Three rusty cans stood atop a weathered fence rail at the rocky edge of the Celestial Sea, the waves surging below and backlit in the bright grey light of a Fog Harbor morning.

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!

Three rusty cans kept standing.... three .308 rounds from a old but well maintained hunting rifle flew out into the sea on their uninterrupted flight, leaving the tall green mare that fired them fuming beside a chuckling old blue stallion.

"This is ridiculous! Why can't I hit them! Stupid, prewar piece of junk pony technology! I can destroy such nuisances with a thought!" Virescent shouted and stamped her hooves, letting the old rifle thunk to the sandy ground and sending three brilliant green beams of magic out to prove her point, the three offending cans flipping up and out to the sea from the smoking rail.

Her now outright laughing friend picked the rifle up and dusted it off, reloading the weapon patiently and holding it out again. "Ayup, an' magic runs out Vira, course so do bullets, but best ta have options. Didn't yer crazy mama teach you mares to shoot? Hell, can't ya do that fancy, tele-hoozit and learn outta my head? You should'a hit one by accident by now..."

The glare Virescent turned on the grey maned Longfellow Steeds was enough to make a lesser pony quiver in fear, bow before her magnificence and cower for making fun of a divine messenger of the goddess. 'Be Better Virescent...' Then it crumpled in on itself, she wasn't a messenger of the dead Goddess anymore, and she clearly wasn't magnificent at shooting... she was just a pony being educated in how little she knew about some things. Longfellow was being friendly, still something Virescent was getting used to.

"My mother disdained pony technology, and it's called telepathy Longfellow. It doesn't work that way either... I can learn all you know about guns if I wished, er.... if you allowed it I suppose, and I could tell you every fact you cared to list from that knowledge while I had it in mind. Retaining information is harder, and putting it to use is hit and miss. If I really tried to get in your head I may end up with a kind of echo of your thoughts, but that requires very intimate mental connection, and it's dangerous. I couldn't probe a great painter's mind and suddenly be able to paint like they did, you are an artist with a rifle, the same applies. I have just never... never had to use guns or do things for myself, it is harder than it looks. Thank you for wasting the ammunition..."

Virescent pouted at the offered rifle, finally taking it in her emerald magic as Longfellow trotted out with more cans to try again, calling over his shoulder jovially. "Not a waste, Vira. Yer fancy magic tricks are nice, but feel a lot better if you were packin' somethin' a little more solid before making a trip through the fog. 'Sides, been a long time since I taught anypony, I'm gettin' a kick outta it! Alright, try again, take yer time, line it up and control yer breathin'."

An earth pony teaching an alicorn to shoot didn't translate all that well, he didn't know anything about using telekinesis to handle objects, while she couldn't see herself fumbling with the small rifle with her mouth or hooves like he did, even if it were her size. But some basic rules were the same. More than his instructions, the steady, caring thoughts of a teacher giving instruction helped soothe her and bring the rifle to bear again in her magic, blowing a long exhale from her pursed lips to puff away that new streak of lilac in her mane.

BLAM! ...... BLAM! ...... BLAM!

"Oh! Look! I hit one! I hit one!" The elation of actual success made Virescent prance in place like a big filly, squeeing to herself and grabbing Longfellow in a hug that made the old buck's ribs creak.

While she liked the weak pat to her winged back and the sense of pride flowing from his thoughts, she also got just how much force she was using through her telepathic gifts, releasing the elderly pony just as he wheezed. "G-Good job Vira... er..."

"Sorry!! I'm sorry Longfellow! I didn't hurt you did I? I... I have never really hugged before... Still, look! One wobbled a moment as well I'm sure! See?!" Virescent felt a little sheepish as her friend gasped for air and nodded.

He was just a weak, normal pony... Not meant as an insult as she had thought before, but it was a fact she was bigger and a good deal stronger than he was, physical affection would require a little more care in the future. He wasn't really weak... but definitely more fragile than her kind and she had a habit of breaking things... She liked her limited experience with hugs though and filed it away for further exploration.

Longfellow rubbed his ribs with a wince and chuckled up at her, the last couple days with his odd houseguest had been strange, but not so bad at all. Although she had left a string of repairs waiting behind in her wake, she had been trying and helped him do a few that would have been a bigger hassle without her talents. Just having a helper to float shingles and tools up to his roof had been a relief, he'd been putting off that little chore for years now.

Some things even he just wasn't that enthusiastic about trying with nopony around, taking a header off the roof of his cabin all alone could easily end up bad for example. Plus having a mare around wasn't so bad, too young and inexperienced to think about fooling around with, but he had gotten to just enjoy her odd company, maybe because she wasn't really like most ponies, so it hardly seemed to count.

Once she had explained the mindreading bit for example, he had enjoyed puzzling over how strange it was and asking questions. He'd heard alicorns like her were different and gotten a few rumors and versions of their unbelievable story after the skies cleared years back, but hearing it from a mare who knew was interesting.

He was sure all those yarns ponies were spinning about 'The Lightbringer' had been horseapples, but apparently he had lost a few bets on that score, though he knew a mare like that was too perfect. Vira had painted a much different picture of the goody-goody heroine that made more sense, nopony was that good, reality always fell short. Though he guessed the truth probably lie between those stories and Vira's 'Destroyer'.

Watching her canter over to inspect her targets and find that yes, the second standing can did have a ding in it, Longfellow chuckled and sighed to himself looking out across the choppy waters past her. For a hermit to realize he'd miss having a houseguest was hard, he didn't want to let anypony in but did anyway, just a little... It was time for his regular trip into the dimly visible town of Fog Harbor though, soon she'd be gone and he could go back to being alone again...

"Alright, payday Vira, hold up a minute and lemme get you a little something before we get ready eh? Keep practicin' and I'll be back directly." Longfellow called over to the mare setting more cans up on her own and trotted to his cabin, leaving her to take more shots until he returned.

If the old hunter only had her gifts, Longfellow would know he wasn't the only pony feeling unease at their trip and eventual parting Virescent could pick up from her retreating host. Leaving behind her first normal pony friend made on her own weighed on her mind as she did as told. The last couple days had been... peaceful, or as much so as the wasteland ever really got. Especially for a mare who was still coping with having her world upended.

Other than a few strange creatures testing the boundries of Longfellow's land and rather rude ponies Vira had turned away herself, life was simple and quiet here. Chores, food, sleep, companionship with one other pony, and the ceaseless sound of the sea made up her whole world. No crazy group of mad scientist ponies manipulating her, no fighting, no preaching to devoted throngs of desperate ponies about things she didn't believe in anymore, just fog and silence.

She needed to go back however, the Commonwealth had become her home and the male was out there somewhere. She had decided to reconcile with her sisters as well, not looking forward to admitting she had been wrong, but willing to admit she missed her family. They had recently started connecting with the rest of the world and normal ponies as well, maybe they could help her 'be better'.

It was daunting and she found herself concerned for Longfellow after she left as well, he was a gruff old buck, but not nearly as unfriendly as he made out. She couldn't hide here with him forever though, being a 'good pony' meant actually going out there and trying to be one. Figuring out what to do with herself beyond her simple goals of 1- Be better and 2- Find the male alicorn.

After managing to knock down two more cans from the railing out of more attempts than she cared to count, the returning thoughts of Longfellow made her look up to see him approaching, blinking curiously at the bundle of yellow-brown saddlebags held in the earth pony's mouth. They were old and cracked, but had obviously seen some polish and new buckles added recently, a gift?

"'Ere we are then, not in the best shape but least I don't throw much of anything away eh? Now you've got something to carry yer pay around in, hard ta keep hold of a pile of caps in yer tail eh? Er... also somethin' else here, raise an eyebrow with the locals strollin' on in naked so... well, here..." Longfellow spoke kindly, but the apprehension was evident to Virescent as he opened one of the bags and tugged a pale yellow bundle of fabric out for her.

"A... sweater?" Floating the offered article of clothing up in her magic tinted the color in her own magic, but let her look it over and spread the garment out. Yes, a thick, knit sweater, fairly large even, she might actually be able to fit into the outfit. The leather patches on the sleeves showed how old and worn it was, a bit musty with a very faint flowery / salty / pony scent fading away.

What her superior senses reported went along with the sad emotions in Longfellow's mind before he confirmed her guess. "My wife's, that there's Ocean's lazy sunday sweater. Figure it's so baggy might stretch over even you! If'n ya like it o'course, ain't been out in years and it's old and..."

"It's lovely Longfellow, I already have your wife's pip-buck you generously gave me though, I couldn't take something else of hers that I know means a lot to you, unlike this gadget. I told you, the elements don't bother me in the slightest so I don't need clothing." Virescent answered cautiously, touched at the gesture but also able to read the pain it caused her friend no matter how he tried to hide it.

He seemed insistent though, turning his nose up at it floating back in her magic and shoving it her way again. "Aye, more of that superior species business of yours hmm? Told me ta tell ya when you started in with that again Vira, tryin' ta change right? Clothes make the mare, try wearing it and see how you like it, even if you don't need to. 'Sides, help ya blend in with the townies a little bit. They're gonna be standoffish no matter what, but least you can look sorta like a local. Go on, lemme see, ain't seen a mare wearing that in a long time, Ocean always looked pretty as a pearl in it."

Left with no way to really refuse, Virescent bowed and started puzzling over how to go about this. The turtleneck looked suspiciously small... sticking her forelegs through first didn't result in immediate tears at least, so with a gulp she stuck her nose in and started struggling towards daylight, panicking only a moment when a loose loop of yarn caught on her horn, then getting free and shoving her way forward again.

Longfellow's view was much more amusing, seeing just her horn and the top of her long mane spilling from the neck, followed by her head forming a bulbous shape of stretched sweater when she seemed caught, her hooves pawing at the obstacle and her large wings flapping anxiously. With a snicker the old buck stood on his hindlegs and helped tug it down, her big green eyes popping free and her mane comically frizzy with static as she pulled it loose.

By the time she got it over her chest and carefully poked her wings free, the old sweater showed tiny gaps of her dark green fur through the stretched knitting, but it did fit. Virescent was wearing pony clothing... something that was once taboo and forebade by her mother, this wasn't like wearing her robes as a priestess of Unity, actually... disobeying was kind of thrilling. She was being naughty... not evil as some of her actions had been, just a little rebellious.

In lieu of a mirror, she settled for peeking at herself through Longfellow's eyes and was actually pleased. It was flatteringly tight on her curvy body, while the thick neck was loose and floppy after being stretched so far. It even had the benefit of feeling like a warm hug all over, and Longfellow thought she looked attractive in it, so other males would too probably. Maybe not the best she thought of one in particular and a desire to please, but wearing clothing for her really was only for appearances, so it wasn't too vain to think that way really.

She floated the leather saddlebags up next and strapped them to her flanks, posing fetchingly this way and that to get a good look and nickering at Longfellow's slight blush. "Thank you Longfellow! I do appreciate it and am glad to know I'm... 'a sight to warm a cold harbor night?'"

"Ah! Hey! N-No lookin' that close at my noggin' missy! Private!" By the old buck's sputtering and suddenly thinking of all the amazing variety of knots he knew, Virescent guessed that was a good phrase.

Holding a hoof up to stifle a quiet laugh, she floated his rifle back to him and fretted over the pale garment and patches already adorning it. "I do hope not to damage it on our trip, I promise to be careful, but by how you made the island sound I'm afraid what may happen to it."

That gave her host something to distract himself with, shaking his head and waving out to the small pier down the beach and his little rowboat. "Oh, no worries. Never planned on walkin' anyway, bring supplies back by boat, the Harbor's just across the way. Just wanted you ta have a healthy respect fer the island and know you weren't helpless. Help me get her loaded down an' we'll take a little cruise together Vira, have a drink in town before you go home an' I get my privacy back!"

He really did care... Longfellow sounded happy and gruff as he trotted away, but even without peeking in his mind she could feel that melancholy settling around him. He helped her, gave her a safe place to heal and recover, gifts and kind thoughts... Another downside to being a normal pony she had found, for every good feeling there were bad ones like sadness at saying goodbye.

Though she supposed now that she had a few emotions under her wings, the good ones wouldn't mean as much without the bad ones.

The 'town' of Fog Harbor was essentially just the harbor part of the name, a conglomeration of shacks and ruined seaside buildings, ancient gift shops and restaurants roughly repaired, surrounded by a variety of ships in various states of decay. Watching it slowly appear out of the fog, Virescent wrinkled her nose at the fishy smell, though at least it helped mask the scent of too many ponies in too small of an area.

Her bright green eyes traced over each tall shadow resolving into tattered sails or rusty hulls, none of those ships looked all that trustworthy, but Longfellow assured her they were seaworthy and ranged all around the island and beyond for their catch. One of them could take her home, she just needed to find a captain willing to take her.

She tried helping Longfellow with the rowing, growing excited the more she could make out and quickly making their progress lopsided as she outpaced him on the left side of his rowboat, that he insisted on calling 'port' for some reason. Once she realized they were well on their way to just making circles in the fog, she relented and gave him back the oar, peering around the lantern at the front (bow) impatiently at their slow progress.

Finally she was struck with inspiration, carefully fluttering to the back of the boat (stern) and plopping down in the seat, grabbing the edges with her forelegs and spreading her impressive wingspan. A short warning of "Hold on!" was the best Longfellow got before his little dingy suddenly became an alicorn powered speed boat, the bow lifting from the water and a wide wake spreading behind them.

That shortened the trip quite a bit, but seemed to make Longfellow nervous pushing his little boat faster than it had any right to go, while all her weight made the rear dip precariously in the water. They pulled up safe and sound however, and he appreciated having both wings and telekinesis to help him get up to the pier overhead with his shipment of meat and hides to sell. Longfellow hadn't taken her hunting with him during their time together, but given Virescent's difficulties being stealthy she couldn't blame him. He was quite the hunter apparently.

Once they were both up and cleared by local guards wielding long fish hooks and rifles, Virescent got a good look at Fog Harbor and sighed. Most wasteland towns had a tired, desperate appearance to begin with being built from the ruins of the old world, being a telepath meant she got to feel a pervasive mood from all these gathered ponies that matched the appearance. The fear and ennui was like an invisible fog hanging over the place to go with the pinkish grey mist that surrounded it, held at bay by more of the funny condenser machines.

Most of the buildings were painted in bright primaries, whites, deep reds, sea blues and blacks, all faded and peeling from the decrepit wooden structures. The building Longfellow had most firmly in his mind was the dark red restaurant bar labeled 'The Last Plank', a huge pressure cooker outside had a glass front to let her look over the whole Miretank carcass being boiled inside curiously as Longfellow stuck with her to the door.

"Alright, lemme go in and talk to the locals, find who's in port and willin' ta go to Trotson first. Gal like you comes in with me, they ain't gonna talk about nothin' else. Take a look around if ya like Vira, Captain Berry trottin' right this way ta badger me ought'a be interested in a mainlander in town, distract her for me a sec, Ok?"Longfellow sounded rushed, pointing out a light grey mare indeed heading their way with purpose, her short blue mane flowing behind her and thoughts that could be summed up well by 'badgering' in her mind.

"Er... A-Alright Longfellow, how should I distract her? I could just make her forget you're here at all if you wish..." Virescent replied uncertainly, he was aware what she could do now, but surely he didn't mean that did he? It would be easiest though...

Actually he seemed tempted a moment, stroking his beard in hurried contemplation before shaking it off guiltily. "Nah, fun idea though lass. Just try talkin' to her, she'll probably handle the rest. Ahoy Cap'n Berry! Meet my helper Vira! She's new to the island, busy helpin' her so I'll leave you ladies to it!"

At that Longfellow ducked into the bar, his order of Wild Pegasus on the tip of his tongue and a cheery greeting floating through the swinging door after him. That left Virescent alone to deal with the mare now reaching her, and the stares of so many residents attracted by the noise, curse Longfellow...

"Bah! Old bastard trying to slink off! I'll catch you before you leave Longfellow! Sorry miss, crotchety old buck and I have a regular game of hide and seek. So... mainlander eh? Welcome to Fog Harbor, for what it's worth... Pleased to meet you dear, Captain Tar Berry, basically the mayor around these parts. So, what's your business here in our little slice of the wasteland? Don't see many alicorns here, you're well behaved right?" The older mare nickered after Longfellow before addressing the taller alicorn cordially. That was good at least...

"Oh, the pleasure is mine Captain. I can't honestly say I'm well behaved... but I'm trying... I promise to abide by the rules of your community while here, I really just hope to return to Trotson as soon as possible. Nothing against your ...lovely... community." Virescent answered in the same polite tone, using her charms and realizing how much she stood out among all the smaller, hard working ponies busy on the docks giving her hard stares.

Captain Berry followed her gaze and scowled, stamping her hoof and snorting at the nearest locals glaring at her. "Ain't you all got better things to stare at? Yer nets maybe? Your do nothing brats getting up to mischief? Sorry... don't let these unfriendly louts discourage you, Fog Harbor was a tourist town back before the war, no reason we can't keep up the tradition."

"It's a reaction I'm used to... Though usually because of what I am, not where I'm from. It's actually an interesting change of pace, so don't concern yourself about it." Virescent answered calmly, speaking the truth as far as she could pick up from the stone faced harborponies. They really didn't care she was an alicorn, it was 'OUTSIDER' practically glowing in neon behind their eyes that was raising their hackles.

She was also interested to find that the older earth pony mare was truly being friendly, instead of a politician like so many tribal elders, chieftans, gang leaders, mayors, kings and whatever other old world title of authority one cared to mention usually thought. Vira had gone to hundreds of pony communities big and small during her time spreading the message of Unity when her mother was alive, whoever was in charge was often of the same type; big fish in small ponds who were good at making those they led and visitors alike think they were being friendly, but actually only cared about what they could squeeze out of you.

Captain Berry plainly had those considerations too by her reply, but her thoughts were less mercenary and she was up front about it. "Stiffnecked jackassery is what it is. We're an island, there's only so much here period, having outsiders come and spend outsider caps should be welcome. Not that they won't take them, just you see if they don't. You've seen the bar already, but there's our general trader Rushing Brook over there, Tossing Sea's weapon shop's down the way, have our own doctor Teddy Bear in town too, feel free to shop around Miss Vir... Er... Vir-ess..."

"Vira is fine... I'm afraid I don't have much need to shop, or money actually. I have what Longfellow paid me the last couple days, but I believe I'll need that to charter a ship to return to Trotson." Peering over the top of Berry's blue mane at the ships nearby, Virescent still didn't like the thought of using a pony-made seacraft to get home when she had a perfect set of wings.

Especially any of these ships...

A variety of wood and steel ships, covered in rust and barnacles more than peeling paint in formerly cheery colors, all the corrosion made them look like they were bleeding and some seemed to list and groan under just the gentle waves here at shore. She had a compass in her vision now, couldn't she just follow it the right direction? Did she really have to set hoof on one of these scows?

There was only one that seemed passable to her untrained eye, a smaller ship with a fresher coat of paint, no nets and bright floaters strung all over it, quite a few fancy bits of technology and a magical motor even... Maybe a little mind control on the captain of that one wouldn't be so bad...

The Captain turned to see what she was debating over, then her thoughts turned back to Longfellow with a start. "Longfellow paid you? For a couple days?!"

"Err... yes? I washed up on his beach, he let me help with chores to earn my passage home. They were hard but he was fair and nice. Why?"

Virescent's confusion only doubled at the snorting tantrum Captain Berry answered with. "Oh that old bastard! Keeps ducking me but takes in a pretty mare that just shows up outta nowhere!? We're in the middle of a crisis and he can't be bothered to do a thing, says he wants ta be alone he says! Don't want nopony around he says! Till some pretty young thing lands on his doorstep!! I am going to wring his wrinkly old neck!"

"Ummm.... What?"

The furious storm passed and the mare in charge composed herself again, still glaring at the bar Longfellow had disappeared into at her approach but explaining at least. A good thing too, Virescent didn't like her friend being the target of such ire and insults, mildly alarmed she had done something wrong and considering making her just forget she said anything.

"Sorry... It's good he helped you, great in fact, just really fucking annoying... I've been after him to take on some of our refugee population on his land since things have gotten so bad this year, for exactly the kinda stuff he had you do apparently. Things have been rough all over and Longfellow's land is one of the last remaining safe havens, bad enough on good years when it's just worrying about one old pony living alone, but now his fellow islanders need help and he won't give it, saying he just wants to be alone, but he let you stay... See?"

By the way the smaller mare's eyes traced down Virescent's curves to go with the snarky thought, Vira thought she understood some of the issue and shook her head. "Longfellow didn't want me there either, I was just... difficult to move. He was gracious and a perfect gentlecolt however, now that I'm able to leave he's looking forward to his privacy again, though I do ...worry a bit I suppose, about him being on his own as well... He seems very self sufficient though."

"Oh he is, rotten old buck... why I can't force him to see reason! Best tracker on the island, fog doesn't slow him down a whit. He's got a lot of land out there to himself though, if he wasn't so damn stubborn he could be doing a lot of good just by allowing a little more company. Hey, if he likes you enough to let you stay, maybe you could give him a try? Try to help some of these miserable ponies?" Berry had taken to trotting down the dock during their conversation to allow Virescent to get a better look at the boats, taking the opportunity to point out a regular refugee camp of dirty, pathetic looking ponies.

They mostly sheltered in the worst of the broken down buildings that barely lived up to the function, strung with tarps and scrap to keep the rain off and overcrowded even if they had four intact walls and a roof. Most indeed looked miserable, morosely busying themselves with the most menial of chores, mending nets in flickering magic or talented hooves, chopping up sickly looking fish and tossing the heads and guts into buckets, mostly the old and the young, anypony able bodied enough must be out working at harder endeavors or able to afford better housing.

It was a bad situation, but Virescent had seen all kinds of pony misery, feeling empathy about it was still somewhat foreign. She didn't like seeing foals under such conditions, but it could be worse and surely Longfellow knew about them. It wasn't her place to tell him what to do, if he didn't care, why should she?

'Be Better Virescent...'

Nnnngh! She was growing annoyed with that judging voice... The wasteland was a horrible place for normal ponies, if she spent time worrying about every little thing, she'd never get anything done! She'd leave soon, then it wouldn't be her concern at all. But that hopeful look from the mare beside her kept boring into her...

Giving a huff to herself, Virescent nodded wearily to the Captain. "I... can ask. I wouldn't expect anything. Why are they all here anyway? Aren't there other places for them to be? Make more of those condenser things and go elsewhere, or just send them to the mainland, there is no evil fog there."

"They won't leave their homes Vira, proud islanders all of em, the fog always goes away again eventually anyway. Just have to ride it out until it recedes again, but things can get nasty before that happens. There are other places, but the fog's taken almost all of them now and those Acadia dwellers can't make more condensers any old time they want, hard enough keeping the ones in service working. Gonna come to a head eventually too, too many ponies in too little space, they're grumbling about Longfellow just sitting out there by his lonesome enough already. Not trying to come off as pushy here, I really am worried about the old buck." Berry explained as they continued her tour of the small town.

The thoughts in her mind confirmed her words, like a sword hanging over her head and the town as a whole. Her first day with Longfellow had seen a trio of local ruffians trying to shove the old stallion around for his land that Vira had sent away, even her mental manipulation wouldn't hold up under constant stress though. They'd get the same idea she made them forget again, or more of them would... Just opening herself to the bitterness swirling around those she passed now was enough to tell her that, Longfellow could end up in trouble... she didn't care much about any of them, but she did care about him.

"Then I'll ask, that's all I can do, then I must return home. As you say, I'm a tourist, this isn't my place." Virescent answered gruffly, hoping that would be enough and somewhat annoyed. Did ponies often come right up and just ask strangers for help?

"That you are Vira, thanks for making the attempt anyway. Hell, having a regular tourist rush today, two strange outsiders in one day! First the robot and now an alicorn!" The mare's relieved reply caught her off guard and Virescent stopped suddenly, forcing her to turn back to her.

"Robot?"

Vira blinked and started peering around the docks, not spotting a clanking hunk of metal anywhere nearby but suddenly nervous.

She'd been exposed to plenty of the Institute's advanced synthetic ponies and lesser robotic synths. Old world robots didn't tend to be subtle enough to be considered 'tourists' and this mare was thinking of a pale pony shaped visitor. A synth meant the Institute, what if they found her? What would they do?

"Aye, hardly looks like one and definitely don't talk like one, but a robot showed up in the fancy boat over yonder. Said he was from Trotson himself, if yer looking for a ride back, maybe you could hook up with him missy. Said he was looking for a filly what run away from home, went off to ask questions around town. Ah... there he is, coming out of Teddy's office down the way." Cap'n Berry pointed towards a crumbling old building with a Helpinghoof Clinic sign buzzing over the wooden door and the ...thing exiting it.

A synth alright... Pale plastic coat, yellow eyes... But not like any synth of that make she had seen before. What her former allies referred to as a Gen 1 synth, better than the overgrown windup toys made by Robronco before the end, but they were still plainly robots. This one could be mistaken for a pony though, it wore clothing for one... A battered old brown fedora sat atop his head, matching the stained dress shirt and haphazard tie over a rumpled tan trenchcoat.

All of this would be strange enough, but he had ...thoughts... She could read him!? Green alicorns were limited in only being able to read pony minds, but she was getting clear thoughts from this robot somehow. What she was picking up just made it stranger too, increasing her concentration to listen in got a bizarre inner monologue to go with the outfit;

Virescent unsuccessfully hid behind the smaller Cap'n Berry, absently listening to her continuing to jabber, but totally consumed openly gawking at the ...the detective... That's what he was, she personally didn't retain a lot of memories from before joining Unity, of who she was... but some of the assorted memories rattling around from her time connected with thousands of minds said 'Detective' on seeing how he was dressed.

Actually hearing his thoughts just added to the impression, snippets of dozens of old world movies in grainy black and white flashed in her mind, an old fashioned detective... a synth detective... a synth detective with a brain she could read? She watched as he even lit a cigarette under the awning of the Helpinghoof Clinic, looking up from under the brim of his rakish hat and spotting her leaving Berry to duck behind several crates and barrels nearby that still didn't really hide her bulk.

"I do NOT have a big ass!!!" Virescent couldn't take the extended monologue any more, forgetting herself and shouting across the dock at the surprised synth as she tromped forward from her hiding spot.

"Pardon? Hadn't said anything sweetheart, not that it's not worth mentioning, just... Ahhh... of course, you're one of those dames! Er... heheh, forgive an old gumshoe a dirty thought here and there doll... Thought it was only polite to return the long look and found plenty to appreciate, inspired me to be a little poetic. Name's Nick Hearts n' Hooves, my card." Surprisingly the robot trotted right up and pulled a battered old business card from his trenchcoat, letting Vira look it over in her magic incredulously.

Why did she feel positive emotions over the synthetic pony? She kept looking from the card to his waiting face, puzzling over foreign thoughts and memories still rolling around in her head. She didn't know him, but somepony she knew did... which could be a good or a bad thing considering he was plainly built by the Institute. She didn't sense any malice out of him though, just more of his weird inner monologue and the surprising image of herself shifting from vibrant color to grainy black and white. He was messing with his artificial vision to go along with the movie detective noir...

"FAST!?! You know Fast! That is where this feeling is coming from!! Who are you! How do you know the male!?" Virescent's magic imploded, sending the strange detective scrambling to catch the battered business card as she stomped forward and loomed over him. The image in his ...mind... matched almost perfectly, though he didn't picture him with wings for some reason.

"E-Easy doll! Easy! Ellie will kill me if I lose many of these! Yeah I know Fast Times alright, been awhile but heard from him not long ago and... well I guess you heard all that didn't you? You mindreading gals take some getting used to. I take it you know him too? Friend of his? Or just one of those mares trying to catch him now? Did he really er... join the princess club? or prince I suppose eh?" Nick missed the card fluttering away twice before making a successful lunge for it, tucking it back to his coat and looking the excited mare over.

He'd heard the rumors... hard for a pony in his line of work not to actually, not to mention that purple one looking to hire him to find a 'missing pony' and track Fast down for them. From what he gathered Fast wasn't missing, just hiding, and he wasn't going to turn bounty hunter against a friend no matter what those crazy fillies offered. Taken a lot of guff from his assistant Ellie over the offer he refused, but a pony's gotta have principles.

Now this one... here he was on Fog Harbor and he runs into another alicorn who wanted the same thing, trembling in place with a manic gleam in those green eyes. Those dames were really obsessed with a male of their kind running around, Nick would almost feel bad if he wasn't well aware what they wanted out of him. Being a male alicorn sounded a helluva lot more fun than being a synth detective with a head full of bad memories, his dance card would certainly be full...

"Yes! I know him, I wish to find him immediately! You will help!" Virescent was beside herself, the robot was a way back to Trotson and a way to find the male all in one! What luck!!

"Oh I will, will I? You ain't the first to ask sweetheart, haven't answered my question either. Do you actually know our mutual acquaintance? Or just hoping I'll find him for you? Not that I can either way, I'm on a case right now, just curious." Nick's answer was jovial enough, but his thoughts turned guarded and suspicious, giving Vira pause.

She couldn't order him... His thoughts made it clear he wouldn't find him for her if she demanded and ...Umbra... Umbra had tried to hire him already. Clever for the stubborn mare in charge of her sisters in the Commonwealth, Virescent wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't seen her sister in the robots thoughts. She was putting him on guard too, and she couldn't really explain how she knew Fast in detail, they hadn't exactly been friends and allies in most of their interactions...

He was friends with the male though... maybe she could use that. If she made a friend of Fast's like her and think she was a 'good pony', the synth would tell Fast and he would believe his detective friend! Probably take her right to him on the best looking boat on the docks even! A change of tactics then...

Now to just figure out the right way to get what she wanted... what the robot wanted to hear. Ponies, and pony like robots she supposed, all always wanted to hear what they believed anyway, all she had to do was figure out what that was in this case. Those strange yellow on black eyes drifted down to her pip-buck and the fleeting thought associated with the look gave her a place to start.

Pretending she hadn't seen his glance, Virescent held the arcano-tech device up proudly under his muzzle and gave a winning smile. "Of course I know Fast! See? He only gives these to those of my kind he likes, as you must know if you are his friend yes?"

The detective nibbled at the bait... flashes of the so called 'Princess' and more of her sisters wearing the same accessory went through his mind as she carefully prodded, what would make him agreeable... "Yeah... that's true alright.... Not the first of your kind I've seen wearing one he gave them, gave me one too actually, back in Diamond City. Of course if Fast actually gave you that one, you'd have his locator tag and wouldn't need me to find him would you?"

Locator tag? These things let one find another wearing a similar device?! While cursing having to deal with an actual detective rolling up his trenchcoat sleeve to display his own pip-buck, Virescent took solace in that, if it could be done then she could do it too. The detective was smart enough to know if it had been Fast to give her the device, he would have given her whatever she was lacking to use it as he said. But if he gave one to the synth... the synth probably had this tag thing she needed.

"A-Alright, he didn't give me this one... but I do know him! He saved me! I was in a fight with him over the sea, I was hurt and fell to the water, then I washed up here a couple days ago. But I saw him just recently, more so than you! He has indeed ascended to one of my kind since you last met, he asked me to be better and promised he would... er... I will let you see..." The flat stare the synth was giving her mimicked a disbelieving pony perfectly, forcing her to try something she wouldn't have believed possible five minutes ago and telepathically share the memory.

Those odd eyes widened so she hoped it worked, sensing wonder flowing off her target at the experience. For his part Nick was flummoxed and momentarily blown away feeling what it was to have a living body again, even one in a catastrophic amount of pain at the time. She spoke the truth though, there was the dark pony in the comic book character costume, with new wings... begging this mare to be a better pony because he cared about her.

"That's him alright. Lying isn't being a better pony though dollface..."

"I didn't really lie per se... I do know him and he does give these things to those he likes, those are both true... I never really said he gave me this one... I just fibbed a little... You believe me now though don't you? So you can take me to him!" Virescent tried to divert from her little lapse as smoothly as possible, this robot could help her, that's what mattered.

He still didn't look like he trusted her though, taking a long draw on his cigarette contemplatively. "So maybe I'll give you a ride back to Trotson, after I'm done with my case. On your own tracking him down like all the rest though, penalty for fibbing to a detective. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a filly to find."

No! No, no, no! She made him mad... did the exact opposite of making a good impression, now if he told on her... Virescent pranced in place as he turned to leave, panicking at her mistake. Forget! She'd make him forget! No... no that was wrong, she'd be piling one mistake on top of another! Being better wasn't just supposed to be about getting what she wanted, she had made up her mind to try being a good pony for reasons other than just one male. Having a link to him right in front of her just made all her old bad habits come out first, she had to fix this somehow... be better...

"Wait! I'm sorry! I'm ...new to all this being good business... but I'm trying! I... I will help you with your case!"

The robot... Nick, paused and looked back, intrigue and more of those funny detective thoughts flowing off of his back;

(I've had uglier faces tell me prettier lies, the truth was always beautiful though, probably why I stayed in this game. This dame was clearly damaged goods, but I'm a sucker for those dark, long legged types, plus having a mindreader on the case would certainly speed things up with the oh so chatty locals. She'd make one helluva Mare Friday if she meant it, maybe she'd even be as good as the last gal I hired on like this. Sigh... Ellie will give me hell when I get back to the office for taking in strays again, but....")

Before he could continue the thought that was making her hopeful, a loud bell started ringing towards the end of the harbor, at the conglomeration of steel ship's hulls and junk that made up the gate out to the island. The synth and the alicorn both looked towards the noise and all the locals rushing around them towards it, shouts rising up about ponies coming back, arguing about opening the gates, monsters in the fog?

Panic and grim fear were surging up in the frantic ponies Virescent watched running that way, catching the eye of Captain Berry galloping down the dock with a determined scowl, the older mare paused and shouted at her and the robot. "You two! Outsiders! We've got trouble! I hate to ask but... there's a scouting party out there and it doesn't sound good, we need..."

Her thoughts were enough for Virescent, concern for others was foremost in the mare's mind, there were ponies in real danger out there and the gates weren't opening... Caring about the resident's somewhat miserable lives was still an abstract for her, but life and death was an easier concept for her to take a side on. Good ponies helped if they could, Vira could. She was still upset at falling back on bad habits with the synth, she wanted to be better for herself dammit, she was going to be.

A hard flap of her mighty wings sent her straight up and towards the thick walls, gliding down to a suitable perch to peer out into the dense fog and spot a single frantic pony slamming his hooves against the gates from the outside, screaming to be let in and about more coming. Why weren't they opening the gates? Only a few ponies had taken to the top of the wall with their weapons pointed out to defend, but a fight was going on over the controls to the steel gates in. Fear... she could sense fear that way, they were too afraid to open up and save their own, afraid of the monsters that were coming with them...

Selfish, weak, frightened ponies only caring about themselves... inferior... NO! That's what she thought before, not all were bad, these were scared. No excuse for leaving their friends outside, but it didn't make them inherently inferior than her, it just made them ponies... like she was. More of the ones trapped outside were coming rapidly, their echoing hoofsteps growing vaguely louder in the fog, they'd be here soon and grousing over frightened townies wasn't helping.

She could help though, she could be like the few brave ones up on the wall whose thoughts were filled with concern first, and fear second. She drifted down near a younger pink mare in glasses with a harpoon gun floating in her magic, joining the defenders and idly noticing the synth was clambering up the stairs with Cap'n Berry to join them.

Virescent considered just forcing whoever was down at the gates to open them, a bit of concentration would be all it took really... But forcing ponies to do things against their will was bad, the shadowy shapes resolving out of the foggy streets below took her focus away anyway, she couldn't do two things at once and the gaggle of harbor ponies were finally staggering their way close enough to make out. The one pounding on the gate already was distracting, so she turned that way and simply picked him up in her green magic, flicking her horn to lift the stallion up and over the wall, solving that problem at least.

There were too many others coming to rely on doing that again though, mishappen monsters were barely visible behind their flight, closing in on the last pair stumbling their way closer. A pair of earth pony stallions, one leaning heavily on the other and limping, poorly bandaged wounds bleeding down his hindleg the obvious cause. The shadowy monsters were going to catch up to those two, the healthy one could make it if he abandoned his wounded friend, but he wasn't doing that, despite the thought of doing so racing through his head.

That one was rising above his nature and self preservation, was better than a selfish, weak... was better than the others cowering here anyway. He was brave and cared, like the male, those were virtues in ponies that Vira liked and wanted to see more of, so her course was clear. She leapt from her perch and dove through the fog towards them, slamming to the cracked asphalt before them just as they stumbled and fell, the unwounded one frantically trying to tug the wounded one up, while the wounded one was trying to wave his friend on without him.

Having a big green alicorn appear before them got both to stop their terror driven argument, gaping silently as her telekinesis surrounded the hurt pony and started lifting him to her back. "Go! I will take him back, run!"

The brown stallion watched as she gently settled his friend between her wings, two full grown stallions was a little much for her to carry through the air, but without his friend weighing him down she could feel he still had the strength for a final sprint to the gates. His uncertainty about letting a strange outsider take his friend was ended by the first monster resolving out of the fog nearby, taking an ungainly hop around the corner of a rotting old gift shop and croaking menacingly.

A frog? Yes, some kind of mutated frog apparently, about half the size of a normal pony, thick, rubbery grey-green hide, a stubby, finned tail slapping the ground as it hopped. The thing's pale throat ballooned out with a deep croak and it suddenly spit at her, thick, viscuous gunk arcing through the air Virescent dodged away from in a panic and then froze, literally....

Everything froze... the frightened stallion was stopped mid-stride, finally choosing to let her take his friend in the face of their attacker, the monster itself was frozen mid-hop towards them, the ponies on the gate and above it, everything and everyone was just frozen, including herself! What was going on!?

Stable-Tec Assisted Targeting System activated, first activation for new user detected, would you like to read the tutorial?

The glowing lines of text appearing before her eyes cut short Vira's panic, the pip-buck... the pip-buck was doing something, that's why the world seemed to have frozen in place but she could still think, if not move. Well, one positive to time being stopped was she had time to waste apparently, warily accepting the prompt waiting for her and scanning the lines of text flowing past her eyes.

Stable-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or S.A.T.S. utilizes your pip-buck's neural connection and advanced temporal magic to 'freeze time', allowing the user to select their attacks with care in the heat of battle. Available targets are highlighted, choose between them and select your attacks, each attack requires spell charge stored in your pip-buck, different attacks require different amounts of magic, which recharges over time. Odds to hit are displayed over each target in your S.A.T.S. display, once attacks are selected and locked in, accept the sequence and allow the pip-buck's targeting system to take over.

Pony technology... not Virescent's strong suit, but this seemed very user friendly. It explained some of the male's spooky combat skills she had witnessed before, surprised by an opponent then suddenly blazing away with his guns with devastating accuracy, he used this S.A.T.S. thing? If he could, Vira could, she'd have something in common to talk about even. Puzzling over the display in her vision let her slowly figure it out, she had no weapons but it seemed to recognize her magical abilities and her hooves, that would do.

Nothing fancy... a little focus let her highlight the round body of the frog thing with the glowing 75% displayed over the bright outline and queue up a couple simple beam spells, gulping to herself anxiously, she accepted the waiting prompt and let the system do... whatever it did... What followed was the oddest sensation, time resumed but she wasn't fully in control of herself, she felt the bright green beams of magic blast out of her horn, aimed and fired by the strange arcano-tech device at her hoof instead of her conscious control.

The first shot missed, the slippery enemy hopping towards her just ahead of the blast of magic that blew a chunk of asphalt from the street. The second hit the target however, scorching a bleeding rent in the thick hide that gushed blood, the beam of force blowing the monster back from its midair hop and giving her breathing room as it flopped on the ground.

More shadowy, hopping shapes were behind it, giving her incentive to get going quickly. Vira put the odd experience behind her and spread her wings, launching herself into the air and keeping a grip on her passenger with her magic. She soared through the fog and over the walls, landing on the other side and plopping her rear down to let the wounded pony slide off, then flew back to the increasing gunfire and shouting at the gate, landing beside the synth detective firing a gleaming silver revolver down into the fog and the creatures coming out of it.

The surviving ponies screaming at the gate were huddled together, joining those still safe above them in shooting at the monstrous frog things, slowing them down but not enough. What to do? Virescent didn't have a gun to join them and her magic, while effective, wouldn't be enough to significantly help them. She did have one other skill to fall back on, though she hated having to do it around strangers...

No choice, this was the best way to protect those ponies, at least she had the robot here... a friend of Fast's was trustworthy enough anyway. Virescent sat down heavily beside the synth and turned on him, catching his attention with her shout. "You! Robot! Er... Nick, I must rely on you, watch over me, make them open the gates and tell me when it is safe, I will protect them!"

His mouth opened to speak, but she had no time, closing her eyes and sinking into a deep meditative state on the spot. A bright green shield bloomed to life around the ponies huddling at the gate, completely enclosing the still barred entrance and those outside of it. That was pretty much all Vira was sure of though, her normal shield wouldn't hold up under an assault from so many of those odd red dashes in her vision marking more monsters approaching.

Creating the highest caliber shields was another unique skill among green alicorns, but it came with a cost, she had to sit perfectly still and was mostly unaware of the world around her, making her a helpless target while she did it. Normally she'd have her sisters around her and their connection through unity would let her know what was going on. Without that, she was trusting the detective to watch her unaware body, her only connection to the outside came from what she could sense from the minds around her, but she couldn't even concentrate enough to see through their eyes or get much more than surface thoughts if they weren't alicorns like her.

Surprise... hope... aggression... arguing... determination... anger... a rallying of splintered feelings into one shared emotion to fight, positive emotions and thoughts were starting to surge around her, a wave of relief from a hooffull who had been feeling panic, cheering and victory... A gentle nudge to her shoulder broke her concentration and Virescent snapped out of her meditation, blinking down at a street full of bleeding frog things, but no more ponies were where her fading shield had protected now.

"Hey... you alright dollface? Back with us again?" Nick asked uncertainly as she shook to herself and looked back, making sure the ones trapped outside were indeed staggering down the docks with their fellows.

"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you, I don't like doing that without somepony I trust to watch me, but it was all I could think of. I appreciate your help detective, I'm... I'm sorry I fibbed... I am trying to be better. I do want you to take me to the male, b-but just a ride back to Trotson would be wonderful. I meant what I said about helping with your case-thing... i-if you wanted my help?" Vira stood and actually enjoyed some of the thoughts swirling around her she picked up, several of the town's defenders looked at her with... gratitude... that felt nice actually.

"50 caps a day."

"What? Y-You want me to pay you? I said I was sorry, I won't pay a fine as well for..." Virescent balked at the short declaration, getting a groan from the synth turning back to look up at her.

"I pay you sweetheart, 50 caps a day to be my Watson, plus expenses. Use that fancy magic to crack a few heads open and peek at what's inside, find a missing filly, solve the case. That's my standard rate for an assistant, I could use the help and I'm not going to take advantage of a friend of a friend." Nick reloaded and holstered his revolver ruefully and held firm, he'd be in trouble enough for that much,

His last assistant had negotiated that rate and he couldn't really pay less now, unfortunately the one who extracted that rate was a mercenary griffon with a long bar tab, he really hoped this one didn't have quite the same liberal definition of 'expenses'. But this alicorn really did help here and he had a weak spot for dames trying to turn their lives around. Everypony deserved another chance.

The pale synthetic hoof held out made Virescent gulp to herself, feeling on the threshold of taking another step towards learning to be a better pony. A job... she'd never had a job really, holy edicts, nefarious missions and foul deeds sometimes, but a plain old, normal pony job? For money? The only thing close was helping Longfellow with chores to earn passage home, that wasn't so bad.

Not really what she wanted.... but the sooner his case was solved, the sooner they could return to Trotson. Having a job would probably be a good thing too, she'd have money if she needed it again at least, and it gave her time to undo her poor first impression with Nick, maybe get him to change his mind.

She wasn't sure how 'locator tags' worked and was wary about digging after the information no matter how much she wanted it, but the gist she got was Nick had a thing he could give her, and that thing would let her find the male no matter where he went... Not even Umbra had that... the leader of Trinity Tower tried to get the information out of the detective too, but Virescent could do it successfully! Maybe...

Being a detective should be foal's play for a telepath, how hard could it really be?

"Yes! Yes please, I'd like that. I'll do a good job and help solve this case of yours, er... boss?"

Taking a long last pull on his cigarette, the detective synth chuckled and flicked it off the wall, adjusting his ruffled coat and looking her up and down appreciatively. "Just Nick is fine doll, have to find you a proper uniform somewhere or other eh? Ok, you're hired Miss... Virescent was it?"

"Vira. Vira is fine Nick, thank you! Er... uniform though?"

In answer Nick Hearts n' Hooves grinned and flipped his collar up against a light drizzle, turning to walk back down the stairs off the wall and waiting for his big assistant to canter up. "Sure! Every good gumshoe's gotta wear the uniform, being a proper detective involves a little style and class, along with lots of bullets and booze. We have standards at Hearts n' Hooves Detective Agency sweetheart, have to keep up the image."

Nick may have idly pictured sparkling evening gowns, veiled hats and long cigarette holders, stockings and garter belts and a few other lacy bits underneath that made her blush lightly, but what was most important to his version of detective uniform was simple enough. Though she had no idea where he'd ever find a trenchcoat in her size.

"Sumi Ink, 15 year old filly from the northern Commonwealth, up near Coastal Cottage. Her father Kindle's the client, tracked me down around County Crossing with the case, helped me out in the past and I owed him. Family owns working boats, do trading and hauling up and down the coast, daughter took off with the spare and wound up here. Folks said she'd been fooling around with a radio back home, fixing things is her special talent, thought she was talking with somepony. Never learned the 'don't talk to strangers' rule to survival apparently."

"Now, most likely this a case of little bird leaving the nest, not a lot we can do on a job like this... I'm no bounty hunter. But runaways don't exactly send word back home they're still alive out in the wastes, so that's where we come in Vira. We track down where Sumi went, find out if she's alive or dead, whether she wants to be here or not, tell her that her folks miss her and hope for the best."

Nick Hearts n' Hooves had taken a slow tour of the town before heading down to his fancy boat, the client's fancy boat rather, boarding the small vessel and sharing his hoofwritten notes on the case with his new assistant. Vira could barely make sense of his chickenscratch notebooks, but the important thing for her was here and under her scrutinizing green gaze, a picture.

An actual photograph no less, young Sumi's parents must do well enough for themselves, or she was a good enough repair-pony to fix a prewar camera, but it was better than the rough description or sketch Virescent was afraid she'd have to make do with. Some of Nick's wild, intuitive leaps and questions in his notes were interesting, but Vira just needed to know who she was looking for. Reading thoughts from those they questioned wouldn't help much if she didn't know who was important in the images she got.

She was a pretty young unicorn mare, pictured at a workbench strewn with parts in front of a boat similar to the one they sat on now, beside a balding, bearded old stallion who looked too old to be her father, grandfather maybe? A rich black coat with a medium length white mane striped with green, grease smudged her cutie mark of a wrench handled brush below her toolbelt badly enough it was only because of the notation she was able to tell what it was, but she needed to see the pony herself more than her mark anyway.

"You think she was talking to somepony on the island? Who? Why?" Virescent asked curiously as she committed the face to memory, given the way all the locals had been focused on outsiders, she was hopeful they'd remember this one too, even if she wasn't as out of the ordinary as a tall alicorn or a synthetic pony.

"The Fog Harbor tourism board's been a little lacking the last 200 years, so guessing she had to find out about the place somewhere. Radio seemed the best bet, her folks weren't exactly a font of information on the subject though. Thinking it was a rebellious bit of teenage angst, a secret from mom and dad. They're good folks, but sounded like they tried keeping her down on the farm, while she longed for the bright lights of Manehatten."

"As for who and why... those are the big questions in any case Vira, in one like this... the answer usually isn't good. Some raider crew that got an old radio to work well enough to bring the mice to the cat? Crazy cult worshipping an unexploded balefire bomb underground, looking for more worshipers to drink the cider? Some Stable putting out a call for an audience to put on a saucy puppet show? Who knows, seen it all though. Kids that age are easy to take advantage of, especially when it's just a friendly voice in the dark telling them what they wanna hear."

"That's all most ponies are looking for anyway, what they want to hear I mean... You haven't gotten any clues since you arrived here Nick?" Her new employer's answer helped her appreciate the detective's skills, a student of pony nature, without her advantages on the subject.

"Not much, the mare in charge of the joint and the doctor both said they saw her in town. Skittish, said she was waiting on somepony to meet her, disappeared before long and no one thought anything about it. This place is like a mystery bonanza though, everypony I talked to was hiding something close to the vest, there are secrets here, place stinks to high heaven of them and the old detective schnozz smells it all. Hoping they'll be a little more chatty after helping out at the wall, ready to get to work doll?" Nick collected his files and stashed them away in his bags, trotting off the gently rocking boat and back up to the docks, holding a gentlecoltly hoof out for her to disembark behind him.

She hardly needed help, a flutter of green wings would send her up with no issue, but the gesture of old world chivalry was nice so she accepted, stepping carefully up beside him and following him back up to the harbor. "Ready Nick, what do you want me to do? I.... I can force answers out of them if you want, I don't think I should do that anymore though... unless I have to, but you're the boss, I... I trust your judgement more than my own at the moment."

"That's a little like breaking legs to get answers doll, not that it never comes up, but never my first or second option. Glad you're already not too keen on doing it, that's more like a good pony Vira. Just the surface thoughts like you were talking about is fine, that's not really much different than how I do it, reading body language and listening to what they say and don't say. You let me know what you get, I'll tell you if I think we need to get a little rough, then it's on me since I made the call, ok?" Nick lit a cigarette and led the way, back up to the town of Fog Harbor and the residents taking care of the survivors from the wall.

Just milling through the crowd got her some information, letting the thoughts flow around her and passively listening to them and the words they actually said. Most of those who had returned from.... a park? the Equestrian National Park in the island interior... thoughts of fog and monsters came with the name and a new message came from the pip-buck on her leg with a beep; Map Updated.

Odd... it was a clever gadget apparently, fiddling with the controls idly as she followed her employer brought up a map of the island, a new icon displayed where these scouts had come from a good distance away. There was disappointment and self recrimination mixed in there, they left somepony behind... seemed to think the fog was actively trying to take over what was a protected settlement they had to flee.

She had to stop playing with the pip-buck as Nick got to work, following in his wake as he stopped some of the gathered ponies with a question here and there about Sumi. She wasn't getting much more than he was from his probing questions, she did see flashes of the filly in their minds so they had seen her, but their thoughts about it were guarded and somewhat angry... something about... synths? Condensers?

"One more thing ma'am, seems to me you folks all pay special attention to anypony from the mainland showing up, seem pretty crowded here too... you sure you didn't see this filly?" Nick asked a plump orange mare outside the Helpinghoof Clinic, getting a frown and huff from the middle aged earth pony.

"No. Don't care about outsiders, that includes weird robots and big mares sticking their snouts where they don't belong. Appreciate your help at the wall but want nothing to do with some missing filly thank you." Her answer was a lie... Virescent could see Sumi ducking down an alley to speak with a shadowy figure flash in her mind as she spoke.

She leaned down to whisper to the detective after the mare trotted off. "She is lying. Sumi was here, she met with somepony alright, someone she wants nothing to do with... er... the word 'synth' keeps going through her mind, but I'm unsure if it's because of you or..."

A brown stallion wearing a flannel shirt and rubbery boots interrupted her thought, wearily walking out of the clinic and noticing the large alicorn nearby. His amber eyes widened under his dark mane and grey knit cap, trotting right up to her and grabbing her foreleg to shake it vigorously. "You! You're the mare that saved my brother Leather! Thank you kindly ma'am, don't know what we would'a done if you hadn't shown up! Er... Usually not one for outsiders, but glad you were here, we owe you and islanders pay their debts, here..."

The bundle of caps he pulled from his cracked saddlebags took her by surprise, she didn't really act expecting a reward... did good ponies accept payment for doing good? He wanted her to take it... it seemed important to him... If he felt he owed a debt maybe she could use it, the truth was more valuable than the caps he held out in his mouth.

"T-Thank you, but I don't need your caps sir. Umm... I do need help though, have you seen this filly? She was here about a week ago and disappeared, my friend and I are searching for her and would appreciate any help." Virescent took the lead reticently, noting Nick's raised eyebrow and silence, he was letting her try on her own.

The stallion paused, a frown pinching his face as his thoughts raced looking at the photo Virescent held out in her magic. He had seen her... saw her meeting with a pale mare in a ratty black coat and disappear into the fog beyond the gates, he had been on guard duty at the time... He felt very conflicted and still held the caps out, wanting to repay his debt but unwilling to speak for some reason. Again 'synths' popped up in his mind, looking over Nick beside her warily and thinking.

(Damn robots... can't piss em off.... condensers... she helped.... pretty filly... Acadia.... just take the caps... please...) The conflict running through his mind was painful, the harborponies were stubborn and wary, stressed and guarding secrets on this island... What he finally said fell in line with her assessment, "I'd like ta help ma'am... really, just... I can't, please just take the caps?"

Hmmm... he was attracted to her... Virescent knew how to use her wiles against ponies like this, it often helped crack their defenses and open their minds. She felt odd doing it now with somepony she didn't really care about though, before it never mattered since she didn't care about anyone, but now... it almost felt like a betrayal of her feelings for the male.

It was too valuable a tool to just leave unused though, Virescent took a slow step forward and fluttered her eyelashes, tracing a wing up the stallion's neck, lifting his chin up to her lidded gaze and cooing in a syrupy sweet voice. "Pleeeease... I promise not to tell... We simply want to find the filly for her parents, she's a runaway, it makes me soooo sad... Surely a big, strong buck like you can share a little secret with me? Hmmmm?"

Her sultry purr worked as she hoped, lust fogged the buck's mind immediately, warring with that stubborn streak that wanted to refuse and wearing it down. If she really poured on the charm she could have him wrapped around her hoof with enough time, actually that may be entertaining... The male left her quite worked up with no relief when she last saw him, playing with this normal pony would be like practice...

All she wanted was answers though, interesting as exploring that tingly feeling might be, her flirting was breaking his formidable defenses and unguarded thoughts were flitting through his mind. An image of the filly... the pale unicorn in the coat... the fog.. the two of them disappearing into the fog, trotting down the road outside... then the picture of that funny building way at the top of the highest peak on the island, visible above the fog even from here, the old observatory... 'Acadia' went through his head again, along with thoughts of condensers and synths...

"S-She's safe... I... I can tell you that miss, she met her friends and left. We... We don't get involved with those that pass through, they value their p-privacy... I wish I could say more but.... P-Please, take the caps, islanders pay their debts and I can't give you what you want." He was stubborn alright... but he gave more than the others had.

Virescent reluctantly took the little pouch of caps and bowed her head to the smaller stallion, holding out a hoof and getting the gesture returned. "It is alright, thank you. I didn't help expecting repayment, but I accept it... umm, I didn't get your name, I'm Vira and this is my employer Nick."

"J-Jar Head, pleasure Miss Vira. S-Sorry I couldn't help more, m-maybe I could buy you a drink sometime though?"

The inviting smile Virescent returned brightened Jar Head's mind instantly, her nod of acceptance filled him with excitement as he trotted off and she returned her attention to Nick, leaning down again to speak in a conspiratorial whisper. "He saw her leave with another pony, the one in the dark coat I mentioned? Something about the observatory up there and 'Acadia'? He did mean what he said, Sumi was safe as far as he knew, he doesn't think of her as being in danger at least."

The synth detective pulled a battered notebook from his trenchcoat and jotted down a few notes quickly, smiling as he spoke up to Virescent. "Good work sweetheart, knew you'd take to this kinda work. So now we got a lead... Acadia huh? Let's try the Captain again, maybe she'll answer now that we know what to ask."

Vira gave a little whinny of pride at the praise, that felt good... being a good pony wasn't so bad, she liked playing detective and helping anyway. Tracking down Captain Berry wasn't that difficult, all they had to do was follow the shouting coming from the gates, the older mare was berating the young buck who had been on duty when all the excitement happened, standing beside the pink mare she had landed by earlier who was going over the wall and gates with a critical eye.

"I tell you to open the gates, you open the damn gates Snapper! Don't just fucking stand there like a lump! If it weren't for that mare those folks would'a died because of your freezing up! Go find your father and let him tan your hide for me, get out of my sight!" Captain Berry stamped her hooves and pointed back down the docks, dismissing the shamed buck with a snort and turning to the pink mare speaking to her in a grumble.

"The hull can't take another attack like that, if it weren't for that big mare's shield thingy they would'a got through Cap'n. I need those tools and supplies, like yesterday! We need to send another group out so we can reinforce it, unless you want to hire the crazy mutant pony to hang around the hull all day and night to pull that little trick again!" The pink unicorn shook her brown mane in a fit, anger flowing off her about the damage done to her wall and what had happened, noticing Nick and Virescent trotting up too late to cover her mild insult.

"I am not a crazy mutant pony... Just a normal one, call me Vira instead if you please. I already have a job too, so I cannot sit around to make shields for your wall." Vira glared down her nose at the mare, ignoring her huff of apology as she turned to a badly damaged two story home incorporated into her precious wall.

Thankfully Nick and the Captain took over as Vira fluffed her wings in a pout, she didn't sense hatred of alicorns in particular from the mare, just overall rudeness and frustration. Cap'n Berry waved her off and beamed up to her at least, shaking her hoof happily as she spoke. "Nevermind the Mariner, she's actually glad you were here and so am I! That was an impressive bit of magic Miss Vira, Fog Harbor owes you a debt and..."

"Islanders pay their debts?" Vira answered for her, it was like a creedo... a code of honor all the harborponies seemed to follow.

The grey mare in charge of the town shrugged and nodded happily. "Just so, islanders pay their debts. I see you two outsiders found each other, have any luck with your case Detective?"

"Not much I'm afraid, your fellow residents aren't exactly chatty. We did get a lead though... You happen to know anything about a place called Acadia?" Nick shuffled and checked his notes unnecessarily, he knew the name without looking, it was part of an act to put the mare at ease apparently.

Feigning ignorance muted her response somewhat, a rush of guarded thoughts came up at the name, followed by wary acceptance as she answered. "Acadia huh? Yeah I know it, it's a town up above the fogline, way up at the old Starswirl Observatory. We don't normally talk about it, the folks up there.... value their privacy... We have a bit of an arrangement with them, they're the ones that provide the condensers that keep the fog back, so I'm not surprised you haven't gotten any answers if that's where she went."

"Can you tell me much about them? They the type to tempt and ponynap a young filly? Up to no good up there?" Nick kept faking his clueless detective routine, only showing concern for Sumi and putting Berry at ease.

"They're not bad... Sometimes ponies come through and go there, part of our arrangement is just letting them go through and keeping out of their business. If she went there, she'd need a guide to make it safely, it's quite a hike up the mountain through the fog. If you're going to investigate I suggest you get one too, only one guide on the island could take you up there though. At least you have an in with him already..."

While Vira could simply fly straight up and head there herself, the image that flashed in Berry's mind gave her pause. A medium blue stallion with a grey mane and beard... "Longfellow?"

"Aye, best tracker on the island, only one who goes that way, when he feels like it that is. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got more ponies to yell at... Thanks again both of you, if you hadn't been here lives would have been lost, we owe you more than a couple answers and I hate to ask for more... but... If you can help while you're here, we really need it. I told you before I'm worried about Longfellow, I think you see why now eh Miss Vira? If things keep going this way..." The dread flowing off Berry filled in the rest easily... things were bad here, lots of desperate ponies under a lot of stress and constant threat, that never ended well...

Worry for a friend was another new concept for Virescent, but it was there and strong. He could be in danger for his hermit lifestyle, things were bad here and getting worse, if it continued then eventually it would come to a head and Longfellow may suffer. Improving things here would probably help, but the best thing would be if she could convince him to give others a chance like he had done for her. Longfellow was actually nice, he shouldn't be alone like he was... She had to try.

"I'll see what I can do... I worry for him as well Berry." Her soft answer brought out a glimmer of hope and relief in the mare, surprisingly helping felt good... Virescent could get used to positive feelings like that, hardly altruistic since she was getting something she wanted out of it, but everypony won.

"We'll see what we can do, right dollface? We need a guide, let's go see this friend of yours and go on a little hike to this Acadia place." Nick grinned under his hat and nodded up towards the tall peak visible through the fog, chuckling at her folded wings over her warm sweater.

He knew she could take them there in minutes, but wasn't asking her to do so... Opting to take the long way to try helping Longfellow, a pony he didn't know from Celestia. The warm thoughts and feelings running through his artificial brain were as enjoyable and uplifting as any pony's. Nick Hearts n' Hooves might be a synth, but he was a good pony... If a robot could be one, Virescent could be too.

Vira gave a wide, honest smile to her new boss and bowed gratefully, she might like being a detective's assistant after all, it was interesting work so far anyway, and she was growing to like her employer already. This wasn't getting what she wanted... obstacles and distractions were delaying her own goals of getting back to Trotson and finding the male, but sacrificing what she wanted was part of being good right? It wouldn't take long to help and so far it was worth doing so.

"Thank you Nick... for everything. Let's go find Longfellow then, I know just where he will be." Virescent surprised herself by actually sniffling happy tears, turning to trot off to the Last Plank bar and find her friend, introduce him to her new one and try to help him.

It may take time and push back her own goals, but she actually felt good about her course of action for once. She was going to be a good pony, for herself... She had a job and a new boss, two new friends and a goal to help a runaway filly. Being on her own was full of excitement and the unknown, but she felt better about what she was doing now than she ever had working with the shadowy Institute.

The alicorn and the synth walked side by side down the creaking docks, into the unknown and following the case wherever it led.

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

Black Widow--------
---Part of your role under the goddess was to be convincing and easy on the eyes, playing with stallion's affections is foal's play for you. You're charming... and dangerous. Males suffer -10% damage in combat, and are easier to persuade in dialogue or intimidate, granting you new speech options with certain stallions.

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

Fog Harbor - Accepted
---Helping protect residents in danger has raised you in the eyes of Fog Harbor's residents. They're still standoffish with outsiders, but you won't get quite the same cold shoulder as you first experienced. Merchants should deal fairly with you and you may even find a friend or two among the ponies of Fog Harbor now!