Princess Twilight sighed as she sat on a chair in the Diviner room. Everyone else involved in the search for the missing girls was sitting in chairs around her: Principal Celestia, Vice Principal Luna, Starswirl, Sonata Dusk and, for some random reason, Trixie Lulamoon. Micro Chips was sitting at the Diviner's control terminal, as usual.

"Um, what exactly is Trixie doing here?" Twilight asked.

"You're not the only friend Sunset has outside the Rainbooms," Trixie shot. She thrust a finger at Sonata. "And what is she doing here?!"

"Trixie is here because she kept sneaking in to keep an eye on the Diviner and, frankly, I got sick of kicking her out," Luna explained. "Besides, she did help Sunset out during the Memory Stone incident; so, I suppose she has a right to hear what's going on."

Celestia looked like she disagreed with that, but didn't comment. Instead, she glanced at Sonata. "Trixie makes a good point, though. What is Miss Dusk doing here?"

"She's going to serve as an intermediary between us and Adagio Dazzle." Twilight held a hand up as the others started asking questions. "Hold on, I'll explain everything."

As quickly and succinctly as she could, Twilight explained what she had learned in her discussion with Adagio.

Celestia crossed her arms, frowning slightly. "So this, Mandible, is a… changeling?"

Twilight nodded. "Not long ago the former changeling leader, Queen Chrysalis, managed to usurp control of Ponyville, and the portal, for a short period of time. That must be when Mandible came through here."

"But why?" Luna asked. "What would they want with this world?"

"Adagio says that Mandible was sent here as a scout, to see what we were hiding in this world and if it was valuable," Twilight replied. "Just in case, I've sent a message to Thorax, the new leader of the changelings, to see if he can find out anything about Mandible or her mission."

Starswirl hummed and stroked his beard. "Whatever her original task, it's clear that Mandible's current goal is to return to Equestria." He glanced at Sonata, who hadn't stopped glaring at him from the instant she spotted him. "The question is, can we trust the Sirens to uphold their end of the bargain? They are hardly what I would call trustworthy."

"We just want to go home, you old fart," Sonata huffed. "We helped Mandible 'cause she said she'd help us. That didn't work, so now we'll help you instead, duh."

"I think we can trust them in this case," Twilight put in quickly. "The Sirens may not be reformed, or even friendly, but we have what they want, and we can be trusted to give it to them if they help us out. Adagio isn't stupid, she knows that her best chance of getting back to Equestria is through helping us."

"Well, why not start with telling us where Mandible is?" Luna said earnestly.

"That's the problem," Twilight replied with a sigh. "We have an address, but Mandible is very rarely there. It's going to be tricky to apprehend her."

Starswirl shrugged. "This should come as no surprise from one that Chrysalis trusted so. In the meantime, we should focus on getting the Diviner working safely."

"Agreed." Twilight nodded curtly. "How are things going so far on this end?"

"Fairly well, so far," Starswirl replied, smiling faintly. "The crystals you borrowed from Princess Cadence have been calibrated and tuned. All that remains is to finish off the new safety features, then connect the crystals and begin testing."

---

The Enclave needed to be completely and utterly scoured from the face of the planet. After a single month of being President, that was the biggest conclusion that Becky had come to. To be fair, the job did come with some perks: silk bed sheets, a memory foam mattress, coffee made from actual beans, and the food was glorious.

Instead of reconstituted protein, dusted with nutrient powders, Becky was being offered real meat, from real animals raised in hidden Enclave facilities from around the country. She had almost shed a tear the first time she had tried a proper steak in a peppercorn sauce. As far as Becky was concerned; her new personal chef was a god in human form. Even better, she had actually had a chance to taste chocolate, the rarest of delicacies in the wasteland.

Unfortunately, none of this made up for the fact that actually running the Enclave was a complete and utter nightmare.

The sound of someone opening the door unannounced immediately got Becky's hackles raised, but she relaxed as she saw Tara step inside. "Hey," Tara said as she closed the door behind her. "How's it going?"

Becky sighed heavily. "Oh, just putting out fires and dealing with idiots every minute of every day." She planted her elbows on her desk and dropped her head into her hands. "I'm still getting a huge amount of backlash from certain elements because of how I handled the peace treaty. They think I made the Enclave look too weak. Then there's the issue of trying to convince the other Enclave bastions around the country that yes, I am indeed the new President, and I need accurate production reports. Every department we have is squabbling over resources. And, to top it all off, we still haven't found Doctor Holt yet."

"Really? I didn't have her pegged as a wasteland survivalist," Tara said with surprise. "She looked like more of a squishy scientist to me. And I'm pretty sure I know how to spot those, given that I see one in the mirror every day."

Becky shook her head. "The thing is, she's smart, and she has the T.I.R.E.K. suit. One of our Vertibirds did actually catch up to her a couple of days after the battle, but she used the suit to bring it down and escape."

"Casualties?" Tara asked immediately.

"None, thankfully," Becky replied. "I sent two Vertibird transports and two gunships after her immediately afterwards, but they lost her trail in the ruins near where she brought the first 'bird down. It's raider territory, belonging to a group called…" She flicked through the many sheets of paper on her desk until she found the right one. "Eagle Union. Right now they're in the middle of a bitter turf war with another gang calling themselves The Red Flags, so that whole area is a chaotic mess."

"She's in the wind, then," Tara said sadly.

Becky nodded. "I've informed the Brotherhood of Steel and Elder Lyons has agreed to make his troops aware in case she makes her way into the Capital Wasteland, but at this point I think it's moot. I doubt we'll find her now until she decides to reveal herself."

Tara stepped around the desk and patted her shoulder. "Well, I've got some good news for you, at least."

"Oh yeah?" Becky arched an eyebrow.

"Yes." Tara grinned. "The research notes we received from Sunset are legit. Frankly, the idea that this world has always had a background magical field is fucking insane! But the math checks out, and Project Exodus is already working on putting together designs for a portal. We should have a working prototype ready over the next couple of days."

---

Sunset didn't even bother glancing at Brother Gerard as she and the rest of the girls swept past him. She was about to ask the others where they thought would be the best place to wait for Adam when she saw him lumbering up the road towards them.

"Good timing," Fluttershy said happily as he strode up to them. "Is Silver alright?"

"A little malnourished, but I think she'll be okay. I left her some food, anyway." Adam jerked his chin at the Apostles' monastery. "What about them? How did it go?"

"We sorted things peacefully," Sunset replied. "They aren't going to irradiate any more water, and they're going to give the water they haven't irradiated yet back to Megaton. Speaking of, let's head back and give our report to the Enclave troops."

The others fell into step as Sunset led the way back towards the settlement at a much more sedate pace now that her temper had burned out.

"What do we do next?" Twilight asked. "Are we going back to the Citadel for further orders?"

Sunset shook her head, a slow smile forming across her lips. "Actually, we already have our next orders. Now that the missing water has been located, we are to search the wastes, at our own pace and discretion, and seek out any equipment that may help the Exodus team construct a portal back home."

The rest of the group looked at her in surprise. "So… we can do what we want?" Pinkie said slowly.

"We have to report any new magical developments we find to the Brotherhood, but yeah, pretty much," Sunset replied. "The only difference is you." She nodded to Adam. "Your orders are to travel the wastes and do what you can to help the people of the wastes. Elder Lyons thinks letting you move around independently will be better for both you and the wastes than just folding you into a squad."

"Don't take this the wrong way, but that's a lot of freedom for a base Knight," Rainbow said with a tentative glance at Adam.

"Technically, he's under my command, but in practice it means he's free to go off on his own if someone needs help and we're busy with a magical mishap." Sunset gave Adam a stern look. "Provided that you take someone with you who's both trustworthy and knows how to read a damned map."

Adam chuckled softly. "Fair enough. I gotta admit, I'm kinda looking forward to being able to take it easy for a change."

"You ain't the only one," Applejack huffed. "Heck, Ah thought we'd be able to rest up as soon as the treaty was signed, instead of spendin' a month trainin', studyin', and bein' run ragged by the people in charge."

"At least it's done with for now, darling," Rarity put in. "Frankly, I'm just glad that we might all actually get some time to ourselves, for a change."

Adam glanced at Fluttershy. "You never know, we might actually get a chance to go on a date or something. You know, normal couple stuff."

Fluttershy smiled serenely. "That would be nice."

The group chatted amicably as they made their way over the rocky terrain back to Megaton. Soon enough, they arrived back at the settlement. The Enclave soldiers were waiting patiently by the Vertibird. They straightened up as the girls approached.

"Did the water delivery go okay?" Sunset asked.

"Yes ma'am," the squad leader replied. "We handed it over to Lucas Simms in person, as requested."

"Good job. Would you guys mind letting Elder Lyons know that we've dealt with the reason for the missing water, and that it shouldn't happen again?" The soldiers quickly agreed, so Sunset snapped a crisp salute. "Thanks guys. Have a safe trip."

The soldiers returned the salute, said their goodbyes, and hurried back onto the Vertibird. Less than a minute later they were airborne and heading off into the distance.

"Alright, let's see how much Megaton has changed since we were last here," Sunset said.

Applejack groaned as they walked towards the gate. "Ah just remembered we're gonna have to sleep in the darn common house again, aren't we?"

"Ugh, typical. I was enjoying only having to share with one person at a time," Rarity huffed.

You're just upset that you won't be sleeping alone with Applejack tonight, Sunset almost said aloud. The two had been practically joined at the hip over the last month, only separating when studying in different classes; yet somehow, despite how blindingly obvious they were to everyone else, the pair still weren't actually dating. Not yet, anyway.

As they wandered up to the gate, Sunset waved again up at Stockholm, who waved back then turned and called down to someone inside the gate. Seeing that gave Sunset the oddest feeling of déjà vu.

"Welcome to Megaton," Deputy Weld drawled as they approached. "Friendliest... town... around."

"Unless you run into Moriarty," Rarity muttered.

Feeling strangely apprehensive, Sunset pushed forward and opened the gate, holding it open for the others behind her.

At first glance, Megaton hardly looked like it had changed at all. The buildings and walkways were just as ramshackle and rusty as always. On closer inspection, however, Sunset spotted small patches dotted around that gleamed in the sunlight, where tiny sections of metal had been restored to their former glory.

"Hey, there's Sheriff Simms!" Pinkie exclaimed loudly, pointing needlessly to the man hurrying up the stairs out of the crater to greet them. She hopped up and down, waving madly as she called out, "Hi, Sheriff! We're back!"

Simms grimaced and practically sprinted the last few metres to the group. "Stop waving and keep your voices down!" He hissed. "What kinda trouble are you girls planning on causing here this time?"

"Trouble?" Sunset asked, trying to figure out what exactly they had done wrong. Granted, the last time they were here they had gotten wrapped up in Mr. Burke's schemes, but that hadn't exactly been through any fault of their own. "We aren't planning any trouble. After everything we've been through recently, more trouble is the last thing we want."

"Well, you could've fooled me." Simms glanced around suspiciously, then turned and gestured for the group to follow. "C'mon. Let's get you out of sight before someone sees you."

Sunset looked back at the others, concerned by the Sheriff's less than friendly demeanor, but they just shrugged. The fact that Simms was leading them away from the main thoroughfare into the crater, instead taking them through the maze of alleyways that wound their way through the crater's edge, only added to her suspicions.

"Uh, Sheriff? Have we done something to upset you?" Sunset asked.

Simms glared at her out of the corner of his eyes. "What the hell did you tell the Church of Atom the last time you were here?"

"The Church of Atom?" Sunset asked blankly. She didn't know what she had expected, but it wasn't that. "Nothing that I can remember. I mean, they did see me and Rainbow pony up accidentally, and they kinda mistook us for angels or something, but we tried to straighten things out with them."

"Ah spoke to them personally," Applejack added. "Ah told them straight up that we ain't angels. Ah, uh, ain't sure whether or not they believed me, though," she admitted.

Simms snorted. "Oh, some of them believed you, alright. It's them that have been giving me a string of headaches over the last few months." He stopped suddenly and whipped around to level an icy glare at Applejack. "I want you to look me in the eye, right now, and swear to me that you didn't try to manipulate or control the Children of Atom in any way."

Applejack tipped her hat back and met his glare with a steely look of her own. "Ah swear, on my life, and my friends' lives, that we didn't try to do a darn thing to those Atom folks."

"They let us rest in their church after Sunset was injured fighting raiders, but we hardly even spoke to them. They just left us alone," Rainbow insisted. "That was how they saw us pony up, we never even knew that they were watching. After that, Applejack tried to tell them that we're not angels, and then we left for the D.C. ruins. We haven't seen or spoken to them since."

Simms glared at each of the girls suspiciously, clearly deciding whether or not he should trust them, but finally he sighed and shook his head. "I don't know if I should be relieved or annoyed by that."

"What exactly is going on?" Twilight asked firmly. "Religious zealotry isn't much of a thing anymore where we come from. Did some of the cultists lose their faith and get angry or something?"

"No-one lost their faith. Hell, they went the opposite damn direction," Simms replied. "After you girls left, a whole bunch of people split off from the Church of Atom."

Sunset nodded. "The Apostles of the Eternal Light, we ran into them in Springvale. Side note; they won't be stealing any more of your water, and they should be bringing some of what they did take back fairly soon."

Simms' eyes widened in surprise. "Is that so? Well, I owe you my thanks for that, but the Apostles were only one group that separates from the Church. The other group stayed here in Megaton. They're friendly with the Children of Atom, but between the two cults, they've damn near turned this town upside down. It's about all I can do to keep the lot of them in check."

"That doesn't sound good," Rarity noted. She glanced around worriedly. "As a matter of fact, where is everyone? I realize that these are back alleys, and not the sort of place polite people usually frequent, but surely we should have run into someone by now."

Simms let out a humorless laugh. "Most of the town has turned out to hear Joshua's first speech outside your new temple."

"Hang on, temple?" Sunset gave him a look that was half bemused, half wary. "What temple?"

Simms sighed heavily and turned away. "Come on. I guess you'd better see this."

Curious, and more than a little concerned, the group followed the Sheriff until they came out onto a walkway overlooking the crater in the center of town.

Sunset immediately saw that a new building had been constructed opposite the Church of Atom. Several storeys tall, the temple looked like it had mostly been constructed from the same scrap metal as the rest of Megaton, with sections of steel, concrete, and even wood that must have been brought in from elsewhere in the wastes. Probably Springvale, Sunset assumed. There were doors on several levels connecting to the many walkways of Megaton, but the main entrance was on the ground; a huge set of double doors with a set of shallow metal steps leading up to it.

Six people were lined up at the top of the steps; two women and one man standing perfectly still on either side of the doors. A crowd had gathered about the base of the steps. Even more people were lining the walkways and balconies around the crater, but, thankfully, none of them seemed to have spotted the Rainbooms, yet. Everyone seemed to be waiting expectantly for something to happen.

"That's the Temple of Harmony," Simms explained. "It's run by a new group calling themselves the Disciples of Harmony."

"The group that split off from the Church of Atom?" Sunset asked, largely to distract herself from the horrible suspicion boiling in her gut.

Simms nodded. "The Church of Atom helped build it, so their 'Angels' would have proper accommodations, and they’re allowed in to leave offerings and pray, but the Temple itself is run by, and home to, the Disciples. Those six at the front? I think they're all priests and priestesses."

Before anyone else could say anything, the front doors creaked open and a young man stepped out. He had long hair tied back in a ponytail and was wearing the same sort of threadbare robes worn by the Children of Atom. Sunset noted with a jolt that he was wearing a shining red magical crystal on a delicate necklace.

"That's Joshua," Simms pointed out. "He's the head of the Disciples, and the one who convinced the Children of Atom to help him build a temple."

A hush fell over the crowd as Joshua raised his arms. He smiled at them all, then called out in a strong voice that rang through the crater, "Friends, residents, visitors, my fellow believers! This is an auspicious day!" He threw an arm back to take in the temple. "Today is the day we finally open the doors to all who would join us, and consecrate this great temple in the name of our embodied Goddesses of Harmony!"

Next Chapter: Chapter 106 - The Temple of Harmony Estimated time remaining: 20 Hours, 48 Minutes