Blinking blearily in the overcast, blustery morning, I was once again glad coffee was so readily available in this part of the Commonwealth. The chipped mug wafting steam in the cool air was nearly as good as radiation to restore my energy, without all the side effects that left me so exhausted and groggy after burning off all I had taken in last night.

Witchy was less of a morning pony than I was, though she seemed rather chipper standing at my side, although a little awkwardness hung between us after being the main outlet for all that energy last night. We shared a mostly comfortable silence and watched the odd show in the courtyard of Redheart with several settlers, Minutemares, Followers and a flock of healed griffons. The strange ghoul Maud who had helped us was already busy doing just as she promised, chipping away at the massive chunk of pink crystal with nothing but her hooves and a hammer and chisel she had asked for when I staggered out.

Watching the earth pony rocktorate holder expertly shaping the block of quartz in a flurry of efficient movements was impressive, even for Glitter trotting along behind the ghoul curiously. Already a large, round disc was taking shape, a six pointed star shape of darker facets being revealed from the milky depths just as she said was hidden there. It would definitely work for Dr. Vigil's teleporter plans, so I was actually making progress.

Rubbing at my neck with another yawn finally got the blushing batpony beside me to speak up, bashfully apologizing again for the marks there that were slowly healing up already. Apparently when thestral's got really excited, they had a tendency to bite with those sharp little fangs, or maybe just Witchy did. Either way, I got a rather surprising wakeup sometime just before dawn. Coming up from a haze of weird dreams to find myself getting both chomped on and squeezed by those strong legs hard enough to leave my flanks bruised was a lot better than an alarm clock though.

"S-Sorry again Fast... I did not mean to be so rough, I was just... o-overwhelmed." Witchy's anxious chirp just made me smile, shrugging with weary satisfaction.

"I'll take it as a compliment Witchy, don't worry about it. That's what I get for sleep...umm... walking. Er... it was a compliment, right?"

By her rapid nodding and squeaky chirp, I felt a little pride even if I had been half asleep. "Oh! Y-Yes! Everything was w-wonderful Fast! I thought you sounded a little groggy wandering off to the restroom, but when you returned you were quite e-energetic and the Princess was asleep. I never knew it could be like... t-that..."

Scratching at my bedraggled mane with a guilty flush, I put on a goofy grin to cover the uncomfortable dark mutter in my head that wondered what other experience she had to compare it to that would make her sound so surprised. Not that I was unwilling to take a little credit, or give plenty to everything an overly affectionate Jade had done, but Witchy's fumbling anxiety and nerves during the night had only added to my suspicions.

The fact expressing physical affection could be pleasant seemed like a revelation to her, something she was vaguely aware of, but didn't fully appreciate. After a rather frenetic night proving the point between muddled dreams (that apparently led to me continuing in my sleep), at least that possessive mutter was somewhat sated. 'Be Dark...' only gave a suspicious grumble as I thought over what kind of experience could leave Witchy with such a distorted view of not just herself, but intimacy period.

It would probably be best for Jade to broach the subject, the shy thestral would tell her chosen Princess anything if she asked. I'd be keeping an eye and ear out however... I didn't often like that darker voice in my head, but I had to admit it had a nose for injustice and cruelty, and on that subject I agreed with its bloodthirsty thoughts on what to do about it if I found out anypony in Dreadnot had abused Witchy in that way.

For now I simply stretched my wings in an easygoing yawn and tipped my mug to her cute blush, not wanting to push or ruin the experience. "Good, I'm glad then Witchy. You give a lot to Jade and all of us, it's nice to give something back, show you how much we care about you. So.... have you thought about what to do with your Aunt yet?"

The subject of our prisoner Ruby Shard wasn't much better by her pensive look and slump, but it needed to be addressed. At least Witchy didn't seem as hurt thinking about her now, answering with resigned sigh. "I... I don't know. I don't think talking to her will do much good, anything she could tell me about my mother probably won't be very positive or even true. I suppose I'd vote to let her go Fast, she has made her choices and didn't need or want me to rescue her. Tis her life..."

"You're a lot more forgiving than I think I could be Witchy... But it's your call. I just wish there was some way to make it better, you deserve a lot more than Ruby."

I put a comforting hoof on Witchy's shoulder, glad to see her smile gratefully and shrug off her sadness over her only living relative. I also couldn't help think of my Grandpa Fin... Mobius... Could I be so generous and forgive him? Let him go if it turned out he didn't have a good reason for the things he had done, if he really was just some madpony or as hateful as Ruby had been?

'Betrayer... Revenge...'

Probably not...

"Daddy! Look! Lookit!" Rubbing at the uncomfortable ache between my eyes that came with the thought, I looked up to Glitter's happy yell by Maud. The little filly was waving frantically for my attention, as the soft spoken ghoul was sedately explaining something about one of the cast off chunks of crystal littering the ground near their hooves.

Sure she had my attention and beaming breathlessly, Glitter stuck her tongue out of the side of her muzzle and raised her hoof over a brick sized block of pink crystal. She squinted one bright pink eye shut and focused, bringing her foreleg down with a sharp crack that split the stone in two to my surprise. "See! Miss Maud taught me! Earth pony stuff! Cool huh!?"

"Wow! That's really awesome sweetie!"

My impressed whistle as I trotted over was joined by Jade's sweet voice coming out into the courtyard and clapping rapidly as she fluttered over, both of us praising the proud filly together. "Very impressive dear! Thank you so much for teaching her Maud, and for helping my husband of course. We owe you quite the debt, a pleasure to meet you and offer my heartfelt thanks."

While Jade was essentially back to normal, she still loomed over the ghoul mare as she gave a regal bow. Maud's lidded blue eyes met hers with only a slight rise of an eyebrow, answering in a slow drawl as she spotted Jade's costume tiara. "Ah... This one is the Princess then? No problem. I like teaching about rocks. Your daughter has talent."

"Y-Yes, I have wound up with the title of Princess, though not like the ones you knew. Fast has told me of your circumstances Maud, is there anything we can do to help you? You have quite a lot to catch up on... I understand you wish to return to your home outside the Commonwealth, but I would feel better about your travel plans if we could assist in some way. The wasteland is not the safe Equestria you once knew. If you enjoy sharing your knowledge of rocks, there are many who would wish to learn from an accomplished Rocktor such as yourself. Such information is rare and valuable now." Jade held a dainty hoof out in a brief shake, chatting with Maud as I was dragged off by Glitter for further demonstrations of her new skill.

As I noticed before, so long as the subject was rock related, Maud actually showed a little interest, giving a slight tilt to her head in reply. "It was always valuable information. I really should get back to the rock farm though. Well... I guess it isn't what I expected out here. Ponies would really be interested? Usually they were just bored."

"Sure Maud, just look at everypony that's been watching you out here this morning! Hell, I'd be screwed if it weren't for you making this thing for me, and none of them have seen anything like it. Jade and her Followers are crazy about teaching stuff. Most everything is salvaged out here nowadays, but you know how it was made originally!"

Giving a slow blink to me looking back to Glitter breaking another chunk of crystal, then to the murmurs of agreement from the crowd I was pretty sure she hadn't noticed before now, Maud's muzzle twitched with a hint of a smile. "Hmm... I'll think about it then. It's been this long already, waiting a little longer probably won't hurt. It's a long trip anyway."

"I hope you do, it really is dangerous out there Maud. You could help a lot of folks with what you know, like you helped me and Witchy. There's all kinds of stuff I don't know about gems and rocks, even though they're used in so much arcano-tech. I bet you know stuff almost nopony else does anymore, like..."

While I was trying to be encouraging and rambling cheerily to the calm mare, I looked at the deitrus of broken quartz Glitter kept happily cracking, spotting an oblong chunk that rolled away from her most recent giggling demonstration. A bit of inspiration came and I gasped, realizing another use for enchanted stone that might actually help with Witchy's problem too.

"Memory orbs!"

"Memory orbs are pretty simple. The orb part anyway. You don't need me for that." Maud shrugged in reply, hoisting a roughly hoof shaped chunk up spinning it on her upturned hoof and tapping at it rapidly, chipping it into a crude ball in a flash.

"No, I mean, I figured that. There's actually a place in Goodneighbor that can make them still. I was thinking out loud is all Maud, about Witchy and her aunt. You know a little memory magic, right hon? We might not be able to trust anything Ruby says, but maybe you could pull a memory out of her head? So Witchy could see her mom anyway?"

Jade and Witchy blinked at my sudden jabbering comically, turning to each other and back again with enough of a pause to make me wonder if I had said something stupid. When both their wide eyes sparkled and they engaged in a prancing, squealing dance together, I had to duck behind Glitter to keep from being bowled over when they turned on me.

Witchy had a cautiously hopeful look, questioning Jade and her magical abilities. "Does thou think such a thing would work your highness? I could... see her? Like the memory of Luna Fast let me borrow?"

"Yes! Of course! I had been very disappointed and worried about that rotten mare, but that would be something! Even better than the few slaves we liberated I have spoken to who may remember your mother Witching dear! Very clever Fast!" Jade beamed proudly, nodding to herself as she picked up Maud's crude crystal ball.

Watching the two of them chattering happily to themselves over the idea, I spotted Val giving a disappointed frown to a nervous looking Minutemare reporting to her. Just the pained look Val shot to Witchy was enough to make my heart sink as she prowled over, edging past them and giving a reluctant cough down to me.

She kept her voice down, but her tone made it clear it wasn't good news. "Er... hey boss, not ta piss on the parade, but might have a problem with that..."

"Escaped!? How the fuck did she escape!?"

Catching the poor Minutemare buck flinching at my shout, I managed to take a deep breath, looking between the young silver earth pony and the totally empty room he had been guarding... Calming down was a little easier as it was a valid question, Ruby had been locked in a windowless supply closet and the chair her guard had sat in was wedged against the door all night with him in it.

"I-I-I don't know sir! I never left my post! The furthest my butt got from that chair was just far enough to feed the fire when it got pretty chilly, but I was doing my best! I know this prisoner was important to the Princess and... I'm sorry General!" The poor buck wailed back, pacing between the rusty fire barrel providing heat in the hall and the door to demonstrate his dedication.

When Jade, Glitter and Witchy trotted down the hall after we had slipped off to try to deal with this quietly, I worried the poor Minutemare recruit was going to knock himself out bowing so hard. He took his battered tan hat off and knelt with it held against his chest, grovelling in shame until Jade tilted his muzzle up with her wing and shook her head in forgiveness as she got the gist of the story.

"Calm down, please Private... Track, wasn't it? It is disappointing, but we had planned to release her regardless. Perhaps she was capable of casting teleportation, in which case there was nothing you could have done. A failure on our part, Miss Shard did not seem like a very capable spell caster and I assumed." Jade's soothing voice and the fact she took the time to learn everypony's name looked to make the buck feel better and worse at the same time, but he did get to his hooves and worriedly followed me to the door.

Pacing in the closet, Jade's explanation had to be right. I could smell Ruby's lingering scent so she hadn't been gone that long, strongest near a pile of rotting stationary she must have used as a bed. The only exit I could find was a rusty vent up on the ceiling, too small even for Glitter to squeeze her way in. If Ruby hadn't been a unicorn it would be a regular locked room mystery, but magic gave her a potential out we overlooked.

I still didn't like it... Glancing back to Witchy's conflicted look and disappointment after getting her hopes up, I sighed and kicked at the junk that was so haphazardly cluttering the closet and shrugged. "Jade's right Private, you did your best, nopony can fault you for that. If you still feel bad about it, go put together a patrol and look around nearby, maybe she hasn't gotten that far yet. She'd probably head right back for the quarries, so try south first, but don't go too far. Sorry Witchy..."

"I'll send some of tha squabs out ta look too batty, little brats're good at trackin' an they'll cover more ground." Even Val comforted Witchy, clucking in thought over hunting down the escapee.

"Tis alright Fast, Valkyrie, twas a lovely thought, but there's nothing for it now. It's almost a relief, I was still not looking forward to speaking with her again..." Witchy put on a forced smile and shrugged, partly to the Minutemare private already snapping a salute and galloping off in a rush.

Jade curled her wing over her slumping royal guard and spoke up in a supportive voice. "There, there Witching, it is not so bad. I had my doubts about allowing her the opportunity to hurt you again anyway. Fast's idea is still a good one however! We may go check on my patients before we leave and ask around with those that may remember your mother. We know Mr. Jets back with the Arcano-Cats knew both your parents well if nothing else, I imagine he would consent to sharing a memory or two and they are sure to be more positive! We shall inquire with him when we arrive there later."

That looked to lift Witchy's spirits a good deal and the two trotted off together, leaving me scuffing at the junk in frustration. It wasn't like Ruby could do much harm or we expected much after just a brief encounter with the bitch, but I didn't like her getting away, something about it just smelled wrong. Especially concerning was the silence from the shadow of 'Be Dark..' that would normally be as annoyed as I was over her escaping punishment.

Maybe I really was losing it... being suspicious over the schizophrenic voice in my head actually behaving itself. I should just be happy it was mostly asleep and get on with our day, we had plenty of more important things to do than worry about Ruby anyway.

"Fast dear, come along and stop brooding. Come speak with my patients with me and focus on the good we managed to do, not that one awful mare. I do not like you focusing on the negative..." Jade calling down the hall snapped me out of my thoughts and I turned to leave, pausing at the threshold and squinting at a single drop of blood I nearly stepped on that had been uncovered by my scuffing hooves. 'Awareness!'

I didn't remember Ruby being marked at all, other than Zed driving a hoof in her gut and knocking her out. I had wanted to shoot her... but I missed thanks to the zebra's intervention. Maybe she just coughed it up when she woke up, or scraped herself on a sharp edge looking for an escape, or Val smacked her around when she ran her mouth... A single drop wasn't really that ominous, but staring at it brought out a tickle of dread for some reason.

"Fast...." Jade huffed impatiently and I shook it off, galloping down to join her as she continued softly. "There we are, that is better. You owe one of my patients an apology and he is awake to receive it."

"Huh? Oh... right... Mr. Soil, huh?"

Looking up to Jade's expectant smile and nod when we stopped outside her recovery room, my ears laid back and I dragged my hooves to her side. Her reassuring nuzzles helped, but another reminder of the results of that worrisome voice in my head in the form of Till Soil from Warhorse Homestesd wasn't very welcome. Still, Jade kept an eye on me and nudged me into being a better pony than ...that... making me glad I had reluctantly shared my fears and had the love of such a wonderful mare.

"Do not look as though it is a punishment Fast, merely what is right. We must all endeavor to be better, hmm? Mr. Soil does not hold your actions against you and wished to speak with you to apologize as well. Come join us in speaking with the others when you are done. Glitter dear, help your father behave please." Jade gave a kind smile as she opened the door to the crowded room, shooing me in with a wing and trotting off to make her rounds with Witchy at her side.

Pulling her cute little nurse's cap from her collection of headgear in her pack and donning it with a serious salute to her mother, Glitter grinned broadly and skipped her way in front of me, leading the way through the crowd. "It's ok daddy! Mr. Soil's nice, he was really sorry about hurting mom an' everything. You'll feel better if you say you're sorry too!"

"Yeah... you're right sweetie. I messed up, saying sorry is the least I should do."

Glitter gave cheery greetings to all the new patients she had somehow already made friends with on our way, amazing me at her ability to lift the spirits of even the beaten and frightened slaves we had liberated from Whinny Quarries. I could tell they had suffered and weren't sure about the future, but almost all of them smiled to the little filly bouncing along in front of me, spreading hope and the important virtue of laughter wherever she went.

Pressing through the sheer number of ponies, young griffons, ghouls and more made me feel anxious at all the eyes following me and realize how crowded the new settlement had become. I even spotted Swan sitting in the corner, waving happily but apparently waiting on Jade for something, stripped of her alicorn angel costume and fidgeting impatiently in the corner. She was only a little larger than Jade, her head well above the crowd and her ears perked up to follow us, adding to the overcrowded room all by herself.

We had never really stuck around and managed a wasteland community, our time in the area had resulted in more and more people who needed our help and they had flocked here. While it revealed how things weren't as great as University Point liked to present and that we were making a difference, it was also becoming a real issue. The flock of healed and energetic griffons, wearing the tattered school uniforms Glitter had found for them, should start being moved out soon hopefully anyway.

The slaves we liberated were a different matter though. When they were healthy enough, I supposed they'd try to make a go of things here or move on. Many expressed an interest in getting as far away from the Gunners territory as possible after their ordeal and I couldn't blame them.

When we arrived at the older earth pony stallion staring out the cloudy window in the corner, Glitter announced us by jumping up on the ancient hospital bed with a squeal. Mr. Soil had magical bandages wrapped around his neck where I had shot him, but looked healthy otherwise and only gave a slight start at the filly's enthusiastic greeting, ruffling her mane as he noticed me taking my hat off and bowing my head.

"Er... Good morning sir, are you feeling ok? Didn't mean to bother you, don't just pounce on ponies sweetie, he's still injured right?"

The middle aged farmpony chuckled and replied in a raspy voice, nodding gratefully to Glitter bouncing off to grab a cracked glass of water and giving a visible wince as he swallowed before continuing. "S'alright young buck, glad ta have the lil' nurse pay a visit with her poppa. Throat's a lil' scratchy, but the Princess says it'll be fine. My own damn fault anyway, eh?"

"N-No, I mean... it's mine. I'm really sorry for, well... shooting you. That was my fault and I'm glad you're going to be ok. I... lost my temper... when you were just asking for help."

Looking up from giving a bow of my head in contrition, I was surprised to see Till Soil shaking his head gingerly, taking another drink and croaking out. "My fault too. Didn't 'zactly ask fer help very smart, so let's call it even. Hell, should be glad you didn't blow mah brains out fer scarin' kids like this lil' cutie, hurtin' a mare like that..."

I turned to follow his grateful gaze over to Jade tending her patients and nodded along with him, forgiving him was easier on hearing the clear regret and reverence in his voice. "Alright then, we'll call it even. Thank you... Umm, I am really sorry though, I don't think you wanted to hurt her, you were just upset, then that asshole professor from University Point shot you and... it was all a big mistake. If it helps any, I believe you had good reason to suspect Mr. Warhorse was a synth. I wish we could prove it like you thought we could, but I'm willing to listen now, if you wanted to tell me what you were trying to then?"

He gave a weary sigh and slumped against his tattered pillows, looking back to me with pain and doubt clear in his green eyes. "I don't even know... If you folks can't prove it neither, how can anypony know fer sure? All I know is Roper Warhorse ain't the same pony I knew most'a mah life. I let my paranoia make me stupid though, but I just don't know what ta think..."

"That's what the Institute does though, makes ponies doubt each other, themselves... Just because they make folks paranoid, doesn't mean there isn't a reason to be sometimes. How about you tell me why you were so sure? How did he change? When? Was there anything suspicious?"

Glitter hopped down and let me hug her to my chest when she heard my obsession coming out in my voice, keeping me calm as Mr. Soil collected his thoughts before answering. "Lotta little things I guess, an' I weren't the only one ta notice, even his wife and foals talked with me about it. He stopped drinkin' and really started workin' tha farm, but was always makin' deals with them eggheads at U.P.. Things was better of course, so funny ta look fer somethin' wrong, but could'a been a lot better still if he weren't suckin' up and rollin' over for em, an' Roper weren't never no pussy ta just take it up tha ass. As fer when, that much is easy, when tha sun came back."

That wasn't the first time I had seen what Jade called the 'Day of Sunshine and Rainbows' being the cause of unexpected consequences in the Commonwealth, making me wonder again about the timing. The Institute had essentially been contained and following their insane version of routine for 200 years without much incident, keeping the status quo as horrible as it was. When the Lightbringer cleared the skies however, things started changing. Was it just a natural result of Equestria moving forward as a whole after so long, or was there something more to it?

"Hmm... Is there anything else? You suspected Mr. Warhorse for awhile, right?"

A flicker of fear crossed Mr. Soil's eyes and he nodded solemnly, "Kept lookin' fer proof 'fore I acted like a damn fool thinkin' you folks could fix everything. The seeds... that's what really bothered me. Said he was gettin' em from University Point, but he'd go sneak off ta get em an' I ain't never seen crops grow like that, t'weren't natural... I followed him last time an' that was the last straw. He went ta the haunted highschool... met some spook in a black coat, sunglasses at night. That's where he got em, when I was sure..."

His description made my mouth dry up and a shiver ran down my tail. I'd run into a pony like that before... a Courser. Granted it could just be a pony with an unfortunate fashion sense, but I somehow doubted it. The superstitious dread he spoke of the place that made 'Map Updated' blink in the corner of my eye caught my interest too.

"Haunted Highschool?"

"Old ruin across the river towards Trotson. Nopony goes there. Well... nopony what does ever comes back anyway... Mite suspicious, eh?" Till croaked back and took another drink, letting what was apparently a local legend sink in.

I vaguely remembered reading something about a haunted school in Piper's files of Institute related ghost stories and rumors back in Diamond City. Between that and who Mr. Warhorse met there, my suspicions moved towards certainty and I put a hoof to the stallion's shoulder in support.

"Just a little bit, yeah... I'm sorry again we couldn't help you when you asked and it ended up so screwed up, but I promise you, I'll look into it. I don't think you were wrong Mr. Soil, I believe you. I'll do my best to make it up to you and find out the truth."

The grateful look he turned on me with tears shimmering in his eyes hurt, seeing all the pain and doubt he had been living with for years reflected back along with a spark of hope. "T-Thank you, k-knew I was right ta ask fer help from the Shroud when it comes ta them evil bastards... Please, find out one way or t'other. Not just for me, but June an' the kids... if that ain't my friend, ain't their husband an' poppa, they need ta know..."

"I will, you just rest easy and heal up sir. I'll let you know if I find out anything."

Tipping my hat as I floated it back to my head, I turned to slink off with Glitter giving the buck a hug before prancing after me. Jade was right, I owed him the apology and was glad to get through it, but the heavy weight of being a hero like the Shrouded Stallion was even harder to bear from a pony I had shot so rashly. I could have killed him, but he still looked at me like that... I didn't feel deserving of that kind of faith.

Trudging away into the crowd of recovering slaves around Jade and Witchy made me feel better at least, all that reverence was turned to the kind blue Princess where it belonged. I sat at the edges of the crowd, listening to an elderly peach mare speaking with a wide eyed Witchy in a raspy voice, her grey mane patchy from radiation sickness a full pouch of orange Rad-Away on the IV hooked to her foreleg was treating. She was heavily bandaged and clearly tired, but held a frail hoof out to the batpony listening to her soft words intently.

"...was a lovely mare dearie, nothing like that bitch of a sister. None of us ever blamed her fer runnin' off to get away from the mines, even though we'd have been better off with her in charge of the town than Ruby. Was an untamed heart though, real wild child... Oh the mischief she'd get inta as a filly!" The old mare chuckled with a slight wince, regaling an enraptured Witchy with tales of her mother that brought a broad smile to her face.

Mingling with the crowd of slaves in slightly better shape eager to express their thanks and answer Jade's request for anything they knew of Amethyst Shard, I got to hear a few angry mutters about Ruby my sharp ears flicked at with interest. The fact she had escaped had already spread and none of her victims seemed too happy about it, making me wonder if maybe one of them took things into their own hooves as I caught the frustrated hate in their voices.

One scrawny, teal earth pony buck caught me listening, coming over with a snort. He knew enough not to bring his anger and pain to Jade and the circle of more positive emotion she spread, instead coming to me with his negativity and desire for revenge he clearly expressed. "Hey, Shroud feller, Ruby got away? You doin' anything about it?"

I caught Jade's kind blue eyes flick our way with a raised eyebrow, her smile never faltered in front of the gaggle of ponies clustered around her, but her hearing was as good as mine and she caught that. Well... this much I was comfortable with anyway. Jade was a Princess and brought out the best in ponies, but I was her knight and was there to deal with the worst... I gave Glitter a gentle shove to join her mother and nodded off to the side, trotting off with the angry buck to a less occupied corner and unsurprised to see a few other upset looking slaves coming along to join his complaints.

"Yes, Ruby got away. We're sending out patrols to try to track her down before she gets too far. You don't have to worry about her though, she can't hurt you anymore, we'll make sure of it."

By the mutters and glares I got back, I figured their own safety wasn't their concern before the ringleader confirmed it. "We ain't worried about her hurtin' us, we wanna hurt her! That bitch sold out our town to the Gunners! Made us slaves! Don't get me wrong, you folks an' yer Princess are mighty kind helpin' us an all, but what about justice for what she done? Thought that was what the Shroud was 'posed ta be about, killin' raiders and slavers like that cunt! How'd you let her get away!?"

That dull ache between my eyes flared up again in response to their grumbles of agreement and complaint, they didn't want justice, they wanted revenge... I understood it, all too well. At least in the light of day I could recognize it was wrong coming from others, but I could feel 'Be Dark...' giving a cold smile in my head, that shadowy voice agreed with them...

"We had her locked up but she got away, we figure she must have teleported out during the night. It's nothing you need to worry about, if we find her, we'll... decide what to do then."

Val prowled around the crowd unobtrusively when she noticed them getting a little too mob like in their complaints, watching me closely and clearly ready to step in if they got out of line. Looking to the other side, I spotted Zed silently slipping away from applying some of his tribal goo to a pretty mare. He turned from treating the infected looking abrasions from the shackles that had so clearly been on her legs recently and made his way to the mob, stretching his hindlegs in anticipation.

Both of them gave me a questioning look as the angry mutters of the mob rose up, the ringleader stamping his hooves and raising his voice above the whisper I had been trying to keep it down to. "Bullshit! Only spell worth a damn Ruby knew was one ta find gems, why she was in charge ta begin with! If she got out it's cause you Minutemares weren't keepin' watch on the slippery bitch close enough! How we know ya didn't just let her go? The batpony there is her niece, right?!"

While his assertion Ruby couldn't teleport was concerning, he was riling up the gaggle of hurt and frustrated slaves I had pulled off to the corner. Jade gave another curious and worried look over as I tried to defuse the situation, speaking through gritted teeth already extending into fangs. They were angry and looking for somepony to blame, without Ruby, they were lashing out and might become a problem.

"Witchy being her niece doesn't have anything to do with it... I understand you're angry, but this is none of your concern. The Princess is the one who decides on justice, not a pissed off mob. When we find her, we'll deal with it. You folks need to just focus on getting better and deciding where to go from here."

I had to bite my lip when the buck jabbed at my chest with his hoof in answer, turning to whip up the crowd of mostly beaten stallions itching for payback. "This is nothin' but our concern! We'll move on after Ruby gets hers! We deserve justice! That evil bitch worked us ta death, sold us off, profited while we bled! We'll take care of our own and pay her back in kind! You just bring her here Mr. Shroud, she's ours! Probably didn't escape at all, got her stashed away somewhere, don'tcha?! Give her to us!"

"Back off.... I'm warning you. I'm not lying, she is gone and we will find her. When we do, Princess Jade will be the one to handle it. Calm down and break it up folks. Now..."

My voice deepening to a guttural growl gave the furious buck a moment's pause, but he mistook me keeping my head down and shaking for a sign of weakness instead of thinly held control, puffing his chest up and taking up the step he had fallen back. Instead of taking my advice, he now turned to rally his mob directly, raising his voice to a shout that disturbed all of Jade's other patients and the concerned alicorn herself.

"Fuck that! If she's really gone, we'll go out and help find the bitch! C'mon folks! We been waitin' for the day we could string her up, I say it's today! Let's go an'...." The stallion's yellow eyes blazed feverishly, shouting the few ponies he had on his side into an oncoming frenzy that had to be stopped when I saw Jade trotting over worriedly.

Several things happened at once, none of which I really planned or thought about consciously... My wings flared and by the way his confidence seemed to evaporate as his jaw dropped, I was pretty sure my eyes were glowing when I pounced on him. Even thin and sickly, he was a taller earth pony buck and wasn't prepared for me as a smaller, younger pony to simply tackle him to the ground.

The mob shifted in response, but before they could get out of hoof I heard the click of Val's 12mm pistol overhead, punctuating her warning screech. Just to drive things home, Zed lazily flipped a cream colored buck who twitched the wrong way over to the wall as she drawled out a warning. "That's enough of that, unless ya wanna have some new wounds fer Blue ta heal up again, I'd settle down fuckers..."

Just to add to Val and Zed's harsh response, every young griffon in the room surrounded the mob in a flurry of wings and claws, instantly following the elder griffon's lead and moving to back me up as their current contract holder. I had no intention of letting them actually fight, but even smaller griffons were pretty damn intimidating when they all moved with military precision. The surprised Minutemares in the room galloping to catch up and restore order were just overkill.

With Val and all the others covering me, I kept the struggling ringleader pinned and managed to keep my fangs away from his throat anyway, growling muzzle to muzzle over Jade's cry as she charged over. "Thou does not desire justice, you want revenge... It is MINE to take if I want it though, not yours. You are not the law here, I am... You will shut up and behave, continue to push your way into my affairs and you will be burned for your trouble..."

The heavy hoofsteps of Swan tromping over and looming over the cowed crowd took the rest of the fight out of them, her giddy rumble making them back away slowly. "Ooooh... is it ok to hurt these ponies more Fast? I was getting bored..."

"Fast! Valkyrie! Swan! Zed! All of you stop that this instant!" Jade charged over, but the excitement was already over.

The angry slave's mob had dispersed under the watchful guidance of the Minutemares and wary glares of the griffon fledglings shoving them back to their beds. As I released my captive and stalked over to her, she still huffed and spoke up in a regal and commanding voice, taking in the situation and acting as a true Princess.

"I understand your anger and frustration, all of you. You have suffered and wish to visit that suffering on those responsible, but we must be better. Ruby Shard has escaped, yes, and we will do all we can to rectify that and see that she faces some form of justice, but it will not be at the hooves of a lynch mob! For those who wish to stay here, the Kingdom of Sanctuary is a nation of laws and justice, not barbarism and petty vengeance. If you cannot accept that, you are free to leave whenever you wish, though I do hope you will wait until your health allows it." Jade stamped her hoof with finality, though her firm declaration was a little undermined by her softhearted hope to heal even those who disagreed.

She was a lot more effective than I was though, nopony could bring themselves to protest in the face of such nobility and kindness. Some grumbled under their breath as they wandered away, but more looked to her with faith and hope shining in their eyes.

"Awww... I was hoping to knock some of them around sister... They were getting pushy and mean, it's best to make an example of one or two, then they won't do it again." Swan pouted at the tension ending without violence, trotting over to nuzzle to get over her disappointment.

Witchy was right behind Jade the whole time, keeping a curious Glitter between them protectively and breathing a shaky sigh of relief. Her fluffy ears drooped as she spoke, her squeaky voice loud enough for the nearby slaves wandering away to hear as she tried to take blame on herself. "I... I am very sorry your highness, all of you... I have never known Ruby before last night, but I am ashamed we are related. It is a dishonor I will do all I can to make up for, s-somehow."

"Nonsense Witching dear, you are not responsible for your aunt and her crimes. This was a failure on my part to anticipate their reaction. Perhaps we should consider ourselves fortunate she escaped, we had not put much effort into any form of courts or prisons in favor or more important concerns. If we truly are going to be a kingdom of laws however, we must deal with that aspect of rebuilding society at some point. We will certainly not simply execute those we do not care for or enforce our will through violence Fast..." Jade huffed at me righting my hat and willing my fangs back down to nubs, clearly disappointed at the confrontation.

Val groaned as she waved off the flock of her griffon underlings, throwing her claws up to complain. "Seriously!? What, ya wanna build a jail and stick cunts like that in there Blue? Waste food and caps on em? Hell, I'm with these assholes, they gotta right ta payback just like me, stringin' her up is a lot cheaper an' faster. Only reason I didn't go along with em was 'cause they was gettin' nasty an' ya gotta nip that mob shit in the bud, but killin' the bitch is best. Gunners'll probably skin her fer fuckin' up anyway."

Swan nodded cheerily and joined on her side, clearly seeing no issue. "Bad ponies should just be smashed sister. Leaving them alive lets them cause trouble later."

As much as I agreed with them, I had the good sense to keep my mouth shut, recognizing Jade's stubborn streak when she stuck her nose up. "Being forced to kill irredeemable raiders or Gunners actively trying to kill you, is not the same as murdering somepony who is already at your mercy. I am willing to admit violence is necessary in some cases, but not all. The New Canterlot Republic has built a prison on the bones of Arbu, we should follow their example when we are able. Doing what is right is not often what is easy. We shall speak with Preston on the subject when we return to the castle. Now then... let me finish my rounds and we may leave as planned, provided we all avoid any more incidents..."

Before she could turn and trot off again, Swan cantered in front of her, making me worry the two alicorns with such opposing views were going to argue again. Thankfully Swan had gotten used to her pacifist sister, letting the debate go and only focusing on what she wanted herself. "Do me first sister! I'm tired of waiting, I don't like checkups and stuff and it's cramped in here with all these little ponies running around that I can't hurt."

"Checkups? Swan? Did you get hurt during all that last night?"

Swan smiled and shook her head at the concern clear in my voice, leaning down to give a grateful kiss to my cheek as Jade rolled her eyes and her horn lit up. Her pale blue magic surrounded her lavender sister, swirling around her with no wounds to heal, only confusing me more while I waited for Jade to stop concentrating so hard on the spell to answer.

After a minute of silence that had me getting impatient and worried, Jade's brows drawn down in focus slowly went up and her eyes softened and sparkled, a broad smile crossing her pretty face as her spell cut off and she nodded significantly up to her slightly taller sister. They might not have Unity between them without one of their green sisters around to facilitate it, but silent communication was still passing between them.

In this case, whatever it was got Swan to snatch me up in her forelegs and squeal, crushing me against her chest as she did a giddy little dance on her hindlegs and spun in circles. "EEEEEE! Yay! Thank you sister! I knew it! Come on Fast, now we can leave and celebrate!"

"W-What? Celebrate? Huh?"

I wheezed dizzily as Swan kept right on hugging and prancing around, looking to Jade in confusion and somewhat concerned to see Glitter, Val, Witchy, Zed and quite a few nearby Followers watching with wide eyed anticipation as she set me down to stagger free. Like they were all waiting for something...

I was getting a little uncomfortable when Jade smirked and tilted my chin up to her, speaking softly and slowly with a mischievous twinkle in her lidded eyes. "I am not quite as efficient at early detection as the MoP Hub maneframe, the spell to detect pony chorionic gonadotropin is only effective after implantation and took some preparation, hence Swan's appointment with my other patients this morning. Congratulations are indeed in order however, I am happy to report a positive result dear."

"Pony chronic gondola trope N? Er... what?"

"Is he going to fall over again? I wanna see him fall over!" Swan giggled and nudged at me while I puzzled out the medical terminology Jade couched her answer in.

Val cackled and rubbed her claws together in glee as I started working it out and felt the color drain from my face. "Quit tryin' ta confuse him ta soften the hit Blue, gots ten caps on boss passin' out again!"

"C'mon daddy, you can do it! Stay awake this time!" Glitter pranced forward and hugged me firmly, trying to keep me upright as I turned a questioning look to Jade.

The blue beauty sighed in resignation and held a hoof up to hide her demure smile, answering in simpler terms for the amusement of our little family crowding around me to watch the show. "Oh very well... Do try to stay conscious Fast, I do not often engage in gambling with Valkyrie. It is a pregnancy test... Swan's is positive, just as we suspected would be the case. It is not a surprise, so surely you can..."

That was as far as she got, the smiling faces of everyone crowding around me in a circle spun like a merry go round and down I went. Only Val's slow motion cackle followed me down into the dark, gleefully stepping over me with her claw held out to Jade. "HA! Ten caps! Pay up Blue, told ya he'd be a big wuss!"

THUMP!

"Bluuugh...."

Waking up from a nightmare where I was buried under an avalanche of crying alicorn babies, the last of which was purple and bigger than me... I groaned and blinked blearily, slowly realizing the warm weight sprawled on my chest was just one grinning little daughter instead of a mob.

"Daddy! Did you have a good nap?" Glitter put down the battered little schoolbook from Jade's regular lessons when I shifted under her, letting me sit up and figure out where I was with a hoof rubbing at my aching head.

"Y-Yeah... great nap..." I shivered as the lest vestiges of the dream faded, my pounding heart slowing down with the sound of a horde of squalling infants still ringing in my ears. "How long...?"

Jade's light giggle made me turn to the amused alicorn sitting at her heavily laden desk, placing me in her office still in Redheart anyway. She sat behind a mountain of paperwork and arched an eyebrow over at me shuffling my way up in the corner, opening an envelope floating in her magic as she answered cheerily. "Only a short while dear, at least you tend to regain consciousness quickly when you do that... Though I do wish you could manage to not faint in the first place. It did give me time to tend to some work before we leave this morning at least, we had a visit from one of Mr. Jets' Red Rocket couriers and have received a good deal of correspondence to go over. I asked the nice delivery mare to inform him we would be along shortly, so wake up sleepy head."

Sheepishly doing as ordered by the smirking Princess, I stretched my legs and cracked my neck, working the kinks out from my forced nap in the corner of Jade's cramped office. I nuzzled Glitter and made her go back to the ancient book and hoof written worksheet Jade clearly had her working at, floating the chewed nub of a pencil back to her mouth before she could scamper up to her huff of disappointment.

Weaving my way through the teetering stacks of paper, clipboards full of reports from her Followers on their patients, boxes of salvageable textbooks, teaching aides and medical equipment from the nursing academy, along with bottles of healing potions and other medicines cluttering the administration office Jade had claimed for herself here, I leaned up to give a kiss to her cheek in apology, getting a pleased and forgiving nicker.

"Sorry about that hon... I'm working on it, just... it still gets me when I first find out that... Wow, so Swan too, huh? That makes the t-t-three I promised Umbra I guess, er... f-four including you... F-Four... fooooour....."

Giving a firm nip to my neck made the world stop spinning as Jade tittered in reply. "Do not work yourself up again Fast... Your amusing antics have already cost me ten caps to Valkyrie. Swan is indeed pregnant as well, so you should be half as pleased as my sister at the very least. I was just composing a letter to Umbra to inform her you have kept your promise, if you had anything you wished to add?"

"Umbra? You're writing her? Umm... jeez, I guess maybe ask if she can calm down and stop sending your sisters out to hunt me now?"

Jade gave a weary sigh and tapped her pen to the page full of her flowing script. "I have. Hopefully she will be more willing to listen now. I am trying again to convince her to focus on her efforts with the compatibility potion and their volunteers in Unityville, rather than remaining so fixated on just you dear. Waiting on myself, Ivy, Periwinkle and Swan to come to term and ensuring there are no complications is the wiser course. Not to mention I have tried to make her accept one alicorn stallion is not a solution, no matter how ...enthusiastic... you are to help. Genetic diversity for a healthy population dictates you alone are not the answer to our mother's wish to be fruitful and multiply. Perhaps she will be more receptive now that there is some progress to point to."

I usually left Jade to her Followers related work when she was holed up in her office or clinics, both out here and in places like back home in Sanctuary. Getting to see her at work and look over her shoulder as she returned to the numerous scrolls and papers, absently tapping at her pip-buck or dictating notes to the arcano-tech device, I took a minute to really appreciate just how much work the Princess of the Commonwealth did, often while I was running around and getting shot at...

Squinting at the glowing blue screen of her pip-buck map and noticing all the additional notes and supply lines displayed there, I was proud she had found some uses for the piece of tech she still had issues with, taking her slender hoof in mine to give it a kiss that made her wrinkle her nose and blush as I took a better look. She had data on all the places her Followers of the Apocalypse spread their charitable work to, including the empty outlines of icons for several towns we had never visited all over the Commonwealth.

Floating up a stack of stained and torn reports bearing the cross and butterfly mark of the Followers, I whistled as I scanned through updates concerning traveling classes and clinics following caravan routes between County Crossing and the Village of Neighlem as a random example. "Wow... you really do a lot of stuff I have no clue about, don't you Jade? This is all the kinda things you reported to that Velvet lady in Manehatten, huh?"

She gave a cute little snort and nickered, setting her latest piece of paper in a rusty tray on her desk reading 'OUT' that wasn't nearly as full as the matching one beside it reading 'IN'. "There is quite a lot more to being a Princess than looking pretty and sitting on a fancy chair Fast. When the couriers are actually able to find us, there tends to be quite the backlog of mail to catch up on. Glitter often helps me while we attend to her schooling, she is much better than I am at all the numbers and it serves as an excellent math class, considering my more traditional lessons are beneath her abilities. Is that not right dear?"

Looking up from a dogeared copy of 'Gusty the Great' she had been puzzling over, Glitter beamed and bobbed her head proudly. "Ya-huh! I like helpin' with the numbers stuff lots more than readin' or history! Mommy makes me do homework just like your spell stuff daddy, makin' sure all her Followers stay in the black is much funner though."

"We all have our talents dear, just as I rely on my cute little knight to be heroic and brave, along with a brilliant repair pony. Rebuilding society and forming a functioning Kingdom requires many hooves and skills, more every day as we grow more successful. As the unfortunate question of criminal justice Witching's aunt brought to our attention today demonstrated." Jade closed her eyes in a sweet smile to us both, the pen floating in her telekinesis darting off to jot notes as she spoke.

"Well, this stuff is as much a superpower to me as anything the Shrouded Stallion could do hon. I always knew you were a great Princess, but I didn't realize so much was involved. I'll try to help out more with this side of things if you want. I feel kinda bad you do all this and I had no clue. Umm... I have an interest in justice anyway, so I can try to think about what to do with bad ponies beyond shooting them maybe? Jails and courts you were saying?"

Jade smiled softly and kissed my horn, shaking her head at the contrition in my voice on realizing how much I took for granted or didn't even know she did, feeling stupid I hadn't thought just what all was involved in managing our growing collection of settlements and allies into a real kingdom. "I am always glad to hear you looking for an alternative to violence and would welcome your input Fast, but do not think you do not do plenty already. We all have our talents and yours lie elsewhere. It does concern me yours so often lead you to bloodshed, rather than tinkering as you plan to do with the Arcano-Cats today, but I never feel you do not pull your weight or work hard for the benefit of others. These most recent letters are an excellent example, we have received several replies from those you wrote to concerning your flock of miniature mercenaries and what to do with them."

"Really? That's great! It is getting a little crowded here..."

Watching her warm blue eyes returning to the correspondence hovering in front of her beautiful face, I smiled at her cute habit of mouthing along silently as she read. I felt a little better at her pleased nicker as she finished the most recent letter and folded it carefully with the others, beaming as she moved to open the next and speaking with her admirable optimism warming my heart.

"Yes, just a bit dear... Though I am proud you helped them and sought out homes for them with all our friends, far away from the Gunners and fighting here. That is the kind of thing you are good at, while I am happy to deal with the minutiae that comes after. Ah, wonderful! The farmers at Sunshine and Rainbows Co-op have informed us they are willing to take in up to three of our young griffon charges Fast! With Mayor Shamrock in Goodneighbor's invitation for five, Overmare Crystal in Stable 114 and Cocoa in Jamocha Plains acceptance of two each, and Miss Oblige in Hexington's willingness to take one, that makes acceptable homes for nearly all of them who remain undecided!" Jade whinnied in delight, tearing open the next battered envelope and scanning the page silently.

Glitter was paying attention to the conversation concerning all her little griffon friends, especially those she had grown closest with foremost on her mind as she pouted warily. "You're really gonna send 'em all away Mommy? W-What about Heidi and Lila? We was hopin' they could stay! I said they could be my bodyguards, like Auntie Val is for daddy! Can't they? Pleeeeeeeease?"

Poor Jade looked flustered at that weaponized cuteness bearing down on her, forcing me to run interference and play the bad parent. "Glitter, you're already surrounded by plenty of protection. Though I agree even all of us aren't enough as far as I'm concerned, that's because it's dangerous around us. It's bad enough we drag you with us in all this, but bringing more kids along is too much to deal with, even Lila and Heidi. Besides, don't you want them to find a home with someone? Like we found each other?"

Playing on Glitter's unwavering love and gratitude over forming a family together was a low blow, but it made her pause and bite her lip uncertainly. "Y-Yeah... But they could have a home with us! They're my friends! We could be like sisters an' make an open contract thingy like you did daddy. So we're always together! I want them to be happy, but I don't want them to go..."

"Glitter, don't play around with making a contract like that, it's very serious to griffons. You're going to have f-four... four brothers or sisters before long too. T-That's gonna be more than enough siblings."

She gave a wan smile at my voice wavering as I shook off a wave of dizziness, shrugging sullenly even at the prospect of baby siblings that usually excited her. Jade pulled away from her desk with a rusty squeal of her wheeled seat creaking in relief at all that alicorn rising out of it, trotting over to comfort her, curling her wings around her and nuzzling the little filly.

"Glitter dear... I know you wish to stay with your friends, which is very admirable and proof of the magic of friendship, but we need to think of what is best for Lila and Heidi too. We have taken care to find homes that can offer the love and support Magpie's young griffons deserve and have not known. They need individual attention and care we cannot offer. Here... perhaps this second letter from Hexington will make you reconsider. Your father has taken special care with those two and I believe you will approve." Jade kissed her forehead and gave a little nudge with her nose, floating her most recently opened letter down to the foal's hooves with a slight nod to me looking over curiously.

Glitter gave a conflicted frown, tilting her head and sounding out the letter like her mother, just at a slower pace with a lot of backtracking. Slowly her brow drawn down in a skeptical straight line raised and her pink eyes grew round and happy, blinking up between me and Jade with a gasp. "Rusty and Copper!? R-Really? They could go there? That's not so bad then! They'll be really close an' they can fly and visit lots! Those two would make really good parents! Can I tell them daddy?!"

Glad to see the minor crisis averted, I nodded solemnly as I plucked the letter away in my magic, reading through the neat cursive script to find what I had hoped for when I wrote the overjoyed sounding recipients. My business partner and sitting Councilpony in Hexington, Rusty Clank and his wife Copper Coil, were the first ghouls I ever met and a wonderful couple.

As undead ponies, they couldn't have kids and expressed regret over it, but had remained together through the end of the world and the intervening centuries. If that wasn't a stable home for the griffon sisters I didn't know what was. Copper's warm reply made it clear they'd treat Lila and Heidi like their own and were already busily preparing for them. Sending them there kept them close to Sanctuary like Glitter noted, plus it had the added benefit of providing for their interests and education.

Lila had demonstrated uncanny skill with old terminals and junk, and Rusty's salvage business was booming thanks to our partnership that opened up the haul of from Watt's, so there was plenty to do for the pair of griffon fledglings I knew would insist on doing some kind of work. They could help Rusty fix and sell his technological salvage, along with keeping him safe, while the old ghoul could teach them all he knew about the business, and his kind wife got to spoil them silly if her letter was any indication.

Glitter voiced her approval of the plan with a happy squeal and a flying tackle of a hug, knocking me back even as I agreed to her request. "Ooof! Sure sweetie, it'll be a nice surprise, huh? I thought long and hard about what to do with your little friends and wanted to send them somewhere close to home, so I'm glad it's ok with you."

"You see Fast, you do quite a lot yourself. Do not sell yourself short. We may tell them all and bring them along with us, you planned on returning to the castle this evening, so they can all leave from there with a Minutemare escort. The only one left now is the most problematic, young Bruno has refused any and all suggestions. Perhaps you could find him and attempt to convince him again while Glitter and I gather the others?" Jade joined us in the embrace, humming in thought as she straightened her leftover work up and prepared to get going.

As glad as I was to get her praise and understanding, the mission she doled out wouldn't have the result she wanted and I was forced to broach the subject. I knew where Bruno wanted to go and it wasn't on her list of approved homes to send the young griffons out to, but the kid was stubborn and had already made up his mind...

"I'll go look hon, but the only place he'll agree to go is the Minutemares. I've talked with him about it and he insists."

"NO! We will not enlist child soldiers to fight our battles Fast! You well know my feelings on this and I thought you agreed, he may not!" Jade's eyes blazed and she flared her wings, snorting a puff of breath through her nostrils in negation.

"I know and I do hon. But Bruno is the oldest and his contract was almost up before I bought it. He's old enough to join and when his time's up he'l just do it anyway. I'm not saying to let him join up and stay at the castle where he might end up fighting the Gunners like he wants either. I can order him at a post far away, even back in Sanctuary. Better he join up under our hoof where we can watch him, than letting him go do something stupid on his own, right?"

She still looked angry, but the determined line of her eyebrows wavered as she took in my argument, biting her lip and shifting on her hooves with a whine. "I... I do not like it Fast. I will listen to what he has to say however. Go along before I change my mind, Glitter and I will round up the others. Here, you may deliver this final letter from Hexington while you are out, Zed's grandfather Zin wrote along with the others."

Getting that much of a concession out of her was more than I expected, so I grabbed the letter she floated over and retreated in a rush, tipping my hat to Witchy out in the hall, guarding the door like a proper royal guard. She blushed and flicked her fluffy ears with a soft smile, making it obvious she had heard all of that with her quiet whisper behind her upheld hoof. "I shall try to convince her highness as well Fast. Young Bruno was quick to volunteer to help find Ruby, tis the least I can do for him."

Leaving it in her capable hooves, I trotted down the busy halls and out to the courtyard, marveling at Maud putting the finishing touches on the crystal reflector platform glimmering in the morning light. It was a round, faceted disc nearly six ponies wide, a darker pink six pointed star dead center of the milky pink surface. Watching the old ghoul chipping and polishing the huge platform made my pip-buck beep and throw text up in my vision as I looked around.

Mission Updated: Arcane Relay Race

Objectives---
---Build Teleporter Relay
-----Construct Crystal Reflector Platform

That was one part of Dr. Vigil's teleporter done... The bizarre mission tracking system informing me couldn't bring down the sense of fulfillment I got from it doing ...whatever it did... and crossing that off the list. With the radar dish from the Arcano-Cats if we convinced them to give it up, I'd be halfway done already!

I spotted Zed speaking with the sedate ghoul and waited a moment for them to finish their conversation on which stones and gems zebras found most conducive to making their fetishes versus those ponies prized in arcano-tech talismans. If we had more time I'd be interested to listen in to the two experts, just from what I caught it was clear zebra magic took advantage of lower grade gems and even plain old stones. Maybe forced advances due to a lack of Equestrian gems to work with as the 'war over rocks' as Maud explained it got worse, but interesting.

Catching his eye by waggling the letter bearing the unique zebra rune, I hoofed it over after he gave a bow to Maud and let her get back to work, tucking it in his leather jacked to read later. "Thank you Fast, hearing from Grandfather is always welcome. Speaking with that ghoul reminds me of him actually, very wise and unhurried by the world. Unlike you obviously are. Busy with some errand again?"

"We're getting ready to go. You can write Elder Zin back at the Arcano-Cats once we head that way, be sure to say hi for me. I just need to find Bruno first, we finally got places for all of them to go but him, wanna help?"

"I believe he is with the other young griffons searching for Ruby, under Val's direction up there." Zed jerked his head up to the roof, pointing out the bright red griffon squawking and screeching orders at the younger minions she had put herself in charge of flitting around her. He made agile jumps up to the dead trees in the courtyard and crumbling outcroppings on the building, keeping pace with me flapping my way up there and continuing in low puffs of breath. "I'm glad to hear her miniature army will be finding homes. Not only for their sake, but Valkyrie in charge of an entire company of mercenary children is a recipe for disaster..."

Rising up to Val up on the roof, I put the earth bound settlers below me and joined the young griffons filling the sky. As I approached a white and grey little griffoness snapped a salute to Val perched on the roof and soared off, letting me catch the satisfied smirk on Val's beak at being in charge that proved Zed's point.

She heard his jibe on snorted as we approached, ruffling her feathers at the dour zebra's version of a joke. "Shaddup Stripey, I'm great with kids! You see how they all hop to don'cha? Got em workin' like a well oiled machine! We'll track down that bitch in no time, though still think ya should lemme give the order ta kill on sight boss. Oh and hey'a fainty! Finally wake up? Good job bein' a big puss and earnin' me easy caps. Just been coordinatin' the search for that bitch, gots em spiralin' out a little at a time, but ain't caught her trail yet."

"Glad I'm so predicatable Val, you're running a regular numbers racket place bets on me... We're gonna get going soon and most of the kids should be coming with us after Jade talks to them. If we haven't found Ruby ...alive preferably... then I guess the Minutemares will just have to keep up the search without air support. You happen to know where Bruno is at the moment? I need to have a chat with him about his career plans."

"Eh? The brat huh? Sure boss, should be in the northwest quardrant, checkin' towards the river. C'mon, let's go grab him if ya wanna yap at 'im. What's the deal? We takin' all these squabs with us?" Val spread her crimson wings and took off, forcing me to scramble after her awkwardly as she quickly gained altitude, while Zed merely donned his bloodwing fetish and flew gracefully on his magical bat wings to follow along.

"They're all healed up and Jade's found places for them to go, before the Gunners come down on our heads... We were planning on going to the castle this evening, after spending the day with the Arcano-Cats to try to get some work done. We should be able to arrange escorts with the Minutemares for all of them from there. I just need to talk with Bruno since he insists on joining them."

Val clucked at me struggling to keep up with her, rubbing her claws together and purring menacingly. "Ah, spendin' some time with the hep cats first though, huh? Good! Talked with the old buck in charge last time, get ta run ya through yer paces with all them other featherhead ponies, Ya been slackin' boss!"

"Slacking? You mean... oh no.... Noooooo!"

"YESSSS! Trainin' boss, they gots all that great Wonderbolts crap ta use, yer puttin' some time in with pros! That Burny was right interested when I asked, so he's gonna help beat ya inta shape boss, it'll be great!" Cackling as she did graceful swoops to flank check me and send me staggering in the air, Val sounded giddy at the prospect of torturing me again.

"You have been slacking lately Fast. Training is not something that can be abandoned when inconvenient. I must practice the martial arts of the zebras I have learned since foalhood to this day. You could be much better in the air if only you showed a little discipline, your survival does depend on it." Zed joining in on her side just made that smarmy smirk on Val's face grow wider as I pouted back.

"Well excuse me... not all of us have fancy zebra doodads that let us be an expert on borrowed wings whenever we want... That's still not fair.."

Ignoring them chuckling to each other as we flew, I had to admit Val did have a point and was trying to help, in her weird, painful, sadistic griffon way... I had been trying to get out of Val's insane version of flight lessons wherever I could. With all the magical knowledge and spellbooks available in University Point, that had mainly been accomplished by trading her aerial tutoring in for Jade's arcane education. By the gleam in her eye, I had a good idea there was no escape today however, even pointing a shaking hoof to the distant robin grey griffon flapping our way and trying to pull ahead to meet him was only a momentary reprieve.

Bruno flew up from the crumbling riverside ruins below and circled us impatiently, the bright blue scarf of the Minutemares worn over his dark blue sweater and ratty school uniform shirt, despite my warnings not to wear that where Jade could see it. The fact he refused to be parted with it and already considered himself a recruit did at least add to my argument though.

He stuck his tongue out in distaste at Val playfully pinching my flanks and giving me noogies under my hat, coughing for attention and speaking in a voice that cracked with restrained excitement. "Hey boss! Quit playin' griffon groper a minute, I think I found her!"

"Huh? You mean Ruby!? You did!? Great job Bruno!"

While the young griffon's feathers puffed up with pride at the praise that he tried to carefully mask, Bruno didn't look simply excited at succeeding in his mission now that I took a good look. He was already a regular little mercenary and had seen and done a lot I couldn't imagine, but something was stressing him and taking away from his enjoyment of a job well done. His face looked just a shade paler than normal and the sweat I could smell wafting behind him as he started drifting down to the city streets had just a hint of the acrid scent of fear mixed in.

"Yeah, yeah boss, don't go crazy congratulatin' me yet. Still not sure it's her, it's uh.... kinda hard ta make a positive ID. May not like it even if it is her neither, but she's right this way..." Bruno easily glided down between sagging powerlines and leaning lightpoles, speaking over his shoulder while coming in for a landing in an intersection near the river cluttered with rusty carriage husks.

There were also quite a few feral ghoul corpses... I could still smell the powder from his double barrelled shotgun, and the expertly shredded bodies we landed among definitely bore the marks of his handiwork. The kid had taken out nearly a dozen all by himself, all arrayed around a towering, pale pink cylinder flaking with rust on the street corner. I had seen the strange contraptions scattered around all over before, a Plow Share Preservation Shelter, basically a giant tin can with a sliding door like a bizarre telephone booth. The emergency balefire fallout shelters worked about as well as you'd expect, considering almost every one I had seen had a pile of the last occupant's bones inside.

This one was surrounded by a mound of bricks from the remaining half wall of an old office building behind it, bearing numerous dents but intact, so they were capable of taking some of the beating advertised anyway. The door was shut, but a wide puddle of bright red blood was spreading around its base and dripping down to the gutter, mingling with the black ichor from all the dead zombies Bruno had taken out.

Based on the blood fogging the air with the sharp, coppery smell, I didn't hold out much hope that Bruno had found Ruby alive. Even preparing for it however, when the young griffon prowled over and pulled the squealing release lever on the side of the personal pony shelter, what was left inside made my stomach churn and bile rise up in my throat.

It was a red coated pony with a purple mane, that much was identifiable... barely... It just took looking around for that much evidence through the viscera absolutely coating the interior of the pod and finding where her tail wound up, somewhere near the ceiling... It looked vaguely like the corpse had been stuffed inside the tin can with a grenade and exploded.

Large chunks of flesh had been torn away from the body, the most obvious and sickening was the fact the face had been ripped off, leaving a glistening skull gaping out at us. The jaw was nearly torn off, hanging on by pale tendons in an unending scream, the tongue nowhere to be found.

The ruined head tilted at the movement when the door slid aside, cocked at an unnatural angle like it was asking a question it would never get an answer to. 'Why?' came immediately to mind and I shivered, holding a hoof up to my mouth with a muffled 'Urk!', but unable to look away. The rest of the corpse was covered in ragged wounds and bite marks, a long coil of greyish intenstines forming a sickening pile in the base of the shelter. Staring at the horror show in grim fascination, I saw a large chunk of flesh splattered against the wall at the end of a long blood trail from where it had apparently been slowly sliding down the wall, a blood spattered image of an irregularly shaped ruby barely visible on the meaty hunk.

Val gave a long, low whistle at the sight, clearly not as bothered as I was, more impressed at the carnage. "Welp... guess we ain't gotta worry about lockin' her up or them slaves tryin' ta execute her, huh boss? Problem solved!"

"S-Solved? What the fuck? What happened to her?"

Bruno at least looked a little green, though not nearly the sickly shade I could feel coloring my face. He swallowed with an audible click and shrugged, actually moving forward to poke at the corpse and shrug in response. "Found her like this boss. Them undead bastards were chowin' down, so I had ta take 'em out to preserve what was left, then shut the door so no other creepy crawlies came by while I found ya. Must'a run fer the shelter and didn't quite make it, got turned into a regular can o' Cram I guess."

I didn't like how blase my griffon companions were about the horrifying display, but they weren't as squeamish as I was thanks to a very different life. Even though Ruby was a world class bitch, nopony deserved ...this... I grabbed the rusty lever in my magic and shut the door again, sparing myself from the sight as I chewed back the vomit that wanted to rise up and join all the blood at my hooves.

"A-Alright... If it was ferals, there's nothing we can do now. Just... don't tell Witchy. Not yet anyway... We'll send some Minutemares to.... ugh... s-scoop up what's left and bury it I guess, have them take it back to Redheart, quietly... If you really want to join them Bruno, you should learn to do nasty jobs like this and try to impress Jade. Hurry up so we can get going to the castle tonight, you've got until then to make your case."

Bruno blinked at my muttered orders owlishly, taking it in and betraying a bit of excitement with his quick salute. "Really? The big blue softy's gonna lemme... sure thing boss! I'll keep it quiet and get the others on it right quick!"

Val huffed at me pacing away from the bloodbath with my head down, ruffling Bruno's feathers and sending him off with a swat. "Whassa matter boss? Kid did good, found the bitch 'fore we left an' everything! Don't tell me you was thinkin' like Blue an' wanted ta put her on trial!? Gonna build a prison and waste the time, caps and resources keepin' fuckers like that alive? She's dead an' good riddance, bitch was nothin' but trouble, an' she was a real cunt ta batty!"

I had to give a wan smile to Val ending on a snort of anger, she didn't like how Ruby hurt Witchy, and anyone who hurt Val's friends deserved the ultimate punishment in her mind. It was her way of expressing how much she liked the shy thestral, even if it was through her bloodthirsty world view. While part of me agreed with her that Ruby meeting her end wasn't just convenient, but just the kind of karmic retribution she deserved, that satisified, shadowy whisper couldn't distract me from a few things that didn't sit right with me.

"I was thinking about it. She's right, we can't just shoot everycreature we don't like, take the law into our own hooves... If we're going to build Sanctuary into a real kingdom like the world I remember, we have to be better than mob rule and justice at the barrel of a gun. We'll have stuff like real laws for the Minutemares to enforce like cops, real justice and junk. Like the Shroud from my comics."

Zed paced around the crime scene with me, poking at the dead ferals and prying open their mouths to my disgust. He dug through a pile of rubble and found a part of Ruby that wasn't in the can with the rest, turning the severed hindleg in his hooves and speaking quietly. "Might makes right is fine so long as it's a benevolent dictatorship, but can quickly wind up no better than Hexington was when you arrived there. Laws that apply to all fairly are the mark of true civilization."

"Bah! You two sound like Nick boss, he was a cop once an' always said that kinda hooey when he was on'a case. The wasteland don't work that way." Val grumbled petulantly, crossing her forelegs and turning her beak up.

Thinking of the synth detective from Diamond City that had helped Val out years ago, I idly wondered how he was and if he happened to be nearby. A few quick taps at my pip-buck's map function while I followed the bouncing pink ball of 'Awareness!' around for clues shot that idea down though. I was confused for a minute when the blinking icon for; 'Nick Hearts N' Hooves - Locator Tag #43820-134 appeared to be in the ocean in the northeast corner of the map, focusing on it and surprised at how far the view zoomed out and shifted to find him on a tiny island called 'Fog Harbor'. However he wound up there, he wasn't going to be around to help with this case.

"I wish he was here... we could use his advice, and a detective I think... Too many things about this don't add up."

Val arched a feathery brow and looked interested despite herself, her time playing detective's assistant with the old synth still with her and making her an excellent Watson. "Like what boss? Bitch got out, ran inta a herd of ferals cause she was a dumb cunt livin' the easy life as a slave master, got what she deserved. Like the kid said, got injured out here an' probably went for the tin can ta hide, but didn't get the door shut an' cornered herself. See, can see the trail if'n ya look for it, big splash of blood here, then that long streak right for the shelter. Open n' shut."

"How'd she get out Val? The slaves said she couldn't teleport and it was a locked, guarded room. Why was she going this way for that matter, the Gunners are to the south, not the northwest."

Continuing his own investigations, Zed slid the door to the preservation shelter open again and stuck his head in, the idea of his muzzle being inches away from all that gore making my stomach do somersaults even as he agreed with me. "He's right. Her leg is way over there by that first splash you spotted, yes, but that wound looks a lot cleaner. The zombies gnawing on it cover it up pretty well, but I think it was cut off, the same appears to be the case with her tongue. Not to mention the scent of dark magic clinging to her... difficult to trace under all these ferals, but definitely there. Someone with negative emotion did this, a crime of passion..."

"See? So, did she just get caught by ferals while escaping like you say, or was this some kind of sadistic ...execution like Zed thinks?"

Picking up Ruby's severed hindleg from where Zed dropped it and waving it right under my muzzle, Val threw the appendage away when I backed away squeamishly and threw her claws up in annoyance. "Who. Cares. Fuck her boss, one less problem for us ta deal with. I'm glad she's gone an' I'm glad she went out screamin'. If yer thinkin' one of them slaves with an axe ta grind did it, more power to em. I'd shake their hoof if'n I knew."

I rubbed at the aching spot between my eyes and under my horn, sighing wearily and not liking how that darker voice agreed with her. "I... I feel the same way Val, but it's not right. If that was true, it'd mean one of the slaves wandering around Redheart is a murderer, you really want somepony like that having the run of the place? With Glitter and other kids there? It's not that I don't agree, or that I always take Jade's side, just that she has a point. With all the settlements looking to us now, law and order will be something as important as survival. It's just something to think about. C'mon Val, don't you wanna be like a sheriff?"

"Spirits preserve us, don't give her any more ideas or job titles Fast... Valkyrie in a position of sweeping authority, you are trying to create an insane, drunken tyrant..." Zed chuckled absently, shutting Ruby's makeshift coffin to my relief and shrugging.

"Nnn... quit being cutesy boss... Maybe, I guess. An' quit with the comedy routine Stripey, I'd be an awesome sheriff dammit! If'n I get a shiny star ta wear, and a hat... It might be fun ta ride roughshod on folks, arrest em an' string up the real pricks... That's all crap fer the future though, I'll let you an Blue worry about all that nonsense. I'm more interested in the present and a much funner job..." Val scratched her plumage in thought at the enticement, finally shrugging and prowling after me looking up to catch that evil grin on her beak.

"Funner job? Oh no... no, no, no!"

I managed to scramble over the nearest dead zombies and made a break for the street, though Zed idly stepped in the way and tripped me up with an innoncent whistle, letting her tackle me. Before I could struggle loose, I was expertly pinned me with my foreleg held behind my back and her purring in my ear, turning away from the macabre scene and complicated thoughts of justice and order for a much simpler subject, survival.

"That's right... Flight trainin' shrimp! You ain't gettin' outta it by gettin' all mopey over this dead cunt. I'm gonna beat all that serious shit outta ya! Yer comin' with me boss!" I yelped and struggled as she tossed me over her shoulder and rocketed up, flying directly back to Redheart and the others.

While I had often dreamed of getting to recite the oath I now grumbled out grudgingly when I was a foal, somehow it was less satisfying under the current circumstances...

It was hard not to feel a little silly, chanting along with a gaggle of pegasi foals as an adult in their midst, even more annoying was the fact I didn't stick out that much compared to all the gangly fillies and colts who would probably be taller than me in a few years. I was treated just the same as the giddy young fliers who found their guest student as hilarious as the griffon cackling off on a fluff of cloud nearby with nearly a dozen of her fledgling underlings fluttering around her. Even Jade giggled with a hoof held up to her muzzle to unsuccessfully hide it, waving a wing along with Witchy and Swan on a separate fluff of cloud to me pouting in embarrassment.

Looking over to Swan's proud smile and enthusiastic waving made me feel a little loopy, which wasn't exactly good this high up with Glitter on my back... I did manage to give a crooked smile and wave back, turning away to focus on the wispy clouds swirling at my hooves and taking deep breaths. Including Jade who was furthest along, that made four... four foals... provided nopony had twins, or triplets... or quadruplets... or... No! Stop... just the thought made me give a nervous whinny and shake of my head as I shied away from it firmly.

At least I didn't have to manage the whole flight back to the Arcano-Cats domain while riding herd on all the young griffons busily exploring the place. Having Swan around and capable of fast travel to anywhere she had been before was very convenient, especially since she transported my new crystal reflector platform Maud had finished with us. It now sat on the roof of the airbase building with the most intact radar dish Glitter had so shrewdly negotiated for, waiting to go to Castle Equinox and my crew of Minutemare engineers there. Two parts of Dr. Vigil's teleporter down, two to go...

Thinking of the remaining components and putting them together, I glanced down to the Cats' power armor garages below longingly. I'd much rather be working on the fantastic A-01 suit Jade was meant to race in soon, or fixing the damage done to the unique thestral suit that belonged to Witchy's father, or pretty much anything but remedial flight lessons...

We were here to make friends and allies though, and as soon as Val spotted the little class of youngsters Burny taught when he was down this way instead of Diamond City, she had me stripped of my armor, shackled with her heavy training weights and signed up before I could escape. I noticed more than just the proud and cheering parents of my fellow students fluttering around the edges of the course to watch the show, lots of locals were all smiling and laughing together at the great Shrouded Stallion joining the wasteland version of the Junior Speedsters.

At least Glitter was happy, shouting out the credo from my back and chattering with the other fillies and colts lined up in front of old Burny Jets. "This is awesome daddy! I wish I could fly too! Did you do stuff like this back home Heidi?"

The bright blue, pigtailed little griffon at my side shook her head to her best friend's question, grinning at the interesting outing and being accepted by all the young ponies. "Nuh-uh Glitter. Well... Ma had us do trainin' stuff like this, but it usually involved havin' stuff thrown at us and lots of yellin' ta go faster, and guns. I got ta see this fancy obstacle course thingy once, I always wanted ta try it out! Thanks boss!"

I smiled to the beaming little griffon and ruffled her feathers, glad Glitter had found such a cheery friend her own age and feeling my own sense of sadness that she'd be leaving soon. Glitter had already sprung the surprise on her and her sister and they had taken it well so far, listening raptly to Glitter's glowing endorsement of Rusty and Copper in Hexington. They were obviously resigned to whatever I ordered, Heidi's shrugging reply about her life with Magpie up to now a reminder they were trained to follow orders. So, it took a little while to remind them they had a say in their fate and I'd listen to them. Between Glitter's unreserved glee and the reassurances and asking for their input however, they looked cautiously optimistic.

Lila had asked permission to wander off to the airbase below to explore the Cats' garages full of gleaming power armor and ancient technology that made her yellow-green eyes sparkle, now engaged in an animated conversation with the lilac power armored Rowdy on the tarmac below when I found her. The sisters had shared a look of anticipation with only a little anxiety mixed in. I was glad to continue offering them reassurance and that Glitter got to spend their remaining time together having fun, even under the mortifying circumstances.

"Of course Heidi, thanks for joining us. I always wanted to do this too, when I was you two's age anyway... I never expected to be roped into doing it now though. I'm glad you're both having fun though."

Blowing a shrill whistle, Burny looked to be enjoying himself as all the foals and I snapped to attention, fluttering back and forth in his battered leather Arcano-Cats jacket with a faded blue, peaked Equestrian Air Force hat with tarnished gold medals perched on his head and speaking in a gruff and commanding tone. "Alright my lil' Junior Speedsters, I'm sure you've all noticed our famous exchange student and other guests, eh? Learnin' ta fly with griffons yer own age is good for ya, so make them feel welcome and say thank you for them demonstrating the differences where you can see up close. Make nice with 'em a griffon on your wing is a powerful ally and loyal friend! We share the skies and you never know when you'll run into each other up there."

"Let the Shroud here serve as an example ta all of ya too. If you don't practice and work hard, you'll end up as pitiful in the air as he is and never join the Cats when yer grown up. All the fancy armor in Equestria won't make up for not knowin' the basics, so that's what yer old Gramps is here ta teach! Ten laps around the course ta warm up, then off to the dizzytron!"

At the next blast of his tarnished whistle around his neck, the flock of foals and griffons shot off into the air and led the way to the ancient military obstacle course above the old air base, giggling at me lurching up to follow and cautiously approaching each battered hoop. I didn't exactly like being the object lesson in ineptitude for the day, straining against all the heavy weights Val had strapped to my limbs and barrel and grumbling as the chuckling old buck lazily flew up next to me. Though I was grateful to the old buck's speech as I noticed several young ponies cautiously approaching the flock of school uniform wearing griffons flying with military precision, chatting together and helping them act more like kids.

"Thanks a lot Burny... That was a real confidence booster..."

"Bah! Not here ta hold yer hoof, here ta whip you into shape sonny! Good motivation for the kids. Don't take it personal either, ya didn't have them wings the last I saw ya and you ain't much better than one of them without the weights, s'pose that's what ya get for learnin' from a griffon. Glad ta have all the little ones here to teach my Junior Speedsters a thing or two, but wouldn't want them learnin' how to fly from scratch from one." Burny easily kept pace with me, shouting out tips to the foals already pulling ahead in between teasing me with a smirk.

Val had her whacking stick in her claws behind me and looked to be itching to use it, ruffling her feathers and huffing at the elderly stallion's critique of her teaching methods. "Hey! I ain't had much ta work with Gramps, gimme a break. C'mon boss, move it! Yer makin' me look bad!"

Yelping and flapping faster when that hateful stick smacked my flanks, I clipped the next hoop and staggered in the air to Glitter's giggles, taking a little solace in my daughter defending me. "Daddy's lots better than he was Mr. Jets! Don't be mean! Auntie Val makes him work really hard!"

"Oh he's not bein' mean Glitter! He's right. Ponies an' griffons fly different, that's all! We like gettin' ta fly with you too mister, Ma always said ta pay close attention to pegasusus and how you do it, so we know how ta take you out." Heidi giggled and looped gracefully around us, flying upside down to grin face to face with Glitter as she idly discussed being taught to be an aerial killer.

Burny grinned and ruffled their mane and feathers in response, softening his tone to that of a loving grandpa. "Exactly so little missy! Now, I'm sure he is better than when he got them things and yer griffon auntie tries her best Glitter, but sometimes ya gotta be cruel to be kind. Treatin' yer dad the same as any of my own. Change up the angle a little and use yer pinions to read the wind Fast, it ain't all just flappin' like crazy. It's magic what keeps us up, ya gotta feel for it, get the knack sorta. You horn heads think too much about everything, this is instinct, natural as breathin'."

Being up in the air still didn't feel very natural to me, but I listened and tried to follow his advice, mimicking the older buck's graceful swoops and banks through the air, riding the wind instead of trying to swim through it as I usually did. Despite all the weights dragging me down and the giddy foal bouncing on my back happily, I did improve a little and even enjoyed all the pegasi fillies and colts bundled up in tattered scarves, sweaters and hats, slowing down to share their own tips.

Val grumbled and gave me another friendly whack when I dared give Burny's opinion some merit out loud. Griffons and ponies did fly differently and learning from the lean aerial predator was different than receiving instruction from the best pony fliers in the Commonwealth.

"Well excuuuuuuse me boss! Ain't my fault yer a big baby an' not as awesome as me. Not gonna get outta me beatin' ya inta shape though, you fight a looooootta griffons, good fer ya to learn from the best!" I yelped and sped up a little more at her next swat, looking back to her clucking with mock indignity.

Val thankfully backed off a little at that to bark like a drill sergeant at Heidi at the other griffons, even deigning to speak with the griffon member of the Arcano-Cats Bluejay. Soaring along in his brilliant blue and chrome suit of griffon power armor attracted a lot of attention and questions from the young griffons flocking around him that she considered hers. Apparently his skill dealing with all the kids earned him another chance with my bodyguard grudgingly chatting ahead of us.

Panting as we looped up and down for each set of hoops, I kept trying to hold a conversation with the old buck lazily flying backwards with his forelegs behind his head, easily keeping pace and showing off. "Better Fast, maybe you'll earn the Junior Speedsters peewee patch before yer done. Amazed you do manage to stick it to them Gunner assholes as you are, so in my interest ta help you do it better. Hear you helped a lotta folks down in the quarries... Course the eggheads up in U.P. might not be too happy with ya when you go talk with them."

"Yeah... well, if they want to complain about freeing a bunch of slaves, I'm happy to tell them what I think. Besides, we didn't get rid of the Gunners there, we just took away their labor force. Let those pricks dig for gems themselves."

The greying red stallion laughed out loud at that, looping around below me and tapping at my legs to tuck them properly as he answered. "I'd like ta see those assholes doin' some honest work, but I doubt it'll happen. University Point needs those gems though, so they'll figure somethin' out. Still, glad you Sanctuary folks practice what ya preach and helped them folks, Whinny and the Whinny Quarries were two pretty nice little settlements 'fore they came screwin' everything up. Course I wish ya could'a done it without trashin' ol' Midnight's armor, poor lil' Witch only had it a day and look at it now!"

I winced following his nod down to the tarmac below us, Witchy's suit of power armor stood open and gleaming in the diffuse morning light, most of the beautiful paint job scorched away by Quarry Eel acid. The repair talisman was functional and I helped it along in restoring the modified armor back to full strength, but the paint was a non-standard addition the magic didn't restore.

"S-Sorry... I feel really bad about that, but that armor saved our bacon. Roxie down there said you have a paint shop too? I was hoping to fix it for her while I work on Jade's suit. It's the least I can do after... everything she's been through."

"Daddy said I can help paint it and make it all pretty again Mr. Jets! Can we please! All your fancy suits look so awesome, I wanna learn how ta do it too! Then I can make lots of stuff pretty whenever I want!" Glitter held her hooves up to beg along with me, turning her devastating pink puppy eyes on the old buck and making him melt instantly.

Nodding to the foal indulgently, Burny smiled back to her pleas. "Sure thing kiddo, we'll put it right as rain in no time. The Cats have always sported the best paint jobs in the Commonwealth, can't let my lil' godfilly go out in such a plain-jane suit. Maybe you'll even get your cutie mark for fixin' it up with us, eh?"

Glancing back to her pale blank flank, Glitter squealed happily at the prospect and bounced on my back, throwing me off as we finally finished our laps around the course and drifted towards the ground with all the other foals and Burny. Whether it was her special talent or not, Glitter did have a good eye and sense of style, so I wouldn't be surprised if she did find her mark in something related to the arts and encouraged her proudly.

The rusty contraption called a 'Dizzytron' waiting in the shadow of one of the ancient hangars with one of the Arcano-Cats at the sparking controls made me gulp nervously when we landed in front of it. Being on the ground let Glitter prance off with the other kids lining up at least, while I slipped to the back of the line and kept talking with the old buck.

The bubbly, pink pegasus Cat Roxie fluttered over the gaggle of kids crowding around her, organizing them and going over the point of this intimidating contraption. Her neon pink Shadowbolt armor made her a natural center of attention and apparently the crew of Arcano-Cats participating in these lessons were one of the major draws for all the kids, getting the chance to learn from their local heroes.

"Alright all you small fries, like, one at a time! Get a good grip on the harness and hold on tight cats and kittens! The dizzytron is like, a totally wild ride. Don't turn yellow though, Zeke and the others are super ready to swoop in and make the save if you can't pull out, so just do your best! Zero perspiration guys!" Roxie corralled the kids and waved up to a pair of pegasi holding a tattered net far above, though even her tinkling voice full of merriment wasn't very reassuring...

Just looking at the ancient piece of pegasus made training equipment, I had no interest in going anytime soon... It was a large round disc, the swirling, neon design painted on the face flaking away with rust and age. A drive belt ran from the center out to a geared harness with a pretty unsafe looking bracket to hold the occupant across the chest, that the first giddy rider flapped up and slid into eagerly.

"About Witchy Mr Jets, did my wife and her speak with you about er... the whole memory thing?"

"Eh? Oh yeah, that fancy magic business. I tried out the Memory Den when I was younger, didn't care for it that much, but s'pose I don't mind runnin' through their crazy chairs for little Witchy. Provided you quit cringin' back here and move up with the line sonny, if I'm goin' in that memory magic unicorn gadget, you can ride our Dizzytron like everypony else!" Burny grinned and clapped the heavy weights on my back, making me stagger a reluctant step forward with the rest of the line crowding closer.

"Yeah little Shroud, get off the line and lay a patch like the little monsters, you ain't chicken are ya? Show us how it's done daddy-o!" The crimson Zeke laughed as he swooped by, making me grit my teeth at the squeals of all the young fillies galloping after him showing off.

"I'm going, I'm going.... This thing is safe, right?" I shuddered watching the evil contraption spin up, following the laughing foal with my craning neck going around and around and around with him, faster and faster... I could feel the blood drain from my face as I got dizzy just watching the horrible, screeching machine, much more interested in servicing it than riding it. Just watching made my stomach gurgle and I gave a muffled "Urk!"

"Sure! Mostly... Just pick a cloud or building to focus on and try to right yourself, gotta learn how! The Princess up there says her sis is gonna blip us right there and back again, and I ain't too sure about that teleportin' business, but I'm willin' to try so you should be too. I hear that one is preggers too eh? Congratulations! That's way scarier than a little spin and fling, right Fast?" Burny's assurance wasn't that comforting, especially when he waggled his bushy brows and smirked up to Swan watching curiously, turning away in an aside to the light green unicorn Scopes at the controls to shout. "RELEASE!"

My jaw dropped when the rapidly spinning torture device came to a screeching halt at his shout, flinging the squealing foal loose to keep spinning and tumbling in the air wildly. If it weren't for the pair of pegasi minders swooping over to catch him in their net, I wasn't sure if the kid would have pulled out of the dive in time.

Before my hindleg came down from the first step of my unconscious retreat, Val shoved me forward with the line moving up, cackling to herself and poking my flank playfully. "Don't remind him, he'll pass out before we even spin him around Gramps!"

"Y-Yeah... ha ha ha Val. Umm... Hey, you had a lot of kids, right Burny? Do you have any advice?"

Scratching his beard in thought, Burny shrugged with his answer, pausing occassionally to send another insanely giddy foal spinning off into the sky. "Accept you're gonna fuck up, a lot. Forget about any plans for yer own life you might'a had too. RELEASE! I sympathize for the world of hurt you're in for youngster, was quite the stud back in the day myself. Weren't many of us pegasi down here in the mud back then, so I was exotic and dashing, had the fillies linin' up! Hang on, RELEASE! Course that's why I got so many kids, grandkids and great grandkids now, miiiiight'a overindulged a bit. Was hard startin' out, but my little herd built quite the family business together!"

Even with the clattering contraption looming overhead growing closer and closer, speaking with Burny about this stuff was easing my mind a little. Looking up to the bright red streak of his great grandson Zeke blasting by and catching a laughing pink filly tossed from the Dizzytron, I had to smile a little at the sometimes obnoxious buck showing off for the kids in his gleaming power armor.

I'd have kids... maybe even some like himm as uncomfortable as the idea was. Foals of my own that would grow up and make their way in the world, as varied as the swarm of eager colts and fillies bringing me closer and closer to the dreaded machine ahead. What would they be like? What would they do? What kind of world would they live in and help shape themselves someday? What could I do to make that world a better place before they arrived in it? I was still terrified when I glanced up and gave a crooked grin to Jade and Swan waving happily from their cloudy perch overhead, but also looking forward to meeting the children they carried.

In a way it was quite a lot like waiting in line for a roller coaster, or a dizzytron as it were... A lot of fear, anticipation and waiting, then before you knew it you were at the front of the line and getting strapped in, ready or not... I gulped both and the apt analogy, and the very real harness coming to a creaking halt after flinging the last Junior Speedster ahead of me.

"YAY! Our turn! Our turn! Let's go daddy!" Glitter had none of my reservations, bolting over from the gaggle of very loopy looking kids who had already gone, to leap into my hooves as I splayed my wings and hesitantly wiggled into the brace.

"Umm... sweetie, I don't think it's a good idea for you to ride with me... H-Hey! Hold on! WAAAaaaIIIIiiiiTTTT!!!" I yelped when the Dizzytron gave a groan and started spinning, forcing me to hug my precious daughter tight as we turned upside down and rose higher on the huge wheel.

I could barely hear Burny shouting cheerily with the wind rushing in my laid back ears, feeling my face stretch and my cheeks flap with a slapping sound from the increasing speed, unable to focus on the evil bastard's wrinkly face below, above, below, above... somewhere in front of us shouting back. "Motivation! She'll be fine! You wanted ta know what yer in for, consider this practice! RELEASE!"

At Burny's command, Scopes yanked on the lever at the controls and we were sent sailing, spinning, looping, tumbling and falling together. Much as I hated to admit it, he was right about being motivated... The feel of the squealing little filly in my hooves laughing with total trust definitely focused me. I wanted to barf and crash, maybe not in that order, but she needed me and that was enough to force my stomach and wings into cooperating.

'Be Awesome!' gave a gentle nudge as I flapped madly, trying to focus on the horizon and pull out of the spin with both the training weights and squirming little filly dragging me down. I entered a slowly controllable corkscrew, banking gently past the chuckling ponies holding the net hovering aside on being sure I had it under control. Abstractly I knew they were there, that they, Burny and the Cats would have stepped in and kept Glitter safe had I really screwed up, but at the time everything but her safety fell away.

We touched down gently to the cheers of the other students, my heart pounding and a chilly coat of sweat soaking Val's training weights. Glitter was ecstatic however, squeezing my windpipe shut in an earth pony hug and nuzzling in glee. "That was awesome daddy! I love you! Let's go again!"

Wheezing shakily as I hugged her back with only mild panic and burrowed into her clean silver mane, I shuddered and kissed her cheek, letting her go before the adrenaline caught up with me and I really started shaking. "I love you too sweetie, very, very much... Let's just er... t-take a break first though."

"Awwwww! But we can go again, right daddy!?" Looking into those wide, sparkling pink eyes looking up from where she pranced in place, I hung my head and nodded weakly, eliciting an ear piercing squeal as she ran off to join Heidi in a prancing little dance together, puffing her chest out in pride and talking about the ...super fun... ride with her friend and the other foals.

As soon as she cantered off, I lurched away for the nearest large pothole full of scummy water in the runway, trying to quietly hurl my breakfast without falling face first on the way. I was vaguely aware of Burny and Val being joined by Jade, Witchy and Swan fluttering down, crowding around where I flopped to the ground like a puking slug to at least offer a little privacy and laugh amongst themselves.

Burny's voice was full of mirth, but held a warm note underneath as he clapped my back and whispered in my ear. "That's all you need to know. You're a good father Fast, the rest will work itself out. You just proved it. No matter what kinda dive you're in, you'll pull out for yer kids, right?"

"Oh Luna curse you, you crazy old bastard... URK! Y-You couldn't just say that...?"

"That's it kitten, nice and slow, just like takin' a coooool cruise down the drag. You want a nice, even coat before we stick 'em in to bake like cookies." The cute and bubbly Arcano-Cat Roxie was eager to take Glitter on as an apprentice when we wound up in their amazing paint shop, letting me tend to the meticulous work I never knew was involved in this side of tinkering.

Roxie guided the sparking, gem studded sprayer in Glitter's little hooves with her bright pink wings, making slow passes over the components of Witchy's armor I had taken off to get what they called a 'powder coat' of vibrant violet. I was actually a little jealous, as the pegasus filly's instructions to restore the thestral power armor to its former glory to me involved a lot of sanding, cleaning, spraying, sanding, spraying and more sanding. As airheaded as Roxie could appear, the vibrant pink mare tossing her pale lavender and white mane with a wink my way was the resident expert and knew her stuff, making sure the paint jobs the Cats sported were as as colorful and bright as she was herself.

Apparently the cats took great pride in the incredible variety of custom paint they applied to their armor, putting in a stunning amount of work in the cramped garage filling with the sharp smells that made me gag, even with a dirty paper mask over my muzzle like Jade insisted Glitter wear. She, Witchy and Burny all sat together just outside the open door allowing a little ventilation, chatting together happily.

Val, Swan and Zed were out wandering around the town and keeping our flock of griffons out of trouble for us while we worked, my ears occasionally flicking at one of them shouting after the bored kids finding some anyway. Though I also got to hear Swan's giddy squeals of laughter accompanying some fresh crash of destruction, glancing out the door and chuckling at seeing the big purple mare prancing around with a pair of glowing violet robot yak horns strapped to her flowing pink mane.

Taking a little time to cobble together; the trophy she had taken from the Insiitute made robot yak armor, a stretchy headband, a bunch of spark cells and some of the supply of gemstones from the quarries into her new toy before getting started on Witchy's armor had definitely been worth it. Swan deserved something to celebrate her good news and her own set of horns, watching her charge headfirst into more of the piles of junk the earth pony Arcano-Cat Moose set up for her, I was glad the gift was keeping her amused and happy. The two of them even got to discuss the finer points of flaming antlers versus glowing horns by the snatches of conversation I could pick up, though the stallion's continued attempts to flirt with the silly filly more than a match for his size continued to go nowhere.

We killed a lot of time in here already however and the sun was sinking outside, meaning we'd need to get going soon. I wanted to get done with the paint job first so it had time to cure while we were gone though. While we still had lots to do, taking a break to focus on working with the Cats in their fabulous power armor garages, making friends, taking time to let Lila assist me and learn about the fascinating technology the young griffon appreciated more than most of my friends, and spending time with Glitter was the right call.

It was a strange art project for a little filly, and the intimidating A-01 waiting in a separate garage still really needed attention, but Glitter was enjoying herself immensely and every time I saw Witchy's poor, bare metal armor it bothered me. I was happy to spend the afternoon putting her father's armor to rights together after being reminded of my priorities by the experienced old buck, bonding with my daughter took precedence.

Glitter's bright pink eyes sparkled as she looked over to me sanding away and even asked a technical question purely for my benefit. "Isn't this cool dad? How come it's all powdery though? This isn't like my paints, are you sure it'll look pretty like the others?"

While I had never been exposed to the process Roxie employed to achieve the rich, deep colors on the accent pieces she had strung up from wires hanging from the ceiling, I was quick to grasp the scientific principle involved and loved the opportunity to share my interest with my daughter. Though I did try to keep it simple.

"It's electrostatic bonding sweetie. Umm... like when your mane is all frizzy with static? The metal parts are all grounded, while Miss Roxie's fancy spray gun charges the powder positively, so it wants to stick to the metal like a magnet. When we stick them in the oven, it'll melt and look glossy and pretty, I promise. You can help do the base coat when I'm done with the primer over here if you want, that's more like normal spray paint."

I couldn't see the smile on her muzzle behind her paper mask, but it was reflected in her eyes as she nodded happily, returning to making slow passes with Roxie's spray gun, while I kept taping off the highly polished slivery plates of the ancient styled thestral armor. Even Jade's ears perked up with interest, not really following the technical details, but watching with pride and enjoyment over any opportunity to educate Glitter.

"Will I really get to do stuff like this with the old ghoul we're going to boss? You're sure? They're... nice? Like Glitter says?" Lila polished the blue steel plates of the armor that were dry, asking a wary question as the time to leave approached.

"I'm 1000% positive Lila. Rusty is a really nice pony and his wife Copper loves kids. He's my business partner back in Hexington and a pretty important pony there now. He's sitting on a whole warehouse full of advanced tech and robots, he can teach you a lot and you and Heidi will be close to where we live too. Don't worry so much. Glitter would never forgive me if I sent you somewhere you weren't happy."

"That's right! You'd be a bad daddy and I'd be really mad Lila! Rusty an' Copper are great though. I'll miss you lots, but we'll see each other soon! Riiiiight daddy?" Glitter agreed cheerily, narrowing her eyes and ending on a dangerous tone she picked up from her mother.

Giggling to herself as her ears perked up and recognized the little filly mimicking her, Jade nodded and trotted in, giving the somewhat reassured griffon a hug with her wing and nodding. "You and all of your friends will be well taken care of dear, we have put a good deal of effort into ensuring that and we will be checking up on you regularly. Should you have any problems, all you need do is say something. Speaking of which, it is getting late dear, we should be going. It is not good to travel at night, for a... variety of reasons... Mr. Jets is an older pony and gracious enough to come with us, let us not put him in any undue danger or stay out too late. Thank you again Mr. Jets. I assure you, my sister will return you home in no time. She is quite the expert teleporter, so you have nothing to fear."

Burny came in behind her, giving an offended snort with just a tiny hint of anxiety carefully hidden under itm as his warm gaze slid out of the wide garage door and to the big purple mare galloping around outside. "I ain't that ancient or fragile there Princess, glad to start catchin' up on a couple decades of spoilin' my godfilly lil' Witch. Even if it does mean subjectin' myself to all this magical nonsense. Teleportin' and suckin' memories out, all you horn heads are a crazy, but I trust you lot. Er... you are sure about that silly filly though? Doesn't strike me as a wizard-pony type..."

"Trust us Mr. Jets. Swan is way better at magic than I am. She knows a ton of spells, er... provided they're about killing ponies she doesn't like. But teleporting is like her specialty, you're in good hooves."

Since Swan had been to Goodneighbor before, she could teleport Witchy and Burny there to let the batpony mare get an actual look at her parents via the memory recliners at the Memory Den, then take Burny home and come back quickly. Considering how close the party town was to all of Jade's sisters in Trinity Tower however, it wasn't a good idea for the rest of us to go along, plus the less she was asked to take with her, the easier it was for Swan. It was agreed just the three of them would make the trip, after we went back to Castle Equinox for the night and the convenient source of radiation to charge Swan up for the long range teleports and so she could add the castle to her list of fast travel locations.

The grateful batpony sketched a low bow to the old buck and added to my endorsement, oblivious to how seeing the sweet mare's wide, slitted amber eyes sparkling up to him melted the old buck. "T-Thank you very much again Mr. Jets. I have the utmost faith in Swan's skills and ask you trust the Princess' sister to see you safely there and home again. Please? Thine photos and stories have all been wonderful, but to see my mother with my own eyes... ummm, with thine eyes rather... It is more than I could have dreamed of!"

"Pshaw... c'mon now lil' Witch, I told ya to call me Grandpa! I'm doin' this for you, so if you say so, I trust ya. Let's just get this show on the road before I lose my nerve, eh? Glad we're startin' out with a proper road trip ta stretch my wings though. Always wanted ta see the inside of that big castle." Burny tilted Witchy's muzzle up and gave her a grandfatherly nuzzle to her chirp of pleasure, turning to give us a firm nod and stretch his wings impatiently.

Seeing Witchy and the old buck together, I was reminded of the sickening end of her aunt Ruby and cursed the dead mare again. Why couldn't she have been like that... given her niece the love and affection she had been so starved of, instead of being a hateful bitch and getting herself killed. Just that was like one final fuck you to Witchy. I still hadn't told her and it weighed on my mind, putting on a forced smile and feeling my face heat up to match the thestral's blush when she looked between Jade and I gratefully. Witchy had a good day for once, Ruby wasn't going to spoil it.

Getting everyone together on the runway beneath the floating town of Rocketburg, we got quite the sendoff by the locals. I had to grin at one of my fellow Junior Speedsters fluttering up to pin the colorful, wing shaped badge to my dark Shrouded Stallion overcoat, the little sky blue filly reciting the oath with me and inducting me into their ranks seriously. More of the local foals waved goodbye to Glitter and all the young griffons, getting answered with a lot of squawks and playful punches that was the griffon version of making friends.

Zeke and the aerial members of the Arcano-Cats escorted us up and away from the narrow peninsula jutting out into the Celestial Sea. The griffon member Bluejay chuckling with a number of young admirers vowing to come back someday and earn their own set of fancy armor like his. I was surprised to see Val flying beside him roller her violet eyes in amusement at something he said and give him a hard shove, sticking her beak up and clucking with a barely visible blush on her already red face.

Ignoring the jealous snarl of 'Be Dark...' starting to wake up as the sky lit up with the brilliant oranges and reds of sunset on our left, I was glad to see Val at least entertaining his advances. She deserved happiness the same as Witchy did, the fact she didn't shoot him for trying meant even she was getting over her own trauma and opening herself to the idea. I couldn't help the shadowy voice that viewed her as MINE and mine alone, but I could tell it to shut up and just be happy for her, hope she found more of the kind of love we already shared. Someday...

Zeke pulled me away from the complicated thoughts, pausing over the surging waves at the edge of the Cats' territory below and shaking his bright yellow mane free of his crimson power armor helmet to call after us gruffly. "Take care Grandpa! Hey, just keep in mind, just cause the Leader of the Flock is visitin' your Princess in her castle, don't mean the Cats are joinin' up with the man or nothin'! You still gotta race ta run, before we let you join us Princess!"

Jade cringed at the reminder, but put on a determined smile and waved back as we continued on, finally releasing it with a shaky sigh and nuzzling for comfort when Zeke and the Cats turned back. "I am still very concerned about that Fast... You did not do any work on that complicated looking armor! Will it be done? P-Perhaps we should ask for more time... Y-Yes, that would be best. Or we could find another way, I am sure with enough time we will be able to convince them! Surely that is better than engaging in this terrifying r-race and..."

"Jade, it's gonna be fine. The armor will be ready in time, I didn't work on it because of everything else we were doing and all the kids with us, I'd get too wrapped up in it. Besides, we're going to get Summer from the castle and she's an expert. With the two of us, you're going to be totally taken care of and win. You can do it, I believe in you."

"Me too mommy! I can't wait ta see, it'll be as good as seeing you all great big like when I woke you up this morning! You'll look awesome in that fancy armor and kick his ass!" Glitter's enthusiastic hug from her back and agreement reassured Jade, putting aside her worry to give a proud smile, even as she tsked at the foal over her language.

Swan even added her vote of confidence from the rear, the open locket at her neck supplying her with radiation that had made her put on several inches and let her haul the huge block of crystal and radar dish behind her in her violet magic. "You're not so weak sister, don't worry so much! I'm really jealous, I wish I could do it instead. I always wanted to wear one of those fancy tin cans, then I could smash ponies like one of those tank things the Gunners use!"

"You already are a tank big stuff, armor would just be overpowered as fuck." Val laughed and swooped between us, making agile passes and keeping a close eye on our flock of griffons.

"A giant Swan totally encased in power armor... that would make an impression on the Gunners, wouldn't it? Hmm, maybe less like a tank and more like a pony shaped Raptor. Battleship Swan! We could add a few cannons to your flanks, and bombs at your belly!"

We all laughed together at Swan's pleased whinny, taking turns adding hardware to the imaginary flying fortress of a mare that would rain hell down on the Gunners. The griffons adding their expert mini-mercenary opinion and suggesting anti-air guns on her back, turrets on her withers and a magical energy cannon below her horn. The trip over the sea passed quickly like that, flying together in the dying light of sunset, joking and talking to pass the time and just enjoying each other's company.

It was important to have little reminders of what we were fighting for, days that weren't completely filled with bloodshed and horror, but friendship and love. Just as the slaves and Ruby had pointed out, if we wanted to really change the wasteland and make a difference, it couldn't all be done at the barrel of a gun.

Freeing the slaves of Whinny Quarries had been the right thing, but where they went from there and what kind of ponies they'd be was just as important as the fight that liberated them. The loyalty of all of Jade's Followers and the Minutemares putting in the work to heal and protect them with hooves on the ground well after we flew off was what really saved them.

Getting the gaggle of young griffons in new homes that would care for them and give them purpose, would improve their lives and the lives of those around them like Rusty and Copper. They had a chance to be better too, and it wasn't because of fighting and killing, but Jade's kindness and plain old paperwork on their behalf, of the generosity of all the friends we had made across the Commonwealth taking them in.

Those thoughts and the company of my wasteland family flying along with me warmed my heart, the gentle souls of the Ministry Mares with me rising up in song that kept the rising mutter with them at bay. Jade's diagnosis of that particular symptom was spot on, the closer it got to night, the worse that nagging growl and headache got. It had been fairly quiet and sated after getting its fill of more base desires last night, but it was definitely waking up, making the looming castle of dark stone we were finally making our approach to all the more welcome. It would be nice to rest in a well defended fortress further away from the Gunners territory, to end what had been a fairly nice day in safety and comfort, to see old friends waiting there, eat good food and pass out in a soft bed with the mare I loved.

We glided along the trapped and barricaded roadway following the spit of land the castle and the village of Eclipse rested on, spotting all the vigilant Minutemares watching our approach cautiously, then coming out of cover to wave and cheer at the return of their Princess and her retinue. The glow of the small fishing village of Eclipse on the shore was brighter and had a lot more bright electric lights than guttering candlelight and torches now, while the town itself looked to be bigger and busier than when we left.

"Huh, hafta open up a branch around this way now I s'pose. Wasn't enough reason when it was just that one little fishin' village, but you folks have really built things up 'round here, haven't ya?" Burny slowed to make a looping pass over the ruins of a tiny Red Rocket station near the end of the gauntlet of wrecked buildings, planning a welcome expansion Jade heartily encouraged.

Looking down to the empty station and other ruins below us on the way up the winding road to the castle itself, I kept catching a metallic gleam shadowing us, dashing through the rubble and barriers to keep pace up the cliffside. When we landed at the end of the cracked roadway before the imposing gates of the castle, E.F.S. still wasn't able to track it until it came clopping out of the shadows, a lithe, feminine, coppery machine tipping the cowpony hat bolted to its head up in greeting.

"Whoo-wee, howdy ya'll, evenin' Master Fast, been wonderin' when ya'lld get back! Ah've kept the home fires a'burnin' as ordered. Ah've successfully eliminated 147 enemy targets what made the durn fool mistake of comin' in mah area of operations!" The gleaming robot Assaultjack trotted up as we turned to its single green eye glowing out of the darkness, giving a curtsy and letting Glitter tackle it in a hug that rang with a resounding clang.

The gang of griffons her age put their claws to their weapons and fluttered back at the strange robot cantering up, forcing me to call them off while Jade spoke with the stunned Minutemare guards at the gate. "Easy everybody, this is one of ours. Good to see you too AssaultJack, umm... glad you've been keeping busy. Sorry to leave you here, but you're a little heavy to fly around with us and we've been all over the place. I might have a little mission for you later though."

"Really? Does it involve terminating these Gunner yahoos with extreme prejudice? That'd make me happier than a pig in slop Master Fast, they've been a mite skittish lately an' it's been as borin' as sittin' around that gadget shop the last 200 years!" The bizarre robot programmed to approximate Ministry Mare Applejack tilted its swept back head and shifted on its metal hooves in anticipation, allowing our young guests to come close with Lila in the lead marveling over the highly advanced killing machine.

With the gates creaking open behind us, I waved off the early ancestor of the synths of the Commonwealth and turned to enter with the others, calling Glitter back to my side. "Er... hopefully not, but it's important and right up your alley. I'll let you know and service you later, just umm... as you were for now. Boring is good if it means the Gunners aren't trying direct assaults anymore."

Glitter and Heidi had to practically drag Lila away from the modified Assaulton snapping a salute and melting into the shadows again, the gleaming copper armor plating flickering and leaving nothing but an indistinct, blurry shape. Putting the robot I could swear was pouting behind us, we trotted under the bright spotlights pointing out from the from above the gates, entering the castle courtyard through the restored and junk reinforced gatehouse.

Jade spoke sweetly to the Minutemare guards goggling and bowing to her as she passed, letting me kind of sneak along in her wake with only a nod or salute here or there. She was by far the center of attention, even her big sister stomping in behind her didn't get the same focus as the Princess of the Commonwealth returning. Quiet whispers and murmurs started gaining volume and spreading around her like ripples in a pond, making her full cheeks turn a pink rapidly heading towards red as her long legs sped up.

It made taking a good look at all the changes that had gone on during our brief absence just here in the open courtyard hard to really take in. It was a lot brighter with every window lit from within and a series of salvaged stadium style lighting bathing the courtyard from a tall, rusty metal tower, built at the edge of the scrap plating covering the pit leading down to the reactor beneath the castle.

Waving the crowd continuing to follow Jade off, I surrounded the big hatch in my magic and tugged, the steady tic-tic-tic of my pip-buck at the rads trickling out even this far up catching Swan's attention before I even called her over. "Wooooo... is that the hole with all the nice radiation I can haz Fast you told me about Fast?"

Speaking to her head already poking down the hole and giving a pleased whinny at the greenish glow so far down, I stroked Swan's mane and made a sweeping gesture of invitation with my foreleg. "That's it Swan. Go knock yourself out, just don't mess with the reactor. You can have it all to yourself any time you want. After your done with all the teleporting, I'll even come down there to play if you want, huh?"

"EEEEE!" Swan squealed and set the heavy load of the crystal platform and radar dish down with a thump, wiggling her way down in a flash and turning to hover at the hatch at my hooves, stretching her muzzle up for a kiss to the nose. "I like this castle place already Fast, it's a big fortress with my own cozy little lair of nice radiation, like a dragon's cave! I'll take Witchy and the Grandpa pony to Goodneighbor and be back really soon! Then we can celebrate our baby!"

"L-Looking forward to it Swan... Say hi to Ivy while you're in town and let her know I miss her. Umm... and just make sure you're not followed this time if you run into any of your other sisters in Goodneighbor, ok?" I gave her wide nose a gentle boop to send her off, hoping her nodding back wasn't just instant agreement without really listening.

With her settled in, I shut the hatch and wove my way though the crowd to catch up to Jade being pushed along by the tide, looking around more as I went.The rubble had been cleared away and used to restore numerous holes in the walls or used for sandbags stacked all over. Dozens of blue bedecked Minutemares paused in their obviously busy rounds, looking down from their stations on the walls and the military gun emplacements pointing out, poking their heads out of rehung and patched wooden doors or cracked yet cleaner looking windows.

Far above I spotted the bent radio tower sticking up in the night sky from the peak of the second highest parapet, the blinking red lights and web of wires snaking their way down through the rough tiles marking it as the source for 'Radio Freedom'. Summer had done a good job fixing the castle's broadcasting equipment, adding a new station to my pip-buck's radio dial and spreading information and hope through the Commonwealth, alongside the likes of Miles and DJ Pon3.

Looking back to the ground from my gawking overhead, my eyes hung on a truly bizarre sight and my 10mm pistol Deliverer snapped up in my magic, taking aim at the gaggle of unwashed and rough looking ponies as I stalked forward and put myself between them and Jade. I had no idea why a crew of raiders looked to be camping out in the courtyard with only a trio of Minutemare guards watching their little corner (not very well with the spectacle we caused either), but my ingrained reaction to ponies wearing that particular uniform was to shoot first.

They weren't wearing ponyhide leathers or necklaces of withered ears at least, but the spiked leather and metal armor, makeshift weapons, along with the scars and decidedly spiky and punk-like manestyles marked them as viable targets for the instinctual snarl in my head. They looked rather concerned on spotting the Shrouded Stallion prowling up with my eyes glowing red, but surprisingly they didn't draw their crude weapons or whoop some insane warcry.

Instead they backed away towards the stone walls behind their enclosure penned in with junk and scrap, the one in the most impressive spiky metal armor holding a hoof up to their warpaint covered cheek and calling up to the rooftops warily. "Hey Ice Queen! Problem out here!"

A flurry of pale feathers swooping out of a second floor window made me dodge back, training my gun on the new threat and hearing Val's furious squawk and click of weaponry instantly at my side before I got a good look. The icy blue eyes sneering down at me once I did made my pistol droop away in surprise, blinking back at the large griffoness.

"Freya?"

"Lookie what we got here, a frigid cunt turned raider queen, huh bitch? Oh how the mighty have fallen huh? Go ahead and twitch those claws on the handle of that piece, gimme a reason..." Val had her dual 12mm pistols up in her claws, both her old one and the new one from the matching holster added to her other side, Auntie Broom's gun quivering just a hair as the snowy white griffon rolled her eyes and huffed.

"Ain't no problem, keep yer bitch dog on a leash there shorty, we're invited guests, right?" Freya didn't sound as cruel as before or that bothered at not just Val and I, but every young griffon behind us pointing a lot of firepower her way, rolling her pale blue eyes with only a raised brow at the flock of additional griffons.

"It's ok Val, we knew she'd be here with Fancy, we're... working together soon, right? I didn't expect a crew of raiders with you though, Fancy didn't say anything about that..."

Freya smirked at me holstering my pistol and shoving Val's back down with some effort, jerking her head back towards the castle window she had flown down from. "The boss is a real people pony, these are employees. It's her evenin' bath, so you'll hafta wait to take it up with her later. We ain't the only ones with unexpected crew though are we? What the hell firecrotch, where'd you get the mini merc company?"

Val hissed in annoyance, but she had been informed well in advance about former Overmare Fancy Star and her own griffon bodyguard extracting a promise for help over the radio. At my gentle urging, she shoved her pride down with a visible effort and stuck her beak up, dragging me away by the tail to prowl between us and get up in her old friend's face.

"Yer mom, she's been poppin' em out for years after all, this here's my company of glorious lil' bastards. Way better than a bunch of raiders for hire, huh bitch?" Val's sneering insult held a playful note of some kind of griffon joke, not making much sense to me since she had told me both she and Freya didn't know their mothers, the only mom either had known was...

"Magpie? You actually went back to see that old crone!? And you got the guts ta say I've gone low with these idiots? Jeez, tell me you at least shot that old cunt Val." Freya replied with a hint of wonder and nostalgia, mostly masked by the sarcasm dripping from her beak.

A lot of animosity was still bubbling below the surface as Val scratched her plumage and waggled her claw in return, but I caught a smirk with her answer and a... not exactly warm, but less murder-y tone to her voice. "She ended up shot. Our former crew was dumb enough to attack her in her own town and got to her before I did. Old bitch didn't die of course."

At that Freya actually laughed, a short, harsh bark that she covered her beak to stifle and still snickered despite herself. "Course not. Balefire bombs didn't put the ancient cunt down, just made her stronger. What did they expect a few bullets to do, other than piss her off I'm guessin'?"

Looking between the two battle hardened griffons cackling together over their former caretaker getting perforated by Gunners, I reflected again that there were just some things about the feline predators I would never understand. I couldn't say they didn't still want to kill each other, but they weren't actively trying to at the moment and actually seemed sort of ...friendly... even if it was shared glee at Magpie both getting shot, and the hell they were sure the Gunners had opened themselves up to by not finishing the job.

"Umm... See Val, I knew you two were still friends, deep down. Right? It's er... kinda nice to meet you again Freya, definitely under better circumstances anyway."

Deciding to open my stupid mouth ended the brief moment of camaraderie between them, though they did at least remain in agreement, it was now squawking at me in rejection of my simple pony view of the fragile relationship between the childhood friends. Val immediately smacked me upside the head and sent me scrambling after my hat, while Freya lowered herself to a tense crouch to get down in my face as I picked it up again, roaring at me directly.

"Hey! Shaddap pipsqueak, I'm behavin' cause it's what the boss wants. You owe her a favor and we're here to collect. Yer lucky I owe you personal like for helpin' me find her again, or I'd gut ya like a fish and take my gun back!" Freya snarled and got a furious shove from Val to the dense, white feathers of her breast in return.

"Nobody tells the boss ta shaddap but me bitch! Claws off, he's mine!" Val again shoved her way between us, winding her foreleg around my neck possesively and making a low growl in the back of her throat.

The gesture and odd noise she was making meant something in griffon culture apparently, Freya's pale brow cocked above her squinting blue eyes, flicking that cool gaze between us for a moment before snorting. "Aw Gawd, again Val? You still gots the pony fever!? Yer a disgrace, what the hell is it with these sappy, furry little sacks of fluff that turns yer crank weirdo?"

I spotted Val blush at the insult just a bit, but was at least a little heartened to see newfound pride win out over reflexive shame. Her hard violet eyes softened and a genuine smile curled her beak as she nipped my neck. She scratched my suddenly itchy mane with those talented claws, making my leg thump rapidly and a goofy look of bliss coming over my face, my tongue lolling out and ears drooping as she replied.

"Don't knock it till ya tried it Ice Queen, this cuddly little bastard is better than that minotaur we tag teamed after the Zimonja job. You know, that one you were so gaga over for weeks and kept writin' them goofy little poems about?" Val cooed as he scored a definite hit on her old friend.

Freya's pale face actually turned a brilliant crimson matching Val's to my surprise, sputtering in an embarassed squawk. "I didn't! S-Stuff it cunt! That was just cause I was young an' dumb! An' it was private you bitch!"

"Aw quit yer whinin'. Ya shot the asshole when ya found him plowin' that bramim anyway. Point is, unless that bitch of a boss yer shackled with is reeeeeeally good with that ever flappin' mouth of hers, I win." Val puffed her feathers up proudly as she kept right on scratching every magic spot and savoring Freya's sputtering.

Jade chose then to come to my rescue thankfully, turning away from the crowd of eager well wishers and dragging me away in her pale blue magic, nipping my limp ears back to attention with a prim cough. "Ahem... Enough of your bragging Valkyrie... there are children present. As Fast said, it is a ...pleasure to meet you again Miss Freya. I... look forward to speaking with your employer when she is no longer indisposed. I would like to take the opportunity to thank you personally for your efforts eliminating so many drug dens as I have heard on the radio however, and for finding the information on Vega's spy and sharing it with us. The two of you have done a great deal of good, making up for your crimes and finding redemption I hope?"

Freya blinked at Jade's outstretched hoof, taking it in her orange claws warily and shaking her head. "Don't care 'bout none of that bullshit, in it for profit and action. Boy, this big blue sucker really is as goofy as that twerp on the radio makes out, ain't she Val? How do you stand it?"

Val huffed at Jade taking me away as a prop to mess with Freya, but smirked at the kind alicorn and gave a long suffering sigh. "She grows on ya. Shaddup bitch, Blue's my pal. If ya ain't got nothin' else ta say without yer boss here ta talk for ya, go find somewheres outta sight ta roost. Ain't gonna kill yer little raider crew so long as they behave, gots bigger stuff ta deal with anyway. Very important, Princess-y type, hero junk, way above yer pay grade."

Freya flapped her pale wings and took off towards the window she had leapt from with a snort, turning back to grumble out a parting shot but actually ending the confrontation without either of them killing the other. "Yeah, yeah, I'll tell the boss you finally showed up pipsqueak. You deal with all yer stupid Princess crap there Blue, maybe get those other guests outta the wing they stuck us in an' that'll make the boss happy. You think we're obnoxious, you ain't seen nothin' compared to those bats."

"Bats?"

I saw my confusion mirrored on Jade's face as we both turned to Witchy, both her fluffy ears perked up our way and a very anxious look on her face. When Preston pushed his way through the crowd and managed to break it up by barking orders at the throng of Minutemares, he tipped his funny hat to his chest and gave Jade a sweeping bow, filling us in with his greeting.

"Princess! Fast! Good to see everybody, don't mind all the troops, just excited to have our beloved monarch back in her castle ma'am. See you've met one of your petitioners already, those two and their ...associates... have been a hoofull alright. She's right though, the others waiting on you are even worse. Ought'a be waking up if you wanted to deal with them now. Wouldn't mind seeing those ponies from Dreadnot on their way, not that friendly and act like the own the place. Er... I say something wrong there your highness?" Preston reported cheerily, his wide grin faltering when Jade trotted over to Witchy slumping and biting her lower lip with her fangs, nuzzling the frightened looking filly with a warm wing over her back.

I was glad Jade's first thought was to comfort Witchy, because mine was a lot less caring. I turned on Preston with my fangs already slurring my words, pawing the ground and struggling to keep the Shroud's voice out of my own. "Thestrals from Dreadnot? Here? Yes Preston... I'd be happy to go greet our ...guests..."

"Fast... stay calm. Despite our personal feelings, these are emissaries from another community, we must greet them diplomatically." Jade called from her tarnished throne, somehow managing to keep a serene look on her face even as she kept a wing stretched to stroke Witchy's back at her side.

The Minutemares had done a good job restoring the opulent throne room of the castle into something approaching its former glory. All the gold and jeweled decorations had been pilfered a long time ago, their absence only noticeable due to the shadowed gaps on the walls the missing decor once occupied. The tattered tappestries hung from the walls above were cleaned and mended as well as possible though, joined by a long pair of banners draped down to either side of the throne Jade occupied. One was blue with the crossed rifle and lightning bolt of the Minutemares, while the other was a pale yellow with the cross and three pink butterflies of the Followers of the Apocalypse.

It made a good place to receive petitioners to the Kingdom of Sanctuary, which was what we were waiting on Preston to retrieve. Glitter sat at her mother's other side, eager for the chance to act as our Emissary of Cuteness or handle any financial talks. Val and Zed flanked her at a distance most conducive to turning the space I paced in front of her into a killing zone if the need arose, while half a dozen more Minutemares primped themselves nervously, spaced out to stations of honor before the tall pillars lining the long room.

I kept pacing on the ratty red carpet at my hooves and gnashing my fangs, every glance to the miserable look on Witchy's face stoking the fire in my head. We hadn't expected the isolationist thestrals of Dreadnot to leave their fortress and come to us. Finding out they were here had completely woken up the furious voice of 'Be Dark...' and I was struggling to keep it back with the waning moon rising in the long windows of the vaulted room.

Before the sharp retort I was biting back slipped out, a pale orange unicorn private galloped in and gave a low bow to the dias I was prowling back and forth on. She held her tan Minutemare cap to her chest and tossed her peach and pink mane from her face screwed up in concentration when she threw her head back, calling out in a loud and nervous voice.

"A-Announcing the delegation from the city of Dreadnot your highness! A Lieutenant Night Wing, and Ensigns Evening Star and Silver Fang! Bow before her highness, Princess Jade of the Kingdom of Sanctuary, Follower of the Apocalypse, Patron Mother of the Minutemares, Liberator of Slaves and the Common Pony's Princess!" The excited private's ringing announcement and numerous titles made Jade blush and fluff her wings nervously, sitting up in her throne to give a regal wave to the trio of batponies entering along with Preston.

They were darker than Witchy, their coats a deeper grey without the hint of lilac our friend had in hers. Their well groomed and short cut manes only displayed a hint of any other color as well, a tinge of cobalt showing on the stern faced stallion in the lead, while the younger mares flanking him were muted purple and pink respectively. Their leathery wings were slightly larger than Witchy's, as she had said when pointing out all the things she thought made her ugly, the memory of her pained admission just adding to the anger I felt watching them trot up at a stately pace.

All three wore crisp and clean uniforms, a dark blue of the Equestrian Navy with silver buttons and medals. They each had black epaulets at their shoulders with a crescent moon of Luna's mark, the two ensigns had a single silver bar beneath the symbol, while the buck in the lead sported two. He also had two silver bars pinned to his high collar, while the two keeping a pace behind him wore a single gold bar there.

I had caught Witchy's cringe when the private already backing away and bowing had announced the Lieutenant in the lead. Her anxious amber eyes kept flicking away from him and her cute ears were laid back. She looked torn between the duty to stay at Jade's side as her royal guard, and her desire to hide behind the throne she already had her rump wedged behind. What was worse was the way her sweet scent had changed, the tinge of fear and sweat had been there since we found out her people had come, but flinching away from the sneering buck approaching now, it had spiked to outright terror.

When he opened his mouth to scoff, I noticed his fangs were a little longer and his voice, while a bit deeper as a stallion, was still rather high pitched and full of venom. "Princess... Yon mutant pretender sullies the title. We are not here to acknowledge your ridiculous claim to the very throne of holy Luna she dishonors with her impure rump! We have only ventured out and subjected ourselves to thine disgusting rabble dirtying her castle due to official orders by her holy royal decree."

'Let me...'

The smarmy looking ensign to his left piled on as I grit my teeth and shook with rage, adding on to the insults they opened with by turning to Witchy cringing at Jade's side. "Look Lieutenant! She even has the half breed playing at serving her! Did thou find thine proper station with a fellow freak Witching? How nice for you."

The cruel titter of laughter from the other Ensign made my eyes start glowing and I hid them behind the brim of my hat, staring at the ground as she spoke. "Guess she's not dead after all sir, just a failure. Bet thou art looking forward to 'disciplining' her, right sir? Going to share the fun when we return from this bothersome errand?"

Lieutenant Wing turned a leer on Witchy that made her squeak, answering his underling with a lewd smirk. "Ensign Hour's punishment will be very... thorough... Have no fear Silver. Thou have been a very bad filly Witching, the Admiral will be most disappointed.... Let us attend to this farce so we can get started all the sooner."

'MINE! LET ME! NOW!'

Fine.

That tore it, I surrendered to the snarling howl in my head and moved before Jade could finish sputtering angrily. My wings flared and black lightning arced in an aura around me, leaving a flickering, dark contrail behind me when I launched myself at the asshole. I led with my outstretched foreleg and socked the bastard right in the jaw, throwing him back to go rolling down the threadbare red carpet.

Landing in the spot he had occupied, I turned on the two mares just starting to react. Time moved slowly with the fury pounding at my temples guiding my actions, I saw them both reaching for the curved blades sheathed at their flanks and spun on the faster of the two, bucking her aside to smash into one of the pillars above the surprised Minutemare guard there. The second spread her leathery wings and dodged back as her sword cleared its scabbard, barely making a fumbling swing with her muzzle when Best Served flashed out in my magic, slashing through her well polished weapon with one glimmering strike that made a ringing noise that echoed in the throne room.

The starmetal blade floated back to my side as I turned away from the stunned mare, facing the Lieutenant staggering to his hooves and drawing his own sword with a scowl, fuming around the grip in his fangs. "W-What is the meaning of this! How dare thou attack a peaceful delegation here to..."

I blasted forward before he could finish, leaving a trail of flickering electricity in my wake and tackling the bastard back to the ground again. I was vaguely aware of Val, Zed and the Minutemare guards all covering the chirping ensigns, but was mostly consumed with punishing this bastard. He insulted Jade, he threatened Witchy, if I wasn't wrong he had been one of the vile pricks who had done a lot more to her for years...

This was the first of the residents of Dreadnot I had got my hooves on and I made myself a promise. He was going to pay... just a downpayment on what was owed from every evil son of a bitch that had made Witchy's life in Dreadnot such hell, but it was a start... I straddled his broad chest and started smashing that smarmy face with my hooves, savoring the crunch of cartilage when his nose broke and the heady scent of blood soaking that pretentious fucking uniform.

I knew for sure my eyes were glowing and dragonish now, spotting the crimson dots reflected in his own shocked and panicked slitted violet eyes, before I blackened one to shut it. Not just glowing either, the terrified dots of his gaze widened and seemed to turn blank and lost, getting hypnotized by the rolling rumble of my words taking on an odd cadence that sucked him in.

"Silence evildoer! Still thine insulting tongue before I take it. Thou DARES come before the Princess with such disrespect and disdain. Insults her royal guard and thinks to threaten her when she is MINE.. Whatever message thine masters think to send via such odious emmisaries can be answered easily enough by sending them thine head. Thou hath invoked the wrath of Luna and will suffer a fate fitting your vile deeds thou cannot imagine! All at the hooves of the Shrouded Stal..."

"ENOUGH! FAST STOP!" Jade's booming goddess voice and soothing hoof to my back made me freeze mid-strike, my foreleg shaking like it wanted to keep going.

I could barely bring myself to do that much, remaining in place atop the wailing stallion with my blazing eyes remaining locked on his. I couldn't bear to look back to Jade and the disappointed face sure to be waiting on me. I'd obey, but I didn't want to... I wanted to keep hurting him... That dark howl in my head demanded it and the rest of me wanted to just go along with it, to let go, stop fighting it and just stomp that horrified face into the marble floor.

"Please Fast... stop." Witchy's quiet, squeaky whisper joined Jade's plea however, speaking right in my ear and getting me to turn to her teary eyes. She shook her head sadly at my confused look, darting forward to kiss my raggedly panting lips and nuzzle my cheek as she kept going in a hesitant rush. "No more, t-they are not worth it Fast. Thank you, but I do not wish for you to sully your hooves with their blood like this. I do not need thou to defend my honor, I have found my place here and d-do not fear them any longer. Let him go."

The half earth pony mare wrapped her strong legs around me in a shuddery hug, physically pulling me off the buck that had lost all of his bravado and scampered back as soon as he was free. He held a hoof to his broken nose and choked on all the blood, stammering and pointing a hoof past Jade already lighting her horn up to heal the damage. "Geb id away! Dis hib! De's weal! Id's loose!"

Jade waved me back with a wing and Witchy dutifully led me towards the throne, allowing her to speak to the cringing stallion and his two henchponies being corralled at gunpoint by Val. "I apologize for that Lieutenant Wing, though anypony who greets another with such insults should not be surprised when they receive a violent reply, even if I do not approve... I see you are not a link to Dreadnot with any interest in speaking as equals and allies. Perhaps you should state your purpose here and be on your way. Without my dear friend Witching..."

Even shoved back to sit with a worried Glitter holding me in place along with Witchy turning a grateful look back to Jade, I spotted the gleam of silver at the collar of his disheveled uniform and locked onto it. The glow of my telekinesis reached out and surrounded the fine chain around his neck, yanking it free and speaking in a petulant growl since I couldn't choke him with it.

I floated the precious object to my side over his protests and pointed to the finely crafted silver key, focusing on the pearl inlaid handle showing a full moon as I growled back. "I know what he wants..."

"Technically, we were ordered to demand access to everywhere that key opens, including Luna's chambers. The higher ranks also want you Minutemares to cede control of the castle to us as a holy site of the Night Mother and ruler of Equestria, and demand you forfeit the title of Princess." Ensign Fang had taken over the talking on our way through the catacombs beneath the castle, speaking in a clipped voice just reporting the facts without much emotional investment.

"No." I growled back and gave a predatory grin seeing the Lieutenant flinch between his ensigns at the Shroud's voice echoing down the cold stone halls.

"Fast... Remain calm. We must rise above personal distaste and at least consider the opinions of others." Jade spoke in a soft, worried tone and leaned down to nuzzle my cheek, looking up in thought once she was sure I wouldn't attack like a rabid dog again. "That said, I have considered your requests and respectfully refuse Ensign Fang. I will allow you to enter this tomb because it is of great interest to my knight Fast, and if whatever is down here is truly dangerous, we need to deal with it. Based on your discourteous greetings and poor attitude, I feel no desire to do you any additional favors. Report your failure to your betters and be sure to let them know it is your fault... I hope when next we speak, it will be with those who have learned better manners..."

"We'll leave it to them then ma'am. Following our final orders from holy Luna is absolutely required though. We all view it as a holy crusade and must accomplish Project Knightfall at any cost, thank you for your cooperation. Besides, according to all the mission reports, you don't want this thing down here." The ensign with the pink tinge to her mane, Evening Star, was so far the best of a bad lot, giving Jade a curt nod and continuing past the point where the stone walls got cruder and the creepy hoof shaped torch holders on the walls started lighting by themselves.

After explaining the basics of what I knew to Jade with Witchy, we had taken the trio of thestrals down to the dungeons with little fuss. Val kept her weapons powered and trained on the three of them in the narrow halls, keeping them in the lead and ready to be vaporized should they twitch the wrong way as she directed them with short squawks. Zed was at her side to deal with the close quarters if needed too, insisting on coming down as soon as it became clear they were after an dark spirit Celestia had imprisoned here more than a thousand years ago. At least we convinced Glitter to remain upstairs, taking old Mr. Jets on a guided tour of the castle while he waited for Swan to finish charging up and keeping her griffon friends occupied and out of trouble. Finally Jade and I trotted along behind them, while Witchy remained at the rear.

I was surprised she'd even subject herself to their presence any longer than she had to and told her to just let us handle it, but Witchy wore a determined frown and insisted on not leaving her Princess' side. She made her choice and wouldn't let what her own people thought or their insults discourage her from acting as Jade's royal guard.

When we made the last turn to the chilly hall that made everyone's tails bristle, Witchy cantered up between Jade and I and spoke in a low whisper when she noticed me fall back a step, giving me a supportive nudge. "They are right about that much your highness. The real Shroud's remains are dangerous, allowing them to dispose of them may be for the best. At least Fast may confirm his worst fears are not true."

"Or see if they are... or could be at any rate. Regardless, very dark magic lingers down here and sets my mane on edge, I'm quite interested in seeing it myself now that we have the opportunity." Zed countered Witchy's squeaky voice with his deep baritone, adding to the anxiety making my pulse quicken with every step down this spooky hallway.

Jade gave an unconvinced huff at that, chewing on her lip in concern after seeing my 'symptoms' on display in the throne room. "I am interested in eliminating his theory so we may focus on proper treatment. As for simply allowing something as dangerous as you make it out to be loose out into the wasteland... I am unconvinced. It has remained here, safely confined for the last 200 years since the bombs fell, and 1000 more before that. What reason could anypony have for removing it? It seems as unwise as letting an undetonated balefire bomb onto the black market. Who knows what may come of it."

"Won't be anypony's problem, it'll be the stripe's!" Ensign Star chirped and got a harsh glare from her Lieutenant for saying that much, giving a significant roll of his mostly healed black eye back to Zed.

Our zebra companion wasn't a member of the 'striped menace' as these three had referred to him when objecting frantically to him joining us, but he raised a curious eyebrow at their little slip and spoke with a grim tone. "Ours? You intended to set the Nightmare's Servant loose on the zebra lands... didn't you? You couldn't control it, but you could point it in the right direction and let it go... Oh you foolish little ponies..."

"Whatever we do with it, it is by royal decree and must be obeyed. Allow us entry and stay out of our way." Lieutenant Wing finally decided to speak up again, focusing on the zebra with a hateful glare and fishing a tattered piece of paper from his saddlebag as we reached the wrought iron gates barred by heavy chains and an enchanted lock.

He had the sense to flinch back when I pushed my way past him while Jade read over the ancient military orders. I paused and gulped up at the carved stone bust at the peak of the arched gate when I reached it, looking up at the angry stallion with ruby eyes scowling down on any who would approach. The thestral's full moon key slid home in the magical lock with a well oiled click when I mustered my courage, the heavy chains dissipating in a shower of sparkly magic and the tall gates creaking open with a squalling noise like a mare's scream.

The passage beyond kept going into the dark, the disembodied hooves holding the torches flickering to life as soon as my foreleg crossed the threshold, ending at a massive ironwood door. This was it... This was the Shroud's tomb, where Celestia imprisoned him after he was corrupted by Nightmare Moon. Just beyond that door what remained of the real life version of my hero waited... or it didn't...

My pace sped up at the thought and I stayed in the lead, ignoring Jade's cautious cry and Val's squawk. I noticed the dusty and corroded power lines snaking at my hooves and rusty electric light stands fallen over in the corners on the way, somepony had been down here... in modern times. I had a good idea who too after turning up a few precious scraps of information in this castle, the MoP hub and of course the cloudy ruins of Rainbow Brook...

Grandpa... My Grandpa Fin had been down this very hall once, had opened this door and messed with things he shouldn't. Finally I had a chance at some more answers, could follow behind him and see for myself if nothing else. Swallowing my fear, my hoof touched the freezing cold iron loop of a handle and pulled, opening the burial chamber and flinching at the blast of stale, cold air blowing my mane back, cringing at the familiar clink of chains that was very real this time.

Nothing... There was nothing here... A raised stone pedastal bearing more carved faces of ruby eyed stallions, a web of rusty chains draped from the vaulted dome of the rough ceiling surrounding it and a few flakes of dark crystal. What was clearly meant to occupy the center of focus was gone however.

The Shrouded Stallion was gone...

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

Junior Speedster-----------------
---After a lot of training and a little learning from other ponies (who happen to be the best fliers in the Commonwealth), you can finally be considered up to snuff when it comes to basic flight. Without wearing a ton of training weights and getting smacked around, you fly a bit faster than the average, untrained, civilian pegasus. You are now able to move in the air freely, dodge, sneak and perform basic aerial tricks with no penalties. Still no match for experts like the former Enclave or the Gunners, but not horrible at least. Your flight speed has increased and endurance cost has been reduced by 20%.

Author's Notes:

Phew, sorry for the extra long chapter, but lots of loose ends to wrap up and I didn't want to split it up. At least I kept it under 30k, barely... Expect a more standard chapter next time and thanks for slogging through it.