"Brothers? You and Nick are brothers sir?" Breaking the uncomfortable silence that had fallen on the cluttered room, Virescent looked over the strange looking synth that had paused his amiable forward advance when her employer had flinched away.

She wasn't sure robots had brothers, though many of the synth ponies of this Acadia place they had made their way to had referred to each other as siblings already. Most of their thoughts were of a more generalized nature however, that all synths were their brothers and sisters. The pale, plastic coated conglomeration of non-factory parts with the unsettling mind wasn't thinking that way though. As far as this Dima was concerned, Nick Hearts n' Hooves was his closest relative.

Not that Nick felt the same way... The shock that had immediately frozen her new boss up was thawing, letting anger come bubbling up in its place. "Ain't got no brother pally. Don't know what you're playing at, but don't appreciate it either. Name's..."

"Nick. Nick Hearts n' Hooves. Of course I know your name brother, or the name they gave you. You were in such a state the last I saw you, I didn't know what happened, if you were alright, if the instability in your program ever resolved... Nick, it's me, Dima. Do you really not remember?" Dima's initial wave of excitement slowed back to the more glacial pace of his thoughts Virescent had sensed coming here, while his calm questions only seemed to make Nick more upset.

Cutting off the biting commentary she could hear behind Nick's golden eyes, Vira dove in awkwardly. Nick's thoughts were turning panicky and furious, losing most of the cool she had gotten to appreciate from the so far collected and intelligent detective. This was truly upsetting him, feeding into shielded thoughts he had already been chasing concerning his own identity before coming here.

Letting this devolve with flaring emotions wouldn't help right now. Besides which, Vira was trying, but her more selfish nature asserted itself into the situation too. They were here to find a missing filly, not some robot sibling, find the filly, get a ride back to Trotson, then find the male. That's what the deal was, that's what she wanted.

"He does not remember you, we didn't come here seeking you Mr. Dima, we're looking for a runaway filly from the Commonwealth. Nick is my employer, I'm Vira, we're detectives, though I am still new... We were following 'leads' and were led to believe she may be here. A Miss Sumi Ink? She looks like this..." Floating the battered photo from Nick's trenchcoat in her emerald magic, Vira shifted between her boss and Dima's stare, hopefully giving him room to collect himself.

The odd robot barely glanced at the picture, he knew the name she supplied and didn't bother lying or trying to deceive in the slightest. "Sumi? Of course. Sorry for the reception Miss Vira, surely you can understand my surprise. Though a lovely mare like yourself visiting us is nearly as much of one, I haven't seen an alicorn on Fog Harbor in... hmmm... 76 years? You may find her downstairs in the lower levels, immediately if you wish. Quite talented with machinery, we're glad to have her with us."

"I bet so, that why you tempted her out here mac? Want a repair-pony on hoof? Sure look like you could use one... What's the catch, really just gonna let us go talk to the filly?" Nick narrowed his eyes in suspicion, keeping his distance from his doppelganger and sniffing for a trap.

Surprisingly, Vira really didn't sense one though. Normally she'd be sure of just the same thing, but so far as she could tell, Dima meant exactly what he said. Granted the strange mind matching the soft, almost eerily inequine spoken words was difficult to get a good read on, but there was no deception she could find.

He almost seemed honest to a fault actually, pacing slowly and answering Nick with no hint of being insulted by the accusation. "Of course Nick. Sumi is not a prisoner, I would not keep guests who came so far from speaking with her unless that is what she wanted. Her skills are welcome, but we didn't seek her out because of them, she found us and we welcomed her with open hooves. Just as you and your interesting assistant are welcome. All who come in peace and understanding are welcome in Acadia."

("He's not lying Nick... not that I can tell. He's already thought of just where he expects Sumi is, I can take us there directly if you wish?") Speaking to her still suspicious boss telepathically, Vira gave him a recent flash of the filly they were after from Dima's mind. Still healthy and whole, several floors down, just as he said.

"Uh-huh... Just out of curiosity Dima ol' pal, why exactly did a filly from the Commonwealth come all this way then? Her parents were pretty surprised and worried for her leaving out of the blue like that. Why would a mare from down on the farm come all this way to hang out with a bunch of synths anyway?" Nick was not convinced, but his detective instincts didn't abandon him even in his distress. There was a mystery here, one he had been hired to solve.

Nodding out to some of the other ponies scurrying around at the edges of the room and trying hard to look like they were definitely not listening in, Dima gave a strange chuckle and replied calmly. "Young Sumi believes herself to be a synth as well of course. Acadia is meant to be a haven for our kind and all those seeking who they truly are. On hearing of us, she found her way here, despite stern warnings against a filly making the dangerous crossing by herself I assure you."

"A synth? Why would she think such a thing? Nick was sent here by her parents, who have known her since birth. She could not be an artificially made pony if..." Vira couldn't help but asking inquisitively before Nick managed. She didn't know a great deal about the Institute's synthetic ponies, but this seemed unlikely and confusing.

That unsettling, implacable mind and passive smile on Dima made her pause though, responding reasonably to her questions. "Are you sure? How is one to know they are what they believe themselves to be?"

"Er... memories? Her mind? Her parents and her own?" Unprepared to have Dima shift his focus onto her, Vira offered the thing she was most concrete on as a telepath.

Ponies minds made them who they were, all their experiences and the shifting point of their consciousness. Sumi had been born to parents, as the Goddess had forged her from the vast sea of Unity and brought her into the world, just as she hoped to have a foal one day. Every day between then and now lie behind her like a ...mostly unbroken chain. There were some gaps when Unity had been broken by the Destroyer, but in essence...

"But memories aren't all that reliable, are they? They can be put in magical orbs, fiddled with by the proper spells, shuffled and rearranged. Some of my friends tell me others of your ilk can read them from a pony's mind directly Vira. Barring all that, memories are just recorded data one's senses report, those very signals can be falsified easy enough. All of us do it every night after all, are you sure this isn't a dream right now? Or perhaps a memory orb, or sufficiently advanced simulation if you're of a more technical mindset like Sumi?" Dima answered jovially enough, but the things he said were making her flustered and struggling to keep up.

Considering Vira was not a technically adept pony at all, she was getting lost as to how this related to fancy robots. Her experience with the mind however was making what she did understand of Dima's reply very uncomfortable for her. She had fooled ponies senses before, manipulated their minds and memories, once made one believe he was a very pretty cockatrice for fun actually... When she was a different mare of course...

Following up on the smoke beginning to waft from Vira's laid back ears, Dima raised a mobile eyebrow over his strange yellow on black eyes and smiled. "How are you sure you're not a synth yourself dear? Can you prove it?"

"I... O-Of course I'm not! I am a child of the Goddess! One of the mother's divine creations that cannot be so easily mimicked by pony technology!" Giving ground to the smaller synth hurt her pride and made her fall back to ingrained responses from a previous life of spreading the glory of Unity, but still seemed a fair answer to Vira.

She didn't get the satisfaction of ending his ridiculous theory though... Dima's unperturbed voice was rapidly becoming infuriating as he replied simply. "Ah, but the Institute can copy unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies. Are you sure it's beyond their ability to create an alicorn?"

"I..." Considering a good part of her motivation for being here was to return to a male alicorn they had created, Vira couldn't give the firm denial she wanted to... Not that Fast was a synth, he was a real pony... wasn't he? Wasn't she?

"How did you come to Fog Harbor Vira? What do you clearly remember about what brought you to our door?" Dima just kept pushing, making the big alicorn take another step back and answer reticently.

"I was hurt... I fell to the sea and washed up here..."

"So, for all you know, you may have not been hurt, but killed instead hmm? Who's to say the Vira who fell and the Vira standing before me now are the same pony?" Dima's voice never rose, he wasn't trying to cause that flutter of panic in her breast... it was there anyway though.

"I am! I remember! I fought, I was bad... the male... Fast, he shot me, but he saved me too! I am trying to be better, to be a better PONY! That is what I am!" Panting and glaring at the sad look on Dima's face, Vira nearly jumped forward at the gentle hoof reaching up to her shoulder.

Nick scowled at Dima, but his voice was soft and kind when he spoke to her, stroking her long back soothingly and helping her breathing slow down. "I er... know the feeling dollface, don't let him get in your head, that's your line of work, right? Don't appreciate you scaring my mare friday mac, that's enough of your creepy talk, we're going to see Sumi if you're not going to stop us."

For his part, Dima seemed surprised and apologetic. The patchwork synth took a few slow strides closer and held a foreleg out in a friendly gesture. "Of course not Nick, I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you Vira, I was just trying to demonstrate how Sumi could come to question herself, the very questions many of us struggle with still. You see how the answers are not so easy? Please forgive me, prattling on about philosophy and the nature of sentience, when it upset you so. By all means, go speak with Sumi and ask her yourself, I only ask you keep an open mind. And please, I would like to talk with you more Nick, you may not have come seeking your brother, but I consider it happy coincidence."

Leading his rattled assistant away by the hoof already, Nick glared back over his shoulder and snorted. "Don't believe in coincidence mac. Just parts of the case I don't see fitting together yet. C'mon Vira, let's put this one in the books and be done."

The Starswirl Observatory was a hardened concrete and steel cylinder that went down into the mountain it was situated on several floors, winding staircases making a slow circuit of the outer walls, with the next set down on the opposite side of the terminus on each floor. The trip down let Nick's angry thoughts settle as his detective side took over despite himself, his sharp eyes hanging on the settlement of bedraggled looking wasteland ponies, all of whom were presumably synths.

It also gave Vira time to collect herself, cursing the polite sounding Dima upstairs once she got over his mental kung fu. If nothing else, the thoughts of so many others swirling around her should be more than sufficient proof she was a true child of the Goddess. For now, she just tried to passively listen in and enjoy her gifts from her mother and the solace the offered.

"That bastard's not my brother Vira, but I'm still sorry about that. The way he messed with you and all..." Nick jotted a few notes down as they crossed the wide, round room full of basic shops and craftsponies, peeking up from under the brim of his fedora apologetically.

"I... I do not think he meant harm, he is very strange though. Are you sure he is not ...related to you somehow though Nick? You do look very similar." The turmoil she got from her employer let her practice her skills further and center her, so she took the opportunity to turn away from the cloud of suspicion and curiosity following their progress through the marketplace.

"Not. My. Brother." Nick's answer was firm, but he slumped a little in his rumpled trenchcoat and sighed as he continued uncertainly. "That said, never met another early model like me that had a brain before. Always sorta thought I was unique actually, kind of a hit to the old ego. I don't remember him, but he sure remembers me. Of course, I don't remember anything before waking up in a dumpster out in the wasteland. Other than being a lot more handsome anyway."

"When you were a real pony? Before the war?"

Nick lit a cigarette and nodded, his pale cheeks hollowing as he drew in and the orange glow lit his face. "Way back when, yup. My noggin got a fresh new window blown in, when I woke up, my brain had taken the opening for an escape route and was in its current residence. Helluva surprise for me, but I adjusted. I thought so anyway... This is all coming with piss poor perfect timing though, your buck and that damn letter..."

"Fast? Did... did he do something wrong? I don't like you and Longfellow teasing me about being a stalker-pony, but I have been curious..." Vira's bright green eyes betrayed more than curiosity as they rounded down the next flight of stairs, but she actually was trying hard to ask out of concern for Nick, not merely for her own obsessive reasons.

Still, watching a mare her size fidget and squee like a schoolfilly was enough to lighten Nick's mood and pull one of his favorite tricks for Diamond City foals, blowing a lazy, heart shaped smoke ring out to ring around her horn and drift down over her head. "Sure you have dollface. He didn't do anything wrong, just ...he found my body, what happened to me after the lights went out, or some of it anyway. It gets confusing, as you can guess. Why I didn't like Dima's whole 'how do you know' speech either."

"Yes... that was unpleasant. Not that I think I am a synth now that I calm down and think about it. He was very convincing though... Are you not curious how he knows you though Nick? He wasn't trying to lie about that." Virescent shook off her frown and tilted her head to her employer, not liking how the synth detective still bristled from his encounter with Dima.

"The first couple decades after I woke up, I would have jumped at the lead doll, but I've put most introspection behind me a long time ago. That was close to a hundred years ago now and I've been ok with it, kept busy mostly... I'm good at finding out answers for others, my own haven't mattered as much. Now I'm not sure I want to know. Let's focus on the case sweetheart, then we can leave this weird island behind and go back home to Trotson. That's what you want right?" Nick flipped his collar up defensively and picked up his pace, winking back to his assistant as he tried to change the subject.

Matching his light trot only required Vira to lengthen her stride a bit and try again. She wasn't sure why Nick wasn't curious, but what little she knew of friendship told her she should at least try to find out if it was bothering him. "Fast found out how you became as you are, but you don't want to know what happened next? Are you sure Nick? Many of my sisters have gone through a great deal to regain their own pasts, before they joined Unity. Not that I was ever interested, but it seems a shame to turn your nose up at your history making itself available. I could go with you..."

"Thanks Vira, but not interested. If Dima knew me back then, he left me alone to figure myself out too. However I wound up where I did, I made it there myself without needing to know. The case of the Defective Detective is old and cold, while the case of the Fog Harbor Filly is right in front of us. Hello there Sumi, we've been looking for you." Nick sped up the last few steps and stopped, waving a pale hoof to the dusty room they found themselves in at the bottom.

If it weren't for the convenient little green mark on the compass in her vision, Vira would have had trouble finding who they sought, even this close. Facing towards the indicator, she found a wriggling pair of dark hindlegs under the greasy, clattering machinery filling this floor, the sudden jerk and sonorous 'bong!' coming with muffled cursing helped pick her out.

Fighting her way out from under the hulking machine, a dark coated filly emerged rubbing her head near her horn. Her pale mane was streaked with black and green, along with being stained with oil that matched the grime covering her dark green coveralls and the cracked leather of the toolbelt jingling on her flank. The pained wince from one light brown eye took in her guests and narrowed suspiciously, hanging first on Nick, then moving up to Vira watching and listening carefully.

(Dima dressing up? No... another one? Careful, don't trust this one either... Where'd the alicorn come from? Thought they didn't live here...) Sumi's mental voice took stock of them quickly, warning herself before she opened her mouth and spoke warily. "Umm hello? Who are you? Haven't seen you two in Acadia before, not that I've been here long or anything. Were you out? Why are you looking for me?"

Holding out his battered business card, Nick trotted over and let her read it as he answered jovially. "We're not local kiddo, Nick Hearts n' Hooves, my assistant Vira. You have a couple of worried parents I owed a favor, so here we are."

"Mom and dad? They sent you? Oh! Nick! The robot detective! I sorta thought dad's stories were just him making things up to get me to go to sleep, you really are... Er... Hi, pleased to meet you Nick, dad told me all about you. They didn't need to send you all this way though, I mean I left a note."

"Yeah, I read it kiddo. 'Dear mom and dad, don't worry, had to leave and find out the truth, take care of each other' isn't exactly reassuring for worried folks you know. They were definitely worried and asked me to find you, make sure you're ok." Nick made sure to keep most of the judgement out of his voice, chuckling as he read from his battered notebook and raising an eyebrow.

To Virescent, it was like alarms started going off in the filly's mind, big walls springing up and a stubborn streak manning the barriers as she pouted back. "I'm not going back. I'm fine as you can see, so you can just go back and tell them so."

"Sumi... I'm not going to force you to come back, but I'm obliged to make sure you really are ok before I go back empty hooved. What are you doing here so far from home? How'd you wind up in a town full of synths with their creepy, if handsome, cult leader?" Keeping up a light tone with a disarming joke helped ease Sumi's instant mental defensiveness, Nick couldn't read it out of her head like his assistant, but was very good at dealing with ponies.

He put her at ease somewhat, but the filly was still cautious and holding things back as she answered. "Honest, I'm fine Nick. This is where I want to be. A synth belongs with other synths, tell mom and dad I'm sorry their daughter isn't coming home, but I'm not her anyway..."

"You believe you're a synth? Does this Dima attempt to convince everypony who comes here they are not what they believe?" Vira caught a flash of the eerie Dima's face and the hypnotizing patter of his voice from Sumi's memories and was sure she was right, making her dislike the strange robot more.

"Yes, but he... he listened. I always felt like something was wrong, that there were things I just didn't understand. Dima told me I could be a synth, that the reason I don't feel right may be because I'm not Sumi at all. They welcomed me with open hooves here to explore who I really am, I can't go back, at least not yet." There was conflict bubbling under the surface of Sumi's thoughts, part of her really longed to go home again and wasn't sure of anything. An easy subject for somepony like Dima to manipulate as Vira knew from experience.

"Why not yet then? What can we do to speed that along to now kiddo? I'll take your message back if that's what you want, but I'd much rather reunite a happy family, not enough of those in the wasteland to just throw one away for no good reason." Nick spoke soothingly and was no slouch at manipulation either, not maliciously at least, but playing up the filly's obvious love for her parents made her resolve waver.

"Even if they wanted me back... I can't leave here yet. I came because I believed all that peace and understanding stuff Dima said, but since I got here I can't shake the feeling something's wrong about this place. I don't know if I trust Dima, but some of the synths here are good ponies, they've been really nice and I feel wrong running away, er... again I guess... I need to find out what's really going on here. Hey! I-If you two are detectives, maybe you could help?" Sumi looked between the pair of them hopefully, her foalhood innocence had taken a hit since coming to this fog shrouded island, but was still intact and idealistic.

Nick glowered at her dubiously, the thoughts flitting through his mind informing his assistant of his long years of experience with starry eyed youth, and how unlikely it was to convince them to abandon their self assured course. Trying was more likely to have her dig her heels in and be stubborn. If at all possible, Nick wanted to bring the filly home, meaning going along with her request was the best course for now.

"Can't say I don't have a twitchy tail after being here all of five minutes myself kiddo. Alright, we'll take the case, give me a little time to poke around and see what I can see. While I'm doing that, you can tell my assistant all about your own suspicions. Lemme just have a word with her before I leave you ladies to it." Nick nodded and flipped his notebook closed, tucking it into his trenchcoat and nudging Vira back towards the stairs with him firmly.

This wasn't going how Vira had hoped, but she dutifully followed her employer's lead and leaned down for him to whisper in her ear. She couldn't help complaining first though, she wanted to go back to Trotson and find the male, not hang around because of a suspicious filly. "Nick... This is not our concern, is it? If Sumi believes she made a mistake, she should admit it and be willing to return, why must we humor her?"

"Don't ever tell a teenager they should just admit their mistakes and move on Vira." Nick chuckled quietly and waved off her impatient huff, keeping his voice down as he continued. "Trust me, she'll never give up if we ignore her concerns. If we take a look around and ease her mind though, she sounds like she wants to go home already. Gives me a chance to go ask some questions about this Dima while I'm at it too, think we can all agree he's a little creepy right?"

"Yes... He is, which is one more reason she should not be here. If you think this is best then I'll do as you ask Nick. What do you want me to do with her while you're investigating?" Vira had to admit he had a point, hopefully the synth detective could do a little digging and they'd be on their way with no trouble.

His grinning reply made her sputter and forget her impatience to leave, the sly smile as he looked her up and down and nodded back to Sumi surprised her. "Girl talk of course Vira, she'll open up to a mare like you more than me, dig for clues, try to help convince her going home is for the best."

"Me? Girl talk? Why do you think she'll listen to what I have to say? You're the detective and her father's friend, I'm just..." Vira balked, but Nick hushed her rising voice and chuckled again.

"You're not a robot, or a stallion, or a grown up. That's three strikes against me dollface. Don't get me wrong, you're definitely a big mare, but you remind me of a filly not much older than her in a lot of ways. Just talk about mare stuff, be her friend and see if she doesn't open up. Pretty dame like you will get further than I can. Give it a try and I'll go see what I can find out, alright?" Nick was asking, but seemed pretty dedicated to this course of action regardless of what she said on the matter, giving her little to do but nod meekly and watch him trot back upstairs.

Vira trusted Nick's instincts, but was starting to seriously doubt them here. Spending an awkward few minutes of silence with Sumi, she had yet to come up with any way to break the ice or do any convincing. Telling her to do this 'girl talk' business was all well and good, but not something Virescent really knew how to do.

She certainly wasn't as young as the quiet filly in front of her, the Goddess had made her more than thirty years ago as best she could remember. That wasn't the best indicator of age though, she wasn't clear on the dates and there were long gaps where she had merely been an extension of the Goddess, then another indeterminable blank after her mother was killed by the Destroyer and she had been lost. That wasn't factoring in how old she was when she joined Unity either, not something she was sure of at all. She had sisters who had been foals and others who had been old mares, even stallions, but Vira had never given much thought to what she was before, or what she was now for that matter.

She was certain she felt older than the fifteen year old staring up at her curiously though, by how much she couldn't really put into words, but feelings of Sumi as something akin to a bratty younger sister put her mentally older at least. The male was a few years older than Sumi, and she viewed him as not far from her age Not enough difference between them to dissuade her in the slightest from pursuing him anyway...

The things she wanted from him were of a decidedly adult nature, and they were both consenting adults in her view, so that was all that mattered. Distracting herself from the awkward silence, Virescent felt her heart flutter thinking of some of those things and prancing to herself internally in anticipation. Soon they'd be done with this case of Nick's and she could get on with the business of finding the male, feeling those wonderfully warm feelings from him again, have him in her hooves to touch and hug and...

"Bottlecap for your thoughts..." Sumi giggled up to her and broke her from the lovely daydream she had been having, smirking at her with a knowing look.

"W-What? Nothing! I was just... t-thinking of somepony special." Vira stammered back, only growing more flustered at the inquisitive look and bright thoughts running behind Sumi's brown eyes.

"Somepony special? Or a special somepony? You're turning all red Miss vira, You look really happy. So? Who is it?" Sumi tittered laughter and came a little closer, the intimidating alicorn mare had become a little more approachable when her eyes glazed and she drifted off like that.

Vira wasn't sure she liked being the subject of such teasing, but realized the filly was interested and viewing her as just another mare, instead of alicorn or detective as she had up till now. Perhaps this was what Nick meant? "It... H-He is somepony back in Trotson, who I want to return to quickly. I... didn't realize I was changing colors..."

"Uh-huh! You look really cute though, so don't worry. I didn't know alicorns liked normal ponies? Not that dad knew much about your kind, or he ever let me go with him... but he said he saw one of you once or twice when he went towards the city. He said you were kinda scary, but you don't look like it to me." Sumi warmed to the conversation, her thoughts turning dark and pouty thinking of what she viewed as her captivity at home for just a moment. Letting Vira pace the room with the filly staying on her tail as she inspected the cluttered room of machinery.

It appeared Sumi had been staying down here... A small cot in the corner smelled like the filly at her side, a battered old duffel bag held a few changes of clothes that looked more attractive than her greasy coveralls, while a battered bedside crate had a photo of Sumi and an older couple, along with an elderly stallion behind them she had seen in the other picture Nick had brought.

The way she bristled when Vira paused at these family pictures made her believe pressing her on the subject would be a bad idea. Sumi was already preparing arguments against her expected questioning about her folks and why she couldn't go home, so Vira tried to keep nosing around without appearing to even consider asking about them. Instead she picked out a rough sketch tucked behind the photograph and smiled at the surge of embarrassment she felt flicker through the young mare's mind. That same light, fluttery feeling she had felt made her think the filly had a chest full of butterflies when she unfolded the paper, tilting her head over the fairly talented drawing of a colt Sumi's age.

Girl talk... Holding the sketch up curiously, Vira smirked at making the filly turn as red as she had when questioned about her own love interest. "I see I'm not the only one who looks cute when they change colors, or with a special somepony back in the Commonwealth?"

"H-He's not! Umm... h-he's just a buck I know that works with a caravan, he stops by our place sometimes. I-It's not like I get to see a lot of ponies, let alone ones even close to my age. W-We're not dating or anything, I almost never see him, I just thought the picture came out good!" Sumi's sputtering denial and the swirl of emotions and thoughts running through her mind were quite enjoyable for Vira.

Suddenly she had an idea why Nick and even Longfellow liked teasing her so much, and they didn't even get to feel it the way she could. She also felt the angry tinge of frustration thinking of how infrequently Sumi got to see outsiders. Her father's overprotective smothering had been a major reason for her flight to Fog Harbor, the colt in the picture truly was one of few she even got to meet. Thinking of it only strengthened that headstrong impulse to not return, which wasn't what Vira wanted at all.

Of course her own recent suffering of the same teasing treatment also taught her sympathy for the poor filly and Vira relented, hoping to keep her thoughts lighter and more open to returning. She took another look over the sketch before returning it, then struck with a bit of inspiration, dug in her saddlebag for her own collection of sculptures.

Seeing Sumi's talent, she wanted to share her own burgeoning interest anyway, the blushing mare holding her reclaimed picture protectively had a good eye. "Mm-hmm... Regardless, it is a very good picture. Such skillful artistry seems like a labor of love actually... but I may only be speaking from my own experience. I've never tried making things before myself, I've recently found I enjoy it though. I'd be interested in your opinion and any constructive criticism Sumi. Don't be too harsh though, I only had a variety of alcohol bottles to work with."

Her newfound hobby made her feel even better when Sumi's eyes widened appreciatively as the train of statuettes hovered through the air in her emerald telekinesis, filling her with pride when the filly gasped happily. "You made all these? Wow! They're really good Vira! There are so many other alicorns like you around?"

Most of her sculptures were of ponies she knew, hence mostly green, blue and purple examples of alicorn perfection drifted by Sumi's discerning eye, though Vira made sure to have one of her favorite versions of Longfellow bob insistently in front of her nose as she answered. "My sisters... Yes, there are quite a few of us, fewer than there were when our mother was alive though I'm afraid."

Sumi's mind was quickly guarded by a thick shell at Vira's musing, her young voice tight and small as she muttered back. "I... I get it ok... My mom might die while I'm away and then how would I feel, you guilt tripping me isn't going to change my mind detective, I can't go back yet."

Blinking down at Sumi's frown, Vira's telekinentic control wavered a moment as she waved off the filly. "I did not mean... I-I was merely thinking aloud Sumi, I was not trying to make you feel guilty, honestly!"

Sumi crossed her forelegs over her chest and pouted back with her glistening brown eyes, a roiling storm of hurt and doubt going on behind them as she turned and grunted a terse reply. "Sure, whatever..."

That just left Vira feeling more flustered and scared she had undone what little progress she was making. She knew Nick was greatly overestimating her ability to make this 'girl talk' nonsense. Tapping her hooves together worriedly, Vira's eyes lighted on a dark purple statute floating by and latched onto it as a lifeline, hovering it down where Sumi could see if she'd deign to look her way again.

"Sumi... I ran away from home myself, so I'm in no position to criticize you. This is my sister Umbra, y-you could consider her my older sister, after our mother died she... she tried to take care of me and many of our other sisters, keep us together, provide for and protect us. I'm afraid I did not appreciate all she did for us though, I thought I knew better and rejected her and all these others you see here. I've only recently come to find out she has admitted to being wrong as well, so I suppose we both were, that there was no right side to our disagreement... I miss my sisters, Umbra included, now I am afraid of returning to them however. I know I will, in my own time... but it is very hard." Vira's hoof reaching out to the filly's shoulder wasn't spurned at least, and it felt like she was undoing a bit of her mistake as a little of the fight went out of her.

Looking back to her cautiously, Sumi took the statue of her stern sister from her magic and sniffled at it. "Y-You too huh? B-Being scared to go back I mean... I um... feel the same way, it's really hard... I mean I think I will go back, e-eventually, but it really is hard to think about. Er... sorry Vira, I thought you were gonna start in on me like dad would and... n-nevermind. If your sister admitted she was wrong, maybe it's not impossible my dad could too I guess. So what made you brave enough to want to go back?"

Sensing the greatest danger from her mistake had passed, Vira smiled brightly to the filly and answered immediately. "Oh, I wish to mate with my special somepony."

The mental flash of embarrassment and sputter of laughter from Sumi made Vira concerned she had made another faux pas, then her worried expression was replaced by a cocked eyebrow as she started to sense the joke was on her. "M-Mate? Really? Y-You wanna get laid? That's why you're ok with going home again!?"

Vira blushed brightly and stuck her nose up at the teasing, fluttering her wings primly as she answered in a defensive tone. "I do not wish to 'get laid'... I said mate. I-It is not merely for fun..."

Sumi giggled and snorted in a fit of laughter, making Vira more self conscious as the filly teased her. "Uh-huh... sure Vira, you sure don't look or act like it... You're really ok with going home just to..."

"Procreate..." Vira glared at the smaller pony next to her before she could finish.

"R-Right, right, procreate... sure Vira. So that's enough for you though? I mean I want to go home, really... but there are bigger things going on here and... Don't you think you should have like a higher purpose or meaning before going back with your tail between your legs? Do something important?" Sumi's snickers tapered off into a more serious note and she looked up to Vira questioningly, returning her statue of Umbra to float in slow orbits with the others.

Floating out the smoky crystal sculpture, Vira felt that odd sense of pride and flush of pleasure looking over her own work and how closely it represented her special somepony as she answered seriously. "Alright, it's not entirely for fun then. I told you Sumi, there are less of my kind than before our mother died. We have been unable to reproduce all this time, now we can at last. I'm proudest of this one, which I have no issue affirming is meant to be the stallion I am hoping to return to."

Sumi took the little statue from her delicately. The filly sat on her cot and held it up to the light, absently patting the ratty covers beside her as she turned her statue this way and that in her coppery magic. "So this is who you umm... he's cute! I didn't know there were alicorn stallions too. All the stories I've ever heard said there were only mares."

"They are... somewhat rare. Not that procreation is the sole reason for my interest, a-anymore... He is also... hmm... very warm. He feels nice, he thought nice thoughts about me and cared. I have no experience with r-relationships of any kind, but I wish to learn and be with this pony. He makes my heart feel funny..." Vira had a hard time putting her own feelings into words, but tried valiantly and seemed to get through to Sumi.

She sensed the same awkward curiosity and wonder she felt herself coming from the filly actually. Nick must be a formidable judge of character, the two mares weren't much alike at first glance, but Vira realized she actually did have quite a few things in common with the young mare. Did her boss know she could stumble her way into making friends, or just guess lucky?

"T-Trailhoof, he made me feel that way too... I-I mean we only saw each other once a month maybe, a-and I guess he was as nervous as I was, plus he had dad trying to keep us apart breathing down his neck. But he was nice... G-Guess he wouldn't want anything to do with a synth though..." Sumi's thoughts turned somber as she glanced back to her sketch, sighing and wiping a greasy spot on her cheek trying to rub away a tear.

Vira had to be careful settling down to the cot beside her, the rusty old bedding creaking and groaning as she sat beside the filly and fidgeted. Sadness... Longfellow made her feel better when she was sad by touching and hugging sometimes... She was much more confident receiving such attention rather than giving it, but this was another area where the rough experience of learning from hurt had managed to teach her empathy.

So far that was the best reason for those negative feelings she had managed to find, they didn't feel good like love, happiness, gratitude, joking and teasing, but because they didn't feel good, she didn't want to see the younger pony hurting from them either. No wonder Vira had never sympathized with the masses of pitiful wasteland ponies when she was so self assured of her own perfection, she never let herself feel bad about anything, so she didn't realize how it felt.

Moving very slowly, Vira settled on stretching her verdant green wing around the smaller mare's shoulders and giving a reticent hug, speaking carefully and softly as she felt the filly burrow against her side and leak warm tears into her sweater and fur beneath. "If your male is like mine, then he shouldn't care about what you are. He wasn't always one of us, but he liked my kind even before, even though many have called me a monster... A synth doesn't seem so bad to me. Though... why are you so convinced you are one Sumi? Do you have any proof?"

Her voice was choked and hard to make out, but Vira didn't have an issue understanding the sobbing filly's thoughts and listened patiently. "D-Dreams... Stuff I don't remember from foalhood, I never fit in back home... H-How can I ever go back like Nick wants when I'm... Mom and dad, t-those ponies that took care of me I guess... how could I tell them their daughter's dead and I replaced her? How could Trailhoof or a-anypony who's not a synth too e-ever care about one?"

Trying to soothe somepony else was a lot harder than being soothed, but Vira started getting the hang of it. It felt nearly as nice actually, making someone else feel better made her feel better too. She hummed quietly and let the filly cry a moment, stroking her mane and whispering down to her. "Sumi... You have described things nearly everypony feels at some time in their life, especially during adolescence. I know, I've heard those thoughts from thousands of pony's minds, all over Equestria. It's been that way since long before the great war, let alone the advent of synths."

The smaller hooves wrapped around her chest tightened their grip and Sumi peeked up at her hopefully. "Y-You really think so? That maybe I'm a real pony, I c-could go home again?"

"I think you could return to your loved ones, no matter if you are a synth or a pony. My kind do not blend in as well as synths, our differences are obvious and I once believed insurmountable. I felt alone and kept the world at a distance so it could not hurt me, I did not fit in either... I fought with my sisters because I thought there was no place for us with normal ponies, that we would have to make our own as this Dima has done here in Acadia..."

"My friend... Fast, my first friend... he helped me see I was a pony like any other. That good ponies would accept me even though we are different, if I but gave them a chance. Not everypony is so understanding of course, but those we truly care about, those who l-love us... they love us for who we are, not what we are. Nick tells me your parents love you very much, they sent him all this way to find you and be sure you're safe. I'm sure they only want to see their daughter again and don't care if she's a synth or a pony in the slightest."

The warm smile on Sumi's face was like Celestia's sun pushing through the clouds, her thoughts brightened to match as the filly lunged against her chest and nuzzled her in gratitude. "Thank you Vira... t-thanks so much! I've been so scared and homesick, b-but I thought I could never go back, that here was the only place I belonged now. I do want to see them too though, w-whether I'm really me or a copy, I do love them... I feel that, it's real and... a-and I guess that's what matters most, huh?"

Vira nodded sweetly and wiped the wet tracks from the shuddering filly's cheeks, feeling that spark of hope and optimism kindling thanks to her own efforts at comforting the young mare made her feel good, made her happy and proud she could help as she had been helped. Paying the kindness she had received from others like Nick, Longfellow and Fast forward brought it rushing back to her again and made her heart flutter in that most delightful way. She could be a good pony, she really could be better than she was and find her own ways to help others.

"I think that's what matters, yes Sumi. If it helps, you are no different than any normal filly in any way that matters. I sense nothing in your thoughts that betrays the slightest hint of anything but a frightened, confused filly trying to find herself. I umm... I know just what that feels like too, so I recognize it..." Smoothing Sumi's pale mane back out, Vira shrugged uncertainly to the filly and smiled at her disbelieving look in return.

"You? You don't seem scared or mixed up like me Vira, h-how could you know how I feel?" Sumi kept turning her precious statue in her hooves and peeked back at her skeptically, sniffling as she got her voice back under control.

Seeing herself through the younger mare's eyes, Vira blushed and had to stifle a laugh. Sumi really seemed to have a distorted view of the green alicorn, a little awe mixed with a little jealousy as she looked her up and down. By the filly's thoughts, Vira was a picture of maturity, beauty and wisdom, just the kind of mare Sumi hoped she'd grow up to be. She really thought Vira had it all together and doubted the older sister type of mare could possibly know how she felt.

Giggling to herself and wishing she really was everything Sumi thought she was, Vira shuffled her hindlegs off the edge of the bed and leaned back on her forelegs behind her, sighing at the little statute she took back in her magic. "Don't think everyone else has it all together and you are the only one to doubt yourself. I am unsure of myself, what I should be doing, what kind of pony I should endeavor to be and why. That is just like everypony else too though, pony, alicorn, synth... we are all just people doing the best we can."

"Some ponies sure sound like they know it all and don't have any doubts though. Dima sure doesn't..." Sumi's reply was a little pouty, but the bubbling doubt wasn't directed to her, but to the odd synth upstairs.

That echoed Vira's opinion of the leader of Acadia actually, and gave her an opening to probe for a little more information and hopefully resolve whatever was keeping the filly here. "In my experience, those with minds like that one's are not to be trusted... Fools and madponies are often the only ones who achieve such blind faith in their own correctness. O-Of course that is another area where I speak from experience, considering I once operated under a religious fervor that would put Dima's to shame."

She actually got the wrung out little mare to give a tired laugh at that. Sumi chuckled and enjoyed somepony else making fun of the strange synth, apparently she hadn't had anypony here to discuss her doubts with, as all the synth residents thought Dima was the second coming of Celestia. As her laughter tapered off, Sumi's thoughts replayed their conversation and finally hung on what had been bothering her.

She had Vira's full attention when the filly turned and tried to find a way to broach the subject. "Umm... Vira, you say some funny things sometimes... About what other people are thinking, sensing stuff? What do..."

"I can read minds. My kind have unique gifts from our mother Sumi, that is one green alicorns like myself possess. I haven't been prying into yours though! I've come to realize that is a little rude, so I try not to listen in." Admitting her abilities worried Vira, she didn't want Sumi to think she had just been reading her thoughts and telling her what she wanted to hear this whole time, but lying didn't seem right either so best to just come clean and be honest.

The flabbergasted look the filly looked up to her with didn't hold any real anger at least, a lot of disbelief was mixed with an intense spike of curiosity and Sumi's mental voice suddenly got a great deal louder, like she was shouting in her mind at the green alicorn seated next to her. (Come on, really? Can you hear this then? Testing! Testing! One, two, th...)

"Y-You needn't think quite that loud Sumi, I can hear you perfectly well..."

(T-That was just a lucky guess! Has to be! If you really can read my mind, then what number am I...)

"81..." Vira smirked as Sumi's jaw dropped, rolling her eyes and answering the barrage of tests put to her as they came up. "Your pet is a tabby cat named Mr. Wigglesworth, Your new favorite song is that new one by the Pony Who He... er... Velvet Remedy. Your favorite food is the noodles your father buys you from Diamond City. And you are wearing the yellow underclothing with the little white bow today... "

Sumi squeaked and turned bright red, crossing her hindlegs with a wince and stammering back. "O-Ok... g-guess you really can hear me then... N-No peeking though!"

Holding a hoof to stifle her giggles, Vira poked the embarrassed filly playfully in the tummy and raised an eyebrow. "You shouldn't have asked if you didn't want me to see, the image was very clear. Not to worry, they are very cute, perhaps I shall look for more clothing like that with my pay from Nick. I'm still rather new at wearing clothes, males like such things though, don't they? Are they for this Trailhoof of yours? Hmmm?"

Laughing openly and trying to tickle the bigger mare back, Sumi groaned at being made fun of. "No! C-Cut it out Vira, how do I know what bucks like, you're the mindreader right? You're really pretty, I bet you'll look good in anything anyway! Not that I'd count on finding any that will fit that bi..."

Vira pinned the squirming mare and tickled her mercilessly before she could finish her thought, glaring down with a mock growl but happy to be sharing in friendly teasing with a new friend. "I do not have a big ass..."

"A-A-Alright! Y-You don't! Sorry! Mercy!" Sumi squealed and fought frantically, wheezing for breath on her back when Vira let her go.

Stretching out beside her and catching her breath, Vira groaned when the poor cot gave up the fight against a lot of alicorn flopping to her back and crumpled to the floor. Flinching at the renewed giggles from Sumi, she held a foreleg up and pouted sternly. "Not one word... I am not fat, I do not have a big ass... I am as the Goddess made me. It isn't my fault your cot is tiny and weak..."

At least Sumi didn't verbally keep poking at a sore spot for Vira, though she could still hear all the unspoken jokes about her rump going on in the filly's head. She was willing to overlook most of those since they came with that little tinge of jealousy too, along with hopeful speculation about what she herself would grow up to look like and if it would compare. That actually made Vira feel good, she had always blindly believed in the mother's perfect form before, knowing she, Virescent, was considered attractive was more personal and made her happy. The satisfying glow of self confidence was somehow different and deeper than blind confidence in her species she had always operated under before.

When Sumi did speak again, it was in a more serious tone and her brown eyes were wide when she spun to look at her sharply. "Wait, you can read minds... Then we can find out what Dima's hiding! Come on Vira!"

The unicorn was up and galloping for the wide double doors across the room before Vira reached her hooves, dashing back and shoving at her to get moving while she was still trying to catch up. "What? But Nick is... shouldn't we let him investigate? I'm just the assistant Sumi, a-and this is still my first day on the job. Maybe we should..."

Cantering back around to her front, Sumi stood on her hindlegs and squeezed her cheeks, smooshing Vira's perplexed expression with a manic, gleeful look in her eye that didn't do much to reassure the confused alicorn. "But you are a detective too, right? Come on, pleeeease? I was gonna let Nick see what he came up with, but I really do wanna go home now thanks to you Vira. But I can't until I get to the bottom of things here, there's stuff going on and you could solve the case like that! I... I think lives might be at stake..."

Tilting her head down at the hopeful filly, Vira shifted indecisively on her hooves. She wasn't lying or exaggerating... she really was worried. Beyond Vira's desire to do a good job and help Nick solve the case, there was also that curious emotion Sumi felt towards her now too... It was an odd species of friendship, a caring, familial type of feeling like the bond of sisterhood she shared with other alicorns, but different somehow... A younger sibling instead of one of thousands of peers in Unity.

Sumi looked up to her and trusted her, somehow Vira wanted to live up to that and enjoy the feeling more. "V-Very well... start explaining while you take me, a-and if we find Nick first you must start all over again. Understood?"

"Deal! C'mon, hurry! It's almost time!" Sumi agreed instantly and dragged her by the hoof, shoving open the rusty doors and leading her down a wide hallway at the bottom of Acadia.

Trotting behind the excited filly down the wide stone hallways, painted a peeling dark blue and continuing the stars and moons theme befitting the observatory's namesake, Vira wrinkled her nose and wished the Institute didn't make their synths quite so realistic. Sumi wasn't the only one living down on this lowest level by a long shot, as the filly led her down the hall branching off into office spaces and spotted with more semi-functional machinery, she marked several more synth residents near makeshift nests of sleeping bags, candles and rough hooflockers for their meager possessions.

Most of these sad looking ponies gave the filly and her odd follower a weary nod or brighter wave as she passed, attention Sumi returned cheerily enough, but winced at internally. Sumi was trying to be sneaky, slowing her trot as they approached an imposing steel door at the end of the hall with a scrap written note tacked on that Vira peered at curiously.

After reading the stern missive, Vira was surprised when Sumi pulled her screwdriver from her jingling toolbelt and a bobbypin from her tail, furtively working at the imposing lock and using the alicorn's bulk to hide behind. Vira opened her mouth to speak, but the anxiety and desire to remain hidden flowing off the filly made her think better of it, waiting until she had successfully picked the lock and dashed inside, dragging Vira with her.

"Sumi... what are you...?" Vira cocked her head and questioned Sumi once she had carefully clicked the door closed again and breathed a sigh of relief, absently looking at the room they were definitely not supposed to be in.

It was a small office room originally, now cluttered with shelves that held a variety of goods. Ammo for a number of different firearms Vira couldn't place beyond being for normal guns, spark cells for magical energy weaponry she was more confident identifying, drugs and healing potions, pieces of armor and other gadgets Vira didin't recognize, along with food and drink. Spotting a couple of glowing green bottles of Zip Emerald, Vira floated them down to herself with only a little guilt as Sumi answered, she was feeling quite parched... she'd pay for them later...

Creeping over to a dusty window that gave a view of another cleaner and more obviously used office space next to this one, Sumi waved her over with a hoof to her lips, whispering excitedly to her new friend. "They come here every day and hold their little leadership pow wow, always come out looking like they've been arguing, now let's see what it's all about."

"They? They who? Should we be in here Sumi? I really think I should go find Nick, I could find him quickly, his mind is easy enough to locate and..." Vira was feeling anxious about this sneaking about, though part of it was picking up on Sumi's own nervousness. She was definitely doing something against the rules and dragging the green alicorn with her, when Vira was trying so hard to be good no less...

Sumi hushed her frantically and tried to drag her down to the floor with her, wincing when the big mare knocked things to the floor just attempting to follow her huddling behind the dusty desk in front of the window, then cursing when she realized even sitting, Vira's head was well in view. "Damn, you're not a very sneaky pony, are you Vira? Hang on, I got something for that I guess, hate to use it up, but now or never. Listen, Dima and Faraday, he's another of the big three in charge here, Faraday Cage I mean. Anyway, they asked me to work on all those computers and stuff upstairs with Dima's chair, you saw it on the way in, right?"

Vira was only growing more confused by her rapid prattling, but nodded slowly, giving a wary "Yes..." as she watched the filly rooting around in her many pockets and the battered bag on her flank.

"Right, well all that stuff is cobbled together Institute tech, originally some kinda 'Memory Recliner' according to the code, before Dima and Faraday rebuilt it into his little 'throne'. It's really fascinating actually, uses memory magic like those glowing memory orbs you find all over from the old world. See, Dima's a prototype, so he's got memory storage issues due to the architecture of his synthetic brain. I mean it's advanced enough to be artificially intelligent, but he's exceeding his specs by a lot after being in constant operation for more than a century. All those capacitors, spark fuses and cells, additional processors and crystal ram add ons have bumped his stats up, but he's..." Sumi's obvious excitement and the barrage of technical information zipping through her mind was overwhelming the silent alicorn next to her. Something she didn't notice until looking up after finally locating the odd gadget in her bag, pausing mid-sentence on seeing Vira's green eyes spinning and smoke coming from her ears.

Shaking her head to clear it with a whinny, Vira nodded to the filly to continue warily after her eager smile slipped to a frown of concern. "I-It is alright, I am understanding some of what you're saying Sumi. I was just thinking, my friend I want to return to in Trotson would enjoy speaking with you. He is a fan of technology as well and would be able to follow along much better... I am listening however, just... try to keep it simple? Please?"

Giving a muffled giggle from behind her hoof, Sumi smiled and peered over the desk again anxiously before answering, a wave of relief and amusement running through her mind seeing nopony through the window and returning her attention to her new friend. "Sorry Vira, I get excited about this stuff and kinda go overboard. My folks got lost a lot too, so I'd like talking to your friend. Only grandpa could keep up back home, and he..."

The bright and cheery thoughts were overwhelmed by a pang of grief, giving Vira further insight into what may have motivated Sumi's actions. The older stallion in the picture she had seen, Sumi's grandfather... he had died recently, Vira's heart ached at all the emotions just mentioning him in her excitement brought out. Such warm love and admiration, now brought such pain and sadness that clouded the filly's mind and hurt anew on catching herself talking about him like he was still alive.

"My friend Fast would probably like meeting you very much as well Sumi. I have sensed the same feeling of isolation from him when it comes to discussing such things with others. I'm afraid I don't know enough to join in your shared passion, but I am curious and eager to learn so I may join in. Please continue, I will try to keep up." Vira nudged the suddenly somber filly with her muzzle anxiously, giving her a hopeful smile that helped Sumi shake off her grief.

Mastering her brief bout of sadness, Sumi returned the smile and gestured for Vira's pip-buck bedecked foreleg, returning to her explanation at a less manic pace. "Sorry... E-Ever since Grandpa died, I felt more alone and fit in less, g-guess that's how I wound up thinking I might be a synth huh? A-Anyway, those computers have Dima's memories and thoughts in them. When Faraday asked me to help with maintenance, I umm... got a little curious, so I went poking around in the data and found some stuff that made me pretty worried."

Vira cocked her head as the young mare slotted a strange device into her new pip-buck, reading the faded label identifying it as a 'Stealth-buck' whatever that was. She put her curiosity about it aside as her ears perked up, sensing the approach of Dima's strange, placid mind growing closer.

Waving Sumi on assuming it was Dima himself she was so anxious about appearing in the office on the other side of the glass, Vira kept her questions focused on the immediate issue and filed the rest buzzing in her head for later, like a good detective would. "What is it you found Sumi? Why does it concern you so? You said lives may be at stake?"

Sumi nodded firmly in reply, "Totally. See, there were all these weird projections about the island and the ponies on it, including statistics for death tolls... One was an analysis of the fog overtaking Fog Harbor and all the harbor ponies if the condensers were to suddenly 'fail'. The other was a projection on the effects of a megaspell detonation in that weird Church of Balefire place... See? I think they're planning on wiping out the other groups on the island Vira! They come in that office to do their plotting and arguing every day, but with you here, we can find out what they're really up to! All we have to do is hide in here and wait, since you're kinda big to hide though, you can use this... Shit! Here they are, just stay quiet Vira!"

Virescent closed her mouth opening to ask more questions with a sharp click at Sumi's panic, goggling down to the filly retreating under the desk beneath the window when her sepia colored magic flicked a switch on her pip-buck and activated the strange addition. A swirl of magic coming from the beeping device made her disappear to her surprise, an invisibility spell nearly as good as one of her blue sisters enveloped her, just as the door of the office next door opened and a trio of ponies trotted in.

Considering Sumi was right in her appraisal of Vira's skills at being stealthy, she held stock still and hoped nopony would notice the slight shimmer through the dirty glass that she saw when looking down at herself. The lights in the next room came on, revealing a space cluttered with spare parts and glowing terminals, including one that looked to act as a lock for a very sturdy looking door inside.

The first pony in was a brown and white spotted stallion with a jet black mane and goatee, wearing cracked glasses over his amber eyes. By his familiarity with the surroundings and dirty lab coat, Vira assumed the office was his domain and he must be this Faraday Cage that Sumi mentioned.

Behind him the pale silver mare in the dark leather longcoat entered cautiously, her rich auburn tail flicking as she trotted around the room and secured the area. The synth Chase from the gate that had identified herself as a 'Courser', a designation that made even Nick wary of getting on her bad side. Her stern pink eyes flicking everywhere suspiciously made Vira nervous she'd somehow spot the invisible alicorn gulping to herself, now too afraid to seek out a better hiding spot than simply sitting in front of the window in plain view.

Satisfied the room was safe, Chase nodded to the door and allowed the patchwork synth Dima to enter last. The odd robot walked into the room sedately, the pale plastic covering of one hindleg rotted away to reveal the steel and wires clicking on the stone floor every few steps. Being near his strange mind raised Vira's hackles, not liking how he viewed both his guard's cautious security measures and Faraday's prepared arguments passively. Both Faraday and Chase were upset and anxious, but Dima's calm never wavered in the slightest, like he was above it all...

Chase clearly didn't share his calm, giving a whinny now that she was sure they were alone and starting right in on what felt like an old argument. "This is pushing our luck Dima, things are tense enough without strangers poking their muzzles in. I know you want to trust your 'brother' Nick, but he's not one of us and didn't come seeking refuge. All the Harbor ponies saw him and know he was going up here, the Church of Balefire won't be far behind. Our 'guests' may have just made taking a side a matter of when and not if..."

"We have maintained a delicate balance on the island Chase, I'm sure Nick and his odd assitant's arrival will not upset things that much. Acadia has always remained neutral, we will continue to do so." Dima answered in that placid tone, consoling the bristling mare in his odd way.

His unconcerned reply only served to increase the anger and frustration baking off Chase however, she stamped her hooves and shot back another oft used reply she hoped would sink in this time. "We already took a side! Making those condensers might have saved lives among the Fog Harbor residents, but it pissed the Church off too Dima! The harbor ponies aren't even properly grateful either! We help them out and stick our neck out, only for them to bitch we're not making enough of the damn things!"

The pinto stallion Faraday perked up as the conversation turned to what he thought of as his domain, pulling a clipboard from his saddlebag and hoofing at it to double check the figures running in his mind. "We haven't had much luck increasing production either Dima. Spare parts are always an issue, plus keeping the ones in operation running is a challenge. The Church cutting off supplies after we made them has really hurt, not to mention losing access to what you left behind in that base."

Chase's fury practically blazed at that, making Vira flinch from the intensity she could feel through the glass separating them as the mare snorted. "You never should have let them have the Cantrip, let alone leave behind your own memories! Who knows what's in there or what they could do with it Dima! As if them sitting on a freaking megaspell wasn't bad enough! You can't even tell me what kind of security risk they pose either!"

Vira gasped and instantly covered her mouth with a shaking hoof. Her old church was not only here, they had a megaspell!?! Virescent knew only too well the apocalyptic dogma the Church of Balefire followed, depending on what this particular sect focused on, they may welcome setting off such a weapon as a holy mission...

She felt her heart speed up and a sweat break out on her coat just thinking about it, nearly missing Dima's maddeningly blase reply. "As I have explained, the memories left behind are as close as I get to forgetting something Chase. I have no idea what they contain, I do know they are secure and hoped leaving them behind for our religious friends to safeguard would demonstrate trust. I felt letting the Church take the naval base was the best choice, the previous Confessor..."

"The previous Confessor is GONE! The current 'High Confessor' Tectonic is on a holy crusade and not nearly so trustworthy Dima! Just let me go in there and handle it already, you figured out a retrieval method right Faraday?" Chase snapped back, the curt interruption not bothering Dima in the slightest as she wheeled on the arcane science minded male beside her.

From his thoughts, Faraday didn't want to get in the middle of this yet again, flinching under Chase's pink stare and waffling uncertainly. "Er... yes, we've managed to cobble together a program that will allow access and download after making it through security. It wasn't easy though, if Dima and I had so much trouble, I really doubt those cultists can manage it Chase..."

The former Courser only focused on getting the answer she wanted, standing straighter and closing on Dima with a plan of action already flitting through her highly ordered mind. "There. Give me the go ahead, I'll slip in and get it done tonight. Be one less thing to worry and run projections about, not that it will stop the Church and Harbor from going at it, but our hooves will be clean."

Dima placidly let the stern mare get it out of her system, listening and appreciating her opinion, then slowly weighing it before he spoke in that soft voice. "I ran simulations on the worst case scenarios hoping to head them off Chase. I doubt retrieving those memories will alter them. If the Church manages to cut off power to the condensers or set off the Cantrip's payload, many will die. That is what we should be focused on preventing, our best chance of doing so is as neutral mediators. If you are caught, even seen, we will most definitely be drawn in to the conflict. It is not worth the risk to peace."

The strongest impulse running behind Chase's pink eyes was to tear her mane out in frustration at being denied, something Vira could somewhat sympathize with as she struggled to keep up. The mare managed to contain her fury though, hissing back to Dima's unwavering smile. "Peace went out the window thanks to that jackass from Fog Harbor! The best we can do is try to mitigate the damage Dima. Keeping those memories out of their hooves is the best way to do that. If you won't let me do it... maybe using an outside agent would work?"

"Nick and his detective helper you mean? Chase... I'm not sure about that, Nick may not be a member of our community, but outward appearances would put him in our camp. I had hoped to help my brother remember his past and reconnect, not use him in our concerns." Uncertainty flickered through Dima's calm mind for the first time, he really had a weak spot where Nick was concerned... something Virescent filed away for later.

Vira gave another start and quiet 'eep!' behind her hoof when her own image appeared in Chase's mind, a lifeline to use the mare immediately dangled in front of Dima. "The alicorn though... Those nuts worship mutants like her, they'd let her close. She's leaving for the mainland as soon as she can manage it too, plus she's accepted by the harbor ponies from what I hear. Use her to get the job done if you won't let me do it."

Reluctant acceptance of her point slowly built in Dima, resulting in a reserved nod from the patchwork synth. "I... will consider it. If she seems amenable, and after discussing it with Nick as well. If there is nothing new to consider, I would like the opportunity to try talking to him again rather than hiding away down here."

Faraday peppered Dima with trivialities Virescent quickly tuned out, talks of resources, more memory storage, parts and repairs... All of it was overtaken by the fear and worry trying to overwhelm the green alicorn as she flopped back to the crowded shelves behind her, the noise of her movement and quiet whimper, along with shimmery outline of her body giving Sumi a place to silently focus, still hiding under the battered desk in front of her.

(V-Vira? Are you ok? Did you hear all that? Would those Church ponies really let you in?) Sumi's thoughts were excited and concerned, directed towards the psychic alicorn in lieu of whispering while impatiently waiting for the trio of ponies on the other side of the glass to wrap up their meeting and file out.

She wanted to answer, actually she wanted the weird device slotted into her precious pip-buck to stop making her invisible, wanted the filly to see the misery and anxiety she knew was etched on her unseen face. Wanted Sumi to comfort her as she tried to comfort the filly, to feel those positive emotions she had grown to so enjoy, anything other than the fear racing through her mind.

The Church... the Church she had been a priestess of, the Church of Balefire... Here, on this island with her and in possession of a megaspell, and they wanted to ask her to return to the fold? To march up and make herself an idol for the twisted and sick, the ghoulish outcasts she had helped bring to their green and gold banner?

Standing against the rusty railing near the top of the Starswirl Observatory and looking out over the fog enshrouded island stretching out below her, Vira gave another little shiver that had nothing to do with the cool sea breeze and sighed. A bite of the still warm muffin her young companion had treated her to made her feel a little better at least. Even though she hardly needed to eat, it tasted good and settled her nervous stomach,

Each bite came with the still strong concern Sumi was feeling for her too, which felt even better. The filly's mind was whirling with questions and thoughts she was trying to keep from voicing, continually flashing to an image of Vira's own stricken face fading back into view when the stealth-buck thing finally wore off. Not a flattering view of herself she wanted to keep seeing from the outside, but it was the source of the worry and caring Sumi was trying to find a way to vocalize, which was nice enough.

"I... I used to be part of that Church Sumi, that is what is 'freaking me out' as you are thinking. I'm sorry, let me collect myself a moment longer..." Virescent managed to broach the subject for her in a shaky voice, keeping her green eyes cast out to the magnificent -if occluded- view of the island the observatory offered perched on the highest peak.

The pinkish grey mist made most of the landscape a mere suggestion, swirling and wafting to reveal broken ruins, sickly forests, thin trails of ancient roads running through the valleys and up the mountains. Looking to the southwest, Vira's sharp alicorn eyes could make out the faintest suggestion of the mainland far across the Celestial sea sparkling in the noon sun beyond the mists. From this high up, she could just climb and keep her nose firmly pointed that way, fly away and return to the Trotson Commonwealth, put all this behind her...

Except she promised, Nick had been kind enough to give her a job and trusted her. Sumi's adamant refusal to leave Fog Harbor was still present in her mind too, buried under the silent anxiety she could feel looking up at her. Good ponies didn't just run away and leave their friends behind, even if they were frightened... At least they tried not to, and Vira was trying to be a good pony, to change from the mare she was when she had been a leader in the Church consuming her thoughts now.

Taking another bite, Vira tore her gaze away from the tempting idea of escape, looking across the deep valley shrouded in fog that should have a large lake hidden in the mists, according to the prewar map she had seen at Longfellow's anyway. The thought of the old stallion's gruff face warmed her as much as the muffin and helped give her courage, another reason she couldn't just leave, she promised to see him again before doing so after all. Good ponies kept their promises if they could.

Above the shorter peak on the other side of the presumably lake filled valley, Vira struggled to make out the amorphous shapes hidden in the fogs and clouds. A clump of darker cloud shifted and changed, but didn't move like the rest, dim shapes of broken smokestacks, machinery and huge fans coming in and out of view and a veritable cascade of fog slowly spilling down to the mountain below it. The fog factory from before the war, the ruins of which now spewed out the mysterious and deadly fog the Church of Balefire apparently viewed as divine here.

"A-Are you sure you're ok Vira? You looked so scared and... I know I asked you to take the case, but you don't have to go to those nuts if you don't want. If Dima asks you could just say no, it's alright." Sumi couldn't hold herself still any longer, hooking her forelegs over the rusty railing and leaning up to try to catch the tall alicorn's eye anxiously.

"But you wish to understand the mysteries here, don't you Sumi? You won't return until you know the truth of Dima's Acadia? The Church of Balefire is wrapped up in that, I can sense you have suspected as much yourself. What do you know of those 'nuts'?" Vira turned her eyes down, flicking them guiltily over to the filly before distracting herself watching the synth population busily going about their day in the settlement below.

Hearing Vira turn her words back on her made Sumi facehoof and wince, a rush of apology radiating off her as she considered she might have offended the alicorn made Vira smile slightly as the filly backtracked. "I didn't mean! N-Not you... er... t-the ones here are... n-not that I know that much about them either, so I shouldn't have opened my dumb mouth... Sorry Vira! They're just..."

"I used to be part of that church Sumi, I'm not any longer, partly because some of them are indeed nuts. I told you I have made my share of mistakes as well didn't I? I don't know what they're doing on this island however, do you know much about them Sumi?" Vira mustered her courage and managed a shamefaced admission, glad to sense not rejection, but a sense of kinship from the filly.

She was glad Sumi chose not to dwell on her past too, instead the filly focused on her question and leaned out over the railing, peering through the fog and pointing to the southern marshes of the island beyond the shadow of the fog factory. "Not much no, they don't really come around here and I haven't been away from Acadia. Heh... and I was mad at dad for keeping me home, all I did was change the scenery where I'm stuck at... A-Anyway, they all live in some old navy base from the war, down that way if you can see it."

While Vira couldn't in fact see what the filly's foreleg was pointing towards, the message in the corner of her vision reading; 'Map Updated' seemed to understand her directions. Blinking at the text, Vira fumbled at the controls to the device awkwardly and managed to bring up the map, giving a start when Sumi leaned in close and took over for her, zooming it out and centering the screen on a new marker reading 'The Cantrip'.

"Oh wow, a 3000 model! This is nice Vira, I always wanted to play with a pip-buck. See, there's where the Church is. Dima gave it to the leader of the Church that he was friends with a few years back, but since then the pony in charge changed and things have gotten more strained from what I hear. The harbor ponies really don't like them, one of them even shot a missionary from the Church outside the gates of Fog Harbor. Since then things have been really bad, lots of the folks here in Acadia keep talking like it's only a matter of time before they fight." After showing her the map and making sure the green alicorn understood it, Sumi rapidly tapped through the menus as she answered, the text zipping by in front of her eyes distracting Vira somewhat as she listened to Sumi's concerned words carefully.

Staring at the shifting fog blocking her view, Vira frowned in thought and allowed Sumi to keep playing with her pip-buck while she considered. The Church of Balefire had been started by the Institute and a faction of her sisters in the Commonwealth six or seven years ago now, not long after the Day of Sunshine and Rainbows. Virescent herself had helped spread the quasi-religious order to help the mad scientists experiment on willing ponies, but only throughout the hidden realm of Trotson.

While Fog Harbor may in fact fall within the strange borders of the Commonwealth that kept it sealed away from the rest of Equestria, it was further isolated by the sea and the fog, not somewhere the Institute would focus on spreading. The fact a colony of runaway synths successfully hid here was testament to the idea the Institute's prying eyes didn't fall on this strange island, so why would the Church of Balefire be here?

Were they an offshoot of the mainland Church? Did they follow the same twisted beliefs Vira had once preached? If they did and really were in possession of a megaspell... Vira shuddered again at the thought, feeling a sudden spike of panic when she considered what they might do and their animosity with the harbor ponies. Most of the residents of Fog Harbor were still abstract concerns for her, but Longfellow... If the Church moved to hurt nonbelievers, her friend Longfellow would be lumped in with that group as well, could be in danger from her former cohorts.

There was the question of Dima and how to get Sumi home to consider too. Vira might be new to being a detective, but even she could figure out there were interwoven mysteries on this island and so far she had only met two thirds of the equation. Whether Dima asked for her help or not, it seemed risking a run in with the Church of Balefire was inevitable.

"Sumi... Dima and the others said his memories were stored in the naval base, that even he didn't know what was in them... Is that true?" Glad for the time to process the filly granted her, Vira looked down from her long silence and posed a question, waiting for the answer before deciding.

Broken away from her own worried musing Vira just caught the tail end of, Sumi looked up and nodded, her thoughts instantly warming to a subject she found fascinating, reminding Vira of the male that shared her area of interest with a warm smile. "Huh? Oh, yeah! I told you they made a lot of add ons for Dima, but he still has memory limitations. His fancy chair is the same kind of setup, lets him download and store data like in a memory orb."

Puzzling over the technical concepts, Vira felt on surer hoofing with the idea of memory orbs and magic, working through a theory that didn't increase her trust of the strange synth. "Download... you mean remove? If the memories were no longer in his head, he would have no knowledge of their contents? He would... forget... as he said?"

Sumi nodded brightly, enjoying the opportunity to teach the older mare about something she knew. "Uh-huh, he dumps all kinds of stuff and stores it on all those computers, even creates his own weird memory orb... cube things... He can only keep so much in his head, so once it's out he doesn't remember at all unless he's connected to his chair. Most of it is just boring stuff he gets rid of to save space though. Why? You're getting all squinty Vira..."

Not realizing her suspicion was showing on her face, Vira shook with a whinny and shrugged sheepishly. If the filly was her friend and client, she really shouldn't hide things she supposed... "I did not sense any lies or malice from Dima when I listened to his mind Sumi, I was honest with you about that. However, if the thoughts are not in his head for me to read, he could lie to even me. If he doesn't know it's a lie, even a mindreader can't tell. You see? You worry and are suspicious of Dima, before I would have told you there's nothing in his mind to be concerned over and hoped you would be satisfied and go home. Now though... I can't say he's as innocent as he lets on. Those memories may indeed be important, so I fear I may have to retrieve them to be sure."

"But... you don't want to right? If you're scared, you don't have to go Vira. I... I don't wanna be selfish and make you.." Sumi's reply was hesitant and worried, her independent streak warring with the warm concern she felt towards the alicorn she had improbably befriended.

Reading the flurry of anxious thoughts and relishing in the positive emotions directed her way, Vira raised a wing and hushed the filly with one long pinion feather, shaking her head slowly. "Nick and I took the case Sumi, I believe he would say we are obligated to follow where it leads. I am afraid of returning to the Church, but I am also responsible for them in a way. Running away has not worked out for either of us very well, if I am to really change and be a better pony... I don't think I can keep doing that anymore."

"T-Then neither can I, huh? Ok, you're right Vira... I guess we're both screw ups..." The wave of shame and sadness Sumi felt was clear even to a non-psychic, the filly's ears drooped and she laid her chin down on her forelegs hooked over the railing dejectedly, prompting Vira to give her a hug and try to cheer her.

"I'm in good company then, us screw ups should stick together. We can both do better as well, part of that is facing my fears and trying to do good. I will investigate the local Church of Balefire and Dima's memories Sumi, we will uncover the mystery here together, then return home." Vira couldn't keep the longing to return to Trotson out of her voice, but spoke in a determined tone and nuzzled the filly's mane supportively.

Sniffling and giving a little giggle at the attention, Sumi looked up and nodded firmly. "R-Right, together. Then I promise I will come back with you, I won't keep running away if you don't, deal?"

"Deal." Vira nodded smartly back and finished her muffin, taking in the view of the fog shrouded island stretching out below them and wondering what secrets it held.

Walking back down together to the machine room Sumi had been staying in, the pair found Nick waiting for them, smoking a cigarette and going over his battered notepad with a frown. Putting their heads together and going over what each had found out painted the same picture, the Church of Balefire and Dima's memories would have to be investigated.

Vira puffed up with pride when Sumi informed Nick of her intention to return with them, savoring the impressed look her employer shot her and glad he wasn't upset her homecoming was contingent on solving the case. The old detective had already been sucked in by a juicy mystery, he didn't need much convincing to stick around a little longer.

Promising to return to keep Sumi updated on their progress, they all agreed the filly was safest staying in Acadia and keeping an ear open. She trusted the detective duo now, so letting them handle wandering the fog and hunting clues was acceptable and Sumi waved them goodbye with a much lighter heart.

Nick and Vira climbed the winding staircases up through Acadia, the green alicorn grinning broadly at the synth's effusive praise. Nick had hoped the two mares would hit it off, but had still been pleasantly surprised by Vira's success and made sure to let her know how well she had done. She was already working out much better than his last assistant, more than earning her pay, not to mention making an excellent sounding board for him to go over the case with.

Nick's investigations had turned up much of the same, tight lipped synths who were reluctant to say anything bad about Dima, but still letting things slip about the tense politics of the island and the worries about being dragged into a conflict. By the time they returned to Dima's chambers, they both felt ready for the strange synth's hesitant request for aid.

To his credit, Dima's story didn't diverge from what he discussed privately with Faraday and Chase, and he didn't gloss over uncomfortable details. He came clean about the Church occupying the naval base and his memories left behind in the secure sectors, conveyed the possible risks the unknown information could pose to the residents of Fog Harbor and reluctantly focused on Vira as a possible agent, given her elevated standing with the cultists that worshiped the power that had birthed her kind.

"I am sorry to even ask and you may feel free to refuse. The situation is tenuous here as you may have guessed however, so we are desperate. From what I understand of the Church's beliefs, an alicorn like yourself should be welcomed eagerly and given a free hoof to snoop around. Would you be willing to help us preserve the peace here Miss Vira?" Dima's soft voice had been hopeful and worried for all the ponies living here, including Longfellow, which made Vira's decision easier.

"I will assist you and see if I can do as you ask, for my friend Longfellow... If the question of loyalties or priorities comes up, understand mine lie with him and Sumi, not to your cause or theirs." Vira's firm answer was half for herself, reminding herself not to get wrapped up in the grand designs of bigger powers as she had with the Institute.

Keeping her focus simple and direct lent her courage to do what she was afraid of, surprising her at the strength having friends she cared about gave her. The magic of friendship was indeed powerful, something Virescent had never experienced or appreciated before, but did now.

Upon her acceptance, the up to then silent Faraday Cage trotted up and introduced himself, eagerly shaking Vira's slender hoof and launching into a patter of technical jargon that made her head spin. She was very glad Nick was right beside her and taking notes, quickly finding herself lost as Faraday loaded a program into her pip-buck and tried to explain its function.

Nick gave her a wink and settled her spinning eyes as Faraday finally slowed down, noticing his student's confusion and simplifying things for her. The program now on her hoof mounted computer would let her interface with the complicated pre-war system in the naval base, granting access to Dima's memories, along with instructions for how to get past the security guarding them.

That done, Dima and Faraday wished them luck and prepared them as much as they were able as they made to leave. Nick rebuffed Dima's entreaties to talk about their origins again, hurrying his pace to escape his odd doppelganger and pushing through the rusty steel doors, out into the glow of sunset permeating the fog surrounding the mountaintop.

Having the Courser Chase waiting to let them out the gates was unnerving, the synth mare kept her cool pink gaze on Vira as she pushed the junk gate barring the parking lot of the Observatory open. It wasn't just that the hard faced mare in the battered black coat was intimidating on her own, actually seeing all the ways the courser could efficiently take down an alicorn flashing through her mind as she spoke made Vira gulp nervously.

Looking up with thoughts of a flying, spinning tackle that let her loop around Vira's long neck with her head in her hooves and snap it, Chase gave a menacing farewell as the gates closed again behind them. "Good luck alicorn, I'll be watching..."

Giving a little shiver from her head to her tail, Vira jumped nervously when the gates clicked closed, turning to Nick chuckling up at her and nodding to the winding mountain trail leading down through the fog. "See what I mean about coursers now dollface? Don't let her spook you, sounds like a real pussycat so long as you're on her good side from what I found out. So... ready to walk back down before it gets dark? Or..."

Nick shrugged suggestively to Vira's wings and broad back, not wanting to voice the practical thought in his mind and not particularly looking forward to the prospect. Vira didn't understand his reticence though, flying was by far the fastest way back down the mountain, plus it was enjoyable. She was still proud of her mother's... if not perfect, than highly advantaged form. She'd never really given normal ponies rides before, but didn't see any issue with doing so now. There was plenty of room and Nick didn't look particularly heavy, why wouldn't he simply come right out and ask?"

Cocking her head questioningly, Vira listened to the unhappy muttering and chilly feel of discomfort coming from Nick evading her gaze. "Are you afraid of flying Nick?"

"Me? Afraid? Of course not sweetheart! I eat bullets for breakfast and go sleuthing in the worst monster filled ruins the wastes have to offer, why would I be afraid of a little thing like flying? Way up off the ground... through the fog..." Nick sputtered a denial that slowly trailed off, perhaps fear was the wrong word, but he certainly wasn't comfortable with the idea.

Granted, Longfellow had told her even local pegasi didn't do a lot of flying on the island due to the fog, but she could clearly see down to the shore and the dim outline of Fog Harbor from their perch above the fog line. After the hike up here with Longfellow and his descriptions of all the beasts he helped them avoid, Vira thought walking back down as it got dark was a much greater risk. A quick glide down without the risk of monsters hiding in the mists seemed safer to her.

Kneeling down, Vira extended one wing towards the reluctant synth and smirked. "Silly of me to ask then, some earth ponies are uncomfortable flying is all. I should have guessed you would not be Nick, such a brave, handsome synth detective such as yourself surely has no issue allowing his assistant to ferry you about..."

"Har de har har sister... Of all the dames in all the ruins in the wasteland, I end up with a comedian for an assistant. Alright, alright, you're in the driver's seat, just lower that big caboose a little more, not all of us have got a set of long pins like you doll." Nick grumbled back and awkwardly sidled up to her, hooking his forelegs over her back and scrambling one hindleg against her flank in his attempt to climb up.

"I do not have a big caboose..." Vira huffed and gruffly picked him up in her emerald magic, depositing Nick on her back and standing back to her full height, spreading her wings and giggling at the synth's forelegs latching on to her neck with a worried squawk.

Tensing in a crouch and giving a warning flap, Vira leapt into the air before Nick could give voice to all the complaints running through his mind, quickly replaced by an unvoiced groan and the odd sensation of the synth actually feeling his heart pound, while the artificial components in his chest did no such thing.

Vira's laugh would have been a little heartier and more teasing, but following the slope of the mountain down quickly brought her to the fog line and she gulped as they dove into the shifting mists. It was like being submerged in murky water, visibility dropped off to dangerous levels and she could feel the chilly mist crawling on her skin, a wave of dread making her focus on the task at hoof and driving the good humor from her.

Looking down from above, it hadn't seemed quite so thick or difficult to navigate. Now that she was actually in the soup, Vira was already starting to wonder how much of what Longfellow said about the island's strange fog was true. It certainly felt evil and cold when it swallowed them up, and she could swear it was actively swirling and thickening around them, masking the most dangerous obstacles and thinning in ways that almost led to them.

Slowing her pace seemed safest and Vira focused on simply gliding, trying to keep the cracked and winding road under her hooves and giving hard flaps occasionally to clear the mist in her path. It was a twisting, slower course this way, but safer than going straight down and potentially crashing into the telephone poles and withered trees that seemed to leap out at them.

It was taking a great deal of her attention, but Vira slowly got comfortable enough to risk a wary chuckle over her shoulder to Nick clutching her like grim death. "There... you see Nick, nothing to worry about..."

"Aw why'd you have to go and say that sweetheart! You're just asking for the goddesses to prove you wrong and..." Nick groaned back, his concern over her simply stating the obvious seemed silly to Virescent, until a loud squawk echoed through the fog and interrupted him.

"W-What was that?" Vira yelped and nearly smashed into a blackened branch that looked suspiciously like a claw reaching out over the roadway for them.

Refocusing her eyes front, Vira hoped Nick could spot whatever was making that eerie sound to her sides. It had been repeated and taken up by more... whatever they were... loud, croaking 'caw!'s and now the subtle flapping of wings other than her own making her ears prick up and flick nervously.

Rather than answer and soothe the anxiety Vira felt noticing several red marks above the compass at the bottom of her vision, Nick drew his revolver in his mouth and scanned around them silently, his own synthetic ears swiveling and flicking in a display matching Vira's. His hearing may be as good as her own actually, usually Vira had to keep in mind most pony's senses weren't so sharp.

Adding further evidence to that idea, Nick's head darted left just as she heard the beating wings picking up after silently diving too close. She spun her head that way a second behind the detective, spotting some twisted, pale monstrosity of feathers and a gaping beak, just before Nick's hoof cannon boomed and it went careening down in the mists.

More squawks and caws rang out in answer the gunshot, shadowy shapes in the fog swarming around them. Vira sped up dangerously, trying to outpace the flock of whatever was stalking them, jerking and weaving away from several close calls from large, solid objects obscured by the fog which seemed to be getting thicker. Unseen dives by blurring shapes made her cry out in pain, several gashes opening up in her forest green hide from the speedy attackers.

A trio of the shadows dove at them, Vira's panicked midair jerk and rush of adrenaline activating S.A.T.S. and letting her get a better look at the... Mistgulls? That's what her pip-buck labeled the mutated monster it had targeted anyway, a Mistgull...

They were ugly things, something like seagulls, but nearly as big as a normal pony. Their feathers where white and grey, making excellent camouflage against the fog where they covered at least. They looked like they were molting however, large patches of pink, scabrous skin showing and giving their wide wings a skeletal appearance. Their eyes were a milky pink and bulging above an enormous black and yellow beak.

One of the three Stable-Tec Assisted Targeting could track had the drooping, sack like beak open in a screech and she could see its gullet was roiling with pink mist that trailed out behind it in wisps. They actually were making the fog denser!? No wonder navigating had gotten so precarious, these mistgulls were hanging back and hoping to make her crash. Easier prey for the hooked talons poking out from their wide, webbed feet and the bony claws at their wing joints.

S.A.T.S. didn't give her beam spell great odds, but she selected a volley to all three targets and accepted, ending her unpleasant view of frozen time when the spell blasted from her horn. Two shots missed and lanced out into the fog, but the third hit the target and scorched the ugly bird into a puffball of singed feathers.

Giving a cheer at her effective use of the strange targeting system she was still learning, Vira's cry of victory was short lived and turned into a yelp when her eyes turned front. The battered, peeling image of a huge pale pink earth pony mare with a curly purple mane loomed in front of her, dressed extravagantly in a sparkling gown and a pale blue neckerchief, with her hooves outstretched to a weathered image of a mountainside building behind her.

Flinching from the giant pony zooming up to meet them, Vira raised her glowing green shield an instant before smashing right between the pony's brown eyes. She barely registered the partially rotted text above the mare's head, looping script that was hard to make out and missing several letters to age and decay reading; 'V_sit Cli_f's Ed_e H_tel- Gr__d O_e_ing!' A billboard... the nasty birds attacked to drive her right into the huge obstacle they had covered in more mist... they possessed some intelligence and were using it to hunt... her...

Vira kept her shield up and sped up, shaking off the splinters and canvas clinging to it from the billboard and trusting the magical barrier to keep the beasts back and protect them from any more surprises. Nick reloaded his revolver in the reprieve, unable to fire on more of the avian monsters through the bright green sphere lighting the fog like a beacon and only attracting more.

She smashed through a treetop without feeling it, dividing her attention between the flock and her weaving course. Vira's sense of relief and safety was short lived however, half a dozen of the flapping horrors adjusted tactics and dove at her together. Assuming they were going to uselessly throw themselves at her shield, Vira was surprised when they pulled up short and opened their bloated beaks, spewing out a torrent of pink mist like dragonfire.

More surprising, the pink mist was nearly as effective as a dragon's blast! The way it started eating into her shield and weakening it was familiar enough from her time in Unity, pink mist... the pink mist in Canterlot that had stymied her mother's efforts at exploring that ruin of the old world capital for the precious Black Book!

Virescent knew of it from her shared experiences and knowledge, but had no idea how it could be here. The source of the mist had been eliminated by the Destroyer, the city itself destroyed by the Enclave. While it didn't represent the threat to her that it did to normal ponies, it was damaging her shield and she had no doubt it would be a threat to her passenger.

Nick seemed to understand the threat too, mumbling around the handle of his revolver and pointing down with his hoof by her head. "Down dollface! Find some cover, we're sitting ducks up here with them!"

"Hang on Nick!" Vira nodded in reply and dove, barreling through branches her flickering shield parted and smashed through while she scanned desperately below her for shelter.

Juking and rolling in acrobatic maneuvers that made Nick yelp uncomfortably, Virescent spotted a looming shape on the mountainside ahead and made for it, the shadowy outline somewhat familiar. Another diving pass by the mistgulls spewing more pink mist out drained enough magic to make her woozy keeping the battered shield up, she couldn't focus on flying and stand up to another barrage like that.

A huge barrier appeared out of the fog ahead of her and Vira struggled to screech to a halt in midair, flailing her legs and wings uselessly as momentum carried them forward. Some kind of walkway was spanning right across the roadway she had been roughly following, a construct of steel and glass that she smashed through gracelessly.

Her hooves made contact with rotting flooring as her shield failed and she backpedaled madly, skidding to a stop feet away from the opposite wall of broken, dirty glass. Nick's revolver barked out several times behind her, resulting in pained screeches and frustrated caws swooping through the fog outside, but not following.

After a quick glance around to take stock, Vira sat and let Nick slide off her back in a rush, sending several blasts of magic out the round hole she had smashed through the elevated walkway and making the circling red dashes in her vision retreat. The both held their breath a moment, releasing it in a shaky breath when the attack didn't continue.

"Nice flying doll, think I'll stick with walking though. Those were a nasty surprise huh? You alright?" Nick reloaded his revolver and trotted to his panting assistant, fretting over her oozing wounds and fumbling in his packs for healing supplies.

"F-Fine Nick... just give me a moment, hopefully we've crashed somewhere safe enough to catch my breath. Er... sorry for the rough ride..." Vira kept a wary eye on the windows, but sighed relief and gratitude at Nick hastily applying magical bandages to her wounds, shoving a purple healing potion in her muzzle that she gratefully accepted as she got a better look around.

The walkway had been richly appointed once, the sodden wood flooring under her hooves still showed patches that gave a hint of the polish and craftsponyship. Rotting leather sofas and armchairs were scattered about, a few broken lamps looked like they were once quite expensive lighting for ponies enjoying the view.

'Discovered Location: Cliff's Edge Hotel' blinked in Vira's vision as her eyes alighted on a set of mahogany double doors at the end of the walkway, the matching pair behind them blocked by a pile of rubble and ceiling tile. Well, at least she knew where they were now, the pip-buck was a very useful device sometimes.

Nick fretted at how slowly her wounds were healing, nickering suspiciously at the potion bottle she tossed aside after finishing the glowing purple liquid. "Sorry I don't have anything better sweetheart, I keep potions and sawbones gear in case of emergency, but no radioactive jujus for dames like you. Let's just lay low here till the heat dies down out there."

Vira swayed on her hooves and decided her employer had a good idea, noticing the field of magic reaching out from his hooves to strip down a tattered armchair and steel glass top table beside, repairing the slashes and damage Nick had received as well. The fact he had any healing items for her to use was enough of a blessing considering he obviously didn't need them, healing potions for normal ponies along with the mild tingle from the wisps of fog curling at her hooves would be enough to set her right again given some time.

Checking over her sweater and relieved to see it hadn't suffered much damage, Vira nodded to Nick and shrugged towards the doors down the hall. "Very well Nick, though if we're resting I'm sure we can find somewhere more comfortable. My pip-buck thing informs me this was a hotel, if you care to explore a bit?"

The feeling of Nick's eyes lingering on her wounds worriedly made Vira feel good, they didn't hurt that much and the gentle waves of concern and care in his mind was as soothing a balm as his medical supplies. His first thought on her question was the image of a bed, somewhere for her to rest and recover. Nick took his responsibility for his assistant and new friend seriously, her well being was foremost in his mind and overcame concerns over what they may find snooping around a wasteland ruin.

"Alright, but we go slow dollface. We find anything too tough to handle, we make like an egg and beat it. Ok?" Nick took the lead and put on a stern voice, looking back to her as he trotted to the doors first.

Vira gave a wide, genuine smile of happiness and followed behind cautiously. "Ok Nick, you're the boss. Thank you..."

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

Empathy----------
---Even being a telepath isn't enough to know what to say all the time. You're still new at getting close to normal ponies, but putting forth the effort is already paying off! You have a better chance at figuring out what to say, earning new dialogue options and improved odds on making new friends!