Sunset sighed as she made her way back to where her friends were waiting. Ian and Holly were walking just ahead of her, discussing his current plans and getting ready to say his goodbyes to the rest of the Family. So far things had gone far better than Sunset had dared to hope.

Admittedly the fact that Ian was a cannibal who had murdered his own parents had put a dampener on things, but the Family were proving to be reasonable people and was reasonably sure things weren’t going to descend into violence. After her first experiences of the Wasteland and despite the dark circumstances surrounding their current detour, Sunset was quietly hoping she would get to call this trip a win.

As they turned the corner and passed the ticket barrier Sunset saw her friends, still standing atop the mezzanine talking to Vance. She felt a small wave of relief as she spotted Fluttershy standing and conversing with the others, hopefully her friend was starting to feel a little better. Even Rarity had stopped looking ill.

“Hey sugarcube, you alright?” Applejack called as they approached.

“Better than I was.” Sunset said with a sigh, then gestured to Ian. “Girls, I’d like you to meet Ian.”

To their credit, none of the girls were horrified or disgusted at meeting the young man. Or at least they didn’t show it if they were. All of them either simply wore looks of mild surprise or casual curiosity.

Applejack stepped forward and dipped her hat to him. “Well howdy there Ian, it’s nice to finally meet you.”

Ian didn’t answer. Sunset turned to see him standing slack-jawed, gawping at her friends. “Uh… Ian?”

He flinched as he was snapped back to reality. “Oh! Uh… yeah! Nice to meet you too!”

Vance took a step towards him, concern written all over his face. “Ian, are you alright?”

“Yeah, yeah I’m good. I just didn’t know Sunset and her friends were mutants.” Ian seemed to realize what he’d said before it finished leaving his mouth, shaking his head frantically and holding up his hands as the girls narrowed their eyes at him. “Not that I have anything against mutants! I was just surprised that‘s all!”

“Dude. Chill.” Rainbow huffed, blowing a lock of hair out of her face. “We’re used to it.”

Ian’s shoulders slumped as he seemed to curl in on himself. “I’m sorry. I… er… I didn’t mean to offend any of you.”

“Water under the bridge dear.” Rarity replied firmly. “Though I am curious. Sunset stands out almost as much as the rest of us, weren’t you surprised by her?”

A faint blush spread across Ian’s cheeks at that, much to Sunset’s surprise. He tried to stammer out a response, but was saved the trouble by Vance.

“Perhaps we should save this conversation for a more appropriate time. After all I believe we all have more pressing matters to discuss. Ian, is there something you would like to tell me?”

Ian nodded and took a deep breath to collect himself. “There is. I really appreciate everything that you and the Family have done for me, but I think it’s best if I go back home. To Arefu.”

Vance’s expression was inscrutable. “Are you sure that is what you desire?”

“I am.”

“Then there is little more to be said.” Vance smiled sadly. “Though it saddens me to lose one of my flock, I wish nothing less than the very best for you. I want you to know that, should you ever change your mind, you will always have a home here with us.”

“Thanks, Vance.” Ian replied quietly.

“And speaking of Arefu.” Vance turned to Sunset. “Your friends and I believe we have come up with a solution to both the Family’s and Arefu’s problems.”

Sunset raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“While we have managed to control our urges through the consumption of blood, the fact remains that blood itself is not an easy thing to come by.” Vance answered. “Until now we have managed by preying on raiders and travelers as well as, admittedly, the people of Arefu when supplies were scarce.” He at least had the good grace to look somewhat embarrassed as he spoke. “However, your good friend Fluttershy came up with the idea of us using blood packs, instead of relying on unwilling… donors.”

“Wow, good thinking Flutters!” Sunset grinned at her shy little friend, getting a small smile in response.

Vance nodded, smiling at Fluttershy too. “Indeed. I actually used to make do by doing just that, back when I was travelling the old D.C ruins on my own. The problem is that blood packs are quite hard to come by, at least in sufficient quantities to keep our whole Family satisfied.”

“That’s when we got to thinking.” Applejack piped up, “Blood packs may be hard for the Family to get a hold of, but ah bet they’re something that the folk back at Arefu would be able to trade for.”

Ian nodded. “Oh sure, the trade caravans stop off at Arefu all the time. Doc Hoff would probably be our best bet, he sells all sorts of medicine and stuff. But what would Arefu get out of it?”

“Protection.” Vance said simply. “In exchange for a regular supply of blood packs, the Family will lend our strength in defending the people of Arefu against the threats of the Wasteland. That is, of course, if Evan King is willing to accept this proposal.”

Sunset just shrugged. “We’ll ask him, though to be honest I really can’t see him turning this down.”

“He’ll agree to it.” Ian smirked. “He’ll agree to almost anything if it means having less stress on his plate.”

Vance hummed and folded his arms. “All the same I would prefer to have the offer put to him before we make any decisions, which brings me to my next question. I assume you are going to go with the girls back to Arefu?”

“I, uh, if that’s okay with them.” Ian said quietly.

“Of course darling, we couldn’t possibly let you make the journey back there on your own.” Rarity replied.

Vance smiled warmly at her. “I’m glad to hear it. Then all that remains is for Ian to collect his belongings and say his goodbyes.” He glanced at Sunset and Rainbow. “Though if you would like to rest and give your injuries a chance to heal then you are more than welcome to stay the night.”

Pinkie let out a huge gasp at that. “Oh my gosh, VAMPIRE SLUMBER PARTY!!!!”

The girls all laughed as Vance, Holly and Ian just stared at her, utterly baffled.

Sunset shook her head, still smiling. “Thanks for the offer, but we really should get back to Megaton as soon as we can. Sorry Pinkie.”

“Awwwwww….”

Sunset grinned as she reached up and touched the bandage on her head. It was still slightly sore, but felt a lot better than it had that morning. “Well my head feels fine, how about you Rainbow?”

“Nah I’m good to go. Ian?”

Ian shifted awkwardly on his feet. “I’d… like to say goodbye to everyone before we go. If that’s alright?”

None of the girls had any objections, so the group made their way to the escalator and headed down to the lower level of the station.

As soon as he reached the bottom Vance threw his arms wide and called out to the others. “Brothers and sisters, gather round! I have some important news for you all.”

Ian fidgeted nervously as the various members of the Family approached, curious looks in their eyes.

“You go ahead and say what you need to say.” Applejack said suddenly. “We’ll wait down by the tunnel, give y’all some privacy.”

“Oh, okay then. Thanks.”

Sunset and the others followed as AJ led them tunnel entrance. As they reached the mouth of the tunnel she stopped in her tracks, letting out a mighty sigh.

“Well, this has been one heck of a trip.”

“Yeah, no kidding.” Rainbow agreed.

“It certainly has been a rather unpleasant venture.” Rarity huffed. “Though I suppose things really have turned out quite well for us this time, all things considered.”

Applejack scowled at her. “You mean aside from Ian being a crazy cannibal who murdered his parents?”

“Keep it down will you!?” Sunset hissed, looking over her shoulder to make sure none of the Family had heard them.

“Ah’m sorry. Ah just… ah can’t imagine doing something like that. ’Specially not to your kin.”

“That’s not fair Applejack.” Fluttershy said reproachfully. “It’s not something he can control.”

“Ah guess. ” Applejack grumbled, but at least looked contrite. “Ah’ll still feel a whole lot better once we’ve put this whole mess behind us.”

“You’re not the only one.” Pinkie muttered darkly.

Rarity patted her on the back reassuringly. “I can't honestly say I disagree with you. I suppose we should just be thankful that none of us were injured.”

“Uh, hello?” Rainbow raised an eyebrow and gestured to her backside.

“Oh… of course, I do apologize dear.” Rarity said awkwardly.

“Sorry Rainbow, I guess your butt just slipped her mind!” Twilight quipped, earning a giggle from the others.

“Speaking of that,” Fluttershy said, chuckling softly. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay and rest a bit longer, the Family did offer to let us spend the night?”

Rainbow shook her head violently. “Are you kidding me?! No way am I sleeping in the same room as a bunch of vampires when I’m bleeding! I’d probably wake up to find one of them gnawing on my butt-cheek!”

Applejack folded her arms and grinned at the athlete. “Awww what’s the matter? Don’t like the thought of waking up to someone licking your butt?” All of the girls slowly turned to stare at Applejack, incredulous looks on their faces. The farm girl turned bright scarlet as she realized what she’d just said. “That, uh… that sounded a whole lot better in my head.”

Sunset and Pinkie were the first to crack, followed swiftly by the others, the six of them snorting with laughter as Applejack pulled her hat down to try and hide her blush.

“I wasn't aware that you were into that sort of thing darling.” Rarity giggled.

“Ah ain’t, it was just a slip of the tongue.”

“You certainly slipped it somewhere!” Pinkie quipped, earning a glare from Applejack and renewed cries of laughter from the others.

Rainbow threw her good arm around Applejack’s shoulders. “Sorry AJ, I think I’d rather just wake up to a good breakfast.”

“Some people would say that is a good breakfast!” Sunset shot.

That topped it, sending all of the girls, including Applejack, into fits of hysterics. Pinkie slumped to the floor, clutching her sides as she cackled. Tears streamed down Rainbow’s face as she howled, unable to stop laughing even as her injured shoulder protested.

Eventually the girls managed to get themselves under control.

“Really darling, that was awful.” Rarity tittered, pulling out a compact mirror to check her make-up.

Applejack nodded, still chuckling. “Classy Sunset, real classy.”

“Like you can talk.” Sunset grinned, giggling again as Fluttershy helped Rainbow take some more painkillers.

Twilight pulled her glasses off so she could dry her eyes. “We really should stop talking about anilingus girls.”

“I would greatly appreciate that.”

Startled, Sunset whipped her head around at the sound of Vance’s voice as Fluttershy squeaked and dove behind Twilight. Vance and Ian were stood a few paces away, bemused looks on their faces. Sunset chuckled awkwardly, feeling a warm blush creeping over her face. “Hey… uh… all set?”

Ian nodded slowly, looking as if he was suddenly unsure about his escort. “Uh, yeah. I’m ready to go.”

“Before you leave, I would like to thank you.” Vance said suddenly. “You have given me hope that there are decent people out there in the Wasteland with open minds and good hearts. People with whom we can co-exist.” He pulled a sheet of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Sunset. “We do not have much to offer, but I would like you to have this. Consider it an apology to you for all the hardships you had to endure finding this place.”

“Oh, um thanks.” Sunset raised an eyebrow as she examined the paper. It seemed to be a schematic for the unusual sword Vance bore. “What is it?”

In answer Vance unsheathed his sword and held it down to the side. He squeezed a lever on the hilt and there was a sharp smell of gasoline as a dark fluid started running down the blade, then there was a sudden click and the whole blade burst into flames.

Rainbow’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. “That. Is. So. AWESOME!!!!”

Vance just smirked, the flames hissing as he swipe the sword through the air. “It’s called a Shishkebab. Against an undisciplined or unprepared foe the sight alone can be a powerful weapon.”

“It certainly looks impressive.” Twilight said, the fire reflecting eerily off her glasses. “But the flames will make the blade brittle, I’d imagine it breaks very easily.”

“You are correct.” Vance admitted. “Fortunately the blade is easy enough to replace, and against an undisciplined opponent the sight alone can be a powerful weapon.”

“Seriously, you have got to make me one of these!” Rainbow cried.

“We’ll see.” Sunset replied, privately wondering whether or not she’d ever be able to trust Rainbow with something so dangerous, she already had a pack full of grenades after all. Given how she seemed to attract injuries in this world, perhaps it would be better to limit her access to explosives. “Anyway, I think it’s time we headed off.”

Vance nodded solemnly. “Very well. I thank you again for your visit, it has been most educational.” He turned to Ian and extended a hand. “And remember, you will always have a home here if you wish it.”

Ian clasped his hand with a grin. “Thanks Vance, you’re the best.”

With that the group turned to leave, heading back down the tunnel. As they reached the door to the guard post Sunset looked back over her shoulder. Vance was still standing at the mouth of the tunnel. Sunset gave a small wave and he raised an arm in farewell.

Once they were through the door, Ian sighed as he beheld the guard post. “I’m going to miss this place.” he said quietly.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay?” Flutters asked.

“Yeah. Yeah I’m sure.” Ian took a deep breath and strode through the post, the girls following until they came to the mesh fence at the end.

The guard looked up as the group approached. He blinked in surprise as he saw Ian, but said nothing until he’d unlocked the gate and let everyone out. “So… I guess you’re leaving?” Ian just nodded. “Alright then. Well I’m not one for mushy goodbyes so, you know, look after yourself kid.”

“Yeah, you too Robert.” Ian grinned.

Sunset took the lead as the group made their way back the way they came, past the old subway trains. Edging their way down in single file, no-one spoke until they reached the fork in the tunnel.

Sunset sniffed as she stepped out into the open. She could still faintly smell the dead mirelurks from where she was standing. “Okay people, which way do you think we should go?”

“Shouldn’t we just go back the way we came?” Applejack asked. “Ah mean, at least we know there aren’t any more traps back that way.”

“True, but that means we have to go back through Murphy’s lab and that radioactive goop he had stored.”

Rarity grimaced as she remembered. “I think we should go outside.”

“That might not be a good idea.” Twilight supplied. “Don’t forget it looked like it was going to rain before we came down into the subway system.”

“Come on Twilight, you’re not afraid of a little rain are you?” Rainbow teased.

Twilight gave her a half-lidded stare. “Given that the rainwater here is probably acidic and heavily irradiated? Yes. Yes I am.”

“Fair enough.”

Sunset folded her arms, weighing their options. “Hey Ian, do you know the way back to Arefu if we take the outside route?”

“Sure.”

“Good, in that case we’ll see what the weather is like outside. If it’s clear we’ll carry on that way, if not we go back through Murphy’s lab.”

“Works for me.” Applejack said. “Lead the way, just keep your eyes peeled for any more of them traps.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.” Ian said confidently. “There’s hardly any this way and I remember where they all are.”

Ian fell into step alongside Sunset and together they led the group to the exit. Ian was as good as his word, pointing out the few traps they came across. The first they came across was, bizarrely, a tripwire-activated baseball pitching machine. Not particularly lethal, but certainly painful and more than enough to do some damage to any unprotected highschoolers.

The only other traps they encountered were a bear trap, which they disarmed, a landmine they managed to skirt around, and a rather sinister-looking baby carriage down a side tunnel which Ian warned them to stay the hell away from.

At the end of the tunnel was the huge set of metal doors they had spotted previously. They were sealed shut with no obvious way of opening them, but Ian pointed out a maintenance corridor that led past the gates and outside.

“Well, here we are. Meresti Trainyard.” Ian said as the girls followed him through the door.

The place was cluttered with battered old subway trains. Most of them were still on the tracks but a couple had been blasted off and lay on their sides in the dirt. Sunset glanced up at the clouds as the others spread out. The clouds were still dark and heavy with the threat of rain, but it wasn’t raining yet.

“What do you think?” Twilight asked, sidling up to her.

“Honestly? I think we should risk it.” Sunset replied. “Okay Ian, which way do we go from here?”

Ian turned and pointed. “That way, Arefu is West of here. There’s a bridge across the river we can use then it’s a straight path back home.”

Sunset stepped over to the mesh fencing that lined the yard. Large sections of it had been torn down, giving them an easy way out. “Alright, let’s get moving. Just remember to keep your heads down, we don’t want to run into any more raiders.”

Ian took the lead as the group headed back into the Wastes. The scenery was just as blasted and drab as before, blackened trees and chunks of debris dotting the landscape as it sloped down from where they stood. It didn’t take long for them to spot the bridge Ian had spoken of past a particularly large mound of rubble. As they cautiously rounded the rubble a rough shelter came into view, cobbled together out of scrap metal.

Sunset skipped back behind the rubble as she spotted them, dragging Ian with her and motioning for the others to stay back.

“What do you see?” Applejack whispered, cradling her shotgun.

“Raiders.” Sunset hissed back.

Two men were lounging in the shelter. One had filthy blonde hair, the other was wearing a cracked hockey mask over his face.

Applejack poked her head around for a moment, then ducked back quickly. “Hold up a second, ain’t that one of them thugs we dealt with before?”

Sunset nodded, recognizing the blonde man as one of the raiders who had attacked them on their way to Arefu the first time. “Something tells me he won’t be happy to see us.”

“Ah reckon you’re right.” Applejack huffed, “What do we do?”

“We don’t want a fight, let’s get back to the subways and go the long way around.” Sunset replied. “If we’re careful and retrace our steps properly they shouldn’t see us.” Her hopes were dashed the moment she finished speaking, as two more raiders appeared from behind the shelter and started strolling up the hill towards the train yard.

“Now what do we do?” Twilight asked nervously, “If we try and go back now they’ll spot us!”

Sunset scrutinized the two new arrivals carefully. One of them was clearly the other half of the duo that had accosted them previously, another baseball bat resting on his shoulder. The other was a woman, brown hair cropped short and wearing an assortment of torn fabrics and straps that left very little to the imagination. A heavy knife was tied at her hip, but apart from that she didn’t appear to be armed.

“I don’t seem any guns.” Sunset muttered. She nodded as she came to a decision. “We’ll go this way. They should recognize us, so hopefully they’ll let us pass without any problems.”

Fluttershy edged forward, her face pale. “And, um, what if they don’t let us go?”

“Then Rarity here gives them a reminder of what happened last time.” Rainbow grinned.

Rarity rolled her eyes. “Wonderful, more violence. Well I suppose I can give them another lesson if it’s required of me.”

“Uh, w-what should I do?” Ian asked, raising his hand slowly.

Sunset glanced at the young man quivering beside her. “Just get in the middle of the group and stay there. Fluttershy? You too.”

“Oh thank goodness.” the young nurse whispered gratefully.

“Ready Rarity?”

“Ready when you are darling.”

Sunset took a deep breath to steady herself, trying to ignore the nervous pounding in her chest. Straightening up, Sunset squared her shoulders and marched out from behind the rubble, Rarity at her side and the others close on her heels.

The man and woman were the first to react, blank shock flashing across their faces. The woman recovered quickly, ripping out her knife as the man yelled over his shoulder. “Oh fuck, guys! Those mutant bitches are back!”

The men in the shelter whipped around at that. The blonde one took one look at the girls and snarled, his hands balling into fists.

“Don’t even think about it, you know what happened last time.” Sunset folded her arms and glared down at the furious raider. “Unless you want the same thing to happen again you’ll let us go in peace.”

“Oh yeah? You know what I say to that?” Blondie grinned and snatched something from inside the shelter. Sunset’s heart leapt into her throat as he shouldered the rifle and pointed it at her and Rarity. “FUCK YOU!”

Sunset didn’t have time to react as Rarity flung her arms out, trying to conjure a gemstone to protect everyone.

Too late.

There was a sharp crack and a shriek of agony as a bloody mist puffed into being, crimson rivulets marring the fashionista's pristine white skin.

Another chapter, another cliffhanger!

Locked in a battle for their lives and with one of their number already down (and out?) what's going to happen to the girls now? Tune in next time to find out!

Comments and criticisms greatly appreciated (especially as I felt a bit iffy about how this chapter flowed) and, as always, thanks for reading.