(???)

"Come on you open up,"

"Open the vault,"

"I can make it worth your while,"

"Think about what you're throwing away!"

"I have other weapons. Other technology I can share with you!"

"The big empty! I know the way there. I know some of it's secrets,"

"The collars! The collars were a mistake! I see that now! Why would I kill you? After all you done? After all WE done together?"

"ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME!?"

"Everything down here. I swear! So much you can see! You can rule the wastes with what's down here!"

"Make your own army. Reshape the world. And if others disagree? Put collars on them I can show you how,"

"DON'T YOU LEAVE ME HERE! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!"

"Eh? It's getting dark in here. Machine... machine's losing power, no. I still have pip-boy light... maybe... maybe... no, no, that doesn't work,"

"Where? Where is that door? Can't find the door!"

"Calm, been in worse situations... find a way out... somehow, then find that courier,"

"Maybe Veronica? No... no... she thinks I'm dead,"

"Must be someone... maybe that other courier, the one with the flag on his back... maybe... no... no... said he'd never come to the Sierra Madre,"

"No way out. Can't... Can't end like this,"

"You,"

"I know you can here me,"

"When you die, Courier... I'll be waiting,"

"Your grave's going look just like this vault,"

"When you die..."

"I'll be here waiting..."

"At the Sierra Madre. Waiting..."

...

"You can't be so mistaken you old fool,"

(New Navarro)

"SIX!"

Before he had the chance to even open his eyes Six felt something small crash land on top of his gut, grunting Six opened his eyes still a little groggy the courier lifted his head up to look at the small cat smiling at him.

"Wake up!" Marie looked at him causing the courier to push himself up from his lounging chair.

"Already bored with your new room?" Six joked while Marie sat up on his lap.

"Of course not. I just want to be out here with you," Marie answered to which Six titled his head.

"Well, here you are now. What do you wanna do?"

"Play with me," Marie patted his chest plate causing Six to laugh.

"Alright sweetie what do you want to play?"

Looking around she then pointed to the small table to the two of them.

"Why not that?"

"Chess? Do you know how to play?"

"Noooooo..." She rocked back and forth before looking at him. "Can you teach me?"

"Alright might be awhile,"

(Meanwhile)
(Las pegasus on the border of the western badlands)

Holding a bag over her shoulder Starlight couldn't believe what was right in front of her.

'The wall'

A massive barrier that had to be 500 meters tall and ran across the entire border as far as she could see and from what she was told the wall had to be at least 100 meters thick. Along with that, it was all completely enchanted in ancient magic she wasn't even familiar with which was really saying something from her countless years of experience studying all forms of magic.

This was something out of her ballpark.

"Ma'am?"

Turning her head to her escort who all were completely unarmed and unarmored pegasi only wearing simple military uniforms. Somewhat uneasy going in so 'bare' Starlight understood the reasoning behind this after what she heard and the last thing she wanted to start was to start a war.

Her goal was to try and make contact with the government leaders of nations within the western badland for negotiations which shouldn't be a complete mess. This could be some sort of 'friendship' problem they can just talk about and have the wall down at the end of the week if she was lucky.

"Sorry, I'm ready now. I was just overthinking about things again," Starlight joked while her guard nodded before the two went over to the chariot.

Climbing aboard Starlight gave a deep breath as the final guard threw on his harness before the four trained flyers opened their wings before running forward and taking off into the air. Grabbing the handlebar before her to hold tight starlight hated the royal chariots, these things were outdated and it showed.

It seemed whoever made these things was more focused on the pegasi harness rather than the passage, the chariot themselves were made from extremely light wood that was so thin that it provided very little protection to the passenger and it lacked a back which could be very hazardous for a few obvious reasons.

Along with that, the only thing that the passenger had from falling off was a single handle that was barely screwed to the front of the cart. Thankfully she was a unicorn and she could use her magic to help out but she could only imagine what kind of mad earth pony would go out in one of these.

Making it over the border wall Starlight couldn't help but look down and sure enough, the wall was wide as the reports have stated them being. Slowly she felt the chariot begin to level out while Starlight relaxed in the back looking at the badlands below and reaching into her bag to pull out a telescope.

Unfolding the gold tube she looked down at the land before seeing a whole bunch of sand and nothing really else as expected, that was until something caught her eye. Turning her gaze to the small pew of smoke she looked in the direction of what seemed to be a moving trail of smoke.

Confused she looked in the direction of the potential source of smoke but when she did Starlight nearly fell backward from the thing she was seeing right before her!

There in the middle of the badlands was a train!

An actual non-equestrian train right here in the badlands!

It was a complete shock to her to see something that was only made in equestrian now out in the badlands of all places, the equestrian badland's did even have a working rail system. While the railroad company was currently planning out it's future expansion here the western badlands had what seemed to be a working train and railroad.

She quickly reached into her backpack before pulling out her camera to take a picture of the train before something else caught her attention. What looked like a scrapyard not far from the station turn her gaze over to it but upon looking through the lens of the camera she almost fell off this time from what she was seeing.

An entire field fenced off had giant machines out lined up and large factories most likely building such machines within their walls, then she saw a much large area that looked like some sort of construction site within the fenced-off area was a large machine being built as a large tube rested next to it.

Taking picture after picture Starlight didn't even notice two objects flying through the air close and slowly going down to either side of the chariot. The low roaring caused not only Starlight to turn but her escort as well to look to see two massive metal birds-like machines fly up on either side of the chariot.

Frozen in shock Starlight looked at these remarkable machines flying in the air upon closer inspection she noticed in the glass dome in the front of one of the flying craft was a strange helmet-wearing creature and behind them was one of the metal creatures Twilight described. Turning its head to her the strange helmet-wearing stared at her before lifting up his hand and pointing downwards.

All though she didn't know who these people were or what these machines were the hand gesture was one that didn't take a genius to figure out.

'Land now'

(Back at New Narravo)

Walking forward Amelia was still trying to gather what she had just received over the radio, apparently during a training route for future badland pilots they encountered an unidentified flying object which turned out to be an equestrian flying chariot. Honestly, she didn't know what to make of this and currently was going over to Six to see what he could figure this whole deal. She already sent out a report to Damion, Xaviar, and Aya about this sudden breach in the badland's air space but since the flying chariot was spotted almost forty miles without being noticed by the air portal made she know this was a huge problem.

"Six I think you should see this," Turning the corner with a notebook in hand she looked up but froze at what she was seeing.

Little Marie was playing chess with the courier, it was kinda cute seeing the mirror image of Six and Marie both hand their arms on their legs while holding their hands together in front of their faces. Moved his piece and then the small Abyssinian would move hers before she snapped up and smiled.

"HA! Checkmate," Marie roared with laughter before Six followed with his own laughter.

Smiling Amelia slowly walked over before Six noticed her.

"Hey, Amelia what's up?" Six asked.

"Nothing much can I get your attention real quick?"

"Aw can't we have one more game?" Marie cried before Six smiled standing up and patting her head.

"How about a little later," Six moved over and walked up to Amelia.

"What's going on?" Amelia leaned in close to his ear.

"We may have a slight problem,"

"What kind of problem?"

"Flying ponies,"

"Shit,"

"Yeah," Amelia looked over to the chess board before looking back at Six. "You let her win didn't you?"

"You said it not me," Six stated before shaking his head. "Really hope this whole deal doesn't cut into what I have planned later,"

"Oh? What plans?" Amelia leaned back with a smirk on her back.

"Oh, nothing... I was thinking something like you and me small dinner and watch one of those pre-war movies?" Six asked before Amelia blushed slightly and held up her notepad to hide her smile.

"Then I guess we should hurry then,"

(Interrogation room A-3)

Starlight shivered at the cold metal vices wrapped around her wrists causing her to look down at them despite how thin they looked and the chain that held them to the table in front of her they were surprisingly strong. Along with that, there was for some reason a mirror in the room and a strange machine with a tiny black window looking down at her while it gave a blinking red light towards her.

Ever since they were forced to land Starlight and her Escort were taken into custody before her bag along with her camera was taken by the machines and military personnel here. What was weird was that this military personnel wasn't just one species but it had each member of every settlement closed off in the western badlands.

From Jackal, Zebra, and Abyssinian all were here wearing strange armor painted with a strange sand yellow pattern.

It was hard to believe what she was seeing but all she could do was company rather than be awestruck.

Before she knew it the unicorn was placed in this room alone, where she has been for what felt like hours.

That was before someone opened the door to the room before someone entered, unlike the rest of the soldiers this one was dressed differently and walked up from behind her before seeing across the table from her. Upon sitting down Starlight quickly recognized the being sitting across from her, his red-eyed helmet and armored coat told her who this was.

Her friend described this being many times before after they were literally kicked out of the strange settlement in no man's land.

Six...

"Well," Six spoke his voice muffled by his mask. "What brings you to the badlands?"

"Oh. I'm here to speak with the leaders of the badlands about the wall and why they have cut all trade routes with Equestria?" Starlight answered the surprisingly casual question.

Six gave a nod before lifting up her camera.

"So you weren't taking pictures of our trains and work sites?" Six asked to which Starlight moved back before nodding.

"Well yes, I just saw it and-"

"You thought you could get some recon intel for your superiors?"

"Recon intel?" Starlight lowered her cuffed hands to the table before narrowing her brow confused. "No, I-"

"You know this isn't a good look for you lady," Six stated before moving down his hand. "You could be facing serious charges for this,"

Starlight froze before leaning back.

"For what I took some pictures!"

"Espionage," Starlight felt her blood freeze solid before holding back up her hands.

"I'm not a spy. I'm an evony sent by princess twilight for peaceful negotiations with the leaders of the badlands,"

"Then why were you taking pictures?"

"Because I just..." Starlight froze not knowing what to say.

Six stared at her behind his non-blinking red visor before giving a deep muffled sigh and holding up his free hand.

"Say what you're going to say,"

"Excuse me?"

"Say what you were going to say to the leaders of the badlands they can hear you," Six stated before lowering his freehand to the table.

"How?"

"Does it matter?"

"Yes it does I wish to speak to them in person," Starlight answered.

"Well, you are currently in front of one. Say what you're going to say,"

"Your not a leader of any badland land kingdom," Starlight scoffed to which Six did not.

"True I don't rule a kingdom but I am a leader and I'm allied with the three kingdoms here," Six corrected before tapping his fingers on the table. "So if you one to speak with one of us in person well here say what you will,"

"Fine. Why have you cut off trade routes to Equestria?"

Six stared at her before turning to the mirror and holding up his free hand towards it like a 'is she for real' gesture before turning back to her.

"Well you come to the wrong place to ask that question," Six stated. "You can find your answer back in equestrian,"

"What do you mean?"

Six stared at her for a moment before he pointed right at her.

"You attacked us,"

"Wait? No, the elements didn't-"

"That was an infiltration and it was against me that's not what I mean," Six interrupted her. "No your kingdom came in on a four-front invasion attack targeting not only my home but my three allies,"

"What we didn't attack any kingdom,"

"Yes, you did,"

"No, we did-"

Six summoned something to his hand before slamming it onto the table causing her to freeze at the site of the golden helmet of an equestrian guard.

"-not,"

She looked at him and then towards the helmet before speaking up.

"I don't understand when? well, why? I? Celestia would never have," Starlight was at a loss for words before looking at Six. "I heard rumors about something but that's just it rumors,"

"Rumors of what?"

"A small part of the equestrian army and navy just... disappearing but it's just a rumor," This changed Six's posture while he stared at her.

"Just disappeared huh?"

"Yeah but I'm not into the whole military presence but how-?"

"Maybe you should start to look into it," Six stated before Starlight watched him sitting up. "You and your buddies will be escorted across the border but I'm confiscating your camera,"

"That was a present from my friend," Six silently stared at her before walking away with her Camera before she dropped her head onto her hands.

Slowly raising her head to the helmet Six's voice echoed in her mind.

(With Six)

"You going to keep staring or are you going to ask me if I did the right thing?" Six asked casually to Aya who walk next to him.

"No, I believe that went well," Turning to the queen of the Nile Six tilted his head. "Not something my interrogators would have done but I think that is why it went so well,"

"Heh. What do they do usually?"

"Boil them in oil or whip them," Aya stated before Six shifted.

"Damn,"

"I'm joking Six,"

"That's the first time you ever said a joke to me," Six laughed lightly.

"Come now I have joked before," Aya countered to which Six shook his head.

"Not really," Turning from him with a smile on her face the two proceed to keep walking. "All though I might need to hurry up that air radar system,"

This caused Aya to give a nod.

"That you do,"

"Maybe put something up on that wall just to be safe,"

"What you thinking of,"

"Well I might have an idea about some things but my mind is currently on something else," Six stated honestly.

"Oh? Do you have plans with someone?"

"Yes,"

"Who?"

"Amelia,"

"Amelia? Not Aella?" Six turned towards her confused.

"What do you mean by that?"

Shaking her head Aya smiled.

"For a man with such sharp eyes, you can't be so blind sometimes," Stopping Six watched the lady of water walk away but Six couldn't help but notice her swaying her hips while she walked.

"<BANG!>" ED-E blurred out causing Six to flinch before turning to his buddy who was bobbing up and down seemly in laughter.

"ED! I swear do that again and I'll turn you into a toaster,"

"*Coy beeping*,"

"Don't tempt me,"

Author's Note

Man, that was a pretty long break but I'm back in the saddle with this story having chatted about some ideas with my pals over discord. Along with that, I got a plan that would be leading up to the next story Arch, also I'm not trying to rush the whole herd/pack deal kinda slowing it here since fallout romance is just as slow but very sweet.

Before I forget a friend of mine is writing a 'What if' scenario just a heads up and I ain't going to spoil anything but it will be similar to my Halloween special.

Also, yes the start of the story is Father Ejiah's 'last words' though I have done the Safety deposit box ending for dead money. Although for some reason my game never would seem to work properly then again I got out with all the gold and loot from the vault so that could be why vegas was always a bit of a glitchy game.

Here's a video of Ejiah's last words:

Besides that, I hope you enjoy this story's return.