Fallout: Lavender Wastelander

The meal was amazing. After two weeks of little to no food, a large plate of diced and boiled vegetables was exactly what Twilight needed. Although, she saved the brahmin meat for last.

Fluttershy, thankfully, was smiling. It was a good look. A lot better than the scowls Twilight had seen Fluttershy wearing. She decided to save discussing the tattoo or what Fluttershy had been up to for the last two weeks for later. Twilight was content to enjoy the meal with her friends and give Fluttershy a break from everything that she had been dealing with.

Well, a meal with a friend and one ex-friend. Twilight knew that she still needed to patch things up with Daniel.

“What time is it?” Twilight asked, taking a bite of the green rutabaga-like root vegetables. They tasted like boiled socks. It was still preferable to meat in Twilight’s opinion.

“It’s close to nineteen-hundred,” Fluttershy replied as she cut apart the meat on her plate. “You were asleep for a while after we pulled the shrapnel out of your knee.”

Twilight raised a brow as Daniel checked his wrist mounted computer.

“I think she means seven P.M,” he offered.

Fluttershy’s strange way of reporting time and the fact she had gone for the meat first were both unsettling. It was like Fluttershy was a whole new person. She cussed and ate meat like a human. She shot to kill and hadn’t flinched away from using a shoulder-fired weapon of mass destruction. Part of Twilight’s reluctance to talk to her friend was the nagging thought of finding out just how much she had changed. It also brought to mind the grim thought of how much her other friends would be changed by their experiences.

Twilight wondered if she had changed too. She had been trapped alone, slowly dying of hunger and radiation poisoning.

“Are we allowed to sleep here?” Twilight asked, forcing herself away from the thoughts. It was easy to pack the thoughts away, deal with them later. Fluttershy was happy, Twilight wasn’t going to destroy that.

It helped that Twilight already felt tired, despite having slept for a bit after surgery. The sleep had not been long or restful.

“I hadn't thought about that, this is a Brotherhood outpost,” Fluttershy responded. Her smile flattened to a firm line. “There might not even be enough free beds here if you two were allowed to stay. So we’re going to have to come up with a new plan. I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted. I certainly won’t be leaving for that transmitter right now.”

“No, I agree,” Daniel said. He let out a heavy sigh as he tapped his fork onto the plate Fluttershy had provided him as well. “We all need some sleep. It’s been a long day for me as well. And while I’m desperate to find my father, I know I rushed things with Twilight, and that ended with her getting hurt. I’m already two weeks behind Dad. Another day won’t turn the trail any colder than it may already be.”

Daniel looked to Twilight, who had been looking his way while he spoke.

“I’d like to apologize about everything,” Daniel said slowly. He averted his eyes a little and rubbed the back of his neck with a hand. “I was too impatient and tried to give you a crash course on Wasteland life so I could drag you with me after my father.”

“It’s okay,” Twilight blurted out. She winced and picked at her plate with a fork, turning to sheepishly look away. She had to slow herself down, and took a moment to think about what to say back. “I was too impatient trying to look for my friends and wanted to rush ahead without properly learning the lessons you were trying to teach in your… unique way. Fluttershy finally broke it to me that I was being a very over-reactionary idiot to things.”

“It seems to me we all have something in common, then,” Fluttershy said, catching both of their attentions. “We’re all impatiently searching for our loved ones in this strange land. You said you were only two weeks behind your father, right, Daniel?”

“Yes,” Daniel replied with a nod.

“Twilight and I have been here about the same time,” Fluttershy said. She smiled softly. “It’s a good sign.”

“What makes you say that?” Both Twilight and Daniel asked in almost perfect unison.

“Because,” Fluttershy said, a grin worthy of Pinkie Pie spreading on her face. “You two found me, so that means your father and our other friends can still be found. I’m sure of it.”

<>~<>~<>

Twilight felt… better. She agreed with Fluttershy and Daniel that it had been too long of a day and that everyone needed rest. She was thankful to see a more positive side of Fluttershy win out over the course of the meal. Daniel’s apology had also gone a long way to diffuse the tension she had with him.

After her meal and some small talk, Fluttershy had departed so she could talk to Sarah. She needed to discuss accompanying Daniel, as well as figure out everyone’s sleeping situation. It allowed Twilight to have a moment alone with Daniel and the two of them to start a second plate of food. Fluttershy hadn’t had to pay since the cook was thankful she had killed the behemoth.

Though the feeling wasn’t mutual among all the members present in the dining area. Twilight had overheard one or two mutters of ‘greedy muties’ coming from some of the other tables when Fluttershy ordered their second plates. Twilight ignored them, switching to the opposite side of the booth so she and Daniel could face each other without craning their necks.

An awkward silence had fallen over the pair since Fluttershy had left, the two of them more interested in eating. Twilight didn’t want to put it off any longer. Yes, he had apologized, and she had apologized, but without Fluttershy there to hold things together, it was time to see if the fence really was mended.

“I wanted to thank you again for helping me,” Twilight said, deciding to be the first to start the conversation. She stared down at her food. Her shoulders slumped as the reality of what had happened weighed down on her. “You saved my life. Not just back at Minefield, but also in the metro, even after I stormed off on you.”

“It’s nothing, really,” Daniel said with a shake of his head. “Like I said, I was impatient with you. I pushed you too hard, too fast. Flutterhsy and I talked while you were out, and I can’t deny it anymore that you two actually are from some impossibly peaceful magical other world.” He reached across the table and gave the top of Twilight’s hand a gentle, reassuring pat. “So I’ll be less extreme when teaching you from now on. Friends?”

“Friends,” Twilight said, smiling at Daniel and fully meaning it. Daniel could be a true friend after all. He was just different. From a different world with customs she had to get used to. “So when I heal up, you still want to travel with me?”

“Of course I do. Fluttershy was right when she said we have something in common. We can help each other find our families.” He chuckled and grinned. “Plus your singing voice is just too cute. I would miss it out on the road.”

The compliment sent Twilight’s heart fluttering. It was a little too early to assume the comment was him flirting, or if he was even interested in her, especially after everything, but Twilight could dream. Some of the young men and women in Canterlot High had been cute, so Twilight already knew she didn’t find humans unattractive.

“You know,” Twilight said, her heart racing as she racked her brain for a reply. She went with the first thing that came to mind and regretted it as soon as she started. She was already committed and couldn’t stop her mouth outrunning her brain. “With the two of us alone together in a cafe booth, it almost feels like a–”

“Excuse me,” a stern, young male voice interrupted. Twilight snapped her jaw shut and looked towards the speaker, her face crimson. She was glad for the interruption. Finishing up with ‘date’ would have killed her from embarrassment.

A Brotherhood of Steel soldier had reached their table without either of them noticing. He appeared to be about Daniel’s age, maybe a year or two older. He had light brown eyes and warm black hair that was maybe half an inch long. His sideburns were growing out to meet his short goatee, giving him the start of a small beard that matched his hair color. The jumpsuit he wore was similar to the one she and Fluttershy wore, though his was light orange and beige. Twilight didn’t know if there was any significance to the color difference.

“Can I help you?” Twilight carefully asked the man. There was a tension to his tone of voice and posture that Twilight didn’t like. His shoulders were squared and his jaw was set into an intense scowl that could have given Fluttershy’s earlier looks some competition.

“You’re Fluttershy’s friend, correct?” He asked, glowering down at her while ignoring Daniel’s existence entirely.

“Yes,” Twilight responded. She tried to brighten things up with a smile and held out her hand for a shake. “I’m Twilight Sparkle.”

“Initiate Danse,” he said, ignoring the offered hand. “May I have a word with you?”

“I, um… have time to chat. You can sit if you like, Daniel and I are friendly,” Twilight said, her smile faltering as she dropped her hand. She had been put on the back hoof with the handshake being snubbed.

Initiate Danse did not sit. He maintained his rigid posture while maintaining almost unblinking eye contact with Twilight.

“What are your goals?” he asked firmly.

“Excuse me?” Twilight responded. She had no idea who Initiate Danse thought he was, but Twilight already didn’t like him.

“I find it strange that a previously unknown and undocumented strain of mutants suddenly appear in multitude before infiltrating multiple cities and organizations. So far, one of your kind has established itself in Rivet City. Fluttershy has joined the Brotherhood despite its malformations. When you arrived you were dressed like a raider. I’m trying to parse how people so clearly mutated have managed to not be shot and what their goals may be.”

Initiate Danse had recited all of that with an even voice and almost within a single breath.

“It’s not from a lack of trying, on the Wasteland’s part,” Daniel said, butting into the conversation. Danse didn’t even glance his way.

“He’s right, the mayor of Megaton threatened to shoot me,” Twilight said as she shook her head. He had the gall to insinuate that she was part of some sort of nefarious plot. “And from what Fluttershy has implied, you people haven’t exactly rolled out the red carpet for her. I haven’t known the Brotherhood for long, but I share their dislike of super mutants because they murder as senselessly as raiders. But my friends and I aren’t like them, we’re just trying to fit in peacefully with you humans.”

Twilight hoped that was enough. She wasn’t going to try and explain how she was actually a four legged princess from another realm to the rude Brotherhood initiate. She finally recognized what the intensity radiating off Initiate Danse was. It was pure loathing.

“Despite its best efforts to fit in, your friend has nearly caused a second Outcast schism among the Brotherhood. Especially after becoming the lone survivor of a training mission.” Initiate Danse stated bluntly.

“What?” Twilight asked in shock. Fluttershy hadn’t mentioned that. Or had she? Was that mission the ‘her shit’ that Fluttershy had been putting off talking about?

Initiate Danse did not repeat himself, instead he elaborated further.

“Last week, your friend left to clear a nest of raiders with Paladin Rose, Knight Skald, and five other initiates. Despite it only being raiders, it and Paladin Rose were the only ones who made it back, with Paladin Rose missing an arm. Your friend was unharmed but clearly shaken up. It was debriefed, then given leave by the Elder himself. It flew away carrying a child the two had brought back with them. The official story was that the training squad was ambushed by a whole platoon of super mutants after clearing the raider nest. I doubt the story—there were no reports of mutants in those numbers in the area.”

“If Paladin Rose survived, then why did you say Fluttershy was the only survivor?” Twilight asked, trying to wrap her head around Initiate Danse’s story. Fluttershy had mentioned something about getting some leave time. Initiate Danse was giving context to too many details Fluttershy had given her for his story to be all lies.

“While Fluttershy was on leave, Paladin Rose began attacking brothers in the Citadel without warning or provocation. She was killed in her attempt to take Squire Maxson’s life, leaving Fluttershy as the only current living member of that team.”

“And you think we had something to do with it?” Twilight questioned.

“That is what I am trying to find out. The senior scribes and Elder Lyons have gone silent on the matter, choosing to sweep it under the rug. Many of us in the lower ranks want answers and justice for the fallen. I suspect Fluttershy’s rapid assignment to being taught by the Lyons’ Pride has as much to do with her own safety as it does her unnatural skill with a sniper rifle.”

“So why are you bringing this up with me? Is this supposed to be some sort of threat?” Twilight asked. She didn’t attempt to hide her hand grasping the knife she had used to cut apart her steak. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Daniel had a hand near his holster.

Initiate Danse did not break from his impassive wall-like composure.

“I am merely here to ask if you are part of the solution, or the problem,” he said before turning his back on them. He angled his head slightly to offer a final word over his shoulder as he walked away. “Although, if you are in the latter category, then yes, this is a threat.”

He left the room without another word. A few of the other Brotherhood members had been staring their way, but quickly went back to eating.

“Ugh!” Twilight snarled as she stabbed her steak, feeling the knife handle vibrate as the tip slammed into the plate beyond the meat. Her teeth ached from how hard she clenched them. “Who the hay does he think he is?”

“Someone with an entire tree up his ass,” Daniel offered, his tone as equally offended as Twilight. He crossed his arms and looked at his half-eaten meal with a scowl. “Well, now my appetite is ruined.”

“I agree, let’s find Fluttershy and get out of here. Even if we could rest here, I’m not sleeping within a mile of that… that… asshole.” Twilight cursed, her face atomic with pent up fury.

Human curse words were way too easy to use. They slipped out like water through a crack. If Twilight had to deal with people like Initiate Danse every day, she knew her dictionary of curses would be as long as Fluttershy’s.

<>~<>~<>

“So you can actually pull a wagon while flying?” Daniel asked, watching as Fluttershy roughly tossed her duffel bag into the simple wagon. The moonlight bathed the open plaza in a pale silver hue. Thankfully, all the bodies had already been cleared away.

“Yes, I can,” Fluttershy snipped. “But I can only fly at night without getting shot at.”

“Easy,” Daniel said as he stepped back. He raised both hands defensively. “I was just trying to make conversation. Get our minds off–”

“I’m fine when the threats and rudeness are directed at me,” Fluttershy said, turning on her heels to face him. “But Initiate Broomhandle went too far when he dragged you two into this.”

“Broomhandle?” Twilight asked, leaning against the wagon. It was a simple scrap metal box on two wheels. The arms sticking out the front were just wide enough for a single brahmin to fit between, making it only slightly bigger than one of Applejack’s apple carts.

“Initiate Danse,” Fluttershy seethed. “Everyone calls him broomhandle because that’s what’s shoved up his… gah, nevermind! Point is, he’s so by the books that the only reason he hasn’t joined the Outcasts is that they aren’t the ones the Elders back west sent here. He’s so intolerant of anyone who isn’t human that he calls non-feral ghouls freaks. They’re just poor innocent people, Twilight!”

“I know, Fluttershy,” Twilight said back calmly. “I’ve met a ghoul in Megaton. Gob seemed to be a nice guy.” Twilight shook her head and sighed. She had no idea why Fluttershy was still so angry. Sentinel Lyons verbally tearing Initiate Danse apart had provided a level of vicarious catharsis Twilight could barely put it into words. “Do you think we’ll have to worry about Danse, now that Sarah is reassigning him to Paladin Krieg?”

“Maybe not? I’ve never met Paladin Krieg,” Fluttershy said. Twilight watched in fascination as Fluttershy threaded a few lengths of rope around herself. She tied herself off in places that would not cut off circulation or be uncomfortable when pulling a load. Twilight wondered where Flutterhsy had learned how to make such an effective rope harness. With how well Fluttershy could tie the knots with only the moonlight, Twilight wondered if she could manage it blindfolded.

“But you’re right, it’s probably over,” Fluttershy said, her flared emotions cooling to an ember of what it had been. “I think I can get us to Rivet City in less than an hour. I just have to head south until we hit the river, then follow it southeast. There, we can get some supplies and sleep.”

“Yes, please,” Daniel said as he climbed into the wagon. He lay face down and curled up. Fluttershy had given him a warning about what to expect from a pegasus cart ride. Twilight was glad Fluttershy had done so, she recalled that Daniel was agoraphobic.

“Everyone ready?” Futtershy asked as she spread her wings. She gave them a few test flaps.

“Try not to make the flight too rough, please,” Daniel asked from the bed of the cart. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

Twilight took flight first and waited in a hover. An under-hour flight wouldn’t be too calorie intensive, especially now that she had a plate and a half of food digesting.

Fluttershy took flight a moment later, the sudden jerk of movement eliciting a gasp from Daniel.

Ascending alongside Fluttershy, Twilight couldn’t wait to see Rarity.

<>~<>~<>

The Capital Wasteland viewed from above was just as disheartening as from the ground, if not more so. The pale moonlight wrapped parts of the DC ruins in wan silver light. So much more was left a shadowy morass that the twisted rubble below looked like a roiling gray and black sea. The jagged and broken tips of buildings were like the crests of countless waves seen from above.

The fact that it was static reminded Twilight that it was concrete and steel below them instead of water. That, and the occasional points of light burning within the city, illuminating raider and super mutant camps, and the too few Brotherhood outposts.

Their group had flown high to avoid being easily seen from the ground. Even still, rather than heading directly south like Fluttershy had said, they were heading more southwest. It had quickly become clear that direct south was a death sentence. The giant obelisk lay in that direction, and it marked part of the area Flutterhsy kept referring to as the Mall. With how high up they were, they had an unobstructed view of the massive trenchworks occupied by the muties.

Fire barrels and muzzle flashes illuminated the constant ongoing firefight in that part of the city.

Another obstacle deterring them from heading south was the massive, faintly green glowing crater. It marked where the house and office of the president that had once helped run America had been before everything was blown up.

Thankfully, their height also allowed Twilight to see the moon reflecting off the river. By her best guess, the river was only about a mile and a half away. They were already passing over a large circular road.

There was more combat down below. Numerous raiders hunkered down behind sandbags as a large pack of feral ghouls swarmed them. Many of the ghouls died to landmines before reaching the sandbags the raiders had set up encircling a fountain.

“That’s Dupont Circle,” Fluttershy said next to her. She had been filling Twilight in on what landmarks she knew. The clear night and their height in the air allowed them to see miles in any direction. They could see the massive pentagon-shaped building the Brotherhood referred to as the Citadel, as well as numerous other monuments and buildings that would have been worthy of Canterlot back in their prime.

“As interesting as an air tour is…” Twilight started. She rubbed her face with a hand and decided to just come out with what was on her mind. “After we found you and Sarah, you said we would talk about what happened when we were away from the Brotherhood. We’re the only ones up here.”

“Not right now,” Fluttershy snapped sharply, “Rarity needs to know as well, I kept her in the dark and I don’t want to explain twice.”

“Okay, I won’t pry,” Twilight said. The questions of what exactly had happened burned in Twilight’s mind. Why had Fluttershy kept Rarity ‘in the dark’? Was Initiate Danse telling the truth about some sort of cover up, rather than inviting a reason to hate them?

Thankfully they were making good progress. It would take less than two minutes to reach the river. Twilight saw a small island with several statues of soldiers striking poses atop a large plinth. Twilight considered it would be best to get Fluttershy back on a topic she wanted to be on.

“Can you tell me about that landmark?” Twilight asked, pointing it out.

“That’s the Anchorage Memorial,” Fluttershy said. Twilight took it as a good sign that Fluttershy sounded less bitter.

“You two can see it from here?” Daniel asked. At some point during the flight he had summoned up the nerve to start looking around. “I haven’t seen a thing either of you pointed out since we started flying.”

“Well, I’m a full pegasus,” Fluttershy said, her tone smoothing out to a friendly, conversational tone. “Twilight is part pegasus. I think your eyesight is as good as mine, right?”

Twilight nodded.

“So you two have better eyesight than a human?” Daniel asked. “Can either of you tell me what else a pegasus has over a human? Besides flying, of course.”

“A lot of it centers around flying,” Twilight replied. She adopted a teacherly cadence. “I’m not as good as a true pegasus since I was born a unicorn, and alicorns trade a bit of everything to be all three main Equestrian races at once.”

“So as the only true pegasus here right now, I can tell you we know what direction magnetic north is in,” Flutershy explained. “My sense of balance is also better than Twilight’s, though not as good as Rainbow Dash’s. It helps us keep from being disoriented too much if we get caught in a wind gust. Oh, and to put it in words from a textbook… ‘complex thoughts and problem solving involving three dimensional environments is trivial to a pegasus’.”

“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” Twilight said with a nod.

“Twilight, you were the author of that textbook,” Fluttershy said with a dry chuckle.

“Oh… right, so I really couldn’t have said it better because I was the one who said it in the first place, meaning that was the level of skill I coul–”

“Twilight, you’re overexplaining,” Fluttershy cut her friend off with a giggle.

“So if I’m hearing this right,” Daniel said, “you’re a good shot because you can just think of a bullet as a very fast, very small pegasus needing to fly from point A to point B?”

“Somewhat, but I’ve also put in a lot of time at the range. And it doesn't even have to be a small pegasus I have to imagine,” Fluttershy said. “How fast has Rainbow Dash gone, again?”

“Mach one at the very least, since she can create sonic rainbooms,” Twilight replied.

The thump from the bed of the cart drew Twilight’s attention. Daniel had collapsed backwards with a dramatic groan.

“That’s it, I’m done! I can’t refute that might actually be true because I’m literally riding a flying wagon right now… you ponies hurt my brain.”

<>~<>~<>

Rivet City was… impressive. Even with the front third of the ship snapped off and canted at an angle in the water, the other two thirds of the beached ship were a sight to behold. The size and scale alone would have put any vessel back in Equestria to shame many times over.

“Interesting ship design,” Twilight observed as Fluttershy descended. They were heading for a landing near a two story metal tower. The tower sat close to the edge of the tall retaining wall on the bank of the river. A bridge extended from the ship to the tower, serving as the only access point Twilight could see. “Why does it have a flat deck with the wheelhouse shoved off to one side of the ship?”

“Humans can’t fly, so we used machines to do it,” Daniel said. He was staring down at the ship. They were close enough his human eyes could see it in the pale light of the moon. It helped that light poured out of several rusted-through holes in the thick metal plating. “It’s a ship designed to carry aircraft. Never thought I’d see one outside of a history book.”

“Oh, interesting,” Twilight said with a smile.

Less than a minute passed before the cart landed with a solid thump on its metal wheels. Daniel leapt from the cart as soon as it hit the ground. Falling to his knees, he dramatically kissed the dirty asphalt road they had used as a landing strip. He came back up spitting and hacking while wiping his mouth.

Twilight rolled her eyes at Daniel’s antics as she hovered over the ground for a few seconds. Slowly lowering herself down, she landed with most of her weight on her unbraced left leg. As she watched Fluttershy untie herself from the cart, Twilight thought of a question. “Why didn’t we land on the deck meant for aircraft? Seems perfect for us fliers.”

“The security chief of Rivet City gave me explicit instructions not to bypass the route everyone else has to take into the city… again,” Fluttershy replied. She reached into the cart and retrieved her duffel bag and sniper rifle.

Daniel jumped to his feet. “With the bridge as the only way on, I can see why they would be mad if something new they never thought of starts to bypass it.”

He gave his mouth one final wipe with his arm.

“I’m wondering why the bridge is still extended out this late at night,” Fluttershy said as she adjusted the straps of her bag and rifle on her shoulders. She headed towards the ramp.

Twilight didn’t comment as she followed behind.

“Are we just going to leave the cart?” Daniel asked, taking up the rear of the group.

“If I get permission to move it onto the ship, then I will,” Fluttershy said. She reached the ramp, and the group began to travel up the incline.

“–thank you for agreeing to meet with me this late at night, darlings.” Twilight’s ears perked at the sound of Rarity’s voice coming from the top of the tower.

“Jack and Gibbs say you offer jobs that pay,” a gruff male voice responded. “They vouched for you.”

Fluttershy slowed down her ascent, Twilight noticed and fought down her urge to rush ahead, following Fluttershy’s example. While it was wrong to snoop, it was also rude to interrupt a meeting. Twilight could wait.

“Yes, your friends have proved reliable in getting clothes and equipment for me,” Rarity responded, “But now I have a job that will require your skills from the Talon Company. I don’t have a name, but I have a sketch.”

Twilight heard the rustle of a large piece of thick paper.

“Guy looks like a real piece of work,” another man said.

“He is. Five thousand caps. I will put a thousand down upfront, and I want him alive. I won’t begin to describe what he did to that child.”

“Fuck,” Fluttershy muttered under her breath. In a sudden burst of movement, Fluttershy tore off in a sprint up the ramp.

Twilight spread her wings to fly after her. Daniel ran behind them. Reaching the top of the platform only a second behind Fluttershy, Twilight could see three men to their left. Two of the men were in concrete gray combat armor, a blue diamond painted the right breast. The third was in black armor with a white talon painted in the same spot as the diamonds.

Rarity stood to the right side of the tower, in front of the group of three men. She levitated a large sack in her magic. She was dressed in a flawless blue dress, her hooves painted blue to match, and a large bonnet with half the brim pulled up and pinned in place with a feather.

“Rarity, do NOT send them after him!” Fluttershy ordered. “They will die!”

“Good heavens, Fluttershy! Whatever is the matter with– is that Twilight!?” Rarity gasped, throwing a palm against her head like she was about to faint. “Oh my goodness, come here!”

Rarity gracefully rushed to embrace Twilight in a sudden and firm hug.

“Darling, you look just positively dreadful!” Rarity said, voice cracking with tears. “That horn and leg brace, oh my. The wounded wastelander chic is not your style. I simply must get you inside for some rest,” She broke from the hug and gestured to Twilight. “I also see you’re in one of those tacky Brotherhood jumpsuits, ugh, we will have to fix that post haste. Please tell me you haven’t joined their little organization? Fluttershy dear has run herself ragged, throwing herself into the character of a human soldier.”

“Whoa, easy Rarity, it’s good to see you too,” Twilight exclaimed, backpedaling a little as the barrage had nearly overloaded her senses, “but one thing at a time. Firstly, who are the men?”

“Haven’t you heard?” The leftmost man in gray combat armor asked with a chuckle. “We’re Belle’s Butchers.”

“Really?” Twilight asked as she planted her face firmly in her palm. Had Rarity gone crazy as well?

“They’re mercenaries, Darling, they do things for money. That dreadful name was their idea, and I’ve refused to pay them to change it,” Rarity explained, throwing her nose in the air with a scoff. It didn’t last as she opened the sack she had dropped on the ground and levitated out three clumps of bottle caps. She floated one clump over to each man. “I have teams scouring the ruins looking for you and the other girls, as well as sewing equipment. You arrived with the mercenaries still here, so I won’t cheat them out of the contract for finding you.”

“Is this woman for real?” The one in black armor asked, taking the handful of floating bottle caps.

“What did we tell you, Hoss? Gal pays an honest wage. Beats trying to jump trigger happy do-gooders in the Talon Company.”

“So you actually took a hint after the last two teams,” Daniel said under his breath.

“So what’s all this about you paying an insane amount for someone to be brought back alive?” Twilight asked. “It sounded like a raider.”

“Don’t answer that until the mercenaries leave,” Fluttershy said in a near growl. She stepped up to the one holding the paper Rarity had given him and snatched it from him. “You aren’t involved. Leave it that way.”

“Excuse me,” The mercenary said. “We’re perfectly capable of handling one scarfaced bozo.”

“That bozo is in possession of a weapon that can disintegrate you with one hit. His subordinate killed five Brotherhood initiates and a fully armored Knight to cover his escape with the weapon.” Fluttershy poked the man in the chest armor with a finger. The mercenary backed up, his butt hitting a metal railing at the top of the tower.

“What!?” Rarity gasped. “You never told me a thing. I had to get what that monster looked like from Melissa. Boys, that contract is called off. I can’t send you into that much danger in good conscience. To make it up to you, I’m offering an additional two hundred caps for safely finding my friends and directing them here. If they can’t make it, get them to write something down that I’d know was from them and bring it to me.”

“That’s acceptable,” The mercenary said, his bravado shaken. “Come on, Hoss, Gibbs, time to find her friends and make a bucket of caps.”

The mercenaries quickly left. Once they were gone, Twilight turned to Fluttershy, who had opened her duffle bag and pulled out an orange and tan plastic rectangle.

“Okay, we need some explanations. Now,” Twilight said, “You’ve been dodgy and way too… just… not yourself. What’s going on, Shy? We can help you.”

“If you want to help, start by listening to this.” She held the orange and tan rectangle out towards Daniel.

“A holotape?” Daniel asked, taking the plastic device.

“One of many. Black Knight Bernard and his master liked to talk.”

“I assume the tape covers who those are?” Twilight asked as Daniel inserted the tape into a slot of his pip-boy. The speaker cracked as it began to play.

“Field Scribe John Glenn’s report, November 11th, 2275. Knight Bernard discovered a strange book that I need advice on. Title is located on the spine, no author named. Cover is black in color. Leather is unusually pristine, almost looks like new. I know we’re supposed to preserve knowledge, but I think this is a book that should be burned. The spine calls this thing the Nalanakrivmir. Whatever language that is from, I do not know. What I do know is that the written contents within are in English and the drawings are of a highly unsettling nature. I’ve excluded it from the last shipment of books until I get a response back on what to do with it. I’d rather this not end up getting swiped by some junior scribe for a private collection. Some of the things in this book are absolutely depraved. Things like rape, torture, and human sacrifices to summon demons, raise the dead, that type of stuff. Awaiting response, Field Scribe Glenn, out.”

As the holotape ended with a beep, Fluttershy looked between Twilight, Rarity, and Daniel. The moon behind her casting her face in shadow.

“Scribe Glenn is a Brotherhood traitor who went missing in action nearly two years ago,” Fluttershy said in a low growl. “He escaped as we fought and killed Black Knight Bernard. The two are the only humans I’ve personally seen using magic so far… very dark magic.”