Chapter 6: Catching Up
Jeepers, where do I start? Okay, so first day-

After leaving the EVC outpost, we had traveled until dark and set up camp for the night. During the walk I briefly told the story of my time on the surface to Azel and Lily, answering any questions they (Lily) came up with. At camp we decided that the watch order would be Lily, then me, then Azel. I was about halfway through my shift when I began to hear a familiar tune. Looking to my E.F.S. I saw a tiny green dot and followed it. As I got closer I was able to clearly hear the polka music that was playing. Crossing the peak of the hill, I saw a little mechanical bot just like the one that had led me to the raider camp. Maybe I could contact Watcher, whoever he is, from this one. This time, I'll be asking him questions.

"Watcher?" Nothing. "Watcher." Silence. I walked over and knocked on the metal shell. "Hey, Watcher! You in there?" It turned around and heard the faint whir of something charging. Then I remembered that these things had guns on their underside. Whoops.

There was some chattering and then a voice came through. "Okay, whoever you are. What in the wide and deadly wasteland gives you a reaso- Daybreak?"

"Hi Watcher."

"What were you doing?!"

"Trying to get your attention."

"And you thought the best way to do that was- sigh Never mind. What do you want?"

"Well last time we met, you left with a lot of questions unanswered. I'd like that to change. For instance, why did you ask me to clear out the raiders when there were griffons already en route to help?"

"I didn't think they would succeed. Look, I don't have time for this."

"Well you're going to have to make some time. I'm getting answers right now." The spritebot turned away and resumed playing it's music. "Hey!" I started pounding on the robot's shell again. "Get back here!" It turned back to me. This time there was no hesitation before it fired. It missed and I activated S.A.T.S, aiming for the weapon with my precision laser. It hit and disarmed the spritebot. There was some more chatter and then Watcher returned.

"What did you do!?"

"Got your attention again obviously. You staying this time?"

There was a pause as if he was about to say something but then muttered, "Go ahead."

"Okay, where was I? Oh yeah, why did you think I could clear out the raiders alone if a team of griffons wasn't up to the task?"

"The Talons aren't known for...going the extra mile during a job. Talons do what they were paid for and not much more. They might have been able to defeat the raiders, but I don't believe they would have thought about bringing the supplies to the settlement themselves. Besides, I had a hunch you had somepony to help you. Like I said before, you are very attuned to the wasteland."

"How much exactly am I attuned?"

"Well, there are three things a pony needs to survive in the wastes. First is armor and weapons, which you have clearly take care of. Second is friends. No matter how strong you are, you will eventually need somepony to watch your back. Who exactly is your friend?"

"I have two with me now. A zebra named Azel and my cousin Lily. What's the third?"

"A specific virtue. A sort of moral value, philosophy, or idea that under no circumstance will you abandon. Doesn't matter necessarily what it is so long as you have one."

"What are these virtues?"

"Well, almost anything not physical can be a virtue. But back before the war there were six ponies who harnessed special virtues that helped protect all of Equestria."

"You're talking about the Ministry Mares and their elements right? Laughter, Kindness, Loyalty, Generosity, Honesty, and Magic."

"Yes, but not many come anywhere close to fitting the bill of those virtues."

"Why do I need a virtue anyway? I highly doubt that raiders have virtues yet they seem to be surviving just fine."

"They are an example as to why you need a virtue. Having a virtue gives you something to strive for, something to hold on to no matter how bad it gets. Without it, well...you've seen raiders. Look, I can't stay in here much longer. If you need anything else now's the time."

"What are you, really? What do you do?"

He was silent for a few seconds. Then he replied "I'm an observer of a world far from the one I knew." There was some static and the bot resumed playing it's never ending tune.

"Well that was ominous. Better get back to camp." That went better than expected. At least he answered my more pressing questions. Wish I could actually meet him face to face. Beep. Beep Beep. Beep

Reminder: Shift Over

Turn Off Alarm
...
Shutting Off Alarm

The beeping stopped and I walked over to where Azel was sleeping. I nudged him awake and without a word he started patrolling while I laid down. Virtues huh, that can wait for the morning.

The next morning I awoke to the sound of something hitting a metal object repeatedly. I stirred and looked behind me, seeing Lily banging a stirring spoon against a small pan she must have brought with her. Nice to see that some things never change.

"Wake up sleepyhead! Let's go looking for the Proditors!" I got myself up and stretched.

I saw Azel approaching and told him, "For future reference, wake me up before Lily."

"I didn't wake her. She did that on her own." If only a few things could change. It's going to take some time for me to get used to Lily traveling with us. "Don't you want to search for Nightfall?"

"Oh I'd love to. Unfortunately, until I pick up a signal, we might as well be searching all of Hoofington blindfolded. Besides, we're the only ones who know of Nightfall's existence in the first place. We aren't on a time limit or anything." He nodded and walked to our fire to make sure it was out. Seeing that we were about to leave and with nothing else to do, I tuned in to the radio. Instantly, music began to play from my armor.

"What's that? Do you have a playlist with you?"

"No, they have a radio station down here."

"Wait, seriously? That's far beyond any domestic technology we thought the surface ponies could achieve. How did you find it?"

"It wasn't exactly encrypted or hidden or anything like that. All I had to do was tune in to the signal."

"But the council said that there weren't any active frequencies of any kind. How could they have missed it?"

"Did they miss it? Something tells me that they might have withheld that information."

"What? No, that's crazy. They wouldn't hide stuff like that. At least, not unless they had a good reason to."

"All I'm saying is that ever since I was shot down I've been finding many things the Enclave told us to be false. My faith in their trustworthiness is shaken."

We stared at each other, the radio music blending in to the background. As Azel approached Lily decided to change the subject. "Sooo...is it just music that plays on the radio?" Azel motioned that camp was packed up and we were ready to go. We continued our conversation as we walked, or at least Azel and I did. Lily preferred to hover slightly above the ground alongside us.

"The DJ gives a sort of news report throughout the day. Aside from that, yeah."

"What kind of news?"

"From what I've heard so far-"

Good morning wasteland! This is Dj-Pon3 with the morning news!

"Oh just listen."

The talons that were involved in saving the still unnamed settlement have returned to Talon HQ and with them was the full story of how it happened. Or so we had assumed that is. As i intervied the three griffons involved, Gruff and his grandchildren Grindel and Grizel, some interesting truths came to light. Turns out, they only know half of it! Acording to Gruff, the lead griffon of this misson, they had arrived little after somepony else had cleared out the raider base for them. Now, who exactly is this mystery helper you may be wondering. Well, it seems that we have another up and coming hero of the wastes everypony! According to the griffons, he calls himself Daybreak and wears a high-tech suit of pegasus power armor painted sunset orange with his name inscribed on the flank. He also travels with a zebra wielding a sword.

Wait, didn't they know Azel's name too? Why leave him out?

Since the two were able to clear out the raiders on their own I believe it is safe to assume that they are highly capable of lending a hoof should you need it. Grindel claims that Daybreak mentioned he was heading toward Hoofington shortly before the groups parted ways, though it is unknown what he plans to do once he's there. Well whatever it is good luck to him. Oh and Daybreak, if you're listening to this, try to stop by Tenpony Tower if you're ever in the area.

Tenpony Tower?

Now back to the music! Some music began playing while the three of us stood there, processing what we had just heard. The silence lasted for three seconds.

"Looks like you two are famous."

"Famous? All that happened was Dj-Pon3 mentioned us on the radio. Doesn't mean ponies will be asking our autograph or anything."

"Well maybe not to that extreme, but you'll definitely be recognized. Besides, he practically gave you a stamp of approval. That's got to count for something right?"

"I guess you're right. I just can't figure out why he didn't mention Azel's name."

"Did the griffons know his name?"

"Yes. I know for sure that at least two of them would have made an effort to remember it."

"It might be for convenience. I mean, Daybreak and company rolls off the tounge a lot better than Daybreak and Azel. Even more so now that there's three of us."

"But Azel should get more recognition than simply being mentioned as a side note. After all, he was essential to the success of liberating the supplies."

"I'm with Lily on this, I don't see the problem here."

"What?"

"Dj-Pon3 said that I helped with the raiders and that's what I did. He said that I'm traveling with a pegasus and that's what I'm doing. As long as he doesn't start lying about me let him run the radio all he wants."

"Yeah Hotshot. Besides, I like the idea of you being a traveling hero with a crew that's got your back."

"Why do I have to be the leader? Can't we just share authority?"

"No, that always leads to a dysfunctional and undecided group. And before you ask why you get to be in charge, consider this. We have a medic who has no familiarity with the wasteland, a sword-wielding zebra who is unable to speak, and a trained solider in special power armor. Now you tell me, which one would a surface dweller most likely respect and listen to?"

"Alright fine. But we're not going by Daybreak and company or anything like that."

"Awww. Why not?"

"Because, it sounds ridiculous."

"Hmn, how about the Liberators?"

"No"

"Three Amigos?"

"Absolutely not?"

"Oh, oh, I got it! The Daybreakers! Huh, how about that?"

"Please, just stop."

"Oh, wait a second, this is perfect. We are-"

"No. Nope. None of that. Look Lily, I appreciate it, really, I do. But we don't need a team name."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm absolutely certain."

"Cause if you ever change your mind..."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll let you know." We walked in silence for a little while, not that it lasted or anything.

"So where exactly are we going?"

"Hoofington."

"We're going straight to the core?!"

"Is there something bad about the core?"

"Well apparently anypony who gets too close instantly gets vaporized by the city itself. Should you get past it somehow, there's also supposed to be this underlying force there that is like radiation but worse."

"How is it worse than radiation?"

"They said something about being melted into goo from a single cut rather than just slight mutation."

"Oh...well then I think we'll skip visiting the core."

"Then where are we going?"

"Around."

"Around?"

"Yes, around."

"Oh come on, you've got to have a better answer than that!"

"What are you talking about? I haven't been there before. It's not like I know all the sights to see on your visit there."

"Don't you at least know the name of where you're going?"

"Of course I do, we're going to Hoofington."

"But where in Hoofington exactly? It's not just the city itself, pretty much everything within a day's travel is considered Hoofington."

"We don't really have a set destination."

"Then what's the difference between searching for Nightfall and searching for the Proditors?"

"We can ask for directions for the Proditors. I highly doubt that anypony will have any idea of Nightfall and it's whereabouts."

"Okay, who are we asking for directions from?"

"Our best bet is probably some townsfolk or settlers."

"Any clue as to where to find them?"

"Nope."

"So we might as well be wandering aimlessly!?"

"That's one way to look at it."

"I...you...ugh. You're just relying on luck to take you in the right direction?! This is a horrible plan!"

"Well, I don't know about that. After all, we found you using this method. Doesn't that count for anything?"

"No, because that was purely by chance that you came across me. We can't just wing it."

"Trust me Lily, once we get a lead on either goal we'll come up with a real plan. Until then, let's just enjoy the road."

"Fine, that works...I guess. So, Azel...what's your story?"

"Not much to it. I used to be in the Ceaser's Legion, then I left. I met Daybreak a little after that. You know the rest.

"Aw come on, there's got to be more than that. Also, what's the Ceaser's Legion?"

"The Ceaser's Legion is basically what remains of the Zebra Empire. Rather than deteriorating into different independant factions and groups after the bombs fell like here in Equestria, the Zebra Empire practically split in half."

"Why did it split?"

"One group agrees with the Ceaser, one group doesn't. Those who don't are named traitors. They get cursed and are exiled from zebra lands."

"A curse? What does it do?"

"It turns a zebra's stripes from black to red. Some have been able to avoid it by making look like they were killed rather than deserted the legion."

"Is that what you did, faked your death?"

"No, I openly left the legion. A friend of mine had put a counter-curse on me years before that protected me from the mark. Unfortunately, it didn't have the desired effect. Instead of repelling the curse, his spell simply altered it. It's the reason I can't speak."

"Why did you lea-"

"He doesn't want to talk about it Lily."

"Oh, um...where did you get that sword?" Azel looked at the sword on his side almost mournfully before responding.

"Let's just say that it lead to me leaving."

"Oh...uh, okay. Hey Hotshot, what all can your pal Daybreak do?"

"Well dear cousin, Daybreak is a sophisticated individual who is skilled more arts than I care to count." With a roll of her eyes and a slight smile she signaled for me to go on. "As you can already tell, this armor has a modification I've never seen before. These leg-lasers are simply genius. I can just point at a target rather than having to turn my whole body to face somepony to my side."

"How does it fire? Do you have a second trigger to bite or something?"

"No, which leads me to another advancement. Practically everything I do while wearing the armor is controlled by thought instead of action. Weapons, medicine, communications, even navigation. No specific twitches, no voice commands, nothing. I just think and it happens."

"You mean like how ponies activate S.A.T.S? Is it safe to have that much information plugged in at once?"

"I don't know, probably not."

"Yet you're still going to wear it all the time, aren't you?"

"Yep."

"I swear, you act like you've always been Daybreak, like that armor is your own skin."

"As far as the wasteland is concerned, I always have been and always will be."

"Why? Why give up everything you have accomplished and earned back in the Enclave? What is so important down here?"

"Aside from doing some good and saving lives, I don't really have any reason to stay down here since my curiosity about Nightfall is more of a personal interest. Right now, I'm waiting."

"Waiting for what?"

"Evidence that I won't be killed, arrested, or anything else by the Enclave if I show up."

"What if they truly do want you dead?"

"Then I'll wait for that to change. Until then, I hide out down here. That's the main reason I'm calling myself Daybreak, as a cover. I just hope they don't raid my workshop while I'm gone."

"That's...a decent plan. Sorry, I just thought you were running around without direction because it was fun."

"Well, I didn't exactly do a good job of showing otherwise. Thanks for looking out for me regardless. You really are the closest thing to a sister for me."

"Thanks, you too."

"Really, I make a good sister?"

After a moment's consideration she softly slugged my shoulder and smiled. "Doofus"

We walked on in silence, the three of us absentmindedly listening to the radio. Of course we had small conversations like 'doesn't that rock look like tree to you' and stuff like that but nothing was important enough for me to repeat here. Eventually we saw a group of structures from in the distance which foretold a settlement. As we got closer a sudden sense of danger came over me. Then we heard the gunshots, followed by screaming.

New Perk! - Radio Star - Level 1: You were on the news! Ponies are now more likely to know your name and might trust you.

Author's Note

Another chapter done, whoo! As always I'd like to thank kkat for the greatness that is Fallout Equestria and thank you to everyone of you readers. Also, I am happy to say that (at the time of writing this) by the end of next week there will be a new cover picture . Good day to you all!