Fallout: Equestria - Answers

It didn't take long for the ten Applejack's Rangers to set up an outpost inside the four story office building by the wharf.

I was only a minute behind the last one in, Maud Pie VIII, and they had already cleared the first three floors and started setting up defensive positions on the first. I guess clearing each floor was easy since nopony was inside the building. At least nopony hostile, according to my PipBuck. Wait, what's the range of this thing?

The building's interior wasn't big. It was mostly walls, most of which were bucked down by the armored earth ponies to increase the range of sight from inside and make for easier patrols, or something like that. That left a bunch of pillars surrounded by rubble all over the place. After a minute or so of climbing through the first floor, I found the stairs leading up and left the rangers to their business down there. The sight upstairs wasn't much different than the one downstairs. Walls, most of them broken, and small offices, their effects broken, rotting or simply destroyed. I clambered my way to the third floor.

This is where I found the scribes (or so the nameless paladin called them) setting up their medical rooms. The armored rangers hadn't gotten to this floor yet, so I stopped climbing the building and searched for the nice mare, Maud.

I found her and the other three scribes setting up a foldable table and scrubbing the dirt and dust off of it vigorously. They must have just about finished when I entered because they stopped scrubbing and placed a large white cloth over the table. This is where they set tools, most of them sharp and/or pointy. I cringed at the sight of them. Having woken up just earlier that day with a tear in my side, sharp tools weren't high on my list of friendly things. Maud, however, was, so I approached the scribes. I caught Maud's eye and she smiled to me and motioned for me to wait until they had finished. I stepped into a far corner and watched the scribes do their thing.

Another two tables had been brought in and scrubbed down. This time, though, the white cloth simply laid bare. This was probably where the injured ponies would lay. The thought tugged at my heart (and my stomach). About around the time the second table was brought in, I heard the familiar sound of walls being broken down. The rangers from below must have finished down there and started on the third floor. I silently hoped to myself that the building could handle such abuse.

I had noticed that the scribes, including Maud, all kept sneaking peaks at my PipBuck as they worked. It was quite clear that I would get a lot of questions about my machine soon. Questions I probably couldn't even answer.

I waited quietly, still, as the unicorns moved on to another room. Before they exited, Maud Pie had a quiet word with the three other scribes. They left and Maud stayed, looking back at me. We looked at one another for what seemed like minutes, but could only have been a few second.

Finally, she approached me. "Demi, are you lying to us?" That question caught me off guard. It hadn't even occurred to me that lying was a possibility until then. I stammered in response and she spoke thus, "That spell—those shields... I've never seen anything like that. That's not a spell anypony who didn't know about the dangers of the wasteland would have. It was too perfect and well calculated in every way."

I knew what she meant. I may not have remembered the spell until I saw it, but each shield was perfectly calculated. They were to defend one attack and shatter, using the minimum amount of power possible for each shield to shorten cast time and allow rapid casting while being a decent form of defense. It takes a long time to calculate all of that. Thinking back on it, the shields lost their uniform size and power when S.A.T.S. died and I took over. This wasn't just some defense spell that could be effectively cast on the fly. This spell had a lot of hard work and effort put into its creation, and it seemed to have something to do with the PipBuck on my leg as well.

I was silent for a couple seconds before responding. "I know. But, Maud, please believe me. I'm not lying." I looked her in the eyes and winced. She had a different look in them. They looked stern, betrayed and, most of all, disappointed. She thought I was lying. And that hurt. "I don't remember events and other things, but I remember some stuff, like spells. It's..."

I sat back on my haunches and pushed my forehooves into to the sides of my head, like I was trying to drill information from my own mind. I tried to think of a way to explain this to her; how I could remember spells and other little bits of knowledge without remembering where I learned it all. "It's hard to explain," I said simply, but went on trying anyway. "Think of it like this: try remembering anything that doesn't have anything to do with anything whatsoever. Ah!"

I finally figured out a way to say what I want to say. I leaned forward and placed my forehooves on Maud's shoulders. "It's like—no, it's not like, it is—trying to search your memory for something, but not knowing what to look for. It's like trying to search an unorganized database for a specific thing without being able to query for it."

That last one was the one that made her understand what I was going through. Scribes, as Maud said earlier, were supposed to be proficient with technology. I assumed that also meant the software as well as hardware. Wait, did I just compare my memory with database software? Since when did I know anything about databasing?

Oh right. I don't remember.

Nevertheless, Maud Pie seemed to understand it and her features softened, but not entirely. She was right not to completely trust me. If I was lying before, why would I stop just because she confronted me about it.

Maud backed away from my grasp and then asked, "What do you remember about that PipBuck of yours?"

I closed my eyes and thought intensely. "All I know is what I've seen so far. It seems to be called a PipBuck - Omega and S.A.T.S. found abnormal files in the S.A.T.S. root folder when I first used it, which were debunked by the system and revealed to be some sort of modification for the spell. The file was called SATS-D." I opened my eyes and crossed my forehooves. "Can you make anything of that?" Because I sure couldn't.

Maud Pie scratched her brown mane and screwed her face in thought, proclaiming, "It doesn't make any sense. How could you insert files into the spell's program folder? It's not a program, it's a spell! Maybe with a Stable-Tec terminal, or a terminal with access to all the backdoors of a PipBuck, and a unicorn who knows the spell inside and out and can also work with gem-based spell matrices, you could modify the spell itself. The odds of that even being possible in this day and age are similar to the odds of shooting the head of a pony in Fillydelphia from the roof of this building." I guessed that was impossible or next to it.

She turned away from me and walked over to one of the tables. "It's quite a mystery, that's for sure. Even with backdoor access, the PipBuck's software is nothing easy to modify. Right now, though, I'm more worried about the welfare of your body. Your wound was badly bandaged and hasn't completely healed. It's a miracle you didn't reopen it while running."

At the mention of the shallow hole in my side, my wound started to bother me a little. Maud tapped a hoof on the table, so I leaped on it and laid down on my stomach. Even with the topic change, my mind never left the machine on my leg. Spells and programming. I apparently understood a little of both, but whoever modified this PipBuck was a master in both, according to Maud. Way above my apparent level in every way.

Maud Pie proceeded to do magic stuff to me. It didn't feel like healing, but I could guess this was some sort of diagnostic spell, as the grey field of magic was centered over my badly bandaged wound. When the magic dissipated, my saddlebags were levitated from my back. My bandages were then undone. She then healed my wound closed and re-bandaged them, much more professionally than my own work.

No sooner than Maud had finished with me had the unicorns returned from the other room. "Senior Scribe Pie? Paladin Pie is asking for you. She's on the fourth floor."

Paladin Pie? I saw Maud nod and exit the room. The two unicorn scribes that returned stole another peak at my PipBuck and left behind her. I simply lay on the table, having nothing to do. Seconds later, Maud returned and said, "Come on, Demi. I'm still responsible for you. Besides, I think the Paladin would like a few words with you as well."

I nodded and leaped off the table. Before following Maud, I quickly levitated my stuff to me. I followed her through the room of broken walls and to the next stairwell leading upward. Once on the top floor, I immediately noticed that it was different than the other floors. Instead of a bunch of tiny offices, the entire floor was one big conference room and a couple rooms to one side. One seemed to be a kitchen and the other a large office. Apparently whoever owned this building probably liked watching the wharf, as the entire wall facing it was one big window.

The rangers were making this floor the command center of the outpost, setting up what looked like a radio on the large table in the conference room. The Paladin, with her helmet off and her lavender mane falling over her armor, stood over the table. She looked younger than Maud, but clearly less than a decade so.

Once she saw Maud and I coming off of the stairs, she tilted her head in a motion that confidently ordered us over. We obeyed the unspoken order and stood on the other side of the table. Well, Maud stood. I sat.

Paladin Pie looked from Maud, to me and back. "I believe that we should take a defensive and watchful stance here. We could send scouts, but I don't think we can lose the ponypower. I chose this building because it was the tallest on the edge of the block, but we don't have enough ponies here to properly defend the building."

Maud nodded and said, "Nevertheless, it was a good choice. We just have to be vigilant and assure the remnants don't sneak up on us. The only floors that need patrols are the first floor and the roof. May I give you advice, ma'am?"

"Always."

"Well, I would put Broomstick and Pencil on the ground floor, keep Archer and Brimstone on the roof and leave the second floor without guards. The Scribes can take the third floor with Dan, and you can remain here. If Demi agrees to assist us, he can run orders for you to prevent them from picking up our radio chatter. Alternatively, you could leave Archer on the roof and put Brimstone on the ground floor and have Pencil run the orders. I believe these are the best options we have right now."

The Paladin nodded, agreeing with every word of it. She then looked to me and asked, "Will you help us, Demi?"

I finally get to ask the question eating away at my mind since I almost got blown up. "Who are those ponies?"

Paladin Pie and Maud Pie shared unsure looks with each other and stayed silent. Finally, Maud said, "I guess since the report was confirmed, it's no longer for Ranger ears only. They are the remnants of the Steel Rangers. Steel Remnants, if you will." I was about to ask who they were, but Maud didn't need me to ask to know that, so she explained. "They are who we, Applejack's Rangers, used to be. We broke off and became outcasts within the entire faction, but since the Lightbringer brought back the sky, more and more ponies have been leaving the Steel Rangers and joining us. Eventually, the Steel Rangers had become the outcasts.

"Most ponies were hostile with the Steel Rangers after that book you have was printed and distributed. It showed that their goals were corrupt, misguided, inefficient and, most simply, just wrong. Steel Rangers became Applejack's Rangers. Naturally, some resisted. This led to a civil war that only went on for a few months. Some believe it's still raging, but to most, it's quite clear that Applejack's Rangers were and are the victors.

"The Steel Rangers were isolationists and still are: you have to be born into it. Not too long before the end, though, they started re-recruiting Applejack's Rangers who left the first order..." Maud looked to the floor, looking as if she were going to cry. The Paladin quickly took over from there.

"Ah... Yes, that happened. Otherwise, there was no joining those Rangers, only working for them as mercenaries, which was really a one-sided deal. We, on the other hoof, allowed outsiders to join our ranks in an attempt to aid in the unification of the Equestrian wasteland. We were still gaining members more than we were losing them, so the Steel Rangers disbanded. At least, the main force of the faction had. It's not often, but you can still find remnants like the group in the warehouse down by the wharf."

Maud cleared her throat, signalling that she had her emotions all under control again. She took the conversation back and stated, "We haven't the time to get into the rest of the history. What you need to know, Demi, is that they are armed like us, with power armor and large weaponry, but they are much more aggressive. Will you help us?" I nodded. I had no reason not to so far. Besides, those Steel Remnants tried to blow me up. I am against anypony that tries to blow me up. "Good. Paladin?"

Paladin Pie nodded to Maud and said, "Right. Demi," she addressed me now, "I want you to stay here. I have some questions to ask you." Then she addressed the armored pony who had finished setting up the radio that we weren't even going to use. "Broomstick, did you catch all that? Good. Find Mech Pencil and Dandelion and give them your guys' orders."

The armored pony saluted and said, "Yes, ma'am." Then he departed.

Again, Paladin Pie looked to Maud and said softly, "Go inform the scribes, Maud."

When Maud and I were about to go separate ways, I stopped her and wrapped my hooves around her. This time, she was startled. The aged pony didn't quite know how to react at first, but she eventually embraced me back and whispered, "Thank you." We pushed apart and I nodded and smiled. I might not have known why she was sad, but a good hug always helps. She looked like she really needed it.

She trotted away and left me with the Paladin. I stood in place for a second, watching her go down the stairs. Then I trotted into the large office, following Paladin Pie.

* * *

This office was much different than the others downstairs, which were now probably demolished and broken. For one, this office had a metal desk. Wouldn't those have been cheaper than the fancy wooden desks rotting below? There was a safe in the corner also, already open and emptied. Another big difference between this office and the ones downstairs: this one had a skeleton in it.

I stopped fast and stared at it with wide eyes. This prompted a look from Paladin Pie, who shook her lavender mane and sighed, "They're everywhere, Demi. You'll have to get used to that."

The powerful mare stomped her way to the other side of the desk, where there was a chair. She probably had bad experiences with chairs in her armor, as she knocked the chair away lightly and stood. I was able to tear my eyes from the corpse to look at the ranger.

"You know, that kind of face isn't one ponies can fake easily. Not in the wasteland. I don't trust you, but you've been nice to and for Maud. You also had the patience to listen to stories about things everypony already knows about. Celestia knows I'd be tired of hearing those stories, even if I were under cover for some reason." Her turquoise eyes narrowed and stared into mine, as though daring me to step out of line and give her a reason—any reason. I then pegged her as somepony who doesn't liked to be crossed. "Besides, if you're keeping something, we can get it out of you at the Cross."

I waved my forehooves in the air and stammered, "I-I'm not k-keeping anything!"

"Maybe not, but if there's anything my family has taught me, it's that coincidences aren't always that."

We looked each other in the eyes now. Mine wide and frightened, hers confident and narrow.

"Another thing," She spoke now with more fury than before. I was scared. "If you make Maud cry, I'll kill you. It's only been a couple hours, but you two are too close for my liking, and Maud is a lot more sensitive than she lets on. I'd tell you to back off, but I don't want to step into my sister's personal life where I don't belong." She looked away and added, "She wouldn't like that."

Pie's armored hooves flew onto the table and she said, each syllable overflowing with warning, "Even if you make her cry by accident, I'll kill you. By asking a question you shouldn't have, you're dead. Hell, if your death makes her cry, I'll stomp your corpse until there's nothing left but a gelatinous goo that I have to wash off my armor. Understood?"

I swallowed and said in a shaky voice, "Yes, ma'am."

She stared at me for a second, drilling her point into my mind. Then she nodded. "Good. Now let's get to business," she said, as her voice softened, but kept the commanding tone of a military officer. "That PipBuck, where'd you get it?"

It still took me a few seconds to calm down. Apparently this isn't the first time Pie's done something like this, as she was completely patient with me. I finally was able to squeeze out an, "I don't know." One more deep breath and I continued, "I found it in the room I awoke in this morning. I don't know anything more than what I told Maud."

"And what did you tell Maud?"

"Someone seems to have put a file inside the S.A.T.S. root folder that held a program that some spells I know are compatible with."

"That doesn't make sense," Pie said, her face screwed in thought. "S.A.T.S. is a spell itself. It shouldn't need, nor even have, a root folder." Then she shrugged. "Then again, this isn't my area of expertise. I'm just stating what I remember hearing before. Now, let's get to these compatible spells. Those shields?"

"Yes, they were one of the spells," I said, nodding. "The fact that it said spells might have just been a typo in the string, so it might be the only spell compatible."

"And it also might not," Pie finished for me. I nodded in agreement. Then she asked, "My question is: why would you even need a PipBuck to be compatible with spells?"

"I might have that answer," I said hesitantly. I wasn't sure if I was right or wrong, but what I had hypothesized seemed like a logical answer to the question. "Those shields, each and every one of them, were calculated perfectly to only guard against the one grenade using the least amount of magical power possible. That was not something a conscious pony brain can do that fast."

She waved a hoof to go on, nodding that she understood so far. "While we were retreating, did you notice the amount of protection you had worsen drastically?" Another nod. "That was when S.A.T.S. died and I had to cast the shields myself. They lost their uniform size and thickness and were simply poor shields, either in defense, size, power consumption, or a combination of the three."

"I see, and that's what the PipBuck is for? Calculating the factors of the spell?" This time, I nodded. Then she said something that made me uncomfortable. "That means that you had this PipBuck made especially for you." I nodded slowly in response to this. I hadn't thought about who I might have been until then. Who was I that I could have a PipBuck's software and spells edited? I clearly didn't know enough to do it myself. Unless, of course, I forgot how.

Pie was thinking this too, as she looked at me in wonder and clear distrust. Those eyes made me lean away, my ears back. After a moment, she sighed and shook her head. "This is neither the time nor the place to be distrusting of you. You're stuck in this mess with us." She stepped from behind the desk and stood in front of me, towering over me in that power armor of hers. Then she held out her hoof. "For now, I'll trust you just under as far as I can buck you." At first, I thought that she had said that wrong, but looking over her armor, I figured that she could probably buck me fairly far.

I tentatively touched my hoof to hers, maybe a little bit scared. She responded with a smile, as though telling me I made the right choice. "My name is Paladin Pink Lemonade Pie." She leaned close to me now, and I nearly fell backwards trying to keep away. Then, in a menacingly calm voice, still smiling, she warned, "Do. Not. Call. Me. Pinkie Pie. Understood?"

I nodded my head, though it was really more of an vertical vibration of the skull. I wasn't about to ask why. It was very apparent I wasn't high on Pink Lemonade's list of friends.

She nodded and stood straight again and looked me over. I looked everywhere but her eyes. I did see that she now wore a satisfied grin on her muzzle. What's got her in such a good mood all of a sudden?

"Alright, Demi. It seems we all know our places." Oh, that's why the good mood. "Let's go back to the conference room. There's not much we can talk about anymore. Might as well watch what the Steel Remnants are up to."

"Agreed."

We trotted back into the room with the large window and the large table. I sat down in front of the window. My company stood. Doesn't anypony like to get off their hooves every once in a while?

Across the bombarded flat area between the warehouse by the wharf and the office building, that may or may not have been a lot of some sort before it was destroyed, was, well, the warehouse. It was quiet. I saw no movement or anything. Nopony outside. They must be keeping inside, but why? We knew they knew we knew they were there, so why hide it? Maybe they were protecting something. Or maybe...

"You don't suppose that warehouse has a backdoor?"

Pink Lemonade nodded and said, "Probably."

"Why wouldn't they just use that to escape? Odds are, they saw us go into this building and not come out. They could just go out the backdoor."

Pink Lemonade shook her head and said, "Probably."

"Why not stop them?"

Pink Lemonade chuckled and shook her head. "You probably won't understand, but most of us used to be Steel Rangers. We don't want to eradicate the rest of the faction, but we would like for them to go away and leave Equestria to us. If they escape while we wait for backup, which we probably won't get, I'd like that more than having to kill former siblings-at-arms."

I nodded. I didn't truly understand, not on a sympathetic level, but I understood her words. "Why wouldn't you guys get backup?"

Pink Lemonade now adopted a slightly annoyed tone when she said, "Weren't you listening earlier? We were sent to reinforce Bucklyn Cross. They won't send reinforcements to reinforce the reinforcements. It's a pointless waste of time and resources"

I scratched my mane, still not getting it. "Then why are we even here?"

"Because we have to do something. We're required to. While it would be nice if the Steel Remnants came to their senses and gave up and disbanded or joined us, they are pretty hung up on their codes and laws. Because of it, they're cornered, like a bunch of wild animals. What does a wild animal do when cornered?"

I shrugged. But then I realized I had some knowledge of animals. Cats, dogs, mice, rabbits, and the like. I guess when cornered... "They get desperate."

Paladin Pie nodded solemnly. "Yeah... They're simply well equipped raiders now, some of them. Not all of them though. Usually the ones who run aren't like that yet. I like to let those groups live so that, maybe, they might come to their senses. That they might try to be better..."

Now it was silent between us. We sat and stood in front of the window, watching and waiting for anything to happen, nothing more that dared to be said between us. One could simply say it was an awkward silence, but I think it's safe to say it was only awkward for me. Pink Lemonade seemed to enjoy my silence.

I found myself checking out the armored maiden. Not her physical form, but also her armor and her weapons. Her armor looked thick and heavy. Despite how fast the rangers moved before, it was clear that this armor did, in fact, slow them down. Not to mention the weapons they all had. They were all big! The mare beside me herself held two guns with multiple long barrels arranged in a circle with a chain of bullets leading into the box closer to her flanks that the barrels projected from.

Unfortunately, that's when she found me looking. She smirked at me with an amused expression on her face while I averted my eyes quickly and felt my face warm and my breathing quicken. Then she teased, "What, do you like doms, or something? Finding it hard to check out my flanks in this armor?"

"No!" I said slightly louder than warranted. Then I amended, at a more acceptable volume, "I was looking at your weapons. I was! Honest!" Mostly...

Pink Lemonade nodded as though it were an acceptable mistake. She must think highly of those guns. "They're my personal miniguns. They may look like regular miniguns, but they can fire longer without overheating, due to a complex liquid cooling system, and are also compatible with more types of ammunition, such as incendiary rounds, which most miniguns can't handle for long. Quite vicious, but also extremely difficult to maintain and supply with those special rounds. I'm afraid I'll have to scrap them when I arrive at Bucklyn Cross."

Her tune totally changed when the topic went to her weapons. Apparently this Pie was a gun nut, while her sister was a medical mare. Interesting match.

When the room when silent again, I stood and trotted to the other side of the room. I was just supposed to relay orders from the boss mare by the window, she can do the watching.

I used this time to follow Maud's advice. I laid on the floor and levitated The Lightbringer from my saddlebags. I flipped open the first page and started to read.

If I’m going to tell you about the adventure of my life — explain how I got to this place with these people, and why I did what I’m going to do next — I should probably start by explaining a little bit about PipBucks.

* * *

I stopped reading when I had finished the third chapter, but I didn't close the book. This Littlepip was only hours out of her stable and had already seen more action than I have. Of course, she was in the middle of a raider den, but still. I wasn't even sure I could do what she had. So far, I knew i could run and I knew I had at least one spell that could protect me. That is, as long as S.A.T.S. lasted.

I looked up to Pink Lemonade Pie. She seemed not to have moved for the entire time I was reading, but she was sitting now.

I felt I should check in, so I called to her, "Anything happening out there, Paladin?"

She chuckled as she replied, "Good job addressing me by rank. No. Nothing's happened so far."

My first day in the Equestrian wasteland was almost over. It was less than eventful in comparison to the Lightbringer's first hours. She met slavers first and I met Applejack's Rangers first. She fought raiders and I watched raiders be fought off by Applejack's Rangers. She met a robot-controlling pony called Watcher and I met Maud.

She had a reason to be out here.

What is the point of me? Where would I even start if I wanted to find out who I was before I woke up? Why would I want to know? What if I found out and regretted knowing? What other spells do I know? Who modified this PipBuck?

Questions, questions and more questions popped into my head one by one, and I couldn't think of one answer for any of them. Finally, the most important question popped into my head and drowned out all others.

What am I going to do next?

That was a good questions, and I was stumped. What was I to do? I had no goals. No guide. No Life. Littlepip was lucky enough to have or gain all three in her first hours in the wasteland.

No, that wasn't entirely true. I had a sort of guide: Maud Pie VIII, who answered some of the questions I had about the wasteland and had been friendly with me since we met. She advised that I read this book, so I was, and I'd learned a little bit. Not much about, well, anything useful to me so far, no, but the fact that somepony else with no knowledge of the wasteland was able to gain a title like Lightbringer and bring back the sky (or so Maud had said) means that I could do... something.

I just need to find that something.

Feeling one internal conflict resolve made me feel a little better. It also helped me push the questions to the back of my mind. The doubtful side of my mind subdued I was able to focus on the next chapter of the book.

Before I could start, though, Maud came back up the steps. At the sight of her, I rose to my hooves and watched her trot past me with a nod and approach Pink Lemonade. They spoke quietly to one another. I didn't want to eavesdrop, fearing that the earth pony might hurt me if I had.

So, I continued with my book.

* * *

"That's why you don't wear a raider's armor," Maud said behind me just as I finished. I jumped as I hadn't noticed her before. I may have possibly yelped like a filly in the process...

Maud giggled and walked around to the front of me. "Which reminds me, you need to get some armor."

I nodded and replied, "I made that connection when Littlepip met Watcher. I'm gonna die as it is right now."

"Yes you are," called the cheerful voice of Pink Lemonade from the other side of the room. She still hasn't moved, but instead of sitting, she was now laying down.

I frowned and whispered to Maud, "I don't think she likes me much."

"She doesn't like when ponies check her out."

"I was looking at her weapons!" I exclaimed defensively and innocently.

This lead Maud to laugh harder and ruffle my mane with a hoof and say, "That's what Archer said, too."

"And it'd have been a really good excuse if I believed either of you," said Pink Lemonade.

The sisters shared a laugh and I smiled. Then my thoughts went back to the situation. "Any change, Paladin?"

"Normally, that's what I'd be asking you while you take watch."

"So, nothing?"

"I didn't say that. I said get off your ass and get over here if you want to know."

Maud chuckled and levitated my book over to her and began to read. The authors, Life Bloom and Homage, really did a good job making the book readable.

I got to my hooves and trotted next to the paladin, peering out the window. I couldn't see a thing. That's when I noticed that Pink Lemonade had put her helmet back on. It must be able to see in the dark or something.

>installing Night-EFS spell

What?

>Installation complete

My vision was tinted green and things outside became, well, visible. I was so surprised by the sudden change I stumbled back and nearly fell back on my haunches. I looked back to Maud, who now looked up to see what the commotion was about, and my vision returned to normal. I looked out the window again and the outside world was tinted green again, but visible.

"Oh, this'll be useful," I said to myself, nodding and smirking. Also earning a look (or as much of one as I could get from a faceless helmet) from the paladin. I said nothing as I looked out the window.

Nothing had changed. The warehouse still stood across the vast lot and the lot still appeared empty. I scanned the sight again and confirmed that to be the case. I trotted back to the other side of the table, saying, "Could have just said no."

"How'd you see out there?" The paladin queried, jumping to her hooves.

I waved my PipBuck at her and informed her, "The device seems to have a few more hidden features. Namely a spell it called 'Night-EFS.'"

The room went quiet. Even Maud was torn from the book to watch us, her face replaced with a serious expression. That's what notified me that the atmosphere grew tense. I stepped tentatively away from the closest Pie, Pink Lemonade.

"You're coming with us to Bucklyn Cross, no arguments" the paladin ordered. "A weird PipBuck with one weird program earns a mention to an Elder and some constant eyes, but the possibility of there being more programs placed onto it earns you a proper arrest."

"What?!" I exclaimed. I looked to Maud and she never looked to the floor. I was going to try to go with them to Bucklyn anyway, but now that the choice was taken away from me, I felt threatened.

My eyes flew back to the paladin. I stared into where her eyes would be behind the armor, taking slow and unsure steps back.

"Stop."

Pink Lemonade's voice was filled with so much command that I froze mid-step. There was no longer any wonder why she was in charge.

"Demi, we need to know how somepony put programs and spells onto a PipBuck," Maud said from the other side of the room. "It could really help the Rangers, not to mention the rest of the wasteland."

"We really only need the PipBuck," Pink Lemonade jumped in. "Since nopony brought PipBuck keys, though, we have to take you too. Once we get the machine, you're free to leave. Unless the higher-ups say otherwise." She said that last part in a way that made be believe that they surely would say otherwise.

As the Lightbringer would say: "Oh fuck me with Celestia’s forehooves!"

Despite the tension, the Pie's laughed hard.

* * *

After returning my book, Maud rejoined the scribes downstairs. Pink Lemonade still watched over the empty lot, not having much better to do. I, no longer in the mood to read, sat in the large office on the chair, the Pie visible in through the open door. I wasn't sitting around doing nothing because I wanted to, mind you. It was because I had to. I would honestly had loved to search the buildings in the area, but Pink Lemonade made it quite clear that I was no longer Maud's responsibility, I was hers, and she is, and I quote, "A very responsible mare."

Meaning I can't do anything until they get my PipBuck and these 'higher-ups' had everything they wanted from me.

That's when I had the idea to play with my PipBuck. It had two programs that apparently weren't on other PipBucks, so I thought that maybe I could find more. I tapped the data button with my hoof. The PipBuck screen went to the one I saw in the supermarket, with the files and folders for the programs. After browsing the visible menus, I determined that I had no access to the system files from this screen. That backed-up what Maud said earlier about needing a terminal.

I did, however, find the maps. The world map (could have been more properly named the Equestrian map) showed the physical terrain from a birds-eye view, and on it, were a few points. One point, a full point next to where an arrow sat, was called 'IF Manehatten Warehouse.' Based on where I was, that arrow was probably me and that place across the lot was probably the IF Manehatten Warehouse. I wonder IF stands for.

Another was 'Bucklyn Cross.' This point was hollow. I guessed that the Cross's point was hollow because I haven't been there yet, but the Warehouse's point was full because I've been to that location before. The other points were the places that Littlepip had visited up until the end of chapter four as well as Fillydelphia.

I was wondering how my PipBuck even knew where those places were simply by the mentioning of them when I spied another point labeled 'Friendship City.' It was just south of Bucklyn Cross. This point was interesting since I had never heard of this place before. That was worth taking a mental note of. As soon as I could, I'd go to friendship city.

I celebrated the fact that I finally had a goal internally. I was to find out why Friendship City was the only location my PipBuck knew that didn't follow the pattern of the others. To do that, I'd have to keep my PipBuck. To keep my PipBuck...

I'd have to run.

But I had no way of escaping now. There were ten ponies in the building, and the entrance was guarded. I knew for sure that Maud and Pink Lemonade knew I was under arrest. The two ponies on the roof had absolutely no idea. Everypony else below... Maud could have told them. If I tried to escape from this building, I would be caught. I thought about trying to jump from the second floor, but with so much debris below, there was no way I could make the jump without taking some serious damage.

No, I was stuck. Even if only the Pies knew, all it would take is one order—one shout—and all the other rangers would be on me.

Looks like I'll have to make the best of my time, I thought as I pushed my hooves against the desk, stretching. What I didn't expect was to move. Looking down, I realized that this chair was on wheels.

I rolled the chair with my magic next to where Pink Lemonade laid in front of the window. Her helmet stayed facing forward, scanning for activity. I simply sat there and watched with her. The scene hadn't changed since my last look.

No, wait...

"Activity at nine o'clock, Paladin."

Just to the right of the warehouse, I saw bulky forms that resembled ponies exiting the building. They moved from the warehouse to somewhere off to the right. I couldn't see beyond that as another building was in the way.

Pink Lemonade saw it too, as she rose to her hooves and turned to me. She was about to say something, but then noticed the chair. I tried my hardest to keep a straight face, as I probably looked stupid, and succeeded.

She sighed and planted a metal hoof firmly into her face and said, voice muffled by the helmet, "Go downstairs and tell everypony that we gotta move. We can't see them anymore and that puts us at risk of a sneak attack. Send Knight Broomstick back up for the radio."

"Wait, why would a sneak attack be a problem? The building is well defended, isn't it?"

"No, and it's also two hundred years old and they have grenades. This outpost, while only intended to be temporary, was still completely half-assed. We'd have only been able to defend against mindless and poorly equipped raiders, not organized Steel Remnants." Then, under her breath, she said, "They were supposed to flee..."

I nodded and leaped off the chair for the stairs. She followed, but probably to head to the roof. I stopped her when something crossed my mind and asked, "Do we just wait outside for you?" She nodded and galloped upstairs. I galloped down my own set and nearly ran into a scribe. This unicorn was a dark grey with a darker blue mane.

"Watch it," he said.

"Paladin Pie is ordering an evacuation. Get downstairs and outside. Then wait for further orders." The pony nodded and galloped downstairs. I trotted quickly to the medical room that I watched Maud and the other scribes set up earlier. I found the ranger, Dandelion, and two other scribes here, chatting it up. I relayed Pink Lemonade's orders and asked where Maud was.

"She wanted to be alone, so she went downstairs to the second floor," answered the armored knight.

"Alright, thanks. I'll find her. Oh, and the paladin wants you all to wait outside for further orders."

I galloped to the second floor as they packed up their medical supplies. I walked through the maze of demolished walls. Since nopony was supposed to guard the second floor, I guessed they just stopped breaking the walls down halfway. I trotted quickly, so as to keep up a decent pace while not tripping on any debris. "Maud," I called.

"Demi? Is that you?"

"Yes," I said, slowing down. "Pink Lemonade wants everypony to evacuate and wait outside for further orders." I hesitated for a second then asked, "Are you okay?"

Maud trotted out of the next room coming up on my left. She nodded and said, "I just wanted some quiet to think."

"Could have just stayed upstairs," I said. "It got pretty quiet. C'mon."

We made our way down to the first floor where we found everypony from the lower floors outside already. I asked Maud to point out Broomstick for me and I approached him.

"Knight Broomstick? The paladin wants you to go back up for the radio really quick."

"Understood," he replied, then trotted back into the building.

With my mission done, I walked away from the group of ponies, as some talked among themselves. Maud stayed close to me. I assumed it was because she, indeed, was the only pony who knew of my arrest. Paladin Pie, Brimstone and Archer exited the building and, minutes later, Broomstick rejoined us. All ponies stood at attention and looked to the Paladin.

"Let's retreat deeper into the city. We'll lose visual, but if they intend to do us harm, they'll have to find us."

"Why not attack the warehouse? Didn't they leave?" asked a stallion. I didn't see who, but based on how clearly I heard his voice, it was probably one of the male unicorns.

This time, Maud stepped forward. Its seems the group was used to the Pies partnering in leadership, even while the younger sister was clearly in charge. It just shows how much trust these two have for each other. "Because, Silver, we don't know how many they have in their, but they know our numbers."

The stallion, Silver, who I know saw speak, countered, "For all they know, we could have more hiding not far from here."

The Paladin spoke this time. "Wrong. We ran, remember?"

Maud added, most likely for my own benefit, "Any Ranger, of Steel or Applejack, would not retreat for so long unless they could not handle the situation or were too unsure to take action. The exception is if the unit was ordered to back off."

Now I cut in, "You know, since you all gutted the building, they just have to drop a few grenades inside to make it fall on us. Shouldn't we move right now, wherever the crap we're going?"

Maud nodded and the Paladin said, "The colt is right." Hey! "We'll regroup downstream under the cover of night and buildings. We'll split up to hasten our withdrawal. Maud and Demi will be with me, the rest of you pair up among yourselves, but be quick about it. As in leave ten second ago. I'll leave the usual hints around the rendezvous area. You'll have to find it, so keep your eyes open. And remember, radio silence." There was no saluting or 'yes ma'am's this time, just nods.

The Paladin started trotting away and Maud immediately followed. I was left sitting there. I could have ran if I wanted to, but something the paladin did caught my eye.

She looked back.

She didn't stop. She didn't shake her head, motion for me, give Maud any notice. She just looked back. As though daring me to escape. That's when two armored ponies, most likely Brimstone and Archer, as the only two ponies with grenade machine guns, caught my eye. They were looking at me too. So were their guns. Then Maud stopped and looked back to me as well, her eyes pleading with me not to make the wrong choice after taking in the situation. Everypony else started to pair up.

Everypony who didn't know about my arrest started to pair up.

Running would probably earn me chase by the two large stallions in power armor. They clearly didn't even need the guns for that. With no choices left, I trotted up to Maud. Then the two of us caught up to her sister, who simply kept trotting the whole time.

* * *

"Why not just tell everypony I'm your prisoner now?" I asked the paladin quietly as we snuck inside what seemed to be an apartment building.

Our path had been blocked by a downed building and going around would have taken far too long, so we decided to go over it. This building we were entering had broken near the center and the top half leaned onto a building in the direction we were heading. I found it quite dangerous and suggested that we just go through the nearby subway, which, according to the map on the stand compared to the map on my PipBuck, ran and opened up in the same direction. This earned a look from the sisters that said I was the stupidest thing since the war. Then they remembered I wasn't a real wastelander.

Apparently underground is more dangerous than traversing a building that looks a couple pounds away from collapsing in the Equestria wasteland.

"Because she wants to break you," Maud whispered from behind me.

"Not break, manipulate into not defying me," Pink Lemonade corrected.

"Because there's such a difference."

"There is. Now Trolley? I broke her. She wasn't just not defying me, my words were like dogma to her. Celestia rest her soul, but she wasn't all too bright to try and tame a radscorpion when i made the joke."

"You're kind of horrible," I cut in.

"And you're kinda a foal. Gah, another blocked staircase!"

"Dear Luna! stop it, Lem. He's having enough trouble as it is."

"See what I mean, you have your mommy fighting your battles for you."

"Hey, respect your elders! Especially your sister!"

"You're right. Sorry, sis."

"Much better."

During the conversation, Maud had pulled ahead of me. We walked through the building, finding our way around broken or blocked staircases. We made our way to the second floor when the conversation ended. Based on the end of the conversation, I had to assume the Maud was still the one in charge when it came to things other than Applejack's Rangers. Wait a second...

"Hey, is being my mother an insult?"

"Oh! I-I didn't mean it like that, Demi," Maud said.

Simultaneously with her sister, Pink Lemonade said, "Yes."

"Lem!"

"Hey, I would be offended if anypony called me his mother."

"Lem, now you're just being rude."

"I'm not a nice pony to ponies I don't like, bite me."

Maud looked as though she might have taken her sister up on that offer had she not been clad in power armor.

I watched from behind the two, unsure as to what to do now. We made our way up another floor and the paths were getting more difficult to tread, slowing us down. We remained silent after the paladin Pie had the last word. Just a few minutes later, we heard the explosions. Then the rumbling of something large falling could be heard and felt both from where we were. It had only been ten minutes since we left the office building. That could have been us had we not spotted them moving.

Still, ten minutes? They were less than a minute's gallop away if they went over the clear lot. Did it really take ten minutes for the Steel Remnants to find an undercover path to the office?

"Damn," whispered Pink Lemonade, looking back in the direction of the sounds.

"I'm sorry," I whispered in condolence. I understood that she didn't want them to be hostile, as well as why. Now she has no choice but to eliminate the Steel Remnants based in the warehouse.

The paladin was silent for a few seconds more, but simply said, "Shut up," and trotted ahead, leaving Maud and me a few paces behind.

The Pies and I now traveled in silence. We were having trouble finding a way through the rubble to the fourth floor, and Pink Lemonade was getting pretty frustrated. I, fearing she'd take said frustration out on my limp and lifeless form after she killed me out of frustration, walked behind Maud. Finally Pink Lemonade broke her silence by bucking a wall down and cursing.

"Luna fucking dammit all!"

"Lem, calm down," Maud said calmly from a safe distance.

"Yeah, why should I!?" was the response her sister gave, throwing her helmet off while turning on Maud violently.

"Because getting angry and destroying the building won't help anything," Maud said rationally. Too bad anger wasn't rational.

"It sure helps me," Pink Lemonade replied, bucking another wall to pieces. I dreaded to wonder if that was just the power armor, or was Pink Lemonade that powerful.

"Lem, these ponies are counting on you to lead them to Bucklyn safely. We'll deal with the Steel Remnants when everypony's safe," Maud tried to reason.

Pink Lemonade seemed to calm down, as her snarl turn into a sneer. She walked over to her helmet and placed it back on her head. She leaned close to Maud and probably whispered something, but I couldn't make it out. Then she lead the way again through the halls of the broken apartment building. Maud followed her sister and I stuck close to Maud. I took note to ask Maud about Pink Lemonade at some point. Nopony should get this mad over having to kill those trying to kill you and your friends. Something else was going on.

Finally we made our way to the four floor, where the building had broken. This is also where we were stopped.

"Paladin, I think we have a problem," I stated the obvious.

"No shit," Pink Lemonade responded.

"What now?" Maud asked.

"Well, we can't really drill through the ceiling. And Pink Lemonade—" I started before being interrupted by the paladin.

"Paladin."

"Right... The paladin's bucking might destroy or unbalance the building," I amended. "I would suggest the same thing I suggested before we entered the building five minutes ago: that we find a way around."

Maud shrugged and said, "The wasteland's full of dead ends, but it doesn't mean everything is. Maybe we can find a stable path through the rubble."

"Or die trying," the paladin grimly replied to her sister. "Let's play it safe from now on and go around the debris."

I replied, "Aye," while Maud nodded.

"Aye?" Pink Lemonade chuckled, leading us back down the apartment. "I thought I caught the faint accent earlier, but that right there confirmed it."

"Accent?" I asked, looking to Maud for answers I didn't think Pink Lemonade would give me.

"You have a faint Trottingham accent, Demi," Maud answered, helpful as ever. "It's actually quite cute. That'll catch you a nice mare, y'know."

"First you have to become less stupid, though," Pink Lemonade chimed in, as usual, trying to get on my nerves. "Mares nowadays like a stallion who can survive on their own."

"Hey, who's to say he couldn't?" Maud defended.

"Me," countered the younger sister.

Maud paused but then replied, "Just because I don't have a retort does not mean that you're right."

"It doesn't mean I'm wrong either, does it?"

"Is this how she wins all your arguments?" I quietly asked Maud.

"To be honest... yes," she answered, her ears drooping. "She's not the smartest mare, but she can corner you with words and logic as easily as I could. Usually the only way out is incivility and force. Quite frankly, you'll have trouble winning in both of those too."

"Damn straight," Pink Lemonade called back.

"Dear Celestria, this boring."

The new voice made me jump. I stopped in place and looked from side to side. I felt stupid as there were walls to either side of me, but then I did a 360, looking at my E.F.S. and saw that there were only us three in the vicinity. Well, the Pies, actually. I couldn't see myself on my E.F.S.

"Demi?" Someone asked. I couldn't tell who, as I wasn't paying attention. If I had to guess I would say it was Maud. Pink Lemonade probably wouldn't have given two craps what was wrong with me, let alone one.

"Did you hear that? A fourth pony?" I asked the two sisters.

"No," replied the armor clad Pie in a clearly annoyed tone. "Don't stop us because you're insane."

"I really heard something," I pushed. "She said she was 'so bored.'"

"Well if 'she' doesn't like our conversation (with your input), she can suck a—"

"Lem, maybe he did hear something," Maud defended me again. "It's not like you have the best hearing with that helmet, and, let's be honest, I'm kind of getting up there in the years."

"Oops, maybe I should have stayed silent. Hello Demi."

My ears perked up. "You have got to have heard that."

Now Maud looked skeptical. "Demi, I didn't hear anypony else. I didn't hear anything."

"Only you can hear me," the mysterious voice spoke again. "Why the Omega was given to you, I do not know."

"What?" I asked.

"'What' what?" Pink Lemonade asked, now impatiently trying to get back on the move. "Let's get going, we can sort out his insanity later."

"Go on, Demi. We'll talk later. Now's not the time," the invisible mare only I could hear instructed. "I'm not here, okay?"

I, unsure how else to respond to the voice, nodded hesitantly.

"Good. Now run along. There's a clear path around the debris just south of this apartment."

Did she see me nodding? Can she see me? Is she here? These questions prompted me to looked around again.

"Demi, are you okay?" Maud asked.

I didn't know quite how to respond, so after staring blankly into her facial area for several seconds, I focused my eyes on her and nodded, saying, "Yes. I am all fine."

The Pie sisters stared at me for what seemed like hours. Maud had an eyebrow raised in suspicion and I supposed that Pink Lemonade did as well under that helmet, I couldn't tell. Maud stepped up to me and placed a hoof on my head, just under my horn. I, confused, looked at her sister with questioning eyes, then back to Maud.

I stepped away from her hoof and shook my head, as though dismissing the whole situation. "Listen, let's go south as soon as we get out of this building. There might be a way around there."

"Alright, so let's go north," Pink Lemonade rejected, also dismissing the whole situation, but much more effectively than myself.

I, totally regretting the decision as I acted, jumped on the paladin's armored back, then over her head, to land in front of her. I quickly turned around and faced her. At this point, I was tired of her being, well, a bitch. She didn't know me and I didn't know her. She had no right nor reason to act the way she did and I had gotten tired of it. Anger clear in my voice, I stated, "If you want my PipBuck, we're going south. I don't want to hear a word out of you about going any opposing direction, either. Understood, paladin?"

Pink Lemonade Pie didn't like my outburst of anger, so she countered with her own. "We will go wherever I want, creep! And if I really want your PipBuck, I'll just rip your leg off! Understood, dumbass!?"

That was when I snapped. I summoned one of those hexagonal shields (I really need a name for these things) directly between the two of us. This one of bigger than any of the other ones, taking up the entirety of the hallway. It was also thicker and much denser, clearly less transparent than the other shields.

"If you can get through that alone, we'll go north. Kay?" I said, purposely trying to antagonize the mare that is much bigger, stronger and well equipped than me. I really don't think that was a smart move. Even considering what happened next.

She couldn't get through. She bashed and bucked for a full three minutes straight, but the shield didn't give an inch. At one point, she apple-bucked the shield so hard, she was lucky to be wearing the armor. The recoil probably would have broken her body, and the flying to the floor that fast had probably still hurt even with the helmet on. At first, I thought she'd be able to buck that shield to pieces the first time through. Now I was much more confident in my unknown spells.

Pink Lemonade switched with Maud as she calmed down a bit. Maud stepped up to the shield and poked it a couple times. Then she took several steps back and launched a lightning spell at it. We were both very surprised when it got through and nearly hit me in the head. The shield didn't break, no, but the spell just slipped through. The sky-blue hexagon still stood as it did. Well, floated in the middle of the hall as it did.

"Luna defend me. How the hell...?" I started to question before Pink Lemonade excitedly attempted to buck the shield again.

Keyword: attempted.

She still fell back on her face. I was still enjoying the sight of her failing and falling. Maud was indifferent about the situation.

"South, Paladin?"

After several seconds of silence, the paladin agreed, "South..."

I finally collapsed and sighed heavily. I wanted to keep up a strong front, but keeping a shield that big, thick and dense up while some impossibly strong mare bucked away at it was tougher than you would have thought. It's no wonder the SATS-D program calculates the shields' parameters to shatter after defending something; These things were tough to maintain.

Also, the spell simply slipped through. Why? Was it because it was magic? Was the spell designed to pierce shields? The question was on my mind even as Maud rushed to my side.

"Demi! Are you okay?"

"It's not an easy spell," I explained, breathing deeply and slowly. "The PipBuck makes it look simple. It's much different than a standard shield spell, because..." I paused. At that moment, I realized that I couldn't cast the standard unicorn defense spell. I had knowledge of such a spell existing and the extent of its ability, but I simply could not cast the spell. I couldn't even try. I had no idea where to start. Levitation and the hexo-shield (bad name?) came naturally to me, so why was this spell such a blank?

Maud's level of concern grew when I didn't finish my sentence and solemnly stared into space. She laid a hoof on me and shook me, and spoke in a insistent voice. "Demi? Because why?"

I shook my head, planning to think on this at some other time. "Nothing. Never mind. Let's just go. Paladin?"

Without a word, Pink Lemonade passed Maud and me and lead us out of the apartment building.

* * *

"Okay, okay. South was a lucky call, but that's all it was," Pink Lemonade attempted to make very clear as we set up a small temporary hideout in what used to be an underground pub before the war. The place was mostly intact and was mostly one room. No further destruction of supporting walls needed. I still didn't understand that.

"y-Yeah. Was just luck, I guess," I lied. I hoped the mysterious disembodied voice didn't mind me taking credit from her.

"I don't."

What?

"It's fine. I'm not here, remember?"

Uuuuh... okay?

"Dummy, what's up? You're staring into space."

"Whu?" was my response. The fact that I responded seemed to make Pink Lemonade laugh. I realized what she did there and was immediately annoyed. "You really have nothing better to do than act like a filly?"

"Yes I do."

I wasn't sure how to respond to that in a way that I would come out on top. Then I came up with, "Then you should do those things."

For a commanding officer to do something someone with absolutely no command said was probably a buck to her pride. I seemed to have forgotten that I was scared witless of this mare. The paladin's helmeted muzzle pushed against mine and she warned, "Don't tell me what to do."

I stammered and mumbled timid gibberish in response as she trotted up the stair leading outside, laughing.

"I explained this earlier, Demi," I heard Maud chuckle from the behind an overturned pool table. "You won't win. You need something on her, like me."

"Oh, do you mind sharing?"

"Not a chance," she said with an amused smile. "She's still my sister."

I nodded, understanding that Pink Lemonade trusts Maud and Maud trusts her back and giving me dirt on the paladin would be a betrayal of said trust.

With nothing better to do, I went to a wall in the back and sat on my haunches. I took the time I had testing and observing different properties of my shield spell. First, I examined the shape of the shields. Every single one was a perfect equilateral hexagon, as far as I could tell. I also noticed that I could make them as thick as one inch, regardless of size, and so thin that it nearly looks like it has two dimensions. By this point, I was starting to feel the strain of casting the spell so many times, as I could only summon a shield in a fixed shape, so I had to cancel the spell and re-cast it to make these observations.

Next, I looked at the density. I couldn't make the shields completely solid, meaning there was always some transparency in the shapes. Nor could I get them too thin, always having a faint tint of sky-blue when you look through the shield. I poked one shield, wondering if I could move it. I put all my weight on a shield I cast in the middle of the air, literally stood on it, and it still didn't move a bit. Apparently all of these shields are fixed until they run out of magic, shatter or the spell's canceled. That might be a useful trait in some situations.

Learning all I felt I could on my own, I pondered the idea of asking Maud to use her magic, but now the fatigue of casting spells so many times so quickly were getting stronger. I felt I should rest, so I read. I removed The Lightbringer from my saddlebags and opened up to chapter five, wondering what happened to Littlepip after she lost consciousness in the last chapter.

Alive!

I was still alive!

* * *

Pink Lemonade came back just before I finished chapter five, but she didn't bother me. In fact, the Pie sisters seemed to stay quiet as I read, not talking to each other much, and if they did, did so in hushed tones. I knew Maud was polite, but I didn't expect such treatment from the paladin. I didn't let it bother me, and finished the chapter.

I finally broke the silence by asking Maud, "So the sky was really full of clouds?"

Maud hadn't been expecting a question at all, let alone this one, so it took her a couple seconds to answer. "Yes. The Pegasi covered the sky in a blanket of never-ending clouds to evade the Zebra Balefire Missiles targeting the cloud cities after Cloudsdale was hit."

"And the clear sky was Littlepip's doing. You said that also, right? How did she do it?"

Maud looked to be about to tell me, but decided not to. She simply shrugged and said, "Spoilers."

"Yeah, I also think you should read it," Pink Lemonade added. "Anypony could say what happened, but only that book could tell you."

I arched a brow and mumbled, "Seems a bit philosophical for something that came out of that muzzle."

"What was that?"

"Nothing, ma'am."

"Don't make me hurt you."

I have got to stop patronizing that mare!

"Yeah, you probably should."

My expression took a serious turn as I faced away from the two mares. Enough of this. Who are you?

"I'm nopony." the mysterious mare voice replied. The Pies still didn't seem to notice any noise and continued to do what they were doing before: nothing.

Why can only I hear you?

The voice remained silent. I heard no reply for almost a minute. I was about to believe she had gone silent again when she replied, "Because only you're wearing the PipBuck."

My eyes shot to my leg device. The cyan screen lit up as I did so. I still wasn't sure why the PipBuck was relevant. I noticed it had a speaker, but if that's how she was speaking to me, Maud and Pink Lemonade should have heard it. I remembered then that the PipBuck output a string that stated it searched my mind for spells, or something along those lines. Did that mean that whoever this mare is, she could speak directly into my mind? Thinking about it now, I've been speaking to her through thought, so it's not that far-fetched of an idea.

"No, that's exactly right. In a sense."

"Demi? Are you alright?" I turned to see a concerned Maud. "Is something the matter?"

I stared blankly into the area, processing the situation and coming to a decision. I decided to keep quiet about the freaky psychic mare, so I focused on the older mare and shook my head. "No, I'm fine."

"You've been acting strange since... well, since we met, but even more so since the apartment building." Now Pink Lemonade looked over, helmet-less. She probably didn't care, but this was the most interesting thing happening right now. Maud looked deep into my eyes and asked, "What's going on, Demi? You can tell me."

"You haven't known her for more than a few hours, you don't know if you can trust her," the mare in my head argued. "Even if you can trust her, you can't trust that paladin back there. Not with knowledge of me. Please, keep me a secret for now. When we can be alone, I'll explain what I can."

I couldn't really trust that mare's voice either. I've known Maud for longer, and she's been more trusting of me than this mare in my head. Either way, the mare was right: I couldn't trust Pink Lemonade. I had to keep silent about her.

"Nothing's wrong. It's, uh, this E.F.S. It's hard to get used to." That was a lie. I've had the E.F.S. since I could remember. Literally. It was all I was used to. That excuse seemed to lose Pink Lemonade's interest, but Maud seemed to know I was lying. That motherly look she wore when we first met returned now. It was like a mother seeing through the lies of her child. Luckily, she seemed to realize she wouldn't be getting more out of me because she backed off, but her looked clearly stated that this conversation would come up again later.

"Thank you, Demi. I would rather not have to use our last resort."

Last resort?

"It's what I'd have to do if you were ever under a real threat of getting the Omega removed. You don't want it to come to that, so find a way to keep from Bucklyn Cross."

Oh my. Now, isn't that quite ominous.

I was considering my options when some information popped up in my E.F.S.

>Message for D - Radio Signal Found

Message for D? No... It couldn't be me.

Could it?

"Maud, I found a radio signal. Where's the radio on this thing?"

"Yeah, because I'm not gonna know," Inviso-mare said sarcastically. I'm not allowed to talk to you. Your rule.

Maud approached me and said, "Well, the radio should be somewhere in the Data menu."

Following Maud's directions, the paladin watching from the other side of the room, I was able to connect to the radio signal. What we heard sent shivers down my spine and made my eyes widen.

"—on the signal by now. So, you're calling yourself 'Demi' now?"

That voice. I recognized it. I couldn't put a face, color or cutie mark to the voice, but I recognized it all the same. It was a slightly raspy, gruff voice that was deep for a mare, and she always spoke in a cheerful tone. Always? How could I know that. I didn't understand why, but that voice scared me. My breath quickened once again, and if it weren't for the adrenaline rush I was having, I might have started to feel light-headed.

"And you've taking quite a liking to Applejack's Rangers, haven't you?"

Now I my eyes had glued shut and my hooves covered my head as I hid under the nearest table. I couldn't stop myself from muttering apologies and prayers to the goddesses, but I wasn't sure if it was to the Pies, the radio mare or myself.

"Whoa," was all Pink Lemonade had said. I heard hoofsteps trying to get close to me, but I flinched at every one. Sorry Maud.

"You're probably hiding under the nearest whatever there is around you, praying to the goddesses and apologizing, but unsure who to."

That one made me lose my voice. My mouth continued to move, but my voice was caught in my throat. I opened my eyes to see the Pies wore the same shocked expression I did. I noticed then I was shaking, though I had been since I heard her voice.

"You can erase as many memories as you want, but your instincts will always fear us. Yeah, we found your shattered memory orb. Knowing you, you probably erased your entire memory of the wasteland in order to hide from us. Sorry kid, but you can't even hide from us in death!" She punctuated the sentence with a laugh. The sound of her calm laugh almost made me cry. Why was I so frightened? Who could scare me so badly that fearing her became instinct? "I forgot, you don't remember that. Come back to the Ironshod Firearms warehouse. Oh, and don't worry about the Steel Remnants, they had something big dropped on them. They won't bother you. If we don't see you there by tomorrow at noon, we're hunting you down and killing everypony you're with." She let loose another calm and controlled laugh.

The signal died abruptly and white noise took its place. My E.F.S. told me that the signal was lost, but I knew it was just cut. My voice returned to my mutterings, but this time I was sure:

I was apologizing to the Pies.

>Compiling Data...

>Level Up...

New Perk: Oh, That's Right! (1) - You discovered that you knew a bit about software development and use. Science is raised +10%.

Quest Perk: SATS-D Spells (1) - You remembered the 'Blue Face' spell. Though, you haven't quite remembered the name.

>Factions Relations updated...

Applejack's Rangers - Under Arrest
While you aren't an enemy of Applejack's Rangers, your unique situation has made them place you under arrest.

Steel Remnants - Stranger
You may know of them, but they do not know of you.

??? - Ultimatum
You can either meet their demands or be hunted.