Chapter 5: A Familiar Face
I know it hasn't been that long since we've seen each other, but it felt like forever.

After almost two days of traveling since we left the raider camp, Azel and I were almost to the edge of the area that my map had highlighted as Hoofington. The trip was uneventful. Throughout the journey I had the radio on, only really listening during the actual news broadcasts. Apparently the host's name is Dj-Pon3. Somehow news has already reached him that the raider camp was cleared out and that the settlement is getting the supplies. Tomorrow he supposedly is going to have more details to share, though how I could only guess.

Azel and I reached the top of the hill we were on and saw...more wasteland. Immediately I tried searching for the hideout signal but unfortunately I wasn't close enough yet to pick it up. Taking a closer look at the wastes before me I noticed what looked like some sort of outpost a little ways away and on the horizon directly in front of me something was emitting a sickly green glow. "Any idea what's making that light?"

"Not a clue. But whatever it is, it feels sinister."

"Any idea where to find the Proditors?"

"No. Maybe we should go down there and ask around." He pointed to the outpost I noticed earlier.

"Precisely what I was thinking. Let's go." We resumed walking, Azel trying to spot anything that might hint of zebras being nearby. As we got closer I could make out more details. The entire place was surrounded by a wall that was probably just for show. All the structures inside were either tents or hastily put together shacks. At the entrance was a pegasus in Enclave power armor which seemed to be in pristine condition. In fact, it seemed to be that there was a surplus of Enclave quality supplies here. Then it hit me, this was an Enclave Volunteer Corps outpost. I didn't think the Enclave would actually take the first step in helping the surface. Glad to see that I was wrong.

As we approached the guard addressed me. "What are you doing here?"

"Excuse me?"

"This support center is for the starving and the injured, not ruffians like you."

"Oh, I'm just want to ask a few questions. I won't be here long."

He eyed me for a moment, then he pointed to Azel. "He can't come in."

"What! Why?"

"Not sure if you heard, but they blew up Equestria."

"He had nothing to do with that!"

"Look, either he stays out and you get to come in or you both leave now."

Before I could reply Azel tapped my shoulder, shaking his head once I looked at him. "Fine." The guard stepped aside to let me in. I barely stopped myself from scratching the guard's armor with my tail as I walked by.

Inside the outpost there were pegasi in several different tents that were treating wastelanders who had sustained serious injuries. I also saw that some of the shacks was were the food was given out. Any of the other buildings I assumed were housing for the pegasi.

As I was about to go to one of the food shacks and ask about the Proditors a voice behind me asked, "Is there anything I can help you with?" Why did that voice sound familiar? Wait, it couldn't be...no, she was in Thunderhead.

I turned around to answer the pony. She was a teal pegasus who had a bright yellow mane with a strand of blue in it. She had the same deep blue eyes I always rembered that seemed to eminate a feeling of calm and contention. Once I saw her I exclaimed, "Lily!", like an idiot. Luckily I was able to stop myself from reaching out to hug her.

"I uh...what? Who are you and how do you know my name?" She stared at me trying to find any clue as to who I was.

"Oh um, I uh..." Should I tell her? I know she won't turn me in to the Enclave or anything but if word got out that I was alive somehow, it might put her in danger just for knowing. You know what, she's the closest thing I have to a sister. She deserves to know. I quickly looked around to make sure nopony was looking. I lifted the entire front half of my helmet, revealing my face to Lily.

Her eyes widened and she stood there silently for a second. Then she leaped forwards and hugged me so tightly that I would've been struggling for air if it wasn't for the armor. After a moment she let go and strared at my face again, looking as if she didn't believe I was there. She began rapid firing questions at me. "Hotshot, is that really you? Sweet Celestia, what happened to you? Is everything okay back at Gust? What are you doing here? Why are you weari-"

"One at a time Lily." I looked around, seeing a few onlookers watching curiously but none of the staff was paying attention. "Let's discuss this elsewhere."

"Right, follow me." She lead me to one of the shacks that I had assumed the volunteers slept in. Once we were inside she closed the door.

"So, how have you been doing?" I received a smack upside the head so hard it made me thankful I hadn't fully removed my helmet.

"Don't you small talk me! What happened to you!? Right before I left for the surface with the EVC, your parents tell us that you were reported dead! I spend the first two days trying to help set up camp and get over it. Today is the first day I was able to interact with the surface ponies without tearing up and somepony else having to take over for me. Then you show up a little after I finally accept that I won't ever see you again, and you just ask how I'm doing?! What the hell happened?!" She was crying, and I couldn't help but feel guilty for it. I hadn't once thought of any of my family and how my disappearance must have affected them. Now I was seeing it first hoof.

"I'm sorry you had to go through all that. I had no way of safely returning to the Enclave so I stayed here on the surface."

"What was sniff stopping you?" At least I'm starting to calm her down.

"Well, I'm certain that some of the council members wanted me dead. If I came back I would have been declared a dashite and either killed or exiled publicly."

"How did you e- sniff escape?"

"They had my patrol partner shoot me down halfway to our destination. Luckily I was able to minimize my impact with the ground and survive."

"Do you need me to fix you up? You must be really hurt after a sniff crash like that."

"No, I'm fine." She raised her eyebrow at me. "Really, I found some medical supplies. Don't worry." She maintained her look. "Fine, give me a checkup." She went to a room in the back of her little shack to get her devices. Weird how she can just change her attitude like that. "So I'm that guessing you were able to figure out your special talent in Thunderhead."

From the other room she replied, "It took forever but yes, I finally earned my cutie mark."

"Well..."

"Well what?"

"Tell me your cutie mark story. It drove you crazy back at Gust when you were trying to figure out what specific field of medicine was your talent. I let you dye my mane green for a week in case it you were meant for a more recreational practice. I'd like to know how this was resolved." I was able to hear her giggling at the memory of our hair dyeing adventure from the other room.

She came back with her equipment, stifling her laughter, "Oh where to start? It was a few days after we had moved to our new home in Thunderhead. I was at the medical school and they were asking me to choose a specific practice that I wanted to perfect for my studies. This was where I had to choose my career for the rest of my life and I still hadn't figured out what I was good at! Being completly indecisive, I asked if could step outside for a bit. I was pacing outside the door when I heard something fall and somepony cry out in pain. I went around the corner of the building and saw a stallion on the ground bleeding heavily from his neck and a suit of power armor on the ground next to him. I had brought some bandages and basic first aid with me and started to clean his wound and patch it up. Shortly I-"

"Why did have supplies with you?"

"I wanted to be prepared for anything. If they pulled a surprise test of my skills, I'd be ready. If I had to prove that I was qualified, I wouldn't be caught off guard."

"Sounds like you were in another one of your paranoid fits."

"Can I finish my story?"

"Certainly."

"Anyway, shortly after I had finished wrapping a bandage around his neck one of the staff found us and went to get help. Some paramedics arrived and took him to the infirmary. After the whole thing was over I decided to sign up as an emergency medical student. When I got home I noticed that this had appeared." She geustered to an image of a healing potion on her flank. "I assume you've earned your cutie mark as well."

"Yeah, I got it a little after you left. It's a gear with three sparkles around it. It happened while I was tinkering with my gun, actually. It seemed almost random that I earned it when I did. I can't think of any reason that made the situation any different than it was before. Well, excluding that it eventually lead to me getting kicked out."

"What's up with your armor? Did you get promoted or something?" Lily used her flashlight thing to inspect my eyes.

"Found it in a hidden bunker a little after my crash and I discarded my old armor, found a healing potion in there, too."

"Is that the only first aid you received since your crash?"

"Unless painkillers count, yes."

"Have you been out of this new armor since then?"

"Haven't exactly been in the most hospitable of places, so no."

"Take off the rest of your armor."

"Why?"

"Firstly, it isn't healthy to wear armor like this constantly as if it was your own skin. Your body needs a break from all that weight." I considered pointing out that like standard pegasus armor, Daybreak had an embedded talisman that negated most of it's weight which made feel as if it only weighed a few pounds. For the better of my health I decided to hold my tounge. "Second, it's a bit difficult to hear a heartbeat through a plate of metal. And finally, you shouldn't question your doctor." I obeyed and began removing my armor. "Have you been shot since the healing potion?" She reached for her heartbeat listening...thing.

"Several have tried but so far I'm unscathed."

"Quite the advanced hunk of metal you found. Don't think I've ever seen weapons placed on the forelegs before. What's so special about it?"

"It was some sort of secret project from the war. There is supposed to be another suit as well but I don't know where it is." After removing my armor we were both silent for a few seconds as she listened to my heartbeat. Then Lily started to apply pressure to different areas of my chest. "So...how was life in Thunderhead?"

"It was nice. A lot busier and more crowded there. They had a great education system for a medic like myself. Still, it wasn't the same without my favorite cousin." She smiled slightly for a second, then it turned to confusion as she stopped pressing against me. "Are you sure you only had a healing potion?"

"Uh...yeah. Why?"

"Hmm, how long after your crash did you take the potion?"

"I don't know exactly how long since I passed out a little after the crash, but my guess would be about three to five hours. I woke up sometime later in the afternoon"

"That's well after the golden hour so there's no chance that the potion could have moved them back in place." I realized that she was talking to herself rather than giving me a diagnosis. Then she asked me, "How did you land when you crashed?"

"Well, I had tumbled down a rock formation about two stories tall before reaching the ground. I hit that with the left side of my body and ended up at the botom on the same side."

"That can't be right."

"How come?"

"Because hitting a solid rock at terminal velocity should have easily shattered your ribcage, the resulting shards heavily damaging your organs. Not to mention the tumble that followed would have likely resulted in several fractures and brusies to both your head and wings. In fact, painkillers were the only things that allowed you to even walk."

"But the healing potion fixed all that, right?"

"It would have fixed any wounds to your organs and skin as long as something wasn't in the way and repaired most of the fractures to your head and wings."

"What about my chest?"

"That's the main problem with healing potions. They'll fix a bullet wound or a cut just fine, but healing broken bones can be a bit tricky. As long as the bone is about where it needs to be you'll be fine. However, if it is spread out or in the wrong position, like the fragments of your ribs for example, the potion doesn't move them back in place. It "heals" by repairing the tissue around it and as a result permanently holding the bone in that place. At that point the only way to fix it is surgery."

"But I don't feel like there's any bones in my lungs or anything."

"That's what I don't understand. You shouldn't be able to talk coherently or get even five steps without crying out in pain. Instead you've been shooting up bad guys and traveling across the wasteland with hardly a second thought. Your chest should feel like mush when I pushed against it, not a solid wall. Despite all odds, you're a picture of perfect health rather than the weak and broken mess you should be."

"And that's a good thing, right?"

"Of course it's a good thing. It just isn't scientifically possible."

"It might have been the Centaur Protocol that fixed my ribs."

"The what?"

"It's some sort of failsafe built into the armor that...well I don't know exactly what it did but once it was done it said I was fine."

"Did it trigger as soon as you put the armor on?"

"No, it activated a little before my last Med-X wore out."

"How much Med-X did you take?"

"Well, when I woke up I used one and then the Daybreak armor used a second one I had found some time after automatically. While I was unconscious my old armor used anywhere between nine to one."

"You're lucky Med-X isn't addictive. Why did you take one after you woke up?"

"I felt pain everywhere. Once I took it, the pain became a dull ache and then disappeared for a while when I took the potion."

"When did you feel the ache again?"

"A little while after Azel and I had fought some Steel Ranger thugs."

"Hmm, a fight would have resulted in some adrenaline. Once that wore off is probably when you had your last Med-X. Did this Centaur Protocol thing surface during the night? Also, who's Azel?"

"Yeah, it showed up maybe an hour or so before midnight. Azel is a zebra I met a little while after finding Daybreak. Oh, that reminds me. Do you have any idea where to find the Proditors?"

"Not really, I've just heard rumors that they're somewhere in Hoofington. What happened to Azel after the Steel Rangers?"

"We've been traveling down here together. He's waiting outside the base right now."

"Why did you come down here?"

"What?"

"I get that Azel wants to find the Proditors or whatever, but why do you want to go to Hoofington?"

"In the bunker where I found Daybreak there was a message about meeting Nightfall in a hideout near Hoofington. I had nothing else to do so I figured that I might as well investigate."

"You still plan on doing so?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Well...I want to come with you." What!?

"What? Why?!"

"Is there a problem with me coming with you?"

"Uh...well...it's just that it's really dangerous and-"

"You think I can't handle myself because I'm a medic? 'Cause I'm a mare?"

"No, not at all! I just mean that I don't want you to drop everything and follow me into danger when you have so much potential here."

"Look Hotshot, I already lost you once. I'm not about to let you slip away again and never know if you're still out there. I want to be there to help. This place is just about what my future is if I stay. I don't care if it isn't safe, let me come with you."

"Alright. You win. Just know that without any leads we'll be wandering without direction."

"Let me get my supplies."

"I guess this means my appointment is over."

From the other room she replied, "Yes. From my analysis I am sad to say that you are dying and was wanting to know if you would like to keep going or get it over with now."

"Nah, I think I'll stick around to annoy you a bit longer." Ahh, I remember these days of sarcastic banter. Seems so long ago. Lily reentered the room wearing saddlebags that I could only assume were filled with food and medical supplies. She also had a small laser pistol holstered on her front right leg, which was odd to see. As far as I knew, she had never held a gun before, excluding one occasion when she humored me and pretended to aim down the sights of the first rifle I had ever successfully repaired. "Since when did medics carry guns?"

"As a precaution to the hostility of the wasteland all EVC volunteers were required to pass basic weapon training before they could go to the surface. They are a few other restrictions down here, like not being allowed to go flying around and such."

"How did you do?" She gave me the 'You are an idiot' look. "I meant your actual score. I know that you passed."

"Oh, sorry. Uh, well I know for sure that I was among the top of the whole group. Mostly because of the tips I picked up listening to the hundreds of times you told me about your weapon modifications and what you had to do before then."

"You actually listened to that? It must not have been easy to do considering how much I rambled on back then."

"I may not have understood every word you said, but it was genuinely interesting to hear. Well, enough lollygagging. Get your armor on and let's get this show on the road."

"How do you plan to leave?"

"Through the front gate silly."

"Something tells me that a volunteer leaving with an armed stranger would convey the wrong message." I began to put on the Daybreak armor.

"We can just happen to leave at the same time. Both of us go in diffrent directions. Once over the hill we can meet up." Without another word she exited the shack. I quickly finished donning my armor and followed. We started walking to the entrance.

"Are you sure that the guard will let you out?"

She studied the guard for a second and recognized something. She looked to me with confidence. "Trust me. This guy is easy to trick. You just need to have a certain...tone. Just make sure you pass by without any interest in our conversation."

"If you say so." We had reached the guard and he shifted his gaze from Azel to us.

"Lily, you don't need to escort anypony from the camp."

"What are you talking about? I'm was planning on going out for a walk."

"Why, and by yourself?"

"Because I need a break from being inside a tent all day. Is there a problem with me going by myself."

"It's dangerous out there. You can't be out there, not without somepony to protect you."

"Don't you start that. I was very capable of defending myself during training. I certainly don't need your protection. You're more likely to watch me rather than the surrounding area." Okay, think it's time to speed this up a bit.

"Can you please let me through before you continue arguing with your marefriend?" Lily's face went from teal to bright red very quickly. The guard, who was probably blushing just as much under his helmet, hastily stepped aside for me. Before I could move Lily darted ahead of us. She sneered at the guard, still beet red, and trotted off. Azel followed me and we made our way over the hill.

"Find anything about the Proditors?"

"Turns out that they haven't been here much longer than I have. We need to find some long time residents of the area." He nodded and we walked up the hill in silence. As soon as we were out of sight I turned to the direction where Lily had gone and waited. Azel noticed that I wasn't following and stopped.

"What are you doing?"

"Waiting for Lily."

"Who?"

"Oh, right. Remember the pegasus that was arguing with the guard?" He nodded. "She's my cousin Lily."

"Why are we waiting for her?"

"Because she's going to be coming with us."

"What about her coltfriend?"

"That wasn't her coltfriend. I only said that to move things along. Ah, there she is now." Lily had just come into sight from around the hills. Azel and I walked to her as she came to us. "Well Lily, looks like your plan worked." I extended my hoof to her for a hoofbumb. Smack "Ow! What was that for?!" The hoof I had extended to her was now being used to rub my cheek.

"If you ever pull a stunt like that again, I'll be the last pony you want treating your injuries. Got it?" I hastily nodded. She looked to Azel and she instantly went back to her normal happy self. "You must be Azel. Nice to meet you."

Azel simply nodded and replied "Likewise." This earned a very confused look from Lily.

"Uh...Hotshot, explain."

"Right, forgot to mention that. Azel had some curse that prevents him from speaking put on him."

"They can do that?"

"Apparently so."

"Hotshot? Is that your name?"

"Oh...yeah. That's my real name. Sorry, I just kept forgetting to tell you."

"You didn't tell him your name? Azel, do you even know what color his coat is?" Oh boy.

"I assume that it's the same color as his wings. Honestly, Hotshot sounds just as made up as Daybreak to me."

"You...you named yourself...after your armor? Seriously?"

"Okay, lay off would you? Let's sort this out on the road. Agreed?" They both nodded and we resumed the road to Hoofington. Ugh, this is going to be a fun interrogation.

Footnote - Level Up!

New Companion! Lily: A pegasus skilled in medicine thanks to her time in the EVC. She is also very talented with words. Desires to simply be by your side to help you out. How sweet.

Author's Note

As always I would like to thank kkat for writing the first story of this world and thank all of you who take time out of your day to read this. This has been a great experience already and I can't wait to push forward. Well, see you in the next chapter and have a great day!