One of the more intact prewar structures in Salt Lick was a rustic hotel for travelers, the original name lost to time, now a rough wooden sign proclaimed it the 'Cretan Arms' and it had quickly become Jade's makeshift hospital. The old bull who ran the place didn't complain about her taking charge with the chief of his tribe at her side, allowing use of all the beds and helping clear space in the open lobby for her to perform triage and emergency care, sending patients off to the empty rooms efficiently after treatment.

Watching her work from the corner of my eye and admiring her sweaty, determined face, I returned my attention to the interesting bit of tech I was working on, and the huge grey minotaur it was attached to. Chief Steelfist had just that, a steel fist... well, quite a bit of various other alloys and plastics too, but the name worked. His cybernetic hand sparked and whined as he tried again to make a fist, letting me backtrack the remaining problems and try to resolve them as I spoke with the leader of Salt Lick.

"Don't worry, this ought to be salvageable sir, I've just never worked on many cybernetics. Where'd you get this anyway? I've run into a few people with prosthetics since we came down this way and wondered where they were getting them done. No offense or anything, but this kinda work is really complicated, and I don't really see a body chop shop in your nice town."

Giving a rumble of laughter, the heavily scarred leader of Salt Lick nodded at my attempts at small talk, providing an answer for something I had been wondering about since Summerset Plantation. "University Point little pony, surprised you don't know! Figured an' egghead like you must'a learned down that'a way to do stuff like this! Freakin' hydra snapped it right off when I was younger, killed the bitch though, sellin' off the venom got me enough ta get a replacement. Thought I was gonna lose it again on that dog's slobbery gob before you folks showed up, thanks fer that!"

"So, those hellhounds just showed up and started attacking Chief? They came from the Glowing Sea?"

While Steelfist made for a good patient, dragging his attention away from the constant distraction of his interest was difficult. The older warrior stroked his beard thoughtfully and continued goggling at the pair of breezies on the table beside us, Spring Gale's long antenna glowed with healing magic and mended more of his remaining wounds, while her brother Blowing Storm kept prowling the round wooden table protectively.

The Chief made accommodations for his strange guests and had learned not to make sudden movements soon enough, but murmured in soft wonder before answering. "Fairies... Gran's tall tales were true... still can't believe it. Er.. Oh yeah! Figure that's where the White Legs came from, took over the mines first, were still figurin' out what ta do about em when the bastards attacked the town too! We had 'em, but still appreciate the help little pony! Sledge wasn't lyin' about you folks! You were mighty impressive too bat lady!"

Witchy had been dragged into sitting with me while Val and Swan were patrolling the skies outside, guarding against another hellhound attack. The poor batpony was an instant hero after her impressive vocal attack, hiding out with me and the minotaur's chief at least offered her a bit of protection from all her new fans, but she still had to put up with Steelfist's booming congratulations making her blush as she sipped her drink meekly.

"T-Thank you sir... It was thanks to the Princess though, I had no idea those foul creatures were weak against sonic attacks. Y-You should thank her, and hear her and Fast out. Princess Jade is a worthy monarch and her Kingdom of Sanctuary wants to be allies with thine fair community... Just as we are with the Fairies..." Witch squeaked quietly and returned to nursing the ornate stein she had shoved in her muzzle as eager thanks from the owner.

I was heartened hearing her praise of Jade as a Princess deserving of devotion, and how she said 'we' were allies with the Breezie Nation. She was not only growing protective and close to Jade, she viewed herself as one of us... not as an emissary of Dreadnot. When we first met, the loyal member of Princess Luna's royal guard didn't even like Jade using the title of Princess, now she not only saw Jade was worthy of it, she had apparently decided she was her Princess.

We'd been apart during my stupid errands, while it gave Witchy more time with Jade, I made a mental note to spend time with her too, not just because we'd rely on her amazing vocal abilities if the hellhounds came back or we had to do something about them. Settling for stroking her lilac grey foreleg gratefully for now, I was glad to see her slitted amber eyes looking back in relief at the contact. Though those sparkles flashing in them and my own itchy mane made me cautious, she was uncomfortable being the heroic center of attention and I wanted to encourage her.

Reluctantly turning away from her, Sledge Smasher's meaty fist slamming the table in approval took my attention away. Poor Spring Gale 'eeped!' and pranced towards my side of the table, while her brother gave a squeaky growl at the sheepishly apologizing minotaur. "Whoops! Sorry little fairy breezies! You guys take some gettin' used'ta, no offense! Just agreein' though! I told ya Chief, Fast and the Princess there are the real deal! They gots a plan an' wanna be friends, I trust em!"

"I-Is ok... n-not used to bein oot vhere beeg people can see us yet, ve try if yu try, yes? Meester Sledge iz right beeg Chief, Princess Jade und Shroud Fast friends of Breezie Nation. Dey is gud ponies dat helping us, yu help tu? Ve all be friends!?" Gale gulped and cautiously trotted back to her brother's side in the middle of the table, she was scared being out in public and her small blue eyes kept darting around the room and all the curious stares of strange ponies and minotaurs alike, but she was taking her new job as Ambassador of the Breezie Nation seriously.

Her speaking up took a lot of courage, but had the desired effect on the enraptured minotaur leader. Chief Steelfist was big, strong and scarred from years of hunting and combat, but his wide brown eyes looked like a foal's every time they returned to the breezies casually standing before him. Living on the edges of the Flutter Forest, the fairies were like a legend come to life for him apparently.

"Hrmm... Well, my best hunter and even the fairies vouch for you little pony... You have good references if nothing else! Ha!" Steelfist slapping my back jovially threatened to just smash me right through the table, but at least he didn't use his cybernetic hand I was still working on... His deep voice lowered from booming down to a more serious tone as he continued thoughtfully. "Sledge says you gots an idea to turn back all the beasties from the Glowing Sea comin' at us, course he also says you took out the Weird Sisters..."

"Umm... both of those things are true. Well, I took out one head anyway, my friend Val killed another, and Sledge killed the last one after his hunters trapped it, so it's not like I did it alone or anything. We do have a plan and we've got more help coming, but we need you guys too. If we all work together, I really think we can redirect all those monsters sir."

Watching Jade instructing Glitter where to take her impressive stock of fresh, breezie brewed healing potions with a gentle nudge, while Zed assisted the minotaur healers in applying strange poultices and simple brews from the amazing variety of plants the breezies grew the zebra had brought with us, the Chief hummed in thought. "You help my people before asking for anything, that's good. Even if we could have handled the hellhounds, more would'a gotten hurt without the bat lady, we'd be hard pressed to care for the injured as well as this Princess pony is too..."

"We'd do that much no matter what Chief. Whether you end up helping or joining us or not, we don't expect repayment for doing what's right. But joining us will help everybody I think, not just because of all the monsters coming your way that made Large Marge send us here. We're friends with a lot of different communities in the Commonwealth now, they all decided to join the Kingdom of Sanctuary and we share and help each other, we're all stronger together and I think you'd make us even better, while we'd do the same for you. I don't know much about your town or how we could help each other, er... besides fighting hellhounds I guess, but I'd like to learn."

Finishing my awkward and forced speech by finishing the repairs to Steelfist's cybernetic hand was the best demonstration I could come up with to prove my point. The huge grey minotaur flexed the appendage experimentally with a broad grin, glancing down at Spring Gale sealing up one of his last remaining wounds before trotting to his stein on the table that towered over her. The little breezie had to hook her forelegs over the lip of the big cup to lean up to the frothy liquid, measuring out a small amount of golden nectar from her basket and dumping it into the ale inside.

The tiny lilac mare looked up expectantly and waved for the Chief to drink, chattering her encouragement at the skeptical look he gave. "Iz gud for yu, make feel betters! Ve go help uthers who is hurt vith Princess, but yu drinky. Leesten to Fast Shroud tu, iz gud pony und Kingdom of Sanctuary gud friends tu Breezie Nation, be friends vith Salt Lick place tu!"

Taking an experimental sip, the minotaur chieftan's eyes glazed slightly and he drained the stein in a few hearty gulps. Loosing a hearty belch and booming goofy laughter at the breezie pair fluttering up to go attend to the other wounded. With his instantly improved mood, I gave Gale a grateful look, wondering if that was entirely for his medical treatment, or to deliberately make him more agreeable.

Either way, Steelfist was gregarious and nodded to us both with a happy snort. "Like I said, you do got great references, I'll give ya that little pony! Ok, I'll talk to this princess of yours and we'll see. But we can't do much helping with anything else with those damn White Legs breathin' down our necks. Gonna hafta do somethin' about them before anything else!"

Looking over to Witchy sipping at her own drink cautiously and spotting Gale spiking it for her with just a tiny pinch of nectar, I smiled at the thestral's posture relaxing and a soft grin spreading on her muzzle. That was purely for Witchy's discomfort and Gale was always precise in how much she gave anypony, it affected normal ponies a lot more than me and Witchy had taken right to the wonderful substance. Good, she deserved a reward and getting her to relax would help with other things, she'd probably have to put up with a lot more attention and having her in a good mood would help.

"Right, give us some time and we'll figure out what we can do to help Chief. Ah, there's my friend Val now, she's really good at this kinda thing and took a look around, I bet she'll have some ideas. Hey, Jade! Come here a minute hon!"

I had been watching the harried blue beauty moving among all the hurt ponies and minotaurs still out in the wide lobby of the hotel. Her anxious prancing between patients and spell slinging had slowed to a more manageable level, making me hopeful as I called her over to join the fiery griffon flopping down in an empty seat at the table. An excited looking Swan trotted in right behind her, plopping down behind my chair and insistently nibbling at my ears as I tried to get Jade's attention. Swan found all the fighting and the potential for more great fun, and unfortunately a bit of a turn on apparently...

Jade was obviously reluctant to leave those who still needed treatment, but Gale and her brother flitting over to her little nurse Glitter were enough to take over for a minute with the more minor wounds still evident. Patting the seat beside me encouragingly, Jade settled into the ancient wooden seat with a creak protesting the generous flanks filling the space. She recognized this as 'official Princess business' and fidgeted only slightly, calmed by a quick nuzzle to her neck relieving some of the tension obvious in her body language as she spoke up softly.

"I-I am still needed elsewhere Fast, your people should recover Chief Steelfist, I am only sorry we did not arrive sooner... Some of the casualties could have been averted, t-there is nothing I can do for them now though, I am sorry..." Jade's eyes glistened as they tracked over to the rear of the hotel, the blanket draped forms of too many dead being respectfully moved out of view by a younger female minotaur and a pair of ponies.

Still relaxed by his drink, Steelfist chuckled ruefully and patted her forelegs tapping in front of her anxiously. "Would'a been a lot more without you folk's help Princess, don't worry about it. People are always dyin', but we keep tryin'! Was just talkin' to yer buck here about our little problem, don't want there to be more dead, we gotta do somethin' about those dogs..."

Val snatched my half drunk beer from in front of me, draining it in a quick series of gulps and gasping, nodding along with the chief's statement. "He's right, whole pack of freakin' hellhounds on yer doorstep, they ain't gonna stay back long. Took a look, guessin' they're all up in the mountains around the big mine right? Goin' after em up there ain't gonna be easy, underground is their turf."

Still nudging and nuzzling at my itchy mane, Swan flopped her chin down on my hat and purred happily. "Dogs are tough and fun to kill though. We'll go there and smash them all, make them pay for being bad, right Fast?"

Before I could finish gulping trying to think of a response, Jade huffed primly and fluttered her wings, scooting her seat closer to mine and pushing her sister back. "We should explore peaceful options first if you please. Perhaps we can come to some accord with these White Legs and end the violence."

Steelfist stood with a gruff snort, shaking his head firmly and crossing his rippling arms over his broad chest. "Peaceful!? Those things came an' attacked MY town Princess pony! Not interested in bein' peaceful, they picked a fight, we'll show em our might! How you even think you'll do anything other than help us wipe the damn things out!?"

The utterly implacable look Jade turned on him withered a bit of his anger, leaving us all flabbergasted at her soft answer. "Why, I will go and speak with them of course."

----------------------------

While I agreed with the minotaur Chief's skepticism, I could have done without his booming, unkind laughter at Jade's shocking statement. Steelfist found the whole idea of trying to talk to hellhounds as ridiculous as I did, grunting as he strode out to go tend to his besieged town and left to prepare for inevitable battle.

Since she was eager to return to her healing, the rest of us had to trail after her busy efforts. I was actually growing frustrated trying to talk to her in a panicked yelp as she calmly tended the wounded. "T-Talk to!? You wanna talk to them!? B-But they're... they're monsters! They're dangerous and vicious dogs! Y-You can't..."

"I most certainly can Fast, they are people, not monsters. They have a unique culture and are certainly violent and territorial, but they can be reasoned with. We must try to be better, before plotting their demise, hmm?" Jade's kind voice had an unbending tone to it, utterly ignoring the stunned faces of everyone at the table staring back at her.

"R-Reason with them!? With hellhounds!? Can they even talk!? The only other one I ever saw was a mindless monster! I told you about Poncord Jade, it nearly killed me and everypony else there, it looked like it was enjoying it too!"

Val's squawk of agreement was on my side, though thoughtfully informative too. "From what ya said, that one was probably an alpha boss, lone wolf type. Dogs what get too big an' tough ta fit in go it alone. These are a pack at least, not as tough, but smarter and work together. Boss is right Blue, ought'a wipe the fuckers out if we can, they ain't gonna be that chatty..."

"I must agree Princess! T-Thou can't go speak with those foul abominations, it is far too dangerous for royalty!" Witchy squeaked in protest at Jade's side, increasing my gratitude towards the tough mare. Maybe Jade would listen if it wasn't just me freaking out.

Of course that was too much to hope for, Jade's face set in a determined and stubborn huff as she crossed her forelegs and spoke patiently. "They have been pushed out from their homes for whatever reason, they are refugees here and have a long history of enduring such troubles. Do you not wish to know what could have made them flee Fast? You do not wish to engage in violence without even trying for peace, do you dear? I appreciate your concern, all of you, but we must try."

Jade's sweet nod and light touch of a feather to Witchy's shoulder made the armored batpony turn brilliantly red, her remaining objections fizzling out with a squeak. Dammit, Jade's royal guard kept her safety in mind first, but she instantly melted under her Princess' order. I had hoped for more help talking her out of this, but Witchy had apparently decided Jade was the Princess, period. Therefore she had the final say.

I wished Swan could make a more compelling argument to help, but her thoughts were straightforward and direct and usual. Not to mention in complete opposition to Jade's beliefs. "We should kill them all sister... The mino person is right, they were bad and attacked this place, you kill who attacks you. You're too nice and sappy, dogs are mean and tough. If they're alive, they can hurt others. If they're all dead, they can't anymore. Killing them is safer."

A flicker of anger crossed Jade's face, slowly softening to exasperation as she returned her attention to her patients waiting on her. "Sister... Killing is not always the best answer. Killing ends all their possibilities, good and bad, makes the world poorer for the loss. I wish I could make you understand, but I do not wish to hurt others if there is another way. We will not do so without trying to be better."

The finality in her voice drove Swan from absently nibbling for attention over my head, raising her head with a snort and glaring at her shorter sister. Looking up into the purple alicorn's pretty face screwed up in frustration, I was worried what might pop out of her puffed up cheeks, like she was choking on responses and couldn't spit any one of them out in Jade's serene face.

Swan's grimace turned red as she clenched her eyes shut, gritting her teeth and making a noise like a teakettle reaching a boil. Finally she gave an annoyed whinny and stood, stamping her hoof and splintering the wooden floorboards under her bulk. "You're being dumb! I don't like it! I'm here to have fun and you have all these stupid rules! Won't let me play, won't let me fight, I'm small and I hate it, a-and I hate you sister!"

I could swear I saw a tear sparkle in her wake as Swan ran off in a childish tantrum, bulldozing her way through surprised minotaurs that were bowled over by the big alicorn galloping off through the swinging door. As tough and playful as Swan acted usually, our first night after having her join us taught me there was more going on behind those beautiful blue-violet eyes. She had feelings that were easily hurt, it was just hard to keep in mind that a usually giant and brutal filly like her could be hurt period.

Giving a long sigh, I looked up to Jade pouting over her shoulder at the door as she moved to return to her patients. She looked like she regretted upsetting Swan, but was still adamant over her point in their argument and unwilling to let it go. How was I going to bridge the gap between the two of them? Was it even possible?

Looking to Val moving with me, I had a little hope at least. When Jade and Val first met, they were practically at each other's throats in some ways for similar reasons. Now they were like sisters, even though their views on things differed, they did get along. Proving just how close we had grown, all it took was a significant roll of the eyes towards Jade after catching Val's gaze to get the point I wanted to communicate across, letting me speak with my Princess softly before she trotted off in a huff.

"Jade... One of us should go talk to her, you hurt her feelings..."

Sticking her nose up sulkily, Jade grumbled back in a disinterested whine. "If she or Chief Steelfist either one wants to go pout and throw a fit, let them. I am right, you agree we should not be so violent, do you not Fast...?"

Given the dangerous edge to the question, I didn't have a lot of choice but to nod my agreement. "Yes, I think you're right Jade, but you need to see her point too. I really don't like the idea of you talking to hellhounds ok? Even if they are people and can be talked to, they're dangerous, they hurt a lot of people right here, ones you need to get back to helping I know.. You stay here and I'll go talk to her, but try to see her side too ok? Talk to Val about it, she's your Captain of the Guard right? Sometimes we can't be so nice, no matter how much we want. That's why every Princess needs their Knight, huh?"

A little tension in her posture relaxed at my gentle nudge and question, sighing softly as she nuzzled my cheek. "V-Very well... Go find her and... a-apologize... I will consider her perspective, even if I do not agree. But we will at least try talking first, yes?"

"R-Right, we'll try, I promise hon. I'm gonna go take a look around town too, see what we're dealing with here. Maybe I can come up with something to at least keep things from getting worse for now, with Witchy's help? Umm... mind taking a walk with me Witchy?"

The beaming, rapid nod the goofy batpony sent my way was a little tipsy, but Witchy fluttered right to my side gratefully. The opportunity to escape so much attention from the crowd in here clearly welcome. "I'd like that, yes! I'll take over guarding thine boss Val, so you can take a break and speak with the Princess of military matters. How else can I help Fast?"

Even a little inebriated, I was glad Witching Hour got my point about leaving Val to try to broach the subject of fighting with Jade. Giving her a sly wink of gratitude, I turned to the doors Swan had fled through and replied over my shoulder on the way out.

"Not sure yet, but I'd warm those amazing vocal chords up Witchy. You're gonna be really important here I think..."

Opting to walk around the town of Salt Lick to look for our wayward alicorn rather than fly let me get a better look around at the wasteland community, taking our time and wincing at all the destruction the hellhounds had left in their wake. It had been a mining town from what I could tell, a little rough and tumble with a lot of wooden construction thrown up that looked older than all the brick, yet somehow sturdier. One of those places earth ponies could throw together in a year, yet would magically last centuries.

The minotaurs and ponies living here had walled off a large section in the center of the prewar town, incorporating shops, the wooden saloon, a decent sized courthouse of brick and marble, apartments and more, augmented with lots of tents and junk shacks in the center of the roughly rectangular enclosure. In the hills outside of town to the west I could see train tracks, stockyards and more prewar homes that looked lived in, though currently abandoned as everyone sheltered behind the gates. Beyond these was a winding road leading up into the mountains and presumably the mines beyond that Val told me about.

Outside the walls to the east was the long lake the town was perched above, everything that way took on a crazy tilt as it slowly sank towards the waters over the ages. The crumbling cliffs made spreading that way dangerous, but it looked like there were paths and some traffic to the lake periodically, rusty pipes crudely patched with duct tape and hope ran through the walls and towards the cliff too, supplying water for the town.

Pausing under a leaning old telephone pole, I looked up at the rusty M.A.S.E.B.S. speaker hanging on up there, adding it to the tally I had been keeping through the town and tracing down the wires remaining in place. They all headed towards either the town hall, or in the same direction towards the lake... another building beyond the wall with access to the emergency broadcast system. I'd have to take a look that way too then.

Still choosing to walk and idly looking around for Swan, I nodded towards the guarded gates and turned that way, leading the anxious batpony hanging right on my tail. "I don't think she's in town Witchy, let's go explore a little bit, it'll get you out of town for a bit too..."

A look of relief crossed Witchy's blushing face as she peeked around me at a trio of earth ponies pausing in their work sifting through rubble from a torn storefront to stare at her. "Y-Yes... I'd like that Fast, I seem to be a-attracting a lot of attention, they're all staring at me..."

All three were clearly grateful and happy to see her, though that darker mutter in my head couldn't help pointing out the two young bucks clearly had more on their mind than just gratitude for the hero of the day. 'MINE...' Grrrr! No! Stop that... It was good Witchy was attracting such attention, if she'd accept it was honest attraction, it would be good for her self confidence. She was my friend, I wanted to dispel her horribly battered and inaccurate self image.

I hated how the snobs back in her home of Dreadnot had made her feel ugly every time I thought of it. That same part of me that continually wanted to show her personally how pretty I thought she was, also grumbled about making them pay for that. Though 'Be Dark...''s ideas were generally self serving and not entirely helpful.

Instead I put on a forced smile as we reached the gates and stopped before flapping up over them, bumping her flank with my own good naturedly and shrugging that way. "You have a lot of fans Witchy, they're all just grateful and a little in awe of you. When we have time, you ought to say hi. You're practically a princess to those two, I recognize the look."

"P-P-Princess!? N-No! I'm not! Y-You are teasing me Fast... Princess Jade is the Princess, I'm just... just a royal guard, I feel lucky to be that. Q-Quit making fun..." Witchy squeaked and fluttered up rapidly, diving to the other side of the wall of junk cordoning off the town to escape the appreciative stares.

Giving an ungainly flap to clear the barrier and follow, I clipped my hindleg and stumbled to the cracked street at her hooves, taking advantage of her worried yelp at the mild crash stopping her from running off. "No, I'm not kidding! Seriously Witchy, I'll keep saying it till you believe me, you're beautiful and I'm not the only pony who thinks so. Have a little confidence! Actually, you're SO pretty, you're probably intimidating them, maybe that's why you think you're not."

She gave me a pretty skeptical look as I got to my hooves, trotting slowly at my side down the street with a narrowed look. "Intimidating? What silliness are thou speaking of now Fast? Have you gotten into too much radiation lately? Is that why thou are being so ridiculous?"

I had to hold up my pip-buck and point out the rainbow gauge safely hovering at the green / blue border to prove I wasn't under the influence before answering, rolling my eyes at the filly staring at it closely with a guarded look. "No, I'm fine see?! Er... m-mostly, as good as I get I mean... Hear me out ok? I mean it, a mare as pretty of you can be scary to talk to, so if bucks just stare and don't come up, it's probably because you're so beautiful. Plus you're just plain intimidating anyway, all heavily armored and strong like you are."

"A-A royal guard is supposed to look intimidating Fast... Our appearance should discourage any threat to the Princess we serve, that is what I was taught." Witchy fell back on her training to answer, an unsure flicker in her exotic eyes.

"I know, and you do! You're actually sorta like Swan though, she's normally huge and scares everypony off too. The first time I saw her though, I thought she was really pretty too and told her so. She didn't know what to make of it either, but it was true for her and it's true for you. You can be pretty and scary at the same time, they aren't mutually exclusive."

"Oh? Hehe, is that why the Princess' sister is so enamored with you? I saw her in Goodneighbor during all the fighting, she was... w-well, terrifying actually... You told her she was pretty? Like that? No wonder she seems so attached to you, I can understand that... y-you were the first to say such to me too... So, you think I am like thine giant alicorn friend? Am I really that frightening Fast?" She kept a playful tone at least, but there was real worry in there at the end and I could practically see her picturing herself as a monster size batpony with scared villagers running from her.

"No! You're definitely not as scary as Swan, I just think you two have things in common. Enough so that I kinda hoped you could help with her and Jade getting along actually. You're both guards and proud of it, you're both tough and strong, but have really nice softer sides. Most of all, neither of you is scary once somepony gets to know you. Because you're both really cute too, so it's a neat combination, like salty and sweet. Especially you, with those adorable ears... strong muscles... cute little fangs... firm flanks...."

Witchy's tinkling giggle was musical, turning red as she glanced down at my radiation gauge again. "E-Enough Fast! Thou are embarassing me... You are just being kind, not to mention it sounds as if thine mutated nature is getting the better of you again... T-Though I do like thine silver tongued attention anyway."

With her pointing it out, I realized I had started leaning towards her with a leer and my wings were halfway up, my mane tingled and my fangs had stretched a bit in my mouth. Slapping myself with a blush, I got it back under control and grinned sheepishly, forcing myself back a step with a reluctant sigh.

"S-Sorry! It's not... I haven't gotten into any radiation, t-this is mostly me Witchy, seriously! I just haven't seen you in a while and... y-you are really pretty... Even without being all charged up, being around you is enough to get me going is all, s-sorry... But believe me when I say this kinda stuff at least. Have confidence and try encouraging somepony you like a little, you'll see for sure!"

While the look she gave was still pretty dubious, it was also thoughtful and genuinely happy at the compliments. At least I had gotten her to believe I thought she was pretty, though that much was generally pretty obvious... it was a start anyway. "Mm-hmm... we do have other, more important things to concern ourselves with Fast, though... umm... t-thank you. P-Perhaps I'll try, w-with a b-buck I admire... s-sometime... For now, what are we going to do about the Princess? I-If she insists on speaking with these creatures... I am worried for her safety."

"Yeah... me too Witchy. Once she gets something like this in her head though, she won't back off. I didn't know hellhounds could even talk, but if they can, she'll wanna try. We'll just have do our best to protect her and hope it goes well."

"Of course, a royal guard's duty is support their Princess. I'm worried... ok, very worried... but I trust Princess Jade and will not let her come to harm." She sounded much more secure speaking of her professional duty, easing some of my own fear in the process.

"Thanks Witchy, I'm glad you're there to help watch out for her. You've really warmed up to her and being a royal guard for her, haven't you?"

Her beaming, red faced smile was heart warming, Witchy so rarely looked honestly, unabashedly happy. Like she was usually waiting for the other shoe to drop. Concerning Jade and her voluntarily accepted role as her royal guard however, she was clearly proud and enjoying her place at her side.

"Yes! I... I have yes. Back home, we are still taught all the traditions of Luna's guard, serving a Princess is a big part of our culture. I had my doubts when you insisted your alicorn was a Princess, but I've come to see she truly is worthy of fealty. Princess Jade is kind and caring, she listens to everypony and tries to help as much as she can, she... I am glad I met her and that she accepted my oath of service as a royal guard." Her beaming chirp in reply was entirely too adorable, filling me with proud agreement others saw what I did in Jade, especially a traditionalist member of Luna's guard who had been swayed.

I did have questions there too however, curious what this choice meant for her. "Oath of service? You really went all out and serious then, huh? When did you get all formal with her and do that? How'd Jade take it for that matter? I bet she was embarrassed, wasn't she?"

"P-Perhaps a little... But the Princess saw how serious it was for me and listened. I had been thinking over your ringing endorsement of her since we met, but finally came to a decision when you left. With her devoted knight away and the Princess in her delicate condition, I wanted to protect her as my training taught me to do for Luna, and I realized I already thought of her as a Princess as well. After coming out here and being with all of you... I-I'd much rather serve her and the Kingdom of Sanctuary than Dreadnot..." Witchy puffed up proudly as we clopped down the increasingly sloped streets, approaching a shattered and falling police station halfway down the cliff's edge.

"So... You're really throwing your lot in with us then, aren't you? I get how big a deal that is for you, you really want to pledge yourself to her, even if that makes your people in Dreadnot mad? I still do need to go there, I promised you I would. Isn't there anypony you miss back there?"

"N-No... not really, not since my father died. I had very few friends Fast, there were some kind ghouls I liked down in the lower city I suppose, though interacting with them was discouraged, so I could only get so close. My peers all made fun of me growing up, and they learned to do so from their parents... So no, I don't really miss them at all, you and thine Princess and family are much better. I am still honor bound to bring you to Dreadnot someday, and truly wish I could tell you why, but as far as I am concerned they can just wait." Witchy's slow look of conviction made me mad again at how she had been treated.

Oh yes... I was going to Dreadnot eventually, and when I did I was going to have a little chat with every batpony that ever hurt her... 'Be Dark...' For now, I knew better than to ask too much about what they even wanted and didn't care too much. Witching Hour swore not to say and I wouldn't ask her to violate her vow, she took it as seriously as the one she had sworn to Jade. I wouldn't want her to break that one, so I couldn't ask her to break another.

At the moment, I was more overcome with fondness for the bewitching mare saying she had found a place with us, a new home and cause to dedicate that honor and generous nature to. The sight of her was truly magnificent, standing firm at the edge of broken asphalt tumbling down to the lake below, her blue steel armor gleaming in the filtered afternoon light at her back, her silky purple tail and mane blowing in a gentle breeze as she smiled to herself. A beautiful filly at the edge of something new she had chosen for herself, putting the past behind her to venture into unknown waters... it was too much to just admire dumbly.

Lunging to give a grateful, nuzzling hug broke her reverie and ruined the brief moment, but I couldn't stop myself. She squeaked and blushed adorably under the attention, fluttering her wings and stammering. "F-Fast! T-That's enough, thou hast congratulated and thanked me enough! F-Flattering though your interest is, n-now is hardly the time to..."

"That's not for saving the day Witchy, or just for deciding you want to be such a great royal guard for Jade. That's for being a beautiful, tough, brave friend. You're one of us and I'm glad, I missed you while I was gone too, so put up with a well deserved hug gorgeous. They're not just my Princess and my family, they're yours too. You're family to us Witchy, we're all glad you're with us and we all umm... l-love you. So put up with a little affection from all of us, till I get it out of my system."

I was a little worried when she pulled back with a gasp, but got completely flustered at her teary, slitted amber eyes staring back at me. Seeing those narrow pupils widen and glisten like that as she sniveled made me scared I did something wrong again, why couldn't I just keep my mouth shut? Stupid body and brain making me say dumb things... did I hurt her feelings somehow? She was smiling a little though... was this happy, or sad? What...

Any further panic was cut off when the strong filly pressed into a passionate kiss, squeezing my breath out in those powerful forelegs and toppling over me with a crash of heavy armor smashing me into the tilted steps of the police department. Despite how wonderful this felt and how my stupid, breeding stud body immediately rose to the stimulation with an internal growl of 'MINE!', when she breathlessly broke it off and continued by nuzzling against my neck, her happy sobs helped me fight back even the overwhelming mating urges.

"T-Thank you! I am really?... You all feel?... I w-would like that so much Fast! T-To have a family! I w-will give all I have to thine Princess' kingdom and to... t-to my family! I love all of you very much too! I never had... It was always just me and father, then he died and... I a-always w-w-wanted..." Hearing her start to dissolve into tears brought that panic back for a moment, but thankfully helped me get control too.

Difficult as it was to calm down with a firm, springy filly pressed so tightly against me, the emotion in her voice was more important than any fooling around. I still didn't know enough about the kind of life the poor thestral had lived before, but I could empathize with feeling alone, the joy and relief at finding friends and new family to fill that void. She had been alone, but she wasn't anymore. If I had anything to say about it, she would never be again.

Cooing and stroking her hitching sides, I tried to force my aching wings back down from where they were sprawled out on the cracked stone steps. Instead of doing all the wonderful things my body was demanding, I managed to keep it down to gently nuzzling her neck and cheek in return, speaking softly and soothingly.

"It's alright... Don't cry, y-you're making me feel bad I said anything. B-But it's ok! Just let it out, I'm here for you, just like Jade and everyone else is. It's ok Witchy... you're not alone anymore."

What was a rather sappy, touching moment was brought to a screeching halt by an angry roar from below. Both of us struggled to disentangle ourselves and stand on the wildly canted surface we had been rolling around on, managing to part just in time for a large, angry purple alicorn to slam to the ground between us.

Swan was dripping wet, though her long pink mane flowed around her as she flared her wings between us and snorted down at a very surprised Witching Hour frantically rubbing her eyes dry. She must have been down in the lake... trying to soak up the trickle of radiation again. Meaning she most likely caught at least some of that... oooooo.... probably not good considering how she had been feeling when she ran off....

"You give the batpony more attention than me too!?! Sister Jade is ok with this? But not with me!? How come it's ok with her!! I'm getting tired of waiting Fast! This isn't fair!!" Swan seethed over her shoulder at me, staying between me and the blushing batpony backing away from her angry posture. Not that I blamed Witchy, even for the tough royal guard, she had seen what Swan could do... anypony with a lick of sense would be a little concerned being the target of her ire.

"E-E-Easy Swan! Eeeeeasy... calm down... it's ok. T-That wasn't... ummm... p-play... That was, emotional, friendship type stuff..."

"You were doing the lip thing with her... and hugging! And rolling around together! You smell really good right now too... I want..." Swan growled back, at least her furious tone softened as her nostrils flared, taking in the scent of my suddenly very itchy mane.

"Tears Swan! Look! See? S-She was crying! Not fooling around... We came out here to find you and were talking, just relax a minute! A-Are you ok?" I yelped and skittered back, she had ended up on a purr of 'I want...' and combined with the heart shaped sparkles in her eyes, that tone made me nervous. Especially as worked up as I had inadvertently gotten.

Swinging her big head back on Witchy with a huff, Swan squinted closely at the poor batpony's face, spotting the glimmering tracks on her full cheeks and tilting her head in confusion. Swan got a sly, suspicious look for a moment, pulling even closer over Witchy's squeak and licking her cheek, turning Witchy's already reddened face a glowing crimson.

Ignoring Witchy's sputtering, blushing chirps of embarassment at the treatment, Swan smacked her lips thoughtfully and grumbled. "Salty... real then. Why was she crying? Why did you be nice and huggy if she was sad? If I cry, will you play then?!"

Swan's eyes crossed and her cheeks puffed up, the big filly was straining and grunting to herself, trying to force tears out of her eyes through sheer will after coming up with yet another attempt at seduction. Groaning at her enthusiastic efforts, I booped her nose to put a stop to it and gave her a kiss of her own to sate her.

"It doesn't work that way Swan. Come on, talking first, then tears come sometimes. You went and hid out right near where I need to look around anyway, why don't you come help me and we can talk, hopefully you won't cry... but you can have attention too if you tell me what's wrong. I don't like you and Jade fighting, so let's see if we can make up huh?"

Swan put on an unconvinced pout and stuck her nose up, but did curl a large purple wing over me and moved to keep herself between me and Witchy, grumbling back petulantly. "I don't want to make up, I want to play. I'll talk I guess, to you... alone... The little bat can just... just go away!"

Before Witchy could flutter back and do just as the angry alicorn advised, I shrugged out of her embrace and put my hoof down. Probably not the best idea to do so literally, as the broken chunk of earth I was standing on gave a warning shiver and set my wings to flapping anxiously, but it did get Swan's attention.

"No Swan. Witchy came to help find you and to figure out what to do about the hellhounds, you're not sending her away. Don't be jealous, we're all family, that includes you AND her. You two should be friends, you're a guard, she's a royal guard, I was just telling Witchy you have other stuff in common too, I bet you'll get along. We need her help to fight the hellhounds, you want that, right?"

That got her interest alright, Swan's wide blue-violet eyes sparkled with anticipation and she nodded eagerly, pausing halfway in thought and tilting her head. "Yes! Buuuut... stupid sister doesn't want to fight... Are we going to anyway? Can we right now?!"

Witchy was recovering at least, her tufted ears perking up as she gave a wary look around Swan's bulk. "The Princess insists on attempts at peace, we have to honor her wishes. D-Don't we? I do anyway... she's the Princess..."

Carefully pushing open the door to the remains of the police station was a little unnecessary, there were plenty of broken walls to just fly right through and half the upper floors had already fallen to the lake, but it gave me a place to start and to lead the two of them through with a patient shake of my head.

"She's the Princess, yes Witchy. We'll do things her way, even if we don't agree Swan. That doesn't mean we won't be ready if it doesn't work out. There will probably be fighting, no matter how much Jade wants otherwise. I know it's hard, but we have to try to be better. We'll just be prepared to be worse too... and try to come up with some insurance while she's helping the injured. Ok?"

The two of them nodded as I looked up and spotted another M.A.S.E.B.S. speaker on the remaining corner of the roof above, adding it to my tally of parts for my vague ideas. Swan still looked mad, bumping Witchy out of her way with her prodigious flank in a rush to enter the building behind me first, but even the big filly couldn't send the armored thestral sprawling with just one flank check at least. Witchy shook it off with a huff and we all entered the Salt Lick P.D. together, hoping things would stay quiet long enough for me to do some exploring and part collecting.

"What's the difference between a guard and a royal guard?" Swan interrupted my looting of the Salt Lick P.D. communications room from the doorway, her boredom at 'playing with old junk' prompting curiosity about the batpony outside the tilted room she was watching warily.

"Umm... Royal guards serve royalty? They umm... Actually, why don't you ask Witchy Swan? She knows more than I do, I'm just glad she wants to be Jade's royal guard."

While the grateful smile made Witchy blush happily, it also had the effect of annoying the jealous purple mare more. If Jade didn't give in and let her do as she wanted soon, I had the feeling Swan was going to get more difficult to manage. As it was she shoved her way into the tiny comms room with me, stumbling and spreading her wings for balance, only to be met with the too close walls and knocking junk around I had to scramble after.

When she finally got situated in the narrow space, she curled around me from behind and set her head down on my hat heavily, her new favorite position... Especially good for glaring at the nervous batpony searching ruined desks in the broken office area outside.

Wilting a bit under Swan's flat stare, Witchy shook it off and answered, trying to bridge the gap and be friendly with our new companion. "Royal guards take a sacred oath to serve and protect their Princess, to make their wishes our own and do our best to see their will done. We see to their safety first and want to help them in all ways. A bit like Val takes her contract with Fast so seriously, but we do so out of honor and loyalty, not for caps."

Having clearly staked out what she viewed as hers, Swan hummed in thought a moment while I tried to work with a lot of alicorn smothering me. Finally she spoke up in a gruff question. "Why be a guard for sister Jade? What makes her so special? She's stronger than you anyway, she doesn't need guarding if she'd stop being so stupid."

Witchy's answer was instantly defensive of Jade, just as loyal as a proper royal guard should be. "The Princess isn't stupid! She's a pacifist and I admire it. Though that is why she needs a guard, just as she needs a brave knight like Fast and a Captain of the Guard like Val. Thine sister is a regal and noble ruler, one worthy of serving and I'm happy to protect her!"

"Pac-i-fist... that means she doesn't wanna fight, right? It's dumb... The mother made us big and strong, we're supposed to fight and smash everybody weaker than us. I like guarding so I get to kill anybody that bothers us back home. Sister Jade is being dumb and annoying about not wanting to fight, I don't like it..." Swan whined back and turned to nibbling my ears to take out her frustration, making my mane bristle under her neck as I tried to focus on pulling the broadcasting equipment in this tiny closet rapidly filling with pheromones.

"That's just how she is Swan, I love her for it. Like Jade said, killing isn't the answer to everything. You said you've been having problems back home since your sisters started letting others in right? Guarding isn't as simple anymore?"

"No... I don't like that either... Which is why I was glad to go on vacation, but sister won't let me have any fun! I don't care what she thinks! Play with me Fast!" Having a sexy mare in a skimpy alicorn angel costume simply scoop me up and slam me to the wall to kiss and nuzzle forcefully was wearing down my defenses, making me scramble and fight to get away with my haul of parts.

Luckily, since the comms room was so small, I managed to squirm my way free and flap out the tilted door before Swan could catch me again, panting breathlessly as she fought her way free of the room. "Whoa! No Swan! Bad! I-I told you, Jade's the boss! You have to wait! Umm... g-guarding! That's what I was trying to say, it's er... n-not just about killing. Guarding is supposed to be protecting, like Witchy wants to protect Jade. My mom was head of Security for our shift back in the Stable, that's like the head guard Swan, she always said 'Security saves ponies', not security smashes them. Maybe you should focus on protecting everyone smaller than you instead Swan, since you're so big and tough."

Flattery had proven one of the most effective ways to deal with Swan, just a little praise of her combat prowess and normally towering stature was enough to make her whinny happily, fluttering her way across the sloped room after me until she had backed me against the rusting bars of a skeleton filled cell. While she did push her way into continuing her affection, she didn't go any further at least... instead returning to her complaints as I tried to float my pile of parts over.

"Protect... that's being a good guard? Not just smashing? Hrrmmmm.... I dunno, I like smashing a lot... Royal guard does sound fancier though, but I don't wanna have to do what sister Jade says. She wants to do silly things like talking to dumb dogs, why would I ever agree to that?" Swan was still in a snit when it came to her sister, but was at least calmer and asking questions. Plus I was glad to have her trailing me as she made an excellent pack mule, nodding happily at my questioning look before stashing heavy junk in her large bag.

Groaning to myself as I carefully walked to the broken edge of the building to peer over the edge of the floor to the remains of the basement, I was happy Witchy piped up to answer in a squeaky, determined voice. "The duty of a proper royal guard is to trust their Princess and believe in their choices, even if we don't agree with them. You obey thine sister don't you Swan? This Umbra back in Trinity Tower that the Princess hath told me about?"

"I do what Umbra asks, if I want... She asks favors, I get to live with my sisters and guard our home from everyone who comes close, o-or I did... Now it's hard..." While I hated seeing the big filly's ears droop sadly, it did dry up a little of that ardor and let me carefully flutter down to the basement, a smashed emergency generator down there still had some worthwhile parts to scavenge.

"Because it's more complicated now, I know Swan. That's why it can be good to have somepony like a Princess to trust and believe in. You're not sure who it's ok to hurt and who it's not, so you trust Umbra to say right? She's dealing with lots of difficult choices you may not know about, or even want to think about if you did. Not that you should just blindly follow what someone else says to do, but I love Jade, I trust her to know what's right, even when I don't."

"I trust her choices more than my own a lot of times actually. I still tell her what I think and I hope you will too, she does consider it and needs to hear from everybody to make a good choice, but when she does make a decision I support her. Please, give Jade a chance, tell her when you think she's wrong, but don't throw a tantrum if she doesn't agree. Try to get along huh? It's because she's so different than you, that she needs to hear your perspective most. I know this hasn't been the trip you expected Swan, I'm sorry you're upset and I really want you to be happy, ok?"

Turning to the two of them gliding down and picking their way over the steeply sloped, uneven floor of the basement, I gave a hug to Swan's long neck and engaged in a mutual and quite long kiss, taking note of the spot to the right of her pink neckerchief that made her giggle and murmur happily for future reference. As easy as it was to please the attention starved filly, her embrace got tighter and just a tiny shiver ran through her nuzzling my cheek, reminding me again Swan did have depths of emotion that only seemed shallow on first glance.

"It's ok I'm not like her? Even if I think she's being dumb, I can tell her and you won't be mad?" Swan's shuddery whisper held just a hint of fear, low against my ear but enough for Witchy's excellent hearing to catch.

She approached cautiously, but slowly put a foreleg up to Swan's broad back and patted her comfortingly, getting a look of surprise at the batpony's proud smile. "The Princess would never hold on to anger over a disagreement. Neither would any of us Miss Swan. I'm scared and would rather drive these hellhounds away if not kill them too, but I will support her attempt and be ready to defend her if it goes poorly. That's the role of a royal guard."

"Of course it's ok you're not like her Swan. It's great, because you're not Jade, you're Swan and Swan's amazing. I told you, you be yourself, no matter how big or mean you want to be. Friends don't always agree about everything, but they're still there for each other no matter what, right?"

Tilting Swan's muzzle frowning in confusion back to me, I spoke kindly and managed to keep the nagging lust out of my voice. A soft, restrained kiss to her cheek wiped the expression away into a happy, blushing smile better than a passionate one, encouraging and comforting the big filly who normally stayed alone in her lake. This had to be hard for her, she liked things simple and straightforward, but the world just wasn't that way. Even more confusing with Jade's sometimes frustrating beliefs, but she was usually right too.

I could do without Swan's enthusiasm in crushing me in a bearhug that nearly snapped me in half, but seeing her feel better took the sting out of the treatment as she burbled happily. "R-Right, friendship stuff... I can do that. I'll try to get along and help with her stupid idea... so I can kill dogs when it goes bad and protect sister and your foal! But.. will you make her let me play Fast? I still don't get why I have to wait, just because of my sister, what's it got to do with her anyway?"

Getting Swan to accept Jade's peaceful intentions and agree to help was hard enough, I had no time or energy to even attempt explaining things like love and (very open) relationships, let alone our own bizarre situation and how we had been dealing with it. For now the simplest answer seemed best, so I gave one that would at least make her happy.

"Umm... I-I'll try Swan, I promise. Just be patient and I'll talk to her, but we're busy right now anyway, right? Besides, p-playing with a great filly like you should be special, not just wherever we happen to be. If you're good, we can go somewhere really radioactive for you, er... as long as you take it easy..."

The way her twinkling eyes widened and her grin spread at the thought made me gulp, but it got instant acceptance with a rapid nod. "Ok! I want that! Is it good radiation? Enough so I won't be tiny and can stay that way? When can we go? Where is it!?"

Her bright questions followed me down the sloped and tilted hallway of the crumbling police station basement, poking at the long ago shattered cage of the evidence lockup wistfully as Witchy paced the rubble and earth choked rooms nearby, her sensitive ears flicking rapidly. The promise of somewhere glowing green made Swan much more agreeable at least. Though was bound to get me in trouble later.

Oh well, I could at least use her obsession. So far the best I could do with Swan was point her in a direction and hope, a little nudging and encouragement helped guide her a bit, but she was going to do what she wanted. May as well make what she wanted match what we were doing...

"Er... When we go back to the MoP hub Swan. There's lots of radiation and a Stable underneath it that we'll have to deal with. I promise, you can go down there and soak up as much as you want. Umm... at least until you can't fit anymore... Stables aren't exactly spacious and this one was made for breezies, but I'll take you down there with me. Once we're done here though, so the sooner we deal with all this, the sooner we can go back."

"Do you two hear that? It's quite low, but coming from this way..." Witchy's quiet question as she trotted near the jagged earth and concrete spilling into the remains of a locker room and back to the hall with us, eyeing the wall of rubble from centuries of earth slides warily.

Watching Swan's eyes fill with flashing pink bands as they grew lidded and soft was distracting, I shuddered and felt distinctly 'on the menu' with her eager purr. "And play... get done with stupid stuff here, go back to where all the rads are, and play down there... Right?"

"R-Right... Umm W-What whas that Witchy? Hear what?"

The batpony mare had gone into a shattered restroom on the other side of the hall, fluttering over the broken porcelain deitrus of dirty sinks and a toilet still standing straight and proud where the floor once was, held in place by the heavy drainage pipe bolted below it. Rejoining us after her slow exploration there, she tilted her head and pressed one cute ear against the rubble cutting off the rest of the dusty hall, giving me an excuse to retreat that way and skitter back from Swan to catch her murmured answer.

"I'm not sure... rumbling? Somewhere deep..." Witchy replied as I pressed an ear to the earth with her, staring face to face and straining to match her impressive hearing that outstripped even heightened alicorn senses.

"No... I don't really hear anything Witchy... wait... I think I do! What is that?"

Closing my eyes to concentrate, I realized I could hear a low rumble through the ground Witchy picked up so much sooner. It was getting louder... and shaking the earth under my hooves too... just a tremble at first that I had assumed was normal for such a precariously perched ruin, but it was increasing as we stood here.

My eyes flew open when a heavily armored batpony tackled me with a yelp, rolling down the slope of the hall towards Swan, just ahead of the flash of very sharp claws bursting from the earth inches from my face. A snarling grey hellhound lurched out of the rubble and loped after us in a rush, making me scramble for my weapons while getting smacked around against Witchy's jagged, heavy and hard armor.

By the time I had the Terrible Shotgun floating and was basically rightside up again, Swan had already launched a string of glowing purple arrows down the narrow hall. The hellhound practically filled the stone corridor, giving Swan an excellent target that she attacked with instinct driven reflex lending her speed. Two of the long arrows perfectly impaled themselves in the beast's hindlegs, slowing it dramatically and making it stumble to the broken green tiles. A third slammed into the thing's chest, while a fourth punctured a half buried fire extinguisher, sending a plume of white in its face and blinding it.

Three S.A.T.S. guided rounds to its head put it the rest of the way down once I recovered, backing down the corridor with Witchy in a rushed retreat on blurring wings. Two more hellhounds pounced from the off kilter doors to the sides, one dark brown and black hound slashing through a cluster of rusting lockers like tissue paper, while a long armed tan hound with a very toothy underbite sent the remains of bathroom stalls flying into splinters.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!" Witchy's dissonant wail made me wince and lay my ears back, but sent both hellhounds scrambling back down the holes they had popped out of, backfilling them rapidly as we pranced back.

Swan raised her glowing purple shield as we cautiously backed towards the edge of the floor overhanging the steep drop to the lake below, lowering herself into a predatory crouch and tensing while her ears flicked, just waiting for a target to reappear. Unfortunately, not even S.A.T.S. could tell us where they got to, making the option of just flapping back into the open space growing closer behind us more appealing.

With one of their number dead and leaking a ribbon of blood down the sloped floor and the other two driven off, I was a little optimistic about our chances dealing with them if Jade's hopes for peace didn't bear fruit. They were incredibly dangerous, fast, vicious and deadly in close quarters, but Val was right, these White Legs weren't nearly the threat the Alpha in Poncord had been.

They were quite a bit smarter than that one however... A low rumble kept building beneath us, growing into steady shaking and a terrible grinding noise filling the air. When chunks of the ceiling still hanging on started falling against Swan's flickering shield, it sank in and I yelped fearfully.

"Shit! Out! Everypony out quick! They're digging under the building! it's gonna..." Nearly facehoofing myself with the realization, I moved to dive backwards to the sky as the shaking really started getting noticable, an awful, rending noise from and loud crashes of desks and furniture shifting towards the edge filled the air.

Witchy followed my lead, turning and spreading her leathery wings to escape, though Swan merely stood her ground with her horn glowing brightly. Our attempt to fly free was arrested by Swan's strong forelegs catching us both and, squeezing Witchy and I to her chest before simply disappearing in a bright purple flash that made my ears pop.

The world came back into focus and the noise just kept going, the sudden pull of gravity put off my confusion as I had to start flapping frantically and get my bearings. Swan had teleported us directly above the building, out to the open air overhead that was filling with a deafening roar and lots of dust. The remains of the Salt Lick P.D. fell to the murky lake below as we watched, the motion and shaking enough to send another small ruin further down the cliffs halfway down to join it.

Watching the whole slow motion devastation with my hoof to my pounding heart, I dove at Swan gratefully, rewarding her with a shivery hug. We could have been flattened in all that... "H-Holy hell, thank you Swan! Great job! T-That was too close, I can't believe they tried to drop a freaking building on us!"

While our rescuer enjoyed the attention, Swan snorted derisively and glared down at the crumbling ground. "Dogs like traps... Which is why we should just smash them all before they make more. You did good and protected Fast though batpony, you make a good guard after all, I like you!"

Sputtering as Swan plucked her from the air and crushed her in a giddy hug that sounded like it put a dent in her immaculate armor, Witchy wheezed out her agreement while patting Swan's back in thanks. "S-She's right Fast. Digging... I heard lots of digging, if they keep going and the landslide spreads..."

Her pointed look back to the nearby settlement of Salt Lick was enough to connect the dots. It might take awhile, but they could conceivably drop the whole town into the lake and never come above ground in range of Witchy's screech again. Hard as I found it to believe, they really weren't stupid beasts, they were actually rather clever... Shit.

"C-Come on! We gotta tell Jade and the Chief! You might get your way after all Swan, even Jade won't leave them to just wipe a town out!"

In too much of a hurry to address Swan's huff of 'Finally!' we flew for Salt Lick in a hurry, nervously eyeing the narrow blocks of ruins between the wasteland town and the lake. Every foot was a minute on the clock that was slipping by...

"Don't like this boss... not one little bit dammit." Val groused at my wing as we drifted over the sprawling salt mine complex below, scouting carefully for the Princess behind us.

"I know Val, we gotta try though... we're ready at least, right?"

Giving me a flat stare of annoyance, Val ruffled her feathers and stuck her beak up in a huff. "Ain't no bein' ready for friggin hellhounds boss, specially if'n yer dumb enough to go try ta have a chat with 'em!"

I couldn't really disagree with her, but we had done all we could at least. Chief Steelfist had been furious on learning what the hellhounds were up to under their hooves and had redoubled his people's preparations to attack, much to Jade's dismay. He had at least given me free reign to tinker with the emergency broadcast system remaining in the town hall though, which had become his own home and center of power.

All of us had a copy of the holotape I left plugged into the repaired equipment and Glitter was safely sitting at the controls, up on the third floor of the sturdiest building in town. Zed and Spring Gale were with her too, still helping the community's old medic and their shamans with the wounded.

The rest of us had flown with Jade, up the winding road through foothills and to the looming western mountains. She had managed to buy time from Chief Steelfist to attempt to talk with the hellhound pack called the White Legs, but no one but her expected much from it. Personally I'd rather be plotting with the Chief, Val and Swan on ways to kill all the beasts threatening his town, but I meant what I told Swan, I'd support Jade's crazy decision, even if I didn't agree either.

Discovered Location: Worthy Salt Mine. The sprawling salt mine complex below was the lifeline for Salt Lick in a lot of ways from what Sledge and other residents told me. Talking with all the strange minotaurs and ponies of the town was difficult for me still, but I wanted to learn everything I could about the place. After the bombs fell, a lot of survivors headed for the mines as a refuge, hiding deep underground like I had, just without the benefit of a Stable.

Their ancestors made up the beginnings of Salt Lick, pony and minotaur workers from the prewar town that survived and managed to thrive in the wasteland when the surface was habitable. The minotaurs being such proficient hunters helped the ponies adapt and learn to like eating meat, while keeping the mines going and bringing up plenty of salt gave them something to trade and cure their meat with, letting them sell it too once commerce of some kind started up again.

Having the salt mines taken away represented a real threat to the town now, they relied on it for trade, as did a lot of other places in the Commonwealth that had grown to count on a steady supply from Salt Lick. Even more though, almost every resident I talked to viewed it as a personal affront to have their mines infested with hellhounds. The labyrinth of tunnels and chambers underground were their ancestral home, what saved them from the balefire bombs and radiation, gave them a safe haven to survive and come back from, then continued to give them purpose and caps. More than just their Chief were ready to go to war for them, something Jade desperately wanted to avoid...

Hence we were gliding down to the deserted complex now, eyeing the damage and corpses still left from their initial attack warily and getting a lay of the land. It was situated in a wide and multileveled valley of dusty stone, several prewar buildings that had been repaired, along with a lot of post war shacks and fencing augmenting the old.

The rusting, yellow hulks of several pieces of mining equipment were scattered about, interesting large scale machines that made me curious if they worked or not. It looked like at least some did, big hoppers and grinders sat silent over tall ramps and long stretches of conveyor belts filled with pale rubble, leading to rusty steel bins and mine carts on tracks that snaked across the complex.

Following Val's instruction, we gently settled down to the largest sloped conveyor belt, peering around the stepped mining site on guard for anything to break the silence. Val perched on the clunky hopper above us, plucking a pale chunk of stone from the machine that looked like it had been stopped in the middle of working through a load of rock. She raised a warning eyebrow as she hefted the rock repeatedly, then jerked her beak up as she tossed it to the dusty lot.

Her chosen missile bounced across the stony ground while Jade primped nervously and I watched. The noise echoed off the staggered walls and dead equipment all around us, just as i was about to finally ask what that was about, the ground fountained up in a roaring explosion and she smirked, waving a claw out all around us instructively.

"Watch where ya step boss... Hellhounds love doin' this kinda shit, whole damn yard is probably mined ta hell an' gone, so no wanderin' off dammit!" Val's squawk still held a hint of annoyance with me, she wasn't going to let me live down my habit of charging into danger any time soon.

Swan nodded her agreement from up on the hopper with the griffon, glaring down at her sister as Jade coughed on the dust and gravel raining down. "I told you, dogs like tricks...They're sneaky and mean, talking to them is a waste of time."

Jade wasn't going to be dissuaded, shaking dust from her pale mane and smoothing it out primly. "Be that as it may sister, we are going to try. We must be better than mindlessly attacking those we don't understand."

"Jade... They have a point too, right? Don't pin all your hopes on this working out how you want, they don't seem that friendly..."

Trying to find a middle ground between Jade's optimism versus Val and Swan's pragmatism wasn't going to be easy, though pointing it out at least made the pair of them nod and smirk in satisfaction, while a little nuzzling encouragement made Jade a slightly more receptive to their point.

"W-We shouldn't judge them by our own standards of friendliness Fast, hellhounds have their own ways that are just as valid. T-Though I accept the things they've done here do not bode well..." By the way her eyes lingered sadly on half a bloody pony corpse mercifully hidden part way by a tipped over mine cart, I knew Jade wasn't as completely naive as Swan complained about.

She was trying even being well aware of how unlikely this was, which somehow meant more than if she blindly believed it would work out somehow. Just like she and the others had been trying to get through to me, even a Princess needed to rely on her friends and trust their opinions, but also trust her own convictions too. I actually found it brave to accept the extreme likelihood of failure, but try anyway for the chance at peace. It was those kinds of things that made Jade a real Princess, not to mention the mare I loved.

I could reeeeeally do without her putting herself in danger though... Watching her stretch her graceful neck up and throw her head back, I winced at the long, melodious noise she sang out bouncing off the rocky walls. "Awoooooooooo! Yip! Yip! Yip! Oooooooo!"

If it weren't for the hazard to her and our foal, I'd find her strange howling cute. I still couldn't quite wipe the goggling stare off my face as she looked down with a anxious smile at my questions. "What are you doing hon? You speak hellhound?!"

"Hellhounds speak pony, just like us Fast. It is less words than intent and deference to their ways. If we are fortunate, they may decide to speak, i-instead of just attacking right away... Umm... p-please do not be overly hostile unless they break the parley first, keep your temper in check dear..." Jade's answer was nervous but determined, turned back to eye all the dark tunnel entrances as the last echoes faded.

The silence stretched out for a long, tense few minutes, making me fidget nervously and long for the simplicity of a fight. The broken down shed Witchy was perched on nearby was spattered in the blood of minotaurs and ponies alike, these things had killed several workers here and more in Salt Lick, with no real warning or reason. 'Be Dark...' grumbled and fought with 'Be Kind...' frantically in my head, they didn't deserve any consideration, they deserved to be put down like dogs...

I was starting to think we'd struck out and would get to do this the easy way like Swan wanted, already thinking of ways to let Jade down easily. A low rumble interrupted me opening my mouth to start however, suddenly hellhounds were popping up all around us, in what was an effective show of force that made my mouth dry up.

Like dominoes in reverse, plumes of dirt and rock revealed rangy hellhounds in long rows lining the mining complex, perched at the stepped ledges surrounding the pit we were in. Dozens of hellhounds growled down at us as more kept right on popping up, a huge pack of the canine monsters... All of them had their legs caked in white warpaint matting their fur and most wielded more of their crudely altered magical energy weapons, a symphony of clicks and hums joined their snarls in an intimidating display.

Half a dozen more mounds disgorged the most impressive specimens so far, bigger, meaner looking hellhounds with the largest arcane weaponry, armored in jagged scrap metal and spiked collars. The last to appear was by far the toughest looking, a pale, shaggy beast with piercing blue eyes, covered in scars and easily hefting a huge plasma cannon. Sweet Celestia... it was a match for the monster I fought in Poncord, what Val called an Alpha Hellhound... I only hoped it was a little chattier and a lot less murder-y...

All of us except for Jade tensed and swung our weaponry around warily, gulping under the demonstration of how outnumbered and outgunned we were. Jade's polite cough and raised eyebrow got me to lower the whining Last Minute from the bead I had drawn on the apparent hellhound leader's head though, letting her step forward to the edge of the conveyor belt and speak in a kind, ringing voice.

"Hello there! Thank you so much for coming out to speak with us. I am Princess Jade from the Kingdom of Sanctuary. I have come on behalf of the citizens of Salt Lick to petition for peace, before this goes any further. May I ask your name in turn Pack Leader?" Jade spoke kindly, giving a short bow to the huge hellhound eyeing her in confusion.

The pale monster loped forward a few swaggering steps, keeping his weapon trained on her the whole while, which made me very nervous, not to mention it had the roaring voice of 'Be Dark...' straining to take over for daring to point a weapon her way. After prowling before us and sniffing the air, the alpha paused on Witchy protectively standing at Jade's side before deigning to answer.

The thing's voice was deep and guttural, but to my surprise Jade was right, it did speak pony... "Name Icepaw, whut yu want mutant pony? Driving us from home not enough? Not interested in peace, you monsters push us out of home, we take new one. No want more death, tell puny bulls and ponies leave while they can, this White Legs territory now."

"It's not your territory! Salt Lick has been here a long time and you invaded! You're the monsters here, not us! My Princess still wants to give you a chance anyway, I'd take it if I were you..."

Ignoring their barking laughter at the smallest pony here threatening them, I scowled at Icepaw and was at least heartened to see he wasn't laughing like his pack. My burning red eyes were locked in a clashing battle with his icy blue ones. I might not know anything about hellhound culture like Jade, but my mutated body knew all about aggression and asserting dominance. By the way Icepaw glared and sniffed back at me, I got the idea alicorn aphrodesiac wasn't the only weird smell my new body put off given the proper stimulus He recognized the challenge of another alpha male, even if I didn't feel like one usually.

Getting me to back off with a nicker and nudge of her wing, Jade bowed lower and continued softly, making part of me furious she was willing to show even a hint of submission to the hellhound. "I apologize for my husband, but he does have a point. If you have been driven from your own territory, perhaps you could have tried being friendly before attacking? I see many of you are wounded... I do not know what has befallen you or brought you this far north, but I would be willing to administer medical care to your pack if we could just broker a peace?"

Icepaw sneered at that, giving a harsh yip of laughter and growling back. "Peace! Friendly!? Mutant ponies like you drive us from home! Minotaurs in forest shoot at pack when hurt and escaping from home! Miners throw dynamite at us when come here! Not very friendly 'Princess' pony."

"Yeeeeah... 'cause that's a totally unfair reaction ta yer pack of gentle little pups just droppin' by ta borrow a cup'a sugar huh? Yer gettin' treated sooooo unfair, cain't imagine why Rover..." Val drawled from her perch, keeping her grenade machinegun trained on the cluster beneath her.

"She's right, trying to drive you away isn't exactly unreasonable. The way you attacked Salt Lick kinda proves the residents were right to be afraid."

Gruff growls and yips spread among the hellhounds as they prowled forward menacingly, their burly leader snarling back in fury. "We not start fight! Not tuck tail from cowards attacking us either! Now Salt Lick chickens send monster ponies that take home away to talk? Bat what makes awful noise! Little Shadow Pony of legend? Still scared and treat White Legs like dogs! Hiding behind others to do dirty work! Maybe we kill you all here, see how tough they is then..."

A low rumble came from Swan's throat as she rose to the threat, her blue-violet eyes growing slitted and dragonish. "Maybe you try and I can stop being nice like my sister wants. Please try..."

Even at essentially normal alicorn size, Swan exuded an aura of danger that gave even the hellhounds pause, sending a quiet murmur through them around us. Meanwhile, I felt the same confusion evident on Jade's curiously tilted face, mutants drove them out? Alicorns? Nothing we had run into that had been displaced from the Glowing Sea had been too chatty, so no one had any idea what exactly was enough to inspire a mass migration of vicious monsters from the area. Putting aside the Shadow Pony crack, just that tidbit was interesting information.

"Please, all of you, stop. I assure you, our intentions are indeed peaceful Icepaw. It sounds as if mistakes were made on both sides. The residents of Salt Lick are not cowards however, even now they are preparing to answer your attack with one of their own. No matter who was at fault, this will be nothing more than a cycle of violence that will make all involved suffer if allowed to continue, we are trying to prevent that!" Jade's impassioned plea fell on mostly deaf ears, including my own as Icepaw's idle threat about killing her had me struggling for control.

"Why we believe you, flying horned ponies like you attack White Legs, Green Beast and her swarm of monsters take away home! There be peace when enemies of pack all dead..." Icepaw growled back, raising his wickedly curved claws up to the cheers of his clan resounding through the mines, though it looked like quite a few of them were lurking out of sight again... 'Awareness!'

"I am afraid I do not know what you mean, did other alicorns push you from your home? Not all of us are the same, just like I do not assume all hellhounds are alike. I sincerely doubt my sisters would have invaded your territory, though there are others that may have, they are our enemies as well as yours. Perhaps you could tell us what happened to you and we could help?" Jade stunned me with her patience and sweet kindness, making even some of the hellhounds surrounding us pause uncertainly.

A slightly smaller blue-grey hellhound beside Icepaw leaned up to whisper in his ear, yipping back when the angry leader snapped at him before snarling back. "No need pony help! White Legs help themselves! Mines good new home for pack, town too close to new territory, when town gone, this be White Legs lands alone. Loud bat make us dig and drop in lake, but bat not in town now... We take town while bat here, we kill bat and no more noise later..."

Witchy squeaked but held her ground proudly under a lot of sparking weaponry aiming her way, drawing in a deep breath to blast out some of that very noise they so hated. "Do not discard the Princess' generous offer foul beasts! There need not be further bloodshed!"

"P-Please! Both you and the villagers of Salt Lick have suffered enough already, do not waste further life on both sides! There must be some way we can..." Jade's anguished cry was heartbreaking, still trying to find a compromise while the hellhounds inching forward looked less and less inclined to talk.

Icepaw's stony face was like a door slamming shut, the harsh expression putting me on guard as he snapped his claws and the bottom fell out from underneath us. The air was full of squealing metal and grinding rock as a massive sinkhole opened under the mining equipment we had been perched on, they had sent some of their number under us to start digging that whole time...

Val was in the air at the first tremble, while Witchy, Swan and I lagged a second behind but were still tensed for a trap. Only Jade was taken completely by surprise, her mouth a shocked O as she fell with the rubble and junk down into the hellhound's trap. A symphony of rapid beeping from the depths of the pit sent me diving after her frantically with Witchy just a heartbeat behind me. Through the dust and gloom I could spot a forest of blinking red lights waiting at the bottom, mines... lots and lots of mines...

Swan rocketed through the two of us, grabbing Witchy and I in her forelegs as she streaked after Jade just unfurling her wings and trying to catch herself. The purple alicorn slammed into her blue sister with us as the beeping really picked up the pace, teleporting all of us out in a purple flash just ahead of a resounding explosion filling the pit.

Reappearing above the smoking hole in the ground, I only had a moment to inspect every inch of Jade's soft blue coat for injuries, relieved to find none before the sky was etched with criss crossing lines of M.E.W. fire. Swan's bright shield lit up around us, covering a shocked Jade until she had regained her wits and summoned her own blue sphere of shielding magic.

Assured Jade was safe, Swan gave her a smirk before barrel rolling towards the ground and the hellhounds Val was already busily launching explosives at. "I told you sister... Now we do things the fun way!"

Jade held a hoof to her pounding chest and another absently stroked her stomach in a subconscious gesture of protection, not the only thing on her mind as she sadly watched Swan find targets to have fun with, but already taking precedent. Enough for her to listen to Witchy and myself trying to lead her away as the hellhounds kept popping up like jack in the boxes and firing away with their magical energy weapons at least.

"Princess! We must take thou away from here! I'm afraid your efforts for peace have been for naught, please retreat back to town while thine sister continues 'negotiations'..." Witchy kept herself between Jade and the frantic movement below, blowing a hellhound out of the hole it popped out of before it could even get a shot off.

The disappointment and anxiety on Jade's face hurt, I hated seeing her face pale as the peaceful resolution she so hoped for went down in flames. Her pained voice cracked as she fluttered indecisively between us, but her slender foreleg clutched her stomach nervously and forced her reluctant acceptance. "B-But...I did not wish for... Is there not some way to..."

"Jade! Let's go! We tried ok? There's nothing more you can do for now except get the hell out of here!!"

Dragging her by her hoof through the air with Witchy pushing from behind, we managed to get her to escape and fly back to the sounds of gunfire and explosives back in Salt Lick. With us busy trying to talk to them here, the hellhounds had taken advantage of Witchy and her sonic attack being out of town to attack again. The conniving dogs were probably at it from the moment we showed up, just like setting their trap below us while we talked... They never had any intention of settling things peacefully, they were just taking advantage of Jade's kindness...

Val and Swan rejoined us halfway back, sweaty and bearing fresh wounds, but both looking like they enjoyed how things wound up. The warbling whine of feedback and an echoing screech ahead filled me with relief for Glitter and the rest of the town, it had definitely been worth cobbling together what was left of the town's M.A.S.E.B.S. alarms. The shouts and shooting were already dying down when we circled overhead, the recording of Witchy's high pitched whine must have been a nasty surprise for the hellhounds thinking they'd attack while she was away.

A crowd of Salt Lick residents were jeering and shouting in a rough circle outside of the town hall, bucking and screaming at a bloody heap of fur at their center. The sight did wipe away Jade's sad expression at least, her brow furrowed in a frown and her blue eyes blazed on taking it in, one of the hellhound attackers hadn't escaped when the others fled, the justifiably furious defenders were taking their anger out on the wounded beast...

It looked younger, not that I was great at telling hellhound ages based on appearance, but it was a little on the small side. What parts of its fur weren't stained red with blood were tan and brown, as Jade streaked down towards it, the wounded monster snarled and slashed out with its remaining good claw. The other claw looked like it had been smashed into uselessness, the crushing wound matching a pair of broken hindlegs that looked like they had been administered by Sledge Smasher's huge hammer nearby.

The hellhound lunged again as Jade came in for a landing, suddenly going limp when her anesthetic spell impacted its chest and sent it crashing to the ground, letting her safely slam to the pavement beside it in the middle of the crowd and cry out in her regal goddess voice. "STOP! Enough, please! He is defeated, do not fall to barbarous torture and sadism! Allow me to treat his wounds!"

There were a lot of angry, unkind looks from minotaurs and ponies alike staring back at her and muttering darkly, the rest of us landing around her with a groan kept them from getting too pushy however. Sledge was bleeding from a series of gashes at his ribs showing gleaming bone and panting heavily, looking confused but still helping to calm and keep his people back. Jade immediately healing the visible wounds on the burly minotaur probably helped defuse the situation a bit too, though Chief Steelfist snorting and shoving his way forward to shout undid some of that good.

"Heal 'im!? You wanna heal that beastie Princess!? Not learn yer lesson goin' ta talk to them mutts!? We gots our own wounded ta deal with here thanks to them! We're grateful fer the help and all, but this is our town, not yer fancy Kingdom there Princess, I'm in charge around here. Indulged yer stupid idea so you'd see they need ta be wiped out, now get outta the way an' lemme put it down!" Steelfist roared, poking Jade's out thrust chest with his finger and sending her wilting back.

Witchy whinnied and put herself between them, stamping her hooves angrily as she gave a squeaky shout back. "Do not push the Princess! She tried to help and would see no creature suffer, neither minotaur nor hellhound!"

Surprisingly, Swan came to her defense too. The big purple mare rolled her eyes, but gave her sister a supportive nuzzle on the way to shoving herself into Steelfists's glaring face, pushing the tough minotaur back with heavy thumps of a hoof to his own chest as she growled back. "Quit it! It might be stupid, but it's my sister's stupid, so you can just shut up! Nobody calls my sister dumb except me! She likes healing, like I like smashing! Let her heal this one, there's lots more to smash an' that's what I'm gonna do! Umm... right sister?"

Giving a grateful, conflicted look, Jade nodded wearily and turned her attention to the most severely wounded in her sight. "Y-Yes, thank you sister... We did try to end this peacefully, since that does not seem to be an option, I suppose this calls for your talents more than my own... I-If there must be fighting, we will of course help Chief Steelfist. But we are not savages, I would treat the wounded from either side equally, I would hope your people could show that much mercy."

Glitter picked the perfect time to end the tense standoff, galloping out of the front doors of the ruined town hall the crowd had gathered in front of with Zed on her hooves. The little filly pelted down the cracked steps, barely giving the unconscious hellhound a second glance before launching herself at her mother, able to take in the situation and see which of her parents needed the hug more.

Having a bright and exuberant filly babbling happily seemed to suck most of the remaining fury from the crowd, just Glitter's cheery voice put an end to what may have devolved into a diplomatic incident otherwise. "Mommy! I hit the button just like Dad said! Did ya see?! I helped! It was awesome dad, just like with Witchy! The holotape thingy played through all the speakers and the dogs were all 'yipe! yipe! yipe!', did I do good!? Did you catch one? Neat!"

Rooting around in her bags for some of the ropes and chains she kept around for my torturous flight training, Val clucked and shooed the crowd back, tying up our captive hellhound while answering. "Yup, yer mom wants ta heal it kiddo, of course... Looks like we get ta kill the healthy ones though! So maybe all you lugs gots better things ta be doin' eh? There's a fight comin' an' we're helpin', so quit gettin' yer panties in a twist over this one dog. Move it!"

Chief Steelfist scowled between all of us one more time, finally snorting and storming off, taking the dispersing crowd with him. "Whatever! Just get it outta my sight! That thing gets loose and causes trouble, it's on you fools! Come on folks, enough of this bore! We're goin' ta war!"

Wiping a tear from her eye as she watched the grumbling villagers spread out and start taking stock, Jade squeezed the air out of Glitter against her breast and looked up to Swan glaring at them leaving. "T-Thank you... all of you. I am sorry, I know I am being foolish and self centered, but I could not stand back and let them..."

Swan cut her off by joining her shaky embrace with our daughter, tossing her mane and huffing back impatiently. "I think it's dumb too sister... But only I get to call my sister stupid, nobody else. I can do like Fast and Witchy say, I support you, even if I don't agree... We do get to fight now though, right?"

"R-Right Swan, looks like that's a foregone conclusion now, so we're counting on you doing what you do best. Thanks for being patient and taking Jade's side."

Swan nickered happily at the praise, sticking close to the unconscious hellhound as Jade floated it up from the street and started trudging away to the empty shell of a bank with her patient, sighing sadly. "I will leave such considerations to the experts then. It seems you were right sister, perhaps hoping for peace with the White Legs was foolish, we must try to be better however. I am glad you are on my side, even if we do not always agree."

As afternoon wore on towards a drizzly evening, the stress and anticipation in Salt Lick rose higher and higher with each low rumble and roar of another building falling into the lake every hour or so. The minotaurs and ponies of the settlement were determined to bring the fight to the hellhounds in the mines, not dissuaded from facing the beasts underground if need be despite my own shock at such an insane plan, trusting in their knowledge of the labyrinth of tunnels to even the odds.

While Jade kept on healing and caring for all the wounded and the rest of us aided in the defense of the town however we were able, the residents had gotten noticeably less friendly due to our sequestered patient. We got him off the street as advised, locking the hellhound in the large vault in the back of the ruined bank while Jade treated him. Everyone knew it was back here though, I caught more than a few hard stares through the dirty glass beyond the broken teller windows.

At least two of us stayed to keep a heavy weapon trained on the pouting monster at all times, and Jade had tranquilized it any time it decided to get too twitchy, but watching her get close to mend the thing's wounds still had me sweating buckets. Having Glitter insistently stick her nose in to watch and assist with her breezie friends was just making me more nervous, though at least Spring Gale volunteered her supply of nectar to further dope the beast and keep it somewhat docile.

One thing I was glad for about having Glitter nearby, she kept talking and asking bright and curious questions, the conversation served as a nice distraction as I kept the Terrible Shotgun floating by the hellhound's head. Her pink eyes were wide and unafraid, peering around her mother as Jade's magic slowly bent the shattered bones in its claw back into shape.

"You know how'ta heal hellhounds too mommy? Did you really howl like one too? I bet that was funny! How come you know so much about scary monsters like them?" Glitter kept trying to get closer to our captive, gently pushed back by Jade's hindleg as she replied wearily.

"During my training with the Followers, I spent some time in the Hellhound Sanctuary dear. The residents there did not have much contact with ponies, my kind were seen as excellent emissaries and it gave me the opportunity to learn medical treatment for non-ponies." Jade answered softly, her sad disappointment still weighing her down as she wound magical bandages around the mangled claw.

"Hellhound Sanctuary? There's a sanctuary... for hellhounds... You really went there hon? What's it like?"

By Jade's soft smile, I figured my attempt at prodding her into conversation to feel better was pretty transparent. At least she appreciated the effort though, nodding as she turned her attention to her patient's broken hindlegs. "Oh yes, after the balefire bomb that killed our mother, the hellhounds of Splendid Valley were driven from their home too. Neither of us appreciated that aspect of the Lightbringer's efforts, so we actually got along fairly well. The ruins of Ponyville are still in poor shape, but beneath the surface is a thriving community."

"P-Ponyville!? The hellhounds live in Ponyville!?"

"What? What's the big deal daddy, what's Ponyville?" Glitter looked up curiously to me gaping, my shock and the foal's ignorance getting a quiet giggle from Jade.

"Ponyville was once a very special place dear, when your father was your age. All of the Ministry Mares hailed from there, one could even say the Lightbringer did as well, since Stable 2 was built nearby. It had become a den of raiders and villains, then the great Velvet Remedy suggested the displaced hellhounds live there." At least Jade sounded better talking about the good her idol had done, she always cheered up when it came to her and Fluttershy, her heroes and role models.

Swan had stuck with us, turning from keeping a stern eye on the hellhound with Witchy to speak up in a grumble. "Dogs were always attacking our home with the mother, they weren't nice. I miss Maripony... I got to kill lots of them every time they tried. I still don't get why you're trying to be so nice to those monsters."

"We put our old conflicts behind us sister. The hellhounds had been pushed out well before our mother arrived in their territory, while we had no choice in defending her. I do not like calling them monsters either Swan, many ponies call us the same do they not? How many have called you a monster sister, just because of the way you typically look? I do not like you being treated that way, I try to treat them as I hope others would treat you. You liked that Fast was not afraid of you when you met him, did you not? Just as I did. We are not monsters, you are not sister, neither are they.

Relating her behavior to Swan and her own struggles looked to finally click for the purple filly, I could almost see a lightbulb flickering to life over her long pink mane and Swan's eyes got round and dark, shimmering with emotion as she hugged her sister tightly. "Thank you sister Jade! I hadn't thought about it like that, but I like being treated nice even when I'm scary, so I guess dogs might too. I still don't like dogs and wanna fight them though...

"Most of the hellhounds I met were actually quite nice though sister, er... for hellhounds that is... You should give them a chance, just as others should give you one as well. Why, I once even met a pony who had previously been a hellhound!" Jade smiled wistfully, she almost never talked about her past, so I was not only intensely interested, but happy to see how this part of it managed to cheer her up.

Her happy expession only broadened on hearing Glitter gasp and giggle at her last statement. "A hellpony? Really mom!? How's a big, scary dog like this turn into a pony?"

"Killing Joke dear, a rather nasty prank for the poor victim. She ended up coping well enough, she survived her former friends trying to make her into lunch at least. There is a great deal of research going on into a cure now that she is very interested in, but she made the most of her predicament and became a go between for ponies and hellhounds." Jade's mirth at all of our stunned faces looked so much better on her, though her smile faded when her patient gave a gruff chuckle.

Any movement or noise got the Terrible Shotgun, Witchy's anti-materiel rifle and Swan's glowing horn turned on it menacingly, but it wasn't making any threatening movement. By the slow way it spoke and the occassional twitch of a claw, I was hoping it was still mostly anesthetized, though I wished its mouth stayed frozen too.

"Stupid bitch, better she got killed than live as a pony... That even worse than getting taken prisoner..." The hellhound's rumbling voice sounded almost petulant, enjoying the care of the best doctor in the wasteland and still whining...

That ticked me off actually, even more so by Jade's crestfallen expression returning with a whimper. "Hey! Shut up... be grateful Jade saved you and is even healing you, especially after what you did!"

Bloodshot brown eyes met my burning red ones for a moment and the beast seemed to flinch, looking away and grumbling back. "What Shadow Pony do when doctor done? Heal prisoner so can hurt again? Lock me up? Already shame me by capturing, pack make fun when they come and kill all ponies, me be at bottom of pile for this..."

"You are not a prisoner Mister... Hound... We do not plan on keeping you locked away in a jail, not that I can think of any that would hold you. When you are healed I suppose you are free to leave, if you do so in peace. Though I am quite sure you will rejoin your pack and end up getting killed in the fighting regardless, or killing others... or both.... Unfortunately preventing that is not in my power, healing your injuries is however." Jade's voice took on her stern, disapproving tone that could make a pony feel two inches tall as she resumed her work. Not that the effect was as pronounced on the hellhound, but I could swear even he looked a little shamed.

While her mother kept up her aura of patience and unwavering kindness, Glitter had no problem coming to her defense. The little filly both amazed and scared the beejeezus out of me with her bravery, stamping her hooves in front of the paralyzed hound's muzzle and huffing down at him, inches away from those gleaming fangs... "My mommy's bein' nice, so you should just stay quiet an' let her dummy! You're s'posed to say 'Thank you!' too! Don't dogs have any manners?"

Witchy fluttered forward to grab her before I could move that way, gently pulling the snorting, struggling little filly away and nodding her agreement. "The Princess saved thou from execution under the hooves of that mob who would still relish the opportunity. She only wishes for peace, even if thou deserves not her consideration or care."

Even Swan growled her two bits, summoning a long, crackling arrow of violet magic that waggled above the hellhound's head suggestively. "You dogs wanna fight, you don't get to whine when you lose. Be glad sister Jade is so super sappy and nice, you can go back to the others and I'll smash you later."

Having her family around her and expressing their support brightened Jade back up, visibly pulling her away from sinking back into the abyss of self doubt and regret with a whinny of gratitude. "T-Thank you, it is alright all of you, I do not heal expecting to change my patient's mind. I only wish there was some way to prevent the fighting to come, both the hellhounds and residents here will suffer needlessly. Is there not some way to save your people and ours such pain?"

Yanking his hindleg back into shape to demonstrate just the kind of pain she was talking about, I worried how much longer her anesthetic spell would last on seeing the hellhound wince and whine under his breath. Looking between us for signs of a trick, he only saw Jade's plea was true by our curious looks back.

After a long few minutes of silence, the hellhound rolled his eyes and growled while Jade bound his mended hindleg, answering in a low whine. "Icepaw say we fight, we fight, no listen to Paw Buster even if I ask. If you no want big fight, why not challenge for dominance? You have Shadow Pony from legend even, only one pony or hound get hurt that way."

"Shadow Pony? Icepaw called me that too, what legend? What do you mean by 'challenge' too? Is there a way we can just fight him and keep everyone else out of it?" I trotted to Jade's side and tried to cut off her hopeful look, keeping my shotgun hovering near his head.

Just talking with the enemy looked to annoy this Paw Buster as he called himself, but Jade and the others had successfully guilt tripped even a hellhound it seemed. His reply was slow and reluctant, but interesting once he finally spit it out. "Legend! Story of wise Pack Leader Smartyfang and Shadow Pony. You ponies not know? You dress like Shadow Pony and use name, hear on radio..."

Glitter gasped with realization, running over to dig in my saddlebag and pull the heavy tome of legends out in her teeth, grinning around the leather spine. "Legend like these? Do you mean the Shrouded Stallion Mr. Buster? Hellhounds have stories about daddy too?"

I took the book from her in my magic and patted her silver mane, sheepishly trying to correct her as I flipped through the pages rapidly. "N-Not me sweetie, the real one probably. So, is she right? There's a story about your people and the Shroud?"

The best I got was a huff and a nod, but flicking through the book did land me on a page with an ancient illustration of a Diamond Dog beside the dark armored Shrouded Stallion. As soon as the book was open and I started scanning the flowing text, Glitter leapt up and snuggled into my lap happily, planting her hooves on the book so she got to turn the pages and looking up to me with a grin.

"Yay! You ain't read me a story for awhile dad, read it! C'mon! Maybe it's important!" Glitter pulled out the puppy eyes beaming up at me, putting forth a good argument in favor of getting a story.

The pair of breezies flitted down to sit before the huge book in Glitter's lap and joined her pleading stare, while Swan trotted over and sat at my back, crushing my hat under her chin so she could peer down to the stylized pictures. Witchy remained where she was with her long rifle trained on the hellhound and watching closely, but she did turn a fluffy ear our way and glanced up curiously.

With a soft chuckle, Jade smiled and nodded to the little audience I had gathered so quickly. "Go ahead Fast, perhaps a story would be a nice way to pass the time and take our mind off the violence to come. I am curious as well, you have heard how my hero interacted with the hellhounds, I would enjoy hearing how yours fared while I finish with my patient."

"Ok hon, interested myself too, er... not that that's much of a surprise... A-Anyway, you're right Glitter, you deserve a story for being so brave and helping the town while we were gone. So, let's see what this legend of Smartyfang and the Shadow Pony is all about huh? Ahem... Once upon a time..."

Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, the threat of war reared its head and earned the attention of the Princesses. A pair of unique petitioners from a distant mining village came to Canterlot to beg for aid for their home, a brave filly and a scrawny Diamond Dog came together, telling the Princesses of recent attacks by a local pack of Diamond Dogs who had suddenly become violent.

Both the ponies and dogs in the Coldhoof Mountains had a love for the plentiful gems found there, though they had always gotten along well enough in the past. The ponies built their village and dug their mines, but avoided the dog's territory and left them to their own excavations of a nearby peak.

The leader of the pack had been challenged and defeated not long ago however, and the new pack leader Silvertail was as cruel as he was strong. The Diamond Dogs could dig much further and faster than ponies ever could, but unicorn magic allowed the villagers to pull more precious gems from the earth in a month than the dogs could in a year. Jealousy and greed took root in the pack under their new leader, soon they were attacking shipments of gems and stealing them all for themselves, cutting off the town from the resources they needed that those gems paid for.

Worse yet, the dog's attacks were growing more bold and increasingly violent. Already there were injuries from the most recent raids, and the petitioners to the royal court feared the dogs were preparing to attack and drive the ponies from the mountains entirely, claiming the mines for themselves and the town along with them.

The brave earth pony filly Canary Mine and the runt diamond dog Smartyfang had been friendly under the previous pack leader, now they both worried for the future and had set out for help together. The pony saw her friends and neighbors getting injured, her way of life and home under threat. The diamond dog also saw his kind in danger by the actions of their new pack leader, if war did come, he was smart enough to see that his people would lose a pointless, needless battle. Relations with the other races of Equestria may have been mixed, but the threat of something like a war had never seemed likely before. Faced with it now, the Princesses were divided on what to do.

Princess Celestia was beside herself with worry, ordering her royal guard to accompany the petitioners back home and to protect them, along with her most accomplished diplomats in hopes for negotiating a peaceful resolution. The very idea of a war with the Diamond Dogs was abhorrent to her and she was willing to do whatever was necessary to prevent it.

Princess Luna on the other hoof, was furious any would dare attack her little ponies. Her sister's hopes for talks and negotiation were all well and good, but the Diamond Dog Smartyfang assured them as long as Silvertail was pack leader, nopony would be safe.

While her sister worried and nattered with the nobles arguing against getting involved and her knights valiantly volunteering to go, Luna took their guests aside and spoke frankly with Smartyfang. "Thou says this Silvertail challenged and won leadership of your pack, though he does not seem a very good leader. Is there no way to challenge him in turn and be led by a more suitable dog such as yourself Smartyfang?"

"If I could defeat him, I would gladly put a stop to this madness your highness. I am a runt however, while my isolation from the pack has led to me trying to learn and be more open to others, it is of no help in besting a hound like Silvertail. The Diamond Dogs respect strength, the fittest dog leads, and that is simply not me."

Guiding the insecure dog and pony to her chambers, Princess Luna summoned forth her servant from the shadows. The Shrouded Stallion appeared before them and bowed low to his Princess, awaiting her order as she turned back to her guest. "Fittest does not necessarily mean strongest Smartyfang. Leaving your pack to travel here with a pony and alert us to the danger speaks to your courage and nobility, I believe thou would make a fine leader if given the opportunity. Asking for help takes strength as well, if you would accept it, I would send my champion to act as your own. With his aid, I am sure thou can best this Silvertail and put an end to this conflict. What say you Smartyfang?"

Stories of Luna's avenger had spread throughout Equestria, so even Smartyfang knew of the dark stallion rising before him. His friend Canary's awe and fear was unnecessary confirmation after actually seeing the Princess' Knight with his own eyes. Staring into the restrained fury in those crimson eyes gleaming behind his ornate helm, Smartyfang was certain even Silvertail could be brought down by this creature.

Unfortunately, he couldn't see how that would help things. "A pony may not challenge the pack leader your highness, nor act as a champion for another. While your knight seems more than a match for Silverfang, defeating him that way would only be seen as a pony attacking my people."

Giving it a moment's thought, Princess Luna nodded and turned to her knight. "Thou art my sword and shield, sworn to do my will and punish the wicked. To send thou against these enemies directly would not serve my purposes however. I command thou instead to assist noble Smartyfang, give him the strength to end this conflict, act as his sword and his shield in his own battle. Help these brave friends prevent a war that would bring much suffering I would not see scar our fair land. This is the mission I entrust thee with my servant, now go quickly, before it is too late!"

With his Princess' order, the Shrouded Stallion turned on the two wary friends, wrapping them in a cloak of deepest night and flickering across the land to return them home. When they arrived in a ripple of shadow from the forest outside the village, the Canary and Smartyfang gasped in despair at the sight the found.

In the village were the flickering torches of a mob of ponies, wielding pickaxes and hammers, clearly shouting themselves into a frenzy. In the hills leading up to the mines were the torches of an army of diamond dogs, howling and snarling under the barking command of Silvertail dressed for battle. Even with the Shroud returning them home in an instant, they feared they arrived only to watch the battle they wanted to prevent unfold before their eyes.

Canary and Smartyfang worried and quibbled, uncertain what to do and panicking at the sight they struggled to take in. Before they got too worked up, the heavy clang of the Shrouded Stallion's armored hoof stamping down dried up their stammering. They both turned to Luna's avenger staring out at the nopony's land between the two groups, listening closely to the gravelly voice that spoke with none of the fear they felt.

"My Princess hath entrusted the two of you to end this threat. Princess Luna commanded me to grant you the strength to act, but the will must be your own. Calm thyselves and do what you set out to accomplish when you asked her for help to begin with."

The two friends were steadied by the unbending tone of Luna's servant, the shadowy stallion could end the violence if it started, but Luna placed her faith in the two of them to find a better way. She had given them to tools to change things themselves, instead of doing it all for them. Thinking quickly, they tried to live up to that trust and came up with a plan.

The battle lines had been drawn, the forces of the villagers stared across the grassy hills at the pack of diamond dogs, at a word from either commander, the battle would begin. In the grim silence that stretched out before the fateful order was given, a pair of brave friends charged down the middle of the nopony's land from the forest. A dog and a pony together, both shouting the same simple plea;

"WAIT!"

The bright yellow Canary yelled breathlessly first, turning to her surprised neighbors and her stunned father, the leader of the village. "Don't! There doesn't have to be fighting! We came from the Princesses, who don't want the good ponies and dogs here to hurt each other!"

The angry ponies paused on Canary invoking their royal rulers, unsure what to do and really not looking forward to fighting, they had simply been pushed too far and were afraid. The dogs didn't care whether Princess Celestia or Luna dissapproved or not though, the barking laughter of the huge Silvertail cutting through the silence that fell over the crowd.

"Dogs want fight stupid pony! Gems be all ours! What are far away Princesses going to do about it? Smartyfang! What you doing still being friends with yellow pony! Pack leader say no more sneaking off to play and be friends with ponies! Ponies enemies now! You get over here and obey runt!" Silvertail sneered and pointed to his armored troops behind him, expecting the scrawny dog he had bullied to do as told.

The new pack leader was understandably shocked with Smartyfang refused, the short dog gulped and looked down between his paws a moment, but his glare rising up to meet Silvertail's again was full of strength and determination, his growl back somehow enough to raise the canine leader's hackles.

"No! Dogs and ponies don't have to be enemies! We can be friends instead, like me and Canary are! We went to get help together, to stop you from the wrongs you've done since you took over Silvertail! You are not a good leader for dogs, even if you're strong, you're stupid and greedy, you'll do nothing but cause suffering for everyone with your short sighted selfishness! S-So... So I challenge for the right to lead the pack!" Smartyfang's angry shout back stunned the dogs as much as Canary had the ponies, the tension of a storm about to break suddenly forgotten thanks to the pair of them standing together between their peoples.

Something seemed different about Smartyfang, something... off... that made Silvertail privately worried, but he couldn't be seen showing fear of a scrawny little runt in front of his pack, or refuse the challenge foolishly made. Silvertail roared laughter and waved his army into joining in with nervous chuckles, waving out to the clear ground in front of him.

"Fine! If you wanna take your lumps now, from me instead of ponies, that's just fine Smartyfang. Watch close ponies! After I'm done knockin' this runt down a peg or two, you're next!" Silvertail threw down his crude steel bracers and breastplate, giving a toothy grin to the crowds and inviting his insane challenger forward.

The pack leader's mocking nearly renewed the anger of the villagers, but Canary trotted to her father and whispered in his ear quickly. He pulled away in surprise, but only saw complete faith and honesty reflected in his daughters eyes and nodded back to her, joining her in calming the villagers into watching silently.

With a hearty bark from the semicircle of diamond dogs crowding together to watch the show, the fight for dominance began and Smartyfang launched himself at Silvertail. While the packleader at first thought it would be amusing and easy to stretch out and make a show of punishing his disobedient underling, he quickly found himself pressed back and struggling just to keep up.

Impossible as it seemed, the little Smartyfang was winning! The crowd of dogs cheered wildly at the weakest of them pushing the strongest, the runt was somehow faster, stronger, tougher than even the imposing brute Silvertail that none of them dared challenge, even though many of them didn't agree with his cruel leadership. Several of them had even thought they should follow his courageous example to put a stop to this conflict, shamed by the runt doing what was right even though he could never win, yet somehow he was doing just that!

Snarling, snapping, slashing claws at each other, the brutal match went on. Smartyfang dodged every blow with supernatural grace and speed, dove in to every opening and struck with strength his small frame shouldn't possess. Silvertail's movements grew sloppier and more desperate in frustration, losing was humiliating enough, but losing to the runt was doubly so.

Screaming in fury, Silvertail lunged out and missed yet again, leaving his neck open for Smartyfang to latch on with his jaws. The smaller dog tensed on the rapid pulse under his fangs, growling around his grip. "Yield..."

Even muffled, Smartyfang's suddenly deep voice filled Silvertail with fear and he was left with no choice but to submit, tossed aside by the new leader of the pack prowling back to rejoin his friend Canary between the two groups. The villagers were almost as stunned as the diamond dogs after watching the smaller hound defeat the bigger, but still anxious and angry, shouting their questions as to whether one dog was any better than the other.

Canary stood proudly by her panting friend though, stamping her hooves and yelling back. "Smartyfang is my friend! We always thought it was silly our peoples didn't get along, he'll be a much better leader than Silvertail! Princess Luna herself believed in him and helped him win, to stop this fighting and bring us all together!"

Joining in with his friend, Smartyfang nodded and addressed his pack bowing before the new alpha, glancing down at his shadow wearily before speaking up in a firm voice. "Canary's right! We shouldn't fight, it was stupid and greedy for Silvertail to start this, but I will end it. If we work together and become friends like Canary and I are, things will be better than they were before, for everyone! We can dig much faster than ponies, but ponies can find gems we can't. Asking for help is not weakness, the Princess Luna pony taught me that. Please forgive and help us ponies, let us help you and make up for our mistakes in return."

Humiliated and furious at his defeat, Silvertail only grew angrier at the cheers of his own pack agreeing with the runt, talking of working together and being friends... with ponies! Asking help! Working together! He wouldn't have it, he was leader, he had taken it with his own paws and now this nobody pup went and got pony help to take it away from him!?

Dragging himself back up stealthily, Silvertail threw a pawfull of dirt into Smartyfang's face as he lunged forward, slashing out with his sharp claws to put down the runt right in front of all his stupid pony friends. His claws were brought up short by a ringing 'clang' however, leaving Silvertail and everyone else present to gape at the shadowy blade materializing between him and Smartyfang still rubbing his eyes unaware.

Looking down to where the gleaming black blade originated, an audible gasp went through the crowd of ponies as Smartyfang's shadow rippled and stretched around the dark armored pony emerging from it. The Shrouded Stallion rose from the diamond dog's shadow, the inky outline of his imposing body taking on form and definition around the long sword that staved off Silvertail's sneak attack.

Silvertail didn't care anything for pony stories, so didn't know exactly who or what this dark pony was. He didn't need to know to see tartarus staring back at him from those glowing red eyes however, yelping in fear and skittering back. "P-Pony magic and tricks! See! Smartyfang didn't beat me! Some pony did!! I-I'm still leader!"

Some of the diamond dogs muttered uncertainly at that, yet Silvertail's pride and savagery had earned him no friends, and watching him cower back from the rumbling growl of the Shrouded Stallion made for a pitiful sight. "Princess Luna commanded I assist this brave dog and grant him the strength to defeat you himself. I took no action until thine battle was over, yet you persisted with such a cowardly attack. Young Smartyfang hath vanquished thee and granted thee mercy, to refuse it will be thine undoing. No longer a leader of thine people, thou are now only a rabid mutt to be put down..."

Silvertail screamed and ran from the looming creature of shadows, fleeing to the forest only to be overtaken by dark wings trailing a shadow that swallowed him up, disappearing into the gloom of the forest, never to be seen again. To the ponies of the village, seeing Luna's avenger appear before them was akin to the Princess herself granting her blessing to the small diamond dog, banishing much of their remaining ire and resentment towards the pack.

As for the mutters of the diamond dogs, their new pack leader Smartyfang leaned on his friend Canary and spoke sincerely to them. "It's true we asked the Princess pony for help and she sent the Shadow Pony to do so, he gave me the strength to fight back and beat Silvertail, but left it to me to do myself. I think Silvertail himself proves his kind of strength alone isn't the only thing that makes a good leader though, asking for help and getting it takes strength, being wise and just takes a different kind of strength as well. If you disagree with me as leader, I'll accept your challenge without the aid of pony help, or the challenge of a champion you convince to fight in your stead. We must begin to acknowledge the different ways to be strong and always seek a better way, so even if my only decree as pack leader ends my reign immediately, I will accept that outcome to prevent another Silvertail."

After suffering under Silvertail's rule and seeing how a corrupt dog who was physically strong could do so much damage, the diamond dogs believed Smartyfang and willingly bowed before their new pack leader. The villagers and the dogs all threw down their weapons, cautiously joining together in the middle and putting aside their differences with the two brave friends who had stopped a war.

When Princess Celestia's guards and diplomats arrived some days later, they found a village of both ponies and dogs, working together and finding a new way forward. The gems flowed from the mines now, far faster and safer than they had before, bringing wealth and prosperity to both groups who slowly became one united city over the years.

Smartyfang and Canary stayed friends and helped build their home up together. True to his word, wise Smartyfang always listened to his pack and was willing to accept a challenge to his rule if the others thought they had a better way, but things became so much better for everyone, that rarely came up.

The Shrouded Stallion being declared a friend of the pack and potential champion to fight for the aging Smartyfang discouraged most would be strongdog despots from baring their fangs anyway. Over the ages, even future diamond dogs who became vicious and cruel across Equestria kept in mind the fate of Silvertail, very few ever dared to cross the Knight of Shadows.

But that, is a story for another day...

--------------------------------

"Meh... Pony story... You not tell it right, crafty Smartyfang supposed to trick Princess Pony into giving her Shadow Pony's power to him for battle, not just ask. Pack also got best end of deal with village for gems 'cause he so smart. Canary pony is more comic sidekick too, but that basically it." The gruff grumble of our gradually more mobile prisoner made me increasinly concerned, but Paw Buster had actually behaved during the story, even snorting a correction or addition during the tale.

Jade had finished healing his wounds and sat curled close to Glitter, Swan and the breezies, the pile of bigger and smaller ponies and breezies surrounding me on all sides was a little claustrophobic, but felt warm and made everyone feel better, even the tired and disappointed doctor at my side. "That was lovely, just the kind of storybook ending I so hoped for here. If this is a legend still passed down among your pack Mr. Buster, is there no hope the White Legs and Salt Lick could work together like the villagers and pack in the story?"

"Hey yeah! It's just like the story right Mr. Buster? You could dig in the mines here lots better, and the minotaurs are great at huntin' meat for you ta eat! You should be friends like Canary and Smartyfang!" Glitter beamed and tried to prance forward as I put the heavy book away, pulled back by her tail from getting face to face with a hellhound.

"Story from long time ago, before ponies all go crazy and blow up world. Bulls and ponies here already start fighting with us too, not stopping before starts. White Legs no back off from fight, sound like Salt Lick no will either. No see us being friends little pony." Paw Buster shook his shaggy head and struggled up to his paws, the smaller hindlegs wound in bandages could barely take weight, while one long foreleg was held up in a sling at his chest, his other muscular foreleg was holding up the rest of his weight fairly well though.

At least he was moving slow and staying back in the narrow bank vault, eyeing all the firepower aimed at the circular gap in the heavy gauge steel room. I doubted he could slip through the floor fast enough with one claw, and lunging out such a small bottleneck to get to us was equally suicidal. Still, it didn't take much to learn just how dangerous hellhounds could be in an instant.

"But if someone challenged Icepaw directly, he'd have to accept right? Even a pony or minotaur could call him out?"

Having my question draw uproarious, barking laughter made me blush and snort angrily, but Paw Buster did finally manage to chuckle out a reply. "Sure! Who you think beat Icepaw though, you!? HA! You dress like Shadow Pony, but even more of a runt than Smartyfang! Go ahead though, you lose and die, then White Legs take town easier when you forced to leave!"

Jade clearly didn't like the thoughts going on behind my furrowed brow, curling a wing around me and whickering worriedly. "While my Fast may surprise you Mr. Buster, t-that hardly seems a fair fight. P-Perhaps Chief Steelfist could challenge Icepaw however? He seems quite capable, would such a thing be acceptable?"

"Leader of town can challenge leader of pack, minotaur die too though. Icepaw strong like Silvertail from story, but not dumb or coward..." Paw Buster smirked back, supremely confident in his leader.

Not that I could fault his arrogance or Jade's caution after getting a good look at Icepaw myself. He looked as powerful as the beast I fought in Poncord that shrugged off everything I threw at it, but was also crafty to boot. A battle between Icepaw on Steelfist still might go either way, but even the best outcome of that match up presented problems.

"If Steelfist won, he'd demand all the White Legs leave. They'd get pushed out again and be a problem for somepony else wherever they wound up. Both sides here are too angry and wrapped up in getting even, I think it's up to us as an outside party to find a better option for everyone hon... Go tell Icepaw we challenge him Paw Buster, no more digging under the town, we'll fight him outside the wall, between us and the mines, just like the story."

Waving everyone back, I waved a hoof towards the missing rotating door of the bank leading out to the street, giving the hellhound space to limp out of the bank vault curiously. "Really just let me go? Fake Shadow Pony crazy enough to fight Icepaw? Ha! Sure! Be funny fight, even if ...short... No bat screeching or tricks though! Challenge is contest of honor, no cheat..."

Paw Buster waited for my nod back before digging through the dirty tiled floor and disappearing, much faster than I'd expect with only one good paw... Once he was gone, Jade stamped a hoof on the ringing marble and leaned down to glare eye to eye with me, fear and annoyance making her voice quaver.

"What have I and the others just recently tried to impress upon you Fast!? You may not take everything on your own shoulders! I will not have you fight that brute alone in some ridiculous macho contest! No matter the cause!" Jade snorted and shivered, despite coming to my defense at Paw Buster laughing off any threat I posed, privately she found the idea too dangerous as well.

That would sting, if I didn't give myself great odds one on one with the intimidating Icepaw either. I hadn't ignored everything she and Val tried to beat into me about doing everything myself either though. Leaning up to nuzzle her cheek reassuringly, I looked over to Swan significantly and nudged her anxious gaze that way too.

"I didn't say I'd fight him, just that it's better if one of us does, one of us who can beat him... I know you don't like fighting and violence hon, but it has a place in this world and Swan has a point arguing with you about it. She's learning to trust you when it comes to being peaceful and kind, so how about you give her a chance to do what she's best at? What do you say Swan? Wanna fight the biggest, toughest dog, protect the town and save lives on both sides by smashing selectively?"

I wouldn't volunteer the big filly without asking and was fully prepared to do it myself if need be, but I was fairly sure of Swan's answer. The large purple mare giddily prancing in place and grinning didn't disappoint though, nodding with a manic, eager gleam in her eyes. "Yes! Finally! Lemme fight the big dog sister! I'll win and you can figure out what to do after! You're better at that stuff anyway, I just wanna fight and not worry about it!"

While it was obvious she still didn't like it, Jade was forced to acknowledge Swan's way of doing things had its place. They were two sides of the same coin that needed each other, here was a chance to get them working together in agreement and end up with a better result than either could achieve alone. Faced with the hope for peace through only limited violence, Jade reluctantly agreed, embracing her sister worriedly and calming a bit when Glitter leapt into the teary hug with them.

"V-Very well... I do not like you putting yourself in danger like this either sister, I would not have Fast hurt himself attempting this, I do not wish for you do do so either. E-Especially when you have not even... er... h-had the opportunity to do what you came here for... I am sorry I have made you wait, s-so nothing may happen to you before..." Jade dragged me into the hug with them anxiously, shifting and blushing furiously as she spoke around certain subjects with Glitter between us.

Swan got the subtext easily enough, though I was pretty sure our daughter did too, she at least kept her mouth shut. Just in case, I still frantically cut off Swan's delighted gasp with a kiss before it got to obvious. "You mean I finally get to p--"

"HA! Ehehe... ha... y-yeah... easy Swan... W-We'll talk about all that later, in private... For now we got other stuff to do and not much time. I totally believe in you, but I don't want you getting hurt either. So... let's just see about improving your odds before the main event huh?"

Pulling out Jade's Gamma Gun from her packs cut off her questioningly raised eyebrow, bringing a hopeful smile to her face and a curious tilt to Swan's head. There was no super radioactive pond or balefire crater nearby, but we could do as much as we could with what we had on hoof anyway.

Enough to give the hellhounds a big surprise...

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

Scrapper-----------
---Waste not, want not! Your vast experience scavenging the ruins to cobble together junk into slightly more useful junk makes coming up with parts easier. You can now salvage uncommon components while scrapping junk, weapons and armor.

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

Salt Lick -- Good Natured Rascal
---You're still looked up to and appreciated in the settlement, but conflicts of opinion have made your standing a little more mixed in the lakeside village. You can't please everypony all the time after all!

White Legs -- Merciful Thug
---Trying to talk to the violent pack of hellhounds didn't turn out great and protecting a captured invader didn't help your popularity in Salt Lick, but trying to be better and treat the hellhounds as people may have given you a way out of a sticky situation. Granting even enemies consideration and mercy can help in unexpected ways!