(Last?... Gone... Where?... Down... Subway... Now?... Brotherhood?... Sister... Yes... Looking... Alive?... Here?... Umbra... Try... Tired... Goodneighbor?... Fun... Go... Soon?... Few... Slow... Turn...)

The constant whispering dragged me out of my short rest and I winced at the spike of pain between my eyes, groaning from Val's back at the chatter, where the hell were we? I goggled from my perch between the bright griffon's wings at the pool of light we were gliding towards.

Was that the library? I hadn't gotten a good look from the outside, but the huge stone edifice was big enough and the right shape, a large rectangle with an open courtyard in the middle. Well... it had been, now it was more of a U shape... One gaping hole had been blown straight through the northern wing, letting me see all the power armored ponies wandering the remains of the now exposed rooms.

As I watched a vertibuck took off from the streets with a howl, blasting off towards the east. I could make out two more of the pre-war vehicles parked below, near barricaded encampments with more Steel Rangers. Sleek black suits of Enclave armor flitted around the building, which seemed to be completely locked down by the Brotherhood of Friendship.

Further away from the smoking ruins of the library was a forest of tents and makeshift shelters, where Val was aiming towards. I caught the paired Minutemare and Followers of the Apocalypse flags flapping in the center of the camp where she touched down, attracting attention from the harried looking ponies down here.

I found myself smiling as Val shoved her way through the camp, watching as open tents passed and I saw injured wastelanders, Brotherhood and Church of Balefire ponies, all being treated equally by the medical ponies wearing the yellow and pink medical boxes. Jade's Followers really made a difference here, I was proud of her.

The Minutemares I saw looked to be keeping order, standing guard over the Church patients and defending the refugee camp from the dangers of the wasteland. I wished I could focus a bit better, answer some of the shouted questions following in Val's hurried wake. Instead I was trying to shake off that headache and wake up fully, eagerly anticipating finding Jade.

(Fast?..) "FAST!?" The bright scream of just the filly I wanted to see got the attention of the camp, letting me swing my head woozily in the same direction as everyone else to see her.

There was my princess... even spattered in blood all over her lab coat, her mane a sweaty mess and bags under her sparkling, tear-filled blue eyes, that was the most beautiful mare on Equis. None of what happened mattered, all of the misery was worth getting back here and seeing her again.

Jade sniffled a moment before bawling and rocketing forward, flying low to the ground with her forelegs extended before her. Val sensibly skidded to a halt and let me go flying off her back, letting the big blue filly tackle just me rather than both of us. That left me to be crushed under a lot of happy alicorn, squeezing my breath out and pinning the growths on my back painfully, all forgotten under the torrent of kisses covering me though.

"You are back! You are alright! T-Thank all the goddesses! I was so worried!! W-Where have you been Fast!?" The teary, relieved barrage of questions came rapidly between kisses and happy nuzzles, quite a few of the ponies in the camp were watching the show with small smiles, but Jade didn't mind the attention at all for once.

"Er... well..." I wheezed out, only to be cut off by Val's concerned grumble.

"Hey, not ta ruin the happy reunion an all Blue, but you need to look him over... S-Somethin' ain't right..." She still seemed shaken from seeing me apparently have a seizure by her description. It was all just a short interruption to me, like a record skipping, but from what she told me that's probably what it was.

I tried to raise my hooves and wave off the worried stare Jade gave me at that, "N-No... I'm ok! Um.. there's other ponies hurt worse than me! I-I'll be ok for awhile, y-you can just wait to..."

My pleas to put off the inevitable went ignored, Jade's slender horn lit up brightly and I felt her magic wash over me, poking and probing at me, telling her everything she needed to know... (No....) I watched her eyes widen sadly, growing larger while her pupils shrank to tiny blue dots. (No! No! NO!) Tears started streaming from them and her previous smile melted away to a hard little frown.

She wiped her eyes forcefully and set them in a determined line, yanking me from the ground in her magic and galloping back the way she came, growling over her shoulder the whole way. "You are NOT OK! Thank you Valkyrie, I will examine him immediately! Please make sure we are not disturbed!!"

Val stopped at the tent flaps Jade barreled through, putting her back to the entrance as they fell down to block the outside view. I was flipped through the air lazily, looking down on the small tent that must be hers to rest in. A single cot sat in the corner beside a lantern and Jade's small, lead lined box.

Jade slammed me to the cot and started yanking my bags and armor away, sniffling and shaking as she worked. "You will tell me what happened! You are very sick! How did this happen!?!"

"Jade... it's ok, really... just calm down..."

"I WILL NOT! You are deathly ill! I... I will stabilize you here... take you to the clinic in Goodneighbor... until I can find better facilities, Stable 114 maybe, or back to Sanctuary... Diamond City if we have to! I do not care whether they like it or not!! W-We will..." She was getting hysterical as she stripped away layers, her healing magic pouring into me as she gasped on reaching the stained bandages across my chest.

"I-It's alright... hold on a sec alright? Y-You don't have to..." Trying to fend her off was pointless, once she saw the bandages a gleaming pair of scissors floated from her packs, expertly snipping them away while she stared intently.

(....No....) She froze looking at the slimy growths on my back, making me curious enough to take another look. They had kept spreading down my ribs, now starting to branch out to go in new directions. I felt my stomach flop around uncomfortably taking in the view, the smell wasn't helping either...

Slowly I managed to look back up to Jade, a shamed expression hanging on my face. Even with tears pouring down her cheeks, she was still beautiful. I just wished I could have held this off for a little while...

She shook her head and sniffled, returning to removing the bandages and floating up puffy balls of cotton to wipe away the gunk shakily. "Y-You... you have been poisoned by taint... W-We will... we will go to Dr. Swab, have her cast the spell to purge it.... Y-You will be fine..."

I had to force her muzzle up from her work, waiting patiently for her to stop fighting and look me in the eyes before giving her a long kiss, stroking her mane as we parted and smiling weakly. "Not taint... The Institute's version of the I.M.P.... s-sorry... I stole everything I could about it from their computer, I'm sure you can make a lot more sense of it than I could but... I got the impression that after too long it's irreversible... But hey, maybe it'll work huh!? T-That'd be pretty neat..."

That only got a sad, hurt giggle and she wrapped her wings around me, sniffling into my mane and rocking. "You must h-have not r-read it properly... I will look at it a-and find something... Until then I will treat your symptoms, t-take you back to Glitter to rest. W-We will find a way, you... you may not... I am so happy to have you back Fast, you may not go anywhere..."

I sat there and let her rock around me, stroking her sides and kissing her neck tenderly, drinking in the smell of her even sweaty and dirty as she was. If holding on to hope for a cure helped, why not... I secretly hoped Moondancer's potion would actually work properly at this point, what was done was done, that was the best outcome I could hope for. Though if this was working I'd hate to feel what it was like when it didn't...

(Fast?... Back?... Back!... Where?... Sister.... Tent... See!)

Ow.... those whispers again... like an icepick straight to the brain. I furrowed my brow against it and gritted my teeth to venture a question to Jade, now that her breathing was slowing down again. "Are y-your sisters around here by any chance? S-Some of that 'limited unity' like at the tower?"

She pulled away to give me a quizzical look, nodding slowly. "Yes... they have been around the library all day, there are enough for a weaker form of the same unity to be here. They are happy you are alright. Why?"

"I don't know... I think I'm..." I tried to explain the faint whispers I kept hearing and losing, cut off by a heavy thump from outside the tent flap.

Val screeched from that direction, a dark shadow stretching up the tent on that side. "Hey! Hey! Hey! No! She said no disturbances! You just back off ya big filly!"

I looked over with interest, the shadow moved this way and that, trying to get around Val from the sound. Then a rumbling set of hoofsteps went around the tent entirely, the point of a very long horn poked out from the bottom of the wall right beside the cot, lifting the cloth aside for a huge head to follow.

Swan's long pink mane fell in a curtain around me, the giant mare gasping happily with wide blue-violet eyes and rubbing her cheek against me with a squee. I sputtered under the attention, noticing that while Swan was still a big pony, she must have burned off a lot of power out here, she was only about half the size I had seen her before. Wide swaths of bandages were wound around her neck and plastered to her cheek too, suddenly that gaping hole in the library made sense, she plowed through it at full strength with her shield...

"Fast! You are back! Sister was worried, many of us were too! We got to fight the bad ponies here looking for you! It was fun, but I am glad you came back!" (Play...)

Trying to scramble back into my coat and hide my back wasn't easy with her nuzzling and cooing at me like that, Jade tried to interrupt the big mare, eventually helped by Val storming in the tent and shoving at her head, trying to push her back out with little success. "I said no! Boss is sick! Go away, go kick in another buildin' or somethin'! Bug em later ya big goofy mare!"

Jade nodded hopefully and shooed her back out, "Yes Swan, h-he needs medical care. I will let you know when he may receive visitors... all of you..."

The alicorn doctor rolled her eyes to the tent flap, half a dozen of her sisters in the process of peeking in froze, yanking their heads out and trotting off with Val on their heels. "Aw dammit! I said no! Go sneakin' in when I'm dealin' with her! Go on, get! Shoo!!"

(Awww....Fair!...Want...Later...)

"Ow... N-Nice to see you too Swan, w-we'll talk soon ok? Just feeling a little under the weather..." I gave an unsteady grin up to the pale purple filly, patting her cheek as she smiled back brightly and pulled her head out of the tent, leaving Jade and I alone again.

Jade gave an exasperated smile and shook her head, gently pushing my coat back down to get back to my care. "Many of them were worried, Swan was quite the terror during the battle you know, I believe she likes you... Now then, I will treat these... you... while you tell me everything, in detail Fast... everything you know and all your symptoms. Then we will return to Goodneighbor before Glitter wakes up, sunrise is not long off so start talking..."

"R-Right... From the beginning then, I woke up in Moondancer's lab..."

This time when I woke up, it wasn't strapped to that cold lab table under the slightly mad mare's care. I could tell that almost immediately, but the memory woke me with a start each time I fell asleep since then, this time reinforced by being unable to move my limbs again when I woke up.

After a heart racing moment of panic, my vision cleared and I could tell where I was, breathing a relieved sigh and relaxing at my wonderful position. I was lying on the large, round bed in the master bedroom of the Princess Celestia suite, back in Goodneighbor. It wasn't straps holding my limbs down, but a blanket of those I loved pinning me in place.

Jade was curled up on my left, her muzzle stuck in my mane snoring lightly, both legs on that side were entwined with hers tightly and one of her wings was draped over my lower half. Val's snarling snores were muffled by the pillow over her head, down by my hindlegs, her furry back legs and lithe body were covering my limbs on the right, one of her paws kicked and shoved gently at my face. Finally Glitter lay right on my chest, her little forelegs locked around my neck and nuzzling against me fitfully, her eyes furrowed against some unpleasant dream.

I must have fallen asleep and been brought here, Jade had wanted to do test after test during the predawn hours, they all kind of ran together at some point. I felt quite a bit better at the moment, not just because of the welcome wake up either, though it did wonders for me emotionally. No, physically I felt better than since I escaped the Institute, not very good, but not miserable either.

A couple IV bags hung to the side of the bed, a trail of plastic tubing leading under Val's outstretched legs and towards my foreleg under there. From what I could make out and feel under Glitter's sleeping form, I was wearing fresh bandages around my chest too, still clean and dry.

I was hungry as usual lately, but not ravenous so that was an improvement. My muscles ached, but weren't twitching or spasming, the constant pain further muted by the pleasant buzz of Med-X. My head throbbed dully, but no blinding jags of pain between my eyes, no whispers...

Judging by the bright light filtering through the curtains, it had to be late morning or afternoon outside. Usually Glitter was practically up with Celestia, bright and early every day. She must have come in here when I did, refusing to leave until I woke up. With my legs pinned, I leaned my head down to nuzzle her mane with a tired smile, whispering in her twitching ears.

"Hey sweetie... morning, er.... afternoon maybe. I'm glad to see you."

The sleeping foal's pink eyes fluttered open, blinking sleepily until they focused and widened staring into my own. She gave a choked squeal and gripped my neck tighter, burying her face in my coat and whimpering happily. "Daddy! Y-You're ok!! Where'd you go!? We was all so worried an... an I thought..."

"Ssshhh, it's alright. I'm sorry about that, but I came back right? I'll always come back for you, even if I have to go away sometimes. I didn't want to, and I'm so, so happy to be back. Forgive me?"

She sniffled and snorted against me a moment, eventually lifting her head and sticking her nose up, wiping at her dripping eyes and nose as she huffed and tried to sound cross. "M-Maybe... if y-you don't go anywhere again, s-stay with me and play?"

"Nothing I'd rather do sweetheart, we can hang out together all day as far as I'm concerned."

Jade murmured and nibbled at my ear, shifting to kiss my horn and lean up, stroking the happy foal with her wing. "That is good, spending time with Glitter is all I am prepared to allow you to do today Fast. I still have many more tests to run and those stolen files of yours to read, then we will decide what to do about your... condition..."

A look of worry flashed across Glitter's face, giving a yelp that woke Val up with a groan and tightening her grip on my neck forcefully, that earth pony strength letting the little filly squeeze my windpipe shut in fear. "W-What condition?! What's the matter?! A-Are you ok daddy?!?"

Jade looked like she immediately regretted her words, glancing to the sky blue painted ceiling evasively as the foal's eyes kept darting between us. Val pulled the pillow off her head and dragged herself up to her elbows on the bed, yawning and playfully pushing at my face with her paw. "Boss was dumb enough to walk back in the rain an' sleet kiddo, caught a cold comin' back."

I knew honesty was one of the six important virtues of ponykind, I still gave Val a grateful smile though. I didn't want to lie to her, hell I probably couldn't very well at all, none of what the griffon said was a lie however and scaring her with the whole truth seemed pointless.

Of course there was a good deal of selfishness in there too, I wanted to enjoy some time without whatever was happening to me hanging over things like a dark cloud. I gave a tired yawn and sat up, pushing Glitter to my lap as Jade stacked pillows up behind me, gently guiding me to lean back into them as she checked my IV.

"Well... er... I feel better today... I was in a hurry to get back right? Don't worry Glitter, I'm ok, just a little sick is all."

Jade smiled kindly, stroking her silver mane and putting on a brave face to nod. "Yes, I will be working to treat him exclusively today as well dear... e-everything will be fine! I need you to take care of your father for me today so I can focus on his health though, will you be my little nurse again, make sure Fast behaves himself?"

Glitter leapt off me and bounced to her hooves on the bed, snapping off a determined salute. "You got it mommy! I'll take care of daddy so you can fix him! Cause we're a team right? A f-family?"

Jade beamed at the little filly, sniffling and joining me in a tight hug, I had to hook Val's claw to drag her in too, but she relented and joined the embrace with a noise of disgust masking her smile. Rubbing her small back with a hoof, I nodded and whispered to Glitter. "That's right, we're a family, all in this together alright, no matter what."

"Precisely dear, and on that note, perhaps you should get cleaned up. I know, why not take one of my sisters downstairs again and order some breakfast for us to start the day together over, hmm?" Jade soothed the frightened foal and sent her off on a mission, leaving the adults alone for a few minutes as she galloped around outside.

Once she was out of earshot, Val hissed and punched her pillow, whispering urgently. "So what's the deal? What'd those Institute fucks do to him Blue? Can you fix it?"

Jade got up and shuffled nervously by the bed, checking some of the equipment she had brought up here and had me hooked to. The fear in her voice wasn't nearly so well hidden with Glitter gone, making me concerned about how she was dealing with this. "I... I do not know Valkyrie... He has been exposed to a version of the Impelled Metamorphosis Potion and it has been... changing him.

The I.M.P. was never used as intended though, I have no idea what it would look like if successful. The mother was formed from a massive overdose and shaped her children from the flesh of unicorns and the potion herself. Very rarely ponies would suffer Taint poisoning in just the right amounts for the process to start, but they were generally absorbed by the mother. Fast has informed me what he has been exposed to is different as well, that Dr. Dala has apparently spent the centuries trying to improve the original potion."

Floating her blood spattered lab coat over, Jade nervously looked over the stains, a helpless expression marring her lovely face. Val grumbled and bounced off the bed, throwing her claws up dramatically and struggling to keep her voice down. "C'mon, yer s'posed ta be the wonder doc, j-just say you can fix it! Help him! Somethin'!! He looks like crap!"

"Thanks Val...."

Rolling her violet eyes, Val snorted impatiently at my wounded tone and rounded on me angrily. "Hush up boss! Not jokin' here, you look like the dealer's breathin' down yer neck! Stuff is basically Taint right? Seen plenty of folks go a bunch'a nasty ways cause of that stuff an you look well on yer way! I ain't havin' it boss! Can we take 'im to D.C. Blue? Make that doc there do the purge thingy, will that work?!"

Jade tapped her hooves together under the griffon's increasing agitation, answering in a helpless whisper. "I simply do not know enough about what is happening yet Valkyrie, the spell to purge Taint may help, or it may make things w-worse... I am as worried as you are! We will do whatever is necessary to help Fast, I w-will let you know as soon as I do what that is..."

This is exactly why I was ok with a lie of omission when it came to Glitter... the stress and worry was showing on both of them already. Val was looking for an outlet for her anger and Jade was getting overwhelmed with fear. If I really was running out of time, I didn't want to waste any of it with them.

I stretched forward to touch a hoof to both of them, patting them soothingly and shaking my head. "Look, just calm down both of you, it's alright whatever happens. I mean, I don't want to turn into one of those mutants or die... but I've had awhile to deal with it now getting back here, you guys just found out. Getting mad or scared doesn't help though, trust me, I already tried both. Plus I do feel a lot better today, Jade's doctoring has already helped a lot!"

The alicorn doctor gave a sad smile in response, stroking my cheek and replacing the IV bags hanging by the bed. "Thank you Fast, but I am merely treating the symptoms. I am certain it feels better, but it is doing nothing to undo the effects...

Your body is being rebuilt, requiring a great deal of energy and material to meet the enormous demands placed on it. Your muscle fiber, bone density and structure, brain structure and chemistry, blood chemistry, nervous system and organs are all in flux. The tumors on your back... do appear to be the beginnings of wings... They do not seem to be malformed so far, but it is a traumatic process.

Proper care has eased the side effects for now, walking back in the weather without sufficient rest or nutrition exacerbated them. You need to be carefully monitored during the process merely to manage them."

"See, everything's fine, n-nothing to worry about..."

Jade whinnied and stamped her hoof, "There is quite a bit to be worried about, thank you! There are still injured at the library as well, but the Followers will have to tend to that in my stead, I am not going anywhere while you are ill and you are not exerting yourself. Now, transfer those files to me and show me how to access them, I have a great deal of work to do and not much time if you are correct."

Val had calmed a bit, but I could see the wheels turning desperately in her head. She scratched her plumage and gave Jade a hopeful look, "So... You think it might actually work Blue? You said he's growin' wings, maybe it works the way it's posed to? Makes him like you? I mean that's possible right?"

The alicorn medic returned Val's optimistic expression shakily, shoving her obvious uncertainty aside a moment. "It is possible yes Valkyrie. Fast said that Dr. Dala was very confident, she also had the benefit of centuries to work on it and no compunctions about pony trials... He is growing wings properly and the other physiological changes I have found are similar to my kind... We will not pin all our hopes on that outcome by any means, but it is something to hold on to. For now I need to explore every other possibility, you can help by ensuring he does not do himself more harm while I am working."

Giving me a hard, uncompromising glare, Val nodded sharply and leaned over me, pinning me to the bed with one dark claw on my bandaged chest. "He ain't goin' nowhere, right boss?..."

Bobbing my head in agreement, I patched my pip-buck to Jade's and started copying data over as I answered sincerely. "I won't overdo it, I promise. There's something else you should know about though Jade... Before I escaped, I went back to Moondancer's lab, I grabbed all the data then, but I went back for something else. Something for you and your sisters. I got the compatibility potion Jade."

I floated the pale pink vials from my bags by the bed, tilting the 6 clear cylinders to catch the light and see that rainbow sheen to the liquid inside. Jade's blue eyes widened and gazed at them in wonder, before shaking her head and resolutely ignoring them. "Y-You should not have gone back, risked returning to her lab! I am glad you were lucky and succeeded of course Fast, but you should not have done so..."

"Yeah but... I thought you'd be happy? Moondancer seemed pretty sure it works, she was keeping it from Evergreen so they'd still need her, but I took everything I could. With this, you and your sisters ought to be able to reproduce with normal ponies... You can have what you always wanted, t-that's kind of a bright side right?"

The azure pools of her eyes shimmered wetly before she clenched them shut in a frown, raising her voice with a note of panic. "YOU are what I want! I do not care about reproduction! Some silly compatibility potion is not worth... not... (sigh) W-We will tell my sisters when you are well and can give your gift yourself, for now I am only interested in your health."

Putting the precious potion back in my bags for safety, I couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. I felt good that she was more concerned with me than with her species' all encompassing goal of reproduction, I was just hoping showing her a silver lining out of all this would make her feel a little better.

A squeaky clean little white foal pelted back into the room, causing Jade to hurriedly wipe her eyes at her entrance. Glitter landed a flying tackle that made me wince despite myself, sending the little filly in the pink dress scrambling back in concern. "Omigosh! S-Sorry daddy! I didn't hurt you did I?! Umm... what'cha want for breakfast dad? Mr. Shamrock showed me the kitchens while you was gone, they can make lots of stuff an he said we can order whatever we want! For FREE!"

Her big pink eyes got sparkly at the concept of free, maybe I let her hang around Val too much... Considering my food intake lately, I'd take advantage of the ghoul mayor's hospitality though, I supposed the 'all you can eat' buffets of the old world were long gone. Best to tell her something to get for now, Glitter was practically quivering in anticipation of running off to help, waiting for my order.

"Hmm... Meat... Whatever breakfast meat they have. And eggs, and pancakes, and muffins, and toast, and..." I noticed her expression growing more surprised as I kept going, forcing me to change my approach before she noticed my appetite any more than she had. "Er... how about you pick for me sweetie? You know what all they have. I'm sure whatever you choose will be fine, so long as there's meat..."

Val plucked her off the bed in her claws and tossed her in the air squealing, catching her and sending her on her way with smack to her flank. "Bacon kiddo, boss wants bacon. Least this... cold... is improvin' yer tastes boss, bacon is the perfect food!"

Even if forced for the foal's benefit, hearing Val joke made me feel better too. We shared a laugh over the disgusted faces Jade and Glitter both made, the alicorn being a vegetarian and the filly trying for dessert-arian as much as possible. I might not have noticed Ivy sticking her head in the door to watch us, except for the silvery needle between my eyes that made me look over to the green alicorn.

(...Family...Good...back...were worried...sick?...)
"Hello Fast. It is good to see you back, we were all very worried about you, are you feeling well this morning?" Ivy smiled brightly, partially concealing a bandage on her flank with the doorway.

"H-Hi Ivy, feeling better than when I got back for sure. Are you ok? Were you in the fighting while I was gone?" I asked nervously, gulping to myself at her presence.

I was hearing her and I was sure she wasn't trying to use her telepathy on me, Jade said the potion was messing with my brain... I felt like it was tuning my head to the same channel that mental communication worked on, but it wasn't quite right, filled with static and interference that made my head hurt.

(Wrong?...Potion?...Why?...)
"Er... yes... I suffered very minor wounds, nothing to worry about Fast... Are you ready to go Glitter?" Ivy was giving me a scrutinizing look, answering slowly and keeping her green eyes on me even as she spoke to Glitter.

Crap... She could tell! Could she hear my thoughts better too? Ok, think of nothing! Blank wall... empty, white, brick wall, lalalalala! I tried very hard not to let my thoughts race randomly under the psychic alicorn's watchful stare. The physical side effects were bad enough, I didn't like mindreading!

Finally Jade smoothed Glitter's mane out and sent her off with a smile, the little filly bolting past Ivy and calling to her impatiently. Ivy's gaze lingered on me for an uncomfortable moment, but she reluctantly excused herself and left with Glitter, my headache easing off once she was gone.

I foresaw problems ahead...

Val was right, bacon made me rethink a lot of my remaining squeamishness about eating meat. Whatever Radhogs were, they were delicious and filled that disquieting carnivorous craving even better than old cans of Cram. For lunch she followed up by introducing me to bacon sandwiches and hot dogs, the links of what she assured me wasn't actually dog sated my weird cravings just as well. I sat up in bed patting my stomach in satisfaction, a small belch and scattered dirty dishes all that was left to remind me of the most recent meal. Glitter sat beside me and licked frosting from her hooves, sighing happily before hopping up to clean up.

Jade had eaten and engaged in safe conversation with all of us, but was anxious to get to work in her clinic, quietly frustrated she couldn't keep me nearby for more tests. She had come back several times throughout the day, drawing blood or hooking me up to some new bit of medical arcano-tech as casually as possible.

A nice, lazy day of giving the edited version of my misadventures for Glitter looked to have reassured her somewhat. Giving her the present I picked up in the shattered gift shop of Mareford Memorial Hospital helped too. The simple snowglobe wasn't much, but just keeping an eye out for something to bring back for the filly often brought a bright smile to her face.

She hovered nearby as much as possible, frequently insisting a hoof, cheek, side or tail was making contact with me somehow, just to affirm I was still there if nothing else. She and Val amused themselves for awhile by going through the junk I had accumulated on the way back, clucking between themselves over how much they could get for the magical energy weapons and refurbished flamers.

Writing letters was still an acceptable amount of 'work', so I was allowed to put together a few messages to go out with the Red Rocket courier here in town. First I made sure to write a letter to Sturges in Sanctuary, wracking my sluggish brain to put down detailed instructions concerning the seven Stable 111 ponies that should have been teleported back there.

I had to reread it a dozen times to be sure I had everything right, asking Glitter to practice her reading and let me listen to her read it too. The ancient stasis pods were made to be a forgiving when it came to waking their occupants up, but all I could think of was all the ways it could potentially go wrong. I didn't have enough time to get back to Sanctuary before... whatever happened, happened, so I had to make sure they were taken care of.

Next was Nick Hearts n' Hooves. I carefully sealed the yellowed newspaper clippings I had found in Mareford in an envelope, writing out what I had found with as much care as I could muster. Putting words on paper wasn't as hard as actually speaking to somepony else at least, hopefully the message wasn't too blunt and sort of... eased the synth detective into the discovery. I still felt horrible for being the bearer of such disturbing news, and I didn't envy the decision waiting for him on finding out his original, flesh and blood body was numbly wandering around out there without a brain....

A final page of script was for Piper, relating what Fancy had told me about Dr. Vega / Svengallop and his sinister plans for his own son and Diamond City according to the former Overmare. I tried to be extra clear the reporter mare shouldn't just print this up for her next edition, outing the head of the Institute's Public Relations Division was bound to be hazardous to her health. Somepony needed to know the truth though, Piper's dedication to that truth made her just the mare to trust with it.

A little tactical whining even got Val to go get the heavy terminal from the desk across the room, setting it up on a nightstand by the bed where I could idly tap away at it with my magic and my pip-buck cable would reach. The luxurious room to recover in and all the free food reminded me of my debt to the mayor of Goodneighbor, digging more deeply into the exploit I had found in the building's security wasn't too much exertion.

Glitter tottered from the room, the tray of dishes impressively balanced on her head with only a little wobble to send her weaving on her way. Val remained perched at the foot of the bed, her eyes never moving off me while the foal was gone, making me distinctly uncomfortable.

"I'm not going to try to run off or anything Val... you don't have to watch me that closely."

Since it was just the two of us, she gave an angry snort in reply, her tail lashing behind her. "Right boss... 'Oh just take Ivy and this Stable-pony back to Goodneighbor Val, we'll meet right back up in an hour, promise!' Can't take my eyes off you fer a minute, yer stayin' put this time..."

"I'm sorry Val, I knew you'd be mad... I tried, really! Zed told you right, if I didn't do anything they would have killed Umbra... Was that Stable-pony ok?"

"I don't care 'bout that ungrateful Stable bitch or that stubborn mare! Dumb enough ta go there alone, would'a been what she deserved! Don't get me started on that zebra neither..." Her tail slapped the thin carpet as she seethed, glancing back to the door to make sure Glitter was still occupied.

Come to think of it, I hadn't seen Zed yet. Val said he had been helping her search the library, so I had assumed everything was alright as far as he was concerned, that didn't sound like it was the case though. "Why are you mad at him? Where is he anyway?"

She pounced at that, literally and figuratively... landing over me with a squawk and narrowing her eyes. "He left you there!! Ran off an' left ya, come slinkin' back with his tail between his legs ta tell us they took ya away! Only reason I ain't sharpenin' my claws on his backside was so he could help look for ya! Now that yer back, smart if he's layin' low..."

Sighing wearily, I pushed Val back and started struggling out from under the covers. "I told him to run Val, no reason for both of us to get caught. Don't be mad at him, he actually agreed with you about Umbra."

"Not good enough, an where ya think yer goin' boss?" Her claws grabbed me by my mane, arresting any progress I was making towards getting out of bed.

"Ow... Bathroom Val, and a hot shower. I walked most of the way back, I think I can manage across the room... Unless you want to carry me and watch."

Glitter had returned and crawled back up into the bed, giggling uncontrollably at the half joking sarcasm. She still found it delightfully ludicrous, but I wasn't sure if I was kidding by the way Val followed me and took up a guard at the bathroom door, absently shoving a paw in the doorway to prevent it from closing as I passed.

Jade had left medicine and clean bandages in the bathroom on a small tray, the scissors also left there made getting free of this set of bandages a great deal easier than using my knife at least. Soaking up the warmth from the steaming water pouring over my coat, I felt almost like myself again. The hot water unkinked my muscles, some vigorous scrubbing washed the mud, grime and blood from my mane and tail, even the pulsating lumps creeping down my sides seemed to relax.

Afterwards I floated a threadbare towel up to the foggy mirror, wiping a wide swath clear so I could face my reflection. The red eyes looking back were a little bloodshot, the mane a bit shaggy, scars marked my charcoal coat here and there. Looking at myself head on, I appeared to have put on some weight at first glance too. The tumors hopefully on their way to being wings added a couple inches around the middle, giving a more barrel-chested impression.

Otherwise it was still basically the same pony that had looked back from the mirror in my room in Stable 111 a few lifetimes ago. My horn looked as it should, albeit a bit itchy. My winged clock cutie mark was just where it should be. No sign of extra heads or tentacles so far...

"Aw... awww boss no..." Val's voice spoke in a hush behind me, making me yelp in surprise and scramble to hide under my towel. She had slipped inside while I was distracted, gasping as she shut the door behind her with a click.

Watching that devastated expression take over her normally cheery face hurt, my cheeks burned and I hid under my hooves in embarrassment and whimpered. "I-It's not as bad as it looks... R-Really, I felt worse when we met Val. I wish you hadn't... d-don't look anymore, please? I know I'm deformed, nobody else needs to see..."

The stunned griffon punched my shoulder out of reflex, surprising me by following up with a clutching lunge of a hug, speaking in a choked sob. "S-Shut up! I don't care... aw boss... how'd you let em do this to you? If I hadn't let you go by yerself... you can't die boss, t-the kid and Blue ain't the only ones who need ya to stick around ya know! Gawd dammit!"

This was one of the first times I had seen Val's happy mask completely crack, the raw voice behind it clearly one that knew the pain of loss and wasn't coping with the prospect well. I tried to just sit still under her shuddering embrace and let her get through it, knowing I was hurting her like this was worse than any of the symptoms.

"Y-You got that backwards Val, I'm always the one that needs you, remember? I know my h-happy go lucky mercenary isn't being a crybaby over me, j-just teasing me right? Besides, Jade will figure something out, who knows, maybe it will work right? Y-You can teach me to use these things..." I sniffled and stroked her side, pointing to the vaguely 'wing-like' lumps on my back with a weak grin.

That got her to snicker sadly, snuffling and yanking my towel away to blow her beak like a trumpet. "S-Sure boss, teach ya to fly... I'm sure that'll go great, yer such an athlete on the ground an' all... Ugh, I need a drink..."

"Me too... Look Val, don't cry... please? Even at the worst, I have a few days yet, I want to spend them with everyone being as happy as we can together. Now that I've taken a whole day off, there are other things to do that I can manage with help, your help especially. The wasteland doesn't stop being awful just because I'm sick, going to watch my back for me partner?"

She gave an unsteady smile in return, wrapping her foreleg around my neck and shaking me playfully. "K-Kinda hard to drag the eyes away from it with it all uncovered boss... Kidding! har har... Yeah boss, we're in the party capitol of the Commonwealth, worse places to wait it out huh? N-No fair tryin' ta wiggle outta payin' me though, been bidin' my time, no ruinin' all of it I put in by keelin' over! Y-You turn into one of them alicorns the right way, makes ya more valuable, little roll in the hay be more fun when ya got wings too!"

It was weak, sad joking, but it was still better than watching her bubbling with directionless anger. A hint of blush showed through her already red face and she planted a sloppy kiss on my cheek, scooping up the waiting fresh bandages and helping me rewrap my chest without complaint.

Just one more case where I knew honesty was supposed to be the right path, never easy, but right according to the world I grew up in. Yet again honesty didn't just seem harder than lying though, it was crueler...

The rest of the evening passed a great deal more positively. Jade and her trio of sisters that had been staying with us came back as the last glow of twilight was fading from the sky. I got the idea it was actually her sisters that took the lead for once, dragging her from her work in the clinic. They helped carry up an amazing assortment of take out dishes from the Tasty Treat, making a production of seeing me again and filling the lull in conversation over dinner.

That nagging pain between my eyes still made me nervous around Ivy, but I wasn't bombarded with her whispering voice in my head this time. I kept catching her watching me with a curious expression from the corner of my eye, but she didn't mention anything and kept her comments light.

The three of them added to my picture of what had happened in my absence and I tried to take it all in, quietly considering everything. Their leader's sudden change of attitude had really turned things around for them, now all the alicorns were open to dipping their hooves into the outside world, and Ivy, Peri and Magnolia were practically experts on the subject compared to the rest.

At least one of the trio had been staying in town with Glitter during all the excitement over the last day, making sure she had more than just protection provided by AssaultJack, but company that cared about her to fill the time with too. Thanks to their efforts to keep the filly from worrying too much, they had explored the town quite a bit with the little tour guide to play with.

Magnolia had spent the most time in Goodneighbor, I had seen her impressive combat skills before, but always had the feeling she didn't like fighting that much. The singing alicorn wasn't a pacifist like Jade, but she was an artist, more comfortable creating music than destroying ponies.

She had fought in the battle at the library like the rest of her sisters, but her time here was better spent from what I heard. Suddenly her kind were interacting with the world at large, and she was a wonderful spokespony for them. Hearing her sweet voice raised in song helped a lot of ponies feel less frightened and more open towards the alicorns now feeling their way along in rejoining the Commonwealth.

Peri was still her odd self, enjoying how things had gone quite a bit by her smile and pleased recounting. She had added a thick, dark blue scarf to her Minutemare hat, a place to pin the tarnished medal with the crossed rifle and lightning bolt symbol of the group. The strange blue alicorn had been promoted from honorary member to first official alicorn Minutemare, the main go between for Trinity Tower and the protectors of the common ponies.

Several of her sisters from the tower had also expressed interest in joining the Minutemares now, thanks to her example and their actions during the fighting. From what I gathered there were some pretty mixed feelings about the Brotherhood of Friendship among them, but all involved seemed to like the Minutemares, taken with the idea of being welcome to join if they chose so. Peri was leading the way on that score, proof there was a place for any who wanted it.

Ivy sounded the busiest, her experience, patience and kindness had made her an indispensable diplomat and she had been speaking to several different groups in the Commonwealth on behalf of the Trinity Tower alicorns. Of course being a mind reader made her a shrewd negotiator too, a skill she had been using dealing with the ponies of Goodneighbor most of all.

Now the mare formerly 'compromised' in Umbra's eyes by her contact with the outside, was indispensable to the leader of the tower, kept busy and practically Umbra's second in command. She assured me Umbra was eager to speak to me again, turned away with Swan and all the others until I was allowed visitors.

Shamrock had been true to his claims, he found his new tourists delightful and was working with them fairly. Setting out ground rules for the first new visitors with Ivy's help, informing the residents of his town about their needs and... eccentricities, asking them all to be good neighbors.

He had even offered to arrange jobs for some of the alicorns if they wanted them. Considering they had no caps to spend here really, it was mostly self interest of course. But working, earning pay and spending it were all major 'normal pony' things to do, the experience was sure to be good for the isolated mares so long as they weren't taken advantage of.

The ghoul mayor had been another on the list of ponies waiting for me to be cleared by my beautiful doctor to speak with him. Jade muttered distractedly at the mention of our host's request and other things piling up for me to do, picking at her food and dismissing the idea of me doing anything other than staying in bed.

The tip of her horn glowed subtly and I could hear the clicks of pip-buck controls from her leg under the table, her blue eyes scanned the air in front of her and I caught her lips moving silently while the rest of us talked and ate. She wasn't great at using her pip-buck, but had apparently been growing more comfortable operating the arcano-tech computer on her leg, trying to keep working during the meal without Glitter noticing.

Zed still hadn't shown up either, the empty chair by Ivy at the end of the long dining table kept drawing my eye. Where was the dour zebra? Val's annoyance with him still concerned me and I wondered where he was hiding. Another thing to look into later, I just had to convince Jade to let me do more than laze around all day while Moondancer's potion kept taking me apart...

That wasn't looking very easy either... As the evening wore on and I drank in the contentment of being home, Jade continued her distracted reading, barely joining in the conversation or fun. We told stories, laughed and joked, pooled Glitter's and my own toys to play together in the floor, listened to the radio and Magnolia singing along with it, all with the big blue alicorn sitting apart and desperately working alone.

Getting a look at how my condition had been hurting Val was bad enough, realizing Jade was struggling to maintain her forced, calm demeanor was worse. Tired bags hung under her eyes and she rubbed them frequently, straining to pour over the text in her vision no one else could see. Her melodic voice was strained and cracked when she was dragged into joining our conversation, repeatedly sighing or sniffling to herself when she thought no one was paying attention. Her hooves and anything held in her pale blue magic trembled slightly, spilling her drink over dinner twice and dropping a number of objects in her grip.

She joined me in putting Glitter to bed at least, taking turns to read one last story that eventually knocked her out, her little hoof still insistently making contact with mine and a sleepy frown marring her face when I extracted myself. With the foal asleep, Jade nudged me along back to our own bed, anxiously trying to tuck me in like the little filly and leave for her clinic again immediately, after taking more blood and other samples.

She was in such a rush I had to lunge after her, grabbing her soft, strawberry scented tail in my mouth and mumbling around it when she was stopped short. "Mmmff! Nope, no running off, get in bed with me!"

Her ears drooped and she shuffled in place, giving a worried whinny and finally sitting beside me, near the edge with her back straight and one hindleg in contact with the floor, clearly ready to bolt at the first opportunity. I leaned against her side and wrapped her foreleg up in my own, pulling insistently towards the middle of the big bed.

"All the way Jade... no running off again, no more reading either..." I gently shoved her pip-buck back down before she could return to it, my magic awkwardly pulling at her lab coat to tug it away.

She gave an exasperated sigh and scooted a little closer, shrugging her coat back up on her shoulder and tapping her hooves together in front of her, her eyes darting down to me but unable to stay fixed on my own as she whispered back. "V-Very well... for a little while only Fast. I must return to my work... I... I am making p-progress!..."

That unconvincing smile and tremor to her voice just reminded me how bad she was at lying. I ignored her complaint and returned to pulling her clothing away insistently, leaning up to kiss her neck and every few inches of her silky coat that was revealed by shoving the lab coat down her shoulders.

"I wasn't dreaming of getting back to you for your doctoring skills Jade, you've been out all day working yourself into the ground. I want to spend time with you, especially while I'm feeling better and we're alone together..."

That got her to stop fidgeting to get away at least, a rosy blush lit her cheeks and she turned to stare directly at me finally, stammering and shaking her head. "Fast! Y-You are sick! No condition to... to e-exert yourself! Stop being silly, g-go to sleep so I can get back to work saving you! There will be time enough for us when you a w-well again!"

Planting another kiss at her collar, I looked up to her shimmering eyes and snorted sadly, shaking my head. "Jade... Not that I don't believe in you or anything, but I might not get well... This might be all the time I have left, I don't want to waste it and you shouldn't either."

I spoke soothingly and softly, surprised at her violent reaction when she leapt up at the suggestion, spreading her wings and stamping her hooves on the mattress, bouncing me from the sheets under her. "NO! You may not say such things! You may not think them!! You will be fine! I WILL NOT LOSE YOU!"

I was glad the expensive pre-war suite was still fairly soundproof, Jade's goddess voice reverberated off the walls as she loomed over me. Her graceful neck leaning down to put her slightly dragonish blue eyes level with my red ones, panting in agitation with all four legs spread wide over me, her wings stretched to the canopy of the round bed in a pose of absolute negation.

Letting her shaky breathing fill the silence for a moment, I smiled and booped her nose, making her cross her eyes and blink in surprise before following up with a kiss, short circuiting the rare display of anger. "I don't want to go anywhere either Jade, it still might happen. Really it could any old day in the wasteland, ponies die every day, without doing some of the dumb things I do.

If it does happen, I don't want what time I have left totally obsessed with it ok? Watching how it's just eating into you and Val, sitting around like an invalid and waiting for it, that's not living Jade. Those aren't the memories I want to leave behind either, being angry and sad and scared until it's over.

Don't leave me, please Jade... Lie down and let it go, you're the best medicine for me there is, it'll be alright."

Her ears and wings drooped slowly, tears spilling over her cheeks and her lip quivering before she finally broke down. She collapsed to the the bed beside me, furling her wings and wrapping her legs around me tightly, burying her face in my mane as she whimpered out her pent up emotions. "I cannot f-find anything! P-Purging it like Taint will only work directly a-after exposure! Nothing I do h-has any effect! E-Everything I try leaves me feeling more helpless! I am filled with such hate for Dr. Dala I can scarcely see straight when I think of her, I wish to find her and hurt her, over and over again... "

"Sssh, it's ok Jade, we're together and it'll all work out somehow... don't cry..."

With the dam burst, I let her get it all out of her system, stroking her back and nuzzling her damp cheeks, making soft, reassuring noises until she cried herself out. We laid entwined with each other like that for quite some time, her sniffles dying down slowly and her breathing smoothing back out, the pounding of her heart against my chest eventually becoming slow and regular.

Moving on from nuzzling back to tenderly kissing down her neck met with a better reception this time, getting her to slowly uncurl and stretch beside me languidly as I reached her chest. Running a hoof down her long side gently made her murmur despite herself, a worried look crossing her lidded eyes as her head lifted from the pillows.

"You are still sick Fast... M-Much as I may like it, p-physical exertion is not good for you..." The big blue filly under me objected reluctantly, not much conviction behind her concern and allowing me to push her back to her pillow.

"Then I'll just have to take it easy and slow then. You have a long list of attention to get lavished with I promised myself to get to when I got back, those thoughts kept me going, so you can just lie back and enjoy it..."

Continuing the slow trail of kisses down her chest and stomach pulled a long, luxuriant sigh from her and her objections melted away. She was right that I was too weak to give a very energetic performance, a lot of time and loving attention to detail made up for it though. All I wanted was to wipe away the tension and fear that had been mounting as she worked alone all day, my mouth and roaming hooves were enough for that.

Focusing exclusively on her for hours managed that much and then some, the clamorous culmination making me again thankful sound didn't carry out of the bedroom very well.

Once she loosened her reflexive grip holding me in place, I crawled back up to lie beside her sweaty, spread-eagle form draped over the bulk of the large bed. Thankfully I had a few minutes to catch my breath and try to massage my spasming jaw before she stretched and rolled over with a long, serene purr, nuzzling affectionately.

"Feel better now?"

Jade giggled and cooed in my ear, "O-Oh yessss... Er... I am still u-upset you know... i-it is merely difficult to hold on to at the moment... I refuse to give up on finding a cure, but... I will not allow it to consume me... I suppose you will insist on ignoring your doctor's sound medical advice again tomorrow?"

"What, for this? Definitely! Or you mean just in general?" I grinned over to her, enjoying her flustered squeak before continuing more seriously. "If it won't bother you too much, yes I had some thoughts. We kind of owe Mayor Shamrock, I should try to make some headway on what he asked for and I can do that without leaving town. I'd also like to be able to go out with Glitter, play the games and go shopping with her. We should probably go to Trinity Tower soon too right? I did get that compatibility potion, they deserve to know..."

I flipped through the bizarre list of 'Missions' on my pip-buck outlining my vague plans as I related them. That was just a small part of the backlog listed, I had been dividing it between things I could conceivably accomplish before the end of the week, and things I hoped I'd be able to get to after...

Telling the alicorns in the Commonwealth about the potion Moondancer had kept from them was only part of that job for instance, some of the samples of the potion and the files I stole about it needed to get back to the rest of her sisters in Equestria too. To do that I'd either have to go see Paladin Dance and Scribe Wind back in Manebridge to use their transmitter again, or go to the distant white spire of the S.P.P. glowing mellowly in the moonlight outside the window.

The mysterious question of the Railroad and Angel, the synth who saved me, was a hanging thread too. I owed the artifical alicorn mare my freedom and was intensely curious about the secretive group I first encountered in Bunker Hill, but I had no idea where they were. The Rainbow Trail I had been told to follow could stretch for miles through and even above downtown Trotson, I had done enough trudging around aimlessly to get back here.

I even idly wondered about Fancy and Freya. Had they found each other? If the former Overmare really cared about Neighson Svengallop and he was in danger, she was trying to fight another Institute Division Head by opposing Vega to help him. Did that mean we were on the same side still? The spoiled mare had plenty of personality problems and had done awful things, but we escaped together, survived together. It was hard not to feel some concern for her, wherever she was now.

Jade arched a sleepy eyebrow up to stare dubiously, able to follow the track of my unspoken thoughts as well as one of her green sisters. Wait... if my brain really was getting rewired, would she be able to do that literally?! I shuddered at the thought of being even more of an open book than I was already when it came to her, I'd never get away with anything!

My internal panic was thankfully interrupted by her tired huff as she snuggled closer, willing to focus on the things I said rather than those left unsaid. "I suppose you are correct... You may not leave town without me, or go anywhere alone however. You must return to my clinic frequently as well, your condition needs to be monitored. I will speak with Ivy and the others, I am sure they will not mind adding to your escort. You may have visitors as well, there are quite a few who have been waiting patiently."

Nodding my agreement happily, I hugged Jade tightly in gratitude. There was still a fearful mote hiding in the depths of her loving gaze, but she looked and sounded much better, more herself again. "Whatever you say Princess, your loyal knight obeys."

She giggled and met me in a kiss, smiling as we parted while her eyes grew troubled and serious. "That is good Sir Fast, there is one other thing... When we do speak with Umbra and the others at Trinity Tower... I-I believe it would be best if you did not tell them everything about your condition..."

"Umm... ok? You usually don't like lying though Jade, especially to your sisters... Why shouldn't I tell them?"

Her blue wing curled around me possessively and her eyes set in a determined frown as she muttered a response. "J-Just being optimistic Fast. If Dr. Dala's version of the I.M.P. does work... y-you may wish to keep it private, or I may..."

That was cryptic... but whatever, I'd trust her judgement when it came to her sisters. Who knew how they'd take it if they found out Moondancer had another version of the potion that created them, they hadn't taken her legion of twisted mutants very well.

After sharing a comfortable silence and getting close to dozing off together, my traitorous stomach grumbled loudly, the gurgling noise causing Jade's eyes to flutter back open in surprise. I managed to convince her to stay put and return to the first wisps of sleep, dragging myself away from her to go poke around in the main room to raid the leftovers still out there.

I crept through the dark living room of the Princess Celestia Suite, easily picking my way across the floor with the glow of Goodneighbor filtering through the full length windows making up one wall. It had gotten late while I was absorbed showering Jade with attention, the mostly soft sounds of the others sleeping difficult to hear over Val's snoring.

Sticking my nose in the small fridge by the bar, I piled the offerings I found inside on a plate floating beside me, adding a glowing red bottle of Sparkle Cola and ducking back out, shutting the door with a bump of my flank. I turned to leave the way I came and stopped short, the strip of bacon sticking out of my mouth nearly lost in surprise at the zebra standing by the door out in the dark.

"You are safe... good." Zed's deep voice sounded raspy and unsteady, the pool of shadow he stood in made getting a good look at the muscular stallion difficult too.

"Gah! T-There you are Zed, you startled me. You doing ok? Did you find anything about your brother?"

The silence that stretched out was doubly uncomfortable with his face hidden in shadow like that, not that I ever got a lot out of the stern zebra's limited range of expressions anyway, but at least I could usually see him. Finally he croaked back an answer, a strange tone in his deep voice. "You ask about... Are you not angry?"

"Angry? Not really... why would I be? I've been wondering where you've been hiding out, I saw everybody but you at dinner."

Zed walked forward slowly, coming a few steps into the light so I could see the stunned look in his grey eyes lingering on my bandages, the mud and gore covering his armored leather jacket, the numerous hastily bandaged wounds and bruises... I'd never seen the zebra in such a state, it was strange enough to make me immediately concerned.

His odd behavior only increased when he suddenly dropped his head to the floor, his hindlegs curled under him and his forelegs planted to either side of his head in some strange zebra kneel, his eyes remained fixed on the floor as he spoke in a choked rush. "I abandoned you... You are ill because of it and I am dishonored. The Starseer told me this would happen, that I would leave a... friend in favor of my obsession, that they would suffer for it, be disfigured... I am sorry Fast."

Starseer? Oh... Mama Xara... She must have given him one of her cryptic prognostications, I never figured out her prophecies until after the fact anyway, it seemed silly for him to be upset over failing to do so either. "H-Hey, c'mon Zed, quit doing that. I told you to leave remember? You're not responsible for me doing stupid things, you got out and told the others right? So there's nothing to..."

Zed interrupted and plowed ahead, determined to take some blame for some reason. "After I continued investigating the library for quite some time, yes. I sought the artifact I have been looking for first and foremost, then my brother, only then could I be bothered to... I told myself I was trying to find where they were holding you, that you were prisoner in their Cathedral still and I should locate you, those were convenient excuses for continuing my search of the library, but lies...

My priorities have been twisted, you and the others have suffered for my failings. I did return to the others and inform them what happened, eventually... When I did so your mare and the griffon were justifiably furious with me, Miss Jade in particular shamed me. You have tried to be a friend Fast, and in return I have kept all of you at a distance, refused to share my secrets or even explain myself, abandoned you when I should have fought at your side.

I beg your forgiveness Fast Times, on my honor as a Venator Noctis, allow me to repay my debt somehow."

Wow... Zed never spoke so much, or sounded so contrite. Since he still had his face planted to the floor, I sat down with a groan beside him and scratched my mane in thought. What happened to me had hurt Jade and Val, encouraging me to continue keeping it from Glitter, seeing that it had an effect even on the gruff zebra was a shock.

It was the most progress I had ever made trying to be friends with him too, his stand-offish nature always made me think I had been failing his grandfather Zin in Hexington. The zebra elder's request to befriend his grandson felt impossible sometimes, I wasn't exactly a social butterfly myself, so it had been one blunder after another.

Or so I thought anyway, apparently Zed did consider me a friend... he was trying at least.

"Seriously Zed, you gotta get up, you're freaking me out kneeling like that. Umm... I forgive you alright? I still don't see a big problem, I did tell you to get away, and that I didn't blame you if you looked for your brother, that's what you've been trying to do for so long and we finally had a lead to follow.

I don't get what you feel so bad about, but this is important to you right? So no problem, you're forgiven. I hope we'll be better friends from now on. As for the whole 'repay your debt' thing... I can't think of anything to ask for. Well... I miiiight need a weird favor, but it probably won't come up, only if I turn into one of those dumb, genderless mutant alicorns like at the Church of Balefire."

Finally getting back to his hooves, Zed amazingly cracked a wry smile, thinking I was joking about the bizarre scenario. "Oh? What is it you need, if such an unlikely event were to occur?"

I tried to keep my voice light to answer and keep up the illusion of just kidding around, giving Zed a hoofbump and turning to head back to bed. My reply managing to pull a chuckle from the zebra stallion waving good night in the shadows.

"Someone to kill me."

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

The Magic of Friendship--------------------------
You made it back to your friends and loved ones! The emotional reunion and facing your own mortality together has strengthened your bonds, whatever the future holds. When your HP or the HP of any member of your party drops below 30%, all members of your party (including yourself) gain much greater resistance to damage.