Day 5 part 2/B
Cassandra had been having a busy two days. First she’d gotten Boone and the two of them had gone up to the Hill and crucified a few legionnaires as an example before moving onto the ones who would have the information that they actually wanted. It had taken four hours to break the head centurion and even two days later Cassandra could still feel his blood staining her hands, but that was for her to worry about later. Then they’d killed the rest and left them for the crows. Some said that the Courier was a heartless bitch; to some extent they weren’t wrong. She’d do whatever it took to keep the people that she cared about safe even if it meant killing half a dozen innocent boys who had been indoctrinated into Legion killers.
However she only did what was necessary and she never enjoyed it. Every once and a while she saw the faces of the people she’d killed in her dreams and it hurt, the worst were the children. More than once she’d awoken crying as the faces of those she’d killed silently beseeched her asking why she’d killed them, begging for a good reason or justification. It was on these nights that she was the most thankful for Ethan’s presence and his strong protective arms along with his inherent almost unshakable humor. Oh Cassandra knew that in any other time period her husband would’ve been considered a fool, or perhaps just a little bit crazy. But out here in the Wasteland you needed to be either just a bit crazy or just a bit heartless to survive and Cassandra wished that she could’ve been the first.
“Contemplating our navels are we?” Arcade Gannon asked as the three companions walked along the route.
“Just doing some thinking.” Cassandra replied quietly.
“About what Cass?” Veronica asked curiously.
“My life and what it’s become.” Cassandra replied with a sigh. “Did you know that when I was younger I used to want to be out here?” She added with an ironic chuckle.
“Ah the foolishness of youth, didn’t we all?” Arcade asked with a small smile.
“I know that I did, then again growing up with the Brotherhood’ll do that to you.” Veronica said with a shrug.
“Yeah but it’s not the same with me, unlike the two of you I had a real life, a family who loved me and the safety of civilization all around me. And yet I became a Courier in spite of all that I had.” Cassandra continued with a sigh.
“Cassandra you’re the queen of a city who possesses more capital and technology then the NCR and the
Brotherhood put together, not to sound like an ass but you sound like an ass.” Arcade said with a chuckle.
“Oh no I’m not saying that I’m ungrateful, and I’m also not saying that I’d trade the life that I live now for the life that I would’ve lived if I’d stayed back home, I was just commenting on how stupid I was when I first came out here expecting to go on exotic adventures and have handsome men falling over themselves to give me whatever I wanted.” Cassandra replied which got a chuckle out of all of them.
“I had almost the same dream once; except for me it was beautiful women.” Veronica said with a smirk.
“How about you Arcade, did you have any fantasies?” Cassandra asked with a chuckle.
“I did actually, I envisioned myself at the head of an army that would wipe every mutated creature off of the map and restore the good old US of A while half a dozen muscular naked men held onto my legs for protection.” Arcade said dryly while he pretended to wave a flag patriotically getting a laugh out of his two companions.
“Ah yes whatever happened to that dream?” Veronica asked with a smirk.
“I realized that the rest of my family were moronic idiots who were to blinded by their beliefs to see how self-destructive they were.” Arcade said giving the Brotherhood member a smirk.
“Hey at least our faction in D.C. came to its senses where as yours got destroyed by one man.” Veronica shot back with a tiny amount of venom in her voice.
“Children please, mommy is very tired.” Cassandra told them breaking up their argument as the two of them broke into laughter.
“Does mommy need me to get her special bottle for her?” Veronica asked with a smirk.
“No I’m good.” Cassandra replied dryly.
“Good because the last time…” Arcade began before he was cut off by Veronica kicking him soundly in the leg as they were walking almost causing the ex-Enclave member to do a face plant. “I mean yeah never mind…” He said trialing off as he realized how stupid what he was about to say had been. Instead of being angry with him Cassandra only let out a long sigh and moved her red bangs out of her eyes.
“Don’t worry about it guys, I gave up the Party Time Mentats.” She said and despite herself she found a small part of her mind craving the boost in intelligence and charisma that the drugs offered. Then she grabbed that part of herself by the hair and smashed its teeth into the nearby sidewalk. She was never traveling down that road ever again.
The three companions fell into an easy silence as they neared their destination. What they were heading towards was a secret project that Cassandra had had her securitrons construct. As she walked into the unremarkable shack she subconsciously felt the large array of scanners running over her body and she just barely managed to suppress a shiver. Arcade and Veronica meanwhile stood quietly both used to such scans after a lifetime of living inside technological bunkers. Once the scan was done a small light above a locker turned green and the three continued forward until they reached the locker and Cassandra pulled the door open. The inside of the locker was the silvery color of stainless steel and a small console was embedded in the side of it. With expert precision Cassandra punched in the correct code and there was a slight rumble from behind her. With a smile on her face Cassandra turned to examine the newly opened hole in the floor.
With a small smile Cassandra walked down the well-lit corridor with Veronica and Arcade flanking her. On their way to their destination they passed countless storerooms full of food, medical supplies, fuel, and weapons of all verities. It had taken her years to fill all of them but she was very happy that she had. This was one of her four main hideouts in the wasteland and anyone who planned on taking it would have to go up against tech scavenged from just about everywhere, Ethan had even let her take one of the undamaged reactors from that alien mothership that he had floating in orbit around the planet.
After a few minutes of walking they arrived at their destination. It was a hanger bay for her personal vertibird. Scattered around the room were large crates of supplies and fuel that had been pushed into cover positions just in case. In the center of the room sat a blue vertibird, it had been Ethan’s wedding present and she’d accepted it gladly.
He’d told her to meet him on a hill to watch the sunset together she’d waited for half an hour before deciding that he must have forgotten and then just as she’d turned her back she heard the sound of chopper blades. Cassandra had turned around to see the sky blue vertibird descending towards her just as the sun finished setting. Then he’d jumped out of it grabbed her in his arms and asked her if she wanted to join the mile high club… With a slight smile at the memory Cassandra began to check the engines of the plane while Arcade and Veronica looked over the rest. When they were recently sure that they wouldn’t blow up in midair a few seconds after launch the three piled in and Cassandra took up the pilot’s seat while Arcade took the co-pilot’s seat next to her.
“So just checking, we know for a fact that the Legion have given up their plans for Vegas right?” Arcade asked cautiously.
“Yes, I’m positive.” Cassandra said as she activated the engines.
“So the only place that they have left is D.C. which is why we’re heading there to warn Ethan.” Arcade continued.
“Yes…” Cassandra said wondering where he was going with this.
“A job that could be completed just as easily by sending him a message.” Arcade said.
“Well I want to make sure that he takes it seriously.” Cassandra said.
“Yes I’m sure that that’s the only reason why we’re going.” Arcade said getting to the point.
“Arcade, are you saying that I’m traveling all this way just to see Ethan?” Cassandra asked imperiously.
“Oh no no, not at all.” The blonde man replied dryly while adjusting his glasses. “Not that I don’t think that it’s perfectly reasonable, if I had a handsome man waiting for me I’d see him as much as I could.” Arcade told her with a shrug.
“I wish there was someone I could talk about beautiful women that way, but Boone never talks about them and Cass is always so loud about it.” Veronica said with a frown.
“Don’t worry Veronica I’m sure you’ll find some nice girl to sweep you off your feet sooner or later.” Cassandra replied giving her friend a smile.
“I hope so because I haven’t had anything twixt my nethers wasn’t run on batteries in over a year.” Veronica replied with a grin in Arcade’s direction.
“Thanks I needed that.” Arcade replied dryly.
***
“Sister I found it!” Luna shouted as she burst into Celestia’s bedroom during the middle of the night.
“Found what Luna?” Celestia mumbled her mind addled with sleep.
“I found it!” Luna repeated ecstatically.
“What?” Celestia grumbled as she sat up in bed (She’d now concluded that her sister was not going to go away).
“I FOUND THE DIMENSION WHERE TWILIGHT IS!” Luna shouted in the Royal Canterlot voice as loudly as she could. The metaphysical slap to the face woke Celestia up faster than a bucket of ice water (also it included much less swearing on the solar alicorn’s part).
“You did, where?” Celestia asked desperately.
“It is not a pleasant place sister.” Luna replied solemnly.
“I didn’t ask how it was, I asked where was it.” Celestia said her eyes narrowing.
“It is a place called the Wasteland Tia if it wasn’t for the fact that I could feel her I’d have given up hope the second that I landed there. As it is something’s preventing me from incorporeally interacting with her but I can’t get an exact lock on her location.” Luna said with a frown.
“What do you mean something’s blocking you?” Celestia asked.
“I mean that something just as powerful as we are is preventing me from finding her unless I go in person, which is something that I cannot.” Luna said with a grimace.
“You’re telling me that there’s a god keeping us from getting to her?” Celestia asked narrowing her eyes.
“Yes, as far as I can tell that’s the case.” Luna replied with a dark expression.
“Shit.” Celestia said eloquently. “Is there anything else we can do?” Celestia asked.
“Actually yes, it appears that there is enough of an opening for us to send one pony in to find her and keep her safe.” Luna said with a smile.
“Excellent, who do you think we should send?” Celestia asked.
“We both know the answer to that.” Luna said with a smile. “You can come in now.” She called over her shoulder.
Shining Armor stepped into the room wearing a suit of steel armor, although it struck Celestia as unusual because it lacked the usual gold paint along with the typical helmet. Shining had a determined expression on his face and Celestia knew immediately that she would never be able to convince him not to go. On his back was a war saddle filled with supplies and at his hip was a long sword.
“Are you prepared for a journey of this type?” Celestia asked the stallion who nodded once.
“With your leave my Princess.” He replied solemnly.
“And have you talked to Cadence about this?” Celestia asked, Shining’s resolve cracked for a few seconds but then he nodded.
“Yes, she saw me off and told me that if I died then she’d find a way to bring me back to life just so she could beat the crap out of me for leaving her and failing Twilight.” Shining Said with a slight nervous chuckle.
“Pregnancy, I’m so glad that I swore off that centuries ago.” Luna said with a chuckle.
“Sister you were on the moon centuries ago and I seem to remember you having dozens of technical descendants last time I checked the official records.” Celestia said with a puzzled look on her face.
“Well yes back then, but on the moon I decided that it wasn’t worth the hassle.” Luna replied with a shrug. Shining Armor cleared his throat in an attempt to get the two immortals back on topic.
“Yes well anyways are you positive that you are ready for this Shining Armor?” Celestia asked and the stallion nodded swiftly.
“Very well then you have my blessing, bring Twilight Sparkle back alive….” Celestia told him the unspoken words or else were very clear.
“Okay Shining when you find Twilight try and contact me through your dreams, meanwhile I’ll try and find a way to remove whatever barrier is blocking us.” Luna said before she touched her horn to the unicorn’s head and he vanished in a flash of green light.
“I hope this works.” Celestia said wearily.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine Tia, after all what’s the worst that could happen?” Luna asked with a shrug.
***
Shining Armor appeared in the middle of a Legion camp.
***
Celestia slapped her sister for saying those six words.
***
“Hey Arcade wake up.” Cassandra said as she poked the sleeping ex-Enclave member.
“Why thank you I’d love to help you two g-” Before Arcade could get any farther into whatever he was going to say Veronica came up from behind him and slapped the back of his neck. “What the hell!” He shouted in surprise before turning around to give Veronica a dirty look.
“Oh you’re awake, would you mind telling me if Veronica are imagining the fact that we see a white unicorn surrounded by a force field that’s being shot at by Legion?” Cassandra asked pointing at the battle in progress.
“Well that’s something you don’t see every day.” Arcade mused. “We’re recuing it aren’t we?” He asked.
“Of course we’re rescuing it, it’s a UNICORN!” Veronica gushed.
“I’ll get my armor.”
***
Shining Armor was surrounded by bipeds who were firing some kind of kinetic weapons at him while they shouted at him in ancient Canterlot. From what he could remember from his old lessons they were essentially saying ‘come out and face the might of the legion, along with the ever pleasant sounding things that they said that they’d do to his anus’. His shield had held so far but he wasn’t sure how much longer it would last when under fire from these weapons. Just as the first drop of sweat began to inch its way down his forehead there was a loud thumping sound from above along with the sound of someone shouting.
“Banzai!” A female voice shouted as a white armored shape emerged from the air and landed on top of one of the other bipeds fist first there was a loud explosion and then the other biped was sent crumpling to the ground. “Bring it on you sexiest hypocritical pigs!” The white armored figure shouted as she punched into another of Shining’s attackers blasting a
hole through his chest.
“Veronica more killing less shouting!” Another female shouted from above. Shining craned his neck and saw that another figure was jumping out of a large blue flying vehicle.
“How did I miss that?” Shining muttered to himself while he let out a slight sigh of relief, he didn’t know who these people were but they hadn’t tried to kill him yet so that was good enough for him.
“Hey you alright in there?” The newest voice shouted over the sound of gunfire (and Veronica shouting war cries).
“I’m just peachy thanks, how about you?” Shining called back and the new figure wearing a duster chuckled lightly.
“I’m great. So would you like an assist?”
“Sure I’d love for somepony to explain what’s going on, but aren’t they shooting at you?” Shining asked in concern as her heard the shells impact against the figure’s armor.
“I’ll be fine; can you hold on long enough for my friend and I to kill these Legions pricks?” The figure asked.
“Go right ahead, I can keep this shield up for another hour.” Shining replied, really he was overselling it but he needed to appear strong in front of these people.
“Be right back.” The figure replied before pulling out a pistol.
Cassandra idly wondered about the odds of a unicorn speaking perfect English but decided that it was best not to dwell on it at the moment and with a battle cry of her own she charged the Legion firing her favorite pistol shining a light in the darkness of the night.
***
“You sure that you’re okay?” Veronica asked him once they were done with some very interesting introductions.
“Yes I’m a soldier; to be honest this wasn’t even the most exciting battle I’ve ever been in.” Shining replied with a shrug.
“Great, so if you don’t mind me asking what brings a talking magical unicorn to the Wasteland?” Cassandra asked her voice was friendly but there was a slight edge to it.
“I’m here looking for my sister Twilight Sparkle, and my locator spell is telling me that she’s East.” Shining Armor replied.
“Twenty caps says that she’s already with Ethan.” Arcade said.
“Who?” Shining asked in bewilderment.
“My husband, no offence but if something weird happens on the East coast my husband is probably involved in some way.” Cassandra said with a slight sigh.
“So she’s safe right?” Shining asked.
“Well with Ethan there are only two different states of existence, completely safe, or really really close to death.” Veronica said from where she was sitting across from Shining.
“Then we have to get to her!” Shining exclaimed.
“Don’t worry Shining we’ll get you there in time, besides we were headed there anyways.” Cassandra replied with a slight shrug.
“Is it just me or is this entirely too coincidental?” Arcade muttered, no one heard him. “Just me then I guess.”