Fallout Equestria: Commonwealth

"Everycreature likes to be listened to. You just need to take the time to understand them."

-------

"Fast... is this one going to be a problem?" Zed broke the silence that hung in the air finally, raising a questioning brow at the large green alicorn in the Shadow Spade outfit currently rubbing my cheek with hers and nickering happily.

Virescent turned to his voice at least, offering me the opportunity to bolt like my tail was on fire and my ass was catching. I heard her cry out after me, but all that was in my mind was the memory of a giant sized version of the same mare smashing walls down to catch me in Fort Loyalty. I had no idea why or how she had shown up in Neighlem wearing an old world detective outfit, but I wasn't sticking around to find out after our last encounter.

Modesty was forgotten as I dashed out of the private bath and into the wide open public area, galloping down the trail of confused and dazed zebras the green alicorn had apparently left in her wake. I didn't care about their questioning looks following me slipping down the tiles, I just wanted to get away before I was caught and rutted to death.

'...NO!... WANT!... NOW!... STOP!!!...'

Suddenly my hooves stopped obeying me and I tumbled right into a trio of old zebra stallions bathing in a corner of the massive bath. I opened my wings and scrambled to flap my way out, then crashed against the lip of the pool when they snapped shut again in midair.

"Fucking really?! Stop fighting me!" I snarled and went back to running, making a weaving course for the exit with my legs randomly giving out on me.

'...Stop running!... Want filly!...'

"Wait! Fast stop, please! I... you misunderstand!" Ignoring Virescent's voice calling after me and gulping at the thunder of her hooves catching up, I tried to summon my lightning walking spell and got a fizzling spark from my horn.

The Shroud's spirit was doing everything it could to slow me down, throwing a tantrum in my head as I hit the door out. The furious chant of; '...WANT FILLY!... WANTWANTWANT!!!...' was definitely not helping. As far as the spirit was concerned, any of Jade's more than willing sisters were a golden opportunity, but after last time, Virescent was considered the jackpot. The overwhelming need pounding in my head made it difficult to focus on making my body obey me, though I was grateful it was near noon and the spirit was at its weakest. If she found me in the middle of the night, there was a good chance I'd get no choice in the matter.

Even drunkenly weaving my way with my limbs fighting me the whole way, I thought I was going to make it outside at least. My relief was short lived however, when I burst into the lobby of the ancient zebra bath house, I ran into an extremely sturdy pony with no give to the impact, falling back to the floor and turning a dazed and panicked look up to the face of somepony I expected to see even less than Virescent, Nick Hearts n' Hooves...

Blinking his odd yellow on black eyes down to me scrambling to get up again, Nick straightened his wrinkled tie and chuckled amiably with his foreleg held out as a helping hoof. "Whoa there mac, where's the fire?"

"N-Nick? What...?"

I stammered in confusion, but that was as far as I got before I was tackled by a ton of green alicorn. We rolled across the tiled floor in a tangle, bowling over several zebras waiting to enter the bath house and ending up with Virescent on top and pinning me in place with an exasperated snort. I trembled and fought to get loose again, but the Shroud wasn't having it, gaining strength with a lot of warm filly pressed against me and firmly latching on with my traitorous forelegs.

'...HAHA!.. Victory!... Filly mine!!...'

I clenched my eyes shut and gave in to the inevitable with my mane itching madly, but to my surprise a breathless voice spoke directly in my head, surprising both me and the Shroud's spirit. (Fast! Stop fighting! I am not here to... d-do that again... Well, I am, but not in the way you fear! I'm sorry for before, just calm down and talk to me!)

"T-Talk?" Warily cracking open one eye, I found Virescent muzzle to muzzle and giving a very concerned look down to me.

Her green eyes were anxious and warm though, not cold or crazed as I'd last seen. The pink bands flashing in her corneas were worrisome, but she had me pinned and wasn't doing anything but keeping me in place. Instead she seemed honestly distressed for me, the tickle of her psychic connection brushing my mind full of hope and worry.

"Just talk... Please Fast. Y-You promised, remember? I... I've changed since we last met, I swear. If I let you go, will you not run away from me?" Virescent finally spoke out loud, pulling away cautiously and letting me sit up under her.

"Well, not the touching reunion I was expecting dollface. You alright there Fast? Sorry about my assistant, the big sweetheart has really been looking forward to tracking you down. I wouldn't have helped her manage it if I thought she was going to be a problem though, give her a chance huh? How 'bout we get out of these nice zebra's way and go have a little chat, eh pally?" Nick gave a cough to end my dumbfounded staring, nodding out to the crowd of muttering customers watching the show.

A panting and very embarrassed looking Zed caught up and agreed with a gruff snort, facehoofing at the chaos we'd caused in the peaceful bath house he'd had to work to get me in. "Yes, leaving would be best Fast... If she's willing to behave, I'm interested in talking to this mare myself. You look different now, but you're the priestess from Hexinton, aren't you? The one who tempted my brother away..."

To my surprise, Virescent winced under Zed's hard grey stare. She stood and stepped away sheepishly, allowing me to stand with one half of me tensed to run again and the other half fighting to pounce on her. The hard and unfriendly glares of the zebras decided me, making any excuse to get out of here a good one.

"R-Right... Just talk, that's ok then I guess.... No going crazy or anything though Virescent, or I'm gone. I think..."

Meeting my dubiously held out foreleg in a light hoofbump, Virescent beamed and bowed her head. Her tinkle of laughter only confusing me and riling the Shroud up even more as she agreed happily. "Yes! Of course Fast. And I prefer Vira if you please. Oh I have so much to tell you!"

"Ooooook then..."

After a lot of apologies and caps to cover the damages Nick and Zed split up paying, we left the bath house with me looking somewhat sane and put together again. I felt more ready to face Jade with my fur and armor scrubbed free of gore anyway, plus I was better able to stand up to all the attention we attracted as we made our way through the hustle and bustle of Neighlem Village.

The infamous Shadowknight in their midst had already gotten the residents on edge and watching my every move, it was a lot worse with a big green alicorn prancing along at my side and burbling. Virescent, or Vira as she kept correcting me, was actually a welcome distraction once I figured out she really wasn't out to capture me like her sisters.

To my surprise she was actually.... pleasant... It was weird after our previous run ins. I kept an ear trained on her as she babbled away about her adventures on far off Fog Harbor with Nick chiming in occassionally, but mostly I found myself staring at her curvy form and trying to reconcile it with the mare I'd met before. Maaaaybe I was doing a little ogling too, but that was mostly the Shroud and his pent up desire trying to take over.

She was different... The more I looked, the starker that difference was. Her dark green coat was several shades lighter than the near black it had been before for one, now an alluring forest green instead. Her long mane and tail were mostly the same dark green, but had a wide lilac stripe that wasn't there before too. Mostly it was her eyes I found my own drawn to however. Even shaded under the wide brim of her purple hat they sparkled with kindness and warmth, totally different than the cold and merciless glare she'd had before.

As I stared, I noticed pink roses blooming on Virescent's cheeks and realized the psychic mare could hear every thought running through my head. I facehoofed and made to apologize, for the Shroud's constant run of lewd demands if nothing else, but she cut me off with a cute giggle, shaking her head softly. "It's alright Fast. I didn't want to point out everything for you, so I'm flattered you noticed on your own. I hope you'll believe I really have changed though. I did as you advised and learned a lot, about myself and about friendship."

"Oh yeah mac, she's been through a lot. She's my precious mare friday now, cracking the Fog Harbor case would've been a lot harder without her." Nick lit a cigarette and spoke from a few paces behind us with Zed, giving Vira a genuine smile of real friendship.

"I only did as you said Fast, I tried being a good pony. Everything that happened, everything I learned and the wonderful friends I made all came from that request. Thank you..." The green alicorn smiled beautifully in response, leaning down to nuzzle tentatively.

I managed not to pull away or press for more as the Shroud demanded, scratching my itchy mane in confusion as I tried to work it all out. "Er... well, I think you're giving me too much credit Vires... Vira. I just asked you to try, you're the one who did all... all that stuff. It sounds like you really did a lot of good too. Which is... umm.. good! So you tracked me down because... er... D-Do you still want...?"

"To mate with you? Yes, very much!" Vira's immediate, completely shameless answer made me turn beet red even as my fangs sprang out in a leer, though she continued in a softer tone full of concern as she caught the Shroud's voice roaring its approval. "However... I have learned much about love and relationships. I realize what I tried to do to you before was... wrong.... I apologize. I have no wish to force the issue now, I prefer to grow closer and explore those feelings with you, mating can come later."

"R-Really? You're not gonna..."

'WANT FILLY NOW!! WANTWANTWANTWANTWANT!!!'

The worry in Vira's eyes only deepened as I tried to answer and winced at the Shroud's howl in my head, her brows coming down as she leaned in close to stare and speak in a serious tone. "No. Besides, I wish to mate with you, not... whatever that voice in your mind is... Fast, what is wrong with you? I can sense your struggle with... the Shrouded Stallion? The... the r-real one?"

"How do you know the spirit's identity? You don't seem surprised there is a real Shroud possessing him..." Zed grumbled distrustfully, still giving Vira a hard frown even after hearing her tale of becoming a better mare.

"Easy Zed, she can hear it, like Ivy remember? Er... though I guess he's right, you're taking the whole ancient spirit of destruction in my head remarkably well Vira."

Oddly enough, Vira's eyes brightened and she started rumaging in her saddlebags as she answered, speaking in a fairly chipper tone considering the subject. "Oh, I met a pony who knew of the real Shroud from before the war. Mr. Cane was very surprised to learn there was a stallion taking up the name and worried it might be the spirit I can sense in you. I told him not to fear, but it seems I was wrong..."

"Yeah, a lot happened and... wait a minute... Mr. Cane?! Vira... was this Mr. Cane you met like a ghoul or something? Was he..."

Giggling at my dumbfounded, hopeful question, Vira pulled a rolled up scroll of paper from her bags and presented it to me with a flourish, nodding with glee as I unrolled it in my magic and my jaw dropped. "Something like that, yes Fast... He was indeed the Mr. Cane you leap to think of, the creator of the comics you love so much. I must say, I prefer that foalish glee I feel from you to your state of mind so far. He was a very nice pony and proud you had taken up the mantle of his fictional hero. Here, he even gave me a gift for you!"

I stopped dead on the busy cobblestone street, feeling my eyes widen as I looked over the unfurled poster Vira had floated to me. I might have doubted it otherwise, but the proof was in the pudding. It was like a Shrouded Stallion comic cover, showing a much shorter and scrawnier Shroud than the comics, paired with a dashing looking Vira in her Shadow Spade outfit, flying together in the night sky above the prewar towers of Trotson lit up below them. It was real... there was no mistaking the artistic style, but just in case it was signed at the bottom with a signature I knew very well; 'To my biggest fan, keep being a hero Fast, --Bobbing Cane.'

Vira squeaked when I finally stopped goggling and lunged forward with a exuberant shout, grabbing the large green alicorn in a firm hug and jabbering with 'Be Unwavering!' resonating strongly at her generosity. "Holy Luna! You actually MET BOBBING CANE!?! Like the actual pony!? What's he like? I bet he's awesome, does he still make comics? Are there 200 years of back issues to catch up on!? Where is he!? How'd you meet him? Can I? He's on Fog Harbor? Oh just knowing he's still around is great! That poster is amazing, thank you so much Vira!"

Returning the surprise attack hug, Vira gave a husky murmur in my ear that made my mane redouble its itching. "You are very welcome Fast, I'm glad you like it. He also gave me other gifts, but I think it best to give you those some other time, p-privately..."

I wasn't sure what she meant by that, but Zed's gruff snort prevented me from asking, his stern stare enough to break us apart. "Ahem! It's nice to see Fast more like his old self, but don't think that means I trust you 'Priestess'... You took my brother, you foalnapped Miss Jade, you tried to capture Fast and worked with the Insititute to turn innocent ponies into their twisted mutants. Even if your wild tale of redemption is true, you have much to atone for."

Vira's face fell and her ears drooped at Zed's harsh tone, but Nick spoke up in her defense before she could stammer a reply, chomping on his cigarette with a glare to my zebra friend. "Don't know nothin' about all that pal, just know what I've seen with my own robotic peepers. Vira's a good kid, she don't deserve no guff about her past when she's tried so hard to change just since I've known her."

Vira surprised me again by her genuine contrition, shushing the pale synth and bowing her head to the frowning Zed. "It's alright Nick, I knew I'd have to make up for some things. I apologize about your brother and our own dealings back in Hexington, Fast's zebra friend. For everything I did before... I was... a different mare then. I know that's a poor excuse, but I'll do anything I can to make up for what I've done to you too."

Still puffing away on his smoke like a simmering locomotive, Nick grumbled in reply. "Still don't like it dollface, you paid enough for who you were, who you are now is a damn fine filly who doesn't need to keep paying off that tab. Give my mare friday a chance, she's earned it."

Zed huffed and looked up to Vira's nervous smile and outstretched hoof dubiously, but eventually a glance over to Nick seemed to decide him. The synth and the zebra must have developed some trust while they were investigating Vira's old church back in Diamond City, as Zed met Vira's foreleg in a curt hoofbump and his stony expression softened as he grunted. "It's Zed. As for the past... I suppose we all deserve second chances, don't we Fast?"

Considering all the horrible shit I'd done lately, I couldn't really argue. I was feeling pretty guilty for doubting the hopeful looking alicorn filly shuffling her hooves anxiously too. Our mental connection and all that came with the weak form of unity more than enough to give her the benefit of the doubt.

"Er... yeah, I hope so anyway. It sounds like you definitely do anyway Vira. I'm not too sure about myself though. Really, I know you went through a lot to find me, but I don't think it's a good idea for you guys to hang around. I'm dangerous and I..."

Vira's large green pinion feather shushed me before I could really try warning her off, the alicorn filly shook her head and simply smiled as she overrode me with a little of the single minded determination she'd shown back on Fort Loyalty. "No. I came to find you and learn more about romance. I do not care about any danger, I insist on remaining at your side. I've learned building a relationship requires closeness and being there for each other, that is what I will do. Besides, I can sense you need my help... you thought as much before you saw me Fast, I heard your call through Unity. Please, rely on me... tell me everything."

Looking up to her earnest green eyes, I sighed and gave in. As Jade so frequently tried to remind me, sometimes I had to not take everything on my own shoulders and let others help me. I tried to warn her, but our mental connection made it crystal clear Vira wouldn't leave. If she was determined to help me, I should just accept it gratefully for once.

"A-Alright Vira, it's a long story though..."

Giving another bright giggle, Vira tipped her hat with a wink and smiled warmly in response. "Well then, it's lucky I am capable of engaging in a little Unity shortcut, hmm?"

Looking for a place to try our psychic experiment in peace, Zed led us through the busy market area of Neighlem and to the cliffs overlooking the sea, eventually arriving at a rusty old seaside diner called Mama Dolce's. The salty air had done a real number on the modular metal construction that reminded me forcibly of Drumline Diner, but the zebras had patched and repaired the old eatery over the years enough that I wondered how much of the original construction even remained.

It was fairly nice for wasteland dining anyway, selling exotic smelling food and doing a brisk business. Luckily they had outdoor seating too, an area that only a few creatures used to scarf down their food quickly in the chilly winter breeze coming off the Celestial Sea. That meant we could take an out of the way table and not bother the superstitious customers, the only reason that Zed was able to get the proprietors to serve me at all. I still suspected they spit in my food, but I wasn't really there for a taste of the local flavors anyway.

Sitting at the rickety outdoor table horn to horn with Vira, I wasn't really there at all. The two of us were delving through my recent memories, giving the green alicorn the cliff notes version of losing my mind and all that had happened since we last met. I started leaking tears as I got to the parts about Glitter, the numb despair when I thought she was gone, the days of just wandering and killing, the monstrous things I'd done like wiping out Covenant...

Vira wasn't bothered however, curling her wing over my shuddering back to hug and nuzzle at these points in silent encouragement that came with her warm and calming thoughts in my head. (My friend Longfellow, he lost his daughter long ago and it nearly killed him and his wife, so I... I understand Fast. Remember too, I know all about being bad and second chances, right? You can always turn things around and try to be better, that's what you taught me.)

(Easier said than done... You had to work really hard, didn't you Vira? It seems like you found some really good friends to help though.) Answering her in the mental limbo of Unity, I smiled to myself as the give and take of our connection let me see the ponies who had helped the lost alicorn find her way on the mysterious island of Fog Harbor. I only got flashes and impressions, but they were all so positive and warm I found myself feeling a little hope again as I took a lesson from Vira's experiences. (I guess I've got good friends to help too, so thanks for this Vira.)

(I'm happy to help however I can Fast, especially after seeing all you've been through... It... it hurts me to know how you've suffered...) The rush of sympathy and caring I felt coming from Vira both soothed and hurt, her mental voice cracking as she took it all in. She still seemed oddly happy as she continued however, her powerful thoughts turning warm and fluttery as she murmured mentally. (I learned that is a part of love as well Fast... sharing both pleasures and pains with your special somepony... I am glad I am able to do so, despite the terrible things that have happened to you. I'm even happier to learn I may help in a more substantial way now that I am caught up. Do you wish me to try to recover your memories of this Grandfather-pony and how you came to be possessed by this annoying spirit of yours?)

'..Not annoying!... Lonely... Want... Feel... Touch!... Mate!...'

I felt Vira flush at the Shroud's disgruntled snort and needy whining, her internal nicker both amused and conflicted as she gave an offhoofed answer. (Perhaps not annoying, but very pester-y spirit. I wish to spend time with Fast, not you. If you wish for... f-for more intimate contact, you must not bother us and allow me to work. I am not trying to hurt or... what is that word you keep thinking of? Exorcise, yes, I will not try to exorcise you. Fast seeks answers though, allow me to help him find them. If you want me to that is Fast?)

Giving a tired smile at how well Vira handled the Shroud and got him to sullenly shut up, I nodded hopefully as I answered. (If you're up to it Vira... I don't know what my Grandpa did to my head, but Ivy said it's a strong mental block and she couldn't break it. I do really want to know though, so... h-have at it.)

Instantly I felt the intimidating psychic power Vira possessed crank up in intensity, a tight beam of emerald focus that banished the shadows in my mind and went right for the blank in my memories I just couldn't get past. Her voice was strained and it felt like an earthquake in my head, but Vira didn't hesitate for an moment. (Hold on then... this may be unpleasant...)

Gossamer wings, bright skies full of colorful specks, a cloud town... Images flashed behind my eyelids when Vira bore down, snapshots of memories I couldn't access flitting by tantalizingly close.

(C'mon.... you can do it Vira! I can almost remember...) I grunted through the increasing headache pounding across my temples, gritting my teeth and lending my will to the psychic mare.

(I'm trying! My, my... I've never seen a block like this before. It seems my sister Ivy was right about one thing, it is not easy to break through. I don't want to cause any more damage to your mind when it is already so fractured either...) Vira hissed back through the effort, determination and worry clear in her voice as she kept pushing.

My grandparents house! I saw the tidy little cloud cottage for an instant and felt a bit of the foalhood elation I'd always feel at a trip to see them. The exterior changed in a swirl of color to the interior, more flashes of the prewar home slipping by rapidly as I tried to remember this particular trip. It all went too fast though, the living room changed to the kitchen, then the dining room table with Grandma Res' doilies, then the bed in mom's old room, then... then a haze that felt like dreaming, followed by more imagery of the house, but now dark and quiet.

Slipping down the stairs to the living room, creeping through the dark house to the short hall by the kitchen, the reinforced pink door at the end looming larger and larger until it stood like a monolith in my memory. I stared at the terminal locked portal, knowing from my wasteland era visit what lay beyond... Grandpa's workshop. His lab away from the Institute...

Finally the pink door swung open with a beep, revealing not the cluttered garage I expected, but a swirling maw of inky blackness that rushed out with a growl. Instantly I felt the connection between myself and Vira collapse, the whole vision falling apart like a nightmare as I fell back to reality with a yelp.

Opening my eyes and shaking my head woozily, I focused on the green alicorn sitting before me and forgot my frustration before I voiced it. Vira was panting and her horn sparked, slight bags hung under her bright green eyes and she looked exhausted.

She was still apologetic, despite how obviously hard she had tried. "I am... sorry Fast... Phew... Give me a moment and I will try again, I'm sure I can break past it, but it will take time."

"How 'bout you take a breather there dollface? Look like you went ten rounds with Rockhoof. All this craziness back on the mainland is a lot to take in, huh?" Nick's voice spoke up before I could, drawing on a cigarette from his seat at the small outdoor table beside Zed. The two of them had been covering all that had happened recently the old fashioned way while Vira and I were out of it, so even the grizzled detective looked a little stunned.

"He's right Vira, rest up and we can try again later. It's ok, thanks for trying."

Nick patted Vira's hoof as his voice turned serious and his eyes held mine. "Have some faith pal, Vira hasn't failed yet when it comes to the mental mumbo jumbo, just give her some time. Besides, you two may wanna hold off on the next attempt. I was just telling Zed here, we picked up a tail..."

Vira and I both tilted our heads at Nick's declaration, following his unconcerned muzzle jerk over his shoulder to spot a pretty obvious spy. Zed facehoofed as we blinked at the sight of striped pigtails and suspicious teal eyes peeking over a dented old trashcan nearby.

"I'm sorry about her, stealth and subtlety are not Xiayou's strengths." Zed groaned when the poorly hidden filly eeped and ducked behind her trashcan, then turned to her long tail still obviously poking out and huffed. "You can come out Xia, everyone can see you..."

"N-No you can't!" Her immediate reply was so stubbornly silly I couldn't help but snort laughter, enough of an insult to draw the red faced filly out just to counter it with a shout. "Fine, I am here! Stop laughing demon! I-I'm just keeping an eye on you is all!"

I raised an eyebrow and smirked at the way Xiayou's teal eyes flicked to Zed, then shrugged and scooched a little closer to Vira. Ignoring Vira's delighted whinny, I waved a foreleg to the empty spot between Zed and I and replied in a sigh. "Well, your cover is blown, you may as well come out and spy up close. You can team up with Zed on making sure I don't go on a rampage or anything."

The zebra filly huffed and shuffled her hooves with a frown on her blushing face, but the temptation of the spot beside Zed proved even stronger than her dislike of me. Sticking her nose up, Xiayou dragged a rusty stool over and sat with her forelegs crossed over her chest defensively, leaning as far away from me as possible as she sneered back to Vira and I. "You and your big mare there already did! They were still recovering at the bath house when I left to follow you! I see one of you finally found him, are you going to take him away like your kind keeps promising?"

Tilting her head curiously, Vira replied a polite and curious voice. "Promising? You've seen my sisters here before miss? Looking for Fast?"

"Of course, you show up every few days snooping around. Since we don't want the Shadowknight here anyway, Elder Pandora said it's fine for you to take him if you find him in our territory. So? Are you here to take him away or what? Why haven't you yet?" Xiayou rolled her eyes and answered in a snort, picking at Zed's remaining hay fries absently.

I gulped at her dismissive answer and instantly found my eyes flicking everywhere, half because of my sudden sense of dread and half because of the Shroud's eager interest. Jade's sisters had been coming here... looking for me...

Vira smiled and fluttered her wings happily at the news however, leaning across the table to answer. "I'm here to help Fast, not take him away like my sisters. While I can sense your panic Fast, that may be an answer to your memory problem. The full might of unity with multiple sisters networked together would make it easier to break through the block, but getting that many of my sisters to help without expecting something from you in return is a tall order."

I thumped my chin to the table and groaned, frowning at the thought. She was right, if her sisters were close enough to help, they were close enough to catch me... Not something the Shroud found as a problem in the slightest, but I'd never get back to Jade and Glitter if I was captured as some kind of breeding stud in their tower.

"With the price those dames offered me to track you down for em, lemme know if you get desperate and decide to turn yourself in pally." Nick chuckled and tipped me a wink that made me cringe, shuddering at the idea Umbra had gotten up to trying to hire help to find me.

"Er... sorry, not happening... Thanks for not taking the job though Nick. It's a good idea Vira, I just can't let them catch me."

Flashing me a brilliant smile, Vira nickered and leaned down to nuzzle happily. "Just a thought, I'm fine with keeping you all to myself... I do look forward to seeing my sisters again though, even if you don't Fast. I still haven't even returned to Trinity Tower to apologize to them."

I patted the big filly's back and grinned to her at that, sympathizing with the longing to see family in her voice. "I'm sure they'll be happy to see you again, it's great you wanna go back and say you're sorry Vira. Er... I think I'll leave actually going to Trinity Tower to you, but I'll be rooting for you. We'll all go find Jade in Goodneighbor first, so we'll be in the neighborhood anyway, just have to... ugh... do what my co-pilot wants to do here first..."

"Delving some dungeon for a mystical artifact, right? Well, guess I better find the local Red Rocket and write Ellie then, mail her the caps from the Fog Harbor case and let her know I'll be awhile. Cripes, I better ask if she's alright and whether we've even got an office anymore after what Zed here told me about the big shindig in D.C. Fast." Nick slugged back his chipped mug of coffee and tugged his rumpled tie in a nervous gesture.

The reminder I might have been partially responsible for destroying his home or even hurting his secretary friend in Diamond City stung, only making me feel worse with his implied intention of hanging around to help me along with his assistant. Nick had been away for the last few weeks of insanity in the Commonwealth and lived right at the epicenter of my campaign of destruction that had started in Diamond City, but was still apparently ready to lend a hoof.

"Look, Nick... you don't have to hang around here, your friend might need your help a lot more than I do. Like I tried to tell you, the things I'm doing, hell just being around me.... they're both dangerous. I've got locator tags for both you and Vira now, so you two could go ahead and we could..."

"No." Vira shook her head and sipped at a funny looking green soda bottle she'd retrieved from her bags rather than order, shaking her head and closing her eyes in a cutely stubborn expression as she continued firmly. "I waited this long to find you again Fast, I'm not leaving. Especially when you need me! Though he is right Nick, Ellie might need you too. You should go and..."

"You ain't leavin' your buck and I'm not leaving my assistant, so we're stuck together dollface. Ellie's a tough cookie, I know she's alright and Burny's couriers don't stop till they deliver. I'll write her to let her know the skinny and we'll catch up soon. I can ask her about this Dr. Infinite Skies / Mobius pony of yours too Fast, Ellie's aces at research, maybe she'll turn up something in your case." Nick cut off Vira before she could really press the issue, smiling and blowing smoke rings at her frustrated snort.

Looking between all of them gathered at the rickety outdoor table, I felt a grateful flush light my cheeks and the hum of the Ministry Mares brighten. I'd spent a good deal of time alone over the last weeks of blood and madness, it was good to have friends again... Sitting here with Zed, Vira, Nick and even the sour faced Xiayou on a blustery winter day, watching the crowd of zebras milling through their rough outdoor market, I could almost pretend things were normal again. Of course I had to overlook the wary and unkind looks from the locals passing by, but the supportive ones from my companions helped a lot. For the most part I felt... good...

"Thanks Nick, all of you... thanks a lot for sticking around, I really appreciate it. I guess if we're all going after this stupid sword the Shroud wants so bad, we should probably get ready. I somehow doubt getting it will be easy, so..."

"Sword?" Xiayou's head snapped away from dreamily watching Zed, her eyes narrowed suspiciously as she put together enough of our conversation to yelp. "The demon blade! You're here for Yura's payment after all this time! I knew it! The dungeon the robot pony mentioned... you're going to Yura's temple! I'm telling Elder..."

"Xia, hush..." Zed's gruff interruption made the filly's excited face fall, her ears drooping as she turned to his calm baritone continuing evenly. "I'm still a Venator Noctis and charged with recovering my ancestor's evil creations, that includes the Shroud's sword and anything else we find down there. I'll be with him."

Sputtering in the face of Zed's even reply, Xiayou shouted back. "But you can't! You shouldn't go to that cursed place Zed! You definitely shouldn't let that monster anywhere near his weapon! He'll kill you and take it for himself! You can't trust him! He's evil! Cursed! He..."

"That is enough!" Vira's booming voice overrode the zebra filly as she stood and stamped her hooves, tromping closer to Xiayou to get in her face and snarl back. "You are very rude little zebra! I don't like you talking about Fast like that! He is not a monster, or evil, or, or... or anything else you have to say. You wouldn't like it if I insulted this zebra stallion you're obviously infatuated with, so stop being mean to mine!"

Ending her rant by yanking me off my seat and holding me to her chest protectively, I took some solace watching Xiayou turn even redder than I was in Vira's forceful embrace. Getting called out by the blunt green alicorn completely shut her up, leaving a stunned silence I filled by wriggling my way loose and clearing my throat to speak awkwardly.

"Er... as I was saying... We don't know what we'll find down there, so we should probably gear up and get ready while we're in a town. So um... want to go shopping with me Vira?"

I swept my fedora from my brow and held it out to the surprised green alicorn, waving a wing out to the rubble strewn lot full of tents and market stands behind me. Vira had come a long way to find me and she'd obviously changed a lot, she deserved a little praise and attention for all her efforts. Most of all I was grateful to her for coming to my defense like that, not many ponies would nowadays.

I still had to laugh when she blinked curiously, then grinned and giggled at my invitation, taking my outstretched hoof lightly and bounding up with a broad smile lighting her features. "Yes! I mean, I would like that, yes Fast. Er... Nick, may I..."

Looking between us with a wry smirk, Nick nodded to his assistant as he patted at his rumpled trenchcoat. Eventually he pulled a small pouch from his inside pocket that jingled with caps, shaking it out in his teeth to count out a small pile he pushed across the table towards Vira. "Sure, sure dollface, here's today's pay. Have fun, but I think I'll chaperone."

Chuckling at Vira puffing her cheeks out in a pout to the synth detective, Zed nodded as he stood too, giving a stern look to the silent Xiayou still cringing in her seat. "And I'm supposed to be keeping an eye on you as well Fast, so we can all go together. Though I promise to remain back with Detective Hearts n' Hooves Miss Vira, and to keep Xia away and silent... so you may enjoy some time together. You seem to have a calming effect on Fast or the spirit, if not both, so please have fun."

While she still looked a little put out over being escorted like a filly and colt on their first date, Vira squeed at the invitation. She scooped up her pile of caps in her emerald telekinesis, then yanked me along behind her with a yelp, prancing down the cobblestone streets and giving cute little whinnies and snorts as she went, while Nick, Zed and the stubborn Xiayou followed at a more sedate pace.

Even the unfriendly looks following me parted for the large green alicorn bulldozing her way through the crowd with the grace of a yak, allowing us to make it all the way to the market before my hooves touched the ground again. I caught myself when Vira skidded to a halt and composed herself, her tail wagging back and forth going along with the giddy smile on her face that made those hard expressions surrounding us easier to bear.

Still beaming, Vira held her bundle of caps out under my muzzle proudly, waving a wing out to the market. "This is the part I like best about working for Nick Fast, he pays me 50 caps a day! I can use it to buy anything I want, it's how I got my lovely outfit. What should we shop for here?"

That infectious smile and good cheer helped a lot as I scratched my itchy mane and considered the question. I felt a weary grin on my face as I thought, realizing again how long it had been since I'd been anywhere near proper civilization. Other than Covenant... I hadn't been to a shop of any kind for quite awhile, relying on what I looted from Gunners, raiders or anycreature else who got in my way. Now that I was able to again, I hardly knew where to start or if I even had many caps.

Checking my pip-buck, the counter for caps down in the corner was pretty low... My smile and thoughts turned a little wistful as I realized what I had on me represented the last allowance I'd gotten from Val, supplemented by less thorough looting than she would have done. Normally I'd have Glitter to help stretch it a lot further too... without my little filly, I was on my own when it came to the haggling she made look so effortless, memories of her doing so to the woe of many a merchant enough to make my eyes sting. As soon as my mood started to fall however, Vira nickered and nudged at my face with her muzzle insistently, still waiting with an expectant, hopeful stare down to me.

Shaking off the momentary depression, I scrolled through the rest of my inventory and nodded to myself and her. I might not have much in the way of caps, but the Shroud's trophy taking and hording behavior meant I had lots of trade goods anyway. A treasure trove of armor and weapons the spirit had been claiming was cluttering my pip-buck screen, pushing the limits of how much I could carry and begging to be cleared out.

'...No!... Treasures!... MINE!...'

"We don't need five suits of combat barding dammit... We need bullets. Quit whining and give it up greedy."

Vira laughed at my reply to the sullen pout in my head, getting both sides of the conversation with her psychic talents and clearly amused as we started trotting through the crowd. Picking out my vague idea, she pulled a beautiful magical energy weapon from her saddlebags and floated it over as she spoke. "A good idea Fast, I should probably see if they have rounds for this as well. It's a terrible glutton, but special to me."

A rapid sparkle weapon... I hadn't seen many ponies walking around with a gun like this in the Commonwealth and felt a tingle as I lovingly inspected the arcano-tech work of art, spinning the multi-gemmed drum with my ear flicking at the smooth action appreciatively. I had no idea where she'd gotten such a thing, but Vira had a real treasure here. My pip-buck even agreed, labeling it as 'Fizzlepop Special' and assigning an extremely high value to it.

"I found it in a soda factory, with a good friend from back on Fog Harbor. Here, try one, these were her favorite!" Vira was giggling as she answered the question in my mind, rooting in her saddlebags again for another of those odd soda bottles like the one she'd had with her meal, though this one glowed a faint blue-green.

She popped the top and shoved it in my muzzle before I could answer, then laughed uproariously as I gagged under the assault of fishy flavor flooding my mouth. I hacked and sputtered as I tore it away, blinking at the faded label showing a griffon dressed as a pirate under the words; 'Zip! Captain Caelano's Blend'.

"Gah! F-Fish flavored soda!?! Who in their right mind would..."

Still snickering and with tears in her eyes, Vira managed to not roll in the street laughing anyway. She floated the vile soda away and took a delicate sip as she clapped my back, swishing it around in her mouth with a shiver. "That's just what I said! It's very popular on Fog Harbor though, so I thought I'd share and see if you liked it. I must admit, it does grow on you if you can stomach the process. It is delightfully radioactive anyway."

"Give me Sparkle Cola Rad!, radishes beat fish any day... bleck..."

I pawed at my tongue before moving on, weaving my way through the unfriendly crowd and seeking out a weapon shop among all the stands. The Neighlem market was set up in a rubble strewn lot in the shadow of a broken old church, the faint outlines of buildings that had been carted away over the years forming lanes and spots for the tents and small shops to set up in. It was a hectic little open air market, full of all kinds of shops with a cornucopia of creatures haggling over this and that.

With Nick, Zed and Xiayou trotting along several paces behind us, Vira and I wandered our way around under their close watch, letting me look over all the oddities for sale in the zebra town. One shop sold ornately carved wooden masks and fetishes, while another shop built around a huge bubbling cauldron had to be the biggest potion shop I'd seen outside of University Point, and yet another sold a variety of mutated wasteland creatures in rusty cages. Eventually we found a scrap metal stand before a small forge, the crudely made junk sign in the shape of a gun making it clear enough what the muscular zebra there sold.

Most of the stock set out to be browsed was of zebra design and simpler, forged breastplates and short swords of the Roaman style. There were quite a few guns and more modern armor however, making me hopeful as I dumped out my inventory of junk before the frowning zebra stallion in the leather apron who paused his hammering to come greet us.

Not that it was a friendly greeting... The shopkeeper glanced over the pile of combat barding, miniguns, rocket launchers, SMGs, sniper rifles and more I'd been looting compulsively with a snort, then turned to stick his nose up and barely meet my stare when he finally spoke a terse sentence. "We don't trade with demons here."

"What? But Elder Pandora said I could stay! I just want..."

"Don't care what you want or what Pandora said. Just because we'll tolerate you sneaking around, doesn't mean we have to like it. Sure as spirits doesn't mean I have to sell to you Shadowknight. Leave, you're scaring away actual customers." The merchant sat on his haunches and crossed his forelegs across his chest, making his absolute rejection completely clear.

'...Swine!... Turn me away!?... Will so buy treasures!....'

"I must agree, it's very unfair of you to turn Fast away when he has things to sell sir!" Vira nodded along with the Shroud's furious snort in my head, stamping her hoof and tossing her mane at the stubborn merchant.

"Er... Fast... Perhaps it would be best if I handled the shopping, just tell me what it is you want and leave your wares with me." Zed sped his trot to get between Vira and I glaring at the merchant, cutting off the Shroud from escalating the slight as I could feel it trying to do.

My eyes were glowing and my fangs were out, but I managed to back away and mutter sullenly. "Ammo... all I wanted was a little ammo, .45s and any 2mm EC he's got. Oh, and spark cells for Vira. If the stuff I had to trade isn't cuuuursssed.... wooOOOooo scary..."

Sticking my tongue out and making faces at the merchant was a petty revenge and not helping Zed in his attempt to take over bartering, but it made me feel a little better before I stalked off with Vira trotting along right behind me. She really was serious about following me around wherever I went, but she'd also learned a lot about compassion and friendship too.

Huffing over her withers at the sour merchant reluctantly dealing with Zed, she turned to nuzzle my cheek and gripe supportively as we wove through the crowd. "How rude! If my powers worked on zebras, I would make him sell to you Fast. He's as bad as that filly following your friend! Does... does that happen often?"

Storming off only brought me into the thick of a crowd that had gathered around a peach and orange striped zony standing on a weathered wooden crate and preaching, illustrating just the kind of prejudice Vira was asking about with her sermon. "...for a thousand years, only when Nightmare Moon took the throne did it all go to hell! The sun goddess stood against her fallen sister and freed our ancestors in Neighlem from the demon knight! The very monster that now walks our streets freely like a guest thanks to the wise decision of Elder Pandora!"

I sighed at the hostile crowd muttering darkly in response, turning to Vira with a weary shrug. "It happens pretty often, yeah..."

I made to walk away before things got worse, slinking through the dense crowd listening to the preaching mare. My heart was pounding in my temples as my frustration increased at each zebra who noticed me and refused to move out of the way, blocking and shoving at me as I just tried to pass. They were angry and afraid, a mob just waiting for direction the angrily preaching mare was all too willing to give.

"That's right good people! We'll not suffer the fate of Covenant here, will we? The pony sun goddess defeated the demon once, if we put aside our difference and join her reborn kingdom, she's sure to put an end to the lingering shadow that's left!" The zony mare's shouts rang in my ears as I hurried away, the point of her sermon easy enough to work out even with the Shroud snarling about punishing her.

Narrowing her eyes at the mare as we rushed past, Vira huffed and confirmed my guess as she tried to console me. "That's not fair! She is intentionally riling these people up Fast! For some nefarious purpose! She is only half pony so I have a hard time hearing her thoughts, but they're clear enough to get the gist of things. Have you angered someone named... Batia?"

Batia... The slave trader. Batia sent this mare out to play up Synthlestia, trying to turn the crowd against Elder Pandora's leadership and towards joining the Institute's New Equestrian Empire. The urge to kill her drifted up in my head again, but I and the Shroud both really preferred getting to the slaver asshole giving her orders...

"Yeah, I know him... Don't worry about it Vira, it doesn't matter... Let's just go."

She let me mope my way all the way down the rickety stairs leading down from the cliffside, her heavy hoofsteps making the weathered boards creak behind me as I slowly walked past the few wavy striped atolli sailors loading and unloading their ancient ships. I may say I didn't care, but part of me couldn't ignore the Institute meddling somewhere. They were using Batia and his influence in Neighlem as a way in to the isolated community. If I still actually was a hero, I might care about that and put a stop to it.

"Why don't you Fast? Is it because of that awful mare and her mob? That rude little zebra filly following Zed? How could people treat you like that!?" Vira broke in to the run of my thoughts by plucking them out of my head and replying, sitting beside me as I reached the end of the docks and rested my head on my hooves at the railing.

"The zebras have a particular grudge against the Shroud, I don't really blame them.... Not that it's much different with anycreature else lately Vira."

"But you are a hero! Like Mr. Cane's comics I read, see!? You believed in being one so much before!" Vira actually seemed upset, floating an autographed Shrouded Stallion comic from her packs that made me feel a little better just to see.

Taking issue #195 from her telekinetic hold, I smiled wistfully as I flipped through the pages of the Manta-Mare crossover and was reminded of the heroic Shroud I idolized as a colt. That Shroud wasn't a monster, he didn't eat ponies or torture prey, he was brave and good... like I wanted to be.

"Maybe it was stupid to believe I could be a hero like in these comics, or that ponies like that could be real at all. I've done... I've done awful things Vira. No matter what else I do, that's a burden I have to live with now. "

'....Bah!... false stories... lies... useless...'

Vira's striped mane whipped through the air with her forceful head shake, flowing around her as she snorted in rejection. "No, it's not stupid! You are a hero to me, you inspired me and I always thought of you when I was able to aid somepony else on Fog Harbor. Even if you're just trying to do good and failing, it still matters. More than you know."

"Well I've been doing an awful lot of failing lately..." I muttered back, then paused at Vira's crestfallen look and sighed. It was hard to be positive for myself, but seeing the faith shining in her green eyes made it easier to try for her sake. "Sorry... I get what you're saying, hanging around a whole town that hates me is just getting to me is all Vira. Thanks a lot for trying to cheer me up."

"Of course! I can't say I enjoy Neighlem much either, all those zebras I can't read... it's so quiet and they keep startling me. I much prefer feeling positive emotions from you Fast, but anything is better than that awful misery, it hurts my heart." Vira answered sympathetically, smirking as she continued in a warm murmur. "Not to mention I imagine my sister and your foal who weigh so heavily on your mind will feel the same when you're reunited."

I blinked at the realization the odd alicorn was right, Jade would be upset too if she saw me now. Maybe that was even part of why I was so afraid to talk to her again... She had been hurt enough lately and I didn't want to add to that more than I already had. No matter how much I missed her and knew she missed me, staying away seemed better than letting the people I loved see me like this.

"That's taking the decision to see you or not out of their hooves Fast, and denying yourself their caring and support to get through the tough times. Love is about being there for each other, which is why I wish to be here for you. I am sure my sister feels as I do." Vira waited for me to mull it over before replying to my thoughts like they were my half of the conversation again, which with a psychic was essentially true.

"You're good at this Vira, er... talking and junk. You're really focused on love stuff though, huh? I umm... not that I'm not flattered, but I'd find a better pony for those feelings. You can't really love me anyway, we hardly..."

"Know each other? I know Fast, though I would counter that we don't choose who we love, so telling me to pick another stallion is just as silly. I have learned that much, despite all of Nick's teasing that I am obsessed with mush and romance. He even muses that my virtue must be love since I got my cutie mark, see?"

Smiling proudly, Vira pulled her trenchcoat tails aside to reveal the image of a magnifying glass like Nick's mark, though this one was enlarging the picture of a tiny pink heart to one that filled the borders of the round glass. Unfortunately it also put the perfect rump it was affixed to on prominent display right at my level, including the frilly black undergarments she'd picked up along with her outfit. My wings and ears shot up at the sight and the Shroud roared in my head, initiating a lunge I had to fight to turn into an awkward fall to the boardwalk as Vira pranced aside, giving a blushing nicker at the spirit's internal tantrum warring with me.

'...Grrr!... WANT!... UP!... Claim!... MINE!... NOW!!!...'

"I said NO! Dammit you are going to behave yourself!"

"Whoops! S-Sorry Fast... There's no other way to show off a cutie mark I'm afraid, I forgot the urges you're struggling with... I am heartened to sense it's not just the spirit that enjoyed that though... I knew it wasn't fat!" Vira snorted laughter and helped me up with hearts twinkling in her lidded eyes, shaking it off and turning more serious once I got to my hooves and she continued. "A-Anyway, I admit I am more... infatuated than in love like I've felt from others. Still, isn't that how all romance begins? Please let me explore those feelings with you and don't shut me out, even if you think it's for my own good. Allow me and my sister both to make our own decisions about who we care about." Vira chuckled softly, speaking like a wise sage on the virtue of love.

She effectively shut down any argument I could make against her too, shaming me for how I'd treated my wife and family. I still believed I was right, or at least had a major point in the form of a murderous spirit stuck in my head, but I realized that didn't give me the right to make the choice for Jade and the others. Just like I couldn't turn away the reformed alicorn mare and her feelings.

My eyes watered as I took it all in and nodded weakly, turning to Vira's hopeful smile. I stood on my hindlegs to lean up into a shaky hug with the insightful filly, who returned it with a fraction of Jade's bonecrushing force, but still reminded me enough of her to make me leak a tear into her long mane. In return Vira cooed and curled her wings around us to hide behind, letting me just drink in her sweet smell and the kindness she showed that made Fluttershy's spirit resonate warmly.

I'd been alone and starved of any kind of affection for weeks, thinking that was best for everycreature involved. Maybe not the kind of affection the perverted spirit still pouting in my skull incessantly craved, but not that far removed either. I expected and was willing to bear the hatred and fear, but it only took Vira a little while to see what I needed most, care and understanding.

Eventually pulling away with a sniffle, I peeked from beneath the brim of my hat sheepishly after crying against her and spoke in a croak. "Thanks again Vira. Now, I think I have a letter to finish that's really overdue, but afterwards do you wanna hang out some more? Er... get to know each other and stuff?"

Giving a giggle and tilting my chin up with her hoof, Vira nodded happily in reply. "Yes! If bearing these zebra's disdain for you here is so hard, perhaps we could take a little flight to get away? It would give us one less chaperone with as much as Nick hates flying...."

"It's a... umm... a date."

So long as I was outside the borders of Neighlem with Vira, Zed seemed comfortable enough letting me go on my own, allowing Vira and I to take a pleasant flight down the sandy shores. Despite our run ins with the green alicorn in the past, Zed had talked to Nick enough to give her the benefit of the doubt, remarking that I seemed to respond better to having a mare mind me than himself. Not that we weren't good friends or that I didn't appreciate all Zed had done, but I had to admit I felt a lot calmer with the familiar presence of an alicorn filly, ignoring the Shroud continually pushing for more than the occasional nuzzle and nip she used to corral me around quite effectively. Following a princess just felt right... it seemed the spirit viewed her as one and was willing to obey her anyway, which was enough for my zebra pal to cut me a little slack.

We flew all the way down to a leaning lighthouse down the coast, on the edge of a soothingly radioactive crater Vira and I dipped down to bask in, doing a few loops around the leaning red and white tower and waving to the ghoulish lighthouse keeper we spotted. Flying back up the coast from there, we got a chance to continue talking via unity while simply enjoying each other's company, getting to know each other a little better and steadily improving my mood as the sun sank towards afternoon overhead.

I got a better picture of how far Neighlem's influence spread in this corner of the Commonwealth too, spotting isolated homes and small farms in the sandy dunes and ruins below, and even what appeared to be a functional factory of some kind that drew my interest. Vira swooped and climbed along with me as I circled the smokestacks of the large structure built right on the shore, pointing out the rusty fishing boats moored to its own set of docks that she recognized from her time on Fog Harbor.

Her own pip-buck must have chimed with the same message mine gave of; Discovered Location: Longneck's Cannery, as she paused to hover before the large sign on the roof showing a smiling yellow and orange mascot, tilting her head and blinking cutely. "Well... that creature certainly does have a long neck. Is it some kind of mutant Fast?"

"It's a giraffe Vira, they were like that before the war. Looks like the place is still working too, I wonder what the machines are like..."

Vira giggled at my contemplative mutter, losing altitude as she answered. "That curiosity is adorable Fast, though I doubt they offer factory tours. Would you care to slow our pace to return and walk with me instead?"

"Er... sure Vira, still just killing time till dark anyway."

Strolling down the empty beach with a gorgeous filly only made the Shroud's demands to tackle her to the wet sands have my way with her in the surging surf more insistent, a steady drumbeat of perverted thoughts that left me unable to really hold up my end of the coversation and plastered a permanent blush on both our faces. Vira took up the slack however, speaking around the subject hanging over both our heads and telling me more about her time on Fog Harbor as we walked.

The part of the story that surprised and interested me the most had to be this Longfellow stallion she kept mentioning, the pony who'd helped her when she'd washed up on his shore and the buck who'd taken her in as an adopted daughter to my surprise. Vira had to be the only alicorn I'd run into who actually understood what father's were now, a point of view I wished her sister's understood so well.

Since they'd all only had their mother, the Goddess, they were really clueless what the point of stallions was other than our limited contribution to reproduction. Vira had learned that fathers weren't just a one time genetic donor, or shouldn't be according to my old world morals. She really got that part of why I was so reluctant to do as Umbra and the mares from Trinity Tower wanted, why just the four mares I'd already impregnated and their foals on the way scared me to death and just how badly what happened to Glitter had hurt me. She knew what a grave responsibility fatherhood was now because she'd experienced it firsthoof.

Looking up to her wistful smile as she spoke about this Longfellow and looked out to the sea like he was right there, I was happy for Vira and felt a species of pride, hoping I meant as much to Glitter as the gruff sounding old buck did to her. It also made me miss my daughter all the more, my steps slowing as I thought of her still trapped in a coma.

"I look forward to meeting her Fast. I'm sorry the first time I did I sort of... pushed her aside to foalnap my sister in Hexington... It was a terrible first impression, but I didn't know better then. Do you think she'll be mad?" Vira tapped her forehooves together nervously as she spoke like meeting my daughter awake and well was a foregone conclusion, helping me dispell the fear I still felt thinking of the sleeping little princess.

Looking to her biting her lip anxiously, I even managed a chuckle as I shook my head. "Glitter forgives everypony Vira, I wouldn't worry too much. You're right, we'll get back to her and... and she'll be fine somehow, then you'll get to apologize and see how good she is at dealing with ponies. She loves all of Jade's sisters, so get ready to be Aunt Vira to her."

A warm smile slowly spread across Vira's muzzle at the warning. "Aunt... I would like that! I can feel how important she is to you, so I do hope to meet her approval. You have such powerful love for that little filly, it is wonderful to feel flowing off you, like Sunshine and Rainbows..."

"Y-Yeah... I still can't believe how much she means to me. Being her dad was the best thing I've done out here, playing hero doesn't come even close."

Sitting beside me and staring out at a strange little shrine of some kind built on the isolated stretch of beach, Vira hummed in thought a moment before answering. "Perhaps I can help her as well? If the issue were physical I imagine my physician sister would have discovered it by now, so it may be mental and within my area of expertise?"

"Hey yeah! If she can't wake up, maybe your psychic stuff can really get through to her! Great idea Vira!" I stood with a yell and hugged the surprised alicorn, jittering with hopeful energy as I babbled. "Thank you! When I first saw you again, I gotta admit I was still a little... er... terrified... but I'm really glad you found me! You've turned into a really good pony, just like you said!"

"You are most welcome Fast..." Vira murmured in my ear, her voice turning husky as my mane itched madly just under her muzzle. "Since you have recognized I've done so, does that mean you agree to keep your promise?"

My eyes widened as I remembered just what I'd promised and I scrambled back, looking up to the pink bands flashing in Vira's eyes nervously. "Er.... r-right, that.... Well, ummm.... Jade! I still have to see Jade and she always have to approve, so ehhehehe... w-we'll see, ok?"

Even with my stupid pheromones fogging her head, I felt Vira's focus tighten as she shook it off and smiled happily, waiting for me to follow her example and get myself back under control before speaking. "That is fair, all the more reason to finish your business here and get you back to them both."

It took a minute to take her open wing invitation, but eventually I calmed the Shroud's raging shouts and my own speeding heart, trotting over to sit beside her and stare out at the waves in comfortable silence. Swan or Peri would have pushed for more and Ivy would have enjoyed teasing me, but Vira was happy as we were, watching as the early afternoon sun sank and a zebra colt came strolling down the beach towards the isolated little shrine.

He paused and gave a start when he saw me, but unlike the adults of Neighlem he wasn't that afraid, giving a cautious wave and continuing on his way to the driftwood carving of some kind of tentacled monster that was surrounded by little offerings. As I watched, he knelt before it and gave a muttered prayer of some kind, then rummaged in his tattered knapsack and laid out several cans of food to join the rest. When he looked up and out to the sea, he jumped and yelped at something he spotted, prancing around the shrine in glee that raised my curiosity.

"Hey kid? What's the deal?"

"The Kraken! The Kraken liked my offering and revealed itself, see!?" The zebra colt was apparently too happy to remember I was the evil Shadowknight and answered instantly, bouncing in place and pointing out to the surf proudly.

Vira joined me in walking over and taking a look, getting a closer view of the strange shrine and all the wasteland food, caps, flowers and other offerings that had been left there. Standing near the colt remembering to be wary of me and cantering back as we approached, I squinted out to the sea and saw what he meant, puzzling over what I was looking at in confusion.

There was a... greenish lump out there... It rose from the waters only a few feet and blended in with the seaweed and junked ships jutting from the shallow waters, but there was a single eye staring back at us from the odd shape. Even as I focused on it, the shape dipped back under the waves and disappeared, leaving me blinking in confusion.

"That was the Kraken? The thing that lobs friggin balefire bombs at whoever Pandora doesn't like?" I tilted my head and muttered, turning to see the kid had retreated further up the beach and looked on the edge of bolting now that his excitement had worn off.

"It's alright little one, we're simply curious about your home. Consider us tourists. Are all these gifts for this Kraken creature of yours?" Vira spoke up for me, the mare's kind voice looking to reassure the colt.

"Y-Yeah... The Kraken is our protector lady, we give him offerings and he protects us from bad outsiders. I g-guess if he hasn't blasted the Shadowknight, Elder Pandora must be right and you're ok... Umm... I-I'm not s'posed to talk to him though..."

"It's ok kid, go on home. You should definitely mind your parents, otherwise I might come back and get'cha..."

I tipped my hat and joked to the colt, feeling my face fall as the poor kid gulped and galloped down the beach. Instead of dwelling on the fact I was apparently the boogey-pony lurking under the bed for all the kids of Neighlem, I spread my wings and flew out over the waves to investigate this Kraken thing with Vira rushing to catch up.

"He doesn't know any better Fast, at least he spoke to you... Perhaps we should go back, I'm sure Nick and your friend are waiting... a-are you sure it's wise to go poke a sea monster like this?" Vira spoke up worriedly as I sped towards where I'd seen the single eye staring at us, most likely because she heard the sly sneer of the Shroud trying to distract me.

'...Slay monster... No more threat... Show Elder witch... Hehehehe...'

The spirit really didn't like Elder Pandora and her balefire calling staff hanging over our heads... Visions of glorious battle with some horrific beast of the deep were dancing in my head as I circled where the monster had disappeared. I consoled myself that it was my own curiosity motivating me though, squinting through the murky water to the long, dark, hazy shape directly under my hooves.

"I don't think it's a monster Vira..."

I muttered and lost altitude until my hooves skimmed the water, tightening my spiral and making to splash down near the drifting clump of seaweed and junk that marked where the eye had been. Before she could ask what I meant, my theory was proven out when I only sank a few inches before meeting a hard, flat surface under the waves that gave a muffled 'clang'.

Vira hovered nearby, puzzling over how I appeared to be standing on the water and hesitantly drifting lower to reach out with her foreleg and tap at the hidden surface. "What? What is it then?"

Pushing aside seaweed for a better view and pacing in a careful circle as I worked it out, I replied when I found what I was looking for, following a frayed rope attached an old rowboat disguised by more detritus, I tracked down a steel hatch it was hitched to hidden by all the floating crap,. "It's a ship..."

Vira landed beside me and tapped at the hatch curiously, comprehension dawning in her eyes. "A submarine... I've seen one of these before! Though it was not in the water, can they all turn invisible like this?"

"I don't think so... I read reports from the war back in the Castle, talking about new cloaked zebra subs and smuggling. I bet this is one of them..." I answered absently as I felt out the dimensions of the hazy vessel under my hooves, squinting through the murky water to tell it must be grounded in the shallows.

Returning to the visible hatch, I stomped a hoof against the metal repeatedly. "Hey! Open up in there 'Kraken'! I wanna talk about you lobbing balefire bombs at me!"

My angry knocking was interrupted by a loud squeal from behind getting closer, focusing our attention on Zed flying from the beach he'd been watching us from, with a screeching Xiayou clinging to his back between the large batwings carrying him our way. He landed easily on the invisible surface with my foreleg frozen in mid-knock, tromping forward and pushing my hoof aside as he spoke. "That's enough Fast, you shouldn't be here..."

Peering down to Zed's hooves apparently standing on the water in confusion, Xiayou piled on by sputtering furiously. "H-He's right demon! This is the Kraken's lair, we don't disturb him! It's taboo! You'll spread your curse to our guardian spirit!"

There was a grinding hiss when the big clump of seaweed behind us rose from the waters and spun, training the glass lens of a periscope on the four of us turning back to the movement. A single, milky blue eye blinked at us a moment and I snorted back impatiently as Xiayou bowed on Zed's back, holding her hooves up in supplication. She definitely believed it was a spiritual protector, while Zed merely sighed knowingly. I'd find that more interesting, but I was busy internally fighting the Shroud freaking out.

'...Blind it!!.... Monster!... Kill!...'

"It's not a freaking monster! It's a submarine! A machine you luddites! I wanna know why it's here....."

While I was grumbling to both the confused Shroud and Xiayou, the periscope retracted again, then there was a deep clunk as the rusty wheel atop the hatch spun and the portal opened, disclosing a leathery old zebra ghoul in a fancy captains hat and tattered uniform who blinked up to Vira and I in confusion.

"Hello? Did Elder Pandora send you? You help fix maybe? Come in, come in!" The ghoul was soft spoken and had a thick accent, his aged eyes squinting at the four of us in turn before excitedly waving down to the dark hatch and climbing back down to make room.

I didn't expect such a warm welcome, leaving us all nonplussed for a moment until Xiayou finally spoke in a stunned whisper. "T-That's the Kraken? What...."

"I'll explain it later Xia, for now we should leave. We're not meant to be here Fast. Aunt Pandora won't be pleased..." Zed interrupted the shocked filly cautiously climbing off his back to the cloaked sub, his grey eyes set in a flat line as he went to pull me away again.

Yanking my foreleg free of his grip, I stamped it down to the metal under the water and snorted back gruffly. "Yeah, well I'm not super happy with her either Zed. I know she's your aunt, but I don't like being threatened with having a freaking balefire bomb dropped on me by anycreature. Besides, I've still got time to kill and I'm curious, that old ghoul said 'fix'... I've never worked on something like a submarine before..."

Groaning at the obsessive longing to fix strange new technology in my voice, Zed frowned as I made for the hatch again. "While I'd normally encourage any behavior I know is you and not the spirit, this is not something for you to fiddle with Fast! Leave the Kraken alone..."

"This is the Kraken? O-Our guardian spirit all these years is... is an old ghoul in some ancient war machine!? This can't be! I want an explanation, right now Zedrick! I'm going in to get one! Er... y-you lead the way demon." Xia's huff of a reply cut off Zed's attempts to get us out of there, the zebra filly prancing over to join us at the hatch with her nose stuck up stubbornly.

Vira took advantage of Zed's facehoofing groan to take the lead. "Well, what a mystery we've all found together! It would be rude to ignore the strange ghoul's invitation and he did say he needed help fixing something... I suppose the rude little mare can come along too. Come on repair-pony, let's investigate."

"Umm... shouldn't we go get Nick? Or at least tell him what's up?"

Vira turned towards the shore and the distant shape of her employer watching the commotion, her horn glowing mellowly a moment before she answered and Nick's pale hoof waved us on. "I already have Fast. Unfortunately Nick dislikes boats nearly as much as flying, he says he will wait on the safety of land. Now let's go! This is exciting! I'm having so much fun on our date-thing!"

I chuckled at the alicorn detective whinnying happily as she carefully stuck her hindlegs down the hatch to follow the muttering ghoul's voice, then had to stifle a snicker when she stepped down a rung and got firmly stuck at the rump. It didn't get any easier as she grunted and pushed, only wedging herself tighter while I chewed on my lip to keep from laughing out loud with 'Awareness!' giggling along with me.

Vira turned a deadpan stare on me as tears streamed from my eyes and I shook with barely contained sniggers of laughter, giving an embarrassed huff with her face glowing brightly. "Do not say it... do not even think it Fast, just... somepony g-give me a push..."

"S-Sure thing Vira... It's a tiny little hatch, that's all... pffft... it's not that you've got a big...."

"PUSH!" Vira proved she could do Jade's goddess voice too, puffing her rosy cheeks out in a pout until I obeyed and shoved along with the impatient Xia ignoring Zed's protests, popping the big alicorn through the hatch like a cork.

Still snickering to myself, I shrugged to Zed and followed her into dark interior of the ancient ship, barely paying attention to the flash of text from my pip-buck reading; Discovered Location: The Kraken.

"Oof... e-excuse me, sorry, could you just move your leg and... o-oh not you Fast! Everypony wait to come down, don't push!" I followed Vira down into the dark until my hindleg touched the inches of water pooling at the bottom, then woofed out a rush of air when her rear end smashed into me and shook the ladder I ended up smooshed against, resulting in Xia falling on top of us both in a tangle and adding to Vira's frustrated yelps.

The ghoulish Captain didn't sound like he was having an easier time of it on the other side of the flailing green alicorn stuck in the tiny room, grunting in his gravelly voice with a rusty squeal of metal coming along with his strained words. "Ah, sorry, one moment please, more room just ahead..."

With a final squeal and loud clunk, the hatch he was apparently working at opened, disgorging all of us in a heap into a more brightly lit and somewhat open space ahead. Woozily shoving one of Vira's large wings aside and hissing at Xiayou's hoof kicking me right in the muzzle, I shook off the blow and looked around from the rusty floor. Despite my sore nose, my mouth fell open in wonder as we all struggled to our hooves and took in what had to be the control room of the zebra made submarine. It was in rough shape, but enough consoles and buttons still beeped and blinked for me to gape at all the unfamiliar arcano-tech.

"It's still functional? After 200 years?"

Extending a leathery foreleg to help me up, the odd ghoul tipped his Captain's hat and nodded proudly to my dumbfounded question. "Ah, it has been that long? Yes little pony. My poor Kraken is not... how you say, seaworthy anymore, but she still lives eh?"

A clatter of junk getting knocked over drew our attention to Vira prancing away from a pile of tin cans near the hatch scattering everywhere, her clumsy dodge only causing her tail to swat aside another such stack of boxes and cans to her frustration. "Oh! Are all submarines built so tiny!? This is no better than the last one I was on! Why is all this junk in the way, it's not making things any easier!"

"These are our offerings... Our gifts to the Kraken for protecting us... You're the one who takes them?" Xia picked up one of the cans labeled with the giraffe logo of the local cannery and spoke in a stunned whisper, ignoring Zed agilely hopping down the ladder and joining us.

Looking between the zebra mare holding the dented can out in silent accusation and the green alicorn struggling to gather the rest up in her emerald magic, the ghoul nodded and waved his hooves out to the bounty of wasteland food and trinkets invitingly. "Please, help yourselves. I'm grateful for all the offerings, but I hardly need to eat and you are guests aboard my ship. I have so few."

Xiayou looked horrified at the idea of taking from the pile of offerings to her sacred Kraken, but I shrugged and accepted the ghoul's generosity with the prim note of 'Be Unwavering!' humming in approval. Vira followed my lead, carefully selecting a brown bottle of Sunrise Sarsaparilla with a brilliant smile to the ghoul, as we tried to spread out in the cramped command deck. Of course she remained right on my tail as I inspected the half functional consoles and equipment, but I could tell she caught the Captain's sad, longing tone and she made a show of enjoying his hospitality while I looked around a moment.

Most of the readouts were displaying indecipherable zebra squiggles, so I had a hard time figuring things out without a translator. A few Stable-Tec terminals had been crudely wired in here and there however, letting me look over a few things in standard ponish and get the rough idea the ship was operating on emergency power.

"So, you said you needed help fixing something? What happened? How is this ship even here Captain...er..."

The ghoul looked to the deck at my question, shuffling his hooves as he spoke in a shamed croak. "Zao, and it is a long story little pony. During the war... on the last day... We launched our payload at the appointed time and made to rendezvous with our agents here in Neighlem, but we hit a mine and barely managed to limp to the harbor. After that..."

I didn't hear what came after that... Rather, the Shroud was completely uninterested in what happened after, while I knew already. The end... the last day... the beginning of 200 years of ruin and bloodshed that this zebra had helped create... Before my own flicker of anger at the thought really took root it was eclipsed by the Shroud's overwhelming rage taking over. The shadows in the gloomy sub grew darker and slithered towards the old ghoul menacingly as I launched myself at him with a roar before my companions could react.

"YOUR FAULT!?! YoU aTtAcKEd us! Thou dared wage war on blessed Luna's kingdom swine!? Prepare to face her wrath!!"

I had him pinned to the curved hull before I knew what was happening, snarling right in his face as the oozing shadows wound their way around his limbs and neck. I had the vague idea I was going to literally tear him apart, then Zed was at my back and pulling me off, shouting in my ear as I dug my hooves in and fought. "Fast stop! It was long ago and you don't know the whole story! The Kraken... Captain Zao is not evil! No more than the pony soldiers who followed their orders to do the same!"

Strong as Zed was, he wasn't winning this tug of war. My hindlegs strained to keep me in place against the sputtering ghoul, who for his part wasn't struggling that much, like part of him was resigned to this reaction from a pony. Before I got the chance to kill him however, Vira joined Zed's efforts at my back. Her long legs wrapped around my barrel as she spread her wings in the cramped space and gave a mighty flap, pulling me off to crash backwards into a console with her and wind up flailing to get loose from her restraining hug on the floor as her soothing voice spoke directly in my head.

(Calm down! Please Fast, do not do this! I can feel you giving in to that spirit's fury, it's not you!)

Xia had cringed away and hid behind another beeping hunk of equipment on the bridge when the Shroud took over, but crept out cautiously once she saw Vira had me effectively trapped. I saw relief in her teal eyes when the large green alicorn simply rolled over with me still in her hooves, smothering me under her bulk as she cooed and nuzzled my scowling face worriedly. With me contained, she pranced over to Zed and joined him in helping Captain Zao up from where he had slid to the floor.

The ghoulish captain wouldn't come up at their urging though, instead he planted his hooves and bowed his head between them, muttering tiredly with his face against the deck in the odd zebra bow I'd seen Zed do once before when apologizing. "It's true, I followed my orders and killed many of your people little pony. I accept your anger and beg forgiveness. It was... very, very long ago, I have had much time for regret here, trapped in the city I helped destroy... All I can do is offer my apology."

"Fast... he made a mistake... He did something that hurt people, but he is sorry for it and has had to live with it. I know you understand how he feels. We've both made our own mistakes too, right? You gave me another chance, you can do the same for him... Please..." Vira broke the silence following Zao's formal apology, her wide green eyes full of concern and hope.

Her anxious nuzzling and calming psychic presence helped me stop fighting under her anyway. I still frowned and snorted in frustration, blowing a lilac striped lock of her mane out of my face as I struggled not to meet her gaze. Trying to look away just gave me a better view of the bowing Zao however, patiently waiting to see if I'd kill him or not along with my other companions.

I wanted to hate him as much as the Shroud already did. For a moment all I saw when I looked at him was my tidy little home in Sanctuary Hills as it was before the war, the green lawns and verdant trees, the sparkling rivers, the gleaming towers of Trotson and all the happy ponies who'd once lived there. The world I once knew, before my family and I rode down the elevator to Stable 111, my last memory being the mushroom cloud of green balefire coming to wipe it all away...

Then the memory of Covenant burning down around me popped into my head and I froze. The smells of smoke and burning pony flesh came back in a rush, the feel of the heat baking against my coat, the screams... When I looked to Zao again, I saw the furious face of the mare from Covenant falling with a bullethole between her eyes and my own watered with tears as my anger finally fizzled out. Vira was right, I could hardly judge him when I'd done more than my share of death and destruction.

When I stilled under her, Vira leaned closer to whisper encouragement I didn't want to hear. "There, there... that's better... I know it is hard, but I've learned through personal experience Fast. If you wish to be forgiven by others, you must be willing to forgive... Both those like this sad old ghoul and yourself..."

'...NO!... Invader!... Enemy!... Luna's foe!... KILL!!...'

"Nngh! No! That's enough! She's right... It's ok Vira, I won't do anything. T-Thanks for stopping me..." I clenched my eyes to shout down the Shroud's spirit still fighting me, opening them again to the green alicorn's relieved smile when my own voice panted up to her. I rubbed at my aching head as she cautiously stood and helped me sit up to my haunches, turning a tired eye over to the three zebras watching closely. "Sorry... It's getting later, so that's getting harder to control. I uh... I accept your apology Captain Zao... I'm from before the war though, so I'm still a little raw about it. Sorry for almost killing you..."

At that the ghoul allowed Zed and Xia to help him to his hooves and gave a weary half smile, though he was interrupted from replying by Xiayou's angry shout. "You should be sorry monster! You attacked our benevolent Kraken! I... I'm still confused about that though, h-how are you the Kraken Zao? The Elders have always said..."

"The Elders lied Xia... as they always have, for the greater good. As Aunt Pandora's apprentice, you would have learned this truth eventually anyway. Though I'm still annoyed at you for hastening that day Fast... not to mention losing control..." Zed spoke up in his gruff grumble, then gave an exasperated sigh to my sheepish look and Xiayou's stunned one, continuing in a softer tone to Captain Zao. "That said, what's done is done. I'll let you tell the story as you usually do with those let in on the secret Zao."

Giving a grin of ancient, yellowed teeth, Zao straightened the fur collar of his leather uniform jacket and cleared his throat, clearly enjoying the opportunity to share his story with strangers. "Yes, of course. You have to break it to them easier though young Venator, I remember you were quite shocked. Now then, where was I... Ah, the mine... When we arrived in the harbor, few noticed during the chaos on shore, fewer cared... The infiltrators in the Commonwealth never met us, so we hid and waited, hoping to repair my poor Kraken in the meantime. Sadly that proved... impossible..."

Conflicted as I still felt about the zebra naval officer who bombed my hometown, my ears still perked up when he spoke with such despair about repairing the amazing vessel we were in. Even just sitting there craning my neck and taking it all in, I couldn't help the itch at my horn and desire to fix it. The red emergency lighting reinforced the idea that main power was offline, but it was still in remarkably good shape. It was structurally intact enough to not be flooded with seawater anyway, the cloaking system worked and it was clearly still capable of lobbing balefire missiles around when Pandora wanted.

An amused nicker broke my musing and I blinked up to see Vira smiling happily, the psychic alicorn listening to the run of my thoughts and encouraging the obsessive need to tinker that even managed to drown out the Shroud's pouting. "Ahem, I wouldn't say impossible just yet, Fast is a very good repair-pony Captain. Please continue though, I'm interested in how you and your vessel became the guardian of Neighlem and all the zebras there. They regard their Kraken very highly, offering their praises and such lovely gifts."

Zao paused to look between Xia's curious nod and Zed rolling his eyes, then picked up the thread of his story slowly, his milky eyes misting with memory as he spoke. "Eventually things on the surface calmed down somewhat... The prisoners escaped from the nearby internment camp and helped secure Neighlem, driving away the remnants of the Equestrian military who had bigger problems and the... how you say, raiders... Some of the prisoners were part of the infiltrators and knew of the rendezvous point, so they sought me out. Those were the first Elders of Neighlem, my old friends..."

"But I don't understand! Why all the secrecy? Why do Elder Pandora and the others perpetuate this lie!? How come Zed knew and I didn't!?" Xia interrupted with a petulant pout, pointing an accusing foreleg at Zed giving a sigh to the spoiled filly.

Zao chuckled and patted her pigtailed head, cutting off her tantrum in a calm tone. "Ah, but secrecy was our way little one. They were a group of spies and I the Captain of a stealth submarine! Not to mention this was just after the war, a very dark time... chaos ruled everywhere, ponies and zebras alike were struggling to survive the destruction. If the ponies knew the submarine that attacked them was helpless, they'd demand their revenge, just as your little pony friend nearly did even after all these years. No, we could tell no one. The Kraken could not move, but I could still defend the zebras here as their mysterious sea monster, so that is what I did. The Elders promised to seek out a way to repair my ship, but suitable parts and those with the knowledge to put them to use were both difficult to find. I had not realized it had been quite so long, but Pandora says she is still looking. When you showed up at my door, I assumed she had finally succeeded. Has she?"

I realized the others were all staring at me along with Zao, the ghoul with hope shining in his ancient eyes, Vira with encouragement, Zed with apprehension and Xiayou with wide eyed curiosity. Looking away from all that attention, I fumbled with my bottle of soda and thought a moment, eventually looking up to the Captain to pose a question.

"I'm not saying I can without looking around more, but what would you do if I fixed your ship Captain Zao? Where would you go if the Kraken could move again?"

Zao's answer was immediate and without reservation, a soft smile curling his muzzle as he spoke wistfully. "Why, I would return home little pony. Back to Zebrica... where I belong. My home."

"Home huh? And what would you do there? It's been a long time, who knows what you'll find. Zebrica may be worse than Equestria."

Zao answered with a weary shrug, "I hear from Pandora and Atolli sailors when I venture into town, things may not be so bad, or maybe they are worse in other ways, but it doesn't matter. If Zebrica is destroyed, I will rebuild, house by house. If no houses can be built, I will die in peace. Either way, it is my home, where the spirits of my ancestors and my family wait for me. I only wish to rejoin them after all these years. Can you help me little pony?"

I found myself staring into his tired old eyes for a long time, but even the grudging Shroud couldn't detect a lie in his words. He just wanted to go home... I could sympathize with that... With a lot of what he said actually.

My brows came down in determination and I made to answer, but was suddenly pulled away by Zed gruffly marching me away to hiss in a private whisper. "I see what you are thinking Fast... Stop and consider, what will happen to Neighlem if its protector leaves? You would be leaving my people here defenseless!"

"That's why you didn't want me snooping around here, isn't it Zed? Have Pandora and the other Elders even really tried to help him? Or have they been lying to everybody all around?"

Zed's mouth set in a hard line at my growl of a reply, but his grey eyes darted away for a moment and I had my answer even before he spoke. "It was for the greater good... My people are few here in Equestria and still hated, surrounded by enemies in a foreign land. Without the Kraken we would have been wiped out long ago. Thanks to Zao's protection, we've flourished in the Commonwealth instead. The Elders did what was best for everyzebra..."

I glared at the zebra holding me in place with his stern stare as much as his strong hoof, stunned that my honest and straightforward friend could go along with all these lies. Unfortunately I also saw his point and snarled in frustration as it sank in. If I helped the hopefull old ghoul, I'd be hurting Zed's people... It was a no win question, either I joined the lies and kept Zao here, or I became even more of a monster to the zebras of Neighlem if I managed to fix his ship and send him on his way. Much as I hated it, I didn't know what to do here.

"Then why not ask someone closer to the problem Fast?" Vira spoke up to stop my frustrated thoughts she was apparently still listening to, turning to Xia and Captain Zao watching Zed and I argue with their ears perked up. "You, annoying little zebra mare, you should answer. If Fast fixes this ship, it will go away and you will no longer be protected, but the Captain who has kept you safe in secret all these years will finally get his greatest wish. I understand you are the leader of Neighlem's apprentice, so what do you think should be done?"

For the first time since I met her, Xiayou had nothing to say for a minute. Her mouth hung open and her teal eyes were wide as they darted between all of us while she managed to make a few strangled words. "I... I don't.... I can't..."

"Xia, don't answer. This is hardly fair Fast, and none of your business! Good as it is to see you closer to normal, I can't say I missed your constant meddling in things that aren't your concern. We have enough on our plate and you have a wife and foal to get back to, do you not? Leave it alone..." Zed snorted as he went to comfort the conflicted filly, frustration creeping into his deep voice.

Being confronted by another stallion like that just egged on the Shroud's constant demand for dominance though, turning my answer into a snarl. "No! Jade and Glitter would want me to help, so don't try to use them against me like that Zed. I want to hear her answer! What's it gonna be Xia? Zao's just another monster like me, right?"

That broke her paralysis, Xia's righteous anger at me overriding the confusion keeping her silent. "No he's not! He's our great protector you demon! He's nothing like you! We owe him everything!"

"Then prove it..."

Xia's ears drooped and her shouts dried up in her throat at my quiet huff of an answer, her hard teal glare softening as she turned to Zao and Zed to speak in a soft murmur. "He's right... I can't believe it, but the Shadowknight and Vira have a point Zed... Captain Zao, you've done so much for us for so long, our meager offerings could never repay you. If the demon pony can help you return home, he should..."

Zed looked aghast at the young shaman's decision, his firm voice rising to a yelp. "Xia! What are you saying!? You should speak with Aunt Pandora before you do anything foolish!"

"It might be foolish, but it's also what's right Zed..." Xia spared him a sad glance as she trudged my way, then shocked me when the headstrong filly stopped before me and hung her head in an almost painful looking bow. "Shadowknight... Fast... If you can help Captain Zao return home, you should do so. I will accept responsibility, so please... help him."

Looking down to Xia gritting her teeth and humbling herself to help the old ghoul brought the sweet notes of the Ministry Mares rising up in my head one by one, even the Shroud's rough voice chimed in as a pleased and proud nicker to see her beg. Much as she hated me, she was willing to surrender her pride for what was right, putting her much higher in my estimation than the Elders of Neighlem who'd apparently been unwilling to risk their own safety.

I was glad to have the decision taken out of my hooves too, because I could still see their point. The Kraken didn't just protect the Elders keeping him here, but everycreature making Neighlem their home. He'd more than done his duty though, they couldn't keep him here forever. Their pet monster deserved his freedom and happiness,. If I could help him finally attain those things, maybe I could even believe I deserved them too.

Of course, it was still a pretty big if... Taking my hat off to hold to my chest and return Xia's bow to her surprise, I shrugged and scratched my mane absently as I took another look around the leaky sub and answered. "I'll try my best, that's all I can promise. I'll probably need a lot of help though, want to lend a helping hoof?"

Xiayou's eyes widened when she looked up from the deck to my outstretched foreleg, a grimace of conflicted emotion flashing across her face for a moment. She visibly gulped it all down though, her own shaky hoof taking mine as we stood together and she gave a firm nod. "Yes, of course! I-I'm only helping the Kraken though, not you demon."

"Right... I wouldn't dream otherwise. What do you say guys? Sorry this sorta interrupted our time together Vira, but you want to give it a shot? You can be my repair-pony assistant?"

Vira rose to her hooves and grinned, even as she bumped into a console in her excitement and potentially added to our workload beyond the new, rump-shaped dent. She still nodded happily, saluting the dumbfounded Captain Zao like she was reporting for duty. "Yes! I don't mind, I think we can both understand the desire to go home again, can't we Fast? How we spend time together doesn't matter to me, just that we do. I'd be happy to help the good Captain."

"How about you Zed?"

The gruff zebra stallion snorted at our expectant gazes turning his way, crossing his muscular forelegs over his chest and grumbling an angry reply. "Madness... This is just like when we were foals Xia, you always get me in trouble! And you're just as bad Fast! Why do you have to meddle with everything!? I should go tell Aunt Pandora and put a stop to this now..."

"If that's what you think is best..." Zed blinked in surprise at my quiet reply, his scowl weakening as I continued softly. "Look, I know my decisions are all fucked up lately, that's why I leave it to Xia and you. You're my friend and this is your home, not mine. If you want me to leave, I will."

Zed visibly struggled with the choice I left him. He gritted his teeth and glared between all of us, but paused when his stern grey gaze fell on the hopeful Captain Zao standing with us. Zed clenched his eyes shut and tore at his spiky mane in frustration, but eventually sighed in defeat ruefully. "Right is right... even if it's rarely convenient. Spirits preserve me, I think your wife has converted me to her way of thinking. Besides, if I don't let you tinker with this ship, I'll have to listen to you whine about it all the way to Goodneighbor Fast. Go on, do what you want... Zao deserves it."

Copying Vira's salute to the old ghoul, I floated out my faithful Stable-Tec wrench and gave a tired smile to my zebra friend. "Alright then, you heard him Captain. I can't guarantee anything and I've gotta get going soon, but point me in the right direction and I'll give it a shot."

Tears welled up in the Captain's milky eyes as he removed his peaked hat and twisted it in his hooves, revealing the wisps of his mane and a large spot of bare skull underneath. He gave a low bow and his raspy voice was thick as he spoke, smiling and wiping at his leathery cheek when he raised his head again. "Thank you... Thank you for trying little pony, no matter the outcome. Thank you two young ones as well, for... for making a difficult choice. Now then, let us get to work, yes?"

Once Captain Zao had given me a crash course on zebra naval engineering and explained his problems, I had to fight back my rising temper and focus on the work. I didn't want to cause more arguments with Zed and Xia, or reveal just how the Elders of Neighlem had fucked the old ghoul for so long...

A dampening coil... that was what the Kraken lacked, a simple dampening coil. Well, not exactly simple since it was of zebra design and meant to regulate an unfamiliar arcane reaction with strange zebra runes and materials, but essentially it was a scaled up version of a common part found in any arcano-flux reactor. When Zao gave over the blackened and broken part he needed with trembling hooves, I had to grit my teeth into a rictus of a smile and pat his shoulder, at least able to expess genuine confidence I could do something about it.

While my hoard of spare parts and practice with transfiguration magic allowed me to repair the physical shell, I ended up having to rely on Xia for the finishing touches. Together we restored or re-scribed the etched runes on the fetlock length cyllinder in uncomfortable quiet, broken only by her instructions and my occasional question.

"They could have had this fixed a long time ago, couldn't they...?" Eventually she spoke up beyond telling me what rune meant what and what spells they described, keeping her narrowed teal eyes cast down on the part between us.

Pausing the flow of magic from my horn to check on a giddy Zao still giving Vira and Zed a tour nearby, I grunted a reply before moving on to the heat regulation flame spell required next. "Ayup... They may have had trouble trying it right after the war, but they've had 200 years to figure it out now. Guess they like having some monsters around more than others..."

My huff of an answer got her to look up anyway, her usual disdain somewhat muted after having her world view shaken. "Don't call him that! The poor stallion... living here in secret all this time. I still don't understand, I can't believe Elder Pandora would..."

"Would do what's best for Neighlem, whatever that happens to be." I sighed in reply, recalling Zed telling me exactly what his aunt's motivations were, before I knew just how far she'd go.

The small part of me that still cared about the Commonwealth wasteland and the bigger picture didn't like what I'd learned on that score. It didn't bode well for Jade's chances of getting the zebra community to join her kingdom and stand against the Institute. I'd intentionally been ignoring a few troubling signs already when it came to the local politics between Elder Pandora and the slaver Batia, but Zao's situation showed even the side I'd prefer had her faults.

"Well, it's wrong... T-Thank you for helping him, demon." I smiled at Xia sticking her nose up and crossing her hooves stubbornly. She might be a bit of a brat, but she had a strong sense of justice and was willing to buck her mentor to help the old ghoul.

"No problem. You're probably going to be in a world of trouble for this though... You could always get out of here and blame it all on me, like Zed said, I have a tendency to meddle anyway. It's not like telling everyone the evil Shadowknight drove off the Kraken would be a hard sell."

'...Yes!... Slay monster!... Show witch!... Conquer!... Bored fixing!...'

Xia's teal eyes locked on me when I rolled my eyes at the Shroud piping up, still holding that steely spark they had every time she deigned to look right at me, but softened by the first bit of kindness I'd ever seen from her as she spoke. "I don't need you to cover for me. What's right is right, I stand by what I believe in. You just focus on keeping that spirit under control!"

"Yeah, yeah... I got it. Probably..." I chuckled at Xia's nervous stare when I gave her an honest appraisal of my ability to keep the Shroud in line, shrugging as I went back to work and continued in a quiet mutter. "You really do hear it too, don't you?"

I raised an eyebrow as she gave a firm nod, a disgusted shiver running all the way down her long tail with her answer. "Yes, and see it... I'm still amazed you're anything more than a psychotic mess. It clings to you like a... a... ugh, a shroud... I suppose the name is apt. It's like seeing a hurricane in a bottle. A bottle with a lot of cracks... A very small bottle too..."

"Well I.... Hey! Was that a short joke!?"

I gaped at Xia's sour face twitching after I worked it out, my shock only deepening as she bit her lip and tried to remain stone faced even as a bare hint of a smile worked its way through. Normally I'd be more annoyed at the crack, but I found myself going along with her when she lost the battle and sputtered laughter, the two of us dissolving into giggles until my ribs ached and tears blurred my vision.

'...Grrr... Not funny!... No make fun!...'

'Awareness!' sang loud and pure as I wiped my eyes and howled, wheezing between tapering snickers that only redoubled at the Shroud's furious pout. "A joke, pfft! You actually joked! You must be getting pretty brave to tease a monster about his height, huh Xia? Bwahaha!"

Eventually composing herself primly, Xia gave a half smile and tossed her mane. "Oh no, I'd neeeever tease the dread Shadowknight, just its vessel... Fast. A monster wouldn't help Zao, or ask me what I thought, or be friends with Zed. However it's possible, you're still a pony under that miasma of darkness. I can see that now."

"Thanks... thanks a lot Xia. It's good to hear you use my actual name. It almost sounds like you're starting to see not everything is black and white."

"Maybe... That spirit is evil though, even if you might not be." Xia snorted in reply, her hard headedness and belief in absolutes still in full effect.

"I'm not sure even that is true." Xia whinnied in horror at my reply, but kept her tongue when I held up my hooves and continued. "Just bear with me. He used to be good, the Shroud was a hero once... I don't think all of that is gone. I mean, he's definitely bad and can be a real asshole...."

'...Hey!... Not asshole!...'

'....but! But I think he's trying, sorta... I used to think like you Xia, that there was good and evil and that was it. I wanted to be a hero like my comics, to punish all the bad guys and save the good guys I found out here in the wasteland. Everything I've learned since then though... Everything I've done... I think things are more complicated. Like what the Elders did to Zao. It was wrong to keep him here and lie about it, but how many lives has he saved over the years? What will happen when he's gone?"

She frowned as she mulled it over, eventually giving a shrug with her eyes set in a determined line and her ears flicking at the others returning. "I guess we'll find out. If you actually can fix it anyway. So?"

Breathing a soft sigh, I looked up to Captain Zao, Zed and Vira trotting up, floating the restored dampening coil up where they could all see. I'd gotten her to think about it anyway, that was progress. "So, what do you think Zao, will this work in your reactor?"

Taking the crudely repaired part from the blue field of my telekinesis, Zao's throat clicked with his overjoyed answer. "Yes! I can't believe it, but I think this will do nicely little pony, thank you! Ah, there is still more to do though, problems I have never thought I'd reach. To put this where it belongs, there is much radiation... I must ask Pandora for radiation suits, it is far too dangerous to..."

Vira snickered along with me as she helped me up, the two of us sharing a smirk to the confused ghoul as she spoke up. "That won't be neccessary Captain, Fast and I are as immune as you are. Though I think I'll leave the worst to Fast, it's already quite cramped in here... Is that the only issue?"

Zao blinked at us a moment, but shrugged it off and headed deeper into the ship, admonishing Zed and Xia to stay at the doorway leading to a long chamber that made my pip-buck give a slow chatter. I froze only a few steps in, gaping at the cramped space full of arcano-tech equipment and the source of the steady click-click-click, the curved walls were lined with missiles...

They weren't what I imagined the city destroying megaspell weapons to look like, each one about two ponies long and as big around as Vira's barrel. Judging by all the parts and equipment, I got the idea this room was some kind of on board manufacturing room, able to produce more of the deadly weapons as needed somehow. It must use something like the repair spells on a suit of power armor, provide it the materials and it would break them down and make what it needed... I also noticed it was all in excellent repair... The Elders of Neighlem might not have repaired the Kraken's main problems, but they obviously made sure its ability to launch was kept up.

Following Zao as he made for one of the smooth skinned weapons and started tinkering with the warhead, I jabbered a barrage of technical questions, confirming my guesses with the ghoul's proud replies while he worked. "Yes, yes, the Kraken was experimental secret weapon, pride of submarine fleet! It draws from prototype balefire reactor to fuel warheads. Only for these small tactical weapons though, I launch all the big ones on the last day as ordered. Not that it did much good, you tricky ponies deflected most from Trotson, all go to Glowing Sea place. Luckily, core from small one enough to rekindle reactor I think."

I watched closely as the Captain carefully disassembled the warhead, using a worn pair of wirecutters to slowly snip connections in a very specific order. Not that I thought there'd be much call for the knowledge of how to disarm a balefire missile, but it demonstrated the clear difference between 'repair-pony' and 'bomb disposal pony'. I was pretty sure I would have blown us all to the moon had I tried to do as Zao finished up in a few short minutes, easing what looked like a larger and brighter balefire egg from the warhead.

My pip-buck started angrily chattering as it came free, though with just a ghoul and two alicorns in range, the dangerous radiation was instead a pleasant and warm tingle we all paused to bask in for a moment. Vira's bright green eyes twinkled in the prismatic light the thing put off, the large green alicorn eventually taking a reluctant step back and eyeing the low ceilings warily.

Zao gave a soft sigh when she moved, gingerly hoofing the thing over to me while he rooted around in a few rusty storage lockers, returning with a heavy metal case that cut off the chatter of radiation as soon as it was safely stowed inside. "There, safe and sound now. Just remember, must insert dampening coil first, then fuel. You must take to aft, lower decks, this way..."

We waved to Zed and Xia still watching from the hatch, taking in their pensive looks before following the old ghoul as he trotted off down a rickety set of stairs to a room mirroring the missile chamber, only even more cramped with pipes and equipment. He continued towards the rear of the ship from there, the far hatch he led us to looked extremely rusty and unused. Zao rested his hoof on the corroded wheel when he reached it, making no move to turn it and open the way, if that was even possible.

"We'll take it? You're not going Zao? I mean, I'm a pretty good repair-pony, but not so good I'd turn my nose up at having the Kraken's Captain double checking my work..."

Zao closed his eyes and shook his head, taking slow breaths to compose himself before speaking in a tired croak. "I cannot... I haven't gone beyond this hatch in many, many years. You see, I can't stand to see them like that..."

Speaking in a soft voice, Vira reacted to Zao's obvious distress with compassion, tilting her head curiously. "Are you alright Captain? Can't stand to see who?"

His eyes were trembling with tears when he turned to her, his gravelly voice growing even more hoarse with emotion. "The crew..."

"Crew? They're still alive?"

Zao waved a hoof down to himself in answer, sighing sadly. "Alive? Not technically... they are like me, undead. Not like me too though, they are all feral... I couldn't bring myself to end their suffering though, or allow the Elders to do so until there was no choice. They were my crew, my family at sea. They have all lost themselves, but they do not bother me when I used to try to help them. For you to fix Kraken however, you must face them and they will not be so kind I think. Please, end their suffering as mercifully as you can. I'm sorry to leave this to you little and big ponies, but I can't..."

Vira pulled her fancy magical energy weapon from her saddlebags and curled a wing over the old ghoul's shuddering back, replying in a firm whisper. "Say no more Zao, it's alright. Fast and I can handle a few ghouls, can't we Fast?"

'...Finally!... Kill something!... No boring fixing!...YES!!...'

I groaned at the Shroud's spirit practically jumping for joy in my head, trying to focus on the generous soul of 'Be Unwavering!' rising up as I clapped Zao on the back. "Sure thing Captain, you're talking to the Shrouded Stallion after all. I think Vira and I can manage."

Zao blinked down to my confident nod, raising an eyebrow and chuckling weakly. "Shrouded...? Oh, you should not use that name little pony, not around Neighlem anyway. There are legends about a terrible beast called that here in pony lands. You are a good pony, nothing like that ancient spirit."

I gaped for a moment at the old ghoul's kindly smile, realizing he was isolated enough here that he hadn't known who I was. He didn't know the comic book costume and the others hadn't called me that, so he really thought I was making a poor joke and tried to warn me off taking the name. What brought a tear to my eye and a proud, knowing smile to Vira's muzzle however, was his disbelieving scoff that I could possibly be some evil monster.

"Er... right, just kidding... My name's Fast, Fast TImes."

"And you're right, he is a good pony... despite how he may feel sometimes." Vira beamed at me sniffling and hurriedly wiping my eyes, holding her foreleg out daintily for Zao to take after he finished shaking mine in formal introduction. "I'm Vira and this is Fast, now we're all friends and friends help each other. Don't worry about your crew, we'll put them to rest with respect and have you all on your way home soon. Right Fast?"

I nodded and grabbed the rusty wheel, giving Vira a grateful look as her hoof joined mine at the hatch. "Right. We got this Captain."

I sincerely doubted I ended up putting the ferals infesting the Kraken down with anything approaching respect, but it was mercifully fast anyway... It must be nearly dark outside, as the Shroud's influence was in full effect, the dark shadows in the gloomy and waterlogged portions of the ship writhing as I tore through them.

The spirit got to work out its pent up frustrations anyway, slaughtering the challenging ferals in a storm of magic, the flash of Best Served striking like lightning. They'd been caged down here a long time, absorbing the low level radiation permeating the ship that strengthened several into Glowing Ones, while others were charred and bloated monstrosities, all of them crazed by the ages of starvation finally broken by a fresh meal wandering in.

Vira kept up as we moved deeper and lower into the bowels of the Kraken, breathlessly rushing to keep pace and paying her respects to each corpse as it fell, sometimes gathering the ...pieces... and finding something to cover them with. Her rapid sparkle weapon poured out a stream of rainbow colored beams when we were swarmed in the crew quarters, turning several targets to ash before I reached them, but otherwise she kept back and let me go to town.

By far the toughest customer we ran into was just before finally reaching the reactor, a brightly glowing feral in a tattered uniform nearly as fancy as Zao's. Out of curiosity, I managed to exert enough control to activate S.A.T.S. when it came charging out of a sealed cabin, discovering he was once the 'First Mate', as the targeting spell identified him. Several well placed .45s from Vengeance managed to put him down without roasting, dismembering or otherwise obliterating the corpse, allowing me to take his fancy hat for Glitter's collection.

Afterwards we were clear to reach the reactor chamber, a large room with a huge, crystalline egg weakly flickering with sickly rainbow light and a small spark of balefire glimmering deep within its facets. Seeing the cramped two story room ringed with narrow catwalks was clear, I took my hat off and fell to my haunches in the chilly inches of seawater flooding the deck, gaping up to the foreign arcano-tech masterpiece.

My ears perked up at a low, keening wail coming from the reactor, the strange sound enough for me to stop gawking and approach cautiously and mutter. "What the hell is that?"

"What? I would assume you'd know better than I Fast. It's a very complicated looking device, do you really think you can fix it?" Vira tilted her head and trotted at my side, a curious note to her voice as I felt her psychic senses focus on me laying my ears back at the rising cry.

"No, that noise... Don't you hear that Vira? That weird screeching?"

She looked honestly bewildered, standing in the shadow of the reactor with me with both ears standing straight up and straining to hear what had become a head-splitting, hooves on a chalkboard kind of scream that lodged right in my brain. Vira shook her head after a moment, shrugging in confusion. "I don't hear anything but dripping water and a low hum from the machinery. You clearly hear something else though, I can get an echo of it from your mind.... it truly is a disturbing sound, isn't it?"

"Yeah... this thing is a prototype, so who knows. I wonder why I can hear it and you can't..."

'...Enslaved spirit... Shackled... Don't like...'

We both blinked at the Shroud's sullen answer, turning back to the reactor in surprise. I was betting if Xiayou could have come with us, she'd hear it too... The zebras had found a way to cage a spirit to power their vessel apparently, some kind of captured creature of balefire flames I could hear scratching at the walls of its prison. My own imprisoned spirit obviously didn't like the idea, a bitter mote of symapthy floating up with the soft whisper of 'Be Kind...'.

I supposed we ponies weren't the only ones who'd gone to extraordinary lengths during the war, inventing dangerous or forbidden technology in the overwhelming desire to win, without ever questioning if we should. Even the well intentioned experiments in the Stables had a tendency to go too far. It was a moot point though, I wasn't here to judge the zebra engineers and spiritists who'd come up with this thing, I was just here to fix it.

Pacing around the room slowly, I inspected everything, even after finding the obvious point of repair. There was a large, round hatch on the main, nest-like housing holding up the giant crystal egg, a small port that was exactly the size of the dampening coil I retrieved from my saddlebags along with the missile's egg shaped payload from its case.

Before I got to work I paused briefly, a dark idea springing to mind as I remembered Zao's warning about the order to do this in. I might not understand the magic that went in to making this thing work, but my inspection had shown me enough to figure out the basic science of it. Enslaved spirit or not, it was a sustained arcane reaction, meant to be regulated by the dampening coil. At the weakly flickering levels of power it was producing at the moment, there was no problem, it had probably been shut down to this standby state by emergency measures when the ship was damaged. If it were rekindled to full power without the coil in place however... Boom...

'...Yes... Kill sea monster... Destroy enemy...'

I felt awful realizing I was tempted for even an instant, but the choice was still there. Nice as he seemed now, the Captain and his crew had bombed my hometown to oblivion, now I was in a position to return the favor if I wanted. If I was really a monster, I could have revenge for the past...

'...Revenge.... Good... Want...'

While the idea was mostly the Shroud's influence, I shuddered at the flicker of temptation. As much as I wanted to believe there was still some good in the spirit and that I'd been rubbing off on it, I had to accept that was a two way street. He'd been wearing me down... For a bare instant, I sort of wanted to blow the Kraken up just for the hell of it... Free the enslaved spirit the zebras had chained up here... Score a victory in a war long over and watch it burn...

"Fast?" Vira's concerned voice snapped me out of it, eliciting a surprised and guilty neigh as I shook it off and moved to the hatch.

"Sorry... Just a bad idea popping to mind, that's all Vira. I'm embarassed you even heard that. I'd still much rather fix this thing and help Zao out, s-so just forget about it."

Vira held me back from trying to flinch away, nuzzling at my cheek burning with shame. "Everypony feels temptation to do bad things sometimes Fast, trust me, I know... Some of the secret thoughts I've heard from ponies put that one to shame, and they don't have any dark spirits to blame. Being a good pony doesn't mean never thinking those things though, what matters is what you do."

"T-Thanks Vira... I'm glad you're with me, t-to remind me to do the right thing now."

The roaring chatter from our pip-bucks cut off Vira's worried look when I wrenched open the hatch, flooding the room with intense radiation that got a soft moan from the green alicorn instead of whatever encouragement she'd been about to offer with her smile. She pranced back with another concerned look at the cramped surroundings, allowing me to work with the sting of guilt hurrying me along.

A receptacle had slid out from the brightly glowing hatch, a perfect fit for the repaired dampening coil I placed in the slot. The automated systems recognized the part with several clicks and hums. eventually rotating the cyllinder into proper allignment, then splitting the part open along the hidden seams, waiting for the large balefire egg I floated into place, very, very carefully...

The dampening coil closed around the tactical balefire egg with a whir, then the whole assembly retracted back in the core and I slammed the hatch shut, crossing my hooves and wincing at the rising thrum filling the room. Vira and I both yelped and jumped back when the reactor blazed to life, the huge crystalline egg filled with swirling green flames that cast an eerie light.

Peering into the depths of the torrent of balefire, I could barely make out an avian shadow dancing in the fire. The enslaved spirit screeching something like a hawk's cry in either triumph or despair. It had to be better than barely surviving as a dim ember, but it was still shackled to the ship's core, a spirit like the murderous one I'd learned to live with, caged in a ship instead of a pony.

The crimson emergency lighting was replaced by a brightening glow of white gem lights banishing the shadows, all the consoles and terminals in the room slowly blinking with multicolored buttons and readouts coming to life again. A crackle sounded out from one of these, the corroded speaker sparking and rattling with the exuberant shout of Captain Zao speaking from the bridge. "You did it!! Main power is back online, thank you! You can come back now ponies, please let me thank you in person!"

Vira joined me in a prancing, celebratory dance, the old ghoul's joy so infectious we both shared it, twirling in each others hooves and snorting laughter to the intercom. We rose together on fluttering wings, taking advantage of the tall reactor chamber to hover and spin together happily. Feeling her in my hooves and sharing the pride of doing something good again, I forgot myself and ended the aerial ballet with an enthusiastic kiss, surprising both of us into forgetting to flap and crashing back to the deck.

'...MORE!!... WANT MORE!... MINE!... NOW!...'

"W-Whoops! Sorry Vira, I didn't mean to..." I apologized and rubbed my sore flanks sheepishly, turning to help the green alicorn up from where she fell once I fought back the Shroud's eager shouting.

Far from looking bothered however, Vira's face was blushing brightly and a soft smile shone there. Hearts twinkled in her lidded eyes and her ears were limp, her foreleg rising dreamily to touch her glistening lips murmuring quietly. "Don't apologize... Do it again! It was like Unity, but different... Deeper. If kisses with a special somepony are like that, I can't wait to learn more..."

I gave a nervous chuckle to the big filly leaning forward eagerly, slinking back and scratching my itchy mane. "Er... M-Maybe later, huh? D-Don't want to keep the others waiting..."

Giving a disappointed pout, Vira rose and prowled after me, settling for a peck on the cheek when I backed into the hull and squeaked. "I suppose... I'll hold you to it though. That is what I came to find. When you did that, I only felt you, not the spirit possessing you. Such a warm, bright, pure feeling... That is who you truly are Fast."

She gave a tinkling giggle at that, turning to sashshay her way to the door out and leaving me to get my brain in gear again in stunned silence. For a moment I just hid my own blush behind the brim of my hat and took in the psychic connection I had with her, that had indeed been intensified for one brief, shining moment.

Vira really meant that... She actually cared about me and saw more than a monster, even though her gifts let her hear the beast still going ballistic in my head. She saw a good pony worthy of her affection though... an idea that was still hard to accept, but helped more than I could express.

When we returned the the bridge Zao threw a practical party for us, giddily shaking both our hooves and sharing out food and drink from his piles of 'offerings' that even Xia accepted this time. The old Captain looked almost alive in his glee, a wide grin stretching his rotting cheeks to the point I worried something might tear.

He kept dashing from one console to another between frequent stops to babble happily to each of us, rattling off a long to do list he never thought he'd get to accomplish. The Kraken was still grounded and would require more work, but he was confident he'd eventually get her back out to sea and put Equestrian shores behind him.

To my relief, he also proved he'd thought about the consequences of his departure a lot over the ages, expressing doubt and worry now that it was a real possibility. "I must go to town when you leave, speak with Pandora and the others... I can't just leave them, especially with those crazy Institute ponies coming out of hiding after so long. There's always that nasty Batia she compalins about so much stirring up trouble too."

Guessing the prewar Institute was probably the main reason Zao and his ship were sent to the Commonwealth to begin with, I wasn't entirely surprised to hear him mention them. I still grumbled at the reminder, the threat they posed had only gone up in the intervening years.

Munching happily on canned hay she'd selected from the spread Zao put out, Xia blinked at her mentor's other complaint, her voice rising in anger and surprise. "You know about that awful stallion Batia Captain? He foalnapped me you know!"

"Oh yes, Pandora is one of the only zebras who come to see me out here, so we talk about many things. I am, how you say, her confidant. I have seen many bad eggs over the years, but that Batia is the worst. I'm not surprised he'd take even a sweet filly like you, very, very bad egg..."

"He's also a powerful egg... almost a Balefire egg actually." Zed sipped at a finely aged bottle of Wild Pegasus in polite toast, the alcohol lubricating a chuckle at his wry joke before he turned more serious. "It's not a problem for you to worry about though Captain, the Kraken never gets involved in local issues anyway. Batia will do what he does and Aunt Pandora will keep him in line. He's too rich and well connected to push around, but not foalish enough to rock the boat that much."

"She should just kill him... That guy's trouble waiting to happen. Why does she put up with him?"

Focusing on the slaving asshole rather than my own personal obsession with the Institute, I gave a growl that nearly matched the rumble of my belly as I tossed another empty can of Cram aside, moving on to one of the girraffe logo stamped cans of fish I'd snatched up along with any other meat products Zao had to offer. It must be getting late and our distracting errand here had worked up an appetite.

Zed sighed a reply, raising a wary eyebrow at the Shroud's voice leaking into my own. "He employs many creatures in Neighlem Fast, giving him a loyal power base. He may be little more than a gangster, but his presence helps keep others of his ilk away. Better the devil you know than the one you don't after all. Even those not directly working for him benefit in many ways. His arena at the old internment camp brings outsiders here to spend their caps, and he has a hoof in many legitimate businesses through his predatory loans and protection rackets. The Longneck Cannery that produced what you're eating is one of them for example."

Xia stuck her tongue out and pointed the can I currently had my muzzle stuck in, scrunching her face in disgust. "Bleck... I don't see how you eat that garbage either Shad- Fast... He buys a lot of good will selling it cheap or giving it away, but only because nocreature besides you and the hellhounds from Lynn Woods like it. It doesn't even have the excuse of being 200 years old either. They might be freshly canned, but everything that comes out of that factory of his tastes awful!"

"Well, we alicorns have different tastes. Let me try!" Out of curiosity and giggling at the opportunity, Vira leaned close and licked a gob of meat from my cheek, her cute smile as she chewed only lasted a few seconds however, her mouth slowing and a sour grimace spreading on her face as she mumbled around the food. "Oh... Oh my, ick... yes, that is awful... W-What kind of fish are they canning in there? The food on Fog Harbor was much better."

"Tis not fish, tis pony meat."

Everyone froze at the Shroud using my stuffed mouth to answer absently, Vira's green face turning even greener as she spit out the morsel she still had and pawed at her tongue with a quiet 'urk!'. The zebras stared at me like I'd grown another head when I swallowed involuntarily, at least managing not to lick the can clean, but forced to smack my own hoof away from reaching for another.

'...What?... Is good!...'

"P-P-Pony meat?!? No... no, no, no! Even Batia wouldn't..." Xia spoke in a horrified whisper, her face paling when I answered in my own voice.

"Trust me, I know the taste... Of course it could be zebra in there too. I just wasn't thinking why the psycho was so satisfied with canned food... After seeing the conditions he kept his slaves in, I think we can both guess where he gets his supply too, right Xia?"

She looked to Zed for some sign I was joking, her mouth falling open at his reluctant nod of confirmation with his jaw clenched and stern grey eyes set in a hard line. "I'd believe him..."

"That's too much, even for Batia! He can't... That's vile! Disgusting! Unholy!!" Xiayou stood and stamped her hooves, pacing the bridge in fury and bucking at a pile cans marked with the cheery giraffe in horror as she shouted. "I'm telling Elder Pandora! When she finds out what he's been doing, she'll... He can't be allowed to continue!"

"Like I said, you should just kill him... I'll do it if you want Xia, same as with Zao, all you have to do is ask..."

My low growl got her to stop stomping around in a tantrum, the zebra filly's teal eyes going wide as she stared at me like she was really seeing me for the first time. While I was determined not to get sidetracked again and Neighlem's affairs weren't really my business, the Shroud and I were in agreement when it came to delaying just long enough to go murder the slaver.

She looked tempted for a long time, fidgeting with her pigtails and chewing her lip in thought while I waited placidly. Even Zed and Zao left her to it, waiting to see what the young shaman's decision would be here. Eventually she sighed and shook her head however, answering a tight, reserved voice that showed just how close she came to saying yes.

"No... He definitely deserves it, but no thank you Fast. This is a problem for Elder Pandora, for us to solve ourselves, not pawn off on a willing scapegoat. Though now I see how the Elders could use Captain Zao as they did for so long... Having a pet monster to do your dirty work is very tempting, I almost... I still want to..."

"You see Fast, everyone is tempted sometimes. Just from what little I've heard, I'd agree with removing such a foul zebra too, but being a good pony, or zebra, isn't easy. I'm glad you are one Xia." Vira smiled and bowed her head in respect to the still shaky looking filly.

Standing to stretch, Zed bowed to the deck before her, his words turning her uneven smile to a brilliant one. "A wise decision, Aunt Pandora would be proud Xia. It's probably best if we remove any lingering allure and be on our way though. We have places to be and you've done more than enough meddling for one day Fast..."

"Ah, you are leaving? You can't stay and celebrate longer? Please, I owe you all so much! Such meager fare was already poor reward, but finding I served you pony meat is great dishonor." Captain Zao scrambled up at Zed's firm declaration, jabbering apologetically as we all stood and prepared to get going.

"Er... yeah, sorry Zao, but we do need to get moving. We've got a date with a hellhound to keep and one last errand to run, then I can finally go home too. I've already put it off too long. Plus it's probably a good idea for me to be long gone before you tell Pandora what we've been up to here, otherwise she might ask you to launch one last missile before you set sail, at me..."

"Ah, I see... Yes, I would not wish to bomb my savior." Zao chuckled at my joke, then his face lit up with inspiration and he galloped from the bridge in a rush, shouting happily as he went. "At least let me give you a proper reward! One moment, let me find..."

Vira giggled at the crashes and bangs coming from the cabin the old ghoul used deeper in the ship, casting a worried glance to Xia. "Will you and the Captain be alright Xiayou? I fear we're leaving quite the mess for you to clean up once we leave, won't you be in trouble?"

Zed nodded along with the concerned green alicorn. "She's right Xia, I can go with you to explain, I bear responsibility for Fast while he's here after all."

"It was my decision, I'll handle it myself. Zao said he'll take me to shore, so you should all probably get out of here before we tell her. Go back to your family Fast, you and Zao both deserve it." Xia answered in a subdued but determined voice, then smirked at me with a mock huff. "Besides, I don't want the evil Shadowknight here any longer than necessary, right? Go away already!"

"Alright, alright, I'm leaving already. The terrible Shrouded Stallion, banished by an apprentice shaman filly. That should give you bragging rights in the village for awhile anyway, huh?" The two of us chuckled together, on much better terms than when we met and both better for it.

"Gifts before you go! Here!" Zao shouted as he came proudly trotting back to the bridge, as if worried he'd miss us before Zed, Vira and I made our way to the small airlock containing the ladder out.

While I wasn't too worried about a reward, I recognized how important it was to him and the strange gadget he held out did capture my immediate interest. It looked like a small remote control, but with only one button and a targetting talisman glimmering from the scratched metal surface.

Taking and turning it in my telekinesis, my mouth fell open as I figured it out. "Is this...? Pandora has one of these, doesn't she Zao?"

"In her staff, yes. Very smart repair-pony. Remote target identification device! I not leave for some time yet, and even then, Kraken will be in firing range for weeks. If ever you need Zao's help, now you can call down the balefire just as she does!" The Captain beamed as I looked up from the widget, realizing Pandora's fancy staff was just a bit of theater to disguise the technology he'd hoofed over to me.

"T-Thanks Zao... I hope I never have to use it, but I appreciate the trust. Have a safe journey home Captain."

I shook his hoof feeling humbled and made to leave, then paused when he held me back and dug at the ruffed collar of his leather coat, carefully pulling off a dimly glowing necklace along with a few flakes of dead skin around his neck as he spoke. "Ah, ah, gift number one from my Kraken to thank for fixing her. Gift number two from me, in spirit of ponies and zebras being friends again."

I couldn't identify this gift nearly as easily as the technological one he gave me, but I could sense powerful magic surrounding the pearlescent blue gem framed by seashells hanging from the leather strap and tried to refuse. Whatever it was, it looked a bit like Zed's batwing fetish and was putting off artifact levels of arcane power. Surely something too important to just take for a repair job, despite the Shroud instantly trying to snatch it away greedily.

"Zao, you don't have to give me anything more. I was happy to help, this seems personal..."

He turned away from me trying to offer it back however, refusing in a polite and somber tone. "It was awarded to me with my commision of the Kraken, but only fitting it stay behind. A relic of another race drawn into our ancient conflict like the griffons and dragons. You keep, you think of Zao and his submarine if you ever need go underwater with it."

Vira broke the stalemate by floating it away from both of us, her green eyes glittering as she pulled back her long mane to fasten it around her slender neck and pose fetchingly. "Oh It's lovely! I'll take it if Fast doesn't want it Captain. What do you mean by underwater though? What does it... OH!"

The green alicorn gasped when she had it on and a swirl of magic emanated from the necklace, surrounding her form and adding more sinuous curves in a flash of transformation magic that left us all gaping. Her hindlegs melded into her barrel and tapered towards her tail, her wings and tail itself becoming shining fins and frills that left all of us but Zao stunned.

"A seapony!? By the mother! Look Fast, I'm a seapony! A mermare! Let's go outside and try it!" Vira blinked down at herself in glee, apparently feeling no discomfort and wiggling on the deck like a flopping fish trying to get to the sea outside. Realizing that she couldn't exactly walk out and the frills that had replaced her wings couldn't lift her, she blanched after a moment, holding herself up on her forelegs with her long tail slapping the floor and tilting her head curiously to the magic necklace. "Umm... How does it work exactly? I had enough trouble getting into your little ship as it was Captain. I think I'll need all four hooves to get out again..."

Zao chuckled and reached forward to lightly brush the sliver of blue pearl, resulting in the same process but in reverse, returning Vira to being a large alicorn instead of a large seapony. "Very simple, see? It can even change multiple creatures if you hold hooves. Ancient treasure of fabled Sequestria. After what our navy did to those poor people in the war, I feel better leaving it behind with good ponies."

Vira beamed and nuzzled the ghoul's rotting cheek without reservation, allowing me a moment to take in his earnest face with my eyes watering. I'd come close to killing him when we met and even considered blowing up his precious ship, however briefly, but he still thought I was a good pony... He offered his heartfelt thanks and gave me this gift as his way of making peace with the past, trying to pay for his own sins.

'...Be Kind... Be Strong!... Be Unwavering!... Awareness!... Be Awesome!...'

All five Ministry Mares rose up together in song, a somber note deepening the melody at the gift for some reason, but it was still a pure and ringing harmony that got a grudging huff of respect from 'Be Dark...' joining in, even as I could feel the sun setting outside and full dark coming on.

The Shroud still viewed Captain Zao as Luna's enemy from the war, but it was trying to forgive... Maybe because we were fellow monsters looking for a little redemption. Or maybe just because the spirit was greedy and bribes went a long way... Either way I took heart that I might not be totally wrong in what I told Xia, there was still some good in him... In me...

"All I can say is thank you Zao, for more than you know... I think it looks better on Vira so I'll let her hang on to it, but if I ever need it I'll think of you." I sniffled and matched the solemn bow the old zebra gave, then turned to the alicorn already wedging herself in the airlock and working at the hatch, casting one last worried glance back to Zao and Xia waving us off. "You're sure you'll be alright? Both of you? Neighlem...?"

Much as I wanted to just get what the Shroud wanted done and go to my family as fast as my wings would take me, I couldn't help hesitating. As Zed complained, I'd meddled here... stuck my muzzle in and interfered with their lives. I had an interest in how things turned out after we left now. I realized I had started to care about more than just myself again, like a real hero would...

"If you're so worried, I guess you'll just have to... t-to come back and visit us again, won't you Fast?" Xia's warm smile only strengthened that spark of rekindled caring. The filly who'd hated me as the evil Shadowknight more than any other zebra, now speaking like a real friend.

"Maybe after Aunt Pandora has had some time to calm down..." Zed chuckled, giving his old friend a hug that turned the pale filly a bright red before he trotted over to join us. "I'll check back in after Yura's temple Xia, before we return to Trotson. I promise to bring him back some other time though, right Fast?"

"D-Definitely... With my wife and daughter, so you can meet them too! I hope you're still around to introduce too Zao, but if not I understand. We've both got homes to go to and a long way to get there... Goodbye and good luck, both of you!"

At that I climbed the ladder out and flew up into the chilly night sky, putting the sea at my back and the pip-buck compass marker for Lynn Woods in front of me. I glanced back just once to see Xia and Zao waving and shouting their goodbyes from the submerged deck of the Kraken, sending a tear rolling off my cheek and into the slipstream to join the salty sea.

---------------------Level Up!---------------------

New Perk Added!----------------

Seapony-------
---- Thanks to an artifact of legendary Sequestria, you can now breathe underwater as an honest to goddesses seapony! Those under the effect of this magical transformation also gain increased swiming speed and take no radiation damage, even in the polluted waters of the Commonwealth.