Chapter 13

When forged Steel meets a stubborn Apple

"Is that all?" Big Macintosh asked two Apple family members who brought a dead body and put it near other corpses that were laying in a row.

There were six of them, and all of them were Apples who died in the latest onslaught.

"Yup," he heard the answer, "that's the seventh and the last one. Goldurn it, Mac, just how fierce was the fight?"

"Fierce enough. We musta took out fifty of them at least, an' that's before we came here."

"Thanks for arriving in time, by the way. I thought they would slaughter us and then set fire to the trees," another Apple spoke, his voice not as accented as Big Macintosh's.

"No problem. Ah don't know how we'll fix the car, though. The tires are flat, an' that baby just can't go on, even if one ignores the holes."

"Yeah," the first Apple spoke again, "that Twilight gal really messed up with that grenade."

"Hey, shut yer trap if you know what's good for ya," Big Macintosh snarled, taking offense at the behalf of his sister's friend. "She risked her life for everyone in Appletown, an' she was in a totally worse position than you, Ah'm still surprised how the heck she lived through this without a scratch."

"Whoa, sorry, man, Ah'm just pissed somewhat. Y'all know Ah love cars and hate it when one messes 'em up."

"Hate the White Knives, then, the majority of bullets were theirs anyway."

"Hey," the second Apple interjected, "where are Applejack and those friends of hers?"

"Somewhere in town, Ah think. Ah didn't really keep track, divin' into the job to let mah sister rest..."

"Y'all know how many bandits we killed? Ah lost mah count," Applejack asked her friends.

She, Twilight and Sunset, along with Spike (who spent the whole event being petted by Apple Bloom, as Twilight didn't risk taking him), were sitting in a bar ran by Berry Punch. Sunset was visibly surprised at that, but became somewhat happier at seeing a relatively familiar face.

"In the villages where I was, there were thirty-seven in total," the lavender-skinned girl replied immediately.

"I didn't really count the bodies, but I think all in all Applejack's squad killed twenty-nine," her compatriot spoke.

"Combined with the bandits we took out when we doubled back to Appletown, that's... wait a sec... there were twenty-one of them. That makes... eighty-seven?" Twilight's eyes widened from realization.

"Hoo boy, that's one big kick to the teeth for Curve Blade," the farm girl spoke, then raised her whiskey shot. "Well, here's to him remaining alone, then! Cheers!"

"Cheers," the Equestrians echoed, and after a clink of colliding glasses, they all drank. Twilight made a grimace as she swallowed the strong drink, while Sunset took it fairly well.

"How did ya learn to drink like that, Sunset?" Applejack inquired.

"Dunno. I've always had higher alcohol tolerance than normal, so whiskey and stuff are not too hard on me."

"Lucky you," Twilight spoke, "I already feel as if some blanket is covering my brain and prevents me from thinking. Why do humans like this?"

"Good question, Twi," the blonde girl spoke again, "guess we're kinda strange that way. This stuff is not always good for ya, but after that, one just feels... Ah don't know... well, better a bit. Relaxed. Happier."

"And dumber. It took me one second to remember the square root of nine hundred six point zero one."

"One second? Gee, Twi, Ah take three seconds to remember that. Just what is the square root of nine hundred six point zero one?"

"Thirty point one," the Princess spoke with a tone that clearly had "duh!" hidden beneath it.

"And how long does it take you normally to reemmber this?" Sunset spoke with a teasing smile.

"Zero point zero nine seconds," Twilight replied with pride.

"Darn, Ah'm glad Rainbow Dash isn't here. She would totally look at you and shout "Neeeeeeeeeerd!" out loud," Applejack smiled as she said that, and so did Sunset. Even with her mind in a slight haze thanks to alcohol, Twilight still understood that she was being teased, and grumbled:

"No respect for my brains. I should make it a law back in Equestria that anyone who mocks intelligent people is to be banished to the moon."

This statement provoked even more laughter from the other two girls, and even Spike rolled onto his back, waggling his feet in the air, laughing silently. Twilight growled at the obvious lack of respect for her intelligence, but soon burst into small giggles herself.

"Still," Applejack spoke more soberly this time, "eighty-seven bandits is no small feat. Ah think people said that there were around three hundred or three hundred fifty of them, and us Appletowners took out almost a hundred of them in the last months. That's a half of his men gone already. Not to mention that we took out twenty of his better-than-normal people, which is a plus."

"I take it there are normal bandits, which are not that good, and higher-ups, which are actually good?" Sunset asked.

"Pretty much so, the riff-raff an' the elites. The elites are mostly originals, and the riff-raff are those that joined later, boosting their numbers."

"Someone joined them?"

"Yeah. White Knives didn't want any competition, so they wiped out a couple of gangs. Then others decided to save their skins and flocked to them. Ah'd rather they didn't, but, well..."

"Well, if they receive no influx of men, they would be vulnerable in their base. Maybe we'll assault the prison later?"

"Ah'd think twice about that. They have, like, very well defensible positions. Ah scouted there a couple of times, it's a goldurn fortress. And we do not have that many people."

"What about hiring mercenaries?"

"Ah wouldn't trust 'em to carry buckets around here; besides, Curve Blade will offer more than Ah can. Not an option."

"So we are in a conundrum."

Everyone sat silently for a minute, and then Applejack spoke:

"Ah wanted to tell ya - the funerals of those who died are tomorrow, at noon."

"We'll be there," both Equestrians promised.

"Thank y'all kindly; Bon Bon agreed to come, too. Now, let's drink to the fallen," Applejack poured more whiskey, and then everyone drank without clinking the glasses, as the custom dictated.

"OK," she spoke, "Ah'll go see how Big Mac is doing, then we'll eat, maybe. Any plans, you two?"

"I'll go and lie down," Twilight said. "I'm tired as Tartarus and this whiskey is messing with my head..."

"I'll walk around," Sunset spoke, "and then maybe I'll take a nap too. Or read something."

"OK, see ya around. Thanks, Berry!"

"You are welcome, Applejack. Hope to see you again!" Berry Punch chirped, as the girls left the bar.

Sunset Shimmer wandered around Appletown, slightly drunk. Normally, this is a recipe for some unpleasant event happening to her.

However, she was not your usual drunk girl - first, she had higher resistance to alcohol, so she was not really handicapped, and second, she was still armed. Messing with someone who can shoot you to death is no laughing matter.

The news of her role in the assault already made it through the small town, and no one dared to bother her, so she walked on the streets wherever the legs carried her.

Some time later, she found herself near the orchard where she and the others had fought the elites of the White Knives. Their bodies were still on the ground, as no one even had the time to drag the bodies somewhere else, not that anyone particularly wanted to.

Sunset's eye fell on an axe that was standing near a tree. She recalled one of the Apples mentioning that one apple tree needed to be brought down for some reason; without thinking, she bent and picked it up.

The axe was not extremely heavy, and its blade was most definitely sharp. The fiery-haired girl did not even risk touching the sharp end with her finger.

Walking slower this time, she approached the bodies of the bandits. Everything worth looting was already taken from them, and only some clothes remained on them. Some faces did not have any grimaces of pain etched; Sunset wondered if anyone of the White Knives joined the battle while high on drugs.

I don't even want to know whether it is true or not, she decided.

As she walked slowly, looking into the dead eyes, she felt something stir within her.

Look at them. They came here with intent to kill, just because they thought themselves better, more deserving of what was created by honest hard work. Seven Apples died today, and how many had already died? And who else will join them?

Anger and fury, hot as lava, overtook her.

The nerve of them! Fucking bastards! Doesn't matter. They will die. They will ALL die! This scum won't bother anyone anymore!

As her eye fell upon the bodies, something clicked within her mind.

I will ERASE them from existence!

Without realizing what she was doing, Sunset rose the axe and hit the body of the closest White Knife with it. The blade pierced the skin, digging itself deep into the flesh, and as the Equestrian rose the instrument again, the blade was covered in blood.

Hack!

The blade hit the right arm, almost separating it from the body.

Fwoosh! Slash!

The skull of the bandit cracked into two, and brain fragments stuck onto it.

Sunset continued hitting the corpse until it became nothing more than a mangled mess of gore and torn limbs. As she stood up, she was breathing heavily.

Her green eyes fell upon the other bodies.

"Ny-AAAAARRRRRGH!" she screamed, and hit another corpse with her axe.

Hack!

The blade hit the neck, separating the head fully.

They shouldn't even be here! I will destroy these defilers!

As she continued hitting the bandits' bodies, she realized that the act actually felt... cathartic.

A truly malicious grin appeared on her face.

With new-found vigor, Sunset continued the "erasement"...

The gamboche eyes looked upon the scene in horror, widened by the uncontrollable nerve pulses.

A small figure hid behind the closest tree, mortified by the violence and gore that transpired nearby.

Several moments later, one eye looked out again - only to squeeze itself shut as one particularly vicious strike by Sunset sent the splatters of blood flying.

Without any regard for stealth, Apple Bloom ran away from the...

she-demon.

Twilight Sparkle woke up several hours, later, groaning quietly - her head felt as if it were filled with something heavy.

Lead, most likely.

"Curses-schmurses," she spoke. Standing up, she swayed a bit, but quickly regained control of her vestibular apparatus. Not trusting it fully yet, she walked downstairs, where she saw Applejack eating.

"Howdy, Twilight," the latter greeted her.

"Hey... do you feel as if there's lead in your head."

"Nope. Does it hurt?"

"No, it's just like something's heavy in there."

"Your brains?" Applejack joked.

"Hardy ha ha. Them and something else. Like lead."

"You sure you didn't catch bullets in there?"

"APPLEJACK!" Twilight exclaimed, feeling pissed off.

"Fine, fine. There's food for you on the table, it should be still warm."

"Thank you," the equine quickly sat down and attacked the fried meat lying on the plate. "Hey, where's Sunset?"

"Beats me, she's still walking somewhere- no, wait, someone comes in... Great galloping galoshes! What happened to you, Sunset?"

Twilight turned around - and gasped, inhaling a piece of her food, which sent her to a coughing fit and forced Applejack to hit her hard between the shoulder blades.

Sunset Shimmer was literally coated in blood. It covered her armour, her jumpsuit, her hands, and even her face. Even her hair did not escape the gruesome recoloring.

"Me?" she raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with me?"

"What's wrong? Your whole front is covered in blood!"

"Oh..." Sunset said, as she looked at her attire like she was seeing it for the first time. "I'm fine, I'm not wounded. Tripped while walking and fell into a pool of blood."

"An' just where did ya find one?!"

"The bodies of White Knives we haven't disposed of yet. Look, I'll go wash myself, OK?" Sunset turned around and left.

"Fine, but don't use too much water!" Applejack cried.

"I won't!"

"What in tarnation happened to her?" the blonde girl whispered to Twilight.

"I don't know, but I think we're missing something."

"You do think that she's not telling the truth, don't you?"

"It's obvious that she's not, but what in Equestria... oh, I hope she didn't kill anyone," Twilight whispered the last words, worried.

"Listen, maybe we'll take a look at that pool of blood she had mentioned once you eat?"

"I don't think finishing my meal would be a good idea now..."

"Suit yourself."

"Bleh-arr-kht!"

Twilight barfed at the gory sight she and Applejack just saw. The blonde girl, who typically was able to deal better with such sights, turned green, obviously having trouble keeping her food in.

"Is that the blood pool Sunset was talking about?" she croaked. "That's a goddamn gore-pool!"

"Horseapples," Twilight cussed, not bothering when Applejack gave her a somewhat disapproving look for her foul language. Suddenly, she noticed some object lying on the ground. "Hey, Applejack, is that an axe?"

"It is, but - oh snap, Ah think Ah know what Sunset did..."

"You mean she took the axe..."

"Yep."

"And walked to the corpses..."

"Yep."

"And..."

"...yep."

"Sweet Celestia," Twilight breathed out. "What the hay?"

"Um..." they heard a timid voice nearby. Turning around, they saw Apple Bloom carefully looking from behind a tree. "Ah'm sorry, Ah saw you two goin' here and..."

"Apple Bloom," the elder sister unterrupted her, "you can't go here! There're... scary things!"

"Ah already saw them, sis. It's... it was Sunset."

"What was she doing?" Twilight asked. Applejack sent her a glare, but it was too late.

"She... she had an axe in her hands... and then... she just, WHAM and hits one of the dead bandits, over and over... and then she screamed, and hit another one, and then another and she was just, hacking and shouting..."

"What did she shout?"

"No words, just... shouting. Angry shouting, like she was that she-demon again..."

"You are talking about me, I presume?"

Speak of the... Twilight thought, as everyone turned around to see Sunset Shimmer coming up to them.

The young woman looked better now, since her hands and face were free of blood, and wet patches on her clothes indicated that she tried to get the blood off of it too, but she was not very successful in that regard - the stains were stil clearly visible. The contrast between her cleaner skin and stained clothes made a macabre picture of contradictions between what she was now and what she was only a dozen minutes ago.

"Yup," Applejack replied to the posed question, "an' I have my own question - what in tarnation has got into you?!"

"Indeed, Sunset," Twilight asked, "that was... beyond brutal; I really didn't expect you to do that, Wastelands' cruelty or not."

"Plus, you scared mah sister!" the farm girl was shouting now, visibly angry. One look at Apple Bloom's face as she looked at Sunset from behind Applejack's back spoke volumes on how honest the latter was. The fiery-haired girl winced, as if stung, and Twilight took several steps towards her, speaking in a bit kinder tone.

"Look. I'm sure you had a reason of sorts, but this... well... this makes us worried, Sunset. It means that there's something bothering you, a lot. I want to help, and I'm sure Applejack wants to help, too..."

The look on the farm girl's face suggestes otherwise, but Sunset decided not to pay any attention to that and focused on her compatriot.

"...but we need to know what's on your mind. Please, Sunset, tell us," Twilight finished.

"Well..." Sunset began, unsure.

"Well what?" Applejack said impatiently.

"Applejack!" the lavender-skinned girl hissed at her.

"It all happened when I walked here," the unicorn-turned-human continued. "I was just... wandering around, and then I came here and... saw the bodies of those..." she paused, debating whether to use an obscene word regarding the now-mutilated dead bandits, but settled on not aggravating anyone further, "...White Knives. I saw them, and then something... burned within me. I saw them, and suddenly... I became angry. Very angry. I felt as if their bodies defiled the place where we fought earlier, and I wanted to... to..."

"Destroy them?" Twilight finished.

"Yes, sort of. When I saw the axe standing nearby, I just picked it, and then... I don't know... I just flipped out, and began..."

"Say no more," Applejack interrupted, noticing that Apple Bloom was getting fidgety again.

"So what are you going to do to me now?" Sunset asked. Time to hear the sentence.

"What?"

"I screwed up big, time, and you're pissed at me for scaring the living Tartarus out of your sister. So what are you going to do to me?"

"Heck, Ah don't know," Applejack shook her head. "Ah'm very pissed with ya, Sunset, make no mistake. That's very... undignified, what you've done to them. But believe you me, Ah understand your anger. They killed seven of Apples. True, they aren't mah closest family, but Ah'm still pissed and Ah want White Knives to pay. But what you've done to the bodies... that ain't right, Sunset. It's just... not."

"OK, I get it. I'm... really sorry, for letting my anger control me like that. And Apple Bloom, I'm so sorry I've scared you."

"It's... it's all fine... I guess..." Apple Bloom spoke quietly, feeling somewhat braver but still fearing Sunset somewhat.

"You haven't eaten yet, Sunset," Twilight spoke up. "Let's go back and have your stomach filled."

"If it will accept food at all."

"What do y'all think will happen next?" Applejack asked everyone who was sitting by the table.

Twilight, Sunset, Apple Bloom, Big Macintosh and Bon Bon (the latter was invited to dinner by the farm girl, and she gladly accepted) emitted a collective hum of thinking.

"Ah don't know," the youngest Apple said. "Ah mean, you killed so many of them... won't they just stop?"

"Unlikely," Bon Bon said. "The guys who kept me prisoner were blabbering on about how they would burn Appletown to ashes."

"Can't we take them out?"

"They have a heavily fortified base, one we can't assault openly," Sunset interjected. "And the outposts in villages, too."

"Maybe we should keep assaulting the villages?" Twilight suggested.

"That might be a problem, Twi - we don't have that many fighters. Of all Appletowners, only thirty-eight actually can use a gun well enough; another forty-two know how to use the gun but totally lack the spirit."

"One needs to raise their spirit, then."

"Ain't that simple," Big Macintosh spoke this time. "These people just don't have a proper mindset for this stuff."

"Doesn't mean they can't change bit by bit," Applejack interrupted, "but before that happens, we might lose all the good fighters. And then there won't be a proper defense for Appletown."

"This means we must bring down their numbers somehow else," Sunset spoke.

"Any ideas?"

"I'm afraid we can't really fight them fair and square. No, Applejack, listen to me. We. Can't. They outnumber us three-to-one in best case and five-to-one in worst; if we try to fight them like we did today, we will be overrun by sheer numbers. We must play by our own rules and not let them dictate the rules."

"Exactly how?"

"Me and Twilight had found a silenced pistol once. Maybe one of us can use it to kill the enemies silently at night."

"The idea has merit," Bon Bon spoke.

"Like thieves?" Applejack looked displeased.

"If it saves Appletown, yes."

"Ah don't think Ah can do this."

"It doesn't have to be you," Big Macintosh spoke. "However, there's only one silent weapon. If something goes wrong, the assassin will be in big trouble. Besides, it has to be someone sneaky."

"I can try and pull this off," Sunset spoke.

"So can I," Bon Bon added.

"You too?"

"Yes. That's my preferred fighting style, given that I don't have guns with good damage output or decent armour. Problem is, I don't have a silencer."

"Maybe we can find one somewhere?"

"We can; I know a place. I wanted to go there before White Knives got me."

"We'll do so later. Will you need assistance, Bon Bon?"

"If two or three of the fighters could come with me, I would be very grateful. Last I have heard, there are super mutants wandering near that place - apparently, they overtook several villages, and this place is quite close to them."

"What is this place?"

"A base of Directorate of Intelligence. A mini-Vault, to be exact."

"Seriously?" Sunset's eyebrows shot up. "And how do you expect us to deal with any automated defense systems that will be in that place?"

"I have the codes for their deactivation. They will recognize us as DOI agents."

"Just how did ya get the codes?" Applejack inquired.

"Well... ah shucks, no use keeping this secret anymore. I am... or was... one of the agents."

"WHAT?!" a collective gasp of disbelief filled the room.

"But Lyra told us you joined the army," Twilight said.

"You saw Lyra?" Bon Bon's voice had a tone of surprise and... something else within it.

"In Hoofington, yes. She told us a bit about you."

"I did... but soon after that, I was recruited. Actually, my dad helped a lot with it. He was an ex-DOI, too, and although he retired when I was born, he still liked to tell me all these awesome spy-stories, and I wanted to be one, too. And when I joined the army, he pulled some strings. They tested me, and decided I would do as a good agent."

"Is that why your fighting style is stealth-based?"

"Perceptive of you, Twilight. Yes, exactly."

"And that SMG of yours - I take it that it's not a usual one?" Sunset eyed Bon Bon's weapon.

"It's not. It's Buffalo submachine gun, developed for special forces and Directorate of Intelligence agents and operatives. Nine millimeters, reasonably good damage for an SMG, allows to mount various types of sights on it. High ammo capacity. And it can use a silencer. I believe that that base I had mentioned may actually have some Buffalos there with silencers."

"Provided that super mutants did not get there first," Big Macintosh noted.

"They'd have to find it first. And then get past the blast door. Which is very tough, I assure you. Vault-Tec constructed those bases, so they made sure to put in the best stuff."

"When do you think we can try and get this weapon cache?" Sunset asked.

"Tomorrow, preferably. I'm not feeling one hundred percent ready right now."

"An' then y'all start doing sneak attacks?" Applejack asked.

"We can try. It will certainly bring fear to their hearts. And demoralized enemy is an easily defeated enemy."

"OK, then. Ah still don't like it, but if it saves lives... Ah just warn ya, Ah'm not really cut out for that stuff."

"You still need to get your hand healed, Applejack. I had applied some strong regenerative drugs from my own AMFAK-10, but they still should run their course."

"You are the medic. Ok, y'all, let's finish eating, and then we'll go patrolling. We might have kicked the White Knives hard, but one never knows what they might do..."

However, White Knives decided that they had had enough. The day ended without any more shots being fired, and once it was decided who of the Apples would get the night shift, Twilight, Sunset, Applejack and Bon Bon went to sleep.

"What am I doing here?" Sunset Shimmer asked no one in particular. "And how did I get here?"

Looking around, she saw familiar walls of Canterlot High School and the statue which contained the portal to Equestria; however, the surface of the stone remained cold to the touch, making it clear that the gateway was closed.

Sunset also noticed that she was not wearing her armoured Vault jumpsuit, but her normal clothes from the days when CHS hosted the last Friendship Games.

What the hay?

She decided to walk back to the school entrance, believing for some reason that something would happen if she reached a certain point near it.

And something did happen.

The already dark sky (which looked disturbingly familiar to the Fall Formal night when Sunset had experienced the business end of rainbow beams of friendship) thundered, and a lightning bolt struck the ground near the entrance with a deafening CRACK!

Sunset fell down, blinded and deafened by the disturbingly close blast.

How in Equestria did I not get electrocuted? her mind briefly wondered.

As the fiery-haired girl managed to regain her senses, she gasped in horror at what she was seeing.

The lightning created a crack in the ground, from which black smoke was rising... along with something else.

A red hand appeared from below the ground, grasping at the edge of the cliff.

Then another one.

Sunset's sixth sense was tingling very uncomfortably. Her instincts screamed that something bad, very, very bad was about to come out from that crack...

These hands look so disturbingly familiar...

The red hands suddenly tensed, and a loud FWOOSH was heard as an anthropoid form with wings swiftly rose above the ground of CHS. As Sunset saw what exactly she was seeing, she screamed in horror and primal fear.

In front of her was... herself, as she was when she put on the Element of Magic and got corrupted.

A she-demon.

"Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" the foul creation of darkness laughed evilly, looking down at Sunset. "Did not expect to see me, did you?"

"How..." Sunset's brain refused to comprehend the scene despite the evidence in front of her eyes. "How is this possible?!"

"Silly you," the demon mocked her, "you thought that the magic of friendship would just make me go away forever? You naive fool! Even after the Fall Formal, I remained, noting your progress in making friends," the last words was spat as something foul, "always there, although... I was pushed back, I admit. But then you moved to Trottingham and Vault 75, where you had zero friends to talk to, especially after the sturid humans destroyed their world with atomic bombs. That's some achievement; even Discord didn't quite manage that..."

"What in damnation are you even doing here?!" Sunset interrupted her corrupted alter ego, shouting in desperation.

"Why, are you not glad to see me? I am offended. I am your power, your might! And you think of rejecting me?!" the alter-ego began mockingly sweet, but very soon chaged to an angry scream. "You wrench! I have given you everything you are now!"

"I am not like you! I have changed!"

"Have you? Really? Because you didn't seem that keen on "friendship" when in Vault 75 or that village. Or even Appletown. But you so easily used the parts of me when you stepped onto the surface. The calculation, the cold-bloodedness, the cynicism... it has never left you, Sunset Shimmer. I have never left you, and I never will!"

"I'll make you leave, then!" Sunset screamed.

"You and what army?" the she-demon mocked her, and then, to her horror, Sunset found herself surrounded by a teenage zombie army similar to the one she had amassed shortly before her defeat.

She was cut off from any means to escape...

...I am doomed.

"Unlike you, I do actually have an army," demon-Sunset laughed, and then barked a short order:

"Seize her!"

Unbelievably fast, the teenage zombies lunged at Sunset...

"NOOOOOOO!!!"

"AAARGH!"

Thud!

As Sunset got tangled in her sheets while thrashing around, she realized far too late that she was on the edge on her bed, and fell down onto the hard stone floor.

"Ouch, ponyfeathers," she cussed quietly. Checking quickly that nothing was damaged too seriously, she untangled herself and stood up, immediately plopping down onto her bed and putting her face in her hands.

Hot feelings of shame and self-resentment overtook her.

I'm a failure, she thought. All these years, everything I had been through with my friends, and yet this part of me is still not gone.

She felt tears creeping their way through the fingers.

Get a grip of yourself, and end this pity-party, she ordered herself. No time for tears. Nothing good will happen if you fall apart now. The Wastelands will kill you. Go to sleep, everything will be fine. This is simply a nightmare.

Alas, some part of her still did not believe this, as she lay in her bed:

What if this thing is still a part of me?

Next day, near the noon...

"We've lost some good, decent folk yesterday, people," Applejack was speaking to those inhabitants of Appletown who were attending the funeral of the deceased, "but we took out a lot more of them bandits than usual. Curve Blade won't like this, and we don't know whether he'll try anything else, but Ah'm certain - we'll make him regret that if he tries again."

Looking into the crowd, Twilight Sparkle saw concern, doubt, anger, determination, resolution, sadness and sometimes tear tracks on the faces. To the left of her, Sunset Shimmer was paying utmost attention, her face almost impassive and the strain of facial muscles being the only thing giving away her turmoil of emotions; to her right, Bon Bon was sitting, calm and composed, her eyes focused on Applejack, Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom, who were standing near the coffins where dead Apples were lying.

Nearby, seven graves were dug out.

Big Macintosh's lips were thin, and he was frowning, hands resting on his LMG, eyes searching for potential trouble starters. Apple Bloom had tears running from her eyes, but she was doing her best to reign them in. Applejack's face was expressionless, but everyone present knew that she was not the one to show tears, and "cried on the inside".

"Ah'd like to thank mah friends over there, Twilight and Sunset, and everyone from Appletown who helped to attack the villages. And also Ah want to thank Bon Bon who warned us in time about the attack. Without her, we might've lost the orchard. And finally, thank y'all who came here on this day. Now, Ah'd like to declare a moment of silence. If y'all would please stand up," the blonde girl took off her Stetson hat, and everyone who had something on their heads took off their garments, too. Everyone stood up, the Equestrians included.

"What's this about?" Twilight asked Sunset quietly.

"Human tradition; it is done to honour the deceased," the fiery-haired girl replied. Twilight bowed her head a bit, and remembered a small Equestrian prayer for the dead:

Celestia merciful and almighty, guide the souls of these departed ones to the Lands of Eternal Harmony and Happiness, where the grass is always green, the skies are never stormy, and the Sun shines forever. May they enjoy their rest in peace under your benevolent rays.

As one minute passed, Applejack spoke.

"Thank y'all. Sit down," as everyone sat, she spoke again, "now, if any of you want to say a few words, you are welcome to do so. Anyone wants to?"

"May I?" Bon Bon raised her hand. Applejack nodded, and the beige-skinned girl walked in front of the audience.

"Um..." she hesitated a bit, and began, "it is no secret that I am here because the brave people of this town resist White Knives and their rule of terror. Yesterday, my fate made a sharp turn-around as I have found myself freed from what I believed to be an ignoble fate waiting for me, and I feel inexpressable grief that your freedom and my freedom from these bandits cost you so dearly. I am in your debt, and I fully intend to repay it. If you will have me, then I'd like to help you with the defense of Appletown. I know several places where we may salvage good equipment, some tactics, and I can fight myself. Will you accept my help?"

"Darn straight Ah will," Applejack said. "And what about y'all?"

"Of course!"

"The more the merrier!"

"Give 'em hell for us all!"

"Thank you," Bon Bon smiled. "I will do my best, I promise," with these words, she went back to her place and sat down.

"OK, then," Big Macintosh spoke again, "anyone else?"

"Sunset," Twilight whispered, "do you want to?"

"I..." her Equestrian friend hesitated for a moment, and then replied, "I don't know, Twilight. I'm not that big on motivational speeches, and I really don't know what I can say."

"I'd like to try," the lavender-skinned girl spoke loudly.

"By all means," Applejack invited her to the "stage".

Looking at the faces of everyone present, Twilight noticed that many of the people exhibited the signs of weariness.

These don't look like properly motivated fighters. I need to give them hope that everything may turn for the best, that they have a future, she thought. But how?

Setting herself to be more positive, she decided to give a try anyway:

"I have only been here for several days, but I have already seen that this place is full of good and honest people. People that are threatened by the lowliest dregs of this world. I know that you resist them, but I also see that some people have doubts."

She started walking from side to side, making sure that she looked into people's eyes.

"They wonder if they can defeat this enemy, who cares little for morals and does their best to erase all hope for the peaceful future. They wonder if all the fighting will be worth it in the end. The future is not set in stone, but one thing can be said with utmost confidence: if Appletown stops fighting now, if it just lowers its weapons and surrenders, then it will be a betrayal of those who gave all they could and had, including their own lives and health, because such an act is equal to everyone saying that their sacrifices were not worth it."

The words had something of an effect on the audience. As Twilight said her last words about betrayal, some people shifted uncomfortably, some frowned a bit (not at her, thankfully) and some had a hint of resolution showing.

"No one is unbeatable, and the same could be spoken of White Knives," she continued. "Numerous as they are, numbers alone do not win the battles, it's the people who do so. Despite being outnumbered, the Appletowners still held onto their territory. That alone is the proof that White Knives aren't omnipotent and all-mighty."

People looked around at each other, their faces not so glum now. Twilight turned to Applejack and saw that her honest-to-Celestia friend gave her a small smile of approval. Twilight smiled back, and then turned back to the town inhabitants. She resumed speaking:

"You may have heard of Vault Village which lies to the north. This village was also threatened by raiders and mutants, and their defensive capabilities were lesser than here; yet they refused to give up. They did not let anyone but themselves to control their own fate. They stood against Fast Grabber and his cohorts, and they won! There's more than that, though..."

If I have that exaggerated reputation, why not to use it to uplift their spirits? she thought.

"Two young women, whom you might know from CWN broadcasts as Daring Duo, took the fight to the base of the raiders, and utterly obliterated Fast Grabber and whoever remained after their failed attack on Vault Village. They did not care about numbers, or the fact that the enemy was better armed, because they did not want that raiding scum to control their fate and their future. Do you want White Knives to control your future?!"

"No!"

"Fuck no!"

"Them? They can screw themselves!"

"Second that!"

"Hear, hear!"

"They may try; I'll prove them wrong!"

"We'll prove them wrong!"

The various shouts of Appletowners caused a rush of gratification to flow through Twilight. The people listened to her, and were ready to go on and fight further.

"Then take control of your own future! Show them that you won't roll over! Do not give up, because surrendering is death! In the memory of those who passed on, make Appletown free of the fear of White Knives!" Twilight raised her voice, throwing her left fist into the air.

"Damn straight!"

"They won't get us!"

"For Appletown!"

"Eeyup!"

"Y'all heard her!" Applejack shouted. "Twilight speaks the truth. The fight may be hard, but we won't play by their rules, we'll make our own rules!"

Another round of thunderous approval reigned for almost two minutes before it died down.

"Thank ya kindly, Twilight," the blonde girl whispered. "Ah didn't really know what words to say, but you gave them fighting spirit."

"Thank you for letting me speak, Applejack."

"No prob, sugarcube," as Twilight went back to her place, the farm girl addressed the crowd, "OK, anyone else wants to speak?"

"Nah," Red Delicious spoke, "Twilight has already said what needed to be said, am I right, fellas?"

A murmur of approval was heard from the crowd.

"Then let us pay our respects to the fallen, and after that, we'll make sure that the White Knives deeply regret messing with Appletown!"

One hour and twenty-two minutes later...

"Thank y'all kindly for coming," Applejack expressed her gratitude to Twilight, Sunset and Bon Bon again.

"You're welcome," Bon Bon said. "Thank you for helping me. I so wish that my rescue did not cost your family that much."

"Nonsense. We'll help anyone who needs protection from White Knives. That's how some of the folks turned up here."

"Eeyup," Big Macintosh spoke, "some of the villages near Appletown were inhabited by other people. But once White Knives started terrorizing this area, virtually all of them moved here - Appletown has better defenses. Sometimes people from other areas turned up here chased by the bandits; we helped them, too."

"How many people come through here?" Twilight asked.

"Not... very many," Applejack replied. "People don't really wanna risk going here without some serious protection or hiring mercenaries. There are those small twin towers to the north of us where some hoity-toity people with their own protection outfit live, and they come here for apples. Gits always try to ditch the price. But they all like fresh apples, so they almost always buy at us, although they moan and bitch a lot."

"But they didn't try to help you? I mean, they do want your apples and stuff..."

"They want to live comfortably, not risk themselves. They could care less if Appletown's wiped out, as long as White Knives don't try to hit them, they'll ignore them. And Curve Blade is smart, he had never tried to attack them, even if he has his sights on towers, too."

"Well shucks. Typical higher-ups, never caring much for plebs unless they want their taxes or votes," Sunset spat.

"You said it."

"Hey, what are those figures in the distance?" Twilight pointed her finger at three very bulky metal figures coming their way.

"Those ones? Ah don't... wait... no flipping way! The nerve of them!" Applejack shouted, and walked towards the figures with an angry expression on their faces. Surprised, everyone followed her.

As the company approached the strangers, which turned out to be humans in very heavy-looking armour and carrying some hard-hitting weaponry - two LMGs and a laser rifle at the sight of which Sunset almost salivated - Applejack shouted at the newcomers:

"Did y'all forget what Ah said last time? You folk aren't welcome here in Appletown!"

"We didn't forget, Applejack," the apparent leader spoke. "But we do not care. You have several of our items in your possession, and we want them relinquished now."

"Ah already told ya - that Brotherhood of Steel of yours can be relinquished a fig! Now, we've just had to bury seven of our own an' Ah'm in a very bad mood right now, so kindly leave."

"If we leave, then there may be a need to bury a lot more than just seven later," the leader said menacingly.

"Hey, cool down, everyone!" Sunset shouted. "Applejack, who are these guys?"

"What, she didn't tell you?" the "leader" spoke.

"Forgive me if Ah need to defend Appletown and don't have the time to introduce my recently-found friends with just about everybody who has the gall to make demands of us," Applejack grumbled, glaring daggers at the newcomers.

"Well, I'll introduce myself, then. My name is Helmet Steadfast, and I am a Senior Paladin of Brotherhood of Steel. To the left of me - for you, that is, for me it's to the right - is Paladin Pickel Helm and to the right is Paladin Luminal Heat. We are here to reclaim what belongs to us from Appletowners."

"Ain't nothing here that belongs to y'all, Steadfast," the farm girl snarled.

"Applejack, please don't interrupt!" Sunset raised her voice. "I want to hear what they want, and what in stars Brotherhood of Steel is."

"Brotherhood of Steel is the organization that dedicates itself to preservation of pre-war technology," Helmet Steadfast spoke. "After the Day of Burning, the UFE, or the whole humanity as well, suffered a major technological setback. Relatively few pieces of pre-war technology actually remain salvageable, and don't get me started about advanced technology - it virtually ceased to exist. But humanity needs the technology it had created, or it won't survive. The Brotherhood seeks that technology and strives to preserve it."

"Hoard it for yourselves, you mean," Applejack grumbled.

"We aren't finding tech in neatly stacked crates in big numbers, tribal," Pickel Helm snarled.

"Tribal?" Sunset raised her eyebrow, clearly not amused. Applejack and Big Macintosh frowned, and Twilight sent Pickel a glare.

"Hey, Pickel," Luminal Heat spoke, "can your attitude. We were sent here to ask, not insult."

"Don't see why we should ask at all."

"Shut up, both of you!" the leader snapped at the Paladins.

"Yessir!" both soldiers stood at attention.

"Pickel Helm is partially correct. The technology isn't just lying around, and what we find is almost always broken. That and we need to find out how it works, actually. Which is why Brotherhood collects everything it can find."

"OK. That I understand. But what does Appletown have to do with this?" Sunset asked.

"They have tech that belongs to us," Pickel Helm spoke again.

"If there happened to be any tech that did in fact belong to you, Ah would have given it back," Applejack spat out.

"What kind of tech are you actually talking about?" Twilight inquired.

"Water chip, for instance," Luminal spoke.

"An' what are we supposed to water trees with? Tears?" the blonde girl looked visibly angry now.

"So that's how you can still have an orchard," the lavender-skinned girl addressed Applejack. "I was meaning to ask how you can still grow something, but a water chip explains everything."

"Well yeah. Appletown has one. Or its prototype, to be exact. Water chips usually went to Vaults or something similar in size, while this version of ours was designed for agricultural needs. We take the water out of nearby rivers, and it is purified, so our aples aren't dangerous to eat. Enough to water trees and ensure that no one dies of thirst. But the agricultural variant did not enter mass production."

"Which makes it all the more valuable to us," Helmet spoke again. "But that's not the only thing. We also know that Applejack possesses a suit of T-72d power armour, which belonged to one of us. And we would like to have it back."

"Silicon Stone was exiled, boss, don't you remember? He's not "one of us" in our chronicles anymore," Pickel Helm spoke.

"Oh, so you are after his armour as well, huh? Well here's what Ah'll say: Ah spoke with Silicon Stone, and he's a lot more decent folk than the three of you are," the farm girl spoke, while Big Macintosh added "Eeyup", louder than usually, "and when Ah spoke to him, he asked me to promise that should he die, then Ah'll do mah best to preserve his armour and never give it back to you! And Ah intend to keep mah promise. So, once again, no."

"He's not alive anymore, is he?" Luminal Heat spoke up.

"No he ain't. White Knives killed him when they attacked Appletown like a month ago, while you tin cans clanker around demanding stuff that shouldn't even belong to you," the venom in Applejack's voice was almost breathable.

"Why you insolent tribal..."

"STO-O-O-OP!"

Everyone looked in surprise at Twilight Sparkle who just surpassed a 100 decibel mark.

"Look, you three. I'm terribly sorry, but you really appeared at a very unfortunate time. As Applejack had said, we have buried seven members of the Apple family, and the pain is still raw. I am afraid that discussing this situation in a diplomatic fashion is... hardly possible now, with our tempers running high."

"Who the fuck said anything about diplomacy?" Pickel started again.

"Exactly my point," Twilight interrupted. "I am certain we can come to a solution that would satisfy both sides, but we can't do it right now. Helmet Steadfast, does Brotherhood of Steel have a leader we could talk with?"

"Taking it up with the top, are you? Well, our supreme leader is in another location, but Elder Aegis is our superior in the northern sector. You can take it up with him, in theory, but I would not expect that our stance on that will change. I see you have a Pip-Boy? 3000A model?"

"Yes."

"I can give you the coordinates for an... entrance point of sorts, since the coordinates of our base are strictly classified. Is that agreeable?"

"I think so."

"You certain that's a good idea, boss?" Luminal Heat spoke up.

"Well, I'll see what sort of compromise they may try to cook up."

"You think these tribals can think of something?" Pickel sneered.

"Don't underestimate anyone, Pickel Helm," the leader spoke, entering coordinates into Twilight's Pip-Boy. "Some of them can be more dangerous than you believe," as he spoke, the armoured eyeslits of his helmet were turned to the equine Princess' eyes, making her feel uncomfortable - as if she was being judged. "OK, Miss..."

"Twilight Sparkle."

"Hmm... Miss Sparkle, would it be comfortable to meet us tomorrow?"

"It would. Am I allowed to bring anyone?"

"You can bring one companion, but not Applejack or Big Macintosh. I am afraid that they are too... stubborn... for diplomacy," turning to the Apples, he spoke, "No offense."

"None taken," Big Macintosh spoke quickly, before Applejack managed to put a word in. The latter scowled, but said nothing.

"Fine," Twilight looked visibly displeased, but was unable to find an appropriate counterargument.

"Then we will see you on the specified date. Your Pip-Boy has a set of codes that will let us recognize you for who you are. Fare well," Helmet Steadfast turned around and walked away, followed by his companions, but paused, and then turned back.

"And Applejack?" he spoke. "For what it's worth, I am truly sorry about your losses. I admit that I picked a very bad time to come with my... request."

"More like "demand" than "request", but still, thank ya kindly," came the answer.

The Senior Paladin followed his soldiers away from Appletown. As soon as they left, Bon Bon rounded on Applejack:

"Are. You. Nuts?! These guys were wearing flipping power armour and had LMGs and a laser rifle as main weapons! Do you want to die or something?"

"Hey! I can't just let them steamroll us all over!" the country girl retorted.

"And how were you planning to defend yourself if they got hostile? Power armour is one of the toughest available, it can withstand multiple shots from assault rifles and my SMG is merely a popgun for it! Only Big Macintosh actually had a decent chance to damage them!"

"OK, stop arguing," Sunset interjected. "Applejack, just what did that Silicon Stone guy say about Brotherhood of Steel that you don't want to give them his power armour?"

"You want the long story or short story?"

"Short, this time."

"Well, he had a mighty big disagreement with his fellas and bosses in Brotherhood and they tried to execute him and some of his soldiers that stood by him too. Everyone was massacred, and he himself was in very bad condition when Ah and several others found him in an abandoned village and gave him first aid. We had to pry him out of his armour to carry him into Appletown. Didn't think he'd make it. The guy was tough, though; he recovered quickly and told us the whole story. Basically, the Brotherhood wanted him dead because he wanted to go out and help people with the technology they almost venerate, not just hoard it. So he asked me not to give his armour back to Brotherhood, and Ah agreed. Helmet Steadfast had already asked me once, and I said no. Then he made some threats, and tried to get all close and personal, but we surrounded him. And Ah told him that he and their whole Brotherhood aren't welcome here. Didn't think he'd have the nerve to come back."

"With power armour and big guns? Not have the nerve? That's an oxymoron, Applejack," Sunset almost facepalmed.

"Oxy-what-now?"

"Oxymoron, basically speaking, is combination of incompatible words. For example, the words "black sun" would be an oxymoron, because a sun can't be black."

"Darn, Ah forgot that sometimes you speak fancy, Sunset... anyway, we have Silicon Stone's armour now, and Ah'm not planning on giving it away."

"May we look at it?" Twilight asked.

"Sure. Follow me."

As Applejack led them to the shed where some of the instruments, guns and ammunition belonging to Apple family were present, they saw the suit that was remarkably similar to the armour that the Paladins had worn, but it was in a worse condition - chest plate had bullet holes in it, left shoulder pad was almost destroyed and there was no armour on the areas where right arm and left leg were supposed to be protected. The helmet was missing, too.

"Some of the armour plates were so badly damaged that we simply threw it away - they were unsalvageable," Applejack explained.

The left shoulder pad had something painted on it. Coming closer, Twilight recognized a stylized set of wings half-encircling a white circle with shapes of three black gears inside it (one big and two smaller ones), the whole picture bisected by a sword.

"This armour looks really heavy. How can one wear it when armour plates on my jumpsuit already feel rather constricting?" Twilight asked, surprised.

"Well, this is power armour," Bon Bon spoke. "It has the means to assist the wearer and augment their natural strength. See the frame underneath where armour plates are supposed to be? That stuff is an exoskeleton designed to help the user move around in this heavy armour and wield heavy weapons, which gets energy from a power source. Upon it, armour layers are added to protect the user. Typically, power armour used by UFE forces relied on microfusion power packs on the back. That's how one can lug this carcass around. It requires some special training to wear such armour, though."

"In theory, Ah could probably use this armour - Silicon Stone told me how to use it, and he has practically the same body proportions as me, but the microfusion power pack is out of energy," Applejack said.

"And without it, power armour is simply a metal coffin. But still, it would be valuable loot. Although if we were able to recharge the power pack somehow or replace it..."

"It would assist us pretty well in the defense of Appletown," Sunset spoke up. "But aside from these Brotherhood of Steel types, I really have no idea where to find the missing plates or power pack."

"Military bases could have some, but those of them that had that kind of stuff would probably have heavy automated defenses or even warbots," Bon Bon said dejectedly. "Who knows, though..."

"Bon Bon, will we be able to get to the base in time?" Sunset asked.

"No, it's almost a day-lasting travel from here to there and back. This place is located near the south-eastern border of Hoofington."

"Well, bummer. This certainly is a setback to our original plans."

"I'm sorry," Twilight spoke. "I couldn't think of a way to convince him to give us more time without antagonizing him further."

"No problem, Twilight. To be honest, once they came here, I felt that we would need to take care of that problem first, anyway. Brotherhood of Steel appears to be very well-equipped, even by pre-apocalypse military standards. Unless that base has an overabundance of weapons that can deal easily with power armour, going after it now would not be extremely beneficial. What kind of weapons can we expect to find there, Bon Bon?"

"Most likely normal firearms and perhaps an energy weapon or two - it varies from base to base. Nothing that would give us a clean advantage over Brotherhood, unless we encounter pulse grenades - those things emit an EMP that does a number on the power armour systems."

"Then Ah think we should maintain defensive stance for now," Big Macintosh spoke, "until we obtain better guns and can be certain that Brotherhood of Steel will not bother us with their requests."

"Ah agree," Applejack spoke. "Ah'll tell anyone to warn us immediately if them Paladins or anyone else come back, but now, let's worry about White Knives."

"They are meeting with Brotherhood of Steel?"

"Yes, tomorrow."

"Time?"

"Unspecified."

"What?"

"From what I have heard, the Paladin simply uploaded something to that lavender-skinned girl's Pip-Boy."

"Authorization codes or IFF markers, most likely. Brotherhood is paranoid; you come uninvited and you are in big trouble."

"When will you ambush them? Before they meet?"

"No."

"How come?"

"If they don't arrive, Helmet Steadfast or Elder Aegis may think something's wrong. They aren't fans of Crimson Hand and White Knives too, remember?"

"So you'll try it on the way back?"

"Yes. Inform me if anyhing changes."

"Will do."

Appletown, while already having better defensive positions than other locations nearby, was slowly being converted into a fortress. Bon Bon noticed some glaring weaknesses in defense lines and lended her expertise which she had got from her time in DOI, which was gladly accepted.

Several scouting groups were sent to search through the villages in order to check whether White Knives occupied any of them, but found none of them. Apparently, Curve Blade was hesitant to spread his forces thin now.

Twilight, Sunset and Bon Bon scouted the area near the prison that served as the main base of White Knives. Using Bon Bon's binoculars, they quickly determined that with more than a hundred bandits still remaining, frontal assault without some heavy reinforcements would not be possible.

Much to the ex-DOI agent's frustration, there was no visible possibility for a sneak attack either.

"I had hoped that their main base would have an exploitable weakness that would allow one person or a small squad to infiltrate the prison and assassinate Curve Blade and all the top dogs of this gang," she explained.

"If Curve Blade pulled all of his forces back, that would become a suicide mission," Sunset spoke. "How would you expect to sneak past a hundred or so bandits without the plans of the building, which kinda was not built with the intent of allowing sneak-ins?"

"I can improvise, but... yeah, you are right. Without any kind of special infiltration equipment or a diversionary attack, that wouldn't work."

"And a diversionary attack would require..?" Twilight asked.

"At least fifty troops."

"Well, that one blows this plan out of the window. Can we hope to find that "special infiltration equipment" you had mentioned in the DOI Vault?"

"Who knows. The stockpiles are never the same in there. Let's go back to Appletown, I have already marked everything necessary."

"Fine by me. By the way, I need to think about who would go with me to see Brotherhood of Steel tomorrow."

"I had promised Applejack earlier that I would stay in Appletown, so I can't come; sorry about that," Bon Bon bowed her head a bit, abashed.

"No problem. Sunset, aer you up for it?"

"Need you even ask? I'm in. The sneak peek at their guns alone would be worth it."

"I never picked you for a gun fan, Sunset," the beige-skinned girl interjected, surprised.

"I'm not. But usually, if you have a better gun, you have better chance of survival..."

The next day...

"OK, then; be careful, ya two," Applejack told Twilight and Sunset, as they were standing near the edge of Appletown. "Ah'd hate to lose the two of you now. Ah still don't really like this idea, though."

"Neither do I, but Appletown can't afford enemies like these," Twilight answered. "We'll see how we can come to a compromise. I mean... they don't look like bandits or raiders, and they seem to be reasonable."

"That they do, sugarcube, but the rule "don't shoot the messenger" kinda doesn't work here in the Wastelands."

"I know, but that's a risk we'll have to take."

"Ah don't know; maybe we can scrounge up something..."

"No, Applejack, we are not backing down from that."

"OK, fine. Just..." Suddenly, Applejack drew both Equestrians into a hug and said, "...just be careful, will ya? Ah'd hate to lose mah friends along with mah family."

"Of course we will," Sunset spoke up. As they broke the hug, two ponies-in-disguise turned around and walked away from Appletown.

Twilight was looking regularly at the local map stored on her Pip-Boy, checking whether she and Sunset were walking in the right direction. Thirty minutes have passed since Appletown became invisible below the line of horizon, and they were moving west-north-west.

Both girls had assault rifles at the ready, their ammo supply refilled. They also had their laser pistols on their hips, and Twilight also brought her .44 magnum and SMG, while Sunset picked her combat shotgun as a reserve weapon.

"How much further?" the fiery-haired girl inquired.

"If I'm reading the scales correct, it's... three more kilometers."

"Meaning we'll be there in an hour. Thanks."

"No problem."

Suddenly, Spike (the girls decided to bring him along, just in case) ran up to them. Being their forward scout, he was supposed to keep them ready for any possible attack, and he was taking his responsibilities very seriously.

"Twilight," he spoke quickly, "trouble ahead. I am smelling some animals."

"Which ones?"

"I can't be sure, but they smelled like radscorpions, and I felt at least two of them."

"Thanks, Spike," Twilight tucked her Number 1 Assistant into her rucksack, readying her rifle. Both she and Sunset entered combat stances, and crouched slightly, trying to move stealthily.

They did not need to move for long, however, as two radscorpions charged at them. The girls discharged their weapons at the mutated beasts, killing both quickly, but suddenly they found themselves surrounded as five more dug themselves out from the ground.

"Shit!" Sunset swore. "We must have stumbled onto their nest!"

She turned shrply to the right, and Twilight did the same.

Bra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta! Ba-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta!

5.56mm rounds tore into the radscorpions that were on their right, and both girls started running so as to put more distance between themselves and the remaining mutants. Several moments later, they turned around and fired again.

The string of bullets killed one radscorpion and tore away several legs from another one, but the last one received minimal damage before getting too close to comfort. Both girls jumped away to different sides as the radscorpion swiped his tail at them, intending to sting.

Aiming at it again, they released another burst of bullets, and this time, the radscorpion did not survive the crossfire.

Another two shots ended the life of a crippled radscorpion...

...however, it was too early to celebrate.

Another eight radscorpions burrowed themselves out.

"Oh COME ON!" Sunset screamed. "Are you fucking kidding me?!"

"Language!" Twilight spoke automatically.

"Bite me and shoot!" came the not-so-polite answer, followed by gunfire. The lavender-skinned girl turned into another direction this time, trying to pick apart the enemies that would be best targets in order to create a breech in the circle of enemies.

Not an easy task, given the four-to-one advantage that the mutated beasts had.

Ba-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta! Ba-ta-ta-ta! Bra-ta-ta-ta-ta-tat! Bra-ta-tat! Ba-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta!

The combined fire killed two of the beasts, but did not really help their situation. One radscorpion attempted to sting them, separating both girls - which immediately put them in a dangerous position, as they were separated now and each one had three beasts surrounding them.

The worst part was their clips running out of ammo at almost the same time. With the enemies closing in, they could not afford spending several seconds reloading.

Sunset exchanged her rifle for shotgun and immediately pumped the enemy closest to her full of small metal balls. Apparently, this was not compatible with the creature's life. Not surrounded anymore, she started a game of tag, shooting at the mutants whenever she could.

Twilight whipped out her SMG, sending a burst at one of the radscorpions, but failing to kill it in time. The beast swiped, and Twilight jumped to the side, firing at another radscorpion that was in front of her. Fortunately, her aim was better this time - the bullets hit the creature's eyes, and tore its "face" in a gory display.

Swish! Kh-sting!

"ARGH!" Twilight felt pain in her left hip from behind. Turning around, she discharged the remaining clip at the mutated monstrosity, finishing it - and being forced to duck as the last monster tried to swipe at her.

BOOM!

A shotgun shot tore away the radscorpion's tail, and Sunset jumped onto the carapace. Putting her weapon against the monster, she fired point-blank.

The monster twitched, and then lay still.

"Thanks, Sunset. I was in some trouble here, and... oh-h-h-h..."

Suddenly, strong vertigo assaulted her, making it difficult to stand. Her vision became less focused, and she saw doubles everywhere.

"Twilight?"

"Oh... I'm not feeling well..." she started swaying, and almost fell, but her Equestrian friend caught her.

"What's wrong?"

"Stung... me..."

"Damn it!" rummaging around in her rucksack, Sunset took out a syringe that contained an antidote for radscorpion's poison. Seeing as Twilight grabbed her leg and her face was distorted with a grimace of pain, she understood immediately where she needed to inject the drug.

Turning Twilight around and tearing away the girl's hands forcibly, she stabbed the hip with the needle, and then pushed with her thumb on a plunger, injecting the antidote.

The equine Princess stopped twisting her face in agony, but as she tried to sit up, her vertigo only got worse.

"Hush, Twilight," Sunset spoke, "this antidote's nasty. Rest a bit, and don't stand."

"OK... ohhh... ponyfeathers, that's unpleasant. I..." suddenly, Twilight felt as if her stomach was constricting, and then she turned away from her friend, vomiting her breakfast violently. The fiery-haired girl held her hair back, much to her relief.

"Yeah, that's the unpleasant side effect of this antidote. Hold on, it will finish soon..."

"...Appletown just lost seven of their own, but White Knives definitely paid for that in full - the count suggests there were eighty-seven of the bandits killed. Nice ratio, Curve Blade! Keep it up, and Canterlot Wastelands will be rid of your baleful presence forever! The Appletowners also rescued a prisoner, which is a bonus. But that's not all! My sources tell me that our favourite Daring Duo was spotted among the honest folk of Appletown! It may even be claimed that without them, there would have been a lot more casualties. Great job, Daring Duo! I'm sure Appletown appreciates your assistance! And now, some music. Today, it's "The Wanderer", and those who roam from town to town will appreciate it, I'm sure..."

"Ugh. They just unveiled our Daring Duo identities," Sunset grumbled, as the first tones of a song could be heard. "If I ever see the DJ who spews this, I'll strangle him. Or her. Whatever."

"You'd rather this remain a secret?"

"Yes. If word gets around who we are, this may attract a lot of wrong attention - more than we can handle."

"Point taken. Although I'm not sure anyone takes this seriously."

"Who knows? Compared to Enclave radio, this CWN at least talks some facts, so maybe someone will put stock into it, even if there tend to be... embellishments."

"Understatement of a century."

"How close are we to that navpoint anyway?"

"It's not far - no more than half a kilometer, I believe."

"Let me see... Yes, indeed, five hundred meters or even less. Come on."

Both girls walked forward with renewed vigour. The latest skirmish with radscorpions left them winded a bit (Twilight in particular, since she had experienced the unpleasantness of animal poison and subsequent side effects from the antidote in full), so the thought of the ir target being pretty close lifted their spirits.

Once they arrived, though, Twilight checked the map, then re-checked it, then double re-checked it and was on her way on triple re-checking it but was interrupted by both Sunset and Spike.

There was nothing in sight that could have indicated the presence of a base or anything that resembled an outpost at least.

"Could he put the wrong mark?" Spike wondered.

"But what would the point of that be?" Twilight spoke back.

"I don't like it. Smells like an ambush," Sunset tensed, anticipating trouble, her R91 in hands.

"Doesn't look like a good place for an ambush," the dragon-turned-dog expressed his doubt.

"Unless there are remotely-controlled explosives underground," the fiery-haired girl was beginning to feel paranoia creeping into her mind.

"Wait a moment," the Princess of Friendship called out. "I found something."

"What is it?" everyone else came up.

"Look."

In the place that corresponded directly with the marker on the map, there was a small, barely noticeable construction that Sunset identified as air vent designed for underground bunkers used primarily by the military. Near it, though, there was a small panel covered by dry grass; as Twilight took away the grass, the panel turned out to be something of an electronic security lock with anti-EMP protection. A retractable cord was present, its end designed to fit a Pip-Boy slot.

"Maybe this is the place we need?"

"Could be. You are planning to use the codes?"

"Precisely," the lavender-skinned girl found the file with codes in her Pip-Boy and activated it. A beep sounded, with a message "Disconnect the cord", which she obeyed.

Immediately, the ground directly behind them opened up, and with a mechanic whirrrrr sound, a platform rose with six Brotherhood of Steel Paladins on it, their weapons trained directly at both girls.

"Halt!" one of them shouted. "Who goes there?"

Both Twilight and Sunset pointed their assault rifles to the ground, letting the weapons weigh in one hand, in an attempt to show their non-hostility.

"Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer," the former spoke clearly, "here to see Elder Aegis on behalf of Appletown."

"How did you get here at all, missy?" the same soldier spoke.

"Helmet Steadfast gave us the coordinates of this place and the codes. We agreed to meet today," Sunset spoke.

"Wait a moment," the greeting Paladin spoke, putting his finger to the helmet radio and speaking: "Yes? Yes, sir, two yound women... almost girls... they say they passed the codes. Sir?.. Are you certain? Yes, sir," deactivating his radio set, he addressed the Equestrians, "Elder Aegis said that we let you in. Step onto the platform, and no funny business."

"OK," Twilight and Sunset, along with Spike, went to the Paladins. As they stepped onto the platform, the Paladins rearranged themselves, surrounding the trio.

"That dog's kinda too small," one of them commented. "What're you keeping that mutt for?"

"Grrrrr!" Spike growled at him, showing his obvious displeasure. Alas, with his size, he barely came across as intimidating, and his little defiance actually caused some Brotherhood members to chuckle.

"Keep him on a leash, will you?" the same soldier who insulted the dragon-in-disguise addressed Twilight.

"Keep your derogatory comments to yourself, because Spike can understand when he is insulted," the equine snapped at him.

"He?"

"Force of habit."

"Don't mind that guy, lady," another soldier spoke up, gesturing to the mouthy Paladin. "He's a dick."

"Shut up."

"Cut that out!" the apparent leader snapped at both talkers, who immediately saluted and said, "Yes, sir!"

As the party arrived to something resembling an underground train, the commander addressed both girls.

"OK, you two, listen up and don't keep your ears shut, because I am not going to repeat myself twice. This is a monorail that leads to our main base. Before you board it, you'll have to surrender all weapons and ammo, and I mean all, up until the smallest knife you may have. And take off your armour, too. Then you'll be searched. After that, your items will be stored in a crate, which remins here under guard, while you meet with Elder Aegis. You won't be allowed to wander around our base, and there'll be soldiers accompanying you at all times. If you don't like these rules, tell me now and I radio back and say that you cancelled the meeting."

"Fine, we'll obey," Twilight spoke. She and Sunset moved to the crate and dumped all their weapons and armour in there. Once Paladins saw laser pistols, one of them whistled and said:

"Hey, guys, they actually found some laser weapons. You think they can shoot them?"

"What's so different in shooting them from slug weaponry?" Sunset snarked. "Aside from the fact that it fires a high-temperature beam of light in a visible spectrum instead of lead projectiles and uses energy batteries, that is?"

"Er..." the soldier clearly didn't expect the remark.

"Dude," one of his comrades said, "just because they're tribals, it doesn't mean that they're dumber than a mutant, you know."

"And once we are finished, I'd like to see them in this crate, not everywhere else," the girl continued.

"You think that lowly of us?" the commander spoke.

"You don't trust us, I don't trust you. Easy as pie. Besides, my gut says that someone was eyeing up our laser pistols."

"We collect technology, or didn't Helmet Steadfast tell you?"

"Given that you have laser rifles," Twilight spoke up, "I'd like to believe that it won't be a hindrance to the Brotherhood to let us keep our laser pistols."

"You'll have every single item of yours back, I give my word," the leader spoke with a firm tone. "Pleased?"

"Yep," the girls chorused.

"Alright, you there, with bacon hair, come up to me, you'll be searched," one of the soldiers spoke.

"Bacon hair?! It's flame hair, not bacon, asshole," Sunset spoke quietly, irritated with the nickname, stepping up to the Paladin.

"You there, to me," another soldier spoke to Twilight, and the girl moved.

"Alright, arms parallel to the ground, legs slightly apart," as Sunset obeyed, and Twilight copied her movement, "her" soldier said, "Excellent," and started roaming his hands around her body, searching for weapons, while another one frisked the lavender-skinned girl.

Twilight stood rigid, keeping her face expressionless, while Sunset looked at the Paladin in front of her as if she felt sick simply by standing near him. As his hands found his way to her chest, she frowned and glared at him, to no visible effect.

"Hey!" losing her patience several seconds later, she raised her voice. "I am not hiding any bombs in my breasts, you know!"

"Really, man," the commander reprimanded the "security guard", "I know it's body search, and that she's hot and stuff, but be polite, damn it, and don't molest her!"

"Yes, sir!"

The soldier who was frisking Twilight looked into her face after the verbal exchange. She sent him a frown and a death glare, which promised a certain body part would be utterly destroyed if he even thought of "copping a feel". It was impossible to see whether he was intimidated, given that he surpassed her in terms of strength and protection, but he did not let his hands linger on Twilight's breasts longer than it's necessary for someone to ensure that no bomb is hidden in chest area.

"Hey," he asked once he felt something, "what's there?"

"Papers," Twilight showed him a file full of sheets of paper that she took out from under her jumpsuit. "I need to show this to Elder Aegis. It regards our negotiations with him."

"OK, keep it," the soldier went on with body search.

"Imagine it, though, man," one of Paladins spoke from behind, "actually hiding bombs in breasts. The Big Breasts of Doom..."

"You are sick," someone else spoke, disgust evident in his voice.

"She's clean," the soldier who had just molested Sunset.

"Good. Follow me onto the monorail," the commander ordered.

"Welcome to the command bunker of Northern Chapter of Brotherhood of Steel."

Both Twilight and Sunset were amazed at the sight of underground military facility, despite its claustrophobia-inducing lack of space.

"Wow," the former gasped.

"Wow indeed," one of the Paladins spoke, "consider yourself lucky that you are invited in here, outsider. Typically, we don't allow anyone in."

"I can guess. But how do you feed yourselves?"

"We trade a bit. Although it's... jarring, that they use bottle caps of all things as money now."

"And water?" Sunset stepped in. "You have a purification system with a water chip?"

"Wow, somebody knows what a water chip is," another soldier spoke.

"Dude, soak your head, don't you see a Pip-Boy along with a Vault jumpsuit?" the third one interjected.

"What would that mean?"

"It means that they do know what a water chip is, dumbass."

"Shut up!" the commander barked at the arguing Paladins, and turned to Sunset, "yes, we do have a water chip. Oh, we have arrived."

The group was standing in front of a wider-than-normal door, where two Paladins in full sets of power armour were standing guard. They saluted as the commander approached them.

"Two outsiders from Appletown, here to speak with Elder Aegis," he spoke.

"He's waiting for them. Come in," the guard replied.

"Alright, ladies," the leader of the escort group addressed the Equestrians, "you two go in, and both of you will be accompanied by me and one of the guards. No funny business, and be polite. Get it?"

"Yes," both girls spoke. The guard opened the door, and Twilight and Sunset stepped into the room.

The place that Elder Aegis used as his office closely resembled what Sunset guessed to be the bunker's strategic room. There were terminals mounted on walls, and a map of the Northern Canterlot Wastelands was visible on the right. Several holographic tables were around the room, although they showed nothing at the moment - which was not a coincidence, apparently.

They don't want anyone to know their secrets, the fiery-haired girl thought.

In the middle of the room, there was something resembling a pedestral. In the center, a table was located with a computer terminal on it (both girls noted that this terminal was more advanced than RIT-V300 models they had encountered) and some things like pencils and small papers lying haphazardly around.

A man in his forties was sitting in the chair, one Paladin standing behind him and to the left. As both girls approahed him, he raised his head and spoke:

"I see you have accepted an invitation Senior Paladin Steadfast had given you. Good. I am Elder Aegis, the leader of Northern Chapter of Brotherhood of Steel. Care to introduce yourselves so I don't confuse you?"

The equines-in-disguise did as asked. Elder Aegis put his hands together, intertwining his fingers and putting his head on them.

"Thank you," he said. "Now, as I understand, you came here to try and broker a peaceful solution of the... disagreement between Brotherhood and Appletown, or more like its de facto leader Applejack?"

"Indeed," Sunset spoke. "Helmet Steadfast told us that Brotherhood of Steel sought to "reclaim" several pieces of technology from Appletown. Namely, the water chip that the inhabitants use to water their apple orchard, and the suit of power armour left to Appletown by Silicon Stone, an ex-Paladin of Brotherhood."

"True and true."

"The question is, why do you require a water chip if this bunker already has one?"

"Who told you about that?" the Paladin behind Elder Aegis inquired.

"I did," the commander of the girls' escort force spoke.

"It's against the rules to tell outsiders of our capacities, and you know that, Ion Titanium." the voice came across as almost snarl.

"It's also against common decency to assume that all outsiders are stupid, Star Paladin Rampart," Ion Titanium replied. "They basically guessed that themselves."

"Enough, you two," Elder Aegis did not raise his voice too high, but both soldiers shut up immediately. He turned his attention to Twilight and Sunset again:

"Now, I presume that you want to persuade us to withdraw our claims on the items of technology possessed by Aplpejack?"

"By Appletown," Twilight stated, "not by Applejack. The water chip is not just Applejack's personal property, it's what allows Appletown to flourish despite the interference of White Knives. Seeing that this bunker already possesses a water chip, I am... confused as to why it is so important for you to obtain another one, especially given that this particular water chip did not enter mass production and is... unlikely to be compatible with whatever system you have here."

"I was not informed that Appletown's water chip was somehow different. Star Paladin Rampart, any explanation?"

"I hardly think that this is the case, Elder. We know that there's a Vault nearby, it is plausible that the Appletown water chip was taken from there."

"Which Vault? Vault 49?" Sunset asked.

"This one. Why do you ask?"

"We have been there. The Overseer's terminal showed that Vault's water chip was at 0% capacity and unsalvageable."

"Can you prove it?"

Sunset took out a magneto-optic data disk and gave it to Overseer.

"Where did you get this disk?" Twilight whispered to her friend.

"It was in the drive. I thought we'd need it, since it was essentially a back-up device," the fiery-haired girl whispered back.

"Hmm..." Elder Aegis read the information. "I see. Appletown could not have gotten their water chip from there, it appears."

"I still don't think that that farm girl would know the difference," Rampart was not standing down.

"Applejack gave me the technical documentation for their water chip. If you have doubts, see for yourself," Twilight took out the papers and gave them to the Elder, who, in turn, studied them very carefully.

"It appears that they are correct. The water chips for agricultural class water purification systems have different characteristics from those we could encounter in Vaults or military installations."

"Wouldn't that make this very chip more valuable, Elder Aegis?" the Star Paladin spoke up again.

"Not if you plan to grow crops outside the bunker," Twilight interrupted.

"Be silent, outsider!"

"Shut up, sir," Ion Titanium interjected. "Unless you suggest we slaughter the whole population of Appletown to get our hands on that unique purification system, this water chip is of no use to us. And I will not approve of that course of action."

"You think too much about outsiders, Ion."

"I think that pissing off every single faction out there will bring no good to us, technology or no technology."

"Can it," Elder Aegis snapped at two bickering soldiers, who saluted and said "Yes, sir!" almost in sync. Addressing Twilight and Sunset again and giving back the papers, he spoke, "Well, it appears that this particular water chip is indeed of little use to us, since it is incompatible with our systems. I think that the Brotherhood can withdraw our claim on that device. However," he frowned again, "this still leaves us with an issue of the power armour suit that Applejack refuses to give back."

"What is your basis for claiming that armour, Elder Aegis?" Twilight spoke.

"It is tradition of Brotherhood of Steel to try and reclaim the possessions of the deceased brothers, especially those that have a great value to us. And if a brother is exiled, then Brotherhood tries to return their weapons and armour even before that. Paladin Silicon Stone was exiled for attempted theft of valuable technology, but he put up a resistance along with his Knight subordinates, and attempted to flee. All his Knights perished, and he was considered dead too, but, as we had found out later, he managed to outwit his pursuers and disappear. Then we found out that he took residence in Appletown, and sent a reclamation team, but when Senior Paladin Steadfast spoke with Applejack, she basically threw him out and declared the whole Brotherhood personas non grata."

"Did Silicon Stone say anything about why he wanted that tecnology?"

"He intended to give it away to outsiders, which goes against the rules of Brotherhood."

"And he infected some Knights with his seditious ideas, too," Rampart spoke again.

"Why exactly is Brotherhood against giving technology to outsiders?"

"You dumb, girl? The tribals outside barely manage to tell the business ends of guns apart from magazines, and you want us just to give away tech that breaks down without proper maintenance?"

"I would not describe it as... colourfully... as Star Paladin Rampart just did," Elder Aegis spoke up, "but he is correct in essence. Humanity needs technology to survive, but simply giving it away to those who don't understand how it works is tantamount to utter disaster. And many Wasteland dwellers simply do not care about intellectual pursuits necessary to use advanced technology."

"And if the dwellers are intelligent enough to use this technology?"

"I'd like to see one," Rampart sneered. The girls heard something resembling a growl, and noticed on turning around that Ion Titanium was holding his rifle very tightly, as if he wanted to shoot somebody.

"This is barely relevant," Aegis said.

"But it is," Twilight did not back down. "Because I'd like to know exactly why Brotherhood wants that power armour so much. You say that it is a tradition to reclaim items of deceased and exiled brothers and the rules are against giving technology to outsiders, but so far the only justification for these rules that I see is that Brotherhood considers outsiders too uneducated. However, Applejack had told us earlier that Silicon Stone gave her lessons on using that power armour suit..."

"He what?!" Star Paladin Rampart looked as if he would pop a blood vessel.

"Don't interrupt the lady!" Ion Titanium snarled.

"...so it is reasonable to assume that she does know how to use the armour without breaking it. Thus, the justification "Wasteland wanderers are stupid and will break everything down" doesn't wash here. So why do you really want that armour?"

"You have a lot of nerve, asking us questions like that," Rampart's tone was becoming positively hostile.

"We came here to ensure that we find a solution to this problem that will satisfy both sides, not just yours," Twilight glared at him, refusing to be intimidated.

"You just got a promise that we won't touch that precious chip of yours. That's not enough for you?"

"No, because shortly before his death, Silicon Stone made Applejack promise that she won't give his armour back."

"And Applejack is not one to break promises," Sunset added. "So unless there is a really good reason why that particular suit is needed, we are at an impasse."

"Silicon Stone must have spewed a pile of bullshit to sway this Applejack into his opinion, or maybe she herself bullshits everyone," Rampart spoke derisively.

"Well it just shows that no one from Brotherhood actually cared to learn something about Applejack, because she is honesty embodied; she hates lies, never tells one yet has an uncanny knack for feeling others' lies. If Silicon Stone were to lie, she would know immediately that this guy was full of shit, but he wasn't. And surely there would be no benefit in lying to us?" the fiery-haired girl's voice had traces of anger within, and Twilight was openly frowning at the stubborn Star Paladin.

"Enough!" Elder Aegis spoke up. "I get your point, Twilight and Sunset. The primary reason we need that power armour suit is because we are experiencing a shortage of them. Each and every suit we can find is needed to outfit our brothers, the one in Applejack's possession included. However, I do not believe that she would give the suit away if you tell her that, given her low opinion of us, so if she really wants to keep that armour, here is my condition: we must get four full sets of T-72d power armour. I don't care where you get them. If you find more modern models, like T-80b, that's even better. And if you give us more than four, that will be excellent. I want these suits here within the time limit of one month. If you deliver them in time, then one of ours will teach Applejack how to wear and maintain power armour, and we will let her keep Silicon Stone's suit. If not, then we will return in force to claim that armour back. Do you understand?"

"We do," Twilight spoke. "We will try our best, but, given the scarcity of power armour, I am baffled as to where we can find four of them."

"You may try to look for these suits at the base of 9th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, which is located not far from here," Ion Titanium said.

"Thanks for the tip," Sunset said. "We will pass this to Applejack. If that's all?"

"That's all. Titanium, see that our guests leave the base."

"Of course, Elder. Ladies, after me."

"Your weapons and stuff are here," Ion Titanium said. True to his word, nothing disappeared from the crates, which pleased both girls.

"Thank you for keeping them safe," Sunset replied.

"No problem; I keep my word. Be careful if you'd want to visit that base, though. We have no idea whether their automated defenses are tough; you might want to try a stealthy approach."

"We will."

"Oh, and I've heard what kick to the teeth you had delivered previously to the White Knives. Good job, but be careful - Curve Blade won't let this slide."

"He hasn't tried any attacks yet," Twilight said.

"Maybe, but he may conclude that you are vital to Appletown's defense and target you specifically. Remain sharp."

"OK."

As the girls finished their preparations for the return trip, the Senior Paladin spoke:

"Well, Twilight, Sunset; good luck, and may Steel be with you."

"Er... thanks, you too?" Twilight offered, unsure how to reply to that remark.

"You're welcome," with these words, Ion Titanium pushed the button, and the elevator began rising upwards, sending both Equestrians back to Canterlot Wastelands...

Level Up!

New Perk (Twilight Sparkle):

Negotiator (requires Charisma 7): Words are as much your weapon as an assault rifle is. Depending on a situation, this Perk will allow you to achieve a result that is beneficial to you, unlocking dialogue choices that would remain unavailable otherwise.

New Perk (Sunset Shimmer):

Smooth Talker: Adds +5 to your Barter and Speech skills.

Author's Note

My brain: This chapter needs more words!

Me: I'm tired!

My brain: You can't leave it like this!

Me: My creative juices are dry!

My brain: You must construct additional pylons!

Me: Wha..?

My brain: Well, you are waiting for Legacy of the Void, aren't you?

Me: I do, but what relevance does this have?

My brain: ...

Me:

That's how my brain and I interacted while I was writing this chapter. Gaaah.

And I am hyped for StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void And Fallout 4, of course.

Seriously. Best. November. Ever! Squee!

Now, Brotherhood of Steel has joined in. Who else can join the fun?

Just in case someone asks: only two factions from Fallout will be present with unchanged name and general philosophy. Brotherhood of Steel is one of them. Other factions (if I actually introduce them) will be re-adapted to better suit the universe of Fallout: Equestria Girls.

The next chapter may be done in 10-20 days, depending on how tough my job gets. When there are no tasks to be done, I may devote some time to the story (I had done so while working on this chapter).

Thoughts, comments, criticism - all this has a place in the comment box.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter Stay tuned for more!