fortune in caps, but they belonged to the Stable and they'd need them if they were going to rejoin the world. Going through them it didn't seem like nearly enough either, based on what records she had kept on incoming funds and outgoing drugs. She must have stashed the rest elsewhere, living it up outside the Stable, Crystal said she came and went often.

I was down to spinning around in the leather chair idly, staring at the ceiling and thinking of what to do about this place now. I really needed Preston and his Minutemares to help them, we had to get back to Diamond City and Glitter who was waiting on us, I couldn't handle all this stuff myself. I'd also need to talk to Oblige and the others in Hexington, on some subtle questioning Crystal said they could make anti radiation and other medicines here with little help. My musing was interrupted by a knock on the door and Nick walking in, taking a seat across the round desk from me. Now I really felt like an imposter, taking visitors at the Overmare's desk like I belonged here.

"How's it going pal? Ain't seen you down with the others for awhile, Val asked me to check in on you." For some reason the robot lit a cigarette as he settled in the chair, must be something the original Nick Hearts n' Hooves did.

"I'm alright, thinking is all. I was just wishing the phones still worked... or there were mail ponies around at the very least."

Nick chuckled and propped his legs up, "Need to get ahold of somepony? Well, things ain't quite as easy as back in the old days, but there is the Red Rocket Courier Service."

"Red Rocket? Like... the sky chariot stations?"

"Just the same, those things are all over the Commonwealth. Pretty smart Dashite years back got the bright idea of starting a courier service, was a fast flier and not many pegasi around back then. Had a built in chain of locations and ads for himself by taking the name. Hub is back in Diamond City, you wanna send a message it's not much depending where you want it and how fast. Hiring em out to ferry folks around in one of their sky chariots is more expensive."

That was interesting, Piper had said a pegasus several decades ago had made a place for himself in the city when we arrived, this must be the same pony. The Red Rocket station back by Sanctuary was empty, but until recently my neck of the Commonwealth had been pretty barren. That helped a great deal anyway, I opened one of the drawers in the desk and pulled out Stable 114 stationary and a pencil, scribbling out a letter and thanking Nick.

"No problem, you're a good boss for Val, good to see her doing so well. Glad I could help." He replied while I jotted away, thinking of what all I needed.

"You guys known each other a long time? She was pretty worried about you and you seem like good friends Nick."

The pale robot sighed and leaned back, blowing lazy smoke rings above him. "Yeah, she's a doll alright. Met her a few years back when she was... in a bad way. Hired her for a few cases I needed her kinda help with, told her I'd hire her on full time if I could afford it, but detective work is a fickle line. Specially when you end up not taking much from folks that need help, she always bitched at me for that."

"Yeah, she does the same thing to me, I just let her handle all that stuff. I uh... don't know as much about her as I'd like, she seems happy but doesn't talk about herself much. Anything you can share?" My first letter done I folded it over and started on a fresh sheet, looking up to the detective.

He gave a thoughtful frown and shook his head, "Sorry Fast, not my place. She'll tell ya stuff if she wants to, just... be patient with her. Kid really deserves better than she's gotten so far, warms the ol' mechanical heart to see her with you, good for her. Now, how about this case of yours? Want to get started giving me the details while we wait?"

I groaned and checked my pip-buck for the time, stretching up again to look in on all the activity in the atrium below. I was hoping to make it back by midnight at least, any later than that and Glitter would be getting worried. We still had awhile to cool our hooves and I had to fill the time somehow.

"Alright Nick, it's kind of a cold case now though. It all started 83 years ago..."

We ran a little later than I was hoping for and I felt drained telling the story to Nick, but he helped by leading us down the subway lines, taking a shortcut back to Diamond City. He even helped carry the bags of loot Val insisted on taking as she wasn't allowed to carry her normal horde. I had been concerned about leaving the same way we entered, Fancy and Freya could easily be out there waiting for us, staying underground and popping back out elsewhere was a good idea. Val was better but still weak, flying back was too much to try right now so the slow walk was a better option.

The Stable ponies of 114 saw us off anxiously as I sealed the great gear door again, I promised we'd be back soon with help and they needed a little privacy to get themselves together. Jade had exhausted herself healing all she could, they needed rest and time now. The beautiful alicorn mare leaned against me gently as we walked up the stone stairs of the next station on the eastbound line, not far from Diamond City at all.

I think using all the magic wasn't the only thing that drained her, a whole Stable of ponies watching her every move reverently had made her nervous and she sighed with relief when the door closed on them, leaving us back down to our small group. I knew she didn't like the attention, but I had managed to convince her of the good she had done just by letting them think a princess had saved them. A lot of praise and affection helped there, she didn't care for attention from strangers but always brightened at mine which felt good.

While we walked I managed to wrangle Zed into discussing his brother and the Church of Balefire with Nick. The zebra was pretty dubious talking to a robot but eventually opened up a little, describing his sibling Xelo and what he did know. The robot detective listened attentively, jotting down notes in a pad he took from his trenchcoat and nodding along. When they were done Nick agreed to look into the case as part of my own, saying he had a few leads on the church and their activities from his travels in the Commonwealth. That seemed to appease even the dour zebra, he bowed gratefully and scouted ahead of us as we traveled the remaining blocks to the city.

On entering the city Nick pointed over to Piper's home she had showed me earlier, a multi story shack near the stairs out with a small newstand and a sign reading "Publik Occurrences". "That's who I was talking about before Fast, you're looking into the Institute she's the mare to see. I can meet you there tomorrow if you like and we can get to work, imagine you all need some rest right now."

I yawned at the thought but was interrupted by Val giving me a squeeze, "Oh no, I need a drink after all that, need my lil' drinkin' buddy right boss?" She limped slightly as we neared the cola bottle eatery in the center of the market, the walk had taken it out of her.

Jade huffed and glowered at both of us, but seemed to relent and allow it. "Very well, if you do so at the inn we are staying at. I do not want either of you wandering about getting into trouble. You wished to mail a letter first Fast?"

Reminded I pulled the two notes out from my saddlebags and looked to Nick, "Oh yeah, where is this place Nick? I'd like to get these out as soon as possible if they're open."

"Ah, right by my office actually. Not a business that really needs prime storefront real estate out here, come on, I'll show you." He gestured to the alley bearing the neon sign for his detective agency and trotted off, leading the way.

The side street was pretty dim this late but the neon helped, another of Nick's signs pointed to an unobtrusive door just ahead of a storefront that did have the red metal light up letters from a Red Rocket station. On the way towards both Zed stopped at a strange hut marked with zebra writing below a sign I could read, "Arx's Apothecary".

I gave him a questioning look as he paused at the door and actually waved to us, "I have made my own lodging arrangements, though I thank you for the offer earlier. I will see you tomorrow."

The others grumbled at him but I was determined to try with the gruff zebra, "Ok Zed, if that's where you want to stay. I'll come look for you tomorrow if you don't find us first alright?"

He waved absently over his shoulder and entered the straw roofed hut, leaving us to part with Nick at his door. As soon as he reached his own doorway my pip-buck gave a fanfare in my ear and flashed text at me;

Mission Completed- Diamond City Blues

Objectives-
---Track down the Trigger Jewels
---Find Nick Hearts n' Hooves
---Return Nick to Diamond City

We continued on to the Red Rocket sign, finding sleepy looking red stallion was propped up on his hoof at the counter drooling, snorting awake when I rang the little bell for service. I handed both letters over and gave exact instructions to the pegasus for who they should go to and where they should be found.

The young buck actually named Rocket slapped himself several times and chugged a bottle of Sparkle Cola, taking both and stashing them in his messenger bag, adjusting his battered postal cap. He guaranteed overnight delivery and was quite interested in there being a new settlement all the way up north. I had to ask about the name before I answered though.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it all the time. Rocket... and I'm red... Rocket the second actually, grandpa loved the free advertising, said we owed a lot to those old stations. Any of us unlucky enough to have a red coat gets named Rocket... funny right?" He rolled his eyes but didn't look too put out.

"Sorry, just... it is pretty funny, in a good way. There's actually another one of those stations near my home of Sanctuary, it's abandoned though."

That got his attention and he paused, stretching his wings out and bringing a pair of goggles down from his cap, preparing to take off. "Really? Think I know the one, never took it cause there's nothing really up that way. You say this is a pretty good settlement this one letter's going to up there? Have to take a look, tell grandpa if it seems worth expanding up that way."

Having a courier right near home would be useful, I gave him a good sized tip hoping to entice him into doing just that. If they got the message by morning it should only take a couple days for them to come if they could, or I may get a letter back at least. I left my name and where we were staying as he hovered up to leave. Now that he was out from behind the counter he got a good look at Jade and his eyes widened a moment, but he was professional and merely tipped his hat before streaking off into the night sky at an appreciable speed.

Inside the entry of the Dugout Inn waited an odd but cute scene, Glitter had taken one of the armchairs off to the side and fallen asleep waiting for us. A bottle of cola propped between her legs as she snored quietly in the midst of the bar patrons, the gleaming robot sitting beside her kept everypony in the bar eyeing the pair nervously at a distance.

AssaultJack snapped to attention as I walked over to nudge her awake, getting a sleepy mumble in response. "Lil' filly's plum tuckered out Master Fast, done explored all over this here town waitin' on y'all."

I floated her up limply from the chair to whisper in her ear, "Psst, hey Glitter, we're back. Come on, time to go to bed."

The little filly surprised me by reaching out weakly to hug my neck, her eyes furrowing as she grumbled half asleep, "Mmmm... dad... bout time..."

Jade pulled the foal away in her magic and yawned, leaning over to give me a quick kiss on the cheek. "I will take her to bed and do the same Fast. Enjoy your fun with Valkyrie, but come to bed soon yourself yes?"

I returned the gesture and waved them off as Val rolled her eyes, limping over to the scruffy grey earth pony stallion tending bar and started ordering. I didn't plan on staying up much longer myself but Val had worried me, I did want to spend some time with her. We had things to do tomorrow, and the more I thought about it the more likely it seemed we'd need to stay around Diamond City for awhile.

Once she had a tray full of bottles Val grabbed me by the cloak and dragged me over to a booth, flopping down on the wide bench with a grateful sigh. Her claws flicked the tops off two bottles of beer while I eyed the larger whiskey bottle dubiously, I hoped that was just for her. Now that the strange robot was no longer intimidating the bar the atmosphere had lightened, even this late quite a few ponies came in and out, enjoying the big city.

A waitress in a pink dress and blue jacket looked harried dealing with them all, there were a few rough looking ponies here and there along with obvious locals. As I watched a light tan pegasus stallion slunk in and rushed over to the bar, what drew my attention was the scars covering his flanks, a scorched brand in the shape of Rainbow Dash's own mark. That must be a Dashite, the pegasi did that to their own?

My anxious census of all the ponies crowding this place was interrupted by Val shoving a bottle in my muzzle and pouring it down my throat. "C'mon boss, drink! drink! drink! I'm sore an' tired an' I don't like drinkin' alone, pay me!"

I sputtered and wheezed when she took it away, that burned instead of the mild sudsy beer I expected, looking over I saw her still holding the large whiskey bottle and upending it in her beak. I quickly grabbed one of the smaller beer bottles just so I'd have something in the way of that again, I never had whiskey before, it was like drinking liquid fire.

"D-Don't do that Val... jeez that stuff is awful!"

She slammed the bottle down on the table and laughed at me, "Bah! Yer a lightweight boss, have to get you trained up proper!"

"I'll stick with these thanks. Are you ok Val? You were pretty hurt, that other griffon..."

Her violet eyes narrowed a moment and she shook her head, tipping my beer bottle up when I just wanted a sip. "Hush! I'm fine, my friend Wild Pegasus here will fix me right up, ya got no taste boss. Drinkin' first, no thinkin' bout that bitch Freya."

"Umm... okies... So your friend Nick was a surprise... Ya could've told me about that..." I ventured as an alternative.

"Whoops! Sorry bout that boss, I really did ferget. You just kinda stop thinkin' bout it when ya spend enough time with 'im. Figured I'd let ya find out in his office, ya don't zactly like them synth types. He really is just a regular pony though, good guy. Helped me out when I.... when I needed it..."

I watched her curiously as she took another drink and shuffled in her seat, Val seemed uncomfortable and kept opening her mouth to say something before closing it again silently. If she didn't want to talk about the other griffon we ran into I was at a bit of a loss, whiskey worked a lot faster, I had to shake my head to try to clear it. I was momentarily distracted watching a couple of tough looking stallions deliberately bump into the lanky, tan Dashite pegasus at the bar, spilling his drink and laughing uproariously. Bullies... I hated bullies...

I tried a few other benign topics, my jumbled thoughts on things we'd need to do tomorrow and in the future. She seemed ok with having to stick around Diamond City, plenty of things to amuse herself with here she explained, I had to wonder about that. She insisted on going shopping at the weapon and armor merchants in town soon, my leather armor was looking pretty battered and scorched now and her own had several gaping holes drilled through it. I'd also need ammo for the rifle that did that, I only had what was in the clip at the moment.

Val still seemed distracted and bothered by something, finally she huffed, popping another beer and slugging it down. "Grrr... ain'tcha gonna ask nothin boss?"

"Ask? Wha should I ask now?"

"About stuff! Like that pale griffon bitch, how I knew her, why we had the same stuff on our flanks? I know ya don't know nothin' boss, c'mon!" The bright griffon pouted and kicked at me under the table.

"Er.... you said not ta... umm didn't you? Did you? I thought ya didn't want ta talk about her?" I was confused, she did say that right?

"Yer posed ta ask anyway boss... I don't wanna just volunteer stuff, I'ma lady, all mysterious an' junk. Ask anyway."

Oooook... probably best to just agree at this point... "Who was dat other griffon Val, how'd ya know each other, what's da stuff on your flanks an' everything? Oh, why'd she call ya traitor?"

Val groaned and leaned back in the booth, "Good 'nuff I guess, be a lil' smoother boss. Ok look, I used'ta be a... a Gunner ok?"

"Gunner? You do use guns..." I gave her a confused look and sipped at my drink, surprised when she hopped up in her seat and shoved her rump across the table, scattering empty bottles.

"Ugh, ya really don't know nothin', Gunner boss, see the thingy on my flank?" Considering it was right in my face wiggling it was hard to miss. I leaned forward at her pointing anyway, it was only polite.

"Numbers an' stuff? It's all scratchy. Does this mean something? Not that I don't enjoy da view or nothin'" She gave a pleased look at that and smacked me with her tail before flopping back down to her seat.

"Cute boss... It's means Gunners, a merc outfit down south. Meanest, toughest company in the Commonwealth. Me an Freya used'ta work together, Fire an' Frost they called us, we was real good at what we did too."

Well I assumed they knew each other fairly well, being old friends was strange though, they both looked more than ready to kill each other. "Sooo wha happened?"

Val shuffled and grumbled in her seat thinking uncomfortably, this was a sore point for her but she obviously wanted to get something off her chest. I gave her a moment, sipping my drink and staring out at the bar. Those bullies were at it again, dumping another drink the pegasus in the red and white school jacket just got from the friendly bartender.

My view was suddenly blocked by Val bounding over the table and landing in the seat beside me, curling a wing around me and squeezing me against her side. I stiffened and sputtered but she shoved a drink in my mouth and spoke up, staring at the table with a flush. "Shaddup boss, I wanna lil' pony ta cuddle sometimes too. Helps get through this... Look... Gunners did some bad stuff ok? I... I did some bad stuff. Assassinations... Burnt places down... lots of killin', whatever the contract was right? Even if I didn't like it. Those guys that kicked all yer friends in Sanctuary outta their home in Whinny... that was Gunners, not me though! Past my time, they got worse after I left..."

That's why the name rang a bell. If the thing on her flank meant this mercenary company no wonder the ponies back home had been skittish around her. I wriggled in her grip but relaxed, it helped her with something clearly painful and I had gotten used to her teasing affection for the most part. I gave the confession some serious thought, roused only at her anxious glances down.

"Umm... Jade said she did bad stuff too... I don't care Val. Like ya said, I don't know nothin' anyway. All I know is the Val I know, I like her."

She got a wide grin and ruffled my mane happily, "Yeah I know, I like that ya don't know nothin' boss. I just thought ya should know this much. I left cause bad stuff happened... ta me in particular. I wish just the kinda jobs we started taking was enough fer me ta quit, bet it would'a been fer you, but I didn't till it got.. personal... Fer awhile there I was pretty bad off, hit the bottom of the barrel hard. Ol' Nick helped me up when I didn't have nothin' left.

I was just gettin' by when I met you though, yer a great boss. Seein' that little bitch Freya's workin for... really made me happy I found ya, that we're... ya know... friends and stuff. Takin' the contract with you was the best thing I done in a long time, I'm really happy! Like for real happy, not fake. So... ya know... thanks."

The wet griffon kiss to the cheek made me blush with a goofy grin, "Yur welcome Val! Thanks, I'm glad I met yu too, yur family to me sos I luv you!"

Val ruffled and hopped up from the seat, managing to turn a little redder than normal. "A-Alright, enough mushy stuff boss. G-Gotta go hit the can, go get me another round. Can't believe I agree with Blue but get yerself some chips or somethin' too, think you've had enough. Gonna get me in trouble."

I watched her saunter away darting glances back until she disappeared and struggled down from my seat, making my weaving way through the other patrons to the bar near the pegasus I noticed earlier. The heavyset bartender was wiping up the latest spill in front of him when I waved dizzily leaning against the bar.

"Hey! My griffon friend wants mooore drinks! Pwease! Oh, an' lemme order one fer him too!" I pointed to the surprised pegasus hiding his stare under a long, lank brown mane.

The bartender took my caps with a smile and boomed in a funny accent, grabbing my hoof and shaking it, threatening to spill me over. "Ahha, yes is good little pony yes! You see Miles, not all bad, be more of the confident, you make more friends da?" He finally let me go struggling to grab hold of the bar and turned back to fetch my order.

The pegasus turned to me nervously but held a shaky hoof out, "T-Thanks... umm really, those jerks keep spilling mine. N-nice meeting somepony who's not so mean."

I grabbed his offered hoof woozily and shook it with a grin, "I saw, had plenty of ponies do dat ta me too, no fun. Hey he talks funny huh?" I nodded over to the bartender loading beer bottles on a tray and the pegasus... did the bartender say Miles? Yeah, Miles, that was it. Miles smiled and nodded back.

"Mr. Bobrov's family was from Stalliongrad, it is umm... kinda funny sounding... but he's really nice. Main r-reason I come back here every night." The sidelong glance at the pretty pink unicorn waitress gave me a decent idea of the other and I bobbed my head sagely.

"She's a good reason too huh?" I waved a hoof widely across the room in her general direction, making him flush and cringe at the bar. "You should talk to her an' stuff, she's pretty. An' don't let those bullies push ya around like dat, s'not right, don't like it..."

The bartender Mr. Bobrov came back with Miles' drink and set it down, clapping me on the back making me fight for balance again. As I struggled I saw the rough looking stallions in question get up from their seats again, snickering to each other. "So I tells him, every night I say Miles! Stand up for yourself, is good! But no, you listen to new friend maybe, da?"

"I- I know Mr. Bobrov... j-just... I can't... can't win against them! T-they'll beat me up, they're big, tough earth ponies an I'm... me..." Miles slumped in his stool and his ears drooped, wincing at the pair drawing closer.

I laid more caps on the counter and floated a bottle from behind the bar up in wobbly magic out of view, stumbling down from the bar and giving the pegasus a shake on the shoulder. "Hey, my mom wuz a pegasus like you an' she was da toughest pony I ever saw. Sides, sometimes ya gotta do somethin' or they won't ever stop, like this..." With a sloppy smile I tipped the bottle over their heads, splashing both liberally with very strong smelling alcohol of some kind.

"What the fuck! Oh you little shit!" The larger of the two, a light green stallion with a yellow mohawk, sputtered and stomped over, glowering down at me as Miles looked on horrified.

"What!? I thought it was funny right? Spillin' drinks an' all. Don't cha like it anymore?" I wove over to the pair and thumped my hoof against his leather jacket.

The stallion's eye twitched and I could see a vein pop out on his forehead before his hoof smashed into my muzzle, knocking me back several feet limply. Miles gasped and jumped down from his stool, waving a foreleg in front of my face. "Why'd you do that! L-look at em, they're b-bigger and stronger than you too!"

Groaning I stumbled back up and shook my head, the whole painkiller part of alcohol was actually pretty nice, I tasted blood but it didn't really hurt. "First, cause dat's da worst they can do, don't matter if I get back up. They can't make me sorry or shut up, so even if they can beat me up I can still call em a couple cowardly, two bit, pathetic, jackasses!"

I spun on the spot, making myself dizzy as hell but managing to buck the fuming one who hit me right in the chest with both legs, knocking him back with a grimace. His orange partner shouted and charged at me, making me a little concerned before Miles actually flew forward and slammed into him bodily, knocking them both to the ground in a tangle. Following his lead I charged at the surprised green pony and launched myself at him, thumping my hooves against him ineffectually. I wasn't really good at hoof to hoof fighting but that was hardly the point, we were both tossed back in short order but I smiled and nudged Miles beside me.

"Oh yeah... an' second is cause if ya gots friends it don't matter if they is bigger an' stronger..."

Val grabbed both ponies by their manes and slammed their heads together laughing maniacally, "Hells yeah! Leave ya alone for just a minute an' ya got just the thing I needed waitin' boss! No better way to limber back up than a good ol' bar fight!"

The rest of the bar patrons sensibly grabbed their drinks and backed away as the fiery griffon started pummeling both of them. She could easily tear them to shreds, but that would be escalating beyond a simple brawl and there was no need. After they had taken enough of a beating the bartender slammed his hoof down, breaking it up with a shout. "Alright! Is enough! I tells you two I no like your funny business, now you break rules, attack guest of inn, you banned! Go before I let griffon finish!"

Val shoved them on their way scampering out of the bar and picked both of us up, dusting me off with her wing. "Good job boss! That hit the spot, who's yer new friend?"

"Umm... Miles right? Hi, I'm Fast, dis is Val, nice ta meetcha!" Properly introduced I held a hoof out again and Val snatched the return up as soon as he was done.

The pegasus had a bloody lip and looked like a decent black eye was on its way, but he gave a surprised grin. "T-thanks, er... both of you. You're right Fast, that wasn't so bad, definitely not as bad as letting them keep picking on me. Nice to meet you both, I'm Traveling Miles."

I frowned and rubbed my head, why did that name sound familiar? Val at least could think and supplied the answer immediately, "Hey wow! Yer the pony from the radio! Sweet boss, celebrity an' stuff."

Ohhhhh... that's why he sounded like somepony I knew, that was the voice on Diamond City Radio alright. I always wondered why such a reticent sounding pony would get on the airwaves and talk to everyone, though I admired it. He sounded as bad as I did trying to talk to others but got on there anyway and tried. I gave a goofy grin and went to tell him as much, interrupted by the strange wide eyed look he was giving over my shoulder.

"Fast... what are you up to out here? It is very noisy and... oh my goodness, what has happened! Valkyrie! I asked you to stay out of trouble!" Jade was standing behind me and stamped her hooves angrily on seeing my bloody muzzle and bruises, her horn immediately lighting up and healing us on the spot.

"Hey, I didn't start it, he did Blue. I just finished it, don't blame me!" Val sacrificed me without a second thought...

Those big blue eyes narrowed as she fretted over me, ignoring the pegasus stammering at my side. "Is this true? What have I told you about acting as a bully would Fast, I am most disappointed. You plainly cannot be trusted playing with your griffon friend on your own, I demand you come along to bed and..."

"P-P-Princess!!" Miles actually saved me, managing to shout and point at the alicorn dragging me away. The attention of all the bar patrons made her pause long enough for him to get himself together. "W-Wait! He didn't! He... he helped me! They were the bullies! Holy Luna you're real! I've been looking all over town for you! Fast you know a princess!?"

She flinched under the sudden stares, edging backwards towards the room she had come from. I wasn't going to give her the chance here though, seeing her all pretty and sleepy without her coat was irresistible in my current state. I lunged for her, wrapping my forelegs around her neck and planting a long kiss on her before she could disappear. "Jade! Yay! Dis is da guy from da radio! Miles, Jade, Jade, Miles." I waved towards the wide eyed pegasus and nuzzled at her neck happily.

Jade turned a bright red, shivering at the public affection and pulling me along with her to retreat to her room again, nervously trying to remain somewhat polite. "P-pleased to meet you Miles... I... Thank you for correcting me, I am g-glad Fast helped you. Perhaps we can speak l-later, I am afraid we both need our r-rest..."

"No wait! Er... p-please! Let me buy you a drink? Something to eat? A-anything! Just a few minutes, everypony in Diamond City's been talking about an princess in town today! My listeners... umm... r-really let me thank Fast and just talk a few minutes?" Miles goggled at me hanging off the blue alicorn in front of him and dropped to his knees, holding his forelegs up to beg.

She looked desperate to escape, I wanted her with me though and to get used to the attention I thought she deserved. "Yeah, pweeease Jade! You never come ta drink with us, don'tcha like hanging out with me? Miles is nice, can't yuz talk to him with us fer juuust a minute? They is talkin' bout you anyway, you could like... say good Followers stuff for the radio!"

Mentioning her hopes for the Followers of the Apocalypse in the Commonwealth made her stop, conflicted. She looked at me softly and pouted seeing me giving her the puppy eyes, my pointing towards our corner booth gave her somewhere to hide at least since I wasn't letting go. With a nervous whinny she skittered over, dragging me along and ducking into the seat, slouching down and pulling me to her side for reassurance.

"I do not join you in your libations because alcohol does not affect my kind to nearly the same degree, I... s-suppose if they have the radiation tinged version of Sparkle Cola I would enjoy that. I will sit with you and your new friend, you know I like spending time with you. For just one drink, you may not have any more either, and must promise to come to bed when I am done. I am quite tired from healing so many ponies and wish to sleep, I... c-cannot do so well without you however." Her blushing whisper made Miles' eyes widen further and grin at her concession.

I agreed happily, nodding up to her and wiggling under her wing. Val jumped to the seat across the table and waved Miles on to go get his promised purchase. The young pegasus scrambled off immediately, prancing on the spot waiting for his order and sprinting back, passing over a red bottle of Jade's favored beverage in awe. He had brought a bowl of some kind of nuts too so I munched on the salty snacks while the others drank.

"S-So... I have to ask... are you really a princess umm... Jade?" Miles was smart enough to let her sip her drink and get more comfortable, but had been barely restraining all the questions he obviously had.

"Yush!" I held a hoof up high and bobbed my head energetically.

"Fast... N-no... not really Miles... There are many other alicorns in the world." Jade gave me a sidelong look answering the radio pony.

"Yush she is! She's my princess! Princess o' Sanctuary. She's juuust shy..."

"No I..."

"Yush!"

Val interrupted the back and forth, tittering to herself and holding a claw up to whisper slyly to Miles, "Boss is right, don't let her fool you. Regular descendant of Luna right there, just likes slummin' it with us commoners."

"Valkyrie! I e-expect it from Fast but really!" Jade looked completely aghast shaking her head at Miles' stare.

The radio DJ seemed a little confused but continued on soothingly, "Er... I know there are other alicorns Miss, I've even seen a few flying around in the Commonwealth before. I umm... I kinda got kicked out from the sky when I was pretty young, dipping down to listen to DJ Pon3, so I heard the stories." He shrugged in embarrassment and gestured to his scarred flank below the table. I still couldn't believe this Grand Pegasus Enclave, whatever it was, would do something like that.

A relieved look crossed Jade's face, "Oh good, then you know better. Fast simply insists on referring to me as such, I am not..."

She was stopped by Miles holding up his hooves and shaking his head, "No, I mean I know you're not one just because you're an alicorn. But... well t-there are a lot of stories... I talked to traders down from Hex that came in today and other travellers, a pony I trust who escaped from the Thundega plant... T-There are a lot of folks all sayin' the same thing, not just an alicorn but a real princess. If you're shy I understand but... it... it really makes ponies happy. Just in the city today there's been a buzz in the air, everypony's been friendly and excited. They... they have real hope for once, I just thought..."

I nodded with satisfaction as Jade whimpered and curled up next to me, "See! Like I said, princess! Sanctuary's just a small settlement now, but we gots a princess an she goes out an' helps ponies, an' I looooove her!"

The sloppy kiss got her to stop trying to hide behind her wings and she just grumbled sullenly, "I-If it helps ponies... Oooooh, l-let them think what they wish. I would much rather speak of the Followers of the Apocalypse however."

"Sure! Anything you want to talk about! All my listeners would love to hear it! M-maybe I could convince you to record something to play? I umm... see you have a pip-buck there, you could say whatever you want and drop it off at the station." Miles looked down to the arcano-tech device on her hoof hopefully.

Convincing Jade to actually allow her melodic voice to be broadcast all over the Commonwealth was a tall order. I liked the idea though, when she was talking about things she was passionate about she could be very convincing. Just hearing her talk always soothed me, if I could figure out a way to get her to talk about helping others her hopes for the Followers here would get a real boost. Her terrified look at the idea as she closed her eyes tightly and shook her head, told me just how difficult it was going to be though.

"No! Oh no... no, no, no.. I c-couldn't! I... I w-want to spread the Follower's message b-but... I.... It was lovely meeting you Miles, I am a-afraid we really do need some rest though. P-Perhaps we could speak again later, you could talk to Fast! H-He is very good at theatrics when he wants to be, yes that would be best. He should have a stallion friend his own age here as well, Valkyrie is a horrible influence. Right now I insist he comes along, g-good night!"

In a rush she swallowed the rest of her drink and fled, yanking me from the booth in her magic and dashing back to our room with a whinny. Only once safely behind the door and under the covers, wrapped around me and nuzzling for comfort, did she calm down. Pinned against her I helped her along, smothering her with affection until her breathing slowed and she giggled happily.

"You see what your stories have done Fast? I do not like all the attention, I wanted to spread the Followers here by healing and helping ponies, not pretending to be a princess." She tried to look cross but it was spoiled by the little shivers she gave at each kiss.

"I know, sorry. But s'not pretending, you really are a princess Jade. My princess. An' Princess of Sanctuary, you're what a good princess should be. You inspire ponies, make them feel good and hope, make 'em wanna be better, make me wanna be a better stallion. I can share the idea of a princess since it helps everypony, but I love you an' am keepin' the rest of you for myself."

The large alicorn cuddled closer and nibbled at my ears sleepily, "I suppose I can understand that, I am forced to share the part of you that continues to put yourself in danger for others, though I do not like it. I refuse to share any more either however, the rest is mine. Now as much as I wish to stay up with you... these walls are quite thin and I am truly tired. Hush your silliness and sleep, I will consider your ideas in the morning."

Feeling her drift off to a deep slumber, untroubled by her bad dreams, always made me feel positive and I could tell I was following right behind. Drinking in the smell of her and fuzzily thinking of all the things to do now that we had made it to Diamond City. If my letters made it through we'd have some help in a few days, Stable 114 was out there recovering from their exposure to the wasteland and would need it. If we were staying here awhile we should try to make ourselves at home, the city was closer to the heart of Trotson and made a good place to venture into the city from. Anywhere with Jade was wonderful but I already missed Sanctuary, getting acclimated to the big city would help.

There were plenty of negative things waiting too I tried to turn away from to just enjoy the warm embrace. They were still in the back of my mind though, the Institute I now knew had been involved with another Stable and a mind control drug. A new enemy as if the shadowy group of insane scientists weren't enough, Fancy and Freya were still out there and very pissed. The Church of Balefire and their hidden Cathedral Zed was determined to find and locate his brother. The zebra had a point complaining about how things tended to happen, for every step forward I took it seemed like more madness just piled on top, trying to drag me down.

The gentle and gorgeous filly beside me helped push all that away though, despite everything that happened since i woke up back in Stable 111 there were things that made it all worthwhile. There was Jade and Glitter and Val, everypony back in Sanctuary I hoped to hear from soon along with our friends in Hexington, maybe even new ones here in this place. I missed my old life that being in 114 had reminded me of painfully, but I wouldn't trade it for my new one.

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

Clever Prancer----------
---You're one slippery little pony! Through agility and reflexes, you have become deft at striking where it hurts while preventing your enemies from doing the same. You gain an additional 5% chance to score a critical hit; your enemies suffer a 25% penalty to their chance to critically hit you. This perk is only effective when wearing light or no armor.

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

Diamond City- Accepted
---You've made a few friends in town and are planning on sticking around the big city for a little while. Being accepted means less hassle at the gates and you won't be cheated quite so badly, though it's still best if you don't handle the buying and selling.

Stable 114- Liked
--- As a fellow Stable pony the newly freed residents of 114 are more trusting of you and counting on your help. You know what it's like leaving the Stable and joining the world above, they're looking to you to share the lessons you've learned.

Trigger Jewels- Vilified
--- Their base has been taken, their source of income removed and their old boss killed, all thanks to your meddling. Whatever remnants of this gang are left definitely don't like you, and are out there with Fancy and Freya somewhere...