"Come on dammit... has to be down here somewhere..."

I snorted and picked up another huge chunk of shredded shielding, floating it over the blinding glow of the damaged arcano-flux reactor beneath Castle Equinox, dimming the bright green light and lessening the angry chatter from my pip-buck. The rainbow colored radiation meter on the device said I should be dead and glowing, instead I felt great, if slightly agitated and annoyed.

I held still to regroup with Jade, Val, Zed, Witchy, Preston and his Minutemares as they took the castle courtyard above, twitchy from too much Dash and a bloodlust that the Miretank Queen hadn't quite sated. A jumbo Periwinkle had happily given her report to her commander, puzzling over her amazed comrades crowded around to look up and listen, waiting for the part of the story that explained how the alicorn Minutemare they had gotten to know was suddenly twice her normal size.

Better she was big and alive, taking her down here to the magical maelstrom of radiation saved her life from what should have been a mortal wound. Now she was putting a little of that energy to use rejoining her fellow Minutemares, helping them secure the entry to the rest of the castle we were in the process of taking over.

After trying to reassure Jade and the others I joined them, cutting a bloody swath neither the injured Val or the slightly awed Minutemare squads I led could keep up with. Though led is a generous term... technically I was a knight/general in the group, but I was no commander. Mostly I saw the groups of brave, normal ponies preparing to face the monsters inside and couldn't leave them to go alone.

If they went to the wrong areas or tried going lower, they'd get radiation sickness, while I would not. There were still more of the worst varieties of miretanks lurking around, no Queen or King at least, but Hunters and Razorclaws, any of them could have a poisonous claw stab right through their chest too... Peri barely survived that, it was highly unlikely any of them would while I could at least regenerate. There were poisonous Radstar Spiders crawling in the shadows too, even my newfound resistance to poison had to work a minute to get over it, who knew what their venomous bite would do to a normal pony.

I led by flinging myself ahead of them, reveling in bringing death and vengeance down on every miretank in my path with a squad of recruits to back me up, no sneaking around or hiding, all of them were going to die. It still wasn't enough... I kept seeing that claw punch through Peri's chest and her face, that sad acceptance...

Eventually I had done enough, unlocked enough doors on the first floor for them to proceed without me, killed or scared enough of the miretanks into skittering down to the depths of the castle. I stopped at Preston's insistence on consolidating our gains, fortifying our position, blah, blah, blah, military stuff...

I wanted more to kill and everypony kept giving me tired and nervous looks, none of them overcharged with power making them twitchy and homicidal. Val had caught up to our last foray and shoved me back outside before I could wander off on my own, ignoring my struggles and tossing me loose once in the courtyard to; 'go find somethin' more fun ta do' since I was 'freakin' the newbies out'.

There had been a lot of activity out there, several Eclipse Villagers by the gates, including Captain Salty, the leader of the small fishing village in the shadow of the castle. I couldn't deal with the wide eyed looks of him, the villagers, the Minutemares, my friends... if I couldn't keep destroying those filthy monsters, I could do something else productive, somewhere almost nopony could follow me too.

So here I was, ripping more scraps of torn away shielding from the bottom of the Queen's nest, wrenching them back into a rough shape again and arc welding them together with an unending stream of power fueling my lightning spell. The castle wouldn't be safe for all the normal ponies above with this thing pouring rads out. Enjoyable as I found it, I wasn't normal anymore. I could fix this, make it safe for the Minutemares above so they didn't all start puking their guts out and overwhelming Jade with radiation sickness.

What I really wanted was still eluding me though. Peri's hat had to be down here somewhere, she loved that thing... I wanted to find it for her.

A huge chunk of dense metal the size of a sky carriage was torn loose like a rotten tooth from the bottom of the pit and bobbed back towards the reactor, bending back into shape in my grip and the amazing levels of strength I had sitting down here. I didn't get bigger like Peri had, but I was absorbing all of this spare power and felt like I could lift a locomotive. Maybe not the best idea as hostile and antsy as I still felt, but it was something that needed to be done and only I could do. A makeshift repair at best, but a super repair job for a super charged repair-pony.

"Fast? A-Are you alright?" Jade's meek voice drifted down to me and pulled me out of my thoughts, she looked worried and a little tired healing all the troops above as she fluttered down the pit, but being down here was quickly fixing that. Her eyes sparkled as she landed beside me, taking a deep breath and waiting patiently.

"Fine Jade, just... fixing things. Almost done. Everything ok up there?"

My princess nodded with a gentle smile, lightly touching my shoulder with a wing and cooing softly. "Yes, everything is fine, many are concerned about you down here alone. The villagers are putting on a feast, Miretank Queen is quite the delicacy apparently, they wish for you to join the festivities, as do I... I am worried for you Fast..."

I turned back from welding the latest rough chunk in place, the radiation still very strong, but dropping down to a point it probably wasn't suffusing the lower floors of the castle or pouring out the top of the pit anyway. Jade's look of enjoyment at basking in this much radiation was muted by the concern there, I didn't want to see her worry, but I couldn't lie either.

"I feel great Jade... brimming with energy, totally in the pink, I'll come out and join the party soon, I promise! Umm... look what I can do down here!"

Jade cocked an eyebrow and watched with an unimpressed and worried look as I yanked another scrap of metal free and twisted it in my magic, the thick metal squealing as it bent under the force gripping it and fitting back against the rest of the reactor housing. A big, broken vase I was gluing back together one bit at a time.

"I am not concerned about your physical wellbeing down here, I am afraid for your psyche however. You have already been under enormous strain, it has not even been a week since you were so drastically changed, that alone is a great deal to try to cope with, let alone... Periwinkle told me what happened Fast, of course she told everypony what happened... but I know. First Valkyrie, then Periwinkle right in front of you... I know you well enough to guess it is weighing on your mind.

I saw you myself, coming up from saving her here, furiously attacking that horrible creature over and over again... leading the Minutemares to continue in your violence. You frightened me! I do not think it is wise for you to be down here at the moment and I..." Jade paused and shivered with a soft gasp, totally saturated by the power still filling the air to the point she swelled a bit before my eyes.

My voice cracked replying once it passed, looking up to her with bloodshot eyes blurred by tears wanting to form. "S-She almost died... that thing just impaled her and.... I promised her and made her wait, she c-could have died w-without... because I wouldn't... I was so scared Jade, w-when she was ok it all just turned to anger, just like with Val... I couldn't help, but I could get revenge. I wanted to kill all of them Jade, first the Queen then all the rest, hunt them all down and enjoy it. I... I still want to."

Rather than look scared or shrink away from the venom in my voice, Jade rushed forward and enveloped me in a warm embrace, nuzzling my mane and rocking around me gently. "I know Fast, it is alright... Periwinkle is fine, you saved her and I am glad she will live to get her wish. You were frightened and stressed to breaking, lashing out, indulging in violence. Letting yourself lose control...

Sitting down here and absorbing even more radiation is not helping. Please come out with me, everyone is waiting, preparing a celebration and anxious to see you. The Minutemares and the villagers both are filled with joy and hope, our victory here is easing fears about the future and the Gunners. They all wish to thank you, including Periwinkle, come back with me?"

I buried my face in her warm breast and shuddered, feeling her back slowly but steadily stretching up and out under my hooves with each gasping breath. "I don't know if I should be around other ponies Jade... the way they looked at me, and I still want to just keep clearing the castle of everything that moves. Keep killing... If I can't do that, I can fix things. That's safe."

Again Jade stayed right by me instead of running from the growling admission, curling her wings around me tightly and purring lightly in my ear. "Then we will turn that frustration and agitation to something better, away from dark thoughts and activities and towards those much lighter..."

On looking back and up at the most beautiful mare in the world growing larger with a moan, my wings sprang out awkwardly and all my remaining aggression and energy found a new outlet. My mane itched and my hooves started roving down her back unconsciously as she smiled and kissed my horn.

"O-Ok... I can do that, a lot... I feel better just thinking about that instead actually, t-thanks Jade, just what the doctor ordered huh?" My roaming touch snaked its way down to a very ample and expanding rump and the bulk of my worries were lost in the heavenly embrace.

That was soooo much better, I had seen too much horror and death lately, too fast to keep up or stop. Almost everything about me had been drastically mutated into something new I was still trying to cope with, we were on the run, in enemy territory, fighting a shadowy conspiracy of mad scientists and the wasteland at large. Slowing down to enjoy the good things in life and love was the right prescription, just let go for awhile and relax.

A look of relief washed over her and she giggled, holding a hoof out to shove me back and keep me at bay. "I hoped that may tempt you, I was... ahem, growing concerned about you. It is veeeeery nice down here Fast, but perhaps we should leave before I end up as large as Periwinkle? We have some time while they prepare, but I'd rather not stand out quite that much in a celebration."

She was already close to a full head taller and climbing, her lidded eyes had those heart shaped sparkles dancing in them as she fluttered up and away, her big hoof tilting my chin up to follow more than willingly as I nodded dumbly. "R-Right... leave... H-Hang on, right behind you!"

A glimpse of scorched tan barely got my attention thanks to a bouncy pink mote in my head "Awareness! It was under E!" and I zipped off to Jade's impatient whinny, though another gasp from the exciting tingle of rads beneath her looked to make the wait pleasant enough and she stayed put to enjoy it. I tugged Peri's poor hat from under the fried Miretank shell it had gotten pinned under and raced to join her, pausing long enough for her to shiver and moan as she stretched up another couple inches and took her time flying away.

I was only vaguely concerned that rather than getting taller under this much radiation like her, like I had wanted... I seemed to become obsessed with one of two things, rampaging or rutting. At least the latter option wasn't as horrifying to anypony else around me, depending on your tastes I guessed.

The two of us flew back up the long shaft to the night sky and happy noises above, the larger Jade easily able to push back my overeager advances as we rose, wrinkling her nose cutely and shaking her head. "Oooooh no.... No offense Fast, but much as I want to, you smell awful... Glitter is anxiously awaiting us joining the celebration above, I bought us time explaining you and Periwinkle both need to wash that foul smelling slime off and rest before joining in any feast. As excited as I am sure you are, you will practice more self restraint first. You have been letting yourself lose control and I am most disappointed... Come and behave, perhaps you will be rewarded and calm yourself so you are fit to be around other ponies hmm?

Considering the pink bands that kept flashing across her eyes as she smirked back, I was pretty sure I knew where this was going, I could be patient... for awhile... Besides, now that I had Peri's hat and Jade's presence to calm me, I realized I did reek... All the miretank scent Captain Salty and Mint had slathered over us had been joined by a lot of gore and blood, cleaning up before seeing my daughter was probably a good idea, let alone the villagers of Eclipse and my Princess' troops. No wonder I kept getting odd looks, I looked like a blood soaked psychopath and smelled like a fish cannery.

The crowd of Minutemares and villagers in the courtyard cheered and waved as we flew out and away, the military ponies were moving with purpose, blocking every entrance into the castle and organizing their gains. Several looked to have joined the gaggle of tough villagers tying ropes to the huge carcass of the Miretank Queen and hauling it towards the gates.

A roaring bonfire was built down in the round, crescent moon plaza in the ruins of Eclipse below and more of the villagers were down there with other Minutemares, smaller cookfires and rickety tables being set up, a lot of happy noise drifting our way as we soared overhead. They really were going all out, I was glad Jade pulled me out of there to join in, though confused as we sailed by.

We weren't going to the village? Not back to the Lunar Nocturne hotel in the ruins or in the smaller, walled village near the beach either? Instead continuing towards the sea and down the shore, finally drifting down to an odd, roofless enclosure down on the beach and away from every other point of interest.

A tilted cutout of petrified wood showed a stunning young Fluttershy in a bikini that just made my head swim more, jealous of the small white bunny applying sunscreen to her back. The faded advice from the Ministry of Peace concerning protection from the summer sun went almost totally ignored.

Between the adorable young Ministry Mare's faded, life sized cutout in the sand and the blue beauty bounding ahead of me, Jade had successfully shifted me entirely from frustrated aggression to overstimulated libido. At least she knew what she was in for after last time... I absently hoped she had made excuses for an extended absence and was curious where she brought us, but my head was far too fuzzy to really care.

Jade shrugging out of her lab coat cut off any lingering questions, the garment at least adjusted its fit so it wasn't ripping off her as Peri's tan armor had done. She tossed it to a rusty hook beside the faded and crudely repaired pastel pink and blue walls, prancing towards the entrance that split off in two directions, pink or blue. I was right on her cloudy tail and tossing my armor aside to join her coat regardless, but she did turn back and giggle breathlessly.

"Mint Twist informed me of this place while we were waiting, after coating you in that slime... An old beach side convenience for washing seawater off, sadly not a hot shower, and it is impure rainwater, but fine for us to take our time and safely away from the others for awhile yes? Come along and remember, do as told, self restraint..." Her playful warnings washed over me, we had done this before, I could maintain control... mostly... for a little while...

I followed through a pair of turns meant to provide some privacy for the outdoor showers, my hoofsteps ringing on the cracked concrete. When we came around the last turn into the open, pink mare's side, I froze and my mouth hung open as my brain just stripped its gears.

Peri was sitting there... Soaking thanks to several sputtering streams of water and lathering herself to scrub the stink off, with what looked like a broken push broom as a brush, but unsurprised and unembarrassed, the chilly water and suds dripping off every curvy inch of... I shook my head and looked again in confusion, back to Jade smiling, back to Peri blinking sleepily... wha?

She had shrunk a bit already, but still towered over even Jade, scrunched down to soak in the stream of water from four rusty showerheads in the corner pointing up as far as they could. Beaming down at me stammering uselessly up at her, tossing her sudsy blonde mane back and clapping her hooves, her tail swishing back and forth in the puddle of water gurgling down the drain beneath her. "Fast! There you are, I'm glad sister Jade finally found you! Now sister?"

"W-W-What?!"

Jade grinned and curled a wing around me, shoving me forward despite my hooves digging in out of reflex and my wings stiffening awkwardly, tittering primly and nodding. "Periwinkle informed me all about your adventurous 'date', your fear when she came so close to dying and the things you promised. I believe this is on her list and you need a better outlet than violence yes? Periwinkle, you may scrub that filth off of Fast, but nothing else. Yet..."

Peri seemed happy with just that, giving a happy whinny and yanking me over with her magic, floating a bucket collecting more of the chill water among a variety of borrowed brushes and dumping it over me, followed by a crude bar of homemade soap lathering my mane as she hummed and worked overhead. "Hold still, it is very hard to get this smell off, I have been trying already Fast."

I sputtered under her ministrations, groaning and trying to hold myself back to look at Jade again, eyes wide in stunned confusion. "What?! Jade what're you... why? Y-You... what?!?"

The big blue love of my life gave me a sultry look and sauntered forward to join us, smiling softly and answering in a husky voice. "I have decided to relent and share as we promised, I did have many of the same thoughts as you when I heard she had almost perished before she had a chance to become a mother. I did not say I would simply leave the two of you to it however, perhaps after... but I wish to s-supervise... make the r-rules and my own place clear. I will permit this, but you are mine.

To be perfectly honest, with all the radiation you have absorbed and your previous performance... I wish to calm you down and I believe the help will be invaluable. I will allow and i-indulge in this, with a sister I too am very happy is still alive, this once Fast... But you must still prove your self control, consider it my own training akin to Valkyrie's.

You will both do as I say, I am comfortable with that compromise. For now, the two of you clean each other up, you may move to wash Periwinkle in return now Fast. I have no interest in getting closer while you smell so foul... Though Fast has a very pleasant smell coming from under all that monster slime does he not sister?"

I glanced between Jade's blue eyes and Peri's yellow ones, both dancing with tiny hearts and radiating pink in the irises, the constant itch of my mane emitting that pheromone smell again... "You took your time down in the pit to work yourself up to this... didn't you Jade?"

My amazing ...wife, paced in front of us, sticking her nose up regally as Peri roughly scrubbed at me, her big hooves roaming everywhere she wanted as Jade smiled and huffed a playful answer back. "I am sure I do not know what you are talking about Fast... Now, we do not have much time, so let us enjoy what we have. You will obey your Princess will you not? Every command?"

I trembled and dashed up to obediently scrub Peri's back to her happy squeals and nodded excitedly, the terror and rage I had felt completely fading away in a warm fog. My body switched entirely from wanting to fight to wanting to f... fill its purpose, as imagined by Moondancer's potion.

Both wings stuck straight up stiffly and sent a thrill down my spine as Peri started giving the sensitive new limbs attention. I checked one more time before losing what control I was holding on to with more than one filly waiting before me, looking to Jade prancing in front of us and seeing only nervous willingness.

"Anything you say Princess."

I had thought Jade made a lot of noise on her own before... her plus an inexperienced Peri was deafening. She was slow to rise as with all things, but once she got going it was like waking a sleeping giant... er.... literally I supposed. Though her condition actually helped, it was like my first time with Jade, putting me at ease reenacting the wonderful memory, just with double the blue alicorn this time.

I was very grateful for earth pony strength and sturdiness, saving me from dipping back down to the reactor beneath the castle to heal a broken pelvis shattered by Peri's long, strong legs. Jade didn't exactly help during that one either, doing the same to my head and barely remembering to release me to breathe, along with not incidentally crushing my skull.

The supersized alicorn arched her back above me letting loose a long, high pitched howl with none of Jade's attempts to muffle herself as we finished again. Shuddering around me, her head tossed to the moon and well above the tall walls of the showers before she collapsed on top of me.

A breathless and weary Jade prodded her eyes back open and pointed out me struggling under her, shoving her sister into rolling to her side beside her, letting me loose to suck in blessedly cool air again. I gasped a long happy breath, staring dizzily at the stars and lying between them, taking in all that wonderful female smell around me that just spurred my exhausted body on again. No more miretank stink, this was muuuuuch better.

With Peri panting rapidly to my right, I rolled to the left and started dragging myself towards Jade's smiling, rosy face. I released the glow of my telekinesis roaming over her, switching it back to Peri who gave a sharp gasp at the attention while I moved to Jade again. I was glad I had such skill with the simple spell when it came to juggling a lot at once, it was almost cheating but allowed me to divide my attention between the two of them almost equally.

I had the odd thought that an excited mare was a bit like hacking a terminal actually. It just took a light touch, a little skill and finesse to meticulously sift through everything that didn't matter and find the magic spots, slipping through defenses and tapping the right keys until they opened like a flower. I knew what buttons to press on Jade much better, but I was figuring out what worked on Peri by the mewling noises she was making.

I crawled to my princess and flopped weakly on top of her heaving chest, planting kisses up her neck but brought up short by a big hoof and a very reluctant whinny. "E-Enough Fast... the others..."

"More..." I grunted insistently, Peri's rumbling moan punctuating my point while my hooves roamed all over the perfect blue body beneath me.

Jade furrowed her brow and shook her head with a visible gathering of will, trying to reassert control. "W-We must stop, t-that is enough for now, w-we may c-continue later..."

"MORE..."

After letting me loose once I had jumped through enough hoops, the warm fog in my head refused to back off. I had obediently cleaned and been cleaned by the two of them, a wet, sudsy tangle of blue hooves and wings that all blurred together. I did just as my princess ordered and fought my impulses longer than I thought possible, but once she let me free I didn't want to stop, couldn't stop.

This is exactly what Moondancer's insane version of the I.M.P. had been demanding of me and I was lost to the pure bliss of filling my purpose. One beautiful mare on top of the other, a blue wall of alicorn flesh to lavish attention on that they both definitely enjoyed by the sound.

Bizarrely the soft voices in my head had joined in, "Be Kind..." seemed to peek in embarrassment from behind my eyes but took heart at the real emotion and care being given to both of them, "Be Strong!" was right there rolling mental sleeves up to get to work dealing with a pair of big fillies, "Be Unwavering" kept cheering me on with impressed whispers, while the bouncy pink mote of "Awareness!" helped catch every shivery reaction to guide my efforts where they were sure to cause the most fun.

All of them grew stronger with each wailing climax and helped to lock away the muttering "Be Dark..." back where it belonged. That shadowy spot of blackness returning to its lair had gotten louder and stronger the more I gave in to fury and anger, first in Talon's and then the castle, pushing the gentle voices of the Ministry Mares aside.

It was soothed by the warm glow of love for both of the mares with me now though, growing quiet and weaker while the song of the statues became louder and sweeter, all of them taking strength from love the way that lone, dark voice did from hate. The dark Shroud's only contribution that got past them now was the driving insistence of 'MORE' and 'MINE'.

Peri shuddered and added more cracks to the concrete floor, slamming her hooves down at a particularly well placed bit of blue telekinetic force and shoving herself up with a long moan, thumping over the two of us. Her looming shadow darkened my view, the cooing kisses and attention from behind more than made up for it though.

Jade's sparkly blue eyes fluttered and tracked her sister above us both, giving a final snort and pushing me back. "N-No... enough... b-both of you. W-We have already taken enough time, m-much as I may wish for more... Later. Who is in control Fast? S-Stop."

I had to slap myself to do as ordered and get ahold of myself, reluctantly forcing myself away as Jade stumbled back to her hooves. Tossing her sopping wet, pale blue mane out of her eyes and smiling sweetly at her sister's whines as I cantered out of range of her reaching forelegs.

Peri blinked sleepily and dragged herself after me, flaring her wings and stretching with a luxuriant gasp as I had forgotten to put a stop to my roving magic, pouting to Jade on the way as it cut off. "That is sooooo nice sister... Why didn't we do this long ago? You heard him, he wants more and so do I... can't we...."

Jade trotted between us as I cringed back, biting my tongue and trying to shove my wings down before they carried me back of their own volition. The mare I loved more than any other stamped a hoof by the gurgling drain and shook her head again, a note of finality in her voice. "That is more than enough, were it not for Fast's unique condition you would have to be satisfied after less than that. There are many of your comrades waiting on you as well, along with our friends and family sister. Fast is not the only one that must learn restraint, I will allow this so long as you both behave. Come back to the hotel with me so we may make ourselves presentable and greet them, let us leave Fast to collect himself hmm?"

Shoving a huge, whining alicorn ahead of her, Jade got her sister to flap over the pink walls and land with a thump outside, stopping to collect her coat and belongings. Without the pair of beautiful mares right in front of me, other parts of my brain took a stab at functioning again

"Do not tary too long Fast, go see Glitter and calm down, she is expecting you impatiently and we have kept her waiting long enough." Jade's sweet voice called over the wall separating us tiredly, retreating down the beach and leaving me with my racing thoughts.

The thought of my daughter helped cool the raging fires of lust trying to flare back up and I nodded to myself, trotting over to sit under the sputtering shower head I left running. It was cold water, but temperatures didn't seem to affect me the same anymore either, mildly uncomfortable at best...

Ok... Cold showers weren't going to be nearly as effective anymore. I let it wash over me anyway, thunking my head against the pink walls. That was an experience worth copying to a memory orb and reliving over and over again, strange to be with anypony other than Jade, but I was with her too so it wasn't so bad. Not bad at all actually... very, very, very good...

I had to stamp down on the unbidden thoughts of all her other sisters more than willing to join in out there. Fun as that was, Jade was right, that part was not the boss, I was... or she was more accurately... Either way, my new body didn't run things, Peri had been a pony we both cared about and trusted, and I still had to work my way up to giving her what she wanted. But she got it in spades by the way she weaved off through the air dreamily.

I turned off the trickle of tingly water and trotted out after them, shrugging back into my now clean Shrouded Stallion armor, Jade must have magicked it on her way... I looked up to Castle Eclipse with satisfaction. It would take a lot of work just to finish clearing it of the monsters infesting it, but it was ours now. Every Princess needed their castle after all.

With my head mostly clear again and feeling like a million bits, I cantered back from the beach whistling the Sparkle World jingle happily. All the weight of the horror show of Talon's Department Store and Gunter's funhouse, the castle full of vicious monsters and the terror of nearly losing two dear friends, all of it had been lifted from my back and I practically floated into town.

Actually I was... my legs prancing along on thin air a few inches above the ground and my wingtips fluttering. Everything was loose and limber, the wasteland was a beautiful place with wonderful ponies in it and I was approaching a cheery gathering that reflected my mood perfectly.

The tribe of fisherponies from Eclipse were busily working away in the wide open, weedy plaza of the ruined town they took their name from. The spiny bulk of the Miretank Queen had been dragged down along with a dozen other corpses, mostly the rarer varieties of the turtle monsters. The professional miretank hunters were expertly butchering the bounty on the spot and a multitude of cookfires lit the area, elderly cooks swatting hungry onlookers away as they worked.

I almost wished I hadn't torched the King to ash so I could see what he tasted like, but the Hunters, Razorclaws and the Queen herself would do nicely. My nubs of fangs stretched out in anticipation, joining my rumbling stomach at the wonderful smells my enhanced senses picked up. The Minutemares were making themselves useful wherever they could, getting along with the villagers and coming together for a party, Ministry Mare Pinkie Pie or Director Cheese Sandwich would be proud.

I still got a few wary looks, but a lot more happy waves and even awed stares from the Minutemares who had stormed the castle when the gates fell. I supposed I had put on a bit of a show, but I wasn't entirely in charge at the time. All the salutes and whispers made me a little uncomfortable, but it was mostly positive and for now I got a nice space cleared in my path, towards the Lunar Nocturne Hotel overlooking the plaza.

"DADDY!!!" Glitter's squeal was all the warning I got before a pale blur tackled me, pushing me back but at least not bowling me over, though she stuck her lip out in a pout at being unable to do so anymore. Maybe I should pretend every once in awhile, it made her happy and that was always important to me.

"Hey sweetie! Pretty cool party huh? See that big monster? You hungry?"

The little filly shuddered and stuck her tongue out at the giant carcass being dissected by the fisherponies, granted the still glowing hulk didn't look all that appetizing, but the stuff they were making out of it smelled delicious. "Ewwww... n-no... Did you an' Aunt Peri really kill that monster daddy? Auntie Val and the others were all talkin' about it! An' Aunt Peri is so big! Tell me what happened!"

Val limped after the foal from the porch and grinned, tossing back a bottle of Wild Pegasus and ruffling her mane. "Yer pop an' that goofy mare kicked its ass is what kiddo! I'm more interested in that big freakin' gun that torched its head off boss! Lemme see, lemme see!"

My griffon bodyguard rubbed her claws together and flicked her tail around in anticipation as I dug Blue Moon out of my bags and hoofed it over, the compact magical energy cannon snatched from my magic as soon as it was out, lovingly inspected by Val drooling over the weapon. "Oh my Gawd I love this fucking thing boss... modified plasma caster casing... woooo... blue diamonds, rare... what the hell this shielded housing for though? Weird... If'n I hadn't been pesterin' ya to start packin' a bigger gun, I'd take this baby for myself! Put it on an' blast somethin' with it!"

"Er... it takes MFC ammo Val, a loooot of it... Don't think we have much of that so maybe later. Sorry I ran off for awhile, I..." I looked over my beautiful griffon friend hungrily, hard as I tried that insatiable imperative to mount anything female had not gone away...

Especially Val... Knowing how she had been hurt in the past just made it stronger. I wanted to show her she was loved, give her all the pay she could handle and more. That lithe, muscular body marred by fresh scars just brought up the weird desire to kiss them all better again, inch by glorious inch, starting at her padded toes and going up.... stop! Feeling this way was better than wanting to revel in killing instead, but maybe I still shouldn't be around others... One would think a marathon menage au troi would be enough to sate me for a little while, but apparently not.

Val's pout and absent wave at my disappearance was cut off by Witching Hour diving down from above and landing between us, puffing up her chest and poking at me as Glitter climbed to my back, grumbling in that cute, squeaky voice. "There you are, you finally come out of that pit, then go and... w-w-where I could not follow again... I had to wait all this time and hear all that... W-Where did you get this!?!

Her slitted amber eyes locked on the dark blue weapon in Val's claws, an awed hush in her voice replacing her mild tantrum at being unable to adhere to her mission of following me everywhere. From what little I knew, the batponies of Dreadnot were expert weaponsmiths, she had to have an appreciation for such a work of art. A bit of drool was dripping down one of her thin fangs as she reached a shaking hoof towards Blue Moon.

"Ummm... from the castle... Turns out one of the heads of the Institute made it, er... for Luna..."

At the mention of goddess Luna, Witchy dove for the weapon, thwarted by Val holding it up out of her reach jealously and teasing her with it as she whined. "Let me see! A weapon crafted for the goddess herself! I must inspect it! service it! Touch it!!!"

I nodded to Val and the thestral mare hugged it to herself with a squee, tenderly caressing the short silver barrel etched with moons and stars and oooohing over the blue diamond crescent moon focal point at the end. I kept an eye on her to make sure she didn't just take off into the night with it, thankfully she was too beside herself to move though.

Pulling out a box of Fancy Buck snack cakes I liberated from the castle kitchens, I took one for myself and floated the rest up to Glitter's happy yelp. Munching the carroty cake to quiet my stomach growling for the meat still being cooked, while I waited for Witchy to stop making out with the weapon.

"Could I...." Witchy tried giving a very odd version of Glitter's favorite puppy eyes trick, the effect still came through but it was strange seeing slitted eyes widen and glisten like that.

It was decidedly less innocent than the foal's version too, fluttering eyelashes, pouty lips, a swishing purple tail and wiggling flanks as she shuffled in place that put her most impressive ...'asset' on display, further stirring me back up again.

That thestral was playing with fire, a single kiss and frantic, passionate wrestle together she had willingly returned in a vat of Glint Brewery's finest was not enough... I wanted more exotic batpony, to feel those sharp fangs with my tongue again, to nibble on those tufted ears and take a bite from that perky rear... GRRR!... Restraint, come on! Stop thinking about that!

Her attempt at begging was shut down cold by Val thankfully, snatching Blue Moon away from her and hugging it to herself. "Nooooope! Don't even try it, this thing ain't goin' nowhere! Even if boss don't want it, it's mine before some batty mare flirts her way in scoopin' up this baby!"

"And I do want it, so Val's not taking it as her pay either. Sorry Witchy, though there's lots of cool Luna stuff just waiting in her castle I bet, the safe I took this from had a nice portrait of her!" I scratched my itchy mane and tried to distract myself with the thoughts of what waited inside the castle on the cliffs above.

That looked to cheer the loyal thestral and she looked up to the dark castle in wonderment, shifting on her hooves and looking torn. "Goddess Luna's castle... We have wished to explore it for so long Fast, I am still shocked thou was able to... t-the way you killed that monster... I should insist on returning to Dreadnot sooner now, to report this to the others... but...

Y-You will not come anyway right? It will not hurt if I look around a bit, help your friends clear it of the remaining creatures defiling it... explore... P-Perhaps thine refusal is not so bad, I suppose it's not my fault if you continue taking your time and finding distractions, I can hardly be blamed right?"

"Not at all Witchy, was thinking of ways to break it to you anyway, but we're gonna be busy awhile here. I will need to go to Dreadnot soon, so I'm not just blowing you off. You have to stick with me though right? Relax, enjoy the party and help us take over the castle, I bet you know lots of things that might be useful, place is full of secret passages and stuff."

That got Glitter's interest, my little filly gulped down a mouthful of orange cake and frosting, mumbling around it with bright curiosity. "Really?! Like hidden doors an' moving bookcases an' stuff?!"

Witchy's eyes widened and darted back to the castle before answering for me excitedly. "Yes! Goddess Luna was very fond of such things, the Castle of the Two Sisters was packed with them in ancient times, you actually found some Fast?"

I nodded and hovered up a foot or so off the ground, still struggling against even the meager weight of the foal on my back, but it was worth it for her happy squeal as we wandered into the crowded plaza. "Ayup, found a couple, er... by accident, but still. See Witchy, you know stuff about the place, we could use one of Luna's finest helping us. Waiting around here awhile won't be so bad right?"

The batpony's fluffy ears drooped as she followed, duty and desire warring on her pretty features until she gave a shaky nod. "I... I suppose so... I-It's alright to indulge a little right? You won't leave no matter what I do? S-So it wouldn't be my fault... V-Very well, I would like that Fast, I will help so you may leave sooner, that's still working towards my mission if I look at it that way... Thank you!"

Reassured I wasn't going anywhere anytime soon, Witchy flapped off to join the festivities ahead of us, offering an excellent view of her retreating rump I had to tear my eyes away from. I took my time with the limping Val at my side, enjoying the happy atmosphere and smiling faces.

The Minutemares were riding the high of a big victory for their order, while the Eclipse villagers looked like they could see the light at the end of the tunnel after a long time in darkness. The Gunners were still out there, but the Princess in their midst and her army had proven they could win, if we took the castle like we said we would, dealing with the Gunners wasn't as hard to believe.

I saw just the mare that was responsible for the shared looks of hope among them all, a taller than normal, regal beauty, graciously trying to squeeze through the crowd of smaller ponies looking up to her with awe. Her costume tiara gleamed in her cloudy blue mane and she had even gone so far as to put on Sassy Saddle's gorgeous princess dress.

The effect was worth her discomfort at being the center of attention, I even caught Witching Hour stopping and giving her a stunned look. That was a Princess, maybe not hers, but the radiant blue alicorn in the shimmery pale blue gown and crown commanded adoration, smiling and replying to each of her well wishers as she pushed her way towards us gently.

Flapping up a bit more put me up to her blushing face when she arrived and let me give her a long kiss in welcome, being able to fly made the whole display of affection easier. I still wished I could at least try being as tall as most ponies, but so long as I could get up here to her, I could live with not processing radiation the same way she did. The lewd thoughts rising at every mare I saw had a safe outlet and went into overdrive basking in her beauty, even the warm weight of my daughter barely enough to hold them back.

"O-Oh my.... It is good to see you as well Fast, r-restraint though... I am attracting a great deal of attention already... Though at least Periwinkle is more distracting, she seems very happy." Jade purred in my ear and shivered at an insistent kiss to her neck, giggling at attention to one of her favorite spots, along with the foal climbing my neck to scramble over to her instead.

I got a pale hoof to the face and another smooshing my hat down as Glitter leapt over and slid down Jade's long neck, wriggling on her broad, bare back and hugging her. "Hi mommy! You look so pretty in Sassy's dress! Plus you're taller again, how come you didn't get as big as Peri or Swan though? I wanna see that! Then I'd have a giant mommy!"

Jade's face flushed as she turned to follow Glitter's pointing hoof to Peri, looming over a gaggle of Minutemare comrades and Preston Gardens with a look of sleepy contentment. Shaking her head gently to not dislodge her passenger, Jade stammered a reply and started heading that way. "P-Perhaps some other time dear, I am glad it does not frighten you and you find it so interesting, but being in that state attracts a great deal of attention... Y-You know I am uncomfortable with such..."

Glitter pouted and hugged her neck tighter, "But everypony loves you momma! You shouldn't be shy, you're a Princess! I still think it's cool, I wish I could! I'd get really, reeeeeeally big, stomp on all the bad ponies an' help the good ones! Did Aunt Peri really only get that way cause she got hurt? W-Was it bad?"

"Very bad sweetie... I was really scared for her, the only way I could save her ended up like that. I'm glad she's safe now though huh? How about you tell her you are too, I bet she'll like that." I answered shakily, trying to keep my thoughts from turning to the image of that wicked claw punching straight through the big mare ahead. I was heartened to see Glitter leap off Jade and bound off into the crowd, jumping and waving her hooves in the air for attention so far below Peri and among all her admirers.

Watching her blink down and float the tiny foal up to her face to nuzzle, I realized she did have just that, admirers... Her comrades looked like they had gotten to know the odd mare as fellow Minutemares, but I noticed several bucks and fillies giving her looks full of longing, running off and returning with drinks or food, offerings held up for a little of her spacey attention.

The spark of dark jealousy that flared to life at the realization and grunted 'MINE', took great satisfaction in her ignoring all her suitors, looking away from the giggling filly to find me at Jade's side. She looked amazing after her veeeery thorough shower and Jade's help, her long, groomed mane fell in a sparkling cascade around her and her silky blue coat shone in the firelight.

Looking her over greedily, I realized what was wrong with the picture and dug in my saddlebags. As soon as I had her slightly scorched tan hat out and in my mouth, the big filly gasped and locked on to it. Floating Glitter to her own wide back, Peri stood suddenly, making her admirers stumble back and knocking one lucky young buck aside with her prodigious rump, flicking her flowing tail over his stunned and goofy smile as she tromped forward.

As much as I was struggling to keep my much more positive if lascivious impulses under control, I still soaked up all the jealous looks I got at her lidded golden eyes fluttering my way. Her cheeks grew pale pink and her ears lazily drooped as she sauntered over, tugging her hat from my grip with her magic to return to its proper place atop her head.

I was scooped up next and squeezed tightly in a giant hug, her soft muzzle planting kisses all over and nuzzling at my itching mane, purring between the attention happily, causing a lot of green eyed jealousy to spring up in her compatriots behind her scowling at me. "My hat! You found it for me! Thank you Fast! I love my hat almost as much as you!"

On the one hoof, I was happy for Peri making friends and knew such a pretty mare was bound to have ponies falling all over her. On the other though... that dark grumble in my head repeated 'MINE' and I basked in her overeager attention, smiling at every envious stare. I claimed her, repeatedly... in every way possible... this mare was mine. They could look, but not touch. All mine... and I wanted MORE.

Before I lost myself to the warm fuzziness clouding my brain, Jade rolled her eyes at my wings stiffening under her attention and gently shoved the big filly back to Val's hoots. Kindly whispering an admonishment in her ear and getting those heart shaped sparkles in her golden eyes to stop as she sat down with a heavy thump, sending Glitter to go sliding down her long back with a happy, innocent squeal that helped me regain control.

Preston pushed his way past his troops and around his oversized alicorn member, tipping his funny hat and grinning, trotting over to clap me on the back. "Some night huh Fast! Great work, we've got control of the courtyard and a good chunk of the first floor now, nothing that's left is that anxious to come crawling back out after seeing... that. You two are heroes! Once we get things settled down, you're due for a promotion and a medal Peri! We'll have to start coming up with some I guess, huh Princess?"

"W-What? I suppose so... such things are concerns of your Minutemares Preston, I have nothing to do with..." Jade gave a confused reply and was cut short by the jolly Minutemare leader taking a bow before the group's patron Princess.

"Oh no, I can come up with em, used to have awards for valor and service back in the old days before it all fell apart... But awarding them now? That's a job for a Princess! The thought of receiving a medal from Princess Jade herself is sure to keep our ponies trying their hardest and I've already got a few that deserve it. Now that we've got a castle to rally around, that's on the list of things to do, starting with Peri here!"

Val took a swig of a local alcohol that smelled suspiciously fishy and very strong, saving Jade from stammering an answer and grumbling at the Minutemare General, returning to one of their favorite back and forths, practicality versus idealism. "Sure, medals is what ya need... not defenses, guns, troops, fortifications, all that silly stuff ya know. Not like ya got an army of pissed off mercs out there, they're gonna come knockin' eventually an' we need ta be ready!"

"He knows Val, it's like the party here though, sometimes the silly stuff is as important as the practical stuff, just look how happy the villagers are! We helped do that and it's a good thing. She is right though Preston, we got a lot of work to do and we're under a deadline. I'm a good repair-pony, but this is a big job and I need a lot of stuff and plenty of help."

The smiling green Minutemare nodded and looked back with determination in his warm brown eyes. "Right. This is pretty far from Sanctuary and where we're doing the best, a good location to get everywhere once we've really made it ours though. I've already sent couriers out for supplies and reinforcements. Badda Boom's squad is still at that Talon's place stripping it down, what else do you need Fast? We're ready to get to work when you are and even have a few troops with some repair skills to contribute. Just say the word."

Thinking of all the repair work the castle would need helped douse the excitement Peri had riled up and still looked to want to continue. Nice, boring repairs... I almost never got to do my old job, especially on this scale! Fixing a castle dwarfed even keeping Stable 111 running and I looked forward to it, wishing I had all the parts and help I could ever need like back home. It wasn't all simple fixes like there though, I had other things I had to take into consideration now and sat to scratch my mane in thought.

Seeing the rattling Sentry-bot patrolling the entrance to the plaza and the ruins of Eclipse gave me somewhere to start, I had done what I could and the Minutemares had found a coat of blue paint to cover the Gunner green from somewhere, but it was still in awful shape. I needed tools and parts, for him and the castle. I knew just where to get them too.

"I need to get word to Rusty in Hexington. Parts, a robot workstation to use here, lots of tools... I'll write a letter with a list. I had to send AssaultJack away when we left Goodneighbor, but I bet she can haul it all back here safely and it will be good to have her to help defend the place.

Shamrock in Goodneighbor too, not just for stuff from the M.O.M. hub, we'll need a good spymaster type pony I think... be tricky going back there though. I think I can cobble the reactor back into working too, the miretanks didn't mess with the core since they liked the radiation. Hmm... I'm not exactly a mason or anything, a castle is a lot different than a Stable so anypony who knows anything about that will be good."

Zed spooked me by appearing from nowhere, a soggy and foul smelling sack on his flank he only identified as 'alchemy ingredients' drawing my eye as he spoke up. At least I didn't have any unwanted impulses springing up in response to the zebra stallion, my barn door still didn't swing that way, what he said was a help too. "Neighlem. The zebras there once worked a very large quarry nearby, they have passed masonry skills down through the years and I would like to go there at some point Fast. You may find help there."

That was an interesting contribution, a skilled zebra mason would be incredibly handy. "Thanks Zed, we'll have to see about that when we reach that point. Mostly we need to clear the castle and find the rest of the keys to open it up for now. It was used in the war, who knows what's still in there.

Jade softly spoke up as well, adding her own area of focus to the discussion. "I will need to write to Sanctuary and Stable 114 myself, we will need Followers to deal with the wounded we are unfortunately sure to accumulate. Healers and medicine from our Stable friends will be invaluable if we are really contemplating... w-war.. with the Gunners."

I checked my pip-buck map as we spoke, looking over all the places we had traveled in the Commonwealth. The icons on my map for each location and the glowing lines tying them together on the display represented everywhere we had tried to make a difference, a bringing together of isolated communities of allies that we could now draw on for help. We'd need all we could get, but seeing it spelled out on the map made me proud, everything we had gone through was worth it. We actually were bringing the Commonwealth together against the Institute's wishes, one small step at a time.

"Until I have a clearer picture of what's there to work with and what needs to be fixed, we're flying blind there Preston. As for the Gunners... When the squad from Talon's comes back we can start trapping the path here and getting ready, but we need time... Val, what will they do? They lost the Skybridge and the group they sent here, but they know it was me that did it. Any ideas how they'll react?"

The recovering griffon stretched her wings with only a slight wince and flicked her long tail in thought, taking a drink and laughing. "React? They'll be pissed is how they'll react boss... As fer what they're likely ta do... remember, I ain't been down here in a long time, so take all this with a grain of salt ok? Lemme think... Gunter was a mucky muck, losin' him will freak em out a little. Be a few days 'fore they really start to worry there though, he had a habit of disappearin' now and then, now I know what he was up to when he did... bastard.

We still gots a bounty, knowin' it's you that did it will tick em off more, but they oughta behave themselves up north, honor the contract with Blue here. Gonna be watchin' Sanctuary close though, tell that crazy robot of yours to leave all invisible like. Mostly they should dig in at first, lost one outpost so the others will be on alert 'fore long. They'll focus around the Skybridge and spiral out, less they get hit somewheres else..."

By the eager tone she finished on, I knew what she wanted. I wasn't quite as focused on thoughts of revenge, but had to agree with her implied suggestion. If they were attacked somewhere else, somewhere far from Eclipse... That may work for awhile...

"Ok. Val, I need you to work with Preston, we need a map of everything you know about this part of the Commonwealth, any resources or ruins we can use and where the Gunners are. We also need to look for allies along with enemies though, that's on you Jade. We can take a break here for awhile, but we'll have to go out on a bit of a... diplomatic tour I guess... among other things. It's a lot to deal with I know, but for now let's all just enjoy a well earned celebration huh? Whatever they're making out of that Queen smells really good, I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving."

I tipped my hat with a smile to our impromptu war council, trotting off into the party just getting started around us. A few Eclipse villagers with crude musical instruments were joined by a couple of Minutemare... er... mares, tentative notes rising from the musicians and a couple of talented unicorns from both groups.

A very pretty Mint Twist pranced over to us, wearing a tattered prewar dress of pale yellow-green that complimented her light green coat and darker green and white mane. She had cleaned and primped herself for the gathering as well, her blushing chatter when she arrived with a steaming plate in her mouth just got me going again. An earth pony... young and strong, plainly smitten and not waiting for her gasping uncle Captain Salty to catch up.

"Fast! umm... P-Princess... Here! Queen Miretank Steak, er... old tradition, the hunter who killed it always gets the first bite, e-everypony says that's you! And Miss Peri of course... er... t-they're carving you off a b-bigger portion Miss..." Mint jabbered nervously once I floated her offered plate free, goggling up at the big Minutemare overshadowing me.

I gave my honest thanks and took a big bite, the smell was driving me crazy already, my fangs had extended all the way with a rush of saliva and I hoped I wasn't giving too predatory of a grin devouring the exotic meat. At the time I had kept suppressing the urge to bite the Queen while she was alive, rip her flesh apart and drink her warm blood down in the throes of a berserk rampage. Cooking it was a much better option, it was even better than the Miretank Cakes Mint had given me as a gift before we had gone in there.

Her bright, pale green eyes widened as I woofed it down, stuffing my cheeks and growling blissful satisfaction. Meat... I wasn't sure why ponies were mostly vegetarian, meat was soooo good... Awakening a deep hunger that made me glad there was so much of it to try out here. Gulping the last bite down and ravenous for more... MORE everything... more meat... more...

Jade tugged my tail with a huff, pulling me back from the filly turning an blazing red at my subconscious advance. I was somehow leaning forward with my ears pointing straight up and towards her, my mane itching and wings flared, my fangs had to be showing as that's where Mint Twist's nervous eyes were hanging, while mine had drifted to the shapely flanks accentuated by her simple dress. I had to shake my head and quickly held a hoof up to my muzzle in embarrassment as her uncle Captain Salty caught up, how had I gotten so close to her?

"Good ain't it! Oooold recipe there, ain't had Queen meat in ages, not since I was a whipper snapper! Gotta admit Mr. Times, was an impressive bit o' work in there. Even if you can't do nothin' bout the Gunners an' split all the meat even like yer General Preston there suggested, we gots food enough for years. If we can keep it all preserved anyway, damn freezer always on the fritz.

Congratulations, convinced a lot of my ponies you Minutemares an' yer Princess here are fer real." The leader of the tiny tribe of fisherponies shook my hoof forcefully, grinning like a fool at something he thought impossible, missing his niece holding a hoof to her racing heart I could hear from here.

"Thanks Captain, maybe I can help with your freezer, lot of other stuff to fix on my plate but that sounds simple enough. Glad we're winning some new friends here, we really do want to help." I replied and tried to ignore just how friendly I wanted to be with his niece, feeling this way was inconvenient and annoying sometimes, I had to find a way to focus somehow.

Captain Salty finally released my foreleg and beamed, eyeing the castle warily and crossing himself with that odd gesture I had seen many of the villagers make towards it... or me... "Comin' round ta that idea slow but sure, that nest was getting bad, only a matter o' time 'fore they tried to expand and push us out, so we're in yer debt. Happy ta have ya as neighbors I guess, long as ya didn't let the Shroud out in all that... already got a few folks nervous he's loose now."

I raised an eyebrow curiously, "Why? I think I found where he's buried, it's locked up tight and I didn't see any sign of the real Shrouded Stallion anywhere else, pretty sure he's not loose, why would anypony think so?"

Mint got herself under control and pushed forward breathlessly, crossing herself like her uncle and looking out towards the beach in fright. "Didn't you hear? Those scary wails and screams from the sea just awhile ago? Some ponies are already saying it's him, crying for his lost mistress and how the world's changed since he was free. They were really loud and went on and on..."

Wails and screams from.... that... direction... A surge of embarrassment finally managed to tamp down on my annoying friskiness as I turned a bright red to rival the pretty mare. I had a good idea what wails they had heard and it wasn't the Shroud... er... ok it sort of was...

"N-Nah... d-d-didn't hear a thing..."

My thoughts were buzzing with everything up in the air, the Gunners trying to rule this part of the Commonwealth under an iron hoof, our own castle waiting to be unlocked and truly be made our own, Witchy's home of Dreadnot to the south, the mysterious Railroad I had a vague appointment with, even the Brotherhood in their massive cloudship visible across the waters to the north. Lots to deal with, and hanging over it all like a cold shadow was the Institute.

Taking a bit of solace in the warmth of friends, family and celebration wasn't something trivial or a waste of time though, it was as important as anything else. Glitter bounded out with the herd of Eclipse fillies and colts near her age running about the party excitedly, getting into everything, playing with ponies her age like a filly should.

I smiled at her making friends with the bright red filly Floaty that had nearly been a victim of the Gunners left to ride roughshod over the village, thanking her for her new stuffed Luna doll and playing with the shy foal's new Shrouded Stallion figure. My little public relations filly, able to draw out even the most anxious and traumatized of ponies with just a few sweet words.

Jade and Val flanked me wherever we went, sturdy walls of the two ladies I loved the most, with a big but steadily shrinking Peri stomping along to bring up the rear, leaving her suitors behind without a glance. It occurred to me I was building a harem...

I shook of that guilty ...delightful... thought and threw myself to the celebration. Trying to just make my racing brain shut up for awhile and enjoy life. I realized I hadn't really slept for a couple days now too, maybe we needed a break...

For awhile at least, there was a bright spot of happiness in the wasteland where before there had been fear and darkness. I still caught a few anxious looks occasionally, stares up at the castle or to the west and the swampy peninsula of land leading back towards Trotson. They were all short lived however, easily distracted by the hope for a better future and anticipation of things to be done. Both the Minutemares and the villagers shared a determined, hard working spirit that would make Ministry Mare Applejack proud.

Val didn't try challenging me to another drinking contest, but had tumbled to using my inability to imbibe against me as I had her. She took to visibly drinking and getting tipsy, showing off that she could enjoy it as a drunken, goofy griffon, forcing me to dance in a dizzying, graceless display, adding her bawdy voice to the increasingly good music as the ponies playing it stopped being strangers and got to be friends, generally just having a grand old time while I remained stone cold sober.

I spotted Zed loosening up quite a bit, he seemed pretty comfortable around the tribal miretank hunters and fisherponies actually. He had said before he was a hunter of sorts, maybe he felt at home around other hunters. He spoke with gaggles of burly, scarred ponies who were plainly not used to scrubbing up for a party, speaking with animated interest.

My jaw dropped when a pretty, muscular silver mare with a jagged scar down her neck, not quite covered by her bright red mane, actually tugged him out to dance. I thought my gaping mouth was going to hit the floor when he not only agreed, but displayed an eerie grace and fancy hoofwork, earning cheers from the crowd as they whirled and twirled to the lively music. His partner was strong and agile, and no bashful filly but a mare his age, a few years my senior.

Even Witchy looked to be having a good time, a few too many drinks with Val had her face rosy and her flittering flight around the gathering growing loopy and weaving. I caught her drunkenly waving to the dark statue of Princess Luna that stood in the plaza, a pair of Minutemare bucks not really listening to the long and formal speech on the former ruler of Equestria, more focused on the gorgeous, inebriated batpony filly giving it.

That caused another dark pulse of jealousy and possessiveness to spring up I had to stomp down on. One kiss... one kiss did not make her mine, despite what the muttering voice in my head said. We barely knew our new companion for Celestia's sake, all I really knew other than where she came from and wanted me to go; was that she seemed nice enough, had a penchant for weapons of all kinds, a fierce loyalty to goddess Luna, and that she had an amazingly soft, pliant rear that I kept remembering the feel of under my hooves...

Peri was enjoying herself too and staying close, now that she had gotten what she wanted she wasn't nearly as insistent on that one point and relaxed somewhat. Getting a taste of what mating was about beyond just reproduction had obviously made an impression though. She wasn't obsessed with breeding to produce a foal anymore. Instead she breathlessly informed me with a purring whisper down to my ear that she wanted to try more for fun, now that she was approaching her normal stature and her hat was close to fitting properly again.

She pulled out her battered notepad she had recovered and proudly showed the pages filled with sloppy script of things she wanted to try, repeating what had got me into this to begin with. "You promised..."

And I had... in terror while she regenerated a ragged hole right through her chest, begging her to live and offering anything if she did. She had her list and I did tell her I'd do everything on it, anything she wanted if she survived somehow. She had, and she remembered... Despite my nervous gulp and nod up to her, I was still raring to do just what she wanted too. A lighthearted celebration had not done anything to slow down the lustful urges still saturating my brain.

The sleepy yawn of my daughter did at least, her pink eyes were bleary and tired as she kept trying to stay up well past her bedtime, mechanically chewing on a local desert made with miretank parts and lots of sugar. I leaned up to kiss Jade and excuse myself, turning back to Peri's insistent snort and repeating the gesture to her delight before scooping Glitter up in my magic.

She whined floating along beside me as I turned towards the ruined Lunar Nocturne Hotel, a ramshackle rectangular construct of sea weathered wood, but a place to sleep and recover. The little filly wanted to stay up and keep partying, but while the spirit was willing, her tiny body was weak and sleepy. I hovered her to my back as I cantered off towards our crumbling shelter for the night, speaking back to her softly and trying to tempt her.

"I know you want to stay up, but like mom says, growing fillies need their sleep right? Come on, I'll stay with you, I've had enough excitement for one night already. Besides... I just so happen to have found some books of fairy tales and myths I've been dying to read with you, want a new story sweetie?"

She snatched the heavy, leatherbound tome from Bobbing Cane's home from my magic and to her hooves, hugging it to herself and nodding excitedly. "Ok daddy! Y-You won't go nowheres, right? I don't wanna go ta bed while all the grownups keep havin' fun..."

"I promise sweetie, though it'll be a contest to see who passes out first I think. I don't think I've really slept in awhile now that I think about it. A good bedtime story will do us both some good, right?"

She nodded happily as I climbed the rickety stairs to the room we had taken, a battered corner suite with the smallest holes in the walls we could find still letting in a great deal of chilly sea air. A musty old mattress was all that had survived of the furniture, lifted from the ruined frame and shoved in the corner furthest from any gaps in the walls.

Not great accommodations, but hopefully temporary with the castle waiting. We'd both prefer her to be home in Sanctuary with her own little bedroom that was once mine and all her toys, but she was a tough little filly, a wasteland survivor and scavenger, roughing it was no big deal for her. I still wrapped her tightly in the ratty blankets we had dug up, sitting beside her and eventually getting my wing to cooperate and curl around her, my feathers were warm at least.

Once she was settled in and snuggled against my side, I cleared my throat and cracked open the ancient book. Looking over the flowing script of the first story in the book Mr. Cane had used as inspiration for his comics, finally able to read and indulge my obsession. Between that and my filly at my side, I finally felt clear headed and myself.

"Ahem... Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria...."

Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there was a very sad event in Canterlot. A young mare had died.

While such things did happen even in our bright and happy world, this was especially sad as she was well known and loved by everypony she knew. Even the Princesses Celestia and Luna attended her funeral and wept for the loss of one of their servants in the castle.

She had fallen from the grand waterfall and drowned, a terrible accident that made everypony very sad. They wept over her still form and said their goodbyes, marveling at how beautiful and peaceful she looked in her casket, draped in a dark deathshroud that covered her wounds but left her serene face bare.

As the mourners left the grand Canterlot cathedral where the Princesses had ordered her funeral to take place, Princess Luna remained behind to make her farewells to the mare that had been her favorite attendant. The night princess wept over her, startled by a young buck speaking behind her with tears in his eyes.

A poor rock farmer from outside Canterlot, the stallion told the princess he didn't think her death was an accident. She had been afraid of heights you see, never willingly going near the broken railing she had fallen from. He angrily rejected the whispers that maybe she had jumped too, for the buck had been her special somepony and they planned to be wed.

Luna listened as the bereft buck told her she had spoken of being pestered and frightened by somepony in Canterlot. She had never told him who out of fear he would defend her from a pony high above his station that lived in the capital, while he was a peasant from outside the grand city.

After he finished his sobbing tale, Princess Luna tried to console him. Frightened by the convincing worry that somepony had hurt his love, she promised to find the truth. When she told her sister Princess Celestia his story, her sunny sister was concerned as well, ordering her royal guard to investigate. The idea of a pony killing another was abhorrent, but could not be ignored. Despite their best efforts however, they could find no evidence of such a horrible crime.

Princess Luna was very sad, and now very angry. Before her servant was buried in the cold ground, she took the shroud from her coffin and vowed to find the truth, to get justice if the poor rock farmer had been right. After she had raised the moon as was her duty, she returned to her chambers to explore the dreamweb with the funeral shroud as a blanket, the dreams and deepest thoughts of all her sleeping subjects lay bare before her, letting her search for answers no royal guard could find.

After a long and arduous search, she found a dream of the poor mare that did not match the others. Not a sad dream, nor a happy dream of memories past, but a dark dream... but yet it was not a nightmare either. In the hidden heart of a cruel noble buck, she saw the deepest, darkest thoughts of ponykind play out before her.

The snobby noble buck had seen the mare's beauty and wanted it for his own, demanding she forget her penniless love and be his special somepony instead. His advances had gone rejected over and over however, her love was pure and true, not all the gold and gems, fancy dresses, rare flowers, gourmet chocolates or treasures the noble pony could offer would sway her.

Angry at being rejected, the selfish noble had ordered her to meet him above the falls and as a servant she had to obey despite her fears. He commanded her to love him and be his wife, and she refused him again. In the dream Luna saw his fury at being denied what he thought he was owed, watched him shout and rage at her, saw with her own eyes as he shoved her back and the railing gave way, heard her screams as she fell down, down, down...

Maybe it was an accident, but the selfish noble did not tell the truth, he ran away and lied to Celestia's investigators and now he had dreams of dark desires, reliving the power he felt at taking another's life. The night princess could tell he felt a thrill at his evil deed, ordering ponies around to do whatever he wanted paled in comparison to taking their very lives and getting away with it. Already his thoughts were turning towards other servants in his life, of doing it again...

Luna felt a great anger at the evil injustice done. A dream was not proof either, she could tell her sister and hope he was arrested and punished, though such things were very rare and such a terrible crime was unheard of. Even if he was caught, his sentence was sure to be insufficient.

Princess Luna retreated from his dark dreams to her own realm and pondered what to do, furious at the noble pony and sad for the poor farmer. He was everything the rich noble was not, good and pure, hardworking and honest. Thinking of their lost love and the life that was taken from them, Luna had her own dream that took shape before her.

Even the Princess desired what had been taken from the star crossed couple, being ruler of Equestria could be lonely at times. So the Princess thought; 'I wish for a stallion like my poor servant left behind. An avenger to punish that terrible noble pony, not in his dreams, but in the waking world. He should be strong and loyal, an equal for myself and a creature of the night. A knight of my own to bring justice where there is none, to frighten the bad ponies hiding like this foul noble had done.'

As she thought, the shadows of her dreamspace formed a pony shape to match her words. A dark stallion of rippling shadows and fiery eyes filled with justice and duty. An alicorn like herself, able to fly to the far flung corners of Equestria and punish evil wherever it was found. Able to use righteous magic to punish those Luna deemed evil enough to warrant his attention. Before her eyes and at her will, a black, shrouded stallion was created in her dreams, her own knight defender.

When Princess Luna returned to the waking world, the shroud from the poor mare's coffin was gone. In its place before her was the creature of her dreams, a knight of shadows standing in the moonlight, watching her with adoring eyes and waiting for her command.

Princess Luna was surprised at the powerful magic that had resulted in her very own knight standing before her. A look at the flapping black cloak covering his powerful wings told her just what to do however.

'Thou are my defender and my avenger, the cloak you wear the deathshroud of an innocent whose life was taken by evil. You, my Shrouded Stallion, will bring my wrath down on this criminal, address this injustice so my servant may rest in peace and her love may know the truth. That her murderer has been punished appropriately. This is the mission I charge thee with, to be my sword and my shield, punish the wicked and serve justice. Now go! Go with my blessing and all the powers of the night.'

And so, the Shrouded Stallion nodded silently and flew off into the night at her command. Flying through the spires of Canterlot like a shadow in the dark, finding the cruel noble still dreaming his dark dreams in his bed.

The bad noble woke with a start, his sadistic dreams of power suddenly turning frightening. He sat up with a shiver as the room had grown very cold and very dark, he tried to light a candle and it was instantly blown out by a frigid wind that carried the poor mare's final cries as she fell back to his ears.

Shivering in fright, the noble looked all around for the growling voice that followed. 'Thou art a doer of evil and I have come for thee.'

No matter how hard the bad noble looked into the dark, all he could see was two red specks burning with the fires of justice. He tried to convince himself it was a prank, yelling at the voice to go away and leave him be, promising punishment for bothering nobility with such silliness.

'Thou hath earned Luna's fury murderer... Death has come for you, and I am its shroud...' The angry growl replied and the room grew darker and colder still, the noble's expensive blankets and silken sheets torn away as those red spots grew brighter and closer.

This scared the noble and he ran, afraid he had been found out, cowardly trying to escape justice and deny the truth. Everywhere he ran in his noble manor was filled with shadows however, they followed wherever he went, whispering in the mare's voice rejecting him from her grave, snarling promises of retribution for his crimes.

This bad little pony ran out into the night, away from the shadows blocking his path, following wherever he went, crossing the moon from above and sending his fearful gaze up to find the whispery bit of darkness in the night sky. Finally he was back on the bridge where he committed his crime, he didn't know how he got there and was very afraid. The broken gap in the railing proof of his deed right in front of him.

His terror gave birth to anger and he screamed to the moon, 'She should have done as I said! Who is some lowborn servant to deny me!? Choosing a penniless peasant over a noble pony of breeding and class! She got what she deserved!'

And because he was unrepentant when faced with his crime, he opened himself to Luna's wrath rather than her mercy. The streaking shadow from the sky slammed down to the bridge in front of him, a terrible black alicorn of righteous fury and justice that took slow, ominous steps towards him.

The Shrouded Stallion took a step, the noble took a step backwards, his fear of the creature before him making him forget where he was and what he had done. The dark pony advancing on him scowled and spoke in a voice with no pity, 'Thou hath earned Luna's wrath, done great evil and wish for more, hide behind your station and think that makes thee above justice...'

When the noble's next step backwards brought only empty air under his hoof, the cruel pony realized what his punishment was to be, the same fate he had given an innocent. He turned back from the dizzying view of the falls below him and was brought short by the burning red eyes of the Shroud.

In those fires he saw no mercy, no hope, nothing he could say or do would stop Luna's avenger, his noble station meant nothing to this waking nightmare. In those eyes he saw the poor mare he had killed and her peasant love, and when they drew closer as the Shroud took one more step, the noble criminal retreated again and fell to the churning water crashing against the rocks so far below. Justice for his crime meted out by Luna's servant.

In the light of day, Luna's Knight faded away and life moved on. The noble pony's funeral was not nearly as well attended as his victim's, nopony was sorry to see him go it seemed. Celestia's new investigators saw nothing but the criminal they sought, waking up in the night and filled with remorse for his crime, running out to leap from the same spot the mare had fallen from.

The poor rock farmer was given the rich noble's station and manor by Luna herself, not as an attempt to repay his loss, but because he had a truly noble heart. He mourned his loss many years, but was a kind and generous noble, helping those poorer than himself and eventually finding a special somepony to share his life with, their children growing to become fine knights and fair rulers.

Of Luna's Shroud, there were only whispers. Stories grew of a dark avenger that punished the hidden evils lurking in the hearts of some ponies, a ghost story that struck fear in the hearts of the wicked and heartened the innocent. A defender hiding in the shadows of Luna's night, roaming Equestria to punish evildoers wherever they were.

And so, the Shrouded Stallion was born and many are the tales of his deeds, but that is a story for another day...

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

Them's Good Eatin'-------
-----Hanging around a village of miretank hunters has given you a greater appreciation for all the wonderful varieties of meat in the wasteland, making you an avowed carnivore. Any living creature you kill has a 50% chance to have potent and delicious remains to eat, as well as gaining double healing and other benefits from meaty meals.

Companion Perk Added!-------------------

Minutemare's Finest--------
--- After conquering Castle Equinox together and cleaning up, you have reached maximum affinity in a most enjoyable way! Thanks to the eccentric, invisible sniper, you now gain +20% increase to S.A.T.S. accuracy for head shots and increased damage from sniper rifles. Also, sneaking while out of sight of enemies can cause them to lose you while Periwinkle is in your party.

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

Eclipse-Liked
----You proved you can do what you claim to your new neighbors in Eclipse village. Having your own fan club headed by the niece of the settlement's leader doesn't hurt either! The fisherponies of Eclipse are still a little wary and concerned about the Gunners, not to mention superstitious fear of the real Shrouded Stallion and your similarities, but you and the Minutemares are a welcome addition and you'll find the tiny hamlet much friendlier.