Pushing open the swinging double doors of the cretan arms, Jade and I crept in to a wall of noise and heat from a lot of ponies and minotaurs crowded in the old hotel. All of Salt Lick seemed to be gathered here, minus those out on the walls keeping a close eye out for signs of another attack. The murmur and shouts of the crowd focused on the sturdy tables near the bar and the group focused on the map held down with steins and loose ammo.

Unfortunately, the griffon I needed to find was part of this little war council, gesturing to the map here and there while giving her opinion on the best tactics and approach to the mines outside of town. Getting to Val giving her expert opinion meant we had to venture right into the thick of things, and the further we progressed into the packed establishment, the more angry and unkind looks we were attracting.

Trying to slip up to Val's side unobtrusively, I winced under all the hard stares, absolutely wilting as Chief Steelfist noticed us and glowered with a snort. This was not going to be easy... Looking up to Jade's panicked grimace, I gave her a supportive nudge before she just decided to disappear in the face of the cloud of scorn raining down on us, giving Val a gentle tap on the flank to get her attention.

"Psst... Val... Umm... I need spark cells, like... all of them..." I gestured down at the powered down magical energy weapon on the griffon's side, hoping to just get the ammo we needed and slip out quietly.

Of course Val wasn't going to cooperate with that idea, squawking loudly and interrupting the plans of the leadership of Salt Lick. "Whadya mean 'all of em' boss!? Gonna need ta be at 100% ta take on a bunch'a hellhounds, can't have ya disarmin' me right before the fight!"

"We have a plan... sorta... Just trust me ok, we need every spark cell we can get our hooves on, right now. I would go check the local store, but it's closed and I'm not sure they'd serve us. We're kinda on a time limit too Val, so just hoof em over and..."

Trying to just get the ammo and get out again quickly was shot to hell already by the obstinate griffon reluctantly digging in her bags, the earth pony colt galloping up to the table completely obliterated any hopes for a little more time though. The young red buck's eyes were wide and he yelped in a voice cracking with adolescence in his excitement, shaking as he jabbered at the leader of his town. "Chief! Chief! The hellhounds are doin' something weird! They stopped diggin' but Patient saw em poppin' up way over in the stockyards! They're just... waitin' up there!"

Stroking his beard in thought, Chief Steelfist gazed to the west, his steely grey eyes glaring through the crowd of injured and angry residents, beyond the walls and his town outside, scowling first at the unseen enemy, then at us... "Hmm... thought I hadn't heard anything take a header in the lake lately. You folks and your pet mutt have anything to do with this 'Princess'?"

With all eyes turning on her at once, Jade cringed for a moment and had me worried as my pip-buck's inventory updated with Val's stock of spark cells. Thankfully she shook it off with a cute little whinny and stamped a hoof down, her costume tiara glimmering in the candlelight and accenting the regal if shaky voice she managed to reply with.

"Y-Yes... He is not our 'pet mutt' either, we released the captive hellhound after stopping to speak with him, rather than torturing a wounded captive. Because we took the time to do so, we learned we may challenge the leader of the pack directly and have done so. They have stopped their digging and are presumably waiting our champion at their chosen arena." Jade's sweet voice was met with stunned silence, even the loud and gregarious minotaurs just goggled back for a long minute, while I was anxious to get back to our 'champion' where we left her.

Finally Steelfist slammed his cybernetic fist down on the map with a broad grin, roaring his approval and suddenly all smiles again. "OH YEAH! You mean we can fight just the dog in charge!? Guess it was worth leavin' that one alive after all! Alright folks! I'll take it on and they'll be gone! How's that for..."

"No." I interrupted the outbreak of relieved cheers and Steelfist's premature celebration, joining Jade and trying to let a little of the Shroud into my voice for confidence. They weren't going to like this part, but I wasn't going to make Jade be the bearer of bad news. She was the good cop, I was the bad...

The effect was as if I slapped every pony and minotaur of Salt Lick at once, the hopeful looks focused on their leader immediately turned my way with a scowl, along with Steelfist's himself. "What do yo mean 'no' little pony... Yer Princess just said we can challenge the leader, I'm doin' it."

Standing up to that furious stare made me want to gulp and skitter back, relying on 'Be Dark...' and its' strange influence was actually helpful though. Steelfist was another alpha male, just like the hellhound leader Icepaw, that shadowy growl in my head viewed them both as competition and had no problem snapping back.

"I mean no. She said we learned we could challenge and we did so, not you. You're not allies of the Kingdom of Sanctuary yet, right? You even said Jade wasn't Princess here, that you're in charge? We challenged, you just have to wait in line I guess."

A heavy silence fell on the crowded room, despite how mad some of these folks were, Jade at least had the goodwill of most after all the healing she had done to the gravely wounded staring at me. I was just her knight though, apparently a laughable one too by the flabbergasted snort of mean spirited chuckles when Steelfist recovered, looming over me across the table and jabbing a sharp metal finger into my chest.

"Who, you!? HA! You really are crazy, aren't you runt? You don't stand a chance in Tartarus! The Princess got us the fight, now let me take over shorty. They came attackin' but I'll send em packin'!" Steelfist sneered down his nose at me.

I was somewhat heartened to see that confident smirk wiped from the Chief's grizzled face before I could respond. The younger Sledge Smasher we had traveled with spoke up thoughtfully, scratching his mane as he spoke to his leader and the crowd. "Er... Chief, the Shroud pony there might actually do it. I told you he can fight, I wasn't lyin' bout the Weird Sisters ya know..."

Ignoring Steelfist's unconvinced snort, I shot Sledge a grateful look and continued evenly. "I didn't say I'd fight him anyway, our champion will. But we are going first. You all wanted to kill that wounded hellhound, if it weren't for Jade saving it we wouldn't even know we could do this. We're challenging them as leaders of the Kingdom of Sanctuary first, if we win then no more fighting. If we lose, you can challenge him yourself, or just go back to your brilliant plans of attacking a den of hellhounds underground. Whatever, it'll be out of our hooves."

I caught myself having already planted my hooves on the table and leaning across the surface aggressively towards Steelfist, the nubs of my fangs extending slurring a couple words. 'Be Dark...' might be useful for things like this, but I had to keep a tight hold of the leash.

At least I wasn't the only one struggling with my darker nature, Steelfist's scowl deepened as he leaned over the table between us, his voice growing low and dangerous. "No more fightin' if you win huh? How's that? Gonna send em all away? Get em outta our mines? Tell em ta get back to the Glowing Sea with all the other beasties you want our help corrallin'?"

Thankfully Jade huffed primly and interrupted us before we got eye to eye, fluttering her wings anxiously but speaking clearly. "I have yet to decide upon the terms, should we be victorious... However, I have also learned your people are not completely innocent in this conflict Chief Steelfist. The White Legs are refugees from a threat that drove them from their homes, they were seeking safety and sanctuary, but were met with violence when they arrived here."

"Of course they were dammit! They're friggin hellhounds! Don't want monsters like that settling in around us!" Steelfist roared back, backed by the grim nods and murmurs of assent from his people.

Jade was unperturbed however, curling a wing over me and convincing me to get back down to the floor as she spoke softly. "As I have had to convince my own Fast, hellhounds are not mindless beasts, yet they were treated as such. It is no wonder they attacked. Whoever started it and for whatever reason, if this conflict continues as it has because of mistakes and cruelty, it will become a cycle of violence without end, just as the great war was! I will not fall into that trap, or allow others to do so if I can help it. I am sorry for those who have died and been injured here, on both sides. We are a neutral party however, if we can broker a peace, that is what we will do. Now, if you will excuse us, we must prepare our champion to fight on behalf of that peace, as contrary as that seems to me..."

Sticking her nose up, Jade turned and trotted from the stunned room. Following her gave me a better course than anything likely to happen if I stayed long enough for Steelfist to stop sputtering, so I did so quickly. Giving a rueful shrug behind me, Val stood and came along too, unable resist a parting shot as she did so.

"Welp, no reason fer me ta hang around makin' battle plans and what not. You all heard Blue, we ain't gonna have a full on, knock down slobberknocker. Too bad, but boss does what Blue wants, so yer on yer own." Val grumbled with regret in her voice, clearly looking forward to a outright battle as much as some of the Salt Lick residents, but loyal to whatever I decided.

Considering the hellhounds were already gathering outside, we ran for the imposing town hall as soon as we were out the doors. Glitter and Zed were still waiting in the entry hall of the ancient stone structure, the slow clicking from my pip-buck as I neared the counters and rear passages of the building the cause. As much as Glitter obviously wanted to follow and take a peek, she had been warned and lectured repeatedly about fooling around with radiation, despite the terrible example her parents set.

Not that such knowledge kept her from trying anyway, the pale filly hopped up on the receptionists counter and stuck her lip out in a pouty, pleading look before we went by, peering around us to the door back. "Can't I take a quick peek daddy? It's no fair, I never get ta see this happen!"

"And you won't, except from a safe distance, sorry sweetie. You can do a little mission for me though, if that's any consolation?"

I wasn't disappointed by her response, Glitter beamed and nodded crazily, before even knowing what I wanted. Any opportunity to help was still met by ecstatic excitement, this one elicting a joyous whoop, "Sure dad! What? Do I get to go watch the fight!?"

Thinking of taking her to a pack of hellhounds gathered to watch a bloodsport, I shivered and shook my head immediately along with Jade. "Noooooo... Sorry, not bringing you anywhere near them sweetie, forget it, you can watch from here with the others. I want you and your little breezie friends to do something simple, just tell the story from the book to as many kids and grownups that will listen. You make friends with everypony and they'll listen to you and our 'fairies', I doubt the people of Salt Lick are nearly as mad at you guys as they are at us."

Glitter reluctantly accepted the thick tome of Shrouded Stallion legends floating to her in my telekinesis, tilting her head to eye me with disappointment mixed with curiosity. "Awww... Why? Umm... it's a good story an all daddy, but how does that help?"

Jade took over before I could answer, smiling sweetly and nodding her agreement. "Oh yes, very smart dear. Your father is not placating you Glitter, I believe spreading that story around may make the villagers more open to achieving a similar result. All they know of hellhounds is what they have seen themselves here, not the best example... If our little Ambassador of Cuteness and our fairy friends were to get them to listen to a story of ponies and dogs working together however, perhaps it would cool a bit of their anger and make them more receptive hmm?"

Flittering around her and the book she stashed in her little canvas backpack, Spring Gale spoke for herself and her wary brother Blowing Storm in a happy squeak, getting her sibling to go along with her salute back. "Okie dokie Fast Shroud! Ve help by making beeg ponies und minos leesten? Help stop bad fighting?"

"Right, they're all really mad after so many got hurt and killed here guys. It's not gonna be easy to get them to make peace, so you telling them the story of Smartyfang and Canary might help nudge them down that path. See? It's a really important job I'm asking you to do, that you're the best choice to do. Can you help with that while we er... finish helping Aunt Swan get ready?"

"Oooooohhhh, Ok daddy! I'll go tell all the kids and everybody else I can! C'mon fairies!" Glitter squealed and jumped off the counter, clopping across the cracked stone floors quickly with the pair of breezies fluttering around her.

Grateful to the foal grinning ear to ear and her fairy followers, I smiled and waved them all off as the two of them ran out into the streets of Salt Lick. A little PR wouldn't hurt here, I learned that much from fighting the Institute. If they could manipulate things by playing on people's darker natures, we had our own secret weapon to appeal to their better ones. Planting the seed of the old myth of diamond dogs and ponies helping each other, living and working together in the happy ending... it couldn't hurt.

Winding our way to the back of the building where the steady tick-tick-tick grew louder, Jade's eyelids got heavy and lidded, a soft smile replacing her anxious expression as we approached the door down to the basement and the batpony mare stationed at the head of the stairs down.

Witchy alternated between picking up Jade's gamma gun in her mouth and firing a few shots downstairs, then taking the cobbled together weapon in her hooves to awkwardly reload it while she slurped at an orange packet of Rad-Away. Floating the sparking weapon up before she wearily reached for it again, I relieved Jade's royal guard of her post and sent her back out to Zed where it was radiation free, before she made herself sick.

Jade looked her over worriedly before she left, tugging up her foreleg over Witchy's blushing gasp, she checked the rainbow colored gauge there and 'tsked' at where the needle hovered, in the yellow portion of the dial. "Thank you Witching dear, go back up front and continue taking your medicine. We must hurry and be ready to go soon, before either the White Legs or the villagers get any ideas. We will take over here, is she... making progress?"

Nodding up to Jade's dreamy look as she tilted her muzzle up forcing her to finish off her current dose of anti-rad medication, Witchy accepted the bundle of more orange packets shoved into her hooves, sticking her tongue out when she spit the empty packet out. "Yes Princess, between Fast fiddling with the generator down there and all the shots from your weapon, she's quite happy... I'm afraid your gamma gun thing may not take much more however, and she may have some difficulty getting out of there..."

Checking over Jade's sparking magical energy weapon, I groaned at the wear already evident and dumped out Val's stash of ammo. Slotting in the next spark cell, I tossed the spent cartridge over with the others to be recharged later. Doing so with Jade's own limited supply had been too slow and not guaranteed to succeed, plus it required accessing the generator down there, which was now blocked by a lot of Swan I eyed appreciatively while fiddling with what I could to keep the poor gamma gun going. If it weren't for the situation, the sight of a giant purple rump and long pink tail waiting down there would be a lot more enjoyable.

"Umm... Swan? Doing alright down there?" I called down warily and fired another blast of radiation into the wall of purple taking up the stairwell, trying not to focus too hard on the sight as my own radiation gauge kept steadily climbing.

A series of heavy thumps and rumbles through the floor shook me on my hooves as Swan's tail flicked up and I listened to her struggling around down there. By the limited glimpses of flailing hooves and wings I got as she squeezed and grunted her way around, it must be getting pretty cramped in the small basement level. Not surprising as there wasn't a lot of room even for normal ponies, it was basically just a small shelter and emergency generator storage area.

When she finally managed to spin around and stick her head up the stairwell, I got a better idea of just how much she had absorbed from the ancient generator I had stripped all the shielding from. Goggling at the sparkling blue-violet eyes looking up to me cheerily, I did some rough mental calculations and figured she had to be absolutely crammed in there like a sardine, double Jade's size or more maybe? She'd have to teleport herself out...

"Hello Fast! This generator thing works really good! Thank you for fixing it! It's not as good as my pond, but sister's gun helps. Can you take it outside for me though? I'm running out of room down here." Swan burbled happily, stretching her long neck almost all the way upstairs before getting stuck a few steps down from me with a frustrated snort.

"Sorry Swan, no time to disconnect the whole thing and take it outside, the hellhounds are already gathering. Besides, I kinda un-fixed that generator, not fixed. I can put it back together easy enough later, but I think they might get even more pissed if all the lights went out in town. Just try to put up with it and curl up as tight as you can, we want you to soak up every little bit of rads you can before going out there, so you stay safe doing this."

It felt strange firing a weapon right in the big purple mare's face, but by the way she purred and moaned as I emptied the charge on the current spark cell, I got the idea she didn't mind at all. Especially as that latest round and some forceful crashes and crunches from below let her stretch her muzzle a little closer, puckering up comically in a come hither gesture.

"I'll be fine! This'll be lots of fun! Why are you worried too? Come down and play with me Fast, it's reeeeally nice down here!" Swan giggled and kept making smacking, smooching noises until I finally relented and came in range, getting a rather slobbery oversized kiss.

Sitting on the step out of her reach again, I kept firing and flattened my ears to the mewling noises she was making as the repeated shots added to her already impressive bulk, shrugging back to her with a concerned stare. "I'm worried because I don't want you getting hurt, even with as much advantage as we can give you, this Icepaw guy looks like a tough customer. I know you're really good at this and like it Swan, but I still can't help but worry..."

"And is most likely thinking he should do it himself and spare you from the danger I am sure sister... is that not right Fast?" Jade squeezed into the stairwell and sat beside me, arching a knowing eyebrow down at me.

The warning tone in her voice tapered off early, giving way to a soft whinny of enjoyment at the stronger radiation down here. If she was practically sitting on the generator like Swan, we'd have two oversized alicorns to deal with. From this distance however, she was merely humming softly in contentment and nibbling at my ears, leaving her lavender sister to puzzle over the teasing admonishment.

Swan's face scrunched up in thought, tilting in the narrow stairwell and knocking a few gas masks on the wall off with her long horn. "But you said I could fight... I'm lots stronger than you Fast, why would you not wanna let me? Or do you want to fight and I'm taking away the head dog?"

"No, I don't want to fight that Icepaw guy, one hellhound like that was enough thank you... It's not that I want to fight instead, er... necessarily... but I don't want you to fight him either. What if you get hurt? Or... d-die? I care about you Swan, so I don't want that, I'd rather take the risk myself than put it on you, even if you have better odds than me. Umm d-do you get it?"

By her confused look, I assumed she didn't. Instead she huffed and blew my mane back, apparently taking it as an insult to her abilities. "I won't die, I've killed lots of dogs like that before Fast. I'm not weak enough to let this one beat me..."

Thankfully Jade took over, giving a friendly nip to my neck and answering with a sigh. "He is being overly protective again sister, still thinking he should do everything himself too... Both things myself, sister Ivy and the others have been trying to break him of, unsuccessfully I might add."

Hiding under the brim of my hat and crossing my forelegs in a pout, I grumbled back and tried to get this across to the purple mare obviously getting lost. "I'm working on it ok? I can't help it, it's not that I doubt you Swan, I just don't want anything to happen to you. Hmm... You didn't like seeing that courser thing hurting me right?"

"No... That tough robot made me mad when I saw what it did to you, so I smashed it good..." Swan growled back, her eyes flicking up in thought before returning to mine in a blazing scowl.

"Well, I'd feel the same way if that hellhound hurt you like that. You protect everypony back home, but doesn't anypony ever protect you?"

That finally clicked, a soft smile slowly spread on Swan's suddenly rosy cheeks as she nickered and shook her head as much as she was able in the confined space. "I guard everybody else, nopony guards me. You... you'd want to? You'd feel like that if I got hurt Fast?"

"Yes Swan, I'd want to keep you from harm if I can. I know you like it and want to, but you should know we... I care and worry about you, that you don't have to do this. It's not right for you to always be the fortress everypony else hides behind. A big stone castle protects all the ponies in it, but they have to take care of it in return or it'll fall apart. Er... I'm not good at this kinda thing, but do you get it?"

In answer, Swan started shifting and struggling below us, eventually grunting with effort and destroying the lower half of the rickety stairs to reposition herself, finally reaching where I was seated to nuzzle happily. "I like that! It makes me feel all warm and tingly, is that the love and feelings junk you keep whining about Fast? It's not so bad after all. Don't worry, I'll win easy, and then we can play!"

Jade rolled her eyes at that, but gently took her gamma gun from me in her pale magic and gave her sister another good shot to the face to interrupt her forceful attention. "We will see sister, one step at a time. Let us do all we can to ensure your victory first, and please, do try to get your opponent to yield rather than killing him hmm? I-If you can safely of course, I would rather there be no death here tonight, injuries I can at least heal. Mmm... q-quite well by the boost I am incidentally soaking up as well by sitting here. G-Go along and buy time Fast, I will attend to my sister. I believe it may be best you not be present and also absorbing radiation at the moment, t-the effects on all of us are a bit too distracting."

I glanced down at my pip-buck and caught the needle inching up towards orange with a gulp. Jade was probably right, both her and her sister's eyes were growing lidded and sleepy, while my mane had been getting increasingly itchy. Staying here with the two of them could quickly end up with us forgetting the situation entirely... While that would be fun, it would also be very ill timed, I doubted either the hellhounds or the villagers would be very understanding...

"R-Right! Leaving! Er... I-I'll see you out there Swan, just be careful ok? Don't worry, I'll stall as long as I can!" I called over my shoulder as I galloped down the hall, flattening my ears against a pair of lusty giggles following me back to the streets of Salt Lick.

By the time Val and I left Salt Lick to go out and meet the waiting horde of hellhounds, I was actually glad to go face the pack of vicious dogs rather than stick around in the grim town. Some of the pervasive tension and anger of the residents had lessened at least, but there were still a lot of unkind or at least unsure looks following us around.

Many were just following their leader's example, Steelfist still wore a furious scowl when I caught a glimpse of him, making sure to avoid the grey minotaur rather than get into another confrontation with him. Some were confused or even cautiously optimistic at least, those consumed with fresh wounds and lost loved ones might be focused on revenge, but Jade had presented an alternative to more suffering that others were at least willing to hear. The stories Miles and even DJ-Pon3 told of the Commonwealth's own Princess had their upside, Jade had become a symbol to believe in that many here would give a chance.

I was also encouraged our daughter was following her mother's example on that score too, rather than mine. I tracked her down before heading out, finding the little filly and pair of breezies holding a regular story hour on the wooden boardwalk outside the crowded Cretan Arms. Between Glitter and Gale, they were attracting quite a crowd of not only young colts and fillies, but grown ponies and minotaurs too, all listening to the ancient story with interest.

I expected as much from Glitter, taking advantage of her magnetic personality and social skills to try to sway some of the residents. Spring Gale was being surprisingly brave and helpful on that score too though. The 'fairies' were long held legends here on the edge of their forest, having the tiny lilac mare courageously putting herself on display and taking up the old myth in her squeaky voice to an enchanted crowd was doing a world of good.

They were planting the idea of another path anyway, now we just had to deal with the work of actually clearing the way to that course and hope. Not wishing to interfere with their progress, I inconspicuously called her away for a parting hug. She still used her weaponized cuteness to try to go watch the show up close, but settled for getting Val's cracked binoculars shoved into her waiting hooves.

Sledge Smasher was on guard at the western gates on our way out and willing to chat before we left too. He was clearly conflicted and concerned, but with the time we had spent together, he at least had a little bit of faith at this point. The burly hunter even gave another friendly smack to the back in parting, sending me pinwheeling through a very rough takeoff due to the gesture of camaraderie and wishing us the best, hoping we really could 'pull another miracle out of our ass' and promising to watch closely from the walls.

That just left the actual ass-pulling to be done, not a great prospect as Val circled the wide stockyard below and clucked at the crowd of hellhounds ringing the open area where the huge Icepaw waited. "Yer sure about this boss? All of em just sittin' out in the open like that... if we rained enough firepower down on this place, we'd put a serious dent in their numbers..."

"And ruin any chances for peace... Sorry Val, we're trying for Jade's way first, I know you and Swan both don't like it most of the time, but we have to give it a shot."

Val merely chuckled in return, waving a dark claw back at me as we glided down. "Meh, I'm used ta Blue by now and know you always do what she wants first boss, jus' throwin' it out there. 'Sides, big stuff ought'a win, that crazy mare's as good at wreckin' fuckers as me!"

"Let's hope so Val... and let's give her as much time as we can, come on..." I grimaced as we came down in the middle of the muddy lot, anxiously landing in a ring of hellhounds all following our progress with their weaponry.

Discovered Location: Troubleshoes Rodeo Fairgrounds blinked in my vision as we lost altitude, letting me take a good look around at the White Leg's chosen arena between the mines and Salt Lick. I'd imagine it would normally be a dusty, flat plain surrounded by the foothills leading to the mountains, but this close to the edge of the Commonwealth and all the recent rain left it a large area of muck. The weather made me idly wonder if more barrier storms swirling around were responsible and what they were trying to keep out if that was the case, but the situation and surroundings at hoof took up my attention.

There were quite a few ragged and large roofed enclosures, a trio of rotting barns, dozens of ruined and repaired stalls down a concocurse leading from the arched gates bearing a faded upside down horseshoe, several pens of rickety fenceposts, along with the huge lot we were descending towards with all the torch bearing canine horrors sitting on the timber fence lining the lot.

From what Sledge and others told me, in better times this old complex had become a stockyard and slaughterhouse for brahmim ranchers and independent hunters around the Commonwealth. Even with all the weather washing a lot of it away, the scent of old blood hung in the air under the smell of mud and hay.

Stumbling and squelching to a halt in the muddy lot in front of Icepaw, I managed to land without falling and getting covered in slop thanks to a timely grab of the tail by Val, shaking off the gruff chuckles all around us and looking up to the intimidating hellhound smirking back. Icepaw's rough metal armor was removed, his pale, broad chest covered in scars, fur and nothing else but the strap of the plasma cannon slung on his back.

"Finally! We fight now fake Shadow Pony? Where blue one? Mate not want see you die?" Icepaw sneered and cracked his neck in anticipation, letting his audience laugh along and enjoy the show to come.

"She'll be along, she's with our champion right now. They're getting ready, er... you know how mare's are, can't rush them getting themselves together before going somewhere, amiright fellas? Heh heh... er... t-they'll be here soon."

I was surprised to see a few hellhounds actually snickering at my lame joke, followed by a few glares and pokes from others I guessed were females near the ones laughing. Huh... maybe ladies taking their time getting ready was a universal thing... It defused a little tension anyway, though Icepaw didn't look amused.

Getting down on all fours to claw at the mud and glare in my face, the hellhound leader growled back. "Champion? You no fight? Pony what uses name of powerful Shadow Pony is coward? Paw Buster say you fight..."

"I'm not afraid of you if that's what you're asking asshole... We never told Paw Buster I would fight, so don't blame him either. The Princess can choose her champion for a challenge right? She chose her sister instead of me, that's all. Don't worry, you'll get your fight and we'll abide by the rules, mostly..."

"Mostly?" Icepaw rumbled back, his nostrils flaring as I leaned forward into his glare and felt my fangs growing sharp and predatory.

"If you win, we leave, just like we said. If you kill her champion though... well... I like that mare, if she dies, you die. That's not a threat from the Princess, it's a promise from the Shrouded Stallion. Just between you and me huh?"

Struggling against the nagging voice of 'Be Dark...' had gotten harder as the sun set and the time for this battle got closer. Faced with the surprised looking alpha hellhound glaring back, it was really straining the leash and starting to snarl. I did have faith Swan could do this herself and wasn't terribly worried, but that overly aggressive part of myself insisted on fair warning. If he killed Swan, I didn't care about anything else, I'd find a way to kill him before we left, even if it was alone.

At least the hellhound took it well, a gruff chuckle building to an uproarious guffaw of surprisingly friendly laughter. "Ha! You funny puny pony, maybe you not such a fake after all! That more like great Shadow Pony from stories! When I kill Princess pony's champion, I wait for you next right here, fair and square!"

Ignoring Val's warning click from her weapons as Icepaw's paw shot out, I anxiously lifted a foreleg up to meet the gesture, mustering my courage to not shiver as those gleaming claws wrapped around my leg and gave a hearty shake. I supposed Jade was right, hellhounds were different... but they were people, they just weren't pony-people. Odd for a death threat to make him friendlier, but 'Be Dark...' got along with this kind of culture just fine.

"It's a deal then, don't worry, you won't wait long... So, in the meantime... er... What made a tough dog like you come running up here with his tail between his legs anyway? Paw Buster said something about a 'green beast' and other ponies like me? Alicorns?"

Mild insults and ribbing seemed to pass for friendly banter here, so I went along and decided to probe for a little more information, rewarded by a grimace and darkening expression coming with Icepaw's eventual reply. "Ugly ponies with wings and horns like you yes, plus undead ponies and others in robes, big green one like your Princess too. They come and push out all others, Glowing Sea make them strong, White Legs couldn't fight more and more of those things that keep coming, so we leave home... Not running from another mutant pony though, pack take stand and grow strong again, then return and take home back. No puny fake Shadow Pony or weak Princess make us leave, no bulls or normal ponies make either!"

Mutant alicorns, ghouls in robes and one of Jade's green sisters... the Church of Balefire... Taking a moment to check over the map on my pip-buck, I took in this new information and let it mingle with what I already knew. Between the Church and the Gunners, that was most of the southern Commonwealth under the vicarious control of the Institute.

The group of mad scientists had their hooves in both groups, apparently using them to cement their hold on this area and surround the 'forbidden zone' if my vague info was right. Somewhere beyond all that, Dr. Mobius' hidden lab waited, they were blockading Grandpa... they really were scared of him...

Val's eager giggle made me look up, catching the fiery griffon hooking a thumbclaw over her shoulder with a smirk. "Wouldn't be so sure 'bout not losin' there ugly, here comes yer challenger and she looks like she's in top form eh?"

I followed her gesture and the surprised gaze of Icepaw and all the other White Legs, looking up to the starry evening sky and spotting a lot of purple approaching fast. Thanks to Jade struggling to keep up along with Witchy, I got some idea of scale and gaped along with all the hellhounds as Swan streaked down, slamming to the mud beside us and splattering everyone with muck.

When Jade landed daintily between us, I could make a better comparison and figured she had to be close to triple sized, though that may be off a bit as I noticed Jade was a few inches taller than normal too. There was less shock from the White Legs than I'd normally expect on having a giant alicorn land in front of them, but if they had been driven out by one of Jade's sisters in the highly radioactive Glowing Sea, I supposed it wouldn't be a total surprise.

None of them looked very happy about it anyway, Icepaw scowled up at the giddy purple filly blinking down at him. Even the huge dog only came up to her chest, though he didn't look intimidated in the slightest. "This champion? You make purple pony big and think that enough to win? This one nothing compared to Green Beast, and I fight her to standstill! Big purple mare die, then I wait for fake Shadow Pony to back up big words..."

"What was that? To what is he referring Fast?" Jade narrowed her bright blue eyes and gave me a penetrating look, picking up on Icepaw's comment instantly.

"N-Nothing! Just a little promise between guys, h-honest! Anyway! We didn't just pick her because she's big, she's tough too Icepaw so don't get too cocky! A-Are you ready Swan?"

Staggering as Swan's big muzzle swung down and nuzzled happily, I managed to not go stumbling into the mud as she purred and nudged eagerly. "Ready! Let's go big dog, sister said to try not to kill you, so this will be a challenge! Oh! Hang on..."

Icepaw cocked his head in confusion as Swan gasped and suddenly stood to her full, towering height, wiggling and squirming her way out of her alluring pink Alicorn Angel costume and floating the billowing skirt down to Jade. The sight of the attractive mare stripping on the spot had my mane itching crazily while I watched with an equally confused look, catching her attention once she struggled out of her blouse and sent it drifting down as well.

"I don't want my nice clothes covered in mud and dog blood... sister just cleaned them!" Swan beamed down, her unconcerned, eager tone making clear the minimal threat she viewed the hellhound leader as.

Trying to smooth things over as she absently folded Swan's sheet of a skirt, Jade spoke up in her best regal voice and eyed the large plasma cannon on Icepaw's back. "Ahem... y-yes of course Swan, I will hold on to these. Now then Mr. Icepaw, just so we are clear on the rules of this barbaric competition, I assume since weaponry is allowed, my sister may use her magic without limit?"

Icepaw shook off the murmur of chuckles around him and snapped a claw for instant silence, glaring back and stretching his long arms wide. "Fine, not scared of pony magic. No can leave arena once start, but can go up or down inside ring. Fight until one side dies or yields, loser bow to will of winner. White Legs win, Princess pony and friends leave, we go back to taking town with no annoying bat making noises. You win you do what?"

"I... I have not decided yet, I hope to find a compromise if possible. My decision is irrelevant until we are victorious however, so let us focus on the matter at hoof. Sister, please be careful! I will be right here to heal you when you are done!" Jade hedged a bit and turned to Swan, giving her an encouraging nudge to her long leg before fluttering back to the fence.

"Be really careful Swan, don't underestimate him, he's fought one of your sisters all super sized too, so don't rely on that! I'll be right here too, so you... you finish him off safe ok!"

Swan simply grinned down at me and leaned over to plant a slobbery kiss on my cheek, standing and spreading her legs wide in a ready stance as I followed Jade, Val and Witchy to the other side of the fence and a small stretch clear of cheering hellhounds.

Hooking my forelegs over the timber to lean over and watch anxiously, I held my breath as Icepaw lifted a gleaming claw high and smirked to his pack. "Princess pony and champion invoke ancient rite of challenge, and White Legs no back down from fight! Now we see who top dog! Ready?"

Swan gave a cheery nod down at her opponent, spreading her wings and smiling with sharp teeth as her eyes got dragonish. "Ready..."

Icepaw's claw came down swiftly with a gruff shout and the mounting tension broke in a wave of cheers at his shout, "Fight!"

As soon as the signal was given, both combatants leapt into action in a flurry of movement. Swan wasted no time, her long foreleg shot out and bridged the short distance between them before Icepaw could react, smashing into his jaw and sending him flying. The hellhound alpha was quick though, a series of long gashes opened up down Swan's leg in a parting shot and Icepaw hit the ground rolling, unholstering his plasma cannon and taking aim in one fluid movement.

Swan charged sideways instantly, dodging the first blazing green ball of plasma and bringing up her overcharged shield to take the next shot that tracked her far too accurately. The third blast was met by a bright violet beam from her horn just as it left he barrel, exploding in a flash of light Icepaw used to disappear underground.

Still appearing to be enjoying herself despite losing track of her opponent, Swan glanced all around her in anticipation, watching the muddy earth closely for any sign of movement. Her hooves were surrounded in a pale nimbus of purple magic as she cast some unknown spell and reared back on her hindlegs, pausing and adjusting her crashing course back down in response to her ears flicking to the right.

When her large forelegs slammed down to the ground, a ring of radiating force exploded around her with a rumble. Icepaw dove out of the ground behind her in response, crackling with purple magic as he leapt up to Swan's flank. The vicious hellhound bit and clawed at her flank in a spray of blood pattering to the mud, bringing his claws on his left together into a piercing wedge that punctured Swan's side and made me wince.

My breathless view was momentarily obstructed by a lot of blue squeezing what little air I held onto out, Jade fretted and curled around me from behind worriedly at the sight of her sister bucking crazily to dislodge the snarling hellhound firmly attached to her flank.

"Oh! I do not like this at all Fast! She is getting so injured! L-Look at all the blood!" Jade cried out above me, flinching back from another fan of blood from flashing claws.

Val had none of Jade's problems watching the show, cheerily munching on a string of rock candy she had pilfered from somewhere in Salt Lick. "C'mon big stuff! Kick his ass! Sit on him!"

Apparently Swan heard the raucous advice, giving a hard flap with her wide wings to go straight up, falling backwards to land squarely on her rump and squishing the furious hellhound under her bulk. My sharp ears flicked at the sound of bones snapping before Icepaw burrowed underground again, letting Swan limp back to her hooves and summon a ring of glowing purple arrows around her head.

Watching Swan prancing around the ring agilely and launching her spells to go quivering several feet in the ground around her, I had to struggle against the wave of voices in my head rising up at the show. 'Be Strong!' and 'Be Unwavering!' cheered and shouted, willing their support to the devastating purple mare. The bright pink mote of 'Awareness' watched every blow and blast closely, picking up the subtle cues Swan was using to stay ahead of the fast hellhound jumping out of the ground at different angles and trading hits with her.

'Be Kind...' however was quailing in fright as much as Jade squeezing me like a stress toy, the soothing, gentle spirit utterly occupied by trying to keep the rising roar of 'Be Dark...' back. The two opposing forces were locked in their own battle, one only worried for Swan and wanting no one to be hurt, the other making me gnash my fangs and growl as it demanded tagging in and making the dog suffer for just the damage he had already done.

Absorbed as I was by the fight and trying to stay in control, I almost didn't notice the gaggle of minotaurs and ponies cautiously making their way closer until they were right on us. None of the nearby hellhounds made a move to block them or attack at least, even graciously making room at the fence for more spectators. As far as they were concerned, the only fighting allowed at the moment was between Swan and Icepaw, all other grudges were forgotten.

Jade was forced to release me to suck in air by Sledge nudging his way forward, leaning down to speak in a conspiratorial whisper. "Hey... Fast, we er... we might have a problem..."

"Problem? What problem?" I diverted a little attention from Swan flapping above the arena and raining destruction down on the muddy ground, turning to the anxious looking minotaur curiously.

Sledge fidgeted and his attention was taken by a blast of plasma cracking Swan's blazing shield before giving a reluctant answer full of worry. "Er... The Chief, he was mighty pissed... I went ta talk to him and get him to watch the fight, at least get an idea of what kinda prey we were dealin' with for after. I couldn't find him though, and ummm... Ester is gone from the armory..."

"Ester? W-Who is Ester and why is she a problem Sledge? I... OH! Swan look out!" Jade turned for a moment in concern, looking back sharply when Swan barely dodged another blast as her shield failed.

Sledge looked a little guilty, gulping before he spit out the answer. "Not a who, a what Princess... Ester is a B.E.L. we took it from the evidence lockup of the old cop shop ages ago, a Balefire Egg Launcher... we keep it around fer emergencies and big game. If the Chief took it..."

Looking up to the minotaur's worried grimace, I gulped as Val's suggestion came back to me. All these hellhounds out in the open... launching a balefire egg down on them would certainly take out a lot of them in one go and protect Salt Lick. It would also ruin any hopes for peace, not to mention blast us all to glowing cinders...

"Shit! Where would he go Sledge? Would he really... we have to stop him!" I nearly yelped in panic, biting my tongue to keep it down to a rushed whisper and turning to Jade. "S-Stay with Swan, be ready to help her and get everybody outta here, I gotta go with Sledge! Val, come on!"

Jade didn't look happy, but winced at another series of heavy blows traded between the two combatants nearby and put on a brave face, nodding and letting me go to the anxious minotaur. "V-Very well Fast, hurry! I only hope Mr. Smasher's fears are unfounded, but I am afraid he may do something foolish as well, please stop him! W-Without hurting him... i-if you can..."

Already flapping crazily to pull away from the crowd and the tempting view of Swan bucking Icepaw across the lot, I gave my best reassuring look and galloped off with Val on my tail. I'd do as she asked and try to keep this peaceful, but if Steelfist really was willing to lob a balefire egg down on all the hellhounds along with us, I wasn't exactly in a forgiving mood. Not only was his assinine plan pulling me away from watching Swan's struggle, if successful he'd kill both her and Jade, along with our unborn foal, Val, Witchy and everyone else in range.

"Ok Sledge, think! Where would Steelfist go to use this Ester? What would he do?"

Answering my growl at a slowing trot once we pulled away from any listening ears in the audience, Sledge scratched his spiky mane and looked up in rushed thought. "Hrrrmm... think... He'd want somewhere elevated huntin' with that thing, a clear line of fire and downwind... This way!"

'This way' turned out to be in the direction of the ruined train station up the increasing slope northwest from the fairgrounds, confirmed for Sledge when he licked a thick finger and held it up to the gentle breeze blowing north. Thinking like a hunter wasn't something that came naturally to me, but I saw (and smelled) his point with my still unfamiliar predator like senses. I could still catch the overwhelming wet-dog scent of a lot of hellhounds behind us, but nothing from the rusty traincars and crumbling station ahead, though I could see several excellent firing positions through the gloom already.

"Oy, Sledge! Ya realize we may have ta take out yer chief here, right? You ok with that?" Val bounded along the ground with us, following Sledge's path through the blackened trees and limited foliage for cover.

She raised a good point, one Sledge furrowed his thick brow at and muttered in response. "I'm hopin' seein' some of our people down there might make him reconsider. They know what's up and volunteered, wanted ta see the show anyway. Somethin' about it bein' just like some story? Hopefully with them stickin' close he won't do it, or we can talk him down if he's actually thinkin' about it anyway. If it comes down to it though... I dunno... If it comes to the gun, I'll see it done! Ok?"

"Ok Sledge, we'll try to leave it to your call. Fair warning though, if he's going to hurt Jade and the others... I'll stop him, by whatever means necessary..."

Our minotaur friend seemed to accept that as fair compromise, I really didn't want to be forced to kill the leader of his town after all, it was hardly a good way to make friends... He at least knew not wanting to and not doing it anyway were two separate things, falling into a worried silence as we quietly slipped into the railyard.

Sneaking down the rows of ancient rail cars and equipment was made more difficult by distraction, continually looking back the way we came and peeking between the cars at Swan's fight at every shout or shared wince of the crowd. If nothing else, Icepaw was taking Swan a long time to put down, which was quite the testament to his own prowess. Though some of that may have been Swan doing as Jade asked and trying not to kill him.

The hellhound wasn't being nearly so considerate if that was the case. Just the glimpses I caught showed Swan was smart to take off her alluring white and pink outfit, it would be stained completely crimson by now if she hadn't... Slashes and bites marred her purple coat all over, only her increased mass and the amount of power she had absorbed to attain it kept many of them from being fatal. While she was already noticeably smaller burning through her reserves to cast spells and regenerate, at least several long gashes couldn't slice all the way through her legs or neck in one pass.

Turning away from my latest fleeting glimpse of the big mare snapping out and catching Icepaw's hindleg in her fangs before he could completely dive underground, then swinging him back out of his hole like a rag doll, I had to suppress a cheer and keep going hurriedly. A mark had appeared on Eyes Forward Sparkle ahead of us, one that kept blinking between green and red...

Nodding that way silently to my companions, I had to give it to Sledge, he thought like a hunter and accurately guessed how a fellow hunter would in turn. The broken clock tower of the dilapidated old train station was occupied by Chief Steelfist alright, the large weapon poking out of the ruins was up on his meaty shoulder already and aimed at the fairgrounds below, the sickly rainbow glow of the oblong round in the miniature catapult ready to fly.

Seeing the devastating weapon of mass destruction zeroed in on where Jade stood, stealth was immediately abandoned and my wings carried me between Steelfist and his target before I consciously thought of anything. Spreading my legs wide to try to block his shot, I saw Sledge pelting into the train station's doors below and found Val at my side.

The griffon's grenade machinegun powered up as she flapped sedately at Steelfist's left, where he could see the threat she posed over the shoulder not blocked by the heavy B.E.L. as she drawled menacingly. "Wouldn't do that if I was you tough guy..."

"Steelfist! Stop this! And quit pointing that fucking thing at my friends! NOW!" The booming, furious voice of the Shrouded Stallion roared out, punctuated by the click of Vengeance's hammer coming back, the gleaming revolver appearing like magic and aimed at the Chief's head.

He didn't try to fire at least, though he didn't drop his weapon either. Steelfist glared back, holding the balefire egg launcher at the ready and snorting angrily. "Move stupid pony! Never get a better shot at all those damn dogs, takin' it while I got it! You mutants all get off on radiation anyway, that big filly down there was whinin' about it enough anyway! She'll be fine!"

"They're immune to the rads, not the big fucking explosion dammit!! Witchy isn't even an alicorn either, even if you did think Jade and Swan would be fine, you're willing to blast her to ashes when she saved your town!?" I screamed and sputtered back, fighting the tempting howl of 'Be Dark...' making my revolver shake in fury.

"Not to mention our own people Chief? Look closer, they're comin' out ta watch, you'd kill the folks you say you're tryin' to protect?" Sledge's rumbling voice panted up the stairwell behind Steelfist sternly, holding his cannon of a quadruple barreled shotgun on his own leader's back.

Completely surrounded now, Steelfist kept the massive B.E.L. Ester trained on me, subtly waggling left and right for a clearer line of fire. If he pulled the trigger now, at least Jade would be safe so long as it hit me, though me, Val, Sledge and this entire train station would go up in a fireball of balefire.

Steelfist's face was screwed up in rage and frustration, but so far he didn't seem to find his own destruction that appealing anyway. "Told em not to have anything to do with that nonsense! Be their own damn fault for disobeying their Chief! Like you are now Sledge, back off... if you're so worried, better run down there an' get em outta the way before they get hurt!"

Seeing Sledge taking a stand with us rather than doing as his Chief commanded helped me stay in control of the tempting impulse to just blow his head off. The thick, spiky, scaly green armor Steelfist wore looked pretty sturdy, but it didn't cover his horned noggin. Jade wouldn't like it though, and Sledge was here trying to talk him down, maybe there could still be a peaceful way out of this.

"I let em go watch 'cause I had an idea what you were up to Chief, this ain't right... These folks are tryin' to help, but you'd use em and kill em just 'cause your pissed? Give em a chance Chief, maybe they got a better way! That right there is a fair fight, where's yer honor!?" Sledge imploring his leader made him flinch, the long barrel of Ester dipping slightly in response to the shaming.

Unfortunately it was only for a moment, Steelfist seemed to debate internally before steadying the weapon again and growling back. "I'm protectin' my town! Those mutts attacked us! Killed my people! Started destroyin' MY town!"

"Our town Chief... and the Princess pony was right, we ain't innocent victims here. Hell, some of my hunters shot at em thinkin' they were dumb monsters ta drive off, I'm bettin' you did more than that while we was out there in the woods too. If we keep goin' over who hit first, it'll never end! Enough already Chief! Enough have died, if Fast and his mare say they got another way, we should give em a shot!" Sledge shouted back, his forceful defiance making me more sure Jade really was a Princess for everybody, she had managed to get through to Sledge during our time together and made him a believer apparently.

Steelfist only grew angrier at the insubordination, rumbling over his shoulder at the younger bull. "Oh I'll give em a shot alright ya overgrown calf! You on the side of some pony Princess and not your own chief Sledge? Want her to be in charge instead!? You heard her, she ain't gonna send these mutts packin' even if that big freak wins!"

"Do not call her that!" My voice deepened into the Shroud's in a roar, making me focus to push 'Be Dark...' back with the clink of chains echoing in my ears as I continued, gritting my teeth and seething. "We're trying to help dammit! Swan's out there fighting on your behalf! She'll win if you give her the chance!"

As if in answer to my faith in her abilities, I heard Swan's booming voice scream out in effort as the area was bathed in violet light, drawing all of our attention back to the fairgrounds and the battle still playing out. Swan hovered in the air above the muddy lot, the blazing sphere of her shield filling the confines of the fenced area, though only half of it was visible.

A dome was crackling around her above ground, while by the curve of the barrier, the rest sank deep below the muddy lot. That theory was quickly confirmed when she grunted and gave her wide wings a might flap, slowly rising higher and taking a large chunk of earth with her. Icepaw's surprised face was just visible pressed against the bottom and struggling to get out.

Rising higher into the air, Swan's shield dissipated as her telekinesis took over, enveloping the massive upside down dome of earth and squeezing it as she flew up. The muddy ground was compressed quickly under the incredible strength she was applying to it, water poured out in a torrent to the huge crater left behind and the rough ball she still held took on the texture of stone.

Having gained quite a bit of altitude, Swan spun in the air and launched the clump of dirt ahead of her like a bullet, shattering in an explosion of dust as she fell streaked down after it. Icepaw never had a chance to move, choking on the cloud of dust when he sucked in air to replace what was obviously knocked out from the blow, right before all four of Swan's big hooves came down like a bomb and flattened him.

I turned back quickly and found Steelfist goggling at the display, the grip of his cybernetic hand on the trigger slackening as he gaped. That gave me a moment's opening and I took it, the blue field of my telekinesis enveloping the appendage I had so recently repaired. I did the work trying to be friendly, but it gave me a working schematic of the complicated arcano-tech cybernetics still fresh in my mind, one I took advantage of now.

In a flash Steelfist's prosthesis was dissassembled on the spot, spreading out into a cloud of parts that resembled an exploded diagram before clattering to the floor of the clock tower, along with Ester now that half his grip was suddenly gone.

"It's over Chief... all of it, she won. Come on down and we'll forget all of this, nobody in town needs ta know other than the ones who came out, the ones you were willin' ta kill... I don't think the Princess wants to be in charge in Salt Lick, but I think we need ta talk about whether you should be anymore..." Sledge spoke in a relieved, shaky voice, tearing his eyes away from Swan growling down at her captive opponent and presumably forcing him to give up.

All I wanted was for this to be over, to go down there with Jade and congratulate Swan, to celebrate her victory and move forward together. Unfortunately questioning his future leadership only infuriated Steelfist more, the crazed minotaur moved faster than his years should allow, reaching down with his one good hand to grab the glowing balefire egg and leaping off the clocktower, rolling to a large patch of sloped roof and sliding to the ground before any of us could recover.

He hit the ground running, tucking the pulsing oblong explosive into his elbow and against his broad chest, dashing straight towards the fairgrounds. Without the launcher, he was running the damn thing in himself! A good enough hit to the bundle of balefire would set it off, all he had to do was get there and spike it in the middle of everyone!

No... No he wouldn't! Val was already flying after him and Sledge followed his shortcut to the ground, while I dove for the criss crossing train tracks and dark lightning surged around me. I might fall behind trying to catch up in the air, but on the good old ground even the surprisingly agile old bull wasn't outrunning me.

I had to give him this much, Steelfist was fast and good at dodging obstacles to keep between us with his odd upright stride. The Chieftan of Salt Lick managed to break from the cover of the blackened trees at a full run towards the fairgrounds before I caught up. My magic reached out as I closed the distance, tugging at the balefire egg cradled in his arms but unable to pull it free from his grip.

"Val! Catch it!!" I screamed as I barreled onward in an electric flicker, trusting my faithful bodyguard to be ready as I plowed into Steelfist at full speed and yanked.

The rolling tackle weakened his grip just enough to pull the balefire egg free, launching it straight up to be instantly snagged by Val's claws swooping in for the catch, while Steelfist and I rolled down the slope and towards the crowd turning our way.

The two of us smashed through the timber fence and tumbled down the new crater Swan had left, snarling, bucking, punching and biting as we rolled down the declivity and splashed to the puddle of muddy water at the bottom. A sharp shot to my gut by Steelfist's knee finally broke my savage hold, tearing away a meaty chunk from his shoulder as he dislodged me. The two of us instantly scrambled back to our hooves and started prowling around each other in the bottom of the pit.

Jade's anxious cry from above got me to flick my gaze away from the panting minotaur unsheathing the huge sword slung on his back. She fluttered away from healing both the wounded Swan and Icepaw to prance at the edge, calling out in a worried voice. "F-Fast!? Are you alright? W-What is going on!? Why are you..."

"Shut up 'Princess'! This is between me and the runty pony! Only fair eh 'Shroud'? You folks come in and stick yer nose in our business, beat the leader of those dogs somehow, only right you have to beat the ruler of Salt Lick too before you just take over huh?" Steelfist snarled and flicked a switch on the hilt of his claymore, wreathing the blade in a field of corrupted magic.

Drawing Best Served, I kept my burning eyes locked on Steelfist and called up to Jade, working hard to keep the growl out of my voice before returning my attention to the minotaur. "It's ok Jade! Just a little disagreement... For the last time, we don't want to take over dumbass! Though I don't think you'll be ruler of anything after this Steelfist, you can still stop..."

Steelfist lunged forward in response, bridging the shrinking circle between us with his long weapon swinging down like a hammer. My own knife flew up and met it head on with a resounding 'clang!', the starmetal weapon halting the crackling blade as the force of the blow drove me into the muck.

While surprise at being stopped by the comparatively minuscule weapon registered on Steelfist's face for a moment, he quickly recovered and swung the huge sword around in a spinning arc, forcing me to flap up and barely dodge it whooshing by under my hooves. I absently heard the rising barks and howls above mingling with the shouts of ponies and minotaurs, the audience was getting a double feature and didn't know what to make of it.

Best Served flashed out as I darted forward, missing Steelfist's throat when he ducked, but taking one of his long horns neatly off. Opting for speed over power, the minotaur shot his stump ended arm forward in a mighty uppercut that sent me reeling. The spiny scaled bracers matching the rest of his armor lacerated my face on the way, coming within inches of tearing my right eye out of the socket.

Blood poured into my eye and blinded it anyway, though at least it was still there under my squinting brow, that wasn't much consolation to Jade wailing above us. Hurriedly wiping the blood away gave me a blurry, red tinted view of Steelfist's sword slashing out again, forcing me on the defensive to dodge and parry his furious attacks.

Ducking another horizontal slash, I dove forward going for the minotaur's bowed legs. Steelfist's sword had to weigh more than I did, but the old bull wielded it like it was light as a feather. He brought the jeweled pommel back from his missed swing to smash into my side with a painful crack that sent me rolling away, my own slash on track to take his leg leaving only a shallow gash on his meaty thigh.

The bright blue glow of my magic surrounded the muck we were splashing around in, lifting a wave of muddy water that crested over Steelfist's head as it surged forward, giving me cover to dart to the side while he slashed uselessly at it. Part of me was still rational enough to realize I could just pull one of my multitude of firearms and end this, but that aggressive, dominating, alpha male voice refused.

At least there were good and peaceful reasons for listening to it, I didn't really want to kill the leader of Salt Lick if I could avoid it, maim maybe... but killing would only cause more problems. Of course that wasn't really why the shadowy Shroud in my head demanded meeting Steelfist blade for blade, doing otherwise against a crippled opponent in a fair battle for dominance was just ...wrong... according to that voice, dishonorable... cowardly.

Neither the hellhounds nor the minotaurs would respect winning through firepower, Steelfist was at least right on that one point. Swan beat the leader of the hellhounds in a fair fight, it was only right Steelfist get the same treatment. While he sputtered on the wall of water drenching him, a flicker of lightning propelled me to his back and a wing assisted leap let me wrap my forelegs around his thick neck, squeezing off his windpipe and cutting short his wet coughs.

The wall of muscle under me bucked and fought crazily, the desperation of too little oxygen making him sloppy and frantic. Any hopes I could choke him into submission with earth pony strength was short lived however, Steelfist was old and got that way by being a survivor, facing foes a lot bigger, meaner and tougher than one crazy little pony. Regaining his senses, he simply fell backwards and flattened me under his bulk, pinning me between the mud that threatened to swallow me up and the piercing spines of his armor puncturing my chest, while he took in great whoops of air.

Having caught enough breath and smart enough to get away before the knife in my mouth found his neck, Steelfist rolled free and hefted his oversized sword in one fluid movement, swinging over his head and straight down at me flopping on the ground, trying to chop me in half and end this in one mighty blow.

A rolling dodge to the left let the wide sword slash harmlessly into the earth inches away, giving a few hairs of my mane a bit of a trim. I got a brief glimpse of my own reflection in the polished surface of the blade quivering in the ground right in front of my face. Time seemed to slow down and I marveled at the pony looking back at me... that bloody, snarling grimace was a stranger.

The one clear and open eye burning back had a slitted pupil like a dragon's and almost seemed to be glowing a dull crimson, the sharp fangs opening in a roar gleamed in the moonlight, before disappearing from the reflective surface as I darted forward.

With only one hand, Steelfist was a little awkward wielding the huge two handed sword, giving me a moment while he tried to tug it free from the ground. Taking advantage of the opening, Best Served whickered through the air and came down like a guillotine, making Steelfist's left hand match the stump on the right as it was severed and thumped to the muddy ground.

Spreading my wings and adding to my forward momentum, I went for Steelfist's unarmored throat while he howled in pain. The burly minotaur was off balance and his fresh stump sprayed blood everywhere, coating me in red as he toppled backwards from me slamming into him and latching on to his neck.

I could feel his racing pulse through the jugular under my fangs, barely restraining myself and giving a muffled growl. "Yield... Now. Or die."

He regained enough of his wits to batter me with his stumps and roll around wildly, the spiky bracers piercing and slashing through my armored coat only made me tighten my grip however. My fangs sank deeper into the meaty flesh and the steady beat of 'Be Dark...' kept pushing past the wilting, kinder voices of the Ministry Mares. It rose up in a howl of encouragement to just rip his throat out and be done with it. It would be easy... He wouldn't be a problem anymore... All I had to do was pull...

"THAT IS ENOUGH!!" Jade's goddess voice tolled out nearby and I felt the familiar touch of her magic blast into us, my body going numb as everything went dark.

Conflicting dreams plagued the darkness that followed; happy ones of my old life in the Stable were intruded on by hordes of crazed raiders battering down the gear shaped door and rampaging within, bright visions of returning to my old house in Sanctuary and celebrating the birth of several foals were shattered by pale Institute robots led by unstoppable Coursers slaughtering everyone, simple thoughts of warm hugs from Glitter ended with her turning to ash in my hooves by a Gunner's blast.

Beneath every pleasant thought turned terrible was the clink of chains and a steady clang of something struggling to get free, growing louder at each imagined tragedy and quieter with every bit of warmth that replaced it, only to repeat the cycle again and again. The distant, muffled refrain of LET. ME. OUT. chasing me through my nightmares.

When consciousness finally started coming back, it was somewhat confusing, though still a relief after the string of nightmares. Everything was quite dark and warm, smelling strongly of sweet, vanilla tinged female, blood and antiseptic, with a faint scent of musty old hay and mud under it all. Only adding to my confusion trying to figure out where I was, was the realization I couldn't really move anything but my head, and that was with some difficulty given the soft, pliant resistance smothering me.

"Oh! I think he's awake sister, hang on..." Swan's muffled voice came from all around me, followed by shuffling movement and a sudden breath of fresher, chillier air and bright light that made me clench my eyes ...eye... shut.

The first sight that resolved out of the large purple blur I squinted at was Swan's beaming, upside down face. Not nearly as large as she was before, but still quite sufficiently expanded enough to essentially be laying on top of me. After following her long neck down to her broad chest sprawled over my own, I took note of all the pale bandages and dried blood breaking up the long expanse of her lavender fur.

"Ah good sister, allow me to check his wounds if you please, then you may have him back." Jade's stern voice replied, making me struggle to move my head and find her, while trying to figure out where I was and what was going on.

There she was, tugging me from her sister's grasp and floating me up to her disapproving gaze. We were in a... barn? It was a large, rickety wooden structure that smelled of long ago hay, so probably a good guess. Smiling sheepishly back to Jade's pout, I wished I could move to hug or express affection somehow to wipe away her frown, but apparently she had anesthetized me and it hadn't worn off.

"Nnngh... H-Hi Jade, w-what's goin' on? We won, right?" I groaned weakly, curious why my view seemed limited and my depth perception was off, until she peeled a long strip of magical bandages from my face with a sticky, tearing sound that made me yelp.

Blinking a moment with two eyes again, my vision resolved to find Jade rolling her eyes with a 'tsk' before focusing closely on my face. "Yes, we have won Fast, and you did not lose your eye in your own struggle. Honestly, Swan and Mr. Icepaw's injuries were severe enough, did you two really need to add to my workload?"

My instant apology was interrupted by the petulant mutter of a gruff, familiar voice. Chief Steelfist grumbled back from the corner of the large pen we were apparently recovering in, wound in his own bandages and appearing to be as numb as I was. "Didn't ask for help there Princess... could'a left me in the mud, be better than current company anyway..."

"Shut up stupid bull, no like either. You win Princess pony, no reason to be mean and make stay with sneaking, cheating bull. Where my pack? What you do? Want leave smelly barn!" Icepaw's whining growl on the other side of the pen nearly made my heart stop, the paralysis still keeping me still only let me roll my eyes that way frantically to spot the vicious hound.

Icepaw was in pretty rough shape too, practically mummified in magical bandages, along with a rough cast covering one long foreleg and the opposite stubby hindleg. His pale coat was stained pink with blood and singed here and there by Swan's magic, though he seemed as paralyzed as the rest of us leaning against a long empty feeding trough, so not in any pain.

"Your pack is outside, along with many residents of Salt Lick. I must say they are behaving and getting along much better than the three of you, your subordinates are being very helpful and a good deal more reasonable. As for what I will do, I must return to doing it. I will not order the White Legs to leave, nor will I allow them to continue their attacks on Salt Lick, or permit the villagers attacking them. With you recuperating, Mr. Sledge and Mr. Buster are doing quite well helping me broker a peace everyone can find acceptable in your stead, so here you stay for the time being. For your recovery of course..." Jade stuck her nose up and replied coolly, her healing magic reaching out and checking on each of us in turn.

"H-Hey hon! What about me? Aren't I good enough to leave yet?" I squeaked as Swan's forelegs wrapped around me and she nuzzled happily from her reclined position, squeezing me back to her chest like a get well teddy bear.

Jade looked back with a narrow eyed glower, huffing primly and shaking her head with finality. "You can stay right where you are and keep Swan company while she recovers Fast, she does deserve a prize for her impressive victory and restraint, which is more than I can say for you... I suggest you all use this time to get along and talk, as you incapable of any other mischief. Now then, I shall leave you in the care of my little nurse, perhaps she can facilitate things hmm Gale?"

The little breezie in the Ministry of Peace nurse uniform dutifully fluttered out from Jade's cloudy mane, landing at the edge of the pen and bowing with her brother beside her. "Yes Princess Doctor pony! Ve vatch, give medicine und make happy so make talky talky! Yu go ahead!"

At that Jade gave one final glare before turning on her heel and trotting out, pausing at the door to murmur back with a silky, dangerous edge to her voice. "We will discuss your own rash actions and your punishment later Fast, I suggest you do what you can to make up for it here with your fellow violent males..."

I gulped watching her go, catching her voice changing once she was clear of the doors, becoming kind and sweet to those I could hear crowding outside. When Spring Gale flitted up to offer a nectar dusted foreleg, I gratefully slurped the medication up and just tried to enjoy Swan's giddy attention as the wonderful euphoria took hold.

My example was enough for Steelfist and Icepaw to follow and take the offered medicine at least, the minotaur licking it reluctantly, while Icepaw grumbled before eventually slurping it up in a sloppy dog lick to the shaking mare's hoof. I was proud of Gale's bravery if nothing else, only giving a frightened chitter of 'No bitey!' when inches away from the hellhound's gleaming fangs.

There was a brief silence broken only by a shared sigh of relief between us. Numb as we were, only Swan benefited from the pain relieving properties, but the calming mental relaxation was a balm for all of us, though it did make Swan a bit more insistent in her affections.

After a few minutes of quiet reflection, Steelfist chuckled gruffly in my general direction. "Your mare is scary Fast... Helluva doctor though, thanks to her I guess they won't start calling me Steelfists eh?"

Peeking past Swan's curtain of a mane, I saw what he was gesturing at with his eyes and had to smile at the joke. Under all the bandages wrapped around his wrist, Steelfist's remaining flesh and blood hand was back where it belonged. At least when Best Served severed something, the cut was clean and Jade could generally reattach whatever got lopped off. He still had a long healed over stump on the other wrist, but got to keep his other hand anyway.

"Princess good pony, not-so-fake Shadow pony have good mate. Little Shadow pony good too, good fight, stop bull and save pack. Maybe fake, but maybe not... Act like Shadow pony from legend anyway, so we trust Sanctuary Kingdom ponies. Better than dishonorable bull what tries blowing us up." Icepaw slurred slowly in response, struggling to nod along with Steelfist's appraisal while still glaring at him.

"Er... thanks, I think. Jade is tougher than she looks and can definitely be scary, but she has a point I guess. The four of us fighting was better than everybody going at it and killing each other, but she still doesn't like seeing us hurt, that's what she's mad about. Maybe we should take the hint and try getting along, if we want out anytime soon anyway. Though I'm not too happy with you either Steelfist, you really would have blown her up, along with your own people?"

Steelfist actually managed to look a little ashamed, muttering back with a snort and tired sigh. "I thought it was the best thing for my town, or maybe just for me... How are we supposed to trust a pack of wild hellhounds moving on in huh? They killed my people and attacked my town!"

"You people attack us! We just want get away from Green Beast, find new home and help! Bulls try to drive us away with guns and dynamite when we try to talk! You start fight, you try to take advantage of sacred rite of challenge to cheat!" Icepaw barked back, prompting Gale to give the large hellhound another dose of nectar and speak up quietly.

"Is misunderstanding yes? Both do bad tings cause scared of each uther? Is like this all over beeg pony world Shroud Fast?" Gale cocked her head curiously and barely flinched when Icepaw took the offered medication that softened his scowl instantly.

"Misunderstandings and fear cause a lot of problems out here, yeah Gale. That's pretty much what caused the great war I think, I guess we still haven't learned any better since then. I know the Institute encourages and takes advantage of it still... We can try to do better though, that's what Jade wants you guys, can't you give her way a chance?"

Both Icepaw and Steelfist fell silent at that, mulling my plea over as Gale fluttered between them expectantly. Building a bridge between them wasn't going to be easy, but I had the feeling the curious little breezie had managed to lay the first stone.

Swan unknowingly followed her lead, not actually trying for anything so complicated as diplomacy, simply voicing her cheery thoughts aloud as she kept right on cuddling her prize. "I had fun, it was a good fight Icepaw! I've fought lots of dogs, but you're one of the toughest! I'd like to do it again when we're all better sometime, for fun! Your fight was good too Fast, I liked watching it, though sister Jade wasn't very happy about it."

With a double dose of nectar, Icepaw actually gave a hearty, barking laugh at the big filly. "That true, was one hell of a fight big pony! I fight Green Beast when we escape home and she bigger than you, but you lots tougher. When we all better, I like to do it again too, contest for fun someday be better. If we stay here, we do again big pony. Without cheating bull ruining it..."

"Already planning on sticking around huh? I knew the Princess would take you dog's side, that's why I took things into my own hands! Hmm... hand now I guess.." Steelfist shot back, slowing as he mused over his missing cybernetics leaving him short a hand to back up his threats.

"Vhy yu no like doggies so much mino person? Dey no seem so bad now dat not attacking. Scary... but mino person scary too. Can yu no get along?" Gale continued her efforts at peacemaking, following Jade and her Holy Fluttershy's example, acting as a wonderful emissary for the Breezie Nation.

The little breezie mare hovering in his face actually seemed to shame Steelfist, a mythical fairy from his people's legends calling for peace looked to sink in where others didn't. "Hellhounds are trouble little fairy, worst monsters to hunt... big bastard in the city killed my pa!"

That admission was apparently the source of a lot of Steelfist's anger and mistrust. A point Icepaw was quick to jump on in his response, "White Legs no kill stupid bull's sire! We live in Glowing Sea for generations and just want be alone! Dog what kill your father not one of us. Not like we want be here either, just looking for place to survive!"

Even paralyzed, I could at least flick through my pip-buck display overlaid on my vision, checking over the map before venturing a guess. "He's right Steelfist, I can see your perspective if a hellhound killed your father, but it's not fair to blame all of them for the actions of just one a long time ago. Besides, if it was in the city from here... I may have blown that particular hellhound up in Poncord, er... if that helps any?"

"Fake Shadow pony kill old Longfang? That impressive, think about going to his territory and challenging, but tough old dog and no want to go all the way to city. Mines good home for pack, but still no trust cheating bulls." Icepaw muttered back in a quiet tone, ending on a growl towards the pouting Steelfist.

"But you trust us, right? You like Swan and believe in Princess Jade? Can you let us stand in the middle of you two and find a compromise?"

"What compromise? You're just letting them walk all over us and take our mines!" Steelfist insisted on ruining Icepaw's thoughtful look, but we were making slow progress anyway.

"We're not trying to push you around or take over Steelfist, we're just trying to help, everybody... Those mines saved your people when the bombs fell right? They were a refuge, a sanctuary... that's all the White Legs are looking for. Working together would be a lot better for all of you than fighting, I understand the salt mines are pretty damn big, you don't even use all of them right? Let the hellhounds live there, trade the meat you hunt for their help digging the salt up. The two of you together are a hell of a lot stronger than either alone, who in their right mind would ever mess with a town full of minotaurs and hellhounds?"

Giving an appraising look at Icepaw, even Steelfist had to chuckle and agree with that last point. "Nobody... But how can we trust them? How can we get along after we've been killing each other?"

"Trust us then, trust the Minutemares and the Followers. There's a group of them on their way here now, let them set up an outpost right here in the fairgrounds between the two of you, use us as a go between until you can trust each other. Let the big freaking hole Swan dug out be where you two bury the hatchet. Jade is always fair and kind to everyone, she won't take one side over the other. Both of you can be allies of Sanctuary, please give us a chance."

"There's more than monsters coming from the Glowing Sea you guys... The 'Green Beast' and her mutants are being used by the Institute, and I think they're working with the Gunners somehow too. The Institute is my enemy and yours, they caused all this, drove the White Legs up here along with all the monsters we want to turn back. They won't stop there either, you guys are probably already in their sights. Together you can help us take them on, but apart you're easy pickings for them, which is just what the Institute wants. Don't fall for it huh? Help us and let us help you, stand together against the real threat instead of squabbling with each other."

For once my impassioned plea seemed to sink in, leaving both leaders silent and thinking sullenly. The fact there was a bigger threat than each other gave them something else to focus on. It would be up to Jade and the others to figure out a path from here, but at least they weren't at each others throats. Of course that may only last as long as her paralysis, but it was a start.

Swan broke the grim silence with a happy whinny and slobbery kiss that obliterated any image of me as a respectable figure to listen to. The big, bandaged filly shook her mane and curled up around me, flopping down to snuggle comfortably in the small pen and give a sleepy snort.

"Enough talking, I'm tired and bored from all your yapping Fast. Sleep and get better so we can play! We won, sister Jade can figure out all the dumb complicated stuff, our job is done and we both need to heal. She said I can keep you and make sure you don't try to sneak off, so you're staying right here!" Swan murmured softly and nibbled at my ears, pinning me in place so I really had no choice in the matter.

Considering the pain I could feel just waiting for Jade's magic to wear off, plus the soft, warm bulk of a lot of alicorn filly blanketing me, Swan got her way and I drifted off. I truly hoped for the best and was heartened by the soft whisper of 'Be Kind...' assuring me things could work out, but it was out of my hooves for the time being. We had done our part, now the best I could do was lean on my friends and family to handle the rest.

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

Vigilant Recycler----------
---Practice makes perfect! Helping Swan bulk up has improved your limited skills with M.E.W.s! When using Magical Energy Weapons, you are now twice as likely to recover drained spark cells. You also have more efficient recycling recipes available at workbenches.

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

Salt Lick -- Smiling Troublemaker
---Some of the residents might not like how you resolved the threat of the White Legs, but most recognize you've done good. Nobody is going to be completely happy with compromise, so your reception in Salt Lick may be mixed for awhile.

White Legs -- Mixed
---The pack of refugee hellhounds won't be able to trust ponies completely for some time, but you made an impression and they all saw you fight on their behalf. Someday the pack and the villagers may come together into one faction and improve their opinion of you, for now at least you've made some progress and the White Legs generally won't try to kill you on sight.