Will this story be as dark as Fallout Equestria: Project Horizons? I love dark fics, but I do have my limits and while I've never actually read that story from what I've heard it totally pushes them. Also, why isn't there a dark tag?

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I'm intending it to be a lot more... light than PH was. Somber loved writing his grimdark scenes and Lovecraftian-esque horrors. This story is being told by the eyes of a (relatively) sheltered 14 year old. As a result, it's... going to be lighter. Psychology is... weird. But hopefully it's been enjoyable so far!

Alirght! Another great chapter! I'm still wondering what other conflicts will arise in this story, although I have a sneaking suspicion that the politics the adults are dealing with are going to rear its ugly head very soon (with the knowledge of the PH epilogue, I know that any plans to make Blackjack's survival public knowledge will fail, but still). I'm still a little confused as to why the LC are so adamant about not wanting to be a part of the NCR. Also, how the hell did Boing become a minister anyway because she can't be that much older than Threnody? And since Boing is such a nihilist, why would she even become a minister to begin with?
With that, I see that Cinnamon worked with Boing. In regards to my curiosity in the last chapter, my theory at this point is that since Cinnamon was exposed to those negative feelings towards Blackjack, she now has a bias towards her. [sigh] And of course there's always a not-so-good person in a group designated for good people.
Anyway, I waited with bated breath for the next chapter!

7923240 This'll probably come up later, but the LC is based on a different philosophy than the NCR. The LC is based on the ideal of being a good, stable region and that will encourage and support more uncivilized regions elsewhese. The 'Shining city on a hill' if you will. The NCR is based on the ideal of interventionism and collectivism: everyone needs to be a part of the NCR, and the NCR needs to act to prevent bad things from happening. Both are flawed in that they assume their position to be the more virtuous. The commonwealth thinks the NCR should focus on improving Junction City. The NCR thinks the Commonwealth needs to share its resources and join up. Remember than the Commonwealth had Thunderhead, which were non-conformists within the Enclave, and Applejack's rangers, which were non-conformists within the Rangers, and you have a large population that is inclined to non-conformity. That can be directed inward (which was the case for the last 200 years) or outwards, unifying the Commonwealth against outsiders that want to use or consume it.

Boiled down: the NCR wants to conquer the wasteland directly, the Commonwealth hegemonicly.

Awwahahahaw, this had some cute moments in it, and is going quite nicely! Nice work on this chapter, hehe
And it seems wee Therny might have some... issues with mother perhaps... hmm...

Nice job

This is excellent. I eagerly await the next chapter!

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Glad you like it so far! I'm hoping to have chapter 4 released this weekend (25-26/2/17) , if all else fails!

This was an awesome chapter, can't wait to read more!!!!

“Thanks. I feel better. Crying is puking for the soul.”

There's a lot of wisdom there.

Well fingerblast my nose and call me a wombat! This I saw the best darn thing I've read in a while! You sure are some kind of wizard or something.......I guess you, Somber, Kkat, Nobody, Doktor Impostor, and others who's names escape me are like the grand wizards of the Fallout equestria writers huh? Does that make Kkat Dumbledore? Who's Harry Potter? Is Dok Voldemort then? He'd bust my sorry ass up if I called him the Voldemort of the weird Harry Potter thing I just compared you legends to. You're all Dumbledore........

Fuck it, you're not wizards.
You're awesome writers with awesome styles, that have made me laugh with almost every chapter.
I'm a nihilistic boor, so I suppose that's pretty magical in its own way.

7922897 You promise? Project Horizons is my most favorite story EVER, but reading it, especialy the last... 15 chapters? Was emotionally wrecking, like tearing-your-soul-kinda thing, you know? It even took me a while to finally sit down and read this story (and, truth be told, same was with Somber's Homelands... twice. I took a break after chapter 6 or 7 for a few months), because I wasn't sure if I was ready to go through something like that again.

That being said, this story is great so far^^ I mean, yeah, though it's lighter than PH, there are moments when I am crying on the inside of what had befallen my most favorite character EVER (the previous chapter with Nails brought back some awful memories of one of PH's darkest moments. Not just him appearing, but when he started talking...), but at the same time I'm loving it (the story, not what happened to Blackjack... obviously). I'm looking forward to reading through the remaining chapters and rest of the story^^

Cinnamon nodded thoughtfully, then purred in that silky cloying voice, “I know, I just want to make sure all of you are protected. The Heartmenders are just getting back to their full strength, and it’s a big wasteland out there. What with Willow Glen still being on the mend, and Heartshine with her administrative duties for the Followers, I’m just worried of what would happen to little Threnody. We can’t risk losing the littlest member of our team.” She said soothingly.

My eye twitched at ‘littlest member of the team.’ I knew that Slate called me little one, but… well, that was starting to grow on me. Plus I think he did it just to get my goat, so I could put up with it for now. But when Cinnamon said it, I just felt icky inside. Like I was the smallest pawn on her chessboard. The only problem was, I didn’t know what she was planning to do with me, and I wasn’t even sure we were playing chess.

Well... she is up to something thats for sure

But… with Cinnamon having worked with Boing, the Heartmenders have a lot more pressure from a rather powerful political force.” She waved her hooves in front of her defensively. “I’m not saying that Cinnamon would break confidentiality, or that it’s her fault, but it is the reality. Because Minister Boing was healed by Cinnamon, that’s her connection to the Heartmenders. And because Cinnamon answers to Heartshine… well.” She shrugged. “I think we’re sort of screwed either way.”

She might be trying to take over the Heartmenders so that she can inform Boing about Blackjack, she already took credit for the Pipbuck idea from Nails and it would not suprise me if she has been takeing credit for other things as well.

Who just was the therapist here?

Blackjack might actually make an awsome therapist for the more serious cases

My ears wilted and my wings drooped. “I’m 14. And you dumped buckets of water on my head. We. Did not. Shower. Together!” I squeaked. “Did I mention I’m 14!?”

“So it’d be okay if you were 15?” she asked as she walked on.

Oh Blackjack how i have missed you

Grande Pegasus Enchilada.”

Sounds delicious

I can feel the hints of, actions untold and events to come. Really enjoying this story Heartshine. Eager to see more.

Part of me wished my various pieces of myself got along!

That line reminds me of one of my favourite songs!

Ah, there's sobbing Blackjack. Was wondering how long it'd take before she broke down. She seems to do that a lot. She seems to be being a bit more openly lecherous than she was in PH, though.

I'm liking this so far.

Wow, I'm really loving this story so far. I hope to see more!

Thank you for this chapter. I always felt that Lacunae didn't get enough attention for her sacrefice it was more mixed up with how everything has gone bad. I really miss her too...

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after reading ph i just was burnt out on all Fallout Equestria story's it took me a about a year to get back into them

Man I really love this fic so far.

So, I've been rereading Fallout Equestria, and I somehow came across this story today and read the first two and a half chapters. Gotta say, it's fucking fantastic and I can't wait to read more at a later time. I always had hoped someone would pick up Blackjack's story after her survival being hinted at the end of Horizons. Homelands is pretty good, but I truthfully find myself not giving a shit about Scotch Tape or what she's doing.

Right now I'm gonna go back to FO:E, then reread Horizons so I can remember all the pertinent junk for this story. Also to give you time to get further ahead so there's more to read when I am ready to sit down and burn through this.

Pay day meant I got a few caps for myself that I could spend on my own things! Like books!

Or inevitably paying off Charity's taxes.

She needed that money for rent! She told me so every time I was able to talk to her on a broadcaster.

Rent. Right. Oh boy... Seems you can join Pip in the shitty mother department.

“I miss her so much, Glitter!” she cried in her neck. “She said she wasn’t ever a pony, but she was. She was!”

She is. Psalm and Lacunae were always one and the same, she just lost two hundred years of character development. Her personality changed, 'Lacunae' died. But she as an individual, as a soul, did not.

Between Threnody's extensive aversion to being touched, especially her rationalizing Slate's as "safe", her relationship with her mother, and her clamming up when pressed by Blackjack, I'm starting to get a little worried there's something very not nice in her past...

So part of the whole "hiding Blackjack's existence" thing is referring to her in public by her old name? Huh. I wonder how she feels about that.

Great, now the title's got me thinking of a Rankin-Bass song. :P

And, honestly, wars had broken out in the wasteland over less.

Incidentally, (at least?) one of them might be among Boing's list of charges.

“Don’t think about it. Just enjoy your cereal,”

She's already infected them. :O

“Oh, she does. But she doesn’t think I’m responsible with caps, so she made arrangements with Heartshine and Cinnamon to have most of my pay sent back to her.

...Umm... What? Is there any oversight of that? For that matter, is it even appropriate to think of Threnody as a minor in this respect?

Sure she was stern, but she’d never take advantage of me. She needed that money for rent!

Uhh... congrats, Heartmenders, you're (and I'm being charitable here) garbage at administration.

Okay, so I'm taking it her curse is already showing up: probably drinking enough to kill even an experienced, heavy drinker quite a bit bigger than her--and just not dying.

I wasn’t really sure how to answer that. Especially not since, at the moment, my surprise had my wings standing on end and I had bigger things to worry about than why my boss was, oh, I don’t know, SLEEPING WITH THE CLIENT!

Ya know, you really shouldn't be making that big of a deal out of it when the night before you literally sent a heartmender working with her to have sex with her.

So far "Glitter Bomb" is winning best new name.

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Glitter Bomb is best pony.

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It seems premature for me to make that call, but things look like they're going in that direction, yeah.

Slate held his grave expression for a short moment as he trotted close to me. My ear wiggled expectantly at the heat of his muzzle and breath. “She tastes like saltwater taffy.” He whispered conspiratorially.

this made me think of a story where a Changeling told someone that Love tastes like Strawberry ice cream.

“Sandalwood was tied up in knots.

if you've read Project Horizons, you can probably guess what came to mind.
a scene where Morning Glory literally tied up Blackjack...

“Yeah, that! I mean… I don’t even remember Dry Clean Only’s name! She doesn’t remember her name! It was just written in her hat!” Glitter explained.

oh. now that name makes sense.

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Dry Clean Only, Glitter, and Callie all came from a Pen and Paper game that I played in. I asked if DCO and Callie could be borrowed for Speak, and they both approved. Honestly, reading a line about an alicorn lifting her hat and reading "Dry Clean Only" and deciding it was her name was one of the funniest things I've had happen in a pnp in quite some time. I'm glad other folks find her name just as amusing!

Bear in mind that I learned all of this from a stable that was essentially a sexual nightmare, but the logic seems sound to me.”

You know... I've always would have loved to have seen someone do an alt where in his journey Brimstone (Murky Number Seven, case anyone doesn't know.) stumbled across Blackjack's Stable
....

Random Dumbass: LADIES! GUY! LETS RAPE HIM! HUHZAA!

Brimstone: Yeah... good luck with that darlin...

Blackjack: "God, I'm having some issues right now..."

Slate: Unzips Dick "Welp, time for some heartmending."

“She tastes like saltwater taffy.”

My first guess would’ve been Whiskey. 😜

It’s only two days and Threnody has already been told the taste of Blackjack’s vagina and the vagina of Blackjack’s mother. If it continues like this she’s going to need her own therapist very soon. 😁

Slate is a great guy and he really seems to care about Threnody, despite the teasing.

I froze, my eyes wide. No I wasn’t! There was no way I was! Mom would never do that! Mom didn’t do that! Sure she was stern, but she’d never take advantage of me. She needed that money for rent! She told me so every time I was able to talk to her on a broadcaster.

So her mother is a horrible pony who takes all the money Threnody earns for herself, leaving her daughter only a pittance? Judging by her defensive reaction Threnody is at least partially aware of this but doesn’t want to believe is. Hence her trying to justify the bad behavior with excuses.

Slate probably showed more care for her than her mother ever did. Maybe he could adopt her? Then he, Threnody and Sandalwood could life like a happy little family with Blackjack as the cool drunken aunt who treats to break the legs of Threnody’s boyfriends, if they don’t treat her right. 😅

I think that sex is good. I like it. Yeah, it went bad for me once... really bad... but I got through it. I didn’t let it spoil something in the wasteland that brings me joy.

That’s a surprisingly positive statement for her. Good to see that she can still enjoy sex despite the traumatic experience she went through.

“You are a pony who’s 14. If you are a pony who wants to have sex, great. If you don’t, also great. Your age doesn’t magically make you want it or not want it. That’s biology,”

A sage advice. If she’s not drunk or wallowing in guilt or trying to get into your pants, Blackjack is probably a great pony you can talk with about all your sex-related problems and questions.

“Funny,” she said, her voice dropping a little. “Goddess told me I was too dumb for Unity too. Then she took me anyway, and nearly made me kill the Lightbringer. Then...” and she clenched her eyes shut, tears starting down her cheeks. “Then!” And with that, there was a flash of magic and she disappeared from sight.

Aaaand we have another breakdown. Blackjack’s mind is an emotional minefield. Almost everything does remind her of a death friend or a horrible experience. No wonder she tries to suppress her memories with plenty of sex and booze.

“I’d like him to be purple.”

“And…?”

“Tall.”

“...And…?”

“Purple?”

Glitter Bomb is such a cute big Alicorn.

Going a little bit off-topic, but Kkat really understood how to make Fallout: Equestria more than just a retelling of Fallout 1 to 3 but with ponies. She could’ve simply used the Master and the Supermutants from Fallout 1, but instead put her own spin to it with the Goddess and the Alicorns. Same with the Pegasus Enclave who has a very different backstory than the Enclave from Fallout. I really appreciate that. Especially after reading a FiM/Titanic crossover story that was a 1:1 retelling of the Cameron movie with the only difference being the names of the characters.🙄

“Oh, wow. If my enemies could see me now. Big, bad, Blackjack blubbering like a foal.” She released Glitter and wiped her eyes. “Thanks. I feel better. Crying is puking for the soul.”

That scene where they all cried… Right in the feels. 😢 But that was probably a good thing for Blackjack. Talking about her pain and sharing it with others can help healing the scars.

Now onward to the next chapter. There are no break on this rollercoaster of feelings.

A ball of sunshine that was quickly eclipsed by the sight of a cream coated, red maned batpony who was idly chatting with Sandalwood and Slate.

cream coat

red mane

last name; Twist.

Either Arloste (Rampage) had a batpony foal she doesn't remember having or she has a blood relative like a dozen generations descended?

Slate’s eyes flitted briefly to the duster on my back. “That’s not the point, Threnody,” he said quietly. “The point is that your mom is living way outside of her means, and you have very little of your own.”

This is a wonderfully unexpected twist. Not for her but like, story wise.

I never thought I'd be so happy to see three ponies in tears, but Blackjack and Glitter really needed that. This story makes me feel things. It's mean and awesome xP

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Cackles in evil author

I froze, my eyes wide. No I wasn’t! There was no way I was! Mom would never do that! Mom didn’t do that! Sure she was stern, but she’d never take advantage of me. She needed that money for rent! She told me so every time I was able to talk to her on a broadcaster.

Might be really off base here and I'm curious to see if this comes back later, but given how this quote (and the whole scene) presents Threnody's mom, I'm kinda curious if her mother refused to accept Threnody's boundaries (or refusing to let Threnody set them) is why Threnody doesn't like being touched by anyone. I suspect their relationship involves Threnody being not respected and trusted, a lot more than Threnody really wants to think about.