Fallout Girls: Friendship Is Magic

Almost there took about half an hour of traveling, until they finally reached the edge of a town. Past two empty store buildings was a heavily fortified wall, with a few armed guards standing by them. Two turrets swiveled back and forth on the edge of the store buildings, acting as the first lines of defense. The trio walked further more, and the two guards at the gates nodded at the captain.

"Captain Applejack, glad to see you," one of the guards greeted. "Who are these two? Caravans?"

"They're new around here. There's another vault out there we missed," Applejack explained.

"And you brought them to the best spot in the whole Commonwealth," the second guard chimed in. "You go on through, Captain."

"Any updates from Captain Settler or the others?"

"Nothin' yet. But we did get word from a nearby settlement; that platoon you sent in to help were able to protect them, now the two kind folks at Tundra Station want to join the Minutemen again," one of the guards explained.

"That's great news, thank you," Applejack expressed.

The gates opened up, and the trio were finally inside. As expected, the place was bustling with people; compared to the past few areas they walked through, this town seemed very refreshing. Lots of homes made out of trailers and shacks, stacked on top of each other. A few buildings still standing were rebuilt and refurbished to look somewhat new again, with people coming in and out of those places as if they were homes or stores. Some residents looked fancy, some looked like they had no home.

Sunset had to admit, she didn’t expect to see well-pressed suits still intact after the war, but especially men in those suits offering helping hands for those who were dressed in rags that were tattered. But there wasn't anything hostile about them.

Unfortunately, the welcome was cut short by a balding man with road leathers.

“Hey. New folks walk into the Commons, ya pay up. Insurance and all.”

“If it’s keep-dumb-assholes-away-from-me insurance, I’m not interested,” Sunset glared.

“Hah. No, nothing like that. I mean the kind that you need where I walk away, and you leave with no blood out of your body, or broken bones,” he threatened.

Sunset was ready to pull out a gun, but once again was cut off. This time by a man who emerged from one of the alleyways; dressed in a tricorn hat and an old red jacket. She couldn't get a look at him, but she swore this man had no nose.

“No fucking more, Fin,” he snarled at him as he stepped into the light. “We’ve done this dance too many times. No. You got all the chances you’re going to get.”

“You’re soft, Hancock.”

“Have I now?”

Without restraint, Hancock grabbed Fin by the head and slammed his knee into his nose, making him scream in agony and letting him drop to the ground. Guards did finally show up, but they didn’t go near Hancock, instead, they yanked the man who threatened Sunset and company.

“He pull the extortion crap on you?” Hancock asked, looking to the newcomers.

“If by extortion you mean threatening to kill us unless we hand over what little we have, then yes.”

“That’s what I thought. Now, Fin. As a courtesy, I won’t slit your throat right here. But if we ever see you here in the Commons again, I promise you, I won’t be so polite,” he growled, lifting his chin up to gaze right into his eyes.

“We’ll take care of this, Hancock. Thanks for letting us know,” the guard acknowledged before leading him away.

“Sorry that’s how you were greeted. I warned him twice, and I didn’t want to have to end him on the sidewalk. Never forget the rules out here are different from Goodneighbor,” Hancock greeted.

“You are…?”

“Mayor Hancock, of Goodneighbor. I live here on occasion, helps me remember my roots; and where I came from. I see you’ve become acquainted good ole Captain Applejack,” he greeted the Minutemen trooper. “Who are you two?”

“Sunset.”

“Twilight.”

“Lovely to meet you both. If you ever need a hand to show you around, you’ll know where to find me; No Tracks, just down the street,” he finished, tipping his hat to them before moving on to his own business.

Awkward silence filled the Commons, despite it being bustling with people. Looking to each other, the two of them quietly nodded before turning forward. Then with one foot after the other, they started to explore.

The city still had some concrete, stone, and brick buildings intact, with a few windows restored here and there. Surrounding them were the real homes, shacks, vendors, and recreation centers. Trailers, some stacked on top of each other to act as an apartment complex. Shacks and houses made of metal and wood, connecting to each one via ladder or pallet walkway. Signs and decorative pieces hanging from each, giving them more character.

Alleys ran in every corner. Lots of people of all different ages, genders, and ethnicities. And much like outside, they could see some of the residents weren’t entirely human, as seen by the few robots and ghouls that wandered about, treated like any other person.

“This is… incredible!” Twilight squeaked. “I-I thought there weren’t that many people here, but this! This is proof that they were wrong! Humanity does a find a way to survive.”

“Yeah… it does,” Sunset droned, still feeling the painful reminders of her old home.

"You two feel free to look 'round, I've gotta go do a check in with my Minutemen. Oh, and while you're here," Applejack handed the two of them a small bag of caps. "There's a hotel that you can stay in for the time bein', only costs five caps a night. Should cover you both for a couple of weeks until we find a new house for you to stay in. Just follow the steps up to the old apartments down the street on yer right. Rodder's Rest will be on the buildin', used to be an apartment space back in the old war."

"Thank you, Applejack," Twilight expressed kindly.

The Minutemen nodded before heading off on her own. Now alone to do whatever, Twilight and Sunset started to explore the wide open world of the Commons.

While they walked around, the two of them had to freeze for a moment. A few people were trying to avoid a rather large bug, larger than any bug should be. Buzzing and hovering around as if it was looking for food, trying desperately to find any morsel.

“… Grab your gun, slowly,” Sunset ordered.

Both Twilight and Sunset pulled their 10mm pistols out, ready to fire. Turning around, the identified stingwing started to charge towards them only for something to stop it mid-charge.

The bug buzzed in agitation as it tried to get away, and the girls saw their unexpected savior. Some stranger in a suit of Power Armor, a T-60 model with cyan paint and a badge of a bolt of red, yellow, and blue out of a cloud. The stranger grabbed the bug and pulled it close, grabbing it with both hands before crushing it into a large splatter of guts and juice all over the power armor, and over Sunset and Rainbow. Sticky residue and guts covered them all over them, especially on their hair and faces.

“I suppose that works too,” Twilight said with annoyance.

“Oh, heh, oops. Sorry, I uh, got some bug guts on you… heh,” the suit apologized. “I’m Rainbow Dash by the way. Hey, let me get that off ya.”

“No thanks, I’m good,” Sunset tried to move away.

“Wait, no, it’s okay, I can wipe that off, I can clean it off my suit, let me just—”

RIPPPP.

And by accident, the Power Armor hand accidentally tore off a huge portion of Sunset’s vault suit, leaving her in just her tank top. A blushing Sunset covered herself before glaring at Rainbow with a slow growl.

“… s-sorry, um, I’ll uh, I’ll stop trying to help now,” the suited armor apologized.

“… I’ll give you til the count of ten. And then I’m going to rip that suit off your body. And I will kill you,” Sunset growled, pumping her gun.

“Sosorrygottago!”

And with a large huff, the Power Armor ran as fast as possible away from the angry woman.

“Well… we know two things. One, Power Armor still works even after 200 years,” Twilight began, wiping the guts off her body, “two… all bugs are huge.”

“Make that three; this town has complete idiots running in armor that can reduce a person into roadkill,” Sunset growled, as she covered her chest. “I can’t go anywhere now, I need a shirt, or something else, it’s cold out,” Sunset shivered.

Twilight looked around, taking note of one place in particular, showing a woman leaving a shop with a set of clothes in her arms.

“Thanks again, Rarity!” The woman called.

A brief light flickered on the lamppost above Sunset and Twilight, enticing the two of them to come towards the store. A big sign in purple lettering and a professional font read ‘Carousel Boutique’.

“Carousel Boutique huh? They might have a change of clothes we need; maybe there will be something more fitting for you? We can’t just wear these suits all the time.” Twilight asked.

“I hope so. I don’t have a lot of caps on me, and it still boggles my mind that we use these for money now,” Sunset shook her head.

Entering the shop, they could see the place was stocked full of different outfits and items. Dresses from the Pre-War kept in intact condition, ratty skirts with fun tops, business suits, dressy clothes, clothes made to be messy when working in various conditions, mechanic suits, t-shirts, there was all kinds of fun outfits here!

“Well… we won’t be short on variety, that’s for sure,” Twilight looked around.

“One moment, darlings! I’ll be right there!”

Entering from side of the room, where a changing screen and several mirrors were visible for anyone to try on outfits, walked a pure white military robot with indigo-blue highlights and a curvy figure; an Assaultron. She had a metallic mohawk above her head, colored in mint green, cream-yellow, and indigo-blue. Some metal spikes were above the shoulders, one arm was a standard Assaultron hand, but the other had the hand replaced with a Protectron model with four claws and a small nozzle in the middle.

“Alright, let us see…” the Assaultron passed, grabbing several spools from below. “No… no… oh, dreadfully no. Oh, perfect!” And so she turned around to look at her new customers. “Welcome darlings.”

“What the fudge!?” Sunset tried to not swear.

“Fudge? There’s no fudge here. I am Rarity, seamstress of Carousel Boutique and--whahahaaahhh!! Oh my goodness! Darlings, what happened to you both!?”

Sunset only blushed harder. “Are you referring to the fact we’re covered in bug guts, or some idiot in Power Armor just ripped my clothes off?”

“Ehh… d-do you have other clothes here?”

“Oh please, step this way, I must get you out of that ratty vault suit,” Rarity took Sunset by the hand, yanking her into the changing area.

“Wait, wait, wait, I can—what are you doing, wait!”

Twilight tried to follow, but couldn’t. She wanted to interfere, but she knew all about the dangers of these robot models. The history lectures on the many powers and skills these robots had were not to be taken lightly. She did not want to be reduced to cinders right here in the shop.

And poking her head out, the Assaultron saw the state of Twilight’s hair. “I’ll also be fixing your coiffure, that looks… ghastly.”

“Dah, look, robot, ah! Stop! Please!” Sunset begged behind the changing screen. “Stop! Can you not do that!?”

“You seem unhappy. I only wish to help you, I don’t intend on harming you,” Rarity tried to reassure. “Now let us see… you don’t seem like a vault dweller type. Fiery, a little rebellious, but not to the degree of juvenile delinquency and common vandalism. No chems detected in your blood streams. I think this outfit might be perfect for you. Try it on.”

Twilight could tell Sunset was looking a bit bashful, if her shadows were any indication, but she took the clothes offered anyway and went into one of the stalls to try it on.

The robot stepped back out, showing the vault suit had been completely taken off of Sunset but the pieces that were damaged were sewn up and patched, as if it was brand new.

“Whoa… h-how did you do that?”

“I’m a seamstress darling, it’s one of many skills I’ve learned to develop over the years. Now, come, we must do something about that hair,” the robot insisted, urging her to sit in a chair meant for hair cleaning.

“O-Okay…?”

Twilight hesitantly took a seat, leaning her head back in the sink. Reaching for the sides, the Assaultron removed her standard claw and replaced it with a hand that had a complete set of smooth, gentle, five fingers, much more needed for this task. But before getting to work, she watched as the Assaultron walked to a corner and starting putting on… clothes? Wrapping her chest around in a minty blue top made out of classic cotton, and a violet kama/skirt wrapped around the hips, allowing enough leg room to run if needed.

“Much better. I forgot I had customers, a lady cannot go around naked after all. You know the thoughts some boys get when they see a woman in the buff.”

Reaching over, the robot turned on the water and ran her hair through with it, even putting in some soap to scrub it. As weird as it felt having her hair washed by a robot, Twilight had to admit, it was nice to get a little bit clean. It was the first time she felt clean since the few days she had been up there.

“Tell me, what are your names darlings?”

“Um… T-Twilight, I’m Twilight,” she said, trying to look up at her host. “And you are… what are you?”

“I’m a lady, darling. Can’t you tell?” The Assaultron titled her head, confused.

“Oh, um… of course, yes, you’re a lady. Um… a very lady-like robot?”

“Designation: Assaultron. Creation date: 2072. Activation: 2267. Designed to provide a variety of services to the modern man. New designation: RA-R1T3, Rarity. Family member and business owner. Robot enough?”

“Oh, um. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean… I didn’t mean to offend, I was just asking—please don’t kill me,” Twilight whimpered.

“Twilight, darling, I am not going to harm you, I promise,” Rarity reassured as she finished scrubbing out the soap in her hair. “A lot of people have asked me of my… status. Frankly, whatever I am is not of importance to me, I know who I am. As far as I’m concerned,” she said, walking to the side to grab some drying tools before facing her, “I’m a lady, darling. And I’m one of the best seamstresses and salon artists in the Commonwealth.”

“I… I see,” Twilight struggled to find something to say, anything that wouldn’t make her host offended.

“Now, you had your hair held in a ponytail, correct? Well, let us see about restoring it to its natural beauty,” Rarity thought as she started to run the blowdryer through her client’s hair.

After a few minutes or so, Twilight finally got to see what she looked like, and gasped in delight. Her hair was back to its normal beautiful; small trim in the front, nice ponytail in the back, and her glasses were cleaned up as well. It was like she never left the vault!

“I… thank you, I don’t know what to say!”

“Not a worry, darling. Now, what about your friend?” Rarity turned around to go to the changing room area, watching her other client look at herself in the mirror. Sunset now wore a set of road leathers; dark leather pants with a skull motif on the belt, a plaid button up with cut up short sleeves, and a short leather jacket above with no sleeves on that one either. But Sunset was too distracted by how it looked on her to even care about the fact that her host just stripped her so quickly.

“I… I love it,” Sunset whispered. Rarity stepped behind in the reflection to get a look as well.

“Oh darling, that looks wonderful on you!” Rarity cooed. “Though you will need some armor to go above that.”

“I don’t suppose you know anything on making it?”

"Oh absolutely! Where should I begin?"

"I reaaaallly do not need anything right now, maybe another time," Sunset tittered. "Please?"

"But Sunset, maybe we can--"

And Twilight didn't get to finish her sentence before she was yanked out of the store with only a small gust of wind blowing against the tarps.

"... Well. I suppose I will see them around," Rarity put her hands on her hips, tapping her foot with annoyance.

Twilight was still annoyed she got pulled away so quickly, but something she was going to have a serious talk with her later on about. But the rumbling stomach finally alerted her to get something to eat/drink, and thankfully there was a bar/diner up ahead that Sunset was leading them to. Rustic on the outside, like everywhere else in the Commons.

Both of them looked around the inside of the restaurant, plenty of folks from all around here enjoying the food and chatting with each other. It didn’t feel any different than how it was in the pre-war era, it was oddly nice. Sure there was a larger abundance of non-humans, but it honestly made the place more interesting to them. Even if it was weird to them that some of the robots hanging were… dating flesh.

Taking a seat at a bar table, one of the waitstaff gave a simple nod, letting them know that he would attend to them in a moment, after he was done with hsi set of orders.

“How are you holding up?” Twilight asked.

“Me? Oh, I’m fine. W-What about you? I’ve been really worried about you, losing your family like that and all, it’s just… I’m sorry,” Sunset sympathized.

“You don’t have to be sorry, it wasn’t your fault they were gone,” Twilight promised. “I just… I don’t understand why Vault-Tec would do this, they said they would help us, and then they just… stabbed us all like that?”

BURRRRRRRP.

The sound of the rather large burp caught their attention as a drunken woman came stumbling around, trying to gain control.

“Ah, oh boy, still got control, I’m good, I’m good,” she murmured. And then her eyes locked onto Sunset. “Well hello there, cutie. Who are you?”

“Nobody, please leave me be,” Sunset politely insisted.

“Nah, come on, ain’t no way someone as smokin’ as you comes in here wanting to be alone, all girls like you just want the real down and dirty…” and she got uncomfortable close to Sunset’s face, her breath smelling like an alcohol sewer. “And I know all about getting’ down and dirty…”

Sunset immediately shoved her off before standing up. “Okay, new rule. First one who grabs my butt gets their arm broken. I’ll give you ten extra points since you’re drunk.”

“Oh you wanna play hard to get?” She said, losing the silliness and turning more aggressive. Unaware was she to hear the doors open for another patron. “Why don’t you want me? I’d be good for you, I’m not like those other girls.”

“Okay, you’re drunk. Just go home,” the bartender ordered. “I don’t know how you snuck behind the counter, but you need to go home, now.”

“You wanna try old man?” she slurred before whipping out a gun.

“Put the gun down, now.”

But then out of nowhere, an unknown arm grabbed the drunken patron, throwing her across one of the tables where she fell to the ground. Sunset was taken back by the unknown person who stepped into the room without her noticing.

She only could see her back for the moment, but she saw someone in a large coat grab the drunken woman off the ground, grabbing her by the shirt, with heavy breathing that sounded raspy under the helmet.

“Well now hot stuff—ack. H-How about we take this somewhere else?”

No response other than raspy breathing came from the helmeted unknown. Grabbing her, she threw the drunken patron out the door before slamming it behind her. Turning around, the unknown figure was seen by everyone now.

Dressed in a long jacket with multiple pockets on the back, denim jeans tucked into the boots, with tons of ammo straps and holsters on both sides. Riot armor covered the person’s chest, with a small symbol of a mutated bear with two heads on one side, and a marking of three butterflies on the other. The helmet, hiding the face, was of a riot gear trooper with red tinted lenses and filters.

“Um… I don’t know who you are, but, thanks,” Twilight complimented, trying to be polite. “I’m Twilight, who are you?”

The figure finally looked at her, her breathing still filtering through the mask. They were quiet for a moment, shyly looking away and down at the floor. Their foot softly squeezing against the wooden floor.

“Are you okay?” Twilight asked.

“…”

“I’m sorry, what was that?”

“… Fluttershy,” a filtered voice finally came through, one quiet and meek. The complete opposite of what both Twilight and Sunset had expected the trooper to sound like.

Sunset quietly growled. Not even a few minutes in, and she was already being harassed by the local drunks. Eventually the bartender did come around and take their orders, although Sunset's order was incredibly short; just one shot glass, and no meal. Despite the worry from Twilight, Sunset did very little to reassure her, just brushing off her concerns with 'I'll be fine'.

"... know what, I need to be alone," Sunset groaned. "Twilight, if you want me, I'll just be sitting at that cafe I passed by, I... I just need to be alone right now."

"But, you can't just--"

"--Twilight. I just need to be alone right now," Sunset said, a little more command in her tone this time. Unintentionally so, but it was very clear.

And so the vault dweller left the diner, leaving a very alone and sad, Twilight Sparkle. All she wanted was to sit and eat with her best friend like she always had, and now she was being denied that opportunity. And especially after how Sunset was starting to finally talk again with her, and now she just stopped.

But her train of thought was interrupted by the sounds of running metal, with a battle-ready Rarity standing in place.

“Darling, are you alright?” Rarity charged in, her hands spinning in attack mode. "I heard Saltlick being thrown out again, this is not the first time this has happened."

“No, we’re fine, thank you, but we’re okay,” Twilight reassured, letting a seat open for the Assaultron to take next to her. But her eyes locked back to the trooper in the riot gear who sat lonely at the bar, taking a few sips from a straw. “Rarity, who is that girl there?” Twilight pointed.

Rarity’s head swiveled, with the audible gears turning to look. “Oh, the riot trooper? That’s Fluttershy, she’s one of my friends. And one of my best clients,” the robot squeed a little.

“And she’s dressed like that, why? The air around here isn’t that toxic. Is it?”

“She’s a member of the NCR, the New Coltifornia Republic. She’s on assignment to do some scout work here for them, apparently members of an enemy they were fighting, the Legion, ran away here. So she’s been searching for them.”

“Does she always wear that outfit?” Sunset asked.

“You yourselves have been wearing those rather severe vault suits for how many days now?” Rarity sassed.

“… fair enough,” Twilight shrugged off. “But does she take that helmet off at least? That has be hot in there.”

“She always keeps it on whenever she’s in public. I’ve seen her without it, but I’m the only one she trusts, and I don’t disclose any private information about my clientele,” Rarity replied.

Looking to the left side of the bar counter, she saw the NCR Ranger briefly glance at them before quickly focusing back on the empty glass sitting at the bar, not wanting to bring any more attention. Curiously, Twilight leapt off the stool and opted to move to the open space in between Rarity and the trooper.

“Thank you again, that was… that was sweet of you,” Twilight tried to greet. “Fluttershy, right?”

The ranger was quiet, but titled her head a bit, the red visor peaking out at her.

“… Y-Yes.”

“My name’s Twilight. Mind if I sit?”

Fluttershy just meekly nodded, offering the chair. But thankfully the presence of Rarity coming to sit on the other side of Twilight at the bar helped a lot.

“I’m really sorry about Saltlick, she’s… not herself when she drinks,” the bartender sighed. “I keep telling her to stop, but she just points a gun at me and tells me to keep it going.”

“Maybe not, but it does slow the pain down,” came from the woman sitting on the other side of the bar. She wore a pink plaid shirt and denim jeans, with a cowgirl hat with some holes and tears visibly shown. The western looking woman glanced at the NCR Ranger for a second before rolling her eyes back down to her own drink. “Left the Mojave to get away from the NCR, and now they’ve found themselves all the way out here… typical.”

Not paying any mind, Twilight refocused back to Rarity and Fluttershy who provided company.

“Soooo uhh… have any cider?” Twilight asked.

“Yes, indeed. Apple, I take it?” The bartender pressed.

“Yes please.”

“Coming right up. Real popular here, you can thank the Minutemen captain for that,” the bartender smiled as he grabbed the bottle. Pouring it into a wooden beer mug, he gently set it down for Twilight to take.

“Thanks,” Twilight nodded before taking a sip. “Ahh… that’s the stuff.”

“Oh my. I didn’t know you were the drinking type,” Rarity’s eye focused on her.

“I do like apple cider. Not the hard stuff, just the right amount that won’t mess with my vision,” Twilight explained.

“You like the cider too?”

Turning her head, she smiled to see a familiar face. “Applejack!”

“I see ya already met Rarity and Fluttershy,” the Minutemen captain nodded, taking a spot next to Fluttershy. “I know it has been a bit chaotic since we got here, but I was hopin’ to find ya over here if you needed a place to just relax after the past few days. How you feelin’?”

“Right now… I guess I’m okay. I’m not sure,” Twilight frowned, thinking back to the past few days. “I’m not even supposed to be here, but… I guess I have to learn to accept this is how things are. And Sunset just left me.”

“What do you mean, darling? Were you on the run?” Rarity asked.

“Rares, I don’t know if she wants to—”

“—No, no, the cat’s already out of the bag at this point,” Twilight scrunched her face with her free hand. “… You know the vault suit I wore to your boutique? That wasn’t because it was all I had.”

“I just assumed you were a vault dweller, there were plenty of those who passed through here in the Commons,” Rarity thought.

“Well I’m not a vault dweller. Never was. I’m not even a Vault-Tec employee! I don’t even know what I am anymore!” And she slammed her mug down before hitting her face into the bar table. She lifted her head up, before adjusting her loose glasses. “I’m not from around here.”

“… where exactly? The Mojave?” Fluttershy asked this time.

“Third Texas Republic?” Applejack added.

“The Pitt?” Rarity also chimed in.

“No, I mean… I’m from here, in Bostrot, but not from here in this point in time.”

“What are you talking about, how can… wait,” Rarity had to reboot her malfunctioning audio receptors. “Time? Are you from the past?”

“Ugh, yes! I’m from the past! I was frozen in a Vault-Tec cryopod, and Sunset and I only recently got out,” Twilight finally admitted, not wanting to beat around the bush any longer. “Everyone is going to know who we are eventually, so I don’t see why we should hide it.”

Everyone was gathered around her, patiently waiting to hear more. Rolling her eyes, Twilight began to tell her story. She recollected the events that happened, how she and her family were supposed to have just signed up to go to a vault and live their lives there when the bombs finally dropped, only to be frozen inside. Everyone remained quiet to hear her story, but eyes darted back and forth when she mentioned the rather malicious detail of what the Vault-Tec employees had planned at 111.

“… and that’s about it. Who I was before, it doesn’t… it doesn’t matter anymore,” Twilight threw her head back.

“What do you mean it doesn’t matter?”

Twilight jolted up, seeing two more faces now joining the rest of her friends. One was that cowgirl with a bandana mask over her face, who had helped out over in Feral Town. The other was a girl with cyan skin and rainbow hair cut in a short, wearing a black jacket with short sleeves, a bandolier with multiple pockets, cargo pants, and a black cowboy hat atop her head with bullets wrapped around it.

“I’m sorry, have I met you two before? Wait, hold on… I know you,” Twilight pointed to the cowgirl who gave a rather cute grin. "You saved us back in Feral Town."

"Mmmhmm! That's me," the energetic girl chirped. "I'm Pinkie, nice to meet you!" She shook the vault dweller's hand, and even though it was for a second, Twilight could feel how incredibly rough her skin felt, but didn't get a good look. Though the discoloration in her eyes was a bit worrying.

"And I'm Rainbow Dash, nice to meet you,” she shook the vault dweller’s hand. “And I assume you’ve already met my girlfriend?”

Twilight nodded. But had to do a double take when she looked at Pinkie’s outfit, then back to the woman across the bar. And then back to Pinkie again. “Are cowgirls a common thing in Bostrot and I just haven’t noticed?”

“Nah, this is just how I look these days,” Pinkie shrugged, pulling up a spare bar stool. “I'm into the Wild West kinda movies now. So what brings you out here?”

“I… guess I’m just trying to find purpose again,” Twilight somberly took another drink. “I don’t know what to do with myself now.”

Applejack frowned, but her eyes lit up when she had an idea. Bringing the rest of the girls over, all five of them whispered to each other, something Twilight wouldn’t be able to hear. And momentarily, they looked back at the vault dweller with beaming expressions.

“Actually… I think I have an idea,” Applejack thought as she leaned against the counter. “If you’re gonna survive out in this new world, you’re gonna need some guidance on how everything works out here. Lot more violent than the pre-war, I’m assumin’.”

“Understatement of the century,” Twilight dryly remarked.

“We’re willin’ to help you learn how to survive out here. Sides, it might be nice to have some new faces around here,” Applejack thought.

“Yeah! Vault dwellers don’t really come that often out here, aside from a few from 81,” Rainbow Dash agreed.

“Okay, first off, we need to circle back on this '81'. Second, what if I just slow you down?” Twilight worried.

“Even if you slow one of us down, there’s four more of us here to help,” Rarity piped up, swiveling her hand around in a 360 motion. “And I would be more than happy to help you.”

"Me too," Fluttershy chimed in, no longer hiding at the bar stool.

“Sooo what do you say?” Applejack asked.

“Well… I guess it would be good to learn how to hold my own,” Twilight pondered. “Alright, I’ll do it!”

“Yeehaw! Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about. And I know just the thing to start you off with,” Applejack grinned. “But first thing’s first, we need to get your friend in as well, no sense of her not learnin’ to survive as well. Where is she?”

“If you’re talking about the gal in the road leathers, I just saw her slump up to the apartment spaces. She didn’t look that happy,” Rainbow folded her arms.

“That’s Sunset. She… hasn’t been taking the change very well,” Twilight admitted, feeling a bit sheepish to talk about her friend in that way.

“I felt the same way,” Pinkie shrugged off. “But we’re taking her with us too, she needs to learn as well.”

"I'm not sure she's going to be cooperative," Twilight worried.

"Oh don't worry about that. Once she gets a good look at this face," Pinkie pointed, despite still hiding under a bandana. "She will never want to stay put in one place again!"

Rainbow snickered a bit.

"What? What's so funny?" Twilight asked.

"You uh... you haven't figured it out yet?" Rainbow asked.

"What's to figure out? She's a cowgirl, that's not really scary."

Rainbow was still trying not to laugh. "No, no, you're right, sorry. It's just she might be a bit... shocked, is all. But you'll find out soon enough, she only shows her face if she feels like it."

"Fair enough," Twilight understood. The scientist looked back over at Pinkie, noting the rough skin behind the bandana. She couldn't tell much behind the mask, but she definitely looked rougher than the rest of the girls she had met here. "Have you seen a lot of action?"

"More than you know it," Pinkie nodded, squinting eyes before turning to lean against the bar, tapping for a drink. Twilight tried to get a good look underneath, but never could when Pinkie took a drink of the apple cider passed down to her. That bandana hid her very well, and if she wanted to show herself, it would be on her own terms. But for the rest of the night, Twilight enjoyed the company of her new friends, feeling good for the first time since they walked the wasteland.

Sunset however was not feeling so good. Not from poisoning, but mentally, she was not there. Her friends she once knew, all dead. Her family, dead for sure. All she could think about was how could she leave them all behind? Sure, she remembered the events leading up to that moment in time. She was up with Twilight Sparkle, and her family (staying as a housemate since her mother was far away), and enjoying breakfast with all of them, ready to start a brand new day. Then their cartoons being interrupted with dark news of attacks from all over the country.

Bomb strikes on Coltifornia. Attacks on Manehattan. Wiping the surface of Fillydelphia. Nuclear blasts growing all over, and then the sirens raiding above the state. The rush of panic, leaving the scared neighbors who had no idea what to do, and then running to the center of the vault platform. Then watching as a bright flash exploded in the distance, and seeing the flames coming their direction, as all life flashed before her eyes. In that moment, all she could think about was the family about to be left behind as she descended underground to the vault.

But all of that was gone. It was gone in an instant, and it had only been two days. No, not two days. Over two hundred years, and it went away. And she couldn't do a damn thing to stop it, or save someone. Her fists clenched as she thought about it, then dug into her pocket, remembering some items she had on her vault suit that were stashed away, pulling out a single picture that remained intact; of her and another woman, some girl with green shades, and a plaid button up shirt, taken against a warm sunny tree. Her fingers twitched as she looked at it, and she closed her eyes, trying to fight the urge to cry in the middle of the cafe area. It was a nice outdoorsy area, surrounded by small brick walls that could be climbed over, next to a food truck that was restored and cooking delicious food, and next to it was a stage for performers; musicians, stand-up comedians, etc.

The pain only made her more upset, and reduced her hunger. She pushed her items away before walking off to the street, looking for the hotel she was provided with. Unbeknownst to her, she was spotted by another woman who sat at the cafe, wearing a faded red coat and reporter's cap, watching with piqued interest...

--

Finding the hotel, she went up a few stairs, passing by a few folks talking on them, or flat out making out against the walls, looking ready for a night of lovemaking out in the open. Ignoring the passion, she found the room they were staying in, and went inside. It was a relatively nice space with a few beds, a room with a bathroom and shower, and against all odds, it worked! But the idea of getting cleaned up in potentially irradiated water just soured the idea, and instead, she went to the bed, groaning into it. Her head rested against the pillow as she looked at the picture one last time, no longer able to hide the tears leaking down her face.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't save you."