I didn't have to wait long for a response at least... The second I tentatively spoke to the field of unity in Goodneighbor, I was nearly knocked out of Director Cheese's ratty plush chair by the force of a sea of voices rising up in answer.

I groaned and rubbed between my eyes, at least this wasn't blindingly painful like it had been while I was still being tuned in by Moondancer's potion, that was a lot of noise and emotion all at once though, how many were out there?

Umbra took over the surging tide of telepathy thankfully, getting it to settle out into a expectant hush still thrumming with thoughts and feelings while she spoke softly in my head, trying very hard to be conciliatory and smooth.

She whined petulantly back, a little shame in there... good...

There was a pregnant pause, they were whispering to each other... still having to adapt to having somepony new among all their voices, but figuring out how to shut me out... I noticed Jade frowning to herself and furrowing her brow, they must not want her listening either... Finally a haggard sounding Umbra resumed, speaking cautiously like she was trying to soothe a bunny out of its hole.

Ah... she was conferring with the others, making the best possible arguments they could come up with while they had me. At least some of them must have been putting some thought into more than just getting me out of here.... I could feel Umbra trying to restrain her impulses to command me to come out like one of her sisters, I wasn't one of them, but I was... it was messing with her. Good.

A rising note of panic in her mental voice came with that one, the mere thought of me continuing my hazardous life as I had since leaving the Stable was absolutely horrid to all of them, their rejection rising up in a wordless swell. Dammit... What I expected but I still hoped for something else...

Now that I was open to it, I could feel that surge of thought focusing on me, sharing sensations and verifying with excitement the wings and other weird new feelings I tried to tell them I was dealing with. It all felt perfectly natural to them anyway...

I'd almost find that tempting except for that steady beat of lust in their heads. Sure... just hang around with a dozen mating mad mares, that wouldn't draw any attention or get in the way or anything...

Jade tried to join in and was instantly shut down.

Umbra shouted her down and I cracked an eye to see her wince beside me, her ears drooping sadly as she shuffled in place.

Furious frustration simmered in her thoughts, but she kept a tight rein on them and pushed on, the sudden silence from all the others made it easier at least. Somehow I seemed to have as commanding a mental presence as she did in here... I noticed during the battle last night in Goodneighbor too, they naturally seemed to follow orders directed at them this way, like it reminded them of the Goddess or something. Maybe it was because I was a new voice? Or a male one? Maybe the Shroud's mental growl was just a lot more intimidating than I was...

Progress anyway... half a dozen wasn't a dozen, still no good though. Bizarrely I was actually doing the best I ever had in any kind of a barter here... just needed skin in the game I guessed....

Spinning around in the cracked leather chair and looking out the pink tinted windows, I could see them circling the building now, zeroing in on where exactly in the tower my little broadcast was coming from. They weren't going to let me do what I wanted no matter what, I hadn't really thought so, but I hoped... Alright, had to distract them somehow, give them something to focus on and think... Hmm, there were a lot down there, but not all of them by any means. Their numbers were reduced and I didn't see a giant Swan flapping around out there either.

I could feel her wince and try to keep me out, sullenly answering with a snort.

Interesting... Going for the Ministry of Arcane Science Hub was probably a desperate grab of opportunity, it sounded and felt like they were stymied there too though, if Swan was there then they weren't getting in if the Trinity Tower mares didn't want them to. Normally I'd want Jade's sisters to get along with everypony, but some of the Brotherhood's attitudes had been bothering me, at the moment I was ok with the rift between the two groups, maybe I could use it...

Ugh... Alright, had to give them something... think... My wandering eyes fell on Jade's flank as a calming view, her heart and crown cutie mark showing through the patch on her lab coat, the yellow medical box saddlebags of the Followers of the Apocalypse hanging there...

Umbra growled, getting more annoyed as this went on, well I could mix things up and keep her off balance anyway...

I winced up at Jade, relieved to see her looking to the ceiling in thought before nodding, figuring out the run of my thoughts. Granted that was pretty pathetic flirting, but these fillies weren't all that experienced either. In their crazed state, the suggestion and possibility was enough and their thoughts started breaking up.

That should keep them busy and distracted anyway... give them incentive to be better and help others. Glitter would actually be proud of my negotiating, if she ever found out... which wasn't happening... I felt a bit like one of those bucks down in the Black Cat in Goodneighbor, bartering with ....myself... but I never said when and I wasn't being paid. If I really did end up living a long time, I wasn't in any rush...

Dammit, Umbra was crafty...

From the bubbling anger and wall of panic I was getting through our connection, I could at least tell that was mostly a bluff. Still a bluff that worried me, thus I was willing to compromise with them. I couldn't lie like this, connected directly to all of them in my head, but if they believed I would give them what they wanted, even in dribs and drabs, they'd be less likely to do something desperate like find Dala and the Institute again... After nearly getting killed by the Confessor and the Church of Balefire, Umbra didn't exactly trust them either, she just knew what buttons to press, continuing in a pout.

Shutting out their frantic yell wasn't that difficult, I was getting better at this whole unity thing... Jade kept her eyes closed another moment before shaking her head with a huff, giving me a worried look. "T-Thank you for your concern Fast... That may have divided them, but they will not allow you to leave town, we must still escape undetected somehow."

"Escape? How come? What's goin' on anyway mom?" Glitter yelped up from the floor in front of the desk, tiredly pouring over some of my comics while we had been sitting here silently to her.

Groaning to myself, I eyed the black and silver present still sitting on the desk with disgust... floating the red dress and hat out and to my bags as I answered. "Nothing sweetie, we'll explain it later. Right now we have to sneak out and I think I know how... I don't like it though..."

I tapped through the terminal on the desk a moment whining, eventually giving my uncooperative wings a flap, floating up from the chair and thumping to the ground near her. Landing was going to be an issue... She followed curiously as I walked out of the Trotson Hub's Director's office, Jade falling in beside us and nuzzling by my ear. "Swan?"

"Er... F-Figured if she got what she wanted, she wouldn't be helping them look... Enough of them are already worked up, don't want to try escaping from that crazy mare... At least it's only the ones in the Commonwealth..."

Her blue eyes widened a moment in thought, shaking herself with a frightened shiver. "Y-Yes... there is at least that..."

The 22nd floor of the Trotson Ministry of Morale Hub was secure storage, evidence lock up and the armory, exactly what would make Val the happiest which is why I sent her down here with Zed. The elevator doors opened on a mountain of junk that still made me gape, forced to squeeze my way past crates of heavy weapons and ammo, suits of pink security barding, bins of drugs and illegal contraband... how long had I been stuck in my head upstairs?

Judging by the delirious griffon flapping about and tossing more and more treasure onto the pile, it probably wasn't as long as it should have taken... Val was absolutely beside herself, the amount of ordinance she had already found was enough to take out the Brotherhood and Jade's sisters below if she wanted...

Most of all this had been locked behind sturdy cages with small windows to check items in and out, nearly all of which she had already unlocked with her claws. An awkward flap of my wings helped me clear the heaping pile right at the elevator doors with Glitter, Jade had it even harder, clambering over the junk and knocking a Balefire Egg Launcher down with a clatter, catching the griffon's attention.

"BOSS! Lookit all this shit! We're rich! Fabulously wealthy! Financially secure for life! And the toys boss!! Oh we're gonna have some fun buddy!" She grinned manically and shook a hefty box marked with a battlesaddle diagram of some kind, leering at me in thought.

"Val... we can't take all of this stuff... It won't even fit in the elevator!"

Her violet eyes twitched and she got right in my face, rubbing her claws together happily. "We'll take a lot of trips, duh! I guess we can share with Shamrock like we're 'posed ta... but we get first pick!"

I sighed in defeat and wandered down the barred aisles, looking about with interest for things I could use. "We can't carry it all out of here Val, we gotta get going and we need to be able to move fast, not lugging around a few carriages of firepower. Preston is downstairs, we can figure out something with him and the Minutemares to get our fair share, but try to whittle it down for now ok?"

She stuck her tongue out in a pout for a minute, but reluctantly agreed and nodded. "Fine, fine... Ol' Preston better get all my best loot sent home though!"

That just left the kitchens to rummage through for a couple things, something I'd rather put off a minute at least. Looking around I saw one cage still locked up that would make me feel better. "Val, could you open this cage over here too for me before you go back to your looting?"

Following my gesture, she huffed at the cage full of round robots and equipment. "Of course you want in there... All this cool crap and you want robots... gonna get yer priorities straight eventually boss. I'll do it if ya celebrate with me! 270 year old bottle of Appaloosan tequila has'ta be shared!"

Jade nickered at me cautiously taking a drink and wheezing, trotting off with Glitter in the direction Val had indicated while it felt like I was breathing fire. Whatever Tequilla was, it was worse than whiskey, the dusty bottle was full of clear liquid plasma. I tried to give it back once she popped the lock for me, but she simply grinned and pulled a matching bottle from her coat and took her own swig. Grabbing the offered bottle and shoving it down my muzzle as she hooted and returned to her pillaging.

Bleck... I didn't have time to be tipsy and this stuff seemed as potent as Wild Pegasus, I screwed the cap back and stuffed it in my bags, in a hurry to work before things got fuzzy. The workroom in here was for all the Sprite-bots the M.O.M. used, not an army of deadly robotic killers, but apparently more than just silly little loudspeakers blaring ooompa music wherever they went. Watcher used them as spies, I could too probably...

Turning on the power in this section brought up a large wall monitor I stared up at, a map of the Commonwealth displayed with dozens of little pink dots roving about, the active ones still out there unlike the ones in for repairs here. I didn't have the time to really play with it, but I preferred doing something calming before getting on with our escape, when I had time or someone I could trust to do this, Shamrock's information gathering skills would probably be improved.

I sat at the terminal under the big map and clicked through a few menus idly, my new access let me control this too with no issue, giving me stats on how many Sprite-bots were active, which needed repairs and service, which had been disabled, recent intrusions into the network... active intrusions...

Trying to trace down a talented hacker was a nice distraction, the Brotherhood maybe? They had ponies with the right skills to do this, but how would they get access to the sprite network? Whoever they were, they were good... evading my every trap, flitting through the ether from one robot to the next, all near the edge of the Commonwealth though...

"Fast? That's you isn't it?..." A rich voice rumbled from the speakers and the activity stopped being quite so evasive, whoever this was knew me, but I didn't know anyone that...

"W-Watcher?" I gave the terminal a dubious look, I never heard the real voice behind the Sprite-bots I occasionally happened across, he had limited access in the Commonwealth, piggybacking a signal from one of those far flung robots to the hub they communicated with was still pretty impressive.

"Oh jeez! It is you! You're really in the hub!? I've been trying to find out anything I could, can't see anything outside though, too close to the center of the Commonwealth. A-Are you ok?" He... it was a he, answered back in surprise, he knew I was in here? Why'd he sound so odd... panicky...

"Er... yeeeeah... why? How'd you know I got in here anyway?"

Silence answered for a few minutes, then the smaller monitor before me flickered and started displaying a fuzzy, distorted image one line at a time. Everything was really bright whatever this was... a wall? Yes, windows, stone, crenelations of a castle like structure... Aha, there was something different in the middle, a dark blob in the center of all that white. An inset of the blob even further magnified, overlaid with measurements for the extreme zoom and lines tracing the shape of it that made me gulp, A pony shape flattened against the wall, a horn sticking up from the head smeared against the surface, legs sprawled out trying to grab it... a single wing splayed out... oh no...

"Is uh... is that you Fast?" A small whisper crackled out while I jibbered to myself. That was me... that was Goodneighbor, a picture taken at a looooong, long distance of a bright flare of light and enhanced as much as possible.

"H-H-How'd you get this!? Why!? WHAT?!"

"oooooo.... S-Sorry Fast... er... things are kinda stirred up here by this, I thought it might be... but... I haven't told anyone yet!" Watcher winced from wherever he was, he at least had some idea why I was freaking out. He calmed my stammering while I took another healthy swig from Val's bottle, even if this was as strong as whiskey, I wanted to feel it right now.

"So... how?" I wheezed back finally, eyeing the dropped level in the bottle and taking another drink, come on... just a little buzz...

"Well... I hear you've talked to Homage before? She explained about how she and DJ Pon3 do the news around Equestria? Cameras on the towers? Normally the long range ones from outside the Commonwealth don't pick up anything of interest, but a big, blinding light springing up in the middle of the night? Ponies noticed Fast..." Watcher groaned from the terminal while I hyperventilated, why wasn't this alcohol doing anything yet!? Was it bad!?!

"Who knows!? H-Has she shared it with... has DJ Pon3 told... Please tell me this is a secret Watcher!?"

"Nnnnnnot so much no... Look, you're talking about the new bearer of the Element of Honesty Fast... Not that she can't keep a secret, but a blast of magic that strong and bright from the Commonwealth? A grainy picture of what looks an awful lot like a small alicorn... Nopony knew what was going on, we can't get there easily to find out and we're cut off. What if the Institute was setting off some prewar superweapon or megaspell? Making an army of alicorns or something!?

The Brotherhood went there before all this started, there are other parties involved now, things like this get out... Some new bit of magic or treasure in the wasteland will draw adventurers and scavengers at the very least, but this... The New Canterlot Republic, the Followers of the Apocalypse, friends from Junction City and Manehatten, even whispers from the Lunar Commonwealth... they're all arguing between treating this like a potential threat or a bizarre Nightmare Night prank Fast. If this is you... are you... d-did it work?"

Actively chugging the bottle now, I gasped as he tapered off with a hopeful question, for some reason this seemed really important to him. "Work? If you mean... Y-Yeah, the I.M.P. worked... I'm er... s-something else now..."

A static filled whoop of joy was not quite what I expected... made more bizarre by his happy ranting. "It worked! She did it! I knew my Twi could do it!! Oh if only she had just a little more time Fast! Things could have been so different! She... she was right... I always knew she was right... Oh... sorry, it must be weird for you but... a friend of mine worked very hard to see that potion work. Knowing it did is nice, ya know? How is it?! The real deal, just like she wanted!?"

"Er... ok... I guess? Moondancer made a few changes, but so far it seems like she got the kinks out. I'm er... a l-little freaked out here though, can you just tell everyone who knows it's no threat? Kinda... bury the whole thing?"

"Moondancer!?! She did this?! She's still... hrrmmm... I'll do what I can Fast, kinda hard to put a cat back in the bag though. I suggest you find a way to talk to Homage yourself, soon... take care of.... zzzzzttt.... self....zzzzt.... only success....bzzzt... legacy...." The signal started fading out and I slapped the terminal in anger, feeling a sweat spring up on my brow and my heart hammering, but no soothing buzz of alcohol and the bottle was empty...

That just added to my panic and I galloped out to the rest of the floor, we had to go! NOW! Had to find a way to communicate to the rest of Equestria, put a stop to this now before...

There were only dozens of Jade's sisters in the Commonwealth, maybe a hundred, but in the rest of Equestria? How many? Hundreds? Thousands!? No! No! No!

Trying not to shiver in front of the tall restroom mirror back on the 7th floor, I opened another bottle of Val's Wild Pegasus and drank deeply. Unfortunately the red on my face wasn't from the drink, I still wasn't the least little bit tipsy... No, I was turning this particular shade of crimson due to the only way out I could think of, thanks to a little help from 200 years ago. Director Sandwich did say I wouldn't like one of his gifts...

Jade stepped back to admire her work with Glitter and huffed at the bottle, "Do you not think that is enough Fast? Now is hardly the time to become inebriated is it? You may ruin your clever ruse..." Keeping my mini panic attack from her wasn't easy, but I didn't want to freak her out even more too, it would wait...

Glitter was still uncontrollably giggling, looking more like a chocolate colored colt instead of a pale filly, literally as she was dusted with ancient cocoa powder from the kitchens, tittering to herself and walking around me in a circle happily. "You look so funny daddy! That dead pony really left that for you huh? It fits perfect! You're so pretty!"

I hissed at that, scowling up at the mirror and picking at the red garment left for me in the Director's office. A dress and floppy hat... a dress for a petite pegasus adult... or a scrawny alicorn... The hat covered my horn well enough, the pink glop all over the place dyed my mane and tail into a swoop of pink bangs hiding my red eyes, a few bags of flour from the kitchens dusted my coat into a pale gray, and I was disturbed at how well the dress fit, making me look like a rather attractive pegasus...

Flinching away from Jade floating false eyelashes and lipstick from the battered old makeup kit she found, I grumbled and pouted at their attention. They thought this was just hilarious, playing dress up... hardy har har... Well, at least I had a good chance of actually getting away with this... The alicorns were looking for a male, obsessively so... I didn't think they'd pay much mind to a pegasus filly just strolling right out the gate...

By far the most difficult part of the disguise was all on me, these stupid wings just kept sticking up at every opportunity, I'd hardly look like a proper pegasus if I couldn't keep them tucked against my sides... With a supreme effort and gritted teeth, I finally managed to force them to fold in on their own, giving a trembling, wary sigh and...

"Hey boss! You 'bout done in here yet!? What the hell you three even doin in here an... w-who the hell is that!?" Val barged in impatiently and sent my wings jerking back out again, freezing once she noticed me.

I could feel my face heat up further despite looking down the barrel of her huge pistol. I guessed this was a pretty effective disguise alright... It took her a few seconds before her eyes started widening, a leering grin curling her beak before a rising bubble from her chest puffed her cheeks out and she spewed uproarious laughter. "BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I love it! Oh Gawd!"

"Val... stop..."

"Y-Yer so cute boss! HAHAHA! M-Make a pretty little filly don'tcha!?! HAHAHAHAHAHA! G-Gotta get a picture somehow! HAHAHA! P-Pip-buck things can take pictures right!? S-Show me how! Quick! AHAHAHAHAHAAH! Awww... ya look cuter poutin' like that!! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Val I swear to Celestia I am going to order you to go swim in the nearest sewer if you don't stop... I don't like this, we have to get out of here, now."

"Awww... does da widdle filly not know how ta take a compliment!? This is an improvement boss! Y-Ya should take up the lifestyle! Hey, what'cha got goin' on under there huh? Somethin' frilly an cute?! BWAHAHAHA!"

Storming off out of the bathroom and away from their shared giggles, she still got a parting shot in... "Sway them flanks boss! Put a little wiggle in yer wobble! Never convince nopony like that! HAHAHAHAH!"

I stomped my way to the elevator and waited, Shamrock and the others should be waiting, we just had to get down and get out... Not long, just get out of here and find somewhere to wash all this gunk off, how did mares go through all this all the time? I scowled up at the doors from under the wide floppy brim and waited sullenly, waiting with dread as Zed walked up with his own packs a little heavier looking than normal.

The zebra stallion paused when he walked over sat beside me, turning his head to look up and down with a blank expression before facing the doors with me. He eventually held a hoof up and his mouth opened, then shut again, then opened again...

"Don't..."

"I was just going to say, that's a clever solution to the problem..." He replied to my grimaced warning, sounded mostly unperturbed and at least not laughing.

"T-Thanks..."

......

.....

"Do you happen to have a sister among your missing family from the Stable Fast?" He sounded as serious as always, but when I spun on him I saw barely restrained laughter dancing in his grey eyes. He made a joke... at my expense of course, but a joke...

"Oh I hate you all... soooo, so much..."

Thankfully between the Brotherhood and Shamrock squabbling over the Hub along with all the alicorns, the steel security doors leading to the elevator were only lightly guarded, and only by Shamrock's own guards since no one could get up. The ghoulish mayor told me every exit to the casino was covered by Jade's sisters, and they wandered the casino itself ceaselessly, but no one was down these service tunnels.

The only reason this was tolerable was because it worked, I again marveled at the foresight of Director Cheese Sandwich. I hated his gift I was wearing, but Glitter and I just waltzed right out, nervously passing several other alicorns who didn't give us a second look. More than a few stallions did though, making me reeeeeally uncomfortable... Maybe it was a magic dress... yes, that sounded better than just making a convincing filly...

As requested, only Mayor Shamrock himself, Preston Gardens, Paladin Dance and Scribe Wind were waiting in the ghoul's office above the casino floor. The others looking up in surprise when we entered anxiously while the mayor sputtered and started snickering.

Preston knew Glitter well enough to see though her disguise first, squinting at the filly before venturing an unsure guess. "G-Glitter? Is that you under there? Where's your dad and the Princess? Weren't we supposed to..."

The brown... mostly brown now... filly shook dust from her mane and nodded, opting to lick as much of the chocolate off herself as she could. "Ya huh! Hiya Preston! Did I fool you?"

Paladin Dance was staring in confusion at the mayor, biting his rotten lower lip and banging his hoof on his desk, tears leaking down his leathery cheeks in silent gales. His scribe was quicker on the uptake though, giving a gasp and trotting right up, eye to eye at my level and staring into my red eyes. "F-Fast?!"

"Ugh... just don't start... let's get this over with, quick... You guys will help the others get out right?"

The blushing pegasus just stared and nodded slowly, at least she wasn't rolling on the floor... Dance and Preston both gaped while I shuffled uncomfortably, digging in my bags and pulling out more of my stock of pip-bucks taken from the dead of Stable 111. She followed and shook it off well enough as I headed for Shamrock, whispering in a stunned voice. "Y-Yes... yes of course! S-Sorry Fast... you look... wow... Don't worry, Captain Swells has been overruled by Proctor Quiz, so long as you and the Mayor honor the agreement, we'll hold up our end. A-Are those real wings?!"

Considering one decided to flap straight out on hearing its name called... yes, she figured out they were real with a gasp, sticking her face right by them and picking at the flour dusted feathers while I grumbled. A few clicks and taps snapped the pip-buck to Mayor Shamrock, the health system immediately saying he was dead, but not...

My horn lit up under the silly floppy hat and snaked Shamrock's new patch cable to the terminal on his desk, technically I could just designate him as having certain access without the device, it just made everything faster and let me keep track of Sanctuary's new partner. Once his access level had been bumped up, my own pip-buck gave a fanfare in my ear;

Mission Completed!: Strike Up the Band

Objectives----
---Trigger the Grand Opening Gala
---Gain access to Ministry of Morale hub
---Take control of hub maneframe
---Return to Shamrock

After him came Preston's pip-buck and the same process, thrown off by the pegasus tugging at the unfamiliar wings beside me, goggling to Glitter speaking happily. "Sure are Miss Wind! Ain't they cool! They look better when he's not all dusty like that, but he looks really pretty doesn't he!" The filly pranced around with glee, unsure of everything we were doing but having a grand time.

Paladin Dance finally shook off his shock, shaking his head and giving me an unsure glare, carefully removing my hat while I worked just to make sure there was still a horn under there too. "Fast... You are... You are taking advantage of my confidence here, keeping this secret from my superiors... This is relevant to our mission, if the Institute can do this then... We will honor our deal, provide us access to the data in the hub and we will help your friends escape when we pull out of here, but I... I cannot keep this quiet forever, don't ask me to, please?"

"I'm sorry Dance, I couldn't exactly tell you over the intercom alright? Look, you're not the only one who raised that point with me already, I get it's a big deal to others out there and they need to know at some point. They don't need to know it's me though, right? Just that it's possible?"

He didn't look happy, but muttered and frowned to himself in thought. "That is... not too much to ask... I have to insist you come to the Prydwen at some point now though. I will be discrete, keep it quiet and let you meet my superiors on your terms, but they need to meet you now..."

"I planned on going there soon anyway, I want to talk to them too... Right now I just need to get out of here, let the heat die down and get some distance behind us. Now remember, all of you, I'm giving you access to a lot of loot and power, but I have master control still. Director level access isn't something you can just hack your way around, not the Brotherhood and certainly not Fantastic... If you don't all get along and play nice, I'll come back... You see it won't take me as long now huh?"

An awkward flap that sent a cloud of flour up around me wasn't quite the impressive display of plumage I was going for... it got the point across anyway. I might have to run away, but I could get around a loooot faster now... So long as they all worked together, there'd be no problems, if one of them got the idea they could change the deal... well I did say there was a lot of security in this building and the town...

The treasures Val set aside but was forced to leave were for Sanctuary, a portion of all that ordinance going to the Minutemares. The Brotherhood mainly wanted the data in the B.N.L.S. Maneframe, they greedily did want everything else of course, but that was their absolute demand. Jade's sisters might not appreciate it as much right now, but I did warn them off the alicorn's home too for what it was worth.

Once I had a chance to talk to them more and time had passed, we could work something out I was sure, I wouldn't mind opening the M.A.S. hub myself... But I wanted them to get the idea each group involved would come to the defense of the others. They could take Trinity Tower if they forced the issue, maybe... but they'd pay a high cost and things would only get worse from there.

Shamrock seemed to accept the deal with aplomb, I had a better negotiating position than he did with full control of the hub. His town would benefit greatly; armor, weapons, technology, an army of robot spies if I could get them up and running or send somepony to do it, along with a towering, shielded structure in the middle of Downtown Trotson.

All he had to do was share, giving up a few floors of the tower to groups like the Followers, the Minutemares, the Trinity Tower alicorns and the orphanage wasn't that big a deal. It would take a lot of time and pony power to clear up the mess up there and go through all the loot, all details that would have to be taken care of once we moved on.

Preston and Shamrock had equal authorization now, able to delegate responsibilities to those under them if they wanted. The Brotherhood was going to have to be satisfied with login information for an account set up for Summer. Once we got out of here, I'd give her the scrap with it scrawled on it and be on my way. Easy peasy...

I had to be careful giving Glitter a hug as she slurped the last of the chocolate off herself, anxious about rubbing off more of my thin disguise than I had already and nudging her to Preston and Dance, not liking this part of the plan. "Alright sweetie, help your mom deal with her sisters and get out of here. I'll see you soon alright?"

"Ok dad! Don't worry, we're on it! Be careful ok? J-Just a few hours right?" Despite her recent streak of independence, hearing that concern at being parted was nice. She did still want me around, just not hovering overprotectively over her every move.

"Right, nothing to worry about. Enjoy the ride on Dance's Vertibuck, I'm totally jealous!" She snorted as I walked out with Summer behind me, ok maybe I could fly on my own now, that didn't mean I wouldn't like to ride in one of the cool pre-war vehicles though... Some other time I guessed, for now, time to leave.

Trying not to sweat is incredibly difficult... especially when sneaking by a trio of towering alicorns inspecting every customer leaving the Wing Ding Arcano Circus Casino. Summer walked with me, wearing a simple but stunning bright orange dress, complimenting her buttery yellow coat and brown mane, just a couple pegasus mares out on the town... nothing to see here....

I gritted my teeth and kept trying not to sweat off my dusty disguise or let my traitorous wings flap out under the stress, they eyed us both absently, but like the others so far didn't really give a second glance. Female pegasus was not male alicorn, so they didn't care at all.

Stepping past them with relief, we worked our way around the ruins of Magnolia's stage, pockmarked with craters and angry burns. Summer kept glancing at me with wide eyes as we walked, while I looked up at the overcast skies in dread.... no.... no rain! Not now!

Following my stare, she sucked in a worried breath and picked up the pace, heading for the main gate to Goodneighbor and the half dozen alicorns guarding it. "C-Crap! Hurry up Fast... that's not gonna hold off very long..."

There was a wet, expectant smell and tingle to the air... Pegasi were weather experts, I'd trust her opinion here, marveling at the odd sensations and input. Rain... that's what rain felt like... impending rain anyway, would I have to learn what weather felt like? Could I go up there and shove clouds around for fun?

We were getting close to the gate now, the alicorns weren't really stopping or getting forceful with anypony, they got a few dark bucks to pause willingly enough for the worked up mares, but were all quickly turned loose in disappointment. One was staring our way though... a green, shit, a green I actually knew...

Lime's green eyes were squinted at the pair of us approaching, cocking her head in confusion. I was worried I was about to sweat off too much of my disguise before the rain could even start, when an accented voice full of barely restrained laughter shouted out nearby. "Oy! Hey lady! Auntie lady, you all wants the wanker right? There he is!"

I froze and stared at the grey colt running by, Wicket brushed right by us, his face red trying not to roll in the streets laughing at me. He didn't point right at me though, instead jumping up and down and waving under Lime's face, gesturing towards the Memory Den and a dark pony entering.

Lime and half the mares at the gate followed his yelps and started charging off where he directed, thanking him on the way as they passed us. My now sharper ears flicked as the colt passed away, a mirthful whisper floating up to me. "Now we're even... Miss Wanker..."

Following him running off behind us, I spotted several more of Ivy's orphans doing the same thing elsewhere. Excitedly pointing and getting Jade's sisters to run around on wild goose chases while we just strolled right out... That went amazingly well... until the first drops of rain pattered to the street anyway.

"F-Fast! Fly! Come on, quickly!" Summer fluttered up like it was no problem, her civilian dress swishing around her as she floated up and I watched.

Ok... I practiced in the tower for this, I could do it... Had to get out of here before my disguise melted completely, just make these damn wings obey and... up!

BONG! Ow! Too much up! I winced rubbing my pink dyed mane, having shot straight up and into a rusting sign hanging from a streetlight outside the gates, pointing the way to Goodneighbor. I nervously looked back to see the purple alicorn who had remained at the gate staring curiously at the spectacle as I started tilting in midair, no stay straight!

"Er... F-Folly! Be careful! Y-You had too much fun in Goodneighbor, let me help!" Summer stammered and covered magnificently, flapping over and helping me right myself, tugging my hoof along with her. Just a pegasus and her drunken friend stumbling from the party town, nothing out of the ordinary...

We rushed off, not far above the streets thankfully, this was a lot different than the cramped halls of the Ministry hub, all this open sky was a little daunting actually... A few twists and turns down the shadowy canyons of downtown Trotson put us close to the riverside to the north as the skies really opened up.

Scrambling towards the nearest shelter I could find as the flour and Fluffer Batter in my mane started melting away and dripping from my hooves, I crashed through the long broken windows of an old bar with a groan. Watching Summer follow behind and land lightly next to me, torn between giggling and just staring now that I was a dark buck with a grey mane again, and two big black wings...

"Y-You'll get used to it Fast... don't be discouraged! T-That was really good for a newbie! Wow... it's so strange seeing you like this... H-How's it feel?" She whispered as I pulled myself free of the stools I wound up tangled in at the rotten bar.

"Weird... You uh... d-don't mind I'm like this? You weren't as bad as some of those other former Enclave I've met, but you had a thing about alicorns too didn't you?" I winced back, trying to tug this clingy damn dress off and get into my Shrouded Stallion armor again.

"No! Er... ones like in town I guess... But you're not... I mean, y-you're something else entirely! It's not like a bunch of dark males attacked the Enclave too! You uh... l-look really good though... w-would have made a good pegasus Fast..." She shuffled to herself with a blush, looking quite pretty wearing the wet, orange civilian dress plastered to her alluringly instead of her Brotherhood Scribe outfit, why was I thinking that?

Fighting with my coat was quickly becoming frustrating, I could slip it over my forelegs like normal, but then the wings were pinned under it. Trying to go for the wings first just ended up sending one down a leg sleeve and I had to start over, trying again the left decided to flap out rather than cooperate and I ended up tangled in the long trenchcoat, flopping to the cluttered wooden floors and rolling around, wrestling with the garment.

"DAMMIT! Stop fighting and nnngggh!! Get in there!!"

Holding a hoof up to stifle her laughs, Summer shook her head and trotted over, helping tug the coat free with her mouth and guiding the twitching wings with her hooves. Jeez these things were still sensitive! Having her touch them like that was... s-stop! I breathed a sigh of relief once she got them through the flaps in the coat and I could shrug into it the rest of the way, blushing furiously and scratching my sopping mane.

"Oh don't worry about it... I have a little brother you know, nothing to be embarrassed about Fast. It's cute! You sure you'll be ok out here? It's getting dark and I have to get back, you will come to the Prydwen though right?" At least her cheeks were a little rosy too, her little brother's wings stiffening like that wasn't quite the same at least...

"Fine Summer, here you go, login info for the hub. Thanks a lot for your help here, I owe you. I'll come to your cloudship and take a look, I want to talk to your bosses anyway... Go on and get back, I'm right at the edge of their field of telepathy now, gotta let them know and get going in a minute."

The Brotherhood Scribe took the slip of paper I set on the dusty bar gratefully as I crawled over the obstacle, there were a few bottles back there... I was still fixated on the bottle of tequilla and whiskey I had drank to no effect so far, if I had to wait around out here alone, I was going to keep drinking until I felt something...

She flew up and grabbed me in a hug before I cleared the hurdle, squeezing tight and snickering at the wings straightening up painfully and flaring their feathers. "Practice makes perfect! You'll get the hang of it Fast, look forward to seeing you then. M-Maybe we can go for a real fly around together, o-once you've gotten better at it. You promised so I expect to see you soon!"

At that she flew off, out into the quickening rain that was seeping its way into the bar from the floors above, dripping in musty pools from long rotted holes. I hoped it was just all the alicorns making me feel so... frisky... but apparently not. This wasn't more of Moondancer's insane ideas for her potion was it?

That was another excellent reason to drink, tugging a dusty bottle of something called rum from some of the detritus back here and popping the top. It had that fiery taste like whiskey or tequila, not bad really... One big swig after another just had me tapping my hooves on the bar in frustration, floating junk around in my magic and setting bottle after bottle up in a row.

Fine... one bottle not enough, drink more... This was less about having an enjoyable drink and more a mission from the goddesses at this point, I was going to feel something dammit! I chugged a full bottle of whiskey and floated the rest to my packs, opening myself to the weak field of unity I was right on the edge of.

I looked around the ruined bar so they were sure to see, carefully avoiding looking outside so they wouldn't get a good idea exactly where I was. They'd probably have a basic direction from this, but I planned to get outta dodge immediately...

Ouch... even at this distance, that was pretty powerful... They were not going to be happy at all...

Trudging along in the rain near the river, I drained the third bottle of whiskey and threw it aside in my magic, satisfied at the tinkle of glass smashing against brick. Fuzzy... that was what three bottles of whiskey got me, barely tipsy... I wasn't a big drinker or anything, but it was fun here and there... emphasis on was...

I had to pee a lot, but apparently that was part of processing every drop I poured down my gullet so efficiently... Convincing the others to let me go on my own hadn't been easy, a lot of cajoling and pointing out I was the only one Jade's sisters really wanted. Now that I was out here though, I accepted I wanted to be alone for awhile... Have some time to try to get used to myself, come to grips with all this.... It wasn't working...

I found a weedy old park on the shore and gracelessly flapped my way up to the top of a rusting jungle gym, opening another bottle and dangling my legs as the last tinges of sunset slipped away behind the sea. Checking everyone's locator tags showed they had split up, Jade, Glitter and Val riding a Vertibuck towards Sanctuary and presumably leading her sisters in a merry chase. Zed sneaking around the metro tunnels beneath the streets, all heading to meet up where we agreed eventually.

Staring across the bay, I could see fingers of land across the water, the nearest full of ruined industrial buildings, the furthest where the Trotson Skyport was, the huge cloudship The Prydwen moored over the facility, bathed in light. The idea I could just get up and go... that way... was still strange, I didn't have to follow the shore and find a crossing, nope... just get up and go in a straight line...

The fourth bottle was flung out into the sea, still barely a beer or two worth of drunkenness... I needed more, a loooot more... Looking through the gloom with that strange brightness around everything, I could make out every detail of the industrial buildings across the way, one of them had a giant beer bottle... a brewery?

Interesting... Well, I was left to my own devices here, I could go wherever I wanted, the lapping waves of the sea were no longer an obstacle... Screw it, it was practice... Shakily flapping my way up, I flew out over the water with a little trepidation, this was soooo strange... Going higher seemed wrong somehow, I knew I could now... I had nothing but open air above me stretching for miles, why was I nervous about going up?

I wasn't scared of heights... My mom was a pegasus for Luna's sake! She carried and tossed me around as a foal so much I just took it for granted, flying wasn't scary... Until recently Jade had carried me around all over too, lots higher than this... A few more beats brought me up above the gentle waves and I figured it out, I was ok with others flying... it was never on me before, just being a passenger was nothing once you got used to it if you trusted the flyer. Now I didn't trust the flyer...

Opening the last bottle of whiskey, I floated it to my muzzle and kept sucking it down, making my weaving way a little higher and towards that giant beer bottle. Drunk... it was a matter of pride now, I was going to get drunk, even if I had to drink a brewing vat dry...

A strange rustling noise from behind me made me lazily spin around in the air, looking back to the shadows moving among the crumbling skyscrapers of Trotson, an amorphous cloud of dark... wings? A flock of flapping, dark... things... swirling out into the night sky, a ribbon of the things swinging my way and screeching...

Bats?! I could see them a loooong way off now, those were bats... very big bats... with very big fangs... Shit, I forgot what Val said... no flying in downtown Trotson after dark... Bloodwings...

My legs scrambled pointlessly in the air before my wings got the idea and joined in, sending me flapping and careening my way towards the towering smokestacks and crumbling stone buildings, the screeching cloud of Bloodwings gaining on me easily. I tried adjusting course to the sagging remains of an elevated roadway over the water, realizing the indistinct dark stuff under it was more of the Bloodwings roosting, waking up in response to the prey being chased under them.

KRAKA-THOOM!

I had enough sense to turn around to the horde on my tail before unloading the lightning, the blast sent me spinning away as a good clump fell smoking to the ground, more surging up to take their places. Oh this was just fantastic! Sure, get in an aerial battle with things that actually belonged up here, brilliant work dumb dumb!

Ok... tuck your legs, flap harder! Move! Fly! At least I could draw my weapons with my magic, fighting up here must be hard for pegasi without a battle saddle or something, maybe Val had a point. No time to wonder now, several rounds of buckshot sent more of the dark brown monsters spinning to the sea below, but the rest were catching up, caught up... One came from my blind spot above and slammed into me, long fangs sinking into my shoulder, before a .45 round from Vengeance blew its head off and I tried to right my veering course.

Alright.. fall... I could fall no problem, that was faster right? I dove for the spit of land sinking into the sea, skimming the surface of the water with my hooves and a lot of Bloodwings right behind me. The horde of bloody monsters were faster than I was and a hell of a lot more skilled in the air, slashing and snapping with claws and fangs while I hammered away with my weapons and tried to stay up.

I barely cleared a tall sea wall still holding up against the ceaseless tides, careening down the shattered streets and managing enough altitude to crash through a second floor and lurch my way up, running... running was better! I'd just... shit! Nevermind, running wasn't much of an option with more Bloodwings smashing through the flimsy, rotten walls and crumbling roof, I got to enjoy being on the ground just long enough to dive out of the far window and beat my wings for all they were worth.

Trying straight up this time was a little better, apparently I was better at climbing than they were without stalling out, several fell behind while the others took a swirling course around me, gaining altitude in a circle behind me as I kept pushing up. This gave me plenty of targets at a good range around me, but I couldn't take these things out one at a time like this...

The brewery then! I was over it now, there were doors and entrances on the roof of the structure I could see even this far away, it wasn't flimsy wood either. I'd just dive for it and hide awhile, sure... just had to get through this swarm below me...

An earsplitting screech sounded out above me, flattening my ears and sending my hooves up to shut it out. The Bloodwings didn't like it at all either, suddenly clearing a path and trying to get away from the dark shape above me, streaking down and shouting... shouting? "Move stupid!! Dive! Come on!!"

A grey and purple blur shot past, yanking my leg along and straight through the cloud of death, screeching that horrible sound and clearing a path as we fell. A pegasus? She sounded like a mare and that was a silky purple tail and shapely pair of flanks just ahead of me... Stop thinking about that dammit!! More important things at the moment! What the hell was wrong with me!?

Whoever my savior was, she was light years ahead of me in flying ability, of course I guessed everypony who could that wasn't a newborn pegasi would be too... Her wings flared out feet away from the hard surface of the roof and she pulled out of the dive expertly, touching down and galloping towards a rusting steel door in the shadow of the tattered beer bottle ad. Groaning and running back when I slammed to the surface clumsily and yanking me by my mane to the door.

She tossed me inside to a steel catwalk and slammed the door shut, clicking the lock with her... pointy teeth... and turning on me with slitted orange eyes, she was kind of familiar... The armor! The pegasus dressed like one of Luna's royal guards back in Goodneighbor! She was still dressed up?

Panting shakily to herself at the thumps and crashes of Bloodwings screeching outside, she tossed her lavender mane and breathed a sigh of relief, sliding down the door to her rump and looking me over. "Finally! Didn't think I'd ever find you, till you got up in the air I couldn't for shit! Y-You really are him right? The real Shrouded Stallion? Not just a stupid costume this time right?"

"Er... Y-Yes? Thanks for the help! Iz not a stupid costume either... you ain't got room ta talk anyhoo, but I like your costume though."

The strange mare looked at herself a moment and snorted, spreading her leathery wings out and posing fetchingly. "Costume!? This isn't a costume buddy, all me alright? Witching Hour, at your service, 27th generation servant of Luna and emissary of Dreadnot! Pleased to finally find the right Shroud!"

A batpony... An actual thestral... it wasn't a costume?! How... exotic... No! Stop! Bad thoughts! Ok something was off with me... One more reason to go back to my original plan, it might not have gone very smoothly but my pip-buck updated while I shook myself and stood, looking around what I could see of the ancient brewery.

Discovered Location: Glint Brewery

"Fast Times, nice to meet you too Miss Hour. Thanks again, now excuse me... I need a drink... a biiiig drink..."

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

Friend of the Night Princess-----
New senses to get used to... fun! As an alicorn, your eyes now adapt quickly to low-light situations. Even in total darkness, things are lit with a preternatural glow like a nightvision scope and you have eyes like a hawk.