Dom had gotten used to the stares she got when she walked through Canterlot Castle. She didn’t like it, but it was the same in almost every town in the Capital Wasteland. Well, maybe not Underworld, but she was an outsider even there, stared at for a different reason.
So, it was refreshing to see that the attention of the palace staff and guards was focused on Thomas. The sheer size of the weapon the man had brought with him was frightening, and everyone was keeping at least one wary eye on it, worrying that is might go off.
“Why is everyone worried?” Thomas asked. “I took all the rockets out, it’s not like I’ll blow a hole through the wall.”
“Yeah, but they don’t know that.” Dom didn’t bother trying to hide her smirk. “Plus, you look damn intimidating, dressed like a Marine.”
“What is it with you and these ‘Marines’, anyway?” The helmeted man turned to the ghoul, his tone easily conveying his confusion.
“They did things that the power armoured units had trouble with.” That was as far as she got when she was cut off.
“Thomas, we’ve been looking for you.” They both turned to see Shining Armor, his head and legs uncovered, coming towards them from a side corridor. “You too, Paladin.”
“Hey, I have a name,” she snapped angrily.
“You also have a rank, something civilian contractors don’t,” the unicorn replied smartly.
“In that case, you should be calling him Jefferson,” she retorted, smiling when she realised his game.
“I’ll call you Horny and Rotface if you keep this up,” Thomas growled unhappily.
“And I’ll shove a power fist up your ass. Then again, that’d probably get you off,” she added quietly.
The trio progressed in silence for a while, trying to find a way to bridge the uncomfortable silence that had arisen.
“Why were you looking for me?” Thomas asked the stallion, braving the awkwardness.
He cleared his throat uneasily. “My sister managed to enchant a few necklaces with a simple translation spell. She wanted you to be the first to test it.”
“That’ll be handy. Why me, though? Why not Dom or Veronica?”
“I’m not too familiar with how they work. What I do know is that they release minute traces of magic when they are activated. We’re not sure if this will poison you.”
“And because I absorb radiation, and Veronica doesn’t have a Pip-Boy, they need you,” Dom finished.
“And I thought I got out of being a lab rat after I got out of the Big Empty,” he sighed. “I guess you’re taking us to her?”
“Yes. Though why she wants you to go to her room I don’t know,” Shiny replied. “Don’t say it,” he said suddenly.
“Wasn’t going to,” Thomas said innocently.
Eventually, they reached the suites. As they walked to the door, Dom paused suddenly. “Something doesn’t feel right.”
“What do you mean?” Thomas asked.
“Feels like... feels like I’m walking into an ambush,” she whispered. Her hand drifted towards her right hip, but clutched thin air. “I left my pistol in my room.” Her left hand went towards her sheath, but that was gone too. “Fuck! My sword, too,” she hissed.
“An ambush? In the castle?” Shining looked at the ghoul skeptically. “No, security is too tight for that. Changelings can’t get in, and there’s no way Dogs could either.”
“Trust me, I’ve been through enough shit to know what an ambush feels like.” She edged towards the door slowly, resting her left hand against it, her right hand grasping the grip of her concealed combat knife. She carefully pushed the door open, revealing that the room was completely shrouded in darkness. “Thomas, you’ve got low-light optics. Take point.”
“Okay.” The man obeyed her uneasily, worried about what he might be walking into. He put down the Red Glare, resting it against a wall, and poked his head though the barely-open door. His right hand reached up and flicked a small switch on the side of his helmet. He put one foot inside the room, the helmet’s optics still warming up. Half a second after he could see perfectly in the low light, the brightness intensified.
“SURPRISE!”
The gathered ponies’ cheer was rapidly replaced with confusion at the sight of the biped rolling on the ground in complete agony.
Luckily for Thomas, he had managed to turn off his optics before the damage became permanent. Unfortunately, everything had been reduced to colourful blurs, leaving him to resort to hearing and touch.
“I’m so sorry!”
“I’m not angry at you,” Thomas replied calmly, clumsily patting the distressed pink party pony on the head. “I’m angry at the tactical genius over there who thought we were getting ambushed.” He pointed at the vaguely-brown-and-green blob.
“A surprise party is an ambush,” Dom argued. “Just not the sort that ends in a fight.”
“Just admit you were wrong,” Rainbow Dash chimed in.
“On the plus side, these translation thingies work fine. Pip-Boy’s barely ticking,” Thomas said, hoping to change the conversation topic.
“Thanks. They’re usually used by ambassadors who have trouble pronouncing Equestrian,” the lavender blob in his vision explained. “In a way, you three are ambassadors for America - ”
Dom chuckled at that. “No. I’m a representative for the Brotherhood of Steel, and that’s being generous.”
“Yeah, you’re more like a moody attack dog.” Thomas looked up at the predominantly-cyan blob hovering two feet off the ground. “What? You are.”
Dom sighed. “I know I have issues, but that last thing I need is someone with an ego the size of the Citadel telling me that,” the ghoul shot back.
“Okay, no need for you two to start fightin’.” An orange blob pushed its way between the other two. “This is meant to be a party, and Pinkie spent alotta time getting this whole shindig together. It won’t be right if you two hurt each other.”
“Can I sit down somewhere?” Thomas asked, squinting to try to make things clearer. “The last thing I want to do is accidentally kick someone’s teeth out with these boots.”
“Grab onto my mane.” Pinkie pushed her head up into his left hand. “I’ll lead you to Twi’s bed.”
Thomas decided to just laugh, knowing that it would anger Shining Armor. Sure enough, the stallion began to grumble, as most of the other ponies began to snicker. “Pinkie!” the lavender blob exclaimed.
“What?” she asked innocently.
“Why is everypony laughing?” Applebloom asked, the little filly looking around in confusion.
“Yeah, what’s so funny about him being in Twilight’s bed?” Scootaloo asked, completely unaware of just what she had said.
Unfortunately, Thomas couldn’t restrain himself, and neither could Rainbow Dash. As both of them laughed themselves silly, Shining Armor decided to join in with a poorly-concealed snicker. “Shiny!” Twilight shouted. “Not you too!”
“Sorry, Twily, but that was funny.”
“So sorry we’re late.” They all turned to the door which had just opened. “I had to... make a few adjustments to Veronica’s gown,” Rarity added.
“Err, why?” Applejack asked. “This ain’t some fancy ball.”
“I know that, but she wanted to wear it. And, I admit, I wanted to see how it looked on her as well. From a professional standpoint, of course,” she hastily added.
“Right,” Rainbow replied skeptically. “I’m sure it had nothing to do with getting a chance to play dress-up,” she added. “How can someone like Veronica like to dress up anyway?”
“Hey, what’s wrong with wanting to look nice once in awhile?” someone asked from outside. “A girl’s not allowed to try and get a date?”
“Veronica, your last ‘date’ was a drunk Republic trooper,” Thomas called out.
“Hey, in my defense, I was drunk too. That, and that girl had a nice rack,” the voice replied. “Seriously, how was I meant to say no to that?”
“Wait, did she say ‘girl’?” Fluttershy asked quietly, blushing a little.
“Yeah, she’s a lesbian.” Thomas’ eyes darted around the room. “Are you all staring at me?”
“So that explains her reaction...” Shining muttered.
“Huh. She sure don’t act like it,” Applejack stated loudly.
“Yeah. She seemed so... straight.” Rainbow looked around, her brow creased in thought.
“You do know I can hear you, right?”
The farmer and speedster glanced at the door nervously, both wearing apologetic smiles. “Oh, I’m well acquainted with her sexuality,” Rarity growled.
“I said I was sorry!” the distressed voice cried out.
“What happened?” Dom asked, the space her eyebrows once occupied rising.
”Well, Veronica, do you like it?” the unicorn asked, holding up the garment in her magic.
The Scribe’s eyes went wide in glee. She carefully reached out and touched it, shivering in delight. “This... this is amazing.”
“Oh I knew you’d love it!” Rarity squealed, delighted that the woman was so happy with her gift. She turned around to carefully set precious gown down on her bed. “Now, I’ll need you to try it on before I let you wear - ” She was suddenly cut off when a pair of hands grabbed her head. She attempted to squeal, but before a single sound could be made her lips were enveloped by Veronica’s. “MMHMMM!?”
The unwanted and unexpected kiss ended abruptly when Veronica pulled herself away. From her expression, it was clear she couldn’t believe what she had just done. “Oh god! I’m sorry! I wasn’t thinking, I didn’t mean to - ”
“Wow.” They both turned and saw a small purple and green dragon staring at them in shock, a confused but very happy smile on his face.
“Uhh... Is he okay?” Veronica asked.
“Spike disappeared to his room after that,” Rarity muttered.
“I already apologised!” Veronica called out again. “Can I come in now?”
“God damn it, Veronica,” Dom muttered, putting her face into her hands.
“Was there tongue?” Thomas asked loudly.